Four more Mazzy Star California shows, all before Coachella (still none in NY). All on sale today/Friday (2/3), and listed with ticket links below...

Continue reading "Mazzy Star schedules 4 more CA shows (on sale today)"

As promised, Mazzy Star are playing 2012 gigs in support of new material. So far that includes the Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona, Field Day in the UK, a show at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire in the UK, Optimus Alive in Portugal, and now Coachella in the U.S. too! Stay tuned for more dates (I hope).

Radiohead @ Roseland Ballroom in 2011 (more by Bao Nguyen)

Coachella which is taking place over the course of two weekends this year (April 13-15 and 20-22) revealed their 2012 lineup. Last week, Azealia Banks was the first artist confirmed, and earlier today they confirmed The Weeknd (maybe he found a band?), and before that, Jimmy Cliff, Breakbot, and Housse De Racket. The reunited Pulp then announced itself. The full lineup also includes headliners The Black Keys, Radiohead, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, not to mention, as predicted, the reunited At the Drive In and the reunited Mazzy Star (!), and Madness and Refused (!) and Jeff Mangum and many, many more that you can see below...

Continue reading "Coachella 2012 lineup announced (two weekends worth)"

press release:

Music fans have reason to celebrate today: Californian duo Mazzy Star's first new release since 1996 is available now! Streams of the new single Common Burn/Lay Myself Down appeared last week on the internet and quickly lead to early rave reviews and a coveted "Pitchfork "Best New Track" tag for the sultry stunner, Common Burn. This new single is out on all digital platforms via their own imprint Rhymes Of An Hour Records. A limited edition 7-inch vinyl release will follow in the coming weeks. The band, comprising of Hope Sandoval and David Roback, will perform a string of live shows in early 2012. A full album of brand new material will follow. The music of Mazzy Star has enthralled music fans around the world since their stunning debut She Hangs Brightly in 1990. After releasing another two impressive and captivating albums, So Tonight That I Might See (1993) and Among My Swan (1996), both members spent time working on separate projects as well as working together. The new tracks were recorded in California, London and Norway.

Continue reading "Mazzy Star promise shows in 2012 & full album (meanwhile that single is out today)"

While uses of songs I like in commercials can sometimes make me want to puke, I admittedly have been dusting off my Mazzy Star albums a bunch lately thanks to that commercial for the "Dust to Dust" video game which leaves me feeling teased and wanting more every time I see it. You can see it for yourself below.

In more exciting news, HopeSandoval.com reports that "Hope and David Roback are back as Mazzy Star! Two songs will be released digitally on October 31, 2011. There will also be a limited edition color vinyl released on November 8, 2011!" That's the cover art above, and you can find the two songs on Amazon.

Continue reading "Mazzy Star in video game commercial, releasing 2 new songs! "

by BBG

Kurt Vile at Brooklyn Masonic Temple (more by Lori Baily)

It's almost final and official, ATP New York is ruling. The best Hudson Valley festival to ever be held in a 1960s time capsule has announced the "final additions" including two comedians chosen by Syd Butler of Les Savy Fav (more to come... that's all "so far"), as well as a few new and interesting additions to the Jim Jarmusch curated date. Behold:

Continue reading "ATP NY announces (almost) complete lineup (GZA, Kurt Vile..)"

Boris @ ATP NY 2009 (more by Ryan Muir)

There aren't many music news items that get me excited as ATP lineup additions. This one is no different. Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions, Torotoise, Bardo Pond, Beak> featuring Geoff Barrow of Portishead, Sleepy Sun, Avi Buffalo, Sunn O)) & Boris performing material from their collaborative album Altar, Dungen, and White Hills have all been added to the already-stellar bill of the 2010 festival at Kutsher's Country Club in Monticello, NY (Sept 3-5). All confirmed artists and more details below...

Continue reading "ATP NY expands 2010 lineup - Hope Sandoval, SUNN O)) & Boris, Tortoise, BEAK> (Geoff Barrow of Portishead) & more!"

Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions kicked off their second NYC show in three days much like they did the first, with the song "Blanchard" and with not enough vocals in the speakers. By song three, an early highlight ("Courtin Blues"), the sound was better. Hope's vocals were coming through loud and clear. I wasn't as close to the stage as I was at Music Hall, so maybe my perspective was different, but the Manhattan crowd seemed way happier to be there than the Brooklyn crowd. The cheers seemed louder and more in line with the return of someone who we haven't seen in seven years. Song four was "Willow" and all signs pointed towards a great show. The projections, though exactly the same at Music Hall, were maybe even better because Bowery Ballroom seemed to have a bigger screen.

Then, 3.5 songs in, all of a sudden the music stopped. Hope couldn't hear herself in the monitors. Some audience members, possibly misunderstanding the problem, started screaming that it sounded great. They weren't lying and it didn't help. Hope continued to stand there. She was growing increasingly frustrated as she expected someone to make it work again. She said she was sorry for embarrassing everyone, and mentioned that they had spent three hours soundchecking earlier in the day.

"It's OK Hope, we love you," someone screamed. "I'm on the verge of throwing a tantrum," Hope replied. Killing time, someone asked if she loved NY. Unexpectedly, Hope answered, "I absolutely fucking hate NY... but I love everyone who is here. I'm a country girl". She may have lost a few people there, and then she spoke again. It was definitely the most I've ever heard her talk on stage. "There's gonna be some heads chopped off... Sorry about this you guys," she said. Someone else yelled, "We love you Hope". Then next thing you know, faster than you can say Fiona Apple, Hope made one final frustrated gesture forward, and then stormed off the stage. Her confused band followed soon after.

continued below...

Continue reading "Hope Sandoval stormed off stage at Bowery Ballroom... but then returned to finish the show"

LA Weekly spent a considerable portion of their Hope Sandoval cemetery show review talking about the NO-photo policy. Now I know why. Hope Sandoval didn't just deny photo passes. She didn't just post warning signs all over the venue (see above). She didn't just have someone give a stern, pre-show announcement. Hope basically had her own security detail on hand to blind and humiliate would-be-photographers (and anyone near them) with flashlights. During the second song, one of the security guys actually jumped into the crowd and rammed through a group of people to stop someone.

Ironically the security was just as distracting as people who hold cameras over their heads, but all in all it probably made for a nicer show since I think everyone learned their lesson by song three... well (speaking of irony), except the people who were being paid to video the show. They blatantly moved around the crowd near the stage. One audience member got so angry that he started motioning towards the flashlight police and pointing at the video guy's head who was at that point right in front of him. I imagine he was mouthing something like, "Where are you now? Why is this even-more-annoying guy allowed to bother us with his camera???".

Speaking of filming the show, there was also a stationary video camera back by the soundboard. I asked someone after the show, and they said the footage is going to be used for music videos that will be released online soon, not for a DVD. I also asked if the photo policy was related to their own official filming, and they basically admitted that, "no, that would be Hope".

Speaking of Hope, she is of course the star of the show, the reason approximately 600 people packed into Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday night (10/10) (the first of two sold out NYC shows), and she can basically do and say whatever she wants and we'll still love her. Someone (a few people actually) yelled, "I love you Hope!", which was followed by one of her rare speaking moments: "If you love me, then get the people talking to shut up." (or something like that) After an awkward silence in the crowd, Hope followed that with something about sending those talkers... "to the corn"!! My new favorite line, I've already used it a few times since the show.

Irish band Dirt Blue Gene opened the night and then returned to play, along with My Bloody Valentine's Colm O'Ciosoig, as Hope's backing band (aka The Warm Inventions). They were a very capable band, running through 13 psychedelic songs (2 of which were during the encore) of the the dreamiest dream pop with Hope on xylophone, harmonica, and most importantly vocals. There were many highlights throughout the set. If I was better with song names I would mention more, but "Susanne" (the "hit" off the first record) was definitely one of them.

