Anand Wilder with Yeasayer at Jones Beach in July (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

The record label David Byrne started in 1988, Luaka Bop, has been curating the club John Zorn started, The Stone, since December 15. If you've been paying close attention to What's Going On posts, you may have noticed more familiar names on the lineups lately (like Lucky Dragons and Kelly Pratt who have both played so far).

The curation continues through the end of the month. Tonight (12/20), Anand Wilder of Yeasayer is playing with Steve Marion of Delicate Steve, and Austin Fisher of Suckers, performing songs they've written specifically for tonight's performance. Steve leads his own group at the venue on 12/27 with members of Banned Books. Also tonight, George Langford and Tom Van Buskirk of Javelin and friends are playing. Those friends include Ahmed Gallab of Yeasayer, Powpow of Man Man, and Miho Hatori of Cibo Mato. According to George, it's going to be an "electronic drum circle rave cave."

On Thursday (12/22), Sleepy Doug Shaw/Highlife is playing. On Friday (12/23), The Present, lead by Rusty Samtos Rusty is playing the venue. Rusty is a singer/songwriter and has produced Animal Collective, Panda Bear, Born Ruffians, Owen Pallet, and others. On 12/28, Hubble (aka Ben Greenberg of Pygmy Shrews and Zs), and on 12/29 it will be Marc Ribot and David Hidalgo.

The Stone will also host their annual end of the year improv party on December 30 and 31 with tons of musicians and special guests including Thurston Moore, John Zorn, Jeremiah Cymerman, Sam Kulik, Ned Rothenburg, Eyal Maoz, David Fulmer, and others. Starting at 11 PM on 12/31, Spiritual Unity (which features Marc Ribot) will perform a ritual/jam that leads through a midnight rendition of Albert Ayler's "Bells."

Check out the full December schedule and more details on these shows at The Stone's website.

Javelin also have a show coming up on 2/24 at Glasslands with Pat Jordache.

photos by David Andrako

Hot, packed and dancing on Friday, New York's Terminal 5 was a scene rarely seen, in which nearly everyone in attendance was engaged and enthusiastic, their pretensions left at the curb. With Fredrik Källgren Wallin and Håkan Wirenstrand making melodies on either side of the stage and Erik Bodin hemmed in behind the raised drum kit, the job of crowd engagement rested squarely with Yukimi Nagano, and she carried its weight effortlessly. Barefoot and at ease onstage, flitting between impassioned and lackadaisical, Nagano is less charismatic than instructional, a how-to on letting go, or just never needing to, like a Sesame Street moral come to life. Her face has a sleepy, calming contour that's easily stared-at, and her dancing is carefree and natural, punctuated by timed punches to an immaculately choreographed and deceptively gigantic light show. Nagano's voice has a full, wavy heft that's remarkable to witness, strained at times and mathematically precise when required.- [Rolling Stone]

Little Dragon's appearance was part of a larger stretch of US dates that extends until the end of October, and included a DJ set the following night (10/15) at Yotel with Free Magic and Faso. Many of Lil Dragon's upcoming dates are with Tycho who played his own NYC show at Music Hall of Williamsburg over the weekend.

All dates, more pictures from Terminal 5 and the setlist, below....

Continue reading "Little Dragon played Terminal 5 w/ Javelin, Donn T & Questlove (pics & setlist)"

DOWNLOAD: Tycho - "Dive" (MP3)

San Francisco IDM artist Tycho (aka Scott Hansen) will release his new album, Dive, on November 15 via Ghostly. Check out the album's atmospheric single, "Hours," which you can download above. The album is available for preorder on iTunes now. The artwork and tracklist is below.

Tycho was supposed to be here for CMJ, but cancelled his CMJ plans because he's been added as an opener to Little Dragon's tour. He is not playing their show on October 14 at Terminal 5 though (tickets). Questlove (DJ), Javelin, and Donn T are. He will however play his own NYC show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 16. Tickets for that show are on sale now. Tycho will also perform at Decibel Festival in Seattle, WA today (9/30).

All dates, artwork and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Tycho releasing an LP, touring w/ Little Dragon, headlining his own Brooklyn show (MP3 & dates)"

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)"

"felt like i was gonna die from both heat stroke and excitement many times during @pictureplane at 285 kent last night" - Emmi Lichtenberg

"pictureplane 285 kent the hottest show of my 40 years earthly existence..
the good hot" - Steven Read

"Best out to Todd P, 285 Kent, Teengirl Fantasy & Pictureplane for helping me sweat out all those toxins, I had a good time" - Brandon Ynocencio

Pictureplane at 285 Kent (via Steven Read)

Pictureplane played 285 Kent on Saturday (7/23) as part of his tour with Teengirl Fantasy. The show was the album release party for Thee Physical, which was available as a cassette. Despite Todd P's valiant efforts to provide A/C at 285 Kent, they weren't able to cool down the extremely hot venue. Todd P retweeted Mookie Singerman of Lovepump Records (home of Pictureplane) who said, "AC IS ON AT 285 KENT!!! WATERSHED MOMENT IN DIY TODD P HISTORY." with the added, "Somebody spoke too soon!" And they did. Pictureplane said the show "was a high point in my 'career' as a performer. I didn't know my body could sweat like that." Those in attendance (tweets above) suffered the heat too, but feedback was still positive as ever.

