Broken Bells' Sophomore Disc May Come Before Next Shins Album

by Gary Graff, Detroit  |   June 14, 2012 11:45 EDT

James Mercer says a second Broken Bells record may be likely before his Shins follow-up to this year's "Port of Morrow."

"We have to do another Broken Bells record, which I'm really excited about," Mercer tells Billboard.com about the group he and Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) launched in 2010. "We've talked about it a little bit. We've got songs already worked out, too, a few things we had been working on after the (self-titled debut) record was pretty much done which we figured would be on the next record we did."

Bonnaroo 2012: The 10 Best Performances

A timetable is hardly etched in stone, however. "It'll be whenever we get together," Mercer says. "Right now Brian's doing U2; I think he's still in Dublin doing that. He's so sought after and so busy. And I've got (the Shins) for the next year. It's kind of a fun, cool way to do it, very compartmentalized, which I like."

For now, however, Mercer is perfectly happy being on the road with the Shins supporting "Port of Morrow" -- the group's first new album in five years -- and enjoying the Shins' new lineup. "It does feel very much like a band," reports Mercer, who parted ways with most of the Shins' original lineup in 2009. "Joe Plummer (the Shins' drummer) basically joined the band about three years ago, when I was just starting the process of recording ('Port of Morrow'). Richard Swift had opened up for the Shins and was Eric Johnson's (of the Fruit Bats) recommendation; Swift has a very similar sense of humor to me, and he helped the other guy, so I think that helped. We all get along really well."

And while Broken Bells is in his sights, Mercer says he's open to the idea that "if (Danger Mouse) got really busy, maybe I'll just begin construction on the next Shins thing." He doesn't think he'll be wanting for material; for starters, Mercer says, "there's stuff that didn't make ('Port of Morrow') that I'm confident could be turned into really good songs." And, he adds, "I'm always messing around with the guitar at home. Whenever I'm doing that it's always with a goal of coming up with some new part or some new idea for a song. I've got several little things right now, so I'm sure there'll be a lot of material available whenever (the Shins) wind up recording."

View the original article here

Mystikal Plays Jazz Fest Show Before Jail Return

Thousands turned out Friday to see New Orleans rapper Mystikal perform one last time before returning to jail on a probation violation.

The rapper, whose real name is Michael Tyler, was released from a Louisiana prison in 2010 after serving six years for sexual battery and extortion. He returns to jail May 14 following a February arrest on a misdemeanor charge of domestic abuse battery.

In April, the rapper's attorney, Roy Maughan Jr., said Tyler and the victim in the domestic battery case were longtime domestic partners.

The rapper alluded to his legal problems on stage Friday

"I'm going through some things, but it's gonna be all right," Mystikal said to cheering fans. "Fellas if you get into it with your girl, just walk away. Me? I'm gonna run."

He also shouted: "Eighty-one days and I will be back," referring to the length of his pending jail term.

State District Judge Tony Marabella of Baton Rouge ordered Tyler to serve 90 days in jail for the violation but gave him credit for the nine days he was detained after his Feb. 22 arrest.

Mystikal thanked his fans for their continued support and, in between a few water breaks, pushed through a set list that included fan favorites "Bouncin' Back, "Danger (Been So Long)," and "Here I Go."

"He's been through a lot, but I like artists who keep pushing past their struggles," said Erik Hamilton, of New Orleans. "A lot of people focus on an artist's problems and forget that he's a regular person and regular people sometimes have problems.

"I'm disappointed to hear he has to go back (to jail) but he'll have some time to sit back and realize what he's done and hopefully he will be a better man when he comes out."

Hamilton's wife, Frenchell Pannell-Hamilton, said she enjoyed the rapper's performance.

"We have to support our local musicians and stand behind them," she said. "That helps keep New Orleans strong."

Tony Jones, visiting from Hawaii, said he didn't know what happened to get Mystikal a return ticket to prison, but hoped "the judge was lenient."

Jason Foster, a Charlotte, N.C. native now living in New Orleans, said he grew up with Mystikal. This was his first time at the Jazz Fest and his first time seeing the rapper's live show, which included music by his full brass band "Hot Sausage."

"He played all his hits and gave a great show," Foster said.

Tyler pleaded guilty in 2003 to forcing his hairstylist to perform what a judge called "continuous sex acts." The victim in that case accused Tyler and two bodyguards of making her perform oral sex after accusing her of stealing $80,000 worth of his checks.

The woman denied stealing any money.

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

View the original article here

Rocker accused of pharmacy robbery before show (AP)

MANSFIELD, Mass. – The bass player for a rock band has been arrested and charged with robbing a Massachusetts pharmacy of prescription painkillers just hours before a show.

Attleboro police say Michael Todd, bassist for Coheed and Cambria, entered the Walgreen's pharmacy after 1 p.m. on Sunday and showed the pharmacist a note on his phone saying he had a bomb.

Police say the 30-year-old Todd, of Anaheim, Calif., then made off with six bottles of Oxycontin and fled in a cab headed to the Comcast Center in Mansfield, where his band was to open for Soundgarden that night. He was arrested at the concert hall before the show, and the band played without him.

He's scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Attleboro District Court.

The band's website says the tour will continue.

View the original article here