Tickets are now on sale for the Steve Earle shows at Town Hall and Music Hall of Williamsburg (the Town Hall show went on sale at 11).

Tickets are now on sale for the Swans show at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Swans were also just added to ATP NJ which also has tickets on sale including a new "Portishead 3 Day Pass."

Tickets went on sale today for Animal Collective, Grace Potter, Cut Copy, and Dylan Fest

Cymbals Eat Guitars have a show scheduled at Glasslands on May 20th with Yellow Dogs and Mirror Mirror. Tickets are on sale.

Tinariwen returns to NYC this summer. Tickets go on sale Saturday for a July 20th show at Highline Ballroom.

Did you miss getting tickets to Murder by Death's boat show? They added a 2nd happening the same day. Tickets for that one are on sale.

Tickets are now on sale for the Kid Cudi show at Williamsburg Waterfront.

Glasvegas are touring in support of a new album. Tickets are on sale now for a May 23rd show at Bowery Ballroom. All tour dates are below.

Continue reading "Steve Earle, Swans, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Glasvegas, Murder by Death, Tinariwen, Kid Cudi, ATP & other tix"

Glasvegas @ Webster Hall (more by Chris La Putt)

"The missing frontman of Glasgow band Glasvegas, James Allan, is safe and well in New York, The Independent can reveal.

The band's manager, Dean Cunning, said the singer had telephoned him yesterday afternoon after finding out that people were concerned for his safety.

"James is not missing, he's in New York," he said. "He got in touch with me yesterday at about 1.45pm to tell me he was OK because he knew people were worried, but to be honest I've been just as much in the dark about this as anybody - the last time I saw James was at the gig in Cardiff. I don't even know exactly when he went missing."" [The Independent]

Among his mysterious actions was not showing up to the Mercury Awards ceremony last night where Speech Debelle ended up taking home the prize anyway.

Continue reading "Glasvegas frontman James Allan found "safe & well in NY""

Mercury Prize 2009 shortlist

Florence and the Machine - Lungs
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Bat for Lashes - Two Suns
La Roux - La Roux
Glasvegas - Glasvegas
Speech Debelle - Speech Therapy
Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires
The Horrors - Primary Colours
Lisa Hannigan - Sea Sew
The Invisible - The Invisible
Led Bib - Sensible Shoes
Sweet Billy Pilgrim - Twice Born Men

The prize, which is voted on by UK critics and members of the music industry, comes with a £20,000 award. To be eligible an album must have been released between July 2008 and July 2009 by an act from the UK or Ireland. The winner will be announced on September 8th.

Of those listed above, Bat For Lashes, Friedly Fires, La Roux, and The Horrors have NYC-area shows coming up (do any of the others?).

Last year's prize, amid a strong field of contenders, was won by Elbow for their album The Seldom Seen Kid. That band's performance and award acceptance from the 2008 ceremony, below...

Continue reading "Mercury Prize 2009 shortlist announced "

"Though promoters around the country report strong early ticket sales for festivals and summer tours, the recession is causing jitters. This year Coachella, which has the most glamorous reputation of all American festivals, began selling tickets on layaway, and 18 percent of its customers took that option, Mr. Tollett said.

The proliferation of big festivals, like Bonnaroo near Nashville and Lollapalooza in Chicago, has not been without casualties. This year Langerado in Miami shut down, citing the economy. The Pemberton Festival in British Columbia is on hiatus after only one year, although its promoter, Live Nation, said the problem was permit delays." [NY Times]

With all the leaks of bands playing Lollapalooza this year, there are almost no surprises in the official lineup announcement, except maybe the Animal Collective DJ set... The whole thing below...

Continue reading "Lollapalooza 2009 - the official & complete lineup"

"M.I.A. gave the main stage at Coachella her best shot. It just didn't work out.

