photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin, words by Andrew Sacher

Deerhunter @ Governors Ball - 6/9/13

One of the bigger complaints about music festivals is that it's harder to really get into a band's set than when you see them in a dark venue with a light show, but if there's one band who truly overcame that and this past weekend's NYC festival Governors Ball, it would be Deerhunter. They're the one band I saw that really allowed you to zone out to their set despite everything else going on around them at the fest. Plus, Bradford Cox had some choice quotes between songs, like when he told the crowd that oil is made from our dead ancestors, hence, our dead ancestors were powering Deerhunter's set. And even if you're at all iffy on their new album, Monomania, it's really worth seeing them play those new songs live. Pictures of Deerhunter's set at Governors Ball are in this post.

Despite everything I just said about Deerhunter overcoming the festival atmosphere, they still usually have a killer light show that couldn't be present for their 3:45 PM set, and you'll get a chance to see them indoors in NYC soon, because they've just joined the many bands who played Governors Ball and then announced a NYC show. Theirs happens at Webster Hall on September 18, and this show is especially exciting because it's their first club date in NYC since the release of Monomania. Support at the show comes from Crystal Stilts, who, though they've been pretty under the radar lately, are still kicking, and apparently have a new album on the way.

Tickets for the Webster Hall show go on sale Friday (6/14) at noon with an AmEx presale starting Wednesday (6/12) at noon.

All dates are listed, along with more pictures from Governors Ball, and a video of them playing "Monomania" at Austin Psych Fest, below...

Continue reading "Deerhunter played Governors Ball, expand tour (dates & pics)"

The So So Glos, whose album Blowout came out not too long ago, are playing a free show at Studio @ Webster Hall tonight (5/22) which will be streamed live on MTV Hive. You can get free tickets through Ticketweb but walk-ups will be let in until capacity is reached. Doors are at 7 PM. Flyer for the show is below.

The band's next NYC show is a previously discussed show happening this Sunday (5/26) at Knitting Factory as part of a show put on by Hunter College radio station WHCS. Since we last spoke, Crystal Stilts have been added to that bill, which also includes Dinowalrus, Heavens Gate and Trabajo. Tickets are $12 ($8 if you use promo code "hookmeupwhcs") and still available but if you'd like to go for free, we've got a pair to give away. Details on how to enter are below.

Continue reading "Crystal Stilts playing with So So Glos who also play free "MTV Artist to Watch" show tonight"

Nude Beach at 285 Kent, June 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

It's been a bit since we last heard from Crystal Stilts. While there's no word of new recordings, the band will be playing their first NYC show in a long while on Friday (2/15) at Lulu's in Greenpoint (Franklin Ave & Greenpoint Ave). The show is with Nude Beach and FREE with the purchase of a drink. And as you may know, all drinks at Lulu's come with a free mini pizza. Score!

Nude Beach's appearance is in addition to their upcoming dates at Bowery Ballroom on March 7 with The Men and Parquet Courts (tickets) and Union Pool on March 13 with Call of The Wild, Tweens & What Next? (tickets).

Peter Murphy at Highline Ballroom, 4/2/2011 (more by Dana [Distortion] Yavin)

Peter Murphy, who recently announced a 2nd-annual "Miracula Halloween Special Event" that will take place "Halloween 2012 at a secret location in Los Angeles", just finished up a set of West Coast dates that included an LA show at the Roxy on 8/16. Check out the setlist from that gig below.

The former Bauhaus singer is heading towards Brooklyn where he'll play new Bushwick venue The Well on Sunday, August 26 with openers Crystal Stilts, Small Black and Air Waves. Tickets are still available but if you'd like to go for free we have two pairs of tickets to give away. Details are below.

No other new shows at The Well have been announced, with the rescheduled Slaughterhouse show on September 8 (tix) and Thee Oh Sees / Ty Segall on September 22 (tix) being the only other two shows remaining.

The flyer for the Peter Murphy show, his recent LA show setlist, and contest details are below...

Continue reading "Peter Murphy played CA (setlist), making his way to Brooklyn to play w/ Crystal Stilts (win tix!)"

Beach Day at Knitting Factory, June 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Beach Day are staying busy on the road this year, having already visited NYC a couple times, and are preparing for another East Coast tour, that will bring them here for two shows next month: September 14 at Pianos and September 16 at Cameo. Tickets to the Cameo show are on sale now.

The Cameo show is with Blonds, who, as mentioned, will play the Rock Shop even sooner on August 28. That show, presented by Brooklyn Brewery, is the "Brooklyn, Sweden Sendoff" with Telepathe, So-So Glos and Teen Commandments all of whom will play the Brooklyn, Sweden Festival in Stockholm and Malmö over Labor Day Weekend (8/31 - 9/1). Blonde Redhead, The Hold Steady, Cults, Crystal Stilts, Phosphorescent, Au Revoir Simone, Dum Dum Girls, DIIV, Twin Sister, Widowspeak, Maluca, Prince Rama, Caveman, and DJs Finger on the Pulse will also be there, so if you're wondering why Williamsburg seems empty that weekend, that's why.

Tickets to the send-off party at The Rock Shop are on sale now: it's $15 bucks but includes free Brooklyn Brewery beer from 7:30 - 9:30 PM.

A flyer for the Brooklyn, Sweden Sendoff party, plus Beach Day and Blonds tour dates, are below.

