Yasiin Bey on stage with Black Star (more by Zach Pollach)

Yasiin says:

I hope everyone will have a great 2012! Alot of things to look forward too. Especially when BlackStar will be getting out their album/Mixtape out and a new G.O.O.D music compilation album coming out spring. Let it be a Yasiin Bey year!

INDELIBLE FESTIVAL is dedicated to Gil Scott-Heron and Gordon Parks, with a tribute to Living Legend Jimmy Scott.

Indelible is dedicated to those who inspire and influence young people and, by their example, make a difference in the world. Jill Newman Productions created the Indelible Series two years ago, presented by the New York Public Library.

Reminder: ?uestlove ALSO DJs SOBs tonight (1/3).

Bey recently introduced the cast of Fela! the musical in San Francisco. Video of that is below.

Continue reading "Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), Questlove & more playing Gil-Scott Heron, Gordon Parks & Jimmy Scott party @ Highline"

A letter from XL...

We work with some amazing artists, and we appreciate the support you show them. To celebrate their work, and say thank you to you, we've made a limited edition, double 12" vinyl sampler. It features a track from each of the artists we've worked with this year. It won't be available to buy anywhere.

We would like to give you a copy of the XL Recordings Sampler 2011. If you'd like a copy of the sampler, email your postal address to XL11@xlrecordings.com and we'll send you one, wherever you are in the world. We have 1000 copies to give away. First come, first served.

XL Recordings Sampler 2011 tracklist:

A1 Adele- He Won't Go.
A2 Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx - I'll Take Care Of You
B1 Radiohead - Supercollider
C1 Tyler, The Creator - Yonkers
C2 Friendly Fires - Show Me Lights
D1 The Horrors - Still Life
D2 Jai Paul - BTSTU (Edit)

Thank you,

XL Recordings

Pharoahe Monch at Fun Fun Fun Fest in 2010 (more by BBG)

In addition to the free show at Weeksville Heritage Center, Pharoahe Monch has a few other NYC shows in July. He plays B.B. King's on July 12 with Heltah Skeltah, OGC, and Black Rob. Tickets are still on sale.

Pharoahe Monch also appears as a guest with the Miguel Atwood-Ferguson ensemble at Harlem Stage on July 9 in Annunciation Park (entrance Amsterdam Ave. and W. 134th Street). Jazz vocalist Jose James and Zap Mama will also be guests at the FREE show that Taylor McFerrin opens. J. Period is the evening's DJ. This one runs from 5-9 PM, with 4 PM gates. "In addition to the live music, concert guests enjoy food and hand-made products from local vendors, and an American Airlines raffle. Blankets only, no lawn chairs allowed."

If you haven't heard of multi instrumentalist/dj/arranger/composer/music director/producer/educator Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, you probably at least know some of his collaborators like Stevie Wonder, Outkast, Rihanna, Flying Lotus, Aloe Blacc and countless others. His ensemble performs original music, covers of unreleased J Dilla tracks, and will pay tribute to Gil Scott-Heron at the Harlem show.

A similar show happened in LA in 2010 with Flying Lotus as part of the ensemble and with special guest Aloe Blacc and Bilal. You can listen to that entire peformance, and watch some video from it, below....

Continue reading "Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble playing free Harlem show, Pharoahe Monch playing other shows too"

"Kanye West was among those who paid respect to spoken word artist and "bluesologist" Gil Scott-Heron, who passed away at age 62 last week, at a memorial service in Harlem's Riverside Church Thursday (June 2).

The service, which was open to the public, closed with West performing an Auto-Tuned yet emotional rendition of of "Lost In The World" -- the song from his latest album, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," and one that samples the refrain, "Who will survive in America?" from Scott-Heron's well-known poem, "Comment #1."

In addition to West, a trio of Scott-Heron's longtime backing musicians gave a spirited performance of the artist's songs "Better Days Ahead" and "The Bottle," while the audience clapped along." [Billboard]

To great sadness, we lost Gil Scott-Heron this past weekend. As Black America Web (via The Daily Swarm) points out:

A memorial service has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Riverside Church in New York City for poet-musician-teacher-singer Gil Scott-Heron, who died last Friday in New York at the age of 62.

