The 2013 ACL Festival happens in Austin, TX on two consecutive weekends: October 4 - 6 and October 11 - 13. Weekend passes are on sale now and the full line-up is below...

Continue reading "2013 ACL Music Fest lineup announced (Depeche Mode, The Cure, Atoms for Peace, The National, Vampire Weekend + more)"

We haven't had a new Camera Obscura record since 2009's My Maudlin Career but that drought will end soon. The Glaswegians will release Desire Lines on June 4 via 4AD. The record was mostly made in Portland, OR last year with producer Tucker Martine (R.E.M., Spoon, My Morning Jacket). Says singer Tracyanne Campbell:

Of all our records this was pretty much the most challenging to write, partly because of the situation we found ourselves in with having to take such a long and uncertain amount of time out, but also because it would be record number five and we were getting harder and harder to please. Working in the US with southern gentleman Tucker Martine was a positive experience. He brought a certain calmness to recording that wasn't there before. We were also delighted to have Neko Case and Jim James sing on the record too. What a treat.

All 2013 Camera Obscura tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Camera Obscura announce 'Desire Lines' ++ 2013 dates"

We already told you that the 2013 edition of Wilco's Solid Sound Music & Arts Festival will go down June 21 - 23 at MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA. The line-up has now been revealed and includes sets from Yo La Tengo, Os Mutantes, Low, The Dream Syndicate, Reggie Watts, onetime Miracle Legion frontman Mark Mulcahy, Neko Case and more. And Wilco, of course. "Early Worm" tickets are sold out but you can still get "Early Bird" and regular three-day passes here.

Full line-up for 2013 Solid Sound fest is below...

Continue reading "Wilco's 2013 Solid Sound Festival line-up announced (Yo La Tengo, Os Mutantes, Low, Neko Case + more)"

Primavera Sound have announced their 2013 lineup, set to go down on May 22-26 in Barcelona, Spain. The announcement came via an animated video and artists performing include Phoenix, The Postal Service, Blur, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, My Bloody Valentine, Tame Impala, Wu-Tang Clan, Dead Can Dance, Grizzly Bear, The Knife, and loads more. Current lineup is below along with the flyer and video...

Continue reading "Primavera Sound 2013 line-up announced"

Grizzly Bear are on the cover of the new issue of NY Magazine, which makes two weeks in a row that Brooklyn was prominently featured.

Despite making it into Billboard's Top 10 with their new album, Shields, the band still aren't making a lot of money.

Check out pictures from the show they just played in Chicago with Lower Dens.

And speaking of Brooklyn, get ready for Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas.

"The Artwork of Robert Pollard & Tobin Sprout" is opening in Brooklyn soon. Meanwhile check out our recent Guided by Voices pictures from both Austin and the Deluna Fest in Florida.

Crystal Castles and HEALTH play Roseland on Wednesday (10/3). We're giving away tickets here and on our Facebook too.

Also on Wednesday, M83 plays Hammerstein Ballroom and we're giving away tickets to that on Facebook too. Tickets are also still on sale.

Another Facebook contest: win tickets to see Raveonettes and Melody's Echo Chamber at Webster Hall on Friday (10/5).

The Compact Disc turns 30 years old today. The first CD pressed in America was Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA (though Billy Joe's 52nd Street came out in Japan before that). What was the first CD you bought?

Speaking of Bruce Springsteen, Kenny's Castaways, where he used to play is hosting their final show tonight.

Producer and TV On the Radio member Dave Sitek has launched Federal Prism, "a new record label where Sitek will personally record, mix, produce, and release a series of limited edition 12-inch vinyl picture discs with a uniquely curator-driven perspective. The vinyl will be limited to 500 numbered copies each with a jacket personally hand silkscreened by Sitek."

Federal Prism's first release is "Destroyer" by Telepathe. "The b-side of the vinyl will feature a remix by Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor with Alessandro Cortini and Atticus Ross. Sitek adds, "I told Trent I was starting my own label and would love to have him remix something on the first release. I sent him the session and before he actually said 'YES', he sent back this mighty dark space that he, Alessandro and Atticus had built for me! I was shocked and am certain I will have to keep ripping them off for years!"" It's on sale now.

