DOWNLOAD: Prince Rama - "Rest In Peace" (MP3)

Prince Rama at MHOW in August (more by Erez Avissar)

Prince Rama are set to release their upcoming LP Trust Now on October 4 via Paw Tracks. You can grab the album track "Rest In Peace" above. Prince Rama are also putting out karaoke videos leading up to the album's release with other artists singing tracks off the new album. You can check out videos of G Lucas Crane of Woods singing "Incarnation" and Janka Nabay singing "Summer of Love" below.

They'll tour in support of the album opening for the equally otherworldly Gang Gang Dance on their GGD's previously announced tour. It hasn't been revealed if Prince Rama open GGD's October 22 Bowery Ballroom show during CMJ (which tickets are still on sale for), but Prince Rama's dates do list a CMJ show that day.

As mentioned, Prince Rama also have a residency at Issue Project Room scheduled. That residency includes a show on Thursday (9/8) at the Brooklyn venue. Admission is free and RSVP is open. According to Issue Project Room's site:

2011 Artist-in-Residence Prince Rama will transform ISSUE Project Room into a point of origins. They will construct a "sacred space" using gathered matter from off-site urban wilds of Brooklyn. Audience members will be invited to build their own instruments and utilize them in an extended jam session open to anyone who wishes to attend (regardless of musical skill). This aims to investigate the utopian symbology of "the jam session" as a poetic reenactment and microcosmic creation of an ideal democratic society. Cut off from the rest of the world, yet wholly imbedded within it, this ritual space becomes a NO PLACE.

All dates and videos below...

Continue reading "Prince Rama release 'karaoke videos', touring w/ GGD, playing other shows too (dates)"

They were optimistic, but the two-day "Out In the Streets" festival that was scheduled to take place at Brooklyn Fireproof this weekend is now cancelled too. Bands affected include NewVillager, Mi Ami, Lemonade, Janka Nabay, The Forms, Milagres, and many more. PS1 still holding out.

Black Pus at Summerstage in July (more by David Andrako)

As mentioned in What's Going on Thursday?, High Places play Glasslands tonight (8/18) with Soft Circle (featuring Hisham Bharoocha formerly of Lightning Bolt and Black Dice), Zambri, and Driphouse. Tickets are still on sale.

Zambri, who are also on the Glasslands bill tonight, recently signed to Kanine Records. They were set to play Summerscreen in McCarren Park on 8/3 along with a screening of Clueless but the show was rained out. It's since been rescheduled for August 24 at McCarren Park. The band are set to release their debut EP Glossolalia on November 8 via the label. They'll play a record release show at Glasslands on November 3. Tickets for that show are on sale now. Check out the EP's artwork, tracklist, and a teaser video below.

Speaking of Lightning Bolt, Black Pus aka Brian Chippendale of Lightning Bolt, plays Death by Audio on Friday (8/19) with Cosmonauts, Zulus, and Happy New Year.

Happy New Year aka Eleanor Logan of Adult Themes, who is on the DbA bill with Black Pus, also plays Out in the Streets Festival which takes place on August 27 and 28 at Brooklyn Fireproof. Other artists on the festival include NewVillager, Lemonade, Janka Nabay, The Forms, Computer Magic, Magic Mountain, Physical Therapy, Milagres, Mi Ami, and more. A flier for the festival is below.

All dates, video and other stuff below...

Continue reading "High Places, Lightning Bolt, Zambri, Happy New Year, Out in the Streets Fest & more "

Omar Souleyman at Bonnaroo in June (more by Dana (Distortion) Yavin)

Syrian dabke mastermind Omar Souleyman plays Summerstage tonight (7/13) as part of a pretty eccentric lineup. Ratatat headlines the show and Black Pus is also on the bill. The show is sold out.

If you missed out on getting tickets, you'll have another chance to see Omar, who will play a late show tonight (7/13) at Santos Party House afterwards, with a lineup of other "world musicians" (for lack of better terms). Bubu King Janka Nabay is on the bill, along with Azizaman and Rainstick. Tickets for this show are still on sale.

All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Omar Souleyman playing NYC TWICE TODAY & other dates"

After an online leak that included false information about big headliners (like The Strokes, Odd Future, Fleet Foxes, Gayngs, Dan Deacon), and then a promised-but-never-happened announcement about something right after that, NYC show promoters Jelly have officially announced a series of shows at "RockBeach"...

TOPMAN and JELLY have announced their partnership to bring you 'ROCKBEACH'- a brand new festival concept taking place from July to September this summer in the Rockaways of Brooklyn. The series of six free weekend events will deliver the hottest acts and new talent from its brand new home and will also - for the first time ever - offer festival camping for the last three events in the series at the Floyd Bennett Field - the setting of New York's first ever airport.

