Sonic Youth Gives Golden Tickets
Some lucky Los Angeles Sonic Youth fans are going to get more than the groups new release on Tuesday June 13^th.  The band is reporting that fans who purchase Rather Ripped, the follow up to 2004’s Sonic Nurse, at a handful of LA independent retailers will receive a laminate that will in turn allow them into a private free show on July 8^th.  No word on the location of said show but we’ll keep you posted.  In the meantime, if you are west bound, buy go to your local ma & pa location instead of Best Buys.  “Run home Charlie!”

Strokes, Vedder & Homme Cover Mavin Gaye
Although not confirmed, there are reports from the press camp that Marvin Gaye’s ‘Mercy Mercy Me’ was recorded by the Strokes with Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Queens of The Stone Age’s Josh Homme.  If true, the tune will be laid down for the B-Side ‘You Only Live Once’ single expected for a mid-July release. 

Founding proof?  Well, you need look no further than the recent butt-buddy friendship budding between Vedder and the Strokes at the recent Rolling Stone’s 1000^th issue party in New York last month and in the past few shows in the Big Apple.

Bob Mould and Richard Morel Lay Blowoff Down
Oh how I miss the days of Sugar, Bob Mould’s ex-opus.  And we are another year away from his latest solo project.  But this looks promising.  Mould and buddy Richard Morel have completed their duo debut entitled Blowoff and plan to release it September 5^th via their label Full Frequency Music.  Mould recently told Billboard.com in regards to one track, ‘Hormone Love’:

“Rich had a sketch for a real rock song and I totally pounded it into a big, Sugar-y type of thing.”

Man on the Moon:

Hormone Love
Here and Now
Overload
Saturday Night All the Time
Life With a View
Man Keeps Winning
Lemonade
Tag It
Fallout
Get Inside With Me
Beautiful
The Ballad of Mark Dirt 

Bout time!  I miss those days.  You can get the track from the duo’s website. 

Akron Family New Album
What do you get when you mix Broken Social Scene, Michael Gira, and Do Make Say Think?  A new Akron/Family album!  The space jam kings are working on their follow-up to Angels of Light in Chicago’s Shappe Shoppe which by the sound of the teams they are working with, could be one hell of an album.  Because of their new local, the band is taking advantage of jazz percussion great Hamid Drake on some tracks.  The album is set to drop in stores sometime in September.  Stay tuned. 

›› Pensatos Reviews: Akron Family – Angels of Light

Pete Doherty in Rehab
The day was eminent, but don’t tell Babyshambles lead singer Pete Doherty that.  His self proclaimed love and open use of drugs was the apple of all sham reporting eyes across the UK.  From his performance hijinks, random court dates for possession, and most recently halting a plane from taking off due to a needle being found, one would understate by saying he was long overdue.  Let’s not get too excited yet; the singer has two weeks of self induced detox and then the battle really begins.  Plus, it’s well documented that his previous attempts have all failed.  What does make this different though is the self induced planning outside of court orders and band mates by Doherty for this particular rehab stint.

Petty to Sue Peppers?
Hell has no fury like a Heatbreaker scorned.  According to the New York Post, Tom Petty is in talks with his legal department on whether or not to press charges against Red Hot Chili Peppers for alleged plagiarism.  Much of the song, ‘Dani California’, is based off of Petty’s ‘Last Dance with Mary Jane’.  Nothing has been confirmed from either Petty or his legal team, but we’ll keep you posted.

Badly Drawn Boy Joins Festival
…in London.  Wife favorite Badly Drawn Boy will join the likes of Echo & The Bunnymen, Larrikin Love, and Roland Shanks for the Ben & Jerry’s Sundae Sunday festival this July in London.  Tickets will go on sale Friday June 9^th.  The festival is in hopes of regenerating the Clapham Bandstand which was placed on the At-Risk list of the English Heritage back in July 2005.  It is known as the oldest and largest surviving bandstand in Greater London and one of the largest ever built in England. 

