ARCADE FIRE MEMBERS TO PLAY FREE SHOWS IN OHIO

Win Butler, Will Butler, Regine Chassagne and Jeremy Gara of the Arcade Fire will be playing a free concert on Sunday, March 2nd at Stuart's Opera House in Nelsonville, Ohio in support of Barack Obama's bid for the Democratic nomination. The show is at 7 p.m., first come first serve.

They will also be playing a free show at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland on Monday, March 3rd. Doors are at 7 p.m., and the show is 18 and over, first come first serve.

Though the Arcade Fire is known as a Canadian band, Win and Will were born and raised in the U.S. (and spent their formative years in Texas), Regine is a dual citizen whose dad served in Vietnam, and Jeremy Gara is just a really nice Canadian who likes playing music and is sick of explaining to Americans what universal health care means.

KarenO, MIA and others to appear in Converse Ad

MIA, Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O and Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong are among the high-profile musicians appearing in a new advertising campaign for shoes.

Common, Joan Jett and the likenesses of Joy Division's Ian Curtis and 's Sid Vicious will also appear in Converse's forthcoming "Connectivity" campaign, which celebrates the American shoemaker's 100-year anniversary.

The campaign aims to "visually connect" past and present Converse icons, reports Pitchfork.

The style of Converse shoes known as "Chuck Taylors" or "Chucks" has long been popular with the indie rock set.

Stellastarr*dom

Stellastarr* have nearly completed recording their third studio album.

After parting ways with major label RCA last year, the band funded the new album entirely themselves, recording at New York's Mission Sound studio with producer Tim O'Heir, who produced the band's 2003 debut.

Frontman Shawn Christensen said that the new album has a cranked-up "sense of urgency" and is more fast-tempo than their mellower sophomore album 'Harmonies For The Haunted'.

"The songs are more akin to the first album as far as energy and fast-tempo go," Christensen

The New York quartet are currently shopping around the new album to small indie labels. "It's really weird with the majors right now," he said. "We want to have complete ownership of the record, so we funded it ourselves out of pocket."

Christensen added that the band plan to release the album later this year in an unorthodox way. "We live in a digital era so we're trying to find an interesting way to release it," he said. "Radiohead can basically shit on a piece of paper and people will buy it, but we're still building up our fan base, so we need to be creative," he said.

The band have recorded 13 songs, which they plan to narrow down to approximately 10. Song titles include 'Prom Zombie', 'Sonja Cries', 'Warchild', 'Graffiti Eyes', 'Tokyo Sky', 'Move On', 'Numbers' and 'Freak Out'.

Stellastarr* plan to preview eight of the new songs at a show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles tonight (February 27) and tomorrow at San Francisco's Noise Pop Festival.

"We've been out of the limelight for a while, so we want to come back with a vengeance," Christensen said. said. "Also my voice has changed. I've had throat problems over the past couple of years and my vocal coaches recommended that I stave off singing in low registers."

Foo "Fights" Marvel Comics

Comic books are serious business, and the cartoon adaptations of them are really serious business, apparently.

The Foo Fighters filed suit against Marvel Comics alleging the company yanked big chunks of two songs, "Best of You" and "Free Me" to soundtrack a trailer for its upcoming animated series Wolverine and the X-Men. The suit seeks unspecified damages from Marvel, the cartoon's producers and animation company.

All Points West 2008

I am pleased to announce the lineup for All Points West 2008!

Pre-Sale starts TODAY, Wednesday at Noon!

This is your special opportunity to buy passes to the All Points West festival before they go on sale to the general public!

From 12 noon until 5:00PM (EST) on Wednesday, February 27, you will be able to use your unique password to purchase three-day passes only to the festival, and three-day carpool passes.

These tickets and passes are limited, so don't wait!

Three-day passes are available for $258 plus $30 parking per day (there is a limit of TWO 3-day passes).

Three-day carpool packages, which consist of 4 tickets and 1 parking pass, are available for $1,122. Limit of one carpool package per person during presale.

For more information on the carpool, click HERE.

Your unique password for this presale is GGSHVS.

All you need to do is enter your presale code and you're all set!

Tickets are ONLY available online through Ticketmaster.com. They will NOT be available at outlets or phones!

Tickets will become available to the general public on Friday, February 29th at Noon EST, so don't hesitate.

Please visit All Points West for more information.

