photos by Chris La Putt

Eleanor Friedberger / David Johansen

What Kind of Love Is This:
The Music of BOB DYLAN & THE BAND
w/ Steven Bernstein (Sex Mob, Levon Helm Band), John Medeski (Medeski, Martin and Wood), Rob Burger (Laurie Anderson, Marianne Faithful, Iron & Wine), Tony Scherr (Bill Frisell, Norah Jones, Sex Mob), Kenny Wollesen (Norah Jones, John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Sex Mob), and special guests Jolie Holland, Laura Cantrell, Nicole Atkins, John Wesley Harding, and Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger of The Fiery Furnaces. And special Guest Vocalists Chocolate Genius, and David Johansen (New York Dolls).

That's how Sunday night's Bob Dylan tribute show at Le Poisson Rouge was listed. The full setlist with performers listed, more pictures from the event, and two videos, below...

Continue reading "Bob Dylan was celebrated @ Le Poisson Rouge (pics, video & setlist) -- David Johansen, Fiery Furnaces & many more"

Bob Dylan by Greil Marcus: Writings 1968-2010 was recently released, just in time for the holidays...

"The book begins in Berkeley in 1968, and ends with a piece on Dylan's show at the University of Minnesota--his very first appearance at his alma mater--on election night 2008. In between are moments of euphoric discovery: From Marcus's liner notes for the 1967 Basement Tapes (pop music's most famous bootlegged archives) to his exploration of Dylan's reimagining of the American experience in the 1997 Time Out of Mind. And rejection; Marcus's Rolling Stone piece on Dylan's album Self Portrait--often called the most famous record review ever written--began with "What is this shit?" and led to his departure from the magazine for five years. Marcus follows not only recordings but performances, books, movies, and all manner of highways and byways in which Bob Dylan has made himself felt in our culture.

Together the dozens of pieces collected here comprise a portrait of how, throughout his career, Bob Dylan has drawn upon and reinvented the landscape of traditional American song, its myths and choruses, heroes and villains. They are the result of a more than forty-year engagement between an unparalleled singer and a uniquely acute listener."

You can buy it at Amazon, or maybe pick up a copy at the Strand tonight, 12/1, where Greil will be speaking in conversation with Stephen Hazan Arnoff, Director of the 14th Street Y, "and special guests Matt and Eleanor Friedberger of the Fiery Furnaces, who will perform a few songs."

Eleanor & Matt Friedberger will also be on hand at the 14th St Y and Le Poisson Rouge on Sunday, December 5th, for a day of Dylan events. The concert at LPR is this:

What Kind of Love Is This:
The Music of BOB DYLAN & THE BAND
w/ Steven Bernstein (Sex Mob, Levon Helm Band), John Medeski (Medeski, Martin and Wood), Rob Burger (Laurie Anderson, Marianne Faithful, Iron & Wine), Tony Scherr (Bill Frisell, Norah Jones, Sex Mob), Kenny Wollesen (Norah Jones, John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Sex Mob), and special guests Jolie Holland, Laura Cantrell, Nicole Atkins, John Wesley Harding, and Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger of The Fiery Furnaces. And special Guest Vocalists Chocolate Genius, and David Johansen (New York Dolls).

$35 tickets are still on sale for that part, and $75 tickets which I guess get you into everything at both spaces, are on sale too. If you just want in the symposium happening at the Y, that's $45, described as "a one-of-a-kind exploration of Bob Dylan and the Band's work, featuring scholars, critics, writers, and artists"

Greil Marcus: Author of the definitive book on Bob Dylan and The Band, Invisible Republic: Bob Dylan's Basement Tapes.

Christopher Ricks: Renowned critic and scholar of English literature and poetry, and author of Dylan's Visions of Sin.

John Niven: Novelist whose book Music from Big Pink vividly imagines the world of Bob Dylan and The Band.

Dana Spiotta: Author of mesmerizing portraits of the 60's underground, including Eat the Document.

Matt Friedberger: Co-founder of the visionary rock band The Fiery Furnaces.

D.A. Pennebaker: Pioneering film documentarian, whose credits include Don't Look Back, the first film on Bob Dylan.

Stephen Hazan Arnoff: Executive Director of the 14th Street Y writes and teaches widely on music, art and religion.

Wesley Stace (John Wesley Harding): Singer-songwriter and award winning author of Misfortune.

William G. Scheele: Museum curator and former Equipment/Stage Manager for Bob Dylan and The Band.

Bob Dylan himself, who recently played three nights in a row at NYC's Terminal 5, is not listed anywhere. Maybe he'll come watch. More info on the whole thing at 14th St. Y's site.

John Wesley Harding also has a show coming up at City Winery.

photos by Chris La Putt

Laura Cantrell will be performing on Monday (11/16) at BLVD for the Appalachian Community Fund's 5th Annual Benefit. Tickets are pricey and still on sale. On Saturday night (11/14), Laura played a cheaper NYC show at 92YTribeca. Amy Allison, singer and frequent Laura Cantrell collaborator, opened the show.

