by Andrew Sacher

Hot Water Music

Chuck Ragan (of Hot Water Music) is taking The Revival Tour 2012 across the US and Canada this March and April. Like past Revival Tours, the shows feature a number of singers (usually of the punk scene) and their acoustic instruments collaborating on stage in a traditional folk music fashion. This year's tour hits NYC on March 30 at Bowery Ballroom, and in addition to Chuck Ragan, features Dan Andriano (of Alkaline Trio), Tommy Gabel (of Against Me!), and Lucero-associate Cory Branan. Tickets go on sale Saturday (2/4) at noon. The Revival tour also has ticket bundle options available with tour samplers, vinyls, posters, and more.

Nathaniel Rateliff, who released his debut album back in 2010, is on a number of the dates too, but unfortunately will not play at the Bowery Ballroom show. However, he will play in NYC one day before that show as part of the Communion-presented "Austin to Boston" tour, which kicks off at this year's SXSW in Austin. That tour hits Mercury Lounge on March 29 and also includes Ben Howard, The Staves, and Bear's Den. Tickets are on sale now.

Chuck Ragan's band Hot Water Music, who have been reunited since 2008, have announced that they're working on their first new album since the reunion and since 2004's The New What Next. They've been recording the album with Bill Stevenson (Descendents) and it should see the light of day this May on Rise Records, the label they signed to over the summer. Hot Water Music released the single "The Fire, The Steel, The Tread," b/w "Up to Nothing" in September of 2011. There's no word of whether or not these songs will appear on the new album, but you can stream them both below.

Hot Water Music have a few shows scheduled in 2012 including Bamboozle in Asbury Park, NJ and SXSW. Single day passes for 5/19 when HWM plays Bamboozle, along with The Promise Ring, A$AP Rocky, Action Bronson, and others, are on sale now. HWM doesn't have many other shows announced at the moment but maybe they'll schedule a NYC show when they're in the area for Bamboozle like The Promise Ring did.

All dates, streams, and tour fliers below...

Continue reading "Revival Tour announced w/ Chuck Ragan, Tom Gabel, Dan Andriano & Nathaniel Rateliff (who has his own dates too)"

photos by Chris Boarts Larson, words by BBG

7 Seconds

After a crazy Friday, the Saturday of Best Friends Day 2011 included a 10AM set at a grocery store with Night Birds (who recently played Public Assembly), a show at Hadad's lake with Against Me! (who recently played House of Vans), Baroness, 7 Seconds, Big Freedia (who also played House of Vans), The Dopamines, No BS Brass Band, New Creases, Tubers, and The Haverchucks, and acoustic sets by Kevin Seconds and Mikey Erg on buses that they picked at random on the way to Hadad's Lake.

7 Seconds, Baroness, and Against Me! pictures are in this post and continue below. More from Sunday are on the way.

Continue reading "Best Friends Day 2011 w/ 7 Seconds, Baroness & Against Me! (pics)"

photos by Chris La Putt

The lineups have been (almost) completely revealed for the three remaining free House of Vans House Parties. The series continues this Thursday (8/4) with the previously revealed lineup of Man Man, Glass Candy, and Crystal Antlers.

As mentioned Tokyo Police Club are playing August 18 and Big Freedia is in fact on the bill along with Against Me!, Japanther, and Team Robespierre.

As predicted, Converge and All Pigs Must Die are the bands that play August 25, though there's also a secret guest on that show too ("xxxx xxxx").

RSVP is open for all of them.

Though Crystal Antlers and Team Robsepierre play separate House Parties, they'll share a bill at Glasslands on August 6 with Balkans. Tickets are still available for that.

Cro-Mags, Fucked Up, Screaming Females & Pissed Jeans played the last show. A second set of Fucked Up pics from that show continue below...

