It's been six years since Detroit electro duo ADULT. released their last album, Why Bother? Adam Lee Miller and Nicola Kuperus haven't been sitting around idly by, they made a series of films titled the Three Grace(s) and have been working on visual art as well. But it's back to music, as ADULT. will release their fifth album, The Way Things Fall, next week (5/14) on Ghostly International. You can stream the whole album below. You can also watch a helpful video PSA by the duo on how to properly use their name -- all caps with a period at the end -- in sentences. Helpful to people who have to write about ADULT., at least. Watch it below.

ADULT. are also touring this summer and will play 285 Kent on June 8 with Black Marble, Eraas and YOU. Tickets to that show are on sale now and all tour dates are listed below.

Continue reading "ADULT. releasing 'The Way Things Fall' and playing shows (full album stream, dates)"

by Bill Pearis

Existing for a barely five years, UK psych band Loop were one of the most perfectly-named bands ever. Rarely bothering with verse-chorus-verse song structure, the South London group took a riff and added layer upon layer till it had its own gravitational field. They were heavy, man, and got heavier as they went along. The band made three album and two of them (1987's Heaven's End and 1990's A Guilded Eternity) are genuine cult classics. All three of their albums (including 1988's Fade Out) were reissued in 2009 and can be streamed on Spotify.

The band called it quits in 1991 but the A Guilded Eternity line-up has reformed to play AND curate the second half of this year's All Tomorrow's Parties End of an Era which happens from November 29 - December 1 in Camber Sands, UK. The rest of their line-up includes postpunk legends The Pop Group and 23 Skidoo, plus Fennesz, Dirty Beaches, Eaux, Hookworms (who we recently profiled), The KVB, Thought Forms, a DJ set from Edan and more TBA. Earlybird tickets are on sale now.

No word on other Loop shows, specifically, but frontman Robert Hampson writes that they band will be performing "a number of shows from late 2013 to mid 2014 at various venues across the world." Let's hope that includes North America. Surely Austin Psych Fest would be interested?

The weekend before (November 22 - 24) is End of an Era Pt. 1 which is being curated by Barcelona's Primavera Sound. It features Television (minus Richard Lloyd) performing Marquee Moon in its entirety, plus Dinosaur Jr, Les Savy Fav, Chelsea Light Moving, Mum, Dinos Chapman, Oneohtrix Point Never, Wolf Eyes, Il Sogno Del Marinaio (featuring Mike Watt), Yuck offshoot Hebronix, Forest Swords, BEAK>, The Haxan Cloak, Demdike Stare, Eraas and more TBA. Earlybird tickets are on sale now to this as well.

As for the "End of an Era" part, these will be ATP's final "holiday camp" festivals, though they plan to continue putting on events. Flyers for both APT End of an Era weekends are below, along with Loop song streams, are below.

Continue reading "'80s UK psych band Loop reforming, playing and curating ATP "End of an Era" fest ++ other shows"

The Soft Moon @ 285 Kent, October 2011 (more by Erez Avissar)

today NYC
* Uri Caine @ The Stone
* Writer, Census @ Pianos
* Diane Birch @ City Winery
* Slavic Soul Party @ Barbes
* Noche Flamenca @ Joe's Pub
* Momenta Quartet @ The Stone
* Ben Holmes Quartet @ Barbes
* The London Souls @ Bowery Ballroom
* Napoleon, Spires, Swimming @ Big Snow
* The Soft Moon, Majical Cloudz @ Mercury Lounge
* Preservation Hall Jazz Band @ McKittrick Hotel
* Bridget Everett & the Tender Moments @ Joe's Pub
* Julian Lynch, Andrew Cedermark, Cassie Ramone @ Glasslands
* Leland Sundries, Ruby Rae, Olivia Mancini & The Mates @ Cake Shop
* Kria Brekkan, Aaron Roche, Gabrielle Herbst & Swoon Shop @ Silent Barn
* Lazy Talkers, Ace Reporter, Shit Show, Bears In A Temple For Midgets @ Cameo Gallery
* Mancie, Paper Doll, Tori Sparks, Alyson Greenfield, DJ Alex Flash @ Knitting Factory
* Pat Kiernan's New Year's Resolutions Ultimate Pop Culture Trivia Night @ Highline Ballroom
* Beginnings w/ Erika Forster & Annie Hart (Au Revoir Simone), Molly Crabapple, Josh Patten @ UCBEast
* Soldiers of Fortune, Frankie Teardrop, Erin Durant, Ramsden @ Death By Audio

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This month's edition of Beginnings at UCB East features Erika Forster & Annie Hart of Au Revoir Simone), SNL writer Josh Patten and Molly Crabapple (DC Comics) talking about how they got their start in show biz. Don't forget Erika plays solo at 285 Kent on Thursday (1/10) with Class Actress.

