Dev Hynes w/ CANT @ Mercury Lounge in 2011 (more)

Blood Orange, aka the R&B-leaning solo project of Dev Hynes aka Lightspeed Champion (ex-Test Icicles), was in Australia for a couple shows earlier this month, possibly losing some of his equipment along the way. "I want to go home. I love NYC," the NYC-via-the-UK musician wrote on his Tumblr after reporting a theft last week (bummer!).

Though slightly more rare lately, there have been plenty of chances to catch Blood Orange around town since Dev started using that name in 2009. Apparently none of them have been headlining shows though because Dev will play his first headlining Blood Orange show in the city at Glasslands on February 25. Tickets are on sale now.

Dev released Coastal Grooves, his Chris Taylor co-produced debut LP for his Blood Orange moniker, last year. You can buy it on eMusic and watch the video for album single "Sutphin Boulevard" below. The "Dinner" 7" is still on sale now at Chris' Terrible Records, though they note: "FEW MORE LEFT. HOT." Listen to that single below too.

In other news, Dev and Pharrell Williams have been producing the new album for Solange Knowles (who recently became an aunt).

"Dev was a complete surprise, his role changed substantially throughout the process," Solange says of the singer-songwriter who's written for Florence and the Machine, the Chemical Brothers and more. "It's very rare that you work with someone with whom you have this creative chemistry, it's almost like a relationship. You have a sort of musical love affair." [Billboard]

Blood Orange video/songs below...

Continue reading "Blood Orange headlining a show; Solange album coming soon"

Ponytail @ Williamsburg Waterfront 2009 (more by Bao Nguyen)

Ponytail, Dom, Holy Fuck and Apache Beat have been added to the lineup of this year's Siren Fest, happening Saturday, July 17th in Coney Island. Those are in addition to the fest's previously announced acts - the full current lineup is below. It'll be a great show, but maybe slightly less attended than previous years?

You can catch Dom sooner at the BV Northside Fest show at Music Hall on Saturday, June 26th (along with Memory Tapes, ZAZA and Twin Sister). Tickets are still on sale.

Ponytail also play their hometown fest Whartscape.

After the Siren there's an after-show is happening at Music Hall of Williamsburg with We Are Scientists and Solange-collaborating Lightspeed Champion. Tickets are still on sale. (Scientists' Bowery show a few days before is sold out.)

Full Siren Fest lineup is below...

Continue reading "Siren Fest adds four more bands to the 2010 lineup "

Solange & Ed...

Her recent credits include playing with Dirty Projectors at Fashion Week and singing with Of Montreal at Highline and Terminal 5. Now Solange is DJing at Brooklyn Bowl on Friday, June 18th. I'm not totally sure if she's a good DJ or not, but tickets are on sale.

That's her in the picture above with her friend Ed Droste from Grizzly Bear who maybe she'll be checking out Sunday at Williamsburg Waterfront (again).

Grizzly Bear also have a NYC show coming up later in the summer at Governors Island with the Walkmen (tickets are still on sale). The Walkmen have just announced a new album! Pitchfork reports:

"Yesterday, we reported that Interpol's new album comes out September 14. As it turns out, September 14 will be a big day for bruised, world-weary New York indie rock, since that's also the date that Fat Possum will release Lisbon, the new album from the Walkmen.

The band recorded the follow-up to 2008's You & Me over two years, working in warehouses in Brooklyn and Philadelphia. They also wrote a few songs on trips to the Portuguese city that gave the album its title. St. Vincent/Mountain Goats/Thermals knob-twiddler John Congleton produced the 11-song album, and Passion Pit/Les Savy Fav veteran Chris Zane engineered it."

Back to Solange for s second... She blogs that that she is in the process of finishing her new, indie (as in not on her former label, Interscope) album with indie rocker Dev from Lightspeed Champion (something that was originally reported a while back). That update is below...

Continue reading "Interpol (on Matador!), the Walkmen & Solange Knowles (who is DJing Brooklyn Bowl) are releasing new albums "

To celebrate the release of the new album "Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You" (U.K 15th Feb / U.S 16th Feb) I'll be playing a special set of songs at Sound Fix Records in Brooklyn (map). I'll be joined by a few guests and it is completely free!
You will also be able to purchase the new album at the instore as well as my new short story collection Bad Era Of Me.

If you can't come to the show that same day I'll also be performing and discussing the new record earlier live on WNYC's SOUNDCHECK show at 2:30pm so tune in! [Lightspeed Champion]

Continue reading "Lightspeed Champion - album out, Sound Fix instore, WNYC"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: The Octagon - Suicide Kings (MP3)

The Octagon

I wrote at length already about this week's Serena Maneesh shows. Now here are some other daily picks to take you through the weekend...

Continue reading "The Octagon, Free Energy & more in This Week in Indie "

To celebrate the forthcoming release of his latest album, Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You, Lightspeed Champion is giving away a preview in the form of 5 live MP3s recorded live at Avatar Studio, NYC. The fun began on Jan 11 with Lightspeed celebrating Elvis' 75th birthday, with his version of "Devil In Disguise".

Continue reading "Lightspeed Champion cancels show, gives away tracks"

IFC is creating a cuisine-oriented programming block to air Tuesday nights.

After a successful six-episode run of "Dinner With the Band" that began in November, Rainbow cabler is ramping up its episode order to 10 and teaming it with "Food Party" as an hourlong block.

"Band" teams chef Sam Mason and an indie band, which performs on the show, at a Brooklyn loft. Conversation ensues about life on the road and the food the musicians eat while touring.... Programming block will air from at 10 p.m. beginning April 27. [Variety]

Continue reading "upcoming artists appearing on Dinner With The Band (new IFC season premieres in April) "

David Byrne @ Bowery Ballroom with Dirty Projectors in Novemeber (more)

tonight in NYC
* Whiplash @ UCB
* Jim Campilongo @ Living Room
* Rev. Vince Anderson @ Union Pool
* David Byrne (lecture) @ The Bell House
* Uri Caine (seminar series) @ The Stone
* Beachniks, The Surprisers @ Bruar Falls
* Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens @ Joe's Pub
* Les Paul Guitar Tribute w/ Jose Feliciano @ Iridium
* Still Life Still, Hermit Thrushes, Elemeno @ Death By Audio
* The Joy Formidable, The Jaguar Club, Ravens & Chimes @ Union Hall
* Jon Irabagon's One-Song Rollins Tribute Trio, Wowz, CSC Funk Band @Zebulon
* Hazmat Modine, One Ring Zero, Las Rubias Del Norte, The Wingdale Community Singers @ Mercury Lounge

David Byrne has a talk at The Bell House on where he'll "present a short video/audio lecture called 'Creation in Reverse,' speaking to the ways that venue and context shape artistic creation, followed by a Q&A." First come, first served.

Whiplash at UCB tonight features comedians Leo Allen, Eugene Mirman (Delocated), Kumail Nanjiani (Jimmy Kimmel Live), Tony Camin (The Marijuana-Logues), Sean Patton & Max Silvestri (Big Terrific).

If you missed UK band The Joy Formidable open for Passion Pit at Terminal 5, you can catch them tonight at Union Hall (with Ravens & Chimes and The Jaguar Club) and Tuesday at Pianos.

Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens, on Daptone Records, are at Joe's Pub tonight. Sharon Jones, also on the label, has a new record on the way.

The regular Monday Les Paul Guitar Tribute at Iridium features guest guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli tonight. For its January 25th edition, Ozzy guitarist Zakk Wylde joins the band. Tickets on sale Tuesday

Mercury Lounge hosts "Barbès Takes Manhattan!" with music from Hazmat Modine, One Ring Zero, Las Rubias Del Norte and The Wingdale Community Singers.

Tuesday night at Mercury Lounge is the Doveman and friends.

Lightspeed Champion celebrated Elvis's 75th birthday by covering and making a video for "Devil In Disguise". Check it out below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

Lightspeed Champion @ MHOW in July (more by Bao Nguyen)

Lightspeed Champion's second LP, Life Is Sweet! Nice to Meet You, is coming out in the US on February 16th (Feb. 1 for UK) on Domino Records. Behind the controls for the album is producer Ben Allen, whose past work includes Gnarls Barkley and his label-mates Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion.

Before the record is out, you can catch Dev Hynes & band at Bowery Ballroom in NYC on Thursday, January 21st. Tickets for the show are on sale now.

He put out a video for the album's first single "Marlene," which will be released on a 10" paired with covers of Serge Gainsbourg's "69 Année Érotique (feat. Valentine Fillol-Cordier)" and '50s singing trio the Fleetwoods' "(He's) The Great Imposter." The video and single info are below.

Despite having recorded Life Is Sweet! in early 2009, Hynes has a had a busy year, both home recording (which he's been sharing online) and performing unique shows, like covering Cat Stevens's soundtrack to Harold & Maude live with the film.

A full detailing of what he's been up to (including working with Solange Knowles (who isn't?), Basement Jaxx and Van Dyke Parks), the new video and new album info are below...

