Dead Milkmen, 2011 (photo by Nina Sabatino)

Joe Jack Talcum (aka Joe Genaro of the Dead Milkmen) will play a solo show in NYC on Thursday (4/7) at Cake Shop. Samuel Locke Ward and Toby Goodshank, who recently released a split 7" on Slumber Party Records, and Xaddax are also on the bill. $10 gets you in the door.

Joe and Samuel also both play a show at Connie's in Philly on Friday with 25 Cromwell Street. Who/what/where is 25 Cromwell Street? Well, all we know is that it's "Rodney's Band." Rodney of course, to quote Wikipedia, "is best known as the lead vocalist, keyboardist and co-songwriter of the satirical punk rock band The Dead Milkmen." Lots of Milkmen in the house at Connie's on Friday. All of Joe's upcoming dates are listed below.

All of the Milkmen will be back in NYC on SATURDAY, APRIL 9th when the Dead Milkmen return to headline Warsaw. Tickets are still on sale. Pioneers of Seduction and Party Photographers open the show. Oh, and we also have a pair of tickets you can win. Details below.

Dead Milkmen at Warsaw in 2009 (more by Lori Baily)

In March the reunited band flew down to Austin for a headlining appearance at the SXSW-week MWTX fest. Someone reports...

A packed audience for the MWTX party at the Eastside Drive-In went on and on past sunset. We watched Davila 666 and Thee Oh Sees for the forth time each and loved it, then went over to see Dead Milkmen. The crowd was nuts. More stage divers than one could count, just throwing themselves on the crowd.

Kids were climbing speakers and most of the people in the front were stamped with Dead Milkmen tattoos. We literally saw a beer can fly straight into the air, probably 15 feet -[Miami New Times]

The Brooklyn show is one of two U.S. dates the Milkmen have coming up. The other is Congress Theater in Chicago on April 30th.

The Dead Milkmen recently dropped their first LP in 16 years, The King In Yellow...

"We began working on new material soon after playing the FunFunFun Festival in Austin, TX in 2008. Basic tracks were recorded in two weekend sessions in November (South Street Soundz) and December (Miner Street Studios) 2010. Returning to Miner Street in February 2011 for mixing with Brian McTear, we were able to put the final touches on the songs and ready the album for mastering and release.

Look for The King In Yellow to be available as a CD in a month as well as through iTunes, Amazon, emusic and other outlets."

Meanwhile you can listen to the record and buy a digital copy at the band's site.

In related news Xaddax, who are playing Cake Shop with Joe, and who feature Nick Sakes of ex-Dazzling Killmen fame, are also scheduled to play May 7th at Union Pool with Young Widows and My Disco. Xaddax will release their debut cassette via Damage Rituals in August. Stream three songs below, alongside contest details, more dates, and some video....

Continue reading "Dead Milkmen released an LP & play NYC Saturday (win tix) ++ Joe Jack Talcum shows, Xaddax and... 25 Cromwell Street"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Silly Kissers - Treat Me Like You Do (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Grimes - Weregild (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Wolf Gang - Lions in Cages (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Wolf Gang - Pieces of You (MP3)

It's the weekend before CMJ which is usually pretty quiet, but...not this year. Me, I'm probably staying in. But you might want to check out:

Montreal's cute synthpop band  Silly Kissers are visiting, playing three shows this weekend: tonight (10/14) at Cake Shop, then Friday (10/15) at Silent Barn and Sunday at Glasslands. The band were here for CMJ last year, playing the M for Montreal night at Arlene's Grocery where they wore mime makeup which was probably a mistake. They were better when I saw them in their hometown last November:

"Silly Kissers didn't wear mime makeup this time (like they did at CMJ) which is a definite plus, but I really don't think they are "export ready." Which is not a dis. Their low fi, cutesy (sometimes charming) version of '80s synthpop would be more at home at a house party rather than with the fancy lights at club Juste Pour Rire."

Which makes all three places Silly Kissers are playing pretty ideal settings for them. They are fun, and the songs -- sugary, '80s-inspired indie-dancepop -- are undeniably catchy. Check out "Treat Me Like You Do" at the top of this post.

All three shows are with fellow MTL-er Claire Boucher who performs under the name Grimes. Her new record, Halafaxa, is a "pay what you want" download from their label's website. Ethereal, occasionally dub-infected and danceable, Halafaxa should appeal to fans of Delorean and Sally Shapiro (or even old 4AD bands like Colourbox or Dif Juz). Definitely worth a click. You can download "Weregild" from it at the top of the this post to give you a taste. Like a lot of music like this, making it interesting to watch in a live setting is the big hurdle. Can she do it? Go see them live.

By the way, I'll talk more about this later, but as we just pointed out, M For Montreal's 2010 CMJ showcase will again be at Arlene's Grocery, but this time with Random Recipe, The Luyas, Uncle Bad Touch, PS I Love You, Radio Radio, and Red Mass.

London's Wolf Gang play the second of their NYC shows tonight (10/14). I have a soft spot for this sort of melodramatic anthemicism, especially when you add a dancey element to it. Did anyone go see them last night at Santos? You can check out two tracks at the top of this post: "Lions in Cages" which is pretty typical of what Wolf Gang do, and "Pieces of You" which sounds a little more like Grizzly Bear or something.

The show also has Acrylics on the bill who I like a lot but have been pretty quiet for the last six months so I'm anxious to see what they've been up to. Like maybe they've been making their debut album? Let's hope. Also playing are Safe and Painted Faces who I know bubkis about.

Toys & Tiny Instruments

And finally I'd like to highlight a pretty cool show at Bruar Falls on Friday (10/15). Headlining are Toys & Tiny Instruments who don't need a lot of explanation. You see their name, and you know what they do.  But they're much better than you might expect. They played Bruar Falls back in the Spring and while the night started with some eye-rolling -- oh boy what is this novelty thing about to happen? -- everyone there ended up kinda being wowed. They may buy their gear at Toys R' Us but that doesn't mean they don't write awesome songs, and that they can't play their instruments well. I liked them so much I had them play my lunchtime series at the Seaport over the summer and they were great there too. Friday is the first show they've played since then and it's a release party for their debut EP.

The rest of the bill is pretty notable and eclectic: Joe Jack Talcum of the Dead Milkmen (he sang lead on "Punk Rock Girl"); home recording legend R. Stevie Moore; and Beth Sorrentino who some of you may remember from '90s indie pop band Suddenly, Tammy! whose song "Lamp" still makes it onto mixes around my house.

Sparky Deathcap

And a few more DAILY PICKS NOT COVERED ABOVE

THURSDAY, OCT 14

Fans of Los Campesinos!, who play Music Hall of Williamsburg Friday and Saturday night, might be interested to know that Rob Taylor also performs solo under the name Sparky Deathcap and will be doing so tonight at the Rock Shop. It's a free show starts at 8pm sharp.

The Delancey may feel a bit like Silent Barn tonight what with a lineup that includes My Teenage Stride, Lame Drivers, Suprisers and Easter Vomit. You can download five new MTS songs, all of which are good, over at Free Music Archive.

And if you'd like to laugh, Coco 66 tonight hosts Supershow!, a free comedy variety show, that tonight hasThu Tran of IFC's Food Party, the Found Footage Festival guys, Gabe Delahaye of Videogum, and more.

continued below...

Continue reading "Silly Kissers, Grimes, Wolf Gang, Toys & Tiny Instruments, Turbo Fruits & more in This Week in Indie"

Joe Jack Talcum

Dead Milkmen guitarist Joe Jack Talcum sets off today (9/1) on a two week solo tour. The tour visits NYC this Friday, September 4th for a show at Cake Shop with Samuel Locke-Ward vs. Darren Brown and The Bassturd.

On September 2nd, Joe shares a bill with another punk rocker turned solo artist, Kevin Seconds, at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, NJ (tix). That show is just one date on Kevin's own tour that he's been on since his band 7 Seconds played a couple of shows with the Bouncing Souls at Webster Hall and The Troc. Kevin plays Union Hall in Brooklyn on September 3rd (tix).

Speaking of The Troc, Joe Talcum will also be playing with the Dead Milkmen this fall for a limited set of shows. They play two nights at Riot Fest in Chicago on October 9th and 10th, and then a special hometown show at The Troc in Philly on October 31st. Tickets for the Halloween gig are on sale now.

Speaking of Riot Fest, 7 Seconds (and some other bands) have been added to the previously announced bill (which already included Dead Milkmen). Full lineup and schedule HERE.

Dead Milkmen played Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin in 2008. 7 Seconds are playing that fest in 2009.

Videos of Joe Jack with the Brooklyn What at Fontana's earlier this year, with all of his tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Dead Milkmen playing Philly on Halloween, Joe Jack Talcum touring, playing Asbury Lanes (w/ Kevin Seconds), Cake Shop"

Dead Milkmen @ Warsaw 4/17/09 (more by Lori Baily)

Insubordination Fest is happening this year on Friday, June 26th and Saturday, June 27th at Baltimore's Sonar. The lineup for the annual punk fest, started by Insubordination Records in 2006, includes the Dead Milkmen, Dillinger Four and MANY more. Full lineup below. Two-day passes, as well as individual night tickets, are now on sale.

The reunited Dead Milkmen recently played Brooklyn's Warsaw on April 17th. The band's Joe Jack Talcum has been playing regular solo shows, too. Video from the Warsaw gig, with Talcum's upcoming schedule, and full Insubordination Fest info (including a pre-fest show), is below...

Continue reading "Insubordination Fest - 2009 lineup includes DEAD MILKMEN"

DOWNLOAD: Joe Jack Talcum - Sex Sting (MP3)

Happy New Year! I know we're over a month late but whatever...here's what's happening:

We had so much fun last November at the Fun Fun Fun Festival that we've decided to keep at it and play some shows to see what might develop as far as new material. We're rehearsing and will see how it goes - stay tuned...

The next Dead Milkmen show to announce is Friday April 17th in Brooklyn at Warsaw at the Polish National Home. Buy Tickets Here More details as we get closer to the date...

There are some new photos of the band on Flickr taken by my (Dean's) sister. You can click the banner up top for a full size view or see a whole set here.

Meanwhile...

Joe has a bunch of solo shows coming up:

Joe Jack Talcum's dates include shows at SXSW and in NYC. All of them below...

Continue reading "Dead Milkmen update, Joe Jack Talcum tour dates & MP3"

...and the one playing Rehab Friday (12/26) with Joe Jack Talcum of The Dead Milkmen is not the one usually discussed on this site...

Continue reading "There are two bands called The Black Angels..."

Photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

Blessed with perhaps the nicest weather in modern Austin music festival history (even with the early evening dust clouds), the first day of the third annual Fun Fun Fun Fest proceeded nearly hitch-free Saturday in Waterloo Park.

Touring acts such as Bishop Allen and the National shared four stages with Austin acts such as Latin psychedelic rockers Brownout! , grindcore band Mammoth Grinder and sometime Austinites And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead .

Far smaller and aimed at a more specific demographic than the Austin City Limits Music Festival, Fun Fun Fun focuses on club-level punk, indie rock, hip-hop and electronic music. Think of it as the bands one might see over a month in the Red River club district packed into one weekend.

The vibe couldn't be more different from ACL Fest in other ways. ACL Fest sells out 65,000 tickets a day every year, packing Zilker Park for three days. Fun Fun Fun producer and Transmission Entertainment partner Graham Williams said he hopes to break 7,000 a day. [Austin360]

As you know, the Dead Milkmen played Austin on Saturday. Towards the end of the set Rodney said something like, "I don't know why we ever stopped doing this shit". Hopefully that spark leads to more shows in the future. In the meantime, Milkman Joe Jack Talcum continues to play solo and even has a NYC show coming up (Dec 26th @ Rehab). All of Joe's dates, more Fun Fest pictures, another Fun Fest video and the Fun Fest setlist, below...

Continue reading "Dead Milkmen @ FFFFest pics & setlist ++ Joe's tour dates"