photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

EMA @ the Ace Hotel

If you weren't running around on weekdays seeing CMJ shows this year, maybe you were listening to the ones that were being broadcast live on KEXP at the Ace Hotel. Dominick went and saw at least three of them live. His pictures continue below...

Continue reading "Zola Jesus, Givers & EMA recorded KEXP CMJ sessions @ the Ace Hotel (pics)"

Zola Jesus at Pitchfork Fest (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Seattle's KEXP will present free daytime live radio broadcasts during CMJ from the lobby of NYC's Ace Hotel again this year.

On October 19, Zola Jesus, We Are Augustines, Portugal. The Man, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah will perform during the day with "Matador, 4AD, and Rough Trade DJs" at night. On October 20, there will be performances by Widowspeak, Givers(who opens for Portugal. The Man at Webster Hall), Dum Dum Girls (who also plays Bowery Ballroom), and The Lonely Forest, and DJ sets by Acephale Records and RVNG INTL. On October 21, there will be performances by WATERS (who has other CMJ shows), EMA (who has two other CMJ shows), Atlas Sound, and one more TBA, and DJ sets by Group Tightener and Merge Records. You can just show up and watch, or else tune into KEXP to listen on those days.

Speaking of Zola Jesus, her great new LP, Conatus, came out today via Sacred Bones. Stream the entire thing at The Guardian. She has other CMJ shows at Knitting Factory and Le Poisson Rouge.

Full CMJ KEXP schedule below...

Continue reading "KEXP recording CMJ sets @ the Ace Hotel, new Zola Jesus out today (and still streaming)"

Sasquatch Festival runs from today, Friday through Sunday in Gorge, Washington.
Highlights on this year's lineup include DFA1979 (Friday), Wolf Parade (Saturday), The Flaming Lips (Sunday), Archers of Loaf (Sunday), and Guided By Voices (Monday). Wilco, Foo Fighters, The Decemberists, Sharon Jones, Deerhunter, Modest Mouse, Reggie Watts, Wye Oak, Bob Mould and many more artists are playing too.

If you can't be there, the fest will be streaming sets, Saturday through Monday (hence the dates in the picture above), on both NPR and KEXP. Each are listing slightly different schedules. KEXP's posted broadcast schedule is listed below (and of course if you miss it, you can always listen later in NPR's archives)....

Continue reading "Sasquatch Fest starts today, stream @ NPR & KEXP"

photos by Chris La Putt

Devotchka @ Big Apple Circus

Depending on the realtor, the New York outpost of Alex Calderwood's Ace Hotel is either located in NoChe (short for North Chelsea) or NoMad (for North of Madison Square Park), but regular people just think of the area as a place to buy knockoff handbags. Inside the hotel it's a different scene, like some dreamy Epcot Center version of the Pacific Northwest, especially on this Friday afternoon, when Colin Meloy, the frontman of the Portland-based Decemberists, began tuning up for a solo show, sponsored by KEXP, the great Seattle radio station that moved into the lobby of the hotel for three days during CMJ. "I'm so glad this pocket of Portland is here," Meloy said of the hotel, which was founded in Seattle but is now headquartered in Stumptown. "Now I feel safe in New York." His set... was prefaced by 15 minutes of lovely droning gibberish from Nick Urata's gypsy punk band DeVotchKa. -[New York Times]

The KEXP show at Ace Hotel was the lone date for Colin Meloy during CMJ (videos HERE), but other artists who played the Ace Hotel that day (Glasser and Devotchka) were busy at CMJ this year (though Glasser played one less than planned).

On 10/22 in particular, Devotchka first played the KEXP bash (LISTEN TO IT AT KEXP'S SITE), Fontana's, and then the BrooklynVegan Day Party at Public Assembly to a packed house (thanks again) - all before 6pm.

But the band's big and most-official CMJ show came the next day, Saturday (10/23), under the Big Apple Circus big top at Damrosch Park. That's where the band headlined a unique show with Spirit Family Reunion and Angus & Julia Stone, complete with aerialists and other circus performers. It was part of the "Sideshow" series, though so far the "series" is only that one show.

Pictures from Friday at Fontana's and the Saturday Big Apple Circus show are in this post, and they continue, with some circus show videos, below...

Continue reading "Devotchka played KEXP, Fontana's & the Big Apple Circus --- (CMJ pics, video & streaming audio)"

Colin Meloy @ Ace Hotel during CMJ (photo by Brittney Bush Bollay for KEXP)

"Like his performances with the Decemberists, Colin solo is fragile and intimate, accompanied by just his guitar and harmonica. From the brand new "Rise to Me," a beautiful ode that will bring tears to your eyes, to the epic story of "The Crane Wife," in three parts, he captures those heartfelt emotions that remind you why you first fell for his voice and music.

