photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

"Last night i got to see one of my favorite bands re-unite. I thought i had seen the last of HOT SNAKES back on June 1st 2005 when i saw them at their last ever London UK gig. Then i really thought I'd never see them again at their final NYC show on August 9th 2005 at the Bowery Ballroom.

I was teased last year when OBITS and NIGHT MARCHERS played a secret gig together in Park Slope Brooklyn thinking for sure they would have to do an encore together as HOT SNAKES but no avail. Then i got word that at the same gig in San Diego they did in fact re-unite as HOT SNAKES leaving me with suspicions they would one day play again.

And finally last night on December 1st 2011 it happened at the Bell House in Park Slope Brooklyn. Word's can not describe how incredible every aspect of this show was. From old friends to the most perfect guitar tones to a phenomenal set list. Hat's off to you HOT SNAKES... well done!" [Justin Scurti]

And they do it again tonight! (at Maxwell's). More pictures from last night (12/1), setlist included, below...

Continue reading "Hot Snakes came back @ The Bell House (pics & setlist)"

by BBG

The graphic on the top page of the Hot Snakes website


After a tease almost exactly a year ago, Hot Snakes are officially back in business with a scheduled appearance at ATP's Nightmare Before Christmas! The previously mentioned UK festival goes down at Butlins Holiday Centre in Minehead from 12/9 - 12/11 and features names that range from No Age to Archers of Loaf to Theo Parrish. Tickets are on sale. Hot Snakes will appear on the Les Savy Fav-curated day, with the other two days curated by Battles and Caribou (who will all perform at the festival). Full lineup is below.

So far, the single UK date is the only Hot Snakes date scheduled, but East Coast-ers look out....

"yeah, im super stokified on this. so far just ATP is confirmed. we are talking about maybe doin a couple more shows before hand. not sure where but not west coast. we will be hangin on the east coast so most likely out there or in europe.i will letchu know. don't know who is playin drums. trying to figure out the scheduling and who is up for it and what makes the most sense. please do not share your thoughts or preferences on the matter. not interested in suggestions. Night Marchers shows most likely will not coincide with this trip. good times." -[John Reis]

We'll keep you up to date...

Earlier today we mentioned that Obits also have a string of August dates scheduled with Disappears.

Fest curators Les Savy Fav have a NYC show coming up at MHOW.

Full ATP Nightmare before Christmas details and some Hot Snakes videos are below.

Continue reading "Hot Snakes reuniting for ATP UK, planning more shows!"

by BBG

Off! (photo by Lindsey Byrnes)

Whether or not the band name Off! is a not-so-subtle reference to another band that featured the great Keith Morris and dealt destruction to the insect populi, one thing is certain, they rule. Besides the incredible vocalist for Circle Jerks/Black Flag, punk supergroup Off! also features a killer lineup including Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides), Mario Rubalcaba (Earthless/Hot Snakes/Rocket From the Crypt) and Steven McDonald (Redd Kross) and the foursome have announced their debut material to be released with Vice Records!

Off!, who you may have caught at SXSW this year, will release the accurately titled First EP via limited edition 7" inch on October 12th. Featuring art and an exclusive poster courtesy of Raymond Pettibon, aka the evil genius behind Black Flag's iconic album covers, the release is the first of four 7"s to be compiled on the First Four EPs (another Black Flag nod) due on November 23rd - a collection of 16 songs which will each feature its own Pettibon sleeve art.

As the tour dates indicate below, Off!, in addition to playing FYFFest and Riot Fest this year, has announced their involvement in Austin's Fun Fun Fun Fest (happening November 6th and 7th). For those of you counting at home, that brings the list of confirmed FFFFest bands to Woven Bones, Suicidal Tendencies, Slick Rick, Best Coast, Dirty Projectors, Cap'n Jazz, The Gories, Yelle, Snapcase, The Dwarves, High On Fire, and The Hold Steady! Stay tuned for more lineup announcements for the great Texas festival.

Meanwhile, Mario Rubalcaba was NOT part of the recent (and impromptu) Hot Snakes reunion that took place on July 29th at an Obits/Night Marchers show in San Diego, CA (the bands were on tour together).

You can view video of the three Hot Snakes songs from that set, as well as all Off! tour dates & a video from their first show in LA, below...

