Primus at Roseland (more by Kurt Christensen)

Primus recently announced a MHOW show happening on February 8. Tickets went on sale last week and are now sold out. They've since added another NYC show happening one day later at Gramercy Theatre (2/9). The show is a benefit for Les Claypool's nephew Matthew who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and at 2 months old was admitted into the hospital. All proceeds from the show will go toward his medical bills. Tickets for this show go on sale at noon today (11/26).

If you are unable to get tickets to the show before it sells out, but would still like to donate in support of Matthew, you can do so at www.babymatthew.org.

Primus were also recently announced on the lineup of the 2012 Wakarusa Festival which goes down in Ozark, Arkansas from Mary 31-June 3. The jam band-heavy fest also will host sets by Girl Talk, Fitz & the Tantrums, Gary Clark Jr., Daedelus, Tinariwen, Blitzen Trapper and more. Full list below.

Our thoughts go out to Matthew and his family. Updated Primus dates, the Wakarusa lineup, and more about Matthew below...

Continue reading "Primus schedules another small NYC show for Matthew, playing Wakarusa Fest (initial lineup announced)"

Fitz & the Tantrums @ Summerstage 2011 (more by Bryan Kremkau)

Though I don't see it on the Livestream (or this one, or this one), Fitz & the Tantrums are playing stripped down versions of a couple of their songs ("Moneygrabber" and "Dear Mr. President") at Zuccotti Park for Occupy Wall Steet right now (11:30am on 11/10). Fitz says:

"We wanted to show our support to the Occupy Wall Street protestors everywhere who are keeping the focus on the culture of greed that is pervasive in our financial institutions and the lack of reform and accountability that has taken place. We are not anti-capitalist but we are not in support of an untethered Wall Street without regulations and without the Glass-Steagall act that protected our society after the great depression up until the 1980's. We Need Reform Now."

Fitz & the Tantrums will return to NYC to offer yet another soulful New Year's Eve option. They play Gramercy Theater. Tickets are on various presales now and go on general sale Friday at noon. Lee Fields, who they shared a Summerstage bill with, plays The Bell House on the same night.

More Fitz dates below...

Continue reading "Fitz & the Tantrums playing Occupy Wall Street today, Terminal 5 tonight, Gramercy Theater on New Year's Eve "

photos by Greg Cristman, words by BBG

"Ghost isn't playing" - Ryan Jones

"Enslaved is playing at the Gramercy tonight. Their fan base looks exactly like what you would expect them to look like." - William Hart

Enslaved @ Gramercy Theatre

Despite a sizeable loss with the subtraction of Ghost from the lineup, the Enslaved/Alcest tour has soldiered on with Junius picking up the slack. The trio of bands hit NYC at Gramercy Theater on Sunday, 9/25, one of their first dates on a tour that ends on the West Coast in October.

All three bands have recent releases to celebrate; Enslaved released a new EP, Alcest has the recent Le Secret EP, and Junius has a new LP in Reports From the Threshold of Death via Prosthetic. Alcest is also planning to release a new LP due early next year, though details are still forthcoming.

More pictures and setlists from Gramercy Theater are below.

Continue reading "Enslaved, Alcest & Junius @ Gramercy Theatre (pics, setlists)"

The above photo was taken of Peter Hook while he was just in NYC and visiting East Village Radio. The below video is Peter playing Joy Division song "Atmosphere" and STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE TO YELL AT AUDIENCE MEMBERS at his 'Closer' show at Gramercy Theatre. Setlist down there too...

Continue reading "Peter Hook visited NYC, played Gramercy Theatre"

Union Transfer rendering

Lots of interesting stuff to report in the world of live concert promotions...

NYC concert promoter Bowery Presents, who already has expanded to NJ, Boston, Maine, and Canandaigua, NY (not to mention MSG, Jones Beach, the Meadowlands, Radio City, etc), is opening a new music venue in Philadelphia this month. In partnership with Philly's one and only Sean Agnew of R5 Productions, and Avram Hornik and Mark Fichera of Four Corners Management, Union Transfer is...

... "named after the original train depot station that occupied the building [and] was developed by the group to meet Philadelphia's need for a mid-sized live music space and will accommodate 600 people. The general admission venue boasts a flexible capacity and can manage up to 1,000 people for larger crowds. Located at 1004-26 Spring Garden St, steps from Center City, Union Transfer is slated to open on September 21, 2011.

