Loose Ends: Pumpkins Name Producer, Hip Photo Exhibition And Radiohead Tributes

08/17/06 6:00pm

The Smashing Pumpkins' reunion to record their first album in seven years is still largely shrouded in mystery, but the band have offered a small bit of insight with this brief post on their website:

"The Smashing Pumpkins are currently in the recording studio with legendary producer Roy Thomas Baker (Queen, The Cars, The Darkness), at work on their first new album since 1999."

Singer/guitarist Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin are part of the revitalized Pumpkins, but it's not yet known who else is involved.

Chart photographer Richard Beland will have an exhibit of his Tragically Hip photos on display at Toronto's Pikto Gallery from Oct. 1 to Nov. 27 in a retrospective showing billed as Colour Of The Night. Beland has shot the group at more than 100 concerts since 1993 and was also the photographer for their In Violet Light and In Between Evolution albums. He was nominated for a Juno Award for his contribution to the artwork for Hip singer Gord Downie's solo album, The Battle Of The Nudes, and has captured the images of Coldplay, The Cure, Nickelback and Nirvana, among many other prominent bands, over the years.

The Easy Star All-Stars have a new album called Radiodread comprised of reggae versions of the songs on Radiohead's OK Computer album, and Baby Rock Records is releasing Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions Of Radiohead. So what's next, you ask? How about Skeet Spirit: A Crunk Tribute To Radiohead by DJ Gyngyvytus.

Crunked-up interpretations of eight songs — "Fitter, Hyphier (Intro)," "Skeet Spirit," "No Sizzuruprizes," "The National Headbustaz Anthem," "Flamboastin' Android," "Creepin' (On Dat Ass)," "Talk Show Hoes" and "Snaps Out" — can be downloaded for free. We're still holding out for Crunk Christmas.

Paulina Gretzky — the oldest daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and actress/model Janet Jones — has released her first single.

"Collecting Dust," which premiered on the MTV series Laguna Beach, is now available on iTunes. Gretzky made her public singing debut at the 2003 Heritage Classic hockey game at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium when she covered Sarah McLachlan's "I Will Remember You" in front of 57,000 fans.

The multi-talented 17-year-old has also appeared on the cover of Flare magazine and acted in the film Alpha Dog with Justin Timberlake, Bruce Willis and Sharon Stone.

Toronto concert announcements:

Aug. 29 5th Projekt @ Horseshoe Tavern
Aug. 30 Oh Susanna, Dan Kershaw, Terra Hazelton and Michael Brennan @ Cadillac Lounge
Sept. 3 Sonia Collymore, Blessed, Carl Henry and Snow @ The Docks
Sept. 4 Todd Rundgren @ Danforth Music Hall
Sept. 4 Cat Power @ Lee's Palace (two shows)
Sept. 14 Nouvelle Vague @ Mod Club
Sept. 15 Hawksley Workman And The Wolves @ Phoenix
Sept. 17 Hilotrons, Tusks and DJ Separate Bill @ Sneaky Dee's
Sept. 21 Joe McPhee, Victor Bateman, Michael Keith, Rob Piilonen and Deep Dark United @ Music Gallery
Sept. 22 Holy Fuck, Shout Out Out Out Out and Land Of Talk @ Mod Club
Sept. 22 The Illuminati and Three Inches Of Blood @ Lee's Palace
Sept. 23 Grizzly Bear @ El Mocambo
Sept. 27 Kasabian @ Phoenix
Sept. 28 Memphis @ Lee's Palace
Sept. 29 Thornley @ Mod Club
Oct. 7 Sunset Rubdown @ Lee's Palace
Oct. 7 Jenny Lewis And The Watson Twins @ Trinity St. Paul's Church
Oct. 8 Matmos and So Percussion @ Music Gallery
Oct. 10 Regina Spektor @ Phoenix
Oct. 11 Pet Shop Boys @ Hummingbird Centre
Oct. 12 Suicide Girls @ Lee's Palace
Oct. 12 Juana Molina and Adem @ Supermarket
Oct. 12 TV On The Radio @ Opera House
Oct. 12 Pennywise, Circle Jerks, Ignite and Brown Brigade @ Phoenix
Oct. 16 Iron Maiden @ Air Canada Centre
Oct. 17 Viva Voce and Silversun Pickups @ Lee's Palace
Oct. 18 Madeleine Peyroux @ Danforth Music Hall
Oct. 18 Drive By Truckers and The Drams @ Phoenix
Oct. 26 Frank Black and Reid Paley @ Opera House
Oct. 26 Penny Lang @ Hugh's Room
Oct. 28 The Hold Steady @ Horseshoe Tavern
Oct. 28 Hellogoodbye, Reggie And The Full Effect, Cute Is What We Aim For and David Melillo @ Opera House
Nov. 4 Bettye Lavette @ Lee's Palace
Nov. 5 Califone @ Horseshoe Tavern
Nov. 5 Alice In Chains and Hurt @ Kool Haus
Nov. 5 ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead and Blood Brothers @ Phoenix
Nov. 6 Cut Chemist and Lyrics Born @ Phoenix
Nov. 11 Downchild Blues Band and The Mississippi Hippies @ Palais Royale

Vancouver concert announcements:

Sept. 14 The Casualties, Wednesday Night Heroes and Rebel Spell @ WISE Hall
Sept. 22 Prairie Oyster and Don McLeod @ Clarke Foundation Theatre
Sept. 24 Starsailor and Peter Walker @ Richard's On Richards
Sept. 29 Babe Gurr, John Mann, Shari Ulrich and Norman Foote @ Surrey Arts Centre
Oct. 8 Kinnie Starr, Tanya Tagaq and Michael Red @ Capilano College Performing Arts Theatre
Oct. 11 Nashville Pussy, Priestess and Pride Tiger @ Citrus Nightclub
Oct. 14 Califone @ Media Club
Nov. 9-11 Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Shary Boyle @ St. James Hall
Jan. 23 Johnny Clegg Band and Kow Kanda @ Commodore Ballroom