photos by Ryan Muir

Set in the makeshift Market Hotel, the headliner was preceded by the Surprisers, McDonalds, German Measles and Bishop Allen. The Surprisers were surprisingly good, McDonalds were spastic and loud, the German Measles had a lot of problems and Bishop Allen were top notch. As having seen Bishop Allen twice before, I would have had to say that this was their performance of theirs I've seen to date.

After a long break, the band from Glasgow finally took stage to finish their sound check and readied themselves for their set. Introduced by Kevin from What's Your Rupture?, [The Yummy Fur] jumped into "Career Saver"; their music is definitely a throwback, a combination of lo-fi punk and British pop rock. It was a lot of fun. Highlights of the show include performances of their singles "Sexy World", "Policeman" and their closer "Shoot the Ridiculant"; they ended their show with the encore number "Documentary of a Kid". All in all, I thought their show was very good despite the gloomy atmosphere of Market Hotel and its average sound quality. [Music Tasters Choice]

Continue reading "The Yummy Fur played Market Hotel w/ Bishop Allen, German Measles & friends - pics & video "

The Yummy Fur kick off a 5-date North American tour on January 14th. More info on the January 15th Brooklyn show, below...

Continue reading "more info on Yummy Fur's Brooklyn show - openers & tickets"

photos by Ryan Muir

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.

A set of pictures of Bishop Allen taken at Studio B (RIP) during the 2009 Northside Festival are continued below...

Continue reading "Bishop Allen @ Studio B in Brooklyn - pics "

DOWNLOAD: Throw Me The Statue - Ancestors (MP3)

Bishop Allen @ Sasquatch Fest in June (more by Chris Graham)

"The new songs are a glorious mess right now," [Bishop Allen] frontman Justin Rice admits to Spinner. "There are bits and pieces strung together, exquisite corpse-style: donkey heads on snake bodies with chicken feet. It's a great time because I can feel the potential in everything we're working on. Nothing's let me down yet by turning out ugly or tamer than I'd hoped."

Opening both shows, and the entire tour, are catchy Seattle indie-poppers Throw Me the Statue (whose new LP, Creaturesque, came out in August - an MP3 from it is above) and Darwin Deez, an affable NYC quartet who sometimes break out into on-stage synchronized dance routines (video below). Darwin Deez is also appearing at a number of official and unofficial CMJ showcases. Those and all other tour dates are posted below...

Continue reading "Bishop Allen - touring (Union Hall, Bell House, other dates) w/ Throw Me the Statue & Darwin Deez"

photos by Chris Graham

Erykah Badu

Day 1, Day 2, and the rest of the pictures from this year's festival...

Continue reading "Sasquatch 2009 - Day 3 in pics (NSFW)"

1. Sunset Rubdown, Witchies & Elfin Saddle -
   June 12, 6pm @ Studio B, 18+ - TICKETS
2. Ghostly International's 10-yr Anniversary Bash w/ Lusine, Deastro, Michna & DJ Mike Servino - June 12, Studio B, 11pm, 18+ - TICKETS
3. Bishop Allen - June 13 @ Studio B, 6pm, 18+ - TICKETS
4. Ninjatune showcase with Daedelus, Ghislain Poirier & Megasoid - June 13, Studio B, 11pm, 18+ - TICKETS

Brightblack Morning Light is also playing Studio B during the fest, but no tickets for that one yet. I think the Dodos are too. The full list of bands playing is HERE and HERE.

photos by Leia Jospe

These Arms Are Snakes / Thao / Daniel Johnston & Hymns

Thirteen bands were scheduled to play the BrooklynVegan / Agency Group day party in Austin on Thursday, March 19, 2009. Twelve ended up playing - one of them twice. I think the story is that The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, who had a zillion other shows also scheduled during the SXSW week, got confused about what their set time was. For that reason (and traffic), they showed up too late to go on in their slot. Instead, The Wheel, who was our last-minute addition as opener on the inside stage, immediately went outside and played a second set on the larger outdoor stage in the late band's place. We got at least one "boo" when the "scheduling mixup" was announced, but what could we do? (sorry!) It was awesome of the Wheel to fill on a moment's notice. Hopefully the people outside enjoyed him after they got over the awkwardness. I didn't watch his second set, but he sounded amazing inside.

