Disappears at Cake Shop in 2011 (more by BBG)

Disappears are releasing their third album (and first recorded with Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelly), Pre Language on March 1 via Kranky. We've mentioned that they're touring in support of the new album with The Fresh & Onlys in February, but that tour doesn't include any NYC dates. However, Disappears just announced another leg of North American dates in April with Lotus Plaza (aka Lockett Pundt of Deerhunter) and those dates include a NYC show happening on April 19 at Glasslands. Tickets are on sale now.

For the two dates prior (4/17 and 4/18), Disappears and Lotus Plaza will be playing shows in upstate NY (Ithaca and Albany, respectively) with Steve's Sonic Youth bandmate Lee Ranaldo, but unfortunately Lee won't be playing at the Brooklyn show. However, Lee will come to NYC when he tours supporting M. Ward in May.

All Disappears dates below...

Continue reading "Disappears expand tour (dates include Brooklyn)"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: xxxy - "Think Twice" (MP3)

xxxy

xxxy (aka Rupert Taylor) has a few European dates scheduled this month, and he just announced a NYC show which will happen on March 8 at Glasslands with fellow UK producer Slugabed. Tickets are on sale now for what appears to be his only currently announced North American date at the moment.

xxxy has been planning the release of an EP on Well Rounded Records. There's not too much info on the EP at this point but xxxy put out two tracks towards the end of last year that appear to be on it. "Everything," which he cut from a mix and threw up on his soundcloud, is filled with rolling beats and cut up vocals, similar to his 2011 single. Mixmag also posted a breakbeat driven cut a few months back called "Think Twice." Stream both tracks below and download the latter above.

We recently discussed a couple similar electronic shows also taking place at Glasslands, one of which was Shigeto who played the venue on Friday night and since tweeted, "Goodness. Gracious. Thank you all who came to glasslands tonight. It just gets better every time. So grateful." C-HU$TLE wrote that "SHIGETO had glasslands crackin' like a foolio tonight. SICK show." What did you think? Shigeto plays again in Princeton tomorrow (1/17) with Madlib who plays Brooklyn one day later.

All xxxy dates and streams below...

Continue reading "Shigeto played Glasslands; xxxy planning EP & playing there too (dates & MP3)"

photos by Erik Erikson

DOWNLOAD: The Big Pink- Hit The Ground (King Krule Remix) (mp3)

King Krule, in the USA to play four shows including one with his True Panther label-mate Girls tonight (1/14), played a sold out show at Mercury Lounge on Wednesday, and another one at Glasslands in Brooklyn last night, 1/13, with Ex Cops & Abadabad. Here are some pictures from the latter. Read more about the Manhattan show HERE.

King Krule recently released a remix of one of the tracks on the new Big Pink album. You can download that above and stream it below.

More pictures, including one of Krule's setlist, also below...

Continue reading "King Krule played Glasslands w/ Ex Cops & Abadabad (pics), remixed the Big Pink (MP3)"

photos by Erik Erikson

G-Side @ Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn

We've been busy throwing BrooklynVegan live shows this month, and slow to post about them. Back before we started throwing the term "holiday party" into the mix (times three), we put together and presented what ended up being one of my favorite shows of the year: G-Side, Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire, and Cities Aviv at Glasslands on 12/6. As extremely talented G-Side backup singer Joi Tiffany put it, "THE NEW YORK SHOW WAS MF CRAZY!!!!!!" The NY Times was also there:

" The show featured three acts -- G-Side, the headliner, from Huntsville, Ala.; the rapper whose name is printable only when shortened to eXquire, from Brooklyn; and Cities Aviv, from Memphis. Each of these acts tells a story about making hip-hop on the fringes of the mainstream in 2011, but the stories are not the same.

At best, they have tradition in common -- not outright nostalgists, or unreasonably emulative, they owe a heavy stylistic debt to the 1990s, both the mainstream and the underground."

Continue reading "G-Side, Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire & Cities Aviv @ Glasslands (BV party pics & videos)"

by Andrew Sacher

Parenthetical Girls at Glasslands on 12.1.11 (via Jonathan Graves)

Parenthetical Girls recently kicked off an east coast tour which brought the band to the NYC-area three times so far, for a Glasslands show (pictured above), an early show at SUNY Purchase (12/3) and a night show at Santos the same day.

