On 4/1, while Daniel Martin Moore was playing Bowery Ballroom, his collaborator Ben Sollee was playing Cameo with Tracy Bonham, one day after playing a Japan Benefit at City Winery the night before with Marshall Crenshaw, Nicole Atkins and others. How was that show?

If you missed Sollee, luckily there are many more chances to catch him in the coming months. A recently-announced May & June tour includes three new NYC dates - a two night stay at Rockwood Music Hall on 5/12 (tickets) & 5/13 (tickets) with Sean Rowe, and a show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on 6/29 (tickets).

Ben Sollee's new LP, Inclusions (pictured above), is due on May 10th in various incarnations (CD, LP, CD+LP, Digital + LP, etc) via his Bandcamp. Head on over there for all lyrics from his upcoming LP too, as well as streams of his collaborative LP with Daniel Martin Moore.

All dates below...

Continue reading "Ben Sollee played shows, playing more (2011 tour dates)"

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

DOWNLOAD: Daniel Martin Moore - Dark Road (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daniel Martin Moore - In the Cool of the Day (MP3)

Jessica Lea Mayfield @ SXSW

Jessica Lea Mayfield's new Dan Auerbach-produced album, Tell Me, was released by Nonesuch Records on February 8, and since then she's tourned with Justin Townes Earle, and the Avett Brothers, and played a few shows in Austin for SXSW, one of which was an American Songwriter showcase which is where the pictures in this post come from. Another one of her sets from SXSW is for sale on iTunes, and another is streaming at KEXP. I wanted to book her on one of the many BrooklynVegan parties as well, but it ended up not working out.

She is currently back out on the road, but this time as a headliner, with Daniel Martin Moore. They play Glasslands on March 30th (AKA TONIGHT) (tickets are still available) and, after a stop in Philly, Bowery Ballroom on April 1st (tickets available too). All tour dates are listed below

Daniel Martin Moore recently dropped In The Cool Of The Day via Sub Pop in January. Two MP3s from that record are above, and the title track is also below.

Moore's companion on the recent, um, Dear Companion LP has been at work too. Ben Sollee has a new LP, Inclusions, due in May and was SUPPOSED to support Billy Bragg on his cancelled tour that was supposed to be at City Winery this week, but instead will play City Winery as part of a Japan benefit on March 31st with Rachael Yamagata, Tift Merritt, Marshall Crenshaw, Dar Williams, Lucy Wainwright Roche, Nicole Atkins, classic pianist Taka Kigawa, and the New York based big band Morning Musuko. Ben will also play with Tracy Bonham at Cameo in Brooklyn one day later.

All Jessica Lee Mayfield and Daniel Martin Moore, tour dates, some videos and more SXSW pictures, below...

Continue reading "Jessica Lea Mayfield played SXSW (pics), on tour w/ Daniel Martin Moore ++ Ben Sollee playing shows, a Japan Benefit"

Francesco Santocono: "'81"
A Voice Heard on Baer Mountain: "Autumn"
Sarah Katheryn: "Baby Birch"
Joel Cathey: "Book of Right-On"
Guy Buttery: "Book of Right-On" (instrumental)
Josh Mann: "Bridges & Balloons"
Chris Leeds: "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie"
Ian Cooke: "Colleen"
This Is Deer Country: "Easy"
Doublewuzzy: "Flying a Kite"
Rosa Hinksman: "In California"
White Elephant Gift Exchange: "Inflammatory Writ"
Ian Cooke: "Monkey & Bear"
Billy Bragg: "On a Good Day"
Kristina Forrer: "On a Good Day"
Owen Pallett: "Peach, Plum, Pear"
M. Ward: "Sadie"
Ben Sollee: "Sawdust & Diamonds"
David Miele: "Soft as Chalk"
The Moscow Coup Attempt: "Sprout and the Bean"
Melissa Stylianou: "Swansea"
Jennifer Schmitt: "This Side of the Blue"

That's the tracklist and cover of Joanna Newsom tribute album Versions of Joanna, due out digitally in December, with proceeds going to Oxfam according to Pitchfork. M. Ward's version of "Sadie" is on there. There are also covers by familiar names like Owen Pallett, Ben Sollee, Billy Bragg and Francesco Santocono. Just kidding, I never heard of Francesco Santocono, but now I have! You can check him out covering "81" in a video below. Actually, did they just scour Youtube to find tracks to put on this comp? I think so. Josh Mann, Sarah Katheryn, and an especially good one by Joel Cathey are down there too (and those are just the only four I googled).

