photos by Andrew St. Clair

"The doors opened at 7:30 and Robert Plant and the Band of Joy hit the stage just after 9 pm. I stood front row, center stage (my usual spot), but tonight this spot was extra magical. I was inches from where Robert Plant's lyric book was and for the entire show, I was less than 2 feet away from him. During the concert, my brain would suddenly shout out - "you are close enough to reach out and touch the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, a band whose music has shaped your life." Needless to say, I broke into tears many times during the night." [According to G]

Robert Plant's band included vocalist Patty Griffin, guitarist Buddy Miller, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Daryl Scott, bassist-vocalist Byron House, and drummer-percussionist-vocalist Marco Giovino.

"The Band of Joy played songs from their self-titled album, 2 of my favorite tracks off "Raising Sand," Plant's Grammy winning album with Alison Krauss, ("Please Read the Letter" and "Rich Woman,") and they also reinterpreted 4 Led Zeppelin songs ("Misty Mountain Hop," "Houses of the Holy," "Gallows Pole," and "Rock and Roll.")" [According to G]

Continue reading "Robert Plant, Patty Griffin & Band (Of Joy) played Bowery Ballroom (pics, video, setlist) "

Bowery photos by Chris Gersbeck, ATP photos by Samantha Marble & Abbey Braden

BEAK> at Bowery Ballroom

Certainly the band with the most curiosity aimed its way is Beak>, the new project from Portishead multi-knobbist Geoff Barrow. These question marks were quickly straightened out into exclamation points as the trio dropped future-minor-classic after future-minor-classic. Despite their musical chairs -- with Barrow switching spots with mates Matt Williams (of Team Brick) and Billy Fuller (of Fuzz Against Junk) -- their sound was remarkably together for a band formed around a set of songs written and recorded within a self-imposed allotment of twelve days.

Any fan of the tightly-bolted Kraut of Fujiya & Miyagi, or the crusty textural embellishments of Broadcast, or the steady-handed groove-keeping of, say, Hallogallo 2010 (who would play later on the same stage) would instantly warm up to the hard-stamped rhythms, spectral vocals, thick melodic slabs, feral oscillations and (big bonus!) disarming humor of Beak>. -[Boston Globe review of BEAK> at ATP]

Beak>'s Bowery show was one night before Mudhoney (who played Friday at Kutshers) played Bowery Ballroom with Pissed Jeans and White Hills (who would play ATP the next day). A post about the NYC Mudhoney/Pissed Jeans/White Hills show is on the way.

More pictures from both east coast BEAK> shows, below...

Continue reading "BEAK> played Bowery Ballroom & ATP (pics) "

Last night's Zach Williams show at Bowery Ballroom featured an opening set by Sarah Fullen who happens to be a member of the Gregory Brothers who are the ones behind Auto Tune The News who just scored a hit song based on the words spoken by Antoine Dodson to a news team after someone tried to rape his sister in the projects (they also gained some notoriety just a month or so earlier thanks to their auto tuned Double Rainbow song). Well, Sarah brought the whole family (though not Antoine) along to Bowery Ballroom and gave a surprise to most in attendance. Video below...

Continue reading "the Gregory Brothers played 'Bed Intruder' @ Bowery (video) "

Robert Plant throws his hood up

"Burlington, MA - Rounder Records is pleased to announce that Robert Plant is back with Band of Joy, his first album since 2007's six time Grammy® Award winning Raising Sand (Rounder). Band of Joy was recorded in Nashville with a stellar cast of musicians and will be released on September 14.

A timeless plunge into authentic Americana, the album was co-produced by Plant and Nashville legend and guitarist Buddy Miller. "Buddy's integral to this album, you can hear his taste all over the instrumentation," enthuses Plant. "Buddy's zone is beautiful, with a lot of reflections going back into mid-Fifties rockabilly, the singing fishermen and all the great country stuff, along with the soul and R&B from Memphis."

