by Klaus Kinski

Doug Gillard @ Irving Plaza NYE (more by Chris Gersbeck)

I got heavily obsessed with Guided By Voices after the demise of the "classic '93 - '96 line-up" which featured Robert Pollard, Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Kevin Fennell, and Greg Demos (a line-up that reunited in 2010 and has been blazing a sweaty, beer soaked trail across the US since) (this past weekend's Sasquatch Festival included).

I've now seen the classic line-up twice thanks to the reunion, but prior to that my live experience was always delivered by Robert Pollard, Nate Farley, Doug Gillard, Kevin March, Tim Tobias and, later on, Chris Slusarenko. I often had to be rolled out of those shows in a wheelbarrow, and memories of those shows are muddied and schizophrenic, but two things I always took away from a GBV experience was A) that I had had the time of my life and B) that lead guitarist Doug Gillard was, and is, easily one of the most agile guitar gods in rock 'n roll. I mean, forget about shredding and other wanky guitar-athleticism bullshit. What Doug brings to the table is a prodigal level of rock-solid, rock guitar purity and proficiency. Doug is an absolute master of his craft, and you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone out there these days who can get such a thunderous onslaught from his Les Paul and his amps. So it shouldn't come as much of a surprise to find that your man Klaus has been following Doug's solo career with great interest and it is because of non-GBV-related Gillard news that I write to you fine people today.

On Saturday June 4th, Doug will be part of an ensemble of musicians paying tribute to Captain Beefheart at Bowery Poetry Club.

Gary Lucas (Beefheart alumni, Jeff Buckley), Nona Hendryx (Labelle, Talking Heads), Nina Persson (The Cardigans), Nathan Larson (Shudder To Think), Cynthia Sley (Bush Tetras), Doug Gillard (Guided By Voices), Eric Slick (Dr. Dog), & Weasel Walter (Behold The Arctopus), will be joined by musicians from the rock, jazz, metal, progressive, blues, experimental, & classical worlds to perform faithful and interpretive versions of songs from Beefheart's entire catalog, from his 1966 debut "Safe As Milk" to his final record "Ice Cream For Crow", released in 1982.

Captain Beefheart died on December 17, 2010 from complications from multiple sclerosis, so it's fitting that ALL PROCEEDS from this show (a reasonable $10) will go directly to The National Multiple Sclerosis Society. If you can't make it to the show, watch the live stream. And consider donating to the MS Society.

Besides the MS/Beefheart show, there are many more opportunities to catch Doug live. Speaking of beef, on Saturday June 11th, get your non-vegan ass to the Big Apple BBQ in Madison Square Park at 1:00pm on Saturday June 11th. While you're feasting on various forms of carrion with gristle and BBQ sauce dribbling from your lips (editor's note: Klaus!), the band Bambi Kino will be performing. Bambi Kino features Mark Rozzo (Maplewood), Ira Elliot (Nada Surf), Doug Gillard (Ex Guided By Voices), Erik Paparazzi (Cat Power) and were formed to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Beatles' first concerts in Hamburg Germany. Back in those days, the Beatles were essentially a cover band themselves, and Bambi Kino's setlist is culled from the Beatles' set list from back in those days. So it's like a cover band covering a cover band who were doing their own versions of the whole blues thing. And it's free! More about who's playing the Big Apple BBQ, HERE.

You can also catch Doug when he goes on tour with Tommy Keene and Sally Crewe and the Sudden Moves. Doug recently wrote and recorded songs on Sally's upcoming 5-song EP "Transmit/Receive". Tommy is touring in support of his new LP, and Doug Gillard will have a new vinyl 7" he'll be promoting. The tour lands at the Rock Shop on September 10th, 2011. Complete tour dates below.

Oh, and before I forget... Doug is recording tons of guitar for the upcoming Nada Surf LP, which is due out in Fall of 2011. Look out for that as well as a tour in support of said LP. Nada Surf's Matthew Caws joined Doug on stage at Irving Plaza on New Years Eve when he opened for GBV.

Catch Guided By Voices, Wavves, and Surfer Blood during the Northside Festival on June 18th, yo.

Catch Bush Tetras (Cynthia Sley is also playing the Beefheart show) at Le Poisson Rouge on Friday, June 10th.

Gary Lucas's other upcoming shows include a July 3rd appearance at Iridium Jazz Club and a July 9th show at the Rubin Museum of Art.

Doug tour dates and the Beefheart flyer below...

Continue reading "Doug Gillard is doing stuff (Captain Beefheart show w/ Gary Lucas, Beatles band, Tommy Keene tour, Nada Surf LP)"

Black Joe Lewis @ Outside Lands 2009 (more by Chris Graham)

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears and Those Darlins just cant get enough of each other! After they toured through NYC and towards Coachella together, and then announced that they were each playing Maxwell's within a day of each other, we asked if there might be a free NYC show in their future, and there is...

