Dr. Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson. This was posted today on MichaelJackson.com:

A Message from John Branca and John McClain, Co-Executors of The Estate of Michael Jackson

The Estate of Michael Jackson and Michael himself has always believed the jury system works and despite the tragedy that brought about this trial we are in agreement with the jury's verdict. In this case Justice has been served. Michael is missed on a daily basis but his genius and his music will be with us forever. He is "the greatest entertainer that has ever lived"

For more info see the "Death of Michael Jackson" Wikipedia page (yes, it has its own).

Smoke DZA

today in NYC
* Mingus Mondays @ Jazz Standard
* ZZ Top @ NYCB Theatre at Westbury
* Rocco DeLuca @ Rockwood Music Hall
* Dickey Betts, Kristy Lee @ City Winery
* Male Bonding, Love Inks @ Mercury Lounge
* Safe, Gem Club, Evi Antonio @ Cameo Gallery
* Smoke DZA, Asap Rocky, Bun B, Va$htie @ SOB's
* Mick Barr, Kevin Hufnagel, Andrew Hock @ Zebulon
* Shaina Taub, The Superpower Horns @ Rockwood Music Hall
* Extra Arms, Panic Manor, Diehard, Sexy Neighbors @ The Rock Shop
* Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies), The Jay Baird Band @ Mercury Lounge
* Robbers On High Street, The Candles, Hurricane Bells @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Dustin Wong, Teen Dreams, Nelly Kate, Shams, Nonhorse @ Death By Audio
* Remember: the Music of Michael Jackson featuring Duwende @ Highline Ballroom
* We Are Augustines, Princeton, Guards, Cerebral Ballzy (Daytrotter Barnstormer) @ The Living Room
* The As-Is Ensemble, Tony Scherr Trio with Anton Fier and Rob Jost, Robbie Fulks @ The Living Room
* Teddy Kumpel Loopestra, Holidays In London, Elaine K, Lesley Roley, Ippazzi @ Rockwood Music Hall

The Stone is closed tonight.

ZZ Top were supposed to play Westbury on Sunday. It was postponed until tonight.

Their Saturday show at Brooklyn Bowl was cancelled, but the Daytrotter tour hits the Living Room in NYC tonight with Cerebral Ballzy who didn't get a chance to play the Afro Punk Fest on Sunday.

Breakfast at Sulimay's reviews Bon Iver. Video below...

The Rural Alberta Advantage's recently released video for "Muscle Relaxants", below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday? (Michael Jackson's birthday)"

UPDATE: This is all now cancelled/postponed (no new date yet)

"Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson" returns to Prospect Park for a third year in a row on Saturday, but not for long...

The Michael Jackson event will take place until 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Due to predicted hazardous weather, ALL Park facilities will close Saturday, August 27 at 2 p.m. and REMAIN CLOSED THROUGH SUNDAY AUGUST 28.

Saturday, August 27, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
The Nethermead

Spike Lee, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks*, Spike DDB & The Republic of Brooklyn invite you to celebrate the birthday of Michael Jackson with a special celebration in Prospect Park.

*40 Acres And A Mule is documenting Michael Jackson's Birthday Celebration in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York on August 27th, 2011. By your presence in the Prospect Park - Nethermead Field area, you acknowledge that you have been informed that you may be photographed, recorded and videotaped. Further, by your presence there, you grant your permission for your likeness and voice to be included without compensation, credit or other consideration

DJ Spinna and Q-Tip will also DJ a Michael Jackson party at Irving Plaza on Saturday night (tickets). Irving Plaza is now cancelled.

Check out pictures from last year's Prospect Park party HERE.

Q-Tip at Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest (more by Brook Bobbins)

Q-Tip, who recently cancelled a European tour and a Brooklyn Bowl show, has also dropped off the free Quiksilver-hosted show in Long Beach, NY (which set times were just announced for) that he was scheduled to play on September 9 with The Flaming Lips, Neon Indian, and Wavves.

Q-Tip does however now have a show (DJ gig?) scheduled to take place on August 27 at Irving Plaza in NYC (update: it has been confirmed that Q-Tip will be DJing). The show, billed as a Michael Jackson Birthday Tribute also includes special guest DJ Spinna (like it did in 2009). Tickets are on sale now. Let's hope Q-Tip is doing ok and makes it out to this one.

Continue reading "Q-Tip playing Irving Plaza w/ DJ Spinna (for Michael Jackson), not playing Quiksilver thing"

photos by Matthew Eisman

"As the set progressed Mr. Barnes sometimes set clowning aside. Although he sang "Casualty of You" in a gold lamé robe and a miterlike headpiece, it was a bitter piano dirge. He performed most of his set-closer, "The Past Is a Grotesque Animal," without the dancers, as its relentless drumbeat and tense tremolo violin led him toward desperate incantation. And then, for encores, came three songs from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" -- another way to wrap anxieties in gleaming pop.

