The Decemberists
Tragic Sunshine, 2008

LAist interviews the legendary Brian Wilson.

In the last couple of years you've been very active traveling and performing in Europe. Is there a particular attraction to performing for the European audiences?

Oh, they appreciate music more than the Americans do. I can tell by the way they applaud that they like music better than Americans like.

Decider Denver interviews singer-songwriter William Elliott Whitmore.

The Guardian has finished compiling its 1000 novels everyone should read.

Musicouch examines how indie music can be a "backlash to capitalism."

nyctaper features an mp3 download of Ponytail's Friday NYC performance.

Daytrotter's Saturday session features in-studio mp3s from Fishboy.

Phosphorescent – “Too Sick To Pray” & “At Death”

Those with keen eyes may have noticed that Bonnie Prince Billy‘s upcoming Beware album, due 3/17 on Drag City, will be available on LP and CD, as well as an “Ultraload” format. Apparently, this (awesome) new format equates to a download coupon for the album PLUS a special 10″ featuring 4 additional, non-album, tracks:

• How About Thank You
• Hey Little
• Champion
• Face Him

Bobbi Fabian

This is a special Saturday post because I am extremely bummed out by David Berman's announcement that he is more or less wrapping up the Silver Jews. Berman wants to turn to writing - books? poetry? screenplays? - and is haunted by the fact that his band are “too small of a force to ever come close to undoing a millionth of all the harm” that his father, a right-wing lobbyist, has “caused.” I want to wish David well in all his undertakings - and I'm as excited about a possible follow-up to his poetry book, Actual Air, as anyone. But like Carl, I hope he is making his own glad choice - and not enslaved by his father's sour one.

In any case, the Silver Jews are one of my favourite bands, and Berman one of my favourite lyricists. He is one of my favourite poets too, but as Berman has often insisted, these are two separate things. He is among the most beloved artists to Said the Gramophone, and in honour of him - in honour & celebration, not a memorial, as Berman has centuries left in his heart, - we have re-uploaded every Silver Jews song we have ever written about. The first was almost four years ago, the most recent just six weeks.

May the wind be at your back, David.

Said the Gramophone & the Silver Jews:

Dan on “Party Barge" and Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea (Dec 11, 2008)

Sean on “Strange Victory, Strange Defeat" and the Silver Jews live (Sep 4, 2008)

Dave Berman himself! On our blog! Answering questions! (Jun 12, 2008)

Sean on “Frontier Index” (Nov 26, 2007)

Dan on “Night Society” (Dec 29, 2006)

Rachell Sumpter's painting for “Horse Leg Swastikas” (Jan 18, 2006)

Dan on “How Can I Love You (If You Won't Lie Down)” (Jul 18, 2005)

Dan on “How to Rent a Room” (Mar 7, 2005)

MP3: Cold Cave – “The Trees Grew Emotions and Died”
The Trees Grew Emotions and Died 12″, Dais Records, 2008.

How about some bleak, gothy Dark Wave for your lovely sunny afternoon?