by BBG

King Dude at Home Sweet Home (more by Phil Maier)

After blessing NYC (with a full band) earlier this month, King Dude will return to NYC to play Glasslands on July 5th, with RØSENKØPF, and Italian Horn, and DJ sets by Ryan Dais & Pieter Wierd. Tickets are on sale for what will be a stop before King Dude continues to Europe for a tour.

RØSENKØPF are welcoming their debut LP via WIERD Records on May 15th, and will celebrate the release with a show at Home Sweet Home on May 2nd. The show is one of two shows on the calendar for the gothic post-punk band, who will also play Le Poisson Rouge on 7/22 with Iceage (one of two NYC shows) and Martial Canterel (tickets still on sale).

Iceage, King Dude & RØSENKØPF all share a bill in June at Chaos in Tejas.

Preorder your copy of the self-titled RØSENKØPF LP via the label and stream some material from the record below alongside all tour dates....

Continue reading "King Dude playing Glasslands with RØSENKØPF (who will celebrate their new record at Home Sweet Home)"

photos by Phil Maier, words by BBG

King Dude @ Home Sweet Home

King Dude played his first NYC show with a full band in tow at Home Sweet Home on April 11th as part of "Wierd Wednesdays" at Home Sweet Home. The show was a rare one-off on the East Coast for the Seattle-based goth artist, and one of a very small number of shows for TJ Cowgill (also Book of Black Earth) overall, though you can catch him in Austin at Chaos in Tejas this year as part of a bill that includes Iceage (who play NYC twice in the coming months), Xeno & Oaklander, Pop. 1280, Kindest Lines, Dangerous Boys Club, Anasazi (who play Acheron next week), RØSENKØPF (them too), and YOU.

Pop 1280, who will embark on a US tour in May, play a NYC show at Death By Audio on Saturday (4/14) as part of a record release celebration for White Suns's new LP Sinews. Stream that release in its entirety at Spin now. Pop 1280 also play a Brooklyn show with O'Death in May.

King Dude pictures from Home Sweet Home are below.

Continue reading "King Dude played Home Sweet Home (pics); White Suns celebrate new LP in Brooklyn Saturday"

Iceage at By:Larm (more by BBG)

Iceage, already on board for Primavera Sound, Pitchfork, and Chaos in Tejas, have announced an additional set of dates surrounding their Pitchfork appearance that will include dates around the East Coast including a pair of NYC shows: 285 Kent on July 21st and Le Poisson Rouge on July 22nd with Rosenkopf & Marital Canterel. Advance tickets for LPR are on sale. Ticketing info and sopport for the 285 Kent show are still forthcoming.

All tour dates and a live video, below...

Continue reading "Iceage add dates around Pitchfork Fest, 2 NYC shows included"

by BBG

the basement of Helvete in Oslo

Day two of By:Larm (read about day one HERE) started out with a "black metal" tour of Oslo lead by Anders Odden who has played with everyone from Celtic Frost to Satyricon to Ministry and played in death metallers Cadaver. The tour, which was especially educational for those with limited knowledge of the genre, took us to Holmenkollen Chapel (which was famously burned down by Varg Vikernes, Faust & Euronymous), the site of Helvete (the store owned by Euronymous of Mayhem) which is now a coffee shop, and Neseblod Records, a sort of museum/record store located downtown.

continued, with lots of pictures, below...

Continue reading "By:Larm 2012 Day 2 in pics & review (Iceage, Pirate Love, The Amazing, a Black Metal tour & more)"

by BBG

Saint Vitus @ Irving Plaza in 2011 (more by BBG)

Chaos in Tejas (May 31-June 3 in Austin) have announced ANOTHER batch of bands to add to their ridiculous lineup including Saint Vitus, Church of Misery, No Statik, Toys That Kill, Pegasus, Martial Canterel, Anasazi, Bloodwing (mems of The Spits, who are on tour soon), Harm's Way, Hatred Surge, the Hex Dispensers, John Wesley Coleman, Joyce Manor, and many many others. The current full lineup and flyer is below and tickets are FINALLY going on sale TODAY (1/31).

Doom legends Saint Vitus are currently preparing their new LP Lillie: F-65 for Season of Mist. The record, their eighth and first in seventeen years (!), is tentatively set for release at the end of March. More details are forthcoming.

In related news, members of Mind Eraser also serve as personnel in Magic Circle, another Chaos in Tejas band. Look for Magic Circle to team with Pilgrim (who we recently interviewed), Windhand, and Natur at Public Assembly on March 1st.

The updated Chaos in Tejas lineup is below along with the flyer.

Continue reading "Chaos in Tejas 2012 expands again; tickets on sale today"

Zola Jesus during CMJ (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Sacred Bones Records will take over the Spectacle movie theater in Brooklyn Thursday (1/26) at 8PM, gathering "an unearthed collection of underground weirdness, ...short films, works-in-progress, and a rare screening of the first Sacred Bones film production, Twelve Dark Noons." The evening will conclude with a "secret feature film screening" and music videos from Gary War, Zola Jesus, Amen Dunes, Moon Duo, Blank Dogs, & Pop. 1280 (whose new LP is out NOW). Check out a video trailer for the evening, as well as a trailer for Twelve Dark Noons (which features music from Naked on the Vague) below.