Of Montreal shared the bill, and the stage, with Janelle Monáe; she sings on "False Priest," and Of Montreal appears on her album, "The ArchAndroid" (Wondaland Arts Society/Bad Boy/Atlantic). Ms. Monáe has a bright voice with more than a hint of Michael Jackson in it, and she shares Of Montreal's fondness for funk, soul and new wave, for science fiction and for overstuffing songs. Her set zoomed through styles and ideas -- rock and soul, swing and Hendrixy psychedelia, futurism and romance. She went high-stepping through them all like a vaudeville trouper, complete with black-and-white saddle shoes to show off footwork ready for Broadway." [NY Times]

Of Montreal and Janelle Monae, on tour together, played Terminal 5 in NYC on Friday and Saturday night. More pictures from the first night, the OM setlist and video from the Michael Jackson encore, below...

Continue reading "Of Montreal & Janelle Monae played Terminal 5 again (twice) - pics, setlist & video of the Michael Jackson medley"

photos by Winnie Cheung

a dancer in Prospect Park Sunday

"It wasn't just another day in the park for Snoop Dogg, who showed up to Spike Lee's 2nd Annual Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson Birthday Celebration in Brooklyn's Prospect Park to pay tribute to the King of Pop on what would have been his 52nd birthday. Snoop performed his hits remixed with MJ's classics and was given a sparkly glove, which he plans to take back to Cali.

"His music, his spirit represented love and peace around the whole world and it influenced me and what I do, so for me to come through, it's just showing love and respect and paying homage to a great artist who meant so much to music in general and the people," the rapper told the New York Daily News." [Rap-up]

For Snoop Dogg it was his 2nd NYC appearance in two days. One night earlier he headlined Rock the Bells on Governors Island. Videos of Snoop Dogg (who also headlined Rock the Bells in DC later that night) and other scenes from the Prospect Park party, along with more pictures from the Brooklyn event (we already posted a first set), below...

Continue reading "more photos & video (Snoop Dogg included) of Spike Lee's Michael Jackson Birthday Party in Prospect Park "

photos by Dayane Ohira

"Later today / video of spike lee, snoop dogg, the ((((orb))), and myself at prospect park Michael Jackson day!" - Pharoahe Monch

"Michael Jackson's birthday is being remembered around the country, but unanswered questions about his death shadow the celebration of his life. [August 29th] would have marked the King of Pop's 52nd birthday, had he not passed away last June, at age 50. Recent developments in the music icon's murder trial may call for the exhuming of his remains. The controversy makes it difficult to celebrate Michael Jackson's birthday, when he may have to be laid to rest yet again." [AC]

Spike Lee, DJ Spinna Pharoahe, Snoop, and many others didn't have trouble celebrating Michael Jackson's birthday in Prospect Park on Sunday. More about Pharoahe/Snoop along with two more sets of pictures coming later. For now, this first set of pictures continues, below...

Continue reading "pictures from Michael Jackson's birthday in Prospect Park (part 1) "

Delorean @ Coco66 in March (more by Ryan Muir)

today in NYC
* Bill Frisell @ Village Vanguard
* Hannibal Buress @ Knitting Factory
* Autolux, This Will Destroy You @ Maxwell's
* Dominique Young Unique, Smalltown DJs @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Michael Jackson's Birthday Party in Prospect Park w/ DJ Spinna
* Delorean, Dominique Young Unique, ??, ?? @ Williamsburg Waterfront
* Nellie McKay, Spencer Reed (Highline Piano Series) @ Highline Ballroom
Jimmy Scott, Vijay Iyer, The Cookers, Catherine Russell @ Tompkins Square Park
* Telecult Powers, Mazing Vids, Slasher Risk, Pygmy Shrews, Peopling, Millions @ Glasslands
* Ecstatic Rain (Prince cover band w/ Sam Mickens & band), Charlie Looker, avant bachelor auction & more @ Death By Audio
* Bunnybrains, PG Six, Zaimph (feat. Marcia Bassett from Double Leopards), Diane Cluck, Hat City Intuitive, Nonhorse (G Lucas Crane of Woods) @ Knitting Factory
* Hermit Thrushes, Natureboy, Generifus, Elizabeth Devlin, Gunfight!, Liv Carrow, Will Stratton, Trevor Wilson, Johnny Houx, PAPS, Soft Black, Erin Regan, 1985, Bad Braids, Bigger Princess (OK BBQ) @ Silent Barn

Michael Jackson's birthday party is being celebrated in Prospect Park.

Sam Mickens and friends will be celebrating Michael Jackson too, but also Prince.

If there was ever a show where Devendra Banhart might be spotted in the audience, it would be the one at Knitting Factory tonight.

Dominique Young Unique opens today's Pool Party and then plays its free afterparty at Brookloyn Bowl.

Speaking of the Pool Party, yes it is definitely happening, and no they won't say who the special guests are.

