New York-based label Freenoise is celebrating 10 years of its WFMU-ready online catalog with the appropriately titled Freenoise Fest. Taking place October 24 at Williamsburg’s Death by Audio, the fest harbors motivations more nefarious than you might think.

You see, Freenoise Fest goes down the same weekend as the colo$$al CMJ Music Marathon. As such, Freenoise Fest says "NO" to CMJ, asking patrons to "experience authentic underground music."

The lineup reads like the greatest band names you’ve never came up with:

Cock E.S.P.
The White Mice
Twodeadsluts Onegoodfuck
Laundryroom Squelchers
Suffering Bastard
Tusco Terror
Sauce Party
Sanguine Piss
Radio Shock
Future Blondes
U Can Unlearn Guitar
WRONG

Don’t know Cock E.S.P. too well? Missed the White Mice LPs that came out on Load? What about the fuzziness of Laundryroom Squelchers? No prob, Bob, because Freenoise offers archives of many of these acts here. Try before you buy!

Although the following does not necessarily represent the views of Tiny Mix Tapes, I will say I understand the reasons why an Anti-CMJ festival would manifest, similar to other opposite-and-equal reaction festivals like Austin’s Fuck By Fuck You. I had a crumby time when I went to CMJ in 2005. It’s hard to see a lot of music you want to see, both due to the difficulty in traversing about NYC as well as the many CMJ badge cut-offs at most clubs and venues. More tellingly, I saw a Clear Channel booth in the exhibit hall, the most obvious point of reference for all that is not quite right in the world of so-called independent music.

Actually, it’s entirely possible to see more music at Freenoise than the entire CMJ Music Marathon combined — and for a whole lot less money (albeit with less free ASCAP frisbees and stuff). So, keep October 24 open, and just so you know, I’ll still totally accept a CMJ press badge if anyone wants to send me one.

Pablo Diaz-Reixa, the man behind Spanish language dance-party-rock outfit El Guincho, is finally coming to the good old U.S. of A! After a handful of cancelled dates earlier this summer, North American fans will soon be able to see the man live and in person. They’ll also be able to purchase the debut album Alegranza! from our friends over at Young Turks/XL Recordings on October 21. If you’ve heard the joie de vivre-inducing first single, "Palmitos Park," you know this is good news. But if not — here are a few fascinating "facts" related to an artist about whom I could find virtually nothing actually fact-based during a brief Google search.

1. El Guincho told Drowned in Sound that his initial idea was to create something along the lines of a "space age-exotica kind of record" in the vein of Martin Denny. Apparently, in the space age, sophisticated-looking cocktail lounge ladies will be replaced with parrots with spider eyeballs. If you Google Image this, you will understand. While you’re at it, Google Image "monkey waiter," too. You won’t regret it!

2. El Guincho uses a lot of neon — in publicity photos, the aforementioned album cover with spider-eyed parrot, and, not to stretch the description too much here, also in the kinda technicolor-esque production of the tracks. But don’t stop reading when I say "neon" — this is no nu-rave reject trying to fit into skinnier turquoise jeans than the Klaxons. Alegranza! is a timeless party record, in, um, the way space-age exotica is, um, timeless.

3. El Guincho is the name of a town on Tenerife, one of the islands composing Spain’s Canary Islands. Yes, this is the last fact I found on the internet that can even be considered related to this story. At least it’s the factiest!!!

11.20.08 - Los Angeles, CA - Echo 11.21.08 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent 11.22.08 - Vancouver, British Columbia - The Red Room 11.23.08 - Portland, OR - Holocene 11.24.08 - Seattle, WA - Nectar Lounge 11.25.08 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle 11.27.08 - Toronto, Ontario - El Mocambo 11.28.08 - Montreal, Quebec - Les Saints 11.30.08 - Philadelphia, PA - The Barbary 12.02.08 - New York, NY - LPR

I’m sorry, but the bird jokes just write themselves when it comes to Shearwater, everyone’s favorite avian enthusiasts. This fall, you can join the winged collective (sorry) as they fly (sorry) across the U.S. and Europe on their annual migratory flight paths (sorry), otherwise known to you non-bird folk as “touring.” Try and control yourselves from yelling out bird calls (sorry) while Shearwater is on stage though; I hear it really ruffles the feathers (sorry) of lead sparrow (sorry) Jonathan Meiburg.

Bluebirds, and Sparrows, and Cardinals, Oh My:

10.13.08 - Chicago, IL - Lakeshore Theater 10.14.08 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Tavern 10.15.08 - Washington, D.C. - The Kennedy Center (free show) 10.17.08 - Annandale-on-Hudson, NY - Bard College Campus Center 10.19.08 - Boston, MA - Café 939 at Berklee 10.20.08 - New York, NU - Le Poisson Rouge & 10.24.08 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle Music Hall 10.25.08 - Durham, NC - Duke Coffee House 11.08.08 - Antwerpen, Belgium - De Nachten 11.09.08 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli 11.10.08 - Rouen, France - Club 106 $ 11.11.08 - Paris, France - Le Bataclan $ 11.12.08 - Feyzin, France - L’Epicerie Moderne 11.13.08 - St. Gallen, Switzerland - Palace 11.14.08 - Lausanne, Switzerland - Le Romandie 11.16.08 - Schorndorf, Denmark - Manufaktur 11.17.08 - Berlin, Germany - Postbahnof & 11.18.08 - Dresden, Germany - Beatpol 11.19.08 - Hamburg, Germany - Noachtasyl 11.20.08 - Gent, Belgium - Vooruit 11.21.08 - Den Haag, Netherlands - Crossing Borders Festival 11.22.08 - London, United Kingdom - St. Giles in the Fields Church 11.23.08 - Coventry, United Kingdom - Taylor John’s House 11.24.08 - Brighton, United Kingdom - Komedia

& Hospital Ships $ Silver Mt. Zion & Okkervil River

Last week, we wrote a li’l report about Jeff Mangum possibly joining the E6 Holiday Surprise Tour for a couple shows (TMT News). Well, the possibility turned into reality earlier than expected at last night’s Knitting Factory gig in New York, as Jeff Mangum unexpectedly hopped on stage and performed three songs — "The Arrow Flies Close" by Elf Power and both "The Opera House" and "I Have Been Floated" by Olivia Tremor Control.

Not sure if I should be surprised or not, but there are already a couple YouTube videos documenting the show:

 "The Arrow Flies Close" by Elf Power:

 "The Opera House" by Olivia Tremor Control (watch as Mangum and Scott Spillane engage in some friendly shoving!):

Here’s a late-night e-mail from TMT writer/editor Judy Berman (who was exhausted, sore-footed, and who "had a drink or two") detailing what happened:

Thought you’d want to know that I was at the Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour tonight at the Knitting Factory... and Jeff Mangum was there. He came on stage and sang on part of Olivia Tremor Control’s "I Have Been Floated" and Elf Power’s "The Arrow Flies Close," as well as the entirety of Olivia Tremor Control’s "The Opera House" with the whole E6 crew at the end of the night. It seemed like he was making a truly heroic effort just to get out there — he looked anxious, uncertain, and gleeful at the same time. During "The Opera House," he was roughhousing with Scott Spillane. I think he was loosening up. Spillane and Julian Koster even played "The Fool" from Aeroplane (which is, of course, instrumental) and dedicated it to "a friend." What was really unnerving was that both of them were staring offstage as they were playing it, as though they thought it was possible Mangum would be inspired to come on and do some NMH songs. He didn’t, but for a second it seemed possible. Also, some douchebag was screaming "Two-Headed Boy" and "King of Carrot Flowers"— probably the quickest way to dash any chance of those songs actually being performed. I wasn’t disappointed, though. I’m grateful that Mangum is trying so hard to come back, and I wouldn’t want him to push himself to do something he isn’t ready to do.

Anyway, it was an awesome night. Besides the Jeff Mangum parts, they screened the Major Organ movie, which was fantastic, Koster was a gracious and exuberant host, and it was mostly just a treat to see people who enjoyed making music together so much. There is a lot of love in the E6 universe, and it was nice to spend a night submerged in it.

The pressure on Mangum must be tremendous. It’s cool to show our excitement and exhibit friendly encouragement, but hopefully we can refrain from getting too carried away and demanding he perform the entirety of In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.

Remaining dates:

10.12.08 - Boston, MA - The Church 10.14.08 - Portland, ME - Space Gallery 10.15.08 - New Haven, CT - The Space 10.16.08 - Purchase, NY - SUNY Purchase 10.17.08 - Rochester, NY- The Bug Jar 10.18.08 - Pittsburgh, PA - Brillobox 10.19.08 - Columbus, OH - Wexner Center 10.20.08 - Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Pike Room 10.21.08 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge 10.22.08 - Bloomington, IN - Cinemat 10.23.08 - Lexington, KY - University of Kentucky

Wistful Americana torch singer and former Be Good Tanya, Jolie Holland takes to the road next week in support of her latest, electrified effort, The Living and the Dead (via ANTI-), which features cameos from M Ward and Marc Ribot. It’s too bad that so many venues have gone smoke-free, as smoke-filled rooms accent perfectly the intimately dark, roots-tinged western folk that radiates through most of her catalog.

If you haven’t seen her before, Holland jumps through multiple genre hoops on stage, combining musky vocal jazz with sparse remnants of blues, gospel, and, of course, folk, serving as equal parts Nina Nastasia, Tom Waits, and Andrew Bird. More than anything else, she’s an excellent orator and narrator in the fabled troubadour style. Oh look at that, she’s even playing the Troubadour, lol, etc.

10.12.08 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern 10.13.08 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour 10.14.08 - Santa Barbara, CA - SOhO Restaurant & Music Club 10.15.08 - San Francisco CA - Bimbos 365 Club 10.17.08 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir 10.18.08 - Olympia, WA - Capitol Theater 10.19.08 - Vancouver, BC - Richards on Richards 10.20.08 - Seattle, WA - Triple Door 10.22.08 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge 10.23.08 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater 10.24.08 - Lawrence, KS - Jackpot Lounge 10.25.08 - Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Culture Centre 10.27.08 - Lakeshore Theatre - Chicago, IL 10.28.08 - Pontiac, MI - The Pike Room at The Crofoot 10.29.08 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern 10.30.08 - Montreal, QC - Cabaret du Musee Juste Pour Rire 10.31.08 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground South 11.01.08 - Boston, MA - Museum of Fine Arts 11.03.08 - Philadelphia, PA - Tin Angel 11.04.08 - Arlington, VA - IOTA 11.05.08 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle 11.06.08 - Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic 11.08.08 - Louisville, KY - The 930 Listening Room 11.09.08 - Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird Cafe 11.13.08 - New York, NY - Highline Ballroom

In these hard economic times, parents have to do anything in their power to make sure they can provide for their children. Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel, better known to you and I as Mates of State, are doing just that — except, unlike normal parents who are working longer hours or cutting expenses, the parental unit of Mates of State is heading out on a newly confirmed tour for the rest of the fall, including a show at the Barking Tuna Festival in Kalamazoo, MI. But who can blame them? How else are little Magnolia and June Elizabeth (aww cute children names, guys!) going to be able to afford Hannah Montana concerts?

Tourin’ hard for the money:

10.13.08 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues & 10.14.08 - Los Angeles, CA – Wiltern % 10.16.08 - Marquette, MI - Northern Michigan University 10.17.08 - Gramd Rapids, MI - Calvin College 10.18.08 - Kalamazoo, MI - Kalamazoo State Theater ** 10.19.08 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick 11.07.08 - Asbury Park, NJ - Wonder Bar 11.08.08 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero 11.09.08 - Morgantown, WV - Mountainstage (NPR show) 11.10.08 - Lexington, KY - The Dame 11.11.08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat 11.12.08 - Charlottesville, VA - Gravity Lounge 11.13.08 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre 11.14.08 - Lexington, KY - The Dame 11.15.08 - Louisville, KY - Headliners 11.16.08 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle 11.17.08 - Nashville, TN - Exit / In 11.19.08 - Jacksonville Beach, FL - Freebird Live 11.20.08 - Atlanta, GA - The Loft 11.21.08 - Greenville, SC - The Handlebar 11.22.08 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle 11.23.08 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar

& Santogold, Low vs Diamond
% Santogold, The Ting Tings, Low vs Diamond
** Barking Tuna Festival: School of Seven Bells, Daestro, and more (Thanks Brendan!)

