people waiting to get in Sunday morning (via)

They really thought they were going to open today. They even announced that more tickets were being released today and that James Murphy, following in Sharon Jones's footsteps, had cancelled his performance today due to a family emergency. But the rain has won, and the second day of the 2nd GoogaMooga is now officially CANCELLED. The people pictured above waiting to get in today are probably especially upset.

Official reason: "NYC Parks Dept, Prospect Park Alliance & #Googamooga have canceled today's event in the interest of safety & prevention of damage to park."

All Sunday VIP ticket purchases will be refunded in full.

Bands and DJS that were supposed to play today included Delicate Steve, Cults, De La Soul, Kool & the Gang (instead of Sharon Jones), Nancy Whang & Pat Mahoney (instead of James Murphy), and M.A.K.U. Sound System.

Stay tuned for our pictures from Friday and Saturday, coming soon. Meanwhile watch a channel 12 video report that was filmed in the park early Saturday (it claims GoogaMooga will be back "bigger and better in 2014"), and a video of the Flaming Lips playing "You Lust" on Friday (you can hear people screaming "Vaseline, Vaseline!"), below...

Continue reading "GoogaMooga Sunday CANCELLED due to rain"

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

this is where the DFA anniversary is happening

NYCers might be familiar with the infamous commercials for the spectacular Grand Prospect Hall in Brooklyn, with the proprieters finishing off the commercial by yelling "WE MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE" at the top of their lungs. I've always thought that the venue -- which is truly fantastic in the textbook definition of the word -- might make an interesting space for a musical event. It has before, including being the home of the world-music oriented Golden Fest.

Apparently I was not alone. We've mentioned it, but never fully given it the attention it deserves. As part of the massive Red Bull Music Academy takeover of NYC next month, DFA Records will make their dreams come true by hosting their 12th anniversary of party at the dazzling space on May 25, featuring a veritable army of the DFA crew including DJs and live sets from James Murphy, The Rapture, Black Dice (live set), Juan Maclean, Pat Mahoney, The Crystal Ark (live set), YACHT (live set), Sh*t Robot (live set), Planningtorock (live set), Prinzhorn Dance School (live set, their US debut), Still Going, Nancy Whang, Tim Sweeney, Larry Gus, Dan Bodan and Marcus Marr. There are bound to be some surprises in store as well and seems likely to be a very memorable night.

Tickets are still available, but reportedly "dangerously close to selling out."

Tickets are also still available for the RBMA talk with James Murphy at NYU. Browse RBMA's full lineup for more amazing events.

DFA-related videos and those classic Grand Prospect Hall commercials are below.

Continue reading "Brooklyn's amazing Grand Prospect Hall will host DFA's 12th Anniversary party (James Murphy, YACHT & loads more)"

Love it or loathe it, New Year's Eve is coming. Here are some of this year's NYC concert options, of which there are many.

One of the biggest shows of the night is Coldplay and Jay-Z at Barclays Center. If you've seen pictures of Coldplay's tour this year, you know they have this bluetooth controlled, light-up wristbands that (no matter how you feel about their music) makes for a spectacular interactive experience. And certainly Jay-Z will throw a good party at his own house.

Jay-Z's pal Kanye West is doing a three-night run in Atlantic City right before NYE (12/28-30) at Revel. Tickets for those shows are still available.

Another hip hop option includes Nas at Radio City Music Hall that also features Elle Varner. Tickets are still available.

Azealia Banks is playing a black tie party on top of The Standard Hotel (aka Boom Boom Room). More info is at the facebook event. You can RSVP for tickets ($250 minimum) by emailing unifiedpromo@unifiedpromo.com.

Also in the biggest NYE show race there is also Phish's sold-out night at MSG, part of a four night run at the venue.

If jam bands are your thing, you might also want to catch The Disco Biscuits, who kick off their four-night run at Best Buy Theater tonight (12/26) and then play NYE at The Theatre at MSG (tickets).

Another jammy option is Gov't Mule's two-night run at Beacon Theatre (12/30-31). Tickets for both nights are on sale.

If you're more into dancing, RJD2 will be DJing at Gramercy Theater with Com Truise and Chrome Sparks; and Moby and many others will be DJing at an as-yet undisclosed location (tickets).

Pretty Lights is also doing two sold nights at Roseland Ballroom (12/30-31). Another dance option that you might want to avoid is Afrojack is playing two nights on Pier 94 (12/30-31), but it's worth mentioning that if you get there early on night 1, you can catch opening sets by Diplo and Rusko. Night 2 (aka NYE) is sold out but night 1 is still on sale.

