photos by Jessica Amaya

"Matt & Kim shuttin it down!! @ Webster Hall" - Bryan Lam

"Matt and Kim concert. It's time to get crazy in NYC!" - Erik Segura

Despite their constant movement into the audience, onto their equipment and up the scaffolding that held up their light setup, Matt & Kim placed their instruments as close together as the 9:30 Club stage would allow. Their hyperactivity made Sleigh Bells look like slackers and the onstage chemistry was oh-so-cute -- except when it wasn't.

After a short time, it became clear that although Matt & Kim have released two albums and have material ready for a third, all of their songs are pretty much variations on their big hits, "Yea Yeah" and "It's a Fact." All have loud and fast drumbeats, loud and fast keyboards and loud and fast keyboards -- usually with the same chord progressions. But in case anyone got sick of hearing the same "BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM" over and over again, Matt & Kim broke up their own set with samples from stadium staples like Biz Markie's "Just a Friend" and DJ Kool's "Let Me Clear My Throat." Adding the jock jams seemed appropriate given that Matt Johnson kept breathing heavily between songs, as if constantly between sprints. The band's bright light setup also added to the illusion that we were really at some overstimulating pep rally. -[DCist]

The above quote comes from Matt & Kim's DC show which took place on 10/22 at 9:30 Club, a few days before the band began its two day reign at the 1400+ capacity Webster Hall (where will they headline next? Terminal 5?) with The So So Glos and Donnis (10/26 and 10/27). The pictures in this post are from the 2nd show, where, as usual, the kids ate it up, and just generally went nuts. Not news, but Matt & Kim's days of ruling the DIY Todd P scene are a thing of the past. Their choice of The So So Glos, who helped found the now-closed Market Hotel, as opener was one reminder though, of their pre-VMA/mega-sponsored life.

Matt & Kim's spunky NYC run is over (they're in Rochester tonight) (all dates below), but The So So Glos have another date in town tonight (10/28): they play a free show at Matchless with Titus Andronicus.

Matt & Kim's new album Sidewalks is out 11/2 (iTunes). "Matt and Kim fans around the country have been busy creating art on these postcards, distributed at festivals over the Summer, and sending them into m and k headquarters." Those postcards were compiled into a promotional video which you can watch under the rest of the pictures and videos from Webster Hall, and other stuff, below...

Continue reading "Matt & Kim played 2 nights @ Webster Hall w/ the So So Glos & Donnis (pics & video ) "

Matthew Dear @ MHOW in 2008 (more by Bao Nguyen)

As mentioned, Pitchfork will be hosting three days of shows at Brooklyn Bowl during, but-it-looks-like/probably completely unaffiliated with, CMJ this year (Thursday/Friday/Saturday CMJ week). "Brooklyn Bowl is located at 61 Wythe Avenue between N. 11th and N. 12th streets. The festival starts at 2 p.m. each day, with doors opening at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10, both in advance and day of the show." They're calling it the #OFFLINE Festival.

Based on the lineups and start time, it looks like each #OFFLINE day will be about a 12 hour show. No set times yet though, but the full lineups and ticket links are below...

Matthew Dear is one of the biggest names on the list (he plays Saturday), and it will be one of three CMJ week shows for Matthew. His first is Friday night at Webster Hall with Jamaica and Dominique Young Unique. His third is later on Saturday at Public Assembly for the FIXED/Making Time Party with Matthew Dear, Crocodiles, Holy Ghost!, Javelin, Gold Panda, Jamaica, and Kisses.

The FIXED/Making Time party starts after the BrooklynVegan party which is also happening at Public Assembly that same day. Just to be clear:

SATURDAY OCTOBER 23RD
* BrooklynVegan @ Public Assembly 12-6pm (free - more details TBA)
* FIXED/Making Time @ Public Assembly 9pm-late (tickets)
* Pitchfork @ Brooklyn Bowl 2pm-late (tickets)
* BrooklynVegan metal @ Union Pool 7pm-late ($5.00 or CMJ badge at the door)

We (BrooklynVegan) will also be at Public Assembly all day on Friday, October 22nd (details TBA), and at Music Hall of Williamsburg on the Thursday night.

All Matthew Dear tour dates (many of which we previously posted including a November show at MHoW), and the Pitchfork #OFFLINE Fest info, below...

Continue reading "Pitchfork announces #OFFLINE not-CMJ parties, Matthew Dear also playing Making Time & Girls & Boys parties (lineups) "

by BBG

Chiddy Bang at Highline Ballroom (more by Nathaniel Shannon)

Chiddy Bang will hit the road in a big way in support of their upcoming LP The Swelly Life, due on Sept 14th. Look for them to hit Highline Ballroom on August 24th with Donnis, XV, and 2AM Club (tickets). The Swelly Life, which features appearances from Pharrell Williams and Q-Tip, is the Philadelphia duo's debut and follow up to their Opposite of Adults EP which featured the MGMT-sampling track of the same name (get it? Opposite of Adults?). The "Opposite of Adults" video is below.

Following a string of US dates, Chiddy Bang will put territories down under on smash alongside an incredible line up of Memory Tapes, Missy Elliot, Holy Ghost, Delorean, Soulwax, Midnight Juggernauts, and many others as part of Parklife, a multi-city dance music festival in Australia. Festival flyer is below.

