Though tickets for the previously discussed Turing Machine/Violent Bullshit show at Union Pool on 5/18 have flown out the door (it is now sold out), at least you didn't entirely miss the train. Williamsburg, Brooklyn venue Union Pool have announced both bands, along with names like Eric Copeland (Black Dice), Rain Machine (Kyp Malone of TV on The Radio), Bubbles, TEEN, Ryan Sawyer / Nate Wooley / C. Spencer Yeh, LONE WOLF and Test House, as the first batch of artists in their Summer Thunder Series, their annual set of FREE shows taking place on the patio on every other Saturday afternoon from May 26th until August 18th. Summer Thunder 2012 is being curated by the venue along with Ryan Sawyer (Lone Wolf/Tall Firs/Glass Rock) and Summer Thunder creator and artist J. Penry, with each week promising free music, "drink specials, free koozies, T-shirts for purchase by J. Penry, and lots of Jameson". That last part just sold me.

Exact dates are on the poster above. Exact lineups TBA soon.

photos by Amanda Hatfield

Wild Beasts @ Highline Ballroom

Wild Beasts headlined Highline Ballroom on Aug 11th with Lone Wolf and The Kissaway Trail. Wild Beasts' record, Two Dancers is currently up for the Mercury Prize (the UK's album of the year), the results of which will be announced on September 7th. The show was one of a few US dates for the crew, and now the band is already back in their native UK preparing for a string of festival dates including the Reading/Leeds Festivals next weekend.

Lone Wolf, also from the UK, plays the Green Man Festival this weekend with Wild Beasts before heading out on a short UK tour with Phil Selway (of Radiohead). The Radiohead drummer is preparing to welcome a solo album of his own entitled Familial, due in the US on Nonesuch on Aug 31. Featuring appearances from Glenn Kotche (Wilco), Pat Sansone, Sebastian Steinberg (ex-Soul coughing), and more, the LP is currently up for preorder, and you can stream a few songs from it below.

More Highline pictures, WB's setlist, tour dates, and the Philip Selway stream is below...

Continue reading "Wild Beasts played Highline Ballroom (pics) w/ Kissaway Trail & Lone Wolf who are touring w/ Phil Selway (new album) "

Wild Beasts @ Union Pool in 2009 (more by Tim Griffin)

England's Wild Beasts nabbed a nomination for this year's Mercury Prize for their record Two Dancers. The shortlist of nominees is below, and the winner will be announced September 7th.

As previously mentioned, the band plays a series of North American shows starting in Chicago this weekend, where they perform at Lollapalooza. After which, they visit NYC for a gig at Highline Ballroom on August 11th with Lone Wolf and The Kissaway Trail. Tickets are still on sale.

Their label, Domino, writes:

In honor of these special shows and their recent Mercury Prize nomination, Domino is releasing a 10" featuring "We Still Got The Taste Dancin' On Our Tongues" from their acclaimed sophomore album, Two Dancers. The track is b/w a very rare B-side "Through The Iron Gate" (previously only released in Japan), as well as "Two Dancers ii" remixed by label mate Jon Hopkins, and a gorgeous melancholic acoustic version of "The Devil's Crayon."

We're offering these tracks as a complimentary download from August 2-9. You can also grab a physical copy of the 10" at any of Wild Beasts' shows or from the Domino Mart.

Continue reading "Wild Beasts up for Mercury Prize, about to tour (dates), giving away new 10" as MP3s"