Peelander-Z @ Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 (more by BBG)

today in NYC
* The Raincoats @ MoMA
* Improv night @ The Stone
* Overkill @ Starland Ballroom (NJ)
* Furthur @ Madison Square Garden
* Glenn Branca @ Le Poisson Rouge
* The O'Jays @ Brooklyn Academy of Music
* The Frames, Jake Clemons @ Terminal 5
* Sam Amidon @ The Kitchen (early and late)
* Tensnake, Villa (FIXED) @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Kate Nash, Peggy Sue @ The Wellmont Theatre
* Andrew WK @ the Crazy Donkey (in Farmingdale)
* La Strada, Hospitality, Birdlips @ The Rock Shop
* Bio Ritmo, Spanglish Fly, DJ Bongohead @ Zebulon
* Kittens Ablaze, Team B, Baby Alpaca @ Glasslands
* Tiny Lights, Starring, Dick Heaven, Bfok @ Cake Shop
* Incantation, Mortician, Furnerus, Fatalist @ Europa
* Hollis Brown, Grandfather, The Hot Press @ Union Pool
* Amazing Baby, Acrylics, Teen, Psychic @ Cameo Gallery
* Maceo Parker, Karl Densons Tiny Universe @ Irving Plaza
* Wham City Comedy Tour @ The Showpaper 42nd Street Gallery
* Peelander-Z, Starscream, TsuShiMaMiRe @ Santos Party House
* Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Super Hi-Fi @ Mercury Lounge
* Earl Greyhound, Cavalier Rose, Knights on Earth @ Bowery Ballroom
* Brown Wing Overdrive, Freida & Holzkopf, Eidetic Seeing @ Silent Barn
* Black Dice, Blues Control, McDonalds, Avey Tare (DJ set) @ The Schoolhouse
* The Naked and Famous, Savoir Adore, Yes Giantess (DJ set) @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Bit Shifter, La Belle Indifference, Albino Ghost Monkey (Pulsewave) @ The Tank
* Roadside Graves, Motel Motel, Dinosaur Feathers, Ivana XL, Teletextile @ Pianos
* Sanctuaries, Sports, Life Size Maps, Zoos of Berlin, Paul & the Patients @ Spike Hill
* Tyvek, Terrible Twos, Timmys Organism, The Mahonies, DJ Mick Collins @ Brooklyn Fire Proof
* Lee Fields & The Expressions, Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Bill Frisell's Disfarmer Project Featuring Viktor Krauss, Greg Leisz & Jenny Scheinman @ the Concert Hall
* Bardo Pond, Pontiak, Crazy Dreams Band, Tom Carter/Mark Orleans Duo, Bad Dream, Silver Summit @ The Bell House

Tonight is La Strada's final show. A selection of La Strada videos below.

Ani DiFranco's show at Town Hall is cancelled

Tiny Lights, Dave Dreiwitz of Ween included, reunite tonight for a performance at Cake Shop.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

La Strada @ Spider House - BV-SXSW 2010 (more by Andrew Frisicano)

"After three years of recording and touring, NYC orchestral pop favorites, La Strada, known for their raucous shows and stunning instrumental arrangements announced that they will be parting ways as of December, 2010. James Craft announced to the band that he needs to move on to different goals and priorities that would exclude involvement in La Strada, and the rest of the band met Craft's announcement with supportive acceptance.

Founder and lead singer James Craft said: "I've loved being in La Strada, but for now I need extended time away from the scene and want to work on something new." Devon Press, multi-instrumentalist and co-writer agreed saying, "this is probably one of the most amicable breakups in history and we all still love each other very much and will probably continue to work together in some capacity." The newest member to join the La Strada ranks, cellist Isaiah Gage said, "I'm so thankful that I got to not only play such great music in the short time I was in the band, but more importantly meet such great friends."

La Strada still has plenty of activity planned between now and the official split on December 1st, with plans to record their new songs for release, play 3 shows during CMJ and throw a late November farewell show/party to be announced soon.

