photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

The Shout Out Louds were fantastic on Monday night (3/1). Their first show in New York in almost two years, the Swedish quintet were already in top form as they set out for an extensive tour in support of their new record Work. A 17-song set that flowed well, mixed perfectly between new and old material. Older songs like "Please, Please, Please" (from Howl Howl Gaff Gaff) led easily into "Fall Hard", arguably the best song off the new record. Adam Olenius sang with conviction and intensity and the whole band produced a swagger and confidence that they maintained throughout the show. The sold out Music Hall crowd sang along on several songs, especially "Very Loud" and later on set closer, the epic "Hard Rain", was every bit as moving as it is on record. For the encore the band played Our Ill Wills' other lengthy track. "Impossible", then finished off the show with a raucous version of "Walls", the single from the new record.

Freelance Whales opened the show which was one night before they played on the Bedford L subway platform.

Shout Out Louds also played a Tuesday night show, but theirs was in a regular club (at Pianos in Manhattan). And they play again TONIGHT (3/3). It's a secret show. Both NYC setlists and more pictures from the Brooklyn show, below...

Continue reading "Shout Out Louds played MHOW w/ Freelance Whales & then Pianos - pics & setlists"

photos by Ryan Barkan

They reportedly played 2 and 1/2 songs before being shut down by cops around 6:30pm on Tuesday. UPDATE: The cops actually just made them move near to the Driggs entrance where they played 4 or 5 more songs.

More pictures from the Williamsburg show below...

Continue reading "Freelance Whales played the Bedford L Platform (pics)"

Freelance Whales @ Bowery Ballroom - Feb. 18th (more by Sarahana)

Freelance Whales played last night at Music Hall of Williamsburg with Shout Out Louds. Pictures from that are on the way. Tonight (3/2) you can catch the Whales busking on the Bedford Avenue L train platform, where they plan to go on at 6pm.

Freelance Whales also have plenty of tour dates coming up, including SXSW, where one of their shows will be the Mom+Pop/Frenchkiss Records showcase (with Local Natives, Antlers and others) at Galaxy Room on Friday, March 19th.

They come back from the road for an April 13th show at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets to that are still on sale.

A bit of their busking at Bedford Ave, recorded in 2009, is posted below...

Continue reading "Freelance Whales playing the Bedford stop (like they've done before) during rush hour today (and other tour dates) "

words & photos by Sarahana

Mumford & Sons is further proof that when it comes to popular taste, being good enough will get you far. Despite a rating system that makes little sense whichever way you look at it, Pitchfork was correct in stating, "Mumford & Sons are in the costume business. They're playing dress-up in threadbare clothes."

But guess what? Tons of people love the costume business, and there is "good" in "good enough". Lending to that "good-enough-ness" is, primarily, singer Marcus Mumford's distraught voice, which, on a purely aesthetic level, can remind you of Michael Stipe's inherent agony. Except, Marcus sounds like he was specifically engineered for songs that take after Biblical parables, teeming with betrayal, disasters and lessons. The songs aren't half-bad (though vaguely unsatisfying), and the band members are all proficient musicians (Marcus' voice didn't flinch when he was pounding on drums), but ultimately the frustration comes to this: in every work of art you hope to detect the artist's moment of inspiration, and in Mumford & Sons, there is no such revelation.

However, when it comes to pop music, the fitting principle is: to hell with art. Whatever makes people feel like the music is speaking to their lives and emotions is good enough! And given that their songs are a series of allusions to strong emotions, it's no surprise that Mumford & Sons is listed in several major festival line-ups and has already sold out most of its upcoming shows.

--

Freelance Whales opened the sold out show at Bowery Ballroom in NYC last night (2/18). Note that the above review was from Sarahana who shot the show. We have a 2nd viewpoint coming soon. More pictures from that show below...

Continue reading "Mumford & Sons, Freelance Whales @ Bowery Ballroom -pics"

We'll get a more complete press release in the morning (and confirm what is listed below is 100% correct), but in the meantime below is a picture of the 2010 Sasquatch poster (that someone Tweeted) and the lineup as read by Bradford Cox at tonight's Atlas Sound show in Seattle (and being listed all over the Internet)....

Continue reading "Sasquatch announces 2010 lineup (includes Massive Attack & My Morning Jacket) (and many more) "

Freelance Whales @ Bell House Haiti benefit, Jan 27 (more by Jonny Leather)

Freelance Whales have added another NYC show to their upcoming schedule. The newly announced show is the farthest away - they'll play Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday, April 13th. Tickets are on sale.

