photos by Jonathon Bernstein; words by Bill Pearis

DIIV / LODRO @ Mercury Lounge, 5/11/2013

It was the kind of line-up you might see at Shea Stadium or 285 Kent, but Brooklyn crossed the bridge on Saturday night for the Downtown Music Festival on Saturday night (5/11). Well some of its bands did at least, specifically DIIV, LODRO, Xray Eyeballs and DJ Dog Dick -- for a show at Mercury Lounge. Fresh off their tour with How to destroy angels_, DIIV played the small-for-them Houston venue, cranking out their well-honed whirling sound. The band have a few festival dates lined up and those are listed below.

LODRO are are starting to rival DIIV for sheer number of locals shows played in a given week, and its clearly working as their claustrophobic blues has already come into its own a mere four months since the band's first live show. (And as DIIV showed, playing all the time helps.) You can catch them tonight (5/13) at Knitting Factory as part of the BV-curated Red Bull Sound Select show with headliners Foxygen as well as Amen Dunes and Prince Rupert's Drops. That show is only $3 at the door (no advance tickets) and doors are at 7 PM (which is what time I start DJing). I you haven't seen their new video, which we premiered on Friday, you can watch that below.

The night started with sets from Xray Eyeballs and DJ Dog Dick. Saturday night's other DTF offerings included Purity Ring at Bowery Ballroom and we've got more coverage of the fest's maiden voyage still to come. For now, check out more Mercury Lounge pics below.

Continue reading "DIIV, LODRO, Xray Eyeballs and DJ Dog Dick played Mercury Lounge (pics)"

The Orwells at BV-SXSW 2013 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

As mentioned several times, the Downtown Music Festival, which is hitting multiple cities this year, is coming through NYC tonight (5/10) and Saturday (5/11) for shows across various multiple LES venues, including Mercury Lounge, Bowery Ballroom, Angel Orensanz Center, Pianos, Cake Shop, Tammany Hall, Element, Capitale, Rockwood Music Hall and more. Tickets (2-day passes, 1-day passes, and individual show tickets) are still available. In fact, even Trash Talk at Cake Shop still has tickets available, probably because of the $25+fees ticket price.

Since we last spoke, some additions to the lineup have been made. Garage rockers The Orwells (who have other upcoming dates) were added to tonight's Palma Violets and Guards show at Bowery Ballroom, making for an all-around great bill for fans of catchy, upbeat rock. The Orwells just revealed the Dave Sitek-produced track, "Other Voices," off their upcoming EP of the same name (due out 6/25 via East End/Canvasback), which you can stream below.

SZA, who recently put out the trippy S EP, has been added to Sky Ferreira's show at Mercury Lounge tonight. Teengirl Fantasy and Mess Kid, who were already announced for the festival but not that specific show, were also added as openers.

Onetime Twin Shadow bassist Rush Midnight (who has other upcoming shows) was added to tonight's show at Pianos with Royal Teeth and Sparxx.

LODRO (who play a BrooklynVegan-curated show on Monday), Xray Eyeballs, and DJ Dog Dick were added to DIIV"s show at Mercury Lounge on Saturday.

Low Fat Getting High, who have a new EP on the way and other upcoming shows, open for Trash Talk and Cities Aviv at Cake Shop on Saturday.

Other shows tonight include Black Hippy (aka Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, and Jay Rock) and Fat Tony at Capitale (130 Bowery), Earl Sweatshirt, Ryan Hemsworth, Antwon, and more at Element (225 E Houston), Beach Fossils and Cosmonauts at Cake Shop, and more.

Meanwhile, Ryan Hemsworth made a new mix in anticipation for the festival, which you can stream, along with the tracklist below. And if you were wondering, yes, it does have his remix of the Backstreet Boys' "Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely."

A stream of that mix, the Orwells stream, and the updated Downtown Music Fest schedule below...

