It’s already been a good year for veteran acts touring through town, and the few weeks around the end of September and start of October just got that much more legendary with the announcement that influential-on-pretty-much-everyone British post-punk band Wire will be coming to Lee’s Palace on October 7.

But there’s no way the famously prickly outfit would hit the road on any sort of greatest hits/nostalgia tour so expect to hear lots from their just-released new album Object 47, but considering that their releases since getting back together in 1999 – the three Read & Burn EPs and the Send LP (which had overlapping material with the EPs) – have been very well received and only strengthened the band’s legacy rather than dilute, that’s not a bad thing at all. But that said, I’d be crushed if I went and didn’t hear “Outdoor Miner”… which I don’t expect I would.

Pitchfork has the rest of their Fall tour dates spanning both Europe and North America.

MP3: Wire – “One Of Us”
MP3: Wire – “In The Art Of Stopping”
MP3: Wire – “Dot Dash” (live at CBGB)
MP3: Wire – “3 Girl Rumba” (live at the Roxy)
MySpace: Wire

The Portland Mercury talks to Ray Davies, fans of whom are strongly urged to check out his cover story in the latest issue of Magnet. The Calgary Herald also has an interview and solicited some commentary about covers others have done of his work over the years.

Glide spends the day with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, leading up to their show at Dublin Castle (not really a castle, really in Dublin). They’re at the Kool Haus on October 2.

Billboard reports that the second wave of fancy-pants Replacements reissues covering their releases on Sire will hit stores on September 23. Featuring the mandatory bonus tracks, I’m more curious if they were able to scrub any of that unfortunate ’80s production off of some otherwise classic records. Oh, and there’s a good ‘Mats piece in the aforementioned issue of Magnet. For those of you who still read things on paper.

Also due out on September 23 and boasting Twin Cities roots is Stay Golden, a compilation from alt.country supergroup Golden Smog. According to Billboard, it will only feature material from the first two full-length albums – nothing from 2006’s Another Fine Day or their debut On Golden Smog covers EP. There’ll also be a demo and a Brian Wilson cover to round things out.

Mogwai’s Stuart Braithwaite reminisces about the days of Young Team with Drowned In Sound. They’ll release the Batcat EP on September 9, The Hawk Is Howling September 23 and play the Phoenix September 24.

Jambase, The Vancouver Sun and Georgia Straight chat with Aimee Mann, in town at the Kool Haus on August 28.

Blurt has a brief feature on Centro-Matic.

Finally, some firm news about Land Of Talk’s long, long, long-awaited full-length debut. It’s going to be called Some Are Lakes, it was recorded (and thus produced by?) Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and will be out on October 7 independently in Canada and via Saddle Creek (!) in the US. Exciting news, though it’s interesting to note that the record apparently features Andrew Barr of The Slip on drums – not Eric Thibodeau, who took over back there after the departure of original drummer Bucky Wheaton last Spring and is not mentioned or pictured in any press materials. Either way, the fact that they’re finally done with Applause Cheer Boo Hiss – as great a record as it was – and are ready to bring on something new is good news. No tour dates yet aside from a couple of Ontario festivals over the next month, but being the road warriors that they are, they’ll be back in our clubs before too long.

NOW has a bluffer’s guide to the lineup for this weekend’s Rogers Picnic, happening Sunday afternoon at Historic Fort York, as well as an interview with Born Ruffians, who will be the second act up.

I’ve been watching a crapload of movies lately, but haven’t been doing much in the way of reviews. So to mark the biggest movie day in the geekoid movie-goer’s calendar this year, some itty-bitty capsule reviews of my recent views.

Cloverfield (Trailer) – Surprisingly engrossing. I thought it was going to be lame but I was all into it, and it was fun seeing the utterly demolished NYC locales and thinking, “hey, I’ve been there”.
Be Kind Rewind (Trailer) – Much better than the reviews had led me to believe. Still quite slight, but more coherent than I thought it’d be and with a big, big heart.
In Bruges (Trailer) – Really enjoyed this – super black, super violent, wickedly funny in points and with lovely medieval scenery. What more could you ask for? Filter has an interview with director Martin McDonagh.
Atonement (Trailer) – I’d started reading the book some years ago but the library wanted it back before I got too far in – thus I didn’t really know what it was about. Probably the saddest film I’ve seen in ages.
The Bank Job (Trailer) – I love a good heist film and this was a decent heist film. A bit lacking in focus in trying to stay (vaguely) historically accurate and a bit sudden in the swings from comical to brutal, but a pretty good time. And the finale was in Paddington Station, which was my tube stop in London. Whoo!
Run Fatboy Run (Trailer) – Lightweight (pun intended) and predictable, but reasonably solid directorial debut from David Schwimmer. It also earns points for being set in many of the places I visited in London.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Trailer) – Never thought I’d see the day that I’d rate Mila Kunis above Kristen Bell, but this movie did it. Probably my favourite from the Apatow factory, with surprisingly well-rounded characters and no villains. Refreshing.
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut – While certainly better than the theatrical cut, still kind of awful though it’s probably not fair to judge it by current comic adaptation standards. But still worthy for erasing memories of the flying cellophane “S” (WTF?) and for reminding that Christopher Reeve really was perfect for the role.
300 (Trailer) – I’m under the impression that a lot of people thought this film was awful. I liked it. It satisfied on a very visceral level and I didn’t read any sort of socio-political agenda overtop. Just crazy violence.
Eastern Promises (Trailer) – Quite possibly the first Cronenberg film I’ve enjoyed start to finish. Intense and not at all ridiculous (except that bathhouse fight scene which was ridiculous in the best way).
Transformers (Trailer) – So this was really really really really… what’s the word? NOT GOOD. Not that I expected it to be, really, but to actually witness… Yeah. No.

And I’ve also been sinking my teeth into the first season of Flight Of The Conchords, which is flat out hilarious. Why didn’t anyone tell me?

MP3: Flight Of The Conchords – “Business Time”
MP3: Flight Of The Conchords – “Ladies Of The World”
Video: Flight Of The Conchords – “Ladies Of The World”

The first two-thirds of Joss Whedon’s Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog are already online, part the third arrives tomorrow. Don’t ask, just click.

Oh, and here’s something that’s been a long time in coming – the Watchmen trailer. It looks… expensive. Shame about the soundtrack, though. Smashing Pumpkins? Seriously?

Trailer: Watchmen