So before I get to the music news I need to rant a bit: I heard this morning that they are making a live action movie of The Smurfs. What the Smurf? Are you Smurfing kidding me? Not that I’m one of those purists or anything, but did Hollywood lose all good movie ideas in the Universal Fire so now they are going to rape more good childhood memories? How much do you want to bet the plot will involve someone finding The Smurfs and then The Smurfs having to move to the big city where they have all these weird experiences that involve hip-hop, Burger King and other pop-culture icons (The Smurfs on American Idol, how hilarious!). Now let’s have a moment of silence for childhood memories
Alright, so instead of attempting to write an awkward transition fitting The Smurfs into music news (”Papa Smurf would sure love the new Mogwai album“), I’ll instead just begin the music news casually like this:
Pearl Jam Using Verizon for Live Bootlegs
With records selling about as good as Carl’s Jr. Soilent Green Six Dollar Burger, Pearl Jam is one of the increasing number of bands doing something different (and corporate) to market the band. The veteran- Seattle act has struck a deal with Verizon Wireless’ V-Cast Services to sell select tracks from their authorized live bootlegs that will be available in conjunction with the band’s upcoming summer tour.
Pearl Jam has a long running live bootleg program, and this deal will result in three tracks from each summer show almost immediately being available via V Cast: One for free and two others for purchase. Finally, a chance to hear “Yellow Bedletter” through my cellphone!
Nine Inch Nails TV
Speaking of bands using other mediums Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor has stated in a recent New York Times article that he is working on making a TV series based on the concept of his 2007’s Year Zero album. Reznor did not reveal much about the project except that he is working with producer Lawrence Bender (Pulp Fiction, An Inconvenient Truth) and it should materialize sometime in the next few years. The concept of the album “Year Zero” takes places approximately 15 years in the future. The U.S. is a religious dictatorship and the world is on the brink of environmental and social collapse (hmmm, sounds really far out there). Sounds like a Showtime or FX show to me. Or, it could be a TBS sitcom with Jim Belushi and Bill Engvale. I’m sure hilarity can ensue.
Nine Inch Nails will headline the Forum on September 6th.
Meg White Sighting at Raconteurs Gig
After causing the cancellation of a White Stripes arena tour last fall due to, as PR put it, “bouts of anxiety,” Meg White finally resurfaced from wherever she’s been hiding to appear at last weekend at a Detroit Raconteurs‘ gig. Meg and Jack White (no ummm, relation) are known for joking around with fans with a dry sense of humor (during a nationwide tour of Canada last summer they serenaded surprised fans on city buses and played a one-note gig in Newfoundland), and apparently this weekends appearance during the band’s encore was no different. According to Pitchforkmedia.com, Jack and Meg took the stage together following the encore break and appeared as if they were going to play. Meg, who was never actually introduced by Jack, sat at the drums kit without ever touching the instruments. Then the rest of The Raconteurs turned up on stage and guitarist/ vocalist Brendan Benson exclaimed “Whoa whoa whoa! Wrong band!” and Meg scurried off backstage before any notes could be played.
Sounds pretty funny actually. I like when bands can have fun with their fans in an “in-jokey” kinda way. Here’s hoping that Meg has conquered her anxiety and can start playing in front of fans sometime soon. As for the Raconteurs, they play The Greek Theater on September 22nd.
All Radiohead News: All The Time
One of the last iTunes holdouts have finally made their tunes available for download through the ever popular Apple website. The downloading service now features all six former Radiohead releases (Pablo Honey, The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A, Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief), as well as random soundtrack and compilation contributions and the live set I Might Be Wrong. The band previously made available their new In Rainbows album through the website upon album release. Also joining the Radiohead catalog is the Radiohead-loathed Best-Of album which was released by former label EMI without the bands permission.
In other Radiohead news, the band is reportedly not pleased with Prince’s blocking of the video of his cover of “Creep.” As you may have heard the Purple One preformed the Radiohead cover during his headlining Coachella gig (which I missed due to my tired feet and lack of ambition). Of course with this being the information age, fans taped the performance with their cell phone and put copies onto YouTube and other video sites. Prince, who doesn’t like being taped or recorded live, shot back with cease and desist letters and had most (if not all) videos blocked from online use. The question raised here is while having footage of his own songs removed is within Prince’s right’s, does he have the right to block video’s of cover songs?
Thom Yorke, apparently, believes that the public has the right to see the footage because, you know, the song belongs to him. According to the AP:
Thom Yorke said he heard about Prince’s performance form a text message and thought it was “hilarious.” Yorke laughed when his bandmate (guitarist Ed O’Brien), said the blocking had prevented even him from seeing Prince’s version of their song.
“Really? He blocked it?” asked Yorke, who figured it was their song to block or not. “Surely we should [have the right] to block it. Hang on a moment.” Yorke added, “Well, tell him to unblock it. It’s our song.”
You can (maybe) see Radiohead play “Creep” live when they play the Hollywood Bowl on August 24th and 25th. Of course, it’s sold out, so good luck getting tickets.
Photo by Pearl Jam Official
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