DOWNLOAD: D. Charles Speer & The Helix - "Freddie's Lapels" (MP3)

Note: The below picture of D. Charles Speer's is not anatomically accurate.

D. Charles Speer kicked off a solo tour last night (March 22) at Bruar Falls that continues tonight in Philadelphia with a show at Kung Fu Necktie. The solo dates (below) are in celebration of Speer's new "traditional Greek" solo record Arghiledes out now on Thrill Jockey.

"'Arghiledes' is a brilliant homage to Greek Rebetiko music of the early 20th century by No Neck Blues Band's David Shuford aka D. Charles Speer. It's his 2nd solo LP under this moniker and a deeply researched, beautifully executed effort replete with in depth sleeve notes and paste-on cover. Coming from a Blues playing American of Greek descent, the project reflects the syncretic nature of Rebetiko music, itself made up of the many disparate elements which formed Greek urban folk music (European music, Greek Orthodox ecclestiastical chant, Byzantine music and the modal traditions of Ottoman art music and café music) of this era." [SKVOT Pop]

Watch/listen to Speer playing "Markos's Cave" from the solo album below.

After playing those East Coast dates through the beginning of April, Speer will link back up with his band The Helix to prep for a pair of NYC shows: 4/16 supporting Come at The Bell House (tickets), and 4/21 with Endless Boogie at Glasslands (tickets).

Just four days before the Bell House show, D. Charles Speer & The Helix will welcome their new LP Leaving the Commonwealth via Thrill Jockey. You can download the lead track "Freddie's Lapels" above and check out a live video of the band performing "Razorbacked" below with all tour dates...

Continue reading "D. Charles Speer playing shows, releasing stuff (new MP3, video, solo & full band tour dates)"

Come at TT Bear's in September 2010 (photo by lumpBoston)

Come eased into the gleaming gun-metal-colored chords of "Submerge,'' from the band's '92 bracing full-length debut, "Eleven: Eleven,'' and we were off.

They played all of that album, in fact, starting with the dank, slide guitar-soaked "Off to One Side'' and ending with an IV-drip slow, charred cover of the Stones' "I Got the Blues'' for the encore. In between were scarred expositions ("Sad Eyes''), blistering burns ("Dead Molly''), and always, the intuitively interlocking interplay between Zedek and Brokaw. If there was any rust on bassist Sean O'Brien and drummer Arthur Johnson, it had been quickly scraped off by the gashes of guitar and the churning roil of a sound that, for one night at least, transcended decades and discographies. -[Boston]

The above review comes from Come's 9/26 reunion appearance at TT the Bear's in Cambridge, MA, the first of two recent shows they played in 2010 (the other was at Matador 21). Now comes word that the band will expand their reach to NYC by playing The Bell House on April 16th with Eleventh Dream Day (who have a new album coming soon via Thrill Jockey). Tickets are on sale.

Come's Chris Brokaw was one of the special guests scheduled to play with Jennifer O'Connor at the Rock Shop last night (1/11). If you braved the snow to see that, how was it?

Some video from Come's recent reunion appearances are below.

Continue reading "Come are playing a NYC reunion show w/ Eleventh Dream Day"

Martha's Vineyard Ferries

"Martha's Vineyard Ferries is a summer fun punk band, created by Elisha Wiesner (Kahoots), Bob Weston (Shellac, Volcano Suns, Mission of Burma), and Chris Brokaw (Come, Codeine, The New Year), when they got together for a few days in 2009. Their new EP, In The Pond, is a 4 song 12" with music on one side, and a sweet little etching by Rosemary Hoeft on the other. It is a very nice record.

Elisha describes their process thusly:

the band started as a fake joke band name bob and I were using with some vague intention of maybe playing some music. we asked Chris to be the drummer in the fake band. A while after that we decided to actually do it, sent demos back and forth and got together at bobs house in Chicago for a couple days of recording and eating hot dogs. Basically it's just 3 friends playing punk rock. all of us have larger musical commitments outside of the ferries but, for me at least, it was fun to just kind of come up with a silly idea see it turn into something really cool. I am certainly looking forward to playing some shows and future recording. It's fun to be in a band with no pressure, no expectations and no real time frame."

Sick Room Records is proud to be able to deliver this one of a kind, limited edition 12" for your listening pleasure" [Listen to a song at the band's Bandcamp page]

The MARTHA'S VINEYARD FERRIES are on a very short tour promoting their release, and that includes the show happening at Death By Audio tonight (8/26) with Tre Orsi who are one of the Austin bands on 'Casual Victim Pile' --- "Matador's first city-specific compilation since 1991's 'New York Eye & Ear Control'".

Speaking of Matador, their 21st anniversary festival is where Chris's band Come is reuniting to play, but not before they play a reunion show at TT the Bears in Cambridge, MA on September 26th with Wussy. Tickets are on sale.

Bob's band Shellac is playing ATP NY as part of a tour that hits the Bell House in Brooklyn (sold out).

Chris also has a European tour coming up with another one of his collaborators, Geoff Farina. Tour dates below...

Continue reading "Come playing Mass, Martha's Vineyard Ferries (Chris Brokaw, Bob Weston & Elisha Weisner) playing shows (NYC tonight) "

"Tickets for "The Lost Weekend" aka Matador's 21st birthday celebrations at The Palms will go on sale this Friday morning at 9am, PST. Here's the details you've been hassling all of us about over the last week (and don't think we don't appreciate it)...

That message is from Matador Records, and is continued below...

Continue reading "'Matador 21' adds a Come reunion show, posts ticket info "

"THE ANGEL'S MESSAGE TO ME" by chris and GEOFF FARINA (KARATE, GLORYTELLERS) was released on march 18 in the uk and europe on damnably records and comes out in the US later this spring on CAPITAN.

the duo's cd features pre-WWII country blues songs including "stagger lee," "in the evening," and "make me a pallet on your floor." [Chris Brokaw]

They play together from 7-pm at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn today (4/22) for free. All dates and a video below...

Continue reading "Chris Brokaw (Codeine, Come) & Geoff Farina (Karate) made an album & are touring (free show in BK TONIGHT)"