review & photos by Chris Gersbeck

Mission of Burma @ Maxwell's

I don't think I've missed more than a couple of New York City area Mission of Burma shows since I accidentally caught them at the Stillwell Stage at Siren Fest in '04. At that point in the band's history, they were still a somewhat recently reunited group, but clearly devoted to something more than just a few reunion performances. This was a group that was not so much reunited as they were picking up where they left off in 1983, anxious to write and record groundbreaking music yet again. Seven years and three (fantastic) full-length albums later, Mission of Burma have even further embedded their place in music history, a sort of indie music myth for our times.

So it goes without saying that these two shows, at Maxwell's on 1/28 and Bell House on 1/29 (both of which sold out) were met with excitement from the most devoted of Burma's fans. The band has become known for hand picking their opening acts, and in the case of these shows, they did an excellent job with both. New York City's Grandfather (not to be confused with Grandchildren) opened the Maxwell's show on Friday, a threesome with clear inspiration from Mission of Burma's unique timing and song structure. Their songs were dark, but meticulously written, with a heavy emphasis on rhythm. Grandfather's drummer, a highly energetic and precise musician, took on lead vocal duties as their guitarist and bassist flung themselves around on stage throughout their set. In hindsight, it made perfect sense when their guitarist told me before the show that Bob Weston and Steve Albini were behind their debut record. Check this band out (their next show is at Party Expo in Brooklyn 2/7/11).

Though I missed most of Buke & Gass's set at the Bell House on Saturday due to problems at the door, what I heard was great. A male-female duo from Brooklyn, both played seated, the percussion coming from a single kick drum stuffed with tambourines and a set of bells wrapped around the guitarist's ankle. Though highly melodic in contrast to Grandfather's set, you could tell why MoB tapped them to open, and they definitely had their share of fans in the crowd. Their next show is opening for Deerhoof at Europa, and then for Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson at the Stone.

Due to MoB's practice of choosing their setlists by committee just before hitting the stage meant getting two completely different sets between the two nights. The intimate (yet utterly explosive) Maxwell's performance initially consisted of later period Burma songs, opening with the Obliterati's "Donna Sumeria" and eventually hitting the Sound, the Speed, the Light's "1, 2, 3 Party!" and ONoffON's "the Setup". Smattered among the set was a slew of new material too, which is shaping to be yet another great set of songs from the band.

But their encore at Maxwell's is what made the crowd just completely lose themselves. As soon as Roger Miller began strumming the opening chords of "This Is Not A Photograph", the entire front of the stage became a group of pogo-ing lunatics. I don't think I've ever seen crowd surfing at a Burma show, and if you know the small space at Maxwell's you know there isn't much room to surf, but as soon as Clint Conley said, "That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate" a rather enthusiastic fan catapulted from the stage into the crowd and somehow remained elevated for much longer than gravity should have allowed. Following with B-side "Max Ernst" and closing with the anthemic "Academy Fight Song" left everyone wanting more; in fact most people refused to leave until the house lights came on.

Luckily another Burma performance was just around the corner. Their set at the Bell House on Saturday was filled with just as much energy as the night before, but relied more heavily on material from their 1981 EP Signals, Calls & Marches and their only proper full length before their breakup, Vs. Pete Prescott's shouts from behind the drumkit sounded just as aggressive as ever, while Clint Conley's overdriven bass made older songs like "Mica" and "Fame & Fortune" sound even more furious than their studio counterparts. As much as I believe "underrated" describes Mission of Burma on a number of levels, one of the greatest aspects of MoB that goes unnoticed may be Roger Miller's unique slide guitar technique, particularly when soloing on songs like "Spider's Web". Bob Weston on tape loops provided those iconic swirls of noise during and between songs, reminding you that the band's fourth member is just as important to the Burma sound as any of the members on stage. And how great is it that when they launched into their most well known song, "That's When I Reach For My Revolver" during the first encore, I hadn't even considered that it wasn't played in the set yet, or at all the night before. Overwhelming response demanded a second encore, which consisted of the opening track from Vs., "Secrets", and again ending with "Academy Fight Song". Something tells me that if Roger Miller hadn't jokingly said, "Thanks, please go home, now," the crowd would have stuck around for even more.

--

For more Roger, check out Chris's recent interview and check out Alloy Orchestra in NYC on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. For more Bob, don't miss Shellac at ATP's I'll Be Your Mirror in Asbury Park. For more Mission of Burma, check out NYC Taper's recording of the Brooklyn show, and the rest of our pictures from both NYC-area shows with setlists, below...

