by BBG

My final day at Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 ran the gamut from 90s-indie-worshippers Lemuria to the poppy-hardcore of Kid Dynamite, the Prince-clad hardcore of Ceremony to the glitchy dance of Flying Lotus, and the operatic/enigmatic Austra to the great Slayer. Of the bands that I was not familar with prior to that day (namely OBN IIIs and Les Butcherettes) OBN IIIs set was my favorite; high energy punk/garage was an excellent way to turbo-charge the day. Le Butcherettes were no slouches though, playing fun and spazzy garage-punk featuring the endlessly watachlbe Teri Gender Bender up front and surprise guest Omar Rodriguez-Lopez on bass.

I'll save the "Fun Fun Fun" knee-slapper for pretty much every single band's pre/intra-show banter ("Are you having fun? Are you having Fun Fun Fun?") but yes, Fun Fun Fun Fest lives up to its name.

Previously posted pictures are here: day 1 & day 2, and day 1 & day 2.

More pictures from day three including shots of Lemuria, Le Butcherettes, OBN IIIs, Davila 666, Ceremony, Nobunny, Kid Dynamite, Zero Boys, Eyehategod, Austra, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Cannibal Corpse, Boris, Del The Funkee Homosapien, Slayer, Blonde Redhead, and much more, below...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 -- Day 3 pics (part 1) -- Slayer, Blonde Redhead, Kid Dynamite, Zero Boys, Boris & more"

Slayer at Izod Center (photos by Samantha Marble)

Slayer, Thee Oh Sees, Public Enemy, Girls, Danzig Legacy, (Danzig + Doyle von Frankenstein playing Misfits, Samhain & Danzig), Hot Snakes, Diplo, Major Lazer, Henry Rollins, Ted Leo & The Phramacists, Spank Rock, Murder City Devils, Hum, Lykke Li, Passion Pit, Four Tet, Rakim, The Damned, Austra, Purity Ring, and Flynt Flossy are just a few of the acts announced today as part of the Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 lineup. Another amazing year! Check out the full lineup below and stay tuned for more announcements coming in August and September.

The new additions to the Austin, Texas festival, which takes place from 11/4 - 11/6, are in addition to the the previous "lineup leaks" that included Brian Posehn, Odd Future, Okkervil River, M83, X (performing "Los Angeles"), Reggie Watts, Flying Lotus, Tune-Yards, Ra Ra Riot, Kid Dynamite and others

2011 is the festival's sixth year, but first at its new home Auditorium Shores (no more Waterloo Park). Tickets are on sale now.

Slayer also has a NYC performance coming up with Metallica, Anthrax and Megadeth as part of the "Big Four" show at Yankee Stadium on 9/14. Tickets are still available.

Fun Fun Fun 2011 flyer and almost-full lineup is below.

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 lineup (Danzig Legazy, Passion Pit, Slayer, Lykke Li, The Damned, Henry Rollins & much more)"

by Andrew Sacher

Interpol @ Terminal 5 - 5/8/2011

In a time where the genre is thriving, dream pop vets Blonde Redhead reminded the audience at Terminal 5 last night (5/8) that they're still on top of their game. Performing with a fervor unlike many of their contemporaries, Blonde Redhead delivered a tremendous set comprised of songs off their two most recent albums, 23 and Penny Sparkle. Kazu Makino and Amedeo Pace fed off each other's energies with ease, while sincerely retaining a youthful spirit of intensity. Pace's twin brother Simone completed the sound perfectly with a style that refuses to choose between precision and attack.

Having always considered Blonde Redhead's more recent material to be on the more relaxed side, they successfully proved me wrong with one of the loudest sets I've ever seen. They translated the subtle trip hop rhythms of "Here Sometimes" into dark bass-heavy dance beats that filled the entire venue with the same power the band was generating on stage. Standout track "Spring and by Summer Fall" ended with a blaring noise section and a light show spastic enough to blind the crowd, further accentuating what may have already been the most memorable part of the set.

A half hour later, Interpol emerged out of the shadowy lighting and fog machines and dove into Interpol album opener "Success." They followed the song with an hour and a half of material off all four of their albums, "Say Hello to the Angels" was an especially pleasant surprise early on. The band performed with a level of confidence that has evidently grown from album to album, and each member's distinct playing style cut through. Not being able to see Carlos D (or even Dave Pajo) was extremely unfortunate, but his trademark bass lines were well replicated by Interpol's current touring bassist Brad Truax. The highlight of the set came when Truax broke into the opening bass line of "Evil," which was responded to with excessive applause from the crowd who proceeded to shout along to every word in the song.

