DOWNLOAD: Lower Dens - "Brains" (MP3)

The National have announced that they're headlining and curating at ATP in Minehead UK, which is happening from December 7-9, 2012. So far, in addition to The National, the lineup (not very surprisingly) includes Sharon Van Etten (who plays the sold out Mercury Lounge tonight), My Brightest Diamond, Wye Oak, Megafaun, The Antlers, Buke and Gase (FKA Buke and Gass), Lower Dens, Owen Pallett, Boris, Tim Hecker, Kronos Quartet, Suuns< and Dark Dark Dark. More artists TBA. Tickets go on sale Friday (1/20) at 2 PM.

Maybe this lineup will shed some light on the bands Aaron and Bryce Dessner will be choosing when they curate BAM in May.

ATP's NJ festival happens in September and is being curated by Greg Dulli.

Speaking of Lower Dens, they've just revealed plans to release a followup to their 2010 debut LP, Twin-Hand Movement. The new album, titled Nootropics, will be out April 30 via the Domino affiliate label Ribbon Music. Grab the fast paced lead single, "Brains," at the top of this post and stream it below. Also below is the album artwork and tracklist.

Continue reading "The National curating an ATP; Lower Dens announce new LP"

My Brightest Diamond @ Prospect Park in 2011 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

today in NYC
* SWEET Equality
* NRBQ @ Iridium
* Howler @ Other Music
* Aki Onda @ The Stone
* Ganjatronics @ The Stone
* The Moon comedy show @ Union Pool
* Tony & Johnny's Wedding! @ UCB East
* Daniel Kitson @ St. Ann's Warehouse
* Portugal. The Man @ Bowery Ballroom
* Mr. Coconuts Comedy show @ Union Hall
* The Good Natured, Aislyn, Ski Lodge @ Glasslands
* Caged Animals, Total Slacker, Dive @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Santigold, Spank Rock @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Mattie Safer, Pressed And, Rich Aucoin, Latchkeys @ Pianos
* Celestial Shore, Slothbear, Fluffer, Casiorossi @ Big Snow Buffalo Lodge
* Sweet Tooth, Weekends, Unstoppable Death Machines, Dirty Dishes @ Death By Audio
* My Brightest Diamond, Keller Williams (NY Guitar Festival) @ Merkin Concert Hall
* Lichens, Diamond Terrifier, Hunter Hunt Hendrickson, Lza/Dutch E Germ (Gang Gang Dance), Laurel Halo (DJ set), The Oracle (DJ set) @ Zebulon

Tonight at Merkin Concert Hall:

Groundbreaking guitarists premiere original film scores for silent films by Buster Keaton.

My Brightest Diamond & Buster Keaton's Balloonatic (1923)
Keller Willams & Buster Keaton's One Week (1920)
Redhooker & Buster Keaton's The Neighbors (1920)

Playstation opens a space in the LES tonight where you can try the PS Vita before it's released.

Watch little kids playing Darkthrone's "Under a Funeral Moon" below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

photos by David Andrako

National week at Beacon Theater continued on Friday night, 12/16, for the fifth night in a row. Shara Worden's project My Brightest Diamond opened the show and she later joined The National on stage as did Thomas Bartlett aka Doveman, Richard Reed Parry of the Arcade Fire, Conrad Doucette, Rob Moose, Nadia Sirota and string quartet yMusic... and Phish's Trey Anastasio who members of the National are working with right now. As Jambands.com points out:

"The Phish guitarist emerged partway through the group's set for "Blood Buzz Ohio," "Squalor Victoria" and "Murder Me Rachel." While onstage, the members of The National described the guitarist as "a hero of ours." Anastasio reemerged alongside Arcade Fire multi-instrumentalist Richard Reed Parry the evening's opening act My Brightest Diamond to play guitar on "Terrible Love." All of the night's guests then joined the members of The National for an acoustic sing-along based around "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks." National frontman Matt Berninger was particularly chatty throughout the show, jokingly describing Parry as a member of Kings of Leon and declaring "that's the sound of faces melting" after Anastasio's performance."

More about Night One HERE. Night Two HERE. Night Three HERE. Night Four HERE. More pictures and the setlist from Night Five (though none of the opening set unfortunately) below....

Continue reading "Trey Anastasio & others joined The National on Night 5 @ Beacon Theater (pics & setlist)"

yMusic at Castle Clinton in July (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Six-piece ensemble yMusic released their debut LP this past September, Beautiful Mechanical, with compositions by Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond (whose new album yMusic played on), Annie Clark, Son Lux, and others. They'll celebrate the album with a record release show in NYC on Sunday (12/4) at Rockwood Music Hall. Tickets are on sale now.

They'll perform in NYC again with My Brightest Diamond when they open for The National at Beacon Theater (12/16). Tickets for that show are still on sale.

yMusic are also play the Ecstatic Music Festival with album collaborator Son Lux (Ryan Lott) and Arcade Fire's Richard Reed Parry on February 8 at Merkin Concert Hall. Tickets are still available. Stream the Son Lux-composed track "Beautiful Mechanical" off yMusic's album here.

Speaking of Richard Parry, he was spotted in the audience of the Little Scream show the other day at Pianos. He also happened to co-produce the new Little Scream record (which he also contributed to musically). Maybe he'll be there at The Rock Shop in Brooklyn tonight (12/2) too.

