Robert Plant Dives Into Led Zeppelin Tunes During New Orleans Jazz Fest 2011 - Spinner

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His days as a Byronic love god may be long past him, butRobert Plantproudly wore his Led Zeppelin past on his T-shirt sleeve during a stirring 90-minute set to close the first day of the New Orleans Jazz& Heritage Festival on Friday (April 29).

Dressed in a blue T-shirt, blue jeans and cowboy boots, with a chartreuse feather hanging from his right belt loop, a relaxed Plant included no fewer than six Led Zeppelin tunes in his set with his new outfit,Band of Joy, including show opener, a shaggy 'Black Dog.' In some cases, the Americana roots collective turned the Zep songs on their sides, such as on the countrified 'Houses of the Holy' or the spooky 'Black Country Woman,' bolstered by Byron House on upright bass. Other times, they replicated them in fairly direct fashion, as with the sinewy 'Ramble On.'

Much of the rest of the set drew from Plant's latest album, 'Band of Joy,' including 'Angel Dance,' a gorgeous take on Richard and Linda Thompson's 'House of Cards' with Plant, multi-instrumentalistDarrell Scottand singer-songwriterPatty Griffin's three-part harmony soaring high above the melody; and a hypnotic, dark 'Monkey,' originally recorded by Low.

The Band of Joy is a jubilant one indeed with a staggering amount of talent, including bassist House, Scott, drummerMarco Giovino, and Griffin, who serves as Plant's main vocal foil during the show, and producer-guitarist-artistBuddy Miller, whom Plant referred to as"the captain of our ship."

And he's steering a seaworthy vessel, seemingly capable of backing Plant on whatever part of his storied career he chooses to draw from. Giovino's thunderous drumming turned Plant solo track, 'I'm in the Mood' into a tribal stomp, while Griffin beautifully played the part of Alison Krauss on a delicate version of 'Please Read The Letter,' from Plant and Krauss's Grammy-snaring 'Raising Sand.'

After exhorting the audience to 'Be Happy' and delivering a shout out to Jeff Beck, who had preceded Plant on the Acura Stage, Plant closed with a snaky take on Led Zep's 'Gallows Pole.'

Watch Robert Plant's 'Please Read the Letter'

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Liz Phair Defends 'Funstyle,' Claims It Wasn't a 'Stunt for Press' - Spinner

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As a child, singer-songwriterLiz Phairgrew bored of practicing for her music lessons and made up her own renditions of popular songs to throw her parents off her trail. This early independence offers much insight into her fearless spirit, a spirit that has compelled Phair to push musical boundaries and sidestep the cookie-cutter image which female artists often fall victim to.

Given her rebellious nature, Phair's recent endeavor, 'Funstyle,' shouldn't come as a shock to the music world. After shaking off criticism from reviewers and fans, the Connecticut native is ready for some positive 'Funstyle' press. And she'd like to reiterate that people shouldn't take the album so seriously -- it's called 'Funstyle,' for Pete's sake.

Phair tells Spinner she wouldn't do a thing differently, with the latest disc or her career, if given the chance. She discusses the liberation of not being tied to a record label, how she's fought to gain respect as a woman in the music industry, and why she'd love advice from the lateTupacon her recent rapping effort.

Now that 'Funstyle' has been out for some time, what has the reaction been from fans?

All the hyperbole and freak out has died down, and I think people are enjoying it more. It was a departure, stylistically. I enjoy doing stuff like that and I tried to name it in such a way that would kind of explain it -- 'Funstyle' should, theoretically, clue people into the fact that it's experimental and that it was really organically born. It wasn't some kind of stunt for press. It was basically me reacting to one of my new jobs, which is scoring for TV, and long hours in the studio where we got slap-happy.

Everything on 'Funstyle' is on the fly. It is like first/second take only on every instrument. It's sort of me saying,"You, too, can make music. Here's what you can do with like three hours and an engineer. Try it."

You've changed your musical style many times. Are you the happiest where you are right now?

I'm very happy right now but I've been really happy at other points, too. I love the process of making art, and that's sort of where I get my highest happiness. This is definitely a good period for me. I like being a little out of my depth. I love to jump in the deep end, so I'm always happiest when I'm allowed to do that.

Watch Liz Phair's Video for 'Supernova'
How does it feel to be a successful female musician in such a competitive and often male-dominated industry?

I think it's awesome. It has not been an easy road by any stretch, no matter what people think. I think it takes a lot of strength for woman sometimes because we're breaking ground all the time rather than going down these tried and true paths. We don't get places as fast as the guys do, and it means that it doesn't look as impressive even though sometimes it's even more impressive. I'm so proud of us for continuing on. And every one of us that takes any choice to be the person she wants to be is helping raise us all up.

So you think it's harder to gain respect as an artist when you're a woman?

I do. If you saw a bunch of women sitting around in a room talking and a guy came in and sat on the chair, he could join the conversation but he might say something that we're all like,"Uh, yeah, whatever,"and then we all get back to what we're doing. That's what it's like to be female in the music business.

How does being a mom influence your music career?

I'm touring in short bursts where I'll go out for one or two weeks then I'll come home for awhile -- and that's definitely because I'm a mother. I learned early on that a long time away from my son was bad for him and bad for me. His grades may start slipping; he might get in trouble at school.

What can fans expect from a live Liz Phair show?

I like to rock and we play stuff from all my records, a lot of 'Guyville' stuff. We kind of designed the set around fan favorites and some new material that isn't released. For me, playing live now has nothing to do with selling my new record or fulfilling my career obligations. It's really about seeing people that have followed my career and being able to feed off that energy and play the songs that we all know very well and watch people singing the lyrics back to me.

Watch Liz Phair Perform 'Jeremy Engle' Live
Does it feel liberating to not be dealing with a record label right now?

Yeah, it really does. And it's scary as s--- because there's no safety net, and there's definitely stuff that goes wrong without all that money and power. You never know if you're gonna get people to come to the show or what the hell's gonna happen next. I'm sort of uniquely designed to be able to thrive in that kind of environment. I miss the glamour; I miss the photo shoots; I miss the security of having people that will put the ducks in a row. But I sort of take to this {now}.

What inspires you to take such musical risks? Have you always been a risk-taker?

No. It's weird. I was kind of shy when I was young. I'm not sure why; I don't know where it started. I seem to need that adrenaline rush in one way or another, whether it's learning how to surf or taking risks musically; it's sort of a joy of my life.

Have you received any feedback on 'Bollywood' from established rappers in the industry?

Tupac contacted me from the other side {laughs}. No, but that would be great. That would be frickin' awesome.

If you had to choose any other job, what would it be?

