photos by Bao Nguyen

"If anyone tells you the Gorillaz show at MSG on Friday was anything less than incredible, they're lying to you. Some bands you wish to see in their earlier stages, but now is the time to see Gorillaz. They have never been better, and there's no guarantee they can top this. This is their prime time, and the brilliance of their collaborative musical geniuses was amplified in concert. Not only did we see Damon Albarn in flesh - a personal idol - but he was accompanied by the incredible artists that were featured on Plastic Beach: Mos Def, Lou Reed, Bobby Womack, De La Soul, Little Dragon, members of The Clash, etc. Co-creator of Gorillaz, visual man Jamie Hewlett also peeped out from backstage to say hello - to whom Damon planted a big ol' kiss. The entire show was almost too epic to be true... You know when all your favorite superheroes get together and form a league? That is what this was. And this 'league' leader, frontman Damon Albarn, was clearly having the time of his life. He was constantly dancing, jumping around, running around the stage, hugging people - never keeping still unless he was playing the piano. Reminded us of his good old Blur days, sigh. They played almost all of their latest album and included old time favorites like "Clint Eastwood" and "Feel Good Inc."" [morningafterpills]

More pictures, some videos and the full show setlist, below...

Continue reading "Gorillaz played MSG w/ N.E.R.D., Lou Reed, Mos Def & many other special guests (pics & setlist) "

by BBG

N.E.R.D. in Times Square (photo by Matt Kole)


Gorillaz play Boston on Wednesday (10/6) to kick off of the US leg of the Escape to Plastic Beach World Tour, hitting MSG two days later. Tickets are still available. The live band, led by Damon Albarn, will also be joined by a killer lineup up special guests including De La Soul, Little Dragon, Bobby Womack, as well as Mick Jones and Paul Simonon of The Clash. AND, to quote the legendary Onyx, "buh-buh-buh-wait-gets worse!", as N.E.R.D. will join Gorillaz as opener on all dates.

Opening with "Hot N Fun" and ending with "Lap Dance", N*E*R*D* played a three-song pop-up "show" on 9/23 in Times Square as part of a Honda promotion. A pic from that appearance is above and video from that show (as well as all tour dates) are below.

Continue reading "Gorillaz kicking off tour w/ N.E.R.D. & special guests"

The Apollo Theater's Spring benefit is taking place at The Apollo on June 14th. "The benefit includes special appearances by ANGELA BASSETT, DANNY GLOVER and CHRIS TUCKER and performances by SHARON JONES, ESTELLE, LESLIE UGGAMS, DONNIE MCCLURKIN, MARSHA AMBROSIUS of Floetry and Amateur Night winner CLARK KING. Music Director for the evening is RAY CHEW." Tickets range from $100 to $250 to way more.

N.E.R.D. are playing a free show at Brooklyn Bowl on June 16th. RSVP is Necessary.

Lee Scratch Perry returns to Highline Ballroom on August 17th. Tickets are on sale.

ZZ Top are playing the Beacon Theatre on September 12th. Tickets are currently on Internet Presale (password = HETOP). General sale starts Saturday at 10am.

Erykah Badu @ Good Units in March (more by Ryan Muir)

In case you're wondering why Erykah Badu didn't play Roseland Tuesday night, it's because that show and others on her upcoming tour were rescheduled. The new date for Roseland is June 7th, where she'll play with Janelle Monae and ?uestlove. Tickets were still on sale yesterday, but currently not on sale at all.... which might be because Ticketmaster is confused about the date change (yesterday it said "day of show price"). Janelle Monae travels with Erykah for a good part of that tour, all the dates of which are posted below.

On June 26th, Erykah will be back in NYC to open for Maxwell at MSG (one of two shows he plays at the venue). Tickets are still on sale for that.

Her tour is in support of her new record New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh). All dates (which also include some Lilith Fair dates) are below...

Continue reading "Erykah Badu & Janelle Monae - rescheduled 2010 Tour Dates "

Yeasayer Kin show in San Francisco

Not to be confused with their DJ set at Museum of Natural History, Passion Pit will perform their previously-mentioned, free "Kin" show at a secret Tribeca location in NYC tonight (5/14). The location and other details will be revealed at some point on the event's Facebook page. Same goes for Saturday's Black Keys show, Saturday's Ting Tings show, and the newly-announced Dead Weather show happening in Chicago on next Sunday Saturday (5/22).

For the Black Keys, it's one of three NYC shows in a week. The other two happen at the very tiny Housing Works Bookstore and the very large Madison Square Garden.

