by BBG

Monster Island Block Party (photo by Johnathan Percy)

Cult of Youth (who played the recent final Monster Island block party) will return to the space to join forces with King Dude (aka the goth-y folk project of TJ Cowgill of Book of Black Earth) and Alice Cohen to play 9/22 at Live with Animals, one of the last shows scheduled for their current space, 210 Kent Ave. But don't worry, Secret Project Robot has already secured their future:

Following the end of their lease, Secret Project Robot will be moving to 389 Melrose Street. The art gallery and peformance space's new home will be smaller than its current location, but is adjacent to a 4,000-square-foot lot, which will probably be quite nice come next summer. Moving with them are experimental art rock band Oneida and the Live With Animals gallery. Venue Monster Island Basement will be closing. -[BushwickBK.com]

The new space has a few events coming up, including 10/20 with KNYFE HYTS, 10/24's "Allison Awesome Birthday Party" featuring Call of the Wild (ex-Awesome Color), a 10/28 Pterodactyl Record Release party, "The most insane scary Halloween Art Installation and Party" on 10/29 featuring Jonathon Toubin, and 11/19 with Section 25 and Stereograph.

There are still a few other shows left at the old space, including TONIGHT (9/19) with performances from Dan Friel, Alexico, Netherfriends as part of a FREE show that kicks off at 8PM. The final dates for the old space go down on 9/30 and 10/1, with Regal Degal, Royal Baths, Total Slacker, Hume, and Quilt hitting on 9/30 and a tentative "MONSTER ISLAND REQUIEM AUTUMNAL UNAMPLIFIED ACOUSTIC BBQ" scheduled for the following day.

Cult of Youth will also play Saint Vitus on 10/1 with Lost Tribe, Anasazi, and Dead Reich. The show is the record release show for Lost Tribe's LP which is out now on Sean of COYouth's label Blind Prophet Records. Stream some material below.

Continue reading "Secret Project Robot has a new space, but first some more events in the old one..."

Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Monster Island (more by Leia Jospe)

Monster Island, Williamsburg's landmark center for the arts home to, Live With Animals, Secret Project Robot Art Space, Kayrock Screenprinting, Todd P. Practice Spaces, Mollusk Surf Shop, Oneida and a multitude of studios and rehearsal spaces would like to say goodbye in style.

Over the last 7 years we have always thrown an annual Block Party where we invite the entire neighborhood in to listen to live bands on the street, tour the building and host 2 giant art installations; as that this is our last block party ever (the building is slated for demolition in November), we'd like your help.

This year's block party will entail over 12 live music performances from building bands and members of bands such as Golden Triangle, Oneida, Man Forever, Soldiers of Fortune, DudknowDub, Cult of Youth, Vaz, K-Holes, Knyfe Hyts, Divine Order of the Blood Witch, TrycryTry and many more. It will host 2 art installations themed "Outer Space the Final Frontier" and "Liquid Gold." It will also host open studios, an all day BBQ, DJ's, a video installation in the basement by Robot Death Cult and live music in several practice spaces.

Monster Island aims to keep the Block Party FREE and is seeking donations via kickstarter. "It will go towards paying performers, printing T-Shirts and totes, setting up a killer PA system on the street, purchasing supplies for 2 art shows and securing the proper permits." They are more than halfway towards their goal. Monster Island's end is looming, but there's still time to go out in style.

The block party will take place September 10th, 2011 from 2pm until 10pm. Monster Island will be closed by October 1st.

Secret Project Robot said back in January that they'll be moving to a new space. That is still true according to their website.

Oneida played Secret Project Robot in June. NYC Taper just posted a live recording.

In related news, Todd P recently wrote, "My show schedule this summer is very reduced, for happy personal reasons. More than ever, I recommend you check out SHOWPAPER for show listings (big announcements coming soon from that organization!) and also follow the list of links to independent, all ages venue/organizer folks on this page."

And the Silent Barn Kickstarter is now over $31,000!