A public viewing also is scheduled for 6-9 p.m. [Friday] at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home at 81st Street and Madison Avenue.

The Washington Post reports on a tribute that took place Monday night at soul jazz club Bohemian Caverns in DC.

DOWNLOAD: Gil Scott-Heron - Me and the Devil (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Gil Scott-Heron - New York Is Killing Me (w/ Nas) (MP3)

Gil Scott-Heron @ Central Park Summerstage in 2010 (more by Andrew Frisicano)

We're very sad to bring this news: Jamie Byng, Gil Scott-Heron's publisher in the UK, has tweeted that the poet and songwriter passed away today.

"Just heard the very sad news that my dear friend and one of the most inspiring people I've ever met, the great Gil Scott-Heron, died today.

Gil Scott-Heron's death is NOT a rumour. I just called by Dorothy who is staying with Aunt Mimi in NY to tell me the news. I'm so sad."
[The Daily Swarm]

Gil Scott-Heron @ Coachella 2010 (more by Rachel Carr)

As confirmed by a publicist for his record label, Gil Scott-Heron, the singer-songwriter and poet, has died. He was 62.

Influential in R&B, spoken word, and hip-hop, Scott-Heron had a strong run of albums in the 1970s. He wrote the song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" and the phrase entered the cultural lexicon after appearing on his 1970 album Small Talk at 125th & Lennox. Scott-Heron later battled drug problems and was incarcerated for a period during the 2000s, but he returned to music in 2010 and released the acclaimed I'm New Here followed by the Jamie xx collaboration We're New Here earlier this year. [Pitchfork]

Gil Scott-Heron @ Marcus Garvey Park in 2010 (more by Benjamin Lozovsky)

Scott-Heron continued to record through the 1970s and early '80s, before taking a lengthy hiatus. He briefly returned to the studio for 1994's Spirits. That album featured the track "Message to the Messengers," in which Scott-Heron cautions the hip-hop generation that arose in his absence to use its newfound power responsibly. He has been cited as a key influence by many in the hip-hop community -- such as rapper-producer Kanye West, who closed his platinum-selling 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy with a track built around a sample of Scott-Heron's voice. [NPR]

R.I.P. Gil

Continue reading "Gil Scott-Heron, RIP"

Tickets are still on sale for tonight's Jamie xx DJ gig. Opening sets by both Sepalcure and Creep sweeten the deal. Jamie's collaborative album with Gil Scott-Heron ("We're New Here") is out today.

Romy from The xx lends vocals to a Creep song.

A new Converse-produced 'short film' about Jamie can be watched below...

Continue reading "Jamie xx is here, 'We're New Here' is in stores"

Gil-Scott Heron @ Marcus Garvey Park (more by Benjamin Lozovsky)

In February 2010, Gil Scott-Heron released "I'm New Here", his first album in thirteen years. In August 2009, as a member of The xx (and producer) Jamie xx released his debut album "xx".

"NY Is Killing Me" is the first song from "We're New Here", Jamie xx's reworking of 13 tracks from the Gil Scott-Heron "I'm New Here" sessions.

Gil, whose album is already appearing on many year-end lists, was supposed to play BB King's on October 7th, but instead he is playing the NYC show TONIGHT (11/30). Tickets are still available. All dates, more new album info, and the streaming track below...

Continue reading "listen to Jamie xx's reworking of 'NY is Killing Me', see Gil Scott-Heron live (TONIGHT)"

photos by Benjamin Lozovsky

"Gil didn't perform The Revolution Will Not Be Televised [on Thursday] night, but he did enthrall an appreciative crowd of several thousand people with a 90 minute selection of songs from his new album, I'm New Here, and a number of classic songs from his recording career including Pieces of A Man and The Bottle.

