photos by Chris Gersbeck

They Might Be Giants treated fans to a 14 song set at the SoHo Apple store yesterday evening. The free show was one of many they have coming up. Check out the full setlist and more pictures from the event below...

Continue reading "They Might Be Giants played the Apple Store (pics, setlist)"

DOWNLOAD: They Might Be Giants - "Can't Keep Johnny Down" (MP3)

TMBG at Prospect Park in 2009 (more by Ryan Muir)

After some experiments with children's music, They Might Be Giants are back with the quirky alternative rock they became known for over the last three decades. Their fifteenth LP Join Us comes out this week (7/19) on the band's own Idlewild Records. The album was produced with long-time producer Patrick Dillet. Grab the album's single "Can't Keep Johnny Down" above.

TMBG will head out on an extensive international tour this fall after a few dates at the end of this month, including an in-store at Apple Store Soho on Wednesday (7/20) at 7 PM ("Pick up an admission wristband on July 19"), a free Williamsburg Waterfront show on July 29 with Eugene Mirman, Patton Oswalt, Todd Barry, Kristen Schaal and fellow geek-rocker Jonathan Coulton. Jonathan also opens the band's record release show the next day (7/30) at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ and most of their fall tour.

They Might Be Giants recently stopped by AV Club Undercover to take on Chumbawamba's "Tubthumping," which according to the band is "sort of like a They Might Be Giants song." They invited AV Club staff to join them in the room and sing the song's chorus.

Watch the video and check out all tour dates, album art and tracklist below...

Continue reading "They Might Be Giants releasing "Join Us", playing the Apple Store, touring (MP3 & dates)"

At the Apple Store in SoHo Friday: "Join musician Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend for a talk about his projects, including his score for the film "Sound of My Voice." March 4, 7:00 p.m."

Vampire Weekend's last release was an Apple iTunes session (recorded this past September at New York's Avatar Studios... "It includes a completely reworked rocksteady version of their hit "Holiday", plus "A-Punk", "Cousins" and "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa". The session also includes two covers: Bruce Springsteen's "I'm Going Down" and The Honeycombs' "Have I The Right". Three horn players joined the band for the sessions".).

At Drom Saturday: BAIO (aka Chris Baio of Vampire weekend) DJs with Alex English.

Monday, March 07, 2011 at 7:00 PM: "Alela Diane & Wild Divine in a live charity performance for Housing Works. Special preview show of her new album and band Alela Diane & Wild Divine (produced by Scott Litt) out on Rough Trade 4/5."

That's a picture of Alela Diane's new album above. More about it below....

Continue reading "Meet Rostam, see Alela Diane, dance w/ BAIO (aka Chris Baio)"

Tonight, Friday, 1/28, Iron & Wine are playing a free show at the Apple Store in SoHo. On Monday (January 31 at 7pm), Carrie Brownstein & Fred Armisen will discuss their IFC TV show Portlandia, live, at the same location. Meanwhile you can catch Portlandia three times today on IFC, including at 10:30pm.

Carrie Brownstein's band Wild Flag is playing two now-sold-out shows in Brooklyn in March (and other dates). Catch Fred Armisen on SNL this Saturday, 1/29, with musical guest Nicki Minaj (who recently announced a tour with Lil Wayne who was on SNL not that long ago)

That picture above shows Portland band the Thermals (who play a show in Portland tonight) arriving at the Portlandia premiere party in NYC last week. The band performed at the event, though unlike some members of the Decemberists, I'm not sure if the Thermals actually get any screen time in one of the upcoming shows. Carrie Brownstein however, as you might remember, gets some screen time in the recent Thermals video for "I Don't Believe You" which is the same song the Thermals will be performing on February 1st on 'Lopez Tonight'. The song comes from the band's 5th LP Personal Life, as does the song "Never Listen to Me" which now also has a video, which you can watch with other stuff, below...

Continue reading "Portlandia is coming to the Apple Store, The Thermals have a new video (and are playing "Lopez Tonight")"

DOWNLOAD: U.S. Royalty - Equestrian (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: U.S. Royalty - Monte Carlo (MP3)

U.S. Royalty

The Wombats were supposed to play a show at Glasslands in Brooklyn on Monday night with U.S. Royalty, but the Wombats have cancelled all January dates including Tuesday night at Mercury Lounge as well.

DC band U.S. Royalty are no longer playing Glasslands either (the whole show is cancelled), but you can catch them for free Tuesday evening at the Apple Store in SoHo ("Join us for a special live performance from U.S. Royalty and hear songs from their debut album, "Mirrors.""). Two U.S. Royalty songs can be sampled above.

Florence & the Machine @ Voodoo (more by Alysse Gafkjen)

Florence & the Machine will keep busy on their trip to NYC this month. In addition to the previously announced 12/14 RXP Irving Plaza show, they'll play a (private?) SPIN party at Don Hill's with Surfer Blood on 12/15, and a "Live on Letterman" webcast at Ed Sullvan Theater on 12/16 (8:00 PM, ET/5:00 PM, PT). The "Live on Letterman" show will take place right after Florence tapes a regular appearance on Letterman which will broadcast that night. You'll be able to watch it online, OR....

Want to go to the Live On Letterman show to watch it in person? I have 25 pairs of tickets to give away to the show. Details on how to win are below.

In Florence release news, you can now buy her "Live From SoHo" session recorded at the SoHo Apple Store, and the vinyl of a session she recorded in 2009 for KCRW.

Contest details below...

Continue reading "Florence & the Machine playing Live on Letterman (win tix)"

Florence on Halloween in Boston (Dianna Quagenti)

After playing the Voodoo Music Festival in New Orleans over the weekend, Florence & the Machine kicked off a proper, but short, tour at House of Blues in Boston on Halloween. As you can see in the above picture, and in the video below, Florence and her band did not wimp out on celebrating the holiday.

Last night (11/1), that tour continued into NYC where Florence and the Machine played their first of two sold out shows at the massive Terminal 5. Both shows (last night and tonight) have The Smith Westerns and Hanni El Khatib opening.

Couldn't score or afford a ticket? You still have one more chance to see the UK band when they play a free show at the SoHo Apple Store this afternoon:

Live from SoHo: Florence + The Machine
Florence + The Machine embody creative courage. Pick up a wristband at the Apple Store to guarantee admission to tonight's live performance. November 2, 4:00 p.m.

Continue reading "Florence & the Machine dressed up for Halloween, played Terminal 5, playing the SoHo Apple Store today & SNL"

This year's FADER Fort is located at 38 Delancey Street at Forsyth and runs from 2-9PM on Friday and Saturday (10/22-10/23). Full lineups have yet to be announced, but some of the artists playing there are Jamaica, Zowie, Cloud Nothings, Wild Nothing, and The Knux. You can RSVP (though admission is still based on capacity). "CMJ Music Marathon registrants will receive expedited admission into The FADER Fort. Registrants must also RSVP to this invitation and pick up FADER credentials/wristbands for admission."

Pitchfork's events are at Brooklyn Bowl Thursday-Saturday, and those now also include Surfer Blood (one more on their growing list of CMJ shows) on Thursday.

Our BrooklynVegan events are at MHOW Thursday, and Public Assembly Friday & Saturday (and Union Pool Saturday night).

The Apple store doesn't have much going on. The short list of events happening there, and all Glasser dates below...

Continue reading "Glasser dates, Fader Fort, #OFFLINE fest & the Apple Store "

photos by Natasha Ryan

Deerhunter popped in to the Apple store in SoHo Tuesday for a last minute free gig to promote their stellar new album Halycon Digest which was released the same day. It was the band's second free show in less than a week.

Bradford and crew played eight songs to the crowd of fans who snagged wristbands that were distributed starting at 10am that morning. The full setlist is below.

