by Andrew Sacher

Earlier this year, Matthew Papich of the duo Ecstatic Sunshine (with Dustin Wong of Ponytail who recently broke up) began recording solo material under the moniker Co La. After a few cassette releases, he put out his first full length vinyl, Daydream Repeater this month via NNA Tapes. You can purchase the album at the NNA Tapes webstore and stream the entire thing below.

For the Daydream Repeater, Matthew creates a wide palette of sounds that don't share too much common ground, but somehow come together to form a complete work. The album opens with three tracks of fairly noisy loops, but then takes a complete turn for the album's middle section which revolves around overtly poppy melodies. "Smooth Solidarity" begins a venture into classic dub territory, and with album closer "Siamese in Greece," Matthew ends everything the way he started it, with more of a rhythmic focus than a melodic one.

Co La has a few shows coming up, including two in his hometown of Baltimore, and one in NYC opening for Lee Ranaldo at Glasslands on December 16. Tickets for that show are still available.

All dates and album stream below...

Continue reading "Co La streaming new LP, playing shows, one w/ Lee Ranaldo"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Zs - Acres of Skin (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Zs - Diamond Terrifier (Zebrablood remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Zs - AcresRMX (Gabe Andruzzi Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Zs - Gentleman Amateur (Leg Lifters "Professional" Remix) (MP3)

Unlike basically every other cultural outlet, the writers of Tiny Mix Tapes voted to give their Album of Year honors to an artist that isn't Kanye West. Instead, they gave it to NYC avant-noise/rock group Zs for their excellent 2010 album New Slaves. (Don't worry: Kanye still made #10.)

Zs will start the new year with a complement to that record, New Slaves II: Essence Implosion!, a collection of remixes that comes out on the Social Registry on Tuesday, January 25th. On the record, the band's tracks are reworked by the likes of Genesis P. Orridge, JG Thirwell, Gabe Andruzzi of The Rapture and others, and the whole thing starts off with a new track featuring Charlie Looker, Weasel Walter and WFMU's Marty McSorely. Two of those remixes are posted above, along with an exclusive mix not on the release done by Justin Pearson of The Locust (That's the Leg Lifters "Professional" Remix of "Gentleman Amateur"). You can also check out "Acres of Skin" from New Slaves, to give you a taste of the source material.

Zs have an album-release show for the disc Monday/tonight at Knitting Factory with Thee Majesty (Feat. Genesis P-Orridge), Ecstatic Sunshine, Cex and DJ DRUZZ (The Rapture/Throne Of Blood). The group has a special set (with an extra member) planned in honor of the release, so expect something unusual. Tickets are still on sale.

Also coming up, Zs: Black Crown Ceremony will play with Sightings, White Suns and Normal Love at Death By Audio on January 28th.

See a Zs live session from SXSW, the album's tracklist and more below...

Continue reading "Zs releasing 'New Slaves II' (MP3s), celebrating @ Knitting Factory tonight w/ friends (dates)"

Jamie Stewart @ Williamsburg Waterfront on July 11th (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Xiu Xiu's Jamie Stewart seems to be in an collaborative mood of late. Recently, Stewart and Xiu Xiu member Angela Seo joined Deerhoof for a live tribute to Joy Division, which headlined the year's first Pool Party.

Next, Jamie teams up with Shearwater's Jonathan Meiburg (someone who's been venturing out as well, like at a gig with Wye Oak's Andy Stack at the Whitney in June) to form Blue Water White Death, a name drawn from "a 1971 documentary that follows a team of increasingly reckless explorers on a shark-finding quest to Australia's aptly-named Dangerous Reef." The collab's self-titled debut comes out October 12th on Graveface Records. The pair wrote and recorded the eight-song album in a one-week session produced by John Congleton (St. Vincent, Modest Mouse, The Roots, Black Mountain).

