Screaming Females at Cake Shop in 2010 (more by Lori Bally)

As you may know, legendary Hoboken venue Maxwell's is unfortunately closing at the end of July. As we've said before, many local bands who have called the venue home for years are playing in its final months (check out the upcoming schedule), and another one's just been added. NJ DIY heroes Screaming Females will play the venue on July 21. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Screaming Females' Don Giovanni labelmates/collaborators Shellshag have a show there with Screamales' pal Ted Leo, and another Don Giovanni band, Black Wine also play one with The Everymen, Life Eaters, and The Brooklyn What.

In related news, Screaming Females' Marissa Paternoster produced the new Modern Hut (the project of Don Giovanni co-founder Joe Steinhardt) album, Generic Treasure, which is due out on August 7. You can check out a track from that album, "History," below.

Continue reading "Screaming Females playing Maxwell's; Marissa Paternoster produced the new Modern Hut LP (stream a track)"

Shellshag at Don Giovanni 2013 Showcase (more by Caroline Harrison)

Brooklyn duo Shellshag, who recorded the track, "Green Vapors," with Screaming Females for their Chalk Tape, will release their new album, Shellshag Forever, on April 16 via Don Giovanni. The album features the track, "Face to Face," which Shellshag performed an acoustic version of for the BrooklynVegan 'Green Room Sessions', and you can stream the punky studio version below. Also below is the album artwork and tracklist.

As usual, Shellshag have a number of upcoming local (and some non-local) shows. Most excitingly, they'll share a bill with Screaming Females on April 20 at Maxwell's, which hopefully means they'll collaborate on stage during "Green Vapors." The rest of that show's lineup is great too, including Swearin' (who play Indie Pop Prom tonight [2/28]) Hilly Eye, and Great Thunder (the project of Waxahatchee's Katie Crutchfield and her boyfriend/Swearin' bassist Keith Spencer). Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Shellshag's other local dates include Friday (3/1) at Lulu's (113 Franklin St), March 11 at Acheron with Pity Party, March 21 at Silent Barn with Extra Feeler, and April 13 at Union Pool with RVIVR, Dogjaw, and Extra Feeler. Advance tickets for the Union Pool show are on sale now.

All dates are listed, along with the song stream, album art and tracklist, below...

Continue reading "Shellshag releasing new album, playing shows (one with Screaming Females, Swearin', Hilly Eye & Great Thunder)"

by Andrew Sacher

Stormshadow at MHOW earlier this month (more by Caroline Harrison)

New Brunswick punks Stormshadow, who were around from 1995 to 2000, reunited this year to finally give their only album, Set On Destroy, a proper release through Don Giovanni Records. They played their first reunion show a the Don Giovanni showcase earlier this month, and you can see pictures and a review of their set HERE. During our interview with the band, co-lead vocalist Matty King said the MHOW show might have been it for the reunion, but they had a blast at that show and have decided to schedule two NJ shows that will take place this March. The first happens on March 28 at Asbury Lanes with World/Inferno Friendship Society and Stolen Babies. Tickets for that one are on sale now. Then the next one happens at the newly reopened Court Tavern on March 30 with The Scarlet Letter, Brick Mower, Plastic Cross, and The Luckless. Admission for that show is $9 at the door.

Stormshadow's record is out now and if you still haven't heard it, two tracks are streaming HERE, and a third, "Forty Ounces and the King of Smoke," is streaming below. Like the other two, it's fast, punchy, and awesomely combines growled male vocals with cleanly sung female vocals.

Continue reading "Stormshadow schedule more reunion shows (stream a song)"

photos/words by Caroline Harrison

Screaming Females @ MHOW 2/9/2013

Independent punk rock label Don Giovanni just finished up a three night 10th Anniversary celebration in Brooklyn. Night three, at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (Feb 9) featured Screaming Females, Black Wine, Stormshadow, Home Blitz, Shellshag, and a surprise guest performance from Rubber Molding.

Shellshag, like a couple of other bands on the bill, are better suited to a sweltering, crowded basement show than a ballroom or music hall. They play facing each other, singing into a bizarrely constructed speaker unit resembling a Dalek. Their energy treads a fine line between infectious and overly precious, but luckily most people in the crowd seemed to enjoy Shellshag's unpretentious pop punk. They closed with a Dino Jr-style cover of the Cure's "Just Like Heaven" before leaving the stage to make way for Home Blitz.

Home Blitz doesn't rely on bombast the same way Shellshag does. The quartet's set was understated, modest garage rock. Front man Daniel DiMaggio hangs off of the microphone as he sings, enhancing the impression that he's sneering through his raw and earnest vocals.