I caught their set at Purchase, which opened with singer Zac Pennington crouched inside of a clear plastic box singing "Sympathy For Spastics" with little more accompaniment than light piano lines from keyboardist Amber Smith. While he was under the box, he fogged up the front of it and scribbled the word "metaphor" with his finger, the first of many semi-sarcastic tropes of the set (another great one being when he kicked over a pawn from the student center's giant chess set). Zac's other antics included running into the audience and different rooms of the student center. The band's hour long set was made up mostly of the material from their Privilege EPs, though they reached into their back catalog for a couple of songs and covered The Smiths' "Handsome Devil."

Parenthetical Girls will be back in NYC TONIGHT (12/6) at Shea Stadium with Sam Mickens (who was also on the Purchase show) and guests. Updated dates below.

Speaking of The Smiths, the box set of their complete discography is out now and guitarist Johnny Marr has been banned from driving for 56 days due to being caught doing 72mph in a 40mph zone and pleading guilty. He's also been fined £535.

All PG dates and a clip of Zach singing in the photobooth at Glasslands, below...

Continue reading "Parenthetical Girls played 3 NY shows, playing 2 more (dates)"

G-Side @ Fun Fun Fun Fest

Huntsville, Alabama rap duo G-Side are on a tour that brings them to their BV-presented show at Glasslands TONIGHT (12/6) with Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire (who the Village Voice just interviewed) and Cities Aviv. (Facebook invite HERE.) Tickets are still available and we're also giving away a pair here. Details on how to win are below.

Earlier on in G-Side's tour, they played Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin. More pictures from their set there, where they came out into the photo pit to be closer to the crowd toward the end, are in this post. The five people you see on stage include the duo, their two much-more-than-backup singers and the DJ. The crowd started relatively small for their daytime set, but grew large by the end due to their undeniable talent and charisma. Read more about another recent show they played HERE.

SPIN profiled G-Side for their December 2011 issue, 'The Changing Face of Hip-Hop.' They talked about the town of Huntsville, Alabama, where NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center is located, and how G-Side rides "past the rocket to test records out." That rocket is the "363-foot-tall white Saturn V" off the highway, I-565. They talked about the tightly knit scene there. G-Side's manager Codie G. said, "In a city like this, all you get is small wins, If I see somebody here get some success, I feel like that's my success." Then the members of G-Side discussed their difficult childhoods and how they eventually met up in their pre-teenage years and began making music together. According to Yung Clova, their new album Island (which is streaming on bandcamp) "might be the last album," Either this album is gonna make us or it ain't. Struggling, trying to pay your rent -- it gets old," he said. Come support at Glasslands tonight or at one of their other upcoming shows.

All tour dates, more pics from FFF Fest, and contest details below...

Continue reading "G-Side are here (win tix to Glasslands tonight) --- updated dates, album stream, a SPIN feature, more pics from FFF Fest"

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

As predicted, Rostam Batmanglij from Vampire Weekend and Das Racist's Heems were both surprise guests at Small Black's mixtape release celebration at Glassands on 11/18 with Heavenly Beat. Download your copy of Small Black's Moon Killer FREE mixtape at their site. Check out Das Racist on Conan O'Brien tonight (11/28).

More pictures from the Glasslands record release show are below...

Continue reading "Small Black played Glasslands w/ Rostam, Heems & Heavenly Beat (pics)"

photos by David Andrako

Jessica Lea Mayfield, who is opening for Ryan Adams at Carnegie Hall on 12/6, toured through NYC earlier this month when she hit Glasslands on 11/17 with local Daniel Wayne and Ri¢hie...