Showcasing Scotland

Since 2004, The Scottish Arts Council bring the finest music all the way from Scotland to Austin for SXSW; this year is NO different.

This year’s lineup includes Sons and Daughters, Frightened Rabbit,

The Dykeenies, The Law, Our Lunar Activies, Popup, Jyrojets and Make Model

Friday, March 14 at 2:45pm at Latitude 30°, 512 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, Texas

SHOWCASING SCOTLAND PART OF THE BRITISH EMBASSY AT SXSW 2008

Showcasing Scotland, presented by the Scottish Arts Council, Highland and Islands Enterprise and GoEvents, in association with DF Concerts and PCL promotions will take place on Friday, March 14 in the heart of the Warehouse District in Austin, compeered by BBC Radio Scotland DJ Vic Galloway.

This is the fifth year that the Scottish Arts Council has provided support for up and coming Scottish bands to attend SXSW. Since 2004 the organization has supported over 50 bands to showcase at the event at a crucial point in their musical careers, including Biffy Clyro, Idlewild, Franz Ferdinand and the Delgados.

Commenting on this year’s SXSW Ian Smith, Head of Music at the Scottish Arts Council said: ‘SXSW has become a regular feature for the Scottish Arts Council and this year we maintain our commitment to ensure that the bands selected from Scotland will be able to maximize every opportunity that the world’s greatest showcase event for contemporary pop/rock music represents

FRIGHTENED RABBIT
www.frightenedrabbit.com

THE DYKEENIES
www.thedykeenies.com

OUR LUNAR ACTIVITIES
www.myspace.com/ourlunaractivities

POPUP
www.popuptheband.com

JYROJETS
www.jyrojets.com

SONS AND DAUGHTERS
www.sonsanddaughtersloveyou.com

MAKE MODEL
www.makemodel.co.uk

The Law
www.myspace.com/upthelaw

JayMay's new album

Just a quick reminder the Jaymay's debut album, Autumn Fallin' will be released on March 11th on Blue Note.

To celebrate the release, she will be performing at this year's SXSW festival:

Saturday 3pm Momo's (Hit Sheet part)
Saturday 8pm Maggie Mae's (Official SXSW Show)

And will be having her record release party at Mercury Lounge on March 19th

Come out in Texas or New York to see why PASTE just gave the record 4 stars and ROLLING STONE described her songwriting as "so cryptic and detail-packed that it could almost be a gender-flipped outtake from Blood On the Tracks"

Full U.S. Tour details to be announced shortly

Getting KOOKY on Tour

The Kooks announce May/June 2008 North American US Tour
and special pre-sale to coincide with the release of their sophomore album ‘KONK'

Having debuted their new songs at a handful of over-packed, sweaty shows in Los Angeles, Toronto and New York, along with a performance on Conan O’Brien, The Kooks return has been met with rabid enthusiasm. The band have now announced they will return to the US this Spring for their biggest US Tour to date in support of their sophomore album KONK, out on April 15th through Astralwerks.

Spring 2008 US Tour Dates
May 18th – San Diego, CA – House of Blues – all ages
May 19th – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern – all ages
May 22nd – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore – all ages
May 24th – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom – 19 & over
May 26th – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom – all ages
May 28th – Salt Lake City, UT – Avalon Theatre – all ages
May 29th – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre – 16 & over
May 31st – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Café – 18 & over
June 1st – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall Ballroom – all ages
June 2nd – Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre – all ages
June 4th – Toronto, ON – Kool Haus – 19 & over
June 5th – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore @ TLA – all ages
June 6th – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club – 18 & over
June 7th – Washington, DC – 9.30 Club – all ages
June 11th – New York, NY – Terminal 5 – all ages

Pre-sale will begin Feb 29th (yes, it’s a leap year!). Stay tuned for more information about ticket sales and outlets.