"The set was drawn mostly from her newest CD with a few from her first. What stuck out was "Trouble" off of the new CD. Yeah brah, that song was so erie live and had this sort of smokey sexuality to it. Speaking of sexuality, Hope had on a flower dress that was pretty short on her, I couldn't help from checking out her legs, but of course I restrained myself from looking up her skirt (I'm into her, but I'm not a creep either)." [Alex Caprio]

There were a few technical issues - the mic in front of Hope's harmonica wasn't working at one point which caused her to get frustrated. She kept motioning at the sound person until she finally walked over to him (side stage), but I think the problems and funny moments only add to the show. If everything went perfectly, Hope would just stand there, quietly, do her thing, and then exit the stage as quickly as possible (which would be fine too).

Like in 2002 (when photography also wasn't allowed) (when Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions played two nights in a row at Bowery Ballroom), they didn't play even one Mazzy Star song, but like Anonymous said, it didn't matter. The new songs are great, as is most anything Hope sings on. For Mazzy, we'll have to wait for the reunion (side note: I was thinking how Hope is probably not that famous because everyone always used to think her name was Mazzy Star... "Hope Sandoval".. "who?"... "Mazzy Star"... "OHHHH".)

They do it again tonight (10/12) at Bowery Ballroom . A picture of the merch and the setlist from Music Hall (and a video), below...

Continue reading "Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions played played Music Hall of Williamsburg (setlist & no pics!), play Bowery tonight"

Hope Sandoval @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery - September 29 (by Luz Gallardo)

"There was no photography allowed in the venue when Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions, the band featuring the revered Mazzy Star vocalist and My Bloody Valentine's Colm Ó Cíosóig, played Hollywood Forever [on September 29th] in a concert marking the release of its latest album Through the Devil Softly. Absolutely none. This rule was stated no fewer than six times on printouts that lined the entrance and parlor room. Perhaps that was for the best. The glare of camera flashes and cell phones pointed toward the stage might have ruined the carefully crafted ambience of the gathering.

With its stone facade, a courtyard lined with twinkling palm trees and mosaic floors, the venue looked like a cross between an Old Hollywood apartment building and a mausoleum. This was seemingly appropriate, as there are probably more than a few people who did time in art deco structures off of Vine or Gower or Franklin who now spend eternity interred in this famed cemetery." [LA Weekly]

Anyway, Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions' new album is out now on Nettwerk who also re-released 2001's Bavarian Fruit Bread. Buy it so that Hope knows people care and she keeps making music (though she has already admitted plans for more Mazzy Star).

Her long-awaited return to NYC kicks off with a show at Music Hall of Williamsburg tonight (10/10). It's sold out, but Monday's show at Bowery Ballroom isn't (UPDATE: also sold out).

Dirt Blue Gene is an Irish shoegaze band that is on tour with Hope, and shares members with her band. Some recent live videos, the setlist from San Francisco, and all dates below...

Continue reading "Hope Sandoval released an album, played the Hollywood Graveyard too, is on tour and finally back in NYC"

"Hope formed The Warm Inventions and released their first album called Bavarian Fruit Bread, in 2001. This album sounds little different in terms of theme, voice, and instrumentation from that of her work with Mazzy Star. Subsequently, The Warm Inventions released three EPs but received very little commercial success, one video on MTV, and very little radio play. Hope recorded a song, "Wild Roses", for a compilation CD released by Air France titled In The Air (2008). Hope and The Warm Inventions will release their second album, Through The Devil Softly, on September 29, 2009. In live performance, Hope prefers to play in near darkness with only a dim backlight." [Wikipedia]

Continue reading "Hope Sandoval - US Tour Dates appearing (Bowery & MHOW!)"

DOWNLOAD: Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions - Blanchard (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions - Wild Roses (MP3)

Colm & Hope...

Below, you can see the artwork for Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions' new record, Through The Devil Softly, out September 29th (changed from the original 9/15 date) on Nettwerk Records. You can pre-order the album at Amazon starting Wednesday.