Continue reading "Beach Day touring, playing 2 NYC shows; 1 w/ Blonds, who also play Brooklyn, Sweden (dates)"

Peter Murphy at Highline Ballroom, 4/2/2011 (more by Dana [Distortion] Yavin)

Former Bauhaus frontman and gothfather Peter Murphy has just announced an August tour that wraps up in NYC for a show at new (and yet-to-open) Bushwick venue The Well on August 26 with openers Crystal Stilts and Small Black. Tickets for that show are on sale now. It's the latest addition to The Well's growing schedule, which includes Cam'ron on July 14 Os Mutantes on July 28, and Thee Oh Sees/Ty Segall on September 22.

Peter Murphy's most recent solo album, Ninth, was released last year and you can check out the video for "Seesaw Sway" below, along with a list of all tour dates.

Continue reading "Peter Murphy touring in August, playing The Well (dates)"

Merchandise at Musetrap in Chicago (more by Jimmy Forabi)

Tampa's Merchandise released the stellar Children of Desire LP this year and will embark on a US tour this fall, hitting NYC on September 12th at Home Sweet Home (for the WIERD party). Details on the band's US tour are forthcoming.

Vår (mem Iceage) made their US debut last night at WIERD, and the band will play June 17 at Glasslands as part of the Northside Festival with Crystal Stilts, Amen Dunes, Wymond Miles (of Fresh & Onlys), and Warthog. Tickets are still available or you can get in with your Northside badge.

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Wymond Miles - "Pale Moon" (MP3)

this is VÅR...
we mentioned that Crystal Stilts played 285 Kent with Woods over the weekend, it was their only announced non-festival date. I guess technically that's still true, but not really, because they're now set to play the Sacred Bones party at the Northside Festival on Glasslands on June 17. The lineup also includes Amen Dunes, Iceage side-project War who are now called VÅR, Wymond Miles (of Fresh & Onlys), and Warthog. Tickets are on sale now.

It's probably a good idea that War changed their name, and according to the band, VÅR (which translates to "spring") is not just a change in name, but also a change in direction. They've released their first new video as VÅR (pictured above), for the track, "In Your Arms," which you can watch below. Their debut LP is set to come out next year on Sacred Bones. The Northside party will be the US live debut for VÅR.

Amen Dunes in Chicago in February (more by Grant MacAllister)

Speaking of Amen Dunes, he just released the Ethio Covers 7", which consists of three covers of Ethiopian songs. One of those, "Ethio Song," can be streamed below.

For Wymond Miles, the Northside show is part of a June tour he'll be going on, most of which is with labelmates Psychic Ills (who plays Death by Audio on 5/25 with Ex Cops and PC Worship). That tour will be in support of Under the Pale Moon, his debut full length and followup to the Earth Has Doors EP, which came out earlier this year. Under the Pale Moon will be released on June 12 via Sacred Bones. Download the track, "Pale Moon," above or stream it below.

Lastly, Warthog (formerly Chain Wallet) is a new Brooklyn "supergroup" which includes Chris Hansell (who left The Men in 2011 to be replaced by Ben Greenberg aka Hubble) and members of Nomos, Nude Beach, Creem, and Dawn of Humans. They played their first show at 538 Johnson on April 8 with Hoax, Veins, and Raw Nerve. Check out footage of most of that show below.

All dates, videos, and streams below...

Continue reading "War changed name to VÅR, making U.S. debut @ Sacred Bones showcase (w/ Crystal Stilts, Wymond Miles & Amen Dunes)"

Frankie Rose @ Township (more by Sarah Frankie Linder)

In addition to the Jens Lekman/Of Montreal show at Williamsburg Park, the Northside Festival (June 14 - 17) just announced a slew of confirmed artists who'll be playing this year, including Future of the Left, the U.S. debut of Iceage-spinoff Vår (formerly War), Frankie Rose (playing the BrooklynVegan showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg with more TBA), Grass Widow, Cleveland's Gap Dream, Wymond Miles of the Fresh & Onlys,  Chain & the Gang, Kool Keith and more.

Other 2012 Northside Festival artists we've already posted about include Olivia Tremor Control, GZA, Neil Hamburger, Eternal Summers, Ceremony and Screaming Females and Royal Headache. Badges are on sale now and the full list of confirmed 2012 Northside artists is below.

Continue reading "more Northside Festival artists announced (Frankie Rose, Grass Widow, Felice Brothers, Buke & Gass, Vår, Gap Dream & more)"

Woods at Austin Psych Fest 2012 (more by Tim Griffin)

Woods kicked off a tour with Mmoss last month surrounding Austin Psych Fest which included a NYC-area show at Maxwell's on 4/20 (how was that?). The tour is wrapping up this weekend with a Philly show last night (5/4), a NYC show tonight (5/5) at 285 Kent with Crystal Stilts, and a show at Storm King Art Center on Sunday with Widowspeak (who kick off a tour with 2:54 in June).

For Crystal Stilts, tonight's show is their only non-festival date, though they've been playing more and more lately. As far as festivals, they're on the lineup of this year's Capitol Hill Block Party.

All dates and a video of Woods at Austin Psych Fest below...

Continue reading "Woods played Psych Fest, playing Storm King Sunday, ending tour w/ MMoss at 285 Kent tonight (with Crystal Stilts)"

by BBG

Total Control at Fun Fun Fun Fest (more by BBG)

Total Control's Henge Beat was a favorite around these parts, and now the band recently released a split 12" with Thee Oh Sees. Check out a video for Total Control's "For Lease" from that split below and order your copy via Castle Face.

Total Control currently have no US dates scheduled. Thee Oh Sees, on the other hand, will spend their summer abroad and have a handful of appearances in the US. The band, who recently played Austin Psych Fest, will play a gang of festival dates including the previously discussed Pitchfork, Outside Lands, Hopscotch, ATP I'll Be Your Mirror and the sold-out Woodsist Festival in Big Sur.