Some early vibes on the new album:

'these guys are big-hearted boys from the same planet as the early Beatles. Proof that maturity needn't kill a thrill, KONK has tunes galore, plus jumpy skiffle-band beats tightened by several seasons spent on the road.' - LA Weekly

'you can almost feel them channel the forebears of their musical influence, The Beatles, The Monkees, Blur, Oasis, and The Kinks. Their songs offer a retrospective of what has made British Indie Pop so palatable to the ears of the American audience.' - LAist

'The Kooks have been described as an 'almost-perfect' blend of ‘60s- and ‘90s-style Britpop and the new millennium’s post-punk. What we dig about these guys in their young twenties is their energy and exuberance. But, these Brits have got talent to back that up. They may be a young band, but they sometimes seem like experienced professionals.' - Black Book

Noise Pop 2008 Final Daily Schedule Of All Events

The Noise Pop 2008 Festival takes over San Francisco February 26 through March 2 with a celebration of the best independent music, art and film. This year's festival features live performances by Magnetic Fields, The Walkmen, Cursive, Fu Manchu, Mountain Goats, and the live debut of She & Him, the new musical collaboration between Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, plus more including the best Bay Area bands. Noise Pop also includes an indie film festival, art gallery events including an Elliott Smith photo exhibit, a Yoko Ono “Wish Tree” exhibit, and a Noise Pop Expo with free music business panels and an indie design fair, daily happy hours, after parties and more.



TUESDAY - 2/26

Opening Night Party
with Mika Miko, DJ Amp Live (Zion I), Tempo No Tempo
RICKSHAW STOP
8pm-9pm Free sushi from blowfish & open bar
BADGE HOLDER & VIP Only

WEDNESDAY - 2/27

Three Ring Records presents
Happy Hour at Noise Pop Headquarters
with: Music For Animals, Solar Powered People, Jub
THEE PARKSIDE
5:00PM - 8:00PM FREE

Happy Hour at The Diesel Store
with: DJ Sets
The Diesel Store (101 Post St.)
6:00PM - 9:00PM FREE

Sights of Sounds Works of art from the music community
PARK LIFE STORE
7-10pm FREE all ages

Noise Pop Film Festival
Presented by SF Sketchfest
HECKLER
Roxie Theatre
7pm $10
Q&A Following screening with Jamie Kennedy and director Michael Addis


Noise Pop Film Festival
Presented by SF IndieFest
WHAT WE DO IS SECRET
Roxie Theatre
9:15pm $10 -
Q&A following screening with Shane West and writer-director Rodger Grossman


Party HARHAR Hardy presents:
an evening of Comedy with:
Dragon Boy Suede, Beth Lisick and Tara Jepson, Bucky Sinister, Kevin Munroe, Ali Wong, Anthony Bedard (host) + musical guests Dr. Abacus!
12 Galaxies
8pm/pm $10 all ages


Minipop
with: West Indian Girl, Two Sheds, Trophy Fire
Bottom of the Hill
7:30pm/8:30pm $12 all ages


THE ENTRANCE BAND
with: The Mumlers, honey.moon.tree., Golden Animals
Cafe Du Nord
8pm/9pm $14 21+


The Walkmen
with: The Broken West, Nyles Lannon, A Modern Machine
The Independent
7:30pm/8:00pm $18 21+


QUASI
with: Little Ones, peoplepeople, The Minor Canon
RICKSHAW STOP
8:30pm/9pm $12 all ages


Fu Manchu
with: Saviours, ASG, Orchid
Slim's
7:30pm/8:30pm $17 ALL AGES

Italians Do It Better In San Francisco Party
Noise Pop After Party
with: DJ Mike Simonetti
Harlot (46 Minna Street)
10:00PM - 2:00AM $5 FREE FOR BADGE HOLDERS


THURSDAY - 2/28

Presented by ASCAP
Happy Hour at Noise Pop Headquarters
THEE PARKSIDE
5:00PM - 8:00PM FREE

Happy Hour at The Diesel Store
with: DJ Sets
The Diesel Store (101 Post St.)
6:00PM - 9:00PM FREE

Rebel Reading Series and Wholphin Present
Noise From Other Rooms A Revealing Evening of Words and Cultural Ephemera
12 Galaxies
7pm $5 all ages

Pictures of Me: Rare photographs of Elliott Smith by Autumn de Wilde
Queen's Nails Annex
7-11pm FREE all ages


FADER presents
Blitzen Trapper
with: Fleet Foxes, Here, Here, Sholi
Bottom of the Hill
7:30pm/8:30pm $12 all ages


The Dodos
with: Or, the Whale, Bodies of Water, Willlow Willlow
Cafe Du Nord
8:00pm/9:00pm $10/$12 21+


Stellastarr*
with: Birdmonster, Throw Me The Statue, The Hundred Days
GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL
7:00pm/7:00pm $18 ALL AGES

