photos by Chris La Putt, words by Bill Pearis

Au Revoir Simone have spent the better part of 2009 working on, promoting and touring in support of their second album, Still Light, Still Night, wrapping things up -- for now, at least -- with a Brooklyn show at the Bell House on October 24 (tickets), which is part of the CMJ Music Marathon. The Bell House is also where their new video, "Shadows," was filmed. You can watch it over at the David Lynch Foundation Television website. Lynch has been a fan ever since he and ARS were paired together for that Barnes & Noble Upstairs at the Square event two years ago. He even wrote a nice little blurb for the girls:

"I LOVE AU REVOIR SIMONE ..... THESE GIRLS HAVE WHAT IT TAKES ..... MUSIC JUST FLOWS OUT OF THEM SO NATURALLY - AND IT'S GREAT MUSIC ...... THIS VIDEO FOR "SHADOWS" - FROM THEIR NEW ALBUM "STILL NIGHT, STILL LIGHT" IS MIGHTY - THE COLOR AND THE LIGHT ARE STELLAR - THE MOVES AND LOOKS - MINIMAL - CLEAN - MODERN AND SOLID ..... IT ALL COMES ALONG SO WELL SUPPORTING THE GIRLS AND THEIR MUSIC ..... ANNIE, ERIKA AND HEATHER HAVE GOT THEIR ACT TOGETHER - THEY'RE BIG - BUT THEY'RE GONNA BE BIGGER - THEY'RE GONNA BE REAL BIG"

In November, Au Revoir Simone travel to China for shows in Beijing and Shanghai. Tour dates are at the bottom of this post, as are more pictures from Au Revoir Simone's Bowery show from back in June. Findlay Brown, who is also playing CMJ at the same venue (Bowery), opened that June show.

In between now and ARS's trip to China, ARS member Annie Hart will spend some time with her other band, Uninhabitable Mansions, which also features Robbie and Tyler from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Uninhabitable Mansions' debut album, Nature is a Taker, is out now digitally, with the CD version due at the end of October and vinyl in January. Uninhabitable Mansions, which now includes Annie Hart's husband (and former Dirty on Purpose member) Doug Marvin on drums, has two NYC shows coming up: a free show next Wednesday (10/14) at Cake Shop which is part of the MIXER Reading Series, then they'll play the Bell House on October 22 (part of CMJ) with Robbers on High Street, Freelance Whales (who are also on the Bowery Ballroom show Findlay is playing), Pomegrates and others. After that, they're going on a short East Coast tour, ending with a October 30 show at Union Pool. Then the band's on hold until the new year when they expect to launch a more extensive U.S. tour.

And while we're here, Robbie and Chris of Uninhabitable Mansions have another band,Radical Dads, whose new self-titled EP is downloadable for free.

CYHSY front-man Alec Ounsworth meanwhile has been doing his own thing and is appearing at Mercury Lounge during CMJ, as well as at a free BrooklynVegan day party at Pianos that same day (10/22). More details TBA.

Tour dates for Au Revoir Simone and Uninhabitable Mansions, plus more pictures from Au Revoir Simone's June 28 Bowery Ballroom show are below...

Continue reading "Au Revoir Simone, David Lynch, Uninhabitable Mansions, Radical Dads & CMJ - tour dates, pictures, free music & more"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: The Drums - I Felt Stupid (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Drums - Instruct Me (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Pelle Carlberg - Clever Girls Like Clever Boys More Than Clever Boys Like Clever Girls (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Pelle Carlberg - I Love You, You Imbecile (feat. Ida Maria) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Pelle Carlberg - 1983 (Pelle & Sebastian) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Pelle Carlberg - 51,3 (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: I Was a King - Norman Bleik (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Rural Alberta Advantage - Don't Haunt This Place (MP3)

Those Dancing Days @ Spaceland in LA - 05/23/09 (Clap Your Mirror Say Yeah)

Those Dancing Days were in town this week and the Scandinavian invasion continues through the weekend. Stockholm resident Pelle Carlberg, fresh from playing San Francisco's Popfest, is here on Saturday (5/30) at Union Hall (tix). While his new album, The Lilac Time, isn't quite as strong as 2007's In a Nutshell, he's a great performer and wouldn't miss him for the world. If you like Belle & Sebastian type pop (even he acknowledges he sounds a bit like them, see the MP3 at the top of this post), funny stories, and suitcases used as drums, you shouldn't miss it either.

