music

The next big indie-go-darlings, White Whale, are hitting the road and picking up steam as their sweet mixture of Arcade Fire like chaos and Decemberists ballads are finding their own niche on the crowded scene.

Not sure about our bold words? Check them out in our Audio Section as we sample a track from their recent release WWI entitled 'The Admiral'.

Track: White Whale 'The Admiral'

Sea Legs Tour:

10-29 Subterranean - Chicago, IL
10-31 Sneaky Dee's - Toronto, QC
11-01 La Sala Rosa - Montreal, CAN
11-02 TT The Bears - Boston, MA
11-05 Khyber - Philadelphia, PA
11-06 Rock & Roll Hotel - Washington, DC
11-07 Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC
11-08 Earl - Atlanta, GA
11-09 Exit In - Nashville, TN
11-10 Blue Fugue - Columbia, MO
11-11 Chatterbox - Lincoln, NE

›› mp3: White Whale 'The Admiral'

Apparently the anniversary wasn't what it was cracked up to be but the South American booze is.  Solo artist Justin Roelofs - formerly of Anniversary fame is readying new baby White Flight - hot off a trip to South America where the singer/songwriter apparently sampled the local 'punch' in Peru.  Now back in the states and full of inspiration, White Flight's self titled debut is scheduled to hit stores on December 5th but you know we can't make you wait that long.  Can we?  Check out one of the cuts from the upcoming album entitled 'Solarsphere' in all its echoing drenched glory.

Track: 'Solarsphere'

The Derek Trucks Band is whoring their services to their fans.  From now until the eve of New Years, fans can submit the songs they wish to hear from the band.  The top 5 will be played.  Simple as that.  So if you have plans on seeing the guys in Atlanta on NYE, get voting: dtb_nye@yahoo.com.

For those who already are locked up with their New Years plans, you can catch the group on the road now and long after the ball drops. The band will be with Susan Tedeschi until NYE and their cruise for the '07.

Long Truck Driven Tour:

10-25 Richardson Auditorium - Princeton, NJ *
10-26 Berklee Performance Center - Boston, MA *
10-27 Keswick Theatre - Glenside, PA *
10-28 Nokia Theatre - New York, NY *
10-29 Mohegan Sun Casino - Uncasville, CT
11-01 Brown Theatre - Louisville, KY *
11-02 Meymandi Concert Hall - Raleigh, NC *
11-03 Rams Head Live - Baltimore, MD *
11-04 The Birchmere - Alexandria, VA *
12-27 The Florida Theatre - Jacksonville, FL *
12-28 Tampa Theatre - Tampa, FL *
12-29 Pompano Beach Amphitheatre - Pompano Beach, FL *
12-31 The Fox Theatre - Atlanta, GA *
01-02 Jamcruise 5
01-03 Jamcruise 5
01-04 Jamcruise 5
01-05 Jamcruise 5
01-06 Jamcruise 5
01-07 Jamcruise 5
05-15 Center for the Arts - Buffalo, NY
05-17 Warner Theatre - Torrington, CT
05-19 Paramount Center for the Arts - Peekskill, NY

* with Susan Tedeschi Band

Damon Gough has reinvented himself.  The English singer songwriter of Badly Drawn Boy fame had lofty goals when he sat down almost two years ago to complete his fifth record with then producer Stephen Street (of Kaiser Chiefs and Smiths fame).  But it never worked out:

"I had this goal in my head," says Damon Gough, "of putting out five albums in five years... That was Stupid.  In a Way I rushed it.  At the end of [those] five weeks I didn't feel it was going in a direction I liked.  And I just walked away from it and left those songs alone."

But thankfully he put the car in neutral, recharged his mantra and drove off with with Born in the UK, his upcoming and rightfully anticipated release.  So much so that he cranked out some 80 tunes with his drummer and bassist in four months locked in their studio reminded ever so often of his hero Bruce Springsteen; hence the title.

Was the time worth the wait in gold?  We know but you'll have to wait till next week for us to spill. Suckers!

Badly Drawn Boy's Born in the U.K. is due out next week but here's you quintessential album info.

Track List:

01 (Swimming Pool) Born in the U.K.
02 Degrees of Separation
03 Welcome to the Overground
04 A Journey From A To B
05 Nothing's Gonna Change Your Mind
06 Promises
07 The Way Things Used To Be
08 Without A Kiss
09 The Long Way Round (Swimming Pool)
10 Walk You Home Tonight
11 The Time of Times
12 One Last Dance

You know Matt Damon and Leo are pretty boys.  So does Martin Scorsese.  Enter Hellcat Record's Dropkick Murphys.  The Boston punk troupe lended their tune 'I'm Shipping You Up To Boston' to Scorsese's newest American seedy drama The Departed.

Chud.com says it best:

“Martin Scorsese has one of the finest ears in modern cinema when it comes to using songs in his films, and there’s a Dropkick Murphys track in a pivotal scene of The Departed that ups the ante of everything on screen.”

