[Listen] Bright Eyes and First Aid Kit Cover The White Stripes' "We're Going To Be Friends"

Pitchfork points towards a nice new charity effort that's on the way. The combined efforts of Gift Horse Project and Manimal Vinyl Records have rounded up a group of talented musicians to record some school-friendly versions of song for what they're calling, Cool for School: For the Benefit of the Lunchbox Fund. Today you can sample a taste of these so called school-friendly versions below in the shape of Bright Eyes and First Aid Kit's take on The White Stripes' "We're Going To Be Friends".

Proceeds from sales of the compilation go toward the Lunchbox Fund, which provides meals in South African high schools. Stream it below courtesy of our friends at One Thirty BPM.

[Watch] Bright Eyes - "Arienette" Feat. Tom Morello Live @ Ottawa Folk Festival

Last week during their set at the Ottawa Folk Festival, Bright Eyes brought out a secret weapon that would trump most bands secret weapons in my opinion, that weapon was the whammy pedal donning Tom Morello. Tom came on stage to help the band play through a few tracks. First up he played through "Arienette" from Bright Eye's 2000's Fevers and Mirrors and Tom then stayed on stage for "Road to Joy," off 2005's I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning.Our friends over at TwentyFourBit uncovered a video of Tom on stage during "Arienette" and you can enjoy what begins as a standard performance from Conor Oberst. Did I say normal? It is a pretty standard affair until Tom lays down his gauntlet of string scratching and kill switch mastery. Jeez, I need to practice this crap more. Crazy stuff.  Check it out at the top for yourselves.

[News] Bright Eyes Extend Tour Dates

Bright Eyes released their critically acclaimed seventh album The People’s Key, via Saddle Creek, in February. Since then, the band have been on a whirlwind tour, traversing North America and crossing the pond to play sold out shows and festivals on what has been a real greatest hits tour for the Omaha troubadours. Bright Eyes are now pleased to announce additional tour dates with newly confirmed support from Dr. Dog and First Aid Kit, who are each set to join the band on select dates, which you can check out after the jump.

As well, you can check out the Lance Acord directed video for single “Jejune Stars” in the player above.

Bright Eyes 2011 Tour Dates (Updates in BOLD):

• July 27                  Lewiston, NY                     Artpark (FREE) ^
• July 28                 Gilford, NH                         Meadowbrook Pavilion ^
• July 29                  Shelburne, VT                   Ben & Jerry's Concerts on the Green at Shelburne Museum ^
• July 30                 Montreal, QUE                  Osheaga Music Festival
• July 31                  Baldwinsville, NY            Papermill Island Amphitheater ^
• August 2              Grand Rapids, MI             Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park ^
• August 3              Cleveland, OH                   House Of Blues ^
• August 4              Indianapolis, IN               Egyptian Room at Old National Centre^
• August 5              Chicago, IL                          Lollapalooza
• August 6              Columbia, MO                   Blue Note ^^
• August 8              Des Moines, IA                  Val Air Ballroom+
• August 9              Boulder, CO                        Boulder Theater ^^
• August 11             Salt Lake City, UT            Twilight Music Series (FREE) %
• August 14            East Hampton, NY          Music To Know Festival
• August 25          Detroit, MI                       The Majestic
• August 26          London, ONT                  London Music Hall
• August 27          Ottawa, ONT                   Ottawa Folk Festival
• August 28         Holyoke, MA                    Mountain Park @
• August 30         Providence, RI               Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel #
• August 31            Brooklyn, NY                      Williamsburg Waterfront #
• September 1     Poughkeepsie , NY       Mid Hudson Civic Center #
• September 3     Norfolk, VA                      NorVa *
• September 4     Washington, DC           930 Club *
• September 5     Baltimore, MD               Rams Head *
• September 7     Myrtle Beach, SC           House Of Blues *
• September 8    Athens, GA                       Georgia Theater *
• September 9     Birmingham, AL          Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark *
• September 11   Orlando, FL                     House Of Blues *
• September 13   New Orleans, LA           House Of Blues *
• September 15   Dallas, TX                        Palladium *
• September 16     Austin, TX                           Austin City Limits Festival

^  w/ The Mountain Goats

%  w/ Wild Nothing

^^ w/ Conduits

@ w/ Titus Andronicus

# w/ Dr. Dog

* w/ First Aid Kit

+ w/ The Envy Corps & Conduits

[Coachella 2011] Bright Eyes Coachella Performance

I think out of all the festivals over seas, Coachella is one I'd like to make it to before I die. Obviously I'd like to hi tthem all up, but a man's got to be realistic! Check out another great performance from the weekend, this time from Conor Oberst and co aka Bright Eyes. Playing tracks from the entire back catalogue of their 13+ year career and you can now enjoy the set up at the top cortesy of, you guessed it, The Audio Perv. 

If like me you weren't able to make it out to Cali for the festival, for lack of funds, an ocean was in the way, whatever reason, don't worry as we'll have more performances throughout the day for you to enjoy. Happy Humpday.

[Watch] Bright Eyes - "Beginner's Mind" Live on Leno

In another great booking for last nights TV rounds, Bright Eyes hit up Jay Leno's show to bring along a performance of their track, "Beginner's Mind". Courtesy of the Audio Perv you can enjoy the whole thing up at the top featuring Conor Oberst and co doing their thing. The band are currently on tour across the states, and will be hitting up the stage at Coachella this weekend. To see the rest of their remaining tour dates just head on over to their official site here. 

Death Cab for Cutie Announce Spring Tour

Starting on May 18th, Death Cab for Cutie will hit the road for a 13-date tour in support of their upcoming seventh studio album Codes & Keys, which has been announced for a May 31st release date. The tour will start in Toronto before heading to Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., as well as three west coast shows with Bright Eyes. The band will also be making a stop at Sasquatch! Music Festival on May 28th for a headlining show.

Pre-sale tickets will be available on March 24th for fan club members, with general ticket sales starting on March 26th. You can check out all of the band's tour dates after the jump.

Death Cab for Cutie 2011 Tour Dates:
05/18 – Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre ^
05/20 – Chicago, IL @ Metro ^
05/21 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue ^
05/24 – Edmonton, AB @ Shaw Conference Center #^
05/25 – Calgary, AB @ Stampede Corral #^
05/27 – Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Amphitheatre #^
05/28 – George, WA @ Sasquatch! Music Festival
06/01 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom ^
06/03 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club ^
06/04 – Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero ^
06/05 – Boston, MA @ The Paradise ^
06/07 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre ^
06/09 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore ^
06/26 – Munich, DE @ Muffathalle
06/27 – Berlin, DE @ Astra
06/29 – Hamburg, DE @ The Docks
06/30 – Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
07/01 – Kent, UK @ Hop Farm Fest
07/02 – Milton Keynes, UK @ The National Bowl *
07/04 – Manchester, UK @ Academy
07/05 – Nottingham, UK @ Rock City
07/07 – London, UK @ Brixton Academy
08/18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
08/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre

^ = w/ The Lonely Forest
# = w/ Bright Eyes
* = w/ Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro, & Tame Impala

[Watch] Bright Eyes - "Jejune Stars" Live on Letterman

Bright Eyes last night performed a rousing performance on David Letterman's late night TV slot. Bringing with them a performance of "Jejune Stars", which features on their new album, The People's Key. Bright Eyes' new album has been welcomed into the world with open arms from the blogosphere and everywhere else imaginable. To pick yourself up a copy head on over here to grab your very own copy.

Check out the performance from Conor Oberst and co above courtesy of our friends at The Audio Perv. While you're here, if you missed the brand new visuals from the band for their track "Shell Games" head on over in this direction to give your eyes a treat and enjoy the bonfire and snowy scenes!

[Watch] Bright Eyes - "Shell Games" (Video)

Check out the new video for Bright Eyes' new single, "Shell Games". We first got a tste of this track back in December in news of their new album The People's Key which came out on Feb the 15th last week. The video was Directed by Nik Fackler, and in it we see Conor Oberst and the band playing "Shell Games" around the bonfire and in a winter cabin. The burning fire and imagery pairs well with the distant fading guitar riffs of the track and makes for a decent watch on a Monday morning. 

To pick yoruself up a copy of their brand new album just head on over in this direction and pick yourself up your first but of new music for the week. We also had a preview of a few none album tracks that are available for download over on Saddle Creek, but have a little listen before you buy by heading here. With only 2000 copies being made for vinyl you can now still download the tracks to take with you wherever you go. Anybody designed a portable vinyl player yet? Apple might have missed a portion of the market with that?!