--

The NYC show was a benefit for Sickday Safety Net. Interpol is done touring for now, but has more dates scheduled all over the place throughout the summer. Their setlist from last night and a couple videos from the show, below...

Continue reading "Interpol played Terminal 5 w/ Blonde Redhead (setlist, video)"

Interpol @ Coachella 2011 (more by David Andrako)

Interpol are now on tour, hitting the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park, NJ tonight (5/6) (their first time playing Asbury Park in a decade which isn't that weird actually because how many times does a band really ever play Asbury Park?) (it's weirder that Interpol have been around long enough to even have that statistic), followed by a Saturday show in Rhode Island with School of Seven Bells, and than a Sunday night charity performance at NYC's Terminal 5 with Blonde Redhead. Where do the proceeds go you ask?

All proceeds will go directly to raising Sickday Safety Net's awareness in Manhattan, expanding into Brooklyn and increasing the number of community heath care partners and providers.

Sickday Safety Net is a new program launched recently by Sickday Medical House Calls, a New York company providing acute urgent medical care to patients in the privacy of their homes, offices or hotel rooms. Sickday Medical House Calls has been serving New Yorkers for ten years and has grown its active patient base to over 10,000.

The Safety Net is free to join and open to any uninsured New Yorker working in the creative arts including musicians, actors, painters, dancers, photographers, models, art directors, dancers, filmmakers, writers and visual artists. Members of Safety Net have access to Sickday's medical house call services and will never again need to get out of bed, find a babysitter or cancel a meeting to get quality, affordable medical care and no crowded waiting room, no blank forms, no inflated pricing - quality care, delivered via a medical house call. Medical professionals come directly to you, in your home or office, at a fixed Safety Net rate of $75. It's free to join and you only pay when and if you need services. Sickday guarantees same-day service.

Continue reading "Interpol are on tour (updated dates), raising money for Sickday Safety Net Sunday @ Terminal 5 w/ Blonde Redhead (win tix)"

Interpol @ Radio City in Feb. (more)

Interpol, who recently announced a partnership with the Creators Project to bring "a new visual experience to match (the band's) live set," has announced more tour dates including May 6th at Paramount Theater in Asbury Park, NJ and May 8th at Terminal 5 in NYC. It's unclear who's opening the NJ show, but Blonde Redhead are definitely also playing the NY one which goes on "Sickday" presale this Wednesday. Tickets for the "Sickday Fuzzy Sock Hop" go on general sale Friday, and tickets for the NJ show are available at the Pajo-less band's site now.

All tour dates and a Creators Project video below...

Continue reading "Interpol announce more dates - Asbury Park, Terminal 5 w/ Blonde Redhead & more"

words and photos by Chris Gersbeck

Blonde Redhead played their first of two shows at Webster Hall last night (11/3) with Pantha Du Prince. The party continues tonight (11/4) with Rain Machine (and not Taken by Trees or Pantha Du Prince). Tickets are still available.

There was a line outside of Webster Hall before doors opened shortly after 7pm that nearly reached the movie theater on Third Ave. Though I had read there were still tickets available on my way to the venue, I heard murmurs that it was sold out from people being turned away at the box office. Clearly, Blonde Redhead's two night stay in New York City, their first official show in the area since playing Prospect Park in '09 (they played private shows at 92Y Tribeca in August and Tribeca Grand after that), has been greeted with much anticipation following the release of Penny Sparkle.

Despite the line, the crowd was sparse all the way up until the beginning of Pantha Du Prince's set. I was somewhat familiar with the German musician's latest album Black Noise, but as usual I never know what to expect from a one-man act/producer whose primary instruments are electronic. Pantha took the stage right at 8pm, cloaked in his hoodie on a dimly lit stage, and quickly began tapping various pads and adjusting knobs creating an atmospheric layer of sound. Though he did have a laptop on stage, nothing about it seemed pre-recorded or staged. I've seen his music described as "minimalist", but as the set went on and his sounds became deeper and blanketed, his performance was anything but minimal. While there would often be a four-on-the-floor beat, on top of that would be a complex layer of synth and percussion, and occasionally a looped pre-recorded vocal track. Oddly enough, as his set was coming to a close and his wall of sound was hanging on a note, something abruptly happened and his sound was shut off, leaving a bit of an awkward silence followed by an enthusiastic response from the crowd. By this point, Webster Hall was completely full, and everyone was anxiously awaiting the arrival of the headliner. It's worth noting that when Radiohead's Myxomatosis was played on the P.A., the crowd let out a collective cheer. Note to Radiohead: new album and tour please...

