Dinosaur Feathers @ Hopscotch 2011 (more by Alex Broadwell)

Their whole sad letter below...

Continue reading "Dinosaur Feathers' gear stolen in Bushwick"

photos by Leia Jospe

Photographer Leia Jospe accompanied Anamanaguchi on a trip to Japan where they played Tokyo's own version of the Blip Festival along with Nullsleep and others. Her pictures from that October event are in this post (the above-pictured kitty included). Her pics from the most recent NYC version of the fest are HERE.

Anamanaguchi are currently on the road with BATHS, though they are not on the bill of the NYC show which happens at Bowery Ballroom tonight (12/2) with BATHS, Dinosaur Feathers, and Ki:Theory. Tickets are still on sale. Updated tour dates with more Blip Tokyo pictures, below....

Continue reading "Anamanaguchi played Blip Fest in Tokyo (pics), playing shows w/ BATHS (who plays NYC tonight)"

photos by Alex Broadwell

Future Islands

Like Guided by Voices, manay bands (duh) played the 2nd annual Hopscotch Music Festival in North Carolina celebrated in early September. Here are some pictures of a few of the bands that I forgot to post earlier. They continue below...

Continue reading "Hopscotch Fest 2011 (belated pics)"

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin, words by BBG

Weeze & Matt & Kim @ Deluna Fest

Do you think Matt & Kim ever get depressed? Like down-in-the-dumps, face-on-the-bathroom-tile, razor-to-the-wrist bummed? And do you think any of that anger is channeled into their music in ways not visibly noticed? Is that perma-simpleton-smile actually a front for an aryan-supremacy agenda spelled out in morse code via the band's shiny light show? Head to a New Year's Eve celebration at Hammerstein Ballroom with Super Mash Brothers to do some investigation and report back if you come across some leads. Tickets are on sale. All of their dates are listed below.

Matt & Kim was one of many artists to perform in Florida at Deluna Fest from 10/14 - 10/16, joining names like Ra Ra Riot, Stars, Ladytron, Girl Talk, Weezer, Cake and others. Belated pictures from the first day of that festival that Jane's Addiction also played, are in this post. Many more below.

Ra Ra Riot has been touring since Deluna. They don't have anything scheduled in NYC, but they will be on the road for a while and all of their dates are also listed below...

Continue reading "Deluna Fest Day 1 pics w/ Weezer, Ladytron & many more, a Matt & Kim New Year's Eve show, Ra Ra Riot tour dates"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Dive - Sometime (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Caged Animals - Teflon Heart (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Caged Animals - Girls on Medication (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Heaven's Gate - Weakness Worms (MP3)

Toys & Tiny Instruments

It's a fairly quiet post-ATP weekend, which is fine. And the big stuff (Jens Lekman, James Blake) is sold out. CMJ is coming up in less than two weeks, and I plan on taking it (fairly) easy until then. (More than anything else, I'm stoked for the Breaking Bad finale on Sunday!) But there is, as always, stuff going on that's worth your time and coin. So this week I'm just going to do an extended version of the day-by-day picks.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6

Anika at Glasslands.

Dive, the new band from Beach Fossils dude Cole Smith, is easily the hardest working group in Brooklyn right now. You can see them tonight at Death by Audio on a pretty stacked bill of locals. I've caught Dive a couple nights now and am really impressed with their energy -- dark and motorik (not totally unlike Captured Tracks labelmates Soft Moon) -- and Smith's ability to spin around and play in clothes six sizes too big for him.

Dive also plays tomorrow (10/7) at 285 Kent with Night Manager and ex-Sweetbulbs band Heaven's Gate (who have a new MP3 to download at the top of this post) and Friends.

The rest of the show is good too. Caged Animals is Vin of Soft Black's new band. There are MP3s above and you can read more about them here. The show is also a record release for Spanish Prisoners' new album, Gold Fools, which you can stream in its entirety at the bottom of this post.  It's been a while since I checked in with them... it's a really nice record, especialy the single "Rich Blood" which you can download for free from their Bandcamp. Also playing are Quiet Lights who might fill the void for lovely loud guitar pop left by Dirty on Purpose.

Over at Cake Shop are the Toys and Tiny Instruments Band who do not play live very often. It's exactly as it sounds, seven or eight folks playing songs on kazoos, melodicas, penny whistles, plastic guitars and other toys and tiny instruments. (Not unlike Pianosarus for those whose memories go back to '80s obscurities.) They are way better than you think they're going to be.

And at Public Assembly it's electronic psych rock pioneers Silver Apples who play with MNDR, Lemonade, Ital and Todd Pendu on DJ duty. Another worthy show.

continued below....

Continue reading "Dive, Caged Animals, Ladytron, Taste of the Seaport, Psychic Paramount & more in This Week in Indie"

by BBG

The Hold Steady inject another 1.21 jigowatts of electricity into "The Power of Love", the 80s Back to The Future soundtrack fave by Huey Lewis & The News. Check out an AV Club video of The Hold Steady's doing a boozy, Stones-influenced version below, and look for The Hold Steady on the road in late September, including at the Popped! festival in Philadelphia.

The Hold Steady just finished a run of dates with The Donkeys who will play Knitting Factory in Brooklyn TONIGHT (9/2) with The Latebirds and Brooklyn's own Dinosaur Feathers. Tickets are still available.

The show is one of a select few dates for The Latebirds, who are touring in support of the US release of their new LP Last Of The Good Ol' Days (out now). If you just take the band's clearly American-sound for granted, you might not realize that The Latebirds are actually from Finland....

Blurt -Online: Americana really informs much of the sound.

Latebird Markus Nordenstreng: My first introduction to rock music came from Bruce Springsteen when I was eleven years old and that's when I got plugged into the great amp of life, as they say. I became a big fan of American popular culture, from Jack Kerouac to John Coltrane, from Hank Williams to Bob Dylan, from Paul Auster to Patti Smith, from Peckinpah to Scorsese, from the MC5 to Snoop Dogg, from Mother Maybelle to Marlon Brando. I think there is a common thread all along.
In the past ten years I've spent lots of time in the U.S. - not only touring or recording with the Latebirds, but on my own as well. I prefer spending my winters in Southern California instead of Southern Finland for sure...

Continue reading "The Hold Steady covered Huey Lewis (video), The Latebirds are on tour (play Brooklyn w/ The Donkeys tonight)"

Little Dragon @ Summerstage 2009 (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

today in NYC
* Beyonce @ Roseland Ballroom
* Tell Your Friends @ Lolita Bar
* Canon Blue, Atlantic/Pacific @ Mercury Lounge
* Organized Sports, Brain Slug, Dipers @ The Acheron
* Fort King, Sondra Sun-Odeon, Desert Stars @ Zebulon
* Virgin Forest, One Hundred Dollars @ Knitting Factory
* Little Dragon, DJ Rich Medina @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* MiniBoone, Gringo Star, Your Youth @ Rocks Off Concert Cruise
* Afuche, Cool Memories, Father Figures, Killer Bob @ Bruar Falls
* The Everymen, Ben Franklin, Dinosaur Feathers @ Mercury Lounge
* The Wood Brothers (Hudson Square Music & Wine Festival) @ City Winery
* Jenny Scheinman - Mischief & Mayhem @ Village Vanguard
* Governor, Hollis Brown, Peanut Butter Lovesicle, Courtesy Tier @ Cameo Gallery
* James Pants, Psychobuildings, Airbird, Balloon (afterparty with Co La) @ Glasslands
* The Moon w/ Janeane Garofalo, Jessi Klein, Nate Bargatze, Music From Field Mouse @ Public Assembly
* Hoodie Allen, Outasight, ZAK! Downtown, Fortune Family @ The Studio at Webster Hall
* Jason Ajemian & The High Life, Mike Pride's From Bacteria to Boys, Sideways in the Soup @ Cake Shop
* Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, Scary Mansion, Franz Nicolay, Preston Spurlock @ Death By Audio

Dinosaur Feathers was recently added to the MS-fighting benefit at Mercury Lounge tonight.

Virgin Forest, as previously mentioned, is Phosphorescent's band minus frontman Matthew Houk. They headline Knitting Factory tonight.

Little Dragon play the BV-presented record release show at MHOW tonight. They recently made a Modcast mix which you can grab here.

Memoryhouse recently released a video for "Quiet America". Check it out below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

The Hold Steady at Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 (more)

Last month, we announced that Truck America is returning to the Catskills in September (the 9th through the 11th) and will be headlined by The Hold Steady and Okkervil River. The only other confirmed bands at the time were Ra Ra Riot and Wye Oak. The lineup has since been updated to include Fruit Bats, Vetiver, The Felice Brothers, CItay, Gary Higgins, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Takka Takka, Hospitality, The Low Anthem and others. Check out the full list below. Early bird tickets are still on sale.

For The Low Anthem, it's one of many dates they just announced including one at Terminal 5 with Iron & Wine.

Speaking of The Hold Steady, frontman Craig Finn posted to his Tumblr that he's making a solo album:

"I'm in Austin TX for a few weeks. Making a record. Staying in a friend's guest house. Got here yesterday. So far so good. I'll be tracking the progress here."

Check out the full Truck America lineup update below...

Continue reading "Truck America expands lineup, Craig Finn working on solo LP"

Woven Bones at Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 (more by BBG)

Todd P is promoting some good shows coming up this weekend, and a lot of them. There are three tonight (7/15) and two Saturday (7/16).

=FRIDAY-6PM=-
| "BAD BITCHES" games opening - alt.sexy video games |
Woven Bones | My Teenage Stride | Easter Vomit | Teen Witch
@ 285 KENT AVE

-=FRIDAY-7PM=-
INDIAN REBOUND | Honey Dos | DDIILLIIAANN | Crazy & the Brains
@ MONSTER ISLAND BASEMENT

-=FRIDAY-11PM=-
I'M TURNING INTO | Dinosaur Feathers | Shark? | Sweet Tooth
@ MONSTER ISLAND BASEMENT

-=SATURDAY=-
ONEIDA | Notekillers | Call of the Wild | Gary Higgins
@ MONSTER ISLAND BASEMENT

-=SATURDAY=-
FRIENDS | New Sweet Bulbs | Vacation | Hunter
@ LIVING BREAD

To quote Bill,

Dinosaur Feathers, Shark?, and I'm Turning Into are at Monster Island [Friday]. I'm Turning Into's debut album, Parcel of Marbles, just came out on cassette and digital download. It's worth a listen for sure, especially as you can download it for free this week only at their Bandcamp site.

The Monster Island show on Saturday (7/16) was curated by Onedia and includes folk legend Gary Higgins who recently released rediscovered material from the early 70s.

Woven Bones, who play 285 Kent tonight (7/15), have also been added to the Beekman Bear Garden Beach Party this Sunday (7/17) with Xray Eyeballs, and Frankie Rose. The guys from Davilla 666 have also been added as DJs. Xray Eyeballs also DJ the show at 285 Kent tonight. That's also an Xray Eyeballs shirt Woven Bones dude is wearing in the picture above. (Xray Eyeballs and Woven Bones sitting in a tree...).

