« April 24, 2005 - April 30, 2005 | Main | May 8, 2005 - May 14, 2005 »
May 7, 2005
The Pharcyde playing The Hook
The Pharcyde are playing The Hook in Brooklyn on Friday May 13th. Weird. Tickets are on sale.
Watch the video for Passing Me By
Digable Planets are playing soon too.
De La Soul is playing Bonnaroo
Posted in music at 5:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Tony Conrad, The Kitchen & Jim O'Rourke
According to Jim O'Rourke's Drag City site, he's playing with the Boredoms on May 25th at Knitting Factory and with Tony Conrad on May 24th at The Kitchen. The truth is that he and the Boredoms are playing Bowery Ballroom on May 25th (sold out), and that I have no idea if he's actually playing at the May 24th thing. More details on that after some quotes...
----
"Tony Conrad, best known for playing violin with the Theatre of Eternal Music in the early sixties, and for his more recent violin-centred compositions, admits that his introduction to his instrument was mostly negative." - from an Interview with Tony Conrad
"Violin player Tony Conrad was one of the pioneers of New York minimalism, of microtonal music and of "deep listening". He worked in 1962 on Lamonte Young's "Dream Music" project with the likes of John Cale and Angus MacLise (both future Velvet Underground)." - from a biography of Tony Conrad
"I don't know a better way to describe Chicago (the city not the band) guitarist Jim O'Rourke than to say that he's a gadfly. Here's a young guy who's had his hand in everything, working with or producing or remixing the likes of Sonic Youth, John Fahey, Faust, Tortoise, Tony Conrad, Barbara Manning, Red Crayola, Guided By Voices and... well, it'd be easier to tell you who he HASN'T worked with" - from an interview with Jim O'Rourke
"Well, I have them, and yes, they are amazing, and they have cemented my opinion that Tony Conrad is a genius. Just listen to 4 violins 1964 to get an idea what these repressed recordings sound like." - Jim on Tony
"Founded in 1971 by video artists Woody and Steina Vasulka, The Kitchen is internationally known as a leading center for video, music, dance, performance, new media and literature. The first institution to focus exclusively on cutting-edge, multidisciplinary works, it has been a powerful force in shaping the cultural landscape of this country. Over the last thirty years The Kitchen has documented every one of its performances with video and/or audiotape." - from the Amazon album description for "From The Kitchen Archives - New Music New York 1979" featuring Tony Conrad, Philip Glass, and others
----
On May 18th and 24th (2005), the Kitchen is hosting special Tony Conrad events (performance/video). Jim O'Rourke is listed as the curator. Keep reading for exact details...
Tony Conrad
Ten Years Alive on the Infinite Plain
Quadranga (U.S. Premiere) & three recent video works
Ten Years Alive on the Infinite Plain: May 18 (Wed) 8-11pm $10
Quadranga (U.S. Premiere) & three recent video works: May 24 (Tue) 8pm $10
Curated by Andrew Lampert and Jim O’Rourke
Co-organized with Anthology Film Archives
One of the pioneers of structural filmmaking, video art, and minimalist music, Tony Conrad restages his 1972 performance-installation at The Kitchen, Ten Years Alive on the Infinite Plain. This “minimalist spectacle” features a projected film loop of black and white images, alongside a stellar group of string players in an appeal for the need for peace in a time of war. Quadranga (2004) is a trio for amplified strings that rewrites the musical form of the popular Afro-Latin dance the Charanga. Preceding this performance will be the screening of three recent video works--Grading Tips for Teachers (2001), Hart (2001) and Tony’s Oscular Pets (2003) -that humorously echo Conrad’s ongoing engagement with themes of discipline and control.
Related Conrad film, video, and lecture events will be held from May 19th-22nd at Anthology Film Archives. Please consult www.anthologyfilmarchives.org for more information.
Posted in music | music history at 3:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Project Save CBGB & OMFUG
Three days ago I posted an article that reported CBGB was definitely closing. Today I found out there's an organization working to Save CBGB.