"After 5 years of Pool Parties in Williamsburg, we are very excited to be moving out to the Aviator Sports Complex near one of our favorite summer destinations, Fort Tilden Beach. We are looking forward to leaving Bedford Ave behind offering an ultimate weekend destination and adventure for all ages." - JELLY

The whole ROCKBEACH experience will deliver weekends of the coolest music and total fun to festival-goers with the likes of slip n slides, dodgeball, beach volleyball and most importantly - swimming pools filled with ice cold water and giant inflatables.

Entry to the festival is free - all festival-goers need to do is register online at WWW.ROCKBEACH.US In addition, there will be a ROCKBEACH festival shuttle bus with roundtrip rides costing $20 - but there are 100 lucky bus tickets up for grabs for each event which can be won by registering online at WWW.ROCKBEACH.US.

The first ROCKBEACH will take place on Saturday 9th July 2011 and will include performances from Penguin Prison, Wild Yaks, Janka Nabay and The Bubu Gang, and Monogold.

Continue reading "Jelly announces RockBeach shows"

Dan Deacon @ Merkin Concert Hall (more by David Andrako)

The Vivian Girls show at 285 Kent takes place four days before the space hosts green-skull-wielder Dan Deacon, who'll join Moss of Aura, Janka Nabay, and Friends (the band called "Friends"). Advance tickets for the May 21st show at 285 Kent Ave are on sale at Desert Island Books (Metropolitan Ave @ Union Ave).

The Brooklyn show is part of a three-night NYC run for Deacon who is also playing the next edition of One Step Beyond at the American Museum of Natural History on May 20th. Tickets are on sale.

May 22nd is when Dan plays Butthole Surfers covers at Bowery Ballroom as part of the sold out This Band Could Be Your Life concert.

Dan Deacon is also on board for the previously-mentioned B.O.M.B. Fest in Hartford, CT on 5/28, with Weezer, Snoop Dogg, New Pornographers, Dum Dum Girls and others.

Speaking of Janka Nabay, he'll also join The Bubu Gang for a show at Rock Shop on July 1. Tickets are on sale.

All Dan Deacon tour dates, more details on those 285 Kent show, and a new video for "Surprise Stefani," below...

Continue reading "Dan Deacon playing the Museum of Natural History, 285 Kent, Bowery Ballroom & B.O.M.B. Fest "

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"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

Cassie & Justin as the White Stripes

"Todd P's Halloween party took place [Sunday] night at the Ridgewood Masonic Temple. most people were probably still recovering from Halloween observed the night before, but a respectable amount of ghouls and tricksters made their way to the show, headlined by so-hot-right-now hip hop ensemble Das Racist.

Halloween is a time when you can see what people are really about. They're either in a pre-packaged costume or they're trying too hard or they are legitimately clever and good-spirited. And for Das Racist, it can be all of the above all the time. These guys walk the lines between irony and sincerity; between novelty and legitimacy; between gimmickry and credibility. And while some people show up at the party dressed as a can of Four Loko, others as zombies or superheroes, Das Racist can just take the floor as themselves and still be baffling and maybe a little frightening.

This set was, by all definitions, a shit show. You know when your friends have an inside joke and they are cracking up about it, and the joke is sort of independently funny, but not nearly as funny as your friends' uproar would suggest? Combine that feeling with the feeling of seeing your little brother get way too drunk at a party you invited him to. That was what the stage presence of Das Racist was like. And it was a fucking party." [Free Williamsburg]

Blissed Out went on right at 8:00 along with the doors opening which meant not many people around to hear their set, but the 9-band show filled up as the night went on. More pictures below...

Continue reading "Cassie did play Jack! - Todd P/Panache Halloween show pics w/ the Intelligence, Das Racist, Pictureplane, Beets & more "

DOWNLOAD: The Intelligence - Thank You God for Fixing the Tape Machine (MP3)

Sunday October 31st @ RIDGEWOOD MASONIC TEMPLE
:: PANACHE + TODD P HALLOWEEN PARTAY
:: DAS RACIST
:::: PICTUREPLANE
:::::: the Intelligence
:::::::: the Beets
:::::::::: Cassie & Justin from the Babies --- as WHITE STRIPES
:::::::::::: Janka Nabay
:::::::::::::: Blissed Out
:::::::::::::::: more to come!!!!
| RIDGEWOOD MASONIC TEMPLE ]
1054 Bushwick Ave @ Gates Ave | Bushwick, Brooklyn
J,Z-Gates Ave, L,M-Myrtle/Wyckoff | 8pm | all ages | $13 in costume - $15 w/out

As mentioned all the way back in September, The Intelligence are currently on tour and will also play a NYC show at Cake Shop one day before Halloween with German Measles and The Beets.

