Magnet Magazine — 45 years ago today, R.E.M. played its first show, in Athens, Ga.; one year earlier to the day, Duran Duran made its live debut, in Birmingham, England. It’s true, ’cause everybody knows. The post R.E.M. Played Its First Show 45 Years Ago Today, E... more info

Stereogum — Here’s an interesting trio. Stephen Vitiello is a veteran sound artist, currently based in Virginia, who has collaborated with people like Pauline Oliveros and Ryuichi Sakamoto. In 1999, he was a resident artist at the World Trade Center; imagin... more info

Stereogum — Over the years, the rock ‘n’ roll legend Patti Smith has taken part in tons of benefits and tribute shows at New York’s Carnegie Hall. On Wednesday night, she got one of her own. Last night, Smith and many of her fellow luminaries gathered f... more info

Magnet Magazine — 55 years ago today, (Small) Faces released debut album First Step. Everything lasting, ever the same. Read Scott McCaughey (Minus 5, Baseball Project, Young Fresh Fellows, R.E.M., Filthy Friends) in MAGNET on Ian McLagan: The post (Small) Faces Relea... more info

Magnet Magazine — Aficionados of dreamy, jangly guitar, particularly if it reminds old heads of the “college rock” of yore—like early R.E.M. or any number of other groups, obscure to popular, ranging from North Carolina to New Zealand and beyond—are intimately... more info

Stereogum — Michael Shannon is such an interesting person — a much-loved character actor with a steely persona who lives in Chicago and generally removes himself from Hollywood conversations despite a busy and long-running film career. Also, he’s now the ... more info

Stereogum — Denis Leary doesn’t like R.E.M.’s “Shiny Happy People.” He proclaimed as much way back in 1992, the year after the Out Of Time single came out, when he did an MTV spot based on his standup routine poking fun at the state of rock ‘n’ ... more info

Magnet Magazine — Happy birthday Scott Litt (R.E.M., Replacements, Liz Phair, Nirvana, Juliana Hatfield, Matthew Sweet, dB’s). Adventurer in hi-fi. Read our review of R.E.M.’s essential Litt-produced Automatic For The People reissue: The post Happy Birthday Scott ... more info

Magnet Magazine — Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy And Friends Play R.E.M.’s Fables Of The Reconstruction at Union Transfer, Philadelphia. Photos by Chris Sikich. The post Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy And Friends Play R.E.M.’s “Fables Of The Reconstruction” ... more info

Stereogum — It’s been a good year for power pop. It’s been a shit year for… uh… everything else, but, from Montreal newcomers Prism Shores shimmering their way through sophomore album Out From Underneath to heavy space-rockers Cloakroom channeling a... more info