Alabama Shakes on a boat in February (more by David Andrako)

Blues rockers Alabama Shakes just can't seem to stay off the road. They've already been announced for some festivals this year, like Delaware's Firefly Music Festival, and now they've announced an extensive tour surrounding those dates. That tour brings the band to the NYC area for a show on June 23 at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester. Tickets for that show go on sale Friday (3/15) at noon. All dates are listed below

Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard is teaming up with singer Ruby Amanfu for a collaborative single, which they will release this Tuesday (3/12) via Jack White's Third Man Records. The single features a cover of "I Wonder" by Rodriguez (who, thanks to the Searching for Sugarman documentary, is huge now) on the A-side, backed by a cover of "When My Man Comes Home" by Memphis Minnie. You can listen to the Rodriguez cover at Rolling Stone.

All Alabama Shakes dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Alabama Shakes announce tour; Brittany Howard & Ruby Amanfu covered Rodriguez for Third Man single (listen)"

Firefly Music Festival 2012 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

Dover, DE festival Firefly Music Festival had a great first year in July of 2012, and afterwards immediately announced it'd return in 2013. The 2013 festival happens from June 21 - 23 at the Dover International Speedway, and the lineup was just announced. It includes Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Passion Pit, Kendrick Lamar, MGMT, Grizzly Bear, Japandroids, The Walkmen, Django Django, Public Enemy, CHVRCHES, Amanda Palmer, Foxygen, Alabama Shakes, Toro y Moi, Dan Deacon, Action Bronson, The Avett Brothers, and more; and the headliners are Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Vampire Weekend, and Foster the People. The full lineup is below and you can watch the announcement video at their website. TIckets go on general sale Thursday (2/21).

Firefly happens a couple weeks after NYC festival Governors Ball, which has some lineup similarities (Kendrick Lamar, Grizzly Bear, Japandroids, Avett Brothers, etc). That one goes down on Randall's Island from June 7 - 9 and tickets are still available.

Firefly lineup below...

Continue reading "Firefly Music Festival announces 2013 lineup (Vampire Weekend, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Passion Pit, Kendrick Lamar, MGMT, Grizzly Bear, Japandroids, Tom Petty, RHCP & more)"

Alabama Shakes (or "Alabama Shake" as SNL host Christoph Waltz accidentally called them the first of three times he said their name last night), who played a Valentine's Day show on a boat while they were in town, were the musical guest on Saturday Night Live last night. Not a bad week for the quickly rising young band who also just showed up on the Grammys. My favorite part of SNL is hearing what my parents thought of the musical guest every Sunday. Mom loved them. Dad could only keep asking why they seemed so angry. What did you think? Watch the SNL performances below...

Continue reading "Alabama Shakes shaked (shook) SNL (video)"

photos by David Andrako

"had a blast on the Rocks off cruise on the hudson river with Alabama shakes they were unbelievable" - Felix Joshua

Alabama Shakes, who didn't win a Grammy but whose powerful frontwoman Brittany Howard performed during the Levon Helm tribute, stopped by NYC for a last-minute Valentine's Day show on a boat last night (2/14). The show, which was presented by Rocks Off, was in a crazy crowded dark room filled with fans, and the band played most of their 2012 debut, Boys & Girls, including a couple of the bonus tracks. They also included the new-ish song, "Making Me Itch" non-album cut, "Heat Lightning," and ended with a cover of Led Zeppelin's "How Many More Times."

Of course Alabama Shakes are in NYC to play Saturday Night Live this weekend (2/16) with host Christolph Waltz. They spent part of Thursday afternoon rehearsing at the 30 Rock studios. Let's hope this week's SNL is better than recent episodes with Adam Levine and Justin Bieber.

More pictures from Alabama Shakes' Rocks Off show (as well as pics of openers Daddy Long Legs) and the setlist are below.

Continue reading "Alabama Shakes played with Daddy Long Legs on a boat for Valentine's Day (pics, setlist), play SNL this weekend"

Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes on the Grammmys

So this got announced:

Rocks Off Concert Cruise w/ Alabama Shakes

We love being in NYC so to give some love back to our friends and fans here we have added a last minute Valentines Day Rocks Off Concert Cruise!! Yes, we are hitting the high seas and doing an intimate show on a boat. Since capacity for this show is limited (250 people) and we want everyone to have an equal opportunity to attend we are doing a lottery for tickets. Enter your name and info below and you will be entered to win the opportunity to purchase 2 tickets to this special show. You can enter the lottery from now until 5pm ET tonight, Wednesday February 13. Winners will be contacted between 6-7pm ET tonight with purchase details.