The audience didn't have to wait long for the main act, as Blonde Redhead stuck to the set times and took the stage shortly after 9pm. Hidden behind a long white mask burgeoning with tufts of long blonde hair, Kazu Makino set the tone for the rest of their set: mysterious, somber, calculated and beautiful. The band started off slow, as Amedeo and Simone Pace, both incredible musicians in their own right, passionately tore through openers (and new songs) "Black Guitar" and "Here Sometimes" while Kazu enigmatically danced around on stage. Joined by a fourth multi-instrumentalist member, their songs stayed true to their studio counterparts; Blonde Redhead sounded as tight as ever.

There were some pauses in between the first few songs that I think made everyone a little nervous. The band quickly tried to switch from keyboard to guitar, from guitar to keyboard, from mask to no mask, but that's what happens when a band takes itself this seriously and doesn't exactly acknowledge the audience. Not that anyone seemed to care. As soon as Amedeo teased the audience with the guitar riff from "Falling Man" the crowd responded enthusiastically before being pummeled with some of the tightest rhythm work I've heard from a band in a while.

Simone Pace' sdrums can sometimes sound sequenced on recording, but not a song passed where I didn't recognize how integral a part he plays in this band's sound. It also became apparent as the set went on how seamlessly the band can go from a beautifully arranged synth-heavy song like "23" with Kazu solely on vocals, then watch her strap on a guitar and suddenly, they're a punk band. After two(!) encores, the band left for good. I'm quite certain tonight's audience will consist of many repeat fans.

Blonde Redhead are touring in support of their new LP, Penny Sparkle, out now via 4AD. If you are on the West Coast/Southwest, catch 'em on tour with Olof Arnolds.

More pictures, the setlist and video from Webster Hall last night, below...

Continue reading "Blonde Redhead & Pantha Du Prince played Webster Hall --- (pics, video, setlist) "

Blonde Redhead in Prospect Park (more by Chris LaPutt)

Blonde Redhead kick off their two night stay at Webster Hall TONIGHT (11/3) with Pantha Du Prince (tickets are still available as of this posting), and tomorrow (11/4) with newly added support Rain Machine (aka Kyp Malone) who has replaced the previously listed Taken By Trees (Pantha only plays tonight). Tickets are also still available for tomorrow's show, or you can try your luck at winning a pair. Details on how are at the bottom of this post.

The two NYC dates mark the end of the road for their East Coast tour and for Pantha Du Prince as their tour-mate, but Blonde Readhead will head out west then south for a string of dates with Olof Arnalds. They will conclude the tour on 12/1 at La Zona Rosa in Austin, TX. All dates, some videos and contest details below...

Continue reading "Blonde Redhead kicking off 2 night NYC run, now w/ Rain Machine (win tix) "

DOWNLOAD: Blonde Redhead - "Here Sometimes" (Pantha Du Prince remix) (MP3)

Don't plan on being at the BrooklynVegan official CMJ showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Thursday night (now with more Suuns, less Yuck)? Looking for something to do afterwards? The above flyer illustrates another October 21st CMJ option, and though there will be no live music, there will be free beer, giveaways courtesy of Converse, free t-shirts, free beer, prize packs, free beer, and lots of people who work at record labels in the house including two who will be playing music . DJ sets will be by True Panther Soundsystem, Matador founder Gerard Cosloy, Lemonade, and Matador's Dave Martin. The party is also completely free and requires no badge at all. Oh, and it's all in the name of buying music.

Speaking of the 21 year old Matador aka Beggars, the Blonde Redhead/Pantha Du Prince tour, two shows at Webster Hall included, kicks off in Philly tonight (10/15), and 4AD aka Beggars has released a new free remix to celebrate. Grab that above. All dates below...

Continue reading "Matador & Sub Pop throwing 'I Buy Music' CMJ party, Pantha Du Prince remixed Blonded Redhead (MP3 & dates) "

screenshot from 'Not Getting There' video

Tickets are still available for Blonde Redhead's November 3rd show with Pantha Du Prince at Webster Hall, but they added another happening one day later at the same venue. Tickets for the November 4th show go on sale Friday at noon (AmEx presale begins Wednesday at noon).

