Wilco to rock Prairie Home Companion

Nothing says "down-home" like avant garde noize rock. On May 12, Jeff Tweedy and the trend setting Chicago rockers invade Garrison Keillor's beloved old time radio show A Prairie Home Companion, blasting eardrums and upsetting apple carts from here to Northern Minnesota.

The show airs from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Central check your local listings for which station carries it, and will be broadcast from the State Theater in Minneapolis.

Wilco's new album, Sky Blue Sky, which dropped earlier this year out on the Nonesuch label on May 15, but you can hear it right now, streaming from the band's website. Wilco appears on Late Night with David Letterman on May 15, and will spend most of the summer on tour.

Social Consciousness for the Indie Crowd: Wear Your Music

The Indie set may have never got on board with Lance Armstrong's "Live Strong" campaign, but thanks to the music magazine Relix, hipsters don't have to flash those ubiquitous yellow bands to show that they care.

With its "Wear Your Music" campaign, Relix has procures guitar strings from rock icons including Brian May, Pete Townshend, and Les Paul to relative newcomers including The Shins, Death Cab for Cutie, Tenacious D, and My Morning Jacket to be recycled for a charitable cause.

Designer Hannah Garrison of AZU Studio turns these old guitar strings bracelets (see inset), and all proceeds will go to one of more than 20 charities chosen by the artist or by the WYM campaign. Prices for these unique items range from $75 to $300.

Bob Dylan goes back to school

In best grandpa ever news, kids from an upscale L.A. Kindergarten class have been coming home talking about the "weird man" who has been coming to class to play guitar and sing them "scary" songs. Turns out this scary, weird guy is Bob Dylan. His grandson (Onetime Wallflower Jakob Dylan's boy) attends the school in the ritzy L.A. suburb Calabasas.

Dylan says he's been singing to the kids just for fun, but they have no idea who he is. Too bad they have no idea they're in the presence of a musical legend. To them, he's just the weird guitar guy.

Spinal Tap reunites for Live Earth concert at Wembley

Spinal Tap is back. The fictional heavy metal group, immortalized in 1984's groundbreaking "mockumentary", This Is Spinal Tap, reunites July 7 for a performance at London's Wembley Stadium as part of the Live Earth concerts. Guitarist Nigel Tufnel (played by Christopher Guest), singer David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean) and bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) are all scheduled to appear in an effort to raise awareness about global warming.

Additionally, a new 15-minute film directed by original Spinal Tap will play at the opening night of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. The festival will open with a screening of several global warming-themed short films produced by the SOS (Save Our Selves) campaign. SOS is also responsible for organizing the Live Earth concerts, which will be held across seven continents.

Spinal Tap has reunited several times since the film, most recently in 1992 for Break like the Wind. St Hubbins and company believe that the Live Earth concerts warranted a new single: "Warmer Than Hell." Reiner provides a sneak peek at the lyrics. "'The devil went to Devon, it felt like the fourth degree / He said, 'Is it hot in here, or is it only me?'"

Reiner said the new short film explains what the band has been doing with their lives since the last tour. Nigel has been raising miniature horses to race, but has so far been unable to find jockeys small enough to ride them. David is a hip-hop producer who also runs a colonic clinic. Derek is in rehab for addiction to the Internet.

WATCH NOW - Spinal Tap "Stonehenge"

Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer teams with Ben Folds for solo album

Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer is in Nashville recording her debut solo album with ubiquitous performer, producer, pianist, and rocker Ben Folds.

In a recent Billboard interview Palmer said, "The songs range from intimate ballads to faster and harder Amanda-assaults-the-piano thrillers." No release date for the untitled solo effort. "We've been adding everything from organs and Leslie cabinets to strings, horns, and tympani. The final result should be Biblical," says Palmer.

The Dolls have a busy upcoming schedule. They will hit the road in June 2007 for their True Colors tour, which will feature Cyndi Lauper, Erasure, and former Blondie star Debbie Harry. Dresden Dolls are also working on a video to be shot next month for "Shores of California," the third single from the Dolls' 2006 album Yes, Virginia.

mp3: Dresden Dolls - "Coin Operated Boy"

Ryan Adams' Stonehenge show canceled

It didn't work for Spinal Tap either. Ryan Adams' monumental appearance at Stonehenge has been officially canceled.

Adams was set to play the site as part of the Salisbury International Arts Festival on June 5, but organizers have now scrubbed the show.

Organizers for the festival feared that non-ticket holders might attempt to watch the show from a nearby road, forcing English Heritage to change the venue for public safety reasons.

