photos by Chris Graham

Happy Holidays! I take on more than I can handle. That results in a lot of unposted content. In the name of catching up, while also taking it easy during this final week of the year, here's some of that lost material.

Sporting a beard that complements the music he's making these days, Conor Oberst and his Mystic Valley Band closed down [Outside Lands' Day Two] Sutro Stage with songs that are more down-home than downtrodden. One highlight of the set was when he brought out Jenny Lewis to perform Rilo Kiley's "Portions for Foxes," though Oberst outdid himself in the end with a beautiful rendition of the sparse and gorgeous "Milk Thistle." [MTV]

More pictures from Day Two, below...

Continue reading "Outside Lands 2009 - Day 2 pics (Conor Oberst, Jenny Lewis, TVOTR, Mastodon, Deerhunter, Mars Volta, Bat for Lashes)"

Animal Collective @ ATP NY (more by Ryan Muir)

So how the hell did Merriweather Post Pavilion-- an album closer in spirit to the sub-aquatic psychedelia of 2005's Feels and Panda Bear's 2007 solo Person Pitch than its predecessor-- wind up in the Billboard Top 20 and outsell both the Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand's most recent albums in North America? That mystery is ultimately the most wonderful thing about the album. Unlike so many indie-rock crossover artists before them, Animal Collective did not breach the mainstream by cleaning up their act, or adopting classic-rock conventions, or scoring a strategic soundtrack or iPod-commercial placement. And, above all, they did little to formalize their defining mercurial quality. [Pitchfork]

Pitchfork also listed their Top 100 Tracks of 2009, and the Top Albums of the Decade.

Animal Collective is DJing the Museum of Natural History in January.

The December issue of Q Magazine is an 'Artists Of The Century' special edition, covering all of the acts that the fine staff of the good ship Q feel are the most important of the century so far. As befitting a special edition of the UK best selling music monthly requires a special cover was commissioned world renowned photographer John Wright has spent over a year shooting 34 artists to fit on triple fold out cover.

The issue is packed to the gills with pieces written by Russell Brand on Noel Gallagher, Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis on Coldplay and Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme on The Arctic Monkeys. In addition it also includes exclusive interviews and photos from the likes of Amy Winehouse, Dizzee Rascal, U2, Dave Grohl, Lily Allen, Rihanna, Sir Paul McCartney, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Brandon Flowers from The Killers, Elbow's Guy Garvey, Pink, Muse's Matt Bellamy, Murdoc from Gorillaz, The Kings Of Leon, Mark Ronson, Mika, Nick Cave, Robert Plant, Florence Welch, Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol and Tom Chaplin of Keane.

Continue reading "Q Magazine's Top Albums of 2009 "

Yeasayer @ Hudson River Park in August (more by Bao Nguyen)

Yeasayer recently revealed in an interview with Pitchfork that they had finished their sophomore album and it would be released on January 19, 2010. There are four new songs they've been playing live; the four new songs are "Madder Red," "O.N.E.," "I Remember," and "Amblin' Alp." Yeasayer has also hinted that they would do something big in October.... [Wikipedia]

Guggenheim's last "It Came From Brooklyn" show featured Julian Plenti aka Paul Banks from Interpol. Julian has more shows on the way in November.

Yeasayer is currently in the UK, on tour with Bat for Lashes (who played NYC in August).

Yeasayer's Anand Wilder and Ira Wolf Tuton worked on Bat for Lashes' new record, Two Suns, which came out in April. As for their own still-untitled CD, Yeasayer's new disc is expected early next year (see above). Pitchfork called their last album, All Hour Cymbals, the 197th best album of the decade.

At least one member of Tanlines (also playing the Guggenheim show) is in a new group with members of Professor Murder called Restless People.

A Jools Holland video, and all tour dates for Yeasayer, which include Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin on November 7th and Brown University on Nov. 13th (with Javelin), are below...

Continue reading "Yeasayer - playing the Guggenheim, new CD on the way"

photos by Bao Nguyen

'Natasha killed it tonight. Seeing her so happy made me so happy. Great show.' - Anonymous

"best use of props: bat for lashes at webster hall. do you like wolves? natasha khan does. from the backdrop to the tapestry hanging over her piano, the set was wolf-tastic and so was bat for lashes. ms. khan jumped into a "glass" and followed up with "sleep alone". the crowd was in for some haunting, lush tones from the very first raise of natasha's faux hair sleeves.

natasha didn't talk to much during the set though she responded to an erratic "you're amazing" with an equally erratic "thank you".

encore included: "good love", "moon and moon", "trophy" and karate kid favorite "daniel". [sharocks]

Continue reading "Bat for Lashes & Other Lives @ Webster Hall - pics, setlist"

photos by Bao Nguyen

The nominees for this year's MTV Video Music Awards Breakthrough Video are Anjulie, Bat For Lashes ("Daniel"), Chairlift, Cold War Kids, Death Cab For Cutie, Gnarls Barkley, Major Lazer, Matt and Kim, Passion Pit, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Bat For Lashes, who is also up for this year's Mercury Prize, and who will be back in NYC on August 12th, has a new video for the song "Sleep Alone". Check it out, with more pictures of Passion Pit playing the Diesel Party at Webster Hall on 7/30, below...

Continue reading "Passion Pit (Webster Hall pics) vs Matt & Kim vs Bat for Lashes (new video) vs others for MTV Video award"

Mercury Prize 2009 shortlist

Florence and the Machine - Lungs
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Bat for Lashes - Two Suns
La Roux - La Roux
Glasvegas - Glasvegas
Speech Debelle - Speech Therapy
Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires
The Horrors - Primary Colours
Lisa Hannigan - Sea Sew
The Invisible - The Invisible
Led Bib - Sensible Shoes
Sweet Billy Pilgrim - Twice Born Men

Of those listed above, Bat For Lashes, Friedly Fires, La Roux, and The Horrors have NYC-area shows coming up (do any of the others?).

Last year's prize, amid a strong field of contenders, was won by Elbow for their album The Seldom Seen Kid. That band's performance and award acceptance from the 2008 ceremony, below...

Continue reading "Mercury Prize 2009 shortlist announced "

Olof Arnalds @ MHOW (more by Chris La Putt)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Nicole Atkins @ JFK Airport
* Ethan Iverson & Tim Berne @ The Stone
* Colin Stetson w/ snailhouse @ Sycamore
* The Slip, Phantogram @ Bowery Ballroom
* The Feelies (acoustic) @ Whitney Museum
* Aerosmith, ZZ Top @ Jones Beach Theater
* Cinema 16 w/ Lazaro Valiente @ Starr Space
* The Paper Chase, Bronze Episode @ Maxwell's
* No Doubt, Paramore, Janelle Monae @ PNC Center
* Open w/ Q-Tip, Rich Medina @ Santos Party House
* Chester French & Kid Cudi @ South Street Seaport
* Rooftop Films w/ The Antlers @ Open Road Rooftop
* Roadside Graves, The Loom, Gunfight, Blair @ Pianos
* Fountains of Wayne (acoustic), Mike Viola @ Maxwell's
* Growing, Psychic Paramount, Dave Poh @ Death By Audio
* Blonde Redhead, Olof Arnalds @ Prospect Park Bandshell
* Lubricated Goat, Shining Path, Love Struck @ Don Pedro
* Band Of Skulls, The Legends @ The Studio at Webster Hall
* Balmorhea, Tiny Vipers, Koen Holtkamp @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* Blowoff w/ DJs Bob Mould, Richard Morel @ Highline Ballroom
* Finger on the Pulse w/ Grum, Hostage, House of Ladosha @ Studio B
* Appomattox, Gold and Gunmetal, Javelins, Me You Us Them @ Southpaw
* Sneaker Pimps NYC w/ The Cool Kids, The Clipse, Jadakiss, Big Boi @ Terminal 5
* Kurt Vile & The Violators, Girls, Real Estate, Beach Fossils @ Monster Island Basement
* NinjaSonik, Jasmine Solano, Murdertronics, Shinobi Ninja, The Beatards, Crosby, Spills @ Europa
* Anamanaguchi, pow wow!, Vampire Weekend (DJ), Voxtrot (DJ), Dave P (DJ), JDH (DJ) @ Bowery Electric
* Plastic Crimewave Vision Celestial Guitarkestra, Puffy Areolas, Prince Rupert's Drops, Samara Lubelski @ Cake Shop

Ethan Iverson, pianist for the Bad Plus, collaborates with saxist Tim Berne at The Stone tonight. Also on sax -- Colin Stetson plays with snailhouse at Sycamore.

The Whitney's Dan Graham retrospective kicks off with an acoustic set by The Feelies. The music there continues throughout the summer.

Blonde Redhead & Olof Arnalds play a free Celebrate Brooklyn show at the Prospect Park Bandshell. Tomorrow catch Dr. Dog, Phosphorescent and These United States play in the same space.

NJ's Roadside Graves celebrate the release of their third CD tonight at Pianos with The Loom, Gunfight and Blair.

Bat for Lashes was on Kimmel the other night. Video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

Bat For Lashes @ MHOW in May (absolutelyaudrey)

Anyone with prior reservations about Bat For Lashes' ability to command a stage the size of Primavera's Estrella Damm are fools. That much is clear from opener 'Glass'' first chiming chorus; not only is her delivery spot on but she looks like she's well and truly at home up there, stalking the stage and delivering her ethereal set with the sort of gusto a first album Natasha Khan might have baulked at. She's grown as a performer and a songwriter since then, that much is clear, and whether the slightly more electronic direction of second album Two Suns is one that strikes a chord with you or not, the pop brilliance of a song like 'Daniel' is practically irrefutable. And, let's face it, a set filled with 'Sarah's and 'Prescilla's probably isn't quite what a beer-filled festival crowd is looking for. A canny move, then, and one that our ears are left thankful for this evening. And is that Charlotte Hatherley up there with her? Why, yes. Bonus. [Drowned in Sound]

Continue reading "Bat For Lashes - 2009 Tour Dates (Webster Hall) "

Kylesa @ Irving Plaza last night (more by Chris La Putt)

tonight in NYC
* Karl Blau, Nels Cline @ The Stone
* Cap Lori, Pwrfl Power, Br'er @ Bruar Falls
* Dave Hill is hosting the comedy @ Union Hall
* Big Business, Tweak Bird, Titan @ Mercury Lounge
* Mastodon, Kylesa, Intronaut @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Corn Mo, Bushranger (the Kin) @ Rockwood Music Hall
* Frodus, Nakatomi Plaza, Limbs, Himalaya @ Death By Audio
* Emily Easterly, Mary Page, Sasha Dobson @ Pete's Candy Store
* Sonic Suicide Squad, Peter Brotzmann, Radio I-Ching @ Cake Shop
* Times New Viking, Blues Control, Blank Dogs, Pink Reason @ Market Hotel
* Chairlift, Takka Takka, Angel Deradoorian, Secret Life of Sofia, The Gay Blades @ The Bell House

eMusic talked to Indie Rock moms...

"Wow, it's hard to pick just one song. Some of my favorites are "90 Mile Water Wall" and "Thirsty" (Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers), "Daughters of the Soho Riots" (Alligator),"Son" (The National), "About Today" (Cherry Tree) and "Squalor Victoria" and "Gospel" (Boxer). I love the unique sound each song has, and how the band pounds it out on one and soothes your soul with another. I love the passion that each member of the band has about their music and the friends they have made on this amazing journey. I am so proud of both of my sons. Thanks guys! Keep on drummin' and strummin.'" [Shari Devendorf, Mother of Scott and Bryan Devendorf (The National)]

Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg premiered "Motherlover" on SNL last night. Video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday? (Mother's Day)"

photos by Faith-Ann Young

NY MAG: You've been living partly in New York recently -- what do you think about the music scene here?

Natasha Khan: In Brooklyn and Williamsburg, which is where I was living, there has been quite an interesting scene happening that was kind of bubbling away when I was there. There were these new bands like Gang Gang Dance and TV on the Radio and MGMT and Yeasayer. So I saw a lot of interesting gigs, and had a really nice exchange and conversations with musicians and got inspired.

Continue reading "Bat For Lashes played Bowery Ballroom (pics) & Letterman (video) -- tonight it's Music Hall of Williamsburg"

Ralph Macchio (on Natasha Khan's back)

Bat For Lashes' three-night Manhttan/Philly/Brooklyn run starts tonight (4/30) at Bowery Ballroom, continues tomorrow with an appearance on David Letterman and a live show in Philly, and is over after a May 2nd show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.

This summer we'll see Natasha Khan and band back in the United States for an appearance at Lollapalooza. If more US dates are scheduled around that trip, we don't know them yet, but the dates we do know, and the Karate Kid video for the possibly-Karate Kid-inspired "Daniel"-song, below...

Continue reading "Bat For Lashes is here, playing Letterman & other places - updated 2009 Tour Dates & the Daniel video"

"Though promoters around the country report strong early ticket sales for festivals and summer tours, the recession is causing jitters. This year Coachella, which has the most glamorous reputation of all American festivals, began selling tickets on layaway, and 18 percent of its customers took that option, Mr. Tollett said.

The proliferation of big festivals, like Bonnaroo near Nashville and Lollapalooza in Chicago, has not been without casualties. This year Langerado in Miami shut down, citing the economy. The Pemberton Festival in British Columbia is on hiatus after only one year, although its promoter, Live Nation, said the problem was permit delays." [NY Times]

Continue reading "Lollapalooza 2009 - the official & complete lineup"

Brighton, England's Bat For Lashes is set to release her highly-anticipated sophomore album, Two Suns, on April 6th, 2009. Two Suns is the follow-up to Natasha Khan's critically-acclaimed debut, Fur and Gold...

...Co-produced by Natasha and Dave Kosten, with whom she worked on Fur and Gold, Two Suns further enhances this idea of dualities in its music, mixing autoharps with intense electronics, complex drum rhythms with lush keyboards and strings. The album features guest turns from the legendary Scott Walker (on album closer "The Big Sleep"), Brooklyn psychrockers Yeasayer, and her own band The Blue Dreams (who toured with her this summer) on several tracks, but Khan herself worked the majority of the musical magic, playing pianos, synths, guitar, bass, drums, beat programming and more. And then, of course, there's Natasha's illuminating voice as the core of every song, sounding bolder, fuller and more impressive than ever before.

Continue reading "BAT FOR LASHES - 2009 Tour Dates (Bowery/MHOW), new album 'Two Suns' starring Scott Walker & Yeasayer"

School of Seven Bells @ Mercury Lounge (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

The 'Oscillations' show at Le Poisson Rouge on January 16th looks pretty hot. School of Seven Bells (Ghostly, dude from Secret Machines), Free Blood (DFA/Rong Music, dude from !!!), and Juan Maclean (DFA, Special live acid set, dude from Six Finger Satellite) are all playing live. Justin Miller is DJing between sets. $10 tickets are on sale.

Fujiya and Miyagi are playing Le Poisson Rouge February 17th, but so far not with School of Seven Bells, even though the two bands are going on tour together. SOSB also have some European shows lined up with Bat For Lashes All dates below...

Continue reading "School of Seven Bells - 2009 Tour Dates (LPR w/ Free Blood & Juan Maclean), Fujiya, Miyagi & Bat For Lashes "

DOWNLOAD: Moon & Moon - Act II : Hands of a Man (MP3)

Back in 2006 it seemed that Devendra Banhart was involved in a new project called Moon and Moon. That is still true, but Devendra is not really the focus anymore - just one of the many guest participants...in a new rock opera...

Reflections of timeless struggle, self-fulfilling prophecy, and age-old triumph, with flashes of modern affectation. A fluid and evolving seven-act performance; an epic tale of angst, hunger, tragedy, failure, and ultimately, hope. The dramatic opening of this musical / avant-theatre piece begins with the young voice of our seven year old narrator. She describes in 2 short lines what we are about to witness: seven perspectives of one king's war with himself. Moon & Moon provides the framework of a journey through an eternal human battle, borrowing from religious heritage and a colorful quilt of belief that draws upon the root myth of our collective humanity. Our story re-creates an archetypal battle that is not only historical fiction, but our own contemporary fact which exemplifies our self-destructive nature. Through the journey of witnessing a different character's perspective in each act, our king comes to the realisation that he is not only the walls which he has built, but the walls that have been destroyed by his own hand and command.

Contributions by members of An Albatross, Lewis & Clarke, Barkus Born and Stephonik Youth with guest appearances by Devendra Banhart, Gibby Haynes, and Bat For Lashes.

Will Lemon, Steven Kurtz, Jay Hudak, Lou Rogai, Brother James Barbee, Ed Klinger, Louis Schwadron, Geoff Vick, Melanie Moser, Elizabeth Louise Tordis Gagnes, Paula Henderson, Eve Miller, Katie Porter, Matthew Boynton, Ivan Berko, Olivia Galarza, Stephonik Youth, Gibby Haynes, Devendra Banhart, Natasha Khan, Julian Rogai, Tom Asselin, Lauren Tralala, Zumi Rosow, Jane Hirships

Continue reading "Moon and Moon - record release show Sunday, MP3 (Gibby Haynes, Devendra Banhart, Bat for Lashes & friends)"

Members of Bat For Lashes, Earl Greyhound, Blonde Redhead and others modeled for today's NY Times. None of the pictures come even close to the ones Paper just published of Joanna Newsom though.

Check out the video of Kazu (Blonde Redhead) performing with Paul Banks & Samuel Fogarino of Interpol, below...

Continue reading "Kazu Makino, Natasha Khan, Earl Greyhound & other models"

DOWNLOAD: Tegan & Sara - Back In Your Head (RAC mix) (MP3)

Tegan's 2007 list below....

Continue reading "a new TEGAN & SARA remix + Tegan’s 2007 Picks"

Tough call, but I think I'm going to have to vote for Escort to win this year's Plug "Music Video of the Year". Check out all twelve of the nominated videos below....

Continue reading "the 12 music VIDEOS of the year (according to Plug)"

DOWNLOAD: Klaxons - Magick (simian Mobile Disco Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Maps - Lost My Soul (MP3)

Klaxons dressed up @ MSG, NYC - Sept 24, 2007 (CRED)

2007 Mercury Prize winners the Klaxons opened for Bjork at Madison Square Garden the other day. What were they wearing? I don't even recognize them. Is this Lovefoxxx's influence? Tickets are on sale for their Webster Hall show (which Shitdisco is no longer playing).

Speaking of funny outfits, Bat For Lashes - sometimes compared to Bjork (and I'll admit that Natasha Khan does do a mean Bjork) didn't win the Mercury Prize. They did play Bowery Ballroom this week though.

New Young Pony Club (also nominated) are playing Studio B on Thursday October 18th for CMJ. It's the Modular Records party. Muscles & The Cool Kids are also playing live, and Simian Mobile Disco are DJing. I saw NYPC at the Oya Festival in Norway this summer, and I didn't like them nearly as much as I did when they last played Brooklyn.

I didn't love Fionn Regan (also nominated) when I saw him at Austin City Limits. I was also saying he must have fans here though - because he's headlining the Gramercy Theatre. I knew that statement would come back to haunt me. The show was moved to Mercury Lounge. Tickets are on sale.

Maps (also nominated) play NYC Friday and Saturday night.

Amy Winehouse (I won't say it again) is releasing a DVD, played with Prince, and is to blame for your drinking problem.

Bat For Lashes @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - Sept 25, 2007 (CRED)

I wasn't totally sold on Bat For Lashes before the Bowery show, and I basically feel the same way after seeing them (or "her" as many people refer to them). Natasha Khan is very talented....

NATASHA Khan, the 27-year-old Brit who is Bat for Lashes, has been compared to PJ Harvey, Siouxsie Sioux, Kate Bush and Bjork. Bjork herself has offered effusive praise for Khan; so have Thom Yorke and Devendra Banhart. [The Age]

She (they) played one cover. At the time I didn't realize it must have been her famous cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Im on Fire". (was it?)

Previously
* Bat For Lashes - more 2007 Tour Dates
* 2007 Mercury Prize nominees ++++++ BAT FOR LASHES
* Blitzen Trapper & Bat For Lashes

Drowned in Sound is reporting that Bat For Lashes are the third most likely to with this year's Mercury Prize, but My Chemical Toilet is convinced they've got it in the bag.

Tickets are on sale for a September 25th Bat For Lashes show at Bowery Ballroom in NYC. The UK band will then unfortunately not be back for CMJ. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Bat For Lashes - more 2007 Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: Bat for Lashes - Horse & I (MP3)

If they mean "Blitzen" the reindeer, then you could say that the UK's Bat for Lashes & Portland's Blitzen Trapper are both bands with animal names that start with "B", and like a bee, they both have lots of buzz, and that they both played high-profile, yet small venue shows in NYC this week. You could say that if you wanted.

Everyone suddenly has their eye on these two bands - like Thom Yorke and Sub Pop and the Mercury Prize nominating committee and Pitchfork for instance. And though I'm not really a fan of Blitzen Trapper's album, I am curious to know what people thought of their Mercury Lounge show, or any of their shows - like this one they recently played at Emo's in Austin:

And what about Bat For Lashes?

Bat for Lashes @ Knitting Factory, NYC - July 25, 2007 (CRED)

Dressed like an Athenian hipster, gold headband and all, Khan and her all-girl bandmates would even get noticed in Williamsburg. Of course, when she opens her mouth, that's when you really take notice. Possessed with a voice somewhere between Chan Marshall and Bjork, she's got the kind of pipes that demand attention. And her music, both the songwriting and instrumentation (weird accordion, autoharp, unconventional percussion), is just quirky enough to hold it, even when things veered towards Tori Amos / Lilith Fair territory -- which they did just about any time she was behind the piano, it drifted that way. [Sound Bites]

DOWNLOAD: Blitzen Trapper - Sci-Fi Kid (Principal Participant Kingswood Rmx) (MP3)

Bat for Lashes @ Latitude, UK - July 14, 2007 (CRED)

* M.I.A. is @ Studio B
* Devotchka plays Spiegeltent again
* Bat for Lashes is @ Knitting Factory
* Pelican continue their tour in Brooklyn
* Blitzen Trapper & David Vandervelde are @ Mercury Lounge

What else? I'm currently dying from sleep deprivation over here.

Amy Winehouse, Arctic Monkeys, Jamie T, Bat for Lashes, and Maps were among those nominated for this year's UK Mercury Prize. Amy Winehouse is playing Summerstage and touring. Arctic Monkeys are playing Summerstage and touring. Jamie T played a one-off show in Brooklyn last night, and Bat For Lashes and Maps both have upcoming tour dates that I've listed below along with all the nominees...

Continue reading "2007 Mercury Prize nominees ++++++ BAT FOR LASHES & MAPS Tour Dates"