My Brightest Diamond also has an upcoming show at Merkin Concert Hall, but hers is part of New York Guitar Festival. She plays on January 17, performing an original score for Buster Keaton's silent film Balloonatic, aliong with Keller WilliamsRedhooker, who will both also be performing scores of Keaton films. Tickets are still available. Shara is also one of the performers for David Lang's Making Music piece, along with Bryce Dessner of The National, Owen Pallett, Nico Muhly and others, which is being presented at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall on January 27. Tickets are on sale now.

All dates below...

Continue reading "yMusic playing Rockwood & other dates w/ My Brightest Diamond, Richard Reed Parry, Son Lux, The National & others"

Stars @ LPR in 2010 (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

today in NYC
* Hess is More @ Westway
* Jenny Scheinman @ Barbes
* Slavic Soul Party @ Barbes
* Rich Robinson @ City Winery
* Sweet (comedy) @ Ella Lounge
* RJD2, Icebird @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Steel Panther @ Gramercy Theatre
* Dylan LeBlanc @ Rockwood Music Hall
* Steve Miller Band @ Beacon Theatre
* Dan Mangan, Icewater @ Mercury Lounge
* The Respect Sextet @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Lovely Liar, Jennifer Evans @ Zebulon
* Helmet, Skeleton Key @ Bowery Ballroom
* Akiko Yano, Marc Ribot @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Bernie Worrell Orchestra @ Bowery Electric
* After Hours w/ Gene Hackman & friends @ UCB East
* Mat Maneri, Ed Schuller, Randy Peterson @ The Stone
* Mat Maneri, Kris Davis, Ingrid Laubrock @ The Stone
* Stars, North Highlands @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Knockin Boots, C. Gibbs, The Bay Leaves @ Union Pool
* Star Fucking Hipsters, (A)Truth, Skelptarsis @ Europa
* Manburger Surgical, Awott, Spreaders, Zilmrah @ Cake Shop
* TEEN, Erika Spring, Ex Cops, Atlantic Thrills @ Glasslands
* The Life and Times, Deleted Scenes, Vs. Antelope @ Mercury Lounge
* Pictureplane, Mux Mool, Beacon, DJ Todd Pendu @ Santos Party House
* Scandelabra, S (ex-Carissa's Weird), Tom Gluibizzi, Mr. Sympathy @ Bruar Falls
* The Vandelles, The Foreign Resort, Autodrone, The White Papers @ Pianos
* Pursesnatchers, Weird Owl, Radical Dads, The Bronzed Chorus @ Death By Audio
* The Black Dahlia Murder, All Shall Perish, Cannabis Corpse, Gang Signs @ Knitting Factory

We're giving away tickets to see Mates of State at Webster Hall tomorrow on Facebook.

In case you're confused, the initial Stars announcement said the MHOW show was yesterday, but it is today.

My Brightest Diamond, who has some shows coming up, recorded a Take Away Show which you can watch below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: yMusic - "Proven Badlands" (composed by Annie Clark) (MP3)

My Brightest Diamond at Prospect Park in August (more by Amanda Hatfield)

My Brightest Diamond (aka Shara Worden) is set to release her third full length album All Things Will Unwind on October 18 via Asthmatic Kitty. She's already revealed the excellent track, "Reaching Through to the Other Side," which you can grab HERE. Now she's got a video for another album track, "Be Brave," which you can watch below. The song's got backing vocals by DM Stith, was engineered and mixed by Pat Dillett (Laurie Anderson, The National), and features instrumentation by yMusic, who play on every track of the album. The video was directed by Murat Eyuboglu, who has directed other videos for Shara in the past, and stars Jessica Dessner as a dancer.

Shara's got some upcoming dates in the next few months including an album release show in NYC on October 14 at Littlefield with yMusic and DM Stith, who both appear on her album. Tickets for that show are on sale now. All dates are listed below.

Speaking of yMusic, they will release their debut LP Beautiful Mechanical on September 27 via New Amsterdam Records. The album features tracks composed by Shara Worden, St. Vincent (Annie Clark), Son Lux, Sarah Kirkland Snider, Judd Greenstein, and Gabriel Kahane. You can download the St. Vincent-penned piece, "Proven Badlands," above and check out the album's tracklist below.

All dates, video, and tracklist below...

Continue reading "new My Brightest Diamond video & tour dates, new yMusic LP info & Annie Clark MP3 too"

photos by Amanda Hatfield, words by Andrew Sacher

Sufjan Stevens and his elaborate band walked out onto a dark stage at Prospect Park last night (8/2), masked by a black transparent screen. They slowly began the delicate "Seven Swans" as dim light patterns swelled on the screen. Where soft piano and drums usually enter the song, Sufjan's entire band erupted into a heap of crashing chords as the black screen rose and revealed the neon-coated collective of musicians, backup singers, dancers, and Sufjan Stevens flapping a pair of massive bird wings. Sufjan and his band then proceeded to play a set of mostly Age of Adz material. Last night's and tonight's Celebrate Brooklyn shows are the last of the Adz tour.

They launched into the glitchy pop of "Too Much" and "Age of Adz" complete with a frenzy of futuristic visuals and carefully choreographed moves from Sufjan and his dancers/backup singers. After about 15 minutes of the orchestral glitchy awesomeness, Sufjan gave the crowd some "folk relief." He told us that he's still a folk musician at heart and played "Heirloom" off the All Delighted People EP, which was released shortly before Age of Adz last year. He took a moment to tell us about the inspiration for the album and all of the corresponding visuals, outfits, and dancing. He told us that he discovered the work of folk artist/self-proclaimed prophet Royal Robertson, and was influenced by his material. He described Royal's work as the portrayal of visions he had throughout his life, and mentioned that he also faced many struggles within himself, as all of us do. Sufjan said that much of the album was a tribute to Royal, his artwork, and his ideas, and explores themes like inner space, outer space, and the body.

As Sufjan and his band were nearing the end of the set, they delivered the one-two punch of "Vesuvius" and "I Want To Be Well," and after quieting down with album opener "Futile Devices," they sent the show into the most epic part of the night with the 25-minute album closer "Impossible Soul." The song opened with Sufjan accompanied by his piano and voice and slowly built into a layered piece that evolved into the portion sung by Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond.

Although Shara was there (because she opened the show), I'm pretty sure it was one of Sufjan's backup singers who handled her part, though it was hard to tell because they were wearing a mask covered in light bulbs. As she sang, the black screen dropped once again, swirling light patterns drenched the stage and a light tunnel zeroed in on the singer and her light-up mask. After that mesmerizing section drifted off into ambiance and the stage went black once again, Sufjan appeared front and center in a large silver mask with a diamond shaped backdrop behind him and delivered the exaggerated auto-tuned vocals of the song's third section. As glitch hop beats entered the song and the robotic Sufjan left the stage, lights sprung up again and Sufjan's backup dancers, now in neon green t-shirts, neon pink shorts, leggings, and sideways pink hats, appeared at the front of the stage singing lead vocals to the song's epic refrain. After hitting the first round of "it's not so impossible"s, an indecipherable Sufan returned, running onto the stage covered in balloons and feathers and joined in on lead vocals. As the stage became a balloon-covered sing-along dance party, clear beach balls were propelled into the audience as long inflatable creatures shot up in front of the stage, turning the entire prospect park into into a huge party. Once the party died down and the song arrangements fizzled out, Sufjan returned to the front of the stage with only an acoustic guitar and sang the wispy ending of the song, where he plays off the refrain's lyrics to create what could be a stand-alone song in Sufjan's style of folk.

After making such a mess, Sufjan thanked the crowd and he and his band left the stage. He shortly returned for a three-song encore of Illinoise material. It's really hard to follow the end of that set with anything, but it's also pretty hard to turn down Sufjan Stevens playing "UFO," "Casmir Pulaski Day," and "Chicago."

My Brightest Diamond (aka Shara Worden) opened the show with a strong set of mostly songs off her upcoming album All Things Will Unwind, quirky dancing, and also an awesome outfit. She wore a bright green dress and a headdress of something resembling peacock feathers. She switched between guitar, ukulele, keyboard, autoharp, and other instruments as she and her band delivered one great song after another, including the recently released single "Reaching Through to the Other Side." Shara told a story during her set of seeing a Laurie Anderson show about the death of her mother, being extremely touched by it, and wondering if she'd ever learn to love. She told us that she eventually talked to Laurie and asked her if she'd ever learn to love. Laurie told her that it takes a lifetime to learn to love, which Shara then wrote a song about. She played it for us. It aptly opens with the line, "It takes a lifetime to learn how to love." Shara and her band also played a cover of "Tainted Love," which she recorded for the Guilt by Association Vol. 2 compilation, before her band left the stage and she ended the set with another new song solo with guitar and vocals.

Sufjan celebrates Brooklyn again tonight (8/3) with Diamond Rings (instead of My Brightest Diamond). Tickets are still available. Don't forget to bring your neon.

More pictures, videos, and setlist from the first show below...

Continue reading "Sufjan Stevens & My Brightest Diamond brought neon to Prospect Park (night 1 pics, video, setlist)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield words by Zach Pollack

DOWNLOAD: My Brightest Diamond - "Reaching Through to the Other Side" (Feat. yMusic) (MP3)

Classical, pop-tinged orchestral group yMusic kicked off the second to last concert of the summer season at Castle Clinton in Battery Park as part of the River to River Festival last night (7/7). The six-players rotated on a variety of instruments including trumpet, viola, clarinet, and violin, possibly improvising as they took cues off of each other.

yMusic stuck around to back My Brightest Diamond (aka Shara Worden) as she took the stage around 7:30PM. Initially seeming shy and reserved, those notions of her were immediately shattered as she opened her mouth to sing. With a large vocal range in her arsenal, Shara's voice is as much of an instrument as the ones the orchestra behind her were using.

Breaking out a harpsichord, Shara and yMusic, backed by drummer Brian Wolfe, played a sonically expansive new track titled, "Escape Routes" off MBD's new chamber pop album LP All Things Will Unwind. The LP will arrive on October 18th via her longtime label Asthmatic Kitty, and they played in its entirety at the NYC show according to a note on Shara's website (though not in the album order). This will mark Shara's third LP under the moniker, and from the taste of what we received at Castle Clinton, it draws strong comparisons to Edith Piaf, Joanna Newsom and label-mate/collaborator Sufjan Stevens. Grab a taste via the MP3 from the album above. Check out the whole tracklist and cover art below.

Between performing cuts off of her new album, Shara donned a creepy mask while yMusic performed instrumental pieces that Shara composed for them and dancer Jessica Dessner who was there dancing to them. Late in her hour-long set Shara performed the track "High Low Middle" which had a New Orleans-feel to it, and had the entire audience engaged in endless hand claps. The group closed out their amazing performance at Castle Clinton by playing new song "Everything Is In Line".

My Brightest Diamond has sporadic dates throughout the summer, including an opening slot for Sufjan Stevens at his first of two nights at the Prospect Park Bandshell (August 2nd & 3rd).

Sufjan also has a new video for "Get Real Get Right." Check that out, along with more pictures from the My Brightest Diamond show, and her album artwork below...

