photos courtesy of WireImage/Tommy

Julian Casablancas of The Strokes being stylish

Billed as "A Night To Get Drunk And Celebrate Tom Petty's 60th Birthday!!!", the annual Petty Fest takes place at Bowery Ballroom on 10/28, and it includes essentially the same big group of musicians that keep getting together for these tribute shows to Petty and Dylan. This next one promises appearances from numerous performers including Adam Green (who just showed up at the final Dufus show), Norah Jones (I wonder if she'll sing with Belle and Sebastian at Williamsburg Waterfront tonight), Will Forte & Jason Sudeikis of Saturday Night Live, Nicole Atkins, Nikolai Fraiture, Catherine Pierce, Jesse Malin, Tyson Ritter of the All American Rejects, Reeve & Zane Carney, Jody Porter of Fountains Of Wayne, Sammy James of the Mooney Suzuki, Steve Schiltz of Hurricane Bells & Longwave, Antony Ellis of Five O'Clock Heroes, Mikki James, and Hymns. They wanted to have this in the Varvatos Store but he was booked already that night. I kid. Tickets are on sale for the 18+ show.

Speaking of Nikolai Fraiture, his band The Strokes (whose singer is pictured above) still don't have a new album out and still haven't played a proper NYC show, though they did play one on 9/12 for Tommy Hilfiger during Fashion Week this year.

Scale appeared to be the theme of the entire party, which was equal parts industry corporate, swanky, and of course - this is Tommy we're talking about - preppy. Outside, nearly 40 khaki-clad male models lined the dramatic red carpet, backlit by the designer's bright initials in shifting hues of red, white, and blue set against green grass. Inside, we lost count of the number of rolled-up pants with loafers, kind of like our inability to count the number of celebrities sipping champagne and snacking on lobster rolls: Mark Ruffalo, Ed Westwick, Russel Simmons, Kimora Lee Simmons, Neil Patrick Harris, Christina Hendricks, Kelly Osbourne, Jeremy Piven, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lopez.

...By the time The Strokes played their loud-as-hell set including hits "Last Night," "Someday," and "Reptilia," the crowd was ready to dance. Julian was in full form, sliding around in black stretch jeans and white shades, filling the atrium with powerhouse vocals.

A typically reserved crowd of A-list attendees broke out into a spontaneous dance party on the first-floor staircase, like a cross between The Stroke's best-looking fans and J.Crew's latest advertising campaign. After a supremely satisfying set of about eight songs, The Strokes walked off, thanking the crowd. -[Elle]

Some more picture from that fashion show, and the short setlist, below...

Continue reading "Petty Fest 2010 includes that same big group of artists, members of the Strokes (who played a fashion week show)"

DOWNLOAD: Ramona Falls - Russia (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ramona Falls - Russia (Live on KEXP) (MP3)

Ramona Falls is the new band by Brent Knopf of Menomena. In August, he put out his debut, Intuit, on Barsuk. That record, as mentioned a while back, has guests that include Mirah and The Helio Sequence. A track from it is posted above, and the entire album is currently streaming at Barsuk.

Menomena is playing ATP NY on Sunday. Before and after that show, Ramona Falls is on tour. He'll play September 17th at Pianos, and then September 18th at Bruar Falls with Apocathary Hymns, Small Black, and Wildbirds and Peacedrums.

That Bruar Falls shows makes five upcoming NYC shows for Wildbirds, the first of which is opening for Deerhoof on September 15th at Le Poisson Rouge.

Two videos of Brent and all dates, below...

Continue reading "Ramona Falls (Menomena) on tour (dates) - 2 NYC shows including Brooklyn w/ Wildbirds & Peacedrums (their 5th)"

photos by Tim Griffin

"I went to Pettyfest 2009 at Bowery Ballroom [Thursday] night, which was sick. Lots of drunk and stoned people shouting along to the hits and some great performers-- Nicole Atkins, Adam Green, Steve Schiltz, Antony Ellis, members of The Strokes and The Killers.

One of my favorite performances-- and this took me by surprise -- was the dude from Augustana singing "You Got Lucky." They're not a band I generally have a strong opinion about one way or another, but his voice was sick and he had a commanding presence-- like a subdued Mick Jagger with the wrist at the hips with a dash of Joe Cocker in the vocal tone." [EYTAN]

Jesse Malin, Hymns, Teenage Prayers, The Pierces, and members of Little Joy, Love as Laughter, Longwave (Steve) and Five O'clock Heroes (Anthony) were also among those who performed Tom Petty songs at the show. Most of the Killers were there. It was a night off on their current tour with Wolfmother (who used the evening to play a show at Bowery Electric right down the avenue). Kid Rock was there too (are you scared yet?), but didn't perform. He was in town to play a benefit at Terminal 5 one night earlier. More pictures and some pictures of the setlist below...

Continue reading "PettyFest @ Bowery Ballroom - setlist & pics (Adam Green, Strokes & Killers members, Nicole Atkins, Kid Rock, more)"

photos by Tim Griffin

I don't fully know what happened at last week's show, but this is how it looked....

Continue reading "pics from Dylan Fest @ Mercury Lounge (members of the Strokes, Hymns, Adam Green, Nicole Atkins...)"

Rolling Stone Magazine's The Smoking Section Presents: DYLAN FEST 2009!
A night to get drunk and celebrate Bob Dylan's greatest hits!

Featuring...
Hymns
Adam Green
Grant Maxwell - The Morning Pages
Jody Porter - Fountains Of Wayne
The Pierces
Matt Romano - Little Joy / Albert Hammond Jr. Band
Russell Simins - Jon Spencer Blues Explosion / Men Without Pants
Fab Moretti - The Strokes / Little Joy
Nikolai Fraiture - The Strokes / Nickel Eye
Sammy James Jr. - Mooney Suzuki
The Teenage Prayers
AND MANY MORE TO COME!!

