Kevin Bronson on February 24th, 2009

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NPR nails it again – they have an exclusive stream of Neko Case’s sixth album, “Middle Cyclone,” due out March 3. I heard some of the music at a recent noon-hour showcase in Hollywood, and Case has never been in finer form. It’s as if when she opens her mouth your conscience assumes physical shape.

‣ Local indie rockers Division Day have been through a lot. Although again without a label affiliation, the quartet is excited about the future – next month they will begin recording the follow-up to “Beartrap Island” with producer/bassist extraordinaire Justin Meldal-Johnsen (currently on tour with Nine Inch Nails).

‣ Photographers Simon Cardoza, Jeff Koga and Benjamin Hoste – all steady presences on local music scene – are mounting a gallery show beginning Friday. “Exposure” will run through March at the Where gallery, 1519 Griffith Park Blvd., and feature live performances from local luminaries the next four Friday nights. [More: Click on the flyer in the first sidebar to the right.]

‣ Murder City Devils have been added to the Sunday lineup at Coachella.

‣ Silversun Pickups, busy today shooting the video for “Panic Switch,” the first single from their forthcoming sophomore album “Swoon,” announced a couple of pre-Coachella dates: March 17 in Kansas City, Mo., and March 21 at Antone’s in Austin, Texas, as part of the South by Southwest Music Festival. The video is being directed by James Frost, who did the amazing “House of Cards” video for Radiohead, and also has worked with Coldplay and Norah Jones, among others.

‣ I will be serving on panel at the “Adult Writing Seminar Series” on March 5 that benefits 826LA. Details here.