Extra Life at Webster Hall in 2010 (more by Sarahana)

Experimental Brooklyn trio Extra Life have decided to call it quits after four years of releasing music. They last released Dream Seeds in 2012, their first (and only) record for Northern Spy. But before the band is gone for good, they'll be playing a farewell show in Brooklyn on Sautrday (1/19) at 285 Kent with Tyondai Braxton & Ben Vida, Oneirogen, Sam Mickens, and a DJ set by NMCM (Krallice). For the show, Extra Life will "be joined onstage by former Extra Life members for a few classic EL songs which [they] haven't played in years." Admission is $12 at the door.

Extra Life have also written a farewell letter, and in it they promise new projects from all three members. Nick Podgurski is working with his band Feast of the Epiphany and they just released a 7" this week which you can stream below. Caley Monahon-Ward is working with his band We Can't Enjoy Ourselves who released the album, Make A Mess of Sacred Ground, in December, which you can stream below. They also have a few upcoming NYC shows on February 8 at Knitting Factory with Holopaw and Love As Laughter (tickets), and Union Hall on March 13 with The Better Letters and The Eggs (tickets). And finally, Charlie Looker is working with his band Seaven Teares, who will release their debut album, Power Ballads, on March 19 via Northern Spy. You can stream a track from that album, "Meet Me," below.

Those song streams and Extra Life's full farewell letter below...

Continue reading "Extra Life Disbands, Announces Final Show"

Tyondai Braxton at ATP NYC 2012 (more by David Andrako)

Ex-Battles frontman Tyondai Braxton will present his new multimedia project, HIVE, in NYC at the Guggenheim Museum on March 21 as part of the museum's Works & Process series. The project is being co-presented by Wordless Music and will feature musicians Ben Vida, Yuri Yamashita, Jared Soldiviero, and John Ostrowski, and architect/carpenter Uffe Surland Van Tams. Tickets for that show are on sale now. Flyer below.

Tyondai has other upcoming appearances and events in NYC including premiering his new work, Trems, which is being performed by Bang On A Can at Merkin Concert Hall on March 14 for an event that also features music by Dan Deacon, Anna Clyne, Paula Matthusen, Johann Johannsson, and Fay Kueen Wang.

Then, he'll debut his piece, "Fly by Wire" with the ensemble Alarm Will Sound at Carnegie Hall on April 6. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Tyondai and Ben Vida (who also performs at the HIVE show) are teaming up as a duo to perform as an opening act at Extra Life's last show ever which happens on January 19 at 285 Kent with Sam Mickens (who plays Mercury Lounge with Callers tonight [1/7]), Oneirogen, and a DJ set by NMCM (Krallice). Admission is $12 at the door. You can read Extra Life's goodbye message at their website.

And, as mentioned, Tyondai will DJ at Dan Friel's record release show for Total Folklore on February 19 at Knitting Factory with Guardian Alien and Yvette. Tickets for that show are still available.

All dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Tyondai Braxton has new musical projects, playing live (dates)"

by Klaus Kinski

Last Sigh: Why call yourselfs Gaitor Bait Ten?

Mark: Simon liked the name because it is the name of a notorious snuff film in which some 10 year old girls get thrown into a pit of gators. I suggested the Rose Peddlers, but it got vetoed.

Simon: We were trying to come up with some kind of name for the project and originally it was going to be 'Kicked to Death by Bees'. But I was looking through a book about Death and Snuff films and saw one in their called 'Gator Bait Ten' and instantly fell in love with it.

Gator Bait Ten is a project that started back in 1999. After only one album and a single track on a compilation record, they sort of vanished. Flash forward to now, 10 years later, and Gator Bait Ten are back and will be in the States for a single show on January 19th at 8:00pm sharp at the soon-to-be-shuttered Monkey Town (one night after the Woods hippie night which is now completely sold out). Also on the bill are The Slowest Runner In All The World and Koen Holtkamp & Ben Vida. Tickets are on sale.

The current Gator Bait Ten line-up consists of Kurt Gluck (Submerged, Method of Defiance, Blood of Heroes) on bass, Simon Smerdon (Mothboy) on organs and whatnots, Ted Parsons (Swans, Prong, Godflesh, Jesu) on drums, and M. Gregor Filip (sound engineer who has worked on over 50 films by folks including Ang Lee and The Coen Brothers) on Guitar and Sounds. HOWEVER, Simon and Ted will not be able to make it to this one and only US date. Mark will be punishing his laptop and pedals set-up, and Kurt will be on bass. Ted Parsons' drums sounds will be present; but not Ted himself. Thus, the show will be restructured ideas from the forthcoming album, most likely never to be executed live again. Expect heavy plodding beats, with heavier basslines, and crescendoing drones and drifts cascading into your ears.

In related news, Mark and Kurt are all part of a large project called Blood of Heroes. The project also features the likes of Justin Broadrick, Bill Laswell, Dr. Israel, end.user, and tons of other guests. Kinda like Method of Defiance. But, not Method of Defiance. They've been toiling away on an album for a while now, and it looks like the mastering has wrapped up and us lucky SOBs can look forward to an official release sometime later this Spring.

Continue reading "Gator Bait Ten (mem Godflesh) still exist, working on an album, playing rare show @ the closing Monkeytown (sort of)"