by Andrew Sacher

Angel Haze at Villain - 10/19/12 (via @wolverskulkbrecht)

You already know what I thought of Merchandise's set at the Pitchfork showcase at Villain in Brooklyn on Friday night (10/19). Here's a bit on the rest of the stuff I saw.

Rapper Angel Haze was on when I walked in and she was probably the best act I saw at the whole show. She delivers with a fast, fierce flow and is a way confident performer. She has a style that will definitely appeal to hip hop purists, eschewing the slow flow of cloud rap and only using pre-recorded vocals if it benefited the song, not as a vice. But though she ignores current trends, she isn't overtly a throwback rapper either. Angel Haze is just a refreshing reminder of the levels that rap can be taken, something that really comes across in her powerful new song.

Hundred Waters at Villain - 10/19/12 (via @twodegreesinbebop)

Up next was Hundred Waters, one of my most anticipated bands for this year's CMJ. I'm not trying to draw any grand conclusions about their signing to Skrillex's label, which I'm still scratching my head about, but I will say that after seeing them it makes a little more sense why he would be interested. Though their album reminds me of a slightly more electronic Joanna Newsom, they're a lot louder and bassier at their shows. There's a noticeable split on stage -- the two girls stay on the left and if it was just them, they'd sound like a forgotten psych folk duo from the late '60s, and on the other side of the stage, the three guys handle drums, bass, and synths, vibing like an edgy jamtronica band. It's a weird mix, but it often meshes really well.

Hundred Waters were followed by Le1f, who I had seen the night earlier at the Studio at Webster Hall. Le1f fit in a lot better on this lineup than he did with the mostly hardcore rap lineup of the Studio show, and the larger crowd were way more into him in this environment. I'm still more a fan of his head knockers and the slower ones wash over me a bit, but still a fun set to watch.

Daughn GIbson was up next, and like Hundred Waters, his strong point is his eclectic mix of sounds. He played mostly off of his debut album, All Hell, which came out earlier this year via White Denim (he's since signed to Sub Pop) and combines gothic country with downtempo electronic music. While other beatmaker/singers like James Blake prefer to sit at their piano and let the music do the talking, Daughn is a natural born frontman and couldn't help but perform like a melodramatic barroom singer.

Then Merchandise played, after which I stuck around for a few songs by Holy Other. His new album, Held, is one of my favorite electronic releases of the year and Holy Other is really on some next level shit, but admittedly isn't much of a live act.

After I left, the crowd was treated to sets by METZ, DIIV, Joey Bada$$, and Death Grips. You can watch some videos from the show below.

Continue reading "more review/videos from P4K showcase @ Villain (Angel Haze, Hundred Waters, Death Grips, Daughn Gibson, METZ & more)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield & Dominick Mastrangelo, words by Andrew Sacher

METZ at Public Assembly - 10/19/12

While much of the BV team has already seen and been sold on METZ a bunch in the last couple years, I didn't get around to it until this year's CMJ at the BrooklynVegan day party on Friday (10/19) (they went on right after Savages). And having not been fully won over on the band's self titled LP (out now via Sub Pop), I admittedly didn't go into it with the same high expectations that many of the people who packed the venue had. That said, it only took me about a few seconds into their first song to "get it," and I'm 100% sold on METZ now. If anyone else out there is a naysayer, many will agree with me that METZ is really a band you have to see live. They're ruthless on stage, naturally thrashing around in the way that you just weren't seeing in indie rock's recent years when it was still rejecting punk. And lucky for METZ (and all of us), they've come along at exactly the right time, because people are showing that they really do care about this sort of stuff again.

More pictures and a video from METZ's set at the BV day party (sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon, Sailor Jerry, Mercy, and Raw Revolution) , and more tour dates, below...

Continue reading "METZ @ the BrooklynVegan Friday day party (pics, video)"

The Darkness in Austin in May (more by Tim Griffin)

Divine Fits at MHOW in September (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Justice at Lollapalooza 2012 (more by James Richards IV)

today in NYC
* Sonagi @ Barbes
* Irene Jacob @ Barbes
* Evans Thompson @ The Stone
* Coyote Grace/Tylan @ Joe's Pub
* The Beat Junkies @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Jon McLaughlin, Xenia @ Joe's Pub
* Hannibal Buress @ Knitting Factory
* A-Trak, Flosstradamus @ Asbury Lanes
* Divine Fits, Cold Cave @ Webster Hall
* Janeane Garofalo @ EastVille Comedy Club
* Joseph Arthur w/ Peter Buck @ City Winery
* The Public Side of Paula Scher @ Joe's Pub
* Sylvain Leroux/Max Johnson Duo @ The Stone
* Justice, Chromeo (DJ) @ Hammerstein Ballroom
* Sad Horse, Trabajo, Luxury Prevention @ Big Snow
* The Midnight Beast, Riot !n Paris @ Mercury Lounge
* The Sea and Cake, Matthew Friedberger @ Littlefield
* Little Women, Banned Books, Ryan Ferriera @ Zebulon
* The Darkness, The Dirty Pearls, Sweetheart @ Terminal 5
* Wild Nothing, Merchandise, Mac DeMarco @ Bowery Ballroom
* Calabrese, Coffin Fly, The Knuckle Pucks @ Public Assembly
* Aza Nizi Maza, Hairy Sands, Source Of Yellow @ Cameo Gallery
* Why?, Naytronix, The Black Swans @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Ghost Wave, Making Movies, Torches, The Golden Awesome @ Pianos
* Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons on Broadway @ Broadway Theatre
* K-Prime & Eom, Audra the Rapper, Fowl, SmallAxe LA @ The Paper Box
* Sex Mob, Randy Ingram Trio, Noah Preminger Quartet @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Dan Neustadt plays The Smiths' "The Queen Is Dead" @ Le Poisson Rouge
* This Frontier Needs Heroes, Tuff Sunshine, Brother Reverend @ Glasslands
* She Keeps Bees, Slothrust, Ancient Sky, Mrs. Adam Schatz @ Death By Audio
* Ringo Deathstarr, Parquet Courts, Juan Wauters, Son of Salami @ Shea Stadium
* Psychedelic Furs, The Lemonheads (feat. Juliana Hatfield) @ Best Buy Theater
* Humans, Indian Rebound, Freddy Hall, Suntalk, Dialogue From A Silent Film @ Matchless
* Hilly Eye, Blanche Blanche Blanche, Squarehead, So Cow, Heaven's Gate, Potty Mouth, Ava Luna, Butter The Children @ 285 Kent Avenue (noon)
* Unstoppable Death Machines, Juggernut, Bambara, Cinema Cinema, Brooklyn What, Osekre n the Lucky Bastards, Inky Jacks, ZZZ's, Benjees, Bloom, Ravenous, Going Green, Young Adults @ Rock Bottom
* Kyshona Armstrong, Jared Saltiel, Jason Darling, Rachel Ann Weiss, Teeth @ Tongue, May Cheung and Towering Poppies, Max Fisher w/ Mino Cinelu, Lu Horta, Jeffrey Martin, Aria Jay @ Rockwood Music Hall