Brooklyn dance party The Bunker is throwing an event at the 70 N 6 St loft (above Public Assembly) with John Roberts, Mike Parker, Bryan Kasenic, and Mike Servito. Tickets for that party are on sale now.

Downstairs at the actual Public Assembly, Gaze 4 Daze is throwing two queer parties. Room 1 has DJ sets by Rizzla, Sebastian, and D'Hana, along with Emcee Ryann Supamakenzi and host Cherlyn. In room 2, they've got MIchael Magnan, Amber Valentine, Telfar, Mursi Layne, host Helen Harris, and live performances by House of Ladosha, Cakes Da Killa, and Abdu Ali. $10 at the door gets you into both parties.

Brooklyn warehouse party group Rubulad is presenting "Party-Go-Round" in three separate secret Bushwick locations near the Jefferson L stop. There will be live music by Friend Roulette, Not Waving but Drowning, Viva, and more; dance parties with music by DJ Shakey, Ol' Stark, DJ Mojo, $mall ¢hange and more; a puppet show, a midnight champagne toast, and more. Admission is $20, the events start at 9 PM, and there will be a party bus to navigate between the three locations.

Matthew Dear and Superpitcher are at Le Bain (tix); Ian Pooley, Pat Mahoney and more at Cameo; Onra, Nick Catchdubs, and Samo Sound Boy are at Williamsburg's Villian (tickets).

Holy Ghost! and Midnight Magic are at Brooklyn Bowl (sold out) and after that, Holy Ghost!'s DFA labelmate Juan Maclean will DJ an afterparty at the same venue (tickets).

Chris Keating of Yeasayer is DJing a BangOn!NYC-presented party at a secret warehouse location in Williamsburg near the Montrose L stop with Felix Cartal, Chordashian, Alex English, Sean Glass, and many others. There will also be live music by Carousel, Suntalk, and more TBA, art installations, an inflatable obstacle course, food trucks, and more. Tickets (more info at that link) are on sale and RSVP is open. Location will be revealed with the purchase of tickets or an RSVP.

If you'd rather dance to classic soul and R&B, there's New York Night Train Annual Dusk Till Dawn New Year's Ball at Home Sweet Home featuring a live performance from Kid Congo and the K-Holes, plus Jonathan Toubin and a crew of DJs.

For the indie rock inclined, you could go see Titus Andronicus at Glasslands which is a pretty small venue for them these days. While So So Glos were originally on the bill for this, they have since dropped off. Dapwell, formerly of Das Racist, is your MC for the evening and tickets are still available.

Right next door at 285 Kent, Florida's (awesomely) mopey Merchandise will visit,  plus Blanche Blanche Blanche, Tonstartssbandht and "speciial guests" (note the two ii's is "speciial") will surely be a wild night. Dive in, tickets ($20) are on sale now.

After that, DJ Rashad, DJ Manny, Sasha Go Hard, and others will play an afterparty at 285 Kent (tickets).

Psychic Ills and Herb Craft are playing Saint Vitus. Tickets for that show are on sale.

Also happening in Williamsburg, They Might be Giants play a sold-out show at Music Hall of Williamsburg (one of three shows there that week; Reverend Vince Anderson and His Love Choir will be at Union Pool (free); and at Knitting Factory it's a night of cabaret hosted by the great Murray Hill (tix).

More indie rock: Blonde Redhead and Beach Fossils are at Irving Plaza. Tickets are still available and you can also win a pair from us.

Swimming Cities and Gowanus Ballroom (55 9th St) are presenting The First Party Ever: Primal Reset for the Year Zero with dance parties by Barney Iller, DJ Shakey, and DJ Tinseltown; live music at midnight by Stumblebum Brass Band; an open bar from 11:30-12:30; visuals; "Serret's patented coal fire hot tub time machine"; "Live birth of the antichrist, according to Doctor Adventure"; and more. $15 tickets are on sale now (or $20 at the door, cash only) and all proceeds go to recovery at Serret Metal Works and the "BOATEL" art hotel project in Far Rockaway that were damaged during Hurricane Sandy.

Meanwhile across the Hudson, The Hold Steady will ring in 2013 with Lucero at The Wellmont Theatre in NJ. Tickets are still available.

Before that, Lucero will do a two-night run at Brooklyn Bowl (12/28-29) with Nude Beach supporting on night 1 and Hollis Brown on night 2. Tickets for night 1, night 2, or both are still available.