Catch Woven Bones later this summer when they open for Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Glasslands on September 15. Tickets are on sale.

All Woven Bones dates and Todd P show details below...

Continue reading "Woven Bones playing one of the many Todd P shows this weekend, added to Beekman Beer Garden gig Sunday too"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Wild Beasts - "Loop the Loop" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Wooden Birds - Two Matchsticks (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Rayon Beach - Wave Pool Ether (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: John Wesley Coleman - Ooh Basketball (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Urge Overkill - Effigy (MP3)

Tom Vek

This week is kind of nuts. I know you're all probably just going to be spending it reading A Dance with Dragons or going to see Harry Potter, but here's your TWII action... let's get into it.

Tom Vek is here for two shows, his first U.S. shows since 2005: an early show tonight (7/12) at Mercury Lounge and tomorrow (7/13) at Union Pool. I don't think either are sold out. His second album Leisure Seizure -- six years in the making -- has remained in constant rotation on my stereo since getting a copy in May and I'm pretty excited for these shows.

The new record still sounds like Tom Vek -- the staccato drum beats, sparse arrangements, his laid-back vocal style -- and maybe it's the absence but it still sounds fresh. It's a great record and a welcome return. I have no idea who is in his band these days, but he was fantastic live back when he toured for We Have Sound in 2005. I have a feeling he's still got it.

Wild Beasts

Wild Beasts are over for four East Coast shows, including two nights at Le Poisson Rouge on Wednesday (7/13) and Thursday (7/14). (They're also playing Philly and D.C.) These will be the first the band have done since releasing their third album, Smother, back in May. As I've said before, this is subtler album than Two Dancers that shows the influence of Talk Talk and The Blue Nile in particular. It's a grower, as they say, and a worthy successor to 2009's best album. Check out "Loop the Loop" at the top of this post.

Live, Wild Beasts are truly something to behold,  transcending their records every time (at least every time I've seen them). Sky Larkin's Katie Harkin is playing keyboards with the band on this Stateside jaunt which is an added bonus for some of us. The rest of North America will get a chance to see Wild Beasts in September when they come back for a proper tour.  All 2011 dates are at the bottom of this post.

Urge Overkill

Shifting gears wildly, we've got Chicago rock gods Urge Overkill in town for two shows this week. They play the Rocks Off cruise on Wednesday (7/13) and then the Rock Shop on Saturday (7/16) as part of the venue's big One Year Anniversary which is happening all this week.

Urge Overkill were odd men out in the '90s, doing suave, heavily postured cock rock in an era dominated by slacker indie and stoner sludge. 1993's Saturation is one of the decade's classics, all big riffs and attitude that has only gotten finer with age. The same can't be said for 1995's Exit the Dragon, which found the band succumbed to the rock n' roll excesses the band exemplified. (There were even rumors the band were too fucked up to even play on its recordings, having most parts subbed by session musicians.)

There were various comeback gigs in the '00s but I don't think anybody expected them to make a new album. Which made this year's Rock'n'Roll Submarine (great title) a double shock: it exists and, more importantly, it's pretty awesome. Kato and Roeser keep the same flame alive: badass riffs, supercatchy choruses, and that unfakeable rock n' roll spirit. (No Blackie Onassis, but some chemistry is just too volatile apparently.) There's also a world-weariness that keeps it all real. They aren't trying to pretend they haven't been through some serious shit. But to paraphrase "Effigy" (downloadable at the top of this post), they've always taken the loud way.

The Wooden Birds

Lovely Austin band The Wooden Birds play two shows this week as well: Thursday (7/14) at Mercury Lounge and Friday (7/15) at The Rock Shop. As you may know at this point, this is Andrew Kenny's post-American Analog Set band, which still has his drony motorik style but in a much more acoustic setting. The Wooden Birds' sophomore album, Two Matchsticks, is (in my opinion) much better than their debut: the arrangements are more dynamic and the addition of Matt Pond (both on guitar and vocally) adds a lot. (Matt Pond PA's Chris Hansen is a touring member as well.) You can check out the title track to the new album at the top of this post.

Tune-Yards @ MHOW (more by Amanda Hatfield)

What else? Hudson River Rocks starts this week (Thursday 7/14) with tUnE-yArDs and Austra which is a pretty hard-to-pass-up free show. While I don't reach for her album much, there's no denying Merril Garbus is a magnetic performer who can win over crowds easily. While Austra's Katie Stelmanis doesn't quite have that charm, there is no denying her stage presence either and I'm a big fan of Austra's debut album which came out earlier this year. Thursday is supposed to be beautiful and this show seems like a no-brainer.

Rayon Beach

Austin's Rayon Beach play three shows this week: Thursday (7/14) at Don Pedro, then Friday (7/15) at Bruar Falls and Saturday (7/16) at Death by Audio. I wrote this a year ago and I think it still holds true:

Like a lot of the bands on Hozac Records (or bands from Austin for that matter), this trio fit under the psych/garage umbrella but there's a decided Brit bent to their music. Baroque garage, is that a thing? Think Syd-era Pink Floyd or The Pretty Things more than Woven Bones. Make no mistake -- Rayon Beach can and do get plenty loud. It's just sometimes with pinkies extended.

