photos by Tim Griffin

Gruff Rhys @ Club DeVille

Austin venues Mohawk and Club DeVille border each other. If there's a loud show at Mohawk, a quiet show at DeVille will suffer. Thus, back on May 27th, as Gruff Rhys was taking the Deville stage he announced, "The idea is to play as many songs as we can... Before the Melvins kick in next door." Luckily, ultimately it wasn't a problem. H0key.net was there:

"The sweetness dripped heavy, especially on songs like 'Honey All Over' and 'If We Were Words (We Would Rhyme).' Gruff didn't go overboard, however. The fact that the Melvins and some other sludge metal type bands were playing next door helped out. It also gave an opportunity for Gruff to flex his wit.

Gruff also flexed his technological ability. The amount of noise gadgets that filled the stage exceeded my expectations. There were these wobbly, red light tipped, noise makers he shook every once in awhile. He had a tiny metal box with a red light shining on itself that produced sound. The coolest gadget for me was the record player he used to drop in effects and other items during songs. It's such a practical use for an old technology that you can get away with using it live and not have to drop major coin for a big computer box thingy to play sounds when needed."

Wales instrumental surf rock quartet Y Niwl opened the show, and then became Gruff's backing band, like they're doing on the entire tour that started on May 18th at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. The tour ends June 15th back in NYC at Mercury Lounge. Tickets for that one are still available.

Tickets are also still available for the June 18th screening of Gruff's movie Separado! at BAM where there will be a "Q&A with co-director and film subject Gruff Rhys" (we weren't sure last time we mentioned it).

More pictures from the Austin show, some videos from the Brooklyn show, and all tour dates (including a whole bunch of newly announced European shows), below...

Continue reading "Gruff Rhys played Knitting Factory & Club DeVille (pics), will do a Q&A at BAM with his movie (and other dates)"

photos by Tim Griffin

Lucero

"...The bands were running late at Club Deville, but I was pleased to hear Centromatic on the stage. They sounded like classic rock and when Steve Miller Band's "Rock'N Me" came on after their set, it was in the same vein, but Centromatic was above and beyond.

Lucero came on next and killed it. Nichols' voice is like sandpaper on gravel and it has a booze-soaked and sorry quality that makes it sound like the hard nights and heartbreaks that he sings about are real experiences. Lucero is one of the few bands that I've seen (Free Energy comes to mind as well) that broke through to fans. Quite a few folks were dancing, jumping, singing and generally rocking out during their set..." [Rock Candy]

...It was a perfectly rowdy ending to the BrooklynVegan/DailyMotion day party at Club DeVille on Friday, March 19th (one of our seven shows this year). The day's eclectic lineup ranged from country to electro to singer-songwriter to comedy. We also made a huge effort to feed people and give away free stuff this year. Those who stopped by the free show got free Ear Piece ear plugs, Magic Hat beer, Firefly Sweet Tea vodka (that lasted the entire 6+ hours), Gundlach Bundschu wine, Raw Rev bars, Nadamoo ice cream, Hail Merry "Grawnola", breakfast tacos and Daily Juice catering. Action For Animals was on hand with baked goods for sale that helped raise $800 for charity. Somebody (and every band and comedian) won some Original Penguin clothes. Members of Passion Pit (aka the Wet Bandits) played the music between bands. KEXP was filming video. All in all an amazing day.

Catch Lucero in NYC at Music Hall of Williamsburg this Tuesday, March 30th with Glossary (tickets are still on sale). Centro-matic kicks off a house tour in Houston the same day.

You've already seen some of this Friday party HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. Pictures, reviews and videos from it continue below...

Continue reading "Lucero, Centromatic, Nicole Atkins, Holly Miranda, Zola Jesus, more @ Club DeVille (BV/DailyMotion day party) - pics & video"

photos by Tim Griffin

Serena Maneesh

"Not sure about the recorded stuff, but, live, Here We Go Magic's sound made for an enjoyable listen. It was rocky, bouncy, and sometimes outright dancey--but with enough complex time changes thrown in to keep listeners off-guard and from getting too comfortable in one place...

