Honestly, I was tempted to not report this one… at least not until I’d secured tickets for myself. But I’m just too damn nice to do that, so here you go. Neko Case will be previewing her new album, Fox Confessor Brings The Flood, with a super-intimate show at the Rivoli on January 4. That’s right, the Rivoli. That little place that holds maybe 150 people. For serious. Tickets are $20 and go on sale today at 10AM – I’m biting the bullet and going Ticketmaster to make sure I snag one, but will probably swing by Rotate after work to get at least another, so I may have one to sell if anyone misses out.

Update: Okay, the $7.50 service charge has dissuaded me… I will be making a bee-line for Rotate This after work and crossing my fingers.

Though Fox Confessor isn’t out till March 7, there’s already been a tase of the new material via a radio session she did for WNYC back in November. It’s from this broadcast that these two mp3s come, courtesy of Home In Your Radio. The new official bio is also up at Anti and Starpulse got to talk to Neko about the new record at the end of November.

MP3: Neko Case – “The Fox Confessor Brings The Flood” (live @ WNYC)
MP3: Neko Case – “At Last” (live @ WNYC)

Oh, and I have no idea why Ticketmaster lists the January 4 show as being Matt Pond PA – the event description is all Neko… But Matt Pond PA are coming to town with Dios Malos on February 11 at the Mod Club (how’s that for a segue?). Also, Texan family act Eisley return to Toronto for a show at The Mod Club on April 3 ($13.50). They’re even more genetically pure now – bassist/best friend Jon left the band this Summer and has been replaced by a cousin, so every surname in the band is now DuPree. That’s almost sinister. And there is speculation that the March 25 Magnolia Electric Co show will also feature Destroyer, supporting Destroyer’s Rubies. No confirmation on this or venue, but I’ll keep you posted. And speaking of shows, JAM! says I wasn’t at a single one of the best club shows in Toronto this year. Boo.

Release news – Sweden’s Concretes will release In Colour, the follow-up to their 2004 self-titled debut on March 21. It was produced by Saddle Creek’s resident wunder-producer Mike Mogis. And thanks to Anthony for confirming in the comments that Wheat are indeed working on a fourth record entitled Everyday I Said A Prayer For Kathy And Made A One Inch Square, which should be out in late 2006. Apparently this announcement came via MySpace but I can’t find it – maybe it came as a bulletin to friends? Anyway, Anthony asked if I could make the Nude version of Per Second Per Second Per Second Every Second available to the general populace and I would but don’t really know how to. FLAC? Torrents? What? And scratch Nellie McKay’s Pretty Little Head from your release calendar – originally scheduled to come out January 3, it is now in hiatus-land as Nellie has left Columbia Records over the dispute about the album length. Full details at the LA Times (Bugmenot). Via Achtung Baby!.

Wondering why you couldn’t get tickets for any of the Stars shows this past weekend? It’s because The Toronto Star took em all… but at least they had the courtesy to write up a review – for all six of the shows.

Glide presents more artists’ best-of lists for 2005 and Filter, whose artists lists series is still ongoing, lets their own writers put their picks in the spotlight. Art-rock rules Tiny Mix Tapes’ albums of the year list (and be sure to check out all the extra year-end features along the side) and Zoilus has his 2005 retrospective up.

np – The Hold Steady / Separation Sunday