Before then they open for Mumford & Sons and Shout Out Louds (separately), and go on tour with Cymbals Eat Guitars and Bear In Heaven. That trip goes around North America and includes SXSW. Those two bands, minus Freelance Whales, finish the tour at Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 9th. tickets are still on sale.

Before then you can catch Bear in Heaven at Glasslands on February 19th, when they play with Secret Machines, Mon Khmer (who also play a show at Union Pool with Midnight Masses), Noveller (who plays Coco66 on V-Day; all shows are below) and PAPA. Ticket info is here.

Video from Freelance Whales' recent NYC show and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Noveller touring (dates), Valentine's Day show w/ Secret Machines, Bear in Heaven ++ Freelance Whales add NY show"

photos by Jonny Leather

'@Joslynm congrats on your pop culture trivia expertise!' - Pat Kiernan

Pat Kiernan

Jimmy Fallon

"Without being too cheesy, I have to say there was a really beautiful spirit at last night's concert. The venue was sold out and aside from the silent auction, Bell House raised $35,000.00 for Save the Children and Partners in Health. I missed the first hour or so because I had to stop by my place, but got there in time to see Jimmy Fallon do a Neil Young impression. Then Freelance Whales played. You all should check them out. They're getting crazy attention right now and they are based out of Queens. Now that's special! Anyway, it was good times all around. Cat Power and Pavement records and CDs were given away for trivia knowledge, Ted Leo who also has shows in town, was adorable and even though Cold War Kids pulled out of the show, the Walkmen did an amazing job closing the show." [Petunia Eats]

All artists, including Here We Go Magic, played short sets. If you want to see more of them (HWGM), they play as a headliner at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday.

More pictures and some videos (by Tim Duffy of Pop Tarts Suck Toasted) from the Bell House (in alphabetical order), below...

Continue reading "Jimmy Fallon, Pat Kiernan, Ted Leo, Walkmen, the Wrens & others played a Haiti benefit @ the Bell House - pics & video "

The Blow @ SXSW 2008 (more by Ryan Muir)

As the Bell House's Haiti benefit on Wednesday, January 27th approaches, the show's lineup keeps getting more and more interesting. Since the initial announcement a few changes have been made (The Walkmen replacing Cold War Kids for one) and more acts have been announced. The schedule below reflects the expected set times, with the disclaimers that "performers will be playing abbreviated, acoustic and/or stripped down sets" and "line up subject to change."

AC Newman (who's putting out a new New Pornographers record), Rhett Miller and Nicole Atkins are playing as a Seekers cover band (a supergroup similar to what St. Vincent & Bon Iver did at MHOW on Saturday). Zach Galifianakis was also at the BV Haiti event,

UPDATE: Despite a press release that went out, The Bell House says that Paul Rudd & Zach Galifianakis are not on this benefit (they never said they were, but the press release did). Also the venue says that the set times that were posted (including here last night) are wrong.

Freelance Whales (who have quite a few shows, NYC and otherwise, coming up) are playing, as is Ted Leo (who himself has longer shows planned).

One notable addition is The Blow, aka Kaela Maricich, who played Art Basel in Miami this December, but hasn't played NYC in quite a while (possibly since CMJ 2007).

Tickets for the benefit show are still on sale.

The Blow's last album was 2006's Paper Television, when Jona Bechtolt from YACHT was still in the group. For YACHT's upcoming tour, Bechtolt and member Claire Evans will bolster their live show (previously them and a laptop) by a band consisting of Rob Kieswetter of Bobby Birdman (who is also opening), Jeff Brodsky of Jeffrey Jerusalem, and D. Reuben Snyder of Rob Walmart. The backing band's name is 'The Straight Gaze'. A tour preview clip is posted below.

More Bell House info with full lineup & poster below...

Continue reading "Bell House Haiti benefit expands (to include The Blow & more) - WEDNESDAY NIGHT"

DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Generator First Floor (live) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Generator Second Floor (live) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Ghosting (live) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Starring (live) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Kilojoules (live) (MP3)

Freelance Whales @ Webster Hall on December 18th (by Fresh Bread)

Freelance Whales spent some time on the road with Fanfarlo at the end of 2009. That culminated in a December 18th show at Webster Hall (pictured above).

