News and Notes

Once again, this computer is creeping along, and needs to be rebooted.  Here’s some random tid bits that are sitting on my computer.  As usually happens with my News and Notes write-ups there aren’t real Nashville connections (save the Feist retweet), but I want to get them out there anyway.

The Antlers go XX

The Antlers are following up their awesome LP Burst Apart with an eight track outtake EP entitled together (releases on Frenchkiss Records on November 22nd).  This EP includes collaborations with Neon Indian, Bear In Heaven, and Nicole Atkins.  However, the news of the day is the leak of their cover of the XX’s “VCRs” which you can listen to below.  I guess The Antlers really wanted to get into the Bedroom Music genre which the XX currently corners the market on.

The Antlers covering the XX’s “VCR”

Feist at Third Man Records

Indie pop princess Feist recently rolled through town and played a 24 hour advance notice show at Third Man Records.  Check out the Nashville Cream review of that show.  The most notable point is that they served keg beer… The usual lack of beer at TMR is honestly one reason that I didn’t go to that show last Saturday night.  Fail.

Radiohead announces US Tour

The absolute kings of alternative rock at the moment (and for the couple of decades) is Radiohead.  It was announced this week that Radiohead is planning a US tour this upcoming year, and there are also rumors that they are working on a new record.  There is no Nashville tour date as of right now, but there are also a lot of gaps in the schedule.  We’ve heard rumblings that they are going to be playing the Coachella festival next April.  I wonder if they’ll hop across the country for a sweaty Bonnaroo set as well?  If you are a big Radiohead fan though, it might be worth heading down to Atlanta on March 1st to catch the closest tour date announced so far.  Tickets for most of these shows (inc. Atlanta) go on sale Saturday (11/12 at 10am EST).

Jeff Mangum announces tour

The reclusive front man of Neutral Milk Hotel has been stepping out lately.  He was involved in the All Tomorrow’s Parties recently with the likes of Portishead, and he stopped into Occupy Wall Street to perform an impromptu set.  Well, he has announced his first tour in like forever.  Again, no Nashville tour dates, but he’ll be somewhat close by performing dates in Atlanta GA, Athens GA, Chapel Hill NC, and Chicago.  Tickets for that one go on sale this Friday (11/11) at 11am CST.  I’d recommend hoping on that quick if you are a fan.  You can see the full slate of dates and figure out how to get tickets here.

Grungy girls singing in sweet video sessions

We’ve talked quite a bit about grunge making it’s comeback.  Two of the frontrunners in the female vocalist category are EMA and the somewhat poppy The Joy Formidable.  Both dropped video sessions on us this week.  La Blogotheque has three Parisian shot videos of EMA which are worth checking out.  I have embedded a video below of The Joy Formidable performing “Whirring” at a recent KEXP (Seattle) gig.

[youtube_sc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kNQeDlgBoc?rel=0&w=640&h=360]