After a strong start, a few hiccups, and a somewhat listless finale, the Grammy-nominated new mom declared at the end of her hour-long set in the desert that "next time I'm back in the tent."

"I want to be in the sweat," she said.

M.I.A. had performed twice in smaller tents at the music festival, in its tenth year and one of the nation's most prestigious.

She noted earlier, "I really don't know how to bring it on the main stage." And her live show staples--climbing on speakers, dancing body-to-body with the crowd--didn't quite fit the new digs. When she tried to bring some of the audience onstage Saturday night, security guards thwarted most fans.

M.I.A. ended up on a platform above the crowd performing "Bird Flu," and asked when it was over: "Can we get some order in the place? My baby's waiting." She gave birth to a son in February, a few days after the Grammys." [Times Standard]

Plenty of fans did get on stage too - security was definitely not happy about it though. M.I.A. was playing in Amy Winehouse's place last night. The show didn't seem as bad (on the stream) as the above review makes it sound. Then came the Killers (still streaming as I type this actually) and Day Two of the three-day festival was over. Earlier in the day Glasvegas cancelled their set. What I saw of Beirut's performance on the stream sounded great.

Friday night Paul McCartney played "a two-and-a-half-hour performance of solo hits from the '70s, new songs released by his alter-ego the Fireman, plus 20 Beatles classics". Morrissey and Leonard Cohen played the same day.

Sunday is my favorite day. We'll have lots of pictures soon. In the meantime, below are more stills from the M.I.A. stream...

Continue reading "Coachella continues - M.I.A. played (some pics), day 3 today"

photos by Chris La Putt

Ida

The Ida Maria and Glasvegas tour came through NYC on Saturday (MHOW, 3/28) and Monday (Webster Hall, 3/30). The two UK acts toured together from SXSW to Boston (3/31), and they will share a bill again at least one more time in April - at the Coachella Festival on the west coast. Hopefully (current BrooklynVegan.com obsession) Ida decides to stop by the east coast again while she's in the country (at the moment that is her only scheduled date)...

"...She's really rather fantastic. I love her album, Fortress Round My Heart, and her voice is even rawer and more frayed live, though she and her band are still tight and technically competent. I think she had a cold, but the cracks and friction in her chest only made her sound better [at Webster Hall], in my opinion.

She was done quickly, though I wouldn't be surprised if she had made it through her whole album, since it clocks in at a mere 31 minutes." [hornblower]

Ida Maria also played a previous two-night NYC engagement in January, performing at Union Hall and the Mercury Lounge. At SXSW, she only played the Perez Hilton party

Glasvegas' upcoming dates include an opening gig for U2 at London's Wembley Stadium on August 15th.

All tour dates and more pictures from Webster Hall below...

Continue reading "Ida Maria & Glasvegas @ Webster Hall, NYC - pics"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Micachu - Lips (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Chap - Proper Rock (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Choir of Unbelievers - Next Summer (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Youth Group - "Start Today Tomorrow" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Fumes - "Automobile" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Deastro - Parallelogram (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Deastro - Light Powered (MP3)

Micachu @ Cake Shop (more by Tim Griffin)

Welcome to the SXSW Hangover edition of This Week in Indie. Those who went to Austin might not want to go see live music, but for everyone else it's a boon. Most of these bands have been covered before so I'm just going to go night-by-night of the shows I'd recommend...

Continue reading "Deastro, Obits, White Lies, WAVVES, Ladyhawke, Efterklang, Primal Scream & more in This Week in Indie"

by Andrew Frisicano

Ida Maria @ Union Hall (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

I wanted to re-release my album, the way I wanted it to be.

I have designed the artwork, added three new songs, and changed the track listing.

Now it sounds, looks and feels like I want it to feel, and I am so excited again.

The story behind this cover is a story similar to a homebaked applecake.

You take what you have in your kitchen and experiment a little and hold tumbs that no one will notice you kinda forgot the recipe.

And then it turns out tasting good as hell and nobody can ever make it again.

