That's right, we've got some preliminary tour dates... none of these are confirmed so don't be booking flights to Canada quite yet... but it is a sign of good things to come.

Apr 14 Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg, MB CANADA
Apr 15 Doris Knight Ballroom, Regina, SK CANADA
Apr 17 Prairieland, Saskatoon, SK CANADA
Apr 18 Red's, Edmonton, AB CANADA
Apr 19 MacEwan Hall, Calgary, AB CANADA
Apr 21 Victoria Curling Club, Victoria, BC CANADA
Apr 22-23 Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC CANADA
Apr 24 Big Easy, Spokane, WA
Apr 25 The Big Easy, Boise, ID
Apr 27 MacDonald Theatre, Eugene, OR
Apr 29 Freeborn Hall, Davis, CA

The official lineup of Coachella 2004 has been announced on www.coachella.com and it's going to be one hell of a festival this year. Some personal highlights: Radiohead, Pixies, Cure, Air, Flaming Lips, Future Sound of London(!!!!), Trail of Dead, Death Cab For Cutie, Stills, Mogwai... If I get to see half of these bands it'll be so worth it. Click on "Read More" to get the full lineup.

It's nice change of pace to announce a band is reforming... and even better when that band is THE PIXIES. They've been a confirmed act for Coachella for a few weeks but the official word from 4AD came down today:

They're talking, they're rehearsing, and they're going to perform together for the first time in more than a decade. The Pixies, acclaimed as the most influential pioneer of the late '80s alt/rock movement, and who effectively blazed the path for groups like Nirvana, Radiohead and Pearl Jam to rise to superstardom, have officially confirmed their much-anticipated reunion. The original line-up - Frank Black/vocals, guitar; Joey Santiago/guitar; Kim Deal/bass; and David Lovering/drums - are already holed up in a Southern California rehearsal space working together for the first time since they disbanded in 1993.

An eleven date US tour will commence following Coachella and a month + European tour shortly after. 4AD is touting a soon-to-be-released DVD featuring videos, a documentary and interviews with rockstars singing the praises of the Pixies to the moon and back. "Wave of Mutilation - Best of Pixies", the 23 track compilation is also set for a release later in the year. We will keep you updated on tourdates as they are confirmed.

But what's the real question on the mind of millions of indie kids everywhere... does Frank now have to change his name back to Black Francis?

COACHELLA is coming up and already there are a bunch of rumors plus several fantastic confirmed acts. The even will be held on May 1st and 2nd with tickets going on sale February 14th. The prices will be about the same (75 bucks per day or 140 for both). Confirmed acts include:

SATURDAY: Pixies, Radiohead, Kraftwerk, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Sahara Hotnights, The Sleepy Jackson, and LCD Soundsystem

SUNDAY: The Cure, The Thrills, Broken Social Scene , Electric 6 , Prefuse 73 , Sidestepper and T. Raumschmiere

Unknown Date, But Confirmed: Air, The Stills , The Crystal Method, Basement Jaxx, Moving Units, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bright Eyes, The Flaming Lips, Death Cab For Cutie, Mogwai

And there's a big list of rumored acts like Outkast, Nine Inch Nails, Notwist, British Sea Power, The Hidden Cameras, Chemical Brothers, Rapture, Morrissey, Strokes, Jets to Brazil, Paul McCartney, etc.... but I wouldn't hold my breath. It doesn't matter though because this is already shaping up to be one of the best lineups in Coachella history.

Despite having resolved the band last year, Neil Hannon is back with a new album from The Divine Comedy. To be released on March 29, the new material, "Absent Friends" was recorded in London during 2003 with the assistance of Guy Massey and Nigel Godrich. Neil's also employing the help of a few friends on the album... particularly Lauren Lavern (XFM DJ and former Kenickie songstress) and Yann Tiersen (the composer of the Amelie soundtrack... but you knew that right?). According to Neil, "Most of the songs employ stories and characters as a framework within which are discussed the loose themes of coming, going and not quite being where you want to be". The first single 'Come Home Billy Bird' (a duet with Lauren Laverne) will hit the UK shelves on March 22, but word is it's already circulating around the internet to mass appeal.