Continue reading "House of Vans announce more bands --- almost-final lineup (and more Fucked Up pics from last time)"

DOWNLOAD: Screaming Females - Wild (MP3)

Screaming Females at BV Day Party during SXSW (more by Tim Griffin)

Against Me!, Screaming Females & Lemuria are going on tour this summer, and that tour just got a little bit bigger. The three bands will play Music Hall of Williamsburg on June 5th, two days before they hit Webster Hall. Tickets are still available for the Webster show, and tickets for the new Brooklyn show go on AmEx presale today at noon, and general sale on Friday at noon.

Screaming Females recently tried play a show in New Brunswick, but they wrote...

So we didn't get to play the New Brunswick, NJ show the other night because the cops showed up. Luckily all the amazing touring bands did have a chance to play and see how rad the NJ DIY community can be. Screaming Females haven't played a proper New Brunswick show since 5/12/2010. It breaks my heart! Check out the bands if you haven't.
Broken Water (Olympia, WA)
Songs for Moms (Oakland, CA)
Grass Widow (San Francisco, CA)

In other news, Screaming Females palyed Carson Daly again (their 2nd or 3rd time) on Thursday night (video below), and you can hear them on WFMU soon:

We recorded a set at the world famous NJ based radio station WFMU yesterday. It will air on the show "Beastin' The Airwaves! with Keili " on Sunday May 15 at 6am eastern USA time. Early!!! You can also listen to the set at the archives after it airs. We debuted a new song during the session. I think it is a hit!

Continue reading "Screaming Females played Carson Daly again, add 2 NJ shows & a Brooklyn one w/ Against Me! (updated dates & video)"

DOWNLOAD Laura Stevenson & the Cans - Master of Art (MP3)

Screaming Females at Barbarella (more by Tim Griffin)

Screaming Females, who just completed a run of shows that brought them to Santos Party and Maxwell's, and who will be playing Culture Shock up at SUNY Purchase in April, will head out on tour in June with Lemuria and headliner Against Me!. The tour actually kicks off May 31 in Millvale, PA, though Lemuria and Against Me! both also play Krazy Fest in Louisville on May 21. The tour hits NYC at Webster Hall on June 7th. Tickets go on AmEx presale today at noon (4/6) and regular sale on Friday. All tour dates are below.

Against Me!'s last NYC shows were two opening slots at Roseland and a last minute, headlining matinee at the intimate Mercury Lounge.

Meanwhile, Lemuria is heading out on tour with Joyce Manor & White Wives. That tour hits The Studio at Webster Hall on April 27th. Tickets are on sale for the show that also includes Banquets. All dates are listed below.

The last time that Lemuria and Screaming Females crossed paths in NYC was at the Don Giovanni showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg in February. There the bands were joined by Laura Stevenson & The Cans who also just announced a big tour including a run with Fake Problems, Pomegranates and Into It. Over It that hits Brooklyn's Knitting Factory on May 10th (tickets) and Manhattan's Mercury Lounge on May 13th (tickets).

Laura Stevenson & the Cans meanwhile are hitting road in April after a public show at Baruch College on April 8th (tickets are on sale). The band's sophmore album is out via Don Giovanni on April 26th. An MP3 from that record is at the top of this post.

All dates and stuff below...

Continue reading "Against Me! touring w/ Screaming Females & Lemuria ++ Laura Stevenson & The Cans tour w/ Fake Problems (dates)"

Against Me! are currently in NYC to play two shows with Dropkick Murphys over at the recently-burned Roseland Ballroom (3/10 and 3/11), and while they're here they'll stop by the very small Mercury Lounge to play a Saturday afternoon show. Tickets are on sale now. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Against Me! playing Mercury Lounge matinee & other dates (on tour now w/ Dropkick Murphys, tickets on sale)"

Big names and regulars aside, there are a few bands I want to highlight on the just-announced Sasquatch lineup: Wolf Parade ("indefinite hiatus" rumors be damned), The Flaming Lips (performing "The Soft Bulletin"), Death From Above 1979 (now three reunion shows total), Guided By Voices (they're not done yet), and... Archers of Loaf (!). The full lineup of the fest that goes down in Gorge, Washington in May (Memorial Day Weekend), is below...