My drummer Olle is a photographer (!) and has shot the genius cover photo in his apartment in Stockholm, with use of just the light that was there. Lamps in the livingroom, and pocket flashlight.

The cover art is designed by my friend Jon Edergren. -[Ida Maria's Myspace blog]

Fortress Round My Heart, Ida Maria's 2008 debut, is coming out in the US, digitally on March 24th and on CD, April 14th, on Universal's Mercury Records. The US release will sport a new cover and re-arranged track list, but won't include the bonus tracks described above (though new song "In the End" will replace previous closer "See Me Through").

Ida Maria is one of the many scheduled to be at SXSW this week. She was/is supposed to play KCRW's Showcase at Buffalo Billiards, a show at Maggie Mae's , and is on the bill of Perez Hilton's "One Night in Austin" party on Saturday.

"One Night in Austin" will feature Yelle, Solange, Lady Sovereign, Margaret Cho, Ladyhawke, Little Boots, Ida Maria and Thunderheist, plus "a very special Surprise Musical Performance." No word on who: "Not Tori Amos [but] one of our FAVORITEST acts of all time!!!!!!" [RSVP for the party].

UPDATE: Ida Maria never made it to her official SXSW showcases...

I don't think Ida Maria played either Maggie Mae's or Buffalo Billiards. I wanted to see her play while I am down here, but both nights, she was removed from the official sxsw.com website. She was replaced with Zee Avi on wednesday and with Val Emmich yesterday. I hope she actually plays the perez show. Looking forward to seeing her at MHOW regardless" [Ashok]

EW confirms that, "...Zee Avi, a tiny girl with a warm smile filled the lonesome last spot at the KCRW showcase on Wednesday night. It was huge opportunity for the newcomer -- her self-titled debut will be out May 19 -- filling in for Norwegian rocker chick/hype magnet Ida Maria, who was reportedly stuck in U.S. customs."

After the festival (if she makes it at all), Ida Maria is touring with Glasvegas through March, including a March 28th show at Music Hall of Williamsburg (on sale ) and a March 30th one at Webster Hall (on sale). Ida Maria also has a scheduled appearance at Coachella Festival on April 18th.

Ladyhawke visits NYC after SXSW. Little Boots was here in February.

All Ida Maria tour dates and the "Oh My God" video below...

Continue reading "Ida Maria - now on a major label, playing Perez Hilton's SXSW party???, Coachella & other places"

The Walkmen @ Masonic Temple in December (more by Natasha Ryan)

"We live in scary times. Sure, we might wonder how that inane Southern California woman is going to feed fourteen mouths, but what about the family whose breadwinners lost their jobs, and now have not only no money to pay the mortgage, but feed their kids?

No one seems to care about those people. Everyone's too selfish. I've got mine, fuck you. But what if you suddenly don't have yours anymore?

You used to sell ten million records, now you can't even sell two. Those damn pirates! But those pirates are real people. Who overpaid to hear one good track on a CD. They've got no sympathy for you. And they may overpay to see superstars once, but not forever. The Stones don't sell out anymore. Nor does Springsteen, not even Madonna. The printed grosses are high, but that's because of the inflated ticket prices.

Is the concert industry headed for a fall? Just like the recorded music industry?" [Bob Lefsetz]

In related news, Live Nation and Ticketmaster announced plans to merge.

Most of the bands in this post recently announced a tour, or an update to their previously announced tour, and did not include a NYC-area date. All of them below...

