by Andrew Frisicano & Jake Forney

Damien Jurado & John Vanderslice @ Mercury Lounge (photo by Steven Marsh)

Damien Jurado and John Vanderslice started their two-night NYC run at Mercury Lounge on Thursday (5/12). They're at the Rock Shop tonight, and it's now sold out.

On this tour, Vanderslice - accompanied by Jason Slota on drums, keys and other things - has been inviting the audience to join him on stage. On his website he gives some examples of what might happen.

-You can sing lead or harmony vocal on "Trance Manual"
- You can play a solo on "Exodus Damage" with an instrument of your choice, the weirder the better.
- You can trigger that cool squiggly sound in "Underneath The Leaves".
- You can also choose your own adventure. Again, the stranger the better.

What happened last night?

BV correspondent Jake Forney was there for Damien Jurado's set (and a small bit of JV's). His report and some videos of John and guests from earlier on the tour are below...

Continue reading "Damien Jurado & John Vanderslice (and fans) played Mercury Lounge (Rock Shop tonight)"

Damien Jurado @ a BV Day Party @ SXSW (more by Amanda Hatfield)

"For the most part, 95 percent of my songs are fictitious," says Jurado.

But he does conceive his material much the way a novelist would, with dialogue, towns, characters. Many of his tracks are named after places -- "Arkansas," "Kansas City" and "Wallingford" (a Seattle neighborhood) on Saint Bartlett.

"I just need a setting, a place to put the story," he says. "I do not write short stories, but I do write short stories. The short stories are the song."

Repeated listenings to the record reveal recurring, somewhat submerged themes: characters are stuck outside their homes, looking in, trying to find their way back, or a safe place to sleep; lights left on serve as both a sign of safety or welcome and as a visual reminder of being physically removed from the business of life.

The recordings are open and sparse, but there are loads of little details -- a handclap, a mellotron part, half-hidden harmony vocals -- which reward focused attention.

"I'm really into space," says Jurado. "That's what jazz does, it's full of clutter, but at the same time it's full of lots of space. The clutter creates space. You're pushing more space to be created." [Hartford Advocate]

Here's a reminder that the Damien Jurado / John Vanderslice tour rolls in to NYC tonight, 5/12, for shows at Mercury Lounge and then the Rock Shop (both still on sale). An updated set of tour dates is below...

Continue reading "Damien Jurado & John Vanderslice on tour, in NYC now"

The second annual Hopscotch Festival will go down in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, across 12 different venues with over 135 bands, from September 8th through 10th. The lineup this year runs the gamut of independent music... from traditional indie staples (The Flaming Lips, Guided By Voices, Superchunk) to southern-inflected rock (Drive-By Truckers) to noise (Prurient) to hip hop (Beans) to garage (Jeff The Brotherhood) to funk (Budos Band) to metal (Krallice), and everywhere in between (Swans, Rhys Chatham, etc etc). Tickets are currently on sale. Full lineup is below.

Hopscotch happens almost three months after Guided By Voices play a Brooklyn Northside Festival show in McCarren Park (tickets) which is one day after Beirut plays a Northside Festival show on the same McCarren Park stage with... Sharon Van Etten (though she may have been accidentally announced at one point, they officially kept her placement on the bill under wraps until after Saturday's Music Hall of Williamsburg show). Tickets for Beirut/SVE are still on sale, and another opener will be added too.

Guided by Voices (whose Brooklyn show also has more openers coming) are also playing Pitchfork in July with Animal Collective whose Prospect Park show is now on AmEx presale.

Swans' upcoming NYC show is now on AmEx presale too.

Hopscotch lineup below...

Continue reading "Hopscotch Fest returns to Raleigh (2011 lineup announced), Sharon Van Etten officially added to Northside Fest"

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

Ivan and Alyosha & NYC's Living Room

Seattle's Ivan & Alyosha played a pair of NYC dates in March: 3/3 at Bowery Ballroom supporting Bobby Long and 3/4 at the Living Room (where these pictures come from). Since then they visited SXSW, and hopped on tour with John Vanderslice. That tour ends in Seattle on 4/21. In June they'll return to NYC to play two free shows in one day at NYC's World Financial Center. That's listed like this:

Ivan & Alyosha
Presented by Arts World Financial Center and Arts Brookield

Seattle's Ivan & Alyosha are not nihilist indie rockers, but a new brand of tender dreamers. They navigate the music world contemplating their path as a band, and, despite the uncertainty, Ivan & Alyosha's soulful folk tunes suggest a band inspired, hopeful, and longing, unafraid to probe their collective faith and doubts. Acoustic, 12:30pm. One New York Plaza. Also full band, 5:30pm. June 23 World Financial Center Plaza, 220 Vesey Street.

UPDATE: These two shows are NOT the same day.

All tour dates and more pictures from the Living Room are below....

