photos by Andrew St. Clair

Pictureplane @ 285 Kent

Class Actress and Pictureplane teamed for a show with Dog Leather and Beige at a sold-out 285 Kent on February 3rd. The show, which was followed by tunes from selectors Neon Indian and Joel Ford, was a one-off East Coast date for both headlining bands. Here are some pictures from the Brooklyn show (though we missed both openers.)

Look for Class Actress on the road and at SXSW this year, and from the looks of his tour dates, possibly Pictureplane in Austin as well. Check out a remix Pictureplane just did for for Black Marble, HERE.

More tour dates and 285 Kent pictures below...

Continue reading "Pictureplane, Class Actress & DJs Neon Indian & Joel Ford played 285 Kent (pics)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Hospitality - Friends of Friends (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Big Sleep - Valentine (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Big Sleep - Ace (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Moonmen on the Moon, Man - Hey Look, a Sweat Baloon Artist (MP3)

Hospitality (photo by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Happy Groundhog Day folks. As you may have heard, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow so we're getting six more weeks of winter. If that means the kind of winter we've had so far, I'm okay with that. I'm much more likely to head out and go see shows when not faced with the dreaded wintry mix. And there's lots of good shows this weekend, so let's get out there.

First up, the Hospitality record release party at Glasslands this Friday (2/3) (tickets still available). Their album came out this week on Merge, and I think makes a great case for not rushing things. Hospitality started playing about three years ago and released a CDR EP in the spring of 2009 that got them some notice. Most bands would've had an album out by the end of the year, but Hospitality took their time, honed their craft and became a really great live band. And the album is terrific, not a bad song in the bunch; winsome but there's some muscle in there too. You can stream the whole shebang at Merge's website or with Spotify.

The record release party also Glass Ghost and Dustin Wong on the bill. The band are also heading out on a quick tour of both coasts and will be in Austin for SXSW. All scheduled tour dates are below.

The Darkness

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum are The Darkness who are back for their first US tour in six years, playing Irving Plaza on Saturday (2/4, sold out) and Monday (2/6, still available). As stated before, I'm a huge fan of the Darkness' first album, 2003's near-perfect Permission to Land, which I picked as one of the best of the '00s. As a pop album. Justin Hawkins knows his way around a giant hook. After the overblown excesses of One Way Ticket to Hell (And Back) and Justin Hawkins' ill-advised Sunset Strip spandex group Hot Leg, the band seem to be back on track with new single "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us" which is a little more in the "Growing on Me" vein.

The Darkness' show at Bowery Ballroom back in 2003 was one of the most fun shows I've been to in the last ten years, and from YouTube footage of recent shows it looks like they've still got it. They are a kick-ass live band -- it takes skill to play "I Believe in a Thing Called Love's" solo whilst riding on your roadie's shoulders through the audience. (I hope they're still doing that.) Tickets are still available for Monday's show.

The Big Sleep

Hospitality aren't the only ones with a record release party this week. The Big Sleep released The Nature Experiments this week, their first album in four years and their record release show is tonight (2/2) at Knitting Factory. It might be their most melodic record to date, with more songs that have caught my ear on first listen than I remember them doing before. You can download two of the album's best tracks at the top of this post and the listen to the entire album at Spotify. The Big Sleep are touring as well, and all dates are at the bottom of this post.

Moonmen on the Moon, Man

Still more record release party fun: Tomorrow night (2/3) at Cake Shop is a dual record release party for Moonmen on the Moon, Man and Glass Anchors who both have record coming out on the venue's subsidary Cape Shok label which finally seems to be in gear after a lot of promise but inactivity. MMotMM, which might feature members who work or even own Cake Shop, rock in an late-'80s/early-90s college radio kind of way. Their endearingly sloppy pop -- with a little punk and twang -- woulda been right at home on, say, Frontier Records, nestled in amongst Flop and Thin White Rope and Redd Kross. You can download a track from the EP at the top of this post.

Glass Anchors is the musical project of songwriter Annie Sicherman who I admit to not knowing much about but her Cape Shok EP is lovely, dusty folk pop. Says the press release:

Honing her songs in various bands over various years, soaring songstress Annie Sicherman brings us GLASS ANCHORS. The songs on her fledgling EP are plaintive, reflective, honest, and good. GLASS ANCHORS sounds best tearing up road (preferably dirt), the one to oblivion - right after you ended the longest relationship you ever had, the one you thought would last, the one with the proposal. That road can be in your head, but certainly GLASS ANCHORS has the ability to take you there every time... with Glass Anchors, we have the real Annie 3000%, no matter what road you're on.

You can stream Glass Anchors' EP at the bottom of this post. The Cake Shop show also features Bright Lights, Overlord and Fergus & Geronimo.

That's the big stuff this week. A few more picks, day-by-day, are below of things not already covered here.

Classixx

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2

LA's Classixx play the Popshop party at Santos with Workout and The French Horn Rebellion. You may know Classix from their remixes, like the excelent one they did for Phoenix's "Lisztomania." The group's new single is out this summer on a new label that's a joint venture from the Kitsune Maison folks and, I'm not kidding, the Cobrasnake.

Spacecamp, Mon Khmer, Romans and Skaters are at Bowery Electric. Spacecamp's new EP is pretty good, especially if you like a little Police in your pop rocks.

The Death Set, who I haven't seen play since maybe SXSW 2008, are at the Delancey. Always fun live.

continued below...

Continue reading "Hospitality, The Darkness, The Big Sleep, Moonmen on the Moon Man, Glass Anchors & more in This Week in Indie"

Pictureplane at PS1 in 2011 (more by Erez Avissar)

ex-Altered Zones publication AdHoc.fm, who presented a NYE show at 285 Kent, are presenting another show there this Friday (2/3) with Class Actress, Pictureplane, and Beige. Tickets for the show are on sale now.

Earlier this month, Pictureplane released a free remix album, Dimensional Rip 7: Thee Physical Remixes with remixes from Grimes, Tearist, Physical Therapy, and others. You can stream and download that whole album below.

