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"

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"

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"

DOWNLOAD: Friendly Fires - Paris(Aeroplane Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Minotaur Shock - This Plane Is Going To Fall (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Future of the Left - The Hope that House Built (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Magistrates - Make this Work (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Department of Eagles - No One Does it Like You (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Friendly Fires - Jump in the Pool (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Anni Rossi - Wheelpusher (MP3)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Tina Turner @ MSG
* Puma party @ MHOW
* Les Paul @ Iridium
* Jim Jones @ Mercury Lounge
* Snow Patrol @ Bowery Ballroom
* Thurston Moore introduces David Bowie videos @ MoMA
* Sara Schaefer & Conrad Doucette music trivia @ The Bell House

Tickets are on sale for the upcoming Pogues shows.

Tickets are on sale at noon for the show The Rosebuds are playing at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are still on sale for the benefit David Cross is playing at Knitting Factory.

The Muslims are now called The Soft Pack.

Axl Rose vs. Dr. Pepper

Keren Ann is one of many artists performing R.E.M. songs at Carnegie Hall in March.

The Jesus Lizard is back.

Pylon is playing Knitting Factory this month.

Today is World Aids Day.

Friendly Fires play The Annex this month. I just found out Lemonade are opening for them. Lemonade opens for El Guincho at Le Poisson Rouge tomorrow.

All the songs on the top of this post come from the Beggars Group family of labels. Matador is a Beggars label. Jay Reatard is on Matador. His new video for "See/Saw" is below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday? (December 1st)"

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"

Til Tuesday (Aimee Mann then)

Aimee Mann (now)

Twisted Sister

What do Aimee Mann and Twisted Sister have in common? They were both popular in the eighties (though maybe Twisted Sister are the only ones still living in it) and are still at it today, they both put out Christmas albums in 2006, they both played Christmas shows in 2007 (Aimee also played one in 2006), and they both are playing Christmas shows in 2008 - both of which are at Nokia Theatre in NYC in December. Twisted Sister plays two nights (tickets are on sale), and Aimee Mann plays one (she had two nights, but one was already cancelled) (tickets are also on sale).

In case the title confused you Aimee & Dee are not sharing the same bill (just the same BV post, again).

Twisted Sister is advertising two openers: ZO2 and The Dirty Pearls. Aimee Mann is saying that "This years special guests include: Nellie McKay, Grant-Lee Phillips, Morgan Murphy, Patton Oswalt and Paul F. Tompkins.", but her tour is eleven dates long and it's unclear who will be appearing at each show along the way, BUT Nokia Theatre IS listing all of those guests EXCEPT Patton. All tour dates and a whole bunch of related videos, below...

Continue reading "Aimee Mann & Twisted Sister - 2008 Christmas Tour Dates, Nellie McKay, Patton Oswalt, videos w/ Lita Ford & stuff"

DOWNLOAD: Woody Guthrie - Hanukkah Dance [Alternate Take] (1:24)
DOWNLOAD: Yo La Tengo - I Feel Like Going Home (live on KCMP) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: One on One with Jackie Hoffman (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Songs in the key of Hanukkah - Dreidel (MP3) (info)
DOWNLOAD: DJ BALAGAN - "Chalutzei Ketzev" (Israeli 70s Beat Mix) (MP3)

Hanukkah runs from sunset, December 21 to sunset, December 29, 2008. The first Day of Hanukkah is December 22. If you haven't figured it it out by now, that means Christmas happens during Hannukah this year.

Over the course of the eight days (and before and after), many candles will be lit and many Hanukkah-themed events will be happening in and around New York City. Many will involve music. Here are a few...

Yo La Tengo will be repeating their tradition of playing all eight nights of Hanukkah at Maxwell's in Hoboken. Not surpringly, advanced tickets are all already sold out at Ticketweb, but to quote the band, "Tickets may still be available in person at Tunes in Hoboken and/or Other Music in NYC". Stay tuned for opener information as it's announced. Yo La Tengo are also playing a show in New Jersey on New Years Eve.

