Coachella 2008 Line-Up Announced

Okay kids—start saving your penny's!

As reported by Pitchfork, this years Coachella line-up is out of the bag and is shaping up to be one of the most impressive festivals to date.

See for yourself (bold for artist we're excited about):

Friday April 25—
Jack Johnson, The Verve, Raconteurs, The Breeders, Fatboy Slim, Tegan and Sara, Madness, The Swell Seasom, The National, Animal Collective, Slightly Stoopid, Múm, Pendulum, Sharon Jones, The Dap Kings, Stars, Battles, Aesop Rock, Midnight Juggernauts, Does It Offend you, Yeah?, Minus the Bear, Spank Rock dan le sac vs. Scrobius Pip, Diplo, Adam Freeland, Santo Gold, Jens Lekman, John Butler Trio, Vampire Weekend, Dan Deacon, Architecture in Helsinki, Sandra Collins, Busy P, Cut Copy, Black Lips, Datarock, Professor Murder, Reverend and the Makers, The Bees, Porter, Rogue Wave, Modeslektor, American Bang, Lucky I am

Saturday April 26—
Portishead, Kraftwerk, Death Cab for Cutie, Café tacuba, Sasha & Digweed, Rilo Kiley, Dwight Yoakam, M.I.A., Hot Chip, Cold War Kids, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, DeVotchKa, Flogging Molly, Mark Ronson, Turbonegro, Scars on Broadway, Islands, Enter Shikari, Calvin Harris, Boyz Noise, Junkie XL, Cinematic Orchestra, Jamie T, The Teenagers, VHS or Beta, Carbon/Silicon, Erol Alkan, Yo Majesty!, Little Brother, Bonde Do Role, St. Vincent, Akron Family, MGMT, Insitubes djs, Surkin, Para One and Orgasmic, James Zabiela, Sebastian, Kavinsky, Dredg, The Bird and the Bee, Grand Ole Party, New Young Pony Club, 120 Days, Yoav, Electric Touch, Uffie

Sunday April 27—
Roger Waters (Dark Side of the Moon), Love and Rockets, My Morning Jacket, Spiritualized, Justice, Gogol Bordello, Chromeo, The Streets, Metric, Danny Tenaglia, Simian Mobile Disco, Books Shade, Murs, Dmitri From Paris, Autolux, The Field, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Les Savy Fav, The Cool Kids, Sons & Daughters, Sia, Holy F**k, Black Kids, Black Mountain, The Annuals, Kid Sister with A-Trak, Man Man, Duffy, I'm from Barcelona, Manchester Orchestra, Deadmau5, The Horrors, AUSTIN TV, Shout Out Louds, Plastiscenes, Brett Denmen

In case you missed it, Portishead will be appearing on Saturday!!!
That means they will at least make a stop in the US. With the first set of concert dates announced last week, we can only continue to cross our fingers that more North American dates will follow.

Other acts of note: The Breeders (who are currently preparing their next release), Madness (!!!!), Kraftwerk, M.I.A., Carbon/Silicon (new project from Tony James and Mick Jones) & Love and Rockets.

As this gets closer, I'm sure more bands will be added. We're predicting My Bloody Valentine and Radiohead to make it to the bill as well—just a hunch and in no way based off of outside information.

Portishead Announce Tour Dates

As reported this evening by Pitchfork, one of the greatest bands of the 90's, Portishead has announced dates for their upcoming spring tour with a promise of more to come.

If you are anywhere near these shows, make sure you cue up early for tickets.

2008 is quickly shaping up to be an amazing year for music!

Morrissey "strikes again" suing NME

On the heals of announcing new tour dates and plans for two releases in 2008, Morrissey continues to churn the promotion machine with a defamation lawsuit over construed comments in a recent NME interview.

As reported by Pitchfork, in his interview with the NME, Morrissey was asked if he would return to live in England. What followed was his view of England's lost identity as opposed to other European countries that have been able to maintain their culture and charm.

Here's the quote from the NME article:

"Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears. So the price is enormous. If you travel to Germany, it's still absolutely Germany. If you travel to Sweden, it still has a Swedish identity.

"But travel to England and you have no idea where you are."

As this could be seen as an allegation against immigrants in the UK and a reason for not living there, there was a follow-up interview where Morrissey attempted to clarify his remarks. He further explained:

"It could be construed that the reason I wouldn't wish to live in England is the immigration explosion. And that's not true at all."

When all was said and done, the original quote made it into the article which didn't make the once pop idol turned modern-day crooner too happy. Morrissey demanded a printed apology, but didn't get it. Silly editors.

Cue the legal team!

In Rainbows: Worth it's weight in Platinum!

According to Pitchfork, Radiohead's In Rainbows had over 1.2 Million downloads on it's first day of release. While actual sales figures have yet to be released (if they'll be released at all) we feel its safe to say that they have a hit CD on their hands . . . again.

A full review of the album is currently in the works. Until then, we can let you know that the album "Kicks A"!

If you haven't gotten it yet, stop reading this and go here and get on it—Chop Chop!

All hail Pitchfork!

There are a lot of items and topics that we at The BGL centre intend on discussing in the future: Favorite albums, favorite live shows, how we were introduced to a song/artist, where our blog name comes from, opinions, reviews and news.
Basically—we intend on discussing everything music.

If its not clear as of yet, this is a music based blog.

Today, we want to pay hommage to the best music news site on the internet: Pitchfork.

They are, without question, THE source for music news, reviews and interviews online (and offline too).

TOP 5 REASONS WHY PITCHFORK RULES:

5. They are fast! Not sure how everything is set up, but they get the word out almost as it happens.

4. They know their stuff. Seriously—it doesn't matter the genre, they seem "un-stumpable".

3. They are witty. Everything always comes together really well and usually comes with a giggle or two.

2. They cut to the chase. Never any fillers; it's all meat.

1. They always have access to the right people when it matters most.
Example: On the day of the most talked about album release of the year, they offer up info on an interview with Jonny Greenwood about In Rainbows . . . that happened today.

So, here's to you Pitchfork! Because you continue to rock, we salute you.
(Yeah, okay. We'll keep working on our summary statements.)

www.pitchforkmedia.com

"Smashing" Pumpkins—and concert goers

As reported by The Vancouver Sun and Pitchfork, a 20-year-old man from British Columbia died Monday, September 24 at the Smashing Pumpkins show in Vancouver.

What the crap?!

What's worse—this isn't the first time a fan has died at a Pumpkins show. In May of 1996, a 17-year-old girl from Shanagarry, County Cork was crushed to death at a Smashing Pumpkins concert at the Point Theatre in Dublin. It's reported that on recordings of this show you can hear lead singer, Billy Corgan, trying to calm the rampaging crowd.

Rampaging crowd? Oh, wait . . . it was 1996.

People, Seriously. Are you really that "into" Smashing Pumpkins in 2007 that you'd work yourselves into such a lather that you'd forget all reason and put your life in jeopardy? Much like another 90s star that won't take a hint, Billy Corgan isn't doing anyone any favors by continuing his quest for another multi-platinum recording.

In their day (which ended just before Pisces Iscariot) the Pumpkins were on top of the alternative music world. But with the release of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness in 1995, they, and by they we mean Billy Corgan, started taking themselves way too seriously. Everything since has been an attempt at what they once were.

But, we digress.

While we are saddened that someone would lose their life while trying to have a good time at a musical event, it's almost as troubling that in 2007 a 20-year-old (do the math) would find a Smashing Pumpkins show interesting.

Now if he died during The Bravery's set—we totally get it.