Magnetic Fields @ Loews Theater, Jersey City in Oct. 2008 (more by Chris La Putt)

"We did soft rock on I, hard rock on Distortion, and folk à la Judy Collins on Realism," [Stephin Merritt] says. "They were conceived as a trio, but particularly with Distortion and Realism, I thought of them as a pair." The titles he had in mind at first were "True" and "False," which got set aside when he couldn't figure which label applied to which album. Of course, that creative cul de sac is itself vintage Merritt.

"I asked myself, 'Would it be too simple to say that Distortion is false, and that Realism is true? Or would it be too annoying to say the reverse?' So I scratched that," he says, pausing at length. "And now it is what it is." [National Post]

The Magnetic Fields will be touring in support of their new record, Realism, which is out today (1/26). Toward the beginning of the trip, on Saturday, February 13th, they'll be playing at BAM's Howard Gilman Opera House, a show that's sold out or close to it (BAM directs you to their box office phone, 718.636.4100, for inquiries).

The tour returns to NYC in March, and they've expanded their run at NYC's Town Hall to three nights. The added show will be on Friday, March 12th. Tickets for the first show are still on sale (but not the second). The third goes on AmEx presale Wednesday, January 27th at 11am. General sale starts Friday, January 29th at noon.

Openers, who each focus on eclectic folk sounds, have also been announced: Canadian singer/kalimba player Laura Barrett plays March 10th, Australian songwriter Darren Hanlon opens March 11th, and Brooklyn electronic-instrument craftsmen Dewanatron play the final date.

All tour dates (including Magnetic Fields' European leg), a new Realism video, and clips of Dewanatron (half of which opened for Music Tapes last March) are below...

Continue reading "Magnetic Fields add 4th NYC show & openers - updated dates"

DOWNLOAD: Julian Koster - White Chistmas (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Julian Koster - Jingle Bells (MP3)

Julian Koster @ Bell House in March (more by Tim Griffin)

Music Tapes' Julian Koster is on the road with his 2009 Caroling Tour, which kicked off Saturday, December 5th in Georgia. The revised schedule for the trip is posted below. Its NYC portion will be happening on December 16th and 17th. E-mail musictapescaroling@gmail.com to get on the list for the exact location and time of the shows. For more info (including a note about posting things online about the shows) and to offer financial support, visit orbitinghumancircus.org.

Two Xmas tracks off Koster's The Singing Saw at Christmastime are posted above.

Another holiday happening that's already underway is "Eternal Christmas: A Yuletide Dreamland", an art exhibit/show space presented by Flaming Fire at 525 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn. It began over the weekend (12/4) and runs through January 5th (12-8 daily, 12-11 Thurs-Sun, $5 suggested donation). The art work tackles "the mythological and cultural roots of the winter season." The installations' "house band" will be Brooklyn's Lydsod, and the schedule includes a performance by Dewanatron (who opened for Music Tapes in March). More info is below.

Both schedules and Julian Koster singing saw videos are below...

Continue reading "Julian Koster now on a caroling tour +++ "Eternal Christmas: A Yuletide Dreamland" is open on Atlantic Ave"