It's up to you to make this picture a reality, Xiu Xiu fans

Pandapple-- "a boy panda who absolutely loves apples"-- is just about as precious as it sounds. The blushing mash-up of cute and cuter comes courtesy of Sanrio Co., Ltd., the Japanese company also responsible for such trinket fodder as Hello Kitty, Keroppi, and Chococat (links NSFW). Pandapple has many fans the world over, but perhaps none as fervent-- or unlikely-- as the folks of Xiu Xiu.

In a recent posting on the band's website, Xiu Xiu implore fans to bring them any Pandapple objects they can find at any and all stops on Xiu Xiu's imminent tour, which kicks off tonight in Portland, Oregon, and heads into Europe in May. Those who do will be rewarded with a "Xiu Xiu oriented party surprise." Who woulda thunk one of the more charming tidbits to grace these pages in months would come from friggin' Xiu Xiu?

What's more, Xiu Xiu documentarian David Horvitz has put together another Xiu Xiu Polaroid Project, albeit on a smaller scale. Attendees at the March 23 Xiu Xiu gig at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn can bring Polaroid film and receive some nice conversation pieces in return. Not a bad deal! Read up on the details here.

In other Xiu Xiu news, they've got a fine new record out called Women As Lovers, and they'd like you to sing over one of their tunes if you get a minute. But seeing as neither of those things have to do with Pandapple, uh, here. [MORE...]