« June 2005 | Main | August 2005 »

July 31, 2005

Lou Reed & Laurie Anderson @ Joe's Pub | HOWL tix

HOWL!’S 3RD ANNUAL ALL-STAR CELEBRATION FEATURING LOU REED, LAURIE ANDERSON: A BENEFIT FOR HOWL! FESTIVAL OF EAST VILLAGE ARTS

Sunday August 28 @ Joe's Pub in NYC
9:30 PM, $50.00

Tickets available at The Public Theater box office or through Telecharge: www.telecharge.com or 212.239.6200.

"An evening of not-to-be missed readings by rock-n-roll's greatest poet laureates and lyrical luminaries. An evening of not to be missed of readings by some of rock's greatest poet laureates and lyrical luminaries, featuring East Village legends Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, and a bevy of guest stars."

Posted in music at 10:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Tim Fite Album Stream & NYC Show

Tim Fite replaced the MP3s that were available on his website with a full album stream (realplayer) of Gone Ain't Gone that comes out on September 25th.

Just the other day I said I wasn't interested in seeing Weird War at Mercury Lounge on Friday August 5th, but then they threw Tim Fite on the bill as opener. hmmm.

UPDATE: You really ought to stream this album. (I swear) (tell me what you think in the comments)

Previously
Tim Fite @ Joe's Pub, NYC | Pics
Tim Fite | Gone Ain't Gone | MP3s | CMJ 2005

Posted in To Do | music at 10:45 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Fashion Rocks Concert Sold Out

Oops. It looks like tickets for the Fashion Rocks concert at Radio City went on sale and sold out.

Posted in music at 11:55 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Amsterjam Linup Update

In addition to Snoop Dogg, Red Hot Chili Peppers, 311, Fat Joe, Garbage, and Mos Def... Wyclef Jean, Hector El Bambino, Antibalas, Grandmaster Flash, Fishbone, the Brought Low, Gogol Bordello, the Giraffes, Vic Thrill and Yerba Buena will also be playing Amsterjam on Randall's Island on August 20th.

Posted in music at 11:46 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Ted Leo, Debbie Harry, & more @ CBGB Monday night

Ted Leo's site says:
08-01-05
New York, NY
CBs Gallery
With: Swingin Neckbreakers; The Star Spangles; Doors: 9:30; $10; 16+ All proceeds will go to the Save CBGBs fund

08-01-05
New York, NY
CBGB
Ramones Jam:With: Handsome, The Rattlers, Debbie Harry, The Waldos, Swingin Neckbreakers, Star Spangles; Doors:7PM; all ages;
All proceeds will go to the Save CBGBs fund

CB's Gallery says:
MONDAY, AUGUST 1ST --- $10:
(Limited Advanced Tickets Available at Ticketweb)
Little Steven's Underground Garage Presents:
A CONCERT TO SAVE CBGB !!
Featuring:
TED LEO & THE PHARMACISTS
SWINGIN NECKBREAKERS
THE WILLOWZ
And More!
(A Small Amount of Tickets Will Also Be Available Day Of Show At The Door)

Posted in music at 8:52 AM | Comments (13) | TrackBack

July 30, 2005

Kidz Bop is for Indie Yuppies

In the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, David Browne gives the new Kidz Bop CD a C-...

"Those with only dim memories of kindergarten probably didn't become aware of this onslaught of discs until last year's Kidz Bop 7, with its chirpy cover of Modest Mouse's 'Float On' that did double duty as karaoke for kiddies and a novelty disc for indie yuppies." (thx heartonastick)

Previously
Download Franz Ferdinand Kidz Bop Style
Since You've Been Gone | Kidzbop Video
genre: indie-yuppie ?

Posted in music at 2:45 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Franz Ferdinand shot a video in NYC Yesterday

An extra at the video shoot told me that the video Franz Ferdinand filmed all day yesterday (June 29th, 2005) in a studio on by Hudson & Canal in NYC was for the song "Do You Want To" from Franz's next album. There was lots of choreographed dancing, and paid models, and unpaid extras, and an art museum scene, and Eleanor from the Fiery Furnaces was on site hangin' out.

You can download a live version of the song and a ton of other MP3s and even see pictures from the video shoot already at FRANZFERDINAND.ORG

And...
FF Encourage Fans to Download new live Tracks
Franz Ferdinand reveal all about fight
Execs Bribed Stations to play Franz
Fiery Furnaces in Coney Island, new albums & stuff

Posted in music at 1:07 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

The Offspring playing CBGB | Tix on Sale

I know Chevelle sells a lot of records (yet can't sell out CBGB in 11 days), and Gorilla Biscuits could probably sell out multiple nights at CBGB in a few minutes, but I think The Offspring are the biggest name officially announced playing a CBGB benefit concert. The show is on August 16th (three days after they play the Warped Tour at Randall's Island). Tickets are on sale.

Posted in music at 12:53 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

July 29, 2005

Regina Spektor @ Tonic, NYC | Pics

"After a while, she told her parents that she wanted to devote herself to music so she was going to quit her job and live at home. While this meant schlepping back and forth to the Bronx after late night gigs, Regina also knew that she needed to fully dedicate herself to her musical career. She gigged constantly, playing literally hundreds of shows in and around NYC, at such venues as the Sidewalk Café, the Living Room, Tonic, Fez, Knitting Factory, CB’s Gallery, and among others." [ifsm]

That was then. Since releasing her major label debut, Regina Spektor sold out the 500-capacity Bowery Ballroom and opened for Keane at Radio City Music Hall. On Wednesday July 27th she returned to the much smaller Tonic to raise some money for an anti-gun violence organization called PAX. The 8:00 show start at 9:30 with a video about guns. Regina's magic ended around 10:50 which was just enough time for me to get to Mercury Lounge to see sell my tickets to Scissor Sisters.

Posted in music | pictures at 5:40 PM | Comments (17) | TrackBack

Rolling Stone Links

Gawker: Jann Wenner reality show
NY Times: With One Ace, Jann Wenner Doubles Down
Telegraph: Founding Editor Of Rolling Stone Susan Lydon RIP
BBC: Rolling Stones Back with a Bang
Rolling Stone: An Interview with Roger Waters

Posted in music at 4:26 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Antony Blasphemy from the Blogosphere

The Antony show at Town Hall last night was not lacking in bloggers.

* Manic Mess was the person (people) I saw leave early. I seriously couldn't believe it. The people who moved into her seats before the encore were happy.
* Central Village says NOT "best show ever."
* Modern Age accuses me of "stealing" and "climbing."

On the other hand....

"The concert was truly spectacular, just magically good--it was at the Town Hall, every seat was full and everyone in the audience was completely mesmerized," says Jenny D

"Antony and the Johnsons was the most beautiful concert I've ever seen, with the most silent, enthusiastic, attentive, obedient audience I've ever seen, which is really something because it was 4,000 hipsters," says Pigeon in the Sun

"Antony’s set was a retrospective ranging from songs off his first EP The Lake (“Fistful of Love” and the title track) to cuts off of I Am A Bird Now - but the highlight was definitely the grip of covers Antony and Co. kept springing on us. We’re talking Leonard Cohen’s “The Guests”, some Nico and some Moondog, and the encore tear-fest that was Lou Reed’s “Candy Says.” Catharsis!" says Fader

" I was a lil wary that his holyfuckingshit!, amazingly adaptive timbre would translate to the stage. I quickly realized I was a fucking retard." says Michael

BEST SHOW EVER (for now)

Posted in music at 3:56 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Antony & The Johnsons @ Town Hall, NYC | Pic/Review/Highlights

Antony & The Johnsons played with CocoRosie last night (July 28th, 2005) at Town Hall in NYC.

Do you have good pictures? Let me know, and I'll post them (if you let me). Like Jeff, my seat was not in view of Antony's face. I had a great view of the Johnsons and the back of his piano though. I have the set list and a few pictures, but not with me (for a future update).

* Best...show...ever
* Antony played (encored with) "Candy Says" by Lou Reed. (the song is based on Andy Warhol star Candy Darling. Candy Darling is on the cover of Antony's new CD which Lou Reed makes a guest appearance on)
* He played a song by Nico. (Nico played with Lou Reed in the Velvet Underground)
* He played "the guest" by Leonard Cohen. Rob Moose (Antony's "right hand man") sang backing vocals. It was one of my favorite moments of the show.
* He also played a song by Moondog. He likes covers.
* Joan Wasser aka Joan as Policewoman wasn't playing with the Johnsons.
* No offense to Nomi (she's good), but the most disappointing moment was Nomi (instead of Antony) singing Antony's part in Beautiful Boyz during CocoRosie's opening set.
* Two dudes from Tarantula were on cello and drums for CocoRosie. (Tarantula play on Devendra Banhart's new album. Devendra sings on Antony's last album. Last time I saw Devendra @ Tonic, CocoRosie & Tarantula joined him on stage to cover Antony's "Fistful of Love." A studio recorded cover of the same song by Devendra appears on the "The Believer's Covers Compilation")
* No special guests on stage with Antony this time.
* During one magic moment, Antony had the whole crowd humming along to a new(?) acapella song.
* Antony said he was a cavewoman in a previous life.
* He extended "Bird Girl" into three parts. First he played just the music on piano as he cleverly introduced each of his band members. He said that Jeff Langston was his caveman in a previous life. Part two was an improvised 'I am/was your cavewoman' song (humorously aimed at Jeff). Part three was the real song.
* As noted on jason's livejournal, Antony was as funny as usual.
* Above photo courtesy of Central Village.

Previously
Brooks featuring Antony on Vocals | MP3
Antony, Andrew Bird, Daniel Johnston | Video documentary
Antony & The Johnsons / CocoRosie @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC | Pics
Lou Reed @ Antony @ Tibet House Benefit | Pics
Antony & The Johnsons @ Joe's Pub, NYC | Pics

Posted in music at 1:06 PM | Comments (13) | TrackBack

Interpol Tour Dates and pre-sale

No NYC dates yet, but Interpol is playing a bunch of North American dates in other places in September and there's a pre-sale for those happening now.

Posted in music at 12:20 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

The Go! Team Tour Dates | Webster Hall in Nov.

"Fresh off the 1-2 punch of a triumphant Intonation Festival performance and the inking of a one-album deal with Columbia, the Go! Team will have their fantasmic Thunder, Lightning, Strike album re-released and tour North America in support of it.

The new version of the LP will add a pair of tracks, "Hold Yr Terror Close" and "We Just Won't Be Defeated". The former originally appeared on the "The Power Is On" single while the latter is previously unreleased." [Pitchfork]

Tour Dates:
10-14 Houston, TX - Engine Room
10-15 Dallas, TX - Trees
10-16 Austin, TX - Emo's
10-18 Phoenix, AZ - Clubhouse
10-19 San Diego, CA - Casbah
10-20 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey
10-23 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
10-24 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
10-25 Seattle, WA - Showbox
10-28 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
10-29 Chicago, IL - Metro
10-30 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Theatre
10-31 Montreal, Quebec - La Tulipe
11-01 Boston, MA - Paradise
11-02 New York, NY - Webster Hall

Previously
The Go! Team @ Canal Room, NYC | Pics
Monday Night | Red Wine Boys, Yo La Tengo, The Go! Team

Posted in music at 11:43 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Gza | Tour Dates & Wu Tang & Stuff

"GZA (pronounced jizza, aka The Genius, born Gary Grice August 22, 1966 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American rapper and member of the Wu-Tang Clan. GZA is, along with Ghostface Killah, widely considered the best rapper in the nine-person clan, and his solo work has been critically acclaimed." [Wikipedia]

"The highlight for me was hearing Liquid Swords by the GZA. Damn."
- says Prefix in their review of Prince Paul @ Pianos

Gza is playing Knitting Factory in LA on August 18th and the Hook in Brooklyn, NY on August 20th. Tickets are on sale.

And...
Wu-Tang to Collaborate With Indie Hip-Hop Elite
Hip-Hop & Rap Calabo: DJ Muggs vs GZA Grandmasters
Stylus reviews Prefuse 73 featuring Gza
Raekwon Rebuilding 'Cuban Linx' With Wu Mates

Posted in music at 10:52 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

Alec Ounswoth, Harlem Shakes, Head Set, Cool Calm Pete, Prince Paul

The lineup downstairs at Pianos in NYC Tuesday night went:
Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Head Set, The Harlem Shakes, Cool Calm Pete, and Prince Paul of De La Soul. (upstairs was Cross Pollination)

Yeti Don't Dance talks about Alec --> Harlem Shakes
Prefix discusses Cool Calm Pete --> Prince Paul

And...
Sixeyes highlights the Harlem Shakes
Buck 65 cites Prince Paul as an influence

Posted in music at 10:27 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Gorilla Biscuits @ CBGB Sold Out?

Clearly the most popular CBGB benefit show is Gorilla Biscuits on August 14th, 2005. I read on another site that there wouldn't be advanced tickets. Then there were no tickets when the other shows went on sale. Then I woke up to an inbox full of emails about this. Here are some excerpts...

"i checked ticketweb at 2:00 and there were no new cbgb benefit shows on sale. at 445 it said that Gorilla Biscuits/ Black Train Jack would go on sale at 5:00. At 5:03, all the tickets were sold out. i didnt see or hear info about this onsale time anywhere and still, 350 tickets sold out in 3 mins..."

"We totally blew it on the Gorilla Biscuits tickets."

"I refreshed every 2 seconds, literally, and nothing happened until a few minutes after 5. At 5:03 it started jumping back and forth from "Tickets Not On Sale Yet" to "No Tickets Available Through Ticketweb". I knew they'd go fast, but there was some kind of glitch in the Ticketweb process. There was never a "Buy Tickets" option, and even if everyone jumped in before me there's no reason for the site to go back and forth saying the sale hasn't started to the tickets are gone."
-------

The good news is, I'm almost positive CBGB isn't selling all the tickets for any of the shows in advance. They sell about 150 (number taken from comments on previous post) and the rest are at the door. AND, if we ask nicely, maybe Walter (and band) will play more than one show.

Posted in music at 9:54 AM | Comments (18) | TrackBack

July 28, 2005

Mu played PS1 in NYC

MU @ PS1 - July 23rd, 2005

I really wanted to check out Mu @ PS1 on Saturday, but I didn't. Verbose Coma did though.

Posted in music at 4:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Lots of Live Andrew Bird for Download & album stream

On April 19th, 2005 I noted that Andrew Bird was added to the Internet Archive. Today I noticed a link on LHB to a live show from April for download. Further inspection revealed ALMOST 70 LIVE ANDREW BIRD SHOWS FOR DOWNLOAD THERE.

* The earliest is a cassette recording from January 1st, 1998.
* The most recent is a soundboard recording from May 1st, 2005 in Amsterdam.
* The most recent NYC show was live on WMFU in 2003.

* Andrew Bird & Keren Ann played Bowery Ballroom in NYC last week. I wasn't happy to miss it. Mike Powell wasn't happy to see it.
* Stream his entire new album.

Previously
Andrew Bird & other recommended albums
A video of Andrew Bird @ Intonation
Lots of Live Spoon for Download | Webster Hall, etc...

Posted in music at 3:19 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Payola 2005

"In the music industry, the practice of record companies paying money for the broadcast of records on music radio is called payola, but only if the song is presented as being part of the normal day's broadcast." [Wikipedia]

I didn't jump right on the Payola scandal because it didn't phase me. I thought it was common knowledge that big media worked together. The same people who own the record labels own the radio stations own the venues own the tv stations own the newspapers own the billboards own the movie studios own everything....

The minor detail of Sony getting caught paying bribes to radio stations and in turn paying a relatively small fine seemed interesting, but not shocking...so I was happy when I read what Coolfer wrote about it today and Stereogum did a good job highlighting some of the humor (Franz Ferdinand's connection to the scandal included).

And...
Payola is dead! Now what will we listen to?
Pay for Play; Why does radio suck?
A history of Payola
Payola at Wikipedia

Posted in music at 2:25 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Scissor Sisters & CYHSY at Mercury Lounge last night

Regina Spektor played Tonic last night (July 27, 2005) (photos to follow).
Scissor Sisters (Portion Control), Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Maxi Geil played Mercury Lounge.

My plan was to see Regina @ Tonic followed by Scissor Sisters @ ML. I have/had enough chances to CYHSY this summer (and honestly Maxi wasn't considered in the equation). Regina's set was thoroughly satisfying, as was Scissor Sisters (Bridget Jones) two weeks ago at Mercury Lounge. With that in mind, I sold my tickets to someone hoping for a miracle outside Mercury Lounge at 11:00 (right b4 SS went on).

Fluxblog was at the show...
"Have no fear, Scissor Sisters fans - their next album is going to be fabulous. All six of the new songs performed last night were instantly catchy and lovable, especially the jaunty banjo romp "Can't Decide" and "Everybody Wants The Same Thing," which received the most rapturous audience response to an unreleased song that I've ever witnessed..."

"Clap Your Hands Say Yeah didn't seem quite right coming between the stylish, high energy disco pop sets by Maxi Geil and the Scissor Sisters, but outside of that context, they played a fine if not particularly memorable set of songs that recalled at various points David Byrne, Jonathan Richman, Violent Femmes, and all manner of indie pop from Elephant Six to 80s New Zealand to present-day Pacific Northwest but mainly sounded like the Arcade Fire crossbred with The Shins. (Not such a shock that they would catch on so quickly given that math, right?)..."

What Was So Scary Once Is Now A Little Bit Quaint

Previously
National/CYHSY @ Warsaw (Brooklyn) tix on sale
Scissor Sisters (Bridget Jones) @ Mercury Lounge, NYC | Pics
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ Mercury Lounge | Pics

Posted in music at 1:35 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

iPod making you Hallucinate?

