Alan Haworth reports:
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion have set a release date of April 9th for their long-awaited Plastic Fang, according to Matador Records' website. The follow-up to 1999's critically acclaimed Acme will be a double LP (or a really, really long CD). They have described the new tunes as "the huge straightforward rock record everyone's wished for since [1994's] Orange." Pitchfork even scored a tracklist for ya:

01 Sweet N Sour
02 She Said
03 Money Rock 'n' Roll
04 Killer Wolf
05 The Midnight Creep
06 Hold On
07 Down in the Beast
08 Shakin' Rock 'n' Roll Tonight
09 Over and Over
10 Mother Nature
11 Mean Heart
12 Point of View

In addition to the solid JSBX lineup of Spencer, Judah Bauer (axe), and Russell Simins (stixx), there are a gaggle of notable guest stars on Plastic Fang, including Bernie Worrell (P-Funk, Fatboy Slim), jazz legend Dr. John, and even the decidedly unfunky Elliott Smith. This album was produced by drummer Steve Jordan (Steely Dan, Keith Richards, even the Blues Brothers!) and mixed by Don Smith (Cracker, Paul Westerberg). Wow, from the Blues Brothers to the Blues Explosion, that's quite a ride.

In the meantime, you might check out the Blues Explosion on the road at one of these fine venues:

03-10 San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's
03-11 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey
04-24 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
05-01 Austin, TX - Stubb's
05-02 Dallas, TX - Gypsy Tea Room
05-03 Oklahoma City, OK - Will Rogers Theater
05-07 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
05-09 Chicago, IL - Metro
05-10 Bloomington, IN - Bluebird

.: Pitchfork Review: Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: XTRA Acme USA
.: Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: http://www.matadorrecords.com/jsbx

Brock Kappers & Gregg Sandheinrich report:
Proving that bad blood and legal battles are no match for the spirit of New Wave, the Talking Heads will reunite on March 18th for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in balmy Cleveland, Ohio. Set to air on the punk-as-fuck VH-1 Network on March 20th, Talking Heads will perform two yet-to-be-determined songs during the ceremony (you know, "Once in a Lifetime" and something else). The reunion will include all four original members-- bassist Tina Weymouth, guitarist Jerry Harrison, drummer Chris Frantz, and frontman David Byrne-- for the first time since the band called it quits in 1991. Byrne's "big white suit" is reportedly being dry cleaned after a rough eight-year stint in a Hard Rock Cafe outside of Tempe, Arizona.

The band's official website is even offering a contest to fans who guess the two songs correctly, with a prize from Weymouth's personal collection of Talking Heads "antiquities" as the bait. Man, won't it be weird seeing a band who so obviously influenced current bands like the Dismemberment Plan and the Strokes, now that they're at the age where they might be having strokes themselves?

Forming in 1974, the Talking Heads (along with fellow inductees the Ramones) inspired the New York punk scene and spearheaded a little movement called New Wave. The pinnacle moment in their career came in 1984 with the release of the Jonathan Demme-directed concert film Stop Making Sense, which set a new standard for how many people you can cram on a stage. In 1996, the real "suits" came out to play after Byrne filed lawsuits to prevent the other members from touring as Talking Heads without him. In classic rock 'n' roll style, the case was quietly settled out of court.

Given the Hall of Fame's penchant for show-ending "all-star jams," the lineup of new inductees-- Talking Heads, the Ramones, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Isaac Hayes, Brenda Lee, and Gene Pitney-- may actually send the Earth spinning off its axis, or uh, it will just be really, really weird. Plus, are the Ramones really playing without Joey? Here's hoping Byrne steps into those big black Docs before Tom freakin' Petty starts belting "I Wanna Be Sedated." You just haven't earned it yet, baby.

.: Talking Heads: www.talking-heads.net
.: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: http://www.rockhall.com

Brock Kappers reports:
Shit-hot Brit-proggers Elbow (not to be confused with the Shins, or Crooked Fingers) are coming to the States to bring their miserable-but-in-a-good-way sound to many pale, fragile young scenesters. Be sure to dress warm, because these Manchester lads pack a cold sound that runs the gamut in comparisons-- from Built to Spill (correct) to Doves (correct) to Coldplay (so very incorrect). The tour is in support of their latest album, Asleep in the Back, which has been eleven years (!) in the making.

