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Come see Salman Rushdie, Venus Williams, Sarah Silverman, Paul Krugman, Dennis Lehane, Paul Auster, Naomi Klein, Gary Shteyngart, Rosanne Cash, Jennifer Egan, John Ashbery, Nelson George, Mary Gaitskill, Colson Whitehead, Francine Prose, Esmeralda Santiago, Pete Hamill, Russell Banks, Michael Connelly, John Hodgman, Kristen Schaal, Sam Lipsyte, Sloane Crosley, Paul Harding and over 200 more! Plus children's and young adult lit stars like Rebecca Stead, Sara Shepard, Jacqueline Woodson, Jon Scieszka, Jenny Han, Tad Hills, and Francisco X. Stork! Click here for festival program schedule."

DOWNLOAD: Fiery Furnaces - The End is Near (MP3)

Fiery Furnaces @ Barack the Vote (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Dear Sir or Madam,

Regarding your recent story about the Fiery Furnaces in the bowling alley: thank you for writing about us; and thanks to the bowling alley for having us there. However, and as it happens, we feel obliged to report that the tone of our remarks was often misrepresented. For instance: the quote which begins the piece was said, in actual fact, with quite a bit of sarcasm. To be sure, it was not a very witty remark. But it certainly was sarcastic. In the future, the band will strive to be more obviously insincere and disdainful.

In writing this we of course imply no disrespect to the bowling alley, which is no doubt providing, as employer or client, a much needed boost to the economy of North Williamsburg; to say nothing of the remarkable atmosphere it certainly succeeds in promulgating. Conversely, we would not like to be thought in anyway dissatisfied with the efforts of the writer of the piece, whom we continue to regard as extremely pleasant and very intelligent.

Needless to say, we hold it an honor to be mentioned in any capacity by as legendary a publication as the Village Voice. As always, we are proud to patronize your advertisers and be personally affected by your editorial positions.

Sincerely, and with affection,

The Fiery Furnaces

NYC's Housing Works Bookstore Cafe hosts a release party for the new issue of the Lowbrow Reader tonight (July 22nd). The lineup for the variety show features "short acoustic sets from The Fiery Furnaces, Peter Stampfel & the Ether Frolic Mob, and Larkin Grimm, comedy by John Mulaney and a reading by Gilbert Rogin." "A mere $10 --or $5 for those unemployed or on worker's strike-- donation at the door."

For a more extended look at the Fiery Furnaces, whose I'm Going Away just came out on Thrill Jockey, they'll be playing the August 9th Williamsburg Waterfront Pool Party with Simian Mobile Disco, Dark Meat and Finger on the Pulse DJs.

On October 1st, Housing Works will host a benefit titled "Liner Notes, an Evening of Music and Literature." For that event...

Acclaimed author Salman Rushdie and progressive rock band Dredg will co-headline Liner Notes...to explore the cross-pollination of music and literature and raise funds for Housing Works, a New York-based AIDS service organization. The event will be presented by SPIN and its SPIN.com Book Club, and will celebrate the recent release of Dredg's fourth album, The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion, which was inspired by Rushdie's essay "Imagine There's No Heaven: A Letter to the Sixth Billionth Citizen."

Tickets go on sale Monday, August 24th.

Dredg is currently on tour with RX Bandits. They play Irving Plaza and Bowery Ballroom at the end of July. Fiery Furnaces are going on tour with White Rabbits in August. All dates below...

Continue reading "Fiery Furnaces @ Housing Works tonight/Wednesday, Dredg w/ Salman Rushdie in October & other tour dates & stuff"

The 2009 NY Times Arts & Leisure Weekend takes place at the Timescenter in NYC from January 8-11. Tickets are on sale for events that include talks with Vampire Weekend, Patti Smith, Salman Rushdie, and Tom Cruise (thx Jeff).

Vampire Weekend are also playing 4 NYC-area shows in December. Patti Smith is playing two.