photos by Amanda Hatfield

"Just back from seeing Mark Eitzel at The Knitting Factory.
Intimate. Intense. Inspiring. - The Rockdoves

Mark Eitzel / Kathryn Calder

Mark Eitzel played between tour-mates Kathryn Calder and Himalayan Bear at Knitting Factory on Tuesday (12/6). Here are some pictures. They continue below...

Continue reading "Mark Eitzel, Kathryn Calder & Himalayan Bear @ Knitting Factory (pics)"

Mark Eitzel

"For The People Who Wonder if AMC is Touring

We are not.

During the reunion in 2005 it was good to play with these guys again - though we had changed a lot in a decade. We made a great record - still we didn't have a Bruce Kaphan or a Tom Mallon to keep the music focused and cohesive (I'm certainly not the one to do that when my own songs are involved.) We toured a bit, played one show in 2006 (at a Gap store) then I wanted to work more with Vudi and we put together a band in Los Angeles.

Fans want to see a band frozen in that time when the music meant something to them. A particular record, or a particular show that really knocked them out at the time. I do it too. I knew during the reunion AMC would not be the same group we were in 1991 - and that was tough. You want to give fans what they want (or at least I do) and its a bitch when things aren't the same. You just keep going - you just move on..."
[Mark Eitzel]

While American Music Club may be no more for now (they did tour in recent years though), you CAN catch frontman Mark Eitzel TWICE in the next couple days. TONIGHT (12/6) Eitzel will bless Knitting Factory with Kathryn Calder of The New Pornographers and Himalayan Bear. Tickets are still available. Tomorrow (12/7) he plays at Joe's Pub as part of the Happy Ending Music and Reading Series with Amanda Stern, Jesse Browner, and Walter Kirn.

Mark Eitzel's appearance at Joe's Pub is the early show at the venue, with The Barr Brothers headlining the later show, one of two scheduled for the band in NYC this week. They also play Union Pool on 12/8. All of their dates are listed below.

Kathryn Calder is currently on the road with Himalayan Bear in celebration of her new LP Bright and Vivid (out now). Check out a video for "Who Are You?" from Bright and Vivid below, alongside all tour dates...

Continue reading "(no American Music Club, but) Mark Eitzel is here, Kathryn Calder touring, Barr Brothers too"

Kathryn Calder on stage with The New Pornographers (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Kathryn Calder, possibly best known for her contributions to a certain supergroup that contains her uncle, is currently on the road with Himalayan Bear on the West Coast. The dates are in support of Are You My Mother?, her own album which dropped in August of last year. So far a full slate of dates on the Eastside have yet to be determined, but NYC has a show to call their own: Mercury Lounge on June 14th. Tickets go on AmEx presale at noon on Wed (5/11) and regular sale on Friday. All dates are listed below.

Meanwhile Neko Case is going about to embark on a dueling tour that kicks off on 5/11 in Rhode Island and makes a stop at Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock, NY one day later. If you're confused about the date of the Woodstock show, it might be because it was supposed to happen in February but was postponed due to bad weather. All current dates are listed below, Pitchfork Fest included.

The New Pornographers have upcoming dates at both the previously discussed B.O.M.B. Fest in CT on May 29, and Festival for Humanity in Vernon, NJ on May 30th. The band's video for "Sweet Talk" in support of Oxfam's Gulf relief efforts has been nominated for an Emmy. If you havent seen it, check it out below along with all tour dates.

Continue reading "Kathryn Calder on tour (adds dates), Neko Case kicking off tour (adds dates too) "

by Bill Pearis

Immaculate Machine

NIGHTTIME:

BrooklynVegan's got two parties tonight. Black Bubblegum is hosting an official metal showcase tonight at Fontana's (which happens right after our day party at the same venue), and we've also got the teeny tiny Loft Space party that is sold-out at this point.

One of the bands playing the loft party is Victoria Canada's Immaculate Machine, who may or may not have the lineup pictured above...

...To make life even more tricky for the band, vocalist and keyboardist Kathryn Calder, one of the remaining original members, has had to absent herself from touring after the terrible news of her mum's diagnosis with motor neurone disease; although Lynn Calder very sadly died earlier this year, Kathryn was not with the band this evening. Indeed, the touring line-up looked very different from the line-up advertised on the band's web presences, two boys apparently replaced by two girls.

So, amid confusion that appeared to verge on turmoil, could the band deliver the goods live? It turned out they very much could... [John Kell, Oct 20, 2009]

Immaculate Machine also play early-ish tonight (8:30) at the equally tiny Fat Baby for a showcase for their label, Mint Records. They've got trio of Canadian bands playing, most of whom rarely seem to make it down to America. Or, the East Coast at least -- most of their bands tend to be from Vancouver. In addition to Immaculate Machine, there's the garagey Pack A.D. and Hot Panda, who I caught last year at CMJ and are pretty good. The Mint Records showcase is also a good place to pick up their great fanzine, A Taste of Mint, which always features at least one classic Narduwar interview.

And a bit off the beaten path, the folks at the Seaport Music Festival are putting on a great showcase at their Seaport on the Side gallery space (corner of Front and Beekman). The line-up, which runs from 7PM - Midnight, includes Montreal's We are Wolves, the Danish electro sounds of Spleen United, and UK hip hop act Man Like Me. UK pop artist Dan Black was supposed to play but cancelled and has been replaced by Sweden's Moonbabies who played a killer opening set at yesterday's Brooklyn Vegan day party. Do go see Moonbabies if you can. They also play earlier in the night (8:30) at Crash Mansion.

One of the many, many highlight's of yesterday's Brooklyn Vegan day party at Piano's was JEFF the Brotherhood who put on an absolutely kick-ass closing set. Tonight, they've put together a showcase for their label, Infinity Cat, featuring a slew of Nashville bands: Heavy Cream, Natural Child, Denney & the Jets, Daniel Pujol, as well as Brooklyn's Sisters.

And, of course, JEFF who you should really try and see this weekend at some point. If there was one thing missing at Pianos yesterday, it was the smoke machines Jake and Jamin tend to use (Pianos doesn't allow them) and I have a feeling they'll be in full effect tonight.

And lastly, fellow Brooklyn blog Chocolate Bobka has teamed with Underwater Peoples and twosyllable records for a pretty great night of music at The Delancey, including Holiday Shores, Real Estate, Frat Dad, Pill Wonder and more. They're also promising free moonshine, which sounds a bit deadly to me but, hey, it is Friday night.

Daytime highlights HERE. Hip Hop highlights HERE. Fliers, a Moonbabies video, and other stuff below...

Continue reading "CMJ 2009 - Bill's Friday nighttime picks (Immaculate Machine, Infinity Cat, Seaport Music & more)"