The Magnetic Fields
with: Interstellar Radio Company
Herbst Theatre
8PM (BADGES NOT HONORED AT THIS SHOW - MUST HAVE TICKET)


Kelley Stoltz
with: Grand Archives, The Morning Benders, The Weather Underground
The Independent
7:30pm/8:00pm $14 21+


Presented by SF Sketchfest
Human Giant
with: Magic Bullets (closing), Voxhaul Broadcast
Mezzanine
8:00pm $20 (seated) - $15 (General) 21+


FRIDAY - 2/29

Presented by Sonicbids
Happy Hour at Noise Pop Headquarters
with: The Don'ts, The High Violets, The Union Trade
THEE PARKSIDE
5:00PM - 8:00PM FREE

Happy Hour at The Diesel Store
with: DJ Sets
The Diesel Store (101 Post St.)
6:00PM - 9:00PM FREE

Noise Pop Film Festival
Presented by SF IndieFest
WESLEY WILLIS'S JOY RIDES
ATA
Two screenings 7pm & 9:15 $8
Q&A following both screenings with Jello Biafra and director Chris Bagley

The Mountain Goats
with: Jeffrey Lewis and the Jitters, OKAY, Aim Low Kid
Bimbos
7pm/8pm $18 18+


Holy Fuck
with: A Place to Bury Strangers, White Demin, Veil Veil Vanish
Bottom of the Hill
8:30pm/9pm $10 all ages

The Magnetic Fields
with: Interstellar Radio Company
Herbst Theatre
8pm (BADGES NOT HONORED AT THIS SHOW - MUST HAVE TICKET)


Helio Sequence
with: Film School, The Builders And The Butchers, Built for the Sea
The Independent
8:30pm/9pm $14 21+


The Rosebuds
with: Working for a Nuclear Free City, Foxtail Somersault
Art Show by CreativeMindsSF (a collective fine art exhibition featuring emerging Bay Area artists)
MEZZANINE
7pm/9pm $15 21+


Cursive
with: Darker My Love, Judgement Day, The Blacks
Great American Music Hall
7:30pm/8Pm $18 all ages


Fader presents Electropop with:
Wale
with: Trackademicks, Nick Catchdubs
Mighty (Curated by Blasthaus)
9Pm - after hours $15/$20 21+


SATURDAY - 3/1

Noise Pop Expo - Education Session
12 Galaxies
FREE all ages

Presented by Indie Pop Rocks! on SomaFM
Happy Hour at Noise Pop Headquarters
with: Audio Out Send, Excuses For Skipping, Buddy
THEE PARKSIDE
5:00PM - 8:00PM FREE +free sushi provided by blowfish!


Noise Pop Film Festival
Such Hawks, Such Hounds
ATA
2pm $8
Q&A following screening with director John Srebalus


Noise Pop Film Festival
YOU WEREN'T THERE: A HISTORY OF CHICAGO PUNK 1977-1984
ATA
4pm $8
Q&A following screening with directors Joe Losurdo and Christina Tillman

Gutter Twins
with: Great Northern, Monotonix, Apache
Bimbos
7pm/8pm $18 18+

British Sea Power
with: 20 Minute Loop, Colour Music, Off Campus
Bottom of the Hill
8pm/9pm $14 21+

The Mountain Goats
with: David Dondero, Tulsa, Conspiracy of Venus
The Independent
8:30pm/9pm $18 21+


Port O'Brien & Delta Spirit (co-headline)
with: What Made Milwaukee Famous, The Mayfire
CafÈ Du Nord
8pm/9pm $10/$12 All Ages


Puma and Fader present Electropop with:
MSTRKRFT
with: LA Riots, Lazaro Casanova, Sleazemore
Mighty (Curated by Blasthaus)
9Pm - after hours $15/$20 21+


The Virgins
with: Airborne Toxic Event , The Blakes, Man/Miracle
MEZZANINE
8pm/9pm $12/$15 21+


Presented by KALX
Panther
with: Immigrant, Wallpaper, Distraction Fit
Rickshaw Stop
8:30pm/9pm $10/$12 all ages


SUNDAY - 3/2

Noise Pop Expo - Pop & Shop
12 Galaxies
12pm-5pm FREE all ages
with DJ Omar (Popscene) and DJ Ryan Poulsen (Booty Basement)

Noise Pop Film Festival - Homegrown Obsessions
NICK'S WORLD OF SYNTHESIZERS + Toy Punks Vol i
ATA
2pm $6

