Pentagram @ Power of the Riff East (more by Greg Cristman)

Sean Price @ Duck Down Holiday party, 2012 (more)

today in NYC
* Pentagram @ Saint Vitus
* Amy Speace @ Joe's Pub
* Slobber Pup @ The Stone
* Slavic Soul Party @ Barbes
* Ben Holmes Quartet @ Barbes
* Furthur @ The Capitol Theatre
* Olafur Arnalds @ SoHo Apple Store
* B.B. King, Boogie Long @ B.B. King's
* METZ, Odonis Odonis @ Shea Stadium
* The Red Paintings, Lewis Lazar @ Pianos
* They Might Be Giants @ Academy Records
* Muse, Biffy Clyro @ Madison Square Garden
* El Topo, Les Yeux, Friend Roulette @ Pianos
* Brazos, Snowblink, The Loom @ Cameo Gallery
* Mindless Self Indulgence, Death Spells @ Irving Plaza
* Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band @ Barclays Center
* Morgan Karr, Janelle Kroll, DJ Fromage @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Wilder Maker, Water Liars, Nathan Xander @ Cake Shop
* Born Ruffians, Moon King, Ski Lodge @ Bowery Ballroom
* Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, Wale, Ciara @ Hammerstein Ballroom
* Clementine & the Galaxy, Cold Blood Club @ Mercury Lounge
* Low Fat Getting High, Left & Right, Bloom, Ravenous @ Big Snow
* Fitz and the Tantrums, Hunter Hunted @ The Studio at Webster Hall
* Safe, Le1f, HEEMS, BLKKATHY, Doe Paoro, DJ Dapwell @ 285 Kent
* Woodsman, Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk, White Bike @ Death By Audio
* Danielson Famile, Jeffrey Lewis, Welcome Wagon @ The Knitting Factory
* Christina Courtin, Margaret Glaspy, Julia Easterlin @ Rockwood Music Hall
* William Tyler (Silver Jews / Lambchop), Zachary Cale @ The Mercury Lounge
* Black River Quartet, Sound Rabbit, Tanner Walle, Cherokee Red, Isaiah Panther @ Bowery Electric
* Sean Price, Bishop Nehru, F. Stokes, Children of the Night, Rawbeatz (DJ), Sucio Smash @ Glasslands

Toronto's Odonis Odonis open for METZ tonight at Shea Stadium. Toronto's Moon King open for Born Ruffians at Bowery Ballroom. Moon King's Maddy Wilde sometimes plays with Odonis Odonis. Maybe there will be a guest appearance tonight?

Meanwhile, Moon King also play on Friday (4/19) at Big Snow with Caged Animals, Leapling, and Sexy Merlin.

Brooklyn's Low Fat Getting High, who play Big Snow tonight, are releasing a new EP, Bad Yoga, in May via Dead Broke Rekerds (who has put out releases for Nude Beach, Tenement, and others) and Money Fire Records. Stream a track from that EP, "Better Better Worse," below. They have other upcoming local shows on Friday (4/19) at Don Pedro's and Sunday (4/21) at The Bowery Electric.

SAFE is playing a record release show at 285 Kent tonight with a great lineup of Le1f, Heems, Doe Paoro, BLKKATHY and DJ Dapwell. Tickets for tonight's show are still available. Le1f and Dapwell also both just played the Whitney over the weekend.

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Veronica Falls made a video for the title track of their most recent album, Waiting for Something to Happen and you can watch that below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

Mobb Deep at Rock the Bells 2011 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

NYC rap legends Mobb Deep are celebrating their 20th anniversary as a group this year and will be celebrating by going on a US tour in May and June. That tour wraps up in their home city on June 20 at Best Buy Theater for a show with Waka Flocka Flame and Heems (ex-Das Racist), who just played The Whitney over the weekend. Tickets for that show go on sale Friday (4/12) at noon with an AmEx presale starting Wednesday (4/10) at 10 AM and an AEG Live presale starting Thursday (4/11) at 10 AM. All dates are listed, along with the flyer for the NYC show, below.

Meanwhile, Mobb Deep member Havoc is releasing his new solo album, 13, on May 7. It features guest appearances by Styles P, Raekwon, Lloyd Banks, Royce Da 5'9", and others. The tracklist, album art, and a stream of its single, "Tell Me To My Face," are below.

Havoc will celebrate that album with a release show in NYC the day it comes out at Highline Ballroom (5/7). Tickets for that show are on sale now.

The release show also doubles as the release show for R.A. the Rugged Man, who is also on the bill and releases his new album, Legends Never Die, on April 30. He just released the video for that album's single, "The People's Champ," which you can watch below. Also below, you can stream another album single "Learn Truth," which features Talib Kweli.

In related news, another old-school NYC rap show goes down at Highline Ballroom on July 21 with Big Daddy Kane, M.O.P., Chubb Rock, Grand Puba, and DJ Bent Rock. Tickets for that show are on sale now. You can also see Big Daddy Kane tonight (4/09) at Brooklyn Bowl as part of show called Las Supper and tickets are still available.