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ERAAS just released a video for their track "Ghost," which is from their 2012 debut album. You can watch it below.

Sky Ferreira made her late night TV debut on Fallon last night (1/7) when she performed "Everything is Embarrassing." You can watch the video of that performance below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

Bear in Heaven @ MHOW, May 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

"World of Freakout" is one of the strongest cuts off Bear in Heaven's I Love You, It's Cool which came out earlier this year, with throbbing bass and synths ripe for the dancefloor. The band has handed the track over to Nicolas Jaar's Darkside collaborator Dave Harrington who strips it down a bit, making it more of a sleek night drive kind of track. We've got the premiere of this remix which is streamable below.

As mentioned previously, Bear in Heaven are playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on December 5 with Small Black and Eraas. Tickets are still available but if you'd like to go for free we're also giving a pair away. Details on how to enter are below. Bear in Heaven are donating $1 for every ticket sold to Hurricane Sandy relief via Rockaways based Smallwater relief fund.

There's an afterparty for the show happening next door at Public Assembly (doors 11:30 PM) which is free but is also a Smallwater relief fund benefit, and 10% of the bar will go to the fund, so if you go, drink up and order the good stuff. Dave Harrington, Small Black and Bear in Heaven will be DJing.

The Dave Harrington remix of "World of Freakout" is below.

Continue reading "Bear in Heaven released new remix (stream); upcoming MHOW show and afterparty aid Sandy relief (win tix)"

DOWNLOAD: Eraas - "Briar Path" (Remix) (MP3)

Eraas at Knitting Factory, 10/04/2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Black-clad Brooklynites Eraas are out tour for a few dates with Bear in Heaven, beginning tonight (10/24) at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia and will also play with BiH at the previously-mentioned show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on December 5 (tickets). Before that, as mentioned, Eraas will play Cameo on November 11 with Dignan Porch (who just played CMJ) and The Young. Tickets to that show are on sale now.

In the midst of all this activity, Eraas have taken a stab at remixing their own track "Briar Path" which brings the drumming -- a major element of their live show -- to the forefront. The remix makes it's premiere right here and is downloadable above. If you want to do a little compare/contrast you can hear the original (and the rest of their album) below, along with a list of all upcoming tour dates.

Continue reading "Eraas remixed themselves, are on tour now (MP3, dates)"

Bear in Heaven at MHOW in May (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Brooklyn's Bear in Heaven have been continuing to tour in support of their 2012 LP, I Love You, It's Cool. They're going on a short run this month surrounding their appearance at Asheville's Moogfest, and in December, the band will play a hometown show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on December 5 before heading over to the UK for The National-curated ATP (12/7). The MHOW show is with fellow Brooklynites Small Black and Eraas. Tickets for that show go on sale Friday (10/12) at noon.

As mentioned, Eraas also play Cameo Gallery on November 11 with The Young and Dignan Porch. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

A list of all Bear in Heaven dates and the video for "Sinful Nature" are below.

Continue reading "Bear in Heaven playing Brooklyn show before ATP UK (dates)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield, words by Andrew Sacher

Django Django at Knitting Factory - 10/4/12

"I'd like to go somewhere with you tonight! I'd like to go up in the sky to a place we call Cairo!" said Django Django frontman VIncent Neff at Knitting Factory last night (10/4) to a screaming crowd before going into the snake-charming "Skies Over Cairo." The band took the hypnotic tune to levels not experienced on the album version, ending in a jam which pulled equally from tribal drumming as from an extended club mix, an element they worked into a number of their songs throughout the show. Though "Skies Over Cairo," both live and on the album, is their most overtly psychedelic moment, those vibes are felt throughout. Visually, the band all wear matching shirts with blue cell-like spots plastered on a maroon background and are always (hail) bopping along to their multi-textural rhythms, fleshed out by numerous auxiliary percussion instruments. And musically, Django Django evoke the harmonies and chord shifts of '60s psych pop over pulsing krautrock synths. But while the majority of modern bands who fit that kind of description follow in the footsteps of Animal Collective's woozy versions of what a young Brian Wilson might be writing with today's technology, Django Django's psychedelia is way more "Journey to the Center of the Mind" than "God Only Knows."