Project Save CBGB & OMFUG is "the official Project Save CBGB site based in New York City." (as seen in the NY Post and on Stereogum yesterday)
According to a press release on the site, "Jonathan Demme, Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye, Deborah Harry of Blondie, Juliette Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Tommy Ramone, Charlotte Lesher (mother of the late Joey Ramone), Arturo Vega (artistic director for the Ramones), Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads, Richard Lloyd of Television, Little Steven, Legs McNeill, Richard Hell, Fab 5 Freddy, Seymour Stein of Sire Records, Cheetah Chrome of the Dead Boys, Bob Gruen, the Bullys, Richard H.D. Manitoba, Dennis McNamara, Daniel Wolff, John Holstrom of Punk Magazine, John Foxworthy of Garage Radio, cultural sociologist Dr. Donna Gaines, Rockefeller University Professor Dr. Sanford Simon, an entrepreneur and survivor of spina bifida, and a teacher in Honol" are all working to save CBGB.
Part of the plan is to give CBGB landmark status.
What Does Joey Ramone's mother say?
Supporter Juliette Lewis is on tour with the Licks. Tickets are on sale for their May 28th show at Bowery Ballroom in NYC. I was at their last NYC show.
Supporter Fab 5 Freddy makes an appearance at The Brooklyn Museum tonight (May 7th)
Supporter Deborah Harry recently made an appearance with Kelly Osbourne at Charm School.
Life of Agony are playing CBGB in June.
Despite these efforts, CBGB still might move to Vegas.
Posted in NYC | music | music history at 2:09 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
The Junior Boys @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC | Pics
Above and below photos are both of the Junior Boys playing at Bowery Ballroom on Thursday May 5th, 2005. "They formed somewhere around 1999 in Hamilton, Canada, the same town that brought us Manitoba and Kieran '4Tet' Hebden’s text label." Manitoba is now Caribou, and that's who they were opening for along with 4Tet and the Russian Futurists.
One Louder thought they were great. Me too. Their CD is good too. (you can hear them on their official site)
They also recently remixed Billie Holiday for Verve Remixed, Vol. 3
Posted in music | pictures at 1:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Life of Agony Headline Tour Dates & Video
Two days ago I posted that Life of Agony are playing CBGB. It's actually one of three small local headlining shows.
Tues 06/14/05 CBGB's New York NY
Wed 06/15/05 Downtown Farmingdale NY
Thurs 06/16/05 Maxwells Hoboken NJ
Maxwells will be nuts. Tickets are on sale.
LOA also has a new video that you can watch at their site. Those who know them will be amused at their major-label pretty-boy heavy-on-the-album-production makeover.
Posted in at 1:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
System of a Down | Small Venue Tour & SNL
System of a Down is on Saturday Night Live tonight (Paula Abdul too). Then Monday they play Irving Plaza in NYC before going on a tour of much larger venues with The Mars Volta. Tickets for the Irving show go on sale Sunday at noon at the Irving box office only (or you can win them on 92.3 KRock I think).
More info about this, the Mars Volta tour, and small shows in Philly and DC at their official site.
Posted in music at 12:51 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Coheed & Cambria Playing Bowery & Irving Plaza
Thursday July 21st : Bowery Ballroom w/Special Guests
Tickets are on sale.
Friday July 22nd : Irving Plaza
"An Evening with Coheed and Cambria" : 2 sets, one electric & one acoustic, No other bands
Tickets
Posted in music at 12:04 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Ozzfest Tix on sale Today
Ozzfest Tickets on sale at Ticketmaster.
Posted in music at 11:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Jean-Michael Basquiat | Museum, Website & Fab 5 Freddy
Through June 5th, 2005, the Brooklyn Museum has a special "exhibition of Jean-Michel Basquiat's paintings, works on paper, and sculptures." The exhibition will eventually move to the MOCA in LA (California) and the MFA in Houston (Texas).