Our own Andrew Sacher talked to Stormshadow last month about the band's history, their reunion, and the decision behind re-releasing their 1999 album "Set On Destroy." The set, punk with a political bent and bar rock sensibilities, was a welcome comeback for this New Brunswick band. Stormshadow's male/female vocal approach is evocative of some Fucked Up tracks, though Stormshadow vocalist Matty King is not prone to the same onstage histrionics as Damian Abraham. Sue Werner's consistent vocal presence adds a nice back-and-forth dynamic to the band's stage routine.

Black Wine is sort of like a Don Giovanni supergroup, featuring former members of The Ergs! and Hunchback. They were originally supposed to support Screaming Females on the tour that got canceled due to Marissa's health problems, so it was nice to see the band getting to support them. Following Black Wine's set, Rubber Molding took the stage to blast through an unannounced, absolutely riotous (and spot on) cover of Meatloaf's Bat Out Of Hell, complete with a cape and some glitter-bombing..

While it was no surprise that Screaming Females absolutely destroyed, there was palpable relief from the audience that lead guitarist and howling vocalist Marissa Paternoster seems to have recovered from her long illness. The band just released a tape of new material, including a song they recorded with Shellshag, and they debuted a few new songs. The setlist is below (except the last song in the encore, because I can't read my own handwriting. Anyone out there remember?).

There are no upcoming dates for Screaming Females, but you can catch Black Wine at the Cake Shop on March 23 with Hilly Eye, Nuclear Santa Claust, and Lauren of the Measure.

More pictures and the Screaming Females setlist is below.

Continue reading "Screaming Females, Black Wine, Stormshadow and more played the Don Giovanni showcase at MHOW (pics)"

Screaming Females in LA in 2012 (more by Wei Shi)

The Don Giovanni Records Brooklyn showcases begin TONIGHT (2/7) with the previously mentioned Death by Audio show, which features California X, Nuclear Santa Claust, Brick Mower, House Boat, and Plastic Cross. Admission for tonight's show is $8 at the door. Then, the Don Giovanni fun continues with two consecutive nights at Music Hall of Williamsburg which feature Laura Stevenson and the Cans, Jeffrey Lewis, Lemuria, Waxahatachee, and Hilly Eye on Friday (2/8) and Screaming Females, Black Wine, Stormshadow, Home Blitz, and Shellshag on Saturday (2/9). Tickets for Friday, Saturday, and a 2-day pass are still available.

In related news, Screaming Females are releasing a cassette of home recordings this weekend (2/10) and you can stream the whole thing ahead of its release at Pitchfork. It features the track "Green Vapors," which was done with DG labelmates Shellshag.

Laura Stevenson is also releasing a new album, Wheel, on April 23 via Don Giovanni. You can stream the lead track, "Runner," at the bottom of this post.

Meanwhile, if you miss the showcases this week (or just want more), three of the bands playing -- Black Wine, Hilly Eye, and Nuclear Santa Claust -- are teaming up again for a NYC show at Cake Shop on March 23 with Lauren of The Measure. Admission for that one is $8 at the door.

If you're going to the DbA showcase tonight, be sure to catch California X, who have a new guitarist, Zack Brower and tonight is his first show with the band.

And in even more related news, Miranda Taylor of Black Wine just interviewed Caroline Rue, Hole's first drummer, who played on their 1991 debut, Pretty on the Inside. Here's an excerpt...

The evolution of Hole's sound is, in my opinion, extreme. What do you think contributed to the sound/style changes over the years?

Well, first off, Courtney and I were the least skilled musicians and needed time to catch up with Jill and Eric. We hung out, listened to records, and they turned me on to the Pixies, which I had only seen the MTV video for "Here Comes Your Man." We became better players, so we were starting to refine our tool to do what we were intending.

Laura Stevenson song stream below...

Continue reading "Don Giovanni fest begins, Screaming Females streaming new tape, and other related news"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Stormshadow - "Watson Brake" (MP3)

The New Brunswick, NJ punk/DIY scene is one that has been thriving for years, and while some of its bands have achieved widespread recognition, it goes without saying that many others never leave New Jersey and eventually fade out. One of those bands that has gone unfairly overlooked is Stormshadow, who were around from 1995 to 2000. As mentioned, they're reissuing their 1999 album, Set On Destroy, via Don Giovanni Records on February 9, the same day they play the Don Giovanni showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg (tickets). Don Giovanni label head Joe Steinhardt calls the band the reason he co-founded the label ten years ago and though they've been unknown to most people outside of New Brunswick, he describes them as an important influence to all the bands in the scene. That's the album's cover art above and the tracklist is below.

