photos by David Andrako, words by Andrew Frisicano

Jherek Bischoff & some of his guests

It wasn't the marathon that opened the inaugural Ecstatic Music Fest in 2011, but this year's opening show on Saturday (2/4) had some of that same collaborative energy, focusing on the compositions and arrangements of Jherek Bischoff, a musician known for his work primarily with The Dead Science, Parenthetical Girls and The Degenerate Art Ensemble. For the show, billed as a preview of Bischoff's forthcoming CD from Brassland ("composed"), the composer got help from the Wordless Music Orchestra and nine guest vocalists.

After a too-brief instrumental opening, David Byrne came out to sing a swaying Afro-Cuban-tinged piece. In what would be a recurring theme, Bischoff's composition wasn't entirely different than the type of song Byrne might sing at one of his own shows. Next up, Charlie Looker intoned through "The Secret Life of Machines" (which you can find an instrumental version of at WNYC) in a style that'd be a close fit to his Extra Life material. Mirah's voice sounded as warm and honeyed as always. Parenthetical Girls's Zac Pennington sang a duet with Sam Mickens, both of them playing up their own strengths, Pennington the animated, Wildean dandy and Mickens the snazzily dressed crooner. The other singers, Craig Wedren from Shudder to Think, Carla Bozulich of Evangelista, and Steven Reker and Jen Goma, were idiosyncratic in their own ways, and Bischoff's string-laden avant-pop tunes bent to their strengths. Deerhoof's Greg Saunier stood out with a few good improvisatory fills but mostly hung back in the ensemble. For his part, Bischoff played ukelele, guitar, bass and sang a song. His young cousin came out to hit a gong at the end of one tune.

The second part of the program, only five songs long, consisted of Bischoff's arrangements of the singers' own material. Craig Wedren, Zac Pennington, Mirah and Carla Bozulich all returned. (In particular, Mirah's vibrant Latin number, "The Country of the Future," was great). For the finale, David Byrne premiered a new song, which he sang with Reker. It took a few verses, but eventually I worked out that "The Fat Man's Comin'" was a song about Santa Claus. As a closer, it was a small gesture where I would have preferred a grand finale, but it seemed to fit with Bischoff's humble collaborator-focused ambitions.

While in town, Mirah plays tonight (Monday) at Glasslands, where she'll be accompanied by cellist Lori Goldston and percussionist Geo Wyeth (Mirah's Facebook says they'll be "performing songs seldom heard from [her] repertoire"). The Ecstatic series continues with three more shows this week. The full schedule is here.

More pictures from Saturday's show at Merkin Concert Hall,below...

Continue reading "Jherek Bischoff, Wordless Orchestra, David Byrne, Mirah & more guests opened the Ecstatic Music Festival (pics, review)"

Kate Bush

Like Loser's Lounge & friends did at Le Poisson Rouge recently, Theo Bleckmann, who also did it at Le Poisson Rouge, and his Hello Earth! project will be performing the music of Kate Bush at David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center today, Thursday (1/5). Tonight's 8:30 show is FREE, so get there early if you want to guarantee a spot. The Hello Earth! lineup, in addition to Bleckmann, includes John Hollenbeck, Skuli Sverrisson, Henry Hey, and Caleb Burhans. As mentioned, they've performed Bush's music in the past and a video of them doing so at Joe's Pub in 2010 is below.

Kate Bush's most recent album, 50 Words For Snow, came out this past November...

"There are only seven songs on 50 Words for Snow-each one clocking in at between 6 and 14 minutes. At first glance, hardly enough music to wrap my arms around after such a long separation from this friend it turns out I've missed terribly. And yet, it is enough. Perfect. I am so glad that she is back." [Geek Mom]

Speaking of other people playing Kate Bush's music, Parenthetical Girls, who more recently released a new Christmas EP, put up 3 demos of Kate Bush covers on their bandcamp this past October with the message:

In the Summer of 2011, Parenthetical Girls performed a brief evening of songs in tribute to Kate Bush. In anticipation of said performance, the group prepared a series of demonstrative recordings for personal use. These are those demos.

Some people play Kate Bush's music. Some were very influenced by it (even if they don't know it). That was especially evident in 2011 when we got great albums by not just Kate, but artists like Austra, Zola Jesus and Chelsea Wolfe too.

UPDATE: Read an interview with Kate at the Daily Swarm.

