Nick of Islands on stage w/ Mister Heavenly (more by Graeme Flegeheimer)

Islands will release their new album A Sleep & A Forgetting this February 14th via Anti-Records..., this time band leader Nick Thorburn has infused the songs with a personal introspection that gives the record a new and powerful emotional resonance.

"This album is far more personal than any I've made before," Thorburn explains. "I left New York after the end of a relationship and came to Los Angeles. There was a piano where I was staying and that's where I wrote these songs. This record deals with loss, with memory and forgetting and with dreaming. I started writing it on Valentine's Day and it's coming out on Valentine's Day."

Though Nick Thorburn has made multiple appearances lately (10/18 at Union Hall, a 10/21 day party at Fontana's, a DJ slot at Creators Project), Islands played just a single CMJ show which was on 10/22 at Dominion Theater and Lounge (428 Lafayette Street)...

...at Dominion NY, the sign outside promises an "Intimate Evening with Islands"; the venue isn't lying. The basement doesn't seat more than one hundred; it's dimly lit, and barely anyone in the audience is talking. In addition, I am sitting uncomfortably close ("intimately close," even) to the stage.

While the rest of the band is dressed in black sports coats and black pants, Nick Thorburn is dressed in a light blue jacket and light-colored pants. He is clearly the star of the show. (None of the band members from the last time I saw them in 2008 are on stage here.)

Islands performs nine or ten songs from their new album, which Thorburn shares will be out February 2012. Some of the lyrical sentiments of the new songs are nice. At one point, Thorburn croons, "Don't I love you? Isn't the sky grey? Isn't the moon blue?" One of the songs has Geordie Gordon joining Thorburn on the piano playing a doo-wop style melody. To say that Thorburn's side project Mr. Heavenly with Honus Honus of Man Man is an influence on this song is an understatement. At one point, I said (to my notebook), "This sounds like 'Van Helsing Boombox.'"

Islands does break out two old gems: "Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby" and "Swans (Life After Death)" from the 2005 album, Return to the Sea. [Evil Monito]

That night, the new LP was the focus of the show and though there is no confirmation of the same at their forthcoming "special intimate seated show" on Friday, October 28th, expect some new jams at least. Comedian Max Silvestri and Mattie Safer (ex-The Rapture) are credited with the assist, and tickets are on sale for Islands' only current tour date.

photos by Graeme Flegenheimer

Nick Thorburn & Michael Cera @ Lincoln Hall in Chicago

"Mister Heavenly, the newly formed band of Honus Honus, Joe Plummer, Nick Thorburn, and Michael Cera, took part in Tommorow Never Knows at Lincoln Hall [in Chicago on Friday night]... Mister Heavenly played around an hour, digging up songs nobody has ever heard, playing a few covers, including "Bad Man" by the Oblivians. For it being one of their first shows, it was really tight. A lot of these songs are really strong. The sound was great. The energy was there. They had fun, and it showed. A strong set for a young band of seasoned artists, with Michael Cera tipping up on one leg in his red hat. slapping a pick-less bass. They joked about cheese, told a few beginning to stories about snipers, got shit thrown at them." [Gonzo Chicago]

As mentioned, both Mister Heavenly's label (Sub Pop) and the venue they're playing in NYC tonight/Sunday (Bowery Ballroom) told me that Michael Cera would most likely not be there. Now that I know he played with them Friday night at Lincoln Hall in Chicago, I'm having trouble believing he won't be at the NYC show too. And considering Michael's name is not in any of the press materials or in the band's promo pictures, it just seems like some kind of big cover-up to downplay the biggest celebrity in the band which also contains members of Modest Mouse, Man Man and Islands. We'll find out soon enough (update: Bowery has since changed their story).

Tickets are still available for tonight's show. Sun Airway and Little Shalimar open and the show starts around 9pm, so Mister Heavenly will probably go on around 11pm. That gives you enough time to download (or stream) the two songs they're giving away (learn them before the show). Those songs and more pictures from Chicago below...

