Devendra Banhart dates

Hell yes: That strange, hairy, lovely Devendra Banhart will be hitting the road in support of his forthcoming 5th album...

9/1 - Vancouver, Canada - Commodore Ballroom
9/2 - Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot Festival (KEXP stage)
9/4 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
9/6 - Santa Cruz, CA - Rio Theater
9/7 - San Francisco, CA - House of Fine Arts
9/10 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theater (Native American Benefit)
9/12 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium
9/13 - Lawrence, KS - Liberty Hall Theater
9/15 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
9/16 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
9/18 - Chicago, IL - Portage Theater
9/19 - Detroit, MI - Majestic Theater
9/21 - Toronto, Canada - Danforth Music Hall
9/22 - Montreal, Canada - Theatre National
9/23 - Burlington, VT - Davis Center Grand Ballroom
9/25 - Boston, MA - Roxy Ballroom
9/27 - New York, NY - Grand Ballroom
9/29 - Philadelphia, PA - Theater of Living Arts
10/1 - Washington, DC - Sixth And I Historic Synagogue
10/4 - Nashville, TN - City Hall
10/6 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
10/7 - Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
10/9 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater (Native American Benefit)
10/10 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theater
10/12 - Phoenix, AZ - Marquee Theater
10/13 - Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum

Frank Black Francis madness

Hell yes: Frank Black is turning into Prince. He comes out with a new album like four times a year, has a crazy new website, and he loves the name game. The artist formerly known as Black Francis (born Charles Michael Thompson) became Frank Black circa 1993, and is now reverting back to Black Francis for his latest release Bluefinger, out Sept. 10 (pre-order here). And wait, there's more: Black has also released an exclusive iTunes EP, BUT it's only available on Canadian iTunes?! No word on the long-rumored Pixies reunion album though...

All info courtesy of the saintly peeps who run Frankblack.net and release bitchin' F.B.-related podcasts.

Poster of the Week: MF DOOM by Mark Sgarbossa

The people have only those rights which I choose to give them:


Click on image to enlarge.

MF DOOM at Cane's in San Diego 8/19, art by Mark Sgarbossa

Odds and sods and news

Jesus rocks: A little update on Kanye's upcoming CD, which has been delayed until September 11 (same day as 50 Cent's new joint!).

Check it: The Hives have unveiled some newsy news about their upcoming album (no release date). The Black and White Album (Please be a Prince-Beatles mash-up) is being finished up in Mississipi studio, although they also recorded in London, Sweden and Miami (with Pharrell!)

Supergroup alert! John Mellencamp, Kelly Clarkson and Faith Hill will perform at the Colts/Saints game in Indianapolis on September 6.

Supercorn what now? Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood's orchestral piece "Popcorn Superheat Receiver" is headed for the U.S. for the first time at New York's St. Paul the Apostle on January 16-17 as part of the Wordless Music Series. The piece, which features a 34-piece string orchestra was first performed in England in '05.

Whoa, that's a lotta REM: The dudes at MPLSfuckingrocks have posted a tankload of youtube clips of REM performing new material in Dublin. Pretty good.

MTV VMA noms announced

This is for the 7 people who still watch MTV (OK, fine, it's for the 7 people who read this blog): MTV has unveiled the list of nominees for this year's VMA Awards. That hot hunk of manmeat J. Timberlake has racked up a hard-to-beat 7 nods, while that luscious chunk of womanmeat Beyonce also earned 7 (I said "Hard to beat", not "hard to tie"). Kanye West and Rihanna are nominated for five and Amy Winehouse three.

All Wilco, all the time.

Hell yes: Are you some kind of Wilco fanatic? Well, earn prizes for your obsessiveness. Presenting The Second Annual Wilcoworld Photo Contest.

All you have to do is send in a photo of you doing your freaky summertime rituals (bar-b-q-ing, sledding, making snow angels, wait...) while wearing a Wilco shirt or holding something "Wilco related". Sounds fun, but check out the prizes: Two pairs of 3-day passes to Austin City Limits, a pair of tickets to see Wilco's taping of the Austin City Limits TV show, um... Simple shoes, and "other cool stuff." Stuff rules. Send photos to ineedacamera@wilcoworld.net.

Odds and sods and news

Sweeeet: Is David Lee Roth finally ready to party (no alcohol, please) with Eddie and the rest of Van Halen?! Yes, says Rolling Stone. An arena tour is in the works for the fall. Again.

Kick Push: Dapper Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco apparently unveiled a bunch of new tracks during his Lollapalooza set over the weekend, including "Superstardom," the first single from his upcoming second album Lupe Fiasco's The Cool, due in the fall.

Catch up with the Virgin Fest: You didn't go to Lollapalooza OR the Virgin Festival? Loser. LOSER. Stereogum'll hook you up with highlights from the latter.