Stereogum — Minus The Bear and the Beta Band appear to be teasing reunion tours. Whatdya say, R.E.M.? more info

Stereogum — Maybe this shouldn’t feel so miraculous, but it sure seems like the four members of R.E.M. like getting back together, hanging out with each other, and even playing music in public if it feels right. Last year, the actor Michael Shannon and the ... more info

Magnet Magazine — Five Eight has been an on-again/off-again institution in Athens, Ga., for almost 35 years. And while commercial viability has never been the band’s strong suit, its mind-bending pop-punk intensity and surprising resilience has made Five Eight a dar... more info

Stereogum — Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy are currently on the road performing R.E.M.’s 1985 album Fables Of The Reconstruction in its entirety, about a year after they wrapped up a tour covering the band’s Murmur . On that first tour, during Shannon ... more info

Obscure Sound — A moody, emotively gripping rock sound compels throughout “The Crane,” a new single from guitarist and composer Jefferson Pitcher. A brisk bass pulse and lushly chiming guitar/piano interplay arrive into the haunting “find me now,” vocal touc... more info

Stereogum — On Friday (Feb. 14), Oscar-nominated actor Michael Shannon and indie rock veteran Jason Narducy kicked off their R.E.M. tribute band tour in Pioneertown, CA. The group played through the entirety of the 1985 album Fables Of The Reconstruction. more info

Stereogum — Power-pop veterans the Minus 5 have a new LP on the way. For the forthcoming Oar On, Penelope!, Scott McCaughey’s oft-changing band includes R.E.M.’s Peter Buck on bass and 12-string guitar, McCaughey’s fellow Young Fresh Fellow Kurt Bloch o... more info

Stereogum — Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy’s R.E.M. tribute band is heading back out on the road this winter, this time performing Fables Of The Reconstruction . Like last year’s Murmur tour, this one has sparked a number of media appearances, includin... more info

Stereogum — Big-deal actor Michael Shannon is fully in the indie rock zone these days. Just in the past few weeks, he’s covered the Silver Jews at a David Berman tribute and played a set of improvised indie-rap with some other character actors. This time of... more info

Magnet Magazine — Happy 65th birthday Michael Stipe (R.E.M.). Have fun tonight, sir. Read our live review from the EarthFest show that Stipe did with Patti Smith at the American Museum of Natural History: The post Happy 65th Birthday Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) appeared f... more info