Radio Free Chicago

News and Notes: Hold Stead, Bishop Allen, Burning Portable Toilets

///The Hold Steady have inspired a comic book and lots of drinking. The comic book will based on the group's latest effort Boys and Girls of America. Each song has its own section and the words are the lyrics. Buy it from their official website. No word on if the comic book will be available on their upcoming tour with Art Brut, which hits Chicago for two nights at the end of October.

///Bishop Allen will be joining John Vanderslice for a month of tour dates include an October 6th stop at the Empty Bottle. [Thanks, Pfork]

///According to this report Seattle's Warped Tour involved more than mall-punk bands and Hot Topic models. This year some burning portable toilets were thrown in for added bonus. 5 people were arrested. [Thanks, Buzzgrinder]

The Decemberists - The Long and Short of it.

The Decemberists have just announced a "secret" tour where they will be playing with two dates in each city (double that for San Francisco and D.C.). What makes this tour different? "The Long of It", will have them performing their epic eight-minute plus songs; the following night, "The Short of It", will be their songs with short pop sensibilities. The tour kicks off in Chicago for two nights at The Vic starting on October 28. Ticket pre-sale starts this Saturday. Check out the full press release via MySpace after the jump.

Weekend Show Announcements

///Bumps, consisting of producer/drummer/vibes player John McEntire , percussionist/guitar/etc Dan Bitney, and drummer/keyboardist/vibes player John Herndon from Tortoise, will be playing a DJ set at Sonotheque (1444 W. Chicago) Friday night. The three Tortoise members recently collaborated on an album of instrumental percussion pieces for hip hop label Stone's Throw.

///The Brokedowns, Das Kapital, Catacombs of Rome, and Tenement will be playing at the Lucky Gator Loft (1278 N. Milwaukee) on Friday night, 9pm.

///Pelican will be playing two shows. On Friday night they will hit the stage at the Beat Kitchen with Clouds and Your Black Star. On Saturday they are heading to the Empty Bottle to play with Pinebender and Tirra Lirra.

Where will you be?

Video Free Chicago: Sunset Junction Fest

Joe from over at Radio Free Silver Lake has some video clips from last weekend's Sunset Junction festival in Los Angeles. Click here for the full post.

News and Notes: Fujiya & Miyagi, Jesus and Mary Chain, Free Earlimart

///Fujiya & Miyagi (pictured) will be heading out this fall with Dirty on Purpose. They will be stopping by Chicago on October 5th for a show at the Empty Bottle.

///Jesus and Mary Chain will be heading into the studio to really do the reunion up right. It's only been 9 years since their last album, Munki. No title, track listing, or label information is available. [Thanks, Billboard]

///The Chicagoist is allowing readers a chance to win tickets to see Earlimart August 30th at Schubas. Why do contests ourselves when you can just link to others?

RFC Interview: The Real Tuesday Weld

Next Tuesday (8/28), Brit electro/antique pop sensation Stephen Coates returns with his 5th release as The Real Tuesday Weld. Titled The London Book of The Dead, the new record finds Stephen's usual quirky pop aesthetic treading some darker waters, but the overall sound is still quintessential Real Tuesday Weld. RFC recently caught up with Coates via email to talk about the new album's darker tones and how his earlier work has suddenly become the toast of Madison Avenue.

Download: The Real Tuesday Weld - "Last Words"

News and Notes: May or May Not, Ambulette, Twilight Sad

///May or May Not (pictured) will be playing Schubas' September residency. That means you can catch them every September Monday for only $6.

///In similar Schubas' news, Ambulette was scheduled for the October residency, but had to pull out. They broke up due to it basically not being fun anymore. Check their blog for the statement/story. No "replacement" band has been announced for October.

