Micachu & The Shapes @ Cake Shop in March (more by Tim Griffin)

Holy Fuck @ MHOW in May (more by Tim Griffin)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Foreigner @ Nokia Theatre
* Dam-Funk @ The Guggenheim
* NY Burlesque Fest @ The Bell House
* Holy Fuck, AutoErotique @ Webster Hall
* Andrew W.K. & The Calder Quartet @ Joe's Pub
* Little Joy, Swami Shave-us Jr. @ Webster Hall
* Evan Parker, Okkyung Lee, Peter Evans @ The Stone
* The Albertans, Apollo Run, Ed Vallence @ Union Hall
* Tragedy, Johnny Headband, .357 Lover @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band @ Giants Stadium
* The Mess Around, Ex-Humans, Born Loose, Images @ Don Pedro
* Zs, Excepter, Mick Barr, Noveller, BJ Rubin @ Death By Audio
* Micachu & The Shapes, Julianna Barwick, Mon Khmer @ Littlefield
* Cheap Time, Fluffy Lumbers, White Diamonds, Beachniks @ Silent Barn
* My Robot Friend, Cheval Sombre, Dean Wareham, special guest @ 92YTribeca
* Burnt by the Sun, Tombs, Black Anvil, Bloodhorse, Torchbearer @ Cake Shop
* The Soft Pack, The Dig, Right on Dynamite, The Sundelles @ Bowery Ballroom
* The Twilight Sad, BrakesBrakesBrakes, We Were Promised Jetpacks @ Southpaw
* Future Islands, Lonnie Walker, Graffiti Monsters, Darlings, Effing @ Market Hotel
* Thomas Function, Yussuf Jerusalem, Georgiana Starlington @ Bruar Falls
* WFMU Fest w/ Pissed Jeans, TV Ghost, VeeDee, Guinea Worms @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

WFMU Fest at Music Hall of Williamsburg goes into its second night with Pissed Jeans, TV Ghost, VeeDee and Guinea Worms. Faust, who first stopped in Philly, were the headliner last night.

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band play all of Darkness at the Edge of Town at Giants Stadium tonight. Two nights ago he played "Born to Run".

The Twilight Sad, BrakesBrakesBrakes and We Were Promised Jetpacks have added a show at Southpaw, tonight, on their current tour.

It's the last night of You Are Here: The Maze at Death by Audio - bands include Zs, Excepter, Mick Barr, Noveller and BJ Rubin.

NY Burlesque Fest is at The Bell House.

HOSTED BY SCOTTY THE BLUE BUNNY, SF W/ DJ MOMOTARO, NYC

PERFORMANCES FROM:
LITTLE BROOKLYN, NYC / SERGEI, JAPAN / GIGI LA FEMME, NYC / TRONICAT LA MIEZ, GERMANY / ROXI D'LITE, ONTARIO / MISS DELERIUM TREMENS, NYC / SPARKLY DEVIL, DETROIT / WILD CARD KITTY, SCOTLAND / PHILLY CARAMEL, NJ / LEROI THE GIRL BOI, CT / MISS MITZY CREAM, TORONTO / BROWN GIRLS BURLESQUE, NY QUEEN LA QUEEFA, NYC / KIT CAT, NYC / BROADWAY BRASSY, NYC / LIL' MISS LIXX & SCHAFFER THE DARKLORD, NYC / PEEKABOO POINTE, NY / DIZZY SWANK, NY / THE AMAZING KNICKER KITTENS, SWEDEN / WEIRDEE GIRL, NYC / CHARLOTTE LA BELLE ARAIGNE'E, CA / CLAMS CASINO, NY / HYPERGENDER BURLESQUE, NY / VIXEN VIOLETTE, CA / LOLA LAFLEUR & MARQUIS VONPHISTER, KEY WEST, FL / IVA HANDFULL, SEATTLE HARVEST MOON, NYC

Micachu & The Shapes play Littlefield tonight with Julianna Barwick and Mon Khmer. Tomorrow they perform with ACME at LPR.

Andrew W.K. returns to Joe's Pub less than a week after his piano battle with Gonzales, to perform with The Calder Quartet.

The record release for My Robot Friend is at 92YTribeca with Cheval Sombre, DJing by Dean Wareham and a "special guest" act (Dean & Britta).

Little Joy and opener Swami Shave-us Jr (Devendra Banhart) play a show at Webster Hall.

After the Little Joy show, Holy Fuck play for $1 at Webster Hall with AutoErotique.

There's no Governors Island show tonight with Brazilian Girls, Man Man and Phenomenal Handclap Band. It was canceled. PHCB have a few of their own coming up though.

The Cake Shop hosts a five-band, BV-presented metal bill with Tombs, Black Anvil, Bloodhorse, Torchbearer, and headliner Burnt by the Sun. Check out our interview with BBTS's Dave Witte.

Carrie Brownstein asks if you can love the art, but not the artist? The new video for the Black Lips' "Let It Grow" is below...