Silent Barn is hosting an end of summer "OK BBQ" from 3pm till late. Set times, and other stuff, below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday?"

by BBG

Spike Lee & DJ Spinna at Michael Jackson's Birthday Bash last year (more here)

Michael Jackson still reigns as the King of Pop.

Thousands will gather in Prospect Park on Sunday at what would have been the musician's 52nd birthday for the second-annual "Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson" celebration.

"I'm looking forward to everyone from all corners of the world coming together to honor, pay respect and love the life of Michael Joseph Jackson," said filmmaker and one-time Fort Greene resident Spike Lee, who worked with Jackson on his video, "They Don't Care About Us," and is organizing the celebration for the second year.

Last year, fans packed the park to pay tribute to the man behind such hits as "Billie Jean," "Thriller" and "Beat It," who died last summer, sporting Thriller outfits, white gloves and digging out their Michael Jackson T-shirts.

Expect more of the same during the five-hour party, where DJ Spinna will play the pop genius's innumerable hits.

"It's going to be bigger and better this year," said Lee, who will be documenting this year's celebration with his production company, 40 Acres And A Mule. "People are going to come from all over the world." -[BrooklynPaper]

If there's one thing that DJ Spinna knows, it's a killer theme party. The mixologist's incredible work with Prince Vs Michael Jackson Soul Slam, (Stevie) Wonder-Full, The Jackson Family, 90s Indie Hip Hop, and countless others sets him apart as one of the great funk/groove/hip hop DJs in the area. The free event takes place on Sunday, August 29th in Prospect Park's Nethermead Field. It kicks off at noon and ends at 5:00 PM. Directions below.

The show is one (Gary Indiana with Joe Jackson) of many (9:30 Club in DC) tributes (a party in LA) happening (mjFanvention in Merriville, IN) around the US (Hueman bookstore in NYC).

More pictures from last year HERE. A pair of videos from Spike Lee and directions to the party are below...

Continue reading "Spike Lee having a birthday party for Michael Jackson in Prospect Park again, w/ DJ Spinna again (time, directions) "

Eclectic rocker Neil Young, who has made no secret of his disdain for the Grammys, finally won a coveted trophy on Sunday for the first time in a career spanning almost 50 years.

Fittingly, the Canadian singer/songwriter was honored for a long-delayed boxed set collecting more than 120 tracks from his early days.

"Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 (1963-1972)" won the Grammy for best art direction on a boxed or special limited-edition package. Young, 64, shared the award with fellow art directors Gary Burden and Jenice Heo.

"Thanks a lot, everybody," Young said as he accepted his statuette.

He also competed for best solo rock vocal Grammy but lost to Bruce Springsteen, whose career total rose to 20.

On Friday he was honored by the music industry at its annual MusiCares charity fundraiser in recognition of his annual concerts for the Bridge School for disabled children.

The 10-disc "Archives" boxed set has been in the works for years, with Young frequently delaying its release so that technology could catch up with his vision. It boasts studio and live tracks, demos, outtakes and other rarities, as well as videos and the first digital release of his directing debut, "Journey Through the Past."

Fans have the choice of three configurations: CD, DVD and Blu-ray -- the most expensive at more than $200. [Reuters]

Kings of Leon won three. MGMT won none. Loudon Wainwright, Steve Earle, Levon Helm, Steve Martin (bluegrass), and Michael J Fox all won Grammys. Phoenix won for best Alternative Music Album. David Byrne & Brian Eno's CD won for 'Recording Package'. Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Les Paul and Michael Jackson were honored. Stephen Colbert won in the comedy category which came later in the show than his iPad bit. Video of that with the full list of winners below...

Continue reading "full list of 2010 Grammy Award Winners (Phoenix, Stephen Colbert, Kings of Leon, David Byrne, Leonard Cohen & more) "

photos by Sayard Egan

Deer Tick's John Joseph McCauley III as Johnny Rotten...

At Brooklyn Bowl's Halloween party, Deer Tick ditched their other costume ideas for a night as the Sex Pistols. The night's semi-surprise opener was Dead Confederate, who covered Sonic Youth. Dangerous: All Metal Tribute to Michael Jackson played from that artist's body of work. All this while down the street at a different show, an (unhappy) Titus Andronicus sped through a set of Weezer covers (while the actual Weezer played Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan).

If those tribute acts weren't enough - you can see Rotten himself with PiL if you're in the UK this December; Sonic Youth will play three pre-Thanksgiving shows in NYC; and Michael Jackson's This Is It is in theaters now.

More pics, videos (including "Sid" singing "My Way") and all upcoming Deer Tick tour dates are posted below...

Continue reading "Deer Tick were Sex Pistols on Halloween @ Brooklyn Bowl (pics, vid, more dates)"

photos by Tim Griffin

"This [U2] concert [at Giants Stadium] was originally scheduled for 25 September 2009 and was only announced after strong ticket sales for the show on the 24th of September. It was moved to the 23rd so that the stadium would be free to host a rescheduled New York Jets game.

