Lollapalooza 2008 Dates Confirmed

The dates for Lollapalooza 2008 have been confirmed as August 1-3 in the semi-permanent residence of Grant Park. After this year's lineup, which was impressive, to be sure, what's in store for '08? We'll have to wait and see.

A few suggestions: PJ Harvey, a newly reunited Babes In Toyland (yeah, in my dreams), Cat Power, Liz Phair with her pants back on and with her good music in tow (maybe a full performance of Exile In Guyville, a la Slint's Spiderland performances?). I don't know why I'm naming all female artists here, I believe it to be a mere coincidence. But it could be a prescient vision of a Lilith Fair revival.

Slint Playing Spiderland Over And Over. . .

I love Slint's Spiderland. It's a great record. But I'm now convinced this band is a one-trick pony. After playing Spiderland live in its entirety earlier this year in Spain and now at Pitchfork last weekend and the other night at Webster Hall in NYC (thanks, Brooklyn Vegan), I am tired of hearing about the band and their live regurgitation of a seventeen-year old album. It must be wicked cool to see the band play the album live, but aren't they just setting themselves up as a one-trick pony by touring the world and playing one album in its entirety over and over and over? And now that someone has posted news that their (maybe) new material is junk, my suspicions are confirmed. Thanks for a great album, Slint, but maybe you should stop while you're ahead.

Dan Deacon Played Pitchfork Festival in Chicago This Weekend, Failed To Have AGT Lovefest

It is worth noting that my Chicago vacation coincided with the Pitchfork Music Festival, which I did not attend. Why? One reason is that Pitchfork is an online zine that you love or hate, and I generally hate it. I just can't get down with their whole hipster agenda. Sure, I would have loved to have seen Slint, Cat Power (still listening to The Greatest, Chan. . .brilliant record!), etc., but I don't think I could take 3 hours (not to mention 3 days) with a bunch of white belts and pencil jeans. And hearing a bunch of suburbans and middle-class urbanites getting live with Clipse and drug violence . . . I'm getting ill.

Brooklyn Vegan, however, has an interesting article about the Fire Marshal shutting down Dan Deacon and Girl Talk because their sets drew massive crowds. Cool pictures of the Deac on BV, looking a bit rotund and without his usual uber-geek glasses (see above and at BV's site. . .how about that gingerly redhead looking enamored with Dan Deacon?). It's alright, Danners, I'm four-eyed and kind of round myself. But there I was, in the Chi, and another person was there reppin' Balto, and you left me hanging, Dan. You left me hanging and didn't get in touch so we could hold hands and walk through Millenium Park together. See if I come to your set at Whartscape this weekend!

Free MP3: Somme - "Massless"

"I would contend that we are the post-rock instrumental version of Rob Crow, and you would absolutely love our music[.]"

That's what was in my inbox. Post-rock, instrumental, I was kind of sold on that, so I had to listen. The Rob Crow reference was absurd, though. Somme is a Chicago duo that combines the sounds of Slint, Pelican, and somehow, in an abstract way, Khanate all into one. Granted, Somme did tell me they were post-rock, not post-hardcore, so don't expect to be blasted into Hell with crazy feedback, though you will get pounded with some vicious drums. A little less drone than Khanate, no vocals like Pelican (sometimes) has, and a little too crisp to be Slint, but if you listen, you'll hear what I mean.

"Massless" is an epic instrumental. Gargantuan drums and the long picking of an SG, it's six minutes well spent.

Download "Massless" by Somme from their MySpace. UPDATE: Links should be working now. Let me know if there are still download problems!

Slint To Perform "Spiderland" Live In Its Entirety

According to Pitchfork, Slint will be performing at Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival, along with Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, Low, Grizzly Bear, Dirty Three, the Durutti Column, Isis, Band of Horses, Brightblack Morning Light, Death Vessel, Oakley Hall, and Pelican. More bands TBA.

Slint will be playing Spiderland, the must-have album pictured (click to buy) above, in its entirety.

Slint broke up in the early '90's, but recently reformed. Get yourself to Spain, pronto. Wish I could say I'd be there!

Sebadoh Original Lineup Reuniting, Touring in 2007

Sebadoh will be reuniting in its original formation (Eric Gaffney, Lou Barlow, and Jason Loewenstein) and touring in 2007. Their local stop will be at 9:30 Club on April 3. Source: Filter

Sebadoh's most known member, Lou Barlow, was formerly with Dinosaur Jr. but dismissed in 1989. Subsequent to that dismissal, he went on with Sebadoh, which had previously been a side project of his with Eric Gaffney.

Barlow is also known for his project Folk Implosion, and compiling the soundtrack to the movie Kids, which also features a winner from a sadly defunct band called Slint. Check out the ridiculously amazing Spiderland, Slint's best-known release.

Sebadoh disbanded in 1999, but now they're back!