In what likely constitutes the sexiest meeting of the minds in recent memory, Portland’s Baghdad Theater will host Stephen Malkmus and Ian Svenonius for a taping of Soft Focus on December 4th.

Soft Focus, for those of you stuck in 1991, is a long-form interview program hosted by Svenonius and featuring interviews with some of the elite minds in independent culture.

If you’d like to attend the taping, please RSVP here. Svenonius will also pick the brain damage of PDX rock legends Pierced Arrows.

In addition to Tuesday’s show at Emo’s supporting Deerhunter, you can see Times New Viking tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 2) for free when they perform in the cozy confines of Sound On Sound Records at 5pm.  Further entertainment will be provided by the Hex Dispensers.

(above : world famous perfectionist/ingrate)

…Chris and I still get chucked out of Dee-Lite listening parties.   What’s all this about?  According to a post at the endlessly entertaining Metal Sludge.com, former Geffen A&R exec Tom Zutaut was physically removed from a listening party for the new Guns ‘n’ Roses opus, ‘Chinese Democracy’.

“Yeah, sadly it is true that I was escorted out of the Roxy by a beefy security guy just prior to the last three songs of the playback. I did stand on the sidewalk and hear the last three anyway.

“It is sad and disappointing to me that those around Axl would lie to him to fuel his hatred towards me with imaginary events used to drive a wedge between us. I love him deeply, will always love him and wish only the greatest success to one of the world’s last true creative musical sparks with a god-given voice. I am proud of my contributions to his career and am always there for him should he one day become enlightened to the truth of what surrounds him. It is also sad that he doesn’t mention the hard work I put in on my short involvement with ‘Chinese Democracy’ with even a ‘Thank You’ considering lesser players are credited or thanked in the liner notes — even those who ridiculed him, belittled and made fun of him behind his back while I defended his genius ’til those around him poisoned him against me with distortions and lies.

“I wear his hatred as a badge of honor as it would be far worse for him not to care at all.”

Mr. Zutaut has a substantial connection to the Matador Records family tree, having signed Tommy Keene to Geffen, and many years later, starting the now defunct label known as The Enclave, home to the initial US release of Belle & Sebastian’s ‘Are You Feeling SInister?’. As such, we can promise him that if he’d ever like to attend one of our listening parties, we’d love to have him along.

We’re really excited to announce that pre-order for A.C. Newman’s 2nd solo album, Get Guilty, is now available. You can get $3 off of the CD version and download an exclusive, pre-order only B-side immediately. The B-side is A.C’s take on the Go-Betweens’ “Love Goes On”. It rips. The song will show up in the “My Downloads” section of your account right when you complete your order. It’s available in both mp3 and FLAC format for audophiles out there!

Pre-order Get Guilty HERE
Listen to “There are maybe ten or twelve” on the Matador Sampler HERE

(photo taken from Dave Stocks’ Flickr stream)

“Fucked Up are not at all about the blood, the guts, the controversy, the crying mothers, the glass in the forehead, the vomiting, the destruction, the dick-dangling and the encouraged mayhem – despite what everyone wants to tell you. They might be a terminal band with only a few weeks left to live, but they may also be a band that is going to make sure that it is nothing short of being epically monumental, a group that lives on as a valuable and coveted icon of underground madness.”  So reads Sean Moller’s introduction to Fucked Up’s 4 song Daytrotter session (dick-dangling!), currently available for download.

This is one heck of a way to seek revenge for a modeling invite that never materialized, but never doubt the ability of Earles & Jensen’s Jeff Jensen to hold a major grudge.   Andy penned the following descriptions of calls Jeff make to three American Apparel outlets, as heard on VIva Radio.

Jeffrey Jensen as Jeff “Skunk” Baxter. (AA location: Coconut Grove)

“Newline Cinema’s ‘Mom’ Hits the Stores” (AA location: Capitol Hill)

More from the 12 hour marathon, Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend joins Fucked Up for Blitz and Descendents covers, while fans help the band thrash through “Nervous Breakdown” by Black Flag.

“Someone’s Gonna Die” and “Parents”

“Nervous Breakdown”

A date with a member of Pavement at Ikea…it may be obvious, but lets all agree it’s original.  Here’s the deal, if you think your home needs an upgrade, submit a photo at imeem and write a short essay on why you derserve to win a shopping spree at ikea.  Winner will be joined by a member of Pavement on their $500 Ikea shopping spree.  Swedish meatballs are on us.  To enter, just submit your photo and essay here.

Brighten The Corners: Nicene Creedence Edition is out December 9th and available for pre-order.

Tune in to Radio 1’s Rock Show tonight between midnight and 2am (GMT time, so that’s 7pm-9pm if you’re east coast stateside) and hear Fucked Up playing three tracks live for you, the discerning music fan. Go to either 97-99FM or listen via the website here.

If you miss it you can listen again any time for 7 days afterwards on the website.

I hope someone is archiving these…’cause I’m certainly not keeping track. I’ve been told by a local authority that earlier arrival this evening is advised. Is 4pm early enough?