In addition, the band just signed on to be a part of the Capitol Hill Block Party in Seattle WA, joining names like Neko Case, Major Lazer, Fitz And The Tantrums, Phantogram, The Lumineers, Grimes, Aesop Rock w/ Rob Sonic & DJ Big Wiz, Youth Lagoon, Diplo, Cloud Nothings, The Psychic Paramount, Twin Shadow, Dam-Funk and so many more across six-stages and as many city blocks during three days in July (7/20-7/22). Current lineup is below and tickets are on sale.

All tour dates, the Capitol Hill Block Party lineup and that "For Lease" video is below.

Continue reading "Total Control release video from split with Thee Oh Sees; Seattle's Capitol Hill Block Party announces lineup"

Crystal Stilts, who recently reappeared on a bill with Sonic Boom are going on a four-show tour starting with a show at SUNY Stony Brook on Thursday (4/12). From they they hook up with Widowspeak for three shows beginning at Maxwell's on Friday (4/13). All dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Crystal Stilts & Widowspeak playing shows this week (dates)"

Crystal Stilts @ 285 Kent in 2011 (more by Jessica Amaya)

Crystal Stilts haven't posted anything to their Facebook page since 2008 (a picture with their ex-drummer Frankie Rose in it), but the band still exists in the real world and will prove it by opening at Sonic Boom's one-off Brooklyn show at Knitting Factory TONIGHT (3/30). Tickets are still available.

Sonic Boom's only other upcoming dates are in France and listed below...

Continue reading "Crystal Stilts opening for Sonic Boom tonight"

DOWNLOAD: Crystal Stilts - "Dark Eyes" (MP3)

Speaking of Sacred Bones, the label has posted a new Crystal Stilts track from the band's forthcoming Radiant Door EP (out via Sacred Bones on 11/15). "Dark Eyes" is the album opener, and you can download it above or stream it below where you can also see the cover art.

Maybe the band will perform the song at some of their forthcoming shows, including the one in Brooklyn at Knitting Factory on 12/9 with Happy Refugees and McDonalds. Tickets are on sale. All dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Crystal Stilts releasing EP on Sacred Bones, touring (MP3, dates)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Eternal Summers - Prisoner (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Crystal Stilts - Through the Floor (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Zaza - Distance Creator (ZIP)

Lyonnais

Coachella may be happening on the other coast but it's a lovely day here in NYC and I don't feel like I'm missing anything this weekend staying here. For one thing it's Record Store Day which also falls the same weekend and Tax Day which may be good or bad depending how you did this year. And there's lots of other stuff worth seeing too, so let's get into it.

McDonalds are one of these local groups whose name I'd seen around for a while and given the bands they often played with -- German Measles, Home Blitz, Tyvek -- I had it in my mind they sounded one way when, in fact, they don't. Well, that's not exactly true. They are kind of shambly indie. But their great new single "Good Parts" is like some lost obscure 7" from 1990 Manchester, that era when C-86 melted into the baggy scene. You can check it out -- in video form -- at the bottom of this post in a fun green-screened clip starring a lot of people you might recognize if you hang out at Bruars Falls or Cake Shop with any regularity.

McDonalds have three shows coming up in the next week: tonight (4/14) at Union Pool with Lyonnais and Helado Negro, then Saturday (4/16) as part of Cake Shop's Record Store Day extravaganza (more on that in a minute), and then next Wednesday (4/20) with former Swell Maps/Television Personalities dude Jowe Head & The Extremities.

As mentioned above, also playing the Union Pool show tonight are Atlanta four-piece Lyonnais whose dark, ethereal sound will likely draw comparisons to My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive... or even mid-'80s goth like Xmal Deutchland or Red Lorry Yellow Lorry. Their debut album is still being shopped around, but you can stream "Transitive Properties of Youth" at the bottom of this post, and a few more at their MySpace.

In addition to tonight's show, Lyonnais play tomorrow (4/15) at Glasslands and I imagine playing under the venue's stormcloud installation will be pretty apropos. I hope they are really loud too.

Eternal Summers

That Glasslands bill also features Roanoke, VA's Eternal Summers who have a new EP titled Prisoner out on Kanine/Forrest Family next week. The title track -- downloadable above -- is one of my favorite Eternal Summers songs yet and the whole EP is pretty excellent overall. The band, at least the last time I saw them, have expanded to a trio for live shows which fills out their sound nicely.

The Glasslands show, in addition to Eternal Summers and Lyonnais, features Toronto's Golden Dogs and locals Dream Diary who don't play together so much anymore now that guitarist Madison moved to Memphis. Brad Oberhofer will DJ in-between bands.  That's a good night of music.

Eternal Summers also play Cake Shop on Saturday (4/16) which is the venue's Record Store Day extravaganza, featuring a slew of great -- mostly local -- bands. The downstairs will be a record mart during the day (noon - 6PM). Bands during the evening include the previously-mentioned McDonalds, Natural Child, Widowspeak, Overlord, Hands & Knees, Night Collectors and Twitchers. Eternal Summers head out on tour next month with the Beets and all those tour dates are at the bottom of the post.

Also, for the real record nerds, Cake Shop is running a fun little contest. They've made 77 versions of the Record Store Day flyer, each with different backgrounds taken from album covers. Take a look, name the artist and album of as many as you can and email your answers to cakeshopusa@gmail.com. The entry with the most correct answers (or first entry in case of a tie) wins either a $77 bar tab at Cake Shop or $77 credit for the Cape Shok record mart during that day. Winner's choice. I got about 55 for sure, with another 15 I could figure out with a little time.

