Pharoahe Monch at Fun Fun Fun Fest in 2010 (more by BBG)

In addition to the free show at Weeksville Heritage Center, Pharoahe Monch has a few other NYC shows in July. He plays B.B. King's on July 12 with Heltah Skeltah, OGC, and Black Rob. Tickets are still on sale.

Pharoahe Monch also appears as a guest with the Miguel Atwood-Ferguson ensemble at Harlem Stage on July 9 in Annunciation Park (entrance Amsterdam Ave. and W. 134th Street). Jazz vocalist Jose James and Zap Mama will also be guests at the FREE show that Taylor McFerrin opens. J. Period is the evening's DJ. This one runs from 5-9 PM, with 4 PM gates. "In addition to the live music, concert guests enjoy food and hand-made products from local vendors, and an American Airlines raffle. Blankets only, no lawn chairs allowed."

If you haven't heard of multi instrumentalist/dj/arranger/composer/music director/producer/educator Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, you probably at least know some of his collaborators like Stevie Wonder, Outkast, Rihanna, Flying Lotus, Aloe Blacc and countless others. His ensemble performs original music, covers of unreleased J Dilla tracks, and will pay tribute to Gil Scott-Heron at the Harlem show.

A similar show happened in LA in 2010 with Flying Lotus as part of the ensemble and with special guest Aloe Blacc and Bilal. You can listen to that entire peformance, and watch some video from it, below....

Continue reading "Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Ensemble playing free Harlem show, Pharoahe Monch playing other shows too"

photos by Jessica Amaya

"One more time, The Dead Weather stomped Brooklyn last night. Great show." -artgig

"Dead weather KILLED. Didnt celebrate bklyn so much as set it aflame." -rathermarvelous

"I bet you read Brooklyn Vegan too," says Jack White, "any other vegans in the crowd out there? come on stage and we'll kill a cow together" -ndersonTEA

"i saw you at the dead weather concert in prospect park...i was going to say hello to you but you had some guy totally jocking you the whole night. any wasys youre beautiful" -M4W

"Not too many people would have the audacity to walk on stage, blow torch in hand, and proceed to light their front woman's cigarette. Then again, not everyone is Jack White. The Dead Weather was in full force from the moment they graced the stage. The all-black-everything entourage attacked the stage with pristine white guitars that were used as battle axes as they attacked the stage with their raw sound. Alison Mosshart prowled the stage taking complete command of each song as White's drumming thundered between wails on guitar and tight thumping bass. Song after song pummeled the crowd, showing that their strong suit really is in the live performance, as the set built to the electrifying "Will There Be Enough Water?" Once Mr. White strapped on his six string there was no turning back. He ripped through the track while sharing lead vocal duties and microphone battles with Mosshart. Despite being behind a kit instead of his usual lead, White still ran the show, top hat, feather, and all. His fills on the skins were pulsating all evening however, on both the occasions he took duty on guitar his true talent was unveiled. Few have been as productive as Jack White in this past decade and while I still believe that neither of his recent projects have matched the brilliance of the White Stripes, the Dead Weather truly earned much respect last night. "[omg nyc]

The Dead Weather are on Letterman tonight (and they play an invite-only show at Don Hill's). More pictures and the set list from the Brooklyn show (thanks for the shout out Jack), below...

Continue reading "the Dead Weather played Prospect Park (pics & setlist) "

Stillwell Stage photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

"To close out the night, fans had the option of checking out Matt and Kim at the main stage or Holy Fuck at the alternate stage. The choice was clear, I went with the latter, and they easily turned out to be my favorite performance of the night. Their weird, intellectualized sound came to the forefront for the masses to witness firsthand and it's quite the process. With film reels rolling and making glorious sounds, lead singer Brian Borcherdt sporadically took the mic, shoved it between his teeth, and danced just as hard as any of the onlookers. It was clearly the most-lively show of the night. Holy Fuck as a satisfying headliner for the bill was a question on many people's minds, so the band had some expectations to live up to, but they totally thrived on those exact expectations and exceeded them tenfold. Even though the event was fully sponsored/curated, Holy Fuck performed in all aspects with the heart of any DIY performer." [Neon Musical Insight]

Continue reading "Siren Fest 2010 in pictures (part 3) (Holy Fuck, the rest of the Stillwell Stage, more Ted Leo, Mabee & more)"

The schedule (above). The pre-party flyer... (below)

Continue reading "Siren Festival announces schedule & Monotonix/Brahms preparty (Matt & Kim headlining the whole fest) "

Matador's 21st birthday fest will be happening in Las Vegas October 1st-3rd. For it, they've pulled the cream of the indie-rock crop. Previously speculated headliners Belle & Sebastian and Pavement will be there - on top of that, Guided By Voices will be reuniting to play, "in the band's "classic '93-'96 lineup!" The most recent show for GBV was New Year's Eve 2004/05.