The Sights/The Dirtbombs - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom - 01/20/04

Good hair, double bass and a fight. That's a good rock show right? Well, unfortunately that didn't make up for the tour-tired musicians and boring stage presence.

The Dirtbombs are not a band I've listened to, but my friends had been looking forward to this show for weeks, and I wanted to see The Sights in the opening slot.
The Sights played a great set. I'm not familiar with the 'Are You Green?' era unfortunately. The last 4 songs included one new one progressing from their 'Got What We Want' material nicely, as well as the highlights from that album Don't Want You Back and Sweet Little Woman.

What a tumultuous day. We lose contact with Mars, Ben and Jen are splitsville, ol' Artie Garfunkel gets busted for weed... and now it seems that SUB POP RECORDS may have just declared an outright war with indie music webzine PITCHFORK MEDIA. It may be down by the time you read this, but stroll on over to subpop.com. We just discovered earlier today that someone at the record label has turned the Sub Pop site into an Onion-esque spoof site of pitchforkmedia.com. We're not sure what led to the online assault, but as we write this, Sub Pop's website has become "popdork.com" and is filled with fictitious news stories, all written in the stereotypical Pitchfork trendier-than-thou style, with such topics as "Pitchfork Staffer Says Hi to Real Life Woman," "Damien Jurado: He's No Damien Jurado," and "Empirical Data Proves Killdozer Best Band Ever." Our favorite might be the fictitious "Popdork" ratings system, where an album meriting a vote of 9.5-9.9 is described as "Flaming Lips, White Stripes and Radiohead -- ALL JAMMING TOGETHER!" The meticulously orchestrated parody site is HYSTERICALLY funny -- we just don't quite know how to take it. Has the indiest of indie labels declared war on the indiest of indie webzines? The only clue is to be found in tiny print at the bottom of the main page: "All content meant to be taken with at least the tiniest grain of salt. Sub Pop Records, 2004." The world awaits Pitchfork's response...

The rumours had been flying for a couple of weeks now that drummer ALAN WHITE was on his way out of OASIS. The British tabloids have been reporting that tendonitis was going to force White out of the band. Tonight comes an answer, though not a complete one.

Alan White has been asked to leave Oasis by the other band members. There are no plans to replace Alan. The band's scheduled recording sessions remain unaffected.

This the terse message left on the band's website this morning. Sounds like maybe a little more than tendonitis at hand, eh? We'd officially like to take this moment to nudge Andy Bell to give a quick ring to Loz Colbert...

The new(ish) television network FUSE will be hosting those cheeky Brits Starsailor in studio on Monday, January 26. You can participate in the taping of the IMX show that Starsailor appears on if you're between the ages of 15-25 and would be in the NY area from 4:30 - 7:30 on the 26th. Interested? Send an email with "Starsailor" in the subject to: IMXAudience@imx.tv. First come first serve...

The show will be aired live from 6-7pm EST January 26 on Fuse... oh and don't forget that the new Starsailor album 'Silence Is Easy' comes out the next day domestically.

Finally some new news from OF MONTREAL.

The "band" have found a new label, finished a new record, and are setting up a tour.

"Satanic Panic in the Attic" is the title of the new record... and they're looking at an April 6th release date on Polyvinyl Records (home to Mates of State, The Red Hot Valentines, and others.)

The word "band" is in quotes above because it's now come to light that "Satanic Panic" is essentially a solo project from Of Montreal frontman Kevin Barnes. With the departure of guitarist Andy Gonzales (to nursing school and his own project, The Marshmallow Coast), drummer Jamey Huggins moving far from the band's home base of Athens, GA, and Barnes marrying a Swede this past year, the new record was essentially completed by Barnes with the occasional friend/band member hopping by to add bits here and there.

We're told that the album sounds "very schizo," as Barnes is now listing bands as diverse as Daft Punk and Broadcast among his current influences.

The group (whatever incarnation it may result in) is planning a tour in April-May, and Barnes has issued the following direct plea to fans:

"We are in the process of booking our upcoming tour for April/May and we need help in setting up some University shows. If anyone can help orchestrate that please contact our booking agent Eric Carter at erikork@clamazon.com. We look forward to seeing you all soon!!! P.S. The tour is going to be a more theatrical and bizarre affair..." [and take it from us, when he says 'bizarre', it means BIZARRE.]