By the way, Das Racist also play Southpaw, with Homeboy Sandman, on November 5th.

Updated Intelligence dates below...

Continue reading "The Intelligence coming, Cassie Ramone playing Meg White (at Panache & Todd P's Halloween Partay)"

by Bill Pearis

Yo La Tengo @ Pitchfork Fest 2009 (more by Joseph Xu)

What, it's Tuesday already? CMJ is here and I'm not really ready. Can we postpone for a week? No? All right. Here we go. Let's not go too crazy tonight (10/19), there's still four more days of this to come.

DAYTIME

Pretty much all the free daytime action happens on Ludlow St. today. Biggest among them is The Music Slut's party at Pianos, which features the dark synths of Brahms, the cheery synths of Hooray for Earth, plus Oberhofer (who play our day party on Friday), Young the Giant, Pearl and the Beard, and more. Party starts at noon, with the first band (Vancouver's Yukon Blonde) on at 1PM.

Moving down the street, Paper Garden Records has a showcase at The Living Room, with Denmark's Alcoholic Faith Mission, two bands from Toronto (Freedom or Death, Kidstreet), Emmanuel and the Fear, Motel Motel, Young Mammals and Saadi. First band is on at 1PM.

And then at Cake Shop, it's the Flower Booking/CapeShok party with Million Young, Sunglasses and Azalia Banks. This one starts a little later -- first band is on at 4PM.

And somewhere between day and night is the free New Zealand showcase at Le Poisson Rouge which starts at 5:45PM. I especially recommend you check out Lawrence Arabia, whose material ranges from delicate folk to ELO style orch-pop. Also playing:  electropop artist Zowie, Kids of 88, Street Chant, Ruby Frost and Electric Wire Hustle. Did I mention it's free? You do need to RSVP if you don't have a badge.

NIGHTTIME

Big ticket shows for tonight: Yo La Tengo play for free at the official CMJ kickoff show at Brooklyn Bowl with Screaming Females (who play our showcase Thursday night) and DOM (who play our Friday day party); Former Afgan Whigs frontman Greg Dulli is at Bowery Ballroom with Craig Wedren; and Jenny and Johnny, Wild Nothing, Times New Viking, Happy Birthday and La Sera (Kickball Katy of  Vivian Girls) at Irving Plaza;

If you wanna dance, you might want to head to Highline Ballroom for a night bands that sound like they could be on a Kitsune Maison compilation: the electro-soul sounds of Dan Black, Italo-disco lovers The Golden Filter, helium voiced Neon Hitch, Denver's The Chain Gang of 1974, and more.

UPDATE: "Chain Gang has dropped off tonight's show due to food poisoning. All other shows are set to occur as scheduled." (10/20 @ Maxwell's, 10/22 @ Cameo, 10/23 @ Santos)

For hip hop, it's Duck Down Music vs. Blacksmith at LPR.

And tonight at Cake Shop is your only chance this week to catch The Billy Nayer Show (11PM), the live band behind such cool sci-fi western musicals as The American Astronaut and last year's Stingray Sam. (Frontman Cory McAbee also directs and stars in them.) They're a one-of-a-kind, and playing as part of the Panache Booking showcase that also features Audacity, Dinowalrus, Onra, Janka Nabay, O'Death and Gary Wilson.

There's tons more shows, obviously. But that's what looks interesting to me. What are you going to see? Flyers and day party set times are below.

Continue reading "CMJ 2010 - Bill's Tuesday picks & stuff (Yo La Tengo, The Billy Nayer Show, Greg Dulli, day parties & more) "

Avi Buffalo @ South Street Seaport (more by Chris La Putt)

Tickets for the !!! shows at Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 6 and October 7 are on sale now. 2 Day Passes are also available.

Tickets are still on sale for the official BrooklynVegan CMJ showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 21st. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Blow, Yuck, Young Man, and a special guest, are all on the bill.

Tickets are on sale for the Grinderman show at Nokia Theatre.

Tickets are on sale for the Corrosion of Conformity shows at Starland Ballroom and Highline Ballroom.

Tickets are still on sale for the September 6th Sleep show at Brooklyn Masonic Temple (September 8th is sold out).

Tickets are on sale for the Unkle show at Webster Hall.

Tickets are now on sale for BOTH Man or Astroman? shows happening in NYC.

Avi Buffalo are playing The Mercury Lounge on October 13. Tickets are on sale now.

VV Brown is playing The Bowery Ballroom on October 24. Tickets are on sale now.

Mike Krum is playing The Mercury Lounge on September 23. Tickets are on sale now.

Cypress Hill is playing Nokia Theatre on August 20th. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets for the Here We Go Magic show at Bowery Ballroom are on sale now.