The other reason not to miss it is the second-ever show by NYC Popfest breakout stars The Drums. For a band who claimed to have had their first practice a mere two hours before the show, The Drums seemed to have it pretty together at Popfest, with a full band and backup singers. Their MySpace lists gloomy Manchester post punk as reference points - the main influence to me seems to be the beach. As in where the surf meets the sand. The music's a little twangy, with the most whistling heard since "Young Folks," and song titles include "The Saddest Summer," "Down by the Water" and "Let's Go Surfing." Perfect for Watusi-ing. They're a lot of fun. And they've got a June residency at the Annex and will be playing the Northside Festival if you can't make the show on Saturday.

The Rural Alberta Advantage

Also Saturday night, over at Mercury Lounge, are Norway's I Was a King playing their second of three NYC shows. Their first is earlier that day at Generation Records. I have friends who saw them in Chicago and said they were great so I'm really looking forward to catching them. As I wrote previously, if you like Teenage Fanclub-y, harmony-and-feedback style pop, definitely go see them. They also play Union Hall on Sunday (5/31).

The Saturday show (which is an early one) is with Canadian trio The Rural Alberta Advantage, who also headline tonight (5/29) at The Bell House. The band won over crowds at SXSW, including at least one Pitchfork writer:

The percussive, stripped down indie-folk trio plays acoustic everything, but there's nothing quiet about them. Frontman Nils Edenloff sings in a strained yelp and plays his guitar like he's mad at it. This is the kind of band you imagine would do just fine unplugged. And at the end of their set, they did just that, walking to the center of the room and making their voices do all the work...

Edenloff held everything together, but multi-instrumentalist Amy Cole did more to make this band fun to watch. She's a totally winning stage presence, grinning huge and clapping along when she didn't have anything to play. And her xylophone dings and backing vocals added warmth and stillness to the driving songs. Every one of those songs, according to Edenloff, concerns the Canadian province that gave the band their name. And every one of those songs just goes for it, in a racing-toward-the-sun kind of way. This band could be huge.

And if you need more earnest Canadians, Rock Plaza Central are in town, at Cake Shop on Monday (6/1) and the Bell House on Tuesday (6/2).

---

A few short bits:

Two great alt-rock icons are in town: X are at Bowery Ballroom all weekend (playing what you asked them to play). Tonight (5/29) and Saturday are sold out, as is but there are still tickets for Sunday's show. And former Husker Du drummer/singer Grant Hart will play Cake Shop tonight (5/29) and the Bell House on Monday (6/1).

Au Revoir Simone kick of their summer tour tonight at Music Hall of Williamsburg. If you haven't heard their new, critically-acclaimed album Still Night, Still Light (which I still have to look up to make sure I'm getting the title correct), it really is very good. Also on the bill and on the tour is The Antlers.

Did you get tickets for Art Brut Week? At this point, everything except the Monday (6/1) show is sold out and it's likely to go soon. If you haven't heard Art Brut Vs. Satan, maybe it's time rediscover the brilliance of Eddie Argos.

Select tour dates and videos after the jump...

Continue reading "Pelle Carlberg, X, The Rural Alberta Advantage, The Drums, Au Revoir Simone & more in This Week In Indie"

alan turing shows off his jeff lewis band cd (big bozo)

[In the UK, Jeffrey Lewis] will sell out venues that hold up to 800 fans. Back in America, though, a headlining slot at Bowery Ballroom is the highest-profile gig he'll play behind his new Rough Trade album 'Em Are I, and even that seems a bit excessive to him. "If we were hitting, like, 150 or 200 people everywhere around the States, that would be totally fine," he says. "Once it starts getting above, like, 400, it just takes it into a different context." [Village Voice]

Jeffrey's previous record, 2007's 12 Crass Songs, was exactly that - an LP of Crass covers. About.com asked him about that...

Lots of aging punks got mad at the Dirty Projectors with their Black Flag album [Rise Above]. Did you find similar resentment?

"Mine was a very different record to the Dirty Projectors'. Black Flag songs are not so big on the content removed from the context, so putting them into this modern, art-rock, hipster context takes away whatever it is that makes those songs meaningful. With the Crass stuff, it wasn't a case of obscuring the message, but focusing it, by giving their lyrics a straight-forward presentation. In that way, it was like the opposite to the Dirty Projectors' project, so there was total irony in the fact that those records came out around the same time, and were always compared to each other. I do get some flack from the most devoted of Crass fans, but Crass themselves were really nice about it. I was talking to Dave [Longstreth] of the Dirty Projectors and he was saying that they just never heard any word from Black Flag at all. They tried getting in contact and met with no response. So it was pretty cool that Crass were so welcoming and supportive of me."