Continue reading "My Brightest Diamond & yMusic played their new album @ Castle Clinton (pics, new MP3 & a Sufjan video too)"

Laurie Anderson & Bill Laswell @ Castle Clinton - 6/30/11 (photo by David Godlis)

Laurie Anderson & Bill Laswell played a free show at Castle Clinton in NYC last week (6/30). The free River to River series of concerts in Battery Park continues tonight (7/7) with My Brightest Diamond...

My Brightest Diamond with yMusic
July 7, 2011 - 7:00pm
Castle Clinton

TICKETS AVAILABLE ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS AT THE GATE AT 5PM. DOORS OPEN AT 6PM. THIS VENUE HAS LIMITED SEATING.

Shara Worden is the granddaughter of an Epiphone-strumming traveling evangelist, her father an accomplished accordionist and her mother a classical organist. As a young person, Worden sang in church with her family and competed internationally with her high school chamber choir. She received a BA in Opera from the University of North Texas and studied composition with Padma Newsome. Her band, My Brightest Diamond, has released Bring Me The Workhorse (2006) and A Thousand Shark's Teeth (2008) on Asthmatic Kitty Records. In addition to her own songwriting endeavors (a new album is imminent), she has recently collaborated with myriad artists, including The Decemberists, Sufjan Stevens, David Byrne, Matthew Barney and Sarah Kirkland Snider. On this night she will join forces with a young but sophisticatedly scrappy group of players called yMusic who have backed the likes of Antony and The Johnsons, Arcade Fire, Beth Orton and Spoon to name a few. A night of incredible versatility in a place called home, Shara and her musical wanderers will leave you in a beautiful daze.

Check out the video of The Hold Steady playing the national monument in 2006, below...

Continue reading "Castle Clinton concert reminder"

My Brightest Diamond at Bowery Ballroom in 2010 (more by Chris La Putt)

Frequent Sufjan Stevens-collaborator (and now mother) Shara Worden aka My Brightest Diamond is opening for Sufjan at his previously announced Prospect Park show on August 2. Worden recorded vocals on the album epic "Impossible Soul" off Sufjan's The Age of Adz last year. Hopefully she'll come out and play it with him in Brooklyn. Tickets are still available.

My Brightest Diamond, who is busy working on a new album, also plays a free Castle Clinton show in NYC on July 7. Meanwhile she heads to Amsterdam for some performances of the Long Count. All dates are listed below.

Worden provided guest vocals on the recently released The Only She Chapters by Prefuse 73, who just released an EP with The Flaming Lips. Psych Explorations of the Future Heart has YouTube streams of all four songs. Those in Oklahoma can buy a 12" at Guestroom Records.

Flaming Lips have some shows coming up with Weezer. Prefuse 73 is on the lineup of Bass island.

Check out a new(ish) My Brightest Diamond video and more of her dates below...

Continue reading "My Brightest Diamond opening for Sufjan (dates), Prefuse 73 released an EP w/ the Flaming Lips (listen)"

St. Vincent @ Castle Clinton in 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Like at South Street Seaport, the River to River Fesival hosts free shows at Castle Clinton National Monument in Battery Park each year, and though more may still be announed, here is their initial 2011 lineup:

June 23: Vijay Iyer
June 30: Laurie Anderson with Bill Laswell
July 07: My Brightest Diamond with yMusic
July 14: Patti Smith

Emily Wells

"The best musical news of the year is that Emily Wells moved to the East Village. On the east side of Tompkins Park, 9th Street is quite and peaceful, and that's where she moved. At least I imagine that's where she moved. Wells is so musical and energetic, I imagine she needs some tranquility to even herself out. I want to take her brain, project it on the building next door from my rooftop and enjoy her whole soul."
[Serial Optimist]

Emily Wells's impressive violin compositions won't be exclusive to City Winery though, as she has already announced a residency at Ace Hotel that will see her perform free shows every Sunday in February, AND a show with Anni Rossi at Southpaw this Wednesday (1/12). All tour dates are with some videos of Emily below.

Some of those Emily Wells dates will see her supporting My Brightest Diamond who separately plays the Time Warner Center in NYC on 1/27 as part of the 2011 Americana Songbook Season. There are other MBD dates too, and they are listed below too.

Alt-classical/alt-Cello band Portland Cello Project recently dropped their new LP Thousand Words (you can pick up a copy at their site)...

"PCP is known for tailoring their song choices to the collaborators who join them. Second only to the cello, collaboration is one of the group's defining features. The group has recorded or performed with Laura Gibson, Hurtbird, 3 Leg Torso, Horse Feathers, Thao Nguyen, The Builders and the Butchers, the Decemberists, and many more local and national artists, and has created their own renditions of artists from ABBA to Beethoven to John Williams to Justin Timberlake.

[A recent show's] list of collaborators will included the same high caliber of Portland-area artists: The Corin Tucker Band, Typhoon (of whom Jenkins said, "I really just don't understand how they aren't world famous by now," though recent features on KEXP shouldn't hurt their chances of world fame), Golden Bears, and the recently OMN-profiled PHAME Academy Choir." [Oregon Music News]

Continue reading "Emily Wells, Portland Cello Project & My Brightest Diamond are playing shows (some tonight) -- 2011 dates"

DOWNLOAD: Sarah Kirkland Snider's "This Is What You're Like" (feat. Shara Worden) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: William Brittelle - Dunes of Vermillion (MP3)

Sarah and Shara...