And KEXP congratulates Colin's wife, Carson Ellis, on her award this week from The Society of Illustrators for her book Dillweed's Revenge.

Live at the Ace Hotel NYC, as part of KEXP's broadcast, sponsored by Toyota's Free Yr Radio, Colin played a stripped down set of three new songs and the "Crane Wife" saga." [KEXP]

YouTube videos of all four songs he played, below...

Continue reading "Colin Meloy played new songs for KEXP during CMJ (video)"

by BBG

Devotchka at Bowery Electric (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

Devotchka can appreciate the finer things in life, like a good old-fashioned surprise appearance. And much like they did at Bowery Electric in April, Devotchka have another special appearance in store for us NYC'ers, as we are proud to announce that Devotchka will be our "special guest" for Friday's Brooklyn Vegan day party at Public Assembly (10/22)! They go on at 5:15pm. The show is totally FREE to get into and will also feature appearances from Asobi Seksu, Dom, Ty Segall, Times New Viking, Shrag (who we added to the 3:15 slot), and many many notable others.

One thing that Public Assembly doesn't have is a 100% honest-to goodness circus tent (believe us, we tried). So if that is a requirement of shows that you frequent, then you can catch Devotchka at their Saturday night CMJ show where they can be found under the big-top at Damrosch Park. Angus & Julia Stone are also on board to support the band, and tickets are still available. Want to win a pair? I also have a pairs available for giveaway. Details on how to win are at the bottom of this post.

The circus show is the first "Sideshow," a "new live music-meets-the-circus series pairing fave musicians with formidable circus talent within the realm of an authentic one ring Big Top". Sounds pretty cool.

Devotchka can also be heard and seen via KEXP who is broadcasting CMJ performances from the Ace Hotel in NYC. "You are invited! This broadcast is free, open to the public and first come, first served (so get there early if you want a spot!). KEXP DJs John Richards and Cheryl Waters will be DJing live, between sets." And those Friday sets are:

KEXP Friday, 10/22:
* 7am PST / 10am EST Glasser
* 9am PST / 12pm EST Devotchka
* 10:30am PST / 1:30pm EST Colin Meloy
* 12pm PST / 3pm EST Cults
* 1:30pm PST / 4:30 pm EST The Extra Lens (John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats & Franklin Bruno from Nothing Painted Blue

Yes, Colin Meloy! His only CMJ activity while he's in town for a non-music reason. It's also the only other chance to experience Extra Lens during CMJ if you missed them Thursday night at Mercury Lounge with John Vanderslice... who is also playing the BrooklynVegan day party on Friday. If you can't be at Ace Hotel, listen live on KEXP.

Some video of the circus venue and Devotchka, and details on how to win those tickets are below...

Continue reading "Devotchka playing the BV Friday day party after KEXP @ the Ace Hotel & before a real circus tent (win tix) "

The Budos Band in Prospect Park (more by David Andrako)

The Budos Band celebrated the release of their new LP The Budos Band III at Southpaw last week (9/18), and now will wreck Bowery Ballroom on December 3rd. Tickets go on sale AmEx presale today at noon, and then general sale Friday at noon.

Its easy to tell that a heavy influence on the sound of The Budos Band is Nigerian legend and subject of a Broadway musical, Fela Kuti. In recent weeks, FELA! has taken both a big step forward and a huge step back; R&B legend Patti Labelle recenlty joined the cast of the acclaimed musical, but unfortunately the show will close during the first week in 2011. Boo.

If you haven't seen the show yet, you should. If you can't afford it, then take note: you can get a taste when members of the cast play a FREE show at Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 1 on October 4th. Patti won't be there, but FELA! star Sahr Ngaujah will be, alongside the FELA! house band (which includes members of Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra). The show kicks off at 6:30 P.M. More details can be found at the St. Ann's Warehouse site.

In related news, the non-profit Hip-Hop Theater Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a gala at Urban Zen Center at the Stephan Weiss Studio (711 Greenwich Street NYC) on on 9/27:

From 7-8pm VIP guests will be able to enjoy a rooftop reception before general admission. Doors will officially open at 8:30pm, followed by performances from Pulitzer finalist Eisa Davis and Tony Award winning poet Lemon Anderson. A presentation honoring playwright and poet Ntozake Shange and graffiti pioneer artist Enrique PARTONE Torres will then ensue. Sahr Ngaujah of FELA! on Broadway will host the special evening with music provided by DJ Rich Medina.