Additional show details: Show is Thursday February 14, 2013. Rain, Snow or Shine. Boarding starts at 7pm on 2/14 aboard the Destiny at Pier 81, West 41st Street and West Side Highway. Cruise lasts from 8-11pm. Ages 16+. Please only enter once, registering multiple times will not increase your chances, it will only waste your time.

Check out some footage of the Shakes, who are not feuding with Justin Bieber as far as I know, on the Grammys red carpet, below...

Continue reading "Alabama Shakes playing a boat in NYC THURSDAY (hurry and enter to get tickets NOW)"

Frank Ocean performing at 2013 Grammys

The 2013 Grammys went down last night (2/10), and here's a quick recap of some of the winners and videos of performances.

The big ones: Gotye took home Record of the Year for "Somebody That I Used To Know" (beating The Black Keys, Kelly Clarkson, fun., Frank Ocean, and Taylor Swift), Mumford & Sons won Album of the Year (beating The Black Keys, fun., Frank Ocean, and Jack White), and fun. took Song of the Year and Best New Artist (totally robbing Miguel's "Adorn" and "Call Me Maybe," and Frank Ocean (!), respectively). Other wins included Skrillex for Best Dance Recording (sorry Al Walser), The Black Keys for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song and Best Rock Album, Gotye for Best Alternative Music Album (beating Fiona Apple, Bjork, M83, and Tom Waits), Usher's "Climax" for Best R&B Performance, Beyonce's "Love On Top" for Best Traditional R&B Performance, Miguel's "Adorn" for Best R&B Song, Frank Ocean for Best Urban Contemporary Album, Robert Glasper Experiment for Best R&B Album, Jay-Z and Kanye West's "Niggas In Paris" for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song and their song, "No Church In The Wild" (feat. Frank Ocean and The-Dream) for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Drake's Take Care for Best Rap Album, Dr. John's Dan Auerbach-produced Locked Down for Best Blues Album, Jimmy Cliff's Tim Armstrong-produced Rebirth for Best Reggae Album, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross' The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo score for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media, Bjork's Biophilia for Best Recording Package, The Beach Boys' long-awaited The Smile Sessions for Best Historical Album, Black Keys singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, and Mumford and Sons' "Big Easy Express" for Best Long Form Music Video. There were many other categories too and you can check out the full list of winners HERE.

And of course, during the Awards Ceremony a number of artists gave performances, which you can watch videos of below. You can see Miguel and Wiz Khalifa doing "Adorn," Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z doing "Suit and Tie" and then JT doing "Pusher Love Girl," The Black Keys, Dr. John, and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band doing "Lonely Boy," Jack White doing "Freedom At 21" with his all-guy band (he also played "Love Interruption" with his all-girl band but no video of that at the moment), Frank Ocean doing "Forrest Gump" with a thematically appropriate visual backdrop, a big tribute to Levon Helm with Elton John, Mavis Staples, members of Mumford and Sons, Alabama Shakes, and others, and finally, LL Cool J, Chuck D, Z-Trip, Tom Morello, and Travis Barker doing "Whaddup" with a small piece of Beastie Boys' "No Sleep Til Brooklyn."

Continue reading "Frank Ocean, Miguel, Bjork, Mumford, Black Keys, Jack White & more win & perform at Grammys (videos)"

Alabama Shakes @ T5, Oct. 2013 (more by Tracy Allison)

What a run Alabama Shakes have had, going from playing tiny clubs in NYC to headlining Terminal 5 in less than a year. (And it couldn't have happened to a nicer band.) What's next for them? Being the musical guests on Saturday Night Live which will happen on February 16 with host Christolph Waltz (so good in Inglorious Basterds and Django Unchained).

Their tour schedule is open for a bit, maybe they'll fit in a NYC show while here? From March on, though, Alabama Shakes will stay busy on the road and updated dates are below.

No new SNL this week but Justin Bieber pulls double duty as host and musical guest on February 9.

Continue reading "Alabama Shakes playing SNL, expand tour (updated dates)"

by Laina Dawes

Matt Pike's High on Fire

Writer/photographer Laina Dawes has just released her new book, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? A Black Woman's Life and Liberation in Heavy Metal. The book recounts her journey as a black woman in heavy metal and examines these genres with respect to racial and gender issues. Its a fascinating read, and available now via Bazillion Points. Reccommended.

