by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Merchandise @ 285 Kent, 12/31/2012 (via @lkj)

Florida's Merchandise closed out their 2012 with two shows at Brooklyn DIY venue 285 Kent. The first happened on Saturday (12/29) with Philadelphia's Night Sins, plus Pharmakon, Shoxx, and Herzog Rising. Both shows featured Elsner Nino of Shoxx who is now Merchandise's official drummer and gave the songs a harder edge, steering the band a bit back to their punk roots. It almost made stagedivers during "Time" and "Become What You Are" seem semi-normal. OK, not really. You can check out two good-quality videos from Saturday's performance below.

Pharmakon, meanwhile, played a brutal noise set that featured washes of dissonance peppered by blasts of hallowed screams from mastermind Margaret Chardiet. There is a simmering fury that sits just beneath the surface for Chardiet, and in the moments when she lets out that primal scream, it is absolutely terrifying.

Night Sins, who ripped in the small K&M bar back in November, were swallowed whole by the cavernous soundsystem at 285 Kent. The band was sporting a new guitarist with a 12-string awash in reverb which, considering the ambient sound, was completely lost in the mix.

The Saturday show was a last-minute show that was in addition to their previously-announced New Year's Eve show where they played alongside Tonstartssbandht, Blanche Blanche Blanche and "secret" headliners DIIV (though most people had figured out they were playing).

Additionally, Merchandise contributed a list of "merchy's ten taypes_2012" to Pitchfork's end-of-year "Guestlist" feature and you can check out their cassette picks below, along with the video from 285 Kent.

Continue reading "Merchandise played 2 shows @ 285 Kent (video), listed their favorite tapes of 2012"

Night Sins at Rituals in November (more by Lukas Hodge)

As you know, moody Tampa post-punks Merchandise will be in NYC to play a New Year's Eve show at 285 Kent with Tonstartssbandht, Blanche Blanche Blanche, and a "speciial guest." Tickets for that show are still available and it's also just been revealed that Merchandise are the secret headliners at the 285 Kent show two nights earlier (12/29) with Night Sins, Pharmakon, Shoxx, and Herzog Rising. It's a much cheaper way to see Merchandise than NYE ($8 as opposed to $20), and when Merchandise played previous NYC shows with Shoxx, they were joined by Shoxx's drummer so hopefully that happens again.

As mentioned, Pharmakon will play Saint Vitus on January 13 with Salvation (whose lineup includes members of Night Sins) and Raspberry Bulbs. Tickets for that show are still available.

The flyer for this show, a list of updated Merchandise dates, and some song streams/videos below...

Continue reading "Merchandise playing 285 Kent before NYE too -- with Night Sins, Shoxx, Pharmakon & Herzog Rising"

Raspberry Bulbs at Saint Vitus, Oct 2011 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

The previously discussed Raspberry Bulbs / Salvation / Pharmakon show at Saint Vitus on January 13 (tickets) has expanded to an extended weekend tour. Check out the dates of the four-day run below. Raspberry Bulbs contains members of Bone Awl, Rorschach, Italian Horn and more, and the band recently reissued Demos 2009/2010 via Personnel Records (a subsidiary of Seed Stock).

UPDATE: Raspberry Bulbs have also joined on as support for the previously discussed Iceage show at 285 Kent (tickets)

Pharmakon is hitting the road for a string of dates with Soren and Foreplay on the West Coast next week.

Members of Salvation also serve time in Night Sins, who have a new LP and recently played NYC.

All tour dates are listed below along with video.

Continue reading "Raspberry Bulbs add 2013 tour dates with Salvation and Pharmakon, opening for Iceage in NYC"

photos by Lukas Hodge

Night Sins

Night Sins joined Hot Guts for last night's show at K&M as part of the darkwave party Rituals (11/29). The trio (guitar, bass, vocals) didn't start their set till well past mindnight and leaned in the Joy Division direction of post punk.

As discussed, members of Night Sins serve time in Salvation, who will play NYC on January 13 at Saint Vitus with Raspberry Bulbs and Pharmakon. Tickets are still available.

A few more pictures from last night's K&M show are below, along with a music video.

Continue reading "Night Sins played Rituals party (pics)"

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Night Sins

Though the band passed through these parts a few weeks ago with the similarly great Nothing (who have a new LP and play A389), Philadelphia darkwavers Night Sins (mems Salvation/Mother of Mercy who also have a new LP) will play the Rituals party at K&M tonight (11/29 at 225 N.8 St) alongside an appearance from fellow Philly band Hot Guts. The party is FREE.

Speaking of Nothing, the band recently released a video for "Downward Years To Come" and you can check that out below.

Continue reading "Night Sins and Hot Guts play Rituals party in NYC tonight; Nothing releases new video"

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

As discussed, gothic post-punk crew Night Sins (mems of Salvation, Mother of Mercy) are out on the road with A389 signees Nothing, logging their first date on the road last night as part of their joint tour together. Much like Nothing, Night Sins are also proudly welcoming a new baby, the New Grave LP freshly birthed via Avant! Records. Check out the video for "Playing Dead" and the track "Wild Eyes," is making its debut here.

All streams and tour dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Night Sins released 'New Grave' & are on tour (dates, streams)"

Nothing album art

A389 Records is known for their annual whopper of a festival (sold-out!) populated by some of the vicious hardcore miscreants on the label, but maybe that mindset is changing. Between the recent Anne releases and some forthcoming efforts, A389 is showing a different side of the meaning of heavy.

Shoegazers Nothing are the latest addition to A389's roster, and are gearing up for a new release due later this fall. Preorders for Downward Years to Come hit on October 31 (spooky!) and you can hear the title track below for the first time.

The Philadelphians are touring the East Coast in the tail end of October in the weeks leading up to the release, roping in support from Night Sins as part of a US/Canadian campaign. The shoegazers hit St. Vitus on October 23 with NYC's Italian Horn.

All tour dates are listed below, along with the track stream.

Continue reading "Nothing preps A389 debut, on tour with Night Sins (dates)"