New Amsterdam Records is pleased to announce a very special evening of complete performances of two upcoming albums by two of our co-Directors: Sarah Kirkland Snider's PENELOPE, featuring the extraordinary vocalist Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) with New York "supergroup" Signal (conducted by Brad Lubman), and William Brittelle's TELEVISION LANDSCAPE, featuring an ensemble comprised of members of Alarm Will Sound, NOW Ensemble, The Long Count, and more.

The show is the only chance to hear Penelope performed live by Shara and Signal any time soon. They promise it won't happen again until at least after the album comes out in August which is probably around the time that Shara Worden also officially becomes a mom. Shara's recent busy-while-pregnant schedule has included sets with Clogs and her own band, My Brightest Diamond, at Big Ears, as well as a surprise appearance with Regina Spektor (and Nicole Atkins) at Irving Plaza.

"Regina Spektor was joined on stage for duets with Only Son's Jack Dishel, who beatboxed the h-e-double hockey sticks out of "Hotel Song." Jersey native, Nicole Atkins, sang her heart out choosing a new song, "Towers," over the audience requested favorite, "Neptune City." Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) rocked while timing her "pregnancy breaths" into performances of "Inside a Boy" and "Feeling Good." Spektor delighted fans with favorites like "Après Moi," "Us," "Blue Lips," On the Radio," "Fidelity," "Better," "Music Box," "Eet," and "Laughing With." Her rendition (lyrics in hand) of "Hallelujah" was hauntingly gorgeous. She ended the evening with "Samson" and graciously thanked her string section, all the performers, and the audience for supporting such an important cause." [quasihip]

Continue reading "Sarah Kirkland Snider releasing (MP3) & performing Penelope w/ soon to be mom Shara Worden, Signal, William Brittelle"

by Andrew Frisicano

this post concludes our Big Ears 2010 Festival coverage. links to the first two posts are also below...

"When people ask what my favorite place to play is, I tell them about this place. It's like playing inside an Easter egg," quipped My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden, gazing at the deep-sea blue dome overhead at Knoxville's Tennessee Theater. The psychedelic cavern, a mish-mash of decorative styles and colors, served as the home to the Big Ears festival's largest shows, and its final act on Sunday night, with headliner the National.

The National's presence was felt long before they took the stage - in the hand of guitarist Bryce Dessner, who co-curated the fest, in the National members' supporting gigs, playing behind Doveman, Clogs and others, and in the abundance of friends and fellow Brooklyn-ites in the Big Ears lineup. Of course, those are all connected. One look at the stage during the first song of the National's encore - "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks" off their forthcoming High Violet - revealed a selection of Big Ears' top acts - Nico Muhly, St. Vincent, Shara Worden and sometimes-National members Padma Newsome and Thomas Bartlett (Sufjan came out for a song, but not during the encore), all of whom performed earlier in the weekend on their own. (Read here about days one and two)

Attendees also had the chance to opt for music outside of that circle. At Big Ears Annex, Tim Hecker and Ben Frost collaborated for a set of fragile, icy noise (they both played on their own earlier too - Hecker opened for Bang on a Can All-Stars' performance of Music For Aiports and the Books at the TN Theater). Trio Konk Pack took the same stage later for improvised noises, pops and whirs - like the soundtrack to an invisible film. The night before, one could choose between Liturgy and Gang Gang Dance - two bands at the top of their respective genres - while Terry Riley's In C filled the Tennessee Theater to its elliptical rafters.

Around the corner from the Annex at the Pilot Light, KnoEars, an unaffiliated, somewhat anti-Big Ears DIY Fest, hosted an all-day lineup that included homemade noise, Replacements-style punk and more emanating into Sunday's rainy street.

Terry Riley, selected to be this year's resident guide, performed four times over the three days - all in different settings. Other repeat acts like Thomas Bartlett (Doveman), who played with Sam Amidon, the fest's first act (interviewed here), and The National, its last, were frequent Knoxville fixtures for the three-day fest, running to their own gigs or enjoying others'.

"Mr. Riley also enjoyed a fair number of other people's shows, especially the art-song band Clogs. ("They were the hit for me," he said, beaming over breakfast on Monday morning. "Great performers, great writing. I'm going to buy their CD when I get home.")" [NY Times]

More pictures and videos from the fest are below...

Continue reading "Big Ears Fest Day 3 - The National, My Brightest Diamond, St. Vincent, Tim Hecker & Ben Frost, more (pics, video, review) "

My Brightest Diamond @ Bowery Ballroom in January (more by Chris La Putt)

Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) will be curating a two-night event with music, film and more at 92YTribeca in NYC on March 5th and 6th.

Over two nights, Shara hosts a tremendous cast of artists to showcase the different ways people create. From the sewing installations of Dena Verdesca, to the yarn circle lead by Amy Fritch, to the provocative photography and Tableau Vivant performances of Sarah Small, to the paper art installation and spontaneous poetry of Tim Fite, to the live projections by video artist Deborah Johnson and the flower graffiti of Nikki Borodi - you will hardly recognize the 92YTribeca gallery and mainstage as the spaces are transformed by these wildly creative artists. To add to the magic, Shara has brought together live performances by puppeteer Lake Simons, Brooklyn acappella group Black Sea Hotel, songwriters Dayna Kurtz & Mamie Minch, a screening by filmmaker Cathryn Davis Zommer, plus a special performance by Shara Worden with the dynamic chamber ensemble yMusic and other surprise guests artists to be announced.

