Hey now, Vampire Weekend may not have been included in the who’s who hit list of bands on the Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack (um, or were they? It all kinda runs together at this point, doesn’t it?), but they’ll be damned if they’re gonna let you forget just how comparable to Death Cab they are in the genial, hospitable, popular, friendly, adorable-ruffian-like-Fonzie-from-Happy-Days Department.

So without further ado, these happy-go-lucky ragamuffins are proud-as-punch to announce a round of tourdates supporting the release of their forthcoming album Contra, which drops January 12, 2010 on XL. The album’s first single, “Cousins,” is available digitally right now, and the 7-inch will be in stores on December 15. It’s probably about stuff that you can all like totally relate to and shit... you know, like having cousins. Stressful, right? Anyway, this year’s remaining dates appear below.

In other news, did I really need to qualify the name “Fonzie” up there as being “from Happy Days?" I mean, how stupid do I think you are, anyway?

11.23.09 - Sydney, Australia - Notes on Enmore
12.10.09 - Portland, OR, Crystal Ballroom
12.11.09 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena
12.12.09 - La Jolla, CA - RIMAC Arena/UC San Diego
12.13.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheater
12.15.09 - Seattle, WA - WaMu Theater
01.12.10 - Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theater
01.17.10 - New York, NY - United Palace Theater
01.18.10 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
01.19.10 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom

It’s always a good day for music fans when John Lydon is in the news. Hell, it’s a good day for everybody, especially those of us who enjoy wacky stories on the internet. Most of the recent hype concerning the Sex Pistols/Public Image Limited vocalist has been as a result of his appearances on I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, Judge Judy, and a now-notorious butter commercial. Apparently the butter commercial has both a) given Mr. Lydon the capital to mount several Public Image Limited tourdates in the U.K. (the first such dates in 17 years) as well as b) gotten him a lot of guff from people who think hawking butter isn’t punk rock. Which begs the question: is butter not punk rock? What would be? Margarine? Not putting anything on your toast? Because that’s not hardcore. It’s just boring.

So Lydon’s butter money is helping to finance the dates below. And if those dates sell well enough, Public Image Limited is seriously thinking about recording again. It’s truly the Circle of Life. When asked if the band would be playing the hits during their upcoming tour, Lydon said, “Don’t be ridiculous! What do you think this is? The Beatles? She loves you yeah yeah yeah? No no no! You get what you’re given and it’ll be even better then.” Take that, butter haters.

12.15.09 - Birmingham, England - O2 Academy
12.16.09 - Leeds, England - O2 Academy
12.18.09 - Glasgow, Scotland - O2 Academy
12.19.09 - Manchester, England – Manchester Academy
12.21.09 – London, England - Brixton Academy
12.22.09 - London, England - Electric Ballroom
12.23.09 - London, England - Electric Ballroom

Who are The Descendents?

Legendary punk rock band fronted by super-nerd Milo Aukerman.

Who are The Descendents without Milo Aukerman?

Slightly less legendary (but still pretty legendary) punk rock band All fronted by Dave Smalley. And then fronted by Scott Reynolds. And then fronted by Chad Price.

Are All reuniting for a short East Coast tour in January?

They sure are.

Who exactly is fronting All this time around?

That’d be Scott Reynolds.

All?

No, All!

All tourdates:

01.06.10 - Cambridge, MA - The Middle East (downstairs)
01.07.10 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
01.08.10 - Baltimore, MD - The Ottobar
01.09.10 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg

The San Miguel Primavera Sound Festival is always cause for excitement, because it sports a promising roster of great bands year after year, spanning the better part of three glorious days. While most Europeans can count their pennies and hop the nearest Ryanair flight over to Spain, those living stateside aren’t quite so conveniently located.

But in case you are planning to attend Primavera, you’ll be mighty pleased to learn that the recently reunited indie vets Pavement will be one of this year’s headliners, along with the time-honored rockers Pixies. Indeed, for those of you lucky enough to be living within arm’s (or plane’s) reach of Barcelona and/or Madrid, Primavera Sound Festival is shaping up to be a serious blast from the past. I wonder if Sebadoh will be making an appearance as well? No? Just wishful thinking on my part then?

Julian Koster (The Music Tapes, Neutral Milk Hotel, Major Organ & The Adding Machine) and his Singing Saw — Badger, I assume — are once again going Christmas caroling in December! Want to see them? Great. All you have to do is grant them permission and they’ll show up at your doorstep, singing songs, sharing stories, and being all Christmas-y. It’s like a Christmas miracle spread across 15 dates!

To ensure there is no confusion (and because I’m feeling lazy), here’s the exact wording from Merge:

You may invite the carolers to visit your house by emailing musictapescaroling@gmail.com or by mailing a handwritten letter to 450 N. Harris St. Athens, GA 30601 (due to time constraints, please send an email to let the "caroling ambassador" know you are sending a letter). Be sure to include an email address or telephone number for reply. Invitations where the hosts indicate that they would be willing to entertain outside guests on caroling night are preferred. Please note your permission to invite others from the area to your house and whether you can offer the carolers a place to sleep in your letter or email.

Once the limit on houses on a given night has been reached, the address of each house that will welcome guests will be distributed via email to all who email musictapescaroling@gmail.com and ask to attend. The addresses of the houses will not be posted online.

