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July 3, 2009
What's going on Friday?
Crystal Stilts @ MHOW in April (more by Tim Griffin)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* The Feelies @ Maxwell's
* Paleface & Levy @ The Living Room
* Firecracker @ Hammerstein Ballroom
* Sharon Van Etten, Angel Ocana @ Sycamore
* American Princes @ Jet Blue's Terminal 5 JFK
* Cage, Yak Ballz, Junk Science, Tone Tank @ Southpaw
* Here We Go Magic, Bachelorette @ South Street Seaport
* Sonic Youth, The Entrance Band @ United Palace Theatre
* Grooms, The Beets, Air Waves, Real Estate @ Bruar Falls
* Alan Licht, Loren Connors, Evidence @ Issue Project Room
* Mussels, Leisurely, Loose Limbs, Submarine Bells @ Cake Shop
* Zs, Skeletons, Hi Red Center, Charlie Looker @ Death By Audio
* Luke Rathborne, papercranes, Sarabeth Tucek @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* pow wow!, Dinosaur Feathers, Darlings @ The Studio at Webster Hall
* Fan-Tan, Middle Distance Runner, Drink Up Buttercup @ Mercury Lounge
* Cryptacize, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Katie Eastburn @ Market Hotel
* Lucky Dragons, Future Islands, Soft Circle, Silk Flowers, more @ Monster Island
* Leftover Crack, The Casualties, Trash Talk, Star F*cking Hipsters, Rabia @ Gramercy Theatre
* Woodsist/Captured Tracks Fest w/ Crystal Stilts, Blank Dogs, Psychedelic Horseshit, caUSE co-MOTION!, Gary War, more @ 979 Broadway Backyard
The much anticipated Woodsist/Captured Tracks Fest kicks off tonight.
The Feelies play the second of three nights at Maxwell's tonight.
Brooklyn's special July 3rd fireworks go off in Coney Island.
Cryptacize and Casiotone for the Painfully Alone bring their tour to the Market Hotel.
Zs, Skeletons and Charlie Looker (in a very familiar looking bill) play with Hi Red Center at Death By Audio.
Grooms, The Beets, Air Waves and Real Estate get together at Bruar Falls.
At Dimas Park's Sycamore, local favorite Sharon Van Etten performs tonight with Angel Ocana.
Tomorrow is July 4th. One late addition to our Independence Day events page is a Peelander-Z show at Union Docs.
HEALTH is one of many bands playing the Williamsburg Waterfront this summer. Video from HEALTH's recent show at Market Hotel below...
What else?
Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"
Posted by brooklynvegan at 9:00 AM | Comments (28)
2009 Seaport Music Series kicks off w/ Here We Go Magic
Here We Go Magic @ MHOW in June (more by Tim Griffin)

We are free shows in New York City, down on Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport.Here We Go Magic and Bachelorette kick off the free NYC concert series tonight (7/3). Full, updated summer schedule, below...No reservations or tickets of any kind are necessary.
All our shows start at 6pm with guest DJ's or sometimes early band sets if there's more than 2 bands on the bill - more value for you the free concert goer!
There are several parking lots within 1-2 block distance from the pier but we encourage you to take public transportation - it costs less and is better for the environment! [Seaport Music Festival]
Continue reading "2009 Seaport Music Series kicks off w/ Here We Go Magic"
Posted by brooklynvegan at 2:27 AM | Comments (3)
Leftover Crack / Trash Talk show moved to Gramercy
the price of crack

Friday night's Leftover Crack gig at Irving Plaza has been moved to the smaller Gramercy Theatre and tickets are still on sale. Trash Talk is also on the bill.
Posted by brooklynvegan at 2:03 AM | Comments (9)
July 2, 2009
What's going on Thursday?
Jay Reatard @ the Stuy Town Oval (more by Tim Griffin)