Joanna Newsom plays Carnegie Hall tonight! She is not however appearing on the The Simpsons...

"[On October 19th], a rumor of Joanna Newsom appearing on an upcoming episode of The Simpsons quickly circulated on the Interweb. This appears to have originated in an article from Malibu Magazine that was unfortunately incorrect and misunderstood. (Malibu Magazine has now corrected it online.) Joanna Newsom has released a statement regarding this rumor:

"Regrettably, the awesome rumor of my upcoming cameo on The Simpsons is unfounded. I remain, however, steadfast as always in my commitment to the character of Lisa, whom I have of course had the privilege of voicing for the last twenty-one years, in my dreams. Thanks for the memories, gang!" [press release]

Speaking of Owen Pallett, tickets are on sale for his March 9th show at Markin Concert Hall. Those Joanna covers below...

Continue reading "a Joanna Newsom tribute comp, Carnegie Hall tonight "

DOWNLOAD: Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore - Something, Somewhere, Sometime (MP3)

Jim James w/ Monsters of Folk in L.A. 2009 (more by Graeme Flegenheimer)

Yim Yames [Jim James], singer-songwriter Daniel Martin Moore and genre-bending cellist and vocalist Ben Sollee will embark on a nine date Appalachian Voices tour in an effort to raise public awareness of the devastating practice of Mountaintop Removal coal mining throughout Appalachia. A portion of the proceeds from the tour will benefit Appalachian Voices, for which the tour was named, an organization devoted to ending mountaintop removal coal mining together with diverse environmental problems impacting the central and southern Appalachian Mountains. [YimYames.com]

Tickets for the whole tour go on sale starting Friday, May 21st. That includes the NYC show, which happens on Friday, July 30th at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

The tour also includes a stop at Woodstock, NY's Bearsville Theater on July 29th and the Newport Folk Festival on July 31st and August 1st. Preservation Hall Jazz Band will be at the Brooklyn show as well as the Newport Folk Fest. Jim may play with Preservation Hall, and with Ben and Daniel and even perfrom a solo set of his own.

Earlier this year, Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore released a collaborative LP, Dear Companion, which was produced by Jim James. A track from that is above.

"Yim" will also be part of the Blind Boys of Alabama-curated Lincoln Center shows July 12-16.

More info and full dates for the tour date are below...

Continue reading "Jim James, Daniel Martin Moore & Ben Sollee are going on an Appalachian Voices tour (dates) "

Newport Folk Festival 2009 (more by Jim Brueckner)

Newport Folk Festival will be happening again at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island, on July 31st and August 1st. The fest will also host a Friday night show on July 30th at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at Newport Casino.

The lineup so far includes Levon Helm's Ramble on the Road, John Prine, Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers, Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket, The Swell Season, Andrew Bird, The Avett Brothers, Brandi Carlile, Doc Watson & David Holt, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Calexico, Blitzen Trapper, Richie Havens, Sam Bush, The Low Anthem, Tim O'Brien, The Felice Brothers, Justin Townes Earle, Tao Seeger Band, A.A. Bondy, The Punch Brothers with Chris Thile, Dawes, Nneka, Horse Feathers, Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three, Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore, Sarah Jarosz, Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons, O'Death and Liz Longley.

Tickets are on sale.

Here are pictures from DAY ONE and DAY TWO of last year's fest. Videos from last year and the list of the artists playing this year, by day, is below...

Continue reading "Newport Folk Fest 2010 - initial lineup, dates & tickets "

DOWNLOAD: Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore - Something, Somewhere, Sometime (MP3)

Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore are on tour in support of their Jim James produced record, Dear Companion, which came out in February on Sub Pop. Check out a song from it above.

The trip comes through New York for two nights at Joe's Pub on Friday, March 5th and Saturday, March 6th. Tickets are on sale.

The guys did a series of in-stores to celebrate the CD around its release. Videos from those and all tour dates (which include SXSW) are below...

