At Worst I Feel Bad For Awhile, But Then I Just Smile

Billboard reports that the 42 year old UK television program Top Of The Pops will end at the end of July 2006 due to plunging ratings. I've only had the chance to watch it when I downloaded a torrent of a video clip from the show or on occasion when Rogers was having a free preview of BBC on digital cable, and one thing I'd admire about the show was it's willingness to broadcast live performances of artists from a variety of different musical styles, from The Arcade Fire[their performance of "Rebellion(Lies)" was amazing], to Super Furry Animals, to whatever mainstream pop act was popular at the moment.

One of my favourite new musical artists at the moment, Lily Allen was on Top Of The Pops on June 11, 2006 and she performed her infectious single "Smile". Watch it here. [via Just Keep Bloggin']

Pitchfork(as well as Chromewaves) reports that Portishead updated its MySpace site recently indicating that progress is coming along on their third album and that they've met with label people who've had a positive response to their new songs. However I do take issue with the following quote from theIR MySpace site: "its nice to think us old gits have a few tunes in us without sounding like coffee table zero 7 - moby - chill out shit!!". Umm, they go away for god knows how long and they take a potshot at my beloved Zero 7? The new Portishead album better be amazing.

Eye Weekly interviews J Mascis and explores the Dinosaur Jr/Broken Social Scene connection. J Mascis with BSS as backing band will be playing a benefit show at The Mod Club on June 23rd and then J Mascis will be playing an early afternoon solo set the following day at Olympic Island where BSS will be headlining later on that evening.

Eye Weekly also has a sitdown with Hamilton Leithauser of The Walkmen in advance of the band's show in Toronto at The Phoenix on June 27th.

The Flaming Lips website has confirmed that they'll indeed be in Toronto at Toronto Islands Park on September 9th!!!!!![via Matt in the comments from two posts ago]

Asthmatic Kitty indicates that Castanets will be at Lee's Palace on August 3rd, which I'm assuming is in addition to previously announced acts for that date, The Black Heart Procession and Danielson.

Pollstar says Human Television will be at Sneaky Dee's on July 24th.

Finally Rotate This is indicating Sunset Rubdown at Lee's Palace on July 27th[19+, tickets $10], Australia's The Living End at The Mod Club on August 1st[all ages, tickets $18.50], and 90's alt-pop/rock obscurities Smoking Popes at Lee's Palace on August 16th[19+, tickets $12].