Those in NYC can go see it free tonight (Saturday May 7th, 2005) as part of the museum's First Saturdays program. (If you didn't already know, the museum has a big free party (with musicians) every first saturday of the month.)
Tonight's First Saturday is especially cool. On the bill:
- Sridhar Shanmugam’s ensemble performs music and dance from South India.
- Haitian-American violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain performs a mix of classical, jazz, and hip-hop, inspired by paintings in Basquiat.
- Fab 5 Freddy, hip-hop Renaissance man, connects his friend Basquiat’s work to the 1980s music scene.
- Fab 5 Freddy hosts a dance party of Basquiat’s favorite new wave, hip-hop, and pop, featuring DJ B. Dub and other friends of the artist.
- DJ Sintalentos spins soul, funk, and hip-hop.
-------
Those everywhere can learn about Basquiat and check out the collection on a special website.
Posted in NYC | music at 10:40 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
New Tenacious D | Dio, Dave Grohl, Meat Loaf, Rob Zombie
According to Tenacious D:
"Yes the rumors are true....Tenacious D has begun recording new music for their upcoming film PICK OF DESTINY. John King is the producer behind the board and dont be surprised if there are a few special guests on the album as well. We will keep you posted on some studio reports and perhaps some pictures from the studio as well. Stay tuned!"
And According to Ain't it Cool News:
"saw the DIO signed to be in the greatest film ever annointed the greatest film ever to be constructed. Ronnie James Dio will be one of those on the way to Tenacious D's epic climb to the top of Olympus to rule Rock-N-Roll from up on high! And they will rock the balls of mankind numb!"
TenaciousJoes.com adds some rumors:
DIRECTOR: Liam Lynch
WRITERS: Jack Black, Kyle Gass, Liam Lynch
CAST: Jack Black, Kyle Gass, JR "Lee" Reed
RUMORED: Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Meat Loaf,
Dave Grohl, Rob Zombie, Ronnie James Dio
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Ben Stiller
In case you were sleeping in 2001, Tenacious D put out one of the greatest CD's of all time followed by a must-have DVD in 2003.
Watch the video for Wonder Boy: RealVideo | Windows Media: 56K | 100K | 300K
Tons of audio and video at their official site.
Posted in music at 10:09 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 5, 2005
The Mountain Goats eat Vegetarian Paradise | The Sunset Tree
Today's am/pm newspaper had an interview with John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats. He said his favorite things about NYC are the restaurant Vegetarian Paradise #2 ("I seriously have dreams of going there, they are so amazing"), The Strand (bookstore), and the Lush store (for shampoo).
John, I also recommend Red Bamboo. It's right next store (same owners even...I think)
Largehearted Boy tells us what John likes to read.
The new Mountain Goats CD ("The Sunset Tree") was released on April 26th.
They/He plays Knitting Factory tonight, and Northsix in Brooklyn on Saturday.
Previously
The Mountain Goats @ Knitting Factory - Pics
Posted in NYC | music | veggie at 6:26 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Celebrate Brooklyn Prospect Park Concerts Announced
Stars are on the bill with the New Pornographers and the Sadies. That means they're playing Central Park and Prospect Park in the same summer. A few other good shows on there (Ozomatli, Soulive, Antibalas)... I still need to look closer. Didn't see a Hal Wilner...
2005 Celebrate Brooklyn Performance Schedule
(as not seen on Tale of Two Cities)
Stereogum recently posted a new New Pornographers track.
Previously
Who is Playing Siren Fest? | Not at Coachella
Even More Summer Concerts | Dinosaur Jr.
Summerstage Tickets on sale
Posted in music at 4:55 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
The Hold Steady are Really Popular
Pitchfork gave Separation Sunday an 8.7 today (which is even .7 higher than their last album).
The Village Voice declares them Brooklyn's best band
I declare Separation Sunday my latest addiction.
Yesterday I posted more links and MP3s.
Posted in music at 1:03 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Dead Can Dance @ Radio City | Presale
Tickets for some of the upcoming U.S. Dead Can Dance shows are on sale at Ticketmaster.