Continue reading "Lightspeed Champion releasing 2nd album + a NYC show, collaborations w/ Solange, Florence, Van Dyke Parks & more"

Elvis Perkins @ Clearwater Fest this summer (more by Chris La Putt)

tonight in NYC
* Phish @ MSG
* The Besties @ Asbury Lanes
* Ian McCulloch @ The Studio
* Crystal Antlers @ Cameo
* Nitzer Ebb @ Gramercy Theatre
* Darmstadt @ Issue Project Room
* Mew, Bear in Heaven @ Webster Hall
* Quest For Fire, Naam & Weird Owl @ Pianos
* Espers, Azita, Doug Paisley @ Drom
* The Sights, The Figgs @ Cake Shop
* A Prairie Home Companion @ Town Hall
* Sloan, Magneta Lane @ The Bell House
* Raphael Saadiq, Anjulie @ Terminal 5
* The Wrens, Palomar @ Maxwell's (early)
* The Wrens, Bob Fields @ Maxwell's (late)
* Sebastien Schuller, Hoferlanz @ Sycamore
* Alicia Hall Moran, Gordon Voidwell @ The Kitchen
* Brendan Benson, Cory Chisel @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* The Beets @ the Degenerate Craft Fair @ Silent Barn
* Woods, Real Estate, Cloud Nothings @ Market Hotel
* Red Mass & Golden Triangle @ Live With Animals Gallery
* The Big Pink, Crystal Antlers, Von Haze @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Bowerbirds, Dave Godowsky @ Bowery Ballroom
* Terra Nova: Sinfonia Antarctica w/ DJ Spooky & ICE @ BAM Howard Gilman Opera
* Mike Yaniro benefit w/ Sightings, Pink Reason, York Factory Complaint (w/ Genesis P-orridge), White Suns @ Death By Audio
* Pissed Jeans, Yellow Tears, Old Men @ Columbia U's Lerner Party Space

Details on the Pissed Jeans show below...

The Wrens' first set tonight will be Meadowlands in full; the second, all new songs.

Elvis Perkins is in town for two shows. Tonight at Bowery and then Saturday at Music Hall. His video for "Chains, Chains, Chains" below...

The Beets plays the Degenerate Craft Fair.

Bowerbirds open for Elvis tonight, but not tomorrow. Instead they're at Union Pool on Saturday with Sharon Van Etten.

Brendan Benson is at LPR tonight and Maxwell's on Saturday. His new video for "A Whole Lot Better" below.

Jack White recorded two new songs with the band Smoke Fairies.

Amazon's 25 days of free Christmas songs continues. They also have Diana Krall's Christmas album on sale for $2.99 and a compilation of 99 songs for $5.00, one of many albums they're selling for that price now.

Ornette Coleman tops Amazon's list of "100 Greatest Jazz Albums of All Time".

Richard Buckner plays Mercury Lounge on Saturday.

Black Sheep play Santos Party House on Saturday.

Rihanna got inappropriate with a mannequin last night at Hammerstein Ballroom. Video below...

Amanda Palmer does Tegan & Sara. Video below...

a new Lightspeed Champion video, below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

That's Blood Orange in the picture. Don't tell me you don't recognize the hat. Tonight (9/17) Blood Orange plays Bruar Falls in Brooklyn. Check out the video below...

Continue reading "Blood Orange is Lightspeed Champion (show & video) "

Mew @ Pitchfork Fest (more by Joseph Xu)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Britney Spears, Ciara @ MSG
* Moodswing Orchestra @ Nublu
* Loudon Wainwright III @ City Winery
* It's Casual, Goes Cube @ Lit
* Rev. Vince Anderson @ Union Pool
* Mew, Violens @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Les Paul Trio w/ Bucky Pizzarelli @ Iridium
* Air Waves, Jacksonknife @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* Howlies, The Wild Yaks, more @ Public Assembly
* Vandaveer, Essie Jain, Robert Francis @ Pianos
* Machel Montano, The Mighy Sparrow @ Wingate Field
* Whiplash w/ Pete Holmes & Anthony Jeselnik @ UCB Theatre
* Helado Negro, The Silent League, Tavo Carbone @ Cake Shop
* Highline Piano Series: Christopher O'Riley @ Highline Ballroom
* Mon Khmer, Promising Young Talent, Desert Stars, Sally Head @ The Cameo
* Street Meat w/ Jon Glaser, Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt, Hannibal Buress, more @ Cake Shop

Trinidadian singer Machel Montano will replace Sean Paul, who has laryngitis, at tonight's free show at Wingate Field.

Mew play MHOW tonight with Violens. The Danish group will be opening for Nine Inch Nails on Wednesday at NIN's final NYC show. Before then, NIN play T5 on Tuesday with The Horrors, who've been opening their other NYC shows at Bowery Ballroom on Friday and Webster Hall last night.

LA is getting a MEWseum.

Howlies are here. If you miss them tonight at Public Assembly, there's also Aug 28th at Maxwell's, and Aug 30th at Mercury Lounge (not to mention The Bog in Scranton on Aug 26th)

Bucky Pizzarelli plays with the Les Paul Trio (less the recently-deceased Les) at Iridium Jazz Club tonight.

Rev. Vince Anderson plays Union Pool.

Lit Lounge is hosting It's Casual and Goes Cube tonight.

Highline Piano Series, which now runs till next Monday with the rescheduled Cecil Taylor show,
presents Christopher O'Riley.

Breden Benson played "A Whole Lot Better," the lead track off his new record, on Letterman last Friday. The video is below. He visited NYC's Bowery Ballroom earlier this month.

Lightspeed Champion performed at the John Hughes tribute at Cake Shop on Saturday. Video Bill took below...

Pearl Jam put out a new video for "The Fixer". That's also posted below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

"There's a good reason why the new record is called Scars," says Felix Buxton. "Making it has been a grueling process. When we finished recording, it felt like we'd come out of a boxing ring." His bandmate Simon Ratcliffe nods in agreement.

'Scars' is full of guest appearances including Kelis, Maleka & Chipmunk, Eli "Paperboy" Reed, Sam Sparro, Lightspeed Champion, Amp Fiddler, Yo Majesty, Yoko Ono, Paloma Faith, Lisa Kekaula, Jose Hendrix, and Jose James. All dates, the tour poster, the Scars (cover art above) tracklisting, and the video for "Raindrops", below....

Continue reading "Basement Jaxx - 2009 DJ tour dates (NYC on sale), new album w/ Kelis, Yoko, Eli Reed, Lightspeed Champion, more"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground - He Momma (MP3)

Jon Wiley

It's another busy weekend of shows, so much so I'm breaking this week's TWiI into two parts. First and foremost on tonight's (7/9) agenda is the We Are the Wiley benefit at the Shank featuring Lightspeed Champion, Adam Green and Chairlift. Besides being a great lineup in and of its own, the money goes to a good cause. As you may have read in an earlier post, Jon Wiley -- who fronts Spacecamp when he isn't playing in Adam Green and Lightspeed Champion or being an all-around good guy -- had a scare earlier this year that left him diagnosed with MS, and a mountain of medical bills. Like most musicians out there, Jon's has no insurance so please come tonight and help out. The event is co-sponsored by Wanduta, a new national organization designed to support and protect independent musicians, and all proceeds go towards Jon's medical bills.

And you'll get to see Lightspeed Champion play his killer new stuff (he was great at Mercury Lounge a couple weeks back), headliners Chairlift who have gotten better as a live band every time I've seen them, and the always unpredictable Adam Green. And I wouldn't be surprised if Spacecamp didn't play a couple songs too, seeing as they're the backing band for both Adam and Lightspeed. Admission is $15 and is 21+.

Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground

Philadelphia's Mewithoutyou and Atlanta's The Dear Hunter (not Deerhunter) and on tour together and are playing tonight (7/9) at Music Hall of Williamsburg and tomorrow (7/10) at Bowery Ballroom. But I'm not hear to talk about them. Opening for both shows are Seattle's Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground who are one of the city's best bands though maybe you've never heard of them as they don't play outside of their hometown too often. A musical collective that expands and contracts anywhere from 10 to 15 depending on the show, Kay Kay are led by Kirk Huffman and Kyle O'Quin who have other many bands on thier own. (Huffman in particular stays very busy.) Their self-titled debut is clearly in love with the lush, baroque pop of the late '60s and early '70s: think The Zombies (or Colin Blunstone's first solo album), The Left Banke, and Harry Nilsson. If you wanted more recent comparisons, Jellyfish, Jason Falkner or The Format. It holds up to those comparisons pretty well too, as you can hear on their highly-recommend self-titled debut, which was released on vinyl and digitally last year and came out on CD in May of this year. It's too bad they aren't doing a headling date of their own somewhere, but who knows when they'll make it back this way?

Those Darlins @ Bowery Ballroom (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

And a couple other recommended shows tonight: I've been really enjoying Those Darlins' just-released debut album which is sort of like garage rock Tammy Wynette -- and they are a lot of fun live. The whole bill is solid: Jon Spencer's rockabilly explosion Heavy Trash, and the amazing Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers. And if you can't make it tonight, they play Southpaw tomorrow (7/10) with Country Mice and the So So Glow.

Finally, if you haven't seen The Drums yet, they play Public Assembly tonight, but you've got lots of chances to see them.

Tour dates, videos and flyers after the jump....

Continue reading "Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground, We are Wiley & more in This Week in Indie (part 1) "

photos by Bao Nguyen

Jon Wiley & Lightspeed Champion @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

A circle of Brooklyn-based friends have joined together to throw a benefit for beloved, local musician, Jon Wiley. We Are the Wiley: A Benefit Concert for Jon Wiley will feature Adam Green, Lightspeed Champion, DJ Johnny Tropical, and Chairlift at The Shank-an art space and concert venue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn-on Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 8PM.

