DOWNLOAD: Toro Y Moi - Blessa (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Lunar Youth - Misfits (MP3)

Toro y Moi

"Memory Tapes, Toro Y Moi, Washed Out and Future Trends all have signature styles, but all are responsible for some of that private, warm, hypnagogic music. They're also four of the most notable actors in a scene no-one has a name for yet. The name I'm going with, for the sake of ease and this essay, is 'glo-fi' - for its connotations with warmth and radiance and its proximity to 'lo-fi', it seems a better fit than 'chillwave', an alternative name found hanging in the weed burps of rad 'net dudes that won't stink us out for too long." [The Quietus]

Toro Y Moi is back in town with a show in Cake Shop tonight/Sunday (12/13). He goes on after Drawlings and before a UK band called Lunar Youth (MP3 above).

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Toro y Moi shares opens for fellow chillwaver Neon Indian at the sold out Mercury Lounge shows. It's one of three NYC shows for Neon Indian who also play Brooklyn Bowl on Thursday (12/17) (also now sold out).

Toro y Moi's first full-length album, Causers of This, will be released by Carpark Records on February 2, 2010. MP3 above. Cover and tracklist, with all dates, below...

Continue reading "Toro y Moi is here - new album info & 2009 tour dates"

Trend You Wish Would Go Away

1. 90s revivalism (No Age, Japandroids, Cymbals Eat Guitars)
2. Afropop indie (Dirty Projectors, Fool's Gold, Abe Vigoda)
3. Animal Collective acolytes (Blind Man's Colour, Our Brother the Native, USF)
4. Balearic (jj, John Talabot, Windsurf/Hatchback)
5. Chillwave/glo-fi (Washed Out, Neon Indian, Nite Jewel)
6. Dubstep and its offshoots (wonky, funky, bassline)
7. Post-Lily Allen UK pop (La Roux, Little Boots, Florence and the Machine)
8. Prim, buttoned-up indie (Grizzly Bear, Andrew Bird, St. Vincent)
9. Shitgaze/lo-fi aesthetics (Times New Viking, Wavves, Vivian Girls)

Vote for that & more in Pitchfork's 2009 Reader's Poll. Image via Hipster Runoff.

Doveman in an apartment in October (more by Ezra Caldwell)

tonight in NYC
* Imogen Heap @ Webster Hall
* Phish @ Madison Square Garden
* McCoy Tyner Trio @ Blue Note
* Happy Ending Music w/ Doveman @ Joe's Pub
* David Thomas w/ Greil Marcus @ The New School
* The Mountain Goats, Final Fantasy @ The Bell House
* The Shaky Hands, Takka Takka, US Royalty @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn
* Titus Andronicus, The Beets, Algernon Cadwallader @ NYU Kimmel Center
* Jaguar Love, The King Left, Yes Giantess, Violent Soho @ Mercury Lounge
* Terra Nova: Sinfonia Antarctica w/ DJ Spooky & ICE @ BAM Howard Gilman Opera
* Phoenix, Passion Pit, Jack's Mannequin, Manchester Orchestra @ Hammerstein

Jaguar Love is a band that includes members of Blood Brothers and Pretty Girls Make Graves. Tickets are still available for their gig at Mercury Lounge tonight.

The Mountain Goats are in town for two sold-out shows with Final Fantasy. Last night was at Webster Hall. Tonight they're at the Bell House. John Darnielle also showed up to play a few songs at UCB Monday night. A video of John covering The Hold Steady in Minneapolis, below.

DJ Spooky's collaboration with the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), the multimedia work Terra Nova: Sinfonia Antarctica, runs tonight, Friday and Saturday at BAM Howard Gilman Opera House. Video below.

Bjorn from Peter Bjorn and John is DJing at Cake Shop tonight. It's a free show with a performance by The Suzan who recently opened for the band at Terminal 5.

Doveman's appearance at Joe's Pub is one of many in their future. "Doveman and friends" at Mercury Lounge on January 12th is on sale.

Titus Andronicus also has a show coming up at Mercury Lounge, it's one of many New Years Eve shows in NYC this/next year.

Amazon is giving away a different free holiday song each day until Christmas.

If someone asks you for a miracle while you're walking by MSG this evening, it's because Phish is back. They covered TV on the Radio the other day in Albany. Video below...

Ann from Breakfast at Sulimays interviewed Neon Indian. Video below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

photos by Maryanne Ventrice

Neon Indian Kidrocking it on October 25th...

Real Estate and Neon Indian played a kids- and guardians-only show at The Living Room on October 25th, one day after CMJ. The pictures here are from that (including ones of hosts Seth Herzog and Carlos Jordan).

Neon Indian have three NYC shows coming up for December 15th-17th.

Real Estate are currently on the road - their homecoming will be a Decemeber 4th show at Market Hotel with Woods and Cloud Nothings.

There's another Kidrockers coming up, with Right on Dynamite and Freestyle Love Supreme (and Djs Seth Herzog and Craig Baldo), at The Winter's Eve Festival in Lincoln Square on Monday, November 30th. The event starts at 6pm after Dante Park's tree lighting and takes place at the The American Bible Society (1865 Broadway @ 61st St). It's free; more info here.

The next event after that will be on Sunday, December 13th (1pm) with The Octagon and Saadi at The Living Room. Tickets are on sale. "Adults must be accompanied by a kid and vice versa."

More pictures from the post-CMJ edition, below...

Continue reading "Kidrockers hosted Neon Indian & Real Estate (pics) -- upcoming shows include Right on Dynamite & The Octagon"

Vega @ McCarren Pool (more by Bao Nguyen)

Pitchfork: Favorite City to Play?

Neon Indian: I think I'd probably have to do a little more touring to draw that conclusion. And although it's cliché, I think that the most fun that the band will consistently have is in New York City. We played at Cameo, Studio B, even McCarren Park; there's such a wide variety of venues that each have their own appeal and charm, and every show we've played has never been the same crowd twice, there's always been a slight variation. But I feel like I'm preaching to the choir, considering the band is relocating in December.

That quote is from a newly-posted Pitchfork interview with "Neon Indian" though to be specific, it was with Alan Palomo who also plays as Vega, and it was Vega who actually played in all of those NYC venues. Neon Indian (currently residing in Texas) (despite their claim on MySpace that they are from "Brooklyn/Austin") has only played in a random warehouse so far (and maybe The Living Room if you count the kids show they/he played the next afternoon). Actually, that interview even happened before those CMJ-time Neon Indian shows (as evidenced by Alan's answer to the last live show he saw) (Phoenix at the Monolith Festival in September) (not that it matters).

Also, Neon Indian is not actually moving to NY in December. They had planned to and still want to, and still may in February, but no definite plans at the moment.

Neon Indian will be back to visit in December though. First they play at two sold out shows at Mercury Lounge and then a show they just added at Brooklyn Bowl on December 17th. Tigercity is opening. $5.00 tickets will go on sale this Friday.

Meanwhile Vega is rumored to have signed to Fool's Gold (not to be confused with the band that is playing MHOW tonight). It's the A-Trak-co-owned label that put the new Kid Sister record "Ultraviolet" this week. Kid Sister has a NYC show coming up at Webster Hall on Friday 11/27 with Flosstradamus.

All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Neon Indian adds 3rd show in NYC (which may be their new home), Vega signs to Fool's Gold? (home of Kid Sister)"

Neon Indian's NYC debut was on October 24th at Root Studios, and their next round of NYC dates are coming up in December. They have a previously scheduled, now-sold-out show at Mercury Lounge on December 16th, and they've added a second show at the venue for December 15th. Tickets for that go on sale Tuesday, November 10th at noon. it will no doubt sell out quickly too (and may be your last chance to catch them at a venue that small).

Austin Town Hall: So I hear that you guys were tearing things up at CMJ. How has that experience been?

Alan Palomo: It was pretty wild. It's definitely very different from SXSW. That was sort of the universal thing we were anticipating but it really doesn't have the same sort of homely vibe to it. It's hard to navigate through the city and if you're playing a lot of shows it can be almost like complete insanity. The actual venues and the show experiences themselves were actually completely amazing, but getting around can be hard. We did about 4-5 VEGA shows, 1 official Neon Indian show and I did a couple DJ sets apart from that. It was awesome, pretty wild and we got to see some really cool bands. It's definitely a different environment from what you would find in a normal festival. The official Neon Indian show in Brooklyn ended up being really great too. It's kind of surreal now that the album is out and kids come out to the show and just chant all of the lyrics. We got all kinds of crazy crowd participation and that always makes the live show go a lot more smoothly.