"A Welsh psychiatrist has claimed that some iPod users are experiencing what he calls 'musical hallucinations' Dr Victor Aziz said that the effect can occur when people spend many hours listening to the same songs." [vnunet]

Posted in music at 1:01 PM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

Free Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players show/filming

The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players are filming a live DVD on Friday July 29th from 1:30 to 6:00pm at the Lambs Theatre in NYC. To be in the audience for free, RSVP to audience4321@yahoo.com.

Previously
Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players Off Broadway

Posted in To Do | music at 12:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Back Up Your Hard Drive

I just figured out that I haven't done a proper backup of anything on my computer in about 18 months. I always tell myself, "you really need to back up all your pictures and music and stuff." Above photo of my home computer that no longer starts as of last night.

Posted in general at 12:37 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

The 2005 CMJ Keynote Speaker is Reverend Run

"It has been a long road for Reverend Run. From the basements of his Queens, New York homeland where he once spun records as Kurtis Blow's DJ to performing in front of worldwide audiences as a premier rapper, this pioneer has seen more than most." [CMJ]

Previously
CMJ 2005 Showcases | Lineup
CMJ 2005 Acts (and more to be announced)

Posted in CMJ | music at 12:33 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Pelican | The Fire in our throats will beckon the thaw

I started to write a post about Pelican yesterday. I was hoping to have it up before they played Knitting Factory in NYC last night (July 27th, 2005). I never made it (with the post or to the show). I was listening to the full album stream and wasn't blown away, SO I wasn't even gonna bother posting this today until I saw that Pitchfork posted their review of the album today. There's nothing really weird about that except that I was going to link to that review yesterday. A search for "Pelican" turned up the (what I now find out was an) unpublished review (sort of interesting...to someone). The rest of Pelican's tour dates at Myspace.

Posted in music at 12:05 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Misfits Tour & play CBGB Benefit

It would be great if Danzig, Doyle, and Jerry would get together for a CBGB benefit show and do a real Misfits reunion. That's not happening.

Instead, the Jerry-led new-Misifts are playing a benefit at CBGB on August 12th (tickets now on sale) and Dazig and Doyle are doing a 30 minute "Misfits Reunion" set on the Blackest of the Black tour this fall.

You can also catch the new-Misifts at Hellfest on August 19th, at Starland Ballroom in NJ on Oct. 29th, at Bergen Performing Arts Center on Oct. 30th, and on Halloween at BB King's.

Previously
The Exploited playing CBGB and Brooklyn Music Terminal
CBGB Benefit Concerts on sale now

Posted in music at 11:48 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

July 27, 2005

Mike Smith of The Dave Clark Five Tribute Show

A TRIBUTE TO MIKE SMITH Featuring:
THE ZOMBIES, PETER & GORDON(Reunited for the first time in 35 years), DENNY LAINE, BILLY J. KRAMER, THE FAB FAUX
Hosted by PAUL SHAFFER
Additional guests TBA
Proceeds to benefit Mike Smith

August 2, 2005 7:30 PM and 11:00 PM @ BB King's in NYC (early show sold out)

GA TIX: $75 - 1st come, 1st seated. Once seats are gone, SRO only at bar for GA ticket holders
RESERVED SEATS: $100 - These tix seated 1st come, 1st serve in front row/floor booths
* THE $150.00 VIP TIX ARE SOLD OUT!
* This show will be recorded live for DVD

As lead singer and keyboardist with the Dave Clark 5, Mike Smith's distinctive voice dominated the international airwaves from 1964 to 1971 as the DC5 accumulated 30 global hit singles, most written by Clark and Smith, including "Glad All Over" and "Bits And Pieces." The group sold more than 100 million records, and made a record setting 18 appearances on CBS TV's ED SULLIVAN SHOW.

The Zombies, acknowledged by the Los Angeles Times Poll in the mid-90s as one of Britain's All-Time Top 10 Bands alongside The Beatles, Stones, Who and Led Zeppelin. Admired by contemporaries Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and The Byrds, and cited as hugely inspirational by artists as diverse as Pat Metheny and Tom Petty, the Zombies remain one of pop's most influential and revered bands.

Peter & Gordon's string of 17 chart records in the US began in 1964 with "World Without Love" (written by Paul McCartney) which was number one around the world and went on to include "I Go to Pieces", "Woman", "True Love Ways", "Lady Godiva" and more. Their particularly English take on close harmony singing made them a significant part of the first wave of the British Invasion.

The Fab Faux are without a doubt the most musically satisfying Beatles tribute band on the scene today. Boasting the high visibility of TV star/musicians Will Lee from The Late Show with David Letterman and Jimmy Vivino from Late Night with Conan O'Brien; five strong lead vocalists (including Rich Pagano, Frank Agnello, Jack Petruzzelli) and a commitment to the accurate reproduction of The Beatles' repertoire; this is the band to see if you want to know what it might have been like if The Beatles toured behind their later albums (with a healthy portion of the early guitar-based stuff that most tribute bands play.) Imagine hearing complex material like "Strawberry Fields Forever", "I Am the Walrus", and "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite", performed in complete part-perfect renditions; or such harmony-driven songs as "Because", "Nowhere Man", and "Paperback Writer", reproduced not only note-for-note, but with extra vocalists available to achieve a double-tracked effect!

Paul Shaffer has been David Letterman's musical director and sidekick for over 21 years.

* All Proceeds To Benefit Mike Smith, whose neck was broken in an accident, leaving him tetraplegic (paralyzed below the ribcage with limited use of his upper body).

Posted in music at 5:06 PM | Comments (26) | TrackBack

The Exploited playing CBGB and Brooklyn Music Terminal

"The Exploited are a seminal punk rock group, from the so-called "second wave" of U.K. punk. They formed early 1980 in Edinburgh and after signing to Secret Records in March 1981 they released their debut album Punk's Not Dead. Despite seemingly countless line-up changes over the years, the band has managed to maintain, develop, and evolve a highly influential style of punk. Frontman Wattie Buchan has led the many members through over 20 years of constant gigging and recording, creating a worldwide following in the process." [Wikipedia]

The Exploited play CBGB on Sept. 8th (no advanced tix on sale right now) and Brooklyn Music Terminal on Sept. 10th (tickets on sale)

Posted in music at 4:52 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Kid Dynamite, Damnation AD, Lifetime Reunions | None More Black

"Another week, another announcment of a Jade Tree band coming out of retirement. This time, it's Kid Dynamite.

The label confirmed that Kid Dynamite, which splintered to become Paint it Black and None More Black, will reunite to play the at one of benefit shows scheduled to help New York’s CBGB’s stay in business. Like the rest of the club’s relief efforts, Kid Dynamite’s date has yet to be pinned down (already sold out?).

Damnation AD, another Jade Tree act, also will get on the reunion bandwagon, reuniting for a show at this year’s Hellfest. Those two bands join Lifetime, which will play a one-off show at Hellfest, and The Promise Ring, who come out of retirement for a one-off gig at Chicago’s Flower 15 festival." [Aversion]

* In related news, None More Black play Knitting Factory on August 19th with Planes Mistaken for Stars.
* Here's the pictures I took of None More Black @ KF last year.
* Lifetime join Public Enemy at Hellfest

Posted in music at 4:12 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

CBGB Benefit Concerts on sale now

Tickets are on sale for Dead Boys, Anti-Nowhere League, Sham 69, Flipper, Conflict, Circle Jerks, Zero Boys, Electric Frankenstein, etc... Tickets appear to be sold out for Kid Dynamite (which I didn't even know was happening till right now...) and Against Me.

Posted in music at 3:12 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

David Cross not Opening NYC Club

Gothamist received this note today:

So in a bit of bad news, it appears the boys and I are not going to get the bar. There are a couple of factors that led to this, but simply put; A group of well-meaning but naive friends who get some money together to buy a bar and turn it into a performance space is no match for a group of well-established and experienced business's with deep pockets. There was nothing underhanded or anything like that, there was just no way we could match the other offer without enormous risk to us so that be that. We're all very disappointed, but we will regroup and keep on looking until we are able to find something somewhere. As God is my witness, you will never go hungry again!

Sorry again,
David Cross, et all.

He's still DJing though

Posted in NYC | comedy | music at 2:56 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Gothic Links

* Bauhaus Reforming
* Siouxsie & the Banshees Reissues Coming
* Watch the trailer for Tim Buron's Corpse Bride
* Dead Can Dance | Touring, Live CDs, & New Songs
* Marilyn Manson talks new short films and more
* Danzig, Doyle, & Mortiis touring
* Nine Inch Nails @ Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC | Pics

Posted in music at 2:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Mountain Goats Tour Dates, Tickets, & Stuff

* I totally forgot to add the new Mountain Goats CD to my Insound list. It probably would of knocked at least one of those CDs off.
* Tickets are on sale for the Mountain Goats show at Bowery Ballroom in NYC on October 29th and two more October shows in Illinois.
* None of those dates are listed on the Mountain Goats tour page yet.
* I completely missed (posting and seeing) the recent shows The Mountain Goats performed on a roof in Williamsburg.

Posted in music at 12:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Recommended Albums for Insound

Insound asked me to submit a list of recommended albums for their newsletter this week. I called it "Brooklynvegan's 10 Recent Albums You Should Own in Addition to Clap Your Hands, Sufjan, M.I.A., and Bloc Party." For this site I'll add "...that are available at Insound." (they don't sell Cloud Cult for instance)

Here's my list:
("The following albums are 15% off until August 9th. No coupon needed.")
* Andrew Bird, Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs
* Jeff Hanson, Jeff Hanson
* M Ward, Transistor Radio
* Antony and the Johnsons, I Am a Bird Now
* Annie, Anniemal
* Stars, Set Yourself on Fire
* Feist, Let It Die
* Thunderbirds Are Now!, Justamoustache
* Magneta Lane, The Constant Lover
* Kimya Dawson, Hidden Vagenda

And one more, for good measure:
* Chin Up Chin Up, We Should Never Have Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers

* Read the newsletter. They called me a a hipster.
* And don't forget all new customers still get 25% off any order.

Posted in music at 11:29 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Fiery Furnaces in Coney Island, new albums & stuff

Above photo of The Fiery Furnaces hangin' in front of the Cyclone in Coney Island available as a big wallpaper sized image. As confirmed by my candid non-stage shots of the FF, that picture was taken at Siren 2004. (via thighmaster)

"The band (fiery furnaces) will release a new CD this fall entitled “Rehearsing My Choir”. It’s the first of two new CDs coming soon from the band ...The band is playing Austin City Limits Festival on September 24th and the Airwaves Festival in Reykjavik Iceland on October 21/22..." [fieryfurnaces.net]

And here's some huge pictures of Kimya Dawson, Adam Green, and The Aracde Fire just for the hell of it.

And...
Fiery Furnaces drummer playing with Franz Ferdinand
Listen to unreleased FF songs
Photos from Siren 2005

Posted in music at 11:07 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Antony tells amNY he loves Cat Power

Today's amNewYork newspaper published a short interview with Antony.

Q: If you could listen to one CD for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A: Cat Power. The Covers Record.

The rest of the interview is on page 20 of the paper (PDF). Antony is at Town Hall in NYC Thursday night.

Also
Bruce Springsteen Hearts Four Tet
Kaiser Chiefs say Antony doesn't belong

Posted in music at 10:22 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Coldplay's Chris Martin voted Sexiest Vegetarian

"The veggie voters have spoken, and American Idol winner Carrie Underwood and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin have been selected as PETA’s 2005 “World’s Sexiest Vegetarians,” narrowly edging out a host of other veggie Valentinos and Venuses, including David Duchovny, Reese Witherspoon, Joss Stone, Avril Lavigne, Joaquin Phoenix, and Prince, as well as previous winners Tobey Maguire, Andre 3000, Josh Hartnett, Alicia Silverstone, Natalie Portman, and Shania Twain." [PETA] (thx Neuman)

Posted in music | veggie at 10:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

What is a Hipster?

According to Wikipedia...
"A hipster is a person who is strongly associated with a subculture that has been deemed "hip", or "hep". The term was used originally in the 1940s and 1950s to describe aficionados of jazz, and it eventually described many members of the Beat Generation, but its usage declined in the 1960s, with the advent of hippies. Since the mid 1990s, the word "hipster" has been redefined to refer to members of a different subculture. Modern hipsters are those devoted to ironic retro fashions, indie music and film, alternative comics, and other forms of expression outside the mainstream.

More generally, trendsetters in fashion are sometimes called hipsters. though this use is distinct from the hipster subculture, whose fashion sensibilities are specific and not usually destined for the mainstream"

Can you be a hipster if you don't dress in ironic retro fashions? Can you be a hipster if you don't listen to indie music? Do hipsters go to Misshapes or read Pitchfork, or both? Am I a hipster? Help me out.

Related Links
The Non-Expert: Hipster, by Andrew Womack
Hipster Bingo
The Hipster Handbook
The Hipster Generation

Posted in music at 9:07 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

July 26, 2005

Arcade Fire. Bowie, & Shakira @ Radio City?

"On Thursday, September 8, Condé Nast Media Group will host the second annual FASHION ROCKS at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. This star-studded night of style and sound will include performances by artists David Bowie, Destiny’s Child, Duran Duran, Billy Idol, Alicia Keys, Tim McGraw, Nelly, Shakira, Gwen Stefani, Joss Stone, The Arcade Fire, and Rob Thomas." [thx Catherine]

UPDATE: Arcade Fire performed with Bowie

Posted in music at 6:29 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

Danzig/Doyle/Mortiis/Chimaira 2005 tour dates

As previously reported, Danzig & Doyle are touring this fall. They hit NYC on October 17th at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square. Keep reading for all Blackest of the Black tour dates...

BLACKEST OF THE BLACK TOUR 2005

SEPTEMBER
30 FRI. SAN DIEGO, CA. SOMA
OCTOBER
1 SAT. LAS VEGAS, NV. HARD ROCK/THE JOINT
2 SUN. SAN FRANCISCO, CA. BACKYARD AT THE POUND
4 TUES. SEATTLE, WA. PREMEIR
6 THUR. SPOKANE, WA. THE BIG EASY
7 FRI. BOISE, ID. THE BIG EASY
8 SAT. BOZEMAN, MT. VALLEY ICE GARDEN
10 MON. TBA
11 TUES. CLEVELAND, OH. HOUSE OF BLUES
12 WED. DETROIT, MI. HARPO'S
14 FRI. BUFFALO, N. Y. THE DOME
15 SAT. MONTREAL, QUE. THE MEDLEY
17 MON. NYC, N.Y. NOKIA THEATRE
18 TUES. PROVIDENCE, R.I. THE STRAND AT LUPO'S
19 WED. ATLANTIC CITY, NJ. HOUSE OF BLUES
21 FRI. ATLANTA, GA. EARTHLINK LIVE
22 SAT. FT. LAUDERDALE, FL. REVOLUTION
23 SUN. KISSIMMEE, FL. HARD ROCK
25 TUES. NEW ORLEANS, LA. TWI ROPA
26 WED. DALLAS, TX. NOKIA THEATRE
27 THUR. SAN ANTONIO, TX. SUNKEN GARDENS
29 SAT.LOS ANGELES, CA. UNIVERSAL AMPHITHEATRE

Previously
Trend Alert | Danzig's Mother
Danzig / Misfits Reunion NYC Pics | Part 2 | Pics

Posted in music at 6:17 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Moral Threat aka Social Distortion | Shows & Pre-sale

Social Distortion is playing NYC at the Nokia Theater in Times Square on October 4th and 5th. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster now under the name "Moral Threat."
* October 4th
* October 5th

More tour dates at their site.

Posted in music at 6:14 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack

Nokia Theatre Times Square (1515 Broadway)

"Filling the former space of a Loews movie theater in the Viacom building—after undergoing a $15 million renovation—the Nokia Theatre Times Square is a joint venture between the mobile communications giant and AEG, the Los Angeles-based sports and entertainment presenter. Designed by the Rockwell Group, the site will be suitable not only for live performances and awards shows, but also conferences, trade shows, and dinners. The auditorium will feature undulating walls, a quilt-patterned ceiling covered in a veil of metal mesh, and six Swarovski crystal chandeliers." [BizBash]

Posted in NYC | music at 6:01 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Upcoming NYC shows/tickets with commentary

Prince Paul with Cool Calm Pete, Harlem Shakes, Head Set & Alec Ounsworth @ Pianos TONIGHT. Prince Paul of De La Soul, Gravediggaz & Handsome Boy Modeling School headlining, Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah opening, and what appears to be a solid lineup in between. (not properly highlighted in my Gothamist post this week)

Shout Out Louds & The Redwalls @ Mercury Lounge on August 7th: I never got past my first few listens of the Shout Out Louds CD, but I know a lot of people are excited for this show that was added after the August 8th one sold out.

Weird War & Good Morning @ Mercury Lounge on August 5th: I lost all interest in Weird War after seeing them play the Drag City Christmas Party at Bowery Ballroom in December 2004.

Smog and Feathers @ Bowery Ballroom on August 8th. I like his music, and I've especially been digging the new album, but after also seeing Smog at the Drag City Christmas Party, I'm not very motivated to spend $15 on his own headlining show.

Wilderness @ Mercury Lounge on August 26th: I want to go to this show. I don't have a solid opinion on this band yet, but have listnened to the album a few times since Pitchfork added them to their 'Best New Music.'

Hot Snakes @ Bowery Ballroom on August 9th. Their last NYC show ever.

Q and Not U @ Knitting Factory on Sept 20th early & Sept 20th late. Their last NYC shows ever.