I feel like I've got a multiple career life ahead of me if I get to live that long. I wanna be a writer, maybe a photographer for when I'm an old lady. I'd also like to get out more in the world. I don't really want to depart the planet without really having known it.

Has scoring for TV shows been a fun direction for you to take your career in?

Scoring is really satisfying because it sort of marries the visual with the musical and it allows me to kind of create. The way I do my records is like an expression of who I am and whatever I'm into at that point. When you're looking at characters onscreen and you're working on a show, your job is to sort of do that for them.

What's the worst job that you had trying to establish your career as an artist?

I did an internship one year at my dad's hospital and I worked in the psych wards as an art therapist apprentice for a few months. The people were great but that environment, the ascetics in the middle of summer after suffering through a year indoors in Chicago, locked in, was like death to the artist in me.

What made you cover 'Wild Thing' on 'Girlysound'?

I started my music career when I was very young by not wanting to practice my piano pieces that I was supposed to practice for my teacher, or not wanting to practice the songs I was supposed to practice for my guitar teacher. What I would do is kind of pretend to be practicing while my mom was cooking dinner and my dad was in the other room so they knew I was playing. But I would start to sort of diverge from the piece and write it into my own. I think 'Wild Thing' is sort of an extension into that impulse, where I take something and sort of rewrite it for myself.

It was about a suburban girl that was a man-eater and spent too much and figured out how to get her way all the time -- which was something that I strove for but didn't quite achieve. I thought that would be a pretty bitchin' life.

Watch Liz Phair Perform 'Wild Thing' Live

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Lykke Li's 'Meltdown' Led to Axed Gigs - Spinner

Rob Verhorst, Redferns

Swedish indie-pop songstressLykke Liis having a bit of trouble these days after suffering a"meltdown"while on tour. As Spinnerpreviously reported, Li canceled a series of European shows due to a back injury, but as she admitted on herwebsite, the injury may have stemmed from a minor mental breakdown.

"I had some kind of complete meltdown on Marks&Spencer in Glasgow on one of those very rare days off while on route,"she wrote."I was standing at an isle contemplating life and death and the struggles of being an artist/soul/woman/human being when the overbearingness sneaked up on me like Batman himself. I fell to the floor and so did the raspberries I had in my hand, the troubled breathing lead to some severe lumbago which meant I couldn't move and had to lay straight for a few days."

"In a valium haze, I took a flight back to my loved ones where a strong man cracked my holy spine loose and I was soon able to walk again,"she continued."Little did I know it was my troubled hip joint that was the problem in the first place, so had to go back to a horizontal mode. My body then decided Easter was the perfect time to let a god damn flu blossom out, so I spent the whole Easter praying to God to get better, drinking ginger tea while watching 'Apocalypse Now' wishing nothing more then that I could have been on that stage with you."

Aside from resting her back and witnry pipes, Li's new 'Wounded Rhymes' album is gaining a lot of TV love, as the singer was recently featured on 'Later ... With Jools Holland' and her song 'I Follow Rivers' was covered by the cast of 'Glee.' Here's hoping to a speedy recovery.

Watch Lykke Li's Video for 'Little Bit'

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Alice Cooper to Perform Entire Concert in Holographic Form - Spinner

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Rock 'n' Roll Hall of FamerAlice Cooperis set to reprise his role as a hologram, performing an entire ghostly gig in London while the man behind the curtain actually pulls the strings from Hollywood, California. And his entire band is gonna join him.

Touted as the"U.K.'s first holographic 4D rock gig,"this will actually be Cooper's second time breaking a record in holographic form -- in 1973, avant-garde artist Salvadore Dali turned Cooper's likeness into the world's first 3D holographic sculpture. If you're wondering, no, C-3PO didn't do a similar thing with Princess Leia until four years later. And that one took place in a galaxy far, far away.

The concert, billed as the Jagermeister Ice Cold Event, is timed in conjunction with Cooper's new box set, 'Old School: 1964 - 1974,' and to celebrate, Cooper even put his old band back together. It'll be the first time that band appears -- in the flesh or otherwise -- live in the U.K. since 1972. The event takes place on May 11 at Battersea Power Station.

"We couldn't resist this,"says Cooper in a statement appearing on hisofficial website."Working with Jagermeister to appear as holograms on the other side of the Atlantic is the ultimate experience, a cutting-edge conjuring trick that celebrates the future and our history. We can't wait to see the results."

We can only assumed that by"see,"he's speaking metaphorically.

Watch Alice Cooper Perform 'School's Out' With the Muppets


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Kings of Leon Plan to Take Band of Horses Out Drinking on Summer Tour - Spinner

Theo Wargo, WireImage

We're not really sure of the drinking habits thatBand of Horsesmay or may not have, personally -- for all we know, they might not even touch the stuff. However, that could all change this summer when Band of Horses open up forKings of Leonon a nationwide tour of America's finest summer sheds.

"We're all big fans of Band of Horses and have tried to get them for every tour, but it hasn't worked out until now,"Kings of Leon'sNathan Followill(pictured) tells Spinner."They are really sweet guys and we can't wait to turn them into alcoholics."

After suffering a minor setback last summer whenpigeon's poopedon their parade, Kings of Leon have continued to prove themselves worthy of their throne. Earlier this month, they pulled off another successful coup, storming the main stage headlining slot atCoachellawhich, Followill says, was"a blast. The crowd was a little sunburned but other than that it was a great night. Hydrate, people!"

Talking of hydration, Followill and his fellow band of brothers aren't kidding when they say they plan to drive Band of Horses to drink. This summer's tour with both bands is a two-month outing, which leaves all too much time for trouble. Not that Kings of Leon are rock's bad boys, per-se."We always try to play a local golf course or fly fish to keep things somewhat normal,"admits Followill. But..."if that doesn't work, we try to turn the opening band in alcoholics at local bars."

Looks like this could very well be the rock 'n' roll tour of the summer. The potential debauchery kicks-off on July 25 in Orange Beach, Ala. and wraps up in Seattle, Wash. on Sept. 12, just in time for last call.

Watch Kings of Leon's 'Radioactive' Video


Watch Kings of Leon's Sessions Performance

Watch Band of Horses Live From Grand Central Terminal

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Steve Earle Talks 'Treme,' the BP Oil Spill and Coping With His Father's Death - Spinner

Ted Barron

It's a busy spring forSteve Earle. The country legend is currently filming new episodes of HBO's 'Treme' in New Orleans and his newT Bone Burnett-produced album, 'I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive,' will be released on April 26. The record shares a title with Earle's debut novel, which is due out May 12 and tells the story of a corrupt doctor who's haunted by the ghost ofHank Williams.

