…in which our heroine The BackstageRider goes out on tour again with her heroes and friends, Sebadoh, as they traipse across Germany. This three-parter of photos, videos and words starts in the rad city of Berlin.

Wandered out into das Berlin night to check out Vancouver’s Destroyer to see if Dan Bejar was any more lively. Nope. But still sounded lush. Also met a new band, Zulu Pearls. Here are the pics.

Is it just me or are the really good bands getting younger these days? Oh it’s just me. Getting older. Here’s to London’s Yuck and Portland’s Unknown Mortal Orchestra, the newish kids on the block.

On a night when Vancouver was home to four really good gig choices at the same time. Photog hero Kris Krüg and I “settled” on Kurt Vile and Thurston Moore. Good choice. Great mumblerock from Vile and some sonic youthful explorations from Moore.

TV on the Radio exploded brains during the first of two nights at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom on July 20. It was SO good, grey matter dripped down the walls. Check the brilliant pics, review and setlist, right here, right now.

Huh, wasn’t expecting much from this, but it actually made me smile. Here’s my ode to a new Canadian documentary about a band called Said The Whale, airing on CBC on July 23rd at 7pm (and online at cbcradio3.ca after that). Plus…THERE’S A ROCKHAND!

Don’t you wanna take me on a sea cruise? WEEZER, SEBADOH, DINOSAUR JR, ANTLERS, GENE WEEN, YUCK, WAVVVES and others are setting sail on an indie-rock cruise in January. Here’s the details. It’s going to be AMAZEBALLS.

Brooklyn’s bespectacled small-rock god Mike Doughty has announced his new album, and a tour to match. Dates and details here. But seeing as this is the BSR, I’ve also added in some links to strange and beautiful poetry. BECAUSE I CAN.

US indie heroes Grandaddy are reissuing their first three albums, including superclassic The Sophtware Slump. After I finished doing a happy dance, I chased Jason Lytle down directly to have a wee cyberchat about one of my favest albums. EVER.