BSS in Central Park (more by Matthew Eisman)

As you know, Broken Social Scene play Terminal 5 on January 18th with Here We Go Magic. Tickets are still available for all of you procrastinators, but for all of you agoraphobics (and people who just can't make it for one reason or another like maybe you don't even lve in NY) I have some great news. The entire show will be streamed live at 9PM EST, on the Bowery Presents Youtube channel.

The show is one of two upcoming dates for Here We Go Magic, who have also scheduled a secret show in Philadelphia, PA at an undisclosed location on 1/22 with NIGHTLANDS, Ape School, and Norwegian Arms. Keep your eyes on the Facebook invite.

In other Arts & Crafts-related news, Chilly Gonzales is scheduled to play Joes's Pub in NYC tomorrow (1/14), a one off for the composer/songwriter and his only current tour date. Tickets are still available. Chilly was in residence at the same NYC venue during February of last year.

Chilly Gonzales recently released a new video for "You Can Dance" from his 2010 LP Ivory Tower. That video and others, as well as all tour dates are below.

Continue reading "Broken Social Scene Terminal 5 show will be streaming online, Chilly Gonzales will be playing Joe's Pub"

Broken Social Scene at Central Park (more by Matthew Eisman)

Canada's Indie All-Star team, aka Broken Social Scene have dates scheduled throughout their home country this month, and will head south of the border to play NYC's Terminal 5 on January 18th. Tickets for the NYC show go on AMEX presale on 12/15 at noon and regular sale two days later. All tour dates are listed below, and so far they also include a February show in New Orleans (many more TBA?).

Feist joined Broken Social Scene Thursday night at Sound Academy in Toronto - not to sing one of her BSS songs, but to play a particularly rockin' version of her own song "I Feel It All". Video of that performance is below. They played the same song, but (according to a posted setlist) without her, at the same venue Friday night. Both setlists are below.

Speaking of Feist, she is the subject of a new documentary called Look at What the Light Did Now:

"The documentary is a backstage pass into Feist's creative process, the story of how The Reminder got made, of the oceans that were crossed, the places that were seen, and the people whose talents made it resonate. Follow Feist and her supporting cast through an impressionistic array of flickering scenery, echoing stadiums, puppet workshops, the red carpet, a crumbling French mansion, definitive concert performances and uncommonly candid interviews. Itself a part of the creative mosaic it portrays, Look At What The Light Did Now illuminates the synergy of collaboration, art as magnifying glass, and the power of trust."

The film This Movie is Broken that (heavily) features BSS is also out now on DVD, in Canada, or via the band. The trailer for that movie is below too...

Continue reading "Broken Social Scene coming back to NYC, Feist DVD out now, both just played together in Toronto (video & dates)"

Peaches turns water into wine..... and then spits it out (more by Paul Birman)

Peaches Christ Superstar, a slightly modified rock opera by Peaches with Chilly Gonzales, is going on tour and coming to NYC. We discussed the callaboration and the December 11th NYC show at The Concert Hall (2 West 64th Street) (tickets still available). And now it's been announced that the pair will team up for a second NYC show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Dec 12th. Tickets for the Brooklyn gig are now on AmEx presale and go on general sale Friday, 11/19, at noon.

"They'll narrate the story of the last week in the life of Jesus Christ - from entering Jerusalem until the crucifixion, using songs from the musical. Peaches will sing all roles including: Jesus, Maria Magdalena, the disciples and the Pharisees, alongside Gonzales' piano accompaniment. Don't miss this concert version of Jesus Christ Superstar by two extra-ordinary performers!"

Continue reading "Peaches Christ Superstar touring, playing NYC twice (dates) "

DOWNLOAD: Broken Social Scene - "All To All" (DJ Mom Jeans Remix)

The Sea & Cake

The Sea & Cake will support Broken Social Scene on their upcoming trek that will see them at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park on 9/18 (tickets). The tour pairing makes perfect sense considering Sam Prekop's (The Sea & Cake) contributions on the recent BSS record, and his new LP Old Punch Card due on 9/7 via Thrill Jockey. A recent press release also states that there is a "rumored to be a split 7" between the two bands in the works". Hmm, rumors in a press release? Look for more details on that 7" soon.

In other BSS news, the band is releasing a series of remixes for their song "All To All". So far contributions from Sebastian Grainger, DJ Mom Jeans, Jojoflores, and Skeet Skeet have emerged, with more due every week. Download one contribution above, and the rest at the remix site. The video for "All To All" (the original) is viewable below.

