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July 2, 2005
Live 8 MP3s
MICHAEL STIPE OF REM @ LIVE 8
Paul McCartney sang Sgt Pepper with U2. Download the U2 MP3s. (though the Sgt. Pepper one isn't complete)
This site has torrents that include sets (audio and video) from Coldplay, Dido, Madonna, Motley Crue, PINK FLOYD, and U2.
Largehearted Boy is listing torrents too.
You can download another U2 Live8 MP3 here.
And here's a link to download a .rar file of the Coldplay set.
Plus right now you can still watch the rerun.
If you know where to get more, leave 'em in the comments.
Posted in music at 7:23 PM | Comments (11) | TrackBack
Pink Floyd @ Live 8 ...The Cure & McCartney
PINK FLOYD REUNITED
6:02 pm: they're on. I'm comfortably Numb.
6:03 pm: playing "Breathe"
6:06 pm: playing "Money"
6:09 pm: according to the text cycling across the top of the screen, Def Leppard "can still ROCK"
6:11 pm: camera zooms in on Roger Waters' crotch again
6:13 pm: Drummers' facial expressions similar to Andy Gill from Gang of Four.
6:14: Roger Waters says something about standing up there with these three guys after all these years.
6:15: playing "Wish You were Here"
6:16: David Gilmour making those high pitched noises again.
6:17: "Thank You." Crowd cheers. "Here we go" (phew, I thought it was over)
6:18: playing "Comfortably Numb"
6:19: according to the text cycling across the screen, I'm missing Motley Crue play "Dr Feelgood" in Toronto. damn.
6:23: I just noticed the big "Poverty" WALL behind them. Did that just get there?
6:25: "Than you very much goodnight." David Gilmour and Roger Waters have their arm around each other for a second. It's over. :-(
6:27: (switches to The Cure in Paris). Robert Smith, please get a new look.
6:40: All Beatles couldn't be reached for a reunion, so Paul McCartney plays "Get Back" all by himself.
6:44: Is that George Michael? More Beatles. Paul plays "Drive my Car"
6:45: It was George "Lennon" Michael!
6:46: Paul's drummer is badass.
6:47: 3 for 3. "Helter Skelter"
6:49: Started daydreaming about Michael Jackson coming out next to do "Say Say Say."
6:50: Thanks Bob.
6:51: 4 for 4. "The Long and Winding Road"
6:55: George Michael is back. So is everyone. "Hey Jude." 5 for 5.
6:56: Paul McCartney starts making out with Bob Geldof. just kidding
6:58: There's the Beatles! (or people dressed as them). I don't think Maria Carey and David Gilmour knew the words. Annie Lennox makes out with Bob Geldof. just kidding.
7:01: Pete Townshend makes out with African Boys choir.]\
7:02: Drummer still badass.
Posted in music at 6:02 PM | Comments (12) | TrackBack
Watch Live 8
AOL is streaming Live 8.
Photo of Bjork performing @ Live 8 Tokyo from here.
Posted in music at 2:59 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
3 New BV Features | To Do NYC & CMJ Guide
If you look over there in the right hand column under the search box, you'll see two new links. OVER THAT WAY------------->
1) To Do NYC = my weekly Gothamist post and anything else I post during the week related to an event happening that week.
2) CMJ 2005 = My list of CMJ Bands (for now) with links to more info on this site about all those bands, and maybe more will be there. not sure yet. (so like for instance when I just did that Goblin Cock post, I updated the main CMJ post with a link to it, and I'll keep that one page updated. you see?)
And CMJ is also now a post category.
3) Look at the bottom of the Goblin Cock post. You'll see "this post, posted at 12:20 PM in CMJ | music" If you click on "CMJ," you'll go to all the CMJ posts. You can also get there in the "Category" dropdown thingee that's also in the right column.
Posted in general | music at 1:52 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
CMJ 2005: Goblin Cock
Inspired by Mike Neuman's "Goblin Cock" comment, I'm going to start posting about bands playing CMJ this year. "Goblin Cock" is first.
----
"Seeing as how Rob Crow and Armistead Burwell Smith IV, together known as Pinback, are collectively responsible for roughly 352 different bands, there's pretty much a steady stream of news to impart about their respective projects--"
"In the extensive side-project news category, Absolutely Kosher have a few Crow-related projects in the pipeline for 2004. ...Crow's freshly minted metal band, the mellifluously monikered Goblin Cock, will also make their triumphant debut on Absolutely Kosher in 2004." [Pitchfork]
According to Insound, Goblin Cock's "Bagged and Boarded" record comes out on September 13th, 2005. (must have been delayed)
Download Absolutely Kosher Podcasts (MP3s)
June 15th, 2005
May 1st, 2005
April 20th, 2005
April 12th, 2005
And Pinback MP3s And a lot of Rob Crow related sounds.
Posted in CMJ | music at 12:20 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
CMJ 2005 Acts (and more to be announced)
The CMJ Music Marathon takes place in NYC September 14-17, 2005.