Unfortunately, neither parties could agree on a suitable alternative site, so Adams has decided not to take part in the festival. "We are very sorry that Ryan Adams will not be able to perform at Stonehenge, but the demand for tickets was both unprecedented and unforeseen, and we have to put public safety first," explained Stonehenge director Peter Carson in a recent NME interview adding, "We have worked with Salisbury International Arts Festival to try and identify a suitable alternative, and have offered to make available another English Heritage site, but we appreciate that it would be hard to find an appropriate substitute for such a unique venue."

Adams is due to release his new album, Easy Tiger on June 25.

Better late than never: Police hint at new album

Good news for Police fans old and new alike. According to a recent NME interview, Police guitarist Andy Summers hinted that the band may get to work on a new album after their upcoming global tour.

Summers said in an April 4 interview that the legendary trio would consider pressing a new album after their tour. "If we do well with these concerts we may well make a sixth album. I can't see why not."

Summers also said that the trio will debut some new tunes during the tour, which start in Vancouver on May 28 before heading to Europe in August. "We've been jamming acoustically lately and we've been really enjoying it; we'll be playing a couple of new songs at the shows in the summer." said Summers.

Amy Winehouse releases Back to Black video

British vocal phenom/train wreck Amy Winehouse just released Back to Black, the third video off of the album for the title track, and though it’s not yet available in the U.S. Winehouse plans a North American tour starting April 26 in San Francisco.




Tour dates include:

April
26 - San Francisco, Calif. @ Popscene
27 - Indio, Calif. @ Empire Polo Grounds
30 - Boulder, Colo. @ Fox Theatre

May
2 - Minneapolis, Minn. @ Varsity Theater
3 - Chicago, Ill. @ Schubas
6 - Philadelphia, Penn. @ Theatre Of The Living Arts
7 - Boston, Mass. @ Paradise Rock Club
8 - New York, N.Y. @ The Highline Ballroom
9 - New York, N.Y. @ The Highline Ballroom
12 - Toronto, Ontario @ Mod Club
13 - Toronto, Ontario @ Mod Club

Matchstick Women: Tegan and Sara complete "The Con"

Canadian sibling and rock duo Tegan & Sara recently completed recording their third album, The Con, set to drop July 24 via Vapor/Sanctuary Records. The Con is the follow-up to 2004's So Jealous.

Twin sisters Tegan and Sara Quin worked with Death Cab For Cutie guitarist Chris Walla to produce the new 14 track album. "They wanted something that was a little bit grittier," Walla told Billboard.com in January. Also sitting in on The Con is AFI bassist Hunter Burgan and the Rentals' Matt Sharp.

Tegan and Sara plan on a series of small club performances in July and August, plus an extensive, headlining, North American tour set for October.

The tracklisting for The Con :

1. "I Was Married"
2. "Relief Next to Me"
3. "The Con"
4. "Knife Going In"
5. "Are You Ten Years Ago"
6. "Back in Your Head"
7. "Hop a Plane"
8. "Soil, Soil"
9. "Burn Your Life Down"
10. "Nineteen"
11. "Floorplan"
12. "Like O, Like H"
13. "Dark Come Soon"
14. "Call It Off"

Live: Arcade Fire rocks New York church

Arcade Fire's 2004 debut Funeral, was one of the decade's most remarkable and innovative rock albums. The Canadian octet's sophomore album Neon Bible proved to fans and critics alike that their creativity, enthusiasm, and ingenuity were the genuine articles.

The band performed at New York's Judson Memorial Church, Feb 17, 2007. Arcade Fire originally broadcast the concert as a live webcast courtesy of All Songs Considered.

Listen Now - Arcade Fire Live @ Judson Memorial Church 2.17.07

Brit Rocker Nick Lowe returns

British rock legend Nick Lowe plans to release his first album since 2001's Convincer, on the Yep Roc label. At My Age a new full length album, features guest spots by the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde and Bill Kirchen. Nine of the 12 tracks are Lowe originals, while various covers finish it off.

Lowe is best known as the main songwriter and principal member of Rockpile with Dave Edmunds. He has also produced classic albums with artists including Elvis Costello. Lowe's biggest (and only US top 40) hit was the 70s classic "Cruel to be Kind". The album drops June 26.

New Pornographers record "epic" album

Canadian sextet The New Pornographers are currently recording their follow up to 2005's indie smash Twin Cinema. They plan to drop the album in late August on the Matador label.

Twin Cinema showcased the band's willingness to take risks lyrically and musically as well as explore different musical genres. In a recent Billboard.com interview, group member Carl Newman stated that, "all bets were off for this new album" adding that the new album is, "maybe slightly more epic. It has our first song that passes the six-minute-long mark. In fact, it might have our first songs that pass the five-minute mark!" in the same interview.

Alt-Country phenom Neko Case joins the band again featured on three songs, one of which, the track "Go Places," Newman describes as, "one of the biggest departures for us."

Also on the new album is Newman's work "Salinger," that he describes as, "more of a ballad than we've ever had before. You don't want to depart too much from what you are, but at the same time, you don't want to totally repeat."