For a longer show, catch Deerhunter when they hit the road in October with Real Estate, and Casino Versus Japan. That tour includes Webster Hall in NYC on October 15th (tickets still on sale).

More pictures from the Apple Store, with the setlist, below...

Continue reading "Deerhunter played the Apple Store (pics & setlist)"

Deerhunter @ Pier 54 over the summer (more by Natasha Ryan)

Deerhunter will release a new album, Halcyon Digest, on September 28th via 4AD (the band's first on the label). You can also stream the whole thing now at NPR. The Bradford-Cox directed video for "Helicopter" is viewable below.

To help promote that album release, Deerhunter will play some last minute free shows in major cities. Chicago gets an Urban Outfitters-sponsored show this Friday, 9/25, "at 4:00 p.m. at the underpass at 560 W. Grand @ the Chicago River under the Kennedy overpass." NYC gets:

Deerhunter Free Show !
Tuesday September 28 (Release Date)
Apple Store, SoHo In-store -- 103 Prince St. (nr. Greene St.)
Guaranteed entry wristbands will be distributed on September 28 when the Apple store opens (9AM).
In-store begins at 7PM

Tickets are still on sale for the October 15th show at Webster Hall with Real Estate. All dates and that video, below...

Continue reading "Deerhunter playing free shows, 'Halcyon Digest' streaming"

JP, Chrissie, & the Fairground Boys (featuring Chrissie Hynde & JP Jones) have some more upcoming shows scheduled including August 9th at Rockwood Music Hall's "Stage 2" (tickets), and August 10th at the Apple Store in SoHo (free). All dates below...

Continue reading "Chrissie Hynde's band playing 2 NYC shows & other dates"

DOWNLOAD: Sean Bones - Rhumba Beat (new MP3)

Sean Bones (new MP3 from a new digital single above) and The Watson Twins (two separate acts) (Sean hasn't taken over for Jenny Lewis or anything) share a bill at Mercury Lounge in NYC (where Sean lives) on April 7th (the Watsons are from LA). Tickets are still on sale.

For The Watson Twins, the NYC show is to help promote their new album, Talking to You, Talking to Me. They'll also appear on CBS's Early Show's "Second Cup Cafe" while they're here. Sean Bones's appearance is a one-off before he leaves on tour (a week later) with Dr. Dog. Sean is the opener on that tour until Deer Tick takes over. Deer Tick is the opener May 15th at Terminal 5 which is a very large show... unlike the intimate (but short) one Dr. Dog are playing in NYC TONIGHT (4/6) at the SOHO Apple Store...

Live at the Apple Store: Dr. Dog
Check out Dr. Dog at this special live performance and hear tracks from the new album, "Shame, Shame". April 6, 7:00 p.m.

Continue reading "Sean Bones playing w/ Watson Twins & then touring w/ Dr Dog (who play the Apple Store TODAY) - dates"

Leo Allen benefiting Haiti @ MHOW on 1/23 (by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Aziz Ansari added an extra two shows to his previously-announced run of CD Release shows at Comix. The new total is eight shows over four days (2/3-2/6) and they all appear to be sold out. "Friends scheduled to appear throughout the weekend:" Todd Barry, Moshe Kasher, John Mulaney, Max Silvestri, Joe Mande, Kristen Schaal, Hannibal Buress, Leo Allen, Kumail Nanjiani, and Anthony Jeselnik. A fine set of openers indeed.

Don't have a ticket, but still want to see Aziz during his now-rare trip back to NYC? You can also catch him tonight (2/2) for free at the Apple Store in SOHO. Sarah Silverman will appear in the same venue one night later.

Speaking of Max Silvestri, don't forget to catch his Big Teriffic show every Wednesday night at The Cameo (free!).

Speaking of Kristen Schaal, you can catch her tonight (2/2) as part of Sara Schaefer & Kim Armstrong's new free weekly Tuesday night comedy show in the front lounge of The Bell House (which is also hosting a "TOTALLY SOLD OUT" Lost premiere party this evening as well).

