Spinner

Fever Ray, 'Seven' -- Video of the Day

Adam Horne — 2009-11-20T18:00:00+00:00

Artist: Fever Ray
Video: 'Seven'
Highlight: More of the other-worldy weirdness we've come to expect from the Knife's Karin Elisabeth Dreijer Andersson.

The Chum Bucket: Lady GaGa to Perform for the Queen + More

Adam Horne — 2009-11-20T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: The Chum Bucket

Lady GaGa is going to perform for the Queen in London. We weren't aware that she was a fan. [Angry Ape]

Check out NPR's 'Most Important' records of the decade list. [NPR]

Rosanne Cash sits down for an intimate performance in the KCRW studio. [KCRW]

John Mayer and pint-sized pop star Justin Beiber are currently engaged in the artist beef of the century. [Idolator]

Hmm ... the Black Eyed Peas' 'Party All the Time' sounds awfully familiar. Adam Freeland agrees. [Prefix]

Twisted Tales: Redbone Bring Native American Pride (and Controversy) to Radio

James Sullivan — 2009-11-20T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Twisted Tales

If you called a Native American "Redbone" at the Thanksgiving table, you might get a drumstick upside the head. But in the late 1960s, when American Indians were reclaiming cultural pride alongside other minorities, two brothers sharing Cherokee, Apache and Shoshone blood defiantly took the term Redbone for the name of their band.

The brothers already had a fairly impressive résumé in the music business by the time they decided to make their heritage an asset. Born Pat and Lolly Vasquez in Fresno, Calif., they adopted the last name Vegas to downplay their birth name's Latino roots.

Pat and Lolly were proficient from a young age on bass and guitar, respectively, accompanying pianist Oscar Peterson at the Monterey Jazz Festival before heading to southern California in the early '60s to cash in on the surf-music craze. As the Avantis, the Vegas boys recorded several surf instrumentals, working in the studio with then-unknown session musicians including Glen Campbell and Leon Russell. Regulars at the Haunted House in Hollywood, which featured a stage designed to look like a monster's mouth, Pat and Lolly joined the house band on ABC's teen pop variety show 'Shindig' and bagged a cameo in the teensploitation movie 'It's a Bikini World' alongside the Animals and Bobby "Boris" Pickett.

Jello Biafra and Shepard Fairey Spoof Obama 'Hope' Image

Dan Reilly — 2009-11-20T16:00:00+00:00

Filed under: News, New Music, Exclusive

Any album with a title that openly mocks President Obama needs a cover that's equally subversive, and Jello Biafra's artwork for 'The Audacity of Hype' certainly delivers. The former Dead Kennedys frontman opted for a version of Shepard Fairey's famous "HOPE" picture and replace Obama's image with a demonic version of himself, fangs and horns included.

Rather than just get an artist to spoof the picture like so many others have done, Biafra went to Fairey himself. "We've known each other for years, at least by phone and being fans of each other's work. He'd done another album cover for me after the Seattle protests," Biafra tells Spinner, referring to a show he did with the No WTO Combo with Nirvana's Krist Novoselic and Soundgarden's Kim Thayil. "I'd seen a variation of Shepard's hand about to strangle the Earth on the cover of one of Seattle's weekly magazines and thought 'This is perfect.' The in-house Art Director of [Biafra's record label] Alternative Tentacles put me in touch with Shepard, so we tweaked the picture to get it ready for the album cover and we went on from there."

Julian Casbalancas Rocks Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Theater

Steve Baltin — 2009-11-20T15:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Concerts and Tours, News, New Music, Exclusive

Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas is currently "camping out" in Los Angeles. As part of his excursion, he's doing a month-long residency of shows, playing every Friday at the Broadway Palace Theater. It turns out there's a lot of history at the venue. "I don't think there's ever been a rock show in that place," Casablancas tells Spinner. "It's where 'Thriller' was filmed and it's just a rad place, to be honest. It feels super-grand and kind of dilapidated, but in a charming way. [It's] super-intimate so even the worst seat you can see my expression."

When Casablancas chose the venue, he admits he wasn't aware of the historical significance, as it's the venue where Michael Jackson and his date are watching the movie. The venue even recently recreated the clip's marquee to honor the late pop icon. "I didn't know about it at first and I only found out after I started to fight for it," he says. But it was definitely an added bonus for him. "It's just the vibe is so great and as we're kind of debating, they were like, 'Oh, that's also where 'Thriller' was filmed,'" he recalls. "I was like, 'You're not arguing your case for not doing a show here.' The place feels special already and that definitely doesn't demystify it."