It was a great performance from a man who, quite frankly, has not aged well. As little as three years ago, Scott-Heron was doing time in New York's infamous Riker's Island prison for cocaine possession. He looks ten years older than his 61 years. And yet. And yet, Gil Scott-Heron still has it. If his voice was any lower - it would be gravel. He still knows how to command a stage, and the audience was not there to see the last gasp of a great poet, songwriter, and author, but to see a man reborn." [The Compleat Traveller]

Continue reading "Gil-Scott Heron played Marcus Garvey Park (pics) "

Gil Scott-Heron @ Central Park SummerStage in June (more by Andrew Frisicano)

Gil Scott-Heron still has another SummerStage show coming up, his second of the season, set for August 5th in Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park. But that's not his only NYC appearance - Gil will also be playing B.B. King's on October 7th. Tickets are on sale.

As for his other tour dates, Gil plays a festival called Blue Balls Festival in Switzerland July 30th, and has a few other European festival shows coming up as well.

Some clips from Gil's self-deprecating pre-set monologue (similar to what he did at SummerStage) from a London show a few weeks back and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Gil Scott-Heron adds another NYC show & other dates"

by Andrew Frisicano

SummerStage hosted the first of its two shows with Gil Scott-Heron on June 27th at Central Park. A good number of sweaty New Yorkers showed up for an afternoon in the blazing sun with Gil "from up the block," as he put it. For the most part, Gil played with a band comprised of piano, flute/sax, congas, harmonica, and himself on keys or just vocals.

Gil Scott-Heron is equal parts musician, poet and storyteller, so it was appropriate that he started with a long monologue before sitting behind the keys to play a few solo songs. The poet part came in handy when telling stories that would make most musicians blush - like recounting the libidinous origins of the term jazz ("ass and jism music," he says, which may not be so untrue). The set was varied, with clasics like "Winter in America," "Pieces of a Man" and "The Bottle," one cut off the amazing 2010 disc I'm New Here (the bluesy "I'll Take Care of You"), and even a moment for pianist Kim Gordon to play a frantic, Tower-of-Power-esque piece off her forthcoming record (backed by a synth track and congas).

Special guest Common came out to perform his verses on "My Way Home" (from Kanye's Late Registration) and "The People" (off his own Finding Forever), both of which sample Gil. Common took a minute to find his place in the band's lolling chords a bit awkardly before hitting the groove.

Gil was candid and cracked wise about his time in jail, dealing with critics and traveling Europe during the volcano. In an ideal world, we'd get the crushing I'm New Here track "Me and the Devil" paired with "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" but it's pretty clear that Gil isn't about making perfect worlds.

Gil has another show on the SummerStage schedule, this time in the evening, set for Thursday, August 5th in Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park. Before then, he'll play more shows in Europe.

More pictures and videos from Central Park below...

Continue reading "Gil Scott-Heron (and Common) @ Central Park Summerstage - pics & video "

Gil Scott-Heron @ Coachella 2010 (more by Rachel Carr)

Gil Scott-Heron is a touring machine now that he's so back in the public eye thanks to a great new album on the high profile XL Records. Recently at Coachella and currently in Europe, the legend's next NYC show will be a free one at Central Park Summerstage on Sunday, June 27, 2010. His NYC show after that will also be free and in a park: Thursday, August 5th @ Marcus Garvey Park in Manhattan to be exact. Both shows are part of the growing 2010 Summerstage schedule of concerts that also includes Tinariwen and Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba. All dates below...

Continue reading "Gil Scott-Heron - 2010 tour dates (2 free NYC summer shows)"

photos by Rachel Carr

Devo

"An aggregate 225,000 people bought tickets to see a [Coachella] roster headlined by Jay-Z, Muse and Gorillaz during the April 16-18 event at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio.

The previous attendance record was set in 2007, when the headliners included a reunited Rage Against the Machine. Final figures are still being tallied, but AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips said the gross will exceed $20 million.

Phillips said the future looked bleak for AEG Live's nascent All Points West festival, which took place in 2008 and 2009 across the Hudson River from lower Manhattan at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, N.J.

"We're probably going to kill it," said Phillips. "As beautiful as (the site) is, it's very hard to get New Yorkers to cross that river. All Points West is an experiment that just didn't work." [Reuters]

Continue reading "more photos from Coachella, more confirmation that All Points West is not happening"

photos by Rachel Carr, words by Daiana Feuer

Jay-Z, Beyonce & Johnny Rotten

This year, the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival reveals that tattoos are more ubiquitous among social scenes than ever before. A walking museum of quotes and legendary faces from Jesus to Michael Jackson decorates the backs, shoulders, calves and fingers of people fashionably reliving their favorite historical decades at this heat-stroke inducing music marathon.