"This was the most packed I've seen Glasslands on a Thursday in ages, and it's not hard to see why. Mayfield's latest record, the Dan Auerbach-produced Tell Me, moves Mayfield beyond her neo-country confines and continues her tradition of strong songwriting - see for example "Run Myself Into the Ground", which maintains a hint of twang but backs it with some solidly rock guitar work. That came courtesy of Nashville's Richie Kirkpatrick, whose band Ri¢hie has also served as Mayfield's rhythm section at several recent shows. This was my first introduction to Jessica live, and I was extremely pleased with both the show and the crowd. The only thing that could have made the night better would have been her performing her new cover of Nirvana's "Lounge Act"!" [NYC Taper]

Continue reading "Jessica Lea Mayfield played Glasslands w/ Ri¢hie & Daniel Wayne (pics & live recording)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield

Deer Tick @ Webster Hall

Deer Tick hit Webster Hall last night (11/20) with Guards and Thomas Hardy (of Dead Confederate). it was the last date on a larger tour that kicked off in October and hit Reggie's in Chicago along the way, and it was probably the largest headlining show on that tour (and definitely much bigger than Death By Audio). Here are some pictures from Webster Hall, though none of the destruction (aka broken instruments) that ended the two hour show (Deer Tick is always good for ending things in style).

Two days earlier, the same lineup hit Ithaca where someone wrote...

Deer Tick's set was not as much a performance as much as it was a time for both fans and players to come together and enjoy each other's company through their love for music. Deer Tick was not playing and singing for us; they were playing and singing with us. This could not be articulated as accurately as when McCauley led a sing-along on opening number "The Bump," wailing "I suggest you move/We're full-grown men/We act like kids." This youthful playfulness that the band set forth from the get-go marked what would become an evening of a shared joy between the band and the crowd. But as much as both the musicians and the fans seemed to be enjoying themselves, the band may have overstayed their welcome. Even with a set that clocked in at over two hours in length including Deer Tick's set, some solo tunes from McCauley, and new material with a freshly formed supergroup featuring McCauley and opening acts Thomas Hardy and the Guards, the boys of Deer Tick seemed to have enjoyed themselves a little too much....
-[Cornell Daily Sun]

When the Webster Hall show was first announced, I'm pretty sure Virgin Forest were listed as opener. I'm not sure what happened there, but today another Virgin Forest show was announced and it's happening at Glasslands on 12/7 and Ian O'Neil of Deer Tick is opening. Tickets are on sale.

More pictures from Webster Hall and a video of the Deer Tick/Guards/Thomas Hardy supergroup (see above), below...

Continue reading "Deer Tick, Guards & Thomas Hardy played Webster Hall (pics), Ian O'Neil playing Glasslands w/ Virgin Forest"

Nosaj Thing at Music Hall of Williamsburg (more by Chris Doss)

Celebrate New Year's Eve with Nosaj Thing, who will bless Glasslands on 12/31 as part of a PopGun party that will feature a vodka open bar (for a limited time) and a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are on sale, and so far no support has been announced.

The show is one of only two dates on the calendar for Nosaj Thing (the other being at Rotture in Portland, Oregon on 11/19), as he is currently in the midst of writing material for his new album. Details are still forthcoming.

photos by Amanda Hatfield, words by Rachel Kowal

Fanfarlo @ Glasslands

When I saw that Fanfarlo was playing at Glasslands, I confess I was a bit surprised. When I saw them play in 2009, I almost couldn't handle the cute overload (and I'm typically a fan of all things twee). But last night, the string lights and brightly colored flags that once decorated their stage were noticeably absent.

Early in the evening, it quickly became apparent that the cool, more electronic-based tone adopted in the first song from their upcoming album, "Replicate," is not an exception but a rule. In addition to showcasing a number of new songs, Fanfarlo reinterpreted much of their older discography, trading many of the lighter, folksier elements (acoustic guitar, tambourine, standard keyboard) for a moodier, more electronic sound where synths played a larger role and even a drum machine occasionally found its way into the mix (in addition to the traditional kit). Even the band's wardrobe seemed to be shifting. Instead of boyish cuts in muted colors, Cathy Lucas, the band's sole female member, wore a chic all-black outfit.

Whether the band is undergoing a temporary identity crisis or merely a healthy progression of their sound remains to be seen, but it seems that their heart is still in it. (On their official site, the band excitedly likens their new album to "a nuclear submarine falling from space.") Even as they move away from their organic roots, Simon Balthazar still has that infectious swagger to his vocals, and the sold-out crowd found plenty of opportunities to clap and bop along to the old and new material alike.