Continue reading "Mission of Burma played Maxwell's w/ Grandfather, and the Bell House w/ Buke & Gass (pics, setlists & a live recording)"

photos by Graeme Flegenheimer

Evan & Juliana @ the Bell House

"Thursday night's sold-out Evan Dando and Juliana Hatfield show [at Maxwell's] was a trip down memory lane. Mostly, though, a testament to the timeless power of great songwriting.

Dando and Hatfield, for the uninitiated, were the king and queen of the 1990s alternative rock prom. They were friends--or more than friends, nobody is really sure--who sang and played on each other's records. They made a handful of really great records that still hold up today.

For someone like myself, who saw The Lemonheads' "It's A Shame About Ray" tour in 1992, (I kept the set list as a souvenir until just a few years ago), and had Juliana Hatfield's 1993 classic, "Become What You Are" stuck in my car cd player for at least a couple of years, Thursday night's show was a real treat.

Armed with only microphones and acoustic guitars, the duo swapped songs back and forth. They played songs from the albums that made them famous, as well as more recent compositions and a few cover songs.... [Jennifer O'Connor for Hoboken Patch]

One night after they played Maxwell's, Evan and Juliana headlined a show at the Bell House. Lady Lamb the Beekeeper opened both shows. More pictures from the Brooklyn show, and a bunch of videos and the setlist from the NJ show, below...

Continue reading "Evan Dando & Juliana Hatfield played shows (Jennifer O'Connor reviewed one of them) -- pics, video & Maxwell's setlist"

Versus

The once extinguished but now active Versus is scheduled to play Mercury Lounge on February 19th, their lone East Coast date as part of a handful of US dates late next month. Tickets for Mercury Lounge go on sale at noon. The band released their first LP in ten years, On the Ones and Threes, via Merge Records in 2010.

You can also catch Versus's Richard Baluyut when he appears during Jennifer O'Connor's residency at Rock Shop on February 8th. Tickets are still available, and he'll be joined by Charles Bissell of The Wrens and Kendall Meade of Mascott.

Speaking of Charles Bissell, he is also on the bill of a Project Matters Benefit at Maxwell's in Hoboken on January 23rd with Cymbals Eat Guitars and Escape Directors. Tickets are on sale.

Versus is also on board for Noise Pop 2011 in San Francisco, CA. To be exact, they play Cafe Du Nord with their touring labelmates Telekinesis & The Love Language on February 23rd. The whole festival will take place at multiple venues from February 22-27 and will also feature appearances from Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service), Ted Leo (solo), The Concretes (who are touring), Waaves & Best Coast (who are touring together), How to Dress Well (who plays Brooklyn soon), No Age, Yo La Tengo, and many other favorites. The full slate of initially-announced bands is below, and you can get your badges now.

Full list of Noise Pop bands, some video and all Versus dates are below.

Continue reading "Versus playing shows, Cymbals Eat Guitars playing a benefit, Noise Pop initial lineup announced (Ben Gibbard & many more)"

photos by Chris Gersbeck

Pittsburgh Post Gazette: What made you want to revisit the Galaxie 500 catalog now?

Dean: We did one show of all-Galaxie 500 songs at a Spanish festival about a year ago, and it sounded really good. I came home and the CDs were all being re-released, and I thought now that I have re-learned the songs I might as well go play them -- while I can still hit all the notes. [Critic] Michael Azzerad asked me if I had dropped the key on any of the songs to do that, but I have managed to get there without resorting to that.

Continue reading "Dean Wareham played 'Galaxie 500' @ Maxwell's (pics, setlist)"

Guided by Voices @ Terminal 5 (more by Chris Gersbeck)

As people have theorized in the comments many times, the reunited classic lineup of Guided By Voices will play a show at Maxwell's in Hoboken, the NJ venue they've played many times, and it will happen on Thursday, December 30th, one day before they play a New Years Eve show at Irving Plaza. Tickets are $75 and on sale at noon.

If there's a Hanukkah equivalent of the Grinch, they're probably relieved that last night, Wednesday, December 8th, was the final night of Hanukkah and the final night of Yo La Tengo Hanukkah shows. Those in attendance last night were treated to an opening set by a local band called The National and comedian Marc Maron. Frequent YLT collaborators Bruce Bennett (of the A-Bones) and Gil Divine were special guests during the encore, and Hamish Kilgour of the Clean sat in most of the night on guitar.

