1. Panda Bear has finalized a release date for his long awaited solo album. The Animal Collective member is set to release Tomboy on April 19. (via Consequence of Sound)

2. Tom Waits will be teaming up with his record label Anti- to release a poem that Waits wrote in conjunction with a collection of images of homeless individuals by photojournalist Michael O’Brien. The work, which will be released on February 22, will have all of the proceeds go towards helping Redwood Food Bank, Sonoma County’s Homeless Referral Services, and Family Support Center supported through Catholic Charities of Santa Rosa. (via NME)

3. The car that is present on Neko Case’s amazing Middle Cyclone will be auctioned off for charity. The proceeds from the auction of the 1967 Mercury Cougar will be supporting 826 National; a non-profit that provides writing classes for children. (via Nekocase.com)

4. On January 18, Canadian rock outfit Broken Social Scene are set to perform a live concert in New York that will be streamed on Youtube. The event will start at 9 pm EST via Bowery Presents’ Youtube channel. (via BoweryPresents)

5. It has been almost 3 years since The Kills‘ last release, but that will come to an end this year as they put out the follow-up to 2008′s Midnight Boom. The album, titled Blood Pressures, will be released April 5. (via thekills.tv)

Xiu Xiu Courtesy of Huy Ngo

1. Record Store Day 2010 broke records (get it?) as being the biggest one yet. Stores across the country reported their biggest sales dates of the year. (via Pitchfork)

2. Xiu Xiu wants your hair. Yes, the art-pop band wants locks of your hair for their upcoming music video. The idea is that you hand them locks of your hair at shows and get some swag from the band. Currently the band is planning on filming themselves lighting the hair on fire while saying the name of the person who the hair had belonged to and inhaling the smoke. Yep. (via Pitchfork)

3. The Kills report that they are three-fourths of the way complete with their follow-up with to 2008′s “Midnight Boom.” The band is planning on completing the album when Alison Mosshart finishes up touring with The Dead Weather. (via NME)

4. Guitarist Johnny Marr has unveiled plans to compose the soundtrack to the upcoming film by Tony Kratz, “The Big Bang.” (via NME)

5. Front man of The Decemberists, Colin Meloy, is set to expand his writing career with a new deal with Harper-Collins. He is set to write three novels that are intended for a adolencent audience, much like his previous work books. (via Pitchfork)

Here’s the shows featured this week. Be sure to tune in Monday through Friday for chances to win!

Dinosaur Jr playing  (TONIGHT) Mon, Apr 27 @ Cat’s Cradle

Dinosaur Jr

The Kills playing Tues, Apr 28 @ Cat’s Cradle

The Kills

Reverend Horton Heat playing  Fri, May 1 @ Cat’s Cradle

Reverend Horton Heat

WKNC has more tickets this week to giveaway. Check out what the deejays will be distributing during the daytime rock formats:

Left Outlet playing @ The Pour House Thursday April 23rd

American Aquarium playing @ The Pour House Saturday April 25th

Toubab Krewe playing @ Lincoln Theatre Saturday April 25th

Listen on 88.1 or streaming online

Sneak Peek for next weeks giveaways:

Dinosaur Jr – Mon, Apr 27 @ Cat’s
The Kills – Tues, Apr 28 @ Cat’s
Reverend Horton Heat – Fri, May 1 @ Cat’s