Didn't get a chance to see them at either of their shows this week? Balthazar promised to be back with a "proper tour" next year, presumably to coincide with the release of their next album, Rooms Filled With Light, which drops at the end of February.

---

Like they did a few days earlier at Mercury Lounge, Fanfarlo's touring partner Double Ghost opened the Glasslands. Tonight the bands will be able to participate in ghoulish activities around the city in celebration of Halloween (they have the night off) before heading to Philadelphia for the final night of Fanfarlo's US tour.

More pictures from Glasslands, some video (including a performance of new song "Tunguska" from Mercury Lounge), and all tour dates are below.

Continue reading "Fanfarlo & Double Ghost played Glasslands too (pics, review)"

photos & video by Jessica Amaya

Anika @ Glasslands

Anika is back on the road with her backing band (that contains 2/3 of BEAK>), and will invade Empty Bottle in Chicago TONIGHT (10/10) with tour-mate Slowdance before heading to Beauty Bar the for an after-party DJ set. The tour continues until late October with a stint on the West Coast and an appearance at Moog Fest 2011 in Ashville, NC. Full tour schedule is below.

Anika's second NYC date (the first was at LPR), which came after an appearance at ATP NJ, was at Glasslands on 10/6. There she was joined by Ducktails, Slowdance, and Hard Bop. Here are some pictures from that one and the setlist and a video too. It all continues below...

Continue reading "Anika, Slowdance, Ducktails & Hard Bop played Glasslands (pics, video, setlist)"

words by Bill Pearis, photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

Anika in Asbury Park

"Anika, not one for small talk, has a cold stare that's really not cold at all. It creates a distance between singer and audience that works to lift the show into something distinct and not at all casual. She takes it all in while on stage, never breaking the slick veneer of the performance to let any mundane moment of realism slip through. It makes for an iconic and captivating show, comforting yet somber, since I guess some have come to expect a singer to say hello or introduce a song here and there during the night. Unnecessary chit chat isn't all it's cracked up to be, however. The dubby, meandering nature of some of the songs and her spoken-word style of singing adds to the off-kilter, experimental mood." [Sentimentalist]

More pictures from her set at ATP I'll Be Your Mirror in Asbury Park on Sunday, all dates and a video from LPR, below...

Continue reading "Anika pics from ATP, Glasslands show tonight"

photos by Erez Avissar

Zomby @ Glasslands

Prince Rama, despite touring with them and also playing CMJ, are not opening the previously discussed Gang Gang Dance show at Bowery Ballroom on 10/22, but some other more exciting acts are opening what is looking like a 4AD showcase. The lineup as of now is Gang Gang Dance, Inc, and Zomby! At least one more act will be announced too (hmm, Joker will be in town). Tickets are still on sale, or get in with your CMJ badge.

Zomby, despite the Guy Fawkes mask he sports, has not made any appearances at Occupy Wall Street so far (that we know of) (like Jeff Mangum did), but he did make a rare appearance in NYC at Glasslands on October 1st...

"At nearly 2 a.m. on Sunday morning, U.K. dubstep womperkind Zomby is onstage, but he is not making any noise. "We've waited years for this, dude, years," calls one fan as another boos. And indeed, the crowd who attended Zomby's set at Glasslands had been waiting years to see it, as that night marked Zomby's second appearance in New York since entering the bassosphere in 2007, and the first one [wasn't] open to the public. Now, after years of consuming his releases from across the pond and hours of slogging through jam band opening acts and faceless DJs that night, Zomby was onstage and silent as a stupid dead lamb who deserved to die for making everyone wait so unbelievably, mind-numbingly long. "Where's the music?" demands another fan. When the first note trembles through the venue and the crowd unleashes a collective noise of assent, all is forgiven. Zomby, that diva bastard, is worth the wait." [CMJ]

Continue reading "Zomby played Glasslands (pics), playing with Gang Gang Dance and others @ Bowery Ballroom "

photos by Andrew St. Clair

The Suzan & fan @ Glasslands -- 9/25/2011

Some pictures from last night's show. They continue below...

