Merge 25 live on the Dinner Party Download

Friday’s Merge 25 activities kicked off with something unique: the world’s sweatiest live podcast taping.

Dinner Party Download hosts Rico Gagliano and Brendan Newnam arrived on-stage to an unexpectedly large crowd at the Nightlight in Chapel Hill. Originally, the plan was to have a seated audience, but upon seeing the long line of fans stretching down the alley, the chairs were removed and the taping took on the feeling of an indie rock show. The air was thick and the heat constantly built up, but the show’s humor was not stifled.

Video: Jon Wurster featured on the Today Show, CNN about flight troubles

Many likely know that Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster has quite a big personality, and when he just happened to be on a troublesome flight last week, he took to Twitter to talk about it and national news came to him looking for quotes.

The incident involved a flight from New York to Raleigh that got stuck on the runway and eventually got canceled. Folks apparently took their frustrations out on the flight crew and one employee used the intercom to admonish the passengers.

Check out Wurster talking about the incident on the Today Show below. He appears about 1:52 where it seems that they just happened upon him reading a book. He was also quoted in a CNN story.

Jon Wurster joins Gibbard and Farrar on Morning Becomes Eclectic

Jon Wurster recently joined Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar in KCRW's studio for a taping of Morning Becomes Eclectic as part of a four-city tour in support of the soundtrack for One Fast Move or I'm Gone: Kerouac's Big Sur.

The group, which also featured Nick Harmer of Death Cab For Cutie and Mark Spencer of Son Volt, played nine songs for the program, which you can stream after the jump.

Jon Wurster to join Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar on Kerouac tour

Drummer extraordinaire and Superchunk member Jon Wurster will be joining Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar on their upcoming tour. The brief tour is in support of the soundtrack for One Fast Move or I'm Gone: Kerouac's Big Sur which features 12 original songs penned by Gibbard and Farrar based on the prose o of Jack Kerouac's novel Big Sur.

Other than Gibbard, Farrar and Wurster, the band will also feature Nick Harmer of Death Cab For Cutie and Mark Spencer of Son Volt. The tour only features four dates and the Triangle is not among them. The closest show is actually in New York. Check out the dates after the break.

Ben Gibbard/Jay Farrar tour dates:
10.23.09 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre [Tickets]
10.24.09 - San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club
10.26.09 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
10.28.09 - New York, NY - Webster Hall

XX Merge night 3 at Cat's Cradle: Polvo and Pipe

Fourth on the bill for the third night of XX Merge at the Cat's Cradle was local quartet Polvo. They played an ear shredding set for a packed room. Folks seemed to eat it up, but the band personally were not able to win me over. They played a tight set though and were the perfect follow-up for the unbeatable Lambchop performance because you just couldn't compare the two bands.

Mac McCaughan came out on stage before the fifth band instead of the night's emcee and announced that there was a lone protester outside. He invited him up on stage and it was Jon Wurster decked out in Phillies gear as Philly Boy Roy. He was holding a sign that said "Boycot MERGE." He complained that Merge didn't have any Philly bands on their roster and Mac said that they have bands from Jersey, which is close to Philly. You never compare Jersey to Philly in front of Philly Boy Roy. It was hilarious.

Jon Wurster performs with Aimee Mann on 'Late Night'

Last night's musical performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon combined one of my favorite songwriters with an excellent local musician. Aimee Mann performed the song "Freeway" from her album @#%&! Smilers with Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster keeping the beat. Watch the performance below for a limited time thanks to Hulu.

Aimee Mann is currently on a short US tour. Check out the dates below the video.



Aimee Mann dates:
07.17.09 - Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent
07.18.09 -Lowell, MA - Lowell Summer Music Series
07.19.09 - Brownfield, ME - Stone Mountain
07.21.09 - Norfolk, CT - Infinity Hall
07.23.09 - Morristown, NJ - Mayo Center for the Performing Arts
07.24.09 - Bay Shore, NY - Boulton Center
07.25.09 - Annapolis, MD - Rams Head
07.26.09 - Camden, NJ - XPoNential Music Festival
10.02.09 - Santa Barbara, CA - 100% Headline UC Santa Barbara
10.03.09 - Santa Cruz, CA - Rio Theatre