by Bill Pearis

Holiday Shores @ Pianos in 2009 (more by Tim Griffin)

For a while it didn't look like Saturday's (4/24) Bruar Falls First Anniversary show was going to be much of a party. The 1990s are stuck in the UK thanks to that pesky volcano, and German Measles canceled due to a death in the family.

To say they've recovered is a bit of an understatement. Check out the new line-up: Holiday Shores, Micachu & the Shapes, Beach Fossils, plus house band Moonmen on the Moon, Man. There's also DJs Peggy Wang (of Pains at Being Pure at Heart) and Shirley Braha (of NY Noise), plus balloons and a 1AM open bar. It should be mentioned that the show is FREE.

Holiday Shores will be running over to Bruar following their opening set at the Morning Benders show Brooklyn Vegan is presenting at Music Hall of Williamsburg (we added them a while ago, but didn't rush to announce it because the show was already sold out), that now also includes our Montreal friends The Luyas (who we added yesterday!). Meanwhile Micachu have been stuck in the U.S. also thanks to the volcano, and have been playing around NYC to keep themselves busy. Maybe you saw them last night at Mercury Lounge. And Beach Fossils are one of the areas best new bands, and put on a fun live show -- they were great last Friday at Bruar Falls, even with a substitute drummer.

Bruar Falls has become one of my favorite places to see a show (living two blocks from it doesn't hurt) and there's always a nice community vibe there. It's been a great addition to the Williamsburg music scene. Between the bands, the free booze, the balloons and the very affordable entrance fee, this should be a hot ticket even on a very busy Saturday night. You might want to get there early.

Speaking of Saturday, The Music Hall Show on Saturday with Morning Benders, Holiday Shores and The Luyas is sold out, but if you really want to go we're giving away a pair of tickets. Just send an email to BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM with "Morning Benders" as the subject. We'll pick a winner at random and be in touch with the lucky person tomorrow.

In other news, the 1990s show at The Bell House that was supposed to be tonight has been rescheduled for next Friday, April 30 (the whole show, not just the 1990s). Crystal Stilts, The Oranges Band (who just opened for the Hold Steady at Music Hall) and The Forgery Series (featuring Sohrab of Obits) will open. No word on whether the 1990s will play a makeup date for Bruar as well, but we'll keep you informed.

Check out a Holiday Shores video below...

Continue reading "Holiday Shores play 2 NYC shows Saturday (1 w/ Micachu @ Bruar Falls) ++ 1990s & Crystal Stilts reschedule & stuff"

Glasgow's The 1990s can be added to the still-growing list of bands that've canceled shows because of the volcanic ash situation. The group won't be able to make their two NYC shows this week (or the Philly date between), but those NYC shows are planning on going ahead without them.

The first is a Thursday, April 22nd show at the Bell House with Crystal Stilts and Tanks Amigo. Tickets are still on sale.

The second is on Saturday, April 24th at Bruar Falls and is the club's first b-day party. The lineup for that is currently all TBA (minus DJs Shirley and Peggy, and "secret special guests") because the other band on it, German Measles, canceled too because of a death in the family.

A video of the 1990s' Jackie McKeown doing an acoustic cover of "Flowers Of Romance" by PiL (who were just at Coachella and are coming to NYC) is posted below...

Continue reading "The 1990s cancel US shows, but Bruar Falls is still celebrating a birthday & Crystal Stilts still play the Bell House"

Tickets are on sale at 10am for the Wolf Parade show at Terminal 5.

The Clipse are playing Highline Ballroom on May 6th with Ninjasonik. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets go on sale at the same time for a July 22nd "US Air Guitars Finals" show at Irving Plaza.

Tickets are on sale for the Buzzcocks show at Irving Plaza.

Tickets are on sale for the Goldfrapp show at Hammerstein Ballroom.

The final episode of Lost airs Sunday May 23rd. Tickets are on sale if you want to watch it at the Bell House.

Crystal Stilts, The 1990s, and Tanks Amigo plays The Bell House on April 22nd. Tickets are on sale.

The Middle East, Neon Indian, Crystal Castles & Local Natives tickets also went on sale.

Hold Steady & Willie Nelson tickets also went on sale.

Only three tickets left for the Will Johnson & Anders Parker NYC living room show.

by Bill Pearis

Pitchfork reports that '90s-era Glaswegian indie band The Yummy Fur -- who existed from 1992 to 1999 -- are reuniting and will be playing their first-ever American shows in January, including a NYC stop at the 171 Lombardy space on January 15. For those who don't know, The Yummy Fur was fronted by John McKeown, now of The 1990s, and included Franz Ferdinand's Paul Thompson and Alex Kapranos (who at the time went by Alex Huntley) late in the band's career. McKeown and Thompson will both be in the reunited line-up, but Kapranos will not (though he does live here at least part-time, so who knows about the Lombardy date?).

This unexpected tour will be in support of a new "best of" compilation being released by What's Your Rupture? sometime in January. The band's catalog -- four albums and seven singles full of scratchy, Fall-inspired low-fi twee punk -- has been out of print for ages. The band were kind of legendary on the '90s Glasgow scene that also included Uresei Yatsura and Pink Kross, and it will great to (hopefully) have singles "Policeman" and "Plastic Cowboy," among other tracks, available again somewhere besides Ebay. No word yet as to who else will be in the band besides McKeown and Thompson, though, as bassist Jamie McMorrow is also in the 1990s, it seems fairly likely he'll be along for the trip as well.

