Great Lake Swimmers at US Open in 2011 (more by Diana Wong)

Great Lake Swimmers will follow 2009's Lost Channels with their new LP, New Wild Everywhere, on April 3 via Nettwerk. Check out the album's first single, "Easy Come Easy Go," along with the album artwork and tracklist below.

Great Lake Swimmers will tour the US and Canada in support of the album from April through early June. That tour hits NYC on May 30 at Bowery Ballroom. Cold Specks (Al Spx), who made her US debut at a BV party during CMJ, supports on all dates. You can pre-order the new Great Lake Swimmers album and purchase tickets for their tour (bundle options available) at their website. Ticketmaster tickets for the Bowery Ballroom show go on sale Friday (1/27) at noon with an AmEx presale starting today (1/25) at noon.

All dates, stream, album art and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Great Lake Swimmers releasing new album, announce tour with Cold Specks (dates & stream)"

photos by Diana Wong

Great Lake Swimmers @ the U.S. Open

"Serena Williams failed to put a storybook finish on her injury comeback and instead decided on Sunday to once again turn center court at the U.S. Open into a vulgar outlet for her frustrations.

Williams, whose outburst in the U.S. Open semi-final two years ago cost her the match, is praised for her power-hitting and fighting qualities on the court but has also come to be reviled for a lack of self control toward officials.

Her latest incident, which came during a 6-2 6-3 loss to Australian Sam Stosur in the final, featured repeated outbursts toward a chair umpire who reversed a point against her for shouting "Come On!" while the ball was in play.

"If you ever see me walking down the hall, look the other way because you're out of control. You're out of control. You're a hater and unattractive inside, the 29-year-old told the chair umpire during a changeover. "Code violation for this? I expressed myself, we're in America last time I checked. Don't look at me. Don't look my way."" [Reuters]

Continue reading "Great Lake Swimmers, Ava Luna, Serena Williams & others played the U.S. Open (pics) "

Great Lake Swimmers @ SXSW 2011 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

The private Matt & Kim/Girl Talk show wasn't the only musical portion of this year's U.S. Open which is now underway in NY. Tennis fans will also get to enjoy sets by indie rock bands like Wye Oak (9/1), Miniature Tigers (9/2), Ava Luna (9/3), Great Lake Swimmers (9/4), and others through the competition's September 11th end date.

For Wye Oak the tennis show is a one-off date before they begin touring with Yo La Tengo and the National, and then Okkervil River, and then Explosions in the Sky. All dates are listed below.

For Great Lake Swimmers, it's one of four NY shows, one of which is at City Winery on September 5th. All dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Wye Oak, Great Lake Swimmers & others playing the U.S. Open (and other shows)"

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

Wild Flag @ Merge Records Showcase

Lost in the Trees @ Muzzle of Bees BBQ

Catching up a bit. Here's what Dominick saw in Austin on Friday, March 18, 2011....

Continue reading "SXSW 2011 Day 3 pics"

photos by Amanda Hatfield, words by Rachel Kowal

Austra @ BrooklynVegan Day Party @ Swan Dive

A few days have passed since I got back from Austin, and I'm still struggling to process the week. Yes, it was my first time at SXSW. Thanks to the never-ending supply of free tacos, music, beer, fellow music-devotees, and sunshine, I managed to retain that little-kid-like wonder throughout the week - even when severe sleep deprivation set in. (And I thought CMJ was a rush. Ha.)

By the time I left Austin on Sunday morning, I managed to see some 54 bands (no counting impromptu street performances) play in 20 different venues. Some were of course flops, but on the whole, I was impressed by the showcase of new and emerging artists. CMJ is great, but let's be honest. So many of the bands that play there play nearly every week in New York or Brooklyn anyway. Austin, on the other hand, seemed to get a much wider variety of acts, and I made it my goal to see as many unfamiliar and/or international artists as I could (in addition to of course scouting out some of my favorites like Sam Amidon, The Loom, tUnE-yArDs, and Papercuts).