Laura's digital-only new album, Trains and Boats and Planes, is out now. More pictures and a video from 92Y below...

Continue reading "Laura Cantrell played 92YTribeca -pics, playing benefit today"

Ladyhawke @ Perez Hilton's 2009 SXSW party Saturday night (SchnappyStar)

"New Zealand Eighties revivalist Ladyhawke ran through an extremely polished set of tightly arranged synth-rock. Opener "Dusk Till Dawn" shimmered with Scissor Sisters boogie, "Magic" throbbed with the power of propulsive but eerie disco and "Another Runaway" recalled both Donna Summer and Pat Benatar with its anthemic yet glittery vibe. Singer Pip Brown stood anchored center-stage strumming her guitar while warm washes of keyboards saturated the night sky and her tight band pulsed along. Picking out the '80s tunes the group was referencing was a popular exercise (the theme from "Fame"! The opening of Van Halen's "Jump"!). Wrapping with a three-song whammy of "Back in the Van," "Paris Is Burning" and the big, bold single "My Delirium," Ladyhawke definitely brought the party, though the tunes could have used a bit more build-up-and-break-down dynamics. "My Delirium" got a few hands in the air -- and what looked like a flying saucer in the sky -- as Ladyhawke made a fairly strong case for herself as the indie rock Lady Gaga. The sound may be familiar, but it sure is fun." [Rolling Stone @ SXSW]

Ladyhawke's US trip continues with two shows in NYC this week. Tonight (3/24) at Bowery Ballroom is sold out, but tickets are still available for the Thursday show at Studio B.

Also here from overseas and SXSW, Camera Obscura kick off their two-night, both-sold-out, NYC run at The Bell House tonight (3/24).

"You really had to feel for Camera Obscura. The Scottish indie pop sextet's first U.S. performance in a long while had them practically begging audience members to stick around. Of course, while the crowd hemorrhaged members, that had nothing to do with the band -- they were the final act in a long night and after a full day of partying most in the audience were tired, hungry and ready to head out. By the time lead singer Tracyanne Campbell belted out the final song, a rollicking, enthused "If Looks Could Kill," from 2006's "Let's Get Out of This Country," the venue was only at about one-third capacity." [Austin 360]

That's the problem sometimes with the semi-random and long bills that get put together at SXSW. Anni Rossi and Shelley Green open tomorrow's Camera Obscura show at Mercury Lounge. Laura Cantrell opens tonight at the Bell House where Victoria Bergsman (Taken by Trees, the Concretes) will also be acting as DJ.

Not at SXSW, Bloc Party also kick off a two-night run in NYC tonight. Longwave are opening both sold-out shows at Terminal 5.

dude in Hot Chip glow in the dark Threadless shirt +

The Faint @ Terminal 5, NYC (more by Ryan Muir)

today in NYC
* FREE SHOWS
* Ra Ra Riot @ Virgin Megastore
* Laura Cantrell @ Spiegeltent ++
* Best Friends Forever @ The Tank
* Jaguar Love & the King Left @ Southpaw
* Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson @ Joe's Pub
* The Walkmen & The Muslims @ Bowery Ballroom
* Velvet Goldmine (Summerscreen movie) @ McCarren Pool
* "Chris Dave & Friends with Special Guest Mos Def" @ Highline Ballroom

+ You can win the pictured Hot Chip t-shirt, a $50 Threadless gift certificate and "Made in the Dark" on vinyl by emailing BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: hot chip). One winner will be picked at random and contacted (courtesy of Threadless Loves Drawing).

In other Hot Chip news, they remixed The Pharcyde and are bringing Growing and a drummer on tour.

You can win a pair of tickets to tonight's Southpaw show by emailing BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: Southpaw). Include your first and last name. One winner will be picked at random and contacted ASAP. The King Left play before Jaguar Love.

Tonight's free movie at McCarren Pool is Velvet Goldmine. Next week's free movie is Rushmore. Before Rushmore there will be a set of music by the band The King Left.

++ Joining Laura Cantrell at Spiegeltent tonight will be: "Megan Hickey of Last Town Chorus, Fiona McBain of Ollabelle, New Orleans' Theresa Andersson, and the acclaimed instrumentalist and singer Jenny Scheinman. Rounding out the evening will be a special appearance by Rodney Crowell."

A video of Amanda Palmer doing video karaoke to "Girls Just Want To Have Fun", below..

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

Stevie Jackson @ Union Hall, Brooklyn, NY - Jan 10, 2008 (CRED)

Andy wrote in to say, "Stevie played before the 1900s. Laura Cantrell came out to do a couple songs w/ him during his set including a cover of Hank Williams “Lost Highway”. The 1900s joined him for his last song and then later he joined them for their last song but they didn’t play together other than that."

Tonight it's at Mercury Lounge.