by BBG

Cave In @ Knitting Factory in 2009 (more by Samantha Marble)

Cave In is back and will play a show at Santos Party House on May 19. Tickets are on sale now for what is their only date we know about right now. Cave In released an odds & ends LP Anomalies, Vol. 1, and will follow-up with a second LP.

Meanwhile Stephen Brodsky (of Cave In) is heading to Santos too, supporting Thomas Giles (Between The Buried & Me) with Braveyoung on April 2. Tickets are on sale, and more tour dates and a live Cave In video, are below...

Continue reading "Cave In playing NY, Stephen Brodsky touring w/ Thomas Giles"

Move over wolves, crystals, girls and bears. Caves are cool now. Following in the footsteps of cave granddaddies Cave-In (who recently reunited to cash in on the cave phenomenon) and Nick Cave, there seems to be a sudden influx of cave bands hitting the scene. Maybe it all really started back in 2007 when Pretty Girls Make Graves broke up and Derek Fudesco formed The Cave Singers (Pretty Girls Make Caves) who were almost immediately signed to Matador which two years later also became the home of Cold Cave. According to Wikipedia, Cold Cave have been a band since 2005, but the dark synthpop group with hardcore roots didn't actually release anything until 2008. Their Matador debut, which really made them a household indie rock name, came in 2009.

Earlier this year, the popular LA all-girl punk band Mika Miko broke up leaving prominent member JennifEr ClAVin without a musical home, but not for long. She quickly joined cave band Cold Cave, thus adding even more credibility to the cave scene. On April 29, 2010 (last night), Cold Cave played a headlining show at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC. How was it? They reportedly played for 35 minutes and it was their third NYC show in less than a week. The first was at Solar One, a free NYU Earth Day concert with HEALTH. The next was up at Barnard in a gym due to rain that forced it inside.

Continuing along with the partial inspiration or this post: Cave and Caves. This one was especially confusing me lately, in part due to the emails I get on behalf of both bands. I had to take a second and confirm in my mind that these were two different groups.

CAVE (I think it's all capital letters) is a psychedelic Chicago rock band with an impressive resume and a bunch of releases dating back to 2006. You may have caught them on their November tour. If not, don't fear, the band have a loaded show schedule this summer that includes the Pitchfork Festival, the Sled Island Festival in Canada, dates with Quintron and Miss Pussycat, and two NYC shows: August 14th at the Studio at Webster Hall and August 15th at Issue Project Room. A new 12" CAVE EP entitled Pure Moods will be released by Drag City in May (though the download seems to be available now). All tour dates below.

Caves (plural) started in San Francisco, but like the Morning Benders, now live in Brooklyn. Like Cave, they also fall into the psychedelic category. And though they are looking for a drummer, they actually have five local shows coming up including a record release party at Cameo tonight (4/30). Said the Gramophone has an MP3. You can listen to more at their SonicBids page. All dates below.

Caveman

Also tonight, 4/30, in the NYC-area: Caveman are opening for Here We Go Magic at Maxwell's. The four-part harmonizing Brooklyn band (who has opened for Here We Go Magic before) is the new project from Matty Pickles of The Subjects. Other members are Subjects guitarist Jimmy Carbonetti, Jeff Berrall of Elefant, Stefan Marolachakis from The End of the World, and Sam Hopkin. Maybe you caught Caveman at Cameo (or Caveo as some call it) on April 19th. Shannon did:

"I returned to the mystical back room just in time to hear Caveman self-deprecate and be casual and charming, then nonchalantly break into a pretty tight, polished set that would stop you in your tracks on Bedford Avenue if you heard it coming out of a record shop. I mean, check out the song "Decide," on Caveman's Myspace here. They have such a lovely, echoed lo-fi sound. I believe the band is somewhat newly formed. I gather this from something they mentioned in their stage banter and because I have their set list from that night in my purse, and more than one song began with "New Jam # ...," which I find incredibly endearing."