"Kin" hosted their first promotional shows in this series the other day in San Francisco with performances by Asher Roth, N.E.R.D. and Yeasayer. Pictures from those continue below...

Continue reading "Passion Pit & Black Keys play Kin shows this weekend, Dead Weather in Chicago, Yeasayer & NERD played California (pics)"

Passion Pit @ Terminal 5 in January (more by Samantha Marble)

Passion Pit, The Black Keys and Ting Tings will all be playing free shows in NYC sometime soon. There's a Facebook event page for the shows, but very little information otherwise. They're being sponsored by Kin, which is a new Windows-based phone. Kin is also putting on two free shows in San Francisco - one with Yeasayer and one with NERD & Asher Roth - on May 8th.

Two of the bands playing NYC have other shows coming up in the city and world: check out our latest posts on Passion Pit and Black Keys.

Yeasayer headlined Webster Hall in NYC on Tuesday night.

Erykah Badu @ Good Units in March (more by Ryan Muir)

Erykah Badu is going on tour in May, June, July, and August...

Named after the closing track of her latest "New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh," Erykah Badu has announced the dates for her 2010 North American tour, "Out My Mind, Just In Time." The trek will make stops at amphitheaters and concert halls beginning May 22 at Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore, MD, and wrapping up on June 24 at The Pearl Concert Theater in Las Vegas, NV.

Badu will be joined by N.E.R.D., Bilal, Janelle Monae and The Roots drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson.
In addition to "Out My Mind, Just In Time," Badu will also perform during this summer's Lollapalooza festival, Lilith Fair as well as be featured as a special guest at Maxwell's upcoming concerts at Phillips Arena in Atlanta on June 11 and Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 26. [Billboard]

Continue reading "Erykah Badu - 2010 Tour Dates (Roseland on sale)"

by BBG

N.E.R.D. (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

American rapper/producer/designer/all around great bro Pharrell Williams has recently confirmed that his rap duo N.E.R.D. will pen a track for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"We have submitted a track to FIFA which will hopefully be chosen as the official anthem," Williams told Sun newspaper. "I follow football a little bit - it would be great if it happens."

The announcement follows in the footsteps of a slew of recording artists with the same aim, including Akon's "Oh Africa" and K'Naan's "Wavin' Flag". [Shoutcast]-

Jay Electronica plays SUNY Culture Shock Fest earlier in April (as does Black Milk) and is also on board for Bonnaroo along with Stevie Wonder, Phoenix, Melvins, and many many others in June. He recently told MTV News about his wishes to collaborate with another hip hop artist, Chicago's Lupe Fiasco. Lupe plays two sold-out nights at Irving on April 10th and 11th with B.O.B.

Full NERD dates and some videos are below...

Continue reading "N.E.R.D. playing NYC w/ Jay Electronica & other dates "

photos by V. Marc Fort (American-Statesman critic & Norushi Minx bassist)

When Jay-Z wasn't showing the Texans how his crew does it in Brooklyn, he spoke from the heart during his between song banter. "I know it sounds cliche, but don't let any haters block your dream," Hova said earnestly during one of the final breaks. Another one of the show's more intimate moments came when he brought up vocalist Bridget Kelly for two songs. After her inspired assist on "Empire State of Mind," Jigga Man smiled his biggest smile of the evening and said, "Damn...she put something extra on it for Texas...she put some extra bar-b-que sauce on it for Texas!" - V. Marc Fort

Jay-Z returns to Austin for another show on November 22nd (November 22nd was moved to November 10th). It's one of four more shows he has this month. Then in February of 2010 he'll get on the road again with a NYC-area show announced for March 6th at the Izod Center in NJ. Tickets for that show go on Citi Cardmember Presale on Tuesday, 11/17 @ 10am. That's followed by an "Internet Presale" two days later which is followed by general sale two days after that (Sat, 11/21 @ 10am). All dates, with the other stuff, below...

Continue reading "Jay-Z - 2010 Tour Dates (Izod Center) ++ pics & the setlist from the Austin show @ the Frank Erwin Center"

Governors Island Water Taxi Beach (racreations.net)

On Tuesday, August 4, AEG Live will be presenting soul-songstress ERYKAH BADU as the first of a number of summer shows at The BEACH at Governors Island, a new 3000-capacity waterfront venue in one of New York City's most historic locations...

...Other shows on AEG's line-up for THE BEACH at Governors Island include Badfish: A Tribute To Sublime on Saturday, August 29; N.E.R.D. with special guest Asher Roth on Wednesday, September 9; Lupe Fiasco on Friday, September 11; and Brazilian Girls on Friday, October 2. Tickets for the August/September shows are on sale now; Brazilian Girls on sale next Friday, August 14 at 12pm.

