Justin Vernon & My Morning Jacket before the Grammys (by dariusjagjag)

Someone from Jagjaguwar tweeted the above picture not long before Justin Vernon shouted out "Jagjaguwar" to end his acceptance speech at the Grammys pre-show this evening (2/12).

Bon Iver won "Best Alternative Music Album", beating out Radiohead, My Morning Jacket, Foster the People & Death Cab Cab For Cutie. Other pre-telecast winners include Adele, Foo Fighters (who beat Mastodon, The Decemberists and TV on the Radio), Skrillex (who won three already and beat Cut Copy, Robyn, Deadmau5 and others), Kanye West (who also won three already), The Civil Wars (who won two already and beat Fleet Foxes), Levon Helm, Alison Krauss, Tinariwen, Louis CK, Cee-Lo, and Booker T Jones who won "Best Pop Instrumental Album" for the 2nd time, and nervously thanked Biz Markie, Questlove, Gabriel Roth (of Daptone Records), Matt Berninger (of the National), and Lou Reed.

Arcade Fire also won another Grammy already (for Best Recording Package).

A Numero Group Syl Johnson release was up for two Grammys but lost in both categories.

And that was just all the stuff they don't show on TV. The regular show with all the big awards (and possibly more for Bon Iver) starts at 8pm EST, Whitney Houston tribute included.

UPDATES:
* Jack Black makes "indie cred" joke that includes "Bon Iver" while introducing Foo Fighters
* Denise from PS22 in Adele commercial

Mastodon at Terminal 5 (more by Greg Cristman)

The full tour schedule for the previously mentioned Heritage Hunter tour (with Mastodon, Opeth and Ghost) has been revealed. The bands will embark on a month-plus long trek kicking off in Maine and terminating in Atlanta. Along the way Mastodon and Opeth will swap headlining slots, as noted in the full list of dates below.

As discussed, the tour will hit Roseland Ballroom on April 11th for a Mastodon headlined show. Tickets go on LiveNation presale at 10AM on 2/1, with regular sale hitting on Friday. You can also catch the bands in Wallingford, CT.

All tour dates and Mastodon's new video (if you missed it), below...

Continue reading "Mastodon, Opeth, Ghost reveal all Heritage Hunter tour dates"

Ghost at Bowery Ballroom (more by Greg Cristman)

The rumors are true. Mastodon, Opeth, and Ghost will team up for the Heritage Hunter Tour, a string of dates together that have not been entirely revealed, but include a few dates in Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, and NYC at Roseland Ballroom on April 11th. Tickets for the NYC show go on LiveNation presale at 10AM on 2/1, with regular sale hitting on Friday.

Ghost is currently finishing up a string of dates that included NYC at Bowery Ballroom.

In Solitude, which contains members of Ghost, will hit the road for dates with Beheomth/Watain/The Devil's Blood this fall too.

All known tour dates and a recent Mastodon video for "Dry Bone Valley" is below.

Continue reading "Mastodon, Opeth & Ghost teaming up for US tour (dates include NYC at Roseland)"

Real Estate (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Motorhead (more by Dana (Distortion) Yavin)

today in NYC
* stuff @ Barbes
* Skeletons @ The Stone
* Daniel Kitson @ St Ann's Warehouse
* The Front Bottoms, Mansions @ Maxwell's
* Popa Chubby @ The Studio at Webster Hall
* Lenny Kravitz, Raphael Saadiq @ Radio City
* Salva, Shlohmo, CREEP (DJ set) @ Glasslands
* MNDR (DJ set), Computer Magic (DJ Set) @ Yotel
* Motive, Secret Music, Nicos Gun @ Cameo Gallery
* Nullsleep, dissassembler, da pantz @ 285 Kent Ave
* The Gories, Mark Sultan, Two Tears @ The Bell House
* Megadeth, Motorhead, Volbeat, Lacuna Coil @ theater @ MSG
* Rubblebucket, Superhuman Happiness, Prussia @ Bowery Ballroom
* Diego Garcia, Emily Greene, Monica Lionheart @ Highline Ballroom
* Jessica Latshaw, The Bischoffs, Phoebe Kreutz, Dogbowl @ Cake Shop
* Japanther, The Pharmacy, Fuzzy Cloaks, Bosco Delrey @ Shea Stadium
* Matt Bauer, Dana Falconberry, Natureboy, Prairie Empire @ The Gutter
* John Roderick (of The Long Winters), Todd Goldstein @ Mercury Lounge
* RAC (Remix Artist Collective) (DJ set), Emil & Friends @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Guy Harvey, Averkiou, I'm Turning Into, Bright Lights @ Death By Audio
* The Giraffes, Moon Rabbits, Netherlands, Cinema Cinema @ The Grand Victory
* Mark Farina, Sleepy & Boo, Chris Love, AB Logic, Beyrouth @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Dig Deeper Presents Eula Cooper with the Map Legends featuring Meah PA @ Southpaw
* IKTUS Percussion Quartet, Ensemble MAE(Gaudeamus Muziekweek New York) @ Issue Project Room
* Real Estate, Black Dice, The Babies, Dogleather, Oneohtrix Point Never (DJ Set), Ducktails (DJ set) @ K&K Super Buffet

