Monday, September 10th, 2001

Brandon Dameshek reports:
Fasten your pocket protectors, because the two Johns are preparing to rock your neighborhood with their annual geek parade. They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh and John Linnell are preparing to embark on an all-out U.S. tour in support of their new album, Mink Car, due out September 11th on Restless. The music industry predicts an out-cropping of "Weird Al" Yankovic die-hards and an increase in national accordion sales. And, no strangers to repeating themselves, the guys are bringing back the "big heads" as a backdrop for this tour.

09-12 Boise, ID - Big Easy Concert House
09-13 Seattle, WA - Moore Theater
09-14 Eugene, OR - Eugene Celebration 2001
09-16 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
09-18 San Jose, CA - The Usual
09-19 San Francisco, CA - Warfield
09-20 Sacramento, CA - Sacramento University
09-21 Santa Cruz, CA - Catalyst
09-22 Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern
09-23 Scottsdale, AZ - Cajun House
09-26 Austin, TX - Stubbs
09-27 Dallas, TX - Gypsy Tea Room
09-28 Baton Rouge, LA - The Varsity
09-29 New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
10-08 Kansas City, KS - Beaumont
10-09 Omaha, NE - Royal Grove
10-10 Minneapolis, MN - First Ave
10-12 Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
10-13 Sauget, IL - Pops
10-15 Madison, WI - Barrymore Theater
10-17 DeKalb, IL - House of Blues
10-18 Urbana, IL - Canopy Club
10-19 Chicago, IL - Riviera
10-20 Toronto, ON - Guvernment
10-21 Cleveland, OH - Odeon
10-23 Ann Arbor, MI - Michigan Theater
10-24 Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
10-25 Pittsburgh, PA - Club Laga
10-27 Providence, RI - Lupo's
10-29 New Haven, CT - Toad's Place
10-30 Boston, MA - Avalon

.: Pitchfork Review: They Might Be Giants: Long Tall Weekend
.: They Might Be Giants: http://www.tmbg.com

Michael Ulrich reports:
Moth Wranglers, the bi-coastal collaboration between multi-instrumentalist/producer and San Francisco resident Chris Xefos and songwriter LD Beghtol, is readying their debut full-length for October release on Magnetic Motorworks records. You may remember Chris Xefos as a major instrumental contributor to alterna-veteran group King Missile and LD Beghtol from his lead role with NYC pop-ensemble Flare, as well as his numerous vocal contributions to the Magnetic Fields' effulgent 69 Love Songs.

The project, which explores the duo's affection for obscure pop histrionics and esoteric orchestration, also features guest contributions from Magnetic Motorworks founders and Camper Van Beethoven alumni Victor Krummenacher and Jonathon Segal, the Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt and Claudia Gonson, Alison Levy Faith of the Loud Family, Ken Stringfellow of the Posies, and Bill Tutton of Geraldine Fibbers.

.: Moth Wranglers: http://www.mothwranglers.com
.: Magnetic Motorworks: http://www.magneticmotorworks.com

Meredith Levin reports:
According to Saddle Creek Records, Son, Ambulance, aka Joe Knapp, aka Conor Oberst's roommate and partner-in-crime on the Oh Holy Fools EP, is preparing for the release of his debut full-length album. Euphemystic hits stores on September 11th, and features Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst's vocals on the album's closing track. To promote the album, Knapp and company will be hitting the road, doing a handful of dates with Azure Ray on their way to NYC for their CMJ Showcase.Dates:

09-10 Athens, GA - Caledonia
09-11 Atlanta, GA - Echo Lounge
09-12 Carrboro, NC - GO! Studios
09-13 Richmond, VA - Hole in the Wall
09-15 New York, NY - Knitting Factory (CMJ Showcase)
09-16 Wilkes-Barre, PA - Cafe Metropolis
09-17 Cleveland, OH - Speak in Tongues
09-20 Peoria, IL - House Show (1704 West Ayres)

.: Saddle Creek: http://www.saddle-creek.com

Matt Sab reports:
Sometimes, spontaneous combustion produces great rock and roll music. Other times, slow-brewing the mix to get it just right does the trick. Pretty much anyone who's ever heard Fisherman's Blues by the Waterboys realizes it is a special record. Instanteously timeless, the 1988 release emerged from a set of epic recording sessions. Random facts: 303 days of studio time, 374 reels of tape, 41 musicians, 13 studios (in four countries!), 41 musicians, 159 (!) tracks recorded, 60 of which were mastered.

Now, thirteen long years later, Too Close to Heaven: The Unreleased Fisherman's Blues Sessions will be released in the U.K and Europe on September 24th. It features 10 songs from the sessions, which means there's still enough songs for several more compilations. A U.S. version should arrive sometime in 2002. Tracks:

01 On My Way to Heaven (Don't You Wanna Go?)
02 Higher in Time
03 The Ladder
04 Too Close to Heaven
05 Good Man Gone
06 Blues for Your Baby
07 Custer's Blues
08 A Home in the Meadow
09 Tenderfootin'
10 Lonesome Old Wind

.: Waterboys: http://www.mikescottwaterboys.com/