Scott McDonald

Tragic news -- two fans died in separate incidents at this weekend's Rothbury Festival. Read more here!

For daily music news, new MP3s, video and photos, go check out our new indie blog: Pressed for Sound.

New York's Village Voice has announced the initial lineup for its eighth annual Siren Music Festival. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Broken Social Scene and The Helio Sequence will lead a pack of exciting indie acts at Coney Island on July 19. Who else is on the bill?

Of all the big names that played at Coachella a couple of weekends ago – Prince, Portishead, Jack Johnson, you name it – only one band could claim itself to be part techno, part punk, part rave, part hardcore ... and part British. Hertfordshire's Enter Shikari played a headlining set on Saturday, thrilling the masses with their barrage of guitar and synthesized sounds.

The band's Rob Rolfe and Rou Reynolds – two of the humblest musicians you'll ever meet – caught up with Buzznet while resting up for their set. The two lads talked about how they started their band in a supermarket, why it's OK to live in the moment – and you, Buzznet reader!

Buzznet: Who have you guys seen so far?

Rob Rolfe: Aphex Twin was awesome. Wicked.

Buzznet: I'm not sure if you knew this, but your band has a strong following on Buzznet. What is it about your music that translates to our readers?

Rou Reynolds: I guess the energy that young people have. Our music has [a] feeling [that] you can get down to [and] dance. There are all sorts of ways you can get into it. It's also very lighthearted, easy to listen to – you don't really have to concentrate to appreciate it. We're not like Dream Theater, where it gets complicated.

Buzznet: How young were you when you decided you wanted to make music for a living?

Rolfe: I was about 12. I remember, actually: I was with my mom shopping at a supermarket, and I ran into [Reynolds] with his dad. I was like, "Do you want to be a band with me and [fellow bandmember] Chris [Batten]?"

Reynolds: We started playing covers like Oasis, Led Zeppelin, Blur, Stereophonics – lots of stuff from the late-1990s. It wasn't until later on, when [bandmate] Rory [Clewlow] joined the band, that we changed our name to Enter Shikari.


[Click the image above to view a gallery's worth of Shikari pics from Coachella.]

Buzznet: What does that name refer to?

Reynolds: It means "The Hunter" in Indian. The first time I heard about the name was from my uncle. Later, I saw the word in that video game "Shikari Warriors," and it just stuck.

Buzznet: Any particular bands you want to see?

Rolfe: Pendulum was pretty awesome last night, and I'm glad I got to watch Goldfrapp as well. Not too sure about later. Yesterday was the best day – well, apart from us headlining tonight. [He laughs.]



Buzznet: What direction do you see your music heading toward, and where will your songs be in the next five years?

Rolfe: We've never pronounced ourselves in any particular genre, so I just tell people to make their own minds up. I just think music should be positive rather than go in a [specific] direction. It can be bad when people specifically write music to get on charts.

I've got no idea where we'll be in five years, but we are writing our next album, and we'll be doing a lot of touring next year. Other than that, sometimes it's just hard to figure out what we'll be doing next week.

The moment all you shoegazers have been waiting for is here: My Bloody Valentine North American tour dates. Is this for real? Are my contacts scratched? No. Get bloody.

Metric has spent most of the past year recording the follow-up to 2005's Live it Out and recently released the Live at Metropolis EP, but that didn't stop the quartet from making the trek out to Coachella 2008. I caught up with Emily Haines, solo-artist and Broken Social Scene member, Josh, James and Joules before their fierce set of electro-rock on Sunday. We talked about the new record, preparing for the heat and why Neil Young rules.


Buzznet: Have you been here at Coachella the entire weekend? When did you arrive in Los Angeles?

Emily: Since about 3 a.m., we flew in from Guadalajara, Mexico. 

Josh: We were in Mexico City playing a show -- it was incredibly hot and humid.

Buzznet: Did you encounter any of the anti-emo violence? Have you heard about that?

James: No, that wasn't happening. But, the last time we were in Mexico there was some kind of protest going on.





Buzznet: So, what's your new album going to sound like?

Metric: Sounds like Fleetwood Mac playing dance-rock. It's going to be in your CD player, or your eight-track.

Buzznet: At a hot festival like Coachella how do you prepare yourselves for the heat?

Josh: We just came from Mexico City, so that's how we prepare. It's sooo hot there – that's how we prepare.

James: Our recommendation is to go spend four days in Mexico, then come out here and you'll feel fine. This place feels like a water park right now.

Buzznet: So, did you approach your upcoming album differently with any specific ideas in mind?

Emily: Well, we're always changing. This record is going to integrate all those aspects of what we've become, which is why we've been taking our time. We wanted to use this upcoming record to grow as musicians instead of capturing where we're actually at right now. It's more expansive, uplifting and positive.

Buzznet: Do you have anything special lined up for fans today?

Emily: Rocking their faces off -- we actually can't tell you.





Buzznet: What other bands are looking forward to seeing today?

Emily: We saw that Black Mountain and Autolux are playing. Both of those bands are in our pre-set CD. Holy F--- are awesome too.
 
Josh: I'd go see Does it Offend You, Yeah? That is, if their set wasn't a minute before we played.

Buzznet: How has the restructuring of major labels affected how you're going to market your new album?

Josh: Well, we've been doing our own thing from the beginning anyway. No one wanted us then, or now, but we're here. You just have to pay attention to what you're doing.

Buzznet: If you had three CDs to live with for the rest of your life which ones would they be?

Josh: We'll let Joules handle this one, he speaks for all of us.

Joules: I'd blindly reach into anything Neil Young has ever done and pick three.

Start your morning right with a cup of indie-infused, fair-trade coffee. Midlake's guitarist is expanding his palette with a completely new genre. Find out more ...

Midlake guitarist Eric Pulido is usually busy crafting Fleetwood Mac-inspired indie-rock, but now he's got other plans. Pulido recently launched the Cappulido Coffee Company, a brand that offers six blends of caffeinated bliss and, according to the company's Web site, is a fairly traded bean. Indulge in flavors like Sumatra, Eastern African and good old House Blend, or subscribe to the coffee and have it delivered to your home every month.

No news yet on the follow-up to 2006's The Trials of Van Occupanther, but here's the video for "Young Bride" to tide you over

Aussies Midnight Juggernauts were relatively unheard of when they toured North America with Justice last fall, but you wouldn't have guessed it on Friday. Their Coachella set fused indie-rock bombast with pulsating dance rhythms and synthesizers. The crowd looked overjoyed, sweaty and would have stayed for another hour given the chance. Midnight Juggernauts came across like a twenty-first century version of Xanadu, minus the roller skates of course.

I caught up with drummer Daniel Stricker for a quick interview:


Buzznet: That was an amazing set, where did all those people come from? What do you think it is about your music that people are connecting with?

Midnight Juggernauts: Well … it's the first U.S. festival we've ever played. When we finished our first run of the U.S. with Justice last year we had gotten great responses as the tour went forward, so most of these kids must have actually heard of us.

Buzznet: So how does the band prepare for a festival like Coachella?

Midnight Juggernauts: Well, we started off sort of mellow and just built it up throughout the set, so it's climactic. Normally, in a theater, we play more atmospheric songs. At a festival, the crowd wants to dance, so it's hot no matter what we do.





Buzznet: Do you feel like your music is more tied-in with the younger dance-rock crowd, than say a band like The Breeders?

Midnight Juggernauts: I think in some ways, definitely yes — we want people to have fun. I think it's important as a musician to make music for you, but at the same time we have such a broad range of influences. That's just one aspect.
 
Buzznet: You're album, Dystopia, has been out since the fall of last year, but won't be released until next month in North America. How does that factor into the equation?

Midnight Juggernauts: That's why it's crazy. I couldn't believe how many people were there because we don't have a physical release out yet in the U.S. I mean, you can get it online — or for free — but we didn't expect the tent to be filled like that.





Buzznet: You guys are done for the weekend. Are there any other bands you're looking forward to seeing?

Midnight Juggernauts: Yeah, we have some friends' bands playing: Cut Copy, Architecture in Helsinki and Justice. I REALLY want to see Portishead. Have you heard the record yet? It's so good. And obviously, I'd love to catch Prince.

Buzznet: If you had to pick three albums to live with for the rest of your life which would they be?

Midnight Juggernauts: The Pixies' Surfer Rosa, Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and … either a My Bloody Valentine record or Nirvana's Nevermind.

 
-Scott McDonald
 

The first time I caught the Nick Jr. show, Yo Gabba Gabba!, I was at a party for my friends' daughter's two-year birthday. Kids were everywhere: munching on pretzels, snacks and organic milk. But once Dad decided to turn on the series, everything in their little world came to a standstill.

The Shins performed an original song for Yo Gabba Gabba! called "It's Okay, Try Again," it airs May 23.


Click here to watch The Shins clip at Videogum!


Hey parents, don't forget to pick up some Yo Gabba Gabba! gear for your next parent-teacher conference:

Sunday looked empty when compared to the thousands of fans who flooded Coachella for last night's Prince extravaganza, but I wasn't worried. Acts like My Morning Jacket, Swervedriver and Autolux all created blissed-out worlds of rock for fans to get lost in, myself included. I also managed to catch stellar performances from Metric, Spiritualized, Stars, Holy F--- and I'm From Barcelona.

Thanks Coachella, you rocked me.



(Click here for Sunday's gallery.)



My Morning Jacket



Swervedriver



Autolux

Every year we seem to encounter Hacky Sack crews that just can't seem to give up on the '80s, and then there's these dudes.


Today's re-cap features legendary punk icon Mick Jones and his band Carbon/Silicon, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Man Man, The Teenagers, and Norway's 120 Days.


Click on any of the photos below to see Saturday's gallery, then check out Panasonicyouth's ridiculously good photo galleries HERE!



Mick Jones - Carbon/Silicon


Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks


Man Man

Trash bags came in handy on Friday, especially for Les Savy Fav's Tim Harrington, Midnight Juggernauts convinced the crowd that pounding electro-rock anthems can be elevated to new heights, and The Verve made their triumphant return after nine years.

Check out Friday's Coachella 2008 festival re-cap of Santogold, The Raconteurs, Diplo, Goldfrapp, The National, The Breeders, Jens Lekman, Dan Deacon, Battles, Sebastian and Red Kross.



Click on any of the photos below to see the rest of the Coachella gallery.


The Verve


The National


Jens Lekman

The Field (Alex Wilner) was scheduled to play Coachella this Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Gobi tent; unfortunately that performance has been canceled. According to a story on Pitchfork, immigration officials didn't allow Wilner's band, or their gear, into the U.S.

Willner offered an apology: "I'm truly sad to inform that my West Coast tour has been cancelled. My band didn't get into the country and I feel that I can't perform as interesting as I need to without them. Hopefully we'll be back on the East Coast pretty soon without any problems and do the new set up that I hope people will appreciate. My biggest apology goes out to all the people that were looking forward as much as us to attend the shows that were planned. Next time."

Field-less:

4.25: Saratoga Springs, NY - Skidmore College
4.27: Indio, CA - Empire Polo Field (Coachella)
4.30: San Francisco, CA - The Independent
5.1: Portland, OR - Holocene
5.2: Seattle, WA - Nectar Lounge
5.3: Vancouver, British Columbia - Open Studios
5.4: Victoria, British Columbia - Red Jacket Lounge
5.18: Minehead, England - Butlins Holiday Centre (Explosions in the Sky - ATP)
5.31: Montreal, Quebec - Mutek Festival
6.3: Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop
6.4: Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
6.6: Brooklyn, NY - Studio B
6.7: Allston, MA - Great Scott
6.13: Athens, Greece - Synch Festival
6.19-21: Barcelona, Spain - Sonar Festival
7.5: Stevenage, England - Wild in the Country Festival
7.25: Oulu, Finland - Qstock
8.9: London, England - Victoria Park (Field Day)


(Check out the Coachella community page.)

Before I get on my merry way to Coachella, I thought I'd let you know about a certain Japanese metal-trio called Boris. They've been known to rescue torn body parts and return them to fans, but this time they're back on the road supporting Smile — their latest full-length of blistering psych-metal.

Wah-Waaah ...

4.25: Bielefield, Germany @ AJZ
4.26: Copenhagen, Denmark @ Loppen
4.27: Aarhus, Denmark @ Voxhall
4.28: Gothenburg, Sweden @ Sticky Fingers
4.29: Oslo, Norway @ John Dee
4.30: Stockholm, Sweden @ Kagelbanan Sodra Teatrn
5.2: Helsinki, Finland @ Tavastia
5.3: Turku, Finland @ Klubi
5.6: Leipzig, Germany @ UT Connewitz
5.7: Berlin, Germany @ Magnet Club
5.8: Wroclaw, Poland @ Firlej
5.9: Prague, Czech Republic @ Palace Akropolis
5.10: Budapest, Hungary @ A38
5.11: Vienna, Austria @ Szene
5.12: Munich, Germany @ Feiewerk
5.13: Innsburck, Austria @ PMK
5.14: Milan, Italy @ Garage
5.15: Rome, Italy @ Circolo Degli Artisti Club
5.16: Ravenna, Italy @ Bronson
5.18: Winterthur, Switzerland @ Salzhaus
5.19: Stuttgart, Germany @ Club Schocken
5.20: Brussels, Belgium @ Ancienne Belgique
5.21: Paris, France @ Nouveau Casino
5.22: Nantes, France @ Olympic
5.23: Poitiers, France @ Le Confort Moderne
5.24: Toulouse, France @ Vents du Sud
5.26: Porto, Portugal @ Porto Rio
5.27: Lisbon, Portugal @ Zedobois
5.29: Barcelona, Spain @ Parc del Fòrum (Primavera Sound)
5.30: Clermont, France @ La Cooperative de Mai
5.31: Dudingen, Switzerland @ Kilbi Festival
6.24: San Diego, CA @ Casbah
6.25: Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse
6.27: Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves
6.28: Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
6.29: San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
7.1: Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
7.2: Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds
7.3: Orlando, FL @ The Social
7.5: Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
7.6: Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
7.8: Washington, DC @ Black Cat
7.9: Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
7.10: New York, NY @ Webster Hall
7.11: Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East
7.12: Montreal, Quebec @ La Sala Rosa
7.13: Ottawa, Ontario @ Barrymore
7.14: Toronto, Ontario @ Lee's Palace
7.15: Buffalo, NY @ Tralf
7.16: Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
7.17: Pittsburgh, PA @ Diesel
7.18: Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
7.19: Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall
7.20: Chicago, IL @ Union Park
7.22: Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
7.23: Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theatre
7.25: Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
7.26: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
7.29: Seattle, WA @ Neumo's

www.southernlord.com/band_BOR.php

The Liverpool quartet has blended more elements of dreamy guitar, hammering synthesizers and upfront vocals since their 2005 breakthrough, Witching Hour. On this brand new single they take their sound even further.

Much like the previously released download, "Black Cat," Ladytron sound huge from the start — lending its support to mountains of keys. Singer-keyboardist Helen Marnie rises to the top with an infectious melody during the chorus. If this is any indication of the group's direction on the forthcoming Velocifero, then please sign me up.


Download: "Ghosts"

In an article from the L.A. Times, the historic Capitol Records building may see a threat to their famous recording studio if a proposed condo project is built next door.

According to the article, "A Marina del Rey developer hopes to construct 93 condominiums, 13,442 square feet of commercial and office space and a 242-space underground parking lot next to the landmark, 13-floor, record-shaped building." The developer disagrees and "denied that the project would harm the reverberation equipment and has pledged to try to limit noise and vibration during construction."

The Les Paul designed studio, which is renown for recording and mixing albums from legends like The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, and even Elliott Smith, incorporates eight natural, underground reverb tanks. The chambers were built 30 feet underground — designed for unique vocal and various instrumental reverb effects. Capitol executives want to stop the multimillion-dollar project because they're worried that construction and noise will damage these underground reverb chambers.
 
"The sound in the studios is one that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. The echo chambers are as much a part of the Hollywood history as the Capitol Tower and the Hollywood sign," says senior vice-president Maureen B. Shultz in a letter to City Council members.


I can't disagree with that statement. Do you think the city should allow this construction project to proceed?

"Another Day" is taken from Jim, coming April 29 on Warp:

The last we heard from Beck, the L.A. artist was reportedly working with Danger Mouse on his follow-up to 2006's The Information. Other than that, there were a few surprise gigs in Los Angeles — which featured Radiohead producer-buddy Nigel Godrich — a reissue of Odelay and … that's about it.

The funk returns this summer as Beck just announced several festival appearances and a tour through Europe and the U.S., according to Pitchfork. Check out the dates below — including a show at the Hollywood Bowl with indie elites Spoon and Coachella-bound MGMT.

The Information:

6.25: Arendal, NO @ Hove festival
6.27: Berlin, DE @ Columbiahalle
6.28: St. Gallen, CH @ St. Gallen festival
6.30: Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
7.4: London, UK @ Hyde Park (O2 Wireless festival)
7.6: Werchter, BE @ Rock Werchter festival
7.7: Paris, FR @ Olympia
7.9: Madrid, ES @ La Riviera
8.22: San Francisco, CA @ Golden Gate Park (Outside Lands festival)
8.30: Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot festival
9.20: Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl #
9.27: Austin, TX @ Zilker Park (Austin City Limits)

# with Spoon and MGMT