Silver Jews Announce Tour, Reveal Cover Art

Given the short time it's taken David Berman of the Silver Jews to go from decidedly anti-show to bona fide road warrior, it's no real surprise that, once he gets going, there's not much use in trying to stop him.

The rather lean itinerary we posted a while back when we mentioned that Drag City had settled on a June 17 release for the Jews' sixth LP Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea was lean for a reason: they weren't done with it yet. Now, the family Berman will hit the UK and continental Europe through most of May, culminating in their performance at the Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona.

The cover art that Berman talked about in our January interview with him has also been revealed, and it's pretty damn cool. Here's what Berman said about it:

"I really, really felt like the title and the ideas of the songs, the idea of me going out into the world instead of me looking in--all of it came together through the painting that I got to be the cover, which is by a guy named Stephen Bush who's an Australian painter. He's done this painting 27 times. Once a year, he paints it from memory with one tube of black and one tube of white. It's a painting of three elephants, you could say it's Babar, I'm not positive. For him, it's something to do with French colonialism. It's called 'The Lure of Paris'.

For me, it's great. There's this character, this hero, but he's an elephant. He's standing on a rock, the sea is very rough around him, there's amazing light coming down through the sky, and then there's the other elephants coming down a cliff on a rope. I thought for a minute that I wasn't going to be able to use it. It was so devastating that I didn't know what to do.

No other cover has ever... they've all been arbitrary, except for maybe Bright Flight. There's never really been any connection to what's under the cover. And this time, it's everything. Like, when you'd read a paperback when you were a kid, and you'd really like the characters, you'd look at the people on the cover and be like, 'Are these the people?' And you get older and you'd realize, 'Wait. This is a different artist.' And then you get older, and you realize there's no connection, the author doesn't need the artist, blah blah blah. This time, maybe they're all elephants."

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Joy Division Coming to DVD and Zune
Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the digital music playing device

Hey, who wants a Zune? Anybody? Anybody? OK, fair enough.

But what if said Zune were limited edition? Aaaaaand emblazoned with the artwork from Joy Division's classic Unknown Pleasures LP? (No, the image over there isn't what it looks like, just Pitchfork's own artist's rendition.) And the whole thing is a tie-in with the DVD release of Grant Gee's Joy Division documentary?

In conjunction with Genius Entertainment's June 10 release of the Joy Division DVD, Microsoft will indeed issue a run of Zunes all done up in Peter Saville's famed design. Saddest mp3 player ever!

In other Joy Division merchandise news, Rhino will issue a single-disc best-of from the masters of mope on April 29 in the U.S. Oh, and Control, that other recent Joy Division flick, is due on DVD June 3 from the Miram Collection/The Weinstein Company.

Indian Jewelry Dole Out Free Gold!, Hit the Road

Best to clean the crud off those loafers now: come May 20, you're gonna be staring at your shoes a lot more than you expect. For that, schmutz-covered sandal-wearer, is the day Baltimore's We Are Free will issue Free Gold!, the new full-length from pedal-happy Indian Jewelry. Sporting 14 feedback-drenched tracks, Free Gold! may not make you rich, but it sure will have you looking at those busted Converse in a new light by the time it's all over.

Interestingly enough, Free Gold! emerges right as the band's U.S. tour-- which launches tomorrow night (April 18)-- comes to a close. Perhaps parading around the country offering folks Free Gold! and then telling them they'll have to pay for it will lead the band into hiding? Or perhaps they'll just add some more dates later. [MORE...]

Flaming Lips, Hercules, Black Kids Do Camp Bestival

Once a year, BBC Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank has brought a few of his favorite record-makers-- and many thousands of ticketholding onlookers-- to the Isle of Wight for a late-summer Bestival. But September is far away, and Rob da Bank's party planning instincts have already got the best of him. So, then, there's the first-ever Camp Bestival, which goes off July 18-20 at Dorset, England's Lulworth Castle.

Camp Bestival shares a lot with its elder sibling, and not just a few record collection touchstones. Like Bestival proper, there's readings, spoken word events (this one hosted by noted talker Scroobius Pip), a mess of comedians and comediennes, and a whole bunch of other unique fantasy world wackiness. There's also a petting zoo!