The album's first single, "Blanchard" is posted above. The album's first single, "Blanchard," and its second track, "Wild Roses," are posted above. "Blanchard" is the track we posted with the album announcement. "Wild Roses" is actually from that Air France compilation, but is also on the new album (it's possible the album version is slightly different) (though they are definitely both the same length).

"The Warm Inventions" pairs Sandoval with My Bloody Valentine drummer Colm Ó Cíosóig. Colm plays with My Bloody Valentine this weekend at All Points West (and Thursday in Virginia).

Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions have a set of UK & Ireland tour dates scheduled for the fall (below). North American dates are still TBA.

Hope hasn't given up working with her other band, Mazzy Star, either! Rolling Stone wrote on July 7th...

Sandoval confirms her and her bandmate David Roback haven't called it quits and they are still working on their anticipated fourth album. But she declines to give many specifics. "It's true we're still together," she says. "We're almost finished [with the record]. But I have no idea what that means."

Continue reading "Hope Sandoval - new Warm Inventions cover art, European tour dates ++ plans for NEW MAZZY STAR ALBUM"

DOWNLOAD: Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions - Blanchard (NEW MP3)

"New Warm Inventions record is coming out in September. Honest. - Anonymous | July 7, 2009 1:01 PM"

"Since the release of Mazzy Star's debut album She Hangs Brightly, Hope Sandoval has defined the sound and style of California psychedelic dream pop. The world took notice when the breakthrough single "Fade Into You" (from sophomore album So Tonight That I Might See) hit the airwaves and MTV heavy rotation.

Sandoval's trademark vocals helped to make her a modern day music icon. Now the revered singer returns along side My Bloody Valentine's Colm O'Ciosoig to deliver her long awaited sophomore album Through The Devil Softly on September 15.

Over the past decade, the sought after vocalist has collaborated with artists from across the musical landscape: The Jesus & Mary Chain, Air, Death in Vegas, The Chemical Brothers, Massive Attack and Bert Jansch, to count a few.

In 2001, she joined Colm O'Ciosoig to form Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions and release their debut Bavarian Fruit Bread. Now on Through The Devil Softly, the definitive star of the Paisley Underground scene reignites her trademark sound in an epic journey across the 11-song album. The project continues the laid-back, slowcore sound they are renowned for and places Sandoval's sensuous, hypnotic voice in the forefront. Recorded in both Northern California and the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland, the spare, subtle arrangements reinforce Sandoval's gentle vocal style.

An extensive North American tour is planned for Fall 09, with dates in the UK and Europe to follow. -[Nettwerk Records]

Track one from the new album is available for download above.
Full album track list, and some older videos, below...

Continue reading "new HOPE SANDOVAL (& the Warm Inventions) album & MP3! TOUR DATES COMING SOON"

Every once in a while I go on a hunt for anything Hope Sandoval. Last time I found the track she did for Air France and news of her rumored appearance on the next Massive Attack album. This time I found a nice article on PopMatters, and the above picture! Apparently it was taken around Christmas with her relatives and given to fans on a message board by her nephew.

DOWNLOAD: Hope Sandoval - Wild Roses (MP3)

1- THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS - Asleep from day
2- ALPHA - Elvis
3- *NOUVELLE VAGUE - Confusion
4- FINK - Trouble's what you are in
5- *HOPE SANDOVAL - Wild Roses
6- TUNNG - Bullets
7- TWO FOR THE ROAD - Road Trip
8- APPARAT - Hailin' from the edge
9- *TELEPOPMUSIK - Ghost Girl
10- FOUR TET - Everything is alright
11- *THE SHOES feat. KELLY DE MARTINO - 7 am
12- JOSÉ GONZALEZ - Down the line
13- KELLY DE MARTINO - Long, long, long
14- BOARDS OF CANADA - Dayvan Cowboy
15- ASWEFALL - Between the miles

Six of the songs are streaming at MySpace including all three news ones. Most importantly...NEW HOPE SANDOVAL (also available for download above)

Hope is also supposedly (hopefully) going to appear on the new Massive Attack album ("The Weather Underground") coming out some time in 2009.