---------------------------

And finally, Spectrum (aka Pete "Sonic Boom" Kember who also co-fronted Spacemen 3) are in town this weekend playing two shows with Crystal Stilts: Saturday (4/16) at Le Poisson Rouge and Sunday (4/17) at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Kember is one of the forefathers of drone pop and in the past few years has become known for his work behind the boards, having produced MGMT's underrated/misunderstood Congratulations album, and he mixed the new Panda Bear. There's a new Spectrum album duo sometime soon too. Kember's influence seems more relevant than ever. Glad to see he's staying busy.

Crystal Stilts

Crystal Stilts owe more than a little to Kember's many records. The band just released their second LP, In Love with Oblivion and I think it's pretty great, pretty easily besting their 2008 debut (which was one of my favorite albums of that year.) The production's better, the songs are better, and the artwork's really nice as well. It's hard to listen to the new album without thinking of Frankie Rose whose relentless drumming style, I feel, probably had a lot to do with the way standout songs like "Sycamore Tree" and "Death is What We Live For" were formed. Both of those Kraut-heavy tracks made their debut in late 2008. As much as I like Rose's solo work, I miss her being in this band.

But the new new songs show that it's still guitarist JB Townsend and singer Brad Hargett writing great songs. The biggest improvement over the first album is probably the influence of keyboardist Kyle Forrester, whose parts add a bright color to Crystal Stilts' sound, especially on "Silver Sun" and single "Shake the Shackles." The record got a deserved 7.9 in Pitchfork today. You can download "Through the Floor" at the top of this post and watch the video below. Crystal Stilts are on tour starting next week and all dates are below.

That's it for this edition. Some daily picks and more after the jump.

Continue reading "McDonalds, Lyonnais, Eternal Summers, Record Store Day @ Cake Shop, Spectrum, Crystal Stilts, Zaza, Rebecca Gates & more in This Week in Indie"

The Reverberation Appreciation Society and The Black Angels are happy to announce the dates, location and full festival lineup for Austin Psych Fest 4. The 4th annual festival will be held at Seaholm Power Plant from April 29 - May 1, 2011. Spanning the full range of the psych sounds, the festival honors the past while also magnifying the modern vanguard of mind-expanding music.

Tickets for the Austin feastival are on sale, and the full lineup is listed below.

Meanwhile, festival co-organizers and co-headliners The Black Angels are on the road with Sunns and play NYC twice this weekend (Friday at Bowery Ballroom and Saturday at Music Hall of Williamsburg) (both sold out). All of their dates and their new video for "Haunting at 1300 McKinley" is below.

Austin Psych Fest artist Spectrum kicks off a tour later this month that includes NYC shows with Austin Psych Fest band Crystal Stilts at Le Poisson Rouge on 4/16 (tickets) and Music Hall of Williamsburg on 4/17 (tickets). Crystal Stilts' new LP In Love with Oblivion is due on 4/12 via Slumberland, but is streaming now in full, below. Updated dates down there too...

Continue reading "new Crystal Stilts album streaming, Black Angels on tour, Austin Psych Fest finalizes lineup (dates and schedule)"

photos by Jessica Amaya

Crystal Stilts are welcoming their new LP In Love with Oblivion on 4/12 via Slumberland (it comes out in the UK one day earlier), and the band played their last local show until that release at 285 Kent Ave on Feb 18th with Beach Fossils, Widowspeak, and La Femme. Pictures from that gig are in this post.

The next time Crystal Stilts play in the neighborhood is to support Spectrum who is going on tour in April (all dates below). Crystal Stilts aren't on the whole tour, but they do open both NYC shows - the previously mentioned one at Music Hall of Williamsburg on 4/17 (tickets), and the show one day earlier at Le Poisson Rouge on 4/16 (tickets)

All Spectrum & CS tour dates, Crystal Stilts' new cover art, and more pictures from 285 Kent, below...

Continue reading "Crystal Stilts played 285 Kent w/ Beach Fossils & Widowspeak (pics), playing shows w/ Spectrum (tour dates)"

DOWNLOAD: Crystal Stilts - Practically Immaculate (MP3)

"The Black Angels and Reverberation Appreciation Society are happy to announce the dates, location and initial lineup for Austin Psych Fest 4. The 4th annual festival will be held at The East Side Drive In, an outside venue in the heart of downtown from April 29 - May 1, 2011. Spanning the full range of the psych sounds, the festival honors the past while also magnifying the modern vanguard of mind-expanding music. The festival grounds will feature a multi-stage setup and wide-open spaces for you to stretch out and enjoy live performances from these bands and many more to be announced."

Grab the free new Crystal Stilts holiday track above. Check out the Psych Fest lineup below...

Continue reading "Crystal Stilts release a holiday song, playing Austin Psych Fest w/ Black Angels, Spectrum & more (MP3 & lineup)"

DOWNLOAD: Crystal Stilts - "Shake The Shackles" (MP3)

"We are also playing tomorrow night with Crystal Stilts, German Measles and The Mad Scene (Hamish from the Clean, Girl from Yo La Tengo)..." - Street Chant

Crystal Stilts at Rock Shop (Pascale Gueracague)


Crystal Stilts played Rock Shop on Friday (10/29), days after the release of their new Shake The Shackles 7" via Slumberland Records. Download the title track above and stream both tracks from that release, below.

