sign at Death by Audio via @andrewstclair

Following 285 Kent's lead, as of October 1, 2012, five-year-old Williamsburg DIY spot Death by Audio is now a NO SMOKING venue. Our clothes thank you.

Speaking of, Great Design says S. 2nd & Kent is "Where Sound is Born." No show at DbA tonight, btw.

Death Grips finally announced a tour! It doesn't include any NYC dates at the moment, but they tweeted, "more tour dates to be announced! (pretty much all the missing spots being mentioned).'

You can also make money off the new Death Grips album.

Willis Earl Beal, who is on tour now, released a "free digital Principles Of A Protagonist soundtrack EP of 5 re-recorded songs from Acousmatic Sorcery" via BitTorrent.

Speaking of BitTorrent and Death Grips, the rap-noise crew are the most downloaded artist on BitTorrent for the first half of 2012, with over 34 million downloads, beating Counting Crows, DJ Shadow, and Pretty Lights.

Generation Records will give you a free ticket to one of the Rev25 shows at Irving Plaza with purchase of a Chain of Strength t-shirt.

Happy Birthday to Talib Kweli (37), Gwen Stefani (43), Tommy Lee (50) and Lindsey Buckingham (61).

We premiered a new Riverboat Gamblers video on BV Austin.

You can stream the new Converge record in full.

Touche Amore do a great cover of The Replacements' "Unsatisfied" for their new split with The Casket Lottery (out now on No Sleep Records). Meanwhile, The Casket Lottery offer their take on Beach House's "Myth." Stream the entire release (both bands offer an original song as well) at the No Sleep Bandcamp.

Legendary black metal crew Von, widely considered to be the first US black metal band, have released a new song (!) in "Jesus Stain" from their upcoming Satanic Blood due on Oct 31. Stream that track below courtesy of Decibel Magazine.

Public Assembly is hosting a hummus cook-off and raffle on October 14 to help raise money for the NYC Coalition Against Hunger in memory of Craig Murphey.

Meanwhile you can catch Silver Apples at Public Assembly.

Then you can catch Silver Apples at 92YTribeca.

Help save the Historic Slave Theater in Bed-Stuy.

More stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: Death by Audio goes no-smoking; Death Grips are most-torrented; Mark E Smith, Von, Smashing Pumpkins & more"

photos by Chris La Putt

Kevin Barnes & Janelle Monae

Of Montreal followed their Wednesday night fashion week show at Santos with a Friday night public show at Terminal 5 in NYC (9/18). Joining them, as opener and on stage, was the always-photogenic and robotic, Janelle Monáe.

"...what a lot of people are missing about Monáe is that she puts the art of performing above all else, politics be dammed. Even finishing her follow-up record--Metropolis Suites II and III, due out in January--is of less concern than getting onstage and acting it all out....

...Not surprisingly, the Kansas City prodigy grew up studying dance and theater, which led to a stint pursuing both disciplines at New York's American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She became bored quickly with life in New York, however, and eventually moved to Atlanta, where she's currently based.

There she began crafting the character Cindi Mayweather, the Alpha Platinum 9000 android who's the heroine of Metropolis Suite I...

...Her friend Kevin Barnes, lead singer of the indie band Of Montreal, guests on the new album, as does OutKast. And Monáe hints at the possibility that Gwen Stefani could be on the record as well. Monáe toured with No Doubt earlier this year and bonded with the polystylistic blonde superstar. "[Stefani] gave me great energy and I felt inspired around her," says Monáe." [Seattle Weekly]

Solange (Knowles) was also in the house at Terminal 5 last night (she's the one in the yellow dress). She joined the band and Janelle for a cover of Diana Ross's "Love Hangover" during the encore. More pictures from the show, and both setlists, below...

Continue reading "Of Montreal & Janelle Monáe played Terminal 5 (pics & setlist), Kevin Barnes & others guest on Janelle's new album "

As previously reported, Lady Sovereign is touring with Gwen Stefani. They play the PNC Bank Arts Center in New Jersey on May 18th. Later that night Lady Sov will make an appearance at Studio B in Brooklyn with Professor Murder and The Glass. Tickets are on sale.

Tour dates below...

Continue reading "Lady Sovereign to play Brooklyn while out with Gwen Stefani"