As promised, here’s a new video from Cat Power featuring Manny Pacquiao, and directed by Giovanni Ribisi.

Watch the video above and donate with all proceeds going to the Festival Of Children and Ali Forney center. Please share far and wide.

And please tweet to get the word out. Twitter hashtag is #catpowerpacquiao.

Happy holidays y’all.

Visit catpowermusic.com today.

From the Paris Desk:
Thanksgiving in Paris with Cat Power at Le Studio….
What amazing tunes will be revealed ?
Stay tuned, vibes are strong
CL

(above image culled from the March 31, 2008 Matablog post, “Outdoor Marketing, Bogota-Style”)

Following the near-instant sell out of an August 26 date at New York City’s Webster Hall, Cat Power will be appearing at the same venue on Thursday, August 25. There’s a presale for American Express cardholders starting tomorrow morning, and any remaining tickets are on general sale this Friday at noon. If you’d like to call these shows a tune up for the Sunday, August 28 Loufest date in St. Louis, MO, there’s really nothing we can do to stop you.

Though we don’t have any news for yet regarding the new Cat Power album, please be assured neither Chan or ourselves have forgotten the matter — when there’s something to announce, we promise we’ll not be shy about it.

We’re excited to announce that a number of our favorite catalogue releases have been reissued on 120g vinyl and are now in stock.

The following titles are now available in the Matador Store, and will be on shelves at your favorite record shops on August 9.

OLE-295-0   Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister*
OLE-311-0   Belle and Sebastian - Boy With The Arab Strap*
OLE-361-0   Belle and Sebastian - Tigermilk *

OLE-202-0   Cat Power - What Would The Community Think*
OLE-426-0   Cat Power - The Covers Record
OLE-754-0   Cat Power - Jukebox 

OLE-123-0   Guided By Voices - Alien Lanes*

OLE-069-0   Yo La Tengo - Painful*
OLE-371-0   Yo La Tengo - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out* dbl LP

*includes free download of the entire album

Find these, and many other new and classic Matador, True Panther and distributed releases here. Spend over $50, and get free shipping AND while you’re at it, pick up a new Matador tote bag (cuz let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a tote? )

First off, if these changes have left anyone disappointed or inconvenienced, we’re truly sorry.  I’ve been watching videos of the guys in the BP commercials all week trying to strike the right tone for this post, and wouldn’t you know it, MY VIDEO CAMERA IS BROKEN.   Bullet dodged.

On the bright side, hey, DEAD MEADOW are playing.    The opening VIP gala is still happening at 4pm Friday in the Hardwood Suite with dj sets by Ted Leo and myself.  Same room becomes a VIP lounge Friday and Saturday nights, plus late night dj action on Friday (James McNew, Dean Bein) and Saturday (Dave Martin, Robby Morris).  Here’s the live entertainment schedule of events.  Much like real life, everything is subject to change.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1st

THE PEARL
Pavement: 12:00am – 1:00am
Sonic Youth: 10:40pm – 11:30am
Fucked Up: 9:35pm – 10:15pm
Chavez: 8:30pm – 9:10pm
Guitar Wolf: 7:30pm – 8:10pm
Doors: 7:00pm

MC : Jeff Jensen

LATE NIGHT PARTY IN PALMS BALLROOM  (LIMITED CAPACITY)
Fucked Up Vs. Ted Leo and The Pharmacists: 1:30am – 2:30am
(One stage. Two bands.  At once. They’re supposed to take turns, song by song…but who knows?)
Doors: 1:00am

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2nd

THE PEARL
Belle & Sebastian: 11:45pm – 1:00am
Spoon: 10:25pm – 11:15pm
Superchunk: 9:20pm – 10:00pm
Cat Power: 8:15pm – 8:55pm
Perfume Genius: 7:55pm – 8:15pm
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: 6:50pm – 7:30pm
Come: 5:45pm – 6:25pm
Girls: 4:40pm – 5:20pm
Doors 4:00pm