Physical Therapy DJs Santos Party House (2/3) the night of the 285 Kent show. Pictureplane was initially going to DJ at that show too, but has since dropped off the lineup, which also includes Andrew W.K., Bad Rabbits, $hayne, Diamond Black Hearted Boy, and Mykki Blanco. Physical Therapy also DJs Blood Orange's now SOLD OUT release show at Glasslands.

Speaking of Beige, they also play the Captured Tracks show at 285 Kent TONIGHT (1/31) with Blouse, Cosmetics, The New Lines, and Mosaics.

Next week Class Actress heads to California for some shows with Superhumanoids who will be going on tour later this year with Active Child. All CA dates are listed below.

Speaking of AdHoc.fm, they're raising money on Kickstarter to launch the new publication.

Pictureplane album stream and Class Actress dates below...

Continue reading "Pictureplane, Class Actress, Beige, Physical Therapy, AdHoc"

Dan Deacon & fans @ Fun Fun Fun Fest

Dan Deacon, now signed to Domino (!) for a record due in 2012 (more details TBA), has still got it. Earlier this month, as you can see in the pictures here, I witnessed him play to a giant crowd of rabid fans at Fun Fun Fun Fest. As usual he played from the ground instead of the stage, and luckily with the help of a security guard to shield his equipment from the wild, swaying mass. More pictures are below.

Later that same day, Dan performed again, but on a stage (the Yellow Stage to be exact) as part of the Wham City Comedy Tour that has now arrived in NYC for a show at 285 Kent tonight...

====| FRIDAY 11/18 @ RIC/RAMBO @ 285 KENT AVE |====
|| JM RAMBO presents
|| WHAM CITY COMEDY TOUR
|| Adam Endres
|| A Funny Clown
|| Alan Resnick
|| April Camlin
|| Ben O'Brien
|| Connor Kizer
|| Dan Deacon
|| Ellie Beziat
|| Erin Gleeson
|| Mason Ross
|| Peter O'Connell
|| Robby Rackleff
| RIC/RAMBO @ 285 KENT AVE |
285 Kent Ave @ South 1st | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
L-Bedford, G-Metropolitan, JM-Marcy | 8pm | $8 | all ages

Dan will be back in NYC again in March to play a fancy show with the NOW Ensemble & the Calder Quartet as part of the recently-announced Ecstatic Music Festival. He also has lots of other dates scheduled which are listed below.

Last but not least, Dan is one of a few artists who have contributed tracks to a free holiday album that Carpark is releasing on 12/6. The full tracklist and more details on that are also below...

Continue reading "Dan Deacon on Domino, on a new Christmas album, on tour (dates & more pics from Fun Fun Fun Fest)"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Anthem Facility - "Left to Defend" (MP3)

Young Magic at Mercury Lounge earlier this month (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Young Magic, who recently opened for Youth Lagoon at Mercury Lounge, will release the "Night in the Ocean" single b/w "Slip Time" on October 11 via Carpark. You can stream "Night in the Ocean" and check out the album artwork for the single below. The 7" vinyl is available for preorder.

Young Magic play Mercury Lounge again on October 5 with Love Connection. Tickets for that show are on sale now. They'll be active during CMJ when they'll play the Carpark/Paw Tracks showcase at Public Assembly on October 18 with Class Actress, Dent May, Cloud Nothings, Adventure, and Jimmy Whispers (of Light Pollution).

Anthem Facility

Melati Malay, who is a member of Young Magic and New Moods, is also the vocalist in Anthem Facility. Anthem Facility just released the Trace EP, which you can stream below and purchase at bandcamp. You can also watch the video for the EP's title track below, and download an MP3 of "Left to Defend" above.

All dates, video and streams below...

Continue reading "Young Magic streaming new 7", playing shows (tour dates & a related Anthem Facility MP3 too)"

Death at Purchase Fall Fest (more by Kellyann Petry)

While the Duck Down vs Blacksmith showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg is indicating that hip hop is alive and well, Afro-Punk is declaring the opposite with a show at the venue just 4 days prior. Billed as "DEATH to Hip-Hop", protopunk pioneers Death will join Cerebral Ballzy, Ninjasonik, and Jersey Klan with Stack-Aly between sets as part of a CMJ event on 10/18 at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tickets go on sale on 9/22 at noon, or try to get in with your CMJ badge. No other Death dates to report at the moment.

In between the birth and death of hip hop, Music Hall of Williamsburg will feature another two CMJ showcases. 10/20 will see Metronomy team with Class Actress (tickets) while 10/21 is the BrooklynVegan CMJ showcase with BRAIDS, Active Child, Weekend, Pepper Rabbit, and Blue Hawaii. Tickets are on sale for our CMJ show, or be one of the people to get in with your badge.

That leaves only one hole in MHOW's CMJ schedule. Nothing has been announced there for Wed., 10/19 yet. I can't say what will happen that night, but I can say that it will be interesting (and NOT affiliated with CMJ).

Wild Flag at Williamsburg Waterfront (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

The first round of CMJ 2011 artists have been announced. The initial list includes Neon Indian (Webster Hall with Purity Ring), CSS (Webster Hall with EMA and MEN), Zola Jesus (KF and LPR), Wild Flag (Bowery Ballroom with Eleanor Friedberger and Hospitality), Metronomy (MHOW), Portugal. The Man (T5 with Givers and Alberta Cross), Viva Brother, Wombats, The Good Natured), Kvelertak, Handsome Furs, Memoryhouse, Pharoahe Monch, and more.

The Viva Brother show is on October 19 at Bowery Ballroom with 1,2,3 and Kitten. Tickets are on sale now (or you can try to get in with your CMJ badge). All dates below.

The Wombats show is on October 19 at Webster Hall with The Postelles and The Good Natured. Tickets are on sale now (or you can try to get in with your CMJ badge). All dates below.

Other bands scheduled to play that aren't part of CMJ's initial announce include Still Corners, Shonen Knife at Public Assembly, PS I Love You, and Revolver. Full list below...

Continue reading "CMJ 2011 initial lineup (Handsome Furs, Viva Brother, Wombats, Memoryhouse, Kvelertak, Pharoahe Monch, more)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield, words by Bill Pearis

Metronomy @ Pier 54

I really wasn't sure if anyone was going to show up. Metronomy's last NYC show was at Union Hall in August 2008 and there were about 40 people there. Metronomy's great new album The English Riviera (which just came out this week in the U.S.) has gotten good reviews, but America has largely ignored them. Pier 54 is big.

But about 4000 people did show up and, I know I'm a superfan, but Metronomy killed last night. Killed. Playing for a little more than an hour, we got pretty much everything you'd want to hear: "The Look," "She Wants" and "The Bay" from The English Riviera, the best of Nights Out ("Heartbreaker," "Radio Ladio," "Back on Motorways," "A Thing for Me"), and even a couple from the first album Pip Paine (Pay The £5000 You Owe).

The new line-up was key, with drummer Anna Prior and bassist Gbenga Adelekan bringing wallop and serious musicianship to Joseph Mount's off-kilter song creations. (Longtime member Oscar Cash rounded out the quartet.) This line-up is up there with LCD Soundsystem, Soulwax and Hot Chip as to making live dance music.

Mount was self-effacingly charming in between songs, apologizing for a sax solo gone wrong on "Back on Motorways," and making jokes about the highrise that loomed on the other side of West Street. But mostly the band just knocked out jam after jam. And the crowd, at least those in the front third of the pier, were singing along and dancing. One of my shows of the year so far.

Metronomy play L.A. tonight (7/29) and Mount told us last night that the band reminded us that they'll be back in the States in October. No new NYC dates has been announced yet though.

Class Actress played a lot of songs from her upcoming album Rapproacher to what seemed like audience indifference. I think recordings are good -- very Visage-y new wave synthpop -- but there's something missing from the live show. (A drummer?). L.A. trio American Royalty flew out just to play this show and took the stage like they owned the place, playing a short set of over-the-top party-friendly dance rock. They did not lack for confidence or family in the crowd. They've got a 7" coming out on Seaport Music and, as mentioned in This Week In Indie, play Lit this Saturday if you're interested.

Deer Tick and Dom play the next and last free Hudson River Rocks show at Pier 54 this summer. More pictures from last night below...

Continue reading "Metronomy played Pier 54 w/ Class Actress & American Royalty (pics & review)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Twin Sister - "Bad Street" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Your Youth - What Smarts (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Metronomy - "The Bay" (Clock Opera Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Class Actress - Keep You (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sonny and the Sunsets - I Wanna Do It (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sonny and the Sandwitches - Throw My Ashes from This Pier When I Die (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Night Beats - Puppet on a String (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Craft Spells - After The Moment (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Craft Spells - Party Talk (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Gardens & Villa - Star Fire Power (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Gardens & Villa - Star Fire Power (MP3)

Oh man it's another crazy week. Let's get into it. Tonight's free SummerScreen in McCarren Park tonight is pretty hard to pass up. Not only are they showing the John Hughes classic Ferris Beuller's Day Off (which is 25 years old this year!) but they got Twin Sister to play before it. In addition to performing lots of songs from their forthcoming album on Domino Records, Twin Sister will also be debuting the music video for their single, "Bad Street." You can download the MP3 of that at the top of this post.

Speaking of MP3s, we've also got one up there from Your Youth who are also playing SummerScreen tonight (6:45PM) and couldn't be more different from Twin Sister. "What Smarts" is a new track from the local duo who are kind of proto-grunge punk. Catchy stuff.

It would be really cool if, say, Your Youth covered "Beat City" by The Flowerpot Men and Twin Sister maybe did Dream Academy's "The Edge of Forever". (Why has Ferris Bueller never gotten a posthumous soundtrack release?) Probably won't happen but one can hope. In addition to the movie and the bands, there's loads of giveaways and such.

Metronomy

The show I am absolutely most excited about this week, without a doubt, is Metronomy who play Hudson River Rocks on Pier 54 on Thursday. Metronomy's third album, The English Riviera, just got nominated for the Mercury Prize (sure to lose to James Blake) and got its stateside release yesterday. As I wrote previously:

The new record retains Metronomy's slightly askew, claustrophobic sound while broadening its scope. There's glammy funk ("We Broke Free," the Roxy-ish "She Wants"), a guitar pop ("Everything Goes My Way," a duet with Roxanne Clifford of Veronica Falls), waltz-time ballads  ("Trouble"), and more typical Metronomy-style twitchy disco ("The Bay," "Corrine."). It's also got one of the 2011's best singles, "The Look."

It's definitely one of my favorite albums of the year. (Their last album, Nights Out, was my favorite album of 2008.) The vinyl version comes with the CD which is a trend I would like to see all labels doing. Highly recommended. Watching a few live performance clips , I'm glad to see they're still wearing stick-it-and-click-it lights on their shirts that was a highlight of their old stage show -- even though they're a proper band now (they didn't used to have a drummer).

Also playing the Pier 54 show is American Royalty and Class Actress whose debut album Rapproacher is out October 11 on Carpark. You can snag "Keep You" at the top of this post. Do get there early for openers American Royalty who came out from L.A. just for this show. I caught them at SXSW this year and they kept me entertained on Saturday evening when I was basically burned out on seeing live music. You can check out their hodgepodge electro sound via their Bandcamp page. And if you want to see them again, American Royalty play Lit on Saturday (7/30).

If you want to keep the party going on Thursday after Metronomy, head over to Glasslands for all your sissy bounce italodisco soulclap free booze needs. New Orleans Vockah Redu is like Big Freedia but with more choreography and a subscription to Vogue. (Check out the video at the bottom of this post.) They also play the PS1 warm-up on Saturday. Also playing is Portland's Miracles Club, who played PS1 last weekend. Jonathan Tobin is DJing, it's My Open Bar's 5th anniversary, it's a party.

Sonny

What else is going on this week? Sonny & the Sunsets are backfor the first time since October, playing Mercury Lounge on Friday (7/29) and Glasslands on Saturday (7/30). Have you checked out Sonny's new album, Hit After Hit? As I wrote previously:

Unlike last year's laid back and folky Too Young to Burn, the new album is more of a party --inspired by '60s pop and garage. Opening track "She Plays Yo-Yo with My Mind" cribs liberally from The Standells' "Dirty Water."

At least a couple of the songs on Hit After Hit (including "I Wanna Do It") are reworked versions of songs written for Smith's 100 Records project which you might have caught at the late Cinders Gallery last summer. Embued with Smith's (and fellow Sunset Kelley Stoltz) encyclopedic knowledge of pop and his wry sense of humor, Hit After Hit's a great little record.

Tourmates for this go-round are fellow Bay Area residents The Sandwitches who were described by Sunsets drummer/producer Kelley Stoltz thusly: "Imagine a 60's Girl-group is on tour and their van breaks down near a gothic castle high on the hill, Dario Argento invites them in to perform a concert for his tweaked actors in a big dark red room inside and, if the dream is right, it's the Sandwiches - they'd fit right in with those misfits and speak the same language. I'd like to be there to dance."

Sonny Smith put out a record with The Sandwitches last year, so I'd expect to hear those tracks at these shows. Check out one of them, the twangy, mournful "Throw My Ashes from This Pier When I Die" at the top of this post. I caught Sonny last year when he toured with Kelley Stoltz and it was a great show. Sonny doesn't get enough attention i don't think, so do try and make it to one of these shows.

The Night Beats

Seattle trio The Night Beats are currently on tour with The Black Lips opening for sold out shows at Bowery Ballroom on Friday (7/29) and Maxwell's on Saturday (7/30). But if you wanna catch them in a non-sold-out enviroment, free of the Black Lips, they play Sunday night (7/31) at Shea Stadium with Sweet Bulbs, Dinowalrus, Liquor Store, and Yvette.

The Night Beats' stomping debut is out now on Trouble in Mind. I caught the band at the label's party during SXSW:

I got there as Seattle trio Night Beats were just starting. Never heard them before, but really dug their psych-garage sounds, and they definitely looked the part. They ended their set with a cover of The Count Five's classic "Psychotic Reaction," giving their version a little swing which made it their own.

Check out "Puppet on a String" from their TiM debut at the top of this post. The Shea Stadium show is solid, I like all the bands on the bill.

Craft Spells

Speaking of Seattle, Craft Spells are back in town, playing Mercury Lounge on Saturday (7/30)  -- their first area show since playing here back in April. Live, they eschew the keyboards that are so abundant on their Captured Tracks album in favor of a guitar-oriented line-up which works just fine. (It's very Orange Juice.) They are young and enthusiastic and the songs are ridiculously catchy.

The band are on tour with Santa Barbara, CA's Gardens & Villa who are dreamy and synthy and danceable (kinda like Tony Castles). Their debut album just came out via Secretly Canadian and you can download two tracks from it at the top of this post. Also playing are local synthpop act Selebrities whose free downloadable EP evokes favorable comparisons to all sorts of '80s groups. You can download a free EP from Selebrities here.

Eternal Summers

And finally, don't forget about this Sunday's Beach Party at Beekman Beer Garden with Raveonettes and Eternal Summers. The Raveonettes new album, Raven in the Grave, is a slow burn compared to 2009's poppy In and Out of Control but no less enticing and I've always enjoyed them live. And Eternal Summers can do no wrong for me right now. This will be a very fun show, and likely the first where they might have to turn people away because of capacity so come early. Free!

Ok, that's the main stuff I'm highlighting this week but there are quite a few more recommended shows listed day-by-day below.

The Psychic Paramount @ Union Pool -- 7/26

Disappears @ Union Pool -- 7/26

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27

I had my mind blown twice at Union Pool last night: first by the smoke-machine fueled power of The Psychic Paramount (modern instrumental acid rock? Incredible!) and then by Disappears whose new material written with Steve Shelley is groovier, a little slower than their pedal-to-the-metal first albums but equally awesome. (More Neu!, less Stooges.) They play tonight at Cake Shop. Get up close and watch Disappear's bassist lay it down track after track.

There are so many shows tonight! But if you want to see three of the best bands in NYC right now, head to Mercury Lounge for North Highlands, ARMS and Hospitality. All three groups are holding onto new albums that I am dying to hear. Hospitality were incredible when they played my final Sound Bites show down at Fulton Stall Market two weeks ago.

Avi Buffalo test out new material for their second Sub Pop album at the Rock Shop tonight. With Nic Frietas.

Metronomy aren't the only Mercury Prize nominees in town this week. Anna Calvi plays tonight at Le Poisson Rouge.

Out at Bushwick's Brooklyn Fireproof, you can see The Gytters (who I wrote about last week) and Cake Shop house band Moonmen on the Moon, Man... along with Nighty Night and Beat People.

The Barr Brothers, who I really liked at M for Montreal last year, play Rockwood Music Hall tonight. They recently signed to Secret City, home of Patrick Watson & the Wooden Arms, Plants and Animals, Miracle Fortress, Basia Bulat and more.

continued below...

Continue reading "Metronomy, American Royalty, Twin Sister, Sonny & the Sunsets, Night Beats, Craft Spells, Avi Buffalo & more in This Week in Indie"

DOWNLOAD: Metronomy - "The Bay" (Clock Opera Remix) (MP3)

Metronomy, who are now a full band and were recently nominated for the Mercury Prize, play a free Hudson River Rocks show at Pier 54 on Thursday (7/28) with Class Actress.

The Pier 54 show is one of two shows for the band this summer before they head out on a North American tour in October. That tour includes no NYC dates at the moment, but does hit Philly. All dates are listed below.

The band's new album The English Riviera drops July 26 here in the U.S. via Because Music/Big Beat/Atlantic. Grab a remix of "The Bay" by Clock Opera above, and check out an Erol Alkan remix of the track, along with the videos for "The Look" and "The Bay" and all dates, below...

Continue reading "Metronomy tour dates, Clock Opera remix MP3, videos too"

DOM at BV-CMJ 2010 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

The openers have been announced for the free shows happening at Pier 54 this summer. We already mentioned that Austra is opening the tUnE-yArDs show on July 14. It was also revealed that Class Actress open the Metronomy show on July 28, and DOM open the Deer Tick show on August 11.

