Beth Ditto @ Coachella 2010 (more by Rachel Carr)

It feels like we haven't heard about the Gossip in a little while. Their tour page shows they'll be playing some shows in Australia before the end of the year, but NYC will have the opportunity to experience the one and only Beth Ditto much sooner. Like James Murphy and and Bethany Cosentino, Beth is appearing in NYC this Thursday (9/8) in honor of Fashion's Night Out. Beth's TWO SONG SET will happen at Mac Cosmetics, and online. According to their Facebook...

"Get ready for the wildest night of the year... this Thursday is Fashion's Night Out! Gossip glamour girl Beth Ditto will be performing an exclusive two-song set at M·A·C Soho to celebrate Fashion's Night Out. Not in NYC? No problem! You can watch the event live on our Facebook page, beginning Thursday 9/8 at 8pm. See you there!

photos by Rachel Carr, words by Daiana Feuer

"Wow. The Sahara is past capacity at Coachella for Die Antwoord. No midget. Waiting for the trainwreck but people dig it." - The Scenestar

"Seeing a shirtless Danny DeVito run across the stage while Faith No More played pretty much made my #coachella weekend." - stovn

Die Antwoord, Faith No More

Flopping phalluses are in this year according to Major Lazer and Die Antwoord. Each presented the intersection of beats, party-hyping, gross humor, and dancing in your underwear. Day 2 of the Coachella Music & Arts Festival had an overall far-out theme. Some with sexually explicit lunacy, others with psychedelic music. South Africa's Die Antwoord introduced zef-rap to the festival, South Africa's version of white trash hip hop-a bold, fearless expression of crazy stick a finger up your bum entertainment.

Before arriving at these culminating moments, the day progressed through a series of psychedelic and/or raunchy expressions. John Waters kicked things off with thoughts on crawling through pig poo, taking poppers, the pleasures of sploshing, and strange things he wants to do before he dies. Gossip's Beth Ditto hoped he was watching her blazing disco soul performance but was afraid to look backstage and see him smiling and waving at her. Gossip put on a set that inspired revelations on reality in the most self-empowering ways.

John Waters & Beth Ditto @ Coachella (this pics via Jermey Scott)

The day's best covers include Faith No More doing "Reunited" (they also covered Michael Jackson's "Ben"), Portugal, The Man's jamming Bowie's "Moonlight Daydream," and Girls' flawless "All I Have To Do Is Dream" by the Everly Brothers. The last was a most appropriate choice for the band with an Ariel Pink sensibility towards '50s ballads. MGMT brought the futuristic 1960s with songs from its new album. Many pointed out that the band didn't play "Kids", but that seems to miss the point that MGMT put on a pretty sophisticated, experimental live performance of the band's signature Indian headdress on Phil Spector Fraggle Rock sound.

The Raveonettes played as a duo and sans drum machine, adorably sharing a mic sometimes. The rest of the band remains trapped under lava in Iceland, figuratively speaking. Camera Obscura also shouted out bands stuck in the UK, dedicating "Let's Get Out Of This Country" to those who could not make it.

It seems almost every DJ this weekend has sampled Major Lazer's "Pon De Floor" except Flying Lotus, who took the stage all on his own (no Thom Yorke cameo included). After warming up the crowd with some first grade experimental hip hop, FlyLo brought out the big guns, sounds combined in layers and pitches that act like quaaludes on the light speed continuum. The Dirty Projectors girls evoked cool electronic birds and the Dezurik Sisters with their harmonizing powers. Beach House cooed the audience romantically as 50% of the band, Alex Scally, rubbed his slide up and down the frets.

Did that sound sexy? It's time to talk about sexy. The xx provided the mellow arousal Blonde Redhead and Portishead have given Coachella the last two years. People like The xx because they want sex that fits this soundtrack. They also want sex as excitingly goofy gross as Die Antwoord and to fall in love with a gal like Sia, all at the same time. Sia's beautiful voice closed the night in the Gobi tent, and though her accent rendered her side comments completely incomprehensible, everyone laughed and agreed with anything she said. On the other hand, as great and sexy as the Dead Weather sounded, I don't know if I want to bed someone who demands I treat her like my mother. Old Crow Medicine Show suggested letting a woman rule your mind leads to troubles during "Minglewood Blues." Instead, let her win your heart with country-fried dinner.

Faith No More's twelve-song set included a cameo by a semi-streaker who happened to be Coachella regular Danny Devito. You can see that happen in one of the videos below. Faith No More's whole setlist is down there too.

