words & photos by Chris La Putt

It's been a disorienting year for Martha Wainwright -- the Montreal-born singer/songwriter lost her mother (renown singer Kate McGarrigle) to cancer, went into labour early (thankfully delivering a healthy baby boy), and took up residence in a new and somewhat foreign home in Brooklyn.

Her remarkable skill at performing onstage is evident in her new live disc, 'Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, À Paris,' which pays homage to legendary French singer Edith Piaf. Wainwright played three nights at New York's Dixon Place Theater for the recording, singing some of Piaf's lesser-known tracks. Her renditions uphold the integrity of the originals, but she also dusts them with her own magic. [Spinner]

Monday night's intimate show at Le Poisson Rouge marked the last night of a summer tour spanning the globe from Europe to LA and back to New York. Martha was joined by C.J. Camerieri on trumpet, Will Holshouser on accordion, Doug Wieselman on guitar and clarinet, Thomas Bartlett (Doveman) on piano, and her husband Brad Albetta on bass. If you missed Martha's two shows don't fret! CBC Radio 2 recorded Martha's show at the Mondial Choral Festival in Quebec when she was backed by not one but two choirs.

Opening for the show were the Mittenstrings which incidentally is partially made up of Martha's two cousins (Anna McGarrigle is their mother) and their friend.

Speaking of family, we'll probably find out soon which "friends" showed up to the "Lucy Wainwright Roche and friends - Album Release" album release show that happened to tonight at City Winery (Ira Glass and Dave Hill at a minimum). And tickets are still on sale for Rufus's December 6th show at Carnegie Hall

This post contains pictures from Monday night's show. They continue, with a video from the show of Martha covering Kate McGarrigle's Tell My Sister, below...

Continue reading "Martha Wainwright sang Piaf @ Le Poisson Rouge (pics)"

Pete Seeger @ Clearwater Festival 2009 (more by Chris La Putt)

City Winery will be hosting a three-night oil spill relief benefit, dubbed Reclaim The Coast, on July 23rd, 25th and 30th. The lineups vary for each...

July 23rd: Pete Seeger, Richard Barone, James Maddock, Elysian Fields, Mike Doughty, Lucy Wainwright Roche, The Roches, Julie Gold, Peter Yarrow (More TBA)

July 25th: Ian Axel, Ed Romanoff, The Madison Square Gardeners, Paula Valstein, The Spring Standards, The Wellspring, Rich Pagano (More TBA)

July 30th: Marshall Crenshaw, Martin Rivas, Christina Courtin, Among the Oak & Ash, Jay Nash (More TBA)

Tickets for all three are on sale.

They'll also have a packed house for "Channeling Chilton - A night of Alex Chilton's Music" on July 28th. The confirmed lineup includes Yo La Tengo, Marshall Crenshaw, Jody Stephens, Jon Auer, Doug Garrison, Rene Coman, Alan Vega, Jon Spencer (of the Blues Explosion), Fran Kowalski, Chris Stamey, Lesa Aldridge (Elizabeth Hoehn), Jay Proctor (of Jay & the Techniques), Bill Cunningham, Gary Talley, Terry Manning, Evan Dando, Jesse Malin, Danny Kroha (of The Gories). In light of the recent passing of founding Big Star bassist Andy Hummel, it should be an emotional night.
Tickets are on sale.

More info on the Gulf Coast relief effort are below...

Continue reading "City Winery hosting a 3-night Pete Seeger Oil Spill relief benefit & Big Star tribute night"

"Played the Simon & Garfunkel tribute in Central Park last night. John Roderick brought it! Ben Gibbard's psych jam ruled..." - Aimee Mann

Holmes Brothers (Sherman, Popsy and Wendell) & Mayor Bloomberg (WFUV)

Ben Gibbard & St. Vincent play "Fakin it" (WFUV)

Paul Simon & WFUV Music Director Rita Houston (WFUV)

SummerStage hosted a pricey benefit for its free programming last night (June 8) in Central Park. The show was a tribute to the songs of Simon & Garfunkel, and musicians covered the pair mostly as duos. St. Vincent and Ben Gibbard teamed up for "Fakin' It," Dean & Britta played "Homeward Bound," Alejandro Escovedo and Willie Nile played "The Boxer," Aimee Mann and John Roderick did "Only Living Boy in New York," Loudon Wainwright III and Lucy Wainwright Roche sang "Bleecker Street" and lots more. Both Simon and Garfunkel were there, but didn't perform. The full performer+set list is posted below.