All Mobb Deep dates are listed, along with all song streams, below...

Continue reading "Mobb Deep, Havoc, R.A. the Rugged Man, Heems, Big Daddy Kane, M.O.P. & more upcoming hip hop shows/related news"

Le1f (photo by Siobhan Bledsoe)

The Whitney Museum is currently hosting the Blues for Smoke exhibition, which will be up through April 28. The exhibition "explores a wide range of contemporary art through the lens of the blues and blues aesthetics." In conjunction with that exhibition, they are also presenting a festival this weekend with performances and events. On Friday (4/5), former Das Racist member Kool A.D. will team up with Mykki Blanco for a show at 6 PM. Then on Sunday (4/7) between 1 and 4 PM, the other two former Das Racist members Dapwell and Heems, will play with another rapper, Le1f, and psych freaks Prince Rama.

In addition to the two hip hop oriented shows, there will be a show on Saturday from Brooklyn soul ensemble King Holiday. The performances on all three days will be spread out into small, unconventional spaces rather than in a concert space, and will be accompanied by projections. All performances are free with museum admission.

Mykki Blanco recently played the official BrooklynVegan SXSW showcase, and his tour brings him to Bowery Ballroom tonight (4/2) for a show with DJ MikeQ, Rizzla, and Ian Isiah. Tickets for tonight's show are still available.

Meanwhile, Le1f has another hometown show coming up as part of the Red Bull Music Academy NYC residency. His show takes place on May 7 at Glasslands with Laurel Halo, Venus X, Spank DJs, The Peronists, Crazy Bitch In A Cave, :PAPERCUTZ, and a "very special guest." Tickets for that show are still available.

Stream Mykki's 2012 mixtape, Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss, and Le1f's recent mixtape, Fly Zone, below...

Continue reading "Le1f, Mykki Blanco, Prince Rama & members of Das Racist playing the Whitney during 'Blues For Smoke' exhibition"

Dysrhythmia @ Public Assembly, 11/17/2012 (more by Jonathan McPHail)

today in NYC
* Mondo! NYC @ Cameo
* Hard Mix @ Glasslands
* Noche Flamenca @ Joe's Pub
* Nature Boy Explorer @ Barbes
* Steel Train @ Bowery Ballroom
* Kingsley Flood @ Mercury Lounge
* The Bad Plus @ Village Vanguard
* HEEMS, Lez Zeppelin @ Brooklyn Museum
* The Micks @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn
* Ches Smith Trio, Mat Maneri @ The Stone
* Banda Sinaloense de Los Muertos @ Barbes
* Ikebe Shakedown, The Jay Vons @ Cameo Gallery
* Aspects of War, Negligence, Kantuta @ XPO 929
* Brad and Doug Balliett and friends @ The Stone
* Preservation Hall Jazz Band @ McKittrick Hotel
* Dinowalrus, Life Size Maps, Visuals @ Glasslands
* Andrew Morgan, Tom Noble, Terekke, Moon B @ 285 Kent
* Bridges and Powerlines, Fan-Tan, Crazy Pills @ Union Hall
* Wei Zhongle, Hazel Rah, Jessica Pavone, Pat Hull @ The LAB
* The Indencent, EULA, Black on Brown, Sham-Poo @ Shea Stadium
* Family Curse, Sleepies, Tournament, Dead Stars, Heaven's Gate @ Dead Herring
* Dysrhythmia, Wreck and Reference, Soren, Planning For Burial @ Saint Vitus Bar
* Alien Whale, Cloud Becomes Your Hand, Fox Crane Bear, Heat Identity @ Silent Barn
* Opponents, Compactor, Cloud Dweller, Long Distance Poison, Shingles @ Death by Audio
* Tom Toye & Devin Brain Make Beautiful Noise, Beach Arabs, Spewing Cum, What Next? @ Cake Shop
* Machinedrum (Berliner Set), Allies For Everyone (DJ Set), Evan Michael, Dan Wender, Sheepshead @ Tammany Hall

It's the first Saturday of January which means it's First Saturdays at Brooklyn Museum with a full day of free events, capped by performances by ex-Das Racist member HEEMS and Lez Zeppelin. Doors are at 5 PM, HEEMS is on at 9 PM.

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What else?

by Andrew Sacher

SPIN have revealed their list of the top 50 albums of 2012. It continues SPIN's trend of giving love to crossover punk and metal (which they've been pretty consistent with since naming Fucked Up's David Comes to Life their top album of 2011) with the inclusion of Baroness, Torche, Pallbearer, Cloud Nothings, and Japandroids, but rather surprisingly excludes the SPIN Essential'd Ceremony - Zoo and The Men - Open Your Heart, in favor of popular blowouts by Taylor Swift, fun., and Nicki Minaj. The list also shares its #1 and #2 with the two highest Pitchfork-rated albums of the year. And no Grimes.