Porcupine Tree, Tokyo Police Club, Hot Chip, The Almighty Defenders, Les Claypool, Devo, and Muse were also on the bill Saturday. Our review, pictures and videos from Friday are HERE. Saturday continues below...

Continue reading "Coachella 2010 - Day Two in pics, video & review (Die Antwoord shots & Faith No More's setlist included)"

photos by Eric Townsend

"Beth Ditto started singing from somewhere in the ether, and when she finally set foot on stage, the crowd went berserk...but quickly reigned themselves in so as not to miss a single second of Bethtastic vocal goodness. The band's universally loved frontwoman sported a new shorter 'do in Kool-Aid red or Sunkist orange (depending on the lighting), She wore form-fitting black, knee-length dress covered in silvery glitter sparkles that shimmered as she shimmied around the stage to the beat, giving the impression that Beth Ditto is not the centre of the universe, but the universe itself...and we mere mortals are all just playing at her game." [I Was at the Show]

Continue reading "Gossip @ Terminal 5 in NYC - pics & video "

Simian Mobile Disco @ the Williamsburg Waterfront (more by Bao Nguyen)

"Simian Mobile Disco has been tearing up the dance floor ever since they released their critically-acclaimed, debut record, Attack Decay Sustain Release. Hailed as "the saviours of dance music" (FADER) the duo returns to America this fall to play select shows across the country, continuing to invigorate audiences with new music from their soon to be released sophomore LP, Temporary Pleasure out on Wichita on September 15th.

Temporary Pleasure is a spellbinding mix of high octane beats and melodies, capped off by incredible vocal performances from the likes of The Gossip's Beth Ditto, Hot Chip's Alexis Taylor, Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys, Yeasayer's Chris Keating, Jamie Lidell and more.

In addition to being sold via all digital service providers, a special deluxe package of Temporary Pleasure will be available at American Apparel retail locations only. This package includes an exclusive t-shirt designed by acclaimed British artist Kate Moross along with the bonus tracks, "Belvedere" and "Flea In Your Ear" (Flange Bliss Mix)." [PR]

Speaking of the Pool Party, Simian Mobile Disco DJ'd that show at the Williamsburg Waterfront on August 9th. Their fall tour will have them playing live. Those dates include an October 30th show at Webster Hall (one day before Halloween which is when the Junior Boys play The Bell House).

Jamie Lidell (a guest on the new SMD album) has a show coming up at LPR. Super Furry Animals (Gruff is another guest) have three area shows coming up in September, one of which is at ATP NY.

All SMD dates are with JDH & Dave P. All dates below...

Continue reading "Simian Mobile Disco - guest-full new album & 2009 tour dates"

photos by Bao Nguyen

DOWNLOAD: Simian Mobile Disco - Cruel Intentions (feat. Beth Ditto) (MP3)

"On what was expected to be a rainy Sunday, it turned out to be a hazy day at the Brooklyn Pool Party where Fiery Furnaces performed and Simian Mobile Disco spun some music.

If you haven't already heard this new track from SMD's upcoming album Temporary Pleasure, then have a listen." [Persona Sauna]

Continue reading "Simian Mobile Disco, Fiery Furnaces & Dark Meat @ the Williamsburg Waterfront Pool Party in NYC - pics "

It feels like a while since we've heard from the Gossip. The Beth Ditto-led band are releasing their fourth studio album, Music For Men, on June 22, 2009 in the U.K. and digitally on June 23, 2009 in the U.S. via Columbia Records (in stores here October 6). You can stream the whole Rick Rubin-produced LP, right now, at AOL.

[Gossip guitarist] Brace admits that the band's experience cutting Music For Men at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu marked "the first time we ever had access to a studio like that. I can see if you let a musician loose in this big studio to just ride all this stuff, I can see why somebody would just come up with this huge thing. Having restraint was so important. I hate the over-production sound."

"We wrote a lot of this album in the studio," Brace continues, again referring to Shangri-La. "The Band built it in 1976 and Bob Dylan's old tour bus was in the back. It was empty so I turned it into my own little studio with my computer with GarageBand and my guitars and stuff. I loaded up all my gear into Bob Dylan's 70s tour bus and that's where I wrote. Beth would come in and I would play her demos. All the vocal lines are hers, the lyrics are hers. I do the sounds and she sings over it. She'd come in the Bob Dylan bus and we did a lot of demoing on our own during the day because it was more comfortable. She'd come in and sing into GarageBand. I'd write some things to her vocals. 'Dimestore Diamond' was actually her humming the song and I started playing bass to it."

The rest of the North American dates haven't been announed yet. European dates, new album tracklist, and their new video for "Heavy Cross", below...