Lewis recently said goodbye to his NY Times Measure for Measure blog with a final post. Coming up, look for the singer to update his 2008 Daytrotter session with a visit to the Rock Island studio in June.

Video from Lewis's May 20th Bowery show, and one of Jeff playing with Emmy the Great, plus all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Jeffrey Lewis played Bowery Ballroom, revealed as Art Brut's special guest -- new album out now, more tour dates "

The Antlers @ Cake Shop (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Frenchkiss Records will be re-releasing a remastered version of Hospice, the debut new album by NYC band The Antlers, on August 18th (and digitally on June 16th). That means they are now label-mates with Sean Bones WHO they are playing with (listed as "special guest") at The Delancey on May 20th (flyer below). One day later you can catch The Antlers with White Rabbits and Cymbals Eat Guitars at Bowery Ballroom (you can also catch Cymbals Eat Guitars at the opening Rooftop Films party tonight). And you can catch the Antlers at Music Hall of Williamsburg on May 29th with Au Revoir Simone who they are then going out on tour with before meeting up with Cotton Jones for even more touring. All dates below...

Continue reading "The Antlers sign to Frenchkiss - 2009 Tour Dates (Bowery Ballroom, MHOW, the Delancey & Au Revoir Simone)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Au Revoir Simone - Shadows (MP3)

Au Revoir Simone @ Union Pool - Apr 13, 2009

Au Revoir Simone have announced more dates for their upcoming US tour. As mentioned before, tickets are already on sale ARS's two upcoming NYC shows: Music Hall of Williamsburg on May 29 and Bowery Ballroom on June 27.

The Brooklyn trio played a fun, packed show on Monday at Union Pool as a warm-up for this extensive haul on which they're about to embark. They stuck mainly to tracks from their upcoming album Still Night, Still Light which is out May 18 on the band's own Our Secret Record Company label - a double 10" vinyl version included. The first single is "Shadows" and you can download the MP3 of it at the top of this post.

Tour dates and video of ARS performing "Shadows" at Monday's Union Pool show after the jump...

Continue reading "Au Revoir Simone played Union Pool - new MP3, more dates "

by Bill Pearis

1/3 of Au Revoir Simone @ Radio Room in Austin (BV party) (by Ryan Muir/Metromix)

Brooklyn's Au Revoir Simone release their second full-length, Still Night, Still Light, next month and are about to head out on on a European tour (where their album comes out this month). As a warm up though, Annie, Erika and Heather are playing a "secret" show this Monday (4/13) at Union Pool. Tickets are also on sale now for two upcoming proper NYC shows: May 29 at Music Hall of Williamsburg, which will start their U.S. tour and then Bowery Ballroom on June 27 which comes at the end. Full dates are still pending.

Still Night, Still Light was produced by Thom Monahan who is a member of The Pernice Brothers and has recently twiddled knobs for Vetiver, Little Joy, and The Broken West. Au Revoir Simone played a really nice set last month as part of the Brooklynvegan day party during SXSW, and footage of them performing new song "All or Nothing" is at the bottom of this post. You can also check out early versions of three songs from the new album (which I like a lot) over at The Recess Sessions, which were filmed by Vincent Moon of La Blogothèque Take-a-Way show fame.

SXSW video and all known tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Au Revoir Simone - new album & tour dates (3 NYC shows) "

photos by Tim Griffin, words by Andrew Frisicano

Peter Bjorn and John had some problems at their Wednesday SXSW debut, as reported by the Associated Press and a few others:

The start was delayed and, when they finally started playing, equipment problems caused long interruptions and ruined the set. The unsympathetic crowd heckled and booed.

"It was an awful show," said Peter Moren, the band's lead singer, able to smile painfully about it in an interview Friday. "But it's also good that stuff like that happens occasionally. Otherwise you become bigheaded.

The night started out with free pink martinis and wine, as media and industry folk (many running around with cameras) hobnobbed with VIPs and guests at the formal event, part of the W NY Hotel's Wanderlust luxury music event series. The crowd settled into place just in time for the angelic, mid-paced opening song "Just the Past," which announced the atmosphere-heavy mood of the band's new album.