NYC is looking like Arts & Crafts showcasing ground for the next few days, as TONIGHT (9/1) the previously discussed The Wooden Birds / Dan Mangan tour will hit The Rock Shop (the shows was moved from Union Hall), tagging Mercury Lounge two days later (tickets).

Thursday (9/2) will see recent Mexican A&C signees Chikita Violenta play Mercury Lounge with A Great Big Pile of Leaves (tickets) as part of a larger tour that includes non-NYC dates with A&C-in-Canada labelmates Ra Ra Riot (who play NYCx4 in Sept) and Built To Spill (who play NYC Thursday).

Chikita Violenta is prepping to release their forthcoming LP for A&C, TRE3S, due in early 2011. The album was recorded in Canada with former Broken Social Scene producer Dave Newfeld. An MP3 is being given away at their site.

Last but not least, Chilly Gonzales (who will be in NYC soon with Peaches) is busy helping Feist with her new album. Feist and Gonzales both appear on Jamie Lidell's new album. Chilly's new album, Ivory Tower, is out September 14th.

All tour dates and some videos below...

Continue reading "Arts & Crafts superpost: Chikita Violenta (from Mexico), Dan Mangan & Wooden Birds (also here), Sea & the Cake w/ BSS who have remixes (touring), Sam Prekop, Feist & more"

Calling all Peaches Fans in USA!

Peaches is proud to announce that she will perform her American debut of "Peaches Christ Superstar" at The Concert Hall - The New York Society for Ethical Culture in Manhattan on December 11th 2010!!!

Her performance with Chilly Gonzales of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Tim Rice's musical, "Jesus Christ Superstar" made its worldwide debut in March in Berlin, with repeat sold-out performances in May-June (this time with Sir Tim Rice in the audience!!!) [Peachesrocks.com]

Videos from the German production of the show, which is what it says it is - Peaches backed by Chilly Gonzales performing the musical on stage - and more are below...

Continue reading "'Peaches Christ Superstar' coming to NYC w/ Chilly Gonzales"

Jamie Lidell @ Highline Ballroom in 2008 (more by Chris La Putt)

Jamie Lidell's fourth full-length album, Compass, will be released on May 17th 2010 (May 18th in the US).

The album was recorded in Los Angeles, New York and Canada, and it includes collaborations with Beck, Feist, Gonzales, Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear and Pat Sansone of Wilco.

Sessions began at Beck's Hudson Studios in Los Angeles, where he gathered Jamie together with Wilco, Leslie Feist and veteran drummer James Gadson (who's played with Bill Withers, Quincy Jones among many others) for Beck's Record Club project (where a group of musicians cover an album in a day). Inspired by the chemistry of those jams, they shifted to the legendary Ocean Way Studios. There, they were joined by producer/keyboardist Brian Lebarton, singer Nikka Costa, and Justin Stanley. All would have an important impact on the album. Pat Sansone from Wilco and Chilly Gonzales (who's played on both Multiply and Jim) were present as "musical meta-spirits", recording their parts remotely and delivering them via the internet. As Jamie says of this formidable line-up of brilliant collaborators - "You don't fuck with them"

Back in New York he began to make sense of this "great big mess on the hard drive". Then it was up to Feist's ranch the Niagara Escarpment, Canada with Chris Taylor, member of Grizzly Bear. [Warp]

The new record's title track, an acoustic-guitar led sonic odyssey, is streaming, along with album art, tracklist and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Jamie Lidell announces some shows & a new album w/ Beck, Feist, Gonzales, Chris Taylor, Pat Sansone & more"

Chilly Gonzales is currently celebrating two new releases: a spellbinding 7" piano remake of Erol Alkan and Boys Noize's club banger "Waves" (coupled with a spoken music lesson on the B-side) and his 4-album live Guinness World Record set "The Works" (released through Believe digital). Listen to the "Waves" remake below

Feb 4 w/ guest SIA
Feb 11 w/ guest Andrew WK
Feb 18 w/ guest DJ A-Trak plus surprise guest
Feb 25 w/ guest Princess Superstar

Andrew WK and Jamie Lidell joined him last time he played the same venue. Check out the "Waves" video below...

Continue reading "Chilly Gonzales adds guests to his Joe's residency, plays Erol Alkan & Boys Noize song on piano "

You may remember Gonzales from his piano battle with Andrew W.K. at Joe's Pub last September, which Gonzales won. Gozales returns to the same venue this February for a four-week, Thursday night residency where he'll present his Piano Talk show, which includes lots of talking, jokes and guests (Jamie Lidell showed up in September) (don't expect a piano battle between him and Andrew again though).

