JDub Records just sent out this email:

Dear Friends, Fans, and Supporters,

I have to share some unfortunate news. After almost 9 years in operation, JDub's Board of Directors has decided to wind down the organization.

The decision to close was entirely financial, as the challenges facing our business model are too great to overcome. We were never a normal record label, nor were we ever just a record company. We always knew that in order to discover, curate, and promote unique, proud Jewish voices and role models in the mainstream we would need to rely, at least in part, on philanthropic support. In addition to buying our albums, sharing the music with your friends, and attending our concerts and events, so many of you supported us as donors, talent scouts, and stream teamers. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Join them for one final event Sunday night on the roof of the 14th St Y. The sad letter is continued below....

Continue reading "JDub Records, RIP"

Festival of Strikes: A Benefit for JDub is taking place at Brooklyn Bowl on November 30th (Haukkah eve) featuring JDub artists The Sway Machinery, DeLeon, and other special guests to be added. Eugene Mirman will host. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon.

Highline Ballroom is hosting the 4th Annual Menorah Horah on December 4th. The burlesque-filled lineup for the night includes The Schlep Sisters, Minnie Tonka, Darlinda Just Darlinda, Jonny Porkpie, Sapphire Jones, Dottie Lux, Angelique A'lamode, Etta-May Freeway, Lady Rizo, DJ Mikey Palms and host Seth Herzog

And speaking of Hanukkah (December 1-9, 2010), much like Yo La Tengo, Matisyahu is returning to New York City with Hanukah shows this year, but in a slightly less ambitious way . He'll be here for the two nights preceding Hanukkah and only stay for three actual Hanukah dates (instead of playing all 8 nights in NYC like he did in the past). This time he'll finish up his own "Festival of Light" in other east coast states. Tickets are on sale now for 11/29 at Brooklyn Bowl, 11/30 at Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Tally Hall, 12/4 at Music Hall of Williamsburg with DJ Rekha, and 12/5 at Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Moon Taxi. Other dates include 12/1 at Northern Lights - Clifton Park, NY, 12/6 at Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA, 12/7 at Ram's Head Live - Baltimore, MD, 12/8 at Theatre of Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA, and 12/9 at State Theatre - Portland, ME.

Speaking of artists linked to the jam band scene playing multiple nights in NYC with various openers, The Disco Biscuits are playing three nights at Terminal 5, and they definitely win in the opener department. Raekwon is opening up the 12/27 show. DFA artist Holy Ghost! is opening on 12/28 and Crystal Method is 12/29. Tickets are on sale now.

And while we're on the subject, Grateful Dead tribute band, Dark Star Orchestra, is playing The Wellmont Theatre on December 28. Tickets are on sale now.

Tickets are also still on sale for Passion Pit's New Years shows on December 30 and December 31 at The Wellmont Theatre.

The Roots are playing 3 sets on New Years Eve at Brooklyn Bowl.

Guided By Voices, Sharon Jones, Patti Smith, Phish, and Drive-By Truckers, and Gov't Mule are all also playing New Years Eve shows in NYC.

But sorry for getting ahead of myself, you probably still don't even know what you're doing on Halloween.

DOWNLOAD: Macaroons - Hurry Up And Light The Candle (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Phofo - Light That Menorah (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: DJ BC vs. Adam Sandler - Chaukah Song (Goy Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Doc Mo Shé - Hanukkah Homeboy (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Chutzpah - Chanukkah's Da Bomb (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Smooth-E - Hanukkah Hey Ya! (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Woody Guthrie - Hanukkah Dance [Alternate Take] (1:24)
DOWNLOAD: Songs in the key of Hanukkah - Dreidel (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: DJ BALAGAN - "Chalutzei Ketzev" (Israeli 70s Beat Mix) (MP3)

Hanukkah started Friday night, but due to the sabbath, Matisyahu (and his non-Jewish openers) kicked off his annual eight-night run on Thursday night (12/10). He continues tonight (12/12):

12/10 @ Webster Hall (w/ Glitch Mob)
12/12 @ Webster Hall (w/ John Brown's Body)
12/13 @ Webster Hall (w/ Cage)
12/14 @ Webster Hall (w/ Brothers Past)
12/16 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (w/ Rana)
12/17 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (w/ Kid Koala)
12/19 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (w/ Travis McCoy)
12/20 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (w/ Kevin Divine)

Tickets for all shows are on sale.

Yo La Tengo often plays eight Hanukkah shows too, but unfortunately not this year. Grab a shirt from their 2008 shows HERE.

City Winery is celbrating "Hanukkah Three Ways" with three separate shows in a row on Sunday (12/13).

12/13 {12pm} $5/$10/$25 GA
The Macaroons
Special family show

12/13 {3:30pm} $20 - GA
Yehonatan Geffen
The writer/lyricist/playwright performs his works

12/13 {9pm} $15 GA
Keren Ann
Join the chanteuse for a rare New York show.

The Keren Ann show may be sort of rare, but it's actually just one of two she has scheduled in NYC during Hanukkah. Grab a Macaroons MP3 above.