Megadeth and Motorhead play tonight, but Mastodon recently released a video for "Dry Bone Valley" which you can watch below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

Feist at BAM in 2011 (more by Ryan Barkan)

Feist has a huge international tour on the way, including Australian dates this weekend and into February, followed by a number of European dates during March, some of which will be supported by M. Ward (who has his own upcoming tour). She'll work her way back to North American in April when she plays the sold out Coachellas, and has just announced another show happening on this side of the Atlantic at NYC's Radio City on May 5. It's her only other US date announced at the moment. Tickets go on sale Saturday, 2/4 at 10 AM.

In other news, she recently was interviewed by The Weekly Feed, where she talked about 2011's Metals, jamming with fellow Canadians Sloan, and her upcoming split 7" with Mastodon, which will feature each artist covering the other. She's still not sure which song she's picking but promised via twitter that "if people are expecting a cute twee cover of a metal song they have a big surprise comin." Here's what she said to The Weekly Feed about the project:

Oh my god, what a task. What an insurmountable mountain to try to cover Mastodon. We're working on it right now and I'm trying to figure out what song even. I haven't figured that out even yet. But yeah, I hugely admire them and I kind of come from that world. That's where I cut my teeth when I was 15/16 going to metal shows, and in my first band our guitar player probably would've wanted to be in Mastodon if Mastodon had existed at the time, you know? So it definitely speaks to me. When I saw them play on Jools Holland, that's how I was first introduced to them. We played that television show in England together and it just went right to my bones, and after the show we kind of had this, "oh man we should something!" you know? Which didn't seem like it was gonna happen, but now it seems like it's gonna happen, they announced it on MTV so now it's happening.

Also below is a stream of Beck's remix of Metals single, "How Come You Never Go There," which you can also purchase at iTunes.

All dates and streams below...

Continue reading "Feist playing Radio City Music Hall (and other stuff)"

We already posted Pitchfork's and SPIN's, so... here's Rolling Stone's top 50 albums of 2011. It's got tons of big sellers and major label players taking high spots like Adele, Jay-Z and Kanye West, Paul Simon, and Lady Gaga, but then something unexpected like tUnE-yArDs places at #13. There are also some odd inclusions like Wavves' Life Sux EP and then some albums you could only find on a Rolling Stone list like SuperHeavy (the supergroup featuring Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Damian Marley, and others). They also give shots to Little Dragon, Josh T Pearson, Das Racist, Wild Flag, and many more. Check out the full list below...

Continue reading "Rolling Stone's Top Albums of 2011"

Mastodon fans (more by Greg Cristman)

Bon Iver was nominated for four high profile Grammys (though not "Album of the Year" which is what Arcade Fire won). Adele & Katy Perry nominated for a zillion, and other nominees include The Black Keys, Foster the Peepee, Cee Lo, Duck Sauce, Robyn, Cut Copy, Skrillex, Deadmau5, Coldplay, Radiohead, Mumford & Son, Mastodon, Wilco, Death Cab For Cutie, My Morning Jacket, Jay-Z, Kanye West, The Civil Wars, Emmylou Harris, Levon Helm, Fleet Foxes, Gillian Welch, Steve Earle, Patton Oswalt, Louis CK, Weird Al, Danger Mouse, Memory Tapes, TV On the Radio, A Tribe Called Quest, etc...

by BBG

Mastodon at Terminal 5 (more by Greg Cristman)

Troy Sanders has revealed that Mastodon will team with Feist to work on a split 7" for Record Store Day 2012. The split 7", which was her idea, will feature each band covering the other. You can check out Troy discussing it with MTV News Canada below. No word on if Feist will follow-up said 7" with a split with Cock & Ball Torture, but we'll keep you informed.

