photos by Dana (Distortion) Yavin & Graeme Flegenheimer

The Strokes

"The 10th anniversary [of Bonnaroo] was a celebration of how far the festival has come but also reminded us how it got there. There was something for everyone. The String Cheese Incident and Widespread Panic, who played at the first Bonnaroo, were there to remind people of the festival's jam-band roots. Lil Wayne and Big Boi were there along with Eminem to represent what the festival has become. In between, there were legendary acts like Robert Plant and The Band of Joy, Buffalo Springfield, Gregg Allman, Loretta Lynn, Dr. John, and Bruce Hornsby, which attracted an older crowd that resembled festival crowds of years past.

There were also more recently successful bands that attracted a younger crowd, such as Arcade Fire, The Strokes, The Black Keys, Neon Trees, Mumford & Sons, and The Decemberists.

One of the greatest features of Bonnaroo is that there are plenty of non-music entertainment options for those who need a break from music, the heat, or just need a diversion.

There was a cinema tent where rockumentaries and movies were screened, if you wanted to get out of the heat and cool down. There was a comedy tent that has been graced by comedians like Conan O'Brien and Margaret Cho. Dave Attelland hosted one of my favorite Bonnaroo performances when Flight of the Conchords performed in 2007. This year saw funny-men Lewis Black, Cheech Marin, and Tim Minchin among others in a strong rotation.

Sports fans concerned about the NHL and NBA Finals were happy to find the Bonnaroo Sports Bar where they could play pop-a-shot and watch the games on flat-screen monitors.

Artists were encouraged to show their stuff on the graffiti walls that lined much of the 700-acre farm. By the end of the weekend, you could spend all day walking up and down along the wall, finding some beautiful (and some not so beautiful) creations. " [The Epoch Times]

Bonnaroo 2012 is on sale at noon. The 10th Bonnaroo happened last weekend. Pictures of Karen Elson from Day One are HERE, with the rest of Day One HERE. Pictures of Decemberists from Day Two HERE, with the rest of Day Two HERE. Pictures of Gogol Bordello from Day Three are HERE, and the rest of Day Three are HERE. Robyn from Day Four HERE. The rest of Day 4, and the end of our 2011 Bonnaroo pictures, below...

Continue reading "Bonnaroo 2011 - Day 4 in pics (The Strokes, Mavis Staples, Beirut, EITS. John Waters, Greg Allman & more)"

Bonnaroo (June 9-12 in Manchester Tennessee) has announced the 2011 lineup (slightly early), and like the rumored Lollapalooza lineup, Eminem is among the headliners. Bonnaroo also has Grammy winners Arcade Fire and the Black Keys, in addition to Lil Wayne, Mumford & Sons, the Strokes, The Decemberists, Florence & the Machine, Girl Talk, Beirut (haven't seen them in a while), and many more. Full list below...

Continue reading "Bonnaroo 2011 lineup is here"

Cadillac Sky in the studio w/ Dan Auerbach

The November 15th Mumford and Sons show at Terminal 5 is sold out, so they added a second show for November 16. Tickets go on American Express presale on Wednesday at 11 AM and general public sale starts Friday at noon.

Both shows are being opened by fellow UK artist, King Charles (Mi7 Records), and the Texas bluegrass-infused rock band Cadillac Sky who recently released their third full length album, Letters In The Deep, on Dualtone Records. The album was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. Two "making of" videos below...

Continue reading "Mumford & Sons, Cadillac Sky & King Charles add another gig"

by BBG

Black Milk at SXSW (more here)

Black Milk will team up with his uber-buzzy mic controller Decon label-mate Freddie Gibbs for a show at SOBs on Tuesday (August 3rd, tickets). The show will double as a record release party for Gibbs, as he readies his new EP Str8 Killa due that same day (git it) and accompanying (requisite?) mixtape, available for free download HERE. In addition, Gibbs has pounded out a new video for the lead single from Str8 Killa, "National Anthem", available below

The eight-track Gibbs EP also features a song called "Oil Money" that features guest spots by Chuck Inglish of the Cool Kids, Chip Tha Ripper, Bun B & The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach. Download that track free HERE or HERE. Read more about the THREE Black Keys shows that just happened in NYC here, here, and here.

Freddie's older The Miseducation Of Freddie Gibbs Mixtape is free HERE.

Black Milk's new LP Album Of The Year is due on September 14th, and the beat god (and damn fine MC) dropped a video album trailer for that LP today. View that below along with the album's tracklisting, some other video and full Freddie Gibbs tour dates...

Continue reading "Freddie Gibbs giving away new mixtape, celebrating new EP @ SOB's w/ Black Milk -- MP3s, video, dates & the Black Keys"

Dan Auerbach @ Bowery Ballroom 3/3 (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

Dan Auerbach's Black Keys partner Patrick Carney has a tour and album on the way with his new side project Drummer. Auerbach will continue his own solo expoits (behind his debut, Keep it Hid) when he heads out on the road again this November and December.