Anglophiles might already know that Scottish indiefolk cult legend King Creosote is in town this week, playing a late show at Mercury Lounge on Thursday (7/14) and then at the Rock Shop on Sunday (7/17). Both shows are with the equally talented Jon Hopkins. I wrote about King Creosote back in March:

Scottish indie folk royalty Kenny Anderson, aka King Creosote. Anderson (whose brother Gordon was a founding member of The Beta Band and now fronts The Aliens) has been cranking out album after album of melancholic, wry songwriting since the late '90s. (Seriously, check out his discography.) Many of these have been self-released, but he's had records on Warner Brothers and Domino too.

The Radio Dept

And now another weekend of Seaport-related shows. Friday (7/15)  is the final night of this year's abbreviated Seaport Music Festival, with The Radio Dept. The band are in the U.S. for this and the Pitchfork Festival in Chicago and that's it -- so we should count ourselves lucky. If you wanted to see them somewhere small, you're out of luck. (Unless you maybe found yourself at a shop that rocked on, say, Thursday night. Maybe.) Last year's Clinging to a Scheme was one of 2010's best albums (according to me) and though I do wish they'd get a drummer to play with them at shows, they still sound pretty great live.

I'm hoping the merch table has the new 180 gram vinyl reissues of the band's three albums. In particular I want to pick up their classic debut Lesser Matters, one of the best albums of the '00s. Opening are Asobi Seksu which is a pretty perfect pairing. The weather's supposed to be gorgeous, the show is free...this'll be sweet.

Saturday is the Village Voice 4 Knots Festival which is going out of its way to let us know it's not trying to be the Siren Festival. It's a nice line-up of bands, though, scaled to fit the Seaport. Apart from Eleanor Friedberger and Oberhofer, it is a pretty rock line-up what with headliners Black Angels, Titus Andronicus, Davilla 666 and Mr. Dream. If you like to dance, they've got an indoor lounge over at 210 Front Street with an all DJ lineup that includes Yeasayer, Dan Deacon, Brahms and the Finger on the Pulse dudes (also DJing as Punches) spinning tunes. Things kick off at 1PM.

Then Sunday (7/17) is the last show of my Sound Bites Series down at the Fulton Stall Market and I'm super pleased to have Hospitality on cleanup. When I found out we were going to be doing the series again, Hospitality were the first band I thought of. If you haven't heard them, you can download their 2009 EP for free from their Bandcamp site. It's quite lovely. The band have gotten less precious since then, though no less charming, and recently the band expanded to a four-piece with drummer Nathan Michel moving to guitar making them decidedly more skronky now.

I am quite enamored with this band and you should definitely come down and see them. They are seriously good. If you come to only one Sound Bites Show this summer... this is your last chance. Hospitality are on at 3PM sharp and I'll be spinning tunes from around 1:30 or so. It's free!

And right after Hospitality finish, you can head across South Street to the Beekman Beer Garden for this week's Beach Party show with Frankie Rose and Xray Eyeballs. Both bands feature on that free downloadable mix you can get over at Insound. The Frankie Rose track is one I hadn't heard before, a cover of Slapp Happy's "Blue Flower" which you may know from covers either by Mazzy Star or Pale Saints.

Last week (Cheeseburger and Hard Nips) was fun and pretty fairly low-key. The spot -- formerly Water Taxi Beach -- is a pretty popular spot on its own, so expect a mixed crowd of those there for the show and those there just for the view/vibe. Bands start at 4PM. It's free.

And that's about it for this week. A few more daily picks are below.

TUESDAY, JULY 12

It's a heatwave today but Cold Cave will have the A/C cranked for their show Knitting Factory tonight. I do really like their new album Cherish the Light Years which kind of reminds me of '80s band Lords of the New Church. The show is with gothy sea chanty singers Cult of Youth, and Zambri who are newly signed to Kanine Records (and who were impressive at Knitting Factory during the Northside fest). The show is part of a tour that ends at Bowery Ballroom with Austra.

The newly reunited Cibo Matto are at Brooklyn Bowl. Though advance tickets sold out, there will be limited availability at the door. Go early. The show is one date of a tour that also hits Bowery Ballroom.

continued below....

Continue reading "Tom Vek, Wild Beasts, Urge Overkill, Wooden Birds, Rayon Beach, King Creosote, Radio Dept & more in This Week In Indie"

Dinosaur Feathers at Pier 54 in 2010 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

The annual Open Air Street Fair outside Housing Works Bookstore Cafe (on Crosby Street in Manhattan) is taking place Sunday, June 5. The free event starts at 10 AM and is open to all ages. This year's lineup features performances by Darlings, Dinosaur Feathers, Friends, Grand Rapids, and The Woes Like, Mountains (who have replaced the Woes) . The event also includes beer and barbecue, books, movies, CDs, and records on sale for $1 or less, and clothes and accessories. 100% of the profits go to Housing Works which provides housing, healthcare, job training, and advocacy for New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS.

This is one of several Dinosaur Feathers shows throughout June and July. They also play Silent Barn on June 11 with Shark? and Gross Relations. More Dinosaur Feathers dates and details on the Housing Works day, below.

Continue reading "Housing Works Open Air Street Fair Sunday, and other Dinosaur Feathers dates"

The second annual Hopscotch Festival will go down in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, across 12 different venues with over 135 bands, from September 8th through 10th. The lineup this year runs the gamut of independent music... from traditional indie staples (The Flaming Lips, Guided By Voices, Superchunk) to southern-inflected rock (Drive-By Truckers) to noise (Prurient) to hip hop (Beans) to garage (Jeff The Brotherhood) to funk (Budos Band) to metal (Krallice), and everywhere in between (Swans, Rhys Chatham, etc etc). Tickets are currently on sale. Full lineup is below.