Laina has seen her fair share of shows this year and as such, we asked her to chime in on her favorites of 2012. Her thoughts and photos are below.

Continue reading "Author / photographer Laina Dawes recounts favorite shows of 2012"

Alabama Shakes at T5, October 2012 (more by Tracy Alison)

Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard and members of fellow Nashville band Clear Plastic Masks were robbed at gunpoint outside a friend's home over the weekend. Nashville Scene reports that:

Two hoodie-clad, "skinny little" teenage boys -- who Riddle estimates as being approximately 15 or 16 years old -- approached Tokic, Howard and the rest with guns drawn. Thankfully, no one was injured, and the assailants got away with nothing more than a few dozen dollars in cash and some cellphones.

After the holidays, Alabama Shakes will head to Australia and New Zealand for a two-week tour before returning to North America to hit the road with Michael Kiwanuka. That tour doesn't stop in NYC, unfortunately, but all tour dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Brittany Howard robbed at gunpoint (she's okay); Alabama Shakes continue to tour in 2013 (dates)"

Lucero at Brooklyn Bowl, Dec 2012 (more by Andrew St. Clair)

Lucero's upcoming shows at Brooklyn Bowl (tickets for 12/28 & 12/29, or both) and New Year's Eve gig at Wellmont Theater with The Hold Steady (tickets) will be here before you know it. We cornered pedal steel whiz Todd Beene to ask him about his favorite things form 2012. His top 10 for the year (which includes other stuff besides music, like, um, underwear) is below along with his very entertaining commentary.

Continue reading "Todd Beene of Lucero's Top 10 of '12 (LPs, underwear & more)"

Jeff of Passion Pit in Austin in September (more by Tim Griffin)

Passion Pit do a great job of combining pop songwriting and forward-thinking electronic music trends, so when we reached out to their members for a list of their favorite albums of the year, it makes sense that the list has a pretty even split of both of things. The list comes from bassist Jeff Apruzzese and includes the knob-turning greatness of Todd Terje, Disclosure, TNGHT, Scuba, and more, combined with the pop sensibilities of Alt-J, Tame Impala, Alabama Shakes, and more. You can check out Jeff's whole list below.

As mentioned, Passion Pit will come to NYC for their largest headlining show here yet on February 8 at Madison Square Garden with Matt & Kim. Tickets for that show are still available.

A list of all Passion Pit dates and Jeff's 2012 Top 10 are below.

Continue reading "Jeff from Passion Pit lists his top 10 albums of 2012 + updated tour dates"

Frank Ocean at Angel Orensanz, Sept 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

BBC Music has announced their Top 25 records of 2012. Like lists from MOJO, Q, and Uncut, it's got familiar names like Frank Ocean, Baroness, Swans and Grizzly Bear... but if you're expecting a UK indie act to top their list, you might be surprised at the Beeb's #1 choice. Check out the entire list below.

Continue reading "BBC Music's Top 25 albums of 2012"

Grimes @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Josh Moore, talent buyer at Bowery Presents, is in charge of booking shows at Music Hall of Williamsburg, but you'll also find gigs he booked at places like Brooklyn Bowl, Webster Hall and Terminal 5. You can also blame him for both Jam Cruise and Holy Ship. Like his his associate Johnny Beach and ex-Bell House/Union Hall/Rock Shop booker Jack "Skippy" McFadden before him, Josh gave us a list of his favorite albums of 2012. Check it out, along with some related videos, below...

Continue reading "Josh Moore from Bowery Presents: Best Albums of 2012"

The Grammy Nominations were just announced. At this point it should be no surprise that this year's list contains names like Jack White, The Black Keys, Gotye, Adele, Foster the People, Florence and the Machine, M.I.A. (she got nominated for a video), and "fun" alongside all the major pop stars. And I guess Bjork is a given in the "Alternative Music Album" category any time she comes out with an album (this is like her 12th or 13th nomination).

Mumford and Sons are naturally on there along with fellow rising pop folk band The Lumineers. Indie Grammy pioneers Arcade Fire also snuck in there again for "Best Song Written For Visual Media."

EDM is huger than ever so of course hot EDM artists like Skrillex, Deadmau5, Diplo, AVICII, Swedish House Mafia, and Steve Aoki are well represented. UPDATE: As is AL WALSER.

Classics and current stadium artists that were busy in 2012 all got their nods too: Paul McCartney, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, Jay-Z, Kanye West, etc. (though Bieber and Nicki Minaj got snubbed).

