News Roundup: Japandroids, It Came From Brooklyn, and More $5 Tickets

Leigh Righton

Japandroids, the second Siren band who set their drums on fire

--We've already lamented missing what was probably one of Japandroids' last tiny gigs in New York ever, but here's a manageably-sized solution: tickets for their Mercury Lounge show on September 24 are onsale today. If intimacy isn't your thing, you can also catch them with us and a bazillion others at Siren on Saturday.

--We've also already told you about those $5 Motorhead tickets. But now it turns out that this deal extends to a grocery list of artists you probably weren't going to pay $40 bucks to see. But, hey what the hell, you'll catch Pinback (or Islands, or Alice in Chains) for the same price as a Spicy Italian.

--The Guggenheim announced the "It Came From Brooklyn" series with what it apparently envisions as bands that should be from Brooklyn. The first line-up features Upper West Siders The Walkmen, Los Angeles-based High Places (who, okay, did form in Brooklyn), and, opening, the Brooklyn "Steppers" Marching Band, who aren't trying to fool the Upper East Side institution and are actually from our favorite borough.

--Dredging the bottom of Michael Jackson's barrel of health issues, hijinks, and creepy secrets (and keeping readers in the loop) will hopefully remain daily happenstance for years to come. What will it be like when we can no longer take for granted random shit about his needle-marked legs, his hair bursting into flames, or his personal Dr. Kevorkian?

--Another quick reminder that there's a great show at Cake Shop tonight, with the blistering ex-Be Your Own Pets brother duo Jeff: The Brotherhood, faithfully punkish Ex-Humans, and Lovvers, a double-v'd band that should've blown up. That, or you can hang out with me at my awesome party! Deets.