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"

Iggy Pop (you might know him from American Idol) the collectible action figure is coming to a toy store near you, couresy of NECA.

photos by Andrew St. Clair

"Saturday's event was a sellout, which meant tens of thousands of people were jammed into the convention center. While elbowing my way through the food court I overheard a Javits employee remark attendance had reached close to a million people. It sure felt that way.

The amount of people in attendance was overwhelming, to say the least. But it was nice knowing the comic book and anime mediums are as popular as they are. I just hope next year organizers figure out a better way to simultaneously house both conventions.

One of the most fun aspects of going to any convention is the sightseeing while looking for the most inventive, creative and daring costume(s). Not to be disappointed, there were plenty of attendees dressed as such. I spotted multiple Zatannas, Deadpools and civilian-attire Wolverines. There were also several fans decked out in full Na'vi garb, blue body paint and all, and more than one Chun-Li roaming the showrooms. There was even a guy walking around in just a bath towel and carrying a stick of Old Spice deodorant. Talk about guts."
[Lehigh Valley Live]

Continue reading "New York Comic Con & Anime Festival 2010 in pics (part 2)"

DOWNLOAD: Daniel Johnston - Honey I Sure Miss You (MP3)

Once upon a time, way back 1993, Daniel Johnston painted a large mural of a frog known as Jeremiah the Innocent (which is a Three Dog Night song) on the side of the Sound Exchange in Austin Texas. The image became an icon and has spun into a t-shirts, tanks and onesie franchise. And now the image has gone 3D! Produced by At Arms, they retail for about $99 and are in limited runs : Green (250 pieces) White (350 pieces) Yellow (250 pieces). You can contact the store Cardboard spaceship to reserve one once they are released. [ToyCyte]

As previously posted, Daniel Johnston is playing Warsaw in Brooklyn (again) on June 20th. Tickets are on sale. In July he'll be touring Europe with "the following play as backing players and support acts: Sparklehorse, Scout Niblett, Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), Jad Fair (Half Japanese) and James McNew (Yo La Tengo)." His last NYC show was at Highline Ballroom. All tour dates below....

Continue reading "Daniel Johnston - 2008 Tour Dates, Jeremiah figurines "

indie rock paper dolls (sally grosart)

* Rilo Kiley added a 2nd show at Terminal 5.
* The Kooks added a 2nd show at Terminal 5.
* Beth Orton added a 2nd show at Hiro Ballroom.

Can you name everyone in the above picture?

This turntable watch is modeled after the classic Technics 1200 down to the tiniest detail, so much so that you'd swear you could spin some wax on it if only records came in such wee sizes. It's available now for $65 and a small shred of your dignity. [Gizomodo] (via)

Have you ever been frustrated by the lack of a convenient way to electrocute people while listening to some of your favourite tunes? Well, the answer to your prayers is here. [Metro]

You can get some Public Enemy action figures right here. And you can get some tickets to see Public Enemy at BB King's in NYC on March 11th right here. All other known PE tour dates below....

Continue reading "Public Enemy - 2007 Tour Dates (& toys)"

DOWNLOAD: Junior Mafia ft/Biggie - Player's Anthem (MP3)

"Eleven days after his birth, Ms. Wallace took her son to the place that he would call home for the next 20 years, apartment 3L in 226 St. James Place, between Fulton and Washington. Theirs was a spacious apartment, with a large living room, a dining area, a study, and three bedrooms. The one opposite the kitchen on the far end of the hall was Christopher's." [The Life, Death, and Afterlife of the Notorious B.I.G.]

Bigger apartment pictures @ The Clinton Hill blog. Biggie doll available wherever fine toys are sold.

"Fisher-Price will shortly ship a "Kid-Tough" MP3 player with big buttons and a simple UI, and a digital camera with double-eyepiece for kids who find it hard to close one eye." [Boing Boing]