photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

"OMG. Is there anything cooler for a mother/daughter trip to New York to incorporate going to see one of the finest examples of an older woman strutting her stuff? I took my daughter to the Highline Ballroom, a small intimate venue packed full of mostly men - but she's still got a diverse following - it wasn't all fat old blokes in tight t-shirts like Pink Floyd fans or ageing women like Tom Jones - it's a real mixture.

SHE IS SO COOL. Initially I was a little worried. She came out in sunglasses and quite a lot of clothes and didn't move very much and her hair is a little, well, a little too Blonde, which I guess in her case is entirely acceptable.

She just got better as her set progressed. Started moving around the stage with that attitude she does so well, stripped down to something more sexy and her voice was good and it was just a great evening and she's f*cking 66!!!!

Honestly. You couldn't find a better role model for the older woman. She is an inspiration. I'm going to walk about New York in my pants today. ROCK ON!!! [Family Affairs & Other Matters]

Maybe you bought some merch from the punk legends at their table, or maybe instead you headed to the Marc Jacobs store on Bleecker Street as part of their pop-up Blondie store, a benefit for Riverkeeper and promotion for their new album out now Panic of Girls, which dropped that same day (Beirut cover included).

Blondie play Music Box at the Borgata in Atlantic City, NJ tonight (9/16) and a show in Clark, NJ on Saturday. Westbury, NY happens Sunday. All tour dates and pictures from Highline Ballroom are below.

Continue reading "Blondie played 2 nights @ Highline Ballroom (pics), continue on tour (NJ this weekend)"

"On Tuesday 9/13 the Marc by Marc Jacobs women's boutique on Bleecker Street in NYC will transform into a pop-up Blondie store! There will be all kinds of Blondie products, from the new album to Blondie fan packs and books, and special Blondie T-shirts, which will benefit Riverkeeper. Blondie will be stopping by in the early evening!

New wave/post-punk pioneers Blondie recently released Panic of Girls in the UK, their third album since reuniting in 1997, and ninth overall. The album includes the single "Mother," which they recently performed live and acoustic from Abbey Road. Check that video out, which includes an interview below. The music video, which B-52 Kate Pierson makes a cameo in, for the track is below too.

Panic of Girls now has a US release date of September 13 via the band's own imprint. They will head out on a North American tour in September and October in support of the album's stateside release. The tour hits NYC on September 12 and 13 at Highline Ballroom. Ticket info is not available yet, but check ticketweb for updates.

Beirut, whose track "Sunday Smile" is covered by Blondie on Panic of Girls, also has a North American tour around that same time. Beirut's tour hits NYC on September 21 and 22 at Terminal 5. Tickets for both of those shows go on Amex presale Wednesday (7/6) and general sale Friday. Listen to the cover below.

Speaking of Blondie covering indie bands, Debbie Harry contributed a cover of Franz Ferdinand's "Live Alone" to their Record Store Day Covers EP with help from the band themselves. LCD Soundsystem offered their take on the same song, though their cover is twice as long (obviously). Stream the entire EP below, which also features covers by Stephin Merritt, ESG, and Peaches. The Record Store Day release was a limited edition colored 12" vinyl. A few are available on ebay. The EP is also now available as a CD and black vinyl. CD versions are on sale at Amazon.

All Blondie tour dates, video, and the EP stream below...

Continue reading "Blondie announces tour in support of new album (that has a Beirut cover on it) --- dates, video & Franz Ferdinand too"

"An Andy Warhol portrait of Blondie star Debbie Harry is expected to fetch up to £5.5 million when it is auctioned at Sotheby's in London later this month.

The 1980 work will go under the hammer on 29 June as part of a two-day auction of contemporary art.

The event will also feature works from the collection of Dave Stewart, better known as one half of the Eurythmics.

Among the seven pieces up for grabs is an early spot painting by Damien Hirst dedicated to the British musician.

According to Sotheby's Cheyenne Westphal, the Harry portrait is "the ultimate culmination of Warhol's exploration of our public fascination with female cultural icons"." [BBC]

Blondie have dates scheduled in Europe this summer. Clem Burke recently took part in the annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash at Irving Plaza.

Blondie is playing Nokia Theatre on August 31st. Tickets are on sale at noon.

Tickets are on sale for the Tom Tom Club show at Santos Party House.

Fountains of Wayne play Bowery Ballroom on October 7th. Tickets are on sale at noon.

Tickets are on sale at noon for the Gaslight Anthem show at Radio City Music Hall.

Tickets are on AmEx presale for The Avett Brothers show at Radio City Music Hall. They go on general sale Saturday at 11am.

