Sasquatch Festival runs from today, Friday through Sunday in Gorge, Washington.
Highlights on this year's lineup include DFA1979 (Friday), Wolf Parade (Saturday), The Flaming Lips (Sunday), Archers of Loaf (Sunday), and Guided By Voices (Monday). Wilco, Foo Fighters, The Decemberists, Sharon Jones, Deerhunter, Modest Mouse, Reggie Watts, Wye Oak, Bob Mould and many more artists are playing too.

If you can't be there, the fest will be streaming sets, Saturday through Monday (hence the dates in the picture above), on both NPR and KEXP. Each are listing slightly different schedules. KEXP's posted broadcast schedule is listed below (and of course if you miss it, you can always listen later in NPR's archives)....

Continue reading "Sasquatch Fest starts today, stream @ NPR & KEXP"

words by Rachel Kowal, photos by Ryan Barkan

The Antlers @ The Parish

One of the highlights of my day on Thursday at SXSW was the NPR showcase at The Parish. Though I didn't arrive in time to see Colin Stetson or tUnE-yArDs (I saw the latter the following day), I stuck around for the rest of the line-up, including the grand finale: The Antlers, who, as advertised, played their unreleased upcoming album (Burst Apart) in its entirety for the first time in public. But more on that later.

I arrived to the sounds of Malian singer Khaira Arby, who Jon Pareles of the New York Times later confessed to me was his go-to recommendation for the festival. I don't typically see much world music, but there's no denying Arby's effortless ability to captivate the audience with her rich vocals and rhythmic percussion.

The Joy Formidable @ the Parish


Up next were The Joy Formidable/ I confess it was hard to get past singer/guitarist Ritzy Bryan's wild stare, but if anything, the sheer intensity of her gaze was well suited to the tough indie rock strains of the London-based trio.

The energy level in the room continued to climb as Wild Flag took the stage. Not only does singer/guitarist Carrie Brownstein have a dedicated fan base thanks to her past band - Sleater-Kinney, she also received quite a warm welcome from NPR Music's Stephen Thompson due largely to the time she spent blogging and contributing to the site. This familiarity imbibed an otherwise strictly rock performance with a genuine warmth that made for a compelling combination on stage. Though their current musical project is young, these veteran lady rockers put on a triumphant and confident performance. Of course, it helps that the remaining three band members (Mary Timony, Rebecca Cole, and Janet Weiss) each have quite an impressive musical ability (and resume), themselves.

Wild Flag @ The Parish


Next came the part of the showcase that I was most anticipating - the preview of Burst Apart. After the Antlers' 2009 release, the cinematic and harrowing concept album Hospice, I was eager to hear what course they would take in their follow-up. Apparently, one of the biggest challenges the band faced leading up to the show was figuring out how to effectively translate all of the layers and effects found in the studio recording into a live setting. Being unfamiliar with the material, it's hard to tell if they achieved this goal.

I enjoyed the chance to hear the new material without having read any spoilers online, but at first listen, it seems that Burst Apart does not boast the same kind of sparse, sweeping intensity and catharsis that distinguished Hospice... but maybe that's a good thing.

In an interview with Pitchfork a few months ago, chief singer/songwriter Pete Silberman confessed:

For a while, I thought the next logical step from Hospice was to make some very sad, post-Hospice concept record. But thinking in those terms started to feel really manipulative and gimmicky. So I just let go of that idea and, from that point on, I was much happier. In a lot of ways, this album is an easier record to listen to than Hospice; you can put it on and not feel like it has to be a severe emotional experience. It might be. But it could also be on in the background.

You can check out the whole show for yourself (or whichever portion most interests you) over at NPR Music. All of their performances were archived and are now stream-able online (Antlers HERE).