Continue reading "Ivan & Alyosha played the Living Room (belated pics), playing 2 free NYC shows (and other dates)"

words & photos by Andrew Frisicano

Wednesday

Twin Shadow @ Fader Fort

A crowded backyard tent filled with cigarette smoke, free open-faced tacos (pork, chicken, brisket or veggie), a man carting a dolly of Lone Star cases through the crowd, and a pair of middle-aged guys picking a fight with each other on a Wednesday afternoon. "Doesn't he know I'm a ticking time bomb?" the offended guy says, a bit like he's not joking. JEFF the Brotherhood is playing too, which is more or less the occasion for all of this, my first show of SXSW 2011. The JEFF brothers aren't really the focus though, since they'll be playing a dozen other times this week, and most of the people are concentrating on the tacos, their conversations or their inability to get away from the door of the totally (did I say?) packed room.

In spite of that, the band is tearing through songs from Heavy Days and their new LP We Are the Champions, and between songs tossing out free vinyl singles into the crowd: "Those are going to slice someone's neck open," says Jake before slinging a few more across the room. They go into "Bummer," a ballady, Dino Jr.-style headbanger, that's one of the standout new tunes.

Trash Talk @ BV/Feed the Beat Day Party (photo by Samantha Marble)

Ty Segall's entertaining and totally worthwhile band is up next, but the BrookylnVegan day show at Emo's is also currently happening, the highlight of which has to be the simulatneous staging of Cali punks Trash Talk (who went on before Kylesa) and Mister Heavenly (who went on before Surfer Blood). Mister Heavenly are a supergroup of-sorts you've heard about. On the inside, Trash Talk frontman Lee Spielman towers over everyone with the body of a scarecrow and a scary-as-hell perma-scowl; he smashes his forehead with the microphone a few times to draw blood. "Stick around for Surfer Blood," he says, before crawling into the crowd and standing on what I can only hope were someone's shoulders. People start edging toward the door. On the outside stage, Mr. Heavenly performs an appropriately lovely set, its two frontmen trading verses in their own styles.

After that, the Fader Fort brought Twin Shadow on stage, the bedroom-pop project of George Lewis Jr. that's become a wildly good live band. For an outdoor venue, the system sounded impressively balanced and clear - which would turn out to be a rarity at the festival. That was 'specially good for Yelawolf, whose songs sounded vital in a way that your iPod just can't do. With no crew to speak of, his solo athletics put in an early bid for best-of.

Yelawolf @ Fader Fort

Later that night at Stubb's, Yuck and James Blake played what would be the first of several for both. Both did well on the big stage, a portent of things to come, vibing out in their respective styles: fuzz rock and chilled-out pop. Check out both of their sets for yourself at NPR- Blake and Yuck.

continued below...

Continue reading "Colin Stetson, Twin Shadow, Odd Future, James Blake, JEFF the Brotherhood, Yelawolf, more (Andrew F's week @ SXSW)"

The previously mentioned John Vanderslice/Damien Jurado Rock Shop show is in fact part of a tour. The two troubadours will hit the road together in April. They hit NYC for two shows: The May 13th Rock Shop (tickets) show happens one day after a May 12th show at Mercury Lounge (tickets). All dates below...

Continue reading "John Vanderslice & Damien Jurado --- 2011 Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: John Vanderslice - "Sea Salt" (MP3)

John Vanderslice at Public Assembly (more by Chris Gersbeck)

Though tickets are still available for both the March 28, and the March 29 Mountain Goats/Megafaun shows at Bowery Ballroom, John Darnielle and crew have added a third show at Bowery Ballroom happening March 30th. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon.

The last time that John Darnielle was in NYC was with The Extra Lens during CMJ as part of a short tour with John Vanderslice who later wooed the crowd in the middle of the day and in the middle of the floor at Public Assembly as part of the BV day party. Now the singer/songwriter (JV) will make his first trip back to NYC since that outing, and with a new LP in tow; White Wilderness is out now via Dead Oceans. So far there are no additional East Coast dates to report, but John Vanderslice will take on Brooklyn's Rock Shop on May 13 with Damien Jurado! A Fine double bill. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon (2/11).

And like JV, Damien Jurado, who is still supporting his latest Secretly Canadian release Saint Bartlett, is planning a trek to SXSW in March. Damien will be joined along the way, and for more dates afterwards, by Viva Voce. All dates and some videos below...

Continue reading "Mountain Goats add 3rd NYC show, John Vanderslice playing Brooklyn w/ Damien Jurado (who is touring w/ Viva Voce)"

DOWNLOAD: John Vanderslice - The Piano Lesson (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: John Vanderslice - Sea Salt (MP3)

John Vanderslice & Minna Choi

John Vanderslice's new album White Wilderness is not technically out until Tuesday, but you can purchase it now from Amazon, and for just $3.99. PLUS, Amazon will exclusively give you a cover of Atlas Sound's "Walkabout". That's a pretty good deal, though if you want the physical product, for more expensive, you do have the option of purchasing directly from the label (Dead Oceans). They'll give you a free instant MP3 download of the full album too.

