MUSICBLOGR – Music Video Blog

The British electronic group, led by Alison Goldfrapp, gave Coachella one hell of a show on the first day of the fest. Enjoy the pictures of Goldfrapp …

Amy Winehouse has been arrested for suspicion of assault, TMZ.com reported on Friday morning. She is reportedly being held at a police station in London for questioning.

The 24-year-old singer is accused of head-butting a 38-year-old man outside a London pub earlier in the week. She could face up to six months in prison but reportedly hasn’t been charged yet with a crime, according to multiple U.K. reports.

Getty Images

According to BBC News, Winehouse “looked teary and distressed” when she arrived at the police station. “She appeared tiny, as she was surrounded by … onlookers and the media,” the news outlet said.

British tabloid The Sun had previously described the incident as Winehouse’s “most depraved night yet.” The article was accompanied by a variety of photos, including one of Winehouse walking into a lamppost, and claimed that the singer “punched a second man in the face, trashed a bar, and smoked drugs on the London sidewalk.”

 

“Police are investigating an alleged assault on Chalk Farm Road at approximately 3:20 a.m. on April 23,” a Metropolitan Police spokesman reportedly said. “A 38-year-old man [contacted] Kentish Town police station and alleged a 24-year-old woman had assaulted him.”

Before entering the pub earlier in the evening, a patron reportedly said Winehouse was screaming out, “I am a legend, get these people out. I want to take drugs.”

 

No stranger to the media, Winehouse has had a string of high-profile stories as of late, from her hospitalization last August to a stint in rehab in January to big Grammy wins in February. She and her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, were arrested in October for drug possession, and Winehouse was arrested another time in December on suspicion of attempting to interfere with a court case involving Fielder-Civil.

Motion City Soundtrack are unplugging the keyboard (and Jesse Johnson‘s wacky onstage keyboard playing) for an acoustic EP due out digitally on May 6. Get those lighters in the air right now!

The five tracks on the EP are all acoustic versions of songs from the band’s Even if It Kills Me release that came out back in 2007. This is the first time Motion City Soundtrack have released an entire record of acoustic songs. Perhaps this could be their calling after all?

Motion City Soundtrack EP track list:

“Fell in Love Without You”
“It Had to Be You”
“Broken Heart”
“Can’t Finish What You Started”
“Point of Extinction”

The physical version of the EP is supposed to be released next fall. Meanwhile, you can catch the band in concert on the Honda Civic Tour with Panic at the Disco, The Hush Sound and Phantom Planet.

Honda Civic tour dates:

4.25: Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
4.26: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Music Park
4.27: Charlotte, NC @ Amos’ Southend
4.29: Myrtle Beach, SC @ House Of Blues
4.30: Washington DC @ Constitution Hall
5.2: Orono, ME @ Alfond Arena
5.3: Troy, NY @ RPI Field House
5.4: East Rutherford, NJ @ Meadlowlands
5.6: Rochester, NY @ Gordon Fieldhouse
5.7: New York, NY @ Roseland Ballroom (SOLD OUT)
5.8: New York, NY @ Roseland Ballroom
5.9: Philadelphia, PA @ Festival Pier
5.10: Wallingford, CT @ Chevrolet Theatre 
5.11: Boston, MA @ Bank of America Pavilion
5.13: Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
5.14: Toronto, ON @ The Sound Academy
5.16: Cleveland, OH @ Tower City Amphitheatre 
5.17: Columbus, OH @ Lifestyles Communities Pavilion
5.18:  Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Center (SOLD OUT)
5.20:  Detroit, MI @ Fillmore Theatre
5.21: Grand Rapids, MI @ Orbit Room 
5.23: Chicago, IL @ Congress Theatre (SOLD OUT)
5.25: Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
5.27: Minneapolis, MN @ Myth
5.28: Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
5.30: St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant (SOLD OUT)
5.31: Omaha, NE @ Westfair Amphitheatre
6.1: Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theatre
6.3: Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
6.4: Salt Lake City, UT @ Salt Air Theatre
6.6: Vancouver, BC @ PNE Forum
6.7: Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
6.8: Portland, OR @ Portland Exposition Center 
6.10: Reno, NV @ Grand Sierra Resort
6.13: Las Vegas, NV @ The Pearl 
6.14: Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center

It’s been five years since we last heard from Spiritualized, but the wait is finally over. The experimental psych-rockers are making a grand return with a new album and an exclusive iTunes EP. Songs in A&E is the first album since Amazing Grace, and judging by the noisy guitars and choir on the first single, “Soul on Fire,” the record is sure to deliver on the group’s trademark sound.

At this point, “Soul” is available only by stream on Spiritualized’s Myspace page; it will see offiicial digital release on May 6, followed by the full album on May 26 through Fontana International/Spaceman. But the goldmine of new material only starts there.