"After a six-year hiatus, the Olivia Tremor Control reformed to play at the Vincent Gallo-curated All Tomorrow's Parties in England this past April; now, they've announced select tour dates in the U.S." [Pitchfork] @ Bowery Ballroom August 2nd & 3rd.

Xiu Xiu & Frog Eyes & Yellow Swans @ Bowery Ballroom September 2nd. I'm a fan of both Xiu Xiu and Frog Eyes. Their live shows are great, so there's a good chance I'll be at this show.

Benevento Russo Duo plus Drums & Tuba @ Bowery Ballroom on September 8th. My jam band lovin' friend insists I not miss this.

Seu Jorge @ Bowery Ballroom on September 11th & 12th. See previous post.

Posted in To Do | music at 3:28 PM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

Moby, Gothamist, & Stereogum win Forbes awards

For what its worth, Forbes Magazine named their favorite blogs. Gothamist got best city blog, with shout-outs to other New York favorites like Forgotten NY & Newyorkology.

An iPod/iTunes site won best music blog with Moby, David Byrne, Stereogum, and Arjan listed among the runner-ups. Unfortunately they left out Largehearted Boy who led me to this story.

Gawker got a nod in the best media blog category, and the literary blog category is full of those book bloggers I saw speak at Housing Works.

Posted in NYC | books | music at 2:14 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Cross-Pollination | Q&A w/ Wes & Jay of Liberated Matter

A peak at the Pianos's NYC show calendar reveals a free weekly upstairs Tuesday night party called ("ASCAP/
LIBERATED MATTER present") Cross Pollination. Those paying attention to the comments section on my site will recognize the name Wes. Wes is one half of Liberated Matter (Jay is the other). I wanted to know more about Cross-Pollination so I asked them a few questions...

What, where and when is Cross-Pollination?

Jay: Cross-Pollination is a weekly Tuesday night concert series/showcase/party that brings together two of the best songwriters the city and region have to offer. Since our recent move to Pianos we've also featured full bands. The artists each play a solo set, then join each other on stage to play a shorter, pre-rehearsed collaborative set. It was conceived in a spirit of artistic community and maintains that vibe to the present. I don't know any other place on a Tuesday where I can hear consistently great music, get consistently sauced and flirt with consistently beautiful women.

Wes: We enjoy pairing up the artists in interesting combinations. It's most fun that way, leads to interesting and unexpected creative results and new friendships on and off-stage. That has really seeped into the audience experience as well. We have seen songs written especially for the night, ep's of the event, mutual covers, etc. It takes place every Tuesday at Pianos (Upstairs) [directions], 8pm-10pm. It's also a monthly event in Philadelphia at the World Cafe Live, resuming in September after a summer break.

How long have you been doing it?

Jay: Tonight is number 60 is a series of infinity. We've only missed two or three weeks due to a scheduling conflict and a venue move, so we've been doing it for about 63 weeks. The first one took place on May 4th, 2004!

I know past Cross-Pollinations have featured current stars like Kimya Dawson and Jaymay. Can you name a few other big artists you've featured?

Jay & Wes: Kevin Devine, Jeffrey Lewis, Langhorne Slim, Sylvie Lewis, Andre Herman Dune, Paleface, Granian, Dave Deporis, Kristin Diable, The Animators, Nicole Atkins, Ian Thomas, Jason Trachtenburg, etc. etc.

What was your most memorable Cross-Pollination experience?

Wes: Hmm, I'd say the Kimya Dawnson/Paleface collaboration with a whole set of newly written songs was very special. Seeing Jaymay hold a note for about a full minute once during her performance was quite spectacular as well.

Jay: For me it was probably one of our big alumni shows where Casey Shea and Jeff Jacobson (of the Undisputed Heavyweights) did a rendition of the entire second half of Abbey Road. Or when Jason Trachtenburg ended his show in punk style, knocking the mic over and trying to bash these wooden flame decorations with his guitar.

How can people stay informed of locations and lineups?

Wes: They can sign up for the mailing list HERE, check the calendar on our website at LiberatedMatter.com. Or really the best way is to drop by Pianos every Tuesday right before 8pm and know that every week we'll have something special. :)

Remaining Summer 2005 Schedule:
July 26th: Theo Eastwind & Ellie Lawson (THATS TONIGHT)
Aug 2nd: Louis & Nicole Atkins
Aug 9th: TBA
Aug 16th: John Floor & Greg Fine
Aug 23rd: TBA
Aug 30th: Tim Williams & Ruth Gerson

Previously
Jaymay @ The Living Room, NYC | Pics
Kimya Dawson @ Sidewalk Cafe, NYC | Pics

Posted in interviews | music at 12:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Seeking Extras for Dance Rock Music Video in NYC

"Seeking male and female East Village/Williamsburg type hipster indie rocker types, 18-26, mixed ethinicties to be in music video shooting this Saturday, July 30th. Talent should be able to supply their own wardrobe - stylish, edgy, hip, rock n' roll."

"Also looking for about 20 Caucasian Wall-street types, male and female, 20s-40's available for shoot on Sunday, July 30th. Talent should have business suit/work attire.

Note: If the hipster types have business attire, they can be considered for the Wall Street scene on Sunday as well.

The video is for an up and coming dance rock band, COUSIN will be featuring actor Brendan Sexton III (Boys Don't Cry, Welcome To The Dollhouse, Empire Records), actress Paz De La Heurta (The Cider House Rules, Riding In Cars With Boys) and more talent TBA.

Please e-mail photo, age, name, and contact info to cousincontact@hotmail.com to be considered."

Shoots: Saturday, July 30th and/or Sunday, July 31st
Location: NYC
Rate: Non-paid, food provided on set
Submission deadline: Saturday, July 30th

Posted in music at 11:34 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

Lightning Bolt @ Tonic, NYC | Pics by JP

I missed the Lightning Bolt show at Tonic in NYC Friday night (July 22nd, 2005), but JP Gutierrez was there. These are his pics and words...

"The lower east side had a calm Friday afternoon as if to expect the stormy night at Tonic's where Lightning Bolt ripped into the night. Touring with Afrirampo, a Japenese duo of guitar and drum in a 60's nasty psych rock, as support, the band took the floor with some difficulties."

"The drummer, Brian, explained to the crowd of chipsters and hippies, that a cable was out and needed a minute or two. Meanwhile the bassist, Brian, went through a series of sound checks that went from louder to louder with fuzz, to louder with fuzz and blow your hair back."

"The night kicked off with Dracula Mountain, and set the mood for a sweaty neck snappin time."

" As the jam session went on, Brian moved his kit from the side of the floor to near the center where he was immediately enclosed by the legion of fans. The show seemed to last a hearbeat, having played for about an hour or so, the crowd demanded more, but the peanut butter pie which was a birthday pie for Brian had found it's way to smothering the crash cymbals."

"Brian sternly said, "That's It!", and looked at his crowd and knew he more than satisfied the crowd with the flash of the lightning bolt."

And...
Tale of Two Cities on a 2004 Lightning Bolt show
Dan Bunny talks about Lightning Bolt
Lightning Bolt Tour Dates | Queens, Tonic
Life of Agony Pics by JP

Posted in music | pictures at 12:19 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack

The First 10 Years of Saddle Creek Records

black market kidneys reports that "Plexfilm is releasing the DVD Spend an Evening With Saddle Creek: The First 10 Years of Saddle Creek Records."

"SPEND AN EVENING WITH SADDLE CREEK is the story of the record label as told by the people who made it happen. With extensive interviews, rare performances and archival footage, the film is an oral and visual history of how the combination of talent, dedication and collaboration launched bands like Bright Eyes, Cursive and The Faint into the national eye and has fostered a close-knit family of artists that continues to inspire each other and their fans."

Watch the quicktime trailer.

Previously
Conor Oberst was at M. Ward's show
The 2005 Saddle Creek CMJ Showcase is at Bowery Ballroom

Posted in music at 12:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 25, 2005

M Ward @ Castle Clinton, NYC | Pics

M. Ward played a free show at Castle Clinton National Monument in NYC on Thursday July 21st, 2005. His backing band was Norfolk and Western featuring ex-Decemberist Rachel Blumberg on drums. It's the second time I saw M. Ward with N&W (the first was at Bowery Ballroom), and I think that Rachel's addition to Ward's band is the single greatest thing to come out of the Decemberists lineup change.

* The standing room-only show was perfect in every way.
* Former Ward collaborator Conor Oberst was in the audience.
* Transistor Radio is one of my favorite albums this year.

Previously
M Ward @ Knitting Factory | Pics | Joanna Newsom Cover
M. Ward | Transistor Radio

Posted in music | pictures at 11:12 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

Sufjan Stevens 4th NYC show added | MP3s, Interview

* With Friday, Saturday & Sunday all sold out, Sufjan added yet another night at Bowery Ballroom in August. Monday, August 22nd - tickets on sale.
* My Mean Magpie posted live Sufjan MP3s from 2001. (via LHB)
* Radar Magazine interviewed Sufjan.

Previously
New Sufjan Stevens & Stars live MP3s & Stream
Bunky Moved to Sunday | Smoosh playing Knit

Posted in music at 5:26 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

This Week's NYC Shows (7/25 - 7/31)

Antony, CocoRosie, MC5, Oneida, a whole bunch of Marching Bands, Daniel Lanois, Alec Ounsworth, Ozzfest, Scissor Sisters, Regina Spektor, Backstreet Boys, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Whitesnake, Satanicide, and more in this week's Gothamist post.

Posted in To Do | music at 4:09 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

SPIN.com Q&A With Chuck Klosterman

Chuck Klosterman: I still don't feel like I'm a "New York" person. I feel like I'm a person from North Dakota just living here. I don't know what the qualities are that make a person a New York person... Living in New York makes you younger and older at the same time. It makes you younger because everyone who lives here is a drunk, and everyone stays out late, and everybody goes to shows, and everybody cares about rock bands, and movies, and generally things in America that only young people are interested in. It makes you a little bit older in the sense that everyone is jaded and has a cynical view of the world and is very distrustful. [SPIN]

Previously
Gothamist interviews Ultragrrrl
Chuck Klosterman Tour Dates
Chuck Klosterman | Killing Yourself to Live, Mix Tape & top 10 things

Posted in books | music at 11:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Jandek to play NY, Austin & New Orleans

"Music's J.D. Salinger is apparently tired of seclusion. After three well-received concerts in Scotland and Britain the past two years, Jandek is ready to play his first stateside concerts. Tickets for the first date, scheduled for Austin, Texas on August 28th, are about to go on sale via the Jandek in Austin website. Details of the performance are hush hush, but the fact that each buyer is relegated to two tickets maximum seems to signal that promoters are expecting a swift sell-out. The Austin date will be followed by two early September performances in New Orleans and New York City." [Tiny Mix Tapes]

"Since recording Ready for the House in 1978, Jandek has performed a total of three concerts, the first in October 2004 and the remaining two in May of this year." [Pitchfork]

Posted in music at 10:35 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Upcoming Tours

* Henry Rollins Spoken Word
* M.I.A. Announces Headlining Tour
* The Frames / Josh Ritter
* Iron & Wine / Calexico West Coast Dates
* Son Volt US Tour
* Nada Surf / Say Hi To Your Mom
* The Wrens
* Magnolia Electric Co.
* Wilco

Posted in music at 10:24 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Bloc Party Remixes | MIA MashUps

Bloc Party releases a remix CD on September 13th, 2005.

In the meantime:
* So Much Silence has four rare Bloc Party remix MP3s for download
* that link via DOH, who has some MIA mashups
* Two more Bloc Party remixes at One Louder
* And as always, lots of downloads at BlocParty.Net

Previously
Bloc Party | Tour, Album, Roseland, Videos
Listen to Missy Elliot's Cookbook

Posted in music at 8:34 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

July 24, 2005

Free Dig! Screening | Brian Jonestown Massacre

"A documentary on the once-promising American rock bands The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols, and the friendship/rivalry between their respective founders, Anton Newcombe and Courtney Taylor." [IMDB]

RSVP to attend a free screening of Dig! @ Tribeca Grand on Tuesday July 26th.

Brian Jonestown Massacre are at Bowery Ballroom in NYC on Saturday and Sunday July 30th/31st and at Maxwell's on August 2nd. (all sold out)

They're back at Bowery Ballroom on September 18th. Not sold out. more tour dates at their site.

UPDATE: Dandy Warhols and Brian Jonestown share a stage at Lollapalooza

Posted in To Do | music at 8:40 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack

Har Mar Superstar vs. Les Savy Fav

Har Mar Superstar was sportin' a new bald haircut and red tank top at the free show he played in NYC at the Frying Pan this past Monday (July 18th, 2005). The Cobra Snake captured the moment.

Les Savy Fav played Pitchfork's Intonation Festival in Chicago one day earlier (July 17th, 2005). Frontman Tim Harrington, also bald, was sportin' some red shorts. Pitchfork posted the pictures.

Les Savy Fav's next show is at Bowery Ballroom in NYC on August 26th, 2005. Labelmates Thunderbirds are now! and Rahim are opening. So is comedian Fred Armisen.

Previously
The Brilliance interviews the Cobra Snake
Highlights from the Cobra Snake w/ Har Mar Superstar
Thunderbirds are Now! Tour Dates | @ Bowery Ballroom

Posted in music at 4:24 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

Mix Tapes by escapegrace | MP3s

"A hot L.A. Thanksgiving circa 1995. I'd had about enough of not paying my bills on cocktail tips and adjunct teaching."

Download the aggression edition

"I am in one of those ruts where nothing seems to be happening quickly enough, so I've gathered some songs to battle my mood (or cushion it in a soft cloud of desperation)."

Download the impatience edition

"I don't know whether it's the fact that I'm not used to seeing so much sky, or whether the aerospace industry is somehow seeping into my subconscious, but this edition of the mix post is dedicated to songs (and bands) in space."

Download the intergalactic edition

"There's something I admire about musicians who like to play with language and don't particularly care whether they come off sounding foolish or pretentious."

Download the loquacity edition

"I have only fond memories of fireworks, but I respect their innate nature (and possible desire) to turn on you in an instant."

Download the flammable edition

Posted in music at 3:25 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Watch & Listen | Andrew Bird, Royksopp, Nicolai Dunger, etc..

YANP has a Nine Black Alps MP3.
YANP has a live Thunderbirds are Now! MP3 and video.
YANP has a video of Andrew Bird performing at Intonation.
Stereogum has a Kidz Bop Franz Ferdninand MP3.
KCRW has podcasts.
Said the Gramaphone has MP3s posted by Swedish pop singer Annika Norlin.
Fluxblog has a Fannypack remix.
Welcome to the Midwest has live Sufjan MP3s.
KCRW has streaming audio and video of Nicolai Dunger.
KCRW has streaming audio of Royksopp.
Bradley's Almanac has Aberdeen City MP3s.

Posted in music at 1:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

LastNightsParty on Tour with VHS or Beta

"You can follow VHS or BETA's tour this week on www.lastnightsparty.com. New photos will be posted daily from the tour route. Check out the band in Indianapolis, in Detroit, in Montreal, in Boston and at Siren."

Previously
Last Night's Party takes off some clothes
Last Night's Party does the Killers
Last Nights Party vs The Cobra Snake

Posted in music at 3:57 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

July 23, 2005

Upcoming Other Music Instores

Other Music Instores in NYC:

BEN CHASNY (of Six Organs of Admittance)
Sunday, July 24 @ 7:00 P.M.

VICTOR GAMA
Monday, August 8 @ 8:00 P.M.
COLLEEN
Monday, August 15 @ 8:00 P.M.
PORTASTATIC (Record release party and performance)
Monday, August 22 @ 8:00 P.M.

Posted in music at 10:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

CMJ 2005 Showcases | Lineup

Here are the shows happening in NYC for CMJ 2005 that I know about so far:

Wednesday 9-14

Canal Room: Nouvelle Vague
Northsix: Channels, The Life and Times
Joe's Pub: Vijay Iyer
Joe's Pub: Kaki King

Thursday 9-15

Summerstage: Arcade Fire (maybe with Wolf Parade & Belle Orchestre)
Knitting Factory: Kork TX / Polyvinyl Records CMJ Showcase w/ Of Montreal, xbxrx, The Billy Nayer Show, Grand Buffet, Saturday Looks Good To Me, why?
???: Blue Ghost Publicity CMJ party w/ Deerhoof
Rothko: Lookout Records w/ Mary Timony
Mercury Lounge: Absolutely Kosher w/ The Wrens, Goblin Cock, the Dudley Corporation, and Jim Yoshii Pile-Up
Arlene's Grocery: "Chicago Pop Renaissance" w/ The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Cameron McGill, Baby Teeth, Le Concorde, more TBA
Joe's Pub: Old Blind Dogs, Teada

Friday 9-16

Piano's - talkdemonic
Rothko - Merge w/ Richard Buckner, Crooked Fingers, Annie Hayden, Portastatic, The Rosebuds, Tenement Halls
Knitting Factory - Kill Rock Stars w/ Numbers, Limited Express
??? - Ambulance, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
CBGB - Honky, Nashville Pussy, The A.K.A.'s, Zeke (NEW)
CB's Underground Lounge: Small Stone w/ Antler, Five Horse Johnson, Greatdayforup, Pony Human, The Brought Low, Throttlerod
Continental - Sponge, Watershed, [DARYl], Black Tie Dynasty
Bowery Ballroom - Saddle Creek w/ Two Gallants, Son Ambulance, Orenda Fink, Maria Taylor & Surprise Guest (Bright Eyes?)
Joe's Pub - Morlay, Jorane
??? - DJ Logic, Stacey Kent (NEW)

Saturday 9-17

Bowery Ballroom: Sub Pop w/ Rogue Wave, Fruit Bats, & Chad Van Gaalen
???: Blues Brother Castro
Galapagos: Secret Eye w/ The Big Huge, Long Live Death, LArkin Grimm, Spires that in the Sunset Rise, Traveling Bell, Urdog
???: Constantines,
Joe's Pub: Chris Smither
Irving Plaza - Gabby La La, Particle (NEW)
Canal Room - The Proclaimers (NEW)

These are incomplete, may change, and I'll update the list as I find out more. See all the bands announced so far.