I thought Wale didn't show up, but later found out that he showed up late. Baroness demonstrated the art of rocking out at least three to five times before each song reached a satisfied climax. Metal can be a real turn on, especially surrounded by sweaty good-looking people. Deer Tick performed an R+B version of "Ashamed" followed by John McCauley caressing his nipples. LA band Iglu and Hartly had enthusiasm, but is this Mickey Avalon without the drugs and prostitutes? Which leaves what? Sleigh Bells began with a booty melting bass line palpable from the VIP section across the field, soon overtaken by hipster hop metal pop for people that like beaches and children. The Avett Brothers made an exciting second Coachella appearance on the Outdoor Stage. Two years ago, the band played Sunday gospel time, all manners and simplicity, but the Bros returned with a full band, and a few thousand people singing every word, stomping to the banjo, and hugging during the sweet parts. The banjo will take over America. Just wait. Country music is infiltrating avant-garde and above ground indie worlds alike.

Standing midway between the big stages, just a few feet from yet another girl with the words "Have u seen my friend Molly?" scrawled on her back, the Avett Brothers' heart-wrenching "January Wedding" got a reggaeton remix from Calle 13 booming on the Main Stage. This Puerto Rican dancefloor marvel used a tea kettle for a mic effect, and taught the audience to say "No me jodas las pelotas" against negativity ("Don't fuck my balls"). Speaking of balls, Yeasayer's crowd went absolutely nuts screaming, but the guys barely seemed aware, transported as they were to some space station cloud. The harmonies rocked like angelic aliens-but, smile, guys. Hockey demonstrated a genuine interest in moving indie rock standards forward, especially attracting the PG-13 festival contingency. M. ward raspy singing "Roll Over Beethoven" during She & Him's set delivered tingly shivers, but Zooey Deschanel's approach to "I Put A Spell On You" did not crumble souls. Her jazzy voice and bouncy energy otherwise made for a good time that elicited repetitive shouts of "I Love You!" from the first row.

Gil Scott-Heron

Music should be at least marginally weird or infinitely classic, but Tom Morello's band, Street Sweeper Social Club, brings nothing new to either category and so seems a waste of great musicians. Get weird or the future will never arrive. That being said, the musicians Coachella digs up from history often present the most exciting moments. Rock steady ska pioneers The Specials sent a crispy, warm message to Rudy that every witness appreciated immensely, but it was outrageous that barely any photographers showed up for Gil Scott-Heron's smooth, soulful set [editor's note: ours did!]. The man is partly responsible for getting Martin Luther King, Jr. a holiday, godfathered hip hop, and that doesn't merit attention? A large crowd attended his every word, but the photos won't show it. Later on, James Murphy screamed Gil Scott-Heron's name during "Losing My Edge" as if it were the name of God. Glad he gets it. LCD Soundsystem's first single in 2002, "Losing My Edge" is a historical document worth preserving for the ages, an essence that speaks to what Coachella seems bent on capturing and rewriting every year. Echo & The Bunnymen rode the high-hat zealously-as many have copied since-giving chapped lips sugar kisses. Public Image, Ltd., could not take Jay-Z's audience away from him nor unglue Fever Ray fans from Karin Dreijer Andersson's encompassing fog spell, but I'll be damned if PiL wasn't the best show all day. John Lydon's hair stood on edge and he rolled his rrrr's heroically. His gang of old men put the good junk in post-punk.

As this first 12 hour music summary comes to a close, a few acts remain worth giving a hoot about. Grizzly Bear's hypnotic power hardly needs mentioning and Vampire Weekend knows you love "Horchata." New cool La Roux magnetizes with a disco flavor that Anita Ward might approve. As hoped, Little Dragon's gentle fire breathing soul pop fronted by Yukimi's sexy voice and adorable stage presence comes in as Friday's second favorite. The music's weird enough, bent on discovering surprises. One-woman band Imogen Heap, as well, is the queen of surprises. She moves around her instruments, looping this and dubbing that as if casually mixing a magic potion or prepping a sandwich. Jay-Z's "On To The Next One" is an appropriate theme song for the attention span needed to get your money's worth at Coachella. And then Beyonce came out. We all bowed down before her short shorts.