Continue reading "TOUR DATES: Kings of Leon, Walkmen, Coldplay, Bloc Party, Black Mountain, Jason Isbell, Dr Dog, Little Ones & more"

Ida Maria @ Union Hall (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Ida Maria will be touring North America with fellow Europeans Glasvegas in the Spring (basically from probably-SXSW to probably-Coachella). That tour includes a March 28th show at Music Hall of Williamsburg (on sale at noon today) and the March 30th one at Webster Hall (still on sale). After recently seeing Glasvegas at Bowery Ballroom and Ida Maria at Mercury Lounge (which was a day before her show at Union Hall), I've come to the conclusion that the opener will be giving the better live performance on this tour. I would say, "that sucks that she's opening", but her headlining sets were only 30 minutes, so it probably doesn't make a difference. All in all though, a good double bill of two buzzed bands from overseas.

Did anyone catch Ida on Carson Daly the other night? I can't find a video, but there are some from the Union Hall show below...

Continue reading "Ida Maria touring with Glasvegas, 2 NYC shows included"

Glasvegas @ Bowery Ballroom - Jan 6, 2009 (more by Ryan Muir)

For all its profile and glamour, the Brits nomination list is never much of a surprise, given how closely it tends to mirror sales charts.

Coldplay and Duffy's four nominations are the music industry's way of acknowledging their contribution to the coffers with the bestselling British albums last year.

It is also the only way to explain the elevation of cheerful, cheesy populists Scouting for Girls.

Critically lauded bands such as Glasvegas, Hot Chip and Portishead have been overlooked, yet a comedy outfit with the boisterousness of a showband at a rugby club have gained three nominations.

Some may cast a suspicious eye on the role played by chairman of the Brits Committee, Ged Doherty, who is also head of Sony (Scouting for Girls' record company). But conspiracy theories about backroom deals are erroneous. [Telegraph]

The nominees for Best International Group are AC/DC, the Killers, Kings of Leon, MGMT and Fleet Foxes.

Glasvegas have added a March 28th show at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. That's two days before their previously-announced show at Webster Hall. Tickets for Brooklyn go on sale Friday. Webster is still currently on sale. All dates below...

Continue reading "Glasvegas not up for a Brit, add NYC show, 2009 tour dates"

photos by Ryan Muir

my eyes!

Glasvegas, the hyped-up Scottish band who already have a larger Webster Hall show scheduled, headlined the smaller Bowery Ballroom in NYC last night (1/6). It was the first time I saw them after missing their previous NY shows at Radio City and Mercury Lounge.

I left the Bowery show about as neutral as I was going in. The Glasvegas album doesn't get me as excited as NME, bit it doesn't offend me either. The live show wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. Actually, I decided I wasn't sure if they were really playing live. At times I was convinced they were just moving around a lot (the guitarist & bassist mainly), on a dark stage full of flashing and blinding lights (seriously, those lights were made for a stadium or something), to distract everyone from the fact that they weren't actually playing their instruments, but then I decided I'm probably just paranoid. Maybe there was a backing track. Either way, I liked the set better as it went on - after I stopped worrying so much about what they were doing, and when I heard the few songs I like the most. Maybe the band loosened up a bit towards the end too....

They could have played longer, but I wasn't sad they didn't. They went on (in total darkness and with intro music) around 10:40, played 10 songs, and no encore.

After the show one person said they liked them better live. Another said they liked them better on album. A third I talked to went in knowing nothing, and left a fan. "Anonymous | January 7, 2009 1:07 AM" "thought the show was very dull".

Angela McCluskey opened. I missed the beginning of her set, but what I heard was okay - I wish she had better songs to showcase her amazing voice. More pictures and the setlist, below...

Continue reading "Glasvegas & Angela McCluskey @ Bowery Ballroom - pics"

Scotland's Glasvegas finally releases its self-titled debut album stateside tomorrow after garnering rave reviews in the UK. The album appeared on may "best of 2008" music lists, and seems destined to dominate 2009's lists as well (editor's note: I am personally not in love with the album. Are you?).

My shopping list is pretty short, dominated by the vinyl editions of Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion, Hacienda's Loud Is the Night, and Starflyer 59's Dial M.

The Gourds' Haymaker! is the lone other new disc I have heard that I can recommend from this week's music releases, along with the reissue of Chatham County Line's debut self-titled album.

