photos by Lori Baily

"(Le) Poisson Rouge is wall to wall dancing before ESG takes the stage. The music geeks are hugging the walls or waiting in the next room drinking Guinness and listening to Fugazi. At about 12:30, Renee Scroggins comes on stage followed by her sisters Valerie and Marie, her daughter Nicole and her niece Chistelle. The music geeks and hipsters clear out of the bar next door and invade the dance floor. We look on stage and immediately feel better about ourselves. ESG is dressed a lot like us: baseball hats, sweatshirts and jeans. The first song is "You're No Good," the first song off ESG's masterpiece A South Bronx Story. The first thing I notice is they create a huge sound by playing very simple music. They are more punk than most punk bands." [NY Press]

It was a long night at (Le) Poisson Rouge on Saturday (1/24). The early show at the venue was the double bill of Au and Stars Like Fleas. Lori was there for all three and said ESG was killer. More pictures from the whole evening below...

Continue reading "ESG, Au & Stars Like Fleas @ LPR, NYC - pics"

By Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Le Loup - "Shenandoah" (MP3) (on Amnesty comp)
DOWNLOAD: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts & guests - Silent Night (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Deer Tracks - Christmas Fire (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Twiggy Frostbite - Bells & Chimes (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Emotron - Santa Claus (I Still Believe In You) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: (Savanteous Q Malmsteen) - What Do You Get A Wookie for Christmas
DOWNLOAD: The Revelations - It's That Time Of Year (MP3)

With holiday mixes in the air, Amnesty International has released I'll Stay 'Til After Christmas, a benefit comp featuring No Kids, Blitzen Trapper, Parentheitcal Girls, Sally Shapiro, and more (full tracklist below).

Then there's the free all-Swedish Xmas mix up at Swedes Please. Among the songs posted is the new duet between The Hives and Cyndi Lauper, "A Christmas Duel," video below (or buy the song on iTunes).

Speaking of Cyndi and good causes, True Colors is auctioning off a chance to hang out with the Best Electronic/Dance Album nominee as part of its first annual online charity auction to benefit GLBT equality groups the True Colors Fund, CenterLink, and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).

The package includes "1-hour voice lesson, plus lunch, with Cyndi Lauper, in NYC. 2 roundtrip domestic coach tickets on American Airlines and a 2-night stay at Hotel on Rivington included." It's currently going for $4,000. Full list of items on auction here.

And speaking of Christmas music and female 80's icons that have toured for True Colors...

"Blackheart Records, the rock label Joan Jett started over 25 years ago, has released its holiday compilation record, and it's available at the iTunes store. The 11-song digital album features rocked-out holiday standards and originals recorded by Jett and Blackheart bands including Girl in a Coma, The Dollyrots, The Cute Lepers and more."

You can grab "Silent Night" at the top of this post for free. Full tracklist below.

Also for download up there is a selection of holiday MP3's from the inbox.

Other Christmas album options this year include new ones by Sufjan's friend Rosie Thomas and Neutral Milk Hotel's Julian Koster, and one by The Raveonettes. For a Christmas show, check out the always fun McGarrigle Christmas Hour this Wednesday night at Carnegie Hall. Guests this year include Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Emmylou Harris and Justin Bond.

Videos (including one by Glasvegas) and tracklists below...

Continue reading "more Christmas songs & comps & charities - the Hives, Joan Jett, Cyndi Lauper, Sweden, No Kids, Glasvegas & more"

photos by Ryan Muir

DOWNLOAD: Au - RR vs. D (MP3)

the Dodos

Despite having one sick member, San Francisco's the Dodos played their scheduled show with Portland's Au (pronounced "Ay-You") at Spiegelworld in NYC last night (9/29) They did have to cancel the secret show they were going to play tonight (9/30) at Death by Audio though, and the not-secret one they were planning on playing in Northampton on Wednesday. All other tour dates are still on. More pictures from last night's show below...

Continue reading "Au & the Dodos @ the Spiegelent in NYC - pics"

The Dodos @ the 2008 Siren Festival (more by Leia Jospe)

Continue reading "The Dodos - 2008 Tour Dates (Spiegelworld Monday)"