Instead of potentially boring you with a lengthy play-by-play (which you can catch on my personal blog if you're interested), I'll try to succinctly present the highlights from my week. (Though to be fair, this is something of an impossible task.)

Since I flew into Houston and drove over (waaay cheaper), I didn't get to see a ton of music on Wednesday, but what I did catch was excellent. My first band of the festival, Still Corners (who recently signed to Sub Pop along with Memoryhouse), turned out to be one of my favorites all week. The British group's well-executed, dreamy sound was the perfect accompaniment to the beautiful outdoor setting on the lawn of the French Legation Museum for the the Bella Union/Yours day party. My two other favorite finds of the day were BOBBY (a Mountain Man side project that later played at one of the BV showcases) and the delightful Cali singer-songwriter Sea of Bees, whose eerily beautiful song "Gnomes" played on repeat in my head all week and prompted me to seek her out a second time the following day.

With the exception of the NPR Showcase, which featured the likes of Wild Flag, The Joy Formidable, and The Antlers (more on that later), the majority of Thursday left me lukewarm... that is until I stumbled upon Austra at the Domino showcase. (Austra also later performed at the BV show at Swan Dive on Saturday - pictures in this post.)

Wow. Zola Jesus may drive me a bit crazy at times due to Nika Roza Danilova's overly dramatic performance, but Austra seemed to strike exactly the right balance - theatrical and eye-catching without coming across as disingenuous or too over-the-top. Their beat was addictive, their appearance and dance moves, arresting. No question about it. Austra is definitely an artist to watch - and probably my favorite live act all week. Many of the sets I caught were only partial - I was constantly arriving late and leaving early in order to scamper off to another venue, but Austra held my attention (understatement of the year?), and I stuck around for the entirety of the set (Bill did too).

continued below...

Continue reading "Rachel's Best of SXSW w/ pics by Amanda (Austra, Josh T Pearson, Lost in the Trees, The Loom, Yellow Ostrich & more)"

DOWNLOAD: Rain Machine - Give Blood (MP3)

"Rain Machine" with TVOTR in Philly in June (more by Tim Griffin)

TV on the Radio has become an alternative-rock sensation, with a blend of musical styles that's not only innovative but also brilliantly authentic. For vocalist/guitarist Kyp Malone (who just released the debut CD from his Rain Machine solo project), keeping it real, however, has its limits.

"It's pretty old. It's on the bedbug list," Malone says, complaining about the prewar building in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where he's lived in a one-plus-bedroom, sixth-floor walk-up for the past four years. "I've seen people cycle through. They spray and bomb and all the things you're supposed to do, but it doesn't work."

Despite the building's bedbug misfortune (a bullet he's managed to dodge), the apartment, which Malone has shared since December with his artist girlfriend, Jessie, has served him well through multiple redecorations. [NY Post checks out Kyp Malone's apartment]

Kyp and Co. are currently on tour, working their way back from the West Coast. They'll play a CMJ show on October 24th show at Bowery Ballroom. Again, they'll have Sharon Van Etten opening, along with Violens, Imaad Wasif, Threes And Nines and Stricken City. Tickets are on sale Wednesday, September 30th.

There's a reason Sharon Van Etten and Kyp Malone seem to keep showing up at the same gigs...

Van Etten went to college in Tennessee to study recording but dropped out after her first year. To take her music in a more serious direction and to reconnect with her family, Van Etten moved to New York City. It was there that she hooked up with TV on the Radio's Kyp Malone, whose brother was a close friend of hers in high school. The connection proved fruitful for Van Etten.