In related news, DOM announced that the Family of Love EP, their follow up to Sun Bronzed Greek Gods, will be released August 9 via Astralwerks. The EP was produced by Nicolas Vernhes (Animal Collective, Bjork). "I want to pump out as many records as possible," Dom said, "and actually make a difference in pop music. No matter how a.d.d. it all sounds, the more I write, the more I really wanna do this thing."

DOM also play Brooklyn Bowl on June 17 as part of Northside Festival. Tickets are available. Deer Tick also plays a Northside show at Brooklyn Bowl, but as Deervana (and it is sold out).

All DOM and Deer Tick dates and the EP tracklist below...

Continue reading "DOM releasing new EP, opening for Deer Tick @ Pier 54, also playing Northside Fest (dates)"

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

Raphael Saadiq

Duran Duran

Catching up a bit. Here's what Dominick saw in Austin on Wednesday, March 16, 2011...

Continue reading "SXSW 2011 Day 1 pics"

words & photos by Shanda Boyett

"The @famousclass party was crazed. Amaxing sendoff to the 1 and only Ariel Panero. RIP homie." - markodude

"Tonight was amazing, Thank you to all the bands & @DeathbyAudio Ariel we miss you like crazy" - Famousclass

The Famous Class party at Death by Audio on Friday night (2/4) took its mission of celebrating the life of Ariel Panero seriously. Cyrus Lubin from Famous Class put together an amazing lineup for Day 1 that culminated in a sold-out, joyful mosh-ilicious event headlined by the boisterous Snakes Say Hiss. Also on the bill were Darlings, Grooms, Class Actress, and Tony Castles.

Ariel's name and birth and death date were spray painted on the wall behind the stage. Grooms played almost all new songs, save one oldie that was Ariel's favorite. Tony Castles also played a lot of their new tunes, sounding really tight.

There was a noticeable buildup to the Snakes Say Hiss set, with the crowd ready to live it up in a wild, human bumper car frenzy that sent more than a few people crashing into walls and dodging beer confetti.

It was beautiful in the way that an epic night always is - an organic outgrowth that can be neither planned nor tamed.

Rubin commented early in the evening that he thought it might be a rager, but I think for him, more than anyone else, it was about Ariel.

"Last year he began working with me at Famous Class, helping us take some big steps forward," he says on the Famous Class web site. "It breaks my heart that he isn't going to see the results of everything we worked on together."

Day 2 (Saturday) of the memorial featured Skeletons (string quartet), Sisters, Regal Degal, Tough Knuckles Band and Hubble. Proceeds from show helped raise money for for the release of the new Tough Knuckles album. Those who paid $15 at the door will get a limited edition copy of the LP on white vinyl.

A selection of pictures from Friday's show continues below...

Continue reading "Ariel Panero was remembered @ Death by Audio (pics)"

It's a little bit later this year, but the third annual The Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival will take place across two venues in Williamsburg on December 18th: Music Hall of Williamsburg and Public Assembly (if you didn't know, they are right next door to each other). The "fest" will feature acts from across the digital spectrum ("emerging and established bands, DJ's and producers from the Boroughs and beyond") including Sinden, Kid Sister, Javelin, Tittsworth, Class Actress, Brahms, Lemonade, and many others, with more to be announced.

Tickets are currently on "Super Limited Reduced Price Advance" sale.

Lemonade meanwhile is out on tour with their True Panther labelmate Delorean. Two NYC shows happen very soon and both are still on sale.

Initial BEMF lineup and two videos from last year below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn Electronic Music Fest returning (in 2 venues), Lemonade on tour w/ Delorean (dates) "

photos by Diana Wong

Surfer Blood @ Stratosphere Sound

This can best be described in the words of the person who invited me to this:

"we're going to be hosting a private, unofficial CMJ artist lounge here at Stratosphere Sound (James Iha, Adam Schlesinger and Andy Chase's studio in Chelsea) on Thursday, October 21st.

We're going to be having [8] bands recording 2-3 stripped-down songs (which will be recorded by our Grammy Award-Winning engineer Geoff Sanoff, and then featured in a special Insound.com mixtape a week later). Confirmed acts:

11AM - Fake Problems
12PM - Dom
1PM - Bear Hands
2PM - Surfer Blood
3PM - Ma.Mentor
4PM - Woven Bones
5PM - Class Actress
6PM - Jukebox the Ghost

Additionally, [we'll have a lounge where artists and industry folks will be invited to enjoy drinks from our liquor sponsor Maker's Mark, and check out free goodies from Fred Perry]

Stay tuned for the Insound mixtape/MP3s from this session. In the meantime, check out more pictures from the event, below...

Continue reading "Surfer Blood, Dom, Bear Hands, Woven Bones & others played Insound Sessions @ Stratosphere Sound (pics) "

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: A Classic Education - I Lost Time (MP3)

Bologna, Italy's A Classic Education will be here for CMJ, playing six shows:

WED Oct 20 7:00P The Delancey (Lefse & I Guess I'm Floating Showcase) NYC
THU Oct 21 8:30P - Hype Machine & dubFrequency Party @ Backstage (formerly The Annex)
THU Oct 21 10:00P Trash Bar, Brooklyn
FRI Oct 22 12:00P Pop Tarts Suck Toasted @ Cake Shop
FRI Oct 22 6:00P Pianos
FRI Oct 22 8:30P The Charleston, Brooklyn

Maybe you caught them last year when they played one of our CMJ day parties? The band's new EP, Hey There Stranger, came out about a month ago on Lefse Records (How to Dress Well, Dominant Legs) and straddles the line between swoony baroque pop and reverby indie, with plenty of "bah bahs" and "oh ohs." You can download "I Lost Time" from it at the top of this post, and watch the found footage video for it below

Note that one of the shows on their list is the Hype Machine & dubFrequency Party. You can RSVP and stream tracks of the artists playing at Hype's site, and check out full lineup and flyer, and more, below...