Most funny is probably the metal category which is as out of touch as ever with Anthrax competing against Iron Maiden, Megadeth and Marilyn Manson (what year is it again?).

Personally, real opinions of the Grammys overall, I'm excited to see Frank Ocean SIX TIMES, Miguel FIVE TIMES, Alabama Shakes THREE TIMES, and I'm glad they didn't forget about Fiona Apple who is up for "Best Alternative Music Album" against Bjork, Gotye (one of three nominations), M83, and Tom Waits (who has won in the past).

The Grammys air February 10, 2013 on CBS. Check out the full list of nominations, which also includes Jimmy Cliff, Toots and the Maytals, Hugh Masekela, Tenacious D, Jim Gaffigan, Jimmy Fallon, and Tegan and Sara, HERE.

Check out the entire list of 2013 Grammy Nominations below...

Continue reading "2013 Grammy Nominations announced (full list)"

by Andrew Sacher

More of the big 2012 year-end lists have been rolling in, with NPR and SPIN recently revealing theirs, and now Rolling Stone have unleashed theirs. Similarly to Uncut, the expected albums from older artists are there, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Dr. John, and the number one slot going to Bruuuuuuuuuuuce. It's got huge albums like Mumford and Sons, Taylor Swift, and fun., as well as the token high ranking indie album (Japandroids at #9), the token washed up band who was once classic (Green Day), things you knew you'd see on Rolling Stone's list like Jack White and Alabama Shakes, and... Grimes!

You can read the whole list below...

Continue reading "Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2012"

Japandroids at Pitchfork, July 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

NPR Music have announced their "50 favorite" albums of 2012, which includes names like Pallbearer, Andy Stott, Cat Power, Fiona Apple, Death Grips, and Swans. (No Grimes, though.) The list is also deep with hip hop, with shouts to Homeboy Sandman, Kendrick Lamar, Killer Mike and many others. Much like Q magazine did, NPR opted to list them alphabetically instead of one better than the next. Check out the full list below.

Japandroids also made the list, and the band played the first of two shows at Webster Hall last night (12/4). The band continues their stay at the venue tonight and tickets are still available.

Continue reading "NPR Music's Top 50 LPs of 2012"

UK music magazine Uncut put out their list of the top 75 albums of 2012. The top ten leans pretty heavy on long-running '60s/'70s survivors who put out new albums this year, but plenty of the list-topping regulars from newer acts are on there too, along with a few interesting surprises (Sun Araw, M Geddes Gengras & the Congos!). You can check out the full list below.

Continue reading "Uncut's Top 75 Albums of 2012"

Alabama Shakes at Central Park Summerstage in June (more by Chris La Putt)

One of the biggest success stories of 2012 was blues rockers Alabama Shakes, who quickly escalated from selling out relatively small shows to much larger ones in a matter of months. They're already showing up on multiple year-end lists, and are sure to end up on more, but we reached out to them to see what their year-end list is.

Alabama Shakes' Best LPs of 2012 list includes some associates like Fly Golden Eagle, who they took on tour with them, and Jack White, who took the Shakes on tour with him. It also includes another supporter of theirs, Patterson Hood, who also took them on tour, and Deer Tick/Los Lobos side project Diamond Rugs, who they played with at Central Park.

Some other great albums are on there too. You can check out the whole list and a performance and interview video of the band filmed in Chicago. below...

Continue reading "Alabama Shakes' Top 10 Albums of 2012"

Q Magazine put out their Top 50 albums of 2012 list, choosing to do so in no particular order this year, making it more a pile than a list. Check out Q's picks in alphabetical order below.

Continue reading "Q Magazine's Top 50 Albums of 2012"

Rough Trade Shop is always one of the first to list their top albums of the year, and their list is always a good one to look at. This year is no different. Check out their Top 10 list, below...

Continue reading "Rough Trade's Top 10 Albums of 2012"

Alabama Shakes @ Outside Lands 2012 (more by Amoreena Lucero)

As previously mentioned, YouTube will be streaming this weekend's Austin City Limits festival live from Zilker Park. Today/Friday's stream schedule looks like this:

FRIDAY - Oct 12, 2012 - ACL stream schedule
1:30 PM First Aid Kit
1:30 PM He's My Brother, She's My Sister
2:15 PM Asleep at the Wheel
2:30 PM The War on Drugs
3:00 PM Los Campesinos!
3:30 PM Delta Spirit
4:00 PM Patrick Watson
4:30 PM Tegan and Sara
5:15 PM A-Trak
5:30 PM Alabama Shakes
6:15 PM Ben Howard
7:30 PM Florence + The Machine
7:30 PM Thievery Corporation
8:30 PM The Black Keys

Meanwhile, Alabama Shakes (who play ACL today) played an intimate AmFam presented Dream Show in Chicago recently, and some pro-shot video, as seen on BV Chicago, has emerged. Watch that with the rest of the ACL stream schedule, below...