Posted in CMJ | music at 8:08 PM | Comments (52) | TrackBack

Moby playing Bowery Ballroom benefit in December

The pre-sale is sold out. Here's the note from Moby:

"ok, here are the details for the december 15th boardies show in nyc.
the show will take place on december 15th at the bowery ballroom, which is a small, intimate venue on delancey street in the lower east side of manhattan. the show will be split into 2 parts, with an early acoustic show(at 8pm, i think)and a dj set later on(maybe 11pm or so).
tickets are available at:

http://ticketing.concertmaps.com/moby/

at present i'm only announcing this via moby.com, so i encourage you all to get tickets asap, because after 2 weeks we have to announce it to the general public, and as it's a small venue it might sell out quite quickly.
the on-line ticket sales should start at around 11 a.m est on friday, july 8th.

all of my proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to the 'institute for music and neurologic function'.
see you then/there!!
-moby "

Posted in music at 7:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Kaiser Chiefs say Antony doesn't belong

I have to admit, I thought it was weird that Antony was nominated...

"Controversy has erupted over the inclusion of Antony and the Johnsons' album I Am a Bird Now on the Mercury music prize shortlist. Despite being born in Chichester, singer Antony Hegarty has spent most of his life in the US, which has raised eyebrows over the release's inclusion in the shortlist.

"He's an American, really," says Nick Hodgson, drummer with Leeds-based nominees Kaiser Chiefs. "It's a good album, but it's daft he's got in on a technicality.""

Kaisers up in arms over Mercury list

And...
Central Village was at the Webster Hall Kaiser show
I Rock I Roll was there too
Mercury Prize Nominess @ Mercury Lounge | Pics
CocoRosie & Antony | Tour Dates & Stuff

Posted in music at 5:38 PM | Comments (28) | TrackBack

July 22, 2005

iPod DJ Mixer

"Numark's iPod DJ Mixer I posted about in April has moved quickly from prototype to product. Officially announced today, the iDJ is slated to ship Q3 for a suggested retail price of $399. Unfortunately, the apparent lack of pitch control pretty much kills its chances of replacing CDJ or vinyl decks. Gear Junkies has the details." [Boing Boing]

Posted in music | toys at 2:41 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack

Whitney Houston vs. Jemina Pearl

* Whitney Houston wants to have another baby.
* Jemina Pearl is the female singer for the band Be Your Own Pet. They played the Siren Festival on Saturday, and at Rothko the day before with Chin Up Chin Up.

Cityrag: Whitney Houston - crazy from day one
Heartonastick: The 3,000 Faces of Jemina Pearl

Previously
Morningwood | Take off Your Clothes @ Siren, NYC | Pics
Nine Black Alps | Siren Fest | Be Your Own Pet

Posted in music at 1:18 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack

Mash-up: Hiphop vs. Philip Glass = Glassbreaks MP3s

"A collection of old skool hip-hop tracks smushed together with the compositions of Philip Glass." [Boing Boing]

Download the MP3s @ Glassbreaks (thx heartonastick)

Posted in music at 12:59 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Animals Eating People Food in NYC

I took a long walk around NYC after seeing M. Ward at Castle Clinton last night. The dog pictured below was seated with its owners at an outside restaurant. The fancy scene was in high contrast to what was happening on the sidewalk near by.

Keep reading for the potentially unsettling pictures...

Posted in NYC | pictures at 12:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Strokes' Hammond Jr. & David Cross opening NYC Club

I read about David Cross opening a nightclub on the Lower East Side of Manhattan on Gothamist via Daily Refill. And a google search revealed this bit from July 7th's Page Six:

"Funnyman David Cross is getting into the nightclub business. The "Arrested Development" star is buying into Eleven, on Orchard Street, with Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. and two other pals. Cross' girlfriend, makeup artist Sara Egan, will manage the rock venue, which will be renamed and revamped. Eleven's current owner, Simon Ribok, will remain on board, as will GBH promoter Alejandro Torio, who owns a small percentage of the club. The three-level space has a reputation as a late-night hangout for Lower East Side bands like Interpol, Secret Machines and groupies who dig them."

And...
The Strokes Sets Sights On South America
The Strokes New Album Details Revealed
DJ David Cross | @ Scenic

Posted in music at 11:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Here's to your health | Links

* Injured Ani DiFranco Taking Touring Hiatus
* Spiritualized Leader Recovering From Serious Illness
* Head Automatica cancel shows - Daryl Palumbo's Crohn's Disease relapse
* Jack Osbourne loses 30 lbs
* Silkworm Drummer Dahlquist Killed in Car Crash (RIP)
* Daryl Hall postpones shows due to Lyme disease
* Eminem bus crash injures eleven
* Courtney Love Is Rushed To Hospital
* songs with psychiatric illness theme

Posted in music at 11:34 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Sigur Ros | Live MP3s & Tickets

Tickets for both of the Sigur Ros shows at NYC's Beacon Theatre in September 2005 are on sale.

Download the MP3s from Sigur Ros' live performance at the Paradiso in Amsterdam on July 13th, 2005.

Previously
Sigur Ros Flickr Account
Sigur Ros Fall Tour Pre-Sale
Sigur Ros 2005 Tour Dates

Posted in music at 11:14 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

RIAA | Really Interesting Audio Adventures | MP3s

Sounds for the Sunset by RIAA (Really Interesting Audio Adventures) is an 18 track (MP3) CD that mashes rock and surf music. The Ramones vs. the Ventures, Run DMC, Guns N Roses, Peaches, New Order, the Beatles, The Beach Boys and more...

Download Sounds for the Sunset

Posted in music at 11:02 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Youth Group gets a 5.1

"...the band are neither that fun nor that painful (respectively). They aren't that anything, really. The best thing I can say about Youth Group is that if there's a difference between merely average and painfully mediocre, Skeleton Jar is on the upswing of that curve." [Pitchfork]

Previously
Youth Group to play CMJ
Youth Group | Skeleton Jar | Is Your Heart Dead?

Posted in music at 10:23 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

NPR Reviews Dr. Dog

"Fresh Air from WHYY, July 21, 2005 · Rock critic Ken Tucker gives the band Dr. Dog a listen. The five-piece rock band from the suburbs of Philadelphia has cut three albums in a home studio. The latest is Easy Beat." [Listen at NPR]

Posted in music at 10:16 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Manhattan Carnivore

Awesome.

---------

UPDATE: (copy and pasted from the comments of MC)

---------

Anonymous said...
this article is linked from BrooklynVegan.com where the only text says 'awesome'. However go back thru the blogs and you'll find CYHSY finger-banging abound with articles, interviews, polls, and theories about if you were CYHSY what would be your favorite food. Pathetic.
11:19 PM

brooklynvegan said...
dear anonymous ("pathetic"),

If you take a closer look at the archives of brooklynvegan, you'll find links to negative reviews too (even of CYHSY).

"Awesome" refers to coming home last night tipsy to find a link in my comments to a lighter green site called "Manhattan Carnivore."

This site has a negative music review. Big deal.

-bv

---------

Posted in music at 12:53 AM | Comments (22) | TrackBack

July 21, 2005

Page France | Dear Wind | Full Album Stream

You Ain't No Picasso gets credit for introducing me to this great new album stream by Page France.

* "so...where is helsinki?" calls the album flawless
* Allalom says their last album "Sounds like: Death Cab For Cutie, Modest Mouse, Caedman’s Call"

Listen @ PureVolume

* Visit their official site
* YANP also has an MP3
* Page France is also on Myspace
* Order the album at Fall Records
* Read YANP's Interview

Posted in music at 3:28 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Beck played in a Mexican Restaurant

"Last night Melanie and I went to Pancho Villa for the award-winning deliciousness. As you may know, it's not unusual for somebody to be standing in the back playing a guitar. However, the dude playing the guitar last night was Beck." [sfist & dennis yang]

Previously
Beck @ Hiro Ballroom, NYC | Pics

Posted in music at 3:16 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack

Q and Not U Not Done Yet | Knitting Factory

"As expected, all the big indie-yuppie bloggas followed the herd to Morningwood and slept through Q and Not U, who shredded the mainstage with their irresistable dance punk sui generis soon-to-be-extinct brilliance. Wazzup with the blogga ignorance regarding this terrific band? (Stereogum being the exception proving the rule.)" [Delescuze in my Siren comments section]

Just when you thought you saw (or didn't see) Q and not U's last NYC performance, you find out:

Sept 20th, 2005 7:00PM: Q and Not U @ KF, NYC
Sept 20th, 2005 11:00PM: Q and Not U @ KF, NYC
tix on sale tomorrow (Fri the 22nd) @ noon

Two shows in Washington DC also listed at their website.

And note to Delescuze: Daily Refill also saw Q and Not U

Posted in music at 2:57 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Kano | Home Sweet Home

"Crime rhymes with another one-word player in the blogs 'n' crits Simon-says name game and, as usual, nobody's really winning. "Whatcha call it, grime?/ Call it what ya wanna call it, I'm fine," scoffs the serenely confident Kane Robinson on "Mic Check", one of many decidedly (un)grime tracks on the 20-year-old prodigy's debut album. [Pitchfork gives Kano an 8.4]

* Get Home Sweet Home @ Amazon (import)
* See Kano & Diplo @ Knitting Factory in NYC
* Read the Pitchfork profile of Kano

Posted in music at 1:14 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Tom Vek, New Buffalo, & ILYBICT Darkness Sign to Labels

Tom Vek signed to Startime International (home of Brendan Benson, Dios Malos & The Futureheads). His debut album will get a U.S. release on October 25th.
Related
Stylus: Tom Vek review
Hybrid: Live Review

New Buffalo signed to Arts & Crafts (home of Broken Social Scene & Stars)
Related
sixeyes: Arts & Crafts signs New Buffalo
CMG: New Buffalo review and MP3

I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness signed to Secretly Canadian (home of Antony & The Johnsons, Magnolia Electric Co., & Damien Jurado)
Related
One Louder: Secretly Canadian Sign ILYBICD
Oh My Rockness: Band Profile

Posted in music at 12:21 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Tinariwen @ World Financial Center, NYC | Pics

Writing a weekly list of recommended NYC concerts challenges me to find new things. This week I discovered Tinariwen. "Tinariwen is a Touareg group from the southern Sahara whose music is close to the blues of Ali Farka Toure. The band's name means 'empty places' which certainly reflects their desert homeland." "Their Music is loosely based on traditional Touareg music and the harsh melodies of the one-stringed Touareg violin, but also incorporates influences such as Bob Marley...[calabash music].

They were in NYC for three performances. The last two were Wednesday at Joe's Pub. The first one was a free show at World Financial Center Plaza by/in Battery Park on Tuesday (July 19th, 2005). These pictures are from that show. The best way to explain their "world music" sound is by asking you to listen yourself. The BBC has an entire Tinariwen concert from 2004 online in streaming format. The Tofu Hut, who has more info, links, and an MP3, says "they're more post-modern than the Killers and then some."

As the show went on, more and more people got up to dance.

Posted in music | pictures at 11:42 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Annie vs David Byrne | Unreleased MP3s of the Future

Plot Summary for Liquid Sky: "Invisible aliens in a tiny flying saucer come to Earth looking for heroin. They land on top of a New York apartment inhabited by a drug dealer and her female, androgynous, bisexual nymphomaniac lover, a fashion model..."

"The film and its synth-laden soundtrack are celebrations of the 80s counter-culture." [Apollo Guide]

Liquid Sky is what I think of when I hear "The Wedding" by Annie. Fluxblog compares it to Talking Heads. As seen live at Tribeca Grand, and broadcast on East Village Radio, get the MP3 at Fluxblog.

Then head to Said the Gramaphone for a rare track by Talking Head David Byrne titled "In the Future."

Also
Annie hearts Joey McIntyre
SPIN Interviews Annie
The NY Times reviews David Byrne's recent show at Summerstage
Listen to David Byrne's latest radio stream

Posted in music at 10:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 20, 2005

The Arcade Fire buy a Church, write for Bowie

"MTV.com reports the six-piece bought a small church in rural Quebec and plan to build a studio there. They will use the base to begin work on their second album later this fall."

"He said the band didn't yet know which songs will make it on the album, but they have plenty of material to choose from. Apart from live cuts such as "Winter For A Year," "Virgin Mary Highway" and "Burning Bridges, Breaking Hearts," the band also wrote a song for fan David Bowie." [ChartAttack]

Previously
People tell me to stop writing about CYHSY (Arcade Fire vs. CYHSY)
Bowie Endorses Arcade Fire, Secret Machines

Posted in music at 3:20 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

the sixeyes Interview with Doveman

BP: Finally, Thomas, what does the coming summer and the rest of the year hold for you and the band, Doveman?

TB: I'll be doing a lot of playing and some touring with a few different bands over the next while -- I'm still working out what shows to do at this point, but I know I'll be doing some stuff soon with Elysian Fields, with Chocolate Genius, and with Miho Hatori (from Cibo Matto). We're all pretty busy with things -- Dougie is producing some records, Shahzad is constantly touring and playing with different people, Sam is booked pretty much all summer doing folk festivals -- which is great, but it also means that none of us have much time to spend on getting Doveman off the ground from a business perspective. Ideally, we'd love to do some touring as an opening act in late summer or in the fall, but we don't really have any leads on that yet. We are, though, probably going to do at least a short tour in the fall with The Robot Ate Me.

Read the whole interview

Previously
Doveman | The Acrobat
Salon Audiofile's Summer Playlist | MP3s | Doveman

Posted in music at 2:43 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Metric 2005 U.S. Tour Dates & Tix on sale

Metric (featuring Emily Haines sometimes-of Broken Social Scene) will be touring the USA in October. No official dates yet, but tickets are on sale for four shows:

Oct 2nd - Paradise Rock Club in Boston
Oct 6th - Southpaw in Brooklyn, NY
Oct 13th - Exit In in Nashville, TN
Oct 18th - Empty Bottle in Illinois

Previously
Emily Haines sings on Jason Collett's new album
Emily Haines is in the Stills' new video
Emily Haines singing for BSS @ Bowery | Pics
Metric MP3s
Emily Haines singing for BSS @ Bowery #2 | pics

Posted in music at 2:01 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Deee-Lite vs. Gwen Stefani | Institute

* Between thought and expression has an MP3 Mashup of Deelite's Groove is in the Heart & Gwen Stefani's Keep on Dancin.
* Gwen Stefani is touring this fall with The Black Eyed Peas. They hit MSG in NYC on Nobember 1st. Tix on sale Saturday at 9am.
* Gwen's husband Gavin Rossdale (the singer of Bush) has a side project called Institute. They're playing Bowery Ballroom in NYC on August 30th, 2005. Tix on sale Wed. July 27th.
* Lady Miss Kier of Deee-Lite is a DJ.

Posted in music at 1:36 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

[Arcade Fire = 1; Clap Your Hands = 0]

"And while Alec from CYHSY does pretty good Byrne impressions, Byrne himself joined Arcade Fire once to sing "This Must Be the Place" [Arcade Fire = 1; Clap Your Hands = 0]. Are you with me?" [Tiny Mix Tapes]

(note to TMT: Byrne joined AF twice)

Previously
David Byrne @ Central Park Summerstage, NYC | Pics
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ Mercury Lounge | Pics
Arcade Fire @ Mercury Lounge, NYC, CMJ | Pics

Posted in music at 11:52 AM | Comments (17) | TrackBack

Will Oldham on new Tortoise Album

Chart Attack reports that Will Oldham (aka Bonnie Prince Billy) appears on the new Tortoise album (out in November). According to The Royal Stable, it's an album of cover songs (Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Devo, etc...)

Will Oldham also apppears on:
The new Bjork album
the new Sage Francis album
the new Red album
the mew Alasdair Roberts album

He's also in Superwolf and covered R. Kelly

Posted in music at 11:40 AM | Comments (12) | TrackBack

Tortoise & Daniel Lanois Tour

Tortoise played Intonation in Chicago this weekend.
Daniel Lanois plays a free show in NYC next week.

On October 6th, 2005, Tortoise & Daniel start a tour together. "Tortoise will be pulling double duties, both opening for Daniel and playing as his backup band." They hit Irving Plaza in NYC on October 7th. All tour dates below...

Oct. 6: Boston (Sommerville Theatre)
Oct. 7: New York (Irving Plaza)
Oct. 8: Philadelphia (TLA)
Oct. 10: Chicago (Logan Square or Park West)
Oct. 11: Madison, Wis. (Barrymore Theatre)
Oct. 12: Minneapolis (Fine Line)
Oct. 14: Boulder, Colo. (Fox Theatre)
Oct. 15: Salt Lake City (Suede)
Oct. 17: Vancouver (Commodore Ballroom)
Oct. 18: Seattle (Neumo’s)
Oct. 19: Portland, Ore. (Alladin Theatre)
Oct. 20-21: San Francisco (the Independent)
Oct. 22: Los Angeles (Avalon)

* (via More Cowbell)
* Chart Attack: Daniel Lanois And Tortoise Tour This Fall
* Paste Magazine says Lanois' new album is not that good.