Continue reading "Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore - 2010 Tour Dates (2 shows @ Joe's Pub this weekend, SXSW & more)"

DOWNLOAD: Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore - Something, Somewhere, Sometime (MP3)

Dear Companion [out February 16th, 2010 on Sub Pop] is a collaboration between three Kentucky musicians: the songs are written and performed by Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore, produced by and featuring Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket and Monsters of Folk. Recorded in the first half of 2009 in their home state, Dear Companion explores their ties to the place they love and aims to draw attention to the problem of mountaintop removal coal mining and its impact on the people and heritage of central Appalachia.

A portion of the proceeds from Dear Companion will benefit Appalachian Voices, an organization devoted to ending mountaintop removal and finding a better way forward

That's three true talents all bundled together for one potentially kick ass album. The first track, "Something, Somewhere, Sometime", is available for free download above. Think M Ward & Andrew Bird form a bluegrass band. Tracklist below...

Continue reading "Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore (and Yim Yames) team up for new Sub Pop album (MP3)"

FREE INDOOR SHOW IN BROOKLYN TONIGHT: Ben Sollee, Holly Miranda & Julianna Barwick play @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (7/31).

Lily Allen @ Bowery Ballroom last night (more by Bao Nguyen)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Questlove @ 92YTribeca
* Roman Candle @ Union Hall
* Brett Dennen @ Webster Hall
* Lissy Trullie @ Mercury Lounge
* Reggie Watts @ the Studio @ WH
* Dave Hill's Madea Goes to Jail!! @ UCB
* Rokia Traoré @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Thank You, Mi Ami & Miracles @ Cake Shop
* Goblin Cock, Orphan & Warship @ Highline Ballroom
* the BQE Project playing to silent film @ the Winter Garden
* John Wesley Harding's Cabinet of Wonders @ Le Poisson Rouge
* The Submarines, The Morning Benders & Dawn Landes @ The Bell House
* Abigail Washburn with Casey Driessen and Ben Sollee @ Joe's Pub
* Robbers on High St, La Strada & The Silent League @ Union Pool

"The daughter of a diplomat, Malian singer Rokia Traore grew up assimilating European and African cultures, and in her 10-year career, she's developed a sound that uses elements of Malian tradition in her own way. Traore's fourth album, Tchamantche, is just out, and it's her best and most daring work." Rokia plays the early show at LPR tonight. John Wesley Harding, Eugene Mirman and friends are the late show.

Dufus and Diane Cluck are playing Union Pool tomorrow.

Cinematic Orchestra play a free show tomorrow.

Ben Sollee will be back in April to play Le Poisson Rouge.

Demetri Martin's TV show is on tonight.

Joly posted some new live No Age videos. Watch them below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

Kentucky's Ben Sollee new EP entitled Something Worth Keeping was released on election day. One of the two songs on the short EP, "Only a Song", features backing vocals by My Morning Jacket's Jim James. You can hear that, and Ben's Obama remix of "A Few Honest Words" (featuring Obama on backing vocals) at Ben's Myspace. You can pick up the EP and see Ben live at one of the shows on his current tour. That includes The Bell House in Brooklyn tonight (Nov 11) with Jim White and the Mercury Lounge in Manhattan on Wednesday (tickets). All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Ben Sollee - 2008 Tour Dates, duets w/ Jim James & Obama"

DOWNLOAD: Ben Sollee - Dear Kanye (MP3) (lyrics)

Ben Kweller announced a bunch of tour dates including October 17th at Bowery Ballroom in NYC. Tickets for that show go on sale at noon. Ben Sollee penned a song about Kanye West (MP3 above). Ben Folds announced a new album...

Epic Records is proud to announce the release of the much-anticipated new album from Ben Folds, WAY TO NORMAL, on September 30, 2008. The album, Folds' third as a solo artist since the break up of the Ben Folds Five in 2000, was mostly recorded at his studio in Nashville and produced by Dennis Herring (Elvis Costello, Modest Mouse, The Hives). Featuring Folds on vocals and piano, Way to Normal also features long-time bassist Jared Reynolds and drummer Sam Smith as well as a guest vocal from indie pop heroine Regina Spektor on the album's first single, "You Don't Know Me."

Regina Spektor has a show coming up in Brooklyn. Kanye West has a couple future NYC shows himself. Ben Lee is playing Joe's Pub on August 27th. All Ben tour dates below...

Continue reading "Ben Kweller tour dates, Ben Folds new album - Regina Spektor, Ben Lee ++ Kanye West dissed by Ben Sollee"