Jack Penate Performs Live on the Interface

Charley Rogulewski — 2009-11-20T14:01:00+00:00

Filed under: Concerts and Tours, News, Video, New Music, Exclusive

Jack Penate is your token rock fan-turned-star. "I fought for about an hour over Chris Martin's guitar way back when Coldplay first started. He threw it in the crowd and I didn't get it," Penate tells Spinner during a recent Interface taping in our Los Angeles studios. He also got handpicked from the audience to dance onstage with Missy Elliot. "I was really obsessed with her first record," he says. "I wasn't the normal Missy Elliot looking fan, and I think she liked that, so she brought me on stage. I was like 16 or something -- at that point I was break dancing and all that kind of things that you do. I just danced and took photos of me and her cuddling."

These fan encounters eventually led to Penate's 2007 debut 'Matinee,' which reached No. 1 on the UK's indie rock chart. For his part, Penate created his own signature sound that sonically blends rockabilly, reggae and tropi-Cali all into one.

Imogen Heap Writes Songs for Zach Braff, Charity

Robin Milling — 2009-11-20T14:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Concerts and Tours, News, New Music, Exclusive, Movies

Actor/director Zach Braff gave Grammy-nominated English pop star Imogen Heap plenty of exposure in America when he used 'Let Go,' a former Frou Frou song, in his break-out film 'Garden State,' so she thought she might return the favor. "I wrote the song 'Wait It Out' for this Zach Braff film called 'Open Hearts,'" she tells Spinner. "I read the script on the way to Hawaii to write songs for 'Ellipse' and I loved it. I wrote this song for him helping me get the first one started in 'Garden State' but the film 'Open Hearts' fell through. He wrote me an e-mail recently asking me to write songs in another film ['Swingles'] for the character played by Cameron Diaz but I haven't read the script yet."

Heap is also very generous when it comes to lending her voice to charitable causes. She participated in the album 'Songs for Tibet: The Art of Peace,' an initiative to support the human rights effort in Tibet. Her latest pet project is a dream charity event that involves her fans and what they believe in. "I have this grand plan for the next tour I do in April, which is to go to each city and create some kind of platform for people to enter information on this computer screen at the venue on how they want me to improvise a song," she says. "I have to improvise a song on the theme of what they want." Once the song is written, she'll record it and put it on iTunes. "When people buy it the proceeds go to the charity that is particular to that city," she says.

Jason Segel Joins the Swell Season for Special Performance

Cristin Maher — 2009-11-20T13:30:00+00:00

The Swell Season provided fans with an extra special performance last night in Los Angeles, Calif. when funny man Jason Segel joined the musicians on stage. Segel, who played piano, performed an original song accompanied by the Swell Season.

When Segel asked Marketa Irglova how to write a meaningful song, she told him to "write from the heart and include as much personal information as possible." Segel took this advice to heart and literally provided as much personal information as possible.

Greil Marcus Praises Sex Pistols, Celebrates Book Anniversary at Lecture

Kenneth Partridge — 2009-11-20T13:30:00+00:00

Filed under: News, Book Club

The young John Lydon was so brilliant, author Greil Marcus argued Thursday night during a presentation at Columbia University, that the iconic Sex Pistols singer, now 53, should be forgiven for appearing in British butter commercials.

"I think John Lydon did so much to make the world a richer, more abstract, more contingent place -- and did more to raise the stakes of what people see as art -- that I don't care what he does to make a buck," Marcus said. "I think he deserves every penny."

Marcus' absolution of Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, came after the writer -- one of the most intelligent rock critics of all time -- gave a dramatic reading of the play he wrote as a precursor to 'Lipstick Traces,' the book whose 20th anniversary he was on hand to commemorate.

Melissa Auf der Maur Is 'Out of Her Mind'

Simona Rabinovitch — 2009-11-20T13:00:00+00:00

Filed under: News, Exclusive, Canada

There are many ways to tell a story -- words, music, film, paint -- and artists no longer have to choose just one. Case in point, the "multi-dimensional" indie release 'Out of Our Minds' by Melissa Auf der Maur, who grew up in Montreal before '90s rock stardom swept her away to play bass for Hole and Smashing Pumpkins.

Three years in the making, there's an 'OOOM' song, forthcoming album, comic book, website and 28-minute fantasy film that premiered at last year's Sundance Film Festival (albeit with a soundtrack composed by L.A. band Entrance).

"'OOOM' started as a song," Auf der Maur tells Spinner from her upstate New York home the morning after a late-night studio session laying down French vocals for a new album track. "Then, as the music industry collapsed, the song became the forefront of a new creative survivalism in my life. I wanted to take this idea as far as possible and connect with humans on many different levels. Give me a space and I will bring you 'Out of Our Minds,' be it the screen of a computer, a live rock show or a dark cinema. I wanted to create an experience that people could find their own ways into."

Potent Quotables: Perry's Vice Outed

Kim Davis — 2009-11-20T13:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Potent Quotables

"The only thing that Katy [Perry] asked for in return for featuring on our single was a massive portion of greasy chips." --Nathaniel Motte

Half of electro-rock group 3OH!3 revealed the 'I Kissed a Girl' singer's thing for the king of the junk foods. "Apparently the grease is her secret trick for opening up the airwaves and making her voice sound great," he speculated.

Next Quote

Interpol's Recording Sessions Disrupted by Courtney Love

John D. Luerssen — 2009-11-20T12:30:00+00:00

Filed under: News, Album, New Music

The members of Interpol will finally put their respective solo projects to the side and release a new studio album early next year. The as-yet-untitled follow up to 2007's 'Our Love to Admire' was recorded at Manhattan's legendary Electric Lady studios in the spring of 2009 and will sonically resemble the New York indie giants' debut disc, 'Turn on the Bright Lights.'

"That big wash of reverb? It's back. It's there. I personally brought two reverb tanks to the studio that our engineer fell in love with," drummer Sam Fogarino told Paste. "The new record falls back towards the first."

"In trying to move forward, there was an unspoken realization that you can't let go of your sonic-defining tag," Fogarino added. "There was an effort in Daniel [Kessler]'s guitar tone; he rediscovered it playing in his loft space for a year without anybody. The quality of that tone, played in a big room, is just beautiful. It creates an atmosphere."

Depeche Mode, 'Fragile Tension' -- Exclusive Video

Stephen Dowling — 2009-11-20T12:08:00+00:00

Filed under: Video, UK

It's been a busy year for Depeche Mode. They've taken their latest record, 'Sounds of the Universe,' from Luxembourg to Lima, Carcassonne to Ft, Lauderdale, Tel Aviv to Madrid. Their 12th album, it's topped the charts in 21 countries and spawned their latest single, 'Fragile Tension.' And you can watch it after the jump.

The single comes as an eight-track double-A side with 'Hole to feed' and a brace of remixed, including a reworking of 'Perfect' by Roger Sanchez. It hits stores on Dec. 7.

The Mode head back to the UK and Ireland in December to play the latest round in their world tour, will more dates to follow in 2010.

Robert Pattinson Passed Up 'New Moon' Soundtrack Opportunity

Charley Rogulewski — 2009-11-20T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: News, Exclusive, Movies

When the soundtrack to the first 'Twilight' film was released a little more than a year ago, it featured an original track by the film's very own resident heartthrob Robert Pattinson, who -- for those of you who live in a dark cave and never come out -- plays lead vampire Edward Cullen. Who knew Pattinson, that guy the tabloids say is dating co-star Kristen Stewart, played guitar, sang and wrote his own music? Two Pattinson tracks were scored to the first 'Twilight' film, 'Never Think' and 'Let Me Sign,' however the latter, which he didn't write, didn't make it to the soundtrack.

When 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' soundtrack was revealed, 'Twilight' die-hards were heartbroken when Pattinson's name was not alongside indie rock acts like Death Cab for Cutie, Bon Iver and Grizzly Bear. After all, Pattinson's guitar and croon are a better mix with the 'New Moon' soundtrack than the harder rock -- think Linkin Park and Paramore -- found on the first 'Twilight' soundtrack. It seemed the opportune moment for Pattinson to introduce the world to more of his music.

Ray Davies Concert Disrupted by Security

Robin Milling — 2009-11-20T11:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Concerts and Tours, News, Holy Hell

An old Kinks tradition of throwing paper plates onto the stage with song requests written on them was thwarted by security at Ray Davies' Choral Collection concert at Town Hall on Thursday. The overzealous goons rushed to the front row thinking the worst, even trying to evict an innocent petite plate-throwing fan from the first row.

Davies had to pause the show to assure the guards he was perfectly safe, deciding to risk a paper cut to continue the age-old Kinks custom. Despite the disruption Davies' stellar band, featuring guitarist Bill Shanley, former Kinks keyboardist Ian Gibbons and the 34-member Dessoff Chamber Choir, met standing ovations for rousing renditions of 'You Really Got Me', 'All Day And All of The Night,' 'Celluloid Heroes' and 'Waterloo Sunset.' Check out a video of Davies performing 'Waterloo Sunset' after the jump.