Last night's Knitting Factory show was the last on their North American tour and second in NYC this week, after having played Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday (10/2) with Lemonade. Unlike the Bowery show, last night's didn't sell out in advance, but by the time the band had begun setting up, the venue was at full capacity. You could tell the band had spent a lot of time on the summer festival circuit since last visiting NYC, calling for clap-alongs and other crowd participation moments. Fritzy monitor problems didn't dissuade the band's energy or the crowd's interest.

Last night's show was opened by Brooklyn goths Eraas, whose set was way louder than I expected and more grabbing than their album, but still a bit of style over substance. And when the singer really lets loose (like on the last two songs), he proves he's actually got a pretty good voice, despite often hiding it behind unintelligible levels of reverb. You can catch Eraas in Brooklyn again on November 10 at Cameo Gallery with Dignan Porch (who will be here for CMJ).

More pictures of both bands from last night's show are below.

Continue reading "Django Django and Eraas played Knitting Factory (pics)"

by Bill Pearis

Weekend @ SXSW 2011 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

So we've been wondering what was up with this Weekend show at Cameo on Tuesday (9/25) for a while, as to why the San Francisco band was playing this one off NYC date. Well, now we know -- the band has moved to Brooklyn. Because clearly they thought they weren't paying enough rent in SanFran. Nonetheless, I am personally excited at the opportunity to see the band play more often. Welcome to the neighborhood, guys!

And those opportunities basically start now. In addition to Tuesday's show at Cameo with ERAAS and Woodsman (tickets are still available), Weekend play 285 Kent on October 4 with Cold Showers (who were terrific last night at Glasslands and also play WIERD on 10/2) and will be joining the throngs during CMJ.

The band have also posted of rough mix of "Sirens" which will feature on the band's sophomore album which will be out in 2013. Stream that below, along with a list of all dates and the Cameo show flyer.

Continue reading "Weekend moved to Brooklyn, playing 285 Kent w/ Cold Showers after Cameo ++ LP #2 preview (dates and stream)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Cold Showers - Violent Cries (MP3)

Los Angeles' Cold Showers are currently on tour, playing Glasslands tonight (9/20) with The Soft Moon and ERAAS on their way to the Pop Montreal which started last night and runs through the weekend. Tickets are still available.

After Pop Montreal, Cold Showers will head back across the Canadian border, playing the Midwest before heading back to NYC to play WIERD night at Home Sweet Home on October 2. It will be a release party for Cold Showers' debut album, Love and Regret, which comes out 10/9 on Mexican Summer. Recalling late-'80s bands like Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and Sisters of Mercy, it's dark and brooding but with ample hooks and melody, perfect for the fall weather ahead. The group just released a new track from the album, "Violent Cries," which you can download above or stream below along with previously-released "BC."

Meanwhile, ERAAS' self-titled debut will be out October 2 and is on the shadowier side of the street, relying on heavy atmosphere, tribal rhythms and plaintive vocals to pull the listener into their world. You can stream a couple tracks from their album below. ERAAS will also open for San Francisco post punks Weekend at Cameo on Tuesday (9/25) (rescheduled from August) and tickets to that show are still available.

And headliners The Soft Moon release their second album, Zeros, on October 30. Like their debut, it owes more than a little to mid-'80s 4AD and WaxTrax! discographies and is maybe even more creepy/claustrophobic than their first, loaded with driving, watery basslines and deep-freeze synths. Check out recently-released track "Insides" from the album below. If you can't make it to the show tonight, The Soft Moon will be back to play Bowery Ballroom on October 30 with Pop. 1280 and Group Rhoda. Tickets are still available.

Continue reading "Cold Showers add NYC LP release show after Pop Montreal, playing tonight w/ The Soft Moon & ERAAS (dates, streams)"

Clearly, this is a band photo of The Soft Moon

As discussed, The Soft Moon will hit Glasslands on September 20 (tickets), the first of a leg of mostly-East Coast dates before heading out for something more extensive in late October to coincide with the release of the new LP Zeros which is out October 30 on Captured Tracks. Just in time for Halloween. Those dates include another NYC show which happens on the date of the album's release, October 30 at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets for that show go on sale Friday (8/17) at noon with an AmEx presale starting Wednesday (8/15) at noon. Stream the new track "Die Life" below.

If you're heading to Glasslands, or even if you aren't, make sure and peep the new track by Cold Showers first: "BC." The song, streaming below, comes from Cold Showers' new LP Love and Regret due via Dais Records on October 9.