The Arcade Fire - Atmosphere - !!! (Chk Chk Chk) - Dungen - Brian Jonestown Massacre - The Juan Maclean - John Vanderslice - Nouvelle Vague - Of Montreal - The Hold Steady - Against Me! - Mae - Wolf Parade - Blackalicious - Blowfly - Athlete - Lucero - Supersystem - Mary Timony - Tim Fite - Hot Chip - Devin Davis - Arctic Monkeys - Wolf Mother - Constantines - Colder - Why? - Cut Copy - The Oranges Band - Motion City Soundtrack - Copeland - The Honorary Title - Battles - Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic - Chad VanGaalen - Mu - Earth - Cranes - Alan Sparhawk - Kinski - The Morning After Girls - Annie - The Talk - People In Planes - Grand Buffet - Ida - The Wrens - The Giraffes - Nashville Pussy - Portastatic - Hella - The Epoxies - Marat - Cocorosie - Jessie Diamond and the Thousand - Urdog - Zzz - The Big Huge - Zeke - The Firebird Band - Big Business - Parts & Labor - Icarus Line - William Elliot Whitmore - Eric Bachmann - The Rosebuds - Elevator Action - The Rakes - Receiving End Of Sirens - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Amusement Parks On Fire - Need New Body - Youth Group - The Gossip - The Kingsbury Manx - Rogue Wave - Robbers On High Street - Paybacks - Dr. Dog - Funeral For A Friend - Snatches of Pink - Limbeck - The Mae Shi - The Makers - Early Man - Alias - Her Space Holiday - Black Forest Black Sea - The Witnesses - Gore Gore Girls - Fruit Bats - Test-Icicles - Vaux - Sex Slaves - The Dix - Nightmare Of You - James Blunt - Dennison Whitmer - Jessica Dobson - Oxford Collapse - Saturday Looks Good To Me - xbxrx - Kind of Like Spitting - The Robot Ate Me - The Numbers - Goblin Cock - Jim Yoshi Pileup - Tenement Halls -Annie Hayden - Pony Up! - Mahjongg - A Gun Called Tension - Lion Fever - Prosaics - Das Oath - DDM - Swords - Pilot To Gunner - Talkdemonic - The Kingdom - The Comas - The Standard - American Princes - The Cities - Alternative Champs - Emperor X - Langhorne Slim - The Mobius Band - Subtitle - Hockey Night - The Dollylrots - The Reputation - Troubled Hubble - Bling Kong - Kind of Like Spitting - Bellini - Psychic Paramount - Sleeping People - Coptic Light - Maserati - Deadman - Jeff Klein - B.C. Camplight - Levy - Without Gravity - The Sammies - Queenadreena - Pit Er Pat - Head of Femur - Scotland Yard Gospel Choir - Cameron McGill - Catfish Haven - Le Concorde - Dirty Perfect - Billy Nayer Show - Channels - Edie Sedgwick - Voicst - Singapore Sling - Maktub - Dirty On Purpose - Face Tomorrow - Enablers - Blood and Time - Grails - The Soviettes - Dressy Bessy - Head of Femur - World/Inferno Friendship Society - The Heavenly States - The King of France - 8-bit - The Blue Van - The Plastic Constellations - Walking Concert - Cary Brothers - Man Man - Daughters - TSAR - Kaki King - The Navigators... and many more to be announced. (*all performers and schedules subject to change)
Posted in CMJ | music at 12:33 AM | Comments (14) | TrackBack
July 1, 2005
More than 100 Simpsons songs for download | MP3s
Simpson Crazy offers over 100 songs from the Simpsons for download. MP3s include "Sonic Youth grunge metal version" of the end credits, 'Michael Jackson' singing 'Happy Birthday Lisa' (one of my favorites), The Ramones singing Happy Birthday Mr. Burns, and "Grove Slope" by the B-52's.
And, The Simpsons Announces Movie Deal: Now Who's Laughing?
Posted in music at 1:03 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack
Live White Stripes MP3s | Glastonbury 2005 Streams
The White Stripes performed at the recent Glastonbury Festival in the UK. Someone posted the MP3s. (via You Ain't No Picasso)
You can also watch highlights from the festival.
And...
Glastonbury 2005, some final thoughts
Babyshambles at Glastonbury: the staggering Pete Doherty
Kylie Moved By Glastonbury Tributes
Bright Eyes apologizes for John Peel slur
For sale: Genuine Glastonbury mud
Fans head home after soggy Glastonbury
Posted in music at 11:49 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Jaga Jazzist | What We Must (guest post)
"JAGA JAZZIST!! NO ONE'S SAID JAGA JAZZIST!!
What, are you guys NUTS?!?! Has NO ONE heard "What We Must" yet?? JEEZ people!!"
After drowned_in_milk left the above comment in my Favorite Albums post, I asked him if he would submit a post with more info, so here it is...
Norwegian 10-piece Jaga Jazzist's latest outing/epic masterpiece, "What We Must", has apparently slipped under the radar to become one of the most underrated releases of the year thus far. Build a foundation somewhere in the Tortoise side of the post-rock spectrum (though Jaga aren't really post-rock at all) season it with some Stereolab, throw in some diced Sun Ra, and you'll get something remotely similar to Jaga's latest. Other comparisons have been drawn to Squarepusher, Talk Talk, Don Cherry, and, perhaps most accurately, "Charles Mingus with Aphex Twin up his ass." They also quote My Bloody Valentine, Miles Davis, Sonic Youth, Björk, and Radiohead as influences. Omar Rodruigez-Lopez calls them his new favorite band,and decided to invite them to play the Mars Volta-curated ATP, and also did a four-page XLR8R spread with them. And for all you skeptics, you can get 2-minute samples of each song from Ninja Tune.
Also...
Pitchfork gave it a 7.7
Stylus gave it a B
The BBC has two streaming songs
The Milk Factory says 3.9/5
Posted in music at 1:04 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack
L'Amour reopens as The Brooklyn Music Terminal
The rock is back in Brooklyn (1545 63rd Street to be exact). More information on the Brooklyn Music Terminal at their Myspace page and tickets for sale at Ticketweb.
Posted in music at 12:58 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Indie Music in Green-Wood Cemetery
This is awesome (except for the date)...
"A monthly music series moves to Green-Wood Cemetery for a country inspired (yet Brooklyn-esque) indie evening of the best in mellow, moody, and melodic sound. A portion of the proceeds will go toward the monument preservation of Indian Princess: Do-Hum-Me."