Technically Neon Indian didn't even play one CMJ show (the Topman gig was unaffiliated), but who's counting.

Neon Indian lived up to the hype at their set during day one of Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin on Saturday, November 7th (frontman Alan Palomo also played the fest as Vega the same day). A video from Neon Indian's set and more pictures are below...

Continue reading "Neon Indian played FFF Fest (pics), add 2nd NYC show (tix)"

Annual Austin music festival Fun Fun Fun Fest lived up to its name once again today (Saturday, November 7th). And that was just Day One. The fun continues on Sunday which ends with a headlining set by Danzig (and Of Montreal on another stage). More coverage and pictures to come, but before I run out to the Saturday night afterparties (going to try and see Voxtrot at Mohawk and Negative Approach at Red 7), I just wanted to post a few pictures. Check them out below...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest - Day 1 in pics "

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Neon Indian show happening at Mercury Lounge in December.

Neon Indian last played NYC during CMJ. This weekend they play in Austin at Fun Fun Fun Fest. Flyer below.

Also playing FFFFest are Fucked Up who play a very big show in NYC on Thursday. Tickets are still available.

Also playing FFFest is Danzig whose only other scheduled show is in NJ in December. Tickets are still on sale.

Tickets are on AmEx presale (@ noon) for the show Devendra Banhart just added at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Tickets are still available for the show Wolfmother added at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Tickets are on AmEx presale for the Levon Helm / Okkervil River show coming up at Terminal 5.

Tickets are on sale for a December 15th Retribution Gospel Choir (Feat. Alan Sparhawk of Low) show at Mercury Lounge.

Tickets are on AmEx presale (@ noon) for a January 8th Dutchess and The Duke show at Mercury Lounge.

Tickets are on AmEx presale (@ noon) for a January 15th Joe Pernice show at Mercury Lounge. This is a new date. He was supposed to play the venue this Friday, but that show was canceled.

Tickets are on AmEx presale (@ noon) for the January 22nd Serena Maneesh show at Mercury Lounge.

Tickets are on AmEx presale (@ noon) for a January 5th Adam Franklin (of Swervedriver) & The Bolts of Melody show at Mercury Lounge.

Noah and the Whale play their third of three shows in a row at Mercury Lounge tonight (11/4).

Tonight (11/4) is also the Very Best & Sleigh Bells show at Santos Party House.

Amy Millan of Stars/Broken Social Scene gets to town Thursday (11/5) for a show at Mercury Lounge followed by one at the Bell House. Amy's new video for "Bury This" below...

Continue reading "Neon Indian, Devendra Banhart, Alan Sparhawk, Serena Maneesh, Adam Franklin, Joe Pernice, Amy Millan, other tix"

words by Andrew Friscano, photos by Benjamin Lozovsky

Neon Indian made their NYC debut Saturday, October 24th at the Root Studio in Williamsburg, on a bill with Almighty Defenders and Cale Parks. Neon Indian's first record, Psychic Chasms (which came out on October 13th), is a solo project of ex-Ghosthustler Alan Palomo, whose other, more disco "solo act," VEGA, played a Pool Party this summer. Both bands play live shows with Palomo supported by guitarist Ronald Geirhart and drummer Jason Faries. For Neon Indian, the trio adds Leanne Macomber, the singer from Texas synth duo Fight Bite.

Neon Indian play Fun Fun Fun Fest on Nov. 7th, then launch into a series of North American and European tour dates. They visit NYC's Mercury Lounge for a show on Wednesday, December 16th. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 4th noon.

More of a second set of pictures from the Root Studio show, and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Neon Indian - 2009 tour dates (Merc) & more pics from CMJ "

DOWNLOAD: Cale Parks - One at a Time (MP3)

photos by Andrew Frisciano, words by Benjamin Lozovsky

On Saturday October 24, a night full of swirling electronica, booze-soaked theatrics, and plenty of limey-infused glamour came together at the Topman CMJ Party at Roots Studios. The British urban fashion superstore hosted an RSVP only show at the massive studio space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which included performances by The Almighty Defenders, Neon Indian, and Cale Parks, along with DJ sets by X-Wife, Finger on the Pulse, NROTB, and Designer Drugs.

To the dismay of some concert-going hopefuls waiting in the rain outside the venue, CMJ badges weren't accepted at the event. That didn't stop the cavernous white rooms of Roots Studios from filling up to capacity with an eager, talkative, and ultra-fashionable crowd. Their anticipation was rewarded with a uniquely curated event that had free drinks spilling forward everywhere from the Svedka-sponsored open bar to the front of the stage.