They are new (their first show ever was at Bowery Ballroom with White Rabbits in January), and I agree on the checking out their MySpace recommendation too. There you will find two beautiful songs (demos). "December 28th" is especially Grizzly Bear/Fleet Foxes-esque. If you miss them tonight, they also have a NYC show scheduled on May 19th (at Sway?).

Finally, last but not least, I'll wrap things up with Cave Bears. They, like Cleveland's Clan of the Cave Bear, have successfully combined both caves and bears, but the mind-expanding experimental, and sometimes silly, Massachusetts band has a sound all their own (at least compared to anyone else in this post). No wonder they recently shared a bill (the same night Cavebear played Cameo) at Death By Audio with guitarist and Thurston Moore collaborator Bill Nace, the Thurston Moore approved Fat Worm Of Error, and Darren Mabee's band We are the Seahorses. Video of their wacky live show with everything else, below...

Continue reading "Caves are the new Bears (except for Cave Bear) "

by Black Bubblegum

Coalesce at Scion Rock Fest 2009 (Mike White)

There are a few show-related regrets that I have this year so far..... missing Destroyer 666 at Europa. Absu at BB Kings. Kreig and Woe at Public Assembly. But one of the biggest regrets that I had was not getting to actually SEE Coalesce at Scion Rock Fest. Luckily, redemption is on my side, as we are beyond pleased to announce that BrooklynVegan will sponsor Coalesce at Club Europa on Dec 30th! The show will be the their ONLY Northeastern appearance. More details are to come, including support, but for now, you can get your tickets here.

Coalesce has lined up a few sparse dates so far including Fun Fun Fun Fest, The Fest 8 (which recently announced set times), and a pair of FREE shows with Cave In that jump off this week. Cave In aren't playing for free in NYC, but they are playing with Narrows and Trap Them at Knitting Factory on 11/19. Tickets are on sale.

Coalesce released their critically acclaimed OX LP earlier this year, and are following it up with the OX EP, due on 11/10. Preorder it here. The band is also offering the chance for fans to try their hand at remixing the track "Wild Ox Moan".

All dates and some videos below...

Continue reading "Coalesce playing Europa (BV presents) ++ Cave In tix on sale "

by Black Bubblegum

Cave In: Gods of Woodland Hardcore

It was bound to happen, and now it has. Cave In will play NYC on 11/19 at Knitting Factory as part of a short east coast tour with Narrows and Trap Them! Ticket info is forthcoming.

Cave In, who came out of hiatus over the summer, are also playing shows with Coalesce in the next week for FREE in ATL on 10/7, and 10/8 in LA at The Knitting Factory (one of the last shows at the California venue). RSVP for those FREE shows here.

The tour announcement comes on the heels of the announcement that the limited Planets Of Old 12" will be re-released as an CD EP in the new year. All dates below...

Continue reading "Cave In playing shows! - Knitting Factory in NYC, an East Coast tour w/ Trap Them (dates), free in ATL & LA (RSVP)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: YOB - "Burning The Altar" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Burnt By The Sun - "Inner Station" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Weekend Nachos - "A Few Blocks South" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Nadja & Black Boned Angel - "II" Edit (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Greymachine - "Vultures Descend" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Burning Love - 2009 Demo (Sendspace MP3 link)

YOB Live (hevisto)

Out this week, the return of the mighty YOB with their absolutely colossal new album The Great Cessation. If you were a fan of masterful, thundering, sickening doom or the previous material by YOB or Middian/Age Eternal, this album is HIGHLY recommended... possibly their best LP yet? The Great Cessation is currently on sale at the Profound Lore, and the band recently was interviewed by Hellbound.

The brutal band with the awesome name, Weekend Nachos, are hitting the road at the end of August and into September bludgeoning the Northeast with dates including Rockstar Bar on Sept 4th! The band is currently supporting their new LP Unforgivable out now at your favorite distro or via the band. Check out "A Few Blocks South" from Unforgivable and make sure and get out to Rockstar Bar on 9/4, if you ain't chicken.