Tickets are on sale at noon for the Frightened Rabbit show at Terminal 5.

Tickets are on sale at noon for High On Fire at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Tickets are on sale at noon for Interpol at Wellmont Theatre. Interpol's NYC show doesn't go on sale until next week.

Tickets are on sale at noon for the "All Hearts Tour feat Robyn & Kelis with Dan Black & Far East Movement" show that was added at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Tickets are still on AmEx presale for the recently added Arcade Fire & Spoon show at Madison Square Garden. They go on general sale Saturday at 9am.

Tickets are on sale at noon for Wild Nothing & Blank Dogs at Bowery Ballroom.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin & Telekinesis are playing Bowery Ballroom on September 8th. Tickets go on sale at noon.

Tickets are on sale at noon for Slash's show at Terminal 5.

Tickets are on sale at noon for Jamie Lidell at Webster Hall.

Tickets are on sale at noon for Stars at Terminal 5.

Tickets are on sale at noon for the Best Coast / Male Bonding shows at Bowery Ballroom and Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Dark Star Orchestra are playing Nokia Theatre on October 2nd. Tickets are on sale at noon.

Tickets are on sale at noon for for the Morning Benders show at Webster Hall.

Tickets go on sale at noon for AA Bondy's upcoming show at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are on sale for the two Mystery Jets shows at Mercury Lounge.

Shilpa Ray and Frankie Rose (and their bands) share a bill at Brooklyn Bowl on August 5th. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are on sale for Holly Miranda at Littlefield.

Tickets are on sale for Sleep at Brooklyn Masonic Temple.

photos by Eric Weiss

Blondie @ The Brooklyn Museum

The above and below pictures from the Who Shot Rock & Roll opening event at the Brooklyn Museum on Thursday, October 29th. Blondie performed for museum members and invited guests to celebrate the music photographs now on display.

This Saturday, 11/7, the fun continues as Who Shot Rock & Roll becomes the theme for six hours of free "First Saturday" events at the museum. From 5-8 is the previously-mentioned Crystal Stilts, Grass Window and the Beets show. That runs at the same time as a discussion with with photographers Bob Gruen and Justin Borucki which is just one of many events that night. It all ends with a "dance party" and a performance by Terrance Koh. More info at the museum's site. More pictures from the opening, and a flyer for the show designed by The Beets, below...

Continue reading "have a Who Shot Rock n Roll themed Saturday @ The Brooklyn Museum (where Blondie played) "

Thursday, October 29, 2009
1-10 p.m.
Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro Wing, 5th Floor

Members beginning at the Individual ($55) level are invited to an exclusive preview and peformance by Blondie to celebrate the opening of Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present. An exhibition viewing will take place from 1 to 5 p.m., followed by a reception from 6 to 10 p.m. The reception will feature a performance by Blondie in the Beaux-Arts Court and a book signing with guest curator Gail Buckland. In addition, photographer Josh Cheuse will be DJ for the evening. Cheuse, whose work appears in the exhibition, will mix a variety of rock classics and more contemporary sounds, letting Members dance all night long.

Members must present their invitation, which admits two, for admission. The Museum Shop will be open until 10 p.m., and the Museum Café will be open until 6 p.m. If you are not a Member and would like to attend this event, join now at the Individual level or above.

Set times for tonight's free show (8/13), below...

Continue reading "Blondie Benatar show tonight in Coney Island - rain or shine"

Hall & Oates, Halloween 2007 (more photos)

As previously reported the national Blondie/Pat Benatar/Donnas tour will be making a free stop at Coney Island's Asser Levy/Seaside Park on Thursday, August 13th. That's one of the free shows at this year's Seaside Concert Series, running Thursdays at the Brooklyn park (which may soon be an amphitheater). Other 2009 acts include Creedence Clearwater Revival Revisited, Daryl Hall & John Oates, and Donna Summer.

Full schedule below...

Continue reading "2009 Seaside Summer Concert Series lineup (free shows in Coney Island - Hall & Oates, Donna Summer included) "

"Joey Ramone (May 19, 1951 - April 15, 2001), born as Jeffrey Ross Hyman, was a vocalist and songwriter best known for his work in the punk rock group the Ramones. Joey Ramone's image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon." [Wikipedia]

The event will also be the unveiling of new tracks from the forthcoming posthumous Joey Ramone solo record. In other Joey Ramone news, the singer's induction award to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was re-presented to his estate at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex in NYC, and accepted by Mickey Leigh and Tommy Ramone, on Thursday, May 14th, after mistakenly being left off the program in the original 2002 ceremony.