Continue reading "Mister Heavenly played Chicago (Michael Cera included), giving away 2 songs (MP3s, pics & a NYC show tonight)"

Marnie Stern will be one of the bowlers (but not one of the performers) at a Stereogum "Gumbowl" charity event tonight at Brooklyn Bowl. You can't watch her bowl yet, but you can go to the concert afterwards (that she is not playing)....

"While the doors have to be closed during the tournament in order to film it all for charitable posterity -- and be sure we'll present you with the footage -- we're celebrating afterward by throwing open the gates for a FREE CONCERT, headlined by Woods, and featuring an opening set from the 'Gum-beloved rising sextet Effi Briest, DJ magic from Ms. St. Vincent Annie Clark, and loitering by our celebrity bowlers, who may or may not still be wearing the sweet-ass bowling jerseys we're throwing on them. We want you there (if you're 21 or older (sorry, kids!))." - Stereogum

They had an RSVP for the concert part, but now they just say "THERE WILL BE SOME "TICKETS" AT THE DOOR! COME EARLY IF YOU WANT IN. DOORS OPEN AT 9PM". Brooklyn Bowl is a big place. The flyer is below.

Other charity bowlers include The Blow (who has a show coming up at Joe's Pub), Nick Islands Thorburn Diamonds (who has 3 NYC shows coming up), Alan Neon Indian Palomo (who has multiple NYC shows coming), and Tim Les Savy Fav Harrington (who has a scheduled Brooklyn show too). The full list of bowlers is also below.

If you want to catch Marnie Stern play live, her next show will be at Glasslands on Friday, June 18th along with White Hinterland, Anni Rossi, Translations and True Womanhood. It's not free, but you get a discount if you RSVP to that here.

Anni Rossi will also be playing Pianos the night before (6/17).

More info on the Gumbowl and flyers are below...

Continue reading "Marnie Stern bowls tonight (before the free Woods show), plays in June w/ Anni Rossi who has 2 upcoming shows"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Nick Thorburn - gone bananas (rough mix)

Islands TV?.... (via)

Islands, (one of) the post-Unicorns projects of Nick Thorburn/Diamonds, has been almost totally quiet since the band canceled their European tour at the beginning of 2010. They are signed on to the tentative, possibly doomed Mountain Man Festival in Saratoga Springs on July 24th, and Nick has been busy on Twitter, which is where the above picture is from. Its caption reads: "here's a promo for my NBC dramedy airing this summer at 8/7 central. Make sure you tune in!" In January Islands released a new video featuring Michael Cera. The song was from their Anti-released album that came out in September. Their last NYC show was part of that supporting tour at Bowery Ballroom in the beginning of November.

Consider the band one step closer to active duty - they have a confirmed show at Music Hall of Williamsburg scheduled for Sunday, June 27th. It's part of the second annual Northside Festival. The four-day Fest is in the process of being announced, but we now know all four Music Hall shows:

6/24 - Thao Nguyen & Mirah
6/25 - Woodsist
6/26 - BrooklynVegan (us!)
6/27 - Islands (this post)

Tickets to three of those shows go on sale Friday at noon. All four were supposed to go on sale Friday, but our show didn't make it through Ticketmaster's system on time so the on sale has been moved to Saturday.

Nick posted a free song called "Gone Bananas" on his website with a note, which is pasted below with another solo song and other videos...

Continue reading "Islands playing a Northside show. A Nick solo record soon?"

Suicide Squeeze label-mates Human Highway (Nick Thorburn of Islands and Jim Guthrie) and Cotton Jones are going out on tour with The Magic. Tickets are on sale for their only NYC show together. It's at Le Poisson Rouge on March 25th which is one day before Cotton Jones plays a 2nd NYC show at Union Hall.

This is Human Highway's first tour, but not their first NYC show. All dates, including a stop at SXSW for all bands involved, below...

