REMINDER: Tickets are still on sale for this Saturday's music tribute to Arthur Russell at The Kitchen. You can purchase them here. EVENT: Today's interviewee, John Darnielle, brings his band The Mountain Goats to the Brooklyn Masonic Temple tonight. Joining him for the AIDS Walk NY Benefit are the Daily Show's John Oliver, comedian Dave Hill and Toronto band Rock Plaza Central. Tickets are still on sale. Friday // 7:30 p.m. // Brooklyn Masonic Temple......

John Darnielle may be best known for his band The Mountain Goats, but he's also the latest blogger with a book; this weekend he's in town as both a musician and an author. Tomorrow night Darnielle will read from his book, the latest in the 33 1/3 series, about Black Sabbath's Master of Reality; which he wrote through the voice of a 15-year-old boy who's been institutionalized. Before taking a seat at Housing Works on......

The Mountain Goats Will Never Sell Out As we've mentioned before, once upon a time John Darnielle promised fans at a Knitting Factory show that, even if he was playing Madison Square Garden someday, he would make the time to play a show at the Knit, his favorite club in the city. He may not be quite that big, but it's clear he's moved on from those once noble statements, considering his impressive and always......

EVENT: This is pretty...interesting. The Sprinkle Brigade "unveils the future of Urban Beautification. Their upcoming show entitled, 'EQUIPPED' at the Riveria Gallery, focuses on the cutting edge in dog poo decoration." The brigade say the "art form" came about after spending "several years of experience wandering the streets of New York, decorating what most people consider to be the enemy." The opening is tonight and the show runs through the 23rd. Leave the pooper scooper......

Can you believe The Daily Show is almost 10 years old? Well, believe it. Craig Kilborn was the first host on the show, starting in 1996 and being replaced by Jon Stewart in 1999. They celebrate the decade on November 16th with an event at Irving Plaza. The concert will include Superchunk, The Mountain Goats, Clem Snide, The Upper Crust and performances from Daily Show correspondents, of course. All proceeds benefit 826NYC. Buy tickets......

EVENT: Tonight at the Apple Store, the NYC photobloggers get together again. Come check out: Scott Heiferman, Kara Canal, Rebecca Smeyne, Will Sherman, Kamau Mucoki, Boogie and Martin Fuchs. There's an afterparty (TBA) so be sure too look nice, with all those cameras out and all. Friday // 6:30pm // SoHo Apple Store [103 Prince Street @ Greene] // Free SIDEWALK SALE: Have a bookshelf to stock? Head over to the Strand Bookstore. They're having......

ART: Brooklyn Fire Proof will be presenting the final installment of curator Marc Gartman's series of exhibitions featuring successful contemporary independent musicians who are also visual artists. Previous series included the work of, among others, Bill Callahan (Smog), Devendra Banhart and David Pajo (Slint). This series (the fourth) will include artwork from DC Berman (Silver Jews), John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats), Pall Jenkins (The Black Heart Procession), Jason Molina (Magnolia Electric Co.) and Archer Prewitt......

A few times a week, Gothamist publishes music reviews by our contributor Jeff Baum. The opinions below belong entirely to the author. John Darnielle last night said that he'll never come through New York City without playing the Knitting Factory. "Even if we were playing Madison Square Garden (not that we will be anytime soon), we'd still make a point to stop by here too." This was my first time seeing him play. After hearing......

Camera phone looky-loos, this one's for you. We're talking about the biggest band to hit small to medium sized NYC venues since Sufjan Stevens, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and The Arcade Fire. We're talking about Montreal's latest buzz band Wolf Parade. You've got three chances to see them this week. That's three chances to see them before they come back to play Webster Hall. If you can't find a ticket to the sold......

This weekend seems to be all about the music. Outside, in parks, on rooftops. It'll be everywhere, and here is where we would be if we were you... The Music of Nick Drake will be played at the Central Park Summerstage featuring New York musicians Josh Max and Julie James, (plus some special guests) and an orchestra led by arranger Robert Kirby, who collaborated with Drake on many of his songs. [via FreeNYC] Saturday, July......

After the Guardian released its list of top 40 American bands (still playing), information leafblower took it upon himself to compile another top 40 list - this time coming from a panel of different bloggers. Here is the top ten: 1) The Strokes 2) Queens of the Stone Age 3) The White Stripes 4) The Flaming Lips 5) The Yeah Yeah Yeahs 6) Outkast 7) Wilco 8) Spoon 9) The Shins 10) The Mountain Goats......