During Muse's opening set, frontman Matthew Bellamy plays a snippet of U2's The Fly at the start of Uprising.

U2 change the setlist position of No Line On The Horizon: previously always second in the 360° Tour setlist, it is played tenth while Magnificent slots in at second. Breathe returns as the opener after missing the previous gig entirely. Unknown Caller misses a 360° Tour gig for only the third time. It's Bruce Springsteen's birthday, and although he does not join U2 on stage, the band play a medley of his song She's The One and their own Desire early in the main set; due to technical limitations, Desire is listed as a snippet. This is Desire's first appearance on the second leg, nearly two months since it was last played." [U2 Gigs]

Newsday also points out that "Bono dedicated "It's a Beautiful Day" to Quincy Jones, somewhere in the crowd, by blending that song with Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough.""

NY Times adds that, ""Walk On" was dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who has long been under house arrest in Myanmar, and dozens of her supporters paraded onstage with her photograph."

The Star Ledger says, "It was the biggest concert in the stadium's history. More than 82,000 tickets were sold, and though an attendance figure was not immediately available, it didn't look like there were many empty seats."

82,000 tickets should help U2 come close to paying for what the concert actually costs to put on (though nothing about it will help pay back what it's doing to the environment... 200 trucks... 82,000 commuters...)

Speaking of commuters...

It went from cheers to jeers for throngs U2 fans as they tried to make their way to and from last night's concert at Giants Stadium -- and many warned those headed to the final show tonight to be prepared to wait at the train station.

Some New Jersey Transit riders say they waited for up to two hours for a train and that it turned a wonderful night into a nightmare.

Concertgoer Andrea Giantonio tells 1010 WINS what should have been a 20 minute trip home to Hoboken took over two hours.

NJT officials say there were plenty of trains, but there were too few ticket machines to accommodate the throngs of people.

And they do it all again tonight (9/24). The rest of the pictures from last night, and the setlist, below...

Continue reading "U2 played Giants Stadium - pics, reviews, the setlist & lots of angry people stuck waiting in train stations"

Flying Lotus @ Natural History Museum in April (more by Zach Dilgard)

tonight in NYC
* Yacht @ Glasslands
* Warp20 Films @ New Museum
* Emanuel And The Fear @ Joe's Pub
* Sharon Van Etten, Meg Baird @ Joe's Pub
* Rockabilly Fest @ Cha Cha's Coney Island
* Joseph Arthur, Emily Wells @ City Winery
* Ben & Vesper, Sebastien Schuller @ Sycamore
* Girls & Boys w/ Flosstradamus @ Webster Hall
* Pit Er Pat, Crazy Dreams Band, Lichens @ Market Hotel
* Warp20 w/ Battles, !!!, Flying Lotus, Pivot @ Terminal 5
* The Black Hollies, Benjy Ferree, The Nouvellas @ Maxwell's
* Tigercity, The Grates, Pearl & The Beard, Psychic @ Mercury Lounge
* The Smith Westerns, Sadhu Sadhu, Pure Horsehair, Runaway Suns @ Bruar Falls
* Joe Jack Talcum, Samuel Locke-Ward Vs Darren Brown, Bassturd @ Cake Shop
* Billll$, High Priest, Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt, DJ Sharmaji @ LPR
* MC Lyte, Jean Grae, Eternia, Jimi James, Kalae, Collette, more @ Sputnik
* Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys, The Sweetback Sisters, Holy Ghost Tent Revival @ Southpaw

NYC's Sharon Van Etten headlines Joe's Pub with Meg Baird.

Coney Island Rockabilly Fest takes place through the long weekend at Cha Cha's on the Boardwalk at Coney Island. Dreamland's historic bell was recently recovered from the bottom of the ocean.

Warp20 brings Battles, !!!, Flying Lotus and Pivot to Terminal 5. There's also films at New Museum. And more to come this weekend.

Guitarist Joseph Arthur plays the second of three special engagements at City Winery, this time with guest Emily Wells.

The Smith Westerns play Bruar Falls tonight with Sadhu Sadhu, Pure Horsehair and Runaway Suns. Tomorrow they're on the bill of the JellyNYC BBQ at Under the Tracks.

Joe Jack Talcum of the Dead Milkmen is on tour. He plays the Cake Shop tonight with Samuel Locke-Ward Vs. Darren Brown and The Bassturd.

Telepathe appears to have dropped off tonight's Girls & Boys party with Flosstradamus at Webster Hall.

Electric Zoo is this weekend.

There's an interesting lineup at Cake Shop on Saturday.

"More than two months after he died, and following a steady trickle of gossip over how and where he would be laid to rest, Michael Jackson was entombed Thursday night at a highly guarded mausoleum in a Los Angeles suburb.

