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November 26, 2004
Off To Montreal
I'm leaving in a few hours for Montreal. I swear I'm not going to stalk The Arcade Fire. I'm actually hitching a ride with a friend who's going up there for a conference. I've never been there, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.
I also swear that The Pixies weren't my motivation for going. It is pure coincedence that The Pixies are playing in Montreal the same two nights I'll be there. When I found out, I did manage to get myself a pair of tickets to Friday night's sold out show at the University of Montreal (cheaper on the black market than face value for a NYC ticket). Now I just hope we don't get stuck in a snowstorm, or held up at the border too long.
Talk to you Monday...
Posted in music at 1:42 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 25, 2004
New Bloc Party
According to The Rub, and confirmed by one of my favorite bittorrent sites (hint), the new Bloc Party album, scheduled for a 2005 release, has leaked.
My initial reaction: 2005 is going to be the year of the Bloc Party. (translation: the album is REALLY REALLY GOOD)
Paul (The Rub) has also posted one track for download.
Previously
Bloc Party @ Tribeca Grand Hotel - pics
Bloc Party @ Knitting Factory - pics
Buy the Bloc Party EP @ Amazon
Posted in music at 8:57 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
Bowie Endorses Arcade Fire, Secret Machines
Everyone's been talking about the appearance of David Bowie, David Byrne, Melissa Etheridge, Eric Clapton, and John Cameron Mitchell at Arcade Fire's recent NYC show.(Village Voice Review).
Bowie continued to make headlines after he appeared the very next night at the Interpol, Secret Machines show at Hammerstein Ballroom. His moustache and love for the bands Arcade Fire and Interpol were the topic of water cooler discussion everywhere.
Dave must have been all torn up since The Secret Machines didn't open for Interpol that night. The Arcade Fire and The Secret Machines are in fact Bowie's favorite bands of the year.
Although touring with Interpol, and opening for them in NYC the night before (same night as Arcade Fire...I hate when that happens), The Secret Machines had the night off when Bowie was at the the show.
DavidBowie.com has got the scoop:
'As regular visitors to the BowieNet message boards will already know, David returned to the Bowie forum yesterday in a flurry of activity which resulted in sixteen postings from him and more general activity from the members than we've seen for the past 200 years!
Primarily he was recommending Funeral by The Arcade Fire (above right) while reconfirming his love for Secret Machines (above left) who he also enthused about in his last journal entry'
And here's the rest of the story...
http://www.davidbowie.com/news/index.php?id=20041124 (via neuman)
(corrections to this story via my trusty fact checker.)
Posted in music at 6:54 PM | Comments (16) | TrackBack
Brooklynvegan Feed for LiveJournal Users
Brooklynvegan.com is now available as a LiveJournal (sort of).
If you have a LiveJournal, you can add me as a friend, and my posts will show up on your friends page.
Add me to your friends here:
http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=brooklyn_vegan
An example of what my posts will look like on your friends page:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/misfit/friends/
Thanks to whoever (misfit?) set this up!
Posted in general at 3:17 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Happy Thanksgiving
Don't forget Lucky 13 is serving dinner
Posted in general at 2:28 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
NYC Concert Update
The Pharcyde is playing SOBs on November 30th.
Trashcan Sinatras are playing three acoustic shows in the area. December 4th and 5th at Fez and Dec 6th at Maxwells.
Junior Boys are playing Joe's Pub on December 13th.
@ Bowery Ballroom:
Dec 17: World Inferno Friedship Society
Jan 12: Tegan & Sara
Jan 13: Razorlight
Jan 14 & 15: Mission of Burma (2nd date added)
Jan 22: The Fever
Feb 3 & 4: Low & Pedro the Lion
Feb 13 & 14: Neko Case
Posted in music at 1:55 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack
November 24, 2004
Jenny Lewis to Record Solo Album
Ambitious Outsiders reports that Billboard reports that Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley has recorded a solo album.
