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 "

Jay-Z's new album, The Blueprint 3, is out today (September 8, 2009). Jay-Z is playing a free MySpace Music Show tomorrow (September 9th) at Blender (Gramercy) Theatre, presented by the video game DJ Hero. Entry for the public is being limited to 200 tickets, which will be available tomorrow at 10am, if you want to wait in line. Full details are below.

Jay-Z plays a charity show on 9/11 at the considerably bigger Madison Square Garden. Tickets for that went on sale this morning. A few hours before that, Jay appeared on Hot 97's morning show with Cipha Sounds & Rosenberg. Video from that appearance with the Gramercy show info, below...

Continue reading "Jay-Z - new album out - playing NYC' Gramercy Theatre Wed."

by Black Bubblegum

Touring Division Marduk (more by Chris La Putt)


Marduk JUST destroyed NYC, but just in time for the birth of Christ, the unholy black metallers are back for more! Marduk will hit the road with Nachtmystium, Black Anvil, Mantic Ritual, and Merrimack to play a string of US dates which include Gramercy on 12/16. So far only Nachtmystium, Black Anvil, and Merrimack are confirmed for Gramercy, and ticket info is forthcoming.

In the meantime, Black Anvil is scheduled to play a few dates in the coming weeks, including FOUR NYC shows. One show is the previously discussed super-mega Burnt By The Sun / Tombs / Bloodhorse riffstravaganza at Cake Shop on 10/2. On September 3rd the band will play a FREE show at Fontana's as part of the Time Insults The Mind re-release celebration (stream that LP here). On 9/18, Black Anvil will join Cold Northern Vengeance, Whiplash, Enforcer and many others at Europa for September Slaughter Thrashfest. Tickets are on sale. Last, but certainly not least, Black Anvil is also scheduled to take on Urgehal, Spearhead, and *cough*Eyes of Noctum*cough* at Europa on 9/14, Urgehal's first US tour! Tickets are on sale.

Another killer band who recently played a free show at Fontana's, the mighty Howl, will join the thrashtastic (and fun) Toxic Holocaust, Atakke, and Battletorn at Europa on 9/6. Tickets are still available. The Toxic Holocaust date fits snugly between a Hatebreed and a Satyricon tour, but the band is also scheduled to hit the road with The Black Dahlia Murder, Skeletonwitch, and Trap Them (no NYC dates though).

Satyricon has scheduled a NYC date on that tour, though without Toxic Holocaust and with Bleeding Through & Chthonic at Irving Plaza on 10/25. Tickets are on sale.

Skeletonwitch has a new album on the way via Prosthetic on 10/13, Breathing The Fire. Pre-order that here.

Nachtmystium recently dropped their Doomsday Derelicts EP, via their Battle Kommand imprint.

Flyers for the Marduk & Urgehal tours, Breathing The Fire cover art, a few videos and all tour dates are below....

Continue reading "Marduk, Black Anvil, Nachtmystium, Merrimack & Mantic Ritual tour dates & other upcoming metal shows"

photos by Sara Skolnick

"I saw Hercules and Love Affair this weekend who now have Mark Pistel in the band (founding member of Consolidated) which made me remember about Meat Beat Manifesto and seeing them play live. Fucking great show. They had these dancers with mini crutches, one of whom hit my friend Angy in the head while dancing feverishly on stage. Good times." - waxy yellow buildup

Hercules & Love Affair played two NYC shows over the weekend. Friday night it was at the Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan. Saturday was over the river in Brooklyn at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

As Andy Butler somewhat explained to The Voice, guest vocalists like Antony (who is on the album) and Nomi (who has been a prominent vocalist in the band's live shows) are not permanent members of the band which will continue to change over time. Nomi was not present at the shows where, at Music Hall at least, they played mostly songs from their 2008 self-titled album, and some new stuff too. Jason Kendig opened.

In related news, Andy Butler will be DJing at the upcoming Electric Zoo Festival on Randall's Island, and "Antony and the Johnsons [releasaed] the "Aeon"/"Crazy in Love" double A-side single in the US on August 4th on CD and 7" through Secretly Canadian and on August 3rd in Europe and UK on 7" through Rough Trade."

More pictures from the Brooklyn H&LA show below...

