photos by Amanda Hatfield, words by Andrew Sacher

The Sidekicks / All Dogs @ Baby's All Right - 1/23/15

The Sidekicks released their fourth album, Runners in the Nerved World, last week on Epitaph and began their tour in support of it with a BrooklynVegan-presented release show in NYC on Friday (1/23) at Baby's All Right with Cayetana, All Dogs and Roger Harvey.

Roger, who only has a few songs out at the moment, kicked off the show and took the chance to preview a handful of songs from his TBA debut album. Recorded, Roger has a lot more layers and instrumentation (that sound most directly influenced by Neutral Milk Hotel, who he covered at the show), but live they were mostly a standard rock trio, save four the two songs they brought out a trumpet player on.

All Dogs were next, with the most traditionally "punk" set of the evening. We were just saying the other day how diverse singer Maryn Jones is with her various projects, but All Dogs gives her the chance to just rock the hardest. We got some highlights off their EPs, their new single "Georgia," and one song ended with Maryn incorporating a punked-up rendition of the chorus to Fleetwood Mac's "Silver Springs." They were great, and the place was packed for them.

Cayetana

It stayed packed for their past tourmates Cayetana, who really do just get better every time I see them. Their live show is so sharp, and singer Augusta Koch's voice cuts through over the music in a way that indie rock bands of their style can tend to shy away from. They played most of their 2014 debut, Nervous Like Me, and included a cover of New Order's "Age of Consent," which they said they'd never played live before. They did that cover again at their Philly show the following night, which you can watch a video of below.

Finally The Sidekicks wrapped up the night with their headlining set that began on a high note (new album opener "Hell Is Warm") and pretty much stayed on that level the whole time. The crowd actually seemed a little smaller for them than Cayetana and All Dogs, but The Sidekicks also had the biggest fans -- a handful of people up front were pushing/moshing and yelling along the whole time. Their new album is a new direction from the band, ditching their punk roots more than ever before (not that 2012's Awkward Breeds is exactly a Ramones album or anything), and sounding more like the first two Band of Horses and first three Shins albums. But unlike most bands who came in Band of Horses' wake, The Sidekicks do have that strong punk background and it made their live show all the more exciting. They mastered the art of being a live band years ago, but adding in the widescreen grandiosity of these new songs made for the most unstoppable Sidekicks set I've seen yet.

More pictures from Baby's, and the Cayetana video from Philly, below...

Continue reading "The Sidekicks played Baby's with Roger Harvey, All Dogs and Cayetana, who covered New Order (video, pics)"

photo: Zola Jesus at Webster Hall in 2014 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

You can browse our full NYC show calendar for all of tonight's shows, but here are some highlights...

"Zola Jesus, Deradoorian @ Saint Vitus
Zola Jesus is still riding high off last year's Taiga, her biggest-sounding album yet and first for a big label. But while last year she supported it at Webster Hall, this week she gets more intimate with two Saint Vitus shows (both sold out). Opening tonight is Dirty Projectors/Avey Tare collaborator (Angel) Deradoorian.

Fleetwood Mac @ Nassau Coliseum
Fleetwood Mac are now back with their entire classic lineup -- Christine McVie, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham -- and tonight they continue their multi-night NYC-area run. They've still got it and they play all the hits, so see them while you still can.

Sufjan Stevens' 'Round-Up' w/ Yarn/Wire @ BAM
While Sufjan will release his first studio album since 2010 this March, ahead of that he's premiering a new piece called Round-Up at BAM which concludes its run tonight. Sufjan will be on electronics and new-music ensemble Yarn/Wire is on piano and percussion.

They Might Be Giants @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Geek rock faves are about to play five MHOW shows between tonight and May. While the other four have a specific album as their theme, anything goes at tonight's. Sold out.

Weed Hounds, Wildhoney, Expert Alterations, Gingerlys @ Silent Barn
This is a stacked bill for shoegaze fans, with two of NYC's better bands in the genre -- Weed Hounds and Gingerlys -- and Baltimore's Wildhoney, who have a solid new LP coming soon on Deranged. Their indie rock neighbors and tourmates Expert Alterations should be good too.

