Jose Gonzalez Tours Again, Releases "Teardrop" Single

Photo by Akmal Naim

With his "Green Tour" and the Earth Day release of the In Our Nature Remixes EP behind him, José González shows no signs of slowing down. He's already got a new single for us, and he's gearing up for another North American tour.

Mute released González's "Teardrop" digital single yesterday, May 6. The Massive Attack cover is taken from José's 2007 set In Our Nature and comes bundled with a B-side called "Four Forks Ache".

As for the tour, González's Bonnaroo appearance on June 13 serves as the start of a full-blown jaunt across North America, Mexico included. Following that tour, González has a bunch of scattered shows, mostly at European festivals. [MORE...]

Built to Spill Line Up Tour, Add Pre-ATP Perfect Show

Though they're currently in L.A. jamming out their follow-up to 2006's You in Reverse, Built to Spill have another album on their minds lately: 1997's Perfect From Now On, Pitchfork's 22nd favorite album of the 1990s.

As your next credit card statement will likely remind you, Doug Martsch and company will head to upstate New York way off in September to perform the noodly neo-classic at the inaugural ATP New York event. But never ones to let a Perfect opportunity pass them by, they'll hit the stage at Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown, California on September 12 for a warm-up run through Perfect From Now On. What's more, that gig also finds Camper Van Beethoven tackling the entirety of 1989's Key Lime Pie. I thought people didn't care about albums anymore?

Built to Spill have also scheduled a smattering of regular dates through the spring and early summer. [MORE...]

Parts & Labor Want Your Help for New Album
Dan Friel releases first solo album

As they record their full-length follow-up to last year's Mapmaker, jittery Brooklynites Parts & Labor are asking for help. The labor they seek comes in the form of a little recording work on the parts of their fans. As they explain in a press release:

Want to be on the next Parts & Labor album?

We're in the studio working on our next album. Send us some audio samples to use on the recording.

We're looking for snippets of noises, field recordings, found sounds, drones, speaking, etc.

Send audio that responds to any or all of these questions:

1. What's your favorite or least favorite sound?
2. What are you afraid of?
3. What do your parents sound like?
4. Where are you going, or where have you been?

The deadline for submissions is May 23.

Please keep the samples under 10 seconds. WAV or AIFF formats are preferred (but MP3s are okay too).

Email your submissions to partsandlaborsounds@gmail.com. Include your name for crediting purposes if you want.

Thanks,
Parts & Labor

PS: By sending us audio files, you're agreeing to let us use them on our audio recordings in any way we see fit, forever and ever. Don't send lawyers at us.

Between the work on the new album, a live date this month, and a trip to Europe in July, Parts & Labor have plenty on their plate for the moment.

That goes double for singer/knob-twiddler Dan Friel, who will release Ghost Town, his first solo album, via Important Records on May 13. The record's opening track is available for downloading over in Forkcast. [MORE...]

Photos: Shearwater / Michael Gira [New York, NY; 05/05/08]

Photos by Kathryn Yu

See, now this is how you do a record release show-- even if the release of the record in question is still nearly a month off. Shearwater pulled out all the stops for last night's gig at New York City's Florence Gould Hall at the French Institute, showing off their soon-to-alight Rook with a little help from the string quartet, trumpeters, woodwind players, and harpist featured on the album.

Even the folks behind Rook's rather eerie cover art, Kahn & Selesnick, turned out to provide projections. Rook arrives June 3 on Matador, and Shearwater will play one more lavish album showcase in their hometown of Austin on May 29, plus plenty more shows before and after that.

Last night also saw a rare appearance from a solo Michael Gira, who's calmed down just a wee bit since his days fronting Swans.

Shearwater








Michael Gira



[MORE...]

Abe Vigoda Prep New LP for Dean Spunt's PPM Label

California art punkers (and Smell regulars) Abe Vigoda are alive, well, and still making with the jams. Their latest, Skeleton, is due July 8 on CD and LP from Post Present Medium, the label owned and operated by No Age's Dean Spunt. What's more, PPM recently lined up a distribution deal with Chicago's Touch and Go Records, so no matter where you find yourself, Abe won't be too far off.

As previously mentioned, Abe Vigoda will contribute a forthcoming single to Aagoo Records' ongoing "David Horvitz 7" Picture Disc" series. They've also got a handful of shows on the bubble, all in L.A., and most of them at the Smell. Awfully nice scene ya'll have out there. Mind sharing? Oh, right, the record. [MORE...]

Sparks Perform Entire Catalog Over 21-Date Residency
New album, Exotic Creatures of the Deep, due later this month

No matter how dire things may get in this world, at least, it seems, we'll always have Sparks. The oddball avant-pop duo shows no signs of slowing down here in 2008, with a new album on the way and plans afoot to pay tribute to the 20 that came before it too.