MC : Bob Nastanovich

MATINEE IN THE PALMS BALLROOM (LIMITED CAPACITY)
Dead Meadow: 2:30pm – 3:15pm
Harlem: 1:30pm – 2:05pm
Doors: 1:00pm

LATE NIGHT PARTY IN PALMS BALLROOM (LIMITED CAPACITY)
Cold Cave: 2:25am – 3:15am
Esben and The Witch: 1:30am – 2:00am
Doors: 1:00am

KARAOKE UNDERGROUND AT LITTLE BUDDHA:
STARTS AT 1:30am

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3rd

THE PEARL
Guided By Voices: 11:30pm – 1:00am
Yo La Tengo: 10:10pm – 11:05pm
Liz Phair: 9:50pm – 10:10pm
The New Pornographers: 8:40pm – 9:25pm
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists: 7:35pm – 8:15pm
Shearwater: 6:30pm – 7:10pm
Doors: 6:00pm

MC’s : Tom Scharpling & Jon Wurster

MATINEE IN THE PALMS BALLROOM
The Clean: 4:30pm – 5:15pm
Times New Viking: 3:30pm – 4:05pm
Kurt Vile: 2:30pm – 3:05pm
Doors: 2:00pm

General questions :  21@matadorrecords.com

This event is sponsored by MySpace Music, Altamont, Incase, Sailor Jerry and Yowie.

First of all, we know you’ve been waiting patiently for the information below, and we sincerely apologize for the length of time it took to get it together. But if wanting to put together an even sicker bill than previously announced is a crime, PLEASE LOCK US UP.

1) 50 additional pairs of tickets priced at $250.00 per person  (not including taxes and fees) will be available via a public lottery sometime next week.  We’ll announce the details here and on the 21 site beforehand.

2) Details regarding a limited number of room upgrades will be available at that time.

3) We regret to announce that at present, our supply of VIP tickets has been exhausted.  If that situation changes, we’ll let you know.

4) As rumored in a bunch of places (including this very blog), we’re very happy to confirm the following additions to The Lost Weekend Bill ;  Liz Phair, Times New Viking, Esben and the Witch, Perfume Genius, The Clean, MC’s Jeff Jensen, Bob Nastanovich, Tom Scharpling & Jon Wurster, and a late Friday evening presentation by Austin’s Karaoke Underground. The rough schedule can be found below, and is very much subject to change :

Friday:

4 PM: Gala opening party, Hardwood Suite (VIP ticketholders, limited capacity)

MAIN STAGE (The Pearl):

doors open 6 PM, first band (Guitar Wolf) on at 7 PM

Pavement
Sonic Youth
Fucked Up
Chavez
Cold Cave
Guitar Wolf

MC : Jeff Jensen

2am onwards :  Superchunk/Fucked Up/bands TBC,  Hardwood Suite (VIP ticketholders only, capacity limited)
2am onwards :  Karaoke Underground at Little Buddha (open to all ticketholders, space permitting)

Saturday:

MAIN STAGE (The Pearl):

Belle and Sebastian
Spoon
Superchunk
Cat Power
Perfume Genius
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Come
Girls

MC : Bob Nastanovich

2am : Esben and the Witch, Harlem,  Key West Ballroom (open to all ticketholders, space permitting)

Sunday (MATINEE, in Key West Ballroom, open to all ticketholders, capacity limited):

The Clean
Times New Viking
Kurt Vile

Sunday evening :

MAIN STAGE (The Pearl):

Guided By Voices
Yo La Tengo
Liz Phair
The New Pornographers
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
Shearwater

MC’s : Tom Scharpling & Jon Wurster

Matador at 21: The Lost Weekend takes place at the Palms Resort and Casino in Las Vegas from October 1-3, 2010. This event is sponsored by MySpace Music, Altamont and Incase.

