Primavera Sound have announced their 2013 lineup, set to go down on May 22-26 in Barcelona, Spain. The announcement came via an animated video and artists performing include Phoenix, The Postal Service, Blur, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, My Bloody Valentine, Tame Impala, Wu-Tang Clan, Dead Can Dance, Grizzly Bear, The Knife, and loads more. Current lineup is below along with the flyer and video...

Continue reading "Primavera Sound 2013 line-up announced"

by Bill Pearis

The Village Voice's annual "Pazz n' Jop" critics poll is up and, as with anything like this with averaged votes, the winners are probably not that surprising. Frank Ocean's Channel Orange takes the top album slot (Kendrick Lamar is #2), and Carly Rae Jepsen's inescapable "Call Me Maybe" comes in at the top of the singles list. (Miguel, who is on the cover of the Voice this week, comes in at #2 with "Adorn.")You can also view individual ballots and read pithy quips about the year as a whole.

The top 10s for Pazz & Jop albums and singles are below and full lists are over at the Voice.

Continue reading "Village Voice still does Pazz & Jop; Frank Ocean and "Call Me Maybe" win 2012"

by Andrew Sacher

Today, we finally get the much anticipated list of Pitchfork's Top 20 Albums of 2012. They revealed Nos. 30-50 yesterday and spent the rest of this week posting Honorable Mentions and tracks. None of the albums that made the top 20 are surprising to see there (which doesn't mean they aren't deserving), but the surprises come from the albums that missed the list all together. Passion Pit got ROBBED! Twin Shadow too! And Wild Nothing! If you're looking for Converge or Baroness, you'll have to redirect yourself to Pitchfork's Metal list (though Pallbearer was in the main top 50). And we could've guessed that Nos. 1 and 2 would be Frank Ocean and Kendrick Lamar... but who took the No. 1 spot? Head below to find out and you can check out individual writer's votes too...

Continue reading "Pitchfork's Top 20 Albums of 2012"

by Bill Pearis

Pitchfork just posted their much anticipated list of the top 100 tracks of 2012. The #1 slot went to... Grimes! Whether you thought the whole of her album Visions was good or not, it was hard to deny the charms of "Oblivion." (Having that great video didn't hurt either.) Do you think it deserved to top the list? If not then what song should've?

You can check out P4K's entire hot 100 of 2012 below.

Continue reading "Pitchfork's Top 100 Tracks of 2012 (Grimes' "Oblivion" is #1)"

photos by Caroline Harrison

The Psychic Paramount at Cameo, 7/8/2012

Photographer Caroline Harrison has weighed in on her favorite photos that he took in 2012, dropping off the following chronological list. Harrison joins BV photographers Dominick Mastrangelo, Dana (distortion) Yavin, Amanda Hatfield, David Andrako, Jessica Amaya and Fred Pessaro // BBG who have all dropped off their favorite shots of 2012. Check out her list below.

Continue reading "Caroline Harrison's favorite Live Music Photos of 2012 ------------ (that she took)"

Peter of HWGM @ Brooklyn Bowl, 9/18/2012 (more by Sarah Gainer)

Here We Go Magic's A Different Ship has made a few Best of 2012 lists, including ones from The Fly, Q, Johnny Beach of Bowery Presents and Freelance Whales. But what records did they like this year? Drummer Peter Hale submitted a list to us, with the following note:

Two confessions: I've ordered these very haphazardly, and I added my band's record as number one.

I don't get asked to do this very often (maybe that's why), but I'm honored to do it and humbled (really) by the multitude of beautiful records. I'm probably wrong, but I imagine anyone who's ever worked as hard as he or she could on an album would agree that celebrating it is the best way to let it go; to release it not just to the public, but from those straps -- the emotions and toil -- that bind it so closely to our hearts. Like so many graduation days, this is letting go. What a great year!

You can check out their Pledge Music video below, alongside Peter's Top 11 of 2012.

