"Joe Pernice finally made a cautious enquiry about whether or not we were Christians and I told him to take a flying fuck at a rolling donut. Good times."
Indeed, indeed. Seattle's bold, caustic janglemeisters The Long Winters who made plenty of new friends with album no.2, last year's When I pretend to fall, are touring the US with the Pernice Brothers. New today, read the latest of big John Roderick's notes from the road here. And there's more good/bad news re. the band:

Good news - "Here at Flora, we've been hard at work on a great sounding new record from the Long Winters for Barsuk. We'll be finishing it up in July as they hit the road for the next several months," reports producer/precussionist Tucker Martine. Who he? Well, he did the honours on the last two Laura Veirs albums, a track or two on the new Jim White record (which pulls off a rare '5 stars' double in today's Indy and Guardian) and has New skin, his own 'ambient audio-file journey', just out via FilmGuerrero...

Bad news - Sean Nelson has left the band. Not that he wrote any of the songs but his high harmonies (hit those notes, guys), enthusiastic tambourine-wielding and waggish banter played no small part in making last year's London shows such good value...

Good news - they're coming back to Europe in May...

Bad news - but not to the UK it seems. Spain, Austria, Belgium, lots of little towns in Holland, but not here...

But hey, as reported, 'sensitive singer-songwriter' Denison Witmer is definitely coming. Philadelphia songs, finally out here on Monday, ranked no.4 on this blog's year-end list for 2002. Judging by this early UK review - 'Quite possibly one of the best things you'll hear all year' - it might make a few '04 lists as well. Those dates (supporting Charlemagne unless excepted):
May 15 Brighton, Hanbury Ballroom
16 Cardiff, Chapter Arts
17 London, 21 Bar
18 Winchester, Railway Inn
19 London, Borderline (w/ Rosie Thomas, Iron and Wine)
20 TBA
21 Stoke, Talbot Hotel
22 Leicester, The Musician
23 London, The Windmill in Brixton
25 Sheffield, The Casbah
26 Manchester, Star and Garter
27 Hull, The Aldelphi
28 Cambridge, The Portland Arms
30 Newcastle, The Tyne
June 2 Aberdeen, Drakes

And shock news re the band that topped out the reallyrather '02 list - Rilo Kiley have left Saddle Creek and signed to a major! Exactly which major isn't quite clear as yet but indieville is all a-quiver. However, having been fervently behind Jenny and the guys since the days of Take-offs and landings, this blog isn't about to get - how you say - all snooty on their ass. Whoever's writing the cheques they must have heard some damned whizzo tunes is what I'm thinking...

'If there's a better debut in store for this year, I'm ridiculously excited to hear it' - Dusted Mag this week on Joanna Newsom's wonderous Milk-eyed mender (see below). Go, Jo...

...and here's Popmatters on the new Gingersol: 'This is a record with a big sound, with gorgeous pop hooks, with meticulous production choices...intelligent, thoughtful, rootsy rock'. Precisely...

Is it sunny where you are? Blimey, a day like this has been a long time coming in London and deserves to big fat optimistic blast of a tune to go with it. And reallyrather has just the thing. So open the window, crank up the volume, point the speakers to the world and let 'em all have this from the debut album of Swedish 9-piece The Legends. Ye gods...