Here's the final tally:

12/1 - M. Ward, Todd Barry, Nash Kato
12/2 - The Parting Gifts, Jim Gaffigan, members of The Feelies
12/3 - Jeff Tweedy, Eugene Mirman & Kid Congo Powers
12/4 - Syl Johnson, Jon Glaser, Peter Wolf & Ira's mom
12/5 - Mission of Burma & Wyatt Cenac
12/6 - Mofungo, Amy Rigby, Wreckless Eric, Mikael Jorgensen, Tara Key, Gil Divine & Eugene Mirman
12/7 - Bonnie Prince Billy, Kurt Braunohler & Kristen Schaal & Nels Cline
12/8 - The National, Marc Maron, Hamish Kilgour, Bruce Bennett, Gil Divine

Continue reading "The National & Marc Maron opened for Yo La Tengo (and Hanukkah is over)"

DOWNLOAD: Charles Bradley - "The World (Is Going Up In Flames)" (MP3)

Charles Bradley album art (reminds me of something...)

Lotsa great funk and dancefloor grooves are coming to Southpaw and elsewhere for you old soul fans/45 collectors out there.

Though Charles Bradley just released the 45 of the same name, he is prepping to release No Time For Dreaming, a new LP for Dunham/Daptone Records. Is Charles Bradley a stranger to hard time?

Charles Bradley is no stranger to hard times. Born in Gainesville, Florida in 1948 and raised in Brooklyn, New York, he spent the better part of his childhood living on the streets. One of the more optimistic moments of his childhood came in 1964, when his sister took him to see James Brown at The Apollo. Brown's energy and showmanship would form a lasting impression on Charles. He went home and immediately began practicing microphone tricks with a broom attached to a string, imitating the Godfather's every move.

Forty years later, Charles was still trying to make ends meet, still trying to make it as a musician. He was performing his James Brown routines under his alter ego "Black Velvet" when Gabriel Roth of Daptone records happened upon his show at the Tarheel Lounge in Bedstuy. Roth recognized his raw talent and directly brought him into the studio for a session with The Sugarman 3.

Charles Bradley's last show was with Lee Fields at Music Hall of Williamsburg on 11/20, and Lee Fields & The Expressions have another show in the immediate future: 1/7 at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets are now on sale. Still no opener listed. I'd suggest Budos Band but they just headlined AND SOLD OUT the same venue recently themselves.

Speaking of Daptone, legendary New Orleans musician Allen Toussaint will join Daptone queen Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings at Best Buy Theater during their two day stint at the venue (tickets for both Dec 30 and Dec 31 are still available).

Toussaint collaborated with The Meters in the 70s, who will also be in NYC in the coming months (the "Funky" version anyway) (tickets available for Feb 15th, 16th, and 17th shows billed as "The Funky Meters").

A soulful New Years Eve can also be had outside of Manhattan at the Bell House thanks to Dig Deeper who are bringing Marva Whitney, Billy Prince (of the Precisions) and the Sweet Divines to the Brooklyn venue that night.Tickets are still on sale.

Start the New Year at the Bell House too. The Detroit Cobras headline the venue on January 1st, one night after they ring in the New Year at Maxwell's with the Fleshtones.

Dig Deeper hosts soul singer Lenis Guess at Southpaw on January 22nd with The Solid Set. Tickets are on sale.

Dig Deeper most recently hosted Syl Johnson at Southpaw. Syl also played a show with Yo La Tengo one night later.

Milwaukee's Kings Go Forth will play Southpaw on 2/19 as part of a stint of East Coast dates in late February. Tickets are on sale, and their full tour schedule with some videos and stuff is below.

Continue reading "soulful New Years Eve options, Kings Go Forth tour dates, Allen Toussaint, Detroit Cobras, new Charles Bradley & more"

As hinted, posted and speculated, Bonnie Prince Billy (who plays Town Hall tonight), Kristen Schaal, Kurt Braunohler and Nels Cline (who played LPR one night earlier) all joined Yo La Tengo at Maxwell's on the 7th night of Hanukkah. Full setlist below...

Continue reading "Bonnie Prince Billy & Nels Cline played w/ Yo La Tengo"

words and photos by Chris Gersbeck

Last night was night six, and Yo La Tengo played their fifth night of Hanukkah shows on Sunday (12/5), with their eight night stay at Maxwell's quickly coming to an end. I can only imagine the amount of exhaustion that comes from planning and rehearsing these shows, though you'd never know it thanks to consistently great performances from Ira, James and Georgia.

The legendary Mission of Burma, who just may be the greatest long-running live act of all time, were tapped to open the night. Playing almost entirely new material, along with a slew of covers including the Buzzcocks' "I Don't Mind" and the Wipers' "Youth of America", Burma continue to prove that they're one of the few, if not only bands to reunite and still produce material as innovative as in their heyday. And maybe I just haven't seen them live in a while, but Roger Miller's new hairdo is fantastic. I'm looking forward to seeing them again in January.