Continue reading "The Suzan, Hard Nips & Lost Boy? @ Glasslands (pics)"

CANT @ Mercury Lounge

Considering their set time was 1am last night (8/30), I guess technically CANT played their debut show at Mercury Lounge today (8/31). Backed by three band members including Dev Hynes aka Blood Orange who also opened the free Spotify-sponsored show, Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor ran through a set of R&B infused songs we'll get to hear studio versions of soon. His debut album Dreams Come True is out September 13 via Terrible Records. I can never remember song names but BQ points out he loved "Answer," "Bericht" and "The Edge." You can watch audience video footage of "She Found A Way Out" and "Bang" below.

Missed the show and can't wait until October to see CANT? Chris Taylor and Co just announced another NYC show happening TONIGHT (8/31) at Glasslands with Steel Phantoms (Album Release Party) and Quinn Walker (from Suckers).

More pictures from last night (Blood Orange coming later), and those videos, below...

Continue reading "CANT played their 1st show @ Mercury Lounge (pics & video), playing second show TONIGHT @ Glasslands"

Male Bonding @ ATAS in 2009 (more by Leia Jospe)

The Male Bonding, Love Inks and Fort Lean show scheduled for Saturday night at Glasslands has been moved to Tuesday August 30th @ Cameo Gallery. The tour also hits Mercury Lounge on Monday. Updated dates below...

Continue reading "Male Bonding/Love Inks Brooklyn show postponed, changed venues (updated Tour Dates)"

Glasslands (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Williamsburg venue Glasslands Gallery was robbed earlier this month, but sort of kept it to themselves. Someone had mentioned it to me, but I didn't see anything online, so I thought maybe it was minor. Ends up it wasn't. Now taking a cue from Silent Barn which was robbed just a couple of weeks earlier, Glasslands is reaching out to the community for help.

They write:

HELP US TO REBUILD OUR STOLEN PA

The GlassLands Gallery was founded in 2006 by Rolyn Hu and Brooke Baxter as a true labor of love. Opening it's doors with very little start up and donated or recycled materials Glasslands quickly grew into a vital part of the Williamsburg community. Hosting live music, dance parties, special events, lectures, ongoing interactive art projects and even a free after school program that taught kids from local public schools dj'ing, screen printing and music lessons with the help of volunteers. A multi-functional art space, the converted warehouse became a fast home to a number of artists, musicians and any other type of friend or stranger who had a mind to contribute to it's ever evolving vision.

On Tuesday Aug 2nd at 2am GlassLands and practice spaces were robbed. Thousands of dollars worth of sound equipment was stolen and damaged, including but not limited to monitors, turntables, mixer, lighting equipment, etc. It breaks our hearts that after 5 years of being in the same space something like this would happen in our community. Under normal circumstances, we would be able to bounce back. Currently with the help of great friends that temporally donated equipment we are able to still keep our doors open. However as most of you know this comes on the heels of a massive renovation which included a full stage rebuild and finally central AC for our hot summer nights. If you would like to help or know someone who does, please consider donating to our PayPal. We are just looking to get back on our feet!

We would like to thank all the amazing volunteers, interns, bands and friends who have dedicated their hearts and time to GlassLands over the last 5 years. You know who you are! We have fought long and hard to keep our doors open and we are not going to let some lame/triflin fools slow us down.

-thanks so much
Everyone at the Glasslands and PopGun Booking

DOWNLOAD: YACHT - "Utopia" (Miracles Club Remix) (MP3)

The Miracles Club will play a few NYC shows this month including their previously mentioned PS1 show this Saturday (7/23) with Gang Gang Dance (DJ), Syd tha Kyd (OFWGKTA), Laurel Halo, and others. The next day (7/24), they'll play a Jelly RockBeach show with Death Grips, Bass Drum of Death, MNDR, and Night Manager. Check out a video from the first RockBeach show below.

The following week, Miracles Club will play two more NYC shows: July 28 at Glasslands with Vockah Redu and a FIXED party on July 29 at Public Assembly with Midnight Magic and Trap.Avoid. The Glasslands show is presented by MyOpenBar and tickets are on sale. You can also get advanced tickets for the Public Assembly show.