Amanda Palmer will be at Terminal 5, playing Prince's Purple Rain in its entirety which will surely be a spectacle. She'll play a set of originals too. Tickets are still available.

If you'd like to party like it's 1929, Spirit Family Reunion are bringing the old time religion to Pianos. Tickets are still available, includes a champagne toast.

More rootsy options include The Punch Brothers and Michael Daves at Bowery Ballroom (sold out); and The Felice Brothers, Yellowbirds, and Mail the Horse at Mercury Lounge (sold out).

The Felice Brothers also play Maxwell's (12/30) a day earlier (sold out), and on New Year's Eve, the Hoboken venue will host "Maxwell's Rockin' & Rollin' Ass Kickin' New Year's Eve Dance Party feat. The Two Giants: Todd-O-Phonic Todd & Mono-O-Phonic Matt Porter." They get their name from being big San Francisco Giants fans, and they'll be spinning "some of the greatest soul, r'n'b, garage, rock'n'rol etc" all night. Admission is totally free, no cover.

My Morning Jacket is doing a sold out pre-New Year's Eve three-night run (12/27-29) at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester.

After that, Capitol Theatre will host Steve Miller Band on 12/30 (tickets) and funky METERS with Dumpstaphunk on NYE (tickets).

For some old school punk, Manitoba (the project of Dictators frontman Dick Manitoba) and Sylvain Sylvain (of New York Dolls) will play Bowery Electric with The A-Bones and Daddy Long Legs. Tickets for that show are on sale.

To keep the party going the next day, head to SOB's for Questlove's holiday party.

Whatever you end up doing, be safe!.

What did we miss?

Heading to Austin? We have a list of shows happening there too. Update: And Chicago too.

Continue reading "A guide to New Year's Eve shows and parties in NYC"

If you missed the many "one night only" screenings of the LCD Soundsystem concert doc Shut Up and Play the Hits last night (7/18, did you go?), those in NYC still have a few more chances to see it. The Landmark Sunshine has 7PM and 10PM screenings on both July 25 and 26, unfortunately they're all sold out. However, Brooklyn Bowl will hold a screening on Friday, July 27 with the added bonus of LCD drummer Pat Mahoney DJing as well.

Doors are at 11:30PM with the screening starting at midnight boasting "full concert sound" which probably mean "really really loud" which is probably the optimal viewing experience. Tickets are on sale now. If you're wondering if this film is any good, here's what The AV Club had to say:

James Murphy didn't direct Shut Up And Play The Hits, the documentary about the last concert performed by his band, LCD Soundsystem, at Madison Square Garden in 2011. But the film is a product of his magpie record-collector's aesthetic. The idea to throw a big farewell bash with friends (including Arcade Fire and comedian-musician Reggie Watts) is cribbed from The Last Waltz. The film's elegiac, end-of-an-era tone comes from Woodstock. The framing device for Shut Up And Play The Hits--the ecstatic performance footage is cut with morning-after scenes of a pensive, bored-looking Murphy struggling to come to terms with what he's just done--is reminiscent of Gimme Shelter. The obvious difference is that there's a lot less at stake in Shut Up And Play The Hits: Nobody died at LCD Soundsystem's final show, apart from the group identity Murphy created a decade earlier.

Continue reading "LCD Soundsystem movie 'Shut Up and Play the Hits' screening at Brooklyn Bowl with Pat Mahoney DJ set"

photos by Amanda Hatfield

Passion Pit / Kud Cudi at Governors Ball - 6/23/12

Governors Ball went down in Randall's Island over the weekend (6/23-6/24) with 26 bands across two stages and no overlapping sets. Day 1 was "headlined" by Passion Pit (though Kid Cudi played after them) and also included Chromeo, Major Lazer, Atmosphere, Santigold, Duck Sauce (Armand Van Helden and A-Trak), James Murphy & Pat Mahoney (Special Disco Version DJ set), and more. Probably the most anticipated set of the day was Passion Pit's, who were playing their first NYC area show in about a year and a half, and first since announcing their new album and releasing two singles from it (both of which they played). NY Times didn't seem to approve much of their set though, writing:

Saturday played out as a party punctuated by angst; there were many, many calls for putting hands in the air. Party and angst mix in Passion Pit, who work in two main modes: the shimmering anthem and the pulsating dance-pop song, both with more cryptic lyrics than might be expected. Passion Pit stacked the anthems at the beginning of the set-among them a new song, "Take a Walk," about an immigrant who finds himself financially ruined-before revving up the dance tunes. But the stage didn't add much beyond subwoofers to Passion Pit's songs; Michael Angelakos's vocals, mostly falsetto, needs studio help.