Continue reading "A Classic Education returning to NYC for CMJ, playing 6 shows including dF & Hype Machine's party (dates & lineup)"

photos by Andrew St. Clair, words by Patricia Scull

Dan Black @ Bowery Ballroom

Dan Black headlined Bowery Ballroom on Thursday night (9/10), one night before he played a pair of Fashion's Night Out events. Dan returns to play a dancey BMI & SPIN CMJ showcase at Highline Ballroom on on October 19th, eleven days after he is scheduled to play Austin City Limits 2010. Also playing that CMJ show are The Golden Filter, Neon Hitch, Boy Crisis, Body Language, and The Chain Gang of 1974. Tickets are on sale for those who don't have and/or want to chance getting in with a CMJ badge.

Pictures and a review of the Bowery Ballroom show, continue below...

Continue reading "Dan Black played Bowery Ballroom (pics), playing CMJ (tix) "

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Standard Fare - Dancing (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Standard Fare - Fifteen (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Lower Dens - Tea Lights (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Lower Dens - Hospice Gates (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Inocultist - Prophecy for the Summer (MP3)

Standard Fare

Last night was kind of a blowout night for NYC concert-going. So many great shows, big and small, I hope you all went to something and didn't stay home watching Top Chef or something. (I missed it all, I had to work.) The weekend doesn't look quite as action-packed but there's no hurting for great music options.

My top pick for the weekend would be Standard Fare who are over from England and are playing two NYC shows: tonight (8/5) at Bruar Falls and tomorrow (8/6) for the Mondo! party at the about-to-be-renovated Don Hill's. I've written about Standard Fare more than once, so I'm just going to quote myself here:

Standard Fare's The Noyelle Beat (out now in America on Bar/None) is one of the best indiepop records of the year (along with Allo Darlin's debut). Cute, romantic, but with some muscle in there too. You can download a couple of tracks from it above. You should also watch the new video for their great single "Philadelphia" at the bottom of this post.

Tonight's Bruar Falls show would be worth going to even if Standard Fare weren't playing. Also on this all-over-the-place bill are low-fi legend R. Stevie Moore (who recently played with Ariel Pink), all-girl trio Brian, and Japanese cosplay singer, Reni. Video of the latter is at the bottom of this post.

Inoculist

If you're not at Bruar Falls, you might consider its sister venue, Cake Shop, tonight (8/5) to catch Lower Dens, Air Waves and Inoculist. Lower Dens and Inoculist played together last night at Glasslands and by all reports (the ones I heard anyway) it was a great show. You can watch video from last night's show shot by Bleary-eyed Brooklyn at the bottom of this post. I saw Lower Dens during the Northside Fest and thought they were terrific and have been singing the praises of their debut album, Twin Hand Movement, all summer. The record sounds better now as our shadows get longer and the nights cool off. This is a August/September kind of album.

Inoculist (which I keep mispelling "inocultist) is fronted by Jana's brother John, and the two siblings definitely pull from the same record collection. Inoculist's debut, Spells, is a laid back affair, and comparisons to Low's first few albums are not unwarranted. Hunter and keyboardist Ashlyn Davis' voices are well matched for the band's mellow vibe. Really nice. The Hunters will be touring together for a couple weeks, but will split off mid-month and Inoculist will then head out with Little Gold for a week of shows while Lower Dens go it alone down the West Coast and the South.

Rounding out the Cake Shop bill is Air Waves whose debut album is due out on Underwater Peoples sometime in the near future. See them while you can -- Nicole is moving to Austin at the end of the month. Air Waves still have a few NYC shows left till then, though, including next Saturday's (8/14) Underwater Peoples Summer Showcase -- a blowout at Shea Stadium featuring Julian Lynch, Big Troubles, Fluffy Lumbers, Ducktails and more. Advance tickets are available at the UP website. See the flyer at the bottom of this post for the full line-up, and all remaining Air Waves NYC shows are down there too.

And a few more recommended weekend shows that I didn't cover above:

THURSDAY, AUG 5

Want to see some anthemic rock from popular Canadians? I guess I should be more specific. Want to see some anthemic rock from popular Canadians that is outdoors and free? Metric play Celebrate Brooklyn at Prospect Park with Joan as Policewoman and Holly Miranda.

SHARK? are busy working on their Kickstarter-funded album but are taking a break to road test some songs at The Rock Shop. (Download previous SHARK? releases here.) where they'll play with The Great Unwashed (the ones from Staten Island, not New Zealand), Conversion Party, and The Rabbits.

continued below...

Continue reading "Standard Fare, Lower Dens, Inoculist, Jack Penate, Cut Copy, Metric & more in This Week in Indie "

Pissed Jeans @ Mercury Lounge in 2009 (more by Jake Forney)

tonight in NYC
* Mermaid Parade @ Coney Island
* Baby Gramps @ Terra Blues
* Hanne Hukkelberg @ Joe's Pub
* Reigning Sound, The Anabolics @ Southpaw
* Sleepy Sun, She Keeps Bees @ Brooklyn Bowl
* New Kids on the Block @ Radio City Music Hall
* The Ponys, Disappears, Woven Bones @ Union Pool
* Class Actress, Tom Tom Club (DJ) @ Soho Grand
* Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Hess Is More @ 92YTribeca
* Rooftop Films w/ North Highlands @ Open Road Rooftop
* Anthony Braxton's birthday fest @ Issue Project Room
* Melvins, Isis, Totimoshi @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Born Ruffians, Young Rival, Motive @ Santos Party House
* Karen Elson, Midnight Masses @ The Studio at Webster Hall
* Zola Jesus, Effi Briest, Nice Face, Amen Dunes @ Glasslands
* The Goodnight Loving, Prince Rupert's Drops (late) @ Cake Shop
* The Most Serene Republic, Annuals, What Laura Says @ Maxwell's
* Ceremony, Skin Like Iron, The Men, Blaclisted (early) @ Cake Show
* Balls to the Wall, Designer Imposter, House of Ladosha @ Bruar Falls
* Josiah Wolf, The Chocolate Horse, Ortolan @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn
* Celebrate Brooklyn w/ Bitches Brew Revisited @ Prospect Park Bandshell
* The New Pornographers, The Dodos, The Dutchess & The Duke @ Terminal 5
* Glenn Branca solo,The Paranoid Critical Revolution @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* The Machine plays Pink Floyd @ Rocks Off Concert Cruise on The Temptress
* The Morning Benders, Freelance Whales, Wild Nothing @ Beach at Governors Island
* Eli Paperboy Reed & The True Lovers, The Constellations (late) @ The Bell House
* Frog Eyes, Beach Fossils, Pearly Gate Music, You Can Be A Wesley @ Mercury Lounge
* Cool Places Soundsystem, Sonido Chichadelico, DJ Awesome Tapes From Africa @ Zebulon
* Blue Sabbath Black Fiji, Telecult Powers, Rust Worship, Family Treasures @ Silent Barn
* Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Pissed Jeans, Social Circle, Pop. 1280 @ Death By Audio
* Crest Fest w/ Deluka, The Sundelles, Motel Motel, Oberhofer, Zongo Junction, Darlings, Wizardry @ Crest Hardware
* Chemical Brothers listening party w/ Huoratron (live), Alex English (Special Chemical Brothers DJ Set) @ Brooklyn Bowl
* NYC Pride Rally concert w/ Me'Shell Ndegéocello, Martha Wash, The NYC Gay Men's Chorus, Vickie Shaw, Billie Myers, Bruce Vilanch @ Central Park SummerStage