The Mountain Goats
with: So Many Dynamos, Caves, D.W. Holiday
Bottom of the Hill
12pm/1pm $18 all ages

Tilly and the Wall
with: Capgun Coup , Tally Hall, Little Teeth
Rickshaw Stop
5:30pm/6pm $15 all ages

She & Him (featuring Zooey Deschanel and M Ward)
with: Whispertown2000, Adam Stephens (of Two Gallants),
Emily Jane White
Great American Music Hall
7pm/8pm $18/$20 all ages

Time to "Rearrange" Mates of State

Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel, the he and she music factory know as Mates of State, have confirmed the May 2008 release of their fifth full length album, Re-Arrange Us.

Re-Arrange Us follows Bring It Back, written and recorded around a schedule mandated by the birth of Gardner and Hammel's first child and hailed upon its spring 2006 release as "truly unique, wonderfully complex pop" (NYLON), "a top-shelf treat" (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY), an Essential by GQ and a Best of the Month in ELLE.

Though conceived (no pun intended) as a duo, Mates of State's have never failed to generate a trademark wall of sound built on dozens of varied voicings of keys, drums, and alternately lushly layered and playfully dueling vocals. On Re-Arrange Us they move beyond these boundaries (their traditional organ sound is a distant memory, replaced with organic piano and synth sounds) with additional instrumentation-not to mention a quantum leap in song craft apparent on instantly indelible gems like "Now," "Jigsaw" and "Get Better." Throughout Re-Arrange Us, Kori's piano and the emergence of both Mates' lead vocals from their trademark harmonizing signal the next stage of Mates of State's evolution.

Mates of State have been equally busy outside the studio: Last February, the band was the sole musical guest on NPR's This American Life tour, providing interludes for Ira Glass, Dave Eggers, Dan Savage, Sarah Vowell and David Rakoff's readings to 3000+ crowds in Boston, Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and beyond.

Mates of State's pre-Bring It Back discography included the albums My Solo Project, Our Constant Concern, and Team Boo, as well as numerous singles and EPs, most notably 2005's All Day EP.

The combination of acoustic instrumentation - Kori on baby grand, Jason playing with brushes - and an almost entirely new audiences inspired a subsequent fall run through New York, Northampton, and Boston (at the Museum of Fine Arts) accompanied by cello, trumpet and back-up vocalists - making it very likely that they'll be taking additional instrumentation on tour for the first time when they hit the road later this year, both headlining and making the rounds at a slew of US festivals this summer and fall.

A new album, a new daughter, a new sound, and a new round of world touring. That's Mates of State: truly prolific in every sense of the word.

Spoon Has Confirmed Dates

DATES AND VENUES CONFIRMED FOR SPRING 2008 VICTORY LAP
The Walkmen & White Rabbits To Support

Spoon has begun confirming cities and venues for its April 2008 victory lap of the United States. Confirmed dates as of press time are:

Wed/Apr-02 Kansas City, KS @ Uptown *#
Fri/Apr-04 Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre *#
Sat/Apr-05 Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts *#
Sun/Apr-06 Detroit. MI @ Emerald Theater *#
Mon/Apr-07 Pittsburgh, PA @ Carnegie Music Hall *#
Wed/Apr-09 New York, NY @ Terminal 5
Thu/Apr-10 Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory *
Sat/Apr-12 Norfolk, VA @ Norva *#
Mon/Apr-14 Atlanta, GA @ Centerstage *#
Wed/Apr-16 Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution *#
Fri/Apr-18 Nashville, TN @ Vanderbilt University (Rites of Spring)
Sat/Apr-19 Indianapolis, IN @ Vogue

* = w/ The Walkmen
# = w/ White Rabbits

Additional cities and venues will be announced as they are confirmed. For information on tickets, please go to www.spoontheband.com.

Editors and Hot Hot Heat

The British version of Interpol...The Editors...and America's own Hot Hot Heat, brought down the roof at the House of Blues in Las Vegas last night and I was there. Linked up are pictures, enjoy.

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES.

Jimmy Eat World and Paramore Update

This is a follow up to it's original post.

Tour dates have been announced!