Smoke DZA, Manolo Rose, Tray Pizza, Jy, Dave East, Big BZ, Sha Hef @ The Studio at Webster Hall
Smoke DZA is one of NYC's most prolific weed-loving rappers, his most recent release being the collaborative album with his group RFC, The Outsiders, which came out in late November.

Steve Sobs, Spookfish, Yaman Palak, Cheetah Lamp @ Palisades
Last week Steve Sobs led his band Phantom Posse at a Silent Barn show, and their most famous member iLoveMakonnen was on hand as well too. Tonight's show may be a smaller affair, but still a good one.

For all of tonight's shows, and tomorrow's, check out our NYC concert calendar.

For laughs, check out the NYC Comedy calendar too.

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Also follow @bvAustin for just Austin stuff.

Be our friend on Facebook too, and BV Austin's friend on Facebook and BV Chicago's friend on Facebook.

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What else?

photo: Weyes Blood at Mexican Summer Five (more by PSquared)

You can browse our full NYC show calendar for all of tonight's shows, but here are some highlights...

Weyes Blood, Excepter, Regal Degal, Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk @ Baby's All Right
Weyes Blood's new album is terrific but it's best to experience her powerhouse vocals in a live setting. This whole bill is good too, with experimentalists Excepter, art punks Regal Degal and Kansas transplants Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk.

The Besnard Lakes, USA out of Vietnam @ Rough Trade
We're coming up on two years since Montreal's The Besnard Lakes released the last album, Until in Excess, Imperceptible UFO, and while they haven't announced a new record, there is movement in the works...hence this tour. Their brand of guitar rock grandeur makes a case for "epic" not being a four-letter-word (in the not literal sense, of course, which it clearly is).

Sufjan Stevens' 'Round-Up' w/ Yarn/Wire @ BAM
While Sufjan will release his first studio album since 2010 this March, ahead of that he's premiering a new piece called Round-Up at BAM which continues tonight and runs through Sunday (1/25). Sufjan will be on electronics and new-music ensemble Yarn/Wire is on piano and percussion.

Kayo Dot, Gnaw, The Glorious Revolution @ Coco 66
Kayo Dot bring together a ton of different metal subgenres (and some non-metal ones too) into a mix that's truly their own. Local noisemakers Gnaw are not to miss either.

Reverend Horton Heat, Robert Gordon, Dale Watson, Rosie Flores @ Gramercy Theatre
In the world of surf-rock, the Rev is a lengend, bringing a crazed twang to his raucous instrumentals and psychobilly freakouts. This show was originally supposed to be at Irving Plaza.

Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog, Loren Connors @ Sugarcube
It's another free show in the inflatable South Street Seaport venue Sugarcube, and this one's the first of two Northern Spy-presented shows with two excellent avant-garde guitar players.

The Mystery Lights, EZTV, Worthless @ Knitting Factory
Party-friendly garage rockers The Mystery Lights release their new album, At Home With the Mystery Lights, on February 1. (Stream some of it below.) Tonight's an early preview, and are joined by power pop band EZTV.

Savages @ Saint Vitus
We're a little more than halfway through Savages' nine-show NYC residency, and they seem to have gotten comfortable with the new material they're playing at these shows. (We're still hoping they'll add "She Will" and "Flying to Berlin" pop up on setlists, though.) Sold out, but check Savages twitter -- they have been releasing a few tickets at the door to most of the shows so far (including last Saturday's Vitus show).

Louis C.K. @ Madison Square Garden
Once an underground sensation, Louis CK has become one of the biggest comedians in America -- by doing it his way. This is Louis CK's third of four (!) MSG shows.

Scully, Daddy Issues, Merkin, White Rope @ Cake Shop
Formed when San Francisco band Splinters splinters, Scully's sound isn't all so different -- garagey, punky pop -- and, also like that band, they've got good songs as the backbone.

Pale Lights, Great Lakes @ Friends & Lovers
Like the expertly jangled sound of '80s indiepop like Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, Felt and The Go-Betweens? Brooklyn's Pale Lights, led by sometimes Comet Gain member Phil Stutton, keep the flag flying. Ladybug Transistor offshoot Olson, Rydholm, and Forester were supposed to play tonight as well but have had to drop off the bill.

Nitty Scott MC, Celeste, Chelsea Reject, DJ Patrick A Reed @ The Acheron
Tonight, Celeste brings her recurring hip hop party back to the mostly-punk/metal venue Acheron, and this time it's an all-female lineup with Nitty Scott and Chelsea Reject.

Alejandro Escovedo @ City Winery
Punk rocker turned roots rocker Alejandro Escovedo concludes his City Winery run with a different album performed in full each night. Tonight it's 1996's With These Hands.

Brenmar, Sliink, L-Vis 1990, Calore @ 88 Palace
Stay out late at Chinatown's restaurant-by-day, dance-club-by-night 88 Palace for this stacked Dark Disco party.

Sworn Enemy, Old Wounds, 96, Ides, The Dead Tricks @ Brooklyn Night Bazaar
Long-running metalcore band Sworn Enemy headline this free night at the Brooklyn Night Bazaar, and we think it's worth showing up on time for NJ's Old Wounds too.

Motion Studies, Rathborne, Fitness @ Palisades
Motion Studios carry on in the live band dance rock tradition of early-'00s Brooklyn and do a very good job of it. Catch them tonight with the solid pop of Rathborne.

Bootsy Collins' Rubber Band @ BB King Blues Club
Formed in the mid-'70s while Bootsy Collins was also playing in Parliament-Funkadelic, Rubber Band have now been bringin' the funk for four decades.

Fleetwood Mac @ Boardwalk Hall (Atlantic City)
Fleetwood Mac are now back with their entire classic lineup -- Christine McVie, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham -- and tonight they continue their multi-night NY-area run. They've still got it and they play all the hits, so see them while you still can.

For all of tonight's shows, and tomorrow's, check out our NYC concert calendar.

For laughs, check out the NYC Comedy calendar too.

-------------
---

Follow @BrooklynVegan on Twitter.
Follow @bvChicago for just Chicago stuff.
Also follow @bvAustin for just Austin stuff.

Be our friend on Facebook too, and BV Austin's friend on Facebook and BV Chicago's friend on Facebook.

Follow BrooklynVegan on instagram.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday? (Weyes Blood, Louis CK, Savages, Sufjan, Kayo Dot, Besnard Lakes, Mystery Lights & more)"

A bunch of indie-psych bands got together to pay tribute to one of rock's longest-running bands for Stoned - A Psych Tribute To The Rolling Stones, which came out this week via Cleopatra Records (order yours). The comp features Clinic, The Vacant Lots, Tashaki Miyaki, Allah-Las, Pure X, Cheval Sombre and more. That's the cover art above. Check out the full tracklist, and listen to Allah-Las' take on the album's namesake song, "Stoned," below.

In other Stones news, the excellent 1970 documentary, Gimme Shelter, which (among other things) highlighted the tragedies that occurred at their 1969 Altamont concert, will be available on Netflix starting this February. If you've still yet to see it, this is an opportunity worth taking. See what other new arrivals Netflix will have next month over at Huffington Post.

UPDATE: It's actually a 2013 drama called Gimme Shelter, not the Rolling Stones documentary.

In related news, Allah-Las recently recorded a KEXP session. You can watch the video of that, with their "Stoned" cover and the LP tracklist, below...

Continue reading "Clinc, Tashaki Miyaki, Allah-Las, Pure X, Vacant Lots, more on Rolling Stones tribute"

Dear Friends,

This is a message to you we are very sorry for...

On January 20th, Tuesday afternoon, Edgar Froese suddenly and unexpectedly passed away from the effects of a pulmonary embolism in Vienna.

The sadness in our hearts is immensely.

Edgar once said: "There is no death, there is just a change of our cosmic address."

Edgar, this is a little comfort to us.