As previously reported, the director's ears have never been in question as he is one of the most well known music-philes in his profession and often times writes to the music involved in the scenes.  He's also currently underway on a Rolling Stones documentary to follow up his Bob Dylan documentary about the singer.

The Departed opens in theaters everywhere this weekend. You can get a copy of the single and more Dropkick Murphys love on the Hellcat release The Warriors Code.

›› News: Scorcese Directs The Stones

The Album Leaf; hot off the heals of their new release Into The Blue again have released the first video single 'Always For You'; a mellow organ droning sonnet.

The video perfectly sets the Cure-like monotone ambient mood and reflects well upon the entire album - which you can read a review of [link below]. You can also see the real thing live as James LaVelle takes his prose on the road.

10-18 Rhythm Room - Phoenix, AZ *
10-20 Parish - Austin, TX *
10-21 Proletariat - Houston, TX *
10-22 Haileys - Denton, TX *
10-23 Chelseas - Baton Rouge, LA *
10-24 Bottletree - Birmingham, AL *
10-25 Club Downunder - Tallahassee, FL *
10-26 Respectable Street - Palm Beach, FL *
10-27 The Social - Orlando, FL *
10-28 The Orpheum - Tampa, FL *
10-29 The Earl - Atlanta, GA *#
10-30 Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC *
11-01 Jonny Brendas [CMJ] - Philadelphia, PA
11-02 Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY %
11-03 Rock N Roll Hotel - Washington, DC *
11-06 North Six - Brooklyn, NY *
11-07 Middle East - Cambridge, MA *
11-08 Main Hall - Montreal, QC *^
11-09 Lees Palace - Toronto, ON *^
11-10 Big Orbits Soundlab - Buffalo, NY *^
11-11 Blind Pig - Ann Harbor - MI *^
11-12 Lakeshore Theatre - Chicago, IL *^
11-13 400 Bar - Minneapolis, MN *^
11-16 Chop Suey - Seattle, WA *^
11-17 Plaza Club - Vancouver, BC *^
11-18 Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR *^
11-19 W.O.W. Hall - Eugene, OR *^
11-21 The Independent - San Francisco, CA *^
11-24 Belly Up - Solana Beach, CA

* with Lymbyc System
^ with Dirty On Purpose
# with Oxford Collapse
% with The Elected & L

Video: The Album Leaf 'Always For You'

›› Review: The Album Leaf Into The Blue Again

And Pop was never the same after The Blow.  I can hear the story being told 20 years from now.  The do it yourself duo of Jona Bechtolt and Khaela Maricich have evolved from a limited release EP to a full blown wave-hop hip-pop sub-dance album of unfathomable placement. From heartbreakingly funny insight of three-ways gone bad to just plain shite relations, the freshman class of 2007 may just be The Blow's for the taking.

Paper Television is due out October 24th.  You can always get a head start and listen to their first single 'Pile of Gold' in our Audio Section or clicking the direct link below.

Track List:

01 Pile of Gold
02 Parentheses
03 The Big U
04 The Long List of Girls
05 BonJour Jeune Fille
06 Babay (Eat A Critter, Feel It's Wrath)
07 Eat Your Heart Up
08 Pardon Me
09 Fists Up
10 True Affection

The duo are also wrapping up their US tour in preparation for their release.  This weekend the band will be playing at the famed 9:30 Club in DC and doing a virtual circle across the nation over the next month.

The Big U-Turn Tour:

10-15 9:30 Club - Washington, DC #
10-17 Cannery Ballroom - Nashville, TN #
10-19 Tampa Theatre - Tampa, FL #
10-20 The Club at Firestone - Orlando, FL #
10-21 The Parish at HOB - New Orleans, LA #
10-23 Stubb's BBQ - Austin, TX #
10-24 Cain's Ballroom - Tulsa, OK #
10-25 Ridglea Theatre - Ft. Worth, TX #
11-03 Irving Plaza - New York, NY *

›› News: The Blow Prep Album; Tour
›› mp3: The Blow 'Pile of Gold'

Damn the Cohen's and their ultra hip nature.  Not since Jim and Cindy don the robes and coffee mugs in 90210 territory have I felt so unsatisfied with my folks and their lack of street music cred.

Warner Brothers and the O.C. are working on a sixth installment to the ultra popular indie-go-mainstream compilations for the Fox show.  This time, though, bands like Mates of State, Lady Sov, and more will have to cover other music acts.  OC Mix 6: Covering Our Tracks is scheduled to be released toward mid season on December 5th.  The John Paul cover of ELO has us sleepless already.

