photos by Chris La Putt

"MoMA garden party. Hugh Jackman introducing a fully acoustic set by Karen O." - Jared

"Karen O and Nick Zinner" performed at last night's MoMA Party in the Garden, an annual fundraiser that Estelle, M.I.A. and James Murphy have all played in recent years past. They were rounded out by a full band that included Imaad Wasif on acoustic guitar, Russell Simins filling in on drums, and a string section. They played Yeah Yeah Yeahs songs and "All is Love" by Karen O & The Kids (from Where the Wild Things Are). The full setlist, video of "Maps" and more pictures below...

Continue reading "a modified Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Karen & Nick Zinner & friends) played MoMA's Garden Party - pics, video & setlist"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Imaad Wasif - "Priestess" (MP3)

Imaad Wasif and Jack Lawrence, keepin' it gangsta

It's not just David Pajo. More than one artist has done time as a live member of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and much like Pajo, Imaad Wasif has also recorded with a few different bands (Lou Barlow, Folk Implosion, in addition to YYY's newest LP) and has a catalog of music of his own. The latest entry in the Wasif canon is his new solo LP, The Voidist, out NOW via Tee Pee Records and featuring "Priestess" (like the band) downloadable above. The LP, which was recorded with his supporting band Two Part Beast, features appearances from Dale Crover (Melvins) and Greg Burns (Red Sparowes) and was laid to tape by Chad Bamford (Weezer).

Imaad Wasif, who was picked by Jack White to open for The Raconteurs and Dead Weather based on his live show, will be in NYC to perform at three CMJ shows: an RSVP-only day party at Pianos on 10/23, the Tee Pee Records 2009 CMJ Showcase at Union Pool with Priestess (like the song), Nebula, Naam, Quest For Fire, Kreisor, Hopewell, Imaad Wasif with Two Part Beast and Weird Owl ($12, or use your CMJ badge), and the third is the showcase with Rain Machine, Sharon Van Etten, Violens, Threes And Nines and Stricken City at Bowery on 10/24 (tix here, or CMJ badges). The Tee Pee showcase is second Tee Pee event happening during CMJ, the first being their day party at Cake Shop on 10/22.

Besides his new solo LP, Waasif can also be found on the soundtrack to the Where The Wild Things Are as one of "the Kids" that make up Karen O & The Kids. Joining Karen O (YYYs), is the rest of her current band, Wasif, Bradford Cox (Atlas Sound, who is playing CMJ) Aaron Hemphill (Liars), Dean Fertita (The Dead Weather), and Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs). Want a copy? I have TWO UP FOR GRABS as well as a pair of Vice mini-magazines with 24 artists' renditions of Where The Wild Things Are. More on how to win at the botton of this post. For some behind the scenes videos from the movie (which opens TONIGHT, check VBS.TV.

Nebula and Naam are scheduled to play the BrooklynVegan day party at Fontana's on 10/23 with Goes Cube, Ume, and Crystal Antlers (more on those additions later). The night show at the same venue on the same day will be done in conjunction with Relapse Records, and will feature Misery Index, Salome, Revocation, Black Anvil, Complete Failure, Howl, and Gloominous Doom.

Imaad Wasif is also scheduled to play the Fog Rising festival on 11/7 in San Francisco with Witch, Ancestors, Red Fang, Black Math Horseman, and many others. More and that show, including tickets, are here.

Tee Pee showcase flyer, Imaad Wasif and Nebula dates, and a NSFW video for Imaad Wasif's "Redeemer" are below...

Continue reading "Imaad Wasif - new album, MP3, tour dates (CMJ) & Where The Wild Things Are (movie out today, win a soundtrack)"

Karen O @ Lollapalooza 2009 (more by Paul Birman)

"DGC/ INTERSCOPE TO RELEASE WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK: ORIGINAL SONGS BY KAREN O AND THE KIDS. ALBUM OUT SEPTEMBER 29! LEAD SINGLE "ALL IS LOVE" OUT DIGITALLY AUGUST 25! MOTION PICTURE IN THEATERS OCTOBER 16!

Inside Karen O is a Wild Thing - as singer for the Grammy-nominated Yeah Yeah Yeahs, her wild thing is in your face, vulnerable, obnoxious, tender, exciting... a self-proclaimed "spazoid." However, to Oscar-nominated Where the Wild Things Are director Spike Jonze, Karen O and her music possess a child-like innocence, a guileless charm that put her exactly on the right emotional wavelength to sonically capture the highly-anticipated film.

To compose music for the film, O enlisted friends and fellow musicians she believed had the musical intuition that would bolster her intent to marry sound to vision. Dubbed Karen O and the Kids, the kids include Tristan Bechet (Services), Tom Biller (co-producer with Karen O and member of Afternoons), Bradford Cox (Deerhunter), Brian Chase (YYY), Dean Fertita (The Dead Weather), Aaron Hemphill (Liars), Greg Kurstin (The Bird and the Bee), Jack Lawrence (The Dead Weather), Oscar Michel (Gris Gris), Imaad Wasif (New Folk Implosion), Nick Zinner, (YYY) and an untrained children's choir." [Where the Wild Things Press Release]

In related news, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are playing Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on September 29th. That's six days after their much larger Manhattan show at Radio City Music Hall which sold out, I am told, in less than a day (UPDATE: There are a few random single tickets still available for Radio City at the moment, so not completely sold out yet)... I'm sure the MHOW show will sell out in less than a minute when tickets go on sale Friday at noon (2-ticket limit, will call only, opener TBA).

Some related videos below...

Continue reading "Yeah Yeah Yeahs add MHOW show - Karen O & the Kids made the Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack (single out now)"