by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Matthew Dear - "Headcage" (MP3)

Matthew Dear at Moogfest 2011 (more by Diana Wong)

Matthew Dear is releasing the followup to 2010's Black City LP with the Headcage EP on January 17 via Ghostly. The EP's second track, "In The Middle (I Met You There)" features a collaboration with The Drums' frontman Jonathan Pierce, and the EP's title track, which you can download above and stream below, was produced with Van Rivers and The Subliminal Kid, who have also worked with Blonde Redhead, Glasser, and Fever Ray. There's also an audio/visual project which uses part of that track directed by Morgan Beringer, who has worked with Matthew in the past, which you can watch below. The brightly colored synths and morphing visuals of the video drift away from the bleakness of Black City, but Matthew's vocals come in lower than ever. He recently spoke to FACT about that:

In retrospect, I don't think it was intentional. Sometimes you just feel a bit lower than normal, and that day in the studio must have reflected that. The lyrics are quite dreamscape, and I think I had Lennon's 'Come Together' floating around in my head. You know, "feet, down below his knees" kind of a feel. Lyrically, I wanted to just rattle off a bunch of one-liners like that, that would make sense only as a group. Also, I love the intimacy of J.J. Cale's vocal delivery and was aiming for something similar. I must have been very close to the microphone for this one.

The track, "Headcage," will also appear on Matthew's next full length, Beams, which is set to be released in 2012. The artwork and tracklist for the EP is below.

Matthew has a few dates coming up in support of the EP, including Noise Pop Festival in San Francisco and a live show in NYC at Bowery Ballroom on March 2 with Blondes (who also have an album coming out) and Helado Negro. Tickets for the show go on sale Friday (1/6) at noon.

All dates, stream, video, and album info below...

Continue reading "Matthew Dear releasing EP before LP, scheduling shows (dates, MP3 & video)"

DOWNLOAD: Barn Owl - "Turiya" (MP3)

San Francisco psych-drone duo Barn Owl are set to release their new album Lost in the Glare on September 13 via Thrill Jockey. You can grab the album track "Turiya" above and check out the artwork and tracklist below. The album is available now for pre-order at the Thrill Jockey webstore.

Barn Owl go on a short North American tour in support of the album this September which kicks off at Glasslands on September 11 and also hits Shea Stadium on September 17. The Glasslands show also includes Thin Hymns, Helado Negro and Jonti. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

All dates, album art and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Barn Owl releasing 'Lost in the Glare', touring (MP3 & dates)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield

"EMA torching "Butterfly Knife" at Mercury Lounge a moment ago.
#YearsBestRecords" - Will Hermes

"Next level EMA fans will one day request bootlegs/transcriptions of her intersong monologues. Tonight's topics: Tool, Cancers at Glasslands" - Amrit

EMA @ Mercury Lounge

The set hit on every song from EMA's debut Past Life Martyred Saints (except for "Coda," which she replaced with another, equally beautiful a cappella), and it hit hard. The brutal "Marked," which she prefaced by begging the audience to "not take... the wrong way," showcased Anderson's ability to be both menacing and pleading; set ender and crowd favorite "California" also shone, with the audience knowing every word and Anderson running around the stage, thrusting herself into the mic stand. [VIllage Voice]

EMA's debut album only came out about two months ago, and her sold out Mercury Lounge and Glasslands shows on Wednesday (7/20) were her first two in NYC since, and came not long after her appearance at Pitchfork which came right after a club show at the Empty Bottle.

Helado Negro opened the Mercury show and Talk Normal and Ablehearts opened the Glasslands show. Pictures and setlist from the Mercury show, where her a capella number later in the set was a major highlight, and a video from Glasslands below...

Continue reading "EMA played Glasslands & Mercury Lounge (pics, setlist)"

DOWNLOAD: Julianna Barwick - The Magic Place (MP3)

"The Magic Place was a tree on our farm," says Louisiana-raised Brooklynite Julianna Barwick. "It was in the back pasture. It was one tree that grew up, down and around. You had to crawl in and once you were inside, it was like there were different rooms, and you could actually lay in the branches. We named it 'The Magic Place' because it really was magical, especially for a kid, and that's how I feel about my life right now--without trying to sound too hippy dippy or cosmic, this year has definitely been a magical one."