--

Burst Apart will be releaesd by Frenchkiss Records on May 10th. The Antlers will head out on tour a week later with stops at both Music Hall of Williamsburg (May 19th) and Bowery Ballroom (May 20th). Both shows and much of the tour is with Little Scream who meanwhile is on tour with Sharon Van Etten. Tickets for both NYC shows go on AmEx presale Wednesday at noon, and then general sale Friday at the same time.

All tour dates and more pictures from the NPR show at the Parish, below...

Continue reading "The Antlers performed 'Burst Apart' @ SXSW w/ Wild Flag & more (pics & NPR stream), touring w/ Little Scream (dates)"

Raphael Saadiq

R&B great Raphael Saadiq is one of a few notable names playing Stubb's on 3/16 as part of the Time Out North America NPR SXSW showcase. If you can't be in Austin, NPR will be streaming the show (which also includes sets by James Blake, Bun B, and the Smith Westerns) on their website.

NPR will also be streaming a show happening the next day at the Parish where the Antlers will play their entire new album, Burst Apart, from start to finish! More details on that new album are below.

Raphael has other dates lined up as well. After a sprinkle of shows in the Lone Star, Saadiq will hop on a plane to Europe. Not long after he gets back, he releases his new album, Stone Rollin, on May 10th (it's currently up for pre-order on iTunes). That same day you can catch him live at Webster Hall in NYC. Tickets for that show are on AmEx presale now. Regular sale begins Friday at noon.

And speaking of rolling stones, a video of Raphael performing with Mick Jagger, all tour dates, and other stuff, below...

Continue reading "Raphael Saadiq announces new album, tour dates & streaming SXSW show (The Antlers too!)"

"PBS and NPR, here we go again. Apparently the ever-lasting platform planks of the Republican Party are protect the unborn, protect the nation from bad guys and attack public broadcasting.

I could write about PBS's trusted journalism, about the minute slice of the federal budget pie it takes for the good it does or how the Republicans galvanize the left every time they do this. I won't. Instead, I'm going to interview Big Bird." [Forbes interviews Big Bird]

Tickets go on AmEx, Fan Club, MSG & Bowery presale at 11am for the April 13th TV on the Radio show at Radio City Music Hall. You can of course use your American Express card or you can use the password "9light".

Iron & Wine were just revealed as the mystery band playing The Greene Space (44 Charlton at Varick) in NYC as part of NPR's "First Listen" series, TONIGHT (1/5). Not only that, but Sam Beam and band will be playing the new Iron & Wine album, "Kiss Each Other Clean," in its entirety. It's out January 25. Tickets for the show are on sale UPDATE: Sold out. UPDATE 2: On sale again (keep trying). If you don't get one in time, or you can't be there, you can also watch the webcast hosted by John Schaefer of Soundcheck.

Iron & Wine support the new album on a proper tour starting later this month with shows in LA and at Radio City Music Hall in NYC.

photos by David Andrako

DOWNLOAD: Buke & Gass - Your Face Left Before You (MP3)

Buke & Gass @ Mercury Lounge

"It's Buke and Gass' homemade quality that draws you in at first. Dyer plays a modified baritone-ukulele run through effects that squeal with delight, while Sanchez runs his guitar-bass hybrid through two amps (one for the three low-end strings, another for the treble). The junkyard-Shellac set-up is geeky, yes, and might strike a chord of novelty. But ultimately, it's hard not to be sold on the songs." [NPR]

If you missed the show, Buke & Gass have shows coming up at Silent Barn (with Extra Life), Ridgewood Masonic Temple (with Deerhoof) amd the above-mentioned show at the Stone all before they head to the Netherlands to play some shows with The National, Owen Pallett, Efterklang, and Sharon Von Etten. All dates, an NPR Tiny Desk Concert video, and more pictures from Mercury Lounge, below...

Continue reading "Buke & Gass played Mercury Lounge w/ Talk Normal (pics) & an NPR 'Tiny Desk concert (video), playing more shows (dates)"

photos by Ryan Schwartz

"Jerry Douthett was initially very angry with his pet Jack Russell after his pet pooch ran up to him and chomped off his big toe -- but after going to hospital to treat the wound, it appears his furry best friend has actually saved his life.

Douthett, a 48-year-old musician from Rockford, USA, had an infection in his foot for weeks, but hadn't wanted to seek any medical care for it, but after coming back home after a night out drinking and celebrating, Kiko, his dog, thought it best to take matters into his own hands. Or mouth, as it turned out.

Unbeknownst to Mr Douthett, he was in fact suffering from undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes, and the condition is now being treated thanks to his faithful friend's seemingly unfaithful act.

And if you were worrying how exactly the canine 'operation' occurred, don't worry -- Douthett was so drunk he has passed out on his sofa. At which point Dr Dog, who knew some free anesthetic when he saw some, took the opportunity to bite off the big toe." [Asylum]

Like the Walkmen, Dr. Dog played a set at the XPoNential Music Festival in July. A set of pictures from that show continues, along with a video of the band playing inside NPR's office, below...

Continue reading "Dr. Dog played XPoNential (pics), play Governors (tonight) "

one of eight covers...

"Last year's war of words between the Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne and Arcade Fire front man Win Butler was, at the time, an enjoyable diversion. Although Coyne's comments (about what he perceived as arrogance in Butler's crew) seemed somewhat impolite and petty, the flare-up between the two acts injected some energy and fun into a modern rock scene that is too often stuffy and image-conscious. Butler responded, Coyne apologized then retracted his apology, and finally the whole affair died down. Both bands continued to sell records and make money.

Recently, I received Arcade Fire's latest album The Suburbs and listened closely and repeatedly to its hour of malaise. Suddenly, the conflict between Coyne and Butler didn't seem so inconsequential, but rather relevant and perfectly understandable. Coyne is an eternally youthful figure fronting a band that, decades into its career, all but demands participation, energy and joy from listeners and fans. Butler is an intense, brooding 30-year-old who received unparalleled acclaim right out of the gate, but for some reason seems increasingly remote and filled with angst. If Coyne experienced first-hand even a small dose of the dissatisfaction that permeates The Suburbs, then it stands to reason that he found the attitude off-putting. The two worldviews have very little in common." [PopMatters]

Arcade Fire's current tour had them at the Osheaga Festival in Montreal on Saturday and at Bank of America Pavillion in Boston last night. Tonight (8/2) they play the Mann Center in Philly. Then August 4th and 5th are the two giant shows at Madison Square Garden, both with Owen Pallett and Spoon, the second of which will be streamed on YouTube...

Terry Gilliam will direct the live webcast of Arcade Fire's concert at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

The Arcade Fire show kicks off Unstaged, a new online concert series being launched by American Express and streamed on YouTube. The Montreal-based band will live stream their Aug. 5 concert at 10 p.m. ET, the second of two shows at MSG.

Gilliam, whose films include Brazil and 12 Monkeys, last released The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus in December.

The concert will stream on the Google Inc.-owned YouTube via Vevo, the music video site owned by Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Abu Dhabi Media Co.

It's the first in a planned series of five live streamed concerts, with John Legend and the Roots to follow. Others will be announced later. [USA Today]

The Arcade Fire stream happens HERE. But why watch the stream when you can experience it live for free? I have two pairs of tickets to giveaway to that 8/5 show (you can also still buy them). Contest details, with the stream trailer, below...

Continue reading "Arcade Fire's new album streaming @ NPR, MSG shows this week - win tickets or watch the Terry Gilliam-directed stream"

DOWNLOAD: Andrew Bird - Oh No (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: John Prine - Long Monday (Live) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Calexico - Two Silver Trees (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: A.A. Bondy - I Can See the Pines Are Dancing (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Dawes - When My Time Comes (MP3)

Jim James @ Newport Folk Fest Saturday (by Laura Fedele for WFUV)

""I've always dreamed of playing at the Newport Folk Festival," Steve Martin said Friday night, "and tonight I am one step closer to that goal."