Feeling generous, the band is releasing deluxe book and double-vinyl versions of Songs in A&E in June. And if you need a more immediate Spiritualized fix, iTunes will release an exclusive live EP, iTunes: London Sessions, on Tuesday. The tracks were culled from the recent iTunes Festival in England, and feature the lush string instrumentation and gospel choir that’s become synonymous with Spiritualized.

In addition (yes, even more), iTunes is doling out exclusive tracks via pre-order, including “Soul on Fire (Live From Union Chapel)” and an extended version of “Harmony 2.” Fans should feel fully satiated after the five-year hiatus.

This week the group is in Southern California for Sunday’s performance at Coachella. Perhaps taking a nod from Love and Rockets and Portishead, they’re warming up with shows in Santa Barbara and San Diego – the SB one happened last night, and the San Diego gig is tomorrow.

Track list for iTunes: London Sessions:

“Sitting on Fire”
“Lord Let It Ran on Me”
“True Love Will Find You in the End”
“Death Take Your Fiddle”
“Walking With Jesus”

Southern California appearances:

4.25: San Diego @ 4th & B
4.27: Indio, CA @ Coachella at 6:20 p.m. (Mojave Tent)

-Soikatron

Would you like to meet your heroes? Become an Internet phenomenon and you just might get the chance! Three Argentinean brothers, collectively known as Los Gauchos, recently got to meet their hero — legendary Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson.

Bruce Dickinson performing with Iron Maiden

Back in 2006, the young trio uploaded videos of themselves performing covers of Iron Maiden classics “The Trooper” and “Hallowed Be Thy Name.” The remarkably well-played covers, combined with the ages of the three brothers — Emilio, 16, Agustín, 12, and Martín, 11 — gave the band instant semi-stardom, and the videos went on to garner millions of views on Youtube.

Dickinson, being the generous man that he is, took some time out from Maiden’s recent “Somewhere Back in Time” tour to meet with the brothers and jam on some tunes with them.

The touching jam session was reportedly caught on tape by directors Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn — who will be releasing “Global Metal” later this year — for inclusion in their documentary that followed the band onstage and off while on its “Somewhere Back in Time” tour.

Still photos of Bruce meeting the band can be seen below:

Island-er Nick Thorburn and moody folk-rocker Jim Guthrie have joined forces to create the band Human Highway. The idea came about while the two were on tour with Islands, a band Thorburn fronts, and grew out of a mutual respect for each other as musicians (Islands are currently on tour now).

This is another in a long list of projects for Thorburn, who has also played in Th’ Corn Gangg, Juiced Elfers, Reefer and The Unicorns. For Guthrie, it’s the first major incarnation since his excellent 2004 solo release, Now, More Than Ever. Human Highway’s debut, Moody Motorcycle, will be out August 19 on Suicide Squeeze Records.

Moody Motorcycle, which Guthrie says features ”hot man-on-man vocal action,” according to a press release, was composed in the span of one week at his house in downtown Toronto. Taking the indie tradition of home recordings to a new level, the album was more or less recorded from Guthrie’s couch, where the two also slept. (And lest you think they’re exaggerating, Thorburn reassures, “My butt didn’t leave that couch for an entire week.”) Perhaps the proximity contributed to Human Highway‘s familiar, soulful sound, which is reminiscent of ’50s/’60s doo-wop, á la The Everly Brothers.

As Motorcycle‘s release date approaches, the band is planning some treats for fans, including a vinyl release, a video and sporadic one-off shows in North America.

Islands tour dates:

4.24: Los Angeles, CA @ UCLA (day show)
4.26: Indio, CA (Coachella)
4.30: Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone
5.1: Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree
5.22: Washington DC @ Black Cat
5.23: Philadelphia, PA @ First Unit
5.24: New York, NY @ Webster Hall
5.25: Boston, MA @ Middle East
5.27: Ottawa, ON @ Babylon
5.28: Montreal, QA @ Le National
5.29: Toronto, ON @ Phoenix
5.30: London, ON @ Call the Office
5.31: Waterloo, ON @ Starlight
6.1: Detroit, MI @ Crofoot
6.2: Chicago, IL @ Logan Square Auditorium
6.3: Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave.
6.4: Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium
6.5: Winnipeg, MB @ West End Cultural Centre
6.6: Saskatoon, SK @ Amigo’s
6.7: Edmonton, AB @ Sartlite
6.8: Calgary, AB @ Warehouse
6.10: Vancouver, BC @ Plaza Club
6.12: Seattle, WA @ Neumos
6.13: Portland, OR @ Hawthorne
6.14: Eugene, OR @ University of Oregon Grad Fest
6.16: San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s
6.17: Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda
6.19: San Diego, CA @ Epicentre
6.20: Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
6.21: Phoenix, AZ @ Club House
6.23: Austin, TX @ Emo’s
6.24: Dallas, TX @ Granada
6.25: Houstone, TX @ Walter’s
6.26: Baton Rouge, LA @ Chelsea’s Cafe
6.27: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
6.28: Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre

Catch Islands on Saturday at Coachella. The Buzznet crew will be doing artist interviews and armed head-to-toe with cameras for photo coverage, so be sure to keep checking back for regular updates.

