Alkaline Trio has announced the birth of Heart & Skull, the band’s own label formed in partnership with Epitaph Records. The band will release its seventh album through Epitaph/Heart & Skull in early 2010.

Commenting on the formation of the new imprint, named for the band’s longstanding logo, Alkaline Trio singer/guitarist Matt Skiba commented, “We made the decision to form Heart & Skull to put out our own records after having been through every kind of label deal in the industry, big indies, small indies, majors. We knew it was time to adapt to the shifting tides of the music industry and we could not be more thrilled about doing that in conjunction with the team at Epitaph. Taking control of our own label situation was something we always wanted to do but never thought was possible, but now thanks to Brett Gurewitz and the fine folks at Epitaph, it is. All three of us in Alkaline Trio have always had the utmost respect for the music and the work ethic of the Epitaph, Anti- and Hellcat family and now we’re honored to be working together under one big happy roof. Heart & Skull/Epitaph is truly a dream come true for us.”

Alkaline Trio bassist/vocalist Dan Andriano added, “For our band at this time it really makes sense to release our own records, but we wanted to make sure we could partner up with good people who we would want to share in something very special to us. When Brett called and said he wanted to be involved, that was it. Epitaph is a label I’ve admired and supported for more than half of my life! I couldn’t be more excited for how this is turning out!”

Alkaline Trio first emerged from Chicago in 1996 and has since released the full length studio albums Goddamnit, Maybe I’ll Catch Fire, From Here To Infirmary, Good Mourning, Crimson and last year’s Agony & Irony, which was the highest charting record of the band’s career to date. The band is comprised of Skiba, Andriano and drummer Derek Grant, all of whom are partners in Heart & Skull.

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For More Information:
www.alkalinetrio.com
www.myspace.com/alkalinetrio
www.epitaph.com

Beck, Wilco, Feist and Jamie Lidell Perform Skip Spence’s Oar In Its Entirety

RECORD CLUB, the informal and irregular gathering of various musicians to record an album in one day’s time, has begun posting tracks from its third endeavor. The current album is SKIP SPENCE’s classic OAR and as reinterpreted by Beck, Wilco, Feist and Jamie Lidell. First track “Little Hands” is up now at Beck.com and new tracks will be posted every Thursday in the same order as the original album sequence.
RECORD CLUB’s version of OAR came together in June of this year when Wilco joined Beck and Lidell managing to record all 12 tracks in a night. Leslie Feist happened to be in town editing her documentary and joined in, as did drum legend James Gadson, known for his timeless work with Bill Withers. The session took place at Sunset Sound Studios in the same room where the Rolling Stones recorded much of Exile On Main Street.
Record Club is an informal meeting of various musicians to record an album in one day. The album chosen to be reinterpreted is used as a framework. Nothing is rehearsed or arranged ahead of time. A track is put up at BECK.COM once a week. As you will hear, some of the songs are rough renditions, often first takes that document what happened over the course of a day as opposed to a polished rendering. There is no intention to ‘add to’ the original work or attempt to recreate the power of the original recording. Only to play music and document what happens. And those who aren’t familiar with the albums in question will hopefully look for the songs in their definitive versions.
The two previous RECORD CLUB subjects have been THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO and SONGS OF LEONARD COHEN.
For further information, go to http://www.beck.com/record_club

In response to the leak of Them Crooked Vultures’ album, the band has made the unprecedented decision to stream the record in its entirety beginning with first track “No One Loves Me & Neither Do I” http://bit.ly/stream_tcv

Them Crooked Vultures’ self-titled debut album is due out November 17 in the United States and Canada on DGC/Interscope Records. Its release has been preceded by first single “New Fang” currently streaming at http://www.myspace.com/crookedvultures and “Mind Eraser, No Chaser” now available as a free iTunes download.

Them Crooked Vultures recently announced its first ever shows in California and the Pacific Northwest: November 17 at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, November 19 at the Fox Theater in Oakland, November 21 at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, and November 22 at the Roseland Theater in Portland.The dates expand an itinerary that already includes a December tour of the UK and Europe and January dates in Australia and New Zealand.