CMJ is officially over, but if you've still got any energy left, there are tons of good shows today. A handful of bigger bands are making their way through town like Divine Fits (who play with Cold Cave), The Darkness, Justice and Chromeo (DJ), WHY?, Psychedelic Furs and Lemonheads feat. Juliana Hatfield, The Sea and Cake, and A-Trak (who plays with Flosstradamus like he did in Brooklyn last night).

Plus, a bunch of the artists who were here for CMJ are sticking around. Most notably, there's the Wild Nothing, Merchandise, and Mac DeMarco show, but other good ones include Austin's Ringo Deathstarr, local faves Parquet Courts, Juan Wauters (of The Beets), and Son of Salami at Shea Stadium, and if you're up early, the free day party at 285 Kent with Hilly Eye, Blanche Blanche Blanche, Ava Luna, and more should be a great time.

We threw a few events during CMJ, including day parties at Public Assembly on Friday and Saturday. One of the highlights of those parties was London post-punk newcomers Savages tearing up the front room on Friday, followed by an unrelenting set by Toronto punks METZ. If you missed it, you can check out videos of both bands from that party below, via (((unartig))).

Follow @BrooklynVegan on Twitter.
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Be our friend on Facebook too, and BV Austin's friend on Facebook and BV Chicago's friend on Facebook.

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What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday? (post-CMJ)"

Dum Dum Girls at Sasquatch 2012 (more by Chris Graham)

Doldrums at NXNE 2012 (more by David Andrako)

today in NYC
* Plank Theory @ The Stone
* The Intelligence @ Maxwell's
* Fiona Apple, Blake Mills @ Terminal 5
* Crosby, Stills and Nash @ Beacon Theater
* Umphrey's McGee, Conspirator @ Capitol Theatre
* Bridget Everett & The Tender Moments @ Joe's Pub
* Rosenkopf, Cult of Youth, Slug Guts @ Home Sweet Home
* Julie Klausner, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists @ The Bell House
* METZ, Die! Die! Die!, Roomrunner @ Death By Audio
* The Jezabels, Hey Rosetta!, Yukon Blonde @ Webster Hall
* Blackbird Blackbird, Maus Haus, TOPS, Motion Studies @ Shea Stadium
* Blondfire, Sky Ferriera, Ghost Beach, Capital Cities, Gabriel Bruce @ Union Hall
* Regal Degal, Ian Drennan, Lame Drivers, So Cow, Squarehead @ Big Snow
* Physical Therapy, Maria Minerva, Von Haze, Arca, Forma, Tempers
* My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Left Spine Down @ Gramercy Theatre
* Flying Lotus, Death Grips, Buke and Gase, Ali Shaheed Muhammed @ (le) poisson rouge
* AM Fire Talk, Woodsman, Tjutjuna, Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk @ Zebulon
* Tomorrow's World, Housse de Racket, Lescop, Citizens! @ Highline Ballroom
* Trixie Whitley, GOLD FIELDS, Duologue, People vs. Larsen @ McKittrick Hotel
* Gunfight, Backwords, Quiet Loudly, Indian Rebound, Sharkmuffin @ Muchmore's
* Local Natives, SKATERS, San Cisco, Pacific Air, Solid Gold @ Bowery Ballroom
* Native Eloquence, Cemeteries, Headaches, M. Sage, Foxes in Fiction @ La Sala
* Dead Leaf Echo, Andre Obin, Some Ember, Rarechild, Treasure Teeth @ Tandem Bar
* Electrical Umbilical Cord, Brusque Twins, Silent Em, Some Ember, Excuses, Eraas @ Cameo Gallery
* Matthew E. White, Opossom, Twin Tigers, Fantasmas, Grape Soda, Koko Beware @ Union Pool
* Dum Dum Girls, Guards, Savages, Icona Pop (DJ Set), Port St. Willow, IO Echo @ Glasslands
* The Virgins, Unknown MOrtal Chestra, The Neighbourhood, Indians, Goldroom @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Doldrums, Strange Talk, Hundred Waters, Duologue, Mozart's Sister, High Highs, DIANA @ Mercury Lounge
* The Life & Times, The Hounds Below, Local H, Alvarez Kings, Tango in the Attic, Dignan Porch @ CMJ Union
* Gemini Club, Purple, Monsters Calling Home, Air Traffic Controller, Get People, The Lone Bellow @ Canal Room
* Lights Resolve, The Phuss, Gypsy West, Viva Mayday, Chainwave, Black Bird White Sky, Le resistance @ Matchless
* Bird Call, Vivienne Eastwood, Skipping Girl Vinegar, Phone Tag, The Oyster Murders, Yellow Red Sparks @ Legion Bar
* Nina Sky, Maluca, Anjulie, Lady Starlight, Roxy Cottontail, Chippy Nonstop, Jane Bang @ The Studio at Webster Hall
* Chad Valley, Jensen Sportag, Michna, Erika Spring, Selebrities, Rush Midnight, Heathered Pearls DJ set @ Le Baron
* Thurston Moore and Loren Connors, Hubble, PC Worship, Diamond Terrifier, The Dreebs, Devin, Gary & Ross @ Public Assembly
* The Dearloves, Catch Wild, New York Funk Exchange, Paperdoll, Dangerous Ponies, The Hollows, Pine Hollows, Bottom Dollars @ Sullivan Hall
* ZZZ's, Hussle Club, I.R.O.K., Punks On Mars, Ghost Wave, Psychobuildings, Half Undressed, Communist Daughter, Blessed Feathers @ Cake Shop
* Chains of Love, Heliotropes, papercranes, Aact Rrasier, The Analog Girl, Young Girls, Baron Von Luxxury (DJ set) @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn
* Flying Points, Fast Years, Ace Reporter, Eytan & The Embassy, The Last Royals, Motive, Mother Feather, New Beard, Raccoon Fighter @ Spike Hill
* Onili, Kosha Dillz, Wordspit the Illest, Bobby 2 Flee, Swinton Rockz, El Gant, Kiss Slash Crooked Smile, Illustrate, Zak Downtown @ Littlefield
* Flatbush Zombies, The Orwells, Children of the Night, Skaters, Bodega Bamz, Moon King, Underachievers, Team Spirit, Haleek Maul @ Santos Party House
* T.H. White, At Sea, The Blakes, Happy People, Bend Sinister, Apollo Run, Mieka Pauley, The Dawns, Old Time Machine, Maya Solovey @ The Bowery Electric
* Dangerous Ponies, Birthmark, Industries of the Blind, You Bred Raptors?, Cuddle Magic, Doe Paoro, Friend Roulette, In One Wind, DTROTBOT @ Living Room
* Archie Powell & The Exports, Laura Stevenson & The Cans, Twin Tigers, Pretty & Nice, Trapper Schoepp & The Shades, Roomrunner, Fantasy Rainbow @ The Rock Shop
* The Foreign Resort, Midnight Spin, Robbin Pain, Watermelon, Screentests, Glitter Freeze, Hidden Cities, Corita, Torches, Maybe The Welders, Starina @ Fontana's
* Main Attrakionz, Kool AD, Deniro Farrar, Supreme Cuts, Cities Aviv, Bryant Dope, Ryan Hemsworth, CBG, Heems, Sasha Go Hard, Kitty Pryde, Weekend Money, SAFE @ 285 Kent
* Kyle Rapps and Diwon, Aaron Cohen and the Inner City Kids, Danse Diamons, Tek (of Smif n Wessun), Black Dave, Cezar, El Gant, Rilgood, Maffew Ragazino @ Paper Box
* Cold Blood Club, Solid Gold, Har Mar Superstar, Me And My Arrow, American Royalty, Lightning Love, Los Encantados, Sean Anonymous w/ Dream Crusher, Enemy Planes @ The Delancey