All Chiddy Bang dates and some videos, including the new one for "Dream Chasin", below...

Continue reading "Chiddy Bang releasing an LP, touring (videos, dates, MGMT) "

Freddie Gibbs @ SXSW (more by Andrew Frisicano)

Roc Nation signee J. Cole's Tuesday (3/30) show at SOB's had a few special appearances (not Jay-Z).

Surprise guests Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek joined Cole on stage for "Just to Get By," but the highlight of the night was when Cole brought out Young Gunz rapper Young Chris. "We don't wear the same chain, but, I gotta give respects to those that came before me, from Beanie to Young Gunz," J. Cole told the audience before bringing out the former Roc-A-Fella artist, who was received with shouts of excitement from the throng of people. [Billboard]

Last night (3/31), K'Naan & Wale's show at Irving Plaza featured a surprise appearance by Nas and Damian Marley, who performed their album's first single "As We Enter" (Nas and K'naan did "NY State of Mind" too). Videos are below. Nas & Damian Marley's tour this summer includes a show at Williamsburg Waterfront.

At Highline Ballroom last night (3/31), Freddie Gibbs and others from XXL's Freshman Class performed. Cam'ron wasn't quite a special guest - his appearance as the headliner was announced the day before.

One of the more hyped Freshmen, thanks to his imposing style and intelligent rhyming, Indiana's Freddie Gibbs represents a bit of a stylistic change from the other performers. Everything about him--from his physical appearance to his deep, gritty vocals--commands respect. The turning point in his set came when he took his shirt off and upped his intensity (the crowd went crazy).

Donnis was probably the biggest surprise of the night. Besides his smooth, succinct Southern delivery, he brought out two surprise guests of note--Brit soul sensation Estelle and the up-and-coming Ryan Leslie. Estelle, with her scintillating vocals, came out for a quick verse on a new Donnis single, while Leslie played the keys for the track "Gone." [Time Out NY]

Doug E. Fresh also made an appearance before Cam'ron's set. A bunch of videos below...

Continue reading "J. Cole, K'naan, Freddie Gibbs, Cam'ron & others played guest-filled shows w/ Nas, Damian Marley, Talib Kweli, Hi-Tek, more"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Kidz In The Hall - "We Gone" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Georgia Anne Muldrow & Declaime - "Get Up" feat Prince Po, yU & DJ Clear (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Georgia Anne Muldrow & Declaime - "Get Up" GoGo Remix (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Georgia Anne Muldrow & Declaime - "Endure" feat M.E.D. and Rapper Big Pooh (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Georgia Anne Muldrow & Declaime - "Endure" EthNick Remix (MP3)

the happy (& prolific) couple: Georgia Anne Muldrow & Dudley Perkins with their son

You may know Dudley Perkins by his nom de guerre, Declaime. The Madlib collaborator has released quite a few LPs under both of his pseudonyms as well as with Georgia Anne Muldrow aka Patti Blingh. The duo crafts some serious California FONK, and will unleash said booty-shakers upon SOB's in NYC on Feb 28th and at Fat Beats for an in-store earlier that day. Tickets are on sale for SOBs. The pair recently dropped the vinyl/iTunes only Heaven or Hell and will release the SomeOthaShip LP via Mello Music (digital 2/16, physical 2/23). Dig on "Endure" from the EP, and "Get Up" from the LP above.

Royce the 5'9 has recently been making moves with Slaughterhouse, the hip hop "supergroup" featuring Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, and Joe Budden. Both Royce 5'9 and Crooked I are scheduled to perform at SOBs on March 9th, but no word on if the NYC/NJ based half of Slaughterhouse (Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden) will make an appearance. Tickets are on sale

Kidz In The Hall's new LP Land of Make Believe lands on Duck Down Records on March 9th, and the duo will hit the road for a pair of dates with 88 Keys, Izza Kizza and Doonis including Highline Ballroom on 2/28 and Ram's Head in Baltimore on 3/4. Tickets for Highline are on sale.

Some videos (including KITH's "Jokebox" and "We Gone") and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "upcoming Kidz in the Hall, Dudley Perkins & Georgia Anne Muldrow shows - 2010 dates & MP3s"

Peter Bjorn and John @ Webster Hall in April (more by Tim Griffin)


Oops! Peter Bjorn and John's November 10th Terminal 5 show has been moved down to the smaller Webster Hall one day earlier (November 9th). El Perro Del Mar and Brooklyn (via Japan)'s The Suzan open the show. All T5 tix will be honored, and some are still on sale too.

El Perro Del Mar was supposed to play Joe's Pub on November 9th, so that was also canceled with this change.

The Suzan...

"was formed by two Japanese girls, RIE(Guitar) and SAORI(Vocal) in the summer of 2003. They had been sicking and tired of recent Japanese POP idol music. So they decided to produce their own songs and bring the movement and revolution to the music scene of not only Japan but also the world by their sound."

Based on watching one of their videos (below), I'm not sure how soon they'll be making a name for themselves in the world, but somehow they got on this T5 bill, and on one of the two Fool's Gold CMJ parties this year. The flyer and more info below...

Continue reading "Peter Bjorn & John's Terminal 5 show moved to Webster Hall -- The Suzan opening, playing Fool's Gold CMJ (flyer)"