About 200 people, including Elizabeth Taylor, Lisa Marie Presley, Macaulay Culkin, Quincy Jones and many other celebrities, attended the nearly 90-minute ceremony behind the gates of the heavily guarded Forest Lawn cemetery here, several miles north of downtown Los Angeles." [NYT]

MJ funeral videos below.

HEALTH's new video for "DIE SLOW" (which is in no way meant to be connected to the death of MJ - just happens to really be their new video) is below too.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday? (Labor Day Weekend)"

photos by Jaecyne Howell

DJ Spinna and Q-Tip @ Nokia Theatre

"On Saturday, August 29th, what would have been Michael Jackson's 51st birthday, fans of the King of Pop gathered at New York City's NOKIA Theatre Times Square for Q-Tip Presents: "Long Live the King! A Birthday Celebration for Michael Jackson." The sold-out crowd danced the night away to never-before-heard remixes of Michael Jackson's hits, as well as rare video footage from the Motown and Sony vaults. Joining Q-Tip onstage to DJ were special guests DJ Spinna and Mark Ronson. At one point, Quincy Jones called in to say a few words to the audience. Other celebrities in attendance included Solange Knowles, Marsha Ambrosius, Grandmaster Flash, DJ Premier and Anthony Anderson."

A similar party happened earlier the same day in Prospect Park where DJ Spinna also provided music and Grandmaster Flash was also in attendance. Solange has a busy weekend - on Sunday she was checking out Grizzly Bear at the Williamsburg Waterfront. More pictures from Nokia Theatre below...

Continue reading "Q-Tip, DJ Spinna, Mark Ronson & guests celebrated Michael Jackson's birthday @ Nokia Theatre in NYC - pics "

"Several thousand dancers packed themselves close together on the muddy Prospect Park grass facing a huge stage. Deejays played Jackson's music spanning his whole career - from his childhood with the Jackson Five to his final tracks.

There was a giant white birthday cake that read "Happy Birthday Michael Jackson" in red frosting. Balloons dotted the sky.

The biggest cheers came late in the day when the deejay played one of Jackson's best known hits, "Beat It."

"I've been into Michael Jackson since I was 1 year old," said Tariq Shade, 39, of Crown Heights, who wore a silver sequin glove on one hand. "I've always, always celebrated his birthday."

"I don't even remember life without him," actor Tracy Morgan said at Saturday's party. "Michael Jackson was everything."

"Happy birthday, Michael!" yelled Purcell Nurse, 28, of Crown Heights. "I wasn't able to go to one of his concerts, but I'll always remember this concert."" [NY Daily News]

I'm posting a bunch of pictures from Saturday's event in Prospect Park, so I split it into two posts. Check out Part One HERE. And the rest below...

Continue reading "Spike Lee, DJ Spinna, Al Sharpton, Tracy Morgan & lots of Michael Jackson fans in Prospect Park - pics (part 2) "

"Thousands of Michael Jackson fans danced the rain away in a Brooklyn park on Saturday at a party hosted by filmmaker Spike Lee, marking what would have been the 51st birthday of the late pop star.

Crowds of partygoers streamed into Prospect Park late Saturday afternoon, many wearing fedoras, sporting white gloves and showing off other Jackson-esque outfits. DJs spun Jackson's hits one after the other as people danced and sang along. Dozens of hawkers wandered through the crowd with T-shirts, buttons, posters and homemade memorabilia.

"I was just like everyone else. I loved his talent," said Lee, who directed two music videos for Jackson in 1996. He also reminisced how Jackson had visited him in his home in Brooklyn to talk about their music video collaboration.

The day was also designated Michael "King of Pop" Jackson Memorial Day by Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz.

"We all know Michael Jackson had fans around the world, but we all know the best fans come from Brooklyn," Markowitz boasted to a roaring crowd that grew as heavy rain in the morning lightened to a drizzle by mid-afternoon." [US Post Today]

I arrived at Prospect Park around 2:30 which was the same time Al Sharpton got there - his black SUV drove by me on the path in (see pics). There was a little drizzle after that, but for the most part it was a dry and fun afternoon listening to DJ Spinna play Michael Jackson songs over a great soundystem with host Spike Lee speaking here and there, and Al Sharpton saying a few words from the stage. There was also a quick appearance by Tracy Morgan who said about 2 sentences, and lots of MJ shirts, pins, signs, magazines, paintings, and impersonators. Kids were getting Thriller facepaint put on, and cops were everywhere helping keep the peace at what was actually a very large, but peaceful gathering. The coordinated videos, lyrics and live video that was on the giant screen was a bonus. More pictures HERE, and below...