Spinner recently had a chance to speak with Earle about his projects, all of which are related to New Orleans and mortality, to varying degrees. In the candid interview below, he reveals how the death of his father inspired him to examine his life and eventual death, why this period of self-discovery improved his relationship with his children, and how he's seen the BP oil spill affect the residents of New Orleans.

How has filming the second season of 'Treme' been?

It's been going great. I'm in it a lot more {this season}. It's been more work, more fun and more music, which is the biggest difference between this and 'The Wire' for me. I get to play music and I get to write some stuff for it. There's a new song that came about because of it and I get to play some music on the street. The best thing about this gig is I get to spend a bunch of time in New Orleans.

Your new album, 'I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive,' features the song 'The Gulf of Mexico.' Was that written while you were shooting 'Treme'?

Oh yeah. Without 'Treme,' that song doesn't happen. That song is absolutely useless in 'Treme' because the second season of 'Treme' takes place 14 months after the storm. 'The Gulf of Mexico' -- we were at the end of the season, we were all feeling pretty good, and pretty good about ourselves. We were all patting ourselves on the back because the locals seemed to like the show and we liked the show, we liked what we had been working on.

Then at the very end of it, when we were filming episode eight or nine, the spill happens. You could watch folks that lived here that were really starting to feel good about themselves and about the city, and it put this big huge question mark about"What's going to happen to us now? What more can happen?"

People come here to eat shrimp and oysters. As it turns out, they're still here -- the oysters are a lot smaller and they cost twice as much money. The shrimp have been affected a lot less but they're still more expensive. I eat the oysters and shrimp in solidarity, and some of the s--- I've done to my body, I'm not sweating the oil all that much. But it's like, I'm not sure it's safe. I can't promise people and I'm not sure I want my kid eating it.

Steve Earle Performs 'This City'

Did the songwriting come from a place of solidarity or anger or both?

Both. People around here want the drilling again to start immediately, and it's sort of telling the story of people that are dependent in it. I believe that they're being had, that they're being lied to, but I do understand. It's about the hope that those people might get jobs, and they just don't want that hope taken out of their lives.

We're going to have to use less {oil} or things are going to go badly. But you are dealing here with people that make a living from it and I try to be sympathetic to that. I do understand why they believe what they believe. I don't think they're bad people. The people that are in BP are bad people. I truly believe that. But I don't think the people that work on the oil rigs are. I think they're just trying to feed their families.

You've said in other interviews that this album and your novel were inspired by mortality. Why did you write about that now?

My father died three years ago, just as I was in what I thought was the final march in the novel. These songs were written over three years, which is the longest I've ever taken to write a record. The record and the last half of the novel were written through the same three years, so there was no way for them to not be about the same thing.

Were any of the songs specifically sparked while you were writing the novel.

Yeah, the first three for sure because I was actively working on my novel. It's not like they're characters in a book that are speaking through the songs of this; it's not a concept record. When my dad died, the thing about the experience that was hard was everybody else dealing with it, my brothers and my sisters and my mom. My reaction was a little different to other people in my family and I felt a little guilty about it because I was very sad, but he also was really sick and had been for a long time. I was relieved not just in the sense of the lack of stress, but I really felt like he wasn't having any f---in' fun.

I've been thinking about mortality in that sense. During that same period of time, a friend of a friend, died in Woodstock. I watched those people deal with the death of somebody that they all loved and him deal with it. He seemed to have an easier time with it. He got sick, and then he got better, then he got sick again. He seemed to go not kicking and screaming and terrified. I'm sure he was scared but it wasn't like what my father and what my family went through. It was a totally different experience.

The book was being written during that time and these songs were being written and what came about was the idea that that death was the one thing ... People say death and taxes, well, that's bulls---. You can choose not to pay taxes. I've done it -- paid a bunch of penalties in interest, there was a consequence. But it is a choice. The one thing that you can't get out of doing is dying, and we're all going to have to deal with it. And maybe it's not a bad idea to try to figure out how to come to terms with it before you get there, if you have the opportunity.

Do you think you've come to terms with it?

No, but I think I'm in the process. Every day that I deal with it that way will make the day that I actually have to go there easier than it would've been if I just tried to think of myself as immortal and put it off. It's a big, scary thing for anybody.

My friends are starting this -- the four of us that dropped out of high school that I hung out with when I was growing up. There are two of us left out of four and the other survivor's got cancer. He's had it for several years -- he's got Hodgkin's lymphoma, which is pretty survivable -- but he's still around. But the other two are gone, one to cancer, one just laid down during a football game and didn't wake up, had a heart attack asleep on a Sunday afternoon. They were guys my age, mid 50s.

I arguably was harder on myself than any of them were, but I also take better care of myself now than any of them did. I don't smoke anymore, I don't take any drugs anymore and I exercise everyday. Because I married someone that's 17 years younger than I am and started having kids, maybe you ought to prioritize taking care of yourself.

Steve Earle Performs 'Colorado Girl' in 2009

Having had a baby, John Henry, in 2010 must play into it.

I have a hard time getting out of my head the fact that I'm not going to be around ... I'll feel good if I can get him to college and get to see that. I think this kid's going to graduate from high school -- for one thing, I think his mother will kill him if he doesn't {laughs}.

Did this also make you closer with your older sons,Justinand Ian?

Sure. I'm very happy that both of the older boys call me on a regular basis. You know, our relationships aren't perfect. They know that the way I'm being a father now is a little different than when they were younger. We have that to go through too, and we will.

New Orleans is also a city that's sort of come back from the dead.

I think New Orleans as we know it would have disappeared if the economy of the world hadn't collapsed, because I think there were people that fully planned to turn this into Disneyland. The money went away to do that. There are things that are never gonna be the same again. There's 100,000 less people than there were before the storm. It is coming back, it is resilient. There's a part of it that always been apart from the rest of the country and I think that makes it more resilient than some places.

The 'I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive' is due out April 26 via New West and the book will be released May 12 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.Season one of 'Treme' isavailable on DVD nowand new episodes air on HBO Sunday nights at 10PM ET.

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Arcade Fire to Host Live Audio Webcast From Chicago - Spinner

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On the heels ofArcade Firemembers Will Butler and Marika Anthony-Shaw singing 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' at Saturday's (April 23) Chicago Cubs game, the band will perform at the UIC Pavilion -- a 10,000 capacity venue -- in Chicago on Sunday (April 24). For fans who aren't anywhere near the city and weren't lucky enough to score tickets, WXRT in Chicago is hosting a live audio webcast of the show.