I wonder what the A/C situation will be at 285 Kent tonight (7/26) for the Silent Barn Benefit. with Bomb the Music Industry and secret guests.

There are a few more dates on the Pictureplane/Teengirl Fantasy tour which culminates at the end of the month in Buffalo, NY. Each artist will also play their own Warm Up show at PS1 in August. Pictureplane's is on August 20, after he finishes a tour with Javelin. The PS1 bill also includes Juan Maclean, Blood Orange, Solange, Grimes, and Ford & Lopatin (DJ). After that, Pictureplane will play two more NYC shows. The first is on September 1 at Cameo Gallery. Lineup and ticket info coming soon. He'll then play a Jelly RockBeach show on September 3 with Wise Blood and others.

Pictureplane's tour with Javelin doesn't hit the east coast at all, but Javelin play their own NYC show at 285 Kent on September 17.

Updated dates below...

Continue reading "Pictureplane played a HOT show @ 285 Kent, announces more dates (Cameo, RockBeach, etc)"

Javelin at Mercury Lounge in May (more by Chris La Putt)

We recently mentioned that Mount Eerie will play September 26 at Le Poisson Rouge (tickets). He's since announced a Brooklyn show happening a few days earlier on September 21 at 285 Kent Ave. Still no full tour announcement.

Javelin will also play 285 Kent, but on September 17, after finishing up a short West Coast tour in August with Hollagramz and Pictureplane, whose Brooklyn show with Teengirl Fantasy and Gatekeeper was just moved to 285 Kent.

The Javelin/Pictureplane/Hollagramz West Coast tour intersects with the previously announced Tri Angle tour on August 16 at Echoplex in LA. That tour was scheduled to have Holy Other, oOoOO and Tri Angle DJs, though due to health issues Holy Other has had to cancel his US shows, Mercury Lounge and PS1 included. A message on Tri Angle's site reads:

"We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but regretfully it's our job to announce that Holy Other has had to cancel all of his upcoming US dates due to ill health. Holy Other is still planning on playing shows in the US in the foreseeable future, but circumstance has unfortunately made it impossible for Holy Other to fulfill the shows he had scheduled for July / August. Consequently Tri Angle DJs have also had to pull out from the forthcoming shows. oOoOO will still be playing, and a suitable replacement support act is currently being figured out. We hope you understand. Thanks."

All dates below...

Continue reading "Holy Other cancels shows, Mount Eerie & Javelin add some"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Archers of Loaf - What Did You Expect? (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Art Brut - "Lost Weekend" (MP3)

Archers of Loaf @ Sasquach 2011 (more by Josh Darr)

This weekend marks the return of '90s indie legends Archers of Loaf who play Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday (6/25, sold out) and Webster Hall on Sunday (6.26, you can still get tickets). Opening both shows are Mr. Dream which is as perfect an opener as you could imagine.

I didn't care for their later records (or Eric Bachman's Crooked Fingers) but Archers of Loaf's 1993 debut, Icky Mettle, is an indie rock classic that stands tall alongside No Pocky for Kitty, Slanted & Enchanted, There's Nothing Wrong with Love and Sebadoh III. 1995's Vee Vee is pretty awesome too, and both records are getting the expanded reissue treatment from Merge Records in August. You can download "What Did You Expect?" (a 1994 7"-only release) at the top of this post.

Speaking of Mr. Dream, despite the Voice saying that the lineup was final, they added Mr. Dream today to the upcoming 4Knots Fest at South Street Seaport, and DJs and an indoor lounge too...

The Village Voice is excited to announce the addition of the 4Knots Indoor Lounge during the 4Knots Music Festival on Saturday, July 16, 2011. The lounge, located at 210 Front Street, will be open from 2PM till Midnight with free admission, 21+ only. DJ Sets will take place all day from: Yeasayer, Dan Deacon, Finger on the Pulse, PUNCHES, Brahms, and others TBD. Drink specials from Sailor Jerry and Bud Light will be available along with a PopChips photo booth, and much more.

The inaugural 4Knots Music Festival with also include live music on South Street Seaport Pier 17 from 1-8pm. The Black Angels, Titus Andronicus, Davila 666, Oberhofer, Eleanor Friedberger and Mr. Dream and are all scheduled to perform on the outdoor stage at the free, all day, all ages music festival.

While we're in the '90s milleiu, Mazes are here opening for White Denim on Saturday night (6/25) at Bowery Ballroom. I'll just quote myself here:

When you think Manchester, England you may think Stone Roses and The Smiths, but in the case of Mazes, it's more Sebadoh and Soul Asylum. Not unlike Yuck, this trio owe lots to '90s indie rock as can be heard on their debut album A Thousand Heys which came out in April.