Coming up, Tommy Ramone and Handsome Dick Manitoba, who will be at the birthday bash, are speaking with Lenny Kaye (of the Patti Smith Group and more) and Chris Stein (of Blondie) at "LOUD FAST JEWS! A Summit with Four Jewish Fathers of Punk" on Thursday, June 11th at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research (15 West 16th St). Tickets to that event are on sale. More info below.

Catch Chris Stein this summer with Blondie, as the band tours alone and with Pat Benatar and The Donnas. All three will play the tour's NYC stop, a free show on August 13th at Coney Island's Asher Levy Park.

Also coming to NYC is Gods and Monsters' 20th anniversary show, scheduled for NYC's Gramercy Theatre on June 11th. The band, helmed by guitarist Gary Lucas, will be joined by guests that include Lenny Kaye. Tickets are still on sale.

Uncle Monk, Tommy Ramone's indie-bluegrass band, has scattered shows in NYC and elsewhere coming up. The band plays June 10th at Banjo Jim's and June 21st at Local 269. More dates below.

Joey Ramone's B-Day bash poster, Loud Fast Jew info, and a video of the Ramones' initial induction ceremony, also below...

Continue reading "Joey Ramone would be 58 today, party in NYC tonight ++ other Ramones / Blondie / Manitoba / Kaye appearances "

"For the first time ever, two pioneering rock legends, Blondie and Pat Benatar, will share the stage on the Call Me Invincible tour. They will be joined by special guests The Donnas. They will embark on a trek across the U.S., beginning in Saratoga, CA on July 21st and ending August 23rd in Houston, TX. The Blondie and Benatar ticket gives fans of all ages three decades of hits from the two female rock icons for the price of one! Says Blondie front woman Deborah Harry, "Pat Benatar is not only a friend, but a fearless female rocker who has entertained me and her wealth of fans for so many years. This will be a reunion for us both and being able to bring our two shows to fans across the country is very exciting!" Between Blondie and Benatar, the tour will feature songs from a combined ten Platinum albums, eight #1 Hits and countless other favorites including "Heart of Glass," "Heartbreaker," "Call Me," "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," "Rapture," "Invincible," "One Way or Another" and "Love is a Battlefield." Pat Benatar adds, "Deborah and I have been friends forever. I'm thrilled that we're finally getting an opportunity to tour together, it should be a blast." The tour also showcases original artwork created by New Orleans artist, Tim Neil. His unique design will be the recognizable image of the tour featuring the clever blending of both iconic faces and will also be available for purchase on select merchandise items.

Continue reading "Blondie, Pat Benatar & the Donnas - 2009 Tour Dates (includes a free show in Coney Island) "

A "child" of Andy Warhol, friend of Debbie Harry, buddy of artist Keith Haring, inspiration to Marc Jacobs and collaborator with them all, Stephen Sprouse was among the first generation of artists who didn't distinguish between fashion, art and rock. Mostly known for his upscale version of downtown street fashion, Sprouse's artwork extended from design to silkscreen to paper. Before his premature death in 2004, Sprouse had been preparing for a retrospective of his life's work. And this January, five years later, it will be ready for display in a full-blown Sprouse-esque exhibition called "Rock on Mars" -- a futuristic, pop-influenced smorgasbord -- at Deitch Projects.

"Hopefully people saw his fashion designs when people were wearing them out," says Suzanne Geiss, director at Deitch, "but I'm excited to see what he did on clothing extended to total installations. Seeing these things together will be a first." Sprouse often incorporated musicians into his work -- in this exhibition, designed and curated by long-time collaborator Jamie Boud, there will be paintings of a crucified Iggy Pop and a rarely-seen Sid Vicious with his pants down. In conjunction with the exhibition, Rizzoli is set to release a book of Sprouse's work by Roger and Mauricio Padilha, The Stephen Sprouse Book; and Louis Vuitton has created a new line of clothing and accessories based on the original Vuitton-Sprouse 2001 collaboration.

The exhibition runs from Jan. 9 through Feb. 28, 2009, at Deitch Projects, 18 Wooster St., New York.
[Paper Magazine]

Vuitton will honor the late artist with three events this Thursday [January 8th/today]. The night will kick off with cocktails at the Vuitton boutique on Greene Street, with a simultaneous event at nearby Deitch Projects' Wooster Street Gallery for the opening of the "Rock on Mars" Sprouse retrospective [see above]. Afterwards, Vuitton and Jacobs will host a bash at the Bowery Ballroom, featuring a performance by Sprouse's friend Debbie Harry, followed by DJ Jus Ske. The venue is expected to have a Sprouse feel, with a special graffiti-and-neon decor.

Continue reading "Stephen Sprouse remembered @ Deitch, by Louis Vuitton, Debbie Harry plays Bowery tonight, Cat Power @ Union Pool"

Photos by Lori Baily

On October 6 Rational Animal hosted the 3rd annual Gimme Shelter: Rock & Rescue benefit concert at NYC's Highline Ballroom. Debbie Harry, Moby, Jessie Malin, AdRock, and more came out to show their support for the cause. The event raised money and media awareness to help end euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals in NYC Shelters. Fundraising for the cause continues with the Rockstar Online Auction. Rational Animal is the leading advocacy group for at risk animals in NYC. More pictures from the event below...

Continue reading "Rock & Rescue Benefit (Debbie Harry, Moby, Adam Green, Jesse Malin, etc) @ Highline Ballroom, NYC - pics"

Tickets go on presale this morning at 10am (PASSWORD=PL67ER) for a whole bunch of Blondie shows including June 22nd Nokia Theatre in NYC. They're calling it the 'Parallel Lines' 30th Anniversary Tour. All dates below....

Continue reading "Blondie - 2008 Tour Dates (Nokia Theatre, presale now)"

FNAC's ad agency borrows shamelessly from Sleeveface.
Flickr pool here.

Gothamist interviewed Deborah Harry today....

How do you feel about CBGB being turned into an upscale boutique? [Laughs.] It’s just a building. It’s just a storefront, really, when you get right down to it.

Do you feel though that it’s indicative of broader changes in New York City? Yes, in some ways, but you know when you look at New York City it’s a fast moving, crowded place with layers upon layers of history, with these different buildings and venues that are always changing. You know, I go past the corner of St. Mark’s Place and Third Avenue and that used to be The Five Spot, which was an incredible, very famous jazz club. Max’s Kansas City is now a deli. I mean, this is not the first time I’ve seen this happen. It happens all the time in New York.

What’s your favorite place to hear live music in New York these days? There are a lot places I like, it just depends on who’s playing. I go to the Knitting Factory sometimes; that’s always a good place to go. It’s a comfortable, very intimate size and a fun place to go.

Gossip have new songs streaming at MySpace. Beth Ditto's other two recent appearances on this site were with New Young Pony Club and as part of this year's Out 100.

All tour dates (Gossip & Debbie), and a clip of Deborah Harry expressing love for her ex-tour-mates Gossip, below....

Continue reading "Deborah Harry, The Gossip, CBGB, Knitting Factory"

Continue reading "Nomi is on Deborah Harry's new album (videos)"

AOL is streaming Deborah Harry's new album Necessary Evil out October 9th. Ticketmaster is selling tickets to her solo show at Irving Plaza (fillmore) on November 8th. Video for "Two Times Blue", below....

Continue reading "see Debbie Harry @ Irving, stream her new album"

I am very sorry that Hilly is gone. He was a big help to Blondie and to the New York music scene for many years. His club CBGB’s has become a part of New York lore and Rock n’ Roll history. -Debbie Harry.

* VHS or Beta & Walter Meego are at Studio B
* Meat Puppets play Knitting Factory again
* Mark Olson from the Jayhawks is at Bowery Ballroom
* Jennifer Gentle (Sub Pop from Italy) & The Dodos are at Luna Lounge
* Ferraby Lionheart celebrates a CD release w/ MGMT at Mercury Lounge

What else?

DOWNLOAD: Throw Me The Statue - Lolita (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Cave Singers - Seeds of Night (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Debbie Harry - Two Times Blue (MP3)

* Dirty Projectors & others play a Showpaper benefit
* Antibalas plays on Governors Island
* Andrew W.K. plays Highline Ballroom
* Kassav' / Bonga @ Prospect Park Bandshell
* Spanish Harlem Orchestra @ Summerstage
* The Foundry Field Recordings are @ Pianos
* The Mae Shi visit Union Pool
* Blonde Redhead & I'm From Barcelona visit McCarren Pool
* Brand Nubian, Cham, MIMS, Joell Ortiz, Clipse & Large Professor
* Dance, Dance, Dance, Dance, Dance
* Lollapalooza & The Virgin Festival
* The Cave Singers going on tour w/ Black Mountain
* Throw Me The Statue's "Lolita" is a popular song
* Tiny Masters of Today collaborating w/ Yeah Yeah Yeahs
* And yes, that is a new Debbie Harry song up there...
* Right above the picture of Debbie and Karen O

What else?

Blondie performed three songs on the Today show this morning - the second of which was "Heart of Glass" with special guest Lily Allen (who is known for covering that song). Tim was there and got pictures...