Wilco, Flaming Lips and Sleater-Kinney to Rock Madison Square Garden on New Year's Eve '04

Ah yes, New Year's Eve, that most teeth-gnashing/garment-rending of holidays, wherein we adopt unreasonable expectations of awesomeness and are inevitably disappointed when we wind up gaping at Dick Clark on the television or passing out 45 minutes before the ball drops. (Or both.) If only someone would put on a decent show and give us something to actually do.

In this spirit, Wilco has gleefully sprung an "October Surprise" upon us all: a post on WilcoWorld.net has just announced a headlining New Year's Eve blowout at none other than Madison Square Garden, with The Flaming Lips and Sleater-Kinney as co-headliners (the latter of whom we haven't heard from in quite some time-- fingers crossed for new material). Small pieces of paper admitting entrance to the gig go on sale via Ticketmaster November 5th, but the Wilco site will point you in the direction of an Internet pre-sale beginning Monday, November 1st.

Pitchfork had run afoul of a few wild rumors about an MSG gig (other permutations involved The Shins and... Devo?!) in previous weeks, but this is the real deal, and should serve as the most bombastic New Year's gig for any of these bands, the Lips' longstanding tradition of ringing in the New Year in Chicago notwithstanding. ("New York can lick my dick," notes a FlamingLips.com message poster named Emperor Clobbersaurus. "NYE belongs to Chicago." Touche, Clobbersaurus, touche.)

As for other Wilco happenings, completist fans have had a tough time taking it all in lately. In addition to the band's ongoing (and almost completely sold-out) U.S. jaunt that's scheduled to last at least through November, there are solo projects to consider. First, there's bassist John Stirratt's collaboration with his twin sister, Laurie, entitled Arabella. Second, Glenn Kotche has once again joined Darin Gray under the name On Fillmore, releasing Sleeps with Fishes on Drag City. And of course, as previously noted in these virtual pages, The Wilco Book-- featuring photos, essays, and other happy indulgences-- will officially be released on November 1st, with a bonus Wilco CD in tow boasting tons of previously unheard material.

Meanwhile, it's worth noting that Wilco's next release might actually come with the imminent soundtrack to the imminent The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. The disc also features material from Avril Lavigne, Prince Paul, The Shins, and... The Flaming Lips. Hmm. A possible theme for the New Year's Eve show may be emerging....