photos by David Andrako

DFA1979

"While it was kind of a running joke that the gnarled dance-punk band was one of the biggest reunions at this year's Coachella (Death From Above 2005 jokes abounded), the band reasserted what made them such a strange and compelling commodity in the first place.

Lacerating bass, Grainger's falsetto wails and a relentless rhythmic urgency both hearkened back to the mid-'00 dance punk craze, yet reminded the audience that their palpable violence set them apart from their more trend-minded peers.

"Romantic Rights" and "Blood on Our Hands" rode slithery, distortion-tangled bass lines over the kind of four-on-the-floor that bassist Jesse F. Keeler would explore more thoroughly in his disco aegis MSTRKRFT.The audience seemed simultaneously enthralled and a bit confused."
[LA Times]

Death From Above 1979's performance on Sunday was the second time the reunited band graced a public stage since announcing their return. The first was a semi-surprise appearance at this year's SXSW at March that got much more attention than anyone even anticipated due to a bit of violence that made the late night news. In May the band does it again at Sasquach.

Coachella 2011 concluded on Sunday with a big headlining set by Kanye West. I already posted some pictures from that one, but a more proper set is also in this post which also includes our full set of pictures from the California festival's final day (day one pics HERE, day two HERE).

Bon Iver's Justin Vernon who played Friday night with Gayngs, made two guest appearances on Sunday, first with the National earlier in the day and then with Kanye West during one of the most high profile sets of the weekend.

The other big set of Sunday was by the Strokes who weren't afraid to play the hits. Their full setlist is below.

The Strokes

PJ Harvey (who arrives in NYC this week) played her headlining set on the "Outdoor Theatre." It overlapped with both The Strokes and Kanye...

"Backed by a nimble three piece band, Harvey, with the Strokes audible from the nearby main stage during the silences between songs, delivered the most emotionally intense performance I witnessed at this year's Coachella, singing songs of violence, war, love and lust (mostly from her harrowing new Let England Shake), before a crowd of rabid supporters...." [SPIN]

a rabid supporter... (this pic not by David Andrako)...

More pictures from Sunday, below...

Continue reading "Coachella 2011 Day 3 in pics (The Strokes, DFA1979, PJ Harvey, The National, CSS, MEN, Nas, OFF! & more)"

photos by Chris La Putt

Devotchka @ Big Apple Circus

Depending on the realtor, the New York outpost of Alex Calderwood's Ace Hotel is either located in NoChe (short for North Chelsea) or NoMad (for North of Madison Square Park), but regular people just think of the area as a place to buy knockoff handbags. Inside the hotel it's a different scene, like some dreamy Epcot Center version of the Pacific Northwest, especially on this Friday afternoon, when Colin Meloy, the frontman of the Portland-based Decemberists, began tuning up for a solo show, sponsored by KEXP, the great Seattle radio station that moved into the lobby of the hotel for three days during CMJ. "I'm so glad this pocket of Portland is here," Meloy said of the hotel, which was founded in Seattle but is now headquartered in Stumptown. "Now I feel safe in New York." His set... was prefaced by 15 minutes of lovely droning gibberish from Nick Urata's gypsy punk band DeVotchKa. -[New York Times]

The KEXP show at Ace Hotel was the lone date for Colin Meloy during CMJ (videos HERE), but other artists who played the Ace Hotel that day (Glasser and Devotchka) were busy at CMJ this year (though Glasser played one less than planned).

On 10/22 in particular, Devotchka first played the KEXP bash (LISTEN TO IT AT KEXP'S SITE), Fontana's, and then the BrooklynVegan Day Party at Public Assembly to a packed house (thanks again) - all before 6pm.

But the band's big and most-official CMJ show came the next day, Saturday (10/23), under the Big Apple Circus big top at Damrosch Park. That's where the band headlined a unique show with Spirit Family Reunion and Angus & Julia Stone, complete with aerialists and other circus performers. It was part of the "Sideshow" series, though so far the "series" is only that one show.

Pictures from Friday at Fontana's and the Saturday Big Apple Circus show are in this post, and they continue, with some circus show videos, below...

Continue reading "Devotchka played KEXP, Fontana's & the Big Apple Circus --- (CMJ pics, video & streaming audio)"

DeVotchKa at Bowery Electric (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

DeVotchKa will play Damrosch Park with Angus & Julia Stone and "special surprise guests" at Lincoln Center as part of CMJ on 10/23. Tickets are now on sale (online and at Other Music). The show is part of a sprinkling of dates for Devotchka, who will hit Chicago, Philly, Grand Rapids, and Colorado on the trek.

The show, in addition to being part of CMJ, will be the kickoff of a new series of "Sideshows". More details TBA.

Australian duo Angus & Julia Stone, currently on a massive tour, also play a CMJ show at the Bell House on 10/22 (tickets) and Maxwell's in Hoboken on 10/24 (tickets).

Everyone's tour dates and some videos, below...

Continue reading "DeVotchKa playing a 'Sideshow' @ Damrosch Park for CMJ w/ Angus & Julia (and other tour dates) "

ACL 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

October 8-10, 2010 | Zilker Park, Austin, TX

"The Austin City Limits Music Festival began as a modest, two-day event and now, as it enters it's 9th year, has become a perennial American music experience. Taking place at the heart of Austin, Texas in the legendary Zilker Park, ACL Festival has grown to 3 days, 8 stages and over 130 bands."

Tickets go on sale today. The 2010 ACL lineup is below...

Continue reading "Austin City Limits announces 2010 festival lineup (Eagles, Muse, Phish, Strokes, MIA, LCD, Spoon, Gayngs, more) "