Daily Show correspondent Wyatt Cenac was the comedian guest of the night and his act was well received by the crowd. Cenac's stories were at times a bit convoluted, but the payoffs were definitely worth it. Apparently he and fellow correspondent John Oliver have a show coming in 2011 to follow the Colbert Report, which makes perfect sense.

It's kind of amusing that Yo La Tengo opened with the somber and mesmeric "Green Arrow", considering how intense their set would later become. Tearing through "The Room Got Heavy", Richard Hell's "I'm Your Man", and ending with "Mushroom Cloud of Hiss", Yo La's songs often collapsed into long, droning swells of feedback. Adding to the noise collage was Burma's tape-looper (and Shellac bassist) Bob Weston, who was sitting in with the band for the night, albeit from the soundboard. Manipulating YLT's vocals, guitars and percussion throughout, Weston added that unique quality that has become synonymous with Mission of Burma's sound.

All of this lent itself well to the encore, first with Roger Miller returning on organ to perform Jonathan Richman's "Astral Plane" with WFMU auction winner Jason Kaufman on vocals (who did a great job), then with MoB drummer Pete Prescott singing one of his and Weston's Volcano Suns songs (Weston came out to play bass on this one). Before long, Clint Conley also returned to the stage on guitar to perform as the supergroup I personally have dubbed "Yo La Burma". To say it was incredible to watch is an understatement. It's not too often you get to see things like this happen in such an intimate venue, so if you get the chance to check out any of the remaining shows, definitely do so.

More pictures from the fifth of eight crazy nights at Maxwell's are below.

Continue reading "Yo La Tengo, Mission of Burma & Wyatt Cenac @ Maxwell's (pics from the fifth night of Chanukah)"

"We regarded music as a form of socializing, and took a resolutely unprofessional approach. Only a few of us in the scene ever imagined becoming professional musicians. We were the stepchildren of the first generation of no wave bands (a term Chris Nelson coined in the New York Rocker, where I was a part-time photographer) like Mars, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, D.N.A. and the Contortions. We took pride in our facile and self-taught instrumental licks, and played music that was often hookless and even atonal. Our influences were broad, including jazz, African music, commercial jingles, and the English punk movement, especially the artier aspects. We avidly followed bands like the Fall (in its earliest incarnations), Wire, and X-Ray Spex, all of whom we were able to see at CBGB.

It was an era when the East Village was not the tourist trap it has become. There were few restaurants open in the evening, and nearly every hipster you saw on the street was carrying an instrument. Everyone was either in a band, or was a DJ or rock critic. Music was featured at loft parties, festivals, and impromtu neighborhood clubs. One regular Mofungo gig was on the roof of my building at 630 East 14th Street, where we threw a party every Fourth of July. We also formed an alliance with Chain Gang, a punk outfit from the Bronx, whose members made a living driving cabs and self-released a series of amazing singles."
[The inside story of Mofungo by Robert Sietsama]

Continue reading "it was Mofungo (Yo La Tengo Hanukkah night 6 setlist) "

As rumored, Mission of Burma stopped by Maxwell's this Hanukkah to be one of Yo La Tengo's eight openers. A full review and set of pictures from last night's show is coming soon, but meanwhile let's figure out what we've got so far:

12/1 - M. Ward, Todd Barry, Nash Kato
12/2 - The Parting Gifts, Jim Gaffigan, members of The Feelies
12/3 - Jeff Tweedy, Eugene Mirman & Kid Congo Powers
12/4 - Syl Johnson, Jon Glaser, Peter Wolf & Ira's mom
12/5 - Mission of Burma & Wyatt Cenac
12/6 - ?
12/7 - ?? & Kurt Braunohler & Kristen Schaal & ??
12/8 - ?

Well, "Anonymous | December 2, 2010 9:31 AM" says that Amy Rigby and Wreckless Eric, who played Bowery Electric on November 12th, announced that they'd be at Monday's show "during their show near d.c." That comment was made four days ago. Since then Wreckless Eric made a surprise last minute appearance at Home Sweet Home Friday night. BUT, "Anonymous | December 6, 2010 11:10 AM" says "Tonight's opener is Mofongo, despite the apparent info that Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby would open. Perhaps Eric and Amy are the encore guests."

note that the proper spelling is: Mofungo

It should also be noted that Bonnie Prince Billy plays Town Hall Wedneday
(tickets are still on sale).

Last night's setlist is below...

