Liam Finn is wrapping up his new album and will be testing out new material with one of his "murmurations," his word for residency. This will happen every Monday in April at Knitting Factory. April 1 is with Rifle/Recoil; April 8 is with Celestial Shore; April 15 has no opener as of now; April 22 is billed as "Liam Finn featuring Railbird"; and April 29 is with Rohypnotize. Tickets to all five shows are on sale now.

You can watch "video letter" about the Knitting Factory murmuration, which features a bit of new song "I," below.

Continue reading "Liam Finn finishing up new album, announces Brooklyn "murmuration" residency"

Like all nerds and pretty much everyone, we're excited for Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The movie doesn't hit theaters until December 13. but you can listen to the soundtrack to the film, which comes out on December 10, now. It's streaming in full below.

Like The Lord If The Rings trilogy, The Hobbit was scored by Howard Shore who is also working on the next two Hobbit films in this trilogy. It also features a track by Crowded House's Neil Finn with his sons Elroy and Liam, "Song of the Lonely Mountain," which you can listen to over at Rolling Stone, that will play in the end credits. The movies are filmed in New Zealand where the Finns are from, so that's a nice touch.

Meanwhile, speaking of Liam Finn, you can catch him in NYC this week at the previously discussed Glasslands show on Friday (11/16) with Reuben and the Dark. Tickets for that show are still available.

Soundtrack stream and tracklist below...

Continue reading "'The Hobbit' is coming, Howard Shore's soundtrack is streaming now (Neil Finn is on there too)"

Haven't seen Liam Finn in a while? Clearly he's been hitting the gym. Catch the multi-instrumentalist/songwriter's impressive new look on the road now as part of a string of US dates with Deerhoof that have him in Houston tonight night before he slides up the East Coast by middle November. NYC can catch those impressive pecs at a solo show at Glasslands on November 16th where he'll team with Reuben and the Dark for a set (of the live show variety). Tickets are still available.

The Glasslands outing will help him bide time before he hits the studio with the goal being to complete a new record before Christmas. Details on said recording are sketchy, but hopefully Glasslands will showcase some of those new jams.

Speaking of Deerhoof, Greg Saunier, who was in NYC and dressed up for Halloween, also has some shows coming up at Lincoln Center.

Dare Liam Finn into a push-up contest at the dates listed below.

Continue reading "Liam Finn on tour with Deerhoof, playing Glasslands (dates)"

The fabulous Fleshtones, NYC's progenitors of "super rock," will release a new EP in August titled Los Fleshtones Quatro x Quatro via Yep Roc records. Maybe they'll play some of it tonight (6/21) at Bowery Electric. The line-up for tonight's show is actually pretty cool all-around, with Steve Wynn & the Miracle Three, former Voidoid Ivan Julian, Swedish garage rockers Stupidity and Palmyra Delran. Tickets are still available.

The EP was recorded while on tour in Gijon, Spain and all four songs are in Spanish, including covers of two songs by Mexican rock band Los Johnny Jets. Says frontman Peter Zaremba:

The story of this record goes way back to our original bass player, Marek Pakulski, finding a bunch of albums including 'Los Johnny Jets A Go Go' in the trash in front of Joey Ramone's Lower Eastside tenement one night in 1977. Johnny Jets were a typical Mexican '60s rock and roll group -covering top-ten hits of the time like 'Wooly Bully' in Spanish with varying degrees of competence -- just the thing to appeal to The Fleshtones. Rather than the Spanish language versions of overly-familiar tunes like 'Hang On Sloopy', what really caught our ears were two more-or-less original tracks 'No Tengo Dinero' and 'Todos Queremos A Lupe' (which seemed to at least be inspired by Johnny Thunder's 1962 hit 'Loop De Loop'). We decided we would record these two songs ourselves as soon as possible. If nothing else, The Fleshtones are good for their word!

YR15 Flyer is below, along with a list of Fleshtones tour dates.

Continue reading "The Fleshtones releasing new EP, playing shows (dates); Yep Roc Records throwing 15-year anniversary bash in NC"

Greg Saunier & Liam Finn @ the Rock Shop (photo by David Wexler)

Tonight (1/30) is your last change to catch Liam Finn at the Rock Shop, for now at least. Tickets are still on sale.