Amount of time to put together festival; 2 units:

07-29 Clapham Common - London
07-30 Clapham Common – London

Appearances are as follows:

Badly Drawn Boy
Echo And The Bunnymen
Larrikin Love
The Pipettes
Liam Frost And The Slowdown Family
Roland Shanks
Tiny Dancers
Lisa Lindley-Jones
Jose Gonzales
The Wonder Stuff
Nerina Pallot
Captain
Vincent Vincent and The Villains
Breaks Co-op
Blue Sky Research

Springsteen and AOL Offer Live Shows
In an unprecedented move for both AOL Music and Bruce Springsteen, the online music store is offering video footage or the singer’s North American tour with Seeger Sessions Band.  A hand picked song will be offered each day after the show and posted on AOL Music along with articles recapping the night’s events.

Death Cab Video; Tour Info
And so ushers in the world where online venues get dibs on videos first as well.  Someone has to do it since MTV whet south faster than a burrito from La Bamba’s.  AOL announced that Death Cab For Cutie’s video for ‘I Will Follow You Into The Dark’ is now available via their AOL sessions. 

06-16 Bonnaroo Music Festival 2006 Manchester, Tennessee
08-03 Kuyahoga Festival-Blossom    Cuyahoga Falls, OH
08-04 Lollapalooza   Chicago, IL
08-05 Bleeding Kansas Arts & Music Festival   Lawrence, KS
08-06 The Fillmore-Denver Denver, CO
08-07 The Fillmore-Denver Denver, CO
08-08 Orem UT @ McKay Events Center   Orem, UT
08-10 Secret House Vineyard  Veneta, OR
08-11 Greek Theatre-UC Berkeley  Berkeley, CA - SOLD OUT
08-12 Greek Theatre-UC Berkeley  Berkeley, CA
08-13 Greek Theatre-Los Angeles  Los Angeles, CA
08-14 Greek Theatre-Los Angeles  Los Angeles, CA
08-15 Bayside-Embarcadero Marina Park South  San Diego, CA

Converge Starts Anew
What better way for a hard core band to celebrate 6-6-06 than to hit the studio with new material.  While most of you were hiding in fear for the end of civilization, the group was working on their follow-up to 2004’s solid You Fail Me.  The band stated on their website:

“These songs are a freight train, to us sounding larger and harder than any of our previous efforts.”

No word on the tracks laid down yet but we’ll keep you informed on release schedule and production notes.

Ted Leo Adds Tour Dates
Ted Leo and Pharmacists have added some new dates to their sparse tour this summer including a stint with the likes of Broken Social Scene, Bell and Sebastian, New York, and Austin City Limits. 

Dr. Feelgood:

06-14 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
07-08 Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion ()*
07-28 Lansing, MI - Temple Club
07-29 Chicago, IL - Union Park (Pitchfork Music Festival)
07-31 Indianapolis, IN - Emerson Theatre
08-01 Columbus, OH - Little Brothers
08-02 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
08-25 New York, NY - South Street Seaport (Seaport Music Festival)
09-12 Memphis, TN - Hi Tone Café
09-13 New Orleans, LA - The Parish at House of Blues
09-15 Austin, TX - Zilker Park (Austin City Limits Festival)
09-16 Houston, TX - Walter's

* w/ guest Broken Social Scene
() w/ guest Bell and Sebastian

Marvin the Martian Lands EP
South Londoners unite!  Emerging from the rubble that once was Why Lout? and recently labeled as one-to-watch by Pensatos, the hip-hop/Grime MC sensation Marvin The Martian has released a new EP entitled Hoods and Badges from Universal Digital.  The album samples songs from Art Brut and Good Books’ library.  You can download it now via iTunes or import from your favorite UK front. 

He’s not taking a break either.  He’s already collaborating with Akira the Don and !Forward: Russia! For his next EP.

Don’t Touch Me:

I Don’t Go Alone
All Around The Way
Stay Off The Kane

Fiona Apple Plays Late Night Circuit
Fiona Apple will play both Carson Daily on Tuesday June 20^th and Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday June 29^th to help promote her summer tour for the winter release of her latest Incredible Machine.  Check your local listings for times and get your DVR’s set because both shows usually fall under the radar as hair removal infomercial timeslots.  Lesson learned: I guess if you’re not funny, you get the good gigs. 

For those who cherish their shuteye time, you can catch Fiona along with David Garza all summer long as she goes coast to coast.  Damien Rice and his Dep gel will also join in on majority of the shows from California to Jersey. 

Incredible Touring Machine:

06-19 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Las Vegas, NV
06-20 Dodge Theatre - Phoenix, AZ
06-21 Pechanga Resort & Casino - Temecula, California
06-23 SDSU Open Air Theatre - San Diego, CA*
06-24 Greek Theater - Los Angeles, CA*
06-25 County Bowl Santa - Barbara, CA*
06-27 Mountain Winery - Saratoga, CA
06-29 Chronicle Pavilion - Concord, CA*
06-30 Mountain Winery - Saratoga, CA
07-01 Les Schwab Amphitheater - Bend, OR*
07-03 Chateau Ste Michelle - Seattle, WA*
07-05 City Lights Pavilion - Denver, CO*
07-07 The Backyard - Austin, TX*
07-08 Nokia Theatre - Dallas, TX*
07-09 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion - Houston, TX*
07-12 Verizon Wireless Music Center - Indianapolis, IN*
07-13 Charter One Pavilion - Chicago, IL*
07-14 Northrop Auditorium - Minneapolis, MN*
07-21 Bank of America Pavilion - Boston, MA*
07-22 Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre - Wantagh, NY*
07-24 Mohegan Sun - Uncaseville, CT*
07-26 Central Park Summerstage - New York City, NY*
07-28 Tweeter Center at the Waterfront - Philadelphia, PA*
07-29 Borgata - Atlantic City, NJ*
07-31 Filene Center/Wolf Trap - Vienna, VA
08-01 nTelos Pavilion at Harbor Center - Portsmouth, VA
08-02 Chastain - Atlanta, GA
08-04 Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN
08-05 Tennessee Theatre - Knoxville, TN
08-06 Koka Booth Amphitheatre - Cary, NC
08-09 State Theatre - Detroit, MI
08-10 Cain Park - Cleveland, OH  

* w/ guest Damien Rice

›› Pensatos News: Fionna Apple Takes Bite Out of US

Frog Eyes Hop Aboard Wolf Parade Tour
Great news for the true indie buffs out there, Canadian group Frog Eyes are hanging with their fellow countrymen Wolf Parade for a rather large part of there otherwise short tour route.  Here’s a list of Wolf Parades sporadic tour schedule.

‘Apologies To The Queen’ for Flying Frogs:

08-04 Ottawa, Ontario - Barrymore's Music Hall *
08-05 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix *
08-06 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick *
08-07 Chicago, IL - Metro *
08-08 Chicago, IL - Metro *
08-09 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *
08-20 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom *
08-22 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom *
08-24 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore *
08-25 Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern Theatre *
08-27 Salt Lake City, UT - In the Venue *
09-03 Montreal, Quebec - Osheaga Festival
09-15 Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival

* w/ guest Frog Eyes

Beck’s Next Album
Man works more than a hooker making rent.  Only a year-and-a-half after the release of Gurero, and only half that for the remixed Gurero Lite, Beck is done with his next studio album.  The as of yet untitled follow-up has no set release date but Interscope and the artist are eyeing a fall window.

Nigel Godrich, who previously worked with the artist on Mutations and Sea Change has once again taken the drivers seat as producer for the next album.  The only thing we can speculate is that this one may be another easy-listening effort if history serves us right per Godrich’s touch.

Lucky ex-hippies, Frisbee golf enthusiasts and camping gurus can catch Beck try out some new cuts at Tennessee’s Bonnaroo festival this month along with several US dates.  Later he’ll be hitting the European circuit with the likes of Radiohead on select dates.

Rubermaid Turntables:

06-14 Georgia Theater - Athens
06-15 Tabernacle - Atlanta
06-17 Bonnaroo Music Festival - Manchester
06-19 Cain’s Ballroom - Tulsa
06-20 The Backyard - Austin
06-21 NOKIA live at Grand Prarie – Grand Prarie
06-23 Kiva Auditorium - Albuquerque
06-24 Rialto Theater - Tuscan
06-27 The Wiltern LG – Los Angeles
06-28 The Wiltern LG – Los Angeles
08-11 Tivoli Concert Hall – Copenhagen V
08-12 Oya Festival - Oslo
08-13 Danmarks Smukkeste Festival 06 - Dyrehaven
08-16 Paradiso - Amsterdam
08-17 Pukkelpop Festival - Hasselt
08-20 V Festival - Staffordshire
08-20 V Festival - Chelmsford
08-22 Meadowbank Stadium - Edinburgh
08-24 Marley Park – Dublin
08-26 Rock en Seine – Paris

US vs. UK Punk Album Info
In celebration of Sanctuary Records 30^th birthday, the punk loving public is getting one helluva present.  A 16-track opus that pits both continents along the Atlantic against one another; aptly titled US vs. UK Punk’s, will hit store shelves on June 27^th care of the label and will include the likes of The Sex Pistols, New York Dolls, Iggy Pop and more!  Of course, I think the lack of Rancid devotes a sit-in but that’s just me.  Below is a listing of the tracks.

Oye! Oye! Oye!:

Anarchy in the UK - Sex Pistols (Demo)
Teenage Kicks - The Undertones
Neat Neat Neat - The Damned
What Do I Get – Buzzcocks (Live)
Oh Bondage Up Yours! - X-Ray Spex
London Lady - The Stranglers (Live)
One Hundred Punks - Generation X
Hersham Boys - Sham 69
Beat on the Brat – Ramones
Personality Crisis - New York Dolls (Live)
Sonic Reducer - Dead Boys
Born To Lose - Johnny Thunders (Remix)
I’m Bored - Iggy Pop
We Got The Neutron Bomb - The Weirdos
TV Party - Black Flag
Institutionalized – Suicidal Tendencies

Parkway Drive Cruises with Epitaph
Rock has started it’s long overdue comeback this year and it looks like the oft-passed metal is getting a second jig as well.  Epitaph, more known for its punk roots is implementing Metal by signing Parkway Drive to its growing list.  The group’s first album under the new label, Killing with a Smile is due out August 22^nd.  Track list and album looks below.

Gimme A D
Anasasis (Xenophontis)
Pandora
Romance Is Dead
Guns For Show, Knives For A Pro
Blackout
Picture Perfect, Pathetic
It's So Hard To Speak Without A Tongue
Mutiny
Smoke 'Em If Ya Got 'Em
A Cold Day In Hell

Nada Surf Goes Digital for Live EP
The ever increasing digital release of Live shows is going full steam with the recently announced Nada Surf live EP titled Live at KEXP.  The download will include five titles from the Seattle radio station session which includes the Smiths classic ‘There is a Light that Never Goes Out’.  Check out the rest below and then head on over to iTunes since it’s the only place to legally get it as of right now:

Blonde On Blonde
Always Love
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Killian's Red
Imaginary Friends

My Morning Jacket Plays with Boston Pops
Yeah, we said the same thing.  But what else do you do after touring with the likes of Pearl Jam all summer and you’re just days away from doing the festival circuit thing?  Apparently you sit down for a two evening stint with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra in Massachusetts to blow away the competition or at least sound like you could. 

But hey, if you can’t afford Boston, then turn on your television to Late Night with David Letterman on Thursday June 8^th when MMJ will bring a toned down version of the Pops with them to perform on the show. 

They Will Sing You Songs: 

06-16 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Festival
06-21 Boston, MA - Boston Symphony Hall
06-22 Boston, MA - Boston Symphony Hall
06-30 Quincy, CA - High Sierra Festival

Mojave 3 Release Single; Tour Info
UK based Mojave 3 are back from a four year hiatus with their new release Puzzles Like You.  'Breaking the Ice', the band's new single dropped Monday for download, CD, and 7".  The later two also include two new tracks 'Stars In The Sky' and 'Bright Lights'.  Puzzles Like You released June 6th via 4ad.

If you are more the road warrior type, check them out in their home turf.

Most Tour Days:

06-05 Fleece and Firkin - Bristol
06-06 Glee Club - Birmingham
06-07 King Tuts - Glasgow
06-08 Jabez Clegg - Manchester
06-12 The Boarderline - London
06-13 The Boarderline - London

Mogwai; Digital Only for EP
In the ever increasing low-cost world of EP and album releases, Mogwai will release their planned EP on digital format only in North America.  As a follow up to this years Mr. Beast, Mogwai will release the single ‘Travel Is Dangerous’ along with four other B-Side tracks in a digit EP format only – two of which will be live cuts from their recent Tokyo show.  Of course, if you are a snob you could still get the import copy and pay fees you will surely kick your own ass for down the road.  Below is a list of the songs on the upcoming EP.

Digital Beast:

Travel Is Dangerous
Auto Rock - Errors Remix
Friend Of The Night - Acid Casuals Remix
Like Herod (Live in Tokyo)
We're No Here (Live in Tokyo)

Dirty Pretty Things Go Stateside
Carl Barat’s newest project; Dirty Pretty Things, are readying their U.S. release of Waterloo to Anywhere.  The album, which has been available since May in the UK, is Barat’s first since his split with The Libertines and scandal happy Pete Doherty.  Waterloo to Anywhere is scheduled to hit U.S. shores August 1^st via Interscope Records.  In the meantime, you can check out our import review. 

›› Pensatos Reviews: Dirty Pretty Things - Waterloo to ...

Snow Patrol Cancel More Shows
Vocals/Guitarist Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol is still trying to overcome a wicked case of laryngitis and therefore the group has cancelled three more shows in New York, Philadelphia, and Montreal.  Of course, they plan on making up the dates and have already rescheduled both these and their previous cancellations.  Get the PDA’s out and mark em’ down.

Open season:

06-22 Tabernacle, Atlanta
06-23 9:30 Club, Washington D.C.
06-25 Kool Haus, Toronto
06-26 Electric Factory, Philadelphia
06-27 Roseland Ballroom, New York
08-15 “Bank” Pavilion, Boston

›› Pensatos News: Snow Patrol Cancels Shows in US
›› Pensatos News: Snow Patrol Album Art; Tracks
›› Pensatos News: Snow Patrol Kicks Off US Tour

Raconteurs Add More Tour Dates
With recent record sales in the top 25, it looks like Jack White’s side project might stick around longer than expected.  The group, consisting of Brendean Benson and ex Greenhornes alumni along with White, is extending their North American tour post the originally planned last show in Ohio.  The group plans to hit Texas shortly there after and work its way back northeast and into Canada.  New dates are listed below.

Hands together:

09-14 Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theater
09-15 Grand Prairie, TX - Nokia Live
09-16 Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival
09-19 Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
09-20 Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
09-22 Norfolk, VA - The Norva
09-24 Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
09-26 New York, NY - Roseland Ballroom
09-28 Providence, RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
09-29 Boston, MA - Orpheum Theater
09-30 Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis

›› Pensatos Reviews: The Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldiers

Decemberists New LP
October 3^rd, baby.  Mark it down.  That’s the day the Decemberists next album, The Crane Wife, will hit store shelves care of Capitol Records.  The band is in the studio as we type apparently slimming down the current 22 song roster, some of which are reportedly over ten minutes long.  In the bands newsletter, they reported on the progress:

"Undoubtedly the best thing we've done to date. And while that might smack of hyperbole, we can guarantee that it, at the very least, will be decidedly above average."

With a fall tour in the works and a summer festival appearance at Telluride Bluegrass, the band is sure to test a ton of new tunes.

Doves Take Flight on New Album
Oh how the UK loves their slow dance Doves.  And thanks to tween cross over hits from the likes of the WB and Fox, so do most twenty-somethings.  Well, bar hoppers, rejoice because the UK trio Doves are planning on getting back to the studio [read: barn] to self produce and record their untitled follow up to 2005’s Some Citites:

"We've been in there for a couple of weeks now mainly setting gear up and ironing out our usual technical problems," the band wrote in a recent web posting. "We've also bought some great vintage studio gear we've always fancied."

The band plans on caging themselves up to finish it as soon as possible but warned their fans not to hold their breath:

"It's very early days so don't expect anything too soon, but there's loads of ideas kicking around and we're all well excited about where we're going to go on this one."