photos by Tim Griffin

Robert Ellis @ ACL Live

Jay Farrar plays his third NYC show in a row at City Winery on Sunday night (10/16). Laura Cantrell opens and tickets are still on sale. Check out a picture of the setlist from Saturday's show below. More Jay dates HERE.

The alt-country at City Winery continues when labelmates James McMurtry & Jason Isbell begin a tour there on Wednesday (10/19). All of their tour dates are listed below.

The 10/19 City Winery show is further enhanced by the addition of Robert Ellis on the bill. It's Robert's first of three NYC shows during CMJ week. The next two are 10/20 at Living Room (again with Jason Isbell) and 10/21 at Living Room. The 10/20 show is one of three Paste Magazine CMJ shows at Living Room. Full lineups, a set of pictures from a 10/6 show Robert played at ACL Live in Austin, and all dates, below...

Continue reading "Jay Farrar is here, Jason Isbell, James McMurtry & Robert Ellis will be soon (dates, CMJ shows & pics of Ellis @ ACL Live)"

photos by Chris La Putt

Michael Hurley @ Brooklyn Bowl

Jonny Corndawg @ Brooklyn Bowl

Jonny Corndawg completed his April residency at Brooklyn Bowl last night (4/25) with an impressive lineup of openers that included Jason Isbell (who played Bowery Ballroom a few days earlier) and folk legend Michael Hurley who Jonny is now on a short tour with. And Rude Bear was even there. More pictures and a video from the night, below...

Continue reading "Jonny Corndawg played Brooklyn Bowl w/ Michael Hurley & Jason Isbell (pics)"

photos by Chris La Putt

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit @ Bowery Ballroom

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Hayes Carll, and Shovels and Rope played a show together at Bowery Ballroom on Friday night (4/22). The show was part of a tour that ended at Brighton Music Hall in Boston one night later, but Jason is back to join Jonny Corndawg at his final residency show at Brooklyn Bowl tonight (4/25). The previously-undisclosed final lineup looks like this:

Jason Isbell - 8pm
Michael Hurley - 9pm
Stray Dawg (Jonny Corndawg film) - 10pm
Jonny Corndawg - 10:15pm

If you miss tonight's show, Jonny is back on June 1st to open for Roger Alan Wade of Jackass at Mercury Lounge.

Shovels and Rope play the Bell House on May 18th with the Felice Brothers who have added a 2nd show at the same venue on May 19th. Tickets are on sale for both.

Hayes Carll plays Summerstage this summer with Emmylou Harris. More pictures from the Bowery Ballroom show, and Hayes's setlist, below...

Continue reading "Jason Isbell played Bowery Ballroom w/ Hayes Carll (pics), playing Brooklyn Bowl w/ Jonny Corndawg (tonight)"

DOWNLOAD: Jason Isbell - Codeine (MP3)

Drive By Truckers

Drive-By Truckers are currently on the road in support of their new album Go-Go Boots which is out now. Their last swing through NYC happened not that long ago - they played the intimate-for-them Bowery Ballroom on 2/15, the same week the album was releasaed. The band returns to the area to hit Wellmont Theatre on June 11th with Alejandro Escovedo! Tickets go on sale at noon. Drive-By Truckers appeared on Conan on 3/8 to perform "Everybody Needs Love" from Go-Go Boots. VIdeo of that and all tour dates are below.

Meanwhile, Escovedo is preparing to head down to SXSW to pepper the city of Austin with shows. But Escovedo hasalso scheduled another area show. It happens on 4/29 in Port Washington, NY at Landmark on Main Street. Tickets are on sale.

Former trucker Jason Isbell will bring Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit to SXSW as well, and is scheduled to play four shows including the free BrooklynVegan/Knitting Factory/Partisan party at Barbarella/Swan Dive on 3/18. The band is also scheduled to hit Bowery Ballroom on 4/22 with Hayes Carll as part of an April tour.

Isbell's new album Here We Rest is out April 12 via Lightning Rod Records. Sample it with "Codeine" above. All dates and stuff below...

Continue reading "Drive By Truckers & Alejandro Escovedo playing NJ & other places, Jason Isbell releasing 'Here We Rest' (dates & MP3)"

DOWNLOAD: J Mascis - Not Enough (MP3)

The first BrooklynVegan Swan Dive/Barbarella Austin Day Party lineup announcement is here! (this is the first of three BV day parties happening at these connecting venues, but just one of nine total BV events.)