Also playing eights nights (except not all of them are on Hanukkah because he's taking the Sabbath off): Matisyahu. Tickets are still on sale for these shows that take place at Webster Hall in Manhattan and Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Openers include The LeeVees, Asher Roth and Little Jackie.

Southpaw in Park Slope is hosting Jewltide 6 featuring DeLeon on Christmas Eve. "DeLeon plays 15th Century Spanish indie rock infused with the deeply mysterious and entrancing cadences of the ancient Sephardic tradition." Tickets are on sale. This show is also part of a larger DeLeon/JDub national Hanukkah tour. All dates at the very bottom of this post.

NYC event listings continued below...

Continue reading "a guide to NYC HANNUKAH shows & concerts, MP3's & stuff "

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 Kyle Dean Reinford, words by Andrew Frisicano

I was running late to the Merge showcase Saturday night (10/25), but luckily caught The Music Tapes in the middle the fantastic rendition of "An Orchistration's Overture," a duet between frontman Julian Koster and a TV-headed robot (who appeared on stage across from a 7-foot wooden metronome). The Music Tapes songs sounded great live, with support from a 3-piece horn section, accordian, banjo and, of course, singing saw (featured exclusively on The Singing Saw at Christmastime). On "Song for the Death of Parents," Julian played a bouncing ball as percussion; other late-set tunes included "Aliens," "Songs for Oceans Falling," and, as the closer, a solo performance of "Manifest Destiny."

Julian mentioned afterward that the band might return to NYC in February. As of now, the Music Tapes are tentatively scheduled for a local December 12 stop on their Christmas caroling tour. The NYC date is listed as "game only," which may indicate some kind of secret show, like the one held in Central Park last year (as discussed on the Elephant 6 Message Board). See below for full info on how to get your carol on, or look for updates at Orbiting Human Circus.

The Music Tapes' last NYC show (before this CMJ one) was part of the Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise tour at Knitting Factory. More CMJ pictures (and those caroling dates) below...

Continue reading "The Music Tapes - Merge CMJ pics, a Christmas caroling tour"

DOWNLOAD: Tegan & Sara - Back In Your Head (RAC Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tokyo Police Club - Be Good (RAC Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Family Force 5 - Luv Addict (RAC Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Dragonette - Take It Like A Man(RAC Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Dragonette - Take It Like A Man (RAC Dance Edit) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Shins - Sleeping Lessons (RAC Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ra Ra Riot - Each Year (RAC Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bloc Party - Hunting for Witches (RAC Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bloc Party - Song For Clay (RAC Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Justice - Phantom Part III (The Pragmatic Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Comas - Red Microphones (RAC Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Cloud Room - Hey Now Now (RAC Mix)(MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Kenna - State Of Control (RAC Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mando Diao - Good Morning Herr Horst (RAC Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: You Say Party! We Say Die! - Monster (RAC Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: CSS - Let’s Make Love and Listen DFA (RAC Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Horrors - Draw Japan (RAC Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Jeremy - You’re Alright (RAC Mix) (MP3)

Phosphorescent @ Sound Fix, Brooklyn, NY - Dec 13, 2007 (CRED)

Richard Hawley @ Other Music, NYC - Dec 3, 2007 (CRED)

The Bowery show Saturday night was the first night of that tour and he had the crowd right where he wanted from minute one. The show was a lot like his Sin-e performance in March of last year. Hawley is a pro, as are his ace backing band, and his velvet croon was in perfect form. It was such a class act, it's one of the few times I wish the show had been somewhere like Joe's Pub, which would have been the perfect place to see him. (He's actually played there before, solo acoustic in July 2005 -- his only other NYC show was the Sin-e gig.) And we only got one song from Late Night Final ("Something Is"), and none from Lowedges or his debut. But when the mirrorball came on for his waltz-time single, "Hotel Room," it was one of those perfect moments where you felt happy to be just where you are. [Sound Bites sums it up]

* The Word plays Terminal 5
* RZA plays Hiro Ballroom
* Nas is at Hammerstein Ballroom
* Yacht Rock plays Knitting Factory
* Talib Kweli is playing Highline Ballroom
* Bogmen are playing Nokia Theatre
* Jeffrey Lewis is playing Cake Shop
* Jason Trachtenburg is playing Sidewalk Cafe
* Patti Smith plays Bowery Ballroom
* Agnostic Front & Hatebreed play Irving Plaza
* The New York Dolls play two shows at Irving Plaza
* Clutch plays two shows at Starland Ballroom
* Bouncing Souls play some shows in NJ & elsewhere
* The Forms & Graham Smith are playing a benefit @ Union Hall
* Mighty Mighty Bosstones are playing 6 shows

All the above shows are happening between Christmas and New Years. Actual New Years Eve shows are listed HERE.

The Tegan and Sara RAC remix was a popular one the other day, so here (above) are a bunch more. Plus, don't miss the new Belle and Sebastian song, and the one by Super Furry Animals.

Phosphorescent at Sound Fix and Richard Hawley at Bowery Ballroom where two of my favorites shows in December - both of which I forgot to post about afterwards. I wasn't actually at the Hawley Other Music show, but I liked the above pic of it better than any I saw from Bowery. Speaking of Other Music, they posted the video from the No Age in-store. Speaking of No Age, they're touring with Liars (Brooklyn show = 2/9 @ Warsaw) (and 2/11 @ ?).

And speaking of things I meant to post: "Ted Leo - Boys Gone Wild" would have been the perfect sequel to "Ted Leo - Girls Gone Wild".

Do you know what David Cross loved in 2007? David Hill? Kurt Braunohler? Rob Huebel? Max Silvestri? Paul Scheer? Fred Armisen? Jonah Ray? Kristen Schaal? Jon Benjamin? Jon Glaser?

I really loved No Country For Old Men. Have you seen it? Have you seen Juno, The Great Debaters, Walk Hard, or There Will Be Blood yet? What about the new Batman trailer? Are you excited for The Hobbit?

What else? Some videos below....

Continue reading "What's going on between Christmas & New Years?"

DOWNLOAD: Belle and Sebastian - Are You Coming Over For Christmas? (MP3)

The lovely new song that is streaming on the home page is called 'Are You Coming Over For Christmas?' and was recorded this week in Glasgow, being completed with three days to spare!

It is a brand new recording and the band's first studio output since last year's 'The Life Pursuit' album.

As well as the band members, it features guest vocals by Celia Garcia, double bass by Dave McGowan, saxophones and clarinet by James Swinburne and harp by Helen Macleod. It was arranged by Mick Cooke, engineered by Steven Clark and mixed by Stuart McCredie.

The track can be streamed from the homepage or the band's MySpace profile. As a special Xmas present, we will switch on the download function on the MySpace from midnight 'til midnight on Christmas Day. Happy Christmas! [Belle and Sebastian]

DOWNLOAD: Teddy Pendergrass - Happy Kwanzaa (MP3)

Download the 2007 BrooklynVegan holiday mix HERE (in case you missed it). And then check out this other site for links to even more free holiday music.

Tickets are on sale now for the 18th Annual Tibet House Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall (Feb 13, 2008). Confirmed performers are Philip Glass, Sufjan Stevens, Marisa Monte, and Nawang Khechog. Sufjan played in 2006 too.

And the winner of the Sufjan Stevens Christmas song contest has been chosen.

DOWNLOAD: Odawas - I Tell Lies (Odawas Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Cracker - Merry Christmas Emily (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Pipettes - White Christmas (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Feist - Lo, How a Rose Ere Blooming (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: King of Prussia - Xmas on the Other Side (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Rump Posse - Carol of the Manbarks (MP3)

The Sounds (CRED)

* Free Parts & Labor show
* Public Enemy is playing Warsaw
* Clare & The Reasons are playing Southpaw
* The Sounds & Morningwood are @ Webster Hall
* A Twisted Sister Christmas show @ Irving Plaza
* The Sounds afterparty is at Hiro Ballroom
* The Musical Box @ The Tribeca Performing Arts Center

Maja Ivarsson of the Sounds looks like she would be really fun to photograph. What else?

