James Chance w/ Kim Gordon at 'Round Robin Duets' (more by Greg Cristman)

No wave legend James Chance continues to play around his hometown of NYC a good amount, and he'll be returning to Manhattan venue Le Poisson Rouge on July 6 for a particularly interesting show. It's billed as James Chance & the Contortions, and for this show the Contortions lineup will include Richard Hell & the Voidoids guitarist Ivan Julian. The rest of the lineup is pretty great too, including Sal P of Liquid Liquid, lo-fi godfather R. Stevie Moore, and Endless Boogie. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

In the above picture from the Night of Improvised Round Robin Duets, James is pictured with Kim Gordon, who plays NYC tonight (6/13) at Saint Vitus as one half of her Body/Head duo with Bill Nace. It's part of the Pitchfork Northside Showcase which also includes Kathleen Hanna's new band The Julie Ruin, Majical Cloudz, and Foreplay (sold out, but if you got a badge, get there early and try to get in).

Check out a recent live video below...

Continue reading "James Chance & Ivan Julian playing w/ Sal P of Liquid Liquid, R. Stevie Moore & Endless Boogie"

by Andrew Sacher

As mentioned, NYC post-punk vets Suicide and Bush Tetras will co-headline Le Poisson Rouge on November 29. Tickets for that show are still available.

What we didn't know when we first mentioned that show, is that Suicide will be performing their influential 1977 debut LP, Suicide, in its entirety at the show. If you're unfamiliar, it shared ground with the desolate monotonic sounds of no wave, the spirit of early punk, the ever-growing synthesizer innovations of the era, and it has gone to directly influence the synthpunk genre (plus other things like Bruce Springsteen). You can stream the whole album below.

The show will be supported by Brooklyn no wave revivalists Sediment Club, whose members include Austin Julian, son of Bush Tetras' Cynthia Sley and Voidoids' Ivan Julian. Ivan spoke about his son's band last year, saying, "They sound like a mixture of The Voidoids meets The Bush Tetras meets The Contortions. Amazing stuff!" Though Ivan essentially says it sounds like his dad's band meets his mom's band, it's actually a pretty fair assessment and the band sound pretty great. You can stream some of their stuff below.

All streams and a list of all Sediment Club dates are below...

Continue reading "Suicide playing debut LP in full at their LPR show w/ Bush Tetras; Sediment Club opening the show (dates & streams)"

The fabulous Fleshtones, NYC's progenitors of "super rock," will release a new EP in August titled Los Fleshtones Quatro x Quatro via Yep Roc records. Maybe they'll play some of it tonight (6/21) at Bowery Electric. The line-up for tonight's show is actually pretty cool all-around, with Steve Wynn & the Miracle Three, former Voidoid Ivan Julian, Swedish garage rockers Stupidity and Palmyra Delran. Tickets are still available.

The EP was recorded while on tour in Gijon, Spain and all four songs are in Spanish, including covers of two songs by Mexican rock band Los Johnny Jets. Says frontman Peter Zaremba:

The story of this record goes way back to our original bass player, Marek Pakulski, finding a bunch of albums including 'Los Johnny Jets A Go Go' in the trash in front of Joey Ramone's Lower Eastside tenement one night in 1977. Johnny Jets were a typical Mexican '60s rock and roll group -covering top-ten hits of the time like 'Wooly Bully' in Spanish with varying degrees of competence -- just the thing to appeal to The Fleshtones. Rather than the Spanish language versions of overly-familiar tunes like 'Hang On Sloopy', what really caught our ears were two more-or-less original tracks 'No Tengo Dinero' and 'Todos Queremos A Lupe' (which seemed to at least be inspired by Johnny Thunder's 1962 hit 'Loop De Loop'). We decided we would record these two songs ourselves as soon as possible. If nothing else, The Fleshtones are good for their word!

In other news, The Fleshtones' record label, Yep Roc, turns 15 this year and they're throwing a three-day celebration at The Cat's Cradle in Carboro, NC on October 11, 12 and 13. No word on whether The Fleshtones will go down for it but confirmed YR15 artists include Dave Alvin, Chatham County Line, John Doe, Liam Finn, Fountains Of Wayne, Robyn Hitchcock, Los Straitjackets, Nick Lowe, Chuck Prophet, Eleni Mandell, Mayflies USA, Cheyenne Marie Mize, The Sadies, Sloan, Jim White and Master of Ceremonies John Wesley Harding. While three-day passes are sold out, you can still buy individual tickets to each night.