On the Xiu Xiu front, who, don't forget, released their a record of their own, Dear God, I Hate Myself, earlier this year, the band plays a show at (Le) Poisson Rouge on Sunday, September 26th with Japanese noise musician Merzbow. Ecstatic Sunshine and Gentle open the show Tickets are on sale.

Xiu Xiu plays in Baltimore this weekend for Whartscape, an annual fest in its fifth and, according to co-organizer Dan Deacon, final year. When asked by Baltimore Sun about his favorite act on the Whartscape lineup, Jamie Stewart mentioned Brooklyn's Talk Normal, saying "Talk Normal berates all that is dull by ignoring it and being thrilling, intense and open. When you see them, you want to be creative and you want to see the rest of the world. They remind you that art does matter and that you need it to live." Talk Normal opens for Sonic Youth (along with Grass Window) at Prospect Park on July 31st.

More Blue Water White Death info (art & tracklist) below...

Continue reading "Xiu Xiu forms group w/ Shearwater's Jonathan Meiburg, playing NYC w/ Merzbow, likes Talk Normal"

DOWNLOAD: The Smith Westerns - Be My Girl (MP3)

photos by Lori Baily

These Are Powers played the Insound Party on August 27th at the now-Bowery-affiliated Brooklyn Bowl. That's where the new set of pictures in this post are from.

They're playing another big (and free) show this weekend, on Saturday, September 5th at Under the Tracks (sometimes called "Under the Highline) (502 W 25th St between 10th and 11th Aves). They play with Ecstatic Sunshine, The Smith Westerns, Grooms and Knight School. More info including a supposed RSVP, below.

The show was previously mentioned in the Week in Indie post in reference to The Smith Westerns who played Vassar last night and at Monster Island Basement on September 2nd with Titus Andronicus. They also play Bruar Falls in Brooklyn tonight (9/4) (confirmed).

More These are Powers pictures, and Under The Tracks show info, below....

Continue reading "These Are Powers playing free show Under the Tracks w/ The Smith Westerns, others ++ more Brooklyn Bowl pics "

Titus Andronicus @ McCarren Pool (more by Jason Bergman)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* The Fakers @ Glasslands
* The Duke Spirit @ Maxwell's
* Titus Andronicus @ Sound Fix
* Here We Go Magic @ Southpaw
* A Storm of Light, Amenra & Zoroaster @ Europa
* Los Campesinos! & Titus Andronicus @ Bowery Ballroom
* Ocean, Salome, Riff Cannon & Batillus at Public Assembly
* Kidrockers presents Chairlift & The Bloodsugars @ 92yTrbeca (afternoon)
* Iran, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, The Fakers & Pure Horsehair @ Death by Audio

Two bands called "The Fakers" are playing in Brooklyn tonight. At Glasslands is The Fakers that = White Williams & Matt from Ecstatic Sunshine. The other The Fakers are playing Iran's record release party at Death By Audio. Weird.

Ecstatic Sunshine has a show coming up at The Stone.

No Fun Fest tickets were supposed to go on sale today, but they went on sale Saturday.

"Andrew Cedermark, Ian P. O'Neil, and Patrick Stickles, all of Titus Andronicus each perform short solo sets consisting of Titus and non-titus jams. This special show is sandwiched between two sold out shows at Bowery Ballroom with Los Campesinios. We have to start early so the boys can get over to Bowery so this starts at 5pm! Expect a good time, see you there." - 5PM, free, @ SoundFix

More Titus Andronicus dates HERE.

Tickets are on sale for the Music Tapes show at the Bell House.

Misshapes are on the cover of Page Six Magazine.

Brent Hinds of Mastodon guests on the new Zoroaster album. Download the track HERE.

Did you get the free Tim Fite Valentine's Day EP?

Google's YouTube Said to Renew Licensing Agreement With Sony

Los Campesinos's video for "My Year In Lists" below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday?"