Speaking of Trent Reznor, he says his his band How To Destroy Angels, have "formally partnered with Columbia Records for our next series of releases. The first of these will be available in November and it's called An Omen EP."

Scary: Ryan Adams revealed via Twitter: "Recording a track with my new pal @deadmau5 today. Sounds like BladeRunner starring Don Henley."

More scary: As if it wasn't bad enough that Bruno Mars has been announced as the host of the 10/20 episode of SNL, they're letting him be the musical performer for that episode too!

But here's some good news: Now That's What I Call Music 83 will reportedly be the last in the series.

more stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: Grizzly Bear on cover of New York; CDs turned 30; Dave Sitek's new label, Trent Reznor, Ryan Adams, Deadmau5, more"

via @jakerocksoff

We already posted lots of posts today. Here's some more, and some reminders too...

With the opening of the Barclays Center (follow @BrooklynVegan on Twitter for some scenes from the chaos), both New York and Time Out ponder the changing landscape of Brooklyn in this week's issues.

Speaking of the new venue, Lady Gaga's MSG (2/22) & Barclays Center (3/6) shows sold out today, so she added one more at each venue. The new dates are 2/23 @ MSG and 3/7 @ Barclays. Both go on sale Friday, October 5th at 10am.

Other NYC shows that went on sale today include JEFF the Brotherhood, Field Report, Diamond Rings, Anais Mitchell, Kelly Hogan, Callers and Petty Fest.

And regarding that Staten Island politician talking shit about her, Lady Gaga thanked him.

As mentioned, Soundgarden is releasing a new album, their first in 15 years, on 11/13. Now you can hear the first song which is streaming at the bottom of this post.

In other bands who were good in the '90s Barclays Center news and, Smashing Pumpkins warmed up for their arena tour with an intimate, two-and-a-half-hour show at Stubb's in Austin last night. The tour hits the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Halloween.

Listen to the title track from Bad Brains' forthcoming new album.

Apple knows its maps app sucks.

Trevor Dunn, who is currently on tour as a member of Melvins Lite, took to his tour diary to comment on Green Day frontman BIlie Joe Armstrong's recent freakout: "That guy's main problem is that he doesn't realize that he is Justin Bieber."

Do you love the blown-out, pixelated artork on MIA albums? You may want to buy here coffee table book then.

On a somewhat similar publishing tip, Diplo "and photographer Shane McCauley are launching the zine series Blow Your Head. Each volume will explore a different country and musical genre.

Tour diaries are hot these days. (Have you read ours with Kelly Pratt whose touring with David Byrne and St. Vincent)? Diamond Rings and Stars writing about their adventures on the road for The Huffington Post. Those adventures included a show at Webster Hall this week.

Winter is coming for everyone, it seems. Neko Case tweeted today: "Dude. I'm just gonna admit to being balls-deep in Game of Thrones on CD."

While on the subject of rock star confessions, a recent quote from Pete Townshend: "What I remember of the size of Mick Jagger's penis - I remember it as being huge and extremely tasty."

If you need more, maybe you'd like to read some Phil Collins erotic fan fiction?

Speaking of St. Vincent, today is Annie Clark's 30th birthday. Happy Birthday, Annie! We always liked this picture of her, by Chris La Putt, from her days as a member of the Polyphonic Spree:

Catch St Vincent and David Byrne in Williamsburg Park on Saturday. How was their second Beacon show? Check out pictures from the first (also by Chris La Putt).

It's also Les Claypool of Primus' birthday, who turn 49. Catch Primus on tour this fall.

Not that surprising, but awesome -Austin just became the first Texas city to endorse marriage equality.

Austin music venue Scoot Inn, a popular place to be during SXSW, has a new owner.

Kreayshawn's new album flopped.