The event will showcase tracks off the Grammy-winning band's third album, 'The Suburbs,' as well as songs from their back catalog. Loyal supporters can tune into the live audio webcast at 10PM EST/9PM CST/7 PST. As fans listen in on Arcade Fire's performance, they'll also view images shot live and posted during the event.

To listen to the live audio webcast, visit the WXRT websitehere.

Arcade Fire started off the year on a positive note, scoring Album of the Year at the 2011 Grammy Awards for their latest effort, 'The Suburbs.' At the 2011 BRIT Awards, the album also nabbed a Best International Album nod and the indie rockers won the Award for Best International Group.

Watch Arcade Fire's 'Ready to Start'

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Beastie Boys Rely on Boombox During Livestream at Madison Square Garden - Spinner

Phil Andelman/EMI Music

Leave it to theBeastie Boysto pull out all the stops while on the promo run for their highly anticipated album 'Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2,' set for release on May 3 via Capitol Records. The rap trio set up shop in Madison Square Garden on Saturday (April 23) to hold a Livestream, but as fans click on the link to take a look at what the New Yorkers have to offer, it's apparent something is amiss.

The 'Make Some Noise' creators decided to skip out on showcasing themselves but rather let a boombox do the talking -- in this case, rapping -- for them. In the middle of Madison Square Garden's basketball court, the New York Knicks logo decorating the floor, stands a single boombox with two microphones at its front. Besides a mysterious person dressed in a gorilla suit and the occasional maintenance employee passing by the camera, the arena is empty but the sounds of some of the Beastie Boys' recognized tunes --'Too Many Rappers' featuring Nas, 'Don't Play No Game that I Can't Win' -- fill the air.

Check out what the Beastie Boys have in store on the Livestream below.

Watch the Beastie Boys' Livestream


Watch the Beastie Boys' 'Make Some Noise'

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Morrissey Finishes Lengthy Memoir, Looks to Penguin Classics to Publish - Spinner

Christie Goodwin, Redferns

Morrisseyhas finally completed his 600-plus-page memoir and is looking toPenguin Booksto publish the work through their 'Classics' series though the book franchise typically deals in established literary classics.

In response to Moz's announcement -- which he shared withBBC Radio 4's Front Rowduring a recent interview -- a spokeswoman for the esteemed publishing house told theIndependent:"There is a natural fit between Morrissey's sensibility, his artistic achievements and Penguin Classics. {His} book could be published as a Penguin Classic because it is a classic in the making."

Before the courting process even began, the singer told Front Row that he wasn't sure anyone would want to read his autobiography."I'm really not that interesting, so I don't know why I've written so much,"said the formerSmithslead man.

"I have been through the whole life. I just wonder if 660 pages are too much for people to bear. And then I sit down and think, well, are six pages too much for people to bear? I really don't know. {It's} baffling."

He also spoke of how he was in the"re-drafting, trimming stage,"of writing his autobiography and that he hoped to have it published in 2012. It can be assumed that the singer will dish on everything fromRadiohead'sJohnny Marr(formerly of the Smiths) to UK Prime Minister David Cameron. But we really just want to know why he's so sad.

Watch the Smiths' Video for 'The Boy With the Thorn in His Side'

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Elton John Fights Nerves at Tribeca Film Festival Premiere of 'The Union' - Spinner

Kevin Mazur, WireImage

After decades of playing to packed arenas all over the world, you would think thatElton Johnwould have gotten over pre-show nerves by now. But when 'The Union,' theCameron Crowe-directed film documenting the making of John andLeon Russell's album, premiered at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival Opening Night in New York City on Wednesday, the legendary artist admitted to feeling the butterflies.

"It's a huge honor for us,"John told Spinner."I haven't seen it so it's going to be nerve-wracking, but it's the biggest honor you could possible get."

With over 30 albums, recorded collaborations and soundtracks, it makes you wonder how he still has that music-making spark in him. Instead of the past, John admits to looking at current musicians for inspiration."I love to be creative,"he revealed."I love writing new things. If you ever lose that spark, I listen to a lot of new music. I get inspired by new people and they give me the energy to keep going."

While Russell and Crowe weren't able to make it to last night's screening, producerT Bone Burnettand John's longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin were both on hand to share the moment. The audience was also treated to the famed PS 22 Choir teaming up with theBangles'Susanna Hoffsand Vicki Peterson of in an energized pre-movie performance of 'Walk Like an Egyptian.'

The highlight of the evening, however, was John's performance after the film. With a set that began with 'Tiny Dancer' -- quite fitting, considering it was featured in Crowe's 'Almost Famous' -- he had to avoid the high notes, a problem he blamed on the dropping temperature."I'm just about defrosting, so excuse me if I play or sing a few wrong notes,"he said before singing 'Rocket Man.'

John's six-song set also included 'I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues' as well as 'Gone to Shiloh' and 'Never Too Old (To Hold Somebody)' from 'The Union.' He ended his performance with 'Your Song' and dedicated it to the city he loves so much.

"Thank you, New York,"he told the crowd."You know how much I love this place -- even though I'm frozen here like a lollipop. This is my song for you, with love."

Elton John Performs 'Gone to Shiloh' at the Tribeca Film Festival

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Manchester Orchestra's Andy Hull Relives His 'Tough' Marriage on 'Simple Math' - Spinner

Columbia

Most musicians aren't the algebraic type, even when it comes to the simplest of equations. And when one of the major variables in the math problem happens to be love, the computation enters the field of quantum mechanics. ButManchester Orchestra's frontmanAndy Hullis a tried and true scholar in the pursuit of dynamic relationship rebuilding.

The band's newest album 'Simple Math,' out May 10 via Favorite Gentlemen/Columbia Records, examines the turbulent times of Hull's marriage and the right equation to get back to the love he and his wife started with. Spinner recently spoke to Hull about the meaning of his new record and the band's powerful new video for the title track.

You guys are fromAtlanta. What is it about Atlanta that breeds amazing music?

I feel like there's this weird kind of like inbred {laughs} ... I guess it's this inbreed between grunge and country, this bizarre mix of all these different bands. I guess there's still a root within all of us that's still got this weird vibe that you're talking about. I think the blues has a lot to do with it.

You moved from Atlanta to Canada, right?

Yeah, I lived in Atlanta for the first seven years, and then my dad is a pastor and my grandfather is a pastor. We {and} my dad moved to Toronto to pastor a church and he did that for seven years. He moved back to Atlanta then after that. I'm originally from the South, I just spent a seven-year tenure up north.

Were you influenced at all by the move?

Absolutely. To grow up in Toronto, it's an amazing city, from 7 to 14. Yeah, definitely. It was my childhood.