Due to overlap on the two stages, it was hard to see everyone that played the party. The most painful two decisions were Cursive or the Wrens, and These Arms or Snakes or Daniel Johnston. I think we originally had it worked out a little better in terms of that, but the main stage started to run late. I went back and forth and caught pieces of as much as I could (and all of Daniel).

Thanks to everyone who came!

Leia managed to catch 8 of the 12 bands (she missed The Wheel, Avett Brothers, New Villager and Au Revoir Simone). Her pictures are below...

Continue reading "BV day party @ Radio Room in Austin - pics by Leia "

DOWNLOAD: The Donkeys - Walk Through A Cloud (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Donkeys - Nice Train (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Wallpaper remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Come Saturday (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daniel Johnston - Honey I Sure Miss You (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daniel Johnston - Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Your Grievances
DOWNLOAD: These Arms Are Snakes - Red Line Season (MP3)

This free BrooklynVegan show takes place on two stages at Radio Room in Austin, Texas this Thursday afternoon, March 19, 2009 from noon-6pm. Set times, more info, and answers to (hopefully) all FAQ's below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn Vegan & Agency Group Austin day party lineup"

DOWNLOAD: Bishop Allen - Dimmer (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bishop Allen - The Ancient Commonsense of Things (MP3)

BISHOP ALLEN: TUESDAY, MARCH 10th @ 8PM
A record release party celebrating Bishop Allen's great new full-length, Grrr..., which comes out the same day as their in-store performance. [Other Music]

Continue reading "Bishop Allen - Other Music in-store, a BV party & new video"

Bishop Allen's new album, Grrr.... hits stores tomorrow, and is another dose of pitch-perfect indie pop goodness from the band.

This week is filled with releases worth your time (and ears). From the albums I have already heard, I can recommend Anni Rossi's Rockwell, Balmorhea's All Is Wild All Is Silent, BLK JKS' Mystery EP, Cursive's Mama, I'm Swollen, Handsome Furs' Face Control, Julie Doiron's I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day, Madeline's White Flag, Mirah's (a)spera, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band's self-titled disc, and Propagandhi's Supporting Caste

A two-disc remastered edition of Beth Orton's classic 1996 solo debut album Trailer Park is in stores tomorrow. Other notable reissues include a remastered edition of the BoDeans' Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams and reissues of Neva Dinova's self-titled debut and a double CD including Wheat's Medeiros and Hope And Adams.

Lloyd Cole's 4-CD collection of rarities, Cleaning The Ashtray (unfortunately only available as an import in the US) is at the top of my preorder list.

What new releases can you recommend? Have I left anything off the list?

Continue reading "Largehearted Boy's Interesting CD Releases This Week"

Jane's Addiction - @ Echoplex, Los Angeles - Feb 16, 2009 (revolute)

Live Nation and Adam Zacks are pleased to announce this year's line up for the Sasquatch! Music Festival at the legendary Gorge in Eastern Washington. The festival, now in its eighth and most ambitious year yet, has evolved from a unique, homegrown & low key fest into a full blown three day extravaganza. A festival-goer's dream, it comes complete with camp-outs, canyons, sunsets, three stages and new this year, an expanded comedy and dance music tent. The tent will feature performances from comedians throughout the day, and then come dusk, will spotlight electronic and dance music artists.

Already the official opener to summer for music fans, the Sasquatch! Music Festival is becoming a certified monster of a musical event: this year features another exciting and diverse line-up for the musically adventurous, and ups the ante on an event already hailed for its independent spirit. Tickets go on sale Saturday February 28th at 10AM

Today it was announced that Jane's (feat. all four original members), NIN, Kings of Leon, Ben Harper & Relentless7, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Erykah Badu, The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, TV On The Radio, Animal Collective, Silversun Pickups, Bon Iver, Santigold, and many others are playing this year's Sasquatch Festival (May 23, 24, 25, 2009 @ The Gorge in Quincy, WA). Full lineup and ticket info below...