Mumford & Sons' new album probably won't.

more stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: new Soundgarden & Bad Brains songs; MIA art book; Diplo's new zine; Phil Collins erotic fan fiction; Apple maps & more"

DOWNLOAD: AC Newman - I'm Not Talking (MP3)

As mentioned before, AC Newman will release his third solo album, Shut Down the Streets, on October 9 via Matador Records. That is the cover art to the album above. You can also download the album's lush opening track, "I'm Not Talking," at the top of this post, or stream it below, and you might recognize the backing vocalist as Carl's New Pornographers' cohort Neko Case.

As discussed, AC Newman will support the new album with a tour, and you can still get tickets to his two upcoming NYC-area shows:  Bowery Ballroom on October 22 and Maxwell's on October 24.

Stream is below.

Continue reading "download a track from AC Newman's new LP (MP3)"

photos by Chris La Putt

Neko Case / Charles Bradley, World Financial Center 7/12/2012

Yesterday (7/12) was the second day of the Lowdown Hudson Blues Festival at World Financial Center Plaza. Thursday's show was diverse, featuring Canadian treasure Neko Case, badass showman Charles Bradley and the tap dancing cabaret roots sounds of He's My Brother She's My Sister.

More pictures from the show are in this post. and pictures from Day 1 of the fest are here. And while he didn't review this show for us, Dave "Shirtless" Hill was there and, by the looks of his instragrams, he owned this one too:

More pictures and Neko Case and Charles Bradley tour dates below...

Continue reading "Neko Case, Charles Bradley & He's My Brother She's My Sister played Lowdown Hudson Blues Fest; Dave Hill was there too"

WHEN: Wednesday, July 11 and Thursday, July 12, 2012
TIME: 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. EST
WHERE: World Financial Center Plaza
220 Vesey Street (West Street and North End Avenue)
WEB: www.worldfinancialcenter.com/arts-events
COST: FREE - No tickets or reservations required
PRESENTER: Brookfield Office Properties

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Sonny Smith - Over the Border and Into the Night (MP3)

Sonny & the Sunsets have added another NYC area show to happen while they're here in in August. In addition to dates at Mercury Lounge (8/16) and Glasslands (8/18) the band will also play Maxwell's on August 15 and tickets for that show are on sale.

Sonny's new terrific new album, Longtime Companion, is out June 26, and he also just got his 2005 album One Act Plays reissued on vinyl via Secret Seven Records. The album features guest appearances from Neko Case, Edith Frost, Mark Eitzel, Rico Bell, Jolie Holland, Peggy Honeywell, Virgil Shaw, Eugene & Akire Chen, Andy Cabic, and John Dwyer. The album's got an interesting backstory and we'll let Sonny fill you in:

The songs on One Act Plays started out as real one act plays written for the theater. But in writing them I began to make them songs at some point. I can't remember when this mysterious shift happened. However, ultimately the plays as songs were performed on stage in a play called The Dangerous Stranger, so somehow it came full circle. The Dangerous Stranger was supposed to be about reality being the dangerous intruder of fantasy, and fantasy being a dangerous intruder to reality. I can't remember if the play was successful at conveying this idea at all. That was the kinda stuff on my mind at the time I guess. I had a few influences at the time I was writing them. One was Terry Allen's Juarez, a concept record with recurring characters. Also I was really into Sam Shepard at the same time so I was reading a lot of his stuff. A few of the songs, like 'Eddie and Rita' even have some stage directions lifted directly from one of his plays. The song 'Following Father' took a bunch of facts from my dad's cousin, a Texan who always had some get rich quick scheme that never lasted. I was trying to make some kind of Tennessee Williams like thing apparently. Epic! Large! Family! Redemption! Well, anyway, most of these plays are fictional, except for 'Freaks In Space' and 'Honey Roy Rockwell'. Those two are the complete truth. The terrible truth.

And in more Sonny Smith news, they just released the third in his "100 Records" series in which he wrote and recorded 100 songs under the guise of 100 different fictional bands. Some of those, like "Year of the Cock" have ended up on actual Sunsets albums (in that case, his new one), others haven't. You can stream a few from Vol. 3 below and order the vinyl here.