In related news, The Men have released the title track from their new LP Open Your Heart (out 3/6 via Sacred Bones). Stream that below in full alongside all tour dates which include their 3/7 show at 285 Kent.

Sacred Bones will also welcome the new single from Danish punk band War (not to be confused with Gary War) featuring Iceage's Elias Bender Rønnenfelt and Sexdrome's Loke Rahbek. Stream "Brodermordet" at Pitchfork who write:

Recorded to four-track cassette last year, the double A-side 7" single will include "At War for Youth" and "Kains Mærke", backed by the scuzzy, beat-oriented "Brodermordet". The band says the B-side is centered on a Biblical allusion to Cain and Abel's fratricide (the act of killing one's brother).

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As previously mentioned, Amen Dunes is heading out on tour with This Will Destroy You who separately play a show in NYC at the Kaufman Center on 2/9 (part of the Ecstatic Music Festival). If you want to catch both bands together in the NYC-area, you're in luck; they've since added a 2/11 tour stop at Babbio Atrium in Hoboken, NJ (on Stevens Institute of Technology campus). Amen Dunes will also play 285 Kent on February 23rd with Run DMT. More details on the 285 Kent appearance are forthcoming and all dates are listed below.

Zola Jesus will also head back our way, hitting Webster Hall on 2/18.

All streams, trailers and dates are below.

Continue reading "The Men & War reveal new tracks; Sacred Bones curates a night at the movies; Amen Dunes expands tour (dates)"

by BBG

Volume 8 of the incredible Chaos in Tejas will go down on May 31st through June 3rd in Austin, Texas, and this year and much like last, its chock full of incredible rare appearances from across the punk, crust, indie, and metal world. Among the announced are crust legends Antisect, The Mob (UK), the reformed and final lineup of Nasum, Best Coast (who recently got a new drummer), Tear it Up (who recently reunited in NYC), Varukers, Winter, Iceage, Forward, Ghoul, Double Negative (who play NYC next week), and so much more. The announcement is just the first batch of bands, with an additional 100+ still to come. Check out the Chaos in Tejas flyer above. Full list of bands below...

Continue reading "Chaos in Tejas 2012 (initial lineup)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: The Limiñanas - Down Underground (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Gytters - Divebombers (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Wrong Words - Summer's Gone (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Figurines "New Colors" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The War On Drugs - "Baby Missiles" (MP3)

The Limiñanas

Band of the week is most certainly The Limiñanas (mainly because they haven't played here before) who are from France and play Death By Audio tonight (8/17) and Cake Shop tomorrow (8/18).  I'll quote myself (from my Favorite Francophone Albums of 2011 list) again:

Evoking swinging Parisian scene of the mid-'60s (Gainsbourg, Dutronc, Ye-Ye, et al), The Limiñanas dance their way through 12 hits of groovy garage: fuzz leads, killer basslines, combo organ, smoky vocals. Perfect for your next Love-In.

The band, signed to great Chicago label Trouble in Mind, are normally a trio but are joining forces on this trip with fellow Frenchies Gaz Gaz (who also play their own set) to make a seven-piece motorik garage superpower. Friends who saw them in Chicago last week were knocked out. (There's video from that show at the bottom of this post.) I implore you to make it out to one of these shows.

Both shows have their benefits. The Death by Audio also has The Gytters, a newish group fronted by Scott Rosenthal who plays keyboards in Class Actress and has spent time as one of The Beets ever-rotating list of drummers (he also produced their records). The duo make a slightly twangy brand of indie -- check out "Divebombers" at the top of this post. I was impressed when I saw them at Bruar Falls a few weeks ago. Also on the bill are great locals Diehard who are putting the finishing touches on their debut album.

Wrong Words

The Cake Shop show on Thursday, meanwhile, features yet another Trouble in Mind band, San Francisco's The Wrong Words, who have more of a crunchy, late-'70s powerpop vibe to them. (And maybe just a little Thin Lizzy in there too.) Their self-titled debut is a boppin' good time -- you can download a track from it at the top of this post. If you can't make this one, The Wrong Words also play Bruar Fall on Saturday (8/20). Locals The Judy Blooms open the show.

The Wave Pictures

The Wave Pictures are visiting from the UK, their first time here since playing Sunday night of the 2010 Northside Festival. Dates have changed a bit since wefirst announced them. The band are now playing three shows in NYC: tonight (8/17) at Mercury Lounge, tomorrow (8/18) at Public Assembly and then next Thursday (8/25) at The Rock Shop. We at BrooklynVegan are big Wave Pictures fans, which I think most people who see them become. Here's what I wrote when they played our Pre-SXSW show in 2010:

Next up were the Wave Pictures who I'm pretty sure charmed everyone in the room. Singer David Tattersal, in addition to being a hell of a songwriter and pretty fierce guitarist, is a very funny guy. His between-song stories were just as entertaining and the music. At one point he accidentally unplugged his guitar mid-solo, but he hilariously covered the gaff made for one of the more memorable moments of the evening.

The band have a new album out, Beer in the Breakers, and is another fine example of Tattersal's tongue-twisting prose and snaky solos. But I still don't think any record has quite captured the experience of seeing them live. So I do hope you do so. You won't be sorry.