The band has a message for friends and fans of La Strada:

"From the very bottom of our hearts and souls we want to thank every one of you that came to see us play and supported us these last few years. We all feel extremely blessed to have such wonderful fans; we'll never forget you!""

Those CMJ shows of course already happened. Stay tuned for more.

UPDATE: La Strada's final show will take place at the Rock Shop on 11/20.

Caribou @ Bowery in May (more by Ben Lozovsky)

Murder City Devils @ Sasquatch 2009 (more by Chris Graham)

today in NYC
Aloe Blacc @ Southpaw
Clem Snide @ City Winery
Pocketknife @ Cameo Gallery
O'Death @ Petes Candy Store
Murder City Devils @ Maxwell's
Mates of State @ Bowery Ballroom
NY Philharmonic @ Prospect Park
Lights Out, Kordan @ Cake Shop
George Clinton @ Starland Ballroom (NJ)
Love as Laughter, Shithorse @ Mercury Lounge
Elysian Fields @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn
Nels Cline & Jenny Scheinman @ Village Vanguard
Weezer, Rival Schools @ Williamsburg Waterfront
Blind Boys of Alabama & guests @ Lincoln Center
Modern English, The Tony Castles @ (le) Poisson Rouge
Attack Release, La Strada, Frances, Teletextile @ Mercury Lounge
Thee Oh Sees, Golden Triangle, So Cow @ South Street Seaport
Caboladies, Radio People, Julian Lynch, Alice Cohen @ Silent Barn
Man Forever, Knight School, WYLDLIFE, FF @ Monster Island Basement
Caribou, Phantogram, The Chain Gang of 1974 @ Governors Island (The Beach)
Blissed Out, The So So Glos (DJ Set), Teengirl Fantasy (DJ) @ Shea Stadium
Pattern Is Movement, Glass Ghost @ THE BOAT: The Star of Palm Beach (Late Show)
Pattern Is Movement, Glass Ghost @ THE BOAT: The Star of Palm Beach (Early Show)
Caribou (DJ Set), Class Actress, Teengirl Fantasy, Diamond Rings, Idiot Glee @ Glasslands

Read more about Idiot Glee.

Free show on Governors Island tonight. Make sure you know where to get the ferry.

Saturday is the African Festival in Prospect Park.

Saturday is the Siren Festival in Coney Island.

Saturday is the first of six free shows Jelly is throwing at the "Rock Yard".

Sunday is the next Pool Party.

Camp Bisco is happening in upstate NY.

Pitchfork Festival is happening in Chicago.

La Strada play Mercury Lounge tonight. Their video for "Wash on By" below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

Best Coast @ Knitting Factory in April (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Greetings from Toronto. NXNE, the Toronto music/film/interactive fest is happening this week. It kicked off its music programming last night, Wednesday, June 16th, and runs through Sunday with shows at 50+ venues (here's a map of the spots). The festival also coincides with the now-affliated Broken Social Scene-helmed Toronto Island concert that features Pavement, Band of Horses, Beach House and others on Saturday, June 19th.

There weren't many Wednesday night shows. The official kick off party was just Eagles of Death Metal (sadly, without their normal bass player) at The Phoenix. And there was a gig or two with Canada's Hollerado (who have at least six shows at the fest lined up). One of them was up in the CN Tower.Still Life Still played the Mod Club with Denmark's The Blue Van.

One of the main hubs will be the free-to-anyone outdoor stage at Yonge-Dundas Square with headliners Thursday night X and Mudhoney, Friday night Sloan and k-os, Saturday night Iggy and the Stooges preceded by The Raveonettes, Wavves, Surfer Blood and others, and Sunday's De La Soul, Kid Sister, Phenomenal Handclap Band and NOLA rapper Big Freedia.

continued below...