Them Crooked Vultures, Passion Pit, Dillinger Escape Plan, Yo Gabba Gabba, and The Whitest Boy Alive also played sets on Friday. The Cribs were among those who could not. Coachella continues for a second day today/Saturday (Record Store Day). More pictures and videos and stuff from the first day, below...

Continue reading "Coachella 2010 - Day One in pics, video & review "

DOWNLOAD: Gil Scott-Heron - New York Is Killing Me (w/ Nas) (MP3)

PREVIOUSLY: New York I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down

DOWNLOAD: Gil Scott-Heron - Me and the Devil (MP3)

Gil Scott-Heron recording his album at NYC's Clinton Studios...

Gil Scott-Heron's latest album, I'm New Here, is to be remixed by Jamie Smith of the xx. The London trio's beat-maker, bass-rumbler and synth-player has been commissioned to rebuild the poet's celebrated LP, using just Scott-Heron's vocal track rather than the original music.

Although billed as a remix by the xx, singer/guitarist Romy Madley Croft wanted to "set the record straight" in an interview this week with BBC 6 Music. "The remixing side of things is very much Jamie," she said. "He's known as Jamie xx so people just write the xx, but I can't take credit for all the work that he does. But I have heard some of [the I'm New Here remix], and it sounds brilliant."

[Gil Scott-Heron] appeared at an xx gig with the idea of performing "an impromptu song in the middle of our set", Smith said. "It never happened for various reasons, but still it was really good to meet him."..."They just gave me the parts and let me do whatever I want, so I've been doing it on my laptop on tour," Smith said. "I'm am only using [Gil's] vocals, I'm not using any of the original music from it, which is very freeing." [Guardian UK]

Gil Scott-Heron played two nights at the Blue Note in NYC ealier this month. His next NYC show will be at Littlefield on Friday, March 26th where he'll be performing along with Talib Kweli and saxophone player Gary Bartz in conjunction with the Tenth National Black Writers Conference at CUNY's Medgar Evers College the same week. Tickets are on sale.

His other upcoming shows include San Francisco tonight (3/17) and Coachella, where the xx are also playing. All dates, a Blue Note review, info on the above-mentioned conference, a show flyer and video from a February Gil Scott-Heron show are below...

Continue reading "Gil Scott-Heron played the Blue Note, playing Littlefield w/ Talib Kweli & Gary Bartz + other dates, The xx & stuff "

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Gil Scott-Heron - Me and the Devil (MP3)

I'm New Here, the first LP in more than 15 years from poet & musician Gil Scott Heron, came out earlier week on XL. In January, Gil played at SOB's for MLK Day, and now with the album out, there are more shows coming up. Gil will be playing a release party/show at American Folk Art Museum (45 West 53rd St) on February 26th as part of its Free Music Fridays series (5:30pm). NOTE THIS UPDATE:

Attention: GIL SCOTT-HERON WILL NOT BE AT THIS LISTENING PARTY!
We would like to address the misunderstandings about the Gil Scott-Heron album release event at The American Folk Art Museum. There has been some miscommunication about the event. This is just a chance to listen to the album and celebrate the album release. Gil will not be performing or present at this event. We apologize for the misunderstanding.

The album, produced by XL label owner Richard Russell, mostly opts for ominous, spare electronics in front of Gil's words, which are best known for being paired with jazz and blues. Even with over a decade passed (some of which was spent in jail), Gil doesn't seem to have missed a beat. You can hear elements of the new album's sound in "Message to the Messengers," the lead track from his 1994 album Spirits. That song and videos for two of the album's most immediate tracks, "Me And The Devil" and "Where Did The Night Go," are posted above and below...