What: Music at Green-Wood Chapel by Live at the Lyceum
Genre: Singer/Songwriter/Country/Mellow Rock/Indie
Who: the LAST TOWN CHORUS, Belacqua, and Dawn Landes
When: Saturday, July 16th, 2005
Where: Green-Wood Chapel in Green-Wood Cemetery. Entrance Gates at 25th Street on 5th Avenue
How: R Train to 25th Street at 4th Avenue walk uphill 1 block.
Time: 8PM (On Time)
Cost: $10.00 Advance/ $12.00 Door
Advance Tickets: www.BrooklynLyceum.com
I was just in Green-Wood Cemetery on Memorial Day for a very not-indie concert.
Posted in music at 12:45 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Tickets & Video (& other bands)
1) People have been asking if there were advanced tickets for the VICIOUS Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Dirty on Purpose, Saints & Lovers, Dr Dog show at Southpaw in Brooklyn on July 20th. There are now.
2) I speculated that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah might be opening for the National at Bowery Ballroom in NYC on September 9th. They definitely are.
3) There's this weird video circulating for "Over and Over Again." You can get to it from here. (thx Mike)
Also
The Village Voice says a member of Dr. Dog quit
Cokemachineglow likes CYHSY too (take that haters ;)
Dirty on Purpose has free MP3s
Loose Record reviewed Saints & Lovers @ Mercury Lounge (I was there)
You can watch a video from The National
Posted in music at 12:16 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
June 30, 2005
Nada Surf playing next Housing Works Benefit Show
The next "Live From Home" Housing Works benefit concert is July 15th. Nada Surf, Tara Angell, & The Last Town Chorus are on the bill. Tickets are $25. (thx David)
The last Housing Works show was Antigone Rising & The Redwalls. Here's a review.
Here's pictures from Mike Doughty's show there.
Posted in music at 6:58 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Jaymay @ The Living Room, NYC | Pics
Jaymay is making a lot of noise in the NYC anti-folk scene lately. "Early comparisons have been made to Regina Spektor." These photos are from her final residency show at The Living Room in NYC on May 30th, 2005 in NYC.
Coolfer reports on major label interest.
Gothamist interviewed her.
Gothamist (me) talked about her again.
Central Village saw her play.
Largehearted Boy likes her.
Gopster saw her play.
Blog Soup interviewed her.
Aeki Tuesday saw her.
Tonight (Thursday June 30th, 2005) Jaymay plays Tonic in NYC as part of the Deli's 3rd issue launch party. Nikole Atkins, Langhorne Slim, Sylvie Lewis, and The Jealous Girlfriends are also on the bill. It's a great show if you want to check out some of the more popular mellow artists playing music in NYC.
Download Jaymay songs at her website.
Posted in music | pictures at 5:02 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Random Music Stuff
The link I posted to the Young Manhattanite story about Nike and Minor Threat yesterday was broken, so check it out if you missed it.
NikeThreat motivated people to crate their own corporate sponsored album cover blends. Here are the results (via HeartonaStick)
My David Byrne concert experience is now updated with a summary/review.
The Clap Your Hands Say Yeah backlash has started. Jason from One Louder is not impressed. (via Coolfer)
Posted in music at 4:35 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Saul Williams Mixtape Download
I like Saul Williams. Don't count him out at Siren this year. He just released a mixtape by none other than blogger and Gothamist Movable Hype DJ Nick Catchdubs.
Cathdubs writes:
"I mixed it together after watching Saul absolutely kill live performances at SXSW and other spots; it's an attempt to translate that energy - and get more people to check him out - by recontextualizing the record. "Poetry Funds Terrorism" (ha ha) was the working title, but Saul wanted to go with "Real Niggery, Vol 1" in the end. Keep an eye out for unofficial official copies somewhere near you, but in the meantime, you can download the mix here:"
Saul Williams (.sit)
Saul Williams (.zip)
Saul also has a new video for "Black Stacey"
Posted in music at 3:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
CBGB The Book | by David Byrne, Hilly Kristal
Though "CBGB and OMFUG : Thirty Years from the Home of Underground Rock" doesn't actually come out until July 1st, I've already seen it on the shelf at both Barnes & Noble and Virgin. It's full of really great CBGB photos, old and new. Everyone from the Ramones to Har Mar Superstar are featured inside. There's an afterward written by David Byrne and an intro by owner Hilly Kristal.
Previously
Best thing about CBGB Closing | Concerts!
David Byrne @ Central Park Summerstage, NYC | Pics
Posted in books | music | music history at 2:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Best thing about CBGB Closing | Concerts!
"CBGBs Announces Month Long Drive to Secure Lease
Dead Boys, Gorilla Biscuits, Living Color and Others to Play Benefit Shows in August"
"These concerts will be a mix of old and new bands from many genres of the underground! Everything from reuniting 70’s punk legends the Dead Boys (last time ever) to modern punk bands Against Me, and Thursday will be lending their support to Save CBGBs. Other acts include: Living Color, Gorilla Biscuits, Sick of it All, Adrenalin OD, The Liars, Channel 3, Today Is The Day, Circle of Dead Children, Rana, Circle Jerks, and music legend Warren Haynes with Government Mule. English punk bands Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Anti-Nowhere League, Sham 69 and Conflict will all be coming to the US just for these special benefits! More of your favorite bands from the past and present to be announced soon."
The Press Release (via ProductShop)
My opinion on Saving CBGB
Posted in music at 2:33 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
Chin Up Chin Up vs. Voxtrot
Chin Up Chin Up are releasing an "expanded re-release of their self-titled debut EP" on August 9th. The track list includes songs off We Should Have Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers, some remixed, some acoustic, and some other stuff.