That tour will take him to NYC for a show at Webster Hall on Wednesday, November 11th. Jessica Lea Mayfield opens. Tickets go on AmEx presale today at noon. General sale starts Friday, July 17th at noon.

The singer will also be at Lollapalooza on August 9th and Austin City Limits Fest in October.

Two videos of Auerbach live at Rolling Stone, with all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Dan Auerbach (Black Keys) - 2009 tour dates (Webster Hall)"

!!! is playing ACL 2009 (more by Chris Graham)

"The 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival will showcase a diverse blend of acts both fresh and familiar at the eighth edition of the event in Zilker Park October 2-4. Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, and Beastie Boys are performing for the first time at the Festival, with Kings of Leon, Ben Harper and Relentless7, and Thievery Corporation returning to Zilker Park once again. John Legend, The Dead Weather, and The Levon Helm Band will also make their ACL Festival debut, while Austin's own Ghostland Observatory will no doubt deliver another memorable set for festival goers.

With over 130 artists on this year's bill, the list of acts awes at each note with the likes of Sonic Youth, Mos Def, Toadies, Flogging Molly, The B-52s, Lily Allen, Citizen Cope, Arctic Monkeys, The Decemberists, Coheed and Cambria, Andrew Bird, Girl Talk, and many more.

In the tradition of the TV show from which it was born, the Festival has always aimed to offer musical discovery for the fans. The 2009 lineup is rich with pop, country, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, indie rock, hip-hop, and gospel, to name a few, spanning cultures and countries from New Orleans to Venezuela to France."

Continue reading "ACL (Austin City Limits) - 2009 festival lineup announcement"

"Though promoters around the country report strong early ticket sales for festivals and summer tours, the recession is causing jitters. This year Coachella, which has the most glamorous reputation of all American festivals, began selling tickets on layaway, and 18 percent of its customers took that option, Mr. Tollett said.

The proliferation of big festivals, like Bonnaroo near Nashville and Lollapalooza in Chicago, has not been without casualties. This year Langerado in Miami shut down, citing the economy. The Pemberton Festival in British Columbia is on hiatus after only one year, although its promoter, Live Nation, said the problem was permit delays." [NY Times]

Continue reading "Lollapalooza 2009 - the official & complete lineup"

photos by Toby Tenenbaum

Opening with the baleful, empathetic harmonies of "Trouble Weighs A Ton," Auerbach brought a naked emotion and a touch of pathos not typically found in his Keys' performance. For the most part, Auerbach's solo set didn't deviate too greatly from The Black Keys' brand of heavy blues....

On "When The Night Comes" and "Goin' Home," Auerbach delves into the doleful acoustic style of the blues, generating earnest pleas from the depths of soul. It's a fine contrast to the menacing stomp of songs like "The Prowl" and "I Want Some More" and reveals Auerbach as more than a one trick pony. When Auerbach follows wherever his reverb-heavy guitar takes him, good things usually happen. Even if he didn't turn the reverb on ultra for "Heartbroken In Disrepair," the superlative song resounded mightily. [Earvolution]

"Dan Auerbach has his first solo album out, but solo is hardly how he presented his music Tuesday night in New York. Backed by San Antonio band Hacienda and Patrick Hallahan of My Morning Jacket chipping in as a second drummer and percussionist, Auerbach was clearly enjoying the give and take he perhaps misses with The Black Keys.....

...Openers Hacienda hung out in the subway tunnel with us before the show for a bit of chat....Those Darlins were indeed. They won us over and we'll be chatting up the band in Austin at South By Southwest." [Palestra Music]

Those Darlins' schedule includes the official BrooklynVegan SXSW showcase at Club DeVille tonight, (Wed, March 18th) and the My Old Kentucky Blog/Aquarium Drunkard party happening Peckerheads on Sixth the next afternoon.

San Antonio's Hacienda visits Headhunters and The Parish (both tonight) and Emo's Jr on Thursday (3/20).

Also playing in Austin tonight (3/18) is Dan Auerbach at the Parish with Hacienda. More pictures from Bowery Ballroom below...

Continue reading "Dan Auerbach, Hacienda & Those Darlins (all now in Austin for SXSW) @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - pics"

DOWNLOAD: Here We Go Magic feat. Luke Temple - Fangela (MP3)

Stereogum is co-presenting shows at Santos Party House now. Each week they'll "invite a guest curator to assemble a one-night-only lineup of performances and collaborations from sonic and visual art worlds". They kick things off tonight (3/3) with a night "curated by Lizzi Bougatsos (Gang Gang Dance, I.U.D.) and Sadie Laska (Growing, Actress, I.U.D.), featuring performances from Black Dice's Eric Copeland, DJ Matt Manderson (Neon Kobra Krew), Whitney Museum-celebrated video artist Alex Bag, and of course I.U.D. with Spencer Sweeney." "Tickets are $10 every week, with a recession-proof $5 reduction if you RSVP. It's a 21+ affair, so bring your ID. Buy all the tickets." The flyer that lists the lineups for every Tuesday night in March is below.