Continue reading "Human Highway & Cotton Jones - 2009 Tour Dates"

photos by Eric M. Townsend

Nick Diamonds/Thorburn of Islands put together a NY Cares benefit at Knitting Factory in NYC. It happened back on December 8th. The three floor event featured experimental music, art and someone on LSD in a cage on the bottom floor (Old Office), comedy (Eugene Mirman, Dave Hill, Tim Harrington of Les Savy Fav, God's Pottery, Jessie Klein, etc...) followed by Street Carnage (Gavin McInnes showing funny pictures and telling really dirty stories about them) on the second flooor (Tap Bar), and music (Conrad Keely, Leona Naess, Marnie Stern, Despot and Nick Diamonds) and comedy (Eugene Mirman and Fred Armisen) on the main stage. More pictures below...

Continue reading "the rest of the NY Cares Benefit pics (David Cross, Nick Diamonds, Fred Armisen, Street Carnage...)"

to quote Nick,

Eugene Mirmen was added to the bill, along with comics Jessi Klein, God's Pottery, & Andres DuBouchet (which brings the total comedy to...a lot considering there's also Dave Hill, David Cross and Fred Armisen). Fred Armisen is going to be doing something special, and Andrew WK is gonna pop by and do a set, i think. Tim Harrington just rang and is gonna have a t-shirt booth, making customized ones for sale. plus, miracle fruit is crazy- it alters the receptors in your taste buds to make bitter and sour things taste sweet. Also, there will be a guy in a cage on LSD who you can interact with (but be gentle). this will be a fun night.

p.s. doing a solo set with accompaniment

Tickets are still on sale. Amazing Baby is playing too. The newest flyer, confirming some of the above information, is below...

Continue reading "Monday's NY Cares event "just got weirder""

Hey,
3 noteworthy notes to notefully note.

1) Spain dates have been added to the February tour. 21st in Barcelona, 22nd in Madrid. The Paris date has also been filled in, and if i'm not misunderstood, it's going to be a free show. Probably want to RSVP to that on the early side.

2) We're supporting Blonde Redhead on New Year's Eve in New York City at Terminal 5. This will be fun. Party horns, noise makers, and a lot of fake-out countdowns. [Elvis Perkins was also added to this bill].

3) I, Nick Thorburn/Diamonds am curating a show in New York City, my adoptive home, at the Knitting Factory on Monday, December 8th. All proceeds go to New York Cares, a local charitable organization that supports underprivelaged communities, the homeless and various social and welfare services. David Cross, Fred Armisen, Marnie Stern, Conrad Keely from Trail of Dead, Despot, yours truly, and a couple of other surprises are all on the table. It will be a jam-packed evening, and it's for a good cause.

I have one pair of tickets to give away to Elvis Perkins, Islands and Blonde Redhead on New Years Eve. How to win, and all 2009 European tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Islands - New Years Eve, Elvis Perkins, WIN, 2009 Tour Dates"

Islands @ Market Hotel (more by Leia Jospe)

Nick Diamonds of Islands Presents : a BENEFIT for NY Cares, December 8th @ Knitting Factory in NYC. Tickets are on sale. Flyer below...

Continue reading "NY Cares @ Knitting Factory w/ David Cross, Marnie Stern, Nick Islands, Conrad Trail of Dead, Dave Hill, more..."

According to a member of the band, "1/2 of our band was delayed at the US border then had 3 flats in a corner of the Adirondacks where all rental agencies were closed! Anyway, the rest of us were pretty disappointed but the party was still a pretty great gathering celebrating staring at tv screens. We're looking into doing a make up show... maybe this week?" Ryan Muir was there to cover the show and thought he saw Unicorn Alden Penner there, but it must have been wishful thinking as he waited for hours for Clues to go on. Unicorn Nick Thorburn was in the audience though.