For further information, updates, dates, etc., check back at www.themcrookedvultures.com

FREE DOWNLOAD OF NEW TRACK “UP ALL NIGHT” AVAILABLE AT http://takebacktheradworld.com/
NOV.-DEC. DATES CONFIRMED
NEW ALBUM OUT 2010 ON FAT POSSUM

Jaguar Love–a/k/a former Blood Brothers Johnny Whitney and Cody Votolato–has offered up a free download of the new track “Up All Night” at the band’s website http://takebacktheradworld.com/. The track is a first peek at Jaguar Love’s first album under its new joint agreement with Fat Possum, produced by John Goodmanson and due out in early 2010.

“Up All Night” can be downloaded for review, posting, etc. at: https://rcpt.yousendit.com/769679304/00b9c42a69458df05c551d8312971357 and is also streaming at http://www.myspace.com/jaguarloveband.

Additionally, Jaguar Love has announced a series of west coast and east coast dates to close out 2009. The dates are as follows:

Nov 13 – Portland, OR – Brantz
Nov 20 – Los Angeles, CA – Smell
Nov 25 – Seattle , WA – Sole Repair Shop
Dec 1 – Boston, MA – Middle East
Dec 2 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
Dec 3 – Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie

The title and release date of the new Jaguar Love record will be announced once they are confirmed.

“NEW FANG” STREAMING AT http://www.myspace.com/crookedvultures
ALBUM OUT NOVEMBER 17
WEST COAST DATES NOVEMBER 17-21

(Nov. 3, 2009) In celebration of All Souls Day, Them Crooked Vultures a/k/a Dave Grohl, Joshua Homme and John Paul Jones are giving it away: As of midnight, “Mind Eraser, No Chaser” is available as a FREE download at iTunes. No obligation to buy anything. Not part 9L0-625 of a pre-order. No strings attached. FREE.

Additionally, “New Fang,” the first single from Them Crooked Vultures’ self-titled debut album due out November 17 in the United States and Canada on DGC/Interscope Records, was recently premiered and is currently streaming at http://www.myspace.com/crookedvultures

Them Crooked Vultures recently announced its first ever shows in California and the Pacific Northwest: November 17 at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, November 19P2020-014 at the Fox Theater in Oakland, November 21 at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, and November 22 at the Roseland Theater in Portland.The dates expand an itinerary that already includes a December tour of the UK and Europe and January dates in Australia and New Zealand.

For further information, updates, dates, etc., check back at www.themcrookedvultures.com

Britt Daniel, Jim Eno, Eric Harvey and Rob Pope–collectively known as Spoon–have confirmed the release date of their first album in over two years and seventh overall: Transference will be released in the U.S. on Merge Records on the 26th of January 2010.

Produced by the band, Transference is made up of 11 new gems that honor the Spoon tradition while pushing the envelope of the band’s sound ever further. “Before Destruction” opens proceedings with a transfixing air of foreboding before “Is Love Forever?” and “The Mystery Zone” kick in with hooks that grip the listener’s cortex with the tenacity of an aural tapeworm. “Who Makes Your Money” and first single “Written In Reverse” will be familiar to Spoon fans who witnessed the band playing prototypical live versions at select dates in 2008, as will “Got Nuffin,” title track of the EP released by the band earlier this year.

The complete track listing for Transference is:
Before Destruction
Is Love Forever?
The Mystery Zone
Who Makes Your Money
Written In Reverse
I Saw The Light
Trouble Comes Running
Goodnight Laura
Out Go The Lights
Got Nuffin
Nobody Gets Me But You

In other Spoon news, September 29 saw the worldwide digital release of the band’s first four albums–Telephono, A Series Of Sneaks, Girls Can Tell and Kill The Moonlight–at spoontheband.com. The albums will be formatted as MP3s and high quality FLAC audio, with digital liner notes provided for the first time.