Nikolai and Fab will be there, and a member of Albert Hammond's band. That's a lot of Strokes-related action at Mercury Lounge on May 21st. $10.00 tickets go on sale at noon. Many of the same artists did this last year at Rehab (RIP).

In related news,

For the first time in ages, the Strokes are back in New York, hard at work on album number four in their midtown studio. "We have three songs," Julian Casablancas tells the S.S., three weeks into the sessions. "I would say it's going great. We have a lot of work to do, though."

It's been more than three years since First Impressions of Earth, and what's helping the process is good vibes and honesty. "It feels like we're new," says Casablancas. "We didn't used to be honest -- there would always be minifeuds over stupid shit. Now, if Nick [Valensi] and Fab [Moretti] or anyone are saying they like it fast or slow, we'll talk about it, as opposed to saying, 'Well, I never liked you sister.'"

Casablancas says that they've resisted jamming on old tunes; instead they're forging ahead. "Some of the new stuff has a Seventies vibe, like Thin Lizzy or Elvis Costello," he says. "But then some of it is bizarre music from the future that we're trying to tone down to sound catchy. So we're trapped between the future and the Seventies." [Rolling Stone]

Elvis Costello has a new album coming out much sooner. So does Bob Dylan.

Bill Flanagan interviewed Bob Dylan about the new album for a feature on BobDylan.com. Check it out.

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: The Cave Singers - Seeds of Night (MP3)
DONWLOAD: The Antlers - Bear (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Antlers - Two (MP3)

The Cave Singers

Friends; we have finished our new record and it is currently kiting toward the pressing mill. We hope you are well, and finding life filled with a bit of love.

Album should be coming out on August 18th, yeah, I know, BBQ Time! Let's light it up and cut it up and steal our own cars of the future. Love is love.

Keep on keeping on. Cave Bros.
[Cave Singers' Myspace, March 25, 2009]

The Cave Singers (ex-Pretty Girls Make Graves) have a month-long April tour planned. That includes 2 NYC shows this week. On Wednesday, April 1st (TONIGHT), the band plays Union Hall in Brooklyn with Pepi Ginsberg (Tickets). Then, Thursday, April 2nd the Cave Singers play Mercury Lounge with Pepi Ginsberg (again), Phantogram, and Brooklyn's The Antlers (Tickets).

The Antlers are also playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 7th with Here We Go Magic and Hymns (Tickets)

The Antlers' great new album called Hospice (pictured) is out now. Grab two tracks from that album for free at the top of this post.

Nearly all other dates on The Cave Singers' upcoming US tour are with Golden Boots and Dr. Dog (who'll be at the Clearwater Festival in June).

The Cave Singers' last record was its debut Invitation Songs, which came out on Matador in 2007. A video and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "The Cave Singers - new album soon, 2009 tour dates, 2 NYC shows - 1 w/ The Antlers (who are also playing MHOW) "

photos by Leia Jospe

These Arms Are Snakes / Thao / Daniel Johnston & Hymns

Thirteen bands were scheduled to play the BrooklynVegan / Agency Group day party in Austin on Thursday, March 19, 2009. Twelve ended up playing - one of them twice. I think the story is that The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, who had a zillion other shows also scheduled during the SXSW week, got confused about what their set time was. For that reason (and traffic), they showed up too late to go on in their slot. Instead, The Wheel, who was our last-minute addition as opener on the inside stage, immediately went outside and played a second set on the larger outdoor stage in the late band's place. We got at least one "boo" when the "scheduling mixup" was announced, but what could we do? (sorry!) It was awesome of the Wheel to fill on a moment's notice. Hopefully the people outside enjoyed him after they got over the awkwardness. I didn't watch his second set, but he sounded amazing inside.

Due to overlap on the two stages, it was hard to see everyone that played the party. The most painful two decisions were Cursive or the Wrens, and These Arms or Snakes or Daniel Johnston. I think we originally had it worked out a little better in terms of that, but the main stage started to run late. I went back and forth and caught pieces of as much as I could (and all of Daniel).

Thanks to everyone who came!

Leia managed to catch 8 of the 12 bands (she missed The Wheel, Avett Brothers, New Villager and Au Revoir Simone). Her pictures are below...

Continue reading "BV day party @ Radio Room in Austin - pics by Leia "

DOWNLOAD: The Donkeys - Walk Through A Cloud (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Donkeys - Nice Train (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Wallpaper remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Come Saturday (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daniel Johnston - Honey I Sure Miss You (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daniel Johnston - Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Your Grievances
DOWNLOAD: These Arms Are Snakes - Red Line Season (MP3)

This free BrooklynVegan show takes place on two stages at Radio Room in Austin, Texas this Thursday afternoon, March 19, 2009 from noon-6pm. Set times, more info, and answers to (hopefully) all FAQ's below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn Vegan & Agency Group Austin day party lineup"

DOWNLOAD: Fol Chen - Cable TV (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Rafter - no fucking around (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: DM Stith - Pity Dance (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Parenthetical Girls - A Song For Ellie Greenwich (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Chief - Your Direction (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Shout Out Out Out Out - Bad Choices (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Hymns - Your Movement (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Dosh - If You Want To, You Have To (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Themselves - Dark Sky Demo (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Lissy Trullie - Self-Taught Learner (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sky Larkin - Fossil (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: A-Trak - Say Whoa (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Crocodile - August Is Over (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Valient Thorr - I Hope The Ghosts Of The Dead Haunt Yr Soul Forever

A selection of free music by artists playing official showcases on Wednesday March 18, 2009 at SXSW.