Mountain Dew-obsessed, schizophrenic, religious fanatic pop star Daniel Johnston is hitting the road later this month (and making people feel uncomfortable*) all over Europe in support of his... collectible vinyl frogs? Just in case you can’t make it to Amsterdam or Denmark, Daniel is also the main attraction at the primitive art festival Good Folk Fest, taking place November 21-23 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Meanwhile, Johnston’s next "major" release, in collaboration with "major" producers and artists, is due in early 2009.

Tourdates:

10.24.08 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso # 10.25.08 - Enschede, Netherlands - Muziek Kwartier # 10.26.08 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Effenaar # 10.27.08 - Paris, France - Maroquinerie # 10.28.08 - Geneva, Switzerland - PTR-L’Usine # 10.29.08 - St. Gallen, Switzerland - Palace # 11.01.08 - Hamburg, Germany - Ubel & Gefahrlich # 11.02.08 - Berlin, Germany - Volxbuhne # 11.03.08 - Stuttgart, Germany - Schocken # 11.04.08 - Munchen, Germany - Backstage # 11.05.08 - Wien / Vienna, Austria - Arena # 11.06.08 - Koln, Germany - Gebaude 9 # 11.07.08 - Belgium, Antwerp - De Nachten / De Singel # 11.08.08 - Genth, Belgium - De Vooruit # 11.09.08 - Groningen, Netherlands - Vera # 11.11.08 - Aarhus, Denmark - Vega # 11.12.08 - Kopenhagen, Denmark - Grey Hall#

# John Dear Mowing Club

*Yeah, yeah, he’s a great songwriter, but you can’t say that he doesn’t make you a little uneasy.

If it’s not one thing, it’s another (or two) for King Khan. He put out a compilation on Vice (The Supreme Genius Of) with his other band, The Shrines, and recorded a band or two, all while going on tour after tour. BBQ, a.k.a. Mark Sultan, is no slouch either, playing countless shows in support of his excellent LP from last year, The Sultanic Verses (In The Red)

Nonetheless, these too seemingly never-tiring musicians have not put out a new record together since 2006’s What’s For Dinner (though, 2007 saw the reissue of the band’s first, self-titled LP from 2004). Unfortunately, 2008 won’t yield a new LP from the duo, but there is solace for fans, coming in the forms of a new 7-inch and a huge tour. The single is "Animal Party" b/w "God of Raisins" (Fat Possum). You can buy it on the duo’s tour of pretty much every major American city, plus the Canadian cities that even the most brainless American can identify as being in Canada. These shows will also feature a bevy of first-rate openers, including Women, Vivian Girls, Jacuzzi Boys, and a few less gender-specific groups. Don’t miss it.

Tourdates:

10.23.08 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg % 10.27.08 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick! 10.29.08 - Oberlin, OH - Dionysus Disco! 10.30.08 - Gambier, OH - The Horn Gallery! 10.31.08 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge! 11.01.08 - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club! 11.02.08 - Omaha, NE - Waiting Room! 11.03.08 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge! 11.04.08 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge! 11.06.08 - Seattle, WA - Chop Suey@ 11.07.08 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret@ 11.08.08 - Portland, OR - Dante’s@ 11.09.08 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall@ 11.10.08 - Los Angeles, CA - Echo@ 11.11.08 - San Diego, CA - Casbah@ 11.12.08 - Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room 11.14.08 - Dallas, TX - Palladium Loft 11.15.08 - Austin, TX - The Mohawk 11.17.08 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon# 11.18.08 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks# 11.19.08 - Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone Cafe 11.20.08 - Nashville, TN - Exit In$ 11.21.08 - Atlanta, GA - Lenny’s 11.22.08 - Birmingham, AL - Bottletree 11.25.08 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle Tavern^ 11.26.08 - Baltimore, MD - Sonar^ 11.28.08 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda?s&^ 11.29.08 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall Of Williamsburg*^ 11.30.08 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom& 12.01.08 - Boston, MA - Paradise* 12.05.08 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace* 12.06.08 - Ottawa, ON - Babylon*

! Women @ The Dutchess & the Duke # Royal Pendletons $ Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson ^ Jacuzzi Boys & Vivian Girls * Golden Triangle % The Dutchess & The Duke, Jay Reatard, Mission of Burma (thanks Dan!