Continue reading "pictures from Michael Jackson's 51st Birthday Party in Prospect Park (part 1) "

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Michael Jackson parties
* Buke & Gass @ Sycamore
* Lemonade @ Glasslands (Vice)
* Chairlift @ Saks Fifth Ave
* Paul van Dyk @ Rumsey Playfield
* Amon Tobin @ Rocks Off Concert Cruises
* Pterodactyl, Screens, Prismz @ Bruar Falls
* Essie Jain, My Name Is Nobody @ Monkey Town
* Charlie Parker Jazz Festival @ Marcus Garvey Park
* Adrian Belew Power Trio, Colin Gilmore @ Maxwell's
* Spike Lee + Michael Jackson's B-day @ Prospect Park
* Highline Piano Series: Jeremy Denk @ Highline Ballroom
* Long Live the King w/ Q-Tip, Mark Ronson @ Nokia Theatre
* Phantogram, Savoir Adore, Holy Hail, Darwin Deez @ Glasslands
* KRS-One, Kool Moe Dee, Just Ice, Grand Daddy IU @ Irving Plaza
* Beach Fossils, Holiday Shores, Sore Eros, Family Portraits @ The Cameo
* The Jaguar Club, pow wow!, Spanish Prisoners, Coyote Eyes @ Union Hall
* J&R Music Fest w/ Roy Hargrove, Roberta Gambarini, more @ City Hall Park
* Roosevelt Live w/ Generate Records (10th Anniversary show) @ Roosevelt Island
* Brooklyn Soul Festival w/ The Sweet Divines, Otis Clay, Maxine Brown @ Bell House
* Celebration, Sam Mickens's Ecstatic Showband, Future Islands @ Market Hotel
* Psychic Ills, Screaming Females, Zs, Sharon Van Etten, Future Islands @ The Yard
* Das Racist, NinjaSonik, Free Energy, Drink Up Buttercup, Wild Yaks, Talk Normal, more @ Littlefield

Charlie Parker Jazz Festival brings Frank Wess Quintet, Gary Bartz Project (with special guest Bilal) and others to Marcus Garvey Park. Tomorrow it moves to Tompkins Sq. Park.

J&R Music Fest hosts Roy Hargrove, Roberta Gambarini and others at City Hall Park.

You're supposed to RSVP for the Vice party happening at Glasslands with Lemonade.

The Party with Tables is happening at BKLYN Yard still. The lineup includes Psychic Ills, Screaming Females, Zs, Silver Summit, Sharon Van Etten, Future Islands, Air Waves and Boogie Boarder.

Old-school hip-hop comes to Irving Plaza with KRS-One, Kool Moe Dee, Just Ice and Grand Daddy IU. Last night Reflection Eternal played BB King's, and Sunday there's another hip hop show at the same venue.

THE WARRIORS 30TH YEAR REUNION AT CONEY ISLAND! (Trailer below.)

Phantogram, Savoir Adore, Holy Hail and Darwin Deez are playing Glasslands.

There's a good lineup at The Cameo, with a Beach Fossils-topped bill that also includes Florida's Holiday Shores, Sore Eros and Family Portraits.

Brooklyn Soul Festival goes into its second night at the Bell House. The Sweet Divines & The Divine Soul Rhythm Band are the house band for Otis Clay, Maxine Brown and guests. There's a record fair there during the day.

After the Jump Fest brings Das Racist (also playing tomorrow at Public Assembly), NinjaSonik, Free Energy, Drink Up Buttercup, Wild Yaks, Talk Normal, Bottle Up & Go, Captain Ahab & The Sea Crackens and Shark? to Littlefield.

The penultimate Highline Piano Series show takes place with Jeremy Denk. Cecil Taylor closes it on Monday.

Chairlift plays an in-store at Saks Fifth Avenue from 4-5pm, flyer below. They play Bowery Ballroom on September 5th with Here We Go Magic.

Outside Lands is going on in San Francisco and streaming.

Roosevelt Live hosts "Generate Records celebrates 10 years of experimental sound" at River Walk Commons on Roosevelt Island. The lineup includes "Gordon Beeferman: Music for an Imaginary Band, Ernesto Diaz-Infante and Jeff Arnal, and Aperiodic with Kevin Parrett, Benjamin Perkins & Matthias Schulz."

RIP, DJ AM

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

Happy Birthday Michael, Michael it's your birthday

The office of the Los Angeles County coroner confirmed Friday that it had ruled Michael Jackson's death a homicide. It said the cause was a mixture of the powerful anesthetic propofol and the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam, both of which, previously disclosed court documents say, Mr. Jackson's doctor has acknowledged administering to him the day he died.

"The manner of death has been ruled: homicide," the coroner's office said in a brief statement.

It said the full coroner's report and a complete toxicology report were being withheld at the request of the police and the district attorney's office, whose investigation continues.. [NYT]

Michael Jackson would have been 51 today (August 29). And people are celebrating - as we speak actually, in Prospect Park. More on that and other events below...

Continue reading "Michael Jackson's Death Ruled a Homicide (Happy Birthday) --- Prospect Park event underway + other stuff to do"

Beach House & Celebration singing "Billie Jean"

"It was a beautiful Summer night and outside the Metro Gallery in Baltimore Beach House and Celebration played some music for some friends. [The below] video features their performances of a few of the their songs, as well as their collaborative rendition of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean". August 7th, 2009. Produced by Metro Media in conjunction with the bands."