In perhaps less exciting news for Bowery Presents, Mercury Lounge talent buyer Jay Belin has reportedly moved on and started booking Irving Plaza, Gramercy Theatre and the new Paramount Theatre in Huntington, Long Island for Live Nation.

The Paramount Theatre is...

...located on New York Avenue a block and a half north of Main Street. The space is the former home of the nonprofit Inter-Media Arts Center (IMAC), which closed its doors in 2009 after 26 years of hosting jazz, folk and blues concerts.

The 1,500-capacity venue has been undergoing renovations for months. Among the changes, there will be a VIP lounge on the balcony and a member's only "Founder's Room" with a separate entrance in addition to the general admission floor.

"With both the architecture and the vibe of the venue dedicated to quality sound, hospitality, and experience, The Paramount is sure to be a hotspot for all of Long Island, and especially for Huntington," the founders said in a news release." [Long Island Press]

Speaking of moving on, Rock Shop booker Jack McFadden aka Skippy has moved to the music capital of Texas. He is still booking the Brooklyn club (and other NYC rooms) though. You just won't see him there as much.

Speaking of expanding, the race is on to see who can open in Chicago first. Will it be Brooklyn Bowl? or City Winery?

Speaking of Brooklyn Bowl, and last but not least for this post, the Wetlands is having a Class of '96 reunion at Brooklyn Bowl on Sunday (9/11). Ex-employees of the famed Tribeca club who will probably be in attendance include Rocks Off founder Jake Szufnarowski, Bowery Ballroom (and Union Transfer co-booker) Johnny Beach and of course ex-Wetlands owner and current Brooklyn Bowl owner Peter Shapiro. Brooklyn Bowl hosted a Wetlands get together of sorts in 2010 too, though that one was on a much sadder note, as it was to remember Wetlands' very first employee Dave Nolan who died of a heart attack last year.

by Bill Pearis

Despite a general consensus that it's a not the greatest idea or use of his time, Peter Hook and his current band The Light continue to tour the Joy Division catalogue and will be in New York next Tuesday (9/13) for a show at Gramercy Theatre, a show that was originally supposed to be at Irving Plaza. Where last year's tour concentrated on Unknown Pleasures, this time the focus will be on Joy Division's second, final album, Closer. Some dates on this tour will still get Unknown Pleasures, though, and all tour dates are below indicating which album Peter Hook & the Light will be performing.

Back in May, Peter Hook & the Light released an EP of new versions Joy Division songs, including the unrecorded "Pictures in My Mind" plus three other songs with lead vocals by Rowetta who sang with Happy Mondays in the '90s and later placed fourth on the first UK season of Simon Cowell's X Factor. Videos for The Light's versions of "Atmosphere" (with Rowetta) and "Pictures in My Mind" (with Hook taking lead vocals) are at the bottom of this post.

Meanwhile, the rest of New Order are reuniting without Peter Hook, and that includes keyboardist/guitarist Gillian Gilbert who hasn't played with the band since the '90s. Gilbert was a part of the recording of 2001's Get Ready but bowed out of touring to take care of her and husband (and New Order drummer) Stephen Morris' daughter. Replacing Hook will be Tom Chapman, who plays in Bernard Summner's Bad Lieutenant. I wonder how low he slings his bass? This version of New Order play October 17 at Ancienne Belgique in Brussels and October 18 at La Bataclan in Paris and both shows are benefits for ailing friend of the band Michael Shamburg who produced many of the band's '80s videos. Maybe they'll stick to songs from 1992's Republic which doesn't features much of Hook's signature bass style.

Speaking of Gilbert, she and Morris (who made records as The Other Two in the early '90s) have released a new EP, Swing, under the name Gillian and Stephen on their own Hard Cheese label, consisting of house-y instrumentals originally conceived and written as a soundtrack to Anna Blessman & Peter Saville's exhibition between October 2010 and January 2011 at the Gallerie Frac Champagne-Ardenne in France. Saville designed the sleeve.

You can stream a track off the Swing EP at the bottom of this post, which is also where you can find those Peter Hook & the Light videos and tour dates.