DOWNLOAD: People of the North - Tunnels (MP3)

Oneida's Ocropolis @ ATP NY 2009 (more by Ryan Muir)

Started by Kid Millions and Bobby Matador of Oneida, People of the North is an ongoing but sporadic outgrowth of that restlessly experimental Brooklyn assemblage. Since the first tour in early 2003, POTn has served as another language emanating from the screaming mouth of the O. It has always included Kid and Bobby, and usually other members of Oneida as well. The entirety of Oneida has performed together under the POTn label at venues including the Frying Pan and the Mercury Lounge.

People of the North has provided compositions that have worked their way into Oneida's most cherished repertoire, including "Up with People" (from Happy New Year) and "Lavender" (from The Wedding).

While there are no clearly defined boundaries separating POTn from Oneida, it might be fair to say that the music tends to be more staunchly devoted to minimalism, repetition, improvisation, and sternness than the wide-ranging efforts of the big brother band.

Deep Tissue was recorded at the Ocropolis in early 2009, with the participation of much of the O. The sessions were deep, and the skies were gray." [Jagjaguwar]

People of the North's Deep Tissue was released by Jagjaguwar in April. There are four songs on the album. You can download one for free above.

Catch People of the North live Friday night at Bowery Ballroom where they'll be opening for Portishead side-project BEAK>. Tickets are still on sale. It's BEAK>'s only NYC appearance, and one of only four they're playing in the U.S. Another one is Saturday at ATP upstate. The other two are in California (and they're all listed below).

Not leaving town this weekend and can't make it to ATP? Todd P and friends present another reason to not feel so bad, and Oneida (who were a big part of ATP NY in 2009), are involved in that too. Oneida will headline a 17+ band lineup (that also includes Oneida side-project Man Forever) at Monster Island on Saturday. The "Monster Island Block Party" kicks off at 2pm and is free. Full lineup and more details with all Oneida and BEAK> dates, below...

Continue reading "Monster Island Block Party Saturday, People of the North opening for Beak> Friday & other Oneida dates"

Dan Friel @ Cake Shop NYE 2008 (more by Lori Baily)

Parts & Labor have a short string of shows coming up: one in Massachusetts on December 5th, one in Connecticut on December 6th, then a free show at Brooklyn Bowl on Tuesday, December 8th with The Tony Castles. Flyer for the latter and more details below.

Before that, P&L member Dan Friel plays a solo set at Union Pool on December 3rd. Also on the bill are Knyfe Hyts 81, Dinowalrus and Electric Tickle Machine.

Another Parts & Labor affiliate, their former guitar player Sarah Lipstate (she left the band in July to focus on her solo project after being a member for only 14 months), who plays as Noveller, will perform at Bruar Falls on December 11th with Yellow Fever and Air Waves (who are also playing December 5th with Talk Normal, US Girls and Total Slackers at Secret Project Robot).

That's also another show for Austin's Yellow Fever, who are already lined up to play a December 12th show at Death By Audio with Vivian Girls. Yellow Fever's self-titled LP is available now through Wild World, a label run by Vivian Girls, and the show is a release party for that record. Happy Birthday is also on the bill. Yellow Fever also lists a TBA NYC show on December 13th.

Happy Birthday member Ruth Garbus plays a show with her sister Merrill Garbus at The Stone in December too.

As of now, it's the last scheduled Vivian Girls show for '09 before they tour the UK in January.

All tour dates and a poster for the Parts & Labor BK Bowl show are below...

Continue reading "upcoming shows for Parts & Labor, member Dan Friel & EX-MEMBER Sarah Lipstate (Noveller) - 2009 dates"

photos by Lori Baily

Mos Def / Sleigh Bells

first show at new tribeca venue "under 100," which is co-owned by greg finch of p4k tv, and is in damon dash's office basement. was a crazy night. dash's entourage rolled through in full effect, loved sleigh bells and javelin, two rappers (stally and curren$y) spit over javelin songs during an unexpected encore by popular demand. later in the evening, everyone went upstairs to watch javelin's set in dash's office and rumor was that both parties wanted to further jam. next thing you know, everyone's downstairs in the venue again and mos def et al are jamming with javelin and knyfe hyts! was a special night. - erez avissar