2/13 Friday 8 pm - Lexie Mountain Boys
2/13 Friday 10 pm - The Fable of Pitter Patter

A collection of improvisations and short compositions contributed by a group is made up of friends who come from many different groups and backgrounds, including Akron/Family, Vetiver, Butane Variations, and the MK Groove Orchestra.

Joan as Policewoman will play shows at 8 and 10 pm at the Stone in NYC on New Years Eve. The 'Annual End The Year Improv Night' with John Zorn happens at the same venue three nights earlier. Other names on the Stone's schedule for December (curated by Jennifer Charles) include Gary Lucas, Erik Friedlander, Doveman, Alan Licht, Hal Willner's Parade (Yuka Honda & Sean Lennon), Elysian Fields, JG Thirwell, and Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog (tonight, Sunday December 7th).

January's schedule, curated by Craig Taborn, doesn't have many names
I recognize, but February, curated by Shannon Fields of Stars Like Fleas, has Twi the Humble Feather, Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio, Chris Schlarb, Diane Cluck, Jon Natchez, Kelly Pratt, Lexie Mountain Boys, Megafun, John Zorn, Ecstatic Sunshine, Sam Amidon, and Tristan Perich,

For other NYC shows on New Years Eve, browse HERE.

Joan Wasser (as Policewoman) and at least one band member also contribute to Gramercy Arms.

Marc Ribot is also playing December 9th at Blue Note and December 11th at Knitting Factory.

Beach House @ the 2008 Siren Fest (more by Leia Jospe)

The Carpark & Paw Tracks CMJ showcase will take place at (le) poisson rouge in NYC on October 22nd. Adventure, Beach House, Ecstatic Sunshine, Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez, WZT Hearts, Dent May and His Magnificent Ukelele, Excepter, Kria Brekkan, Rings, and Tickley Feather are all on the bill. $10.00 tickets are on sale.

Beach House will also be playing (le) poisson rouge five days earlier as part of the Baltimore Round Robin tour (they are on the October 17th bill, not the one on the 18th, both now sold out). All non-round robin Beach House tour dates below...

Continue reading "Beach House - 2008 Tour Dates (Carpark/Paw Tracks CMJ)"

DOWNLOAD: Matmos - Rainbow Flag (MP3)

In Baltimore. soon...

Continue reading "Whartscape 2008 lineup, Matmos included "

P.F.1 (Public Farm One) is an urban farm concept that evokes the look of a flying carpet landing in the P.S.1 courtyard. Constructed from large cardboard tubes, its top surface will be a working farm, blooming with a variety of vegetables and plants. The structure will create a textured, colorful, and constantly changing surface in contrast with P.S.1's angular concrete and gravel courtyard. P.F.1 will work as an interactive bridge between outside and inside, creating multiple zones of activity including swings, fans, sound effects, innovative seating areas, and a refreshing pool at its center. The installation will be a living structure made from inexpensive and sustainable materials recyclable after its use at P.S.1....

Continue reading "P.S.1 Warm Up 2008 Line-up"

Ecstatic Sunshine (photo by Jason Wurm)

Market Hotel tonight (April 18), Culture Shock, the United States, etc...

Continue reading "Ecstatic Sunshine & Cex - 2008 Tour Dates ---------------- (Market Hotel w/ High Places tonight)"

Thursday April 17th, 2008
Get Weird: Fakey and Hex Message
Part of Get Weird
$8 Members, $10 General Admission

April's very special Get Weird welcomes two newly formed musical acts, both featuring gurus of the downtown art and music worlds.

Fakey is a power trio combining the musical stylings of Joe Williams of White Williams (electro dance jams for the people), Moses Archuleta of Deerhunter (ATL ambient punk), and Matthew Papich of Ecstatic Sunshine (good time guitars).

Hex Message takes listeners on a journey of sonic experimentation and positive juju, featuring Dan Hougland (of Excepter) on keyboards, gallerist Pascal Spengemann (of Taxter and Spengemann) on drums, Abigail Portner (of Rings) on keyboards, and artist Andrew Kuo on guitar.