Emmy the Great

Speaking of artists that pretty much the entire BV staff loves, Emmy the Great is also here, playing the Studio @ Webster Hall on Thursday  (8/18). She's an extremely charming songwriter and performer (and person in general) who can find humor in even the bleakest of situations without cheapening the emotions. Case in point her new album Virtue which deals with some major heartbreak. (She can also be just straight-up funny too.) And like The Wave Pictures, she's much better experienced in person than on record (though the new record is quite good).

I'm not sure if she's here solo or with her band or maybe just collaborator Euan Hinshelwood who has accompanied her before. He's got his own band, Younghusband, whose new single on Too Pure is teriffic (and nothing like Emmy's music).

Figurines

Now we move to Denmark. Figurines were supposed to be here in June but the dates got pushed back to this week. They play tonight (8/17) at Knitting Factory and then an early show tomorrow (8/18) at Mercury Lounge.

The band's fourth album, which came out in Denmark last year, just got a belated but welcome American release. For those who found 2007's The Deer Wore Blue a bit wilfully obscure, the new self-titled album marks a return to the hook-filled indie rock of their 2005's Skeleton. You can download "New Colors" at the top of this post.

I haven't seen Figurines play since CMJ 2006 when they opened for Girl Talk. I thought they were fantastic then, I mix of various '90s influences (Built to Spill, The 3D's, Unrest) but processed through that eccentric Denmark filter than makes everything just a little off kilter. The one thing I really remember about that show was how tight they were. Figurines can really play.

The New Lines

And finally I'd like to highlight a local band I like a lot, The New Lines who play this Thursday (8/18) at Bar4 in Park Slope. Steeped in late '60s/early '70s baroque psychedelia and soundtrack music, it's all groovy rhythms and basslines, icy harmonies, analogue keyboards and vibrato. The band just released a split 7" with Still Corners which is a perfect match. You can download a couple songs for free via a Bandcamp widget at the bottom of this post.

I just love this kind of stuff  -- I made a whole mix of it last week over at Sound Bites -- and The New Lines do it very, very well. No idea what they're like live, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

This is a really good week for music. Do go see some. In addition to the above highlights, there are even more shows I recommend which are listed below on a day-by-day basis.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17

While I'm seeing The Limiñanas, I think the rest of the BV staff will be going to Chelsea Wolfe, Cult of Youth, and Planning For Burial at St. Vitus Bar. I am the black sheep.

continued below...

Continue reading "Limiñanas, Wrong Words, Emmy the Great, Figurines, New Lines, War on Drugs, Gytters & more in This Week In Indie"

The Rosebuds at Prospect Park last week (more by Amanda Hatfield)

The Rosebuds, who just opened two incredible shows for Bon Iver in NYC as the last two dates on their tour together, have a few more shows announced that happen later this year. No tour has been announced yet, but we know that they'll be at Hopscotch in North Carolina, Pitchfork Paris and a NYC show on October 12 at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets for the NYC show go on sale Friday (8/19) at noon.

Pitchfork Paris, taking place October 28th & 29th in France, is being co-curated by Bon Iver and the lineup looks like this so far:

28 OCTOBRE : 16h00 - 5H00
APHEX TWIN + PANTHA DU PRINCE + EROL ALKAN + WILD BEASTS + CUT COPY + WASHED OUT + REAL ESTATE + MONDKOPF + ICEAGE

29 OCTOBRE : 14h00 - 22H00
BON IVER + JENS LEKMAN + STORNOWAY + KATHLEEN EDWARDS + ROSEBUDS

Tickets are on sale.

Kathleen Edwards also plays shows with Bon Iver in September. All Bon Iver & Rosebuds dates, and the video for "Woods" (by Rosebuds) below...

Continue reading "Rosebuds playing Bowery Ballroom & Pitchfork Paris (lineup)"

photos by Tim Griffin

Iceage @ Emo's

Iceage have added another show following their upcoming dates at Cake Shop and the soon-to-be-closed Secret Project Robot (with Raspberry Bulbs and others). The new date is August 22nd at Mercury Lounge. Tickets just went on sale. No advanced tickets for Cake Shop or Secret Project Robot. Last time Iceage was here they played Public Assembly, Other Music, 285 Kent and 538 Johnson.

The Mercury show will be the final US date of their ongoing tour that kicked off in Texas in middle July. Iceage's second show on said US tour was on July 16th at Emo's with The Creamers, Women In Prison, and Deskonocidos. Pictures from that Austin show are in this post. More of them with all dates, below...

Continue reading "Iceage played Emo's (pics), on tour, add a 3rd NYC show (updated dates)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Zola Jesus - "Vessel" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Cult of Youth - "Lace Up Your Boots" (MP3)

A couple days ago, Zola Jesus started a countdown clock on her website indicating news was the on the way. Well, say hello to the follow-up to the breakthrough Stridulum and Valusia EPs. Conatus, Zola Jesus's new LP is due on October 4th via Sacred Bones. Check out the lead single "Vessel" available for download above and streaming below. Nika Danilova (aka Zola Jesus) will mostly play dates in Europe this summer, with a few notable stops in the US for Pitchfork and in LA in late August. Full tour schedule is below.