Continue reading "Peter Hook 'Closer' show moved to Gramercy (updated dates), the rest of New Order reuniting for charity"

photos by Greg Cristman, words by BBG

Grave @ Gramercy Theatre

Sweden's Grave cast a death metal shadow over Labor Day Weekend with an appearance at Gramercy Theater on September 3rd. Featuring support from Blood Red Throne, Pathology, and Gigan, the Gramercy date was just a few days into the band's North American tour which stretches until the tail end of September and concludes with a date in Tempe, Arizona on 9/22. Full tour dates are below.

The tour dates are in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Grave's Into The Grave, which the band performed in its entirety at Gramercy Theater along with other favorites. Check out the setlist, more pictures and some video of the band in action, below...

Continue reading "Grave, Blood Red Throne, Pathology & Gigan @ Gramercy Theatre (pics & video)"

by BBG

Metalsucks has announced its first ever "Metal Suckfest" taking place in NYC on November 4th and 5th at Gramercy Theater. While the bulk of the 20-band festival is still TBA, headliners include Municipal Waste and Cynic. Ticketing info is forthcoming.

Municipal Waste is currently working on material that will surface on their fifth LP, the as-yet untitled debut for their new label Nuclear Blast. No details on album title, but look for it in 2012.

by BBG

Immolation at The Studio at Webster Hall (more by Greg Cristman)

Immolation will hit the road for a string of dates with Gigan and Jungle Rot, hitting Gramercy Theater on 10/10. Tickets for Gramercy, and all other US dates are currently on fan presale. Immolation recently released the new video for "A Glorious Epoch". Check that out below, alongside all other tour dates.

In other metal news, Warbringer, Lazarus AD, Landmine Marathon and Diamond Plate will team up to play Gramercy Theater on 10/18 as part of a larger campaign dubbed "America Torn Asunder". Tickets for all dates on the tour, which kicks off in October and runs through early November, are currently on presale and listed below.

Both Warbringer (who played Slaughter By The Water) and Landmine Marathon are preparing to release upcoming LPs ON THE SAME DAY, with the former welcoming Worlds Torn Asunder and the latter welcoming Gallows on 9/27. More details on those releases are forthcoming.

Landmine Marathon kick off a short batch of dates at the end of this month with a show with Toxic Holocaust/Holy Grail/Krum Bums in Canoga Park on July 29th. That Toxic Holocaust tour hits Europa on August 19th. Tickets are on sale. Stream all of Toxic Holocaust's new LP Conjure and Command at AOL.

All tour dates and some video is below.

Continue reading "Immolation, Warbringer, Landmine Marathon & more (a bunch of new albums, tours, NYC shows & videos)"

by Klaus Kinski

Tim Minchin

I can't believe I didn't Minchin this earlier. You may have noticed ads for his two now sold out upcoming Gramercy Theater shows (5/4 and 5/5) on BV a while back, but allow me to bring back to the forefront of your consciousness the fact that comedic cabaret wunderkind Tim Minchin is coming to town in May. And by 'town' I mean the NYC area. Lucky for us non-Manhattanites, since the disappearance of those Gramercy ads he has added another show at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg on 5/2. Add to that his scheduled appearance at The Bamboozle Fest at the Meadowlands in Jersey on 5/1 and I'd say he has our area properly covered. Non-New Yorkers and people with a fancy for travel can catch him at Sasquatch 2011 or the Wilbur Theater in Boston on 6/4.

I find Minchin to be one of the most talented, creative, and entertaining performers out there. He's not really a stand up comedian per se; he's more of an oddball guy who makes incredibly wonderful and hilarious music and peppers it all with pitch perfect jokes and anecdotes. His style is definitely not for everyone, and his detractors are sure to take to the comments section in force with guns blazin'. But this man is an endless reservoir of talent and hilarity. Besides that, his shows always sell out, no matter where in the world they may be. I can't think of a better way to shake off a case of the Mondays than by filling my guts with beer at MHOW while Tim Minchin does his best to bust said guts wide open with laughter. People often use the term "He killed it", and in the case of Tim Minchin "Killing it" couldn't be more appropriate; you can't spell manslaughter without mans laughter.