Continue reading "Here We Go Magic readying live EP, list favorite LPs of 2012, playing NYC in January"

by Bill Pearis

Frank Ocean at Angel Orensanz Center, 9/24/2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

One of the saddest losses of 2012 for me was the NYC print edition of The Onion which I always looked forward to picking up on Wednesdays and browsing while on the subway or getting some food on the neighborhood. (I still have my copy of the "CHINA STRONG" issue, easily one of the funniest they've ever done.) I lament of it for the AV Club half as well, as I've long found it to be amongst the best pop culture criticism/journalism out there. While NYC can no longer get physical copies, you can still read it online where the AV Club has really flourished.

It's Year-End season there too and have just published their Top 25 LPs of 2012 list, which was tallied by a complicated system that led to a lot of ties, including three albums claiming the #18 spot. There was no doubt who was getting the top slot, though, as Frank Ocean's Channel Orange got the most votes by a wide margin. There's no stopping that album on year end polls. Elsewhere on the list, you'll find more than a few records that cater to the late-'30s indie rock fan crowd (The Walkmen, Bob Mould, Field Music) and even Rush's Clockwork of Angels. You can look at individual writers' ballots as well. Check out the whole list below.

Continue reading "Frank Ocean tops the AV Club's Top 25 LPs of 2012 list"

The Grammy Nominations were just announced. At this point it should be no surprise that this year's list contains names like Jack White, The Black Keys, Gotye, Adele, Foster the People, Florence and the Machine, M.I.A. (she got nominated for a video), and "fun" alongside all the major pop stars. And I guess Bjork is a given in the "Alternative Music Album" category any time she comes out with an album (this is like her 12th or 13th nomination).

Mumford and Sons are naturally on there along with fellow rising pop folk band The Lumineers. Indie Grammy pioneers Arcade Fire also snuck in there again for "Best Song Written For Visual Media."

EDM is huger than ever so of course hot EDM artists like Skrillex, Deadmau5, Diplo, AVICII, Swedish House Mafia, and Steve Aoki are well represented. UPDATE: As is AL WALSER.

Classics and current stadium artists that were busy in 2012 all got their nods too: Paul McCartney, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, Jay-Z, Kanye West, etc. (though Bieber and Nicki Minaj got snubbed).

Most funny is probably the metal category which is as out of touch as ever with Anthrax competing against Iron Maiden, Megadeth and Marilyn Manson (what year is it again?).

Personally, real opinions of the Grammys overall, I'm excited to see Frank Ocean SIX TIMES, Miguel FIVE TIMES, Alabama Shakes THREE TIMES, and I'm glad they didn't forget about Fiona Apple who is up for "Best Alternative Music Album" against Bjork, Gotye (one of three nominations), M83, and Tom Waits (who has won in the past).

The Grammys air February 10, 2013 on CBS. Check out the full list of nominations, which also includes Jimmy Cliff, Toots and the Maytals, Hugh Masekela, Tenacious D, Jim Gaffigan, Jimmy Fallon, and Tegan and Sara, HERE.

Check out the entire list of 2013 Grammy Nominations below...

Continue reading "2013 Grammy Nominations announced (full list)"

by Andrew Sacher

More of the big 2012 year-end lists have been rolling in, with NPR and SPIN recently revealing theirs, and now Rolling Stone have unleashed theirs. Similarly to Uncut, the expected albums from older artists are there, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Dr. John, and the number one slot going to Bruuuuuuuuuuuce. It's got huge albums like Mumford and Sons, Taylor Swift, and fun., as well as the token high ranking indie album (Japandroids at #9), the token washed up band who was once classic (Green Day), things you knew you'd see on Rolling Stone's list like Jack White and Alabama Shakes, and... Grimes!

You can read the whole list below...

Continue reading "Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2012"

Japandroids at Pitchfork, July 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

NPR Music have announced their "50 favorite" albums of 2012, which includes names like Pallbearer, Andy Stott, Cat Power, Fiona Apple, Death Grips, and Swans. (No Grimes, though.) The list is also deep with hip hop, with shouts to Homeboy Sandman, Kendrick Lamar, Killer Mike and many others. Much like Q magazine did, NPR opted to list them alphabetically instead of one better than the next. Check out the full list below.

Japandroids also made the list, and the band played the first of two shows at Webster Hall last night (12/4). The band continues their stay at the venue tonight and tickets are still available.