More recently, Freelance Whales played Mercury Lounge on January 20th with Animal Tropical and Still Life Still (as part of their residency at the venue).

Freelance Whales will again be opening up for some great bands at bigger venues. On Thursday, February 18th they open for UK's Mumford & Sons at Bowery Ballroom (that show is sold out). Then on March 1st they open for Shout Out Louds at MHOW on March 1st (also sold out).

Shout Out Louds (whose new album Work comes out February 23rd) have added to that date with a North American tour this May. They play May 5th at Webster Hall. Tickets are on sale. All tour dates and the video for the new album's first single are below.

Freelance Whales have been added to the Cymbals Eat Guitars/Bear in Heaven tour happening this March and April, though Freelance Whales do NOT appear to be playing the show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday, April 9th (tickets are on sale).

Freelance Whales were also added to the Bell House's Haiti benefit on Wednesday, January 27th. Tickets are still on sale.

The re-release (or "official" release) of Freelance Whales' Weathervanes on Frenchkiss/Mom + Pop Records comes March 16th. The band was recently a guest on online radio show Snacky Tunes (which is hosted by Finger on the Pulse). Their live session is posted above.

All tour and more are below...

Continue reading "Freelance Whales played Snacky Tunes (MP3s), playing w/ Cymbals Eat Guitars, Bear in Heaven, Shout Out Louds -dates"

DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Ghosting (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Generator 2nd Floor (MP3)

Freelance Whales

Freelance Whales' six-week tour with Fanfarlo ended on Friday (12/18) with their show at Webster Hall. Pictures from that show are currently stuck on a memory card in some distant airport after finally making on an airplane that was delayed due to the snowstorm. Videos from from that show, including an interview where Fanfarlo's Justin Finch admits to the band that he's planning a Fleetwood Mac cover project (though someone already beat them to it), are below.

Freelance Whales' Weathervanes will get a re-release in 2010 (March 16th to be specific) through Frenchkiss & Mom + Pop Records. To sweeten the deal on that record (which has been out since before CMJ) the band has also "worked really closely with our favorite chilean illustrator/animator Joaquin Cocina, in making a little wordless storybook to go along with the record." There's a preorder, with other treats, available now.

Still Life Still's 2010 plans include four-nights at Mercury Lounge in January, followed by a tour with Wild Beasts (which comes to Bowery and MHOW at the end of February). For one of those Mercury Lounge shows, the Wednesday, January 20th one will be headlined by Freelance Whales and will also feature Animal Tropical. Tickets are on sale. Other bands playing with SLS are Des Roar and Dead Sparrows on January 6th, Hypernova on January 13th, and Blip Blip Bleep on January 29th. No advance tickets for those.

Speaking of Fanfarlo - the band's website is hosting a digital Advent calendar. For each day (leading up to X-mas) the band offers up new artwork, blog posts and special performance clips like the goodie of today (12/21) - where the band plays a Christmas song while stuck in traffic en route to NPR in D.C. (the following NPR office show was posted already). That Advent video and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Freelance Whales finished touring w/ Fanfarlo, played Webster Hall, playing Mercury Lounge w/ Still Life Still "

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Zoos of Berlin - Electrical Way (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fanfarlo - Finish Line (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fanfarlo - I'm a Pilot (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fanfarlo - Luna (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Ballet - The House of Fire (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Phantogram - When I'm Small (Mp3)
DOWNLOAD: Invisible Hand - There's Room in My Will (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Invisible Hand - Caught Myself in a Coy Trap (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Drunk Tigers - Outer Banks, Inner Peace (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Phil and the Osophers - We Have All Summer (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Dream Diary - Bird in My Garden (MP3)

French Horn Rebellion

As previously reported, Detroit band Zoos of Berlin are in town this weekend -- playing Matchless tonight (12/18) and Cake Shop tomorrow (12/19). Mixing elements of baroque, Krautrock and '70s shag carpet, Zoos of Berlin don't really sound like anybody else -- which is a good thing, right? They're good live too, maybe even better than on their album (which is worth seeking out).