Continue reading "Sasquatch 2011 lineup announced (Archers of Loaf, Guided By Voices, Wolf Parade, DFA 1979 & "The Soft Bulletin" included)"

Say Hi headlines Bowery Ballroom on March 7th. Tickets go on sale at noon.

Noah & the Whale headlines Bowery Ballroom on March 22nd. Tickets go on sale at noon.

Tickets to both upcoming Jayhawks shows at Webster Hall are on AmEx presale now. General sale begins Friday at noon.

Tickets are on AmEx presale for the Royksopp show at Webster Hall. General sale begins Friday at noon.

The recently added (3rd) Decemberists show at Beacon Theater is now on AmEx presale.

The Decemberists play the Beacon on January 24th, 25th and 26th. BRYAN ADAMS plays there on the 27th and 28th. Have you ever really loved a woman? Tickets are on sale.

Speaking of sexy, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs and Donald Fagen are touring as "The Dukes of September Rhythm Revue." They play the Beacon on 12/6 and 12/7... one night after Hall & Oates who play one night after Hot Tuna finishes a two-night run.

Back to January, Robert Plant and the Band of Joy play the Beacon on January 29th and January 30th. Tickets are on sale.

Move over Banana Schpeel, tickets, still on presale, go on general sale Saturday at 11am for the many shows the Allman Brothers are playing at the Beacon in March.

Moving away from the Beacon, a show we know Bruce Springsteen would enjoy, Dropkick Murphys and Against Me! play Roseland Ballroom on March 10th - tickets are on sale.

Irish week continues at Terminal- 5 on March 15th, 16th and 17th with the Pogues. Tickets for all three shows are still on sale.

Radio City shows currently on sale or presale include Robyn, Interpol, Bright Eyes, Cold War Kids... and John Mellencamp.

Continue reading "Decemberists, Jayhawks, Noah & the Whale, Say Hi, Rokysopp, Dropkick Murphys, Michael Mcdonald & other tickets"

I wonder what he thinks of Wavves. Listen to him say it in the Sirius XM clip below...

Continue reading "Bruce Springsteen likes Best Coast... "

It's Lollapalooza 2010 this weekend and you can watch the webcast HERE.

photos by Toby Tenenbaum

"The show last night was great. It was at the Brooklyn Waterfront in Williamsburg. I swear Brooklyn is looking more like Manhattan every day. I miss the old Brooklyn. Ken and I used to go to raves in the factory buildings in Williamsburg - the Cat's Head was one I particularly remember - wild. I had friends who lived there in 89 and the early 90's, it was definitely the fringes - think Johnny Suede, yeah that's the Williamsburg I know.

But they made a nice open space on the water. The stage faced the city so the musicians kept commenting how how awesome it was to play in varying stages of sunset looking over Manhattan. It was beautiful...

...The [second] band was Against Me. I'd only heard "I was a teenage anarchist" on the radio and of course loved the song. They were a really tight bar punk band. Matt said they reminded him of a lighter version of The Drop Kick Murphys. The thing that bugs me is this 'woah-oh-oh' chorus thing all these bands like Cold Play, Kings of Leon are doing. They did that and it annoyed me because it was unnecessary. It was tight and a bit raucous. I liked them a lot." [Semper Fido]

Continue reading "Silversun Pickups & Against Me! played Williamsburg Waterfront - pics, video & setlist"

Silversun Pickups are set to announce a summer tour today. While we wait for the full dates, we can say that one of those shows will happen Friday, June 25th at Williamsburg Waterfront. Also on the bill are Florida punks with a new album on the way Against Me! and L.A.'s The Henry Clay People (who also have a new disc, Somewhere on the Golden Coast, due in June on TBD Records). Tickets go on sale Saturday at noon.

UPDATE: All dates announced. They include Wellmont Theater. Check them out below.

Silversun Pickups join Modest Mouse, Faith No More and Nas & Damian Marley, all of whom also have shows scheduled at the Waterfront this summer.

Against Me! are on tour now. They play Asbury Park on April 29th.

