DOWNLOAD: Fiery Furnaces - The End is Near (MP3)

The Fiery Furnaces @ Middle East Downstairs (6/12/09) (gikthechamp)

"Eleanor kept mentioning how most of the new songs were about ex-boyfriends, and at one point was almost apologizing for that fact, joking that they were now out of ideas. She shouldn't be so concerned. I love the more obscure and whimsical topics that have come up in past Furnaces releases, but I welcome this more straightforward, emotionally driven material. They've done it before, but it's never been as bittersweet as this, nor as neat and soulful. It was time to shift gears, and they made exactly the right decision -- their melodic sensibility is front and center, the preciousness is dialed down considerably." [Fluxblog]

Fluxblog's review refers to the June 11th show at Le Poisson Rouge where the Fiery Furnaces played a complete and re-arranged version of their new album I'm Going Away (out July 21 on Thrill Jockey). Setlist below. New studio-recorded track from that album, above.

Three days later, Matt's other band King's Crescent played a Martin Bisi-curated Northside Festival show at Spike Hill. Lucid Culture writes that they "flipped the script and played a joyous, virtuosic, completely in-the-pocket set of vintage Meters covers."

On August 9th, the Fiery Furnaces will join Simian Mobile Disco (who are playing DJ) on the bill of the free JellyNYC Pool Party at the Williamsburg Waterfront. Finger on the Pulse are also DJing at this one. All FF dates below...

Continue reading "Fiery Furnaces played LPR, King's Crescent played Spike Hill, FF playing Pool Party w/ Simian Mobile Disco ++ new MP3"

Fiery Furnaces @ Barack Rock (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

The Fiery Furnaces play (Le) Poisson Rouge tonight (June 11th) with Newspeak. That ensemble will debut a piece by the Furnaces' Matthew Friedberger titled "U.S. Cold Storage Pleads Its Case To The NLRB" (slightly different than originally reported). Tickets are still on sale.

At the show, The Fiery Furnaces will play "among other things, a version, complete and re-arranged, of their not-yet released album, I'm Going Away," performed 'in the round.' I'm Going Away will be showcasd at the band's other tour dates, below, as well. That record comes out July 21st on Thrill Jockey.

On Sunday, June 14th, Matthew Friedberger and Fiery Furnaces drummer Bob D'Amico will perform with King's Crescent at a Northside Festival show at Spike Hill. The lineup for that gig, curated by Martin Bisi, also includes SUSU, Kerry Kennedy, Alina Simone and Bisi himself.

On King's Crescent, Amico wrote in March...

i have another sorta-new band with my good friends jeff steinhauser on guitar, jeff martini on bass/vox, matt friedberger on organ and me on drums. the band is called Kings Crescent. right now we're playing mostly the music of our funk heroes from New Orleans- The Meters. we will expand our repotoire a bit and incorporate some of our other soul/funk heroes as well....and some Minutemen jams played in the vein of those heroes.

A live video of the Furnaces playing "Single Again" off their 2005 EP, with all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Matt Friedberger plays in King's Crescent (Northside show) ++ Fiery Furnaces show details (tonight & other dates) "