As well as Miller, the Band of Joy is made up of multi-instrumentalist Darrell Scott, who provides the mandolin, guitar, accordion, pedal, lap steel and banjo lines, country singer-songwriter Patty Griffin who adds the main vocal foils to Plant's lead parts, while Byron House plays bass and percussion comes from Marco Giovino."

More North American dates to be announced, but for now there are a set of European ones. They are listed, with more album info, below...

Continue reading "Robert Plant releasing 'Band of Joy', playing Bowery Ballroom"

photos by Benjamin Lozovsky

Autolux @ Bowery Ballroom

While Maxwell's is normally filled with locals excited and ready to see their favorite act perform, Los Angeles fuzzy rock trio Autolux seemed to have attracted more people from New York City than the Mile Square.

"How many people here are actually from Hoboken?" bassist and lead singer Eugene Goreshter asked the crowd during Sunday's sold-out show.

Although only a smattering of hands peeked out of the crowd, this didn't mean that the rest of the city couldn't get a taste of what Autolux had to offer. While Autolux is composed of Goreshter, guitarist Greg Edwards and drummer Carla Azar, the amount of sound they make not only fills the confines of Maxwell's but also leaves you with aftershocks of distorted bass chords and drumbeats. Even with earplugs lodged into one's ears, the sound seems to creep through and make your eardrum vibrate a bit more than it's used to. If all that happens, then Autolux have done their job. Usually compared to the likes of Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine, the volume level can outdo even the largest group of prepubescent teenyboppers at a Justin Bieber concert. [Hoboken Patch]

Oberhofer was also the opener at the Bowery Ballroom show and that's where the pictures in this post are from. More of them, with the Manhattan and Brooklyn setlists (they're almost identical actually), below...

Continue reading "Autolux played Maxwell's, MHOW & Bowery Ballroom w/ This Will Destroy You & Oberhofer (pics & setlists)"

photos by Chris Gersbeck

Cosmetics @ Bowery Ballroom

Wild Nothing headlined/co-headlined the show Saturday night at Bowery Ballroom, but there were also sets by Blank Dogs, MINKS, and Cosmetics (who play Pendu Disco at Glasslands tonight/Tuesday). Pictures from the rest of the sold out NYC show (where 100 lucky people who made it to the merch table in time got an exclusive CD-R/tape), below...

Continue reading "Blank Dogs, Cosmetics & Minks played Bowery Ballroom (pics) (Cosmetics play again tonight)"

photos by Chris Gersbeck

DOWNLOAD: Wild Nothing - Golden Haze (MP3)

There's a lot going on in Wild Nothing's world. The band, who hail from Blacksburg, VA, are packing their bags and moving to Brooklyn. Not really surprising, except that it took this long. They also have a new EP, Golden Haze, coming out on Captured Tracks sometime in the near future. Apart from the title cut (which you can download above), tracklistings on the CD, 12" and digital versions will vary, which reminds me of the way they used to release multiple versions of UK CD singles in the '90s to get a higher chart position. Fun with formats, or milking the fans? I guess if all the songs are worth hearing it won't matter.

No matter which one you buy, "Golden Haze" is another sparkler from these guys who have been playing a lot of new songs at their shows. And if you haven't picked up their debut Gemini yet, I think it's one of the year's best. And with a permanent line-up (and a new, really solid drummer), Wild Nothing have been a really good live band too. [Bill]

On September 22nd Wild Nothing will leave on a tour with Stars who they'll support through October 9th in Detroit. That trip includes the September 24th show at Terminal 5 in NYC (tickets still on sale), which will actually be Wild Nothing's 2nd NYC show after today because they also open for Superchunk at Music Hall of Williamsburg on September 19th (Todd Barry is also on that sold out bill).

All WN dates and more Bowery pics, below...

Continue reading "Wild Nothing played Bowery Ballroom (pics), touring w/ Stars, opening for Superchunk (dates)"

words & photos by Tracy Allison

"Just remembered I threw up at bruar falls last night." - WAVVES

"Monday night at New York City's Bowery Ballroom, the Wavves founder and frontman announced he'd just been "mildly sued" by the Walt Disney Company, which was less than psyched about seeing a song called 'Mickey Mouse' listed on his band's latest album.