I'm told Zoos of Berlin are on early-ish (9:45) so my personal plan for tonight is to catch ZoB at Matchless then head over to Cameo Gallery for the Cantora Late Nite Holiday Special featuring Savoir Adore and French Horn Rebellion. Doors are at 11PM and if you RSVP, admission is only five bucks. I think I've probably written enough about Savoir Adore this year (and you can read their year-end Q&A) for you to know that I'm a big fan and think you should go see them. French Horn Rebellion is David Perlick-Molinari, who plays in the live line-up of Savoir Adore, and his brother Robert -- and their brand of funky electro draws inspiration from Michael Jackson and early '80s disco. They know their way around a catchy tune too -- "Up All Night" is pretty irresistible, and will end up on my Best Singles of 2009 list...whenever I get around to putting that together. That song's video is at the bottom of this post. I've never seen them live -- Paul and Diedre of Savoir Adore play in the French Horn Rebellion touring unit -- so looking forward to seeing them.

Fanfarlo @ MHOW during CMJ (more by Tim Griffin)

Also tonight: after a successful CMJ (including their great performance at the Brooklyn Vegan showcase), Fanfarlo are back in NYC, moving up to Webster Hall where they play with Freelance Whales. Not bad for a band who have yet to get written about at all on Pitchfork. (Though they are one of the choices in their Bands to Watch in 2010 section of theirreader's poll.) I'm still listening to their debut, Reservoir, which has held up over the last 10 months or so. It's a nice pairing with Freelance Whales who were lovely the only time I saw them --at the Brooklyn Vegan day party during CMJ where they played acoustic. Fanfarlo seem like a good band to see during the holidays -- they're very Christmasy. Tickets are still available. Fanfarlo recently stopped by the NPR offices to film an acoustic performance, including a cover of Low's "It Was Just Like Christmas," and you can watch that at the bottom of this post.

The Ballet

The long-running indiepop party Mondo! happens tonight (12/18) at Don Hill's and tonight features a performance by The Ballet who were kind of a big deal with blogs a few years back and played on a few choice bills, opening for Voxtrot, The Hidden Cameras and others. And then they just sort of faded away. Well, The Ballet are back with their second album melodic, upbeat synthpop, Bear Life, and I like it quite a bit. You can download album track "The House on Fire" at the top to this post. Stephin Merritt comparisons are inevitable but it's definitely more Future Bible Heroes than Magnetic Fields.

Phantogram

Moving on to Saturday (12/19), there's a worthwhile free show at Brooklyn Bowl with Phantogram and Class Actress. I might try to hit this one as I have yet to see Phantogram live and am a fan of their debut album, Eyelid Movies, which will get an official release on Barsuk Records in February 2010. You can download "When I'm Small" from the album at the top of this post. It's a pretty good taster for the album, which is kind of trip-hoppy but in a '00s sort of way (breakbeats but no John Barry or Morricone samples). Chilled, atmospheric, but still danceable.

Class Actress I wrote about last week, but have now actually seen them play (at Mercury Lounge). I don't think they've quite figured out the live show, but they're not bad. I like the EP which will be out on Terrible Records in the new year.

If you miss the bowling alley show, Phantogram also just added a February 12th show at Mercury Lounge. Tickets are on sale at noon.

Invisible Hand

And finally, for the indie pop fans out there we've got a good show at Matchless on Saturday night, featuring Brooklyn bands Dream Diary and Phil & the Osophers, plus two bands from Charlottesville, Virginia -- The Invisible Hand and Drunk Tigers. The Invisible Hand remind me a bit of Of Montreal by way of Superchunk or the Clean. Definitely a '90s indie rock thing going on, pretty good. You can download two tracks at the top of this post. Drunk Tigers aren't bad either, a little more in the shouty Port O'Brien school of things.

As for the local acts, I'm on record as being a fan of Dream Diary whose jangly style should appeal to fans of The Pastels and other '80s-era Creation Records bands. And Phil and the Osophers have been at it for nearly five years and whose new album, Parallelo, is worth checking out -- you can download an MP3 at the top of this post.

That's gonna do it for this week. No column next week, so happy holidays folks. Videos, flyers and tour dates are below...

Continue reading "The Ballet, Zoos of Berlin, Fanfarlo, Savoir Adore, Phil & the Osophers, Phantogram & more in This Week in Indie"

Local Natives @ BV loft - CMJ 2009 (more by Chris La Putt)

Frenchkiss Records is celebrating its 10th year in existence. Started by Les Savy Fav's Syd Butler in 1999 as a way for his band to release their second album, the label has grown to include over 25 bands with over 40 releases. Most recently they've found success with The Dodos, The Antlers, and of course, Passion Pit who are definitely now pretty "huge". Though still on Frenchkiss, Passion Pit are also shared with Columbia Records (home of Mew, MGMT, The Ting Tings, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, and... Slayer).