Blonde Redhead's new video for "Not Getting There" (off Penny Sparkle), with updated tour dates, below....

Continue reading "Blonde Redhead add 2nd NY show - updated dates, new video"

Kevin Barnes & Janelle Monae last time @ Terminal 5 (more by Chris La Putt)

today in NYC
* WAR in Bryant Park
* Chico Mann @ Zebulon
* Burlesque @ the Beach
* Robert Black @ The Stone
* Son Of Flubba @ The Stone
* Marques Toliver @ Zebulon
* Gabriel Kahane @ Sycamore
* Thurston Moore @ the Whitney
* Cloudland Canyon @ Permanent Records
* Ween @ Central Park's Rumsey Playfield
* Eugene Mirman Comedy Fest @ Union Hall
* of Montreal, Janelle Monae @ Terminal 5
* Ninjasonik, 2 Mandy DJ's @ 548 W 22nd St
* Eugene Mirman Comedy Fest @ the Bell House
* The Tony Castles, Safe, Regal Degal @ Union Pool
* Metalux, MV Carbon, Aki Onda @ Issue Project Room
* Mimi Maura, Sergio Rotman, CSC Funk Band @ Coco 66
* Unicycle Loves You, Frances, Oh Land @ Littlefield
* Crystal Stilts, Messages, Moon Duo @ Knitting Factory
* Radical Dads, Family Trees, Reading Rainbow @ Cake Shop
* +/- (Plus/Minus), Hallelujah The Hills @ Mercury Lounge
* AIDS Wolf, An Albatross, Sightings, Vaz @ Death By Audio
* Elf Power, The Capstan Shafts, Folklore @ The Rock Shop
* Tooth Ache., Holy Spirits, Winks, Night Manager @ Silent Barn
* UV Race, Total Control, Crazy Spirit, Wild Thing @ The Acheron
* Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group, Le Butcherettes @ Highline Ballroom
* Vampire Weekend, Beach House, Dum Dum Girls @ Radio City Music Hall
* Kid Congo Powers and The Pink Monkey Birds, K Holes @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Indian Jewelry, Oberhofer, Total Slacker, La Big Vic @ Monster Island
* Bermuda Bonnie, Pink Stallone (Williamsburg Fashion Weekend @ Glasslands
* Sisters, The N.E.C., Drunk Tigers, Candyhearts, Timeshares, Carnivores, Grand Rapids @ Shea Stadium

Blonde Redhead's new video for "Not Getting There" below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday? "

DOWNLOAD: Blonde Redhead - Not Getting There (MP3)

Blonde Redhead @ 92YTribeca in August (more by kolored)

Blonde Redhead will play a Fashion Week kick-off show at Tribeca Grand this evening, Tuesday, September 7th...

"The evening will go something like this. You'll arrive at the Tribeca Grand on September 7, and enjoy complimentary beer from Williamsburg's own Brooklyn Brewery and Elevated cocktails by Tequila Avion. An hour(ish) later, Kazu Makino and twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace--Blonde Redhead--will take the stage, filling the intimate space with their dream pop sound. After the show, you'll attend a private party with the band and the members of their guest list. The entire evening has been designed specifically for Gilt City."

A more affordable option would be grabbing a ticket for the band's November 3rd Webster Hall show where you also get an opening set by Pantha Du Prince for your $30 (but no free beer).

Blonde Redhead's new album Penny Sparkle, out September 14th via 4AD, is streaming in full at NPR NOW. Grab "Not Getting There" as a free download above. Check out the band performing "Here Sometimes" (a 4AD Session), along with updated tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Blonde Redhead playing $80 show, streaming album & stuff"

DOWNLOAD: Olof Arnalds - "Innundir Skinni" (MP3)

Ólöf Arnalds at SXSW 2010 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

The adorably quirky and talented Olof Arnalds now has two new videos. There's the one we just posted for "Crazy Car" (a song in English), and the one that's been out for a while actually. It's for the title track for her new LP, Innundir Skinni (due 9/13). Both and more can be watched below.

Olof has also announced a US tour! Kicking off on 10/8 in Philadelphia, Arnalds will hit Joe's Pub on 10/9 and do a few solo dates before heading back to Europe. After her dates in the EU, Arnalds will link up with Blonde Redhead (who she opened for in Prospect Park) for a string of dates on the West Coast and southwest. Joe's Pub tickets are on sale now and her full tour schedule, with videos,below... .