But, oh, the music: Camp Bestival has nabbed the likes of the Flaming Lips, Chuck Berry, Hercules and Love Affair, Billy Bragg, Black Kids, dan le sac and the aforementioned Scroobius Pip, Kid Creosote, and Kate Nash, among others. Billy Bragg won't just be doing his solo stuff; he'll perform in a Brit-folk supergroup along with Martin and Eliza Carthy, Sheila Chandra, and Chris Wood.

And, this being a DJ-curated festival, there'll be platters spinning damn near constantly, highlighted by appearances from Kevin Rowland of Dexy's Midnight Runners, Andrew Weatherall, DJ Yoda, Gilles Peterson, Idjut Boys, Queens of Noise, and a four hour psychedelic/prog DJ set from Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve (Erol Alkan and Richard Norris). Please avoid the brown Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

Yoko Ono Explores "Female Experience" in Art Exhibit

Photo by William Nettles/©Yoko Ono

Long before she had 15,000 Pitchfork Music Festival attendees declaring their love for her via mini-flashlight signals last summer, and even before she was shrieking like a possessed dolphin on record, Yoko Ono made her name known in the international art world.

Ono's artsy endeavors span from her involvement with the Fluxus movement in the 1960s to her performance art-tinged work with the Plastic Ono Band in the 1970s, and on through the present day-- and the present is what we're here to discuss today.

Or, more precisely, the future: Tomorrow, April 18, Yoko Ono will open an exhibit at New York City's Galerie Lelong entitled "touch me". The show collects all manner of paintings, films, photographs, and sculptures-- including the unsettling pair of heels pictured above-- that, as the press release puts it, "comment on different facets of the female experience, calling upon the viewers to make direct and deeply personal connections."

Those viewers can connect with plenty of provocative stuff, including a couple interactive pieces: a massive canvas with openings intended for gallerygoers' appendages, and a collection of cameras with which the art-minded may take their pictures.

"touch me" runs through May 31.

Election Fever: Bruce Boosts Barack! Rockers 4 Novick!
Those rockers include Michael Stipe, Colin Meloy, Britt Daniel, Corin Tucker, Rufus Wainwright

With the general election less than seven months away (crazy, right?), Senator Barack Obama has quite a long road ahead of him.

Not only must he triumph over Democratic nomination challenger and fellow Senator Hillary Clinton, but he'll also-- should he prove the victor-- need to recover from that contest on a dime in order to mount up a formidable challenge against the presumed Republican presidential candidate, Senator John McCain.

So who better to ride in on a white horse and boost the spirits of a man who seeks to be boss of this country than Thee Boss of your rock'n'roll life, Mr. Bruce Springsteen?

Bruce recently took to his website to post a thoughtful missive voicing his support of Senator Obama. As the preeminent entertainer writes, "Senator Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest.

"He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next President. He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years, a generous nation with a citizenry willing to tackle nuanced and complex problems, a country that's interested in its collective destiny and in the potential of its gathered spirit. A place where '...nobody crowds you, and nobody goes it alone.'"

Check out Mr. Springsteen's message in full below. As he concludes, "Over here on E Street, we're proud to support Obama for President."

Ooh, maybe this means Bruce will link up with his old pals the Arcade Fire for another rip-roaring rally?

And with all the national media focus on the heated Obama/Clinton contest, it's easy to forget this country is full of other upstanding folk on all levels of government who will be vying for somebody's vote on Tuesday, November 4.

Among those is Oregon's U.S. Senate hopeful Steve Novick, who, like Obama, faces a tight race within his own party on his quest to go up against-- and prevail over-- incumbent Republican Senator Gordon Smith.

Also like Obama, Novick seems to have struck a chord with the indie rock elite. A bunch of big names from Oregon and elsewhere recently stepped up to show Steve some love. Among them: R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy, Spoon principle Britt Daniel, producer and Death Cabbie Chris Walla, Sleater-Kinney's Corin Tucker, Rufus Wainwright, ex-Nirvana bassist/Flipper member/political blogger Krist Novoselic, Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard, and more.

As Meloy said in a press release, "I think we need a new kind of progressive leader in the U.S. Senate who isn't afraid to take on the tough issues. Meeting with Steve, I was quite impressed with his command of the challenges we face and his candor about what it will take to turn this country around. I'm proud to give him my support."

