- Willy DeVille, aka William Borsey, founder of NYC punk band Mink DeVille, passed away last Thursday due to pancreatic cancer. In the mid-70′s, Mink DeVille was the house band at CBGB’s, and although their roots and blues influenced style set them apart, their rough and gritty approach to music drew fans of other early punk bands, and they toured with people like Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe. Over the years, Willy DeVille continued to tour record under the band name with a rotating cast of musicians. Read a tribute to Willy here.
- Who wants to spend Christmas with Bob Dylan!? The iconic musician is embracing his inner Santa Claus by recording a Christmas album, with four classics -- including “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” -- already recorded. Whether Dylan’s efforts is finished and releases this holiday season is unknown, but it’ll likely take a holiday miracle to make it so.
- When traveling, there is such a thing as too much luggage, especially with the myriad of charges failing airlines find to pile on already tired and broke passengers. However, in the world of Guided By Voices, there are never enough suitcases. The defunct band, which has released two box sets under the Suitcase moniker (2000′s Failed Experiments and Trashed Aircraft and 2005′s American Superdream Wow) is preparing Suitcase 3: Up We Go Now. The four-discs, due November 3rd, span the mid-90s output of GBV.
- Paul Banks is the singer of Interpol, but did you know he has a solo project under the guise of Julian Plenti? Oh, you did... well, did you know the video for “Games for Days” is floating around the internets and it features Metric chanteuse Emily Haines? Maybe you’d like to watch it:
- Brian Eno had his fingers in so much during his 70s heyday that not all of it saw the light of day -- such as a collaboration with krautrock legends Harmonia. The unreleased sessions, recorded in 1976, are finally being release October 6th with the title Tracks & Traces.
- Annie Sachs, aka Tickley Feather, is preparing for the release of her second album via Paw Tracks, Hors D’Ouevres. No one is sure if her sons will be making sleepytime confessions this go-around.
- There are just a few recommended late night talkshow appearances for you this week. Black Kids, Elvis Costello, Bat for Lashes and Paul McCartney are musts. And Jon Cryer on the Late Late Show? Of course you’ll want to hear him talk about working with the late John Hughes on Pretty In Pink. Here are the rest of the highlights:
Conan O’Brien: Lyle Lovett
Last Call: Black Kids (R)
Tuesday, August 11
David Letterman: Elvis Costello
Late Late Show: Bonnie Raitt & Taj Mahal
Jimmy Fallon: Bat For Lashes
Wednesday, August 12
Jimmy Kimmel: Chester French (R)
Thursday, August 13
David Letterman: Paul McCartney
Late Late Show: Jon Cryer
Friday, August 14
nothing, but you should be at our free Concert at the Mural anyway
Saturday, August 15
Saturday Night Live: Coldplay