Continue reading "Downtown Music Fest is here; Orwells, SZA & more added; Schedule updated; Ryan Hemsworth made a mix"

Andrew W.K.'s Super Bowl 2013 halftime show at Santos (more by Dan Bracaglia)

If you live in NYC and want to see Andrew W.K., the question isn't ever really "when will there be a show?" as much as it's "which one should I go to?" with pretty much new Andrew W.K. shows popping up by the minute. He just did a Super Bowl halftime show at Santos and has a slot at upcoming pop punk festival Skate and Surf.

But this upcoming 285 Kent show on March 6 that he just scheduled is looking like one of his cooler appearances in a while. That venue's been hosting some pretty great bills lately, and for this one, Andrew W.K. will be joined by DOM, CIties Aviv, Dickpic (aka the collaborative project of DJ Dog Dick and Pictureplane), and Cool Serbia. That should make for an all-around crazy night and tickets to be part of it are on sale now.

Andrew W.K. will also be at IFC Center on February 28 (323 Avenue of the Americas) for a screening of David Lynch's The Elephant Man. Not sure what he'll be doing, but he'll be there.

All dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Andrew WK playing more shows, including one in Brooklyn w/ DOM, Cities Aviv, Dickpic, and Cool Serbia (dates)"

Cake Shop added a last minute New Year's Eve show:

CAKESHOP's NEW YEARS EVE 2012/2013!!
ring in that new better year with
>> PICTUREPLANE << full set [lovepump united]
+DJ DOG DICK (11pm and COUNTDOWN)
+THE SUZAN [fools gold] 10pm
+SASHA DESREE 1am [splash/blissed out]
plus special guests and multiple surprises
$15, ADMISSION INCLUDES FREE DRINK(S)
9:45 DOORS
21+, please bring your ID

Speaking of Cake Shop, did you see Andy Bodor's end of year list?

Also check out our guides to NYE shows in Austin and Chicago.

Follow BrooklynVegan on Instagram.

Happy New Year!

What else?

by Bill Pearis

Prince Rama @ Cake Shop, CMJ 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

As you may be aware, Friday is December 21 aka 12/21/12, aka the day that the world is supposed to end according to the Mayan calendar. (Many people don't believe the world will actually end, or they probably wouldn't finished up Breaking Bad already.) There are a lot of Apocalypse parties happening, one of which will be at 285 Kent headlined by Prince Rama, which is entirely appropriate given their new album is called Top Ten Hits Of The End Of The World. You can check out the new video for that album's "So Destroyed" below. I bet they'll throw a good Ragnarök event which will double as a holiday party too in case you want to wear your Santa suit. Also on the bill is Dickpic (DJ Dog Dick and Pictureplane) and Ami Dang. Tickets are $8 at the door, but if you'd like to go for free we're giving away a pair. Details on how to enter are below.

Speaking of Top Ten Hits of the End of the World, we asked Prince Rama for their Top 10 albums of 2012. Instead, they gave us their Top 10 "Top 10 Lists of 2012" which you can check out below.

Continue reading "Prince Rama lists their Top 10 Top 10 Lists of 2012, playing end-of-the-world party in NYC (win tix!)"

A still from 'Outer Osmo Ghost Mode'

In addition to the music he makes as Neon Indian, Alan Palomo is now branching out into filmmaking. He's written and directed a short film, Outer Osmo Ghost Mode, that was animated Johnny Woods and stars the vocal talents of Chairlift's Caroline Polnachek as "Osmo." You can watch the short below.

If you'd like to know more about the film, there is a screening tonight (11/29) at The Lab (224 Wycoff Ave, Brooklyn) with a post-screening Q&A with Palomo. Preceding the film will be performances from Gem Trails (Woodsman side project), Megafortress and DJ Dog Dick. Doors are at 8 PM and $5 gets you in. The screening happens around midnight and more info on the event is here.

Meanwhile, Neon Indian's only upcoming show is playing New Year's Eve (12/31) in Austin, TX at Mohawk.

Video is below.

