In anticipation of the release of his upcoming ‘Smoke Ring For My Halo’ (out 3/8), Kurt Vile will be running around the northeast and stopping in some of our favorite independent record shops playing a series of solo acoustic (and one full-band) instores. Some very special guests are in the works, with Northampton Wools (Thurston Moore + Bill Nace) already confirmed for one of the three NYC engagements.

Get psyched, people. Get real psyched.

Before I start I should acknowledge that my photo heavy and link-tastic post is directly inspired from noted blogger Ira Kaplan.

I was originally going to write about one of my true loves:  record stores.  I met my wife in a record store and my life still revolves around them, but this year there was a bigger theme than records in my life.

Going places and being with the people you love.

My wife’s family is from Butler, PA and we spent two weeks there this summer doing a whole lot of nothing. It was great.  We went to a Bluesox game, we went to the drive in (Photo from noted Bulter native CongoEels flickr.)  We went to Moraine state park to ride bikes, swim and have a picnic.  It all ruled.

Some other places I went:

Columbus, Ohio.  I finally saw the Gibson Bros and it was fantastic.

The Adirondacks

I love a good wedding and this was one of the best in recent memory, must have something to do with the day.  The whole weekend was all so beautiful.  We went swimming in this lake.

It was cold and awesome.

Scituate, MA

I grew up nowhere near the ocean so a clambake was nothing more than an Elvis joke.  In real life it is so much more

The Lost Weekend

I’d never been to Las Vegas, I’m far to scared to actually gamble (too many records I want to buy with that money.) Everything related to the weekend wasz fantastic, but I never expected to be so taken with the surroundings.

My final trip of the year is going to be the best one yet, but it is supposed to be a surprise so if you see my parents don’t tell them.

Aside from this coming Saturday’s solo acoustic instore, Mr. Vile only has one left on his calendar (at least for this tour).
Next Thursday November 18 @ 7:30pm Kurt is stopping in Waterloo records for a very cool, very free solo acoustic set. Check it out if you’re in Austin.

And check out Kurt’s show with his band The Violators at Emo’s later that night.

The train keeps on rolling but don’t fret… this isn’t the last of the Kurt Vile instores that we’re announcing along KV’s current tour. We’ve got at least one more to announce. When? Where? You’ll have to wait and see…
Until then check out Kurt at M-Theory in San Diego next Saturday and then check him out again that night at Casbah.

Remember last week when I promised that I’d announce MORE free, solo acoustic Kurt Vile instores? Remember?

More to come… stay tuned…

This the first in a series of instore announcements for the ever-awesome Kurt Vile. Hold your breath… the rest are coming sooooooooooooon.

Jeez you people are psyched!! And we couldn’t be happier. But we have received a fair amount of questions pertaining to this contest so here you go. Hope this covers it.

Q: Can I enter more than once?
A: Each code is good for one entry, so yes as long as you have more than one valid code than you can submit multiple entries.

Q: Will I retain ownership of my entry?
A: Nah. Everything submitted becomes property of Matador. Of course, the winner will be credited on the record (and thus thoroughly blogged about and locally hi-fived).

Q: MY CODE ISN’T WORKING!!!!!! MY LP DIDN’T HAVE A CODE INSIDE!!!!!!!
A: Deep breath. Email store@matadordirect.com and we’ll replace it.

Q: I live in Belarus. Can I enter?
A: Belarus is actually AWESOME. But sorry, no. The contest is open to U.S. and Canada only.

Q: Can I log on to the website more than once?
A: Yes. Your code is not marked as “used” until you submit it with an essay. Meaning you can enter your code, log in, collect your thoughts, spell check, have a coffee and then go back and submit your entry.

Q: What is the deadline for the contest?
A: January 1st, 2011… or 1/1/11… or New Year’s Day 2011. However you wanna look at it.

I’m sorry but there is no arguing this point. Not even from those of you just getting home from Las Vegas.

What makes it so cool, you ask? Maybe the fact that you could have the chance of a lifetime when Belle and Sebastian releases a 7″ next year of a song that was WRITTEN ABOUT YOU!!!!!!

Inside every copy of Belle and Sebastian’s new album Write About Love is a unique code which you will enter here and then write 300 words about love, in any sense of the word. Why you love. Who you love. What you love. Where you love. Anything. Just write about love.

Then Belle and Sebastian will pick a winner (henceforth referred to as “Lucky”) and Stuart Murdoch will fly out to Lucky’s hometown, hang out with Lucky for an afternoon, and write and record a song about Lucky which will then be released on an exclusive Belle and Sebastian 7″ later in 2011.

Yep. Coolest thing ever.

