DOWNLOAD: Lee "Scratch" Perry - Santa Claus (MP3)

Lee "Scratch" Perry @ Central Park Summerstage in July (more by Tim Griffin)

Tickets are still on sale for Lee "Scratch" Perry's Highline Ballroom show on Sunday, December 13th (with Popo and Pace Won & Mr. Green). Lee's Narnack label-mates and fellow legends The Slits play the venue one night after (with The Sundelles and Sisters). I have a pair of tickets for each to give away; details are below.

The Lee Perry show is the kick-off for a one week US tour, the full dates of which are below with a very special video tour announcement from The Upsetter. "Santa Claus," a somewhat seasonal but not really very festive track from his 2008 Andrew WK-produced record Repentence (an album that Ari Up of The Slits makes a guest appearance on), is above.

Tour dates, video and contest info below...

Continue reading "Lee 'Scratch' Perry touring in December (dates) - win tix to the NYC show, download a free Christmas song"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Zoos of Berlin - Electrical Way (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Computer Perfection - Able Archer (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Christmas Party with Computer Perfection & Friends (Zip)

Zoos of Berlin @ Market Hotel in September

Detroit's Zoos of Berlin are coming back to NYC for two shows this month: they'll play December 18 at Matchless and December 19 at Cake Shop. They were great when they played Market Hotel back in September. Here's what I wrote on Soundbites:

Zoos of Berlin are from Detroit and are fronted by Trevor Naud who also spent time (maybe still does) in the notoriously unprolific but occasionally awesome Pas/Cal. Unlike that band's sunshine pop, Zoos of Berlin are more buttoned up and immaculate, like a high society tea... but one that desperately wants to be disco-fest. Naud and turtleneck-wearing bassist Daniel Clark keep it regal, but drummer Colin Dupuis and, especially, keyboardist Will Yates are there to party. The result is like a weird mix of Cardinal and Steely Dan, a combination that is perfected on "Electrical Way" which has Yates laying down a super-funky Clavinet part over most of the song, with a breakdown which is straight out of "Peg." And it just sounds awesome, such good musicianship overcoming the deficiencies of Market Hotel's PA, where they played a few weeks ago.

Computer Perfection

While we're on the subject of Pas/Cal offshoots, I would be remiss to not mention Computer Perfection, the fairly new band that features most of Pas/Cal (minus main man Casimir) and who released their debut album last month which fans of their old band will probably like too. I caught them at CMJ and thought they were quite good, despite playing in a room smaller than my bedroom. I will admit being swayed by their spot-on cover of The Flowerpot Men's "Beat City" from the Ferris Bueller's Day Off soundtrack, which was enough to help them lug stuff to their van after the show and buy a copy of their CD. They're not touring right now, but keep an eye out.

Computer Perfection released a Christmas record last year that came out so late it almost missed the holiday, but you can still download it -- for free -- from their website. It's like fruitcake, it's just as good a year later. It also features contributions from Chicago's 1900s, Computer Perfection member LTD, and more. It;s worth the disc space of downloading alone for Aunt Beru & The Juicers' "Santa Brings It" which melds "Here Comes Santa Clause" onto Beyonce's "Single Ladies" which is sure to be a hit at any holiday office party. Grab the Zip file above. Cover art below.

Video from Zoos of Berlin's show at Market Hotel in September, plus upcoming tour dates , after the jump.

Continue reading "a free Christmas album by Computer Perfection & friends, Zoos of Berlin dates, MP3s, videos, Pas/Cal & more"

Bob Dylan @ United Palace Theatre - 11/17/09 (Frank Beacham)

Even Bob Dylan can't be Bob Dylan all the time.

The 68-year-old Boy From the North Country born Robert Allen Zimmerman has been trying to break his own myth since the mid-'60s, when he alienated fans of his early folk albums by plugging in and rocking out. Since then, his muse has come and gone, but his contrarian streak has been a constant.