Tickets for “The Lost Weekend” aka Matador’s 21st birthday celebrations at The Palms will go on sale this Friday morning at 9am, PST. Here’s the details you’ve been hassling all of us about over the last week (and don’t think we don’t appreciate it)

a) Tickets/Pricing : An initial quantity will be on sale Friday for $SOLD. .After the $SOLD tickets sell out, the price increases to $SOLD.  A Ticketfly.com link will be posted on this site on Thursday, July 8th.  Starting Friday, you’ll have the opportunity to reserve standard rooms at the Palms for the discounted rate of $SOLD per night (the full 3 nights of the festival, only). The rooms feature two double bed and occupancy of up to 4 persons is allowed. The above rate is only available when purchasing tickets thru us. If you are interested in upgrading to a larger room or a suite you will be able to do so after purchasing the standard room. TICKETS FOR THE 3 NIGHTS  + ROOMS are being sold jointly — we’re not selling tickets to the shows separately at this time, nor are we selling tickets for individual nights.

(ADDENDUM -i) A limited number of 3-day tickets priced at  $SOLD—with no Palms reservation required — will be available Friday morning at 9am PST  via Ticketfly.com

ii)  if, for example, you’re buying 4 tickets to the shows, the $SOLD per night hotel fee can cover up to 4 people.  $SOLD over 3 nights divided by 4 is hopefully not an crazy amount to charge for rooms in a world class resort).

B) VIP tickets. A limited number of VIP packages will be available at $SOLD — details about what you’ll get for the $SOLD are forthcoming. You’ll have the ability to upgrade from the regular tickets, assuming the VIP tickets aren’t sold out.

C) Venue. The room in question is the 2100 seat Pearl at the Palms.

D) MORE BANDS. OK, we’re working on it. But in addition to the 19 artists confirmed on the above poster, we can confirm the original lineup of COME — Thalia Zedek, Chris Brokaw, Sean O’Brien and Arthur Johnson — will be participating. Actually, we already know who some of the other bands are, we’re just trying to drag this out.    MORE MATABLOG CONTENT between now and October!

E) Set times -  we’ll post these the week before the event.

F) These shows are open to all ages.  However, access to the casino floor is limited to those 21 and over.

F) WHAT ABOUT LAS VEGAS HUMANS?  Las Vegas’ Zia Records is selling 50 tickets to “The Lost Weekend” starting Friday, July 9.  You’ll need a Nevada I.D.  Reservations at the Palms are not required to purchase these tickets.

(ADDENDUM II :

INFORMATION FOR TICKETS AVAILABLE IN LAS VEGAS

Zia Records

4225 South Eastern Avenue

Las Vegas, NV 89119-5485

702-735-4942

Zia Records

4503 W. SAHARA

LAS VEGAS, NV 89102

702-233-4942

Tickets will go onsale at both stores at 10:00am on Friday, July 9th via lottery. By overwhelming demand by Nevada Residents we will be increasing the amount of tickets available (50 X 2 = 100) . There is a two ticket limit. Nevada state ID required for purchase. Any questions please email 21@matadorecords.com

As mentioned previously in this space, Matador will be celebrating the label’s 21st anniversary this October and this much we can finally confirm : there will be 3 nights of shows starting Friday October 1, and concluding Sunday October 3 at the Palms Casino & Resort In Las Vegas, NV. We’ll be dropping further hints about the amazing lineup in the days ahead, but a final announcement and information about how to purchase tickets will be made here at the trusty Matablog on July 5. Are you as psyched as we are?  (hopefully yes, because we’re getting in for free).

(ADDENDUM – there’s been a bit of confusion so just to clear things up, tickets DO NOT GO ON SALE JULY 5.  We’ll merely be announcing the on sale date/time on July 5.  thanks – GC)

“Metal Heart”, live from Virada Paulista (São José dos Campo, São Paulo, Brazil). But if you insist on learning what the above headline is all about, here’s a clip of Cat Power covering the Stooges’ “I Wanna Be Your Dog” with Mr. Pharmacist on vocals/guitar, Judah on guitar and Chan on drums.