Track List:

01 Goldspot - 'Float On' [Modest Mouse]
02 Rock Kills Kid - 'I Turn My Camera On' [Spoon]
03 Lady Sovereign - 'Pretty Vacant' [The Sex Pistols]
04 Mates of State - 'California' [Phantom Planet]
05 Pinback - 'Wasted' [Black Flag]
06 John Paul White - 'Can't Get It out of My Head' [ELO]
07 Rogue Wave - 'Debaser' [The Pixies]
08 Syd Matters 'Hello Sunshine' [Super Furry Animals]
09 Tally Hall - 'Smile Like You Mean It' [The Killers]
10 The M's - 'Come Into Our Room' [Clinic]
11 Band of Horses - 'The End's Not Near' [The New Year]
12 Chris Holmes 'Into Dust' [Mazzy Star]

No Wait Wait, hot off the heels of their release of About You are sharing the music love affair of their latest creation.  'Amends' a select track from said album is now posted in our Audio Section but because we know you don't do anything without a remote, we have the direct link below.

The Cure inspired romp with electro feedback that is 'Amends' is a perfect example of why we love their stuff.  Admittedly - the feedback part more so than The Cure.

Of course, at this rate, you have a fourth of the album from us so get ready to pony up.

Track: 'Amends'

›› .mp3: No Wait Wait - All That There Was
›› .mp3: No Wait Wait - Don't Give Up (On Your Man)
›› Review: No Wait Wait About You

Two decades is a lot of ground to cover.  If you are rock legends like The Stooges, it should be like riding a bike.  The original band - and yes that means Iggy Pop are heading back to the studio to records the first studio effort since 1973.

While no major details such as release date or sound have been revealed, the band has stated that a few songs are already laid down to tape including 'Greedy Awful People' and 'Claustrophobia'.

And yes, Iggy is probably shirtless in the studio.

After tackling the hearts of our reviewers and the indie airwaves this month with the release of The Crane Wife, the Decemberists are setting their sights on the UK.

The band has announced that The Crane Wife will be released in the UK on January 29th via Rough Trade records.  This will coinsicde with the bands tour of said destinations in February when they kick off their UK pandemonium on stage at the legendary Leadmill in Sheffield, England.

Of course, and locally more important - the band is kicking off their US tour as well.

Tea for Five in Two Hemispheres Equals Tour:

10-17 Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR
10-18 Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR
10-19 Warfield Theater - San Francisco, CA
10-21 The Wiltern - Los Angeles, CA
10-22 Rialto Theater - Tuscon, Az.
10-24 Stubb's, Austin
10-25 Gypsy Ballroom - Dallas, TX
10-26 House of Blues - New Orleans, LA
10-27 Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA
10-29 9:30 Club - Washington, D.C.
10-30 9:30 Club - Washington, D.C.
10-31 Calvin Theater - Northampton, MA
11-01 Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA
11-03 Hammerstein Ballroom - New York, NY
11-04 Orpheum Theater - Boston, MA
11-05 Metropolis - Montreal, CAN
11-04 Kool Haus - Toronto, CAN
11-07 Clutch Cargo - Pontiac, MI
11-09 Agora Theater - Cleveland, OH
11-10 Lifestyle Communities Pavilion - Columbus, OH
11-11 Riviera Theater - Chicago, IL
11-12 First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
11-14 Paramount Theater - Denver, CO
11-16 Wilma Theater - Missoula, MT
11-17 Paramount Theater - Seattle, WA
11-18 Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, WA
02-02 Leadmill - Sheffield, England
02-03 Village - Dublin, Ireland
02-04 ABC - Glasgow, Scotland
02-05 Academy 2 - Manchester, England
02-07 Trent University - Nottingham, England
02-08 Shepherds Bush Empire - London, England
02-09 University - Southampton, England
02-10 Botanique - Brussels, Belgium
02-12 Prime Club - Cologne, Germany
02-13 Knust - Hamburg, Germany
02-14 Postbahnhof - Berlin, Germany
02-16 Fri-son - Fribourg, Switzerland
02-17 Estragon - Bologna, Italy
02-18 Ampere - Munich, Germany
02-19 Flex Club - Vienna, Austria
02-21 The Netherlands - Amsterdam
02-22 La Maroquinerie - Paris, France

›› Reviews: The Decemberists The Crane Wife
›› News: Decemberists The Crane Wife Info; Tour

Aspiring to be a drum tech? Can't figure out how to major for it in college? Well, nothing beats hands on and Guster is giving you your due opportunity.  The band is running a YouTube contest for drum-tech-inspiree's to submit a video explaining why they deserve the current tech's, Scooter, job for the day.

Winners will be flown to Florida for a week long cruise with the band and Barenaked Ladies in January.  Lets just hope the winner isn't near the stage when 'Million Dollars' gets requested.  Apparently Scooter use to double as a bouncer extraordinaire.

All other contest details and info are located at http://youtube.com/group/gusterband.