Mastodon, who recently headlined Terminal 5, released one of Decibel's favorite albums of the year, though Feist's recently released "Metals" did not make the list (it didn't make Rough Trade's list either).

That video with Mastodon tour dates below...

Continue reading "Mastodon & Feist to share a split 7" for Record Store Day?"

by BBG

Tombs at BV-Rocks Off Official CMJ Showcase 2011 (more by Jonathan McPhail)

Decibel released their list of the best LPs of 2011. The list features a few repeat offenders and not too many surprises. One record listed technically came out in 2010 (and made my list of favorites that year). You can check out the full thing below. What record do you think they left off?

Continue reading "Decibel Magazine's Top 40 of 2011"

photos by Greg Cristman

While Coke Bust/Masakari/Sick Fix/Grudges was tearing down Acheron on 11/19, a much larger show was brewing at Terminal 5 featuring Mastodon, Dillinger Escape Plan and Red Fang as part of the trio's tour together. Mastodon's set covered their entire recorded output, including newer tracks like "Curl of The Burl" all the way to earlier favorites like "March of The Fire Ants" and, according to the set-list, "Iron Tush" (aka "Iron Tusk").

The sold-out show also featured an appearance from original DEP vocalist Dimitri Minkanakis (now a member of Argonauts) who joined the band on stage for performances of "Sunshine The Werewolf" and the classic "43% Burnt". Video of that is below.

While Argonauts have no upcoming dates, Brett of Argonauts will play Public Assembly on 12/14 with his other project East of The Wall. They'll be joined by Tournament (who play an Acheron benefit tonight with Hull/Naam), Family, and Fashion Week. The band is finishing up their US tour post-the release of their latest LP The Apologist.

Pictures, video and the Mastodon setlist from Terminal 5 is below...

Continue reading "Mastodon, Dillinger Escape Plan & Red Fang played Terminal 5 (pics, video & setlist) ------- East of The Wall playing Brooklyn"

words & photos by Chris La Putt

Butch Walkter in Brooklyn

"Well, I left the town of sinners, redneck priests and meth lab stalls
To find myself a few more just like me
The option's pretty skinny and the order's pretty tall
To swim the hippest waters in the sea

Somewhere in the sticky city, driving back and forth
I found myself a squat in Williamsburg
Nobody seemed the same sincerely this could be a curse
But everyone's the same with different shirts"

Members of Butch's backing band, the Black Widows, opened the Brooklyn show, as did Shovels and Rope (who have shared bills with Jason Isbell and the Felice Brothers in NYC over the past year). Pictures of the whole Brooklyn show are in this post.

Earlier that day Butch was on Leonard Lopate's show on WNYC discussing his new book Drinking with Strangers: Music Lessons from a Teenage Bullet Belt which is about his life as a musician and record producer. You can listen to the segment below. Want to ask Butch a question about it? The Daily Swarm is collecting questions for an upcoming Butch interview.

Pictures, videos, and Butch's WNYC interview, below...

Continue reading "Butch Walker wrote a book, jams w/ Brett Hinds of Mastodon (video), and.... Pink in Brooklyn (pics from MHOW)"

by BBG

Black Star on Colbert

Big night for music on late night TV last night (and lately in general). You may have heard that Portishead played their first TV appearance in 13 years on Jimmy Fallon last night. Black Star, as promised, also played a new song "Fix Up" on The Colbert Report (but not at Irving Plaza, or the rest of their tour for that matter). Mastodon performed "Curl of The Burl" last night on David Letterman. Video of the Mastodon and Black Star (aka Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey) performances, as well as the hip hop group's interview with Stephen Colbert is below.

Speaking of new music by Talib Kweli, his other project Idle Warship has a new album coming. Check out one of the new tracks at Rolling Stone. See them live Saturday in Brooklyn, or at one of the other dates listed below.

Reminder: Mastodon's tour hits Terminal 5 with Dillinger Escape Plan and Red Fang on 11/19. Tickets are still available.

Meanwhile, as previously mentioned, former Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Dimitri Minkanakis's band Argonauts (with Dave Witte & John Adubato of Burnt By The Sun, Brett Bamberger of East of The Wall) will play their debut NYC show at ABC No Rio on Saturday (10/8). They'll be joined by Alkahest, Thou, and The Body.

As also mentioned, Jeff the Brotherhood, now bros with Jack White, play Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight (10/6).