What was the hardest part about that transition?

I don't think it was that hard because it was home. Canada was always not home. We were going back home. The hardest transition in going to Canada was the fact that I was 7 years old.

When did you know you were going to make music for a living? Did any band or show you saw inspire you?

I figured it out at about 15 or 16. When did I realize I was going to make a living? Jesus, I hoped I was going to make a living at 15. I assume I started making a living a few years ago {laughs}.

Pedro the Lionwas a really big thing for me,Built to Spill. Those bands all of a sudden {took} me to this other place where early '80s-emo-punk probably couldn't go. That was probably around when I was 15.

As far as like a show, I remember seeing the Blood Brothers play at the Masquerade and it scaring me to my core. I'd never heard of them. I just went with a friend, and then shortly after that I realized that I want that power. I wanted that power just to shock people with sound.

What is the concept behind the video for 'Simple Math'?

I didn't really know what it is. Even when we were filming it I would keep asking,"What are we doing this for?"They'd be like"OK, well, we're going to be putting a giant steering wheel that will whip around and blows out of you at this point."It was kind of incredible filming it having no idea what these dudes were doing with just having full trust in them.

Watch Manchester Orchestra's Video for 'Simple Math'

Who directed the video?

They're called Daniels. Have you seen thatdog boarding video? It's awesome. It went viral over the weekend. But yeah, they're just this brand-new directing team. It just so happened that one of them was a huge fan of even my side stuff, so it really was kind of a perfect storm for us to work together.

I met with them in New York a few months ago. We were getting close to choosing, and I just felt this energy off of them that was so young and ready to just conquer. We really try to work with anybody who's like that.

They looked at that song and they're like"a lot of times we have to find the arc and we have to find the story climax, and the hook isn't always there, and like, you know, 'Simple Math'? You've given us four climaxes over the song. We can really make something cinematic about this."

What's up with the deer head in the video?

Our first song on the record is called 'Deer' on 'Simple Math,' and I kind of encouraged Daniels to incorporate as much stuff from the album as they could into it, so there's little things all across the video that refer to the full-length. I think the deer head is terrifying, that's why I like it. They really wrote that treatment as like those movies like 'Being John Malkovich' whereJohn Malkovichis John Malkovich but he's not. It was like they wrote what they would think would be my childhood. And in reality, it's even a joke between me and my dad -– we never went hunting, ever {laughs}.

Both of the guys in the directing team are named Daniel, that's why they're called Daniels, and one of them grew up in Alabama where we shot it. We shot it in his parents' huge house in Guntersville in the middle of nowhere. It's actually called"Meth Mountain,"the area that we were in. They had this treatment of what me as this little boy would be like in this story. At the beginning, I feel like you get this vibe that the dad's kind of an a------, and by the end you realize I'm the a------. My dad's been there the whole time. I was just too young to see it.

It looks like you got banged up a bit, like the scene where you roll down the road. How did you guys film that?

I f---in' rolled, man! {Laughs} That's how I did it. Yeah man, I {had} to be likeJackie Chan, try this s--- out myself.

Really, the worst was all the takes of me throwing myself around the cab of that truck. They were like"one more, man!"

How autobiographical is your work?

That's a heavy question. With this album in particular, I've never written as autobiographically as I have. The other albums I was writing about kind of larger and less specific concepts, where this album I'm writing about much larger concepts but in great specific detail. This is a record that is about my wife and I almost ending right after we got married. It was two years of us getting back and becoming what we are, which is happy and {in} a healthy relationship. It was something that was tough, man.

My wife would never tell me to not write a song because that's how I process everything. But I definitely had to ask her,"Are you ok with me sharing this story?"It's nothing angry with her. There's nothing mean. It's really just a lot of analyzation. There's some lyrics in there like"god damn I'm tired of lying/I wish I loved you like I used to."I feel like that's kind of tough to write and then release.

We'd be like,"I'm proud of our story. I'm proud that we got through this."It was really cool. So yeah, I'd say it was extremely autobiographical.

Do you try to emulate legendary frontmen? Do you do the"rooster"likeMick Jagger?

Hell Yeah. But that's not what I do because I'm big, you know. I'm a muscular type dude, so I'd end up prancing around. We try to do it with music -– you're into like Rock 101. The guys that we're going on tour with,Cage the Elephant, that's kind of their thing. They're crazy.

Yeah, those guys are crazy!

They're f---ing crazy dude. I feel personally, when I get older, like I earn more and more right to move less onstage. That's something I'm actually looking forward to, being likeJeff Tweedyand taking four steps in three hours.

And Matt {Shultz of Cage the Elephant} is like"no dude, I don't think I could even play a show if I wasn't jumping in the crowd. I just couldn't do it."So, different breeds.

Watch Manchester Orchestra Perform 'I Can Barely Breathe' on the Interface

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PJ Harvey Films a Soldier's Funeral for 'Bitter Branches' -- New Video - Spinner

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PJ Harvey's latest album, 'Let England Shake,' is coupled with a series of dramatic and visually striking music videos by acclaimed war photographer Seamus Murphy. The singer-songwriter's new video for 'Bitter Branches,' which premiered at our sister site theHuffington Post, continues their approach of combining fascinating elements of the rocker's home country and her intense, eerie vocals.

"{It} starts out with Keith, the mechanic in Mitcham who keeps my car alive,"Murphy tells Spinner."Attack seagulls were in Sheringham, Norfolk. The crowds I shot crouching under an umbrella outside the exit of a tube station. The inky silhouetted branches in black and white were shot on the banks of the Thames at Westminster, beside the Houses of Parliament."

"The hands and roses and the man's hands comforting a woman were the funeral of a British soldier at Wootton Bassett, killed in Afghanistan,"he continues."I had been there in the summer and noticed the grieving families placing roses on the roof of the hearse -- a moment appropriate to mix with lyrics about war widows."

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Wham! Sabotage Queen to Break China's Musical Divide -- Twisted Tales - Spinner

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BeforeBob Dylanplayed his historic shows in China, the Chinese government had already lowered, however carefully, its longstanding barriers to Western culture.BeyonceandUsherboth performed there recently despiteBjork's little rebellion during a 2008 performance in Shanghai when she chanted"Tibet! Tibet!"

While commentators bicker over whether Dylan let himself be censored for his first concerts there, we'll pose a pop quiz: Who was the first Western act to break the Great Wall of Chinese xenophobia?

The unlikely answer isWham!, the British pop duo ofGeorge Michaeland Andrew Ridgeley, who played China in April 1985 after asking their manager to make them the biggest pop act in the world.

