Calexico (pictured) is celebrating its summer tour by releasing a free live album, recorded at its 2009 show in Nuremburg, with the help of CASH Music and SoundCloud. Download it … On July 27, the Smashing Pumpkins are performing a benefit concert at Chicago’s Metro to raise money for medical care for Medina Lake bassist Matthew Leone, who was attacked after he came to the rescue of a woman who was being beaten by her husband on the street, resulting in severe brain trauma that requires multiple surgeries. All proceeds from the show will go to the Matthew Leone Fund at Sweet Relief … The Escape To Plastic Beach tour will have Gorillaz perform for three months worldwide, including their first-ever show at Madison Square Garden. It kicks off October 3 … Tony Palmer-directed film Bird On A Wire follows Leonard Cohen on his 1972 European tour. It was thought to be lost after its 1974 release, but last year, 294 rolls of film containing the original footage was discovered. The restored film will be released for U.S. distribution August 31 … Once the Dandy Warhols get back from playing Europe and Australia, they’ll do a string of North American dates this fall to celebrate their latest release, The Capitol Years 1995-2007. The presale for the first half of the tour starts now … Idlewild’s sixth album, Post Electric Blues, will be released October 12 via Nice Music Group. The LP was created with the overwhelming financial support of fans after the band found itself without a record label … Zach Hill’s second solo album, Face Tat (Sargent House), is out October 19 and features appearances from Devendra Banhart, No Age, Guillermo Scott Herren, Greg Saunier, Carson McWhirter, Nick Reinhart and Robby Moncrieff. Download “Memo To The Man” … This fall, the Dears are playing a series of residencies in Toronto, Montreal and Brooklyn, during which they will perform their upcoming record in its entirety. The album is slated for an early 2011 release on Dangerbird Records … Travis frontman Fran Healy is releasing his debut solo album, Wreckorder (Ryko), on October 5. Healy is currently on a North American tour with Keane … Blue Water White Death is the collaboration between Shearwater’s Jonathan Meiburg and Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart. The duo’s self-titled debut is out October 12 via Graveface Records … On August 17, Chemikal Underground will reissue Arab Strap’s first two records, The Week Never Starts Round Here and Philophobia. Download “Daughters Of Darkness”
—Emily Costantino