Spoon has also confirmed a one-off New Years Eve extravaganza at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee with Jay Reatard supporting. Tour dates supporting Transference will be announced as they are confirmed. Check back frequently at spoontheband.com.

Transference is the first full length offering of new Spoon material since 2007’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Spoon’s first Top 10 album with U.S. sales having since exceeded 300,000. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga was hailed upon its release with the band’s biggest ever coverage in the likes of TIME and THE NEW YORKER, and wound up 2007 with year-end best of accolades from NPR, GQ, NEW YORK, ROLLING STONE, PITCHFORK, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, SPIN, THE ONION, PASTE and the WASHINGTON POST, while Oct. 6, 2007 marked the band’s debut appearance on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.

Dave Grohl, Joshua Homme and John Paul Jones a/k/a Them Crooked Vultures’ “New Fang” has been serviced to radio as of midnight Monday, October 26. The track is the first single from the band’s self-titled debut album, due out November 17 in the United States and Canada on DGC/Interscope Records.Additionally, the band has announced its first ever shows in California and the Pacific Northwest: November 17 at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, November 19 at the Fox Theater in Oakland, November 21 at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, and November 22 at the Roseland Theater in Portland.
Tickets will go on sale this weekend. Check www.themcrookedvultures.com for details.

The dates expand an itinerary that already includes a December tour of the UK and Europe and January dates in Australia and New Zealand.

For further information, updates, dates, etc., check back at www.themcrookedvultures.com or myspace.com/themcrookedvultures

Them Crooked Vultures–a/k/a Dave Grohl, Joshua Homme and John Paul Jones–has confirmed November 17 as the release date of its eponymous debut album in the United States and Canada on DGC/Interscope Records.The self-produced 13-song record will feature the debut of the studio versions of the material Them Crooked Vultures unveiled at its August 9 debut at Chicago’s Cabaret Metro and played on a first series of shows throughout a handful of UK and European cities and portions of the eastern U.S., wrapping up with an October 15 appearance at New York’s Roseland Ballroom.

Additional shows are being announced in the wake of the album’s release, including but not necessarily limited to December dates in the UK and Europe and a January trip to Australia and New Zealand.

The complete track listing of Them Crooked Vultures is as follows:
No One Loves Me & Neither Do I
Mind Eraser, No Chaser
New Fang
Dead End Friends
Elephants
Scumbag Blues
Bandoliers
Reptiles
Interlude With Ludes
Warsaw or The First Breath You Take After You Give Up
Caligulove
Gunman
Spinning In Daffodils

For further information, updates, dates, etc., check back at www.themcrookedvultures.com

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS TV PERFORMANCE AIRING OCTOBER 24
LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON DEBUT OCTOBER 30

As his current North American tour winds down with a set on Austin City Limits (October 24), a performance of “Anonanimal” from his acclaimed Noble Beast on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (October 30) and a sold out finale’ at Washington DC’s 9:30 Club, Bird has announced a series of intimate solo performances to conclude his 2009 work year, built around the concept of “Gezelligheid.”Gezelligheid is a Dutch term that can only be approximately translated into English using the word “coziness,” a term that fails to fully describe the more intensely warm, amicable and joyous atmosphere the word expresses in its native language. For these unusual first-time events, Bird will play solo, concentrating mainly on instrumental violin pieces. Bird will also eschew a typical P.A. for these performances, instead utilizing more of his signature giant horns to amplify his violin playing. Ambient light sources will be used in place of traditional overhead lighting.

Bird explains in his own words: “What I hope to do with these shows is adapt my music completely to the atmosphere of the space and the season. I’m inspired to do this based on childhood memories of performing Handel’s Messiah in various churches on an annual basis. The music will be mostly original instrumentals using my voice only to intone. I want the audience to be both lifted and comforted as we head into another cold and dark winter. I feel the space should be sacred so the audience can experience my music in a different atmosphere.”

