New Videos and New News: Deerhoof, Menomena, Yuck, REM, National, Mercury Rev

Mercury Rev – May
10 – Prague, Czech Republic @ The Roxy Club
11 – Bologna, Italy @ Rocker Festival
12 – Croatia, Zagreb @ TBA
14 – Turkey, Istanbul @ Babylon
16-17 – Cork, Ireland @ Cypress Avenue
18 – Dublin, Ireland @ Vicar St.
19 – Edinburgh, Scotland @ The Queen’s Hall
20 – Manchester, England @ Bridgewater Hall
21 – London, England @ Roundhouse
22 – Brussels, Belgium @ Cirque Royale
24 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
25 – Paris, France @ Bataclan
26-28 – Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Sound Festival

New music videos were a’ plenty last week, among them – Menomena “Taos”, Deerhoof “The Merry Barracks”, Cloud Nothings “Nothing’s Wrong”, Yuck “Get Away” and (Adam) Goldberg Sisters “Shush” .

The National’s new video for “Conversation 16” – their third for High Violent – stars Kristen Schaal (“The Daily Show,” “Flight of the Conchords”) and “Mad Men’s” John Slattery and was directed by “Daily Show” writer Scott Jacobson:

Schaal to MTV News: “I was at a wedding, and Scott [Jacobson, the video’s director] was like, ‘I got some money to do this National video, do you want to be in it?’ And I said, ‘Only if I can play the president of the United States,’ And from there, it spiraled into this story line, and it actually happened, which was incredible. I wish it was that easy to be the president in real life.”

“I went through several pictures and videos of all the presidents, even George Washington — I found a flipbook — and I studied their demeanors. And you know, you’ve got to play your cards close to your vest as president, so I’ve just got this serious look that I have throughout the video … it took me three weeks to master it.”

In other news, controversies etc…

“How I Won the War” got a DVD release, Neil Young is playing 10 cities on a 15 night spring tour supporting last year’s “Le Noise”…
…and did Bob Dylan plagiarise from Henry Rollins? 

Neil Young Spring 2011 Tour Dates:
4/15    Durham, NC       Durham PAC  
4/17    Richmond, VA       Landmark Theater  
4/19    Boston, MA       Wang Theatre  
4/20    Boston, MA       Wang Theatre  
4/22    Providence, RI       Providence PAC  
4/24    New York, NY       Avery Fisher Hall  
4/25    New York, NY       Avery Fisher Hall  
4/27    Baltimore, MD       Hippodrome  
4/28    Baltimore, MD       Hippodrome  
4/30    Philadelphia, PA       Tower Theatre  
5/01    Philadelphia, PA       Tower Theatre  
5/03    Cincinnati, OH       Aronoff Center  
5/04    Detroit, MI       Fox Theatre  
5/06    Chicago, IL       Chicago Theatre  
5/07    Chicago, IL       Chicago Theatre