Continue reading "NPR Music's Top 50 LPs of 2012"

Morrissey @ Terminal 5 10/13/2012

We've already published Amanda Hatfield and Fred Pessaro // BBG's favorite photos that they took in 2012 and here's the list from BV photographer Dana [distortion] Yavin. While she's still got a month worth of shooting to do, here's her current favorite photos from this year that she herself shot, #1 being Moz at Terminal 5. (And if you're in Miami for Art Basel, you can check out her photo show.) The rest of her picks are below.

Continue reading "Dana (distortion) Yavin's 12 favorite Live Music Photos of 2012 ---------(that she took)"

by Andrew Sacher

SPIN have revealed their list of the top 50 albums of 2012. It continues SPIN's trend of giving love to crossover punk and metal (which they've been pretty consistent with since naming Fucked Up's David Comes to Life their top album of 2011) with the inclusion of Baroness, Torche, Pallbearer, Cloud Nothings, and Japandroids, but rather surprisingly excludes the SPIN Essential'd Ceremony - Zoo and The Men - Open Your Heart, in favor of popular blowouts by Taylor Swift, fun., and Nicki Minaj. The list also shares its #1 and #2 with the two highest Pitchfork-rated albums of the year. And no Grimes.

The list begins with the Kanye-cribbed disclaimer, "Most critics' taste levels ain't at our waist level. Ain't nobody fucking with our clique." Check out SPIN's Top 50 LPs of 2012 list below.

Continue reading "SPIN names their Top 50 Albums of 2012 (Frank Ocean is #1)"

M83 @ Central Park Summerstage, 8/8/2012

Photographer Amanda Hatfield has taken a lot of pictures for BrooklynVegan in 2012, and though we realize the year isn't over yet, we asked her if she would list her favorite shots from the past year. This list may need to be updated in January, but meanwhile check out the rest of what she chose (with links to the full sets above each picture), below...

Continue reading "Amanda Hatfield's 11 favorite Live Music Photos of 2012 ---------(that she took) "

check out this new photo of Amanda & her band...

The always talented and controversial - mostly because she isn't afraid to try new things and speak her mind (especially on Twitter), Amanda Palmer, is playing a massive New Year's Eve show at NYC's Terminal 5 where she and The Grand Theft Orchestra will be performing Prince's Purple Rain in its entirety in addition to her original songs (get your tickets - regular or VIP).

Meanwhile, we asked Amanda to list her favorite 10 musical things from 2012, and you can see what she listed and watch her new NSFW video for "Do It With a Rockstar", below...

Continue reading "Amanda Palmer lists her Top 10 of 2012, playing 'Purple Rain' in its entirety on New Year's Eve"

by Bill Pearis

Arriving on the mid-'70s London scene as a rough'n'ready product of the pub-rock era -- an R&B- loving Nick Lowe with a sharper, more ambitious pen, as it were -- Parker predated Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson, both of whom would second his illustration that the singer/songwriter idiom could be recharged, giving intelligent rock fans an excitable and energetic alternative to (slightly) older guardsmen like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Randy Newman and Van Morrison. - [Trouser Press]

Graham and the Rumour are currently touring the record in America and will be playing the previously mentioned NYC show at Concert Hall at the NY Society for Ethical Culture on Saturday (12/1, tickets) with openers The Figgs, and then The Paramount Theatre in Long Island on Sunday (12/2, tickets) which is a co-headling show with Ian Hunter. All tour dates are below.

Parker's had a long career, and had college radio hits with his 1988 album The Mona Lisa's Sister and has kept on going since. He may be about to get another moment in the spotlight as fan Judd Apatow tapped Parker to not only contribute songs to his new film, This Is 40, but also appear in the film. The comedy, a sideways sequel to Knocked Up (about Paul Rudd's character from that film) will be out in theaters December 21. The soundtrack was produced by Jon Brion and also features Norah Jones, Fiona Apple, Lindsay Buckingham, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Paul Simon, Wilco, Loudon Wainwright and more. Tracklist is below, as is the trailer for the film.

A list of tour dates, album stream, videos, and the This Is 40 trailer and soundtrack tracklist, below...