Bonobo is playing Webster Hall on November 8. Tickets are on sale now.

Robert Randolph and the Family Band are playing Terminal 5 on November 13. Tickets are on sale now.

Tickets for the Kate Nash shows at Terminal 5 and The Wellmont Theater are on sale.

Janka Nabay and the Bubu Gang played Eagle Street on August 21st. Video from that show below...

Continue reading "!!!, CoC, Grinderman, Unkle, Man or Astroman?, Avi Buffalo, Kate Nash, VV Brown & other tickets on sale"

photos by Ryan Muir, words by Rachel Kowal

Casiotone

When I saw a man wearing skin tight gold lamé leggings, a sports jersey, and a jean jacket mingling in the crowd at Monster Island Basement Sunday night, I didn't think too much of it. But as it turns out, the wildly dressed mystery man was John O'Regan, the man behind Diamond Rings, the evening's first opener.

After taking copious notes on John's appearance, I was pleased to hear that the Toronto-based glam pop artist seems to take his music fairly seriously. Sure, he's working with prefab beats and samples, but he also juggles guitar and keyboard duty, which makes his songs more relevant in a live setting. Then there's John's voice, which is surprisingly sonorous. His appearance may be over-the-top and flamboyant, but his smooth, deep vocals level out his music nicely.

Next up in Todd P's bag of tricks was the Sierra-Leonean musician Janka Nabay and his spirited group of musicians and back-up singers. Janka's set triggered an instant dance party both on stage and in the audience. The two women on stage left the bulk of the vocal responsibilities with Janka, but their energetic dancing complimented the tribal beats and celebratory music well.

Following Janka Nabay's lively set, Owen Ashworth, the man behind the moniker Casiotone For the Painfully Alone, walked on stage and began to methodically unpack a series of keyboards, samplers, and mixers. After he had finished assembling his one-man-band, he leaned into the mic. "I'd be happy to start if we want to do the changeover," he said over the din of the house music.

"Thanks so much for coming folks. I really appreciate it," he said as he warmed up. "I really like playing in Brooklyn. I'm not just saying that. Do not tell Albany that. [...] I just basically booked this short tour as an excuse to come visit friends and hang out in New York for a few days." And with that, he launched into a couple of newer song from last year's Vs. Children.

Unlike a number of artists who rely on laptops to generate significant portions of their songs, Owen builds most of the layers on stage, by navigating through a mass of wires, knobs, and keys - his arms often crossing to get the job done. There are definitely perks to seeing an artist who has been creating music for the better part of thirteen years. Owen has an impressive body of songs to pull from, and constantly finds ways to rework them in a live setting. Casiotone songs often fall between the 2 and 3-minute mark, but Owen manages to pack a story into each song thanks to his creative, humorous, and candid lyrics. Owen makes music akin to the heartfelt and often painfully (but endearingly) awkward mumblecore films Mark Duplass and Andrew Bujalski make.

Then, about midway through his set, Owen dropped the bomb. "Thanks to Todd for making the show happen. This is my first time here [at Monster Island] and I'm going to be playing here again in October and that's actually going to be the last Casiotone show in New York. I'm going to stop this in December... and I'll do something else after that."

After this big announcement, Owen began to take requests, and he was immediately met by an avalanche of song titles. "Cold White Christmas!" "Grandmother's Pearls!" "We Have Mice!" "Parthenon!" "When You Were Mine, please!" After just a few seconds, Owen jumped back in. "Alright, alright. Those are good suggestions, thanks." The crowd may have been relatively small, but there's something to be said of fans who actually care enough about the music to have an arsenal full of requests to call out when prompted. "Grandmother's Pearls," ended up winning this time. After each song, audience members called out more and more requests, and Owen usually obliged - even with "Young Shields," which he initially claimed was too bass-heavy to play. Owen closed out his set with "White Jetta" before stepping off stage and making his way through the crowd, receiving pats on the back as he went.

Be sure to check out Casiotone for the Painfully Alone while you still can. The last New York show is on October 15th at Monster Island Basement (all dates on that "final tour) still TBA).

More pictures and Casiotone's setlist from Monster Island, below..

Continue reading "Casiotone for the Painfully Alone played one of his last NYC shows @ Monster Island w/ Janka Nabay & Diamond Rings (pics, setlist) "

by Andrew Frisicano

Diamond Rings sporting peacock feathers @ Wrongbar in Toronto

At Wrongbar in Toronto on Friday, 6/18 (before Mudhoney played at Horseshoe Tavern), One Big Silence, the new label from Fucked Up's Mike Haliechuk, hosted an NXNE showcase heavy on synths with dark, atmospheric duo TRUST, dramatic singer Katie Stelmanis (who backed up Zola Jesus the night before), glammy Diamond Rings (whose new 12" is the first release by the label) and Big Freedia (whose pictures you already saw). Pictures of the costumed Diamond Rings, who played to a packed and dancing hometown crowd that night, are in this post.