Continue reading "Gossip - new album (stream), video, tour dates (Terminal 5) "

today in NYC
* Kevin Seconds @ Europa
* LL Cool J @ Nokia Theatre
* Patton Oswalt @ Caroline's
* Leonard Cohen @ Beacon Theater
* Demetri Martin @ Bowery Ballroom
* Antony & the Johnsons @ Town Hall
* White Rabbits & Bell @ Mercury Lounge
* M Ward & Vivian Girls @ Apollo Theater
* Cynic, Meshugga & The Faceless @ Irving Plaza
* Screaming Females, Fiasco & Sisters @ Don Pedro
* Jemina Pearl and Bad Attitude & Pony Pants @ Glasslands
* The Depreciation Guild, Mirror Mirror & The Narrative @ Public Asembly
* Cinemasophia, Bugs in the Dark, The Heavenly Tenants & Radical Dads @ Cake Shop
* Soundscapes, Martin Bisi (with Bill Laswell), Susu & Gigantic Hand @ Death By Audio

Beth Ditto was born today in 1981.

What else?

photos by Bao Nguyen

DOWNLOAD: Gossip - Standing In The Way Of Control (MP3)

As a friend said right after the show, "I'm not sure how anyone can hate on that band". Gossip rocks and Beth Ditto is confident and knows how to entertain, not to mention spread love (except towards John McCain, Rolling Stone, Alanis Morissette, jocks and Pitchfork). Webster Hall was packed tight and it was great when most of the crowd was dancing and going crazy together. That happened during 'Standing in the Way of Control' at the end of the set and then again in the encore. Beth finished the show with a huge crowd-on-stage sing-along. She had the whole place chanting "We are important". Murray Hill helped make the show even more entertaining by MCing before the band came out, after they left the stage the first time, and after they left again (April 15, 2008). More pics below....

Continue reading "Gossip (and Murray Hill) @ Webster Hall, NYC - pics"

The Gossip (Beth Ditto included) (obviously) finally play another NYC - tonight at Webster Hall (April 15). The occasion is today's release of their new live CD/DVD combo entitled "Live in Liverpool". Listen to the whole thing at Spinner, and watch an exclusive video from the DVD below (a good reminder that the Gossip is NOT just all about what Beth Ditto is or isn't wearing) .....

Continue reading "Gossip - a new live CD/DVD (stream & video) & NYC tonight"

Goth Ditto

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton has vowed to stop reporting on artists signed to SonyBMG after the record label issued a lawsuit against the gossip website.

Writing on his website, Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, said that artists such as Justin Timberlake, Adele and The Gossip were now considered "dead to us".

"These are some of our favourite musicians," he said.

"It really, truly pains us not to talk about them. But, it is something we have to do!" [Gigwise]

Mika and not-Beth Ditto @ The Orpheum - Feb 15, 2008 (Consumable Audio)

Next another video from the Brits last night (with Beth).....

Continue reading "Beth Ditto & Mika VS Beth Ditto & Jarvis Cocker (videos)"

Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse

The Arctic Monkeys took best British group and album - both for the second year in a row - while Foo Fighters won best international group and album.

The ceremony saw performances from Amy Winehouse and Sir Paul McCartney, who received a lifetime achievement honour.

Kate Nash won best British female and Mark Ronson was named best British male.

Producer Ronson, who performed with Winehouse and Adele at the Earl's Court show, is the first non-singer to have scooped the solo artist prize....

...US star Kanye West, who was unable to attend the ceremony, was named winner of the best international male prize. "I'm sure there's someone who deserves this more than me, but I just don't know who they are," he said in his acceptance video....

...Rihanna followed with a performance of her number one single 'Umbrella', accompanied by Klaxons. [BBC]

Continue reading "2008 Brit Awards - results, pictures, Beth Ditto, etc"

Let's try this again.... Tickets are on sale for an April 15th Gossip show at Webster Hall. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "The Gossip - 2008 Tour Dates (Webster Hall)"

DOWNLOAD: The Decemberists - Perfect Crime (Junior Boys Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Page France - The Ruby Ring Man (live at the Crocodile Cafe) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Nirvana - talk to me (crocodile cafe 1992) (MP3)

"I think it's a blow to the scene," said David Meinert, a local promoter and publicist. "Part of the side effect of the mayor's downtown development plan, which seems to have no room for live music in it. The Croc is an institution. At the same time, things change, and keeping a venue open as long as the Croc has been, through all the changes the music scene has been through, is a very difficult job. I feel for any club owner trying to make it in Seattle."