Shara played Bowery Ballroom in January. She's also on the new Clogs' album; she and the band will be at Big Ears Festival in Knoxville at the end of March, where yMusic (playing with Shara at 92YTribeca) will perform a piece by St. Vincent.

yMusic will be playing with Gabriel Kahane on Wednesday, March 3rd as part of the American Songbook Series at Lincoln Center's Allen Room (where Dirty Projectors will play Getty Address with Alarm Will Sound this Friday). On March 5th and 6th (the same nights as these 92YTribeca shows), yMusic will be at Symphony Space with Gina Gibney Dance Company.

All tour dates and the lineup for Shara's two 92YTribeca events are below...

Continue reading "Shara Worden curates 2 nights @ 92YTribeca -lineup includes yMusic who play w/ Gabriel Kahane, St Vincent & more"

photos by Paul Birman

"Thanks to everyone who came to the BV Haiti benefit last night. You made it really special." - St. Vincent

"St. Vincent and Justin Vernon performing together was easily one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen/heard." - Steph Lo

Wyatt Cenac was funny. Then came Britt Daniel (of Spoon) with White Rabbits frontman Stephen Patterson. They had such a good time on stage together, you can tell they were buds. Janeane Garofalo came next - she has the smartest humor and is a strong rooted New Yorker. Made a ton of jokes about the L train and hipsters which the crowd took very warmly to. Gosh she's tiny. St Vincent went on and sounded like the lovely thing she is. Someone yelled while she was setting up 'show us your bush'????', In which she replied, 'that is the strangest thing someone has ever said to me...on or off stage'. Adorable. Following her was Zach Galifianakis who everyone was undeniably waiting for. It really looked like he just rolled out of bed, picked up some papers from a table and walked on stage totally winging his whole act...hilarious. Alas came Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver). His voice sounded just as amazing it does on record. The room was at its most quiet during "Flume". Unreal. He was the last act but did say something about a special guest - I heard it was Megafaun/My Brightest Diamond (had to leave early), which I imagine rounded out the benefit nicely. Really awesome that these guys all came together"...
[Stadiums & Shrines]

The night opened with a great debut set by singer-songwriter John Shade (previously Dave Godowsky) who brought out Justin Vernon on drums for two songs. Before and after John, and between every set of the night, came comedy by our two able hosts: Bobby Tisdale and Leo Allen. St Vincent's set included a National and a Nico cover. Justin covered John Prine. Britt Daniel did three songs, which was one less than he played at Sound Fix a few hours earlier.

And yep, the special guest after/during Justin's set was in fact Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) who (after headlining Bowery Ballroom one night earlier) played two jaw dropping numbers - one with Colin Stetson on his most-insane giant saxophone, and a cover of Prince's "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore".

But it didn't end there. A supergroup called Songer Singwriter featuring Annie, Justin, drummer, and Brad from Megafaun came back to close the night off right with a set of four more covers. Neil Young's "Harvest Moon", Tom Petty's "Face in the Crowd" (with Brad on lead), Dolly Parton's "Jolene", and Annie Lennox's "Why". Each of those final covers was better than the next. To quote one of my tweets, "To quote my friend, 'Sounds like sonic youth playing a dolly parton song. Sick!' and now Annie Lennox Why! Full room Bon Iver singalong".

We ran almost non-stop for 3.5 hours straight (8-11:30), and raised over $20,000. I'm still waiting for an exact number. More pictures (one of two sets we have) and some videos from the show, below....

Continue reading "Britt Daniel, Justin Vernon, St Vincent, Zach Galifianakis, Janeane Garofalo & others raised money for Haiti @ MHOW - pics & video "

photos by Chris La Putt

"Friday night's double bill at Bowery Ballroom was hard to beat. Toronto's Basia Bulat played a rootsy solo set, accompanying her powerful, penetrating vibrato with fierce autoharp and guitar. A real talent; here's hoping she brings her full band the next time she comes to town.

My Brightest Diamond, playing their first NYC show in over a year, took a more high-concept approach, filling the stage with white ladders and balloons; a young girl passed out balloon animals during intermission. Lead singer Shara Worden, who's been spending more and more time following pseudo-classical pursuits, was a commanding stage presence with her flamboyant attire and voice of operatic proportions. (Worden studied voice at the University of North Texas before being seduced by the rock siren.) Oh, and she played lead guitar, joined by Nathan Lithgow on bass and Brian Wolfe on drums.

Why this show (at $15 a ticket) had tickets available at the door while that talentless harpie managed to sell out four nights at Radio City says a lot about the state of our brainless culture."
[Feast of Music]

I ran to see My Brightest Diamond after the Dawn Landes show, and before I went back to Mercury Lounge to see an after midnight set by Serena Maneesh. Before running back to Mercury we asked Shara if she wanted to play at Music Hall on Saturday. The rest is history.

For Basia Bulat, Bowery Ballroom was her 2nd NYC show in two days. Her schedule also included a record release show at Professor Thom's on Thursday.

More pictures from Bowery Ballroom below...

Continue reading "My Brightest Diamond & Basia Bulat @ Bowery Ballroom in NYC - pics "

DOWNLOAD: David Byrne And Fatboy Slim - Please Don't (feat Santigold) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Basia Bulat - Go On (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: My Brightest Diamond - Inside A Boy (Son Lux Remix) (MP3)

My Brightest Diamond @ Dark Was the Night last May (more by Natasha Ryan)

Although Shara Worden hasn't performed as My Brightest Diamond in New York over the last year, she has been far from idle. She collaborated with David Byrne on his upcoming release, Here Lies Love, worked with Clogs on Lady Walton's Garden, due out in March, played the role of the Queen on The Decemberists' newest album, The Hazards of Love, and toured with them and found time to perform with Laurie Anderson, Bon Iver, The National and St. Vincent as well. My Brightest Diamond also contributed their version of Nina Simone's renowned classic "Feelin' Good" to the celebrated compilation Dark Was The Night. [PR]

Opening the show is Canadian singer and guitarist/autoharp player Basia Bulat, whose album Heart of My Own also comes out January 26th, on Rough Trade/Secret City. A track from that album, "Go On", is a free download above. Her other tour dates and the song "Gold Rush" off the new record are below. Tickets to the January 22nd Bowery show are still on sale. We also have a pair to give away. Details are below.

