Needs more punk rock. Check it out on Spotify and listed below...

Continue reading "Obama releases Inauguration Playlist"

My Morning Jacket at Williamsburg Park in August (more by David Andrako)

today in NYC
* Mireya Ramos @ Barbes
* Trio Tritticali @ The Stone
* Steve Aoki, Nervo @ Pier 94
* Leah Paul Quintet @ Barbes
* Du Yun Quartet @ The Stone
* Alberta Cross @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Biz Markie (DJ set) @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Dar Williams, The Neilds @ The Bell House
* The White Panda, Cash Cash @ Webster Hall
* The Disco Biscuits, Ott @ Best Buy Theater
* The Machine performs Pink Floyd @ BB King's
* The Fab Faux (Beatles Tribute) @ City Winery
* Strawberry Fields (Beatles Tribute) @ BB King's
* My Morning Jacket, Deer Tick @ Capitol Theatre
* Porches, Bad Cello, The Rotaries @ Shea Stadium
* Sandra Bernhard @ Joe's Pub (early and late shows)
* Small Change (Tom Waits Tribute) @ Lucille's at BB King's
* Led Blimpie (Led Zeppelin Tribute) @ Lucille's at BB King's
* A$AP Twelvyy & friends, Chase N Cashe @ Highline Ballroom
* Nicos Gun, Reputante, Band Antenna, Shiksa @ Cameo Gallery
* The Infamous Stringdusters, Lake Street Dive @ Bowery Ballroom
* Allies For Everyone (DJ Set), Headband, Sean Glass, Alex English @ The DL
* Butter The Children, Advaeta, In Buenos Aires, The Hot Flood @ Glasslands
* Grapefruit, Birds In Weather, Walter Salas-Humara, Tom Freund @ Cake Shop
* The Bernie Worrell Orchestra, Felicia Collins, Janet LaBelle @ Mercury Lounge
* H20, Wisdom In Chains, Stigma, Well Excuse Me, Princess @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* The Bouncing Souls, Man Overboard, Trapped Under Ice, Born Annoying @ The Stone Pony
* Outernational, Escarioka, Harasssarah, Blayer Pointdujour and the Rockers Galore, Chico Selekta vs Minimum Tek DJ Battle @ Bowery Electric

Sandra Bernhard begins a 5-night run at Joe's Pub tonight which includes an early and late show each night, and culminates on New Year's Eve.

Tonight's Bowl Train at Brooklyn Bowl, which Questlove usually DJs, is a special edition with Biz Markie DJing. You can catch Questlove at his holiday party at SOB's on New Year's Day and he'll resume DJing Bowl Train the following Thursday (1/3).

My Morning Jacket begin their three-night run at the Capitol Theater tonight. Check out what Tom told us were his favorite albums of the year.

Deer Tick, who just played three nights at Brooklyn Bowl, open the MMJ show tonight. Check out what Ian O'Neil told us his favorite albums of the year were.

Follow @BrooklynVegan on Twitter.
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Be our friend on Facebook too, and BV Austin's friend on Facebook and BV Chicago's friend on Facebook.

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What else?

by Andrew Sacher

Joey Bada$$

Young Brooklyn rapper Joey Bada$$ put out two of the strongest rap releases of the year so far with 1999 and Rejex, both of which are highly indebted to the golden age era sound of Illmatic, Ready to Die, Reasonable Doubt, and other classics of that kind. Joey and his crew, Pro Era, have been playing locally a lot lately (like when they joined Ab-Soul at Terminal 5 when Ab-Soul was opening for Kendrick Lamar), and they'll continue to do so with a number of shows this month.

This Wednesday (10/10), Joey will join Pusha T, Biz Markie, Action Bronson (who you have plenty of other chances to see), Sicky Brett (of Past Due), plus host Sophia Urista and guest DJs and performers at the Downtown Brooklyn College Festival, which takes place in the BAM parking lot (30 Lafayette Ave). Admission is $10 for students and participating schools include NYU, LIU, Berkeley College, and Saint Francis College. Tickets for that college festival are on sale now. Joey is also scheduled to play at this year's CMJ and at SUNY Purchase Fall Fest a week later (10/27).

Regarding CMJ, as mentioned, Joey and Pro Era will play the Yours Tru.ly day party at Glasslands on October 19 with Ratking, Jim-E Stack, Isaac Delusion, Evy Jane, Night Panther, and MØ. That show is free with RSVP. Then, later that night (10/19), Joey will head to Brooklyn warehouse Villain for the official Pitchfork showcase with Death Grips, LE1F, DIIV, Holy Other, METZ, Merchandise, Daughn Gibson, Hundred Waters, and Angel Haze. That show is free to the public but 200 priority tickets will be given away at the Topman store (478 Broadway in SoHo) "on Wednesday and Thursday between 10 AM and 9 PM."

Keeping his Friday of CMJ busy, in addition to those two shows, Joey will also perform at the Self Taught Showcase at The Studio at Webster Hall (set time TBD).

Before those three parties, Joey and Pro Era will play the Cinematic Music Group/Ekco Ultd/XXL showcase at SOB's on October 18 with Big K.R.I.T., Smoke DZA, Fat Trel, Cashius Green, Chance the Rapper, and Mookie Jone, with hosts Peter Rosenberg and Shiest Bubz. Tickets don't seem to be on sale at the moment but Ecko is running a ticket contest. The show flier is below. Both Joey Bada$$ and Big K.R.I.T. are featured on Smoke DZA's new free mixtape, K.O.N.Y..

That SOB's show runs from 6-10 PM before the Leaders of the New Cool CMJ party takes over the Manhattan venue with Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Casey Veggies, Travi$ Scott, Nemo Achida, Armstrong, Reese Two-9, Chance the Rapper, DJ Genesis and host Maurice Garland (tickets).

In related news, Joey Bada$$ is releasing a new single this fall via Green Label Sound, for which he'll be working with "someone [he] considers an icon." Stay tuned for more info on that. Meanwhile, stream some tracks from 1999 and check out a list of all dates below.

Continue reading "Joey Bada$$ releasing new single, playing Downtown Brooklyn College Festival, CMJ & other shows (dates)"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Homeboy Sandman - "Watchu Want From Me?" (prod. Oddisee) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Nina Sky - Nicole & Natalie (ZIP)

Aesop Rock at McCarren Pool in 2008 (more by Jason Bergman)

Homeboy Sandman is set to release his first full length album on Stones Throw, First Of A Living Breed, which is due out on the label on September 18. The first single, "Watchu Want From Me," was produced by Oddisee and you can download it above or stream it below. The cover art and tracklist are below too.

Homeboy Sandman will be supporting the album on a tour with Brother Ali that hits NYC on September 27 at Bowery Ballroom (tickets), but before that both he and Oddisee will play a FREE day show in NYC TODAY (8/2) at Public Assembly with Immortal Technique and Tru Fam for a Last.fm filming. Doors are at 2 PM, the show is completely free and open to the public, no guest list.

If you stick around the Brooklyn venue, there will also be a hip hop DJ dance party at Public Assembly tonight (8/2) with Da Beatminerz and X-Ecutioners. Tickets for tonight's show are available.

In addition to those two Public Assembly shows, there's tons of other good hip hop shows going down in NYC tonight and this weekend. JSpace.com is throwing 'The Ultimate College Bar Mitzvah" at Highline Ballroom tonight (8/2) with sets from Talib Kweli, The Higher Concept, and The Rooks. It's a bit of an unusual show though. Highline's site reads, "This is THE event for all interns and college students in the New York area. Rock your college swag, bust some moves, and come ready to have a great time. From 8-9PM, professionals from large corporations will work the room, looking to meet college students." Tickets for the show are available.

Tonight's Bowl Train at Brooklyn Bowl (8/2), which is usually DJed by Questlove, will instead by DJed by Biz Markie. Tickets are available.

Nina Sky have a new album/mixtape out this week (7/31) called Nicole and Natalie (the actual first names of the twins that make up the duo), which you can download in full above or stream below. The track "Comatose" was produced by Brenmar, who Nina Sky will share a bill with in NYC tonight (8/2) at the Studio at Webster Hall. Chippy Nonstop, Roxy Cottontail, and Ferrari Snowday are on the bill too. TIckets for that show are available.

Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q's tour supporting Wiz Khalifa hits Jones Beach tonight (8/2). Tickets for that are still available. As mentioned, Kendrick will return to NYC on his tour which hits Terminal 5 on September 15 and Schoolboy Q will when his tour with A$AP Rocky and Danny Brown hits NYC on September 27 at Roseland Ballroom. Tickets for that show go on sale Friday (8/3) at 10 AM.

Aesop Rock, whose new album Skelethon is at least his best since Bazooka Tooth and one of the contenders for rap album of the year, is currently supporting that album on a previously discussed tour with Rob Sonic, DJ Big Wiz, Edison, and Dark Time Sunshine which hits NYC this Friday (8/3) at Irving Plaza. Tickets for that show are still available. Dark Time Sunshine also just released a new album, ANX, which features Aesop Rock, P.O.S., Busdriver, and others. You can stream that album in full below.

Also on Friday (8/3), Aesop's Def Jux labelmate RJD2 will be in NYC for a Girls & Boys party at Webster Hall.

Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch are currently touring as Wu-Block and will hit NYC on Wednesday (8/8) at Highline Ballroom with Saigon. Tickets for that show are still available.

Ghostface will play his own show in Clifton Park, NY on September 14 at Upstate Concert Hall. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

In other Wu-Tang news, Inspectah Deck will play NYC on August 24 at BB King's with Colt Seavers. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

We also just mentioned that GZA will be touring later this year with Killer Mike, Sweet Valley (aka Nathan from Wavves' new beat project), and Bear Hands. That tour hits NYC on October 18 at Irving Plaza.

Q-Tip's next Offline Party at Irving Plaza happens on August 17. Tickets for that are available.

Beanie Sigel plays S.O.B.'s on August 16 with KA. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Any other good upcoming hip hop shows that we missed?

Streams are below.

Continue reading "this week in hip hop (Aesop Rock, Talib Kweli, RJD2, Nina Sky, Homeboy Sandman, Oddisee, Biz Markie, Wu-Block & more)"

Inspektah Deck with Method Man at Best Buy (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

Summertime and old-school/golden age hip hop go hand in hand. As such there are a plaethora of upcoming shows that will showcase all of your favorite MCs.

Tonight (6/6), SOB's will host Wu-Tang member Inspektah Deck with Queens' king of nonsensical rhymes N.O.R.E.. Tickets are still available. Deck recently shared "American Way" from his upcoming "mix album" Cynthia's Son which is streamable below. Deck is also onboard as part of Czarface with Boston duo 7L & Esoteric. The trio's collaboration will reportedly feature appearances from Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Roc Marciano, Action Bronson, Large Professor and DJ Premier.

SOB's will also host upcoming shows with Elzhi (ex-Slum Village) on July 19th (tickets), as well as Beanie Siegel on July 25th (tickets), the latter of which will appear at the Apple Store in the near future.

Slick Rick seemingly has a new NYC show on the calendar at all times, and his latest will team him with the great Biz Markie. Look for the duo to hit Gramercy Theater on July 28. Tickets are on sale. Meanwhile, a few of Biz's Juice Crew affiliates (namely Marley Marl and Big Daddy Kane) will link up with EPMD, Chubb Rock, and DJ Scratch for a show at BB King's on July 18th. Tickets are still available.

More shows: Prodigy of Mobb Deep and The Beatnuts will celebrate Queens Day at Irving Plaza on June 19; the shows in Betsy Head Park this weekend (Boot Camp Clik takes over 6/7); Lyricist Lounge with Ghostface on June 23; and GZA's performance of Liquid Swords during the Northside Festival (6/14).

Continue reading "Inspektah Deck, Noreaga, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane and more hip hop shows on the horizon"

Justin Vernon & My Morning Jacket before the Grammys (by dariusjagjag)

Someone from Jagjaguwar tweeted the above picture not long before Justin Vernon shouted out "Jagjaguwar" to end his acceptance speech at the Grammys pre-show this evening (2/12).

Bon Iver won "Best Alternative Music Album", beating out Radiohead, My Morning Jacket, Foster the People & Death Cab Cab For Cutie. Other pre-telecast winners include Adele, Foo Fighters (who beat Mastodon, The Decemberists and TV on the Radio), Skrillex (who won three already and beat Cut Copy, Robyn, Deadmau5 and others), Kanye West (who also won three already), The Civil Wars (who won two already and beat Fleet Foxes), Levon Helm, Alison Krauss, Tinariwen, Louis CK, Cee-Lo, and Booker T Jones who won "Best Pop Instrumental Album" for the 2nd time, and nervously thanked Biz Markie, Questlove, Gabriel Roth (of Daptone Records), Matt Berninger (of the National), and Lou Reed.

Arcade Fire also won another Grammy already (for Best Recording Package).

A Numero Group Syl Johnson release was up for two Grammys but lost in both categories.

And that was just all the stuff they don't show on TV. The regular show with all the big awards (and possibly more for Bon Iver) starts at 8pm EST, Whitney Houston tribute included.

UPDATES:
* Jack Black makes "indie cred" joke that includes "Bon Iver" while introducing Foo Fighters
* Denise from PS22 in Adele commercial

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Zed Bias - "Lucid Dreams" [Ft. FaltyDL] (MP3)

FaltyDL at MoMA PS1 in July (more by Vincent Cornelli)

New York dubstepper FaltyDL (aka Drew Lustman), who just opened for Radiohead when they were in town, has signed to Ninja Tune and will release his debut EP for the label, Atlantis, on November 14. The EP will be the followup to the You Stand Uncertain LP, which was released earlier this year. Some samples of the EP's tracks are available at Ninja Tune's site, and while I haven't heard the whole thing, these samples are indicating something great. The EP's got warmer synths and harder snares than You Stand Uncertain, and while that album was great, the new material shows FaltyDL beginning to develop more of his own identity as a producer. You can pre-order the EP at the Ninja Tune webstore and check out the artwork and tracklist below.

FaltyDL contributed a remix of Holy Ghost!'s "Hold My Breath" for the release of the single which drops October 17. Other remixers include Tiger & Woods and Cosmic Kids. Holy Ghost! has a tour coming up that hits NYC on October 29 at Bowery Ballroom and November 26 at Music Hall of Williamsburg. The Bowery Ballroom show is sold out but tickets are still on sale for the MHOW show.

He'll also appear on the new LP from Zed Bias, Biasonic Hotsauce - Birth of the Nanocloud, which comes out November 1 via Tru Thoughts. Mark Pritchard, whose Africa Hitech project recently announced a LPR show, also appears on that album. You can download the FaltyDL-featuring "Lucid Dreams" at the top of this post.

FaltyDL is DJing at Brooklyn Bowl TONIGHT (10/13) with Signal Path. Tickets are still available.

Biz Markie also DJs at Brooklyn Bowl tonight (10/13) (tickets), and Questlove, who usually DJs the venue on Thursdays, will DJ the Little Dragon show at Terminal 5 on Friday (10/14), which Javelin and Donn T also play. That show is sold out.

Speaking of Radiohead, Thom Yorke's DJ set from their record release party for TKOL RMX 1234567 which streamed online yesterday, is now available to stream at Boiler Room's website and can be downloaded for free on iTunes.

FaltyDL Artwork and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Thom Yorke DJ set on iTunes +++ FaltyDL on Ninja Tune, a Holy Ghost! single, Zed Bias LP & in Brooklyn tonight"

Yo Gabba Gabba with MGMT at Radio City in 2010 (more by Alexander Stein)

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!: It's Time to Dance! hits over 50 cities in North America this fall. Hip hop legend Biz Markie and "Razzle Dazzle Gabba!-favorite "Leslie Hall join DJ Lance Rock and the colorful cast of characters on the new live tour. The trip kicks off in Minneapolis at the State Theatre on Thursday, September 15 and includes a six-shows-in-three-day run at NYC's Beacon Theatre on October 14-16 (shows are 11am, 2pm and 5pm). Other area dates include two shows at Nassau Coliseum on October 1 (2pm and 5pm) and NJ's State Theatre on October 11-12. Tickets are on Citi cardmember pre-sale now, go on other pre-sales Friday (6/3) at 10 AM, and then eventually on general sale starting Monday (6/6) at 10 AM.

All tour dates and some videos below...

Continue reading "Yo Gabba Gabba announces another big tour, lots of Beacon Theater shows, Nassau Coliseum & State Theatre in NJ too"

Another summer, another Lincoln Center-presented Midsummer Night Swing. This year's series of dancing events runs from June 27-July 16 with one highlight being the June 28th "Soul Train" night featuring a live set by Pee Wee Ellis and Fred Wesley along with an extended DJ set by Biz Markie.

Devendra Banhart @ Town Hall on Nov. 22nd 2009 (via)

Devendra Banhart and his band The Grogs played last night (11/22) at Town Hall - their first stop on their tour's two date NYC run. Tonight (11/23) they'll be at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Little Joy open both - with the roles from Little Joy's headlining show at Webster Hall on October 2nd switched.

Barnhart is supporting his new record, What Will We Be, which came out October 27th on Warner Brothers. He appeared as one of the special guests at Yo Gabba Gabba's three-performance day at Beacon Theatre on November 21st.

In addition to running through Gabba song classics like "Don't Be Afraid," "Get the Sillies Out," and "Party In My Tummy (So Yummy)," the 11 a.m. show also featured a live performance by Devendra Banhart, who's sweet, acoustic "Little Yellow Spider" brought smiles to moms and dads' faces, even if it was a bit slow for the hyped-up kiddie mob, as well as a Dancey Dance from Brooklyn hip-hop artist Talib Kweli, who showed us how to do the Peanut Butter Squish. But the real treat was Biz Markie, who brought the show's beatboxing "Biz's Beat of the Day" seg to the Beacon, passing the mic to youngsters in the crowd so they could rock funky beats for the enthusiastic audience.[EW.com]

The Roots played guest again one day later at Bowery Ballroom with the Dirty Projectors.

Yo Gabba Gabba Beacon videos with Devendra's Town Hall encore from Nov. 22nd, a picture of the setlist for an earlier date on the tour, and two videos of "Little Yellow Spider" (including one of him playing it for kids in Seattle in 2004) below...

Continue reading "Yo Gabba Gabba played NYC - guests included Dinosaur Jr (video), Roots & Devendra Banhart (who played Town Hall) "

DOWNLOAD: Of Montreal - Brush Brush Brush (MP3)

Fresh on the heels of the release of the first Yo Gabba Gabba! CD release Yo Gabba Gabba! Music Is Awesome!, hitting the shelves nationwide on October 20, W!LDBRAIN and S2BN Entertainment present Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! There's A Party In My City, the first live U.S. touring show. A one-of-a-kind live event, the tour will kick off on November 14th, and will feature music, animation, games, singing, dancing, and special musical guests. Favorites such as "Party in My Tummy" "Hold Still" and "Get the Sillies Out" will be featured in the show. Special guests will also join the party on stage rocking their favorite 'Dancey Dance' moves. Presented using state of the art production elements, Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! There's A Party In My City will offer audience members of all ages an unparalleled experience.

The album Yo Gabba Gabba! Music Is Awesome! comes out October 20th on Filter US Recordings. The show is pretty well known for its musical guests (Mark Mothersbaugh from Devo, Biz Markie, Chromeo, I'm From Barcelona, Mark Kozelek) and the fact that its co-creator, Christian Jacobs, is MC Bat Commander from The Aquabats. Those guests are respresented on the album, as is Of Montreal, with the song "Brush Brush Brush" (about brushing your teeth) posted above.

Tracklist, album art, tour dates and musical clips from the show are posted below...

Continue reading "Yo Gabba Gabba! - live show dates, new CD, Of Montreal MP3"

Park Jams at Crotona Park in the Bronx run every Thursday through the end of July. Acts include GrandMaster Caz, Afrika Bambaataa and Biz Markie. Biz Markie who will be at the July 9th launch with Grandwizzard Theodore and more. That series will be followed up in August by Tuesday DJ series in Harlem's St. Nicholas Park. All shows are free. Full schedule and flyers below...

Continue reading "True School NYC - 2009 Summer Park Jams (in Crotona & St. Nicolas Parks) w/ Biz Markie, Afrika Bambaataa, more"

by Ryan Barkan

Miller Chili or mojitos anyone?

Phone wars 2009 - Verizon vs. AT&T. It is always a battle when these two giants square off with their :60 second spots in tow to prove which company provides the best cellular service and coverage. In recent years, Verizon has enlisted the likes of AC/DC and The Killers. Included in the deal with the Aussie rockers was the right to exclusively offer the band's music digitally. On the other side, AT&T has hammered home their phone offerings and 5-bar messages with a spot including a track from Lupe Fiasco featuring Jill Scott, "Daydreamin", one with Mates Of State, and an Amos Lee commercial, among others. Both have recently gone to the licensing well again to soundtrack new technology and coverage, but with different strategies.

Verizon's new "Hub" decided to go the synergy route, using one of the most popular mainstream tunes of the last year, Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours", in multiple spots showcasing the company's new phone technology.

AT&T meanwhile went with different tunes for each of the new 5-bar spots, matching songs with each commercial's creative direction. In "Backpackers", the sentimental "Falling in Love in a Coffeeshop" by Landon Pigg tells the story of two lovers who met on a brief European backpacking trip. However, because of the quality of the service and technology, they not only can stay in touch with great coverage but end up together again with a touching beachfront reunion. Another boxing themed spot brings to mind Rocky with "Gonna Fly Now." Eighties rockers Journey power this commercial for the symphony. Lastly, an inspirational spot based on Venice, CA, store Tom's Shoes. The store has one premise -- each pair of shoes bought equals one free pair for a child in need. The commercial uses an instrumental version of James Blunt's "Same Mistake." Watch that spot here.

Other Notable Commercial Licensing News:

An instant classic commercial from Heineken -- the beer company celebrates responsible drinking (title is called "Let A Stranger Drive You Home") with the help from Biz Markie's "Just A Friend". Watch the spot below.

Beer maker Miller went with San Fran's The Dodos as the music for their new Miller Chill commercial. Watch it below.

"Daylight," a track by Matt & Kim, provides the vibe in a new commercial for Bacardi Mojitos. See it below.

continued below...

Continue reading "This week in Music Licensing (De La Soul, the Dodos, Passion Pit, Black Lips, Matt & Kim, Mates of State & more...) "

by Black Bubblegum

Q-Tip with A Tribe Called Quest at Rock The Bells, 8/3/08 (villageslum.com)

King Khan pretty much ruled, but maybe, the award for show of the day could go to Rock The Bells at Jones Beach...

"Mos Def was joined by Talib Kweli for a series of Black Star songs including "Definition," "Respiration" and "Brown Skin Lady."......with Pharoahe Monch joining former label-mates on stage for a boisterous performance of "Simon Says."

....Slick Rick joined his Def Jam proteges [ED: Method Man & Redman] briefly for a partial performance of "La Di Da Di,"....... After Raekwon, who performed earlier with Ghostface returned to the stage, EPMD followed, performing "Strictly Business" and "So What Cha Saying." Washington DC's DJ Kool entered the set, performing "Let Me Clear My Throat,"...... Upon the set closing, Keith Murray completed the Def Squad triad with a performance, without Sermon at the time, of "Rapper's Delight."

.....the largest crowd reaction came from Nas speaking to the crowd about how he needs to "breathe." Repeating the word, DJ Green Lantern played the instrumental to "Success," prompting a Yankee-cap tucked low Jay-Z to rush on the stage.... and perform his first verse..... the two then performed "Black Republicans."

.... A Tribe Called Quest headlined the night joined by luminaries such as Busta Rhymes on "Scenario" as well as Consequence.

Other guests.... included DJ Premier, M.O.P., Jeru Da Damaja, Biz Markie, Skyzoo, Mickey Factz and others. "
[HipHopDX.com]

Zaaaaam. Luckily, we have some photos (courtesy of Village Slum) and a video of that "Black Republicans" performance down below.....

Continue reading "Rock The Bells @ Jones Beach, pics & video, TONS of guests"