"Buffalo Springfield issued only three studio albums during the influential band's short two years together from 1966-68: "Buffalo Springfield," "Buffalo Springfield Again" and "Last Time Around."

All indications going into the group's reunion performances last month for Neil Young's annual Bridge School benefit concerts in Northern California seemed to suggest that the operative album title for this latter-day get-together was going to be "Last Time Around."

However, "Buffalo Springfield Again" might be the more fitting choice, as Pop & Hiss is hearing rumblings of some additional performances next year, possibly even a summer tour. (It wouldn't come as a big surprise to any of those who were on hand to witness the joy the group members appeared to be having being in one another's company once again.)

It had been 42 years since Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay last performed together as Buffalo Springfield before they reunited for the Bridge School event, which benefits the Northern California institution that serves severely disabled students and their families. Young and his wife, Pegi, have been staging the annual benefits for 24 years now, and their son, Ben, has been a Bridge School student. (The other two original band members, bassist Bruce Palmer and drummer Dewey Martin, died in 2004 and 2009, respectively.)

Their set included such Springfield touchstone numbers as "Mr. Soul," "Rock and Roll Woman," "For What It's Worth (Stop, Hey, What's That Sound)," "Kind Woman," "Bluebird," "Go and Say Goodbye" and "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing."" [LA TIMES]

The reunited Buffalo Springfield played both nights of this year's Bridge School Benefit, as did Pearl Jam and the slightly less established Grizzly Bear, whose only other show since their August Governors Island gig, was their September Hollywood Bowl show with Phoenix and Girls. In fact, Grizzly Bear only played eight North American shows in 2010. The other four were Coachella, Lollapalooza, Dickinson Colleage, and Williamsburg Waterfront with Band of Horses.

Back in 2007, Grizzly Bear headlined a tour with Beach House and Papercuts (it hit Bowery Ballroom). In 2008, Papercuts opened for Beach House on a tour again, but that time Beach House was the headliner (it hit Bowery Ballroom). And now it has been announced that it will in fact be Papercuts who heads out on the road with Beach House in 2011. Tickets for the Webster Hall show go on sale at noon (though you can still also buy them through the presale with a sweatshirt).

No new Buffalo Springfield, Grizzly Bear, Beach House or Papercuts dates to report, though the latter two's tour is reposted, with some videos, below...

Continue reading "Papercuts reunite w/ Beach House, Buffalo Springfield to tour?"

photos by Chris Gersbeck, words by Rachel Kowal

"Modest Mouse without a cloud in the sky!" -rojacaliente

"If this were Make A Wish and you were going to die in 20 min, just long enough to play Freebird, we wouldnt play it -Modest Mouse" -georgeferris

"Modest Mouse is testing my love for them by keeping the kid awake with their heavy bass and drumming two blocks away. /fistshaking" -woolyknickers

Lightning may have shut down Modest Mouse in July, but for last night's rescheduled show, the weather was nearly perfect (if not a bit chilly).

This time, the opener was the Americana singer/songwriter Marcellus Hall and his backing band. The pairing was a bit odd. Modest Mouse prompted people to shout along to every song and to rush the stage. Marcellus Hall's performance had people turning around to admire the setting sun over the Manhattan skyline and leaving polite pockets of space throughout the crowd.

After Marcellus Hall's relatively short set, the anticipation for the headliners steadily grew, but more than thirty minutes passed before they marched on stage. As if making up for their severely truncated show last July, Modest Mouse then played a lengthy set - nearly 2 hours long when you factor in the encore.

"Welcome back!" Isaac Brock said by way of introduction. They kicked off the show with "Gravity Rides Everything." Taking no time to get into the show, the crowd enthusiastically sang along from the opening verse. (fittingly, the song contains the line, "Everything will fall right into place.") Isaac Brock hardly talked between songs. He didn't need to. The audience was wholly engaged. Each song was met by cheers and triumphantly extended fists. After all, for many of the people present, this was take two.

From "Cowboy Dan" to "Autumn Beds," the band pulled songs from throughout their career and readily switched between the more raucous and reserved. The pump organ, banjo, glockenspiel, accordion, and trumpet made regular guest appearances that nicely punctuated the set and revealed the surprisingly decent sound quality. The stage lights - which were absent during opening set - certainly helped to set the mood for Modest Mouse.

The band closed their initial set with "The View," leaving the audience with the soothing sound of electronic crickets to underlie their cries for more. After an unusually long wait (10 minutes), they returned for another five(ish) songs before finally concluding just short of 10:00, saying, "Thank you all very much. Have a good night" and delivering a PSA discouraging "driving while drinking and drinking while driving." Luckily, Brock didn't say anything about smoking and riding the subway.

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Isaac Brock and gang have one set of shows left on their calendar, on October 23rd and 24th at Shoreline Ampitheater in Mountain View, CA as part of the annual Bridge School Benefit. The band will join a reformed Buffalo Springfield. Pearl Jam, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, T-Bone Burnett's Speaking Clock Revue (with Elton John & Leon Russell, Elvis Costello, Ralph Stanley, Neko Case and Jeff Bridges, they play NYC on 10/20), and Grizzly Bear among others.

The Bridge School Benefit lineup by day, more Waterfront pics and the Modest Mouse setlist is below...

Continue reading "Modest Mouse played Williamsburg Waterfront again (pics, setlist), playing Bridge School Benefit in CA (lineup)"

John Mayer, Metallica, Tom Waits, and Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder are among the artists who will join Neil Young for his 21st annual Bridge School Benefit concerts near San Francisco on October 27-28.

Also on this year's bill are Tegan and Sara, Regina Spektor, and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Tickets for the Bridge concerts, which will take place at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, will be priced at $150, $75 and $39.50 (plus service charges). [Yahoo]