Tickets are $100 for general admission with $250 for VIP for a rooftop reception & reserved seating. For more ticket information please email info@hhtf.org or call 718.407.4282

The Budos Band recently performed live for KEXP in Seattle. Video below...

Continue reading "a free Fela! show, the Budos Band @ Bowery, Patti Labelle on Broadway (but not for much longer) "

photos by Tim Griffin

Lucero

"...The bands were running late at Club Deville, but I was pleased to hear Centromatic on the stage. They sounded like classic rock and when Steve Miller Band's "Rock'N Me" came on after their set, it was in the same vein, but Centromatic was above and beyond.

Lucero came on next and killed it. Nichols' voice is like sandpaper on gravel and it has a booze-soaked and sorry quality that makes it sound like the hard nights and heartbreaks that he sings about are real experiences. Lucero is one of the few bands that I've seen (Free Energy comes to mind as well) that broke through to fans. Quite a few folks were dancing, jumping, singing and generally rocking out during their set..." [Rock Candy]

...It was a perfectly rowdy ending to the BrooklynVegan/DailyMotion day party at Club DeVille on Friday, March 19th (one of our seven shows this year). The day's eclectic lineup ranged from country to electro to singer-songwriter to comedy. We also made a huge effort to feed people and give away free stuff this year. Those who stopped by the free show got free Ear Piece ear plugs, Magic Hat beer, Firefly Sweet Tea vodka (that lasted the entire 6+ hours), Gundlach Bundschu wine, Raw Rev bars, Nadamoo ice cream, Hail Merry "Grawnola", breakfast tacos and Daily Juice catering. Action For Animals was on hand with baked goods for sale that helped raise $800 for charity. Somebody (and every band and comedian) won some Original Penguin clothes. Members of Passion Pit (aka the Wet Bandits) played the music between bands. KEXP was filming video. All in all an amazing day.

Catch Lucero in NYC at Music Hall of Williamsburg this Tuesday, March 30th with Glossary (tickets are still on sale). Centro-matic kicks off a house tour in Houston the same day.

You've already seen some of this Friday party HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. Pictures, reviews and videos from it continue below...

Continue reading "Lucero, Centromatic, Nicole Atkins, Holly Miranda, Zola Jesus, more @ Club DeVille (BV/DailyMotion day party) - pics & video"

Arctic Monkeys @ Highline Ballroom in August (more by Bao Nguyen)

tonight in NYC
* Pink Martini @ Town Hall
* Seabrook Power Plant @ The Stone
* Antibalas @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn
* Matisyahu, The Glitch Mob @ Webster Hall
* Mathias Tjonn, Land of Leland @ Sycamore
* Bear Hands, Peephole, Ribbons @ Littlefield
* Arctic Monkeys, Screaming Females @ Terminal 5
* Gary War, Ducktails, Infinity Window @ Cake Shop
* Suckers, Tanlines, Light Asylum @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn
* Brooklyn sings for Health Care Reform @ The Bell House
* Colin Stetson, Matana Roberts, Shazad Ismaily @ Monkey Town
* Limbs, Right on Dynamite, Ludlow Lions, Susu @ Public Assembly
* Love as Laughter, Coconuts, Hallelujah, Ezekial Healy @ Death By Audio
* Spanish Broads, The Honey Dos, ACLU Benefit, The Everly Sisters @ Bruar Falls
* Holly Golightly & The Broke-Offs, Taylor Hollingsworth, She Keeps Bees, Vandaveer @ Mercury Lounge

Arctic Monkeys plays their first of two shows in a row with Screaming Females tonight.

Matisyahu plays his first of eight.

White Denim's new video for "I Start to Run" below...

Wayne Coyne brings us the Flaming Lips Silver Trembling Fetus Christmas ornament. Video below...

Videos of Surfer Blood on KEXP, below...

What else?