He was joking, of course -- the famous funny man was at George Wein's Newport Folk Festival, headlining the opening-night bluegrass concert at the International Tennis Hall of Fame before an estimated crowd of 2,300 people. But throughout his set fronting the North Carolina quintet The Steep Canyon Rangers, Martin's serious talent on the banjo was evident." [The Providence Journal]

Some videos from the fest so far, especially of What Cheer? Brigade, below...

Continue reading "Newport Folk Fest continues, NPR is streaming it "

photos by Brian Reilly

It was a happy St. Patrick's Day for Spoon. The Austin, Texas, indie-rock band received a hero's welcome during its hometown show on Wednesday at the South by Southwest music festival.

The group, this musical city's biggest export in recent years, has been on a roll as of late. Spoon's newest CD, the recently released "Transference," debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, selling more than 50,000 copies in its first week on shelves. In honor of its achievements, the band was rewarded with the highly coveted opening night, headlining slot at Stubb's, SXSW's largest venue.

The group didn't disappoint the hometown crowd, which had filled the venue to capacity well before Spoon actually took the stage. The quartet wasted no time getting to the good stuff, opening the show with the solid new single, "Written in Reverse," and then quickly following with the even stronger "Don't Make Me a Target," from 2007's "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga." The latter had a punky snarl to it, but also a dramatic piano line, reminding one of a classic Joe Jackson cut.

The one misstep, and it was a big one, came when Spoon covered the Damned's "Love Song." The band put its own spin on the track -- which I applaud -- but the lackluster, loopy result was something that would make punk-rock fans cringe. [Mercury News]

The NPR-presented Austin showcase on March 17th also had Visqueen, The Walkmen, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings and Broken Bells (who played earlier that day in a parking garage) on the bill. More pictures from that show with Spoon's setlist below...

Continue reading "Spoon kicked off their tour in Austin w/ Sharon Jones, Broken Bells, Walkmen (pics,setlist), Radio City tonight (tix on sale)"

Spoon @ Prospect Park 2008 (more by Chris La Putt)

Spoon's new album, Transference, is out January 19th on Merge. The entire album is now streaming at NPR who are also hosting the band at SXSW this year...

- For the third year running, NPR Music will present, broadcast and webcast the opening night showcase of the South by Southwest Music and Media Conference in Austin, TX, when it brings Spoon to headline Stubbs on Wednesday, March 17. The concert will kick off Spoon's U.S. concert tour in support of its forthcoming album

The Strange Boys (now with ex-Mika Miko members) have a new album of their own out this February and tour dates in late Feb/early March in the Western US.

Deerhunter doesn't have any other upcoming shows that we know about yet, but Bradford's other project, Atlas Sound, has a show at NYU with Neon Indian, and one at The Bell House with Memory Tapes.

Spoon interviewed their mastering engineer Howie Weinberg about the new album ("It's really different than the last record...it's more rootsy...a little more hip hop...it's got a dirty side to it that I really like," he says). That and a few live videos of the new single, and all dates, are below...

Continue reading "Spoon playing SXSW & Radio City w/ Deerhunter & the Strange Boys +++ new album streaming & other dates "

Chris Swanson (Jagjaguwar/Secretly Canadian/Dead Oceans): I'm not sure that people don't know labels now. I still think the music geeks know labels.
Portia Sabin (Kill Rock Stars): I think labels are caught in a cultural bind: No one really wants to know what a label does; it's like the sausage factory. Even long-established bands have a hard time talking about what labels do.
Gerard Cosloy (Matador): I mean, HoZac couldn't have a singles club otherwise.
Mac McCaughan (Merge): I'm one of those people that doesn't pay attention, either, I guess; I don't know what HoZac is!
Carrie Brownstein: I don't know HoZac, either.
Gerard Cosloy: GOOGLE THAT S---.
Mac McCaughan: GTS!
Maggie Vail (Kill Rock Stars): http://www.hozacrecords.com/

The Swell Season @ 92YTribeca (more by Chris La Putt)

"Glen was as modest and down to earth as ever. He became frustrated when his guitar didn't do what he wanted. He thanked everyone for coming (especially Paddy, or is it Patty, in the front row who he thinks has been at every NYC show he's ever played), and for paying money to do so. He acknowledged that he expected the great success of last year to not always be there in the future. I imagine he is fine with the possibility that it won't always be Radio City and the Academy Awards, but I have no doubt The Swell Season can do it again..." [me]

The first time they played Radio City was May 2008. A live recording of the show is not available for sale, but audio from many other dates on that same tour is.

The new NYC show is a full month after all of their previously announced tour dates. The new album "Strict Joy" is out October 27th. Video of Glen and Marketa playing new songs for NPR, below...

Continue reading "The Swell Season playing Radio City again, with Josh Ritter"

The Decemberists @ Radio City Music Hall (more by Tim Griffin)

"The Decemberists have announced Fall dates for their "A Short Fazed Hovel" 2009 tour. The tour, which features a full performance of their acclaimed new album The Hazards of Love, has been earning rave reviews as it crosses the United States from coast to coast, including sold-out performances at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the Edgefield Winery in their hometown of Portland, Oregon, and stand-out performances at major summer festivals including Sasquatch and Bonnaroo. The band will also be performing this year at the Newport Folk Festival, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits Music Festival and Treasure Island Music Festival."

On August 1st The Decemberists are playing a non-Hazards of Love-album set at the Newport Folk Festival (an alternative to All Points West). NPR Music, who also just had the band in the other day, will be live webcasting and broadcasting it.

All dates below...

Continue reading "The Decemberists - more 2009 Tour Dates, presale "

photos by Jacob Blickenstaff

The legendary Lee Fields

"NPR Music and WBGO boldly attempt to go where few have gone before: Deep soul, indie funk and polyglot jazz share a stage and a bill. We bring you three very different, very large bands, recorded live from Joe's Pub in New York City. Lee Fields And The Expressions headline the night of music, with The Phenomenal Handclap Band and Fight the Big Bull." [NPR]

Continue reading "Lee Fields & The Expressions, The Phenomenal Handclap Band & Fight the Big Bull @ Joe's Pub in NYC - pics & stream"

The Antlers will be playing an upcoming Rooftop Films show on Friday, June 26th at the Open Road Rooftop (350 Grand St). Tickets are on sale. The performance will be accompanied by a showing of the indie film Humpday, which comes out July 10th and costars Mark Duplass, formerly of the Polyvinyl band Volcano, I'm Still Excited!!. (As a side note, that now-broken-up band's only, self-titled LP is being released for the first time on vinyl by the label.)

Frenchkiss is the label releasing a remastered version of The Antlers' debut, Hopsice. That's out now digitally, and available in physical form on August 18th. The album is also currently streaming online.

The band's Friday, August 21st show at the Mercury Lounge will be its release party. Murder Mystery, Twin Thousands and Brent Arnold (solo cello) open. Tickets are on sale now.

Before that gig, you can catch The Antlers on the road with Frightened Rabbit. Both play the Pitchfork Festival.

NPR recently featured The Antlers in a segment that captures the band's Washington D.C. stop on its pre-SXSW tour.

All Antlers tour dates, with the upcoming Rooftop Films music schedule, which includes a 4th of July show with Bachelorette, below...

Continue reading "The Antlers tour dates & other upcoming Rooftop Films"

Dirty Projectors @ Housing Works in May (more by Ryan Muir)

So as it turns out, the June 19th Dirty Projectors date that has been sitting out there for a month, is in fact WRONG. They are not playing the Williamsburg Waterfront on June 19th. They are playing it on JULY 19 aka Sunday, July 19th aka the free show (Pool Party) that Magnolia Electric Co. are also playing!

Dirty Projectors will play a NYC show on June 19th though. It will just be much, much, much smaller and harder to get into.... Dirty Projectors are playing an instore at Other Music on 6/19 at 9pm. "Buy 'Bitte Orca' on cd or lp and recieve 1 ticket for the instore. Limit 2 purchases/tickets per person." The store will start selling the album on Friday, 6/5 at noon TONIGHT, JUNE 3rd.

Speaking of Bitte Orca, NPR is now streaming it.

Dirty Projectors' next NYC show is this Friday (June 5) with TV on the Radio at Central Park Summerstage. The show is sold out. If you're going and you want to see DP, get there early - they are the only opener, and "Show 6:30 PM".

If you don't have a ticket, and want to see TV on the Radio (who just played Sasquatch), tickets are still on sale for the show they are playing later in the summer at Prospect Park.

DP/TVOTR dates HERE. More Williamsburg Waterfront shows are listed HERE.

Check out video from the Take Away Show DP filmed in 2007, below...

Continue reading "Dirty Projectors playing Other Music in June, and Williamsburg Waterfront ON A SUNDAY IN JULY..."

photos by Natasha Ryan

"There actually is some brand new material being played on this tour, a three minute gem that goes by the working title "Bleed," written last week, which continues Panda's odyssey of Caribbean gold digging, just back and forth vocal interplay over a bed of washy noise and instrumentation so sparse it's hardly there at all. It's quick -- some I heard from even mistook it for a between-song interlude -- but it again finds them stroking just the right melodic nerve amidst the weirdness. The other new song played was the Grateful Dead-sampling Merriweather outtake "What Would I Want Sky." [Tripwire]

Continue reading "Animal Collective & Grouper played Terminal 5 (pics, setlist, video) & the 9:30 Club in DC (NPR stream w/ new song) "

DOWNLOAD: The National - So Far Around The Bend (MP3)

Dark Was The Night producers (from left) Bryce Dressner, John Carlin, & Aaron Dressner (Photo by Tim Soter)

NPR Music will record the Dark Was the Night Concert and offer performances from it online at www.npr.org/music The show will gather many major indie music acts at New York's Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, May 3 to commemorate the release of the charity compilation of the same name.

Host of NPR Music's All Songs Considered Bob Boilen will attend and report from the show that features several of the artists that contributed to the compilation, including Dirty Projectors, David Byrne, My Brightest Diamond, The National, Dave Sitek (from TV on the Radio), Bon Iver, Feist and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. A week following, songs from the event along with Boilen's commentary and interviews with many of the artists will be available for streaming at www.npr.org/music The concert will also be available for download via the "Live in Concert" podcast.

"The National's Aaron Dessner explained the format of the show to Pitchfork in a recent news feature, 'We're going to have two halves (of the show). The first half will be songs from Dark Was the Night, and then there will be a short intermission. And then afterwards, there will be mini-sets by different artists and collaborations, both things that relate to Dark Was the Night and some that don't.'" I was told the show will be four hours long.

And according to an official set of Blonde Redhead tour dates someone sent me (a list that includes the show in Brooklyn's Prospect Park), Blonde Redhead will be there tonight. All (three) dates below (thanks Joseph). David Byrne, who will definitely be there, is also playing Prospect Park.

Despite probably-originally-tentatively agreeing to do it, Grizzly Bear won't be playing Radio City because they landed a spot on the Jools Holland show in the UK that had to be taped this weekend. Yeasayer are recording a new album in the woods somewhere. Why Sufjan Stevens won't be there is still a mystery though. Maybe he will? Other NYC-area artists that are part of the CD, but not on the bill include the New Pornographers (AC Newman lives here I think), Yo La Tengo, My Morning Jacket (Jim James lives here I think), and Antony.

