Die Antwoord @ ACL 2012 (by Glen Brown)

We've completed our coverage of this past weekend's Austin City Limits festival with a set of pictures from Sunday, Die Antwoord (like the above) included.

Die Antwoord have a new and controversial video for "Fatty Boom Boom" which you can watch below.

Still no word on the identity of the body found near Austin Music Hall.

Maybe you heard it's CMJ week here in NYC and we're already tired and we haven't even seen any shows yet. But we are pumped to be throwing two day parties on at Public Assembly. Saturday's line-up hasn't been announced yet, but you can check out Friday's (10/19, including METZ, Savages and The Intelligence) here.

We also are sad to report that, despite what the flyer says, Sharon Van Etten is NOT playing that Thursday day party at Ace Hotel.

A "Million Muppet March" is being planned in Washington DC on November 3 (three days before the election) to protest Mitt Romney's pledge to cut funding to PBS if elected president. The second of three Presedential Debates happens tonight at 9 PM EDT... UPDATE:

Speaking of, Menomena just toured through NYC and played Music Hall of Williamsburg and Bowery Ballroom.

The Lollipop King is suing South Park.

Watch Godspeed You! Black Emperor on Windy City kids show Chic-A-Go-Go.

More stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: Beyonce playing Super Bowl; Million Muppet March, Die Antwoord, Godspeed!, Julie Dorion, Lollipop King, ACL & more"

Fiona Apple @ Winstar World Casino last night (via rideincircles)

The brouhaha surrounding Fiona Apple's drug arrest last week just keeps going. (They're calling it AppleGate!) Over the weekend, Apple talked about her jail experience, or something like that, in Houston. It involves two "lock boxes."

Then, Hudspeth County Sheriff's department spokesman Rusty Fleming offered an amazing rebuttal that included this bit:

Two weeks ago nobody in the country cared about what you had to say, -- now that you've been arrested it appears your entire career has been jump-started. Don't worry Sweetie, I won't bill you.

Texas state law classifies hashish possession as a third-degree felony, so according to AlterNet, Fiona could be headed back to jail for up to ten years.

Fiona Apple ended up not playing Austin the night of her arrest even though she was let out that same day, but another woman musician making lots of news lately, Amanda Palmer did.

Meanwhile in Bushwick, Bill and Hillary Clinton were hanging out with indie musician Lia Ices, Joel Cohen, Gloria Steinem and other hip cats at Roberta's on Friday.

The great Amenra is preparing to launch Mass V, the band's new LP due via Neurot Recordings on November 26th. Check out the tracklisting, album art and a teaser video below.

Flying Lotus's new album 'Until The Quiet Comes' is streaming at NPR.

The Barclays Center opens this week. Will you be going inside or protesting out?

Speaking of protests, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is on strike. UPDATE: Were on strike.

More stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: more Fiona Apple, new Myspace, James Franco's band Daddy, Bill & Hillary @ Roberta's, Grizzly Bear, RIP baby panda & more"

by Bill Pearis

It's quite the résumé: writer of hit songs for the Carpenters, Barbra Streisand and the Muppets; delightfully villainous costar of Brian De Palma's cult classic Phantom of the Paradise; one of Johnny Carson's favorite guests. Paul Williams has lived a life most would envy, but according to Stephen Kessler's revealing documentary, he's only just begun. This isn't your standard talking-heads hagiography. Kessler began filming as a fan first, attending a Williams concert in Canada after he discovered his childhood idol, long out of the Hollywood limelight, was still alive and well. He slowly works his way into the legendary singer-songwriter's confidence, accompanying him to a variety of events--celebrity golf tournament, autograph signings, performances around the globe--and probes his subject about his colorful past. [Time Out NY]

One of the coolest cats of the '70s, Paul Williams' songwriting credits include The Carpenters' "We've Only Just Begun" and "Rainy Days and Mondays," The Monkees' "Someday Man," the theme to The Love Boat, and all the songs for The Muppet Movie, Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas, Phantom of the Paradise and Bugsy Malone. He also starred in Phantom of the Paradise, and had roles in Smokey & the Bandit and '60s cult film The Loved One, among other works. More recently he collaborated with The Scissor Sisters on their 2006 album Tah-Dah. Paul Williams Still Alive opens in NYC on Friday, June 8 at the Angelika in NYC. Paul Williams will be at the 8PM screenings on Friday (6/8) and Saturday (6/9) for a post-screening Q&A. He's gotta have a lot of good stories.