Continue reading "Stream ACL live; Watch Alabama Shakes clips from Chicago "

Screaming Females at La Zona Rosa, 10/10/2012 (more by Tim Griffin)

Screaming Females had to cancel tour dates because Marisa has been sick, but she toughed it out and managed to finish off their TX run with Garbage last night in Austin.

Our pals at Mercy, who are sponsoring the BrooklynVegan CMJ parties this year, are giving away two CMJ badges, exclusive access to CMJ shows, a week's worth of Mercy hangover prevention beverage and a chance to be Mercy's CMJ Reporter. To enter, visit their Facebook.

Off!, who are heading out on tour with the Spits soon, have a new video for "Wrong" featuring Jack Black. Check out the clip below... sweet Sonny Chiba reference in there guys.

UPDATE: Did you watch the debate tonight? Marlarkey!

Listen to Jarvis Cocker rate new records by Adele, Flying Lotus and more on BBC 6Music's "Roundtable" which is live from the man's hometown of Sheffield, England.

Godspeed! You Black Emperor, who are still streaming their new album, and who just played two shows in Austin, gave a rare, long, email interview to the Guardian.

Cops in TX found a loaded gun on Nelly's tour bus at the same location that Fiona Apple, who played Port Chester last night, was arrested.

Austin chef Paul Qui of Top Chef fame had a food truck painted by Peelander-Z whose BrooklynVegan-presented Knitting Factory show goes on sale Friday.

Miguel, whose new album is out on iTunes (as you may have noticed via an ad on this site), played Letterman and announced a tour.

Coliseum (with new bassist) have entered the studio with J. Robbins to begin tracking. They are keeping detailed reports of their progress on Facebook.

Freed Pussy Riot member Yekaterina Samutsevich talked to CNN.

Swedes Peter Bjorn and John wrote a song, "I Wish I Was a Spy," for Yo Gabba Gabba! that you can check out over at NPR. It's on the new volume of the Music Is Awesome! series which also features tracks from Metric, Belle & Sebastian, CSS, Cut Copy, The Roots, The Bird And The Bee and more.

Lots more stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: Jarvis Cocker, Bobby Brown, Kool Keith, Tegan & Sara, Screaming Females, Peter Bjorn & John, OFF! & more"

photos by Tracy Allison

"Hearing every person in Terminal 5 sing every word of Alabama Shakes' "Hold On" is an extremely emotional experience." - J. Edward Keyes

"The reason people talk about them like they descended from the firmament in a golden chariot is because they've emerged at a time that is starved for purist rock and roll. The popular music market consists almost exclusively of glossy, big-budget EDM; the Shakes, on the other hand, sound like they were born during a jam in your living room. Like Jack White (for whom they served as an opening act back in the spring), they are a refreshing reminder that bare-bones rock music used to be a big thing, and can still be a thing if you're persistent enough." [EW]

The band are now down in Maryland to play Virgin FreeFest this afternoon (10/6). If you're not there, you can watch the livestream. The tour ends in Austin at the ACL festival, and you won't be there, you can stream their set that day too. On 10/25 the Shakes open for Neil Young & Crazy Horse in their home state of Alabama. On 12/1 they return to Chicago where they last played on 9/11 as part of a free American Family Dream show.

All tour dates, more pictures from Terminal 5, and the band's new video for "I Ain't The Same", below...

Continue reading "Alabama Shakes on tour (dates), headlined Terminal 5 (pics), playing FreeFest today (stream it)"

wet fans watching the Shins (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

The sold out 2012 ACL Festival happens October 12-14 in Austin and on YouTube (where you'll find the stream schedule if you scroll down - Jack White, Delta Spirit, A-Trak, Alabama Shakes, The Black Keys, Metric, Rufus Wainwright, Alt-J, Garcy Clark Jr., Polica, Kimbra, Steve Earle, The Weekend, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the The Shins included).

If you actually will be there in person, you can also catch many of the bands at one of the many official late night shows (including the Shins)

And, speaking of the Shins, they played Conan O'Brien last night. Watch both songs below...

Continue reading "Austin City Limits 2012 livestream schedule posted; The Shins played Conan (videos)"