Continue reading "Hercules & Love Affair (w/ Mark Pistel, but not Nomi) played Gramercy Theatre & Music Hall of Williamsburg (pics) "

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Chris La Putt

Mortuus of Marduk is angry. You won't like him when he's angry.

Three beers and as many bands into the blackened bonanza at Gramercy, nature was calling. I scooted downstairs to a mostly empty bathroom where every stall was open but all of the sinks were occupied. Standing at the sinks were four men applying a base coat of white to their face, adding black around their eyes and upside-down crosses to their cheeks.

Mental note: corpse paint and beige khaki shorts is not a good look.

Gramercy's doors swung open for me a little bit before 9:30, missing Black Anvil & Tombs (who by all accounts, destroyed... me = not surprised) but just in time to catch Withered for the umpteenth time in a year. Vocalist/guitarist Dylan Kilgore was absent for the second time in recent months (similar to the tail end of Mayhem fest), but their new guitar player was a suitable replacement. In fact, the road has been good to Withered; every single NYC performance is better than the last, with Saturday's performance topping them all. It is debatable, yet entirely possible, that Withered were as or more powerful than the mighty Marduk.

Besides some of the more familiar landmarks in their setlist (from their two LPs Folie Circulaire and Memento Mori), Witheredalso revealed "From Shadows", a new song which, according to members of the band, will be recorded in the coming months for a new LP(!). The track retains all of the Withered signatures of subtle melody, blasting power, and unplanned left turns. Get psyched.

To chants of "Panzer Division Marduk", the Swedish black metallers took the stage clad in all black (doy), 14 hole combat boots, and the requisite corpse paint. The band was gloriously powerful, and I couldn't help but wonder about how the band would have fared on Blackened Fest. Would opening for the extremely theatrical Mayhem diminish their impact or would Cephalic Carnage's relatively clinical approach made them seem all the more punishing? Either way, dem boys were good. The sound was well balanced for Marduk from multiple points of view (as it was for Withered), with my single complaint being there wasn't enough guitar in the mix (which is probably is due to the fact that the band had one guitarist).

Before the set, multiple backstage sources were spreading the word that the band had gallons of cow blood prepped for use during their set. Gallons, I cannot verify, but vocalist Mortuus (also known for his work in Funeral Mist) did pause for a moment mid-set to "drink" a chalice filled with cow blood, most (all?) of which ended up on his chin and chest. Yummy. It was highly theatrical and down right hilarious/awesome. To quote Bon Scott: "If you want blood, you got it!"

Marduk has said in the recent past that these three dates are just a taste before they embark on a full-on US tour in the winter. Let's hope that NYC gets another date... just don't count on me to get made-up for it.

More pictures below....

Continue reading "Marduk, Withered, Tombs & Black Anvil @ Gramercy - pics"

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Justina Villanueva

Goatwhore @ Gramercy! (July 23, 2009)

The legendary dark sons of southern hatemongering, Eyehategod, will trudge their way through the swampy muck of the Lousiana lowlands towards the Northeast where they will team up with Goatwhore and Strong Intention for a trio of dates. One of those dates will include Pig Destroyer on Oct 24th as part of a Rocks Off Boat Cruise in NYC!!! Tickets go on sale today (8/3) at noon. All dates below.

Goatwhore, winners of my award for "favorite band with the least favorite name", has a particularly amazing pedigree of former members of Acid Bath as well as current members of Soilent Green (which in turn shares members with EHG). Dax Riggs (of solo and Deadboy & The Elephantmen fame) was also a member of Acid Bath.

Goatwhore released the mega-Carving Out The Eyes Of God earlier this year and the band recently played (7/23) Gramercy Theater in NYC with Abigail Williams, SWAATS, Abysmal Dawn, and Daath. Pics from that show are above and below.

Meanwhile, EHG affiliated projects are going full speed ahead. NOLA supergroup Down (with Jimmy Bower of EHG) is hitting the road with Melvins & Weedeater (Nokia on Sept 11, tix here).

Pig Destroyer played NYC on July 31 with Repulsion & Brutal Truth. Those pics are forthcoming, but dig on a killer three way interview done between the guys here.

Other bands who recently announced boat shows include Deer Tick and Dead Meadow.

Pics and dates below...