The four-show residency began back on 1/9, and at least one person in the crowd drove down from Boston for that show. They wrote:

Finn cruised through two sets (see full setlists for each below), the first as just a man with his looping pedals while on the second he was joined by his brother Elroy on the drums and Jol Mulholland on the bass. In the first set Finn showed off his skills both behind the drums and on guitar, masterfully looping each instrument to create an astonishing amount of sound for one man.

The first set featured songs mostly from his solo debut I'll Be Lightning and his Champagne In Seashells EP, but Finn was also able to work out "Chase The Seasons" off of 2011's FOMO for the first time ever in concert (see video below). For the last two songs of set #1 (as well as a between songs jam) Finn was joined on stage by Wilco's Mikael Jorgensen. The musical chemistry between the two on "Don't Even Know Your Name" and "Lead Balloon" was nearly flawless even though the pair had seemingly had no previous practice time together with the songs....

Continue reading "Mikael Jorgensen & Greg Saunier played the Rock Shop with Liam Finn (whose residency finishes tonight) --- videos"

As previously mentioned, the multi-talented Liam Finn will be performing at the Rock Shop every Monday in January starting tonight (1/9). Liam, who is taking requests on Facebook, wrote the following description of the shows:

After a whirlwind of a year of touring my album FOMO around the globe I have set up camp in NY and am immersing myself in this bubbling tub of creativity. I plan to unleash four very unique shows over the cold month and will be inviting friends old and new to take part in collaborating and steering. Ultimately I'd love the spontaneity to rule the night and I believe everyone in attendance will be as involved as each other - from the drunk up the back, to the familiar faces up the front, to the heckler jeering from the dark corner. Ever since I first saw Jon Brion perform one of his legendary Friday residencies at L.A's Largo I have been inspired to one day hold my own, and further exercise the captivating effect a little bit of danger and mystery has on all of us living in the moment. Basically, it'll be raucous, wild and tender. Come along and let's make a scene!

Liam FInn at Occupy Wall St. Veterans Day Rally (via Saint Huck)

Liam Finn will kick off a residency at The Rock Shop on January 9 which will continue every Monday for the month of January. Tickets for each individual show or one ticket to get into all of them are on sale now. Each show will have a different special guest TBA. Liam recently spoke to NBC about the residency:

"Now that I am based in NY, I thought there was no better way to introduce myself formally and informally to the city than to host a series of shows that could incorporate the different facets of what I do," he said. "The Rock Shop just seemed like the perfect place, perfect size and has a nice community vibe already."

"At this point I have a lot of different fantasies lined up in my head of what could happen," he said. "I have friends I have invited to be a part of the shows and a lot will be left up to the day to figure exactly how things will run... but I will be playing half the show with my whole loop set up to attempt songs I haven't tried as a one man band as well as trusty favorites."

"I also will perform some of the show with my band I have been touring with all year and would love to also involve whoever's lurking around -- openers, drunks, friends and family -- in bringing a unique show each week to a cold Monday."

Continue reading "Liam Finn (now based in NYC) taking residency at Rock Shop, played for Occupy Wall Street on 11/11 (video & dates)"

The Rock Lottery began in Denton, TX in 1997 (and in Seattle in 2006). This will be Brooklyn's second annual Rock Lottery. The premise is simple, but effective. Twenty-five hand picked musicians meet at 10:00AM at the evening's performance venue. These volunteers are organized into five groups through a lottery-based chance selection. The five separate groups are then released to practice at different locations. The musicians have twelve hours to create a band name and three to five songs (with a one cover-song limit). The groups will then perform what they have created that evening in front of a waiting audience.

Continue reading "'Rock Lottery' returns this year -- 25 musicians perform together in Brooklyn Saturday"

Liam Finn

"Liam Finn, son of Crowded House frontman Neil Finn, played the Lustre Pearl stage in the gorgeous Waterfront District [during SXSW], a full band backing his passion-rock exhibition.

Accenting the end of several of his tracks by attacking a drum kit set up stage right, Finn unleashed a torrent of heartsongs that were anything but subtle and soft-spoken. Eddie Vedder brought him along as an opener on his 2009 solo tour, and the raw talent the man has with an acoustic guitar, a loop pedal and a microphone is enough to tempt any aspiring musician give up the craft for good, knowing their natural talent will never reach his." -[Crave Online]

Liam Finn is prepping to release his new LP, FOMO, via Yep Roc on June 21. The LP features "The Struggle" amongst its ten tracks which are listed below with a stream of that song.

The Luyas @ SXSW 2011 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Opening the Brooklyn show and other shows on the tour are Montreal's The Luyas who will stop back in NYC on Tuesday, 4/12, for their own show at Pianos w/ Sherlock's Daughter, Young Magic, Zambri, and Emily Reo. All tour dates (including a European jaunt with the Dodos) are listed below. And...

"If that weren't enough, Record Store Day, April 16, brings you the Luyas' new exclusive split 7-inch with close friends Twin Sister. The record contains two new songs: the Luyas' "When I Am a Woman" and Twin Sister's "Meet the Frownies." Twin Sister's track was recorded for the wonderful Weathervane Music project.

All dates, the other stuff, and The Luyas' new video for "Too Beautiful To Work," below...

Continue reading "Liam Finn on tour w/ The Luyas (who are also playing Pianos, have a new video, a 7" split w/ Twin Sister & stuff)"

"The 2011 Solid Sound lineup thus far: Wilco (Fri. & Sat.), the Levon Helm Band, Thurston Moore, Syl Johnson & the Sweet Divines, Here We Go Magic, Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy, Pillow Wand (Nels Cline/Thurston Moore duo), Handsome Family, Liam Finn, Sic Alps, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, Glenn Kotche, Pronto, the Autumn Defense, Comedy Cabaret curated by John Hodgman featuring Wyatt Cenac, Eugene Mirman & Morgan Murphy, plus the return of the Story Pirates -- all at the largest contemporary art museum in the country with the backdrop of the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts."

photos by Chris La Putt

Blood Red Shoes @ MHOW

After Chris left the BV Loft Party all the way back on Friday, October 22nd, he headed over to Music Hall of Williamsburg for the Blue Flowers-presented CMJ showcase for a lineup of mostly UK bands including Chapel Club, Everything Everything, and Blood Red Shoes (who toured North America with Sky Larkin in October). Pictures from that show are in this post.

The occasion (to post these belated pics)? SXSW has already announced an initial lineup of bands playing in Austin from March 16-20, 2011, and Chapel Club is on that list (and I wouldn't be surprised of the other 2 mentioned bands end up coming too). Also on the list: Lia Ices, Braids, Asobi Seksu, Wye Oak, Suuns, Sun Airway, A Place to Bury Strangers and more. Full list under the rest of the MHOW pictures, below...

Continue reading "Chapel Club played CMJ w/ Everything Everything & Blood Red Shoes (pics), playing SXSW 2011 (intial lineup)"

photos by Kurt Christensen

"Let's get one thing straight: Crowded House isn't a one-hit wonder. Sure, the Australian band is known by '80s music fans for its 1987 hit "Don't Dream It's Over" (and maybe the subsequent "Something So Strong"), but songwriter Neil Finn has actually guided different incarnations of the band through six full-length albums and earned critical acclaim for his solo albums and side projects." [NPR]

Continue reading "Crowded House played Fallon (video) & Bowery w/ David Byrne, Liam Finn, Sharon Finn & Lawrence Arabia (pics) "

photos by Andrew St Clair

Crowded House completed their three-night run at Bowery Ballroom in NYC last night (7/21). It was also at the third show that David Byrne came out for the encore to join the band on two Talking Heads covers. We actually have pictures from that show too, but the pictures in this post are from the 2nd night, July 20th. Stay tuned for the ones from night three.

If you missed the show, there's one more NYC-area chance when Crowded House plays Wellmont Theater in NJ on Friday.

More of the night two pictures, video of the David Byrne part from last night, and all three setlists (including which songs Neil Finn's wife Sharon son Liam played on), below...

