Iron & Wine For UK and Ireland Tour

Iron & Wine have announced a UK and Ireland tour in support of upcoming album Kiss Each Other Clean, set to be released in January.

The 9 date tour kicks off on March 8th at London's roundhouse and finishes on March 17th at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Unlike the recent European solo tour, the upcoming shows will feature Sam Beam backed by a full band. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Thurs 28th Oct) at 9am.

Iron & Wine play;

March 8th - London Roundhouse
March 9th - Brighton Corn Exchange
March 10th - Birmingham Town Hall
March 11th - Edinburgh HMV Picturehouse
March 12th - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
March 14th - Dublin Olympia
March 15th - Manchester Academy 2
March 16th - Gateshead Sage
March 17th - Leeds Metropolitan University

Take That Announce UK and Europe Tour

As was rumoured, Take That have announced a 14 date stadium tour of the UK and Ireland in a special broadcast from their website shortly after 10am this morning, their first tour as a five-piece since the departure of Robbie Williams in 1995.

The tour begins in Sunderland Stadium of Light on 30th May 2010 and finishes with a a four date residency at Wembly Stadium, London. Stop-offs along the way include a City of Manchester Stadium, Glasgow's Hampden Park, Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, Birmingham's Villa Park and Dublin's Croke Park.

It has also been revealed, via the tour dates section of the website, the band will play a furthur six dates across mainland Europe in Milan, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Munich.

While quite a way off the 58 dates which had been rumoured, the band did not rule out announcing more dates at a later stage.

The performances on the tour will take the form of three sections; Robbie Williams will play solo, the four member version of Take That will then play, followed by all five members together, to cater the fans who are there to see Williams, or there to see the four piece.

The band, who also include Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange, will be releasing their new album Progress on November 22nd, which is preceded by lead single 'The Flood', released on November 14th.

Tickets for the tour go on sale this Friday at 9am.

Take That play;

MAY 30 - SUNDERLAND STADIUM OF LIGHT, SUNDERLAND, UK
JUNE 03 - CITY OF MANCHESTER STADIUM, MANCHESTER, UK
JUNE 04 - CITY OF MANCHESTER STADIUM, MANCHESTER, UK
JUNE 05 - CITY OF MANCHESTER STADIUM, MANCHESTER, UK
JUNE 07 - CITY OF MANCHESTER STADIUM, MANCHESTER, UK
JUNE 14 - CARDIFF MILLENNIUM STADIUM, CARDIFF, WALES, UK
JUNE 18 - DUBLIN CROKE PARK, DUBLIN, IE
JUNE 22 - GLASGOW HAMPDEN PARK, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, UK
JUNE 23 - GLASGOW HAMPDEN PARK, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, UK
JUNE 27 - BIRMINGHAM VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM, UK
JULY 01 - WEMBLEY STADIUM, LONDON, UK
JULY 02 - WEMBLEY STADIUM, LONDON, UK
JULY 03 - WEMBLEY STADIUM, LONDON, UK
JULY 05 - WEMBLEY STADIUM, LONDON, UK
JULY 12 - SAN SIRO, MILAN, ITALY
JULY 16 - PARKEN, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
JULY 18 - AMSTERDAM ARENA, AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND
JULY 22 - IMTECH ARENA, HAMBURG, GERMANY
JULY 25 - ESPRIT ARENA, DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY
JULY 29 - OLYMPIASTADION, MUNICH, GERMANY

Take That To Announce Tour Tomorrow?

It is expected that Take That will announce a 2011 UK tour tomorrow, their first with Robbie Williams since his departure in 1995.

A post on their website simply states; "Take That are due to make a special announcement on Tuesday at 10am sharp. Tune into takethat.com to watch it live. More details coming soon..."

It is anticipated the band could play up to fifty-eight concerts in some of the countries biggest venues such as Wembley Stadium, City of Manchester Stadium, Glasgow’s Murrayfield Stadium and Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

If the sting of dates is announced, sales will open on Friday morning with tickets expected to be priced from £65 to £85.

Iron & Wine's "Pop" New Album

January will see the release of Iron & Wine's fourth album, and first since leaving Sub Pop for major label Warner Brothers, Kiss Each Other Clean.