BV CMJ showcase host Dave Hill interviews Buckcherry in the videos below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* The Roots @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Polyphonic Spree @ Webster Hall
* Tim Exile @ Santos Party House
* Lynyrd Skynyrd @ Beacon Theatre
* Fight Amp, Voyager, Moth Eater @ Fontana's
* Evan Parker, Richard Teitelbaum @ The Stone
* New Model Army, EDP, Livan @ Mercury Lounge
* The Nouvellas, Revival Times @ Bowery Electric
* Dredg, Salman Rushdie @ Housing Works Bookstore
* Drunkdriver, Failures, Salvation, The Men @ Market Hotel
* Thomas Function, Yussuf Jerusalem @ Studio at Webster Hall
* Richard Lloyd, Demander, Tourmaline, The Old Wives @ Maxwell's
* WFMU Fest w/ Faust, Cold Cave, Aluk Todolo @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Mal-O-Mar Nite w/ Ariana Reines, Dan Hoy, Holy Shit, more @ Issue Project Room
* Jay Reatard, Box Elders, Hunx & His Punx, Nobunny, Useless Eaters @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* Crash Diet Crew, Cntrl Top, Hotchacha, Coin Under Tongue, Island's Eyelids, Deborah Karp & Meredith Arena @ Death By Audio

The Roots are at Brooklyn Bowl. You can check out the video for their new single "How I Got Over," below. Questlove invited the Dirty Projectors to come when he was on Fallon. That would be pretty cool if they showed up and played (I know nothing. Just saying).

It's the first night of WFMU Fest at Music Hall of Williamsburg with '70s krautrock band Faust, new Matador signees Cold Cave and more. Pissed Jeans and Teenage Jesus and the Jerks headline the next two night, respectively.

Rodrigo y Gabriela will perform "Buster Voodoo" tonight on The Tonight Show with Conan O'brien.

Grizzly Bear will make their Tonight Show debut on October 12th

Jay Reatard plays a Shattered Records showcase at (Le) Poisson Rouge with Box Elders, Hunx & His Punx, Nobunny and Useless Eaters. Check out our interview with Jay.

Dredg and Salman Rushdie visit Housing Works Bookstore for a benefit.

Book publisher Mal-O-Mar (who's putting out a newly translated version of Baudelaire's My Heart Laid Bare) hosts a show at Issue Project Room with Genesis P-Orridge (s/he canceled), Holy Shit and others. "Holy Shit is artist and designer Matt Fishbeck in collaboration with a lot of different people - Ariel Pink, Christopher Owens of Girls, and more. Their record, Stranded at Two Harbors, is out on UUAR."

Television's Richard Lloyd plays Maxwell's with Demander, Tourmaline and The Old Wives. Maxwell's is also where The Wrens have three shows coming up.

The show you've been waiting for: Dru Hill, Kace, Next, Intro, Mace and Nice at Nokia Theatre. Video below.

There's only two nights left for the Maze at Death by Audio - see Crash Diet Crew, Cntrl Top (which has members of These Are Powers), Hotchacha, Island's Eyelids, and Deborah Karp & Meredith Arena.

We're just hours away from Pitchfork revealing the top 20 albums of the 2000s.

If you're in Montreal, it's Pop Montreal.

Dave Hill interviews Halestorm in a video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Walter Schreifels, Laura Marling, The Antlers

"I went to see Walter Schreifels at the Studio in NYC. I didn't bring my camera because I had never been to the place and wasn't sure of the policy. I wound up regretting it. A few nights ago [August 11th] Wally played here in Hoboken [at Maxwell's] and I decided to bring the appendage along with me. Walter best known for his sheer genius as a song writer, guitar player, producer and singer for countless bands including Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, Rival Schools, Walking Concert and countless others plays a stripped down version of various tracks from those projects. All while throwing in some tracks from his solo album which is due later in the year." [Photogeek]

The Walter Schreifels Band will play a special early set (like Sufjan did at ATP) to start the BrooklynVegan CMJ night at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Tuesday, October 20, 2009. From there we'll go into Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel (Denver) followed by Laura Marling (UK) followed by The Antlers (NYC) which will then transition beautifully into Fanfarlo (UK) who will close out the night. Set times TBA.

The mutli-talented Dave Hill, who plays guitar for Walter, will also stick around to host the night (and tell some jokes). Tickets are on sale will go on sale Friday at noon, and a bunch of CMJ badges will be let in.

This will actually be one of two official CMJ shows we're doing this year. The other one will be much heavier and put together by Black Bubblegum. Day party announcements are coming too.

The Antlers are currently on tour with the newly-signed Holly Miranda who is also playing CMJ.

Laura Marling is playing solo at this show, and at a few more US shows that week. Those dates include a 2nd NYC show at Joe's Pub on October 23rd which is now unfortunately sold out. All dates, and some videos, below...

Continue reading "2009 BrooklynVegan CMJ showcase @ MHOW (Walter Schreifels Band, The Antlers, Laura Marling, Fanfarlo, Wheel)"

DOWNLOAD: Inlets - Pictures of Trees (MP3)

Ladybug Transistor opening for Of Montreal at MHOW in April (more by Tim Griffin)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Surfer Blood @ Bruar Falls
* Sway, Lady Bright @ Bruar Falls
* Inlets & Glass Ghost @ Sycamore
* John Roberts & David Cross @ Comix
* The Silent League, Bear in Heaven @ Union Pool
* Geronimo, Pollution, Hex Machine @ Death By Audio
* Spindrift, The Electric Tickle Machine, Werewolves @ Cake Shop
* Effi Briest, Mahogany, Free Blood, The Tony Castles @ Glasslands
* Doug Gillard (ex-GBV), Get Help, Eastern Anchors, Dave Hill @ Maxwell's
* Cymbals Eat Guitars, These Are Powers, The Drums, Real Estate @ Brooklyn Bowl
* These United States, Motel Motel, Company of Thieves, Nick Howard @ Mercury Lounge
* Ladybug Transistor, Meeting Important People, Kevin Barker, Grand Salvo @ Union Hall

Geronimo, who in the midst of a short tour, join up with Pollution and Hex Machine at Death By Audio tonight.

