Uh-oh. It’s one of those random music news weeks again. My apologies.
One of the more interesting things I found out in the last week was the fact that Eddie Vedder now has a mohawk. While playing a benefit gig last week in Los Angeles, the increasingly eccentric Pearl Jam vocalist was seen sporting the original punk hairdo as he ran through a cover of the classic Beatles ballad “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away.”
I even saw a picture of the horrid thing. Please, Eddie, grow the hair back. You’re breaking the hearts of millions of girls who have nothing better to do than have a crush on you. Now that I think about it, forget what I just said and keep the mohawk.
At the same gig, Thom Yorke (disturbing frontman for Radiohead) and Beck duetted on a cover of the Velvet Underground’s “I’m Set Free.” It’s a good thing that I wasn’t there, because I would certainly have died on the spot from pure ecstasy.
More happy Beck news: The elusive troubadour has drafted Nigel Godrich to do some production work on his new album. Godrich has produced such classics as Radiohead’s “OK Computer,” Travis’ “The Man Who,” and Pavement’s “Terror Twilight.” He also produced Beck’s excellent 1998 release “Mutations.” Dan “The Automator” Nakamura, as previously mentioned in this column, is already involved with producing the new Beck album.

Speaking of Pavement, excitement abounds this weekend in Portland as Stephen Malkmus will be playing at the Crystal Ballroom on Sunday. Hip folks may remember Malkmus as the singer and songwriter from Pavement, which was basically one of the best bands of all time.
Extra-hip folks may even own a copy of Malkmus’ self-titled debut album, which was released a year ago and still has yet to leave my stereo. Don’t miss out on a chance to see the original king of slacker rock playing with his new band, the Jicks. Word on the street is that Malkmus will be playing a slew of new songs, old songs and Pavement classics. Makes my head spin, people.
How many posthumous Tupac Shakur albums have there been? Five? Seven? 35? I don’t know, but get ready for another one: “Thug Angel” will be released in May. I swear, it’s just a matter of time before they put out a CD consisting entirely of 2Pac singing in the shower and/or farting.
Modest Mouse fans rejoice: Frontman Isaac Brock will be releasing his highly-anticipated solo album on May 21. The project has been dubbed “Ugly Casanova,” the album is called “Sharpen Your Teeth,” and if you’re like me, you saw Ugly Casanova last fall at the WOW Hall.
If you’re especially like me, you thought that Ugly Casanova was completely amazing and you are positively drooling over the prospects of an album of the stuff. And besides, some song titles from “Sharpen Your Teeth” include “Spilled Milk Factory,” “Hotcha Girls” and “Diamonds on the Face of Evil.” What’s not to love?
And finally, the ubiquitous Moby will release his new single, “We Are All Made of Stars,” next month. It’s the first smidgen of new music to be revealed from his upcoming album, “18.” Despite the unfortunately dippy song title and the fact that it was nearly impossible not to overkill on the vegan superstar over the past couple of years, I’m pretty excited about it. “18” hits stores May 14.