Stormshadow's influence can certainly be heard in the Don Giovanni bands of today and it makes a lot of sense that a label that picked up bands like Lemuria, Black Wine, and Screaming Females are fans of Stormshadow. Their lead vocal duties are split between the Cali hardcore growls of Matty King and the much cleaner Breeders-esque vocals from Sue Werner. It's not unlike the male/female split vocals in Fucked Up's "The Other Shoe," but while Fucked Up often brings in guests to achieve those sounds, Stormshadow are constantly delivering a yin and yang of the clean and the dirty. The band isn't just schizophrenic when it comes to vocals though -- the songs go through tons of ups and downs in their short timespans (most are under two minutes) in the manic manner of The Minutemen, who the band cite as an influence. The record will be available at the Don Giovanni showcase, but until then, you can download the track "Watson Brake," which is making its premiere in this post, at the top of this post, or stream it below, along with another album cut, "Switched On."

We also just spoke to Matty King about the band's reunion, their history, and the New Brunswick scene. Head below to check out the interview and listen to those song streams.

Continue reading "an interview with New Brunswick punk band Stormshadow who are reuniting for Don Giovanni showcase, reissuing LP (MP3)"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Nuclear Santa Claust - "Since I Woke Up (Berlin Wall)" (MP3)

Nuclear Santa Claust (via)

As mentioned, the annual Don Giovanni Records Brooklyn showcase is going down at Music Hall of Williamsburg on February 8 and 9 with Laura Stevenson and the Cans, Jeffrey Lewis, Lemuria, Waxahatachee, and Hilly Eye on 2/8 and Screaming Females, Black Wine, Stormshadow, Home Blitz, and Shellshag on 2/9. Tickets are still available for night 1, night 2, or both nights.

Don Giovanni have also added a third night that Thursday (2/7) at Death by Audio with Nuclear Santa Claust, California X (who have a new record out soon), Brick Mower, House Boat, and Plastic Cross. Admission is $8 at the door and the show flyer is below.

The DBA showcase is also doubling as a record release show for Brooklyn trio Nuclear Santa Claust, who will have their new record, Order of the New Age, out via Don Giovanni for that show. The album follows their 2011 self titled EP, and like on that EP, you can tell that NSC's two vocalists have picked up a few vocal tips from Joey Ramone, but they've amped it up to edgier levels more akin to the hardcore bands that formed in the Ramones' wake.

Nuclear Santa Claust aren't a backwards thinking tribute to the punk of yesteryear though. On Order of the New Age, they've been able to harness their older influences and use them to create bashing punk that pushes forward, rarely looking back. We've got a download of the album's first single, "Since I Woke Up (Berlin Wall)," which you can grab above, or you can stream it below, where you'll also find the album's cover art and tracklist.

Continue reading "Don Giovanni adds 3rd night to showcase; Nuclear Santa Claust releasing an LP (download a track)"

by Andrew Sacher

Screaming Females in LA in October (more by Wei Shi)

New Brunswick label Don Giovanni are throwing their annual Brooklyn showcases in 2013 at Music Hall of Williamsburg on February 8 and 9, and this year they're doubling as the label's tenth anniversary shows. Both nights have typically great lineups, with the 2/8 show featuring Laura Stevenson and the Cans, Jeffrey Lewis, Lemuria, Waxahatachee, and Hilly Eye, and the 2/9 show featuring Screaming Females (I hope this means Marissa is getting better!), Black Wine, Stormshadow (who the label refers to as "original, political, tight musicians" who "made fantastic art" but "broke up and no one outside of New Brunswick knew who the band was," and they'll be reuniting for this show as well as reissuing their album, Set On Destroy, via Don Giovanni this winter), Home Blitz and Shellshag. Tickets for both nights and a 2-day pass option go on sale Friday (12/14) at noon and AmEx presale for the individual nights begins Wednesday (12/12) at noon. The flyer for the showcases is below.

California X at Tommys Tavern in June (more by Fred Pessarro // BBG)

One band that we're a little bummed to see not on this lineup is Amherst's grungy California X, who have a great self titled LP coming out via Don Giovanni on January 15. I know we're still in year-end-list of 2012 mode, but this is already one of my most anticipated records of 2013. You can stream the single, "Pond Rot," below.

Song stream and show flyer are below.

Continue reading "Don Giovanni showcases announced (Screaming Females, Hilly Eye, more); new California X album on the way"

Hilly Eye at Bowery Ballroom in 2011 (more by Devan Council)

Hilly Eye (aka Amy Klein formerly of Titus Andronicus and Catherine Tung) will release their first 7" on Don Giovanni Records this spring and will follow that with a full length, due out on the label this summer.