What new releases can you recommend? Have I left anything off the list?

Continue reading "Largehearted Boy's Interesting CD Releases This Week "

Angela McCluskey

Tickets are back on sale for Tuesday's previously-sold out Glasvegas show at Bowery Ballroom. Angela McCluskey is opening. You can also see Glasvegas for free tonight/Monday (1/5) at the Virgin Megastore in Union Square at 9PM.

More Glasvegas tour dates, including a show at Webster Hall, HERE.
More Monday night NYC events, HERE.

By Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Le Loup - "Shenandoah" (MP3) (on Amnesty comp)
DOWNLOAD: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts & guests - Silent Night (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Deer Tracks - Christmas Fire (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Twiggy Frostbite - Bells & Chimes (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Emotron - Santa Claus (I Still Believe In You) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: (Savanteous Q Malmsteen) - What Do You Get A Wookie for Christmas
DOWNLOAD: The Revelations - It's That Time Of Year (MP3)

With holiday mixes in the air, Amnesty International has released I'll Stay 'Til After Christmas, a benefit comp featuring No Kids, Blitzen Trapper, Parentheitcal Girls, Sally Shapiro, and more (full tracklist below).

Then there's the free all-Swedish Xmas mix up at Swedes Please. Among the songs posted is the new duet between The Hives and Cyndi Lauper, "A Christmas Duel," video below (or buy the song on iTunes).

Speaking of Cyndi and good causes, True Colors is auctioning off a chance to hang out with the Best Electronic/Dance Album nominee as part of its first annual online charity auction to benefit GLBT equality groups the True Colors Fund, CenterLink, and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).

The package includes "1-hour voice lesson, plus lunch, with Cyndi Lauper, in NYC. 2 roundtrip domestic coach tickets on American Airlines and a 2-night stay at Hotel on Rivington included." It's currently going for $4,000. Full list of items on auction here.

And speaking of Christmas music and female 80's icons that have toured for True Colors...

"Blackheart Records, the rock label Joan Jett started over 25 years ago, has released its holiday compilation record, and it's available at the iTunes store. The 11-song digital album features rocked-out holiday standards and originals recorded by Jett and Blackheart bands including Girl in a Coma, The Dollyrots, The Cute Lepers and more."

You can grab "Silent Night" at the top of this post for free. Full tracklist below.

Also for download up there is a selection of holiday MP3's from the inbox.

Other Christmas album options this year include new ones by Sufjan's friend Rosie Thomas and Neutral Milk Hotel's Julian Koster, and one by The Raveonettes. For a Christmas show, check out the always fun McGarrigle Christmas Hour this Wednesday night at Carnegie Hall. Guests this year include Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Emmylou Harris and Justin Bond.

Videos (including one by Glasvegas) and tracklists below...

Continue reading "more Christmas songs & comps & charities - the Hives, Joan Jett, Cyndi Lauper, Sweden, No Kids, Glasvegas & more"

The Bowery Ballroom show Glasvegas are playing during their Letterman to Ferguson tour in January sold out pretty quickly. The Webster Hall show they're playing on March 30 goes on Am Ex presale today at noon - regular sale on Friday. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Glasvegas - more 2008/09 Tour Dates (Webster Hall)"

Glasvegas @ Mercury Lounge, NYC (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Glasvegas return to America in 2009 and they play Bowery Ballroom on January 6th and tickets are on sale. All dates below...

Continue reading "Glasvegas - 2008/09 Tour Dates (Bowery Ballroom) "

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

SCOTS band Glasvegas missed out on the prizes at the Q Awards today in London today.

The Glasgow band were up for best breakthrough act but lost out to The Last Shadow Puppets, the side project band of Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane of The Rascals.

Welsh songstress Duffy took the best breakthrough artist gong at the awards which were held at London's Grosvenor Hotel ay lunchtime.