Continue reading "NXNE is underway in Toronto -- a quick guide to the music "

Ellen Allien

tonight in NYC
* Bon Jovi @ the Meadowlands
* Beach Fossils @ Co-Op 87 (4pm)
* La Strada, Hawk and Dove @ The Bell House
* Fixed w/ Ellen Allien @ Santos Party House
* Fang Island, Univox, Ziam Dunk @ Cake Shop
* Rooftop Festival @ 75 Stewart Ave, Brooklyn
* Boy Crisis, Free Energy (DJ) @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Rooftop Films w/ The Pendulum Swings @ Open Road Rooftop
* Midnight Magic, Chico Mann, Nomi Ruiz (DJ) @ Brooklyn Bowl
* The Notekillers, Nancy Garcia, Sawyer/Yeh Combo @ Union Pool
* Chrome Cranks, Thalia Zedek, Clockwork Mercury @ Knitting Factory
* Free Energy, Jukebox The Ghost, Miniature Tigers @ Bowery Ballroom
* Shapes, Slothrust, Bad Teeth, Nat Brower, Mother Courage @ Shea Stadium
* Shearing Pinx, Nu Sensae, Queening, PC Worship, Needle Gun @ Death By Audio
* Dead Phones, Liquor Store, The Dirty Shames, Your 33 Black Angels @ Don Pedro
* Ill Ease, Teeepee, Discipline For Youth, The Dreams, Fire Season @ Bruar Falls
* Psychic Steel, Alex Barnett, Italics, Thought Broadcast, Green Wurm @ Silent Barn
* East River String Band, The Lonely Samoans, Alana Amram & The Rough Gems @ Zebulon
* Breaking Laces, Readymade Breakup, Terminal Reynaldo, Quincy Mumford Band @ Maxwell's
* Ghost Ghost, The Vanguard, Heypenny, True Womanhood, The Sour Notes @ Studio at Webster Hall
* Cheeseburger, Nick Diamonds & The Skylighters, Hard Nips, DJ Kristine Barilli @ The Bell House
* Memory Burn Psych Fest w/ Sunburned Hand of the Man, Psychic Ills, Golden Triangle, Hopewell, White Hills, The Black Hollies, Future Hunter, Weird Owl, Revival Times @ Glasslands

Dan Deacon is NOT playing Cake Shop tonight. His show got moved to two nights ago. Fang Island still play tonight though.

The Bushwick Rooftop Festival starts this afternoon.

Beach Fossils are playing a last minute free record release show.

The Boy Crisis show at Brooklyn Bowl is the afterparty for the Free Energy show at Bowery Ballroom.

BKLYN Yard is open.

Needle Gun, who play Death By Audio tonight, contains members of Teeth Mountain and Matmos. Matmos's tour with So Percussion comes to (Le) Poisson Rouge on Wednesday, June 9th.

David Johansen of the NY Dolls (Buster Pointdexter) plays at The Brighton Bar in Long Brang, NJ tonight. NY Dolls played Warsaw last weekend. David plays Highline Ballroom June 27th.

La Strada plays a show at the Bell House tonight before the Vice event.

The Vice event (prom) will feature sets by Cheeseburger, Nick Diamond & the Skylights and others. Nick will reportedly drive up in a delorean like it's Back to the Future.

You can also catch Nick at LPR on June 15th and then at MHOW on June 27.

The June 27th show is a Northside Fest show. The June 26th Northside Fest show at the same venue is the BV showcase.

A couple of videos from last night's Besnard Lakes show at Bowery Ballroom, below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: La Strada - Wash On By (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: La Strada - My New Home (MP3)

La Strada boldly started off a long day of music on March 18th at the Brooklyn Vegan / Anso day show at the Spider House in Austin. I say bold because most showgoers were still rolling out of bed (or lost in a cab like our photographer Tim), and the blinding noon sun was a harsh start to the day. Not so with the sound of La Strada. In the daylight, the band's sunnier parts came though strong. In truth, there are also some clouds in their orchestral pop - minor keys pitted against bouncy rhythms and filled out by violin, cello, accordion and additional percussion. Of the two songs posted above off their new album, New Home, "Wash On By" falls firmly in the latter category, with an undeniably upbeat pulse. "My New Home" works both angles to an anthemic, emotional climax.