On March 5, 2009, professional guitarist, bassist, and keyboardist, Jon Wiley awoke without feeling or mobility in his arms and legs. He was subsequently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and incurred more than $30,000 worth of medical bills for his week-long hospital stay. After a lengthy recovery process, Jon has regained most feeling in his limbs and has gone on in recent months to record and perform with Lightspeed Champion, Adam Green, and his solo project, SpaceCamp. However, he is still without the means to afford his own healthcare.

Join us to celebrate the extraordinary talent of Jon Wiley, and raise funds to cover the expenses of a musician in need. This is a concrete opportunity to help a friend who, like so many artists and musicians in the United States, lack affordable healthcare. Jon's story highlights the importance of healthcare for every person and the value of living each day to the fullest.

The benefit flyer w/ more details, video from Mercury Lounge, and more pictures from MHOW, below...

Continue reading "Lightspeed Champion played Merc (video) & MHOW (pics), playing A Benefit for Jon Wiley w/ Chairlift & Adam Green"

Metric @ APW 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* THIS WEEK IN INDIE
* Nouvelle Vague @ Irving Plaza
* Earth Wind & Fire, Chicago @ MSG
* Portugal the Man, Kiss Kiss @ Southpaw
* Regina Spektor, Little Joy @ Beacon Theatre
* Tinted Windows, Locksley @ Highline Ballroom
* Mostly Other People Do the Killing @ The Stone
* The Phenomenal Handclap Band @ Music on the Oval
* Jonathan Richman, Vic Chesnutt @ Bowery Ballroom
* Metric, Sebastien Grainger, Smile Smile @ Terminal 5
* pow wow!, Browns, Dinosaur Feathers @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* Clues, Drink Up Buttercup, Bridges and Powerlines @ Santos
* Hip Hop Legends w/ Raekwon, Naughty By Nature @ BB King's
* Pepi Ginsberg, Emilie Simon, Glass Ghost @ Public Assembly
* Sisters, My Teenage Stride, Knight School, I'm Turning Into @ Glasslands
* Jon Spencer Blues Explosion & The Teenagers @ South Street Seaport
* Walter Schreifels, Borrowed Eyes, Glacier Hiking @ Studio at Webster Hall
* Junkstar, The Drums, Action Painters, What Would Jesus Drivev@ The Annex
* Loudon Wainwright III, Sloan Wainwright, Lucy Wainwright Roche @ Madison Square Park
* Slasher Risk, Grasshopper, Effing, Power Animal, Chaos Majik, Fiasco @ Death By Audio
* Lightspeed Champion, Apache Beat, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Spacecamp @ Mercury Lounge

The much-anticipated NYC debut of Clues, the band featuring ex-Unicorn Alden Penner, hits Santos tonight.

Nouvelle Vague's show at Irving Plaza is one of only four U.S. gigs for the French band.

Dave Hill was just at Bonnaroo. Tonight he plays guitar in Walter Schreifels's band.

Jonathan Richman and Vic Chesnutt play the second of two Bowery Ballroom shows. Their tour continues.

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion for free at South Street Seaport!

The first free Wednesday Madison Square Park shows of the season comes tonight with "A Wainwright Family Concert" featuring Loudon, Sloan and Lucy.

The Phenomenal Handclap Band play a free set at the Stuy Town Oval. Coming up, they'll be celebrate the release of their debut record at Santos Party House on Thursday, June 25th at Santos.

Just as a heads up, the BAM R&B Fest that happens in the Metrotech Commons every Thursday at noon will continue tomorrow with singer Simone, who's the daughter of jazz legend Nina Simone.

It'll be your first chance in a while to catch Lightspeed Champion and Regina Spektor. Newish videos from both: Lightspeed doing new song "Marlene" acoustic and live, and Regina's official video for new album track "Laughing With," below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Amazing Baby - Smoke Bros (MP3)

Amazing Baby

"I actually miss the days when you just wrote about Amazing Baby in eeevery post." - BV commenter Eric Serpa | June 4, 2009 4:59 PM

Do they have questionable taste when it comes to fashion, their album covers and music videos? Maybe, but I don't think you can accuse Amazing Baby of the same, musically, or jumping on any bandwagons. Rewild is psychedelic without being being retro, danceable at times, heavy, glammy, catchy as hell and full of inventive arrangements and production. It rocks and swoons and sounds great loud. And they don't sound like any single other band out there. You can download "Smoke Bros" (which reminds me of Shriekback a little bit) at the top of this post. And you can stream the whole album at their MySpace.

Lightspeed Champion

Still reading? Phoenix's openers at tomorrow's (6/18) Music Hall of Williamsburg is Lightspeed Champion. That show is beyond sold-out, but tonight (6/17), he's playing a warm up show at Mercury Lounge, which will be his first in a long time. Dev has become a Brooklyn resident in the last year, which is where he also recorded his still-untitled second solo album (due in Oct.) with help from the Spacecamp boys who will also be his backing band at both shows. As a fan of last year's underrated Falling Off the Lavendar Bridge, I'm anxious to hear Dev's new material. Tickets are still available.

Spacecamp are also playing a set of their own at Mercury Lounge, opening the night, though you'd think it would've made more sense for them to play next-to-last and just have Dev come out and join them for a seamless transition, but I am a blogger not a stage manager. The band now have a full-time keyboardist in the mix which has made them a bit funkier (clavinet tends to do that). You can can get an idea of that in the footage Joly shot from Spacecamp's Annex show two weeks ago (below). In between Spacecamp and Lightspeed are Apache Beat and New Orleans' Hurray for the Riff Raff.

Nobunny

The show I'm most looking forward to this week, though, is this Friday (6/19) at Bruar Falls: Nobunny, Hunx and His Punx, German Measels, Baby Shakes and The Beets. I wrote about Nobunny the last time he was through town, having just caught him at SXSW, and his shows are fun and creepy all at the same time. (It's that mask.) If you haven't heard his debut, Love Visions, it's a lot of fun if you like bare-bones Ramones style punky pop. He recently put out a cassette-only album, Raw Romance, of demos and outtakes that was also pretty good -- it's sold out but maybe he'll have copies on tour with him. Nobunny also plays an all-ages show at Death by Audio two nights later (6/21).

The whole evening at Bruar Falls sounds like fun. Hunx and His Punx look and sound like they lept out of a John Waters movie and judging by their music videos I can only hope they bring that level of camp to their live show. Hunx has a new single out, "Teardrops on My Telephone," on Jay Reatard's Shattered label (also home to Nobunny). You can see the video for that song below. Hunx is playing a bunch of shows and parties this week, and all his dates are at the bottom of this post.

Also: the girl group punk of Baby Shakes; German Measels' fake mustache pop; and The Beets who seem to play every four days but I've enjoyed every show I've seen of theirs (including two previous at Bruar Falls).

Other shows of note: there's a TWII-approved line-up at Glasslands on tonight (6/17): Sisters, My Teenage Stride, and Knight School. All the bands are good, but if you haven't seen Sisters yet, you should really rectify that as soon as possible. On of my all time favorite new local bands of the moment.

Crocodiles are back in town, playing Union Pool on Thursday (6/18) and Mercury Lounge on Saturday (6/20). I don't care what Pitchfork says, I think their album is pretty good and they were fun at Pianos earlier this year.

And it wouldn't be a proper TWII column without mentioning this year's Twee as Fuck party at Cake Shop. TaF is a monthy party in London, as well as a fanzine and label, and they bring it over here in June. I went to last year's moderately-attended event which featured Afternoon Naps, Bears, and Pains at Being Pure at Heart who are headlining again this year though it's an understatement to say that things have changed for them. Not that they don't totally deserve it, but it still boggles my mind that the Pains have become a big as they have. TPOBPAH just announced a fall tour and those dates are below. Their next NYC show after Cake Shop is at South Street Seaport (home of tonight's Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Show).

With a lineup that also includes their Slumberland labelmates Crystal Stilts and Cause Co-Motion, as well as London's Hatcham Social, this is gonna be one super-packed, sweaty night at Cake Shop. Advance tickets are sold out, but there are a few available at the door if you get there early. Doors are at 7pm.

That's it for this week. Flyers, videos, and tour dates are after the jump....

Continue reading "Amazing Baby, Nobunny, Hunx & His Punx, Lightspeed Champion, TPOBPAH & more in This Week In Indie "

Lightspeed Champion @ Knitting Factory Oct. 25th 2008 (more by Faith-Ann Young)

We posted previously about Lightspeed Champion's many planned projects. Those include a new book and record, a performance at the Barbicon's upcoming Moondog tribute, and a Mercury Lounge show in June. The date for that show was June 18th, but it's been moved to Wednesday, June 17th. From the Bowery: "All 6/18 tickets will be honored. Tickets can be refunded from point of purchase prior to day of show." Hurray for the Riff Raff opens. Tickets are still on sale.

Instead, on June 18th, Lightspeed Champion is opening for Pheonix at Music Hall of Williamsburg. That show is currently sold out.

Video updates of Lightspeed Champion recording his new disc earlier this year, below...

Continue reading "Lightspeed Champion - 2 NYC shows, 1 on a new date "

by Andrew Frisicano

Lightspeed Champion @ Knitting Factory (more by Faith-Ann Young)

Lightspeed Champion is playing the Mercury Lounge in NYC on Thursday, June 18th. No ticket info yet.

The Champion himself, Devonte Hynes, laid a huge update on his website/blog last night, with details on his three unique, upcoming UK dates and new book and album(s) info. All of that below...

Continue reading "Lightspeed Champion playing 3 unique UK gigs & Mercury Lounge, wrote a story (in a book) & new albums "

photos by Zach Stern

Village Voice: Besides playing shows in New York, anything you're going to check out?

Ladyhawke: I have a friend there who is a musician and I hope he can show me some things. He's one of about three people I know there. But I've only been there once before and I thought it was amazing.

The bars stay open until 4.

Really?

Yeah.

Wicked.

Continue reading "Ladyhawke & Heartsrevolution @ Studio B, NYC - pics "

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Max Tundra - "Which Song" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Max Tundra - Playboy (Hot Chip) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Max Tundra - promo mix 2008 (MP3)

Max Tundra

Enigmatic Brit artist Max Tundra has been releasing music for 10 years but only just released his third album, Parallax Error Beheads You, back in October -- his first in six years. One of the reasons for being such a slowpoke probably has something to do with the way he makes them:

The main technology behind this and all of my albums has been the Commodore Amiga 500 - bestselling home computer at the time - running a $1 public domain software tracker program. The sounds don't emerge from the Amiga itself however; the machine is used to control various synths, samplers and the like. I look at columns of numbers all day on the screen of a black and white television; these digits relate to pitches, durations and tones. A lot of the noises on my record are real; the cello, bass guitar, drums, piano, trumpet and others are all rehearsed and played by me, but sometimes I will use realistic fake versions of these noises. Each song is recorded in a different way; drumkits are recorded on mono cassette recorders twice, then stuck together on the left and right of a mix; string arrangements are planned and then layered up; each note of an electric guitar is sampled so that it can be sequenced in ways too complicated for my fat fingers to play at full speed. And then I have a cup of tea and sing my heart out.

Darren Hanlon

A few more options for you this week. Australian singer-songwriter Darren Hanlon has two NYC shows this week: tonight (1/13) at Googies (above The Living Room), and tomorrow (1/14) at the Bell House where he'll be trading off songs with Graham Smith of Kleenex Girl Wonder in the venue's front lounge. It's a free show. Hanlon's shows are as well known for his witty between-song stories and banter as he is his lovely folk-pop, so if you are fans of Billy Bragg, Robyn Hitchcock or fellow Aussies The Lucksmiths (with whom Hanlon spent a brief stint in the late '90s). He's a charmer.

As I mentioned a while back, Ida Maria is in town this week playing Mercury Lounge on Thursday (1/15) and Union Hall on Friday (1/16) and I am super-psyched for this. Both shows are sold out, but Union Hall usually has a few tickets available night of show if you get there right as doors open (which is 8PM, but Ida's not on till 10).

Also this week: The Muslims make their first New York appearances since switching their name to The Soft Pack. Their EP, which made my Best of 2008 list and has already sold out two vinyl pressings, is getting re-pressed in February under the new moniker with an additional three songs. Maybe they'll have those with them at the merch table for these shows? They play Mercury Lounge on Friday (1/16) and Union Pool on Saturday (1/17). Both shows also feature their 1928 Recordings label-mates the Browns.

Speaking of name changes, SpaceKamp, who I've written about before, now spell their name as SpaceCamp. Same great sound, now with more C. In addition to working with Adam Green, Spacecamp are helping Dev Hynes with the new Lightspeed Champion record as well. (Video of Dev and Spacecamp in the studio below.) They play Zebulon on Friday (1/16) and maybe you can quiz them on the new spelling if you go.

Videos and such after the jump...

Continue reading "Max Tundra, Darren Hanlon, SpaceCamp, Soft Pack, Ida Maria & more in this Week in Indie"

by Ryan Barkan

Advertising agencies make lots of online commercials. You know, spots made not for television, but with the hope the brand's message will spread virally on the net in an organic way. Though lots of them never catch steam like a rickroll, the new Guitar Hero World Tour "Bike Hero" video has already been watched over one million times. The creative takes The Living End's "Prisoner of Society" and turns it into a live action, first person bike ride through the song's playable level in GHWT. It's a pretty cool idea with amazing execution and a slight bit of computer magic. Watch the video below.

Other Notable Licensing News:

Bishop Allen played two shows in NYC over the weekend. They are a band that has benefited from some key licensing placements in the last year. The band appeared and performed in the recent Michael Sera movie, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. Watch the scene below. The song they performed, "Middle Management", was also on the soundtrack and used in the film's trailer. They were also used in a commercial for Sony digital cameras late last year - watch the spot here.