Later on in May, comedy returns to the Gramercy for a Doug Benson double-header. On Saturday 5/21 at 4:20pm, catch a special Doug Loves Movies with special guests TBD. The last time he loved movies at the Gramercy he was joined by Anthony Jeselnik, Eugene Mirman, Morgan Murphy, Graham Elmwood and lots of booze. The result was one of the funnest evenings of my life. After DLM, go out, grab a bite to eat, but don't go too far as he'll return to the same venue for special Benson Interruption Live Podcast also featuring special guests at 8:00pm. Unfortunately, Live Nation doesn't offer a ticket combo pack that will get you into both shows and spare you a double convenience charge, but I can't emphasize enough how worth your while it is to go to both of these shows.

And speaking of ads, did you catch the series of Sony Ericsson ads startting Kristen Schaal that are currently decorating the homepage of Youtube.com? Catch Kristen live tonight, 3/22, at SWEET.

Oh, and speaking of comedy at Music Hall of Williamsburg, don't forget to catch Reggie Watts there on March 30th. The early show sold out but the late show is still available.... AND we have two pairs of tickets to give away to the late show too. Details on how to win them are under the video of Reggie performing a new Portlandia theme song at the SXSW IFC House last week, below...

Continue reading "Tim Minchin & Doug Benson gigs, free Reggie Watts tix, more"

by Klaus Kinski

Doug Benson

As previously mentioned, Doug Benson, Rob Cantrell, and Tony Camin will hit the Gramercy Theater this Saturday 12/18 at 4:20pm for the magnificent, doobie-centric spoken-word show The Marijuana-Logues. Depending on who you ask, Doug, who hosts the preposterously hilarious Comedy Central show The Benson Interruption, is probably the most recognizable presence on the panel. But having seen Tony and Rob individually several times I can tell you that they are two of the funniest dudes in the biz and that there is absolutely zero imbalance in the comedy onslaught coming from those three fellas. As a triad, Doug, Rob, and Tony create one of the funnest, funniest atmospheres on the planet. Tickets are still on sale. I cannot recommend this show enough. Last time I saw the 'logues, I laughed so hard I had an asthma attack AND had tears streaming down my face. Plus, you have nothing better to do this Saturday afternoon. Nor is there anything better you could be doing in NYC this Saturday afternoon.

If you are among the 1 or 2 people in NYC who have prior obligations or, Cod forbid, actually found something better to do Saturday afternoon, you may be wailing aloud "I'm going to miss Doug Benson's only NYC appearance!?" Relax, little grasshopper. I have great news. It was just announced that Doug will be returning to the Gramercy Theater that very evening, Saturday 12/18, for a live recording of his infamous Doug Loves Movies podcast. Tickets went on sale yesterday at the oddly specific time of 11:22am (is that another pot number reference a la 420 that I am not hip to?). The show will have special guests, and this being NYC I can promise that they will blow your mind away. Come to think of it, my first ever exposure to Doug Benson was way back when on bobanddavid.com (RIP) where he had a frequent column called I Love Movies. I liked him immediately and will never forgot his tweet-length review (before Twitter existed) "Amelie is as cute as a button. I hate buttons." Follow my example: go to both shows.

--

In other comedy news, hey San Francisco, Mike Birbiglia is coming to your town. Tickets are on sale for three shows. Grab them before they sell out like every one of his December Union Hall shows did.

We're just one day away from Reggie Watts' headlining show at Highline Ballroom.

Tickets are on presale NOW for a "Benefit for Greg Giraldo featuring Jerry Seinfeld, Lewis Black & More." Taking place at the Beacon on 2/9, the show will be "hosted by Tom Papa and feature Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Norton, Dave Attell, Ted Alexandro, Lewis Black, Judy Gold, Colin Quinn, & Jesse Joyce." PRESALE PASSWORD = HECOMEDY. Regular sale starts Saturday, 12/18, at 10am. Greg Giraldo sadly passed away way too young back in September.

Jerry Seinfeld was recently spotted in the crowd of the Apollo Theater.

Jim Gaffigan's 7-show Best Buy Theater run continues this weekend.

