…I’m not sure these German street posters could be any nicer (thanks to Todd Netter for the jpg).

File this under “totally fascinating blasts from the past”. Gerard is that a category?

Jon Spencer talks to Ian Svenonius (I figured they’d be nemeses for the similar territory they mined during my youth) on VBS. Seriously interesting stuff:

Photo taken from turgidson’s Flickr, used without permission.

Following their largest ever UK date earlier this month at The Roundhouse, Camden; Yo La Tengo will be returning to London early next month to play a very rare instore performance at Rough Trade East in advance of their performance at ATP’s Nightmare Before Christmas.

More details to come, but what I can tell you at this time is that this will be a stripped-down ‘Freewheeling’ style set as seen on these shores earlier in the year.  Wristbands to gain access to the instore will only be available on the day from the store.

December 3rd. 7pm.

Rough Trade East
‘Dray Walk’
Old Truman Brewery
91 Brick Lane
London
E1 6QL

Watch this space for more details.

The Golden Archipelago is Shearwater’s third album for Matador. It arrives February 23 in North America and February 15 in the rest of the world.

Starting Saturday, Jay Reatard is back in the States shredding clubs from Chicago to Dallas and everywhere in between (and East of the Rockies to be totally clear). And on a couple of key dates, Jay will be sharing the bill with The Pixies. For all of them though he’ll be sharing the stage with Anders Thode (bass) and Jacob Elving (drums) of Cola Freaks fame. The three of them just finished touring Europe together and if the video above (filmed by our very own Natalie Judge) is any indication, they’ve taken to one another quite well. Be sure you check them out for yourselves when they roll through a town near you. And if bringing in 2010 with Jay Reatard seems right up your alley (apparently it’s up Spoon’s) then make sure you’re in Milwaukee on Dec 31st.

Sat, 11/21 – Chicago IL – Aragon Ballroom (with THE PIXIES)
Sun, 11/22 – Columbus OH – The Summit
Mon, 11/23 – Pittsburgh PA – Brillobox
Tue, 11/24 – New York NY – Hammerstein Ballroom (with THE PIXIES)
Wed, 11/25 – Northampton MA – Pearl Street Nightclub
Fri, 11/27 – Boston MA – Wang Theatre (with THE PIXIES)
Sat, 11/28 – Philadelphia PA – Johnny Brendas
Mon, 11/30 – Wash DC – Constitution Hall (with THE PIXIES)
Tue, 12/1 – Chapel Hill NC – Local 506
Wed, 12/2 – Athens GA – 40 Watt Club
Thu, 12/3 – Atlanta GA – The Earl
Fri, 12/4 – Orlando FL – Backbooth
Sat, 12/5 – Tampa FL – Crowbar
Sun, 12/6 – Mobile AL – Alabama Music Box
Mon, 12/7 – New Orleans LA – One Eyed Jacks
Tue, 12/8 – Houston TX – Walters on Washington
Wed, 12/9 – Austin TX – Emo’s (Harlem supporting)
Thu, 12/10 – Dallas TX – Granada Theater
Thu, 12/31 – Milwaukee WI – The Riverside Theater (with SPOON)

Remember yesterday when Julian Plenti got his groove on for KEXP? Today it’s Girls’ turn. Tune in at 12Noon PST (3PM EST for those of you who are hard of understanding) at 90.3 FM in the Seattle area to hear the sonic loveliness of the San Francisco minstrels. Or, if you’re not lucky enough to be in Seattle, or are in Seattle and don’t have a radio (who ARE you, exactly?), you can always keep up on the station’s website.

Tell a friend. Or 12.

Girls stopped by the beautiful KCMP studios in St. Paul, Minnesota this last weekend and dropped three beautiful, melancholy jams for a still and crisp aired Midwestern afternoon. Their versions of “Ghostmouth” and “Lauren Marie” sound extra gauzy and lush in the room ordinarily used for recording classical music, a performance of non-album track “Heartbreaker” takes the whole thing over the top. Thanks to The Current for being such great hosts and making these songs sound so good!