Continue reading "Crowded House played 3 nights @ Bowery Ballroom (night 2 pics, all 3 setlists, video of last night's guest: David Byrne)"

Miracle Fortress

Think About Life (who have a new CD and a CMJ show... info in a sec) member Graham Van Pelt is the main force behind Miracle Fortress, a band that also includes Jessie Stein who is also in popular Montreal band The Luyas.

And though they haven't released anything since 2007's Polaris-nominated Five Roses, Miracle Fortress is going on a tour at the end of October with Australia's Liam Finn (who hits Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand on his own). Those dates include a November 4th show at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Tickets are on sale.

Liam Finn recently made an EP with Eliza Jane called Champagne In Seashells which is out now via Yep Roc Records.

Some videos and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "Miracle Fortress & Liam Finn - 2009 Tour Dates"

Over Christmas 2008 and New Year 2009, [Crowded House's] Neil Finn has invited the core band from his 2001 Seven Worlds Collide project, plus some other special guests, to create a new album at Roundhead studios in Auckland, New Zealand.

Guests confirmed so far are Radiohead's Phil Selway and Ed O'Brien, legendary guitarist Johnny Marr, founder member of The Smiths and current member of US alternate rock innovators Modest Mouse, Soul Coughing's Sebastian Steinberg, multi-instrumentalist Lisa Germano, Wilco members Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone, Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, along with NZ musicians Liam Finn, Don McGlashan and Bic Runga. All proceeds from this very special recording will go to support the continuing great work of Oxfam International.

There will also be a short series of intimate and informal live performances in New Zealand at Auckland's Powerstation on 5, 6 and 7 January 2009.

Everest opens both shows. Everest frontman Russell Pollard's wife's band The Watson Twins (like Everest's album and) play Town Hall in NYC in February.

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Army Navy - Saints (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Army Navy - My Thin Sides (MP3)

Army Navy

Not the most action-packed week of shows, at least as far as I'm concerned, but there's always a few worthwhile things to check out. In town this week are LA-via-Seattle band Army Navy, playing shows tonight (9/2) at Mercury Lounge and Thursday (9/4) at Union Pool. These guys mostly mine various eras of Scottish jangle, from the brittle, manic sounds of early-80s Postcard Records (Orange Juice, Joseph K) to the harmony-laden sounds of Teenage Fanclub and Cosmic Rough Riders. This is super-catchy stuff -- their self titled debut (due Oct 14) has spent a lot of time on my stereo this past week. You can download two tunes from the album at the top of this post -- they're both really good.

It was only after listening to -- and liking -- the album did I find out some interesting factoids about the band: Frontman Justin Kennedy spent his Seattle youth in Pinwheel, the "shitty punk band" that also featured Ben Gibbard; When their drummer left to pursue a screenwriting career (he's penning the Peter Berg-directed Dune redux, due in 2010), Attractions drummer Pete Thomas filled in on the stool for the album's recording sessions; and they're featured on the soundtrack to the music-obsessed comedy Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist which you might've seen a thousand commercials for already. And they're playing this week.

Ringo Deathstarr

In competition with Army Navy on Thursday are Austinites Ringo Deathstarr (not to be confused with Atlanta's Gringo Starr), and also draw influence from Scottish indie rock. But in this case it's The Jesus and Mary Chain (circa "Sidewalking") and My Bloody Valentine. We're talking striped-tees-and-sunglasses shoegaze. Are they doing something new? Maybe not. But do they do it well? Definitely. Their show at Cake Shop is their only NYC show so if you're a dreampop fan, this might be a good holdover till MBV for real.

Liam Finn

I'm not sure there's a whole lot else going on this week that hasn't already been mentioned multiple times. Liam Finn plays Bowery on Thursday and if you've never seen him before I can't recommend it much higher. He's certainly not the only performer to do the loop pedal one-man-band thing, but few do it as well or with better songs. Just wait till he gets on the drums. His album from last year, I'll Be Lightning, is fantastic. Also playing that show (and the rest of of Finn's US 2008 dates) are The Veils whose first record I liked a lot more than their most recent one but frontman Finn Andrews (who, like Liam Finn, has a notable dad, XTC/Shreikback's Barry Andrews) is also an engaging live performer.