Speaking of Kristen Schaal performing comedy at The Bell House, tickets are on sale for a February 27th show described as "Friends of Celebrate Brooklyn present Winter Warm-Up featuring Comedy with Eugene Mirman & Pretty Good Friends, Special guests include Kristin Schaal & Michael Showalter".

Speaking of Hannibal Buress, he hosts a comedy show every Sunday night at Knitting Factory (free!).

Todd Barry, John Mulaney and Hannibal Buress all return to Comix on the same (February 18th) night (code TBAF saves $5).

Leo Allen hosts Whiplash every Monday night at UCB

A few shows other shows coming up at UCB and other surprises below...

Continue reading "Aziz Ansari at Comix & The Apple Store, Sarah Silverman, Hannibal Buress & other upcoming comedy shows"

by Andrew Frisicano

If looking for a way to see some of CMJ's top bands without a badge or tickets, three stores - Sound Fix, Other Music and Apple Store Soho - are all offering free in-store performances through the week.

Other Music in Manhattan hosts El Perro Del Mar tonight (10/20 @ 8pm). El Perro - real name Sarah Assbring - was to play a Joe's Pub show on November 9th. That's been canceled. She's opening for Peter, Bjorn & John this November - their Nov. 10th show was moved from Terminal 5 to Webster Hall and bumped a day earlier (now Nov. 9th).

If you're out today (10/20), El Perro Del Mar will be DJing (4-5pm) at Pianos this afternoon. Perhaps she'll spin something from her new record, Love Is Not Pop, which is out today (there's some nice dance remixes on at the end of it).

Also at Other Music, The Very Best play a daytime in-store (noon) on Thursday (10/22), which is probably less than 12 hours after they play (Le) Poisson Rouge's Green Owl CMJ showcase on Wednesday night with Theophilus London, Violens, Grandchildren, Ninjasonik and Nat Geo Music (the late show after LPR's New Amsterdam/Cantaloupe Recs showcase).

At Sound Fix (all shows 7pm), Antlers play a short acoustic set on Wednesday (they also play a BV showcase tonight, 10/20, at Music Hall of Williamsburg), and Cymbals Eat Guitars (at BV Pianos party Saturday afternoon) perform on Thursday. Tonight (10/20) at Sound Fix, you can catch Brooklyn's own Bell. More dates below.

At the Apple Store Soho, the extremely busy the xx play on Thursday and Portugal. The Man on Friday. More details below.

Speaking of the xx's busy schedule, let's just go through it: They're also at Mercury Lounge on Wednesday (10/21), Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday with School of Seven Bells (now sold out) and a late-night Tribeca Grand party on October 23rd with FIXED's DJ JDH + Dave P (RSVP).

If you're after the Antlers and the xx together in one convenient spot, they're both playing a late-night NME CMJ party on Thursday, October 22nd at The Delancey with We Are Enfant Terrible, Reni Lane, Yes Giantesses and Ultra Violent Lights. The xx are the "special guest" on that show.

All times for the CMJ in-stores, tour dates and details are below...

Continue reading "CMJ in-stores @ Apple Store, Sound Fix, Other Music & other shows w/ El Perro Del Mar, Very Best, Antlers, xx & more"

DOWNLOAD: The xx - Basic Space (Micachu Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Florence and the Machine - You've Got the Love (The xx Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: School of Seven Bells - Iamundernodisguse (Alt Mix) (MP3)

The xx @ South Street Seaport in August (more by Chris La Putt)

UK's the xx will have already played a large amount of shows in New York City by the end of 2009, and there are more to announce. The xx have augmented their CMJ schedule with a performance at the Apple store in Soho on Thursday, October 22nd. Before that, they play at Mercury Lounge on Oct. 21st with Javelin and Lia Ices (tickets and CMJ badges at the door). Then the xx play an Oct. 23rd show with School of Seven Bells and First Aid Kit. That gig was supposed to be at Webster Hall, but it has now been moved to Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tickets are still on sale.

