Tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day – the happiest day of the year where comic shops give free comic books to good boys and girls all around the world. To mark the occasion – or perhaps it’s just coincidence – Daytrotter has posted a three-song session with Lightspeed Champion, whose secret identity Dev Hynes is an avowed comic book nut. He’s also currently running a contest in which fans are invited to remix “Everyone I Know Is Listening to Crunk” or shoot a video for it with a prize of €2000. Speaking as someone who has to get to the currency exchange in the next couple weeks, that’s not nothing. Lightspeed Champion is coming to town with a full band on June 11 for a show at at Lee’s Palace.

And other comic-related happenings… Iron Man, which is getting absurdly good reviews – especially for a Hollywood Summer blockbuster – opens today. Of course, going to see comic book movies on opening night is too geek for words – that’s why I’m going tomorrow. And I fully expect to see this new trailer for The Incredible Hulk before it. I actually watched them film a couple of the scenes in the trailer at the University of Toronto campus. It still boggles my mind how little they dressed up Yonge St in trying to pass it off as Harlem. Because no one would notice The Apollo Theatre isn’t actually beside Sam The Record Man.

Trailer: The Incredible Hulk

And some bits and pieces to crawl into the weekend.

NPR is streaming a Word Cafe interview and session with Drive-By Truckers.

The Los Angeles Times and Christian Science Monitor talk to She & Him.

The Independent profiles Tift Merritt.

There’s now a preview MP3 from the South San Gabriel half of the Dual Hawks double-album with Centro-Matic, out June 3. The latter outfit will roll into the Horseshoe on June 11.

MP3: South San Gabriel – “Trust To Lose”
MP3: Centro-Matic – “I, The Kite”

Featured on the cover of Exclaim this month, Kathleen Edwards.

Muzzle Of Bees asks five questions of Megan Hickey of The Last Town Chorus.

The Dallas News and The Pitch ask Steve Earle pretty much the same questions.

Prefix and LAist interview Aimee Mann, in town for an in-store at Sonic Boom on May 9 and then a proper gig at the Kool Haus on August 28. She releases @#%&! Smilers on June 3. Here’s a video.

Video: Aimee Mann – “31 Today”

Filter has a rather remarkable feature on Husker Du, interviewing all three members (separately, of course) about the band’s rise and fall. And more in the present, Drowned In Sound interviews Bob Mould.

WOXY has posted the video of a session Okkervil River recorded for them recently.

The National Post talks to Stephen Malkmus, who will be in town at the Phoenix on July 16.

Check out the video for Spiritualized’s “Soul On Fire”, the first single from Songs In A & E. Pitchfork has details on all the myriad formats that you can pick the record up in when it’s released on June 3. You may recall that Spiritualized albums have always come in elaborate packaging, though I don’t think they’ll ever top the medication blister-pack of Ladies & Gentlemen. That was brilliant. Wired has an interview with J Spaceman about his fixation with fire and they will be at day one of V Fest, September 6 at the Toronto Islands.

Video: Spiritualized – “Soul On Fire”

Check out the first MP3 from Sloan’s new album Parallel Play, out June 10. Via Prefix.

MP3: Sloan – “I’m Not A Kid Anymore”

Beatroute meets MIA. She’s at the Sonic Academy on June 2.

eye and Chart talk to Wye Oak, who are playing Sneaky Dee’s tonight as part of Over The Top.

Eef Barzalay, formerly of Clem Snide, will be in town for a show at the El Mocambo on June 27. His new record Lose Big is out June 15.

Beth Orton will be at the Danforth Music Hall on July 8.

JAM chats with Wilco bassist John Stirratt about the band’s recent and very welcome decision to expand their live repertoire to cover the band’s entire career.

Click Music interviews Lykke Li and Pitchfork talks to El Perro Del Mar, both of whom are playing the Mod Club on May 11.

Metric talk to Spinner about the state of their new record, slated for a Fall release. Update: The band also played a couple new songs for Spin, who are streaming the video of the performance.