by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: MAKE OUT - I Don't Want Anybody That Wants Me (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Reading Rainbow - Wasting Time (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Savoir Adore - Loveliest Creature (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Dinowalrus - Phone Home from the Edge (MP3)

Make Out

We are in full holiday swing so things are finally, thankfully slowing down. Nobody's really touring till the new year, making things easier for shopping, holiday parties, marathoning TV shows, whatever. So it'll be a short This Week in Indie, but not without things to see. This is New York after all.

The lead story this week was going to be ex-Beta Band frontman Steve Mason playing his first-ever solo shows in NYC, but his North American tour has been postponed "due to an almost complete lack of interest. We try again next year after SXSW!" There's interest, Steve, it's tough during the holidays. Do come back. If you haven't heard his new album, Boys Outside, it's definitely worth a listen.

So what else? Thursday night (12/16) is the live debut of MAKE OUT, which is the new band from Jesper Mortensen, who was the Junior in Danish duo Junior Senior. (Remember them?) He lives here now and new band -- fronted by Leah Hennessy -- is big dumb '70s-ish glitter-trash rock, and you can download Make Out's debut single, "I Don't Want Anybody That Wants Me," at the top of this post. Might be fun live? It's at Mercury Lounge.

Saturday (12/18) is the Rock Lottery event at Knitting Factory. I love these sort of instant art type things (anybody ever go see  Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind?) and the cast of musicians who'll make up these ad-hoc bands is promising. Members of Golden Triangle, Liturgy, Oberhofer, Bear in Heaven, ARMS, Les Savvy Fav and many more will be grouped together at random, so the results will hopefully be interesting. And fun. Proceeds go to charity, so give a little. Tickets are on sale now.

Reading Rainbow

And lastly, I really love Reading Rainbow's new album, Prism Eyes, which is out on the HoZac label and will be on my Best LPs of 2010 list when I ever get around to finishing writing it. You can download "Wasting Time," one of my favorites off the album, at the top of this post. They are great live too, which you can find out for yourself Saturday (12/18) night at Death By Audio as part of an insanely good bill that includes current tourmates Coasting, plus The Babies, Big Troubles and new Captured Tracks signing, Widowspeak. All upcoming Reading Rainbow tour dates are at the bottom of this post.

Like I said, it's a short one this week. More daily picks of things not covered above:

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15

The Depreciation Guild have decided to call it quits, which is sad, but have a couple more shows left in them. The first is tonight at Glasslands.  Check out the lovely animated video to their final single, "Blue Lily," at the bottom of this post.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16

SPIN and Free Williamsburg  are throwing some sort of Holiday party tonight at Death By Audio with a performance by The Hundred in the Hands, who made my Best EPs of 2010 list. It's free (and free beer), you just need to RSVP.

Travis are still a going rock outfit, but here's your chance to see frontman Fran Healy play solo at Bowery Ballroom in support of his new album, Wreckorder.

And if you are looking to laugh, Coco66 hosts Supershow!. Tonight has ex-SNL Jenny Slate, who also voiced that charming Marcel the Shell short. (I hear they might debut a new Marcel the Shell short tonight. Maybe.) Also performing: Food Party composer Matt Fitzpatrick will play original holiday songs, and more. It's free.

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Continue reading "MAKE OUT, not Steve Mason, Reading Rainbow, Savoir Adore, Depreciation Guild & more in This Week in Indie"

Darren Mabee @ Highline Ballroom, NYC - Aug 13, 2007 (CRED)

As for Oakland's Gravy Train!, you either love them, or hate them. I'm casting my vote on the side of hate. They have no musical abilities whatsoever. Their whole shtick is to see how over-sexed, gay and flamboyant they can legally get on stage. It's gay guys in tighty whiteys, it's flabby girls grabbing their boobs and their va-jay-jays. The music is complete rip off of Peaches without the smart lyrics, pulse or sense of humor. It's all, "Look how outragious we are! Weeeeeeee!" Oh please.

On the bright-side, Darren made it onto the stage. He's a big hairy, bear of a guy who was wearing a dress in the crowd. That came off to reveal his g-string wedged within his enormous ass. I don't know which was funnier: him on stage or looking at people's reaction to him on stage. The man is a fixture at some shows, so it was bound to happen that he would be aloud to display the goods on stage. He was perfect for the Gravy Train! [Music Snobbery]

This was the show where Gravy Train! opened for Junior Senior.

Previously
* Les Savy Fav vs. Darren Mabee
* Darren Mabee @ Man Man @ McCarren Pool

DOWNLOAD: Sharon Jones - 100 Days 100 Nights (MP3)

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings (CRED)

As previously posted more than once, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings have a new album coming out on October 2nd. In the meantime, download the soul-filled title track above. Sharon's next NYC show is October 6th @ The Apollo Theater, and her friends and band-mates in the Budos Band's next previously advertised show is Thursday night at Joe's Pub, but you can also see them FOR FREE TONIGHT (August 7th) @ Sound Fix Records in Brooklyn.

Also upcoming @ Sound Fix, Brooklyn, NYC (free)
Aug 7 - The Budos Band
Aug 9 - Elk City
Aug 12 - JUNIOR SENIOR
Aug 16 - Jennifer O'Connor
Aug 17 - JOHN VANDERSLICE
Aug 18 - OKKERVIL RIVER
Aug 19 - Page France
Aug 24 - White Rabbits

John Vanderslice is also playing Bowery Ballroom. Junior Senior is also playing Highline Ballroom. Okkervil River is also playing Webster Hall, and has a new record out today. More Sound Fix shows @ their site.

Okkervil River's Will Sheff in Cambridge - July 14, 2007 (CRED)

JD from Le Tigre & Junior Senior @ SXSW 2007 (CRED)

Almost two years after they finished mixing their sophomore album in Los Angeles, Denmark's delectable superpop duo Junior Senior are finally giving the record a stateside release. Ryko will release 'Hey Hey My My Yo Yo' -- the follow up to 'D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat' -- on August 14. [Spinner]

Tickets are on sale for an August 13th show at Highline Ballroom in NYC (which by the way is where Peaches is playing tonight - June 20th - WITH JD & Johanna from Le Tigre's other project MEN). All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Junior Senior - new album & 2007 Tour Dates ++++++++++++ MEN (Le Tigre)"