Posted in music at 11:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Juan McLean | Less Than Human

"On his debut LP, DFA's secret weapon surrounds the hands-aloft "Give Me Every Little Thing" with more muscular dance music and some surprisingly melancholy tracks." [Pitchfork]

Pitchfork: an 8.1
Stylus: an A-
Prefix: 4.0/5.0

Rajeev One Louder lists it in his top 5 albums of 2005 so far (with MP3), though they and others have said The Juan McLean is not worth seeing live. If you want to find out for yourself, you can see them free Saturday night at Tribeca Grand in NYC or at Rothko Thursday night.

Deviated Septum says the album is painfully boring.

Order Less Than Human from Amazon.

Posted in music at 11:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Hard-Fi | Album Stream, MP3s, Show Reviews, etc...

* They were just nominated for the Mercury Prize.
* You can listen to their album on NME.
* Central Village attended their first NYC Show last night at Mercury Lounge, and has an MP3 to download. "They are a can't miss live tho. Go see them at Rothko tonight."
* Someone in Coolfer's comments said, "Hard-Fi's bassist couldn't get his visa, so they've got somebody filling in for him, apparently. I heard they were kinda "eh.""
* TTIKTD has an MP3 for download.
* Visit their official site.

Did you see them? Good?

Posted in music at 11:12 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Big Summer Classic Moved to Prospect Park

The Thursday July 21st "Big Summer Classic" concert in Brooklyn featuring the String Cheese Incident, Keller Williams, Yonder Mountain String Band, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Umphrey's McGee, and New Monsoon moved from Keyspan Park in Coney Island to the bandshell in Prospect Park. Get tickets or sit outside the fence for free.

Thanks to the Outer Edges whose latest podcast features a track by the String Cheese Incident and Perry Ferrel.

Posted in music at 4:17 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

July 19, 2005

Chevelle CBGB Benefit Concert on sale

Not on the roster, and I doubt anyone cares, but tickets just went on sale for the Chevelle benefit show @ CBGB on August 4th. It's one day after they play Irving Plaza.

Posted in music at 4:50 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

National/CYHSY @ Warsaw (Brooklyn) tix on sale

The first show on the National / Clap Your Hands Say Yeah tour in September is at Warsaw in Brooklyn on September 7th, 2005. Tickets are on sale.

Their show two days later (same night as Bloc Party at Roseland) at Bowery Ballroom is sold out.

Previously
Arcade Fire @ Summerstage on sale (sold out)
Two new Clap Your Hands interviews
The Decemberists @ Warsaw, Brooklyn | Pics

Posted in music at 1:20 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack

MP3s from Dinosaur Jr.'s Boston Reunion show

Bradley's Almanac atteneded and taped Dinosaur's July 15th reunion show at Avalon in Boston, MA. All 16 tracks are available as MP3 downloads. Even if you don't like/know Dinosaur Jr., you'll at least want to download the track where they cover the Cure's "Just Like Heaven." (via Chromewaves). The Boston Glove reviewed the same show.

I was at the NYC Show one day earlier. (The one that all members of Broken Social Scene didn't make it to)

"Just Like Heaven" also appears on the recent Merge reissue of Dinosaur's Jr. "You're Living All Over Me" album.

Posted in music at 12:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

2005 Mercury Prize Nominees

"Since their inception in 1992, the annual Mercury Music Prize awards have set out to reward the best in British music, regardless of genre or style. However, predicting a winner can often seem like an impossible task. Favourites never seem to win, while a dark horse always makes a last minute surge for the winning post only to fall at the final hurdle." [XFM]

Here are the 2005 nominees and the odds:
Kaiser Chiefs 'Employment' - 4/1
Coldplay 'X&Y' - 6/1
Bloc Party 'Silent Alarm' - 6/1
KT Tunstall 'Eye To The Telescope' - 6/1
The Magic Numbers 'The Magic Numbers' - 8/1
Hard-Fi 'Stars On CCTV' - 8/1
Antony And The Johnsons 'I Am A Bird Now' - 10/1
Maximo Park 'A Certain Trigger' - 10/1
M.I.A. 'Arular' - 10/1
Polar Bear 'Held On The Tips Of Fingers' - 12/1
Seth Lakeman 'Kitty Jay' - 12/1
The Go! Team 'Thunder Lightning Strike' - 12/1

Kaisers Lead Mercury Prize Odds
As noted by Chris, three of my favorite albums are on that list.
Tickets to see Antony next week at Town Hall are still not sold out.
M.I.A. plays Central Park Summerstage for free on August 7th.
Bloc Party just announced a new tour.
The Go! Team recently signed to a major label.
Seth Lakeman is shocked by his nomination.
Hard Fi play TONIGHT AND TOMORROW IN NYC.
Kaiser Chiefs play Webster Hall on Thursday.

Posted in music at 12:15 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

2 More CYHSY Interviews

If I had a nickel for every time someone interviewed Clap Your Hands Say Yeah...

FREEwilliamsburg: Internet sites and blogs and things have adopted and endorsed you guys pretty hard-core lately. How do you react to Pitchfork's making you their "it" band?

Alec: I appreciate it-that's the first thing I'll say-I appreciate it. I was very unaware of Pitchfork. I'm not sure I had been to the site before. Apparently their opinion holds weight in some circles. I appreciate it, but I've got to say I don't feel one way or the other about it. It's helpful. A lot of people wouldn't have thought of us otherwise. Sometimes you need a point of reference.

Read the Free Willaimsburg interview

Radar: Has all the recent blog attention made you an indie target?

Alec: Definitely. I’m surprised that people tell us to fuck off for getting a little bit of buzz. People should just settle down.

Read the Radar Interview

Previously
CYHSY are playing Southpaw Wednesday
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah & The National Tour Dates
Tiny Mix Tapes interviews Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Yeti Don't Dance Q&A w/ Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Gothamist interviewed Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Posted in music at 11:50 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Joanna Newsom Fansite | Unreleased MP3 downloads

milky moon is a new fan site dedicated to Joanna Newsom with pictures, lyrics, bios, a gigography and stuff. Once there, click on downloads to find four unreleased songs (seven total MP3s) for download.

Previously
Anti-Folk | The Rock Snob's Definition
Joanna Newsom Pocket Remix | MP3
Joanna Newsom covers Melanie MP3 | Drag City Christmas Pics

Posted in music at 11:38 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack

Broken Social Scene arrested, Suing NYC Cops

"Shortly after Broken Social Scene took the stage on Saturday at the Pitchfork-curated Intonation Music Festival, singer Kevin Drew announced to the audience: "We just decided 20 minutes into arriving in New York that it would be a good idea if we went and bought marijuana. And Dave preceded to get the shit kicked out of him by four policemen, ladies and gentlemen! He got thrown in jail for 24 hours!" And then, amid the jeers, came the kicker: "And now the Broken Social Scene is suing the cops of New York City!"" [Pitchfork]

In case you haven't been following along, Broken Social Scene were in NYC opening for Dinosaur Jr @ Summerstage last week. That's where they first related the arrest story from earlier that day. News started spreading that evening via blogs. The above Pitchfork story is the final word on the story.

Posted in music at 11:16 AM | Comments (45) | TrackBack

Free Morningwood, Elkland show Thursday @ Don Hill's

Morningwood (as seen taking off clothes at Siren) are playing with Elkland and The Star Spangles at a Paper Magazine party on July 21st in NYC. This was actually first posted in the comment section of my Siren Festival post (aka the Morningwood fan forum):

Sounds Like Paper - July 21st 8-11 PM
featuring
Morningwood
Elkland
The Star Spangles
DJ Set by the Misshapes
Doors @ 7:30 PM
RSVP: RSVP@PAPERMAG.COM

Flyer at Don Hill's Website

Posted in To Do | music at 1:38 AM | Comments (8) | TrackBack

Tim Fite @ Joe's Pub, NYC | Pics

After hearing the MP3s Tim Fite has posted on his website, I made it a point to check him out Sunday night (July 17th, 2005) at Joe's Pub in NYC. He was opening for Nicolai Dunger (who I would of not seen otherwise, but was very happy I did). Tim delivered. The proof came when the almost-capacity Joe's Pub crowd demanded "one more song" of the opener. He and Joe's Pub avoided a small riot by complying.

Tim's setup included his "brother" on electronics and back-up vocals, a guitar, two mics, a bunch of pedals, a video screen and a big wooden boom box. The video show was especially clever. Lyrics, animation, and videos of Tim himself accompanied the songs perfectly.

In addition to the MP3s posted on his site, I found another one posted on his label's site.

Some People might remember Tim as Little T of Little T and One Track Mike.

Tim's upcoming shows include an August 4th appearance at Middle East Club in Cambridge, MA and a show at CMJ (no details on that one yet)

Previously
Tim Fite | Gone Ain't Gone | MP3s | CMJ 2005

Posted in music | pictures at 1:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Free Juan McLean show Saturday @ Tribeca Grand

I mentioned the show in my weekly Gothamist post. Here's the info you need to go to the free Juan Maclean show at Tribeca Grand in NYC Saturday night...

FIXED
w/ The Juan Maclean (DFA/ Astralwerks) full band LIVE @ midnight!!

Plus residents JDH & Dave P
illuminating the dance floor w/
cocainesexjams.electro.newwavehouse.
nowavedisco.partytilupuke.sparklemotion.
acidinthedisco.

@ Studios at Tribeca Grand
2 Ave of the Americas NYC
10pm-4am
FREE w/ rsvp to: getrad@igetrvng.com

*FREE PBR from 10-11!!!
*Drink specials all night!!!

Posted in To Do | music at 12:10 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

July 18, 2005

Regina Spektor @ Housing Works Wednesday

well sort of...
"Liberal Arts” for Air America Radio LIVE at Housing Works Bookstore Café! Wednesday, July 20, 8:00 p.m."

"This week Katherine Lanpher sits down with Arthur Phillips and Regina Spektor.

Join us for another Summer Series edition of "Liberal Arts," hosted by Air America’s own Katherine Lanpher and taped in front of an audience at the Housing Works Books Café (directions) in New York’s Soho neighborhood.

Our guests on July 20th will be Arthur Phillips (author of "The Egyptologist,'' now out in paperback and the best-selling "Prague'') and Regina Spektor, a singer-songwriter who has opened for The Strokes and recently performed on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien.""

Regina is at Tonic on July 27th (sold out)

Posted in To Do | music at 11:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Bloc Party | Tour, Album, Roseland, Videos

It's happened. The Knitting Factory (Sept. 30th, 2004) to Roseland (Sept. 9th, 2005) transformation took a little less than a year. They deserve it, but there's no way I'm going to Roseland.

One Louder has all the September 2005 Bloc Party tour dates and pre-sale information.
Minivegas has a new animated video for Pioneers (animated Bloc Party members included)
MTV has video of Bloc Party playing in-studio
Chart Attack reports that they're working on their second album
NME has Bloc Party's condolences to London bombing victims & Euro tour dates

Previously
Silent Alarm is one of my favorite albums
Bloc Party @ Webster Hall, Pics

Posted in music at 11:28 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack

Morningwood | Take off Your Clothes @ Siren, NYC | Pics

Those familiar with Morningwood's small club shows know they usually get an audience member or two or three to take off their clothes during one of their more popular songs called... "Take off Your Clothes" (video at their site).

Morningwood prepared for the inevitable impossibility of getting an audience member near the stage at Siren with a "take off your clothes" girl waiting backstage.

The staged striptease wasn't much more than you'd see in a Disney movie.

So leave it to Bronxxx of Last Night's Party to actually get the girl to take off her clothes.

Click for the NOT SAFE FOR WORK conclusion at Last Night's Party.

And
All of Last Night Party's Siren photos
My first set of Siren Photos (Bronxxx included)

Posted in music | pictures at 10:48 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Village People Cop Busted

First Broken Social Scene, now Village People Cop Busted.

Posted in music at 9:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Looking for Hipster Chick @ Siren

"But anyway, I was at siren on saturday. We got there at 3 to see The Dears (snore), but I opted to walk the boardwalk instead. After taking some artsy voyeuristic photographs of unknowing minority children playing on the beach, I made my way back into the crowd of poseurs-- um, I mean "hipsters"-- to see Q and Not U. I'm so over them too, but since it's like one of their last shows I thought I might as well check them out. Whatever. They were cool I guess." [My Blog is Poop]

Posted in music at 5:35 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack

This week's NYC shows

Tired today. Gothamist post finally posted.

The major disaster of the week is Wednesday night:
Keren Ann & Andrew Bird @ Bowery
OR
Clap Your Hands, Dr. Dog, Saints & Lovers, Dirty on Purpose @ Southpaw
OR
Scissor Sisters, Morningwood @ Mercury Lounge
OR
Tinariwen @ Joe's Pub

Also this week: The Juan McLean, MU, Jaymay, Elvis Costello, Hard-Fi, Other Passengers, Nine Black Alps, The Donnas, Lightning Bolt, and more...

(please excuse any typeos. my eyes are burning...I'll proof read it again later...)

Posted in To Do | music at 4:08 PM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

BV interviews Dan Bunny of Bunnybrains

Some bands strive to live in the public eye, while others, like Bunnybrains, happily wallow in their own obscurity — and want to remain obscure, thank you. For 15 years now, Dan Bunny, and whoever happened to be in the room with him, wrote (and then destroyed) the book on noisy, willfully miscreant, psychedelic, free-form punk. [Flavorpill]

Welcome to my first interview (conducted via IM). The subject is none other than Dan Seward aka Dan Bunny from Bunnybrains. And by Bunnybrains I mean the REAL Bunnybrains, and there's no relation there to Lady Bunny, and they are not an animal collective. They're opening for Devendra Banhart on his upcoming tour, and Devendra and Dan DO go back a few years, and did I mention nudity? All this, Lightning Bolt, Pete Best and more if you keep reading...

brooklynvegan: hi
dan bunny: hey
brooklynvegan: I'm sorry I accidentally linked to the other "Bunny Brains" in the post about your tour with Devendra. Why are/were there two "Bunny Brains?"
dan bunny: there r 2 bucuz ex members thought they would just absorb th head of steam i have built up over th years and try and blow up their scene with th juice
dan bunny: but they basically stole th fog machine and strobe lights but none of th hot spirit
brooklynvegan: I guess you're not all still friends?

dan bunny: we r kinda..its more gentle sniping now than th all out war it was headed towards
dan bunny: i resented deeply sumone stealing th rubric of tons of time spent..especially th time spent w noone responding to it
brooklynvegan: I can understand that. At least you're still kinda friends.
dan bunny: and i defended it like those bear mothers..not to be confused w panda moms who jump ship as soon as th kids out
brooklynvegan: ha
brooklynvegan: Your website lists about 50 band members (past and present). How many are in your current lineup? Why so many changes?
dan bunny: Change is good sumone said once..i hope not a despot..we have a core of 4 currently and tons of auxiliary members
dan bunny: There are so few who can stick with it for too long..im an anomaly
brooklynvegan: Would you call it a collective?
dan bunny: It's a collection of animals
brooklynvegan: more than bunnies?
dan bunny: th bass player is a wolf figure...he has animus issues
brooklynvegan: Is "Lady Bunny" the "Lady Bunny" of Wigstock fame?
dan bunny: is there one? we have a lady bunny?
brooklynvegan: I thought read it on your website
dan bunny: The bass player is makin an elaborate book and cd explaining why he is a wolfman on th october tour by th way
dan bunny: o?
dan bunny: lady bunny...ummm..no wigstock relationship
brooklynvegan: oops..its "Larry Bunny." I thought it said "Lady"
dan bunny: o
dan bunny: hes our original videographer and financier
brooklynvegan: cool
dan bunny: he won th lottery when he was 21
dan bunny: and helped fund our first releases
brooklynvegan: good deal
dan bunny: yeah we could not have done it w/out him
dan bunny: hes a 5th beatle
dan bunny: and his gal pal Meghan is also a 5th beatle..she still comes to all our NYC shows
brooklynvegan: I think the Pete Best Band is playing in NYC really soon (July 25th @ Kenny's Castaways to be exact)
dan bunny: Pete Best?
dan bunny: he needs a hemmorhage?
dan bunny: i'd rather watch a klaus voorman dry
brooklynvegan: So speaking of releases, you've put out a lot of records dating back to 1991, and more recently a box set that compiles a lot of it. What does the box set consist of?
dan bunny: umm
dan bunny: it has cd from 1993 that we made..it has a 10" from th now sound label..it has th matador lp..th blackjack lp and it has a self released cd from 1998 we handed out at a halloween show w bardo pond and high rise
brooklynvegan: So Bunny Brains was on Matador for one LP?
dan bunny: uhh..yeah tehy made one 7" they gave away at th New Music Seminar and th pink lp
brooklynvegan: Are you with a label now, or is everything self released?
dan bunny: th box set is on Narnack and i'm tryin to get them to release a tour lp for october
brooklynvegan: the tour being the tour with Devendra Banhart?
dan bunny: yeah
dan bunny: they enjoy having fires lit under them at Narnack
brooklynvegan: I know that Devendra chooses musicians he both admires and likes to jam with for his tours. I read an interview with Devendra that confirms he does like your music, another interview on Pitchfork that said you helped Devendra find musicians for his new album, and I saw a show listing from 2003 that actually has Devendra (as Abra) opening for you. How long have you known him, and how did you meet?
dan bunny: i booked him and Entrance in Tivoli NY a few years back and we kinda stayed in touch since then
brooklynvegan: How did you help with Cripple Crow?
dan bunny: I playing the Professor and Dev playing th Lovable Goof
dan bunny: umm
dan bunny: cripley crowy
dan bunny: I kinda corralled people from Hudson that had no idea who he was and got them to perform
dan bunny: even Suzanne Thorpe hadn't really heard any of his stuff
brooklynvegan: Did you perform?
dan bunny: no i wisely stayed away ..they are all in tune
brooklynvegan: haha
dan bunny: i imparted psychic power
brooklynvegan: Will you play with him live on tour?
dan bunny: i hope we play together
brooklynvegan: I don't think I've been to a Devendra show where he hasn't pulled the other performers on the bill on stage with him.
dan bunny: really?
dan bunny: thats awesome
brooklynvegan: sometimes they seem prepared....sometimes they don't
dan bunny: well we r definitely prepared to be unprepared

brooklynvegan: I was looking at pictures of a recent show you played in Boston, and they look pretty interesting to say the least...lots of blood and nudity even. What is a Bunny Brains show like?
dan bunny: not like that one..th lightning bolt crowd is kinda cliqueish so we needed to boil them a lil bit
brooklynvegan: Are you a fan of Lightning Bolt?
dan bunny: yeah they r good guys
brooklynvegan: They're playing twice in NYC this week, and I'm hoping to check them out
dan bunny: yeah its always worth it
brooklynvegan: So for the Devendra tour, we can definitely expect a toned down show?
dan bunny: from us?
brooklynvegan: yes
dan bunny: we r explicitly asked not to
brooklynvegan: excellent. I'm looking forward to it, and hopefully I can make it to one of your other NYC shows before then.
brooklynvegan: Any last words?
dan bunny: yeah
dan bunny: cake shop is supposed to be good
brooklynvegan: cool. thanks for chattin.
dan bunny: no probs

Bunnybrains play Cake Shop in NYC on August 21st, 2005 before going on tour with Devendra Banhart in October. In NYC, that's October 20th at Webster Hall.