They've got two local shows coming up, including one on Thursday (2/23) at Cake Shop with Quiet Loudly, Magnetic Island, and Passenger Peru, and another on March 11 at Public Assemly with Shigeto, Gross Relations, Hard Nips, Desert Sharks, and more. The show is part of Sunrise Fest, a memorial/benefit festival for the one year anniversary of the disastrous earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last year (3/11/11). The fest runs all day from 2 PM to 11 PM with over 20 performances and is open to "all ages, all races, all people in this generation."

Both dates dates are listed with a video of the band at Ladyfest Boston below...

Continue reading "Hilly Eye signed to Don Giovanni, scheduled shows"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

Shellshag & Screaming Females fans

NJ's Don Giovanni Records held their annual big showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on Saturday night (2/11). Were you there? Here are some pictures. They continue below...

Continue reading "Don Giovanni hosted Screaming Females, Shellshag, Laura Stevenson, For Science & Black Wine @ MHOW (pics)"

by Andrew Sacher

Screaming Females in studio (more by Kristie Shanley)

Screaming Females will release their new album, Ugly, on April 3 via Don Giovanni. They recorded it with Steve Albini, whose been having a great year so far with this album and the new Cloud Nothings album. Even moreso than on that album, Albini gives Ugly the same kind of treatment he gave Surfer Rosa, Rid of Me, and In Utero, with huge snares and spacious noisy guitars. As good of an album that SF's 2010 LP Castle Talk was, Ugly is the first time the power of their live shows is effectively captured on record. You can check out a taste of the album with the first single, "It All Means Nothing," which premiered on Rolling Stone today. That single is streaming below along with a video of the band performing a stripped down version of it for an NPR Tiny Desk Concert.

As mentioned, Screaming Females play a Don Giovanni showcase at MHOW on Saturday (2/11) with Laura Stevenson and the Cans, For Science, Shellshag, and Black Wine. Tickets are still on sale and we're also giving away a pair. Details on how to enter the contest are below.

That show is one day before Screaming Females kick off a record store tour which includes a show at Manhattan's Generation Records on Sunday (2/12). The "It All Means Nothing" 7" will be available at the MHOW show and at their record store shows.

In related news, and as previously mentioned, a different Don Giovanni showcase is going down TONIGHT (2/9) at Death by Audio with Mikey Erg (of The Ergs!), House Boat, Nuclear Santa Clause, Secret Police< and Plastic Cross (mems. of The Measure). The flier for this show is below.

In other related news, Marissa Paternoster's other project Noun will release a S/T 7" on February 14 via Don Giovanni, and the label will press her debut album, Holy Hell, on vinyl the same day. Both of those releases will be available at the showcase at MHOW.

Video, song stream, flier, and contest details below...

Continue reading "Don Giovanni weekend: DbA showcase Fri., Screaming Females Sat. (WIN TIX!), Sun. (free) & now (listen to a new song)"

Screaming Females at MHoW (more by Devan Council)

NJ record label Don Giovanni have scheduled their annual pair of Brooklyn showcases (and a NJ movie screening) for middle February, returning to Music Hall of Williamsburg and Death By Audio too.

Kicking off with a screening of Dirty Work at the Forum Theatre in Metuchen, NJ on 2/9 (yes, the Norm MacDonald/Artie Lange film), the party will move to Death By Audio on 2/10 for a show with Mikey Erg, House Boat, Nuclear Santa Claust, Secret Police and Plastic Cross. The next night Don Giovanni moves eight blocks up to Music Hall of Williamsburg where Screaming Females, Laura Stevenson and The Cans, For Science, Shellshag, and Black Wine will team up to play the venue. Tickets for the bigger show go on sale Friday, 12/9. The flyer for both is below.

Latterman

In somewhat related news, Latterman, who called it quits in 2007, and who share a member with Laura Stevenson & the Cans, is back from the grave, at least for a few shows.

Latterman was a four-piece punk rock band from Huntington, New York. They played a style of melodic punk rock with shouted dual-vocals by Phil Douglas and Matt Canino, and their songs often contain political and/or socially conscious lyrics. The band has been compared to the likes of Against Me!, The Lawrence Arms, Hot Water Music and Fifth Hour Hero. Members have since gone on to play in bands including Shorebirds, Mutoid Men, Iron Chic, Bridge and Tunnel, RVIVR, Laura Stevenson and The Cans, Daytrader and The Brass.

Although recent Don Giovanni signing Waxahatchee is NOT playing the Don Giovanni showcases, Katie Crutchfield (aka Waxahatchee) can be found opening one of the Latterman shows. She is playing one of her last shows ever as part of the sunsetting PS Eliot at the Bell House.

Members of Night Birds served in The Ergs with Mikey Erg (who plays the DG show at DBA), and they have a few shows scheduled before year-end too, including a show with Citizens Arrest and another at Tommy's Tavern on 12/9 with Manipulation and Crazy Spirit (who play with Double Negative soon).