Meloy also made clear his intent to re-register to vote as a Democrat, adding, "I encourage everyone to get involved the elections happening across the country, regardless of who you support. The issues are too important, the stakes are too high, to leave it to someone else to decide for you."

Well put, Mr. Meloy! And on that note, and without deigning to too much handwringing, you really ought to do the voting thing. Go find November 4 on your calendar and circle it, highlight it, underline it, deck it out with Hello Kitty stickers-- whatever it takes!

Of course, before you do the voting thing, make sure to do the registering thing. Plenty of info about that can be found right here. [MORE...]

CSS Reveal North American Tour, Dates With Go! Team

Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell

CSS aren't about to let a little lineup shake-up slow their roll, and they've got the brand new tour dates to prove it. The Brazilian bodyrockin' quintet-- recently pared down a bit with the departure of founding member Ira Trevisan-- have added a North American trek to their schedule. The new shows take place in the late summer, and find them sharing stages with fellow exuberant-types the Go! Team on a few occasions.

The good times begin May 5 in Cardiff, Wales, with gigs on and off pretty much from then 'til it starts getting cold again. And, though details remain elusive at the moment, a new CSS record is indeed imminent. [MORE...]

Rilo Kiley Kick Off Tour Tonight

Tonight in San Francisco, Rilo Kiley will perform the first of many shows on their previously reported spring tour. Though they'll break for a bit after their appearance at Coachella, the Los Angeles band will largely stick to the road for the next couple months, joining up with Thao and the Get Down Stay Down in late May for a run and eventually touching down in Texas after a showing at Bonnaroo.

All those takeoffs and landings are yours after the jump. [MORE...]

Wilco Add Dates, Retribution Gospel Choir Join Tour

Photo by Will Marsh

It was just about this time last year when we announced that Minnesotan slowcore staples Low would be opening for their fellow Midwestern vets Wilco on a mess of late spring/early summer dates. Twelve months later, and the song remains largely the same: on Wilco's April and May 2008 dates, they'll be joined by Low guitarist/vocalist Alan Sparhawk's Retribution Gospel Choir. We're guessing the last time out went pretty well, eh guys?

Wilco have added quite a few dates since the last time we checked in with 'em, including new stops well into the summer and festival appearances at Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, and Ireland's Electric Picnic Festival. Two shows in Alaska, too!

As for Sparhawk, both Low and RGC have European dates before and North American dates after the big meetup with Wilco. And there's even a lone gig for Sparhawk's Black-Eyed Snakes in St. Paul when all is said and done. [MORE...]

Ecstatic Sunshine Hit the Road With Cex

Energized by the recent Cardboard Records release of their sophomore album Way, drone-y three-piece Ecstatic Sunshine have plans to hit the road with fellow Baltimore resident and glitch-hop weirdo Cex.

Before the two meet up, Ecstatic Sunshine kick off their tour tonight (April 17) in Princeton-- right after bandmember Matthew Papich gets weird in NYC. In addition to plenty of Cex, Ecstatic Sunshine will also share stages with Atlas Sound, High Places, Zs, and BARR. [MORE...]

Polvo's Ash Bowie Talks "Reformation"
More U.S. dates added

Photo by Ashley Worley

As a member of Polvo and Helium, singer & guitarist Ash Bowie helped paint the indie rock landscape of the 1990s. Following over ten years of silence, Polvo return to the stage in May, but don't call it a reunion. Bowie prefers the word "reformation." He told us as much when he answered our questions over email.

In addition to clarifying terms, Bowie explained why former Cherry Valence drummer Brian Quast has replaced original Polvo drummer Eddie Watkins and gave us insight into the rehearsal process, the band's history, and the possibility of a new record.

Pitchfork: After a decade of inactivity, why has Polvo reunited now? Did the reunion come about purely as a result of being asked to play Explosions in the Sky's ATP, or was this something you guys had thought about and discussed previously?

Ash Bowie: We never actually ruled out playing together again, but this was the first opportunity to do so when the timing seemed good for all of us and when we might realistically have enough time to get together and practice. We definitely wouldn't be doing this right now if Explosions in the Sky hadn't asked us to play. The ATP festival is something that we, as music fans, think is pretty cool, and we're definitely lucky to be a part of this one.