All song streams and a list of updated dates below...

Continue reading "Sonny & the Sunsets add Maxwell's date and related news"

by BBG

Total Control at Fun Fun Fun Fest (more by BBG)

Total Control's Henge Beat was a favorite around these parts, and now the band recently released a split 12" with Thee Oh Sees. Check out a video for Total Control's "For Lease" from that split below and order your copy via Castle Face.

Total Control currently have no US dates scheduled. Thee Oh Sees, on the other hand, will spend their summer abroad and have a handful of appearances in the US. The band, who recently played Austin Psych Fest, will play a gang of festival dates including the previously discussed Pitchfork, Outside Lands, Hopscotch, ATP I'll Be Your Mirror and the sold-out Woodsist Festival in Big Sur.

In addition, the band just signed on to be a part of the Capitol Hill Block Party in Seattle WA, joining names like Neko Case, Major Lazer, Fitz And The Tantrums, Phantogram, The Lumineers, Grimes, Aesop Rock w/ Rob Sonic & DJ Big Wiz, Youth Lagoon, Diplo, Cloud Nothings, The Psychic Paramount, Twin Shadow, Dam-Funk and so many more across six-stages and as many city blocks during three days in July (7/20-7/22). Current lineup is below and tickets are on sale.

All tour dates, the Capitol Hill Block Party lineup and that "For Lease" video is below.

Continue reading "Total Control release video from split with Thee Oh Sees; Seattle's Capitol Hill Block Party announces lineup"

Neko Case in Long Island in 2011 (more by Greg Cristman)

READS THE PRESS RELEASE:

BUDDY GUY, NEKO CASE TO HEADLINE FREE OUTDOOR BLUES FESTIVAL ON HUDSON RIVER WATERFRONT, JULY 11-12

Second annual Lowdown Hudson Blues Festival, NYC's only free summer blues festival, returns with stellar lineup of living legends and groundbreaking new stars

Brookfield Office Properties today announced that Chicago blues legend Buddy Guy, fresh from jamming with President Obama at an all-star concert at the White House last month, will join celebrated chanteuse Neko Case to headline a free two-day blues music festival in Lower Manhattan on July 11th and 12th.

Cementing its status as one of the city's premiere free summer festivals, the second annual Lowdown Hudson Blues Festival will return to the spectacular outdoor plaza at the World Financial Center with full headlining sets from Buddy Guy and, in her first concert of 2012, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Neko Case. The two-day free concert will also feature an exceptional lineup of renowned blues acts and rising stars like John Mayall, Charles Bradley and the Extraordinaires, He's My Brother She's My Sister, and Quinn Sullivan.

Full Lowdown Hudson Blues Fest lineup by day with more info, below....

Continue reading "Neko Case, Buddy Guy, Charles Bradley, others playing free outdoor fest @ World Financial Center"

Bowerbirds at Bowery Ballroom in 2010 (more by Laura Leebove)

Bowerbirds are currently on a tour that brings them to NYC this week for a Bowery Ballroom show on Friday (3/23) with Dry The River and Mandolin Orange. That show is sold out, but if you weren't able to get tickets, you'll have another chance to catch them in NYC later this year when they play Music Hall of Williamsburg on June 23. Tickets for the Brooklyn show go on sale Friday (3/23) at noon.

The MHOW show is currently a one-off happening two months after their current tour ends, and over a month before they hit Pickathon 2012 at Pendarvis Farm, OR. The three-day fest will also include sets by Neko Case, Dr. Dog, Heartless Bastards, Handsome Furs, AA Bondy and many more.

Speaking of Dr. Dog, they're in NYC this week too and we're giving away tickets on Facebook.

Bowerbirds released their new album, The Clearing, earlier this month. Spotify users can stream it here. The video for album single, "Tuck the Darkness In," is below.

Updated dates and video below...

Continue reading "Bowerbirds add Brooklyn show happening after current tour, before Pickathon (updated dates)"

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

Neko Case

Bob Pollard of Guided By Voices

James Blake

The 2011 Pitchfork Festival continues through Sunday at Union Park in Chicago. Some of it is streaming online. A set of pictures from Friday continues below...