Continue reading "AEG Governors Island Beach concerts kick off w/ Erykah Badu (tonight) ++ N.E.R.D. & Brazilian Girls coming soon"

Photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

M.I.A.N.E.R.D.

Diesel Post 1, Post 2, Post 3, and the end...

Continue reading "NERD, MIA, Marty Markowitz & the rest of the Diesel pics"

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

M.I.A. first appeared on stage at last night's Diesel party during T.I.'s surprise set which was right before Franz Ferdinand played. Then she came back to do her own set which segued right into N.E.R.D.'s short set which closed the whole night Hot Chip played much earlier - only a few of their own songs before they became Chaka Khan's backing band. More pictures of M.I.A. below...

Continue reading "M.I.A. is pregnant, played the Diesel Party - pics"

Photos by Johnny Nunez

Nas (and Kells), N.E.R.D., Spank Rock and Grandmaster Flash performed at the Smirnoff party at Capitale in Manhattan on Tuesday night. N.E.R.D.'s next NYC show is for Diesel this Saturday. Nas has one coming up at Hammerstein Ballroom. More pictures from Capitale below...

Continue reading "Nas, N.E.R.D. & Spank Rock @ Capitale, NYC - pics"

building the Diesel party at Pier 3 in Brooklyn (from mcBrooklyn)

The Diesel party featuring M.I.A., Hot Chip, N.E.R.D and others is this Saturday night October 11th at Pier 3 in Brooklyn (see picture above). Vice has a list of locations you can find tickets in addition to Diesel stores. You can also get some tickets right here. I have five pairs that will be mailed to five winner's doors. If you want them, email BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: Diesel). Five winners will be chosen and asked for their addresses.

"xXx New York, the grande finale to the global party, will take place from 9 PM (New York time, GMT-5). Go to your nearest and dearest Diesel Store and find out how to get your tickets! " [Diesel]

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

Sep 26 - N.E.R.D. played Austin City Limits
Oct 04 - N.E.R.D. plays Roseland Ballroom
Oct 07 - N.E.R.D. plays a Smirnoff party
Oct 11 - N.E.R.D. plays a Diesel party

More ACL pictures below....

Continue reading "N.E.R.D. @ A.C.L., Austin, Texas - pics"

DOWNLOAD: MIA - Paper Planes (LAZRtag Remix) (MP3)

MIA @ McCarren Pool (more by Bao Nguyen)

New York, NY - Diesel will unleash the biggest international party the world has ever seen on Saturday, October 11, 2008. Diesel xXx (titled triple x) will explode with a worldwide spectacular party taking place in 18 cities around the globe beginning in Tokyo. The party will successively move to Beijing, Dubai, Athens, Amsterdam, Milan, Zurich, Munich, Paris, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Oslo, Helsinki, London and Sao Paulo.. The grand finale will take place in New York City with a never before seen "Rock and Roll Circus" themed party for 5,000 of Diesel's closest friends and coolest trendsetters. The legendary event will take place on Pier 3 at the Brooklyn waterfront overlooking the Manhattan skyline.

Continue reading "M.I.A., N.E.R.D. & H.O.T. Chip are playing a Diesel party "

It was announced today that Smirnoff Experience, a global series of original nightlife events, will be the hottest ticket in town on October 7th at a private New York City event [at Capitale] being headlined by two of hip-hop's most successful talents, N*E*R*D and NAS. The all-star lineup will also feature musical collaborations with established and emerging urban artists (additional talent to be announced shortly) and unique drinking experiences, for a truly unforgettable evening.

Bad Brains opening for N.E.R.D. in Chicago - 9/2/08 (pic by Ryan Mitchell)

"I just saw the Bad brains @ the house of Blues this past Tuesday. dude! the crowd was about 99.5 percent there for N.E.R.D. I was like one of the only people showing love to the band. HR was a mess. He had on a bath robe over a suit with a motor cycle helmet on. you couldn't even sing along with him, he was singing off tempo and way to low. It was bad. I was gonna show my son a legend, i ended up letting him see the 1982 DVD to make up for that crap." [CAT]

HR plays a solo show on a Rocks Off boat in NYC tonight (Sep 8). Updated Bad Brains dates below...

Continue reading "photo of the day: HR of Bad Brains in a robe and helmet"

Common @ ACL 2007

N.E.R.D. and Common are going on tour together. Together they play Roseland Ballroom in NYC on Oct 4th. Tickets are on sale.

I saw N.E.R.D. when they played SXSW in Austin this year. They definitely put on a good show. N.E.R.D. is also playing Austin again in September - at the ACL festtival. Common played ACL last year. I took some pictures at this one, but never posted them. Common is also good live. All tour dates and some more of those ACL2007 pictures below....

Continue reading "Common & N.E.R.D. - 2008 Tour Dates, classic ACL pics"

by BrooklynVegan Mike

DOWNLOAD: Duchess Says - Ccut Up (MP3)

Osheaga (Vero.b)

Osheaga, the outdoor music festival in Montreal, celebrated its third birthday this weekend with a bevy of local acts, some emerging talent, and great live performers. Day one (Sunday August 3rd) of the festival was also one of the most hectic musical days in recent [Montreal] memory. The week long Francophone music festival, FrancoFolies, concluded the same day with a performance by former Osheaga artist Malajube, and Wolf Parade (another former Osheaga performer) finished a tour downtown with their first Montreal performance since the release of At Mount Zoomer....

Continue reading "Osheaga 2008 - day 1 (a review with pics & videos)"

DOWNLOAD: Nickel Eye - Dying Star (off East Village Radio) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Nickel Eye - Brandy of the Damned (off East Village Radio) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Native Korean Rock - Rapt (from MySpace) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Native Korean Rock - OOO (live @ Union Pool) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Native Korean Rock - Day Go By (live @ Union Pool) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: N.E.R.D. - My Drive Thru w/ Santogold & Julian Casablancas (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Albert Hammond Jr. - GfC (MP3)

Band Members: nickel eye (guitar, vocals, electric bass, double bass, harmonica); South: Joel Cadbury (steel guitar), Jamie McDonald (guitar), Brett Shaw (drums) and very special guests: Regina Spektor (piano), Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (guitar), Jack Dishel of Only Son (back up vocals), Jesse Wallace (drums) + more...

About nickel eye: Soon to be released The Time of the Assassins... For the moment, you can visit Mark Ronson's most recent radio broadcast (06/06/08) of "Authentic Shit" at www.eastvillageradio.com. At 1hr and 19mins, you will find a sneak preview of two songs and an interview with nickel eye.

Regina Spektor is also working with Ben Folds and playing a show with another Stroke, Albert Hammond Jr., who has some new music out of his own.

And while Albert and Nickel Eye are busy doing their thing, Julian has been wearing Converse and hanging with Pharrell (soon to be a daddy?) and Santogold. I don't know what's up with The Strokes, but if there is something up, Pharrell also wants to be involved.

And while Nick Zinner has been keeping busy with Nickel Eye, Karen O has been also doing her Native Korean Rock thing which included two shows the other night at Union Pool and some demos on MySpace. Yeah.

Download a whole bunch of MP3s above. The Karen O live tracks were ripped from two of the three YouTube videos you can watch below...

Continue reading "3 Strokes side projects, 2 Yeah Yeah Yeahs, 4 bands, 7 MP3s"

Amy spotted the above sign in Red Hook today.

You probably already heard that Converse is giving away a song written by Pharrell Williams, N.E.R.D., Santogold and Julian Casablancas "as part of the brand's Century celebration". I put the whole press release for that one below....

Continue reading "Converse recording artist Santogold filming in Red Hook"

M.I.A. & Kanye & friends (via Kanye's blog)

Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and N.E.R.D. are playing Madison Square Garden again on August 5th. Tickets go on sale Friday June 13 @ 10am. I didn't forget about Rihanna - her name doesn't seem to be on the bill this time around.

Kanye has a new video for "Flashing Lights". N.E.R.D. has a new video. Their last show at MSG was in May. Kanye then played another NYC show the next night and surrounded himself with half-naked girls dressed as astronauts. Video from that below....

Continue reading "Kanye West finally adds that 2nd NYC show at MSG "

DOWNLOAD: N.E.R.D. - 'Everyone Nose' (MP3)

N.E.R.D. @ M.S.G., N.Y.C. - May 13, 2008 (malusbrutus)

N.E.R.D.'s new album Seeing Sounds will be out June 10, 2008. "Everyone Nose" is the first single. You can download the MP3 above. The video was (at least partially) shot here at Gypsy Tea in NYC in April, and it features a bunch of cameos including Lindsay Lohan and Kanye West (who N.E.R.D. played with last night at Madison Square Garden). You can watch that below...

Continue reading "N.E.R.D. - new album & 'Everyone Nose' MP3 & video"