Yours,
TANGERINE DREAM TEAM

The above message was sadly posted to ambient/prog/electronic legends Tangerine Dream's Facebook page, announcing the death of founder Edgar Froese. He was 70.

Rest in peace Edgar. Your contributions to music won't be forgotten.

Listen to their classic 1975 album, Rubycon, below...

Continue reading "Tangerine Dream founder Edgar Froese, RIP"

by Bill Pearis

Crosss

Canadian heavy psych riffmongers Crosss are gearing up for a short East Coast tour next month that has them dropping below the border for two NYC shows: February 21 at Cake Shop with Toronto's Cellphone and then February 22 at Union Pool with the rest of the lineup TBA. All dates are listed below.

Crosss released a 7" last year but haven't had a full-length out since 2013's Obsidian Spectre. They've got an album on the way later this year, so stay tuned for details. Meanwhile, you can stream both of those previous releases below. If you enjoy doomy riffs but always wanted to hear more traditional indie rock vocals paired with them, Crosss have you covered.

As for Cellphone, the band make crazed psych-punk that sounds like pure mayhem -- somewhere between MC5, Motorhead and the Dead Kennedys. (But with synthesizers in the mix as well.) Their new album, "Excellent Condition", was just released via Toronto's fine Telephone Explosion label and you can stream it below.

Continue reading "Crosss working on new LP, touring, playing two NYC shows, one with Cellphone who have a new LP (dates, streams)"

photos by Sean Madden

"Last night was really incredible for us...much luv to all you who came out, and to our friends @kevinmorby & Nude Beach, thank you xx" - Amen Dunes

".@AmenDunes delivered a trance like performance tonight at @BoweryBallroom. Beautiful stuff!" - Will Oliver

Amen Dunes / Kevin Morby

Brooklyn psych outfit Amen Dunes came to Bowery Ballroom last night (1/22) with Kevin Morby and local power-poppers Nude Beach in support of his new Cowboy Worship EP. Last night's show was a one-off in his hometown, but Amen Dunes is heading out on a longer tour this spring and you can check out the dates for that below. Were you there? What did you think? Pictures are in this post.

As discussed, Kevin Morby is also touring and stopping back in NYC at Baby's All Right on March 15 with psych-folk singer Ryley Walker. Tickets for that show are still available.

Nude Beach also have other dates coming up, including two shows in NYC. As discussed, they're playing the first of the three Don Giovanni showcases at Knitting Factory on February 6 with Shellshag, The Hamiltons, Mal Blum, Black Wine, Crow Bait and host Chris Gethard (tix), and coming to Bell House on April 3 with White Hills (tix).

More pictures from last night, and the list of Amen Dunes dates, below...

Continue reading "Amen Dunes, Kevin Morby & Nude Beach @ Bowery Ballroom (pics)"

After a couple of albums established them as a clear cut above their local scene, [The Sidekicks] the jump to Epitaph and got a big-name producer involved. By 2012's Awkward Breeds, the Sidekicks were punk rock in ethics only, but their angsty beginnings still subjected them to the same ol' tired comments about alienating their fans from the basement days. And the risk is in how Sidekicks are also transitioning into a keening, melodic, and heartfelt style that hasn't produced a major new act in a very, very long time--"centrist" indie rock when guitars aren't necessarily at the center of discussion.

...It functions under the assumption that its new audience might be an anachronism, but it's one worth chasing: people who value the album not so much as a cohesive, continuous 40-minute piece of music but one where every song justifies the act and trust of spending $10 for the whole. With the exception of the brief, fluttering closer "All Things Run", everything could be the "single"--the Sidekicks are beholden to huge choruses with carefully constructed lead-ins, warm harmonies, and quotable lyrics about relatable topics. [Pitchfork]

The Sidekicks new album, Runners in the Nerved World, came out this week (that's a quote from Pitchfork's 7.4 review above), and they begin their tour in support of it TONIGHT (1/23) at Baby's All Right in Brooklyn. It's a BrooklynVegan-presented record release show that also includes Philly indie rockers Cayetana, The Sidekicks' fellow Ohio pals All Dogs, and somber songwriter Roger Harvey. Tickets for tonight's show are still available.

All tour dates are listed, with a full stream of The Sidekicks' new album and videos from the other three bands on tonight's show, below...

Continue reading "The Sidekicks kicking off tour with BV-presented release show tonight at Baby's w/ Cayetana, All Dogs & Roger Harvey"

Q: A lot of your newer songs deal with aging. You once said that people don't retire, they fade away, they run out of steam. And now you're 73, you're a great-grandfather.

A: Look, you get older. Passion is a young man's game. Young people can be passionate. Older people gotta be more wise. I mean, you're around awhile, you leave certain things to the young. Don't try to act like you're young. You could really hurt yourself.

...

Q: So we at AARP represent people who are 50 and older. The magazine reaches 35 million readers.

A: Well, a lot of those readers are going to like this record. If it was up to me, I'd give you the records for nothing and you give them to every [reader of your] magazine.

Bob Dylan is on the cover of the new issue of AARP Magazine and while he's not giving his new album Shadows in the Night (out Feb. 3) away to every reader of the magazine, he is giving 50,000 copies of them to randomly selected subscribers. What a guy! Unlike U2, he's sending physical copies via the United States Postal Service. Maybe your grandparents got one?

It's a rare interview (first in three years) for the press-shy Dylan, and he talks about choosing the standards to cover, and how to tackle songs that have all been sung by Frank Sinatra:

When you start doing these songs, Frank's got to be on your mind. Because he is the mountain. That's the mountain you have to climb, even if you only get part of the way there. And it's hard to find a song he did not do. He'd be the guy you got to check with. People talk about Frank all the time. He had this ability to get inside of the song in a sort of a conversational way. Frank sang to you -- not at you. I never wanted to be a singer that sings at somebody. I've always wanted to sing to somebody. I myself never bought any Frank Sinatra records back then. But you'd hear him anyway -- in a car or a jukebox. Certainly nobody worshipped Sinatra in the '60s like they did in the '40s. But he never went away -- all those other things that we thought were here to stay, they did go away. But he never did.

Read the whole interview over at AARP.

photo: Old Wounds at Acheron in 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro)

As previously mentioned, in honor of Ensign bassist Nate Gluck, who's sadly battling cancer, a bunch of NY/NJ hardcore bands (and one from Canada) are coming together for NateFest. When we last spoke, the venue and ticket info was TBA, but it's since been announced that it will happen at Howell, NJ's GameChangerWorld on March 21 & 22. Tickets go on sale at 3 PM on Monday (1/26).

In case you missed it, the lineup includes Sick of It All, Kill Your Idols, Indecision, Killing Time, Endeavor, Purpose, Grade, Ensign, None More Black, NORA, For The Love Of, Shai Hulud, Mouthpiece, Strength 691, Bigwig, 45 Revolutions (mems Judge, Gorilla Biscuits, CIV), Old Wounds, Stag Party and more TBA.

Meanwhile you can also catch Old Wounds in NYC for free this weekend when they open for long-running metalcore band Sworn Enemy at Brooklyn Night Bazaar on Saturday (1/24). Also on that bill is 96, Ides and Dead Tricks. That show is before Sworn Enemy hit the road with Biohazard, which includes another show with Old Wounds: NJ's Asbury Lanes on April 1. Tickets for that show are on sale now. Sworn Enemy also have a show at Queens venue Blackhorn 51 and a Long Island stop on the Biohazard tour. All dates are listed below.

Old Wounds also have a tour supporting Cult Leader (aka 3/4 of Gaza). They're not on the NYC-area dates though (Purge is), which happen March 11 at Uncle Slevs in Montclair, NJ and March 12 at Amityville Music Hall on Long Island. Tickets for the Amityville show are on sale now. No advance tix for Montclair at the moment.

All lists of dates for Cult Leader, Old Wounds, and Sworn Enemy, below...

Continue reading "NateFest venue & ticket info revealed; Old Wounds playing shows with Sworn Enemy and Cult Leader (separately)"