Stream it HERE

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The man, the myth, the legend, Julian Plenti, brings his live show extravaganza to the Seattle airwaves today with a performance for KEXP. You can catch the set live at 3PM PST (6PM EST) on the dial at 90.3FM and online at KEXP.org.

Plenti and his bandmates then will thrill and amaze at Chop Suey later this evening, before continuing their tour in Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, New York and Philadelphia through the rest of November.

(Georgia and Ira, Manchester Uni, November 7, 2009, photo taken from Paul Eames’ Flickr stream)

Though Yo La Tengo have hit many of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities while touring in support of the monumentally great ‘Popular Songs’, there are a number of Mid-American locales that haven’t thrilled to Ira, Georgia and James at the height of their performing powers.  Not until January, that is, at which time Yo La Tengo return to the domestic touring circuit, but this time, with a twist.

For each of the (reasonably priced) concert dates below, tickets are available with no additional surcharge from area record stores and/or directly from the venues. Yo La Tengo, their booking agency and local promoters have put a fair bit of time into these arrangements, and here’s our contribution to the effort ; a Google Map that will help you find the outlets listed individually below.

Fri., 1/22 – Pontiac MI – Crofoot Ballroom – $17
Tickets available from Stormy, 13210 Michigan Ave., Dearborn MI 48126
Wazoo, 336 1/2 State St., Ann Arbor MI 48104
Crofoot box office, 1 South Saginaw St., Pontiac MI  48342

Sat., 1/23 – Madison WI – Barrymore Theatre – $20
Tickets available from B Side, 436 State St., Madison WI 53703
Barrymore box office, 2090 Atwood Ave., Madison WI 53704)

Sun., 1/24 – St Louis MO – The Pageant – $19.50
Tickets available from Vintage Vinyl, 6610 Del Mar Ave., St. Louis MO 63130
Euclid, 601 East Lockwood, St. Louis MO 63119
Pageant box office, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis  MO 63112-1200 (cash only)
TICKETS AT THE PAGEANT BOX OFFICE ONLY WILL BE 4 FOR THE PRICE OF 3 THROUGH NOV. 21

Tue., 1/26 – Lawrence KS – Granada Theatre – $17
Tickets : Love Garden, 822 Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
Granada box office, 1020 Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044

Thu., 1/28 – Houston TX – Warehouse Live – $20
Tickets  Vinal Edge, 13171 Veteran’s Memorial Drive, Houston TX 77014
Sound Exchange,1846 Richmond, Houston TX 77098
Cactus, 2110 Portsmouth, Houston TX 77098

Fri., 1/29 – Austin TX – Antone’s – $20
Tickets : End of an Ear, 2209 South 1st St., Austin TX 78704

Sat., 1/30 – Dallas TX – Granada Theatre – $20
Good Records, 1808 Greenville Ave., Dallas TX 75206
Granada box office, 3524 Greenville Ave., Dallas TX 75206

Photo Credit: Gabi Porter / MetroMix.com

Tomorrow night, Julian Plenti kicks off his November US tour at the House of Blues, San Diego in support of his debut release, Julian Plenti…Is Skyscraper.  Earlier tomorrow, lucky San Diegans (San Diegers? San Diegists?) can catch Mr. Plenti at the excellent M-Theory Music where he’ll be signing Skyscraper in all its various physical formats (3PM).

US dates…

Saturday, November 14 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues – Tickets

Monday, November 16 – Seattle, WA – Chop Suey – Tickets

Tuesday, November 17 – Portland, OR – Holocene – Tickets

Wednesday, November 18 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall – Tickets

Thursday, November 19 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theater – Tickets

Saturday, November 21 – Chicago, IL – Metro – Tickets

Monday, November 23 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club – Tickets

Tuesday, November 24 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom – Tickets

Wednesday, November 25 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl – Tickets

Friday, November 27 – Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church – Tickets