The presale password for the show at Radio City Music Hall on October 8th is "NEWYORK"
Thx Dan!!
Previously
Dead Can Dance | Touring, Live CDs, & New Songs
Dead Can Dance Reuniting!
Posted in music at 11:55 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Watch and Listen | Antony, M.I.A., etc..
Listen to a performance by Antony & The Johnsons @ XFM
Watch or Listen to M.I.A. on Morning Becomes Eclectic
Watch or Listen to Aimee Mann on Morning Becomes Eclectic
Watch or Listen to M83 on Morning Becomes Eclectic
Posted in music at 11:52 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 4, 2005
Air America Live @ The Tank (before it closes)
As previously reported, The Tank (a club in NYC) is going to close. Before they do:
Air America: The Majority Report with Janeane Garofalo and Sam Seder
Friday May 20 - 7pm - $10
Broadcasting live from the tank....
And lots more. Keep reading....
------------
Ladies and Gentlemen,
first off we would like to thank all of you who came out last week for the Bent 2005 Circuit Bending Festival. The lineup was outstanding, the workshops were awesome, and the general vibe and community that came together really made it tremendously worthwhile. We miss you all already!
But we must move on. We have exactly...17 days left at our 42nd street home. Come June 1st we will be saddling up the tank ponies and moving ourselves down to 208 W 37th street, where the good people of Chashama have been kind enough to make room for us for the summer. In the meantime, lots of great programming lined up for the next few weeks, so here are some highlights:
Bitshifter, Bubblyfish, Glomag, and Nullsleep
Thursday May 5th - 10pm - $5
Quite possibly the last night of gameboy music on 42nd street ever....Please dont miss this allstar lineup of nyc's premiere gameboy musicians.
Plus come at 8pm and see film maker Jem Cohen present rare films with live music from Coraline.
--
The Tank Silent Art Auction + Deathmask
Saturday May 7 - 630pm-930pm(auction) 10pm (deathmask)
$10 (which is put towards your bid on art!)
Come help the tank raise some money and go home with some cool art at the same time. Artists who have presented at the tank over the years have graciously donated pieces for this silent auction.
--
Unforced Urges + BBQ!
Thursday May 19 - 6pm-midnight - $5
Matt Mottel brings us one last 6+ band extravaganza on 42nd. Come early for the hotdogs, stay late for the booze (and the music...)
--
Air America: The Majority Report with Janeane Garofalo and Sam Seder
Friday May 20 - 7pm - $10
Broadcasting live from the tank....
--
THE WRECKING BALL
Saturday May 21 - 9pm - dawn - $10
The last event ever at the tank. please come help us party as hard as possible. Tank favorites We Are Scientists and Bishop Allen will close out this space for good.
--
Booking the summer....
We are currently beginning to book the summer. If you are interested in putting together a show, please get in touch.
--
Thanks.
Mike Rosenthal
Daniel Greenfeld
The Tank
432 W 42nd Street
between 9th and 10th aves
212-563-6269
Previously
Colin Meloy on Air America
Save The Tank?
Posted in music at 8:52 PM | Comments (11) | TrackBack
Pixies Presales & Dates & Openers & Stuff
PixiesMusic.com reports...
"Starting tomorrow, Thursday, May 5th, at 12PM, Pre-sale tickets will be available for the June 7 Indianapolis, the June 12 Raleigh, and the June 14 Jones Beach shows. Check the Live page for more information"
"So who's going to be touring with the Pixies this summer? Well no official announcement has been made just yet, but PIXIESMUSIC has learned that Bloc Party will be playing some shows, the Violent Femmes opening at Red Rocks in Colorado, and Interpol and LCD Soundsystem taking the stage at Jones Beach on Long Island, NY. Keep checking back for the full tour lineup!"