Continue reading "more Olof Arnalds shows, new video, Blonde Redhead dates"

photos by kolored

"The room was filled to a suffocating level with smoke, tinted with hints of strawberry flavor, and bright white light- making it hard for just about anyone to orient themselves in the first few minutes of entering the room.

As the new songs played on the speakers below the murmur of voices, special $9 Blonde Redhead cocktails were served- raspberry vodka with prosecco and a touch of grenadine. And although the room too smokey, and the drinks too expensive and sweet, once the band took the stage to play a short set of Penny Sparkle songs, the air in the room shifted." [Free Williamsburg]

More pictures and a video from the 92YTribeca show, below...

Continue reading "Blonde Redhead played new songs @ 92yTribeca (pics, video) "

DOWNLOAD: Blonde Redhead - Here Sometimes (MP3)

In advance of their upcoming North American tour this fall, Blonde Redhead will be hosting a live preview for their forthcoming album, Penny Sparkle, on Tuesday August 10th at 92YTribeca. The band will spin the record before playing a live set. Entry is invite/contest only, but we have two pairs of tickets to give away. Details are below.

Penny Sparkle comes out September 14th on 4AD - check out one of its songs above.

The NYC show on their tour with Pantha Du Prince happens November 3rd at Webster Hall. Tickets are still on sale.

Contest info and a flyer are below...

Continue reading "Blonde Redhead previewing new LP @ pre-tour show (win tix) "

Blonde Redhead @ Celebrate Brooklyn in 2009 (more by Chris La Putt)

Blonde Redhead's new LP, Penny Sparkle, is due September 14th on 4AD. The first track from that, their new song "Here Sometimes," is streaming below (and downloadable at their site for your email address).

They go on a tour of North America this October and November, where they'll be joined by minimal techno producer Pantha Du Prince (Germany's Hendrick Weber), who in June played his first US shows in three years. All dates on the tour don't seem to be announced yet, but are now announced and the NYC show is Webster Hall on Wednesday, November 3rd. Tickets go on AmEx presale Wednesday at noon; general sale is Friday at noon. There's also a band presale that starts Wednesday at 10am (password = "Sparkle").

The new song and partial all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "new Blonde Redhead - MP3 & tour dates w/ Pantha Du Prince"

The National's High Violet came out Tuesday. They also used that occassion to release a video for the song "Bloodbuzz Ohio." That clip, which features Matt Berninger, his infamous glass of wine, and documentarian D.A. Pennebaker as a bartender, is posted below.

The band's High Violet Annex events kicked off last night with a low key few hours of DJing from members of Blonde Redhead and a ticket contest for Saturday's BAM show. Contests like that will be happening each day at the space which is next to Other Music. Tonight, Wednesday, there's also a full lineup of bands playing. Lineups for the rest of the nights still TBA.

Speaking of D.A. Pennebaker, he'll be directing a live webcast of the BAM show on YouTube Saturday night. And speaking of ticket contests for the show, we also have two pairs to give away courtesy of the show's sponsor, Zync. Contest details, with the above-mentioned video and a Pennebaker/Dylan (both pictured above) rehash to promote the show, below...

Continue reading "High Violet Annex open, new National video, free BAM tix"

DOWNLOAD: Liars - Scissor (MP3)

Liars announce details of an expanded edition of their eagerly awaited fifth studio album, Sisterworld, out on March 9th 2010.

This version comes with a second CD of remixes and reinterpretations of all 11 tracks on Sisterworld from artists including Thom Yorke, Tunde Adebimpe (TV On The Radio), Bradford Cox (Deerhunter / Atlas Sound), Melvins, Alan Vega (Suicide), Chris & Cosey (Throbbing Gristle) and Blonde Redhead. Full tracklisting to follow in the coming weeks.

Says Angus Andrew, "On this project we wanted to help develop and expand the role of the remix, particularly to engage artists less acknowledged for their work in the field. They were asked to 're-interpret' the song by any means necessary and the result is definitely the most exciting collaborative effort we've been involved in."

Liars also announce a string of North American tour dates in support of Sisterworld. The tour sees fellow LA band Fol Chen supporting Liars on all dates. The first single from Sisterworld, Scissor will be released as a digital single February 16th, 2010.

