From the NME.com (where we get all of our breaking UK band news):
Super Furry Animals are to release a free MP3 of ‘The Gift That Keeps Giving’ as a Christmas present for fans.
The package, available to download on December 25, also includes an exclusive b-side and brand new artwork by Japanese artist Keiichi Tanaami, who created the cover art for the song’s parent album ‘Hey Venus!’.
The band are also offering fans access to an online calendar, which will be available from December 17.
The calendar will countdown to New Year’s Eve, the date of the group’s spectacular at London‘s Royal Festival Hall, gradually giving away exclusives as the date nears.
The calendar and MP3 will be available from Superfurry.com.
We can confirm this is in fact happening and there is a video to go along with it. In said video, we cannot confirm that it may or may not include the assasination of a popular seasonal character.
We can confirm that requests for the band to wear pink bunny suits on their upcoming N. American tour have been for the most part ignored.
Sure. This isn’t quite the gossip-blog fodder we were hoping for going into next Tuesday’s release of Time For Heroes (another cocaine-addled pet or even a crotch shot stepping out a black cab would have would have sufficed, Mr. Doherty), but Diz has done our publicity department a solid with this sweeping celebrity testimonial:
Pete has a good heart, I support him all the way. You can see it in his eyes that he’s a good person and I respect the effect his music has had on a generation. Everyone is aware he is a major talent, even a genius."
Celebration will be playing a free in-store performance tomorrow at Other Music in NYC!
Friday, November 30th
9:00 PM
Other Music
15 E. 4th St. – NYC
Also, this will be yet another chance to snag yourself one of the free Celebration/Holy Fuck 7" of remixes!
This performance is part of the Other Music In-Store Series, they are hosting and filming a slew of free performances by a diverse line-up of the most talented musicians of today!
We’ve got a double-bill of Beggars goodness coming thru NYC and Boston tonight and tomorrow.
Tonight 11/28 – Celebration and Holy Fuck at The Bowery, NYC
Tomorrow 11/29 – Celebration and Holy Fuck at The Middle East Upstairs, Boston
Be sure not to miss this one. And be sure to pick up an absolutely complimentary 7" at the end of both shows! (for those of you not able to make it go to www.holyfuckholyfuckholyfuck.com/remix for a free download of these songs)
The Celebration/Holy Fuck 7" features remixes, that both bands did, of songs from each other’s recently released albums. Celebration The Modern Tribe (4AD) + Holy Fuck LP (Young Turks).
Just look for your local Beggars reps outside the venues at the end of both shows. Not like you needed another reason to get out to see the rock but just think of it as a little holiday gift from Holy Fuck and Celebration to you.
The Teenagers "STARLETT JOHANSSON" out December 4th on XL Recordings
January Tour Confirmed For US
“I’LL SELL MY MUM TO BE LOST WITH YOU, LOST IN TOKYO OR ANYWHERE ELSE”
The cheeky Parisian trio The Teenagers are introducing themselves to the US with the release of their single “Starlett Johansson” on December 4th (XL Recordings).
Watch the video!
They will then bring their passion infused pop to these shores for string of dates in January of 2008.
Do you remember when you were young and you couldn’t get your mind off that unreachable on-screen crush? Obsessively finding out all you can about them to make yourself feel that little bit closer? Well, take all those adolescent emotions and sprinkle in a good amount of sardonic wit and you’ve got The Teenagers’ impossibly catchy "Starlett Johansson".
A synth-pop pastiche to everyone’s favorite film star, Scarlet Johansson, it will stick in your head like perfectly round pink bubblegum blown by the woman herself. Already released in the UK (hot on the heels of their NME single of the week Homecoming) “Starlett Johansson” is taking the world by storm aided in no small part by the accompanying video that has been passed around like an intoxicated Lindsey Lohan.
Seeing the world through teen-tinted glasses, The Teenagers (lead singer Quentin Delafon, guitarist / synth man Dorian Dumont and bassist Michael Szpiner) remind us what it’s like to be young. The lyrically ingenious Quentin interweaves snapshots of Johansson’s films as well as teen magazine style “factoids” over beautifully crunchy guitar and soaring synths. “Starlett Johansson” is like reading the secret teenage diary of ELO with Kim Wilde for company.
The Teenagers are currently recording material with The Strokes producer Gordon Raphael.
“Starlett Johansson” is a tantalizing taste of what is to come and is truly a track for anyone who remembers what it’s like to fall in love in front of the big screen … in an obsessive kind of way.
1/22/08 Los Angeles, CA Echo
1/23/08 Los Angeles, CA Spaceland
1/24/08 San Francisco, CA popscene @ 330 Ritch
1/26/08 Chicago, IL Sonotheque
1/27/08 Toronto, ON The Social
1/29/08 Montreal, QUE Just For Laughs
1/30/08 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
1/31/08 New York, NY Hiro Ballroom
2/1/08 Philadelphia, PA Making Time @ Pure
2/2/08 Brooklyn, NY Studio B
Elvis Perkins in Dearland have been a touring machine for the past couple of years, and they’re at it again!
Through their time on the road, the songs from "Ash Wednesday" (the critically acclaimed debut album)originally penned without the involvement of Dearland, were given new life, with the fresh perspective of his new band mates. This led the group, aided by producer Chris Shaw (Bob Dylan, Super Furry Animals, Wilco, Willy Mason, etc) to re-record the single "All The Night Without Love."
Elvis himself explains:
"Taking All The Night Without Love back into the studio provided a fine opportunity to document the energy and spirit that Dearland brings to the songs from my album. There wasn’t too strong a sense of a band when Ash Wednesday was made so it’s exciting for me to hear this song imbued with that fire of collective purpose."
Here’s a link to the Black Cab session that Elvis recently did when he was in London.
Now, Elvis Perkins in Dearland will hit the road to play a handful of east coast dates for the last time before heading into the studio. Be sure to check them out!
Elvis Perkins in Dearland dates: (Bon Iver are opening)
11/28 Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
11/29 Montreal, QC – Cabaret Music Hall
11/30 Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
12/01 Providence, RI – AS220 12/02 Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
12/03 Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall
12/05 Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java
12/06 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
12/07 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
Sure. This isn’t quite the gossip-blog fodder we were hoping for going into next Tuesday’s release of 
.jpeg)