The Gezelligheid Concerts will take place December 10 & 11 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Minneapolis and Dec 15, 16 & 17 at the 4th Presbyterian Church in Chicago. For information on tickets to these shows, as well as other current and newly added dates, go to http://www.andrewbird.net

ANDREW BIRD 2009-2010–New Dates In Bold:
10/21/09 – Buffalo, NY – Asbury Hall
10/24/09 – S. Portland, ME – S. Portland High School Auditorium
10/25/09 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory
10/26/09 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
10/27/09 – Providence, RI – Lupo’s
10/28/09 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
11/10/09 – London, UK – Union Chapel
11/11/09 – London, UK – Union Chapel
11/13/09 – Paris, FR – Casino de Paris
11/15/09 – Amsterdam, NL – Melkweg MAX
11/16/09 – Tumhout, BE – de Warande
11/17/09 – Gent, BE – Vooruit
11/19/09 – Katowice, PL – Festival Ars Cameralis
11/21/09 – Madrid, ES – Joy Eslava
11/23/09 – Valencia, ES – Palau de la Musica
11/24/09 – Barcelona, ES – Sala Apolo
12/08/09 – Champaign, IL – Foellinger Hall – solo
12/10/09 – Minneapolis, MN – St Mark’s Episcopal Church (GEZELLIGHEID CONCERT)
12/11/09 – Minneapolis, MN – St Mark’s Episcopal Church (GEZELLIGHEID CONCERT)
12/15/09 – Chicago, IL – 4th Presbyterian Church (GEZELLIGHEID CONCERT)
12/16/09 – Chicago, IL – 4th Presbyterian Church (GEZELLIGHEID CONCERT)
12/17/09 – Chicago, IL – 4th Presbyterian Church (GEZELLIGHEID CONCERT)
12/30/09 – Marion Bay, AU – The Falls Music & Arts Festival
12/31/09 – Lorne, AU – The Falls Music & Arts Festival
01/01/10 – Melbourne, AU – The Hi-Fi
01/03/10 – Sydney, AU – Sydney Opera House
01/07/10 – Brisbane, AU – Sunset Sounds
01/09/10 – Busselton, AU – Southbound Festival
1/26/09 – Singapore – The Esplanade
1/27/09 – Hong Kong – Grappa’s Cellar
1/29/09 – Shanghai – Zhijiang Dream Factory
1/30/09 – Beijing – Mao Live House
02/03/10 – Tokyo, JP – Club Quattro
02/06/10 – Honolulu, HI – Pipeline Cafe – solo
02/20/10 – Los Angeles, CA – USC – Bovard Auditorium – solo

As shared in an email blast to Beastie Boys fan list and on the band’s site, Adam “MCA” Yauch’s recuperation is continuing apace following a visit to Dharamsala, India.
Yauch recently underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in his left parotid (salivary) gland. Fortunately the cancer was located early and was localized in a location that will not affect Yauch’s vocal chords. The early detection and localization reportedly made for a successful surgical procedure.

The release of Beastie Boys’ new album Hot Sauce Committee Part 1 has yet to be re-scheduled. More information will be released as it becomes available.An excerpt from Yauch’s message to Beastie Boys fans is as follows:hey all,so i just got back from dharamsala, india. went over there to see some tibetan doctors, but as it worked out, the Dalai Lama was giving a 3 day teaching, so i was able to attend that as well.

i’m feeling healthy, strong and hopeful that i’ve beaten this thing, but of course time will tell. i’m taking tibetan medicine and at the recommendation of the tibetan doctors i’ve been eating a vegan/organic diet, which surprisingly enough was harder to do in india than it is now that i’m back home. here i can just shop for the right food and cook…a lot easier than depending on restaurants.

when i was in india i visited an ani gompa (a nunnery) called jamyang choling. they did a puja (religious ceremony) for me to help me get well. one nun said to me “we do prayers and then you are better.” so i’ve got that going for me, which is nice.

More news on Beastie Boys can be found at Beastieboys.com.