Continue reading "Who has opened for Yo La Tengo so far? (Mission of Burma) Who still will? (Mofungo? Wreckless Eric?)"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

Peter Wolf & Ira

As someone promised, Syl Johnson was the opener for Yo La Tengo at Maxwell's on Saturday night (12/4). Syl was also in town to play Southpaw on Friday which was the night Jeff Tweedy opened for Yo La Tengo at Maxwell's. Saturday night's comedian was 'Rabbi Attitude' aka Jon Glaser. The special guests were Peter Wolf and Ira's mom who made an appearance in 2008 as well. The mixtape was by Numero Group. Full setlist and more pictures from the fourth night of Hanukkah, below...

Continue reading "Yo La Tengo, Syl Johnson, Jon Glaser, Peter Wolf & Ira's Mom @ Maxwell's (Hanukkah night 4 pics & setlist)"

Two down. Six to go. As promised, The Parting Gifts opened Thursday night's Yo La Tengo show at Maxwell's. And as theorized, Jim Gaffigan was the comedian. Jim kicks off his run of SEVEN shows at Best Buy Theater tonight (12/3). You can catch the Parting Gifts tonight at Union Hall.

Yo La Tengo were also joined by special guests Glenn Mercer and Bill Million of the Feelies, and The Great Gaylord on vocals for a song. Night Two's mixtape was made by Damian from Fucked Up.

Hanukkah continues at Maxwell's for the next six nights. Night One and Two's setlists are below...

Continue reading "The Parting Gifts, Jim Gaffigan & members of the Feelies played w/ Yo La Tengo on Haunkkah night 2 (setlists)"

the 12/1 sign & mixtape

Thurston Moore made the mix tape. Nash Kato of Urge Overkill was a special guest, as was an Elvis impersonator named Gene Dinapoli. Anyone have the setlist?

One down, seven more nights of Chanukah at Maxwell's to go (note: Ted Leo actually also has December 5th off - one night before Terminal 5 - which I didn't notice when I first wrote the last post which is now updated).

Yo La Tengo @ Maxwell's (Hanukkan 2008) (more by Natasha Ryan)

Thanksgiving is not even a week past, but Hanukkah is already here and that means eight Yo La Tengo shows at Maxwell's in Hoboken. One for each night, they shed a sweet fucking setlist and opener and comedians and special guests and charities and mixtapes and who knows what. You never really know what you're going to get until it happens, but we can try and figure it out. Who will open each show?

Well, we already know The Parting Gifts are scheduled to appear on night two.

12/1 -
12/2 - The Parting Gifts & ?
12/3 - ?
12/4 - ?
12/5 - ?
12/6 - ?
12/7 - ?
12/8 - ?

The Greenhornes played Bowery Ballroom last night (11/30) and have nowhere to be until December 5th. Ted Leo kicks of a tour on 12/2, so if he's a special guest, it has to be tonight (12/1) or 12/5 (his night off). He's back in town on 12/6 to play Terminal 5 with the New Pornographers, but there's no way he could do T5 and Maxwell's in one night (and he's back on tour right after). The New Pornographers (AC Newman and Neko Case included) on the other hand have almost every single other night of Hanukkah free (and AC Newman's show with John Wesley Harding isn't until December 17th) (John Wesley Harding is free all days except 12/5).

Kurt Vile plays Knitting Factory on December 3rd and has all other days of Hanukkah off. Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, and Pat Sansone are playing Bowery Ballroom on 12/4 and Tarrytown on 12/6, but are free on 12/3 and 12/5. Nels Cline is in NYC on 12/6, and is free 12/7 and 12/8 (but it doesn't look like he'll be around the same time as the other members of Wilco unfortunately).

The Feelies have no conflicts or upcoming dates at all. Mission of Burma play Maxwell's and the Bell House in January, but you never know, maybe they'll come down for this too. Stornoway seems like a longshot, but they are in town on December 2nd and free 12/1, 12/6 and 12/7. Warpaint play Manhattan on 12/1, Brooklyn on 12/2, Philly on 12/3 and DC on 12/4, and then are free after that.

Titus Andronicus, who by the way are opening for Passion Pit at Wellmont Theater on 12/30, have to be in Florida to play a show with Superchunk on 12/4, but are otherwise free. Superchunk have from the time they finish that Florida show until 12/9 to get to Toronto to open for Broken Social Scene. Superchunk are next scheduled to be in NYC in March to open for Bright Eyes who recently popped up as a guest at a NYC show. Screaming Females, who opened for Yo La at Brooklyn Bowl recently, are recently home from Europe and totally free.