Spindrift are in back on stage tonight at Cake Shop, playing a second show in NYC after supporting Hopewell last night at Union Pool. The band professes to be influenced by Carnival Music, Vampire Soundtracks, Norwegian Classical Folk Music, Swamp Blues (Lonesome Sundown), Outer Space, Henzig and ICE-T O.G. among other things, but I hear the gunslinger moments of Ennio Morricone on acid tabs. Electric Tickle Machine and Werewolves support. - Black Bubblegum

Comedian John Roberts kicks off his residency at Comix tonight alongside special guest David Cross. - Klaus Kinski

West Palm Beach, Florida's post punk beachcombers Surfer Blood play the last of their four NYC shows tonight at, appropriately enough, The Surf Bar Bruar Falls (it moved) in Williamsburg. I spaced and forgot to put them in TWII this week -- worth checking out. - Bill Pearis

Ex-Guided by Voices guitarist Doug Gillard plays an electric set at Maxwell's with Get Help and Eastern Anchors, plus comedy from Doug's sometimes-bandmate Dave Hill.

These United States just opened for Deer Tick and Dawes at the Bowery Ballroom. Tonight they headline a show at the Mercury Lounge with Motel Motel, Company of Thieves and Nick Howard.

Union Hall hosts E6 band Ladybug Transistor with Meeting Important People, Kevin Barker and Grand Salvo.

Insound's 10 year anniversary show comes to the Brooklyn Bowl, with a great lineup that includes Cymbals Eat Guitars, These Are Powers, The Drums and Real Estate. Real Estate, who go on first, at like 7:30 tonight, also played earlier this week at Vivian Girls' tour kick off at DBA. Two videos from their set are below...

New Peaches video for "Take You On" below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Leo Allen opening for the Walkmen @ the Guggenheim (more by Kurt Christensen)

Daniel Kitson tickets and other Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival tickets are on sale.

Tickets are also on sale for the New York Comedy Festival shows.

Leo Allen opened for The Walkmen at the Guggenheim Museum on Friday night. Leo Allen hosts Whiplash every Monday night at the UCB Theatre in NYC. David Cross, Ted Alexandro & Aparna Nancherla are among those performing there tonight (8/17).

Also tonight, but in Brooklyn: Falling Down, a new monthly comedy series at Bruar Falls hosted by Ali Wong, features Todd Barry, Dave Hill and more.

Bowerbirds @ Mercury Lounge 4/27 (more by Chris La Putt)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Todd Barry @ Caroline's
* Tanya Morgan @ Southpaw
* The Roots @ Highline Ballroom
* Forro in the Dark @ Music on the Oval
* Toby from Youth Group @ Living Room
* Bowerbirds, Megafaun @ Bowery Ballroom
* Mahavishnu Project @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* Stepping Off "The Corner" @ Rockefeller Park
* The Duhks, Red Molly @ Madison Square Park
* The Sundelles, Little Girls, Browns @ Cake Shop
* Juana Molina, Curumin, El G @ Central Park Summerstage
* The Church, Adam Franklin (Swervedriver) @ Irving Plaza
* Taigaa!, Your Nature, Susu, Pursesnatchers @ Death By Audio
* Handsome Furs, Dri, The Cinnamon Band @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Friend With Benefits (reading series) w/ Jeff Lewis, Dave Hill, more @ Bruar Falls
* Latin Alternative Music Conference w/ Los Hollywood, Domino Saints, more @ Mercury Lounge
* Telecult Powers, Totally Dad, Peopling, Manburger Surgical, Gay Bomb, Peter J. Woods @ Glasslands

Iron Man is screening for free as part of Riverflicks at Pier 54 and 14th St, while Reality Bites plays at McCarren Park's SummerScreen.

You have your choice of New vs. Old with both Jet at Gramercy Theatre and
Def Leppard, Poison and Cheap Trick at Jones Beach Theater happening tonight.

Juana Molina, Curumin and El G play a free show at the Central Park Summerstage tonight. Other free music includes a tribute to Miles Davis' On the Corner at Rockefeller Park, Forro in the Dark at the Stuy Town Oval, and The Duhks and Red Molly at Madison Square Park

The Church come all the way from Australia for their gig tonight at Irving Plaza with Swervedriver's Adam Franklin.

The Roots reside at Highline Ballroom.

Bowerbirds' Upper Air just came out yesterday on Dead Oceans. They play tonight with Megafaun at the Bowery Ballroom

Tonight at the Bruar Falls: "CAPESHOK and IMPOSE present: "FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS" a new reading series featuring stories from the world of rock and roll tour horror! featuring readings by JEFFREY LEWIS, DAVE HILL, CHRIS LEO, PEPI GINSBERG, ALICIA JO RABINS."

Andrew Bird is (essentially) on tour through November. See an interview with Bird on QTV and a performance of "Fits and Dizzy Spells," below.

On August 1st, Mike Watt (as part of the supergroup Floored by Four) will be opening for M. Ward (who will play without his own supergroup Monsters of Folk) at the Central Park Summerstage. Check out a Dirty Laundry interview with Watt, below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

Comedian and musician Dave Hill was summoned to Bonnaroo this past weekend to be part of both the comedy and music going-ons at the four-day Tennessee festival. I asked if he'd mind sharing his experiences (and pictures) with BrooklynVegan.com. He agreed. I regretted it. He sent it anyway, so here it is (starting with some MP3's by his rock band Valley Lodge), but warning: this post is not for the squeamish (NSFTS)...

DOWNLOAD: Valley Lodge - All of My Lovin (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Valley Lodge - Hangin On (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Valley Lodge - The Door (MP3)

Dave Hill tests face-melting licks out on some chairs

I've just returned from four magical days and nights at Bonnaroo, where my rock band Valley Lodge was the house band for Triumph the Insult Comic Dog's "Bonnapoo 2009" shows, which featured all sorts of awesomeness from Robert Smigel aka Triumph as well as sets from the great Todd Barry, Amy Schumer, and Kumail Nanjiani.

"Smigel performed four sets as Triumph at Bonnaroo, which annually hosts a comedy tent along with its smorgasbord of music acts, spread out over five main stages on a farm in rural Tennessee.

"My live act is a huge undertaking because Triumph kind of thrives on the immediate, discussing what everybody's thinking about," said Smigel while whisking past festival-goers in a golf cart, puppet on hand." [AP]

The excitement started on Wednesday night when I got on a plane to Nashville with my close personal friend Janeane Garofalo, Pete Holmes, Kumail Nanjiani, and the rest of my rock band Valley Lodge. If you've ever wanted to be on a completely hilarious plane, you could do a lot worse than to have been on this plane. As you can probably imagine, all of us were running back and forth between our seats spraying each other with seltzer bottles and throwing pies in each others' faces. At one point, Pete Holmes came over to my seat to shake my hand and it turned out he had one of those joy buzzers on his finger. Man, was my face red. I got him back though by spraying him in the face with a prank flower I was wearing at the time. We both just laughed and laughed after this happened. He couldn't stay mad at me.

Once we got to Nashville, some unmarked vehicles took us all to Murfreesboro, the popular Tennessee town where we all stayed at the Doubletree Hotel, which is really classy. Because I snore and also like to get up to all sorts of hardcore banging in hotels, I had my own room. When I dropped off my bags, I looked around the room and got all excited about all the snoring and hardcore banging I would be doing in my room over the next few days and nights.

continued below...

Continue reading "What It's like to be a VIP at Bonnaroo 2009 by Dave Hill"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Errortype:11 - "Better Than The Superbowl" (MP3)

Post-hardcore/emo-y NYCers, Errortype:11 will play a reunion show at Mercury Lounge on August 8th with Joshua English (ex. Six Going On Seven), and I Hate Our Freedom. Tickets are on sale. Pilot To Gunner was also originally scheduled to play the show, but has cancelled.

"Errortype: Eleven was formed in 1998 shortly after the demise of World's Fastest Car, the Walter Schreifels-led band [Arthur Shepherd, Guitar] had joined the year before. Over the years, band members included Phil Hanratty, Adam Marino (Saetia), Scott Martin, Erik Matheu, Keith Moore, Sammy Siegler (CIV, Gorilla Biscuits, many others), and Ty Krek. ET11 released their S/T debut as well as their follow-up, Amplified to Rock, on Schriefels's imprint Some Records, with the The Crank EP appearing on (you guessed it) Crank in 1999. The band toured the US and UK and eventually split in 2002 when Phil Hhanratty left the band. The remaining members went on to form Instruction with Tom Capone (Quicksand)

Walter Schreifels has a few shows of his own coming up: one "solo" show going down on June 17th at The Studio @ Webster Hall (tickets now on sale), and a short tour in Rival Schools with Eagles Of Death Metal including Webster Hall on August 6th (tickets here).

Videos below...

Continue reading "Errortype:11 reunion show ++ Walter Schreifels tix on sale"

Walter Schreifels with Rival Schools at Irving Plaza (more by Tim Griffin)

Walter Schreifels in concert doesn't just mean it will be the hardcore veteran playing his Martin acoustic. For a few dates (so far), Walter Schriefels (the band) will play shows in the northeast, including one on June 17th in NYC at The Studio @ Webster Hall. Ticket info is forthcoming. Expect a mix of "everything" (Quicksand, Gorilla Biscuits, covers...), except Rival Schools since they are currently active. The band is:

vocals & guitar: Walter Schreifels
bass: Arthur Smilios (GB, CIV)
drums: Andy Action (2 Skinnee J's)
guitar: Dave Hill (Valley Lodge, Children of the Unicorn, Cobra Verde)

If you've ever seen comedian Dave Hill play guitar, you know he can shred (usually) in addition to telling jokes. He knows his shredders too. Catch his band Valley Lodge as "the house band for Triumph the Insult Comic Dog Presents Bonnapoo 2009" in the Bonnaroo comedy tent. Catch Dave's hilarious live comedy show, The Dave Hill Explosion, next at UCB in NYC on May 21st with special guests Takka Takka and Ira Glass.