Hopscotch happens almost three months after Guided By Voices play a Brooklyn Northside Festival show in McCarren Park (tickets) which is one day after Beirut plays a Northside Festival show on the same McCarren Park stage with... Sharon Van Etten (though she may have been accidentally announced at one point, they officially kept her placement on the bill under wraps until after Saturday's Music Hall of Williamsburg show). Tickets for Beirut/SVE are still on sale, and another opener will be added too.

Guided by Voices (whose Brooklyn show also has more openers coming) are also playing Pitchfork in July with Animal Collective whose Prospect Park show is now on AmEx presale.

Swans' upcoming NYC show is now on AmEx presale too.

Hopscotch lineup below...

Continue reading "Hopscotch Fest returns to Raleigh (2011 lineup announced), Sharon Van Etten officially added to Northside Fest"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Levek - Look on the Bright Side (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Levek - Second Second (MP3)

By day, Florida native David Levesque drives a school bus. In the off-hours, he records catchy tunes as Levek. You can check out two songs at the top of this post. Now a six-piece band, Levek is on a short tour that hits town this weekend, Saturday (3/5) at Cameo with Dinosaur Feathers, Motel Motel and ohnomoon, and then Sunday at Pianos with Unknown Mortal Orchestra who are touring with the Smith Westerns.

Levek will then play a few shows in his home state with neighbors Holiday Shores and Idiot Glee. What, no SXSW?

Meanwhile, Motel Motel are also playing Cake Shop tonight (3/4) with Shark? and Dinosaur Feathers. The band claim this weekend's shows are likely to be their last hometown gigs ever as they're going on "permanent hiatus." Before calling it quits Motel Motel are going on One Last Tour (with Dinosaur Feathers) that includes stops at SXSW.

All Levek and Motel Motel/Dinosaur Feathers tour dates are below.

Continue reading "Motel Motel going on permanent hiatus, touring w/ Dinosaur Feathers ++ Levek is here & on tour (dates & MP3s)"

As I say every year, the Atlantic Antic is one of NYC's greatest street fairs and filled with music. This year's goes down this Sunday, 9/26, and has added an 'indie rock' stage...

Although the Antic is beloved for its cornucopia of global chow, from banh mi to custom-cured pastrami (the official slogan of the event is "Eat it at the Antic, Walk it off on Atlantic"), this year's iteration also includes a bounty of independent music and art, two of Brooklyn's most visible cultural exports.

The Roebling Inn (97 Atlantic Avenue, between Hicks and Henry Streets, Brooklyn Heights), a dark, vintage-inspired bar that opened in December, is hosting, in partnership with the music media company Future Sounds, the Antic's first stage exclusively featuring indie-rock.

"It was a no-brainer when we got the space," the inn's manager, Jason Furlani, said. "We knew we would do something for the Antic."

While part of the joy of the Antic is its spectacular diversity (on 13 other stages, visitors can take in Brazilian samba, Latin jazz, children's folk songs, Middle Eastern belly dancing, electric blues, string bands, South Louisiana Cajun music and more), Mr. Furlani and his partners wanted to pay specific tribute to Brooklyn's indie empire. Larry Little, the chief executive of Future Sounds, booked four emerging Brooklyn bands (Dinosaur Feathers, Shark?, Arms and German Measles) and one, Grandchildren, from Philadelphia. All share a penchant for fuzzy, nostalgic guitar. [NY Times]

The 36th Annual Atlantic Antic

Sunday, September 26, 2010 from 10am to 6pm, rain or shine
Atlantic Avenue from Hicks Street to Fourth Avenue
10 Blocks of Food, Festivities, and Fun Through the Heart of Brownstone Brooklyn...

Continue reading "The Atlantic Antic is Sunday, now with more indie rock "

DOWNLOAD: The Dø - At Last (MP3)

As previously mentioned, French/Finnish pop duo The Dø visit North America this week. They kick things off on September 7th (tonight) at Mercury Lounge (tickets still on sale), continue on to the Bell House the next night (tickets), and then move to Canada before making their way across the U.S. and ending up at the Troubadour in LA on September 22nd.

Dinosaur Feathers open the Bell House show, but play Bruar Falls with Turning Into and Shark? first (aka tonight).

A whole bunch of videos and updated tour dates, below...

Continue reading "The Dø are here - updated 2010 tour dates, videos & an MP3"

photos by Chris La Putt

melophobe: From your experience, what's the best way to blow away a live audience?

Peter Silberman: Oh I don't know. It's tricky; it's in their hands. I've found that we've had the best experience when we feel connected to the audience and we feel like they're listening. You can't necessarily control that, but you can make the effort. A lot of bands definitely don't acknowledge the audience, they don't seem appreciative of them. And I think it's really important to appreciate the audience. They don't have to be there. They don't have buy tickets, they don't have to buy your record, they don't have to do anything, they don't have to give a shit about you. The fact that they do, is really cool. And it should not go unthanked.

melophobe: And honestly, as someone who is in the audience a lot, it seems like at the end of the day we are all there to share something. It's not just give and take, we all just supposed to come together and have a good time together. And go inside our heads or do whatever.

PS: Yeah. And if everybody feels like they are sharing something, then hopefully that will lead to a good show. If they like what you are doing. And I don't talk a lot on stage. The more I talk the less sense I make on stage for some reason, so I don't really talk that much, but I try to get across that...how important they are to us.

melophobe: What's a perfect record to you and do you aim for perfection when you write?