"[Kyp] ended up taking me under his wing," says Van Etten, "introducing me to friends, and showing me new music that I didn't know existed. If it wasn't for him I probably would have played at a place called Zebulon, which is my favorite place in Williamsburg. I started playing more seriously and getting encouraged by people." [Microphone Memory Emotion]

Videos and tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Rain Machine played Bell House, doesn't have bed bugs, playing CMJ/Bowery Ballroom, is buds w/ Sharon Van Etten"

Swell Season @ Rumsey Playfield this time last year (more by Kurt Christensen)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* OK Go @ The Bell House
* Whiplash @ UCB Theatre
* Soulico (early) @ Cake Shop
* The Swell Season @ 92YTribeca
* The Zeros, The Choke @ Maxwell's
* Rev. Vince Anderson @ Union Pool
* 826NYC benefit @ Highline Ballroom
* Kings of Leon, Glasvegas @ Nassau Coliseum
* Autolux, Sleepy Sun, Bridezilla @ Bowery Ballroom
* Les Paul Guitar Tribute w/ Jose Feliciano @ Iridium
* Fruit Bats, Iran, Kevin Barker @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Urgehal, Spearhead, Eyes of Noctum, Black Anvil, Villains @ Europa
* Hanne Hukkelberg, Sian Alice Group, Highlife, Vorhees @ Mercury Lounge
* Calvin Johnson, Arrington de Dionyso, Desolation Wilderness, Regattas, City Center @ Death By Audio

The Swell Season (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova) have a new album coming out; tonight they play 92YTribeca which is a much smaller venue than Radio City and Central Park Summerstage.

Autolux travels from ATP NY to play two shows in NYC this week. Tonight's is at Bowery Ballroom with Sleepy Sun and Bridezilla (who also played ATP).

Kings of Leon and Glasvegas are at Nassau Coliseum.

"Israeli DJs Soulico will be playing a 'secret' industry-mostly show at Cake Shop on Monday (9/14) night. It's early (6-9PM) so you can come straight from work, and there will be FREE Brooklyn Lager in case you get thirsty. "

Rev. Vince Anderson plays Union Pool (like he does every Monday).

Aerosmith and ZZ Top were supposed to play MSG tonight.

Sub Pop band Fruit Bats released their latest LP, The Ruminant Band, on August 4th. Their tour comes to Music Hall of Williamsburg for a show tonight with Iran and Kevin Barker.

Calvin Johnson, Arrington de Dionyso, Desolation Wilderness, Regattas and City Center play Death By Audio and its newly arted-up space tonight. A video of Arrington de Dionyso (of Old Time Relijun) performing at this summer's What the Heck Fest in Anacortes, WA, is posted below.

Great Lake Swmimmers' new video for "Still" is below...

(Another) Video from The Intelligence's Friday night (9/11) Market Hotel show is below too.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

Great Lake Swimmers @ Mercury Lounge (more by Natasha Ryan)

THE DEADBOLT: Back in May you guys played a number of shows over in Europe. How does it feel to be recognized outside of North America like that?

[Tony] DEKKER of GLS: It's really great. But at the same time I think that's where we were first sort of recognized. We've been playing shows in Europe now for the last five years, and we had a really good start there when the first record came out, and we've been going back ever since. But obviously it feels great to be sort of a Canadian ambassador over there and it's nice that people are recognizing Canadian music more, in general, around the world. I think the eye is on Canada right now and has been for the last couple of years. So it feels really great to be a part of that for sure.

THE DEADBOLT: Since you grew up around Lake Erie, have you swam in all of the Great Lakes?

DEKKER: I have swam in all of them. I haven't swam across them, but I have swam in all of them [laughs].

Last winter, the band recorded several of its Lost Channels songs in a video series dubbed The Legion Sessions. See "Stealing Tomorrow" from that, along with video of an appearance on BriTunes, with all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Great Lake Swimmers - 2009 tour dates, videos & stuff "

Steve Jordan, Founder and Executive Director of the Polaris Music Prize, today revealed the Short List of 10 Canadian albums eligible for the fourth annual $20,000 award.

Continue reading "2009 Polaris Prize nominees "

DOWNLOAD: Sharon Van Etten - For You (MP3)

Sharon Van Etten's proper debut, Because I Was in Love, will be out May 26th on Language Of Stone. An MP3 of "For You," from that album, is above, with its video below.