Meanwhile, Sacred Bones affiliates Cult of Youth hit the road on July 12th with a show at Knitting Factory supporting Cold Cave (tickets), linking up with Austra and Iceage for dates along the way. Full tour schedule is below. If you make it out to the shows, swing by the merch table to pick up a copy of COY's new The Devil's Coals 7" featuring the title track and a cover of Martial Canterel's "Sidestreets" on the flip. Cult of Youth also have a new LP, and you can check out a new track "Lace Up Your Boots" available for download above/streaming below.

Iceage recently played Public Assembly with Prurient and a sweaty 285 Kent with Fucked Up and Jeff The Brotherhood. They'll be back in August to play Cake Shop on 8/20 and Secret Project Robot on 8/21 to polish off the remainder of their US Tour.

All tour dates and that Zola Jesus song stream is below.

Continue reading "new Zola Jesus announced, more Cult of Youth & Iceage dates"

words & photos by Keith Marlowe



285 Kent was super sold-out. There seemed to be a lot of hype around Iceage, who started the show. I'm not really sure why.

Jeff the Brotherhood followed and Jake kept getting shocked from the mic, so he put his sock over it to dampen the effect. Given how hot and sticky it was in there, that had to be kinda gross to put his mouth against. Nobody ever said rock'n'roll was easy. Or wouldn't involve singing into your sock.

Fucked Up soundchecked with the Game of Thrones intro song, which was really badass. It reminded me of when Slash played the Godfather theme at Guns shows. Damian seems to be on a workout regimen of powerlifting audience members to stay in shape. He also passed out waterbottles to the crowd to give him a shower, which had to be refreshing because it was motherfucking hot in that place. It seems to be cooled with a single air-conditioner in the back wall. It read 60 degrees, which I assume was celsius.

It was one of those shows that when it's over everybody in the front is literally drenched in sweat, and most of it other people's. Some guy wiped his face all over Damian's stomach pretty far into the set, and I could see Damian's gut sweat running off the dude's face after he did it. I honestly can't imagine ever being drunk enough to think doing that is a good idea, but whatever, it's a party.

Oh yeah, also, some dude was stagediving barefoot. Just for the record, dudes' feet are totally gross. If some guy is up on the crowd barefoot, and his toe goes in your eye or mouth, it is completely justifiable for you and your friends to stomp the ever-loving shit out of him to discourage any type of that hippie behavior in the future. Dudes' toes have absolutely no place at rock shows, unless you are taking your sock off to put it on a microphone......

More pictures Saturday night's show at 285, and a video, below...

Continue reading "Fucked Up, JEFF the Brotherhood & Iceage played 285 Kent (pics & review)"

Kanye West & Big Sean @ Irving Plaza Tuesday (Joshua Laboy)

Maybe it was all the excitement of summer finally arriving, but for whatever reason, NYC shows have been pretty heavy on the special guests lately. Here's a few we know about.

Reggie Watts was the secret guest that joined Glenn Kotche and Buke & Gass during 'Wilco weekend' at NYU for the Jab Abumrad's Radiolab Concert on Saturday (6/18). Reggie was a secret because of the two Summerstage shows he's playing this week including the one in Red Hook Park TONIGHT (6/24).

Reptar was a secret guest at the Thee Oh Sees Brooklyn Bowl show on Saturday (Reptar played Governors Ball earlier that day). And as predicted, Thee Oh Sees themselves were the secret headliner at Death by Audio the previous night (6/17).

Reptar, who also opened for Art Brut at Music Hall last night, will open for Foster the People at Terminal 5 on September 27th. The only mystery here is how Foster the People are big enough to headline Terminal 5 already! Tickets are on sale.

Ted Leo showed up as a special guest at the Eleanor Friedberger show at Europa during Northside. Bradford Cox was in the Audience. Catch Ted again at the free South Street Seaport kickoff party for the 4Knots Festival that Eleanor plays at the South Street Seaport a week later. It was just announced that Eleanor will also open for Deerhunter at their Webster Hall shows in August. (Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox must have really liked her set) Tickets for both Deerhunter shows are still available.

As also recently mentioned both Clams Casino and Neon Indian (DJ) were added as last minute surprises guests to the Northside show at Cameo on Sunday (6/19). The show was one day after Neon Indian played Governors Ball. Monday night Cameo hosted semi-secret DJ sets by YACHT, The Miracles Club & Midnight Magic, all who played MHOW on Sunday.

Kanye West showed up at Big Sean's Irving Plaza show on Tuesday (6/21), the same night Big Sean appeared on the Bon Iver episode of Fallon. Despite two of Kanye's friends being on Fallon on the same night however, Kanye did not make an appearance on the show (not even backstage). Videos from Irving Plaza below.

Justin Vernon did not show up at the S. Carey/David Bazan show at Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday (6/22), as we hoped he would. S. Carey is a member of Bon Iver's band and played with Justin the two days previous on both Fallon and Colbert.

Speaking of Fallon, Bob Mould (who DJs his Blowoff party at Highline Ballroom tonight) showed up and surprised people by playing a Sugar song backed by the Roots on the show. Mould recently performed live with the Foo Fighters during their set at Sasquatch. Video of that special guest appearance is below.

Lenny Kravtiz's daughter Zoë Kravitz and her band Elevator Fight played Southpaw with J*Davey on Tuesday (6/21). Lenny showed up to watch his daughter, but he wasn't the only crowd member blowing up Twitter. Drake was also in the audience to catch the show. FADER grabbed him outside the Park Slope venue for a quick video interview which you can watch below.