Continue reading "Liars - 2010 Tour Dates & new album w/ expanded 2nd CD featuring Thom Yorke, Tunde, Bradford, Melvins & more "

photos by Bao Nguyen, words by Andrew Frisicano

It would be hard to describe the final Jelly NYC Pool Party, and the entire series this summer, as anything less than a success.

Like the week before with Girl Talk, the park reached capacity, meaning whoever was left in line, which I'm told wound down to Wythe Ave and back, had to listen from the street. Which might not have been so bad - the echoing sound from the show reached as far as McCarren Park, which made sense, because Grizzly Bear was loud and their sound, already loaded with reverb, was made to travel.

Beach House's set, which followed Vega's, seemed similar to Grizzly Bear in some ways - dreamy, washed out vocals and lethargic drums - but with a sound of their own. Grizzly Bear on stage simply sounded great. The band benefits from an echoey space that gives component parts time to fill out propery. The opener "Southern Point" broke into an ocean of sound that set the tone for the rest of the set. Later, Beach House's Victoria Legrand joined the group for her part on "Two Weeks," and throughout, both guitarists played with distortion that pushed the usually restrained GB (at least on record) over the edge. A great concise set, with a bit of jamming toward the end, and no encore (sadly, cause they earned it). With sunset behind them (in a non-blinding way) it was a great way to end the series (but hopefully, not the summer yet).

Grizzly Bear has lots of other tour dates coming up (but none in NYC). (And speaking of collaborations, Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan) sings lead on the b-side version of the band's "While You Wait for the Others" single - out on 7-inch and iTunes)

More pictures and the GB setlist are below...

Continue reading "Grizzly Bear, Beach House, Vega, Schumer & friends @ the last 2009 JellyNYC Pool Party (Williamsburg) - pics & setlist"

photos by Chris La Putt

"Despite a severe thunderstorm as hundreds of hipsters and regular people lined up to get into Friday's Blonde Redhead concert at Celebrate Brooklyn!, it stopped raining before the show began and it ended up being a really nice night listening to the dreamlike sounds of the band.

The highlight [Olof Arnald's] opening act - she seemed aware of the absurdity of trying to win over fans anxiously waiting for Blonde Redhead - was a quirky, oddly affecting Michael Jackson tribute when she sang "Billie Jean" with that little guitar or whatever it is. It started raining again." [Dumbo Books of Brooklyn]

Continue reading "Blonde Redhead & Olof Arnalds @ Prospect Park, NYC - pics "

Dr. Dog @ the 2009 Clearwater Festival - 6/20 (more by Chris La Putt)

Chances of rain aside, it's a good weekend to camp out in Park Slope for free, outdoor, rock shows. Celebrate Brooklyn hosts not one, but two 'indie'-friendly evenings in Prospect Park...

Friday, June 26, 7:30 P.M. (gates open at 6:30 P.M.) Blonde Redhead/Olof Arnalds

Saturday, June 27, 7:00 P.M. (gates open at 600 P.M.) Dr. Dog/Phosphorescent/These United States

Continue reading "Blonde Redhead & Dr Dog/Phos - 2 free shows this weekend "

photos by Ryan Muir

A lot of photographers were in the house at the beginning of the BrooklynVegan Northside show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday (6/12). So not surprisingly I have this second set of pictures from the event (the first set was by Chris La Putt).

For Olof Arnalds, that Brooklyn show was her third in three days, and part of her second trip to NYC in two months.

If you still haven't seen her, there is now yet another chance. In just 8 days from this posting (I really hope she isn't flying back and forth to Iceland every single time), Olof will be back in NYC to open for Blonde Redhead at the free 'Celebrate Brooklyn' show they're playing at the Prospect Park Bandshell on June 26th. I'm sure it will be her biggest audience yet (I was at her South Street Seaport show, and the early afternoon audience was not big).

More of Ryan's pictures of this show below...

Continue reading "Olof Arnalds playing Prospect Park w/ Blonde Redhead ++ more pics from MHOW "

A performing arts program of BRIC Arts | Media | Bklyn, Celebrate Brooklyn! is one of New York City's longest running, free, outdoor performing arts festivals. Launched in 1979, as a catalyst for a Brooklyn performing arts scene and to bring people back into Prospect Park after years of neglect, Celebrate Brooklyn has been an anchor in the park's revitalization and has become one of the city's foremost summer cultural attractions. Over the course of its history Celebrate Brooklyn has presented over 1,700 artists and ensembles reflective of the borough's diversity, ranging from internationally acclaimed performers to emerging, cutting-edge artists. All Celebrate Brooklyn performances are free. The festival attracts upwards of 250,000 attendees from across New York City to the Prospect Park Bandshell each summer.