Speaking of free downloads, we are premiering "The Piano Lesson", track #4 from that album. Download it above to get a sample of the product. "Sea Salt" from the album is up there too. You can also stream the Piano track, and check out the whole tracklist with cover art, below.

So, what is this album all about, what's so "magik" about it, and who is that in the picture with John above? Dead Oceans answers...

"The newest entry into John Vanderslice's deep and undeniably remarkable catalog is White Wilderness, and it's a record like no other he's made before.

Here are nine new and wildly impressive JV songs captured live over three days in a unique collaboration with the Magik*Magik Orchestra, a collective of classically trained musicians in the Bay Area led by artistic director Minna Choi.

Did you catch that? Recorded live in three days! Never in his long career of super-smart pop songwriting paired with masterful recording and production has JV shed his reliance on hours and hours of agonizing studio wizardry. Never before has he passed up the chance to tweak and twist endlessly in mixing. For this album, all that went away. It's simply a room full of friends playing music.

The Magik*Magik Orchestra have a comprehensive mastery of classic performance and repertoire, but also have a full appreciation of the aesthetics of indie and underground music. Choi arranged and conducted White Wilderness with 19 members of the Magik*Magik playing strings and horns, vibraphone, pedal steel and piano, an assortment of reed instruments, and much to JV's benefit, the voice of Minna Choi singing backup at key moments throughout the album.

Recorded in San Francisco, White Wilderness was produced by John Congleton, whose resume includes albums by St Vincent, The Walkmen, Explosions in the Sky, Bill Callahan and many more.

An album trailer, song stream, cover art and tracklist, and a few John dates (all California) below...

Continue reading "John Vanderslice & the Magik*Magik Orchestra release 'White Wilderness' -- MP3 + an Amazon exclusive Atlas Sound cover"

photos by Chris La Putt

Blood Red Shoes @ MHOW

After Chris left the BV Loft Party all the way back on Friday, October 22nd, he headed over to Music Hall of Williamsburg for the Blue Flowers-presented CMJ showcase for a lineup of mostly UK bands including Chapel Club, Everything Everything, and Blood Red Shoes (who toured North America with Sky Larkin in October). Pictures from that show are in this post.

The occasion (to post these belated pics)? SXSW has already announced an initial lineup of bands playing in Austin from March 16-20, 2011, and Chapel Club is on that list (and I wouldn't be surprised of the other 2 mentioned bands end up coming too). Also on the list: Lia Ices, Braids, Asobi Seksu, Wye Oak, Suuns, Sun Airway, A Place to Bury Strangers and more. Full list under the rest of the MHOW pictures, below...

Continue reading "Chapel Club played CMJ w/ Everything Everything & Blood Red Shoes (pics), playing SXSW 2011 (intial lineup)"

photos by Chris Gersbeck

"At Brooklyn Vegan showcase. Free booze & food. Sick line-up. Ty segall, times new Viking, Dom, lower dens, asobi seksi, devotchka, etc. #cmj" - death & taxes

"Packed at publc assembly but there's still some room...
Shrag are on at 3:15..." - Bill Pearis

"Almost forgot about Shrag, what a find! fun band!" - Ryan Muir

"Pretty sure Ty Segall just won CMJ." - J. Edward Keyes

Ty Segall

"The large number of bands at the BV party was split between Public Assembly's two stages, with sets overlapping. With free Magic Hat Number Nine (somehow apricot-flavored beer seemed like a suitable substitute for breakfast), both sides of the club were filling rapidly. So while I caught a minute or two of Lower Dens' vespered melodies, I wasn't about to miss Times New Viking . The Columbus trio recently wrapped up work on a new record (due out on [a label] sometime in the near future) and this was to be the first time I would hear the new stuff. Though the band was by their own admission still tired from the night before, their set didn't show it, with the buoyancy of songs like "Skull Versus Wizard" and "Teenage Lust!" undiminished. The new tracks, which showed the most prominent melodies TNV has composed yet, fit in alongside the older cuts. Though I've now lost count of how many times I've seen the band, I'm always struck by how they remain too anxious to stay in one sonic realm for long, their quick succession of albums marked by continual revision." [ Limewire]

This is part two of our coverage of our own Friday day party that took place at Public Assembly on Friday, 10/22/10. Any bands that were missed in the other post, are definitely in this post. Some are in both.

Did you miss the Phantom Band at this show or one of the other few CMJ shows they played? Well, don't miss them this week when they return as part of their tour with Frightened Rabbit (at Terminal 5 on Saturday they're on first of three before Plants and Animals).

Wanna see Dom again soon? They play NYC again this Saturday (10/30) too.

More pictures and some more videos from Public Assembly, below...

Continue reading "BV Friday day party in pics & video - part 2 (Times New Viking, Shrag, Lower Dens, Phantom Band, Luyas, Corndawg & more)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield, videos by Bleary Eyed Brooklyn

"Phantom Band at Public Assembly. This is making me very happy" - amanda farah

"the big find of today so far: First Aid Kit at @brooklynvegan.
check it out!" - French Press Films

"The Luyas did this light show during their set. And the vocalist/guitarist totally reminded me of Frente! Enchanting #CMJ" - brian fee

"Public assembly again! Ty Segall rippin it up" - genevieve oliver

"Just learned that DeVotchKa is headlining today's BV free CMJ day party at Public Assembly. I'm so there!" - M. Millions

Devotchka

"[Friday] included a bit of borough hopping between Brooklyn and Manhattan. First up was the Brooklyn Vegan showcase at Public Assembly. This included two rooms of free music and free alcohol (if you like [Magic Hat] or Firefly). There was also a table selling BV shirts, proceeds of which go towards "Music Has Power" (The Institute for Music and Neurologic Function). Good music + a good cause = good party by the Vegan. There's another one [Saturday] that has a sick line-up. Gonna head there first thing [Saturday].

One other thing worth noting about that BV party is one of the bands: Shrag. This band was from the UK, which got me thinking about how many bands travel from all over the world (especially places like the UK and New Zealand) just to come to CMJ. I think it's really cool how this festival gives people a chance to experience music from not just all over the country, but from different parts of the world as well. Because let's face it, how many of us are going to be visiting New Zealand any time soon?" [News on Shuffle]

Shrag and Devotchka were both announced as additions to Friday's bill on Thursday night. Thanks so much to everyone that came by, especially those who showed up early to fill the room for Jonny Corndawg's 12pm set, even if it was just because you wanted one of the free Earpeace earplugs we gave out to the first 50 people through the door. Hopefully you were rewarded by Corndawg's sweet country sounds (washed down with free Firefly and Magic Hat)...

Jonny Corndawg is an Esmont native who plays in Charlottesville all the time (his website says he's in Nashville) and who I caught for the first time over the weekend. His square jaw was beard-covered and framed in a cowboy hat and huge sunglasses. The silly facade--"Jonny Corndawg" is inlayed on his acoustic guitar!--can only hide his chops for so long. If he didn't have chops, would he have written these lines:

"Drink water and juice with a little slice of lemon/ eat a raw clove of garlic every once in a while/ meditate, appreciate, learn a foreign language/ and understand that immigrants have the hardest lives." [c-ville]

Hopefully you also got there while the free V-Spot empenadas were still available. As Andrew pointed out, they were delicious. If you didn't get an empenada, hopefully you at least snacked on a free Raw Rev bar or two.

As Andrew also pointed out, John Vanderslice (who played Mercury Lounge the night before) ended his solo set in a very special way - on the floor with 2 guest musicians (one with a horn). The crowd, dreaded member of Nada Surf included, had the three performers completely surrounded. After the set, John went out to coffee with fans (or at least that's what he said he was going to do).

Devotchka capped things off on the main stage, complete with more horns. Thanks again to Vinny's Music for the equipment. More pictures and some videos from the whole day (with a second set on its way). below...

Continue reading "BV Friday day party in pics & video - part 1 (Devotchka, Ty Segall, John Vanderslice, Asobi Seksu, Dom & more) "

photos by Amanda Hatfield, words by Rachel Kowal

Frank Bruno & John Darnielle (the Extra Lens)

By the time I got to the Extra Lens show at the Mercury Lounge, I had missed John Vaderslice (luckily NYC Taper taped it) and the room was so packed that I had to stand a few inches away from the door. The view may have been terrible, but the sound was anything but. Finally. After the show at The Woods, it was a nice change of pace to see a band who was actually completely comfortable and confident with performing. I must confess I never got into the Mountain Goats (sorry to offend), but I was taken by the Extra Lens and in particular, by John Darnielle. What a charming man. I'm pretty sure he could have instructed the room to do calisthenics, and they would have obliged him. Darnielle and Bruno were so personable between songs. To the delight of the crowd, Darnielle stepped off stage and marched all the way to the back of the room to sing for their pseudo-encore. It seemed kind of odd that they were playing in such a small space, but I guess those Merge bands just likes to keep things intimate, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

John Vanderslice's only other CMJ show was our Friday day party at Public Assembly. The Extra Lens only also played a KEXP session. More pictures from Mercury Lounge, where Dan Mangan who also played our loft party also played, below...

Continue reading "The Extra Lens, John Vanderslice & Dan Mangan played Mercury Lounge (CMJ pics) "

by Andrew Sacher

CMJ (pic by thewildhoneypie)

The 2010 CMJ Music Marathon took place in NYC from Tuesday, 10/19 through Saturday, 10/23. Here's what I did, broken down by day...

Tuesday

I started day one of CMJ, my first-ever CMJ, at the 'Future of the Music Business, Really?' panel. It was really interesting and I learned a lot. The panelists discussed potential ways to keep the industry of recorded music alive, and from what I gathered, most of them agreed that if there was some way to pay a fee for unlimited music downloading, it would probably result in the most positive reception.

From there I hit the 'American Hardcore and the Rise of Modern Rock' panel. This was probably the most interesting panel I went to all week. It was moderated by American Hardcore: A Tribal History author Steven Blush and the panelists talked about how so many aspects of modern rock really are directly influenced from the early '80s hardcore scene, especially regarding the relevance of indie record labels, street teams, and samplers.

They also discussed how the American hardcore movement really is an art movement, not just a style of music. Among the panelists were Vic Bondi from Articles of Faith and Jack Rabid from the magazine, The Big Takeover. It was great to hear things about the movement from people who had really been there when it was prevalent. The event was one of many recent promotional appearances for Steven Blush. You can catch him again in NYC at The Strand at 7pm on 12/15.

Then I made my way over to the Ground Control showcase at Irving Plaza which was headlined by Jenny and Johnny (who I couldn't stay for). I really enjoyed Times New Viking - my first time seeing them. The drummer has the band move from one song to the next so quickly. I also enjoyed Wild Nothing's set a lot, especially now that I knew their album. I had actually seen them over the summer open for The Morning Benders but wasn't really familiar with them at the time.

continued below...

Continue reading "a college student @ CMJ (a College Music Jounal journal)"

Though we maybe went less crazy this year compared to others, there will be no lack of BrooklynVegan shows taking place during CMJ this year. You already know about the big official show Thursday night at Music Hall of Williamsburg, and the much darker one taking place Saturday at Union Pool. I can now finally tell you about the first of two free day parties taking place at Public Assembly in Brooklyn during CMJ week....

The date: Friday, October 22nd, 2010
The time: noon-6pm
The place: Public Assembly (70 North 6th St)
the bands:

STAGE 1
12:30 Magic Bullets
01:15 The Phantom Band
02:00 Ty Segall
02:45 Times New Viking
03:30 Dom
04:15 Asobi Seksu
05:15 TBA (will announce Thursday night)

STAGE 2
12:00 Jonny Corndawg
01:00 First Aid Kit
01:45 The Luyas
02:30 Lower Dens
03:15 TBA (will announce soon)
04:00 Oberhofer
05:00 John Vanderslice

That's fourteen kick ass bands (two still TBA) in six free hours, but that's not all... We'll have free booze (sorry, this event is 21+) and free food. And free EarPeace ear plugs to the first 50 people through the door (a $14.95 value). Get there for:

* free EarPeace (while supplies last)
* free V-Spot breakfast burritos & empanadas (while supplies last)
* free Firefly Vodka + Bourbon (while supplies last)
* free Magic Hat beer (while supplies last)
* free Raw Revolution bars

No ticket or RSVP necessary. No badges. Just get there early and get inside. You won't need to spend any money, though we will have some schwag for sale to help raise some cash for Music Has Power (The Institute for Music and Neurologic Function). Moby talks more about what that is in a video below.

The Friday day show is John Vanderslice's only unofficial gig. His only official one is a sold out (not counting CMJ badges) show at Mercury Lounge. Grab his new free EP.

The BV day party is also Asobi Seksu's only show that isn't their official CMJ showcase (which is taking place at Santos Party House on Saturday night).

Ty Segall plays his official showcase Saturday night, but at Knitting Factory. Also on that Panache Booking Showcase are AIDS Wolf, Turbo Fruits, Heavy Cream, Pujol, Tôg, Circle Pit, and SCREENS.

Stay tuned to @bvCMJ for even more CMJ news and updates than you'll find on BrooklynVegan.com.

And stay tuned for what we're doing in the same exact venue during the same exact times one day later. And stay tuned for the bands playing the other two Friday slots.

Also thanks to: Zach Jaeger of Tonally Dude Productions for the sweet flyer you see above, and to Vinny's Music for providing us with some sweet gear, to Line 6 for even more sweet gear, and to Underground Press for getting us some merch printed to help raise money for charity.

Some videos below...

Continue reading "the free BrooklynVegan Friday day party @ Public Assembly lineup (14 bands, free food, free booze & more)"

1. Thule Fog (MP3)
2. I'll Never Live Up To You (MP3)
3. Pony Express (MP3)
4. Streetlights (MP3)
5. Lay Down (MP3)
6. Penthouse Windows (MP3)

The above six songs and cover art belong to a brand new EP by John Vanderslice entitled Green Grow The Rushes. The free album can also be downloaded in higher quality, with lyrics, and better art, at John's site.

Those on John's home coast (the west one) can catch him live this week. Those of us in the east will have to wait for October when he goes on a short tour that hits Mercury Lounge in NYC on October 21 (it's a CMJ show). Joining him on that show, and at least three others, will be The Extra Lens, aka the new project by John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats and Franklin Bruno of the Human Hearts.

Dan Mangan also plays that CMJ show. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon. You can also try to get in with your CMJ badge.

All dates below...

Continue reading "John Vanderslice giving away free EP, playing shows w/ The Extra Lens, CMJ (dates) "

DOWNLOAD: The Extra Lens - Only Existing Footage (MP3)

Comprised of John Darnielle (the Mountain Goats) and Franklin Bruno (Nothing Painted Blue, the Human Hearts) and formed in the Inland Empire during the region's brief next-Seattle shortlist period, the project began as a potential home for any song John wrote that had a) more than three chords or b) a bridge. New songs for the group only happened when John figured he"d written something that Franklin might find clever or amusing. Reasoning that permanent-bridesmaid status means you never have to actually buy the dress, the duo have approached record-making at a pace that one would call "leisurely" if it wouldn"t make the leisure class look like busy bodies: one 7", several compilation appearances, one full-length at the dawn of the aughts, and now, arriving with Paul Masson-like deliberation, Undercard.

Recorded with Brian Paulson (Slint, Beck, US Maple) at the Rubber Room in Carrboro, North Carolina, and with Mitch Rackin (Excepter, Heavy Hands) at Seaside Lounge in Brooklyn, Undercard is the first Extra Lens record to arrive as a full collaboration between songwriters. The recording method, however, persists: John plays guitar, sings, and then gets the hell out of Dodge City, leaving Franklin to provide arrangements as the songs required: here sparing, here ornate; sometimes gentle, sometimes not; once with vibraslap, mostly without. [Merge Records]

Merge Records will release "Undercard" by The Extra Lens on October 19th, but you can pre-order and stream it in full at their site now. That's an MP3 up there too.

In support of that release, the boys will hit the road with John Vanderslice for four select east coast dates including the intimate Mercury Lounge on October 21st. The NYC show is part of the CMJ Music Marathon, but advanced tickets also go on sale Friday at noon (weird for a CMJ show at Mercury Lounge). All dates below...

Continue reading "The Extra Lens = John Darnielle + Franklin Bruno -- releasing album on Merge (MP3, stream & tour dates) "

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.

Four-day passes to the fest are on sale now.

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"

photos by Chris La Putt

Dave Deporis / Olof Arnalds

"Opener The Tallest Man on Earth was a pleasant surprise, too. Playing solo with just an acoustic guitar, he overpowered the audience with a GIGANTIC voice that at times reminded me of JEFF BUCKLEY, though the sound was more akin to if Buckley was fascinated with Americana as opposed to NINA SIMONE, GENESIS and THE SMITHS." [The Big Takeover - review from the Philly show]

Thanks all for coming to the BrooklynVegan Northside Festival showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday night (6/12). The lineup worked out perfectly. From 7-9, photographers and friends of photographers hung out around their pictures hanging on the wall. At 9pm, those who were there early enough and were interested in watching the music were wowed by the magical Dave Deporis (at least the people I talked to). His set was especially emotional due to the song dedications to his grandfather who passed away one day earlier. Then Olof Arnalds played to a much more filled in crowd who did not want to let her leave the stage, especially after the amazing Nina Simone cover she closed her set with. Earlier she covered Springsteen. Up next came the, to quote the above review, "gigantic voice" of the not-that-tall Tallest Man On Earth which was followed by the headlining full-band set by the one and only John Vanderslice. More pictures from the show below...

Continue reading "John Vanderslice, Tallest Man On Earth, Olof Arnalds, Dave Deporis & the BV photo show @ MHOW in Brooklyn - pics "

DOWNLOAD: The Tallest Man On Earth - The Gardner (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: John Vanderslice - Time Travel Is Lonely (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Dave Deporis - Be Strong (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ólöf Arnalds - Við og Við (MP3)

With the first BV Northside Fest live show & photo show (both at Music Hall of Williamsburg) just a few hours away, I thought I would take this opportunity to remind you to stop by (tickets will be available at the door and you can use your festival badge), and to finally offer a chance to win a pair of tickets to the show. Details at the end of this post.

Badge holders, don't worry, we will be letting the alotted amount through the door (and then more in when and if others leave). And though the show is not ALL ages, it is 16+. For those 21+, you may enjoy drink specials ($3.00 well/draft) from 7-8 to coincide with the premiere of the photos. Dave Deporis on at 9:00. Some MP3s above. Some new JV videos below...

Continue reading "BV show tonight, WIN TIX ---- new JV videos & some MP3s"

We're proud to present the first-ever BrooklynVegan photo show in conjunction with the first-ever Northside Festival.

The photo show will take place at Music Hall of Wiliamsburg in Brooklyn (the north side). Forty-nine photos that were taken for, and have appeared on, BrooklynVegan.com will be blown up and on display at the Williamsburg venue from Friday, June 12th through Sunday, June 14th. That time-frame encompasses four live shows:

You can check out the photos @ these MHOW shows
June 12 - BrooklynVegan showcase (Vanderslice/TMOE/Olof/TBA)
June 13 - O'Death + The Extraordinaires + Shellshag (afternoon)
June 13 - Asobi Seksu + Cymbals Eat Guitars + Elika (night)
June 14 - Bill Callahan + Sir Richard Bishop

All four shows can be entered with a Northside badge and/or a general admission ticket. Northside badge holders who didn't plan on coming to any of the Music Hall shows, but want to see the photos, should feel free to use their badge to stop by the venue just to see the pictures before moving on to their next Northside destination.

The cheapest and guaranteed option for seeing the pictures will be Saturday afternoon. For $10 at the door, you get three bands (O'Death, The Extraordinaires & Shellshag) and the pictures. This is also during the time when Bedford will be closed to cars - even more reason to visit the neighborhood over the weekend.

The very cheapest way to see the pictures is to win a ticket to one of the shows. We'll be running contests all this week.... starting now with THREE FREE Northside Badges for three lucky winners (who are 21+ - badge rules, not ours). Each badge is valued at $45. Details on winning one are at the very bottom of this post.

Appropriately, our Friday night music showcase (one of two we're doing for Northside - the other is the metal one) will coincide with the kick-off of the photo show:

Friday, June 12, 2009 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
BrooklynVegan Northside Festival showcase
7-8:00 - photo show reception. $3.00 drink specials.
09:00 -- TBA band
09:40 -- Olof Arnalds
10:15 -- The Tallest Man on Earth
11:20 -- John Vanderslice

$15.00 tickets are still on sale for this show, and of course you can get in with your Northside Badge (capacity permitting) (P.S. it will be one badge out, one badge in throughout the night).

Photographers represented in this show are Ryan Muir, Chris La Putt, Leia Jospe, Lori Baily, Tim Griffin, Bao Nguyen and Natasha Ryan. If your favorite BV photog is missing, it's only because we wanted to keep this first effort relatively small. Stay tuned for future events, more pictures, and more photographers.

Photo printing was made possible by AdoramaPix.

A sneak peak at some of the photos appearing in the show, the flyer, and contest details, below...

Continue reading "announcing the 1st-ever BrooklynVegan photo show ------ part of the Northside Festival - WIN 1 of 3 BADGES"

photos by Chris Graham

The Wrens

"Some major changes have been made to the lay-out of the [Sasquatch] festival. The medium-sized stage (Wookie Stage) had been moved, as had the small stage (Yeti Stage) to make room for the new Comedy/Dance Tent. It didn't take long to get used to that, though...

...[The Wrens] did most of the songs from "Meadowlands", their bassist/keyboardist Kevin Wheelan exhorted the crowd multiple times and climbed atop his amplifiers, and the guys played like their lives depended on doing the best they have ever done. Their approach to the music is, in a word, fierce. [VARIOUS ECSTASIES]

The 2009 Sasquatch Festival ran from May 23-25 (Memorial Day Weekend) in Gorge, Washington. Pictures from Day One, HERE. More pictures from Day Two, below...

Continue reading "Sasquatch 2009 - Day 2 in pics "

DOWNLOAD: John Vanderslice - Fetal Horses (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: John Vanderslice - Too Much Time (MP3)

John Vanderslice's seventh solo album, Romanian Names, is yet another combination of masterful songwriting and flawless, ambitious production from one of America's most underrated singer-songwriters. Catch him on tour this month and next.

Speaking of songwriters, Iron and Wine, who played intimate shows in NYC the past two nights, releases Around the Well, a 2-CD collection of rarities and unreleased material.

The new release list is filled with other worthy releases. From what has already been sent my way, I can also recommend Au Revoir Simone's Still Night, Still Light, Jarvis Cocker's Further Complications, Jason Lytle's Yours Truly, The Commuter, Jeffrey Lewis's Em Are I, Passion Pit's Manners, and especially White Rabbits' It's Frightening.

Four Nick Cave remastered albums (The Firstborn Is Dead, From Her to Eternity, Kicking Against the Pricks, and Your Funeral...My Trial) are released this week, each with a bonus DVD.

What new music can you recommend this week? What's on your shopping list? Did I miss any releases?