Julianna Barwick's new LP The Magic Place is out now (it's been out for a while actually) via Asthmatic Kitty and she'll be celebrating that fact at her official record release show at Glasslands in Brooklyn tonight (May 10) with Helado Negro (who are also celebrating a new Asthmatic Kitty record) and Alias Pail. Tickets are still available (at the door too).

Download the title track above. Check out its video and many more Julianna tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Julianna Barwick celebrating 'The Magic Place' --- MP3, video & 2011 Tour Dates (Brooklyn tonight w/ Helado Negro)"

O'Death at Bell House (more by Jason House)

O'Death's vague attempt at tour dates have gotten a little bit clearer. As previously mentioned, "4/15 in Brooklyn" show will take place at Knitting Factory (tickets), and it is with Philly's Grandchildren who also play a bunch of other shows on the tour, and who you can catch even sooner with Delicate Steve, Dustin Wong, and Strange Shapes at Public Assembly on 2/5.

O'Death's tour kicks off in March right before SXSW where they'll play a Panache showcase at Red 7 on 3/17 with Thee Oh Sees, Janka Nabay, Pterodactyl, Tôg (Norway), Surf City, Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Grass Widow, Bare Wires, and Heavy Cream. Updated tour dates and some videos below...

Continue reading "updated O'Death & Grandchildren tour dates"

photos by Chris La Putt

Martha Wainwright @ the High Violet Annex

As advertised, INLETS, ZACHARY CALE, HELADO NEGRO, JULIANNA BARWICK, THE LUYAS (who came all the way from Montreal for the 20 minute performance), TALK NORMAL, ARLT (from France) and MARTHA WAINWRIGHT played short sets at the National's High Violet Annex space in NYC last night. The makeshift venue was created to promote the band's new album with the same name and will feature a different lineup of stuff curated by the band each night. Last night was the second evening. The first, as mentioned, had DJs that included members of Blonde Redhead. Tonight, night three, will have movies and live sets by Phosphorescent, The Antlers, Sharon Van Etten and possibly others. It's safe to say that The National will play it at least once before it ends Saturday night (right before the show they're playing at BAM). More pictures & some videos from last night below...

Continue reading "High Violet Annex night 2 in pics & video (Martha Wainwright, ARLT, Luyas, Talk Normal, Inlets, Julianna Barwick & more)"

The National's temporary venue next to Other Music in NYC opens on Tuesday, May 11th at 7pm. "Celebrating the release of 'High Violet' (May 11, 4AD), The National will take over the now-vacant space at 13 E 4th St next to Other Music in downtown NYC. Dubbed 'The High Violet Annex' the space will be the site of National curated events throughout the week." Ends up it will only be open for two three hours a day - a mix of live bands and DJs and contests and other stuff.

The National are rumored to be playing on at least one of the days, but it won't be the first day (5/11 - see below), the second day (5/12 - see below), and maybe it won't be the last day because if it is, the band is going to be in a rush (5/15 - the band plays BAM). The flyer, times and the partial lineup, below...

Continue reading "The National's High Violet Annex opens this week (here is part of the schedule) "

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"

The Horrors @ Music Hall of Williamsburg in May (more by Zach Stern)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Vulture Whale @ Pianos
* Helado Negro, Rad Unicorn @ The Jackson
* Impediments, Buzzer, Ex-Humans @ Don Pedro's
* The Drums, Joakim (DJ) @ Tribeca Grand Hotel
* Nine Inch Nails, The Horrors @ Bowery Ballroom
* All Star 34 Band Salute to John Hughes @ Cake Shop
* Warm Up w/ Talibam!, The Phenomenal Handclap Band @ PS1
* Palomar, Folklore, My Teenage Stride, Knight School @ Bruar Falls
* Nebula, The Entrance Band, Snake Sustaine Naam @ Santos Party House
* Roots of American Music w/ Lizz Wright, Allen Toussaint @ Damrosch Park
* Choo Choo La Rouge, Dump, Clint Michigan, Jennifer O'Connor @ Union Hall
* Willie Mae Rock Camp For Girls Showcase Concert @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* These Are Powers, Jessica Hopper, Katie Stelmanis @ Littlefield
* Real Estate, Air Waves, Ducktails, Family Portrait, Beach Fossils @ Market Hotel
* Roots of American Music: In The Spirit of Odetta w/ Ramblin' Jack Elliot, more @ Damrosch Park
* The Death Set, Team Robespierre, NinjaSonik, Juiceboxxx, Best Fwends, Cerebral Ballzy, So So Glos & Wild Yaks Over the Auto Parts Store