Screaming Females

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Rubblebucket @ Zebulon
* The Feelies @ Maxwell's
* Dam-Funk @ Academy Records
* Forro in the Dark @ MoMA Sculpture Garden
* Kuroma, Acrylics, Gift Horse, Renminbi @ Pianos
* Cage, Yak Ballz, Junk Science, Tone Tank @ Southpaw
* The Germs, Krum Bums, Bridge & Tunnel @ Mercury Lounge
* Maria Taylor, Morgan Nagler, Soy Un Caballo @ Union Hall
* Drunkdriver, Cult Ritual, Twin Stumps, White Suns @ Cake Shop
* Thee Oh Sees, Golden Triangle, The Beets, German Measles @ Glasslands
* Jay Reatard, Screaming Females, TV Smith @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Hisham Bharoocha, Ben Vida, Ateleia, Sadek Bazaraa @ Issue Project Room
* Cubic Zirconia, Head Automatica, Chico Mann, Dam-Funk @ Santos Party House
* Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, Tammy Faye Starlite, .357 Lover @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band's summer tour stops at Woodstock's Bearsville Theater tonight. In two days, they'll be playing a free July 4th show with Jenny Lewis in Battery Park.
More 4th of July shows listed HERE (and in the dance post).
Tonight the Feelies kick off the first of three nights at Maxwell's.
Stones Throw artist Dam-Funk will play a free DJ set at Academy Records(E. 12th St) today at 6pm. Later, he'll be DJing at Santos. Look for live sets by Cubic Zirconia, Head Automatica and Chico Mann at the latter. Academy Records flyer below.
Jay Reatard plays the Music Hall of Williamsburg after rocking a short, free show at the Stuy Town Oval last night. Rising stars Screaming Females and ex-Advert TV Smith open.
Thee Oh Sees, Golden Triangle, The Beets and German Measles play a pre-Woodsist Fest gig at Glasslands tonight. In addition to their shows this weekend, Thee Oh Sees, who were amazing at the Mercury Lounge in April, will return to NYC in October on their big fall tour with the Fresh & Onlys (also in town this weekend).
Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players bring friends Tammy Faye Starlite and Corn Mo's .357 Lover to (Le) Poisson Rouge tonight.
Cage and Yak Ballz, on tour together, perform at Southpaw tonight - the first of two shows at the Brooklyn venue.
Forro in the Dark kick off the first Music Thursday in MoMA Sculpture Garden.
Billy Corgan revealed an unreleased Sky Saxon collaboration.
Joly posted some video of Sky Saxon (RIP) & The Seeds playing live in 2005. Watch it below...
What else?
Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"
Posted by brooklynvegan at 3:03 PM | Comments (7)
Kuroma & Acrylics play Pianos tonight ++ Suckers do soon
Kuroma in Prospect Park (more by Natasha Ryan)

Kuroma used to be in MGMT. Last night he opened for them in Prospect Park. Tonight (7/2) you can catch him at Pianos with Acrylics.
Suckers also opened for MGMT last night. They don't play Pianos tonight, but they do have four shows coming up there starting with one on July 9th.
Posted by brooklynvegan at 1:20 PM | Comments (3)
the week in Dance w/ Showtrotta (July 4th weekend edition)

Last week in dance I got a late start. I'm not sure what it was, but I couldn't get myself out and on a dancefloor until Sunday. Once that finally happened I could not have been happier...Justin Martin absolutely killed it at the BKLYN Yard as did Alex from Tokyo later that day at the Rivington Hotel. More on each of their awesome sets later. For now, here's where you can get down at the start of this lovely 4th of July weekend:
Continue reading "the week in Dance w/ Showtrotta (July 4th weekend edition) "
Posted by brooklynvegan at 9:01 AM | Comments (2)
July 1, 2009
What's going on Wednesday? (Canada Day)
Jay Reatard