Flying Lotus & Just Blaze @ Music Hall (via the Comedian)

Flying Lotus headlined two Brainfeeder showcases (his label) this week. The first was at Bowery Ballroom on Monday (6/20) and the second at MHOW on Wednesday (6/22). Apparently trippy instrumentals aren't the only thing FlyLo digs when it comes to hip hop producers, because Just Blaze (Jay-Z, T.I.) showed up to play with him at the MHOW show. Flying Lotus also surprised NYC by playing a free late show at Le Poisson Rouge too.

Following in FlyLo's footsteps, Ivan & Alyosha gave NYC a gift in the form of a last-minute free late show at Mercury Lounge.

Crowded House frontman Neil Finn played with Eddie Vedder at Beacon Theatre on his tour with Glen Hansard.

And while opener Glen Hansard (Swell Season, the Frames) helped Vedder recreate "Sleepless Nights," the tender duet the pair shared on "Ukulele Songs," and the crowd found their voices and their feet for several of he night's tunes -- "Porch," "Unthought Known" -- the biggest roar erupted when Vedder invited Crowded House/Split Enz frontman Neil Finn to the stage for an impromptu collaboration Vedder jokingly called an "unrehearsed collision." With longtime friend Finn on organ, the twosome blended delicate harmonies on Hunters And Collectors' "Throw Your Arms Around Me." Finn took up a guitar and sat down next to Vedder to trade verses on Finn's Split Enz hit "I Got You," which found Finn playfully calling out chords to Vedder during the bridge. "It turns out we play that song differently," Vedder quipped, "But since he wrote it, he's right."

Decked out in a trio of long white lab coats, Finn (organ) and Hansard (guitar) returned with Vedder for the second encore, the rousing "Big Hard Sun" from "Into The Wild." [Billboard]

Neil Finn plays his own show at Bowery Ballroom on 6/26. You can win two tickets on our Facebook.

As you know, Stephen Colbert was the special guest with The Black Belles on his own show last night (6/23). He performed with the band and also recorded a single with them which is now on sale via Third Man Records. Jack White actually also appeared on the show this time for his third and final appearance during StePhest Colbchella '011 and then appeared with Colbert again today (6/24) at The Lot at the High Line. Jack and the Black Belles were also spotted last night (6/23) bowling at Brooklyn Bowl. According to Questlove (who was DJing the venue), he "has bowling game."

Tonight (6/24) is the another Doveman show at LPR. Lisa Hannigan (who played 3 sold out NYC-area shows this week) and Mike Doughty are billed as openers, but according to Doveman, some secret special guests will be showing up as well (as usual).

Last but not least, as hinted, and confirmed earlier today, Fucked Up are the special guest at 285 Kent Saturday (6/26) with JEFF the Brotherhood and Iceage. Tickets are on sale at Record Grouch. Iceage also played a secret show at 538 Johnson while they were in town for Northside.

Any special appearances we left out?

Videos below...

Continue reading "This Week in Special Guests (Kanye West, Reggie Watts, Reptar, Neil Finn, Drake, Just Blaze, Doveman & more)"

Fucked Up @ Chaos in Tejas (more by Keith Marlowe)

As we hinted about 10 times, Fucked Up are in fact the special guest playing 285 Kent on Saturday night with JEFF the Brotherhood and Iceage. As previously mentioned, advanced tickets can be bought at Record Grouch.

Their billing on the Brooklyn show can now be officially revealed since they played their show at Terminal 5 with Dinosaur Jr. last night. More about that one later. More FU dates HERE. Their new video for "Queen of Hearts" is below...

Continue reading "In case there was any doubt, Fucked Up is playing 285 Kent"

photos by Natasha Ryan

Keith Morris of Off!

Like they will TONIGHT (6/23) at Terminal 5 in NYC, Off! and Fucked Up played a show together in Toronto on June 16th. The free show happened as part of NXNE, outside in Toronto's central Yonge & Dundas Square. It was headlined by the Descendents. Pics are in this post.

Tonight's NYC show will be headlined by Dinosaur Jr. who will be playing "Bug" in its entirety, and other songs too. And like in Northampton, brave Henry Rollins will do some spoken word and live interviewing on stage right in the middle of the otherwise heavy and musical show. Tickets are still available.

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Fucked Up

Saturday June 25th is the day that "special guest" headline the show with JEFF the Brotherhood and Iceage AT 285 Kent. Tickets for the show are on sale at Record Grouch in Williamsburg. "CASH ONLY! NO ONLINE SALES/HOLDS! DRAG YER ARSE TO THE STORE IN PERSON TO GET 'EM!"

More NXNE pics and all Fucked Up dates below...

Continue reading "Fucked Up & Off! are here, played NXNE (pics) --- (and btw: 285 Kent tix on sale @ Record Grouch)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Archers of Loaf - What Did You Expect? (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Art Brut - "Lost Weekend" (MP3)

Archers of Loaf @ Sasquach 2011 (more by Josh Darr)

This weekend marks the return of '90s indie legends Archers of Loaf who play Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday (6/25, sold out) and Webster Hall on Sunday (6.26, you can still get tickets). Opening both shows are Mr. Dream which is as perfect an opener as you could imagine.