Perennial good time candidates Beastie Boys have announced shows as part of their "Swing State Voter Awareness Tour." Can’t pronounce "vote?" Vote! Do you regularly abuse the elderly? Vote! Are you using 12 aliases to claim government benefits and are in hiding from child support collectors? America needs your vote(s)! Vote, vote vote! Before that, these shows should entertain your mind as you ponder how you want the next four years and the future of the United States to look. Given the forum, Obama terrorist-cahoots claims will be at a minimum, Republican scorn at a maximum.

All yuks aside, Beastie Boys rear their charged heads whenever they see the need to drop some political science, and around election time, they are as noisy as a herd of hiphopopotamuses. This time around is no different. The band issued this soundbite regarding the shows:

We are going to do a few shows in hopes that we can remind people to vote. This election is too important, too much is at stake to stay at home. We hope that you can come out, have a nice night, dance, sing, get your freak on, and then wake up the next morning and get everyone that you possible can to get out and vote.

A vote for Beastie Boys is a vote for democracy... and a chance to see all your favorite big-ticket artists in one (sure) shot. The dates feature heavy-hitting support from Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, Ben Harper, Santogold, Tenacious D, and Crosby & Nash (I’ll assume the Canadian turncoat, Republican-turned-Democrat-turned-Monster Raving Loony Party supporter Neil Young was not available?). Representatives from Rock the Vote will be on hand to make sure that, come November 4, your vote will be soundly rocked.

10.27.08 - Charlotte, NC - Amos’ Southend $
10.28.08 - Richmond, VA - Richmond Coliseum $$
10.29.08 - Youngstown, OH - Chevrolet Centre $$$
10.30.08 - Dayton, OH - Hara Arena $$$$
11.01.08 - St. Paul, MN - Roy Wilkins Auditorium $$$$$
11.02.08 - Milwaukee, WI - U.S. Cellular Arena $$$$$$

$ w/ Sheryl Crow, Santogold
$$ w/ Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, Santogold
$$$ w/ Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Norah Jones
$$$$ w/ Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper
$$$$$ w/ Ben Harper, Tenacious D
$$$$$$ w/ Ben Harper, Crosby & Nash, Tenacious D

New York-based label Freenoise is celebrating 10 years of its WFMU-ready online catalog with the appropriately titled Freenoise Fest. Taking place October 24 at Williamsburg’s Death by Audio, the fest harbors motivations more nefarious than you might think.

You see, Freenoise Fest goes down the same weekend as the colo$$al CMJ Music Marathon. As such, Freenoise Fest says "NO" to CMJ, asking patrons to "experience authentic underground music."

The lineup reads like the greatest band names you’ve never came up with:

Cock E.S.P.
The White Mice
Twodeadsluts Onegoodfuck
Laundryroom Squelchers
Suffering Bastard
Tusco Terror
Sauce Party
Sanguine Piss
Radio Shock
Future Blondes
U Can Unlearn Guitar
WRONG

Don’t know Cock E.S.P. too well? Missed the White Mice LPs that came out on Load? What about the fuzziness of Laundryroom Squelchers? No prob, Bob, because Freenoise offers archives of many of these acts here. Try before you buy!

Although the following does not necessarily represent the views of Tiny Mix Tapes, I will say I understand the reasons why an Anti-CMJ festival would manifest, similar to other opposite-and-equal reaction festivals like Austin’s Fuck By Fuck You. I had a crumby time when I went to CMJ in 2005. It’s hard to see a lot of music you want to see, both due to the difficulty in traversing about NYC as well as the many CMJ badge cut-offs at most clubs and venues. More tellingly, I saw a Clear Channel booth in the exhibit hall, the most obvious point of reference for all that is not quite right in the world of so-called independent music.

Actually, it’s entirely possible to see more music at Freenoise than the entire CMJ Music Marathon combined — and for a whole lot less money (albeit with less free ASCAP frisbees and stuff). So, keep October 24 open, and just so you know, I’ll still totally accept a CMJ press badge if anyone wants to send me one.