And if you can't make it this weekend, Mazes return for a headlining show at Glasslands on Tuesday, July 5 where they'll play with Beige, Country Mice, and The Hairs.

Art Brut

What else? Art Brut are on tour and played Maxwell's last night and will be at Music Hall of Williamsburg Thursday (6/23). The band's new album, Brilliant! Tragic!, finds Eddie Argos taking it down a notch and almost singing. Almost. It's really more of a whispery type thing -- not unlike Jarvis Cocker -- and for the most part I think it works pretty well. I especially like the single, "Lost Weekend," which you can download at the top of this post. More than anything, I think the music is the best Art Brut have come up with since their debut. And the band remain a lot of fun to see live. Argos is the real deal.

Sic Alps

Sic Alps roll through town on Friday, playing Death By Audio with Spectre Folk and Weekends. As previously reported, founding member Matt Hartman -- who was half the band originally -- has left the group which is kind of weird Mike Donovan is carrying on with the name with Eric Baur and some kid named Ty Segall (who had briefly joined the band a couple years ago). Shouldn't they be called Sic Andes or something now?

Granted, Mike Donovan did most of the singing (and maybe wrote most of the songs) and I'm gonna bet this new version of the band is pretty awesome. Sic Alps most recent album, Napa Asylum, is another smoldering, thick stew of swamp garage. A lot of bands use the low-fi thing as a crutch, but Sic Alps have always used sludge like it's a member of the band. A new 7", perhaps the first fruits of this new line-up, is out in August.

Fulton Stall Market in 2010 (more by Chris La Putt)

And finally, a little shameless plugging. Sunday afternoon, June 26th, is the first of my four Sound Bites Series shows which take place at the Fullton Stall Market down at South Street Seaport. You can get your vegetables and jingle jangle indiepop all in one place. This Sunday the latter is provided by scene stalwarts My Teenage Stride. The fun (which includes me DJing before the band) starts at 2PM, and it's all free. Do come down and say hi.

This is the full Sunday show lineup:

JUNE 26: MY TEENAGE STRIDE
JULY 3: THE HAIRS
JULY 10: pow wow!
JULY 17: HOSPITALITY

Some additional daily picks follow:

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22

Iceage play a free show at Other Music today.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23

Black Dice's Eric Copeland, McDonalds and Regal Degal play Secret Project Robot. It's a record release party for both Copeland and McDonalds, so do check out the merch table. The Copeland record, Waco Taco Combo, is only a 500 copy pressing.

Dinosaur Jr. are at Terminal 5 performing their classic 1988 album Bug (that's the one with "Freak Scene") in its entirety. And probably some other songs as well. Many people will be going just to see Fucked Up, not to mention Off!.

Beach Fossils and Javelin play Santos Party House. It's a free show if you RSVP.

continued below....

Continue reading "Archers of Loaf, Mr. Dream, Art Brut, Mazes, Sic Alps, Iceage, Sundays @ The Seaport & more in This Week in Indie"

photos by Chris La Putt

Javelin @ Mercury Lounge

Javelin are finishing up a tour with Big Freedia which just stopped by Mercury Lounge on May 26. We already posted the Freedia pics. Here are the Javelin ones. They continue below.

Since that show Big Freedia played a Saturday night show at Brooklyn Bowl, a 3-song set later that night (at like 2:30am) at Drom, and B.O.M.B. Fest. Freedia and Javelin play together in Montreal tonight (5/31). Javelin play their next NYC show on June 18 at Glasslands with Delicate Steve, Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt, Bright Moments (Kelly Pratt of Beirut and Arcade Fire), and Harry Belafonte Live at Carnegie Hall. The show is presented by label Luaka Bop and is part of the Northside Festival. Tickets are still available. Flyer and more tour dates below.

Javelin is currently in the process of completing a Canyon Candy short film. The film is their companion to the Canyon Candy 10". According to Javelin's Kickstarter campaign:

The lone survivor of a brutal massacre, a young girl is plunged into hallucinatory chase through a day and night in the American Southwest. Directed by Mike Anderson and produced by Oscar Boyson, Canyon Candy is unlike any previous Western. Part poem, part play, a modern silent film wholly created on a soundstage: this is the first western of its kind to be shot in the New York Metropolitan Area since The Great Train Robbery was filmed in Milltown, New Jersey in 1903. Completely handmade, Canyon Candy will employ old studio western methods such as rear-projection, dioramas, and scenic matte painting to create a stunningly unorthodox visual rendering of the American West. Javelin's original score fuses original compositions with dollar-bin mined samples.

Continue reading "Javelin played Mercury Lounge (pics), playing Luaka Bop's Northside Mega-Thing w/ Delicate Steve & other dates"

DOWNLOAD: Big Freedia - "Azz Everywhere" (12" mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Big Freedia - "Look at Her" (MP3)

Big Freedia @ BV-CMJ 2010 (more by Chris La Putt)

Big Freedia, who is currently on tour, recently appeared on HBO's Treme with fellow New Orleans bouncers Katey Red and Sissy Nobby. Treme takes place in New Orleans where the bounce music Big Freedia has become recognized for originated. She appeared on the Tim Robbin-directed episode two of the second season, "Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky," named after the Allen Toussaint composition of the same name. In the episode, Treme characters Davis and Aunt Mimi watch Big Freedia perform "Gin in My System" at the West Bank Club. Mimi then meets Katey Red in the club during the performance and walks off with her. Watch a clip below. And if you need a refresher on Bounce, read what Treme music consultant Alison Fensterstock has to say about it.

As previously mentioned, Big Freedia is stopping by NYC this week to shake some ass on Thursday (5/26) at Mercury Lounge with her tour-mate Javelin who is not playing the show Saturday (5/28) at Brooklyn Bowl where the billing is "BIG FREEDIA AND THE DIVAS with DJ RUSTY LAZER." Tickets for Mercury Lounge and Brooklyn Bowl are still on sale.

The Saturday night show at Brooklyn Bowl is a late one. The Deli's NYC B.E.A.F. show with Delicate Steve, Headless Horseman and Arpline happens earlier in the evening. The Saturday show is also one night before Freedia appears at B.O.M.B. Fest.

In June Freedia hits Chaos in Tejas in Austin. In July she was supposed to play some dates with Quintron, but Quintron's entire tour is now cancelled. All Big Freedia tour dates and videos below...

Continue reading "Big Freedia on tour w/ Javelin, appeared on 'Treme' (video)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Big Freedia - "Azz Everywhere" (12" mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Big Freedia - "Look at Her" (MP3)

Big Freedia at Fun Fun Fun Fest (more by Tim Griffin)

Big Freedia, who just kept very busy down in Austin during SXSW, is preparing to hit the road on April 7th for a string of US dates that will take her booty-clappin' crew from coast to coast. The tour dates include a pair of shows in NYC at Mercury Lounge on May 26th with Javelin and Brooklyn Bowl on May 27th, as well as an appearance at Chaos in Tejas on on June 3rd. Tickets for Mercury Lounge are currently on sale now, as are Brooklyn Bowl tickets. Chaos in Tejas tickets are on sale too.

Surely a highlight of her set is the anthemic gluteous maximus dancefloor burner "Azz Everywhere". The live performance of the song is usually one of the most memorable from her set, and now you can reenact Big Freedia's live show in the comfort of your own home with a new 12" mix of the booty anthem "Azz Everywhere" on 540 Records. The version of the track makes its premiere in this post. Download it above above/stream it below, and pick up a copy of the 12" that features three additional tracks and an "Azz Everywhere" instrumental (for those looking to lead a booty party at home) via 540 Records.

The 12" release for 540 Records is one of two for Ms. Party-starter, as Big Freedia will ALSO release another EP via Scion AV on Tuesday (3/29). The five track EP, simply titled "Scion A/V presents Big Freedia" features "Look at Her" which is also downloadable for the first time above/streamable below.

All tour dates, the cover art for both new releases, a video for "Y'all Get Back Now", and a fascinating interview on Big Freedia is below.

Continue reading "2 new Big Freedia tracks from 2 new releases & new tour dates too (Mercury Lounge & Brooklyn Bowl included)"

Marty Markowitz & Beirut & L Magazine staff @ Brooklyn Borough Hall

As you can see in the above photo, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz was on hand at the press conference this morning, as was now-confirmed Northside Festival headliner Beirut. Tickets will be HERE. More confirmed artists below...

Continue reading "Northside Fest confirms Beirut, Deer Tick, Twin Sister, Allo Darlin' & more (initial lineup)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Gross Relations - You Don't Know Me (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Anika - Yang Yang (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Anika - Terry (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: ARMS - Floaters (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Martial Canterel - You Today (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Martial Canterel - Retrospective (Zip)
DOWNLOAD: The Vacant Lots - Confusion (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Don Giovanni Sampler (Zip)

Gross Relations

In addition to being Black History Month, National Bird Feeding Month and National Sweet Potato Month, February also seems to consistently have a lot of band residencies. You may already be aware of ones by ARMS (who I'll get to shortly) and Yellow Ostrich,  but I'd also like to point out that up-and-coming Brooklyn indie rock band Gross Relations starts a three-week Tuesday residency tonight (2/8) at Bruar Falls.

Gross Relations have been going less than a year, but seem to have a clear idea with what they want to sound like. Like Mr. Dream and Diehard, the band shares a love of '90s indie rock. With the prominent keyboard lead lines (or maybe it's heavily-treated guitar?) on both sides of their "Fuzzy Timelines" 7", it's pretty easy to make comparisons to The Rentals, but the band they really remind me of is Chicago's late, great Number One Cup.

Either way, it's a good thing. Gross Relations write some majorly catchy songs. You can download the b-side to their single at the top of this post. Tonight's residency also features The Toothaches (whose debut album is a free download), Gone Bad, and NT.

ARMS @ Glasslands in December (more by Andrew St. Clair)

I mentioned ARMS briefly above who are on Week Two (2/9) of their February Wednesdays residency at Pianos. Todd Goldstein and the rest of the band are finishing up work on their debut album (Kids Aflame was more of a Todd solo thing) with Shane Stoneback (Vampire Weekend, Sleigh Bells). So expect a lot of new songs, I'd imagine. Todd says of the record, "It's a vast, hi-fi album. We're doing everything we can to take full advantage of the studio... the songs are very poppy and a little weird, there are lots of beautiful/scary textures, copious-but-thoughtful use of reverb... sequenced into a song-cycle, a sort of sci-fi breakup album." ARMS are hoping to have it out by the summer.

This week's residency is especially strong I think. It includes the lovely Hospitality, who finally seem to be getting down to business, having wrapped up their long-gestating debut album (also with Stoneback) which could be out as early as the spring. Let's hope! Singer Amber Papini promises a couple new songs at the show.

Also playing: Radical Dads, whose new single is a free  for you (with email address) via the increasingly popular Download Widget (found below). And Translations (who share a member with ARMS) open who I am super psyched to finally be seeing live after months of digging their debut 7".

Show's eight bucks, will be a good one.

Martial Canterel

Also Wednesday is the record release party for Martial Canterel's You Today which came out today on Wierd Records. The show is part of Wierd's weekly Wednesday night party at Home Sweet Home. The flyer says performance at midnight, but I've never seen a band go on there before 1AM.

Martial Canterel is the non de synth of Sean McBride who is also one half of Xeno & Oaklander. McBride is kind of a luddite, making his records entirely on vintage equipment that was probably cutting-edge technology in 1980. Obviously it sounds very retro, but McBride's way of doing things also gives it a sound -- and authenticity -- you can't quite replicate on a laptop. Check out the title track at the top of this post. And if you dig that, also up there is a free downloadable Martial Canterel retrospective, including some rare songs.

Anika

In town this weekend is Anika whose debut album was a late-breaking entry into my Favorite Albums of 2011. Recorded in 12 days, live with no overdubs, it sounds like the missing link between The Slits and Lilliput. Portishead's Geoff Barrow -- his other band BEAK> is the backing band here -- gets the claustrophobic vibe just right. A lot of people have tried and failed to recreate that Martin Hannett Sound... Barrow nails it. And the material -- a mix of girl group covers and politically-charged originals -- suits Anika's Nico-esque delivery perfectly.

You can download two tracks from the album at the top of this post. "Yang Yang" is a Yoko Ono cover, and "Terry" was originally recorded by Twinkle, who is probably best-known for having made the original version of "Golden Lights" that was later covered by The Smiths. (Many Smiths fans' least favorite track, but not mine. That would be "Never Had No One Ever.") The album sort of snuck out at the end of 2011, so catch up now. So good.

Don't get too excited though, Anika is just over for some DJ gigs -- I'm hearing we'll get her performing in May (and probably later at ATP) -- but I'd recommend checking one of them out nonetheless. Especially as three of them are free: on Thursday (2/10) she'll be at Gallery Bar with Blu Jemz, then  Saturday (2/12) at Trophy Bar and a Valentine's Day set  (2/14) at The Commodore. The remaining three NY DJ appearances are atMercury Lounge tomorrow night (2/9) spinning between sets at the Cubic Zirconia show (tickets), and Glasslands on Friday (2/11) where she'll spin in between sets by Javelin, High Life, & Monster Rally (tickets), and finally Santos Pary House on 2/16 as part of the previously discussed Beans show with Edan, Paten Locke & Bluebird (tickets).

That Javelin show on Friday night should be fun, as Anika's tastes will nicely contrast/compliment the sounds of Javelin (always one of the better live bands saddled with the "chillwave" tag), Highlife and Monster Rally.

That's the big stuff this week. Some more picks, day-by-day, are below.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Gang of Four at Webster Hall, though really it's more like Gang of Two as it's just Jon King and Andy Gill from the original line-up these days. Their new album, Content, isn't bad. But most people will go to hear "To Hell With Poverty," "At Home He's  a Tourist," and other classics. And while Hugo and Dave will be missed, Andy Gill is still amazing to watch spit out those riffs, and Jon King remains possessed on stage -- especially when he's beating the shit out of a microwave on "He'd Send in the Army."

continued below...

Continue reading "Gross Relations, ARMS, Martial Canterel, Anika, Vacant Lots, Javelin, Abe Vigoda, Don Giovanni, more in This Week in Indie"

by BBG

Anika's new and self-titled LP skirts the lines between funk, no-wave, goth, dub, and a mish-mosh of many other genres with Nico-style vocals in front. It's odd, but very compelling, and her accompaniment is nothing short of on point which is to be expected when Beak> (Geoff Barrow of Porsishead, Billy Fuller and Matt Williams) is your backing band. Barrow also produced the record which you can listen to in its entirely below. Watch a video of her Yoko-Ono cover "Yang Yang" down there too. Pick up a copy of the record at her label Stones Throw.

Though Anika has no North American live tour dates scheduled, she will be on hand to DJ a ton of events in the next couple weeks - once in LA and six times in NYC. Three of those NY appearances are free: 2/10 she'll be at Gallery Bar with Blu Jemz, 2/12 at Trophy Bar & 2/14 at The Commodore. The remaining three NY DJ appearances are at Mercury Lounge on 2/9 spinning between sets at the Cubic Zirconia show (tickets), Glasslands on 2/11 where she'll spin in between sets by Javelin, High Life, & Monster Rally (tickets), and finally Santos Pary House on 2/16 as part of the previously discussed Beans show which now also includes Edan(!) with Paten Locke & Bluebird (tickets).

Anika will be performing live sometime later in the U.S. - maybe at the Portishead-curated I'll Be Your Mirror in NJ (maybe sooner), and definitely at the Portishead-curated I'll Be Your Mirror in London. I'll Be Your Mirror USA single day tickets are still on sale.

All upcoming dates, that video, and the album stream, below...

Continue reading "Listen to the Geoff Barrow-produced Anika, see her DJ (at least 7 times in February)"

photos by Chris Doss

PUBLIC ASSEMBLY - FRONT ROOM
8:00pm Aarnio
9:00pm Class Actress
10:00pm Lemonade
11:00pm Javelin
12:00pm Penguin Prison
1:00am Azari & III
2:15am The Knocks
3:15am Punches

PUBLIC ASSEMBLY - BACK ROOM
8:00pm Free Magic
8:45pm Lloydski & Blu Jemz
9:25pm Michna
10:15pm oOoOO
11:15am Falty DL
12:15am Treasure Fingers
1:15am Tittsworth
2:15am Star Eyes
3:10am Dave P

MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG
8:00pm Boody B & Marcus Price
8:30pm The Glass
9:15pm Body Language
10:05pm FHR
10:55-11:30pm BRAHMS
11:40am CREEP
12:30am Cubic Zirconia
1:15am Kid Sister
2:00am Sinden
3:00am Kingdom

Continue reading "the 2010 Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival in pics"

photos by Erez Avissar

Future Islands

Javelin, Future Islands and Liturgy shared a bill at a space called "285 Kent Ave" (formerly "West Nile") on November 21st. A set of pictures from that show continues below...

Continue reading "Javelin, Future Islands & Liturgy @ 285 Kent Ave (pics) "

It's a little bit later this year, but the third annual The Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival will take place across two venues in Williamsburg on December 18th: Music Hall of Williamsburg and Public Assembly (if you didn't know, they are right next door to each other). The "fest" will feature acts from across the digital spectrum ("emerging and established bands, DJ's and producers from the Boroughs and beyond") including Sinden, Kid Sister, Javelin, Tittsworth, Class Actress, Brahms, Lemonade, and many others, with more to be announced.

Tickets are currently on "Super Limited Reduced Price Advance" sale.

Lemonade meanwhile is out on tour with their True Panther labelmate Delorean. Two NYC shows happen very soon and both are still on sale.

Initial BEMF lineup and two videos from last year below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn Electronic Music Fest returning (in 2 venues), Lemonade on tour w/ Delorean (dates) "

Matthew Dear @ MHOW in 2008 (more by Bao Nguyen)

As mentioned, Pitchfork will be hosting three days of shows at Brooklyn Bowl during, but-it-looks-like/probably completely unaffiliated with, CMJ this year (Thursday/Friday/Saturday CMJ week). "Brooklyn Bowl is located at 61 Wythe Avenue between N. 11th and N. 12th streets. The festival starts at 2 p.m. each day, with doors opening at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10, both in advance and day of the show." They're calling it the #OFFLINE Festival.

Based on the lineups and start time, it looks like each #OFFLINE day will be about a 12 hour show. No set times yet though, but the full lineups and ticket links are below...

Matthew Dear is one of the biggest names on the list (he plays Saturday), and it will be one of three CMJ week shows for Matthew. His first is Friday night at Webster Hall with Jamaica and Dominique Young Unique. His third is later on Saturday at Public Assembly for the FIXED/Making Time Party with Matthew Dear, Crocodiles, Holy Ghost!, Javelin, Gold Panda, Jamaica, and Kisses.

The FIXED/Making Time party starts after the BrooklynVegan party which is also happening at Public Assembly that same day. Just to be clear:

SATURDAY OCTOBER 23RD
* BrooklynVegan @ Public Assembly 12-6pm (free - more details TBA)
* FIXED/Making Time @ Public Assembly 9pm-late (tickets)
* Pitchfork @ Brooklyn Bowl 2pm-late (tickets)
* BrooklynVegan metal @ Union Pool 7pm-late ($5.00 or CMJ badge at the door)

We (BrooklynVegan) will also be at Public Assembly all day on Friday, October 22nd (details TBA), and at Music Hall of Williamsburg on the Thursday night.

All Matthew Dear tour dates (many of which we previously posted including a November show at MHoW), and the Pitchfork #OFFLINE Fest info, below...

Continue reading "Pitchfork announces #OFFLINE not-CMJ parties, Matthew Dear also playing Making Time & Girls & Boys parties (lineups) "

one of Big Freedia's dancers @ PS1 (more by Zach Dilgard)

Big Freedia is blowin (bouncin) up. It's been roughly four months since the New Orleans resident was featured prominently in the New York Times Magazine, and she'll be making what is probably her network television debut tonight (9/30) on Last Call With Carson Daly. That's on after Fallon, so unless you stay up all night, set your DVR.

if you happen to be in Miami, well then you can also catch Freedia tonight at Vagabond. It's the next show on an ongoing tour that continues through Pop Montreal (10/3), some dates with Matt & Kim (10/11-10/13), CMJ and Fun Fun Fun Fest.

For CMJ, there are at least two NYC shows, both official, ticketed showcases and both on sale. There's the previously mentioned Windish showcase happening at Santos on October 23rd (tickets), and a show one night earlier at Southpaw with Javelin and Dominique Young Unique (who also plays the Santos show and who also played with Freedia at the final Pool Party of the summer).

And as if Big Freedia shows aren't dirty enough, she recently played one in an actual strip club and there's (NSFW) video footage. That video and all dates below...

Continue reading "Big Freedia is coming to your town & on your TV (2010 tour dates, CMJ, NSFW strip club video) "

"The new location is a pristine secluded beach area called Raptor Point, at the North end of the main (decommissioned) runway of the abandoned airport, right on Jamaica Bay. Gorgeous views of Jamaica Bay, Mill Basin, and of the distant Manhattan skyline; and a pretty phenomenal sunset spot." - Todd P

Details below...

Continue reading "Todd P's Unamplified Acoustic BBQ is Sunday (new location) "

words by Andrew Frisicano, photos by Devyn Manibo

Javelin @ the Whitney

Javelin and Warpaint played a show at the Whitney on Friday, August 13th as part of their now-finished tour together (previously on the trip, both bands played Lollapalooza). The pay-what-you-wish entry fee covered both the music and the museum's current art, which includes the vividly styled watercolors of Charles Burchfield (his previously mentioned Heat Waves in a Swamp retrospective) and Christian Marclay: Festival, a collection of the artist/composer's sound-centric work with daily performances.

On Friday, the line to get in stretched around the block: I arrived at 6pm and got in the door just before Javelin started their 7pm set. The duo, playing off their Luaka Bop-released debut LP No Más, brought their wall of dismembered, rewired and colorfully spraypainted boomboxes to project the sample-based songs. One half of the band, George Langford, stuck to the drums, playing cymbals and a digital pad, while "frontman" Tom Van Buskirk worked up a sweat on the mic. The excellent No Más covers a lot of '80s-inspired ground: breakbeats, New Wave, downtown disco, dream pop and so on. On top of the samples, Buskirk interpolated his own words with borrowed hip-hop verses and hooks from the same era to complete the circle. A neon-painted keytar and fuzzed-out kazoo rounded out the melodies.

Warpaint started shortly afterward, but I didn't see much of them, opting for a quick walk around the museum before closing (in hindsight, pretty stupid: the exhibits require a few hours). Like Javelin, Warpaint's funky drums got the crowd moving and bobbing along, and the band sounded at home in the crowded basement-like space. The sidewalk outside actually provided one of the best viewpoints on the action below.

Warpaint go on tour with the xx and Zola Jesus in September. That includes an October 2nd show at United Palace Theatre (tickets still on sale).

Javelin's next show is Friday, August 20th (TONIGHT) the Yard at Soho Grand along with a DJ set from JD Samson as part of their free Summer Hummer series (RSVP). Javelin also just cut a recently posted Daytrotter session.

The last Whitney Live show of the summer happens August 27th with DJ/Rupture and Tanlines.

More pictures of Javelin and some video of Javelin & Warpaint are below...

Continue reading "Javelin played the Whitney w/ Warpaint (pics, video), playing the Soho Grand (tonight) "

"Our annual celebration of African music, food and culture builds to an ecstatic crescendo with the distortion-fueled trance music of Congolese thumb-piano wizards Konono No. 1. Dakar heavyweights Omar Pene & Super Diamono, seminal figures in the birth of the modern Senegalese sound, add a jolt of energy to the proceedings, while the distinctive voice of Zimbabwean Afro-soul diva Chiwoniso, the pan-African reggae of Meta & The Cornerstones, and the festival horns and drums from Haiti's Djarara bring other unique flavors to the day."

Konono No 1
Omar Pene
Chiwoniso
Meta & The Cornerstones
Djarara

Konono are currently touring in support of a new album. They also recently contributed the track "Nsimba & Nzuzi" to a charity compilation called "Raise Hope For Congo". Click the link to check it out. The full tracklist, along with updated tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Konono No 1 on tour (African Fest Saturday, a show w/ Javelin Sunday) , on the 'Raise Hope For Congo' comp"

Javelin @ Bowery Ballroom in February (more by Jessica Amaya)

Whitney Live: Summer 2010
Presented by Keds
Fridays: July 2, July 23, Aug 13, Aug 27
Lower Gallery / Sculpture Court 7pm

JULY 2
HIGH PLACES + TORO Y MOI

JULY 23
BEAR HANDS + DARLINGS

AUGUST 13
JAVELIN + WARPAINT

AUGUST 27
DJ/RUPTURE + TANLINES

Shearwater's Jonathan Meiburg and Wye Oak's Andy Stack are playing a show at the museum on Friday, June 25th to ring in an exhibit of art by painter Charles Burchfield.

Last year's summer Whitney shows included Vivian Girls & These are Powers and the Feelies.

The Biennial just closed at the museum - there's a video tour of it below...

Continue reading "Whitney Live 2010 - free shows @ the museum in July "

"Dan Deacon & Dustin Wong absolutely murdered it tonight at Cake Shop "Silence like the wind overCakes me, 5 yr anniversary!"" -corygreenwell

Dan Deacon @ Cake Shop on May 27th (via Youtube, below)

Dan Deacon played one of the last shows of Cake Shop's five-year-anniversary month on Thursday, May 27th. Also at the gig were Height, Eternal Summers, Big Troubles and Dustin Wong. A YouTube slideshow of pictures from the show is posted below.

Dan Deacon and his friends at Wham City have posted details on this year's Whartscape Festival in Baltimore on July 22-25. Confirmed acts include Wye Oak, Deakin, Javelin, Lightning Bolt, No Ave, Talk Normal, Zach Hill, Arab on Radar, Xiu Xiu, Yip Yip, Dan Deacon Ensemble and Ponytail (Beach House was intially listed but has since been removed). More bands are TBA. Tickets go on sale at WhamCity.com and Baltimore's True Vine Records on June 15th.

For Arab on Radar, this is yet another date to add to the list of reunion gigs they have scheduled in July, August and September.

Wye Oak are also playing Siren in July.

Deakin (ex-Animal Collective) will hopefully schedule a NYC show one day soon.

Dan Deacon will be back in NYC for a show on June 15th at Red Hook Park (part of a series of shows in the park that kicks off TONIGHT - June 1st).

The full Whartscape lineup and pictures from the Cake Shop show are below...

Continue reading "Dan Deacon played Cake Shop, Whatscape 2010 lineup announced (Lightning Bolt, Deakin, Ponytail, tons more)"

by Andrew Frisicano

HEALTH @ The Smell in LA in November (more by Rachel Carr)

HEALTH are going on tour with Indian Jewelry and Gold Panda this June for shows around North America. All three play Music Hall of Williamsburg on Sunday, June 20th. Tickets go on AmEx presale Wednesday (4/14) at noon. General sale starts Friday at noon.

HEALTH will release DISCO2, the follow-up to its 2008 remix record, HEALTH//DISCO, on June 22nd through Lovepump United. Remixers on the disc, which also features new track "USA Boys," include Crystal Castles (who play Irving Plaza tomorrow, April 14th), Javelin, Small Black, Salem, Tobacco and Pictureplane.

They recently released an intense & unspeakably creepy video for their song "We Are Water," directed by Tim & Eric's Eric Wareheim. That, album info and tracklist (with a complete list of remixers) and all tour dates (including dates in Europe) are below...

Continue reading "HEALTH - 2010 tour dates w/ Indian Jewelry & Gold Panda, new remix CD & Eric Wareheim video "

"The 2010 Lollapalooza line-up is official: Soundgarden, Green Day, Lady Gaga, Arcade Fire, The Strokes, and Phoenix will headline, joined by Social Distortion, MGMT, Jimmy Cliff, Hot Chip, and The Black Keys. With 130 bands on this year's bill, its sure to be a weekend long feast for the ears.

It's a monumental year for Lollapalooza, filled with homecomings, reunions, and first-times. Soundgarden, 1992 and 1996 Lollapalooza alumni, return to the Lollapalooza stage for their first performance since 1997. Green Day will rock Grant Park sixteen years after their first Lollapalooza appearance. While Lady Gaga will headline the festival only three short years after playing the BMI stage at Lollapalooza 2007.

Arcade Fire returns to Grant Park, having played the reincarnated Lollapalooza in 2005. This is the first Lollapalooza for The Strokes - and also their first show in four years. And making their Lollapalooza debut: Phoenix." - Lollapalooza

Continue reading "Lollapalooza actually announces 2010 lineup "