Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys has never been one to rest on his laurels. In addition to writing most of the music on the band’s nine albums, he’s released three solo albums (including this year’s dreamy Hotel Shampoo), teamed with Boom Bip to form the Mercury Music Prize nominated Neon Neon and worked with artists as diverse and Mogwai, Simian Mobile Disco, Danger Mouse, Goldie Lookin’ Chain and Gorillaz. Oh, and he co-directed and starred in his first documentary film, Separado. Whew. His latest US tour, which brings him to the Red Palace tonight, began Wednesday in New York. We talked to him late last month about his new record, how his Gorillaz collaboration almost didn’t happen and (most importantly!) what the future holds for the Super Furries.

It’s hard to identify Jim Fairchild without first acknowledging that he was formerly the guitarist in the Modesto, Ca. group Grandaddy. Fairchild, however, has kept himself busy since the group’s demise in 2006, touring with numerous other bands and also finding the time to record and release his first solo record under the moniker All Smiles. The resulting Ten Readings Of A Warning, a collection of charming, laid back lo-fi pop that belies his…

England’s “Britpop” movement in the mid-1990s has proven to be one of the most enduring music trends of recent memory. Checking the local club listings will reveal all sorts of dance nights aligning themselves with “Cool Britannia,” Creation Records and the like. Not many of the bands from that time are still together and making music though. The two stewards of the movement, Blur and Oasis, continue to release records now and then, although…