Devendra Banhart Band, Destroyer, Band of Horses Added to Pitchfork Music Festival Lineup

Ryan Schreiber reports:
Three weeks ago today, we made the first lineup announcement for this summer's Pitchfork Music Festival, taking place July 29 and 30 at Chicago's Union Park. We revealed six bands: Mission of Burma, Ted Leo/Pharmacists, the Mountain Goats, the National, Jens Lekman, and Hot Machines. Ahh, how times have changed. Since then, we've added Spoon, Silver Jews, Yo La Tengo, Aesop Rock, Tapes 'n Tapes, and Man Man. And today, we're presenting three more:

Ladies and gents, we are pleased to announce the addition of the Devendra Banhart Band, Destroyer, and Band of Horses!

That ain't all: We've also expanded our roster from thirty-six artists to (what!) thirty-eight! So remember all that stuff about ticket prices being 83¢ per band? Now it's 79¢. Basically, the price of soap. Let's see that lineup:

>> Latest additions:
• Devendra Banhart Band
• Destroyer
• Band of Horses

>> Also announced:
• Spoon
• Silver Jews
• Yo La Tengo
• Mission of Burma
• Ted Leo/Pharmacists
• Aesop Rock
• Mountain Goats
• The National
• Jens Lekman
• Tapes 'n Tapes
• Man Man
• Hot Machines

And by god, we've still got 23 more artists to announce!

Tickets, by the way, are on sale now-- and not to be a walking, talking sales cliché, but these things are selling like pound puppies. Now, granted, people will say that just to say it, but we're not kidding around: If this festival is something you want to go to, you should probably not underestimate the very real possibility of actually missing out on scoring tickets.

Yes, we know it's only March, but once they're gone, there's no going back, and that might happen sooner than you think. Remember: At $20 for one-day passes, and a paltry $30 for our (limited) two-day passes, prices are almost stupidly cheap.

However, any crazies who wanna gamble with such a thing can come out to the Metro in Chicago next Thursday, March 30. We'll be holding a drawing that night for free festival tickets while Pitchfork faves Art Brut rock the place to its knees. Who knows, they might even have an announcement of their own...

To summarize, then: 79¢ per band, 38 of independent music's absolute best artists, and two beautiful days in the Chicago summer sun. And oh yeah, there'll be more than just music: As previously reported, our pals at Chicago-based independent community radio station WLUW will be setting up their legendarily gargantuan record fair onsite, and local art maniacs DEPART-ment will also roll out a massive craft and clothing fair. Plus stuff we haven't even announced yet! Follow the link below for information and ticket sales, and we'll see you in Chicago in July.

* Pitchfork Music Festival: http://www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com

Mountain Goats Tour, Release EP, Record New Album

Quanah Humphreys reports:
Is the Mountain Goats' Peter Hughes the indie rock Andrew Ridgley? Hughes logs time in the studio, pulls tour duty, and gets to stick his head in every press photo, but he never receives the accolades that John Darnielle, "America's Best Lyricist," seems to bathe in. Them's the breaks for a bass-playin' sideman.

Hughes can ponder his role as John Oates to Darnielle's Daryl Hall while on the Mountain Goats' brief April tour of New Zealand and Australia, and then again in the long months between that trek and the glory of the Pitchfork Music Festival.

Private Eyes (they're watching you!):

04-06 Auckland, New Zealand - King's Arms
04-07 Wellington, New Zealand - Indigo Bar
04-08 Christchurch, New Zealand - TBA
04-12 Melbourne, Australia - The Corner Hotel *
04-13 Fremantle, Australia - Fly by Nigh &
04-16 Sydney, Australia - The Great Escape Festival !
04-17 Sydney, Australia - The Annandale Hotel $
04-18 Brisbane, Australia - The Zoo %br> 04-19 Sydney, Australia - The Annandale Hotel #
07-29-30 Chicago, IL - Union Park (Pitchfork Music Festival) ^

* with Tucker Bs & Michael Noga
& with the Kill Devil Hills
! with Silverchair, Sigur Rós, Femi Kuti, the Black Keys, others
$ with Death Mattel
# with Wallspace
% with Texas Tea
^ with Devendra Banhart Band, Band of Horses, Destroyer, Mission of Burma, Yo La Tengo, Silver Jews, Spoon, Ted Leo/Pharmacists, Aesop Rock, Jens Lekman, the National, Tapes 'n Tapes, Man Man, Hot Machines, more

To go along with the tiny, nine-date tour, the Mountain Goats will release the tiny, five-song Australia-only Babylon Springs EP on April 3. Nestled among the four Darnielle originals is one cover, a version of Trembling Blue Stars' "Sometimes I Still Feel the Bruise." The tracks were recorded in January by Tony Doogan (Mogwai) at the Castle of Doom studio in Glasgow.

While Babylon Spring isn't available outside Oz just yet, don't despair. Say the Goats via their website, "Beggars Banquet are working to make this EP available to stores who buy direct from them in the U.S., so don't anybody go buying expensive imports or taxing the Soulseek engine about it. If people trying to find leaked copies of Chinese Democracy get frustrated in their efforts, we'll all suffer."

Going to tracklist:

1. Ox Baker Triumphant
2. Alibi
3. Sail Babylon = Springs
4. Sometimes I Still Feel the Bruise
5. Wait for You

The Mountain Goats recently finished recording their new album with producer Scott Solter at Prairie Sun Studios in Cotati, CA. It's due out in the fall, so hopefully we can expect a preview at the Pitchfork Music Festival.

* Pitchfork Review: The Mountain Goats: The Sunset Tree
* Pitchfork Feature: John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats: Ten Records That Render Life Bearable
* Mountain Goats: www.mountain-goats.com
* 4AD: http://4ad.com/
* Pitchfork Music Festival: www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com

Built to Spill Reschedule Canceled Shows

Kati Llewellyn reports:
Wow, Built to Spill must have felt really, really bad about canceling all those spring shows, because they've gone and scheduled a whopping FOUR-MONTH tour of the United States and Canada. The trek, which is in support of the new LP You in Reverse, due out April 11, begins in early June in Calgary and ends in late October in Texas, covering a vast swath of the space-time continuum. Lots of opportunities for playing basketball against fans!

As of right now, the band gets the entire month of August off, save a stop at Lollapalooza in Chicago on the fifth. Hell, after playing with 129 other artists, including Kanye West, Wilco, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Ween, we'd take a month to relax, too.

You might notice that several cities are scheduled to host multiple-night Built to Spill stands. That's because Doug Martsch is planning to unveil this hot new 48-hour guitar solo he just wrote.

Freebird! No, seriously, FREEBIRD!:

06-09 Calgary, Alberta - MacEwan Ballroom
06-10 Edmonton, Alberta - Red's
06-12 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom
06-13 Seattle, WA - The Showbox
06-14 Seattle, WA - The Showbox
06-15 Seattle, WA - The Showbox
06-16 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
06-17 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
06-18 Bend, OR - Domino Room
06-19 Eugene, OR - WOW Hall
06-21 San Francisco, CA - Slim's
06-22 San Francisco, CA - Slim's
06-23 San Francisco, CA - Slim's
06-24 San Francisco, CA - Slim's
06-27 San Diego, CA - House of Blues
06-28 Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour
06-29 Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour
06-30 Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour
07-01 Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour
07-07 Tempe, AZ - TBA
07-08 Albuquerque, NM - Launch Pad
07-10 Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre
07-11 Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre
07-12 Salt Lake City, UT - TBA
08-05 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza)
09-12 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
09-13 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
09-14 Madison, WI - Barrymore Theatre
09-15 Chicago, IL - Metro
09-16 Chicago, IL - Metro
09-17 St. Louis, MO - Mississippi Nights
09-18 Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
09-20 Lawrence, KS - The Bottleneck
09-21 Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom
09-22 Little Rock, AR - Vino's
09-23 Memphis, TN - Young Avenue Deli
09-24 Nashville, TN - City Hall
09-26 Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue
09-27 Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
09-28 Detroit, MI - St. Andrew's Hall
09-29 Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Smalls
09-30 Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
10-01 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
10-02 Boston, MA - The Roxy
10-04 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-05 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-06 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10-07 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
10-08 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
10-09 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
10-10 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
10-11 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
10-12 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
10-13 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
10-14 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
10-15 Birmingham, AL - Zydeco
10-17 New Orleans, LA - TBA
10-18 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
10-19 Dallas, TX - Gypsy Tea Room
10-20 Austin, TX - Stubb's
10-21 Lubbock, TX - Jake's Backroom

* Pitchfork Review: Built to Spill: Ancient Melodies of the Future
* Pitchfork Track Review: Built to Spill: "Goin' Against Your Mind"
* Pitchfork News: Built to Spill Postpone U.S. Tour, Play B-ball Instead
* Built to Spill: http://www.builttospill.com/

Basement Jaxx Announce Dates, Compilation

Kati Llewellyn reports:
We thought we jumped the gun when we announced the Pitchfork Music Festival four months in advance, but Basement Jaxx have us beat: this week, they revealed a tour that's happening in November. So you'll have plenty of time to get your hair done

According to their website, dance music geniuses Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe are "currently beavering away at a secret location in South London on album number 4." Hopefully they will have beavered away a whole dam of new songs by the time the UK jaunt kicks off.

Jump N' Shout:

11-28 Plymouth, England - Plymouth Pavilions
11-29 Brighton, England - Brighton Centre
11-30 Bournemouth, England - International Centre
12-02 London, England - Wembley Arena
12-05 Birmingham, England - National Indoor Arena
12-06 Newcastle, England - Metro Radio Arena
12-07 Manchester, England - Evening News Arena
12-08 Glasgow, Scotland - S.E.C.C.

In the meantime, we can get our groove on to the second compilation from Ratcliffe and Buxton's Atlantic Jaxx label. Atlantic Jaxx Recordings: A Compilation- Vol. 2, out already in the UK and due to be released in America in the spring, includes material produced for the label since 2001's Volume 1 as well as several early Basement Jaxx traxx. You might recognize both Gwyn Jay Allen, who is featured on the Jaxx songs "Set Yo Body Free" and "Don't Give Up", and Sharlene Hector, who has performed with the pair on tour.

Where your head's at:

01 Basement Jaxx - "Intro/City People"
02 Basement Jaxx - "U Took My Love"
03 Afro Fiesta - "Venga Chica"
04 Housebreakerz - "Help Myself"
05 Basement Jaxx - "We R Computa"
06 Yen Sung - "Do You"
07 Sharlene Hector - "Holdin' Me"
08 Gwyn Jay Allen - "I Love You Babe"
09 Basement Jaxx - "Betta Daze"
10 Phil Linton - "Don't Stop"
11 Basement Jaxx - "Get Down Get Horny"
12 Bazil X. Plozian - "Berimbal"
13 Basement Jaxx - "Urban Haze"

* Pitchfork Review: Basement Jaxx: The Singles
* Basement Jaxx: http://www.basementjaxx.co.uk/
* Atlantic Jaxx: http://www.atlanticjaxx.co.uk/

Nicolai Dunger Tours With Rhett Miller

Kati Llewellyn reports:
In support of the mouthful he dropped on Zoë/Rounder earlier this month (Here's My Song, You Can Have It...I Don't Want It Anymore/Yours 4-Ever, Nicolai Dunger, FYI), Swedish alt-folk artist Nicolai Dunger recently hit the road with Old 97's heartthrob Rhett Miller.

The trek, which kicked off last week at SXSW, will continue on through late April where it eventually comes to an end in Wisconsin. In early May, Dunger will play a few shows sans Miller in his native land.

In addition to your smokes and alcohol money, bring along one of those miniature tissue packs your mom used to send to school with you. Why? Quoth Nicolai in the Here's My Song press release: "My girlfriend and I broke up, and all the songs are to her. That's why it has that long, complicated, title. I couldn't be with her, and there wasn't any other way to keep in touch, really." Awww.

Dunger will spread his heartache through the airwaves on Wednesday, March 29, when he performs live on 88.9FM WERS, Boston.

This dude is touring:

03-25 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge *
03-27 San Francisco, CA - The Independent *
03-28 Santa Ana, CA - Galaxy Theatre *
03-29 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre *
04-01 Dallas, TX - Sons of the Herman Hall *
04-02 Dallas, TX - Sons of the Herman Hall *
04-05 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse *
04-06 Washington, DC - Black Cat *
04-07 Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts *
04-11 New Haven, CT - Toad's Place *
04-12 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club *
04-13 New York, NY - Webster Hall *
04-14 Pittsburgh, PA - The Rex *
04-15 Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall *
04-18 St. Louis, MO - The Gargoyle *
04-19 Indianapolis, IN - Music Mill *
04-20 Chicago, IL - Park West *
04-21 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *
04-22 Madison, WI - Barrymore Theatre *
05-02 Malmö, Sweden - Teatern på Inkonst
05-03 Göteborg, Sweden - Stenhammarsalen Konserthuset
05-04 Norrköping, Sweden - Kulturkammaren
05-06 Stockholm, Sweden - Nalen

* with Rhett Miller

* Pitchfork Review: Nicolai Dunger: This Cloud Is Learning
* Pitchfork News: Nicolai Dunger Collaborates With Mercury Rev
* Nicolai Dunger: http://www.nicolaidunger.com
* Rounder: http://www.rounder.com

Verizon Wireless Goes Indie

Matthew Solarski reports:
Between the grating vibrations, voice activation, alarm clock, calculator, flashing lights, TASER, and, um, actual calling function, you thought your trusty mobile phone did everything...everything, that is, but play that sweet indie music. No so anymore!

Corporate cell phone behemoth Verizon Wireless recently teamed with something called Digital Rights Agency (DRA) to bring those groovy indie sounds straight to the palm of your hand. Oh wait, we mean the other palm, the one without the iPod nano.

DRA, a digital independent music mega-distributor, has mined its impressive catalog of 185,000 recordings (spanning some 7,000 artists, 250 labels, and 12 countries), making those tunes available via Verizon's V CAST download service. For a small fee ($0.99 sent to your PC and transferable to your phone, or $1.99 sent directly to your phone), you may give these virtual puppies a loving home on your digital calling device, where they will blow up that celly in unbelievably intense fashion.

For direct-phone transfers, folks will need some fancy doohickeys like "a V CAST Music-enabled phone and a subscription to the V CAST VPak added to their Verizon Wireless calling plan"-that VPak will run ya 15 bones a month. If you wish to involve your PC in this mess, better download Windows Media Player 10 (it's free, yay!). Criminally, it looks as though this scheme shows no love for Macs.

V CAST will now hawk megabytes from such DRA-allied labels as: Kill Rock Stars, Barsuk, Def Jux, Navarre, Membran, Om, Dim Mak, Rhymesayers, LTM, Daemon, Ipecac, Darla, Narnack, Tiger Style, Acuarela, Better Looking, Crank!, Cold Crush, Sickroom, Le Grand Magistery, Hush, Slowdance, Omnibus, and many more. For a more comprehensive listing-- and fun picture-guessing game-mousey on over here.

Exclaimed Verizon marketing VP John Harrobin at a SXSW news conference: "Because indie music represents twenty-five percent of all music sales today, it was critical for us to include these labels in the V CAST Music catalog. Our relationship with Digital Rights Agency helps us deliver the most comprehensive full-track catalog to our customers." ...

Oh sorry, what was that? Just dozed off there for a sec, whoops.

No Merzbow just yet, but for a close approximation, just set your phone on vibrate and leave it on a hard surface. Instant avant-noise euphoria!

* Verizon V Cast: www.verizonwireless.com/music
* Digital Rights Agency: www.digitalrightsagency.com

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