Cat Power will be on the road this summer playing a series of outdoor venues in support of The Pretenders. With the execption of the 8/29 bill, Juliette & The Licks will open all of the shows below.  Tickets are currently on sale. First person to name the former Matador recording artist who has Juliette & The Licks in his MySpace Top 10 wins a Matador back catalog item of our choosing!

8/8, Hampton Beach, NH (Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom)
8/9, Asbury Park, NJ (Stone Pony)
8/10, New York, NY (Central Park Summerstage)
8/12, Boston, MA (Bank of America Pavillion)
8 /13, Upper Darby, PA (Tower Theatre)
8/14, Washington, DC (Warner Theatre)
8/16, Columbus, OH (LC Pavillion Outdoor)
8/18, Chicago, IL (Aragon Ballroom)
8/20, Council Bluffs, IA (Harrah’s Council Bluffs- Stir Cove)
8/22, Littleton, CO (Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield)
8/23, Salt Lake City, UT (Red Butte Garden Ampitheatre)
8/25, Troutdale, OR (Edgefield Ampitheatre)
8/26, Vancouver, BC (Malkin Bowl)
8/27, Redmond, WA (Marymoor Ampitheatre)
8/29, Saratoga, CA (The Mountain Winery) *
9/1, Pala, CA (Pala Casino — Starlight Theater)
9/3, Los Angeles, CA (The Greek Theatre)

(* – The Pretenders and Cat Power only)

July 16 Teatre Gran Rex, Buenos Aires, Argentina (tickets)
July 18 Via Funchal, Sao Paulo, Brazil (tickets)
July 21 Teatre Teatro Caupolicán, Santiago, Chile (tickets)

All of the above shows are on sale now.

Just a quick note that after a little bit of a delay at the pressing plant, we now have Moon Pix, The Greatest, and You Are Free back in stock on wonderful, black vinyl. Now you can complete a couple of pieces you were missing from your collection, or maybe just discover a couple extra gems. Jukebox is still available as well.

On the subject of vinyl, now might be a good time to pick up one of our Matador Record Bags. Buy a Cat Power (or any other record), a record bag, and get free domestic shipping. Just write “lovevinyl” in the promotion bar during checkout.

… on the Dark Was The Night compilation, coming out on 4AD. All are unavailable elsewhere. The Yo La Tengo song is a Snapper cover, the New Pornographers song is a Destroyer song (cover?), and the Stuart Murdoch song is a traditional Scottish number. (Other members of Belle and Sebastian perform on the track.) All three can be checked out in the above widget.

There is also an unreleased Cat Power song on the record – a cover of “Amazing Grace.”

This is the new Red Hot compilation, and proceeds will go to benefit AIDS charities.

In stores a week from tomorrow. Preorder it here and receive a free 7″ while supplies last.

(image taken from in plato)

Ahem. February 10 and 11, Avalon, Los Angeles. Ticket info can be found here.

Chan and the DDB will be hitting the stage of Harlem’s historic Apollo Theatre on February 6 and 7, and tickets go on sale today.  In addition, Ms. Marshall and friends will visit Washington DC’s 930 Club on February 8 (tickets)  .

This coming Tuesday, the limited-edition double vinyl gatefold 10″ EP from Cat Power hits the stores. Entitled Dark End Of The Street, it includes six bewitching cover songs from the Jukebox sessions and not included on that album. This would make a wonderful Christmas or Hannukah present for someone who likes gatefold covers, or cover songs, and it’s available for preorder now.

