Flock of Dimes @ Glasslands (more by Amanda Hatfield)

We first discussed Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak's new solo project Flock of Dimes in May which is also when she played a show at Glasslands. Since then Jenn announced that she's working on a full length album, and she very recently posted two "rough little pop songs. not future album cuts, just for fun, and to tide y'all over while i get my shit together." Listen to both of those below, and see Flock of Dimes live again in Brooklyn at Shea Stadium TONIGHT (1/5). More details/full lineup with the songs below..

Continue reading "Flock of Dimes (aka Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner) posted more songs, playing a show tonight"

photos by Leia Jospe

Decider: Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free is more percussive, more rhythmic. Is this the result of one member taking the lead, a concerted group effort, or sheer randomness?

Dana Janssen [of Akron Family]: Well, we didn't necessarily strive to achieve this, but I think what's come out is our affinity for African music. We've been deeply impacted by the work of King Sunny Adé, Ali Farka Touré, Toumani Diabaté, Fela Kuti, a lot of the Afrobeat stuff, music we've heard [like] Malian guitar players and desert nomads like Tinariwen. On tours recently, we've been having these big percussion jams where we hand out toys to audience members so they can participate. It's all coming out in the music.

Akron Family played at the New Museum in Manhattan on Friday, March 27th (part of the Get Weird music series) (with Lexie Mountain Boys) before playing two nights in a row at Union Pool in Brooklyn (March 28th and 29th).

"The bi-city band, based in New York as well as Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was full of whimsical energy Sunday night as they surged through an 11-song set without so much as a pause. Song bled into song, the transitions carried by any combination of the nine people on stage. Of those nine, three drive the madness that is Akron/Family - Seth Olinksy (guitar), Miles Seaton (bass) and Dana Janssen (drums). They have their primary roles, but much like a freak-folk version of Broken Social Scene, they're all multi-instrumentalists, and vocal duties shift, with Olinksy usually taking the lead." [PopDose]

Akron Family has a varied schedule of spring/summer shows planned next (including some European dates opening for Wilco). The band visits NYC again on May 6th, coming to the Bowery Ballroom. Tickets for that show are still on sale.

And then the band is on the bill for both All Tomorrow's Parties on September 12th and (with its recently announced line-up) All Points West on August 2nd.

Updated tour dates and more pictures from the New Museum show below...

Continue reading "Akron Family played Union Pool (twice) & New Museum (pics), playing APW, ATP & other places next (dates)"

2/13 Friday 8 pm - Lexie Mountain Boys
2/13 Friday 10 pm - The Fable of Pitter Patter

A collection of improvisations and short compositions contributed by a group is made up of friends who come from many different groups and backgrounds, including Akron/Family, Vetiver, Butane Variations, and the MK Groove Orchestra.

2/14 Saturday 8 & 10 pm - John Zorn's ANNUAL VALENTINE'S DAY IMPROV NIGHT--A Stone Benefit
2/18 Wednesday 8 pm - Ecstatic Sunshine
2/20 Friday 10 pm - Sam Amidon
2/21 Saturday 8 pm - Tristan Perich

Check the full schedule at their website.

We are excited to unveil the first details of Akron/Family's forthcoming album, Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free, which will arrive May 5, 2009 on Dead Oceans. In celebration of this new chapter for Akron/Family, the band is previewing much of the material from Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free in special shows this coming March. Akron/Family will be playing a series of intimate residencies in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, playing multiple nights in venues far smaller than they normally would visit. Additionally, they will be doing co-headline shows with Born Ruffians in Toronto and Montreal, performing a St. Patrick's Day blow out at Denver's beautiful Oriental Theater, visiting the SXSW festival and playing at the New Museum in New York City. The band has hand-picked openers for each night of the residencies, and every city will feature special guest musicians joining Akron/Family on stage, with the hope that each night the audience will receive a unique experience.

The NY dates are:

03/27 in NYC @ The New Museum w/ The Lexie Mountain Boys
03/28 in Brooklyn @ Union Pool w/ Gold Sparkle Band (TICKETS)
03/29 in Brooklyn @ Union Pool w/ Larkin Grimm (TICKETS)

I don't see tickets yet to the New Museum show, though there are tix on sale for the February 13th High Places / Grouper show at the same venue.

All Akron/Family dates below...

Continue reading "Akron/Family -2009 tour dates, mini-residencies (Union Pool)"

Joan as Policewoman will play shows at 8 and 10 pm at the Stone in NYC on New Years Eve. The 'Annual End The Year Improv Night' with John Zorn happens at the same venue three nights earlier. Other names on the Stone's schedule for December (curated by Jennifer Charles) include Gary Lucas, Erik Friedlander, Doveman, Alan Licht, Hal Willner's Parade (Yuka Honda & Sean Lennon), Elysian Fields, JG Thirwell, and Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog (tonight, Sunday December 7th).

January's schedule, curated by Craig Taborn, doesn't have many names
I recognize, but February, curated by Shannon Fields of Stars Like Fleas, has Twi the Humble Feather, Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio, Chris Schlarb, Diane Cluck, Jon Natchez, Kelly Pratt, Lexie Mountain Boys, Megafun, John Zorn, Ecstatic Sunshine, Sam Amidon, and Tristan Perich,

For other NYC shows on New Years Eve, browse HERE.

Joan Wasser (as Policewoman) and at least one band member also contribute to Gramercy Arms.

Marc Ribot is also playing December 9th at Blue Note and December 11th at Knitting Factory.

"Baltimore Round Robin tour dates announced, featuring 29 bands!
including Dan Deacon, Beach House, The Deathset, Jana Hunter, Adventure, Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez, WZT Hearts, Nautical Almanac, Video Hippos, and more!"

Dates and details below...

Continue reading "29 Baltimore artists going on tour, dates (Beach House, Dan Deacn, Jana Hunter, The DeathSet, VideoHippos, etc..)"

DOWNLOAD: Matmos - Rainbow Flag (MP3)

In Baltimore. soon...

Continue reading "Whartscape 2008 lineup, Matmos included "

Lexie Mountain Boys @ Floristree Space 07/20/07 (thepiratehat)

Continue reading "East River Music Project series kicks off Saturday (free show)"

danfun snapped some shots at the show last night....

Continue reading "Akron/Family & Lexie Mountain Boys @ Bowery Ballroom"

DOWNLOAD: Lexie Mountain Boys - Hi, Yeah Vein (MP3)

Lexie Mountain Boys

Back in January, Akron/Family posted on MySpace

the lexie mountain boys rule! rule! rule!
Current mood: grateful

we had them over to record some vocals for our new record (yes that's right...this new one is gonna be a doosey) and the ho-down freak-out soul-clap meter shot up to 11! like the supremes on acid or something they brought a vibe so thick i had to go to bed early that night. i was wore out.

just needed to give a shot out to those lovely lovely sisters of ours there in b-more...apparently they are going on tour soon, so if they are within 300 miles of you, for the llove of all things precious. get there.

more later,
love
ak/fam

Akron/Family and The Lexie Mountain Boys play Bowery Ballroom in NYC on June 12th. For something completely different, check out the MP3 at the top of this post. All A/F tour dates below...

Continue reading "'the lexie mountain boys rule! rule! rule!' (also aren't boys) -- AKRON/FAMILY 2007 Tour Dates"