Speaking of Gang Gang Dance, don't forget they have a MoMA-related show coming up in NYC.

Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys played his first NYC solo (with band) show at Music Hall of Williamsburg last night. How was it? Find out tonight (3/3) when they do it again at Bowery Ballroom. Hacienda and Those Darlins are acting as openers and touring with Dan to Austin where Those Darlins will play a bunch of shows including the official BrooklynVegan SXSW showcase at Club DeVille on Wednesday March 18th (full lineup to get its own post any second now) and the My Old Kentucky Blog/Aquarium Drunkard party happening Peckerheads on Sixth the next afternoon.

Also playing SXSW (but not a BrooklynVegan party unfortunately): Luke Temple's new project Here We Go Magic., who, are also playing a show at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC tonight (3/3).

Continue reading "Stereogum Santos shows, Those Darlins, Here We Go Magic"

The Black Keys (Dan) @ Terminal 5 (more by Mike Lerner)

Dan Auerbach's drummer Bob Cesare will not be able to make his upcoming tour due to a death in his family. In his place will be My Morning Jacket drummer Patrick Hallahan.

Dan, known most for being 1/2 of the Black Keys, kicks off his tour in Washington DC on Saturday and will end up in Austin for SXSW on March 18th.

Tickets are still on sale for the March 2nd & 3rd shows in NYC, both of which are with Those Darlins.

Watch Dan play in the video below...

Continue reading "My Morning Jacket drummer Patrick Hallahan is playing w/ Dan Auerbach who is playing SXSW (and other places)"

Lily Allen's It's Not Me, It's You, her follow-up to her successful debut Alright, Still is out Tuesday, and the vinyl picture disc edition is at the top of my shopping list. Catch her for free Tuesday night at Bowery Ballroom in NYC.

Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys drops his solo debut, Keep It Hid Tuesday. Singer-songwriter Ben Lee will donate a percentage of the proceeds from his new album, The Rebirth of Venus, to the FINCA Village Banking program, which offers small loans to low-income female entrepreneurs around the world. In a rather slow week for releases, I can also recommend Charles Spearin's The Happiness Project, Golem's wonderfully playful Citizen Boris, Miranda Lee Richards' Light of X, and Wilco guitarist Nels Cline's Coward.

What new releases can you recommend? Have I left anything off the list?

Continue reading "Largehearted Boy's Interesting CD Releases This Week"

Those Darlins @ Bowery Ballroom (more by Nathan Miller)

Aside from their apparent taste for fur (that hat?) (and maybe an old jacket?), and the occasional less-than-steller instrumentation and/or singing (it's not always about perfect playing), there's no denying (I'm asking for it with that one) that Those Darlins are an entertaining band. Last night (1/15) at Mercury Lounge, the crowd (myself included) seemed to be enjoying the young trio+drummer's country tunes - they were the perfect way to warm everyone up for Norway's Ida Maria who came up, and tore the place up, next.

Show bookers seem to already know this about Those Darlins. If you haven't noticed, much like the Vivian Girls, this mostly-female band is suddenly appearing on every other (alt-country) bill. To name a few... they've recently played with O'Death, Heartless Bastards, Langhorne Slim, Deer Tick, Boss Hog, and have an upcoming tour scheduled with Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys (which has them back at Bowery and Music Hall). Last night they opened for Ida Maria at Mercury Lounge, and TONIGHT (1/16) they play with The Soft Pack (formerly the Muslims) and the Browns at Mercury Lounge (again). Saturday night they play their 3rd NYC show in a row (they're from Tennessee) at Union Pool (also with The Soft Pack).

Check out some of TD's recorded songs at MySpace. All tour dates below....

Continue reading "Those Darlins - 2009 Tour Dates (4 more NYC shows)"

Nonesuch Records is pleased to announce that singer/songwriter/guitarist Dan Auerbach, best known as half of The Black Keys, will release his solo debut, Keep It Hid, on February 10, 2009. Dan will begin a national tour with performances in [many cities], with opening acts Those Darlins and Hacienda, the latter also lending support as Auerbach's backing band.

In the meantime, Dan will continue playing shows with his partner in the Black Keys. That includes two shows at Terminal 5 with Lucero and Heartless Bastards, and one in NJ with Doug Gillard.

All dan dates below...

Continue reading "Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys - new album & tour dates "