Hold Steady @ Bowery Ballroom - June 8, 2009 (Photo by Alex Reside)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Booker T. @ Joe's Pub
* Gil Scott-Heron @ SOBs
* Olof Arnalds @ Sycamore
* Julianna Barwick @ Pianos
* The Budos Band @ Stuy Town Oval
* Antibalas @ Rock Off Boat Cruise
* The Mummies, The Back CC's @ Southpaw
* Bloodhorse, Medusa, Pollution @ Union Pool
* Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood @ Izod Center
* Survival, Exactly, Gates of Heaven @ Glasslands
* Deastro, The Upwelling, Le Mood @ Mercury Lounge
* Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes @ Beacon Theatre
* Vernon Reid, Jamie Saft's Burning Genitals @ The Stone
* The Hold Steady, Gost Trio @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Rooftop Films w/ Glass Ghost @ Brooklyn Tech High School
* Apostle of Hustle, Forro in the Dark, Brian Bonz @ Bowery Ballroom
* Vision Festival w/ Marshall Allen, Sun Ra Arkestra @ Abrons Arts Center
* The Decemberists, Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 @ Radio City Music Hall
* Brightblack Morning Light, Mariee Sioux, Zomes @ The Studio at Webster Hall
* Zambri, The Drums, Last Year's Model, The States, Do You See The Dark @ Annex
* John Medeski/Billy Martin/Charlie Hunter/John Ellis, Big Sam/Joe Russo/Otis Grove @ Sullivan Hall

Happy 1-year anniversary to Max Silvestri's Big Teriffic party which takes place tonight at Cameo (located behind the Lovin' Cup Restaurant). Kurt & Kristen and many other comedians are on the bill.

Stuyvesant Town's weekly Music in the Oval series starts tonight with a set by The Budos Band.

Deastro plays Ghostly International's 10-yr Anniversary Bash on Friday June 12th, as part of the Northside Festival. Catch them tonight at the Mercury Lounge.

Jamie Saft premieres his Burning Genitals trio with the dual drums of Mike Pride and Bobby Previte tonight at The Stone. They'll play material from their forthcoming Veal Records release, "Crabz."

Eugene Mirman gave this year's commencement speech at his alma matter, Lexington High School. Yes, that's the same school that produced Amanda Palmer's "With the Needle That Sings in Her Heart" earlier this year. Video of the speech, below...

Fanfarlo are offering their new album for $1.00. Video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

The Forms @ Sound Fix on Feb 20, 2009 (by Jonny Leather)

1. This Thursday's (Feb 26 @ 8pm) Big Terrific is our last show at Sound Fix ever! Isn't that so sad? Sound Fix is closing down, as you may have heard, to become an Urban Outfitters that only sells toe rings. Who even wears toe rings besides little babies? Ugh. I have been hosting shows there for over a year and this is very disappointing, but we're going to send the place off right. We're saying goodbye with some of our favorite guests ever: improvisational musical wunderkind Reggie Watts, one of the best stand-ups in New York and SNL writer John Mulaney, Videogum internet sexebrity and dear friend Gabriel Delahaye, all-star jokesmith Jesse Popp, and Brooklyn master storyteller DC Benny. This show will be funny and sweet and sad and please come help us say goodbye.

2. Luckily, nothing can stop Gabe & Jenny and me and our love of attention. Beginning March 11th, Big Terrific moves to every Wednesday night at Cameo, a gorgeous new music/art/performance space behind the Lovin' Cup at 93 North 6th Street between Berry and Wythe in Williamsburg. Still at 8pm, still free, just on Wednesdays now. And even closer to the train! We are super excited about this venue, and they are really committed to cool things. The show will be even better because now there is a green room for costume changes, and we can have live music. Are you even ready for how fun this will be? There's a SHOWER we can use. Tell your friends. Starting March 11th, Big Terrific is on Wednesdays. NOTE: this venue has nothing to do with the funk-inspired R&B outfit Cameo, though they do provide Gabe Liedman all his wardrobe.
[Max Silvestri] (who is not in the above picture)

The Future of Comedy Is Music (Max Silvestri video below...)

Continue reading "Big Terrific is moving from Sound Fix to Cameo "

Los Campesinos! @ Sound Fix Records (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

After "Anonymous" posted "soundfix closing at the end of FEB???? true or rumor??" in the comments yesterday, I investigated, and sadly one person that would know did get back to me with a simple "True". Free Williamsburg called Sound Fix "and they confirmed that they were indeed shutting down, 'just the bar,'"

This sucks for the free shows, and this is especially unfortunate for comedy. As we were just pointing out, Sound Fix has filled the gap left after Rififi closed. The Williamsburg bar has in fact become one of NYC's most consistent weekly (free) comedy show locations. The comic's comic writes...

If it seems like only a year ago that live comedy shows were beginning to find a new happy home behind the Sound Fix record store, that's because it was only a year ago, as Max Silvestri started hosting shows then and I was pitching the venue as a potential full-on replacement for the East Village's Rififi, which closed last summer, in part, because that club's owner gave up a similar battle with the neighbors. Gabe & Jenny joined up with Max for weekly Big Terrific shows that have lived up to the name, and other shows soon followed suit, making for lively lineups and large audiences just about every weeknight.

In the meantime, go check out a show at the venue during its final days. A few of them are listed below...

Continue reading "Sound Fix Records bar & venue (not the store) closing in Feb"

by Klaus Kinski

Max & Gabe D & friend @ MoMA - Jan 6, 2009 (by Fred Benenson) (via)

I don't get to see nearly as much comedy as I used to, but the scene is as vibrant as ever. If the mood strikes and I find myself wanting to get my yuck-on there is absolutely no shortage of one-off shows and recurring weekly shows. The Tribeca branch of the 92nd St Y has been booking some insane comedy shows recently. I caught Zach Galifianakis there a few weeks ago and was mightily impressed by the performance space and the insane, reasonably priced beer list at the bar. Sound Fix in Williamsburg has free comedy every Wednesday and Thursday. Joe Mande and Noah Garfinkle host Totally J/K every Wednesday at 9:30pm, while Max Silvestri, Gabe Liedman and Jenny Slate host Big Terriffic at 8:00pm on Thursdays. These shows fill the void left by the demise of Rififi and its staples Invite Them Up and The Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy Show by attracting big names like Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, Janeane Garofalo, Todd Barry, Eugene Mirman, and zillions more. Speaking of Greg Johnson, he's got a free show every Sunday at Pianos. And speaking of Invite Them Up, former host Bobby Tisdale now has a semi-regular, RSVP only show happening in Greenpoint called Wards of Merkin. It's usually $10 and there's usually free booze and top shelf comedians. And don't forget that the UCB Theater and The Pit have calendars bursting with options as does Comix's underground lair Ochi's. And that's just barely scratching the surface of the goings ons. Below are some shows currently on my radar...

Continue reading "NYC comedy @ 92Y, SoundFix, Comix, Pianos, UCB, places"

That 2nd Thievery Corporation show at Terminal 5 (Feb 26) is now on presale (password=thieveryretaliation).

Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra are playing two shows at Southpaw in Brooklyn this month. Tickets are on sale for January 30th and 31st.

Busta Rhymes is playing BB King's on March 10th. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are still on sale for the Ida Maria show happening at Mercury Lounge. Union Hall is sold out.

Tickets are on sale for the Thermals show at The Bell House. The access code is "SALTY", but I'm not sure it's necessary or does anything.

Telepathe are opening for M83 at Irving Plaza. Tickets are still on sale.

Tickets are still on sale for both Cat Power shows happening at the Apollo.

Tickets are on sale for the Frightened Rabbit show happening at Le Poisson Rouge.

Tickets are on sale for the Lady Sovereign show happening at Pianos.

Comedian Marc Maron is performing at Union Hall in Brooklyn on January 15th. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are still on sale for the John Doe & Exene of X show happening at MHOW on Saturday. One day later they also play Joe's Pub.

Tickets are still on sale for the Great Lake Swimmers and A Hawk & A Hacksaw show happening at Mercury Lounge on Saturday.

Brooklyn Qawwali Party was added to GlobalFEST. Femi Kuti was taken away. It's this Sunday at Webster Hall and tickets are still on sale.

Note that ALL the NYC-area Morrissey shows are going on sale at 11AM on Friday (not noon).

Have you listened to Jaydiohead yet?

Radiohead think Max Silvestri is funny... his Internet Thing anyway. Video below...

Continue reading "the Thermals, Antibalas, Busta Rhymes, Thievery Corporation, Marc Maron, other tickets & stuff"

People like Fred Armisen, Carrie from Sleater-Kinney (and NPR) (man, she was rough on Tallest Man on Earth), Joe Mande and Nick Kroll will be watching comedy shorts (with piano accompaniment) tonight...

Continue reading "ThunderAnt, Max Silvestri, others & film @ MoMA Tuesday"

photos by Lori Baily

Many predicted that Deerhunter would get Pitchfork's #1 album of 2008, but in fact they gave it to Fleet Foxes. Bradford Cox should still be happy with both Deerhunter at #5 and Atlas Sound at #26 though. Speaking of Bradford Cox, he blogged this...

Just got of the phone with Brian Weitz [Geologist of Animal Collective]. This was sent out via the bands email earlier this morning:

"it has come to my attention that 2 full length tracks off of our upcoming album, merriweather post pavilion have surfaced online. david, noah, and I please ask that someone assist us and leak all of the remaining tracks on the album.

the album is intended to be heard as a whole, and nothing bothers us more than individual tracks leaking and ruining the the overall album experience

-brian Geologist"

Total Bullshit. Someone actually had the nerve to hack into their e-mail account and send this out. The truth is that AC do not want their album to leak and are trying very hard to avoid the drama around said album that has risen to a fever pitch.

I am not trying to involve myself in AC's business, I am just voicing my own independent opinion.

Back in the 90's when I was first starting to make 4-track tapes I had a game where I would make a fake version of an album I was anticipating. If Pavement's Brighten the Corners were coming out soon, I had to wait till release day to hear it. I would record a set of songs that I would want the Pavement album to sound like. Some of those songs ended up becoming Atlas Sound and Deerhunter songs years later.

My advice to those who are so desperate for AC's album to leak is to pick up instruments and make your own version of what you would want it to sound like. Respect the BANDS wishes and wait till release day. Then you can compare your new songs with theirs. Who knows. Maybe your album will be the one people are wanting to leak next year. -Bradford

The pictures in this post were taken at the Stereogum Gummy Awards at Music Hall of Williamsburg earlier this month. More of them below...

Continue reading "Deerhunter not P4K's #1, Gummy pics, Animal Collective leak"

Jose Gonzalez @ ACL 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

today in NYC
* Blip Festival
* Red Hot & Rio @ BAM (with Jose G)
* Ohgr @ Blender Theater
* Dufus @ Knitting Factory
* Max Silvestri @ Sound Fix !
* Benjy Ferree @ Union Hall
* BB King @ Wellmont Theater
* Tina Turner @ Nassau Coliseum
* Vampire Weekend & Telepathe @ Terminal 5
* Orphan, Red Dawn II & Pollution @ Union Pool
* Suicidal Tendencies & Madball @ Irving Plaza
* Snowden, Villa Vina & Twin Tigers @ Southpaw
* The King Left, Howlies & The Kiss Off @ Mercury Lounge
* Tim Hecker & Wordless Music Orchestra @ (le) poisson rouge
* Stellastarr*, Comandante Zero & Ghosts in the Valley @ Pianos
* The Teenagers, Heloise & The Savoir Faire & Lissy Trullie @ MHOW
* R. Stevie Moore, Unicornucopia, Tele V. Cheeseburger & The Ocean Floor @ Death By Audio

Tonight would have been the Noah & The Whale show at Bowery Ballroom.

! TONIGHT @ Sound Fix: "Comedy hosted by Max Silvestri (BestWeekEver.tv), Gabe Liedman and Jenny Slate. Featuring: ZACH GALIFIANAKIS, DC BENNY (Comedy Central Presents), ANDRES DU BOUCHET (Conan), JAMIE LEE (New Orleans Comedy Fest) + BRENT SULLIVAN (Official Friend of The Show). maxsilvestri.com / gabenjenny.com". Also supposedly Jon Benjamin and Larry Murphy.

No Age was nominated for a Grammy.

Ohgr = Mark Walk and Nivek Ogre of Skinny Puppy.

Lissy Trullie opens for the Teenagers tonight. Video of her and Adam Green in the Santos Party House bathroom, below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday? "

photos by Tim Griffin

Obama supporter and talented musician (Olga) Bell played a free show at Sound Fix Records in Brooklyn on Friday night. She plays another one (not free) at Glasslands on October 9.

