Recent Dark Wave Playlists

Milestones: Peter Hook is 55 today; watch Joy Division’s ‘Here Are the Young Men’ film

Peter Hook — he of the impossibly low-slung four-string — turns 55 today, and to mark the occasion, we present Joy Division’s long-out-of-print VHS concert film ‘Here Are the Young Men,’ released in 1982 and filmed primarily at the Apollo Theatre in Manchester on Oct. 27, 1979.

Video + Free MP3: The Decemberists cover R.E.M.'s 'Cuyahoga' at KCRW session

Video + Free MP3: The Decemberists cover R.E.M.’s ‘Cuyahoga’ at KCRW session

The influence of R.E.M. on indie-folk outfit The Decemberists is no secret, so it’s no surprise to see that Colin Meloy and Co. trotted out a cover of ‘Cuyahoga’ off ‘Lifes Rich Pageant’ during the band’s visit to KCRW’s ‘Morning Becomes Eclectic’ on Thursday.

Video: Bryan Ferry performs ‘You Can Dance’ on ‘Late Show with David Letterman’

Armed with somewhat spastic back-up dancers, the ever-suave Bryan Ferry dropped by the ‘Late Show with David Letterman’ last night to belt out ‘You Can Dance’ off last year’s ‘Olympia.’

Linkage: Stream new Sonic Youth, interviews with Henry Rollins, The Feelies, The Church

Today’s collection of interesting stuff includes a stream of Sonic Youth’s new SYR release, a Q&A with punk talker Henry Rollins, a look at The Feelies’ comeback and an interview with Peter Koppes of The Church.

Stream: The Primitives' 'Never Kill a Secret' — band's first new music in 20 years

Stream: The Primitives’ ‘Never Kill a Secret’ — band’s first new music in 20 years

Reunited indie-pop combo The Primitives are back with their first new recordings in 20 years, and in case you didn’t catch ‘Never Kill a Secret’ — the title track off the band’s forthcoming EP — on this week’s Slicing Up Eyeballs radio show, you can now stream the track in its entirety here.

Free MP3: Dinosaur Jr’s J Mascis, ‘It Is Done’

With J Mascis’ first-ever solo studio album due out in just over a month, Sub Pop Records has kicked free a second track from ‘Several Shades of Why’: ‘It Is Done,’ featuring Band of Horses’ Ben Bridwell on backing vocals.

Linkage: Lou Barlow, Andy Rourke of The Smiths, Gang of Four and New Order

Today’s collection of interesting stuff, including interviews with The Smiths’ Andy Rourke, Lou Barlow of Sebadoh and Dinosaur Jr and Gang of Four’s Jon King, plus some stripped-down, a capella New Order.