Continue reading "Jane's Addiction played LA, headlining SASQUATCH Festival (which just announced most of the 2009 LINEUP)"

DOWNLOAD: Bishop Allen - Dimmer (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bishop Allen - The Ancient Commonsense of Things (MP3)

The above two tracks and cover art are from Bishop Allen's new album Grr..., out March 10th on Dead Oceans. More info and lots of tour dates HERE.

photos by Nathan Miller

DOWNLOAD: Bishop Allen - Like Castanets (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bishop Allen - Rain (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bishop Allen - Click Click Click (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bishop Allen - Things Are What You Make Of Them (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bishop Allen - Eve of Destruction (MP3)

"Grrr...It's the warning sound of a rabid beast bearing its teeth. It's the sound you hear just before said beast really lets you have it. And with its new album Grrr... set to be unleashed by Dead Oceans on March 10, BISHOP ALLEN is that stirring animal, readied for an attack of pop songcraft honed over nearly two years of rigorous touring.

Grrr..., reveals that after five years of comparisons to other artists--Jonathan Richman, The Kinks, Bright Eyes, Spoon, etc., in rave reviews from Rolling Stone, SPIN, Entertainment Weekly and many others--Bishop Allen has developed an artistry and sound that are unmistakably their own. One thing that distinguishes Bishop Allen's music is the quality of the writing. Rice's literate lyrics, which The Los Angeles Times has praised for their "poetic insight," have a universality that has made them resonant to listeners of all ages and earned them champions ranging from the young comic actor Michael Cera to the National Public Radio host Scott Simon.

The band will cross the U.S. in support of Grrr..., making a soon-to-be-announced stop at SXSW." [PR]

Continue reading "Bishop Allen - new Grrr album, 2009 Tour Dates, live pics "

by Ryan Barkan

Advertising agencies make lots of online commercials. You know, spots made not for television, but with the hope the brand's message will spread virally on the net in an organic way. Though lots of them never catch steam like a rickroll, the new Guitar Hero World Tour "Bike Hero" video has already been watched over one million times. The creative takes The Living End's "Prisoner of Society" and turns it into a live action, first person bike ride through the song's playable level in GHWT. It's a pretty cool idea with amazing execution and a slight bit of computer magic. Watch the video below.

Other Notable Licensing News:

Bishop Allen played two shows in NYC over the weekend. They are a band that has benefited from some key licensing placements in the last year. The band appeared and performed in the recent Michael Sera movie, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. Watch the scene below. The song they performed, "Middle Management", was also on the soundtrack and used in the film's trailer. They were also used in a commercial for Sony digital cameras late last year - watch the spot here.

Crayola goes indie-cool this holiday season with Dan Deacon and Lightspeed Champion songs in the campaign for the new Glow Station (via Pitchfork). Watch the spots below.

The new holiday commercial from LL Bean features "Valley Winter Song" by Fountains Of Wayne.

Danish band The Blue Van rock the soundtrack to the new Samsung Behold commercial. Watch below.

While enjoying college football on Saturday, I heard Nick Drake's "Place To Be" used in a promo spot for Michigan State. That video is below too.

I have a bunch of friends that can not get enough of the show Top Chef. Some of those friends are also crazy for the Foo Fighters (editor's note: with friends like that who needs enemies? JUST KIDDING. Actually that doesn't even make sense...). Those friends will be in heaven when TC goes "Foo Fighters Thanksgiving" this upcoming November 26th. The episode taped during a tour stop in Rochester, NY; the band will guest judge the few remaining contestants. Apparently, TC is Dave Grohl's favorite show.

You may have heard A-Ha's classic jam "Take On Me" before. It is/was a popular song and video. So popular, A.C. Newman is going to cover it for an upcoming Valentine's Day compilation for Starbucks. Even more so, you can take it on karaoke-style in the new video game by Microsoft, LIPS. The pretty clever commercial for the game uses the song as well. Watch it below.

The game's soundtrack also includes songs by The Police, Coldplay, Duffy, The Cure, Peter, Bjorn, & John, Radiohead, and more.

Nintendo DS and Wii players can now get their skateboard on while on the go with the release of EA's Skate It. The soundtrack contains tracks by Cut Chemist, Fujiya & Miyagi, Judas Priest, The Clash, Sly & the Family Stone, and more.

continued below...