Here is the current 2005 Summer Tour:
26-May roseland theater
portland, or
27-May roseland theater
portland, or
28-May sasquatch! festival, gorge amphitheatre
george, wa
30-May warfield theater
san francisco, ca
31-May civic auditorium
san jose, ca
2-Jun the wiltern lg
los angeles, ca
3-Jun the wiltern lg
los angeles, ca
5-Jun red rocks
morrison, co
7-Jun murat theatre
indianapolis, in
8-Jun cmj hall of fame
cleveland, oh
8-Jun scene pavillion
cleveland, oh
9-Jun chevrolet amphitheatre at station square
pittsburgh, pa
11-Jun music midtown festival
atlanta, ga
12-Jun the ritz
raleigh, nc
13-Jun merriweather post pavillion
washington, dc
14-Jun jones beach
wantagh, ny
15-Jun agannis arena
boston, ma
23-Jul lollapalooza
chicago, il
17-Aug paredes de coura festival
paredes de coura, portugal
23-Aug landsdowne road
dublin, ireland
25-Aug festival rock en seine
domaine national de saint-cloud, france
26-Aug carling weekend: reading festival
reading, england
27-Aug carling weekend: leeds festival
leeds, england
28-Aug t on the fringe
edinburgh, scotland
Thanks PIXIESMUSIC.COM
Posted in music at 8:48 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
M.I.A. on Kimmel & Bright Eyes on Leno Videos
By now you've probably seen the Bright Eyes video. It's been posted in the comments of my highly controversial post (although not as controversial as this one or this one) for a while.
---
According to a commenter in my last M.I.A. post, "I also love M.I.A., but she was terrible on Jimmy Kimmel." Here's a link to download the video.
Posted in music at 8:11 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
CBGB to DEFINITELY Close??
We've been following the possible closing of CBGB for a while. No one has said anything about the club definitely closing yet. So what does the Georgia State University Newspaper know that we don't know?
"Now, due to the inability of the owner to pay $38,000 a month in rent while still maintaining the reasonable beer and ticket prices and giving untried acts a shot at the spotlight, CBGB’s will shut down at the end of February or the beginning of March. No exact date has been announced for a final show, perhaps intentionally"
In the meantime, Life of Agony is playing there.
Posted in NYC | music | music history at 7:34 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Life of Agony Playing CBGB
After being sorely disappointed because I missed them as the opener for Mudvayne, I have something to be excited about again:
Life of Agony @ CBGB (!!!!), June 14th, 2005. Tickets are $20.
jukeboxgraduate saw Patti Smith @ CBGB
Previously
RIP Bryan Ottoson of American Head Charge
Posted in music at 7:24 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Hold Steady | Separation Sunday | Hoodrat
Who can tell me how many times Craig Finn says "Hoodrat" on the new Hold Steady album?
According to from Rap to Rehab, the definition of "hoodrat" is: "Female, generally sexually promiscuous, and not upwardly mobile 'Homies in the hood labeled her as a hoodrat'"
If you haven't heard Separation Sunday yet, I highly recommend you change that fact.
LISTEN:
Your Little Hoodrat friend (mp3) (as seen on their official website)
Stevie Nix (just click the link) (from the Village Voice)
The Village Voice reports:
The Gospel According to the Hold Steady
Sacraments of the Scene
Previously
The Hold Steady Tour | NYC Special Guest
The Hold Steady @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC | Pics
Posted in music at 6:28 PM | Comments (19) | TrackBack
Invite Them Up Pics | The Apiary
I'd like to introduce the newest source of information on the NYC comedy scene: The Apiary
Below photos from last night's (May 3rd 2005) 'Invite Them Up' Comedy Central taping at Pianos in NYC. More photos when I get the chance. For now, read more about it at the Apiary here and here and at Daily Refill and at Gothamist.
Eugene Mirman and Bobby Tisdale
Posted in comedy | music | pictures at 2:36 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Pixies + Interpol + LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem at Jones Beach is weird. Tickets on sale Saturday. (thx Matt!)