For the past 20 years, the road has been constant too. Dylan tours endlessly, turning up at a half-full arena or a minor league ballpark near you again and again, as if to prove he's no sage, just an itinerant song-and-dance-man. Though late-period albums like "Time Out of Mind" and "Love and Theft" have evinced a creative renewal, he's often been erratic, even indifferent onstage. Still, there's something noble in his doggedness, singing on even though thousands of shows have curdled his voice into a viscous, gut-shot croak. On a good night, he can still remind you why people worshiped him in the first place. [Washington Post]

The setlist from night one, and a better version (than what I posted before) of Bob's new hysterical video for "Must be Santa" (off Bob's new Christmas album), below...

Continue reading "Bob Dylan played United Palace Theater in NYC (night 1 setlist), released "Must Be Santa" video"

Bob Dylan will release a brand new album of holiday songs, Christmas In The Heart, on Tuesday, October 13, it was announced today by Columbia Records. All of the artist's U.S. royalties from sales of these recordings will be donated to Feeding America, guaranteeing that more than four million meals will be provided to more than 1.4 million people in need in this country during this year's holiday season. Bob Dylan is also donating all of his future U.S. royalties from this album to Feeding America in perpetuity.

Christmas In The Heart will be the 47th album from Bob Dylan, and follows his worldwide chart-topping Together Through Life, released earlier this year. Songs performed by Dylan on this new album include, "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Winter Wonderland," "Little Drummer Boy" and "Must Be Santa."

Continue reading "Bob Dylan singing Christmas songs & reading directions?"

by Andrew Frisicano

Julian Koster & friends in a NYC apartment

The European-folk-music-influenced duo of ex-Neutral Milk Hotel drummer Jeremy Barnes and violinist Heather Trost, A Hawk and a Hacksaw, is set to play two upcoming NYC shows - January 10th at Mercury Lounge (tix), with Great Lake Swimmers, and January 11th at Union Hall (tix).

Barnes didn't turn out for the Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise tour earlier this winter, and so far these are A Hawk and a Hacksaw's only announced 2009 dates.

With H&H, there's always the possibility of a Beirut-related appearance, as they've worked & toured together, and are on the same label (Badabing. There's even video evidence of previous collabs (see below). Zach Condon recently appeared unannounced at an Inlets show, and Beirut are playing three NYC shows in February (ahem, for now).

In other NMH-stalking news - a while back BV reported that the Music Tapes Caroling tour would be making its way north from Georgia through New York to Maine playing living rooms and houses along the route. Fans were encouraged to invite "Julian and his friends" to their house. I [Andrew] did so, and strangely enough, on December 13th, Julian, Rudolph (dog) and Badger (musical saw) stopped by at my place with a few other friends in tow for a set of saw-sung carols, fantasical stories and a couple Music Tapes banjo tunes - all performed solo next to the Christmas tree. Even with the show's short notice - I'd just gotten an email that morning with details - about ten to fifteen fans showed up for the event. After the set, Julian paused for a few snapshots (see above) and left as quickly as he had came - I unfortunately wasn't able to follow the traveling party to the next apartment. Jesse Jarnow, contributer to the Voice, attended and wrote up the event on that blog.

Julian was recently featured on NPR's Morning Edition, which commented that The Singing Saw at Christmastime's layered saws "capture just a bit of bone-chilling terror -- just right for these uncertain times." On Christmas day, Julian and friends gave an interview and performed live for NPR's World Cafe. If you missed it, you can listen to it now at their site.

In addition to the date above, Great Lake Swimmers are also playing the Bell House in Brooklyn January 9th (tix) with Haley Bonar & Daniel Martin Moore, and a Feburary 7th date in Guelph, Ontario, near their home base of Toronto, for the Hillside Festival.

Video of Beirut playing with Hawk & A Hacksaw, and all dates, below...

Continue reading "Julian Koster came caroling, A Hawk and a Hacksaw & Great Lake Swimmers are playing shows "

DOWNLOAD: USA for Affluence - Cash for Christmas (MP3)

The star-studded video is below...

Continue reading "Beardo Episode 5 - CASH FOR CHRISTMAS (Tim Harrington, Moby, Andrew WK, AC Newman, Will Sheff, etc, etc...)"

DOWNLOAD: Jennifer O'Connor - Here with Me (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Jennifer O'Connor - Valley Road '86 (MP3)

I'm doing pretty good with my guesses so far. Still no Titus Andronicus, but Britt Daniel and Janet Weiss were there on night one, and Jon Benjamin (comedy) and Jennifer O'Connor (music) opened last night, Christmas Eve, December 24th, the fourth night of Hanukkah (there goes the theory that they don't repeat an opener) (btw, good job Anonymous | December 22, 2008 5:58 PM at predicting night three's special guest Yoni Wolf). Pictures of the show are coming soon. There were no other special guests.

That was Christmas Eve and today is Christmas, so what better time to mention the great new Christmas album called Peace on Earth : Vol. II. The charity holiday album features tracks by Jennifer O'Connor, Anathallo, Pattern is Movement, Marla Hansen, Oxford Collapse, Jason Collett, American Analog Set, and many others. Check it out. Jennifer's song is "Deck the Halls". You can hear it at her MySpace.

Jennifer's next NYC show is at Southpaw on February 14th with Mascott. Tickets are on sale. All dates below...

Continue reading "Jennifer O'Connor - opened YLT night 4, sings on Peace On Earth Christmas album, touring in 2009 (dates)"

DOWNLOAD: The Raveonettes - Come on Santa (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Future Clouds and Radar - Christmas Day 1923 (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: 65daysofstatic - I'm Dreaming of a White Noise Christmas (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Bran Flakes - Lovely Sleigh Ride (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Whitman - Hangover Holiday (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Nina Hynes - Twinkle (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Gorgons - Silver Bells (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Charles De Mar - This Christmas (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Secret Machines (Brandon Curtis) - Silent Night (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Coulourmusic - In A Sentimental Mood (MP3)

Merry Christmas everybody. Here's another collection of free Christmas songs - mostly random and found in my email.

Nina Hynes (above), The Cloud Room (not above), and many others appear on "An Indiecater Christmas" album.

The Gorgons and Charles De Mar tracks are from a free comp called "various friends of Silber: Winterizing".

The Secret Machines song features Tamaryn and was released for charity.

More free holiday mixes HERE and HERE.

Low's video for "Santa's Coming Over", below...

Continue reading "Merry Christmas! Here are some more free Xmas songs..."

DOWNLOAD: The Long Blondes - Christmas is Cancelled (MP3)

We have decided to call it a day.

The main reason for this is that I suffered from a stroke in June and unfortunately I do not know when / if I will be well enough to play guitar again.

On behalf of the band I'd like to say a big thank you to anyone who ever came to one of our shows, bought one of our records or danced to one of our songs in a club. Thank you, if it wasn't for you the whole thing would have been pointless.

Finally on a personal note, thanks for all your well wishing messages.

Dorian xxx
[The Long Blondes]

Continue reading "The Long Blondes, now broken up, give away Christmas song "

DOWNLOAD: THE POLYPHONIC SPREE - HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Death Cab For Cutie - Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: OVER THE RHINE - ALL I EVER GET FOR CHRISTMAS IS BLUE (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: RYAN ADAMS - HEY PARKER, IT'S CHRISTMAS (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: SMASHING PUMPKINS - RUDOLPH THE RED NOSE REINDEER (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: SUFJAN STEVENS - JOY TO THE WORLD (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: LIZ PHAIR - WINTER WONDERLAND (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: EELS - CHRISTMAS IS GOING TO THE DOGS (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: THE WHITE STRIPES - SILENT NIGHT (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: BRIGHT EYES - BLUE CHRISTMAS (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: RILO KILEY - XMAS CAKE (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: ROGUE WAVE - CHRISTMAS (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: MY MORNING JACKET - SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: WEEZER - THE CHRISTMAS SONG (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: THE KINKS - FATHER CHRISTMAS (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: MORPHINE - SEXY CHRISTMAS BABY MINE (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: DEERHOOF - THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: PEARL JAM - SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS (MP3)

Just some songs Nick and I quicky put together for our Christmas Eve show on Sirius XMU. Enjoy, and happy holidays. More HERE.

DOWNLOAD: Klee & The Wedding Present - Holly Jolly Hollywood (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Klee - Gold (MP3)

There is no beating the bit of news sweeping the nation at the moment but YYYs have a bit of news of our own to share. NEW RECORD? NEW RECORD!! NEW RECORD IS GETTING CLOSER TO BEING DONE DONE DONE! You still won't be hearing it until 2009 but damn are we close to finishing it and only after a year of writing and recording! Will it sound kind of like Show Your Bones? No, been there done that. What about IS IS? Is that more of the direction it's going in? Absolutely not, it sounds VERY different from last year's EP. Did we go back to our roots and write something closer to Fever to Tell? No looking back now silly, just full speed ahead. WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE?? Not much like anything you've heard from us before- DOES IT SOUND LIKE THE YEAH YEAH YEAHS??? YOU BET YOU'RE SWEET ASS IT DOES. Phew, can't wait. We can hardly wait ourselves, we miss all of you and we've been working extra hard on this one with the intention to make you as happy as possible. Just wanted to drop a line to let you in on how quickly we're approaching the finishing line and to GET PSYYYYYYYYYYYYCHED.

Love,

The YYYs (that message came in November)

DOWNLOAD: Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time is Here (MP3)

Continue reading "Pig Brooch performing Charlie Brown Christmas in Brooklyn"

photos by Tim Griffin

Mick Foley & Dee Snider

Lita Ford

Lita Ford, Mini Kiss, a statue of Ozzy Osbourne, and Mick Foley (wrestler Mankind) were among the guests who showed up to help Twisted Sister celebrate Christmas at two shows at Nokia Theatre in NYC over the weekend. After Mini Kiss made like reindeer and pulled Santa Dee Snider on stage in his sleigh, the band broke into a set full of Christmas songs and true-to-form versions of their classics like 'I Wanna Rock' and 'We're Not Gonna Take It'. And like she does on Twisted Sister's Christmas album, and in the new official video, Lita Ford sang a 'dedicated to the troops' version of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" with the band. A great live video of that, and tons of pictures, below...

Continue reading "Twisted Sister's Christmas show w/ Lita Ford & Mini Kiss @ Nokia Theater, NYC - pics & video"

DOWNLOAD: Friendly Foes - Couch Surfing (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Friendly Foes - My Body (Is A Strange Place To Live) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Friendly Foes - Get Yr Shit Together (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ryan Allen (Thunderbirds are Now!) - Elves on Strike (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ryan Allen (TAN!) - Jingle Hell (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Scott Allen (TAN!) - Assassination on Christmas Eve (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Scott Allen (TAN!) - Winters Wonderland (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Scott Allen (TAN!) - Christmastime is Here (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Scott & Brad Allen (TAN!) - Silent Night (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Thunderbirds are Now! - Christmas in Hollis (MP3)

Friendly Foes

That's Friendly Foes in the picture above. You might recognize the lead singer. He's none other than Ryan Allen from Thunderbirds are Now!. (do you put a period at the end of a sentence if it ends with a band name that has punctuation in it already?). Grab three MP3's above. Their album "Born Radical" is out in stores via Gangplank Records on January 13th, but is available digitally now.

Catch Friendly Foes live, in NYC, tonight/Tuesday (12/9) at the Bell House or Wednesday at The Studio @ Webster Hall. Do not show up at the Bell House tonight thinking you're going to see the UK band signed to XL Recordings that recently played a bunch of shows during CMJ. Friendly FIRES is playing at the Virgin Store and the Annex tonight. Friendly FOES is at the Bell House. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Friendly Foes vs. Friendly Fires, tour dates & MP3's "

By Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Le Loup - "Shenandoah" (MP3) (on Amnesty comp)
DOWNLOAD: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts & guests - Silent Night (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Deer Tracks - Christmas Fire (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Twiggy Frostbite - Bells & Chimes (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Emotron - Santa Claus (I Still Believe In You) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: (Savanteous Q Malmsteen) - What Do You Get A Wookie for Christmas
DOWNLOAD: The Revelations - It's That Time Of Year (MP3)

With holiday mixes in the air, Amnesty International has released I'll Stay 'Til After Christmas, a benefit comp featuring No Kids, Blitzen Trapper, Parentheitcal Girls, Sally Shapiro, and more (full tracklist below).

