by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Weezer - Memories (MP3)

Weezer @ Williamsburg Waterfront in July (more by Kurt Christensen)

Weezer have recently gone indie again, in the literal sense at least, by signing to Epitaph Records for the release of their eighth full length album Hurley. "I've been a fan of Weezer from the beginning, and I've loved all their records, so it's amazing to find myself working with them on the new one!" says Brett Gurewitz, president and founder of Epitaph Records and also guitarist and songwriter in Bad Religion (who have upcoming tour dates!).

The album comes out September 14th (and features Jorge Garcia, the actor who played Hurley from 'Lost', on the cover) and is available for preorder now. An MP3 of the song "Memories" is available above, and a video of lead vocalist and guitarist Rivers Cuomo talking about the album is below.

In addition to going 'indie', Weezer has also increased their 'cred' by announcing ideas for a possible Blue Album/Pinkerton tour. "We have this really exciting idea to do a tour where we spend two nights in each city, and the first night, we play the entire Blue album, and the second night, we play the entirety of Pinkerton. We're just running it by promoters right now to see if there's sufficient interest in the markets to do something like that, and if they're on board, it's gonna happen," says Rivers Cuomo in an exclusive with MTV News. There are no official dates for the tour right now, which is still just an idea, but according to Cuomo, "the fan response has been incredible so far for the idea, and, if they want to, they can contact their local promoter and tell them to make it happen."

Weezer does also have a few current tour dates listed below and a fall tour is soon to be announced. Also, tonight (8/20), Park Slope's Bar 4 is hosting The LC Tribute to Weezer: The Blue Album Vs Pinkerton. The show will feature various solo acts covering The Blue Album and a full band covering Pinkerton in its entirety (though no specific lineup seems to be announced).

dates and videos below..

Continue reading "indie Weezer releasing new album, may do Blue Album/ Pinkerton tour, NYC bands pay tribute @ Bar 4 (tonight)"

Local Correspondents, an independent music community, is hosting the 3rd Annual LC Fest May 13 - 19, 2009 at Bar4 in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The festival will include short sets from over 60 singer/songwriters and bands located in Brooklyn and New York City. This year the festival also coincides with the 4th anniversary of Local Correspondents. All performances are free to attend.

Local Correspondents is a supportive community for independent artists based in Brooklyn. Weekly showcase series and open mic nights have brought together an extremely talented and diverse group of performers over the last four years. LC offers a helping hand to artists that have just moved to the NYC area with advice, tips, and opportunities to play.

Bar 4 is definitely one of the most under-the-radar venues NYC has to offer. More on the LC Fest with full lineup/schedule, below...

Continue reading "2009 Local Correspondents Festival @ Bar 4 in Brooklyn"

by Black Bubblegum

Walter Schreifels @ Fun Fun Fun Fest (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

...And the punks will say "Oi To The World"! And by punks, I mean Walter Schreifels during a FREE live set at the Punk Slope "Xmess Party" at Bar 4 (444 7th Ave @ 15th St) in Park Slope on Dec 20th (not the first time Walter played that party). The shindig kicks off at 10PM and along for the ride on the wheels of steel are Chris Daly (ex-Texas Is The Reason, 108 & Jets To Brazil), Jay Gotrian (Eye For An Eye), and Josh Grabelle (Trustkill Records).

Walter recently completed a music video for a cover of Agnostic Front's "Society Suckers" from the hardcore landmark Victim In Pain (viewable below). Why cover a classic track from a classic album? Let the man speak:

Agnostic Front vs. Mozart

Victim In Pain by Agnostic Front is one of my favorite records of all time, it's classical music. If you don't know this album I highly recommend that you get familiar with it. Don't be scared away by the misleading artwork, although that's part of the album's "Power" (title of a song on VIP) AF's music fights against fascism and the attitudes of fascists ("Fascist Attitudes")

I think cavemen would have liked Victim In Pain better than anything Mozart ever came up with, or the Beatles. If you had to get psyched up to kill a Wooly Mammoth, would you listen to The Beatles with Sgt. Pepper on french horn or Victim In Pain with Vinny Stigma on lead? I can almost hear the cave men screaming (if they had developed language) STIGMA!!!

It's timeless music, post apocalypse Mad Max people will be rocking to it in a thousand years. Do you think anyone is gonna give a shit about The Shins when you could be raped, lit on fire, dragged by a motorcycle and killed for a liter of gas (which kind of defeats the purpose)? Shit, Apes from Planet Of The Apes would love AF, though the Chimps and Orangutans maybe not as much.

Anyhoo, it's not a music competition, I like The Shins and there is a place for them too but I think that Victim In Pain is more important and unique in the evolution of music, art, mankind, that it goes beyond indie rock and steps into Smithsonian Institute territory.

For that reason I covered AF's "Society Suckers" from Victim In Pain. My version doesn't approach the aggressive power of the original but I had fun interpreting it, an homage. I think of it as classic folk song like "This Land Is Your Land", I wish Woody Guthrie would do a version in the time/space continuum. -Walter

Word. Walter and Rival Schools recently played Mercury Lounge, Irving Plaza with Bad Brains, Fun Fun Fun Fest, and the Brooklyn Vegan Day Party during CMJ on Oct 25th. Walter also recently played The Studio At Webster Hall with The International Noise Conspiracy. Read part one of our interview with Walter and Sammy from the band, and stay tuned for part two (I swear).

The video and Punk Slope flyer below...

Continue reading "Walter Schreifels covers Agnostic Front, playing Punk Slope"