The list begins with the Kanye-cribbed disclaimer, "Most critics' taste levels ain't at our waist level. Ain't nobody fucking with our clique." Check out SPIN's Top 50 LPs of 2012 list below.

Continue reading "SPIN names their Top 50 Albums of 2012 (Frank Ocean is #1)"

Das Racist at Afro-Punk 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

The individual members of NYC rap trio Das Racist have been playing a handful of solo shows lately and it looks like we'll be seeing more of that, as the group have decided to call it quits. Pitchfork reports that Das Racist were supposed to perform at Munich festival On3 on Saturday (12/1), but instead Heems did a solo show, and announced from the stage, "You guys wanna know the secret? Alright, so I'm going to do some Das Racist songs, but Das Racist is breaking up and we're not a band anymore."

Kool AD also tweeted, "for the record i quit das racist 2 months ago and was asked by our manager not to announce it yet. apparently @himanshu wanted to do it tho" and Heems replied, "hah dag, my bad dont even remember saying that shit."

What ended up being Das Racist's final hometown show happened at Irving Plaza in October. You can check out some videos from that show below.

Continue reading "Das Racist break up"

by Klaus Kinski and Joe Mande

Joe Mande is a comedian and writer. He's been seen on Conan, Comedy Central, and VH1 Best Week Ever. He's also a writer for Parks and Recreation, Delocated, and the upcoming Kroll Show. He's also the brains behind the pitch-perfect project Look At This Fucking Hipster. When you're as brilliantly hilarious as Joe Mande, it's only a matter of time before you get sucked into Olde Man Los Angeles' bosom and have to leave NYC, which is precisely what he did recently much to the dismay of many people who love him, myself included.

I have been an avid fan of Mande since he was knee-high to a grasshopper and getting his start in the NYC comedy scene. There was a time where it seemed like you could catch him on a stage somewhere in this city at least 9-10 times a week. It is his simplest flourishes that kill me the most; for example, his twitter feed is the best. Among other tweet-skillz, he has a knack for re-tweeting the absolutely vapid and pointless horse-shit that a celebrity's pea-brain managed to fart out into cyberspace. And where else can you see a picture like this? I asked Joe for a Top Ten of 2012 list. The results, with accompanying YouTube videos, are below.

Continue reading "Joe Mande's Best of 2012 ("top 10 rap songs I downloaded for free off the internet")"

Since opening in March, the Flat has been a haven for edgy music and affordable drinks. "It's amazing how many people we know live within blocks away," said Max Brennan, the owner. A decade ago, he founded Lit, a bar, gallery and performance space on Second Avenue in Manhattan. "It's sort of how Lit used to be before all the 'shirts' invaded the East Village," he said." - [NY Times]

On Wednesday (11/14) The Flat is hosting a show presented by Self-Titled, Mishka and Greedhead Music, with HEEMS, LE1F, Big Baby Gandhi, and Meyhem Lauren. It's early (7 - 9 PM) and is FREE. Flyer is below.

The day before that (Tuesday, 11/13) they've got the release party for Fat Tony's "BKNY" music video with DJ sets from the man himself, plus Tom Cruz, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, DJ Sicksentz, Kitty Pryde, Lakutis, Cities Aviv, and Dapwell from Das Racist. Also free, 9 PM start.

Continue reading "The Flat in Williamsburg hosting events (HEEMS, LE1F, Fat Tony, Kitty Pryde, Meyhem Lauren, Azar Swan & more)"

by Andrew Sacher

Main Attrakionz at BV-SXSW 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Earlier this month, we mentioned that iPhone/Android app Mobli was throwing a CMJ party with Heems, Sasha Go Hard, Kitty Pryde, Weekend Money, SAFE, The Underachievers, and Party Supplies. That party was supposed to happen today at Delinquency but that venue has since been shut down so the whole lineup (minus The Underachievers and Party Supplies) is merging with the Young One Records showcase, which happens tonight (10/17) at 285 Kent. That showcase, in addition to including the names mentioned above, will have Main Attrakionz, Kool AD, Deniro Farrar, Supreme Cuts, Cities Aviv, Bryant Dope, Ryan Hemsworth, and CBG. SAFE and Ryan Hemsworth are DJing between sets, the rest of the acts are playing live. The show flier and set times are below.

That 285 Kent show is a pretty stacked bill for hip hop, and if you're into stacked hip hop shows like that one, you'll also probably want to check out the Mass Appeal party at Gramercy on Friday (10/19) with Asher Roth, Prodigy (of Mobb Deep), The Alchemist, Large Professor, Mr. Muthafuckin' exquire, Roc Marciano, Boldy James, Ninja Sonik, Bodega Bamz, Alexander Spit, Angel Haze and Timeless Youth. That one's free with RSVP to RSVP@massappeal.com but entry is based on capacity. The flier for this show is below.

As mentioned, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire also plays SOB's on Thursday (10/18) and an MTV Studio at Webster Hall the same day. That studio show is with Big K.R.I.T. and LE1F, and when we first mentioned it, a "special guest" was billed who has since been revealed as Killer Mike. Tickets for that one are still available.

That MTV show is an early show (5:30 doors) and after that there's a late show with Chuck Inglish (of The Cool Kids), Ninjasonik, ASAP TyY, Blvckalfred, Vault Boys, MopTop, Chase N Cashe, GDP, Vyle, and Curtains. Tickets for that one are still available.

Cities Aviv, in addition to the Young One show, has other CMJ shows, including the Flowerbooking CMJ showcase at Knitting Factory on Friday (10/19) with Unicorn Kid, Ki:Theory, Devin, Ghost Wave, and Talk Normal (tickets) and the Bond Music Group/PopGun show at Cameo Gallery on Friday (10/19) (late show) with Steven A. Clark, Lushlife, Dark Sister, and Pegasus Warning (tickets).

He also plays the free BrooklynVegan day party at Public Assembly on Saturday (10/20) with The Orwells, Eternal Summers, and the rest of the lineup coming soon!

While we're talking about good hip hop shows during CMJ, don't forget the Converse Rubber Tracks/Fool's Gold 5th anniversary show at Music Hall of WIlliamsburg on Saturday (10/20) with Ghostface Killah, A-Trak, Flosstradamus, Donnis, Nick Catchdubs, World's Fair, Troy Ave, and special guests. That one's totally free, first come, first served.

Showcase flier and set times for the Young One/Mobli show are below.

Continue reading "hip hop CMJ update: Sasha Go Hard show merges w/ Main Attrakionz show; Cities Aviv dates; Killer Mike adds show"

Heliotropes at 480 Pixels party in August, one of many bands who had shows at Delinquency this week, (more by Chris La Putt)

To all Delinquency family, friends, performers, and promoters: We regret to inform that we have been forced to close temporarily and relocate all CMJ shows:(((( Please stay tuned for new show locations. We are supper bummed but will be back in a few weeks to continue spreading the loving party vibes and good times we have all shared this amazing summer. - [Delinquency Facebook]

Tonight's Sleepies, Mr. Dream, Yvette, Alan Watts and Fasano show has been moved to XPO 929 (more info here).

Tuesday's Permanent Wave/Greenpointers Blog/Campers' Rule Records showcase (10/16) with Heliotropes, Leda, Beach Day, Backwords, The Suzan and Easy Lover has been relocated to Public Assembly.

Wednesday's We Listen for You / The Needle Drop / Beats Per Minute day party (10/17) with Dent May, Mac Demarco, Teen Suicide, Poor Lily, The Deloreans, Attic and Abasement has also been moved to Public Assembly

No word yet on where Wednesday night's Mobil party (10/17 with Heems, Sasha Go Hard, Kitty Pryde + more) will end up, or Bird Dog day party on Thursday (10/18 with Ava Luna, Royal Canoe, Fegrus and Geronimo, Murals and more), or the Old Flame Records / Heist or Hit Record day party on Friday (10/19 w/ Caged Animals, Your Youth, Gross Relations and more) but Delinquency has been posting updates on their Facebook.

"these are being made into shirts js" - Kitty Pryde

iPhone/Android app Mobli is throwing a CMJ party on October 17 at Deliquency (1031 Grand St) with a mostly hip hop and hip hop-related lineup of Heems (of Das Racist), Sasha Go Hard (who recently made her NYC debut), Kitty Pryde (who also recently played NYC), Das Racist affiliates Weekend Money (aka MC Ne$$ and Baghdaddy), The Underachievers (who are part of Flying Lotus's NYC takeover this week), Action Bronson affiliates Party Supplies, and SAFE (who is on tour now with Das Racist). This 21+ party is free but there's a suggested donation at the door, and there will be an open whiskey and vodka bar all night. Doors are at 7 PM.

The show flier, a list of all Kitty Pryde dates, and a couple videos are below.

Continue reading "Heems, Sasha Go Hard, Kitty Pryde & more playing CMJ party"

by Andrew Sacher

On October 30, Glasslands will play host to "The BuzzBin of History:, A Night with the World's Premier Alternative Rock Cover Band Kerosene Hat." The band's lineup is made up of a number of Brooklyn musicians: Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Johnny Hunt (Amazing Baby), Simon O'Connor (Amazing Baby/Kuroma), Pan (Suckers), Will Berman (MGMT), and Heems DJ (Das Racist). Some of those members have also played together in Ill Fits and members of Suckers were also in 90s tribute band Citizen Dick, named after the band in Singles. Tickets for that Glasslands show are on sale now.

