Spastic Reaction

Versus' official site points to Urban Jetset who briefly interviewed Fontaine Toups(of The Fontaine Toups and Versus) and Andy Cheng(of The Fontaine Toups). Fontaine's response as to the status of Versus:

"I believe we are open to playing more shows, and writing more songs. After ten years went by and many records, countless tours, we thought it was time for a break. Richard moved to California and the rest of us started other bands. So, now the question is whether we have the time, or do we really want to do it? I think there has to be a good enough reason and a spark that'll get us moving again. So, I suppose you could say 'hiatus.' I can say we will never be as busy as we were. You may see us play, but the days of endless touring are over." [photo from http://../]

Listen[around the 20:42:50 mark] to the The Dears' live session on the BBC 6music program hosted by Gideon Coe, broadcast earlier today[February 2, 2005]. Catch it while you can as the link is only archived for about a week or so. Moving acoustic versions of "Who Are You, Defenders Of The Universe" and "Lost in the Plot", with just Murray on vocals and someone on acoustic guitar, were performed.

I'm sure almost everyone who caught The Arcade Fire's performance of "Neighborhood #2 (Laika)" yesterday on Late Night With Conan O'Brien must have been creaming themselves. Fantastic performance. The motorcyle helmets were wicked and the energy on stage was dynamic. Kinda funny how that stray drumstick almost nailed Win in the face; thankfully it looked like more of a graze. Of course, I didn't catch the original television broadcast because I fell asleep. Thanks to Largehearted Boy for pointing out a torrent of The Arcade Fire's performance. Grab it NOW because the transfer speed is WAY FAST. Zoilus chips in with some comments of his own and also points to a smaller video file[.avi] of the performance, which is by way of Evaporated...on a related note, daily refill dot com went to The Arcade Fire show in New York City at Webster Hall yesterday and she has a brief(but nice) video clip of the band performing "Neighborhood #2 (Laika)".

Someone on the broken telephone forum said that along with Stars on this years' Exclaim! tour will also be Ted Leo and The Organ. Nothing confirmed on the Ted Leo site yet but the Exclaim site does list The Organ as one of the confirmed bands. The Toronto date will be April 14th at The Phoenix and will include Stars, The Organ, Wooden Stars, and Montag. Apostle of Hustle will be playing the dates towards the west coast.