SP's last record, Swoon, came out in April 2009. A video of the band playing their song "Panic Switch" from that on Jimmy Kimmel in January is posted below with all tour dates...

Continue reading "Silversun Pickups playing Williamsburg Waterfront & other dates w/ with Against Me! & the Henry Clay People"

by Andrew Frisicano

Ex-Hold Steady troubadour Franz Nicolay is currently on the West Coast prepping for a short tour that kicks off from there next week, but that won't (hopefully) stop him from joining in via Skype on this month's Bushwick Book Club at Goodbye Blue Monday on Tuesday, April 6th (tonight).

His other upcoming dates include NYC-area shows on April 23rd show at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, May 11th show at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park with Bomb The Music Industry, and a May 14th performance at the release party for Kate Rockland's debut novel Falling Is Like This, at Word Bookstore in Greenpoint, along with music writer Rob Sheffield.

He's also set to play a May 21st edition of the weekly Small Beast series gone big at the Angel Orensanz Foundation. Ticket info for that is forthcoming, and the lineup should include Botanica, Barbez, Bee & Flower, Little Annie, Spottiswoode, Blasco and others.

This May and June Franz heads to Europe as a touring member of Florida punk rockers Against Me, who have a new album, White Crosses, out June 8th on Sire Records. Franz says, "Gonna be a touring Against Me for the summer. I have already prepared my beard and promise to give at least the recommended 35 percent." For whatever reason, the band isn't using Franz in the US though. They kick off a North American tour without him in April and play Asbury Park's Stone Pony on April 29th. Tickets are on sale (Sweden's Moneybrother is also on that bill and part of the tour). Against Me!'s new video for the song "Rapid Decompression" off the new record is below with all dates. The LP will be their second on Sire and their first since the departure of drummer Warren Oakes (replaced by Hot Water Music's George Rebelo).

Meanwhile, Franz's Hold Steady compatriots have been putting up tracks from their new album, Heaven Is Whenever, set to come out May 4th. The record's piano and keyboard parts (which are right up front on some of the new tracks) are played by guitarist Tad Kubler. Three of those new ones are streaming on their Myspace.

As for Franz, he's also released a book & other assorted projects, and soon, a new CD.

[After my tour], I'm starting work on my new full-length with producer Jim Keller, who's worked with everyone from Franz Ferdinand to Willie Nelson to Mastodon. Unlike "Major General," it's all new songs, nothing from the vaults - and in case you're curious what that means, I've posted demos for two of the songs, "Felix & Adelita" and "This Is Not A Pipe," at myspace.com/franznicolay. Hope you like.

Continue reading "Hold Steady streaming new songs, Franz Nicolay keeping busy, playing in Against Me! (but not for their upcoming US tour) "

After a hectic day of updating the constantly updating Bonnaroo lineup page, the entire thing has been announced. Gwar, Norah Jones, and the rest of the lineup below...

Continue reading "the complete 2010 Bonnaroo lineup (Stevie Wonder, The Melvins, Kings of Leon, Isis, Local Natives & many more) "

Blake Schwarzenbach of Jawbreaker debuted a new band, Thorns of Life with Aaron Cometbus and Daniela Sea, late last year. That band has broken up and Schwarzenbach's new trio, forgetters (who may continue playing Thorns of Life songs), with bassist Caroline Paquita and Kevin Mahon (the first drummer for Against Me!) is already slated to play a string of shows. The first of those will be this Friday, September 18th at Lit Lounge with Golden City (Eric Richter of Christie Front Drive), Solar Powered Sun Destroyer and Thought & Memory. All tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Blake of Jawbreaker - Thorns of Life broke up. The new band is forgetters & they are playing some shows (dates) "

DOWNLOAD: Lucero - What Else Would You Have Me Be (MP3)

The Pogues have cancelled their March 12th show at Roseland Ballroom in NYC.

Due to unforeseen circumstances we regret to announce the cancellation of the New York show on the Thursday 12th March at Roseland Ballroom. All tickets bought for the Thursday show will be honoured for the Saturday 14th March show at the same venue. We are sorry for any inconvenienced caused.

Franz Nicolay of the Hold Steady (solo) is opening March 13th. Lucero is opening March 14th. Other tour openers include Tom Gabel of Against Me! on both Boston shows, and Ben Nichols from Lucero (solo) on two of the three shows in Washington DC.

The Pogues and Lucero were also scheduled to play Langerado in Florida, which was scheduled to happen this coming weekend.

After Roseland, Lucero will continue on a tour that now also includes a stop in Austin for SXSW.

by Black Bubblegum (though not even close to metal)

Last month, indie rock blog Productshop NYC shuttered it's doors (RIP) to make way for Stories In High Fidelity, a place "for bands, record stores, labels and writers to share their stories, tour diaries, memories and so much more", a sort of "Huffington Post of music", if you will. To celebrate the launch, the site lined up a cocktail of noteworthy music writers like Chuck Klosterman (Sex, Drugs & Cocoa Puffs, Fargo Rock City), Dan Kennedy (Rock On: An Office Power Ballad), Rob Sheffield (Love Is A Mix Tape) and Marc Spitz (We Got The Neutron Bomb) along with musical guests Rocketship Park and a full headlining set by Jaymay. The "pre-CMJ extranvaganza" will be held at Highline Ballroom on Oct 20th, tickets are on sale.

After Highline Ballroom, Jaymay will hit the road with The Hotel Cafe tour... and although she won't be in NYC when the tour rolls through town at the Music Hall Of Williamsburg, Thao Nguyen will, along with Rachael Yamagata, Meiko, Emily Wells, & Samantha Crain. Tickets for the Brooklyn show are on sale. Full tour dates are below.

Compare/Contrast Hotel Cafe's lineup to the "singer/songwriter" one at the Blender tonight (10/13) with Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music), Ben Nichols (Lucero), Tim Barry (Avail), and Frank Turner. Tickets are still available. "Chuck Ragan The Revival Tour" will be scooting through the US through mid-November, including a date at the Fun Fun Fun Fest with a shit-ton of great bands (but no Flipper), and a string of dates with Tom Gabel of Against Me! (who recently played a solo show of his own).

Thao Nguyen recently ate books with Paul Simon, Department Of Eagles, Tunde Adebimpe, Kyp Malone, Parker Posey, Ira Glass, Bobby Cannavale and Patricia Clarkson.

All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Hotel Cafe vs Chuck Ragan The Revival - 2008 tour dates, Jaymay, Thao Nguyen, & Stories in High Fidelity"

Photos by Nathan Miller

Against Me!, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists and Future of the Left are on tour together. Saturday night (October 11th) that tour hit Webster Hall in NYC (one night after Starland Ballroom in NJ). We already posted the pics from Future of Left's set. The rest of the NYC pics are below...

Continue reading "Ted Leo & Against Me! @ Webster Hall, NYC - pics"

Photos by Nathan Miller

DOWNLOAD: Future of the Left - The Hope That House Built (MP3)

First up was Future of the Left a Welsh trio featuring two members of the late, great Mclusky.

The main differences between the two bands are: 1) In FotL, there are a couple of songs in which Andy Falkous plays a keyboard instead of guitar; 2) Falkous and the bassist haven't grown to hate each other. Other than that, it's pretty much the same, and that is a very, very good thing. [Washington Post]

Continue reading "Future of the Left @ Webster Hall, NYC - pics"

By Andrew Frisicano

Heads up on the Against Me/ Ted Leo/ Future of the Left shows this weekend, Friday at Starland Ballroom and Saturday at Webster Hall. As of Thursday afternoon, tickets for both Friday and Saturday are still available.

Against Me's Tom Gabel will also be performing a free acoustic in-store at Generation Records (210 Thompson St between Bleecker and W 3rd Sts) on Saturday at 4PM for those lucky enough to get on the now-full list. If you didn't, luckily Generation Records was kind enough to reserve 5 spots for BV readers. Email BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: Against Me) if you want in. Include your first and last name. Winners will be contacted.

