Calexico's Joey Burns at the Touch & Go 25th anniversary concert in Chicago
Photo: Matt Carlson for MTV News

CHICAGO — Touch and Go's three-day anniversary bash wasn't just a lesson in the history of the seminal record label. It was a Cliff's Notes-like recap of the last 25 years of indie rock itself.

Underground granddaddies Big Black, Scratch Acid and Killdozer spit forth a lethal dose of abrasive, confrontational brutality, while !!!, Ted Leo and Enon courted the crowd with dance-rock appeal. And therein lied the clear distinction between the challenging approach taken by yesterday's bands and the sheer accessibility of their successors.

Seven thousand fans — ranging in age from 12 to 62, but largely sporting more-obscure-than-thou tees — packed two outdoors stages at the Hideout, located fittingly enough in one of the city's most industrial areas. Thirty-two acts threw down over the course of 25 hours, from the Shipping News' math-rockin' 5 p.m. set Friday up through Calexico's water-logged feast that wrapped up the once-in-a-lifetime gala by 10 p.m. Sunday.

But that unusually large indie crowd wasn't just there to savor the reunions of the Didjits, the New Year, Negative Approach and the Monorchid, or witness Shellac, Supersystem and Pinback proving that they're indeed in their prime. Like the bands that performed, the attendees were there to celebrate an ethos that has proven to be the backbone of the DIY scene since SST, Touch and Go and Washington, D.C.'s Dischord Records started giving punks a chance to be heard beyond their basements in the early '80s.

Touch and Go is a label that has epitomized the concept of artists' rights, letting them split profits equally and forgo lawyers, as well as put out the music of their choosing (see "Move Over, Fall Out Boy: Touch And Go Records Is Retaking Chicago"). And while he tried to remain out of the limelight for most of the weekend, the label's ever-humble founder Corey Rusk and his admirable business mantra were heralded by every band there, none of which was paid a penny for performing. It was, in a nutshell, a living, breathing example of what indie rock was, is and can be all about.

But while the bands were united in that cause, the contrast between the vets and the newbies couldn't have been more drastic. Heads barely bobbed and hips hardly swayed on Friday as Girls Against Boys resurrected their faux-sexy swagger, which was further marred by poor acoustics. Less than an hour later, though, the ever-enthusiastic Ted Leo took to the podium, rousing the audience with joy over his newfound deal with the label. His pro-crowd antics were only upstaged by !!!, who crafted a masterful dance party that closed Friday evening with typically aloof indie rockers getting their kicks out.

Saturday proved to be the cornerstone of the weekend, with moody low-fi lords the New Year and Uzeda drawing fleets of fans early in the day. After that, long-running Euro-socialists the Ex and the perfectly named Negative Approach smacked the crowd awake with brutal displays of power, laying the groundwork for the evening's main events.

Impudent scamp David Yow reared his bald mug for the first time in years, leading Scratch Acid's punishing set with riotous revivals of "Lay Them Screaming," "El Espectro" and "Cannibal." The swaggering howler didn't do his famously naked tight-and-shiny dance (nor did he revive his "spoon trick"), but elicited laughs and grunts all the same with his sorely missed brand of bad humor. "I have to stop eating sh-- because it's making my vomit smell bad," he snarled.

Scratch Acid's nihilism was only bested by a brief set by noise-rock deacons Big Black, who an ever-misanthropic Steve Albini openly admitted were not thrilled to be onstage together for the first time since 1988. It was all for Rusk and Touch and Go, Albini declared, as they tore into "Cables," "Dead Billy" and "Racer-X."

A scaled-down Man ... or Astro-man? — alas, no screens beaming "Mystery Science Theater 3000" imagery this time — blew through their sci-fi-surf classics, but came across a little rusty. Albini's still-active Shellac, on the other hand, convinced many that they're just entering their prime with a batch of promising new tracks and an impromptu jam session with fans. Drummer Todd Trainer announced that it was the highlight of his musical career, and bassist Bob Weston seconded the notion.

Sunday was more of a hit-or-miss affair. Three Mile Pilot thrilled the diehards and eclipsed subsequent project Black Heart Procession's more limited set later in the day. Pinback added more proof to the notion that they are the prolific Rob Crow's most accomplished act and Calexico polished off the night with their eclectic range of Southwestern spices and mariachi melodies.