If you dreamed of guitar tuning for a band, well, maybe you can catch them on the road instead as they finish up their fall tour:

10-27 In The Venue - Salt Lake City, UT
10-29 Vegoos Festival - Henderson, NV
10-31 Sokol Auditorium - Omaha, NE
11-03 State Theatre - Minneapolis, MN
11-04 Lilly Center Gymnasium - Greencastle, IN
11-07 University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, MI
11-08 PromoWest Pavilion - Columbus, OH
11-10 The Eagles Club - Milwaukee, WI
11-15 Smith Opera House - Geneva, NY
11-16 Maine Center - Onoro, ME
12-03 Memorial Auditorium - Stanford, CA
12-05 Whitman College - Walla Walla, CA
12-16 Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, IL

Apparently a cruise is all one needs to be inspired.  Jana Hunter, after completing the sail-away tour with the likes of Castanets and Peter and the Wolf, is working on her next album.  The follow up to last years Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom is still in the finishing stages of pre-production but we should expect something in the coming months. 

The singer/songwriter is looking for even more inspiration and possible testing ground on the road as she tackles the East Coast.  So befitting for the artist with a haunting voice to travel in October. She'll be with the likes of Deer Tick and Small Snails while on the road.

Deers, Ticks, and Snails - Oh My! Tour:

10-13 AS220 - Providence, RI ^
10-14 Eagles Club - Northampton, MA ^
10-15 PA's Lounge - Boston, MA ^*@
10-16 Red Door - Portsmouth, NH^%
10-17 Sarah Lawrence - Bronxville, NY ^
10-18 BAR Nightclub - New Haven, CT ^
10-19 Northsix - Brooklyn, NY ^&
10-20 Tonic - New York, NY ^
10-21 SUNY Purchase - Purchase, NY ^
10-22 Soundlab - Buffalo, NY ^
10-23 560 Park Ave. - Rochester, NY ^$
10-24 Downhill Mansion - Worcester, MA ^$[]

^ with Deer Tick
* with Ponies in the Surf
@ with Geoff Farina
% with Small Snails
& with Diamond Caverns, Random Cutting
$ with Jacob Smigel
[] with Alec K. Redfearn

›› News: Peter & The Wolf Sailing Tour

Chanel and specifically their Karl Lagerfeld line are eyeing Cat Power (aka Chan Marshall).  The artist not only attended the 'Les Musiques Que J'Aime launch in Paris; an event for the launch of a CD compilation from Lagerfeld, but now she's rumored to be part of an upcoming Chanel campaign.

Whether or not the gold glove necklace on the cover of her recent The Greatest album will be the capri of 2007 is yet to be determined but we'll keep you posted.

The bluesy rock hooks of Zutons are infecting the UK as their current tour is sold out across the land thru December.  What is a lonely fan to do?  Well, the band is ready to answer your please with a new single in the works.

'It's The Little Things We Do' off their Tired of Hanging Around album is the third such single but that's not all.  When you grab the single, you'll also get a cover of Jackie Wilson's 'Higher and Higher' without the Statue of Liberty and the Ghostbusters jiggin' along the way.  The single was recorded for Colin Murray's radio show previously but will be featured on the single release November 27th.

Hot off the release of Boys and Girls in America - The Hold Steady are still working their way around the country and making new fans along the way.  After completing their summer tour, the band is hitting the road once again.  Find them near you and gather in the Might Mighty Bosstone-like gruff vocals but without the horns.

Sippin' 40's Tour:

10-12 Club Congress - Tucson, AZ $
10-13 Brick by Brick - San Diego, CA $
10-14 Detroit Bar - Costa Mesa, CA $
10-16 Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA $
10-17 Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA $
10-19 Lola's - Portland, OR $
10-20 Plaza Club - Vancouver, BC $
10-21 Crocodile Café - Seattle, WA $
10-24 First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN $
10-25 First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN $
10-26 Metro - Chicago, IL $^
10-27 Magic Stick - Detroit, MI $
10-28 Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto, Ontario $
10-29 Zaphod Beeblebrox - Ottawa, Ontario $
10-30 Middle East - Cambridge, MA $
11-21 North Star Bar - Philadelphia, PA @
11-22 Warsaw - Brooklyn, NY @
11-24 Maxwell's - Hoboken, NJ
11-25 Black Cat - Washington, DC
11-26 Cat's Cradle - Carrboro, NC
11-27 New Brookland Tavern - Columbia, SC
11-29 The Social - Orlando, FL
11-30 Orpheum - Tampa, FL
12-01 Beta Bar - Tallahassee, FL
12-02 The Parish at House of Blues - New Orleans, LA
12-04 Sticky Fingerz Chicken Shack - Little Rock, AR
12-05 Mojo's - Columbia, MO
12-06 The Bottleneck - Lawrence, KS
12-07 The Picador - Iowa City, IA
12-08 Southgate House - Newport, KY
12-09 Headliner's - Louisville, KY
12-13 Showplace - Buffalo, NY
12-15 Pearl Street  - Northampton, MA

$ with Sean Na Na
^ with Catfish Haven
@ with the Constantines

›› Stream: Hold Steady's Boys & Girls In America
›› News: Hold Steady Add Tour Dates
›› Pensatos News: Hold Steady Talk New LP

Just a week after the band released its North American debut EP A Lesson In Crime, Tokyo Police Club has signed with UK label Memphis Industries.