How did the new speakers at Central Park sound? The SummerStage series continues through August. Celebrate Brooklyn kicks off TONIGHT (6/9).

No videos from the show at the moment, but someone posted some from the show's rehearsal that took place one night earlier at City Winery. Those with the Central Park setlist, below...

Continue reading "Simon & Garfunkel were honored at Summerstage, Ben Gibbard performed w/ St. Vincent & much more"

"Madison Square is probably best known around the world for lending its name to Madison Square Garden, which was a sports arena located just northeast of the park until 1925. The current Madison Square Garden, the fourth such building, is not in the area. Notable buildings around Madison Square include the Flatiron Building, the Met Life Tower, and the New York Life Building. A new exclusive luxury high-rise condominium tower, "One Madison Park", will rival the Met Life Tower in height." [Wikipedia]

The lineup for Madison Square Park's annual Oval Lawn series of free Wednesday shows has been announced. Held in the same NYC location that Lucero and others are playing in June for the Big Apple BBQ, the series will offer eight free concerts this summer, ending with the previously reported John Scofield Trio show on August 5th.

Its opening show on June 17th will be "A Wainwright Family Concert" with Loudon Wainwright III, Sloan Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche all sharing the bill.

Kicking off the 2009 season with a real "family affair," this triple bill features three uniquely talented voices of the highly acclaimed Wainwright family. Loudon Wainwright III headlines with his trademark self-effacing wit and broad humor. Sloan Wainwright, Loudon's sister, is known for a musical style blending pop, folk, jazz and blues. Lucy Wainwright Roche, Loudon's daughter, opens the show with her own bittersweet songwriting style, reminiscent of Joni Mitchell and Patty Griffith.

The Wainwrights all have individual upcoming dates across the country, listed below. Lucy Wainwright Roche's schedule includes a NYC solo show at Joe's Pub on June 20th, a few days after the family show. Tickets are on sale. If you're wondering how these Wainwrights are related to each other and the rest, Sloan's website features a helpful family tree.

We also just posted a whole bunch of other free shows taking place in NYC parks this summer, and you can browse our Free Shows tag for even more than that.

Full Madison Square Park Oval schedule + directions, and all Wainwright dates, below...

Continue reading "Madison Square Park - 2009 free show schedule ++ other Wainwright (Loudon, Lucy & Sloan) tour dates"

photos by Chris La Putt

Neko Case played her first of two shows at the Nokia Theater in NYC last night (4/13). Guests and bandmembers included Rachel Flotard from Visqueen, Lucy Wainwright Roche, Norah O'connor and Kelly Hogan. At one point Neko gave a shoutout to fellow New Pornographer AC Newman who appeared on Letterman (with Nicole Atkins) on the same night. Neko will play Letterman on Wednesday (tomorrow). The second Nokia Theatre show is tonight (4/14). More pictures from the first night, including one of the setlist, below...

Continue reading "Neko Case & Crooked Fingers @ Nokia Theatre - pics, setlist"

words & photos by Jacob Blickenstaff

At the City Winery last week (3/4), Rufus Wainwright put together an acoustic, unamplified show lit only by candle light to promote BlackoutSabbath, a kind of grass roots conservation thing inspired by the improvisational adaptation of New Yorkers during the Great Blackout of years past.

Ironically, the only low point of the evening was when two hoped-up Obama campaigners went on a bit too long about 'change'. Otherwise the music was excellent - intimate, warm and playful.

