by Klaus Kinski

Moby, Phil, Ira & Dave

The next installment of the Dave Hill Explosion is happening at the UCB Theater on Thursday 10/16/08 at 9:30pm. Dave might want to consider moving the show to Burger King because it sure is gonna be a whopper*. His guests this week include Moby, Walter Schreifels (Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, Rival Schools) as well as guitar hero Doug Gillard (Guided By Voices, Richard Buckner, the Oranges Band, Cobra Verde). Add to the mix Dave's own comedy, performance, and videos, and you've got a show so overwhelming your health may be in jeopardy. And tickets are only $5.

Walter's band Rivals Schools recently reunited. They have sold-out gigs at Maxwell's (11/4) and Mercury Lounge (11/6). Stoked.

Doug was seen enjoying Robert Pollard's band The Boston Spaceships at the Highline Ballroom on 10/1. If you missed him there and end up missing the Explosion, fear not. You can see him and his full band at the Alphabet Lounge on 10/22 at 7:45pm and then later that night at Southpaw, also with a full band. The Southpaw show is billed as Reef Madness: The Surfrider Foundations NYC Annual Funraiser. They save our reefs. More info on that here

And in case you missed it, Moby appeared at a Rock & Rescue Benefit on October 6th at the Highline Ballroom. And in case you miss the Explosion, keep in mind that Moby's doing a DJ set at Le Royale on 10/22 as part of some CMJ Week party AND Moby's band The Little Death NYC is playing a different CMJ show at Public Assembly in Brooklyn on 10/23.

* so lame.

Video of Rufus Wainwright and Dick Cavett at a past Dave Hill Explosion below...

Continue reading "Dave Hill, Walter Schreifels, Doug Gillard, Moby"

by Klaus Kinski

The thing I like most about Robert Pollard is that even though I barely have the time, attention span, or finances to keep up with his ever-expanding, post-GBV projects, I know I am guaranteed a whale of a time at his live shows. Die-hard familiarity of his music is simply not essential to the enjoyment of one of his shows (though, comfortable shoes and beer kinda helps). The man is a personal deity of air-tight live entertainment. The Boston Spaceships gig at the Highline Ballroom on 10/1 was no deviation from a flawless track record of incredible Pollard experiences. They hit the stage pretty much right at 9:30pm and completely dominated. High kicks, mic swinging, hilarious yet often times unintelligable stage banter, a RIDICULOUSLY awesome rhythm section, and a crowd more than eager to drink, push, shove, pogo, and sweat all over each other made for a fun time. I had to leave the show earlier than I wanted to in order to check out another (really awful) show across town and this kills me as the Spaceships ended up doing two encores packed with classic GBV tracks. Besides some familiar die hard fans and friends, also spotted in the crowd were GBV alumni including guitarist Doug Gillard and drummer Kevin March (who you may have also seen here). A few more pics from the show below...

Continue reading "Robert Pollard's Boston Spaceships @ Highline Ballroom"

by Klaus Kinski

DOWNLOAD: Boston Spaceships - Go For the Exit (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Perhapst - "Quote" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Perhapst - Incense Cone (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Perhapst - Aren't You Glowing (MP3)

The last time Robert Pollard played a gig in NYC it was at the Bowery Ballroom on 11/13/2006. Partly because of a lack of funds and mostly because of sheer stupidity on my part, I missed that gig. Since then, Bob has been busy as hell releasing records, starting his own label (GBV Inc.), having a gallery show of his famous collages, getting ready to publish a book and, most recently, preparing to unleash his new band Boston Spaceships onto the scene with a record and a tour. Tickets for a 10/1/2008 Highline Ballroom gig go onsale Friday at noon.

The core members of Boston Spaceships include Pollard, Chris Slusarenko (Takeovers, Guided By Voices, Svelt, Sprinkler) and current Decemberists drummer John Moen (also Jicks, Elliott Smith, Dharma Bums..... more on him in a second). The band will joined by Jason Narducy (Bob Mould) and Tommy Keene for the tour. Their debut record Brown Submarine comes out on 9/9/2008 on GBV Inc.

Though you'll notice some subtle prog flourishes and acoustic strums, Brown Submarine is a pop punk album, made by and for kids who've worn out the grooves on their Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper, Wire and dBs records. While Pollard has stretched out post-GBV , experimenting on each of his diverse and unique solo records, Boston Spaceships rock hard, have fun and drink Miller Lite.

Drummer John Moen also fronts a band called Perhapst. Perhapst has a self-titled record out now which Moen plays most of the instruments on. Plus, on a couple of tracks he is joined by Stephen Malkmus - not singing though, just bass and guitar. For shows:

The [Perhapst] live band will consist of Chris Funk (guitar, bango, keyboards), John Moen (vocals/guitar), Eric Lovre (bass), and Jonathan Drews (drums). Drews is from Sunset Valley, Lovre from the Dharma Bums, and Funk from The Decemberists.

Perhapst don't have any upcoming dates. Neither do the Decemberists, but Boston Spaceships have a bunch. All of them, and the Brown Submarine tracklisting, below.....

Continue reading "Robert Pollard's Boston Spaceships & Perhapst - new albums, 2008 Tour Dates, MP3s & members of the Decemberists"