Heavy rain and technical problems, however, marred the Monorchid's performance, which only lasted for 25 minutes, and Enon, once again, turned out to be relatively limp. Brick Layer Cake and Seam left some fans wishing it were Naked Raygun, Die Kreuzen or Rusk's Necros — who christened the label in 1981 with a self-titled EP — that had reunited instead. All the while, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy and his family scoped the scene, like Chicago's first family paying reverence to the community.

And speaking of community, every cent from ticket sales went to charity, including Tuesday's Child, Literacy Works and the Thomas Drummond Elementary School. But while older fans were responsible for most of those sales, it was the promise of the younger attendees who gave hope that Touch and Go could potentially pull off another one of these lovefests 25 years down the line.--at 5:37--

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• 25 Years Of Touch And Go Records

• Big Black
• Killdozer
• Calexico

LL Cool J’s <i>Todd Smith</i>
Photo: Def Jam

Cool as Ice: He's been there, back, there again and back again a few more times, but LL Cool J apparently still wants all the help he can get. The guest list for his Todd Smith LP speaks to the hip-hop icon's impressive stature: Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Jamie Foxx, Teairra Marí, 112, Ginuwine, Freeway, Lyfe, Ryan Roby, Mary Mary and Juelz Santana. That's not to mention producers Jermaine Dupri, the Neptunes, Scott Storch and Bink. Or the extra boost Ne-Yo gives LL with a bonus-track remix of the up-and-comer's "So Sick." Or Jesus, L.A. Reid and his barbers Jay and John, all of whom get props (and with respect to Christ, they are mad props indeed) in the credits.

Judas Mae C a Cutie?: Looking for some indie pop and a few tips on how to shoot a short film? Look no further than Death Cab for Cutie's "Directions" DVD, which is rife with videos — one for each track on the band's recent Plans, plus clips for two unissued cuts — as well as director's instructions, commentary, behind-the-scenes action, original sketches, alternate endings and production stills (each video has at least one bonus feature). The band enlisted a crew of rookie directors to handle the clips, although noted auteur Lance Bangs is the one behind "Talking Like Turnstiles."

L.A. punks the Mae Shi are going a similar route with their first DVD, "Lock the Skull, Load the Gun," for which they enlisted a fleet of art students and friends to direct 32 videos. Their video disc also has a documentary surrounding their Celebration tour, including footage of house parties, bar mitzvahs and other joyous shindigs.

The tone is just slightly more somber on Pimp C's "Pimptaliation" DVD, which, despite the funny title, documents the rapper trying to get back on his feet after being released from jail. Lightening the mood a little are Young Jeezy, Scarface, Lil' Flip and Pimp C's erstwhile UGK bud Bun B, all of whom head to the studio to record with C.

But who's more preoccupied with "breaking the law" than Judas Priest? The metal gods' "Live Vengeance '82" was tucked into limited runs of their 2004 Metalogy box set, but now the video's seeing a proper release as a standalone disc bursting with concert takes of "Screaming for Vengeance," "The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)" and "Living After Midnight."

Eagles Have Landed ... Again: Some of the new Eagles of Death Metal songs on Death by Sexy sound harmless (and hilarious) enough — "Cherry Cola," "The Ballad of Queen Bee and Baby Duck" — but rest assured, the so-called Dream Boys do have an ulterior motive (see for reference some other Sexy songs, like "I Gotta Feeling [Just Nineteen]" and "Bag O' Miracles"). The LP was recorded in 12 days by Eagles drummer Josh Homme (a.k.a. Carlo Von Sexron, J. Ho or, most recently, Baby Duck) and his Queens of the Stone Age amigo Alain Johannes.

Trackin' All Over the World: Everyone seems to be taking matters into their own hands this week. Ex-Nine Inch Nails drummer Jerome Dillon wrote, produced, performed and arranged almost every note of his new project Nearly's debut, Reminder. Based on a dream that haunted Dillon and broken into three four-song "movements," the record was laid to tape across the globe, from a hotel room in Amsterdam to a beach in Australia.

Another recent globe-trotter is Mr. Anonymous — better known as onetime Samples drummer Jeep MacNichol — who headed to Kingston, Jamaica, three times to craft his eponymous debut. There he hooked up with Sly and Robbie, Bounty Killer and members of Black Uhuru and the English Beat, who helped MacNichol "hang out under the palm trees ... and write lyrics all afternoon."

And there's good reason why the title to the latest effort by Paris' Gotan Project — Lunático — doesn't sound especially French. Not content recording around their villa natale, the quartet hauled its production equipment to Buenos Aires' Studio ION, a throne usually reserved for tango nobility. Ushering in some top Argentinean talent, GP also tapped Calexico for the first jingle, "Amor Porteno."

Speaking of 'Lexico, their fifth opus, Garden Ruin, slides into stores in digipak form and boasts songs like "Letter to Bowie Knife," "Panic Open String" and "Bisbee Blue." CD-buying fans, keep your eyes peeled: The initial pressing of the disc has a code that lets you download exclusive unreleased material online. Vinyl fans, rejoice: The black circle contains the exclusive-tracks code, plus a second code that enables you to download all of Garden Ruin gratis.

Song Titles of the Week:

"." from Pretty Girls Make Graves' Elan Vital

Other notables:

Built to Spill's You in Reverse and Christopher O'Riley's Home to Oblivion: An Elliott Smith Tribute: Fans will surely relate to "The Wait," having been patient for new BTS material for the past five years. But that song is actually featured at the end of the indie-rock heroes' new record; the first cut, "Goin' Against Your Mind," is only a couple of minutes long. Frontman Doug Martsch welcomes new guitarist Jim Roth and an organ-playing Sam Coomes over the course of the 10 tracks, which also includes "Conventional Wisdom," "Just a Habit" and "Mess With Time." Speaking of Coomes, right around the time he started up his still-thriving Quasi in 1996, he partnered with Elliott Smith for a separate project, Heatmiser. As it turns out, Smith is being hailed this week by noted pianist O'Riley, who previously gifted Radiohead with two sets of solo tributes. Hear O'Riley accent the classical-music influences in Smith songs like "Cupid's Trick" and "Stupidity Tries," and read his touching liner-note essay saluting the late, great songwriter.

Imaad Wasif's Imaad Wasif and Mountain Con's Sancho Panza: Occasional Yeah Yeah Yeahs collaborator and tour opener Wasif pulls a self-titled record out of his sleeve this week. Venturing into solo territory for the first time, the Alaska! and New Folk Implosion agent found inspiration in classical Eastern music, Swedish artist Hilma af Klint and a book by Truman Capote to craft songs like "Into the Static," "Tomorrow Is Ours" and "(Dandelion)." Rock band Mountain Con — actually five musicians and one DJ — also go the literary route with Sancho Panza, named after a character from Cervantes' "Don Quixote" who was promised an island for traveling with the klutzy adventurer.

Lucero's The Attic Tapes and Lambchop's The Decline of Country and Western Civilization Part II: The Woodwind Years: The Memphis, Tennessee, country-folk fellas have cranked out five proper releases, but early in their career they eked out a handmade set Alternative Press called "one of the top five home recordings ever." The new, spruced-up version has three additional early demos and two rare 7-inch tracks, including the band's cover of Jawbreaker's "Kiss the Bottle." Over in Nashville, like-minded country-folksters Lambchop have an archival collection all their own (we'll save space by not repeating the title). This set culls singles, B-sides, unreleased tracks and more from the band's 1994-1999 era, and a second comp spanning the latter years is due in the near future.

New Releases:

• The 303s - Lines of Parallel Minds (Cult Hero)
• Aloha - Some Echoes (Polyvinyl)
• Ark - State of the Ark (Rebel Group)
• Attacker - The Unknown (Sentinel Steel)
• Jeff Bates - Leave the Light On (RCA)
• Be Your Own Pet - Be Your Own Pet (Dim Mak)
• The Black Angels - Passover (Light in the Attic)
• Robert Bradley - What About That: New Year's Eve in Bloomington (two-CD live set; Kufala)
• Bratz - Genie Magic (Hip-O)
• Buckcherry - 15 (Eleven Seven)
• Built to Spill - You in Reverse (Warner Bros.)
  Buy Now: You in Reverse (Warner Bros.)
• Bullets and Octane - In the Mouth of the Young (RCA)
• Calexico - Garden Ruin (digipak; Quarterstick)
  Buy Now: Garden Ruin (Quarterstick)
• Crystal Skulls - Outgoing Behavior (Suicide Squeeze)
• The Danger O's - Little Machines (Blackout!)
• Brigitte DeMeyer - Something After All (BDM)
• Dixie Witch - Smoke & Mirrors (Small Stone)
• Drive By - I Hate Everyday Without You Kid (Riot Squad)
• Eagles of Death Metal - Death by Sexy (Downtown)
  Read: "Eagles Of Death Metal Frontman's 'Soft Boomerang Of Love' Takes Center Stage In Clip")
  Buy Now: Death by Sexy (Downtown)
• Eulorhythmics - Extended Play (All Natural)
• Euphoria - Precious Time (digipak; Zoë)
• Feathers - Feathers (Gnomonsong)
• Fightstar - They Liked You Better When You Were Dead (Deep Elm)
• Juan Diego Flórez - Sentimiento Latino (Decca)
• Sue Foley - New Used Car (Ruf)
• Gotan Project - Lunático (XL/ Beggars Banquet)
• Tre Hardson - Slimkid3's Cafe (Reggae Lounge)
• Hit the Lights - This Is a Stick Up ... Don't Make It a Murder (Triple Crown)
• Jesu - Silver (EP; Hydra Head)
• Toby Keith - White Trash With Money (Show Dog Nashville)
• Knights of the New Crusade - Knight Beat(Alternative Tentacles)
• Albert Lee - Road Runner (Sugar Hill)
• LKN - Postulate 1 (Greyday)
• LL Cool J - Todd Smith (enhanced; Def Jam)
  Read: "With Blige, J. Lo, Foxx On Board, LL Cool J's New LP Is A Guest Fest"
  Buy Now: Todd Smith (Def Jam)
• Benny Mardones - Let's Hear It for Love (Warrior)
• Edwin McCain - Lost in America (Vanguard)
• Mecca Normal - Observer (Kill Rock Stars)
• Mint - Magnetism (Funzalo)
• Moneen - The Red Tree (digipak; Vagrant)
• Mono - You Are There (Temporary Residence)
• Mountain Con - Sancho Panza (Hidden Peak)
• Mr. Anonymous - Mr. Anonymous (Kab America)
• Tim Murphy - Ain't No Shame (Big 7)
• Nearly - Straight to Nowhere (Kufala)
  Read: "Ex-NIN Drummer Welcomes You To His Nightmare — Reznor Responds"
• Negative Trend - Negative Trend (2.13.61)
• New Bruises - Transmit! Transmit! (Kiss of Death)
• Lee Newman - Happy Together: The '60s Songbook (SLK)
• On Thorns I Lay - Angeldust (Black Lotus)
• Christopher O'Riley - Home to Oblivion: An Elliott Smith Tribute (World Village)
• Parts & Labor - Stay Afraid (Jagjaguwar)
• Pinetop Seven - Beneath Confederate Lake (Empyrean)
• Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Nothing but the Water (Hollywood)
• Daniel Powter - Daniel Powter (Warner Bros.)
• Pretty Girls Make Graves - Elan Vital (Matador)
  Buy Now: Elan Vital (Matador)
• Punchline - 37 Everywhere (Fueled by Ramen)
• Raffi - Quiet Time: Songs for a Pause, a Cuddle or a Nap (Rounder)
• Josh Ritter - The Animal Years (digipak; V2)
• Rosesdead - Stages (One Day Savior)
• Saves the Day - Sound the Alarm (Vagrant)
• Mark Schatz - Steppin' in the Boiler House (Rounder Select)
• Scissorfight - Jaggernaut (Tortura)
• Shonen Knife - Genki Shock! (digipak; Glue Factory)
• Throttlerod - Nail (Small Stone)
• Vandermark 5 - Free Jazz Classics Vol. 3 and Vol. 4 (Atavistic)
• Peter Walker - Young Gravity (Dangerbird)
• Imaad Wasif - Imaad Wasif (Kill Rock Stars)
• Whysall Lane - Whysall Lane (Blackball)
• Wilderness - Vessel States (Jagjaguwar)
• Tom Zé - Estudando O Pagode (Luaka Bop)
• Various artists - 5rc Sur la Mer Samp-le-Mer (5 Rue Christine)
• Various artists - Headbangers Ball: The Revenge (two CDs; Roadrunner)
• Various artists - "La Mujer de Mi Hermano" soundtrack (Nacional)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

• Avail - 4AM Friday, Dixie and Over the James (Jade Tree)
• The Beatles - The Capitol Albums Vol. 2 (available as four-disc, limited-edition brick or longbox set)
• Brian Eno + David Byrne - My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (enhanced; Nonesuch)
• Grateful Dead - Built to Last, Dead Set (two CDs), In the Dark and Reckoning (digipaks; Rhino)
• Tish Hinojosa - Retrospective (Varèse)
• Judas Priest - The Essential Judas Priest (two CDs; Columbia/ Legacy)
• Lambchop - The Decline of Country and Western Civilization Part II: The Woodwind Years (Merge)
  Buy Now: The Decline of Country and Western Civilization Part II: The Woodwind Years (Merge)
• Lucero - Attic Tapes (Liberty & Lament)
• Queen - Stone Cold Classics (limited edition; Hollywood)
• Saving Jane - Girl Next Door (Universal)
• Various artists - Journey Into Paradise: The Larry Levan Story (two CDs; Rhino)
• Various artists - The Tommy Boy Story, Vol. 1 (two CDs; Rhino)
• Various artists - Ultimate Disco 2 (Madacy)

DVDs:

• Death Cab for Cutie - "Directions" (Atlantic)
  Read: "Death Cab For Cutie Taking A Page From 50 Cent's Playbook "
• Judas Priest - "Live Vengeance '82" (Columbia/ Legacy)
• The Mae Shi - "Lock the Skull, Load the Gun" (5 Rue Christine)
• Pimp C - "Pimptaliation" (Asylum/ Rap-A-Lot)
• Sun Ra Arkestra - "Live in Oakland" and "Live at the Roadhouse" (Transparency)

Coming Attractions:

April 18:

• The Dresden Dolls - Yes, Virginia ... (digipak; Roadrunner)
• NOFX - Wolves in Wolves Clothing (Fat Wreck Chords)
  Buy Now: Wolves in Wolves Clothing (Fat Wreck Chords)
• Various artists - "Coachella" (Epitaph)

April 25:

• Godsmack - IV (Republic)
  Read: "Godsmack Finishing Up 'Killer' Fourth LP, Working On Football Theme"
  Buy Now: IV (Republic)
• Rihanna - A Girl Like Me (Def Jam)
  Read: "Rihanna Getting In Touch With Her Rock Side For Next LP"
• Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now (Warner Bros.)
  Read: "Taking Back Sunday Say Debuting At #800 Wouldn't Bother Them")

May 2:

• Lil' Flip - I Need Mine (Sony Urban)
• Mobb Deep - Blood Money (Interscope)
  Read: "Mobb Deep, 50 Cent Get Tattoos To Prove Their Loyalty"
• Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam (J)
  Read: "Pearl Jam, Post-'Therapy': 'The Sex Is Better Than Ever!' "
• Thursday - A City by the Light Divided (Island)
  Read: "Thursday Frontman Says He Doesn't Want To Exploit My Chemical Romance, But ..."
• Tool - 10,000 Days (Volcano)

• LL Cool J
• Death Cab For Cutie
• Pimp C
• Eagles Of Death Metal
• Calexico

The Pixes at Austin City Limits on Saturday August 18
Photo: MTV News

AUSTIN, Texas — There is exactly one big tree in Austin's Zilker Park. And seemingly everyone was under it.

Every square inch of shade was occupied by someone at the third annual Austin City Limits music festival. But the intense heat and humidity — temperatures soared near the 100-degree mark each day — didn't stop approximately 210,000 people from attending the three-day music festival.

With eight stages and more than 120 bands, the music ranged from roots-rock to reggae, from blues to funked-up jam bands. And although the cowboy-hatted crowd seemed partial to music of the twangin' persuasion, hyped-up hipsters and alternative rockers ruled the day.