And then there's the three free music festivals on Saturday, though it's really hard to compete with the East Village Radio Festival's killer line-up but that's just me.

All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Army Navy, Ringo Deathstarr, Liam Finn & The Veils. ....................... it's This Week in Indie"

Tickets are on sale for Iron & Wine's show at Terminal 5.

Joe Jackson is playing Grand Ballroom. Tickets are on presale.

Martin Rev of Suicide is playing Pianos. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are on sale for the Crystal Castles / Fujiya & Miyagi show at Webster Hall.

Tickets are on sale for the Jenny Lewis show at the Apollo Theater.

Liam Finn is headlining Bowery Ballroom and tickets are on sale.

Tickets are on sale for the Beachwood Sparks reunion show at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are on sale for both upcoming NYC Feelies shows.

Tickets are on sale for a September 9th Stereophonics show at Webster Hall.

Tickets are still on sale for Fender's 50th Anniversary at the Knitting Factory.

For free NYC shows, check the free show calendar.

Continue reading "Eddie Vedder - 2008 Tour Dates"

Pela's Billy (safely) landing a few days earlier (hunta)

We are writing to you as our van heads back to New York. Billy has already returned to New York via plane, and is preparing for surgery.

During last night's show at Schuba's in Chicago Billy fell off the stage, landing on a broken pint glass. This happened during the triumphant finale of the set; the stage was crowded with people dancing and singing to 'Cavalry', while a strobe light turned their vision into a cut screen movie. His left hand has a gash on the palm, and a deep slice in his pinky finger which also cut tendons.

We regrettably must announce that Schuba's was the last night of the tour.

We promise to make up each and every show as soon as possible and apologize to everyone who purchased tickets. Arrangements are being made with all of the clubs on how best to handle the situation. We will have more information soon.

Webmaster note: you can send your best wishes to billy@pelamusic.com and I'll forward them to him. -Pela

Continue reading "Pela cancels tour - Billy fell off stage & is injured"

Liam & Neil (Crowded House) Finn (CRED)

Liam Finn was in town the other day to play Sound Fix, Music Hall w/ Pela, and Letterman. Video below...

Continue reading "Liam Finn - 'Second Chance' on David Letterman (video)"

words & photos by Bao Nguyen

Liam Finn (son of Neil) began his set to a small audience (an un-crowded house?) last night (Feb 26, 2008) at Sound Fix in Brooklyn (sans Eddie Vedder). He began his set with somewhat slow, folk songs which soon progressed into his own unique sound. Organized chaos can be used to describe some of Liam Finn's songs, where Ben Gibbard-esque vocals are met with sharp cadences and brief guitar riffs. Between songs the audience was amused with Finn's first taste of Brooklyn Lager and his aspirations to move to New York in three or maybe five years time. As the songs evolved and progressed, the audience also grew in size. His pleasant stage presence and unique songs make Liam Finn someone to watch in the future.

Liam is on tour with Pela (and eventually Eddie Vedder). He plays Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn with Pela & Apollo Sunshine tonight (Feb 27, 2008). More photos from Sound Fix below.....

Continue reading "Liam Finn @ Sound Fix, Brooklyn, NY - pics"

Continue reading "LIAM FINN - Soundfix tonight, w/ Pela, Eddie Vedder, Miracle Fortress, SXSW, 2008 Tour Dates, a video"

Miracle Fortess was planning on making their NYC debut at Bowery Ballroom during CMJ, but as you might remember, there were complications that stopped that from happening. They're going to try again - this time as part of a short East Coast tour with The Most Serene Republic. Tickets are on sale for a March 21st show at Mercury Lounge that Rolling Stone and Stereogum Band to Watch Liam Finn is also playing. All dates below....

Continue reading "Miracle Fortess & Most Serene Republic - 2008 Tour Dates"

Pela desecrating a temple (CRED)

Pela is going on a short tour with Liam Finn at the end of February. That includes a show with Apollo Sunshine at Music Hall of Williamsburg in their hometown of Brooklyn, NY on February 27th. Tickets are on sale. All dates below....

Continue reading "Pela & Liam Finn - 2008 Tour Dates"