Pictures from Sunday are on the way. More from Saturday below...

Continue reading "Governors Ball 2012 - day 1 pics (Passion Pit, Santigold, Chromeo, Special Disco Version, Kid Cudi, Major Lazer & more)"

photos by Diana Wong

I love you but I've chosen Moog

"he Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled analog synthesizer systems. Company founder Dr. Robert Arthur Moog had begun manufacturing and selling vacuum-tube theremins in kit form while he was a student in the early 1950s and marketed his first transistorized theremin kits in 1961. Moog became interested in the design and construction of complex electronic music systems in the mid 1960s and the burgeoning interest in his designs enabled him to establish a small company (R. A. Moog Co., which became Moog Music and later, Moog Electronics) to manufacture and market the new devices." [Wikipedia]

Moogfest capped off three days of fun on 10/30 with sets from M83, James Murphy & Pat Mahoney (Special Disco Version), Ford & Lopatin, Passion Pit, The Drums, Baths, Ghostland Observatory, and many more. If you missed it, we previously posted pictures from the first and second days featuring Tangerine Dream, TV On The Radio, Asutra, Chromeo, and others on the first day, and Suicide, Amon Tobin: Isam, Toro Y Moi, Crystal Castles, Cant, and others (but no YACHT who had to cancel) on the second.

More pictures from the final day of Moogest 2011 (which you can check out after you're done playing with the Moog on Google's homepage), below...

Continue reading "Happy Birthday Robert Moog -- here's some belated pics from MoogFest 2011 (Day 3 w/ M83, Brian Eno paintings & more)"

photos by David Andrako

Beirut

The inaugural, Dessner-curated Crossing Brooklyn Ferry festival concluded on Saturday night (May 5) with performances from Beirut, Atlas Sound, My Brightest Diamond, Caveman and more.

There were whispers there'd be an unannounced set from The National, but the secret guest Phi Slamma Jamma was actually Arcade Fire's Will Butler, Jeremy Gara, Tim Kingsbury, and Richard Reed Parry who performed a bunch of covers (Ramones, R.E.M., Devo, Beatles and the Stones, among others) to cap out the Fest.

Night Two pictures HERE. Night one HERE. Lots of pictures from all of Saturday night's performers (including Sufjan), plus video of Atlas Sound (who also kept busy in others ways while in town), Caveman, Beirut and Phi Slamma Jamma performing a song each, below...

Continue reading "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry night 3 pics (Beirut, Sufjan, Arcade Fire, Atlas Sound, My Brightest Diamond, Cavemen & more)"

Remember that Dessner brother-curated festival, "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry," which is happening at BAM from May 3-5? And remember how when we posted the National-curated ATP lineup we suggested (for obvious reasons) that it might hint at the BAM lineup? Well, the lineup is out now, and there are definitely some similarities to that, and also not surprisingly, to the ongoing Ecstatic Music Festival which is great at highlighting the growing mix between indie rock and indie classical that the Dessners are huge fans of and participants in.

The three day Brooklyn Academy of Music festival includes The Antlers, My Brightest Diamond (w/ yMusic), Sharon Van Etten, and Buke and Gase who are all playing ATP, in addition to The Walkmen, St. VIncent, Beirut, Atlas Sound, Tyondai Braxton (formerly of Battles), Oneohtrix Point Never, Caveman, Sinkane, Twin Shadow, Jherek Bischoff, Pat Mahoney and Nancy Whang (DFA DJ set), Ava Luna, and others which are all listed below. As mentioned, the fest also includes the Brooklyn Youth Chorus and the NOW Ensemble.

3-Day Festival Passes go on sale Monday (3/5) to friends of BAM and Tuesday (3/6) to the general public. More details and schedule at the Crossing Brooklyn Ferry website.

Full lineup below...

Continue reading "National-curated BAM Festival lineup announced (Walkmen, St. Vincent, Beirut, Sharon, Antlers, Zs & many more)"

As posted last night, Modest Mouse are playing Governors Ball on Randall's Island during the weekend of June 23-24 (same weekend as Orion), but they are just one of many artists that are now announced, and listed, along with more information, below...

Continue reading "NYC fest Governors Ball announces 2012 lineup (Beck, Passion Pit, EITS, Built to Spill, Devendra Banhart, Cults & more)"

My favorte part about these Toyota Antics events is the part where you have to decide if you want to "Check here if you would like to be contacted by a dealer."

photos by Brook Bobbins

The Rusko & Doorly tour hit Terminal 5 in NYC on Wednesday night (4/27). Pictures from that HARD-presented show are in this post.

HARD also presents the LA date of the tour which is also the last date of the tour.

LA is also where HARD is holding a 'Summer Festival' on Saturday August 6th. That craziness will include sets by:

"DUCK SAUCE, Boys Noize, CHROMEO live, RATATAT live, Skrillex, ODD FUTURE, JAMES MURPHY AND PAT MAHONEY DFA TENT SPECIAL DISCO VERSION, DIGITALISM live, Jack Beats, KARLSSON and WINNBERG / MIIKE SNOW DJ SET, Caspa, NERO, Noisia, Emalkay, CARTE BLANCHE live featuring dj Mehdi and Riton, BUSY PICTIONARY featuring BUSY P and SO ME, Holy Ghost ! live, SIRIUSMO, GESAFFELSTEIN, GASLAMP KILLER, DESTRUCTO, Juan MacLean, Shit Robot (The Shit Robot Show), Still Going, Nadastrom, DILLION FRANCIS, Acid Jacks, Visuals by Vello V2 labs, + more."

HARD Cruise sails out of Florida in January, and though no lineup has been announced for that yet, I'm sure the lineup will contain at least a few of the artists mentioned in this post.

More pictures from Terminal 5 are below...

Continue reading "Rusko played Terminal 5 w/ Doorly & Destructo (pics), playing other HARD events (dates)"

most of the words & photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

They played for over 3.5 hours before the sun set on LCD Soundsystem in a cascade of white balloons dropping from the Madison Square Garden ceiling in NYC Saturday night. I wished they played even longer. Everyone I talked to agreed.

But James Murphy and co. gave everything at Madison Square Garden last night (4/2). And the sold-out arena crowd gave in return. For two months - through the initial on-line ticket debacle, the addition of four T5 shows to make up for it, constant hype, and lots of guessing at what guests might turn up (sadly there was no Daft Punk) - it all made this final act in the drama, The Long Goodbye, even more of an event.

People camped on line several hours early to get a coveted spot up front on the floor and most of the crowd adhered to the black and white dress code. Those who didn't stuck out.

From where I was in the middle of the front GA section nobody stopped dancing, or singing along or smiling the entire night. (Save for, like at all four Terminal 5 shows, the couple of awkward, yet brief and deserved intermissions.) Every turn to scan the Garden saw people full-on, in the groove dancing; not just some barely-registered shuffling back and forth. Honestly, everyone who was there should take a bow because they were fantastic. During the first break, video footage was shown of an interviewer talking to fans outside the venue, Aziz Ansari included.

And no, there was no Daft Punk, but there was Arcade Fire singing joyously along on "North American Scum" (the third set's highlight) and an appearance by Reggie Watts who also played with the band at three of the four Terminal 5 shows. The boys choir featuring members of Mr. Dream was there, as were the two female backup singers, and the horn section that included Kelly Pratt and Colin Stetson. Original LCD guitarist Phil Mossman was back and featured a few times in addition to LCD band members
Nancy Whang, Tyler Pope, Pat Mahoney, Matt Thornley, Gavin Russom, and David Scott Stone. Liquid Liquid opened the show like they did at the first two Terminal 5 shows. Shit Robot, who opened the second two T5 shows, again made an appearance during the show. Shit Robot and Juan Maclean, for one song, were alien vocalists in mysterious cardboard-looking spaceships that were set up in seats behind the stage (pictures and video below).

Pitchfork streamed the whole show for those who couldn't be there - you could see the cameras all over the place, including on the shoulders of cameramen walking through the GA crowd. Filmmaker Lance Bangs was seen dancing in the crowd and working backstage on the video of the show, and yes the clouds made it to the two screens that were hanging on the sides of the stage.

LCD started with "Dance Yrself Clean" and "Drunk Girls" followed. The first set was breathtaking and included "Daft Punk is Playing in My House." After an intermission, the band tackled most of 45:33. Watts came out for "Part 2" and Murphy spent most of the middle set off in the background letting the band tackle the instrumentals.