CMJ starts to get really in the swing tonight, with lots of good options. Toronto's awesome METZ were just added to tonight's Death by Audio bill that also features Roomrunner, Die Die Die and Beasty. $7 at the door.

It's also the debut of UK act Savages tonight at Glasslands as part of Stereogum's showcase that also has Dum Dum Girls, Guards and more. You can probably still RSVP (you'll still need to pay $5 at the door) though this will be a hot show so you may want to get there early (doors at 8:15 PM). If you don't go to Glasslands tonight, Savages will play our free day party on Friday at Public Assembly.

Follow @bvcmj on Twitter for more CMJ coverage.

Follow @BrooklynVegan on Twitter.
Follow @bvChicago for just Chicago stuff.
Also follow @bvAustin for just Austin stuff.

Be our friend on Facebook too, and BV Austin's friend on Facebook and BV Chicago's friend on Facebook.

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In non-CMJ news, Ty Segall tore it up on Conan last night. Check out his performance of "Thank God for Sinners" below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday? (night)"

We're at Public Assembly in Brooklyn all day Friday (10/19) and Saturday (10/20). Here's what Friday looks like...

BrooklynVegan FRIDAY DAY PARTY - 10/19/2012

STAGE 1 (front room)
12:00 Tiny Fingers (from Israel)
01:00 Murals
01:45 Deap Vally
02:30 Savages
03:15 METZ
04:00 MS MR
05:00 Braids

STAGE 2 (back room)
12:00 Blessed Feathers
12:40 Foxygen
01:25 FIGO (live)
02:10 IO Echo
03:00 Sky Ferreira
03:40 Doldrums
04:30 Toys That Kill
05:15 The Intelligence

And show up early for complimentary drinks courtesy of Sailor Jerry Rum and complimentary beer courtesy of PBR. You can also grab a free hangover prevention beverage courtesy of Mercy, and stay energized with free Raw Revolution organic live food bars. Get your photo taken in our free photo booth courtesy of PBR and Poggled.

Saturday lineup (same time, same place) coming soon...

---

Meanwhile you'l also find us, or our BV Austin site to be more specific, repping Texas at Rebel (a free and official CMJ party), and at Saint Vitus on Saturday night.

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: METZ - Wet Blanket (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: METZ - Headache (MP3)

METZ at Metro, August 2012 (more by Grant MacAllister)

Toronto's sonic sandblasters METZ are in NYC for CMJ and will play four times while here, including the free BV day party on Friday (10/19) at Public Assembly. METZ play the front room at 3 PM, shortly after Deap Vally and Murals. We swear we'll post the whole line-up soon!

METZ's ripper of a debut album came out last week on Sub Pop and is highly recommended. You can download "Wet Blanket" and "Headache" above and you stream the whole album and watch the just-released video for "Wet Blanket" below.