V2 Records is releasing two album tracks, "Asleep in the Back" and "Coming Second" as a three-part, double A-side single in the UK. The first two CDs include non-LP tracks "Stumble" and "Puckfair" and a remix of "Coming Second" by Misery Lab. The third part is a DVD-ROM with live renditions of both single tracks, a Fink remix of "Coming Second," a photo gallery and many other interactive goodies.

Elbow are the toast of the town right now (actually, only the 13 towns below), so catch them early to get those scene points. They are bringing along the London-based South for support and guidance.

02-19 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
02-20 San Diego, CA - Casbah
02-25 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe
02-26 Portland, OR - Berbati's Pan
02-28 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
03-02 Chicago, IL - Double Door
03-03 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
03-04 Toronto, OT - Lee's Place
03-06 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
03-08 Philadelphia, PA - North Star Bar
03-09 Cambridge, MA - TT The Bear's
03-11 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
03-13 Atlanta, GA - Cotton Club

.: Pitchfork Review: Elbow: Asleep in the Back
.: Elbow: http://www.elbow.co.uk
.: V2: http://www.v2music.com

Catherine Lewis reports:
Mike Doughty (the Soul Coughing frontman formerly known as M. Doughty) will be embarking on his fourth solo tour this month, hitting venues on the East Coast and Midwest. Doughty, who tours with only an acoustic guitar, treats audiences to acoustic versions of Soul Coughing tunes and new material (including the classic "Firetruck," a tune written by a four-year-old. Or so he claims).

In addition to the two-week musical tour, Doughty will perform in "The 24 Hour Plays L.A." benefit at the Henry Fonda Theater in Los Angeles on the 24th of February. Proceeds from the show will benefit the World Trade Center Relief Fund. Doughty has participated in previous 24-hour plays both as a writer and as a musical performer between plays. This is not Doughty's first flirtation with the written arts-- he has written several articles for the New York Press and has published a book of poetry, Slanky. Tour dates:

02-13 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse Music Hall
02-14 New York, NY - Knitting Factory
02-15 Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of the Living Arts
02-18 Somerville, MA - 608
02-20 Cleveland, OH - The Odeon
02-21 Detroit, MI - Magic Bag
02-22 Newport, KY - The Southgate House
02-23 St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill
02-24 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theater (The 24-Hour Plays)
02-25 Chicago, IL - Double Door
02-27 Minneapolis, MN - The Woman's Club
02-28 Madison, WI - Stage Door at the Orpheum

Doughty is writing songs and recording demos for an upcoming album, the follow-up to his self-released Skittish, which was recorded by the mysterious Kramer in 1995 or 1996. He also appears on the recent They Might Be Giants album Mink Car, on the song "Mr. Xcitement."

Fans who are eager to hear more Soul Coughing can pick up Lust in Phaze: The Best of Soul Coughing out on Rhino/Slash Records March 19th. This record delivers 20 songs from the Cough's three albums, as well as singles and soundtrack contribuions released from 1994 to 1998. Doughty will add track-by-track notes, and New York Press Editor John Strausbaugh is contributing a band history. Tracklist:

01 Bus to Beelzebub 02 Sugar Free Jazz 03 True Dreams of Wichita 04 Screenwriter's Blues 05 Janine 06 Blueeyed Devil 07 Buddha Rhubarb Butter 08 Unmarked Helicopters 09 Super Bon Bon 10 Soundtrack to Mary 11 Lazybones 12 Paint 13 Collapse 14 The Idiot Kings 15 Rolling 16 St. Louise Is Listening 17 $300 18 Circles 19 Super Bon Bon (Propellerheads Radio Edit) 20 Casiotone Nation (live)

.: Pitchfork Review: Soul Coughing: El Oso
.: Mike Doughty: http://www.mikedoughty.com
.: Rhino: http://www.rhino.com
.: 24-Hour Plays: http://www.24hourplays.com