The Beta Band are reforming for the first tour since splitting in 2004. The classic lineup of Steve Mason, Richard Greentree, John Maclean, and Robin Jones will perform across North America and the United Kingdom in the autumn, opening in their native Scotland before dates in London, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and a host…
The staff of Pitchfork listens to a lot of new music. A lot of it. On any given day our writers, editors, and contributors go through an imposing number of new releases, giving recommendations to each other and discovering new favorites along the way. Each Monday, with our Pitchfork Selects playlist, we’re sharing what our…
The Tubs rattle through a suite of anarchic jangle-pop in a brisk half hour on second album Cotton Crown. The Welsh quartet’s Dead Meat follow-up takes DNA from the Smiths’ melancholy exuberance, the Go-Betweens’ windswept gusto, and gung-ho London punk fervor to formulate a disempowered power-pop that spins insecurity and grief into bundles of melodic…
Mastodon and co-founding lead guitarist Brent Hinds are “mutually” parting ways, the Atlanta metal band announced today on social media. “We’re deeply proud of and beyond grateful for the music and history we’ve shared and we wish him nothing but success and happiness in his future endeavors,” Hinds’ now-former bandmates wrote. “We are still very…
D’Wayne Wiggins, a singer, guitarist, and co-founder of the new jack swing trio Tony! Toni! Toné!, has died of bladder cancer. The news was shared on Wiggins and the band’s official social media accounts. Wiggins was 64 years old. “D’Wayne’s life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in…
MJ Lenderman, Animal Collective, Horse Jumper of Love, Reggie Watts, Squirrel Flower, and more have contributed to We Love It Here., a new benefit compilation that raises funds for Lamplight AVL, a nonprofit organization supporting people in the Asheville, North Carolina, arts community who have been affected by Hurricane Helene. It’s available to buy digitally…
DJ Funk, the innovative Chicago producer who coined and helped create the ghetto house subgenre, has died, Resident Advisor reports, citing the late musician’s friend and collaborator DJ Slugo. According to a fundraiser for funeral expenses, DJ Funk had been living with cancer. He was 54 years old. Born Charles Chambers, in Chicago, DJ Funk…
Sweeping Promises have covered the Bangles’ Prince-penned single “Manic Monday” for a new benefit compilation supporting wildfire relief efforts. Battle for L.A.: A See/Saw Benefit is out in full today; take a listen below, via Bandcamp, and find the Sweeping Promises cover at track 18. Sweeping Promises’ Lira Mondal said in a statement, “I have a…
Brian James, founding guitarist and early principal songwriter for UK punk pioneers The Damned, has died. The news was shared in a statement on James’ official Facebook page, though a cause of death has not been revealed: “Goodbye to a pioneer & true gentleman,” it reads, in part. He was 70 years old. Born in…
Roy Ayers, the pioneering jazz-funk composer, producer, and vibraphonist, died Tuesday, March 4, in New York after a long illness, his family said in a post from his Facebook account. “He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed,” the statement read. Ayers was born in Los Angeles to parents who worked as…