Hatcham Social, 'Sidewalk' -- Video Premiere

Ashley Iasimone — 2009-11-20T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Video, Exclusive

In Hatcham Social's new video, 'Sidewalk,' the British band sticks to a classic performance clip, while frontman Toby Kidd scribbles messages on a dry erase board about getting away from it all. "I wanted it to represent the thought process of someone planning an escape," Kidd tells Spinner.

The video -- shot with one camera in a single take, according to Kidd -- was filmed for a single from the band's debut full-length album, 'You Dig the Tunnel, I'll Hide the Soil,' produced by the Charlatans' Tim Burgess. Watch the exclusive premiere of 'Sidewalk' after the jump.

Decemberists Animate 'The Hazards of Love'

John D. Luerssen — 2009-11-20T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: News, Video, Movies

The Decemberists have revived their most recent album, 'The Hazards of Love,' as an animated full-length video. Titled 'Here Come the Waves: The Hazards of Love Visualized,' the project, which first premiered at a show in Los Angeles last month, will now be available to fans exclusively through iTunes.

Colin Meloy and his crew commissioned filmmakers like Guilherme Marcondes, Julia Pott, Peter Sluszka and Santa Maria to create animated pieces for various musical extracts from the disc. Since its release in March, the Decemberists have supported 'The Hazards of Love' on the road, performing the album in its entirety during shows. The unique concept disc, which explores shape-shifters and forest queens, seems ideally suited for the animated film treatment Meloy has sanctioned. Check out the trippy trailer after the jump.

Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner Joins Richard Hawley Onstage

Julian Marszalek — 2009-11-20T10:31:00+00:00

Filed under: Concerts and Tours, News, UK

Two of Sheffield's most high profile sons Richard Hawley and Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner joined forces at the Mencap Little Noise Sessions at the Islington Union Chapel in London last night (Nov. 19). The pair shared the stage during Hawley's headlining set to perform to a version of Arctic Monkeys' 'The Only Ones Who Know'.

Speaking of the collaboration, Hawley told NME how easy it was to team up with Alex Turner. He said: "I went to see [Arctic Monkeys] when they were in Sheffield the other day and said, 'Fancy getting up with us?' He said, 'Yeah.' It's not complicated. We don't need to do managers and 'your people talk to my people' and all that nonsense. It's just mates."

Band of Horses Thrilled to Play Cancer Benefit

Linda Laban — 2009-11-20T10:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Concerts and Tours, News, New Music, Exclusive

This Saturday, Band of Horses will take another break from recording its much-anticipated third album to play a special concert at Avalon in Los Angeles. The show is a benefit to raise money and awareness of the children's cancer charity, the Pablove Foundation. Organized by indie label Dangerbird Records and also featuring stripped-down performances from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Shirley Manson of Garbage, Tom Morello, Against Me!'s Tom Gabel and more, Band of Horses frontman Ben Bridwell says his group is thrilled to be a part of the gala. "We happened to be in town, we're finishing up our record here, so it's just kind of perfect timing," Bridwell tells Spinner. "We're in a position to take a night off and go and do something for a good cause. There wasn't a whole lot to think about, you know?"

Talking of the new record, it's been a while since the Seattle-based folky indie rockers released their second disc 'Cease to Begin' in 2007. What with touring and promotional duties, that's not an awful long time in rock 'n' roll years, but the band is eager to get the record out in the world now. "For us, it is a bit too long. Our first two records came out with a year, maybe a year and half separation between them. This does feel like it's been quite a while, especially as we've been working on it since the end of the last record. It feels like forever."

Pixies Kick Off Three Chicago 'Doolittle' Concerts

Anna Deem — 2009-11-20T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Concerts and Tours, News

With smoke machines billowing, the silent film 'Un Chien Andalou' showing on a massive video screen and ominous music playing, the four members of the Pixies -- Black Francis, Kim Deal, Joey Santiago and David Lovering -- walked onstage at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago on Thursday night, the first of their three-day stint in the city on the 'Doolittle' 20th anniversary tour.

Warming up with several 'Doolittle'-era b-sides, the crowd was feeling it right away, nodding their heads along and waving their arms in the air. "More b-sides, here's another b-side," said bassist Kim Deal, who provided a play-by-play commentary throughout the Pixies' entire set. After four b-sides in a row, the giant screen flashed the word 'Doolittle,' the crowd cheered and the Pixies tore into the first track on the album, 'Debaser.' Cupping his hands around his mouth, Black Francis bellowed the chorus into the microphone, making sure every last person in the room heard his signature scream. The 'Doolittle' set only grew louder from that point, with 'Tame' ripping through the venue to flashing lights and a fast montage of video imagery.