Mark it down now, Angelinos… Friday September 24 at 7pm Glasser will be playing a very special free show at Amoeba Hollywood to celebrate the release of her mind-bendingly fantastic debut Ring.

This is a really special show for us- Amoeba are seriously stepping out by doing an in-store for such a new artist and we hope you can share their enthusiasm by joining us at this show. It’ll be your only chance to catch Glasser in Los Angeles until close to the end of the year!

Friday, September 24
7pm
Free, All Ages Instore
Amoeba Hollywood
6400 Sunset Blvd.

Next Tuesday, September 7 Interpol will be playing an exclusive event in the parking lot of Space 15 Twenty (1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd.) to kick off the release of their new self-titled album which drops that day.

Pre-order now or buy the album on 9/7 at any of the stores listed below* to receive a guaranteed-entry wristband to the event while supplies last.

*If you preorder the album online via the Matador Store, simply put “LA OUTSTORE” in the comments section to receive guaranteed entry while supplies last. Our guaranteed entry list is now full.

The Buffalo News reported nearly $100K worth of fire damage to North Buffalo’s beloved Spiral Scratch Records this past Thursday morning. There’s a benefit taking place at this lovely establishment tomorrow night, and if you’re an out-of-towner sitting on doubles you’d otherwise ignore or eBay (HINT, HINT, don’t be a jerk.

Spiral Scratch c/o Dave Palumbo
72 Nassau Ave
Kenmore, Ny 14217

UPDATE: We’ve put on our charity hat and will now be holding this event as a benefit for the victims of the recent flooding in Nashville. If you plan on attending Harlem’s free instore next Thursday May 13 please bring donations, non-perishable food items, spare clothing, whatever you’ve got. The wonderful staff at Grimey’s will be handling the intake of all donations with food donations going to Second Harvest Food Bank and monetary donations going to Hands On Nashville. Thank you.

Given recent events in middle Tennessee, it might seem a bit optimistic (or even insensitive) for a NYC based record label to simply pretend it’s business-as-usual in promoland.  But we’ve long fostered an optimistic outlook (tinged with insensitivity), and heck knows we’re hoping there’s enough normalcy in Nashville in 9 days that Harlem’s visit can be appreciated properly.  Coomers, Curtis and Jose will be playing Grimey’s at 6pm, hours before their show at The End, and need we remind you the record store in question was recently hailed by sources as disparate as Spin Magazine and Fucked Up as one of the nation’s finest.

(order ‘Hippies’ from The Matador Store on LP/CD or digital files)

Next Tuesday May 4 (aka street date for The New Pornographers new CD/LP “Together”) Origami Vinyl in Echo Park will become The Together Shop. For one day only, The Together Shop will feature all things New Pornographers with special sales, ticket giveaways, exclusive album bundles and a one-day-only exclusive poster. Oh and did I mention that there will be free beer and pizza??

Origami Vinyl
1816 W Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles

Hey guys, can’t hurt to remind you again that tomorrow is INTERNATIONAL RECORD STORE DAY, and if heaps of RSD-exclusive vinyl and that fulfilling feeling of buying great music from great retailers isn’t enough to get you out of the house, here are two more events members of the Matador-family are involved with:

article via Record Collector Magazine

Damian Abraham of Fucked Up @ Sonic Boom Records
512 Bloor Street St. West Toronto, ON M5S 1Y3
416-532-0334 | info@sonicboommusic.com

Fucked Up‘s Pink Eyes will be hosting an all day event at Toronto’s Sonic Boom Records that features in-store performances from Sloan, Adam Green, Meligrove Band, Metz, Buck 65, Valery Gore and more. Damian’s also hinted at a special guest appearance for those who show up before 3PM!

***

Hospital Productions
60 E. Third St. New York, NY, 10003
hospitalprod@gmail.com

When he’s not performing in Cold Cave and as Prurient, Dominick Fernow spends his time overseeing the Hospital Productions record label and shop, which primarily focuses in noise and black metal music. For Record Store Day, the store will debut 13 new cassette releases on the label. In addition, the first 100 people to visit the store are invited to come to the store to record their very own noise cassette. The recording gear will be set up and supplied by the store and you can record your own
1 minute noise tape. The store will personalize your cover for you and you will be the only person to have a 
copy. You get to keep your recording free of charge.
100 people. 1 minute tapes. Limited to 1.

***

Don’t forget the Yo La Tengo in-store at Rhino Records in Claremont CA, Kurt Vile at Philly’s Beautiful World Syndicate and the special Pavement, Ted Leo and Fucked Up vinyl exclusives available only for Record Store Day TOMORROW!  We’ll see you out.