The Pixies were obviously the festival's main draw — organizers credited the group with the festival's first-ever sold-out day on Saturday — and performed each song with immaculate faithfulness to their studio renditions. Featured on the giant Jumbotron video screen above the stage, the group looked a little rounder and a little balder, but rocked liked it was 1991 all over again.

While the sprawling 45-acre site, the multitudes of people and the number of stages made it impossible to catch all the music, MTV News did manage to keep an eye on most of the significant action. Here are some highlights ...

• "It's OK to clap," said the Killers' Brandon Flowers as eye shadow ran down his face. It's not that the band had a hard time kicking off ACL's opening-day festivities, but the audience was acclimating itself to the oppressive heat that would stifle them for the next three days. The sweat-soaked Sin City hipsters forged on and even broke out the U.K. B-side "Indie Rock & Roll" for their understandably truncated 45-minute set.

• "Is it hot enough for you?" asked Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand — easily the hottest U.K. import of the festival. The group's post-punk sound has apparently struck a chord with the masses, as its blistering set had festivalgoers of all stripes pogoing in the Friday-evening heat.

• "This song is stupid, but we're going to play it anyhow, 'cause it tends to rock," said Wilco singer Jeff Tweedy before the group launched into the crowd-pleasing "Kingpin" from 1996's Being There. Never ones to be too ingratiating, the group — which had a gorgeous sunset as a backdrop on Sunday evening — also flexed its experimental muscles on material from its latest LP, A Ghost Is Born, highlighted by the 10-minute krautrock jam "Spiders (Kidsmoke)."

• Indie-rockers gone big time Modest Mouse battled the midday elements to showcase material from their Good News for People Who Love Bad News album, favoring twang-friendly material like "Bukowski" and "The Good Times Are Killing Me."

• Some crowd members were even crying: Fist-pumping, anthem-screaming fans were out in full force for Dashboard Confessional's acoustic-driven set. The sensitive emo-rockers represented for the fragile community with songs mostly from their latest, A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar.

• The Roots were the only outfit at the festival that relied solely on rhythm and rhyme. The group, which has been adopted by the jam-band scene in recent years, more than held its own against the more conventional roots-rock, twang and blues that dominated much of the festival's lineup — in fact, with their funky percussion, improvisational stretches and noodley guitar soloing, the Philadelphia crew fit in rather inconspicuously.

• While there was no marriage proposal at this show (see "Cure, Pixies Hottest Things At Coachella (Aside From Weather)"), Toronto's Broken Social Scene did keep it in the family. Augmented by members of Stars and Metric, the 10-member collective grew to 11 with the addition of singer Kevin Drew's wife on trumpet. The communal aesthetic extended to other bands on the bill when BSS's technical difficulties were aided by Sloan's Jay Ferguson (acting as guitar tech) and Franz Ferdinand's Bob Hardy, who loaned his four-string to bassist Brendan Canning.

• Chicago chanteuse Neko Case represented both the female contingent and the alt-twang community with her smoky voice and country strum. Backed by an upright bassist and a banjo/lap steel player, the singer showcased material from her entire discography, plus songs from her upcoming live covers album, The Tigers Have Spoken, highlighted by a cover of Bob Dylan's "Buckets of Rain."

• Who knew Calexico were so huge? The mariachi-inflected alt-country band was easily the first big draw of Sunday's early lineup, vastly dwarfing the audience attendance on the other stages. Their set was highlighted by a note-perfect cover of Love's "Alone Again Or," and their horn section would later help out Wilco during "I'm The Man Who Loves You."

• Finally, it's probably safe to assume that Frank Black never dreamed he'd have 75,000 people singing the name of Luis Bunuel's surrealist masterpiece, "Un Chien Andalou," but that's exactly what happened Saturday night during the band's 1989 cult hit, "Debaser." The evening's cinematic references didn't end there, as the quartet broke out "Where Is My Mind?" (immortalized in "Fight Club") and the obscure Deal-sung B-side, "In Heaven," a cover taken from David Lynch's seminal "Eraserhead."

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• The Pixies
• Franz Ferdinand
• Wilco
• Modest Mouse
• The Roots