The Mars Volta percussionist, Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez, will head out on tour this July with his brother Marfred Rodriguez-Lopez in their new prog-rock outfit Zechs Marquise. The band's debut album, Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare, will be released this fall via Rodriguez-Lopez Productions. Look for the band out on tour opening for RX Bandits and Dredg in July. [www.myspace.com]
Viva Voce is pounding the pavement in support of their latest album, Rose City. The album is in stores now and the band will be on the road through the end of the year. [www.barsuk.com]
Jesy Fortino aka Tiny Vipers, is set to release her sophomore Sub Pop album, Life On Earth, on July 7th. The band is also on tour throughout the summer. [www.subpop.com]
As previously reported, The Sounds are set to release their new album, Crossing The Rubicon, on June 2nd. You can preview the album in its entirety on MySpace. The band is currently on tour with No Doubt.
As A Camp kick off their first North American tour today at the Bowery Ballroom in New York, the band has also announced the release of their Covers EP through iTunes on June 9th. The Covers EP features three cover tracks from a few of their favorite artists: Pink Floyd, David Bowie and Grace Jones. [www.acamp.net]
Spinnerette, the new Brody Dalle project, has pushed the release of their debut album to June 23rd (from June 2nd). As well, the tentative title, A Prescription for Mankind, has been dropped. Meanwhile, the band has shows in New York and Los Angeles lined up before a full US tour this summer. [www.myspace.com]
New York's Cymbals Eat Guitars are set to release their debut album, Why There Are Mountains on September 22nd through Sister's Den Records (the band already self-released the album on iTunes). The band will play the Pitchfork Festival July 18th and have planned an East Coast tour with Art Brut. [www.myspace.com]
Muse have revealed the title of their forthcoming album will be The Resistance. As previously reported, the album could have an orchestral feel. The album should hit stores this fall. Update: The official release date has been set for September 15th. [news.bbc.co.uk]
Robert "3D" Del Naja revealed to Billboard that Massive Attack will undertake a massive world tour in support of their new album. The trek is "likely to top 150 shows" and will hit the US. According Del Naja, the album will be release in October, with touring starting in September. The tentative title is Weather Underground. [www.billboard.com]
Yoko Ono will bring back the Plastic Ono Band for a June 14th Meltdown performance at London's Royal Festival Hall. The band will feature Sean Lennon, Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons, Mark Ronson, Cornelius as well as "special guests." This will be "the first ever UK appearance" by the band. [www.chartattack.com]
Jay-Z revealed to RapRadar yesterday that he has indeed left Def Jam, his label/distributor since 1997. In his words, he is now a "completely independent artist." [www.rapradar.com]
Discovery, a side project featuring keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend and vocalist Wes Miles of Ra Ra Riot, will release their self-titled debut on July 7th through XL. Listen to a couple tracks on the band's MySpace page. [news.bbc.co.uk]
Stone Temple Pilots have announced some North American headlining dates in July. Scott Weiland told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the the DeLeo Brothers have written 18 songs and 12 will be chosen for an album due in 2010. [www.livedaily.com]
Fun. will issue their debut full-length, Aim and Ignite, on August 25th through Nettwerk. The album was produced by Redd Kross' Steven McDonald and "rethinks classic 70s pop." [www.myspace.com]
Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival has expanded its current lineup to include Lucinda Williams, Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band, The Avett Brothers and Bat for Lashes. Check out the full lineup on the festival website. [www.sfoutsidelands.com]
Taking Back Sunday will release New Again on June 2nd via Warner Bros. Records. The album was recorded with producer David Kahne. Tour dates can be found on the band's website. [www.myspace.com]
Pearl Jam have been confirmed for the June 1st premiere of The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien. According to their website, the band "will perform songs from their upcoming studio album." [www.pearljam.com]
A slew of hardcore bands have signed on for the 10 For $10 Tour, kicking off July 9th in Philadelphia, PA. Naturally, each stop will feature 10 bands for $10. Poison The Well and Madball, Bane and Vision of Disorder will headline various legs. [www.myspace.com]
Eric D. Johnson’s Fruit Bats will return on August 4th with The Ruminant Band through Sub Pop. Check out the details and track list on the Sub Pop site. [subpop.com]
Chris Clark will return with Totems Flare on July 13th through Warp Records. The new material is an "elegant meeting of past and present sounds," according to the press release. Listen to "Growls Garden" from the album over on the Warp website. [warp.net]