Download Two Songs
For All the Tanning Salons in Texas (MP3)
Fuck You, Elton John (MP3)
First MP3 found at Flameshovel records which also has the complete tracklist.
Second MP3 linked on sixeyes who has MP3s from other bands too.
Chin Up Chin Up are back in NYC to play Insound's pre-Siren Fest Party at Rothko on July 15th. The Ponys, Be Your Own Pet, and Rahim are also on that bill. Tickets are $5.00. Other tour dates here.
Voxtrot has an EP coming out on July 5th. You can order it on their website.
Download One Song
The Start of Something (MP3)
That's not the first time I posted that song (though this one might be a higher quality version), but and it's still catchy. Voxtrot is back in NYC to play Magnetic Field in Brooklyn on August 11th and Rothko on August 12th. All tour dates here.
Previously
Chin Up Chin Up @ Mercury Lounge, NYC | Pics
Voxtrot | Rothko Saturday
Posted in music at 1:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
David Byrne @ Central Park Summerstage, NYC | Pics
David Byrne, The Tosca Strings, and McCullough Sons of Thunder played Central Park Summerstage in NYC on Wednesday June 29th, 2005. Here are the photos.
Watching David play outside in the pouring rain just added to the awesome experience, especially since at least two his songs mentioned rain, and he joked that the rain comes from New Jersey.
People say Clap Your Hands Say Yeah sound like Talking Heads. I decided at times during David's set that Alec Ounsworth does sound like him sometimes, but that David does a much better Talking Heads. He proved that during his renditions of "Psycho Killer," "Road to Nowhere," "What a Day," "Life During Wartime," "This Must be the Place (Naive Melody)." The few minutes that "Naive Melody" live lasted were some of my favorite minutes since being alive. Lots of "hi yo" screaming. (better than last time I saw him play it).
David also sounds like a lot of other things including an amazing opera singer. He also did a Jimi Hendrix cover, played the song he wrote with Thievery Corporation (on their album), and did some stuff off soundtracks. (someone feel free to post the set list or link to a live recording).
I was pumped during the 30 minute god-praising illness-healing set of shout band McCullough Sons of Thunder from Harlem that followed David's 90 minute set. Part of my excitement was in imagining how David was going to integrate his encore with the eccentric horn players. I yelled "fuck you" when the stereotypical Summerstage announcer guy came on after the last McCulllough song and thanked us for coming. Apparently I wasn't the only one let down. The Phantasy Tour message board is full of disgruntled concert goers who claim that McCullough was supposed to be the first opener, but were thrown on last because they got rained out earlier. They played right up to Summerstage's 10:00 curfew.
Summerstage charges $6.00 for a can of beer.
Overall, SO GOOD. I would pay to see it again. Two thumbs up.
Pink Martini played before David. They were great too.
Previously
Reviews from the Hollywood Bowl show a few days earlier
David Byrne Loves PowerPoint
David Byrne Played with The Arcade Fire
Posted in music | pictures at 2:48 AM | Comments (23) | TrackBack
Annie Anniemal Anniemix @ Scenic, NYC | Pics
Annie is on her Anniemix tour in support of Anniemal. These are the photos from her performance at Club Scenic in NYC on Wednesday June 29th, 2005. She went on a little after midnight. I wasn't expecting anything special after the poor reviews from the show the night before, and therefore was not disappointed. No, she can't sing as well as she does on album, but she's still fun. Oh well. She should be promoted more in dance clubs, and less to rock fans.
Here are the photos from her first show in NYC.
Posted in music | pictures at 1:58 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
June 29, 2005
Minor Threat Won, Nike Negative Three
Pitchfork and others gave the whole Minor Threat Nike controversy enough coverage, but after reading a great piece on Young Manhattanite, I motivated to write this post and expand even further on Nike's recent losses.
NIKE 0: "It's amazing to me how so many smart people simply don't get it, are defending Nike, and making sweeping generalizations about what "punk" is." [Young Manhattanite]
NIKE -1: Nike pretends to come to CBGBs rescue. [me]
NIKE -2: "If you weren't aware, the NIKEiD studio on Elizabeth St. is invitation only, despite looking like a regular retail shoe boutique from the outside." [Tale of Two Cities]
NIKE -3: "Then the blogger contest started and I got more pissed off." [jen beckman]
Posted in music at 3:17 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
New Pornographers & National tix On Sale
Tickets went on sale (ALREADY?!?!) for the two New Pornographers / Destroyer / Immaculate Machine shows at Webster Hall IN OCTOBER. (thx drewo)
Here are all the New Porn tour dates.
Tickets to the National show at Bowery Ballroom on September 9th have been on sale for at least a week. So far this NYC show is the only U.S. date listed on their website, and an opener hasn't been announced. Pitchfork may have given us a hint on more dates and the opener: "In September they will play throughout the U.S. opening for the National."
The National recently played two sold-out nights (one with Pela) at Mercury Lounge in NYC. Salon music blogger Thomas Bartlett was there. He said "the National took to the stage and proceeded to completely blow my mind with as thrilling and transcendent a rock show as I have ever seen."
Posted in music at 2:42 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Digable Planets & David Byrne
How are Digable Planets tickets not sold out?
I wish I had bittorrent access right now because I'd download and listen to David Byrne's show from Saratoga last week (via LHB) and the reformed Digable Planets show from DNA Lounge in San Francisco (that they played 10 days ago).
Consolation is the live David Byrne show in Central Park tonight where he'll hopefully play Talking Heads songs again.
