photos by Ryan Barkan

"His band is the same it's been for most of the last decade, with the guitarists Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray, the keyboardist Paul Wickens, and the drummer Abe Laboriel Jr.; in a way their canned grimaces and corny gestures seem perfect, because they illustrate how much of the audience might dream of playing if given the chance to get on stage with Mr. McCartney, showing off but hitting all the marks. It's a machine that doesn't change arrangements from year to year, mostly replicating the original versions, down to the string parts on "Eleanor Rigby" as recreated by Mr. Wickens' synthesizer. It's also a loud, clear, efficacious, and sometimes bashing band, aiming to the back rows." [NY Times]

Paul McCartney played the legendary Apollo last night, 12/13, to a house filled with Sirius XM subscribers and celebrties. If you are a satellite radio subscriber but didn't have a ticket, maybe you listened at home. Some pictures from the show and the full setlist below...

Continue reading "Paul McCartney played the Apollo Theater (pics & setlist)"

zany & unpredictable Martha Stewart grabs a bowling ball

"I Went Bowling in Brooklyn!" [Martha Stewart]

Grandmaster Roc Raida is celebrated at the bowling alley tonight.

The xx @ Webster Hall during CMJ (more by Vincent Cornelli)

tonight in NYC
* Sharon Jones @ Starland Ballroom
* Darmstadt @ Issue Project Room
* Friendly Fires, The xx @ Webster Hall
* Gnaw, Earthen Grave, Iron Man @ Europa
* Brendan Benson, Cory Chisel @ Maxwell's
* Bowerbirds, Sharon Van Etten @ Union Pool
* Richard Buckner, Milagres @ Mercury Lounge
* Stalkers, The Beets, War Party @ Glasslands
* Golden Error & Red Mass @ Dead Herring
* Espers, Azita, Doug Paisley @ The Bell House
* Hot Tuna, Loudon Wainwright III @ Beacon Theatre
* Alicia Hall Moran, Gordon Voidwell @ The Kitchen
* Ladytron (DJ), Yes Giantess @ Tribeca Grand Hotel
* The Queers, The Leftovers, The Sights @ Maxwell's
* Ghostland Observatory, Slapping Purses @ Terminal 5
* Finding Fiction, Beehive, Picture Picture @ The Cameo
* Sam Champion, Matt Trowbridge, Electric Owls @ Union Hall
* Heloise & The Savoir Faire, Midnight Magic @ Brooklyn Bowl
* El Vez, Los Straightjackets, The Lovely Elvettes @ Bowery Ballroom
* Pants Yell!, The Surprisers, Mike Albo, Fluffy Lumbers @ Bruar Falls
* Air Waves, Talk Normal, US Girls, Total Slacker @ Secret Project Robot
* Black Sheep, Shinobi Ninja, Rad Out Crew, Nacirema @ Santos Party House
* Christina Courtin, Alaska Alaska, Alec Stephen, EJS @ Pete's Candy Store
* Zeke Virant & the Brain Rain Players, Cloud Nothings, Coasting @ Shea Stadium
* Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Himalayas, Max Silvestri @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Terra Nova: Sinfonia Antarctica w/ DJ Spooky & ICE @ BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
* Benefit show w/ Tony Conrad & Jutta Koether, Aki Onda, MV Carbon @ ParisLondonWestNile
* Ambergris, Boogie Boarder, Dubknowdub, Graffiti Monsters, Mark Lord, Nick Gazin, Sam Gas Can, Russian Tsarlag @ DBA

Cloud Nothings are in town. They played their first show ever last night at Market Hotel. Their second show is tonight at Shea Stadium.

Red Mass played their first NYC show last night at Live With Animals. I'm told they're the secret guest at Dead Herring tonight. Flyer below..

MARTHA STEWART HOLIDAY CRAFT SALE

Where: Starrett-Lehigh Building, 601 W 26th St between Eleventh and Twelfth Aves, ninth floor (marthastewart.com)
When: Saturday, December 5, noon-6pm, free
Why go: It's the domestic diva's first-ever holiday craft sale, which features home accessories, jewelry, ornaments and apparel from employees and friends of Martha Stewart Living Ominmedia, as well as crafters who've appeared on the Martha Stewart Show. In other words: by Stepford types, for Stepford types.
Don't miss: BrooklynVegan's DJ Bill Pearis spinning holiday music and indie rock, and the very Martha-esque gift-wrapping station. - Time Out

There's also a craft fair on Mulberry Street, and the Bust Holiday Craftacular is Sunday.

Sunday is also the day to see Beatles songs performed on ukuleles.

Sam Champion make a rare appearance at Union Hall tonight. In fact, it might be their last show ever.

Q: Did Sam Champion break up?
A: Kind of, yeah, I think so.

Q: Is Saturday, December 5th at Union Hall your last show?
A: maybe?

Sam Champion member Sean Bones will DJ between sets. Sam Champion's remake of Weekend at Bernie's below..

Black Sheep play Santos tonight! Video for "Without a Doubt" below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"