METZ's additional CMJ shows include the official Oh My Rockness CMJ showcase on Tuesday (10/19) at Cameo that also features Chrome Canyon (who just played 285 Kent), Roomrunner, Moon King, Mood Rings, and Heavenly Beat. OMR, which is celebrating its eighth birthday, is throwing a CMJ Kickoff party tonight (10/15) at Pianos. METZ then plays Thursday (10/18) at Knitting Factory for the Sub Pop showcase; and the Pitchfork showcase at Villain on Friday night (10/19).

If you can't make the CMJ week shows, METZ will be back in November for two more NYC shows. All dates are listed below, along with the new video, album stream and show flyers.

Continue reading "METZ released debut album, new video & are in NYC for CMJ including BV day party on Friday (updated dates, streams)"

Death Grips at Coachella 2012 (more by David Andrako)

As mentioned, Death Grips are also playing a NPR-presented CMJ show with Flying Lotus at Le Poisson Rouge on October 17. That bill also includes Ali Shaheed Muhammad (of A Tribe Called Quest) and since we last spoke Buke & Gase were added as well. The show is free with "confirmed RSVP", which opens TODAY (10/9) at 10:45 AM (aka really soon). Act quick.

We already mentioned that Death Grips and LE1F are playing Pitchfork's CMJ showcase at new Brooklyn warehouse venue Villain on October 19 (50 N 3rd St). Now the full lineup is out and it also includes DIIV, Joey Bada$$, Holy Other, METZ, Merchandise, Daughn Gibson, Hundred Waters, and Angel Haze. The show goes from 8PM to 3 AM and is totally free to the public, but there will also be 200 priority tickets being given away at the Topman store (478 Broadway in SoHo) "on Wednesday and Thursday between 10 AM and 9 PM."

Pitchfork is also teaming up with MoMA PS1 to present a show in the VW Performance Dome on October 20 (22-25 Jackson Ave, Long Island City) with Andy Stott, Chairlift, and Doldrums, which runs from 3-6 PM. That show is free with museum admission.

Pitchfork's metal column, Show No Mercy, is also presenting an unofficial showcase during CMJ.

The fliers for both Pitchfork shows are below...

Continue reading "Pitchfork announces full CMJ showcase lineup; RSVP opening for Death Grips/Flying Lotus show at LPR"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: METZ - Wet Blanket (MP3)

METZ at Pianos 8/31/2012 via @BrooklynVegan Instagram

Toronto trio METZ practice a punishing brand of punk-leaning indie rock that is a direct decedent of Steve Albini, Amphetamine Reptile and other midwest ear-pummelers. After three years and a few 7" singles, the band are set to release their debut album on October 9 via Sub Pop and does an exceptional job of capturing METZ's visceral energy onto recorded medium. We've got the premiere of adrenalized LP track "Wet Blanket" which you can download above or stream below.

Seeing METZ live is truly where it's at, mind you, and shows are intense to say the least. The band have swung through town a few times already (including an extra hot and sweaty show at Death by Audio last month) and will be here again for CMJ, during which they'll play the Sub Pop showcase at Knitting Factory on October 18 (tix). After CMJ, METZ will continue to tour and will swing back through NYC for two more shows: November 19 at Mercury Lounge and November 20 at Knitting Factory. Ticket info on those shows is still TBA. All dates are listed below.

In between rauccous live performances, guitarist/singer Alex Edkins was kind enough to answer a few questions for us via email:

Your album was a (fairly) long time coming. Just waiting to get it right?

Yes. It took us three 7 inches and a hundred shows to really get a grasp of what a METZ LP would sound like. The actual recording didn't take long at all.

Your album does a great job of translating METZ's live sound to the recorded medium. What's the secret?

Crank it up until it sounds like its going to break. Red line everything including the drums.

You worked with some producers more normally thought of in electronic circles, what made you choose them?

We feel really fortunate to have worked with Graham Walsh (Holy Fuck) and Alex Bonenfant (Crystal Castles). We wanted to avoid a traditional "rock 'n' roll" recording and make something different.

What's the secret to getting that SHRIIIINNNG noise beyond flicking the guitar strings above the headnut?

You have to really mean it!

continued below...

Continue reading "an interview with METZ, plus a song premiere and November tour dates (MP3 and stream)"

DOWNLOAD: Poor Moon - Birds (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Poor Moon - Holiday (MP3)

Pissed Jeans at House of Vans, November 2011 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

Pissed Jeans will headline a stacked Sub Pop CMJ showcase joined by appearances from King Tuff, METZ, Poor Moon, Daughn Gibson and Debo Band at Knitting Factory on October 18. Tickets are on sale or you can get in with your CMJ badge. The show is an uncharacteristic third NYC show for Pissed Jeans this year, whose last appearance was with Ceremony at LPR earlier this year (pics/video) and just a few weeks before that, at MHoW.

King Tuff, who recently played FYF in Los Angeles, will be in the NYC area for a few days with The Intelligence (who is at Maxwells on 10/17 -tickets).

Speaking of shows over Labor Day weekend, METZ recently played a pair of NYC shows in that stretch. The band is prepping to release their new LP on Sub Pop.

Meanwhile, newish Sub Pop signees Poor Moon released their debut album at the end of August (download a couple MP3s above) and will be touring most of August opening for Beach House. (No NYC show.) Their tour dates are below, along with videos from some of the rest of the Sub Pop showcase line-up.

Continue reading "Sub Pop announces CMJ showcase with Pissed Jeans, King Tuff, Metz, Daughn Gibson, Poor Moon & more (dates) "

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: METZ - Headache (MP3)

As mentioned before and worth doing so again, Toronto's METZ are on tour and in town, with two chances to see them in NYC: tonight (8/31) at Pianos with Birds & Batteries, Writer and ILLUMNTR (tickets); and then Saturday (9/1) at Death by Audio with Pop. 1280 and Herzog Rising. Updated tour dates are listed at the bottom of this post.

METZ's debut album for Sub Pop is due out October 9 and jettisons through 11 songs in under a half an hour and does a surprisingly good job of bringing the band's propulsive, concussive live energy to tape. There's a big dose of AmRep style punk, but there's a hooky-ness to the white squall. Still, it's no match for their live show which is intense and frighteningly loud. Sometimes sheer volume is needed for that crushing feeling in your chest, not your ears. (Earplugs are suggested, unless you wanna fast-track tinnitus.) You can download "Headache" at the top of this post.

