by Bill Pearis

Immaculate Machine

NIGHTTIME:

BrooklynVegan's got two parties tonight. Black Bubblegum is hosting an official metal showcase tonight at Fontana's (which happens right after our day party at the same venue), and we've also got the teeny tiny Loft Space party that is sold-out at this point.

One of the bands playing the loft party is Victoria Canada's Immaculate Machine, who may or may not have the lineup pictured above...

...To make life even more tricky for the band, vocalist and keyboardist Kathryn Calder, one of the remaining original members, has had to absent herself from touring after the terrible news of her mum's diagnosis with motor neurone disease; although Lynn Calder very sadly died earlier this year, Kathryn was not with the band this evening. Indeed, the touring line-up looked very different from the line-up advertised on the band's web presences, two boys apparently replaced by two girls.

So, amid confusion that appeared to verge on turmoil, could the band deliver the goods live? It turned out they very much could... [John Kell, Oct 20, 2009]

Immaculate Machine also play early-ish tonight (8:30) at the equally tiny Fat Baby for a showcase for their label, Mint Records. They've got trio of Canadian bands playing, most of whom rarely seem to make it down to America. Or, the East Coast at least -- most of their bands tend to be from Vancouver. In addition to Immaculate Machine, there's the garagey Pack A.D. and Hot Panda, who I caught last year at CMJ and are pretty good. The Mint Records showcase is also a good place to pick up their great fanzine, A Taste of Mint, which always features at least one classic Narduwar interview.

And a bit off the beaten path, the folks at the Seaport Music Festival are putting on a great showcase at their Seaport on the Side gallery space (corner of Front and Beekman). The line-up, which runs from 7PM - Midnight, includes Montreal's We are Wolves, the Danish electro sounds of Spleen United, and UK hip hop act Man Like Me. UK pop artist Dan Black was supposed to play but cancelled and has been replaced by Sweden's Moonbabies who played a killer opening set at yesterday's Brooklyn Vegan day party. Do go see Moonbabies if you can. They also play earlier in the night (8:30) at Crash Mansion.

One of the many, many highlight's of yesterday's Brooklyn Vegan day party at Piano's was JEFF the Brotherhood who put on an absolutely kick-ass closing set. Tonight, they've put together a showcase for their label, Infinity Cat, featuring a slew of Nashville bands: Heavy Cream, Natural Child, Denney & the Jets, Daniel Pujol, as well as Brooklyn's Sisters.

And, of course, JEFF who you should really try and see this weekend at some point. If there was one thing missing at Pianos yesterday, it was the smoke machines Jake and Jamin tend to use (Pianos doesn't allow them) and I have a feeling they'll be in full effect tonight.

And lastly, fellow Brooklyn blog Chocolate Bobka has teamed with Underwater Peoples and twosyllable records for a pretty great night of music at The Delancey, including Holiday Shores, Real Estate, Frat Dad, Pill Wonder and more. They're also promising free moonshine, which sounds a bit deadly to me but, hey, it is Friday night.

Daytime highlights HERE. Hip Hop highlights HERE. Fliers, a Moonbabies video, and other stuff below...

Continue reading "CMJ 2009 - Bill's Friday nighttime picks (Immaculate Machine, Infinity Cat, Seaport Music & more)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Moonbabies - We're Layabouts (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Moonbabies - Sun A.M. (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Moonbabies - War on Sound (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Moonbabies - Take Me to the Ballroom (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Surfer Blood - Floating Vibes (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: JEFF the Brotherhood - Bone Jam (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: JEFF the Brotherhood - Heavy Damage (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Lovvers - Human Hair (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Ghosting (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Generator 2nd Floor (MP3)

JEFF The Brotherhood in Nashville (more by Paul Birman)

DAYTIME

Today's the free Brooklyn Vegan party at Pianos (158 Ludlow Street, NY, NY). Downstairs I've dubbed the "TWII Stage" as every band playing has been written about on This Week in Indie at some point over the last year, even the just-announced Sky Larkin. I'm super excited that the day starts with Moonbabies' first U.S. show in eight years. We've also got Italy's A Classic Education, who are a more orchestral take on '90s indie rock and are pretty great live. Then there's the wild, in-your-face triple threat of the UK's Lovvers, Montreal's Duchess Says and Nashville's JEFF the Brotherhood which might leave Pianos in shambles. And then of course Surfer Blood who are playing a total of 12 shows this week. Insane. Buy some throat coat tea, guys. Upstairs is a little more civilized but no less awesome, including Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's Alec Ounsworth, Freelance Whales, Peggy Sue, former Jealous Girlfriends singer Holly Miranda who is now on XL, her Saddle Creek-signed friend Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson and more. Full lineup with set times below.

Not that you'd really have any reason to leave our party at all, but Aquariam Drunkard is throwing a very good party too over at Fontana's. Playing are The Love Language (who play the BV loft party tomorrow night), neo trip hoppers Phantogram, Local Natives (who also play the loft party and the BV/Bowery Presents day party on Saturday), The Happy Hollows, The Roadside Graves, Joshua James, and Blair.

NIGHTTIME

If you can't make it in time for Moonbabies noon set time at Pianos, they're playing tonight as part of an all-Swedish event at the Norwood Club in the Meatpacking District featuring bands and DJs. Along with Moonbabies, performers include the smoky jazz pop of Francis, singer-songwriters Sofia Talvik and Jaw Lesson. Also, for those curious types, Norwood is a chi chi private club, so here's your chance to see how the other half parties.