Walter Schreifels' other venture, Rival Schools, are scheduled to play a few dates with Eagles of Death Metal, including NYC on August 6th at Webster Hall. Tickets are still on sale. Rival Schools is working on their new album, the follow-up to United By Fate and first album since reuniting.

All dates below...

Continue reading "Walter Schreifels playing (solo) shows with a new band (including Dave Hill) & some w/ Rival Schools - 2009 dates "

John Vanderslice @ Pianos (more by Ryan Muir)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Allman Brothers @ Beacon
* Akron/Family @ New Museum
* Marianne Faithful @ City Winery
* Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg @ Maxwell's
* The Fleshtones & The A-Bones @ Southpaw
* Neil Halstead, Brian Bonz @ Union Hall
* The Weakends, Golden Triangle @ Don Pedro
* 88 Keys, Drink Up Buttercup @ The Delancey
* Deastro & Choir of Believers @ Bruar Falls
* Sewn Leather, Narwhalz, Sky Juice @ Silent Barn
* Midnight Masses, Wild Yaks, Anni Rossi @ Union Pool
* Obits, Lycaon Pictus, Browns, Rope @ The Bell House
* Sian Alice Group, Mountains, Lights, Zs @ 92YTribeca
* Titus Andronicus, Real Estate, Dinowalrus @ Market Hotel
* Anamanaguchi, Lionshare, Vulture Realty @ Death By Audio
* White Lies, Friendly Fires, The Soft Pack @ Bowery Ballroom
* Ellen Allien, Thomas Mueller, JDH & Dave P (FIXED) @ Studio B
* The Mountain Goats, John Vanderslice @ Society for Ethical Culture
* She Keeps Bees, The Love Story, The Naked Hearts, Whitetail @ Cake Shop
* The Gaslight Anthem, The Heartless Bastards, Good Old War @ Webster Hall
* Converge, Coliseum, Genghis Tron, Ceremony, Rise And Fall, Pulling Teeth @ Europa
* German Measles, The Beets, Ghost Town, Teenage Night War, Garbage Strike @ Dead Herring

Comedian Dave Hill's rock band Valley Lodge just completed a tour of Japan, Doug Gillard (ex-GBV) on guitar included. A video from their trip below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

Morgan Murphy the pregnant Hanukkah fairy (more by Tim Griffin)

The lineup for tonight's Whiplash show at the NYC UCB Theatre is great as usual. Leo Allen hosts Paul F. Tompkins, John Mulaney, Andrea Rosen, Jesse Popp, and LA's Morgan Murphy. If anyone knows of any other shows Morgan is playing while she's in town, please leave details in the comments.

Also coming up at UCB: The Benson Interruption on Wednesday 2/18, and A-Side / B-Side with Kurt and Kristin on Thursday.

Patton Oswalt plays six shows at Caroline's this month. Tickets are on sale at Ticketweb.

Zach Galifianakis has a few shows coming up of note. On February 19th he'll join Bobby Tisdale, Pete Holmes, Shane Mauss and Andrea Rosen for a short set at 92YTribeca. Then on March 5th he's doing a full, $40, show at NYU. On May 24th he's playing the new comedy/dance tent at the Sasquatch Music Festval in Gorge, Washington.

The venue attached to Sound Fix Records in Williamsburg is closing soon. Upcoming comedy shows there include Entertaining the Bartender w/ Jena Friedman on Tuesday 2/17, Totally J/K w/ Joe and Noah (Paul F. Tompkins, Michelle Collins, Ted Alexandro, and Paul Oddo) on Wednesday 2/18, and Big Terriffic w/ Max, Gabe and Jenny on Thursday 2/19.

Eugene Mirman recently celebrated the release of his book at the Bell House in Brooklyn. His upcoming shows include two dates with John Wesley Harding at Le Poisson Rouge.

Dave Hill appears at Village Underground on February 24th.

Commercials have started to air for Parks and Recreations, by the people who brought you the Office, coming Thursdays to NBC and starring Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, and Aziz Ansari. That commercial, and more videos, below...

Continue reading "Morgan Murphy @ Whiplash tonight, Parks and Recreation, Patton, Zach Galifianakis dates & other comedy news"

Ponytail @ NYU (more by Leia Jospe)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Team B @ 92Y Tribeca
* Thomas Function @ other Music
* Freshkills & BM Linx @ Public Assembly
* The Whitest Kids You Know @ Comix
* Vic Chesnutt & Elf Power @ Bowery Ballroom
* The Muffs, The Nouvellas & The Leftovers @ Maxwell's
* The Choke, Fiasco,The Back C.C.'s & GDFX @ Cake Shop
* Ponytail, These Are Powers, Pattern is Movement @ The Bell House
* Future Cop, Hey Willpower, Hockey, Theophilus London @ Mercury Lounge
* Golden Triangle, Tall Firs, Garotas Suecas & Metal Mountains @ Death By Audio
* Shellshag, Screaming Females, Bonezone, Emergency Party, Stupid Party, Cheeky @ Don Pedro

Allen Collins of Lynyrd Skynyrd died today in 1990.

Johnny Carson passed away today in 2005.