The Miracles Club also played with Midnight Magic during Northside at the DFA Showcase. YACHT, who headlined that show, was recently remixed by The Miracles Club. They put their twist on the title track of YACHT's recently released apocalyptic concept album Utopia. Grab that above.

Sissy Bounce artist Vockah Redu (pictured), who is on the Glasslands bill with The Miracles Club, also play PS1 one week later (7/30) with XXXY and Holy Other. Vanity Fair says, "Vockah's shows are elaborately choreographed and costumed, like how Ziggy Stardust would've ended up if he'd been raised in the Magnolia Houses."

All tour dates and video below...

Continue reading "The Miracles Club remixed YACHT, playing PS1, RockBeach, Glasslands & FIXED (Vockah Redu coming too) ---- MP3 & dates"

I actually came across this other band named Moonface (from Providence, Rhode Island) while looking for info for our last Moonface post. Moonface, the one we were writing about, is the new Spencer Krug project. At first I thought maybe Spencer (of Wolf Parade fame) had accidentaly used a band name that was already taken, but then I saw that this other Moonface appear to be even newer. They haven't even played one show yet, have been on Twitter less than two months and so for only have demos posted on their BandCamp. They need to change their name (and do a better job of Googling).

Spencer's Moonface released an EP in 2010 via Jagjaguwar (announced in 2009) and is now well known to Google and the indie rock world. To make matters worse (and the reason I'm writing this post in the first place), the Rhode Island band is confusing people and even getting booked by people who think that they're booking Spencer. Not only is Spencer NOT playing Glasslands on August 13th, neither is the Moonface from Rhode Island since Glasslands realized that was who they accidentally booked to headline the Saturday night show which is now cancelled.

Spencer is however touring and playing NYC in July.

photos by Jessica Amaya

Memoryhouse @ Glasslands

Memoryhouse played Glasslands on June 10 as part of a short run of dates. The Brooklyn show was with High Highs, North Highlands and Wonder Bear. A belated set of pics from that show is in this post.

Sub Pop is re-releasing Memoryhouse's The Years EP on September 13 on CD and vinyl. The EP has been re-recorded, remixed, and remastered and features two new songs. One of the new songs, "Modern, Normal" is available for download below. The band says:

"Very proud to share a first glimpse at our inaugural release with Sub Pop. This of course, is the first physical pressing of Memoryhouse's first EP, The Years, but I tend to find the term "reissue" doesn't really capture just what this EP entails. We've re-recorded Sleep Patterns, Lately, and To the Lighthouse in a manner that is consistent with memoryhouse's noises and idiosyncrasies while broadening our sonic pallet, and cleaning things up so that the songs are, you know, listenable. I'm even more excited about the new additions, "Modern, Normal", and "Quiet America". Believe me, these weren't added just cuz, which is to say that this isn't like the cantina scene from the 90s Star Wars re-release where random CGI monsters are found to be co-mingling with muppets. No. This EP is still full-muppet, but will provide some insights as to where our music is heading on our RealD 3D debut. So if nothing else, take with you the understanding that re-imagining The Years was a thorough and well-considered process, one that should hopefully yield many listens as the clock inches ever closer towards our first L.P.

Continue reading "Memoryhouse reissusing (sort of) 'The Years' (MP3), played Glasslands w/ High Highs & North Highlands (pics & video)"

The masked UK Producer SBTRKT (pronounced 'subtract') is scheduled to play Camp Bisco (7/7) and a PS1 Warm Up event on July 9 with Four Tet, FaltyDL, Matthewdavid, and others. You don't need to head upstate or stand in the sun to see him though because he's also scheduled a Brooklyn show at Glasslands on July 6 with Shigeto and Mux Mool. Exactly what formation SBTRKT will take at the Brooklyn show (DJ, full band, some mix of both, etc) is still TBD, but Glasslands tickets are on sale now. Camp Bisco will be a DJ set and PS1 will be "live set w/guest vocalist". What does "live" look like? It looks like THIS.