Both bands will play the second day of the annual (and free) Big Apple BBQ Block Party which happens in Madison Square Park on June 11th and 12th. Doug Wamble rounds out the June 12th lineup. Dale Watson (who plays Maxwell's on 6/10), Guitar Shorty and Bambi Kino all play the free outdoor stage on June 11th.

Tickets are also still on sale for Those Darlins at Maxwell's on 6/11 and Black Joe Lewis at Maxwell's on 6/12. Updated tour dates for both bands, and more, below....

Continue reading "Big Apple BBQ 2011 free music lineup announced, includes Those Darlins and Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears"

The 2010 lineup for Madison Square Park's annual Oval Lawn series of free Wednesday shows is below. Held in the same NYC location that the Big Apple BBQ occupies this weekend (June 12-13), the series will offer eight free concerts this summer. The Big Apple BBQ features three bands on Saturday, and three on Sunday including Daptone Records' Charles Bradley. Full schedule below...

Continue reading "free shows in Madison Square Park (Big Apple BBQ this wknd)"

photos by Tim Griffin

"Lucero on the heels of four Hold Steady shows in a damn row? I may very well be far too old for these things. The weather is nice(r) and it only makes a man think that it's a good idea to ride the bike to Hoboken and post up at Maxwells. The boys are still touring behind Rebels, Rogues and Sworn Brothers, but they have a new record in the can and haven't been shy about playing the new material live. It sounds great.... No real surprises, save for Ben playing a bunch of the stuff from The Last Pale Light In The West as sort of a first encore, but pretty bad ass all around." [Jaded Scenester NYC]

It was three NYC-area shows in two days for Lucero over this weekend, and none of them had anything to do with the Northside Festival. It all started Friday night at Maxwell's (review and picture above), followed by the outdoor Big Apple BBQ on Saturday which was followed that night by a private party at Pianos with Hull. More dates and pictures from Maxwell's, below...

Continue reading "Lucero played Pianos, the Big Apple BBQ & Maxwells (pics) "

The Sadies @ Big Apple BBQ 2008 (more by Chris La Putt)

The Seventh Annual Snapple Big Apple Barbecue Block Party returns to Madison Square Park June 13-14, 2009, from 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM...Admission to the event is free.

Remember how Lucero is touring and will be in the area with a show at Maxwell's on June 12th? Ends up there's also a NYC date. Lucero is headlining the Big Apple BBQ's first day on Saturday, June 13th (one day after the Maxwell's show). The show is free, but if you prefer Maxwell's, tickets for that one are still on sale.

The Sunday headliner for the Big Apple BBQ will be country guitarist and singer Junior Brown. Full lineup and all of Junior's summer tour dates are below.

The lineup for last year's Big Apple BBQ included Alex Battles & the Whisky Rebellion, Eli "Paper Boy" Reed, and the Sadies.

This year's fest will also have panel discussions scheduled throughout the day. Presentations include "What is it About Men and Meat and Midnight and a Pit?" and "Mutton: The Movie." OK, we really only like this festival for the music.

Full BBQ fest lineup details (Howard Tate included), and all Junior Brown tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Big Apple BBQ Block Party - 2009 music lineup includes Lucero (after Maxwell's) & Junior Brown (all tour dates) "

words & photos by Chris La Putt

Alex Battles and the Whiskey Rebellion, Eli "Paperboy" Reed & the True Loves, and The Sadies were the free entertainment at the second day of the Big Apple BBQ in Madison Square Park on Sunday (June 8, 2008). Yes, the main focus at the "block party" was food, but we were there for the music.

Alex Battles and the Whiskey Rebellion (pictured above) played first, and they showed Manhattan some impressive Brooklyn country music with a tinge of humor. They were clever enough to write a song about bbq and tea in just a day, and ballsy enough to pull it off on stage. Sadly, this was my first time seeing this band, but it will definitely be not the last. Check them out on Friday as they record a live show at Hill Country.

Continue reading "The Sadies, Eli Paperboy Reed & Alex Battles in a park - pics"

Although I can't endorse the BBQ aspect of this thing, there's no denying that this looks like a great lineup of free music at Madison Square Park in NYC this weekend...

Saturday, June 7
1:00PM - 2:15PM THE DEFIBULATORS
2:45PM - 4:00PM THE SWEET DIVINES
4:30PM - 5:45PM THE WILD MAGNOLIAS

Sunday, June 8
1:00PM - 2:15PM ALEX BATTLES & THE WHISKEY REBELLION
2:45PM - 4:00PM ELI "PAPER BOY" REED & THE TRUE LOVES
4:30PM - 5:45PM THE SADIES

Check out the rest of the free shows happening in Madison Square Park this summer (and even more NYC free shows listed HERE).

Video of Eli Reed below....

Continue reading "free music @ the Big Apple BBQ in NYC this weekend "