Jim Gaffigan is not the most likely comedian to show, but it would be a good warmup for his seven shows at Best Buy Theater. More likely are some mix of Eugene Mirman, Todd Barry, David Cross, Jon Benjamin, John Oliver, John Mulaney, Kristen Schaal, Hannibal Buress, Michael Showalter, Leo Allen, Mike Birbiglia, etc...

UPDATE: Night One featured an opening set by M. Ward and comedian Todd Barry along with Nash Kato of Urge Overkill as a special guest.

UPDATE2: Syl Johnson & JC Brooks are in town this week too

UPDATE3: Richard Buckner is around this week too

UPDATE4: Floored by Four aka Mike Watt, Nels Cline, Dougie Bowne & Yuka Honda, not to mention Cibo Matto, are playing NYC this week too.

All the Maxwell's shows are long sold out, but Craigslist is hopping. Leave tips and more ideas in the comments. Tour dates for most of the artists mentioned in this post, below...

Continue reading "Yo La Tengo kicking off '10 Hanukkah shows - Who's opening?"

Yo La Tengo Hanukkah 2008 (more by Tim Griffin)

Maxwell's reports that, after a year off (they last did it in 2008), Yo La Tengo are returning to Maxwell's for Hanukkah this year. As always, expect the full lineups to be announced after the shows sell out, but note that they will sell out before the full lineups are announced. Yo La Tengo plays every show, but expect surprise guests, reunited openers, comedians, mixtapes and more.

Check your calendar or roll the dice and get your $30-for-charity-TBD tickets starting Wednesday at noon: 12/1, 12/2, 12/3, 12/4, 12/5, 12/6, 12/7, and 12/8

Meanwhile you can catch Yo La Tengo THIS SUNDAY, September 19th, at the Bell House as part of the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival (tickets), and then in October in Las Vegas.

photos by Benjamin Lozovsky

Autolux @ Bowery Ballroom

While Maxwell's is normally filled with locals excited and ready to see their favorite act perform, Los Angeles fuzzy rock trio Autolux seemed to have attracted more people from New York City than the Mile Square.

"How many people here are actually from Hoboken?" bassist and lead singer Eugene Goreshter asked the crowd during Sunday's sold-out show.

Although only a smattering of hands peeked out of the crowd, this didn't mean that the rest of the city couldn't get a taste of what Autolux had to offer. While Autolux is composed of Goreshter, guitarist Greg Edwards and drummer Carla Azar, the amount of sound they make not only fills the confines of Maxwell's but also leaves you with aftershocks of distorted bass chords and drumbeats. Even with earplugs lodged into one's ears, the sound seems to creep through and make your eardrum vibrate a bit more than it's used to. If all that happens, then Autolux have done their job. Usually compared to the likes of Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine, the volume level can outdo even the largest group of prepubescent teenyboppers at a Justin Bieber concert. [Hoboken Patch]

Oberhofer was also the opener at the Bowery Ballroom show and that's where the pictures in this post are from. More of them, with the Manhattan and Brooklyn setlists (they're almost identical actually), below...

Continue reading "Autolux played Maxwell's, MHOW & Bowery Ballroom w/ This Will Destroy You & Oberhofer (pics & setlists)"

words & photos by Lori Baily

The Baseball Proiject headlined a show at Maxwell's on Thursday night. It was before their set over the weekend at Wilco's Solid Sound Festival in North Adams, MA...

Wilco headlined, and Mavis Staples was their lead-in, but there was six hours of music before them Saturday at Solid Sound Festival at Mass MoCA in North Adams, Mass.

The warm, sunny afternoon made for perfect festival conditions for a series of sets by Wilco-curated bands which alternated between a pair of stages set up in outdoor courtyards on the Mass MoCA grounds.

Alt-rock supergroup the Baseball Project brought together Mike Mills of R.E.M., Steve Wynn of the Miracle 3 (and formerly of the Dream Syndicate), Scott McCaughey of the Minus 5 and journeywoman drummer Linda Pitmon to perform songs that were, in fact, mostly about baseball. Call it good, clean, nerdy fun.

With a rollicking rock 'n' roll sensibility, the foursome sang a tune written after a night out drinking with now-retired pitcher Jack McDowell, advocated for the inclusion of Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Harvey Haddix on the list of starters who have thrown perfect games (Haddix kept one going for 12 innings in 1959 before losing in the 13th) and threw in a couple of Minus 5 tunes, including "Lies of the Living Dead" and "Aw Shit Man." [Hartford Courant]

I know nothing about baseball or I would've been entertained even more. Scott McCaughey joined opener Dennis Diken for a couple of songs at the end of their set. The guys (and gal) in both bands are all really sweet and down to earth, Mike Mills even requested that he not be "lit like a lead singer, cause I'm not a lead singer."