April 1st - San Antonio, TX - Freeman Coliseum
April 2nd - Lubbock, TX - Lonestar Amphitheater
April 3rd - El Paso, TX - El Paso County Coliseum
April 5th - Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amph. (Bamboozle West)
April 6th - Bakersfield, CA - Rabobank Arena
April 8th - San Jose, CA - Event Center at San Jose State
April 9th - Sacramento, CA - Sacramento Memorial Auditorium
April 10th - Salem, OR - Salem Armory
April 12th - Pocatello, ID - Holt Arena
April 14th - Orem, UT - McKay Events Center
April 16th - Council Bluffs, IA - Mid America Center
April 17th - Springfield, MO - The Shrine Mosque
April 18th - Des Moines, IA - Val Air Ballroom
April 19th - DeKalb, IL - Convocation Center
April 22nd - Dayton, OH - Hara Arena
April 25th - Rochester, NY - Gordon Field House
April 26th - Washington, DC - Bender Arena
April 28th - Albany, NY - Washington Avenue Armory
April 30th - Lowell, MA - Paul E. Tsongas Arena
May 2nd - Atlantic City, NJ - Taj Mahal Mark G. Etess Arena

UPDATE: RADIOHEAD CONFIRMS MAY 2008 U.S. DATES & VENUES

RADIOHEAD has confirmed the dates and venues to be visited on the first segment of its upcoming North American tour. They are:

Pre-sale for the above dates will begin February 14 via W.A.S.T.E. with general on-sales following on February 16.

The second half of the North American tour will follow the band's summer tour of the UK and Europe.





May 5 - Cruzan Amphitheatre - West Palm Beach, Florida
May 6 - Ford Amphitheatre - Tampa, Florida
May 8 - Lakewood Amphitheatre - Atlanta, Georgia
May 9 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - Charlotte, North Carolina
May 11 - Nissan Pavilion at Stone Ridge - Bristow, Virginia
May 14 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater - St Louis, Missouri
May 17 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion - Houston, Texas
May 18 - Superpages.com Center - Dallas, Texas



Original Posting Here

Beastie Boys Mini Tour

Beastie Boys schooled Chris Botti, Dave Koz, Spyro Gyra and Kirk Whalum and took home the Best Pop Instrumental Album Grammy at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.

The Mix-Up is the band's first instrumental Grammy and third Grammy overall, the previous two wins being in the Best Rap and Best Alternative categories for 1998's Hello Nasty.

Beastie Boys are currently in the studio but will be taking a break from their recording schedule to play three shows this spring:


03/04/08 - Terminal 5 - New York, NY (SOLD OUT)

03/07/08 - Big Cypress Indian Reservation - Clewiston, FL

03/08/08 - Centro Dinamico Pegaso - Mexico City, MX

The Mars Volta Go On Tour

The Mars Volta, whose current album The Bedlam In Goliath, crashed into the Billboard Top 200 at #3 last week, have confirmed the first dates of their spring 2008 headline tour, beginning April 1 at the House of Blues in Orlando, Florida, and including a make-up date at the Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio (the band's previous engagement having been rescheduled due to illness).

Hailed by THE NEW YORKER as "Perhaps the most musically adventurous act currently signed to a major label," The Mars Volta was formed in 2001 by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala. The band has released four albums to date: The gold-certified De-Loused In The Comatorium (2003) and Frances The Mute (2005), Amputechture (2006) and the just-released The Bedlam In Goliath. The new album and tour have been generating the most enthusiastic reviews of the band's career, with THE NEW YORK TIMES describing the band's recent New York City performance as "a mixture of rigorous virtuosity, psychedelic euphoria and punk intensity" and praising them as "rock's finest avatar of excess."

Confirmed dates are below. More will be announced shortly.

04/01/08 - House of Blues - Orlando, FL
04/04/08 - House of Blues - Myrtle Beach, SC
04/05/08 - The Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA
04/17/08 - The Pageant - Saint Louis, MO
04/18/08 - Newport Music Hall - Columbus, OH
04/20/08 - Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, IL
04/21/08 - Roy Wilkins Auditorium - St Paul, MN

More Dates TBA

Tokyo Police Club Follow Up

Update:
TOKYO POLICE CLUB - ELEPHANT SHELL
DEBUT ALBUM OUT APRIL 22 ON SADDLE CREEK (U.S.), MAY 5 ON MEMPHIS INDUSTRIES (UK)

Original Post Here.

Foos Expand Tour

After winning best Rock Album and Best Hard Rock Performance at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards last night, The Foo Fighters decided to expand their current tour!