During CMJ, Laura Stevenson and Shellshag, like Polica, stopped in to perform songs exclusively for us backstage and on the Williamsburg Waterfront. Check out those videos, part of our slowly-debuting Sony Bloggie CMJ video series ("Green Room Sessions"), along with tour dates, the DG flyer, and some Latterman videos below...

Continue reading "Don Giovanni schedule 2012 showcases, Latterman reunited, Laura Stevenson & Shellshag played us songs (videos & dates)"

DOWNLOAD: Waxahatchee - Grass Stain (MP3)

The bad news is that P.S. Eliot have called it a day (though you still have a chance to catch them a couple more times). The good news is that from the ashes of that Alabama band rises the now-Brooklyn-based Waxahatchee, otherwise known as Katie Crutchfield who uses "just guitar, her voice, and a piano to tell stories." Her debut solo album, entitled American Weekend, will see the light of day on January 10th via Don Giovanni Records who say "the record is a product of a wintry week in Alabama, literally. The 11 songs were recorded in a span of seven days on an 8-track recorder."

Katie will be going on a massive tour around the time of the record release (stay tuned for dates), but you don't need to wait until 2012 to get a taste. Listen to "Grass Stain" now, in MP3 format above, and in video below...

Continue reading "Waxahatchee announces debut LP coming via Don Giovanni (MP3 & video premiere)"

DOWNLOAD Laura Stevenson & the Cans - Master of Art (MP3)

Screaming Females at Barbarella (more by Tim Griffin)

Screaming Females, who just completed a run of shows that brought them to Santos Party and Maxwell's, and who will be playing Culture Shock up at SUNY Purchase in April, will head out on tour in June with Lemuria and headliner Against Me!. The tour actually kicks off May 31 in Millvale, PA, though Lemuria and Against Me! both also play Krazy Fest in Louisville on May 21. The tour hits NYC at Webster Hall on June 7th. Tickets go on AmEx presale today at noon (4/6) and regular sale on Friday. All tour dates are below.

Against Me!'s last NYC shows were two opening slots at Roseland and a last minute, headlining matinee at the intimate Mercury Lounge.

Meanwhile, Lemuria is heading out on tour with Joyce Manor & White Wives. That tour hits The Studio at Webster Hall on April 27th. Tickets are on sale for the show that also includes Banquets. All dates are listed below.

The last time that Lemuria and Screaming Females crossed paths in NYC was at the Don Giovanni showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg in February. There the bands were joined by Laura Stevenson & The Cans who also just announced a big tour including a run with Fake Problems, Pomegranates and Into It. Over It that hits Brooklyn's Knitting Factory on May 10th (tickets) and Manhattan's Mercury Lounge on May 13th (tickets).

Laura Stevenson & the Cans meanwhile are hitting road in April after a public show at Baruch College on April 8th (tickets are on sale). The band's sophmore album is out via Don Giovanni on April 26th. An MP3 from that record is at the top of this post.

All dates and stuff below...

Continue reading "Against Me! touring w/ Screaming Females & Lemuria ++ Laura Stevenson & The Cans tour w/ Fake Problems (dates)"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

As soon as the Marissa Paternoster, front woman of Screaming Females, began hollering through the songs from the 2010 LP Castle Talk, the crowd took to moshing near the front of stage. Paternoster rules the stage with utter confidence and energy that seemed to possess the crowd. More than at any point during the night, it felt like a punk show with Screaming Females on stage. -[NYPress]

If you missed it, you're in luck, as Screaming Females have added another pair of new NYC-area dates. First up, the previously discussed Jeff the Brotherhood show at Santos on 3/31 (tickets still now available) will now be a co-headlining show with Marissa and the gang. In addition, the band has added a show at Maxwell's on 3/30, though not a show of the regular sort:

Something different! For this show artists from the NJ based Doodle Drag Art Collective will be creating unique images for our songs which will be projected behind us while we perform. For the song 'Lights Out' we humbly request YOUR artistic assistance.

We would like YOU to take a listen to "Lights Out" and then visually illustrate the song with your drawings, photos, collage, etc, (but we love drawing.) Be creative! You may illustrate the song however you see fit - create a narrative, create abstractions, or interpret the lyrics literally. Surprise us and most of all have fun with it! We ask that you provide us with a maximum of five drawings.

After submitting the images, they will be compiled into a slide show that will be projected behind Screaming Females during their set at the Maxwell's show, and it will be super cool.

All dates, and more pictures and some videos from Saturday's Music Hall show are below...