Fleet Foxes performed "Blue Ridge Mountains" for La Blogoteque and Dave Hill is a Jedi Master, and Brighton Port Authority (Fatboy Slim) made a video for the song Iggy Pop sings on. Videos below...

what else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

Dave Hill, A.C. Newman, Carl Arnheiter (elf) & Brett Gelman @ UCBNY (via)

"Exciting news for the East Village -- we've discovered that the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre has designs on the former Two Boots Pioneer Theater space at 155 East 3rd Street. Alex Sidtis, directing manager of the UCB's current location in Chelsea, revealed to [NY Magazine] that the troupe is hoping to open an East Village outpost, depending on whether it can secure a tavern wine license (the theater will plead its case at a January 12 meeting of Community Board 3's licensing committee). The location will mean more stage time for its performers...

Sidtis loves the fact that the 99-seat theater has a lobby, and says of the layout, "It's a little different [than that of the Chelsea location]. The shows will be more presentational and less theatrical in nature." Phil Hartman, who built the theater a decade ago and still owns the adjacent Two Boots pizza parlor and video store, tells us "I love the theater and I'm pleased to think that it would stay alive as a theater and not get gutted and turned into something else."..."
[NY Magazine]

The current NYC UCB Theatre is located at 307 W. 26th St. It's there that you can catch Leo Allen's weekly Whiplash show on Monday nights at 11pm...for free. This week (tonight) (11/5), Reggie Watts and Marc Maron will be two of his guests.

Leo Allen's Monday night spot used to be held by Aziz Ansari and the Human Giant crew doing a similar type of comedy show with the same types of guests. Don't miss Aziz when he does a much bigger type of show January 9th and 10th at Comix. All dates HERE.

The above photo was taken at the UCB Theatre in NYC, on December 18th.

Amanda Palmer @ Bowery Ballroom, New Years Eve (Genista)

"To cull incessant taking of pictures, Amanda Palmer and the Danger Ensemble held a two minute rock stage photo op, going through poses, so we could impress our friends with the amazing rock show we'd, wait, I shouldn't have told you that." [Genista]

today in NYC
* DANCE
* The Dickies @ Southpaw
* Gregg Allman @ Blender Theater
* The Bad Plus @ Village Vanguard
* Todd Barry @ Comix (early & late)
* Lucy Waiwnright Roche @ Joe's Pub
* Extra Life, Sam Hilmer/John Dwyer, Skeletons & John Fell Ryan @ DBA

The Damned will not be playing in Asbury Park tonight. They also didn't play New Years Eve.

How was the show The Dickies played on New Years Eve?

Todd Barry also plays two shows at Comix tomorrow.

The Bad Plus are at Village Vanguard through Sunday.

Dave Hill is the sheriff of Prospect Park. Video below...

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

DOWNLOAD: Slow Club - Christmas TV (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Wooden Shjips - Auld Lang Syne (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Richard Hawley - Silent Night (MP3)

Twisted Sister Christmas show @ Nokia Theatre (more by Tim Griffin)

Morgan Murphy the Hanukkah Fairy @ Nokia Theatre (more by Chris La Putt)

today in NYC
* Yo La Tengo & ??? @ Maxwell's
* Matisyahu & Easy Star All_Stars @ Webster Hall
* other Hanukkah events @ LPR, Highline Ballroom & elsewhere

Kindercore is giving a way a free holiday EP.

Step away from your 3rd viewing in a row of A Christmas Story for a second and watch Aimee Mann's retelling of A Christmas Carol.

Check out our own free Christmas mix, and a second with some extras, and the holiday MP3's I posted in 2007.

The Wedding Present made a Christmas song.

Wayne Coyne says happy holidays! Merry Christmas from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Rosie Thomas and Julian Koster released Christmas albums this year.

So did Amnesty International, The Hives, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett...

Christmas gifts from Vice and The Raveonettes, and The Long Blondes too.

Watch Dave Hill (santa) and Little Michael Jackson (elf) in "Seasonal Employment" below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday? (Christmas & Hanukkah)"

photos by Eric M. Townsend

Nick Diamonds/Thorburn of Islands put together a NY Cares benefit at Knitting Factory in NYC. It happened back on December 8th. The three floor event featured experimental music, art and someone on LSD in a cage on the bottom floor (Old Office), comedy (Eugene Mirman, Dave Hill, Tim Harrington of Les Savy Fav, God's Pottery, Jessie Klein, etc...) followed by Street Carnage (Gavin McInnes showing funny pictures and telling really dirty stories about them) on the second flooor (Tap Bar), and music (Conrad Keely, Leona Naess, Marnie Stern, Despot and Nick Diamonds) and comedy (Eugene Mirman and Fred Armisen) on the main stage. More pictures below...

Continue reading "the rest of the NY Cares Benefit pics (David Cross, Nick Diamonds, Fred Armisen, Street Carnage...)"

by Andrew Frisicano

Abigail demands "Respect" @ Ted Leo Karaoke @ Studio B (more by Ryan Muir)

DJ List Christee @ SXSW 2008 (Stereogum)

Of Montreal already announced and sold-out its December 16th show at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg. The next day (Wednesday December 17th) Of Montreal will still be in Brooklyn at another event, but this time it will be a Kevin Barnes DJ set (DJ List Christee, actually) at The Bell House, as part of the Brooklyn venue's 1st Annual Holiday Karaoke & Dance Party. Kevin will DJ the dance party after the karaoke. The karaoke hosts will include comedians Kurt Braunohler, Kristen Schaal, Dave Hill, Eugene Mirman and more TBA. Expect surprises (but don't be disappointed if there aren't any). Anyone can sign up to sing. Tickets are still on sale.

