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Guided by Voices Reunion Leads Lineup for Matador's 21st Birthday Festival

Twenty-first birthday bashes are a big deal for everyone, including record labels, which is exactly why Matador Records are throwing a huge bash in Las Vegas. Scheduled to run the weekend of Oct. 1-3 at the Palms Casino and Resort, the concert party's lineup features a who's who from the Matador roster, including Guided by Voices, who'll play their first live show since disbanding at the end of 2004. We can only imagine Robert Pollard's first show back with the proper gang will produce a marathon set that could span the entire weekend.

Also poached from the classic 1993-96 Matador era is reunited Pavement, Liz Phair, Superchunk and Belle and Sebastian. Yo La Tengo, Cat Power, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Spoon round out the late-'90s era Matador roster, with Spoon having only released one album on the label, their 1996 debut 'Telephono.'

More acts are expected to be announced in the next few days, but in addition to the above heavy hitters, recent Matador acts such as Sonic Youth, Girls, F---ed Up, Kurt Vile, Shearwater and Ted Leo will be making appearances, as will everyone's favorite indie-pop supergroup, the New Pornographers.

Fans will have to wait until Monday, July 5 for ticket information, which will be released on Matador's website. There's no word on whether or not Matador Europe bands can be included into the mix, but as long as they're rounding up Merge favorites Spoon and Superchunk, it's not so unlikely to think Modest Mouse, M. Ward or a reunited Sleater-Kinney could be roped into the festivities.

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Homeskillet

Put me on that list of GBV lovers. I stumbled across them accidently, after the local college station in Monroe, LA. played a couple songs by them ten years ago. As my interest increased, little did I know that I was embarking on a musical and collectable adventure, complete with semi-anual pilgrimages to Dayton, Ohio, to break bread (Miller Lites) with Robert Pollard and company. It's akin to a Deadhead hanging with Jerry Garcia or a Parrothead hunting salt shakers with Buffett.
Semper Bob

July 03 2010 at 4:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Shawn Marie Hardy

I have waited for this day since they broke up in 2004. I feel like a cloud has lifted. I've been to shows since, but none as memorable and spirited as a good ol' GBV rockathon. The club is re-opened! GBV! GBV! GBV!

July 01 2010 at 5:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sean blackburn

Never heard of GBV?

That's hilarious.

July 01 2010 at 12:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John C. Billingsley, Jr.

Just what the hell has the fore going artical have to do with Cults ?

June 30 2010 at 9:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Erica Dawn

Yes, some of us do care about this band. They even had a song "Teenage FBI" on the first Buffy the Vampire Slayer television soundtrack.

June 30 2010 at 8:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Scott

I would like to start a policy that anyone who wastes time criticizing an article about an act they are not familier with, list three of their favorite performers so we really know if they are as shallow as they appear to be.

June 30 2010 at 4:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
You\'re not right

most serious music lovers are very much aware of these artists as well as matador records .

June 30 2010 at 4:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jamin80

This is really great news, actually! GBV are really one of the greatest rock bands since the Who! Once you get into Guided By Voices you're hooked for life! They had a run of great records spanning '87-'04 and everybody really should check them out (although it may be a bit intimidating at first), but yea, it's good to broaden your horizons beyond just radio, otherwise you're stuck listening to Nickelback the rest of your life, and that's no life at all!

June 30 2010 at 2:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JT

Well, anoter nameless band AOL puts up as a news story. Who the heck do they have as the music editor there? Whoever it is FIRE THEM. OK, I saw some people post how great this band is, so I went and listened to their clips, and there is a distinct reason that they are nameless. They utterly, completely, most emphatically SUCK. They are not musicians, they are a loose collection of talentless hacks butchering the art of music. I would be totally ashamed to admit it if I were a fan, because that is tantamount to admitting that you are a fan of gulf oil spills. Incredible that there are people out there that are so devoid of any musical taste that they would buy, listen to, or tout this bunch of hacks as artists.

June 30 2010 at 1:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
3 replies to JT's comment
haha

Believe it or not, this article is really big news to a lot of people way cooler than you. Deal with it.

June 30 2010 at 1:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply