photos by Dominick Mastrangelo, words by Rachel Kowal

Dawn Landes, Norah Jones & Doveman

January's inaugural Burgundy Stain Session began softly with just Sam Amidon and Thomas Bartlett (Doveman) on stage, but for the second show in the series (2/8 at Le Poisson Rouge), Bartlett, the host, took a different approach. "Tonight, I thought we'd start with everyone on stage," said Bartlett excitedly, prompting nine additional musicians (dubbed by Bartlett as his "all-star backing chorus") to emerge from the audience and assume their positions. Crowded around a few mic stands, the group launched into a sweet, melodic Doveman song, "Angel's Share." (Beth Orton had to cancel due to 'unforeseen circumstances.')

Modeled after a salon, the Burgundy Stain Sessions are largely unscripted and free-flowing. "Sorry I didn't give anybody a set list," Bartlett eventually confessed. "I don't even really have a set list. I'm just making it up as we go." But instead of resulting in a sloppy mess, the music came together nearly seamlessly, thanks in part to the grand maestro, Doveman, who conducted both verbally ("I need A flat right here!") and with his animated body language (sudden glances, wild head nods).

Following the happy unification of musicians at the top of the show, the spotlight shifted to unannounced returning guest Glen Hansard. Once he had procured a pick from someone in the audience, he was ready. At the last Session, Hansard turned to Bartlett and announced, "none of your jazzy shit," but on Tuesday night, he seemed to be going along with it, as evidenced by their first song together. Apparently the song was brand new. "So Glen recorded that not too many days ago," Bartlett revealed. "His friend went to take a walk and he wrote it."

Many of the musicians are long-time friends and collaborators. Bartlett and Hansard met six or seven years ago (Bartlett can't really remember), and Amidon entered the picture long before that as was evidenced by the impromptu reunion of Popcorn Behavior, the childhood band Bartlett and brother Sam and Stefan Amidon (ages 13, 13, and 10 respectively). In addition to a Popcorn Behavior song, Sam played a song or two of his own, including "I See the Sign," which featured Doug Wieselman on bass clarinet.

Next up was Steve Salett who showcased some songs from his project, The Poison Tree. (His debut album is due out in March.) Much of Salett's songs were marked by technical difficulties due to some cell phone interference, prompting the group to stop while Bartlett switched his cell phone to airplane mode (it turns out his phone wasn't the culprit), but the show continued, thanks to Salett's booming baritone and his picturesque songs about the broken-hearted.

Apart from Glen Hansard (who was also present at the last Burgundy Stain Session), perhaps the biggest surprise guest of the evening was Norah Jones who performed a couple of songs, including a lovely cover song by the late Canadian singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle, "(Talk to me of) Mendocino."

Since Le Poisson Rouge was set up in the round, the performers faced inward on stage... with exception of the theatrical Justin Bond, who made sure to sing to the whole room. Before beginning to play, the snarky, morose performance artist managed to both hit on Sam and get the whole room laughing. "I'm feeling horny and generous tonight," said Bond by way of introduction. "So someone might have a very nice evening tonight... and it might just be me." Bond played a series of songs, often featuring lyrics borrowed from (delightfully risque or provocative) poetry.

The "genderqueer" singer definitely elicited the most laughs of the evening. "I've got some bourbon. It's in a plastic cup, but it looks like glass, so hey! I'm all for things that look like one thing and are another," joked Bond. It was wise to conclude the show with this rousing performance, but the end still came rather abruptly and unexpectedly, leaving Bartlett to quickly ramble off next month's collaborators: Elysian Fields, Martha Wainwright, Sara Quin (from Tegan and Sara), Dawn Landes, David Thomas Broughton, and more. Tickets are still on sale for that show, and for Sam Amidon's show at Glasslands, and for the one Justin Bond has coming up at Joe's Pub on 2/20.

More pictures from the 2/8 show below....

Continue reading "Doveman played another salon w/ Norah Jones, Glen Hansard & more (pics), announced guests for next time"

by BBG

Broken Bells (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Broken Bells who recently lauched a 3D interactive video for "October", kick off a string of dates tonight (12/1) at Irving Plaza. The NYC show is part of the 101.9 RXP "Yule Rock Holiday Concert Series". The band will hit select cities from coast-to-coast, eventually landing in LA by the middle of the month. Updated tour dates are below.

And Broken Bells member Danger Mouse just wouldn't be himself if he didn't have his hand in another 10000 projects. His latest is "Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi present: ROME":

Brian Burton [Danger Mouse] and Daniele Luppi met in Los Angeles in 2004... Luppi, a composer from Italy, was receiving acclaim for his album An Italian Story, which revisited the cinematic sounds of his childhood. (He has also written music for the screen - Sex and the City, Nine - and later worked with Burton on arrangements for Gnarls Barkley, Dark Night of the Soul and Broken Bells.)

United by their shared passion for classic Italian film music, ...[and] after an intense songwriting period - writing separately at first, and then together as the songs evolved - they travelled to Rome in October 2006. Luppi made some calls and they assembled the original musicians from films such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West - including the legendary Marc 4 backing band and Alessandro Alessandroni's 'I Cantori Moderni' choir. Most of the musicians were in their seventies and hadn't worked together for several decades.

They booked time in Rome's cavernous Forum Studios - formerly Ortophonic Studios, founded, amongst others, by the great Ennio Morricone... Every effort was made to replicate the recording practices of the 1960s/70s golden age, recording live and straight to tape, with overdubs but no electronics, computers, 21st-century effects or studio trickery.

In other Jack White news, the White Stripes frontman/Third Man Records honcho is taking some fire for deciding to put up some limited edition Third Man material up for auction on ebay:

Paid subscribers of Third Man Records' The Vault were directed to an eBay page with open auctions for copies of the limited edition vinyl version of the self-titled White Stripes reissue. Within an hour, all 5 auctions were above $100 each, and a small shitstorm of comments began to erupt on The Vault, when, suddenly, Jack White joined the site's chatroom with a handbasket-gripping introduction of "See you in hell?" and explained, quite simply, why the hell there were people paying 500 bucks for a record you have to crack open to listen to: "Supply & demand.... nobody told them to buy it with a gun to their head."

...When a fan tried to argue that people with "more money than sense" were to blame, Jack retorted: "Or are they just paying what the going rate is?" White explained: "We sell a Wanda Jackson split record for 10 bucks, the eBay flipper turns around and sells it for 300. If 300 is what it's worth, then why doesn't Third Man Records sell it for 300? If we sell them for more, the artist gets more, the flipper gets nothing. We're not in the business of making flippers a living. We're in the business of giving fans what they want." - [Antiquiet]

Continue reading "Broken Bells kicking off tour (dates), Danger Mouse has a new project w/ Daniele Luppi, Norah Jones & Jack White (who will ebay records if he wants to)"

photos by Tim Griffin

"An estimated 200,000 people journeyed the grounds of Zilker Park this weekend for the Austin City Limits Music Festival.

The descent of the iconic guitar sign Monday signified the end of an incredibly successful ACL Music Festival, and with eight stages and 130 bands, clean up is expected to take the rest of the week.

"This year's ACL was one of the best. The weather was incredible," City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department spokesperson Victor Ovalle said.

The show's producer, C3 Presents, takes care of cleaning up Zilker Park, and the city sends crews into the surrounding neighborhoods to remove any trace of music fans who know how to have a good time.

After C3 Presents leaves the park later this week, fertilizing and watering the grass will city's number one priority." [News 8 Austin]

Continue reading "ACL 2010 Day 3 in pics (Foals, Eagles, Yeasayer, Norah Jones, Ted Leo, Devendra Banhart, Morning Benders & more)"

photos courtesy of WireImage/Tommy

Julian Casablancas of The Strokes being stylish

Billed as "A Night To Get Drunk And Celebrate Tom Petty's 60th Birthday!!!", the annual Petty Fest takes place at Bowery Ballroom on 10/28, and it includes essentially the same big group of musicians that keep getting together for these tribute shows to Petty and Dylan. This next one promises appearances from numerous performers including Adam Green (who just showed up at the final Dufus show), Norah Jones (I wonder if she'll sing with Belle and Sebastian at Williamsburg Waterfront tonight), Will Forte & Jason Sudeikis of Saturday Night Live, Nicole Atkins, Nikolai Fraiture, Catherine Pierce, Jesse Malin, Tyson Ritter of the All American Rejects, Reeve & Zane Carney, Jody Porter of Fountains Of Wayne, Sammy James of the Mooney Suzuki, Steve Schiltz of Hurricane Bells & Longwave, Antony Ellis of Five O'Clock Heroes, Mikki James, and Hymns. They wanted to have this in the Varvatos Store but he was booked already that night. I kid. Tickets are on sale for the 18+ show.

Speaking of Nikolai Fraiture, his band The Strokes (whose singer is pictured above) still don't have a new album out and still haven't played a proper NYC show, though they did play one on 9/12 for Tommy Hilfiger during Fashion Week this year.

Scale appeared to be the theme of the entire party, which was equal parts industry corporate, swanky, and of course - this is Tommy we're talking about - preppy. Outside, nearly 40 khaki-clad male models lined the dramatic red carpet, backlit by the designer's bright initials in shifting hues of red, white, and blue set against green grass. Inside, we lost count of the number of rolled-up pants with loafers, kind of like our inability to count the number of celebrities sipping champagne and snacking on lobster rolls: Mark Ruffalo, Ed Westwick, Russel Simmons, Kimora Lee Simmons, Neil Patrick Harris, Christina Hendricks, Kelly Osbourne, Jeremy Piven, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lopez.

...By the time The Strokes played their loud-as-hell set including hits "Last Night," "Someday," and "Reptilia," the crowd was ready to dance. Julian was in full form, sliding around in black stretch jeans and white shades, filling the atrium with powerhouse vocals.

A typically reserved crowd of A-list attendees broke out into a spontaneous dance party on the first-floor staircase, like a cross between The Stroke's best-looking fans and J.Crew's latest advertising campaign. After a supremely satisfying set of about eight songs, The Strokes walked off, thanking the crowd. -[Elle]

Continue reading "Petty Fest 2010 includes that same big group of artists, members of the Strokes (who played a fashion week show)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Teenage Fanclub - Baby Lee (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Vaselines - I Hate the '80s (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Vaselines - Sex with an Ex (MP3)

Like veteran indie bands from Glasgow? Want to see them live for free? Read on.

If the $50 price tag of this Thursday's (9/30) Belle and Sebastian show with Teenage Fanclub at the Williamsburg Waterfront has been scaring you off, we're giving away a pair of tickets to the show. Details below.

We're also giving away THREE pairs of tickets to tomorrow night's (9/28)  Teenage Fanclub/The Clean show at Bowery Ballroom. Details below.

Wait there's more. We're also giving away TWO pairs of tickets to see The Vaselines on October 6 at Webster Hall.  Details below.

The waterfront show on Thursday is the kickoff to Belle and Sebastian's tour. Fellow Glaswegians Teenage Fanclub are opening. Tickets are still available. Let's hope the current rainy forceast changes by then. The band also performs on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday (9/29) night. After the Waterfront show, the band head's to Las Vegas for this weekend's Matador 21 extravaganza, make a short detour into Mexico, and will then backtrack east across North America.

The band's eighth album, Write About Love, will be out October 12 and is Belle & Sebastian's first in nearly five years. A decade and a half into their career, you pretty much know what to expect from Stuart Murdoch, Stevie Jackson and the rest of the band, but since 2001's Dear Catastrophe Waitress the group's quality control has been pretty high. (2006's The Life Pursuit was especially good I thought.) Write About Love is another lovely record in the band's cannon. The vinyl comes with a bonus 7" containing two songs not on the album.

There are a couple of surprising guest vocalists.  Carey Mulligan, Oscar-nominated star of An Education, sings on the album's title track (which you can download for free via a widget at the bottom of this post), and Norah Jones features on "Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John."

The band have taken some interesting routes promoting the new album. Earlier this year they encouraged fans to take pictures with the album's title incorporated into the shot, creating a Flickr pool for the project. Murdoch included his favorites in an entertaining half-hour "television" program (not sure if it aired anywhere but online) that is a mix of live performance, audience Q&A, and a discussion of the current state of the music industry. In a cute, charming way, of course. You can watch it below.

It is also worth noting that Belle and Sebastian have some really impressive openers along the way, including The Vaselines (Mexico dates), Versus in Washington D.C., Dean & Britta doing the Galaxie 500 thing in Boston, and Trashcan Sinatras in Seattle. All dates are at the bottom of this post.

Teenage Fanclub, who open the Waterfront show, have two headlining shows of their own -- tonight (9/27) and tomorrow (9/28) -- at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets are still available for both (click the links). Tomorrow's show is the more desirable of the two, with New Zealand indie rock legends The Clean as co-headliners. Merge labelmates The Radar Brother open both shows other dates on the tour.

If you somehow got this far into this post without reading it, we're giving away tickets to the show tomorrow with the Clean. See details below.

Teenage Fanclub's new album on Merge, Shadows, is the band's seventh. Like what I said about Belle and Sebastian above, you know what you're getting with a new TFC album at this point (midtempo, harmony-laden guitar pop indebted to Big Star and The Byrds) but the band has remained amazingly consistent during their 20-year history. It doesn't hurt that they have three very good songwriters in the band. (Though we can all agree Gerry Love is the best, right? No? Your mileage may vary.)  You can stream the whole thing over at Merge's website. And they have always been good live, funny too.

Teenage Fanclub's North American tour with The Radar Brothers takes them across the continent, ending in Vancouver on October 16. All dates are at the bottom of this post.

One of the TFC dates is opening for The Vaselines in DC on Saturday (10/2). That's where the Vaselines are launching their own North American tour. Will there be any musicians over the age of 37 actually in Glasgow next week? The Vaselines tour hits NYC next week when they play Webster Hall on Wednesday, October 6 with openers Jeffrey Lewis and Crystal Stilts. If you haven't heard The Vaselines' new album Sex with an Ex, it picks right up where the band left off 20 years ago: smart, funny, filthy, and catchy as hell. And still genuinely great live.

All tour dates for Belle & Sebastian, Teenage Fanclub and The Vaselines are below, along with videos, contest details, widgets and whatnot.

Continue reading "Belle & Sebastian, Teenage Fanclub & the Vaselines launching tours w/ new albums (WIN TICKETS, get MP3s, dates & stuff) "

"Lilith organizers are saddened to announce Carly Simon had to withdraw from three Lilith Fair dates (Boston, July 30; New York City, July 31; and Hartford, Aug 1) for medical reasons. Last week, Simon suffered an injury by seriously fracturing and breaking her foot, which will prevent her from performing at these shows. Everyone on the Lilith tour wishes Simon a speedy recovery. Meanwhile, look for information on updated line-ups for these three dates to be announced in the coming days."

In freaky related news (or Carly Simon just realized the excuse worked), The Go-Gos cancelled their Lilith Fair dates for almost the same exact reason (and their non-Lilith dates like July 20th at Irving Plaza).

Earlier this month it was announced that Lilith had to cancel 10 dates of the tour, and other artists like Norah Jones and Kelly Clarkson previously pulled out of their shows on the tour.

Continue reading "cursed Lilith Fair loses Carly Simon due to foot injury"

"#104 Definition of Hell - Norah Jones in the rain at Prospect Park" - rory ahearn

Norah Jones @ Celebrate Brooklyn - June 9, 2010 (NoriakiKatsuno)

Norah Jones @ Celebrate Brooklyn - June 9, 2010 (qtrainquips)

Despite the rain, Norah Jones helped kick offf the 2010 season of Celebrate Brooklyn in Prospect Park last night. Celebrate Brooklyn continues on June 12th with a free show by Allen Toussaint and Davell Crawford. Check out the whole schedule.

ACL 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

October 8-10, 2010 | Zilker Park, Austin, TX

"The Austin City Limits Music Festival began as a modest, two-day event and now, as it enters it's 9th year, has become a perennial American music experience. Taking place at the heart of Austin, Texas in the legendary Zilker Park, ACL Festival has grown to 3 days, 8 stages and over 130 bands."

Continue reading "Austin City Limits announces 2010 festival lineup (Eagles, Muse, Phish, Strokes, MIA, LCD, Spoon, Gayngs, more) "

Sonic Youth @ Battery Park in 2008 (more by Jason Bergman)

The schedule for Celebrate Brooklyn series in Prospect Park hasn't been announced in full yet. But three free shows that have are Congolese band Konono #1 on July 17th and Sonic Youth on July 31st. Norah Jones opens this year's series a free show on Wednesday, June 9th.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Prospect Park Bandshell
5:30pm Gala begins with Cocktails & Dinner
6:30pm Gates open to public
8:00pm Opening Night Concert with Norah Jones (free to the public)
10:00pm After-Party with I Love Vinyl, For Friends of Celebrate Brooklyn & Gala Guests

Join us for the Celebrate Brooklyn! Opening Night Gala which will honor and present the Celebrate Brooklyn Award to two prominent women of Brooklyn. All proceeds from the gala will provide vital funds for free, world-class performing arts programming at the Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival, which serves 250,000 New Yorkers each year. Support the festival you love and help us ensure our performances remain free an accessible to everyone.

Konono #1's North American tour comes to LPR in Manhattan the day after the park show. It's not free. Tickets are still on sale.

Speaking of not free, the 'benefit' shows at the Bandshell scheduled so far are Passion Pit/Tokyo Police Club/Suckers on Tuesday, June 29th, and The National and Beach House on July 27th.

Continue reading "Konono #1, Sonic Youth & Norah Jones playing free shows in Prospect Park this year"

Estimated Value: Priceless
Item Number 128
Item Description
These are very rare, limited edition Daft Punk toy robots called "Daft Punk 1000% Kubricks" made by the legendary Japanese toy manufacturer Medicom in collaboration with the legendary Hong Kong based toy manufacturers, Silly Thing.
They have both been signed and decorated by Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Momem-Christo, of Daft Punk
They sell new for $2000 for the pair.
They are 25" tall.

Continue reading "Daft Punk dolls, Ed Droste's guitar & other stuff for charity"

After a hectic day of updating the constantly updating Bonnaroo lineup page, the entire thing has been announced. Gwar, Norah Jones, and the rest of the lineup below...

Continue reading "the complete 2010 Bonnaroo lineup (Stevie Wonder, The Melvins, Kings of Leon, Isis, Local Natives & many more) "

Lilith Fair, which has been dormant since 1999, will reform this year for a North American tour this summer. Exact dates and venues are forthcoming, but the ongoing list of confirmed acts is impressive (though they won't all play every city). The lineup currently includes Beth Orton, Cat Power, Emmylou Harris, Erykah Badu, the Gossip, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, Heart, Indigo Girls, Janelle Monae, Ke$ha, La Roux, Lights, Loretta Lynn, Mary J. Blige, Metric, Miranda Lambert, Norah Jones, Rosie Thomas, Sarah McLachlan, Serena Ryder, Sheryl Crow, Tara MacLean, Tegan and Sara.

New York City is one of the tour's confirmed stops. The rest of those and the fest's so-far lineup are below...

Continue reading "Lilith Fair 2010 (Cat Power, Norah Jones, Tegan & Sara, Janelle Monae, Metric, Grace Potter, Gossip, Erykah Badu, Beth Orton, Sia, many more)"

photos by Eric Townsend, words by Andrew Frisicano

Doveman (w/ Norah Jones on vocals)...

Thomas Bartlett was at the center of his Doveman and Friends concert at the Mercury Lounge on Tuesday, January 12nd. On top of the headlining set, Barlett ably accompanied openers The Poison Tree (Steve Salett of King of France) and Sam Amidon on piano (even sitting in for some tasteful drums during Sam's set). Though the night on the whole seemed casual and off-the-cuff, with plenty of stories and asides, Bartlett's piano playing was always on point.

Sam Amidon opened with "How Come That Blood," the superb preview single off his forthcoming record, with its rapid, coordinated fingerpicking and clear traditional-ballad-like melody. He traced his set's progression through a song cycle about a character named "Ryan Seek Rest." When least expected, Amidon let loose a rooster scream that burned through the crowd.

Puss N Boots played an all-covers set that included songs by Johnny Cash, Doc Watson, Wilco (" Jesus, Etc" with Norah Jones singing sublimely) and Wanda Jackson (who herself is coming to town. The drummer-less three-piece made good use of their own vocal trademarks when harmonizing - Catherine Popper's bassy voice, Sasha Dobson's direct tone and Norah's breathier notes.

Doveman started his set with a run of songs off The Conformist, his hooky, atmospheric pop gem that came out late last year. As a dynamic piano player and singer, Bartlett doesn't need much in the way of support, and he didn't get much from his band, who seemed to be tearing into the material for the first time, afraid to make themselves known in any real way. Norah sang back up on a song, and Justin Bond, who has been working with Doveman on a new album, sang one too. So did Dawn Landes (who has a BV-presented record release show coming up at the same club). "Dancing" was the encore lullaby that sent off the crowd.

Coming up, Sam Amidon will be opening for Beth Orton at City Winery next Sunday and Monday . Doveman's upcoming tour dates (including SXSW) are posted below. At the show, he also mentioned that he'd be performing with Elysian Fields at LPR on Friday, January 22nd. Tickets are on sale.

More pictures from Mercury Lounge are below...

Continue reading "Doveman & friends (Sam Amidon, Norah Jones, Poison Tree, Justin Bond, Dawn Landes...) played Mercury Lounge (pics)"

Steely Dan's Donald Fagen will be joining Levon Helm at Terminal 5 on Thursday. It's also a chance to see Okkervil River who are opening for the show. Tickets are still on sale.

Okkervill River's Will Sheff (recently seen covering Fleetwood Mac) contributed to the new Norah Jones album.

Puss n Boots (aka Sasha Dobson, Catherine Popper, and Norah Jones (not Avril Lavigne as listed on Mercury Lounge's website) are opening for Doveman and friends at Mercury Lounge on January 12th. Tickets are still on sale. As previously mentioned, Doveman band member Sam Amidon opens that show too.

Tickets are also now on sale for the two "Doveman + Peter Pears : An Evening With Thomas Bartlett and Nico Muhly" shows at The Kitchen.

Norah Jones, Sam Amidon, Nico Muhly, and members of the National are among those who contributed to the new Doveman album.

Doveman, Sam Amidon and Nico Muhly are playing this year's Big Ears Fest which is curated by a member of the National.

Sam Amidon was reportedly "backed by Doveman, Beth Orton, Final Fantasy + Shazad Ismaily" at Rockwood Music Hall the other night.

Final Fantasy is not called Final Fantasy any more. Tickets are still on sale for the Owen Pallett show happening at Bowery Ballroom on January 18th.

Beth Orton and Shazad (who also plays in Doveman) both contribute to Sam's forthcoming album.

Beth Orton has some shows coming up of her own too. Video of Sam and Beth performing together in London, below...

Continue reading "Donald Fagen, Levon Helm, Puss n Boots, Norah Jones, Doveman, Sam Amidon, Beth Orton, etc (dates, tix & stuff)"

Norah Jones is playing the WaMu Theater At Madison Square Garden on March 27th. Tickets are on sale (@ 10am).

Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck are playing two nights at Madison Square Garden in February. Tickets go on pre-sale on Monday.

Crystal Stilts are playing MHOW on February 20th. Tickets are on sale (more about this show later).

Tickets are on sale for the upcoming Mumford & Sons show at Bowery Ballroom.

Omara Portuondo is playing Town Hall on February 27th. Tickets are on sale (@ 10am)

Tickets are on sale for the upcoming Those Darlins show at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are now on sale for BOTH All shows happening in Brooklyn (early and late).

Tickets are on sale for the recently added Final Fantasy show at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the two Pat Metheny shows coming up at Town Hall.

Tickets are on sale for the recently added Wild Beasts / Still Life Still show at Music Hall of Williamsburg (and tix are still on sale for their Bowery Ballroom show too).

Saturday (12/5) night shows HERE.

The Washington Post reports, that "MySpace will acquire most of the assets of iMeem for a purchase price of around $1 million in cash."

Meanwhile, as the NY Times points out, "Hulu, the joint online venture between NBC, Fox and ABC that mostly offers free TV shows and movies, is about to start singing a different tune: music videos. On Wednesday the company plans to announce a somewhat limited deal with EMI, the smallest of the four major music labels, to give a 'channel' on Hulu to the crooner Norah Jones."

EMI is also in the news for another reason today, and that's because of their sucess in getting rid of rogue Beatles music sellers (or something like that)...

Two Web sites that sold songs by The Beatles for 25 cents apiece should remain shut down indefinitely, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge John F. Walter issued a preliminary injunction against BlueBeat.com and Basebeat.com at the request of music company EMI Group. The injunction prohibits the sites and their owner, Hank Risan, from streaming or selling songs by the Fab Four and other popular artists, including Lily Allen and Coldplay. [AP]

Continue reading "MySpace buys Imeem, Hulu makes a deal w/ EMI, Beatles (now on an Apple USB) song sellers to remain shut down"

Levon Helm

The Levon Helm Band will be departing from their weekly "Midnight Ramble" gig at Helm's Studio in Woodstock for a show at NYC's Terminal 5 on Thursday, January 7th, 2010. Joining them at this show be Okkervil River (currently their only scheduled show). Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 6th at noon.

Okkervil River's last full band show in NYC was January '09 at the then-new-venue Bell House. The band recently appeared on an episode of Austin City Limits with M. Ward. A clip of them performing the song "Unless It's Kicks" from that is posted below.

Okkervil River's Will Sheff is one of the songwriters that collaborated with Norah Jones on her new album, The Fall, out November 17th on Blue Note. The record also includes co-writing contributions from Ryan Adams and frequent Jones partner Jesse Harris, guitarwork from Marc Ribot and Smokey Hormel, and keys from Roots member James Poyser. It's streaming in full at NPR.

The ACL video and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Okkervil River playing NYC w/ Levon Helm Band (dates), Will Sheff contributed to new Norah Jones album (streaming)"

by Andrew Frisicano

Speaking of Nico Muhly, he just played a Wordless Music show at Columbia's Miller Theatre on September 9th. There he performed with '802 Tour,' a round-robin style stage show with frequent collaborators Sam Amidon and Thomas Bartlett...

Mr. Bartlett's piano-driven ballads, including some from a forthcoming CD, "The Conformist," had a shadowy, confessional intimacy that was accentuated by his tremulous, nearly whispered crooning. In sharp contrast, Mr. Amidon affected a ragged backwoods yelp for traditional shape-note songs and other folksy material.

Mr. Muhly's appealing instrumental compositions drew on Philip Glass's harmonic stasis and the rhythmic vitality of Stravinsky and Ligeti, mixed with a flair for electronic counterpoint that was all Mr. Muhly's own. Yuki Numata, a terrific violinist from the ACME group, brought out an ardent romanticism in "Honest Music," for violin and electronics....

Where genres had been gently mixed during the concert, in an encore medley they were mangled outright. Mr. Muhly waxed rhapsodic at the piano in Mariah Carey's "My All"; Mr. Bartlett offered a limpid rendition of Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"; and Mr. Amidon turned R. Kelly's "Relief" into a suitably crooked hootenanny singalong. [NY Times]

Doveman will be playing fall-winter dates (not announced yet), and unless they are solo shows, those will probably come after the Sam Amidon/Nico Muhly European tour (also with Ben Frost and Valgeir Sigurðsson) that runs October 24th to November 12th. The Eurotrip is less than a week after Muhly appears at the New Yorker Festival to discuss "Radical Opera" with Rufus Wainwright in a talk moderated by Alex Ross.

Martha & Rufus Wainwright recently played with their father at Highline Ballroom, and will both appear in an upcoming show at Carnegie Hall. Rufus also has another benefit show coming up in NYC soon.

The National (members) can be found at BAM at the of October with a member of the Pixies who just announced a 4th NYC show to happen in November.

The new Doveman track that National frontman Matt Berninger sings on, is streaming at Pitchfork.

Doveman album art above. Tracklist and some interesting videos, below...

Continue reading "Doveman's new album The Conformist w/ The National, Nico Muhly, Sam Amidon, Martha Wainwright & Norah Jones"

Radio Happy Hour [at (Le) Poisson Rouge] is a live variety show featuring an old-time radio comedy/drama and your favorite guest stars from the worlds of film, music, and letters. Hosted by Sam Osterhout, the show engages its guests in a wildly right-angled conversation that careens between interviews, performances, and trivia. And at the center of it all is a short, old time radio comedy in which the guest stars as him or herself or, in some cases, as Nancy Drew. Audiences will see all of this--the interviews, the corny jokes, the guest performances, and the behind-the-scenes making of a radio drama--from 2 to 3 pm on the second Saturdays of June, July, and August. Radio Happy Hour is an updated, New York version of Hee Haw. With more drinking. And sound effects. Trust us, it'll make sense when you see it.

This summer, Norah Jones, who recently appeared on 30 Rock, is appearing in her second movie, Wah Do Dem, with Sean Bones. She also has a high profile gig with Rufus and Martha Wainwright scheduled for late August on the tip of Long Island, and probably some smaller ones scattered around too.

Andrew W.K. has a number of shows and projects coming up, including a Canadian tour, a gig at Santos Party House on Thursday, June 11th, and Cake Shop show June 12th.

Michael Showalter appears at Bonnaroo with Michael Ian Black this weekend (June 11-14). The pair will celebrate their new Comedy Central show, Michael and Michael Have Issues, at The Bell House with a comedy set and a screening of its premiere on July 15th. Tickets are on sale. Showalter will also be at All Points West on August 2nd.

More Radio Happy Hour info below...

Continue reading "Radio Happy Hour @ LPR w/ Norah Jones, Andrew W.K. & Michael Showalter (tix on sale) "

Martha Wainwright singing Edith Piaf @ Spiegeltent (more by Chris La Putt)

Martha Wainwright has sung the songs of Edith Piaf in the past, and she'll do it again for three shows on Sunday, June 14th and Monday, June 15th at Dixon Place Theater (161 Chrystie St). Tickets are still on sale for the Monday 10pm show.

She'll be recording the sets with producer Hal Willner for a live record; her band will include electric guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Doug Wieselman, bassist Brad Albetta and pianist Thomas Bartlett (aka Doveman - who's got his own show Thurday, June 18th at Le Poisson Rouge with Sam Amidon and members of the National).

Just a few days later, on Wednesday, June 17th, some other Wainwrights (Loudon Wainwright III, Sloan Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche) will perform a free "Wainwright Family Concert" at the Madison Square Park Oval. Martha and Rufus are not on that bill, but they are playing the "Not So Silent Night" show set for December at London's Royal Albert Hall with the McGarrigle side of their family (Martha + Rufus = children of Louden + Kate McGarrigle). Tickets are on sale. Poster below.

Martha will also play two free outdoor NYC shows of her own this summer. She's appearing at part of the Tribute to Sly and the Family Stone at Castle Clinton on Thursday, July 16th. Then on August 14th and 15th, she'll play Central Park Summerstage with Morphoses and the Wheeldon Company. That night is billed as...

A very special evening of dance and music that will feature a world premiere by choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, set to new music by Martha Wainwright, both commissioned by City Parks Foundation.

Videos of Martha doing her Edith Piaf thing, with all tour dates and "A Not So Silent Night" poster, below...

Continue reading "Martha Wainwright - 3 Edith Piaf shows, Castle Clinton, Summerstage, Watermill & other 2009 tour dates "

After meeting his biological father for the first time, GE powerhouse Jack Donaghy discovered his dad, professor Milton Greene, needed a kidney. Not being a potential organ donor himself, Mr. Donaghy turned to some very affluent friends in the entertainment world. This partnership created the phenomenon, "Kidney Now!' -- a benefit concert featuring some of the most recognizable names in the music industry. With the help of this song, Milton Green just might find the kidney match he needs and Jack Donaghy may be granted the gift of a father he never knew.

Continue reading "30 Rock 'Kidney Now' w/ Elvis Costello, Beastie Boys, Moby, Talib Kweli, Norah Jones, Steve Earle, Rhett Miller (video) "

photos by Tim Griffin

"Wheeler has been hired to write the "Shrek" spinoff "Puss in Boots" for DreamWorks Animation, a stand-alone feature foray for the feline assassin/swordsman voiced by Antonio Banderas in the two most recent "Shrek" films. The "Shrek" franchise has ballooned into a multibillion-dollar property, with three feature films grossing more than $2 billion worldwide in theaters, tens of millions of DVDs sold and merchandising in every toy store. A fourth feature film, "Shrek Goes Fourth," is due in theaters May 21, 2010." [The Hollywood Reporter]

Continue reading "Puss n Boots @ Rockwood Music Hall in NYC - pics "

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Harlem Shakes - Strictly Game (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sean Bones - Easy Street (MP3)

Harlem Shakes @ Highline Ballroom (more by Ryan Muir)

The lineup at Pianos tonight (5/6) at has had some changes since we last wrote about it.

Harlem Shakes are still playing a free early show with The Cringe and Sean Bones, but Japandroids, who were originally scheduled to play the show's late set, had to reschedule all of their dates because of illness. They'll be in town instead on July 10th and 11th. Heavenly States canceled as well. Instead, we have the Octagon, Electric Owls, and Stars Like Nesseth for the post-Shakes late show (10pm start).

The Shakes have been busy since the release of Technicolor Health on Gigantic Music in March. I caught their show at the Starr Space on Thursday, April 23rd, where the band closed the night. The late Harlem Shakes set was persuasive enough to convince most of the crowd to stick around and sacrifice a totally alert work/school day. Accordingly, the front of the room was packed with people dancing to the band's new album songs, which they played as A Christmas Story rolled on the projector. The hardwood surface of the Starr Space were less than ideal acoustically (the PA speakers mounted behind the crowd didn't help either), but no one seemed to notice -- most were more interested in the party anthem choruses of songs like "Strictly Game" and "Sunlight."

At the end of May, the band heads out on tour with Passion Pit and Cale Parks across North America. After that, the Harlem Shakes will headline a July 1st show at the Bowery Ballroom. Tickets are still on sale.

Max & Willow (Sean Bones & Norah Jones in Wah Do Dem)

Also playing the free show tonight (7pm, you better hurry) is Sean Bones, "solo project of Sean Sullivan aka the guitarist of Sam Champion." He's set to release his debut LP (a reggae album), Rings, July 21st on Frenchkiss Records. Coming up, Bones will also play the Delancey on May 20th, open for the 1990s at the Mercury Lounge on May 28th, and perform at the Frenchkiss Records Northside Fest showcase at Bruar Falls on June 12th.

Sean Bones stars with Norah Jones in the indie flick Wah Do Dem, premiering at the LA Film Festival in June. Jones also sings on "Turn Them," the closing track on Bones' new disc.

You might recognize the other band on tonight's bill, The Cringe, as the group that features Rachael Ray's husband, guitarist/singer John Cusimano. The group has performed at Ray's pre-SXSW Santos show and SXSW BBQ in March of this year, her 2008 SXSW party, and other Ray-sponsored gigs. She's also hosting tonight at Pianos (Watch Entertainment = her production company) (flyer posted again below).

Two new clips from the Harlem Shakes' record release party at MHOW on March 26th, and the Sean Bones record track list and and IFC interview, and the trailer for Wah Do Dem, below...

Continue reading "Sean Bones - new record & movie, Norah Jones & tonight w/ (Rachael Ray and) The Harlem Shakes (new live videos) "

Rumor has it that LES spot Rockwood Music Hall (196 Allen Street, NY, NY) will be expanding its current, limited-capacity venue. Have you heard that?

The intimate venue, is known for being a great place to see a live show and for hosting surprise/secret performances by well-known artists like Ryan Adams and Norah Jones (under the guise of side-bands like The Sloppy Joannes and Puss n Boots). In fact, Puss n Boots ("P n B") is scheduled to perform at Rockwood on Saturday, May 9th. They played Mercury Lounge earlier this year.

The next night, Sunday, May 10th, the venue's Second Sundays series will host its "closing concert" from 6-8pm with special guests. The series organizer Danielle writes that the event is transitioning "from a monthly event to special event format. For now, let's just say...it's less, 'all good things come to an end' and more, 'good things come to those who wait.'" Performers for the event include Jonathan Spottiswoode, Elizabeth Ziman, Paul Brill, Jamie Leonhart, Casey Shea, Sasha Dobson (who is 1/3 of Puss n Boots) and Becky and Nathan Bliss of Barnaby Bright.

At Rockwood later the same night will be singer/accordianist/keyboardist Corn Mo (who opened for Dead Milkmen at the Warsaw in April), and a mysterious "Bushranger." (any clue?)

Casey Shea, in addition to playing Sunday the 10th, is also playing Rockwood tonight (5/6). He goes on long after Jeremiah Lockwood of The Sway Machinery, and right before a mysterious "Archibald Hext" (Ari Hest?). Check Rockwood's site for their latest full schedule.

Last night (May 5th), Corn Mo played the Bushwick Book Club (not at Rockwood), a first Tuesdays event in Brooklyn where songwriters compose and perform original tunes inspired a selected book. This month's subject was Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Other performers included event organizer Susan Hwang, Natti Vogel, Josh Deeter, Lady Blanche, Anna Leuchtenberger, Duck and Swallow, Joe Crow Ryan, Sara Lautman, Andrea Larose, Dan Costello, and Rachel Devlin. Franz Nicolay of the Hold Steady performed at the series' March edition, which focused on the novella Flatland. He's on the schedule again for June 2nd, when the collective inspiration will come from Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

Flyers, videos & Corn Mo clips, below...

Continue reading "Rockwood Music Hall expanding? - upcoming shows include Corn Mo, Puss n Boots, 'Archibald Hext' & 'Bushranger'"

Puss n Boots @ Rodeo Bar on Halloween (by Jonathan Troll / Headstrong Pictures)

Pronto features Mikael Jorgensen of Wilco. Puss 'N Boots is the name of one of Norah Jones's many side projects. This band also features Sasha Dobson and Catherine Popper (who all backed Wilco for a song at MSG). Both bands are playing Mercury Lounge in NYC on March 19th. Tickets are on sale.

Puss n Boots are also playing Rockwood Music Hall one day earlier, and a show with Levon Helm.

New Ramble Dates
March 14 and 21, 2009
and for your sweethearts...
A Valentines Day Ramble ~ February 14, 2009
With guests, Puss N Boots featuring Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Norah Jones
[Levon Helm]

Pronto have no other shows scheduled.