In the meantime, Clues are now on a short tour that has them moving back up north and Islands play a few shows this weekend.

by BrooklynVegan Mike

DOWNLOAD: Clues - Perfect Fit (MP3)

The Unicorns have attained a mystique since their break-up in 2005. Since that time, Nick Thorburn, has been anything but low key, launching Islands, Th' Cornn Gang Human Highway with Jim Guthrie, and even Juiced Elfers. What might be lost on all of this activity is that Thorburn wasn't the only creative drive behind The Unicorns spazz-pop.

The other ex-Unicorn, Alden Penner, has been making music in Montreal for a long time, in various projects including Adam and Alden, All Makes Parts and Collision and his solo work, which is what he'll be performing on October 4th at this year's Pop Montreal festival. He opens for Dominique Grange and Jacques Tardi.

At last year's Pop, Alden introduced Clues, a project featuring Brendan Reed (formerly of Arcade Fire) and Bethany Or. They're currently finishing an album with producer Mark Lawson (Arcade Fire, The Unicorns, Islands, Beirut, Final Fantasy) - to be released at Villa Villa Nola and on Constellation Records in winter 2008.

Alden's music is wistful, gentle, and a little bit quirky. Imagine the Unicorns with the volume turned down. He plays with pop music conventions in a manner that would suggest that he's taking the piss out of everything, but like Beck you can hear the amount of effort put into each song. Though he doesn't have much in the way of "official" releases, there is a 7" he released on Art School Dropout in 2005, and he scored the soundtrack to The Hamster Cage. There are also many bootlegs floating around the net. I strongly recommended you to check 'em out. One MP3 is available for download above.

Video of Alden performing as Clues at PM 2007, below...

Continue reading "Alden Penner plays solo & with CLUES, MP3, Pop Montreal"

We are very proud to announce the debut release from Toronto's Human Highway, a duo featuring Islands' frontman Nick Thorburn, alongside seminal Canadian songwriter, Jim Guthrie, entitled "Moody Motorcycle."

To celebrate the album's release, courtesy of the good folks at Suicide Squeeze Records, the band has announced their first ever live performances for the lucky few in the New York Metropolitan area. Appearing as co-headliners w/ Harper Simon, Thorburn and Guthrie will bring Human Highway, for the first time ever, to New York's Cake-Shop on Monday, September 15th, and the lovely Joe's Pub on Tuesday, September 16th.

Joe's Pub tickets don't seem to be available as of the time I'm writing this. Cake Shop probably won't have advance tix.

Stream the entire Human Highway album on their MySpace. The tracklist is below.

"Human Highway" is also "a 1982 comedy film starring and co-directed by Neil Young under his pseudonym Bernard Shakey." Neil Young also just announced some shows.

Nick Thorburn's other band Islands is playing a NYC show on August 23rd.

Continue reading "Human Highway announce 2 NYC shows, album stream "

photos by Bao Nguyen

Taking the stage, front man Nick Thornburn (Diamonds) had his face painted like a mime. The band quickly began with "Arm's Way," the opening track of their new album. The mood of the night seemed much different than past Islands shows, with the band focusing primarily on their darker sophomore release. The songs are far less immediate than those on "Return to the Sea." "It's a grower" stated the somber Thornburn, who seems to be going through a rough time in his life. His songs were always about death, but this time their not always as light.

Though they played some of the earlier favorites, Thornburn seemed like he was being forced, even at one point introducing "Swans" by saying "this song sucks." And by the tone of his voice, he really seemed to mean it. And he really didn't seem interested at all in playing them, which took a lot away from the performance. [Jonny-Leather]

The show was Saturday night at Webster Hall. More pictures below....

Continue reading "Islands @ Webster Hall, NYC - pics "

Human Highway are streaming two songs at their MySpace. The tracks are from their debut Album, "Moody Motorcycle," out August 19th on Suicide Squeeze.

P.S. tickets are still available for Nick's other band Islands' shows in NYC on May 24th and elsewhere.