Continue reading "Screaming Females played the Don Giovanni showcase w/ Shellshag & more (pics), add more NYC shows & other dates"

by Andrew Sacher

Screaming Females @ Purchase - 2/11/2011 (photo by Kellyann Petry)

Screaming Females ripped through an amazing set at SUNY Purchase Friday night. Despite some unfortunate conditions, including a fickle PA speaker and an overly rowdy crowd breaking a cymbal stand, Screaming Females did not disappoint. Their set (a solid mix of old and new songs) was not only rewarding to the long time Screaming Females fan, but I can guarantee that the band made a handful of new fans at the show.

Screaming Females play the Don Giovanni showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg tonight (Saturday) with Laura Stevenson & the Cans, Shellshag, Lemuria, and Byrds of Paradise.

I also had a chance to sit down with the members of Screaming Females and ask them a few questions before they went on:

=====

BV: Welcome to Purchase, have you guys played here before?

Jarrett: Nope.

BV: Do you know anyone who went here?

Jarrett: Yeah, 2 members of Cheeky went here. They were a really great band that broke up a few years ago who we played a bunch of shows with.

BV: Awesome. So, Saturday you guys are playing Music Hall of Williamsburg where I saw you at the BrooklynVegan CMJ showcase. You sounded amazing that night. Are you looking forward to playing there again?

Jarrett: Yeah, I really like that venue a lot.
Marissa: We've played there a bunch, it's nice. The security guys really likes us. I don't know his name but he's a nice guy. I hope he's there tomorrow.
Jarrett: It's a cool venue. I remember when it was North Six and it was a hellhole, now it's really nice. I'd say it's one of the best places in New York to play.
Mike: It's a good place to bring your parents.
Marissa: Yeah, it's a good place for your parents to come see you. There's like parent quarantine. There's a little pen for them, like where you keep your puppy.

BV: What other places do you guys like playing in NYC?

Mike: Death By Audio is really, really cool. Pretty much everywhere except Trash Bar. (Laughs)
Jarrett: Yeah, anywhere you can play except Trash Bar, it's like the worst venue.

continued below...

Continue reading "an interview w/ Screaming Females (who played Purchase Friday, play Music Hall Saturday)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Gross Relations - You Don't Know Me (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Anika - Yang Yang (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Anika - Terry (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: ARMS - Floaters (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Martial Canterel - You Today (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Martial Canterel - Retrospective (Zip)
DOWNLOAD: The Vacant Lots - Confusion (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Don Giovanni Sampler (Zip)

Gross Relations

In addition to being Black History Month, National Bird Feeding Month and National Sweet Potato Month, February also seems to consistently have a lot of band residencies. You may already be aware of ones by ARMS (who I'll get to shortly) and Yellow Ostrich,  but I'd also like to point out that up-and-coming Brooklyn indie rock band Gross Relations starts a three-week Tuesday residency tonight (2/8) at Bruar Falls.

Gross Relations have been going less than a year, but seem to have a clear idea with what they want to sound like. Like Mr. Dream and Diehard, the band shares a love of '90s indie rock. With the prominent keyboard lead lines (or maybe it's heavily-treated guitar?) on both sides of their "Fuzzy Timelines" 7", it's pretty easy to make comparisons to The Rentals, but the band they really remind me of is Chicago's late, great Number One Cup.

Either way, it's a good thing. Gross Relations write some majorly catchy songs. You can download the b-side to their single at the top of this post. Tonight's residency also features The Toothaches (whose debut album is a free download), Gone Bad, and NT.

ARMS @ Glasslands in December (more by Andrew St. Clair)

I mentioned ARMS briefly above who are on Week Two (2/9) of their February Wednesdays residency at Pianos. Todd Goldstein and the rest of the band are finishing up work on their debut album (Kids Aflame was more of a Todd solo thing) with Shane Stoneback (Vampire Weekend, Sleigh Bells). So expect a lot of new songs, I'd imagine. Todd says of the record, "It's a vast, hi-fi album. We're doing everything we can to take full advantage of the studio... the songs are very poppy and a little weird, there are lots of beautiful/scary textures, copious-but-thoughtful use of reverb... sequenced into a song-cycle, a sort of sci-fi breakup album." ARMS are hoping to have it out by the summer.

This week's residency is especially strong I think. It includes the lovely Hospitality, who finally seem to be getting down to business, having wrapped up their long-gestating debut album (also with Stoneback) which could be out as early as the spring. Let's hope! Singer Amber Papini promises a couple new songs at the show.

Also playing: Radical Dads, whose new single is a free  for you (with email address) via the increasingly popular Download Widget (found below). And Translations (who share a member with ARMS) open who I am super psyched to finally be seeing live after months of digging their debut 7".

Show's eight bucks, will be a good one.