Now NYC can get a taste. As mentioned a few times already, Diamond Rings play that show at Glasslands, tonight, July 16th with Caribou (DJ Set), Class Actress, Teengirl Fantasy and Idiot Glee (RSVP), and if you miss it, there's one more chance to catch the tall Canadian in town on Sunday...

====| SUNDAY 7/18 @ MONSTER ISLAND |====

:: Casiotone for the Painfully Alone
:::: Janka Nabay & the Bubu Gang
:::::: Diamond Rings

| MONSTER ISLAND |
128 River St @ Metropolitan Ave | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
L-Bedford, G-Metropolitan, JM-Marcy | 8pm | all ages | $10

All DR dates, the new basket ball-themed (I told you he was tall) Diamond Rings video that features a cameo from Fucked Up's Damian Abraham, and more NXNE pictures below....

Continue reading "Diamond Rings is here - dates, video & some pics from NXNE"

photos by Benjamin Lozovsky, words by Andrew Frisicano

no babies in sight this time..

Spain's Delorean played a packed, celebratory free set to a crowd of New Yorkers at the Stuy Town Oval on Wednesday (7/7), appropriately, the same day Spain advanced to the World Cup Finals. A vuvuzela sat on stage (and mercifully remained silent) (unlike at the recent Peelander-Z show). Pictures from that show are in this post.

Delorean continues their NYC stay with a DJ set tonight (7/8) at Littlefield with resident DJs Raspberry Jones and Treeboy.

After that, Delorean is playing a sold-out Bowery Ballroom show on Saturday, July 10th. And then they'll be back for the end-of-the-season Pool Party on August 29th (two headliners TBA).

Previously, Delorean kicked off PS1's Warm up series with Janka Nabay, Glasser and others. And Janka played with another Spaniard, El Guincho, at (Le) Poisson Rouge last night (7/7) - which was El Guincho's second show of the night (earlier he played the SummerStage).

Janka continues his own week of busy shows with a rooftop gig in Bushwick (details below) on Friday and a World Cup Finals party at Zebulon on Sunday with Baye Kouyate. Then he's back at Zebulon with Cafe Antarsia Ensemble on July 31st. If you've noticed, Janka has a new band, the Bubu Gang, which features members of Skeletons and Zs.

Another related Zebulon night, its monthly Cool Places Sound System dance party, put together by Tony from Zs/Bubu Gang and Dean from True Panther Sounds (Janka's label), is happening next on July 17th.

Janka Nabay's new video for his new song "Ah Mufan" (which you can buy here), his tour dates, and more pictures of Delorean at the Oval are below...

Continue reading "Delorean played Stuy Town (pics), Spain beat Germany, Janka Nabay played LPR w/ El Guincho (and is playing more dates)"

Delorean and NYC go together. Starting with CMJ the Spanish band has played here many times in many places and will continue to do so this summer. Most recently the group played sold out shows at Glasslands and Pianos. Coming up they have a sold out show at Bowery Ballroom (July 10), a free show in Stuy Town (July 7), a free show at the Williamsburg Waterfront (Aug 29), AND a $15 show that is PS1's "Warm Up" season opener this Saturday, July 3rd...

July 3rd
Delorean / True Panther Sounds, Barcelona, Spain (live)
Janka Nabay and the Bubu Gang / Sierra Leone/Brooklyn (live)
Glasser / True Panther Sounds, Los Angeles/New York (live)
John Talabot / Permanent Vacation/Hivern, Barcelona, Spain (DJ set)
Korallreven / Acéphale Records, Sweden (DJ set)

Pictured above is Janka Nabay (he is the Bubu King!). I took the picture during CMJ at Pianos. It was the True Panther showcase. Glasser and Delorean were also on the bill. AT the time it hadn't been announced yet that Delorean signed to True Panther (which is now part of Matador which is part of Beggars). Delorean's album, Subiza, is out now (on True Panther).

PS1 flyer below...

Continue reading "Delorean (and Janka Nabay) help kick off PS1 this weekend (and play Stuy Town & Bowery & the Pool...)"

Delorean @ Glasslands in June (more by Chris Doss)

MoMA's annual summer season of parties at PS1 in Long Island City, aka Warm Up, returns on July 3rd and there are lot of familiar names on this year's lineup. That is due in part to this year's curators being Dean Bein of True Panther Records, Jon Galkin from DFA, Kris Chen (XL), Ronan from LPR, writer Brandon Stusoy (Stereogum, etc), and Robin from Tri Angle. Check out the full schedule, directions and more info below...