Continue reading "Neon Indian's Alan Polomo made short film (watch); screening / Q&A tonight in NYC w/ live sets from Megafortress + more"

Andrew WK at Webster Hall in April (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

Assuming we all survive the apocalypse, Halloween is Wednesday (10/31), and as you know there are plenty of ways to celebrate in NYC. Another recently announced option is the Halloween Hellraiser at new Greenpoint warehouse Autumn Bowl with professional partier Andrew WK. He'll be joined by Creep (DJ), Ice Balloons, DJ Dog Dick, and more artists TBA. Tickets for the show are on sale now. A gif flyer for the show is below. UPDATE: Halloween show cancelled.

Andrew WK has been keeping busy in NYC the last couple of weeks, having just taken part in a bunch of CMJ events and appeared as one of the guests at Petty Fest. He's also got two events happening close to NYC right before New Year's Eve. He plays Stanhope House on December 29 in NJ (tickets) and Ollie's Point on December 30 in Long Island (tickets). Maybe he'll add a show happening on New Year's Eve in NYC?

Meanwhile, Autumn Bowl has been hosting few but solid shows since opening. Maybe you caught Zomby (10/18) or Kyp Malone (10/20) there during CMJ? Or this past Friday when Four Tet and Jamie xx DJed back to back? If you've been to the new venue, how is it?

A list of all Andrew WK dates, the Halloween show flyer, and a recent live video are below.

Continue reading "Andrew WK playing Halloween show in NYC & other dates"

Pictureplane @ PS1 (more by Erez Avissar)

Spend your weekend checking out art at the annual, three-day DUMBO Arts Festival, but also make time to get to Long Island City for the seventh annual NY Art Book Fair which runs at MoMA PS1 starting tonight:

NY Art Book Fair schedule
Preview: Thursday, September 27, 6-9pm
Friday, September 28, 12-7pm
Saturday, September 29, 11am-9pm
Sunday, September 30, 11am-7pm

The four-day schedule includes talks and performances including one on Saturday at 3PM by Travis Edgy (PicturePlane) and DJ Dog Dick. Pictureplane, who has played MoMA PS1 before, also plays a Saturday night gig at The Church of Dionysus Brooklyn with Bok Bok and others.

Pictureplane is probably playing CMJ too (dates TBA).

Pictureplane and Grimes at 285 Kent in July (photo by Erez Avissar)

Pictureplane, who recently played 285 Kent with Grimes (who was DJing) and surprise guests A$AP Rocky and AraabMuzik, will be playing a few shows this September, including another at 285 Kent on September 17 with Dog Leather (aka Sewn Leather and DJ Dog Dick), Debbie DJs Dallas, and Yellow Tears DJs. No advance tickets for this one at the moment ($10 at the door). Pictureplane and DJ Dog Dick will then team up again later in the month for a 'collab noise set' at MoMA PS1 on September 29 for the New York Art Book Fair. It starts at 3 PM, is all ages and totally free to the public.

Speaking of AraabMuzik, he plays an Electric Zoo (which goes down on Randall's Island this weekend [8/31-9/2]) afterparty at Best Buy Theater on Friday (8/31) with Zeds Dead, Netsky, Dynamite and 12th Planet. Tickets for that party are on sale now. About a month later, he'll kick off a tour with Sleigh Bells which hits the NYC area on October 10 at the Capitol Theater (tickets).

No word yet on whether or not Pictureplane will expand his few announced shows into a larger tour, but a list of all currently known dates and a video of Pictureplane on stage at 285 Kent with Grimes, A$AP Rocky, and AraabMuzik are below.

Continue reading "Pictureplane playing shows, two in NYC (dates and video); Araabmuzik playing Electric Zoo afterparty on Friday"

photos by Tim Griffin

Talib Kweli @ Mohawk Friday night

As previously mentioned, Black Star will return for a pair of dates at Best Buy Theater, and on the same night. Saturday December 3rd will see Yasiin and Talib Kweli perform their only LP in its entirety at an 8:00 show and an 11:30 show. Tickets are on sale for both. Talib Kweli joined Res and band to form Idle Warship, at the BrooklynVegan Day Party on Saturday (10/22) before heading to the Duck Down vs Blacksmith showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg next door. Pictures from the BV party are on the way, but we have a set of pictures in this post from the show Talib Kweli played at the Mohawk one night earlier (yes he was in Texas playing a show after midnight the night before he headlined our show at 5pm in Brooklyn!).

In related news, Wu-Tang Clan (billed as with Method Man, RZA, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Inspectah Deck, and Masta Killa) will also head to Best Buy Theater in the coming months, hitting the venue on December 18th as part of a string of live dates that will also include Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ on 12/15 and Northern Lights in Clifton Park, NY on 12/17. Tickets are on sale for all dates.

Inspektah Deck will also HEADLINE his own show at 285 Kent on 11/4, joining Ava Luna, DJ Dog Dick, and a DJ set from WFMU'S Marty McSorley. Tickets are on sale. The show is meant to wave goodbye to Babycastles, a collective of independent gaming designers that built an arcade inside Silent Barn.

In other "hip hop at Best Buy Theater" news, Jadakiss, Lloyd Banks, Juelz Santana, Fabolous, Meek Mills, French Montana, and Red Cafe will team for a Funkmaster Flex Presents event at the venue on 11/24. Tickets are on sale.

J Cole plays there tonight (10/25).

Talib Kweli's show Friday night at the Mohawk in Austin, TX was with G-Eazy and Franchize. More pictures from that 10/21 performance, and Wu Tang dates, below...

Continue reading "Wu-Tang Clan tour dates, Talib Kweli live pics & stuff"

The NY Art Book Fair runs through Sunday at MoMA PS1, Long Island City, Queens...

"Free and open to the public, the Fair hosts over 200 international presses, booksellers, antiquarian dealers, artists and publishers from twenty countries, offering the best in contemporary art book publishing."

"Dan Deacon & Dustin Wong absolutely murdered it tonight at Cake Shop "Silence like the wind overCakes me, 5 yr anniversary!"" -corygreenwell

Dan Deacon @ Cake Shop on May 27th (via Youtube, below)

Dan Deacon played one of the last shows of Cake Shop's five-year-anniversary month on Thursday, May 27th. Also at the gig were Height, Eternal Summers, Big Troubles and Dustin Wong. A YouTube slideshow of pictures from the show is posted below.

Dan Deacon and his friends at Wham City have posted details on this year's Whartscape Festival in Baltimore on July 22-25. Confirmed acts include Wye Oak, Deakin, Javelin, Lightning Bolt, No Ave, Talk Normal, Zach Hill, Arab on Radar, Xiu Xiu, Yip Yip, Dan Deacon Ensemble and Ponytail (Beach House was intially listed but has since been removed). More bands are TBA. Tickets go on sale at WhamCity.com and Baltimore's True Vine Records on June 15th.

For Arab on Radar, this is yet another date to add to the list of reunion gigs they have scheduled in July, August and September.

Wye Oak are also playing Siren in July.

Deakin (ex-Animal Collective) will hopefully schedule a NYC show one day soon.

Dan Deacon will be back in NYC for a show on June 15th at Red Hook Park (part of a series of shows in the park that kicks off TONIGHT - June 1st).

The full Whartscape lineup and pictures from the Cake Shop show are below...

Continue reading "Dan Deacon played Cake Shop, Whatscape 2010 lineup announced (Lightning Bolt, Deakin, Ponytail, tons more)"

"For 4 years now Wham City has been organizing the WHARTSCAPE. What started as a summer warehouse party turned into a much bigger, multi-day outdoor festival with thousands of bands, performers, and folks traveling to Baltimore from all across the US and Europe.
Since, we organize this festival out of pocket and in our spare time, it is important for us to keep it comfortable and enjoyable for us to do. One thing we talked about at the end of last year's festival was shrinking it down slightly and having it feel more community based and familiar.

This year isn't focused around headliners, but mainly performers and friends that make up the community we tour, work and live in.
We are also greatly reducing the number of MEGA-PASSES (the 3 day pass ticket that grants you entry to every show and every day).
ONLY 300 Mega-Passes will be sold; this is the only guarantee that you can see all the shows.