His self titled debut LP comes out June 27 in the UK and June 28 in the US via XL's Young Turks imprint, and it's streaming now on Hype Machine. We posted the track "Wildfire" (feat. Little Dragon) earlier this month, which you can grab here. Drake has since remixed the track and contributed some of his own vocals to it. Check that out, along with album tracklist and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "SBTRKT is coming (dates), album streaming now"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Idiot Glee - Trouble at the Dancehall (MP3)

Idiot Glee

Idiot Glee, aka Lexington, KY resident James Friley, plays Glasslands tonight (6/15) with Holiday Shores, Seattle's Seapony and The House Floor. It's a record release party for Idiot Glee's debut album, Paddywhack, which came out last week on Moshi Moshi.

The album puts a variety of '60s pop and soul touchstones through a decidedly modern DIY filter. Says Drowned in Sound:

What's instantly charming about Paddywhack is its welcoming aspect as Friley's honesty and sincerity creates a warming romanticism. In amongst the 'Build Me Up Buttercup' type bass line and floating warble of spaced out synths, he croons: "If you say it right/I'll be right on time/Finally make my way to the pool/And we turn and dance all night." It all flows with the same passionate tone as Rufus Wainwright but whereas Rufus channels his emotion through sharp dynamic changes, Friley prefers to let his voice glide on, entering spectral realms. Admittedly, while all the reverbration works for the spiritual nature of the music, it sometimes doesn't work as well for Friley's voice.

Seapony also play shows at Bruar Falls and Pianos this week.

Holiday Shores, whose new album New Masses for Squaw Peak will be released by twosyllable records on Sep. 13, also plays three NYC shows this week. All dates, the video for new song "Threepeat Got Old", and a stream of the band covering Talking Heads song "Cities" are all below.

Full Idiot Glee tour itinerary, and a video for song "Let's Get Down Together," are also below.

Continue reading "Idiot Glee released 'Paddywhack', touring (MP3, dates, a NYC show tonight with Seapony and Holiday Shores)"

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

DOWNLOAD: Little Dragon - "Nightlight (Unknown Mortal Orchestra Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Unknown Mortal Orchestra - "How Can U Luv Me" (MP3)

UMO @ Glasslands

Unknown Mortal Orchestra headlined Glasslands on 6/4. Headless Horseman, Balkans, and Fort Lean rounded out the rest of the bill. Despite some gear issues, UMO played an hour long set that concluded with "How Can U Luv Me" to a relatively full crowd. UMO is currrently prepping to release their self-titled debut on Fat Possum on 6/21. Stream three songs at the label site and download one above along with a remix the band did for Little Dragon.

The Glasslands show was one of two NYC dates for UMO, who played Webster Hall with their tour-mates Portugal The Man the night before. They'll return both venues in September while on tour with Toro Y Moi who headlines Webster Hall on 9/14. Ava Luna is also on the bill and tickets are still available. One day later, 9/15, UMO return to Glasslands for another headlining show. Tickets are on sale for that too.

UMO also has a bunch of dates scheduled with Yuck.. All dates and more pictures from Glasslands below...

Continue reading "Unknown Mortal Orchestra played Glasslands (pics), touring with Toro y Moi, playing Glasslands again (dates)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Natural Child - Hard Workin' Man (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Natural Child - Yer Birthday (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Miracle Fortress - Miscalculations (MP3)

Happy Summer everybody. Before we get into this week's recommended shows, I hope you've been spending the week, like I have, listening obsessively to Domino Radio which has put together an incredible all-star lineup of presenters for this seven-day experiment. All the shows are archived, so go back and listen to Felt/Denim mastermind Lawrence, Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie (who appears on the new CSS record), Mute Records founder (and former Silicon Teen) Daniel Miller, Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos spin tunes, among other notables. Upcoming DJ slots include Radiohead's Colin Greenwood on Friday, Robert Wyatt and Alfie are on Saturday, and The Pastels on Sunday. Here's hoping they bring it back at a later date.