Speaking of free shows at Sound Fix,

Oct 2, 2008 8 PM Big Terrific w/ Max, Gabe & Jenny
Comedy presented by Max Silvestri (BestWeekEver.tv), Gabe Liedman and Jenny Slate. Featuring: AZIZ ANSARI (MTV's Human Giant), ARJ BARKER (Dave on Flight of the Conchords), JACK KUKODA (writer for The Onion News Network), MATT MCCARTHY (Live at Gotham, the cable guy on those Verizon FiOS commercials), PATRICK BORELLI (presenting the 6th season of The Wire, live. You will not want to miss this.) (maxsilvestri.com)

Continue reading "Bell played SoundFix (pics), Aziz & Arj & Ra Ra Riot will soon"

Sarah Silverman @ Knitting Factory, NYC - Aug 19, 2008 [YouTube]

Tonight [August 21] we bring you:

Fred Armisen (Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, Anchorman)
Todd Barry (The Flight of the Conchords, Letterman, Conan)
Heather Lawless (Comedy Central, Stella)
Baron Vaughn (Comedy Central, VH1)
Rich Juzwiak & Tracie Egan (Jezebel.com's Pot Psychology)
...and a secret surprise guest!

And as always, Gabe & Jenny & I [Max Silvestri] are going to be really goofy and make you feel electric downstairs.

Sound Fix Lounge
110 Bedford Ave at North 11th St, Brooklyn, NY
FREE!

Continue reading "Sarah Silverman anti-video video + more comedy tonight"

words by Klaus Kinski, photos by Bao Nguyen

As a person who gets pretty agitated when a schedule starts to fall apart before my very eyes, the fact that the Channel 101 show was running 45 minutes behind schedule had me wound pretty tight. Add to that the fact that we couldn't get The Perfect Storm's sampler working, forcing them to (rightfully) bail, and you've got a Klaus on your hands who's on the verge of frenzy. Luckily, a blown schedule and the loss of part of our line-up turned out to be really just minor bumps in what ended up being a completely off the hook night of comedy and music (May 5, 2008).

When I got to Pianos, somebody told me that a beardless Louis CK was hanging out and host Max Silvestri persuaded me to see if he'd want to do a set. He agreed on the condition that he could go on as early as possible in the show. I was beside myself with glee. However, we were plagued with delay upon delay, so much so that during Max's opening, Louis waved good-bye to me and left. I was heartbroken. But then a few minutes later he re-appeared, I gave Max the 'times-up' light, and Louis ended up doing nearly 20 minutes of completely new (to me at least) material. As already pointed out, his set really was mostly amazing. Like any comedian trying new material, some of his jokes didn't hit the mark, but even those were hilarious. Louis is beyond one of my favorites. He's almost a deity to me. The fact that he showed up to do a set was really a ridiculous honor.

continued below....

Continue reading "the comedy part of Rock n ROFL last night @ Pianos - pics"

by Klaus Kinski

John Mulaney

Our last Rock 'n ROFL was seriously off the hook. Our May 5 Rock 'N ROFL will be no different. The comedy portion of Rock 'n ROFL begins a little after 9:00. Here are four reasons why you should line up early (or buy tix now)...

Continue reading "Rock n ROFL is May 5th, here's the comedy lineup "

Great news, everybody: the Department of Health was nice enough to shut down Sound Fix Records 20 minutes ago because their CDs were dusty or something. So no show tonight. Hopefully some other time? I'll try to do comedy again.

But really, the venue just got shut down by the Department of Health. I'm SUPER happy about it and not at all troubled how late this notice I'm giving you is.

If you get this AFTER you show up to a closed Sound Fix tonight, I will buy you a drink ASAP.

I'm really really sorry. [comedian Max Silvestri]

APRIL 4 UPDATE: Just to clarify, the record store is open, but the lounge (venue part) is closed (still).

Continue reading "The Mooslem Threat, Hillary Clintones & other videos"

Rob Huebel & Aziz Ansari @ Rififi, NYC - Jan 23, 2008 (Marianne Ways)

* Violens plays Pianos
* The Cool Kids are at Studio B
* Corn Mo is playing Mercury Lounge
* Rhett Miller is playing Blend in Ridgewood
* Amanda Blank + Spankrock DJs are @ Hiro Ballroom
* Neurosis, Mastodon, US Christmas, Brooklyn
* Download a US Christmas track @ Paper Thin Walls
* Growing and IUD are playing Death By Audio
* Kaki King is playing w/ Benevento @ Sullivan Hall
* Marc Ribot and Laurie Anderson are playing The Stone
* Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music) & Ben Nichols of Lucero are @ Maxwell's
* Kelly from the Rosebuds is doing comedy in Ochi's Lounge @ Comix
* Comedian Max Silvestri Like's Attention @ Sound Fix

The above picture was taken at one of the last Invite Them Up shows ever. Lisa Loeb! played in a Borders the other day. She also played an Ikea. Video below. What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Max Silvestri of "Gabe & Max's Internet Thing" and "Best of 2007" fame is debating Lang Fisher at the Slipper Room in NYC tonight. More importantly, it's free and there's free alcohol. RSVP. --- also worth noting: Max Silvestri does free comedy shows at Sound Fix now too (next one in Jan 24). Slipper Room flyer below...