Looking for what to expect from Kevin Barnes? Here;s one possibility... He played SXSW earlier this year as Christee - and blog Optical Atlas described the performance, in which Barnes ended up actually playing and not DJing, as "an electric guitar-driven set [with] a couple covers and an Of Montreal song."

Afterward, Kevin gave Paste Mag a description of the act:

"I intended to do something really cool and come to SXSW and establish myself as this fantastic modern DJ. But then I didn't have time, so I established myself as a completely uninspired loser DJ. But I made up a DJ name, which I think is essential. I always think of these characters and give them names, and I like the name List. It's such a bizarre first name. They say you can't trust a man with two first names, like Peter George or something. But List Christee, you can trust her. She doesn't even have a first name."

"I don't even feel like it's a performance," Barnes says. "I'm not a DJ. I'm a real-time playlist arranger. A DJ pumps up the crowd and scratches and does creative stuff on the fly. I was basically just chilling and playing music. During my first set ever, I was an iPod DJ in Oslo at this little bar and they actually pulled the plug on me. 'We don't play that kind of music.' I was playing The Cure, Beck and things that were considered more mainstream by them. It is really humiliating to have the plug pulled on you, and then to have to do the cold walk of shame home with your iPod between your legs."

No stranger to karaoke, Of Montreal also acted as NY Magazine's live-karaoke backing band at their event at Studio B back in 2007. The latest event like it was just this month, and featured Ted Leo as the house band. That night made a star of Abigail thanks to her stunning rendition of "Respect" (picture above, video below). Want to see Abigail do that again? The Bell House is also promising she will be in the house on Wednesday.

Video, flyer and all dates below...

Continue reading "DJ List Christee (Kevin Barnes) & karaoke @ the Bell House"

DOWNLOAD: AC Newman - Submarines Of Stockholm (edited version, mp3)

In addition to the previously posted tour that included a Bowery Ballroom date (that is on sale) with Dent May, and in addition to the new album listening party happening this Thursday, AC (Carl) Newman has two more NYC events coming up. First, Carl will be Dave Hill's special guest at the previously announced Dave Hill Explosion at UCB on December 18th, and second, Carl will end his tour with The Broken West with another Brooklyn show at The Bell House (3/29). No tickets for that one yet. All dates below...

Continue reading "more AC Newman shows, w/ Dave Hill & the Broken West "

Brian Posehn performs four shows at Comix in NYC Friday and Saturday night.

Dave Hill leaves NYC to make a couple of rare appearances in Philly - also Friday and Saturday.

Don't worry Dave won't be gone long though. He is scheduled to appear Monday at Knitting Factory with David Cross who will also be at the Union Hall holiday comedy show on Sunday.

The above picture has nothing to do with anything else in this post. It is courtesy of VICE.

Dave Hill will also be at UCB on Decemmber 18th, and you can see him getting wasted in the video (of his trip to the New York Bar show at the Javits Center) below...

Continue reading "Brian Posehn is in NYC, Dave Hill is in Philly & other comedy "

John Oliver @ South Street Seaport (EV Radio Fest) by Chris LaPutt

MON 12/15: 7:30pm / $25
TELL YOUR FRIENDS! THERE'S NO CHRISTMAS IN DARFUR!
A comedy benefit for Save Darfur. Hosted by Liam McEneaney.
JOHN OLIVER
TODD BARRY
GREG GIRALDO / EDDIE BRILL / ANDRES DUBOUCHET
and way more! PLUS: The Comedy Nerd raffle, with prizes from The Onion, Comedy Central, Comix, more... PRODUCED BY: Liam McEneaney and Jessica Flores

This is at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Tickets are on sale.

David Cross and Dave Hill are performing at another benefit at Knitting Factory on December 8th.

Dave Hill's next Explosion takes place at UCB on December 18th.

Mike Birbiglia stars in the new show Sleepwalk With Me.

Stella & Demetri Martin have cheap/small-venue shows coming up.

The holiday edition of Eugene Mirman's show Tearing the Veil of Maya takes place at Union Hall on December 7th ("on sale soon").

Sara Schaefer will be Conrad of Takka Takka's guest at "Outsmarted: The Music Trivia Night" at The Bell House on December 1st (free).

"HANUKKAH with HOT SAUCE!" is the name of a show at UCB on December 26th. Add it to the list of other Hanukkah-related events happening in NYC this year.

John Oliver opened for Yo La Tengo at one of their 2007 Hanukkah shows at Maxwell's. Watch a video from that show - John is discussing "alternative energy - below...

Continue reading "John Oliver, Todd Barry, Mike Birbiglia, Dave Hill, benefits & other comedy shows "

Islands @ Market Hotel (more by Leia Jospe)

Nick Diamonds of Islands Presents : a BENEFIT for NY Cares, December 8th @ Knitting Factory in NYC. Tickets are on sale. Flyer below...

Continue reading "NY Cares @ Knitting Factory w/ David Cross, Marnie Stern, Nick Islands, Conrad Trail of Dead, Dave Hill, more..."