Tickets will be sold to the individual shows, but it is strongly suggested that you buy a Mega-Pass, as it saves you money and assures you take in the entire poo-poo.
Whartscape will take place July 10-11-12 at the Baltimore Museum of Art, Maryland Institute College of Art Studio Center Parking Lot, and Load of Fun.
We will begin selling tickets at 12 Noon, Monday, June 29th.

Continue reading "Whartscape - 2009 Wham City festival dates & lineup "

by Andrew Frisicano

Andrew WK takes to the stage of Santos Party House, the club he partially owns, this Thursday, May 28th for a show with Cherie Lily, Height with Friends, Ed Schrader, DJ Dog Dick, Ana Lola Romanhas and host Aleister X. Also appearing will be Julia, Samuel and Bad Brilliance. Tickets are on sale.

That event is a release party of sorts for the first record from Andrew WK's Skyscraper Music Maker label. That compilation, DAMN! The Mixtape Vol. 1, released on May 25th, features "Andrew's work as a producer for Skyscraper Music Maker artists, Bad Brilliance, Aleister X, and more." Check out a streaming sample at RCDLBL, and a trailer for it, along with the video for Bad Brilliance's "It's So Fun" (remixed by AWK), below.

This September, Skyscraper Music Maker (with its partner Cargo Records) will release Andrew WK's new record, 55 Cadillac, a disc of solo piano improvisations. There's an advertisement/preview video for the disc, also below.

Just a few days ago, Andrew WK started his own Twitter, and already he's been dropping news bits (and trying to get people to call him). Along with more prosaic observations about pizza and dusty Diet Coke, Andrew announced that his 2006 overseas-only album, delayed previously because of contractual obligations, will finally be see US release, as well as new disc(?) Young Lord. He writes, "Close Calls With Brick Walls is coming in the winter and Young Lord is next!"

Andrew WK is releasing material sooner than that even. Nardwuar, the Canadian music personality, is putting out a 7-inch on June 23rd called A Wild Pear! split between his own band, The Evaporators, and Andrew WK. The CD release party for that EP is part of a larger Andrew WK summer Canadian tour coming in June. That tour includes Sled Island Fest in June, and more shows with The Evaporators (who killed it at SXSW this year). All dates below.

Non-Canadians get Andrew WK love this summer too, as his new TV show, DESTROY BUILD DESTROY, is premiering on Cartoon Network on June 20th. The program is "a game show involving teenagers and 100 foot high explosions, quadruple wide fire-balls, and the will to create from the ashes!" Check out a preview for that below.

All above mentioned videos, show posters, and a "Learn How to Play Andrew WK songs" clip hosted by WK himself, below...

Continue reading "Andrew WK - new music, Nardwuar, live shows, a TV show, his own label Skyscraper Music Maker & stuff"

Friday January 30th @ DANBRO STUDIOS WAREHOUSE (tentative)

:: BKLYN vs. B-MORE BATTLE MARATHON!
:: 2 stages, bands from Brooklyn on one, Baltimore on the other
:: --| $3 |--

:: DAN DEACON
:::: Thank You
:::::: Future Islands
:::::::: dj Dog Dick

:: secret guests tba
:::: secret guests tba
:::::: These Are Powers
:::::::: USAISAMONSTER

| DANBRO STUDIOS WAREHOUSE |
268 Meserole Ave @ Bushwick Pl | East Williamsburg, Bklyn
L-Montrose, JM-Lorimer, G-Broadway | 8pm | all ages | --| $3 |--

JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound perform "Baltimore Is the New Brooklyn" in the video below...

Continue reading "Broooklyn vs. Baltimore marathon @ Danbro - Dan Deacon, These are Powers, secret guests & more for $3"

DOWNLOAD: Matmos - Rainbow Flag (MP3)

In Baltimore. soon...

Continue reading "Whartscape 2008 lineup, Matmos included "