Crayola goes indie-cool this holiday season with Dan Deacon and Lightspeed Champion songs in the campaign for the new Glow Station (via Pitchfork). Watch the spots below.

The new holiday commercial from LL Bean features "Valley Winter Song" by Fountains Of Wayne.

Danish band The Blue Van rock the soundtrack to the new Samsung Behold commercial. Watch below.

While enjoying college football on Saturday, I heard Nick Drake's "Place To Be" used in a promo spot for Michigan State. That video is below too.

I have a bunch of friends that can not get enough of the show Top Chef. Some of those friends are also crazy for the Foo Fighters (editor's note: with friends like that who needs enemies? JUST KIDDING. Actually that doesn't even make sense...). Those friends will be in heaven when TC goes "Foo Fighters Thanksgiving" this upcoming November 26th. The episode taped during a tour stop in Rochester, NY; the band will guest judge the few remaining contestants. Apparently, TC is Dave Grohl's favorite show.

You may have heard A-Ha's classic jam "Take On Me" before. It is/was a popular song and video. So popular, A.C. Newman is going to cover it for an upcoming Valentine's Day compilation for Starbucks. Even more so, you can take it on karaoke-style in the new video game by Microsoft, LIPS. The pretty clever commercial for the game uses the song as well. Watch it below.

The game's soundtrack also includes songs by The Police, Coldplay, Duffy, The Cure, Peter, Bjorn, & John, Radiohead, and more.

Nintendo DS and Wii players can now get their skateboard on while on the go with the release of EA's Skate It. The soundtrack contains tracks by Cut Chemist, Fujiya & Miyagi, Judas Priest, The Clash, Sly & the Family Stone, and more.

continued below...

Continue reading "This week in Music Licensing "

words by Black Bubblegum, show photos by Faith-Ann Young

Rival Schools closed down the main stage at the Brooklyn Vegan Day Party on Oct 25th, and if you stayed with us, and weren't feeling rather grim, chances are you were down in the Old Office enjoying (hopefully), the late addition to our party, Lightspeed Champion tear through a set that included two new songs and a bunch of covers by bands like Nirvana, Heart, and Pixies. Dev kept it light and fun, sometimes included members of the audience, and tried his best to hold it together after a late start due to the band/drummer (Jackson!) not bringing their own cymbals. Friend and partner in crime Emmy The Great (who also played the Brooklyn Vegan showcase at Music Hall Of Williamsburg earlier in the week) joined in on the festivities.

To make this post slightly more timely, the picture up there on the top is Lightspeed on Halloween (yesterday). Pictures from last week's show, below...

Continue reading "Lightspeed Champion @ Knitting Factory (BV CMJ), NYC -pics"

The Mae Shi @ Market Hotel, NYC (more by Leia Jospe)

The Carps @ Gramercy Theatre, NYC (more by Leia Jospe)

Lightspeed Champion's last NYC show was headlining Bowery Ballroom on June 7th (which was the day after he played Conan O'Brien). He was not scheduled to play any shows during CMJ....until about an hour ago....

BrooklynVegan presents a show
@ Knitting Factory, FREE, All Ages, Saturday, October 25, 2008

12-3 $2.00 PBR special!

the lineup
12:00 (noon) Starfucker (main room)
12:15 All the Saints (old office)
12:45 The Carps (main room)
01:00 Howlies (old office)
1:30 Little Boots (main room)
1:45 Doug Gillard of Guided By Voices (old office)
2:15 Shout Out Out Out (main room)
2:30 Delta Spirit (old office)
3:00 Marnie Stern (main room)
3:15 Akimbo (old office) *
4:00 Made Out of Babies (main room) *
4:00 Takka Takka (old office)
5:00 Rival Schools (main room) *
5:45 Women (tap bar)
6:00 Trap Them *
6:30 The Mae Shi (tap bar)
7:00 Vreid (old office) *
7:15 Lightspeed Champion (tap bar)
8:00 Lemonade (tap bar)
8:45 Pattern is Movement (tap bar)

12-6 Finger on the Pulse DJing in the main room

* bands with an asterisk are for those just seeking the 'heavy'

Pattern is Movement @ Webster Hall (more by Tim Griffin)

A video from Lightspeed's Bowery show is below...

Continue reading "Lightspeed Champion added to BV show @ Knitting Factory!"

photos by Abbey Braden for atp 2008

comedian Eugene Mirman @ ATP NY, Friday night

The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival kicks off at the Bell House on Thursday. More pictures from ATP NY, days one and two, below....

Continue reading "two days to Mirman Fest, more pics from ATP day one & two"