Proposed Path:

December 7th, 8th, 9th: Georgia, Tennessee, Indiana & Lower Half of Illinois
December 10th, 11th, 12th: Chicago, Illinois, Michigan
December 13th, 14th, 15th: Ohio, Pittsburgh, Western NY
December 16th, 17th, 18th: Upstate NY, New England (CT, RI, VT etc)
December 19th, 20th, 21st: Philadelphia, NYC, Baltimore, DC, Chapel Hill

According to Pitchfork, Dan Deacon has canceled the remainder of his tour after having been hospitalized with acute sciatica. The tour was originally scheduled to run through next Wednesday, ending at Baltimore’s Ottobar.

TMT wishes him a speedy recovery!

Canceled dates:

11.13.09 - Troy, NY - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
11.14.09 - Worcester, MA - Clark University
11.15.09 - Ithaca, NY - Ithaca College
11.16.09 - Purchase, NY - SUNY Purchase
11.18.09 - Baltimore, MD - The Ottobar

While Girls’ "Lust for Life" gets churned through your local airwaves or news of its SCANDALOUS! naked music video gets 1,000,000+ hits on YouTube from horny college kids, the band has been touring nonstop since the release of their debut album so that everyone may know what it means to be infectious. And while everyone’s wishing they had a pizza and a bottle of wine, Girls are merrily strolling along, booking tourdate after tourdate, and possibly stripping and grabbing each other’s genitalia while Bowie or Iggy blares in the background.

Hear that? Matador’s newest prized pig Girls are gearing up for yet another tour, which is practically sitting on their current tour’s lap. But they probably meant it to happen that way. Tourdates are below.

01.25.10 - Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
01.26.10 - Tucson, AZ - Club Congress
01.27.10 - Albuquerque, NM - The Launchpad
01.29.10 - Austin, TX - The Parish *
01.30.10 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues *
01.31.10 - Houston, TX - Walter’s on Washington *
02.02.10 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks *
02.04.10 - Birmingham, AL - Bottletree *
02.05.10 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl *
02.06.10 - Nashville, TN - Exit/In *
02.07.10 - St. Louis, MO - The Gargoyle *
02.08.10 - Columbia, MO - The Blue Note *
02.10.10 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater *
02.12.10 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge *
02.14.10 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall *

* Magic Kids

To promote her new song with Bon Iver on the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack, St. Vincent has decided to bring the kids from Twilight on the road with her next year. Unfortunately, they’re too busy making headlines with their hand-holding to actually accompany her, so cardboard cut-outs of Robert Pattinson will have to do instead.

The St. Vincent Saga: New Tour:

01.29.10 - New York, NY - Lincoln Center’s Allen Room (American Songbook Series)
02.03.10 - Victoria, BC - Element
02.04.10 - Vancouver, BC - Venue
02.05.10 - Seattle, WA - Neumos
02.06.10 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge (2 shows, 6 + 10 PM)
02.08.10 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
02.09.10 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theater
02.10.10 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
02.11.10 - Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room
02.13.10 - Denver, CO - The Bluebird Theater
02.15.10 - Lawrence, KS - Bottleneck
02.16.10 - Iowa City, IA - The Industry
02.17.10 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall
02.18.10 - Chicago, IL - Metro
02.19.10 - Pontiac, MI - The Pike Room at The Crofoot
02.20.10 - Columbus, OH - Outland on Liberty
02.21.10 - Pittsburgh, PA - Diesel Club
02.23.10 - Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theater
02.24.10 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
02.25.10 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church - Sanctuary

& Wildbirds & Peacedrums

I know what you’re thinking: cancer sucks. It does. And I know that you’re also thinking that kids with cancer sucks even more. Which it does. But you’re not quite sure what to do to help, right? I know, I know, you really want to lend a hand but you have that awesome concert you have to go to on Saturday. Well, how about you go to an awesome show on Saturday and help out kids with cancer? Yeah, you can do that!

The Pablove Foundation, which works to improve the lives of children dealing with cancer by funding pediatric cancer research, helping families without health insurance, and improving hospital playrooms, is throwing a benefit concert on November 21 at Avalon in Los Angeles, CA. The bill includes Band of Horses, Tom Morello, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Shirley Manson of Garbage, Tom Gabel of Against Me!, Sea Wolf, Butch Walker, Jarrod Gorbel of Honorary Title, Songs for Kids, and more!

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and a portion of your ticket purchase directly benefits the various programs that the charity performs and maintains. Just say no to kids with cancer!

Beginning November 18, Neil Hamburger will be touring with Maynard James Keenan. TMT readers might have heard of the bands Tool and A Perfect Circle, of which Mr. Keenan is the frontman. The musician seems to have a fondness for ironic American comedians, since Tool’s 1996 album Ænima features samples of Bill Hicks’ work on the song "Third Eye." Not that I’ve actually listened to the record... you get fired on TMT for liking that kind of stuff!

11.18.09 - Salt Lake City, UT - Capitol Theatre
11.20.09 - Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
11.21.09 - Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
11.24.09 - Dallas, TX - McFarlin Memorial Auditorium
11.25.09 - Dallas, TX - McFarlin Memorial Auditorium
11.27.09 - Houston, TX - Jones Hall for the Performing Arts
11.28.09 - San Antonio, TX - Majestic Theatre
11.29.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
12.02.09 - Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre
12.03.09 - Phoenix, AZ - Orpheum Theatre
12.04.09 - Phoenix, AZ - Orpheum Theatre

ON TOUR NOW (SOLO):

11.12.09 - Asbury Park, NJ - Asbury Lanes
11.13.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s
11.14.09 - Charlottesville, VA - The Southern
11.15.09 - Washington, DC - The Black Cat