What a perfect video to post on the eve of the weekend when Celebration, Beach House, AND (the ghost of) Michael Jackson will be in Brooklyn.

As mentioned earlier today, Celebration will be at Market Hotel on Saturday night (8/29) with Future Islands and Sam Mickens' Ecstatic Showband & Revue. What we forgot to mention is that the show is in fact a "A Concert in Loving Observance of Michael Jackson's 51st Birthday" (calling it a "a celebration" probably would have been overkill). Future Islands also play the Impose show earlier the same day.

Then there's the much bigger, and possibly much wetter, Michael Jackson celebration that is going on earlier Saturday in Prospect Park.

Beach House play the Williamsburg Waterfront on Sunday.

Above-mentioned video below...

Continue reading "Celebration (playing Market Hotel) & Beach House (playing Pool) covered Michael Jackson (having a birthday) -- VIDEO"

"Marty Markowitz, the Brooklyn borough president, will present a proclamation declaring the day Michael Jackson Day in Brooklyn. The Rev. Al Sharpton will supply the prayer. DJ Spinna will supply the music...

In an interview this month with The Root, an online magazine on black culture, Mr. Lee said of the party: "It's going to just be how we do it, Brooklyn style, I'll leave it at that. It's going to be a joyous, festive, celebratory party." He also said: "We're of the same era. I wanted my Afro to be perfectly round like Michael's, all that stuff."" [NY Times]

DJ Spinna will also be supplying some music at another MJ Bday party later that night.

Unfortunately, for this and the Impose party at BKYLN Yard, it might be raining.

Continue reading "what will happen @ the Michael Jackson birthday party in Prospect Park on Saturday (besides rain)?"

It is official: Spike Lee's party in honor of Michael Jackson's birthday will be held in Brooklyn, but in Prospect Park, not in Fort Greene Park.

The party will take place at the Nethermead, a meadow in the center of Prospect Park, according to an e-mail message from a city official on Friday.

The date, Aug. 29, which would have been the singer's 51st birthday, and the time, from noon to 5 p.m., remain unchanged.
[NY Times]

The much larger park was selected in anticipation of the 10,000 people expected for the event. "The Nethermead is most accessible from the 16th Street and Prospect Park Southwest entrance, the Bartel-Pritchard entrance, the 9th Street entrance..." More directions below.

It's a big week for Spike Lee. In addition to being involved with this party, his "Passing Strange" movie just came out, sort of, maybe (you can catch it at the IFC Theater).

Another Michael Jackson birthday tribute show is happening in NYC on August 29th at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square. At that event, Q-Tip (who is DJing) and guests Mark Ronson and DJ Spinna will bring, among other things, "never-before-heard remixes of Michael Jackson hits." Tickets are still on sale.

The biggest show of all scheduled for that date, Michael Jackson's funeral in LA, has been postposted until September 3rd.

And in other Prospect Park West news...

If Carrie Bradshaw and her "Sex and the City" cohorts ever felt lonely in their single-gal lives, at least it was because they actually lived alone. But in Amy Sohn's new chick-lit tome "Prospect Park West," which hits stores Sept. 1, once-glamorous city lasses still feel abandoned. Only now they're isolated in loveless marriages, raising kids they resent.

The book has already been optioned by HBO and Sarah Jessica Parker's production company. The story, which focuses on four stroller moms, from Brooklyn's Park Slope, is touted as fodder for "SATC: The Next Generation." [NY Post]

I hope that TV show never happens. Directions to Saturday's free park party are below...

Continue reading "Spike Lee's Michael Jackson birthday party happening near Prospect Park West (the possible future HBO show topic)"

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Tim Griffin and Chris La Putt

Organized Konfusion @ APW

"Hip-hop gets odd treatment at festivals like All Points West, where most of the lineup leans toward indie-rock. The rock acts, beyond the name-brand headliners, are current: darlings of the club and college circuit and the blogs that support it. But the hip-hop is retro: representatives of past eras alongside younger acts who have chosen old-school styles." [NY Times]

Now that APW and it's associated parties are in the rear view, we're beginning to get a picture of hip hop this fall as those artists lay out shows of their own!

"Forget about whether Brooklyn was in the house; "Where all my trigonometry majors at?" Pharoahe Monch asked the audience. O.C., a rapper associated on and off with Organized Konfusion, also showed up during the [APW] set. Prince Po took pains to deny Internet reports of dissension between group members. And true to the luck that ran through Organized Konfusion's career, the set took place during the afternoon's rain squall; there were only a handful of listeners." [NY Times]

First up, Organized Konfusion, with APW behind them, is back on the train having scheduled a new date in NYC at BB King's on 9/25 with Poor Righteous Teachers. Rock dis funky joint! Tickets are on sale.