Ume

Ok, let's get into what this weekend and beyond has in store. Austin powerhouse trio Ume's current tour hits the city this weekend for two shows: tonight (6/9) at Pianos and Saturday (6/11) at The Rock Shop. As previously reported, the band just signed to Modern Outsider records who will release their debut album, Phantoms, in August. Pretty much everybody here at BV are Ume fans. They write great songs and, yes, they are a bundle of energy on stage with some serious guitar heroics provided by singer Lauren Langer Larsen. After NYC the three of them head north to the NXNE festival. All Ume dates are at the bottom of this post.

Memoryhouse

Memoryhouse also roll into town this weekend. They play Glasslands on Friday (6/10) and Piano's on Saturday (6/11). Both shows are with dreamy acoustic trio High Highs who are worth getting there early to see.

As you may have heard the Toronto duo are now signed to Sub Pop and should have something out on the label by year's end. Memoryhouse is also now a full band, including a drummer, which make the likelihood of their music remaining Eno-ambient less likely. I'd probably have more of a clue if I'd caught their set at our SXSW party this year. Reports I could find from Austin were positive, though not especially descriptive. Anyone got a firsthand report? Personally I"m hoping this more traditional band format pulls them into Slowdive territory. We shall see.

Both shows have their individual draws. Glasslands also has personal faves North Highlands whose debut album is in the can, apparently, and now we just have to wait for someone to release it. They will definitely be the most energetic live band on the bill, unless all the other groups have radically changed. Well, I've never seen Wonder Bear live but judging by the chill sounds on their album Avalanche (a free download) but I have to imagine it will be a mellow affair.

Speaking of chill, you may remember the sweatbox that was Glasslands last summer, well with the new club's new makeover they also finally got A/C. Certainly the 90 degree heat of this week will be a good test for it's power.

Meanwhile the Pianos show on Saturday has Foxes in Fiction which is, on record, basically Warren Hildebrand who is now also a member of the Memoryhouse live touring unit. At SXSW he was backed by Memoryhouse so I'd expect the same here. Last year's Swung from Branches mixed soundscapes with more structured songwriting (he gets compared to Bradford Cox a lot) and his most recent FiF release, Alberto (download the whole thing for free HERE), finds him moving into even more pop territory. It's a packed Pianos bill, including Eastern Conference Champions and Suns (not Suuns).

Natural Child

Let's keep going, shall we? Nashville party rock trio Natural Child are here for a two-night stint at Death By Audio, playing Sunday (6/12) and Monday (6/13). The band's debut album is out now on JEFF the Brotherhood's Infinity Cat label which should give you a good idea of what you're in for. An even better indicator are the two tracks from it at the top of this post from the album. If you like Thin Lizzy, honky tonk side of the Stones and JEFF the Brotherhood, you'll probably dig Natural Child too. These shows are bound to be packed and sweaty (and smokey) so be prepared for that, as well as for having a good time.

Laetitia Sadier

On the opposite end of the spectrum is former Stereolab vocalist Laetitia Sadier who will be playing  Le Poisson Rouge on Monday (6/13) and The Rock Shop on Wednesday (6/15). Her solo debut, The Trip, came out last year on Drag City and was a lovely album. Not that far off from what she did with her band for the last 15 or so years, but it has it's own special charms as well.

Miracle Fortress

And lastly this Tuesday (6/14) is a swell double bill of danceable Canadians at Webster Hall: Junior Boys and Miracle Fortress. Junior Boys' fourth album, It's All True, is out that same day on Domino and is another fine example of their lithe, breezy style. Miracle Fortress -- aka Graham Van Pelt of Think About Life -- just released its second album, Was I the Wave, which finds him setting aside the first LP's guitars in favor of electronics with a decidedly Eno-esque slant. You can download album track "Miscalculations" at the top of this post. It's a really nice record. When I caught him at SXSW, Van Pelt performed solo surrounded by tons of equipment and a few vintage table lamps. Not bad for a one man show.

That's it for this week. A few more day-by-day picks follow.

THURSDAY JUNE 9

Looking for some quality indie rock newcomers? TWII-approved bands Radical Dads and Gross Relations are at Cake Shop tonight.

Did you know The Cloud Room was still together? They are and play Mercury Lounge tonight. Of course they're going to play local hit "Hey Now Now," no need to shout for it.

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