Local musician Chris Martin, a guitarist in local rock band Kinski, called the Crocodile Café "the most exciting club to play in town." [The Seattle Times] (thx Renee)

According to the schedule that is still posted on the club's website "Bobby Bare Jr. and the Decemberists" were supposed to play there on January 26th - which, according to the Tractor Tavern where the show will now take place, is actually Bobby "with members" of the Decemberists. The Decemberists have played with Bobby before, and they're (all of them) scheduled to play Seattle twice just four days later - two of four West Coast shows they have scheduled. It will be the first time they play since cancelling a whole tour due to illness.

Also on the Croc schedule: Atlas Sound, Black Mountain, A Place to Bury Strangers, Tilly & The Wall, Beach House, and Born Ruffians. All Decemberists & Bobby Bare dates below...

Continue reading "Seattle's Crocodile Cafe closed, the Decemberists are back"

Gossip posted another new song to their MySpace ("8th Wonder Version") (kind of boring). Mystery Jets posted a new song too, but in a video (not boring at all)....

Continue reading "new Mystery Jets & Gossip songs, tour dates"

Gothamist interviewed Deborah Harry today....

How do you feel about CBGB being turned into an upscale boutique? [Laughs.] It’s just a building. It’s just a storefront, really, when you get right down to it.

Do you feel though that it’s indicative of broader changes in New York City? Yes, in some ways, but you know when you look at New York City it’s a fast moving, crowded place with layers upon layers of history, with these different buildings and venues that are always changing. You know, I go past the corner of St. Mark’s Place and Third Avenue and that used to be The Five Spot, which was an incredible, very famous jazz club. Max’s Kansas City is now a deli. I mean, this is not the first time I’ve seen this happen. It happens all the time in New York.

What’s your favorite place to hear live music in New York these days? There are a lot places I like, it just depends on who’s playing. I go to the Knitting Factory sometimes; that’s always a good place to go. It’s a comfortable, very intimate size and a fun place to go.

Gossip have new songs streaming at MySpace. Beth Ditto's other two recent appearances on this site were with New Young Pony Club and as part of this year's Out 100.

All tour dates (Gossip & Debbie), and a clip of Deborah Harry expressing love for her ex-tour-mates Gossip, below....

Continue reading "Deborah Harry, The Gossip, CBGB, Knitting Factory"

DOWNLOAD: Gossip - Jealous Girls (New Young Pony Club 12" Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: New Young Pony Club - Ice Cream (Popular Computer Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Muscles - Ice Cream (MP3)

a Gossip, Horrors & NYPC sandwich (CRED)

a CSS, Klaxons & NYPC sandwich (CRED)

NYPC @ Oya Festival, Norway - Aug 2007

NYPC @ Studio B, NYC - Oct 2007 (CMJ) (CRED)

For nearly everyone in the room, it was a total dance floor stormer. The place was going mental even without the near constant cheerleadering of singer Tahita Butler and the unexpected note-for-note cover of Technotronic's "Pump Up the Jam" sent the crowd over the edge. For me, the muddy sound (could not hear Spence's guitar at all, though it could've been my ears, damaged by Biffy Clyro's set at the Fader Sideshow earlier that day) and my waning energy level had something to do with it. There was also the pervasive, putrid smell of vomit -- provided, I'm guessing by the passed out girl by the railings -- that helped to sour the evening for me. But even a year later, "Ice Cream" was still pretty sweet. [Sound Bites]

Softlightes (another Modular artist) is playing with Justice and Peaches in Los Angeles on New Years Eve. Muscles will open for Daft Punk five times in Australia this December. New videos and tour dates by all these Modular artists, below.....

Continue reading "New Young Pony Club, Softlightes, Muscles, Modular, dance"

Beth Ditto in Pop Magazine - Aug 2007 (more)

New album won't be finished in time, too tired, and VISA issues - those are the respective reasons The Gossip, Noisettes and New Model Army are giving for canceling their upcomining tours. More info below....

Continue reading "The Gossip, Noisettes & New Model Army cancel tours"

The Gossip, The Long Blondes, and Panther are going on tour together this Fall. This is the Gossip's first proper headlining North American tour since Beth Ditto became huge in Europe (no pun intended). All the dates haven't been announced yet, but tickets do go on sale Friday for the following two NYC shows: Nov 16 @ Webster Hall & Nov 17 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg. All known tour datails below....

Continue reading "The Gossip & Long Blondes - 2007 Tour Dates"

part 0, part 1, part 2, part 3....

Mike asked:
What effect, if any, has moving to North Carolina affected the new album? Do people put too much emphasis on things like location in attempting to understand music?