Continue reading "Graham Parker reunited with The Rumour, made first new LP in 31 years, on tour, appearing in 'This Is 40' (dates, streams)"

words and photos by Caroline Harrison

Fiona Apple @ T5, 10/17/2012

Fiona Apple played the second of two shows at Terminal 5 last night (10/17). Guitar phenom Blake Mills, a member of Apple's band for the tour, was also the opener. Fiona Apple is touring in support of her most recent album, The Idler Wheel..., her first in seven years.

I would be remiss to talk about Blake Mills without mentioning his impressive credentials. At only 25, Mills has already worked as a session and touring musicians for the likes of Lucinda Williams, Conor Oberst, Andrew Bird, and Jackson Browne. Mills played with a casual grace that displayed his technical mastery of the guitar. He closed with a cover of the instrumental song "Sleep Walk" by Santo & Johnny, as featured in the 1987 movie La Bamba.

Fiona Apple opened with "Fast As You Can," making it clear to the audience that she was not about to hold anything back. Her backing band, including Mills and former Soul Coughing bassist Sebastian Steinberg, matched every ounce of her intensity. Their arrangement of "Sleep To Dream" relieed heavily on distorted guitars, amplifying the sinister bite of the tune. Of course, the highlight of every song was Apple's vocal acrobatics as she leapt from snarling, sultry contralto to fragile whispery soprano. Apple closed with a cover she's performed on a number of her tour dates, a classic Conway Twitty tune called, "It's Only Make Believe." There was no encore, but after the performance she gave, no one seemed to mind.

Fiona Apple heads up to Albany on Friday (10/19) for her last show in New York state. She then heads to Atlantic City before finishing the tour in Pittsburgh on Sunday (10/21).

More pictures from last night's T5 show and the full set list are below.

Continue reading "Fiona Apple played two nights at Terminal 5 (pics and review from night 2)"

photos by David Andrako

Fiona Apple at the Capitol Theatre - 10/10/12

Fiona Apple, whose recent arrest for possession of hash led to an onslaught of news articles on the situation which eventually (and probably inevitably) led to Fiona backlashing against all the internet gossip, came to Port Chester's Capitol Theater last night (10/10) for her first of multiple post-hash-incident shows in the NYC area. Fiona was great as usual, though she ended her set abruptly without an encore. Last night's show, like the rest of the tour, was opened by Fiona's guitar player Blake Mills. PIctures from the show are in this post.

Her tour continues, hitting Wellmont Theater (10/12), Huntington's Paramount (10/13), Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ (10/15), Terminal 5 (10/16-17), and Albany's Palace Theatre (10/19). The Terminal 5 shows are sold out but tickets for Wellmont, Paramount, Count Basie Theatre, and Palace Theatre are still available.

More pics from Capitol Theatre below.

Continue reading "Fiona Apple played the Capitol Theatre, her first of many upcoming NYC-area shows (pics)"

50 Cent wants you to stop masturbating, and he's taken to Twitter to tell you how to do it:

Step 1. To avoid the urge to masturbate stop going to porn sites.
Step 2. Make a conscious decision not to turn your head after people walk by you.
Step 3. Do not go to strip clubs
Step 4. Do not look at lust filled magazines

Snoop Dogg on Teen Son's Pot Use: 'He's Learning From The Master'. Catch Snoop Lion at Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ tonight. He goes on at 10 (or when he feels like it). Tickets seem to still be available.

We premiered a new Strife song today.

Head to the BrooklynVegan Facebook for a chance to win tickets to that Questlove/Talib Kweli/Q-Tip DJ gig at the Capitol Theater where Fiona Apple also has a show coming up.

Speaking of Fiona, she told the crowd at her recent New Orleans show that she is sorry about the whole drug arrest mess.

More importantly, we're pretty sure your cat wants this for his or her birthday:

--

Conor Oberst played a 19 song solo show in Austin, with help from Daniel Johnston and Ben Kweller.

Ben and Conor will again team up at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate park this October.

Obama and marriage equality supporters The National are currently in the studio (hopefully crafting the follow-up to 2010's High Violet), and have posted a six-second clip, titled "Jazz Brunch," to their new Soundcloud account. You can have yourself a "Jazz Brunch" HERE.