Williams said he'd agreed to modify future pressings of 'King of the Beach,' out today on CD and vinyl, and replace the offending track with an unreleased B-side. He then offered a succinct legal critique of the plaintiff's case.

"Walt Disney was a Nazi," Williams said. "You go [to Disney World], you feel Nazi vibes. It's disgusting!"

The outburst was one of many quotable moments of the concert, and throughout the evening, Williams and drummer Billy Hayes spent nearly as much time joking about booze and weed as they did playing actual songs. With the presence of soft-spoken metal-dude bassist Stephen Pope, Wavves was like a Kevin Smith movie come to life: two Jays and a Silent Bob." [Spinner]

The night began with a 30 minute set by Total Slacker who took the stage at 8:15. They were followed by The Smith Westerns who also played a 30 minute set as the crowd quickly began to fill the 550+ person venue.

Wavves began their set at 10:20 p.m. and immediately after walking on stage commented on the thick smell of drugs in the air, saying, "It smells like pot out here. It smells like a lot of pot." Throughout the course of the 14 song performance, the rambunctious audience thrashed into each other and danced wildly. The level of audience interaction was much like it was at Wavves' recent show at Knitting Factory- fans freely jumped on and off stage, and bassist Stephen Pope even offered an audience member a swig of whiskey after asking, "Are you cool? You can have some if you're cool." The band finished up their set by 11:20 p.m.

They then headed to Bruar Falls for puking, peeing in garbage cans, sparring with Black Lips, playing video games, etc... More pictures and Wavves' setlist from Bowery Ballroom below...

Continue reading "Wavves being 'sued' by Disney, played Bowery Ballroom before puking @ Bruar Falls (pics & setlist), playing MHOW "

words and photos by Keith Marlowe

The Gories, gettin' down

The Gories played Bowery Ballroom on July 30th (with Chickensnake and The Revelons), one of three shows scheduled for the reunited Detroit threesome. Keith Marlowe's viewpoint of the show, with more pictures, can be found below...

Continue reading "The Gories returned, played Bowery Ballroom w/ Chicken Snake & The Revelons (pics & setlist) "

The Sadies

"The Sadies are already well known as 'musician's musicians'--famous for playing with well-known musicians, namely, Neko Case, Jenny Lewis and punk-monolith John Doe. Now, the band has announced that they will be joined onstage during their July 23 show at the Bowery Ballroom by an absolute legend--one whose distinct organ playing helped define one of the world's most treasured bands--Garth Hudson of The Band."

Garth and Maud Hudson and Chicken Snake are the openers at tonight's Sadies show. Tickets are still available and probably will be at the door. All Sadies dates below...

Continue reading "Amanda Palmer played w/ Steel Train @ Bowery Ballroom last night, Garth Hudson plays w/ The Sadies (dates) "

photos by Andrew St Clair

Crowded House completed their three-night run at Bowery Ballroom in NYC last night (7/21). It was also at the third show that David Byrne came out for the encore to join the band on two Talking Heads covers. We actually have pictures from that show too, but the pictures in this post are from the 2nd night, July 20th. Stay tuned for the ones from night three.

If you missed the show, there's one more NYC-area chance when Crowded House plays Wellmont Theater in NJ on Friday.

More of the night two pictures, video of the David Byrne part from last night, and all three setlists (including which songs Neil Finn's wife Sharon son Liam played on), below...

Continue reading "Crowded House played 3 nights @ Bowery Ballroom (night 2 pics, all 3 setlists, video of last night's guest: David Byrne)"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

"Heartless Bastards at Bowery. Big Herms says: "righteous!"" - Jonathan Cohen

Heartless Bastards

"I've seen the Heartless Bastards multiple times. Twice in Austin and twice in the New York City area. They are a fine band and always put on a quality performance. I suspect that they might have done the same l[Thursday] evening, but it was hard to tell because I couldn't hear the band over all the meaningless drunken conversations happening while the band was playing. I might be old fashioned, but I am of the opinion that one goes to a rock show to watch and LISTEN to the band. I don't understand the point of paying for the ticket (and Ticketmaster's obnoxiously high service fees) to stand around and have a drunk conversation that you could have with your friend at a bar before and/or after the show. Sure, of course you are going to talk a little bit when you are watching a band because you want to share opinions on the show and/or band or simply say "I LOVE THIS SONG". A show doesn't demand complete silence like a trip to the movie theater does, but chit chatting through an entire show disrupts the people around you and their enjoyment of the show.

The worst part about [that evening at Bowery Ballroom] was the drunk hipster in his trucker hat intentionally bumping into people with (I presume) the hopes of getting into an altercation. After he tried to provoke me three times, I had to go to the downstairs bar and call it quits on the evening. Missed the last eight songs of the set."
[I Had an Awesome Time]

More pictures and the setlist from the Bowery show, below...

Continue reading "Heartless Bastards, Peter Wolf Crier & the Builders and the Butchers played Bowery Ballroom (pics & setlist) "

The Soft Pack @ Cake Shop in February (more by Gabi Porter)

The Soft Pack have some festival dates coming up, confirmed for several NXNE shows, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands and Austin City Limits. Between those the band will be playing two nights at Bowery Ballroom on September 10th and 11th. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon.

Their self-titled record, which came out in February on Kemado, is streaming on Myspace.

Videos and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "The Soft Pack are playing 2 nights @ Bowery & other dates "

photos by Andrew St. Clair, words by Rachel Kowal

Going into Friday night's show at the Bowery Ballroom, I thought I was in for a mellow evening, but boy was I wrong. Holopaw, the first of two openers, may have made good use of the pedal steel, but thanks to a healthy dose of electric guitar as well, their Americana bent definitely recalls good old indie rock... and even a little punk. And from there, things just got more raucous.

Canadian group Land of Talk makes the kind of music that's made for dancing with abandon in your empty apartment. With the exception of a few mellower tunes, the majority of their catalogue is upbeat and packed with raw power. Lead singer (and sole female member) Lizzie Powell is far more than eye candy. She may have a sweet demeanor, but with a guitar around her neck and a mic at her lips, she is fierce - and quite emotive when it comes to facial expressions.

Land of Talk is a fitting band for the evening - and not just thanks to their sound and impressive energy level. Their upcoming album (to be released in August) on Saddle Creek was produced by Besnard Lakes singer Jace Lasek (who has also worked with Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown). At the end of Land of Talk's set, Lasek also joined them on stage to contribute backing vocals.

By the time The Besnard Lakes took to the stage, it was already nearing midnight but spirits were high. After playing just a single song, Jace Lasek excitedly announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, it's a very special day. It's my wife Olga's birthday." For her birthday, bass player Olga ('Auggie') Goreas had apparently put in a request for unending mojitos from a man dressed like Fidel Castro, but Lasek was unable to find someone with the right facial hair configuration and the appropriate army fatigues. Goreas did get a mojito and a chorus of Happy Birthdays from the audience, though.

Mojitos and birthday announcements out of the way, The Besnard Lakes launched into "For Agent 13" from The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse, which features a nice call and response with Lasek and Goreas on vocals. With the exception of a few sleepier songs like their 2007 stand-out track "Disaster," the majority of the songs in the headliner's set had a definite bent toward rock. I suppose it's hard not to act like a rockstar when you've got what must have been a custom-made 12-string sparkling white guitar and tinted aviators like Lasek. Given the name of their newest album, The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night, I guess I should have had a better idea of what to expect.

The Besnard Lakes wrapped up their nine-song set with the expansive song "And You Lied to Me," which features a pretty sweet guitar solo. Mid song, Lasek walked over to Goreas and started jamming, and before they walked off stage, Lasek leaned gave the birthday girl a hug and a kiss.

After a brief hiatus backstage, the band came back for another couple of songs - Goreas, with mojito in hand. In response to a couple of screaming audience members, The Besnard Lakes closed with "Thomasina" from their 2007 EP, Volume 1.

The two openers' setlists, some videos and more pictures from the whole night, below...

Continue reading "The Besnard Lakes, Land of Talk & Holopaw played Bowery Ballroom - pics, video & setlists"

words by BBG, photos by Andrew St. Clair

"Just saw Trash Talk at the Bowery. The six girls standing against the stage waiting for Alexisonfire LOVED Trash Talk. Sooooo much. #sarcasm" - Zed Cutsinger

Lee of Trash Talk, hanging out in the crowd

Alexisonfire is livin' large in their native Canada, and they're not doing so bad in the US either. They just concluded a string of sold-out US shows with tour-mates Trash Talk, La Dispute and Therefore I am. One of the last shows on the tour was Friday night, May 21st, at Bowery Ballroom in NYC. Pictures and setlists from that show are in this post.

For La Dispute and Trash Talk it was their first of two shows that night. They both also played the BV/1000 Knives show at the Acheron after midnight. It was an honor to host Trash Talk towards the end of the tour, and at the very beginning.

Pictures from Acheron coming soon. More pics and full setlists for all bands from Bowery Ballroom, below...

Continue reading "Alexisonfire, Trash Talk, La Dispute & Therefore I Am @ Bowery Ballroom in NYC - pics & setlists"

photos by Eric Townsend

Kate Nash, who I hardly recognize in these pictures, played a show at Bowery Ballroom last night (4/29). It was her first of two NYC shows on her current tour in support of a new album. The next one is Saturday night at Music Hall of Williamsburg (it's sold out). Having recently injured her leg or ankle, Kate was walking on crutches, couldn't stand much and had to rest her knee on a stool for balance.

"Playing with a punk band, The Receeders, in her off time has served Nash well, imbuing her latest material with a compelling, believable and, dare I say, informed anger and sass, as evidenced by hyper takes on "Take Me to a Higher Plane," and "I've Got a Secret," and the fearless, stream-of-consciousness mania that encompasses the best parts of "Don't You Want to Share the Guilt?" and "Mansion Song." These are no PMS tantrums; no, these are the panicked thoughts of a successful young girl finding her inner riot grrl and licking her red-stained lips in bemused satisfaction. While Q Magazine warned readers to "look away now," I wholeheartedly disagree - with lines like "Take a piece of raw vegetable and hold it to your breast and say you stood for nothing/You were just a hole that lacked passion. /Another undignified product of society/That girl should have been a mansion," it's time to start paying attention. Nash isn't talking about knitting or shoe-shopping or a game of croquet before supper. No flower-picking, strolling, picnicking parklife here, darling." [Sentimentalist Magazine]

More pictures from the show below...

Continue reading "Kate Nash & Supercute! played Bowery Ballroom (pics) "

photos by Lori Baily

"The night was started by Twin Sister, a quintet with only one raspy voiced female. I certainly hope she's got a twin somewhere!...

...Next up was Zola Jesus, moniker for Nika Roza Danilova. Last year, she collaborated with Freddy Ruppert and Jaime Stewart for the Former Ghosts project, via the The Bull and the Ram. At that point, I had no idea who she was, but that song sounded pretty much like a nightmareish synth pop tune sung by Kate Bush, then after grabbing a couple of mp3s off her debut album The Spoils, it became clear that was her preferred line of work. She recently released a new EP called Stridulum that still goes down that same line of being the second coming of Kate Bush in an even more refined manner...

...Tune-Yards is another one-lady band, in this case her real name is Merrill Garbus....she proceeds to create her musical and vocal loops right in front of you. I have no idea how she does it, but it's incredibly fascinating to watch and makes her set electrifying...

...Xiu Xiu went through yet another line-up change, now it's only a duo with new member Angela Seo...About half the set consisted of songs from the new album Dear God, I Hate Myself. I've been listening a lot more to the album and it's currently on the rise with me. At first it struck me as a bit too 8-bit, but once you really give it a listen the sheer melodic genius of it all starts to shine through. Guess it won't really appeal much to the people who complained about Women As Lovers not being noisy enough, it probably is the most pop album. [pecusita]

Continue reading "Xiu Xiu, Tune-Yards, Zola Jesus & Twin Sister @ Bowery Ballroom in NYC - pics & setlists"

photos by Kevin Tachman

Pop/rock band the SCISSOR SISTERS surprised fans in New York on Wednesday night (17Mar10) when they introduced comedian SANDRA BERNHARD to the stage for a special collaboration.

The I Don't Feel Like Dancin' hitmakers played their first show of the year at the city's Bowery Ballroom, with rocker Lou Reed and actor Alan Cumming among the fans in the packed audience, reports Spinner.com.

The quintet entertained the crowd with songs new and old and even performed a cover of Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb.

But the highlight of the night came when frontman Jake Shears and singer Ana Matronic brought out Bernhard to share the vocals for their song T**s on the Radio from their self-titled debut album. [Daily Star]

Continue reading "Scissor Sisters were joined by Sandra Bernhard @ Bowery Ballroom in NYC, then headed to SXSW - pics & video "

DOWNLOAD: Titus Andronicus - A More Perfect Union (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Titus Andronicus - Four Score And Seven (part one) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Titus Andronicus - Four Score And Seven (part two) (MP3)

by Andrew Frisicano

Titus Andronicus celebrated the release of their new record, The Monitor, with a headlining show at Bowery Ballroom on Saturday, March 6th. The album's raucus, conceptual layers peeled back on stage to reveal the taut five-piece underneath. For two members of the band, keyboardist David Robbins and violinist/guitarist Amy Klein, it was only their third show with the group. The warm reception to the new-album tunes - with sing-alongs from the amazing, stand-out album opener (above) to its amazingly-depressing closer - no doubt set the bar high for the band's upcoming slew of album-supporting shows (including BrooklynVegan Emo's day party on Wednesday, March 17th in Austin).

On stage, frontman Patrick Stickles brought along an American Flag, but left out the LP's guests and Lincoln quoting transitions. He did a bit to humanize the record's kitch, sending a song out to his brother in the Navy, who he credited for getting the band on their whole nautical kick (a bit more personal than the Ken Burns doc and other sources often mentioned). He also did his part to play den mother to the young crowd - it was the first time I've ever heard anyone in a band tell an audience, "It's time to start to thinking about winding down."

In a lot of ways the 1.5+ hour show seemed like the opening of a new book for the band. The melding of History and personal history is something that The Monitor does without shame, and with both those arcs closed, the Bowery show felt like a new beginning. As part of the encore, Patrick treated us to a solo cover of the Replacements' "Treatment Bound" (which you can get from NYCTaper).

The openers were all great: Cloud Nothings played rough-around-the-edges power pop; Vivian Girls/Woods side-project The Babies are quickly becoming one of my favorites with popppy mid-set combos like "All Things Come to Pass" and "Meet Me in the City;" and Parts & Labor's effects/synth-laden sound added some eclecticism to the show. Cloud Nothings and Parts & Labor both have shows in NYC and elsewhere coming up, which are laid out below along with more pictures from the show...

Continue reading "Titus Andronicus, Parts & Labor, The Babies & Cloud Nothings played Bowery Ballroom - pics & more dates"

DOWNLOAD: Local Natives - Sun Hands (MP3)

Local Natives (photo by: Gareth Jackson)

L.A.'s Local Natives, whose new album "Gorilla Manor" is out in the US now (via Frenchkiss), have sold out to their May 6th headlining show at Bowery Ballroom so they added a second NYC show for the next night, May 7th, at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets go on sale Tuesday at noon.

Those dates are part of a larger tour across North America for the band. To schedule that extra show though, they had to cancel their previously planned Philly show, BUT they'll still play a free afternoon show in Philly on the same day (5/7) (and just as many people can fit).