ERAAS are also on board to support Soft Moon/Cold Showers at Glasslands on 9/20, and they too have a new LP on the way. The ex-members of Apse are preparing the self-titled LP for release on October 2 via Brooklyn label Felte Records. Stream some new material below. If you can't catch ERAAS on 9/20, catch them at Cameo on 8/28 when they support Weekend with Woodsman. Tickets are still available.

All streams and the updated Soft Moon dates are listed below.

Continue reading "The Soft Moon, Cold Showers and ERAAS ready new LPs, playing shows together and apart (dates and streams)"

DOWNLOAD: The Soft Moon Vs. John Foxx & the Maths - Evidence (MP3)

Cold Showers

Cold Showers are teaming up with fellow gloomy synth-loving Californians The Soft Moon for a September tour that includes a NYC stop at Glasslands on 9/20. Tickets to that show are on sale now. Right after that show, both bands will head north across the Canadian border for Pop Montreal. Tour dates for both bands are listed below.

Cold Showers, who played one of our Hotel Vegan day shows during SXSW this year, have a new 7" single on Art Fag Recordings and you can stream that below.

Meanwhile, The Soft Moon recently released a collaborative, one-sided 7" with onetime Ultravox singer John Foxx which you can download at the top of this post. The band have finished recording their second album for Captured Tracks the release date for which is TBD.

The Glasslands show also features APSE side project ERAAS, who just played a show at Glasslands with Telepathe and Feathers.

Continue reading "Cold Showers and The Soft Moon released new singles (stream), touring together (dates), playing Glasslands"

photos by Amanda Hatfield

Telepathe at Glasslands - 7/18/12

Telepathe, Feathers, Eraas, and Faith (DJ) teamed up for a show at Glasslands last Wednesday (7/18). Pictures from that show are in this post.

It was one of multiple NYC shows for Telepathe this summer, including their DJ set at the Blondes show at Santos last Friday (7/20), and a show at Cameo on Augsut 2 with Laurel Halo and Xeno and Oaklander (tickets). Todd P also recently revealed that they will be the special guest at this Wednesday's (7/25) Summerscreen in McCarren Park with Vaz, Prince Rama and a screening of Dirty Dancing.

They're also playing The Rock Shop on August 28 with Blonds (not Blondes who they DJed with last Friday, but this Blonds), a secret co-headliner TBA and 2 hours of free Brooklyn Brewery beer. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

More pics from the Glasslands show and a list of updated Telepathe dates are below...

Continue reading "Telepathe played Glasslands w/ Feathers (pics), playing more shows (including Summerscreen and 1 w/ a secret co-headliner)"

Laurel Halo at MoMA PS1 in 2011 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Producer turned art pop wizard Laurel Halo and post-hardcore noisemaker turned producer Ital are teaming up for a tour together later this year. That tour hasn't been announced in full yet but a few dates have been revealed, including a NYC show at 285 Kent on September 21. That show, the DC date, and possibly others are also with M. Geddes Gengras and Magic Touch.

For Laurel Halo, the 285 Kent date is one of many upcoming shows in her hometown of Brooklyn, where she continues to play constantly. Laurel just played a show as part of The Maze last Friday (7/13), and she'll play the previously discussed show at Public Assembly on Saturday (7/21) with Pete Swanson, Noveller and Burning Star Core. Tickets for that show are still available. She's also got upcoming local shows in August, including one at Cameo Gallery on August 2 with Xeno and Oaklander and Telepathe. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Still more: she'll play the Diamond Terrifier (aka Sam Hillmer of Zs) record release show for Kill the Self That Wants To Kill Yourself (due out 8/14 via Northern Spy and produced by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear) at Littlefield on August 8 with Slava (who also plays countless local shows) and Bubbles. Tickets for that show are available. That show happens after Diamond Terrifier wraps up his monthly residency at Zebulon which happens every Tuesday (like tonight [7/17]). Like Laurel did, Diamond Terrifier also plays a Maze show. His is on July 28 with Amen Dunes, Kel Valhaal: Hunter Hunt-Hendrix, Psychic Reality, Dome Theater, and Das Racist DJs.

Speaking of Telepathe, they play Glasslands on Wednesday (7/18) with Feathers, ERAAS, and Faith. Tickets for that show are available. Faith recently remixed a Feathers song, which you can listen to below. Telepathe also DJ Santos on Friday (7/20 for a Last.fm event with Blondes, TEZEO and Andy Petr. Tickets for that show are available.

A list of all dates, a Pitchfork.tv video of Laurel Halo, and an Ital music video are below.

Continue reading "Laurel Halo touring w/ Ital, playing other NYC shows as usual; Telepathe have upcoming NYC shows too (dates)"