More pictures of the NJ show, below...

Continue reading "The Baseball Project played Wilco's Solid Sound Festival & Maxwell's w/ Dennis Diken with Bell Sound (pics)"

photos by Greg Cristman

"Hallogallo 2010 was formed by Michael Rother, a guitarist who was a prime mover in the postpsychedelic German rock that was crudely but durably labeled Krautrock. The music's metronomic beats, drone crescendos and embrace of noise have echoed through art-rock (and hip-hop) ever since, up to the latest generation of indie-rock. Hallogallo 2010 also includes Aaron Mullan from Tall Firs on bass and Sonic Youth's drummer, Steve Shelley, repaying a debt to Mr. Rother's pioneering band, Neu! "Hallogallo" was the opening song on Neu!'s self-titled 1972 debut album.

From 1971 to 1975 Mr. Rother and the drummer Klaus Dinger, who died in 2008, teamed up as Neu! and explored an experimental, sometimes proto-punk style of Krautrock. It was largely instrumental and drew on sampled ambient sounds as well as Mr. Dinger's distinctive "motorik" thump-a-thump-a. (Although Krautrock was determined to reject American influences, that beat recalls surf music.) As new fans discover Krautrock, the complete Neu! catalog has just been reissued by Groenland in a vinyl boxed set.

Although the Lincoln Center Out of Doors concert was billed as "Michael Rother and friends perform the music of Neu!," the only Neu! composition in the set was "Hallogallo" itself. The rest came from Mr. Rother's solo career -- "Neutronics 98" and "Aroma Club B3" -- and from Harmonia, Mr. Rother's mid-1970s collaboration with the electronic-music duo Cluster." [NY Times]

Continue reading "Michael Rother & friends performed (a bit of) Neu! as Hallogallo w/ Lichens @ Maxwell's (pics) "

As mentioned back in 2005, Todd Abramson, is "a veteran music booking agent and part owner of the legendary Maxwell's rock club in Hoboken." More recently, Todd, who sometimes puts a show at the Landmark Loew's Theatre in Jersey City, was also booking shows at Southpaw in Park Slope. He won't be booking shows at Southpaw anymore though. Instead, Todd has taken the position of head booker at the Bell House in the same neighborhood. He'll also be booking some shows at Union Hall, but not as their head booker.

Todd (who will continue to book Maxwell's too) took over for Skippy who recently left the Bell House & Union Hall, and has since found a home as the booker for The Rock Shop.

The Mugs, a band who Skippy especially has supported through the years, play their final show at The Bell House tonight (7/23).

The Dirty Glamour play The Rock Shop tonight.

Southpaw is hosting The 2010 Coney Island Cockabilly Roadshow (Real Live Sideshow! Real Live Burlesque! Real Live Rock and Roll!!).

Union Hall has: "SIKELIANOS & SIKELIANOS / MY GAY BANJO / THE LESBIAN DORKESTRA / KAREN AND THE SORROWS / DJ LIL RAY "

words & photos by Tracy Allison

Last night (7/19) Jonny Corndawg, These United States, and Deer Tick played a sold out show at Maxwell's in Hoboken, New Jersey (the first date of many for Deer Tick on a month-long summer tour). The crowd packed into the approximately 200-person venue was treated to three hours of lively and enthusiastic performances.

The evening began around 9 p.m. with a set from Jonny Corndawg. Like they did recently on a boat, the members of Deer Tick (including newest member, Rob Crowell) played backup for Corndawg who jumped and danced around the stage throughout his 30 minute set that included songs like "Shaved Like A Razor", "Family Tree", and "Shut up".

Not long after Corndawg left the stage, These United States appeared and played a phenomenal set consisting mostly of songs from their new album What Lasts, which drops today. Lead singer Jesse Elliott hopped off the stage twice to dance amongst the crowd, and took a moment to express the band's gratitude for having the opportunity to play with Deer Tick. This was the last show These United States will be playing on the East Coast until their return to Mercury Lounge on August 28th.