In addition to those three, the lineup includes Sonic Youth, Spoon, Yo La Tengo, Cat Power, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, New Pornographers, Superchunk, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, Guitar Wolf (who also play NY), Chavez, Girls, Fucked Up, Harlem, Cold Cave, Shearwater, Kurt Vile and Jeffrey Joe Jenson. More will be annonuced July 5th.

A flyer is below...

Continue reading "Matador Fest lineup announced - Guided by Voices reunion! + Guitar Wolf, Belle & Sebastian, Pavement & many more"

the Night Marchers @ Fun Fun Fun Fest 2009 (more)

The Village Voice, the nation's largest alternative weekly newspaper, is excited to announce the addition of THE NIGHT MARCHERS, CYMBALS EAT GUITARS, EARL GREYHOUND, SCREAMING FEMALES and WYE OAK to the line-up for the 10th Annual SIREN MUSIC FESTIVAL at Coney Island, NYC on Saturday, July 17, 2010 from 12:00 noon - 9:00 p.m. These artists join scheduled performers MATT AND KIM, TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS, THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART, SURFER BLOOD and HARLEM with more to be announced.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary in historic Coney Island, SIREN has solidified its status as a leading New York City outdoor music festival, drawing over 100,000 music fans each year. With over 120 bands making their mark at SIREN over the last decade, this year will recognize SIREN's roots with the first ever return of past performers. MATT AND KIM and TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS will be heading back to the SIREN stage to celebrate. This free, all ages, all day festival is not to be missed.

"This year, we proudly celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Siren Festival. In the history of the our free Coney Island corndog bonanza, no band has ever played Siren twice. This was a conscious decision on behalf of our fearless festival founder and organizer, who long ago decided that if this crazy all-ages, free show thing ever reached ten years, Siren would rehost some of its best performers." [Village Voice]

Continue reading "VV Coney Island Siren Festival announces initial 2010 lineup "

"I'm smelly, but saw the Vivian Girls and conquered the PATH" - Samantha Onorato

Titus Andronicus w/ Cassie from Vivian Girls @ SUNY - 4/14 (OpenEye)

That's Cassie Ramone from Vivian Girls on stage with Titus Andronicus at the SUNY Purchase student center on 4/14. Her other band The Babies also played that show.

Vivian Girls played with the Grates and Reading Rainbow at Maxwell's in Hoboken last night (4/23). The show was to celebrate 5 years of MusicSnobbery. Titus Andronicus's tour continues with a show at the same venue tonight (4/24). The sold out gig also has Harlem and Spider Bags on the bill, BUT FIRST: Los Campesinos! will play Maxwell's after all. After rescheduling and then cancelling the show completely, Los Campesinos! have re-rescheduled their show at the NJ venue for 3PM TODAY ("NOTE: if you bought tix @ Ticketweb for 4/17 or 4/21 you will need to re-buy. We regret the inconvenience.").

Los Campesinos! kick off the rest of their tour Sunday in Boston. The new date for the NYC show at Irving Plaza is Monday, April 26th.

Harlem played a show last night at Monster Island Basement (originally scheduled for Market Hotel), and at Mercury Lounge the night before that.

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: White Wires - Pretty Girl (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: White Wires - Ha Ha Holiday (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: White Wires - Did You Forget My Name? (MP3)

White Wires @ SXSW

I think the single best SXSW 2010 performance by a band I hadn't seen before had to have been Canadians The White Wires, who I caught at the Trouble in Mind party at the Longbranch Inn (my vote for Worst Bathroom at SXSW 2010).  The Ottawa trio ripped it up with a short, sharp set of hook-laden rock n' roll that reminded me a lot of late '70s new wave -- think the Nerves, Rezillos or even Tom Petty. Despite being mid-afternoon, they had the crowd dancing and left me wanting more. Seriously awesome.