Coincedentally(?), there's a free screening of Stop Making Sense ("Jonathan Demme's innovative 1984 concert film of The Talking Heads") tonight in Washington Square Park @ 8:30 PM. (via an e-mail from Central Village)
Previously
David Byrne says some musicians should not perform live (like Annie maybe?)
Ladybug Mecca Solo & New Digable Planets Album
Posted in music at 1:34 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
100 Greatest Pop Songs since 1963 | Windows Media Download
Here are the top 10 "greatest pop songs since 1963, determined by experts at MTV and Rolling Stone magazine":
01 The Beatles - yesterday
02 Rolling Stones - Satisfaction
03 Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
04 Madonna - Like A Virgin
05 Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
06 the Beatles-I Want To Hold Your Hand
07 Aretha Franklin - Respect
08 U2 - With or Without You
09 the Jackson - I Want You Back
10 Backstreet boys - I Want It That Way
Here are the top 100 and you can download every single one of them (WMA Format). Backstreet Boys #10?
Posted in music at 12:51 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
Sleater Kinney reviews, videos, & stuff | Art Brut
Sleater Kinney played Roseland Ballroom in NYC the other night. This is the text message I got from someone leaving the show: "SLEATER KINNEY WERE UNREAL! THEY PLAYED DANZIGS MOTHER!"
One Louder confirms the Mother playing and more with their review and photos. Fluxblog says the show was frustrating. Yahoo news reviewed another recent show.
Sleater Kinney played Letterman last night. Prefix has the video.
Central Village points out that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah & Sleater Kinney are tied for first place with matching 9.0's this year at Pitchfork. Many people agree (in the comments) that Sleater Kinney put out one of the best albums this year.
I've still got it (The Woods) in rotation (listening to it right now even). Status = I love it, but it has yet to hook (addict) me. Art Brut and the new White Stripes are in the same category (its sort of like I need to remind myself to listen to these great albums instead of the albums reminding me).
Posted in music at 12:33 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Photos from Billy Corgan @ Webster Hall in NYC
According to Wes, "The best thing about the night was the beautiful stage filling white wall that blasted pixelated light imagery into the room from behind the band. It looked gorgeous."
SPIN has the pictures.
Central Village has a review.
Previously
Billy Corgan plays WH | Drummer rejoins Smashing Pumpkins
Posted in music at 11:02 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Chuck Klosterman | Killing Yourself to Live, Mix Tape & top 10 things
"Killing Yourself To Live is a chronicle of Chuck Klosterman's epic road trip to visit rock and roll death sites. Like every good road book, along the journey he learns as much about rock and roll as he does about himself. Klosterman's pointed music references and pop culture insights make the book a quick, but fulfilling read."
Check out the book at Amazon.
And look at the mix tape Largehearted Boy had Chuck suggest to accompany the book.
In Chuck's latest SPIN magazine column, he contrasts SPIN's list of the top 100 albums of the past 20 years with 10 other things that mattered.
And...
Chuck Klosterman Defines Music Genres
Sex Advice from Music Critics
Chuck Klosterman's 21 CDs From The Past 3 Years
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs : A Low Culture Manifesto
Posted in books | music | music history at 10:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
New Music from the Unicorns (sort of) | Islands | MP3s
Nick Diamonds and J'aime from the Unicorns are in a new "pop project" called Islands, and you can download two songs here.
Previously:
Alden Penner (ex-Unicorns) Art School DropOut 7-inch
Unicorns broke up
Posted in music at 10:15 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Annie @ Hiro Ballroom, NYC
I never made it to the show. How was it?
UPDATE 2: Caryn & Amy of More in the Monitor were not impressed
caryn: Well, she was singing. Badly, I might add. During Me Plus One she was literally croaking.
amy: i think it was piping in vocals for her to sing along to
amy: the absolute worst part was during the verse in heartbeat thought
amy: she sang completely off-key
amy: and then she just skipped the second verse
UPDATE: An interview with Annie in a San Francisco paper (via LHB)
Posted in music at 9:01 AM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
June 28, 2005
New Pornographers @ Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY | Pics
The New Pornographers from Canada played in front of a crowd of approximately 8000 people Saturday (June 25th, 2005) night in Brooklyn, NY. The Sadies (who I missed) and Stars opened the free "Canada Day" concert held at the Prospect Park bandshell.
The New Pornographers played the much smaller Maxwell's in NJ a few days earlier, and will be back in NYC in October. Unlike this time (and I'm not complaining), they should have Neko with them then.
The Village Voice reviewed the show on their new music blog.
Fluxblog was there and has the setlist.
Gopster posted great pics of the same show at Flickr
Reintonation has a review.
"Twin Cinema" hasn't even been released yet, and many are already proclaiming it one of their favorite albums of the year.
Here are the pictures of Stars.
Posted in music | pictures at 7:34 PM | Comments (17) | TrackBack
Man Killed in a Mosh Pit
"Four people were stabbed and one killed during a Corrosion of Conformity show at the Masquerade in Tampa last night. A man was pronounced dead of his wounds at Tampa General early Friday morning, while a woman remains in critical condition, according to Tampa police.
The altercation began around 11:30 last night, in the mosh pit during the North Carolina punk/metal band's set. According to police, a disagreement between two female fans somehow resulted in one man fatally stabbing another."
Posted in music at 3:11 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Apple | iTunes adds podcasts, adds color screen, WINS
"NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. on Tuesday updated its iTunes digital music service to add the ability to download audio shows called podcasts, and said all of its new high-end iPods will come with color screens"
Apple updates iTunes music system, adds podcast
Also..
Grokster case: Winners and losers (Apple is a winner)
Supreme Court and p2p: Apple to be the major beneficiary?