Pitchfork: Why is Brian Quast filling in for Eddie Watkins on drums? Is Eddie's relationship with the other members of the band strained in any way?

AB: Obviously, this is not the original band lineup doing a reunion. "Reformation" is probably a more accurate word. Therefore, no one is filling in for anyone. We consider Eddie a good friend who played a big part in the band's history, but after he amicably quit the band, we kept going with our friend Brian Walsby on drums, and this time around we felt that Brian Quast would be a great fit for us, stylistically. Both Eddie and Walsby were great to have in the band and are terrific drummers, and we aren't slighting either of them now by choosing to play with someone new in order to create something new.

Anyway, we're on fine terms with Walsby, who is now happily playing with Double Negative, and I think Eddie understands why we wanted to make a fresh start with yet another drummer, but of course I can't speak on his behalf. [MORE...]

RZA's World: Ice Picks, Chess, and System of a Down
RZA and SOAD's Shavo Odadjian form new band, Achozen

Um, hey, extremely rich people? Many of you may, in fact, be crazy. It's the only way I can get my head around the very existence of the Jagger Dagger, an icepick designed by Jade Jagger (spawn of Mick'n'Bianca) that retails in the neighborhood of a quarter million dollars.

But the Jagger Dagger ain't for any old frozen-water-stabbin', no way: the Dagger-- "a sword boasting an 18-carat white gold hilt studded with 12 carats of brilliant-cut diamonds, 42 pale sapphires, and inlaid with a central blue lapis lazuli square"-- was conceived for the sole purpose of chilling Belvedere vodka, either in the comfort of your own incredibly large home, or in those shitty clubs with "bottle service".

And why, you might ask, would a person need to drop $250,000 on such a pointless thing? Well, duh: "The irregular surfaces of hand-cracked ice melt down more slowly than traditional evenly-shaped ice cubes, keeping vodka cold without diluting its taste and potency." I mean, if this not-so-liquid sword ain't worth that kinda money, I don't know what is. [from Fashion Week Daily, via Lola y Maria]

OK, so, why are we talking about this thing? Well, tonight at New York City's Angel Orensanz Foundation Center for the Arts, Wu-Tang Clan rapper/producer extraordinaire RZA will perform at an event celebrating the Jagger Dagger. Why? Well, because RZA recently collaborated on a Belvedere ad with Vincent Gallo. And probably because he's getting paid handsomely. Perhaps in Jagger Daggers?

Moving on...

In significantly less wacky RZA news, over the weekend at a chess tournament in Menlo Park, California, he announced the launch of the online chess community WuChess.com. It's RZA's first online venture, co-created with Chesspark to help bring chess players of all ages together to play and chat. A portion of the site's revenues will go to the Hip Hop Chess Federation's scholarship fund. A fine idea for a noted chess nut such as he, though one imagines elaborate scenarios in which RZA and some 11-year-old from Dayton are pitted head-to-head, unbeknownst to each other. "Nice move!" "BONG BONG." Etc.

And because his myriad musical projects just weren't enough, RZA had to go and add another one to the pile: Achozen, his new project with System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian. The group also features rapper Kinetic 9 from Wu-Tang associates Killarmy and RZA collaborator Reverend William Burke, and their forthcoming debut albums includes cameos from GZA, George Clinton, Killah Priest, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante, and others. That album will be released this summer on Odadjian's label urSESSION, with the first track, "Deuces", set to debut on urSESSION's website on April 22. A tour is expected to follow.

RZA's next nice move is a mess of UK/North American tour dates in the coming months, as well as the July 1 Koch release of his latest Bobby Digital LP, now called Digi Snacks. There's also a handful of Wu-Tang Clan dates on the way, though I wouldn't necessarily count on RZA's presence at any of 'em.

For a lot more RZA, stay tuned for Pitchfork's interview with the man himself, coming soon to a website near you! [MORE...]

Do you have a news tip for us? Anything crazy happen at a show you attended recently? Do you have inside info on the bands we cover? Is one of your favorite artists (that's not somebody you know personally) releasing a new record you'd like to see covered? You will remain completely anonymous, unless we are given your express permission to reveal your identity. (Please note that publicists, managers, booking agents, and other artist representatives are generally exempt from this rule, but will also be granted anonymity if requested.)