Welsh chanteuse Duffy, 24, was kicked out of her school choir at the age of seven but is now compared to Dusty Springfield.

Vampire Weekend took first place in the best video category with their promo for A-Punk ahead of entries from Coldplay and Hot Chip. [Daily Record]

Saturday night October 4th, a heavy night of NYC concerts (Brooklyn resident Kyle made it there after being in Harlem for Jenny) concluded with Glasvegas at Mercury Lounge - a show that almost didn't happen. After an opening set by the lovely Angela McCluskey (whose good friend Craig was also playing a show in the same borough), the band went on about 20 minutes after midnight and played to a capacity crowd at the intimate club. It was part of Glasvegas's first U.S. visit, and it was their second NYC show in less than a week. The first was an opening spot for Echo & The Bunnymen at Radio City Music Hall. More pictures from the Merc show below...

Continue reading "Glasvegas @ Mercury Lounge, NYC - pics"

photos by Zach Dilgard

"Ocean Rain" yielded the alt-radio staples "Silver," and "The Killing Moon," but it also was the band's most cohesive album, with a watery, deep-blue feeling on every track.

Moody and opulent, the music of Echo & the Bunnymen made its way into American dance clubs and onto college radio stations. From 1978 to 1989, McCulloch's melancholy vocals and Will Sergeant's bright, chiming guitar were ably backed by bassist Les Pattinson and drummer Pete De Freitas. The band did not enjoy the commercial success of U2 or The Cure, but Echo & the Bunnymen influenced many other bands, in scenes such as Manchester in the '90s.

De Freitas died in a motorcycle crash in 1989. The band broke up, McCulloch went solo; the band continued without him, then Mac came back.

Echo & the Bunnymen decided to perform "Ocean Rain" in concert as a way to reflect on the band's early days. The band played an acclaimed show at Royal Albert Hall in 1983, so McCulloch was happy to return. [APP]

Echo & The Bunnymen played Radio City Music Hall in NYC last night (October 1) . They performed two sets, one of which was "Ocean Rain" in its entirety, with full orchestra.

Despite visa issues, Glasvegas ended up making it to our country on time to play their opening set. They play another NYC show on Wednesday for which tickets just went back on sale.

Bill thought "bunnymen at radio city was a Wow, especially 'Ocean Rain' itself. Worth it.". Anonymous agreed that, "Echo were awesome", but said "Glasvegas weren't. Their drummer was terrible and the signer didn't seemed like he cared." Another anonymous said, "first set at Echo was spotty at best.. The Cutter, Back of Love were highlights but People are Strange and that awful new song felt out of place. The Ocean Rain set was REALLY fantastic.. and the pictures of the band at their peak was a nice touch... At sea again...."

More pictures from last night below...

Continue reading "Echo & the Bunnymen & Glasvegas @ Radio City, NYC - pics"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Blackstrap - Repulsion (MP3)

The biggest event of the week, at least in some circles, is Echo & the Bunnymen's show at Radio City Music Hall on Wednesday (10/1) where they will be playing their classic 1984 album, Ocean Rain, in full with a 16 piece orchestra. The idea of hearing "The Killing Moon," "Silver" and the gorgeous title track in their proper string-swept glory is pretty enticing, as is witnessing the album's weirder moments, like "Thorn of Crowns" and "The Yo-Yo Man," which they probably haven't played in 20 years.

This is the second of three Ocean Rain concerts the band are doing, and at the September 12 Royal Albert Hall show they broke the night into two sections: opening with a 12-song set of hits ("The Cutter," "Lips Like Sugar," "Villiers Terrace," etc) and then a short break before getting into main event. I imagine we'll see a similar (if not exact same) set on Wednesday. Good tickets, which aren't exactly cheap during these wintry economic times, are still available.