Steve Earle is playing an Obama fundraiser at Brooklyn Bowl.

When in doubt, do like Andre Williams says, and "Blame it on Obama."

26 years ago today, heavy metal lost one its greatest bassists and heroes to a tragic bus accident. His recordings are among some of the greatest albums ever produced in metal. Cliff Burton, you are missed.

Metallica's Kirk Hammett will be signing his new horror memorabilia book on 10/11 in New York, NY @ Barnes & Noble, 10/13 in New York, NY @ Comic Con, 10/25 in Los Angeles, CA @ Barnes & Noble, 10/26 in Burbank, CA @ Monsterpalooza, 10/27 in New York, NY @ Chiller Theater, and on 11/20 in San Francisco, CA @ Books Inc.

Kirk is also one of the many guests appearing on that new Joey Ramone DVD we mentioned. We posted the new video that goes with that release, in "What's Going On" today.

Speaking of the Ramones, a young Morrissey did not like them, at least the first time around.

Tumbull, CT tried to throw a Michael Bolton concert, lost lots of money in the process.

More stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: 50 Cent not a wanker; Snoop Dogg on son's pot use; Steve Earle, the National, Metallica, Chelsea Wolfe & more"

Fiona Apple @ Winstar World Casino last night (via rideincircles)

The brouhaha surrounding Fiona Apple's drug arrest last week just keeps going. (They're calling it AppleGate!) Over the weekend, Apple talked about her jail experience, or something like that, in Houston. It involves two "lock boxes."

Then, Hudspeth County Sheriff's department spokesman Rusty Fleming offered an amazing rebuttal that included this bit:

Two weeks ago nobody in the country cared about what you had to say, -- now that you've been arrested it appears your entire career has been jump-started. Don't worry Sweetie, I won't bill you.

Fiona Apple ended up not playing Austin the night of her arrest even though she was let out that same day, but another woman musician making lots of news lately, Amanda Palmer did.

Meanwhile in Bushwick, Bill and Hillary Clinton were hanging out with indie musician Lia Ices, Joel Cohen, Gloria Steinem and other hip cats at Roberta's on Friday.

The great Amenra is preparing to launch Mass V, the band's new LP due via Neurot Recordings on November 26th. Check out the tracklisting, album art and a teaser video below.

Flying Lotus's new album 'Until The Quiet Comes' is streaming at NPR.

The Barclays Center opens this week. Will you be going inside or protesting out?

Speaking of protests, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is on strike. UPDATE: Were on strike.

More stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: more Fiona Apple, new Myspace, James Franco's band Daddy, Bill & Hillary @ Roberta's, Grizzly Bear, RIP baby panda & more"

We already posted lots of posts today. Here's some more, and some reminders too...

The 25th Anniversary edition of Michael Jackson's BAD contains a previously-unreleased, disconcertingly-upbeat anti-abortion song, "Abortion Papers," which you can stream below.

Reggae group Easy Star All Stars, who in the past have tackled Radiohead and the Beatles, just released a "Thriller" tribute album called "Thrillah."

Kanye West allegedly announced a new album, and has may have another new release on the way: a sex tape!

Mercury Prize nominees Django Django kicked of a North American tour in Chicago last night.

Widowspeak, who play a free show at Brooklyn Bowl on Wednesday (RSVP), play a show at Swarthmore College on Saturday with Total Slacker and Blonds.

Blonds are not to be confused with Blondes who played 100 Troutman the other night.

Teengirl Fantasy were supposed to play that show but will play a no-longer secret show at 285 Kent tonight instead.

Adam Ant is on tour and we got some pictures from his Austin show.

Big K.R.I.T. played Irving Plaza last night (9/20), and was joined by special guests Slim Thug and Paul Wall who teamed up to perform the Mike Jones favorite "Sill Tippin'". Video of that is below.

Do you agree with Forbes that Williamsburg is the third hippest neighborhood in the United States?

Did you get your new iPhone 5?

Pussy Riot, who were just awarded a LennonOno Peace Prize, are still locked up, and it still sucks, as the Dave Hill Remix of Peaches' "Free Pussy Riot" reminds us. You can watch the video for the original at Vimeo.