It took Simon Napier-Bell -- a music-industry veteran who once managed the careers of theYardbirdsandT. Rex's Marc Bolan -- 18 months of wining and dining in China to get the government to agree to host the pastel pair. Installed in a hotel room, Napier-Bell called every officeholder he could find, inviting them to lunch. His first taker, the minister of energy, thought he was meeting a coal buyer.

"I fed the whole government, 143 people, three times each,"the manager told theBBCupon the 2005 publication of his book 'I'm Coming to Take You to Lunch: A Fantastic Tale of Boys, Booze and How Wham! Were Sold to China.'

Fellow BritsQueenhad designs on playing in China, too, but Napier-Bell sabotaged them by preparing two brochures, one of which showed squeaky-clean Wham! fans. The other featured Queen's Freddie Mercury in a salacious Spandex outfit. Conveniently ignored was the fact that one of Wham!'s earliest claims to fame was its first appearance on 'Top of the Pops,' when the band members stuffed badminton shuttlecocks in their shorts.

By the time the Chinese agreed to stage the concert at the Workers' Stadium Arena in Beijing, Wham! had in fact become one of the biggest pop groups in the world. The duo had three consecutive number one smash hits with 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,' 'Careless Whisper' and 'Everything She Wants.'

But Western superstardom couldn't guarantee success in the Sleeping Dragon. The crowd of 15,000 was required to sit, and a break-dancing opening act alarmed officials. On top of that, the audience was intimidated by director Lindsay Anderson's camera crew, on hand to shoot documentary footage: They thought it was the secret police.

Wham! Perform 'Careless Whisper' in China

After the trip, Anderson, a noted filmmaker and critic, had a falling out with George Michael, who hated the documentary ('Foreign Skies'). Anderson's original cut, which focused on the cultural divide, was recut as a more conventional concert film. As recently as 2006, Michael was still actively opposed to the original version, blocking a rare screening. Andy Stephen, Michael's manager, told theIndependentit was"dreadful"and"rubbish."

The revised documentary premiered in 1986 at Wembley Stadium in front of 72,000 fans, at Wham!'s farewell concert. Before he died in 1994, Anderson savaged George Michael for undermining his"beautiful"film.

"I was struck by his total disinterest in China,"he said of the onetime pop star, who has been in and out of the news, mostly for the wrong reasons, since his last hits."His vision only extends to the Top 10."

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The Joy Formidable Go Crazy From the Coachella Heat - Spinner

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Northern Wales trio theJoy Formidableclosed their rocking Coachella set in the Gobi Tent Saturday (April 16) by laying down their instruments and rocking an impressive wall of distortion. Though the band was all smiles later on in the night when Spinner caught up with them, lead singerRitzy Bryanadmitted she and her band mates might have been crazed by the heat.

"I think the heat got to me, I was enraged by the end, and I know why I was enraged, but I'm not gonna tell anybody, but I was so genuinely angry,"Bryan told Spinner."It was very truthful."

Band mateRhydian Dafyddconcurred that the honesty helped make their set one of the early day highlights."It's whatever comes out at that point in time, we don't over think it. These people really sense it if it's contrite,"he says.

And they were also trying to win over the crowd, which was a challenge Dafydd welcomed."I think it feels like a fight sometime on stage,"he said."It's almost like a fight for complete release of inhibition, it's important for it not to feel too easy I think. I think it's that struggle that is actually something this band really enjoys."

After winning the fight, the band was off to enjoy some of the Coachella highlights."We've never seen Arcade Fire, go and catch some Arcade Fire. I fear we missed Elbow,"Bryan said.

And more than that, they were looking forward to getting in the spirit of the fest."Especially when you've played, it's always nice to just mill around and see what catches your attention as well. We don't have much of an agenda,"Dafydd said."We have a schedule every day, I think today we have no agenda,"Bryan added.

Watch the Joy Formidable's 'Cradle'


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Jack White Given Music City Ambassador Award by Nashville Mayor - Spinner

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FormerWhite StripesfrontmanJack Whiteis being honored for shining light on Nashville through his music. The founder of Third Man Records earned the first-ever Music City Ambassador Award on Saturday (April 16), presented to him by Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and the Nashville Music Council.

The prestigious award was given to White for giving Nashville global recognition over the last 12 months as a result of his music career and Third Man record label. White earned the honor for being a resident of Middle Tennessee and holding a career in the music industry. He also demonstrated"commitment to Nashville's unique creative climate and musical diversity."

"Today's award recognizes an individual who carries Nashville's diverse musical message worldwide,"said Mayor Karl Dean."Jack White's individual talent and unique creative spirit bridges gaps between genres and generations and I couldn't be more pleased to thank him for his work on behalf of the music industry and its hometown."

After receiving the award, the rocker expressed his sentiments regarding the honor."Every day we're excited to be in a city that truly fosters local music and businesses and new ideas,"he said."I don't know another town whose mayor is on the board of its music council."

White's Third Man Records was set up and built in Nashville in 2009. The location serves as a record store and a complete production office. It also reportedly includes a recording studio, rehearsal stage, photo studio and darkroom.

Watch the White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army' Performed at the Grammy Awards

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Coachella 2011 Streaming Live - Spinner

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Bumming that you can't make it to California forCoachella? Well, there's some good news for you. 5 Gum has announced that they will be streaming the festival online forfree on their sitefor the next three days starting at 5 PM EST on Friday, April 15.

From the comfort of wherever you have an Internet connection, you can watch the very best of indie rock right from your living room couch. Headliners includeKanye West,Arcade Fire,Kings of Leon, theStrokes,Duran Duran,Mumford and Sons, theNationaland theBlack Keys, just to name a few.

So, be glad you're not spending the next three days in a sweaty tent and sneak a peak at the sights and sounds of Coachella below. Also, be sure to stay tuned for Spinner's continuing coverage from Indio here and onour Twitter feed.

Watch the Coachella Stream

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Radiohead Do Not Have a 'Second New Album' Up Their Sleeves - Spinner

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Always one to revel in the art of a good surprise,Radioheadkinda ambushed the music industry -- again -- this past February when they announced their latest album, 'The King of Limbs,' would be released at the end of that week. Few saw it coming and, yet, in the limited hours between the announcement and its release, rumors already ran rampant that the band had a second new album up their sleeve. No such luck though, according to guitaristEd O'Brien(pictured). Perhaps that would've just been too...predictable.

The guitarist toldBBC 6 Musicthat, naturally, they have the usual outtakes, demos and scraps of songs that never made it to the latest album's final tracklist."But there's not like seven or eight finished songs waiting in the wings to be released now, or in the autumn, or something,"said O'Brien.