U.S. tour dates below are below. The Foos will also be back on the road in the states this summer, stay tuned for announcements.

2/18/08 - Worcester MA - DCU Center
2/19/08 - New York NY - Madison Square Garden
2/21/08 - Philadelphia PA - Wachovia Spectrum
2/22/08 - Binghamton NY - SUNY Binghamton
2/24/08 - Detroit MI - Joe Louis Arena
2/25/08 - Rosemont IL - Allstate Arena
2/27/08 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
2/28/08 - Council Bluffs, IA - Mid America Center
2/29/08 - Fayetteville AR - Barnhill Arena
3/2/08 - Glendale AZ - Jobing.com Arena
3/3/08 - San Diego CA - Cox Arena
3/5/08 - Inglewood CA - The Forum
3/6/08 - Inglewood CA - The Forum

Shy Child Set To Release Sophomore Smash “Noise Won’t Stop” On Kill Rock Stars

Features SpankRock & Produced By Chris Zane (White Rabbits/Asobi Sesku/Les Savy Fav)

“Nothing short of an epileptic gonzo jamboree packed with psycho- botic power pop.” NME Radar Feature

“Like DFA 1979 produced by the Neptunes.” - The UK Guardian



The NME declares, “Shy Child are to Kraftwerk what The White Stripes are to Led Zeppelin!” And here is their story... Nate Smith (Drums) and Pete Cafarella (Vox/Keytar) met at Wesleyan University in the mid-90’s where Nate had invited Pete to join his band. Although Pete was kicked out a few days later the two formed a fast friendship that would eventually lead to the formation of Shy Child once they both had relocated to NYC. Initially the band was pursued when time permitted between their various projects. They recorded their 2004 album, “One With the Sun” with small expectations and an even smaller budget, recording it in Pete’s apartment to a computer with Chris Zane for the price of pizza and beer. It would prove to be just enough…


The band caught the attention of producer Paul Epworth (Kate Nash/Bloc Party/The Rapture) at SXSW and soon they were in the studio working on new material along with the band’s previous producer, Chris Zane (Les Savy Fav/White Rabbits/Asobi Seksu). The resulting album, “Noise Won’t Stop” bristles with frantic energy and blistering tones leading with the first track “Drop The Phone” and featuring the U.S. debut sonic single, “Astronaut”. And producer/artist extraordinaire SpankRock, lends a his rapping/vocals to the slickest album track “Kick Drum.”


After a US tour with Hot Chip in November of 2006, the band took the plunge and lived as ex-pats in London for the next 8 months. The time abroad began with a full UK tour in support of their old pals Klaxons culminating in 2 sold out dates at Shepard’s Bush Empire in London. And that was just the beginning; over the course of the summer they traversed the Emerald Isle four times and played numerous shows and festivals throughout Europe. The highlights included sets at 02 Wireless, Glastonbury, The Isle of Wight, and an opening slot at Wembley Stadium with Muse. When all was finished the dynamic duo had logged over 100 dates.


In June of 2007 in the UK they appeared on the venerable program, Later With Jools Holland. On the bill with them that night were Sir Paul McCartney and Bjork, which made for some mighty company indeed. Impressed with their unique sound fashion maven Stella McCartney requested the band to be the performers for her segment in the Fashion Rocks TV special that was broadcasted throughout Europe to over 60 million viewers. And a few months later in January 08, while performing as part of Australia’s legendary Big Day Out Festival, they were asked by Bjork to open for her at the Opera House in Sydney.


Now “Noise Won’t Stop” has found it’s home on the esteemed Kill Rock Stars Label and Shy Child are spending 2008 touring the U.S. Be on the look out for this transcendent two-some.



Tracklisting (U.S. Version)

1. Drop The Phone
2. Pressure To Come
3. The Volume
4. Kick Drum (Feat. Spank Rock)
5. Generation Y
6. Angel Of Mercy
7. Murder Capital
8. Astronaut
9. Noise Won't Stop
10. Summer
11. What's It Feel Like?
12. Cause and Effect

Tapes 'N Tapes Go On Tour

Tapes 'N Tapes announce US and Canada in support of their forthcoming album ‘Walk It Off’.

The album, which is the follow up to 2006’s ‘The Loon’ is scheduled to be released on April 8 and was produced by Dave Fridmann.

The band will preview the material at a number of shows at SXSW in Austin next month before kicking off the tour proper in Minneapolis, MN.


