Not to be outdone by the many bedroom recordings of Lana Del Rey's "Video Games" currently building up on YouTube, Titus Andronicus frontman Patrick Stickles has posted a video of his very own piano-and-voice cover. The rendition was performed at his parents' house, he said, and features an array of entertaining facial expressions. Stickles notes,"the performance was intended to be very tonally pleasing, and not at all ironic or funny."

Stickles also Tweeted a stream of comments, which are now to be expected from one of indie rock's most profilic punk rock microbloggers. "Man, this song is really real," he wrote, explaining, "I HAVE BEEN THE MAN IN THAT SONG." Stickles called the song a "good ass depiction of a real societal problem." Check it out below, and be sure to wait until the end for outtakes.

Photo by Kirstie Shanley

Titus Andronicus: "In My Place [Coldplay cover]":

Titus Andronicus frontman and prolific Tweeter Patrick Stickles posted two "#RARE" covers on Twitter last night: Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days", which you can stream here, and Coldplay's "In My Place".

Photo by Kirstie Shanley

As previously reported, the Twitter feed for Titus Andronicus has recently doubled as an ongoing Occupy Wall Street PSA, thanks to frontman Patrick Stickles' incessant "#crushcapitalism" and "#SHITLIST" hashtags. So it seemed fitting, yesterday, when the band announced they'll perform tonight at a benefit for Occupy Wall Street and the National Lawyer's Guild, at Brooklyn DIY venue Shea Stadium. Punk vets and fellow Jersey boys Ted Leo and the Pharmacists will also perform, as well as Brooklyn DIY scene stalwarts the So So Glos. Tickets are available at the Main Drag Music annex in Bushwick beginning at noon.

As previously mentioned, Craig Finn of the Hold Steady performed at a Replacements tribute in New York on Wednesday night. Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus performed as well.

Photos by Victoria Jacob and Shawn Brackbill

Early yesterday morning, Patrick Stickles of  Titus Andronicus delivered a stream of 33 Tweets from his fresh new account, recounting the details of a 200-volt electric shock he experienced "#STR82THEDOME" Wednesday night at practice. He was driven to a Long Island hospital, where he faced a "seven-hour ordeal."

In honor of Amy's recent graduation, let us talk a quick look back at some of her most sterling contributions to the life of Titus Andronicus.

Firstly, here is a world premiere music video for the song which shall tragically stand as the totality of Amy's contribution to the Titus Andronicus canon of recordings as guitarist and vocalist. It isn't even our song! It is Nirvana's "Breed," recorded at the request of Spin magazine for their 20th anniversary celebration of Nevermind. In this video, you'll also get to see Amy's talent as an extra, in her scene-stealing performance as "The Ghost."



In our live set, Amy would occasionally sing the lead vocal on a cover song when the feminist content of the lyrics would suggest a woman's touch to be prudent. Here we are playing "Oh Bondage! Up Yours!" by X-Ray Spex at the Black Cat in Washington, DC this past April.



This video, filmed in Chicago in the summer of 2010, should do much to display Amy's skills on both the guitar and violin. Playing the harmonized guitar solo at the end was always a favorite of mine during our time together. The song is "The Battle of Hampton Roads."

Titus Andronicus | FOR NO ONE from FOR NO ONE on Vimeo.

Something a lot of people don't realize is, while Amy did not play on the Monitor, she did play on The Airing of Grievances, contributing...

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Photo by Will Deitz

On her Tumblr, guitarist/violinist Amy Klein has announced that she's leaving Titus Andronicus to pursue other musical projects. The split is amiable, wrote Klein, expressing gratitude toward her fans and bandmates. She also says "I am not quitting music, just gonna be focusing on my own bands from now on."

As many of you may have already heard, Amy Klein is no longer a member of Titus Andronicus. Shocking, I know, but true. Even I can barely comprehend it; she has become that vital a part of the band's very identity. Strange, and sad, to think that never more may we warm ourselves by the fire of her endless enthusiasm, or that she takes with her the dream of a Titus Andronicus album complete with her certain kind of magic. Anyone who has seen her on stage can speak to this intensity, the passion for rock and roll, as those who have met her know she has for life, that has inspired many of us, within the band organization and without. Yet, with this admiration must come respect, and it is dutiful respect that we will show to her decision to leave Titus Andronicus behind to devote her considerable energies to her ever-growing list of projects and passions.

Why was Amy compelled to make this decision? Probably best to let her tell you herself, via her Tumblr, which would probably be a good place to keep up on her various doings in the future. To be frank, knowing what I do about her prose style, I was expecting 4 or 5000 words more on the topic, but there you have it. Brevity is the soul of wit after all, I suppose, not that I'll let that stop me when...

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Photos by Erez Avissar and Will Deitz; Titus Andronicus photo by Will Deitz

Our CMJ 2011 coverage kicks off with bullet-style reports and photos of sets from Wild Flag, Titus Andronicus, Light Asylum, and Beach Fossils offshoot Dive. Wondering how much time both of Carrie Brownstein's feet remained on the ground during Wild Flag's set, or which singer's oversized football jersey could double as a parachute for spiky-haired Food Network star Guy Fieri? The answers are below.

And check out more photos from night one at our Facebook page.

Lollapalooza celebrated its 20th anniversary this weekend at Grant Park in Chicago. It featured sets from Coldplay, Best Coast, Foo Fighters, Cults, Lykke Li, Beirut, Titus Andronicus, Black Lips, Smith Westerns, the Mountain Goats, Local Natives, and many more. Photos by Kirstie Shanley.

Check out a selection of shots after the jump, then head over to our photo book for some full-size snaps. And stay tuned for a full review in the features section.

And don't forget to stop by our Facebook page for even more photos.