Dirty Orchjectors, and Chuck Biscuits update

Dirty Projectors has become the umpteenth touted, smart, beloved, but not huge-selling alt band to do the indie-orchestral thing, playing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic on Feb. 27.

It was probably inevitable. They follow Death Cab for Cutie, M83, Grizzly Bear, the Decemberists, Belle & Sebasitan, Air and Bright Eyes, all at the L.A. Phil; Joanna Newsom and, again, Grizzly Bear, both with the Brooklyn Phil; and Ben Folds with the Boston Pops. UPDATE: Even as I typed, Grizzly Bear was doing yet another orchestral gig, in London.

I didn’t expect when I got up this morning that I would be giving thanks to Henry Rollins. But thanks, Henry, for never singing “T.V. Party” with the Boston Phil at Tanglewood.

In other sorta Rollins-related news, it appears all but certain that Chuck Biscuits is alive and that his death was a hoax. Read more about it, if you’re not already too disgusted and offended by the whole thing.

Chuck Biscuits, RIP?

Very sad news, just in from The Daily Swarm:

Legendary hard rock drummer Chuck Biscuits, whose lengthy résumé included stints in such flagship underground acts as Black Flag and Social Distortion, died Saturday after a prolonged battle with throat cancer. He was 44… Chuck Biscuits was probably best known to the general populous for his work with Danzig. Beginning in 1988, Chuck played on that group’s first four albums, which are often hailed as Danzig’s best (thanks in no small part to Chuck’s powerful drumming style).

UPDATE: It's unclear whether this is actually true. James Greene Jr., the writer who first reported this, based on emails from someone claiming to be Chuck's wife, says that he has been contacted by family members, who deny it, but in an email to me he said he's still trying to verify it.

I am flattered to be hoaxed

From a self-described “obscure blog form Saskatchewan” apparently campaigning for the 2008 Weblog Awards (which it has won before). Interestingly, all the links on this fake Times home page are for real articles, except the one attributed to me. I blush.

Which of these press releases is fake?

One of these announcements is real and the other is fake. Which is the hoax? Is it this one?

STEVE MARTIN TO RELEASE “THE CROW: NEW SONGS FOR THE FIVE-STRING BANJO” JANUARY 27

Martin reprises his role as Inspector Jacques Clouseau in Pink Panther 2, in theaters February 6

Los Angeles, California, January 9, 2009 — Actor/comedian/musician and bestselling author Steve Martin will release his first full-length music album The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo on January 27, 2009. The bluegrass flavored album will be available exclusively on Amazon.com for the first 90 days. Martin is scheduled to host and perform on “Saturday Night Live” on January 31st as well as make several more television appearances, including the “The Late Show with David Letterman” on February 2, and “Good Morning America” and “Live with Regis & Kelly” on February 3 in support of the The Crow and the major motion picture release of Pink Panther 2. A three-time Grammy winner, two for comedy albums Wild and Crazy Guy (1978) and Let’s Get Small (1977) and one in music for his collaboration with Earl Scruggs on Foggy Mountain Breakdown (2001), Martin is currently nominated for Born Standing Up (2008) in the Best Spoken Word Album category.

After playing on the Grammy Award winning Foggy Mountain Breakdown with Earl Scruggs, Martin began writing a string of new banjo songs, some with lyrics and some as instrumentals. An album 45 years in the making, The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo features special vocal appearances by Mary Black, Vince Gill, Tim O’Brien, Dolly Parton and musicians Earl Scruggs, Pete Wernick and Tony Trischka. Recorded in Dublin, Hollywood, Nashville and New Jersey and produced by John McEuen, of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the record consists of 15 original tracks written by Martin.

“I have loved the banjo my whole life,” says Martin. “The songs on this record represent the influence of a dozen players and a thousand tunes, and I thank them all. But it’s the banjo itself I thank most for generating nostalgia for experiences I never had, joy I was yet to experience, and melancholy that was yet to come.”

Martin will reprise the role of intrepid-if-bumbling French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau in MGM’s The Pink Panther 2, in theaters February 6, 2009. When legendary treasures from around the world are stolen, including the priceless Pink Panther Diamond, Chief Inspector Dreyfus (John Cleese) is forced to assign Clouseau to a team of international detectives and experts charged with catching the thief and retrieving the stolen artifacts. Martin is joined by his co-stars Jean Reno (as Ponton, his partner) and Emily Mortimer (as Nicole, the object of his awkward affections). The investigative dream team is played by Andy Garcia, Alfred Molina, Yuki Matsuzaki and Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Lily Tomlin also stars.

Album cover art and photos are available upon request.

Or this one?

ROBIN WILLIAMS TO RELEASE “THE HUMPBACK WHALE: NEW SONGS FOR THE STEAM CALLIOPE” MARCH 3

Williams reprises his role as Bob Munro in RV 2: Making Tracks Down Under, in theaters April 7

Los Angeles, California, January 9, 2009 — Actor/comedian/musician and bestselling author Robin Williams will release his first full-length music album The Humpback Whale: New Songs for the Steam Calliope on March 3, 2009. The ambient flavored album will be available exclusively on Amazon.com for the first 90 days. Williams is scheduled to host and perform on “Saturday Night Live” on March 31 as well as make several more television appearances, including the “The Late Show with David Letterman” on March 8, and “Good Morning America” and “Live with Regis & Kelly” on March 15 in support of the The Humpback Whale and the major motion picture release of RV 2. A four-time Grammy winner, three for comedy albums Reality...What a Concept (1980), A Night at the Met (1988), and Good Morning, Vietnam (1989) and one in best spoken comedy album on Robin Williams — Live 2002 (2003), Williams is currently nominated for Emotional Rescue (2008) in the Best Spoken Word Album for Children category.

After playing on one of Pitchfork's albums of the year Everything That Happens Will Happen Today with David Byrne and Brian Eno, Williams began writing a string of new calliope songs, some with lyrics and some as instrumentals. An album 45 years in the making, The Humpback Whale: New Songs for the Steam Calliope features special vocal appearances by Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed, Devendra Banhart, Antony Hegarty and musicians David Byrne, Brian Eno and Leo Abrahams. Recorded in London, Hollywood, Paris and New Jersey and produced by Eno, the record consists of 15 original tracks written by Williams.

“I have loved the calliope my whole life,” says Williams. “The songs on this record represent the influence of a dozen players and a thousand tunes, and I thank them all. But it’s the calliope itself I thank most for generating nostalgia for experiences I never had, joy I was yet to experience, and melancholy that was yet to come.”

Williams will reprise the role of intrepid-if-bumbling beverage employee, Bob Munro in Columbia’s RV 2: Making Tracks Down Under, in theaters April 7, 2009. Now employed by the independent Alpine soda company, Munro is assigned to visit the Australian outback to find a rare herb that could be used in boosting the failing company's product line, and decides to take his family along for another vacation. Williams is joined by his co-stars Cheryl Hines (as Jamie, his wife), Joanna Levesque (as Cassie, his daughter) and Josh Hutcherson (Carl, his son). The investigative herb team is played by Ray Liotta, Robbie Coltrane, Paul Hogan and Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan. Jane Curtain also stars.

Album cover art and photos are available upon request.

Thanks again to Jesse for the Steve/Robin brilliance.