Then there's the free all-Swedish Xmas mix up at Swedes Please. Among the songs posted is the new duet between The Hives and Cyndi Lauper, "A Christmas Duel," video below (or buy the song on iTunes).

Speaking of Cyndi and good causes, True Colors is auctioning off a chance to hang out with the Best Electronic/Dance Album nominee as part of its first annual online charity auction to benefit GLBT equality groups the True Colors Fund, CenterLink, and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).

The package includes "1-hour voice lesson, plus lunch, with Cyndi Lauper, in NYC. 2 roundtrip domestic coach tickets on American Airlines and a 2-night stay at Hotel on Rivington included." It's currently going for $4,000. Full list of items on auction here.

And speaking of Christmas music and female 80's icons that have toured for True Colors...

"Blackheart Records, the rock label Joan Jett started over 25 years ago, has released its holiday compilation record, and it's available at the iTunes store. The 11-song digital album features rocked-out holiday standards and originals recorded by Jett and Blackheart bands including Girl in a Coma, The Dollyrots, The Cute Lepers and more."

Also for download up there is a selection of holiday MP3's from the inbox.

Other Christmas album options this year include new ones by Sufjan's friend Rosie Thomas and Neutral Milk Hotel's Julian Koster, and one by The Raveonettes. For a Christmas show, check out the always fun McGarrigle Christmas Hour this Wednesday night at Carnegie Hall. Guests this year include Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Emmylou Harris and Justin Bond.

Videos (including one by Glasvegas) and tracklists below...

Continue reading "more Christmas songs & comps & charities - the Hives, Joan Jett, Cyndi Lauper, Sweden, No Kids, Glasvegas & more"

DOWNLOAD: Gramercy Arms & Mascott - This Christmastime (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Gramercy Arms - Looking at the Sun (w/ Sarah Silverman) (MP3)

Gramercy Arms is an ever (r)evolving collective band project of New York-based artists.

On [their new self-titled] record, Gramercy Arms comprises members of Guided By Voices, Luna, Joan as Police Woman, Dead Air and The Dambuilders, along with comic Sarah Silverman, [The] album is a summery blast of gorgeous power pop, heartfelt tales of love and loss and the city they call their home...

Gramercy Arms open for Nada Surf and Delta Spirit at tonight/Friday's sold out show at Bowery Ballroom. They also have a couple of shows scheduled in February with Marykate O'Neil, who is opening for Nada Surf this Monday at Maxwell's (also sold out). All dates below...

Continue reading "Gramercy Arms = NY Supergroup (Guided by Voices, Nada Surf, Joan Wasser, SARAH SILVERMAN?...) - shows & MP3s"

By Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: The Raveonettes - Come On Santa (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Raveonettes Remixed - a free EP (ZIP FILE)

The Raveonettes have already found themselves on one year-end list for their full-length Lust Lust Lust. This year, the band also released four digital-only EPs (all on Vice Records), including a free remixes EP (ZIP file above) and, most recently, a just-in-time-for-your-ugly-holiday-sweater-party MP3 collection called Wishing You A Rave Christmas. (Here, with a bonus track, on Amazon.) No strangers to holiday music, in 2004, the Raveonettes also contributed an original holiday tune, "The Christmas Song," to the soundtrack of the Tim Allen/Jamie Lee Curtis holiday flick Christmas with the Kranks.

The Raveonettes will headline a NYC show at Webster Hall show on Friday, January 16th (Tickets) with openers Nickel Eye (feat. Strokes' bassist Nikolai Fraiture). Their two Cali dates will feature the recently renamed Soft Pack.

Vice Records is also offering a free holiday-time, but not holiday-themed comp, with tracks from King Khan, Chromeo and the Black Lips.

For more holiday music happenings, see here. All tour dates and the Christmas EP tracklist, below...