For tonight's show, METZ are on one of the earlier slots. You could probably slip out afterwords and still make it to Italian glampunks Giuda's set down the street at Cake Shop, which would make for a pretty fun night.

A list of all tour dates and an album teaser video are below.

Continue reading "METZ are here, playing 2 NYC shows (updated dates, MP3)"

Xeno & Oaklander at BV-CMJ 2011 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

NYC synth goth vets Ike Yard played a NYC show earlier this year with contempory NYC synth goths Xeno & Oaklander, and now the two will team up again, this time bringing along another group of goth newcomers, Led Er Est. The three groups will play a late show at 285 Kent on September 7, which starts at midnight (so technically Saturday, September 8). No advance tickets for this one at the moment ($9 at the door), and more details on the show are below.

Xeno & Oaklander have a few other upcoming NYC appearances as well. They'll give a lecture at Public Assembly on September 16 called 'Analog as the New Folk,' where they'll discuss the analog synthesizer as the new folk instrument. The lecture is free and all ages. As mentioned, Xeno & Oaklander will also open the first of two Silver Apples shows in NYC. They support the band at their Public Assembly show (10/4) with Man Forever and La Big Vic (tickets), which happens one day before Silver Apples plays 92YTribeca (10/5) with CFCF and Win Win (tickets).

Meanwhile, Led Er Est member Shawn Devin O'Sullivan will play Death by Audio's Modular Synth Winter Solstice on September 22 (though we're pretty sure that's actually the fall solstice). This event follow's DbA's Modular Synth Summer Solstice, which went down this past June. Joining Shawn Devin O'Sullivan on the lineup will be DeTrop (Ryan Martin of Dais Records), Retribution Body, Matthew Regula (of Telecult Powers), and Nathan Cearley (of Long Distance Poison).

In related news, Led Er Est's Sacred Bones labelmates Pop. 1280 will be going on a short tour this September. The tour kicks off on September 1 at Death by Audio with METZ and Herzog Rising, and culminates in their appearance at Hopscotch Music Fest. After that tour, Pop. 1280 will support The Soft Moon at their previously discussed Bowery Ballroom show (10/30). That show is also with Group Rhoda and tickets are still available. The Soft Moon also play Glasslands on September 20 with Cold Showers and ERAAS (tickets).

A list of all dates, plus videos, are below.

Continue reading "Ike Yard, Xeno & Oaklander and Led Er Est playing shows & stuff (some together, some separate); Pop. 1280 touring (dates)"

The full list of artists confirmed for the 2012 CMJ Music Marathon so far is below...

Continue reading "CMJ 2012 initial lineup announced"

by Bill Pearis

Toronto's pummeling post-punks METZ have signed with Sub Pop who will release the band's self-tiled debut album on October 9. You can watch a short video preview for the album at the bottom of this post. The band play NXNE tonight in their hometown but will be playing some shows below the border later this summer, including West Coast dates with Archers of Loaf, and a few East Coast shows on their own, including two stops in NYC: August 31 at Pianos and September 1 at Death by Audio. All tour dates are listed below.

If you haven't heard the band's intense, precise racket yet, here's what I wrote back in April:

These guys make blazing, spazzy noise rock, reminiscent of Brainiac, the roster of Amphetamine Reptile, or McLusky. They're pretty excellent in their din, with enough form and hooks to grab hold of too. The band only have a few singles under their belt (all of which you can stream/download for free at their Bandcamp) but their debut album is in the can waiting for some lucky label to release it.

Continue reading "METZ sign to Sub Pop, touring this summer (dates); LP in Oct."

Off! @ NXNE 2011 (more by Natasha Ryan)

The most memorable thing that happened the year I visited Toronto for NXNE was Iggy Pop & The Stooges playing their big, outdoor, free, no-ticket-or-badge-required show downtown at Yonge-Dundas Square. Last year the Descendents did it. This year they've landed the Flaming Lips which should be an amazing spectacle. And:

NXNE Music has confirmed that Bad Religion, Raekwon & Ghostface Killah and Matthew Good will headline free shows at Yonge-Dundas Square (YDS) throughout the seven-day festival. The NXNE Music line-up also includes performances at YDS and in the clubs by Of Montreal, No Use For A Name, Purity Ring, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Death Grips, The Men, Bleached, Good Riddance, METZ, Ceremony, Plants & Animals, The Death Set, The Sadies & Andre Williams, Oberhofer, Reigning Sound, Action Bronson, 2:54, Yamantaka/ /Sonic Titan, The Hundred in The Hands, Rival Schools, Killer Mike, Young Magic, Hayes Carll, Friends, Hollerado, Bran Van 3000, The Black Belles, Doldrums, Odonis Odonis, Mac DeMarco, Bass Drum of Death, Porcelain Raft, Exitmusic, Violens, Grass Widow, Eight and a Half, DZ Deathrays, Jonathan Toubin, Art vs. Science, B L A C K I E, The Nils and Ivan Julian (ex-Richard Hell & The Voidoids).

This year's fest takes place at multiple venues across Toronto from June 11-17, 2012. Tickets are on sale.

Last year BrooklynVegan co-hosted a boat party with M For Montreal and Bruise Cruise.

By Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Razika - Eg Vetsje (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Razika - Nytt Pa Nytt (MP3)

Charli XCX

Welcome to Part 2 of this pre-SXSW edition of This Week in Indie (Part 1 HERE), which sees an insane amount of good show options over the next five days, even for New York which is never lacking for music options. Let's jump in, shall we?

Charli XCX and Clock Opera are two hotly-tipped UK acts who play a sold out show together Saturday night (3/10) at Knitting Factory, and a BV-presented (along with Neon Gold and Popgun Booking) show on Monday (3/12) at Santos that also features Django Django who play a sold out BV-Presented show Saturday night at Glasslands.