Mastodon & Black Star videos from last night as well as some Argonauts live video, below...

Continue reading "Argonauts make NYC debut Saturday, Black Star played a new song on Colbert, Mastodon on Letterman (videos)"

by BBG

Mastodon at MSG (more by Matthew Eisman)

Mastodon is currently streaming their new LP The Hunter in full. Stream it below, or for those of you who require a bit more of a social experience with your listening, head to Idle Hands (ex-Save the Robots, Guernica, Midway, Scenic, Rehab, etc) on Thursday 9/22 for a listening party at 9PM. Mastodon prizes will be awarded.

As previously mentioned, Mastodon will team with The Dillinger Escape Plan and Red Fang for dates in late October through December including Terminal 5 on November 19th. Tickets are on sale.

Stream The Hunter below.

Continue reading "new Mastodon LP streaming, party happening @ Idle Hands"

Mastodon at MSG (more by Matthew Eisman)

With their new LP The Hunter on deck (due 9/27), Mastodon will team up with The Dillinger Escape Plan and Red Fang for a string of US dates in late October and on into December. The dates include a stop at Terminal 5 on November 19th. Tickets go on sale on Friday 9/16 at noon, OR take advantage of a "Ticket and CD Download Offer" which kicks off at 10AM TOMORROW (9/13). Details on that offer are forthcoming.

Full tour schedule is below, along with videos from the forthcoming The Hunter LP.

Continue reading "Mastodon, Dillinger Escape Plan & Red Fang touring (dates)"

by BBG

Primate at Scion Rock Fest 2011 (more by Adam Murray)

Mastodon have released another video from their upcoming LP The Hunter (due on September 27th). The new video, for "Spectrelight", features Scott Kelly from Neurosis, and follows recent video releases of "Curl of The Burl" and "Black Tongue". All of them are viewable below.

So far no word on a US tour from the Atlanta four-piece, though knowing them a massive one will surely follow. The band has only one current tour date scheduled, 10/26 at the Verizon Theatre in Dallas, TX with Soundgarden. Neurosis, also with just one upcoming date, play this weekend in Portland as part of MusicFestNW. Their show is at Roseland Theater on Saturday with Grails, YOB and Akimbo. Tickets are still available for those without festival passes. The entire MusicFestNW begins Wednesday. Check out the schedule HERE.

In other news, Relapse recently signed Primate, a band featuring Bill Kelliher of Mastodon, Kevin Sharp of Brutal Truth, and Mike Brennan of Javelina among others. No word on when they will follow-up on their Draw Back A Stump EP from earliser this year, but we'll keep you up to date. In the meantime, Brutal Truth are releasing a new LP via Relapse; look for End Time on 9/27. Stream two new songs at their Facebook.

All tour dates and that new video is below.

Continue reading "Mastodon release new video, Relapse sign Primate (releasing Brutal Truth even sooner), Neurosis play Portland this week"

by BBG

Rorschach at The Charleston (more by Ryan Muir)

While we wait for the Maryland Deathfest lineup to expand, one of those bands have slipped past the goalie! Rorschach will play Maryland Deathfest and will presumably be announced with their final batch of artists in the coming weeks. Final bands announced! and they are: AGALLOCH, ARCHGOAT (Finland), BRUJERIA (Mexico), YOB, BLACK WITCHERY, DYING FETUS, UNANIMATED (Sweden), MORGION, RORSCHACH, NEEDFUL THINGS (Czech Republic), DIE PIGEON DIE (Australia), and EXTERMINATION ANGEL.

Show No Mercy returns with an interview and a new song from Leviathan. The interview is short and Whitehead doesn't exactly delve deep, but it and the song are both definitely worth a listen.

Cannabis Corpse will support The Black Dahlia Murder and All Shall Perish at Knitting Factory on 10/11 as part of a larger tour together. Tickets are on sale, and their full tour schedule is below.

Vanishing Leper is Justin Detore (Mind Eraser/Rival Mob/Righteous Jams etc) and Jordan Darby (Dry-Rot), and the band is currently streaming a new EP and are preparing it for a limited release on Cold Vomit. Listen below.

The always fun Skeletonwitch are on the road with Arch Enemy, Devildriver, and Cthonic for a show at Best Buy Theater on 9/9. Tickets are still available

Kvelertak is coming.

Absu added more dates since we first posted. Original post updated.

Rise And Fall have a new 7" on the way entitled "Deceiver", alongside a reissue of Hellmouth. Look for both on Deathwish.

Portal are currently tracking their new LP.

Mastodon's Remission has been repressed on 2xLP.

We recently debuted new songs by Falloch, Rosetta, Battlefields, Bosse-de-Nage, and The Atlas Moth.

Have a fun weekend. More NYC shows listed below. What did I miss?

Continue reading "Evillive (Rorschach, Cannabis Corpse, Skeletonwitch, more)"

Cult of Youth @ Bowery Ballroom on 8/6 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Planning for Burial @ Cake Shop in June (more by BBG)

today in NYC
* Fieldwork @ The Stone
* Mike Wexler @ Zebulon
* Bebel Gilberto @ City Winery
* The Big Terrific @ Cameo Gallery
* Shooter Jennings @ The Bowery Electric
* Paul Metzger, Che Chen @ The Manhattan Inn
* The Wave Pictures, The WoWz @ Mercury Lounge
* Smoota, Little Shalimar, Wilder Zoby @ 92YTribeca
* Beast Make Bomb, Big Ups, Flagland @ Cameo Gallery
* Figurines, Pomegranates, Extra Arms @ Knitting Factory
* BoomBox, Eliot Lipp, Horizon Wireless @ Bowery Ballroom
* Will Dailey & The Rivals, Dave Wanamaker @ Mercury Lounge
* Haunted Boots, Wife, Clouder, DMA, Sleeping Bag @ Cake Shop
* Chelsea Wolfe, Cult of Youth, Planning For Burial @ Saint Vitus
* The Liminanas, The Gytters, Gaz Gaz, Diehard @ Death By Audio
* Fan-Tan, Sherlock's Daughter, Ravens & Chimes, White Life @ Pianos
* King Charles The Martyr, Justice of the Unicorns, St. Lucia @ Union Hall

Kings of Leon & Band of Horses were supposed to play PNC Bank Arts Center tonight.

Chelsea Wolfe makes her NYC debut tonight at the BV-presented Saint Vitus show with Cult of Youth and Planning for Burial. Tickets are still available. Stream the album at NPR.

Wayne's World (the movie) is playing in McCarrn Park tonight as part of Summerscreen. YellowDogs open the show with a set of music at 7:30.

Mastodon have a new video for "Curl of the Burl" off their upcoming album The Hunter. Check it out below.

Fucked Up have a new video for "The Other Shoe" off the awesomely epic David Comes to Life. Check it out below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

today in NYC
* Lil Wayne in NJ
* Billy Bragg @ City Winery
* Slavic Soul Party @ Barbes
* Tell Your Friends @ Lolita Bar
* Honky, The Dreebs @ Cake Shop
* Jessica 6, Xylos @ Mercury Lounge
* The Constellations @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Donell Jones, Olivia @ Springfield Park
* Miguel Frasconi, David First @ The Stone
* Dan Mangan, Dear Lions @ Mercury Lounge
* Isle of Klezbos, Nedra Johnson @ 92YTribeca
* Sia, Oh Land, Ximena Sarinana @ Webster Hall
* Disappears, The Psychic Paramount @ Union Pool
* Desert Stars, Xander Mcmahan, Bizi Gara @ Zebulon
* Charles Bradley, Beans @ Fort Greene Park
* Average Girl, Hollus, Derrick and the Black Sea @ Bruar Falls
* The Telephones (Japan), Ohnomoon, Exitmusic, White Birds @ Pianos
* Cloudland Canyon, Woodsman, Future Shuttle, La Big Vic @ Glasslands
* Kamala Sankaram, Drew Fleming, Pat Muchmore, Jeff Hudgins @ The Stone
* JD Samson (DJ set), Rusty Lazer (DJ set), American Royalty @ Tammany Hall
* The Postelles, Wavorly, Alex Wong & Ximena, Greg Holden @ Rockwood Music Hall
* Seabrook Power Plant, The Stumblebums, The In Betweens @ Cameo Gallery
* Forro in the Dark (3rd Annual Hudson Square Music & Wine Festival) @ City Winery
* Tim Robbins & The Rogues Gallery Band, The Little Death, Miles Robbins @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Bomb The Music Industry, secret guests (Record release and Silent Barn benefit) @ 285 Kent Ave
* Dred Scott Trio, Todd Clouser's A Love Electric, Michael Daves, Melody Kills, Caitlin Canty, Sara Curtin, Kinetic Method @ Rockwood Music Hall

Ximena Sarinana plays Rockwood Music Hall after opening for Sia and Oh Land at Webster Hall tonight.