Posted in music | toys at 2:25 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Stars @ Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY | Pics
Stars from Canada played their biggest show ever Saturday (June 25th, 2005) night in Brooklyn, NY. The Sadies played before Stars, and The New Pornographers headlined the free "Canada Day" concert that was held at the Prospect Park bandshell.
Previously
New Pornographers @ Maxwell's Report, Pic & More Tour Dates
Stars @ Mercury Lounge, NYC | Pics
Posted in music | pictures at 12:09 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Billy Corgan plays WH | Drummer rejoins Smashing Pumpkins
Billy Corgan played his first of two shows at Webster Hall in NYC last night.
Cassandra wrote in her livejournal...
"Saw Billy Corgan tonight in NYC and it was so incredibly amazing. I was so very, very, painfully close to personally meeting him, until the guards basically shoved him into the van and drove away. However, since it was quite a small venue (Webster Hall) we were very close to the stage. I got about a dozen pictures. He winked at me...at ME. I realize at times like these how much of a crazy rock-n-roll fan girl I really am. I'll have to write more soon about some of the other details of the show. :)"
Did he wink at you? Is Webster Hall small? How was it?
He plays again tonight.
Watch a video of his recent performance on Letterman.
Smashing Pumpkins Drummer On Reunion: 'I'm In, And I'm Excited'
Corgan to reform Smashing Pumpkins | Head to explode
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My opinion on Saving CBGB
I am against destroying the building, but I don't care if CBGB closes. Sometimes I want it to close when I see ads for products and events claiming to raise funds for it's survival. None of them are very convincing. That's the reason you never saw me mention the 'Save CBGB' chocolate bar. That's the reason I posted information about the "Nike Run Hit Wonder Tour" in Central Park, but didn't even bother to post again when I found out it was a "run for CBGB."
Jersey Beat said it nicely: "The ad in the Village Voice doesn't say what the money raised by the race will go towards... CB's escalated rent? Bribes to the landlord? Hilly's 401K?"
If rock stars want to save CBGB, they should just SAVE IT. Give lots of money. Play lots of shows. Fire the owner. No NIKE runs. No chocolate bars.
Gawker: Save CBGB, One Shin Splint at a Time
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Jay-Z & Grokster | Bob Dylan & Starbucks
BBC: Jay-Z hails file-sharing decision
Coolfer: Starbucks Shifts Serious Morissette Units
BBC: Dylan signs coffee chain CD deal
Previously
Jay-Z <3 The Killers, Louis XIV, and The Bravery
Grokster Ruling Links
File-Sharing Case Worries Indie Artists
Bob Dylan @ Yogi Berra Stadium, NJ | Pics & Review
Alanis albums pulled in Canada over Starbucks deal | Listen
Starbucks & Music
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Random Music Stuff
I'm still gonna compile the top albums from the comments so keep throwing lists (& links to lists) in there.
When I politely asked Eleanor Friedberger of the Fiery Furnaces if I could take a picture of her and her boyfriend as they stood outside Webster Hall, she politely said "no." She was looking like a model. Now she is a model. (via One Louder via shesbitter). Too bad she's not playing River to River this summer.
Nic Harcourt of of Morning Becomes Eclectic was interviewed by the NY Times. Watch him interview Feist, Petra Haden, and more.
Central Village has a list of recommended shows for the month of July. I have a list of recommended shows for this week.
Sixeyes points to a stream of Broken Social Scene's Jason Collett's new CD. Feist, Stars, and other Broken Social Scenestars appear on the album. I missed Feist on Saturday to go to the Mermaid Parade and then Prospect Park to see Stars. (pictures coming). Hollywood Reporter says it was a good show.
Check out Cloud Cult and the singer of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.
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Cloud Cult | Advice From the Happy Hippopotamus
After reading that Amy Phillips' cried at the recent Cloud Cult show at Sin-e, I cried that I missed it. Actually first I got the album. Then I cried because it's now one of my favorite CD's of the year.
Pitchfork gave Advice From the Happy Hippopotamus an 8.3, yet kept it off it's list of best new music. Why? I'm not sure. They gave LCD Soundsystem an 8.2, and that's on the list. "Over an intimidatingly vast 25 tracks melding folk, electronics, Arcade Fire emo, and quasi-hippie hoobajoo, Cloud Cult gird their ambition with solid tunes." [Pitchfork]
Splendid said, "Singer/songwriter Craig Minowa must be eternally thankful for his ability to craft a solid rock opera the likes of Advice From The Happy Hippopotamus."
For more praise and description read the review Amy wrote for City Pages in Minneapolis/St. Paul. (where the band is from)
You need to hear this album from beginning to end, but in the meantime....
DOWNLOAD
Living on the Outside of Your Skin (MP3)
Car Crash (MP3)
Tour dates & stuff @ their official site. Buy the album at Amazon.
Posted in music at 12:50 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
Alec Ounsworth of CYHSY Solo | MP3s
Haven't had enough Clap Your Hands Say Yeah yet? Good.
Vocalist Alec Ounsworth, who recently told Pitchfork that he was from Philadelphia (not NYC like the rest of the band), plays solo too. You can check out his website to where you'll find eight MP3s to download (including a CYHSY song).
Then you'll find one more MP3 right here. (now you've got 9)
July 26th, 2005 he's playing Pianos in NYC.
This post brought to you courtesy of Yeti Don't Dance.
Posted in music at 12:01 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
June 27, 2005
Hip-Hop's Overwhelmingly White Audience
This article in the Village Voice complements my Gothamist post today perfectly.
"Armed with messages of Black political resistance, Black pride, and opposition to militarization and corporatization, designed in part to counter the commercial hip-hop party-and-bullshit madness dumbing down the nation's youth, hip-hop's lyrical descendants of the "fight the power" golden era today are booking concerts in record numbers—far beyond anything imaginable by their predecessors. Problem is, they can hardly find a Black face in the audience."