I didn't care for their later records (or Eric Bachman's Crooked Fingers) but Archers of Loaf's 1993 debut, Icky Mettle, is an indie rock classic that stands tall alongside No Pocky for Kitty, Slanted & Enchanted, There's Nothing Wrong with Love and Sebadoh III. 1995's Vee Vee is pretty awesome too, and both records are getting the expanded reissue treatment from Merge Records in August. You can download "What Did You Expect?" (a 1994 7"-only release) at the top of this post.

Speaking of Mr. Dream, despite the Voice saying that the lineup was final, they added Mr. Dream today to the upcoming 4Knots Fest at South Street Seaport, and DJs and an indoor lounge too...

The Village Voice is excited to announce the addition of the 4Knots Indoor Lounge during the 4Knots Music Festival on Saturday, July 16, 2011. The lounge, located at 210 Front Street, will be open from 2PM till Midnight with free admission, 21+ only. DJ Sets will take place all day from: Yeasayer, Dan Deacon, Finger on the Pulse, PUNCHES, Brahms, and others TBD. Drink specials from Sailor Jerry and Bud Light will be available along with a PopChips photo booth, and much more.

The inaugural 4Knots Music Festival with also include live music on South Street Seaport Pier 17 from 1-8pm. The Black Angels, Titus Andronicus, Davila 666, Oberhofer, Eleanor Friedberger and Mr. Dream and are all scheduled to perform on the outdoor stage at the free, all day, all ages music festival.

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While we're in the '90s milleiu, Mazes are here opening for White Denim on Saturday night (6/25) at Bowery Ballroom. I'll just quote myself here:

When you think Manchester, England you may think Stone Roses and The Smiths, but in the case of Mazes, it's more Sebadoh and Soul Asylum. Not unlike Yuck, this trio owe lots to '90s indie rock as can be heard on their debut album A Thousand Heys which came out in April.

A Thousand Heys is full of catchy singalongs -- like their current single "Summer Hits" -- and well worth checking out. (Samples from the album are streaming at their label's website.) You can download a previously unreleased track, "Brunswick Stack," at the bottom of this post via a Soundcloud widget.

And if you can't make it this weekend, Mazes return for a headlining show at Glasslands on Tuesday, July 5 where they'll play with Beige, Country Mice, and The Hairs.

Art Brut

What else? Art Brut are on tour and played Maxwell's last night and will be at Music Hall of Williamsburg Thursday (6/23). The band's new album, Brilliant! Tragic!, finds Eddie Argos taking it down a notch and almost singing. Almost. It's really more of a whispery type thing -- not unlike Jarvis Cocker -- and for the most part I think it works pretty well. I especially like the single, "Lost Weekend," which you can download at the top of this post. More than anything, I think the music is the best Art Brut have come up with since their debut. And the band remain a lot of fun to see live. Argos is the real deal.

Sic Alps

Sic Alps roll through town on Friday, playing Death By Audio with Spectre Folk and Weekends. As previously reported, founding member Matt Hartman -- who was half the band originally -- has left the group which is kind of weird Mike Donovan is carrying on with the name with Eric Baur and some kid named Ty Segall (who had briefly joined the band a couple years ago). Shouldn't they be called Sic Andes or something now?

Granted, Mike Donovan did most of the singing (and maybe wrote most of the songs) and I'm gonna bet this new version of the band is pretty awesome. Sic Alps most recent album, Napa Asylum, is another smoldering, thick stew of swamp garage. A lot of bands use the low-fi thing as a crutch, but Sic Alps have always used sludge like it's a member of the band. A new 7", perhaps the first fruits of this new line-up, is out in August.

Fulton Stall Market in 2010 (more by Chris La Putt)

And finally, a little shameless plugging. Sunday afternoon, June 26th, is the first of my four Sound Bites Series shows which take place at the Fullton Stall Market down at South Street Seaport. You can get your vegetables and jingle jangle indiepop all in one place. This Sunday the latter is provided by scene stalwarts My Teenage Stride. The fun (which includes me DJing before the band) starts at 2PM, and it's all free. Do come down and say hi.

This is the full Sunday show lineup:

JUNE 26: MY TEENAGE STRIDE
JULY 3: THE HAIRS
JULY 10: pow wow!
JULY 17: HOSPITALITY

July 10th is also the first of six free shows at Beekman Beer Garden which is at South Street Seaport too. The free Friday Seaport shows begin this Friday, but more about that below.

Some additional daily picks follow:

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22

Iceage play a free show at Other Music today.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23

Black Dice's Eric Copeland, McDonalds and Regal Degal play Secret Project Robot. It's a record release party for both Copeland and McDonalds, so do check out the merch table. The Copeland record, Waco Taco Combo, is only a 500 copy pressing.

Dinosaur Jr. are at Terminal 5 performing their classic 1988 album Bug (that's the one with "Freak Scene") in its entirety. And probably some other songs as well. Many people will be going just to see Fucked Up, not to mention Off!.

Beach Fossils and Javelin play Santos Party House. It's a free show if you RSVP.

continued below....

