2005

Following U2’s recent weeklong takeover of “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” Neil Young has signed on to appear four nights in a row (Nov. 1-4) on the NBC talk show. Young will head to New York to tape the shows immediately after the 19th Bridge School Benefit concerts in Mountain View, Calif., at which he will perform with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

The artist’s latest Reprise album, “Prairie Wind,” debuted earlier this month at No. 11 on The Billboard 200. A previously announced documentary recently shot by director Jonathan Demme during two shows in Nashville is scheduled to hit U.S. theaters in February.

Source billboard.com.

Gov’t Mule will usher in 2006 with MULE A-GO-GO. For the 4th consecutive year, Gov’t Mule will celebrate New Year’s Eve at The Beacon Theatre in New York City. This year, the band will be playing three shows 12/29 through 12/31, with the 31st, once again, being three sets of Mule. Keep an eye at mule.net for ticket info as it becomes available shortly.

Police arrested four Scranton locals and out-of-state men Thursday night on charges ranging from drug possession to disorderly conduct in separate incidents during a String Cheese Incident concert at the Scranton Cultural Center. According to Scranton Police Lt. Jeff Mackie, arrested were: Mark Loughney, 28, after police said he jumped on stage and grabbed the crotch area of one of the band members. Mr. Loughney was charged with disorderly conduct and drug possession.

Anthony Biondollo, 19, at about 9:45 p.m. as he was stumbling along the street coming back from the concert, police said. Mr. Biondollo was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and underage drinking.

Gregory Paul Ibscher, 35, on charges of drug possession. Mr. Ibscher was wanted on a felony warrant out of Philadelphia. He was arrested at 7:45 p.m. just before he entered the show.

Michael James Watson, 31, at about 8 p.m. after he allegedly tried to sell drugs to undercover officers in the parking lot outside of the center.

Six officers were stationed at the show, Lt. Mackie said.

Source: The TImes Tribune

Sonic Youth will record its next studio album without the aid of multi-instrumentalist Jim O’Rourke, who has been part of the band on stage and in the studio since 2002’s “Murray Street.” Guitarist Lee Ranaldo tells Billboard.com O’Rourke is planning to devote his full energies to his own recording projects as well as forays into film.

“Jim is going through a lot of different stuff personally and about where he sees his future,” Ranaldo says. “He’s really interested in pursuing stuff outside the musical arena, particularly film work. Not necessarily soundtrack work, but making films and getting involved in that community.”

To read more visit billboard.com.

Former Guided By Voices frontman Robert Pollard has signed a new deal with Merge Records, which will on Jan. 26 issue a double-disc album, “From a Compound Eye.” Billboard.com understands Pollard will continue to release projects on his own Fading Captain imprint but that future solo releases under his name will go through Merge.

Pollard previously told Billboard.com that “From a Compound Eye” has “all four P’s: pop, punk, prog and psychedelic.” The 26-track project was recorded at frequent GBV outpost Waterloo Sound in Kent, Ohio.

Although the itinerary is not yet finalized, Pollard will mount his first post-GBV tour around the release of “From a Compound Eye” with a band of notable musicians to be determined. Sources also say the artist has Fading Captain projects with three different groups in the works for 2006.

To read more visit billboard.com.

Percy Hill singer/songwriter/drummer/producer Aaron Katz is bringing Geminatrix to The Stone Church in Newmarket NH this Friday Oct 14th. One dollar from each ticket sold is going to the New Hampshire Red Cross Hurricane Katrina benefit fund.

For more information please visit one of the links below:

geminatrix.com
stonechurch.com
myspace.com
percyhill.com

Wilco has put the finishing touches on a benefit concert at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on Tuesday, November 1. Proceeds from this show will benefit the New Orleans Musician Relief and Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans

Pre-sale via wilcoworld will take place on Thursday, October 13 at 10 am CDT, and the remaining tickets go on sale Saturday, October 15 at 11 am at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office and via Ticketmaster. Tickets are $50 and $35 and both Ticketmaster and Musictoday have agreed to reduce their processing fees for this show.In addition, the band has reserved 36 of the Auditorium Theatre’s private opera boxes, which will be sold exclusively via wilcoworld. Boxes include an equal number of passes to the soundcheck party on the day of the show.

Friends, tour mates and titans of the