What we mean is… we’ve got some limited edition vinyl items at many participating independent record shops for one day, and one day only — the third annual Record Store Day (henceforth, RSD ’10) this Saturday, April 17!

Ted Leo And The Pharmacists – The Oldest House b/w North Coast 7″
OLE-932 (lim. 2375)

Two brand new, never-released, rockers from TL/RX, not included on ‘The Brutalist Bricks’. Packaged in a classic dubplate style.

Fucked Up – Daytrotter 7″
OLE-931 (lim. 2000 standard edition, lim. 100/store edition)

The two songs from the ‘Couple Tracks’ comp plus a third song from the session (an equally screwed-with version of Crooked Head) – this comes in a regular sleeve PLUS 10 limited-edition sleeves each with a photo of, and named after, a different great US record store: CD Alley (Chapel Hill), Disc Exchange (Knoxville), Fingerprints (Long Beach), Generation (New York), Grimey’s (Nashville), Lunchbox (Charlotte), Speakertree (Lynchburg), Spiral Scratch (Buffalo), Waterloo (Austin), Wax Trax (Denver). Bear in mind, that each single might be found in any record store.

Pavement -  Quarantine The Past: The Best Of Pavement RSD ’10 VERSION 2xLP
OLE-933 (lim. 2000)

An alternative version of our double-disc Pavement best-of collection, ‘Quarantine The Past’… with a completely different track listing (chosen by contest), cover art fucked with by Stephen Malkmus.

Keep in mind, all these records are available for one day only, so get in line early and pick up some other great records while you’re at it!!!

Is there a better way for the Austin locals to get over their SXSW hangover than a free, all ages Ted Leo instore?

The answer is no. There isn’t.

Things got a little out of hand during a Criminal Records (ATL) instore earlier this week when dozens of shoppers were whipped into a frenzy by one of the more controversial, polarizing performers of our era.  But enough about Wyclef Jean’s visit to Euclid Avenue, Jay Reatard’s performance yesterday was yet another public demonstration of genius-level songcraft.  And there’s more to come along the tour route.     (‘Watch Me Fall’ – available on LP, CD and digital files from The Matador Store)

Photo used without permission, taken from Christoph!’s photostream on Flickr

There’s a whole host of Yo La action to update you with this week. Tonight, the band will be speaking to Gideon Coe live on BBC 6 Music, show starting at 9pm.  You can listen live via DAB digital radio, or log onto Gideon’s 6Music page here for a live stream.  The band will be discussing Popular Songs, their career and playing some of their favourite tracks from their most loved artists.

And tomorrow, at 7pm, Yo La Tengo will be playing a rare instore show, Freewheeling style, at London’s Rough Trade East store.  It’s a free show, but you’ll only get in with a wristband.  WRISTBAND COLLECTION 1 HOUR PRIOR TO STAGE TIME, STRICTLY ONE PER PERSON.  So get down to the store early to guarantee entry.

Rough Trade East can be found :

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

The band will also be playing this weekend’s All Tomorrow’s Parties Nightmare Before Christmas festival at Butlins, Minehead.

Yo La Tengo : Friday 4th December, 8.30pm-9.45pm

As well as YLT, you can also catch Sonic Youth and Fucked Up down at ATP.  Check the ATP listings for everyone else playing.

Sonic Youth : Saturday 5th December, 8.45pm-10pm

Fucked Up : Saturday 5th December, 2.15am-3.15am

For an instore… duh.

Wednesday November 18 6pm
Jackpot Records
203 SW 9th Ave. Portland
503 222 0990

And by stuff, I mean records and CDs. Not… like, kitchen utensils or the owners manual to your Le Car or your remote control.
So bring your records… or buy one and then bring it…
Next Saturday, November 14 @ 3pm
M-Theory
915 W. Washington
San Diego
619 220 0485

While we’re still about a week away from the October 20th release date of the new Spiral Stairs album “The Real Feel” you can hop over to the ThinkIndie site and stream the album in its entirety right now.

For those who don’t know ThinkIndie is a digital music store run by a bunch of real record stores.

Just click HERE

Sunday afternoons, there are just nothing like them.  Get a little brunch, listen to some music, and simply relax, forgetting about the worries of your previous week.  Well this Sunday should be no different, except well if you’re in San Francisco because then you can also spend it with Yo La Tengo.  Yep you read that right, drop by Aquarius Records this Sunday for an intimate, brunch-style in-store appearance by Yo La Tengo.   Aquarius Records have been long time supporters of the band, look no further than their recent Record of the Week review (below) of Popular Songs as evidence.  Yo La Tengo have equally supported independent record stores throughout the years too.  So to us this really sounds like a perfect match, the likes of a bagel and cream cheese or a donut and coffee, and from what we hear, arrive early enough and you’ll have dibs on both.  Most important you’ll also get a chance to see Yo La Tengo perform a special, intimate set at Aquarius, and well we can’t imagine anything better than that on a Sunday afternoon!