La Strada's new record, produced by Kyle "Slick" Johnson (who's credits include Cymbals Eat Guitars' debut, and work with Modest Mouse and Fischerspooner), is out this week on Ernest Jennings Record Co. Two tracks are above, and you can stream it in full here.

Last night they kicked off an East Coast US & Canada tour. For NYC, there's a record release show coming up on April 30th at Knitting Factory with labelmates Cuff The Duke (who also have a new CD out), Yukon Blonde and Beat Circus. Tickets are on sale.

A video of La Strada playing an acoustic set at SXSW (after the power went out at one of their shows), more pictures from our Spider House show, album info and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "La Strada - new album out (free MP3s & full stream), on tour now - 2010 dates w/ a NYC show @ Knitting Factory"

yes we've lost our minds...

BrooklynVegan & AnSo Present:
A Day Party in Austin, TX!
@ Spider House (2908 Fruth St @ Guadalupe)
Thursday March 18, 2010
Noon-7pm

ALL AGES-FREE [No badges, wristbands or RSVP necessary]
19 bands on 3 stages (1 indoor and 2 outdoor)
Full bar w/ Drink Specials. In house restaurant & backyard BBQ.

Stage #1
6:00 Human Eye
5:00 Tyvek
4:00 Thee Oh Sees
3:00 Golden Triangle
2:00 Lovvers
1:00 The Beets

Stage #2
6:00 Cheeseburger
5:00 Jim Jones Revue
4:00 Slim Cessna's Auto Club
3:00 Kid Congo Powers
2:00 Carletta Sue Kay
1:00 Or, The Whale
12:00 La Strada

Stage #3
5:30 UUVVWWZ
4:30 Everybody Was In the French Resistance Now (w/ Eddie Argos of Art Brut)
3:30 DM Stith
2:30 Odawas
1:30 A Sunny Day in Glasgow
12:30 The Sandwitches

Thank you to Annie Southworth of Panache Booking aka AnSo for partnering with us on this amazing party. More info on the bands and stuff as we find time. In the meantime, happy to get this (yet another BrooklynVegan party at SXSW this year) announced!

P.S. Odawas is also on the bill of the free BrooklynVegan Happy Hour show happening at Noise Pop in San Francisco this Saturday (2/27)

UPDATE: SXSW flyer below...

Continue reading "BrooklynVegan & AnSo Present a kick-ass & free Austin 2010 Thursday Day Party (with a zillion bands)"

by Andrew Frisicano

If you can imagine it, Norwegian singer Hanne Hukkelberg used to carry vocals for doom metal band Funeral before settling into her own atmospheric folk. She's in NYC this weekend - her first show is at the Bell House on Friday, February 12th with The Watson Twins (who are at the Living Room tonight, 2/11 - for WFUV members only) and La Strada. Tickets are still on sale.

She headlines Saturday, February 13th at Mercury Lounge with Ravens & Chimes Tickets are on sale.

Hanne Hukkelberg is one of the many Nordic artists participating in By:larm, a regional showcase/festival in Oslo, Norway on February 18th-20th (a fest we'll be attending... more on that later). The full list of artists participating in that is below.

Her album Blood From a Stone came out last year on Nettwerk. Videos from that and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Hanne Hukkelberg playing NYC shows & by:Larm (full lineup)"

photos by Chris La Putt

DOWNLOAD: Bowerbirds - In Our Talons (MP3)

Bowerbirds @ Mercury Lounge

Bowerbirds, La Strada, Lost in the Trees and Bell played the Mercury Lounge on Monday, April 27th (one night before Bell and Bowerbirds played Monkey Town).

Not to get all TMZ, but according to Indy Week Blogs (who got all TMZ)...

Throughout the evening, a trickle of excited correspondence from members of both bands announced that a special guest had come to watch Bowerbirds' set [at Mercury Lounge]: Neutral Milk Hotel leader/ de facto hermit/ "Salinger of indie rock" Jeff Mangum. There's, of course, little to report about the appearance besides just that--no collaborations, no serious hangouts. Mangum just watched and, between songs, held his beer between his teeth to clap. Maybe he'll come down to Chapel Hill later this year?

