Everyone covers Guided By Voices

Michael LavineWhen Guided By Voices announced they were calling it a day back in Summer of 2004, I marked the occasion with a tribute cover of the week which basically consisted of me scraping together all of the GBV covers I could find and tossing them onto the internet (where they mostly came from in the first place). So it seems appropriate that as Guided By Voices have reunited and will play tonight as the grand finale of Matador at 21 in Las Vegas, I should bust out some/most of those same tracks to, again, mark the occasion.

And interestingly, many of the artists who are represented are also returning to active duty following long breaks. The Strokes, after an extended hiatus and countless solo projects, are back in the studio and Julian Casablancas has announced their fourth album will be released on March 11, 2011 though it’s doubtful anyone will actually try to hold them to that. Spoon have become one of the biggest and most reliable rock acts in indiedom, releasing Transference earlier this year and also appearing at Matador @ 21. For many years, Portastatic was Mac McCaughan’s primary creative outlet but now that Superchunk is back with Majesty Shredding. their first album in a decade – they too are celebrating their tenure on Matador in Vegas this weekend. Vancouver’s Salteens are putting out their first album in seven years in Grey Eyes, due October 12. Jimmy Eat World’s new record Invented is their first in three years; they’re at the Kool Haus in Toronto on October 17. And finally, Jon Auer’ Posies have just released Blood/Candy, their second post-reunion record but still first in five years.

Odds of any more Guided By Voices remain slim to none, but Robert Pollard will surely keep putting out at least a dozen records a year. Give or take.

MP3: The Strokes – “A Salty Salute”
MP3: Spoon – “Melted Pat”
MP3: Portastatic – “Echoes Myron”
MP3: The Salteens – “Motor Away”
MP3: Jimmy Eat World – “Game Of Pricks”
MP3: Jon Auer – “Gold Star For Robot Boy”
Video: Guided By Voices – “A Salty Salute” (live, 2007)
Video: Guided By Voices – “Auditorium/Motor Away”
Video: Guided By Voices – “Game Of Pricks” (live)
Video: Guided By Voices – “Gold Star For Robot Boy” (live)
Stream: Guided By Voices – “Echoes Myron”

Billy PavoneWho: The Walkmen
What: Veteran New York art-rock act who rose from the ashes of Jonathan Fire*Eater, a fact which probably means nothing to most of their fans.
Why: They released their sixth album Lisbon in September to some of the best reviews of their career.
When: Saturday, October 9, 2010
Where: The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto (early show – doors @ 7PM)
Who else: Support comes from AA Bondy and Blood Feathers
How: Tickets for the show are $18.50 in advance but courtesy of Collective Concerts, I’ve got two pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see The Walkmen” in the subject line and your full name in the body; contest will close at midnight, October 5.
What else: The Phoenix has a feature piece on the band and Spinner talks to them about the Inteface session they recorded for them.

MP3: The Walkmen – “Stranded”

MySpaceWho: Gorillaz
What: Animated and largely unclassifiable musical project helmed by Damon Albarn formerly/currently of Blur and with a pedigree of participants that includes The Clash, Snoop Dogg and Talking Heads.
Why: Having given up waiting for the technology that would allow them to perform in their wholly animated guises, the band will head out to North America this Fall in fleshy form in support of their third album Plastic Beach.
When: Thursday, October 14, 2010
Where: The Air Canada Centre in Toronto
Who else: Pharrell Williams and compatriots in N.E.R.D. will open things up.
How: Tickets for the show range from $49.50 to $95 plus fees in advance, but courtesy of Livenation, I’ve got three pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want Gorillaz” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, October 7.
What else: The National Post talks to Damon Albarn about the challenges of playing live with a virtual band

Video: Gorillaz – “Stylo”