Aquarius Records

1055 Valencia St, SF 94110

Sun, Oct 18 / 1-2pm

Aquarius Records / Record of the Week

They never ever disappoint, in fact more often than not, they totally blow us away. And with Popular Songs, Yo La Tengo remind us once again why they are one of the best bands of the last quarter century. From start to finish this is an album with so many different sounds, styles, moods and motifs, yet it’s all so deliciously Yo La Tengo! Like their best albums, the first time you hear this record you know it’s going to be an album that you’ll listen to for the rest of your life. And in this day and age of disposable culture it’s so incredibly refreshing to have YLT, whose music has such a timeless element, and sounds so personal and passionate, and will undoubtedly stand the test of time. YLT never aspired to be the hippest or trendiest or coolest band around. Simply stated, slow and steady wins the race! They’ve definitely won, and continue to win, and in turn so have we. They’ve made their indelible mark by just being themselves, and when it comes to pure substance it just doesn’t get more richly rewarding than YLT.

Popular Songs is like an album that represent the best friend we all wish we could have. Someone you can turn to when it’s time to get deep or vent some bittersweet sadness, someone you can also have fun sleepover parties with and let loose and experience total joy together. These are a set of songs that really do hit at almost the entire spectrum of emotion, and the pacing/sequencing of the album just couldn’t be more perfect. Whether being melted away by one of Georgia Hubley’s beautifully aching drift-away numbers or being swept up in a Motown like fury or rocked by a straight ahead burner, there is such immaculate skill in the crafting of each song.

The album features wonderfully lush string arrangements provided by Richard Evans, the legendary soul pioneer who contributed so much to the amazing ’60s Chicago/Cadet soul scene, who many of you might know and love for his work on the great Afro-Harping album by Dorothy Ashby. So awesome, and yet after taking so many wonderful twist and turns, it is the ending of the album that really leaves us so stunned and in awe.

The last two tracks are very long and mostly instrumental. “The Fireside” is eleven minutes of total shoegaze bliss, that puts most actual ‘shoegaze’ bands to shame, letting the listener get lost in a slow glowing haze. And then the album’s closer “And The Glitter Is Gone”, an almost sixteen minute sonic smolder brimming with a droning and triumphant psychedelic spirit that we could listen to forever.

One of those rare records that is all ‘favorite songs’, every listen, a new song gets stuck in your head and fills your heart, only to be supplanted by another the next time, and on it goes, favorite after favorite after favorite. We think it’s fair to say this is a total masterpiece from one of our favorite groups!

From City Sonic, directed by Anita Doron.  Hey, while we’re on the subject of terrific record stores, Austin’s Sound On Sound is closing it’s doors on Monday, October 12.  Sure, they do that every night, but this time they’ll not open ‘em again.   As such, there’s a rather big clearance sale going on and if you’re in the area, say for the Austin Record Convention this weekend, you’re well advised to bring your money.  (google map)

October 4 is right around the corner, which means we’re just days away from Mission Of Burma sure-to-be-monumental show at MIT’s East Campus Courtyard. Yesterday we announced the winner of the Battle For Burma, New Haven, CT’s Eula, but there were still a few things left unsaid, and we’re going to say them now.

The lineup for the show is:

Mission Of Burma

Big Bear

Eula

Other important details:

- This is a free, all ages show.

- The show is on the East Campus Courtyard, 3 Ames Street. Click here to see a Google Map of the location.

- Please note that there is NO on-site parking. If you have to drive there, you’re on your own parking the car. Obviously, we strongly encourage the use of mass transit.

- Show is rain or shine.

- Eula starts the show at 2:30.

- There is NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED at this show.

- Backpacks and coolers are likewise NOT ALLOWED so please don’t bring them.

- The fine folks at Newbury Comics will be at the show to sell the new Mission Of Burma album, The Sound The Speed The Light, two days before you can buy it in stores. You can also pre-order the record here if that’s more your style.

If you’re in the area, this is a can’t-miss show. See you there.

We are very, very happy to announce the winner of the Battle For Burma. The winner, who will be opening for Mission Of Burma at their free show at MIT on Sunday, October 4, is New Haven, CT’s own Eula.

Congratulations to Eula, and thanks to everyone who entered the Battle For Burma. Stay tuned for further info.