Watch the trailer for Paul Williams Still Alive below, along with some tv clips of Paul in his '70s prime.

Continue reading "'Paul Williams Still Alive' opens at NYC's Angelika this weekend; Paul doing Q&As at screenings"

Real Estate on a boat in 2010 (more by Marielle Sloan)

today in NYC
* Mary J. Blige @ Terminal 5
* Allen Toussaint @ Joe's Pub
* Mandingo Ambassadors @ Barbes
* LUSHES, Bachelorette @ Zebulon
* ChamelonsVox @ Home Sweet Home
* Gilbert Gottfried @ Caroline's
* The Knux, Jordy Towers @ Knitting Factory
* Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones @ City Winery
* Jason Robinson's Janus Ensemble @ The Stone
* Brad Henkel, Crepuscula Activity @ Sycamore
* Marc Edwards/Weasel Walter Group @ The Stone
* American Royalty, Top Dreams @ Mercury Lounge
* M83, Active Child @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Robert Randolph and The Family Band @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Real Estate, Big Troubles, Liquor Store @ Bowery Ballroom
* Five Finger Death Punch, All That Remains, Hatebreed, Rains @ Best Buy Theater
* Thursday, Maylene and The Sons of Disaster, Zechs Marquise, Native @ Irving Plaza
* EMPD, Ghostface Killah, Black Moon, Special Ed, Black Sheep, Black Rob @ BB King's
* The Phenomenal Handclap Band, Bing Ji Ling, Horsemeat Disco, Tim Love Lee, Krunk Pony @ Hiro Ballroom

The new Muppets movie opens tonight. In honor of that, watch Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords sing 'Life's a Happy Song' with Kermit (a song from the new movie), and the more classic video of Rita Moreno singing "Fever" with Animal (on the drums), below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going Wednesday? (Thanksgiving Eve)"

Drunk Muppets

LCD Soundsystem are bringing the party to Bogota, Colombia tonight (and Chile on Sunday). Muppets recently rocked out to LCD Soundsystem in Brighton. The results were captured in an "Unofficial DIY Pop Video" by Javier Douglas which you can watch below...

Continue reading "Muppets dance themselves clean to LCD Soundsystem (video)"

Gucci Mane at the last (?) Pool Party (more by Chris Doss)

Rapper Gucci Mane has been ordered to undergo psychiatric tests, following an Atlanta court appearance on a charge he violated terms of his probation. Radric Davis, the rapper's real name, appeared before Fulton County Superior Court Judge John Goger on Monday. Davis' attorney, Michael Holmes, filed a special plea of mental incompetency on behalf of Davis, who has battled drug problems in the past. The rapper was sent to Anchor Hospital, a 111-bed psychiatric and chemical dependency treatment facility in Atlanta. Records show Davis has been in the Fulton County Jail at least five times since 2005 on drug, aggravated assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges. His court appearance stemmed from a November altercation. [AP]

It also hasn't been the greatest of days for Gucci Mane's protege Wacka Flocka Flame, who surrendered to the police in connection with drugs and weapons charges. Wacka Flocka Flame's "No Hands" currently sits at #4 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip Hop Chart.

As previously mentioned, Questlove never rests, and in addition to all of his upcoming DJ gigs we just posted, you can also catch him this Friday, 1/7, at BB King's with special guest Rakim.

Also coming up at BB King's: Ice Cube.

SOB's hosts Joe Budden on on January 23rd.

