by BBG

Citizens Arrest at Europa (more by Keith Marlowe)

"Joe Martin, who played in Citizens Arrest during ABC No Rio's early days, remembers the space as offering a second chance. "For me, I had made the promise to myself that I would stop going to hardcore shows the day I got beat up. And then it happened to me, at one of the hardcore matinees they had--Judge, Born Against, and Affirmative Action. Some skinhead picked a fight with me and maybe I didn't get beat up, but I did get punched. So I said, that was it, no more, because I knew everytime I would go to a show from then on, I'd see this guy and panic and run away. But then ABC started, and right then and there, that feeling stopped. Every week I'd go there, I didn't care who was playing--I'd go support any band, and I guess for a while a lot of other people did too. There'd be a solid 50 people for every show."" [ABC No Rio history]

Other upcoming shows at ABC No Rio include Japanther with The Homewreckers, Devestation Wagon, TitFit on 10/29, Boom Boom Kid, Wud Link, Ilegales Sin Fronteras, and Mi Culpa on 11/5, Wound, Skelptarsis, Kama Rupa, and (A)Truth on 11/12,Miscegnator, Coke Bust, DBCR, Sick Fix on 11/19 (Coke Bust play later that night with Masakari at Acheron), Tombs & Inhuman on 12/3, and Mischief Brew, The Swaggerin' Growlers and more TBA on 12/10.

Japanther, who played CMJ last week at Party Xpo and DROM on 10/21, has one other date scheduled before the end of the year, on 12/2 in Troy, NY at EMPAC as part of a "commissioned performance piece."

As previously mentioned, members of Mind Eraser will hit Acheron next week (on 11/3) as part of The Rival Mob, with appearances from Young Offenders, Give, and Airfix Kits.

Check out a video of Citizens Arrest and other bands playing ABC No Rio in the early 90s, below...

Continue reading "ABC No Rio's new building coming soon; Citizens Arrest, Japanther, Tombs & others playing shows in the current one"

Japanther will play The Meatlocker in Montclair, NJ on 9/2 with Cerebral Ballzy (who had to cancel their Living Room show the other night). It will be the first of several NYC dates for Japanther in the month of September, in preparation for their new LP Beets, Limes and Rice due on 10/18. The weekend of September 10th will see a pair of shows from the rowdy duo, including 9/10 at Shea Stadium with Night Toilet, Nonhorse, & Sun Color and a 9/11 show at 285 Kent. Then after two weeks off, the band will embark on a weekend of dates that will conclude with Bowery Electric on September 26th (21+).

Japanther, who celebrated their 10th anniversary as a band earlier this year, clearly have food on the brain with their new LP, which is seemingly inspired by the similarly-titled A Tribe Called Quest LP. Beets Limes & Rice is dedicated to their fallen comrade Beau Velasco of The Death Set (who have dates coming up too) .

All Japanther tour dates and a live video from their recent showing at House of Vans are below.

Continue reading "Japanther schedule a bunch of shows (dates)"

photos by Andrew St. Clair, word by Andrew Frisicano

Against Me

Here's the rest of the pictures from the House of Vans show on Thursday, August 18th (you've already seen the ones from Big Freedia and Tokyo Police Club). Team Robespierre played the opening set followed by Japanther; the two-piece is currently on tour and they have a bunch more NYC shows in September; dates below.

I missed both those bands (these things start around 7pm), but did arrive in time to see Against Me!, who put on an intense, highly entertaining show. Though their past few CDs have been less than exciting, the band hasn't lost a bit of its energy live. Even songs like "White Crosses" and "I Was a Teenage Anarchist," which come off way too polished and poppy on record, sounded at home along the older cuts that made up about half the set. Playing the hits was definitely a good move: early on, the highly sing-along-able "Pints of Guinness Make You Strong" set the tone for the night.

The crowd was a combination of people psyched for the bands (and free beer) and people trying to figure out whether playing/attending a corporate sponsored show constituted "selling out." Still, for all the bitching I overheard, I suspect that Against Me! changed the minds of some people who had written them off.

More pictures, Japanther tour dates and Against Me set list below....