(Check out our cornucopia of Coachella coverage right here, but don’t forget to upload your own content to the Coachella group page.)

Take a look at the Coachella 2008 peformers below:

(Coachella 2008 gallery: Friday)

(Coachella 2008 gallery: Saturday)

(Coachella 2008 gallery: Sunday)

In honor of Earth Day, José González is releasing the aptly titled In Our Nature Remixes EP. The mini-album comes after a successful 30-date Green Tour with Reverb Rock that helped reduce the carbon footprint of the tour by 76 tons of CO2.

Remixes’ tracks, taken from the full-length In Our Nature, are reinterpreted by Todd Terje, Beatfanatic and more. The first single — a cover of Massive Attack‘s “Tear Drop” — will be released May 6 and will also include the B-side for “Four Forks Ache.” Both the EP and the single are available only by the planet-conscious method of digital download.

González will hit the road June 13 for what’s sure to be more “eco-friendly” touring. Here are his tour dates:

6.13: Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo
6.14: Louisville, KY @ Headliners
6.15: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
6.16: Asbury Park, NJ @ The Stone Pony
6.17: Northampton, MA @ The Iron Horse
6.18: Boston, MA @ Museum of Fine Arts
6.20: Guadalajara, Mexico @ Teatro Estudio Cavaret
6.21: Mexico City, Mexico @Lunario
6.23: Newmarket, NH @ Stone Church
6.24: Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
6.25: Quebec City @ 400 Anniversary Festival
6.26: Halifax, NS @ St. Matthew’s Church
6.27: Hamilton, ON @ Casbah
6.28: Calgary, AB @ Sled Island Festival
6.30: Saskatoon, SK @ The Broadway Theatre
7.2: Winnipeg, MB @ The Park Theatre
7.3: Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Bluesfest

Like González, the promoters of the Popped! Music Festival are hoping to raise Earth Day awareness. Announced today, the lineup for the diverse Philadelphia festival includes everyone from iconic rapper Slick Rick to indie favorites Vampire Weekend and Mates of State.

The POPPED! Music Festival runs from June 20-22. The bands will play some of Philadelphia’s most central indoor and outdoor locations, as the promoters strive to create a green-friendly, live-music experience, à la Pemberton.

-Soikatron

Simple Plan‘s third album, which came out in February, took the band in all different directions as they experimented and built on their pop-punk sound. Guitarist Jeff Stinco revealed to Ulitmate Guitar how bands like Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance inspired them to try something different.

“I think that when Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance and Green Day came out with their ambitious records, we weren’t necessarily inspired by them musically, but by their desire to push it further and make grand statements. We wanted to find our own way to do this, without copying what they are doing,” Stinco explained.

Do you think Simple Plan has inspired any of these three bands?

The French Canadian fivesome are currently on tour in support of their self-titled album and their newest single, “Your Love Is a Lie.”

Simple Plan tour dates:
4.23: Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique w/ Elliot Minor
4.24: Paris, France @ Le Bataclan w/ Elliot Minor
4.26: Berlin, Germany @ Trinity w/ Elliot Minor
4.27: Prague, Czech Republic @ Mala Sportovni Hala w/ Elliot Minor   
5.2: College Park, Maryland @ mtvU Campus Invasion [Byrd Stadium]
5.3: Memphis, Tennessee @ Beale Stret Music Festival
5.10: San Antonio, TX @ Sunset Station
5.11: Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
5.12: Dallas, TX @ The Palladium Ballroom
5.17: East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center
5.26: Osaka, Japan @ Hatch
5.27: Tokyo, Japan @ Studio Coast
5.28: Tokyo, Japan @ Blitz
5.29: Nagoya, Japan, Nagano @ Zepp
6.9: Vienna, Austria, Vorarlberg @ The Arena
6.13: North West Leicestershire, UK  @ Donington Park 
7.1: Quebec City, Canada @ Plains Of Abraham
8.19: St. John’s, Newfoundland @ Mile One
8.21: Halifax, Newfoundland @ Metro Centre    
8.22: Moncton, New Brunswick @ Coliseum
8.23: Saint John, New Brunswick @ Harbour Station
8.25: Chicoutimi, Quebec @ Centre George Vezina 
8.26: Montreal, Quebec @ Bell Centre

Is Simple Plan’s latest record the best of their nine-year career? Discuss in the comments below!