Europe and the US approve the Universal purchase of EMI.

Fiona Apple, who is out of jail, will play Houston tonight.

More stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: Michael Jackson's anti-abortion song; Kanye West sex tape?; Paul Westerberg, Pussy Riot, Big KRIT, EMI & more"

The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY opened a few weeks back and if you've been curious to check the new venue out -- complete with astral projections on it's planetarium-esque dome -- but have yet to pull the trigger on tickets, today might be the day. It's "Fee-Free Friday" at The Cap, meaning any tickets you purchase online today via Ticketfly are free of service charges.

Some upcoming shows you might be interested in include Tuesday's Dirty Projectors / Lavender Diamond show (9/25), Regina Spector on 10/3, Sleigh Bells and Araabmuzik on 10/5, Fiona Apple on 10/10, Yeasayer on 11/13, and My Morning Jacket's three-day run in December.

The Fee-Free Friday offer runs till midnight tonight.

Fiona Apple at Bowery Ballroom in March (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

TMZ reports that Fiona Apple was arrested in Texas yesterday (9/19) for possession of hash. She's currently beind held at Hudspeth County Jail.

If all goes well, Fiona will return to the NYC area for multiple shows in October. Meanwhile she's scheduled to play the Moody Theater in Austin tonight. UPDATE: Tonight's show is sadly postponed

Free Fiona! UPDATE: she is actually free at least.

Apple spent the night in the Hudspeth County Jail, and was ordered released this afternoon on $11,000 bond.

Apple was arrested at the same checkpoint where Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, and 'J. Edgar' actor Armie Hammer were arrested on similar charges. What does Dean-Walker think of all of the celebrities being arrested in her remote county, which is in the Big Bend between San Antonio and El Paso?

"I think the reason we're catching so many celebrities there is they are going through there with stuff they shouldn't have," she said. [WOAI]

You can see her mugshot, via TMZ, below...

Continue reading "Fiona Apple arrested for possession of hash in Texas"

Inside The Cap

Forty years ago, in its heyday, the Capitol Theater here was known as a rock stage with great acoustics, a crumbling space where the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Santana and Pink Floyd played memorable concerts. So when Peter Shapiro, a founder of the Brooklyn Bowl, took over the theater last year and announced plans to reopen it as a concert hall next month, he had a heavy reputation to live up to.

Now Mr. Shapiro has unveiled an eclectic lineup for the next four months that he hopes will re-establish the Capitol as an influential spot for live music. My Morning Jacket has agreed to do three nights. The Roots will play four dates, with Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead joining them for one night. Others on the fall bill include Fiona Apple, Dirty Projectors and Regina Spektor, as well as older artists, among them Blues Traveler, Indigo Girls, Al Green, the Moody Blues and the Steve Miller Band. - [NY Times]

Full schedule is listed below. It seems like they are stil setting up their online ticketing system -- you can keep checking here for on sale dates. Can't wait to see that projection system in the flesh.

Continue reading "The Capitol Theatre announces initial schedule (Dirty Projectors, Regina Spektor, Fiona Apple, My Morning Jacket and more)"

"The guy behind us decided it was a good idea, after security made his friend leave, to mace the girls behind him. At a Fiona Apple concert." - Garrett Greer

"Drunken beat down,pepper spray,cops¶medics. Who knew Fiona Apple brought that crowd? Ive seen Metal shows with less action#OnlyInOakland" - KQN

A bit of excitement at a Fiona Apple concert in Oakland over the weekend. One reader writes in:

i attended Fiona Apple at the Fox hours ago.
halfway through fionas set, we hear fans fighting in the balcony.
we see people running and hear people screaming and people running out to balcony smoking patio.
People start coughing and eventually it lingers to our area. we found out that
a fan got upset because people were being loud and talking during her
set. someone punches the guy and another person then starts pepper
spraying the person. well its in a tiny theather, in about 2 minutes
the whole left mezzanine area cleared out.
kinda crazy, the show didnt even stop.

The setlists from the Oakland and LA shows (same setlist both nights), and a video from the Oakland show (no pepper spray in it though), below...

Continue reading "a guy used pepper spray at Fiona Apple concert in Oakland"