Continue reading "Whats going on Thursday?"

tonight in NYC
* Slavic Soul Party @ Barbes
* Further @ Hammestein Ballroom
* Nate Wooley @ Issue Project Room
* Pure Horsehair, Sam Amidon @ Zebulon
* J.A.M.B.I.E. w/ Jon Irabagon @ The Stone
* Parts and Labor, The Tony Castles, Screens @ Brooklyn Bowl
* The Prigs, The Stationary Set, Red Wire Black Wire @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn
* WFUV benefit w/ Rosanne Cash, The Low Anthem, Mike Doughty @ Concert Hall
* The Music of John Lennon featuring performances by members of: Acrylics, Amazing Baby, Gillian Rivers and the SET Quartet, Here We Go Magic, Lauren Bahr, Nicole Atkins, Psychic, The Royal Chains, & Suckers @ Glasslands

Parts and Labor, The Tony Castles and Screens play a free show at Brooklyn Bowl. Former Parts & Labor member Sarah Lipstate plays as Noveller on Friday with Yellow Fever and Air Waves at Bruar Falls.

Video of Alec Ounsworth live on KEXP below...

Video of Surf City live on KEXP below...

Video of The Moondoggies live on KEXP below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

JEFF the Brotherhood @ Death by Audio in April (more by Leia Jospe)

tonight in NYC
* Whiplash comedy @ UCB
* It is It comedy @ Pianos
* Kate Havenick @ Rockwood Music Hall
* Rev. Vince Anderson @ Union Pool
* Good for the Jews @ Highline Ballroom
* Les Paul Guitar Tribute w/ Pat Martino & Eldar @ Iridium
* Rhett Miller, Jill Hennessey @ Housing Works Bookstore
* Wesley Willis's Joy Rides (film), Eric Lindley, Teenage Prayers @ Glasslands
* Split Lip/Chamberlain, Walter Schreifels, Atlantic/Pacific @ Bowery Ballroom
* JEFF The Brotherhood, Dinowalrus, Sisters, Coin Under Tongue @ Mercury Lounge
* Shark?, Dinosaur Feathers, Coyote Eyes, I'm Turning Into, Sherpas @ The Cameo
* eTown live radio show taping w/ Tori Amos & Jesse Winchester @ Grand Ballroom
* Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Blame The Patient, Jason Anderson @ The Bell House

Rhett Miller plays at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe tonight with Jill Hennessey. He and his band, the Old 97s, play four quasi-New Year's shows at Dallas's Sons of Hermann Hall from Dec 27th-Dec 30th.

JEFF The Brotherhood opened for Ted Leo last night - tonight they headline the Mercury Lounge with Dinowalrus, Sisters and Coin Under Tongue.

The reunited Split Lip/Chamberlain play Bowery Ballroom (their only upcoming booked show) with fellow veterans Walter Schreifels and Atlantic/Pacific (Garrett Klahn of Texas Is The Reason).

In a weekend full of bad news, Jack Rose passed away and Rivers Cuomo and family were in a bus crash.

Joly posted a new Jack Rose video he recorded in 2004. Check that out below...

Videos of Mission of Burma performing live on KEXP, below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

DOWNLOAD: Olof Arnalds - Englar og darer (MP3)

Ólöf Arnalds's beautiful debut album, Við og Við, will be released in the US by One Little Indian on January 12th. Grab track #1 above for free right now! That's the cover art up there too.

NYC is becoming a second home for Olof who is back in town again and will be joined by fellow Icelandic musician Kjartan Sveinsson of Sigur Rós at the Whitney Museum of American Art on November 6th.

Cage a Swallow Can't You But You Can't Swallow A Cage: A Sonnet Sequence for Roni Horn

November 6
Performances at 7 pm and 8 pm

Composed in honor of Roni Horn by poet Anne Carson, this performance of sung and spoken word features a mix of voice and harmonium. Icelandic musicians Olof Arnalds and Kjartan Sveinsson of Sigur Ros, join Carson and poets R. Currie and Penelope Thomas for this special program.

"Whitney Live is free with Museum admission, which is pay-what-you-wish on Fridays from 6-9 pm. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not accepted."

That is one of two (actually three) chances you have to see Olof in the next week. She will also return to Rockwood Music Hall for a show on November 9th (10pm set).

In September Olof stopped by KEXP's studios to perform some songs. Check out those videos below...

Continue reading "Olof Arnalds - new album in 2010 (MP3), a Whitney show w/ a Sigur Ros member, a Rockwood show, KEXP videos & more "

Japandroids @ Siren Fest in July (more by Chris La Putt)

Tickets are sold out for Japandroids' September 24th show with Mt. St. Helen's Vietnam Band at the Mercury Lounge. Fret not - the band has added another night at the venue. They play an early show at the Mercury Lounge on Sunday, September 27th. Tickets are on sale now.

Those are both before Japandroids' CMJ NYC run in October, which is just a small part of the band's long list of upcoming shows, posted below. Upcoming dates include early October shows with the Coathangers and UK/Ireland gig with A Place to Bury Strangers) in November.