Honky, who are playing Cake Shop tonight, features Jeff Pinkus of The Butthole Surfers

Mastodon have a new video for "Black Tongue". Check it out below...

Björk has a new video for crystalline. Check it out below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

by BBG

Mastodon at Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 (more by BBG)

A new song called "Black Tongue" has made its way onto the interwebs from Mastodon's new/forthcoming LP The Hunter. Stream said track below.

Mastodon's only currently announced tour date goes down on 7/30 at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Gorge, WA with Soundgarden, Queens of The Stone Age, and Meat Puppets.

In semi-related news, ex-QOTSA member Nick Oliveri's run-in with the law never stopped Kyuss Lives from touring. According to the band, "TMZ blew this way out of proportion, nobody got hurt and any of that other bullshit." They played Belgium with Nick like one day after the incident (but not with Mastodon collaborator and QOTSA member Josh Homme who is not part of the Kyuss reunion). That said, nobody denied the arrest or S.W.A.T. team involvement.

Tickets are still on sale for the Terminal 5 show with the Sword. More dates HERE. New Mastodon song below...

Continue reading "new Mastodon song leaked (listen), Kyuss Lives playing shows (Nick Oliveri included)"

The Rapture at FYFest (more by Rachel Carr)

The Rapture have released an Emperor Machine Remix Edit of "How Deep Is Your Love?" via the Adult Swim Singles Program (which recently released songs by Best Coast, The Tallest Man On Earth, Mastodon, How To Dress Well, Ford & Lopatin, and Active Child). Listen to the song below now. Download it Wednesday (7/20) along with all the other tracks released so far. Look for upcoming songs from Clams Casino, JJ feat. Ne-Yo, El-P, and Cerebral Ballzy in the coming weeks.

The Rapture play Music Hall Of Williamsburg on 8/20 before they head across the pond to the EU. The show is sold-out. All dates are also listed below.

Continue reading "Adult Swim Singles continues w/ a Rapture remix (listen)"

by BBG

Mastodon at Fun Fun Fun Fest (more by Tim Griffin)

Mastodon has posted the album cover, a partial track listing, and teaser from their forthcoming LP The Hunter. Check that all out below, and take particular note of the album trailer, which contains a snippet of new track "Black Tongue". The art is the first time that the band has not consulted artist Paul Romano, who has blessed all of their releases thus far.

Mastodon also recently made a video and released the MP3 for "Deathbound".

Treaser trailer and LP details (so far) are below.

Continue reading "new Mastodon album info & teaser video"

today in NYC
* Evillive
* Big Terrific @ Cameo
* Blue Note Jazz Fest
* Pink Noise, On @ Zebulon
* Our Hit Parade @ Joe's Pub
* Jonathan Goldberger @ Barbes
* Eri Yamamoto Trio @ The Stone
* Chrisette Michele @ Rockefeller Park
* comedy in Central Park w/ Jim Gaffigan
* Sloan, HotKid @ Bowery Ballroom
* Earth, Wind & Fire @ Beacon Theatre
* Daniel Carter, Reuben Radding @ The Stone
* Ben Sollee, Thousands @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Dysrhythmia, Guzzlemug, PAK, Xaddax @ Death By Audio
* Matt & Kim, The Thermals, Autobot (from Flosstradamus) @ Terminal 5
* Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine @ Rocks Off Concert Cruise
* Puro Instinct, John Maus, Geneva Jacuzzi, Amazing Amy & Tite Glita @ Mercury Lounge
* David Borden & the Mother Mallard Ensemble, Kid Millions Duo @ Issue Project Room
* Hussle Club, Jump Into the Gospel, Fort Lean, Stationary Set, Evan Donahue @Pianos
* The Shivers, Bad Credit, No Credit, Martin Crane (of Brazos), Trash Gut @ Glasslands
* The Raybeats, The Individuals, Ira Kaplan & Georgia Hubley (of Yo La Tengo), The Schramms, Purple Knif, Tall Lonesome Pines @ Maxwell's

Seefeel @ Brooklyn Bowl is cancelled. Refunds available at point of purchase.

Mastodon made a video for "Deathbound" for the Adult Swim Singles Program. Check the video out below and download the song here.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

by BBG

Snapcase

It's 1PM in Texas and I just tied a bandana around my face before its time to get down to business. I'm not some outlaw out to rob a bank and hop on a speeding stagecoach; With the dry dirt and the hordes of kids in full-on circle-pit/floorpunch mode, a bandana or a surgical mask is a key tool in dealing with the clouds of dust that form around the chaos.

