You can actually still donate if you want, but the official Kickstarter end-time was about two hours ago and "The Punk Singer: The Documentary about Kathleen Hanna" is already almost $20,000 over its original goal. Congrats to them and time to celebrate at Death By Audio tonight (10/27). Flyer above. More details (which include EX-TITUS Andronicus member Amy Klein), below...

Continue reading "Kathleen Hanna documentary funded on Kickstarter, Riot Grrl Cover Bands Show at DBA tonight"

The "special guest" playing Pianos Friday night with Selebrities is Puro Instinct whose tour with John Maus just brought them to both Glasslands and Mercury Lounge. Pics from Mercury Lounge are on the way, and we already talked about Glasslands (though briefly). If you missed it, Bill wrote:

" I caught [John Maus and Puro Instinct[ at Glasslands. Maus' show, which shouldn't work, does thanks to his dedication and intensity. A little goes a long way, though. (I really like the new album, I should say.) Puro Instict can really sing and play... better songs will come with time. They're young."

What did you think?

The Pianos show is a benefit for human trafficking survivors and advanced tickets are on sale. Slowdance, Yvette, Care Bears on Fire (even younger than Puro Instinct) and Blissed Out DJs are also on the bill.

Updated Puro Instinct tour dates, and a video they posted with a current Kickstarter campaign they have going, below...

Continue reading "Puro Instinct played Glasslands & Mercury Lounge, are the secret guest Friday night @ Pianos (updated dates)"

Kathleen Hanna with Bikini Kill in the 90s

Kathleen Hannah will be celebrated on December 11th at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, as a host of bands she has influenced will team up to perform songs from across her career. The show is a benefit for a forthcoming documentary on the Bikini Kill/Le Tigre member:

Kathleen is currently the subject of a documentary tentatively titled The Kathleen Hanna Project, a.k.a. Who Told You Christmas Wasn't Cool?, directed by Sister Spit alumni, Sini Anderson. ...The documentary explores exactly what makes people react so strongly to Kathleen Hanna's work... her personal motives and perspective on the scene she's been a part of for 20 years, "there's also a lot of context: the history, the musicians, the other people who were part of that movement." The film is also about perseverance in the face of personal attacks, even from those within one's own marginalized community. "Kathleen took an enormous amount of shit. She ate a lot of dirt along the way." And Anderson wants to know, "when people are so busy trying to take you down, how do you keep on creating?" -[The Feminist Guide To Hollywood]

Sini Anderson will also be filming the show for the documentary. Tickets are on sale.

Bands playing include Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, Kaia Wilson, MEN (aka JD Samson of Le Tigre's new band), Bridget Everett, Care Bears on Fire, Hilly Eye, She Murders (featuring Kim Gordon's daughter Coco), Toshi Reagon, Making Friendz, Christy & Emily, and many many others including video performances by Caroline Polachek (Chairlift) and a dance performance by Emily Wexler. Full lineup is below.

Kathleen Hanna DJed the sold-out Raincoats show at MoMa on 11/20. Some videos below...

Continue reading "Kathleen Hanna documentary benefit @ Knitting Factory "

Freelance Whales @ Other Music - Apr 12, 2010 (Joe Madonna)

Freelance Whales follow up their two NYC performances earlier this week with another in-store this Saturday, April 17th at Vintage Vinyl in NJ (not to be confused with Vintage Vinyl in MO) in honor of Record Store Day. Joining them at the store will be Peter Bradley Adams, Care Bears on Fire, and lots of limited vinyl.

Freelance Whales' last in-store was at Other Music where you'll find live shows and exclusive vinyl this Saturday too. Video from that show, and Vintage Vinyl's RSD schedule, below...

Continue reading "Freelance Whales played Other Music (and Bowery Ballroom), playing Vintage Vinyl (with others) on Record Store Day"

photos by Tim Griffin

"Technology is one problem, [Little Steven Van Zandt of the E Street Band] observes. "I think in the old days, in order to even be decent, it took a lot of work," he says. "And today, relatively untalented and uncreative people can actually make rock 'n' roll music that sounds kind of decent. And I think that kind of fools people and causes people to be lazy."