"It's more of a focused pop record... that early-to-mid-'70s FM, radio-friendly music." Sam Beam, the man behind Iron & Wine, told Spin.

Songs due to be featured on the album include "Walking Far From Home", "Me and Lazarus", "Your Fake Name Is Good Enough For Me" and "Tree by the River", among others.

Iron & Wine also hit the road next month across North America. Check out the dates below.

November 13, 2010 St Louis, MO The Pageant
November 14, 2010 Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall
November 15, 2010 Asheville, NC The Orange Peel
November 16, 2010 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
November 17, 2010 Jacksonville, FL Florida Theatre
November 18, 2010 Miami Beach, FL Fillmore Miami Beach
November 19, 2010 Tallahassee, FL The Moon
November 20, 2010 New Orleans, LA House Of Blues
November 21, 2010 Houston, TX Fitzgeralds

Rihanna's New Album Tracklist Leaks

The tracklist for new the Rihanna album, Loud, has been leaked online. The album is expected to be released on November 11th and includes a follow-up to hit the single 'Love The Way You Lie' which she recorded with Eminem.

Check out the tracklist below.

1. 'S&M'
2. 'What's My Name' (featuring Drake)
3. 'Cheers (Drink To That)'
4. 'Fading'
5. 'Only Girl In The World'
6. 'California King Bed'
7. 'Mad Down'
8. 'Raining Men' (featuring Nicki Minaj)
9. 'Complicated'
10. 'Skin'
11. 'Love The Way You Lie Part II' (featuring Eminem)

Daft Punk Join Phoenix in New York

Last night at Madison Square Gardens Phoenix were joined by surprise guests Daft Punk during the encore, performing a version of "Harder, Better, Stronger, Faster" which transformed into "Around The World", followed by a version of the Phoenix hit "1901"

Check out fan footage of the event below. Thanks to pitchfork.

Zooey Deschanel and Ben Gibbard Perform at Baseball Game

Ben Gibbard, singer for Death Cab For Cutie and Postal Service, and wife Zooey Deschanel both performed at a baseball play-off game in San Francisco today.

Gibbard opened proceedings by singing the national anthem, while Deschanel, singer for She & Him and star of (500) Days of Summer, performed 'God Bless America' during the seventh innings stretch.

Check out both performances below.

NME Cool List 2010 Announced

NME have revealed their cool list for 2010, featuring members of Muse, MGMT, My Chemical Romance and perhaps surprisingly Manic Street Preacher's bassist Nicky Wire. One question though, how did Cher Lloyd get on there? Check out the full list below and the whole story at NME

75 Rivers Cuomo (Weezer)
74 Lewis Bowman (Chapel Club)
73 Caitlin Rose
72 James Blake
71 Bradford Cox (Deerhunter)
70 Soulja Boy
69 Matt Bellamy (Muse)
68 Nathan Williams (Wavves)
67 Avi Zahner-Isenberg (Avi Buffalo)
66 Cher Lloyd (X Factor)
65 Elizabeth Sankey (Summer Camp)
64 Tom Hudson (Pulled Apart By Horses)
63 Ernest Greene (Washed Out)
62 Glasser
61 Ryan Olson (Gayngs)
60 Eva Spence (Rolo Tomassi)
59 Cee Lo Green
58 Jack White (White Stripes/Dead Weather/Raconteurs)
57 Daniel Blumberg (Yuck)
56 Gucci Mane
55 Rose Elinor Dougall
54 Julian Casablancas (The Strokes)
53 LoneLady
52 Tim Harrington (Les Savy Fav)
51 Josh Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age)
50 Lady Gaga
49 Katy B
48 Plan B
47 Alexis Krauss (Sleigh Bells)
46 Dave Sitek (TV On The Radio)
45 Jack Donoghue (Salem)
44 Andrew VanWyngarden (MGMT)
43 Honor Titus (Cerebal Ballzy)
42 Nicki Minaj
41 Ethan Kath (Crystal Castles)
40 Ariel Pink
39 Orlando Weeks (The Maccabees)
38 Lee Spielman (Trash Talk)
37 Alex Hewlett (Egyptian Hip Hop)
36 Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance)
35 Win Butler (Arcade Fire)
34 MNDR
33 Willow Smith
32 Dan Devine (Flats)
31 Akiko Matsuura (The Big Pink/Comanechi)
30 Nicky Wire (Manic Street Preachers)
29 Skream
28 Jamie Reynolds (Klaxons)
27 Jenny Lee Lindberg (Warpaint)
26 Giggs
35 Jonathan Everything
34 Marina Diamandis (Marina & The Diamonds)
23 Dee Dee (Dum Dum Girls)
22 Jack Steadman (Bombay Bicycle Club)
21 Jay-Z
20 Ritzy Bryan (The Joy Formidable)
19 Kele Okereke
18 Theo Hutchcraft (Hurts)
17 James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem)
16 Yannis Philippakis (Foals)
15 Robyn
14 Zola Jesus
13 Hayden Thorpe (Wild Beasts)
12 Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro)
11 Marcus Mumford (Mumford & Sons)
10 Darwin Deez
09 Carl Barat (Libertines/Dirty Pretty Things)
08 Jack Barnett (These New Puritans)
07 Jonathan Pierce (The Drums)
06 Paul Weller
05 Romy Madley Croft (The xx)
04 Beth Consentino (Best Coast)
03 Kanye West
02 Janelle Monae
01 Laura Marling

