Headlines for July 24, 2009
By: Christina Ivanowich
Jay-Z, Yeah Yeah Yeahs Filling in for the Beastie Boys
Following the news that Adam Yauch (MCA) of the Beastie Boys has been diagnosed with cancer, forcing them to cancel their upcoming shows, festival and concert organizers have been scrambling to find replacements for their crowd-pleasing headliners. While rockers the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been recruited to fill the gap left in the Lollapalooza lineup (Chicago, August 7-9), Rolling Stone reports that rapper Jay-Z has stepped in for next weekend's All Points West Festival (New Jersey's Liberty State Park, July 31). Conveniently, Jay-Z's new album, The Blueprint³, will be released on September 11, and features a collaboration with indie darlings MGMT, who are also slated to perform at APW (so, keep your fingers crossed for a preview performance). Meanwhile, several other festivals are still looking for a replacement for the Beastie Boys, including Montreal's Osheaga and San Francisco's Outside Lands; so if you are a ticket holder, be sure to check their websites for updates.
Flight of the Conchords Release Sophomore Album
Formerly New Zealand's 4th most popular comedy music duo, Flight of the Conchords have risen to superstar status in the last couple of years, with their tremendously popular first album, comedy tours and HBO self-titled series. While it looks like the show has ended after only 2 seasons (we're still holding out hope for a third), Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement are not to be forgotten. Pitchfork confirms that, on October 20, the duo will be releasing their second album, I Told You I Was Freaky, a selection of some of their best songs from Season 2. The cover art is beautifully serene, but belies the true nature of their music, which can be witty, absurd, vulgar and down-right hilarious. If you aren't yet familiar with The Conchords, there's no better time than right now!
CYHSY's Alec Ounsworth: Too Busy for Album 3?
Alec Ounsworth is a busy man. In a recent interview with Pitchfork, the Clap Your Hands Say Yeah front-man discusses his upcoming albums, and what this could mean for the future of the group. Ounsworth will be releasing 2 new albums this year, his first solo album on October 20, entitled Mo Beauty, as well as a collaborative effort with members of Man Man, Dr. Dog and The Walkmen called Flashy Python and the Body Snatchers, due out later this summer. When asked about the future of Clap Your Hands, Ounsworth responded, "I don't really care to speak to that at length", but in a vague, round-about sort of way, he left the possibility there for recording with them in the future. Multi-tasking is great, Alec, but don't burn bridges...