The band is also touring with the likes of Art Brut and Spinto Band starting next week in Massachusettes. 

5-0 Tour:

10-16 Middle East Downstairs - Cambridge, MA *^
10-17 Black Cat - Washington, DC *^
10-18 Soundfix - Brooklyn, NY (in-store)
10-18 Warsaw - Brooklyn, NY *^
10-19 Maxwell's - Hoboken, NJ
10-21 Cornell University - Itchaca, NY *
10-28 Main Street Festival - London, Ontario
11-03 Mercury Lounge [CMJ] - New York, NY
11-04 The Khyber - Philadelphia, PA
11-08 Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO
11-11 Bill Graham Civic Auditorium - San Francisco, CA
11-12 Echo - Los Angeles, CA
11-15 Chop Suey - Seattle, WA
11-16 Logan's - Victoria, BC
11-17 Gallery Lounge - Vancouver, BC
11-18 The Royal on Baker - Nelson, BC
11-21 The Canmore Hotel - Canmore, Alberta
11-22 Tongue n Groove - Lethbridge, Alberta
11-23 Broken City - Calgary, Alberta
11-24 Power Plant - Edmonton, Alberta
11-25 Louie's Pub - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
11-26 The Collective - Winnipeg, Manitoba
11-29 Schubas - Chicago, IL
11-30 The Intersection - Grand Rapids, MI

* with Art Brut
^ with Spinto Band

Chalk one up for cool shit the UK gets and we don't.  This time, care of the Raconteurs. The band is currently streaming across Europe and the UK in select cities.  Now, those who attend the shows can get a deluxe two disc set after the concert of said concert! Of course, only 1000 CD's will be printer per show so let the mobs begin.  Each album will come with particular artwork for each venue and an extra live version of the new single 'Broken Boy Soldier'.

If you can't make it to the venues, you could pre-order your copy in advance by visiting XL.com for your select show.

Well, at least we don't have to answer to any Royal family and no, the Bush clan doesn't count.

Booty Tour:

10-14 Academy - Glasgow
10-15 Apollo - Manchester
10-18 Academy - Newcastle
10-19 Brixton Academy - London
10-20 Brixton Academy - London
10-22 Colston Hall - Bristol
10-23 Rock City - Nottingham
10-24 Civic Hall - Wolverhampton
10-25 University - Liverpool

Photo: Martin Glenn

›› Video: Raconteurs 'Broken Boy Soldiers'

Fan of Purrbot? Feeling like filming your own civil unrest? Well get your camera ready and stimulate your creative side because the folks at Fanatic Promotions are seeking your help in creating the next video for the artist's single 'Thumbtacks' off his recent release Civil Unrest. The winner will not only get YouTube glory when his or her video is proudly displayed but will also be rewarded with 20 CD's of Fanataic Promotion's band roster.

Deadline for submissions are Friday November 3rd and can be uploaded on YouTube any time before then.  Just make sure that 'Purrbot Video Contest' is somewhere in the title for your chance to win and become the next McG.

What do you do when you are shopping around for a new label? You tour your ass off is what you do!  Kansas based Ghostly is doing just that by hitting the road to gain support on their sophomore full-length No Nothing.  After their first album Grow Up or Sleep In received some well respected accolades but never really found an audience, its been an uphill battle since.

Ghostly can best be described as a marriage between alt-pop and guitar jams that can be most compared to the love child of Flaming Lips and Pavement.

But you want to find out for yourself, don't ya? Find out in our audio section or click on the songs listed below.

Track List:

01 You Are A Big Screen
02 Sad Sack
03 A Good Customer
04 A Man With Answers
05 Make It Easier
06 I Won't Be Stopped

Not-So-Spooky Tour:

10-11 Piano’s - New York, NY
10-12 World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA
10-13 Uncle Paulie's - Brooklyn, NY
10-14 Great Scott - Boston, MA
10-17 The End - Nashville, TN
10-18 Young Avenue Deli - Memphis, TN
10-19 Opolis - Norman, OK
11-09 TBA - Santa Fe, NM
11-11 Plush - Tucson, AZ
11-12 The Jumping Turtle - San Marcos, CA
11-13 Silverlake Lounge - Los Angeles, CA
11-14 The Apple Store - San Francisco, CA
11-15 The Rickshaw Stop - San Francisco, CA
11-16 Diablo’s Downtown - Eugene, OR
11-17 The Comet Tavern - Seattle, WA
11-18 Neurolux - Boise, ID
11-21 The Broken Record - Salt Lake City, UT

Eight is enough? Hardly the fact for PJ Harvey, who next month plans to head back to the studio to work on her eighth such album. She'll be joined by John Parish whose resume includes not only past stints with the singer but also Tracy Chapman, Sparklehorse, and Eels to name a few.  This does mare the first time the two have worked together, though, in the studio since 98's Is This Desire.

