photos by Alexander Stein

Are you in the holiday spirit yet? Last night (12/1) was the first of the 101.9 RXP "Yule Rock Holiday Concert Series" featuring Broken Bells (whose member Danger Mouse recently collaborated with Jack White) and Karen Elson (who is married to Jack White), a series that continues tommorrow night (12/3) with My Chemical Romance at the sold-out Hammerstein Ballroom (one of three upcoming NYC MY Chemical Romance shows). The show was also the start of a short stint of Broken Bells tour dates that will last through the middle of the month, hitting nine cities before closing up shop at Gibson Amphitheatre Universal City, California.

Karen Elson next appears in NYC as part of her group the Citizens Band at Highline Ballroom on December 18th...

"Equal parts show-stopping performers, political activists, eclectic tastemakers and headstrong personalities, The Citizens Band has been one of the most lauded and prominent staples of New York City nightlife for the past few years - a potent combination of the city's urban smarts, diverse style and forward-thinking attitude. Performers for "The Past is a Foreign Country" include Chelsea Bacon, Mr. Blue, Ian Buchanan, Michael Cavadias, Adam Crystal, Jorjee Douglass, Karen Elson, Sarah Sophie Flicker, Rachelle Garniez, Mike Jackson, Dave Lebleu, Mark McAdam, Angela McCluskey, Amy Miles, Jon Natchez, Jeff Palmiotti, Rain Phoenix, Kelly Pratt, Matt Ray, Ronin and Leah Siegel with direction by Calla Videt."

Were you at the Irving Plaza show? Did Broken Bells mention their Grammy nomination from the stage? Maybe RXP morning host Matt Pinfield said something about it?

More pictures from the show, with both setlists, below...

Continue reading "Broken Bells & Karen Elson played Irving Plaza (pics, setlists), Citizens Band playing Highline Ballroom"

And the nominees for "Album of the Year" are:

* The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
* Recovery by Eminem
* Need You Now by Lady Antebellum
* The Fame Monster by Lady Gaga
* Teenage Dream by Katy Perry

Also funny: Mumford & Sons are up for Best New Artist against Justin Bieber (and Drake, Florence & The Machine, and Esperanza Spalding)

Robyn is up for Best Dance Recording against Lady Gaga (and Goldfrapp, La Roux, and Rihanna).

Arcade Fire are also nominated for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals against Muse, Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, and... Jeff Beck & Joss Stone.

The Black Keys also landed in the "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" along with... Dave Matthews.

The Black Keys and Mumford & Sons and Kings of Leon and Muse are also all in the "Best Rock Song" category.

"Best Alternative Album" category:

* The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
* Infinite Arms by Band Of Horses
* Brothers by The Black Keys
* Broken Bells by Broken Bells
* Contra by Vampire Weekend

Other names that got nominated: Cee-Lo, Janelle Monae, Big Boi, John Legend & The Roots, Jay-Z, Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Flight of the Conchords, Devendra Banhart (for "Best Recording Package"), Oh No Ono (ditto), Anais Mitchell (ditto), Danger Mouse, Gorillaz, and Carol Burnett. Full list at the Grammys site.

by BBG

Broken Bells (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Broken Bells who recently lauched a 3D interactive video for "October", kick off a string of dates tonight (12/1) at Irving Plaza. The NYC show is part of the 101.9 RXP "Yule Rock Holiday Concert Series". The band will hit select cities from coast-to-coast, eventually landing in LA by the middle of the month. Updated tour dates are below.

And Broken Bells member Danger Mouse just wouldn't be himself if he didn't have his hand in another 10000 projects. His latest is "Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi present: ROME":

Brian Burton [Danger Mouse] and Daniele Luppi met in Los Angeles in 2004... Luppi, a composer from Italy, was receiving acclaim for his album An Italian Story, which revisited the cinematic sounds of his childhood. (He has also written music for the screen - Sex and the City, Nine - and later worked with Burton on arrangements for Gnarls Barkley, Dark Night of the Soul and Broken Bells.)

United by their shared passion for classic Italian film music, ...[and] after an intense songwriting period - writing separately at first, and then together as the songs evolved - they travelled to Rome in October 2006. Luppi made some calls and they assembled the original musicians from films such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West - including the legendary Marc 4 backing band and Alessandro Alessandroni's 'I Cantori Moderni' choir. Most of the musicians were in their seventies and hadn't worked together for several decades.

They booked time in Rome's cavernous Forum Studios - formerly Ortophonic Studios, founded, amongst others, by the great Ennio Morricone... Every effort was made to replicate the recording practices of the 1960s/70s golden age, recording live and straight to tape, with overdubs but no electronics, computers, 21st-century effects or studio trickery.

In other Jack White news, the White Stripes frontman/Third Man Records honcho is taking some fire for deciding to put up some limited edition Third Man material up for auction on ebay:

Paid subscribers of Third Man Records' The Vault were directed to an eBay page with open auctions for copies of the limited edition vinyl version of the self-titled White Stripes reissue. Within an hour, all 5 auctions were above $100 each, and a small shitstorm of comments began to erupt on The Vault, when, suddenly, Jack White joined the site's chatroom with a handbasket-gripping introduction of "See you in hell?" and explained, quite simply, why the hell there were people paying 500 bucks for a record you have to crack open to listen to: "Supply & demand.... nobody told them to buy it with a gun to their head."

...When a fan tried to argue that people with "more money than sense" were to blame, Jack retorted: "Or are they just paying what the going rate is?" White explained: "We sell a Wanda Jackson split record for 10 bucks, the eBay flipper turns around and sells it for 300. If 300 is what it's worth, then why doesn't Third Man Records sell it for 300? If we sell them for more, the artist gets more, the flipper gets nothing. We're not in the business of making flippers a living. We're in the business of giving fans what they want." - [Antiquiet]

Continue reading "Broken Bells kicking off tour (dates), Danger Mouse has a new project w/ Daniele Luppi, Norah Jones & Jack White (who will ebay records if he wants to)"

Broken Bells at Terminal 5 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

101.9 RXP has announced their 2010 "Yule Rock Holiday Concert Series" - four NYC concerts at 2 different Live Nation venues over the course of 2 weeks. Tickets are currently on presale for all shows in various incarnations:

• Broken Bells/Karen Elson at Irving Plaza on 12/1 (presale password = "1019RXP", AMEX presale now & regular sale at 10AM on 11/5 via LiveNation)
• My Chemical Romance/The Gaslight Anthem at Roseland Ballroom on 12/3 (RXP presale sold out, AMEX presale now & regular sale at 10AM on 11/5 via TM)
• Cake ("an evening with") at Irving Plaza on 12/7 (Presale password = "1019RXP", AMEX presale now & regular sale at 10AM on 11/5 via LiveNation)
• Florence + The Machine/Civil Twilight will play Irving Plaza on 12/14 (RXP presale sold out, AMEX presale at 8AM on 11/4 & regular sale at 10AM on 11/5 via LiveNation)

Speaking of holiday radio shindigs, WFUV will host their sixth annual "Holiday Cheer" on 12/6 at the Concert Hall at the New York Society for Ethical Culture. Amos Lee, Punch Brothers, The Secret Sisters, and Citizen Cope are all on board in this go around and tickets will range you $500 - $45 depending on your choice to VIP pre-party or not.

photos by Amanda Hatfield

"Complete with a stage full of awesome musicians, a cool video projection in the background and James Mercer singing only to me (ok, that part may have just been in my imagination) [Broken Bells put on] a pretty far out show. I thought maybe the live performance of their songs might have gotten a little cooler, the guys didn't really stray too much from the album version, which was a little disappointing, but they did play a cool cover of a Black Keys song." -[Via Le Shrn]

Video from Broken Bells' appearances on Carson Daly and The Ellen Degeneres Show (Ellen??), and more pictures and the setlist from Terminal 5, below...

Continue reading "Broken Bells played Ellen, Carson Daly & Terminal 5 w/ Elf Power (pics, videos & setlist) "

photos by Tim Griffin

Night fell down on Austin Town and it figured it'd be a busy night. And with The xx and Temper Trap setting the table for LCD Soundsystem, Gogol Bordello, Monsters of Folk, Deadmau5, Matt & Kim, MIA and Muse, Saturday did indeed set it self up to be remembered as ACL 2010's strongest.

Except for the part where MIA screwed things up during her set...

...M.I.A.'s set saw plenty of anticipation on the west end of the fairgrounds, but little payoff: The first song saw didn't even see Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam on stage, and, though she came out for the second, that first song worked as a fitting metaphor for her entire mumbled performance.

Here's the thing about performing in festivals, especially on a main stage: Very few people actually see the performers; they rely on the accompanying video screens to share the visual side of the performance. But rather than the performer (or any of her five packing dancers or DJ) , M.I.A.'s screen showed illustrations. M.I.A., meanwhile, spent minimal time in her set's early going on stage, instead opting to interact o the grass in front of her closest fans. An admirable offering, perhaps, but it left the rest of her crowd in the dark, straining their necks to see her dancers or maybe just the neon "Maya" sign that served as her backdrop.

Her vocals weren't helping matters, either. They were already mixed too low, and Maya, for the most part, mumbled her way through the proceedings. Audiences thinned out--only to be pulled back in once the video screens finally--mercifully--showed the performer stalking the stage, and performing her biggest hit, "Paper Planes." [Dallas Observer]

Continue reading "ACL 2010 Day 2 in pics (Monsters of Folk, M.I.A., LCD Soundsystem, Broken Bells, deadmau5, Muse & more)"

"Elf Power" by Elf Power was released this week...

Elf Power is dedicated to the memory of dear friend, mentor, and close collaborator Vic Chesnutt, who committed suicide in late 2009. Chesnutt was long a guiding light in the close-knit Athens community; the Elves recorded a collaborative album, "Dark Developments," with Chesnutt in 2008 and toured extensively with him through the years. Elf Power's latest album found shape in the vacuum caused by Vic's loss, and finds the band exploring the void created by his departure.

Elf Power are supporting that album on tour now. Their next stop is The Rock Shop in Brooklyn tonight (9/17). Also on that bill: Folklore and The Capstan Shafts who also just released an album, and who will be back in town for CMJ.

Elf Power will next be back in town even before CMJ, when they open for Broken Bells at Terminal 5 on October 11th (tickets). Between now and then they also play many other shows. All dates below...

Continue reading "Elf Power released an LP, on tour - Brooklyn tonight w/ Capstan Shafts, T5 w/ Broken Bells, other dates"

Dark Night of The Soul, the Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse album with visuals by David Lynch, is currently on display at Morrison Hotel Gallery in NYC in the form of "An exhibit consisting of 50 photographs by David Lynch. Music by Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse."...

"Hand-signed by Lynch, each photograph is $3500 and can be purchased together with its set or separately. A companion book carrying the same name features Lynch's photographs and comes with a blank CD-R. A 48-page limited edition run of 5,000 copies was released in 2009. Lynch's art, along with a 9-minute behind-the-scenes video of the two-day making-of the pictures accompanies the downloadable album via iTunes." [WSJ]

Two major label, Danger Mouse-related, indie rock star collaborative side-like projects are touring this fall, but not together. They both play NYC shows within days of each other.

As previously mentioned, Broken Bells are playing Terminal 5 on October 11th. Tickets are on sale. That date is one of four that James Mercer and Brian Burton will play that month. All dates are listed below..

As previously also mentioned, Gorillaz are playing Madison Square Garden on Ocotober 8th. That show goes on sale August 6th and is part of a larger tour that is now fully announced. All dates below...

Continue reading "Gorillaz announce tour dates, Broken Bells playing shows too ++ Dark Night of the Soul @ Morrison Gallery now "

Broken Bells @ Irving Plaza in June (more by David Andrako)

"Broken Bells say they are to take their time before recording their second album, in order to work on "different things".

"I think we are going to do different things before we do another [Broken Bells album]," Danger Mouse explained. "We spent the last two years mostly with just Broken Bells stuff, so it would be great to have other things to do for a while."

With [James] Mercer nodding in agreement, Danger Mouse reaffirmed that the duo will "definitely" return in the future.

"We've already started out some new songs that we really like for the new album, but the schedule's gonna take a little while before it comes out." [NME, June 28]

The band's Christina Hendricks-starring video for "The Ghost Inside" is below...

Continue reading "Broken Bells not recording yet, playing ACL & Terminal 5"

tonight in NYC
* Cage @ BB King's
* Gwar @ Starland Ballroom
* Band of Horses @ Grand Central
* Elysian Fields @ Joe's Pub
* Solange (DJ) @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Sylvie Courvoisier @ The Stone
* Talib Kweli, Hi-Tek @ Apple SoHo
* Negative Approach & DOA @ Asbury Lanes
* Melvins, Isis, Totimoshi @ Webster Hall
* Kurt Vile, Mad Scene, Meg Baird @ Union Pool
* Aliens, Vaz, Weasel Walte @ Bowery Electric
* New Kids on the Block @ Radio City Music Hall
* Rooftop Films w/ Oh You Devil @ Open Road Rooftop
* Born Ruffians, Young Rival, Caveman @ The Bell House
* Dub Inc., Meta and the Cornerstones, DJ Sirak @ 92YTribeca
* Danzig, Gorgeous Frankenstein, Seventh Void @ Nokia Theatre
* Vic Ruggiero, The Hard Times, The Heavy Beat @ Death By Audio
* Judson Claiborne, Peter Wolf Crier, Pacific Theater @ Union Hall
* The Goodnight Loving, Ex Humans, Bass Drum of Death @ Bruar Falls
* Lee Fields & The Expressions, The Black Dynamite Orchestra @ Southpaw
* Bad Credit No Credit, MINKS, Not Blood Paint, Pass Kontrol @ The Cameo
* The Ponys, Disappears, Woven Bones, The Forgery Series @ Mercury Lounge
* Missoula Oblongata, US Girls, Pygmy Shrews, CCR Headcleaner @ Silent Barn
* Great Lakes, The Poison Control Center, Folklore, Marisa Bergquis @ Pianos
* Damien Jurado, Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground, The Loom @ Littlefield
* Anthony Braxton birthday fest w/ Anthony Braxton 12+1tet @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* Ducktails, Wild Nothing, Velvet Davenport, Woodsman @ Monster Island Basement
* Suckers, Class Actress, Sean Bones, Cameron Hull @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Annuals, The Most Serene Republic, What Laura Says @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn
* Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Pissed Jeans, Home Blitz, Bloody Gears @ Cake Shop
* Marnie Stern, White Hinterland, Anni Rossi, Translations, True Womanhood @ Glasslands
* Celebrate Brooklyn w/ JG Thirlwell's Steroid Maximus, Dr. Lonnie Smith @ Prospect Park Bandshell

Read This Week in Indie.

Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek perform at Apple SoHo at 7pm.

Saturday is the Mermaid Parade.

Sunday is Punk Island on Governors Island where the Morning Benders and Freelance Whales play a free show Saturday night.

Big night of shows for Jersey. DOA & Negative Approach in Asbury Park (where Langhorne Slim is also playing), Gwar at Starland Ballroom, and NJ representatives Glenn Danzig and Doyle are at Nokia Theatre.

Lee Fields tonight too!

NXNE continues in Toronto.

Broken Bells played Kimmel. Videos below...

Deer Tick played Letterman. Video below...

The Gaslight Anthem played Fallon. Video below....

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

photos by David Andrako

DOWNLOAD: The Morning Benders - Cold War (Wallpaper. Winter Remix) (MP3)

Broken Bells Shin James Mercer @ Irving Plaza

"Well this concert was amazing. After waiting for a good hour looking at some Mario/WWII footage combined with trippy backwards synth music on a screen, it's safe to say the audience was ready for the opening act. I'll be honest, I had no idea the Morning benders were playing, and although I have heard of them I didn't really know any of their songs. When they came on, to be honest I thought they were some local high school band, aged 14 tops. But the lead singers voice is really something- it captivated most in the audience (especially a drunk girl next to me who seemed to know all their songs - and subsequently left when they finished). Their music was tight - the bass and drum parts really fed off each other and the singers voice tied it all in. Their final song, Excuses featured them looping their voices and a huge cresendo where they all collapsed and finished. Although it was a little gimmicky, the levels were perfect and they executed it well.

Of course, the Broken Bells made us wait another hour and a bit until they were "ready". By the time they came on we had been standing for 2 and a half hours, making the opening notes of "October" sound even sweeter. Honestly I expected this concert to be meh..." [The Blue Radio]

The Morning Benders' next NYC show will be a free one on Governors Island with Freelance Whales and Wild Nothing. They're also back in NYC (where they live) for two shows at Summerstage with the Black Keys in July.