Tonight's Celebrate Brooklyn show is party of the CareFusion Jazz Fest, which runs through June 26th. The full schedule is here.

Soho Grand will be hosting Summer Hummer, BBQ+bands on the third Saturday of every month this summer - the first one is today with a special DJ set by the Tom Tom Club (both Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth will be there) and a free performance by Class Actress. A flyer is below. RSVP here.

Crest Fest is today.

The Mermaid Parade happens at Coney Island, featuring King Neptune Lou Reed and Queen Mermaid Laurie Anderson (Laurie has a new album out and shows on the way).

If you RSVPed to Brooklyn Block Party, you can see Freelance Whales, Justin Townes Earle, The Cringe (a hint at the event's host), J Rocc and Motel Motel at The Bell House.

Make sure you know how to take the ferry to the free show at Governors Island tonight.

Punk Island is on Governors Island on Sunday.

NXNE concludes in Toronto.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

Dam-Funk And Master Blazter is playing Bowery Ballroom on June 12th. Tickets are on sale.

Tame Impala is playing Pianos on June 24th. Tickets are on sale.

Brahms is playing Pianos on May 1st (with ARMS / Bell / Aislyn & Wet Bandits aka Passion Pit DJs), May 25 (with Das Racist / Gordon Voidwell / Shadowbox & DJ Aaron Pfenning) and June 1st (with Class Actress / Tony Castles / Baby Alpaca / Cool Places Soundsystem DJ). Tickets for all three shows are on sale.

Das Racist also play the LES venue on May 20th. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are now on sale for the Peggy Sue show happening at Pianos.

Peter Wolf Crier, Pocahaunted, Greg from Bouncing Souls, and other Pianos shows are on sale too.

Tickets are on sale for the Heartless Bastards / Peter Wolf Crier shows at Bowery & MHOW.

Tickets are on sale for a lot of Black Crowes shows at Nokia Theatre.

Tickets are on sale for the Vatican Commandos (featuring Moby) hardcore show at Mercury Lounge.

Swans and Danzig tickets went on sale.

Zola Jesus Glasslands tickets are on sale.

A Toro y Moi show at Glasslands is on sale.

Weezer & other Waterfront & Governors Island shows on sale.

Tickets are on sale for the Cass McCombs show at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are on sale for two Empire of the Sun shows at Terminal 5.

Tickets are on sale for the Black Mountain show at Knitting Factory.

Frightened Rabbit @ LPR acoustic in 2009 (more by Jonny Leather)

tonight in NYC
* Hanson (night 3!) @ Gramercy
* Heavy Trash @ The Saint (NJ)
* Hole, Little Fish @ Terminal 5
* Tracy Bonham @ Galapagos Art Space
* Frightened Rabbit @ Sound Fix Records
* Josh Rouse, The Woes @ The Bell House
* Willie Mays, Radical Sons @ Don Pedro
* N.E.R.D., Jay Electronica @ Irving Plaza
* Big Soda, Big Eyes, Nude Beach @ Coco 66
* VV Brown, MNDR, Class Actress @ Bowery Ballroom
* Taylor Hollingsworth, Mia Riddle @ Union Hall
* Frightened Rabbit, Maps and Atlases @ Webster Hall
* Tao Seeger Band, The Morgues, Cassandra Jenkins @ Brooklyn Bowl
* The Morning Benders, Twin Sister, Twin Shadow, Papa @ Mercury Lounge
* Chiara String Quartet play Steve Reich and more @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* Mottel/Dahl/Nilson/Fox, El Topo, Priestbird, Living Sacrifice, Spider @ Pianos
* Pod Blotz & Zaimph, Purple Haze, MV Carbon, Driphouse, Denial Ain't Just a River in Egypt @ Death By Audio
* Laurie Anderson, Tony Conrad, Erik Friedlander, Text of Light (Alan Licht & Lee Ranaldo), Transgendered Jesus @ Santos Party House

From Santos: Charles S. Cohen, executive producer of Academy Award nominated film Frozen River, is celebrated at this Film-makers cooperative benefit concert. Laurie Anderson, Tony Conrad, Erik Friedlander, Text of Light, and Transgendered Jesus will perform live along with films from the cooperative's collection.

The Chiara String Quartet's program at Santos tonight includes Steve Reich's Different Trains, Jefferson Friedman's String Quartet No. 2 and Anton Webern's Five Pieces for String Quartet. Tickets are on sale.

Frightened Rabbit, after having a bit of trouble getting into the country at the beginning of their tour, are here today to play two NYC shows. At 6:30 you can catch them play afree acoustic show at Sound Fix. Then later tonight they headline a sold out Webster Hall.