Continue reading "Pitchfork Fest 2011 ---- Day One in pics (part 1) "

My Morning Jacket @ Voodoo 2010 (more by Alysse Gafkjen)

To coincide with the release of My Morning Jacket's sixth album Circuital (out TODAY), the band is presenting a live stream of their "Unstaged" concert at The Palace Theatre in Louisville, Kentucky tonight (5/31). You can watch the Todd Haynes-directed stream on My Morning Jacket's VEVO page at 9 PM EST. Special guests Erykah Badu and Rachel Dratch will also be part of the show.

Best Buy is offering a coupon to purchase Circuital at any Best Buy location through Saturday June 4 for $7.99. Download the coupon here. Even better is that you can download the album now from Amazon for just $5.00. For something fancier, try the limited edition box set of the album comes which comes with a 30 minute documentary that you can preview in one of the videos below.

My Morning Jacket are headlining the last night (6/5) of Mountain Jam 2011 this weekend, two days after playing Wakarusa. Tickets are still on sale. They also play Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and ACL this summer as part of a larger tour, including an August run with Neko Case. Note: the band will donate one dollar from every ticket sold to local charity.

All tour dates and some videos below...

Continue reading "My Morning Jacket released 'Circuital', streaming Todd Haynes-directed show tonight, touring & stuff"

Kathryn Calder on stage with The New Pornographers (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Kathryn Calder, possibly best known for her contributions to a certain supergroup that contains her uncle, is currently on the road with Himalayan Bear on the West Coast. The dates are in support of Are You My Mother?, her own album which dropped in August of last year. So far a full slate of dates on the Eastside have yet to be determined, but NYC has a show to call their own: Mercury Lounge on June 14th. Tickets go on AmEx presale at noon on Wed (5/11) and regular sale on Friday. All dates are listed below.

Meanwhile Neko Case is going about to embark on a dueling tour that kicks off on 5/11 in Rhode Island and makes a stop at Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock, NY one day later. If you're confused about the date of the Woodstock show, it might be because it was supposed to happen in February but was postponed due to bad weather. All current dates are listed below, Pitchfork Fest included.

The New Pornographers have upcoming dates at both the previously discussed B.O.M.B. Fest in CT on May 29, and Festival for Humanity in Vernon, NJ on May 30th. The band's video for "Sweet Talk" in support of Oxfam's Gulf relief efforts has been nominated for an Emmy. If you havent seen it, check it out below along with all tour dates.

Continue reading "Kathryn Calder on tour (adds dates), Neko Case kicking off tour (adds dates too) "

Guided by Voices @ Irving Plaza, New Year's Eve (more by Chris Gersbeck)

"As previously announced, the 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival will be taking place on Friday, July 15th through Sunday, July 17th at Chicago's Union Park! Tickets went on sale on March 4th, and, as predicted, three-day passes sold out in a record time of 24 hours! That said, eager prospective festival goers should fear not, as single-day passes are still available for the totally reasonable price of $45.

And now, without further ado, the newest additions to the 2011 Pitchfork Festival lineup! Friday will see the addition of Guided By Voices and Neko Case; Saturday's lineup will feature No Age, Gang Gang Dance, G-Side, and Chrissy Murderbot; Sunday's stellar lineup now includes The Fresh & Onlys, Radio Dept., HEALTH, Shabazz Palaces, Baths, How To Dress Well, Kurt Vile, and Twin Sister. Stay tuned for more bands still to be announced in the coming weeks!"

Continue reading "Pitchfork Fest expands lineup (Guided by Voices & more)"

To quote Birds Need Feet...

"The National have recorded a song for the soundtrack of the upcoming Tom McCarthy-directed film Win Win which will see its proper US release on March 25. The song is called "Think You Can Wait" will play over the credits of the film, and it's a beautiful mellow track featuring backing vocals from Sharon Van Etten. The track was recorded at the recording studio of Aaron Dessner, guitarist of The National, and was produced by Peter Kadis who co-produced the band's 2007 album Boxer."

Continue reading "listen to a new National song from 'Win Win' w/ Sharon Van Etten backing vocals (see Sharon live on tour)"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

DOWNLOAD: The Dodos - Don't Stop (MP3)

"In 45 minutes the show with Showalter starts! It's gonna be amazing, I can tell by his purple sweater. Color of royalty. He's feelin' it!" - Neko Case

Neko Case helped Michael Showalter promote his new book at an event at Barnes & Noble in Union Square last night (2/24), or to be more specific, Upstairs at the Square. Katherine Lanpher hosted. Neko sang four songs (setlist below). Showalter read a couple passages including a beat poetry inspired poem and a chapter about what to put in a Hollywood script. He also discussed the orgin of The Baxter, and they both talked about their writing process. Pictures from the bookstore are in this post.

Uptairs at the Square returns to Barnes & Noble in Union Square twice in March. Wednesday, March 9 will feature Rebecca Skloot (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks) and Cubic Zirconia (Follow Your Heart), and Thursday, March 24 has my favorite Keren Ann (101) with Barbara Browning (The Correspondence Artist).

Audience members included Eugene Mirman (who will again join Michael at the Bell House this weekend) and Todd Barry (who just announced an April tour with Neil Hamburger - dates below) (not to be confused with Neil's February and March tour).

Earlier in the day Neko "leaked" a new Dodos song via her Twitter. She wrote, "Fave song off new Dodos. Bummed I didn't didn't get to sing on it (I shouldn't be so greedy cuz I did sing on lots)." Download that above. The Dodos are heading out on tour in March and they'll be playing lots of SXSW shows in the process. Their updated dates, a BrooklynVegan day party included, are below.

Michael Showalter is also touring, though he won't be at SXSW. Neko Case is not touring, though she did just play a show at the Bell House and is giving away her car.

More B&N pictures, Dodos & Barry dates, and Neko's setlist, below...

Continue reading "Neko case played 'Upstairs at the Square' w/ Michael Showalter (pics), 'leaked' a new Dodos song (MP3) "

photos by Amanda M. Hatfield

"Managed to catch most of the Super Bowl and got to see the incredible Neko Case at the Bell House. Successful Sunday." - Joe Saturday

"Just spent 20 minutes discussing Vermont tax laws with Neko Case, Eugene Mirman and Marc Ribot." - RustySutton

Neko Case at the Bell House

After playing the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on Long Island on Saturday, Neko Case and Lost In The Trees competed with the Super Bowl (or maybe you were able to do both) and played to a sold-out Bell House in Brooklyn last night (2/6) as part of a larger tour for the pair. Neko was joined by guitar great Marc Ribot during her encore *both Neko and Marc contributed to Jakob Dylans's last album). Pictures from that show are in this post. The full setlist is also below.

The New Porno chanteuse will now take a breather, but will return to NYC to play Barnes & Noble for FREE with Michael Showalter on 2/24. Starting tomorrow (2/8), you'll be able to buy raffle tickets that might win you Neko's classic 1967 Mercury Cougar (as seen on the cover of "Middle Cyclone")...

Neko Case & 826 National present The Cougar-Rama Muscle Car-'Splosion

We are almost ready to re-launch after a truckload of technical difficulties! We are going to begin selling raffle tickets on Tuesday, February 8. Don't worry -- the drawing has been moved up to March so there's still plenty of time to get involved. Please let us know if you have any questions and stay tuned for details!

The Cougar-Rama Muscle Car-'Splosion is upon us! Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/rock star extraordinaire Neko Case is generously giving away her classic 1967 Mercury Cougar to benefit 826 National. Ticket sales will begin shortly, and beginning on Monday, February 14, we will draw for prizes each day leading up to the car drawing on February 18. Stay tuned for a full schedule of drawings!

The car comes packed with Rand McNally guides, piles of road trip tunes, gift certificates to Chipotle, a year's supply of Tazo Tea, and other goodies.