This week, there's finally more. On their way down to this year's Atlanta Mess-Around (April 23-25), The White Wires are stopping at Cake Shop on Thursday (4/22) where they'll play alongside Alabama's also-good Thomas Function and locals We Are Country Mice. The show is put on by Daed Pizza which is a new label/party night from the Cake Shop/Bruar Falls folks. It's White Wires' only NYC performance, so don't miss it.

There are three White Wires MP3 to download above: "Ha Ha Holiday" from their debut LP which came out last year on Douchemaster Records; "Pretty Girl," the killer A-side to their single on 7"-only label Trouble in Mind; and "Did You Forget My Name" from their upcoming album on Dirtnap Records.

Thomas Function also play on Friday (4/23) at Monster Island with Harlem and Girls at Dawn -- that's a good show too. All tour dates for White Wires and Thomas Function, the full Mess-Around linep, plus some videos, below...

Continue reading "White Wires play NYC, with Thomas Function & this weekend's Atlanta's Mess-Around - MP3s, videos & 2010 dates "

"The 2010 Lollapalooza line-up is official: Soundgarden, Green Day, Lady Gaga, Arcade Fire, The Strokes, and Phoenix will headline, joined by Social Distortion, MGMT, Jimmy Cliff, Hot Chip, and The Black Keys. With 130 bands on this year's bill, its sure to be a weekend long feast for the ears.

It's a monumental year for Lollapalooza, filled with homecomings, reunions, and first-times. Soundgarden, 1992 and 1996 Lollapalooza alumni, return to the Lollapalooza stage for their first performance since 1997. Green Day will rock Grant Park sixteen years after their first Lollapalooza appearance. While Lady Gaga will headline the festival only three short years after playing the BMI stage at Lollapalooza 2007.

Arcade Fire returns to Grant Park, having played the reincarnated Lollapalooza in 2005. This is the first Lollapalooza for The Strokes - and also their first show in four years. And making their Lollapalooza debut: Phoenix." - Lollapalooza

Continue reading "Lollapalooza actually announces 2010 lineup "

photos by Bryan Bruchman

DOWNLOAD: Harlem - Gay Human Bones (MP3)

Japandroids

I do too many BV parties to make it to the Fader Fort anymore. This is the second SXSW in a row I completely missed it (didn't even get to see Bone Thugs). Luckily I have these pictures and videos (and stories about a band being booed off stage)...

Continue reading "Japandroids, Harlem, Salem (before they were booed) & others @ the Fader Fort (SXSW 2010) - pics & video "

DOWNLOAD: Harlem - Friendly Ghost (MP3)

Harlem @ Union Pool in February (more by Andrew Frisicano)

Austin band Harlem have their Matador debut, Hippies, coming out April 6th. The garage punk opus clocks in at 16 songs, and one of its best, "Friendly Ghost," with a hurdling bassline and catchy chorus ("I want to disappear all the time") is posted above. The band will be at SXSW for swarm of hometown shows before heading out on tour this April/May. That includes three NYC-area shows. The first is April 22nd at Mercury Lounge. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, March 3rd at noon. The second is at Market Hotel the night after (4/23). And the third, on April 24th, is at Maxwell's in Hoboken with Titus Andronicus. Tickets are on sale.

Titus have a record release show at Bowery Ballroom this Saturday, and plenty of other shows on the way (including a free show we're hosting at SXSW).

All tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Harlem - 2010 tour dates (SXSW, 3 NYC shows & more) "

DOWNLOAD: Titus Andronicus - A More Perfect Union (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Titus Andronicus - Four Score And Seven (part one) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Titus Andronicus - Four Score And Seven (part two) (MP3)

Titus Andronicus (new member below) @ United Palace (more by Diana Wong)

Titus Andronicus have a new record, The Monitor, coming out March 9th on XL. That'll be celebrated with a record release show this Saturday, March 6th at Bowery Ballroom with Parts & Labor, The Babies and Cloud Nothings. Tickets are still on sale.

After that they head out on a record shop in-store tour - the closest that gets to NYC is Fords, NJ's Vintage Vinyl, over the bridge from Staten Island, on March 8th. The tour continues from there ad infinitum, and includes SXSW, where they'll play a few shows. One is the Fucked Up Saves Music showcase on Saturday night at Red 7. Another is the free BrooklynVegan Emo's day party on Wednesday (March 17th), which is also with Fucked Up. Both bands play that Emo's show on the main/outdoor stage with Japandroids, The Black Angels and more TBA. We're also simultaneously hosting the indoor stage with Torche, Withered, Landmine Marathon, Salome, Dark Castle, Javelina and The Atlas Moth.

The NYC-area shows on Titus Andronicus's post-SXSW tour happen on April 11th (Men Can Stop Rape Benefit @ Red Hook High School), April 13th (Rodrigues Coffee House @ Fordham University) and April 14th (at SUNY Purchase Student Center). Those last two (and others) are with the Babies. Let's Wrestle, who you can catch at Knitting Factory on March 15th, opens another leg of the tour through the South and West Coast. Titus ends the tour on April 24th with a show at Maxwell's with Harlem (tickets still on sale).

The three songs above (two reposted, and the new full-force opener "A More Perfect Union") are from the new record, which features guest appearances by members of "Ponytail, Wye Oak, Vivian Girls, Hold Steady, etc.d and a generous assortment of colorful New Paltz locals [where they recorded the album]." As you can see above, the band also sports new member Amy Klein on guitar and violin. More info on the record, a preview video, tour poster, and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Titus Andronicus MP3 & tour dates (in-stores, SXSW, Bowery, SUNY, Red Hook High School, Fordham, Maxwell's & more)"

by Andrew Frisicano

Jemina Pearl @ Union Pool...

The audience was left to wonder exactly what happened when Jemina Pearl walked off stage less than 30 minutes into her headlining set Saturday night (2/13) at Union Pool. The question wasn't the shortness itself, but the abruptness of her departure: after getting increasingly frustrated with something, she kicked the drum set, gave the one-finger salute to her band and left, to the stunned then embarrassed faces of her supporting trio. The show was really just getting started. "As long as everyone had fun, that's what matters," said the bass player sheepishly before getting a lit cigarette thrown at him by the singer, in a brief return to the stage.

They did manage to get through "I Hate People," a cover of "Band on the Run" and a handful of others (though not "Heartbeats" which one of the most enthusiastic fans requested as a not-to-be encore). It was an awkward hometown end to nearly a month of touring.

Openers Harlem were admirably sloppy and enthused (it's hard not to think of a less manic Black Lips). Their animated, banadana-ed singer/guitarist and more straight-laced drummer swapped roles halfway through the set, which brought out a different dynamic for sure - round two was cleaner with more of a focus on pointed guitar riffs and less on effusive vocals. The Austin band's second album is due this summer on Matador, and they'll be touring the West Coast for the next few weeks.

Jemina's next scheduled show/shows are SXSW. The full Ecstatic Peace SXSW showcase lineup (Thurston Moore, J Mascis & Andrew WK included), more Union Pool pictures, a video and Harlem tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Jemina Pearl played Brooklyn w/ Harlem, stormed off stage (pics), playing SXSW w/ Thurston, J. Mascis, Andrew WK"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Harlem - Friendly Ghost (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Christmas Island - Bed Island (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: North Highlands - Sugar Lips (MP3)

Harlem

It's a good week in New York for lovers of no-muss-no-fuss garage rock -- there's a lot of it in town. Austin trio Harlem are playing a trio of shows, the first of which is tonight (2/10) at Mercury Lounge with Girls at Dawn. They then play Friday (2/12) with Frankie & the Outs and The Siberians at Monster Island, and then hit Union Pool on Saturday (2/13) with Jemina Pearl. The band's second album (and first for Matador), Hippies, is out in April and doesn't stray too far from the greasy lo-fi of their debut, but with a bit more, um, finesse. They haven't polished the furniture, just tidied up a bit and the songs don't substitute reverb and distortion, for songwriting chops and attitude. It's a good record.

I'm going to see them tonight Mercury Lounge, but if I had to recommend one of the three shows, Monster Island on Friday seems like the right place to see them with the best and most economical ($7) of the overall line-ups. The Siberians make the kind of garage you would've heard at Cavestomp ten years ago before the genre became cool again -- more Lyres-style organ, less scuzz. Stupid Party are molasses-thick with extra sludge.

The night starts with Blacksburg, VA's Wild Nothing whose dreamy new single, "Summer Holiday," was just released on Captured Tracks. Think a slightly less wimpy Trembling Blue Stars and you're in the general sonic ballpark. Maybe you've already heardhis cover of Kate Bush's "Cloudbusting" that made its way around the internet last year.  I'm pretty sure on record it's just one guy, so what guise Wild Nothing will take live is anybody's guess. And Frankie & the Outs have really come along as a band over the last five months and are coming into their own -- and apparently they've just wrapped up recording their debut album. Hopefully that will be out sooner than later.