But for [Steve Greenberg, founder of S-Curve Records], there's also a sense that the "square pegs" -- the naturally rebellious types -- are getting shoved in round holes. "A lot of opportunities inevitably these days go to people who fit the format, whether the format is Top 40 radio or 'American Idol' or [Radio] Disney or whatever it is," he says. "There's so much pressure to fit those slots. And it's the square pegs ultimately who are going to change the world."

The spirited Greenberg wants to channel that rebellious energy. He's high on a band he signed named Care Bears on Fire, a trio of 13-year-old Brooklyn girls [who have a free show coming up and] who sound like the Ramones with a touch of Shonen Knife.

"Their attitude is maybe one size doesn't fit all," he says. "I feel like the spirit of rock 'n' roll lives in those guys. ... They're having fun playing rock 'n' roll."" [CNN]

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (Little Steven included) played their second of two rock 'n' roll shows at the Izod Center in NJ on Saturday night (5/23). After the first (5/21), Bruce announced from the stage that they'd be back in September to play the final three Giants Stadium concerts. Both NJ setlists, and more pictures from Saturday's show, below...

Continue reading "Bruce Springsteen @ the Izod Center (night 2) - pics & setlist"

Brooklyn Central Library (wallyg)

"Finally, the Care Bears on Fire are not just for kids anymore.

The Park Slope-based trio -- newly reconfigured as an all-girl band -- [played] its highest-profile gig ever: a Saturday night, all-ages, leave-the-stuffed-animals-at-home show at the Bell House [happened in January].

But first, a little unfinished business.

Guitarist Lucio (no last names, please -- they're all barely teenagers!) left the band last year and has been replaced by Jena, a Manhattanite who, at 14, is the oldest Bear ever. She'll play bass.

What happened to Lucio?

"We had creative differences and he went in a different direction," said Izzy, 13, in an exclusive sit-down with GO Brooklyn over lattes and muffins at the Cocoa Bar in Park Slope." [The Brooklyn Paper]

Care Bears on Fire, who were also recently interviewed by Amy Poehler for On Networks show "Smart Girls at the Party", will play a free show to kick-off the Brooklyn Public Library's summer reading series on Thursday, June 4th. The gig will be held outdoors at the Brooklyn Library's Central Branch (1 Grand Army Plaza). Two days later, the same space will host singer Katia Cadet.

The Amy Poehler video and more info on both shows, below...

Continue reading "Care Bears on Fire (now all girls, still underage) interviewed by Amy Poehler (video), playing free library show"

Out with the old, in with new...

On October 18th, the 92nd Street Y is thrilled to celebrate the official opening of its amazing new downtown venue 92YTribeca, with a stream of outstanding programming and events including a special programming lineup we're calling 18 Nights of Inspiration. The 18 Nights will represent a mix of awesome live experiences including music, comedy, film, theater, food and more, and featuring some of entertainment's hottest talent and thought-provoking performers and presenters.

Why 18 Nights? 18 represents Chai, meaning life in Hebrew, and also signifying the number 18. You can also find the 18 dots represented in our logo.

92YTribeca is committed to fueling your life with experiences that inspire you. We welcome and serve a diverse community of young people from New York City and beyond, including musicians, artists, filmmakers, performers, writers, educators, humorists, directors, speakers, sports enthusiasts, and many others.

So come visit us at 92YTribeca this fall!

Just when you thought I wouldn't post another Eugene Mirman performance date.... all upcoming shows at 92Yribeca, below...

Continue reading "92YTribeca opening in Tribeca - John Vanderslice, Adam Yauch, Zach Galifianakis & other shows already on sale"

DOWNLOAD: Smoosh - Find a Way (MP3)

Martha & River Phoenix @ 1989 Acadamy Awards

The Sasquatch-playing, Pipettes-opening blonde kid-duo Smoosh from Seattle will play a show with East Coast kids bands The Tiny Masters of Today and Cear Bears on Fire at Southpaw on SunDAY (June 3). Martha Plimpton was just a kid when she was in Goonies, and she's hosting. 826NYC helps kids learn to read, and that's where all the money is going. More details below.....

Continue reading "Matha Plimpton hosts 826NYC Brooklyn benefit Sunday"