The first performance was by Cale Parks, an indie scene veteran better known for his role as a multi-instrumentalist in Aloha and as a the drummer for Brooklyn-based electronic musician White Williams. His own music expands on the styles of his other gigs, melding a tightly controlled, polyrhythmic, shadowy electro experience with an undeniable layer of heart-felt sincerity. Performed songs like We Can Feel It and One At A Time demonstrated his prowess for accentuating the emotional quality of his music over a layer of hard-hitting percussion and rising and falling synth stabs. Parks' direct and plaintive vocal lines seem to balance perfectly between cozy and unsettled, as they found their place amongst the subtly subversive electronic textures he and his band construed.

continued below....

Continue reading "Neon Indian, The Almighty Defenders & Cale Park @ Roots Studios during CMJ - review, pics & video "

Showpaper #16

Details below...

Continue reading "Pitchfork Todd P Showpaper benefit @ Market Hotel Saturday"

DOWNLOAD: Neon Indian - Terminally Chill (MP3)

Neon Indian (aka Alan Palomo)'s tour dates have been updated since August. Alan (pictured above) can currently be found down South enjoying the warm weather in Florida and will then make his way up to NYC in time for at least two shows over CMJ weekend. The first is a free-with-RSVP (topman@jellynyc.com), Topman-sponsored, JellyNYC-produced show at Root Studios in Brooklyn on Saturday night, October 24th with The Almighty Defenders, Cale Parks and a bunch of DJs: X-Wife, Finger on the Pulse, NROTB, and Designer Drugs. Flyer below.

The second Neon Indian show is the next afternoon with Real Estate at The Living Room (kids only!). Real Estate are also playing the Mexican Summer showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg unlike Washed Out who is only playing a pre-CMJ NYC show at Santos... which Finger on the Pulse are also DJing.

As you know, The Almighty Defenders is new VICE-signed group that combines King Khan, BBQ, and The Black Lips into one big band. This NYC show is one day before they play Maxwell's in Hoboken. Tickets are still on sale for that.

Neon Indian's debut album Psychic Chasms is out today (10/13) (vinyl available October 27th). Pitchfork gave it Best New Music. "Terminally Chill" from that CD is available for free download above.

All Neon Indian dates and a Topman show promo video and flyer, below...

Continue reading "Neon Indian on tour, playing free Topman show w/ The Almighty Defenders & Cale Parks during CMJ (2009 dates) "

DOWNLOAD: Real Estate - Beach Comber (MP3)

Real Estate @ Brooklyn Bowl in August (more by Oren Loloi)

Real Estate have only been around short time, but it seems like hardly a week goes by without a show from the band or one of its member's solo projects (Ducktails, Predator Vision, etc.). They'll finally get around to releasing their debut LP, a self-titled record, on November 17th on the Woodsist label. The first track from that is posted above and two other "album versions" are up on their Myspace.

Real Estate play a tour send-off/Showpaper benefit on October 14th at Monster Island Basement with Big Troubles and Honeydos. The tour in question is a short jaunt down South, before they return for a slew of CMJ-related shows. The first of those happen October 21st at Pianos and Santos (the later of which is an Oh My Rockness party with The Drums and others). Their other CMJ gigs include an Underwater Peoples showcase at The Delancey, a Death & Taxes show at Glasslands on October 22nd with Japandroids (one of many CMJ gigs for that band) and a Mexican Summer/Kemado Showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 24th. Joining them at MHOW will be Farmer Dave Scher (his first in NYC since opening for Jenny Lewis in June), Young Prisms, The Smith Westerns who have other CMJ shows TBA), and The Amazing, a Swedish group with members of the Kemado-signed Dungen, Anna Jarvinen and Sagor & Swing (streaming tracks at their MySpace). Tickets for that Music Hall show are on sale.

One artist who's not playing that show or any CMJ shows at all is Washed Out (Georgia's Ernest Greene). He'll play just one NYC show (his second live show ever) one day before CMJ at Santos Party House on October 19th with Restless People. Tickets are on sale. I tried to get him to open the BrooklynVegan CMJ show at Music Hall on October 20th (one day later), but he said he can't even stay in town that long due to personal commitments back home.