Even sooner, Local Natives will be at this year's SXSW in Austin. Two of their shows will be with Suckers at Galaxy Room: the showcase for their label Frenchkiss/Mom+Pop Records on March 19th (with Les Savy Fav, Antlers, Freelance Whales & more), and the free BrooklynVegan/M For Montreal Saturday day show on March 20th (where they'll also play with Roky Erickson backed by Okkervil River, Andrew WK & more TBA).

All tour dates and some videos are below...

Continue reading "Local Natives add a 2nd NYC show, a free Philly show & a free BV SXSW day party - updated 2010 tour dates"

photos by Tim Griffin

a coming out party of sorts on Friday night (2/19) at the Bowery Ballroom, [Dawes] radiated pure joy and genuine appreciation about getting to where they are today, so much so that it became almost impossible not to root for them. Not only did frontman Taylor Goldsmith repeatedly reflect on previous trips to the city, playing to less attentive crowds and minimal accolades while supporting other bands and in much less glamorous rooms, but they made it clear that it wasn't just about them. It was about a collective "us." Goldsmith literally thanked the fans at every opportunity, making it clear that it wasn't just Dawes that's been getting bigger, it was about everybody in the room getting bigger together. These guys understand that they aren't doing this alone. [Hidden Track]

Dawes will then make their way to Austin where they'll be one of the bands that we're proud to host at the official BrooklynVegan SXSW showcase on Wednesday, March 17th at Club DeVille. They share the bill with Bowerbirds, Here We Go Magic, The Middle East, Califone and Serena-Maneesh (who I saw in Norway the same night Dawes played Bowery Ballroom).

We can't wait. You can also catch Dawes on March 20th, at the Ground Control Showcase @ Auditorium Shores, with She & Him, Justin Townes Earle, Deer Tick (who just announced a new album) & more.

More pictures, and a video from the NYC show are below...

Continue reading "Dawes played Bowery Ballroom w/ Cory Chisel & Jason Boesel (pics), playing BV show @ SXSW & other dates"

words & photos by Sarahana

Mumford & Sons is further proof that when it comes to popular taste, being good enough will get you far. Despite a rating system that makes little sense whichever way you look at it, Pitchfork was correct in stating, "Mumford & Sons are in the costume business. They're playing dress-up in threadbare clothes."

But guess what? Tons of people love the costume business, and there is "good" in "good enough". Lending to that "good-enough-ness" is, primarily, singer Marcus Mumford's distraught voice, which, on a purely aesthetic level, can remind you of Michael Stipe's inherent agony. Except, Marcus sounds like he was specifically engineered for songs that take after Biblical parables, teeming with betrayal, disasters and lessons. The songs aren't half-bad (though vaguely unsatisfying), and the band members are all proficient musicians (Marcus' voice didn't flinch when he was pounding on drums), but ultimately the frustration comes to this: in every work of art you hope to detect the artist's moment of inspiration, and in Mumford & Sons, there is no such revelation.

However, when it comes to pop music, the fitting principle is: to hell with art. Whatever makes people feel like the music is speaking to their lives and emotions is good enough! And given that their songs are a series of allusions to strong emotions, it's no surprise that Mumford & Sons is listed in several major festival line-ups and has already sold out most of its upcoming shows.

--

Freelance Whales opened the sold out show at Bowery Ballroom in NYC last night (2/18). Note that the above review was from Sarahana who shot the show. We have a 2nd viewpoint coming soon. More pictures from that show below...

Continue reading "Mumford & Sons, Freelance Whales @ Bowery Ballroom -pics"

photos by Bao Nguyen

'Stories in High Fidelity' held an event at Bowery Ballroom on February 3rd featuring stories from David Byrne Alan Light, Dan Kennedy and Jason Gordon, and music from Nicole Atkins. The big question of the night was whether Byrne, who features Nicole Atkins on a track on his new album, would get up and sing with her during the musical part of the evening. The answer is 'yes'. David sang harmonies on Nicole's song "Neptune City". Less than a week earlier (he gets around!), David joined St. Vincent on stage at another NYC show. St Vincent also appears on David's new album. Nicole reports on Bowery Ballroom:

It was an absolute blast. Lots of really funny storytellers including NY Times writer Alan Light (whos touching story about his 6 year olds Beatlemania actually made me excited about my hopeful futuristic children), novelist Dan Kennedy (who did a hilarious interpretation of what a group prayer by Bon Jovi might sounds like before they go onstage!), Jason Gordon (who read a book report he did in 5th grade about the Doors "No One Here Gets Out Alive") and David Bryne who did an amazing lecture about how musicians make music for specific venues, ie, rap is made for car speakers, midtempo U2 music is for stadiums, etc. Actually made me have more of an understanding for East coast vs West Coast hip hop. If you ever get a chance to listen to David Byrne lecture, do it! Its eye and ear opening and extremely funny in his way. After the speakers, I played a small acoustic set solo and was accompanied by cartoonist Michael Arthur who drew cartoons of my songs while i sang them. He has a great band called Balthrop Alabama that ya'll should check out. Actually they are playing one of the nights I host at Bowery Electric on March 5th. Come see them!

For my last song I played "Neptune City," and was joined by David Byrne on vocals and guitar. It was like a dream as he's always been one of my favorite artists and now here he was up onstage singing and playing my song with me. yip! I loved the way his guitar playing made a somber song such as that sound, i dunno, tropical! Byrne brought the warmth.

Balthrop Alabama can be seen even sooner than March. They play Joe's Pub on Valentine's Day. They'll be joined that time by The Bandana Splits (with Dawn Landes). Video promo made by Michael Arthur below.

More pictures from the seated Bowery Ballroom event, below...

Continue reading "Nicole Atkins & David Byrne played Bowery Ballroom (pics) w/ Michael Arthur of Balthrop Alabama (who play Joe's soon) "

photos by Chris La Putt

"Friday night's double bill at Bowery Ballroom was hard to beat. Toronto's Basia Bulat played a rootsy solo set, accompanying her powerful, penetrating vibrato with fierce autoharp and guitar. A real talent; here's hoping she brings her full band the next time she comes to town.

My Brightest Diamond, playing their first NYC show in over a year, took a more high-concept approach, filling the stage with white ladders and balloons; a young girl passed out balloon animals during intermission. Lead singer Shara Worden, who's been spending more and more time following pseudo-classical pursuits, was a commanding stage presence with her flamboyant attire and voice of operatic proportions. (Worden studied voice at the University of North Texas before being seduced by the rock siren.) Oh, and she played lead guitar, joined by Nathan Lithgow on bass and Brian Wolfe on drums.

Why this show (at $15 a ticket) had tickets available at the door while that talentless harpie managed to sell out four nights at Radio City says a lot about the state of our brainless culture."
[Feast of Music]

I ran to see My Brightest Diamond after the Dawn Landes show, and before I went back to Mercury Lounge to see an after midnight set by Serena Maneesh. Before running back to Mercury we asked Shara if she wanted to play at Music Hall on Saturday. The rest is history.

For Basia Bulat, Bowery Ballroom was her 2nd NYC show in two days. Her schedule also included a record release show at Professor Thom's on Thursday.

More pictures from Bowery Ballroom below...

Continue reading "My Brightest Diamond & Basia Bulat @ Bowery Ballroom in NYC - pics "

photos by Vincent Cornelli

Toronto Star: Nobody really thought this reunion would happen, but here we are nearly five years later and the Dino reunion is still a going concern. Did you think it was going to last this long or did you think you were signing up for one tour and that would be it?

Lou Barlow: I just really didn't know. I guess I'd sort of assumed we'd do a lot of reunion shows and play old songs and that we wouldn't necessarily do new records. It's just been moving along the whole time. There's just been a real momentum to it, and I haven't spent a whole lot of time questioning it.

Continue reading "Dinosaur Jr. & Kurt Vile @ Bowery Ballroom - pics & setlist"