The Pixies Announce (Singular) Tour Date
Just record another album already...
What's the best part about being an underappreciated indie rock band? Is it the lasting fame after you've broken up? The revival of your career in an apocalyptic anti-establishment movie based on a Palahniuk novel? Maybe the royalties from Hot Topic all of a sudden realizing they can sell your shirts?
No, the best was yet to come for The Pixies. For them, it's definitely the killer internet hype you can create with a single statement of your band either reuniting or not. After a reunion in 2004 that included performances at Lollapalooza and Coachella, the band has been bouncing back and forth about a full reunion tour and new album ever since. After numerous statements of efforts fizzling out on a tour and no public progress on a record, The Pixies have just announced their first gig since 2007: they'll be playing The UK's Isle of Wight Festival.
Is this a sign of good things from The Pixies? Perhaps a renewed (once again) ambition to get back together? Perhaps the beginning of a European stint to support some new material? Or just a one-time payday sort of gimmick that you get to pull off when everyone from 8th grade neo-indies to 30-somethings worships you. I don't care. I'll take any chance I can to have the Pixies ask me where my mind is, once again.
The Pixies playing "Where Is My Mind" in 1988.
Posted by Mark Steffen on Mar 13, 2009 @ 6:00 am
Makin' Movies with Broken Social Scene and The Handsome Furs
Canadia's Cult Leaders Embrace Celluloid
Don't hold it against Broken Social Scene'ers and Wolf Parade "side project" The Handsome Furs for being so damn good at being photographed. After all, they've spent their entire careers crafting those perfect beards and appropriately zombie-like facial expressions that everyone from Williamsburg to Long Beach has been trying to copy.
It makes sense then that both of these bands are putting out huge, beautiful video projects.
First up, Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning of BSS are pairing their acting chops with fellow bandmates Justin Peroff and Andrew Whiteman to play the wedding band in an upcoming Rachel McAdams/Eric Bana drama The Time Traveler's Wife. The song they'll be performing? Oh come on, you know the irony just has to be overly-steeped on this project: Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart."
And on other Northern fronts, Canada's Handsome Furs, having released their newest album, Face Control, have put out the first single's video: "I'm Confused." It's a lucious romp through a seeming rural college town that includes a performance scene, multiple uber-indie looking girls, a run around campus, and, of course, a make-out scene between the now-wed band members Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry. In fact, it looks a lot like my alma mater's town which sort of creeps me out in the good way. The hook? It's a zombie flick. It's cheesy, beautiful, gross, erotic, hilarious, and utterly stupid, all at once. I love it.
The "I'm Confused" video from The Handsome Furs.
Posted by Mark Steffen on Mar 12, 2009 @ 6:00 am
The Theme Song Mixtape
Everyone has a theme song, and I bet most of you pick 'Danger Zone' by Kenny Loggins.
Posted by Lisa White on
Mar 12, 2009 @ 12:00 am Straight from the Los Angeles rap scene and into the ear buds comes The '87 Stick Up Kids. Their recent single “Born to Role” features a horn heavy beat that inspires obsessive head nodding. The single features fellows L.A. emcee Micah James, who opens the song with solid flowetry. Rapping over a beat remixed from Diplo, the group offers a taste of what rap used to be in the 90’s. The ’87 Stick Up Kids consists of four long-time friends Deacon, Nash, Squish and Rockwell. Deacon and Nash are the emcees of the group, Squish does the producing, and Rockwell does the deejaying along with co-producing. Their influences include some classics; Wu-Tang’s 36 Chambers, Nas’ Illmatic, De La Soul, Public Enemy and the most evident in “Born to Role,” the Beastie Boys.
Posted by Andrew Macnider on
Mar 11, 2009 @ 7:00 am Pete Yorn considered his first three albums to be part of a trilogy, so this fourth album (entitled Back and Fourth) is some sort of musical rebirth for the singer songwriter. Yorn's label (Columbia Records) wasted no expense on this musical endeavor, either - Yorn recorded with producer Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Rilo Kiley) and had the entire project looked over by Rick Rubin. Appearing on the album is drummer Joey Waronker (Beck), pianist/arranger Nate Wolcott (Bright Eyes, The Faint, Rilo Kiley), guitarist Jonny Polonsky, bassist Joe Karnes (John Cale) and backing vocalist Orenda Fink (Azure Ray). Quite the way to set up a new "musical chapter" in your career. Look for Yorn on tour in 2009, and also look for some new music. He plans to release some more stuff later in the year.
Posted by Wes Soltis on
Mar 10, 2009 @ 9:00 am 
The 90’s Rap Scene is Back
LA artist The ’87 Stick Up Kids with “Born to Role.”
The single also happens to be the group’s first video that also adds their song “Stoops and Basements.” You can tell when it switches over when you start feeling like you are about to be abducted by aliens. The video was direct by Kwesi Thomas and features a dope 87 Stick Up Kids cereal box and plenty of Impala love. Seems like the group has love for L.A. based clothing brand The Hundreds as well. It also serves as a solid debut for the gang with hopefully more goods to come soon. Make sure to check out the MySpace to listen to the few other tracks they have to offer.
Watch the video here.
Pete Yorn to Release Back and Fourth on June 23
And assembles an all-star cast in the process.