Get MP3s at Bunnybrains' site.

If you want to ask dan something (by the way, "dan bunny" is not his IM name), leave it in the comments. Maybe he'll respond.

Posted in interviews | music at 10:16 AM | Comments (13) | TrackBack

CBGB Benefit Show Dates

CBGB Announced a bunch of the the benefit show dates (all at CBGB):

8/2 RANA (tickets are also on sale for an 8/3 RANA show)
8/5 BUSH TETRAS
8/9 APHASIA, SHORTIE
8/10 AGAINST ME, THE EXIT, WORLD INFERNO FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY
8/12 MISFITS
8/13 VANS WARPED TOUR AFTER PARTY
8/14 GORILLA BISCUITS, BLACK TRAIN JACK
8/15 RAW POWER
8/20 THE VANDALS
8/24 BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION/NIKKI SIXX & TRACII GUNS
8/26 DEAD BOYS, FLIPPER, PETER AND THE TEST TUBE BABIES, ADRENALIN O.D. , FURIOUS GEORGE
8/27 DEAD BOYS, ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE, SFA, NIHILISTICS
8/28 SHAM 69, FLIPPER, CHEETAH CHROME & THE BLACK ANGELS
8/29 SHAM 69, THE RADICTS

Also confirmed to play are:
CONFLICT, VERBAL ABUSE, MDC, TODAY IS THE DAY, CIRCLE OF DEAD CHILDREN, ADOLYNE, SICK OF IT ALL, FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS, CIRCLE JERKS, ADOLESCENTS, D.I. , CHANNEL 3, ZERO BOYS, and DR. KNOW

"Other bands are not yet completely confirmed and there may be a few surprises..."

CB's also sent a letter explaining how the money will be spent and what not....

-------
Subject: Our lease problem and the benefit shows.
Body: As many of you may be aware, CBGB is currently in dispute with our
landlord over a new lease. Our current lease ends at the end of August. To put all rumors to rest, the lease dispute is not over violations or unpaid rent. It is simple economics. The neighborhood is changing. Where there once were abandoned lots and supply warehouses, there are now high price condominiums and chic upscale boutiques. Neighborhoods in this city change.
We understand that. Whether you want to call it gentrification or progress is a matter of opinion, and rather than turn this into a political diatribe, allow me to simply explain how this effects CBGB and we can save the political and class questions for another time.

Our landlord is the BRC (Bowery Resident's Committee) a not for profit charity that assists the homeless. They run and maintain various shelters and outreach programs. We support their cause and believe we can, not only have a good relationship as landlord and tennant, but we can also help each other.

Currently, our landlord wants us out. The reason is simple. The changes in the neighborhood (present and planned) have made the property value skyrocket. Whether they rent our space to a new tennant, use it for themselves, or have different plans all together, they believe they can make more money with us gone.

We are trying to negotiate a new lease with our landlord. Part of what we are doing is holding a series of benefit shows through the month of August.
People have asked what the money is being used for. Let me explain. The money raised will be used to help cover our enormous legal expenses in our effort to obtain a new lease. If the lease dispute is resolved, these benefit shows will be a celebration and the money raised will be used to donate to the BRC to help them in their support of the homeless.

Many of the bands playing on these benefits are waiting to confirm dates...
and some bands have asked not to be advertized yet.

These are the bands that have confirmed with dates confirmed as well. This list will be updated in upcoming bulletins.
-------
(thx Carla!)

Posted in NYC | To Do | music | music history at 6:29 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

July 17, 2005

Lightning Bolt Tour Dates | Queens, Tonic

Lightning Bolt kicks off a small northeast tour tomorrow that starts in Northampton, hits Tonic in NYC on Friday, and ends with a Todd P parking lot Saturday show in Long Island City, Queens. All tour dates below...

Tale of Two Cities: Live Music Comes to Some Place Called Queens
Tiny Mix Tapes: Lightning Bolt Reviews

July 18th - Northampton - Flywheel
July 19th - Boston - MASS ART
July 20th - Providence - AS220
July 21th - Philadelphia - First Unitarian Church
July 22th - Manhattan - Tonic
July 23th - LIC Parking Lot (Queens)

Previously
Gothamist: Lightning Bolt shows are essential

Posted in To Do | music at 5:25 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

July 16, 2005

The 2005 Village Voice Siren Festival | Pics

The 2005 Village Voice Siren Festival in Coney Island went down on Saturday July 16th, 2005. It didn't rain.

SAUL WILLIAMS

I got there in time to see the last few songs of the Dears on the main stage then ran to catch the second half of Morningwood's set followed by all of Diamond Nights on the Stillwell stage. Then it was back to the main stage for the first half of Dungen, and then back to Stillwell for the second half of Saul Williams before going back to the main stage to see most of Brendan Benson followed by the first 30 minutes of Spoon afterwhich I ran back to Stillwell to watch some of Mates of State. I ended back at the main stage to finish off Spoon's set.

SPOON

Saul Williams' incredibly powerful performance was my highlight of the day, though Spoon was definitely the right choice for headliner.

Put your experiences in the comments.

THE DEARS

MORNINGWOOD

HAUNTED PUSSY

LAST NIGHT'S PARTY

DIAMOND NIGHTS

DUNGEN

SAUL WILLIAMS

BRENDAN BENSON

DJ TOMMIE SUNSHINE

SPOON

MATES OF STATE

I'll try and post full sets of pictues over the next few days/weeks.

Posted in music | pictures at 10:34 PM | Comments (48) | TrackBack

DJ David Cross | @ Scenic

"Cross, who insists his entire collection of tunes has been gathered via infomercially-vended compilations, deftly parried further questioning about what he plans to play. However, he was more than willing to explain the captivating story of how, after a multifaceted comedy career that's inspired a cult-like following, he finds himself taking on the role of nightclub DJ. "[The promoter] just approached me about it," he said casually. "It sounded like fun. I wouldn't do anything if it wasn't fun."" [chicago innerview]

David Cross is listed as the DJ @ Scenic in NYC on Saturday July 30th, 2005.

Related
Albums to Listen to While Reading Overwrought Pitchfork Reviews (by David Cross)
Defamer interview with David Cross
David Cross @ Siren 2004
David Cross Porn | Wear Your Own Fur
David Cross & Wilco @ Pianos

Posted in comedy | music at 2:21 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Gorilla Biscuits show is August 14th @ CBGB

"Hardcore icons the Gorilla Biscuits came together in the late '80s when Anthony Civarelli teamed with Arthur, Sammy, and Walter Schreifels to add their two cents to the straight-edge scene in New York City."

The Gorilla Biscuits show at CBGB is August 14th, 2005. No word on tix & what other bands will be on the bill.

Previously
Walter Schreifels (free) Solo Show in NYC Monday
Eagles of Death Metal | Walking Concert

Posted in music at 1:59 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Hellfest 2005 | Public Enemy, Coalesce, Youth of Today | Line-up

Hellfest 2005 takes place in Trenton, NJ from August 19-21, 2005.

"Hellfest, the hardcore scene's Lollapalooza (if Lollapalooza had fewer mudslides and more walls of death) will be having its 9th show the weekend of August 19, with 188 bands performing over three days. Headlining will be the not-exactly-"hardcore," but definitely freaking hardcore Public Enemy. The seminal hip-hop revolutionaries will be promoting their upcoming record Rebirth Of A Nation alongside other resuscitated bands like Youth Of Today, 108 and Bold."

Public Enemy Headlines Hellfest
Coalesce to Reform for Hellfest
Pair of music fests set to rock Trenton

Other bands on the bill include Anti-Flag, The Bouncing Souls, Boy Sets Fire, Chimaira, Converge, H2O, Hatebreed, The Misfits (how they differ from the "Misfits reunion"), Madball, None More Black (pics @ Knitting Factory), North Side Kings (punched Danzig), Pig Destroyer, Planes Mistaken for Stars, and Sick of it All (will also be playing CBGB benefit concert).

Below are the current 159 out of 187 total performers announced...

108
3 Inches Of Blood
A Hero From A Thousand Paces
A Murder Of Crows
A Wilhelm Scream
Above This Fire
The Acacia Strain
Against Me!
The Agony Scene
The AKA's
All That Remains
Alove For Enemies
Animosity
Anorexic Beauty Queen
Anterrabae
Anti-Flag
Arms Race
As Cities Burn
At All Cost
Backstabbers Inc.
The Banner
The Beautiful Mistake
Bedlight For Blue Eyes
Betrayed
Between The Buried And Me
Between Walls
Blacklisted
Bold
The Bouncing Souls
Boy Sets Fire
Buried Inside
The Burning Season
Calico System
Cannae
Casey Jones
The Casualties
Champion
The Chariot
Chimaira
Classic Case
Coalesce
Cold War
Comeback Kid
Converge
Cryptopsy
Curl Up And Die
Cursed
Dead Hearts
Dead To Fall
Death Before Dishonor
Demiricious
Donnybrook
Doomriders
Ed Gein
Embrace Today
Emery
The End
Ensign
The Esoteric
Evergreen Terrace
Fall River
Fight Paris
Final Word
Fire When Ready
From A Second Story Window
From Autumn To Ashes
Ghost Of The Saltwater Machines
Ghosts Of War
Glass And Ashes
Good Clean Fun
Gym Class Heroes
H20
Haste The Day
Hatebreed
He Is Legend
Hidden In Plain View
Hit The Lights
Horse The Band
Houston Calls
I Am Idaho
If Hope Dies
Ion Dissonance
It Dies Today
Kane Hodder
Kids Like Us
The Killing
Killing Time
Life In Pictures
Long Since Forgotten
The Loved Ones
Madball
Marathon
MC Goldie Wilson
Mean Season
The Minor Times
Misery Signals
The Misfits
Most Precious Blood
New Atlantic
Nile
Nobody Left Behind
Nodes Of Ranvier
None More Black
Nora
Norma Jean
North Side Kings
One Dead Three Wounded
Outbreak
Paria
Pig Destroyer
Planes Mistaken For Stars
Psyopus
Public Enemy
Ramallah
Ready Set Fail
The Receiving End Of Sirens
The Red Chord
The Red Death
Remembering Never
Rise Against
Roses Are Red
The Secret
Seventh Star
Shattered Realm
Sick Of It All
Silhouette
Silverstein
Sinai Beach
Since The Flood
Six Feet Under
Smoke Or Fire
Society's Finest
Spitalfield
Spitfire
Stemm
Still Remains
Stretch Arm Strong
Strike Anywhere
Suffocate Faster
Suffocation
Summer's End
Sworn Enemy
Symphony In Peril
Tension*
Terror
This Day & Age
This Is Hell
Throwdown
Time Of Need
Today Is The Day
Triple Threat
Underminded
Unearth
The Unseen
Walk The Line
The Warriors
When Tigers Fight
Winter Solstice
With Honor

Posted in music at 1:13 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

July 15, 2005

CocoRosie & Antony | Tour Dates & Stuff

As you already know, Antony appears on the next CocoRosie album and its not uncommon for Antony & CocoRosie to share a stage.

So, it's likely we'll find Antony in attendance at the CocoRosie show at Joe's Pub in NYC on July 27th. And its almost a guarantee they'll join forces the next day (July 28th) at Antony's Town Hall show because CocoRosie is the opener. The NYC shows are not part of a tour, but a tour with the same line-up starts in the Fall. Dates below...

CocoRosie & Antony and the Johnsons
Sat 09/17/05 Seattle, WA The Triple Door
Tue 09/20/05 San Francisco, CA Palace Of Fine Arts
Thu 09/22/05 Los Angeles, CA Vista Theatre
Fri 09/23/05 San Diego, CA San Diego Woman's Club
Thu 09/29/05 Montreal, QC La Tulipe
Sat 10/01/05 Toronto, ON Trinity St. Paul Centre
Tue 10/04/05 Chicago, IL Park West
(more dates to be announced probably)

CocoRosie is also opening for Devendra Banhart on 10/10 & 10/11 in Philadelphia and Northamton.

Previously
Brooks featuring Antony on Vocals | MP3
CocoRosie

Posted in music at 11:50 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Bonnie Prince Billy & Bjork | Drawing Restraint 9 | Listen

As previously reported, Bjork did the soundtrack for a new movie called "Drawing Restraint 9."

"Björk's music for the movie centers around the sho, an ancient Japanese instrument with 17 different reeds. She also, carrying on in the a cappella vein of her previous album Medulla, has turned to Noh theater scholars for help with a Noh voice technique that her webpage describes as "growling." Production help will come from several electronic musicians, including Mark Bell of LFO." [Pitchfork]

As if that's not good enough, Bonnie Prince Billy sings on the first track, and Bjork set up this special page where you can listen to a few seconds of every song.

Previously
Bonnie Prince Billy (Superwolf) R. Kelly Cover | MP3
Sage Francis vs Will Oldham | A Healthy Distrust

Posted in music at 11:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

New Sufjan Stevens & Stars live MP3s & Stream

Welcome to the Midwest posted the MP3s from Sufjan Steven's performance on KCRW yesterday. You can watch it at KCRW too. (as seen on LHB and sorry Done Waiting)

WTTM also has the MP3s from Stars' recent performance on KEXP.

Previously
Mountain Goats, Sufjan, Spoon, Dredg & Smoosh MP3s
A picture of Sufjan playing live for KEXP last year

Posted in music at 1:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Arcade Fire @ Summerstage On Sale

Tickets on sale now.

Posted in music at 12:01 PM | Comments (36) | TrackBack

Dee Snider's Tribute to Keith Alexander

"I remember one 12 hour drive on Christmas Eve Day in particular. We were coming back from an S.M.F. show on the Canadian border desperately trying to make it home in time for Christmas with our families. Keith and I talked, non-stop the entire way home. We talked about body modification, my movie, music, philosophy, books, art, television and life in general all through the night. Not only did it keep me awake at the wheel, and did we make it home in record time, but I had never before and never since been in such a compelling exchange of ideas with another human being. I will always treasure the memory of that ride and his friendship."

A Tribute to Keith Alexander by Dee Snider
My tribute to Keith
And even more at glider

Posted in music at 11:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Nine Black Alps | Siren Fest | Be Your Own Pet

Nine Black Alps play the Siren Festival tomorrow at 1:30PM (on the Stillwell stage). If you get there in time to see them, and you stay through the end of Spoon or Mates of State, you'll be in Coney Island for over 8 hours. Is it worth it? If it is worth it, would you be better off with Detachment Kit on the main stage at 1:00?

Listen to the new Nine Black Alps EP at Myspace. and read an in-depth analysis at Chromewaves.

Be Your Own Pet, who play after Nine Black Alps @ Siren, are also playing the pre-Siren fest at Rothko tonight.

Previously
Nine Black Alps & Be Your Own Pet added to Siren

Posted in at 11:38 AM | Comments (17) | TrackBack

Listen | Cloud Room, Cloud Cult, Feist, National...

When KEXP broadcasted from NYC in April,
The Cloud Room played live on air. Listen to that.
It was the same day The Fiery Furnaces played unreleased songs. Listen to that.
The National played a day earlier. Listen to that.

You might remember the feature Pitchfork ran on Minnesota Public Radio (MPR).
Listen to Cloud Cult, Bob Mould & Feist perform live on MPR. (thx Solace)

Previously
Free Cloud Room show Monday
Listen to the Cloud Room on NPR
Listen to Cloud Cult on KEXP
The National & CYHSY Tour Dates
Live Pela & The National MP3s
Feist on Conan O'Brien MP3 & Live Video

Posted in music at 10:08 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Cloud Room, Har Mar Superstar & Living Things | Free Show

thx Mike Neuman

Posted in music at 1:09 AM | Comments (13) | TrackBack

What show did you see last night?

There were so many good (mostly free) shows in NYC last night. I saw Dinosaur Jr. and missed most of Broken Social Scene.

What did you go to? How was it? (feel free to post links to reviews and pictures - even if the show wasn't in NY.)