Psychedelic rockers Mammatus are planning to hit the road in October for a 12-date West Coast tour, "playing all new BRAIN songs that you’ve never heard before," according to the band. The Santa Cruz, CA three-piece have released two albums since their 2005 inception — 2006’s Mammatus and 2007’s The Coast Explodes — to much praise and acclaim. And it’s no surprise. Mammatus have a singular sound.

They’ll be going on tour with WILDILDLIFE. Don’t know them? Perhaps Mammatus can convince you:

If you haven’t heard them please enlighten yourself, these guys are not only pushing the boundaries of heavy music into the outer dimensions of human comprehension, they also write wicked catchy pop hooks that’ll get stuck in yer head for centuries! So come out and experience an evening of insane electric wankery, eXtreme headbangin, drum destruction, and DUDEAGE!

Try and see them if you can.

10.11.08 - Portland OR, Jackpot Records (free in-store) 10.11.08 - Bainbridge Island, WA – IMG @ 10.14.08 - Seattle, WA - Funhouse @ 10.15.08 - Portland, OR - Someday Lounge 10.16.08 - Eureka, CA - Auntie Mo’s Lounge 10.17.08 - Oakland, CA - Stork Club # 10.18.08 - Santa Cruz, CA - Crepe Place 10.20.08 - Davis, CA - The Firehouse $ 10.21.08 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo & 10.22.08 - San Diego, CA - San Diego Sports Club % 10.23.08 - Long Beach, CA - Prospector 10.24.08 - Monterey, CA - Lounge Underground * 10.25.08 - San Francisco, CA - Hemlock 

@ Emeralds # Pegatuar, Kowloon Walled City $ San Francisco Water Cooler & Magic Lantern % Red Octopus * Serpico  Three Leafs

Next Wednesday, Senators Barack Obama and John McCain will debate for the third and final time before Election Day. Also next Wednesday is Blog Action Day 2008, started by a non-profit, grassroots movement of bloggers with over 6,500 participating blogs. But the same day, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will hold the Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church. And who could forget National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD)? Or what about the first CC Salon, a global event to raise awareness about Creative Commons, in Paris?

Frankly, I could care less about Blog Action Day or CC Salon. And I say screw the debate, to hell with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and FUCK National Latino AIDS Awareness Day — I’ve got Mirah on the mind! She’ll be starting her 10-date tour that very same day, supporting her latest album, The Old Days Feeling (Modern Radio). Sweetening the tour will be No Kids, who released Come Into My House earlier this year on Tomlab.

Now, get your tickets, chubby!

Mirah and No Kids tourdates:

10.15.08 - Chicago, Illinois - Epiphany 10.16.08 - Pontiac, Michigan - The Crofoot Ballroom 10.17.08 - Columbus, Ohio - Milo Arts 10.18.08 - Buffalo, New York - Soundlab 10.19.08 - Ithaca, New York - Castaways 10.20.08 - Northhampton, MA - Iron Horse Music Hall 10.21.08 - Boston, Massachusettes - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 10.22.08 - New York, NY - Highline Ballroom 10.24.08 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - First Unitarian Church - Sanctuary 10.25.08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat

No Kids and Casiotone For The Painfully Alone tourdates:

10.26.08 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell’s & 10.27.08 - Providence, RI - Club Hell 10.29.08 - Athens, OH - The Crystal Castle 10.30.08 - Cincinnati, OH - Northside Tavern 10.31.08 - Louisville, KY - Pour Haus 11.01.08 - Indianapolis, IN - Locals Only

& Katie Eastburn

This is your lucky day. Maybe. Speaking to Billboard, William Cullen Hart (Circulatory System, Olivia Tremor Control) brought up the possibility of Jeff Mangum, the ever reclusive, deified artist, participating in the upcoming Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise tour (TMT News). "Jeff told me he wants to make it to the Chicago show and maybe the Kentucky show, so we’ll see," says Cullen Hart. "I know he hasn’t played out much in the past few years, but he seemed very excited about this tour when I talked to him."