The New Pornographers plan to play some of the album's new songs at several upcoming shows and will appear in April at Coachella. Their headlining tour will run from September to October.

Watch Now: The New Pornographers - Sing Me Spanish Techno

Old School: Traveling Wilburys, Young, Buckley all release albums

After 10 years out of print, rock's ultimate supergroup featuring Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynn return. Sort of. The Traveling Wilburys Volume 1 and Traveling Wilburys Volume 3 are back on store shelves June 12.

Available in a variety of formats including single package with bonus tracks, a DVD of rare footage, as a deluxe linen-bound edition, or a vinyl and digital bundle, the album is expected to be a smash. The limited edition DVD features a 24-minute documentary and five music videos from the all-star group.

Also releasing archival works are Neil Young and the late Jeff Buckley. Young's Archive Vol. 1 features his vintage concert "Live at Massey Hall" taped Jan. 19, 1971, at the Toronto venue featuring Young's rare solo performances from the same. Young debuted material here including legendary "The Needle and the Damage Done," "Old Man" and "Heart of Gold," his only No. 1.

Finally, while there have been tons of posthumous Jeff Buckley releases, Columbia/Legacy releases So Real: Songs of Jeff Buckley, 14 tracks collected from Buckleys extensive catalogue, on May 22, just before the 10th anniversary of his death.

So Real... includes an acoustic edition of the title track recorded in Japan, an alternate take of Dream Brother, a live version of Mojo Pin and a Smiths cover. Jeff's mother oversaw everything on So Real from tracks to album art.

Watch Now: Jeff Buckley: Forget Her [from the Grace Legacy Edition LP]

How sweet it is: Starbucks launches independent music label "Hear Music"

The Starbucks coffee chain has officially formed their own music label Hear Music, in conjunction with Concord recordings. Albums released on the Hear Music label will feature up and coming artists and well established acts for sale both in Starbucks shops and at other retailers.

Hear Music expects to release its first album by the end of 2007. The Hear Music label began in 1999, mainly responsible for sale of compilation albums, scoring a smash hit with Ray Charles' 2002 release Genius Loves Company, an album of duets.

There are unconfirmed reports that Sir Paul McCartney has signed with Hear Music for his new album.

Alive and Kicking: Modest Mouse's We Were Dead Before the Boat Even Sank

The fifth album from Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Boat Even Sank finds us in the same places we've been before. Bummed out, pissed off, and crafting some of the finest indie music of our generation.

Much the same subject matter (grief, depression, etc.) is mined as in the band's four previous albums "Bang your head like a gong/
'Cause it's filled with all wrong/Ah ha ha! Clang, clang, clang!" but given the success of Good News for People Who like Bad News, Epic Records gave Modest Mouse the opportunity to showcase their talents. They delivered. The boys sound more cohesive and cleaner than ever before. Frontman Isaac Brock's growls are growlier. The sonic layers are deeper and the musical twists are twistier.

The addition of guitarist Johnny Marr enlivens the already superb and nuanced guitar work and guest spots from The Shins' James Mercer make the album that much more brilliant. Brock's lyrics are in their finest form. Wordy, dark, and whimsical, each track is emotionally charged without being whiny or adolescent. Instead, these songs deal with feelings of isolation, depression, and confusion with matter-of-fact sobriety acknowledging that life goes on despite ourselves.

Longtime fans will be pleased to know that the band is as dour as ever. Those looking for another "Float On" may be disappointed as many of the tracks on We Were Dead are less accessible than much of Good News. The nearest pop single is Dashboard, the opening track. Everyone will be pleased to know that sing along suicide choruses abound. 2007 has been a great year for music and this album may just help make it a landmark. With outstanding songwriting, flawless musicianship, and brilliant production We Were Dead is certain to become one of Modest Mouse's seminal albums. We Were Dead Before The Boat Even Sank is scheduled to drop March 20. - Highly Recommended

Listen Now - Modest Mouse - Dashboard

Ben Folds, John Mayer to tour summer 2007

Guitar rocker John Mayer and piano rocker Ben Folds will be touring together summer 2007. Mayer tapped Folds to be the mainstage opener to support him on the upcoming Continuum tour. The mainly arena/amphitheater tour for the multi Grammy winning album kicks off on June 1 in Ridgefield, Wash. and runs cross-country ending in Palm Beach, Fl. on August 8. Tickets for most venues go on sale March 24.

Folds himself will set out on a headlining tour starting March 24 at Assumption College in Worchester, Mass finishing up August 8 with the final leg of the Continuum tour. Folds recently released his LP Super Sunny Speed Graphic a collection of previously "web only" singles and the wildly popular DVD Live at My Space, showcasing his performance on Myspace's first live-by-request online concert.