Continue reading "Off! signs to Vice, Fun Fun Fun Fest announces part of the lineup, Hot Snakes reunited (sort of) "

Siren photos by Dominick Mastrangelo, ocean afterparty photos by Laura June Kirsch

Kim getting freaky w/ the crowd

Marissa Paternoster joined Ted Leo on stage

"Punk rock singer-songwriter Ted Leo and his band spurred fans into fits of unison clapping and extravagant crowd surfing (one guy held up a beach umbrella while being passed around like a prison bitch), while performing "The Sons of Cain," "Even Heroes Have Die," and "Where Was My Brain?". During one song, Screaming Females lead singer/guitarist Marissa Paternoster (who performed at Siren earlier in the day) joined the Pharmacists as a guest vocalist. The short-lived duet was a treat considering the fact that I missed the Screaming Females set." [Yeah Develop]

Matt (and friends) cooled off in the ocean

As you can hear in one of the videos I posted yesterday, Matt invited the crowd to join him for a swim in the ocean after his and Kim's headlining set at the Siren Festival in Coney Island on Saturday. As you can see above (and below) it really did happen.

In related news, Matt & Kim have just announced two headlining shows at Webster Hall (October 26 & 27). Tickets are on sale now.

More pictures of the swim, along with all the bands who played on the main stage, below...

Continue reading "more pictures of the 2010 Siren Festival (and of Matt & Kim & friends running into the ocean afterwards) "

photos by Jessica Amaya

Molly Siegel (with a mysterious bulge) & Screaming Marissa Paternoster

"it was very hot out. i was covers in sand and sweat, it was not too nice. but it was fun just to go to coney island and to people watch..im a bit fan of that. also siri of ringo, have a banana has a boyfriend alex who is in the pains of being pure at heart, who played the show. i got to see her, we ran into each other while getting pinkberry from the booth they had set up. we were supposed to meet up after alex's band played and packed up, but my friend started feeling sick, and we were very uncomfortable and in desperate need of ice cold showers so we left a bit early."
[it girl, rag doll]

The heat was the story of the day, well after Molly's bulge anyway, at the 10th annual Siren Music Festival in Coney Island on Saturday. A set of pictures that contains the first seven bands that played, and a few videos including some of the energetic Matt & Kim crowd, and one where a girl almost hits the pavement while crowd surfing during Ponytail (bonus points if you spot Darren Mabee in the video) (some of you now know him as "Beans"), below...

Continue reading "Siren Fest 2010 in pics & video (part 1) "

The Night Marchers come back to NYC soon to play a 4pm set at the tenth annual Siren Festival on Saturday. Those who miss it can also check out the band, whose lineage includes Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu, Rocket from the Crypt, and Hot Snakes, at Maxwell's in Hoboken on Sunday, July 18th with No Pasaran. Tickets are on sale.

All dates, mostly on the west coast, and some videos, below...

Continue reading "The Night Marchers - 2010 Tour Dates (Maxwell's, Siren)"

The schedule (above). The pre-party flyer... (below)

Continue reading "Siren Festival announces schedule & Monotonix/Brahms preparty (Matt & Kim headlining the whole fest) "

the Night Marchers @ Fun Fun Fun Fest 2009 (more)

The Village Voice, the nation's largest alternative weekly newspaper, is excited to announce the addition of THE NIGHT MARCHERS, CYMBALS EAT GUITARS, EARL GREYHOUND, SCREAMING FEMALES and WYE OAK to the line-up for the 10th Annual SIREN MUSIC FESTIVAL at Coney Island, NYC on Saturday, July 17, 2010 from 12:00 noon - 9:00 p.m. These artists join scheduled performers MATT AND KIM, TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS, THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART, SURFER BLOOD and HARLEM with more to be announced.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary in historic Coney Island, SIREN has solidified its status as a leading New York City outdoor music festival, drawing over 100,000 music fans each year. With over 120 bands making their mark at SIREN over the last decade, this year will recognize SIREN's roots with the first ever return of past performers. MATT AND KIM and TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS will be heading back to the SIREN stage to celebrate. This free, all ages, all day festival is not to be missed.

So that was the July show Wye Oak were talking about.

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 "

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)"