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Some bands make their journey to the Fountain of Rockness to take a sip or two; others merely to gargle. But the Hard Quartet dip their four sets of lips into those waters and drink deep. They gather together for an indie-rock supergroup of kindred spirits, resulting in a shaggily delightful album of casual guitar kicks. In this corner: Stephen Malkmus, from Pavement and the Jicks. In that one: Matt Sweeney, from Chavez and Superwolf. They’re joined by Dirty Three drum legend Jim White and Ty Segall bassist Emmett Kelly.

Exclusive: Filmmaker Adam Rifkin is set to direct his next feature, the stoner comedy, Toad, which he co-wrote with Bank of Dave scribe Piers Ashworth. Cameras will roll this autumn in New Mexico.

James Paxton

In the spirit of such pics like Cheech and Chong’s Up In Smoke, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, Toad tells the tale of two naive slackers, Sam (played by James Paxton of Twisters and Rifkin’s western Last Train to Fortune) and Alex (Oliver Wyman of Feeling Randy), who are hired by a frightening cartel boss to deliver a cardboard box from LA to Vegas for the tidy sum of $10k. The boys think it’s their lucky day. Instructed not to look in the box, the duo can’t contain their curiosity and as soon as they drive off the property they pull over and have a peek.

On a recent afternoon in a cinderblock-walled rehearsal room in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park neighborhood, a gem of the British folk-rock movement is returning to life. Fronting a small band, Tammy Faye Starlite, a petite blonde with a commanding voice, is throwing herself into Richard and Linda Thompson’s “Hokey Pokey,” jumping up and down during instrumental breaks.

As Starlite sings, a small, thin woman — in khakis, crisp white sneakers, a blue polo shirt and a sky-blue baseball cap, her brown hair pulled back — rises from her seat on the sidelines.

Just about six weeks before artificial intelligence became a hot-button issue in the writers strike, a Berlin-based photographer took the internet by storm with Harry Potter by Balenciaga, a video melding characters from the wizarding world with avant-garde models representing the luxury fashion brand. Even more recently, a company called Curious Refuge used AI to create a viral trailer for a Wes Anderson Star Wars film called The Galactic Menagerie. While clearly these are spoofs that aren’t trying to fool anyone, they show that re-creating someone’s likeness and voice using AI is no longer merely sci-fi fodder — in fact, Robert Zemeckis’ upcoming movie Here will use a tool called Metaphysic Live to de-age Tom Hanks and Robin Wright.

Just as AI became a sticking point during the Writers Guild’s talks with studios, the tech’s impact on onscreen talent will likely be an issue when SAG-AFTRA heads...

Exclusive: As lawyers for Johnny Depp and his former law firm spar over a new trial date for the now $50 million malpractice lawsuit the Pirates of the Caribbean star brought against Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal Laviolette Feldman Schenkman & Goodman Llp in 2017, there looks to be at least two fewer Hollywood heavyweights in the ring as of today.

Fifty-one years after he started practicing law, Jacob Bloom is retiring from the firm that already doesn’t carry his name, I’ve learned. His fellow founding partner Alan Hergott is also stepping down after years representing clients including Brad Pitt, Star Wars overlord Kathleen Kennedy, her husband producer Frank Marshall, and Neil Patrick Harris.

Hergott and Bloom, who represented Depp for two decades, have been sending emails to clients, current and past, informing them of their decision to move on to a new phase of their lives. As well as working for...

So over on our Facebook Culture Catch page I asked our fans to list their five favorite living guitarists. For me, they still must be recording and touring and challenging themselves on the fretboard today, not yesterday. Our managing editor crushed me for not including Jimmy Page, who I hail as an unparelled innovator once upon a time. Hey, Steve, they have to be active and playing out right now. When was the last time Jimmy dropped a cool riff or run of memorable notes in a new song for anyone? He's certainly still capable. Here are my five favorite string benders in no particular ranking:

Nels Cline

NY-based Nels slings some serious git-action with Wilco having recorded and toured with Tweedy since 2004, but also fronts several jazz duos and trios. I was lucky to see him jam with the Allman Brothers a few years ago at the Beacon Theater.

Comic-Con International has announced the nominations for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards for 2015. The nominees, chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of judges, highlight the wide range of material being published in comics and graphic novel form today, from companies big and small, in print and on line. The awards will be given out during a gala ceremony on Friday, July 10 during Comic-Con International: San Diego.

Best Short Story

“Beginning’s End,” by Rina Ayuyang, muthamagazine.com

“Corpse on the Imjin!” by Peter Kuper, in Masterful Marks: Cartoonists Who Changed the World (Simon & Schuster)

“,” by Lee Bermejo, in Batman Black and White #3 (DC)

“,” by Max Landis & Jock, in Adventures of Superman #14 (DC)

“When the Darkness Presses,” by Emily Carroll, http://emcarroll.com/comics/darkness/

Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)

Astro City #16: “Wish I May” by Kurt Busiek & Brent Anderson (Vertigo/DC)

Beasts of Burden: Hunters and Gatherers, by Evan Dorkin...

Radiohead and Bon Iver will appear on the upcoming season of long-running PBS mainstay Austin City Limits. Radiohead kicks off the series’ 38th season Oct. 6, with Bon Iver headlining the second episode a week later. Other acts appearing this season include Mavis Staples, The Shins, Dr. Dog, The Civil Wars, and Punch Brothers. The Nov. 10 Austin City Limits will be dedicated to the Americana Music Festival and will feature performances by Alabama Shakes, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Richard Thompson, Bonnie Raitt, and Patty Griffin. Radiohead on Austin City Limits "Morning Mr Magpie" from Austin City Limits on Vimeo.

M.I.A., LCD Soundsystem, Vampire Weekend also among Austin City Limits headliners.

By Gil Kaufman

Muse

Photo: Jo Hale/Getty Images

A little something old, a little something new. That's the story at this year's Austin City Limits festival, which will take place October 8-10 at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas, and feature headlining sets from the Eagles, Muse, M.I.A., LCD Soundsystem and Phish.

Also on the 130-act roster from the same folks that bring you Chicago's Lollapalooza are the Strokes, the Flaming Lips, Spoon, Vampire Weekend, Norah Jones, Band of Horses, Monsters of Folk, Sonic Youth, the National, Broken Bells, Yeasayer, Beach House and Gaslight Anthem.

The eclectic roster ranges from such Austin favorites as singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen and techno superstar Deadmau5, to gypsy punks Gogol Bordello, blues duo the Black Keys, soul revivalists the Temper Trap and freak folkie Devendra Banhart. According to organizers,...