All dates with video of the band at August's KEXP BBQ are posted below...

Continue reading "Japandroids add a 2nd Merc show - updated 2009 Tour Dates & videos from the KEXP BBQ"

DOWNLOAD: The Donkeys - Walk Through A Cloud (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Donkeys - Nice Train (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Wallpaper remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Come Saturday (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daniel Johnston - Honey I Sure Miss You (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daniel Johnston - Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Your Grievances
DOWNLOAD: These Arms Are Snakes - Red Line Season (MP3)

This free BrooklynVegan show takes place on two stages at Radio Room in Austin, Texas this Thursday afternoon, March 19, 2009 from noon-6pm. Set times, more info, and answers to (hopefully) all FAQ's below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn Vegan & Agency Group Austin day party lineup"

As you know, The Wrens are back. They're playing SXSW in March, AND they're playing Bowery Ballroom right before that - on March 13th with Titus Andronicus, Bell and We Were Promised Jetpacks. The NYC show is a benefit for KEXP. Tickets go on sale Wednesday at noon.

Though the slots to see the shows live are all full, they do let more people in if people that signed up don't show. That's kind of a hassle though. The easiest way to hear all of the live sessions listed above, is just to tune in at KEXP.org.

Join KEXP as we broadcast LIVE from New York City during the CMJ Music Marathon. KEXP will be broadcasting LIVE from Gibson Showroom in New York October 20 through 24. We've got another great lineup this year.

Attendance at the live in-studio sessions is free and open public. Space is limited. Please sign up to attend.

Deerhoof, Lykke Li and Hercules & Love Affair are among the sessions KEXP is already listing (thx anon).

Continue reading "KEXP coming to 91.5 FM in NY"

DOWNLOAD: The Rosebuds - Boxcar (acoustic & live on Radio 4) (MP3)

Tickets go on sale Friday for a January 18th Rosebuds show at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. It's one of three scheduled shows. The other two are January 17th in Washington DC, and the 19th @ Maxwell's in Hoboken (no ticket info yet).

Don't forget that Kelly also makes her NYC stand-up debut at Comix tonight (Dec 6).

That signed Rosebuds poster brought in $112.50 for charity. Arcade Fire went for $750! Dinosuar Jr. & Spoon are on sale now.

I recently acquired a copy of "Blood & Love" - a tour-only Rosebuds CD. That's where I got the MP3 on top of this post. Full tracklist & all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "The Rosebuds - 2008 Tour Dates, Kelly doing comedy tonight"

Jens Lekman @ Triple Rock, Minneapolis - Nov 3, 2007 (CRED)

Jens Lekman to Pitchfork: Well, I really have to ask. First of all, thanks so much for the review. I was really very flattered about that. You know, I heard something about the "8.0 club" a long time ago. Oh You're So Silent got 8.6. Everyone kept telling me, "Oh, you're in the 8.0 club now," which was kind of intriguing to me because it literally means that all these festivals and all these distributors want to have your record. It sort of puts wheels in motion.

And then when I got this review, I was like, "9.0? I wonder what that means." The day after, my frequent flyer card was updated from ivory to silver. I just wanted to check if you had something to do with that. I was thinking, "Oh, the 9.0 club" [laughs].

Tune in to KEXP (part of the NPR Music network) right now - Jens is about to perform live in their studio. Jens recently played a bunch of NYC shows, and he has a few more North American tour dates left. For more Jens, check out the BrooklynVegan Mike interview from 2006.

The new NPR Music website is pretty cool. KEXP, The Current, WNYC and more. Streaming concerts. Studio Sessions. Even blogs - one of which is by Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney...

Song stuck in my head: Theme from "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
Maybe because it's the only aspect of the current season that isn't brutal. And it's the only part of the show I can repeat out loud without offending anyone.
Most recent album I learned to love only by listening to it as background music: The National's Boxer [Carrie]

Sleater-Kinney played their last-ever NYC show at Webster Hall in August 2006.

KEXP will be back in NYC this year for their annual in-studio session broadcasts. Based on their posted schedule, eight of twenty bands have been announced, but are all the seats - even the "TBA" ones - really already full? I can see Band of Horses filling up quickly, but usually the lesser known bands take a while to fill up at least.

If they are all filled, I would say there's still a chance of getting in if your really want to - you can show up early, and if there are empty seats they let you in, or maybe they just haven't opened all the slots yet (anyone already sign up?). Last year the performances were behind glass - not ideal, but this year they're taping at "Gibson Showroom", and I have no idea what that space is like.