Van Etten is currently on tour with Great Lakes Swimmers in Europe. So far, all of her scheduled summer shows are hometown NYC gigs. The first is a Northside Festival show at Union Pool on June 11th. The next night, June 12th, she plays 92YTribeca with Stars Like Fleas and Twi the Humble Feather. Tickets for that show are on sale.

Other scheduled dates for Sharon include June 16th at Mercury Lounge with Laura Gibson, July 3rd at Sycamore, July 16th Monkey Town with Speck Mountain, and August 14th at Union Hall with Alele Diane. No ticket info on those yet.

Twi the Humble Feather, who share a bill with Van Etten at 92YTribeca (and shared a bill with the singer at a BV show last CMJ), are playing tonight (5/21) at Monkey Town with Ann Andersen. Reservations are available.

All Sharon Van Etten tour dates, track list and album art, plus a movie trailer featuring Sharon's vocals, below...

Continue reading "an MP3 from Sharon Van Etten's debut CD ++ 6 NYC shows"

TPOBPAH @ the Bell House in March (more by Chris La Putt)

tonight in NYC
* Sessions @ Santa's
* Sonar Festival in NYC
* Etta James @ BB King's
* Horse Feathers, Joe Pug @ Joe's Pub
* Priestbird, Matteah Baim @ Issue Project Room
* Gary Lucas & Steven Lynch @ the Gershwin Hotel
* Hospitality, Karl Blau, Painted Cakes @ Bruar Falls
* The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Suckers, Zaza @ Bowery Ballroom
* Cross-Pollination with The Bloodsugars, Dinosaur Feathers @ Pianos
* Marc Ribot B-day Week: Ribot solo, Shrek/Rootless Cosmopolitans @ The Stone
* The Phenomenal Handclap Band, Golden Triangle & Wizardy @ Southpaw (FREE)
* Crystal Antlers, Apache Beat, Radical Dads, Bottle Up and Go @ Mercury Lounge

SONAR TONIGHT:

[installations by] both Catalan and American artists... [including] Marcel·lí Antúnez and ReacTable featuring Ikue Mori; the mysterious ambient of Balago; the soundtrack, performed live, by Árbol and Fibla for a film by Taiwan's Tsai Ming-Liang; the extravagant pop of Hidrogenesse; hip-hop in a trio format with the Del Palo Soundsystem; two sets by the Barcelona dj d.a.r.y.l.; the highly unconventional rhythm of the Americans (both ex-residents of Barcelona) DJ/Rupture and Prefuse 73; and visuals by No-Domain.

Lonely Island is playing live on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon tonight.

A video of the Great Lake Swimmers playing "Palmistry" below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

Deer Tick @ BV official showcase @ Club De Ville - yesterday

The Bronx (crowd) @ BV day party @ Emo's - yesterday

the mayor of Austin & Titus Andronicus, Austin, TX - yesterday

Future Islands @ the 1896 in February (more by Lori Baily)

tonight in NYC
* Maceo Parker @ SOBs
* Fleetwood Mac @ MSG
* Allman Brothers @ Beacon
* The Roots @ Highline Ballroom
* Butch Walker & The Films @ Maxwell's
* Pronto, Puss 'N Boots @ Mercury Lounge
* CuCu Diamantes (of Yerba Buena) @ Bowery Ballroom
* Double Dagger, Future Islands, Teeth Mountain @ Market Hotel
* Matt Everett, Ingrid Olava, Magdyn Osh, Annie and Her Guns @ Cake Shop

Things will be a little slow today due to SXSW. Sorry! We're trying to keep up.

Speaking of which, if you are in SXSW, come by our Thursday and Friday parties.

Everything went great yesterday - day party at Emo's followed by night party at Club De Ville (more about that later).

Great Lake Swimmers' video for Your Rocky Spine below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Great Lake Swimmers @ Mercury Lounge - Jan 10, 2009 (more by Natasha Ryan)

Tony Dekker's Great Lake Swimmers have spent the past seven years performing on stages around the world-though, like Bell, they should never be taken for granted. LOST CHANNELS, their fourth album set for release on March 31st, finds them once again recording at historic locations. This time in the Thousand Islands region of Ontario and New York state, telling tales of hidden histories, still "mining for light in the dark wells," still "tuned to an instrument of greater and unknown design."