After the show I thought I heard that Mos Def played with Sleigh Bells (who are now also famous for M.I.A. and Spike Jonze reportedly coming to one of their shows) (though someone told me they think the M.I.A. part was a rumor started after a case of mistaken identity). I must have jumped to conclusions though because Mos Def actually only jammed with the other two bands at the Friday night show (11/20). Amazing weekend for guest appearances in NYC (the Roots and David Byrne played with Dirty Projectors at Bowery Ballroom). More pictures from Under 100 below...

Continue reading "Mos Def played w/ Sleigh Bells, Javelin & Knyfe Hyts 81 @ Under 100 in NYC - pics"

photos by Lori Baily, words by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Carsick Cars - You Can Listen You Can Talk (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Carsick Cars - Zhong Nan Hai (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: PK-14 - Behind All Ruptures (MP3)

PK-14 @ Glasslands

Arriving late [to powerHouse Arena on November 5th] I found the place packed, but I was just able to set up in time to get Xiao He's last tune. This piece was a lengthy improv involving electronic looping, acoustic guitar, and Mongolian style throat-singing - all to bewitching effect. Next up were the catchily named Carsick Cars, a young and winsome trio who played just three songs, opening with the liberating 'You Can Listen You Can Talk' and closing with - reportedly a Chinese underground anthem - Zhong Nan Hai - a silly song about a popular cigarette brand that just happens to be named after the seat of Chinese Government. The point being, as I understand it, that being punk is being beyond politics. Lastly came P.K.14, apparently elder statesmen of the movement. Sporting a tight Swedish drummer, and singing in pure mandarin, one could discern a wide mix of influences from pop to punk, to post-punk, to freak-out rock. I've picked two tunes from them - the more melodic 'Eden' and the wild closer 'Some Surprises Happen Too Soon'. [Punkcast]

Punkcast was at the "China Underground Invasion" tour's kick off show on November 5th at powerHouse Arena. It was one of the four NYC shows for the tour that've already happened. Another was the next night (11/6) at Glasslands with These are Powers and Soft Circle. Pictures from the Glasslands show are above and below.

The trio of acts return to NYC on Friday, November 20th (TONIGHT) for a gig with The Octagon at UWS club Ding Dong Lounge with The Octagon. They follow that up with a tour-ending show at Secret Project Robot (NOT Monster Island Basement as originally listed in their dates) with Knyfe Hyts 81 and Aa on Saturday (Nov. 21). Knyfe Hyts 81 also have a show booked tonight in Manhattan with Sleigh Bells and Javelin.

Their label, Maybe Mars, lists one more stop for the gang. Guitarist Zhang Shouwang (from Carsick Cars) and Xiao He are slated to appear at the closing Performa 09 event, Scratch the Grand Finale at (Le) Poisson Rouge on November 22nd. But that isn't quite a conventional show - the fest writes that "invited artists will be asked to present a five to ten minute work responding to the following subtitles: Dining on Radio Waves; Lust is a Force; Between Noise & Silence; Songs for Architects; and Motion & Magic. The stage will be set with a arrangement of musical and Futurist inspired instrumentation and means from record decks, green light to perfume and the bassoon." Tickets are on sale.

Speaking of unconventional gigs, These Are Powers' next performance will be November 21st at Galapagos for a free edition (RSVP) of Cinema 16 (silent film+live band). For their set, the group will be scoring a pair of PSAs and one educational video from the '60s and '70s. Included in those will be "One Got Fat: Bicycle Safety" from 1963, summarized as such: "A group of children, wearing ape masks, the dangers of biking the hard way in this strange and dark PSA."

More pictures from the Glasslands show, videos via Punkcast from the powerHouse Arena gig, and more details on the upcoming shows are below...