Speaking of Singles -- the 1992 film written, co-produced, and directed by Cameron Crowe, which depicted the ups and downs of the relationships (and lack thereof) of twentysomethings living in grunge-era Seattle -- both the film and its iconic soundtrack celebrate their 20th anniversary this year. The film was scored by The Replacements frontman Paul Westerberg, who also wrote two songs for the soundtracks, including the addictive theme song, "Waiting for Somebody." Other contributors to the soundtrack included Alice In Chains, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Screaming Trees, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, Mother Love Bone, Pearl Jam, in addition to a song by Jimi Hendrix and a Led Zeppelin cover by Heart side project The Lovemongers. (Crowe was married to Heart's Nancy Wilson at the time.) The movie and its soundtrack have both gone on to be remembered as a piece of the history from that famed Seattle scene.

In its 20th anniversary, Singles has been getting some tributes. Stereogum did one back in June around the anniversary of the actual soundtrack (which predated the film by about three months), where they reevaluated the album and its place in pop culture two decades later. This week, in celebration of the actual film's anniversary, SPIN did one where they took a stab at who might make the soundtrack if a similar film was made now.

Speaking of films and Paul Westerberg, The Replacements documentary, Color Me Obsessed, is getting a DVD release on November 20 via MVD Entertainment Group. You can pre-order the documentary HERE. The flier and trailer for the documentary are below, along with the video for Westerberg's "Dyslexic Heart" from the Singles soundtrack that features a mugging Jeremy Piven.

Continue reading "alternative rock cover show happening at Glasslands; 'Singles' turns 20; Replacements documentary getting DVD release"

Smoke DZA

Impose Magazine will be hosting a few 10th anniversary shows in NYC like the ones they recently hosted in San Diego. One of those shows goes down at Shea Stadium on September 21 with a pretty great lineup of local rappers including Smoke DZA, Heems, Meyhem Lauren, Children of the Night, and Ratking, plus DJ sets by Busy Gillespie and Tropical Pigeons. There will be free drinks courtesy of Reyka. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Meanwhile, you'll have other chances to catch Meyhem Lauren in NYC before that. He plays the free Converse Rubber Tracks show at MHOW (8/23) with Action Bronson, Flatbush Zombies, and Tanya Morgan, and then a Shortcuts party at Santos (8/30) with Riff Raff (tickets).

Smoke DZA was recently featured in a video for his song with Nakim, "Perrier & Rosé." You can watch that below.

Continue reading "Smoke DZA, Heems, Meyhem Lauren, Children of the Night and more playing Impose 10th anniversary show in NYC"

Das Racist at Bonnaroo 2012 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

Glasslands is hosting a pretty great multi-genre, Das Racist-related show on September 10 with Das Racist associated rapper Lakutis (who we profiled when he opened for Kool AD last month), SAFE (who recently played a Cameo show in June that Heems DJ'd), Quinn Walker (of Suckers, whose video for "Turn On the Sunshine" features Dapwell), Carrie Wilds (whose free mixtape featured Das Racist associate Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire), Peaceful Solutions (Kool AD + Kassa Overall), Cult Days, DJs Chungo and Mike Finito and host Dapwell. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Streams and videos from the artists playing are below.

Continue reading "Das Racist members, Lakutis, SAFE, Quinn Walker, Carrie Wilds & more playing Glasslands in September"

Bushwick slow food pizza haven Roberta's is throwing a block party (entire block of Moore Street between Bogart and White St.) on July 28 featuring the musical talents of Andrew WK (solo), Heems, Natural Child, Wild Yaks, and Naam. The fun starts at noon and goes till midnight. Roberta's, with its giant backyard, has been doing the party thing a lot this summer, be it hot dog eating contests, viking parties and what have you. There's an '80s style commercial for the block party you can watch at the bottom of this post.

Natural Child will play again the next night (7/29) at Union Pool with Birdcloud, Respect and Hector's Pets and advance tickets are on sale now. The Nashville rockers, who released For the Love of the Game back in April, have a second album coming out this year. Look for Hard in Heaven to drop September 11 on the fine Burger label. You can stream the album's first single, "B$G P$MP$N," at the bottom of this post.

The Brooklyn shows are part of a national tour that just got underway and all tour dates are listed at the bottom of this post.

Continue reading "Natural Child ready new LP (stream a track), touring, playing 2 shows in Bklyn including Roberta's block party w/ Andrew WK"

by Fred Pessaro / BBG (not vegan)

There is a risk of locally damaging thunderstorms Tuesday evening and again on Independence Day, which could not only impact daytime picnics and festivals, but also evening fireworks in the Northeast.
Just about every major city and small community has some sort of fireworks display on or around the Fourth of July in the Northeast (many displays have been canceled elsewhere, due to dry conditions). However, storms erupting in over a dozen states could impact activities and have some folks running for cover.
Another surge of humid air and a warm front/cool front combination could have the atmospheric volatility index on the rise for July Fourth from the Ohio Valley states to the mid-Atlantic and New England. [Accuweather.com]

A good friend of mine once said "Who cares what's going on outside? Make your own fireworks." Here's a primer to figuratively do that on Independence Day 2012, all while avoiding any pesky arson indictments.

As discussed, the NYC fireworks are in the Hudson River this year, which means you can see them fine on the West Side Highway or in NJ or on your TV, but not very well from most of Brooklyn.

Spend the wee, early hours of July 4th (meaning, starting TONIGHT, July 3rd) getting down with the undead at the Zombie Rave at Webster Hall. DJs Alex English and Jess x Mischief will man the tables for the evening.

If you do choose the West Side Highway for viewing the fireworks, you won't need to go very far for a party right afterwards thanks to Pictureplane who is hosting a free July 4th bash at Westway (75 Clarkson in Manhattan) with DJ sets from himself, Physical Therapy, Heems (Das Racist) and a live show from Mykki Blanco. The event kicks off at 10PM, runs until 4AM and features free Budweiser for the first hour. More details can be found at the FB event page, and the flyer is below. Pictureplane no longer playing Cheap Storage and/or 285 Kent on the 4th.

As recently mentioned, Francois K, King Britt, FaltyDL and Infinity take over the daylight hours at Dekalb Market Brooklyn.

DIY Brooklyn venue Shea Stadium will celebrate their fourth anniversary with another July 4th blowout! The venue will host Afu Ra & The Shea Stadium All Stars, Dope Body, Roomrunner, Fuckton, Alan Watts, Ami Dang, Eleven Swords (mems. GDFX/Extreme Animals), Smhoak & Pals and The Jazz Massagers along with DJ sets from Beachballs, Magic Dan and the Impose DJs for the budget friendly price of $10.

In the spirit of summer, you can head to Secret Project Robot (389 Melrose Street, Brooklyn) for a "Sounds of Jamaica" dance party. The daytime event will last from 3PM until 9PM, and your vinyl "selectahs" will be Queen Majesty, Grace of Spades and Sweet V. Food and drink will be on hand and it'll only set you back a cool four bones. Details are at the FB event page.

If you aren't in the mood for a bit of reggae but still are in the mood to shake it, head to LP 'n Harmony (683 Grand Street) for a day-time-until-evening event (3-11PM) called "Beats & BBQ". For every drink you are entitled to a plate of BBQ (whaaaat) and tunage will be supplied by a bevy of DJs including Jose G (Face The Bass Radio), Ali Coleman (Voice of Voices NYC), Siren (Save the Robots), Ruby Red (Velvet Factory Production), Kyle McNeil (WBAI Pacifica Radio), Pinkie Tuscadero (Memoirs of a Party Girl), Ras (Hotter than July BK), and Herb Martin (Amadi). More details are available HERE.

I won't be anywhere near there (obviously), but you could spend tomorrow (or tonight) at Jones Beach with Phish. (both sold out)

July 4th is always a good day to fire up the grill and crank up some old tunes over a few cold ones. If you dont have/can't grill, accomplish two of those three at Mercury Lounge with Led Blimpie (Zeppelin cover band), AC/DC Done Dirt Cheap (wild guess?), and Guns N Hoses. Tickets are still available.

Brown Sugar lead a benefit at Acheron (57 Waterbury St, Bushwick) along with Creem, Deformity, Death Camp and Altered Boys.

The Spy Music Festival is still going and July 4th it's happening at The Stone with performances fromn John Blum (8PM) and Trevor Watts + Veryan Weston (10PM).

Wyclef (who may or may not also be playing the CBGB Festival later in the week) & Lil Jon will play the waterfront at Pier 92 on the Hudson (52nd and 11th Ave) as part of a day-long celebration (noon - midnight). Tickets are on sale, and pimp cups are optional.

Feeling anti-social? Trying to escape any impending rain? Stream all of The Roots's Philly 4th of July Jam featuring performances from the Philly Crew, as well as Queen Latifah, Common, Daryl Hall and Joe Jonas. You could also just go see it live in Philadelphia. Or watch the annual Twilight Zone marathon on SyFy.

Of course you can always count on the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island at noon, but did you know that there is the Crif Dog Classic at Roberta's that day too? (and it's going to stream at Sports Illustrated).

Looking for something in the "free" range? Noam Pikelny and Friends, The Sweetback Sisters, and Spuyten Duyvil will head to Madison Square Park as part of the Oval Lawn Series.

BBC DJ Benji B brings Deviation to Le Poisson Rouge at 10PM with Kode9, Lunice, and more

What did we miss?

Flyers below...

Continue reading "a 4th of July NYC event guide (fireworks, Pictureplane, a zombie rave, the Roots, Shea Stadium anniversary & much more)"

Tickets for the Swans show at Bowery Ballroom go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets for the Morrissey shows at Terminal 5 go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets for the Justice show at Hammerstein go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets for the Jens Lekman and Taken by Trees show at Terminal 5 go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets for the Calexico and The Dodos show at Webster Hall go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets for the Old 97s show at Webster Hall go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets for the Squarepusher show at Terminal 5 with Mount Kimbie, Holy Fuck, and Bonobo (DJ) go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets for the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion show at Bowery Ballroom go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets for the Two Door Cinema Club show at Central Park Summerstage go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets for The Presets show at Terminal 5 go on AmEx presale today at noon.