Crystal Stilts seem to open for half of the indie legends that pass through town (The Vaselines, Dean Wareham playing Galaxie 500, Henry's Dress/Aislers Set, Comet Gain), and/or play with every notable current indie-pop band who are on tour too. They're also part of indie supergroup Cinema Red & Blue which prominently features Comet Gain's David Feck, but also "employs the services of Amy Linton, Hamish Kilgour and Gary Olson." It's not a big surprise then that their recent Rock Shop show with German Measles, The Surprisers and The Mad Scene was equally indie-star studded, though it was the Mad Scene that consisted of regular member and New Zealander/Brooklynite Hamish Kilgour of The Clean along with Georgia Hubley of Yo La Tengo, Amy Linton of Aislers Set, and Gary Olson of Ladybug Transistor. New Zealand band Street Chant, who were in for CMJ, also played some songs at the show.

If you missed Crystal Stilts over the weekend, you won't have long to wait to catch them again, and for FREE; the Brooklyn band will play a free show at Brooklyn Bowl on 11/14. It's part of the venue's "Local by Local" series of shows. 21+. 8pm show.

Meanwhile, Cinema Red & Blue released their debut LP last month on What's Your Rupture. Crystal Stilts have a new LP on the way as well and though very few details have been released, look for it in early 2011. Until then, tide yourself over by checking out the new 7" tracks streaming below.

Continue reading "Crystal Stilts played w/ a guest-filled Mad Scene, released a 7" (stream it), playing a free show"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Oh No Oh My - Walking Into Me (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Suzan - Home (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bettie Serveert - Deny All (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Elk City - Jerks on Ice (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Intelligence - Like Like Like Like Like Like Like (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: JEFF the Brotherhood - Diamond Way (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Crystal Stilts - Shake the Shackles (MP3)

The Suzan @ Brooklyn Bowl for the Fool's Gold party (more by Brook Bobbins)

Unlike last year, I managed to make it through CMJ week without getting sick. Normally I try and do a sonic detox and not see any music after CMJ for at least a week. But that's not gonna happen as there's some seriously good stuff rolling through town in the next five days. Early next week too (Clinic/Fresh & Onlys), but let's not get ahead of ourselves too much.

Hey, remember Oh No Oh My? No? Oh. Well, people were going apeshit about them a few years ago. I kinda forgot about them, to the point where when I saw they were playing this week I thought it was Danish band Oh No Ono (editor's note: SAME). Anyway, Oh No Oh My are back!... and will release a new album of pleasant acousticy pop, People Problems, in early 2011. And they're here in NYC for a couple shows: tonight at the Rock Shop, and tomorrow (10/28) at Pianos.

More interesting to me are the bands they are playing with. Tonight at the Rock Shop, it's with Japanese bandThe Suzan whose new album Golden Week For The Poco Poco Beat was just released this week. It was produced by Bjorn Yttling of PB&J and you can definitely hear his touch on clever, catchy tracks like "Home" which you can download at the top of this post. Also playing are New Zealand's The Family Cactus.

The Pianos show has another New Zealand band,Street Chant, who were one of the funniest bands, stage-banter wise, I saw at CMJ. One memorable song intro: "We're the biggest rock band in New Zealand and this next song was Number One for nine months in a row!" Street Chant are pretty punk rock and definitely worth catching. Also playing the Pianos show: Boats (not Seattle's BOAT) and Estranged Estates.

The Intelligence @ Market Hotel in 2009 (more by Tim Griffin)

The Intelligence are visiting this weekend, playing Cake Shop on Saturday (10/30) and then the Todd P/Panache Halloween extravaganza on Sunday (10/31)at Ridgewood Masonic Temple . When it comes to surfy garage rock, The Intelligence are in the 99th percentile and if you haven't picked up the band's new album, Males, it's one of my favorites of the year. You can download a track from it above.

Further reading: Front dude Lars Finberg is keeping a tour diary for The Stranger and so far (one entry) it's a very entertaining read:

It's a 14-hour-plus drive to Fargo (basically 20 after my bathroom stops). We've learned to do this at the beginning of the tour as it can be so depressingly boring that all you can do is listen to Erik Satie and stare into the void. We finally stop around 2 am in Dickenson, North Dakota, and every hotel is booked for hunting season. I thought that the whole point of hunting was to drink the deer's blood and sleep under the stars in its carcass. It doesn't seem right to bag a deer and have a Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity breakfast and watch Becker in a warm bed at the Comfort Inn, so we drive on. Wait, there's a vacany sign--a true dump glowing like a beacon! "One room left," the clerk says. Highlights include two towels for five people (I am answered with a blank stare followed by a shrug when I ask if we can get more), a hornet in the room, and a shower curtain that emits such a powerful cigarette smell that I want to steal it to impress others.

The Cake Shop show is with Philly's An Albatross, plus locals German Measles and McDonalds; the Todd P Halloween show has Cassie and Justin from The Babies performing as The White Stripes, plus The Beets, Das Racist, Janka Nabay, Pictureplane and more. All upcoming Intelligence tour dates are at the bottom of this post.

Bettie Serveert

Visa issues kept Dutch band Bettie Serveert from playing Maxwell's and Southpaw earlier this month, but the band are here now, in the middle their North American tour that hits Bowery Ballroom on Friday (10/29), and Maxwell's a few days later. Their 1990 debut, Palomine, is one of my favorite Matador albums ever and they've consistently performed ever since. Pharmacy of Love is the band's ninth album and a little more rockin' than we've heard from the band over the last few LPs. Check out "Deny All" at the top of this post. Carol van Dyk's voice is still smoky cool, and catchy songs abound. And surely they'll play "Tomboy" and "Kid's Alright."