Beginning May 16, Sparks will waltz into London's Islington Academy to perform their 1971 opus Halfnelson (aka Sparks) in its entirety-- and they won't leave the stage until June 11. Not even to pee. Well, okay, maybe to pee. And, fine, they'll probably go sleep now and then too.

But still, May 16 marks the beginning of "Sparks Spectacular", a mammoth 21-date London residency, over the course of which Sparks will roll through every last studio album they've blessed their adoring public with to date. That's 20 studio albums, each one given a single night in the spotlight. As for the 21st date? Sparks will relocate to London's Shepherds Bush Empire to premiere their brand new album, Exotic Creatures of the Deep, from start to finish.

Support at these gigs comes from the likes of the Rumble Strips, the Young Knives, the Electric Soft Parade, and Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip. What's more, anyone crazy enough to purchase a so-called "Golden Ticket"-- which grants its user access to all 21 of the "Sparks Spectacular" shows-- will receive an exclusive new Sparks song on CD entitled "Islington N1" and written especially for the occasion.

You'd think all this hoopla would have the brothers Sparks pooped, but oh no. The very night after their residency wraps, the guys embark on a brief tour of the Baltic region. They'll also grace Japan with their antics in July.

Exotic Creatures of the Deep, meanwhile, features 13 tracks and arrives May 19 in the UK via Sparks' own Lil' Beethoven imprint. Buyers can opt for either the regular or the fancy-booklet-with-foldout-poster format. But since you made it this far into a Sparks story, we know you're buying both. [MORE...]

Man Man/Bablicon Offshoot Icy Demons Go to Miami

Photo by Shannon Benine

Icy Demons are a band of pairs. The band has a pair of leaders in Man Man/Need New Body's Chris Powell (aka Pow Pow) and Need New Body/Bablicon's Griffin Rodriguez (aka Blue Hawaii). Those principal players hail from a pair of cities (Powell from Philly, Rodriguez from Chicago), and on their forthcoming third album, they pair their ineffably genre-crossing music with equally gonzo titles. After all, the record's called Miami Ice, and it has songs called "Who There???", "Jantar Mantar", and "Crittin' Down to Baba's".

Miami Ice also finds Pow Pow and Blue Hawaii collaborating with Jeff Parker (Tortoise), Russell Higbee (Man Man), Josh Abrams (Prefuse 73, Sam Prekop), and Chicago improviser Tomeka Reid. Pow Pow and Blue Hawaii's own newly formed Obey Your Brain label will release Miami Ice on July 15.

Shortly after the album's release, Icy Demons' touring ensemble will play the 2008 Pitchfork Music Festival before heading off on a short Midwestern tour. Before that tour, the band has one Chicago show this month. [MORE...]

My Bloody Valentine Announce North American Tour!
Yo La Tengo, Dinosaur Jr., Mercury Rev, Harmonia, Lilys, Growing join ATP New York

Well my little gazers of shoe, it's finally happening. My Bloody Valentine have revealed that they will pack up all the Jaguars and Jazzmasters and all the folks who have to constantly re-tune those Jaguars and Jazzmasters for an extended visit to the United States of America (and Toronto)-- one that will include the previously freaked-out-about and recently-expanded ATP New York, along with seven additional dates.

Following the ATP hysteria, Kevin Shields, Bilinda Butcher, Debbie Googe, and Colm O'Ciosoig kick things off September 22 in New York City and don't let go of the whammy bars until October 2 in Los Angeles. Man, I'm getting all wobbly-legged just thinking about it.

At this point it's sorta hard to believe the Valentines still haven't shown their reunited selves in public yet (hence the nearly-two-decades-old photos everyone keeps using). Their first comeback gig goes down June 20 in London, as you know, and quite a few follow around Europe and even Japan before MBV hit our shores.

And hey, we did mention that ATP New York has expanded, didn't we? The fest, co-curated by My Bloody Valentine, now includes appearances from Yo La Tengo, Dinosaur Jr., Mercury Rev, Harmonia, Lilys, and Growing in addition to MBV and all those other cool people. ATP has released another batch of tickets for the strictly limited event, and those are on sale now via the fest's website.

Finally, don't forget the Kevin Shields/Patti Smith meetup The Coral Sea, which blows up a compact-disc-reading device near you on July 11 via the pair's own PASK imprint. [MORE...]

Massive Attack Curate Meltdown Fest, Tour Europe
Nab Gang of Four, Grace Jones, Fleet Foxes, Tom Tom Club for Meltdown

Mind your boots: here comes the Meltdown Festival, pouring itself out over absolutely every square inch of London's multi-venue Southbank Centre June 13-22. This year's offerings were selected by none other than Bristol trip-hop icons Massive Attack, and the thing's about as well-curated as the guest vocalists on Mezzanine. Let's explore.