According to an interview with the "Dressner" brothers at Vanity Fair, the National will play two new songs at the show. They wouldn't say much else except that we should expect some "exciting collaborations". I know that Thomas "Doveman" Bartlett will be playing piano at the show. Also heads up Europe: they'd "like to do another show in London and/or Paris but it is a huge amount of work and schedule coordination to pull off so I'm not sure. But we're looking at options!"

And in what had to be the worst timing ever for "huge shows with special guests", Pete Seeger's 90th birthday party is also tonight, but at the much larger Madison Square Garden. Maybe Bruce Springsteen will stop over to sing a song at Radio City before his set at MSG. Hey, it doesn't seem completely impossible.

Continue reading "Dark Was The Night today! NPR recording. Blonde Redhead playing? Will anyone else? Who's going? (tix still on sale)"

DOWNLOAD: Neko Case on AOL's The Interface (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Neko Case - People Got A Lot of Nerve (MP3)

Neko Case's latest tour has arrived in NYC. Crooked Fingers open for Neko at the
Nokia Theatre tonight (4/13). Joan as Policewoman open for Neko at the same venue tomorrow (4/14). Tickets for both shows are still on sale. I also have a pair for each show to giveaway. Details below.

Wondering what it will sound like? NPR is now streaming Thursday's DC show in its entirety. As a bonus, Will Sheff opened at that one, and you can listen to that @ NPR too.

The stage was set in something out of a nature cartoon with trees painted on long banners and an owl overseeing it all. Behind them videos of cyclones, airplanes and anthropomorphic animals were projected on a screen. But the attention was clearly on Case, her stunning voice, as well as her solid backing band. [NPR]

You can also listen to Neko on WFUV on Tuesday at 1pm, and on a recent episode of AOL's The Interface (MP3 above).

Recent collaborators for Neko include Dexter Romweber and Marianne Faithful.

All Neko dates, her new video, and contest details, below...

Continue reading "Neko Case is here (win tix) - NPR show stream, dates & stuff"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - Bag of Hammers (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - Beat (MP3)

Thao @ Mercury Lounge 6/4/08 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Kill Rock Stars' Thao with The Get Down Stay Down will play SXSW before heading out on a monthlong US tour with Sister Suvi and Samantha Crain. The dates include the previously mentioned NYC stop at Bowery Ballroom on Thursday, May 14th. Tickets are still on sale.

Down at SXSW, Thao with The Get Down Stay Down's appearances include the previously mentioned Kill Rock Stars day party (3/18) with Marnie Stern and The Thermals; NPR day party (3/19) with Dirty Projectors and Blitzen Trapper; Hotel Cafe SXSW Showcase (3/19); and KUT SXSW Showcase (3/20). Thao w/ TGDSD will also play the Brooklyn Vegan SXSW day party at Radio Room on Thursday, March 19 (her third show that day) (full line-up to come).

The Thermals are also playing the Rachael Ray SXSW day party (plus 7 other SXSW shows), then touring w/ two NYC dates.

Sister Suvi, who will be touring with Thao post-SXSW, is traveling first with Takka Takka - both visit the Cake Shop on Sunday, March 15 before heading south to Austin.

As an aside, Merrill Garbus, one of the members of Sister Suvi, is Tune Yards, who played MHOW w/ Beiruit and Inlets on 2/4. Tune Yards also released its debut, BiRdBrAiNs, as a for-donations download.

In 2008, Thao with The Get Down Stay Down played a ton of NYC gigs, including a headlining Mercury Lounge show (2/4), two nights opening for Rilo Kiley at Terminal 5 (2/2 & 2/3), and a solo appearance at the Revenge of the Book Eaters benefit on October 7th. And 2008 also saw Thao's debut We Brave Bee Stings and All on Kill Rock Stars.

All Thao Nguyen with The Get Down Stay Down and Sister Suvi tour dates below...

