autumnal thoughts

As we head into fall and think about cooler autumn weather, my thoughts also turn to what I'm looking forward to musically this season...

• The new St. Vincent Album. It's amazing.  Full of texture, complexity and sweetness with an edge of fury. 
• Portishead tours the U.S. for the first time in 13 years. I've got my tickets for the Shrine in L.A.  A dream come true. 

• We probably won't see them come through here until early 2012, but Wilco will tour on the back of a new album. 

• Its legend far exceeds who actually saw it when it came out, but the film "1991: The Year Punk Broke" finally gets a DVD release this coming week.

• Downtown Phoenix gets a new venue with the Crescent Ballroom. So far, it looks promising with a diverse array of acts booked the first 2 months. 

• Speaking of venues, Happy 20th Anniversary to the venerable Rhythm Room.  The little club has survived when so many others have failed it's worth celebrating. In typical fashion they're throwing several nights of shows to commemorate the occasion. 

Enjoy the season. Get out and see some shows and hopefully the world won't end on 10/21.  If it does, I'll at least have seen Malkmus at the Belly Up the night before...