photos by Arcadia Media

"King of the Dogs," the lead single from Iggy Pop's forthcoming album Préliminaires, was released digitally on May 5 through all digital retailers including Amazon, iTunes and Rhapsody. Rolling Stone included the song on their "Hot List" calling it "Magnifique," and adding that "on this Big Easy-style single from his French-novel-inspired new disc, Ig gets his Tom Waits on." The track is also currently being featured on Stereogum.

"King of the Dogs" was inspired by New Orleans style jazz, with an arrangement featuring trumpet, trombone and clarinet. "At one point, I just got sick of listening to idiot thugs with guitars banging out crappy music," says Iggy. "I've started listening to a lot of New Orleans-era, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton type of jazz."

Préliminaires, which will be released in the U.S. on EMI Music's Astralwerks label on June 2, was produced by Hal Cragin and inspired by French author Michel Houellebecq's 2005 novel The Possibility of an Island. Iggy will also be performing at the fifth annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert honoring Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis, which takes place at club Nokia in Los Angeles on May 8.

Iggy last performed on Friday at the Road Recovery benefit at Nokia Theatre in NYC. Lots of pictures and videos from that event, below...

Continue reading "Iggy Pop's new single streaming + more pics & video from Road Recovery 2009 (Street Sweeper, Perry Farrell, more)"

Iggy Pop, Billy Bragg, Perry Farrell, Don Was, Wayne Kramer, Tom Morello, Little Steven & friends @ the Nokia Theatre last night (edenpictures)

tonight in NYC
* Corn Mo @ Sputnik
* Tribeca Film Festival
* Lady Gaga @ Terminal 5
* Ben & Vesper @ Sycamore
* Bamboozle 2009 @ Giants Stadium
* Fires of Rome @ Tribeca Grand Hotel
* Buraka Som Sistema @ Bowery Ballroom
* Superpitcher, JDH & Dave P (FIXED) @ Studio B
* Look & Listen Festival @ Gary Snyder/Project Space
* Hexa, Air Waves, Jared Micah and Hats @ Glasslands
* The Kills, The Horrors, Magic Wands @ Webster Hall
* Bell Denmark, Grey Gersten, Shahzad Ismaily @ The Stone
* Kurt Vile, Gary War, Sightings, Drunkdriver @ Silent Barn
* Bloody Panda, Pontiak, Ocean, Microkingdom @ Death By Audio
* Bat For Lashes, Lewis & Clarke @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* King Khan & The Shrines, Mark Sultan, Golden Triangle @ Maxwell's
* Trevor Dunn's Madlove, Thurston Moore/Daniel Carter/Ryan Sawyer Trio, Pink Noise @ Union Pool

Iggy Pop (as pictured above) played the Road Recovery Benefit last night. Video below..

A video ad/interview with Bell Orchestre below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

Iggy Pop supports Michigan State University's decision to ban animal circuses from campus in 2009 and hopes the school will make the ban permanent.

"As students who are concerned about animal welfare have told you, performing animals are deprived of everything that is natural to them, including the ability to roam, forage and form families and friendships," Pop said in a letter to the MSU Board of Trustees. It was written on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PETA says the board of trustees decided not to allow the Royal Hanneford Circus (or any others with animal performers) on campus in 2009, for the first time in 16 years. But what about 2010?

"The circus industry is big, wealthy and powerful, and I'm sure that its leaders are encouraging you to reverse your decision," Pop said in his letter.

"I implore you to continue to keep the interests of your students and the welfare of animals at the forefront of your thoughts and stand firm on your policy." [Detroit Free Press]

Neko Case takes a similar stance on zoos.

Iggy, who has a new near-jazz record on the way, is confirmed to appear at the previously-mentioned Road Recovery Benefit happening at Nokia Theatre in NYC on May 1st...

An evening of high-energy rock and roll that's going to be "just loose enough musically that anything might happen," jokes Wayne Kramer... Perry Farrell (Jane's Addiction), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine/ Audioslave / The Nightwatchman), Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains), Wayne Kramer (MC5), Don Was, Billy Bragg, Iggy Pop, Boots Riley, Gilby Clarke, Carl Restivo, Eric Gardner, Bun E. Carlos, Handsome Dick Manitoba performing songs together and individually from their respective catalogs, as well as collaborating on MC5 songs and anything else that strikes their fancy

Also joining the show will be Joan As Police Woman, Ours, Miggs, and Road Recovery's Performance Workshop Program "House Band" Crazy James
Emcee: Matt Pinfield (Sirius Radio and RXP 101.9FM DJ)

Tickets are on sale.

Joan as Policewoman opened for Neko Case at the same venue on Tuesday.

Kick Out the Jams (video) below...

Continue reading "Iggy Pop playing Road Recovery show, speaks up on circuses"

Peter Bjorn & John, W Hotel crowd (more by Tim Griffin)

Ben Harper & Relentless7 are playing Webser Hall on May 5th, and Music Hall of Williamsburg three days after that. Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for both shows.

Ben Lee and Low vs. Diamond are playing Bowery Ballroom on May 22nd. Tickets are on sale (@ noon).

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the two Jonathan Richman shows coming up at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for Metric's show at Terminal 5.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the two Passion Pit shows coming up at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Indigo Girls show at Central Park Summerstage. Matt Nathanson is opening.

Perry Farrell, Jerry Cantrell, and Wayne Kramer are doing another Road to Recovery benefit at Nokia Theatre on May 1st. Tickets are on sale (@ noon).

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for all five Art Brut shows coming up at Mercury Lounge.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for both Meat Puppets shows coming up at Mercury Lounge.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Shins show happening at Terminal 5, and for the one happening at Wellmont Theater.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Camera Obscura show happening at Webster Hall.

Tickets went on sale yesterday for Santigold's show at Terminal 5.

Tickets went on sale Wednesday for Animal Collective's show in Brooklyn.

Tickets are on sale for the Tortoise show happening at the Bell House.

Tickets are still on sale for tonight's Obits show at The Bell House.

Tickets to the 'Road Recovery Benefit W/ Slash, Jerry Cantrell, Tom Morello, & Perry Farrell" have been reduced to $25 on Ticketmater.

Own the guitar Slash is signing, and other things. All the for the same charity.

This is a supergroup performance by Slash, Jerry Cantrell, Tom Morello, and Wayne Kramer. Featuring performances by The Nightwatchman (Tom Morello, acoustic), Denis Leary & The Crown Royals featuring the Rehab Horns, Joseph Arthur, Crazy James, and other guests.

The show is April 17th @ Nokia Theatre. It benefits Road Recovery ("music without drugs"). Tickets are on sale. A lot of these same people played a surprise show together at SXSW in 2007. Video below....

Continue reading "Slash, Jerry Cantrell, Tom Morello, Perry Farrell, Denis Leary & Wayne Kramer are playing a benefit show in NYC"