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

DOWNLOAD: Ólöf Arnalds - Við og Við (MP3)

Olof Arnalds @ Housing Works in NYC (more by Chris La Putt)

Last Friday, 300 lucky guests crowded into Housing Works Bookstore for a very special installment of the bookstore's Live From Home concert series: the occasion was a collaboration between musical legend Björk and the up-and-coming Brooklyn band The Dirty Projectors. It was a night of never before heard music to benefit Housing Works Inc., which provides direct services for homeless New Yorkers with HIV and AIDS.

Guests drank beer from Whole Foods, Hendricks Gin and Reyka Vodka cocktails and wondered what lay in store. Björk and the Dirty Projectors each chose an opening act: Olöf Arnalds, a singer from Björk's native Iceland, and Kurt Weisman, from Vermont were introduced by the headliners. Hosting the evening was bookstore board member and Stereogum writer Brandon Stosuy...

...The music was transcendent, and the night was a huge success as a fundraiser-raising $40,000 for Housing Works, Inc. Thanks to everyone who helped make it such an amazing night."
[Housing Works press release]

That singer from Bjork's native Iceland (Olof Arnalds) will be back again in June, this time to play two shows during Brooklyn's first-ever Northside Festival. And the dates are:

Thursday, June 11 @ Union Pool - Olof Arnalds w/ François Virot, Lisa Li-Lund, Sharon Van Etten, and Ivana XL (Uncensored Interview Presents "The Speakeasy: A Showcase of Transatlantic Alt-Folk")

Friday, June 12 @ Music Hall of Williamsburg - Olof Arnalds w/ John Vanderslice & The Tallest Man On Earth & one more artist TBA. (the BrooklynVegan showcase)

A Northside Festival badge will get you (first come, first served) into either show. Advanced tickets are also available for both shows (Union Pool and Music Hall).

The Tallest Man/Vanderslice/Olof/TBA show at MHOW is now one of two BV Northside Fest shows. The 2nd one is, courtesy of Black Bubblegum, much heavier.

Olof covered Bjork at the Bjork Housing Works show. Watch that video, and others like it, below...

Continue reading "Olof Arnalds playing 2 Northside Festival shows (BV showcase included), helped raise lots of $$$ for HW (amount) "

DOWNLOAD: John Vanderslice - Fetal Horses (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: John Vanderslice - Too Much Time (MP3)

John Vanderslice @ 92Y Tribeca (more by Chris La Putt)

As previously reported, John Vanderslice will be playing a show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg with The Tallest Man on Earth on Friday, June 12. That show is part of the Northside Festival and is presented by Brooklyn Vegan and we'll be adding two more bands to the bill (soon, hopefully). Tickets for the show are still on sale, as are 4-day Northside Festival passes which may also get you in.

The show it turns out is part of a bigger tour with the Tallest Man on Earth that now also includes a non-Northside Bowery Ballroom show on Saturday, June 13th. Tickets for that new show are also on sale now. JV will play last at Music Hall, TMOE, who recently sold out the same venue by himself, will play last at Bowery.

John's new album, Romanian Names, comes out May 19th on Dead Oceans. Info about the preorder for that record, which includes a chance to download it more than three weeks before it comes out, is below. Two tracks from that album are posted above.

As previously mentioned, John Vanderslice also recorded a new album with The Mountain Goats. The limited edition EP has since been released. It's called Moon Colony Bloodbath.

Vanderslice will be performing as a five-piece band on this tour, which stretches across the US from May to June, and includes performances at the Ottawa Bluesfest on July 12th, San Fran's Outside Lands Festival at the end of August, and Austin City Limits on October 3rd.

All tour dates and info on the album presale below...

Continue reading "John Vanderslice & Tallest Man on Earth - 2009 Tour Dates"

!!! is playing ACL 2009 (more by Chris Graham)

"The 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival will showcase a diverse blend of acts both fresh and familiar at the eighth edition of the event in Zilker Park October 2-4. Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, and Beastie Boys are performing for the first time at the Festival, with Kings of Leon, Ben Harper and Relentless7, and Thievery Corporation returning to Zilker Park once again. John Legend, The Dead Weather, and The Levon Helm Band will also make their ACL Festival debut, while Austin's own Ghostland Observatory will no doubt deliver another memorable set for festival goers.

With over 130 artists on this year's bill, the list of acts awes at each note with the likes of Sonic Youth, Mos Def, Toadies, Flogging Molly, The B-52s, Lily Allen, Citizen Cope, Arctic Monkeys, The Decemberists, Coheed and Cambria, Andrew Bird, Girl Talk, and many more.

In the tradition of the TV show from which it was born, the Festival has always aimed to offer musical discovery for the fans. The 2009 lineup is rich with pop, country, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, indie rock, hip-hop, and gospel, to name a few, spanning cultures and countries from New Orleans to Venezuela to France."

The entire 2009 lineup is below...

Continue reading "ACL (Austin City Limits) - 2009 festival lineup announcement"