London's Charli XCX got a lot of attention last year for her singles "Stay Away" and "Nuclear Seasons" both of which mined '80s New Romantic synthpop. (You can watch the videos for both below.) She's currently recording her debut album, working with bigshot producers Patrik Berger (The Good Natured, Robyn) and Ariel Rechtshaid (Glasser, Theopolis London) while still attending London's Slade School of Fine Art (she's only 19). For those who wished Lykke Li's second album had more to dance to, Charli XCX may be your new favorite.

Clock Opera

Clock Opera's debut album, Ways to Forget, is out April 9 on Moshi Moshi. You can watch the video for the new single "Once and Again" at the bottom of this post. There is definitely a little Coldplay in what they do, but Clock Opera also have a wide creative streak as can be heard in their fantastic, radical reworking of Metronomy's "The Bay" which is included on The English Riveria - The Unreleased Remixes.

2:54 at Pianos (more by Erik Erikson)

2:54 are back in town for the first time since November, playing Glasslands on Sunday (3/11) and Mercury Lounge on Monday (3/12). When I saw them at Pianos, they were a little rough around the edges (and suffering from unintended feedback) but you could tell they had a lot of potential. (That potential is already evident on their recordings, all massive-sounding gothy shoegaze. Which is to say a lot like '90s band Curve.) Let's hope they've spent the last four months playing live and returning to mean business.

Check out new single "You're Early" at the bottom of this post. 2:54 also play the official BrooklynVegan SXSW showcase, which happens March 14 at Bar 96, and a bunch of other shows in Austin. Catch 'em if you can.

Big Deal

Both 2:54 shows in NYC are with London duo Big Deal whose debut came out back in January on Mute. Here's what Andrew Sacher had to say at the time:

Big Deal (aka Kacey Underwood and Alice Costelloe) will release their debut LP, Lights Out, on January 24 via Mute. They don't seem to be using more than an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar and their voices. They've got enough indie rock tendencies that it's bigger sounding than folk, but with the complete absence of drums, it's not nearly as large as their songwriting could lead it to be, and it ends up working to their advantage.

Razika

If you're not going to see Django Django, Charli XCX and Clock Opera at Santos, or 2:54 and Big Deal at Mercury Lounge, you might want to spend your Monday evening at Glasslands taking in the charming sounds of Norway's Razika who last played here in October and not enough people saw. (Including me.) I'm still listening to their debut, Program 91, which owes a little to 2-Tone Records and Lilliput/Kleenex, with a smidge of Camper Van Beethoven's balalaika ska in there too. There are a couple MP3s from Program 91 at the top of this post, do check them out, along with the video for "Vondt i hjertet" which Razika filmed here (you may recognize Pete's Candy Store) when they were over last October. Razika also play our Wednedsay day party in Austin.

Also on the bill: Belgium's Balthazar, and Brooklyn's We Can't Enjoy Ourselves and Landlady, plus DJs Tanlines. Razika play a bunch of dates next week in Austin, including one at our Hotel Vegan on Wednesday (3/14).

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Tuesday (3/13) and Wednesday (3/14) mark the first two American shows from UK trio New Build that features Al Doyle and Felix Martin from Hot Chip. The band released their debut album Yesterday Was Lived and Lost this week on their own Lanark Recordings label. You can stream it at the bottom of this post. There is a strong Roxy Music/Talking Heads vibe going on here which includes Doyle's vocals. It's slinky. It's sexy. And danceable. If you don't listen to closely to the lyrics, you'll probably like it a lot. No surprise: both these shows are sold out. Check out live footage from Glasgow at the bottom of this post, they sound pretty good.

That's the big stuff. A few more show picks, day-by-day, are below for things I haven't already covered in this post.

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METZ at Cake Shop last night (3/8)

FRIDAY, MARCH 9

As mentioned Thursday, Toronto bands METZ and Teenanger are in town and will play Death By Audio tonight with Vaz and Pop. 1280. I caught METZ and Teenanger last night at Cake shop and was duly impressed by both. METZ in particular made some kind of intense awesome racket. They are great this show is highly recommended tonight.

Montreal's Automelodi (aka Xavier Paradis) played their first NYC show in a long time at the Weird party at Home Sweet Home this past Wednesday which I didn't realize was happening until it was over. Luckily, Automelodi play again tonight at Pianos. I was a huge fan of his 2010 album, here's hoping he plays lots of new songs. The Pianos show is with Frenshkills who are celebrating a new album and who also play our Wednesday day party in Ausitn.

continued below...

Continue reading "Charli XCX, Clock Opera, 2:54, Big Deal, Razika, Automelodi, New Build, Elephant Stone, more in This Week in Indie part 2"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Metz - Negative Space (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Teenager - Cops (But Not) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daughter - Love (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Black Marble - Pretender (MP3)

Django Django

There is so much going on between now and Tuesday (2/13), I'm breaking This Week in Indie into two parts. Today you get Thursday, Friday and some of Saturday, then tomorrow will be Pt 2 with more Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. For those of you who aren't going to Austin next week (and I know most people aren't even if it seems otherwise sometimes reading the internet) you get a chance to sample some of the international action with bands from all over the world in town before (and after) the fest. I should warn you there are a lot of bands who spell their names with all-caps in the post. I am not shouting at you.

First thing, we're giving away a pair of tickets to Django Django's sold-out U.S. debut at Glasslands Saturday night which BrooklynVegan is presenting with Popgun Booking. For your chance to win, just send an email with your name and the subject DJANGO DJANGO to BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM and we'll pick a winner at random tomorrow. Remember, it's a late show (doors at 11:30PM) and you must be 21+.

I'm pretty psyched for this show. Their debut album is out now digitally (and on Spotify) in the U.S. and is one of my favorites of 2012: danceable, melodic, trippy and organic, owing more than a little to fellow Scots The Beta Band. (Go figure: main Django Dave Maclean's older brother John was in the Betas and The Aliens.) Says The Guardian:

Those worried that British guitar music has lost its ability to refresh old forms should pay heed to Django Django, whose debut album posits an updated psychedelia that beguiles and delights. Their foundations are a rickety, minimal take on the music of the immediate pre-psychedelic era - Hail Bop employs heavily tremeloed surf guitar; Default takes Bo Diddley's shave-and-a-haircut-two-bits beat and bolts on a jerky R&B guitar line - over which are laid skittering electronics and bleached, vibratoless harmonies, as if Django Django's four members were supplicants worshipping the desert sunrise. Yet it's also an exercise in clever restraint: drummer and band mastermind David Maclean often eschews everything bar his kick drum, floor tom, cymbals and tambourines, creating an amniotic throb.

Daughter

Playing Glasslands earlier in the night on Saturday (a separate show) is another UK act, Daughter, who also play an early show the night before (3/9) at Mercury Lounge and our Friday day party at Hotel Vegas at SXSW. Originally a solo project for UK singer-songwriter Elena Tonra, Daughter is now a proper band with electric guitarist (and Tonra's boyfriend) Igor Haefeli and drummer Remi Aguilella. The band just signed to Glassnote who released Daughter's new EP, His Young Heart, which is streamable at the bottom of this post. (You can also download the EP's closing track at the top of this post.) Fans of Sharon Van Etten, Mountain Man and other spooky folk acts should not miss them.

METZ at M for Montreal 2010

Backing up a bit to tonight (3/8) and shifting gears entirely, Toronto trio METZ make their NYC debut at Cake Shop. These guys make blazing, spazzy noise rock, reminiscent of Brainiac, the roster of Amphetamine Reptile, or McLusky. They're pretty excellent in their din, with enough form and hooks to grab hold of too. The band only have a few singles under their belt (all of which you can stream/download for free at their Bandcamp) but their debut album is in the can waiting for some lucky label to release it.

METZ are down visiting our city with their neighbors Teenanger whose debut album, Frights, is a 9-song, 20-minute kick in the head that may remind some of The Hives or The Intelligence. There's a lot of snarl and sneer, and the production is great -- clear but not slick. The whole of Frights is streaming over at Canadian website Exclaim!. You can also download a track above and watch a couple videos (both are pretty cool) at the bottom of this post.

Tonight's Cake Shop show, METZ and Teenanger are the first two bands on the bill so you might get out of there by 11 if you've got somewhere else to go. Tomorrow night (3/9), they both play Death By Audio with Pop. 1280 making for a very appealing, angsty bill.

TRUST

More Canadians in town, this time on the electronic tip: TRUST and Doldrums who play a late show tonight (3/8) at Mercury Lounge and an early show at Glasslands tomorrow (3/9). After that it's off to Austin (where TRUST is also on the bill of our Friday day party at Hotel Vegas), and then some West Coast dates, a few of which are with Blood Orange. All dates, including many SXSW-week appearances, are at the bottom of this post.

TRUST, a duo consisting of is Austra drummer Maya Postepski and vocalist Robert Alfons, make vaguely gothy/sleazy synth pop that you could imagine being danced to in warehouses in 1987. The sleaze is apparent with song titles like "Candy Walls," "Gloryhole" and "This Willing Flesh." Musically, I dig TRUST but Alfons sounds more than a little like Bill Hader's Vincent Price impression which makes the whole thing borderline novelty. Their debut, TRST, is out now on Arts & Crafts and you can stream it on Spotify. I bet it sounds great in a club, though, and will say the vocals are less egregious live, and will say I thought TRUST was good last year when I saw them open for Austra.

Doldrums

Doldrums is Toronto resident Alrick Woodhead who guests on Grimes' Visions and will soon be touring with Bear in Heaven. I've seen him perform a few times, like at M for Montreal where I wrote:

(Doldrums) was wonderfully ADD, twiddling knobs, hammering sample triggers and pacing around the stage. Too many ideas crammed into one 20-minute set? Maybe, but it was exciting seeing talent that is only just now beginning to show its potential.

The Glasslands show on Friday is also with Black Marble, a new musical venture from a couple of the Team Robspierre dudes that definitely falls in the minimal wave pigeonhole. Their Weight Against the Door EP came out last month on Hardly Art last month

TEETH

Later that night at Glasslands its a separate show, with UK electro rockers TEETH. TEETH's debut album, Whatever, came out last year on Moshi Moshi and garnered favorable reviews and comparisons to Crystal Castles and Ponytail. It's loud. It's squelchy. It sounds like being off your face which is probably the optimal way to listen to them. You can stream Whatever on Spotify. The show (doors 11:30) also has Extreme Animals, Nike7Up, and a DJ set from True Womanhood so be ready to go all night.

Okay that's the big stuff for TWII Pt. 1. Tomorrow we'll talk Charli XCX, 2:54, Razika, New Build and more. Below are few more day-by-day show picks for things not covered above.

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Computer Magic

THURSDAY, MARCH 8

It's a fun night of dancey electronic music when those Kitsune folks (they of the many Maison compilations) bring Gigamesh, Plastic Plates, Computer Magic, Perseus, and JDH to Santos.

Street Gnar, BITCHES, Radical Dads, and Newport Reds are at Shea Stadium

continued below...

Continue reading "Django Django, Daughter, METZ, Teenanger, TRUST, Doldrums, TEETH, Datarock & more in This Week in Indie"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Metz - Negative Space (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Teenager - Cops (But Not) (MP3)

METZ at the Metro in Chicago (more by Grant MacAllister)

Toronto's ferocious noiserockers METZ are making their New York debut this week, playing two shows: Thursday (3/8) at Cake Shop and Friday (3/9) at Death by Audio with Pop. 1280. Both shows are with fellow Torontonians Teenanger. Metz also play Philly on March 10 and in a rebellious move have resisted the urge to join every other band in existence at SXSW.

I saw METZ at M for Montreal back in 2010 where I said of them:

We then saw Metz, who kept getting compared to Fucked Up but that seemed more because they're also from Toronto and are making in-your-face noise punk. To my ears it's more the kind of noise you got from Amphetamine Reptile in the '90s. They are loud and spazzy and sludgy and pretty awesome.