In related news, Mazzy Star keyboardist Suki Ewers is still making music and playing shows.

Check out the classic Jesus & Mary Chain video for "Sometimes Always" (starring Hope) below...

Continue reading "HOPE SANDOVAL pens a NEW song for Air France (MP3), Chemical Brothers, Boards of Canada & others on CD too"

I was wondering if she any videos for her new album. Just found this...

Continue reading "VIDEO: Keren Ann - 'Lay Your Head Down'"

DOWNLOAD: Portishead - Roads (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mazzy Star - Wasted (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Jesus & Mary Chain & Hope Sandoval - Sometimes Always (MP3) (via)

* Portishead playing All Tomorrow's Parties
* Patti Smith covers the Decemberists
* Tix still on sale for Decemberists, Grizzly Bear, Land of Talk
* Hope Sandoval continues to live in relative obscurity
* Jesus & Mary Chain complete two nights at Webster Hall

Seeing Beach House open for Grizzly Bear at Bowery Ballroom gave me a new appreciation for the Mazzy Star-esque Baltimore duo. Mazzy Star is one of my favorite bands of all time, so it was good to feel something similar again when Beach House's Victoria Legrand sang - and she can sing, reverb or not. Other comparisons people like to use are Galaxie 500, Spiritualized, and Slowdive. Though apprehensive at first, I loved them in the end.

Continue reading "Beach House @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - pics"

I never watched it even once, but it's obviously made big waves in the music world. "Fox announced Wednesday that it has officially deep-sixed The O.C."

Every song ever played in the OC (according to Wikipedia) below....

Continue reading "RIP The O.C. (& a list of EVERY song ever played)"

My Tuesday night Sirius radio shows have been all over the place so far. I maybe played one song twice in five weeks, and there have only been a handful of artists who I've played more than once. I think that'll be less-and-less true as weeks go on - partly for my sanity because picking 30-something songs each week, not to mention getting them to Sirius so they can make sure they have them in their system, is a lot of work. What I mean is - they'll probably be more repeats as the weeks go on. That said, here's my June 27, 2006 playlist.

----

I wanted to open with The Ballet because they're what I've been listening to most lately (the four songs I have anyway), and I'm excited to have them playing my show Thursday night @ Syrup Room.

1) The Ballet - I hate the War

Their anti-war song inspired me to play three more.

2) Neil Young - Living With War
3) The Clash - The Call Up
4) Billy Bragg - The Marching Song of the Covert Battalions

I already played Neil Young, so then I played a Neil Young cover by one of my favorite Brooklyn bands of all time, Type O Negative....

Continue reading "Sirius Playlist - Week 5"

If this was 10 years ago, I'd probably be running a Mazzy Star fan site instead of a blog. It's not 10 years ago, but I still get excited at every thing Mazzy/Hope Sandoval including Doveman's cover version of Fade into You that they promised to play at Tuesday night's show at Tonic.

DOWNLOAD DOVEMAN (the 'steffani birthday ep' MP3s)
fade into you (by Mazzy Star)
la cienega (by Ryan Adams)
new partner
reflections after jane
chinatown

BONUS (Doveman live @ WNYC MP3s)
honey/only love can break your heart
cities
drinking/boy + angel

Previously
Doveman @ Mercury Lounge, NYC | pics
CMJ-eve is just like CMJ
Doveman @ Joe's Pub, NYC | Pics

I love Mazzy Star and I love Black Sabbath, and now I love Coverville. His new podcast features the Cardigans covering Black Sabbath, Flickerstick covering Mazzy Star, Ben Folds Five doing the Flaming Lips and much more. Download the 1 hour podcast MP3.

While we're on podcasts, did you get episode #5 of Hoboken Rock City yet?

And for something completely random, buy Mike's Simpsons collection.

Previously

John Martyn Covers Portishead | MP3

Watch & Listen | Paul Hester of Crowded House

Hoboken Rock City | Indie Rock Podcast MP3s, Fez & more