Continue reading "Eyehategod tour dates including a Rocks Off boat in NYC w/ Pig Destroyer & Goatwhore (who played Gramercy - pics)"

Live Nation santas outside Irving Plaza - 7/14/2009 (Jason DeCrow/AP Images)

Live Nation has been dealing with the recession, or at least their recession, by putting tickets on sale like crazy this summer. They've been continuing week after week with their No Service Fee Wednesdays (for lawn tickets at amphitheater shows). This past Tuesday they sent multiple Santa Clauses to give out tickets outside Irving Plaza here in NYC. And there are $5.00 ticket promotions running for both Citi Cardmember holders and Subway sub eaters (code = Subway$5tix). NYC show tickets you can get for $5.00 include Pinback, Bob Mould, Son Volt, Alice in Chains AND STRYPER, Suffocation (playing with Necrophagist on Sunday), Marduk, Obituary, Vader and KMFDM, Brian Wilson in Westbury, and Motorhead, Psychedelic Furs, Happy Mondays, and Islands. Supposedly Pet Shop Boys are $5.00 too, but I can't get that to work.

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Justina Villanueva

The Casualties

If it wasn't for Trash Talk, July 3rd's bill of The Casualties and Leftover Crack would have felt more at home at ABC No Rio or C-Squat - if they could contain it. But alas, Gramercy Theater (instead of Irving Plaza) held down the fort as the trio of bands bid adieu to a larger tour, saving the fireworks for NYC - literally and figuratively.

Trash Talk, who spent their July 4th at Woodsist Fest, is seemingly forever on the road and has scheduled an appearance at Sound & Fury. The band recently self-released their East of Eden 7" featuring Circle Jerk and punk legend, Keith Morris.

Next up for The Casualties, a tour with Krum Bums and Mouth Sewn Shut that kicks off in August followed by another quick jaunt with Off With Their Heads and Youth Brigade that includes a NYC date at Europa on Sept 29th. Tickets are on sale.

After Youth Brigade and Off With Their Heads play Europa, the bands have a Canadian Tour lined up with The Bouncing Souls (who are on their way to NYC with 7 Seconds). Youth Brigade is also scheduled to play the kick-ass Riot Fest.

Full Casualties and Youth Brigade tour dates, and more pictures from Gramercy Theatre, are below...

Continue reading "The Casualties, Trash Talk & Leftover Crack - Gramercy pics, 2009 tour dates (shows w/ Youth Brigade)"

the price of crack

Friday night's Leftover Crack gig at Irving Plaza has been moved to the smaller Gramercy Theatre and tickets are still on sale. Trash Talk is also on the bill.

by Black Bubblegum

Irving Plaza last month (more by Paul Birman)

Call it mini-Blackenedfest if you will. Marduk, after never making it to the actual Blackenedfest to do visa issues, have scheduled three US tour dates with Withered (another Blackenedfest participant) and the now-Relapse-signed Black Anvil. The NYC show will take place at the Gramercy Theater on 8/15 with Tombs also on the bill. Tickets for that show go on sale at noon on 6/23 here. All tour dates below.

Black Anvil also have an additional FOUR shows scheduled for NYC including July 11 @ Rockstar Bar with Dimentianon, July 20 at Europa with Eyes of Noctum, August 15th at Aladdin's Garden, and August 17th @ Lit Lounge with Lightning Swords Of Death. The shows lead up to Relapse's reissue last year's Time Insults The Mind LP (due Sept 1st). Black Anvil is currently writing material for a follow-up LP. All dates below.

The Blackenedfest, which played Irving Plaza in May, concluded last week with only Mayhem left on the bill.

Tombs recently played Irving Plaza as well, but with Isis and Pelican.

All dates below...

Continue reading "Marduk will finally enter the country in August - 2009 tour dates w/ Withered, Black Anvil & Tombs"

Street Sweeper Social Club @ Jones Beach Theater (more by Zach Dilgard)

Street Sweeper Social Club, the opening band on the tour, shares perspective with both NIN/JA headliners: its worldview is cynical, and its brand of action resembles a party. A rap-rock super-group of sorts, it features Tom Morello, the guitarist formerly with Rage Against the Machine, and Boots Riley, a rapper in the Oakland, Calif., hip-hop group the Coup.