Opening are Elk City whose new album House of Tongues was kind of overlooked. Smart, well-arranged pop, with ex-Luna guitarist Sean Eden providing some shimmery flair. Download album track "Jerks on Ice" at the top of this post.

And finally, Austin's YellowFever are in town this weekend for a string of shows. Hopefully Jennifer made it through Airport security ok this time. They play tonight (10/27) at the Showpaper 42nd St. Gallery with The Babies, Sewn Leather and more. Then they play The Mug at Vassar College tomorrow (10/28), Dead Herring on Friday with Coasting, Julianna Barwick and more; and Saturday (10/30) at 171 Lombardy forThe Pelly Twins Halloween Party with DOM, Smith Westerns, Total Slacker and Sweet Bulbs.

Also, just in time for halloween, the spooky video for Total Slacker's "Crystal Necklace" which you can watch below.

That's the big stuff. A few more shows, day-by-day, not covered above.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27

'90s electronic superstars Underworld play Roseland Ballroom tonight. Lager, lager lager!

continued below...

Continue reading "The Suzan, Street Chant, Intelligence, Bettie Serveert, Yellow Fever, Sunny Day in Glasgow & more in This Week in Indie "

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Teenage Fanclub - Baby Lee (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Vaselines - I Hate the '80s (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Vaselines - Sex with an Ex (MP3)

Like veteran indie bands from Glasgow? Want to see them live for free? Read on.

If the $50 price tag of this Thursday's (9/30) Belle and Sebastian show with Teenage Fanclub at the Williamsburg Waterfront has been scaring you off, we're giving away a pair of tickets to the show. Details below.

We're also giving away THREE pairs of tickets to tomorrow night's (9/28)  Teenage Fanclub/The Clean show at Bowery Ballroom. Details below.

Wait there's more. We're also giving away TWO pairs of tickets to see The Vaselines on October 6 at Webster Hall.  Details below.

The waterfront show on Thursday is the kickoff to Belle and Sebastian's tour. Fellow Glaswegians Teenage Fanclub are opening. Tickets are still available. Let's hope the current rainy forceast changes by then. The band also performs on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday (9/29) night. After the Waterfront show, the band head's to Las Vegas for this weekend's Matador 21 extravaganza, make a short detour into Mexico, and will then backtrack east across North America.

The band's eighth album, Write About Love, will be out October 12 and is Belle & Sebastian's first in nearly five years. A decade and a half into their career, you pretty much know what to expect from Stuart Murdoch, Stevie Jackson and the rest of the band, but since 2001's Dear Catastrophe Waitress the group's quality control has been pretty high. (2006's The Life Pursuit was especially good I thought.) Write About Love is another lovely record in the band's cannon. The vinyl comes with a bonus 7" containing two songs not on the album.

There are a couple of surprising guest vocalists.  Carey Mulligan, Oscar-nominated star of An Education, sings on the album's title track (which you can download for free via a widget at the bottom of this post), and Norah Jones features on "Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John."

The band have taken some interesting routes promoting the new album. Earlier this year they encouraged fans to take pictures with the album's title incorporated into the shot, creating a Flickr pool for the project. Murdoch included his favorites in an entertaining half-hour "television" program (not sure if it aired anywhere but online) that is a mix of live performance, audience Q&A, and a discussion of the current state of the music industry. In a cute, charming way, of course. You can watch it below.

It is also worth noting that Belle and Sebastian have some really impressive openers along the way, including The Vaselines (Mexico dates), Versus in Washington D.C., Dean & Britta doing the Galaxie 500 thing in Boston, and Trashcan Sinatras in Seattle. All dates are at the bottom of this post.

Teenage Fanclub, who open the Waterfront show, have two headlining shows of their own -- tonight (9/27) and tomorrow (9/28) -- at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets are still available for both (click the links). Tomorrow's show is the more desirable of the two, with New Zealand indie rock legends The Clean as co-headliners. Merge labelmates The Radar Brother open both shows other dates on the tour.

If you somehow got this far into this post without reading it, we're giving away tickets to the show tomorrow with the Clean. See details below.

Teenage Fanclub's new album on Merge, Shadows, is the band's seventh. Like what I said about Belle and Sebastian above, you know what you're getting with a new TFC album at this point (midtempo, harmony-laden guitar pop indebted to Big Star and The Byrds) but the band has remained amazingly consistent during their 20-year history. It doesn't hurt that they have three very good songwriters in the band. (Though we can all agree Gerry Love is the best, right? No? Your mileage may vary.)  You can stream the whole thing over at Merge's website. And they have always been good live, funny too.

Teenage Fanclub's North American tour with The Radar Brothers takes them across the continent, ending in Vancouver on October 16. All dates are at the bottom of this post.

One of the TFC dates is opening for The Vaselines in DC on Saturday (10/2). That's where the Vaselines are launching their own North American tour. Will there be any musicians over the age of 37 actually in Glasgow next week? The Vaselines tour hits NYC next week when they play Webster Hall on Wednesday, October 6 with openers Jeffrey Lewis and Crystal Stilts. If you haven't heard The Vaselines' new album Sex with an Ex, it picks right up where the band left off 20 years ago: smart, funny, filthy, and catchy as hell. And still genuinely great live.

All tour dates for Belle & Sebastian, Teenage Fanclub and The Vaselines are below, along with videos, contest details, widgets and whatnot.