Harlem Shakes @ Southpaw in February (more by Jonny Leather)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Vanilla Ice @ Iving Plaza
* The Roots @ Highline Ballroom
* Jay Reatard @ Music on the Oval
* Amateur Night @ Apollo Theater
* Todd Barry @ Carolines on Broadway
* Canada's Birthday Bash @ Joe's Pub
* Kria Brekkan & Ásdís Sif Gunnarsdótir @ Sycamore
* Leona Naess, Jess Harris @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* Apollo Run, The Hard Lessons @ The Bell House
* MGMT, Kuroma, Suckers @ Prospect Park Bandshell
* Cheap Trick, Def Leppard, Poison @ PNC Bank Arts Center
* Ravens & Chimes, Soy Un Caballo, Rich Bennett @ Union Hall
* Trevor Exter, Steve Waitt, The NY Howl @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* Harlem Shakes, Motel Motel, Superhuman Happiness @ Bowery Ballroom
* Clair Lynch Band, Missy Raines & The New Hip @ Madison Square Park
* Tift Merritt, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion @ Stuyvesant High School
* A Big Yes and a Small No, Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers, Wild Yaks, Linfinity @ Southpaw
Vanilla Ice is playing Irving Plaza. True Story.
On the same night Def Leppard and Poison are co-headlining PNC Bank Arts Center. Decisions, decisions.
Happy Canada Day!
Tonight's free outdoor shows include Jay Reatard at the Stuy Town Oval, Clair Lynch Band and Missy Raines & The New Hip at Madison Square Park, and the formerly-outdoor show with Tift Merritt and Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion which was moved to Stuyvesant High School.
The Celebrate Brooklyn show tonight with MGMT, Kuroma and Suckers at the Prospect Park Bandshell is happening, but, like Gang Gang Dance and TV on the Radio, isn't one of the series' free concerts.
TV Smith won't be at the Mercury Lounge tonight because of visa problems. He is expected to make his Thursday gig at the MHOW with Jay Reatard and Screaming Females though. At the Mercury Lounge you can still catch Fake Problems, Kiss Kiss, Paper and Sand, and Alone at 3am.
Jay Reatard is wearing a Lovvers shirt in that picture up there. Lovvers are visiting the US later this month.
Keith Fullerton Whitman was supposed to play the Issue Project Room. The venue's website reads, "TONIGHT'S CONCERT IS CANCELLED. MANY APOLOGIES."
Original Múm member and Avey Tare collaborator Kria Brekkan will join Ásdís Sif Gunnarsdótir at Sycamore tonight.
Tonight's Amateur Night at the Apollo will feature a Moonwalk contest tonight.
Harlem Shakes headline the Bowery Ballroom tonight. See their brand new video, for the song "Strictly Game," below.
What else?
Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday? (Canada Day)"
Posted by brooklynvegan at 5:48 PM | Comments (26)
Ganglians, Fresh & Onlys, Brilliant Colors, Bachelorette, lots of Woodsist bands & more in This Week in Indie
by Bill Pearis
DOWNLOAD: The Fresh & Onlys - Fog Machine (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Fresh & Onlys - Love & Kindness (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ganglians - Hair (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bachelorette - Mindwarp (MP3)

It used to be Independence Day weekend was dead in NYC, the city emptying out, leaving only tourists and those unfortunate enough not to have some sort of beach hookup. There was nothing to do but barbeque with fellow left-behinds and see whatever Will Smith movie had just been released. (Actually, I like it when the city is empty.) And the only show would be whatever was at Battery Park on the 4th. Not this year.
The Woodsist/Captured Tracks Festival is two days of just about every band on the two label's roster and also manages to be one of the best collections of reverb-lovin' lo-fi/pych/garage bands you're likely to see, including many names you may recognize if you read this column on a regular basis. You can buy a two-day pass for $25 or buy individual $15 tickets for Friday or Saturday.
As both Woodsist and Captured Tracks are Brooklyn labels, a lot of the bands are local and chances are if you're into this kind of music at all you've probably managed to already see some of these bands, probably more than once: Crystal Stilts, Vivian Girls, Blank Dogs, The Beets, caUSE co-MOTION, Kurt Vile, and Woods.
The Fresh & Onlys @ SXSW 2009