School of Seven Bells has a deluxe release of 2008's Alpinisms that's coming out digitally on October 13th. The first song on that, an alternate version of "Iamundernodisguise," is posted above.

The xx's November 11th show at Bowery Ballroom also changed venues - it was originally scheduled for at Mercury Lounge. It's now sold out. Finally, they play December 5th at Webster Hall with Friendly Fires. To recap:

The xx back in NYC
Oct 21 @ Mercury Lounge New York (CMJ)
Oct 22 @ iTunes Instore (Apple Store, SoHo)
Oct 23 @ MHOW w/ School of Seven Bells (CMJ)
Nov 11 @ Bowery Ballroom
Dec 05 @ Webster Hall New York w/ Friendly Fires

Speaking of the Apple Soho store, Phoenix was just there last week (9/24) and Ladyhawke played the store the week before that (9/15). That same day (September 15th), Sonic Youth was to release an iTunes-only four-song EP of their June performance at the store. The record never came out, and seems to be delayed for an unknown period of time. Sonic Youth play NYC's Terminal 5 on November 21st with Cold Cave and Dinosaur Jr. It's sold out, but the Feelies show happening the same night at Maxwell's isn't yet.

The xx recently remixed Florence and the Machine's "You've Got the Love." That is posted above. Florence will come from the UK to play an October 27th show at the Bowery Ballroom. It's sold out, but I wouldn't be surprised if they add another show too.

The xx's debut self-titled record comes out October 6th on Young Turks/XL Recordings. All tour dates for the xx (and Florence) and videos for the xx's two singles are posted below...

Continue reading "School of Seven Bells moves to MHOW, The xx add more CMJ shows, remixed Florence & the Machine (dates, MP3, stuff) "

photos by Ryan Muir

Phoenix's Thomas Mars in the SoHo Apple Store

"As a devoted follower of Phoenix, I was considerably excited to see them perform again after their appearance at the Apple Store last Thursday. While the music was gorgeously executed and the setlist was everything I could ask for, the quotidian annoyances of attending a large-capacity outdoor concert presented considerable obstacles. But Phoenix is the kind of band that is worth seeing even if frat boys are elbowing and shoving you, sorority girls are trampling on your feet, and everyone in your vicinity is blowing a variety of unpleasant smokes into your face all the while.

With that said, Phoenix played a set of songs mostly from Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, but with a few from Alphabetical and United, their earliest records. Thomas Mars owned the stage with great warmth, more so than at the Apple Store, and the band passed their enormous energy on to the vast crowd, which was undeterred by the rain that began to fall toward the end of "Rome" and steadily increased through the end of the encore. The two songs that Thomas and Laurent Brancowitz performed alone during the encore provided a glimpse of what a Phoenix show might sound like in a venue like the Bowery Ballroom." [Trust Me On This]

Continue reading "Phoenix played 2 Central Park shows w/ Passion Pit, Fallon & the SoHo Apple Store (pics, setlist) "

Phoenix are playing a free show at the SoHo Apple store on Thursday (9/24, 8pm). Their sold out shows at Central Park Summerstage with Passion Pit happen on Friday and Saturday.

Continue reading "Phoenix are playing the Apple Store Thursday -- the Summerstage shows are Friday & Saturday "

photos by Chris La Putt

"Some people can't help but geek out when they step into the Apple Store. Ladyhawke is no exception, and the electronic artist got in touch with her inner nerd when she performed at the downtown New York store last night. Right before launching into 'Dusk Till Dawn,' the singer had a technical snafu that interrupted her intimate show. "There must be tons of tech geeks in this building that can fix this," she said as a flurry of Apple employees puttered behind her onstage. "I really feel awkward right now," she added bashfully." [Spinner]

Continue reading "Ladyhawke @ the Apple Store in NYC - pics & setlist"

Ladyhawke, Ida Maria, Sliimy, Julian Perretta, FrankMusik, Eric Hutchinson and Semi Precious Weapons are on the 'Perez Hilton Presents' tour that kicked off in Atlanta on September 10th. It hits Irving Plaza in NYC on Wednesday (9/16) with a night off tonight (9/15). Ladyhawke is using the time for another show...