Cave In is BACK officially with the release of the Planets of Old 12", and the song "Retina Sees Rewind" available now on iTunes! The ultra-limited 12" is available July 28th, and in much larger numbers at their comeback show on July 19th in Allston, MA.

Maryland Deathfest has announced the inital 2010 lineup and.... whoooa nelly!
ENTOMBED, OBITUARY, EYEHATEGOD, PENTAGRAM, SINISTER, INCANTATION, PORTAL, HAEMORRHAGE, IMPALED, GRIDLINK, INGROWING (Czech Republic), GRIDE (Czech Republic), 16, BIRDS OF PREY, MASSGRAVE (Canada), FUCK THE FACTS (Canada), TOMBS, HOWL

Out now via 20 Buck Spin, the collaborative LP between Nadja & Black Boned Angel. Black Boned Angel is probably best known as the alter-ego of Campbell Kneale of Birchville Cat Motel, who collaborated with Nadja over 2+ years to create the three tracks which formed this LP, as well as the Christ Send Light EP. The graphic artwork is very indicative of the collaborative spirit of the LP as well, as it is also a collaboration between revered artists Stephen Kasner and David D'Andrea. Check out a snippet of one of the tracks on the LP above. Also out now, BBA's new LP Verdun available via Riot Season.

Union Pool has gone metal! Besides the previously mentioned Dysrhythmia show and the Hull / Giant Squid / Grayceon shindig, the venue has also lined up a few other notable shows in the coming months including the mighty Atomic Bitchwax on August 1, f'n Cable on August 15th (3 days before the release of The Failed Convict), and finally Neurot signees It's Casual on August 23rd. Full Cable tour dates are below. Stream the new Dysrhythmia album, Psychic Maps, here.

Baroness have completed work on their new album due in October via Relapse Records!

Burnt By the Sun are preparing their FINAL album for release, Heart Of Darkness due on August 18th via Relapse Records. Check out "Inner Station" available for download above, which is also on the Relapse Contamination 2009 comp available for $5.99 on iTunes. The band has scheduled a gang of Euro-dates, but none in the US so far... although with Dave Witte gearing up to release Municipal Waste's Massive Aggressive, I'm guessing it might be a while.

Check out a video interview with Municipal Waste, live video of Saint Vitus, as well as a new project featuring Chris Colohan of Cursed, Pentagram, Burzum, 3 Inches Of Blood, Kayo Dot, and much more as This Week In Metal Continues...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (07/13/09)"

by Black Bubblegum

Dear friends,

After 3 1/2 long years, Cave In has decided to end its hiatus. Please join us for an EP release show at Great Scott's (1222 Commonwealth Ave., Allston MA) on Sunday, July 19th @ 9PM. Also playing will be our friends Disappearer and Phantom Glue. Copies of the "Planets Of Old" limited 12" (recorded by Adam Taylor, Alex Hartman & Johnny Northrup @ Camp St. Studio) from Hydra Head Records will be available that night.

We hope to see your lovely selves.

Steve, Adam, J.R., Caleb
CAVE IN

Tickets for that show go on sale Friday at 10am.

According to the Boston Phoenix, it's the Jupiter-era version of the band that's getting back together to release this vinyl-only EP on Hydra Head. Cave In went on hiatus in 2006, splintering into a solo projects, Clouds, Zozobra, Old Man Gloom, and countless other notable projects.

"Dark Driving" and "Big Riff" videos below...

Continue reading "Cave In out of hiatus, playing an EP-release show "

by Black Bubblegum

Three dudes with ridiculously bad wedgies

When you call your tour the 'Champions of Sound', you better be either a travelling reggae showcase or ready to ante the f up. Hopefully Pelican, Kayo Dot, and Stove Bredsky (aka Stephen Brodsky of Cave In) are up to the challenge when this eclectic tour of Hydra Head representatives goes east-coastin' in late October up 'til around Thanksgiving. Zozobra (with Caleb, also of Cave In lineage) are included in the festivities on a few dates. That includes the show at Bowery Ballroom on 11/2. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon.