DOWNLOAD: I Heart Lung - Let It Snow [mp3]
DOWNLOAD: I Heart Lung - Carol of the Bells [mp3]
DOWNLOAD: I Heart Lung - Little Drummer Boy [mp3]
DOWNLOAD: I Heart Lung - Silent Night, Holy Night [mp3]
DOWNLOAD: I Heart Lung - Santa Claus Vs. Dracula [mp3]

I Heart Lung’s Christmas EP is full of free-form improvisations based loosely on themes from Christmas carols. “Little Drummer Boy” is the most interesting and coherent of the bunch. It takes its time getting around to the theme from the actual song, first delivered on hovering e-bowed guitar around four minutes in. Even then, you really have to concentrate to realize that the drawn-out phrases are echoing the “pah-rum-pah-pum-pums” we’re all used to. [Pfork]

Southpaw, Park Slope Brooklyn—A Pen America Center's "PENultimate Lit" series continued Monday night as Rick Moody inverviewed both Sufjan Stevens and Wesley Stace about how writing shapes and informs their music. During the Q&A, an audience member asked which comes first the music or lyrics? Sufjan said that the music; while for Wesley, the lyrics. Sufjan's favorite authors? Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor and Sherwood Anderson. [dietrich]

What else?

DOWNLOAD: Frightened Rabbit - It's Christmas So We'll Stop (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Evangelicals - The Last Christmas On Earth (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Cheyenne - All My Friends Are Snowmen (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Polyphonic Spree - Carol of the Bells (MP3)

both tonight
* NY Mag Not Your Office Holiday Party
* The Onion Holiday Rampage

ALSO UPCOMING: CBS/NYC presents a showcase at UCBT w/ God's Pottery,Chelsea Peretti, Jordan Carlos & more.

---

Is "Jew-fro" anti-semitic if said in a way that sounds like an insult by a faux-psychopath trying to be clever in a Christmas-themed album-promo video? Do The Apes hate blogs & tight pants? I can't totally decide....

Continue reading "The Onion, Celebration, NY Mag, WAS, UCB & The Apes - Tour Dates, holiday parties & MP3s"

DOWNLOAD: Robbers on High Street - Seasons Greetings (MP3)

The song is originally found on an American Song-Poem Christmas album called Daddy, Is Santa Really Six Foot Four? On Bar None Records. It was written by Raymond Moberly and performed by Teri Summers and the Librettos. Song-poems were a pop culture phenomenon in the 50s, 60s and 70s where normal people would mail in their poems to "professional musicians" who would then set music to the poems for a fee, usually a few hundred dollars.

DOWNLOAD: The New Pornographers - Myriad Harbour (MP3)

out now on iTunes

It’s the first Matador Xmas record since The Frogs’ “Here Comes Santa’s Pussy”. And it more than lives up to that super high standard!

1) “The Spirit Of Giving” (from the CD/LP ‘Challengers’)
2) “Arms Of Mary” / “Looking At A Baby” (previously unreleased, the former by Iain Sutherland of The Sutherland Brothers, though the New Pornographers’ version is a tribute to Chilliwack’s rendition. “Looking At A Baby” is a Collectors cover)
3) “Joseph” (previously unreleased, A.C. Newman original)

P.S. hey, list of nude album covers maker, you can add the NUDE Pornographers (and you thought Neko Case in her underwear was racy) (buy your copy of the "Myriad Harbour" single @ the Matador store).

I hear it's the flu...

Due to unforeseeable circumstances, tonight's show has been canceled. Please stay tuned for details about a rescheduled show.

The picture you see above is the cover of Asthmatic Kitty's 2007 Christmas Advent Calendar. It was designed by Tom Eaton, costs $5.00, or is free with purchase of the Sufjan Christmas box set.

Sufjan Stevens collaborator Chris Schlarb has a new record coming out, and some upcoming shows as well.

