Music For Ants — It’s time once again to highlight some the hip, indie music that soundtracks ads from cars, beers, phones, to climate change (you didn’t think the indie rock in commercials trend was going away, did you?). So for all you Hulu / DVR wa... more info

The Playlist — - "The harder the life, the sweeter the song." That's the tagline for the new "Crazy Heart" poster suggesting a hardscrabble life and a hardwon comeback in the country music film starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Colin Farrell. There's a l... more info

LargeHeartedBoy — Today's free and legal mp3 downloads: Andrew Bird: 2009-10-21, Buffalo [mp3,ogg,flac] "The Giant of Illinois (Handsome Family cover)" [mp3] other Andrew Bird posts at Largehearted Boy Bloodkin: 2009-10-31, James Island [mp3,ogg,flac] "Little Margarit... more info

Live Daily — Singer/songwriter Andrew Bird [ tickets ] will follow his current tour, which winds down next week, with a late-year run of solo shows, including several in intimate venues that will feature Bird concentrating mainly on violin pieces. Bird, who co... more info

Buffalo News, New York — The circus may have rolled into town today, but the real feat of amazing strength was on display Wednesday night in Asbury Hall at Babeville, where multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird rivaled every trapeze artist and acrobat. more info

Culture Bully — Andrew Bird to play St Mark's Episcopal Church, Mates of State announce Weisman Art Museum date, Anti-Flag to return to St. Paul in January, & the Pines play for MPR. more info

Pitchfork - Tours — 10-21 Buffalo, NY - Asbury Hall at Babeville 10-24 South Portland, ME - South Portland High School Auditorium 10-25 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory * 10-26 South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground * 10-27 Providence, RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel * ... more info

Stereogum — Although Thao Nguyen's Get Down Stay Down is a trio, on the just-released Know Better Learn Faster the lineup swells considerably, and with some considerable talent, including Andrew Bird, Laura Veirs, Eric Earley (Blitzen Trapper), Horse Feathers, S... more info

The Late Greats — The Family Straw is headed out for vacation tomorrow. We’ll be out and about until Thursday the 15 – look for a return to posting then. IN the meantime, here are a few things to tide you over. Pace yourselves. One of my favorite bands i... more info

Pitchfork - Tours — 10-07 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle *10-08 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle *10-09 Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel *10-10 Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium *10-12 Charleston, SC - Music Farm *10-13 Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre *10-14 Cincinnati, OH - Bogart... more info