"Actor Michael McKean, who starred in the film "This is Spinal Tap" and TV's "Laverne and Shirley," was recovering Tuesday night in a Manhattan hospital after he was struck by a car on the upper West Side, police sources said.

McKean, 64, who played Lenny on the hit television show, was seen bleeding from the head after a car barreled into him at W. 86th St. and Broadway just before 3 p.m., witnesses and the FDNY said.

The actor, who also portrayed Spinal Tap's lead singer and guitarist David St. Hubbins in the cult classic "This is Spinal Tap," was initially taken to St. Luke's Hospital in critical condition, fire officials said.

His status was upgraded to stable condition at the hospital where doctors discovered he had a broken leg, according to his publicist Harriet Sternberg. [Daily News]

by Andrew Sacher

Jayne County and the Electric Chairs (not a recent pic)

Looks like CBGB isn't the only legendary NYC punk venue celebrating a "reunion" this year. Max's Kansas City will be throwing an alumni reunion for four days in June at The Bowery Electric from June 7-10. Max's existed just above Union Square on Park Ave. South from 1965-1974 and again from 1975-1981. It was during its second run as a venue that it became known, along with CBGB, as one of the birthplaces of punk in NYC, having played host to Ramones, Blondie, Television, Talking Heads, New York Dolls, Patti Smith, Suicide, and many others.

The alumni reunion at Bowery Electric will include proto-punk legends Jayne County and the Electric Chairs (formerly Wayne County and the Electric Chairs, Jayne changed her name after the band's breakup and began identifying as a woman), who are best known for their single, "Fuck Off," and their excellent cover of the Electric Prunes' "I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night." They play on June 7 with The Rattlers, Sea Monster, Ruby & the Rednecks, and NY Junk. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

On June 8, we'll get Billy Rath's Street Pirates (Billy played bass with Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers), The Sic F*cks, Avant Duel, power pop greats The Shirts (who have been reunited since 2003 with founding members Robert Racioppo and Artie Lamonica, but without lead singer Annie Golden), and The Brats. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

On June 9, it's The Nihilistics, The Waldos (featuring Walter Lure of Johnny Thunders' band), The Planets, and Stumblebunny (tickets) and finally on June 10, it's King Bee & the Stingers, The Rousers, The Deer France & Dee Pop Experience, The Bowerytones, Four on the Floor, Street Corner Review, Hudson Dusters, and Honey Davis (tickets). A four day pass, which gains you access to all four shows, is also available.

Speaking of proto-punk shows at the Bowery Electric, Deniz Tek (of Australia's Radio Birdman) is currently on a tour of the US and Europe which brings him to Bowery Electric TONIGHT (5/18), Maxwell's on Saturday (5/19) in Hoboken, NJ and a Philly show on Sunday (5/20). The Master Plan open all three of those shows and Daddy Long Legs are on the Bowery Electric and Philly show. Tickets for tonight's Bowery Electric show and Saturday's Maxwell's show are available. All Deniz Tez dates are listed below.

Now that we're talking about Maxwell's, it's worth mentioning that another NYC punk legend will be there this month when Manitoba plays on May 25. In addition to being the reason that Dan Snaith started using the Caribou moniker, Manitoba is also the current project of Handsome Dick Manitoba, lead singer of The Dictators (who recorded a punk cover of "California Sun" two years before the Ramones did, and had a handful of solid originals as well). Manitoba also includes fellow Dictators Ross the Boss and JP Patternson, Daniel Rey (who's produced records for late-period Ramones, Richard Hell, Misfits), and Dean Rispler. Tickets for the Maxwell's show are on sale now. Manitoba also opens for Dick Dale on a Rocks Off Concert Cruise on 7/22 with The Detroit Cobras (tickets).

Lastly, speaking of CBGB, in addition to this summer's CBGB festival, The Telegraph points out that a CBGB biopic is also in the works which will profile the history of the club and how it became a breeding ground for the thriving late '70s punk scene. The film will star Alan Rickman (aka Severus Snape aka Hans Gruber) as CBGB founder Hilly Kristal, directed by Randall Miller (who worked with Rickman on Bottle Shock) and co-produced by Hilly's daughter, Lisa.