Probably my favorite tune of the night came with "It Don't Move Me," a Faint-esque electro mash-up with claves, snapping synth drums, and locomotive bass. Its lyrics seemed to highlight the band's departure from melody-driven "Young Folks"-style songs with lines like "History is done...I can run much faster when nothing weighs me down." In that uptempo vein, the band suceeded - the propulsive dance chorus of "Lay It Down," for example ("Hey, shut the fuck up, boy," it goes) worked even in the cold, cavernous room.

The creepy children's-voice sample of single "Nothing to Worry About," however, didn't do anything to breach the gap created by the echo-heavy vocals and already distant atmosphere of the event (though the massive, resounding PA sounded great soaking into the sound-proofed walls).

But the band works best on crowd-centered energy, built upon songs like "Young Folks," the night's of-course encore. The guys jumped through the hit accompanied by Heather D'Angelo from Au Revoir Simone and someone named Chris, who furiously pounded out the song's usually subdued bongo part.

It was the energy of that track that broke through the mingling suits and clanking martini glasses, reaffirming the power of the single - a reaction I'm sure the band hopes to recreate with new-album songs at its many scheduled dates this summer.

Coming up, Peter Bjorn and John return to Europe, then set out on a US tour with Chairlift, visiting NYC for two basically-sold-out NYC shows at the end of April (MHOW and Webster Hall).

Afterward, PB & J travel with Depeche Mode, playing two NYC gigs at Madison Square Garden. Tickets are on sale for the August 3rd and the recently added August 4th shows.

More pics from the W New York hotel show, below...

Continue reading "Peter Bjorn and John played the NYC W Hotel (pics) & SXSW "

DOWNLOAD: The Donkeys - Walk Through A Cloud (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Donkeys - Nice Train (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Wallpaper remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Come Saturday (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daniel Johnston - Honey I Sure Miss You (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daniel Johnston - Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Your Grievances
DOWNLOAD: These Arms Are Snakes - Red Line Season (MP3)

This free BrooklynVegan show takes place on two stages at Radio Room in Austin, Texas this Thursday afternoon, March 19, 2009 from noon-6pm. Set times, more info, and answers to (hopefully) all FAQ's below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn Vegan & Agency Group Austin day party lineup"

photos by Chris Becker

Dirty on Purpose @ Mercury Lounge in NYC - Dec 31, 2008

Dirty on Purpose said their final goodbyes at Mercury Lounge in NYC on New Years Eve. As announced less than a month earlier, they're "going the way of the dodo", but "reserve the right to change our minds and get back together in six months". Regardless, as they also pointed out, there are pleny of side other projects to keep them busy and us entertained.

Joe and the Flying Spoons (Joe's band) and Purse Snatchers (Doug's band) have a show scheduled this Sunday (1/4) at Cake Shop with Uninhabitable Mansions. As we've also pointed out before, Uninhabitable Mansions includes CYHSY's Robbie and Tyler, and Au Revoir Simone's Annie Hart who is also in Purse Snatchers.

Au Revoir Simone's Erika Forster used to be in Dirty on Purpose. As you can see from the picture above, they brought her back to join them for their final show at Mercury Lounge that A Place to Bury Strangers headlined (and helped ring in 2009) (Mr. Brownstone played the late-late show in the same club later the same night).

Purse Snatchers also have a show coming at Cake Shop (again) on February 26th with Coin Under Tongue who are also playing Death By Audio on February 28th with Sisters. Death by Audio is the warehouse space in the same Brooklyn building that houses Death By Audio the effects pedal company which is owned by Oliver Ackermann whose band is A Place to Bury Strangers and who oversees is associated with the new Death By Audio label (where all the bands do everything for themselves according to the below comment). The two bands currently signed to the Death by Audio label are Sisters and Coin Under Tongue. George from Dirty on Purpose is in Coin Under Tongue.

More pictures from New Years Eve below...

Continue reading "Dirty on Purpose is gone, but the side projects are busy "

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."

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"

Barack Rock! continues to update its pro-Obama website with free music by bands like The Teenage Prayers, Bell, Sam Champion, Ra Ra Riot, Frank Bango, Clipd Beaks, Mobius Band, Tapes n Tapes, Sera Cahoone, Port O'Brien, Salt & Samovar, Bear Hands, Au Revoir Simone, Foreign Islands and many more.