'With the help of producer Mike Mogis she finished the record in only six days. It is set to be released in the summer of 2005 via the "Team Love" label.'
Rilo Kiley's Lewis Working On Solo Album
Posted in music at 3:50 PM | Comments (12) | TrackBack
Never Enough Arcade Fire
The 'blogosphere' has got an Arcade Fire posting complex. A complex like this arises when people get nervous that a subject has been covered to death. No one wants to add more fuel to the fire. This may or may not coincide with never-before-seen mainstream media coverage of said topic.
For that reason, this post will start with this line:
'Here is yet another post about The Arcade Fire.'
First I'd like to point out the many great listening alternatives to Funeral. The list has been growing.
Self-Titled EP
This came out before Funeral. If you don't have it, you should. It's out of print and expensive on Ebay (I heard one sold for $1000), but fairly easy to find in MP3 format.
KEXP CMJ In-Studio Stream
Live from NY, its Arcade Fire live. Also available in MP3 format if you search hard enough.
Live in Cambridge, MA
Last week Bradley's Almanac posted an excellent live recording of this show. Besides providing alternative song versions, two non-album cover songs are part of the set list. (UPDATE: Pitchfork reviews Naive Melody)
CBC Radio 3 Broadcast
Monday, 'Teaching the Indie Kids To Dance Again' posted one song from this performance. The MP3 he posted was rippped from a stream available here and here. If you search hard enough you'll find the rest of this show in MP3 format on file sharing networks.
Arcade Fire continues to get good press. Will they reach Franz Ferdinand status? I'm still not sure.
As reported over at Central Village, Rolling Stone has a small article about them.
And here's another one from MSNBC
U2log says that indie rock makes their skin crawl, but all the attention U2log's been getting this week from NYC Indie Rock bloggers must have rubbed off. They posted a positive review of Funeral yesterday.
Need a Kwanzaa present for the music geek who has everything? How about an Arcade Fire Ladder Truck.
That's it for now. Till the next post...
Posted in music at 3:02 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
What the Hell
Angry Mob Kills 2 Federal Agents in Mexico
Posted in general at 2:27 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
November 23, 2004
Metal Church | Some Kind of Monster
I just watched the video for Metallica's "Some Kind of Monster" and it made me want to cry. A band who at one time held the title of "my favorite band," has literally turned into some kind of monster. But that's old news, right? Metallica bashing is like so last year, or the year before, or maybe the year before that...
What's more interesting is that Heavy Metal legends Metal Church will grace the stage of NYC's, 200 capacity, Continental on November 27th. Hardly glamorous, they've got the 10:30 slot in between '3 Inches of Blood' and Black Sabbath tribute band, 'Sabra Cadabra.' That also makes me want to cry.
What does Metal Church mean to me? I was a lucky little kid. (Without getting into too many details...) I first saw Metal Church perform (in Philadelphia I think) in 1986. I actually wasn't there to see them. It was their Elektra Records label-mate, Metallica, that my parents brought me to see. They were touring in support of Master of Puppets, an album I can blame for most of who I am today (my first heavy metal tape).
It was during Metal Church's opening set that I had my first exposure to head-banging. Scores of long-haired metal-heads banged their head in unison to the sound of thrash metal pioneers. I thought for sure I had discovered the Church of Satan, and I liked it. After the show I quickly purchased the Metal Church cassette and put it in regular rotation. Much like everyone else though, it never held as high a position in my collection as Master of Puppets. Metallica rose to mainstream success as Metal Church fell into obscurity.
Some interesting Metal Church facts:
The Melvins opened for Metal Church in 1984.
Metal Church signed to Elektra Records in 1985.
Lars Ulrich was almost the drummer of Metal Church instead of Metallica.
John Marshall of Metal Church, was Kirk Hammet(of Metallica)'s long time friend and guitar tech. He also played guitar for James Hetfield on tour when James was injured.