BTW, Trail of Dead will be playing an in-store at Generation Records soon too.

Tom Gabel is also playing a solo show at the Knitting Factory in NYC on November 20th (Tix) in support of his first "solo" record, Heart Burns EP, out October 28th on Sire Records. The show is also the last date of an almost-month long solo tour. All dates are listed below. Those hoping for a return to old-style acoustic AM! can check out the posted tracks, recorded by New Wave producer Butch Vig, on Gabel's MySpace. We've also got a video below.

Ted Leo R/X recently released a "hastily written and recorded" four-song EP, Rapid Response to benefit Democracy Now! and Minneapolis Food Not Bombs. It's available digitally, for $4, at Touch and Go.

Check out the BV archives for more on Future of the Left. All Tom Gabel dates below...

Continue reading "Tom Gabel playing solo in a store (win a spot), on album & on tour ++ Against Me!, Ted Leo & FOTL are here"

DOWNLOAD: Future of the Left - The Hope That House Built (MP3)

Tickets are still on sale for the previously-mentioned Against Me! / Ted Leo / Future of the Left show at Webster Hall on October 11th. Updated tour dates below...

Continue reading "Future Of the Left - updated 2008 Tour Dates, new MP3"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Future of the Left - adeadenemyalwayssmellsgood (MP3)

Future Of The Left have announced a NYC show at Webster Hall on Oct 11th with headliner Against Me! and Ted Leo & The Pharmacists (who headlined Webster Hall on his own and who recently played Castle Clinton on his own too). Tickets go on sale Friday 8/8 at noon here. Tickets go on sale the day after that for the same lineup at Starland Ballroom one day earlier. The rest of the current Future Of The Left and the Against Me! tour schedule so far is down below. Nothing official, but look for FOTL to add a few more dates on this tour (here's hoping for a headline date in NYC soon too)

Future of the Left dropped the Manchasm 7" on the now defunct Too Pure in April. "Manchasm" can also be found on Curses which dropped in the tail end of 2007.

Ted Leo is also playing at MoMA on Tuesday August 12th.

Future Of The Left is also scheduled to play the Reading & Leeds festivals this month. A video and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "FUTURE OF THE LEFT, Against Me!, Ted Leo, 2008 tour dates"

Coney Island Mermaid Parade - June 21, 2008 (more photos by See-ming Lee)

today in NYC & NJ
* DANCE
* free stuff
* Sunday Best
* Polvo @ Maxwell's
* Blondie @ Nokia Theater
* Salif Keita & Haale @ Prospect Park
* Yael Naim & Herman Dune @ Summerstage
* PG Six, James William Hindle, Don Lennon, The Human Hearts @ Union Hall

Folk singer James William Hindle is playing Union Hall with PG Six tonight (the Sunday night comedy shows are on hiatus). Check out James' video for the song "jamie" below. James is also playing a free in-store at Cake Shop on June 27th.

Franklin Bruno is in The Human Hearts. They're playing Union Hall tonight oo.

Franklin Bruno will be reading from his 33 1/3 book Elvis Costello's Armed Forces at Solas Bar on June 26th. His old bandmate wrote one of those books too.

"Salif Keita (born August 25, 1949) is an internationally recognized afro-pop singer-songwriter from Mali. He is unique not only because of his reputation as the Golden Voice of Africa, but because he has albinism and is a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita. This royal heritage meant that under the Malian caste system, he should never have become a singer, which was deemed to be a griot's role." [Wikipedia]

Salif Keita is playing the free show at Prospect Park today with Haale. David Byrne is a fan of Haale. Another free option for today is a visit to David Byrne's "Playing the Building" installation.

Did you watch the "Toe Jam" video yet?

Against Me! were on Leno the other day. Video below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday?"

Continue reading "Against Me! opening for Foo Fighters @ MSG tonight, tour"

DOWNLOAD: Tegan & Sara - Back In Your Head (RAC mix) (MP3)

Tegan's 2007 list below....

Continue reading "a new TEGAN & SARA remix + Tegan’s 2007 Picks"