« July 3, 2005 - July 9, 2005 | Main | July 17, 2005 - July 23, 2005 »
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. "
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)
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”
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