Previously
LCD Soundsystem @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC | Pics
Posted in music at 12:22 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBack
May 3, 2005
Cream Reunion Shows
"Drummer Ginger Baker of the Legendary supergroup Cream performs during a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London May 2, 2005. The band, which formed in 1966, is due to play another three gigs later this week."
Reviewers hail Cream reunion concert at London's Royal Albert Hall
Clapton weeps at Cream reunion concert
Diminished version of their former selves, but very, very good
Posted in music at 12:26 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack
M.I.A. | Remixes, Audio, TV Appearance
M.I.A. is on Jimmy Kimmel tonight.
Listen to fan-made M.I.A. remixes
Download M.I.A. vocal tracks to make your own remixes (or just because)
Listen to Galang: Real | Windows
See Diplo and RJD2 on a boat (NYC, August 5th)
And as previously noted, tickets for M.I.A.'s NYC shows are back on sale.
Posted in music at 12:02 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Bright Eyes on Leno
In case you missed it, Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) just played Leno dressed like a cowboy (very Jack White). He sang (bleeped curses and all) the anti-Bush "When the President Talks to God." Joey TOTC, who also alerted me to the show, pointed out that Leno is a serious republican.
Within minutes there were two comments on a three month old post...
AGAINST: "He is f*cking stupid, and I am a democrat. This guy is clearly confused about the majority of if not all of the issues. I saw him on Leno and literally laughed my ass off at how idiotic he was."
FOR: "The Best Song I have ever heard... I thought he was very clear with what he was saying... I'm a Democrat, and i think Conor captured what most democrats have been feeling for the past 5 years in a great song..."
1) Who has a photo or video I can post?
2) What do you think? (and I mostly mean about that outfit)
Download that song and more at Saddle Creek's website.
Previously
Stream a Bright Eyes performance
Bright Eyes Covers Feist | MP3
Posted in music at 12:53 AM | Comments (40) | TrackBack
May 2, 2005
Jon Brion @ Tonic, NYC | Pics (& lots of Links)
Jon Brion played two shows (early and late) at Tonic in NYC on April 27th, 2005. I was lucky enough to make it to the late show and get these photos.
'Amazing, Amazing, Amazing' is how to describe a Jon Brion show. People living in Los Angeles get to see him almost every Friday night at Largo. Thanks to the Tribeca Film Festival, where he also spoke, New York got to experience his magic. He's a musical genius that can sing and play every instrument. He even has a musical sense of humor. The crowd was cracking up during his comical opening rendition of "Stairway to Heaven."
"Brion is quite possibly the ultimate one-man band. A virtuosic musician, he used live tape loops to capture each individual instrument's part as he played it, layering drums, piano, bass and rhythm guitar one at a time before stepping up to the microphone to actually sing the song. Everything about Brion's performance was effortless, from his frenetic guitar solos to his piano ballads to his astounding repertoire of cover songs." - Daily Bruin
Someone posted three (kind of rough) live streaming Jon Brion videos:
1) video of Jon Brion as Tom Waits doing Radiohead
2) A one man band (video 1)
3) A one man band (video 2)
We heard Prince, David Bowie, Velvet Underground, Led Zeppelin, Brian Eno and other covers, as well as originals from his 2001 solo album, Meaningless.
The Village Broadsheet scored an interview with Brion a few days before the NY shows. It's full of good stuff, but I'll just copy and paste this bit...
"A week prior to our interview, he was in London (at Abbey Road! Abbey fucking Road!!), working on his own recordings. Exciting news for all of us Brion fans, who have been clammoring for a proper vocal album from the man since 2001, when his brilliant debut Meaningless crept its way into our headphones and heads. Between his soundtrack work (I Heart Huckabees, Magnolia), productions for other artists (Fiona Apple, Rhett Miller, Aimee Mann), and boffo studio musician gigs (Macy Gray and many others), it’s easy to forget that Brion is a first-rate performer in his own right. As he put it, “I’ve had a high quality of distraction in my recent history.” You ain’t just whistlin’ Dixie, brother."