Martial Canterel

Also Wednesday is the record release party for Martial Canterel's You Today which came out today on Wierd Records. The show is part of Wierd's weekly Wednesday night party at Home Sweet Home. The flyer says performance at midnight, but I've never seen a band go on there before 1AM.

Martial Canterel is the non de synth of Sean McBride who is also one half of Xeno & Oaklander. McBride is kind of a luddite, making his records entirely on vintage equipment that was probably cutting-edge technology in 1980. Obviously it sounds very retro, but McBride's way of doing things also gives it a sound -- and authenticity -- you can't quite replicate on a laptop. Check out the title track at the top of this post. And if you dig that, also up there is a free downloadable Martial Canterel retrospective, including some rare songs.

Anika

In town this weekend is Anika whose debut album was a late-breaking entry into my Favorite Albums of 2011. Recorded in 12 days, live with no overdubs, it sounds like the missing link between The Slits and Lilliput. Portishead's Geoff Barrow -- his other band BEAK> is the backing band here -- gets the claustrophobic vibe just right. A lot of people have tried and failed to recreate that Martin Hannett Sound... Barrow nails it. And the material -- a mix of girl group covers and politically-charged originals -- suits Anika's Nico-esque delivery perfectly.

You can download two tracks from the album at the top of this post. "Yang Yang" is a Yoko Ono cover, and "Terry" was originally recorded by Twinkle, who is probably best-known for having made the original version of "Golden Lights" that was later covered by The Smiths. (Many Smiths fans' least favorite track, but not mine. That would be "Never Had No One Ever.") The album sort of snuck out at the end of 2011, so catch up now. So good.

Don't get too excited though, Anika is just over for some DJ gigs -- I'm hearing we'll get her performing in May (and probably later at ATP) -- but I'd recommend checking one of them out nonetheless. Especially as three of them are free: on Thursday (2/10) she'll be at Gallery Bar with Blu Jemz, then  Saturday (2/12) at Trophy Bar and a Valentine's Day set  (2/14) at The Commodore. The remaining three NY DJ appearances are atMercury Lounge tomorrow night (2/9) spinning between sets at the Cubic Zirconia show (tickets), and Glasslands on Friday (2/11) where she'll spin in between sets by Javelin, High Life, & Monster Rally (tickets), and finally Santos Pary House on 2/16 as part of the previously discussed Beans show with Edan, Paten Locke & Bluebird (tickets).

That Javelin show on Friday night should be fun, as Anika's tastes will nicely contrast/compliment the sounds of Javelin (always one of the better live bands saddled with the "chillwave" tag), Highlife and Monster Rally.

That's the big stuff this week. Some more picks, day-by-day, are below.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Gang of Four at Webster Hall, though really it's more like Gang of Two as it's just Jon King and Andy Gill from the original line-up these days. Their new album, Content, isn't bad. But most people will go to hear "To Hell With Poverty," "At Home He's  a Tourist," and other classics. And while Hugo and Dave will be missed, Andy Gill is still amazing to watch spit out those riffs, and Jon King remains possessed on stage -- especially when he's beating the shit out of a microwave on "He'd Send in the Army."

continued below...

Continue reading "Gross Relations, ARMS, Martial Canterel, Anika, Vacant Lots, Javelin, Abe Vigoda, Don Giovanni, more in This Week in Indie"

Screaming Females, whose next NYC-area show is the 2011 Don Giovanni showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg on February 12th, have a new video for their song "Wild", off their 2010 release Castle Talk (out now on Don Giovanni Records). Rock out with that video, and check out the poster for the Brooklyn show and a set of updated tour dates, below...

Continue reading "new 'Wild' Screaming Females video & updated tour dates"

DOWNLOAD: Screaming Females - Wild (MP3)

Screaming Females @ MHOW (more by Ryan Barkan)

Screaming Females' latest LP Castle Talk was released by Don Giovanni back on September 14th. If you haven't heard it yet, now you can sample "Wild" from the album for free, and legally. Grab the MP3 above.

Screaming Females recently got back from a massive world tour that included close-to-home shows at Music Hall of Williasmburg for the the BrooklynVegan CMJ showcase in October, a show at Webster Hall, shows at Maxwell's and Death By Audio, a show at Brooklyn Bowl, and a show at Knitting Factory. In February 2010 they played a Don Giovanni showcase at Bowery Ballroom. In February 2011 they'll play another Don Giovanni showcase, but this time at Music Hall of Williamsburg (on February 12th). The full bill is: Screaming Females / Laura Stevenson & The Cans / Shellshag / The Steinways / Byrds of Paradise. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon.

Their only other shows right now are in Chicago and LA, and they are listed, along with a video below...