Thu February 4th - Gonzales: Piano Talk Show (tickets)
Thu February 11th - Gonzales: Piano Talk show (tickets)
Thu February 18th - Gonzales: Piano Talk show (tickets)
Thu February 25th - Gonzales: Piano Talk show (tickets)

Gonzales' fellow Canadians and Arts & Crafts labelmates Still Life Still have an NYC residency of their own. They're at Mercury Lounge for four Wednesdays in January (the first of those was last night). They also play Death By Audio on January 11th, and tour with Wild Beasts in February (which includes Bowery Ballroom and MHOW shows).

All Gonzales tour dates and videos are below...

Continue reading "Gonzales taking residency at Joe's Pub, Still Life Still add a Brooklyn show"

by Andrew Frisicano (who went to this show after Yo La Tengo @ Roseland)

Thanks to all who supported me and @Andrewwk in the immortal piano showdown last night...We're all winners! -chillygonzales

Gonzales's midnight set at Joe's Pub on Friday (9/25), the second of two that night, was packed. Before the show, the small club had a line that stretched down the block, which meant most of the floor space between the limited seating was filled with people either sitting or standing. Gonzales (pianist, Feist producer, and world record holder for longest solo-artist performance) started out with a solo "piano talk" set of equal parts jokes and songs. He read a fictional, satirical preview for his own show, explained the difference between major and minor chords (the former inspire false optimism and pacify the working class) and played some of his "hits" (his word) like "Slow Down" and "Take Me to Broadway."

Throughout, Gonzales sported a pair of white cotton gloves (kind of like Mickey Mouse) that were relayed from an overhead camera onto a screen. As billed, Jamie Lidell came out to sing, though he did just one song, "What Is It This Time?" Then it was time for the piano battle arranged and judged by Akira the Don, some kind of rapper/British personality. Andrew W.K. went first (he won a coin toss) and the pair exchanged lengthy improvisations that fluttered from Romantic ballads to stride piano licks to light rock covers. Andrew W.K. nearly lifted the piano off the group, Gonzales played with a blindfold over his eyes. Both responded quite well to the musical barbs of the other. Ultimately, Gonzales was declared the winner (though the crowd seemed to suggest otherwise). Videos of Jamie Lidell's song and the piano battle are posted below.

Andrew W.K.'s tour with the Calder Quartet begins today. They play Joe's Pub on October 2nd (it sometimes helps to make a table reservation - and show up early - to get a seat at the venue).

More pictures and videos are below...

Continue reading "Gonzales battled Andrew W.K. (whose tour starts today) @ Joe's Pub (Jamie Lidell was there) - pics & video"

by Andrew Frisicano

Big Apple tonight! 10 pm show with Jamie Lidell and midnight PIANO SHOWDOWN with @Andrewwk and @akirathedon. Joes Pub!!!!! -Gonzales

Hello! I hope you're well. I recently released an album called 55 CADILLAC. The Guardian asked me to write about it here. They requested I explain why I made the album and why it contains only improvised piano pieces. That's somewhat of a tall order for me at the moment (I just had a gag order put on me - really!), but I will do my best to type some words and hope they cover some of the desired bases.

Why and how I made this album is somewhat difficult for me to write about. Allow me to state the following: Over the past 10 years, I've had personal and professional issues with several people involved in my career, and due to formal agreements, I'm partially forbidden from going into detail regarding certain aspects of my recent work and, as a result, the making of the 55 CADILLAC album.

Here's what I am able to say: At the end of 2004, an old friend of mind got in some business trouble and basically decided to take it out on me. To cut a long story short, this person is someone I worked very closely with and had a formal and family business relationship with. Due to various complaints this person had with me, they were able to turn my life and career upside down. I wasn't allowed to use my own name within certain areas of the US entertainment industry and we were in a debate about who owned the rights to my image, and who should get credit for "inventing" it. This made my life complicated and intense for a few years, but I kept working and doing whatever I could to keep moving forward.

By 2008, and after a lot of negotiating, my new business team and I had come to an agreement with my opponent, and I was finally in the clear. That's how this new 55 CADILLAC album became possible - we based the new record label in the UK, so there were no issues within the US. However, as of last week, we've been partially pulled back into the thick of it and I'm getting hourly updates from my lawyer as I type this. I really don't know how to feel about it ñ it's beyond frustrating - it almost feels like a hallucination. It inspires so much rage inside me that my mind has to seek other outlets for that energy and I start to feel dizzy and see stars. Fortunately, I don't have to deal with anyone directly. Thank goodness my lawyers do all the real work.