Continue reading "The Raveonettes - 2008 tour dates, Vice EPs, Christmas MP3s"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Julian Koster - Jingle Bells (MP3)

Rosie Thomas

Earlier this year, Seattle songwriter Rosie Thomas, who has collaborated with friends Damien Jurado, David Bazan and Sufjan Stevens in the past, again rounded up family and friends to put together A Very Rosie Christmas, a holiday-themed album that mixes traditional songs and covers (Peanuts' classic "Christmastime Is Here" for one) with originals like "Why Can't It Be Christmastime All Year" - a rolling indie-pop singalong truely worthy of release on Thomas' own Sing-a-long Records label. Check out the song in the video below.

Rosie's pair of NYC shows - tonight, December 2nd, at the Living Room (TICKETS) and tomorrow, December 3rd, at the Bell House in Brooklyn (TICKETS) - should be a welcome respite from long evenings locked on WCBS-FM's all-holiday programming. All tour dates below.

Thomas writes that the full band accompanying her includes "my brother Brian Thomas, Josh Myers, Andrew Rudd and my fella Jeffrey Shoop! My friend Sheila Saputo will be coming along too, opening the shows every night for us with her gift of Christmas cheer!" Read Rosie's favorite Christmas memories on her blog..

Another upcoming holiday-music event, The Music Tapes Caroling Tour, has a NYC visit scheduled for December 13th and 14th. Details are scarce but reports from the tour's earlier dates indicate that interested parties who emailed or wrote The Music Tapes in advance should be getting an email the day of with details as to a location. Someone, expect a knock from Juliian Koster between 6pm and 9pm, caroling hours...

Merge recently released Julian Koster's The Singing Saw at Christmastime (click for a preview). MP3 above. Video below...

Canadian major label singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Hawksley Workman is a pretty big deal up North (and in Europe); yet in the States, both his 2008 releases - Between the Beautifuls and Los Manlicious - are import-only...as is Hawksley's amazing 2001 album of Christmas originals called Almost a Full Moon, which features eight (re-released in 2002 with ten) quirky-but-not-cloying cabaret-esque Christmas/winter odes. It's been a annual favorite of mine since finding it a few years ago. Last Friday, Workman and band opened a show at Toronto's Massey Hall with the album's title track. This Friday, December 5th, he plays Joe's Pub as part of the venue's 10th anniversary celebration. Tickets are currently still available. All tour dates and a video below...

For more holiday events, check out our Hanukkah post. For some free tunes, check out our 2007 Holiday Mix, and stay tuned for more holiday-music announcements.

Videos and tour dates below...

Continue reading "Rosie Thomas, The Music Tapes, Hawksley Workman - Christmas shows, albums, videos & stuff"

01. Parenthetical Girls - If it's a time for Christmas (2:46)
02. Ween - Silent Night (1:40)
03. Andrew Dost (Anathallo) - Yeah, I Know, It's Christmastime (2:04)
04. The National Splits - Let's Wrap Each Other (2:15)
05. Louis Armstrong - Santa Claus Blues (2:51)
06. Scott Allen (Thunderbirds are Now) - Winters Wonderland (3:50)
07. The Knife - Christmas Reindeer (7:11)
08. Melt Banana - White Christmas (1:42)
09. Thick Pigeon - Jingle Bell Rock (1:30)
10. Steven Garvey - Dreidle, Dreidle, Dreidle (1:11)
11. nullsleep - silent night (2:25)
12. Wild Billy Childish & The Musicians of the British Empire - Santa Claus (3:26)
13. Holly Golightly - Christmas Tree's On Fire (2:54)
14. Deerhoof - xmas tree (2:30)
15. Palace Songs (Will Oldham) - Christmastime in the Mountains (1:30)
16. Woody Guthrie - Hanukkah Dance [Alternate Take] (1:24)

---

This is the same holiday mix I made and posted last Christmas. Here it is again in case you missed it (or gave it away the very next day).

Nellie McKay also wrote some songs for Christmas.

Hanukkah starts December 21st. Check out a list of Hanukkah events happening in NYC.

Continue reading "my 2007 Holiday MP3 mix (reposted for you to download)"

DOWNLOAD: Nellie McKay - A Christmas Dirge (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Nellie McKay - Take Me Away (MP3)

Nellie McKay @ Spiegelworld (more by Chris La Putt)

Both of those MP3's on top of this post were released by Nellie McKay for the holidays in 2007, and like she did in 2007, Nellie McKay is going out on (a Christmas) tour with Aimee Mann, BUT FIRST you can catch Nellie all by herself at le Poisson Rouge in NYC on Tuesday December 2nd. It's an early show. Lemonade and El Guincho play the same venue later that night. All Nellie dates below...

Continue reading "Nellie McKay for the holidays & Tuesday @ le Poisson Rouge"

The McGarrigle Christmas Hour featuring Rufus and his sister, Martha Wainwright, will be held at Carnegie Hall on December 10, 2008 and there will be some very special guests. Kate and Anna McGarrigle are thrilled to welcome Emmylou Harris, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Jimmy Fallon, Teddy, Linda, and Kami Thompson, Justin Bond, Sloan Wainwright and more! It will be a fun and festive evening with a few surprise guests stopping by.

Tickets go on sale to the public on Wednesday, November 5th at 11am EST, but Rufus fans can start purchasing tickets Monday, November 3rd at 11am EST! Get your pre-sale tickets online at The Carnegie Hall Website or by calling the Carnegie Hall box office at (212) 247-7800.

A limited number of VIP packages are available by making a donation to the Kate McGarrigle Fund. These packages include premium seats, a very special opportunity to meet the performers after the show, a chance to attend an intimate taping, and wonderful gift bags. The Kate McGarrigle Fund is a not-for-profit partner of the McGill University Health Centre Foundation and the Cedars Cancer Institute, supporting cancer care and research in Montreal, Canada. For more information and VIP packages, go HERE or call toll-free, 1-877-601-4536

Continue reading "2008 McGarrigle Christmas Hour w/ Rufus, Martha, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Emmylou Harris & many more"

photos by Chris Graham

DOWNLOAD: Portastatic - Some Small History (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Julian Koster - Jingle Bells (MP3)

Superchunk @ Bumbershoot - Sept 1, 2008

Saturday 10/25/2008
Merge Records CMJ Showcase @ Mercury Lounge, NYC w/
* The Music Tapes
* Wye Oak
* Portastatic
* The Broken West
* The Rosebuds
* Oakley Hall

The Music Tapes (Julian Koster)'s new album is out on Merge this week. The Singing Saw At Christmastime (from whence the above Chrismas MP3 came) is out October 7th. He/they'll also be touring before CMJ as part of Elephant 6's Holiday Surprise Tour. One day Elephant 6, the next Merge - lots of sleeping around, kind of like...

...Conor Oberst whose new self-titled album is out now on Merge (and not on Saddle Creek or Team Love- two labels he founded). Conor's tour dates are HERE.

Wye Oak, another band that recently came out with an album on Merge (and is playing the showcase) are on tour as we speak. They're next Brooklyn show happens before September is over.

The Rosebuds will be playing at least one more show during CMJ, probably with the Ladybug Transistor who aren't on the Merge showcase, but could be. The Rosebuds' new album Life Like is out October 7th and some of the new songs are streaming at MySpace.

The Broken West, in addition to October 25th, are also playing Mercury Lounge on September 21st. That earlier show has them opening for Bobby Bare Jr. Tickets are on sale. Their new album Now or Heaven is out this week. All tour dates below.

The Broken West will also bid a fond farewell to drummer, Rob McCorkindale. A new baby and other family commitments have made Rob's departure necessary, but everyone will miss him! Sean McDonald will take over the skins and join Dan, Brian, Ross and Jeff on the road this fall.

Though not playing the CMJ show, Lambchop shares that MErge affiliation. Kurt Wagner (Mr Lambchop) plays Joe's Pub on October 8th. OH (Ohio) is out October 10th.

You can now subsribe to SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years.

And last but not least you'll notice that one of Mac (Mr. Merge himself)'s bands is on this Mercury Lounge CMJ bill too. Portastatic has a 2-CD compilation of singles (covers included) coming out this week. The entire "Some Small History" tracklist is below.... right under the rest of the pictures (and a rough setlist) from Superchunk's set at the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle on Labor Day.....

Continue reading "Merge's CMJ Showcase, Broken West tour dates, new Portastatic, Superchunk Bumbershoot pics & more"