Pelican is gearing up to tour Europe with Torche, and recently dropped a lengthy update including details on their new record.

In related Kayo Dot news, Toby Driver has reformed his former band, Maudlin of The Well after asking for donations to help record unreleased tracks and receiving a big fattie courtesy of one superfan. As a result, the band will hit the studio in Feb of 2009 to record a digital only release. No word on who Maudlin Of The Well is/will be, other than Toby (natch)and Terran Olson. All dates below...

Continue reading "Pelican, Kayo Dot & Stove Bredsky - tour dates (Zozobra too)"

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Jason Bergman

Torche

Meet your new favorite band. If not you, then someone who's seen them live. Torche lit up (sorry) Webster Hall on July 10th with flapping down-tuned guitar strings, full body (not just head) bangs, bombastic loudquietloud, and hooks, hooks, and more hooks. The band drew heavily from the critically accliamed Meanderthal, but also from last year's equally acclaimed In Return. In the live setting, their sound definitely adheres closer to their (also must-have) self-titled LP, rumbling low-end thunder. They invited Q (dummer for Clouds) on stage to play toms on "Fat Waves".

Boris headlined the gala with Michio Kurihara in tow. Michio definitely blessed the band with some amazing dual lead work with Wata during "Pink". It never fails to impress me the kind of firepower they bring (over 1200 watts in vintage Matamps, Sunns, and Orange), and the volume definitely shows. Unfortunately though, as much as I love Boris and their ability the experiment and keep things fresh and new, the night belonged to Torche. (That was HARD for me to say)

Clouds show some of the same traits that make Torche so great, but to a lesser degree: big bombast, riffage galore all undercut by hooky songs. Clouds handled the stage well, almost making up for he fact that Adam McGrath is NOT doing Cave-in.

So how many of you bought that $250 Japanese pressing of the Boris Rainbow box set? More pics below...

Continue reading "Torche & Clouds (and Boris) @ Webster Hall, NYC - pics "

by Black Bubblegum

This graphic seems, unfortunately, rather appropriate.

Cursed are through. From their blog:

"Yeah, you heard.... We got robbed at the very end of tour in a totally unreal, extremely sketchy series of events that still makes no sense at all, only leads to paranoia, anger and a total loss of faith. Passports, money, all the costs of the tour. Either way, whoever did it, it was a bullet in the head, the end of the line.... Minus a few fucked up shows, it was probably the best tour we ever had. Thanks everyone for your good wishes. I'll elaborate when I'm home next week, for now - yes it's true, and yes it's over."

Read the whole thing here.

Mastodon are set to enter the studio to begin recording their follow-up to their critical and commercially successful Blood Mountain. Matt Bayles will NOT be on the boards for this one, as the band has opted for megaproducer Brendan O'Brien (Bruce Springsteen, RATM, -gulp-Korn-gulp-) to record their Czarist Russia-themed LP.

Vice's "Heavy Metal In Baghdad", a documentary on essentially the only heavy metal band in the war-torn region, hits theaters on a limited run in NY and LA on May 23rd (@ the Clearview on Broadway at 62nd, get your tickets here), followed by a DVD release (with requisite bonus features) on June 10th. This digitally-shot indie, about a band called Acrassicauda trying to survive in the warzone known as "liberated" Iraq, is as much about the power of music as it is survival in modern day Baghdad. Check out the trailer here, and the myspace for Acrassicauda.

So now that Wolves In The Throne Room (sigh) is officially off the bus of the Boris/Torche lovefest, how do you fill those mighty shoes? Replacements have been announced and depending on where you live, you'll either get the mighty Nachtmystium (who have Assassins out June 10th) or Clouds (featuring ex-Cave-In dude Adam McGrath). Clouds, who are promoting their own record, We Are Above You due June 17th, are on board for the Webster Hall show (tickets are still on sale).

Speaking of ex-Cave-In, Stephen Brodsky is performing a free show at Generation Records on Sunday May 25th at 7pm.

continued....

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (05/24/08)"