And it continues. Frenchkiss announced this week that they signed not one, but two CMJ 2009 buzz bands - both with fine new albums and impressive live shows to match. The NYC label will release California band Local Natives' Gorilla Manor (already out in Europe) on February 26, 2010. They also just signed NYC's Freelance Whales, though like with Passion Pit, that deal is shared with someone else - Mom+Pop Records to be exact, aka. the label that also just snagged Tokyo Police Club (who share a manager with Passion Pit).

The Antlers headline Bowery Ballroom on December 15th. Get tickets before they sell out. Uninhabitable Mansions and Sharon Van Etten (who is sure to sing with the headliners too) open the show. Their only other scheduled show at the moment is March 3rd at Union Chapel in London.

Local Natives are still on tour with Fool's Gold and Edward Sharpe. They visited NYC in November which wasn't long after CMJ when the band played two BV parties - one at Pianos and the one in a loft. Updated dates below.

Freelance Whales are currently on tour with Fanfarlo. That tour ends in NYC on December 18th at Webster Hall. Tickets are still on sale. Freelance Whales also played a BV CMJ show @ Pianos.

Tim Harrington, when not belting out rock songs and climbing over the crowd on a ladder in his underwear as the frontman of Les Savy Fav, makes a "line of patterned products" called Deadly Squire. This Sunday (TODAY), December 6th, Deadly Squire is having a huge sale at Bird in Williamsburg (Brooklyn). Flyer below.

Slayer is going on tour with Megadeth and Testament in January. A "Raining Blood" video with all the other stuff below...

Continue reading "the label connections of Slayer-->Passion Pit-->the Antlers--> Local Natives --> Freelance Whales --> Tokyo Police Club"

photos by Bryan Bruchman

DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Ghosting (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Generator 2nd Floor (MP3)

Queens' Freelance Whales were one of the stand-out acts at this year's CMJ. The still-unsigned band played a number of shows, including the BV Pianos day party on Thursday, October 22nd, where they played a very applause-worthy, acoustic set of feel-good indie pop in the venue's upstairs to a large crowd for 1pm on a weekday. Among the many instruments they had with them: a watering can. Picture above. Another picture and some videos below.

The NY Times caught their Wednesday, October 21st set at Santos...

Freelance Whales sang anthems for the utterly diffident: "We could be friends/We have several interests in common." Quavery high lead vocals, banjo picking, march beats and the inevitable glockenspiel were elevated by crescendos that were no less effective for being so methodical, each verse thickening with countermelodies from synthesizer and guitars. Sure, Freelance Whales -- really, it's not too late for a band name change -- is glancing over its shoulder at Arcade Fire, but in song after song, twerpiness discovered its own dignity.

Before they leave, Freelance Whales will play a pre-tour, kick off show at Pianos on Friday, November 6th with Radical Sons and The Invisible (who are also playing two other NYC shows while they are here from the UK). Tickets are on sale.

The band also writes that they're going to be featured on this week's seaon finale of Bored to Death, in which "jason schwartzmann and zak galafianakis (sp?) get colonics and dodge strollers in brooklyn, as they themselves deal with their oral and anal fixations, as adult infants." Sounds interesting!

Videos from their acoustic set at Pianos, and all tour dates, are below...

Continue reading "Freelance Whales played CMJ (pics & video), playing Pianos (again) & touring w/ Fanfarlo (dates)"

sorry it took me so long to get a post up on this...

DOWNSTAIRS
12:00 Moonbabies
12:45 A Classic Education
01:30 TBA Sky Larkin
02:15 Surfer Blood
03:00 Lovvers
03:45 Duchess Says
04:30 JEFF the Brotherhood

UPSTAIRS
01:00 Freelance Whales
01:45 Rebecca Schiffman
02:30 Peggy Sue
03:15 Chris Denny
04:00 Holly Miranda
04:45 Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
05:30 Alec Ounsworth (CYHSY)

And in between those two, see you at Fontana's on Friday.

Moonbabies, on at noon, are making a rare appearance from their home in Sweden. This day party is in addition to their other two previously-announced CMJ shows.