Continue reading "Screaming Females playing Don Giovanni show & other dates"

DOWNLOAD: Marissa Paternoster - Holy Hell (MP3)

Marissa Paternoster (Screaming Females) @ DBA in Feb. (more by Leia Jospe)

"Holy Hell, the first official Noun release, incorporates keys, organs, and toned-down guitars and drums. The result is clearly different than Screaming Females: it's mellower, more melodic, and whereas the Screaming Females' songwriting process is a three-way discussion, Marissa Paternoster writes all of the songs for Noun.

Similarly to Screaming Females, Marissa's friends are an important part of Noun. Holy Hell features drum work by Angela Boylan (of Cheeky), Miranda Taylor (Hunchback, Black Wine, Full of Fancy), and Jarrett Dougherty (Screaming Females), plus bass lines by King Mike (Screaming Females). Her Mom designed the artwork, and her friends at New Brunswick label Don Giovanni are releasing the record. "

April 24th will will feature a headlining set by Screaming Females who are currently being advertised as "special guest" probably due to their April 9th show at Irving Plaza with Obits and Ted Leo. The Measure, Barrakuda McMurder, Byrds of Paradise, and Modern Hut are also on the bill. Tickets are on sale.

April 25th is headlined by Shellshag and will feature a set by Noun, as well as sets by Full of Fancy, Black Wine, and Pregnant. Tickets are on sale. All dates below...

Continue reading "Screaming Females frontwoman goes solo as Noun - releasing an LP (MP3), playing Don Giovanni shows (dates) "

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Don Giovanni Records sampler (ZIP)

forgetters @ Bowery Ballroom (twipic)

Don Giovanni Records hosted a seven-band showcase at Bowery Ballroom on Saturday, February 6th. The lineup for that included Shellshag, forgetters, Screaming Females, JEFF the Brotherhood, The Measure (SA), Black Wine and Groucho Marxists - all of which, minus JEFF and forgetters, are represented in the compilation linked above.

Videos from the Bowery Ballroom show are posted below. One clip captures JEFF starting off their set with a pitch-dark solo guitar intro to their album-opening rocker "Heavy Days." JEFF the Brotherhood and Screaming Females have added a Brooklyn show to their upcoming tour dates together. They'll be at Death By Audio on February 23rd with Stupid Party. A show flyer is below

Other video highlights include a look at forgetters, Blake Schwarzenbach's newish trio who have yet to release a proper recording (song intro: "this is a psychedelic odyssey...to Southern California"). forgetter's only other upcoming show is a certain festival down South: Harvest of Hope Fest, taking place March 12th-14th in St. Augustine, FL. The massive, impressive lineup for the fest (which hosted the National, Broken Social Scene, Girl Talk, the Faint & more last year) includes Billy Bragg, The Mountain Goats, Dr. Dog, Anvil, Rogue Wave, Strike Anywhere, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Man Man, Dead Prez, Japanther, Freelance Whales and many more. Tickets are on sale. The full list of bands is below. (As for that other upcoming festival, we hope forgetters make it to SXSW, but it should be noted that they did just play Austin in November.)

The Bowery show was a release party for Shallshag's new Rumors in Disguise and Screaming Females' self-explanatory Singles, both of which come out February 9th on Don Giovani. The video for Shellshag's "Resilient Bastard," off that, is below.

More videos of guitar shredding, pop-punk, crowdsurfing, etc. are below...

Continue reading "Screaming Females & JEFF the Brotherhood add NYC show, played Bowery w/ forgetters (playing Harvest of Hope Fest)"

Screaming Females @ Terminal 5 last night (more by Chris La Putt)

Screaming Females are in midst of their two night run opening up for Arctic Monkeys at Terminal 5. The second of those is tonight (12/11). Also playing a NYC show tonight are Blake Schwarzenbach & forgetters, who kick off their tour at Market Hotel (with Humanbeast and Chastity Wig).

forgetters and Screaming Females play a NYC show together on February 6th for a Don Giovanni Records showcase show with Shellshag JEFF The Brotherhood, The Measure (SA), Black Wine(ex-Ergs) and Groucho Marxists at Bowery Ballroom (note: forgetters & JEFF are not actually on the label). Tickets are on sale.

Don Giovanni is putting out a new 7" collection from Screaming Females, Singles, on February 9th. The Bowery show is the first date in Screaming Females' tour with JEFF the Brotherhood, which runs through February (best. tour. ever.).

JEFF just opened for Ted Leo at Bowery Ballroom on Sunday and played Mercury Lounge the night after.

Show flyer, more dates & stuff below...

Continue reading "Screaming Females touring w/ JEFF the Brotherood, playing Don Giovanni show w/ forgetters (who kick off tour today)"