Good news. He promised he'd be going on tour (but said don't call it a "tour") this year. He even hinted at a week long residency in NYC. Be excited.
He's been involved with many, many recordings.
The Onion inerviewed him two years ago.
Jon is producing Kanye West's next album
He produced Fiona Apple's unreleased album.
Pitchfork's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Soundtrack Review
Pitchfork's I Heart Huckabees Soundtrack Review
Stylus' Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Soundtrack review
Unfortunately for Jon, his guitar broke in half after falling on the stage. Fortunately for us it was one of the highlights of the show. He played an entire song with the broken guitar. Note the strings hanging down in the following picture:
the Punch Drunk Love Soundtrack
lots of toys:
Did I mention Fran Lebowitz was in the audience?
Previously
Posted in music | pictures at 10:25 PM | Comments (49) | TrackBack
The Decemberists @ NYU | Pics | Part 1
I've seen the Decemberists so many times in so many different venues. I was lucky enough to see their first NYC appearance ever at Knitting Factory in May 2003. I followed them to Mercury Lounge, Luxx (now Trash), Bowery Ballroom, and Webster Hall. I had tickets to see them at Maxwells, but never used them (family emergency). I saw them in the NYC KEXP studios, and I saw them while I was in Atlanta, Georgia (at the Echo Lounge). I saw Colin play some solo shows at Fez. Last week (April 28th, 2005) I saw them at NYU's Kimmel Center.
Unfortunately, I don't think I'm making it to the sold out Irving Plaza show this Thursday, though I plan on checking them out at Warsaw in Brooklyn in May.
This is the first of at least two photosets from the NYI show. I'll call this one "The many faces of Colin Meloy."
Colin Meloy's Early Work to Be Released
Colin Meloy Appeared on Air America Radio
Posted in music | pictures at 9:39 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
Colin Meloy & Janeane Garofalo
I didn't see Stereogum's post about Colin Meloy's scheduled appearance on Air America until about five minutes before the show ended. I heard about a minute of talking, and "Eli the Barrow Boy." Looking forward to the MP3s when they appear.
Above photo posted about a minute later (which was about a minute ago) on the Majority Report Radio Blog.
Previously
Colin Meloy Solo @ Fez in a Blizzard | Pics
The Decemberists | 16 Military Wives Video
Posted in music at 9:27 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
This Week's NYC Music Picks are Up
You'll find some stuff in my Gothamist post today that I haven't had a chance to talk about here yet. The big one is Caribou, and the tickets still available for those shows. The other one is Jeff Hanson, and the fact that he's playing at 7:30 PM at Mercury Lounge on Saturday.
Stream an old Caribou performance
Posted in music at 7:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Roots Manuva @ Knitting Factory Saturday
I thought buying my ticket for Roots Manuva 2.5 months ago was a good move. Ends up I should have waited. Tickets are still on sale.
"Step 1: Start with the Voice. As the leading practitioner of U.K. rap, Roots Manuva (a.k.a. Rodney Smith) singlehandedly made British hip-hop credible – way before the Streets and Dizzee Rascal hit."
"Step 5: See Roots Manuva Live. Four out of five beat doctors agree that the current show (featuring live backing band The Manuvadelics) is “The Shiznit” (ex. F). Last year they rocked massive crowds at the Reading, Leeds, and Montreux Jazz festivals across the pond. Soon, Manuva will be appearing on a stage somewhat near you (only five North American dates, sorry!). However, this does present an opportunity to experience Roots Manuva thoroughly."
All tour dates:
May 1 @ Coachella
May 3 - Chicago @ Empty Bottle
May 5 - Toronto @ Lee's Palace
May 6 - Montreal @ La Tulipe
May 7 - New York City @ Knitting Factory
Posted in music at 1:48 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
May 1, 2005
Brooklyn: Coney Island & Neil Diamond
"The amusements of Coney Island are humming again, fewer than in their prime last century but certainly with a lively carny buzz, complete with freak show. Coaster buffs adore the Cyclone, and they should."
