Alpha Media Group closed Blender magazine today, eliminating about 30 jobs and reducing its portfolio of titles to Maxim alone. The April issue of Blender out now will be its last.

The decision, delivered to Blender staff in a meeting this morning, came as part of broader changes that also included the departure of Alpha co-CEO Glenn Rosenbloom and the integration of editorial staff for Maxim and Maxim Digital.

The remaining CEO, Stephen Duggan, said in a company memo that the company was closing Blender with great sadness. "Since 2001, Blender has provided unmatched music coverage and entertainment news in its unique voice to a profoundly dedicated audience of music enthusiasts," Mr. Duggan wrote. "We are particularly grateful to the sales team and to the tremendously talented editorial staff for their hard work and commitment to Blender." [Advertising Age]

Opened in 1937 as the Gramercy Park Theatre, a name it kept into at least the early 1950's. The Gramercy Theatre was recently used for the Museum of Modern Art's films. It was also the location shoot used in the Fugees video "Killing me Softly".

Since closing for movies it has re-opened in 2007 as the Blender Theatre at Gramercy, a concert venue operated by Live Nation. [Cinema Treasures]

Dan Deacon @ Masonic Temple (more by Zach Stern)

Dan Deacon is playing a "Blender house party photo shoot" at 262 Norman Ave #302 (Between Monitor & Kingsland) in Brooklyn on Tuesday, December 23rd - doors at 7:30 PM. "Entry is free, but capacity is limited. Please wear only black, white or gray clothing or you will not be admitted. BYOB. Buzz loft #302 for entry."

In other random shows news, Okkervil River are playing The Bell House, Bloc Party is playing Terminal 5, tickets went on sale for a 3rd Beirut show, and The Magnetic Fields are opening for Yo La Tengo at Maxwell's.

No word on whether Dan will have the whole ensemble with him.

1. "Into the Crypts of Rays," Celtic Frost
2. "Behind the Crooked Cross," Slayer
3. "Intervention," Corrosion of Conformity
4. "The Thing That Should Not Be," Metallica
5. "Tribal Convictions," Voivod
6. "Long Way To Love," Britny Fox
7. "Wasted Years," Iron Maiden
8. "Soul on Fire," Danzig
10. "Raging Embers," Saviours
11. "After Forever," Black Sabbath
12. "Over the Mountain," Ozzy Osbourne
13. "The Prison of Mirrors," Xasthur

Continue reading "the 13 metal songs Ryan Adams recommended in Blender"

It's Mudhoney time in NYC - the first of three shows kicks off tonight (Nov 30) at Maxwell's in Hoboken, and though Mudhoney didn't appear on the show (Meat Pupppets do), I thought this would be a good place to give away one of those new Nirvana Unplugged DVDs. Details on how to win, a video featuring Kurt Cobain playing with Mudhoney, and Blender's list of the "100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums Ever", below.....

Continue reading "MUDHONEY are here, win a NIRVANA Unplugged DVD ........... "100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums Ever""

DOWNLOAD: Band of Horses - The Funeral (MP3)

BOH @ Blender/Gramercy Theatre, NYC - Oct 19, 2007

Band of Horses played three shows (that I know of) this CMJ. One was their official CMJ showcase at Bowery Ballroom. One was a small in-studio session for KEXP. The other was at Blender Theatre - part of Blender Magazine's late-night CMJ party series. If NYC had a Wal Mart, maybe they would have played one in there too. Jefferson snapped the above and below pics at the Blender party.

Continue reading "Band of Horses played Blender & Bowery"

In case there is any confusion. Counting Crows are also playing CMJ, but they aren't the secret band listed on this flyer.

flyer below....

Continue reading "Blender sessions @ CMJ"