by Bill Pearis

Melbourne, Australia's The Temper Trap are currently on their first big tour of the States, and will head into New York later this week for two shows during the CMJ fest: Thursday (10/22) at Music Hall of Williamsburg (tickets) and Friday (10/23) at Bowery Ballroom (tickets). Already huge in their own country, the band's debut album is currently in the UK Top 40 and their single "Sweet Disposition" (also featured in the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack) is just outside the UK Top 10. Their sound is stadium-ready (I'm talking U2 and Keane) but I do think they have some good songs. I especially like non-single "Down River" and there's no denying "Sweet Disposition" is catchy. So I wouldn't be surprised if the next time they hit town they skip straight to Terminal 5. We'll see.

The MHoW show is a pretty good show overall, where they play with three London bands: the folky, charming Mumford & Sons who were great at Cameo back in March; the underrated, hard-to-pigeonhole Golden Silvers, and Goldhawks who've toured with Temper Trap in the UK and have a somewhat similar sound.

The Bowery show is with Portland's hippy-friendly Portugal. The Man, Boston's country-ish Drug Rug, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel (who play our show at MHoW tomorrow night [10/20]), Cincinnati's anthemic, atmospheric All The Day Holiday, and singer-songwriter Julia Nunes.

A couple Temper Trap videos, plus tour dates, are below...

Continue reading "The Temper Trap from Australia - 2009 Tour Dates (CMJ shows w/ assorted bands @ Bowery & MHOW)"

The Walkmen @ Masonic Temple in December (more by Natasha Ryan)

"We live in scary times. Sure, we might wonder how that inane Southern California woman is going to feed fourteen mouths, but what about the family whose breadwinners lost their jobs, and now have not only no money to pay the mortgage, but feed their kids?

No one seems to care about those people. Everyone's too selfish. I've got mine, fuck you. But what if you suddenly don't have yours anymore?

You used to sell ten million records, now you can't even sell two. Those damn pirates! But those pirates are real people. Who overpaid to hear one good track on a CD. They've got no sympathy for you. And they may overpay to see superstars once, but not forever. The Stones don't sell out anymore. Nor does Springsteen, not even Madonna. The printed grosses are high, but that's because of the inflated ticket prices.

Is the concert industry headed for a fall? Just like the recorded music industry?" [Bob Lefsetz]

Most of the bands in this post recently announced a tour, or an update to their previously announced tour, and did not include a NYC-area date. All of them below...

Continue reading "TOUR DATES: Kings of Leon, Walkmen, Coldplay, Bloc Party, Black Mountain, Jason Isbell, Dr Dog, Little Ones & more"

That is the four-band mostly-local CMJ-like lineup at Bowery Ballroom in NYC tonight (Feb 15, 2008). Plus, DJ Awesome Goodtimes will be providing music betwen bands. Good times. I have two pairs of tickets to give away to the first two people who email BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: GOOD TIMES). Include your first and last name. Winners will be contacted and placed on the guestlist.

Sam Champion, Salt & Samovar and The XYZ Affair are also playing SXSW. Other tour dates below...

Continue reading "Sam Champion, Drug Rug, The XYZ Affair, Salt & Samovar"

What does Deer Tick make you? In addition to the previously announced shows at NYU & Union Pool, Deer Tick is also playing Mercury Lounge on November 13th...THAT'S TONIGHT! Drug Rug was supposed to play, but they cancelled. If you go tonight, stick around for Tulsa - the one time I saw them was pretty good. UPDATE: AND Deer Tick is playing again in Brooklyn tonight too. All tour dates, and some nifty live videos, below....

Continue reading "Deer Tick - updated Tour Dates (TONIGHT!) & videos"

DOWNLOAD: Drug Rug - Day I Die (MP3)

Drug Rug @ Pianos, NYC (BV CMJ) - Oct 20, 2007 (CRED - Leia Jospe)

Drug Rug stars Sarah Cronin and Thomas Allen, young residents of Cambridge, Massachusetts, who began their band and romantic relationship with uncommon synchronicity. The couple claims that on their very first date, they sat in bed, playing songs and drinking whiskey. Their music is suitably hazy—they are, after all, named after a poncho—yet the essence of this band lies not in the fuzzed out guitars or acid-folk trimmings but rather the tight rapport between the two singers. [Time Out]

Drug Rug @ Mercury Lounge, NYC, 2007
- November 6th, 10 PM
- November 13th, 9 PM
- November 20th, 9 PM

What else?

I can't wait to see the Maccabees again. Tickets are now on sale for the last Bowery Ballroom CMJ show to be revealed, and the details are:

CMJ Music Marathon
The Spinto Band / Sons And Daughters / The Maccabees
Alberta Cross / Sahara Hotnights / The 1900s / Drug Rug
Friday 10/19
Doors 6pm 18+$16

Continue reading "The Maccabees are coming for CMJ -- Tour Dates"