News Roundup: U2, Built To Spill, Conor Oberst, Phil Lesh, Beck

U2 are readying a brand new song, which they’ll perform on the latest leg of their 360 Tour, which is ready to be restarted after Bono’s successful back surgery. The song, however, is seemingly not about Bono’s back.

Get a listen to a version of the new song, snapped outside the band’s rehearsals at the Olympic Sports Hall stadium in Torino, Italy, below. The band are also planning to revive their Batman Forever theme song, “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me,” on tour.

While U2 relive the ’90s, Built To Spill have their eye on the ’80s. The Seattle psych-rock band have re-recorded 7 of their best tracks using synthesizers and drum machines, in an homage to the era’s 12-inch remixes. They’re calling the resulting album The Electronic Anthology Project, and they’re currently selling it at live shows and through CD Baby. Unfortunately, you can’t get it through the Columbia House records club. Check out the anagram-ed up track listing below (because the ’80s were all about anagrams).

1. I Dim Our Angst In Agony / (Goin’ Against Your Mind)
2. Age I Felt / (Get A Life)
3. At The Where / (The Weather)
4. Eels / (Else)
5. What If Your Dull / (I Would Hurt A Fly)
6. A Gloss Siren / (Israel’s Song)
7. Far Path Tall Sign / (Things Fall Apart)

Phil Lesh stopped by Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble on July 31, and he brought his two sons, Brian and Grahame, along to sing harmony and play guitar. The Lesh crew, backed by Levon’s band, played an hour’s worth of vintage Grateful Dead material, including “Friend Of The Devil,” “Cumberland Blues,” and “Dire Wolf.” Said the bassist after introducing his sons: “I have to say, this is the proudest moment of my life.”

Conor Oberst revived his fantastic emo side-band Desaparecidos over the weekend at the Concert For Equality in Omaha, Nebraska, a benefit for the Nebraska ACLU and a protest against the proposed Fremont immigration law. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Cursive, and Lullabye For the Working Class also performed, and Oberst demonstrated his piano chops on a new Bright Eyes tune, “Coyote Song.” Check out videos of the proceedings here.

Beck recently gave an interview to Pitchfork here, where he talks about his many side projects. “Since Charlotte [Gainsbourg] called me a few years ago I’ve been calling other people and asking if they needed help with their records.” Beck contributes several tracks for Michael Cerra’s fictional band in the new comedy Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. He also cut a record of Yanni covers with Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, and is working with Stephen Malkmus on the Pavement frontman’s next solo album.