The instrument in question is the singular voice of Tony Dekker, a voice that summons ghosts from times past. It's a voice that is capable of conveying heartache and comfort all in the space of a single phrase. Though his supporting cast has changed over the years-with the exception of longtime right-hand man Erik Arnesen-Dekker has always encircled him self with sympathetic players who value spacious arrangements that frame his vocals. Over time, the band has evolved from a sparse, delicate and hushed unit into a well-rounded folk rock band, sacrificing none of their original intimacy while upping both the volume and tempos when necessary.

Dekker chooses to record in old churches, community halls, abandoned grain silos and rural locations. It's easy to hear why. His voice doesn't need any studio embellishment, standing at its strongest when bathed in natural reverb and enriched by the historical context surrounding it...

...LOST CHANNELS also features the talents of Julie Fader (flute/backing vocals), Greg Millson (drums), Darcy Yates (bass), with appearances by Erin Aurich on violin; Mike Olsen on cello; and Paul Aucoin on vibraphone; along with special guests / Swimmers collaborators Serena Ryder with vocals on "Everything Is Moving So Fast" and Bob Egan on pedal steel.

Continue reading "Great Lake Swimmers - 2009 tour dates & new album info"

words & photos by Natasha Ryan

Daniel Martin Moore opened the show. Then came Haley Bonar. She had the young midwestern waitress feel to her persona, but her performance was commanding and her heartfelt lyrics and arrangements left a strong impression. Following her was a set by A Hawk and a Hacksaw.

Then after what seemed like almost four hours, Great Lake Swimmers took the stage around 12:00am. They played a wonderful hour-long set with the full-on folk ensemble - banjo, acoustic guitars, harmonica and occasional mandolin. Tony Dekker's soft and emotive voice carried the songs, drifting in and out in the delicate arrangements. The highlight was the haunting "Moving Pictures Silent Films"; the audience swayed back and forth in a sincere fixation. They came out for a two song encore, "Changing Colors" and "Large Family" - Natasha Ryan.

Continue reading "Great Lake Swimmers & Haley Bonar @ Mercury Lounge - pics "

words & photos by Natasha Ryan

The duo from New Mexico quietly emerged from the side of the stage and began playing to each other in the middle of the floor. The giddy audience started snapping photos and wondered out loud, "are they going to do the whole set here?" After the second song the band made their way on stage and Jeremy Barnes (ex-Neutral Milk Hotel and one half of A Hack and a Hacksaw) shared his enthusiasm for the brand new accordion he'd just purchased earlier that day. The pulsing, frantic Balkan sounds of the duo transformed the entire room into fluctuations of silent awe and pandemonium. Barnes was an eight-armed beast, hitting cymbals and playing percussion while attacking the accordion. Heather Trost broke a string towards the end of the set, but pulled on it for some interesting effects. the occasional shrieks in a definitively instrumental set elevated the hypnotizing beats to the climatic point of the night, and the set ended as suddenly as it began. - Natasha Ryan

It was one of two shows AHAAH played in NYC this weekend. The second was last night (Sunday, January 11th) at Union Hall in Brooklyn. More pictures from Mercury Lounge below...

Continue reading "A Hawk and A Hacksaw @ Mercury Lounge, NYC - pics "

by Andrew Frisicano

Julian Koster & friends in a NYC apartment

The European-folk-music-influenced duo of ex-Neutral Milk Hotel drummer Jeremy Barnes and violinist Heather Trost, A Hawk and a Hacksaw, is set to play two upcoming NYC shows - January 10th at Mercury Lounge (tix), with Great Lake Swimmers, and January 11th at Union Hall (tix).

Barnes didn't turn out for the Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise tour earlier this winter, and so far these are A Hawk and a Hacksaw's only announced 2009 dates.