Those who can't wait for their dose of untamed girl power will get a dose of Peel Sessions.  Harvey will be releasing The Peel Sessions 1991-2004 on October 23rd to commemorate the death of John Peel.  She'll be joined by other artists like Siouxsie and the Banshees who are likewise paying respects to the inspirational DJ.

The off beat world of Islands may be without J’Aime Tambeur since his departure in May shortly after the band released their quirky but catchy Return to Sea (review here), but the remaining members are all but unstable enough to carry the torch.  Need proof? Just check out the great one off impromptu performance of 'Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby' the band shot on the streets of of Paris.

You can catch them for yourself, albiet not on the streets of Gay Pari - but in the good ol' United States.

Street Performers Tour:

10-10 Northsix - New York, NY
10-11 TLA - Philadelphia, PA
10-12 Ottobar - Baltimore, MD
10-14 Satellite Ballroom - Charlottesville, VA
10-15 Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH 
10-16 Lawrenceville Moose - Pittsburgh, PA
10-20 Iceland Airwaves Festival - Reykjavik
10-27 Metro - Chicago, IL
10-28 First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
10-29 West End Cultural Centre - Winnipeg, AB
10-30 Louis' Pub - Saskatoon, AB
10-31 Starlite - Edmonton, AB
11-01 Liberty - Calgary, AB
11-03 UBC Sub Ballroom - Vancouver, BC
11-06 Crocodile - Seattle, WA
11-07 Dijecta - Portland, OR
11-08 WOW Hall - Eugene, OR
11-09 Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA
11-10 Henry Fonda Theater - Los Angeles, CA
11-11 Glasshouse - Pomona, CA
11-12 Legends - Victoria, BC
11-13 In the Venue - Salt Lake City, UT
11-14 Rock Island - Denver, CO
11-15 Bottleneck - Lawrence, KS
11-16 Opolis - Norman, OK
11-17 Hailey's - Denton, TX
11-18 EMO's - Austin, TX
11-19 House of Blues - New Orleans, LA
11-20 Eyedrum - Atlanta, GA
11-21 Little Bros. - Columbus, OH
11-22 Icon Theatre - Buffalo, NY

Simply beautiful.

Video: Islands 'Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby'

One man show stopper Marco Bailey is heading out to show the world that his electronic music is superior outside Belgium's scene. For over 15 years, the artist has been breaking down walls and creating a label for undernourished talent to flourish. 

He's been dormant for a few years but he's ready to take on the industry again with an upcoming single and a 3rd installation to his Intecnique compilations not to mention a European and UK tour.  But for now, you can catch a bit of elctronica history in your own states.

Marco Polo Tour:

10-19 Last Supper Club - Seattle, WA
10-21 LOVE - New York, NY
10-25 Tabu - Las Vegas, NV *
10-26 Tentation Ultra Lounge - Orange County, CA *
10-27 Obec - San Diego, CA *
10-28 Avalon - Los Angeles, CA *

From Radio to the club, Roger Sanchez is turning ears on both his take of the music industry and taking it over one at a time. The DJ and on air personality of Sanchez Release Yourself radio show is also in getting ready for a month long tour to promote his recent release Come With Me.

Don't laugh, he is possibly one of the best dance DJ's out there and a purveyor of house music even with hit-or-miss club friendly tunes like 'Lost'. Which, by the way, you can view the video of which below.

If you question our judgment (which you are fool to do), just check him out live or tune into his show like millions of others do every day.

11-02 Tentation Ultra Lounge - Newport Beach, CA
11-03 Belo - San Diego, CA
11-04 Vanguard - Los Angeles, CA *
11-05 Stanley Park Pavilion - Vancouver, BC
11-11 Bang! Festival - Miami, FL
11-14 Dagobert - Quebec City, BC
11-15 Heaven - Ottowa, BC
11-16 Tunnel - Dallas, TX
11-17 Bleu - Detroit, MI
11-18 ICE - Las Vegas, NV
11-21 Underbar - Boston, MA
11-22 Deko - New Jersey
11-25 Crobar - New York, NY *

* All Night Events

Video: Robert Sanchez 'Lost'

The Slip are putting the final touches on their office anticipated album Eisenhower.  Due out November 7th, the effort was co-produced by the band and Elliot Smith and Wilco famed Matthew Ellard. We can't figure out where they are from, considering they move around more than a group of nomads following a herd; with stints in Japan, Boston, and Canada (they're from Boston), but we can tell you that their avant-pop guitar driven romps are sinfully sweet. Don't believe us? Listen for yourself as we give you two songs to listen to below off their upcoming album.  Who loves you?

411: The Slip are made up of two brothers and a childhood friend; Brad Barr on guitar, Marc Freidman on bass, and Andrew Barr on drums.