YR15 Flyer is below, along with a list of Fleshtones tour dates.

Continue reading "The Fleshtones releasing new EP, playing shows (dates); Yep Roc Records throwing 15-year anniversary bash in NC"

Off! @ NXNE 2011 (more by Natasha Ryan)

The most memorable thing that happened the year I visited Toronto for NXNE was Iggy Pop & The Stooges playing their big, outdoor, free, no-ticket-or-badge-required show downtown at Yonge-Dundas Square. Last year the Descendents did it. This year they've landed the Flaming Lips which should be an amazing spectacle. And:

NXNE Music has confirmed that Bad Religion, Raekwon & Ghostface Killah and Matthew Good will headline free shows at Yonge-Dundas Square (YDS) throughout the seven-day festival. The NXNE Music line-up also includes performances at YDS and in the clubs by Of Montreal, No Use For A Name, Purity Ring, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Death Grips, The Men, Bleached, Good Riddance, METZ, Ceremony, Plants & Animals, The Death Set, The Sadies & Andre Williams, Oberhofer, Reigning Sound, Action Bronson, 2:54, Yamantaka/ /Sonic Titan, The Hundred in The Hands, Rival Schools, Killer Mike, Young Magic, Hayes Carll, Friends, Hollerado, Bran Van 3000, The Black Belles, Doldrums, Odonis Odonis, Mac DeMarco, Bass Drum of Death, Porcelain Raft, Exitmusic, Violens, Grass Widow, Eight and a Half, DZ Deathrays, Jonathan Toubin, Art vs. Science, B L A C K I E, The Nils and Ivan Julian (ex-Richard Hell & The Voidoids).

Jonathan Toubin!!

This year's fest takes place at multiple venues across Toronto from June 11-17, 2012. Tickets are on sale.

Last year BrooklynVegan co-hosted a boat party with M For Montreal and Bruise Cruise.

by Andrew Sacher

Ivan Julian @ Bowery Electric in 2010 (more by Lori Baily)

Deniz Tek, guitarist of '70s Australian punk heroes Radio Birdman, and Ivan Julian of early NYC punks Richard Hell and the Voidoids have a few upcoming shows together. Those shows include August 26 at The Bell House and August 27 at Maxwell's. Tickets are on sale now for The Bell House show and the Maxwell's show.

Ivan Julian released his first solo album earlier this year, The Naked Flame, which he performed at SXSW. Check out a video of Ivan and his band at SXSW below performing the Voidoid's classic "Love Comes in Spurts," along with The Naked Flame artwork and tracklist, and a music video for the album's title track. The album can be purchased as LP/CD/MP3 on Amazon. You can also stream the entire thing on his myspace. Ivan recently spoke to IRT about his new album, music in general, and other stuff. The guitarist, who was part of the late '70s CBGB's scene, talked about some of the more modern stuff he's into:

IRT: What are some upcoming albums we could look forward to that were recorded out of NY HED? Do you have a particular favorite album that came out of your studio? What would it be and why?

Ivan: I'm very excited about a band I produced called Hunx and his Punx from San Francisco. Their record, 'Too Young to be In Love' is out now and I'm very pleased with the results. Listen and you'll see what I mean. There's also the band Sediment Club that has an Lp that will be coming out soon. They sound like a mixture of The Voidoids meets The Bush Tetras meets The Contortions. Amazing stuff!

IRT: Do you have a favorite current spot to see music or hang out at in the LES?

Ivan: Jessie Malin's place, The Bowery Electric, it's not too big, not too small and as long as Tim is behind the board it will be a perfect sounding room as well.

Maybe Ivan will show up at Bowery Electric tonight (7/14) where fellow CBGB-vet Johnny Thunders' birthday is being celebrated. Lenny Kaye and Andy Shernoff, who Ivan played a free show with at 2A on Sunday (7/10) will be special guests.

Hunx & His Punx have some upcoming shows too including September 3 at Mercury Lounge September 17 at Knitting Factory.

All Ivan tour dates, videos, and 'The Naked Flame' stuff below...

Continue reading "Ivan Julian released an album, produced Hunx & his Punx, playing shows w/ Deniz Tek (dates)"

More details below...

Continue reading "2A hosting acoustic shows, free show w/ Lenny Kaye & friends happening Sunday night (tonight)"

photos by Lori Baily, words by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Alejandro Escovedo - Silver Cloud (MP3)

Alejandro Escovedo & Tony Visconti @ Bowery Electric

Alejandro Escovedo played two NYC-area shows this past week. The gigs followed his appearance on David Letterman Wednesday night (video below), and both featured their own special guests.

At the Wednesday night (7/21) Bowery Electric show, the guests were appropriate considering the venue: the East Village bar attracted a host of neighborhood regulars - some better prepared than others (crib sheets littered the stage). The on-stage friends included Ivan Julian (of Richard Hell & the Voidoids), Garland Jeffreys, "Handsome" Dick Manitoba, Bowery Electric owner Jesse Malin, Amy Cook, Kristeen Young, Tony Visconti (who also turned up at Alejandro's City Winery shows), James Mastro, Nicholas Tremulis and Fiona McBain. Alejandro Escovedo's new record, Street Songs of Love, stood up through the diverse interpretations: from Kristeen Young's octave-jumping belting to Ivan Julian's snarling drawl. Though the show's tightest moment caught Alejandro locked in with his band, the Sensitive Boys, like on the show-opening "Always A Friend," from his previous album, Real Animal. For the encore, a swamped stage worked through the Rolling Stones' "Beast of Burden" and Mott the Hopple's "All the Young Dudes."

After the set, the band and friends hung around upstairs to catch themselves on Letterman. Our photographer Lori Baily hung around too, and her pictures from the entire show are below.

Two nights later (7/23), Alejandro invited a different guest up on stage for his show at New Jersey's Stone Pony. Bruce Springsteen joined for their Street Songs duet ("Faith"), an Alejandro song covered by the Boss in the past ("Always A Friend") and (like at Bowery Electric) "Beast of Burden."

Check out "Silver Cloud" from the new album, posted above. Videos from NJ & Letterman, and more pictures from NYC, below...

Continue reading "Alejandro Escovedo & special guests played Bowery Electric, Stone Pony (w/ the Boss) & Letterman (pics & video) "

Joey Ramone's annual birthday party is happening at Irving Plaza on Wednesday, May 19th. The lineup has been announced and acts in attendance include Hank III, Ronnie Spector,Batusis (NY Dolls' Sylvain Sylvain and Cheetah Chrome of Rocket From the Tombs/Dead Boys), Sic F*ucks, ex-Voidoid Ivan Julian and The Independents, Heap. Tickets are on sale (the show is a benefit for lymphoma research).

Sylvain Sylvain also has a show coming up with the Dolls in Brooklyn in May. David Johansen plays a solo one in June.

Videos of those acts, the Ramones and Adam West's original Batusi are below...

Continue reading "Joey Ramone's 2010 birthday show lineup announced"

Celebrating what would have been the 58th birthday of punk icon Joey Ramone, the annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash will take place Tuesday, May 19th at The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza. Mickey Leigh, event organizer and brother of Joey Ramone, has announced that, as part of the 9th annual Bash, fans will be treated to a special advance sneak peek listen to rough mixes of never-before-heard Joey Ramone solo recordings. Various producers, including long-time Ramones producer Ed Stasium, are currently preparing tracks for a full album worth of material, slated for posthumous release at the end of the year.

This year's headliners are Fishbone and Supersuckers. The spectacular party will conclude with The Friends Of Joey featuring Richie Ramone, Handsome Dick Manitoba, Jean Beauvoir, Ivan Julian, George Tabb, Al Maddy and Mickey Leigh. Also appearing are Death and Rough Francis (both bands were the subject of a feature story in the New York Times on March 12), Uncle Monk (featuring Tommy Ramone), Bebe Buell, and Tom Clark & The High Action Boys. As the audience enters the venue they will once again be greeted by musician Tracy Thornton, playing Ramones songs on the steel drum. And, in what has become a Birthday Bash tradition, Sean O'Sullivan's Punk Pipers will round out the night on the bagpipes. The fete will be emceed by Matt Pinfield and Peter Aschner. Additional surprises are expected at the evening's events...Net proceeds from the Bash go to support the Joey Ramone Foundation for Lymphoma Research.

Tickets are on sale now. The annual event, organized by Joey's mom and brother, has been happening since 2001.

Videos from the 2008 party, below...

Continue reading "2009 Joey Ramone Birthday Bash lineup & new album info "