Don't miss LADYHAWKE as she performs tracks from her special edition CD, an expanded version of her self-titled debut album that includes five new tracks.

September 15, 7:00 p.m.
Live at the Apple Store SoHo
103 Prince Street
NY, NY 10012
212226-3126

Continue reading "Ladyhawke on Perez tour, plays Apple Store in NYC today"

Regina Spektor is playing a free show at the SoHo Apple Store today (7/24). Her Barnes & Noble show is in August.

Pete Yorn has added to his two-month North American summer tour a show at NJ's Wellmont Theatre on Friday, July 24th (tickets on sale Friday, June 19th at noon). The previously announced NYC dates are July 28th and 29th at Webster Hall.

The singer also added a last-minute CD release show at the much smaller Joe's Pub on Thursday, June 18th to mark the release of his latest disc, Back and Fourth, though that is sold out.

If you missed tickets to that (and have time to wait in line), you can still catch Yorn playing at the Apple Store in Soho tomorrow (June 16th) at 7pm. First come, first served.

In addition to that new album, Yorn will also be releasing a CD with Scarlett Johansson in September.

A video of Yorn covering The Smith's "Ask" at Joe's Pub in 2006, below...

Continue reading "Pete Yorn adds shows (Wellmont, Joe's Pub, the Apple store) "

photos by Lori Baily

If you hung out in New York's Soho neighborhood in the early 1980s, chances are you could've caught an early Sonic Youth performing in an avant-garde loft space. A lot has changed in the last three decades. Last night, to celebrate the release of their terrific new album The Eternal, the indie-rock heroes returned to the now-gentrified neighborhood to perform a short-but-sweet set at the Apple store. [Rolling Stone]

Continue reading "Sonic Youth @ the Apple Store in SoHo in NYC - pics, setlist"

DOWNLOAD: Sonic Youth - Sacred Trickster (MP3)

Thurston Moore @ ATP NY 2008 (more by Zach Dilgard)

Sonic Youth will celebrate the release of their new record 'The Eternal' by giving a special free live performance Tuesday, June 9th at at the Apple Store, Soho in NYC . Doors are at 7:30 and the performance is at 9:00.

Guest passes are required to attend this event and are available for pickup at 10am Monday June 8th at the Apple Store, SoHo. One non-transferable pass per person (with photo ID) will be granted on a first come, first served basis. Please also bring your ID to the event along with your guest pass.

Continue reading "Sonic Youth playing the Apple Store - passes available today"

Black Dice @ Warsaw in December (more by Chris La Putt)

The artist formerly known as Santogold is performing for free tonight, 2/20, at the Apple Store in SOHO (7-8 pm). Santigold is also on the lineup for this year's Sasquatch Festival.

Blank Dogs has three NYC shows coming up in the near future. The first is tonight (2/20) at Le Poisson Rouge with Black Dice. The second is somewhere on March 7th. The third is March 14th at Music Hall of Williamsburg with Crystal Stilts and Women.

Voxtrot keeps popping back up randomly. Frontman Ramesh is DJing at Le Royale in NYC tonight (2/20), and the whole band is listed as playing SXSW in their hometown of Austin in March (though I hear there have been some lineup changes).

Anti-Pop Consortium @ Terminal 5 (more by Ryan Muir)

Anti-Pop Consortium - 2008 Tour Dates
Oct 17 - Obamarama @ The Bell House

Party and Silent Auction to benefit Barack Obama
w/ Dirty on Purpose, Dragons of Zynth, Takka Takka and more...

The KF is closing down and re-locating to Brooklyn and they asked us to curate a special evening...this will be an all club event booked by APC. Stay tuned for special guest announcements...

Continue reading "Apple in-stores, Obamarama & Anti-Pop Consortium "