Get Weird is a monthly series of performances featuring experimental and freaky jams. Expect anything from dusted-off salsa to psychedelic harmonies, performed by unknown legends and young-gun mavericks. Get Weird takes place on the third Thursday of each month. [the New Museum in NYC]

"Boost Mobile + Jelly NYC present 'THE SECRET SOCIETY' with SUNSET RUBDOWN, Ecstatic Sunshine and special guests". That is exactly how the March 27th show is being billed. I think the "The Secret Society" is the party name because the show is in the Brooklyn Masonic Temple. Tickets are on sale and they're only $10. All Sunset Rubdown tour dates below..

Continue reading "Sunset Rubdown - 2008 Tour Dates (Masonic Temple)"

DOWNLOAD: White Williams - New Violence (MP3)

White Williams @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - Oct 17, 2007 (CRED)

White Williams has been added as opener for the Dirty Projectors show at Bowery Ballroom. After seeing White Williams twice during CMJ (one of them being at the show pictured above), I thought, "he's good - kind of mellow, but I don't really need to see him again. Having the album, and having seen him at least once is good enough for now. " That said, I'll still show up early enough to catch him anytime he opens a show that I'm going to anyway. His (their) most recent NYC show was opening for Battles at Webster Hall (which I didn't go to). All tour dates below...

Continue reading "White Williams - 2007 Tour Dates (Dirty Projectors show)"

First of all, Dirty Projectors are playing Zebulon tonight (Oct 3)

Dirty Projectors @ Mercury Lounge, NYC - Sept 28, 2007

The Dirty Projectors show at Mercury Lounge on September 28th was my favorite show in recent history. Amazing. Led by Dave Longstreth on guitar and vocals, the Dirty Projectors change lineups all the time. I didn't like them in the past, but what I saw Friday night completely blew me away. It was just unfortunate that they only played for 45 minutes - on the other hand, maybe it was perfect. Brian Mcomber plays drums, and Amber Coffman & Angel Deradoorian perfectly accopmany Dave on vocals and guitar & bass - a tight back and forth of highs and lows and I don't even know (cause as I said, I have a trouble describing it). It's tight. Just see them if you can (unless the CD turns you off - then they just might not be your thing).

More photos by Sandwich! below....

Continue reading "Dirty Projectors played Mercury Lounge - playing Zebulon"

Showpaper art by Lightning Bolt's Brian Chippendale

There was one Dirty Projectors & Ecstatic Sunshine tour date I forgot to mention - the one that goes down this Saturday August 4th at Death By Audio in Williamsburg...

BENEFIT FOR SHOWPAPER

|| Dirty Projectors
|||| Effi Briest ------------> mems Psychic Ills
|||||| Ecstatic Sunshine
|||||||| Spectre Folk -----> Pete Nolan from Magik Markers

8pm | $7-15 sliding scale | ALL AGES

Continue reading "rock for Showpaper, party for Universal Health Care"

DOWNLOAD: Dirty Projectors - No More (MP3)

Brooklyn's Dirty Projectors are not just going on tour in August and September with buzzy bands like Yacht, Vampire Weekend, and Ecstatic Sunshine, they're playing a cool show in a museum this Friday:

Psychedelia’s Progeny: Dirty Projectors
FRIDAY, JULY 20 at 6:00 pm

Whitney Museum of American Art
945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street
Lower Level Gallery

Dirty Projectors, an emerging avant-pop group, create a psychedelic carnival. The group, led by composer David Longstreth, performs reconstructions and reinterpretations of Black Flag's Damaged album.

Whitney Live is free with Museum admission, which is pay-what-you-wish on Fridays, 6-9 pm. [Whitney Museum]

Continue reading "DIRTY PROJECTORS - 2007 Tour Dates (Whitney Museum, Yacht, Vampire Weekend, Ecstatic Sunshine) + video"