Continue reading "Gil Scott-Heron album out now - more shows announced "

Wow...Public Image Ltd, The Specials, Grizzly Bear, Passion Pit, Echo and the Bunnymen, Grace Jones, Fever Ray, Devo, Hot Chip, Phoenix, Orbital, Spoon, Sly and the Family Stone, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sunny Day Real Estate, Yo La Tengo, Mew, Camera Obscura, Gil Scott-Heron, The xx, John Waters, Dillinger Escape Plan, Deer Tick, Gary Numan... Full Coachella 2010 lineup below....

Continue reading "2010 Coachella line up announced (Faith No More, Pavement, Muse, Gorillaz, Thom Yorke, Jay-Z, LCD Soundystem, ???)"

DRI @ Fun Fun Fun Fest in Nov (more)

tonight in NYC
* D.R.I @ Gramercy Theatre
* The Weight @ Union Pool
* Mos Def @ Highline Ballroom
* Beth Orton, Sam Amidon @ City Winery
* Pentagram & Gates of Slumber @ BB King's
* Dinosaur Jr., Kurt Vile @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Rudresh Mahanthappa's Sporty Brown Trio @ The Stone
* This Is Ivy League, World Atlas @ Studio at Webster Hall
* Fan-Tan, Ben Davis and the Jett$, Minor Stars @ Cake Shop
* Vampire Weekend, Titus Andronicus @ United Palace Theatre

Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Day (the day Gil Scott-Heron plays SOB's). Gil's new video (from his new XL album) below.

Gil's labelmates Vampire Weekend kick off their three night run of NYC shows tonight at United Palace (with Titus Andronicus). Then they go to Webster Hall (with Holly Miranda) followed by Bowery Ballroom (with Nat Baldwin).

Dinosaur Jr. plays their second show in a row tonight with Kurt Vile & The Violators (if you're going, don't miss him!) at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Last night was an awesome shows at Bowery Ballroom. Monday is the same lineup at Brooklyn Bowl.

Kurt Vile also has shows coming up with Fucked Up.

Beth Orton and Sam Amidon play City Winery tonight (and Bell House tomorrow).

City Winery has four Haiti benefit shows coming up. The Bell House has one coming up too.

Sam Amidon recently played a show with Doveman & friends.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday?"

by BBG

"I know you got soul! If you didn't you wouldn't be in here"

Hip hop as we know it would NOT exist if it wasn't for the songs on one of the greatest of all LP compilations, Ultimate Breaks and Beats. During the early 70s, DJs would play loops from these classic tracks by everyone from The Monkees to Roy Ayers, but hide the labels from onlookers. The 25+ LP series helped to unmask these original tracks, making these songs available to the average DJ and changing the create-digging landscape forever. UBB is a must listen for any fan of hip hop/dance music, and BB King's is paying homage to the series with a show on Feb 24th featuring a who's who of great DJs including Maseo of De La Soul, Grandwizard Theodore, DJ Dummy, Kenny Dope, Da Beatminerz, Lord Finesse, and many many others (full list below). Tickets are on sale.

Though he never appeared on a UBB compilation, Gil-Scott Heron is widely regarded as one of the unintentional godfathers of hip hop due to his spoken word performance on tracks like "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". The 60-year old poet has a new album out in early February, and will celebrate the release of I'm New Here with a pair of MLK Day performances at SOB's on Sunday (1/17). Tickets are still available for both the early (7:30PM) and the late show.

While we're on the topic of pioneers, one of the greatest MCs that ever was (and he'll tell you so) is scheduled to play NYC; look for KRS-One to take on 1/29 at Southpaw (tickets).

Continue reading "Ultimate Breaks & Beats, Gil-Scott Heron & KRS-One shows"

DOWNLOAD: Gil Scott-Heron - Me and the Devil (MP3)

Gil Scott-Heron's XL Recording debut, I'm New Here, his first record since 1994, is due February 9th (a month later than intially reported). One hard-hitting track from the album is posted above, and more clips are available on his site.

Gil Heron-Scott has two performances coming up on Martin Luther King Jr Day (1/17) at SOB's. Tickets are on sale for the 7:30pm and 10:30pm sets.

Gil and album producer (and XL owner) Richard Russell talked about the recording process in a November BBC segment. That and the album tracklist are posted below...