Restless People features members of Professor Murder (and Tanlines). Listen to their first single "Victimless Crime", HERE. The Santos show will be their first show.

Rising, Breaking, Band to Watch vs Bear, Washed Out (the next Neon Indian even), though fairly new to the scene, already appears on a free Outfitters compilation that also includes tracks by Girls, Vivian Girls, A Place to Bury Strangers, No Age, Le Loup, Rain Machine, The xx, The Very Best, Kurt Vile and The Dodos (who have two NYC shows this week). Washed Out's "Life of Leisure" 12" is out on Mexican Summer now.

One day after CMJ (10/25), Real Estate play a 1:00PM NYC show just for kids (Kidrockers) at The Living Room with... Neon Indian. Tickets are on sale ("Adults must be accompanied by a kid and vice versa").

Real Estate will follow up their CMJ with a November tour with Girls. That hits Maxwell's on November 2nd and Bowery Ballroom on November 6th. Real Estate album, tour dates and flyers below...

Continue reading "Washed Out's NYC debut (& 2nd show ever), Real Estate's LP, tour dates & CMJ (Mexican Summer showcase, Kidrockers) "

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo, words by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Neon Indian - Terminally Chill (MP3)

Electro rock act Vega played the opening set at the last Pool Party on Sunday. If you didn't already know, all their gear had been stolen in Sacramento about a week ago, though you wouldn't have known from their performance.

Thankfully, Palomo says, a number of supporters have chipped in, sending the band cash to help buy the replacement gear necessary for its upcoming slew of shows, which will also find the touring through Europe.

"Most of the donations have come from friends and supporters back home," Palomo says. "There have been a few random names that I don't know, though. It's just like, uh, thanks for the support, y'know?"

That kind of support also helped VEGA make up for the fact that it had to cancel some shows in Canada that it had planned to play before getting its gear stolen; on the way back home, the band was able to raise funds by performing at DJ gigs in Los Angeles on the way back home to Texas. And, in the coming days, Palomo says, the band should be able to re-purchase the bulk of the equipment it lost--or at the very least, the equipment it needs to create Neon Indian's warped, summery sounds in a live setting. [Dallas Observer]

A full list of all the equipment taken is below.

The blow is doubly crap-tastic for Alan Palomo, who uses the same gear in his Neon Indian project. Neon Indian is set to release its first record, Psychic Chasms, October 13th on Lefse Records. He's announced that the act "will be touring Europe and North America from September through December." Neon Indian are set to make their live debut on September 10th in Denton, TX, a few days before their Monolith Fest stop on September 12th. Palomo's upcoming tour, posted below, also has four days, October 20th-24th, marked off for CMJ. Good luck to him at getting the new synths and samplers together.

More Pool Party pics, the stolen equipment list, and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "despite stolen gear (full list), Vega played the Pool Party (pics), touring as/with Neon Indian (dates) "

August 25th, 2009 (Austin, TX) - Transmission Entertainment is pleased to announce the lineup for the 2009 Fun Fun Fun Fest, taking place on November 7th and 8th at Waterloo Park in Austin. Fun Fun Fun Fest made its first appearance on a cold Friday evening in 2006, offering a unique approach to festival booking, filling stages with talent bubbling from the underground: what sounded great, and what was making an impact, regardless of what mainstream media said was cool. What started out as a show for a few touring acts and local favorites has become a movement -- a festival that fans and bands alike realize needs to be experienced year after year.

Now in its fourth year, Fun Fun Fun Fest has made a significant impact on the country's winter calendar, successfully combining the vast worlds of indie, punk, rap, electronica and comedy while showcasing some of the city's most unique local businesses.

Greatest. Festival. Ever...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2009 lineup (Jesus Lizard, Of Montreal, Gorilla Biscuits, LSF, 7 Seconds, D.R.I. & DANZIG!! & more)"

The final lineup for Monolith Festival, which takes place at the Red Rocks Ampitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, on September 12th-13th, is below. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Girl Talk headline Saturday night at the festival, and the Mars Volta and MSTRKRFT top the bill on Sunday. Deer Tick, Passion Pit, Doom, The Walkmen, The Thermals, and HEALTH are also some of the bands on the two-day bill.

Tickets and two-day passes are still on sale. We also has a pair of weekend tickets to give away. Details on that, with the full lineup, below...

Continue reading "Monolith Festival - final 2009 lineup ++ WIN a two-day pass"