PS: Let me think for a minute. Well, I would say like Kid A is a perfect record, and that's an understatement. Not just perfect because every song is really good, it's perfect because it achieves this really, REALLY difficult thing of being incredibly strange, but being so listenable. And I've been working on just trying to, I mean I've been listening to that record for so long now. And I'm only now just starting to understand it. And these new kind of revelations I'm having about are making it better than I ever could have imagined.

Continue reading "The Antlers @ Pier 54 (more pics) (Osheaga this weekend) "

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

"The Antlers sound so good right now" - James Cross

I arrived a bit too late to see this happen, but after Dinosaur Feathers started playing their opening set on Pier 54 in Manhattan last night (7/22), a generator blew. That in turn caused much of the electricity on stage to stop working. When I got there, the opening band was playing again, but sans generator, monitors and drum machine. According to their own banter, they played 3.5 songs total (it was 2.5 songs, but then they were surprised when they were told to play one more after that). The Brooklyn band is now on tour with Lonnie Walker until August 28th when they conclude things at Littlefield (DF also have a show on September 7th at Bruar Falls).

Half way through the last song of Dinosaur Feathers' short set, a truck came blazing down the side of the peer with yellow lights flashing and a generator in tow. The crowd, aware of exactly what that was zooming by, cheered loudly. The Hudson River Park staff quickly got things up and running and The Antlers took the stage for their headlining set. It was around 9pm. That meant there was plenty of time for the band to play a full set that ran until not long past 10pm, 1-song encore included.

The wooden pier is a beautiful place, right off the West Side Highway. You're literally surrounded by the Hudson River on three sides as you're watching the band play in front of the NJ skyline (I'm not being sarcastic!). The breeze off the water, and nice night in general, made it even better.

The Antlers are one of my favorite new bands, and as usual, they didn't disappoint. Frontman Peter Silberman somehow manages to simultaneously channel so much emotion while completely playing it cool, and shredding on guitar. His backing band of Michael Lerner and Darby Cicci are completely able, and together they, well to quote James above, sound so good.

As a bonus we got two new songs, one of which was a falsetto-heavy number that they were playing for the very first time. I'm really looking forward to hearing them on record (especially the new song they played earlier in the set). The next show on Pier 54 is Deerhunter and Real Estate on August 12th. More pictures from the Antlers show, with more Antlers dates, and two videos including a video of one of the new songs (the one they played later in the set for the first time), below...

Continue reading "The Antlers, despite generator problems, played (new songs at) River Rocks on Pier 54 w/ Dinosaur Feathers (pics, video)"

photos by Edwina Hay

Big Freedia & Azz Everywhere

Big Freedia, who is part of this summer's PS1 schedule, was among those who played Crust Fest at Public Assembly last Thursday. The Northside Festival showcase also had sets by Tayisha Busay, Dinosaur Feathers, Iran & more. Some more pictures from the night below...

Continue reading "Big Freedia, Tayisha Busay, MillionYoung, Dinosaur Feathers, Iran & more (Crush Fest) in pics "

words by Andrew Frisicano

Big Freedia & friends @ Wrongbar in Toronto for NXNE - June 18, 2010

"So what the hell is Sissy Bounce? Sort of depends who you ask. Katey Red, arguably the creator of the genre, suggests it doesn't even exist and instead insists it's just sissies producing Bounce. Other artists such as Big Freedia fully embrace the term. Take some of the most hypersexual, bump and grind you can imagine, remove everything but the sexed up chorus, speed it up, and then remove the sexual identity of the artist performing it. What, what? That's right. Sissy Bounce artists are purposely androgynous, sometimes referred to as queer, sometimes transgendered, a very direct intent is to fuck with people's heads about sexuality. It's easy to relate, or be offended when you see one sex singing about the other. But with Sissy Bounce you have no idea. This makes the performances just as important as the music itself, which is perhaps why it's stayed locked down for so long." [Sean Bonner]

The next night Big Freedia brought her act to the city's Yonge-Dundas Square (a free, very public stage surrounded by stores and restaurants )- it looks like they played there with considerably more clothes on. Still, Damian Abraham tweeted: "Big Freedia's performance in Dundas Square today made the Stooges show (which was amazing) look like a Peter, Paul and Mary Concert." (btw, our pics from the Stooges show he's referring to are coming soon).

Big Freedia and crew (that includes Freedia's DJ Rusty Lazer) will be back in Brooklyn for a Thursday night set at CrushFest at Public Assembly. The lineup for the June 24th show, which is part of Northside, also includes Yes Giantess, Fang Island, Iran, MillionYoung, Dinosaur Feathers, Anton Glamb, LE1F, Jason Pants & Chaz Requina (Palms Out Sounds), Denny Le Nimh and No Surrender. Tickets are only $5.00 until 3pm today (6/22) - then the price goes back up to $15. You can also try to get in with your Northside Badge.

More pictures from Toronto, a flyer for the Public Assembly show and a video from a Big Freedia show at Glasslands are all below...

Continue reading "Big Freedia played NXNE (NSFW pics), playing Crush Fest in Brooklyn w/ Yes Giantess, Fang Island, others (tix on sale) "

"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)"

photos by David Andrako

DOWNLOAD: Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Two Door Cinema Club - I Can Talk (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Two Door Cinema Club - Undercover Martyn (Jupiter Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Two Door Cinema Club - Lasso (MP3)

Mary Chang of PopWreckoning: What's been your most memorable show so far this year?