The tour, headed by Music Tapes frontman Julian Koster, made its debut October 7 in Athens, GA. The show ended up being three-and-a-half hours long, so the artists — ranging from Koster, Cullen Hart, and Laura Carter (Elf Power) to Eric Harris (OTC), Nesey Gallons, Scott Spillane (NMH, The Gerbils), and many more — are planning to "trim it down a little bit," says Cullen Hart. And, as we’ve reported earlier, the tour also includes screenings of the much-anticipated short film Major Organ & The Adding Machine, tentatively set for DVD release via Orange Twin next year.

In related news, Circulatory System have reportedly three albums’ worth of material and are currently looking for a label, while Koster is loosely planning yet another concept tour, currently being touted as "The Music Tapes Caroling Tour." Can’t. Fucking. Wait. In the meantime, buy Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes (TMT Review), out now on Merge.

10.09.08 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 10.11.08 - New York, NY - Knitting Factory 10.12.08 - Boston, MA - The Church 10.14.08 - Portland, ME - Space Gallery 10.15.08 - New Haven, CT - The Space 10.16.08 - Purchase, NY - SUNY Purchase 10.17.08 - Rochester, NY- The Bug Jar 10.18.08 - Pittsburgh, PA - Brillobox 10.19.08 - Columbus, OH - Wexner Center 10.20.08 - Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Pike Room 10.21.08 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge 10.22.08 - Bloomington, IN - Cinemat 10.23.08 - Lexington, KY - University of Kentucky

Due to a stage accident committed by Mr. Jim James, My Morning Jacket were forced to cancel the rest of their Iowa City gig yesterday, and have now officially postponed a couple Chicago shows. I’d paraphrase the rest, but what’s the point when you can read it straight from My Morning Jacket:

"As some of you may have heard we had to cancel our show last evening in Iowa City. We were finishing up the last few bars of ‘Off The Record,’ and just like any other night we were all having a great time. Jim went to get closer to the audience on his side of the stage, and as he moved forward to step onto the sub-woofer the lights darkened, and he inadvertently stepped off the stage. Upon falling, he suffered traumatic injuries to his torso, and was immediately taken to the hospital. Per the doctor’s orders, Jim will be off the road and recovering from his injuries for the next two to three weeks. Sadly, we must postpone the two shows in Chicago on Thursday and Friday until further notice.

For those who attended the Iowa City show, we would like to extend our gratitude for your understanding and cooperation. We take our fans and performances very seriously, and would never cancel a show unless it was absolutely necessary. Please know that we will be making every effort to return to your fine city.

Thank you so much to our fans for the kind sentiments and well-wishes on Jim’s behalf. We hope for Jim’s quick recovery and to be back out on the road soon.

With Love,
My Morning Jacket

Tourdates, assuming James’ torso recovers by then:

10.29.08 - Dublin, Ireland - Irish Museum of Modern Art 11.01.08 - Brussels, Belgium - Cirque Royale 11.02.08 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso 11.04.08 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Small Vega 11.05.08 - Oslo, Norway - Sentrum Scene 11.06.08 - Stockholm, Sweden - Berns 11.07.08 - Lund, Sweden - Mejeriet 11.09.08 - Berlin, Germany - Lido 11.10.08 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp 11.12.08 - London, England - Brixton Academy 11.13.08 - Manchester, England - University 11.14.08 - Glasgow, Scotland - ABC 12.29.08 - Richmond, VA - The National 12.31.08 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden 01.16.08 - Auckland, New Zealand - Big Day Out 01.18.08 - Gold Coast, Australia - Big Day Out 01.21.08 - Brisbane, Australia - Entertainment Center $ 01.22.08 - Sydney, Australia - Metro Theatre 01.23.08 - Sydney, Australia - Big Day Out 01.24.08 - Sydney, Australia - Sydney Entertainment Centre $ 01.26.08 - Melbourne, Australia - Big Day Out 01.27.08 - Melbourne, Australia - Billboard 01.28.08 - Melbourne, Australia - Myer Music Bowl $ 01.30.08 - Adelaide, Australia - Big Day Out 02.01.08 - Perth, Australia - Big Day Out 02.04.08 - Tokyo, Japan - Duo 02.05.08 - Tokyo, Japan - Duo 02.06.08 - Osaka, Japan - Club Quattro

$ Neil Young