You can also catch Basia Bulat on Thursday, January 21st, at Professor Thom's on 219 2nd Ave (between 13th & 14th). It's her record release party and she'll be performing an "intimate live performance" at 8pm. $1.00 beers at 7pm (while they last).

Shara Worden and Nicole Atkins are two of the many collaborators on David Byrne's Here Lies Love project with Fatboy Slim. The song "Please Don't," featuring Santigold, is above. Byrne will be one of the speakers at "Stories in High Fidelity: An evening of storytelling" at Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday, February 3rd. Also on hang will be Alan Light, Dan Kennedy and Jason Gordon, and music from Nicole Atkins. Tickets are on sale.

David Byrne has been speaking publicly a lot lately.Most recently at the Bell House on January 11th.

My Brightest Diamond's other upcoming shows include a performance with Clogs in Minneapolis on February 19th and 20th and Big Ears Festival, happening March 26-28 in Knoxville, TN.

All of the above-mentioned tour dates, ticket contest, and more info are below...

Continue reading "Basia Bulat, Nicole Atkins, My Brightest Diamond & David Byrne - upcoming shows (dates) & new music (MP3s) "

IFC is creating a cuisine-oriented programming block to air Tuesday nights.

After a successful six-episode run of "Dinner With the Band" that began in November, Rainbow cabler is ramping up its episode order to 10 and teaming it with "Food Party" as an hourlong block.

"Band" teams chef Sam Mason and an indie band, which performs on the show, at a Brooklyn loft. Conversation ensues about life on the road and the food the musicians eat while touring.... Programming block will air from at 10 p.m. beginning April 27. [Variety]

Continue reading "upcoming artists appearing on Dinner With The Band (new IFC season premieres in April) "

Terry Riley

Joanna Newsom is one of the announced acts for this year's Big Ears Fest in Knoxville, TN, March 26th-28th. Others on the initial lineup include Vampire Weekend, St. Vincent, the Calder Quartet, Andrew WK, The Ex, Gang Gang Dance, Clogs, 802 Tour (Nico Muhly / Doveman / Sam Amidon with Nadia Sirota), The xx, Javelin, DJ/Rupture (solo), DJ/Rupture and Andy Moor, My Brightest Diamond, Gyan Riley, and jj. The fest's artist in residence is composer Terry Riley and a number of his works will be performed (including 'In C'). Bryce Dessner of the National is also one of the curators. Weekend tickets are on sale now. Tickets to invididual shows will be announced later this month, along with the schedule (shows are at different venues around town).

Some of those initial acts have tours booked around the same time. That is the case for Vampire Weekend, the xx and jj tour and Joanna. More info on the fest below...

Continue reading "Big Ears Fest - March 26-28 in Knoxville, TN (Terry Riley in residence, Bryce Dessner curator, xx, jj, VW, WK & more)"

Shara Worden w/ The Decemberists @ Newport Folk Fest (more by Jim Brueckner)

Shara Worden (aka My Brightest Diamond) has been keeping busy. At some point she recorded a song with David Byrne for his new CD coming out. You may have caught her as part of The Long Count at BAM, and she spent much of 2009 touring with The Decemberists including their October 21st "Here Come the Waves: Hazards of Love Visualized" show at Royce Hall which was released on December 1st as a "full-length video album available exclusively through iTunes" (more info and trailer below).

She was also part of Dark Was the Night - the CD and the concert. That's all since her 2nd My Brightest Diamond album came out in mid 2008. Now, My Brightest Diamond is back for at least one NYC show: January 22, 2009 at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets also recently went on sale for: Aziz Ansari, Beth Orton & Charlotte Gainsbourg.

More Decemberists "Here Come the Waves" info below...

Continue reading "My Brightest Diamond schedules a NYC show, The Decemberists released "Hazards of Love Visualized""

David Byrne w/ Dirty Projectors @ Bowery Ballroom

I have, after many years, finished the Here Lies Love CD project - at least this iteration of it. It will come out [February 23rd] on Nonesuch. It's a collaboration with Fatboy Slim, an upbeat series of songs sung each one by a different singer. The songs are about Imelda Marcos and Estrella Cumpas, the woman who raised her. The package includes 2 CDs (22 songs), a DVD with videos of 6 of those songs, and a 100-page book that explains it all. Singers include Florence Welch (of Florence + The Machine), Sia, Santigold, Nellie McKay, Sharon Jones, St. Vincent, Róisín Murphy and many more (even me on 1 and 1/2)... I am pretty excited about this, but who knows, it might just make people crazy.

We'll see. There will be more concrete news, with links and music, in early January.

In the meantime, I have decided to rebrand myself, inspired by Philip Morris changing their name to Altria, Blackwater to Xe, and the train I'm riding on right now that calls itself Acela - none of which mean anything, but they are cleverly evocative. When I decide on the magic word, you'll be the first to know.