"Lundy's. The Lundy brothers are long gone (there's an interesting story there; you won't read it here), and it's had a ride bumpier than the Cyclone's—but the restaurant, its raw bar and its pure Brooklynism have survived.
Neil Diamond, I'm told, was a regular here. Woody Allen's picture with the owners is on the wall."
Brooklyn: A city that isn't stands on its own
-----
Neil Diamond plays MSG in NYC on August 18th, 2005. He's touring all over the place. Tickets are on sale. Internet Presale Password = Brooklyn
Neil Diamond is teaming with Rick Rubin.
Who's playing the Coney Island Siren Festival (on July 16th)?
Def Leppard & Bryan Adams are going on tour. They play Coney Island on July 9th.
The Big Summer Classic tour features The String Cheese Incident, Keller Williams, Michael Frenti & Spearhead, Yonder Mountain String Band, Umphry's McGee, and New Monsoon. They stop in Coney Island on July 21st.
Posted in NYC | music | music history at 9:22 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack
The Freakin Ligers are playing Bowery Ballroom
According to the Anti-Liger Alliance, Ligers are "half lion, half tiger, all terror." According to Bowery Ballroom, the Ligers are headlining a show there on Friday May 20th. Let's face it. The Ligers are not a band. If they do exist, they aren't headlining Bowery Ballroom on a Friday night. This one has secret show written all over it.
According to Let the Good Times Roll, "The special guest who is slated to perform at NY2LON gig at The Bowery Ballroom is none other than the Ligers. You’ll love it. Just go."
My question is whether I'll love it more than Andrew Bird @ Knitting Factory, Porcupine Tree at Iving Plaza, Angels of Light @ Northsix, and Psychic TV at The Hook. Oh the dilemmas.
Posted in music at 5:58 PM | Comments (14) | TrackBack
Pre-Order Annie Anniemal | As Seen in the NY Times
Annie's Anniemal is finally getting a U.S. releaes on June 7th. Pre-order it from Insound now.
You may know Annie from the NY Times...
"In the meantime, Annie may soon discover a downside to being American indie rockers' favorite pop princess. Hipsters who hailed her when she was obscure singer from an exotic Northern land may recoil if and when she starts jostling for "TRL" airtime with the Simpson sisters. But Annie has a decent handle on the fickleness and absurdities of pop taste.
"It's weird when people tell me that they like me but would never listen to Kylie Minogue or Britney. I'm not quite sure why, but I'm seen as, you know, somehow cool. My music is the pop that they're allowed to like." She smiles. "At least for the moment." "
Previously
Annie Doesn't Read Stereogum or Fluxblog (but should)
Posted in music at 5:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Man Killed Outside Bowery Ballroom
"Lam had been closing up the shop at 7:30 p.m. Friday when he emerged to see a young man sprawled faceup four paces away. The young man wore what turned out to be a white Yankees jersey, but the logo was obscured by the big bloodstain spreading across the front.
"Tall kid, good-looking kid, young kid," Lam recalled. "Moving a little bit, you know. I see him feeling pain. He's very, very hurt. Shaking."
Someone from the Bowery Ballroom was already there and was calling 911 from a cell phone. Lam had heard no gunshot and decided the young man must have been stabbed."
What can't be repaired AND Downtown death mystery AND Lower E. Side Horror
Posted in music at 12:39 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Ed Harcourt @ Pianos, NYC | Pics
Ed Harcourt recently finished a small east coast tour in small venues to support his new album (Strangers). I went to the April 20th, 2005 show at Pianos in NYC. Ed is a talented guy, but I was stuck in the way back, so I ended up listening to most of the show from the upstairs room where they play the performance from downstairs for free. It was OK. Not my favorite performer, but someone I definitely took the opportunity to see when someone offered me their extra ticket for free.
Tiny Mix Tapes gave Strangers a 3/5. PopMatters liked it more than that.
Posted in music | pictures at 12:45 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack