photos by Amanda Hatfield

JD Samson @ Brooklyn Museum

The first part of this post's headline is the title of a SPIN article. Here's a snippet:

"Musicians are particularly vulnerable to anti-gay sentiment because, says Ejeris Dixon of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, they "become representations of their communities. When people are attacking public figures, it's a way of sending a broader message of homophobia, transphobia, racism, and all these forms of discrimination that can be a way of really fostering a homophobic and transphobic culture. They're attractive as targets as a message to our community."

As a result, bashing is not uncommon in the non-mainstream music world (we'll call it "indie" here, with the knowledge that Merritt, who has released records on the Warner Bros.-affiliated Nonesuch, wouldn't approve of such a tag). This sphere has more out figures than virtually any other major art form, except possibly theater: [Stephin] Merritt, Beth Ditto, Antony Hegarty, Mark Eitzel, Tegan & Sara, Bloc Party's Kele Okereke, Grizzly Bear's Ed Droste, Le Tigre's JD Samson, Sigur Ros' Jonsi Birgisson, Wild Flag's Carrie Brownstein, Patrick Wolf, Ani DiFranco, Owen Pallett, the Hidden Cameras' Joel Gibb, and Bob Mould (who is comfortable enough to detail his 45th birthday present to himself -- a male escort -- in his recently published memoir See a Little Light)."

"This summer I tried to rent an apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The process sent me into an emotional crisis and awakened me into a whole new realization of our economy, the music industry at large and, more specifically, what it means to be a queer artist in 2011.

I spent days trolling around Williamsburg, looking at shitty apartments with cockroaches lining the doorways, fighting neighbors, rats in the ceiling, bedbugs infesting the linoleum floors, fifth-floor walk-ups and cat-pee-soaked carpets. The rent was exorbitant, availability was scarce, and I was turned down by two different landlords for being "freelance." To be honest, I don't blame them. Not only am I freelance, but I'm lesbian freelance. Double whammy. What was the reason they turned me down? Because it was easier to rent to a rich, trust-fund, straight-guy banker who wants to live in the coolest borough in the world? Because when he met me he saw a tattooed gender outlaw who makes "queer electronic punk music" and isn't sure when the next check is going to come in? Yeah, I don't blame him. He doesn't give a shit about how kids email me all the time thanking me for keeping them from committing suicide. It's not part of his capitalist business practice. "

Continue reading "'Homophobia Haunts Indie Rock' & JD Samson loves her job, but it made her poor +++ MEN pics"

photos by Chris La Putt

MEN @ a museum

"The pop trio MEN, fronted by the former Le Tigre member JD Samson, made a triumphant return home recently with a performance at the Williamsburg Hall of Music. In cheekily full frontal fashion, they opened their set wearing a bright pink, three-helmet contraption that connected the trio with rods into a triangle formation. When not attached at the head with her bandmates, Samson leaped around the stage, enthusiastically leading the frenzied audience through song after song of electronic, danceable fun, and interlacing the carefree tracks with messages of radical politics and feminism." [NY Times]

Continue reading "MEN & Savoir Adore played the Brooklyn Museum (pics)"

Brooklyn Museum in bloom (more by Chris La Putt)

Moby will be the focus of an event tonight (5/12) at the Brooklyn Museum. the electronic musician will be interviewed and will discuss Destroyed, his new LP and photography book of the same name. The event will feature a live interview with John Schaefer of WNYC's Soundcheck and New Sounds, in addition to a performance of Destroyed material, "currently the only scheduled performance in the US". In addition, Moby will screen some self-directed/produced videos from his Be The One EP. Tickets are still available and are $10, or $6 for members and cultural colleagues. In addition, you can purchase a ticket with signed copies of both his book and CD before it comes out (on Monday, 5/16). Check out a new video for Moby's "The Day" on youtube.

The Moby event takes place the day before the FREE MEN/Savoir Adore show at Brooklyn Museum which is part of the Audiophile series that Theophilus London plays on 6/10, and which MNDR played last time. The show is also one of a few upcoming Savoir Adore dates that Bill also talked about in This Week In Indie.

In other Brooklyn Museum show news, Blitz The Ambassador will bless the venue on Saturday June 4th at 5PM as part of the next Target First Saturday (the museum's monthly free Saturday night event). June 4th's theme is Afro-Latin Roots, and Ghanian artist Blitz will be performing a hip-hop set with The Embassy Ensemble. Also on the agenda is a DJ set by the incomparable DJ Spinna (8-10pm) and a set from Cuban musician Juan-Carlos Formell (9pm). The event is free, though "some Target First Saturday programs have limited space available and are ticketed on a first-come, first-served basis."

Blitz is also playing the Lincoln Center Out Of Doors festival on Aug 7th at Damrosch Park Bandshell with Spoek Mathambo and Iyadede. Blitz The Amabassador played SOB's last week in celebration of his new LP Native Sun, out now.

A video stream of Blitz The Ambassador's Native Sun LP in full and a recent Moby vid with Heather Graham is below.

Continue reading "Brooklyn Museum hosts Moby (tonight), MEN (Friday) & Blitz the Ambassador & DJ Spinna ('First Saturday' in June)"

photos by Chris La Putt

"going to this MNDR show so I can hate on it on the interwebz later." - winthusiast

MNDR and New Villager played the first of three L Magazine "Audiophile" events at the Brooklyn Museum last night (4/15). Up next in the series are Savoir Adore and MEN (who play Coachella's Mojave Tent on Sunday after Twin Shadow and before CSS) on 5/13, and Theophilus London and an artist TBA on 6/10.

Attendees were treated to an hour open vodka bar and could walk around the museum before and between the poppy, dancey sets. The sound wasn't great, but it was a museum lobby. More pictures from the event, and a video of MNDR playing a new song called "Cry" (she said it was the first time she ever played it live), below...

Continue reading "MNDR & New Villager played the Brooklyn Museum (pics), MEN & Savoir Adore are next, and then Theophilus London"

DOWNLOAD: New Villager - "Lighthouse" (Punches Remix) (MP3)

MNDR at Terminal 5 (more by Brook Bobbins)

The L Magazine kicks off a three-date monthly series called Audiophile at Brooklyn Museum on Friday (4/15). The inaugural date will feature appearancess by MNDR and New Villager at the museum starting at 7PM, with a round of free "cocktails compliments of Brooklyn Republic Vodka" until 8PM. The show is FREE with admission to the museum.

The following months offer interesting choices as well, as MEN (who play Coachella this weekend) will team with Savoir Adore on 5/13 and Theophilus London and a guest will hit on 6/10.

MEN, who played Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 7th, and Savoir Adore are featured on the Pray for Japan (with Music) vol.1 compilation, out now on iTunes.

Brooklyn's own Punches recently dressed up the New Villager track "Lighthouse" for a remix which premieres in this post. Download it above. Stream it below. The New Villager LP, due via IAMSOUND, drops on 8/16. Check out the remix, as well as the original video for "Lighthouse" and a recent video for Theophilus London's "Why Even Try", below.

Continue reading "MNDR is playing the Brooklyn Museum w/ New Villager (who was remixed by Punches) -- MP3 premiere & other dates"

"In a rare interview, multi-platinum, 10-time Grammy Award-winning artist and icon JAY-Z will speak with Charlie Rose, executive editor and anchor of the Charlie Rose Show, before a live audience in the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Auditorium at the Brooklyn Museum on Thursday, November 18, at 7 p.m. The conversation, which will be taped to air nationwide at a later date on the Charlie Rose program, will focus on JAY-Z's book DECODED, to be published on November 16 by Spiegel & Grau, a Random House imprint. DECODED recounts JAY-Z's life from his childhood in Brooklyn's Marcy housing projects to becoming a world-famous performer and songwriter, entrepreneur, and philanthropist."

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) "

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Grass Widow - To Where (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Frankie Rose - Thee Only One (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Mary Onettes - Puzzles (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Mary Onettes - Dare (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Carsick Cars - You Can Listen You Can Talk (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Carsick Cars - Zhong Nan Hai (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: PK-14 - Behind All Ruptures (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Xiao He - MTV (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Answering Machine - Another City, Another Sorry (MP3)

Frankie & the Outs - debut show @ The Woods on Halloween

I'm barely recovered from post-CMJ cold and we've got a week that is so packed with good shows it feels like another festival is in town.

Mercury Prize nominees The Invisible are playing their first U.S. shows this week, starting with a free one tonight at Brooklyn Bowl. Their lauded debut album doesn't fit into one easy category, which befits a band on Matthew Herbert's label. It's all fairly warm and soulful, but with forays into funk, sparse ballads, electro and Krautrock. There's a lot going on and I'll be curious to see how a three-piece can pull it off live. The Invisible also play Santos tomorrow (11/5) opening for Dragonette, and then on Friday at Pianos (11/6) where they'll be on the same bill as Freelance Whales.

The Mary Onettes, here from Sweden, play their first NYC show this year, tonight (11/4) at Union Hall where they'll play with Blacklist. As I said before, like a lot of the bands on Labrador, The Mary Onettes love the '80s and wear those influences on their black-clad sleeves. But their second album, Islands, wears them a little more subtly, though they are still writing reach-for-the-stars chorus -- now with strings. I like them a lot. They also play Friday (11/6) at Studio @ Webster Hall and then Sunday (11/8) at Mercury Lounge.

Grass Widow

San Francisco's awesome Grass Widow are also in town this weekend for a string of dates, starting tomorrow (11/5) at The Woodser with Frankie & the Outs, Air Waves and Hot Box. (There was to be a second show tomorrow, late at Monster Island, but that has been cancelled.) There are more than a few all-girl trios out there playing vaguely C-86 style indie (including fellow San Franciscans Brilliant Colors), but Grass Widow write better songs than most, and I really like both 12" EPs they've released this year.

The Woodser show was to be notable as the live debut of Frankie & the Outs, but then they went and played Halloween night at similarly named Willliamsburg bar The Woods (picture above). Frankie's debut single, "Thee Only One," is out now and is worth picking up -- though I think more for the dreamy b-side "Hollow Life" than the A-side (good as it is, and downloadable above) which is a little more of what you'd expect from someone who spent time in Vivian Girls and Crystal Stilts. Frankie's got a way with harmonies, and the less that gets in the way of them, the better. There were a couple of songs The Outs did Saturday which were similarly laid back, and the best songs of the night.

The Bitters

Grass Widow also play Market Hotel on Friday night (11/6) along with Vivian Girls, The Bitters and Stupid Party. If you haven't heard The Bitters, the Toronto duo feature Ben Cook of Fucked Up (who play Thursday at Masonic Temple) and Aerin Fogel. They've got a single and an EP on Captured Tracks, the latter of which I dig (haven't heard the single yet). While definitely on the "low" end of the "fi" scale, Bitters are different from anything else on Captured Tracks with an early-'60s rock n' roll vibe (or early '80s West Coast punk), and Ben and Aerin's harmonies front-and-center.|

Grass Widow also play Saturday (11/7) afternoon at the Brooklyn Museum with Crystal Stilts and the Beets, a show which finally today was officially announced by the museum...

"Inspired by Gail's idea, and because we love Brooklyn photographers, on First Saturday we are inviting local photographers to come and shoot the bands that are playing and post their photos to the Brooklyn Museum's flickr group. Afterwards, Bob Gruen, a rock photography legend who is featured in the exhibition and has shot the likes of Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and The Clash, will look at the photos and blog about his favorites here!" [Brooklyn Museum]

Carsick Cars

There's also the China Underground Invasion tour this weekend, with three of Beijing's best indie rock bands: Carsick Cars, PK-14 and Xiao He. In particular, I'm excited about Carsick Cars who I've actually heard of prior to this tour thanks to a friend who is living in Beijing and occasionally sends me music. They're definitely of the Sonic Youth/Dinosaur Jr school of noise n' drone. I only just got their new album, You Can Listen, You Can Talk, but have been listening to their 2008 debut a lot, and am told that its "Zhong Nan Hai" is like the Beijing indie anthem. The tour hits PowerHouse Arena tomorrow (11/5), Glasslands on Friday (11/6) and Santos on Saturday (11/7).

Tonight (11/4) is also the second week of The Answering Machine's three-week residency at Coco 66. The band has also added three more NYC dates while they're here: Nov. 9 at Pianos, Nov. 11 at Bruar Falls and Nov. 12 at Cake Shop.

Tahiti 80

And finally, Saturday night (11/7) French pop band Tahiti 80 play Mercury Lounge (tickets). When it comes to Franco-pop, Phoenix get the lion's share of the attention, but Tahiti 80 have been at it almost as long (if not just as long) and have made four danceable, hook-filled albums. The most recent of which, Activity Center, came out last year in France but is just now getting an American release. The band have retreated a bit from the full-on disco that was 2005's Fosbury, and gone back to the '60s sunshine of 2002's Wallpaper for the Soul which definitely suits them better. I haven't seen them play in ages, but they were always a good live band. Opening is Brookville, the other band from Ivy's Andy Chase -- who also produced Tahiti 80's first two albums.

Videos, tour dates and flyers are after the jump...

Continue reading "The Bitters, Grass Widow, Tahiti 80, The Mary Onettes, Frankie Rose, The Invisible & more in This Week in Indie "

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.

by Bill Pearis

As I just mentioned, the November 7th Frankie Rose and The Outs show at the Woodser will be with San Francisco's Grass Widow who will be in town for a week's worth of shows. Frankie was in a band with most of them, called Shitstorm, who basically became Grass Widow after Frankie moved to NYC.

Grass Widow have put out two records this year -- an LP on Make a Mess records which came out over the summer, and a new EP on Captured Tracks. They're both worth picking up, especially for fans of Brilliant Colors, Vivian Girls (with whom they'll play at Market Hotel on Nov. 6) and Liechtenstein. There's also a free afternoon show at Brooklyn Museum on Nov. 7 with Crystal Stilts and The Beets.

