Attention breeders (and those who do not hate kids):
Unlike a certain horrible sugary chocolate dairy beverage with a similar name, You Who is actually good for kids. This new "monthly children’s variety rock show" curated by Chris Funk (Decemberists) and his partner Seann McKeel (former booker at Nocturnal) is a welcome relief from Raffi—and whatever Baby Loves Disco is—as it strives to entertain both 'lil kiddies and their parents during the cold winter months with a two-part performance. The youngsters will appreciate the opening "interactive dance parties with giant barn owls, magic, stories, skits, sing a longs, cartoons, artists, puppets," while their parents will enjoy special musical guests like the Decemberists, Quasi, and some very special performers that I am not at liberty to share here. Also, it should be noted that the bands will be performing normal sets, not kiddie songs. (Although the thought of Quasi's Sam Coomes singing "The Wheels on the Bus" is oddly appealing.)

You Who takes place at the Kennedy School every last Sunday of the month, but their kickoff show is a Saturday (October 24th) and here are the details:

JOIN US FOR OUR INAGURAL HALLOWEEN COSTUME BASH!!!! October’s show includes musical guests The Decemberists, stand up comedy by The Phantom Hillbilly, cartoons by Hooliganship/Cartoon Exprez, DJ stylings of Rev. Shines of The Lifesavas, skits and sing-a-longs by The Cardboard Songsters, and a beauty salon where kid’s are the stylists and then go on parade! Kids and parents are encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costumes. Show hosted by Eric Stern of The Vagabond Opera.

The shows are all-ages (of course), start at the ungodly/kid-friendly hour of 1pm, and will set you back $10 for adults, $5 for those 2-12, and free for those under two years of age. And just because they love to rub it in how fertile they are, adults not accompanied by a kid have to pay $15. Can someone let me borrow their kid for the day? I promise to probably return them in one piece.

Osaka's Shonen Knife formed in 1981 (goddamn 1981!) and became Japan's answer to the Ramones while later getting lots of love from a couple of so-so bands in Nirvana and Sonic Youth. Now, 28 years later, Naoko Yamano is still keeping the trio's "super-eccentric-pop-punk-cult-band-shonen-knife!" alive. The band just released its sixteenth (goddamn sixteenth!) full-length Super Group on Good Charamel. Ahh... good, wholesome punk rock. Still gets me.

Best of all, Shonen Knife will perform at the Doug Fir on October 27th with Explode Into Colors and Panther (goddamn Explode Into Colors and Panther!).

Another week, another Mercury music section to read while you are getting banned from a Black Eyed Peas concert due to your religious beliefs. Finally, a good reason to convert to Islam.

Sure, they no longer look like sexy Brazilian witches, but few things in this world have us more excited than an Os Mutantes reunion. Jumping out windows, 35 year gaps between recordings, angry ex-members... this story as it all.
LISTEN:

Os Mutantes - "Anagrama"

Our absolutely ridiculous interview with Al Green. I refuse to speak ill of the Reverend, but my god, he is just a wee bit out there.
LISTEN:

Al Green - "Let's Stay Together"

When Menomena's Brent Knopf recorded his solo debut as Ramona Falls, he got assistance from every single musician in Portland. Well, except for you. Jeez, this is awkward. Oh, and we are giving away tickets to the band's first Portland show ever right here.
LISTEN:

Ramona Falls - "Melectric"

It's true: Heavy metal is getting old. Thankfully we have the "nasty lixx" of Sweden's Enforcer to take over once Dio breaks his hip while in the Sizzler buffet line.
LISTEN:

Enforcer - "Speed Queen"

While he might be bloggable and hyped up to the point of exhaustion, Kurt Vile is not going anywhere. Know where else he is not going? The barber shop.
LISTEN:

Kurt Vile - "Freeway"

Please stop comparing Alan Singley to Burt Bacharach. Fine, I'll start comparing him to famed 17th century German rabbi Yair Bacharach. You happy?
LISTEN:

Al Singley - "Beautiful Dayna"

If you didn't make it down last night, there is still a way to contribute to this very worthy cause. Go to the Kris Jensen Memorial Fund's website and participate in their very cool auction, which is packed with one of a kind items. There are rare test pressings, custom print jobs, and even a huge, amazing gift pack from Kill Rock Stars (pictured above) which'll instantly up the cool factor of your record collection by 100.

So yeah, go, bid, help, do all that. Or, if you prefer, you can make a direct donation to the fund via PayPal.

Earlier this week we posted that the showspace known as the Wail is looking for a new person to run the show. Why did we do this? Because we're dicks. Also because we got an email that said "The Wail (formerly Rererato) are ready to move on, and let someone else run shows and live in the space." But evidently we were wrong, this is a terrible mix-up, and the Wail folks are going nowhere.

Head Wailer, Lucy Greene has this to say:

The Wail is not beached!

It is true that we were looking for a new roommate and that the three original members of the Wail are no longer living in the space, but there are seasoned Wailers still there and the emeriti are by no means out of the picture. The Wail never had any intention of closing, and we have spent a lot of effort interviewing people to make sure that the day-to-day Wail is in good hands as a venue and a cooperative living space.

So there. Move along, you vultures. The venue is fine. Actually, not just fine, they are prepping a new website, and have brought in some fresh blood to help out as well. Our apologies to the Wail. (But we refuse to apologize to that cat in the photo. He knows what he did, and he should be ashamed.)

Local chamber popsters Loch Lomond have announced the details of their new EP, Night Bats. Teaming with their old pals at Hush Records, the five song CD will be out on November 10th, and pre-orders will be hand-signed (Is there another method of signing that I am unaware of?) by the band. Or strangers. It didn't really say who was signing them.

Press release copy-and-paste:

Title track "Night Bats" is as expansive as it is arresting, and is, along with “Ghost of an Earthworm”, one of the most shining examples of Young’s exemplary ability to tell bizarre, often allegorical stories with stunning dry wit and biting precision. “Wax and Wire” is, simply, quite possibly the richest and most jaw-dropping track Loch Lomond has put to tape.

Masterfully mixed by producer-to-the-stars Tucker Martine (REM, Sufjan Stephens, Laura Viers), produced by the entire band collaboratively and recorded/engineered at Mystery Machine Studios by Lee Howard, Night Bats showcases Loch Lomond at their strongest. It’s been a crazy year, and they always say that what doesn’t kill you….

While the band hasn't released a full MP3 from the EP, but they have released a "teaser" MP3, which is basically like a medley of all the songs. It's a perfect taste of what the EP offers, plus it pleases those of us with attention spans so short that... um... what was I saying?

LISTEN:

Loch Lomond - "Night Bats Teaser"

Still riding high on the promotion pony for Now We Can See, the Thermals have just released the We Were Sick EP. This iTunes-only digital EP (suck it, record stores) has four tracks and probably won't play on your Zune. (Just kidding, no one owns one of those things.) In addition to the totally sick title track, the EP also features a new number ("Time Fell") and a pair of demos for "When I Died," and "You Dissolve."

All this can be yours for the price of $3.96.