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"

DOWNLOAD: Destroyer - Chinatown (MP3)

On January 25, Destroyer will release their ninth LP, Kaputt on Merge records.

These are some of the themes alluded to or avoided in the album Kaputt - and here are 22 things you might want to know about it. Straight from Dan Bejar himself, in absolutely no linear order.

Kaputt by Malaparte, which Bejar has never read- Kara Walker, specifically the lyrics she contributed to the song "Suicide Demo for Kara Walker"- Chinatown, the neighborhood bordering on Bejar's- Baby blue eyes - 80s Miles Davis- 90s Gil Evans- Last Tango in Paris- Nic Bragg, who played lead guitar on every song, again- Fretless bass- The hopelessness of the future of music- The pointlessness of writing songs for today- V-Drums- The superiority of poetry and plays- And what's to become of film?- The Cocaine Addict- American Communism - Downtown, the neighborhood bordering on Bejar's - The LinnDrum - Avalon and, more specifically, Boys and Girls - The devastated mind of JC/DC, who recorded, produced and mixed this record from fall of 2008 to spring of 2010 - The back-up vocals of certain Roy Ayers and Long John Baldry tours - Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence -

Listening to the sweet first track, "Chinatown", from Destroyer's new album (download it above), makes me sad that Dan Bejar (aka Destroyer) won't be in the house as a member of the New Pornographers at Terminal 5 on December 6th, but Neko Case will be there, and Ted Leo is opening, so you know, it will still be great. Tickets are still on sale. And I have a pair you can win. Contest details and the new Destroyer tracklist below....

Continue reading "Destroyer releasing new album (MP3), not playing w/ New Pornographers @ T5 (but Neko is - WIN TIX)"

AC Newman & bride Christy Simpson @ Union Hall - Aug 4, 2007

NEKO CASE doesn’t play weddings, but tonight she was making an exception. On a recent Saturday the indie-rock superbabe took the stage at Union Hall in Brooklyn and warned a group of guests that the music they were about to hear was highly inappropriate for the occasion. [NY Times]

* Eugene Mirman ate salmon at the wedding
* Bumpershine crashed the party
* The New Ponographers are playing Bowery Ballroom
* Their Beggars-family-labelmates are opening for them
* Jose Gonzalez & Mike Wexler play the Spiegeltent
* The Riverboat Gamblers & Valient Thorr are playing Knitting Factory - mosh
* The Comas and Sam Champion are playing Luna Lounge
* Jenny Scheinman & Slavic Souls party are @ Barbes
* Cross Pollination celebrates Guilt by Association at Pianos

What else?