Continue reading "This week in Music Licensing "

Bishop Allen @ Fun Fun Fun Fest 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Stella @ Union Hall !
* NY Dolls @ Stone Pony
* Ani Difranco @ Town Hall
* Rasputina @ the Bell House
* Al Green @ Wellmont Theater
* The Hackensaw Boys @ 92YTribeca
* Robyn Hitchcock @ Symphony Space
* Slutty Puppets @ Galapagos Art Space
* The Dig & Frankpollis @ The Studio at Webster Hall
* Baroness, Coliseum & Minsk @ Bowery Ballroom
* Electric Six, Local H, Fall On Your Sword @ Webster Hall
* Bishop Allen, Drink Up Buttercup & Electric Owls @ MHOW
* Peter & The Wolf, Ava Luna & Draw Into Disorder @ Silent Barn
* We Are Scientists, Mobius Band & Grandma's Boy @ Irving Plaza
* Grails, Silver Apples, Dinowalrus & Nudge @ Knitting Factory
* Hopewell, Bear in Heaven, Artranker Convoy & Tulips @ Cake Shop
* Cheap Time w/ The Black Clouds, The Konks, and Golden Error @ Asterisk Art Space

in Boston: The Brainwaves Festival

! I have no idea when they added the Stella show at Union Hall, but Union Hall's site reads "SOLD OUT: no tickets are available". It's a warmup for the upcoming tour and shows at Nokia Theatre. It's not clear whether Michael Showalter will also be performing with Eugene Mirman at Union Hall this Sunday. How was the Showalter/Black show at Caroline's?

Local H goes on at 7:45 tonight at Webster Hall (or someone just told me maybe 9:00).

Bishop Allen also plays MHOW on Sunday.

Tonight was supposed to be the first of two Flower Travellin Band shows at Knitting Factory.

NY Dolls added tonight's NJ show since I last posted their tour dates that include Irving Plaza in December.

Ludacris is playing Highline Ballroom Tuesday night.

Bjork turned 43 yesterday.

Karen O was born today in 1978.

Steven Van Zandt was born today in 1950.

John F. Kennedy died today in 1963.

Grails played Union Pool last night. Video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

Photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

I've never been super in to Bishop Allen, but what I saw of them at Fun Fun Fun Fest was pretty good. And if the fact that they recently added a 2nd show at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn is any indication, I'd say they're also doing pretty good. Tickets are on sale for both November shows. All dates, and more pictures, below...

Continue reading "Bishop Allen - 2008 Tour Dates (2xMHOW), F F Fun Fest pics "

photos by Bao Nguyen

well sorta....

I thought that The War on Drugs' performance at our Rock n ROFL party at Pianos earlier this month was pretty good, but I'm reserving judgement until I ACTUALLY see The War on Drugs live because, for whatever reason, they only played as a two-piece that night and I'm not even sure that the second guy is normally in the band.

The War on Drugs (full band I think) are currently on tour with Bishop Allen. Together they play at Music Hall of Williamsburg tonight (May 16, 2008). More tour dates HERE. More pictures from the Pianos show below....

Continue reading "The War on Drugs played Pianos, playing Music Hall tonight"

DOWNLOAD: Bishop Allen - Click Click Click Click (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bishop Allen - Rain (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bishop Allen - Things are What You Make of Them (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bishop Allen - Calendar (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bishop Allen - The Bullet & Big D (MP3)

* Bishop Allen, Page France, Mobius Band & Locksley are @ Bowery Ballroom
* Lifetime & The Bouncing Souls are playing Court Tavern!
* The 2007 Coney Island Rockabilly Festival
* The last free show @ McCarren Pool
* A free show on Governor's Island
* Black Moth Super Rainbow playing two shows in Brooklyn
* Simple Kid is playing Union Hall & Sound Fix & other places
* Okkervil River & Yacht & others also playing Sound Fix
* Wolf Parade are playing Warsaw
* Rufus Wainwright is playing Summerstage
* An MP3 experiment
* Bishop Allen's whole new album is streaming at VIRB

What else?