Ween played its first New York show in nearly two years Saturday (Aug. 20) at the Knitting Factory as part of a private party for the skateboarding magazine Thrasher. The 28-song, 135-minute set was open only to Thrasher guests and a select group of contest winners.

Having only recently returned to live duty after an extensive hiatus, Ween was in fine form as it rocked through early classics like "Dr. Rock," "Fat Lenny," "You F*cked Up" and "Touch My Tooter," dipped into its signature psychedelica on "The Mollusk" and "Buckingham Green" and turned tender on "She's Your Baby," "Mutilated Lips" and closer "Someday."

While it accumulates new material for its next studio album, the group is preparing for a short fall tour, beginning Oct. 25 in Albany, N.Y.

-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

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mtvU has lined up a slate of notable shows for its fall season, led by "Stand In," which will feature Kanye West, Melissa Etheridge and Martha Stewart making impromptu appearances at colleges to teach a class. Also this week, the channel will be overtaken by Death Cab For Cutie as part of "Unveiled," which will air an exclusive live performance every day beginning tomorrow (Aug. 23).

Elsewhere, Gorillaz, Bright Eyes, Matisyahu, Mike Jones and Coheed & Cambria will be spotlighted on "House Band," which will air every two weeks and host exclusive performances and video premieres.

-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

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After breaking an eight-year hiatus this spring with the EP "Six Kinds of Passion Looking for an Exit," singer/songwriter Eric Matthews is prepping an ambitious follow-up. The artist has set a Jan. 24 release date for an as-yet-untitled double-album via Empyrean Records. It will be his first full-length since the 1997 Sub Pop release "The Lateness of the Hour."

Empyrean recently reissued an expanded edition of the lone self-titled album from Cardinal, which featured Matthews and collaborator Richard Davies.

-- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.