My first post-Coachella update.  Looking back it was a pretty damn good festival, probably one of the best ones as far as how well it was organized.  The best year for music is too hard to determine.  It might be my last one as I'm just tired of the allergies and now with the two weekends of Coachella and all the local shows, it's not worth the hassle.  In anycase, here are this week's updates.  Enjoy!

We've only barely mentioned Freebass in the past, it was during Excellent Online's crappy "digg-wannabe-days" (sorry everyone, I now love reddit).  Anyway, Freebass is a supergroup that features Peter Hook (New Order), Mani (Stone Roses, Primal Scream), and Andy Rourke (Smiths).  It was a triple-bass supergroup.  Yes, they now have a drummer and a singer too.  Earlier this year they released their first EP, Two Worlds Collide, and their album, It's A Beautiful Life, in digital form only.  Next week they're going to release the CD version of their EP and with that release, Andy Rourke is departing from the band.  According tho their official site, "Andy Rourke was initially involved in the conception of the group and contributed to the EP and a few tracks on the LP , He is now living in NYC and will not be joining the band for live dates."

Bernard Sumner and Steve Morris launch new project... - Source

Iron & Wine's Around The Well collection came out yesterday, but instead of playing something from it on Fallon, Sam Beam, his sister Sarah, and pianist did a new track, "Godless Brother In Love." It has the same sort of pathos as the recently unearthed "Homeward These Shoes," but instead of disappearing after a minute, it builds into something bigger. (It's interesting seeing the mellow, spacious song bookmarked by Fallon, someone seemingly afraid of silence.) Sticking to the "love" theme (and digging into the Around The Well track list), they also tackled New Order's "Love Vigilantes" during rehearsals.Continue reading Iron & Wine Perform A New Song (And A New Order Song) For Jimmy Fallon... - Source

As far as Peter Hook is concerned, New Order is finished. But that doesn't mean fans won't be treated to loads of new New Order releases in the coming months, including the previously reported Live in Glasgow deluxe DVD set (due June 24 Stateside via Warner/Rhino, and out now in the UK) and a spate of expanded reissues, amp;agrave; la last year's Joy Division catalog clearout. Nor does it mean the name Joy Division isn't still making headlines, what with the aforementioned reissues, a pair of recent DVDs, and even a limited edition Zune. - Source

Speaking exclusively to Xfm on the eve of the launch of the new documentary, 'Joy Division', drummer Stephen Morris is sceptical about New Order's future. - Source

Watch S. Morris discuss the longevity of Joy Division & the future of New Order below. - Source

New Order have announced the release of a new live DVD. - Source

M-S explains: *The third Manchester v Cancer gig was held at the MEN Arena on Saturday, February 23rd. At the end of the night, after the scheduled bands had played, for the finale, Badly Drawn Boy (Damon Gough) was joined on stage by Peter Hook (Joy Division/New Order), Andy Rourke (The Smiths) & David Potts (Monaco) to perform four songs - the first of which was The Smiths' 'Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want'.* - Source

Freebass, the group consisting of The Smiths' Andy Rourke, New Order's Peter Hook and The Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist Mani, have revealed their new singer. - Source