-David Byrne

Here Lies Love premiered in March 2006 Australia, and Byrne brought the song cycle to Carnegie Hall as part of the venue's Perspectives Series in February 2007. As a stage show, the songs fit into a four act narrative, laid out in detail on Byrne's website. Those at either performance got a first look at the then-in-progress work...

Here Lies Love takes the form of a series of fairly traditional pop songs (verse-chorus-verse) played in a variety of styles (disco, rock, funk, latin, ballad) by Byrne and a small group of colleagues. Augmenting the core of guitar, bass and drums, is a percussionist and a keyboard player. The vocals are shared by Dana Diaz-Tutaan (Imelda), Ganda Suthivarakom (Estrella), and Byrne, who represents the 'voice' of other key players in Imelda's life. The stage itself is unadorned, although behind the band a small screen plays news clips and home movies of Imelda's life.

As already mentioned, the songs themselves are simple pop tunes, leaning heavily on the disco and dance genres, and could fit neatly onto any number of Byrne's solo albums. They are tuneful enough, and skillfully played, but I wonder about the connection of the music to Imelda's life. Would it have been possible to blend some traditional Filipino sounds and flavours into the music of Here Lies Love (although, admittedly, Imelda was a fan of Western dance music)? [Tidy Boy]

More Here Lies Love info and a video on the performance are below...

Continue reading "David Byrne rebranding, releasing an album w/ Fatboy Slim & lots of guests, giving a free lecture in Brooklyn "

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Aaron Dessner - We Were Born (from the Long Count) (MP3)

The Long Count
Oct 28, 30 & 31 at 8pm

Bryce Dessner, Aaron Dessner, and Matthew Ritchie

In an inspired collision of creative worlds, three inexhaustibly original artists--brothers Bryce Dessner and Aaron Dessner of indie rock royalty The National and omnivorous visual art phenomenon Matthew Ritchie--combine talents to create a song-filled myth about the beginning of time. A feast of images, instrumentals, and songs thick with primordial mystery, The Long Count pairs Ritchie's protean forms with a twelve-piece orchestra and the Dessners' gothic mix of electric and orchestral sounds.

Guest vocalists Kim and Kelley Deal (The Breeders [who are at the Bowery August 18th & 19th]), Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond), and Matt Berninger (The National) round out the line-up in this visionary collaboration between music and art.

Shara Worden has been keeping super busy and impressing Decemberists audiences across the country when she sings her part in the Hazards of Love production (and when she's doing Bob Dylan). Upcoming Decemberists dates include September 21st in Montclair, NJ.

Kim Deal, in addition to the above-mentioned BAM and Bowery shows, will be in NYC (and around the country) with the Pixies in November. The shows at Hammerstein Ballroom are now on sale.

The National recently played a set at All Points West in Jersey City.

Worden/National collaborator Sufjan Stevens premiered his show "The BQE" as part of BAM's Next Wave Festival in 2007. That show is being released as a DVD and going on tour, as is Sufjan himself.

Also below is a video from "a 20-minute animated and musical collaboration developed by Bryce Dessner and Matthew Ritchie" that premiered at the Kitchen in March (Sufjan Stevens played the harmonium), and trailers and music (!) for the other BAM Next Wave commissions including Imaginary City (the So Percussion show), Terra Nova (the DJ Spooky/ICE collaboration) and Meredith Monk's Songs of Ascension...

Continue reading "an MP3 from the upcoming National-Breeders-Worden show @ BAM, Long Count ticket info, Next Wave video previews"

BAM has announced the schedule for the Next Wave Festival 2009, a series of fourteen new music, theater and dance pieces that'll run from September 15th to December 19th.

The lineup includes a number of awesome-looking BAM commissions and premieres.

Bryce Dessner & Aaron Dessner of The National (and Dark Was the Night fame) and Matthew Ritchie have put together a piece called The Long Count, to feature Kim and Kelley Deal (The Breeders), Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond, Decemberists) and Matt Berninger (The National) on vocals (Oct 28th-31st).

Imaginary City, a new 70-minute work by So Percussion, will be accompanied by video and take inspiration from the Italo Calvino novel of the same name (Oct 14th--17th). Meredith Monk will compose and perform in Songs of Ascension alongside her vocal ensemble and the Todd Reynolds String Quartet (Oct 21st--25th). (As a side note -- Reynolds and Monk both appeared, separately, at the Bang on a Can benefits at LPR on June 3rd.)

The program features a concert staging of the Philip Glass opera Kepler (Nov 18th, 20th, 21st). And, maybe in time for the first snow (...) a performance by DJ Spooky and the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) of Terra Nova: Sinfonia Antarctica, a piece "based around DJ Spooky's sound recordings in the Antarctic that explore the acoustic qualities of ice" (Dec 2, 4 & 5).

Most of the programs above will have an "Artist Talk" companion program, free to those with tickets to the event.

There's a couple ways to get tickets to the series. Friends of BAM will get the first stab at subscription packages, which let you pick a combo of shows to attend, on Monday, June 15th. Subscriptions for the general public go on sale Monday, June 22nd. Single ticket sales for Next Wave Festival starts Tuesday, September 8th (Aug 31st for Friends of BAM).

Full music lineup below...

Continue reading "BAM Next Wave Festival 2009 - members of The National, The Breeders, Shara Worden, So Percussion, DJ Spooky..."

photos by Tim Griffin

"The show was in two parts. The first consisted of the band, with the addition of two performers - Becky Stark and Shara Worden, playing the entirety of the Hazards of Love album without even a break between songs...

After the intermission, the second (and more whimsical) set consisted of...

Continue reading "The Decemberists @ Radio City Music Hall in NYC - pics"