Dates & videos below...

Continue reading "The Yummy Fur (members of Franz Ferdinand & 1990s) reuniting for a short tour (dates), releasing a 'best of'"

The 1990s (the band) have cancelled their upcoming tour ("due to some unforeseen circumstances") that was scheduled to start later this month and included stops at Mercury Lounge and Southpaw.

DOWNLOAD: 1990s - The Box (new MP3)
DOWNLOAD: 1990s - You're Supposed To Be My Friend (old MP3)

France's Phoenix performed "1901" on SNL over the weekend and London's The Rakes will probably play their new song "1989" at their two NYC shows this week. Moving on...

Scotland's 1990s, a band we haven't heard much about since the end of 2007 when they toured the States with Art Brut and The Hold Steady, just released Kicks, their second record, which is out now on Rough Trade Records. In support of that album, the band has a North American tour planned for May/June. That tour includes a Thursday, May 28th show at NYC's Mercury Lounge (tickets on sale now) and a Saturday, May 30th show at Brooklyn's Southpaw (tickets for that show are on sale too).

All tour dates, and a video for the band's new song "59," with Kicks' art and track list, below...

Continue reading "1990s - new record, MP3, video & 2009 tour dates "

The Hold Steady @ Terminal 5, NYC - Nov 21, 2007 (Leia Jospe)

That picture up there is Franz Nicolay of the Hold Steady playing with The Hold Steady at Terminal 5 in NYC right before Thanksgiving. It was the last show on their tour with Art Brut and the 1990s (not the 1900s who are playing Mercury Lounge tonight). I loved that show, and Leia even took a bunch of pictures for this website, but the post about it sort of got lost in the holidays, so.... here it finally is.......just in time to point out that Franz has some other shows coming up too...

January 11 - FRANZ NICOLAY @ Silent Barn (tonight!)
January 13 - FRANZ NICOLAY @ Maxwell's w/ Emilyn Brodsky & Whack
January 26 - GUIGNOL @ Luna Lounge - Masquerade Ball & Burlesque. Come fancy and masked.
Feb. 1 - WORLD/INFERNO @ Bowery Ballroom w/ Gutbucket!

Continue reading "Franz Nicolay shows, new Hold Steady album, Terminal 5 pics"

DOWNLOAD: 1900s - Bring The Good Boys Home (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: 1990s - You're Supposed To Be My Friend (MP3)

1900s & 1990s

"Chicago psych-pop septet the 1900s have enough members that their songs can effortlessly slide across styles..." [Stereogum]
"A septet is a formation containing exactly seven members." [Wikipedia]

"1990s are an indie rock three-piece band from Glasgow." [Wikipedia]
"1990s lose bassist" (making them a duo sort of) [BrooklynVegan]
"Dino Bardot...will be playing the...North American shows" (trio again). [Wikipedia]

1900s open for the Maccabees & others @ Bowery Ballroom on October 19th (CMJ) (tix). 1990s open for British Sea Power & others @ Bowery Ballroom on October 18th (also CMJ) (tix). That's also the night (October 18th) 1900s are playing Union Hall in Brooklyn with Division Day (CMJ too) (tix). 1990s are also playing some shows with Voxtrot, like a few days earlier (October 15th) at Music Hall of Williamsburg (tix). All tour dates below...

Continue reading "the 1900s vs. the 1990s"

* Mastodon Guitarist Injured In Mysterious Post-VMA Incident
* Sound Team is officially disbanding
* 1990s bassist checks out

1990s @ Union Pool, NYC - July 31, 2007 (CRED)

* They Might Be Giants do it again @ Bowery Ballroom
* Tegan & Sara sold out @ Hiro Ballroom
* Vieux Farka Toure plays for $$ @ Highline Ballroom
* Mavis Staples for free @ Rockefeller Park
* The reuninted Police are in NYC @ MSG
* 1990s & Cassettes Won't Listen are @ Mercury Lounge
* Ben Kweller finishes off three nights @ Southpaw w/ Jeffrey Lewis

What else?

DOWNLOAD: 1990's - You're Supposed to be My Friend (MP3)

1990s are a rock band from Scotland, who, as you may have noticed, came out with a new album this week called Cookies. Stream some of it using their handy e-card. Listen to more at MySpace.

From the Kinks to the Troggs, right up to Franz Ferdinand and Maxïmo Park, fun lovin’ and hard drinkin’ Brits have been able to get away with a lot, moptops or no. For a non-music related example, take a look at the storied history of Hugh Grant if you doubt the redemptive power of big eyes and a “what, me worry?” shrug. 1990s is the newest addition to the cheeky monkey galaxy—propelled by choppy guitars and a whole lot of charm, Cookies will make you get up and get your ass onto the dance floor, so long as no one slaps it first...[PopMatters]

Continue reading "1990s - 2007 Tour Dates, Cookies e-card & stuff"