Just got back from a trip to London and am happy to report that it is still one of the record shopping capitals of the world. I’ve had many memorable visits there before, especially to the great Beano’s in Croydon when it was still three stories of original UK ’60s and ’70s pressings at reasonable prices, and of course rummaging around in the back room of Minus Zero for folk private pressings, and a memorably expensive (but totally worth it) trawl through the boxes at Intoxica that netted me original 7″es by the Poets and the Mockingbirds as well a mint Parlophone 1st/2nd matrix original mono Rubber Soul.

But this trip was mostly about shopping for new records. I visited the (relatively) new Rough Trade East in Brick Lane, which is London’s answer to Amoeba. Totally great experience – nice people, huge selection (esp of dubstep and funky 12″es), interesting books, lots of space. I bought several singles by the great Ramadanman (thanks Dean) as well as a super-cavernous 12″ from Aardvarck (recommended by staff), and a £5.99 CD of Richard & Linda Thompson in concert in 1975 that I somehow missed when it came out last year. Also scored double vinyl of the latest Benin comp from Samy Ben Redjeb’s Analog Africa label.

The original Rough Trade shop in Talbot Road off Portobello Market is also still great, though I remain stymied by the cramped upstairs. Downstairs is a different matter though – the vinyl is extremely well chosen and guaranteed to appeal to American buyers who are used to paying through the nose on eBay for decent copies of UK original rock and folk. I decided to spend £10 on Genesis’s Selling England By The Pound, and also picked up a dead mint Scott 3 in its gorgeous laminated Philips gatefold. Unfortunately the £30 original UK (with insert!) of The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter was not mint.

On to Stand Out / Minus Zero, which remains as mindblowing as ever. I didn’t have a chance to talk to the ever friendly Bill Forsyth, but on the Stand Out side of the shop, Bill Allerton still presides over the greatest collection of UK freakbeat and psych still being offered in a physical location. I spotted a copy of The Hush 7″ Grey on the wall, one of my longest-term wants, and correctly guessed its price as being £500. Oh well – pass. Bill immediately remarked, “I have boxes and boxes of that sort of thing under the counter.”

On for a quick visit to Intoxica, where they were playing some insanely over the top British humor record that could have been a Vivian Stanshall solo album – I wasn’t sure. Crazy Latin records I’d never seen before, plus the Turkish alternate sleeve for Led Zep II on the wall – also for £500, in VG. Pass. Didn’t go behind the counter here… the stock is incredible, but I don’t have that kind of money to spend at the moment.

Finally up to the top of Portobello Road to Honest Jon’s, the best world / dub / ethnic store on earth. The genial Alan Scholefield was behind the counter spinning unbelievable deep reggae cuts and coming out to discuss Trikont comps of Vietnamese street music (“total Bo Diddley”). We grabbed a bunch of the latest Honest Jon’s comps – including one compiling ’70s bands from Upper Volta – and I scored a Tabu Ley Rochereau record from 1969 and a clean original Fela Ikoyi Blindness Nigerian pressing for £25.

Great day? ABSOLUTELY.

Kurt Vile, previously described by a hyperbole crazed observer as “one of the more important figures in American music circa 2009″ (by all means, feel free to cut and paste that declaration as often as you’d like) commemorates the release of his new LP/CD/digital album ‘Childish Prodigy‘ with the following live events in Philly and NYC (in addition to a full U.S. tour)

AKA in-store, Philadelphia – Kurt solo – Friday, 10/2
Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia  – with the Violators – Saturday, 10/3 (support  : Birds Of Maya, Coconuts)
Mercury Lounge, NYC – with the Violators – Wednesday, 10/7 (support  : Birds Of Maya, Coconuts)

poster by Brian Kelly

I’d like to think that by now you’re all aware that Mission Of Burma’s new album, The Sound The Speed The Light, is coming out on October 6th (and is available for pre-order here). What I can tell you now is that the trio of Clint Conley, Roger Miller & Peter Prescott will be playing a free, all-ages outdoor show on the East Campus Courtyard of MIT just two days earlier, at 2pm on Sunday, October 4th.

Not only is this an unprecedented celebration of Mission Of Burma in their hometown, it’s also an opportunity for YOU (or maybe one of your friends if you’re not musically-inclined) to open for one of the greatest bands of all time. That’s right, it’s the Battle For Burma, an online battle of the bands where your band can vie for an opening slot at this very special show. To submit your band, click on this image below and upload a video of yourselves performing:

The deadline for submissions is Friday, September 25, and the winner will be hand-picked by Mission Of Burma. Contest is open to ANY band, as long as you’re cool with playing for free.

More details to come, but for now, mark your calendars, because October 4th is going to be an unusually great day at MIT.