Preview: Opening Wilco’s Vault (No Homo)
Our good friend Luke Sacks offers an out-of-towner preview of Wilco’s upcoming five-night stand at the Riviera in Chicago, which takes place on February 15-20 A previous commitment — okay, a work business trip — will prevent me from attending any of the five special Wilco shows in Chicago next week where the band will […]
Singin’ Just Like a Bird: Danko Tunes
Our good friends over at the wonderful Art Decade mp3 blog must be on the same wavelength this week. I woke up yesterday singing three separate Rick Danko songs at once (that triumvirate dominated by When You Awake); and, just my luck, Art Decade’s got the cure for my Tuesday Danko Blues. Stream Solo Ricky: […]
Yay, Trey: Big Red Cleans Up His Act
Nearly every mention of Trey Anastasio’s name over the past year has been attached to negative news, so we’re glad to report some good red news. The former Space Antelope co-founder — sorry, old habits die hard — shared the story of his rise and fall, as well as a brand new tune, with a […]
Better Than Noodling: Okkervil River
You may be well familiar with the bands featured in this section, but Some Dude from Hits from the Blog wants to ensure there’s No Jambandfan Left Behind…
You know how they say that Christopher Columbus didn’t really discover America he just “encountered” it? Well that’s sort of how I feel about how I came to start listening to the music of Okkervil River.
How I can really lay claim to discovering a band that has been releasing albums (and I’m sure touring relentlessly) since late last century? I first encountered this Austin-based act some time last summer when every music reviewer was drooling over their latest offering, The Stage Names, a wordy, bombastic album with ruminations on the daily life of someone who happens to be in a rock band.
The reviews piqued my interest, but it wasn’t until I caught their performance on Conan that I knew they’d be my latest musical obsession. The song they played was big, brawny and cluttered with sound; it seemed like they could fall apart at any moment, but somehow lead singer Will Sheff’s vocals came in and tied it all together. Read on after the jump and take a listen to their cinematic tales…
The Magnetic Fields: Distortion
Magnetic Field fans will find Distortion a must hear, but curiosity seekers should see it as a free art opening – stop by and decide for yourself whether to linger or jet.
Yahoo Drops Subscription Service, Pacts with Rhapsody
Yahoo is dropping its subscription music service and replacing it with Rhapsody America as part of a broad strategic partnership announced by the two companies today. As part of the deal, Yahoo will exclusively promote Rhapsody on its site and integrate the service into Yahoo Music, though the two companies are still finalizing details on […]
Okkervil River Plans Co-Headlining Tour with The New Pornographers
Okkervil River have announced a spring tour that will consist of headlining shows and some with The New Pornographers. Pre-sale begins this Saturday, Feb 2 for the dates with The New Pornographers through Ducat King (http://thenewpornographers.ducatking.com). Tour Dates April 5 Dallas, TX Granada April 6 Memphis, TN Hi-Tone**April 7 Bloomington, IN Buskirk-Chumley Theater**April 9 Toronto, […]
Arcade Fire Considering Suing Fox Over Super Bowl Music
Arcade Fire and Fox TV could become involved in a lawsuit, after it is alleged that the network used their music to soundtrack an advert without permission. The band’s song ‘No Cars Go’ was used in an advert for the NFL which was aired during the halftime show of the Super Bowl last night (February […]
Jack Johnson & Dave Matthews Headlining Kokua Festival
Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews have been announced to headline the fifth annual Kokua Festival in Hawaii. The pair will perform at the Waikiki Shell in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, on April 19 and 20. It will be the first show in the state for Dave Matthews, who will perform an acoustic set […]
Iron & Wine Announces April Tour
Iron & Wine has announced some April headlining dates behind last year’s "The Shepherd’s Dog" LP. The singer and his eight-piece touring band (which includes percussionists Chad Taylor from The Sea and Cake and Benny Massarella of Califone, former Wilco keyboardist Leroy Bach and Calexico’s Paul Niehaus, among others) kick things off April 9 in […]