photos by Greg Cristman,

Two nights after they closed out ATP NY, Altar, aka sunn o))), Boris, Jesse Sykes, Joe Preston, and others, headlined Brooklyn Masonic Temple (smack dab in the middle of two Sleep shows). The Altar show featured opening sets by BXI (aka Boris + Ian Astbury of The Cult) and the enchanting Jesse Sykes and The Sweet Hereafter. Power failures caused the headliner's show to halt ten minutes in, and the way the show ended is up for some debate, but those issues aside, anyone who was there until the end doesn't seem to be complaining...

"The experience alone of seeing these two amazing bands perform this album in its entirety was the best live performance I've ever had both physically and mentally.
While exiting the show, my comrades and I remained in silence only to make the occasional comment of "holy shit that was amazing", or "my body is still vibrating."
Now that I have been to several 'big time' events about the city which include some of my favored bands, this still remains to be the best thing to have happened in New York since I've been here, and possibly the year.

My praise to you, oh, Elder Gods. My our sacrifices be plentiful.

Blood for the blood God." [Vitamin C4]

More pictures from the show are below...

Continue reading "Altar (sunn o))) & Boris), Jesse Sykes & BXI rattled Brooklyn Masonic Temple (pics)"

words and photos by BBG, more photos by Samantha Marble

"Altar is a collaboration album between Japanese doom band Boris and American drone doom duo Sunn O))), released on October 31, 2006 through Southern Lord Records. A limited two-CD edition was released on October 23rd via Southern Lord with a 28 minute bonus track with Sunn O))), Boris, and Dylan Carlson, titled "Her Lips Were Wet with Venom". Inoxia Records released their own two-CD version in 2006 which features a bonus track on the first disc, "The Sinking Belle (Black Sheep)," and also features "Her Lips Were Wet with Venom" on disc 2. The triple-vinyl edition by Southern Lord contains all of the songs from their two-CD edition, additional pictures, and liner notes by Kim Thayil. The Daymare 3LP version was released March 23, 2007 and features a bonus track not found on any other version of this release: "The Sinking Belle (White Sheep)."

In addition to major players Sunn O))) and Boris, Altar also boasts an extensive roster of guest musicians/collaborators such as Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), Joe Preston (Earth, Thrones, Melvins, High on Fire), Phil Wandscher and Jesse Sykes (both of Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter) as well as long time Sunn O))) collaborators TOS Niewenhuizen and Rex Ritter." [Wikipedia]

Going into the Altar set Sunday night, I was admittedly not that excited; of all of the tracks on the LP, only the ethereal and melancholic "The Sinking Belle" featuring Jesse Sykes had left a truly indelible mark on me. Punishing and powerful, sunn o))) and Boris were joined by Sykes, Joe Preston and others, who added Moog, trombone, upright bass, and much more to the jet engine roar. Their set at Kutsher's, much like Sonic Youth the night before, was the single greatest show that I have ever seen sunn o))) or Boris be a part of.

And they do it again, in Brooklyn, TONIGHT (9/7). More pictures from the ATP show, below...

Continue reading "sunn o))) & Boris performed Altar @ ATP (pics), in NYC tonight"

by Black Bubblegum

Melvins at Oya in Norway (more)

These days everyone is looking back, and the Melvins (sans members of Big Business) are no exception, as evidenced by their 25th Anniversary tour which will feature a performance of their album Houdini as well as portions of Mangled Demos. That tour impacts NYC on FRIDAY (5/15). Tickets are still available. Seriously?

Meanwhile, ex-Melvins bassist Joe Preston will also be in town. He brings his solo project Thrones 'round the bend for No Fun Fest at the MHOW on May 15th, a show on May 21st at Coco66 with Blues Control, and one on May 22nd with Wolves in The Throne Room at Europa (tickets for Europa still on sale).

Like passing strangers, the other half of the USUAL Melvins lineup, Big Business, played both Mercury Lounge and Union Pool with Tweak Bird last weekend. The two pairs will reunite to play ATP NY with Animal Collective, Jesus Lizard, The Flaming Lips, Boredoms, and more.

Joe Preston's (old???) band, Harvey Milk, will be in Brooklyn at MHOW on July 26th with Torche (tickets still on sale).

King Buzzo of the Melvins was on Red Eye (again) last night. That video and Melvins & Thrones tour dates are below....

Continue reading "Melvins almost here, Thrones too - 2009 Tour Dates"

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Tim Griffin

Harvey Milk

Harvey Milk headlined the "weird & heavy" festival, known as The Beasts Of East fest, at Europa in Brooklyn on Sunday(11/2). Bison BC (pics here), Casket Architects, Bezoar, The Body, Wizardry (pics here), Wetnurse, and many others were also on the bill. Unfortunately, Harvey Milk was a trio - newest member Joe Preston was nowhere to be found. More pictures from the show, including a shot of HM's setlist, below...

Continue reading "Harvey Milk, the Body, Bezoar, etc.. @ Europa, NYC - pics"

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Zach Dilgard

DOWNLOAD: Earth - The Driver (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Deadbird - "Death Of Self" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Harvey Milk's whole SXSW WFMU show (MP3)

Earth holy shit so gooooood............. Everything they did was simple and repetitive but they all locked in the groove and just played it to the fucking bone. [In Memory Of Thom]

Earth played the Knitting Factory with the avant garde band Kayo Dot earlier this month (Did you get your free tix?). Photos Zach took at that show are decorating this post.

Meanwhile, ex-Earth legend Señor Joe Preston is still keeping keeping busy (natch), tackling on ANOTHER great band to his resume which already includes Thrones, High On Fire, Melvins, sometimes sunn 0))) and about a trillion other bands. He is now in the ridiculously under-appreciated band Harvey Milk! Now an official member on guitar (NOT bass), Preston joined the band on stage during their SXSW gig for WFMU (download the whole show above), and next he will join them on their upcoming tour of the Northeast and Europe including at TWO shows in NYC that are already on sale (Knitting Factory on June 20th and Europa on June 23rd). Harvey Milk have a new LP due June 3rd on Hydra Head, Life... The Best Game In Town, and are streaming the new tune "Decades" on their myspace. All tour dates below.

One band also on the Knitting Factory bill, Deadbird, is a side project of current and ex-members of Arkansas sludgers Rwake. Check out "Death Of Self" (downloadable above) from their forthcoming At A Loss LP, Twilight Ritual, due June 24th, and also scoot on over to their myspace for "Rule Discordia" streaming now! Full Deadbird tour dates (including shows with the newly reunited Only Living Witness, Black Tusk, Wooly Mammoth, Sourvein, Zoroaster, and Hail! Hornet) below.

Thrones are on tour now, and will hit Death By Audio on May 22nd with Ocrilim.

All tour dates & more Earth photos below....

Continue reading "Harvey Milk adds Joe Preston, pics from EARTH's Knitting Factory show, Deadbird & a whole bunch of TOUR DATES"