Black-conscious hip-hop deals with an overwhelmingly white live audience
Posted in music at 5:13 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Grokster Ruling Links
Boing Boing is covering this thing pretty closely.
* Grokster press-conference audio
* Notes on RIAA/MPAA press conference
* Hilary Rosen: Killing Napster didn't bring market control
* Grokster decision in .torrent
* Pro-Grokster press conference notes
* Blogs on today's SCOTUS rulings; Xeni on Grokster on NPR, CNN
Posted in music at 4:20 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
David Byrne & The Arcade Fire @ The Hollywood Bowl
David Byrne played the Hollywood Bowl last night with the Arcade Fire.
"David Byrne sang Psycho Killer last night. He sang a bunch of Talking Heads songs, which thrilled me to no end. Burning Down the House was accompanied by a marching band. And The Arcade Fire (one of the opening acts, along with the fabulous Si Se), joined him on stage for my favorite song in the world, This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)." [Gayle Brandeis]
"Backed by the Texas-based Tosca Strings. Impassioned, funky, magnificent. Arcade Fire opened, and Byrne teamed up with them during his set -- then unleashed San Francisco's Extra Action Marching Band on the crowd and jammed with them for a few numbers towards the end. Closed with a samba-tinged cover of Beyonce's "Crazy" that climaxed in a squirming heap of dry-humping, baton-twirling, bethonged marching band members, center stage." [Boing Boing]
That would be the second time David joined the Arcade Fire on stage.
No Arcade Fire Wednesday in NYC, but you can still see David Byrne.
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This week's NYC Shows Posted
Tons of good hip-hop this week. Madlib, the Roots, De La Soul, MF Doom, Jean Grae, etc... David Byrne in Central Park. July 4th with Stephen Malkmus and Yo La Tengo. Annie is back. So is Team Sleep. That stuff and more in my weekly Gothamist post. (yes, I decided to post it...)
Posted in To Do | music at 3:21 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Stream Longwave's There's a Fire
There's a Fire is the new album by Longwave. Stream the whole thing at Myspace.
See them for free at the Union Square Virgin Megastore on Tuesday (June 28th, 2005) and headlining at Bowery Ballroom Wednesday night (with Benzos).
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Grokster loses Copyright Case
Bad new for file sharing...
"The U.S. Supreme Court released a unanimous decision today (June 27) in the MGM Studios vs. Grokster case in favor of the entertainment industry, reversing the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion.
The court held that developers of software violate federal copyright law when they provide computer users with the means to share unauthorized movie and music files from the Internet."
Court Sides With Biz In Grokster Case
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Final Siren Festival Lineup Announced
The final Siren festival lineup has finally been announced. Saul Williams & Detachment Kit were the last two performers added.
The press release:
"New York, NY (June 27, 2005) The Village Voice, the nation's largest alternative newsweekly, is excited to announce the addition of Saul Williams, Ambulance LTD, Diamond Nights, Morningwood, Be Your Own Pet, Nine Black Alps and Detachment Kit to the line-up for The Village Voice SIREN MUSIC FESTIVAL™ at Coney Island on Saturday, July 16th from 12:00 noon - 9:00 p.m. These just announced bands join scheduled performers performers Spoon, Mates Of State, Brendan Benson, Dungen, VHS Or Beta, Q And Not U, and The Dears. Plus Tommie Sunshine and The Notorious SHOUT! DJs will be spinning throughout the day." (THX Chris)
I guess Quintron dropped off. Their tour date page changed 7/16 from "Siren Festival" to "???."
If you don't want to go, Dungen & Tarantula in Mercury Lounge is a possible alternative. Then there's always the Intonation Festival in Chicago. And though Arcade Fire isn't playing, they will be in NYC two months later for CMJ.
Posted in music at 11:33 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
New Hudson River Rocks Schedule
The lineups for the "Hudson River Rocks" concert series in NYC keep changing. Here's the latest schedule of free shows at Pier 54 (all start at 7pm):
July 7 - The Von Bondies, World Leader Pretend and Dan Dyer
July 21 - The Donnas & Rock & Roll Soldier (no more Morningwood. what else is new?)
August 4 - Celebration of Louisiana Music - Make it Funky:
Los Hombres Calentes, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Movie: Make it Funky
Check out the full schedule for movies, dancing, and whatever else they do there. (thx Sean)
Posted in music at 10:56 AM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
Fiery Furnaces OUT, Daniel Lanois IN @ River to River
I expressed some hope that the Fiery Furnaces would still be playing a free show for the NYC River to River festival on July 27th when I originally posted the schedule. We now know, that will not be happening. From the River to River schedule:
Hudson River Festival: Daniel Lanois
Date: 07/27/2005
Time: 7pm
Description: Grammy®-award winner David Lanois, called “the most important record producer to emerge in the 80’s” by Rolling Stone, has drawn international praise for his work with U2, Peter Gabriel and Bob Dylan. Musically, he has shown a flair for delicate, atmospheric touches, both in producing material for other musicians and in his own projects as a composer and recording artist. NOTE: while the Fiery Furnaces' were originally scheduled to perform on this date, their cancellation of their summer tour included The River to River Festival at Rockefeller Park.
(did they call him David?) (thx Mark)
Posted in music at 10:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Hot Snakes Pre-Sale for California & NYC
August 7 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
August 8 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah
August 9 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
Tickets for the above three Hot Snakes shows can be purchased with a "reduced ticketing service charge" through June 30 at 9 AM local time at hotsnakes.frontgatetickets.com. After that, they'll go on sale on Ticketweb or whatever.