Continue reading "2010 PS1 Warm Up schedule announced (Delorean, MEN, Big Freedia, Questlove, DFA, Animal Collective DJs & more) "

words & photos by Benjamin Lozovsky

"What we bring is heritage," said a gracious Tony Allen Tuesday night at the Oval in Stuyvesant Town. "Thank you for tripping with us."

Quite a few attendees of the free concert, part of the Music on The Oval performance series and the first of three shows Allen is/was playing in the NYC area, had probably not experienced much or any of the heritage of which Allen spoke.

Fela Kuti's longtime drummer and according to Brian Eno, "perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived," played to a munchkin-filled audience that had about as many temper tantrums (but far less chair throwing) as the canceled Drake/Hanson Seaport show that nearly turned into a riot the day before. But age or cultural backgrounds didn't matter as the father of afro-beat percussion illuminated his contributions to the music and cultural landscape to a sea of dads and a new generation of eager ears.

Even as age 70, Allen was effortless in his drumming, launching into understated fills and precise syncopation all while singing lead. A self taught drummer steeped in both western and African percussion, his jazz influences were obvious, categorized by a technical ability and suaveness that has yet to be matched within the Afrobeat genre.

After playing another free show at Metrotech in Brooklyn today (happening as this is being posted), Allen brings his Afrobeat Orchestra to Le Poisson Rouge tonight for a slightly older crowd. Janka Nabay is also on the bill of the show that doesn't get started until 11:30pm (6/17). Tickets are still available.

More pictures from Stuy Town below...

Continue reading "Tony Allen played Stuy Town (pics), plays LPR late tonight"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Zs - Acres of Skin (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Zs - Diamond Terrifier (Zebrablood remix) (MP3)

Avant-garde band Zs are celebrating their new LP New Slaves (out now on Social Registry) with a show at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn tonight (5/11), and they've brought along a pretty amazing cast of characters to pad the show. Kicking off at 8PM, the Brooklyn band will be joined by noise collective Excepter, guitar god Mick Barr and synth band Silk Flowers with river-dredging vocals, in addition to Dutty Artz DJs Matt Shadetek & Lamin. Tickets are still available.

It's one of two NYC shows on the calendar for Zs, with the second taking place June 26th at Issue Project Room with david linton: bicameral research sound & projection system.

New Slaves marks Zs' first full-length LP on Social Registry, after dropping their Music of the Modern White EP on the label last year. The band recently debuted the track and a video for "Acres of Skin". Download that track above, and check out its video below.

The band also sent along an exclusive new remix of their song "Diamond Terrifier" done up by Zebrablood of Excepter (who play their show tonight). The result is a 12-minute dancefloor-from-hell take on the breathy 13-minute drone-like original; don't listen alone with the lights off.

That song figures into the band's plans for future, which include a record of New Slaves remixes with contributions expected from Brian Degraw (Gang Gang Dance), Gabe Andruzzi (The Rapture), Genesis P-orridge (Throbbing Gristle/Psychic Tv) Jim Thirwell (Foetus), Dutty Artz DJs, Zebrablood (Excepter) and others. They plan on touring Europe in late July/early August.

More on what's in the works for Zs and their sax player/community-mover-and-shaker Sam Hillmer (straight from Sam's mouth) - including the last concert of the Real Bushwick/Bushwick Real series on June 4th with Janka Nabay, nine11thesaurus and more, and another Maze, which he says is being planned for fall 2011, and will be constructed of chain link fences outside - is posted below...

Continue reading "the Zs record is out - MP3, a new remix, show tonight w/ Excepter & other dates & Sam Hillmer news"

photo by Jane Richey

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars played an intimate acoustic set at the University of Vermont's Ira Allen Chapel on Tuesday [4/6], celebrating the release of their new album "Rise and Shine," from Charlotte's Cumbancha record label, and preparing for their performance at Higher Ground's Showcase Lounge [on Wed 4/7].

About 100 people gathered in the chapel to watch a short excerpt from the film, "Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars," [which tells the story of their experiences in Sierra Leone's brutal civil war and the formation of the band]....After the screening, the band came out and played a couple of songs....The band took a quick break to answer questions from the audience about their music and the film, but jumped back into more music aafter only three short questions. The pews in the Ira Allen Chapel didn't allow the audience much room to dance, but Alhadji Jeffrey Camara (aka Black Nature) took the microphone soon after the Q&A had ended and got everyone on their feet.

Bandleader/ Songwriter Reuben Koroma said that despite the long flight, the band was not tired, and was excited for [Wednesday's] show. [Burlington Free Press]

They tour in support of their new record, Rise & Shine, which came out March 23rd on Cumbancha (and which you can preview here).