...The Middle East very much lived up to the hype it had earned at last weekend's NX35 conferette in Denton, where it went from a relative unknown to a much-buzzed-about-Denton act. This Austin crowd seemed relatively unfamiliar with the act as well--but also was eventually won over. Gorgeous stuff, indeed, if a little too mellow and unvaried." [Dallas Observer]

Dawes kicked off the BrooklynVegan showcase at Club Deville on the first night of SXSW 2010. They were followed by HWGM & The Middle East who played before a delayed (technical issues) Bowerbirds who managed to get a set in before Califone took the stage almost an hour after their posted set time. Of course that meant the night's closer Serena Maneesh also went on an hour late - 2am to be exact, and then were cut a bit short by the venue who wanted to go home. It was a long day that started at noon down the street at Emo's (on two stages). More pictures, reviews, and videos from the night below...

Continue reading "Serena Maneesh, Califone, Bowerbirds, Middle East, Dawes & Here We Go Magic @ Club DeVile (official BV showcase) - pics"

DOWNLOAD: Deer Tick - Long Time (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Those Darlins - Wild One (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Loch Lomond - Blue Lead Fences (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Phosphorescent - Reasons to Quit (Willie Nelson) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bell - Echinacea (live on Fair Game) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers - Coward Cracked the Dawn (Radio Edit) (MP3)

If you'll be in Austin for SXSW this year, especially if you have a badge, please stop by Club De Ville on Wednesday night, March 18th, 2009 for the official BrooklynVegan showcase (aka a show aka a concert with six bands that is officially a part of the overall South by Southwest festival). If you don't have a SXSW badge, this show will cost you a modest fee at the door. This is who we've got on the bill...

Starting things off. She hails all the way from Brooklyn... it's Bell who will have just finished a tour with Asobi Seksu. (8 PM)

Following Bell is Brooklyn's very own Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers. Some say Shilpa has gotten a lot of attention around here lately. That is true. (9 PM)

After Shilpa, it's Portland, Oregon's Loch Lomond (with special guests). You may have caught Loch Lomond while they toured the country with The Decemberists. The Decemberists just so happen to be playing across the street at Stubb's, a few hours later, on the same SXSW night. (10 PM)

Not to stereotype, but girl power continues with the fourth act of the night. This also marks the beginning of the "alt-country" portion of the evening. It's Those Darlins. Maybe you saw them on their current tour with Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys.
(11 PM)

Next up... I've mentioned it a few times now: Phosphorescent will perform their/his new Willie Nelson tribute album, "To Willie", from start to finish . By the time this show happens, Phos will have done the same thing in Brooklyn, LA, and San Francisco. After SXSW, they may never do it again. (12 AM) Don't miss it...

...AND then, don't leave yet, because last but not least, Deer Tick (reunited with Those Darlins for the millionth time) are going to finish the night off. This closing performance feels especially special because this is the second year in a row that Deer Tick are playing the same showcase at the same venue, except last year their set time was much earlier. (1 AM)

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NOTE: This is one of MANY SXSW events we planned, produced, or BrooklynVegan are just somehow involved in this year. I'll announce all of them ASAP, including the free day parties, and one more of them now...

Bill Pearis, currently best known for his weekly column "Week in Indie", will be representing BrooklynVegan.com on a SXSW panel about music blogs on Thursday, March 19th at 11am at the Austin Convention Center. The event is for SXSW badge holders only.

MP3's above. Videos below...

Continue reading "official BrooklynVegan 2009 SXSW stuff - showcase & panel"

Jeffrey Lewis @ Club DeVille (BV SXSW) - March 12, 2008 (michaelhowell)

Cribs street team victim @ SXSW - March 14, 2008 (thestreetnetwork)

* Musebox Monthly @ 205
* New Model Army are at Southpaw
* DJ Never Forget is guest DJ at Upstairs
* Living Room's 10th Anniversary continues
* Palms Out Sound showcase @ Luna Lounge
* Lupe Fiasco & Wyclef are playing Hammerstein Ballroom
* The Cribs & Jeffrey Lewis are playing Music Hall of Williamsburg

A victim of the Black Keys street team below. What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Shearwater

I've gone "official" again. The lineup of the first-ever official BrooklynVegan SXSW showcase is... (in no particular order...):

* Shearwater
* Martha Wainwright
* Kaki King
* Jeffrey Lewis & The Jitters
* Deer Tick
* AA Bondy

I couldn't be more excited for this bill! The show will take place the evening of Wednesday, March 12, 2008 @ Club de Ville in Austin, TX. To get in, you either need a SXSW badge, a SXSW wristband, or one of the tickets we'll be selling at the door (more details & set times TBA - I don't even know 100% how it works yet).

More bands playing SXSW are listed HERE.