Added value: openers Glasvegas (who I've written about before) for which, thanks to some some visa issues, may be their first American show and whose album is currently in the UK Top 20. They're also playing a sold-out show at Mercury Lounge on Saturday (10/4) and a few more U.S. show as well.

The other big event this week, in my mind, is Stereolab's three-night stint at The Filmore at Irving Plaza. Tim, Laetitia, et al are supporting what I think is their best album in a decade -- the tight, bouncy, poppy Chemical Chords. I've seen a handful of Stereolab over the last 15 years (most recently Town Hall in 2006) and they've always been good but I'm hoping these will be especially memorable, especially coming off such a stong album. And though Chemical Chords is short and punchy, you can still expect some 10-minute one-chord jams. It is Stereolab after all.

All three nights feature different openers: Thursday is Atlas Sound and Van Allen Belt (tix); Friday has Anti Pop Consortium (tix) ; and Saturday is Monade and Le Loup (tix).

Tuesday night I'll be at the Bird and the Bee at the Spiegeltent.

Blackstrap

And finally, looking ahead a couple weeks, Sweden's Blackstrap are heading to the U.S. for a short American tour, including some CMJ dates. Mixing shoegaze and straight-up rock, Blackstrap fit somewhere between Serena Maneesh and Soundtrack of Our Lives on the Swedish sonic landscape. Blackstrap have flown a bit under the radar compared to other Swedish bands of the moment, but their new album, Steal My Horses and Run, is out now on TeePee Records (where they fit quite comfortably beside labelmates The Warlocks and The Brian Jonestown Massacre). It's one of the better produced rock records I've heard in a while and really makes we wish I still had a car. Blackstrap are great crank-it-up driving music. They're also one of these bands that when you hear the record you just know they're going to be good live.

All tour dates and videos below....

Continue reading "Blackstrap, Stereolab, Echo & the Bunnymen, Glasvegas and more in this Week in Indie"

Glasvegas were set to kick off their North American tour in Boston tonight (9/29), but then this letter was sent to ticket holders...

We regret to inform you that the Glasvegas show scheduled for this evening has to be canceled. James Allan has run into visa issues in the UK and won't be able to get to America in time for the show. We're bummed too. Refunds will be available via the good folks at ticketweb. There's talk of an early January reschedule date so stay tuned.

At the moment Glasvegas is still scheduled to open for Echo & the Bunnymen at Radio City on Wednesday and then play a sold out show at Mercury Lounge three days later with Angela McCluskey and Wild Light (thx Chris).

by Bill Pearis

In other not-till-October news, Echo & the Bunnymen's Ocean Rain show at Radio City Music Hall is coming up sooner than it seems -- October 1 -- and tickets are still available. As much as I LOVE that album, I must admit I haven't pulled the trigger on tickets just yet, though I'm sure I will. Just the idea of hearing "The Killing Moon" and "Silver" with a full orchestra is exciting.

Opening for that show are one of the UK's most-talked (praise and derision) bands of the year, Glasvegas, who former Creation records honcho Alan McGee called "the sound of young Scotland, and the most exciting thing I've heard since the Jesus and Mary Chain in the 80s." Of course he said the same thing about Heavy Stereo and other bands we don't remember, but the Glasvegas hype train hasn't derailed yet. McGee's hyperbolic statement notwithstanding, his comparison to the Mary Chain makes sense. They take a '50s greaser rock n' roll (including doo-wop-y ballads) and covering it in a layer of guitar effects and white noise that's nearly as thick as singer James Allen's nearly impenetrable Glasgow accent. (They've also got a standup drummer, just like Bobby Gilespie, except theirs is a girl.) I have to admit I like them, though the name makes me cringe.

In addition to the Bunnymen show, Glasvegas are doing a short East Coast tour, including a stop at Mercury Lounge on October 4. (Tickets are on sale). All dates and a video below...

Continue reading "Glasvegas - 2008 Tour Dates (Echo & The Bunnymen, Merc)"