words by Kim Kelly, photos by Greg Cristman

Though barely a month after their first show EVER in Bucharest, Alcest hit the US for a string of dates that included The Studio at Webster Hall on Thursday, 4/29. Presented by Haunting The Chapel and The Blackened Music series, the show, which featured black metal greats Woe and the post-punk/goth/industrial Have a Nice Life, was the second Alcest outing for Kim Kelly (she also went to the Philly show), who filed the review in this post. Read it below, with Alcest's setlist, more pictures and some videos too... -BBG

Continue reading "Alcest, Woe & Have a Nice Life @ The Studio @ Webster Hall (pics, review, setlist & videos) "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Alcest - "Percees De Lumiere" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Woe - "Alone with Our Failures"
DOWNLOAD: Have a Nice Life - "Bloodhail"
DOWNLOAD: Have a Nice Life - "I Don't Love"

Alcest at their first ever live performance in Bucharest (more by Stefan Raduta)

Wardruna at the 2010 edition of by:Larm in Norway

April is supposed to be the gateway to rejuvenation; spring is around the corner and warm sun awaits. Yet Thursday, April 29th is a dark day in NYC despite upward swinging forecasts, as the city will host a pair of black metal events.

First up, is the seminar 'A Blaze In The Northern Sky - Norwegian Metal and The Culture That Spawned It", a discussion featuring Nocturno Culto (Darkthrone), Gaahl (ex-Gorgoroth, Wardruna), and Harold Fossberg (Turbonegro) at Scandinavia House (58 Park Avenue):

In the last two decades, a bizarre, intense, and violent musical subculture called Black Metal has emerged in Norway, and has subsequently become a worldwide phenomenon. In a unique seminar-meets-radio show format moderated by Patrizia Mazzuoccolo (also known as Miss Pee), the lecture will explore and promote the genre and its country through audio clips of bands, interviews with musicians and special guests (see below for details), and an audience Q & A session.

Secondly and as previously discussed, Alcest will play NYC along with blackened blasters (and recent Candlelight signees) Woe and Have a Nice Life Tickets are still available for their show at The Studio @ Webster Hall, and I have a pair available for giveaway!

Nocturno Culto recently played Roadburn 2010 as part of Sarke, part II of Kim Kelly's review is on the way.

Wardruna, Gaahl included, recently played Folketeateret at the by:Larm Music Festival in snowy Norway (on Saturday, Feb. 20th) . An unposted set of pictures from that show, which was one of the major highlights of the long weekend, is continued below.

Details on how to win those Alcest tickets, some videos, and flyers for both events are below too...

Continue reading "Alcest is almost here (win tix), a Norwegian Metal seminar in NYC (w/ Gaahl, Nocturno culto, more), Wardruna pics & more "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Alcest - "Percées De Lumière" (MP3)

Alcest is a French band created by Neige (also in Amesoeurs, Peste Noire and Forgotten Woods) in early 2000. ...The first chapter of this journey was Le Secret EP, which was released in 2005 by Drakkar Productions. In 2007, Neige agreed to a contract with the German label Prophecy Productions and released Alcest's debut album Souvenirs d'un autre monde the same year. All music/lyrics/artwork are deeply linked to Alcest's concept and aim at depicting that "place" and the ecstatic feelings one can experience there. This project is a real quest, a perpetual wandering through unknown regions, the hope of which is to shed some light on some mysteries of this esoteric experience.

Even though Neige has decidedly black metal roots, Alcest has a lot more in common with the dream pop of Cocteau Twins than the buzzsaw guitars of Darkthrone, as exhibited on the critically acclaimed (and awesome) Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde. As previously mentioned, now Alcest is prepping to release a new album, Écailles De Lune, due on Prophecy Productions at the end of this month and currently up for preorder. The release will serve as a launchpad for "Lunar Abysses Over North America", a short tour in April which includes The Studio at Webster Hall on 4/29 with Woe and Have a Nice Life. Tickets are on sale.

Full tour dates, tour flyer and a youtube clip of "Écailles De Lune (Part I)" from the new album are all below.

Continue reading "Alcest coming to the US - 2010 dates include Studio w/ Woe"

by BBG

* Toby Driver photo by Gemma Fleming

Toby Driver is an "other". Not like Benjamin Linus or one of the Dharma Initiative, but in that his artistic endeavors Kayo Dot and Maudlin of The Well exist in the in-between, and outside. Driver's current project, Kayo Dot, is prepping to release their fourth album Coyote via Hydra Head on April 6th. On Coyote, elements of goth, avant-jazz, prog, ambient, and the kitchen sink meld with the avant-garde, making for an intensely fascinating and eclectic listen.

Driver was recently asked to curate the month of February at The Stone, John Zorn's non-profit club in the East Village. We sat down to ask Driver about some of the bands he chose which include solo sets from members of Krallice, Dysrhythmia, Extra Life, and Bloody Panda in addition to Baby Dee, Oxbow, Gnaw, and a full performance by his own band doing Coyote from start to finish, and the recent resurrection of Maudlin of The Well.

Full interview and Stone schedule, below....

Continue reading "Toby Driver curated Feb @ The Stone - interview & schedule"