Rivers Does Annie, etc.

Rivers Cuomo has posted a few demos to his myspace.com site. Songs included are Ann Poonkasem’s “Invincible,” John Denver’s “Annie’s Song,” and “Tomorrow” from the musical Annie. It streams the songs, so if you want to keep the songs for your very own, you’ll have to get one of those programs that saves streaming audio. I don’t know what they have for Windows, but on the Mac I recommend Audio Hijack. [via Pitchfork]

Smoking Banned On Venice Beach?

You certainly wouldn’t know by walking around the beach. I mean the intentions are all fine and dandy, but unless the county starts employing some police officers for anti-smoking duty, it’s not gonna work. Glad to see my tax dollars going to work. If only they would limit the amount of people that decend on my hood every weekend, I would be very happy.

Speaking of Earlimart...

Since their crack [smoking] team of people can’t figure out how to post anything, I’ll let you know that they have a beautiful new album coming out in the fall that will probably make the top of everyone’s year-end lists. I ain’t foolin’. They’ve got a few shows coming up that you should attend if possible. Their manager plays in the band. He’s the one that jumps around a lot and makes noise.

06.22 SF @ Cafe du Nord 07.06 NYC @ The Frying Pan (it’s a floating barge) 07.07 NYC @ Mercury Lounge (tentative) 07.31 LA @ The Troubadour (co-headline with DIOS, who RULE!)