[News] Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch AKA MCA Dead At 47

It is with the heaviest of hearts and tears in our eyes that we report today that Adam Yauch, co-founding member of the legendary Beastie Boys has passed away at age 47. It was well known that he had been battling cancer for a long time and sadly the battle is over.

Cancer is such a sonofabitch. Seriously.

UPDATE: Beastie Boys members Mike D and Ad-Rock have released an official statement regarding Yauch's passing.

Adam Yauch | 1964-2012
It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam “MCA” Yauch, founding member of Beastie Boys and also of the Milarepa Foundation that produced the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits, and film production and distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories, passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Yauch taught himself to play bass in high school, forming a band for his 17th birthday party that would later become known the world over as Beastie Boys.

With fellow members Michael “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Adrock” Horovitz, Beastie Boys would go on to sell over 40 million records, release four #1 albums–including the first hip hop album ever to top the Billboard 200, the band’s 1986 debut full length, Licensed To Ill–win three Grammys, and the MTV Video Vanguard Lifetime Achievement award. Last month Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with Diamond and Horovitz reading an acceptance speech on behalf of Yauch, who was unable to attend.

In addition to his hand in creating such historic Beastie Boys albums as Paul’s Boutique, Check Your Head, Ill Communication, Hello Nasty and more, Yauch was a founder of the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and activism regarding the injustices perpetrated on native Tibetans by Chinese occupational government and military forces. In 1996, Milarepa produced the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, which was attended by 100,000 people, making it the biggest benefit concert on U.S. soil since 1985′s Live Aid. The Tibetan Freedom Concert series would continue to stage some of the most significant benefit shows in the world for nearly a decade following in New York City, Washington DC, Tokyo, Sydney, Amsterdam, Taipei and other cities.

In the wake of September 11, 2001, Milarepa organized New Yorkers Against Violence, a benefit headlined by Beastie Boys at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, with net proceeds disbursed to the New York Women’s Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Association for New Americans (NYANA) September 11th Fund for New Americans–each chosen for their efforts on behalf of 9/11 victims least likely to receive help from other sources.

Under the alias of Nathanial Hörnblowér, Yauch directed iconic Beastie Boys videos including “So Whatcha Want,” “Intergalactic,” “Body Movin” and “Ch-Check It Out.” Under his own name, Yauch directed last year’s Fight For Your Right Revisited, an extended video for “Make Some Noise” from Beastie Boys’ Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, starring Elijah Wood, Danny McBride and Seth Rogen as the 1986 Beastie Boys, making their way through a half hour of cameo-studded misadventures before squaring off against Jack Black, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as Beastie Boys of the future.

Yauch’s passion and talent for filmmaking led to his founding of Oscilloscope Laboratories, which in 2008 released his directorial film debut, the basketball documentary Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot and has since become a major force in independent video distribution, amassing a catalogue of such acclaimed titles as Kelly Reichardt’s Wendy and Lucy, Oren Moverman’s The Messenger, Banksy’s Exit Through The Gift Shop, Lance Bangs and Spike Jonze’s Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait Of Maurice Sendak, and many more."

Yauch is survived by his wife Dechen and his daughter Tenzin Losel, as well as his parents Frances and Noel Yauch."

[News] Yeasayer Announce Brief Summer Tour

"SUMMER 2012 + SHOWS + NEW SONGS?" That is the note at the top of Yeasayer's official website, which is followed by a short list of tour dates, the band's first in over a year. The psychedelic Brooklyn outfit will hit the road for a six-show tour in six days, taking them from June 19th-24th, after which they will be performing at four different festivals throughout the summer. Included in this festival circuit are Open'er Festival in Gdynia, Poland, Latitude Festival in Suffolk, UK, Melt! Festival in Ferropolis, Denmark, and Osheaga Music Festival in Montreal. Take a look at the band's full tour itinerary after the jump.

Stay tuned for more news regarding Yeasayer's "new songs."