The band's brief set was apoplectic, full of fist-pumping slogans and seemingly cobbled out of spare parts from other projects. "This is not a performance, this is a meeting," Mr. Riley declared, trying out a different model of inclusiveness than either Mr. Farrell or Mr. Reznor would choose. "Thank you for attending." [NY Times]

The show coincides with the release of their self-titled debut record on WM's Independent Label Group. Street Sweeper Social club will also be appearing Wednesday night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

The band performed a cover of "Kick Out the Jams" with Trent Reznor at some of the NIN shows. A video of that, with other clips of SSSC, below...

Continue reading "Street Sweeper Social Club kicked out the jams w/ Trent Reznor, playing CD release show in NYC tonight"

As previously reported, the Posies are playing their 1993 record, Frosting on the Beater, for the first time in the US at Brooklyn's Bell House on Friday, June 12th. Tickets are still on sale.

The band have now also added a second night of that Frosting on the Beater set on Saturday, June 13th at the Gramercy Theater (not the Blender Theater) in Manhattan. Tickets are on sale.

The Posies performed Frosting on the Beater on a short tour of Spain last fall. Videos from one of those shows below...

Continue reading "The Posies add 2nd NYC 'Frosting' date (Gramercy Theater)"

"Live Nation is hoping to dump the lease for the Gramercy (Blender) Theater on 23rd Street, just a few years after completing a hefty renovation of the space. The 600 seat space is a choice of last resort for most major acts in town that would seek a venue of this size, with many acts choosing to perform in one the Bowery Presents facilities. If you have ever dreamed of running your own music venue, now is your chance." [Down by the Hipster]

Recent shows there have included Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio, Napalm Death, and a secret-like show by The Dead.

The Get Up Kids are playing there tonight (5/1).

photos by Lori Baily

"It was good to have this Lou Reed back: not an American Master nor a Legend of Rock, but a barking, brooding, beneficial irritant. On Thursday night at the Blender Theater at Gramercy, onstage between Sarth Calhoun and Ulrich Krieger, two much younger musicians, he was making noise -- improvised, loud, heavily processed, and some of it ugly enough to make people leave.

Not many, though. There were extra-musical reasons to stay put. An emotional reason: he's Lou Reed, poet of New York City, et cetera. And a big intellectual reason: Mr. Reed calls this group Metal Machine Trio, which refers to a notorious double-LP he made in 1975. "Metal Machine Music" is a kind of personality test. Many average listeners, even average Lou Reed fans, heard it as long-winded, discordant feedback." [NY Times]

Continue reading "Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio @ Gramercy Theater - pics"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Sick Of It All - "Take The Night Off" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sick Of It All - "Borstal Breakout" (MP3, Sham 69 cover)
DOWNLOAD: Sick Of It All - "Relentless" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sick Of It All - "Scratch The Surface" LIVE (MP3)

Sammy Siegler of Rival Schools (and CIV) @ at Irving Plaza (more by Tim Griffin)

Legends of NYHC Sick of It All, will headline Gramercy Theater on June 20th with Bane, Inhuman, and Capital. Tickets are on sale. Full SOIA dates are below.

Besides the SOIA show, Bane and Capital will also join forces with Crime In Stereo, Have Heart, The Agent, Backtrack, and Naysayer at Europa in Brooklyn on April 26th. Tickets are on sale.

In other news, Lou Koller (SOIA) collaborated in 1995 on Set Your Goals, the now out-of-print debut by CIV. Back in October 2008, we found out that there was some movement on the CIV front:

CIV [has stayed]... great friends and since we own our masters, we've been kinda stupid in that we haven't made it available. Since we broke up in 1999, our music has been out in any kind of organized way... digitally or anything. So I think we might put together a discography and just package it up really nice... we've got tons of content and photos... b-sides and videos. I think when that comes out, we will probably have an opportunity to do some shows, nothing on the level of a full tour or anything, but it could be fun. -[Sammy Siegler, Oct 2008]

In other classic NYHC news, HR will headline day two of the Underground Revolution Fest at Gramercy Theatre in May. Reagan Youth, Kraut, Blanks '77, The Allstonians,Hub City Stompers, and many many others are also on the bill. Details and all dates below...

Continue reading "Sick Of It All dates, CIV discography release & the Underground Revolution Fest 2-day NYC lineup"