Anyway, I wanted this new 55 CADILLAC album to sound like freedom. The sound of a piano being played by a free man - nothing more, nothing less. This was the first chance in almost 10 years where I was allowed to simply play and record an instrument - no songwriters, no lyrics to learn, no overdubs, no slow fixes, no remixes, no video shoots or interview practice ñ just the sound of someone sitting in room playing piano for the sake of it. No one telling me what to play, or how to play it. And no masterplans, high-concept visions, worldwide goals with roll-out schedules. No style consultants or acting coaches. No more meetings with sponsors or computerized yelling. No more threats.

Just a huge black piano. And a huge black car.

Andrew W.K. goes on tour with the Calder Quartet starting September 29th - they play Joe's Pub together on October 2nd.

After that, Calder Quartet plays music of Janácek and Fred Frith with Iva Bittová at (Le) Poisson Rouge on November 17th. Tickets are on sale.

Andrew W.K. is playing with Fucked Up in Brooklyn on November 5th.

See Gonzales challenging Andrew W.K. to a piano battle in the video below...

Continue reading "Andrew W.K. piano showdown tonight w/ Gonzales ++new Skyscraper EP, Calder Quartet shows coming up"

LPR review by Showtrotta

Jamie Lidell @ Warp's 20th Anniversary @ Le Poisson Rouge - September 5, 2009

Following a great first day at Electric Zoo, I somehow found the energy to head to Le Poisson Rouge to see Jamie Lidell who was performing in one of the many celebrations for Warp's 20th Anniversary (9/5). While Jamie was alone, without any of his bandmates that typically make up the live Jamie Lidell experience, simply armed with a couple of laptops, a mixing board, and some other items indiscernible from the crowd's side of his table of gear...he put on an excellent show. While the set was stripped down, without all the bells and whistles that come with a live band, the solo set-up allowed Jamie's talent, both musically and as a true entertainer and showman shine through.

He opened with the track "What Is It This Time?" off of Multiply before turning to the table of gear which he was behind for much of the set. While I'm not sure if he was playing specific older tracks with which I am not familiar, or if much of it was improvised/experimental, Jamie poured over the equipment, beatboxing, recording and looping vocal snippets, only to sing over and loop them again, tweaking nearly every sound that emerged from behind that table. While more abstract, experimental pieces can sometimes be a bit too out there for a listener of an artist's more everyday fare, the intensity and passion with which Jamie performed, combined with everything sounding amazing, made the show engaging regardless. He sang a few more songs including "When I Come Back Around" and "Music Will Not Last" the latter of which he dedicated to Warp, which he spoke of fondly multiple times during his set. The set finished with a slowed down, much more electronic-oriented version of "Another Day", the perfect ending to a show that combined elements of Jamie Lidell's style both past and present.

Battles, Chk Chk Chk, Flying Lotus and Pivot played the Warp20 show that took place one night earlier at Terminal 5.

Jamie Lidell is from England and resides in Berlin, but this month he might be staying in NYC because there are now two more chances to catch him here before September is over.

We've long followed the collaboration between Jamie and his Canadian friends Feist and Gonzales (and Mocky), but we don't hear much about Gonzales here in the U.S.A. That should change soon. On September 22nd, Arts & Crafts is re-releasing Gonzales's Solo Piano album "as a special deluxe edition- It comes complete with a DVD bonus disc, featuring the documentary 'From Major To Minor' as well as various other entertaining visual complements." One day later, Gonzales kicks off a four day North American tour in LA. From there he goes to NYC for TWO September 25th shows (early and late) at Joe's Pub. Jamie Lidell will be at both of them, and tickets are on sale.

Gonzales may be best known as the producer of Feist's Let It Die and The Reminder. Feist is known lately for playing 'special guest', and her last such appearance just took place at a NYC show on September 10th. So who knows, maybe she'll be there too - the Joe's listing does read that Gonzales will be "Accompanied for each show by unexpected (or expected) guests from the gang".

In related news, Gonzales recently launched a sitcom, filmed in Paris, "Superproducer", and entered the Guinness Book of World Records for longest solo performance - over 27 hours (in June). A picture of him with his award and all dates below...

Continue reading "Gonzales re-releasing Solo Piano, touring, playing Joe's Pub (twice) w/ Jamie Lidell who played Warp20 (review)"