Sam Halliday of Two Door Cinema Club: (whistles) Well, it was only last week, but I think one of the real highlights was when we played in L.A. last week. You know, the Troubadour show? It's just crazy, because it's kind of our first headline show of America. Having been from somewhere small and having never played here, and we've never come here before. It's crazy that how well we were received! It's just amazing, feeling like we've "gone" somewhere! It was cool. Other than that, since the album has been released, all the shows, you know, have kind of stepped up in attendance and it's really been amazing, because people know more of the songs and they sing a bit more, because they enjoy the album. The [album] launches were great in Belfast, in London, and in Paris.

The first of their NYC shows was May 11th at the Bell House; the second was the next night at Bowery Ballroom. Millionyoung and Dinosaur Feathers opened at the Bell House, which is where the pictures and videos here are from.

Two Door Cinema Club will be back in North America for shows in October (dates TBA). Their other tour dates (around Europe and the world) and pictures (including one of the setlist) and video from their Brooklyn show are below...

Continue reading "Two Door Cinema Club played Bowery & the Bell House (pics) "

The free outdoor concert series kicks off Thursday, July 8, with the infectious indie folk/alt country band Phosphorescent on a co-bill with the "authentically vintage" sounding L.A.-based Dawes.

The Antlers, the meteoric post-rock artists take the stage Thursday, July 22, with fellow Brooklyn-based Dinosaur Feathers and its tropical surf pop sound opening the show.

RiverRocks concludes the 2010 summer season on Thursday, August 12, with Atlanta's Deerhunter, led by Bradford Cox -- among the most talented and hardest working indie artists in the business. Opening for Deerhunter is Brooklyn's Real Estate.

RiverRocks is Hudson River Park's signature concert series staged on the Pier 54 waterfront adjacent to New York City's Meatpacking District (at 14th Street). With the setting sun and the Hudson River serving as the backdrop, each show is expected to draw capacity audiences.

Gates open at 6 p.m. for all RiverRocks shows, which are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. More information is available at www.riverrocksnyc.com.

Meanwhile, catch Real Estate 3 times this month including @ Monster Island tonight (4/16).

Phosphorescent also has a few shows coming up sooner.

Dawes will be in town to open a show for Josh Ritter.

Deerhunter recently was in town to open for Spoon.

If you've been wondering what Charlotte Gainsbourg's new album and Beck collaboration IRM sounds like, the full thing is now streaming on NPR.

Gainsbourg is playing two nights at Brooklyn's Bell House tonight (1/19) and tomorrow (1/20). Both are sold out. The opener for the first night is pop duo Dean and Britta; the second night's is Francophilic Brooklyn band Dinosaur Feathers (who have other dates, below, and their debut due this March). She plays Philadelphia's Theater of Living Arts on Friday, January 22nd, and then NYC's Hiro Ballroom (with no opener announced) on Saturday, January 23rd. Tickets for the Hiro show are still on sale.

Gainsbourg is on the lineup for Coachella in April. She recently cancelled some of her non-NYC shows (like Montreal and Toronto scheduled for the end of the month) due to scheduling conflicts. Those are expected to be rescheduled.

Charlotte isn't the only member of the Gainsbourg/Birkin family in the news. As previously mentioned, Jane Birkin (her mother) is playing in NYC in February. And a biopic about her father Serge, titled Serge Gainsbourg, vie héroïque, comes out tomorrow in France (no US screenings scheduled as of yet, though it screens in the UK in September). The trailer for that (NSFW) and all Charlotte Gainsbourg and Dinosaur Feathers tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Charlotte Gainsbourg is here (openers), playing Coachella - new album streaming ++ Serge film out in France (trailer)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Dinosaur Feathers - Early Morning Risers (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Hospitality - Betty Wang (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Acrylics - Molly's Vertigo (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Beach Fossils - Vacation (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Family Portrait - Mega Secrets (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Darwin Deez - Bad Day (MP3)

Cymbals Eat Guitars

It's hard to believe online indie record store Insound has been around for ten years. Actually it's just hard to believe 1999 was a decade ago, but the calendar says it's so. Insound is also based out of NYC, so we're lucky enough to be invited to their 10 year birthday party tonight (8/27) at Brooklyn Bowl featuring a hard-to-pass-up line-up of local talent: Cymbals Eat Guitars, These Are Powers, The Drums, Real Estate and at least one band yet-to-be-announced (sort of). $10 gets you in the door and there's free Brooklyn Brewery beer from 6 - 9.

Effi Briest

Another very good option in Williamsburg tonight (8/27) is happening at Glasslands, featuring Effi Briest, Mahogany, and Free Blood (but not Deradoorian). The all-girl Effi Briest are in the same spooky, rhythm-heavy realm as the Life Without Buildings or the Slits (and maybe just a little Siouxsie). They've got a split 7" with Telepathe that's out now and they're working on their debut album as we speak. Mahogany, whose new line-up now (nine-strong according to their Myspace) seems to have been nailed down with the addition of former Dirty on Purpose bassist DJ Boudreau, will hopefully be playing some new material as it's been three years since their fantastic Connectivity. Free Blood bring a surprising amount of heat for such a minimal sound, thanks to the chemistry between ex-!!! John Pugh and Madeline Davy. And rounding out the bill are (The) Tony Castles who share a member with Boogie Boarder and are about to hit the studio with Jake Aron (Chairlift, Yeasayer, Acrylics).

Acrylics

This weekend is the After the Jump Festival which happens Friday - Sunday at Gowanus art space/venue Littlefield. ATJ is a group of bloggers that puts on events throughout the year, but this is the third year for their multi-day event and every night is pretty solid featuring some of the best new bands in NYC and a few from out of town. The full schedule and flyer is at the bottom of the post but I'll highlight a few from each night.