Continue reading "Carsick Cars, PK-14, Xiao He played powerhouse Arena (videos) & Glasslands (pics), playing more shows this week"

words & photos by Erez Avissar

MNDR (aka Amanda Warner) opened the Brooklyn show at Monster Island on Wednesday night (11/18). Shouting, singing and rapping over techno-centric beats, she showed respect to tour-mate Juiceboxxx as well as a strong influence by him. She fared better than her mentor though, who played a super-brief, possibly truncated, set of less than 20 minutes. Opening with his most well-known tune/statement of intent, "Thunder Jam #5", Juiceboxxx positioned himself in sort of a "me against the crowd/world" way, alienating himself from the audience. It was unfortunate, because a basement show like this one could have been the ideal place to see him.

Even without their signature boomboxes, Javelin brought much-needed positive energy to the room with highlights like expanded versions of "Mossy Woodland" and "Vibrationz", as well as their skewed "Into The Groove" interpretation and some worldly tropical beats that turned the place into a dance party. The energy stayed with the crowd, who were more than happy to stick around after and dance to pop hits, ranging from Olivia Newton-John to Jay-Z, courtesy of Todd P's iPod.

Javelin live is not to be slept on. Catch them Friday (TONIGHT) with Sleigh Bells (who played Le Poisson Rouge last night) at a new DIY all ages venue in Manhattan called "Under 100." Get there early - Javelin goes on first (9pm). More details about that show and pictures below...

Continue reading "Javelin played Monster Island w/ Juiceboxxx (pics), plays new venue Under 100 TONIGHT w/ Sleigh Bells & Knyfe Hyts"

Saturday September 5th @ MONSTER ISLAND | MONSTER ISLAND BLOCK PARTY 2009

| Golden Triangle
|| K-Holes
||| Knyfe Hyts 81
|||| Cult of Youth
||||| Oneida Jah Division Ensemble
|||||| Georgiana Starlington
||||||| X-Ray Eye Balls
|||||||| DubbKnowDubb
||||||||| Trilateral Commission
|||||||||| Buckets of Blood
||||||||||| Bezoar
|||||||||||| Psychothriller

|| dj Hairwaves
|| 2 ART OPENINGS OUTDOOR INSTALLATIONS ALL DAY BBQ

Oneida is playing the block party as/with Onieda Jah Division Ensemble. Jah Division is a dub/reggae Joy Division cover band that has released an EP on Social Registry, who even when not in "Ensemble" format, share drummer Kid Millions with Oneida. Next weekend, Oneida visit ATP NY, where their Oneida present The Ocropolis is set to run all day Sunday.

Another of the mysterious bands on the bill is Knyfe Hyts 81. The band tweeted that "KNYFE HYTS 81: ZARG and SHHA (Knyfe Hyts, Ex Models) + LUUUK BRODY (Yeasayer, Ex Models)....Think Blade Runner!".

UPDATE: The final lineup for this is in the comments...

More info on Monster Island, and live clips of Oneida playing Dublin this August, are posted below...

Continue reading "Monster Island Block Party this Saturday in Brooklyn"

Sam Hillmer (left) playing with Zs @ the Yard (more by Sarahana)

You Are Here (The Maze) is a performance festival in a sculptural maze taking place at Williamsburg's Death By Audio from September 10 - October 2, 2009. Emphasizing the sprawling and interconnected nature of New York's underground, a trip through the maze offers a peak inside NYC's diy art/music scene. A meditation on passage and desire, You Are Here engulfs the space and presents beckoning inhabitants, dead ends, and uplifting epitaphs. Medium and genre vary and overlapping and simultaneous performances are frequent, each performer establishing a different corner or dead end as his or hers.

The lineup and installation is being put together by TROUBLE (Sam Hillmer & Laura Paris). Acts in the three-week schedule include Calvin Johnson, Screaming Females, Mick Barr, Ty Segal, Grooms, Extra Life and others.

Skeletons kick off the first night of the festival on September 10th as the Skeletons Big Band, a 12-piece band (expanded from their usual four) that's also playing September 7-9th at Roulette. There they'll be performing "New Works for a Larger Ensemble" which includes "excerpts and new arrangements from their record in progress "PEOPLE," a long form piece based around conversations in Greyhound busses and stations, and beyond..."