Yeasayer 2012 Tour Dates:
06/19 – Richmond, VA @ The National
06/20 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
06/21 – Knoxville, TN @ Bijou Theatre
06/22 – Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom
06/23 – Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall
06/24 – Cincinnati, OH @ 20th Century Theatre
07/04-07 – Gdyina, PL @ Open’er Festival
07/12-15 – Suffolk, UK @ Latitude Festival
07/13-15 – Ferropolis, DE @ Melt! Festival
08/03 – Montreal, QC @ Osheaga Music Festival

[News] Beach House Announce Summer Tour Dates

With the May 15th release of Beach House's highly anticipated fourth studio album Bloom only a week and a half away, it seems a fitting time for the Baltimore dream pop outfit to announce more U.S. tour dates in support of the release. Starting on July 1st, Beach House will tour throughout the States with Wild Nothing tagging along in the support role. The final show of this leg of their tour is on July 21st in Pittsburgh, after which the band will perform at New York's Central Park Summer Stage. The dream pop pioneers have also scheduled an album release show in New York on May 15th, the day Bloom is set for release. Check out their full tour schedule after the jump.

Beach House 2012 Tour Dates:
05/04 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theatre
05/05 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
05/06 – Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
05/08 – Miami Beach, FL @ The Fillmore
05/09 – Orlando, FL @ Beacham Theater
05/10 – Jacksonville, FL @ Freebird Live
05/11 – Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree
05/12 – Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre
05/13 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
05/15 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
05/23 – Brighton, UK @ The Haunt
05/24 – London, UK @ Village Underground
05/25 – Belgium, BE @ De Kreun
05/26 – Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
05/27 – Berlin, DE @ Volksbuhne
05/29 – Paris, FR @ Maronguinerie
05/31 – Dudingen, CH @ Bad Bonn Kilbi Festival
06/02 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
06/03 – Montpellier, FR @ Le Rockstore
06/04 – Bordeaux, FR @ Theatre Barby
06/05 – Nantes, FR @ Stereolux
06/06 – Lyon, FR @ Epicrerie Moderne
06/07 – Blarritz, FR @ L’Atabal
06/08-09 – Porto, PT @ Optimus Primavera Sound
07/01 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues *
07/03 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre *
07/06 – Aspen, CO @ Belly Up Aspen *
07/07 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater *
07/09 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom *
07/10 – Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall *
07/11 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant *
07/12 – Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall *
07/13 - Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival
07/15 – Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
07/17 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue *
07/18 – Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot Ballroom *
07/19 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues *
07/20 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall *
07/21 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Small’s Theatre *
07/23 – New York, NY @ Central Park Summer Stage
08/31-09/02 – North Dorset, UK @ End of the Road Festival 

* = w/ Wild Nothing

[News] M83 Announces Fall Tour Dates

M83's tour seems to extend with each passing month, as Anthony Gonzalez and co. have announced even more dates in support of last year's Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. With already planned tour dates going from now until late July and spanning North America and Europe, M83 has extended this with even more U.S. tour dates. Starting on August 1st in Philadelphia, the 16-date leg will go till October 11th and will include a stop at this year's Lollapalooza in Chiacago and Osheaga Festival in Montreal. Take a look at the full tour itinerary after the jump.

M83 2012 Tour Dates:
05/02 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant ^
05/04 – Chicago, IL @ The Riviera ^
05/05 – Detroit, MI @ The Majestic Theatre ^
05/06 – Toronto, Ontario @ Sound Academy ^
05/07 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom ^
05/09 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues ^
05/10 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5 ^
05/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer ^
05/12 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club ^
05/12 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club (Late Show)
05/14 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Music Park ^
05/15 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works ^
05/17 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues ^
05/18 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek ^
05/19-20 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater ^
06/01 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
06/03 – Vienna, AU @ Arena Vienna (Big Hall)
06/04 – Budapest, HU @ A38
06/05 – Zagreb, HR @ Culture Factory
06/06 – Bologna, Italy @ Estragon
06/10 – Marseille, FR @ Dock des Suds
06/11 – Lyon, FR @ Le Transbordeur
06/12 – Paris, FR @ Olympia
06/14-16 – Hultsfred, SE @ Hulstfred Festival
06/15 – Seinajoki, FL @ Provinssirock 2012
06/21 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
06/22 – Scheessel, DE @ Hurricane Festival
06/24 – Neuhausen, DE @ Southside Festival
06/26 – Belfast, UK @ Mandela Hall
06/27 – Edinburgh, UK @ Picture House
06/28 – Werchter, BE @ Rock Werchter
06/29 – Arendal, NO @ Hove Festival
07/01 – Arras, FR @ Main Square Festival
07/04-07 – Gydnia, PL @ Open’Er Fest
07/05-08 – Roskilde, DK @ Roskilde Festival
07/08 – Luik, BE @ Les Ardentes
07/12-15 – Suffolk, UK @ Latitude Festival
07/12 – Luxembourg City, LU @ Rockhal
07/14 – Gräfenhainichen, DE @ Melt Festival
07/16 – London, UK @ Somerset House
07/22 – Biarritz, FR @ La Halle Iraty
08/01 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
08/02 – Munhall, PA @ Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead
08/03 – Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
08/04 – Toronto, ON @ Fort York
08/05 – Montreal, QC @ Osheaga Festival
08/07 – Portland, ME @ State Theatre
08/08 – New York, NY @ Summerstage
08/31 – San Diego, CA @ Soma
09/05 – Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Event Centre
09/06 – Calgary, AB @ Mac Ewan Ballroom
09/27 – Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues Orlando
09/30 – Norfolk, VA @ NorVa
10/02 – New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
10/09 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues New Orleans
10/10 – Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center
10/11 – Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom

^ =w/ I Break Horses

[Listen] Twin Shadow - "Five Seconds"

Twin Shadow's 2010 debut Forget was easily one of the most memorable albums that year, with George Lewis Jr. carving out such a unique identity with his new wave grooves. Now, the New York musician has announced his follow up to Forget, titled Confess, which is set for release on July 10th via 4AD. Along with the announcement is a brand new song titled "Five Seconds," which shows off how Twin Shadow has developed in the two years since his debut. Lewis' newest outing is an uptempo jam that sees him embracing the '80s and putting his own twist on it, with flanging guitars abound and wistful, wailing vocals. The song, which you can stream and download below, shows gives a great deal of promise for Twin Shadow's forthcoming sophomore LP.

As well, after the jump, you can take a look at the tracklisting for the forthcoming LP.

Confess Track list:
01 “Golden Light”
02 “You Call Me On”
03 “Five Seconds”
04 “Run My Heart”
05 “The One”
06 “Beg For The Night”
07 “Patient”
08 “When The Movie’s Over”
09 “I Don’t Care”
10 “Be Mine Tonight”

Bonus: “Mirror In The Dark”

[Watch] Lower Dens - "Propagation" (Official Video)

In the new Sebastian Mlynarski-directed video for Lower Dens' song "Propagation," all sorts of weird shit goes down. If the video is any indication, the Baltimore outfit tend to enjoy dressing up in glowing beekeeper outfits, painting themselves white, and taking part in strange rituals in the forest. Check it out for yourself above.

Lower Dens' latest LP Nootropics was released today through Ribbon Music. As well, the band has announced new summer tour dates, which will keep them very busy from now till July 20th. Take a look at their full tour schedule after the jump.

Lower Dens 2012 Tour Dates:
05/01 – New York, NY@ Mercury Lounge ^
05/02 – Brooklyn, NY@ Glasslands +
05/03 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s $
05/04 – Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel $
05/05 – Baltimore, MD@ Ottobar %
05/10 – Brussels, BE @ La Chocolaterie
05/11 – The Hague, NL @ Walk the Line Festival
05/12 – Gent, BE @ DOKarena
05/13 – Paris, FR @ Le Point Ephemere
05/14 – Brighton, UK @ The Hope
05/16 – London, UK @ The Lexington
05/17 – Rotterdam, NL @ Worm
05/18 – Hamburg, DE @ Hafenklang
05/19 – Aarhus, DK @ Pop Revo
05/20 – Copenhagen, DK @ Loppen
05/21 – Berlin, DE @ West Germany
05/23 – Krakow, PL @ Green Zoo Festival
05/24 – Prague, CZ @ Club 007
05/25 – Vienna, AU @ Chelsea
05/26 – Kleinreifling, AU @ Seeweisen Festival
05/29 – Turin, IT @ Blah Blah
05/30 – St. Gallen, CH @ Palace
05/31 – Dudingen, CH @ Kilbi Festival
06/01 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
06/03 – Dublin, EIR @ Forbidden Fruit Festival
06/21 – Raleigh, NC @ Kings Baracade #
06/22 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl #
06/23 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks #
06/24 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada #
06/25 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s #
06/26 – Austin, TX @ The Parish #
06/28 – Phoenix, AZ @ Sail Inn #
06/29 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room #
06/30 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour #
07/01 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent #
07/05 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios #
07/06 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos #
07/07 – Vancouver, BC @ The Media Club #
07/10 – Denver, CO @ Larmier Lounge #
07/11 – Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot Saloon #
07/12 – St. Louis, MO @ The Luminary Center for the Arts #
07/13 – Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
07/15 – Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival
07/16 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick #
07/17 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace #
07/18 – Montreal, QC @ Ill Motore #
07/19 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom #
07/20 – Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
12/07 – Minehead, UK @ ATP curated by The National