With H&H, there's always the possibility of a Beirut-related appearance, as they've worked & toured together, and are on the same label (Badabing. There's even video evidence of previous collabs (see below). Zach Condon recently appeared unannounced at an Inlets show, and Beirut are playing three NYC shows in February (ahem, for now).

In other NMH-stalking news - a while back BV reported that the Music Tapes Caroling tour would be making its way north from Georgia through New York to Maine playing living rooms and houses along the route. Fans were encouraged to invite "Julian and his friends" to their house. I [Andrew] did so, and strangely enough, on December 13th, Julian, Rudolph (dog) and Badger (musical saw) stopped by at my place with a few other friends in tow for a set of saw-sung carols, fantasical stories and a couple Music Tapes banjo tunes - all performed solo next to the Christmas tree. Even with the show's short notice - I'd just gotten an email that morning with details - about ten to fifteen fans showed up for the event. After the set, Julian paused for a few snapshots (see above) and left as quickly as he had came - I unfortunately wasn't able to follow the traveling party to the next apartment. Jesse Jarnow, contributer to the Voice, attended and wrote up the event on that blog.

Julian was recently featured on NPR's Morning Edition, which commented that The Singing Saw at Christmastime's layered saws "capture just a bit of bone-chilling terror -- just right for these uncertain times." On Christmas day, Julian and friends gave an interview and performed live for NPR's World Cafe. If you missed it, you can listen to it now at their site.

In addition to the date above, Great Lake Swimmers are also playing the Bell House in Brooklyn January 9th (tix) with Haley Bonar & Daniel Martin Moore, and a Feburary 7th date in Guelph, Ontario, near their home base of Toronto, for the Hillside Festival.

Video of Beirut playing with Hawk & A Hacksaw, and all dates, below...

Continue reading "Julian Koster came caroling, A Hawk and a Hacksaw & Great Lake Swimmers are playing shows "

Canadian folkies Great Lake Swimmers had a busy summer. They've been touring since May, mostly north of the border, including one date when they opened for Robert Plant and Alison Krauss in GLS's hometown of Toronto. They performed at charity concerts and focused on building community. But when Tony Dekker wasn't busy scoring a documentary, paying homeage to Canadian concrete, or playing drill sergeant in folk boot camp, Great Lake Swimmers began creating new material. Nettwerk just announced the anticipated release of the band's fourth album, set for early Spring 2009. [Paste]

Continue reading "Great Lake Swimmers - 2008 Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: Arthur & Yu - Come to View (Song for Neil Young) (MP3)

Like Le Loup, Arthur & Yu are signed to the label Sub Pop started called Hardly Art, but unlike their labelmates, A & Y are a little more reserved in terms of musical output - a bit more quiet & folkie like their label-cousins Iron & Wine who they opened for at Town Hall last night, and like Great Lake Swimmers who they're about to go out on tour with.

Athur & Yu in NYC, 2007
Oct 1 - Sound Fix Records in Brooklyn (FREE, 8pm)
Oct 2 - Highline Ballroom w/ Great Lake Swimmers & Richard Buckner (tix)

All dates below....

Continue reading "Arthur & Yu are here & other 2007 Tour Dates"

They're on tour and play Joe's Pub tonight. Here's a video for a song off their new album....

Continue reading "VIDEO: Great Lake Swimmers - 'Backstage With The Modern Dancers' (on tour)"

DOWNLOAD: Great Lake Swimmers - I Am Part Of A Large Family (MP3)

You'll find Ongiara by Great Lake Swimmers among this week's list of interesting new releases.

Great Lake Swimmers is a Canadian indie rock/folk band. Built around the melodic folk rock songs of singer-songwriter Tony Dekker, the current line-up includes Mike Overton on upright bass, Erik Arneson on banjo and Colin Huebert on drums.

The band's style has been compared to Red House Painters, Nick Drake, Will Oldham, Gram Parsons, Iron & Wine and Neil Young. [Wikipedia]

Continue reading "Great Lake Swimmers - 2007 Tour Dates (Joes Pub)"