Xiu Xiu To Release New Album This Month; Massive Touring and MySpace Traffic to Follow
By Scout Leader Kyle on 01-16-2008
Xiu Xiu have been crafting genre-defying music for eight years now, and as with other bands that have survived that long, their lineup has changed numerous times. Currently, Jamie Stewart shares the stage/studio with his cousin Caralee McElroy and percussionist Ches Smith. The group's sixth album, Women As Lovers comes out January 29, and they'll be touring soon after to support it.
All that dribble about them is all well and good, but did you know Xiu Xiu's MySpace is experiencing major spikes in traffic? It's true. The page serves as a home to completely relevant, highly revealing comments that offer insight into the community that keeps Xiu Xiu afloat. What phenomenal psychological gems will we find by reading through the comments? Let's take a look.
- "i'm so amped for your show @ the bowery ballroom... i'm so anxious for it.... abczxcgu823jmkdfjia!!!" - the damage is done
- "thank you. seriously your music!! *swoony swoon* and you're amazing live i'm not sure how two people can make that much sound. i can't wait to see you again(with deerhoof?). caralee when you sing your little song it is devastatingly adorable. and ooh a new album!" - laurel
- "heck it out!... i just got myself a free apple iphone from a website...i didn't believe i would get it free at first, but it worked! you just enter your zip code and they send you the iphone, FREE. mine came in the mail today. i saved the website address for you.. just goto http://grooviniphones.com and get yours before they are all gone!" - karmen
- "i love you. you're so emotional and wild and i hope you never change.... i think you should do an entire album about feminism. i actually buy your music from the music store. i swear." - xani
Good commentary and an exciting glimpse into the psyche of the average Xiu Xiu fan! Too bad these users are confused, as the MySpace they are posting on is called /xiuxiuband and the real page is /xiuxiuforlife. Confusing I know. What the fuck Xiu Xiu and Xiu Xiu fans? So far it seems the only awesome thing about the http://www.myspace.com/xiuxiuforlife page is that you can stream Women As Lovers from it. Ya!
You'll see "laurel," "the damage is done," "xani," "karmen," and tons of other rad Xiu Xiu fans at the dates below:
Oh, and check out the cover of the new XLR8R!
Blitzen Trapper Tour North America, Inspire “Ballad of Blitzen Trapper”
By Nobodaddy on 01-16-2008
Ooooooooooooooooooh...
Come and listen to a story ‘bout a singer named Earley
And poor Blitzen Trapper, barely kept their teeth pearly
Then Wild Mountain Nation came a-droppin' last June
Aaaand along came Pitchfork, buzzin' ‘bout the tunes
Music, that is... sloppy, Country/Pysch gold... Steve Miller Band.
Well the first thing you know, the boys are willing and they're able.
Sub Pop said, "Guys, come and join our label!"
Said "the headlining spot is the place you ought to be."
So they loaded up the van, gonna see the countryyyyy...
‘08 North American headlining tour, that is... w/ Beach House... Fleet Foxes... Menomena...
So this Spring, say ‘hello' to Eric Earley and all his kin.
And they'll thank you folks fer kindly droppin' in.
And all you readers come back to this locality
For more right-wing news courtesy of Mr P!
Tiny Mix Tapes, that is... Set a spell... Check out them/there tourdates...
Y'all come back now, ya hear???
Funniest Six-Year-Old Ever Lies About Her Father’s Death To Get Hannah Montana Tickets
By Nat Towsen on 01-16-2008
In the final days of the year 2007, a young girl named Alexis Menjivar penned an essay beginning with the fateful line "My daddy died this year in Iraq." The essay was soon selected as the winner of a contest sponsored by Club Libby Lu, a store that specializes in pink fabric and makeovers for babies. Six-year-old Alexis was awarded four tickets to a sold-out Hannah Montana concert, round-trip airfare, and a makeover.
