photos by Chris Gersbeck

I'm starting to think Bob Pollard is some sort of miracle of modern science; a man capable of extreme alcohol/tobacco consumption, yet somehow able to give a flawless vocal performance. "Anybody got a joint?" Pollard asked a few songs in (someone from the crowd did in fact pass him one). The 53 year-old singer was swigging off a bottle of tequila most of the night and was practically incoherent between songs, but was shockingly able to hit every note and land every high kick on his own two feet. All this in a nearly three-hour New Year's Eve set from his band Guided by Voices that stretched past 1AM at Irving Plaza.

Former Cobra Verde and Guided By Voices guitarist Doug Gillard opened the show with full band in tow. Gillard's backup group held their own with a great set of songs that I'm certain any GBV fan could appreciate. Nada Surf's Matthew Caws made a special appearance for one song, but the real highlight of the set came aftger Gillard subtly suggested someone else join him on stage for their last song. Of course, this was the cue for Pollard to sing the post-classic lineup song "I Am A Tree" (which Gillard wrote), and halfway through the song, Pollard did just that. I don't think I was alone in hoping/predicting this would happen as soon as it was announced Doug Gillard was opening this show, and I was ecstatic when it did.

When I saw Guided By Voices at Terminal 5 back in November, I was impressed by how tight they sounded, especially considering how ridiculously lo-fi the recordings of these songs in particular are. This performance was no different. And much like that show, Tobin Sprout was again given the spotlight to sing three of GBV's most classic songs penned by the guitarist: "A Good Flying Bird", "Awful Bliss" and "14 Cheerleader Coldfront". There's something about this lineup that just seems so right. Forget that these songs are among Guided By Voices' most memorable and popular throughout their prolific catalog, the five of them seem to have great admiration for each other. The crowd was a different story. I witnessed two scuffles break out on the floor during the set and before GBV came out there was one fan vocally upset that his girlfriend was talking to a group of guys ten feet ahead of him. I guess this is what happens when emotions and champagne run high...

But leave it to a band like Guided By Voices to play a New Year's Eve show and totally miss the countdown at midnight. Despite several warnings that they were going to stop at midnight, it became apparent towards the end of "Exit Flagger" that, yeah, it was now 2011. It was definitely funny, but something tells me there were a few people who were a little confused. Either way, the band played for over another hour, returning for three encores (48 songs total), and ending with the appropriate "Don't Stop Now". Hopefully if you're a GBV fan you made it out to one of these New York-area shows, but something tells me this is not the last we'll see of this lineup.

They also played Maxwell's in Hoboken one night earlier. Both setlists and more pictures from the NYC show, below...

Continue reading "Guided by Voices played Maxwell's & then Irving Plaza on New Years Eve (pics & setlists)"

Field Music didn't make it, but there was a special reunion set by Pulsars, followed by the super duper Wye Oak who played before special guest Rumours last night at The Bell House in Brooklyn (12/3).

As advertised (at the last minute anyway), Rumours was a Fleetwood Mac cover band. Cover song experts Loser's Lounge made up the band and a rotating cast of singers came to the stage to play individual tunes. Those vocalists included Dave Hill dueting with Erika from Au Revoir Simone, Will Sheff dueting with Beth Wawerna, Matthew Caws, Britta, Sharon Van Etten, Wye Oak, and many more. The show was in honor of Bell House booker Skippy. Well, it was his birthday party, and he even came out to help perform "I Don't Wanna Know" with Mia Riddle. The full setlist (which did not include AC Newman or Eugene Mirman - both must be out of town) with a couple of videos below...

Continue reading "Rumours (indie all-star Fleetwood Mac band) played the Bell House w/ Wye Oak & Pulsars - video & setlist"

by Andrew Frisicano

Mac and Britt embrace (Triangle Music)

The much anticipated XX Merge Festival took place last week in North Carolina with a five-day (July 22-July 26), Wednesday to Sunday run of shows. Last night (Sunday)'s show with She & Him, American Music Club and Wye Oak was the only fully announced lineup. The other four nights (and one day) were a grab bag of any number of Merge bands past and present. Did you go? What were the highlights?

Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band, who recently played a pair of big NY shows, headlined the fest's first night (which also included Magnetic Fields). Superchunk, which features Merge founders Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan, topped the bill of the second night. The third night included the reformed/reunited lineups of Spent, Polvo and Pipe.

Mac McCaughan came out on stage before [Pipe] instead of the night's emcee and announced that there was a lone protester outside. He invited him up on stage and it was Jon Wurster decked out in Phillies gear as Philly Boy Roy. He was holding a sign that said "Boycot MERGE." He complained that Merge didn't have any Philly bands on their roster and Mac said that they have bands from Jersey, which is close to Philly. You never compare Jersey to Philly in front of Philly Boy Roy. It was hilarious.

All of this led to the introduction of New Jersey punks Pipe. As soon as they kicked into their first song, beer cans and plastic bottles started flying. Frontman Ron Liberti ate it up and even put himself in the line of fire, headbutting some of the cans while kicking some back into the crowd. Liberti bounded around the stage, essentially taunting the crowd. The crowd loved the band's antics as did I (but that may have been different if I hadn't managed to stay dry). [triangle music]

In addition to the Cat's Cradle shows (the venue for 4/5 of the night shows), Saturday featured a day show that included Julian Koster solo as Music Tapes and Mac McCaughan with violin accompaniment as Portastatic. A few videos from that set, below.

M. Ward, who's playing the Central Park Summerstage this Saturday (August 1st), played at the fest's Saturday night showcase. Zooey Deschanel joined him for a cover of the Beatles' "Birthday." Not too big of a surprise considering She & Him headlined the Sunday night show.

Other XX Merge artists who recently stopped in NYC include The Clientele and Richard Buckner (they played Music Hall of Williamsburg last Sunday), Versus and Superchunk (they played South Street Seaport last Friday), and Spent (they played Coco 66). Spoon didn't play a NYC show, but they were spotted in the audience of Paul McCartney's third of three shows at Citi Field in Queens. Destroyer is on his way up. He plays Bowery Ballroom on Thursday. Mark Eitzel (as American Music Club) played Le Poisson Rouge and Maxwell's before XX Merge, and now he's on his way back for a show at The Bell House.

Lineups for each night of XX Merge, with videos, and a bunch of setlists, below...

Continue reading "Merge celebrated their 20th w/ 5 days of shows in North Carolina (lineups, reviews, pics, video setlists...)"

McSweeney's, Smith Mag, and The Rumpus Present: Todd Barry and Eugene Mirman, Matthew Caws of Nada Surf, and special guests at Highline Ballroom on May 30th. Readings by Anthony Swofford, Jessica Anthony, James Hannaham, The Six-Word Memoirists, and Amy Tan. Hosted by author and Rumpus editor Stephen Elliott. Tickets are on sale.

Nada Surf (the full band) has a show coming up much sooner - April 15th at The Bell House, but that one is sold out.

Also April 15th: Eugene Mirman returns to Le Poisson Rouge with John Wesley Harding. Tickets are still on sale.

Todd and Eugene are also both appearing at this year's All Points West Festival. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are now on sale for the Holy Fuck shows happening at Bowery Ballroom and Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Tickets are on sale for both June Bill Callahan shows: Music Hall of Williamsburg and Le Poisson Rouge.

Crystal Stilts were added to Sunday's Comet Gain show at MHOW. Tickets are still on sale.

Tonight's Roots show (4/6) is sold out, but tickets are still available for a lot of the other ones coming up at Highline Ballroom. The April 1st show featured "James Poyser, Fresno Rapper, Fashon, Vernon Reed from Living Colour, and an eclectic cast of characters who usually perform in the subways of NYC." Video clips from that show from the week before below...

The Roots are also playing Montreal's Osheaga Festival.

Todd Barry insulted Louis CK in a car. That video below too..

Continue reading "Holy Fuck, The Roots, Todd Barry, Eugene Mirman, Nada Surf & other tickets "

DOWNLOAD: Lucy Wainwright Roche - Bridge (MP3)

Loudon & Lucy (by Peter Adams)

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

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

DOWNLOAD: The Mugs - Frank (MP3)

Dave Hill & John Hodgman @ UCB, NYC - June 21, 2007 (CRED)

It was almost a year ago that I said "Union Hall | a new Brooklyn music venue in Park Slope", and so it's time to celebrate:

"Union Hall presents our 1st anniversary week!"
July 09: MATTHEW CAWS (of Nada Surf) + THE RAVEN MAYHEM + guest MC Sara Schaefer
July 10: JONATHAN COULTON + special guests + MC Dave Hill
July 11: SECRET SCIENCE CLUB with Nobel prize winning neuroscientist ERIC KANDEL
July 12: TIM FITE + THE MUGS + guest MC Reggie Watts
July 14: 8pm: ENON + special guests

Nada Surf @ Brooklyn Ale House - June 3, 2007 (CRED) (post-Domino)

Related facts

• Matthew Caws was recently spotted at the White Stripes show, and was last seen at Union Hall on stage with John Vanderslice.
• MC Sara Schaefer hosts a (weekly?) game of "Name that Tune" at Union Hall - the next one is June 24th.
• Jonathan Coulton and Dave Hill were last seen on stage together LAST NIGHT! Dave Hill will be on stage again with his band Children of the Unicorn at Mercury Lounge tonight!
• Dave Hill once MC'd a show that The Mugs played at.
• Reggie Watts is hosting ROFL at Joe's Pub TONIGHT
• Gabby Glaser of Luscious Jackson is playing Union Hall on June 28th.
• Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals is playing Union Hall on September 22nd.

Michael Showalter @ Sasquatch - May 29, 2007 (CRED) (Develop Don't Destroy!)

Michael Showalter, co-host of the weekly "Tearing the Veil of Maya" comedy show at Union Hall, star of the State, Stella and other stuff - is recording a CD - to be released on JDub records. He'll do it @ Union Hall Thursday July 26th at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. Tickets go on sale today at noon.

Tim Fite is going on tour. Dates below...

Continue reading "UNION HALL's anniversary, MICHAEL SHOWALTER JDub CD recording, TIM FITE Tour Dates, etc"