UPDATE 2: Theo Bleckmann also has multiple shows coming up this month at the Stone.

Videos below...

Continue reading "Theo Bleckmann covers Kate Bush (free show tonight), Parenthetical Girls did too (listen)"

by Andrew Sacher

Like they've been doing in the past, Parenthetical Girls released a free Christmas EP titled Parenthetical Girls Save Christmas. You can download it at their bandcamp now for any price you name. It's a great 3-song EP that otherwise sounds like any of the recent Parenthetical Girls releases except for the sleigh bells that fill every track.

In early 2012, they're going on tour with Los Campesinos!, who Zac Pennington of Parenthetical Girls recently recorded a song with. That song, "Dreams Don't Become You," can be streamed below. The tour includes a Chicago show in January but no NYC dates have been announced. Members of the group however will be in NYC in early February for a different type of show.

All dates and song stream below...

Continue reading "Parenthetical Girls released a new free Christmas EP, going on tour w/ Los Campesinos (dates)"

DOWNLOAD: Perfume Genius - "All Waters" (MP3)

Sam Mickens at Silent Barn in 2010 (more by Amanda Dandaneu)

Sam Mickens of The Dead Science and who also plays as a member of Parenthetical Girls released his solo debut LP, Slay & Slake, in late November. He's following that release with a split 7" with Voice on Tape, which will be out "winter 2011/2012" on Silencio Records. Sam's contribution, which is making its premiere in this post, is a track called "Dark Christmas," and it features a duet with Zac Pennington, who fronts Parenthetical Girls and also sang on Slay & Shake. The song is led by floaty atmospheres, some soft acoustic guitar, and the haunting refrain, "You're gonna love me better when I'm gone." Check it out below. Voice on Tape's contribution to the 7" is a track that features Chelsea Wolfe (who has a new video you can also watch below).

"Dark Christmas" is not to be confused with Sam Mickens' Christmas EP, A Christmas Gift to You, Zac Pennington, which came out yesterday (12/13) and is available to download (for free or as much as you want to give) and stream on bandcamp...

Sam Mickens' newly-out-of-the-vault EP "A Christmas Gift To You, Zac Pennington" was recorded and mixed in one night in Dec. 2010 in the spirit of purest friendship, a private record made for one friend by another. Wrapping up(nearly!) a very prolific year for Mickens, which has seen the release of the Sinistra Secco EP, two singles with his Brooklyn massive the Ecstatic Showband & Revue, and his debut full-length Slay & Slake, this Christmas EP sets down our flight in a nestling snow bank. Have at ye merry gentlemen!

Perfume Genius - Put Your Back N 2 It

In related news, fellow Xiu Xiu collaborator Perfume Genius, whose confessional art pop is not so far removed from Sam Mickens, will release the followup to his great 2010 debut, Learning, early next year. The new album, titled Put Your Back N 2 It, comes out on February 21 via Matador. Grab the lead track, "All Waters," at the top of this post and stream it below, along with the artwork and tracklist. The album is available for a 15% off pre-order with a free poster at the Matador webstore on CD/LP.

Song streams, artwork and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Sam Mickens releases Christmas songs (for & with Zac Pennington); Perfume Genius announces LP (MP3s & streams)"

by Andrew Sacher

Parenthetical Girls at Glasslands on 12.1.11 (via Jonathan Graves)

Parenthetical Girls recently kicked off an east coast tour which brought the band to the NYC-area three times so far, for a Glasslands show (pictured above), an early show at SUNY Purchase (12/3) and a night show at Santos the same day.

I caught their set at Purchase, which opened with singer Zac Pennington crouched inside of a clear plastic box singing "Sympathy For Spastics" with little more accompaniment than light piano lines from keyboardist Amber Smith. While he was under the box, he fogged up the front of it and scribbled the word "metaphor" with his finger, the first of many semi-sarcastic tropes of the set (another great one being when he kicked over a pawn from the student center's giant chess set). Zac's other antics included running into the audience and different rooms of the student center. The band's hour long set was made up mostly of the material from their Privilege EPs, though they reached into their back catalog for a couple of songs and covered The Smiths' "Handsome Devil."

Parenthetical Girls will be back in NYC TONIGHT (12/6) at Shea Stadium with Sam Mickens (who was also on the Purchase show) and guests. Updated dates below.

Speaking of The Smiths, the box set of their complete discography is out now and guitarist Johnny Marr has been banned from driving for 56 days due to being caught doing 72mph in a 40mph zone and pleading guilty. He's also been fined £535.

All PG dates and a clip of Zach singing in the photobooth at Glasslands, below...

Continue reading "Parenthetical Girls played 3 NY shows, playing 2 more (dates)"

Jherek Bischoff

As mentioned, the Ecstatic Music Festival kicks off on February 4 at Merkin Concert Hall with Jherek Bischoff, who plays with Parenthetical Girls and The Dead Science. He's teaming up with Wordless Music Orchestra and an incredible list of guest vocalists from his upcoming album, which comes out this February, including David Byrne, Craig Wedren (Shudder To Think), Greg Saunier (Deerhoof), Mirah, and Zac Pennington (Parenthetical Girls. Tickets are still on sale now.

Speaking of Parenthetical Girls, their tour began last night (12/1) at Glasslands with Gauntlet Hair, Dinowalrus, and Eraas. If you missed it, they'll also be in NYC this Friday (12/3) at Santos Party House with YACHT and Midnight Magic (tickets).

As previously mentioned, Brassland Records is celebrating its 10th anniversary as a label and debuted a new/old track every day of November via various methods including Soundcloud. None of those tracks can be heard in the player that's embedded below. Those include "Spinney" by This is the Kit (who are opening for the National at Beacon Theater on 12/17) and "Secret of the Machines (instrumental)" by Jherek Bischoff. The latter also features drums by Greg Saunier (Deerhoof), and will have vocals by Caetano Veloso in its album version.

Continue reading "Jherek Bischoff releasing an album & playing a show -- both with many extra special guests (like David Byrne)"

by Andrew Sacher

Parenthetical Girls at Cake Shop in 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Parenthetical Girls released the fourth installment of their 5-part Privilege EP series, Privilege, pt. IV: Sympathy For Spastics on November 1. Like the other EPs in the series, Zac Pennington's shaky literate voice soars over left-field pop arrangements. The whole record is a great listen, and all comes together on the title track which concludes the EP. The song's arrangements are the simplest of the four tracks, leaving plenty of room for the lyrics, which, in turn, are the most grabbing. You can stream the whole EP on myspace and download it on iTunes. Album artwork and tracklist are below, along with the video for the EP's lead track, "The Privilege."

Parenthetical Girls have a few shows in early December, including three in the NYC-area. They open for Gauntlet Hair at Glasslands (12/1) before kicking off a short tour with YACHT, which includes an afternoon show at Purchase College and a night show at Santos Party House on December 3. Tickets for the Glasslands show and the Santos show are still available.

The Glasslands show with Gauntlet Hair is part of Gauntlet Hair's tour which also hits Mercury Lounge the next night (12/1) with the Big Sleep and Dive. Tickets for that show are still available.

All dates, video artwork and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Parenthetical Girls released 4 Privilege EPs, touring (dates, video & a stream of EP #IV)"

photos by Tim Griffin, words by Andrew Sacher

YACHT @ Fun Fun Fun Fest

YACHT recently played Fun Fun Fun Fest and went on a tour with Yo Gabba Gabba. We've got another set of pictures from their set at FFF Fest in this post.

At the beginning of December, YACHT will kick off another string of dates that includes the previously mentioned NYC show at Santos Party House on December 3 with Parenthetical Girls and Midnight Magic. Tickets are still available.

Earlier that day (12/3), both YACHT and Parenthetical Girls will perform at Purchase College for 'House Our Queer Youth: A Benefit for the Ali Forney Center,' whose mission is to "protect the LGBTQ youth from the harm of homelessness, and to support them in becoming safe and independent as they move from adolescence to adulthood." The show also includes sets by DOM, MEN, DJ/Rupture, Tearist, Advance Base, Sam Mickens, Hilly Eye, and others. Tickets for the all ages show which is open to the public, are on sale now.

Updated dates and more pics below...

Continue reading "YACHT playing public Purchase show w/ Dom, MEN & more --- updated dates & more pics from FFF Fest"

photos by Chris La Putt

DOWNLOAD: Gauntlet Hair - Keep Time (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Gauntlet Hair - Top Hair (MP3)

Gauntlet Hair @ BV-CMJ in NYC

Gauntlet Hair, who are just finishing up a tour with Unknown Mortal Orchestra, was one of a few bands to bless our BV day party at Public Assembly on 10/21 (along with names like J.Mascis, Chelsea Wolfe, A Place To Bury Strangers). They played as a 3-piece that day due to one of their members having to get back home before CMJ ended. Some pictures from their set are in this post.

The band will return to NYC for two shows as part of a developing winter tour. Those dates are12/1 at Glasslands with Parenthetical Girls, and a late show at Mercury Lounge on Friday, 12/2 with the Big Sleep and Dive. Tickets for Glasslands and for Mercury are on sale.

Gauntlet Hair recently posted a new video for "Keep Time" (which you can also download as an MP3 above). Check that out, with more pics and all dates, below...

Continue reading "Gauntlet Hair tour dates, live pics from CMJ, new video"

Extra Life

Extra Life and Parenthetical Girls are releasing a tour-only split 12" in support of an upcoming West Coast run together. The run is part of Extra Life's tour with Sam Mickens (The Dead Science, Xiu Xiu) that ends in NYC on July 30 at Silent Barn. All dates are listed below.

Hopefully Parenthetical Girls, who are in the process of releasing a 5-part Privilege EP series (Part III is the latest), come back to NYC soon too (they do not make it as far as the Silent Barn show).

The split 12" features Extra Life and Parenthetical Girls covering one of each other's songs. Extra Life takes on "I Was the Dancer," while Parenthetical girls deliver their rendition of "Head Shrinker." Pick it up at the merch table, but meanwhile we've got an exclusive stream of the Extra Life track (the one of them doing PG), with all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Extra Life touring w/ Sam Mickens & Parenthetical Girls (dates), releasing tour-only split 12" (listen to a song)"

"Like last year, everything will be taking place in Williamsburg and Greenpoint because walking long distances is a drag when there are bands to see and beer to drink, we mean seriously. Us here at The L Magazine will be booking a share of shows on our own, but, for a large chunk of the festival, we've once again handed over curatorial control to some of the most tasteful, talented and dedicated folks in New York's independent music scene -- record labels, bloggers, promoters and more -- allowing them to showcase the bands they think you need to hear. The Williamsburg Gallery Association is again on board to highlight special exhibitions and other events at over 25 art galleries in the neighborhood. And to celebrate Northside's second year, we've invited a few of the city's biggest aficionados of independent film to curate four nights of New York-made movies at Brooklyn's new, as-yet-unopened film house-music club-restaurant-bar, indieScreen."

Music, art and movies will be happening at "30+ venues" and "dozens of galleries" over the course of four days in Greenpoint and Williamsburg. Like SXSW & CMJ, you can buy tickets to individual events, or you can get a badge which gets you in to everything that isn't already at badge-capacity. $50 badges are now on sale to those 21 and over. If you buy a badge, "Arrive to venues early - badgeholders are admitted on a first-come, first-served, one-out, one-in basis."

If you buy a badge you can take your chances at getting into one of the four Northside shows happening at Music Hall of Williamsburg (BrooklynVegan showcase included), Fiery Furnaces at Brooklyn Bowl, and WAVVES & Cloud Nothings at Knitting Factory. TONS more shows TBA, but the initial list of bands that will be playing has been announced (I'm especially excited to see The Wave Pictures, Fucked Up, Liars, Parenthetical Girls and Les Savy Fav on there in addition to what we've previously talked about) (and yes Titus Andronicus is on there). Check it out below...

Continue reading "2010 Northside Festival - tickets & intial lineup (includes Liars, Fucked Up, Les Savy Fav, Polvo & many more)"

DOWNLOAD: Fol Chen - Cable TV (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Rafter - no fucking around (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: DM Stith - Pity Dance (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Parenthetical Girls - A Song For Ellie Greenwich (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Chief - Your Direction (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Shout Out Out Out Out - Bad Choices (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Hymns - Your Movement (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Dosh - If You Want To, You Have To (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Themselves - Dark Sky Demo (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Lissy Trullie - Self-Taught Learner (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sky Larkin - Fossil (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: A-Trak - Say Whoa (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Crocodile - August Is Over (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Valient Thorr - I Hope The Ghosts Of The Dead Haunt Yr Soul Forever

A selection of free music by artists playing official showcases on Wednesday March 18, 2009 at SXSW.

By Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Le Loup - "Shenandoah" (MP3) (on Amnesty comp)
DOWNLOAD: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts & guests - Silent Night (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Deer Tracks - Christmas Fire (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Twiggy Frostbite - Bells & Chimes (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Emotron - Santa Claus (I Still Believe In You) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: (Savanteous Q Malmsteen) - What Do You Get A Wookie for Christmas
DOWNLOAD: The Revelations - It's That Time Of Year (MP3)

With holiday mixes in the air, Amnesty International has released I'll Stay 'Til After Christmas, a benefit comp featuring No Kids, Blitzen Trapper, Parentheitcal Girls, Sally Shapiro, and more (full tracklist below).

Then there's the free all-Swedish Xmas mix up at Swedes Please. Among the songs posted is the new duet between The Hives and Cyndi Lauper, "A Christmas Duel," video below (or buy the song on iTunes).

Speaking of Cyndi and good causes, True Colors is auctioning off a chance to hang out with the Best Electronic/Dance Album nominee as part of its first annual online charity auction to benefit GLBT equality groups the True Colors Fund, CenterLink, and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).

The package includes "1-hour voice lesson, plus lunch, with Cyndi Lauper, in NYC. 2 roundtrip domestic coach tickets on American Airlines and a 2-night stay at Hotel on Rivington included." It's currently going for $4,000. Full list of items on auction here.

And speaking of Christmas music and female 80's icons that have toured for True Colors...

"Blackheart Records, the rock label Joan Jett started over 25 years ago, has released its holiday compilation record, and it's available at the iTunes store. The 11-song digital album features rocked-out holiday standards and originals recorded by Jett and Blackheart bands including Girl in a Coma, The Dollyrots, The Cute Lepers and more."

Also for download up there is a selection of holiday MP3's from the inbox.

Other Christmas album options this year include new ones by Sufjan's friend Rosie Thomas and Neutral Milk Hotel's Julian Koster, and one by The Raveonettes. For a Christmas show, check out the always fun McGarrigle Christmas Hour this Wednesday night at Carnegie Hall. Guests this year include Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Emmylou Harris and Justin Bond.

Videos (including one by Glasvegas) and tracklists below...

Continue reading "more Christmas songs & comps & charities - the Hives, Joan Jett, Cyndi Lauper, Sweden, No Kids, Glasvegas & more"

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

Parenthetical Girls can be very touching

Evangelicals bring the creepiness to Cake Shop's basement

Parethetical Girls played an emotional, energetic and crowd-interactive show in the cozy basement of Cake shop last night (Oct 02). It was the first show PG played here in a while - their last scheduled NYC appearance was cancelled due to mechanical issues. Pwrfl Power, who played a show at Union Hall one night earlier, was in the crowd...and blogged about it...

I headed to Cake Shop after dinner where my big brothers Parenthetical Girls played.
They played very good. it gets better everytime.
I didn't catch the Evangelicals.

Continue reading "Parenthetical Girls & Evangelicals @ Cake Shop, NYC - pics"

DOWNLOAD: The Dead Science - Throne of Blood (The Jump Off) (MP3)

The Dead Science have left Seattle to tour in support of their new album Villainaire, out now on Constellation. Tonight (10/1) you can catch them at Knitting Factory in NYC. Extra Life, Aa & Vakashi Sensei are also on the bill.

Incorporating contemporary R&B drum sounds and structures within their aesthetic has beefed up The Dead Science, to the point where they sound like a pimped-out post-hardcore band on Villainaire. As a singer, Mickens' airy, soaring delivery borders on falsetto, much like his friend and vocal collaborator, Craig Wedren (Shudder to Think). [Eye Weekly]

And speaking of good friends of the Dead Science, The Parenthetical Girls are in town just one day later (Thursday) to play a show at Cake Shop. By then the Dead Science will have reached Philly though. They should have toured together! All Dead Science (not to be confused with Dear Science) tour dates below...

Continue reading "The Dead Science - 2008 Tour Dates, Shudder to Think"

As I hid in the comments yesterday, Parenthetical Girls weren't able to make it to NYC to open for Sunset Rubdown at MHOW tonight (Sept 16)...

"due to gross mechanical incompetence on the part of an auto mechanic, our engine basically blew up last night on our way to Boise. We towed back to Portland. The mechanic has to rebuild the engine, and it won't be done until either Monday or Tuesday. We will not be able to make it to the first Sunset Rubdown show. Hopefully we can make it to Philadelphia." [Zac from PG]

Sunset Rubdown also play Mercury Lounge on Wednesday.

Phosphorescent also play a Rooftop Films shindig at 350 Grand st. in Manhattan on Thursday.

DOWNLOAD: Deerhoof w/ Zac Pennington of PG - Gut Symmetries (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: No Kids - The Regrettable End (Parenthetical Girls) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Dead Science - Young Eucharists (Parenthetical Girls) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Parenthetical Girls - A Song For Ellie Greenwich (MP3)

"To celebrate the release of Entanglements, their first album for Tomlab, Parenthetical Girls asked some of their friends to cover and remix some of the songs from the album - the first two offerings came from labelmates No Kids and fellow NW avant heroes The Dead Science, who covered "This Regrettable End" and "Young Eucharists" respectively. Now Deerhoof have covered the song "Gut Symmetries" and we use the term "covered" loosely because they kept Zac Pennington's original vocals intact.

Continue reading "Parenthetical Girls covered by Deerhoof, No Kids & The Dead Science (3 MP3s) ++ 2008 Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: Women - Black Rice (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Women - Group Transport Hall (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Parenthetical Girls - A Song For Ellie Green (MP3)

Women @ Sled Island 2008 (more by Rae Holtsabum)

"Recorded by label-mate Chad VanGaalen and the band members, the 10 song (2 of them above), self-titled album by Women is an explosion out of the gates for this young band. Sometimes light and spacious, at other times eerie and dense with an ominous weight, this debut flirts with the noisy beauty of the Velvet Underground and effortlessly toys with the intricacy and playfulness of Deerhoof as crude percussion beats out a pulsing tattoo of clatter."

01. Parenthetical Girls - If it's a time for Christmas (2:46)
02. Ween - Silent Night (1:40)
03. Andrew Dost (Anathallo) - Yeah, I Know, It's Christmastime (2:04)
04. The National Splits - Let's Wrap Each Other (2:15)
05. Louis Armstrong - Santa Claus Blues (2:51)
06. Scott Allen (Thunderbirds are Now) - Winters Wonderland (3:50)
07. The Knife - Christmas Reindeer (7:11)
08. Melt Banana - White Christmas (1:42)
09. Thick Pigeon - Jingle Bell Rock (1:30)
10. Steven Garvey - Dreidle, Dreidle, Dreidle (1:11)
11. nullsleep - silent night (2:25)
12. Wild Billy Childish & The Musicians of the British Empire - Santa Claus (3:26)
13. Holly Golightly - Christmas Tree's On Fire (2:54)
14. Deerhoof - xmas tree (2:30)
15. Palace Songs (Will Oldham) - Christmastime in the Mountains (1:30)
16. Woody Guthrie - Hanukkah Dance [Alternate Take] (1:24)

---

I know it's too early for this, but inspiration hit, so I went with it. Download, support the artists, enjoy, and happy holidays (Thanksgiving or whatever).

DOWNLOAD: Parenthetical Girls - Love Connection, Part II (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Dead Science - Drrrty Magneto (MP3)

* Parenthetical Girls photo by Sarah Meadows

I loved seeing Parenthetical Girls at Cake Shop last time they were here, and Craig Wedren is just awesome. So, this Thursday (April 5) at Cake Shop in NYC should be pretty great since the bill is Parenthetical Girls, Craig Wedren, AND The Dead Science (formerly The Sweet Science).

Parenthetical Girls are also playing a Todd P show at Uncle Paulie's in Brooklyn on April 6th. All PG tour dates below...

Continue reading "Parenthetical Girls - 2007 Tour Dates + Craig Wedren"

I hated making this list. Keep in mind that the below albums were my favorites - most of all because I liked listening to them - at least at some point in the year, and in one setting or another. I would never claim any album is the "best", and I respect all opinions. I think music is subjective, situational, right-time-right-place, etc.. One reason an album might not be on the list = I didn't hear it.

All albums on the list are split into equal groups of ten. Grizzly Bear=Destroyer=Scott Walker=Califone, etc... (I know that pisses some people off.) Here are my 40 favorite albums of 2006....

ONE THROUGH TEN
1-10) Grizzly Bear - Yellow House
1-10) Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
1-10) Peter, Bjorn & John - Writer's Block
1-10) Britta Persson - Top Quality Bones and a Little Terrorist
1-10) Scott Walker - The Drift
1-10) Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor
1-10) Hot Chip - The Warning
1-10) Lily Allen - Alright Still
1-10) Califone - Roots and Crowns
1-10) Land of Talk - Applause Cheer Boo Hiss (EP?)

ELEVEN THROUGH TWENTY
11-20) Isolee - Western Store
11-20) J Dilla - Donuts
11-20) The Knife - Silent Shout
11-20) Mew - Mew and the glass handed kites
11-20) Arctic Monkeys - Whatever people say i am, that's what i'm not
11-20) Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope
11-20) TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
11-20) Love is All - Nine Times That Same Song
11-20) The Thermals - The Body, The Blood, The Machine
11-20) Tokyo Police Club - A Lesson in Crime EP

TWENTY-ONE THROUGH THIRTY
21-30) Professor Murder - Rides the Subway EP
21-30) Bob Dylan - Modern Times
21-30) Neil Young - Living With War
21-30) El Perro Del Mar - El Perro Del Mar
21-30) The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
21-30) Silversun Pickups - Carnavas
21-30) The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
21-30) Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I am Dreaming
21-30) Band of Horses - Everything All the Time
21-30) Cat Power - The Greatest

THIRTY-ONE THROUGH FORTY
31-40) M-Ward - Post War
31-40) Tapes N Tapes - The Loon
31-40) Final Fantasy - He Poos Clouds
31-40) Malajube - Trompe L'oeil
31-40) Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That
31-40) Archie Bronson Outfit - Derdang Derdang
31-40) Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
31-40) Nellie McKay - Pretty Little Head
31-40) Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives EP
31-40) Spank Rock - YoYoYoYoYo

AND MUCH RESPECT TO...

Continue reading "My 40 favorite albums of 2006 & then some"

DOWNLOAD Parenthetical Girls - Do You Fear What I Fear? (MP3)

It was exactly one month ago (Nov 14) today (Dec 14) that I first started writing a post about Parenthetical Girls. My urgency at the time was their NYC show that night at Cake Shop. It was already too late to mention their November 11th Brooklyn show at Lucky Cat, and practically too late for Cake Shop - but at the least I would've gotten the rest of their November tour dates up here -- plus I wanted to express my love for their new tour-only Christmas EP (A Parenthetical Girls Family Christmas) that I illegally downloaded, and had been listening to pretty regularly at the time. Needless to say, their tour is now completely over, and I'm finally just getting around to writing something...blah blah...

I went to the Cake Shop show. It was intimate, awkward, and in your face - I loved it. Cake Shop shows can suck if it's packed, and it wasn't. That gave frontman Zac Pennington plenty of room to slowly and emotionally move through us as he sang and banged on the low ceiling, the floor, and anything else that would work as a drum. Fittingly, Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu) is one of their associates. Actually, one of the Parenthetical Girls' CD's is a Xiu Xiu-collaboration.

I didn't take any pictures at the show, but I found these good ones...

PG @ THE LUCKY CAT, BROOKLYN, NY | NOV 11, 2006 (CRED)

PG IN CHICAGO | NOV 07, 2006 (CRED)

PG @ FRIENDSHIP COVE, NOV 10, 2006 (CRED)

I legally bought the homemade 5-song Christmas EP at the show. On November 28th I found out that you can't play five songs by the same artist in one hour on the radio - at least that's what Sirius told me when I tried to end my weekly show by playing the whole EP. Instead I played four of the five songs. Pitchfork posted one of the tracks on Tuesday (an "exclusive"!). The MP3 linked on the top of this post is from that CD too. Wolf Notes posted two of the tracks on November 13th, but more importantly - the band just POSTED THE WHOLE CHRISTMAS EP FOR EVERYONE. After that, here are some more non-holiday ones (Merry Christmas)...

DOWNLOAD (MP3s)
Love Connection, pt. II
Here's to Forgetting
C-86 Is Killing My Life

BrooklynVegan "blog radio" airs every Tuesday night on Sirius "Left of Center" @ 10 pm EST. Productshop NYC airs on Mondays, Gorilla vs Bear on Wednesdays, and starting this week - My Old Kentucky Blog airs on Thursdays. On November 28th I was joined in the studio by my friend, and occasional BV-contributor, Nick "BrassBonanza". Below is our playlist...

1) Foreign Islands - We Know You Know It

Continue reading "Sirius Playlist - Week 23 (w/ Nick Brassbonanza)"