We have a lot of other deluxe packages from this year appropriate for stocking-stuffers or under-the-tree action. The deluxe 44-song, 48-page book, die-cut slipcase edition of Pavement’s Brighten The Corners, for example (and if you preorder now, you can still – just – get the ultra-limited live vinyl bonus LP, exclusive to this release). Two weeks ago we released Belle and Sebastian’s justly acclaimed BBC Sessions, with essential radio performances from their early 1996-2001 period. The deluxe version of the CD comes with a second disc containing a complete concert in Belfast from December 2001. The set includes covers of I’m Waiting For The Man, The Boys Are Back In Town and Here Comes The Sun. This is strictly limited and once it goes, it’s gone.

There’s also the deluxe version of the Mogwai’s latest, The Hawk Is Howling, which comes with a bonus DVD containing two videos for “Batcat” (including one nightmarish one directed by Dominic Hailstone of Chris Cunningham / Aphex Twin video fame), and a short documentary about the band by Vincent Moon.

And of course, last March, we released to-die-for versions of the three original Mission Of Burma albums on Ace of Hearts. We’ve banged on enough about the real all-analog mastering from the original tapes, the precious live footage from the late ’70s and early ’80s, the gatefold sleeves on the vinyl, and the books with interviews and photos and more. We’re prouder of these packages than any other reissue we’ve ever done. All three are available for a very short time longer in a vinyl bundle deal for 50 bucks.

There are also a few deluxe copies of Cat Power’s Jukebox left with the gatefold foil digipak and second CD. Then there’s just about every vinyl release from this year, nearly all printed at Stoughton and pressed on RTI HQ180 vinyl. Single LPs here and double LPs here.

And of course, there are also Matador T-shirts, record bags, and slipmats… not to mention bundle deals.

The Matador Store.

photo of Chan Marshall by Stefano Giovanini

They’ll let anybody backstage at some of these events.

Have you ever tried to cram a double 10″ EP inside a Christmas stocking?  We haven’t either, but it’ll be fun to try this December, as we’ll be releasing a new Cat Power  2X10″, ‘Dark End Of The Street’  — it shall also be available through your favorite digital retailers (including the Matador store).  Featuring additional covers recording during the sessions for ‘Jukebox’,  the track listing can be found below.  In keeping with prior practice / the Matablog style guide, we’ve listed the performers most responsible for popularizing the songs…don’t worry San Francisco journalists, we’ll make sure the proper composers are paid and credited!

1) Auld Triangle (The Pogues)*
2) Dark End Of The Street (James Carr, Aretha Franklin)*
3) Who Knows Where The Time Goes (Sandy Denny / Fairport Convention)*
4) Fortunate Son (Creedence Clearwater Revivial)
5) I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) (Otis Redding)
6) It Ain’t Fair (Aretha Franklin)*

* – previously unreleased recordings.

(one of the nicer posters we’ve seent this year. And just by writing that, we’re bound to be emailed about a half dozen others)

tu 06-03-08 belg brussels ab
we 06-04-08 germ koln lmh
th 06-05-08 germ berlin postbahnhof
fr 06-06-08 germ hamburg laeiszhalle
su 06-08-08 uk london hammersmith odeon
mo 06-09-08 uk bristol colston
tu 06-10-08 uk birmingham academy
we 06-11-08 uk manchester academy
tu 07-01-08 italy ferrara piazza castello
we 07-02-08 italy milan  villa arconati
th 07-03-08 france lyon Les Nuits de Fourvières  festival
fr 07-04-08 france belfort eurockeennes
su 07-06-08 denmark roskilde roskilde  festival
mo 07-07-08 sweden malmo debaser/folkets park
tu 07-08-08 norway oslo rockefeller
we 07-09-08 sweden stockholm berns
fr 07-11-08 ireland  oxegen festival

Hey…we’ll have news about the US dates that are being moved to October pretty soon. Until then, the following shows, previously planned for this week, have been rescheduled as follows :

Cat Power & Dirty Delta Blues

Mon    05.05.08     Mexico City (MX)    Lunario
Wed    05.07.08     Bogotá (CO)    Teatro ECCI

Sorry for the late notice everyone. As you may have read elsewhere, last night’s Cat Power show in Tempe, AZ did not take place, as Chan’s been diagnosed with with damage to her vocal cords.  She’ll be a-ok in the near future, but we regret Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues will not be making the following appearances. :

Dallas 4/19
Austin 4/20
Houston 4/22
Mexico City 4/23
Colombia 4/25
Vienna 4/30

The U.S. portion of the above route will be rescheduled for October — original tickets can still be used.

