Black Sabbath (more by Tim Griffin)

A birdie reports that the re-reunited Black Sabbath was actually supposed to be headlining one of the (two) days of Coachella this year, but that the band was forced to cancel today due to the sad revelation that Tony Iommi has cancer. Goldenvoice scrambled last minute to find a replacement and Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg (or maybe it was the Black Keys) is what they came up with. Full 2012 lineup HERE. Poster below...

Continue reading "was Black Sabbath supposed to be playing Coachella?"

The Black Keys @ Coachella 2011 (more by David Andrako)

This is what the label says:

The Black Keys' new album El Camino will be released December 5 on Nonesuch Records. Produced by Danger Mouse and The Black Keys, the 11-track album was recorded at singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound studio in the band's new hometown of Nashville during the spring of 2011.

In advance of the release, the album's first single, 'Lonely Boy', will be released on October 26. The complete track list is below; further details will be announced shortly. Pre-orders of El Camino begin today at www.theblackkeys.com and www.nonesuch.com.

The band only have European dates scheduled at the moment (listed below), but are in NYC for a private T-Mobile sponsored show TONIGHT (10/12). It's nearly impossible to get in (invite only, small space), but the show will be streaming online at 11pm on T-Mobile's Facebook.

All Euro tour dates, the album's tracklist, and a video ad for the album starring Bob Odenkirk (aka Saul Goodman), below...

Continue reading "Black Keys announce new LP, playing private show in NYC tonight (which is streaming online)"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

The Morning Benders

"With tonight's show, [The Black Keys] started off with the two of them, then added a few backing musicians for the new tunes. The new stuff lit a match for the night because when it's just the two of them in a venue of thousands of people, you tend to want something with a little more energy and activity.

I didn't plan on going to either gig tonight, but extra tickets were given to me. Ding dong, I'll take them. I was late getting there and arrived when Morning Benders announced their standard, "We have two songs left." Thus, I was stuck in the back. Let me tell you, I've been spoiled with my small shows, photo passes and being upfront, because standing in the back sucks. Especially at SummerStage because Rumsey Playfield slopes down to allow for drainage. DRAAAAAAAAAINAGE, ELI!" [Music Snobbery]

The Black Keys and The Morning Benders played their second show in a row at Central Park Summerstage in NYC last night (7/28), and now they're off on tour.

For the Black Keys it was their first show of the night. They played Terminal 5 later last night. All three NYC shows sold out well in advance. It's only a matter of time before they join the ranks of Phoenix and Arcade Fire as MSG headliners (they opened for Pearl Jam at the big venue in May).

More pictures from last night below...

Continue reading "The Morning Benders & Black Keys played Central Park Summerstage again (night 2 pics) "

photos by Jessica Amaya

"The last rays of sunlight were creeping up the Sycamore trees as Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney of the Black Keys loped onto Central Park's Summerstage Tuesday evening. As they kicked off their set I was instantly reminded as to why I hold the Black Keys in high esteem - simply put, they rock.

With Auerbach on his amped up Gibson and Carney sitting high above the crowd, they commanded the crowd's affection as they tore through a string of older songs, including "Thickfreakness", "The Breaks" and, "Busted" (one of the first songs they ever wrote), before inviting a bass and keyboard player onstage for some of their new material off Brothers. Highlights from their new material included "Everlasting Light" and their cut, "Chop & Change", from the new Eclipse soundtrack. (Say what you will about the Twilight series, but the song is damn good)."
[The Docta's Notes]

The Black Keys and The Morning Benders kicked off a tour at Central Park Summerstage in NYC last night (7/27), except they aren't going very far yet. Both bands return to the same venue for the 2nd night in a row tonight (7/28).

And hopefully the Black Keys are resting right now because Summerstage is only their first of two shows this evening. After that, they head over to Terminal 5 to headline night three of the SPIN/Zync shindigs (I heard they go on around midnight after opening sets by The Whigs and Lee Fields).

And while the Black Keys were playing Summerstage Tuesday night, the Flaming Lips were playing Night Two of the SPIN/Zync things at Terminal 5. The Flaming Lips played their own show at Summerstage one night earlier. Night Four of SPIN/Zync is the National who were playing Prospect Park last night.

More pictures from the Rumsey Playfield (Central Park) show, below...

Continue reading "The Black Keys & Morning Benders played Central Park Summerstage (night 1 pics) "

Starring Frank the Dinosaur....

Continue reading "The Black Keys' sexy new 'Next Girl' video "

by Dominick Mastrangelo

"Hello, and welcome to Portland, Oregon," quipped James Mercer, as he and Danger Mouse greeted the freezing crowd at Mog Day Party on the final day of SXSW. A 40-degree drop in temperature from Friday caused flip-flops and t-shirts to be replaced by hoodies, coats and gloves. Broken Bells were just one of several excellent bands that filled the indoor and outdoor venues of the Mohawk.

I finally made it downtown before 2pm by taking the rather efficient Metro Capitol bus. Traffic along I-35 into downtown took almost an hour the day before from just 10 minutes north. Arriving a little after noon Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers were already on inside. Ray was squeezing the hell out of that squeezbox and her raspy, scowling voice was alarming so early in the day. It certainly set a tone. And Free Energy complete with free cassettes started things outside with their unabashed good times garage rock.

Back inside The Dum Dum Girls were up next with more of the same hazy lo-fi pop that drummer Frankie Rose was laying down the night before on the same stage with her band. I skipped back outside for Demolished Thoughts though Andrew WK (an advertised member along with Thurston Moore and J Mascis) was absent and the bassist for Fucked Up was filling in. It was thrashing punk stuff with silly songs like the 45-second "I Hate Kids" (those were the lyrics) followed by the 45-second "I Hate Sports" (some videos below).

Then it was back inside for a little dance - hip hop with Rye Rye and then back outside for Broken Bells - who kept busy at the festival. For a band only a couple months old they were tight and the songs sounded great. Inside again for Freelance Whales and then back outside for The Antlers, back inside for Real Estate and finally back outside for the Black Keys who straight up killed. Mercer and Danger Mouse (who produced the Keys' Attack & Release) and members of the Antlers were sidestage rocking out. The crowd was hanging over rails and pushing in toward the stage. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney had everyone riveted and rocking. Certainly the most polished performance of the day, perhaps the festival.

Unexpectedly, as I ventured back to the convention center, I stumbled upon Fanfarlo about to perform in Brush Square with free drinks (Shiner Bock!) and heaters to keep the tent warm. Fantastic live show. "If we knew there were going to be so many photographers, we'd have done better," quipped multi-instrumentalist Cathy Lucas about the the band's appearance.

For the evening it was all about finishing strong. I made my way to the Victorian Room at the Driskill for Miss Li who was great and her band was stellar, over to St. David's Bethel Hall to see some Texas bands as part of the Western Vinyl Showcase, including an unimpressive Matthew and the Arrogant Sea. I decided to go all out and dashed over to Barbarella for the excellent Best Coast who also played a couple of new songs that sounded really good. Back to St. David's for the ambient Sleep Whale (formerly MOM) from Denton, TX down to Paradise for crazy afro-beat inflected dance music courtesy of New York's Tanlines (it was a full-on dance party.) Finally, it was back over to St. David's for the beautiful, classical-leaning experimental band Balmorhea.

Day One HERE. Day two HERE. Day Three HERE. Day Four pictures and videos continued below...

Continue reading "SXSW 2010 day 4 pics & review (Black Keys, Dum Dum Girls, Broken Bells, Demolished Thoughts, Antlers, Fanfarlo, more)"

"By now you probably know the story ... days before the release of their sophomore album Get Awkward (Ecstatic Peace / Universal) Be Your Own Pet were informed by the Universal Records higher ups (ya know, the people in suits in the corner office at the top of the building) that three tracks on the album were too violent for the impressionable ears of Be Your Own Pet fans. The band was given the option of recording the tracks without the offending lyrics or taking them off the album. Not wanting to give up artistic control they chose the latter and thus off the album came\"Becky,\" a song about kicking the ass of your former best friend, the nihilistic\"Black Hole\" and\"Blow Yr Mind\" which is about just that.

XL Recordings (Be Your Own Pet\'s label outside of North Amercia) then entered the picture. The indie had no problem releasing Get Awkward as it was given to them and is only too happy to be putting out this Get Damaged EP so America can finally hear the songs that were banned for being too violent.

Get Damaged is currently available via itunes and will be in-stores on June 24." [official PR]

Be Your Own Pet are playing McCarren Pool with Black Keys and Tapes n Tapes on August 7th. Tickets are still on sale. All tour dates below....

Continue reading "Be Your Own Pet censored EP & 2008 Tour Dates (McCarren)"