words and photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

DOWNLOAD: Jens Lekman - Water Runs Dry (Boyz II Men) (live @ Googie's) (MP3)

I went to see the Frida Hyvonen show at Googie's Lounge last night (11/11). I was both looking forward to seeing Frida for the first time and secretly hoping Jens Lekman would be there - apparently I wasn't the only one. The places was packed, and I'm guessing Joe McGinty's Piano Parlour is not standing room only on many other weeks. Luckily I got there early and was able to grab a table. Jens was in the audience.

After a bit of waiting, Jens got up around 10:30 and introduced Joe McGinty and a woman playing recorder. Joe played piano while the woman played three songs on the recorder. Bizarre. Then Jens got up and sang three songs while Joe accompanied him. They played "Sipping on the Sweet Nectar," "Water Runs Dry," (yes, a Boyz II Men cover), and "The Opposite of Hallelujah." All three songs were absolutely brilliant jazz arrangements, and I'm suddenly craving a Sinatra-style album from everyone's favorite Singing DJ.

Then Frida got up. Unfortunately I was a bit distracted during her bit (my camera broke early in the set last night, and the stress of that was overwhelming), but man was she a performer. She played a set lined with guest appearances including - you guessed it - Jens Lekman. I'm not overly familiar with Frida's music - I knew "Once I was a Serene Teenaged Child" and "Science", but after last night I'm a convert. I believe most of the other tracks come off of Frida's recent release, "Silence is Wild," which came out on November 4th.

If given another chance, I would definitely catch Frida again. Though I'm busy tonight, I'd strongly suggest checking her out at the Church of Sweden and also picking up a copy of her record.

Grab the MP3 of Jens singing "Water Runs Dry" above, and check out a few more pictures below...

Continue reading "Frida Hyvonen & Jens Lekman @ Googies Lounge, NYC -pics"

Tickets are on sale for the September 14th show (thx Rob).

Preorders will begin September 8 at mergerecords.com for SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years, a deluxe subscription-only box set with special artwork and packaging. Quantities will be limited to the number of subscribers who enroll between the September 8 start date and the January 2009 delivery of the first two volumes.

The first two volumes will kick off a series of 14 custom-curated compilations spanning the Merge Records catalogue, each featuring the curators' handpicked Merge selections as well as exclusively commissioned original artwork. These compilations and additional exclusive content will be delivered only to SCORE! subscribers throughout Merge's 20th anniversary year of 2009.

The curators of the first volumes will be Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Phil Morrison, director of Junebug, The Upright Citizens Brigade and numerous music videos. Curators for future volumes will include Amy Poehler, David Byrne, author Jonathan Lethem, artist Marcel Dzama, Momofuku chef David Chang and many more to be announced.

Additionally, the entire SCORE! Merge Records: The First 20 Years project will benefit specific charitable causes handpicked by the curators.

Watch for future announcements regarding SCORE!-related projects and special events commemorating the first two decades of the label that has brought us the likes of Arcade Fire, Spoon, M. Ward, Conor Oberst, She & Him, Lambchop, Superchunk and so many more.

"I think that I saw the baddest Telecaster player on the planet last night, his name is Jim Campilongo." [puremusic.com]

Jim Campilongo w/ Martha Wainwright @ Highline Ballroom (more by Chris La Putt)

While we're on the subject of guitarists with Monday night residencies in NYC,

CAMPILONGO ELECTRIC TRIO
LIVING ROOM MONDAY NIGHTS - NEW YORK CITY RESIDENCY

EVERY MONDAY- SPECIAL GUESTS - SPECIAL GROUPS - SPECIAL HAPPENINGS - 11PM to 1:30 AM
AUGUST 18 - w/ Stephan Crump and Tony Mason
AUGUST 25 - w/ Stephan Crump and Tony Mason
SEPTEMBER 1 - w/ Stephan Crump and Tony Mason
SEPTEMBER 8 - w/ Brad Jones? and Tony Mason
SEPTEMBER 15 - w/ Brad Jones? and Tony Mason
SEPTEMBER 22 - w/ Stephan Crump and Tony Mason
SEPTEMBER 29 - w/ Stephan Crump and Tony Mason

Monday July 7, 2008 @ The Living Room

Songs Of The Band featuring Steve Rosenthal, Chris Bergson, Jim Boggia, Lee Feldman, Jesse Harris, Charlie Burnham, Kieran McGee, Common Rotation, Milton, Richard Julian, Joy Askew, Noam Weinstein, Chris Lee, Mamie Minch, Jonah Smith, Ken Webb, Hope DeBates, Jim Allen, Eric Feigenbaum, Orba Squara, Smokey Hormel, Jenny Scheinman, Scott Sharrard, Bari Koral, Rod Alonzo, Dina Regine, Dave Phelps, Sam Barron, Mike Erb, Daru Oda, Sasha Dobson, Greta Gertler, Debbie Deane, Sheri Miller, Jan Bell, Emilie Cardinaux, Chrissi Poland, Ben Carroll, Leif Arntzen, Jon Dryden, and more!! ($10 all night, buy now)

Joseph Arthur & Mike Mills (REM) @ Living Room, NYC - April 1

Last night (April 1st) Mike Mills unexpectedly hopped on stage to sing "Pale Blue Eyes" with Joseph Arthur. Ryan Adams and Craig Finn were in the audience. -Carla

How was last night's Elliott Smith tribute?

photos & video by Chris La Putt

As you know, The Living Room has been celebrating their 10th Anniversary with some special shows night after night since March 19th. And as promised, Norah Jones showed up. It happened last night (March 31) around midnight which was right around the time John Vanderslice and St Vincent were finishing up right next door at Pianos......

Continue reading "The Little Willies, Norah Jones & friends @ the Living Room - pics & video"

The aforementioned Living Room 10th Anniversary celebration kicks off tonight (March 19th....at the Living Room). Here's what's happening:

8pm
Elvis Costello Tribute Night featuring Jim Boggia, Leah Siegel, Jim Campilongo, Milton, Julia Darling, Brian Seymour, Genie Morrow, Rachel Loshak, Adam Levy, Jon Dryden, Teddy Goldstein, Joy Askew, Jim Allen, Ben Carroll, Tom Freund, Julia Greenberg and Ken Webb

Elliot Smith Tribute Night featuring Anne Heaton, Michelle Casillas, Kevin Johnston, Cat Martino, Julia Greenberg, Amanda Thorpe, Pal Shazar, Jules Shear, Anne Heaton, Greta Gertler, Sasha Dobson, Julia Darling, The Selfsame, Leah Siegel, Jimi Zhivago, Mamie Minch, Jesse Harris, Daru Oda, Lianne Smith, Leif Arntzen

Establishments that don’t charge at the door are dotted throughout the city, but the Lower East Side is the capital. Within two blocks of Pianos — which usually has paid shows in its main space but free events upstairs — there are 10 or so such bars. Expand the radius a bit and you have dozens of choices. The Living Room is the Bottom Line of this sphere, packing in four or five singer-songwriters a night. With a similar average of sweaty rock bands, Arlene’s Grocery is the no-cover CBGB. [NY Times]