The group visits NYC for a show on Wednesday, April 14th at Highline Ballroom. Also on the bill are Bajah & The Dry Eye Crew and True Panther act and "Bubu King", Janka Nabay. Tickets are still on sale.

Clips from the doc and new album promos, album cover art and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars released a new album & are now on tour (dates include Highline Ballroom)"

Most awesome show tonight for @truepanther with Lemonade + Tanlines + Blondes + Pictureplane and new fav beats man Janka Nabay.-ilirjana

photos by Erez Avissar

Tanlines...

Tanlines, Lemonade and Janka Nabay played a co-release party at Monster Island on Friday, March 5th for each of their three EPs. Tanlines' Settings is out March 9th (today) on True Panther Sounds/Matador Records, as are Lemonade's Pure Moods and Janka's Bubu King EPs. Also at the show were Pictureplane and Blondes.

The show took place right before Pictureplane played two more NYC shows, but with Washed Out and Small Black (the beginning of the three bands' tour together).

Tanlines play NYC again this Friday (3/12) at Eyebeam's Mixer: Olympiad (540 W 21st St) with Maluca and many many visual artists ("Artists, designers, musicians, engineers, and hackers alike will stage events that evoke the passion, the drive, the danger, and the majesty of competitive sport and mass spectacle. Join one of the five competing nations, and race for Olympic glory!") Tickets are on sale.

Lemonade is on tour with MNDR and These Are Powers, and plays Mercury Lounge on march 29th with Delorean and Brahms (tickets are on sale).

Most of the band mentioned here are heading to SXSW. Delorean, Lemonade, and Tanlines all play the True Panther showcase Todd P is hosting at Cheer Up Charlie's on March 18th. Tour dates for all of the above bands and more pictures are below...

Continue reading "Tanlines, Lemonade, Janka Nabay, Pictureplane & more played Monster Island (pics), touring (dates including SXSW) "

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Micachu & The Shapes - Lips (MP3)

Micachu & The Shapes @ Pop Montreal 2009 (more by Ryan Muir)

Micachu & The Shapes are touring with Spoon and Deerhunter this April. Before that, they'll be doing a Tuesday, March 30th show at NYC's (Le) Poisson Rouge with Tanlines. Tickets are on sale.

In addition to being at SXSW and MtyMx, Tanlines is playing a release party for its Settings EP (out March 9th on True Panther Sounds) on March 5th at Monster Island Basement. Also on the bill are Lemonade, Janka Nabay and Blondes. (It's not just a release party for Tanlines, you can get entry and 3 new 12"s from Tanlines, Lemonade and Janka Nabay for $25.)

Raisa Khan of Micachu & The Shapes sat in on keys and vocals with her friends UK band Laurel Collective at Hindenburg Mile High Club in London on Saturday, February 6th. The show was part of the band's monthly residency at the spot. Laurel Collective's debut album (actually a mini-album), Feel Good Hits Of A Nuclear Winter, came out in 2008 on Domino. Their more recent material (including a free cover of Micachu's "Golden Phone") is available online. They live up to the collective part of their name with a youthful group feel similar to Los Campesinos or Nana Grizol. Laurel Collective will be at SXSW this year for shows throughout the festival. Videos of their show with Raisa, tour dates and more are below...

Continue reading "Micachu & The Shapes touring w/ Spoon, playing LPR w/ Tanlines, collaborated w/ Laurel Collective who are at SXSW"

DOWNLOAD: The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Violens remix) (MP3)

Ted Leo @ Pier 54 in July (more by Chris La Putt)

Ted Leo is one of many the acts lined up for the space at 107 Suffolk St (alternately called The Suffolk, Flamboyán Theater and Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural Center) during this year's CMJ Festival. The space, which also has a "beach" bar, isn't unaccustomed to shows - it hosted Ponytail in April - but around this time of year its usually set up as a haunted house (now housed elsewhere).

Ted Leo (now on Matador) will be headlining a True Panther/Matador Records showcase at the Suffolk on Friday, October 23rd. The impressive lineup for that night includes Glasser, Harlem, Cold Cave (who just played NYC with Faust) and Lemonade (who have many other CMJ shows, listed below). It's one of the official CMJ shows there (full schedule is below).

That gig is one of two shows set up by True Panther - on Saturday, October 24th they're also putting on a show at Pianos with Restless People (mems. of Professor Murder/Tanlines who debut five days earlier at Santos), Janka Nabay (backed by Javelin), Glasser (backed by Tanlines), Delorean and Lemonade. Flyer below.