MB's full list of updated tour dates, the new Broken Bells video, the Broken Bells Irving setlist, and more pictures from the show, below...

Continue reading "Morning Benders played Irving Plaza w/ Broken Bells (pics & setlist), playing more shows (updated 2010 dates) "

ACL 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

October 8-10, 2010 | Zilker Park, Austin, TX

"The Austin City Limits Music Festival began as a modest, two-day event and now, as it enters it's 9th year, has become a perennial American music experience. Taking place at the heart of Austin, Texas in the legendary Zilker Park, ACL Festival has grown to 3 days, 8 stages and over 130 bands."

Continue reading "Austin City Limits announces 2010 festival lineup (Eagles, Muse, Phish, Strokes, MIA, LCD, Spoon, Gayngs, more) "

Broken Bells @ the Mohawk (SXSW 2010) (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

In case you were worried that The Morning Benders didn't have enough NYC shows coming up, now there's one more, but it's because the NYC via California band just accepted the opening slot on Broken Bells' first tour which includes a June 5th show at Irving Plaza. Stay tuned for ticket information. All dates below.

For Broken Bells it will be their 2nd NYC show. They played Music Hall of Williamsburg before SXSW. The Morning Benders play Music Hall of Williamsburg in April (and two sold out shows at Mercury Lounge the same month). The Morning Benders also open for the Black Keys at Central Park Summerstage date in July (both of their shows there). All three bands so far mentioned in this post were at SXSW, though the Black Keys only played one show which was also one of the few that Broken Bells played. The Morning Benders' first SXSW show this year was a BrooklynVegan party. Right before Austin they played an intimate record release show at Cameo.

Broken Bells is the new project/band/album from The Shins' James Mercer and Danger Mouse. Danger Mouse has also been busy producing new Black Keys songs (one track on the new album and the entire album that was released in 2008) (he also produced Broken Bells)...

"Broken Bells features Mercer on vocals, guitars and bass while Burton plays organ, drums, piano, synths and bass. The pair play all instruments on the album with the exception of a full string section arranged by Daniele Luppi. Broken Bells was recorded by Todd Monfalcone and Kennie Takahashi at Mondo Studio in Los Angeles and produced by Danger Mouse."

All Broken Bells and Morning Benders dates below...

Continue reading "Broken Bells & The Morning Benders - 2010 tour dates"

photos by Brian Reilly

It was a happy St. Patrick's Day for Spoon. The Austin, Texas, indie-rock band received a hero's welcome during its hometown show on Wednesday at the South by Southwest music festival.

The group, this musical city's biggest export in recent years, has been on a roll as of late. Spoon's newest CD, the recently released "Transference," debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, selling more than 50,000 copies in its first week on shelves. In honor of its achievements, the band was rewarded with the highly coveted opening night, headlining slot at Stubb's, SXSW's largest venue.

The group didn't disappoint the hometown crowd, which had filled the venue to capacity well before Spoon actually took the stage. The quartet wasted no time getting to the good stuff, opening the show with the solid new single, "Written in Reverse," and then quickly following with the even stronger "Don't Make Me a Target," from 2007's "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga." The latter had a punky snarl to it, but also a dramatic piano line, reminding one of a classic Joe Jackson cut.

The one misstep, and it was a big one, came when Spoon covered the Damned's "Love Song." The band put its own spin on the track -- which I applaud -- but the lackluster, loopy result was something that would make punk-rock fans cringe. [Mercury News]

The NPR-presented Austin showcase on March 17th also had Visqueen, The Walkmen, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings and Broken Bells (who played earlier that day in a parking garage) on the bill. More pictures from that show with Spoon's setlist below...

Continue reading "Spoon kicked off their tour in Austin w/ Sharon Jones, Broken Bells, Walkmen (pics,setlist), Radio City tonight (tix on sale)"

by Dominick Mastrangelo

"Hello, and welcome to Portland, Oregon," quipped James Mercer, as he and Danger Mouse greeted the freezing crowd at Mog Day Party on the final day of SXSW. A 40-degree drop in temperature from Friday caused flip-flops and t-shirts to be replaced by hoodies, coats and gloves. Broken Bells were just one of several excellent bands that filled the indoor and outdoor venues of the Mohawk.

I finally made it downtown before 2pm by taking the rather efficient Metro Capitol bus. Traffic along I-35 into downtown took almost an hour the day before from just 10 minutes north. Arriving a little after noon Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers were already on inside. Ray was squeezing the hell out of that squeezbox and her raspy, scowling voice was alarming so early in the day. It certainly set a tone. And Free Energy complete with free cassettes started things outside with their unabashed good times garage rock.

Back inside The Dum Dum Girls were up next with more of the same hazy lo-fi pop that drummer Frankie Rose was laying down the night before on the same stage with her band. I skipped back outside for Demolished Thoughts though Andrew WK (an advertised member along with Thurston Moore and J Mascis) was absent and the bassist for Fucked Up was filling in. It was thrashing punk stuff with silly songs like the 45-second "I Hate Kids" (those were the lyrics) followed by the 45-second "I Hate Sports" (some videos below).

Then it was back inside for a little dance - hip hop with Rye Rye and then back outside for Broken Bells - who kept busy at the festival. For a band only a couple months old they were tight and the songs sounded great. Inside again for Freelance Whales and then back outside for The Antlers, back inside for Real Estate and finally back outside for the Black Keys who straight up killed. Mercer and Danger Mouse (who produced the Keys' Attack & Release) and members of the Antlers were sidestage rocking out. The crowd was hanging over rails and pushing in toward the stage. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney had everyone riveted and rocking. Certainly the most polished performance of the day, perhaps the festival.

Unexpectedly, as I ventured back to the convention center, I stumbled upon Fanfarlo about to perform in Brush Square with free drinks (Shiner Bock!) and heaters to keep the tent warm. Fantastic live show. "If we knew there were going to be so many photographers, we'd have done better," quipped multi-instrumentalist Cathy Lucas about the the band's appearance.

For the evening it was all about finishing strong. I made my way to the Victorian Room at the Driskill for Miss Li who was great and her band was stellar, over to St. David's Bethel Hall to see some Texas bands as part of the Western Vinyl Showcase, including an unimpressive Matthew and the Arrogant Sea. I decided to go all out and dashed over to Barbarella for the excellent Best Coast who also played a couple of new songs that sounded really good. Back to St. David's for the ambient Sleep Whale (formerly MOM) from Denton, TX down to Paradise for crazy afro-beat inflected dance music courtesy of New York's Tanlines (it was a full-on dance party.) Finally, it was back over to St. David's for the beautiful, classical-leaning experimental band Balmorhea.

Day One HERE. Day two HERE. Day Three HERE. Day Four pictures and videos continued below...

Continue reading "SXSW 2010 day 4 pics & review (Black Keys, Dum Dum Girls, Broken Bells, Demolished Thoughts, Antlers, Fanfarlo, more)"

photos by Brian Reilly

There's been a lot of buzz around the festival about Broken Bells, the new project of the Shins' frontman James Mercer and artist-producer Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton).

Now, reaction to the debut disc has been mixed (we thought it fell short of the hype), but seeing them live is making us think we need to take another listen. It's woozy psych-influenced pop, with a bit of hip-hop swing to the beats, and while their songs didn't initially hit us that hard, they're starting to grow on us.

We caught their final performance of SXSW Saturday afternoon, on the patio at Mohawks, which had been at capacity since at least 1pm, with a line up down the street bigger than the crowd inside, which should give you some idea of the attention they're getting. [Now Toronto]

Continue reading "Broken Bells @ an AOL pop-up show in a garage - pics, setlist"

by Benjamin Lozovsky

Broken Bells, the new collaboration between producer extraordinaire Danger Mouse and Shins leader James Mercer, did everything that was expected of them Wednesday (3/10) at Music Hall of Williamsburg. A roundly good thing, unless like most live music fans, you come to a performance expecting the unexpected.

For Mercer and Brian Burton (Danger Mouse's real name), it was only their fourth show (they already played LA, Paris and London) together after a whirlwind musical courtship and friendship saw them create a stunning record of golden nugget mining 60s pop and psych rock. Brimming with melodious texture and refined emotion, the self-titled album released the day before the show is nearly spotless and blatantly thought through. For the majority of their set at Music Hall, the same rang true. But in a live implication, that translated into sterile, almost medically scrubbed renditions of all the songs from their first recorded effort. It was no small feat to reproduce such a nuanced and instrumentally rich work note for note, and the musicianship all night was stellar. But rock concerts aren't held in ICUs; germs and other unaccounted irregularities are encouraged.

The venue was dark, with dotted, drug-induced projections making up the entire lighting scheme. The album certainly has gloomy leanings, especially in Mercer's sometimes tortured vocals, but there are also mounds of joy clumped in there. With the exception of the lead guitarist and bassist, it was almost as if the band was hiding their lack of sentiment, obscuring their unease with playing the music on purpose. It wasn't necessary; hopefully Mercer and Burton realize as more shows unfold that they are readily capable of playing with precision and thoroughness, and that their skill will only shine clearer with a little dirt thrown over their pristine looking glass.

There was some pleasant filth present though. Openers Plants and Animals plenty soiled up the venue with their exciting identity crisis of stoner sludge-rock meets tainted indie crooning.

And after completing their album, Mercer and Burton came out together for an encore and performed a brightly paired down cover of Neil Young's "Don't Let It Bring You Down," followed by full band cover of Tommy James and The Shondells' huge hit "Crimson And Clover." They were faithful to both songs while taking thrilling liberties, with Mercer and Burton even showing uncharacteristic smiles throughout.

Coming up, both Broken Bells and Plants and Animals are heading to SXSW. Plants and Animals play six shows including a BV day party. Broken Bells play one big official NPR one at Stubb's with Spoon (3/17), as well as at least two more that have since been announced. On Wednesday 3/17 they're also playing an AOL pop-up day show with the location TBA that day, and they were added to the T-Mobile/Mog party happening March 20th at the Mohawk with the Black Keys also on the bill.

More pictures from Music Hall below...

Continue reading "Broken Bells & Plants & Animals @ MHOW in Brooklyn - pics "

Plants and Animals' sophomore album, La La Land, will be released April 20th on Secret City Records. The band has much in the works leading up to this release - a striking new video for the new single "The Mama Papa," several shows at SXSW, and a complete North American tour which will take the band through all the major cities and beyond.

Continue reading "Plants & Animals - new album, video & 2010 tour dates"

"Broken Bells, the hotly anticipated new project between Danger Mouse and the Shins' James Mercer, had a coming-out-party Friday night, performing at the intimate Bootleg Theater for industry pals and those lucky enough to score some of the tickets that went on sale Friday morning. With a capacity of about 200, tickets didn't last long, and Pop & Hiss was forced to head home to watch some Olympic ice dancing instead.*

Nevertheless, plenty of amateur videographers were in attendance..."" [LA Times]

And it was just announced that Broken Bells will perform at the NPR SXSW showcase at Stubb's on Wednesday March 17th. That's the same show that Spoon, The Walkmen, and Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings are also playing. Luckily I've seen the last three bands live many times and Broken Bells are playing Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on March 10th (tickets on sale this week), because that night in Austin I'll be down the street at the BrooklynVegan showcase at Club DeVille.

Broken Bells videos below...

Continue reading "Broken Bells played LA, playing SXSW & Brooklyn "

Fruit Bats @ MHOW in September (more by Raymond Haddad)

Fruit Bats, led by the Shins' Eric Johnson, put out their fourth record, The Ruminant Band, and toured North America this year; they're currently playing shows in Europe. In January they have a scheduled tour of the West Coast, and after that they currently have a sole NYC show (part of a TBA tour that covers the Southeast, Midwest and Northeast) scheduled for Monday, March 22nd at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 18 at noon.

While Johnson has been focusing on his Fruit Bats project, lead Shins songwriter James Mercer has been collaborating with Danger Mouse on a project they call Broken Bells.

Broken Bells features Mercer on vocals, guitars and bass while Burton plays organ, drums, piano, synths and bass. The pair play all the instruments on the album with the exception of a full string section arranged by Daniele Luppi. Broken Bells was recorded by Todd Monfalcone and Kennie Takahashi at Mondo Studio in Los Angeles and produced by Burton.

Fruit Bats videos and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Fruit Bats touring more in 2010 (NYC show announced), James Mercer working w/ Danger Mouse on Broken Bells"