Secondly, The Wallabee Champ was recently in NYC to kick off APW at Nokia Theatre with Red & Meth. Video from the Michael Jackson tribute portion of the night below. And Ghostface will be in the building AGAIN on 11/11, as he gets set to tear down BB King's! Tickets are on sale.

Ghostface's partner in rhyme, Raekwon is FINALLY going to release Only Built For Cuban Linx II (9/8!!!) and the cover features Tony Starks, much like the first Cuban Linx. Dig on that below too.

Also coming up at BB King's is the previously mentioned Slum Village show with Reflection Eternal on 8/28. After the shocking passing of Slum Village's Baatin settled in, I wondered if the crew would carry on? Slum Village (which also counted J Dilla as a member) was T3 and Elzhi until Baatin recently rejoined the crew, and now it looks more and more like that is how they will be again:

Slum Village will remain on the bill despite the July 31 death of group member Titus "Baatin" Glover.... A cause of death has not been determined pending the results of toxicology reports, according to local authorities.

"Baatin will be missed," Slum Village's T3 said in a press statement. "I'm glad we got a chance to work together before he passed. We lost another Slum soldier, a dear friend and a brother. He touched many lives." [livedaily]

Slum Village 2009, now exactly the same as Slum Village 2007. Tickets are still available for BB Kings, and more dates have been announced (below).

Full Raekwon, Ghostface, and Reflection Eternal tour details, cover art, videos, and all pictures of Organized Konfusion at All Points West (including some that weren't posted before), below...

Continue reading "Organized Konfusion (apw pics), Ghostface, Slum Village (Baatin RIP) & Reflection Eternal (dates) playing BB King's"

photos by Tim Griffin and Chris La Putt

"After a soggy Friday and sunny Saturday, the thunderstorms returned for the third and last day of All Points West, this time resulting in major delays and canceled sets for the festival held at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ. But after the rain cleared and mercifully stayed away, organizers hustled to get the schedule back on track, culminating in a dazzler of a headlining set by British rockers Coldplay.

Sunday's line-up, scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. in the comedy tent and 2 p.m. on the music stages, was pushed back several hours due to severe storms that hit the area midday. Fans who arrived early were turned away at the gates, and it wasn't until just before 4 p.m. that ticket holders were invited to line up at the festival entrance for an even longer wait for admission. Comedians Todd Barry, Christian Finnegan and Janeane Garofalo, originally slated for 45-minute sets at the Queen of the Valley tent, were rushed through with 10 minutes each to make way for the musical acts that followed them. "I might do a tour of entirely rained-out festivals," said Barry, "it's big money for not a lot of work at all."

Some sets were canceled altogether--indie rockers Steel Train and New Jersey punk band the Gaslight Anthem, scheduled to take the main Blue Comet stage in the afternoon, were scrapped to allow later bands to perform at their scheduled times." [Billboard]

As you may have heard, Coldplay's Sunday night set included covers of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and Beastie Boys' "Fight For Your Right". Jay-Z covered "No Sleep Till Brooklyn on Friday.

MGMT played against Coldplay on Sunday, and Echo and The Bunnymen instead opened for Coldplay on the main stage (with Courtney Love watching in the wings). Akron/Family, Silversun Pickups, Mogwai, Lykke Li, Elbow, the Black Keys, and others also played sets on the shortened, very wet day. More pictures, and the two Coldplay cover videos, and some setlists, below....

Continue reading "All Points West 2009 - Day 3 Pictures (Coldplay, mud, MGMT)"

Throwed - "Houston slang, for being wasted, high, or both"

The above tweet comes to us from Questlove of the Roots live from Jarvis Cocker's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon taping. The episode will air tonight, after Jarvis is finished playing Music Hall of Williamsburg and around the time The Roots are playing Webster Hall. What is Questlove talking about? Video below...

Continue reading "Questlove says Jarvis Cocker looks wasted on Fallon, fighting urge to get revenge for Michael Jackson"

Mama-se, mama-sa, ma-ma-coo-sa (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

"On Saturday, August 29, 2009 - what would have been Michael Jackson's 51st birthday - Grammy award-winning, hip-hop icon Q-Tip presents "Long Live the King! A Birthday Celebration for Michael Jackson" at the NOKIA Theatre Times Square. Q-Tip will be joined in the DJ booth by special invited guests Grammy award-winning producer/artist Mark Ronson and the legendary DJ Spinna."

Q-Tip did something similar, but on a much smaller scale, the week Michael Jackson died at his weekly "Open" party at Santos Party House (Fridays). Spinna is also a Santos resident (Thursdays). Nokia Theatre tickets are $25.00 and will go on sale Friday, July 31, 2009 at noon.

Like he recently did in Central Park, Q-Tip is rapping (not DJing) this Friday at All Points West. More info on the Nokia show below...

Continue reading "Q-Tip DJing @ Nokia Theatre on Michael Jackson's birthday w/ Mark Ronson & DJ Spinna (and playing APW Friday) "