METZ have released a few great singles so far which are streamable at the bottom of this post. (They're also pay-what-you-will from Bandcamp.) If you dig AmRep, Brainiac, and McLusky and songs that employ that metalic "SHRIIIIIINNG," you are not going to want to miss these guys.

Teenanger

Teenanger, meanwhile, just released their new album Frights last week. Says Toronto's branch of the AV Club:

Teenanger's not mounting some garage-rock revolution or something. After all, this is music that, for all its over-hyped "revivals" every half-decade, has more-or-less abided, unchanged for 60 years. And with Frights, Teenanger has put together one of those records you want to turn over again and again; one that seems as seminal and groundbreaking as it does pleasingly intangible--like all the songs are self-immolating as they play themselves out. It's probably the best Canadian rock record since CPC Gangbangs let Mutilation Nation loose in 2007.

Continue reading "Toronto's METZ & Teenanger play NY this week (dates, MP3)"

Evan Dando at The Bell House (more by Graeme Flegenheimer)

Evan Dando & The Lemonheads have a few random upcoming dates scheduled. The Lemonheads will share a bill with The Canon Logic on April 28th at Maxwell's in Hoboken. Tickets are still available. You can also catch Josh Lattanzi of The Lemonheads at Bowery Ballroom on May 26 & 27 as part of the Bob Dylan tribute that will also include members of the Strokes, Hold Steady, etc, etc.

All other upcoming Evan Dando dates are in other countries at the moment, including a June 16th Evan & Juliana Hatfield show in Toronto for the NXNE festival which, like Brooklyn's own multi-venue festival Northside, recently expanded its lineup. Some of the other bands playing are in the title of this post. The rest are listed below.

All Dando-related dates and some videos below too...

Continue reading "Lemonheads playing shows, NXNE expands lineup (includes Descendents, Stars, Devo, OFF!, Juliana Hatfield, more)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Metz - Negative Space (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Valleys - Ordinary Dream (MP3)

Suuns

There was a smattering of band performances throughout the day Friday -- anywhere they could cram them it felt like at times -- before the night's "official selection." Honestly, I wasn't really psyched at seeing a band at 2 in the afternoon when I'd rather go record shopping or, say, getting lunch but Newfoundland's Hey Rosetta! turned out to be worth the detour. "We're usually a lot louder than this," singer Tim Baker admitted, but the less-electric approach to this performance made it kind of special. Hushed vocals, strings and soaring choruses... the band's sweeping orchestrated sound definitely held our attention. The band's last album made the Polaris 2008 shortlist and their third album, Seeds, will be out in February 2011.

A couple hours later we were taken to the the Chapel historique du Bon-Pasteur for an event called M for Martini where we were plied with said drinks while watching four more intimate-style performances, including the Dylan-esque Courtney Wing, all-girl country band Ladies of the Canyon, and the art folk of Lief Vollebekk.

The only band to really leave an impression on me was Ensemble, the brainchild of Oliveir Alary whose baroque sound is akin to early Broadcast or '60s cult band The United States of America. We only get three songs -- including a brilliant reworking of UB40's 1980 single "Food for Thought" -- and they're maybe the only band of the week whose set I wanted to be longer. Ensemble's new album, Excerpts, is out early next year but you can download its first single, "D'Avalanches," for free if you give them your email address.

After a very heavy, very French meal we headed back to Just Pour Rire (which apparently is closing soon) for what was probably the single-best night of music at M for Montreal. The evening began with Molly Rankin who is descended from Canadian Rock Royalty. (The Rankin Family were folk megastars in the '90s. No those words aren't mutually exclusive. It's Canada.) Backed by members of The Stills, her music is charming, clever, heart-on-the-sleeve pop. A nice way to start the night.

Next up were The Barr Brothers. Andrew and Brad are both also in The Slip but under the family name they are much folkier, but still experimental. Usually when I see an acoustic guitar and a harmonica stand, I'm looking for the exit but they really knocked me back. Brad Barr entered the stage tugging on a string on his acoustic guitar as if he'd broken one on the way out. It was actually a loop of wire, filament, something that worked like a bow, giving the guitar a woozy, somnambulant quality. The band also has a full-time harpist. Most of their set is on the quiet side, but they go full-on Who for one song. One of the best surprises of the fest.

Shuffling over to Just Pour Rire's other stage, we then saw Metz, who kept getting compared to Fucked Up but that seemed more because they're also from Toronto and are making in-your-face noise punk. To my ears it's more the kind of noise you got from Amphetamine Reptile in the '90s. They are loud and spazzy and sludgy and pretty awesome. Check out an MP3 at the top of this post and there's video from their M set at the bottom.

Continuing on, Valleys were next who've played Brooklyn enough times (and I've written about them plenty already) that I should've already seen them but this was my first time. Their debut album was kind of Saddle Creek-y methadone folk kind of stuff, really good, but they have evolved into something louder, more sinister since then. Intense, even without percussion, but when they do break out the drums it's like scream therapy. Check out "Ordinary Dream" from their new Stoner EP which is out now on Semprini.

This flowed nicely into Suuns' set (pronounced "Soons"), definitely the most well-recieved of the night. This was my third time seeing them -- they played the official BV showcase at CMJ you may remember -- and they just get better every time. Singer Ben Shemie is a pretty intesnse frontman, especially when the band locks into a Kraut-y groovy. He bends over, laying into his guitar and leaves the planet.

Final act of the night was Random Recipe who are kind of folk, kind of hip hop, and definitely popular with Montreal locals. Their single "Shipwreck" is okay but overall I don't really get why the crowd is going so wild. I ask a local who shares my indifference. His answer: "Montreal is a really weird place."

More pictures from the whole day and the Metz video below...

Continue reading "M For Montreal 2010 - night 3 in pics & review (Hey Rosetta!, Ensemble, Barr Brothers, Metz, Suuns, Valleys & more) "