You can catch Jenny Slate in Brooklyn tonight (12/16).

photos by Chris La Putt

"... So we met with Sean in private and asked him nicely to sort this chick out and only deal directly with us like we had been doing up to this point.Sean told us that his boss is a bit psycho and that he is bound by the contract he signed and that there's not much he can do about her lies to the press.At this point, we decided to just let it all be and not make a big scene.We were kind of let down that Sean didn't have enough of a spine to stick up for his 'friends' but we also thought, "Fokkit, let's just carry on making new shit...whatever."

However when we heard last night that Sean's boss had told the Guggenheim museum that her new up and coming director was the mastermind behind DIE ANTWOORD we kind of lost it.Sometimes enough is enough.

With all this said, Sean is fuckin talented and a sweetheart, but in life it's good to keep it real, tell the truth, and stick up for your friends.

This is why we say, "A fake friend is worse than a wild animal because wild animal can harm your body but a fake friend can harm your mind."

And that's why we also say "Love all but trust no-one."...
[Die Antwoord]

Die Antwoord made a last minute move from being opener for Deadmau5 at Roseland to instead headlining their own show at Gramercy Theatre in NYC last night (Friday, 10/29). The Knocks ended up opening the show, and Die Antwoord played 12 songs as you can see on the setlist which is with the rest of the pictures, below...

Continue reading "Die Antwoord played Gramercy Theatre in NYC w/ the Knocks (pics & setlist), are controversially in the Guggenheim "

words and photos by BBG

"Very late in the evening of October 5, 2010, Triptykon arrived at John F. Kennedy airport in New York, flying in from London. The very next day, we played the group's first concert on North American soil, at the Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan, thereby embarking on the Weltenbrand co-headlining tour of the US and Canada, together with 1349.

"The Gramercy was filled with long-time friends and new acquaintances alike. Painter/tattoo artist Vincent Castiglia, who is such a major contributor to Triptykon's first album, publisher Ian Christe of Bazillion Points, who gave me the astounding news that my second book Only Death Is Real will already go into its third printing run, the extraordinary Kim Kelly, HR Giger's US agent Les Barany, who photographed and filmed the concert, master sculptor Eli Livingston, the artist behind HR Giger's jewelry and Celtic Frost's pendant, who showed me the prototype of a proposed miniature sculpture based on 1984's The Sitting Death Hellhammer EP cover drawing. There were many more. How good it felt to return to touring in North America, finally, after the past three eventful years." [Tom G Warrior]

Although Triptykon did play some choice Celtic Frost material (setlist below... "Circle of Tyrants", no "Usurper"!), all three bands are touring in support of their latest recorded output: Triptykon has the new Shatter EP along with the Epistera Daimones full-length. 1349 unleashed Demonoir earlier this year, and Yakuza's Of Seismic Consequence is out now via Profound Lore.

More pictures from the show, including Triptykon's setlist, are below...

Continue reading "Triptykon (Tom Warrior), 1349 & Yakuza kicked off a tour @ Gramercy Theatre in NYC (pics & setlist) "

photos by Kurt Christensen, words by BBG

Vision of Disorder

Vision of Disorder re-re-reunited to play Gramercy on Friday, 8/20, alongside Incendiary, Reign Supreme, and The Judas Syndrome. Still no firm date for the upcoming VOD LP, but the band has announced that they hope to have it out this year.

VOD has no future tour dates on their upcoming sked, but Incendiary and The Judas Syndrome do. Incendiary will play Baltimore with Cro-Mags in addition to dates in NJ and Boston, while The Judas Syndrome will support Despised Icon, Misery Index, and Revocation at Europa on 9/11 (tickets).

Incendiary tour dates and tons more pics from Irving are below...

Continue reading "Vision of Disorder, Incendiary, Reign Supreme & The Judas Syndrome played Gramercy Theatre (pics)"

words by BBG, photos by Chris Roque

"Sick of it All at the Gramercy. Ohhh the old school boys are out in NYC tonight." - anthonysrecords

"We were on tour with Slayer, and it was Slayer, us [Sick of It All], and Meshuggah in 1999. I believe it was in New Mexico. For some reason there was a real odd number we saw, a lot of Mexican midgets at the Slayer show. And they weren't together. We were hanging out at the merch booth waiting to go on and we counted seven different Mexican midgets. When the show started, in the middle of the set, the Slayer fans in New Mexico were taking their shirts off, lighting them on fire, and then running around with them in the pit. That was one of the craziest things we've ever seen. So apparently midgets in New Mexico love Slayer."
[Sick of It All's Lou Koller to Metal Underground]