Continue reading "Belle & Sebastian, Teenage Fanclub & the Vaselines launching tours w/ new albums (WIN TICKETS, get MP3s, dates & stuff) "

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Mystery Jets - Flash a Hungry Smile (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mystery Jets - Dreaming of Another World (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Dominant Legs - About My Girls (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Frankie Rose & the Outs - Candy (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Red Mass - Saturn (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tony Castles - Black Girls in Dresses (MP3)

Blanche?

Looks like there are still a few tickets to go see Mystery Jets tonight at Mercury Lounge now that the band have sorted out their visa issues after having to cancel last night's show (which I was going to go to). Frank at Chromewaves caught them in Toronto on Monday night:

Over the course of an hour, they split their set evenly between Serotonin and its predecessor, 2008's Twenty-One, and gave the respectably-sized crowd something to get boisterous about - which they did, right through to the soaring encore-closer "Dreaming Of Another World". Any concerns about what would happen to the rest of the tour were set aside in favour of just enjoying the moment.

Looking through Frank's photos of the show, I was happy to see Mystery Jets aren't sporting any fashion disasters (see above) like when they played at Bowery Ballroom last year. That may sound superficial but it is distracting when a band you really like dresses like Blanche from Golden Girls. As I've said before, I was a huge fan of 2008's Twenty One and think their new one, Serotonin, is maybe better even if nothing on it quite reaches the highs of "Young Love" and "Two Doors Down."

If you're going, be sure to get there early for L.A.'s Dominant Legs whose new EP on Lefse records I like a lot. Any band that lists The Style Council as an influence is gonna grab my attention, at least enough to listen to it. They played last night at Mercury Lounge, their first NYC show, and reports on Twitter seemed to be pretty positive.

Frankie & the Outs @ SXSW 2010 (more by Tim Griffin)

Mystery Jets' cancellation last night has thrown a wrench into my schedule. I had planned on spending the evening at Glasslands for the Frankie Rose & the Outs' record release party but now I'm gonna hope the show goes late enough that I can do both tonight (9/15). We'll see how this works out. If nothing else I can pick up the record a week early tonight at the merch table. It's a really good album that, if maybe a little economical in the lyrical department, definitely showcases Rose's ease with hooks and harmonies. Check out an MP3 of the single "Candy" above and you can watch the Carrie-inspired video for the song -- which just premiered -- at the bottom.

It should be a fun night all around. Light Asylum, who the Outs shared the bill for their first-ever show last Halloween, headline the party, with opening slots from psych mystics Mirror Mirror and Pigeon who I can't find any info on. (But there are at least three other bands currently called Pigeon so you might want to rethink the name.)  MINKS were originally supposed to play but seem to have fallen off the bill.

Dum Dum Girls

I have to imagine Frankie's pals Dum Dum Girls will be in attendance tonight (you can spot Dee Dee in the "Candy" video near the end) if they can make it in time following the first of their three gigs opening for Vampire Weekend this week at Radio City Music Hall. I would kind of like to see DDGs there, actually, as their echo-y girl group vibe could sound amazing with the venue's acoustics. But I'm not gonna. I might, however, try to catch them on Saturday night (9/18) at Knitting Factory where they'll play with Girls at Dawn and Reading Rainbow. Their self-titled Sub Pop debut has stayed in constant rotation since coming out out in March.

While we're on the subject of bands with whom Frankie Rose used to play drums, Crystal Stilts finally seem to be getting around to making a second record. A new single, "Shake the Shackles," is due out on Slumberland Records on October 21, their first new material in 18 months. The band have struggled a bit post-Frankie, and the last time I saw them play live (Fall 2009 I think) they seemed pretty out of sorts. But both sides of the new single is good -- you can listen to it at the bottom of this post -- and hopefully they've really shaked those shackles and rebounded.

You can find out for yourself when Crystal Stilts play Knitting Factory on Friday (9/17) with drony, motoroik San Franciscans Moon Duo.

Red Mass @ M For Montreal 2009 (more)

What else? Montreal art punks Red Mass will be here this weekend for two shows: Friday at Party Expo and Saturday at Death by Audio. Both shows are with X-ray Eyeballs. Somewhere between the Damned's goth-tinged punk and Nuggets era psych-garage, Red Mass also bring a sense of theatrics to their live performances. Frontman Choyce (late of CCP Gangbangs) has no problem with high concept and brings the Red to the stage -- both times I've seen them, the band dressed entirely in shades of crimson. But the music still does most of the talking. If you like this kind of thing at all, Red Mass are not to be missed.

Red mass are on their first real tour of the States -- well, the East Coast -- and they'll hook up with King Khan & the Shrines along the way. All tour dates are at the bottom of this post.

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And finally, Superchunk are here this weekend, playing Bowery Ballroom on Saturday (9/18) and MHoW on Sunday (9/19). Both shows are sold out, but you can still see them at Other Music on Sunday afternoon (1PM). I've also had good luck getting tickets at MHoW at the box office day of show, so if you're without a ticket it's worth a try.

Even if you don't get to see them, you've still got their seriously awesome new album, Majesty Shredding. No phoning it in here, this is classic Superchunk. Over at Emusic, Michaelangelo Matos wrote a great review of the record and the opening paragraph really nails it:

Superchunk sound like they've been listening to a lot of Superchunk. Well, of course -- what else would they sound like? But think about that for a second. Most bands slow down as they age because most people slow down as they age: Sonic Youth isn't about to start flirting with hardcore again; the Rolling Stones will never cut another "She Said Yeah." That's nature. But Superchunk 2010 could be easily mistaken for Superchunk 1991 -- the tempo hasn't moved and the scrappiness hasn't budged. And scrappy is what this band does.

