Sufjan Stevens w/ fans outside Southpaw, Brooklyn - Dec 17, 2007 (CRED)

Celebration @ Onion Holiday Party, NYC - Dec 18, 2007 (CRED)

Ben Keith, Pegi & Neil Young, & Ralph Molina @ United Palace - Dec 18, 2007 (CRED)

* Jaymay is playing Union Hall
* Public Enemy is playing Irving Plaza
* Bjorkestra & Sun Ra Arkestra @ Paul Robeson Theater ("Surprise show")
* Mark Ronson, Aaron Lacrate & Rakim are DJing Love
* Neil Young plays his 6th & final NYC show @ United Palace
* David Cross, Dave Hill, Janeane Garofalo & others @ Blender
* The Setting Suns (Interpol/Swervedriver) play Mercury Lounge
* Rufus Wainright, Teddy Thompson & friends raise money @ Highline Ballroom
* Dewey Cox & band (Walk Hard) are playing a promotional party @ Knitting Factory
* Watch the first 10 minutes of Walk Hard online
* Lily Allen is pregnant

What else?

Two down. Four to go. The above paintings are a sample of what Neil will be auctioning off for charity.

by Eric M. Townsend

Due to a last minute fire inspection and electrical problems inside the venue that began around 4pm on Wednesday fans were stuck waiting outside in the cold for nearly 2 hours before they were let inside the venue. The roughly 3,000 people stretched blocks around the side of the theater under a fairly underwhelming police presence (the crowd photo is of the fans waiting). Once inside the venue they announced that the opener, Neil's wife Peggi, was allowing Neil to just get straight into his set which still began nearly 45 minutes later than scheduled. The NYFD maintained a strong presence throughout the show and Neil cracked a few jokes at the NYPD’s expense saying that everything was hopefully under control as long as he did not catch on fire.

Continue reading "Neil Young @ United Palace Theatre, NYC - pics, police"

Neil Young is a notorious control freak, as he joked during Thursday's show. And he wasn't kidding. Fans walking into the Orpheum Theatre were given a small slip of paper informing them when, exactly, they could consume a beer. (During the opening act was fine, but not when Young took the stage.)

A pre-show announcement requested quiet and no shouted-out requests. Young had carefully developed his playlist, the voice said over the P.A. Please respect the artist. [The Boston Globe]

Continue reading "Neil Young is here (acoustic & electric) & selling paintings"

"Standing room" tickets have been released for all six NYC Neil Young shows. They cost $75, but they come with a "free" copy of Chrome Dreams II - Harp Magazine's 9th favorite album of the year.

"Cinnamon Girl" is an all-women Neil Young tribute CD that's coming out in February for charity. Tracklist below....

Continue reading "Neil Young standing room tickets on sale"

Miracle Fortress @ the 2007 Polaris Awards (CRED)

Miracle Fortress, Sunset Rubdown, Basia Bulat, Handsome Furs, The Acorn, The Besnard Lakes, Tokyo Police Club, Patrick Watson, The Weakerthans, Land of Talk and Neil Young are among the list of 33 hot Canadian bands this year. In related news, Jessie from Miracle Fortress recently left a message about their recent problem at the border....

Continue reading "2007's "Hottest Canadian Bands""

They said it was "final" when it was the fifth show. Now they say this sixth one is the final one too.

Neil Young @ United Palace in NYC, 2007
Dec 12 - sold out
Dec 13 - sold out
Dec 15 - sold out
Dec 16 - sold out
Dec 18 - sold out
Dec 19 - tickets on sale Mon Oct 29 @ 10am
TICKET PRICES: $186.00, $106.00, $86.00, & $61.00

Speaking of Neil Young, "The new album by Neil Young, Chrome Dreams II, will be released by Reprise Records on October 23rd." Listen to four songs off the album, below...

Continue reading "VIDEOS: 4 new Neil Young songs"

Neil Young added a 5th ("and final") show at United Palace in NYC. The date is December 18th. Tickets go on sale Monday October 22nd @ 10am. The other four shows (12th, 13th, 15th, 16th) are now listed as sold out.

DOWNLOAD: Susnet Rubdown - Winged/Wicked Things (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sunset Rubdown - Up on your Leopard, Upon the End of your Feral Days (MP3)

Sunset Rubdown's new album Random Spirit Lover is out today. More photos by Adam Schneider, below....

Continue reading "Sunset Rubdown played Music Hall of Williamsburg"

Even with those ticket prices, December 12th, 13th, and 15th are all sold out (or almost sold out), so Neil Young added a fourth NYC show at United Palace: December 16th. Tickets go on sale Monday October 15th @ 9am. Pegi Young is opening. More tour dates here.

....An act’s worth depends on its fanbase. You have to nurture it, respect people, make them feel they’re along for the ride with you. At these prices, people feel like they’re being held up at gunpoint. And, NOT EVERY NEIL YOUNG FAN RAPED AND PILLAGED AND IS NOW RICH!

Only Neil is rich. But obviously, he needs more.

Bob Dylan is a famous breadhead, but he doesn’t charge these prices, not even close. WITH Elvis Costello, the top ticket is $65.50 in Portland. And Dylan is coming off a number one album and critical kudos. For that price, you may not care that he mangles the old material. You’re privileged just to be there. And maybe, you’ll enjoy it too. (In truth, that’s Portland MAINE, not Oregon, but even in Chicago, Dylan and Costello are only charging $87, while Neil Young is charging $157! At the SAME THEATRE!)...[Bob Lefsetz]

All the tickets sold out this morning, so Neil Young added a 3rd NYC show. I guess people will pay those prices - December 15th is on sale now.

TICKET PRICES: $186.00, $106.00, $86.00, & $61.00. That's for the two United Palace shows that are part of Neil's upcoming tour.

Neil Young @ Farm Aid @ Randall's Island, NYC - Sept 9, 2007

photo by Michael Gruen

As seems tradition for his Farm Aid sets, Young dipped into his revered late-'70s acoustic album "Comes a Time," bookending his brief set with "Human Highway" and "Four Strong Winds." Nelson and his longtime harmonica player Mickey Raphael joined for the latter, as well as "Homegrown." Other highlights included a slowed take on "Everyone Knows This is Nowhere" and "Heart of Gold." [Billboard]

Chrome Dreams II is a stunning collection of eight new and two classic Young songs. Recorded last summer in Northern California, musicians include Ben Keith (pedal steel guitar, dobro and other instruments), Ralph Molina (drums) and Rick Rosas (bass), who will be performing with Young on the tour.

Continue reading "Neil Young - 2007 Tour Dates, new album & Farm Aid pics"

They're on tour and play Joe's Pub tonight. Here's a video for a song off their new album....

Continue reading "VIDEO: Great Lake Swimmers - 'Backstage With The Modern Dancers' (on tour)"