Pablo Diaz-Reixa, the man behind Spanish language dance-party-rock outfit El Guincho, is finally coming to the good old U.S. of A! After a handful of cancelled dates earlier this summer, North American fans will soon be able to see the man live and in person. They’ll also be able to purchase the debut album Alegranza! from our friends over at Young Turks/XL Recordings on October 21. If you’ve heard the joie de vivre-inducing first single, "Palmitos Park," you know this is good news. But if not — here are a few fascinating "facts" related to an artist about whom I could find virtually nothing actually fact-based during a brief Google search.

1. El Guincho told Drowned in Sound that his initial idea was to create something along the lines of a "space age-exotica kind of record" in the vein of Martin Denny. Apparently, in the space age, sophisticated-looking cocktail lounge ladies will be replaced with parrots with spider eyeballs. If you Google Image this, you will understand. While you’re at it, Google Image "monkey waiter," too. You won’t regret it!

2. El Guincho uses a lot of neon — in publicity photos, the aforementioned album cover with spider-eyed parrot, and, not to stretch the description too much here, also in the kinda technicolor-esque production of the tracks. But don’t stop reading when I say "neon" — this is no nu-rave reject trying to fit into skinnier turquoise jeans than the Klaxons. Alegranza! is a timeless party record, in, um, the way space-age exotica is, um, timeless.

3. El Guincho is the name of a town on Tenerife, one of the islands composing Spain’s Canary Islands. Yes, this is the last fact I found on the internet that can even be considered related to this story. At least it’s the factiest!!!

11.20.08 - Los Angeles, CA - Echo 11.21.08 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent 11.22.08 - Vancouver, British Columbia - The Red Room 11.23.08 - Portland, OR - Holocene 11.24.08 - Seattle, WA - Nectar Lounge 11.25.08 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle 11.27.08 - Toronto, Ontario - El Mocambo 11.28.08 - Montreal, Quebec - Les Saints 11.30.08 - Philadelphia, PA - The Barbary 12.02.08 - New York, NY - LPR

I’m sorry, but the bird jokes just write themselves when it comes to Shearwater, everyone’s favorite avian enthusiasts. This fall, you can join the winged collective (sorry) as they fly (sorry) across the U.S. and Europe on their annual migratory flight paths (sorry), otherwise known to you non-bird folk as “touring.” Try and control yourselves from yelling out bird calls (sorry) while Shearwater is on stage though; I hear it really ruffles the feathers (sorry) of lead sparrow (sorry) Jonathan Meiburg.

Bluebirds, and Sparrows, and Cardinals, Oh My:

10.13.08 - Chicago, IL - Lakeshore Theater 10.14.08 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Tavern 10.15.08 - Washington, D.C. - The Kennedy Center (free show) 10.17.08 - Annandale-on-Hudson, NY - Bard College Campus Center 10.19.08 - Boston, MA - Café 939 at Berklee 10.20.08 - New York, NU - Le Poisson Rouge & 10.24.08 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle Music Hall 10.25.08 - Durham, NC - Duke Coffee House 11.08.08 - Antwerpen, Belgium - De Nachten 11.09.08 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli 11.10.08 - Rouen, France - Club 106 $ 11.11.08 - Paris, France - Le Bataclan $ 11.12.08 - Feyzin, France - L’Epicerie Moderne 11.13.08 - St. Gallen, Switzerland - Palace 11.14.08 - Lausanne, Switzerland - Le Romandie 11.16.08 - Schorndorf, Denmark - Manufaktur 11.17.08 - Berlin, Germany - Postbahnof & 11.18.08 - Dresden, Germany - Beatpol 11.19.08 - Hamburg, Germany - Noachtasyl 11.20.08 - Gent, Belgium - Vooruit 11.21.08 - Den Haag, Netherlands - Crossing Borders Festival 11.22.08 - London, United Kingdom - St. Giles in the Fields Church 11.23.08 - Coventry, United Kingdom - Taylor John’s House 11.24.08 - Brighton, United Kingdom - Komedia

& Hospital Ships $ Silver Mt. Zion & Okkervil River

Last week, we wrote a li’l report about Jeff Mangum possibly joining the E6 Holiday Surprise Tour for a couple shows (TMT News). Well, the possibility turned into reality earlier than expected at last night’s Knitting Factory gig in New York, as Jeff Mangum unexpectedly hopped on stage and performed three songs — "The Arrow Flies Close" by Elf Power and both "The Opera House" and "I Have Been Floated" by Olivia Tremor Control.