Majesty Shredding is loaded with classic Superchunk Moments, from new single "Digging for Something" (you've seen the video by now, right?) to the manic "Crossed Wires" (a 7" from last summer) to my favorite song, the anthemic "Hot Tubes." It's so great to see a band 20 years into its career knock one out of the park.

Translations

That's enough for this week. A few more picks for the week, of things I didn't cover above, day by day:

WEDNESDAY, SEPT 15

I've been listening a lot to this Translations digital single which you can download for free. Both "sides" are really good, kind of Flying Nun/GbV style indie. Haven't seen them live but they play tonight at The Woods in Williamsburg. It's a free show.

Power pop fans should head straight to the Rock Shop for Tommy Keene, Title Tracks and Valley Lodge.

continued below...

Continue reading "Dum Dum Girls, Red Mass, Crystal Stilts, Superchunk, Frankie & the Outs, Radical Dads & more in This Week in Indie"

Dean, Naomi & Damon (Galaxie 500)

Following the re-release of Galaxie 500's three classic albums on Domino and 20-20-20, Dean Wareham will perform a set of Galaxie 500 songs, backed by the Dean & Britta band (featuring Britta Phillips, drummer Anthony LaMarca and guitarist Matt Sumrow). Galaxie 500 formed in Cambridge, MA in 1987 and recorded three studio albums (Today, On Fire and This Is Our Music). They met with much acclaim in their short time together but disbanded in 1991. Wareham went on to form Luna.

That's the official description of the event that Dean Wareham is bringing to various states across the country before the end of the year. Two of the shows will be opened by Crystal Stilts including August 20th at the Troc in Philly (tickets on sale) and August 19th at Bowery Ballroom in NYC (tickets on sale).

The Bowery Ballroom show is one of two Dean and Britta have scheduled in NYC at the moment. The other is the previously mentioned "13 Most Beautiful...Songs for Andy Warhol's Screen Tests" show happening at NYU on October 22nd. They also have other Andy Warhol tour dates scheduled in support of the July 2th release of that CD too. More info and all dates below...

Continue reading "Dean Wareham (and Britta) releasing & performing Galaxie 500 songs & their Andy Warhol album "

by Bill Pearis

Holiday Shores @ Pianos in 2009 (more by Tim Griffin)

For a while it didn't look like Saturday's (4/24) Bruar Falls First Anniversary show was going to be much of a party. The 1990s are stuck in the UK thanks to that pesky volcano, and German Measles canceled due to a death in the family.

To say they've recovered is a bit of an understatement. Check out the new line-up: Holiday Shores, Micachu & the Shapes, Beach Fossils, plus house band Moonmen on the Moon, Man. There's also DJs Peggy Wang (of Pains at Being Pure at Heart) and Shirley Braha (of NY Noise), plus balloons and a 1AM open bar. It should be mentioned that the show is FREE.

Holiday Shores will be running over to Bruar following their opening set at the Morning Benders show Brooklyn Vegan is presenting at Music Hall of Williamsburg (we added them a while ago, but didn't rush to announce it because the show was already sold out), that now also includes our Montreal friends The Luyas (who we added yesterday!). Meanwhile Micachu have been stuck in the U.S. also thanks to the volcano, and have been playing around NYC to keep themselves busy. Maybe you saw them last night at Mercury Lounge. And Beach Fossils are one of the areas best new bands, and put on a fun live show -- they were great last Friday at Bruar Falls, even with a substitute drummer.

Bruar Falls has become one of my favorite places to see a show (living two blocks from it doesn't hurt) and there's always a nice community vibe there. It's been a great addition to the Williamsburg music scene. Between the bands, the free booze, the balloons and the very affordable entrance fee, this should be a hot ticket even on a very busy Saturday night. You might want to get there early.

Speaking of Saturday, The Music Hall Show on Saturday with Morning Benders, Holiday Shores and The Luyas is sold out, but if you really want to go we're giving away a pair of tickets. Just send an email to BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM with "Morning Benders" as the subject. We'll pick a winner at random and be in touch with the lucky person tomorrow.

In other news, the 1990s show at The Bell House that was supposed to be tonight has been rescheduled for next Friday, April 30 (the whole show, not just the 1990s). Crystal Stilts, The Oranges Band (who just opened for the Hold Steady at Music Hall) and The Forgery Series (featuring Sohrab of Obits) will open. No word on whether the 1990s will play a makeup date for Bruar as well, but we'll keep you informed.

Check out a Holiday Shores video below...

Continue reading "Holiday Shores play 2 NYC shows Saturday (1 w/ Micachu @ Bruar Falls) ++ 1990s & Crystal Stilts reschedule & stuff"

Glasgow's The 1990s can be added to the still-growing list of bands that've canceled shows because of the volcanic ash situation. The group won't be able to make their two NYC shows this week (or the Philly date between), but those NYC shows are planning on going ahead without them.

The first is a Thursday, April 22nd show at the Bell House with Crystal Stilts and Tanks Amigo. Tickets are still on sale.

The second is on Saturday, April 24th at Bruar Falls and is the club's first b-day party. The lineup for that is currently all TBA (minus DJs Shirley and Peggy, and "secret special guests") because the other band on it, German Measles, canceled too because of a death in the family.

A video of the 1990s' Jackie McKeown doing an acoustic cover of "Flowers Of Romance" by PiL (who were just at Coachella and are coming to NYC) is posted below...

Continue reading "The 1990s cancel US shows, but Bruar Falls is still celebrating a birthday & Crystal Stilts still play the Bell House"