Posted in music at 1:01 AM | Comments (68) | TrackBack

Dinosaur Jr. @ Summerstage, NYC | Pics

The reunited Dinosaur Jr. played Central Park Summerstage in Central Park, NYC on Thursday July 14th, 2005. It was a solid performance. Here are a few photos.

Broken Social Scene played before Dinosaur Jr. (Magik Markers & Radio 4 played before them)

Celebrities spotted in the audience: Village Voice cover-boy Michael Pitt, John Norris from MTV, (possibly) Rachel McAdams from Mean Girls, Michael Azerrad (author of Our Band Could be Your Life that has a chapter on Dinosaur Jr), and Central Village.

Previously
Dinosaur Jr on reuniting & stuff
Dinosaur Jr. Tour | Central Park show on Sale

Posted in music | pictures at 12:40 AM | Comments (15) | TrackBack

Broken Social Scene @ Summerstage, NYC | Pics

http://centralvillage.blogs.com/cv/2005/07/beat_but_not_br.html

Here's two photos of Broken Social Scene playing their last song @ Central Park Summerstage on Thursday July 14th, 2005. They opened for Dinosaur Jr. Unfortunately I got there too late, so that's all I saw :(

Amy from Stars provided the female vocals (that I didn't see).

Central Village caught the whole show and has pics.

Previously
Reviews of the recent Toronto BSS show
BSS & Apostle of Hustle & Feist & Stars & Collett
Broken Social Scene @ Bowery Ballroom | Pics | Part 2

Posted in music | pictures at 12:03 AM | Comments (13) | TrackBack

July 14, 2005

Scissor Sisters (Bridget Jones) @ Mercury Lounge, NYC | Pics

Scissor Sisters played a secret show under the name Bridget Jones' Diarrhea at Mercury Lounge in NYC last night (July 13th, 2005). It was the first of a three week secret residency at the same club (next week = "Megapussi" & the final show = "Portion Control"). Eleven days earlier Scissor Sisters performed for millions at the London Live 8 show. Their last NYC show was a sold out performance at (the 3000 person capacity?) Hammerstein Ballroom. Mercury Lounge holds 200-250 people.

The band's desire to test out new Scissor Sisters songs was the reason for the small secret show. I think we heard seven new tunes total (give or take a new song). The new stuff was great, but hearing Laura, Mary, Tits on the Radio, Filthy/Gorgeous, and Comfortably Numb was even greater. DJ Sammy Jo opened the show with an hour DJ set before SS took the stage.

"Scissor Sisters singer Ana Matronic has accused Paris Hilton of attending Saturday's London Live 8 concert for selfish publicity purposes." [Ireland Online]

More pics and reviews of this show at Yeti Don't Dance, Central Village, Mega Mega Mega, and Genius Lessons.

Previously
Tix on sale for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ Merc
Annie to work with Scissor Sisters?
Megapussi & Ta Det Lugnt
Bridget Jones' Diarrhea

Posted in music | pictures at 3:22 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

Doveman | The Acrobat

I've been listening to an advanced copy of The Acrobat by Doveman a lot lately. It will be released on July 26th on swim slowly records.
Yesterday One Louder gave it a "highly recommended."
Today Pitchfork gave it an 8.0.

"What you will hear: songs that glisten and sway like underwater plantlife, delivered by a pleasantly bonkers ensemble (the banjo is the featured instrument almost throughout, supported by violin and Thomas's own accomplished piano and organ). The keys handle most of the low end as well; the drums, of course, use every available technique to avoid sounding "rock"-- brushes, muffled toms, weirdly distant cymbals. Live, Doveman's Dougie Bowne (a downtown legend who had drummed for Iggy Pop, among many others) plays a crash cymbal that had unpeeled into a long spiral."

Doveman's official site has seventeen MP3s for download.
Their Myspace page has three songs streaming.

See them at Joe's Pub in NYC on August 4th, 2005.

Previously
Salon Audiofile's Summer Playlist | MP3s | Doveman

Posted in music at 12:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Another article about music blogs

"A week or so before the Detroit rock duo the White Stripes released their much-awaited recent CD, a few fans in Memphis, Tenn., began streaming the entire album over the Internet. A leak like that would usually draw a menacing letter from somebody's lawyer, but when V2 Records heard about it, the New York label's on-line marketing guy sent the perpetrators a friendly e-mail asking them to hold off for another week."

"The Tofu Hut mixes social commentary with its music, as for example in a recent post of a photo of Condoleezza Rice above an mp3 of Joe Pullum's 1934 blues hit, Black Girl, What Makes Your Head So Hard? You can stay and read a few paragraphs about Pullum and the fate of his tune, or click on the cutline for a scathing satirical biography of the U.S. Secretary of State."

"The major record companies began to take note during the dot-com boom, but when the bust came the interest evaporated just as quickly, said V2's Banuelos. The companies resumed their sometimes awkward courtship of audio bloggers a couple of years ago, after LCD Soundsystem scored an underground hit largely on the strength of a posting on Fluxblog."

A record company's best friend (via LHB)

Previously
Pitchfork, Insound, Critics, CYHSY & Sasha Frere-Jones
Music blogs close ears to Live 8?
Critical Condition | Art & Music Critics & Blogs
NY Times: Little-Known Bands Get Lift Through Word-of-Blog
The Tofu Hut's Famous list of MP3 Blogs
"The New Tastemakers" | MP3 Blogs
Music Blog Panel @ Columbia University | Recap

Posted in music at 12:10 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Lady Sovereign @ Knitting Factory, NYC | Reviews

I missed Lady Sovereign's U.S. debut at Knitting Factory last night in favor of Scissor Sisters at Mercury Lounge (stay tuned). According to Coolfer...

"First she slowly walks onto the Knitting Factory stage and tells the crowd that she's been vomiting all evening but is there for the show and will give it her best shot. She did great under the circumstances -- she was obviously tired and weak. Then there enough equipment failures to last a month. Her first New York gig was good enough to sate the thirst of her many rabid fans who pressed close to the stage. The next is sure to be better."

UPDATE:
The More in the Monitor Review
Download Lady Sovereign MP3s

Were you there? How was it?

Posted in music at 9:54 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBack

East River Project | July Show | Oneida, etc...

saturday, july 30th
- dj brian turner (of wfmu)
- extra action marching band
- tall firs
- oxford collapse
- oneida
at the east river amphitheater 2 - 6 PM | FREE 1:30pm "doors"
(via manic mess)

Related:
Extra Action Marching Band w/ David Byrne @ The Hollywood Bowl
The Prefix Oxford Collapse tour diary
Pitchfork's review of Oneida's The Wedding
Stereogum highlights The Wedding

Posted in music at 8:34 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

July 13, 2005

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah & The National Tour Dates

* "I want to hate this band simply for having one of the worst names ever." - that from the heated conversation going on in my last CYHSY post.
* I just hate their name because its length makes it hard to keep post titles from wrapping to a second line...
* Pitchfork just posted new tour dates for for CYHSY and The National which include a show at Warsaw in Brooklyn (not on sale yet). All dates below...

07-20 Brooklyn, NY - Southpaw
07-27 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
08-10 New York, NY - Seaport Music Festival
08-17 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
09-07 Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw +
09-08 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse +
09-09 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom +
09-10 Philadelphia, PA - The Khyber +
09-16 Cambridge, MA - TT the Bear's +
09-18 Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe Tavern +
09-23 Chicago, IL - Schuba's +
09-24 Minneapolia, MN - 400 Bar +
09-26 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive +
09-30 Portland, OR - Dante's +
10-01 Seattle, WA - Neumo's (KEXP Benefist Show) +
10-02 Vancouver, British Columbia - Media Club +
10-05 San Francisco, CA - Mezzanine +
10-06 Los Angeles, CA - Troubador +

+ indicates dates with The National

The Pitchfork article also talks about the Gothamist Bowie appearance, CDs selling out, and the Talking Heads Comparison. (thx Chris)

Previously
Pitchfork, Insound, Critics, CYHSY & Sasha Frere-Jones
The Clap Your Hands Say Yeah-GnR-Satanicide Connection

Posted in music at 5:36 PM | Comments (20) | TrackBack

Bunky Moved to Sunday | Smoosh playing Knit

Bowery/Sufjan must have heard that Bunky was the opener to catch at the three shows Sufjan Stevens is headlining at Bowery Ballroom because Castanets were moved to the sold-out Saturday night show, and Bunky is now opening the just-on-sale-work-night-hungover-Sunday show (calendar here). Yes, that's bunk.

In related news, tickets are on sale for a Smoosh show at Knitting Factory the same week.

(thx Jeff)

Posted in music at 5:09 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Keith Alexander RIP | Nootrope

I don't often get freaked or super-saddened by death, but right now I'm feeling serious shock and confusion. It figures too that I would find out about Keith Alexander's death from a bicycle accident ON BOING BOING! The reason it figures is because the last place I expected Keith to pop up was blog world. I had no idea "he was an avid Boing Boing reader, and suggested different things we might find interesting for the blog." I always felt Keith's life mirrored my own in so many ways, so it's only fitting I found out about his death on a blog.

Keith Alexander was one of the most interesting people (and Brooklynites) that I had the privilege of meeting/knowing/worshiping. It was music that introduced me to Keith the famous musician. It was the parallels in our lives that brought me back to him.

CARNIVORE

I always had an interest in the sort-of-old-school Brooklyn heavy metal/hardcore scene. I especially like to trace the connections between various bands and their spin-offs. Type O Negative are key in this equation. Before Type O, vocalist Peter Steele sang for the controversial band Carnivore. Keith Alexander was Carnivore's original guitarist.

After Carnivore, Keith went on to play with the legendary Primal Scream before finally joining Dee Snider's post-Twisted Sister band of "Sick Motherfuckers."

"I met Dee while working at the Gauntlet in NYC. We reached an agreement regarding my consulting on his movie "StrangeLand." That was cool enough, but a few months into the job, he asks me to audition as a guitar player in his band Dee Snider's Sick Mutherfuckers. We'd be playing 100% Twisted Sister tunes around North America and overseas. I pass the audition and I'm in. Unreal."

Keith also opened the first body piercing studio in Brooklyn, was an active member of the online and offline body modification community, kept up an amazing web presence (regular website, public blog, private blog, etc...) AND recently reinvented himself again as a digital (web site) project manager. On the side he taught some related classes at the New School.

Guess who took one of those classes? I admit I signed up as much to meet the man as I did to learn something that was relevant to me anyway. He was blogging weekly updates on the progress of his full back carp tattoo while I was in his class. He would give us updates in class (like how he was in a bad mood because it hurt and what not). I never told him about my obsession with his music. It probably wouldn't of bothered him though. It was on his personal site that I found out about the classes, and it was in the class that he constantly reminded even the most conservative of students of his personal URL (full of "shocking" details about his life).

I'll end with two quotes from the "Why I do my website" page of his website:

"I look at this place as a scrapbook / journal. A digital version of the paper ones I've kept my entire life. Nothing more, nothing less. Don't read any more into it than necessary. And in a morbid way, a record of my predilections that will hopefully live on after I die, on some server, somewhere. Grandiose? Maybe. Maybe I just have the balls to admit it. Maybe one day, in the year 2201, a relation of mine will see these zeros and ones, and say, "Damn, he had fun." That is, if we don't annihilate one and other."

"Maybe I'll inspire you to be exactly who you want to be. Maybe you'll call me a fool."

Bike Blog has the unfortunate details.
Boing Boing reports that "services will be held on Thursday at Scarpaci Funeral Home, 1401 86th Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11228. 718-331-8000."

Posted in NYC | music | music history at 4:23 PM | Comments (20) | TrackBack

Pitchfork, Insound, Critics, CYHSY & Sasha Frere-Jones

"And Pitchfork, at least, is cultishly influential. A recent rave on the site put Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s self-titled debut in the No. 1 sales spot of online retailer Insound. The retrofied New York band—think David Byrne fronting the Shins—released the album itself and has yet to tour extensively. Matt Wishnow, president of Insound, says his site has sold more than 1,000 copies of the disc, which makes it “one of the fastest-selling records in the history of Insound.”

According to Nielsen Soundscan figures, Pitchfork faves have done quite well with minimal mainstream press coverage. The Fiery Furnaces’ Blueberry Boat sold 30,000 copies. Broken Social Scene’s You Forgot It in People sold 75,000. And the Arcade Fire’s Funeral, Pitchfork’s favorite album of last year, sold 167,000 units.

“It’s huge,” says Wishnow, “the fall of the rock critic as celebrity that we used to know—the Greil Marcus, the Chuck Eddy, the Christgau. Peer opinion and access to peer opinion have been so elevated and multiplied that people tend to know about [records] from a trusted voice before the rock critic even does. In most cases, the rock critic finds out about it after the average Insound or Pitchfork or blog reader knows about it.”"

Why good writers are the worst thing that’s ever happened to pop-music criticism (via Prefix)

Posted in music at 12:54 PM | Comments (31) | TrackBack

Bonnie Prince Billy (Superwolf) R. Kelly Cover | MP3

You may have seen the Pitchfork track review (four stars) of Bonnie "Prince" Billy & Matt Sweeney (Superwolf)'s live cover of R. Kelly's "Ignition":

genre: "wtf"
"Certified weirdo-genius Will Oldham has graced us with some unique takes on songs by Prince, Mariah Carey and Madonna over the years, so this recent live version of R. Kelly's Chocolate Factory trifle isn't too surprising. What is a bit shocking, though, is how well he and his Superwolf cohorts sidestep the ironic trappings inherent in such an endeavor. Sanding against the grain, they tarnish the original's just-waxed surface with a foreboding greasy-spoon groove that conjures an unsettling backwoods freakiness."

Said the Gramaphone has the MP3. (via Prefix)

Posted in music at 11:36 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Gothamist interviews Ultragrrrl

Sarah Lewitinn aka Ultragrrrl talks about SPIN, Chuck Klosterman, music blogs, hangin with Hilary Duff at Lit, her new record label (Stolen Transmission), and more in her Gothamist interview today.

Previously
Chuck Klosterman and Dar Williams @ Housing Works (tonight)
Stolen Transmission Showcase at Rothko (tonight)
Ultragrrrl's Label

Posted in music at 11:26 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

Devendra & Sufjan on sale at noon

* Devendra Banhart (with his "Hairy Fairy Band") is playing Webster Hall on October 20th. Bunny Brains is opening. If by Bunny Brains, they mean this band, then "the band formerly known as BunnyBrains 88 and before that just The Bunny Brains, is now ULTRABUNNY." (on sale at noon)

* The third Sufjan Stevens date at Bowery Ballroom was added. Castanets are opening. No offense to Castanets, but the Bunky and Smoosh dates are the ones to be at (unless you're going to all three). (on sale at noon, but not even one of the shows is sold out yet)

Previously
Devendra Banhart "Cripple Crow" sampler | Stream
Mountain Goats, Sufjan, Spoon, Dredg & Smoosh MP3s

Posted in music at 10:31 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

The Roots free show & What are you doing?

Since there wasn't already enough good stuff to do Thursday....
"The ROOTS are coming to HUDSON RIVER PARK’S PIER 54 in NEW YORK CITY on July 14, 2005 at 7PM"

Is it possible to see more than one show tomorrow? Most of the free stuff starts at 7:00. Summerstage starts at 6:00. Which one are you going to?

1) Dinosaur Jr, Broken Social Scene, Radio 4, & Magik Markers (inside - $$)
2) Dinosaur Jr, Broken Social Scene, Radio 4, & Magik Markers (outside - free)
3) Ozomatli in Prospect Park (free)
4) Son Volt / Dr. Dog @ South Street Seaport (free)
5) Calexico in Castle Clinton (free)
6) The Roots @ Hudson River Park (free)
7) Dungen @ Maxwell's ($$$)
8) Tegan & Sara @ Webster Hall ($$$)
9) other???

full list of shows for Thursday at Gothamist

Posted in music at 10:05 AM | Comments (30) | TrackBack

Chuck Klosterman and Dar Williams @ Housing Works tonight

"Housing Works proudly hosts another live taping of "Liberal Arts," for Air America Radio."
"This week, the hour-long event will feature writer Chuck Klosterman and folk singer/songwriter Dar Williams."
"Doors open at 7:30PM for an 8:00PM start. Seating is limited and available on a first come, first seated basis." (more info)

UPDATE: Productshop has all of Klosterman's tour dates including a few more appearances in NYC

Previously
Chuck Klosterman | Killing Yourself to Live, Mix Tape & top 10 things

Posted in music at 9:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 12, 2005

Devendra Banhart "Cripple Crow" sampler | Stream

Devendra Banhart's new album "Cripple Crow" isn't released until September 13, but thanks to XL Recordings you can get your fix and stream a bunch of songs off the album now. (thx solace)

-----

"Due for release this September, 'Cripple Crow' is Devendra Banhart's fourth proper studio album and his third album on XL Recordings. 'Cripple Crow' was recorded at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, NY late Winter '05 with regular sidekick Andy Cabic, Noah Georgeson and Thom Monahan joining Devendra in the studio; the latter co-engineered & co-produced and the former co-engineering, co-producing and also contributed sundry instrumental and vocal accompaniment. This new album finds Devendra continuing his extraordinary growth as a writer, vocalist and musician. Songs like 'Now That I Know' and 'I Do Dig a Certain Girl' among others provide more of the hushed, mysterious acoustic alchemy that delighted listeners on preceding set though the new tunes show still greater artistic depth and delicacy. All in all 'Cripple Crow' witnesses Banhart furthering his mastery of the acoustic/experimental idiom he helped pioneer as well providing himself with fresh challenges an artist."