Those on the West Coast can catch Joe, along with Crooked I, Joell Ortiz and Royce Da 5'9" on Saturday, April 2, 2011, as Slaughterhouse have been added to the the sixth annual Paid Dues Festival along with Black Star, Immortal Technique and Murs. Slaughterhouse will drop a six song EP on E1 next month.

And last but not least, two humourous Kanye West-related videos are making the rounds, and you can watch both of them, below...

Continue reading "Rakim @ BB King's, Gucci Mane @ a treatment facility, Kanye vs muppets, Slaughterhouse @ Paid Dues & other hip hop news"

The Muppets' version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" took the Internet by storm earlier this year. On Christmas Eve Eve, The Muppets made an appearance on the Jimmy Fallon show. Along with Jimmy and The Roots, they performed "12 Day of Christmas". Both of those videos and more below...

Continue reading "Bohemian Rhapsody & Muppets Christmas videos w/ Jimmy Fallon, The Roots, John Denver, Andrea Bocelli & more"

In response to overwhelming demand, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band have announced fourth and fifth shows at Giants Stadium, Thursday October 8 & Friday, October 9. The latter date will be the final concert ever at Giants Stadium.

Previously announced shows on September 30, October 2 & October 3 sold out briskly.

Be there for the final concerts in the 33-year history of Giants Stadium. Tickets go on sale Monday, June 8th at noon EST.

"Anonymous | June 4, 2009 10:17 AM" writes, "Must be a bunch of unhappy campers who thought they scored tix to 'the last show at Giants Stadium with the Boss!'" The new shows go on sale Monday at noon.

Continue reading "Bruce Springsteen adds 2 Giants Stadium shows, 1 = the last"

Bandega: What venue do you consider to be your "home", where you feel most comfortable, with the crowd and the place itself?

Eric Johnson of Fruit Bats & The Shins: The shortlist would be Schubas, Hideout and Empty Bottle in Chicago, Mercury Lounge in New York, Modified in Phoenix, Fernwood in Big Sur, and Opolis in Norman, Oklahoma.

The previously announced NJ & NYC Shins shows are the last two dates on a 14-date May tour. Tickets for the May 18th Terminal 5 show are currently on Am Ex Presale, and go on regular sale Friday at noon.

The Shins were nominated for the "Best Alternative Music Album" Grammy for their 2007 Sub Pop album Wincing the Night Away. Muppets interviewed them backstage at the 2008 event. That video and all dates below...

Continue reading "The Shins - updates 2009 tour dates, Muppet interview"

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Doves show coming up at Terminal 5.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Akron/Family show happening at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the MGMT show at Prospect Park.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Big Business / Tweak Bird show happening at Mercury Lounge.

Tickets are on sale for the recently added Ratatat show at Terminal 5.

Woman buys used couch and finds cat living inside

Tickets are on sale for the May 1st Dears show at The Bell House. Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the show happening the next day at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are on sale for the A Camp show happening at Bowery Ballroom.

India.Arie is playing Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom on May 1st. Tickets are on sale (@ noon).

Tickets go on general sale Saturday @ noon for the Explosions in the Sky show happening at Summerstage.

Happy Friday the 13th again. Muppet Murder!

Mi Ami played Silent Barn last night. Video below...

Continue reading "Doves, Dears, A Camp, Akron, Arie & other tickets"

Awesomeness. Video below...

Continue reading "Kermit the Frog sings LCD Soundsystem's "NY I love You""

Tough call, but I think I'm going to have to vote for Escort to win this year's Plug "Music Video of the Year". Check out all twelve of the nominated videos below....

Continue reading "the 12 music VIDEOS of the year (according to Plug)"

More pics like the 4 above @ othergroundnyc's Flickr. More good ones HERE & HERE.

I didn't see many Amy Winehouses.

Ex-Test Icicle Dev's new band (of muppets?) Lightspeed Champion....

Continue reading "VIDEO: Lightspeed Champion (ex-Test Icicles) ------------ 'Galaxy Of The Lost'"