Yo La Tengo, David Byrne, Fred Armisen (photo by antonieta molina)

"Yo La Tengo squeezed more than a drop of good will from a sugarcube last night at Maxwell's in Hoboken. The band performed a last-minute Japan Benefit Concert to a packed room of sweaty record store clerks--all the proceeds went to Peace Winds Japan, a Tokyo-based non-profit organization helping those displaced by the recent disaster. But in typical Yo La Tengo fashion, they weren't alone: SNL star Fred Armisen sat in on drums for the entire show, Glenn Mercer of The Feelies joined them for four songs, and legendary bike enthusiast David Byrne dropped by in grandfatherly overalls for a handful of tunes as well during the invigorating, nearly-three hour show" [Gothamist]

A picture of the Maxwell's setlist and a few videos below...

Continue reading "David Byrne, Glenn Mercer & Fred Armisen played w/ Yo La Tengo at their Japan Benefit @ Maxwell's"

P.S.1 has announced the lineup for its annual series of Saturday afternoon dance parties in Long Island City. Last year's program featured live music and DJ sets by James Murphy, James Chance & the Contortions and Tony Conrad to name a few.

This year, we get the Arthur Russell ensemble Arthur's Landing, Talibam! and The Phenomenal Handclap Band (on the same bill), Xeno & Oaklander, Growing, Glenn Branca and more. Full schedule, and more info, below...

Continue reading "PS1 'Warm Up' 2009 - Long Island City music series lineup"

Hoboken Arts & Music Festival, Spring 2006 (David Pfeffer)

The annual Hoboken Spring Arts & Music Festival is taking place this year on Sunday, May 3rd. Bands scheduled to perform include East of Venus, Yung Wu and Wild Carnation -- all of which feature members of The Feelies -- plus reunited '60s group The Box Tops.

The Box Tops were a Memphis pop music group of the late 1960s. They are best known for the hits "The Letter," "Neon Rainbow", "Soul Deep" and "Cry Like A Baby," and are considered a major blue-eyed soul group of the period...Vocalist Alex Chilton went on to front the power-pop band Big Star and to launch a career as a solo artist.... [Wikipedia]

Feelies bassist Brenda Sauter plays with Wild Carnation, East of Venus has Glenn Mercer and drummer Stan Demeski, and Yung Wu includes Dave Weckerman, Mercer and others (basically the whole band has gigged with Yung Wu at times).

The Feelies have performances together coming up, too. The band is playing an acoustic set at The Whitney on Friday, June 26th, and has a pair of July 4th-weekend shows at Maxwell's in Hoboken. The band plays ATP NY in September.

Catch a video of The Box Tops playing their most well known tune, "The Letter" -- plus a strangely intense clip of the song on American Bandstand -- with the Hoboken fest's full schedule and directions, below...

Continue reading "2009 Hoboken Spring Arts & Music Festival lineup - The Box Tops, three Feelies-related bands & more"

Glenn Mercer: We're playing a few shows in N.J. and N.Y. and might play more in other places, like Chicago and Boston. We're also working on some new songs, with the idea of recording another record. [Dark Party Review] (via)

Darren Mabee @ (Man Man) Masonic Temple, April 11, 2008 (Jason Bergman)

Deerhunter (Bradford Cox) @ Market Hotel, April 11, 2008 (thepiratehat)

* Dance
* Gnarls Barkley on SNL
* Hot Chip @ Terminal 5
* Dr John @ Blender Theater
* Glenn Mercer @ Luna Lounge
* Tippy Toes @ the Lucky Cat
* Antibalas at Southpaw again
* David Byrne & Paul Simon @ BAM
* Tim Minchin @ New World Stages
* Wye Oak & Deer Tick @ Union Hall
* The Felice Brothers are at Bowery Ballroom
* Rogue Wave & Grand Ole Party @ Irving Plaza

Glenn Mercer's old band is playing Battery Park this summer.

What else?

After 15 years MIA, Bill Million has resurfaced and The Feelies have begun practicing together! Apparently they will play a few gigs in and around NJ over July 4 weekend, including a slot opening for Sonic Youth in Central Park! Below (ED NOTE: actually here) is a rare and exclusive photo from a rehearsal last week--possibly the first photo in which Bill Million appears in quite some time. [via Ket Katkin via hot out here via Idolator]

Continue reading "a Feelies reunion? @ Summerstage with Sonic Youth?"

Glenn Mercer of The Feelies has a solo album coming out (Wheels in Motion) soon on Pravada Records.

The record features performances by ex-Feelies: Stan Demeski, Vinny DeNunzio, Dave Weckerman, Anton Fier, and Brenda Sauter.

Speaking about the recording, Glenn says: "The record is a very personal and intimate reflection on where I am, where I've been and where I'm going. The best part of the project was the opportunity to re-unite with a few old friends to play music. When I wrote and recorded the songs, I wanted the interplay between the guitar and vocal to be the main focus, building the track from that point."

See Glenn this Saturday 4/28 at Magnetic Field in Brooklyn with fellow-ex-Feelie Brenda Sauter's band Wild Carnation, or wait for Glenn's June 23rd show at Maxwell's in Hoboken.

Something like this happened last year in Hoboken too.