A list of all Deniz Tek dates and some videos are below...

Continue reading "Max's Kansas City alumni reunion, Deniz Tek on tour (dates), Manitoba playing Maxwell's, & other proto-punk news"

E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial

The "Movies with a View" series returns in 2012 at Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn near the Brooklyn Bridge for two months of film under the stars and in front of that stellar view. This year's series runs Thursdays in July and August, and is now actually called "SyFy Movies With a View" (it's sponsored by the SyFy network), though only the July 5 opening film, E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, falls under science fiction. Yes, that is slightly confusing, but remember... it's free.

Movies include Clueless, Barefoot in the Park, Wet Hot American Summer, Unforgiven, and an audience choice. The movies are all paired with a short film and a DJ. Music starts at 6PM with the movies at sunset. Between this, Summerscreen, Rooftop Films, and a handful of other free film series, there is no shortage of outdoor cinematic entertainment for NYC this summer.

The full SyFy Movies with a View schedule is below.

Continue reading "free movies in Brooklyn Bridge Park (2012 schedule) "

Dub pioneer, living legend and genuine eccentric, Lee "Scratch" Perry is currently on a US tour that will stop at NYC's Gramercy Theater on Thursday (5/17) with openers Subatomic Sound System. Tickets for that show are still available. All Lee Perry dates are listed below.

If you're unfamiliar with his extensive canon of work, you might want to check out Perry documentary, The Upsetter, which was released on DVD earlier this year. Perry's seminal album Blackboard Jungle Dub just came out as a cool 10" box, one of the hottest Record Store Day releases this year. And for the real fan, you can now get the Lee "Scratch" Perry vinyl figure which is pictured above.

Perry makes a short but memorable appearance in the recently-released documentary Marley which is still in theaters (like NYC's Sunshine Cinema). Marley is also streaming now via various sources and comes to DVD August 9.

In other reggae news, August marks the 50th anniversary of Jamaica's independence from British colonial rule and there will be a celebration at Summerstage in Central Park on August 19 with a free show featuring Inner Circle, Israel Vibration, The Mighty Diamonds and DJ Carter Van Pelt.

In other news from the island, we were sad to read that Skatalites bassist and founding member Lloyd Brevett died last week at age 80. RIP Lloyd.

You can watch videos of the Skatallites and Lee "Scratch" Perry in action, plus the trailer for The Upsetter and a list of all Perry tour dates below...

Continue reading "Lee 'Scratch' Perry on tour +++ other reggae-related news"

Tragedy at Red 7 last week (more by Tim Griffin)

Portland d-beat favorites Tragedy return to NYC with a whallop of a supporting cast in The Boston Strangler, Sickoids and Perdition at Le Poisson Rouge Saturday (5/12). Tickets are still available. The band is touring in support of their new sludge-infested LP Darker Days Ahead out now at their shows and available via a distro near you in the near future. Check out more pictures from their recent Austin show HERE.

In case you were curious, no Portland's Tragedy will NOT be opening for a screening of Saturday Night Fever at Prospect Park on 7/14 but Tragedy, the "all metal tribute to the Bee Gees" will. The full Celebrate Brooklyn Prospect Park concert schedule was announced earlier this week and also includes a Mission of Burma show among many others.

Check out some live video of the Portland Tragedy in action below.

Continue reading "Tragedy are at Le Poisson Rouge Saturday, but not opening for Saturday Night Fever at Prospect Park"

Poster for Think of Me, screening Saturday, May 12

Starting on May 11 with This is What We Mean by Short Films, Rooftop Films will screen 23 feature films and 183 short films, including NY, US, and World Premieres. The films come from around the world, with off-beat and hilarious comedies, intimate and intense dramas, powerful and personal documentaries--all of which reflect Rooftop's focus on exciting, innovative, independent cinema. Most events include live music, filmmaker Q&As, special appearances by the films' casts and subjects, and after-parties with complementary drinks every weekend until Saturday, August 18...