The November 7th date coincides with the museum's Who Shot Rock: Photographers of Rock and Roll exhibition which opens at the end of October.

All upcoming Grass Widow and Crystal Stilts dates, and a video, below...

Continue reading "Grass Widow is coming -- Brooklyn Museum w/ Crystal Stilts, Market Hotel w/ Vivian Girls, Woodser w/ Frankie Rose"

Who Shot Rock: Photographers of Rock and Roll

Who Shot Rock: Photographers of Rock and Roll is the first major museum exhibition to put the photographers in the foreground, acknowledging their creative and collaborative role in the history of rock 'n' roll. From its earliest days, rock 'n' roll was captured in photographs that personalized, and frequently eroticized, the musicians, creating a visual identity for the genre. The photographers are handmaidens to the rock 'n' roll revolution, and their images communicate the social and cultural transformations that took place from the 1950s to the present. The exhibition is in six sections: rare and revealing images taken behind the scenes; tender snapshots of young musicians at the beginnings of their careers; exhilarating photographs of live performances that display the energy, passion, style, and sex appeal of the bands on stage; powerful images of the crowds and fans that are evocative of historic paintings; portraits revealing the soul and creativity, rather than the surface and celebrity, of the musicians; and conceptual images and album covers highlighting the collaborative efforts between the image makers and the musicians.

Organization: Who Shot Rock: Photographers of Rock and Roll is organized by the Brooklyn Museum with guest curator Gail Buckland, a distinguished photographic historian.

And don't forget that the museum is free each 'first saturday' of the month - entertainment included.

These Arms are Snakes @ Bumbershoot 2008 (more by Chris Graham)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Alan Braxe @ Studio B
* The Finches @ Cake Shop
* Chairlift @ Santos Party House
* Glass Candy @ Le Poisson Rouge
* The Bird & the Bee @ Carnegie Hall
* J*Davey & Amanda Diva @ The Studio
* Dropkick Murphys & H2O @ Roseland Ballroom
* Blank Dogs, Pink Noise, Gary War @ The Shank
* The Whigs & Dead Confederate @ Bowery Ballroom
* Marco Benevento Trio & Sean Bones @ The Bell House
* The Giraffes, I'm In You & Moon Rabbits @ Union Pool
* These Arms Are Snakes,Darker My Love & All The Saints @ MHOW
* Boogie Boarder, The Forms, Dinowalrus, Bachelor of Arts & Real Estate @ Dead Herring

Today is the 'First Saturday' at the Brooklyn Museum.

Warped Tour/major-label/Alternative Press-SXSW-party-playing possible-future-female-Canadian-pop-star Lights is playing her keytar at Pianos tonight.

Newsweek interviewed Neko Case.

"MARKET HOTEL HAS 2 ARTIST STUDIOS AVAILABLE. They are $450 (all inclusive) per month, app 150 sq feet, and feature natural light & private, secure locking access + private common area and kitchen area. Sorry, no living, but artist tenants do get a say in the Market Hotel collective and can organize events and curate art shows. for more info, email THEMARKETHOTEL@GMAIL.COM"

Clouds were originally on the These Arms are Snakes bill. Now it seems they're not.

Phish played last night.

Coolio busted with crack.

M.I.A.'s baby is not named Ickitt.

Music therapist plays guitar for cancer patients.

The So So Glos are playing Death By Audio on Sunday. Joly posted some new video of the So So Glos from a show at Santos Party House during CMJ. Watch them below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

the Brooklyn Museum, April 3, 2008 (The Brooklyn Paper / Adrian Kinloch)

Outside the Eastern Parkway art institute, hundreds of protestors started gathering at around 6:30 pm to greet more than 1,000 Museum supporters as they entered for cocktails and hors-d'oeuvres of miso-marinated cod and spicy taro with caviar.

Celebrities including designer Marc Jacobs and tennis legend John McEnroe were also on hand.

Protesters condemned the Museum's decision to honor Ratner, some holding signs reading, "Con Artist" and, in a particularly nifty bit of memory, "Dung Deal," a reference to the Museum's 1999 controversy over its "Sensation" exhibition, which featured a painting of the Virgin Mary adorned with elephant dung.

Joining the protesters was former city Department of Environmental Protection commissioner Marilyn Gelber.

Referring to the protesters outside, Borough President Markowitz -- a major support of Atlantic Yards -- smiled and said, "It shows that this is a great country." [Brooklyn Paper]

"Ratner - Hands Off Our Homes" (horseycraze)

Continue reading "Kanye West playing Brooklyn Museum, honoring Bruce Ratner"