Deer Tick took the stage once again at 10 p.m. and played a 2 hour, 16 song set made up of songs from their three albums War Elephant, Born on Flag Day, and The Black Dirt Sessions. Additionally, they played covers of the MG&V songs "Me, Me, Me", and "Middle Brother". Corndawg joined in on the latter (which he co-wrote). Guitarist Ian O'Neil took over lead vocals for the songs "Hope is Big" and "Maybellene", a Chuck Berry cover which has become a staple in the band's recent performances. Towards the end of the show, audience members began shouting out requests for Chris Ryan to play bass solo. While he opted out of the spotlight, drummer Dennis Ryan (joined by Robby Cosenza of These United States) gladly jumped to the front of the stage, and, with three microphones in hand, sang a very passionate rendition of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On". One witness to the event said, "It was the best cover of any song, ever."

Deer Tick will play Webster Hall on August 13th with help from Delta Spirit's Matt Vasquez. More pictures from Maxwell's below...

Continue reading "Deer Tick, These United States & Jonny Corndawg played Maxwell's (pics)"

photos by Keith Marlowe

"You know it's hot at the Murder City Devils show at Maxwell's when I'm considering pissing myself to cool off!" - John Agnello

If you missed the insanity that was Murder City Devils at Maxwell's in Hoboken on Friday night, well, then don't miss them today (Sunday, July 18th) them when they play for 100% free at the "Pool Party" at Williamsburg Waterfront in Brooklyn with JEFF the Brotherhood, Obits and Silverghost. More about the Maxwell's show later. More pictures and the setlist from the show, below...

Continue reading "Murder City Devils played Maxwell's (pics, setlist), BK today"

The Night Marchers come back to NYC soon to play a 4pm set at the tenth annual Siren Festival on Saturday. Those who miss it can also check out the band, whose lineage includes Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu, Rocket from the Crypt, and Hot Snakes, at Maxwell's in Hoboken on Sunday, July 18th with No Pasaran. Tickets are on sale.

All dates, mostly on the west coast, and some videos, below...

Continue reading "The Night Marchers - 2010 Tour Dates (Maxwell's, Siren)"

Michael Rother (Neu!) / Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) (crlsblnc)

The wealth and breadth of musical treats on offer at Barcelona's annual Primavera Sound Festival hit home with a suckerpunch on Saturday May 29th at 7pm, when I was forced to choose between live sets by The Clean, Michael Rother's new project "Hallogallo 2010", playing the music of NEU! and Harmonia, and Van Dyke Parks. After much deliberation I chose The Clean. My consolation prize for being forced to reject other such riches came during the walk over. The seaside stage The Clean were playing on was only accessible by first walking past another stage, where Michael Rother and pals Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth, drums) and Aaron Mullan (Tall Firs, bass), were playing what is perhaps the definitive piece of motorik Krautrock, "Hallogallo", by Rother's legendary '70s Düsseldorf duo NEU! I hung around for a few minutes, then headed over to see a few songs by The Clean, one of which ("Tensile") drummer Hamish Kilgour dedicated to Rother. Heading back to the WFMU tent to begin our broadcast day, I stopped to linger in the sweet spot where the sounds of both bands collided, then procrastinated more at the Rother stage again to soak up the melancholy majesty of the Harmonia track "Deluxe (Immer Wieder)".

In an age where "heritage" acts are propped up to play their catalog on-demand for crowds ravenous to devour them in order to chalk up some bogus experience, a cynic might find something crass in the presentation of this music today; a purist might consider Rother's longtime partner, the late Klaus Dinger, irreplaceable. And it's right for a fan to always be on guard against the creep of hired-hands, or an artist's alienation from the art s/he created many years ago. I was prepared for disappointment; I got transcendence. Shelley and Mullan showed a sympathy to the music worthy of the people who created it. The power of this music filling limitless space and spreading outward to the Mediterranean Sea bordered on the religious. Give thanks and praise to Rother, Shelley and Mullan for allowing us to share their set with you. [WFMU]

Hallogallo 2010 will be in NYC for Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival on August 6th. Their other US shows currently include Philly, ATP NY, Columbus, Ohio, and a newly added date at Maxwell's on August 4th, where they perform as performing as "Michael Rother and Freunde." Tickets are on sale.

Videos from Primavera and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Hallogallo (Neu!) played Primavera (audio), add NJ show (tix)"

Cap'n Jazz reunited @ the Empty Bottle - Jan 2010 (DrLama)

While we wait patiently for Jelly to announce this summer's lineup of seven free Pool Parties at the Williamsburg Waterfront, one of which may be a July 25th Cap'n Jazz reunion day time show, tickets have gone on sale for a July 25th night time "Tim Kinsella" show at Maxwell's in Hoboken (thanks Keith).

In related news, you can download a soundboard recording of the above pictured reunion show, for free! Updated Cap'n Jazz dates below...

Continue reading ""Tim Kinsella" playing Maxwell's after Cap'n Jazz Pool Party?"