Kate Nash on the Tonight Show 5/14/2008

Warped Tour 2008 has announced two new additions for a portion of this summer’s tour. Matisyahu will join the tour for the July 9 (Atlanta), July 10 (Orlando), July 11 (Tampa) and the July 13 (Jacksonville) shows. Also look for Chiodos to perform a one-night-only show on July 18 in Detroit at Comerica Park. The full band lineup is below.

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Death Cab For Cutie performing their new single “I Will Possess Your Heart” live on Dave Letterman (originally aired May 13, 2008).

Euro-punk design-dancers The Fashion, from Copenhagen, Denmark, will be touring with Alkaline Trio next month is support of their self-titled album released yesterday.

The Fashion’s debut album Rock Rock Kiss Kiss Combo was released in Denmark in September 2003. The group is lead by Jakob Printzlau, a successful underground graphic designer. Some of his work can be seen below. (more…)

Brooklyn orchestral pop group Clare & The Reasons have announced UK Tour dates in addition the their previously announced US dates. Full dates below. (more…)

Death Cab for Cutie’s sixth album, Narrow Stairs isn’t the “make or break” album that critics are positioning it to be, says Ben Gibbard. “I appreciate the drama. But I don’t really understand what’s at stake for us. Or at least, I don’t agree that what’s at stake for us is worldwide rock ‘n’ roll superstardom or working the night shift at a 7-11.”
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N.E.R.D. on Letterman Monday, May 12, 2008.

Though 2005’s Body Of Song ushered in the sea change away from electronica that Bob Mould’s guitar devotees had hoped for, this year’s District Line provides the fluke test to ensure that yes, Mould really is jamming with a backing band that’s armed with strings and sticks. This latest Mould album places the punk rock veteran in a very comfortable position of being able to tap into his back catalog and not only find inspiration by his past, but actually use material that’s nearly two decades old. (more…)

The Raveonettes have always been an ambitious band. The Danish duo, consisting of Sune Rose Wagner (guitar/vocals) and Sharin Foo (bass/vocals), broke into the international music scene in 2003, scoring a major label contract as soon as they could get a band together to play shows. After releasing two full-lengths with the help of a major label, their newest record, Lust Lust Lust, is their first to be released independently (Vice). This time around, they are taking a new approach to their minimalist, nostalgic rock sound, by ridding themselves of their mid-century image and focusing on what matters most to them, the music. (more…)

You know the theory about light and distant stars? That it takes so long for light to travel to Earth that some stars appear to be shining when they have actually burned out long ago? That’s how artists should be thinking about major-label record deals. The industry has burned so long on the fossil fuel of major-label cash, they still appear to be relevant. Are they?

New so-called “360 deals” on major labels want a piece of everything the artist makes. They get their name because they take revenue from all sides of the pie—sales, touring, licensing, publishing, acting, modeling, merchandise—you name it. (more…)