No shots of the support bands at Gramercy, but more Sick of It All pics and tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Sick of it All played Gramercy (pics), add more tour dates "

by BBG

Local H

With Velvet Revolver (roffle at that name/band, forever) officially dunzo, Scott Weiland and the rest of the lads in Stone Temple Pilots, who recently played SXSW, are touring off of their forthcoming self-titled album which features "Between The Lines" (video below). That tour now includes a show at the relatively tiny Gramercy Theater in NYC on 5/18 (Tuesday). Tickets go on sale at 10AM Friday, if you're into that sort of thing.

And speaking of the Gramercy on May 18th and the 90s, Local H will play a separate show with Kinch at the same venue on the same night. Tickets are on sale for the NYC date of their "The 6 Angry Records" Tour:

It's all in the numbers... Local H is taking a cue from their sold out, 7 night stand in Chicago and taking all 6 of their studio albums on the road. Every night, the band will put all 6 of their records in a hat (sorry guys, no b-sides); one lucky (?) member of the audience will be selected to pull a record out of that hat and Local H will play it front to back. On the spot... No, really.

And the nominees are:
Ham Fisted
As Good As Dead
Pack Up The Cats
Here Comes The Zoo
Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles?
12 Angry Months

Continue reading "Stone Temple Pilots & Local H touring & playing Gramercy Theatre (not together) (sort of)"

photos by Chris La Putt, words by BBG

With the Snakes For The Divine infiltration on full steam, High on Fire played to an uber-packed Gramercy Theater on Friday (3/9). Part of a greater US tour, serious firepower came from the riff battalions of Priestess, Black Cobra, and Bison BC. The sold-out crowd were treated to recent material from all performers (three of the four have albums that have been released in the recent past), with Bison BC expecting their punisher Dark Ages on 4/13 (Tuesday). Much like 2008's Quiet Earth, the new Bison LP is a burner, skillfully meshing moments of stoner rock, thrash, and even crust punk to create a record to raise a beer to, if only you can stop headbanging. Bangover indeed.

Though all bands pride themselves on huge riffs delivered at exceptional volume, it seems that for a short time, that was muzzled:

Mr. Pike's guitar sounded as if it were coming from someone's living-room stereo. Suddenly High on Fire seemed small and delicate. This wasn't how it was supposed to go down. It took half the set to get the mix right, through to the new 'Fire, Flood & Plague,' whose four-bar chordal riff includes a couple of half-step waverings, like the cracks in a devotional singer's wail, and whose guitar solo was sprayed and gestural and fantastic, ignoring the moving harmony. -[New York Times]

Continue reading "High on Fire, Priestess, Black Cobra & Bison BC played Gramercy Theatre in NYC - pics"

photos by Chloe Rice, words by BBG

They sped through an hour and change long set that featured journeys into most of their familiar terrain. It was nice to see them after all these years.
They bespoke of a simpler pre-Guiliani time, one of scuzz and sleaze. The Taxi Driver New York. -[Trashman Reader]

Rumplestiltskin Grinder is reporting two MAJOR upcoming shows in NYC in the coming months, including 5/30 at Europa with DRI and 5/28 at Gramercy with German thrash metal greats Sodom! Tickets for Europa are on sale, and Sodom goes on sale 2/7. Both DRI and Sodom are scheduled to play MDF 2010, and DRI will be at Scion Rock Fest in March.

Across town, Pentagram was getting down at BB King's on the same night.

More pics from the show and complete Rumplestiltskin Grinder dates are below....

Continue reading "D.R.I. played Gramercy w/ Rumplestiltskin Grinder (pics, setlist) - both bands add show @ Europa ++ Sodom is coming!"

words by BBG, photos by Paul Birman

Tis the season for corpsepaint? The coal-in-stocking crowd was on hand... to catch Marduk's first proper trek around the country since dropping off the Blackenedfest tour earlier this year. A good portion of the crowd appeared to have already spent their Christmas money on elaborate spiked armbands that could be classified as weapons.