Track List:

01 Children Of December
02 Even Rats
03 If One Of Us Should Falll
04 Airplane / Primitive
05 Suffocation Keep
06 First Panda In Space
07 The Soft Machine
08 Life In Disguise
09 Mothwing Bite
10 The Original Blue Air
11 Paper Birds

In anticipation for the albums release, the band is hitting the road to gain support.  And nothing says love like My Morning Jacket asking you to tour with them.  The band will play the last stretch of the tour with the southern blues/rock jam band. Even Jim James from MMJ had this to say in an interview with the New York Times:

"Seeing them live was amazing...I instantly felt a bond with these three guys. You see so many tired, boring rock acts doing the same thing over and over, but these guys are reaching out...They're taking what we know of music and trying to twist it to a different place."

MMJ Approved Tour:

10-20 Neptunes - St., John, NB
10-21 Halifax Pop, The Attic - Halifax, NS
10-27 Narrows Center for the Arts - Fall River, MA
10-28 Club Helsinki - Great Barrington, MA
11-01 Tonic [CMJ] - New York, NY
11-07 Crocodile Café - Seattle, WA
11-08 TBA - Vancouver, BC
11-09 Dante's - Portland, OR
11-10 Mobius - Ashland, OR 
11-11 The Independent - San Francisco, CA
11-12 Knitting Factory - Los Angeles, CA
11-15 Fox Theatre - Boulder, CO
11-16 Bluebird Theatre - Denver, CO
11-17 Aggie Theatre - Ft. Collins, CO
11-18 Sokol Underground - Omaha, NE
11-20 Shank Hall - Milwaukee, WI
11-21 Cafe Montmartre - Madison, WI
11-22 First Ave & 7th Street Entry - Minneapolis, MN
11-24 Riviera Theatre - Chicago, IL ^
11-25 Clowes Memorial Hall - Indianapolis, IN ^
11-27 9:30 Club - Washington, DC ^
11-28 9:30 Club - Washington, DC ^
11-30 Roseland Ballroom - New York, NY ^ 
12-01 Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA ^
12-02 Avalon Ballroom - Boston, MA ^
12-03 Higher Ground - Burlington, VT ^

^ with My Morning Jacket

Grizzly Adams did have a beard. David Bazan is hitting the road as part of his solo tour and side project (we hope) from his former band Pedro The Lion and in support for his recent album Fewer Moving Parts. Catch him in his unshaven glory.

10-11 Exit/Inn - Nashville, TN
10-12 The Hi Tone Cafe - Memphis, TN
10-13 Randy Bacon Gallery - Springfield, MO
10-14 Hailey's - Denton, TX *
10-15 The Parish - Austin, TX
10-16 The Prolatariat - Houston, TX
10-17 The Republic - New Orleans, LA
10-18 Beta Bar - Tallahassee, FL
10-19 The Social - Orlando, FL
10-20 New Brookland Tavern - West Columbia, SC
10-21 Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC
10-22 The EARL - Atlanta, GA

* with Damien Jurado, Rosie Thomas

What the Academies are to movies, The Plug is to indie music. The much ballyhooed event has begun collecting nominees to allow the public to vote upon.  Ballets will open to those who wish to participate in early November.  The board will then tally the votes, etc. etc. Leading up to the big event, Plug will host several shows in the likes of Detroit, Brooklyn, Portland and more with select concerts and events in each.

Since 2001, The Plug Awards have honored not only musicians from the songwriters to the DJ's, but also filmmakers and (gasp) managers and have recently honored the likes of TV on the Radio and Sufjan Stevens to name a few.  For a full list of last years winners, go here.

The award ceremony will be held at the Irving Plaza in New York City on February 10th, 2007.

Eat at Chilis and listen to Yeah Yeah Yeahs! The trio led by the infamous Karen-O will be playing at the State Theatre in St. Petersburg in Tampa, Florida on Wednesday October 11th for free.  Free! The show, sponsored by My Space and Chilis (yes, the rib place) is reported to be an all ages event.

Let the mobs begin.  Here's a sampling of the Secret Shows poster from MySpace and Chilis.

We thought all that airplane glue huffing from the 90's had come back in a mind-erasing bender.  But, you read right.  Jack White of the White Stripes is readying an orchestral recording entitled Aluminum with XL Recordings founder Richard Russell.  Renowned composer Joby Talbot will work the arrangements.  The album was recorded between August 2005 and February 2006 in London's Intimate Studios. 

The album will have a limited release on the Aluminum website; only some 3,333 CD's and 999LPs: only Jack White and his number schemes... Pre-orders will take place on November 6th. 

Rob Jones, long time collaborator with the Stripes created ten images that will accompany the album.  Also included is an original silk screen print.

Track List:

01 Aluminum
02 I'm Bound To Pack It Up
03 Why Can't You Be Nicer To Me?
04 Astro
05 Never Far Away
06 Little Bird
07 Let's Build A Home
08 Who's A Big Baby?
09 The Hardest Button To Button
10 Forever For Her (Is Over For Me)

The ever touring Benevento Russo Duo hit Chicago on part of a month long trip to support their recent release Play Pause Stop. We had a chance to speak with the guys but you'll have to sign up for the Podcast to get the full lowdown.  But for now, check out our photos of the show that included some amazing razz fusion that easily impressed even the most jaded spectator.

›› Pensaphotos: Benevento Russo Duo @ Park West

Sims games and Mercury nominations may not be the only place you get to hear your Hot Chip music feed.  The British electro-pop five-some are invading the US with their 'bedroom Neptunes' romp. Recently the band finished some tracks for the upcoming Sims 2 expansion pack for those of you who have graduated from Sea Monkeys.  Think Prince meets Madlib and you're almost there...

As mentioned, the band will be touring with the likes of Wonderful Shy Child and Born Ruffians.

Hot Tour:

11-01 Sonar - Baltimore, MD
11-02 Webster Hall - New York, NY
11-03 Pure - Philadelphia, PA
11-04 Paradise - Boston, MA
11-05 La Sala Rossa - Montreal, BC
11-06 The Mod Club - Toronto, BC
11-07 Heights Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH
11-08 Wexler Center - Columbus, OH
11-10 Metro - Chicago, IL
11-11 First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
11-14 Neumos - Seattle, WA
11-15 Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR
11-17 Mezzanine - San Francisco, CA
11-18 Henry Fonda Theater - Los Angeles, CA
11-19 Casbah - San Diego, CA

In other news, the band also dropped their new single 'Over and Over' today; a song all about the joy of repetition and destined to be a club banger.

Michah P. Hinson is having one of those weeks.  Not only is the Texan launching a new studio album tomorrow; the 2nd of which, but he will also be featured on Zane Lowe's BBC program.  Later this month, he will be trekking across the states to support the album with the aid of office favorites Matt Pond PA and Figurines on select dates. 

As if that wasn't enough, you can sample his new album single 'Jackeyed'  by visiting our Audio Section or clicking the direct link below

Jackeyed Tour:

10-24 Modified - Tempe, AZ
10-25 UC Riverside - Riverside, CA
10-26 Spaceland - Los Angeles, CA *
10-27 Pitzer College - Pomona, CA
10-28 Du Nord - San Francisco, CA
10-30 Doug Fir - Portland, OR #
10-31 Tractor Tavern - Seattle, WA
11-03 North Six [CMJ] - New York, NY
11-04 Schubas - Chicago, IL
11-07 Lee's Palace - Toronto, ONT %
11-08 Green Room - Montreal, QBC %
11-09 TT the Bear's - Boston, MA %
11-10 Mercury Lounge - New York, NY %
11-15 Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA
11-16 IOTA Club and Café - Arlington, VA
11-17 Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC
11-18 Lenny's - Atlanta, GA

* with Matt Pond PA
# with Figurines
% with Oakley Hall

›› mp3: Micah P. Hinson - 'Jackeyed'

Who needs the band's blessing with your solo material? Not Albert Hammond, Jr. I tell you! The Strokes guitarist, after being told his stuff wasn't Stokes-worthy, has taken his solo act on the road to help promote his solo album Yours To Keep which was released today care of Rough Trade records. The artist wrapped up his North American Tour this month with the Strokes and will begin his sparse solo tour at the end of November.

The first single off the album, '101' will also be available on November 27th - a day before the tour begins.

10-28 The Saint - Asbury Park, NJ
10-30 The Bear's Place - Cambridge, MA
11-01 The Khyber - Philadelphia, PA
11-03 Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
11-22 Academy 2 - Birminham, UK
11-24 Cockpit - Leeds, UK
11-25 Academy 3 - Manchester, UK
11-27 ABC 2 - Glasgow, UK
11-28 Rescue Room - Nottingham, UK
11-29 Scala - London, UK

›› News: Albert Hammond Stroked
›› News: Albert Hammond Album Revealed

Pete Doherty is going to have some time to remain sober.  The singer/songwriter/frontman for Babyshambles has canceled the band's current tour to help on his current rehab stint that according to all our reports is rather successful.  The tour began to - forgive the pun - go to shambles when Doherty missed the Friday gig in Liverpool's Academy.  The singer claimed exhaustion to be the culprit.

In a related article of news, Rolling Stones reported that Doherty owes some 18K to his previous landlord from renting a drug den flat that was more than discombobulated; it had blood on the walls.  Goo.

Google knows music - or it's hoping that the people out there can help them know more.  It was announced that internet search giant Google and video crazed YouTube have combined forces.

YouTube has single-handedly reinvented the music video craze long since forgotten by record labels to help promote acts.  And although lawsuits are abound in regards to copywritten material being allowed on the site, it is still a great push to help grow the video posting site. CBS major record labels Sony BMG and Universal have already settled out of court by allowing the site to post its catalogue of music.  Warner is now on board as well.

The marriage should be completed by the end of business today as the board approve the transaction.  This only means greater things for indie bands as they try to produce more visual stimulation on their small budgets..

Those who never jumped on the Google bandwagon had to watch in disgust as their share rose almost $9 to $428.60 - that's an additional $9 to what it gained from the reported rumors last week.