In case you didn’t read the headline, it turns out the essay was fake. Actually, the essay was real, made up of real essay molecules. But its story, in which a man named Sgt. Jonathon Menjivar died in a roadside bombing on April 17, was not true. The Department of Defense (whichever division thereof is in charge of fact-checking Hannah Montana contest essays) has no record of any such man dying on the aforementioned date. Club Libby Lu, presumably having hired Harriet the spy, got to the bottom of this mystery immediately, and quickly stripped the girl of her prize and happiest memory to date.
The girl’s mother, Priscilla Ceballos, soon explained that she had prompted her daughter to fictionalize her father’s death, defending her actions by saying, “It was just an essay. We do essays all the time. You know, my daughter does essays at school all the time. I never lied and said that the essay was a true story.” Some would question the validity of this defense, but it certainly explains Alexis’ recent essay on penguins for science class (“The chinstrap penguin died this year in Iraq.”).
This story has been covered by the Associated Press, BBC, and countless local news outlets across America, but every story neglects to mention three key issues: The first is whether or not Alexis Menjivar’s essay actually violated the terms of the contest (was there a rule stating that the essay had to be true?). The second is whether or not Alexis Menjivar has a father named Sgt. Jonathon Menjivar, and if he is in Iraq, or if he perhaps even died on a different day. The third is that “Hannah Montana” herself is actually a character in a television program, whose exploits are entirely fabricated and whose father ought to be dead.
So to recap: growing up without a father in your life due to a grossly unjust war is not enough of a reason to get tickets to a concert for a fictional pop star and a free blonde wig.
Hannah Montana tourdates:
Hannah Montana takes February off in protest of Black History Month.
Radiohead to Play London’s Rough Trade Shop TONIGHT, Webcast
By Mango Starr on 01-16-2008
So, Mr P, editor-in-chief of Tiny Mix Tapes (don't click if you want your job), only allows certain Radiohead stories to be published. Why? Well, he's editor-in-chief, that's why. As much as I begged and pleaded to write a story about Radiohead's announcement of the North American cities they expect to play, well, Mr P just wouldn't have it. "Who do they think they are, Chumbawamba?" asked Mr P. "Fuck ‘em."
But boy did I have some news for my editor this morning! According to a post on Dead Air Space by guitarist Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead are scheduled to play some In Rainbows (TMT Review) material tonight at London's Rough Trade East shop on Brick Lane. The real news might be that Radiohead are twisted enough to make their London fans stand out in the cold, waiting for the Rough Trade doors to open, but at least they're webcasting this shit.
Here's the webcast link. And here's Jonny's full post:
So, we've got a small gig tonight.It's in London at the Rough Trade East shop on Brick Lane, and we're planning to play a short set of in rainbows material. It's very limited free entry, first come first served. Also, as it might be a little uncomfortable for anyone queuing early, they're planning a numbering system so people at the front of any queue can get snacks and toilet breaks in the store. Good bagels round there. But dress warm...doors won't open until 7, and we'll play at about 8.
For those who can't get in - and it's pretty small in there - we'll have some screens and speakers outside, if we're allowed. I think we are. And we'll also webcast it. I'll put the link up here, as well as any other info, later today.
Hope you can make it - should be....interesting. Us being us, we're taking far too many instruments.....
[Remember what you're doing April 8, motherfucker.]
Colin Meloy Could Very Well Be Racist, Releases Live Solo Disc
By Mango Starr on 01-16-2008
What are you up to April 8? Oh yeah? Well, cancel your plans, dingleberry: Colin Meloy, the SUPERSTAR frontman of The Decemberists, is set to release Colin Meloy Sings Live! on Kill Rock Stars. AWWWW YEAH!! The set is a document of his 2006 solo U.S. tour, and, really, what could be better than spending your April 8 listening to the album? ...Oh yeah? What, you getting smarting with me? Shut the fuck up, right now. You're going to buy this fucking CD, and you're going to listen to it. Fuck the music actually; this shit's got stage banter, bitch. STAGE BANTER. You don't hear any stage banter on Portishead's live disc do you?
I will fucking cut you.
Colin Meloy Sings Live! tracklisting:
* "indicates talk between songs"