Continue reading "Gil Scott-Heron MP3 from XL album, 2 MLK day shows, video "

When I got to the xx show at Bowery Ballroom last night (11/11), I was told by someone reliable that Gil Scott-Heron was planning on joining the headlining UK band on stage for some songs - both with them and on his own for a few. At first I thought that was completely random. Then I realized that the xx's label XL Recordings recently announced that they signed Gil. They'll be releasing "I'm New Here", his first album since 1994's "Spirits", on Jan. 11, 2010. And according to jamespenycate, "The XX are remixing the entire Gil Scott Heron album". You can listen to four song clips, and watch video of Gil in the studio, at imnewhere.net.

Ends up Gil didn't join The xx on stage, though I saw him there after the show and apparently he did sound check with them (it's unclear why the change of plan). Ends up Baria Quresh didn't join The xx on stage either. The band performed as a trio and XL confirms that Baria's hiatus is permanent.

Fellow UK musician Jon Hopkins opened the show with a set of solo electro that had him pushing all kinds of buttons on stage to the delight of those that bothered to check him out. "Hopkins's third album, Insides, was released by Just Music in conjunction with Domino Records on May 5, 2009."

I'm in love the xx album, so seeing them live can't be that bad, which it wasn't, but it's nowhere near as good as the album. The young band will hopefully improve their show over time. The annoying crowd (people were talking through the performance on every side of me... and there was at least one person who answered her cell phone) generally appreciated it though - there was lots of clapping especially for favorites like "Basic Space". The band said it was good to be back in NYC which they said was like their second home. It's true. They played a bunch of shows here before CMJ and then a bunch more during CMJ, and they'll be back again in December with Friendly Fires. Tickets are still on sale for that Webster Hall show.

The video for "Basic Space" and some Gil Scott-Heron clips, below...

Continue reading "Gil Scott-Heron now on XL (2010 album), was @ Bowery Ballroom to see labelmates/remixers? The xx (now a trio)"

It's Sunday...

We are the Seahorses invade NYC this week

"The Forms announce a special performance at the Benefit Concert for NYC After-School Programs, Sunday January 18th at the Bell House, with all proceeds of the show going towards helping after-school programs which provide local, underprivileged kids with not only the opportunity for extra academic help, but access to great sports and arts programs as well. This benefit marks the third installment of the highly acclaimed monthly charity series Good For You's Good For Me and joining the group on stage for this show will be fellow NYC bands Frances, Ford & Fitzroy, and Arms."

"On Sunday, January 18th, S.O.B.'s celebrates Martin Luther King Day with Gil Scott-Heron. The revered musician and poet, most famous for the 1970's era-defining poem, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", returns to the legendary S.O.B.'s for his first show in 2009. A long time civil rights activist, Gil Scott-Heron is the author of a book on the history of MLK Day and returns to S.O.B.'s for two intimate shows commemorating the holiday."

And as pointed out before, We are the Seahorses is the band of the infamous Darren Mabee. They're playing NYC shows on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday...

Continue reading "Darren Mabee, a benefit @ the Bell House & Gil Scott-Heron"

DOWNLOAD: Panda Bear - Comfortable in Nautica (Ernest Gonzales Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Jens Lekman - I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You (Spoolwork remix) (MP3)

* Suzanne Pleshette (1937-2008)
* Diplo & Blaqstarr are @ 205
* Tay Zonday is playing Europa
* UMGDOMSKULEN is playing Cake Shop
* Rakim & Chuck D are playing Studio B
* Kaki King is playing the Apple Store
* Jen Chapin is playing the Living Room
* Andrew WK, Endless Boogie & Jeff Jensen are @ Pianos
* Avey Tare (Animal Collective) & Kria Brekken are @ Glasslands
* Die-hard Giant fans fly into Green Bay, bundle up for Ice Bowl II
* NPR Music: Gil Scott-Heron: Forefather of Rap
* New York Celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr.
* Gil Scott-Heron is playing SOBs (early) (late)
* RIP John Stewart (Daydream Believer, Kingston Trio)

"Daydream Believer" videos below. What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday? (Gil Scott-Heron)"