Ex-Stereophonics Drummer Stuart Cable Chocked To Death

Former Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable chocked to death on his own vomit, after a three day drinking binge, an inquest has revealed. The coroner in the case recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Cable died on June 7th 2010, just days after his fortieth birthday; a day he had predicted he would never live to see.

Having played with Stereophonics from their formation, Cable's rock and roll lifestyle was the cause of much publicised falling out with band members Kelly Jones and Richard Jones which led to his sacking in 2003.

His family have asked for privacy at this time.

Take That Announce New Album Artwork and Tracklist

Take That, now reunited with Robbie Williams, have revealed the artwork and tracklisting of new album Progress. Set to feature ten brand new songs, including single 'Flood' (which you can check out below), the album will be released on November 22nd. The track list is;

1. The Flood
2. SOS
3. Wait
4. Kidz
5. Pretty Things
6. Happy Now
7. Underground Machine
8. What Do You Want From Me?
9. Affirmation
10. Eight Letters

Thom Yorke, Mark Ronson, Brian Ferry and David Tennant for "Silent Single"

Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke features along with Mark Ronson, Brian Ferry, David Tennant, Andy Murry and British Prime Minister David Cameron, among others, on a two minute long "silent single" as part of the annual poppy appeal.

The single will be available to download from November 7th with all proceeds going to the Royal British Legion to support serving and ex-serving troops and their families.

Lets hope John Cage's estate doesn't cause a fuss.

Check out the preview below.

New Releases - Kings of Leon, Bob Dylan, Mt. Desolation

New releases include the newest update to Bob Dylan's Bootleg Collection and refular stocking filler as well as a new record from Kings of Leon and an alt-country offering from members of Keane.



Mt. Desolation – Mt. Desolation

From the simply beautiful ‘State of Our Affairs’ to the rocky ‘Annie Ford’ this alt-country side-project from Keane members Tim Rice-Oxley and Jesse Quin is far from desolate. Channelling Springsteen, Young and Earle, and with guest spots from an esteemed collection of musicians including members of The Killers, Mumford & Sons and Noah and The Whale, the duo have created an album which is both easy to listen to and even easier to enjoy.
--- 8/10



Kings of Leon – Come Around Sundown

Kings of Leon take a step sideways for the follow-up to 2008’s Only By The Night. The delightful piano conclusion to album opener ‘The End’ breathed hope only to be smothered by almost everything else on the album. Standout track ‘Back Down South’ is mildly entertaining but comes across more Dixie Chicks than the Lynard Skynard they were probably aiming for.
---5/10



Bob Dylan - The Witmark Demos: 1962-1964 (The Bootleg Series Vol. 9)

Over the course of fifty songs, from the famed ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ and ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ to the lesser-known ‘Talking Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues’ and ‘Guess I'm Doing Fine’, a Bob Dylan in his very early twenties gives a master class in song writing. It’s also nice to hear Dylan so relaxed, interrupting songs to make a note on a botched lyric or to cough, and it is this intimacy which is the real draw. To hear a young Dylan play ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ and ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’’ in such a laid back environment is something special. Simply spectacular.
--- 10/10