And because any good Cougar-Rama Muscle Car-'Splosion demands extravagance, there are heaps of other fantastic prizes to be won, including:
* A drum head signed by The New Pornographers
* Neko Case's limited-edition 1966 Gretsch Silver Duke guitar
* A Gibson guitar signed by members of the Speaking Clock Revue including Elton John and Elvis Costello
* A Carr Amplifier
* Dinner for 10 from Chipotle
* A collection of vinyl from SubPop including LPS from Fleet Foxes, Thee Oh Sees, The Vaselines
* An Adidas prize pack
* ... and more!

Tickets are $45 each, and they get cheaper the more you buy: 2 tickets for $75, 3 for $100, etc. For more details and to buy tickets, head over to www.nekocase.com/auction. Neko also designed t-shirts for 826 that are being sold in conjunction with the Muscle Car-'Splosion in 826 chapter storefronts across the country and online at www.826national.org/store.

Meanwhile, Lost In The Trees have a trio of dates left on their docket, including their show at Mercury Lounge TONIGHT (2/7). All three are listed below. Tickets for Mercury Lounge are still available.

More pictures from the Bell House, including a shot of Neko Case's setlist, a video from the show, and a video about the car, below..

Continue reading "Neko Case giving away her Mercury Cougar, played the Bell House w/ Lost in the Trees (and Marc Ribot) (pics & setlist)"

photos by Greg Cristman

Neko Case and Lost In The Trees are playing the sold-out Bell House in Brooklyn tonight/Sunday (pics coming), but on Saturday night (2/5), the pair's tour brought them a different NY venue - the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center in Long Island. That show was not sold out, but not empty either.

Neko and her band sounded excellent as they played a 21 song, 75 minute set to a seated crowd. Neko seemed to be enjoying herself and joked continuously with back up vocalist Kelly Hogan between songs, much to the delight of the audience. The full list of songs they played is below.

Lost In The Trees were also very impressive and despite Ari Picker's weakened voice (cold/hoarseness) he still sounded wonderful, as did their gorgeous arrangements. Don't forget you can catch them Monday at Mercury Lounge.

More pictures from the LI show, with Neko's setlist, below...

Continue reading "Neko Case & Lost in the Trees played Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center (pics & setlist)"

Menomena

In addition to separate upcoming dates, The New Pornographers and The Walkmen have announced a week long tour together at the end of April. Unfortunately though, the only time they're stopping in New York is April 25 at Town Ballroom in Buffalo. All dates are listed below.

The New Pornographers have no upcoming dates in NYC, but contributors Neko Case and Destroyer do. Neko Case will be at The Bell House this Sunday (2/6) with Lost in the Trees and is playing a free show at Barnes & Noble in Union Square on 2/24 with Michael Showalter.

As previously mentioned, Neko Case sings on about half of No Color, the new album by The Dodos out March 15. The Dodos released the first track off the album, "Black Night," listen below. An immediate download of this song is available on The Dodo's website with the pre-order of their album. They also recently performed on Pitchfork's Tunnelvision, video below. The Dodos also announced tour dates, including an appearance at SXSW (but no NYC dates at the moment).

Destroyer, whose ninth full length Kaputt was just released on January 25, is going on tour with The War On Drugs. They're playing Webster Hall on April 3. Tickets are still on sale.

The New Pornographers also have announced a few April dates with Menomena (including Coachella). According to Menomena's website, they recently lost Brent Knopf, who left the band to "focus on Ramona Falls and other creative pursuits." Ironically, Paul Alcott of Ramona Falls' live band is replacing Knopf on Menomena's upcoming dates. In addition to touring with The New Pornographers, they also have dates with Maps & Atlases, and an appearance at SXSW.

Menomena will also be overseeing FILMguerrero's reissue of their debut I Am The Fun Blame Monster! which will be available this spring. As stated in a press release, the reissue includes "a CD/DVD package with extensive bonus materials." Their newest album, Mines, is out now via Barsuk.

All tour dates and videos and that Dodos song below...