...Along with their already outstanding venues spanning the roofs, parks, and piers of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, Rooftop Films is excited to screen at two new locations this year: Dekalb Market and MetroTech Commons. Located in the heart of downtown Brooklyn, the beautiful commons of MetroTech opened in 1992 and has become a preferred location for students, local residents and those employed in the nearby buildings to spend their free time. All screenings at MetroTech Commons are co-presented with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. Housed in a collection of salvaged shipping containers, Dekalb Market has become a new community destination in downtown Brooklyn and brings together Brooklyn's creative entrepreneurs in a community setting that include an incubator farm, an event and performance venue, and a collection of eateries and work-sell spaces.

While the music side of Rooftop Films is still being firmed up (Doe Paoro, Mutual Benefit and Softspot are the only other ones announced so far), the full film program has been announced and is listed below...

Continue reading "Rooftop Films kicks off its 2012 season"

Ghostface at Rock The Bells 2011 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

Lyricist Lounge will celebrate 20 years of events and releases with a free Celebrate Brooklyn show at Prospect Park on June 23rd. Ghostface Killah (who celebrated his birthday yesterday, May 9th!) will join the kings of "Luchini" Camp Lo, Astro, and more for this FREE event that kicks off at 7:30. Ghostdeini currently has no other US dates planned, but will go on the road for a string of Australian dates at the beginning of June. Details are below. Check out the full Celebrate Brooklyn schedule HERE.

In other classic hip hop news, Prodigy of Mobb Deep will team up with The Beatnuts, Heems of Das Racist, DJ Rob Swift, Big Baby Gandhi and more as part of an event called "Queens Day" on 6/19 at Irving Plaza. Tickets are still available. Prodigy recently completed recording of his new album HNIC3, which is due for release on July 3rd. Stream the recent track "Gangsta Love" featuring Esther below.

All Ghostface Killah dates, some video, and that Prodigy stream is below. Pay close attention to the tail end of that "Luchini" video and you'll see Butterfly of Digable Planets (aka Ishmael Butler) drop a verse from Camp Lo's "Swing". Butler's new project Shabazz Palaces play Williamsburg Park this summer.

Continue reading "Ghostface & Camp Lo celebrate 20 years of Lyricist Lounge; Prodigy & The Beatnuts celebrate Queens day"

Popular Williamsburg outtdoor film (and music) series Summerscreen is back for another season in McCarren Park, put on by the good folks at The L Magazine. Bands haven't been announced yet, but the films have. Here's the schedule:

Continue reading "Summerscreen 2012 lineup -- free movies in McCarren Park"

photos by Amanda Hatfield

Cold Cave @ The Guggenheim

Cold Cave opened their set at the Guggenheim museum on Friday (4/27) in the best way they know how, with blasts of noise. The LA duo's appearance (just Wesley Wisold and Dominick Fernow this time around) as part of the Divine Ricochet series was more than just an all out attack though; the band eventually settled into favorites from their two LPs Love Comes Close and Cherish The Light Years in the unique space. Here are some pictures from the unique show.

The Divine Ricochet series started with a show by Grouper and Julianna Barwick, and concludes with Zola Jesus and JG Thirwell.

The band also had a limited to 223-copies Confetti/Believe in My Blood seven-inch available to the first people to walk in the door, Did you manage to snag one? If not, look for them at an eBay reseller near you.

As previously mentioned, Wes Eisold of Cold Cave is also featured in a new Give Up The Ghost/American Nightmare documentary.

More pictures from the Guggenheim along with a video of the band performing "Love Comes Close", below...

Continue reading "Cold Cave played the Guggenheim, gave away 7"s (pics)"

As the Film Stage wrote over a year ago:

Vampire Weekend bandmember and producer Rostam Batmanglij will debut his first film score at The Sundance Film Festival in the drama Sound of My Voice, which was written and directed by his brother Zal Batmanglij.

The film, which according to Pitchfork (via Playlist) centers on a couple of cult-infiltrators in California, is Zal's first feature-length production. While little else is known about this indie, Rostam's involvement could mean a soundtrack release.

Now, Sound of My Voice finally opens in theaters tonight (4/27) via Fox Searchlight who is giving it a wider release. Check out the first 12 minutes of the movie at its website, or just view the creepy trailer, below...

Continue reading "Rostam Batmanglij-scored 'Sound of My Voice' movie opening in theaters (today)"