Roky Erickson @ Maxwell's on January 2nd (schwartzray)

"Roky tore it up again [at Maxwell's on January 2nd], but I noticed he was really, really nervous for this show. He wasn't committing to the final notes or chords on each song and would turn and face the drummer to hide his fear and insecurity during the end of each song. in his defense, the crowd was loud and demanding, the space was small, it was late and freezing outside, and they played a huge set. His vocals were dead on for most songs and his guitar playing overall was pretty good. They played some really amazing cover songs really well, and I was overall very pleased with the night. When they closed with "Don't Slander Me" and left the stage, I swear I saw tears in Roky's eyes. I really hope they were out of happiness because the man has really left a great mark on my soul, and I know I speak on many other's behalf."
[I Must Find Atlantis]

Roky Erickson was in the NYC-area for three New Year's shows - he played Maxwell's on NYE, Southpaw on New Year's Day, and then returned to Maxwell's for a January 2nd show. The above pic and review are from the latter and its setlist is below.

Okkervil River just teamed up with the Levon Helm Band to play Terminal 5 on January 7th (we almost had pics, but then Levon said no cameras were allowed). A few video clips of Okkervil's set closer, "Unless It's Kicks", are below.

Will Sheff & co. will again pair with a legendary rocker. They produce and play on Roky Erickson's new record set to be released by Anti-...

Legendary musician Roky Erickson triumphantly returns on April 20th with the Anti Record's release True Love Cast Out All Evil his first new album in fourteen years. Produced by Will Sheff and featuring his band Okkervil River backing Erickson, the record is comprised largely of unreleased songs that Austin, Texas native Erickson wrote throughout his decades-long career - detailing with heart-breaking candor a harrowing life that has included shock treatment, imprisonment, mental illness, and irreversible loss. With a wisdom that can only be marshaled by someone who has been through all of the this, Erickson also interjects the songs with love, hope, and spiritual grace.

Anti- is also putting out the new Dr. Dog album in April.

More Roky album info and videos are below...

Continue reading "Roky Erickson played 3 NYC-area shows, releasing new Anti- album w/ Okkervil River (who just opened for Levon Helm)"

Islands @ Market Hotel 11/8 (more by Leia Jospe)

Islands and Amusement Parks On Fire are the two bands that'll split opening duties on the Happy Mondays/The Psychedelic Furs co-headlining tour this fall. Islands will take the tour's second half, which includes its NYC stop on Friday, October 9th at Roseland Ballroom. Tickets for that are on sale now.

Islands will be supporting their new record, Vapours, which comes out September 22nd on Anti- (who are releasing the first album by Rain Machine on the same day). That Islands album marks the return of Nick Diamonds' Unicorns bandmate Jamie Thompson (who has also been in Islands before). Their label writes...

Nick Diamonds' polymorphous pop band, Islands, is back with their third studio album, Vapours. The 2006 debut, Return to the Sea, found eccentric and mellifluous pop tunes performed with a cast of characters from Montreal's thriving music scene (including members of Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade), helmed by Nick Diamonds and Jamie Thompson. Thompson departed amicably from the group shortly after the album was released, and 2007's Arm's Way found the band turning in a new direction towards lushly orchestrated, guitar-driven prog-rock. Thompson has returned to the band for Vapours, a record that flits back and forth between moody synthesizers and drum-machine-heavy beats, while remaining firmly rooted in the classic pop sensibilities and multitude of melodic hooks that Islands is known for.

Produced by Nick Diamonds and Chris Coady (who has worked with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blonde Redhead, TV On The Radio, among others), this is the group's most stunning work to date.

The other ex-Unicorn, Alden Penner, recently took his band Clues on their first extended tour this summer. The tour hit NYC's Santos Party House on June 17th.

As an aside, Nick recently tweeted from the first Williamsburg Waterfront show on Sunday, July 13th. The verdict: "Nice skyline."

All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Islands (new album soon) & Amusement Parks On Fire touring w/ Happy Mondays & Psychedelic Furs (dates)"