DOWNLOAD: We Misplaced a Cobra in the Uninhabitable Mansion (on WFMU) (MP3)

Uninhabitable Mansions playing live @ WFMU

As previously blogged, two members of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah formed a band with a member of Au Revoir Simone and called it Uninhabitable Mansions. Listen to three songs on MySpace. Download seven live versions at WFMU's blog. Catch them live this Saturday night at Mercury Lounge (9/20, 8pm). They open for Mugison who also plays Union Pool the day after that. Tickets for the Merc show are on sale.

Au Revoir Simone (by Magnus Unnar) in today's NY Times Magazine

today in NYC & NJ
* Josh Gabriel @ Cielo
* Roy Davis Jr. @ The Yard
* Mike Birbiglia @ Union Hall
* The Instruments @ Cake Shop
* TK Webb & Miguel Mendez @ Glasslands
* Stephen Brodsky @ Generation Records
* The Sun Ra Arkestra @ Sullivan Hall (2 sets)
* Apparat & Telefon Tel Aviv @ Knitting Factory
* Jeffrey Lewis / Olive Juice Festival @ Cake Shop
* The Detroit Cobras & Teenage Prayers @ Maxwell's
* The Muggabears, Salt & Samovar & Forest Fire @ Knitting Factory

Thanks to three floors worth of interesting stuff to do tonight, Knitting Factory wins.

The NY Times has a photo spread today with Au Revoir Simone, Plastiscines, Amiina, Yo Majesty, and Electrelane.

Slick Rick is pardoned and partying.

Scarlett Johansson eyes music festival debut.

Music Game Wars Heat Up -- What Will Rock Band 2 Do?

Is the new Indiana Jones movie as bad as the reviews say?

RIP, Utah Phillips.

What else?

DOWNLOAD: Bell - Videotape/The Eraser (Radiohead/Thom Yorke) (live) (MP3)
(via Pitchfork)

Bell (Olga Bell) opens for Au Revoir Simone at Bowery Ballroom tonight (Jan 18, 2008). The afterparty is at Don Hill's. Bell also opens for Takka Takka at Cake Shop on February 1st. Au Revoir Simone also have some California dates coming up. All that below...

Continue reading "Au Revoir Simone - 2008 Tour Dates (tonight, BELL)"

Free show at Canal Room on October 2nd - with RSVP (thx all).

DOWNLOAD: Favourite Sons - Hang on, Girl (MP3)

Scandalous....

Continue reading "VIDEO: Au Revoir Simone, Favourite Sons & Voxtrot swimming ++ updated tour dates"

DOWNLOAD: Peter Bjorn & John live on MPR @ SXSW (MP3) (info)

Bjorn, backdrop, bass amp & bass drum @ Webster Hall - May 1, 2007 (CRED)

I'm embarrassed to admit that I saw Peter Bjorn and John for the sixth time (Union Hall, Mercury, Bowery, SXSW, SXSW, Webster Hall) last night (May 1, 2007). Last night was the first time I saw a full set since Bowery though. They were okay - it's always been pretty much the same set - this time they had a new set of jokes - seriously they integrate comedy into the show a lot. I wouldn't say they should stop playing it - I just need to stop seeing them.

The two times I saw them at SXSW were at an MPR radio taping (totally accidentally - I was walking by early in the morning on the way to my own day show and it was just about to start), and at the Pitchfork thing (didn't watch their whole set there though).

COOLEST THING THAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT: Au Revoir Simone opened, and then Heather from Au Revoir Simone came back to sing Victoria Bergsman's part in Young Folks

Heather

SECOND COOLEST THING: Fujiya & Miyagi opened. Actually that may have been the coolest/best/greatest thing. I love them - and they were definitely the deciding factor that got me to Webster Hall last night. They in turn, did not disappoint.

NOTE: Au Revoir Simone, Fujiya & Miyagi, and Peter Bjorn & John are all trios. Peter pointed that out.

All three bands do it again at Webster Hall tonight (May 2). Fujiya & Miyagi are playing a free show at South Street Seaport on July 6th. Au Revoir Simone are playing the Seaport on August 10th, AND playing Webster Hall again with Voxtrot.

More pictures and tour dates below....

Continue reading "FUJIYA & MIYAGI - 2007 Tour Dates - PETER BJORN & JOHN - Webster Hall - AU REVOIR SIMONE - SXSW pics"