Continue reading "a new Dodos song, Menomena minus a member, New Pornographers & Walkmen dates & stuff"

Neko Case at Lollapalooza with The Dodos (more by Josh Darr)

Neko Case is still on board to play a free show at Barnes & Noble in Union Square on 2/24 with Michael Showalter, but now she has another and longer show scheduled in NYC even sooner. She plays The Bell House on February 6th. Tickets go on sale at noon today (1/12).

Though she doesn't have a new record to flaunt at the show, Neko Case will have new material out soon. The Dodos, who recently parted ways with vibraphonist Keaton Snyder (making them a duo again), will release their new album entitled No Color via Frenchkiss Records on on March 15. Case reportedly sings on about half of it. You might remember that she joined the band on stage during their recent run of dates with The New Pornographers (pictures from the Terminal 5 date here). A video on the making of the LP, as well as the art and tracklisting are all below.

In related news, details on the previously discussed Michael Showalter show at Bell House have emerged:

"Pretty Good Friends" presents an evening of comedy, music and reading to celebrate the launch of Michael Showalter's new book, "Mr. Funnypants." The event is hosted by Michael Showalter and features Eugene Mirman, Reggie Watts, Kumail Nanjiani and special guests.

All tour dates and more details on that Dodos LP are below...

Continue reading "Neko Case adds Brooklyn show & appears on new Dodos album ++ Michael Showalter book release show details"

Michael Showalter at Bell House (more by David Andrako)

New York, Philly, Boston, Seattle, Portland, Denver and everywhere in between. Come visit me for an evening of storytelling; joke telling; and of course, graphic sexual imagery.

Catch me this February and March in a city near you as I promote my brand new book (that I wrote!), MR. FUNNY PANTS!

Barnes & Noble is currently Neko Case's lone scheduled NYC appearance, though she will play Woodstock on 2/1 and Westhampton Beach on 2/5 as part of a string of dates with Lost In The Trees. Meanwhile Lost In The Trees, who were recently here to open for Junip at Irving Plaza, will play their own show at Joe's Pub this Friday (1/7). Tickets are still available.

Tour dates for Michael Showalter, Neko Case, and Lost In The Trees, as well as some video is below.

Continue reading "Lost in the Trees playing Joe's Pub, touring w/ Neko Case (who is appearing in NYC w/ Michael Showalter)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield

4AD and The Red Hot Organization are delighted to announce that $1,000,000 has been so far donated to charity from the proceeds of the DARK WAS THE NIGHT album. The album was released by 4AD in February 2009, and is a musical collaboration conceived and produced by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National, and Red Hot founder John Carlin. It contains 32 exclusive tracks by an unbelievably talented roster of artists, including Arcade Fire, Blonde Redhead, Bon Iver, Cat Power, The Decemberists, Dirty Projectors + David Byrne, Feist, Grizzly Bear, My Morning Jacket, The New Pornographers, Spoon, and Sufjan Stevens - to name just a few.

In order to recognize the generous contributions of the artists involved with Dark Was The Night, Red Hot asked them to recommend charitable organizations whose work they admire. The list of organizations is below.

The Red Hot Organization was founded in 1989 to deal with the crisis surrounding the devastation of the AIDS epidemic on the creative community in downtown New York. Dark Was The Night, released in February 2009, was the 20th Red Hot album.

Beggars Group chairman Martin Mills states "Aaron and Bryce pulled together a wonderful collection of artists, songs and performances that perfectly encapsulates these times and really makes Dark Was The Night into an 'album' - a labor of love that has created this amazing and very tangible result!"

Dark Was The Night was a long time in the making, and the result of a lot of hard work and generosity from a long list of supporters. Aaron Dessner sums everyone's feelings up very well. "We want to thank all of the artists and everyone at 4AD again for helping us make Dark Was The Night happen. We also want to thank everyone who has bought this record -- your donations amount to a very significant contribution to Red Hot's mission fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS."

The full setlist and more pictures from T5, with the list of Dark Was The Night charities, below...

Continue reading "the New Pornographers played Terminal 5 again (pics & setlist), Dark Was The Night raised lots of money"