Dave : “What’s the deal with these guys?”

11:30 eastern, Tuesday evening. Dave’s other guest, Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona). The GOP nominee has been ducking Chan Marshall for years, and we’re pleased he’s finally seen fit to debate her in public.

Chan & friends will be performing “Metal Heart”.  And on an unrelated note, here’s a snazzy poster for an upcoming show in Bogota.

buenas tardes!

greets from colombia
thomas

* – indicates a new addition since the last time we did this. Appaloosa support 4/11-4/22

4/9 Bellingham WA W. Washington Univ.@ Performing Arts Center*
4/10 Vancouver BC Vogue Theatre
4/11 Seattle WA Showbox SoDo
4/12 Eugene OR McDonald Theater
4/13 Portland OR Roseland
4/15 San Francisco CA Warfield Theater
4/16 San Diego CA 4th & B
4/17 Tempe AZ Marquee Theatre
4/19 Dallas TX Palladium Ballroom
4/20 Austin TX Stubb’s
4/22 Houston TX Warehouse
4/23 Mexico City Mexico Lunario
4/25 Bogota, Columbia Teatro *
5/2 Atlanta GA Tabernacle –DUE TO VENUE REPAIRS REQUIRED, THIS SHOW IS POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
5/3 Memphis TN Beale St. Music Festival*
6/14 Manchester TN Bonnaroo Music Festival*
8/10 Jersey City NJ All Points West.Music & Arts Festvial*
9/17 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl * (with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Spiritualized)

For the first time, we’re making our annual ‘Intended Play’ label sampler available digitally. Click on the link to get a zipped file of all 12 tracks plus front and back artwork, and burn it yourself (or just listen to it digitally):

Intended Play 2008 (zip file)

Track listing:

1. Jay Reatard Always Wanting More (from 7″ #3, due out June 17 June 24)
2. Times New Viking DROP-OUT (from Rip It Off, released January 22)
3. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Cold Son (from Real Emotional Trash, released March 4)
4. Shearwater Leviathan, Bound (from Rook, due out June 3)
5. Cat Power Metal Heart (from Jukebox, released January 22)
6. Matmos Polychords (from Supreme Balloon, due out May 6)
7. Mission Of Burma That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate (from Vs.: The Definitive Edition, released today, March 18)
8. Jaguar Love Bats Over The Pacific Ocean (from Take Me To The Sea, due out this summer August 19)
9. The Cave Singers Helen (from Invitation Songs, released last September)
10. Dead Meadow I’m Gone (from Old Growth, released February 5)
11. The New Pornographers All The Things That Go To Make Heaven And Earth (live) (from Live From Soho (iTunes Exclusive), released March 11)
12. Earles & Jensen Bleachy Is Back In Town, Look Out (from Just Farr A Laugh Vols. 1 & 2: The Greatest Prank Phone Calls Ever!, due out April 22 May 6)

The sharp-eyed among you will note that some of these tracks are not the ones released as promo MP3s to date.

(photo by Sam Comen)

AOL filmed Cat Power playing in their studios in LA on February 27, and the session is now live:

It might’ve required a 6:30 am wakeup call for the band, but when it comes to entertaining the loyal listeners of America’s most beloved morning radio program-that-doesn’t-feature-Artie Lange, no sacrifice could be too great.  You can hear Cat Power in about an hour from now (say, 11am PST) on KCRW‘s “Morning Becomes Eclectic”

If you’re not as Syked as we are, please, keep it to yourself. Wanda will be Jay Leno’s guest tonight at 11:30pm EST.

(also appearing : Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues).