by Bill Pearis

You may remember that former Cryptacize singer Nedelle Torrisi has a new project called Paradise whose debut 7" was just released. The b-side of that single is "Psychic Returns" and we've got the premiere of a delicate piano version of that song, which you can stream below. We're also giving away a copy of the 7" which comes in some elaborate packaging, including nine 7"x7" photos. Details on how to enter are below as well.

Paradise doesn't have any upcoming shows, because she's busy being part of Sufjan Stevens' current "Christmas Sing-a-Long" holiday tour whose sleigh pulls into NYC next week for shows at Bowery Ballroom on December 21 and 22 (tickets go on sale 12/19). She recently dished about preparations for the tour with Interview:

GILMORE: How are rehearsals going?

TORRISI: It's funny. You're playing drums, and I'm suddenly a keyboardist! But I'm terrible. I have to practice three times more than everyone else. I'll be like, "We wish you Merry Christmas!" and then I'm lost!

GILMORE: You're playing that song?

TORRISI: Half the set is Sufjan original Christmas songs, and then half the set is just normal ones that everyone knows. Those are going to be sing-alongs with the audience. It's pretty embarrassing when you can't get through "Jingle Bells" on keyboard. That's my challenge, is learning how to become a piano player.

Paradise song stream and contest details, below...

Continue reading "Paradise's Nedelle Torrisi playing in Sufjan Stevens' band, releases "piano" version of new single (which you can win)"

by Bill Pearis

Nedelle Torrisi, who is one half of the Asthmatic Kitty-signed Cryptacize and has sung with Sufjan Stevens, Saturday Looks Good to Me and others, has a new musical project called Paradise and her first single under that name is out this week on Thin Wrist Recordings. Produced by Kenneth Gilmore (Ariel Pink), the record features vocal contributions from Ramona Gonzales and Julia Holter, as well some guitarwork from the ubiquitous Dev Hynes. It's lovely pop on the widescreen side of things and is refreshingly not awash in reverb. You can stream the A-side, "I Love Thousands Every Summer" (which has been floating around the internet for most of the year) below and you can check out the elaborate packaging for the 7" here.

Paradise plays two shows this week: Tuesday (11/13) at Glasslands with Field Mouse and WIM (tickets), and then Thursday (11/15) at Pianos with Andy Burrows, Catharsis and Cookies (tickets). While there is a five-piece band version of Paradise, these NYC shows will be just Nedelle and Ryan Keberle (of Catharsis) on piano.

Single stream is below.

Continue reading "check out Paradise (Nedelle Torrisi of Cryptacize), playing two NYC shows this week"

photos by Bryan Bruchman

"I felt like an out-of-touch old man when I overheard the bartender saying that tickets were still available and that they probably wouldn't sell out. How did it come to this? With several hit singles and a platinum-plus album under their belt, the Breeders shouldn't have difficulty selling out a venue that has a capacity of only five or six hundred. Maybe it wasn't promoted well or maybe too many have forgotten about the band (despite releasing an album last year and a fresh, spanking EP a few months back), but they deserved better. Or else I can enjoy the intimacy of the raucous show and wear the ringing in my ears (that still hasn't subsided after twenty-four hours) as a badge of honor." [a review of the Newport, Kentucky show]

The Breeders kicked off their current tour on August 5th in Newport, KY. Last night (8/17), the band played the Paradise in Boston. That's where the pictures in this post are from. Tonight (8/18), The Breeders plays the first of two NYC shows taking place at Bowery Ballroom. Whispertown 2000 opens both both shows which are sold out. More pictures from Boston below...

Continue reading "The Breeders, now in NYC, played the Paradise, Boston (pics) "