Previously
Devendra Banhart 2005 Tour Dates | Webster Hall

Posted in music at 10:28 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Random music stuff

* I continue to keep the CMJ link roster up to date. Latest addition = Tim Fite.
* Thanks to all the people who emailed and commented about the CMJ Arcade Fire Summerstage tickets going on sale Friday. Two openers still unannounced, though Canadian buzz band Wolf Parade is rumored to be one of them.
* Speaking of the Arcade Fire, their first EP was re-released today. Pitchfork decided to give it a rating.
* And speaking of re-released, Clap Your Hand Say Yeah wasted no time in getting more CDs made after their initial pressing of 2000 ran out.
* And speaking of purchasing music, Insound is giving all new customers 25% off their orders.
* Wednesday night Balkan Beat Box (featuring ex-members of Gogol Bordello) play two shows at Joe's Pub in NYC. Gogol Bordello have a new album coming out on August 9th. An MP3 off that album can be downloaded excluively right here. They're currently playing around the country on the Warped Tour (weird?) from July 3rd to July 23rd.
* It was almost eight months ago that Information Leafblower posted the blogger list of the 40 greatest american bands. Gogol Bordello was #38.
* Sigur Ros is not the only band with a Flickr Account. mk pointed out that Minus the Bear have one too.
* Minus the Bear play Knitting Factory in NYC on September 21st.
* How popular is grime? not very. The Lady Sovereign show at Knitting Factory tommorrow night is still not sold out, and I've barely heard a peep about Kano & Diplo on August 13th. Proof that a high rating on Pitchfork does not guarantee mania.
* Since Hot Snakes are breaking up, August 9th at Bowery will be New York's last chance to see them before they reunite.
* Reunited Dead Can Dance tickets: Still not sold out.
* The Decemberists are on Conan tonight.

Posted in music at 5:32 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack

The Deli Magazine Streaming Show Compilation

As previously noted, The Deli Magazine covers NYC bands. They also throw shows with NYC bands at NYC venues. This Friday their show is at the Hook in Red Hook (Brooklyn, NY). It's 2 stages, an outdoor space, and has $2.00 beers all night. Some of the bands on the bill are Hoy, Song Corporation, Aloke (as seen with Pagoda at their Pianos residency), Mistakes, Group Sounds, and The Color Guard. You probably haven't heard most (if any) of them, so Deli made this convenient streaming mix tape containing 10 songs from those bands. (click to listen)

Posted in To Do | music at 2:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Gay Hip-Hop Festival

"After attracting over 600 fans and artists at its inauguration in July 2004, the Peace Out East LGBT Hip Hop Festival enters its sophomore year with concerts and screenings that showcase the pioneering work of Homo Hop artists in hip-hop's birthplace, New York City. The Festival represents the growing work of a thriving Homo Hop community, whose very presence challenges the notion of hip hop as an anti-gay art form."

Events include live music and spoken word at the Bowery Poetry club on Friday July 15th, video screenings, live performances at Galapagos is Brooklyn on Saturday July 16th, and performances at Nuyorican Poets Café on Sunday July 17th. Full schedule and more info. here.

Posted in music at 2:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Willie Nelson | Reggae released & Farm Aid

"At a recent show here with Bob Dylan, Nelson performed a long list of hits, but not a single song from his long-awaited reggae album, "Countryman," which comes out Tuesday."

Willie Nelson takes reggae turn with 'Countryman'

"For its 20th anniversary concert, Farm Aid will return to Illinois, the state where Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young staged the first event in 1985. The 2005 show, set for Sept. 18 at the Tweeter Center in Tinley Park, will feature the three founders and Dave Matthews, who joined the Farm Aid board in 2001, along with a slate of additional artists yet to be announced."

Farm Aid Sets 20th Anniversary Concert

Posted in music at 10:44 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

2005 Martin Luther King Jr. free Concert Series in Brooklyn

The 2005 free concert schedule in Brooklyn's Wingate Field:

July 18th: Ohio Players, Cameo, Slave (funk night)
July 25th: Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle (sweet sounds of soul night)
Aug 1st: The O'Jays, The Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston & Blue Lovett (classic soul night)
Aug 8th: Hezekiah Walker - A 20th anniversary tribute featuring a gospel all star line-up
Aug 15th: Chaka Khan with the Brothers Johnson
Aug 22nd: The Mighty Sparrow - The King of Calypso meets Shaggy - The Price of Reggae with special guests (Caribbean music festival)

every Monday @ 7:30PM at Wingate Field (opposite Kings County Hospital)

Posted in music at 10:18 AM | Comments (12) | TrackBack

2005 Seaside Summer Concert Series in Coney Island

The 2005 free concert schedule in Coney Island's Asser Levy Park:

July 14th: Liza Minnelli
July 21st: Abba The Music & Sheena Easton
July 28th: Salsa by the Sea: La India & Wisin and Yandel & "SPECIAL MYSTERY GUEST"
Aug 4th: Jay Black and the Americans, & Little Anthony and the Imperials & Kenny Vance and the Planotones
Aug 11th: Patti Labelle
Aug 18th: Michael Bolton

Every Thursday night @ 7:30 PM, FREE (across from the aquarium)

Posted in music at 10:08 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

Sigur Ros Flickr Account

Picture of Sigur Ros from their personal Flickr account. We all know bands use Myspace and have blogs and what not, but I think this is the first Flickr I've seen. (via Kottke)

Sigur Ros Sets New Album Track List
Sigur Ros Fall Tour Pre-Sale (is over)

Posted in music at 1:05 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Walking Concert tonight, Alec Ounsworth not | Royksopp

There are way too many shows in NYC. No matter how hard I try, my weekly Gothamist post will never be complete.

I just found out that Walking Concert is playing The Delancey tonight (Tuesday July 12th, 2005). According to Walter, "We'll be featuring new songs such as "Heading For The Beaches" and "Gotta Save the Save-ables", and talking between songs. Set time is 10:00PM, the earliest, more likely 11:00PM. Also, check out openers Space Mtn. from LA if you can, they rock."

Jerry was kind enough to point out that Alec Ounsworth of CYHSY cancelled his solo show at Pianos tonight. Thank god I barely even mentioned it in my post this week (unlike Cloud Cult last week).

And one show I probably could have given a little more attention was Royksopp this Wednesday at Irving Plaza. So here are some Royksopp links:
Pitchfork gave their new album an 8.2 yesterday
tosqs reports on a fall tour (Webster Hall included)
Download Royksopp MP3s from Glastonbury 2005

Posted in music at 12:32 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

July 11, 2005

20 Miles @ 8 Mile Creek Tonight | Rock N' Roll Mondays

After getting a tip that 20 Miles are playing a free show at Eight Mile Creek tonight (10pm), I called the venue to make sure it wasn't a practical joke. The 8 Mile guy didn't know the name of the band, but confirmed tonight was the start of 'Rock n' Roll Mondays' (band & dj). (thx Drew)

UPDATE: Drew went to the show. It ended up being a secret (free) Jon Spencer Blues Explosion gig.

"For more than a decade, Judah Bauer has polished the work of his primary band, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, with a considerably gifted guitar prowess. Having cut his professional teeth forging the guitar-driven onslaught of the Blues Explosion, he buffered his cachet in work with such roots stylists and nouveau Delta blues legends as R.L. Burnside and Othar Turner. Since 1996, the assiduous Judah has been applying a pared down musical sensibility to his continuing fascination with the deeply American idioms of blues, R&B, and rockabilly under the moniker 20 Miles." [Fat Possum Records]

Posted in music at 6:50 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Ozzfest post hits 300 Comments

Time to celebrate I guess: The infamous Ozzfest post.

Posted in music at 6:46 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Dinosaur Jr on reuniting & stuff

"So aside from promoting the re-release of their first three albums, why is Dinosaur Jr. back? Perhaps it has something to do with their frustration over the current state of music. "It seems like mediocrity is OK now. I just wish people would be better, or if they weren't better, that they wouldn't play," says Mascis. "It's so hip to be in a band now, it's like a fad or something, and it bums me out," explains Murph. "Because we come from a school where you try to do your best at it, and you try to put everything you have into it and make it worthwhile.""

"...if you're unable to score tickets to their sure to be sold-out show at Central Park SummerStage on July 14, don't worry—anyone within a five-mile radius should have no trouble hearing them."

Village Voice: Alt-rock pioneers Dinosaur Jr. return to the freak scene as seniors

Posted in music at 5:06 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Queen Latifah underwear & free show @ NJ Wal-mart

"The Queen (aka Dana Owens) recently signed a partnership with Curvation, an intimate apparel line for large women owned by Vanity Fair Corp., parent company of such brands as Wrangler, Nautica and The North Face."

"With the backing of the clothing line, Latifah is conducting Curvation Project Confidence. She'll launch the contest with a free concert at 6:30 p.m. Thursday (July 14th) at the Wal-Mart (parking lot) in Secaucus (400 Park Place), where Curvation bras and undergarments are sold. "

Power to the Queen

Posted in music at 4:56 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack

Thighpaulsandra | Double Vulgar II | TMT 5/5

"Thighpaulsandra (born Tim Lewis to retired opera singer Dorothy Lewis) is a Welsh experimental musician. His influences are krautrock and improvised electronic music." [Wikipedia]

Double Vulgar II is Thighpaulsandra's latest album.

styles: weird rock, avant-psych
others: Coil, Nurse With Wound, Jeweled Antler Collective
"The more I listen to this album, the harder it becomes to quantify it. As near as I can tell, this is an entirely unique experience for me. I listened to this for the first time, was absolutely floored by it, and I knew I had to review it and spread the good word."

Tiny Mix Tapes gave Double Vulgar II a perfect score

Download clips (long songs = long clips) (mp3s)
The Vile Receipt (extract)
Vomiting Child (extract)
Bost Sanvay Unst Bit Sumonver (extract)
(clips courtesy of Beta-lactam Ring Records)

Stylus gave it a B-.

Posted in music at 4:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Feist on Conan O'Brien MP3 & Live Video

* 'From Blown Speakers' posted an MP3 of Feist's performance on Conan O'Brien the other day.
* That link via 'For the Records' who has a review of the July 8th, 2005 Broken Social Scene show that Chromewaves was also at.
* 'The Big Ticket' just saw Feist in Minneapolis(?) and posted a video clip from the show and links to other videos.

Previously
BSS & Apostle of Hustle & Feist & Stars & Collett
Mountain Goats, Sufjan, Spoon, Dredg & Smoosh MP3s

Posted in music at 3:39 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

This Week's NYC Shows

The Siren Festival is Saturday. Son Volt, Dinosaur Jr., Broken Social Scene, Scissor Sisters, Detachment Kit, Fab Faux, Balkan Beat Box, Lady Sovereign, Calexico, Ozomatli, Dungen, The Hidden Cameras, Nada Surf, Mr. Brownstone, Brazilian Girls and others are playing in NYC this week. The rundown in my weekly Gothamist post.

Posted in To Do | music at 2:16 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

Tim Fite | Gone Ain't Gone | MP3s | CMJ 2005

"Recently signed Anti recording artist Tim Fite lives alone in a graveyard in Brooklyn, NY. In this graveyard, there are no headstones, no mausoleums, no flowers, no plot maps, no sprinklers, no astroturf; there aren't even any dead bodies (as far as I know). That is, unless you count the stacks and stacks of bargain bin c.d.'s that are strewed about the apartment, poking out of every nook and cranny of the otherwise orderly fourth floor walk up." [ANTI]

"Gone Ain’t Gone, a wry, anachronistic, copyright-defying, country/hip-hop collage, was made mostly from cds rescued from dollar bins; Australian bar bands, DC garage-punks, and demos from up-and-never coming rock bands. It’s all sampled, looped and laid down as the blueprint for FITE’s intriguing avant-folk vision of musical crime and resuscitation." [ANTI]

Gone Ain't Gone is is released on October 13th, 2005. A visit to Tim's site will gain you NINE new MP3s (including six from that album). (Go get 'em. they good...)

Tim Fite is playing CMJ this year, and New Yorkers can also see him this Sunday (July 17th, 2005) @ Joe's Pub. He's opening for Nicolai Dunger.

Posted in CMJ | To Do | music at 11:25 AM | Comments (24) | TrackBack

Danzig Tour, Misfits Reunion (again) & Mortiis

I wonder if Danzig sold more tickets than usual last tour due to the addition of Doyle and their 30 minute Misfits reunion set. Not only is Danzig squashing rumors that the last tour would be his last, he's bringing Doyle on the road with him again for ANOTHER tour featuring the Misfits reunion set. I'M NOT COMPLAINING. Chimaira, Behemoth, Himsa, Mortiis, and The Agony Scene will open the shows which means this time I'll try and get there early. (click for must-see picture of Mortiis)

Danzig Announces Tour

QUICK HISTORY LESSON: The ORIGINAL Misfits ('80-'83 lineup) were Glenn Danzig (vocals), Doyle, Jerry Only, and various drummers. The CURRENT Misfits (who play all the time everywhere) are Jerry Only and a rotating cast of characters. Do not confuse the current Misfits with the Misfits reunion featuring Danzig and Doyle. They different.

Also
Danzig: Often Imitated, Never Duplicated
Danzig: 'Il Demonio Nera' DVD released
MORTIIS Keeps Busy With Remixes, Guest Appearances

Previously
Trend Alert | Danzig's Mother
Danzig / Misfits Reunion NYC Pics

Posted in music at 10:51 AM | Comments (12) | TrackBack

Sodre Lerche Married

"Sondre Lerche recently got married in NYC to Mona Fastvold, the girl from his video for “Days That Are Over”

TOSQS has the news & video

Posted in music at 10:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Mountain Goats, Sufjan, Spoon, Dredg & Smoosh MP3s

Welcome to the M!dwest! is an MP3 blog with the following MP3s for download:
The Mountain Goats + Spoon KEXP Performances
Sufjan Stevens Live @ WNYC
New Dredg
Smoosh

Also...
I haven't stressed enough how much I love the new Mountain Goats record.
Spoon is playing the Siren Festival this Saturday.
Stevens Album Soars Despite 'Superman' Flap
Smoosh is opening for Sufjan Stevens in NYC.
Dredg is playing Bowery Ballroom in NYC on Aug. 17th, 2005.

Posted in music at 9:50 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Trend Alert | Danzig's Mother

"Mother" by Danzig is all the rage.

1) Mother was covered by Sleater Kinney @ Roseland Ballroom. (June 23rd, 2005)
2) The DJ @ Scenic Friday night played Bucky Done Gun by M.I.A. followed by Mother. (July 8th, 2005) (Annie played Scenic a week earlier)
3) The DJ @ ___ (I don't even know where I was) Saturday night played Mother only a few songs before he threw on a track by Annie (July 9th, 2005)
UPDATE:
4) Mother was covered by DFA 1979 at their show in May.
UPDATE 2:
5) Mother was covered by LCD Soundsystem (mortal enemies of DFA 1979) at their Halloween '04 show at Tribeca Grand.
6) "request: Danzig 'Mother,' I was like 'you read my mind, 'cause I was gonna play that anyway!'" as seen on this page.

Previously
I saw Danzig perform Mother @ Spirit | Pics

Posted in music at 9:40 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

July 10, 2005

Son Volt & Scissor Sisters tix on sale

More tickets were released for the secret Scissor Sisters show this Wednesday and the Son Volt / Dr. Dog show at Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday.

Posted in music at 4:35 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Cloud Cult NOT PLAYING TONIGHT

After I featured the show in my gothamist post and everything, Knitting Factory says that ticketweb may have screwed up, and that Cloud Cult is NOT playing tonight. They also said to call back later to make sure: 212-219-3132

UPDATE: I just called Cloud Cult's publicity company, AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT PLAYING. They said Knitting Factory knew this after their was some confusion between the June 10th date at Sin-e and their supposed July 10th date at Knitting Factory...clerical error or something...

You can see that Cloud Cult is listed (though barely) on Knitting Factory's website and ticketweb clearly lists Cloud Cult as the headliner. If you bought tickets and Cloud Cult doesn't play they'll issue a refund.

Posted in music at 4:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Bunky Playing NYC w/ Sufjan Stevens | Smoosh

Not everyone likes the Bunky album, but supposedly their live show is legendary in San Diego. The biggest complaint about the album seems to be the unsuccessful translation of that live experience. Now we (New York) can find out when they open for labelmate Sufjan Stevens at Bowery Ballroom on August 20th (Liz Janes also on that bill). (Tickets)

Bunky is playing one of the three shows Sufjan is headlining at Bowery. The August 21st one still hasn't been announced. The August 19th one has Smoosh & Half Handed Cloud on the bill. If you don't know who Smoosh is, then it's essential you check out this feature on NPR.

Also
An interview with Bunky
The Kyndmusic Bunky review
Listen to Smoosh on KEXP
Watch a Smoosh video
A Sufjan Stevens MP3 @ Central Village

Previously
Sufjan Stevens Exclusive song for NPR | MP3
You can buy Sufjan Stevens' Illinois again
Bunky "BaBa" Video
Bunky | Born to Be a Motorcycle

Posted in music at 3:03 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

July 8, 2005

Listen to Cloud Cult on KEXP | Stream

* Cloud Cult played live in-studio for KEXP on June 24th, 2005. Listen to it.
* Cloud Cult @ Kexp is not to be confused with Cloud Room @ NPR.
* Go see Cloud Cult @ Knitting Factory Sunday.

Posted in music at 5:16 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

iJamming | Jello Biafra to Terrorists, "Fuck You"

"Those who so desperately desire to be either murderers or martyrs to a cause, in direct conflict with the teaching of what they claim to be their religion, should find a nice open space to do so, and blow themselves all up together. To