Broken Social Scene has announced more North American dates in continued support of Forgiveness Rock Record. The band will play Coachella and Downsview Park in Toronto, ON on Canada Day, July 1st with The Tragically Hip and Weezer. [www.brokensocialscene.ca]
Patagonia Music launched earlier this month to benefit environmental causes. Portions of the track sales through iTunes will go towards groups chosen by the artists. Patagonia Music Collective Volumes 1 and 2 include tracks from Pearl Jam, Jack Johnson, Blitzen Trapper, Ben Sollee, Ra Ra Riot and Mason Jennings, among others. [www.patagonia.com]
As reported, Manchester Orchestra will release its third album, Simple Math, on May 10th. Stream the lyric video for the title track on YouTube. In other news, the band has announced a spring co-headlining tour with Cage the Elephant. [www.themanchesterorchestra.com]
The Roots have announced their 4th annual Roots Picnic, to be held on June 4th at Philadelphia's Festival Pier. The lineup includes The Legendary Roots Crew, Nas (with The Roots), Wiz Khalifa, Esperanza Spalding (with The Roots), Man Man, The Dismemberment Plan and Yelawolf, among others. Tickets are on sale now. [www.okayplayer.com]
Glam rock fans rejoice: Poison and Motley Crue have announced a co-headlining, summer tour, with New York Dolls as support. Check out the tour announcement on YouTube. Blabbermouth has the dates and details. [www.roadrunnerrecords.com]
According to a tweet from Matt Skiba, Alkaline Trio have just wrapped up work on a new album. With both Dan Andriano and Matt Skiba recording solo albums, this announcement may be in reference to the "stripped down" album of past material previously planned by the band. This Addiction was released in 2010. [twitter.com]
The Killers drummer Ronnie Vannucci is recording a solo album in the UK, with The Killers mostly on hiatus for 2011. Vannucci didn't give many details, other than he "[loves] rock n roll" and some of the people he "[trusts] most with music" are in the UK. [www.bbc.co.uk]
Despite being released over a year ago, it's probably safe to say Secret Beats from Montreal's Clara Engel hasn't been given enough attention. Her sound combines avant garde folk, an androgynous voice and poetic lyrics (reminiscent of PJ Harvey and Tom Waits). You can sample Engel's entire catalog on Bandcamp and download the track "Lick My Fins" for free. [claraengel.bandcamp.com]
Man Man will return on May 10th with Life Fantastic through Anti-Records. Check out the track list and stream "Knuckle Down" on Pitchfork. The album was recorded with producer Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Julian Casablancas) and features strings from Nate Walcott (Bright Eyes). The band has announced an extensive spring tour in support of the record. [www.anti.com]
Four Tet and Daphni (Dan Snaith of Caribou) have teamed up to release a split 7-inch through Kieran Hebden's Text Records in near future. Stream both tracks on Four Tet's website. [www.fourtet.net]
Pixies have announced a continued run of their Doolittle tour throughout Canada in April and May. Find all the dates and details on the band's website. [www.pixiesmusic.com]
Before the Oscars, Trent Reznor told Billboard that the new How to Destroy Angels release is finished and only needs to be mixed. Look for it in "early fall," preceding to the release of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo score. In other news, Reznor posted on the NIN forums that Nine Inch Nails "is not dead" and is next in the queue. Last, despite rumors flying around the web, Reznor is not involved with the film project Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. [www.billboard.com]
Boston's Mean Creek will play SXSW later this week and have announced a few dates in support of Buffalo Tom. Download their Hemophiliac EP, recorded with John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.), over on Bandcamp. [meancreekblog.blogspot.com]
According to a brief news post, Tom Waits is "currently in the studio working on his next album." In related news, Waits will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 14th by Neil Young. The event will air exclusively on Fuse TV on March 20th. [www.tomwaits.com]
Yesterday, Kenna released a new single, "Chains," which features collaboration with Shimmy Hoffa (Chad Hugo) and Paul Banks of Interpol. The song was to be featured on the the first EP in a series of three, Land 2 Air Chronicles I: Chaos And The Darkness. However, according to Kenna himself, the hard drive that contained the EP and eventual full-length, Songs For Flight, was wiped out. The first EP is now due on April 5th, but you can stream "Chains" on SoundCloud. [www.kenna.com]
Earlier this month, Mightier Than Sword Records released Seriously, the debut full-length from Brooklyn's I Hate Our Freedom, which features former members of Garrison, Thursday, Texas Is the Reason and Milhouse [www.myspace.com]
Slovakia's The Uniques are currently preparing their debut album, From The Dust, for an international release. The band recorded, mastered and self-released the album, which was named "Slovakian Album Of The Year 2010." Stream and buy the full record on Bandcamp. Most recently, the trio moved to Germany and signed with Pale Musik Int. [www.theuniqu.es]
Sam Roberts Band will release a new album, Collider, on May 10th through Zoe/Rounder Records. The album was produced by Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron and Wine) and features percussionist Ben Massarella (Califone) and "woodwind wizard" Stuart Bogie (Antibalas). Listen to lead single "I Feel You" over on Facebook. [www.facebook.com]
Portland's Weinland are hard at work on their third album and follow-up to 2009's Breaks In The Sun with producer Adam Selzer (M. Ward, The Decemberists). Check out new track "Los Processaur" via Filter Magazine. The band kicks off a three-week tour, which finds the band at SXSW for two performances, today in Sisters, OR. [weinlandmusic.com]
Ipecac Recordings will issue Sugar Daddy Live from Melvins on May 31st. The 13-track album was recorded at The Busta-Guts Club in Downey, California. [www.punknews.org]