Noteworthy upcoming releases;

October 26th - Bryan Ferry - Olympia
November 2nd - Elvis Costello - National Ransom
November 2nd - Brian Eno - Small Craft On a Milk Sea
November 9th - The Tallest Man On Earth - Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird
November 16th - Norah Jones - …Featuring Norah Jones
November 16th - Bruce Springsteen - The Promise (Unreleased songs from Darkness on the Edge of Town)
November 22nd - My Chemical Romance - Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys
November 22nd - Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
December 7th - Duffy - Endlessly

The Frames and The Commitments Announce Comeback Shows

Following on from their return at Electric Picnic Festival at the beginning of September, The Frames return to the live circuit this November and December to celebrate their twenty-fifth anniversary with shows across America and Europe; culminating in a string of dates in Ireland; all of which have already sold out.

Despite the three year absence the band have never really been off the radar with band-leader Glen Hansard reeling in plaudits for his “other band” The Swell Season with Marketa Irglova, while the rest of The Frames have been kept busy, acting as backing musicians for the duo on their albums and tours.

Now with the Swell Season on hiatus as Marketa turns her sights towards a solo album, fans of The Frames will undoubtedly be hoping the winter tour leads to their first studio album offering since 2006’s The Cost.

Thankfully it appears that winning an Oscar and selling out Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles hasn’t had too much of an adverse effect upon Glen. Two of the Dublin shows take place in Whelan’s, a venue considerably smaller than the Hollywood Bowl, with all profits from the second night going towards the to the family of Derek Nally who passed away suddenly on July 15 2010.

Also in the pipeline for Glen is a return to his former role as Outspan Foster for the upcoming The Commitments reunion which tours Castlebar, Kilkenny, Belfast and Dublin in March 2011. A portion of the proceeds from these dates will be donated to the Irish Cancer Society, while a portion of proceeds from The Frames tour will be donated to Global Fund inspired by (RED)™.

The Frames play (UK + Ireland);

Wednesday 8th December – Shepards Bush Empire, London, UK
Saturday 11th December – Mandela Hall, Belfast, NI
Sunday 12th December – Olympia Theatre, Dublin, IE
Monday 13th December – Vicar Street, Dublin, IE
Wednesday 15th December – Whelans, Dublin, IE
Thursday 16th December – Whelans, Dublin, IE

For a full list of N.American and European dates head here

The Commitments play;

Monday 14th March - Royal Theatre and Event Centre, Castlebar
Tuesday 15th March – INEC, Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney
Thursday 17th March - Odyssey Arena , Belfast
Saturday 19th March – The O2, Dublin

Abe Vigado - Crush - Review

Gone are the Tony Allen influenced afrobeat rhythms and guitar driven melodies of breakthrough LP ‘Skeleton’ as Abe Vigoda relinquish their former self-proclaimed title of “tropical punk”. Welcome instead to the morbid realms of 80’s synthpop and postpunk, channelling Joy Division, Echo and the Bunnymen and The Cure.

The music is both urgent and intense and, despite four to the floor rhythms replacing their previous afrobeat styling’s, it is just as complex as 2008’s ‘Skeleton’. Michael Vidal’s languorous vocals, perfectly capture a feeling more associated with Robert Smith, Ian Curtis and Tinderstick’s Stuart Staples without sounding like a pale imitator. Surprisingly ‘Crush’ contains some of the most hopeful music Abe Vigoda have produced in their careers, ‘Pure Violence’, ‘Repeating Angel’ and ‘Throwing Shade’ all bringing a touch of optimism to proceedings.

What Abe Vigoda have created is their most complete album, each song fitting perfectly into the overall theme, without sounding so similar the listener becomes bored. Inspiration for this change in direction must certainly be attributed to new drummer Dane Chadwick whom Vidal credits with helping the band focus on melody and introducing them to a large range of electronic instruments, many of which have seemingly ended up on the album.

A dirtier and darker version of The XX’s recent Mercury Award winning album, ‘Crush’ is well and truly a step in the right direction for the LA quartet.