Friday (8/28): I have yet to see sound-collage dance act Javelin but I do like their records and am curious to see how they pull it off live. It's also their last show possibly November, so get in while you can. You can also catchy buzzy Florida band Holiday Shores (more on them below), indie pop royals My Teenage Stride, and the beachy Dinosaur Feathers.

Saturday (8/29): Philly's Free Energy (not to be confused with Free Blood) are a lot of fun if you have no problem with early '80s stadium rock or silly outfits. Despite a feeling I should know better, their live show and giant hooks won me over. Also: the Tom Waits-meets-garage-rock of Wild Yaks and the clattering, poppy Drink Up Buttercup. The night ends as a dance party with just-added Ninjasonik and the wacky Das Racist.

Sunday (8/30): Two of my favorite new NYC bands are playing on the early side. I've written a little bit about Acrylics before, but I've caught them three times over the summer and have been more impressed each time. "Molly's Vertigo," which you can download at the top of this post gives you a good idea of their sound, which is sort of '80s-ish with a dusty Southwest vibe, which maybe makes them a bit like the Rosebuds or Mirage-era Fleetwood Mac. Vocalists Molly Shea and Jason Klauber nail the harmonies and they've got an excellent pedal steel player. They're on at 8PM, don't miss them. Right before Acrylics are Hospitality, who I've written about before, are very charming live and don't play often enough. I haven't managed to catch them since May and am hoping for lots of new songs Sunday.

You can still buy discounted $25 passes for the whole shebang until Friday (8/28) morning. Individual tickets are $10 are night. There's also free beer each night from 6 - 7PM. Again, the whole After the Jump Fest schedule is below.

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

More weekend recommendations. Fellow Brooklyn blogger Chocolate Bobka has put together a solid show at Cameo on Saturday night, with four bands that genuinely compliment each other. My previously-mentioned qualms with their vocals aside, Beach Fossils are hard to dislike and a lot of fun live. I've also been listening to the Holiday Shores (who also play the ATJ Fest the night before) dreamy, melodic debut, Columbus'd The Whim, a lot recently. It's a nice end-of-summer record. Connecticut's Sore Eros are pals with Kurt Vile and Gary War; and Washington DC's Family Portrait are part of the Underwater Peoples scene... Real Estate comparisons aren't entirely inappropriate and you can check out their song "Mega Secret" at the top of this post.

And also Saturday, there's an early show (7PM) at Glasslands featuring Phantogram, a duo who, for lack of a better term, are kind of trip-hoppy but in a '00s sort of way (breakbeats but no John Barry or Morricone samples). Chilled, atmospheric, but still danceable. Their debut album, Eyelid Movies, is a pretty good listen. Also playing are Savoir Adore who I've probably written about enough lately, and Darwin Deez.

Full After the Jump Fest schedule, some Flyers and music videos below...

Continue reading "Insound Party, After the Jump, Holiday Shores, Effi Briest, Beach Fossils, Phantogram & more in This Week in Indie "

Cloud Cult and M Shanghai String Band @ Cross-Pollination 4/18/06 (more photos)

Free, weekly NYC music series Cross-Pollination is celebrating its 5th anniversary at Pianos tonight, May 12th. The night's bill pairs Brooklyn bands Dinosaur Feathers and The Bloodsugars.

Cross-Pollination was created by Jay Goettelmann and Wesley Verhoeve, the founders of creative collective Liberated Matter, with the hope of bringing artists together in a unique way. They came up with the concept of pairing two artists together, with each playing a 45-minute set, followed by a collaborative set in which both performers share the stage. These special sets are 'one time art' and have included everything from bands joining in on each others songs, collaborating on covers, and co-writing new songs for the event.

What is your most memorable Cross-Pollination experience?

Wes: Hmm, I'd say the Kimya Dawnson/Paleface collaboration with a whole set of newly written songs was very special. Seeing Jaymay hold a note for about a full minute once during her performance was quite spectacular as well.

Jay: For me it was probably one of our big alumni shows where Casey Shea and Jeff Jacobson (of the Undisputed Heavyweights) did a rendition of the entire second half of Abbey Road. Or when Jason Trachtenburg ended his show in punk style, knocking the mic over and trying to bash these wooden flame decorations with his guitar.

Wes: There's a lot of memorable moments, but to highlight a few: Frightened Rabbit and The Brother Kite's performance was phenomenally packed and amazing. Casey Shea and Wakey!Wakey! covering Dick In A Box mere days after it was on TV was a big hit with the crowd. Cloud Cult playing with great intensity to a fire-hazard stuffed upstairs. Dave Deporis and My Brightest Diamond were so delicate and beautiful, then still at the Apocalypse Lounge. Jason Trachtenburg also played there early on and destroyed the stage and the wall behind the stage at the end of his set in front of a baffled audience. It was amazing, sort of a nebbish version of Terminator.

Both bands playing tonight are series regulars (The Bloodsugars even played the Cross-Pollination's 4th anniversary bash last year, video below.) They're both at other local-music celebrations this summer too. Dinosaur Feathers will be playing Saturday, May 16th at Park Slope's Bar 4 as part of the weeklong Local Correspondents Festival hosted by the venue. The Bloodsugars will play a Northside Festival show at Public Assembly on June 14th.

Cross-Pollination 5th anniversary mixtape (streaming and downloadable), with track listing, and all upcoming shows, below...

Continue reading "the weekly Cross-Pollination series turns five (party tonight, more upcoming shows & a free mixtape- stream & download) "