Not sure if I should be surprised or not, but there are already a couple YouTube videos documenting the show:

 "The Arrow Flies Close" by Elf Power:

 "The Opera House" by Olivia Tremor Control (watch as Mangum and Scott Spillane engage in some friendly shoving!):

Here’s a late-night e-mail from TMT writer/editor Judy Berman (who was exhausted, sore-footed, and who "had a drink or two") detailing what happened:

Thought you’d want to know that I was at the Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour tonight at the Knitting Factory... and Jeff Mangum was there. He came on stage and sang on part of Olivia Tremor Control’s "I Have Been Floated" and Elf Power’s "The Arrow Flies Close," as well as the entirety of Olivia Tremor Control’s "The Opera House" with the whole E6 crew at the end of the night. It seemed like he was making a truly heroic effort just to get out there — he looked anxious, uncertain, and gleeful at the same time. During "The Opera House," he was roughhousing with Scott Spillane. I think he was loosening up. Spillane and Julian Koster even played "The Fool" from Aeroplane (which is, of course, instrumental) and dedicated it to "a friend." What was really unnerving was that both of them were staring offstage as they were playing it, as though they thought it was possible Mangum would be inspired to come on and do some NMH songs. He didn’t, but for a second it seemed possible. Also, some douchebag was screaming "Two-Headed Boy" and "King of Carrot Flowers"— probably the quickest way to dash any chance of those songs actually being performed. I wasn’t disappointed, though. I’m grateful that Mangum is trying so hard to come back, and I wouldn’t want him to push himself to do something he isn’t ready to do.

Anyway, it was an awesome night. Besides the Jeff Mangum parts, they screened the Major Organ movie, which was fantastic, Koster was a gracious and exuberant host, and it was mostly just a treat to see people who enjoyed making music together so much. There is a lot of love in the E6 universe, and it was nice to spend a night submerged in it.

The pressure on Mangum must be tremendous. It’s cool to show our excitement and exhibit friendly encouragement, but hopefully we can refrain from getting too carried away and demanding he perform the entirety of In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.

Remaining dates:

10.12.08 - Boston, MA - The Church 10.14.08 - Portland, ME - Space Gallery 10.15.08 - New Haven, CT - The Space 10.16.08 - Purchase, NY - SUNY Purchase 10.17.08 - Rochester, NY- The Bug Jar 10.18.08 - Pittsburgh, PA - Brillobox 10.19.08 - Columbus, OH - Wexner Center 10.20.08 - Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Pike Room 10.21.08 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge 10.22.08 - Bloomington, IN - Cinemat 10.23.08 - Lexington, KY - University of Kentucky

Wistful Americana torch singer and former Be Good Tanya, Jolie Holland takes to the road next week in support of her latest, electrified effort, The Living and the Dead (via ANTI-), which features cameos from M Ward and Marc Ribot. It’s too bad that so many venues have gone smoke-free, as smoke-filled rooms accent perfectly the intimately dark, roots-tinged western folk that radiates through most of her catalog.

If you haven’t seen her before, Holland jumps through multiple genre hoops on stage, combining musky vocal jazz with sparse remnants of blues, gospel, and, of course, folk, serving as equal parts Nina Nastasia, Tom Waits, and Andrew Bird. More than anything else, she’s an excellent orator and narrator in the fabled troubadour style. Oh look at that, she’s even playing the Troubadour, lol, etc.