DOWNLOAD: Valley Lodge - All of My Loving (MP3)

Dave Hill rockin' @ UCB (more by Tim Griffin)

Hi there,

Just a quick reminder that my seriously good rock band Valley Lodge will be breaking out the hits at Bar 9 (807 9th Avenue between 53rd and 54th Streets in scenic Hell's Kitchen) at 8:30pm TONIGHT. The great Mad Larry (ex-Bogmen guys) will be rocking right after us. Don't miss this rare opportunity to see us play in a venue that serves nachos and other reasonably priced, cheese-themed snacks. It's wet outside, but the Valley Lodge rock will make you even wetter. Wait, that's gross. Sorry. Anyway, come tonight and we'll talk it out after the show. We will playing all the old hits plus some of the new hits from our forthcoming, obscure second album and also our current Japanese debut (currently available with exciting new artwork and some Japanese writing and stuff right here:

I'm not saying you should buy our Japanese album (though you are welcome to), but I would like to point out how we totally have a half-naked chick on the cover and there's nothing my parents can do about it.

XO,
Dave Hill

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Valley Lodge @ Bar 9
* Murphys Law @ Santos
* McRad @ Knitting Factory
* Professor Pez @ Union Hall
* Busta Rhymes @ Knitting Factory
* Corey Dargel & NOW Ensemble @ LPR *
* Murs & Kidz in the Hall @ Bowery Ballroom
* The Essex Green & High Places @ The Bell House
* Apollo Sunshine & Previously on Lost @ Mercury Lounge

* "Tonight, October 29 at 9:30 PM (9:00 doors), Corey Dargel and the dynamic young chamber group, NOW Ensemble, will come together for a special New York record release event at Le Poisson Rouge. NOW Ensemble will join Corey to play special live arrangements of his album tracks, along with accordionist/vocalist Kamala Sankaram. NOW will also play a set of their own, with music by Patrick Burke, Mark Dancigers, and Judd Greenstein."

Halloween is coming.

Bob Dylan tickets on sale tomorrow.

A video of Goldfrapp performing "Clowns" on TV below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

Photos by Tim Griffin

DOWNLOAD: Valley Lodge - All of My Loving (MP3)

Guided By Voices' Doug Gillard filled in as Dave Hill's "Paul Schaefer" at last night's 'Explosion' at the UCB Theater in NYC (Oct 16). Phil Costello who usually plays the part was off playing with his heavy metal Bee Gees tribute band Tragedy. Trivia time: Dave Hill (comedian AND musician) and Doug Gillard both played in the Ohio band Cobra Verde, but at different times. At last night's show, Doug and Dave played part of "Jessica" by the Allman Brothers (at the same time).

Moby, complete with "cock saddle" moustache, was the first to join Dave and Doug on the stage. They chatted and then Moby played a version of "Dust in the Wind". Next up was Walter Schreifels of Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand and Rival Schools fame (P.S. Rival Schools are playing the BrooklynVegan party at Knitting Factory on October 25th). Walter spoke to Dave, Doug, and Moby. They all talked to each other and Walter played "Cats and Dogs" by Gorilla Biscuits.

There was a Chihuahua (which oddly wasn't the only dog in the room) (no cats though).

More pictures below...

Continue reading "Dave Hill, Walter Schreifels, Moby, Doug Gillard & abused chihuahua @ UCB, NYC - pics"

by Klaus Kinski

Moby, Phil, Ira & Dave

The next installment of the Dave Hill Explosion is happening at the UCB Theater on Thursday 10/16/08 at 9:30pm. Dave might want to consider moving the show to Burger King because it sure is gonna be a whopper*. His guests this week include Moby, Walter Schreifels (Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, Rival Schools) as well as guitar hero Doug Gillard (Guided By Voices, Richard Buckner, the Oranges Band, Cobra Verde). Add to the mix Dave's own comedy, performance, and videos, and you've got a show so overwhelming your health may be in jeopardy. And tickets are only $5.

Walter's band Rivals Schools recently reunited. They have sold-out gigs at Maxwell's (11/4) and Mercury Lounge (11/6). Stoked.

Doug was seen enjoying Robert Pollard's band The Boston Spaceships at the Highline Ballroom on 10/1. If you missed him there and end up missing the Explosion, fear not. You can see him and his full band at the Alphabet Lounge on 10/22 at 7:45pm and then later that night at Southpaw, also with a full band. The Southpaw show is billed as Reef Madness: The Surfrider Foundations NYC Annual Funraiser. They save our reefs. More info on that here

And in case you missed it, Moby appeared at a Rock & Rescue Benefit on October 6th at the Highline Ballroom. And in case you miss the Explosion, keep in mind that Moby's doing a DJ set at Le Royale on 10/22 as part of some CMJ Week party AND Moby's band The Little Death NYC is playing a different CMJ show at Public Assembly in Brooklyn on 10/23.

* so lame.

Video of Rufus Wainwright and Dick Cavett at a past Dave Hill Explosion below...

Continue reading "Dave Hill, Walter Schreifels, Doug Gillard, Moby"

This will be the last time we post the entire schedule for the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival that kicks off Thursday night at the Bell House and includes a special musical guest which is rumored to be Les Savy Fav or Flight of the Conchords but is most likely neither. The latest and greatest lineup (now with even more tickets available for advanced purchase) below....

Continue reading "EM comedy fest kicks off tonight w/ special musical guest"