Dates for the Continuum tour:
June 1: Ridgefield, Wash. (The Amphitheatre)
June 2: George, Wash. (The Gorge)
June 5: San Jose, Calif. (HP Pavilion)
June 6: Fresno, Calif. (Save Mart Center)
June 8: Las Vegas (Mandalay)
June 9: Los Angeles (Hollywood Bowl)
June 12: Chula Vista, Calif. (Coors Amphitheatre)
June 13: Glendale, Ariz. (Jobing.com Arena)
June 15-16: Denver (Red Rocks)
June 19: Kansas City, Mo. (Verizon Wireless)
June 20: Maryland Heights, Mo. (Verizon Wireless)
June 22: Dallas (Smirnoff Music Center)
June 23: Houston (C.W. Mitchell Pav)
June 23: San Antonio, Texas (AT&T Center)
June 26: Cincinnati (US Bank Arena)
June 28-29: Chicago (Charter One Pavilion)
June 30: Indianapolis (Verizon Wireless)
July 1: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (Blossom Music Center)
July 3: Milwaukee, Wis. (Marcus Amphitheatre)
July 5: Auburn Hills, Mich. (The Palace)
July 14: Hartford, Conn. (Dodge Music Center)
July 15: Saratoga, N.Y. (SPAC)
July 17: Boston (Banknorth Garden)
July 20: Camden, N.J. (Tweeter Waterfront)
July 21: Hershey, Penn. (Hershey Park)July 24: Holmdel, N.J. (PNC)
July 25: Washington, D.C. (Verizon Center)
July 26: Uniondale, N.Y. (Nassau Colisuem)
July 30: Virginia Beach, Va. (Verizon Wireless)
July 31: Raleigh, N.C. (Walnut Creek Amp)
Aug. 1: Charlotte, N.C. (Verizon Wireless)
Aug. 3: Nashville, Tenn. (Gaylord Center)
Aug. 4: Pelham, Ala. (Verizon Wireless)
Aug. 5: Atlanta (Phillips)
Aug. 7: Tampa, Fla. (Ford Amphitheatre)
Aug. 8: West Palm Beach, Fla. (Sound Advice)

Arctic Monkeys unleash new single, music video

Brit rockers The Arctic Monkeys officially released the first single, "Brainstorm", from their upcoming sophomore release Favourite Worst Nightmare and the accompanying music video. The band will tour later this year to support their new album. Favourite Worst Nightmare's U.S. release is set for April 24, 2007.

Ben Gibbard to tour May 2007 with Pedro the Lion

Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service) officially announced that he will be touring with Jonathan Rice and Dave Bazan (Pedro the Lion) to promote his new solo effort while Death Cab for Cutie is between albums and guitarist Chris Walla works on a solo project of his own.

Official Tour Dates 2007
3 - Minneapolis, Minn. @ First Avenue
4 - Chicago, Ill. @ Metro
5 - Detroit, Mich. @ Majestic Theatre
7 - Somerville, Mass. @ Somerville Theatre

8 - New York, N.Y. @ Town Hall

9 - Philadelphia, Pa. @ Theatre of Living Arts

10 - Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club

11 - Carrboro, N.C. @ Cat’s Cradle

12 - Atlanta, Ga. @ Center Stage

13 - Nashville, Tenn. @ City Hall

14 - Dallas, Tex. @ Granada Theater

15 - Austin, Tex. @ Emo’s

17 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ Royce Hall

18 - San Francisco, Calif. @ Fillmore

19 - Portland, Ore. @ Roseland Theater

20 - Seattle, Wash. @ Showbox

Listen Now - Pedro the Lion - Never Leave a Job Half Done

Aqua Teen Soundtrack to feature The Hold Steady, Mastodon

Billboard.com has announced that the soundtrack for Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters will feature new tracks from rock band The Hold Steady and metal band Mastodon on the soundtrack for the upcoming film. Though the tracklist has not been released, Billboard has confirmed that both bands will appear.

Set to be released April 10, three days before the film opens the soundtrack will undoubtedly be a best seller.

Both bands will be touring later this year. Follow the link below for a sneak preview of Mastodon's track.

Listen Now - Mastodon - Cut You Up

Free indie rock downloads from Hanes, Rhapsody

Undergarment titan Hanes recently partnered with online music site Rhapsody to launch an "Indie Rock Downloads" section. Each week the site posts three completely free music downloads, provided the viewer can stomach a thirty second underwear spot.

The selection changes weekly and archives only date back one week. Artists range from the relatively well known (Apples in Stereo and Sloan) to the more obscure (Apartment, Sholi Sholi). All tracks are premium quality, full length, and advert free.

Listen Now - Apples in Stereo - Energy (Sound Advice Exclusive)
Get more music - Hanes' Indie Rock Downloads