MONDAY ROUNDUP: LANCE BANGS, TIRED PONY, AND EARTHQUAKE RELIEF


Our good friend Lance Bangs–director of the video for “How The West Was Won and Where It Got Us,” and co-directer of the video for “New Test Leper”– has got a new documentary film called the Lazarus Effect premiering on HBO tonight. The film is about the transformative effects

MIKE PERFORMS AT ALEX CHILTON TRIBUTE CONCERT IN MEMPHIS


On May 15th, Mike made a guest appearance at a rocking and moving tribute to legendary Big Star front man Alex Chilton at Levitt Bandshell in Overton Park, Memphis. Chilton, who passed away from a heart attack on March 17th, was remembered by his bandmates Ken Stringfellow, Jon Auer, and

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FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION DUE OUT JULY 13TH


The band has teamed with Capitol/I.R.S. for the July 13 release of an expanded 25th Anniversary 2CD and digital edition of the band’s 1985 album, Fables Of The Reconstruction. The new edition features the digitally remastered original album, plus 14 previously unreleased demo recordings, cut prior to the album’s studio

FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION DUE OUT JULY 13TH


The band has teamed with Capitol/I.R.S. for the July 13 release of an expanded 25th Anniversary 2CD and digital edition of the band’s 1985 album, Fables Of The Reconstruction. The new edition features the digitally remastered original album, plus 14 previously unreleased demo recordings, cut prior to the album’s studio

TIRED PONY RECORD OUT IN JULY


BBC News has posted details on the forthcoming release by Tired Pony, the Gary Lightbody-helmed “country concept” project which features an all-star lineup comprised of Peter Buck, Jacknife Lee, Scott McCaughey, Iain Archer, Richard Colburn of Belle and Sebastian, & Troy Stewart. In an interview with Lightbody

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WEEKEND ROUNDUP


The band just wrapped up the recording session for their next record in New Orleans at the Music Shed. Up next: more recording this summer, and then… we’ll keep you posted on developments. If you haven’t already seen Michael’s tribute to five years of You Tube (which

MICHAEL AND PETER JOIN PATTI SMITH ONSTAGE IN NOLA


Michael and Peter joined Patti Smith onstage last night at her show in New Orleans at Tipitina’s for a handful of songs. Peter came out first and played guitar on The Seeds “Pushin Too Hard.” Later on, Peter and Scott McCaughey jumped on stage for a cover of

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IT’S RECORD STORE DAY


Today is Record Store Day. If you have a favorite independent record store in your town, please stop by and support them. As we reported last week, a limited edition and individually numbered, blue vinyl 12″ re-issue of R.E.M.’s long out of print debut e.p., Chronic Town,

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A WEEKEND ROUNDUP


Lots going on leading into the weekend as R.E.M. finishes up week one of their 2010 return to the studio. Stay tuned for a report from the studio later today. In the meantime, here are some of the various things of note we’ve rounded up

BAND RESUMES WORK ON NEXT RECORD


Peter, Mike, and Michael are back in the studio this week and have resumed work on their next record with Jacknife Lee and his team. As we reported back in November 2009, the band recorded demos with Lee in New Orleans in the Fall for what will