Dave Grohl cites Metal Church as an influence.
In 1989, Metal Church got a new singer. Since then they've broken up, gotten back together, and completely changed their lineup.
There are only two original members left, and neither of them are the singer. I guess that hardly makes them Metal Church, and might partly explain this gig:
Metal Church
Continental, NYC
November 27th, 2004, 10:30 pm
Tempting, but I probably won't see you there.
For more information on tour dates and their new album, visit Metal Church's official site.
Posted in music at 9:01 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
The Onion Holiday Party | French Kicks
The final lineup for The Onion (you know...that funny paper) holiday party is in.
the French Kicks (big rockers, small venue)
Stella (you know...those guys from The State)
Todd Barry (you know...that comedian who performs at Pianos, Southpaw, and even Bowery Ballroom)
Fandanglers (Country from Coney Island)
Date: December 11th
Place: Northsix in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Problem: TV on the Radio & The Pixies @ Hammerstein, Boy George @ Avalon, Ted Leo @ Bowery Ballroom, Yo La Tengo @ Maxwells, Jinner's Birthday party @ Trash....ALL THE SAME NIGHT
Posted in music at 7:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Insound's Top 100 Selling CD's of 2004
100 Black Eyes
99 Bad Religion
98 Clinic
97 Interpol
96 The Fall
Posted in music at 7:18 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
Bad Brains Tribute, Kimya Dawson | Set Times
As previously reported, Kimya Dawson and others will be performing Bad Brains songs to raise money for Afro-Punk @ The Delancey tomorrow.
Here are the set times:
tribute to bad brains
11:00 pm stiffed-
10:30 pm KUDU -
10:00 pm GAME
9:30 pm jeannie 0.
9:00 pm cipher -
8:30 pm the exit
8:00 pm kimya dawson -
at the delancey
168 delancey (at clinton) NYC $5, 21+
free booze 7-9pm
Posted in music at 6:45 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
30,000 at U2?
my pics (maybe we should count)
Posted in music at 6:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Fluxblog vs Stereogum Tonight
Posted in music at 3:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 22, 2004
U2 Under the Brooklyn Bridge Recap | Photos
Please continue HERE to view all pictures.
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Before they hit Brooklyn @ U2log
Getting on the Flatbed via Gothamist
Posted in music | pictures at 9:37 PM | Comments (32) | TrackBack
Plug Independent Music Awards
The Plug Independent Music Awards will take place at Webster Hall in NYC on February 10th, 2005.
The nominees for album of the year are...
!!! - Louden Up Now (Touch And Go)
Devendra Banhart - Rejoicing In The Hands (Young God)
Dios - Dios (StarTime International)
Dizzee Rascal - Boy In Da Corner (XL/Matador)
Mark Lanegan Band - Bubblegum (Beggars Banquet)
Ted Leo + Pharmacists - Shake The Sheets (Lookout!)
Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender (Drag City)
Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans (Sounds Familyre)
TV On The Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (Touch And Go)
Tom Waits - Real Gone (Anti-)
You can vote for your favorite album, as well as artist, label, show, producer, website, and more, HERE.
Posted in music at 10:52 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
"Secret" U2 Show Confirmed
Word for Word from U2log:
"U2log.com was lucky enough to be invited to the K-Rock listening party, which was held at Sony Studios at 54th and 10th in New York City this evening. We will have a full report with some photos of the band taken outside Sony Studios soon.
At the conclusion of the listening party, a member of U2’s management team pulled us aside and asked us to tell everyone whom we know (that’s you!) to be at Empire Fulton Ferry State Park at 3 pm tomorrow (Nov. 22) for a 30-minute concert by U2.
You have your official orders! Be there or miss something very special.
There will be no concert at Washington Square Park. It was the original location for the event, but on review they decided the area was too busy and not large enough to house the number of people expected at the show.
One final piece of great, official news is tickets are not required for this event."