Continue reading "Archers of Loaf, Mr. Dream, Art Brut, Mazes, Sic Alps, Iceage, Sundays @ The Seaport & more in This Week in Indie"

photos by Tamara Porras, Prurient photos by Louis Caldarola, words by BBG

Iceage

Prurient and Iceage headlined the Sacred Bones/Stereogum showcase at Public Assembly on June 17th, with help from Cult of Youth (who have a new album and tour with Cold Cave in August), The Men (who played Death By Audio earlier that week), Yellow Tears, Lost Tribe, Pop1280, and Anasazi. The show, part of the Northside Festival, marked the US debut of Iceage and is one of a few shows planned for the band in the coming weeks.

By the time I arrived at the Sacred Bones/Stereogum show after catching Deafheaven, Iceage had already taken the stage and were into their first song. The crowd was dancing like maniacs and had started a pit in front of the stage. The band's reverb and noise-heavy post-punk was as snotty and disaffected on stage as it is on New Brigade, and the audience ate it up.

Prurient

I ducked out of Iceage a touch early though to get into the smaller room to catch Prurient which, as expected, filled quickly to capacity following the close of Iceage. Standing up front, I caught all of Dominick Fernow's violent and fantastic 15 minute set that included his Cold-Cave bandmate Wes Eisold addding another layer of electronic noise. Dominick screamed and thrashed violently (ultimately knocking over his rig) into two microphones while an icy mix of darkwave synths, black metal, and noise blasted through the PA. Incredible set.

If you missed out on the show on Friday (6/17) you can still catch quite a few of the bands in the coming weeks. Cult of Youth play Knitting Factory with Cold Cave on 7/12. Iceage are back in NYC for a few more dates including a FREE in-store Wednesday at Other Music and a show at 285 Kent on Saturday with JEFF The Brotherhood and a suprise guest (Fucked Up).

Yellow Tears have a few dates in their future as well, playing the Ende Tymes Festival of Noise and Experimental Liberation at Silent Barn on June 24th-26th, the Burning Fleshtival III at The Red Light District on 7/29 and 7/30, and The Stone on August 2nd.

We already posted the Men pics from the show HERE. More pictures from the rest of the show and some video of Yellow Tears (most of their set), Iceage, and Prurient, below...

Continue reading "Iceage, Prurient & friends played Public Assembly (Northside pics & video)"

by Bill Pearis

Iceage

Night two of the Northside Festival (6/17). Lots of good options. This is what I recommend.  Whole schedule is here.

Apart from the outdoor Beirut show, I think the only show that is gonna prove to be tough to get into (for badgeholders) is the Sacred Bones/Stereogum showcase tonight at Public Assembly, due mainly to it being the U.S. debut of Denmark quartet Iceage. Their sound is on the punkier side of post-punk, slashy and tense and not without melody. Their live shows, in Denmark at least, are intense. Mind you, this won't be NYC-ers only chance to catch them.

The show is sold out so if you have a Northside badge you probably want to get there early. And of course Iceage are not the only reason to check out this show, and know if you like Iceage most of the bands should probably appeal to your sensibilities as well, even if you're going in blind. The Men were apparently awesome the other night at DBA, slaying down some sludgy Dino Jr style punk; and Cult Of Youth are like the Birthday Party doing sea chantys (kind of?). There's also Purient (Dom of Cold Cave), Pop. 1280 (anthemic indie rock w/ synth), Lost Tribe, Yellow Tears and Anasazi.

Selebrities

If you're over that way and find yourself shut out of Public Assembly, you might want to amble on down to Music Hall of Williamsburg just to check out the scene. I don't know a lot of the bands on the bill but I do like Selebrities who make New Order style pop. Their EP, Ladies Man Effect, is a free download over at their website and is worth doing so. Also playing MHoW are quality yelpy indie rockers Darlings, plus Like Diamonds, Rocky Buisness and Memberz Only.

Grooms

Other good options for friday: Kanine Records has, like, most of their bands playing at Knitting Factory tonight, including Surfer Blood who'll also play the outdoor Guided by Voices show tomorrow. Also playing: Grooms, whose new album, Prom, is out next month; Eternal Summers who I think just keep getting better (and are pretty rockin' as a trio now); indiepop combo Dream Diary, Pepper Rabbit (folk pop from L.A.) and the tribal sounds of Zambri.

Or you could go to Glasslands to see Frankie Rose which is likely to be her last show for a while as she's gonna concentrate on making her second album for Slumberland. Her San Francisco pals and labelmates Brilliant Colors are also on the bill, who I like a lot too. There's also Regal Degal whose Speckled Fruit EP is worth seeking out at the merch table, plus Sherlock's Daughter (a band I thought only existed to open for canceled Charlatans shows).

What else? Woods will sound nice at St. Cecilia's Church (after a set by Ed Askew).

I caught Aaron Pfenning's (ex-Chairlift) new group Rewards a couple weeks ago and was impressed, they play Cameo tonight at 9:15.

You could also blow off Northside for what might be cool overload at Bed-Stuy's Sugarhill Disco for Gavin Russom's Crystal Ark.

And if you need some new tunes, my new Summer Fridays mix is up over at Sound Bites. Flyers below...

Continue reading "Bill's Northside Fest picks (Day 2)"

DOWNLOAD: Iceage - "Broken Bone" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Iceage - "White Rune" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Iceage - "New Brigade" (MP3)

Danish post-punkers Iceage are making their US debut at Northside Festival at the Stereogum/Sacred Bones showcase at Public Assembly on June 17 with Prurient, Anasazi, Cult of Youth, Lost Tribe, The Men, Pop. 1280, Yellow Tears and Wes Eisold of Cold Cave (DJ set). Tickets are now sold out, but you can try and get in with a badge.