The gang included Rufus, Aunt Sloan, Lucy Wainwright-Roche, David Byrne (who brought along current tour-mates Mark De Gli Antoni and Mauro Refosco), Jenni Muldaur (also on tour with Byrne), Janeane Garofalo (comedy bit/rant) and Teddy Thompson. As Rufus put it in the beginning, it was "like a campfire sing-a-long".

Some of the highlights included a group effort on the Roger Miller classic "King of the Road", Teddy Thompson covering ABBA's "Super Trooper" (which as he pointed out is an ode to an electric spotlight), David Byrne singing Webb Pierce's "There Stands the Glass", Rufus doing a solo guitar performance of "Beautiful Child" (with the audience filling in the chromatic rise and fall) plus an encore of "Hallelujah" with Rufus on piano.

Rufus played a benefit at Highline Ballroom one day earlier. David Byrne headlined two nights at Radio City Music Hall less than a week earlier, and has another show coming up at the NJ venue Rufus and Lucy played in mid-February. More BlackoutSabbath pictures below...

Continue reading "Rufus Wainwright's BlackoutSabbath w/ special guest David Byrne & Janeane Garofalo @ City Winery, NYC - pics"

photos by Tim Griffin

"For Rufus Wainwright, being gay can be a bit of a distraction.

Wainwright, who has been open about his homosexuality since the release of his eponymous debut album in 1998, acknowledges that he isn't the only gay pop star, but believes he is the first to begin his career totally out of the closet.

Though his personal life has resulted in tons of press in the past decade, it has also been a liability, Wainwright told The Times.

"It's an exciting prospect, and always has been, but on the other hand, you know, it has diminished at times my success," he said. "But I can't really - there's no sort of skirting the issue, because it is just a plain fact."" [The Montclair Times]

Lucy Wainwright Roche opened for her brother Rufus at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ on Friday night, the 13th of February. They both play again, with no electricity, on March 4th at City Winery with Sean Lennon who was recently added to the Blackoutsabbath bill.

More pictures from NJ below...

Continue reading "Rufus & Lucy Wainwright @ Wellmont Theater in NJ - pics"

DOWNLOAD: Bon Iver - Blood Bank (MP3)

Vivian Girls rocking for kids @ the Living Room - Jan 9, 2009 (by Maryanne Ventrice)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Whiplash @ UCB
* Les Paul @ Iridium
* Mondomundo Fest @ SOB's
* Matteah Baim @ Chelsea Market
* Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange @ Union Hall
* City and Colour & William Elliot Whitmore @ Bowery Ballroom

Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against The Machine was born today in 1970.

Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange brings Lucy Wainwright Roche, Rebecca Pronsky, Stephen Clair, and Brooke Campbell to Union Hall tonight for free.

"On January 12, in presenting the second part of the 2nd Annual Mondo Mundo Festival at S.O.B.'s, the Mondo Mundo Agency brings APAP attendees and NYC fans alike an eclectic line-up of four globally-influenced ensembles each with a unique, modern interpretation on music from Ireland, Latin America and Morocco.; the first 100 industry presenters with APAP badges will get into the festival for free. Mondo Mundo Agency will present a second evening of music as part of their 2nd Annual Mondo Mundo Festival featuring four artists from their roster including The McDades, Zemog El Gallo Bueno, Jose Conde and Hassan Hakmoun at S.O.B.'s."

happy 50th Birthday Motown.

NY Mag has a feature on Antony & the Johnsons.

Pop Matters lists the Best Music Journalism from 2008.

Goblin Cock tour dates.

The Wall Street Journal suggests How the Music Industry Can Get Digital Satisfaction.

The picture up there is from the Kidrockers gig the Vivian Girls played over the weekend. All of their dates HERE.