Chaos it was, off-stage that is, as the crowd popped for the likes of Suicidal Tendencies, Snapcase, Dwarves, Municipal Waste, Gwar, Mastodon and others on Fun Fun Fun Fest's Black Stage (where I spent a good bit of my time). Though I wandered to the Orange Stage to catch amazing performances from Cap'n Jazz, The Hold Steady & Descendents (among many others) and the Blue Stage to catch scorching shows from Big Freedia, Pharoahe Monch, Dam-Funk, and A-Trak, but it was the Black Stage where I caught pretty much every single band in action.

And that's a lot! One of the great things about the Black and Orange stages is that they are actually TWO stages each. A band will finish their set, and then on a stage right next to it, another band will line check and play. Times between bands varied (due to set time length and on occasion, technical difficulties), but there were moments when it was as low as 5 minutes between sets. More music and less downtime.

I started out my Saturday (11/6) with Black Congress, whose powerful post-hardcore impressed the early crowd. Hatred Surge followed, and even with a new singer in tow, the brutality has stayed a constant. Power Trip was next, and they do crossover-thrash that is less DRI/ Municipal Waste, and more serious/furious. Bands this good shouldn't play this early.

I'm very picky about sung vocals and punk rock, so it's sort of no surprise that I didn't care for either Bad Religion (who had no guitar in the mix for the first three songs), The Briggs or The Vandals, but I did enjoy what I saw of Strike Anywhere's live set (even though I am not into their recorded output). Dreadlocked singer Thomas Barnett is as energetic a frontman as I would see on the Black Stage all weekend, and really added tremendous power to the band's melodic hardcore.

Muncipal Waste (more here)

Strike Anywhere is from Richmond, and the band got a "Richmond represent" shout out from the great Municipal Waste that day. The band thrashed their way through one of my favorite sets of the afternoon, complete with thrown trash cans, a wall of death, stage diving, and an "execution" courtesy of fellow Richmond band Gwar. Gwar was fun in a kitschy way and delivered a great set later in the day, but the crowd energy and the precision of MW's live show was the most memorable.

Also on the Black stage were Valient Thorr and The Casualties who both delivered energetic sets, with the latter giving a crusty spin on the Ramones classic "Blitzkrieg Bop". The mohawk-ed kids went ape, and a wall of death, which was later faux-mocked by Municipal Waste when they initiated their own wall of death, was called upon by vocalist Jorge Herrera.

On the Orange stage, I managed to catch Woven Bones, The Appleseed Cast, and Jeff The Brotherhood. Jeff The Brotherhood is a staple of the small stage in NYC, so it was a bit odd to hear that guitar tone blaring out of 50 feet of PA speakers. Odd, but no less fun/impressive.

Along with Municipal Waste, Big Freedia was another one of my favorite sets of the day. Her nonsense odes to ass, ass, and ass-clapping were a pure sugar-rush and left 90% of the crowd in hilarious amazement and the other 10% with a big old "WTF" look. The Freedia set was tamer than her usual appearances, but no matter, it was still much fun and much booty-shakin. Dam-Funk would also get the crowd moving on that same stage hours later.

Seeing Big Freedia meant missing a good portion of Cap'n Jazz, who announced on stage that Fun Fun Fun would be their last show. Unbelieveably kinetic and powerful, Cap'n Jazz reminds me that emo is short for "emotional" and not just a psuedonym for pop-crossover. Mesmerizing and awesome.

Peelander-Z

Sunday (11/7) was a late start for me, so I got to the venue to see the tail end of Junius (who played 2nd, after Eagle Claw on the Black Stage). They're a band I'm very familiar with for their latter-Isis crunch-and-clean vocals steelo. It was surprisingly the next band that really got me going: Peelander-Z. With a large crowd looking on, Peelander-Z delivered an incredible mix of energy, stage presence, audience participation, fun and simple song-craft, and plain old good times. They played from the crowd. They stage dove. They led the audience in a giant game of limbo. They had a footrace. Totally fun.