You can also catch Duchess Says today (10/21) at the M For Montreal showcase at Arlene's Grocery.

More later. If I type any more this post will be even more late. Duchess Says and Rebecca Shiffman video below...

Continue reading "free BrooklynVegan day show - Thursday @ Pianos -------------------- 14 bands, free drinks, good times"

photos by Tim Griffin

"What a difference a year makes for Fanfarlo. My donut-eating London buddies first came through these parts last year for CMJ, but now they are downright expert and confident performers. The large stage suits them well for their rousing choruses and invigorating melodies. The added element for this show was handing out plastic accordion-like tubes. You basically twirl these things over your head and they make a whirling noise. I grabbed one and managed to hit Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons in the head. My bad." [Music Snobbery]

I will admit I was exhausted by the time Fanfarlo went on last night. So much work goes into planning a show and then it only gets more hectic on the day-of, and then I showed up at Music Hall around 4:30pm, and then five bands played before them (including the Wheel). Then, not only did things get a little delayed causing Fanfarlo's set time to be pushed back about 45 minutes (they were originally scheduled for 11:00), The Antlers rocked it so hard right before them that I didn't think I could listen to any more music. Apparently some people felt the same way (or it just got too late), because at least 100 people left after the Antlers, leaving room for more people to fill the club back up before Fanfarlo went on.

For Fanfarlo it was their second show that day. Their first was earlier at Pianos (packed I heard), and it was actually because of that Pianos show that they had a limited soundcheck at Music Hall which in turn caused them to go on even later due to all the instruments they needed to make sure were working right before they played... and then they played, and it was great, and the crowd went wild for an encore, and like they did at The Bell House last month, they came back and played an encore which included handing out those plastic tubes for people to whip around in a dangerous manner (see above), but unlike The Bell House, there was no member of Beirut in their band this time. Last night was also way better than the Bell House show (but maybe I'm biased).

Their final CMJ 2009 show is tonight (10/21) at Bowery Ballroom with Midnight Juggernauts. It's sold out, though if you have a CMJ badge you can still try and get in. Also playing Bowery Ballroom tonight are Freelance Whales, WHO will also open for Fanfarlo when they come back to NYC in December to headline Webster Hall. Tickets for that December 18th show are now on AmEx presale, and go on general sale on Friday at noon.

The new date is part of a December North American tour. All dates and more pictures from last night, below...

Continue reading "Fanfarlo played BV-CMJ @ MHOW (pics), playing Webster Hall w/ Freelance Whales & other Tour Dates (+ Bowery tonight)"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Ghosting (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Generator 2nd Floor (MP3)

Who are Freelance Whales? They're a five-piece band from Queens that started up in late 2008 and has already put out their first, self-released full-length, weathervanes, which came out in September on iTunes. The band's varied indie-pop has a humble, homespun quality to it. They lean on banjos and xylophones for tender rural sounds but also use glitchy and elecro backing to good effect. Check it out in the tracks off their LP posted above.

Freelance Whales will be busy during CMJ. They play Wednesday (10/21) at Bowery Ballroom with Fanfarlo (who play tonight at MHOW), Midnight Juggernauts, The Postelles, TigerCity and Findlay Brown. They also play an acoustic set at the BV day party at Pianos on Thursday (10/22 - full details soon), and they have a gig at the Bell House later that night for the Gothamist showcase (with Uninhabitable Mansions, Robbers on High Street, Pomegrates and more). They also play Saturday at the Delancey's Deli Magazine/This Side Up/Young and Hungry party. All dates below.

In the clips below, the band sounds equally crisp on an abandoned Staten Island farm as on the Bedford Avenue L train platform, and there's a nice Sufjan vibe the song "Broken Horse." See those and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "Freelance Whales from Queens playing CMJ - MP3 & videos"

photos by Chris La Putt, words by Bill Pearis

Au Revoir Simone have spent the better part of 2009 working on, promoting and touring in support of their second album, Still Light, Still Night, wrapping things up -- for now, at least -- with a Brooklyn show at the Bell House on October 24 (tickets), which is part of the CMJ Music Marathon. The Bell House is also where their new video, "Shadows," was filmed. You can watch it over at the David Lynch Foundation Television website. Lynch has been a fan ever since he and ARS were paired together for that Barnes & Noble Upstairs at the Square event two years ago. He even wrote a nice little blurb for the girls:

"I LOVE AU REVOIR SIMONE ..... THESE GIRLS HAVE WHAT IT TAKES ..... MUSIC JUST FLOWS OUT OF THEM SO NATURALLY - AND IT'S GREAT MUSIC ...... THIS VIDEO FOR "SHADOWS" - FROM THEIR NEW ALBUM "STILL NIGHT, STILL LIGHT" IS MIGHTY - THE COLOR AND THE LIGHT ARE STELLAR - THE MOVES AND LOOKS - MINIMAL - CLEAN - MODERN AND SOLID ..... IT ALL COMES ALONG SO WELL SUPPORTING THE GIRLS AND THEIR MUSIC ..... ANNIE, ERIKA AND HEATHER HAVE GOT THEIR ACT TOGETHER - THEY'RE BIG - BUT THEY'RE GONNA BE BIGGER - THEY'RE GONNA BE REAL BIG"

In November, Au Revoir Simone travel to China for shows in Beijing and Shanghai. Tour dates are at the bottom of this post, as are more pictures from Au Revoir Simone's Bowery show from back in June. Findlay Brown, who is also playing CMJ at the same venue (Bowery), opened that June show.

In between now and ARS's trip to China, ARS member Annie Hart will spend some time with her other band, Uninhabitable Mansions, which also features Robbie and Tyler from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Uninhabitable Mansions' debut album, Nature is a Taker, is out now digitally, with the CD version due at the end of October and vinyl in January. Uninhabitable Mansions, which now includes Annie Hart's husband (and former Dirty on Purpose member) Doug Marvin on drums, has two NYC shows coming up: a free show next Wednesday (10/14) at Cake Shop which is part of the MIXER Reading Series, then they'll play the Bell House on October 22 (part of CMJ) with Robbers on High Street, Freelance Whales (who are also on the Bowery Ballroom show Findlay is playing), Pomegrates and others. After that, they're going on a short East Coast tour, ending with a October 30 show at Union Pool. Then the band's on hold until the new year when they expect to launch a more extensive U.S. tour.

And while we're here, Robbie and Chris of Uninhabitable Mansions have another band,Radical Dads, whose new self-titled EP is downloadable for free.

CYHSY front-man Alec Ounsworth meanwhile has been doing his own thing and is appearing at Mercury Lounge during CMJ, as well as at a free BrooklynVegan day party at Pianos that same day (10/22). More details TBA.

Tour dates for Au Revoir Simone and Uninhabitable Mansions, plus more pictures from Au Revoir Simone's June 28 Bowery Ballroom show are below...

Continue reading "Au Revoir Simone, David Lynch, Uninhabitable Mansions, Radical Dads & CMJ - tour dates, pictures, free music & more"

"fanfarlo was amazing last night. the experience left me inspired to be happy!" - Christy Gurga

Fanfarlo @ Bowery Ballroom in NYC - Sept 21, 2009 (awakinglim)

"Given the mere nine or so songs they played [at Chop Suey in Seattle on September 14th], jet-lagged or no, an encore was definitely in the offing. Nobody was leaving and everyone was clapping and expecting something. Promptly arriving back on stage, plastic tubes were handed out to the crowd to twirl above their heads, an opportunity for the audience to whimsically provide the high-pitched background hum for "Ghosts." It worked out better than I could have imagined (though the taller members of the crowd were probably not all that endeared by a constant threat to their head from all sides). After some mulling over requests, "Fire Escape" was decided as the second song of the encore.

Even after the house music came up, earnest chants of "One More Song! One More Song!" rung out until the band came back for a second encore. I honestly can't remember the last time I saw something like that with a new band like this."
[Sound on the Sound]

If you miss both, or even if you saw both, it won't be long before there's another chance to catch the London-based band in NYC. Fanfarlo are coming back for CMJ, and you'll have at least two chances to see them then. On October 21st they'll be at Bowery Ballroom again. That time it's with Midnight Juggernauts, The Postelles, TigerCity, Findlay Brown, and Freelance Whales (tickets). On Tuesday, October 20th (one night before Bowery), you can catch them at the official BrooklynVegan CMJ show at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Full lineup for that one to be announced shortly (and tickets will be on sale soon).

A video from the above-reviewed Seattle show, below...

Continue reading "Fanfarlo played Bowery Ballroom - Bell House tonight then CMJ (BrooklynVegan official show @ MHOW + Bowery again) "