Continue reading "Celebrate Brooklyn! 2009 Prospect Park concert schedule "

DOWNLOAD: The National - So Far Around The Bend (MP3)

Dark Was The Night producers (from left) Bryce Dressner, John Carlin, & Aaron Dressner (Photo by Tim Soter)

NPR Music will record the Dark Was the Night Concert and offer performances from it online at www.npr.org/music The show will gather many major indie music acts at New York's Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, May 3 to commemorate the release of the charity compilation of the same name.

Host of NPR Music's All Songs Considered Bob Boilen will attend and report from the show that features several of the artists that contributed to the compilation, including Dirty Projectors, David Byrne, My Brightest Diamond, The National, Dave Sitek (from TV on the Radio), Bon Iver, Feist and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. A week following, songs from the event along with Boilen's commentary and interviews with many of the artists will be available for streaming at www.npr.org/music The concert will also be available for download via the "Live in Concert" podcast.

"The National's Aaron Dessner explained the format of the show to Pitchfork in a recent news feature, 'We're going to have two halves (of the show). The first half will be songs from Dark Was the Night, and then there will be a short intermission. And then afterwards, there will be mini-sets by different artists and collaborations, both things that relate to Dark Was the Night and some that don't.'" I was told the show will be four hours long.

And according to an official set of Blonde Redhead tour dates someone sent me (a list that includes the show in Brooklyn's Prospect Park), Blonde Redhead will be there tonight. All (three) dates below (thanks Joseph). David Byrne, who will definitely be there, is also playing Prospect Park.

Despite probably-originally-tentatively agreeing to do it, Grizzly Bear won't be playing Radio City because they landed a spot on the Jools Holland show in the UK that had to be taped this weekend. Yeasayer are recording a new album in the woods somewhere. Why Sufjan Stevens won't be there is still a mystery though. Maybe he will? Other NYC-area artists that are part of the CD, but not on the bill include the New Pornographers (AC Newman lives here I think), Yo La Tengo, My Morning Jacket (Jim James lives here I think), and Antony.

According to an interview with the "Dressner" brothers at Vanity Fair, the National will play two new songs at the show. They wouldn't say much else except that we should expect some "exciting collaborations". I know that Thomas "Doveman" Bartlett will be playing piano at the show. Also heads up Europe: they'd "like to do another show in London and/or Paris but it is a huge amount of work and schedule coordination to pull off so I'm not sure. But we're looking at options!"

And in what had to be the worst timing ever for "huge shows with special guests", Pete Seeger's 90th birthday party is also tonight, but at the much larger Madison Square Garden. Maybe Bruce Springsteen will stop over to sing a song at Radio City before his set at MSG. Hey, it doesn't seem completely impossible.

Continue reading "Dark Was The Night today! NPR recording. Blonde Redhead playing? Will anyone else? Who's going? (tix still on sale)"

Blonde Redhead will headline a free show at Prospect Park Bandshell on Friday, June 26. Stay tuned for the entire "Celebrate Brooklyn" schedule to be announced on May 4th (which will also include Deer Tick, Grace Potter, David Byrne, Dr. Dog and Phosphorescent).

Hey,
3 noteworthy notes to notefully note.

1) Spain dates have been added to the February tour. 21st in Barcelona, 22nd in Madrid. The Paris date has also been filled in, and if i'm not misunderstood, it's going to be a free show. Probably want to RSVP to that on the early side.

2) We're supporting Blonde Redhead on New Year's Eve in New York City at Terminal 5. This will be fun. Party horns, noise makers, and a lot of fake-out countdowns. [Elvis Perkins was also added to this bill].

3) I, Nick Thorburn/Diamonds am curating a show in New York City, my adoptive home, at the Knitting Factory on Monday, December 8th. All proceeds go to New York Cares, a local charitable organization that supports underprivelaged communities, the homeless and various social and welfare services. David Cross, Fred Armisen, Marnie Stern, Conrad Keely from Trail of Dead, Despot, yours truly, and a couple of other surprises are all on the table. It will be a jam-packed evening, and it's for a good cause.

Continue reading "Islands - New Years Eve, Elvis Perkins, WIN, 2009 Tour Dates"