Continue reading "Against Me, Japanther & Team Robespierre also played House of Vans (pics, setlist, more dates)"

Just one day after all the commotion related to whether "Rock Beach" was a success, Jelly slightly redesigned their rockbeach.us website to remove mention of their sponsor Top Man (they taped over their name) and announce that they're bringing back a more conveniently located "Rock Yard", but not in the same location it was last year since that location is now a restaurant. That's their flyer above.

photos by Chris La Putt

The lineups have been (almost) completely revealed for the three remaining free House of Vans House Parties. The series continues this Thursday (8/4) with the previously revealed lineup of Man Man, Glass Candy, and Crystal Antlers.

As mentioned Tokyo Police Club are playing August 18 and Big Freedia is in fact on the bill along with Against Me!, Japanther, and Team Robespierre.

As predicted, Converge and All Pigs Must Die are the bands that play August 25, though there's also a secret guest on that show too ("xxxx xxxx").

RSVP is open for all of them.

Though Crystal Antlers and Team Robsepierre play separate House Parties, they'll share a bill at Glasslands on August 6 with Balkans. Tickets are still available for that.

Cro-Mags, Fucked Up, Screaming Females & Pissed Jeans played the last show. A second set of Fucked Up pics from that show continue below...

Continue reading "House of Vans announce more bands --- almost-final lineup (and more Fucked Up pics from last time)"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

Ten years of screaming into telephone receivers, bouncing crowds, recordings, livid circus officials and more were celebrated at Music Hall of Williamsburg last night (6/14). Japanther celebrated their tenth anniversary at the Brooklyn venue with some help from Shellshag and Heavy Cream. The Brooklyn two-piece play to MHOW for about an hour, with Shellshag and Heavy Cream logging 45 and 20 minute sets respectively.

Heavy Cream are now on their way to NXNE, but will return to play Death By Audio on June 22nd with Teen Witch, Elks & Hunters. All dates below.

Shellshag have a pair of NYC dates as well, on July 1st at Knitting Factory with Nobunny and TV Ghost (tickets) and July 2nd at Silent Barn with Unstoppable Death Machines.

All tour dates, more pictures from MHOW and a video, below...

Continue reading "Japanther played MHOW w/ Shellshag & Heavy Cream (pics)"

unruly Japanther @ Big Apple Circus (more by Chris La Putt)

Japanther are in Eindhoven, Holland this weekend for a string of European dates that include a stint as part of the Venice Biennial in Venice, Italy. A couple of weeks after the band returns from that European trip, they'll hit Music Hall of Williamsburg for a show on June 14th with Shellshag and DJ's Spam and Ryan. Tickets go on sale at noon on Friday (5/11).

Shellshag meanwhile have a gig scheduled at 538 Johnson in Brooklyn in May 18th, and then will be touring down to Texas for Chaos in Tejas, but back in time for this newly-announced show.

The last time that Japanther played NYC was as part of a benefit for Japan on April 30th at Brooklyn Fireproof. Video from that show as well as all tour dates are below.

Continue reading "Japanther & Shellshag playing shows, one together (dates)"

photos by Andrew Boyle

Ariel Pink, who is among those playing Coachella this year, made his network television debut on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon the other day. If you haven't seen it yet, the video from that, with a new set of pictures from the show Ariel played under a NYC circus tent, is below...

Continue reading "Ariel Pink Fallon video & more Japanther circus pics"

photos by Amanda Hatfield

The So So Glos

About 100 fans of the Brooklyn-based band Japanther rushed the stage during the Rock N' Roll Circus in Damrosch Park at 11:30 p.m., said the event's co-producer, Jessica Resler.

"People were crowd-surfing and jumping on each other. It was like, what the hell just happened?" Resler said.

A teenager who went to see her favorite band with two pals said she was scared to death.

"Oh, my God, it was crazy. I was off my feet for a whole minute. I thought I was going to die in there," said Jessica Schmidt, 18.

"I thought my friend was going to get trampled because he fell and hit his head pretty hard."