Did the MNDR and Class Actress show at The Studio at Webster Hall even happen last night? Regardless, both acts open for VV Brown at Bowery Ballroom tonight.

The Morning Benders complete their April series of NYC shows tonight at Mercury Lounge. Twin Sister open up for them. Members of Twin Sister opened up for them (playing in Holiday Shores) Saturday night at Music Hall.

A trailer for the album Cocorosie is releasing on Sub Pop can be watched and listened to below...

A video of Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore performing "My Wealth Comes To Me" live on KEXP, below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Keepaway - Yellow Wings (MP3)

Brooklyn's Keepaway, who have been compared to both Yeasayer and Animal Collective, play tonight (4/17) in NYC at the Studio at Webster Hall along with MNDR (who played with Amanda Blank last night and has more shows on the way) and Class Actress (who's up first, according to the flyer - see below).

Keepaway also play the just-mentioned show at Glasslands on Friday with Tanlines, Memoryhouse, and Light Pollution.

Keepaway then have another show to celebrate the Lefse Records-release of their Baby Style EP on May 18th at Mercury Lounge. DOM and Rewards are also on the bill, and tickets are on sale. A track off that EP is above

Rewards aka Aaron Pfenning (ex-Chairlift) is appearing more and more on bills.

Dom played shows at Pianos and Cake Shop earlier this month, and also has a NYC show coming up at Glasslands on May 22nd (a Popfest afterparty).

All dates and the flyer for tonight is below...

Continue reading "Keepaway - a new EP (MP3) & shows (a NYC date with Dom) "

photos by Ryan Muir

Erykah Badu @ Good Units

"Erykah Badu went for a stripped-down approach for her new "Window Seat" video. Literally: As the standout tune from New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh (out tomorrow) plays, Ms. Badu walks through downtown Dallas gradually removing all of her clothing until she is 100 percent nude. If that sounds familiar, Badu credits that Matt & Kim video from last year for inspiration. No word on what role, if any, Alanis Morissette played." [EW]

You can watch that new video at the end of this post which also contains pictures from the second of two secret-ish Less Artists More Condos-organized NYC shows that Erykah Badu performed at this weekend. The first show (Friday night) took place at Damon Dash's open-when-it-wants-to-be basement space in Tribeca, Under 100. Class Actress, Grooms, and Skeletons were all also on the bill (video below). At the second, Saturday night, a very late Erykah (she left the crowd-that-got-smaller-and-smaller waiting for almost 2 hours), played with Spank Rock, MNDR, and Tony Castles at Good Units in midtown. Things didn't go so well for Spank Rock (who played 2nd to last)...

"During the final song, Spank Rock rapped something along the lines of (and I am paraphrasing here so my head doesn't get chewed off by Spank Rock die-hards), "wanting to fuck a white girl till my dick turns racist." Needless to say, Spank Rock got booed off the stage, something I haven't witnessed at a show in a very long time [editor: you weren't at the Fader Fort for Salem then]. He even tried to worm his way into the front row next to these two ladies I was standing next to so he could watch Erykah Badu and the two women were clearly horrified as they quickly spread themselves out to ensure he would not be joining us." [According to G]

Pictures and the videos below...

Continue reading "Erykah Badu played Under 100 & Good Units w/ Spank Rock & MNDR (pics), released Matt & Kim-inspired stripping video"

photos by Chris La Putt

There's not much you can say against the laser harp. At the Highline Ballroom on Tuesday night a beam of green light shot up from the floor, then fanned out into eight individual rays. The tiny synth-pop singer Little Boots, wearing a gold lamé gown and face mask, played the melody of her song "Earthquake" by moving her hand among the streams of light; each time she blocked one, it triggered a synthesizer pitch, and she could alter its tone by lowering or raising her hand on each beam.

"Earthquake" isn't much of a song, but that was a beautiful display. It made you feel light. "I'm basically obsessed with lasers," she admitted, chattily, when the song was done...

...And at two points in the show, putting on a cape and hood and getting behind a red synthesizer, she evoked another great future monger from the past: Sun Ra. This sort of thing has a history. There's a lot out there besides Auto-Tune. [NY Times]

More pictures from the show at Highline Ballroom below...

Continue reading "Little Boots played a laser Harp @ Highline Ballroom in NYC w/ Class Actress & Body Language (pics)"

photos by Jessica Amaya

"However fans pronounced the group's name ("Yeah-sayer", "Yay-sayer") all left the Music Hall of Williamsburg buzzing, humming, or both. It was hard to walk away without a melody or to not bob your head to Yeasayer's polished sound collage. Celebrating the release of their second full-length album, Odd Blood, the synth, guitar, and bass trio (backed by a drummer and multi-instrumentalist) still seemed to produce their best sounds while playing material from their debut, All Hour Cymbals. The originally thin sounding and Indian-tinged "Wait for the Summer" was tight yet sonorous, catalyzing a swaying party and the crowd's excitement before they completely lost it for the new single, "Ambling Alp". At times the Hall was awash in ooh-ing choruses, of which "Madder Red" and encore "2080" were downright anthemic. While the group's polyrhythms jumped from afrobeat to new wave to a pixilated dance floor thump bassist Ira Wolf Tuton filled in spaces with poignant fills on his fretless. Throughout, panels and columns of morphing neon lights that changed with their sounds flanked them. Also, Anand Wilder's gold glitter guitar strap (with pick holster) is one the coolest I've seen around." [PopMatters]

Yeasayer's album-release activities included a Monday night show at Bowery Ballroom, and the show last night, Tuesday (2/9) at Music Hall of Williamsburg with openers Class Actress and Javelin. You can catch Yeasayer again tonight (2/9) on Fallon.

Javelin next heads to Europe to open more dates for Yeasayer who kick off their next set of North American dates in April which include many shows with Sleigh Bells (the sold out Webster Hall show included). Class Actress have a few more NYC shows scheduled this month and then they head out on tour with Little Boots (unlike Fan Death who cancelled all of their dates with Little Boots).

More pictures from the the MHOW Yeasayer show, below...

Continue reading "Yeasayer played Bowery Ballroom & MHOW (with Javelin & Class Actress) - pics "