^ = w/ Matteah Baim
+ = w/ Air Waves, Twisted Wires
$ = w/ Violens
% = w/ Celebration, Violens, Sprayer
# = w/ No Joy, Alan Resnick

[News] Death Cab for Cutie Announce Summer Tour Dates

While Death Cab for Cutie are currently on tour with Magik*Magik Orchestra and Youth Lagoon, they've announced even more tour dates in support of last year's Codes and Keys. Following a European tour, the band will perform in Ontario on Canada Day weekend alongside The Tragically Hip, after which they will tour throughout the Midwest and East Coast of the States throughout the month of July. Check out DCFC's full tour itinerary after the jump.

Death Cab For Cutie 2012 Tour Dates:
05/01 – Knoxville, TN @ Tennessee Theatre *
05/03 – Dallas, TX @ McFarlin Memorial Auditorium
05/04 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Live *
05/06 – Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Arts Center *
05/07 – Los Angeles, CA @ Disney Hall *
05/08 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater *
05/09 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater *
05/10 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater *
05/11 – Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall *
05/13 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre *
05/28 – Paris, FR @ Trianon
05/29 – Lyon, FR @ Epicerie Moderne
05/30 – Toulouse, FR @ Le Bikini
05/31 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
06/02 – Hässleholm, SE @ Siesta Festival
06/03 – Dublin, IE @ Forbidden Fruit Festival
06/04 – Milan, IT @ Alcatraz
06/05 – Zürich, CH @ Komplex 457
06/07 – Bordeaux, FR @ Krakatoa
06/09 – Porto, PT @ Optimus Primavera Sound
06/30 – Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON @ The Commons ^
07/01 – Barrie, ON @ Burl’s Creek ^
07/03 – Cleveland, OH @ Jacobs Pavilion !
07/04 – Rochester Hills, MI @ Meadow Brook !
07/05 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
07/07 – Des Moines, IA @ 80/35 Music Festival
07/08 – Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Music Hall
07/09 – Springfield, MO @ Gilloz Theatre
07/10 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
07/12 – Chicago, IL @ “The Taste of Chicago”
07/13 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE #
07/14 – Charlottesville, VA @ nTelos Wireless Pavilion
07/15 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bunbury Music Festival
07/17 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
07/19 – Montclair, NJ @ Wellmont Theatre
07/20 – Holyoke, MA @ Mountain Park
07/21 – Cooperstown, NY @ Ommegang Brewery
07/22 – Dover, DE @ Firefly Music Festival
08/18 – Tokyo, JP @ Summer Sonic Festival
08/19 – Osaka, JP @ Summer Sonic Festival
08/22 – Honolulu, HI @ The Republik

* = feat. Magik*Magik Orchestra, w/ Youth Lagoon
^ = w/ The Tragically Hip
! = w/ City and Colour
# = w/ Andrew Bird

[News] Wavves Releases Weed Demon Video Game

In between his time recording and touring, the fine gentleman of Wavves teamed up with Vice and Mishka to create a Paperboy-esque video game titled Weed Demon. The purpose of the game? According to Nathan Williams, "[i]t's like Paper Boy but you deliver drugs and you feed a monster meth at the end." Playing as either Nathan Williams or Stephen Pope, you too can enjoy the ridiculous acid trip that is Weed Demon. Head here to give the game a try.