Wild Nothing

Both Wild Nothing and the Outs will play Monster Island again the next night (2/13) for another great show, this time with Blank Dogs (who haven't played in a while), Sisters and Ireland's So Cow. This will be the first NYC appearance from So Cow since his assault on the U.S. last summer where he charmed nearly everyone who went to see him play.  His new album, Meaningless Friendly, is supposedly out this month though there's no mention of it on the Tic Tac Totally website. Ask him what the hell's up with that at the merch table, won't you? If you can't make it Saturday night, So Cow plays again on Sunday (2/14) at Cake Shop with Vivian Girls/Woods side project The Babies, the Nick Cave-y Preacher and the Knife (who are also playing a fashion show on Friday) and retro doowop stylings of White Blue Yellow and Clouds.  So Cow will be in here for nearly six weeks (including SXSW), playing just about everywhere in North America so do go see him if you can.

Christmas Island

Monday night at Cake Shop was the kickoff show for Christmas Island / Beets / Beach Fossils tour which will take them down and up the East Coast over the next ten days. If you missed that show, all three play again on Saturday (2/13) at Death by Audio and then will close the tour on 2/20 at Music Hall of Williamsburg with Crystal Stilts and German Measles (tickets are still on sale for the latter). Matt Volz, who does all the The Beets' artwork, designed a great poster for the tour which you can actually buy via Captured Tracks website and at the merch table on this tour (and is given a CT release number a la Factory Records). You can see a big version of it here.

I've written plenty about Beach Fossils and The Beets before and both bands play here often, they live here, so the real draw here is San Diego's Christmas Island. Their album from last year, Blackout Summer, didn't get much attention but is well worth checking out. You can download a track from it at the top of this post. Not unlike fellow Californians Nodzzz, Christmas Island make somewhat surfy, definitely nasally/nerdy indie rock that at times reminds me of the Dead Milkmen (when Joe Jack Talcum sang).  They were good when I saw them at SXSW last year and look forward to seeing them again on Friday. All tour dates are at the bottom of this post.

North Highlands

Tomorrow (2/11) is the  second of Savoir Adore's three Thursdays in February residency at Cake Shop and I've got another pair of tickets to give away. Just email BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM with "Savoir Adore" in the subject and I'll pick a winner at random. Openers this week are really good. Both CYHSY/Savoir Adore side project Uninhabitable Mansions and We Are Country Mice have been written about by me before, but I'll like to highlight Brooklyn band North Highlands who make rather lovely piano-driven orch pop. Singer Brenda Malvani has one of those airy but strong voices that seems to have dictated the sound of the band, it all just goes down so well together. They're good live too. You can download title track from their Sugar Lips EP at the top of this post. In between bands this week, Pat from Pop Tarts Suck Toasted (a victim of this week's nasty "Music Blogocide 2K10") will spin tunes. Should be a great night.

A couple more. The Obits anniversary shows are at Cake Shop Friday and Saturday night. Sure to be awesome.

And finally don't forget about Diamond Nights and Cheeseburger (with guest vocalists) this Saturday (2/13) at Brooklyn Bowl. If ever there were two bands to see at a bowling alley, it's these two. The Coco66 show Diamond Nights were originally booked to play on Friday isn't happening so this may be your only chance ever to see them rock it again, as the band has been defunct for over two years. They definitely went before their time. Really looking forward to this one.

That's it for this week. Flyers and tour dates below.

Continue reading "Wild Nothing, So Cow, Obits, North Highlands, Christmas Island, Harlem, Diamond Nights & more in This Week in Indie "

DOWNLOAD: Memory Tapes - Bicycle (MP3)

The intial lineup for Noise Pop 2010, which takes over San Francisco February 23rd to March 1st, has been updated. Newly announced acts include Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band (with Cornelius, Yuka Honda, Sean Lennon), The Dodos & Magik Magik Orchestra collaborative performance, !!!, Harlem, Deerhoof, Memory Tapes, The Fresh and Onlys, Scout Niblett, Far (Reunion Show), The Mumlers, P.E.E (Reunion Show), Mirah, Laura Gibson, Nico Vega, Japanese Motors, Princeton, Free Energy, The Growlers, Nurses, Magic Wands, The Lonely Forest, The Hot Toddies, Tempo No Tempo, Judgement Day. The full current lineup is posted below.

Tickets and passes for most of those are on sale now. Tickets for Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band (with Deerhoof) on February 23rd and the Dodos & Magik Magik Orchestra collaborative shows go on sale on Sunday, January 10th.

Memory Tapes, chillwave Jerseyan Dayve Hawk, is one of the acts scheduled for the fest. He's going to be in the UK for a short run of shows this January, and he's confirmed that US dates and a European tour are forthcoming. The song "Bicycle" off his debut, Seek Magic, is above. The album is being re-issued on Feb 8th, "with an exclusive 48 minute 4 track CD2 through Urban Outfitters and digitally exclusively via iTunes".

UPDATE: Memory Tapes is opening for Atlas Sound at The Bell House on February 3rd. Tickets are still on sale.

More info on Noise Pop 2010 below...

Continue reading "Noise Pop expands 2010 lineup - updates include !!!, Far, Yoko Ono & Memory Tapes who is touring soon "

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Frankie Rose - "Thee Only One" (MP3)

Frankie & The Outs @ The Bell House (more by Tim Griffin)

Having spent time on the drumkit for both Vivian Girls and Crystal Stilts, Frankie Rose went solo this year with her debut single on Slumberland, "Thee Only One," (downloadable above) and her new band, The Outs. And just when she thought she was off the drums for good, she went and joined Dum Dum Girls whose debut for Sub Pop is due early next year.

You can see Frankie and the Outs on New Year's Eve at Cameo Gallery along with Beach Fossils, We Are Country Mice, Lemonade and Surfer Blood -- a pretty hot line-up for such a tiny club (Advance tickets now available). It's one of three upcoming shows for Frankie including a house party with Screaming Females and Talk Normal on New Years Day and a February gig in Brooklyn with Austin's Harlem (two days after they play Mercury Lounge)

Those dates and Frankie's answers to a few questions, below...

Continue reading "an end of 2009 interview w/ Frankie Rose (who has 3 upcoming shows including New Years Eve w/ TIX ON SALE) "

DOWNLOAD: Harlem - Friendly Ghost (MP3)

Jay Reatard & Harlem shared a bill @ Emo's on Wed (photo by David Weaver)

"While [Jay Reatard's] set [at Emo's in Austin on Wednesday night] had all the makings of a fun night of pop-punk, it was sadly abridged at only 40 minutes -- less than the opening performance by Austin's own Harlem -- after two rowdy fans attacked Reatard on-stage shortly after he announced he was playing the night's final song. He retaliated by swinging his microphone stand and departed mid-song, giving the at-times rambunctious audience the finger as he exited the stage. There was to be no encore -- the lights went up and the PA music kicked in as the two intruding fans were arrested by police outside the club's Sixth Street entrance.

It was a good show -- while it lasted. And Reatard can't be held responsible for violent fans. But at less than 45 minutes and with a buzzkill of an ending, it's hard to regard the night as anything more than an initially promising disappointment. That's the sad thing about punk rock -- sometimes the anger overtakes the fun and an audience walks away let down. With a too-short set and a combative ending, Reatard's Wednesday night show ultimately felt less like a satisfactory set from a skilled player and more like a sad tease of the fun evening that might have been.

Update: The Austin Police Department's public information office has confirmed that Michael Buehrer, 20, and Peter Aravello, 23, were the two men arrested. Both have been charged with public intoxication.

Pitchfork has this statement from Reatard's publicist: "Jay was attacked, totally unprovoked, by two different people, both of whom were later arrested. One guy bolted onstage and came swinging at Jay, but security took him away pretty quickly. Soon after (the band hadn't stopped playing, by the way), another guy sprinted onstage and hit Jay. Unlike the first guy, Jay didn't even see this guy coming. So Jay defended himself with the mic stand until security took that guy away, too. Jay is safe and unhurt, and the cops were there for about an hour afterwards." [Austin 360]

Jay's next and only upcoming show is opening for Spoon (like he did in Brooklyn once) at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on New Years Eve.

Harlem will announce more 2010 dates soon in support of their 2nd album, 'Hippies' which "hits North American record shops, farmers markets and digital storefronts on April 6 on the always popular LP, CD and MP3/FLAC configurations." MP3 from that album above. Cover art below...

Continue reading "Jay Reatard attacked in Austin (2 guys arrested), Harlem add NYC show & post new MP3 from 2010 Matador album"

photos by Tim Griffin

Cold Cave

"Cold Cave was one of the most hyped CMJ acts to hit New York last week. Their dark, almost industrial music went well with the extremely dark stage [at The Suffolk] and with their look- all black clothes and somber faces. I felt like a vampire or a bat in a cave. But I wasn't scared. Cold Cave's music is both slow and aggressive, moody and somehow poppy. While the crowd brooded I bet inside they were ecstatic. The music of Cold Cave is powerful and visceral. Maybe a little boring in a live setting, but something tells me that's the point. Enjoy the darkness." [Microphone Memory Emotion]

Continue reading "Cold Cave, Harlem, Tanlines, Glasser & Harlem @ The Suffolk (Matador CMJ show) in NYC - pics "

by Bill Pearis

Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Bowery Ballroom in May (more by Ryan Muir)

Okay, so Saturday is officially bonkers. I think every band in town this week is playing somewhere, sometimes more than once. There are so many good shows you may get an ulcer trying to narrow down your choices. Here we go:

DAYTIME

Surely there's no place you'd rather be Saturday afternoon than at the free Brooklyn Vegan / Bowery Presents party at Pianos. We've got both floors going, with Cymbals Eat Guitars, Deastro, Pete & the Pirates, Surf City, BEAST, Smith Westerns, Dent May and many more. Plus free Miller and Vitamin Water, and, before and during BEAST's set: free bloody marys. Set times below.

But apparently there are other daytime shows. You might be forgiven if you snuck out and went to Music Snobbery's day party next door at The Living Room. I'm a big fan of Savoir Adore and Sissy Wish, and he's also got Denmark's Choir of Young Believers, Dawn Landes and Bird of Youth.

Then in Williamsburg (which is giving Ludlow St. a run for its money this year)... blogger collective After the Jump have put together a great free show at Brooklyn Bowl, with Surfer Blood, Harlem, Savoir Adore, Soft Black, Grooms, Bear in Heaven, and Small Black. Maybe we'll even get a supergroup of Soft Small Black. Anything can happen on the last day of CMJ.

Then there's the Pitchfork-curated Showpaper benefit at Market Hotel is so big it actually goes till 6AM. (Though it's just DJs after midnight.) It's a good opportunity, especially, for the under-21 crowd to see a lot of the CMJ bands (Surfer Blood, Delorean, Cold Cave) who have otherwise played bars. It's not free, but the $8 goes to keep Showpaper going, which is probably the greatest source for all-ages shows in the city.

Underwater Peoples have put on three showcases during CMJ week, and this last one is at Cameo Gallery. 14 bands from noon to 7PM, including Air Waves, Fluffy Lumbers, Frat Dad, Big Troubles, Spanish Prisoners, and Family Portrait. It may be getting a bit more chilly, but the beachy vibe will be present here this afternoon. Not free, but only $7.

A post with the Saturday night shows is HERE coming soon. In the meantime, it's still Friday night. Saturday day fliers and set times below...

Continue reading "CMJ 2009 - Bill's Saturday daytime picks"

Califone

One of the CMJ shows I'll most regret missing tonight (10/23) is the "Evening with Califone: All My Friends Are Funeral Singers" It's "a multimedia event" at 92YTribeca. And actually, I don't think it's part of CMJ, and tickets are still on sale.

Yesterday (10/22) Ted Leo could be found enjoying a set by his tour-mates JEFF the Brotherhood at the BrooklynVegan party at Pianos. Tonight (10/23) is his set at the Matador CMJ showcase at The Suffolk. Flyer below.

JEFF the Brotherhood also play tonight, and then four more shows on Saturday,

Also playing that Matador party are Cold Cave who so far also played the Stereogum party at The Studio, canceled their appearance at Public Assembly for Vice, and were just added to the Pitchfork party happening at Market Hotel. Flyer below.

Also playing the Matador showcase are Harlem who play the Vice party tonight (10/23) and haven't cancelled so far that I know of.

Japandroids are back in town. Last night they gigged at Glasslands with Real Estate. Tonight they do it at The Bell House for the Polyvinyl showcase with Headlights and others. Flyer below.

Continue reading "Ted Leo, Califone, Cold Cave & Japandroids too (CMJ Friday)"

by Bill Pearis

Fake Male Voice @ Glasslands in February (more by Jacob Blickenstaff)

Thanks to everyone who came out to our day party at Pianos yesterday. There were almost too many highlights to count. We've got four more parties still to come, three of which are today/tonight. Lots of great options all around today (10/23). I'm trying to highlight some of the ones you may not know about.

