DOWNLOAD: Liturgy - "Generation" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Liturgy - "High Gold" (MP3)

Liturgy at Scion Rock Fest 2010 (more by Christopher Mumma & BBG)

Brooklyn black-metallers Liturgy released their sophomore effort Aesthethica on May 10 via Thrill Jockey. As previously mentioned, they play an album release party June 2 at Knitting Factory with Sightings, Matteah Baim, Swati, and Todd Pendu (DJ set). Tickets are still on sale. In July they head out on a month-long US tour. All dates are listed below.

If you want to understand the band better, or just need some light reading material for the beach, pick up a copy of the frontman's new book...

"Liturgy consciously inverts old-school black-metal nihilism, complete with theoretical undergirding--Hunt-Hendrix, a former philosophy student at Columbia, has even published a treatise on the subject, Transcendental Black Metal: A Vision of Apocalyptic Humanism.

"I think that to the degree that anyone involved in underground music has an anti-intellectual attitude, they are making a mistake," Hunt-Hendrix writes via e-mail between European tour stops. "I guess it's just difficult to a lot of people to see that music, philosophy and art share a living common root--in the 19th century everyone knew that." This high-minded rhetoric has attracted its share of critics--"[Transcendental Black Metal] belongs to a rich, collegiate tradition of taking a movement or piece of art that you enjoy and writing about it in a way that suggests you take no enjoyment from it whatsoever," Vice quipped--but anyone attempting to brand Aesthethica as passionless will rapidly dead-end. The record's most memorable tracks ("Generation," "Veins of God") come off like high-fives between Black Sabbath and Lightning Bolt: undiluted collisions of volume and intricate groove." [Time Out]

Download "Generation" and "High Gold" off Aesthethica above. Also check out the video for "Returner" off the album, along with the album tracklist and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "Liturgy released 'Aesthethica' & a black metal book too, touring (dates)"

Spencer Krug's solo project Moonface will be in Brooklyn at the secret venue Envelope for his first ever performance under the Moonface moniker. The show, originally scheduled for tonight (4/20), has been moved to Friday, May 6. The $25 ticket includes 3 fancy drinks and the location of the Bushwick venue. The show is being opened by Matteah Baim. Moonface's 2010 EP Dreamland EP: Marimba and Shit-Drums can be downloaded on his website. Donations welcomed.

In other Wolf Parade news, Handsome Furs just came through town on their tour which is still underway. Their upcoming third album Sound Kapital drops June 28 via Sub Pop. A new track, "What About Us," can be downloaded here.

DOWNLOAD: Lower Dens - Hospice Gates (MP3)

Dan Deacon dance contest @ Bonnaroo 2010 (russroe)

Did you catch Lower Dens at the show Saturday at Co-Op 87? Regardless, make sure to get to Red Hook Park (map) early enough this evening, June 15th, to catch them when they open for the Dan Deacon Ensemble at the Summerstage show happening there. The free show starts at 7pm.

Dan Deacon, like Jay-Z, played Bonnaroo over the weekend. NPR has the stream archived. Coming up, post-Red Hook, you can also catch Dan at this summer's Whartscape Festival.

Lower Dens have three more shows at the end of June including the Impose Northside Festival show on June 26th at Death By Audio...

Impose Northside Show!

Lower Dens
Dark Dark Dark
Matteah Baim
Frankie and the Outs
Total Slacker
Coasting
Union

$10, doors at 8pm.

Matteah Baim also plays with Lower Dens in Philly and Baltimore. All dates below...

Continue reading "Lower Dens opening for Dan Deacon (who played Bonnaroo) in Red Hook (tonight), playing Impose Northside & other dates "

"January 2009 will be a time of reflection for the entire country. As America looks to a future of change, the pundits will provide their own spin on what the last 8 years have meant.

CRAWFORD, an extraordinary documentary by first-time filmmaker David Modigliani, provides a unique perspective on the Bush presidency: through the eyes of the 705 residents of Crawford, Texas.

B-Side Entertainment is proud to announce a nationwide grassroots exhibition program for this exceptional film - "Host Your Own Farewell to W. - CRAWFORD's 50-State Screening Party". Through February, we will be coordinating grassroots screening events in all 50 states - red, blue, and everything in between."

One such screening is taking place for free tonight/Monday (1/12) in NYC at Chelsea Market.

"Before the film, Matteah Baim will be performing live, and throughout the show there will be free Radeberger Pilsner for all in attendance." I know Matteah most as a friend and collaborator of Cocorosie, Devendra Banhart and Antony, but she makes her own music too. Joining her at this free show, as her band I assume, will be Birdie Lawson and Hisham Bharoocha. I know Hisham best as an ex-member of Lightning Bolt and Black Dice, and most of all as Soft Circle.

All screening details below...

Continue reading "George Bush subject of documentary of Crawford doc, free NYC show tonight w/ Matteah Baim (and Soft Circle)"