///Twilight Sad have expanded their current tour and will be stopping by the Empty Bottle on October 4th. [Thanks, Pfork]

New Releases Tuesday - 8/21

Hmmm...fall must be just around the corner as we have a surprisingly large batch of new releases this week. A full slate of big names like M.I.A., Earlimart, New Pornographers, Caribou, Architecture in Helsinki and more. Check out the full list after the jump.

Free Show Alert: Slick Rick @ Metro 8/29

Yet another free show with RSVP...click here to sign up. Don't know who Slick Rick is? Shame on you for your lack of old school hip-hop knowledge! Study up here.

Download: Slick Rick - "Childrens Story"

News and Notes: Regina Spektor and Vinyl

///Regina Spektor has lined up a U.S.Tour as well. She will not be stopping by Chicago, but on October 8th she will be at the Eagles Club in Milwaukee. Tickets range from $19.50 to $25.50 plus transportation and service charges. [Thanks, Billboard]

///Into vinyl? Punknews.org's new-ish column the Vinyl File "aims to keep you informed with upcoming releases as well as spotlighting interesting releases, your favorite band's own co llections and labels with an history of vinyl releases worth talking about."

///The new Rilo Kiley album, Under The Blacklight, is being streamed on their MySpace through tomorrow's release date. And speaking of vinyl, if you pre-order the new CD at their on-line store, the WB will sign you up for a chance to win a signed vinyl copy.

News and Notes: The SP, Ovation TV, Max Roach, The Suburban Sound

///The Smashing Pumpkins, without a Chicago date in sight, answered some fan submitted questions via YouTube/Stereogum. Any questions you really wanted answered, probably weren't the ones they did answer.

///Ovation TV has re-launched in an effort to move into cable TV's fine-arts channel gap left as A&E and Bravo moved onto more mainstream fare (i.e. Law & Order reruns). [Thanks, NPR]

///Another heads-up from NPR - Max Roach (pictured), the pioneering jazz drummer died early Thursday morning at 83. He played and experimented with the likes of Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker.

///Philadelphia rock 'n' roll band The Suburban Sound have posted 4 new tracks from their upcoming EP A Demonstration in Rock and Roll.

RFC Interview: Xu Xu Fang

If taken in excessive quantities, Xu Xu Fang may well destroy you. The LA psych rock band contains addictive qualities and can cause intoxication, euphoria, and instances of light delirium. We spoke to Xu Xu Fang drummer and lead Bobby Tamkin about the act’s origins, its recent spread, and how its pervasive influence may affect you and your children at home...

Axel F or Toy Piano

I'm not sure how new this is, but yesterday RFC got an email with the words "Axel F for toy pianos" in the subject line and well...as a child of the 80s, how could I resist? The track is by "the toy piano band" Twink, aka electronic musician Mike Langlie. Turn this shit up and hit repeat, this is your mantra for the day...

Download: Twink - "Axel-F"

News and Notes: Radiohead, Violent Femmes, Battles

///NME.com has received confirmation that Radiohead's follow-up to 2003's Hail to the Thief will not be released until sometime in 2008. The title and possible record label for the album has not be announced (or decided?).

///Billboard reports that Bassist Brian Ritchie sued lead vocalist Gordon Gano of the Violent Femmes over the deprivation "of credit for some of the group's songs and a proper accounting of its earnings." The lawsuit comes as a surprise to Gano, especially since the band just returned from what was reported to be a "really, really good tour."

///Battles (pictured) has increased the length of their tour including a November 8th date at The Metro. [Thanks, Pfork]

///We mentioned the sad passing of Tony Wilson yesterday, for an audio tribute check out today's featured channel on AccuRadio.com.

Show Alert: Tomorrow Music Orchestra @ Martyr's 8/25

Crazy large jazz ensemble Tomorrow Music Orchestra is playing a show next Saturday at Martyr's. I spoke of them as part of the Ears and Eyes festival in December. They will be on WNUR that afternoon at 4 and then the Martyr's gig starts at 8. Not to be missed if you are a fan of large forward thinking ensemble jazz.