Openers Merrimack played streamlined and fierce French black metal to a gathering crowd, bedecked in enough spikes to host a shish kabob dinner.

Marduk closed the evening... [and could have] been on edge; a fan at an earlier southern California show tried to torch a Bible and an overzealous security guard shot pepper spray, forcing the venue to clear for 10 minutes. In San Francisco, Marduk didn't withhold crowd pleasers from Panzer Division, Opus Nocturne and early tracks like "Still F-ing Dead." But the strongest moments were from recent albums including "Into Utter Madness," and "Phosphorous Redeemer" from Wormwood and "The Leveling Dust," from Rom 5:12. The more expansive Marduk tracks showed a side to the band neglected by fans who stick to earlier albums... Marduk's latest albums have showcased a rejuvenated band that is heading in more creative directions than at any point during their career. But on this night they might have been slightly bested by Nachtmystium, who buckled down and showed where black metal is headed as we enter the new decade. [About.com]

More pics from the show are below...

Continue reading "Marduk, Black Anvil, Merrimack, Manic Ritual & Nachtmistium @ Gramercy Theatre in NYC - pics"

words by BBG, photos by Paul Birman

Phobia. RULING.

NYC faced the Waste on 12/9, and the animals were let loose when Municipal Waste, Brutal Truth, Phobia and Cauldron teamed up at Gramercy. Tons of pics below.

Municipal Waste ends their tour in their hometown of Richmond on Friday (12/11), and after a month away from the road, hop on a flight to Europe to continue the madness. Brutal Truth also has exotic locales in their sights; after Richmond, the triumphant and reunited band hits Japan for a set of dates starting on 12/15, but will be back in time for Dan Lilker to join up with Crucifist for some January dates on the east coast. Phobia carries on from Richmond into the south before ending the tour in Texas.

Full tour dates for all bands, as well as some videos with the rest of the pictures (and some setlists), below...

Continue reading "Municipal Waste, Phobia, Brutal Truth & Cauldron @ Gramercy Theater in NYC - pics, video & setlist"

photos by Tim Griffin

The first track of the night was the pulsating "Promises", the opening track from the new album 'Industrial Complex'. Throughout the set, other new songs performed were "Once You Say", "Hit You Back", "Payroll", and "Down On Your Knees" and selections from all of their back catalogue except for 'Bit Hit'. The new material contains elements of all five of their previous albums brilliantly combined into a sleeker, slighlty poppier Ebb. Throughout the show, Jason Payne alternated between sitting at his drum kit and standing, taking on most bass drum and snare parts. Bon tackled the percussive sounds with his trigger pads, cymbals, and MIDI xylophone. McCarthy's voice sounded strong and better than ever as he stalked back and forth across the stage tackling all the grunts, growls, shouts, and singing.

One of the standout moments of the night was during the bible sermon sample of "Blood Money", when Douglas twitched and shook as if possessed by spirits. Another high point of the set was during "Control I'm Here", when McCarthy amps up the crowd to the repeat of "Start It Up, Start It Up!" After the crowd pleasing "Join In The Chant", the band left the stage, and then returned to play an encore of crowd favorite "Getting Closer", and then ending the show with "I Give To You" and saying "we'll see you next time". [nitzer ebb]

Continue reading "Nitzer Ebb @ (boost mobile?) Gramercy Theatre - pics, setlist"

words by BBG, photos by Sam Marble

Hull, kickin ass

Hull played Gramercy Theater in NYC on 11/13, opening for their Japanese labelmates Dir En Grey (who played three nights in a row at the venue) (Goes Cube also opened one night). Playing the big stage must have been a high point for the Brooklyn band, especially after they were robbed at gunpoint in September:

Cincinnati. Robbed at gunpoint. Wallets stolen. Luckily no one got hurt. Week left of tour. If anyone could help us out and donate a little money via paypal to hullsounds@gmail.com, it would help us get home. Thank you kindly [Hull]

Continue reading "Hull robbed at gunpoint in Cincinnati in September, opened for Dir En Grey at Gramercy in November (pics)"

photos by Paul Birman, words by Black Bubblegum

Twenty-five years, almost as many albums and an ever-changing band of misfits follow Sascha Konietzko, frontman and the only original member of KMFDM, around this year on the band's world tour. The Philly crowd at the TLA was a mixture of 80's metal heads who have been around since the beginning, Hot Topic goth kids and mosh-pit junkies. Not many were standing yet as opening group Angelspit started its set, but the crowd quickly filled just before KMFDM hit the stage. Lucia Cifarelli and Konietzko (half the time with a cigarette in his mouth) were front and center pushing buttons and turning knobs, generating KMFDM's signature 'ultra heavy beats,' joined by guitarists Jules Hodgson and Steve White and drummer Andy Selway. No time was wasted on talking, and they started right into the music, which was a good combination of old and new songs plucked from their vast play list....Twenty-five years and still running strong with no signs of slowing down is what makes KMFDM one of the greatest heavy-hitting bands of all time.- [Magnet]

Another industrial heavyweight, Nitzer Ebb, has reformed and is heading back to the states for a "The Industrial Complex" tour which includes Gramercy on 12/4. Tickets are on sale. The band has a song on the new Saw VI soundtrack and are working on their first LP in 14 years.

Full KMFDM/Angelspit and Nitzer Ebb tour dates, KMFDM pics and a video from the show are below...

Continue reading "KMFDM on tour (dates), played Gramercy Theatre (pics). Nitzer Ebb there in December, kicks off tour in Nov. (dates) "

by Black Bubblegum

Municipal Waste and the mighty Phobia are going on tour and teaming up with Brutal Truth and Cauldron for a string of dates along the way. Those include a NYC show at Gramercy Theatre on 12/9. Tickets are on sale.

Phobia, who dropped 22 Random Acts Of Violence via Willowtip last year, are currently working on a video for "Rise Up". Look for that soon.

Meanwhile, Municipal Waste drummer Dave Witte will be in NYC this Friday (10/4) at Cake Shop when he will join Burnt By The Sun in their only scheduled US show brought to you by 1000 Knives and Brooklyn Vegan! Support will come from none other than Tombs, Black Anvil, Bloodhorse, and the recently added Torchbearer. There are no advance tickets... you can only get 'em at the door... unless, of course, you were to win one of TWO FREE PAIRS. For more on how to win those tickets, look at the bottom of this post.

The show is one of two BV sponsored shows for the weekend, the second being Woe, Aluk Todolo, Malkuth, and Castevet at Union Pool on 10/4. Tickets are $8 at the door.

Dave Witte has also been known to join the live incarnation of Melt Banana, though his schedule dictates that he won't be playing with them during their upcoming North American tour.

Full Municipal Waste tour dates, and their "Gore Version" of the video for "Wrong Answer", below...

Continue reading "Municipal Waste & Phobia touring (some dates w/ Brutal Truth), Burnt by the Sun @ Cake Shop Friday (win tix)"

photos by Brian Ach/WireImage

"It was 09.09.09, a date burned into the popular consciousness as an almost astrological convergence of music and technology marketing. The date had been set, the branding tie-ins had been tied in, and the product was all set to go on sale to a salivating public.

No, not The Beatles: Rock Band. And not Apple's latest iTunes tweaks, either. Rather, it was time to promote "The Blueprint 3," the latest release in the ever-expanding franchise known as Jay-Z.

For the occasion Jay-Z performed a guerrilla show on Wednesday night at the Blender Theater at Gramercy, a 600-capacity club on East 23rd Street in Manhattan, with help from MySpace Music and DJ Hero, a new video game that adapts the Guitar Hero model for hip-hop. It was announced barely 24 hours before, and 250 fans were given free tickets. (The other 350 or so in attendance were assorted V.I.P.'s from the companies involved, and from the news media. They didn't pay, either.)

Jay-Z's 74-minute, 25-song set, played with a 10-piece band that included two drummers and a three-part horn section, was a muscular, virtuosic and totally satisfying performance, both in older hits like "Big Pimpin'" and "99 Problems" that are now hip-hop standards, and in material from "The Blueprint 3." But that was only part of the experience. Before his set the audience was held captive to a demonstration of DJ Hero -- its controller resembles a turntable and crossfader, and the player scratches virtual vinyl..." [NY Times]

More Jay-Z show pictures below...

Continue reading "Jay-Z (and DJ Hero) @ Gramercy Theatre in NYC - pics "