But there's also a bunch of great West Coast bands who have yet to hit NYC, which is what makes it most exciting for me. First and foremost are San Francisco's Fresh & Onlys who I caught at the Todd P/Woodsist party during SxSW and have become one of my favorite new bands. They play the Saturday (7/4) which is definitely the more essential line-up of the two days. The band features members of Skygreen Leopards and Black Fiction, and have also spent time recently backing up Rodriguez and Ty Segall (though not on the East Coast.)
The band's first album of 2009 came out in April on John Dwyer's Castle Face label, with a sound not that far off from what you might expect from cohorts of The Oh Sees (who headline the Saturday show), though The Fresh & Onlys are definitely more pop and less psychedelic freakout. Their second album of 2009, Grey-Eyed Girls, is out in August and they've also got 7"'s out or out soon on Chuffed, Dirty Knobby, Hozac and Captured Tracks. If you like 13th Floor Elevators, The Chocolate Watchband and other Nuggets era bands, I think you're going to dig them. I interviewed bassist Shayde Sartin a couple months ago on my blog if you'd like to know more.
If you can't make the daytime show, The Fresh & Onlys also play a post midnight show that same day at Market Hotel that also features Babies (members of Woods, Vivian Girls and Bossy) (does anyone know which members?) and Pink Reason, and maybe a solo performance from Crystal Stilts drummer Frankie Rose. And The Fresh & Onlys will be here again in October when they'll be on tour with fellow San Franciscans Thee Oh Sees.
Thee Oh Sees are also playing Siren in July, and playing maybe the best of the Woodsist fest's offshoot shows on Thursday night (7/2) at Glasslands. They're headlining the Glasslands show and Saturday night of the fest, and are definitely worth seeing twice, or even thrice. Also playing Glasslands: Golden Triangle who are working on their debut album for Sub Pop offshoot Hardly Art; The Beets who, the last two times I've seen them, have had Crystal Stilts' JB Townsend filling in on drums for an absent Jacob Warstler; and German Measels which features half of caUSE co-MOTION wearing fake moustaches.
Ganglians

A little earlier at Woodsist Fest on Saturday (3:45 if they keep to the posted schedule) are Sacramento's Ganglians, who just released an EP and an album on Woodsist. Not all that far off from The Fresh & Onlys, Ganglians have equal worship for solid songwriting and trippy arrangements/production. I think both records are worth picking up: the self-titled EP shows off more of their rocking side (which they favored when I saw them at SxSW), like the surfy, Kiwi-esque "Hair" of which there's an MP3 at the top of this post. The album, Monster Head Room, is more acoustic and owes a lot to Brian Wilson. If you can't make the July 4th show, they'll be playing the next night (7/5) at Monster Island basement with Psychedelic Horseshit.
In between Ganglians and Fresh & Onlys on Saturday (4:30PM) are San Francisco's Brilliant Colors, an all-girl trio who play short, scratchy pop with a definitely New Zealand vibe. They also play the late show that night at Market Hotel, and will be on WNYU on July 8.
Dum Dum Girls, who play after the Fresh & Onlys at 6PM, are from L.A. and owe much to the C-86 scene that has been an influence on Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Vivian Girls. Actually, Dum Dum Girls is just one girl, Dee Dee, who may or may not have a band with her when she plays. Dee Dee is also in The Mayfair Set, a collaboration with Blank Dogs (and Captured Tracks domo) Mike Sniper, who will make their live debut (I think) Friday (7/3) at 6:30.
I've got MP3s for most every band playing the Fest over at my blog.
Brilliant Colors