Continue reading "Max Silvestri, Finger on the Pulse, free booze, tonight"

You can watch all the funny videos nominated for ECNY awards, below.....

Continue reading "5 ECNY-nominated "Best Short Comedic Film" videos"

the third in a series where we asked comedians to tell us what was good this year....

Max Silvestri is a young and stupidly talented Brooklyn-based comedian whom I adore. He hosts a show at Rififi the second Sunday of every month called I Like Attention. Each installment features a different co-host and a truly stupendous line-up of comedians (for example). You may also know Max as the co-star of Gabe & Max's Internet Thing, and as one of the hosts of Best Night Ever over at VH1's BestWeekEver.tv. Here's Max's list of the best music to come out of 2007. - klaus

- - -

I was sort of lazy about listening to new albums this year, but here is a bunch of stuff I got all obsessed with. Know that if it seems weird that I left something off this list, it's not because I just didn't get a chance to listen to the record but because I think the band and all its fans are stupid and gay. (jk lol)

Dan Deacon, Spiderman of the Rings - Maybe the most fun live show I've ever been to? I was up against his table at Judson Church and danced my stupid head off. There were photos online from the show and I look like someone had just dumped a huge bucket ofsweat and dumb facial expressions all over me. I DANCE WEIRD but that is how good Dan Deacon is. Total spaz.

LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver - They stole the show at Randall's Island. I kinda look like James Murphy from far away so it was like dancing to myself. Also, my roommate was in the video for "Someone Great" and looked very pretty so give it up for her and that. But mostly the album is amazing.

Gogol Bordello, Super Taranta! - It's very rarely that I hear an album that *actually* makes me wish I'd gone into the rock star business, but this is one of them. It helps that I really like vodka and marinated herring.

Arcade Fire, Neon Bible - As a comedian, I am constantly wrapped in a blanket of irony and trying to avoid sincerity at all costs. Not really, but it is surprising to me how much My Body Is A Cage gives me chills every time I hear it. Their show at United Palace (the one where everybody got on the stage, Stooges-style) was really, really tremendous.

DOWNLOAD: Arcade Fire - My Body is a Cage (live @ Judson Church) (MP3) (via/more)

Dr. Dog, We All Belong - Speaking of sincerity, these guys just enjoy making music so much and with so little irony that it is impossible not to be infected by it when you see them live. They are like if The Band had liked playing soccer and grilling instead of doing drugs and being difficult.

Of Montreal, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer - Their songs have that weird thing where it seems like you've heard them before, but you haven't. And I have no problem with them endorsing Outback Steakhouse. I love Outback Steakhouse. I guess what I'm saying is I will take money from any restaurant. Thanks in advance.

Justice, Stupid Symbol - This is the kind of album that makes me wish like there was a lot more music exactly like it, but there isn't. And they almost managed to make Terminal 5 not the most irritating place ever.

The National, Boxer - This record is mostly perfect.

continued below.....

Continue reading "Best of 2007 by Max Silvestri"

Max Silvestri @ Rififi, NYC - Oct 29, 2007 (CRED)

In addition to all the special comedy shows always going on, don't forget that there are plenty of shows that happen weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly in NYC that are always reliable, rarely over $5, and usually feature some of the biggest comedians in the business. Why, just the other day Invite Them Up featured Jim Gaffigan, Demetri Martin, Nick Kroll, Andy Blitz, and Max Silvestri. Nuts, right!? Here are some other recurring shows I highly recommend.

• Totally J/K with Joe and Noah: Every other Monday at Rififi with Joe Mande and Noah Garfinkle
• At Night with Gabe and Jenny: Mondays at Rififi
• Sweet: Tuesday at The Slipper Room with Seth Herzog
• Invite Them Up: Wednesdays at Rififi with Eugene Mirman and Bobby Tisdale
• Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy: Fridays at Rififi with Greg Johnson and Larry Murphy
• It is It: Monthly at Pianos with Adam Lowitt (The Daily Show)
• Tearing the Veil of Maya: Sundays at Union Hall with Eugene Mirman and Michael Showalter