The Babies play Public Assembly on July 25 with Night Manager, Beach Day, Daytona, and Total Slacker (DJ). Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Brother Ali is playing Bowery Ballroom on September 27 with Blank Tape Beloved, Homeboy Sandman, DJ Sosa, and The Reminders. Tickets for that show go on AmEx presale today at noon with a general sale starting Friday (6/29) at noon.

Alberta Cross, who just played Governors Ball, will be back in NYC for a show at Bowery Ballroom on September 13. Tickets for that show go on AmEx presale today at noon with a general sale starting Friday (6/29) at noon.

Tickets for the Kool AD (of Das Racist) show at Mercury Lounge go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Speaking of Das Racist, Heems will DJ at Cameo on Friday (6/29) with live sets by three caps-lock loving bands, SAFE, ARMS, and CRUX. Heems also plays Gramercy Theater on 7/3 with Prodigy.

Das Racist at Red Hook Park last week (more by Eric M. Townsend)

Kool AD, aka 1/3 of Das Racist who just played Red Hook Park in Brooklyn last week, has two solo shows scheduled to happen in NYC this summer. He'll play a Shortcuts party at Santos Party House on July 19 with Angel Haze and Venus X, and will also play Mercury Lounge on July 30 with Lakutis, Fat Tony, and Tex & Kass. Tickets for the Santos show are on sale now and tickets for the Mercury Lounge show go on sale Friday (6/29) at noon. Kool AD released two free mixtapes this year, The Palm Wine Drinkard and 51.

In related Das Racist news, Heems will perform at Prodigy's "Queens Day" show, which goes down on July 3 at Gramercy Theatre with The World Famous Beatnuts, DJ Rob Swift, World's Fair, Big Baby Gandhi, and Rek Stizzy.

All Kool AD dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Kool AD (of Das Racist) playing solo shows, 2 in NYC (dates)"

Das Racist at Bonnaroo 2012 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

As mentioned, Das Racist are playing a free show in Red Hook Park TONIGHT (6/19) with Action Bronson, Trouble Andrew and Brenmar. Tonight's show starts at 7 PM. The flier is below.

In related news, you can catch Heems of Das Racist at the rescheduled date of Prodigy's "Queens Day" show which was supposed to happen at Irving Plaza tonight, but was cancelled (actually postponed and moved to a smaller venue). The show is now scheduled to take place on July 3 at Gramercy Theatre with The World Famous Beatnuts, DJ Rob Swift, World's Fair, Big Baby Gandhi, and Rek Stizzy. "All tickets purchased for the Irving Plaza concert will be honored at the Gramercy Theatre show on July 3rd or refunds are available at point of purchase." The flier for this show is below.

Continue reading "Das Racist's free show in Red Hook Park is tonight; Prodigy reschedules 'Queens Day' show"

Ghostface at Rock The Bells 2011 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

Lyricist Lounge will celebrate 20 years of events and releases with a free Celebrate Brooklyn show at Prospect Park on June 23rd. Ghostface Killah (who celebrated his birthday yesterday, May 9th!) will join the kings of "Luchini" Camp Lo, Astro, and more for this FREE event that kicks off at 7:30. Ghostdeini currently has no other US dates planned, but will go on the road for a string of Australian dates at the beginning of June. Details are below. Check out the full Celebrate Brooklyn schedule HERE.

In other classic hip hop news, Prodigy of Mobb Deep will team up with The Beatnuts, Heems of Das Racist, DJ Rob Swift, Big Baby Gandhi and more as part of an event called "Queens Day" on 6/19 at Irving Plaza. Tickets are still available. Prodigy recently completed recording of his new album HNIC3, which is due for release on July 3rd. Stream the recent track "Gangsta Love" featuring Esther below.

All Ghostface Killah dates, some video, and that Prodigy stream is below. Pay close attention to the tail end of that "Luchini" video and you'll see Butterfly of Digable Planets (aka Ishmael Butler) drop a verse from Camp Lo's "Swing". Butler's new project Shabazz Palaces play Williamsburg Park this summer.

Continue reading "Ghostface & Camp Lo celebrate 20 years of Lyricist Lounge; Prodigy & The Beatnuts celebrate Queens day"

photos by Julie Schabel

Danny Brown, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Heems & Despot @ Santos Party House

Danny Brown, who was just added to the Pitchfork Festival, was joined by guests Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Heems of Das Racist, Despot, Fools Gold DJ Nick Catchdubs, openers World's Fair, Young Zee, guest Rah Digga & more at his sold out headlining show at Santos Party House on Thursday (3/22). Here are some pictures (and a few cell phone videos). More below...

Continue reading "Danny Brown & guests played Santos w/ Young Zee & World's Fair (pics & video)"

To quote Pitchfork: "The Weeknd's follow-up to House of Balloons and Thursday is here. Grab the nine-track Echoes of Silence-- featuring a cover of Michael Jackson's "Dirty Diana" and production from Clams Casino-- for free over on the-weeknd.com or here,"

House of Balloons, the first mixtape, was #1 on a list of albums that Heems from Das Racist submitted to Pitchfork. Check out Heems' full list of 'Top Albums of 2011' below...

Continue reading "3rd Weeknd mixtape released; Heems likes the 1st one a lot"

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

As predicted, Rostam Batmanglij from Vampire Weekend and Das Racist's Heems were both surprise guests at Small Black's mixtape release celebration at Glassands on 11/18 with Heavenly Beat. Download your copy of Small Black's Moon Killer FREE mixtape at their site. Check out Das Racist on Conan O'Brien tonight (11/28).

More pictures from the Glasslands record release show are below...

Continue reading "Small Black played Glasslands w/ Rostam, Heems & Heavenly Beat (pics)"

Brooklyn chillwavers Small Black released a free 11 song mixtape on 11/11/11 called Moon Killers. The band says:

It features a bunch of new original tracks, 2 collaborations with Heems of Das Racist and remixes by Star Slinger & Phonetag and other goodies. Its full of samples from and homages to songs we love and the city that we live in. Something we could never do on a record.

After 2 years of non-stop recording and touring, this project was a chance to give people who've supported us something free to enjoy. Hope you enjoy it.

Though released exactly a week ago, the band will officially be celebrating in Brooklyn tonight (11/18) at Glasslands. The band says they'll "be playing tons of material from the tape, along with a few other VERY SPECIAL surprises and guests." I'm pretty sure one of those guest is mixtape contributor Heems and that another is Rostam from Vampire Weekend. Heavenly Beat is also on the bill and tickets are still on sale. Note: doors at are 11:30PM.

Mixtape below...

Continue reading "Small Black released a free mixtape, celebrating at Glasslands tonight (with secret guests) "

by Andrew Sacher

New album STROKED: A Tribute to Is This It, as the title hints, is a tribute to The Strokes' massively influential debut Is This It. The album was released for free on Stereogum today (7/26). They write:

Is This It was recorded in NYC at Transporterraum with Gordon Raphael. When it was finally released in the States in the Fall of 2001, a decade after Nevermind, it helped not only put contemporary New York City in the forefront of music lovers' minds, it offered an easy reference for people to dig backwards into the Big Apple's rock 'n' roll past. For certain younger fans, it was maybe the first time they carefully considered Television (the late '70s), the Velvet Underground (mid '60s to early '70s), and other lesser known garage and rock and whatever bands that inhabited a dirtier, grubbier Manhattan. The title's pure Richard Hell. The original sexy album cover a minimalist echo of New York Dolls (via Roxy Music). It's no coincidence that 2001 NYC -- eventually, especially Brooklyn -- ended up being known for its post-punk revival. (See, for instance, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liars, Black Dice, Vice Records' No New York nodding collection Yes New York, etc.) Is This It was a history lesson, but one with enough new ideas to also offer a roadmap.

--
Cities Aviv

Wise Blood contributed "Someday" to "Stroked". He and fellow weirdo rapper Cities Aviv share a bill on September 1 at Glasslands in Brooklyn. The show is one of many scheduled around the world for Wise Blood, but is Cities Aviv's only date we see scheduled at the moment. Tickets for the Brooklyn show are on sale now.

Wise Blood's tour includes another NYC show two days later. He plays a Jelly RockBeach show on September 3 with Pictureplane and others TBA. More dates are listed below.

Cities Aviv, the self-proclaimed "Post-Death" rapper, is also on the Glasslands bill with Wise Blood. The Memphis native released his debut full length Digital Lows on May 2. The album's production credits go to a number of virtually unknown producers, Muted Drone, RPLD GHOSTS, Danny Dee, Upgrayde, and Royal'T. The beats are dreamy, reverb-soaked headknockers that sound about as woozy as that album art (below) looks. Cities Aviv takes the beats, which on their own would make up a pretty solid chillwave album, and spits biting lines with a classic southern drawl. Fille Catatonique provides sung vocals which blend quite nicely with the album's vibes. The final track, "Float On," features Cities Aviv rapping over chillwaver Blackbird Blackbird's cover of the Modest Mouse song, that he recorded for 2010's Happy High EP. It's a fun way to end the album, and is far better than Lupe Fiasco's "The Show Must Go On," which sampled the Modest Mouse song earlier this year.

Cities Aviv isn't exactly the only rapper crossing into lo-fi/indie-approved territory lately, but he's certainly approaching the crossover from a unique angle. Digital Lows isn't nearly as blown out as, say, Shabazz Palaces, but he's still got way more experimentation going on than guys like Wiz Khalifa or Theophilus London. Grab the album for free at his bandcamp and check out some songs below.

All tour dates, videos, album art and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Stereogum giving away Strokes tribute album, Cities Aviv giving away an album too, playing Glasslands w/ Wise Blood"