The event, which attracted more than 1,000 people, took place in the tent that normally houses the Big Apple Circus, which helped produce the event. -[NY Post]

Continue reading "more pics from the Rock n Roll Circus night 1 (So So Glos, the Pharmacy, mad security guards, etc)"

photos by Chris La Putt

""Ladies and gentlemen get out of the ring or they will not play"" - Leia Jospe

"A riot at the circus #2011" - Leia Jospe

"that was one of the craziest, oddest shows i've been to in a while. pandemonium broke loose. if tomorrow's day 2 even happens, that'll be the last time lincoln center opens its doors to rock bands. it was pretty fun till the very end. stupid kids, agro's for dorks."
[Anonymous | January 4, 2011 1:11 AM]

Continue reading "the Japanther show @ Big Apple Circus didn't go so well (pics)"

"The Rock & Roll Circus, a two-day, three-ring, musical extravaganza featuring Ariel Pink, Amazing Baby, Nick Zinner and Aska, Saint Motel, contortionist, acrobats, and more will kick off 2011 under the 40,000 square foot Big Apple Circus Tent at Lincoln Center on January 3rd and 4th."

by Andrew Frisicano

Cold Cave @ Market Hotel during CMJ (more by Leia Jospe)

Cold Cave and a surprise headliner will top a free concert on Saturday, April 24th at Solar One (same location as the annual CitySol, 23rd Street at East River) as part of NYU Earth Week. Also on the bill are lightly orchestral, layered pop band North Highlands and echo\y, tuneful Oberhofer. The show starts at 4pm and Andrew WK DJs between bands. The headliner will be announced the day of the show.

Columbia University is hosting a show with Of Montreal, Wiz Khalifa and Ghostface Killah the same day.

Cold Cave also playing the WBAR-B-Q the next day (4/25) and LPR on April 29th.

Also NYU-related is the annual Strawberry Festival on Friday, April 30th, noon to 4pm, outdoors on LaGuardia Place between W 3rd and 4th Sts. The show (an "NYU only event") includes music from Hop Along, Little Lungs, Fiasco, Screaming Females and Japanther.

Video from last year's Strawberry Fest and a recent gig by Japanther at Party Expo are below...

Continue reading "Cold Cave, a surprise headliner, Screaming Females, Japanther & other bands playing upcoming free NYU shows"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Japanther - Spread So Thin (MP3)

Mariachi el Bronx @ MWTX (not-SXSW 2010)

[The Bronx] has an alter ego: Mariachi El Bronx, which released an album last year and showed up Wednesday night at Emo's in traditional embroidered mariachi costumes with traditional instruments, from trumpet to guitarron. It performs the Bronx's repertory, but with long-lined melodies and the rhythms of Mexican rancheras and sones. It turns out that Matt Caughtran, the Bronx's lead singer, doesn't have to shout; he can carry a tune. And the Bronx taps a side of Los Angeles that many rock bands ignore. [NY Times]

They go on to play Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 2nd, then after a pair of out of town shows, Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday, April 6th. Tickets are still on sale for those.

Opening the shows will be Dead Country and Violent Soho, but not Japanther as previously reported ("Due to circumstantial differences").

Japanther did play at new show space Party Expo last night (3/31) with Boys Who Say No and Filthy Savage though. How was that?

More Mariachhi el Bronix pics and all Bronx tour dates are below...

Continue reading "The Bronx on tour w/ Mariachi el Bronx, but not Japanther anymore - 3 NYC-area shows starting now + MWTX pics"

"You might have heard that the debut show at SUPERCHIEF's new venue, PARTY EXPO was ridiculously fun. Thanks again to everyone who came out, we made a lot of money for renovations to make the place legal for more shows soon! Thanks to everyone and all the bands, this scene is great already." [Superchief]

DOWNLOAD: Japanther - Spread So Thin (MP3)

Japanther...

The "clubs" portion of the Sounds Like Brooklyn Festival goes into full force tonight (2/4), Friday and Saturday with shows all over the borough. One of those will be at 171 Lombardy St (now called Station 171) where Leaders, Boogie Boarder, Cerebral Ballzy, The Death Set and Japanther are on the bill.

Japanther have a new album, Rock 'n' Roll Ice Cream, due March 2nd on Menlo Park. The label write:

The album was recorded at the end of 2009 in Los Angeles with producer Michael Blum. Michael is known for having produced such names as Madonna, Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd..so why Japanther? That's a question we never thought we'd pose either, but taking a quintessential DIY band and putting them in a fish out of water context was just too irresistible to pass up. He was confused as they preferred to use their own telephone mics instead of his $10,000 ones, but the results are pure specialness, and goes to show intriguing results happen if you simply do what you feel. Anita Sparrows joined the band for the writing and recording of the album, along with NYC beat poet Eileen Myles on two tracks and one with brothers Ninjasonik; the cover was done by artist Elisabeth Arkhipoff.

Japanther will also be at Santos for Cloak & Dagger on Thursday, February 11th. Ninjasonik, Fashen, Team Facelift, "(Not So) Secret European Guests" and more will be there too. Tickets are on sale.

After those shows, they go on tour with the Bronx and their spin-off Mariachi El Bronx across the US. That tour has shows at Maxwell's on April 1st, Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 2nd and Bowery Ballroom on April 6th. Tickets for Maxwell's and tickets for MHOW go on sale Friday at noon. Bowery tickets seem to be TBA.

Full tour dates, Japanther cover art & videos and some mariachi are all below...

Continue reading "Japanther releasing new album (MP3), playing shows (tonight), touring w/ The Bronx (2010 dates) "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Saxon Shore - "This Place" (MP3)

Saxon Shore (photo by Geordy Peterson)

American post-rockers Saxon Shore hit back. It Doesn't Matter, the quintet's follow-up to 2005's The Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore is a welcome return to form for the band and their original leader Matthew Doty.

Having gone through a long period of upheaval - be it line-up changes and relocations - the band spent four solid years as a unit before plucking up the courage to hit the Tarbox Road Studios Cabin out in Cassadega, New York.

Apt then, that the unearthing of It Doesn't Matter follows a line of melodic delicacy that recent post-rock efforts appear to have departed. Album opener "Nothing Changes" rocks gently into the onslaught of feedback drenched guitars while 'Bar Clearing Good Times' maintains an unexpected steadiness that other same-vein bands like Explosions In The Sky often make the habit of breaking from. -[Altsounds]

Les Savy Fav @ BAM - 1/29/10 (photo by Steven P. Marsh)

'Sounds like Brooklyn' kicked off last night (1/29) at BAM (the only venue hosting shows during this first weekend of the fest) with Les Savy Fav and Vivian Girls...

"To my surprise, [Les Savy Fav] played very tight rhythms that zagged all over the place but were not sloppy. I was reminded of times I had seen Modest Mouse, Built To Spill or The Flaming Lips, with the music being loose and jangly, yet deliberate and well-crafted at the same time. The band itself held my interest quite well, as they played the straight men to the antics of Harrington, who, instead of being a distraction, complemented the instruments rather well, reminding me at times of Jello Biafra with his voice and dialogue with the audience. Yes, he was a crazy looking fat dude running all over the stage and into the crowd, but his angry-goofy-gibberish song rants, energy, enthusiasm and sheer earnestness overcame my pre-judgment. At the start of LSF's set, Harrington dropped into the crowd beckoning people to stand, and it ended up being the right thing to do. Despite the opera house setting with assigned seating, it quickly became apparent that it would take a lot more than that to contain the force that is Les Savy Fav." [Qbertplaya]

The full Sounds Like Brooklyn schedule, along with a Les Savy Fav video from last night, below...

Continue reading "Les Savy Fav played BAM, Saxon Shore playing the Knit, 'Sounds Like Brooklyn' underway - full schedule & more "

Justice @ SXSW 2008 (more by Ryan Muir)

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Surf City show coming up at Mercury Lounge.

As previously mentioned, there's a Haiti benefit at SOB's tonight (1/28) with Styles P, Immortal Technique, Mickey Factz, Cormega, ChinahBlac, Eprhyme, and more. Tickets are still on sale.

Speaking of SOB's, Lord Finesse is celebrating a birthday there with "The Legendary Rakim" on February 18th. Tickets are on sale.

Tanya Morgan (a hip hop group that has nobody named Tanya in it) plays SOB's on February 22nd. Tickets are on sale.

Roxy Cottontail hosts a Dim Mak-presented show at Santos on February 11th "featuring Ninjasonik, Japanther, Fashen, Team Facelift, The Auctioneers, Jonny Famous, Gina Turner & (Not So) Secret European Guests". Dim Mak band The Willowz play Pianos (with Delta Spirit) the same night, but they are from California. Tickets are on sale. Oh, also I think the guest is a DJ or DJs...