A couple non-Woodsist/Captrax Fest recommendation for the Fourth weekend. New Zealand's Bachelorette is back in town, playing the kickoff show of this year's Seaport Music Festival, opening for Here We Go Magic. I saw Bachelorette at Cake Shop a couple weeks back and was so smitten I bought everything at the merch table. There was a fair amount of laptopping going on, but Annabel Alpers' breathy, fragile voice was definitely live and the three-piece oozed unassuming charm. Bachelorette also play the sold-out Rooftop Films Fourth of July party Saturday night which happens on the roof of the Chelsea Art Museum.
And Thursday (7/2) starts The Feelies' three-night run at Maxwell's. Friday's show (7/3) is sold out but you can still get tickets for Thursday and for Saturday (7/4). Bring comfortable shoes -- they're doing two sets each night. The excitement of their reformation may have faded a bit since this time last year, but their great songs -- and still-awesome guitar interplay -- have not.
Full Woodsist/Captured Tracks Festival schedule and other tour dates after the jump...
Posted by brooklynvegan at 10:40 AM | Comments (10)
Independence Day 2009 - 4th of July events in NYC (Conor Oberst, Woodsist Fest, Japanther, Feelies, fireworks, more)

Advice for attending July 4th fireworks: arrive early and expect crowds [Everything Hudson]Another piece of advice -- be in New Jersey or Manhattan. This year's Macy's 4th of July fireworks are going to be located in the Hudson River only, so spots in Brooklyn and Queens won't have a very good view (if any). They kick off at 9pm. Viewing locations HERE.
What are you doing on the 4th? Below we've listed a bunch of other options if you'll be in NYC (and a few if you want to leave)...
Posted by brooklynvegan at 8:20 AM | Comments (25)
June 30, 2009
What's going on Tuesday?
Explosions in the Sky @ Sasquatch 2009 (more by Chris Graham)

tonight in NYC
* Cam'ron @ BB King's
* Marc Ribot @ The Stone
* City Grass @ Hudson Square
* Phosphorescent @ Bruar Falls
* Caithlin De Marrais @ Joe's Pub
* Michael Jackson Tribute @ Apollo Theater
* As Tall As Lions, The Dig, Afuche @ Bowery Ballroom
* Beloved Rogue, Borrowed Eyes, Bonnie Baxter @ Glasslands
* Ezra Furman & The Harpoons, Yellowbirds, Hezekiah Jones @ Pianos
* Sessions w/ Gary War, Demonlover, Coconuts, U.S. Girls @ Santos Party House
* Explosions in the Sky, Constantines, Castanets @ Central Park Summerstage
Pixies plan 'Doolittle' tour.
Tonight, local bluegrass band City Grass plays for free at the weekly Hudson Square series.
Wilco the album came out today. They're celebrating at the Bell House.
Explosions in the Sky, Constantines and Castanets play a ticketed, sold-out show at Central Park Summerstage.
The regular Sessions at Santa's party at Santos hosts Gary War, Demonlover, Coconuts and U.S. Girls.
As Tall As Lions headline a show at the Bowery Ballroom. Their latest, You Can't Take It With You, comes out August 18th on Triple Crown Records. The show is sold out, but, you can try for tickets at the door and the band writes, "We will be having an after party at Home Sweet Home right across the street [also where Sonic Youth had their CD release party] starting at midnight."
The Stone's June programming, the second half of which was curated by City Winery's Michael Dorf, closes tonight with performances a solo performance by guitarist Marc Ribot (8pm) and a set by Diwon and Dugans (10pm).
There's a Michael Jackson Tribute at the Apollo Theater tonight.
Zs celebrated the release of their Music Of The Modern White 12" (on Social Registry) at a Secret Project Robot show on June 24th. A video of "MMWI (Part II)" from that record is below. The band, currently on a short tour, returns to play a show at Brooklyn's Death By Audio on July 3rd.
What else?
Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"
Posted by brooklynvegan at 5:20 PM | Comments (30)