This one happens Friday, March 18th from noon-6pm, is co-presented by KF Records (Knitting Factory) and Partisan Records, and features an exclusive Austin day party set by Middle Brother (aka Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, John McCauley of Deer Tick, and Matthew Vasquez of Delta Spirit). If you want to catch them though, you better get there early because the entire lineup is ridiculous and 100% free, and it looks like this.....

STAGE 1 (SWAN DIVE)
12:00 PM JBM
12:30 PM BOBBY
01:15 PM Holy Sons
02:00 PM Dolorean
03:00 PM John Grant featuring Midlake
04:00 PM Wye Oak
05:00 PM J Mascis

STAGE 2 (Barbarella Patio)
12:00 PM David Wax Museum
01:00 PM Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside
02:00 PM Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
03:00 PM Deer Tick featuring Jonny Corndawg
04:00 PM Old 97's
05:00 PM Middle Brother

STAGE 3 (Barbarella Inside)
12:15 PM AgesandAges
01:00 PM Paleo
01:45 PM Warm Ghost
02:30 PM Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers
03:15 PM Vetiver
04:00 PM Oberhofer
05:00 PM The Dodos

Note: We have Dolorean who is not to be confused with Delorean, yes that is Midlake up there backing the amazing John Grant, Jason Isbell will stick around to play with Middle Brother (like he did on their record), and yes Jonny Corndawg will be in the house.

I'm also happy to point out that, though everyone will sound great already, they are going to sound even better thanks to our official microphone sponsor Line 6, not to mention due to the help of the Korg keyboards, and Vox & Blackstar amps that we'll have on hand - all generous and much-appreciated BrooklynVegan show sponsors.

Also Note:

• FREE Blublocker sunglasses to first 50 people in the door!
• there will be FREE vegan Izzoz breakfast tacos while supplies last!
• we'll have loads of FREE snacks courtesy of Sensible Portions!
• we'll keep you hydrated with FREE Honest Tea!
• you can keep your energy levels high with FREE Raw Revolution bars!
• FREE Tierras organic tequila cocktails while supplies last!
• more FREE food & DRINK details TBA!
• and there will be awesome giveaways from Partisan & KF Records
  throughout the day!

Continue reading " BrooklynVegan, KF Records & Partisan Records free Austin Day Party lineup (J Mascis, Middle Brother, Old 97's, Dodos, more)"

Jason Isbell at Bowery Ballroom(more by Fresh Bread)

Hayes Carll and Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit will team up for a string of co-headlining dates including Bowery Ballroom on April 22nd. Tickets for the NYC show go on AMEX presale at noon (1/26) and regular sale on Friday. Both Carll and Isbell are preparing to release new LPs in the next three months. Carll is prepping to release KMAG YOYO on 2/15 (preorder) and Isbell has Here We Rest due on April 12th.

The Bowery show is one of three NYC-area dates scheduled for Hayes Carll. He'll also appear at Montclair's Wellmont Theater on Feb 11th in support of Levon Helm Band (tickets) and at Housing Works on Feb 15th (the day that KMAG YOYO comes out, tickets). The day after the Wellmont show (2/12) Carll will head up to Woodstock to play Midnight Ramble with Helm, tickets are still available.

Meanwhile, Jason Isbell's OLD unit, Drive-By Truckers, will play Bowery Ballroom on Feb 15th, a much smaller room than they played in their last go-around. Tickets are on sale at noon. The show is one of two record release parties for Go-Go Boots, DBT's new LP which is available for preorder now. The second will go down on March 7 in LA at the Troubadour. Trade your email address for a download of "Used To Be A Cop" from Go-Go Boots now.

All tour dates and some video from Hayes Carll's performance on the Tonight Show a few days ago, are below.

Continue reading "Drive-By Truckers playing Bowery (and LA), Jason Isbell touring w/ Hayes Carll (who is also playing w/ Levon Helm) "

DOWNLOAD: Deer Tick - "Piece By Piece, Frame By Frame" (MP3)

Jason Isbell at Bowery Ballroom (more by Fresh Bread)

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, will team up with Langhorne Slim, Jesse Sykes and Phil Wandscher, and Mimicking Birds for a Paste-sponsored tour in middle November. Tickets are on sale now for the NYC show happening at Highline Ballroom on Wednesday, October 20th (the 2nd day of CMJ 2010).

All four bands also have tour dates outside of that fatal-four-way. Langhorne Slim has solo dates leading up to and after the tour. Jesse Sykes & Phil Wandscher will play with sunn/boris at ATP and Brooklyn Masonic Temple. Mimicking Birds has dates with Cloud Cult & The Tallest Man on Earth.

And Jason Isbell & 400 Unit have dates that intersect with a newly announced Deer Tick US tour that does not hit NYC sadly (it does end in Philly though, so something is sure to be announced) (and Deer Tick just headlined Webster Hall earlier this month).

Deer Tick's LP The Black Dirt Sessions is out now and features "Piece By Piece, Frame By Frame" available above. As previously mentioned, Mountain Man joined Deer Tick on stage at some of their recent gigs. Now there's video proof. That video with all dates for all bands mentioned, below...

Continue reading "Jason Isbell touring w/ Langhorne Slim & Mimicking Birds & Jesse Sykes ++ Deer Tick announced more dates too "

Joseph Arthur (by Danny Clinch)

Speaking of City Winery, musician Joseph Arthur (who currently has paintings on display at Sundance) is continuing his "An Evening With" series there with different guests. This Friday (1/29) is him with Bobby Bare Jr.. Some tickets are still available.

The rest of those bring equally impressive guests.

Fri Feb 26 w/ Jason Isbell (tickets)
Fri Mar 12 w/ Nicole Atkins (tickets)
Fri Mar 19 w/ Kevin Devine (tickets)
Fri Mar 26 w/ Keren Ann (tickets)

All JA tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Joseph Arthur continues City Winery residency w/ guests (Keren Ann & more) + other 2010 tour dates"

@ CITY WINERY

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - 8/4/2009 Hudson Square Concert Series - FREE

AN ACOUSTIC EVENING WITH JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT -
Just Added Special Guests : The Truckstop Allstars featuring: Kevn Kinney (Drivin' n' Cryin') Aaron Lee Tasjan (The Madison Square Gardeners) Chris Masterson (Son Volt) Eleanor Whitmore (Eleanor Whitmore Band/K 8/4/2009 - {9pm} - $20 GA

DOWNLOAD: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Seven-Mile Island (MP3)

Jason Isbell @ Bowery Ballroom (more by Fresh Bread)

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit are going on tour from July up to September. They'll stop at NYC's City Winery for an "acoustic evening" on Tuesday, August 4th - part of the winery's NightCap Series.

NightCap Series at City Winery
6/29 9:00 p.m. Snailhouse and Sharon van Etten $12.00
7/6 9:00 p.m. Sydney Wayser and Emily Brodsky $10.00
7/8, 7/9 9:00 p.m. Joe Purdy $15.00
8/4 9:00 p.m. Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit $20.00

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit's new self-titled album came out in February on Lightning Rod Records (MP3 from that above). It was the band's debut -- Jason, a former Drive-By Trucker, had one previously by himself. Current Trucker Patterson Hood also just released a new album and was just in NYC for some shows himself.

All tour dates, a mini-doc on Isbell, and a live video of the song "Soldiers Get Strange," below...

Continue reading "Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit tour dates & other 'NightCap' shows coming to City Winery (Sharon Van Etten tonight)"

Starting Tuesday, June 23rd, Hudson Square will be another one of the spots in NYC with a free weekly music series -- it joins free programs at Stuy Town Oval, Madison Square Park, Williamsburg Waterfront, Hudson River Rocks, Seaport Music, East River Park, NYC CityParks Concerts, Central Park Summerstage, BAM R&B Fest at Metrotech, Celebrate Brooklyn and several free movie series, to name a few.

The Hudson Square Music & Wine Festival will take place on Tuesdays from 5-7pm in the parking lot of City Winery (between Varick, Spring, Hudson and Vandam Streets). Series highlights include Jason Isbell, William Elliot Whitmore, Marc Ribot and La Cumbiamba and Budos Band (who already played a free show this summer at Stuy Town Oval).

Full schedule for the eight-week series, with a flyer, below...

Continue reading "Hudson Square Music & Wine series - free Tuesday shows w/ Budos Band, William Elliot Whitmore, Marc Ribot, more"

photos by Fresh Bread

DOWNLOAD: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Seven-Mile Island (MP3)

"Isbell's 90-minute show was pretty much a crash course in getting it right. Sporting crisp Western wear and slinging impeccably heated guitar solos, Isbell wailed in a rasp that showcased both emotional heft and admirable technique, proffering lyrics that could break hearts on the first listen. (The only sour note was the nearly 45-minute-late start time).

Considering his hitch with the brawny, brainy Southern rockers the Drive-By Truckers, it's not surprising Isbell has brought confidence and humility to his solo albums and performances. That includes his recent sublime eponymous release." [The Boston Globe]

Continue reading "Jason Isbell & Deer Tick @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - pics"

photos by Tracy Allison

DOWNLOAD: Deer Tick - Long Time (MP3)

"On Friday at the Bowery Ballroom I saw a great show by the Providence band Deer Tick. During my stay in Providence for 4 years while attending RISD there was a Deer Tick show almost every weekend at AS220. For me Deer Tick and their War Elephant album was basically my soundtrack for school, and it gave me warm fuzzy feeling to see them in New York at such a great venue.

The only negative part of the evening was me dropping my camera from the balcony, but miraculously it didn't hurt anybody and managed to survive." [Adam Schmidt]

Continue reading "Deer Tick - Bowery Ballroom pics & updated 2009 Tour Dates"

The Walkmen @ Masonic Temple in December (more by Natasha Ryan)

"We live in scary times. Sure, we might wonder how that inane Southern California woman is going to feed fourteen mouths, but what about the family whose breadwinners lost their jobs, and now have not only no money to pay the mortgage, but feed their kids?

No one seems to care about those people. Everyone's too selfish. I've got mine, fuck you. But what if you suddenly don't have yours anymore?

You used to sell ten million records, now you can't even sell two. Those damn pirates! But those pirates are real people. Who overpaid to hear one good track on a CD. They've got no sympathy for you. And they may overpay to see superstars once, but not forever. The Stones don't sell out anymore. Nor does Springsteen, not even Madonna. The printed grosses are high, but that's because of the inflated ticket prices.

Is the concert industry headed for a fall? Just like the recorded music industry?" [Bob Lefsetz]

Most of the bands in this post recently announced a tour, or an update to their previously announced tour, and did not include a NYC-area date. All of them below...

Continue reading "TOUR DATES: Kings of Leon, Walkmen, Coldplay, Bloc Party, Black Mountain, Jason Isbell, Dr Dog, Little Ones & more"

Deer Tick @ SXSW 2007 (more by Ryan Muir)

Deer Tick helped ring in the New Year at Knitting Factory in NYC on December 31st. The performance was also part of what was the club's last show ever. Next up for Deer Tick in NYC is a headlining show at Bowery Ballroom on February 13th with the Thalia Zedek Band and The Weight. Tickets are on sale.

Jason Isbell @ All Points West (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Jason Isbell and The Unit (ex-Drive by Truckers) are playing Bowery Ballroom 13 days after Deer Tick. Tickets are on sale.

Right around that same time, Jason and the Tick will join up for a tour that includes shows in Boston, Philly, Toronto, Colubmus and many other places. They'll both also eventually make their way back to Austin to play SXSW where Deer Tick played the official BrooklynVegan showcase in 2007. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Deer Tick & Jason Isbell - 2009 Tour Dates (shows separate and together, Bowery & SXSW)"

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

Neil Halstead

As previously mentioned, the third and final day of APW started late - especially the smaller stage where Neil Halstead (ex-Slowdive) was opening. That meant I actually got to see him for a second as I ran to the back of the park to catch Amadou & Mariam. I wanted to see more of Neil, but A&M came a much longer way to be there. That was around 2pm. The schedule change also meant that I got to see about half a song of Jason Isbell (ex-Drive By Truckers) around the time when Cat Power played and I think I also accidentaly saw a few seconds of Matt Costa, who like Neil H, is a friend of Sunday headliner Jack Johnson...

Continue reading "Neil Halstead, Jason Isbell & the rest APW Sunday - pics"

DOWNLOAD: Dawn Landes - Bodyguard (MP3)

Continue reading "Dawn Landes opening 4 Jason Isbell, Tour Dates, MP3, video"

DOWNLOAD: Drive By Truckers - Zip City (MP3)

Not only is this our finest album, but it sounds better on vinyl by an even bigger margin than any of the others. It was written, learned, played, mixed and mastered for vinyl. It's how it was meant to be heard and it shines like Rain Dance Car Wax on a 69 Camarro. It may not be as fast around the curve as your modern hybrid but that long road trip will be as fine a ride as you ever experience. As a bonus, an included MP3 will provide the digital impetus to make you iPod quake with it's fine sounds and it is pretty fine in that format also. Best of both worlds, vinyl sound, big beautiful packaging and portable iPod sounds for a hopefully reasonable price. Gatefold sleeve to separate what needs to be separated. Big Beautiful artwork by Wes Freed seen in the size it was intended to be seen in. Technicolor horizons. Indeed. [Drive By Truckers]

DBT front-man Patterson Hood made a list of his top 10 new releases of 2007......

1. IRON AND WINE - THE SHEPHERDS DOG - An incredible album that rewards multiple listens and my pick for the best album of the year.

2. RADIOHEAD - IN RAINBOWS - My close pick for second favorite. After all the hype of how it was released (or not), the album stands on its own as their best work since Kid A, maybe better.

3. WILCO - SKY BLUE SKY - Their best studio album. Even better when played live. Possibly the best band in America.

4. VIC CHESNUTT - NORTH STAR DESERTER - I've been saying this is his finest since West of Rome (1992) but upon further listening, this is his best album ever.

5. SPOON -GA GA GA GA GA - My vote for most fun album of year. Great live act also.

6. WHITE STRIPES - ICKY THUMP - Their finest album yet. inventive and a total blast.

7. RICKIE LEE JONES - THE SERMON ON EXPOSITION AVE. - Her finest album since 1981's masterpiece Pirates. Beautiful and inspiring.

8. PORTER WAGONER - WAGONMASTER - Thank God, he got to make this album before his sad departure this year. Kudos to Anti Records and Marti Stuart for making this happen.

9. BO BEDDINGFIELD AND THE WYDELLES - CLEARGREEN - Hard to find, self released EP from Athens GA. Well worth seeking out for great writing, singing and playing.

10. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - MAGIC - Best Springsteen album since Nebraska, his best Rock album since The River. A little over-produced, but still essential.

Drive By Truckers are touring in 2008. They'll play Terminal 5 in NYC on March 26th during the second half of their tour. Tickets go on sale Friday. The Felice Brothers will be touring with the Truckers, but only on the first-half of their tour - aka they will not be at Terminal 5, but New Yorkers wanting to catch the Brothers can do so on February 1st @ Mercury Lounge. Tickets are on sale now.

Former-Trucker Jason Isbell also has a bunch of shows coming up - some of them as part of a tour with Will Hoge. Together they play Bowery Ballroom in NYC on February 21st. Dawn Landes is also playing that show, and joining them on part of the tour. Tickets are on sale. Jason is also taking part in the New York Guitar Festival on January 12th.

All new interpretations of Dylan classics performed by Laura Cantrell, Stevie Jackson (Belle & Sebastian), Marshall Crenshaw, Oakley Hall, Nicole Atkins & Lenny Kaye, Jason Isbell, Jim Lauderdale, Toshi Reagon, Kelly Joe Phelps, Freeman, Harry Manx & Kevin Breit, The Last Town Chorus/Megan Hickey, Jesse Harris, Richard Julian & Jim Campilongo, Chocolate Genius Inc. and others.

Continue reading "Drive by Truckers, Patterson Hood, Jason Isbell, Felice Brothers, TOUR DATES, new albums, songs & a Best of 2007"

DBT @ Castle Clinton, NYC - July 19, 2007 (CRED)

The Drive-By Truckers absolutely killed (particularly the second half of their set). I'm a Jason Isbell fan, but I think the band is going to be just fine without him. [BYGASG]

Continue reading "Drive by Truckers - more 2007 Tour Dates"

Tonight (July 19, 2007) is the free Drive by Truckers show at Castle Clinton in Battery Park. Tonight is also when Jason Isbell, whose new album came out recently, reaches NYC to play a solo show at Mercury Lounge. Jason used to be in Drive By Truckers. The Battery Park show is at 7pm, and Jason doesn't go on until 11:00. Is anyone going to both? Will Jason? All tour dates below....

Continue reading "DRIVE BY TRUCKERS & ex-DBT Jason Isbell in NYC tonight + 2007 Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: St. Vincent - Now, Now (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Spoon - The Ghost Of You Lingers (MP3)

For a mid-summer week, the music CD release list is surprisingly bountiful. Spoon's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga and Interpol's Our Love To Admire lead the pack of new releases, and I can also highly recommend St. Vincent's debut album, Marry Me, former Drive-By Trucker Jason Isbell's Sirens Of The Ditch (which includes my current favorite protest song, "Dress Blues"), and Patton Oswalt's comedy album Werewolves and Lollipops).

Reissues released this week include two Monkees remasters (Headquarters and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd), as well as a remastered edition of M. Ward's Duet for Guitars 2.

Have I left anything noteworthy off the list? What new music releases can you recommend this week?

Continue reading "Largehearted Boy's Interesting CD Releases This Week"