Bon Iver's new song "Blood Bank" above. Franz Ferdinand's new song "Ulysses" below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

DOWNLOAD: Lucy Wainwright Roche - Bridge (MP3)

Loudon & Lucy (by Peter Adams)

upcoming @ Joe's Pub in NYC
Jan 2 - Lucy Wainwright Roche *
Jan 7 - Happy Ending Music and Reading Series +

* I'm told Lucy's dad Loudon will also be there to join her for at least one song
+ featuring Richard Price & Matthew Caws (of Nada Surf) (thx Matt)

Michael Showalter & Janeane Garofalo @ Union Hall -July 2007 (Bryan Bruchman)

Last year David Cross, Janeane Garofalo and Land of Talk performed at Eugene Mirman and Michael Showalter's anniversary party. This year anything can happen. $10 tickets to the July 20th Union Hall show are on sale.

In related news, Tearing the Veil of Maya will return as a weekly show at Union Hall after Labor Day. Mike Birbiglia is playing Union Hall again this Tuesday (July 15), but not before performing at UCB on Monday. Dave Hill is playing the Union Hall party at the Brooklyn Bridge in August. Dave Hill is also performing at UCB on Thursday July 17th WITH Martha Plimpton and Lucy Wainwright Roche (who recently played Southpaw with Neko Case and Eugene Mirman and Michael Showalter).

ALSO: The Del Close Marathon is coming to UCB

RECENTLY: Michael Showalter performed at McCarren Pool

AND: Fleet Foxes are playing Union Hall in Park Slope tonight. The Vaselines are playing right down the street at Southpaw in Park Slope tonight. Both Fleet Foxes and The Vaselines are then heading to Seattle to play the Sub Pop Festival this weekend along with Park Slope's Eugene Mirman (and David Cross, Patton Oswalt, Todd Barry, Flight of the Conchords and Kristen Schaal) and No Age (who are playing South Street Seaport tomorrow) and Low (who are playing Union Hall in Park Slope on September 23rd).

It went Michael Showalter --> Kristin Schaal --> Kristen Schaal & Kurt Braunholer --> Neko Case & Lucy Wainwright Roche --> Eugene Mirman --> Todd Barry. It was June 5, 2008 @ Southpaw in Brooklyn. Plus, the whole thing was hosted by LA's Andrew Donnelly who I guess counts as the "super special guest" (though Kurt wasn't on the bill either).

And, yes, Neko and Lucy performed TOGETHER (as you can see in the pictures above). I didn't realize they would do that. It was just the two of them, their mics and a guitar. Unfortunately, they only played two songs - both covers, one of which was a kind of a half-joking semi-disaster. For about a minute though - during the second song, the half-filled Southpaw got a little bit of magic from the ladies, and all in an extra special intimate setting.... for $25, but it was for a very good cause. Honestly, they could have played a few more songs, but I'm not complaining. The comedy part was almost all funny from start to finish and there weren't even supposed to be musical guests originally. Did I mention it was for a good cause?

I'm glad I went. I was a bit torn about missing the Black Lips/Titus/Gringo show.

Kristin and Kurt showed episode 5 of their hilarious series "Penelope Princess of Pets". You can watch episode 1 below...

Continue reading "Neko Case & Lucy Wainwright Roche @ Southpaw, NYC - pics"

Neko Case as New Pornographer @ Sasquatch 2008 (more by Chris Graham)

Tickets are still on sale.

Lucy Wainwright Roche was added to the show too. Lucy is also playing Living Room tonight.The other people playing the Thursday show are comedians - Michael Showalter, Kristen Schaal, Todd Barry and Eugene Mirman to be exact.

The Plimpton-Wainwright-Hill connection surfaces again....:

Lucy Wainwright Roche Birthday Party with special guests:
Loudon Wainwright, Dave Hill, David Rakoff, Martha Plimpton and more TBA!
@ Joe's Pub in NYC on December 16, 2007

Lucy is also the opener at Rufus's upcoming New Brunswick show, and tickets are now on sale for the Wainwright-related December 19th benefit at Highline Ballroom.