Union Hall hosts some holiday-themed burlesque on Thursday, December 17th ("Hanukkah Hotness, Solstice Sexiness, Xmas Exploits, Yuletide Yumminess, and New Year Nudity, courtesy of your host GiGi La Femme with Anita Cookie, Jonny Porkpie, Nasty Canasta, Sizzle Dizzle, and Doc Wasabassco!"). Flyer below.

Speaking of Hanukkah Hotness, "Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad" is running at the Bleecker Street Theatre.

-"Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad" is a night of comedy, music and burlesque, told by the gals who learned to smoke at Hebrew School, got drunk at their Bat-Mitzvahs and would rather have more schtuppa than the chupah. These badass chosen chicks boldly dare to deconstruct years of tradition, expectations and guilt in a fast-paced vaudeville extravaganza.

Southpaw in Brooklyn also gets in on the action with the Menorah Horah feat. Golem & burlesque by The Schlep Sisters. Tickets and more info HERE.

Also tonight/Saturday (12/12), but at the new Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, it's the Major League Dreidel 2009 Tournament. Gods of Fire will be performing songs from their new album, Hanukkah Gone Metal.

Also at Southpaw, but not until Christmas Eve (12/24), BrooklynVegan is proud to be a sponsor of Jewltide 7, brought to you by JDub and Jewcy with "Boogaloo, Funk, Soul, Menorah Lighting, Soul Clap, Brooklyn Rhythms, Donuts". Dan Saks (aka DeLeon) will be performing with a DJ set by Jonathan Toubin. Tickets are on sale. Heebonism goes down the same night at Fontana's.

And as previously noted, you can also catch DeLeon Wednesday night (12/16) at Knitting Factory. Pharaoh's Daughter is also on the bill, and it's part of the The 5th Annual Sephardic Music Festival which runs from December 12th through the 19th with events at 92YTribeca, Union Hall, Joe's Pub and other places. Full schedule below...

What else?

Continue reading "your guide to Hanukkah events in NYC (2009 shows include Sephardic Music Fest, DeLeon, Jewltide, burlesque & more) "

DOWNLOAD: Woody Guthrie - Hanukkah Dance [Alternate Take] (1:24)
DOWNLOAD: Yo La Tengo - I Feel Like Going Home (live on KCMP) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: One on One with Jackie Hoffman (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Songs in the key of Hanukkah - Dreidel (MP3) (info)
DOWNLOAD: DJ BALAGAN - "Chalutzei Ketzev" (Israeli 70s Beat Mix) (MP3)

Hanukkah runs from sunset, December 21 to sunset, December 29, 2008. The first Day of Hanukkah is December 22. If you haven't figured it it out by now, that means Christmas happens during Hannukah this year.

Over the course of the eight days (and before and after), many candles will be lit and many Hanukkah-themed events will be happening in and around New York City. Many will involve music. Here are a few...

Yo La Tengo will be repeating their tradition of playing all eight nights of Hanukkah at Maxwell's in Hoboken. Not surpringly, advanced tickets are all already sold out at Ticketweb, but to quote the band, "Tickets may still be available in person at Tunes in Hoboken and/or Other Music in NYC". Stay tuned for opener information as it's announced. Yo La Tengo are also playing a show in New Jersey on New Years Eve.

Also playing eights nights (except not all of them are on Hanukkah because he's taking the Sabbath off): Matisyahu. Tickets are still on sale for these shows that take place at Webster Hall in Manhattan and Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Openers include The LeeVees, Asher Roth and Little Jackie.

Southpaw in Park Slope is hosting Jewltide 6 featuring DeLeon on Christmas Eve. "DeLeon plays 15th Century Spanish indie rock infused with the deeply mysterious and entrancing cadences of the ancient Sephardic tradition." Tickets are on sale. This show is also part of a larger DeLeon/JDub national Hanukkah tour. All dates at the very bottom of this post.

NYC event listings continued below...

Continue reading "a guide to NYC HANNUKAH shows & concerts, MP3's & stuff "

Golem

Les Breastfeeders @ Magnetic Field (more)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* FREE STUFF
* Sic Alps @ Union Pool
* Meth Teeth @ Don Pedro's
* Les Breastfeeders @ Europa
* Peasant @ Rockwood Music Hall
* Santogold, Diplo & A-Trak @ Summerstage
* Celebration @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (free)
* Liars, Fuck Buttons & Team Robespierre @ McCarren Pool
* Cavalera Conspiracy & Dilinger Escape Plan @ Irving Plaza
* Golem, The Sway Machinery, Michael Showalter, DeLeon & Soulico @ Prospect Park

Siren Festival and other weekend show coverage coming soon.

What else?

Thursday, July 20 at 6pm

Celebrate Brooklyn & JDub Records present

GOLEM / SWAY MACHINERY / MICHAEL SHOWALTER / DELEON / SOULICO / & Special Guests

...that and the rest is now officially posted.