Lincoln Center Out of Doors Fest's closing weekend features the 26th Annual Roots of American Music Fest with an afternoon program of "In The Spirit of Odetta" that features Tommy Sands and Fionan and Moya, Calypso Rose, Ramblin' Jack Elliot and The Holmes Brothers. Then tonight, the Damrosch Park Bandshell hosts Lizz Wright and Allen Toussaint.

PS1's Warm Up brings Talibam! and The Phenomenal Handclap Band. And not surprisingly, TPHB have yet another new gig booked. They'll be opening for >Chromeo at their Irving Plaza show on October 16th.

Speaking of bands who get booked on a lot of good show, The Drums play with DJ Joakim at the Tribeca Grand Hotel

Nine Inch Nails kick off their short tour at Bowery Ballroom. People waited on line all night.

Littlefield hosts a party for The Girls Guide to Rocking with music from These Are Powers, Jessica Hopper, Katie Stelmanis, Ghost Bees and MNDR.

There's a mystery bill at the Cake Shop's All Star 34 Band Salute to John Hughes

Santos Party House hosts a heavy-rock lineup of Nebula, The Entrance Band, Snake Sustaine and Naam. You may have caught The Entrance Band when they opened for Sonic Youth. Speaking of Sonic Youth, they have a show coming up at Terminal 5.

There's two day-time marathon of shows at the Market Hotel and Above the Auto Parts Store (where the Broadway Backyard show has moved due to rain). Full lineups for both are below.

Helado Negro aka Roberto Carlos Lange kicks off his "5 Borough Tour," taking place throughout the week, with a show in Queens at The Jackson.

Nardwuar interviewed La Roux. Video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

Les Savy Fav @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple (more by Natasha Ryan)

BROOKLYN KNITTING FACTORY SET TO OPEN / BROOKLYN'S LES SAVY FAV TO PLAY OPENING NIGHT

"The Knitting Factory, a leader in the New York arts scene for over two decades, is proud to announce that our new venue at 361 Metropolitan Avenue in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY will be opening September 2009. Brooklyn-based favorites, Les Savy Fav, will perform and host the opening night on Wednesday September 9th. Upcoming shows will feature performances by: Boss Hog, Rasputina, Mayer Hawthorne, Titus Andronicus, The Raincoats, The Spits, Mucca Pazza, Melissa Auf der Maur, cEvin Key, A Wilhelm Scream, Helado Negro, Maps and Atlases, No Neck Blues Band, Dub Trio, Smokey's Secret Family and much more to be announced. Upcoming special events include this year's Williamsburg Fashion Week's Fashion and Arts Premiere, the Miss LEZ Pageant and the Royal Flush Film Festival.

We've been waiting for this news since first finding out Knitting Factory was taking over the Brooklyn Luna Lounge lounge space in April 2008 (which was followed by official confirmation in July of the same year). Since then, Knitting Factory's Manhattan location closed and reopened (and closed again) and lots of people have been left wondering what the deal was.

Tickets for the September 9th Les Savy Fav show are on sale (thx Coma). They also play Fun Fun Fun Fest in November.

Boss Hog is September 10th (tickets). They play ATP NY on September 12th.

The Titus Andronicus/So So Glos show (tickets) is the last date on a long tour that also includes a show at Maxwell's.

Melissa Auf der Maur plays KF on October 17th as part of the Royal Flush Film Festival which makes sense since she made a movie. Tickets for that event are on sale.

And tickets and dates to all of the above mentioned shows are HERE.

More about the space, HERE.

Tim Harrington apologizes to his mom, in the video below...

Continue reading "Knitting Factory Brooklyn opening September 9th w/ Les Savy Fav (tix on sale) ++ other upcoming shows like Boss Hog"