Tim Les Savy Fav answered:
Actually, only Harrison our drummer moved to NC but, honestly I do think that now his drumming sounds more Evangelical Christian and racist. And Scottish. And hillbilly. And other stuff that will make him and other citizens of what is in fact an excellent state mad at me for answering this question in such an insulting way...maybe they'll be so mad they will try to break from the Union

continued below...

Continue reading "you interviewed LES SAVY FAV (part 3)"

the new Gossip song on MySpace is whatever, but this is pretty sweet...

Amanda Palmer, Beth Ditto (& Madame), NYC - June 21, 2007 (CRED)

It was one of those nights... that leaves you wondering, "How the hell did I end up here with Amanda Palmer and Beth Ditto and Madame singing Radiohead's 'Creep' complete with ukelele?" It started with the True Colors concert... which was *amazing*... right from the beginning with the Drag Queen Rockettes (of whom I knew 4!). I also particularly enjoyed The Dresden Dolls, The Gossip, Erasure and, of course, Cyndi Lauper. Margaret Cho was a highlight, too. Chris Tuttle had told me about the after party fundraiser for LifeBeat, so, I scooted over there and got to hang with him and Joe and Madame and Trai La Trash for a few hours... good times. :) [...says lisapodak]

Continue reading "Amanda Palmer & Beth Ditto duet (photos & video) +++++++++ a new GOSSIP song"

How would Lily Allen describe this cover?

Continue reading "Beth Ditto nude on the cover of NME"

DOWNLOAD: Yo Majesty - Club Action (MP3)

The booby flashin' babes of Yo Majesty have three NYC shows coming up. They are supposedly the "special guest" at Sutra Wednesday (LATE) night (May 30), and they open for CSS at Irving Plaza on Friday. On June 22nd they're back to play Studio B in Brooklyn. All tour dates, and a video interview where Beth Ditto of the Gossip interviews Yo Majesty, below...

Continue reading "YO MAJESTY - 2007 Tour Dates & FREE SHOW? (+Beth Ditto)"

DOWNLOAD: Joy Division - Warsaw (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: FADER issue 46 - the Grateful Dead audio (MP3)

* EMI Accepts Private Equity Bid
* When Perez Hilton talks music, people listen.
* Perez Hilton's Beth Ditto coverage
* Beth Ditto's advice column in the Guardian
* Mika & Amy Winehouse porta potties in Central Park
* Indie bands moving into mainstream
* Judge reduces domestic violence charge against Scott Stapp
* Cat Power + Norah Jones = Blueberry Nights
* Iggy Pop OK with Elijah Wood playing him
* Joy Division Biopic Control Debuts at Cannes
* Former Grateful Dead muso sues YouTube
* Issue 46 of FADER now available for free download

DOWNLOAD: Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position (promo mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Gossip - Ain't It the Truth (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Gossip - Standing in the Way of Control (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Amy Winehouse - You Know Im No Good (skeewiff Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Of Montreal - Suffer For Fashion (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ghostland Observatory - Sad Sad City (MP3)

Gossip @ Knitting Factory, NYC - April 14, 2007 (CRED)

I'm so bad - I still haven't told the story (or finished posting the pictures) of Patrick Wolf beating up his wasted drummer on stage at Misshapes two Saturdays ago (well actually, that basically IS the story). I know, I know - you hate Misshapes, but you can't argue that they're not doing OK in the booking department. Two weeks ago was Patrick, this Saturday (April 21) they have Ghostland Observatory, and last weekend they got Beth Ditto from (Columbia Records recording artist) The Gossip (who they - the Mishapes DJ's - are soon also touring with).

Ghostland Obervatory are also playing a sold out show at Bowery Ballroom in NYC tonight. (April 18). More dates at the end of this post.

Patrick Wolf just announced that he'll be playing opener on some of Amy Winehouse's upcoming North American tour dates. That's an amazing combo - hopefully the shows actually happen. The NYC show is May 9th at Highline Ballroom, but Patrick will also be here over a week earlier to perform for free at Virgin Records in Union Square. That show is April 30th. All tour dates below....

But first back to Beth....The Gossip played Knitting Factory in NYC on Saturday night (April 14), and it appears Beth stayed fully clothed at that show (see above). I can't say the same for her appearance at Misshapes later that night though. There, she DID take off her clothes (again). NSFW (don't blame me) photos (and lots more) below....

Continue reading "Gossip's Beth ditto stripped (& stuff) @ Misshapes (NSFW) + Ghostland Observatory, Patrick Wolf & Amy Winehouse"