I have a lot of recent experience seeing OFF!, High on Fire, Kylesa, Floor, Mastodon, and The Bronx, who all played the Black Stage that day. All gave predictably excellent shows though Kylesa in particular seemed a bit more energetic that usual (lots of Laura pogoing). It might have been the fact that FFF marked the end of their US tour with Torche and High on Fire, but they were particularly good on that sweltering Sunday afternoon. Floor was great as usual, though I enjoyed them more at Red 7 later that night... possibly because their music felt like a bookend to a great weekend. Both High on Fire and Mastodon's setlist delved into all of their recorded efforts which, as a long time fan, was comforting.

I'm not particularly scared of anyone, but Human Furnace of Ringworm gives me the shakes. His gravelly voice propels the rest of the Clevo-hardcore band forward and blew my mind that afternoon. They were one of my highlights of the day, and if I had only seen them and Snapcase on Sunday, I would have been content.

If my dad listened to modern music anymore, he would go apeshit for The Hold Steady. The band cranked out a crunchy Springsteen-esque set and sounded better than I have ever heard them before. Though they were killing on the Orange stage, I made the hard decision to bounce to catch the rest of Suicidal Tendencies' set.

Nothing against Mike Muir, but he isn't in the same shape that John Joseph of the Cro-Mags is (Muir and the rest of the known universe). No matter, it doesn't stop him from zigging and zagging back and forth on stage as the rest of Suicidal Tendencies runs through hits like "You Can't Bring Me Down" and "I Saw Your Mommy". High energy stuff; I can't imagine running in circles while trying to recite the words to "Institutionalized". Catch Suicidal and Cro-Mags together at Terminal 5 on November 14th.

If I was to pick two of my favorite sets from Sunday, the winners easily go to Snapcase and Descendents. Snapcase was brutal, technical, confrontational, and totally fun; the crowd gave back every ounce of energy that the band put in. From the opening notes of their third song, "Zombie Transmission" from Progress Through Unlearning, I knew that this was going to be a highlight. We need more shows from Snapcase.

Descendents, who we also need more shows from, are one of the few bands that pass my "no clean vocals in punk rock" test. Their songs are funny without being goofy, melodic without being overtly pop, and driving/hard when they want to be. Classics like "Suburban Home", "Bikeage" and a good portion of Somery, "Everything Sucks" and many of the highlights from that LP, and tons of others all made their way onto the setlist that night. And yes, the band made sure to fit in "All" and "Weinerschnitzel". Too fun, and though I left Mastodon early to catch them, I have no regrets.

As far as pictures go, we already split the fest up into ten other posts, my pictures from Saturday included. This post is number 11 and it includes all my pictures from Sunday (and it is our final set of Fun Fun Fun pics from this year) which continue, below...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest in review w/ more Day 3 pics (part 4) - Snapcase, Floor Suicidal Tendencies, Kylesa, Ringworm & more"

photos by Tim Griffin

Peelander Pink & fan

As just mentioned, Fun Fun Fun Fest closed out Sunday night with competing headlining sets by Mastodon and the Descendents. Earlier that day, NYC's own Peelander-Z played a set to a massive crowd of punks, metalheads and indie kids alike. I already thought Peelander were awesome before I saw them wow Austin, but now I'm even more enamored with them. Don't forget to catch them out on tour and greet them at Santos Party House on November 20th when they get home. Like LaneHolloway.com says:

"At first I had no clue what Peelander Z was about, but any band named Peelander Z has to be worth seeing at least once. PZ is off-the-wall fun -- it was the most fun I've had watching a band in a long time. Any band that replaces themselves with people from the audience then begins to run around in the audience doing human bowling, crowd surfing, calisthenics and banging on pots and pans is worth seeing multiple times. The songs were simplistic, but fun and the energy they gave off was something not to be missed."

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 - Day Three in pics (part 1) - OFF!, Peelander-Z, Kylesa, Mastodon, Ringworm & more"

by BBG

Brent Hinds at Madison Square Garden (more by Matthew Eisman)

From MSG to Union Pool. Brent Hinds of Mastodon (who just played MSG with Alice in Chains and Deftones) currently has at least two side projects, both of which are out on tour together. That tour hits Brooklyn's Union Pool on 10/26. Tickets are on sale for the BV/1000 Knives production.

You might not recognize him at times though. The six-stringer wears a stocking over his face (seriously) in his surf-a-billy side project Fiend Without a Face. The other bands on the bill are his distinctly country-inflected band West End Motel, and their touring partners in the wild-Japanese-influenced-surf band Daikaiju.

All dates and a few videos below.

Continue reading "Mastodon's Brent Hinds on tour in 2 separate side projects (Fiend Without a Face + West End Motel dates) "