Ed Banger celebrates their 7th Anniversary at Terminal 5 on February 12th (Justice (DJ Set), Breakbot / DJ Mehdi / Busy P. / and Friends). Tickets are sold out.

Ed Banger will follow the Terminal 5 show with an afterparty at Webster Hall ("GIRLS&BOYS w/ED BANGER RECORDS AFTER PARTY , SEBASTIAN, SO-ME & More!"). Tickets are on sale. Flyer and new FAKE Justice track below...

Continue reading "Styles P, '(Not So) Secret European Guests', Ed Banger, Fake Justice, Japanther, Surf City, Tanya Morgan & other tickets"

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"

Advice for attending July 4th fireworks: arrive early and expect crowds [Everything Hudson]

What are you doing on the 4th? Below we've listed a bunch of other options if you'll be in NYC (and a few if you want to leave)...

Continue reading "Independence Day 2009 - 4th of July events in NYC (Conor Oberst, Woodsist Fest, Japanther, Feelies, fireworks, more)"

Willamette Week's Musicfest NW announces this year's festival line-up which will be held at various venues around the Portland, OR metropolitan area on September 16, 17, 18 & 19. On the heels of the most successful MFNW to date, MFNW 2009 launches with nothing but the hope of a bigger and better festival. MFNW's ultimate aim is to provide Portland with a unique and special musical experience that features all types of acts including nationally renowned artists while still honoring and supporting the special musical scene of the Northwest.

The lineup so far, including the newly-reunited Sunny Day Real Estate, is below...

Continue reading "Musicfest NW in Portland, OR (Sept 16-19) - lineup"

Ninjasonik @ MHOW Jan 2009 (more by Zach Stern)

Just down the street from the Danbro Studios Warehouse in the Bushwick/East Williamsburg part of Brooklyn is a (new-ish?) loft space called The Jungle (286 Meserole St) which has hosted some events in the past, and which is scheduled to host a big show that caught our eye on Saturday, August 22nd. Bands listed (though not totally confirmed) include Ponytail, Japanther, The DeathSet, Double Dagger, Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik, Juiceboxxx, Cerebral Ballzy, Boogie Boarder and Snakes Say Hiss.

The most unconfirmed band on that bill is Ponytail, who are more-officially playing a summer show with Mission of Burma and Fucked Up at the Williamsburg Waterfront on July 12th (or are they?). The Waterfront show is a few days before Ponytail go out on tour with Yeasayer (dates below).

Many of those other bands have other NYC shows scheduled sooner too. On June 28th, Studio B will host a day party with Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik, Hearts Revolution, Anamanaguchi and others. Japanther, Ninjasonik and Deathset will be at Lit Fuse Cyclery (409 Willoughby, Brooklyn) for a show on July 4th. Then, Ninjasonik and Japanther team up again for a show at the Whitney on July 11th.

Ninjasonik is also playing with the newly reformed 2 Live Crew on July 25th at Studio B. Tickets are on sale. 2 Live's new record, Just Wanna Be Heard, is out now on iTunes.

Yeasayer is playing a free show in Manhattan over the summer. All/more tour dates for everyone, below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn venue The Jungle, Japanther, Ninjasonik, Team Robespierre, The DeathSet, Ponytail, Yeasayer, 2 Live Crew"

Continue reading "the member of Vivian Girls who dated a member of Japanther stole Mika Miko's pants "

Vivian Girls @ Bowery Ballroom in December (more by Zach Stern)

As we pointed out back in April, and further confirmed in a list of Abe Vigoda tour dates, The Whitney is hosting some indie rock shows this July, in conjunction with their Dan Graham Retrospective. And the full schedule looks something like this:

Fri, June 26 - Acoustic Evening with The Feelies
Fri, July 10 - Titus Andronicus / Real Estate
Fri, July 17 - Abe Vigoda / Grooms (Muggabears)
Fri, July 24 - (band TBA) / YellowFever
Fri, July 31 - Vivian Girls / These Are Powers

The Feelies show is "Free with Museum admission (free for Whitney members)." and "Tickets for this [Feelies] concert are available day of show only, beginning at 1 pm at the Museum. Space is limited; tickets are first-come, first-served." The other four shows basically say the same thing, but just, "Free with museum admission. Seating is first-come, first-served. No reservations." More details below.