DAYTIME:

BrooklynVegan has another free day party today, this one on the harder-edged tip with Los Angeles' Nebula, Brooklyn's Naam, BV day party veterans Crystal Antlers, Goes Cube (read our interview with the band) and Austin's awesome Ume at Fontana's (105 Eldridge, NY, NY) today from 1 - 7. First band on at 2. Set times and flyer below. Free Miller beer and Vitamin water.

Over at Crash Mansion, there's a cool mid-day party (4 - 7) put on by the folks at Beyond Race with the lovely and mellow Helado Negro, Kiss Kiss, L.A. power poppers Army Navy and London's awesome Pete & the Pirates. who played a great set at the Bell House on Wednesday Night. Don't forget, Pete & the Pirates also play the Brooklyn Vegan Bowery Presents day party Saturday (10/24) at Pianos.

There's a lot going on in Brooklyn today too. The new Kemado Studios called The Co-Op (87 Guernsey St, Brooklyn) (which I hear is a pretty cool space) has Harlem, Viva L'American Death Ray Music, and Smith Westerns.

The Village Voice is putting on a day party at Knitting Factory with Javelin, Portland's Shaky Hands, Headlights and Orba Squara.

And then at Bruar Falls there's a kind of potentially amazing line-up, including Fake Male Voice (Tunde of TV on the Radio), mi-gu (Yuko of Cornelius and Plastic Ono Band) with Sean Lennon and Yuko Honda, as well as Ladybug Transistor, James Husband (Jamie of Of Montreal) and Hard Nips. This one is not free, $8 admission. Starts at noon.

Night stuff HERE. Fliers and set times below....

Continue reading "CMJ 2009 - Bill's Friday daytime picks"

by Martin Longley

Er, well, I fucked up slightly. It's my first time at The Bowery Electric and I arrive at eleven, thinking that the gig's happening until midnite. By eleven-twenty, Heavy Trash have fully climaxed, and there's not going to be an encore, despite the crowd doing an extremely good job of baying out over the rockabilly/blues disco. Even so, the Heavy Trash experience is so densely intense that such a brief exposure almost feels equivalent to most other combos playing a full gig. The Electric's an impressively cave-like basement den, and Heavy Trash are completely dominating its intimate space. The gangly Jon Spencer is going for a Mexican Elvis look, testifying down on one knee, or down on the floor, or casting his blank gaze up to the ceiling.

Having witnessed his Blues Explosion several times over the years, this is my first exposure to Heavy Trash. It's a natural evolution back in time to rockabilly, and even rock'n'roll, but fed through the Spencer grater, amped up into a frothing frenzy. He's doing his extended band-introduction speech, but the Spencer mind's going blank and he's being fazed by familiar faces in the crowd-front. All of the band are providing sweet-toned backing vocals, magnifying the cabaret-irony vibrations. Spencer's strumming an electrified acoustic guitar, with Matt Verta-Ray handling the electric-twang soloing. Reverb soaks all, not least Spencer's hiccup-ing vocals. The drums and upright bass pick up their pace and there's a full re-launch into song as the Trash deliver their final frenetic surge. Fortunately, they're playing again at Santos Party House next Tuesday nite...

The Tuesday (10/20) show in question is the Panache/NY Night Train CMJ showcase that is happening on two floors of the venue. Flyer and set times below....

Continue reading "Heavy Trash played Bowery Electric, playing NY Night Train CMJ show at Santos Party House (full lineup)"

Flyer and info below...

Continue reading "VICE late night parties @ Public Assembly (CMJ 2009) "

August 25th, 2009 (Austin, TX) - Transmission Entertainment is pleased to announce the lineup for the 2009 Fun Fun Fun Fest, taking place on November 7th and 8th at Waterloo Park in Austin. Fun Fun Fun Fest made its first appearance on a cold Friday evening in 2006, offering a unique approach to festival booking, filling stages with talent bubbling from the underground: what sounded great, and what was making an impact, regardless of what mainstream media said was cool. What started out as a show for a few touring acts and local favorites has become a movement -- a festival that fans and bands alike realize needs to be experienced year after year.

Now in its fourth year, Fun Fun Fun Fest has made a significant impact on the country's winter calendar, successfully combining the vast worlds of indie, punk, rap, electronica and comedy while showcasing some of the city's most unique local businesses.

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2009 lineup (Jesus Lizard, Of Montreal, Gorilla Biscuits, LSF, 7 Seconds, D.R.I. & DANZIG!! & more)"