Continue reading "Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - 2009 Tour Dates w/ Sister Suvi, SXSW & stuff"

To accommodate overwhelming popular demand, AEG Live has announced the addition of a second Leonard Cohen show at New York's Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, May 17. This newly added second date follows the originally scheduled concert on Saturday, May 16, which attracted an incredible fan response when it was announced with an American Express early ticket on-sale last week. Audiences are clamoring for a chance to catch this intimate, superbly crafted concert as part of Cohen's 2009 North American Tour, featuring the singer/songwriter/poet, his acclaimed band, and a beloved catalog of music.

Tickets for both Radio City Music Hall shows-on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17-will go on sale beginning Monday, March 9th, 2009 at 10:00AM local time.... NPR is broadcasting select songs from Leonard Cohen's February 19th performance at New York's historic Beacon Theatre-his long-awaited first stateside performance in more than 15 years.

In related news, Ticketmaster can't get out of the news. To quote Reuters, "Ticketmaster settled with the state of New Jersey to resolve more than 2,000 complaints over how it had handled ticket sales for Bruce Springsteen concerts, and Canadians are now complaining about inflated prices to hear Leonard Cohen."

New shows have also been announced in Boston, Austin, Oakland, LA and Chicago. Videos from the Beacon Theatre show, and updated tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Leonard Cohen adds 2nd Radio City show, Beacon show streaming @ NPR, Canadians pissed at Ticketmaster (again)"

DOWNLOAD: M Ward & Zooey Deschanel - Never Had Nobody Like You (MP3)

The songs of singer-guitarist M. Ward seem to drift in on the crackling radio waves of a distant time. Warm and intimate, his largely acoustic and usually spare arrangements are a tribute to what Ward sees as the greatest era for American music: the 1950s and early '60s, when singers like Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison infused country-rooted pop with honesty and romance. Ward's latest album, Hold Time, continues this tradition, with a gorgeously produced mix of finger-picked guitars, upright bass and shuffling rhythms, all tied together by his achy voice.

Hold Time won't be released until Feb. 17, but listeners can hear the entire album here on NPR Music as an exclusive preview.

Like the Sadies, M Ward also contributes to the new Neko Case album. You can get an MP3 from that too.

Zooey Deschanel is now engaged to Ben Gibbard.

Vivian Girls are opening some upcoming shows for M Ward including the one he's playing at the Apollo Theater. All dates below...

Continue reading "album stream, new Zooey D MP3 from M Ward's new album"

People like Fred Armisen, Carrie from Sleater-Kinney (and NPR) (man, she was rough on Tallest Man on Earth), Joe Mande and Nick Kroll will be watching comedy shorts (with piano accompaniment) tonight...

Continue reading "ThunderAnt, Max Silvestri, others & film @ MoMA Tuesday"

At 35, Bird has spent almost 15 years working relentlessly for the sort of exposure he now seems poised to enjoy. "Six years ago, when I was still struggling, I just wanted to go anywhere in the world and play for 300 people," he says.

And yet when I first met Bird a couple of weeks before the Hideout show, he didn't have the air of an underappreciated artist finally about to be given his due. On the contrary, he seemed worried about losing control over a career that he is accustomed to micromanaging. He wondered, for instance, if "Noble Beast" was perhaps being promoted too aggressively. Bird's publicist had wanted him to play one of the first shows on his coming tour at Radio City Music Hall (capacity: 6,000). Bird was concerned that it was too big a venue, that he might fail to make a connection with the audience and that things could easily spiral downward from there. They compromised on Carnegie Hall, which seats about 3,000.

"A lot of bands get hyped and go from playing for no one to playing for thousands of people, most of whom are standing there with their arms folded saying, 'O.K., are you really as good as everyone says you are?' " Bird told me. "I've never had to deal with that. I've gotten here by winning one person at a time."
[Sunday's NY Times Magazine]