The full schedule for the Maze (and the lineup for Skeletons Big Band) is below...

Continue reading "Death By Audio's The Maze - schedule (includes 1 of 4 upcoming Skeletons Big Band shows & much more) "

On Saturday, July 25th, there'll be a 12-hour benefit at Death By Audio for You Are Here: A Maze, a "performance festival in a sculptural maze" to happen at the venue from September 10th - October 2nd. Both the event and the project are being put on by Trouble (Zs' Sam Hillmer and artist Laura Paris).

The lineup includes performances by Ninjasonik, Aa, Dead Science's Sam Mickens, Charlie Looker of Extra Life, and Hillmer himself (with Regattas). A DJ set by Dirty Projector Dave Longstreth is also on the schedule (for some actual singing by Longstreth, that takes place at the Williamsburg Waterfront this Sunday).

A full schedule of performers, with some info on the You Are Here project, is below...

Continue reading "12-hour art project benefit at DBA (DJ Longstreth, Aa, members of Zs, Extra Life, Dead Science, more)"

Sunday June 14th @ FORT TILDEN BEACH
:: FREE ALL AGES UNAMPLIFIED ACOUSTIC BBQ 2009
:: each year we throw an informal, quiet party in a beautiful public place, w/
:: many diverse musicians playing two or three songs w/ no amplification
:: this year, it's on Fort Tilden Beach in the Rockways! best beach in NYC! [Todd P]

Schedule (subject to change) below...

Continue reading "Todd P's UNAMPLIFIED ACOUSTIC BBQ 2009 (at Fort Tilden)"

Knyfe Hyts @ MHOW (more by Gabi Porter)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Les Paul @ Iridium
* Ours, Uniform @ Maxwell's
* Knyfe Hyts @ Monster Island Basement
* Mecca Normal, The Five Cents, Franklin Bruno @ Cake Shop
* The Bronx, Trash Talk, The Photo Atlas @ Bowery Ballroom
* Lily Allen, Natalie Portman's Shaved Head @ Roseland Ballroom
* Brookville, Tinted Windows, Mike Viola, April Smith @ Mercury Lounge
* Bloody Panda, Immanent Voiceless, Tropic of Nelson, Liturgy @ Public Assembly
* Screaming Females, Stupid Party, Shellshag, JEFF The Brotherhood @ Death By Audio

Knyfe Hyts record release show info below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday? (420)"

photos by Lori Baily, words by Andrew Frisicano

Flower Travellin' Band, the Japanese psychedelic rock band with nearly 40 years of history, played its first-ever US show Friday (3/13) at Knitting Factory (with Knyfe Hyts opening).

"Friday night I had the pleasure of heading over to The Knitting Factory (or what's left of it) and seeing Japan's Flower Travellin' Band play their very first US show. The killer opening set by Knyfe Hyts (Oneida, Ex-Models) lent the room a sort of dark, trippy tension that I rarely see anymore outside of metal shows. By the time FTB took the stage, I was ready to have my mind blown.

You see, FTB has been playing since the late '60's, and though they were set to open for The Rolling Stones during their 1973 tour, visa issues prevented them from entering the United Sates until now. Their particular brand of psychedelic rock is delightfully heavy and strange, emphasized by the fact that they have abandoned the electric guitar in favor of the hugely complex, wide-necked sitarla. Vocalist Akira "Joe" Yamanaka's voice is jarring and alien, but somehow suits the band's style quite well. I don't often think of this sound as having thrived across the world in Japan, but FTB's extensive discography says otherwise." [JDub Records blog]

The band's second-ever US show was Saturday (3/14) at the Studio @ Webster Hall - tonight Flower Travellin' Band plays Washington, DC, before heading to SXSW for a March 19th Knitting Factory showcase at Smokin' Music.

More pics from the Knitting Factory show below...