10.12.08 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern 10.13.08 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour 10.14.08 - Santa Barbara, CA - SOhO Restaurant & Music Club 10.15.08 - San Francisco CA - Bimbos 365 Club 10.17.08 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir 10.18.08 - Olympia, WA - Capitol Theater 10.19.08 - Vancouver, BC - Richards on Richards 10.20.08 - Seattle, WA - Triple Door 10.22.08 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge 10.23.08 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater 10.24.08 - Lawrence, KS - Jackpot Lounge 10.25.08 - Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Culture Centre 10.27.08 - Lakeshore Theatre - Chicago, IL 10.28.08 - Pontiac, MI - The Pike Room at The Crofoot 10.29.08 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern 10.30.08 - Montreal, QC - Cabaret du Musee Juste Pour Rire 10.31.08 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground South 11.01.08 - Boston, MA - Museum of Fine Arts 11.03.08 - Philadelphia, PA - Tin Angel 11.04.08 - Arlington, VA - IOTA 11.05.08 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle 11.06.08 - Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic 11.08.08 - Louisville, KY - The 930 Listening Room 11.09.08 - Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird Cafe 11.13.08 - New York, NY - Highline Ballroom

In these hard economic times, parents have to do anything in their power to make sure they can provide for their children. Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel, better known to you and I as Mates of State, are doing just that — except, unlike normal parents who are working longer hours or cutting expenses, the parental unit of Mates of State is heading out on a newly confirmed tour for the rest of the fall, including a show at the Barking Tuna Festival in Kalamazoo, MI. But who can blame them? How else are little Magnolia and June Elizabeth (aww cute children names, guys!) going to be able to afford Hannah Montana concerts?

Tourin’ hard for the money:

10.13.08 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues & 10.14.08 - Los Angeles, CA – Wiltern % 10.16.08 - Marquette, MI - Northern Michigan University 10.17.08 - Gramd Rapids, MI - Calvin College 10.18.08 - Kalamazoo, MI - Kalamazoo State Theater ** 10.19.08 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick 11.07.08 - Asbury Park, NJ - Wonder Bar 11.08.08 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero 11.09.08 - Morgantown, WV - Mountainstage (NPR show) 11.10.08 - Lexington, KY - The Dame 11.11.08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat 11.12.08 - Charlottesville, VA - Gravity Lounge 11.13.08 - Charlotte, NC - Neighborhood Theatre 11.14.08 - Lexington, KY - The Dame 11.15.08 - Louisville, KY - Headliners 11.16.08 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle 11.17.08 - Nashville, TN - Exit / In 11.19.08 - Jacksonville Beach, FL - Freebird Live 11.20.08 - Atlanta, GA - The Loft 11.21.08 - Greenville, SC - The Handlebar 11.22.08 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle 11.23.08 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar

& Santogold, Low vs Diamond
% Santogold, The Ting Tings, Low vs Diamond
** Barking Tuna Festival: School of Seven Bells, Daestro, and more (Thanks Brendan!)

Psychedelic rockers Mammatus are planning to hit the road in October for a 12-date West Coast tour, "playing all new BRAIN songs that you’ve never heard before," according to the band. The Santa Cruz, CA three-piece have released two albums since their 2005 inception — 2006’s Mammatus and 2007’s The Coast Explodes — to much praise and acclaim. And it’s no surprise. Mammatus have a singular sound.

They’ll be going on tour with WILDILDLIFE. Don’t know them? Perhaps Mammatus can convince you:

If you haven’t heard them please enlighten yourself, these guys are not only pushing the boundaries of heavy music into the outer dimensions of human comprehension, they also write wicked catchy pop hooks that’ll get stuck in yer head for centuries! So come out and experience an evening of insane electric wankery, eXtreme headbangin, drum destruction, and DUDEAGE!

Try and see them if you can.

10.11.08 - Portland OR, Jackpot Records (free in-store) 10.11.08 - Bainbridge Island, WA – IMG @ 10.14.08 - Seattle, WA - Funhouse @ 10.15.08 - Portland, OR - Someday Lounge 10.16.08 - Eureka, CA - Auntie Mo’s Lounge 10.17.08 - Oakland, CA - Stork Club # 10.18.08 - Santa Cruz, CA - Crepe Place 10.20.08 - Davis, CA - The Firehouse $ 10.21.08 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo & 10.22.08 - San Diego, CA - San Diego Sports Club % 10.23.08 - Long Beach, CA - Prospector 10.24.08 - Monterey, CA - Lounge Underground * 10.25.08 - San Francisco, CA - Hemlock 

@ Emeralds # Pegatuar, Kowloon Walled City $ San Francisco Water Cooler & Magic Lantern % Red Octopus * Serpico  Three Leafs