Found

There's a good lineup at The Rose in Williamsburg which is usually a jazz club but tonight plays host to four electronic-leaning bands. The one I really want to see is FOUND who are an artist collective/band from Edinburgh, Scotland whose sound ranges from celtic to glitchy funk. They are a little odd, in a good way, and I hear are worth seeing live. You candownload their Fidelities EP here. Also on the bill: Gainsville, FL's Oh Fortunamake infectious synth-pop; Detroit's Computer Perfection who are an offshoot of Pas/Cal and make highly orchestrated '60s psych pop; and Brooklyn's interestingly-named Binary Marketing Show.

And at Music Hall of Williamsburg is an almost entirely UK line-up, the kind that would probably have editors at Q and Uncut salivating. And the one band that's not British, Australia's The Temper Trap, pretty much sound like they're from the UK (I'm thinking the U2s, Travises and Keenes of the Brit scene). More interesting to me are openers The Golden Silvers, who seem to pull influence from equal parts ELO and ABC. It is at times so sugary your teeth hurt, but they know their way around a good hook. Also playing are Mumford & Sons who are the most celtic-leaning of the London folk scene that gave us Laura Marling and Noah & the Whale. They are impressive live, really nailing those lush harmonies. I don't know a lot about Goldhawks but their reach-for-the-stars brand of Brit Indie will probably sound even bigger with MHoW's kick-ass soundsystem. The Music Hall show is now sold out, but you can still get in with a badge.

Our hip hop recommendations (including the BV-sponsored show at Southpaw tonight) HERE. The xx (who played to an overpacked Mercury Lounge last night) is at the Apple Store at 7, and then they play the NME party at the Delancey tonight with The Antlers who played an in-store at Sound Fix yesterday where Cymbals Eat Guitars DON'T (CANCELLED) play today before heading to Public Assembly for the late night Vice party with Ume who play our day show at Fontana's on Friday with Crystal Antlers who played the Vice late night party last night with Grooms who replaced Cold Cave who cancelled.. Deer Tick headline Bowery Ballroom tonight. Chris Denny, who also plays the BV day party today, is one of the openers on that show. Fliers, a Golden Silvers video and day party set times after the jump...

Continue reading "CMJ 2009 - Bill's Thursday picks & stuff (Moonbabies, BV day party, FOUND, JEFF The Brotherhood, more)"

sorry it took me so long to get a post up on this...

DOWNSTAIRS
12:00 Moonbabies
12:45 A Classic Education
01:30 TBA Sky Larkin
02:15 Surfer Blood
03:00 Lovvers
03:45 Duchess Says
04:30 JEFF the Brotherhood

UPSTAIRS
01:00 Freelance Whales
01:45 Rebecca Schiffman
02:30 Peggy Sue
03:15 Chris Denny
04:00 Holly Miranda
04:45 Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
05:30 Alec Ounsworth (CYHSY)

14 bands. 100% FREE. At Pianos on the Lower East Side (158 Ludlow Street, New York City). Free Miller beer so get there early. Free Vitamin Water so get there early too. No badges or money necessary. See you there, and then see you in the same exact place with lots more free bands with the same free drinks on Saturday.

And in between those two, see you at Fontana's on Friday.

Moonbabies, on at noon, are making a rare appearance from their home in Sweden. This day party is in addition to their other two previously-announced CMJ shows.

You can also catch Duchess Says today (10/21) at the M For Montreal showcase at Arlene's Grocery.

More later. If I type any more this post will be even more late. Duchess Says and Rebecca Shiffman video below...

Continue reading "free BrooklynVegan day show - Thursday @ Pianos -------------------- 14 bands, free drinks, good times"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Moonbabies - We're Layabouts (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Moonbabies - Sun A.M. (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Moonbabies - War on Sound (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Moonbabies - Take Me to the Ballroom (MP3)

I almost fell off my chair when I found out Malmö, Sweden's Moonbabies were coming to New York for CMJ, playing two shows: the Norwood Club on Thursday, October 22 and at Crash Mansion on Friday, October 23 (not to be confused with Moondoggies who are also playing CMJ). These are the first U.S. shows Moonbabies have played since their 2000 debut, June and Novas. I became aware of them after seeing the gorgeous video for their 2002 single "Over My Head" which later turned up on 2004's stellar The Orange Billboard, one of that year's most underrated albums. It typifies Moonbabies' sound, which mixes classic pop sensibilities (and Frick and Johanssen's lovely harmonies) with dips into electronics and shoegazer-ish dreaminess. If you liked the Notwist's Neon Golden from around the same time, definitely check out The Orange Billboard.

All their records are good, though Moonbabies are not the most prolific band in the world. Since then, we've gotten an EP, War on Sound, in 2005 (the title track to which was also on the second Grey's Anatomy soundtrack) and then a third album, At the Ballroom, in 2007. There are MP3s from each of their records so far at the top of this post. At the end of last year, Ola and Carina moved to Berlin to work on Moonbabies' fourth album. Hopefully we'll get to hear some of those still-gestating songs live when they play next week.

Videos and a flyer are below...

Continue reading "Moonbabies coming for CMJ - dates, MP3s & videos "