...which brings us to the carousel. Julian Koster and Jeff Mangum ("on behalf of Neutral Milk Hotel") are working to save the Paragon Carousel in Hull, MA. You can help. Details below.

Bowerbirds' second disc, Upper Air, comes out July 7th on Dead Oceans who said:

"Everyone struggles when they try to describe this music, including us, but we'll try: it has the spirit of Richard and Linda Thompson, the currency of Devendra Banhart, the addictively sweet melodicism of Iron & Wine, but it churns with an underlying energy closer to a Beirut or something farther out, more raw, more wild."

Bowerbirds are currently on tour with La Strada. The Neutral Milk Hotel note, more pictures from Mercury Lounge (including one of the setlist), and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Bowerbirds played Mercury Lounge (pics) w/ La Strada (more dates) for Jeff Mangum (who wants to save a carousel)"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Twi the Humble Feather - finale (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Twi the Humble Feather - before the morning lights (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Twi the Humble Feather - for the sorcerer forest (MP3)

Twi

there is legend and rumor of a new interstellar adventurer, by the name of twi, who came to be by the will of an ancient sorcerer forest existing unknown in a nameless galaxy. those aware of this rumor say twi seeks the wisdom of vast green worlds, as well as the sating secrets of sound. inspired by the adventures of this new mythical character, the trio 'twi the humble feather' compose guitar and vocal based music depicting environments recently visited by twi; such as magical castles and forests, and various realms of the uncharted cosmos.

Saturday, Sept 6 at Sound Fix Records in Brooklyn, 8pm:

The Burg for Barack - a grassroots fundraising event featuring La Strada, Twi the Humble Feather, and Amber Rubarth. Plus a cupcakes-and-brownies-galore bake sale, and a silent auction including fine apparel, jewelry, yoga classes and spa packages, and more from stylish neighborhood boutiques and stores. 100% of the proceeds go to the Obama campaign. $5 suggested donation at the door.

Brooklyn acoustic guitar-and-voice trio Twi the Humble Feather is coming off a series of opening gigs for Jose Gonzalez earlier this summer and the release of their sci-fi/fantasy concept album "Music for Spaceships & Forests" in June (out on non-label Friendly Ghost Recordings). The FGR site reports that the band is in the process of prepping a new piece for live performance called "Twi Presents the Antek Songs," as well as its second album. Other upcoming shows include opening for Japanese popster Shugo Tokumaru at Mercury Lounge (tix still on sale), a show at Williamsburg DIY gallery/space Paris London West Nile, and a free Wordless Music Series gig at (le) poisson rouge.

Speaking of Obama benefits and (le) poisson rouge, the West Village venue ia hosting a fundraiser of its own on September 10th. Living Colour, The Family Stand, Earl Greyhound, Danielia Cotton, and Viva Mayday are on that bill.

These aren't the first Obama events of the year, and they certainly won't be the last. Another, The Audacity of Jokes II, takes place Monday September 15th at Comix. It will feature Fresh Prince creator Andy Borowitz, SNL's Fred Armisen, comedian and Barack impersonator Kyle Grooms, Last Comic Standing alum Amy Schumer, and Weird Al surrogate Jonathan Coulton. Tix $45 ($100 VIP).

See a video of the Twi guys at Goodbye Blue Monday HERE, and Kyle Grooms's Barack above the tour dates below....

Continue reading "Twi the Humble Feather tour dates & other Obama benefits"

from their own mouths....

At the Music Hall of Williamsburg, doors at 7:30, the first band at 8:30. Basically, we figured we could keep reminding you, all year, about all the various opportunities to catch up with our NYC Bands You Need to Hear... or we could just a bunch of them onstage together and give you a shot. The latter seemed easier. So:

continued below...

Continue reading "L Magazine is having a party tonight in Brooklyn"