Radiohead will, however, release two tracks from the current song cycle -- 'The Butcher' and 'Supercollider' -- as a special limited-edition vinyl forRecord Store Day. But that's just as much to promote your local record shop, in the spirit of the holiday, as it is to release unused material from the 'King of Limbs' sessions.

"When we start a new record, we tend to start fresh,"claims O'Brien. Um...pardon the pun, but guess he forgot about 'Amnesiac?'

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John Lennon's Handwritten 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' Lyrics Up for Auction - Spinner

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Regardless of whether or not you think the song is about dropping acid, if you want to buy an original handwritten draft for theBeatles' classic track, 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,' now is your chance. And that's no hallucination, dude -- an actual draft of the lyrics, written byJohn Lennonhimself, will be up for auction in Beverly Hills this May.

Obviously, it is expected to carry a hefty price tag -- to the tune of $200,000 or more -- but if you're on the fence, consider this: the winner will get more than just lyrics.Reutersreports that the draft also includes a rough sketch depicting four people in a room with curtained windows. Oh, the mind and creative talents of John Lennon.

The song itself remains a centerpiece of the Beatles' career redefining album 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,' which was originally released in 1967. The handwritten draft will be auctioned by Profiles in History during theirHollywood Memorabilia Auction 44at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills on May 14 and 15.

Going once...going twice...

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The New Deal to Break Up After 2011 - Spinner

Chris Paul

Canadian live-electronic masterminds theNew Dealare throwing in the towel after a dozen years performing organic, heavily improvised, live house music. The trio -- which used real drums, a real bass and actual keyboards -- formed in Toronto in 1998 and went on to become featured performers at such major festivals asBonnarooandLangerado. Their music often sounded as though it was spit out by a computer because of its intricacy matched with its razor-sharp precision, but even the keyboard loops were not loops -- everything was performed live and often composed on the spot.

Despite a strong, award-winning start at the turn of the century, the band has been touring less and less in recent years and their growth appeared to have stagnated. While their breakup is heartbreaking to fans, it didn't come as a total surprise."It's been coming over the last year or so,"bassist Dan Kurtz tells Spinner."The pressure of our own schedules, and the increased bureaucratic difficulties involved with being a foreign band playing in the USA, have made it really hard to tour the way we do."

Despite a brief romance with Jive Electro Records, the New Deal were never able to capitalize on their true crossover potential. They did capture the hearts of the jam band community right out of the gate, becoming instant regulars at the famed Wetlands and true favorites of the festival circuit but, in terms of a more mainstream audience, they were ahead of their time. And while the market finally appears ripe for their unique style, the band's time is up.

"Our individual lives have taken very different paths with family, living abroad and other various projects,"reads a prepared statement from the group."We have come to a point where the time and commitment that it takes to maintain our band at its best is no longer possible. As a group, we've never been known to go halfway, so we have decided to end things with a great run of summer and fall shows that we hope to be the best yet."

That's certainly respectable. Fans will have a chance to catch the New Deal as they perform their final victory lap this summer and fall -- the band hasn't picked an exact end date yet, but they do plan to go out on a high note and hit all their favorite places one more time, through the end of 2011. Current dates include a run of shows with OTT, including a stop at Terminal 5 in New York on May 7. The band will perform at the iconic Red Rocks just outside Denver on July 2 and will hit a full slate of festivals includingElectric Forest(Rothbury, Mich., July 1),Wakarusa(Ozark, Ark., June 3) andMountain Jam(Hunter, N.Y., June 4).

And don't think that we've heard the last from these guys, individually. While Kurtz says the band hasn't planned their closing ceremonies yet, they'll hardly be celebrating after the final curtain call."I think we have always felt that playing the New Deal shows ARE the vacation, so I doubt we'll be taking a holiday after the last show,"he tells Spinner."We haven't made any plans together yet, but we're not sure exactly when or where the last show will be, so we've still got some time to figure it out."

Catch 'em while you can, kids.

Watch the New Deal Perform 'Technobeam' Live in 2008


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Johnny Marr Leaves the Cribs to Pursue Solo Work, Says 'Good Things to Come' - Spinner

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After a three year stint with theCribs, guitaristJohnny Marrhas left the British rock band to pursue solo work.

According to an article Friday inBillboardand placed on Marr'ssite, the former songwriter and lead guitarist for theSmithsis looking to domoresoundtrack and film work (he was nominated for an Academy Award for his work with composerHans Zimmeron the music for 'Inception'), as well as possibly release asoloalbum or two.

The parting of ways seems to be quite amicable -- although no mention of the split was made on the Cribs official site.

"Touring and recording with Ryan, Gary and Ross has been fantastic and 'Ignore the Ignorant' is something I'm really proud of,"Marr said in an interview with Billboard."We ended up doing much more than we originally set out to and I've made three good friends."

Marr followed that statement with theTweet:"Thank you everybody for all the best wishes to me and The Fellas. More good things to come from us all."

After working withModest Mouseon their 2007 album 'We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank,' Marr began writing with the Cribs in early 2008, later performing with them on tour, including at the Reading and Leeds festivals. The guitarist appeared on their 2009 album 'Ignore the Ignorant.'

In a late February interview with Billboard, Marr said two solo albums would be released within the next 18 months under his name. Marr also announced earlier this year that he had been offered a"serious"book dealfor his autobiography, the details of which are still vague.

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Cut Copy Let the 'Good Times' Roll in Chicago - Spinner

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Almost exactly eight months to the day,Cut Copymade a much anticipated return to Chicago Friday night (April 8) when they performed songs from their latest record 'Zonoscope.' The band had previewed a few new tunes last visit at Lollapalooza, but their show at the Riviera was the first time Chicagoans got to hear completed versions of the songs.

The sold-out crowd arrived in tank tops and ready to sweat it out with Cut Copy's electrifying antics. The four-piece appeared onstage and walked through a gigantic door that later would transform into a digital screen. As neon and strobe lights flashed, the band kicked off with 'Nobody Lost, Nobody Found' from 'In Ghost Colours.' Immediately, thousands in the venue began gyrating so much the entire place quaked.

Since the new record is quite percussion heavy, the band brought an extra person to help guitaristTim Hoeypound additional drums and what looked like cowbells. When Hoey wasn't tapping on the cowbell and drums, he thrashed his guitar around and jumped on top of the kick drum, all the while egging the audience to fist pump the air.

"What's happening tonight?"lead singer Dan Whitford asked the amped up crowd."It's always a good time in Chicago,"he continued. ,

Feeding off the audience's energy, the band performed tribal numbers 'Corner of the Sky' and 'Take Me Over,' paired surreal images with 'Pharaohs and Pyramids' and asked important questions like,"Are you ready for a dance party?"During 'Lights and Music,' Cut Copy built the song to a crest then released the annihilating chorus, which generated mass jumping and hand waving.