Continue reading "Flower Travellin' Band & Knyfe Hyts @ Knitting Factory - pics "

"In early 1973, they were billed to open for the Rolling Stones, but Mick Jagger's visa was rejected from a previous drug conviction and all concerts were cancelled. Later that year the band broke up, with Yamanaka going on to release various solo albums." [Wikipedia]

The time is finally here, and it looks like it's actually going to happen. the Flower Travellin' Band will play their first-ever US show at the closed-but-temporarily-reopened Knitting Factory in NYC tonight (3/13). Knyfe Hyts open and tickets are still on sale, and it gets better... The Japanese band have added a 2nd NYC show. They are also playing the smaller Studio at Webster Hall in NYC on Saturday (3/14) with Endless Boogie! Tickets for that one are also on sale. From there they head to Philly, Washington DC, and then Austin for SXSW. The tour poster and all dates below...

Continue reading "Flower Travellin' Band - TWO NYC shows & other tour dates "

photos by Gabi Porter

"A deer hunter from the Twin Cities got lost Sunday in the Beltrami State Forest in Roseau County, but was quickly found, according to the Roseau County Sheriff's Office.

The man, from New Brighton, Minn., a Twin Cities suburb, called 911 about 12:44 p.m. Sunday saying he had been lost for about two hours." [Grand Forks Herald, North Dakota]

True story.

The Deerhunter & Times New Viking tour hit Brooklyn on Friday night (11/7). We had a real review planned, but the dog ate it, so how was the show??? Gabi said Deerhunter just keeps getting better and better. Lori approved equally of the show at Bowery Ballroom the next day. More Brooklyn pictures, opener Knyfe Hyts included, below...

Continue reading "Deerhunter, Times New Viking & Knyfe Hyts @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY - pics"

Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn, now with full liquor license, hosts New York Night Train's Terror Fest and BBQ this Saturday, September 20th....

Continue reading "Glasslands gets full liquor license, Terror Fest on Saturday"

Deerhunter @ McCarren Pool (more by Leia Jospe)

Continue reading "Deerhunter & Times New Viking - 2008 Tour Dates"

photos by Chris La Putt

Friday July 18th -8PM- @ DEATH BY AUDIO

|| THE PSYCHOTHRILLER CHAMPAGNE PARTY

|| NINJASONIK
|||| KNYFE HYTS
|||||| RED DAWN 2
|||||||| PSYCHOTHRILLER
||||||||||| RAY CONTOUR

FREE champagne & High Life served all night!!!!!!!!

[ DEATH BY AUDIO ]

Knyfe Hyts and Ninjasonik also shared a bill Saturday @ The Yard. I already posted the Knyfe Hyts pics. The rest of the Ninjasonik ones, below....

Continue reading "Ninjasonik - pics from The Yard, a show @ DBA tonight"

photos by Chris LaPutt

Chairlift called out sick, so Soiled Mattress and the Springs played the first set of the day at the Yard on Saturday. It also happened to be their last show ever. They ended their set by putting the band's banner inside a flaming trashcan and setting fireworks inside it and giving out free t-shirts to the crowd. Despite wind that was causing the main stage awning to fall off and some technical difficulties, Soft Circle played a decent set. Ninja Sonik was supposed to play next, but was running late so Knyfe Hyts went on instead. More pictures below...

Continue reading "Knyfe Hyts, Soft Circle & Soiled Mattress and the Springs @ The Yard, Brooklyn, NY - pics"

This has turned into THIS.........

Continue reading "Mid Summer Outdoor Party @ The Yard - July 12, looks nuts"

Knyfe Hyts @ Cake Shop, NYC - Feb 14, 2008 (Tod Seelie)

* Dove Tick
* TVOTR BAM
* a new REM video
* NY Dolls play the Stone Pony
* Spanish Prisoners play The Annex
* Pissed Jeans is playing Silent Barn
* Ludacris plays Fairfield University, CT
* Sam Champion, The XYZ Affair, Drug Rug, Salt & Samovar
* Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings & Budos Band play the Beacon
* The Forms and Pattern is Movement & Gothamist @ Union Hall

What else?