The dates are:
Austin, TX SXSW (March 12-16)
Minneapolis, MN First Avenue (April 10)
Chicago, IL Metro (11) Detroit, MI The Magic Stick (12)
Toronto, Ontario The Opera House (14)
Montreal, Quebec Cabaret Music Hall (15)
Burlington, VT Higher Ground Showcase Lounge - So. (16)
Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club - (17)
New York, NY Fillmore @ Irving (18) Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg (19)
Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church (22)
Washington, D.C. Nightclub 9:30 (23)
Chapel Hill, NC Local 506 (24)
Atlanta, GA The Earl (25)
St. Augustine, FL Cafe 11 (26)
Orlando, FL The Social (28)
Gainesville, FL Common Grounds (29)
Birmingham, AL Bottletree (30)
Austin, TX Antone's (May 2)
Denton, TX Hailey's (3)
Tucson, AZ Club Congress (6)
San Diego, CA The Casbah (7)
Los Angeles, CA Troubadour (8,9)
San Francisco, CA Fillmore (10)
Eugene, OR W.O.W. Hall (12)
Vancouver, B.C Richards on Richards (13)
Seattle, WA The Showbox (14)
Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue (16)
Denver, CO Bluebird Theater (17)

Peter Morén Flying Solo

Peter Morén of Peter, Bjorn and John is gearing up for a solo tour of the US and Canada, to take place in the spring.

The dates which kick off at New York’s Mercury Lounge, will support the release of his debut solo album ‘The Last Tycoon’, released April 8.

Moren will also play a select number of shows at SXSW next month.


The tour calls at:
New York, NY Mercury Lounge (April 21)
Cambridge, MA Middle East Upstairs (22)
Montreal, QC Cabaret Musee Juste Pour Rire (23)
Toronto, ON The Mod Club (24)
Columbus, OH Wexner Center (25)
Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern (26)
Vancouver, BC Biltmore Cabaret (28)
Seattle, WA The Triple Door (29)
Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge (30)
San Francisco, CA Swedish American Hall (May 1)
Los Angeles, CA The Hotel Café (2)
Los Angeles, CA Troubadour (3)

Foals for Obama!

Foals have lent their endorsement to US Democrat presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

In a MySpace bulletin, keyboardist Edwin Congreave indicated his band’s support for the senator and joked that they might send him a Foals T-shirt.

“If anyone is reading this from Florida, California, or New York, or indeed all the other states voting today in the democratic primaries, please do us all a favour and vote for Obama,” he wrote. “Foals are definitely for Obama."

“Everyone should be for Obama. he's great. Isn't he just great? We're thinking of sending him one of our T-shirts to wear. We'd wear his T-shirts if he sent us some. Obama? Obama? Can you hear me, Obama? We'd like some T-shirts.”

Spoon

Currently touring the Pacific Rim with a few Euro/UK one-offs on the horizon, the gentlemen of Spoon will soon announce cities and venues for an April 2008 victory lap of the United States.

2007 is now universally regarded as the year of Spoon: The band's sixth full-length studio album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, was released July 10 on Merge to raves from everyone from TIME and THE NEW YORKER to PITCHFORK and STEREOGUM to MEN'S HEALTH and ELLE and all points between.

Last year was also a year of firsts for Spoon: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga was the first Spoon album to debut in the top 10, while Oct. 6 marked the band's debut appearance on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. They got some sweet photos out of that deal too.

The year closed with Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga atop year-end best lists including NPR, GQ ("The Best Music of 2007" lead), NEW YORK (#3 Best in Pop Music), ROLLING STONE (#10 album), PITCHFORK (#7 album), BLENDER (#12 album), ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY (Top 10 Viral Video), SPIN (#9 album), HARP (#6 album), THE ONION, PASTE, the WASHINGTON POST and many more-as evidenced by the HYPE MACHINE "2007 Music Blog Zeitgeist" index of the blogosphere's most discussed artists and albums, which ranked Spoon #5 artist and Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga #5 album.

Spoon is comprised of Britt Daniel, Jim Eno, Eric Harvey and Rob Pope. The band's debut album Telephono was released in 1996 and was combined with the 1997 EP Soft Effects for a recent re-release. Other Spoon full-lengths have included A Series Of Sneaks (1998), Girls Can Tell (2001), Kill The Moonlight (2002), Gimme Fiction (2005), and Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007)