Cut Copy ended their set on the 15-minute opus 'Sun God' that began with glitchy electronics and vocals and finished with the band turning knobs and Hoey manipulating his guitar with a drumstick. The band came back for a two-song encore including 'Zonoscope' favorite 'Need You Now' and 'Out There on the Ice,' where the audience demonstrated they still had some dance left in them. Cut Copy walked off stage but acquiesced to the incessant thundering applause and chanting from fans who were not quite satiated with a 75-minute set. After Cut Copy ended with last hurrah 'Feel the Love,' they remarked how the audience had been their best crowd on tour.

With that in mind, Cut Copy's next Chicago appearance at Pitchfork Festival in July will certainly bring another good time for band and crowd alike.

Watch Cut Copy's 'Future'

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Red Hot Goes South With 'Rio 2' Compilation - Spinner

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Anyone familiar with 2009's 'Dark Was the Night' will be aware that charity records can be rewarding in much more than their altruism.

That covers compilation, featuring the likes of theNationalandArcade Fire, benefited Aids awareness charity the Red Hot Organisation. Now the fund-raising body is aiming to repeat that success with a mash-up of the cream of contemporary indie and late 1960s Brazilian tropicalia, a vibrant combination of psych, funk and leftist politics.

'Red Hot + Rio 2' is the follow-up to a 1996 release that featured a mix of artists, includingDavid ByrneandStereolab, tackling the nation's bossa nova heritage. In Rio-based newspaper O Globo,quoted on the Red Hot Web site, executive producer Beco Dranoff explains the inspiration behind the charity's latest release.

"There is a great parallel between the Brazilian musical movement of the late Sixties and what one hears and produces today,"he says."Tropicalia was a crucial movement, which preached that everything would end up mixing: music, culture, fashion, movies, etc. It was a bold vision that became reality. Today everything in the world is interconnected, and so tropicalia becomes deeply relevant."

Pitchfork, meanwhile, is streaming one of the new tracks --Beirut's cover of Caetano Veloso's 'O Leaozinho,' tackled with conviction in the original Portuguese. Also lined up are previous Red Hot contributors, namelyDirty ProjectorsandJose Gonzalez, plusBeck,John Legend,Devendra Banhart,Of MontrealandNeon Indian.

'Red Hot + Rio 2' is scheduled for release on June 28.

Watch Yeasayer's 'Tight Rope' Video From 'Dark Was the Night'

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Daft Punk Auction Ferrari From 'Electroma' for Japan Tsunami Relief - Spinner

Courtesy of Daft Arts

Even robots (and, for that matter, human robot rockers) aren't impervious to natural disasters and can empathize with those affected by such catastrophes. Thus,Daft Punkare doing their part to help with the relief efforts in the wake of a deadly tsunami that wiped out entire towns and caused devastation across Japan's coastal areas on March 11.

But rather than hop in an LCD pyramid and entertain 20,000 rave-faced fans to raise money for the cause, the legendary production duo are going another route -- by auctioning off their famed Ferrari. The car will be familiar to the Daft Punk faithful, who will recognize it from the French duo's 2007 film, 'Daft Punk's Electroma.' In the opening sequence, actors portraying robotic versions of the duo are seen driving the 1987 Ferrari 412 across the Southwestern United States. The license plate reads"HUMAN."Yes, all of this is supposed to work on multiple levels.

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The iconic car will be up for auction along with a number of additional, one-of-a-kind collectables from other big-ticket artists via EMI Music's specially arranged auction,EMI Family 4 Japan. Turns out, the two humans who man Daft Punk didn't get the nicknames"Hero Robot No. 1"and"Hero Robot No. 2"for no good reason, after all.

Watch the Trailer for 'Daft Punk's Electroma'


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DMB's Chicago Caravan to Feat. Flaming Lips, Edward Sharpe, Sharon Jones - Spinner

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Although technically they're taking the summer off, theDave Matthews Bandare using their downtime to stage four multi-day, multi-band festivals across America this summer. On Thursday, they announced that the second of these will take place on July 8 - 10 at Chicago's Lakeside. It will be the first event ever at the open space, which offers views of Chicago's picturesque downtown from across the water.

The lineup draws as much from indie rockers as it does from folkier and more pop oriented acts. Perhaps most notably, theFlaming Lipswill performPink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' in its entirety, much like they did atBonnaroolast summer. Additional performers includeEdward Sharpe& the Magnetic Zeros,Ray LaMontagne,Kid Cudi,Ben Folds,Emmylou Harris,Amos Lee,Sharon Jones& the Dap-Kings,Gomez,Drive-By Truckers,Michael Franti& Spearhead, theJayhawks,Blind Pilotand many more. Oh, and Dave Matthews Band will take the nightly headlining slots -- you get that privilege when you're the festival's host, you know.

The first Dave Matthews Band Caravan was announced last month and will take place in Atlantic City, N.J. on June 24 - 26. For those keeping score, that's two down, two to go. Peep the deets and what-not at theofficial Caravan site.

Watch the Press Conference for Dave Matthews Band Caravan: Atlantic City


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Sid Vicious' Softer Side Seen In Auctioned Paintings - Spinner

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He has been immortalized as punk's confrontational icon, but a collection of previously unseen paintings bySex PistolSid Viciousshow flowers and sunsets, rather than safety pins and swastikas.

Drawn and painted when he was 16, the surreal sketches and still lives were probably coursework provided by Vicious, then known as John Ritchie, when he studied at Hackney College of Further Education, East London, in the 1970s.

Now up for auction, the Sid Vicious' Book of Artwork could fetch£4,000 ($6,520). It also features a handwritten list of favourite songs, including Jimmy Ruffin's 'It's Wonderful (To Be Loved by You)' and 'Ride a White Swan' by unlikely punk iconsT-Rex.

Ritchie died of a heroin overdose in 1979, after which his mum, Ann Beverley, kept the pictures until she passed away in 1996. The Sex Pistols bassist's biographer Alan Parker has long pointed out his sneering was mainly a front, so the book provides additional evidence that Ritchie had a softer side.

"He didn't stand out as a troublemaker -- the only distinguishing thing was that he was probably considered a talented artist,"Parker ttoldThe Independent."I think he was a sweeter guy underneath it all, even later in his life, but as with a lot of people you have to scratch away the veneer to find it."

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Rock Star Portraits from A to Z

Beatles icon John Lennon

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Christian Charisius, Reuters

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