Ted Leo also has some other upcoming dates scheduled including a post-CMJ headlining gig at Bowery Ballroom

The Suffolk is also playing host to unofficial, non-badge, first-come, first-served parties. AAM has one on Thursday, October 22nd (10pm) with Surfer Blood, Air Waves, Surf City, Violens (Very Vest remix MP3 reposted above), Lemonade and New York Night Train DJ Jonathan Toubin (who has his own showcase at Santos on Tuesday).

Finally, it should be noted that The Suffolk has a "back room" and that will also be hosting shows, including a Japanther performance on Wednesday, Oct. 21st (Fool's Gold is also on that bill).

Schedules and flyers for all of the above shows are below...

Continue reading "The Suffolk = Flamboyan Theater = CSV Cultural Center = ex-haunted house -- Ted Leo, others playing CMJ there"

DOWNLOAD: BLK JKS - Molalatladi (MP3)

BLK JKS @ Sasquatch Festival (more by Chris Graham)

When the South African four-piece rock band BLK JKS headed to the United States to record their first full-length album last January, they left the blazing Johannesburg summertime for the depths of winter in Bloomington, Indiana.

Unused to the cold but eager to record, the band borrowed sweaters and spent 10 hours a day pounding out live takes until an album materialized.

"I saw it as an exorcism," guitarist Mpumi Mcata says. "We've been growing in the five years we've been together up to this point, and recording was like trying to remember our past. We needed to get something out of us quickly."

The nine-track debut draws from a wide array of styles, from the danceable tribal chants of "Molalatladi" to the moody guitar rock of "Cursor." The album's genre-hopping is founded on an appreciation of African-influenced arrangements, a trend that recently has been highlighted by indie acts like Vampire Weekend and the Dirty Projectors.

"The way people pick up different African styles has been happening for a long time, from African church songs influencing jazz in the 1920s," drummer Tshepang Ramoba says. "It's interesting to see them now coming to the forefront a little." [Billboard]

The song "Molalatladi" off the new record is posted above. The album's currently streaming in full at JamBase, and, for a different take on the songs, check out what happened when the band recently visited Daytrotter.

Speaking of release parties happening tonight, Yo La Tengo is having one too. And so is Raekwon (who also has a show coming up at SOB's).

BLK JKS have a series of North American shows scheduled for the fall. Those dates and the album art and tracklist are below...

Continue reading "BLK JKS - CD release show (tonight), MP3 & 2009 Tour Dates "

DOWNLOAD: Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit - The Very Best Mixtape (ZIP)
DOWNLOAD: The Very Best - Warm Heart Of Africa (w/ Ezra Koenig) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Metronomy remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Architecture in Helsinki rmx) (MP3)

LPR photos by Kwesi Abbensetts, Supreme Trading photos by Ryan Muir

Esau Mwamwaya @ Le Poisson Rouge - July 18, 2009 (by Kwesi Abbensetts)

The Very Best (production duo Radioclit and Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya) played a late-night show at (Le) Poisson Rouge on July 18th. They were joined by two backup dancers (one of which was on crutches!), and Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend for one song. He stopped by to contribute his part on "Warm Heart Of Africa." That track and two new remixes are posted above.

Ezra Koenig @ Le Poisson Rouge - July 18, 2009 (by Kwesi Abbensetts)

The Very Best's debut record, Warm Heart of Africa, is due to come out on Green Owl, the NYC-based record label that was founded by Benjamin Brewer (the father of M.I.A.'s child), on September 22nd (available digitally August 25). Ezra and M.I.A. both sing songs on it. That album is not to be confused with Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit Are The Very Best which was the mixtape (that contains songs by Vampire Weekend and M.I.A.) they released for free in 2008. Grab that above.

On Saturday night (7/25) (exactly a week after the LPR show), Radioclit brought "their wild monthly London residency, SECOUSSE, to the States for an all out UK vs. BK battle of the riddims." And by "the states", they mean Supreme Trading (or the former Supreme Trading building at 213 N 8th St) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Green Owl artist Janka Nabay was also on the bill.

"While many genres of African music have made the crossover to the west (Afrobeat, Highlife, etc), Sierra Leone's traditional Muslim street songs, or Bubu music, have not. The king of Bubu is Ahmed Janka Nabay, an amazing humanitarian musician whose life has been shaped by Sierra Leone's civil war." [Straw vs Gold]

Ahmed Janka @ Supreme Trading - July 25, 2009 (by Ryan Muir)

AND, it ends up that Saturday night's show at Supreme Trading was also a sort-of-secret Very Best show. Radioclit did DJ, but then performed with Esau too (no Ezra this time though). More pictures from both shows and the new album artwork, below...

Continue reading "The Very Best (new remixes) played LPR (w/ Ezra Koenig) & Supreme Trading (a secret show?) w/ Ahmed Janka - pics "