Other programs include "Dan Graham in Conversation with Glenn Branca" and a family performance of Rock and Roll Ice Cream by Japanther. Full schedule below...

Continue reading "indie rock shows @ The Whitney in July (Vivian Girls, Titus Andronicus, These are Powers, Yellow Fever & more) "

Fuk Tha Prince-A-Pal iz Dumb, Fuk Tha Prince-A-Pal iz Dumb...

All proceeds are going to benefit Automotive HS's Spring Musical, which is a vital part of our school community and the biggest, most expensive event we put on all year. Here is some info:

Save the Auto HS Musical! Benefit Concert
Japanther
w/ Ninjasonik
special performances by Automotive HS Hip Hop Jazz Band, Hip Hop Dance Troupe, and scenes from Guys and Dolls!
Thurs, April 30
$10 at the door
doors 7pm, show at 8pm
RAFFLE with prizes from Prizes from Spiewak, Teddy's, Mark, Marlow & Sons, The Beehive, and MORE!

Continue reading "Japanther, Ninjasonik and... scenes from Guys & Dolls - a high school benefit tonight & other tour dates "

by Andrew Frisicano

Dan Graham (blue stripes), Thurston & Kim? @ the MOCA (ricardodiaz11)

Dan Graham has been a central figure in contemporary art since the 1960s. [Dan Graham: Beyond], his first American retrospective, traces the evolution of his art from his early conceptual projects and performances, to his films and videos, architectural projects and pavilions, and sculptures as well as his collaborations with musicians and rock bands such as Sonic Youth and Japanther.

Graham (b. 1942) has been a central participant in the development of contemporary art since the 1960s --- from the rise of minimalism, conceptual art, video art, and performance art, to explorations of architecture and the public sphere, to collaborations with musicians and the culture of rock and roll. [press release]

Graham has a strong connection to the rock and avant music world. As the press release below documents, Graham has written about bands like the Kinks, the Fall (who recently signed to Domino Records), and the Sex Pistols. And his hour-long "video-essay" Rock My Religion (1982-84) uses "footage of Patti Smith, Sonic Youth, and Black Flag, mingled with historical images of a rapt Ann Lee, the founder of the Shaker religion to trace a continuum between the Shakers, the early-American religious sect that sought spiritual transcendence through collective dance and song, and rock music."

Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore performed as Mirror/Dash at Beyond's debut opening at L.A.'s Museum of Contemporary Art in February. The pair also joined Graham for a panel discussion as part of that event (video below).

During Beyond's run in New York, the Whitney will host a series of free Friday concerts. The shows, held in the museum's Lower Gallery, are scheduled for July 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31th at 7pm. No word on who specifically, but the museum writes, "These events feature young bands that have inherited the New York rock scene from bands that Dan Graham has written about and/or worked with, such as The Feelies, Television, and Sonic Youth. As always, admission to the Whitney on Friday evenings is pay-what-you-wish from 6 to 9pm."

Last year, the Whitney's free shows included Dan Deacon on February 8th, May and April Biennial-related-shows by Gang Gang Dance and Lucky Dragons, and four free Wordless Music showsin June (with Prefuse 73, Times New Viking and others).

Other plans for the Graham exhibit include:

A music event to kick off the series; the U.S. premiere of "Put Blood in the Music" (1989), an experimental documentary on the late-nineties New York downtown music scene, introduced by filmmaker Charles Atlas; a conversation between Dan Graham and Glenn Branca, followed by a screening of Graham's "Westkunst (Modern Period): Dan Graham Segment" (1980); and a roundtable discussion exploring key themes in the work, such as sound, perception, and performance.

The Feelies will play an acoustic set at the Whitney on Friday, June 26th (presumably the 'music event to kick off the series').

We recently talked about The Feelies' continued reunion - including their big show last July 4th (when they played with Sonic Youth). Other upcoming dates for the Feelies include July 3rd & 4th at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ (tickets on sale) and September 11th at ATP NY, where the band will perform its debut Crazy Rhythms in full (tickets on sale).

The above-mentioned videos of Dan Graham talking with Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon, Mirror/Dash live, and an interview with Graham, all from his L.A. MoCA exhibit earlier this year, plus full Whitney press release, below...

Continue reading "Dan Graham exhibit @ The Whitney, The Feelies performing"