After Northside, they'll stick around for a tour which continues into August and includes four NYC shows. They play an Other Music in-store on June 22. The show starts at 8 PM and admission is free. They'll also open for JEFF the Brotherhood at the previously announced 285 Kent Ave show on June 25. The headlining "special guest" is still TBA, though both bands play with Fucked Up in Boston a day earlier. Iceage will also play Cake Shop on August 20 and Secret Project Robot on August 21.

Iceage's debut album New Brigade is already out in Europe and will see a US release on June 21 via What's Your Rupture?. Grab the album tracks "Broken Bone," "White Rune," and "New Brigade" above. Check out the "New Brigade" video and the album artwork, tracklist, and all tour dates below.

Continue reading "Iceage announce more shows & LP details (MP3s & dates)"

by BBG

the second pressing of the limited tour editon vinyl of We Are The Champions

Here's an interesting one for ya. Pentagram will hit the road with JEFF The Brotherhood (!) for a string of US dates in August. No word on if those dates will surface in NYC, but we'll keep a look out when the actual dates are announced. In the meantime, the newly Warner-Brothers'ed JEFF have added a show with a band (who can't be revealed but who play Public Assembly on 6/17) and another "Very Special Guest" at 285 Kent Ave on June 25th. Anyone know the bigger guest? We don't, but the date does fall smack dab in the middle of JEFF's tour with Fucked Up who play Terminal 5 with Dinosaur Jr. two days earlier.

Meanwhile, no word on the release of Last Days Here, a new documentary that chronicles Pentagram frontman Bobby Leibling's addiction and his life in and out of the band, has a NYC premiere coming up at BAM. The film played at SXSW 2011 and you can check out a deleted scene from the film below.

Pentagram released Last Rites earlier this year (their first in 17 years!). JEFF is preparing to release their We Are The Champions on June 21st.

All tour dates and some video is below.

Continue reading "JEFF the Brotherhood add NYC show w/ special guests, planning tour w/ Pentagram (whose film is premiering)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Iceage - "White Rune" (MP3)

Dominick Fernow on stage with Cold Cave at T5 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

Prurient, aka Dominick Fernow who is now also in Cold Cave, will play his first Prurient NYC show in two years as part of the Stereogum/Sacred Bones show at Public Assembly on June 17th. Prurient is a recent addition to the previously mentioned Northside Festival show which also includes the debut NYC performance of Iceage and appearances from Yellow Tears, Lost Tribe, The Men, and DJ Wes Eisold (Cold Cave). Tickets are on sale or you can try to use a badge.

Iceage are preparing to release their new LP New Brigade on June 21st via What's Your Rupture?. Check out "White Rune" from that above and a video for "New Brigade" below. The Danish band's performance at Public Assembly is part of a string of East Coast dates for the band in June, after which they'll return home to graduate high school (no shit).

Prurient is comprised of one Dominick Fernow, he of Hospital Productions/Ash Pool/Cold Cave fame. Prurient recently released the Many Jewels Surround The Crown 7" via Hydra Head Records, a track that is also featured on the forthcoming Hydra Head release Bermuda Drain due in June.

As discussed, Cold Cave are coming back to NYC twice as part of a tour in the coming weeks. Tickets are now on sale for both shows too: Knitting Factory on July 12th with Cult of Youth and Bowery Ballroom on 8/6 with Austra.

All Iceage dates and that video is below.

Continue reading "Prurient added to Iceage show, Iceage announce new LP & tour (MP3, dates & a reminder that Cold Cave tickets are on sale)"

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

Like The Kills (who headlined the show), Cold Cave and The Entrance band played Terminal 5 on Friday night (4/29) as part of an ongoing tour for the three bands. Pictures from the opening sets are in this post.

And like the Kills, Cold Cave have already announced more upcoming shows including another two in NYC: Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on July 12th and Bowery Ballroom on August 6th. KF tickets go on sale 5/6 at noon, and Bowery tickets probably will do something similar. All tour dates are listed below.

The Knitting Factory show is with Cult of Youth who just finished a tour with Zola Jesus at Bowery Ballroom, and whose other upcoming gigs include opening for Steve Ignorant and playing as part of the Northside Festival at Public Assembly on June 17th with Iceage, The Men, Lost Tribe... and DJ Wes from Cold Cave. Tickets are on sale for that one.

With new Cold Cave tour dates also came a new Cold Cave video for "Villains Of The Moon." Watch that with more pictures from Terminal 5 (Kills pics HERE), below...

Continue reading "Cold Cave played T5 w/ the Entrance Band & Kills (pics), announced a video & more dates (some w/ Cult of Youth)"

Theophilus London will headline the "Official Northside Festival Opening Party" at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Thursday, June 16th. Tickets go on AmEx presale Wednesday at noon, and then general sale Friday at noon. You can also try to get in with a Northside Festival badge.

The hip hop artist is one of 65+ new artists being officially added to the lineup of this year's Northside Festival (June 16-19 in various venues across Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY). Here's the full list:

Continue reading "Northside Fest adds 65+ bands to lineup, Theophilus @ MHOW, Mount Eerie, Iceage & more ++ open studios & DIY films"