Massive Attack will perform at the beginning and the end of the festival, as well as mix a live performance of the Blade Runner soundtrack by the Heritage Orchestra. As for the band's other picks, well, they're highlighted by appearances from Gang of Four, Grace Jones, Johnny Clarke, Stiff Little Fingers performing their 1979 debut Inflammable Material in its entirety, the Tom Tom Club, George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, Fleet Foxes, Elbow, the Yellow Magic Orchestra, Adrian Sherwood, Dälek, the Cool Kids, the Shape of Broad Minds, Flying Lotus, Tunng, Aloe Blacc, Terry Callier, Leila, the Shortwave Set, and Martina Topley-Bird.

Additionally, there will be DJ sets from Peaches and Kieran "Four Tet" Hebden, chats, some visual art, and screenings of some fine films, too. Seems like that oughta fill up nine days, right?

As for Massive Attack's other plans, well, word is, their follow-up to 2003's 100th Window is due sometime this year. A host of producers and guests have been rumored to be attached to the project, from Dave Sitek and Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio to frequent collaborator Horace Andy (who is also playing Meltdown). We'll leave that to the speculators before getting to the cold hard facts: beyond their Meltdown, Massive Attack are touring this summer. Dates after the jump. [MORE...]

Mirah Conjures Old Days on Rarities Compilation

Insect-friendly K crooner Mirah will give her fans reason to hold out for another Miracle with the June 24 release of a rarities compilation on Modern Radio.

Called The Old Days Feeling, the comp collects 14 previously unreleased, out-of-print, and simply hard to find tracks from her catalog. Feeling's release is just one of many special events Modern Radio has planned to celebrate its ninth anniversary. If all that still isn't enough to sell you on the disc, it features liner notes by Beat Happening/K Records founder Calvin Johnson.

Finally, Mirah has a handful of May dates with collaborators Spectraatone International to herald the compilation's release. [MORE...]

Photos: Radiohead [West Palm Beach, FL; 05/05/08]

Photos by Margarita Gonzalez

Having turned the world on its head with a little Rainbows magic, Radiohead are now setting things straight again with a slightly more conventional activity: the performing of music in the live concert setting.

The quintessential quintet kicked off its epic 2008 tour last night at the Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida, and pretty much all of your old friends were there: "Airbag", "Just", "Everything in Its Right Place", "Street Spirit (Fade Out)", "Optimistic", "How to Disappear Completely", and more.

Plenty of relatively new acquaintances showed up as well, including "Nude", "Faust Arp", "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi", "House of Cards", "Videotape", and even B-side and Pitchfork.tv hit "Bangers & Mash".

As you peruse the photo selection and the many remaining tour dates below, don't forget to be mindful of your carbon emissions.

Set List:

01 All I Need
02 Bodysnatchers
03 There There
04 Reckoner
05 The Gloaming
06 Morning Bell
07 Nude
08 How to Disappear Completely
09 15 Step
10 Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
11 Idioteque
12 Bullet Proof..I Wish I Was
13 Where I End and You Begin
14 Airbag
15 Everything In Its Right Place
16 The National Anthem
17 Videotape
***encore***
18 Optimistic
19 Just
20 Faust Arp
21 Exit Music (For a Film)
22 Bangers & Mash
*** encore***
23 House of Cards
24 Street Spirit (Fade Out)










[MORE...]

Radiohead Launch Tour, Help Lower Carbon Footprints
Reveal "Nude" remix data

What's that strange sound, echoing from over yonder? Why, it's the call of the wild Radiohead, who begin their global migration this very day, Monday, the fifth of May, 2008.

Scientists and so-called music journalists have been tracking the movements of the wild Radiohead for some time now, and they've determined this year's migration will commence in the West Palm Beach area of Florida. The wild Radiohead will spend a couple weeks wandering these lands until they've exhausted the region's supply of their primary source of sustenance, Radiohead fan dollars. Then it's off to Europe in search of the far more nourishing Radiohead fan euro, then North America again for the hell of it, and finally Japan, where the Radiohead fan yen is hard to beat. After that, in all likelihood, comes a period of hibernation.

Herds of wild Radiohead are known to travel in tandem with Grizzly Bears, Bats, and wild Angus.

And researchers have long gained insight into the ways of the wild Radiohead by analyzing residual matter left by the wild Radiohead's only known parasite: the Radiohead fan. These researchers will find their work more difficult, however, given the wild Radiohead's long-brewing vendetta against the scourge known as the "carbon footprint." We're not quite sure how the wild Radiohead managed to harness human technologies, but they've now created a website devoted to helping these fans reduce their footprint. They've also given this website a name worthy of another noted UK species, the wild Monty Python: "The Most Gigantic Flying Mouth for Some Time". We kid you not.

Apparently, the creatures have also been doing some research themselves, as yesterday they posted data on their website regarding the success of the "Nude" remix project. It seems that the wild Radioheads is very closely monitored indeed.

Keep an eye out for wild Radiohead sightings on MTV and VH1, plus at all of the spots below. [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.)