Popmatters has a review of a show Hot Snakes played at Bowery in 2002.
Posted in music at 10:24 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Watch & Listen: Feist, White Stripes, Petra Haden...
Watch or Listen to Feist on Morning Becomes Eclectic.
Watch or Listen to Petra Haden and Mike Watt on Morning Becomes Eclectic
Listen to Aimee Mann on Morning Becomes Eclectic.
Watch or Listen to Missy Higgins on Morning Becomes Eclectic.
Stream the Six Feet Under Soundtrack (featuring new Arcade Fire & Stuff)
In the MP3 where Ted Leo covers Kelly Clarkson, he also throws in a bit of Maps by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (MP3).
NPR talks to the White Stripes.
The Fader also has exclusive White Stripes interview clips.
NPR also has an entire bloc party concert as an MP3
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Clap Your Hands Say Yeah sound like _____
Everyone talks about who Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (CYHSY) sound like (most popular comparison = the Talking Heads). I care more about liking their music than who they sound like, BUT interestingly (to me) while at the Bob Dylan concert on Friday (with CYHSY fresh in my head) I was thinking, "wow, I never realized how much Dylan there is in CYHSY." So while catching up on Pitchfork news today I thought it was interesting to see this:
"Ounsworth says his own personal influences lately have been Van Morrison, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, the Heavenly Gospel Singers, Neil Young, Tom Waits, and Bob Dylan. "I've been listening to them all a lot lately and they've seeped in for sure. These aren't just my personal influences lately but have always been. Dylan is one of the few people I go out of my way to see live these days. I saw Jonathan Richman a little while ago, too."
And when asked about Talking Heads he said with a laugh, "I've heard the Talking Heads before. That's that band from the 80s, right?"
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Discuss Album, Tour
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Bob Dylan @ Yogi Berra Stadium, NJ | Pics & Review
(as I was saying) Friday (June 24th, 2005) I saw Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson @ Yogi Berra stadium in Montclair, NJ. Here are the photos of Bob (who can still rock it). The rest of the text in this post was written by guest show reviewer Lupe Constantine.
Seeing Willie Nelson was a bit like opening a carton of milk dated 1975 and finding its contents unevenly spoiled. This is peculiar when comparing him to his contemporaries who have redefined themselves, tried out new sounds, or changed in some fundamental way... CONTINUED BELOW
His voice still sounds almost exactly the same, perhaps because he never wrote a song or covered one in a key unnatural to him. Close your eyes, blotting out the grey where there once was red or the sort of Matryoshka-like way his body juts out, and you’re back in the seventies. Almost, but not quite—there is that spoiled quality, it’s just so surprising that most of him is ok. His show is rehearsed and, at times, tiresome, dominated by songs he’s played countless times in exactly the same way. At some point I was quite sure I was at some community festival and someone on stage was doing his best Willie Nelson impression. When he played his new song, a standard blues with some lyrics about not being Superman I was embarrassed for him, especially because this was the song he played most enthusiastically. Where’s Daniel Lanois when you need him? One has to wonder if, when he is naked, his pony tail ever gets stuck in his butt-crack. His band, especially his piano playing sister (playing a real piano), at times, sounded amazing. They perfectly suited his relaxed country-blues style. However, the occasional collapsing musical transition made me wonder if Willie sacrificed quality to nepotism. Everyone seemed to be related. I imagined the stadium imploding from a pretentious bomb when the young guitarist with a crooked beret on his head sang some standard blues number, a slow one, peppered with uninspired and sometimes flat-out bad solo fillers between sung phrases. Also the drummer seemed to be hitting his sticks against a coffee can and a stack of newspapers. But, man, when he played “On the Road Again” and I closed my eyes, I could almost imagine what my great grandparents saw in the kooky hippie.
After Willie finished his set and wobbled off the stage, the stadium lights turned on for twenty minutes making the bundled crowd sweaty and ripe. I scanned the crowd, noting the dramatic variations in the audience: age, background, reason for living… The one thing everyone had in common, besides finding a parking spot, was that they were white.
Then the lights were turned off and Bob Dylan and band took the stage. Dylan has reinvented himself. It comes out of necessity, a sense of showmanship and even artistry. His voice, which went South sometime in the early nineties, sounds cankered, you can hear the death-rattle in every line he sings. He now plays the keyboard throughout the entire set and he plays it exactly the same way he used to play the guitar, with rhythmic, simple triads and odd repetitive melodies. He waves his body back and forth as he plays. Dylan decimated Willie. Not only his band, but the entire sound system seemed engineered for this particular feat. I wondered if maybe Willie would come out and play a song with Dylan and I was actually scared by this thought—I could perfectly imagine Willie coming out and beginning a song and then being twirled into the sky like Dorothy being swept away by the tornado. Power, dynamics, sophistication, nuance; these are all words I would use to describe the way Dylan has architected his new sound. And make no mistake, it is Dylan in control here, he pokes and prods his musicians constantly throughout the show, sometimes verbally other times with the commanding nod of a super executive. The songs are barely recognizable anymore; he has stylized them to make up for his aging disabilities. Everyone knows the words and so he chooses to enunciate them with the drummers marching rhythms, the guitarists note-perfect renditions of the melodies, his own melodic harmonica playing, or the crowd’s singing of the songs true melodies, like unpaid back-up singers. His set is never the same from night to night. This is an example of how to get old. When he pompoused himself in the center of the stage, nary a bow, hardly a word, and stuck his hands out like a Vegas whale about to throw dice, I smiled, glad to have seen this incredible showman once more.
Hoboken Rock City also reviewed this show.
Previously
The pictures of Willie
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