U2 Secret Show Undeniably, Absolutely, 100% Positively Confirmed
Posted in music at 1:45 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Bandit Queen by The Decemberists
This one ought to get you very excited for the forthcoming Decemberists album.
Here in MP3 format, pulled from a KET(?) broadcast, I present...
The Bandit Queen (mp3: right click, save to your computer)
While you're listening, check out these lovely pics of The Decemberists playing at Webster Hall by Alyssa Scheinson, then compare them to my own mediocre photos from the same show. (SPIN was there too)
Previously
Decemberists Cover Joanna Newsom
Posted in music at 1:22 AM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
Pass the turkey or the tofurky?
And, yes, turkey is on the menu, he said.
But in some homes across the country on Thanksgiving, the turkey has been supplemented or, in some cases, replaced entirely by the Tofurky.
A box of Tofurky (yes, Tofurky is sold in a box) actually comes with one roast that resembles thick-sliced turkey breast, eight cranberry apple potato dumplings, giblet gravy, herbed brown and wild rice stuffing and Tofurky Jurky Wishtix. Each meal is packaged frozen, serves four and takes about 45 minutes to cook.
Pass the turkey or the tofurky?
Posted in veggie at 1:17 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBack
Stream Music & Video @ KCRW & KEXP
KCRW & KEXP have some great new streams for your listening and viewing pleasure.
Jesse Sykes & Phil Wandscher @ KCRW
The list goes on and on. Visit KCRW & KEXP for more, or to listen live.
Posted in music at 1:02 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Your Girl Got Dicked By Ricky Powell
Ricky Powell's Annual Birthday Slideshow @ Don Hills, Tuesday November 30th
Posted in music at 12:47 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park
For those coming to the free probably-U2 concert in Brooklyn today, here's all the information you need on getting there.
The Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park
Posted in NYC | music at 12:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 21, 2004
2004 Weblog Award Nominations
Posted in general at 5:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
U2 Secret Show Update
Either there are two major secret shows happening in NYC on Monday at 2 pm, or U2 IS NOT PLAYING in Washington Square Park.
Yesterday U2log.com reported that U2 is playing around 2 pm in Washington Square Park.
This morning, Janelle told me, and an email in my inbox confirmed, that MTV is holding a special performance "by one of the BIGGEST ROCK BANDS in the WORLD" in Brooklyn at the same time.
I logged into 1iota (hint), requested 2 tickets, and within an hour I got my confirmation. So either I'll be missing U2 tomorrow to see one of the OTHER biggest rock bands in the world, or a lot of people will be standing in Washington Square Park wondering what's going on while I'm checking out U2 'btwn the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges' on the Brooklyn side.
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In related news, U2 played Saturday Night Live last night (at least we know for sure that they are in NYC...). I thought it was cool that Bono started the performance with his face right in the camera going "live live live live." I took it as their way of telling us they wouldn't be following in Ashlee's footsteps.
More on U2's SNL performance at U2log (my new most referenced web site)
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U2's new album comes out on Tuesday. They've also got their own IPOD, but who needs a U2 IPOD, when you can get a perfectly good 20 GB non-U2 one FOR FREE.
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UPDATE:
U2log 'sorts out the BS'
Posted in music at 12:50 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
NY Post Outs the Dark Room
"I sit down there and I feel at home," says Sarah Lewistann, a.k.a. regular DJ Ultragrrrl. ('Lewistann'??)
NY POST: WAIT UNTIL DARK
Sarah's very popular with the club reporting press. She was quoted in the article the NY Times wrote about Misshapes recently too.
""Last week's was the best one ever," said Sarah Lewitinn, 24, a writer for Spin who on a recent Saturday evening was wearing a vintage Joy Division T-shirt as a dress over slouchy black suede boots. "I made out with three boys and one girl."
NY TIMES: For all Humankind
Posted in music at 11:09 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack