The folks at Matador Records are offering up the first official taste of ‘Demolished Thoughts’ — the forthcoming Beck-produced solo record from Sonic Youth leader Thurston Moore — in the form of a free MP3 of the album’s ‘Benediction.’

David Bowie next month will release a new live album recorded at his 50th birthday celebration in New York City in 1997, a 25-song set featuring guest appearances by The Cure’s Robert Smith, Lou Reed, Sonic Youth and the Pixies’ Frank Black.

Contemporary indie acts such as Ted Leo, St. Vincent and Dan Deacon will cover the music of their predecessors at this May’s Our Band Could Be Your Concert, a 10th anniversary celebration of Michael Azerrad’s ’80s underground bible ‘Our Band Could Be Your Life’ and a tribute to the bands that book chronicled.

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.

Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo turns 55 today, so we thought we’d honor the band’s least-known voice with one of his best-loved songs: ‘Mote,’ off 1990’s ‘Goo.’

The episode of ‘Austin City Limits’ featuring noise-rock mainstays Sonic Youth premiered this weekend, and now you can watch the whole thing online. The episode also features The Black Keys.

Last October, Sonic Youth ventured to Austin, Texas, to tape a performance for the venerable public-television concert series ‘Austin City Limits’ — an episode, also featuring The Black Keys, that finally debuts next Saturday.