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)

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I know it's too early for this, but inspiration hit, so I went with it. Download, support the artists, enjoy, and happy holidays (Thanksgiving or whatever).

DOWNLOAD: Wham - Last Christmas (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: ABCQ - It's Christmas Time (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: ABCQ - lumen de lumine (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: ABCQ - Snowbus (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: ABCQ - I wish you love (MP3)

Download a few mellow Christmas songs for your non-ironic holiday mix, courtesy of A Band Called Quinn. Kind of Rilo Kiley & St. Etienne - a bit cheesy. Would go well with some George Michael (Geri Halliwell's ex-friend), so I included that one as well. Yeah, I know - it's not even Thanksgiving yet. Speaking of Thanksgiving, SuperVegan lists some ways to have a vegan one in NYC. Want something more traditional? Watch the entire Charlie Brown Thanksgiving cartoon below....

Continue reading "a free pre-Thanksgiving Christmas EP by A Band Called Quinn"

DOWNLOAD: Sufjan Stevens - That Was the Worst Christmas Ever (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sufjan Stevens - Sister Winter (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sufjan Stevens - Ding Dong (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sufjan Stevens - Com on! Let's Boogie to the Elf Dance! (MP3)

"Asthmatic Kitty is proud to announce..."

It's Christmas time again! That means tightly bundled scarves, lively debates on the merits of real/plastic trees, a litany of Christmas television specials, and finding the perfect retro Christmas wrapping paper.

And gifts of course! Who could forget the gifts!

That's why Sufjan Stevens is busy working on a very special gift right now, for a very special person. And in the spirit of Christmas, that person will give Sufjan a similarly special gift.

Here's how it works: write an original Christmas song, record it, and email the song to us. Asthmatic Kitty will pick a winner, and that person will trade rights to their song for rights to Sufjan's song.

Just like a gift exhange, Sufjan's song becomes your song. You can hoard it for yourself, sell it to a major soft drink corporation, use it in your daughter's first Christmas video, or share it for free on your website. No one except Sufjan and you will hear his song, unless you decide otherwise. You get the song and all legal rights to it. We get the same rights to your song.

By submitting your song, you also give us permission to stream it online.

Interested? Click here . . .

Sufjan Stevens just performed the "BQE" for three nights at BAM.

Teddy Thompson & Friends Christmas Show *A benefit concert for SaveDarfur.org* @ Highline Ballroom, NYC

December 19,2007 - Featuring performances by Teddy Thompson, Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, Kamila Thompson, Jenni Muldaur, Sonya Kitchell, Neal Casal, Tift Merritt, Christina Courtin & surprise guests

For a full Rufus show in the NYC-area, check Rufus out when he headlines the State Theater in New Brunswick, NJ on January 12th.

And good news for all of us who never got a chance to see Rufus perform Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall...

The first night of the two-night stint at NYC ’s Carnegie Hall will now be released as the CD Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall on December 4th. The same performance at the London Palladium (February 25, 2007) makes up the DVD Rufus! Rufus! Rufus! Does Judy! Judy! Judy! Live at the London Palladium (out also on December 4th). In addition to the New York City and London shows, Wainwright also performed Garland’s Carnagie Hall concert at the Olympia in Paris, and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.[mog]

Continue reading "Rufus Wainwright - Darfur benefit, Judy Garland CD/DVD, 2007-8 Tour Dates"

"By Overwhelming Demand, 2nd Show Added." Limited tickets still available for the December 21st show. $42.50 tickets go on sale Thursday at 10am for the new December 20th show. Oh Come All Ye Faithful....

Continue reading "Twisted Sister add 2nd NYC Christmas show"

Celebrate Christmas with Twisted Sister (AGAIN)! Tickets are now on sale for a show in LA on December 13th, and one on December 21st at Irving Plaza in NYC. Last year it was a Christmas CD. This year they made it a DVD. Video below...

Continue reading "Twisted Sister - A Twisted Christmas LIVE"