The first encore featured a cathartic and riveting "Someone Great" as well as "Losing My Edge" and "Home." For me that block was the highlight. During "Losing My Edge," the video screens featured images of some of the influential bands mentioned. When I looked up I saw The Sonics.

Their Harry Nilsson cover of "Jump Into The Fire" was part of the final 3-song encore. Murphy, his voice sounding a bit hoarse, paused between songs to thank everyone who came out and everyone who helped put the show together. "Three songs left," "two songs left," and then after saying "this is our last song", and a bit more banter including an admission to his family who was in the audience that he was wearing his dad's watch (as you can hear in the video below), he led the band into their final (ever) number, "New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down." It started slow with Murphy even laughing and pausing 'for dramatic effect' but by the end of the raucous outro the crowd was in a frenzy, only for the band to launch back in and cue the balloon drop. As the crowd was preoccupied with balloons of various size descending upon them, the entire band slipped off stage, almost completely unnoticed, and into history.

VIDEO OF THE ENTIRE SHOW (from the stream), and lots more pictures and the full setlist, below...

Continue reading "LCD Soundsystem played their final show @ MSG w/ Liquid Liquid (and Arcade Fire) -- pics, setlist, video of entire show"

After an opening 8pm set by Liquid Liquid, LCD Soundsystem played for over 3 hours, starting at 9:10pm, at Terminal 5 in NYC last night (3/28). The show, their first of their last, was split into three sets. Each set had a short break in between, though James Murphy didn't play much of a frontman role during the 2nd set so in a way that one seemed like a much longer break for him. In fact, the jammy 2nd set (update: which included 45:33 stuff) started with a guest appearance by Reggie Watts on vocals. Speaking of vocals, Nancy Whang's singing was often showcased throughout the night, in addition to her keyboard/synth skills. Pat Mahoney got a great workout behind the kit (as did multi-instrumentalist Al Doyle at times). The night ended with a one song "NY I Love You" encore. The entire setlist is below.

I got there around 8:45 (missed Liquid Liquid unfortunately) and there was no line to get in. It was packed, but thanks to the set changes I was able to get pretty close when people moved around during the first break. If I hadn't been watching from the right side of the room when the show started, I might not have realized that there was a boys chorus stationed above the stage on the balcony (left side, stage right). James did acknowledge them though, and at least once during the show the shirtless and shredding Al Doyle (who often seemed to play the bandleader role) looked up at them with a very approving "you just nailed that part" grin. Based on LCD's March 10th tweet, we know the chorus haven't been playing with the band for that long (despite the plan to have them from the start).

James narrated the show. He told us about the set breaks ahead of time, apologized for stuff, introduced all band members multiple times. Said stuff like, "we learned a lot of stuff for this show and have more band members around to make sure we can play it all" and "we haven't played that one in 6 years... or was it 5 years," and "this is like a finale and a reunion for us since we're so old." It'll be interesting to see if they change the setlist at all night to night (they played the same set every night last time they played multiple nights at Terminal 5).

The show is long and great, full of hits and rarities, and you'll want to dance, so if you're going to the second show tonight (3/28), or the third tomorrow, or the fourth the day after that, or LCD's final show ever at MSG on Saturday, try to go with some energy.

A few more pictures, including shots of the merch and setlist, below...

Continue reading "LCD Soundsystem played Terminal 5 (night 1 pics & setlist)"

photos by Zach Dilgard

Grace Jones

"Late of the Pier played a 20 minute shmeh set and crystal castles had no sound. crookers were better than usual and orbitol were awesome. grace jones is fucking mad and fucked up the schedule. Fever Ray is a shamanic wonder." [The Naked Smiles Club]

Continue reading "Sonar 2009 in pictures"

James Murphy & Pat Mahoney dressed for the prom (more by Ryan Muir)

After years of raised expectations and inevitable disappointment, after Pretty in Pink and Saved By The Bell season 4 (we remember it, too), 826NYC and Bowery Presents are happy to finally bring you THE PROM YOU WERE PROMISED, a night of formal wear, butt-kicking dance music, and actual spiked punch, featuring rare DJ sets by VAMPIRE WEEKEND, PAT MAHONEY (of LCD Soundsystem), and HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR, along with jokes from host LEO ALLEN.

The evening will benefit 826NYC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.

PROM BASICS:
Who: You, and a date. (Date not required)
Dress code: Prom attire (Your old gown/tux/suit, or the jeans and sneakers you wished you'd worn.)
What: The prom night you've been waiting for.
When: Thursday, May 21, 2009, at 9 p.m.
Where: Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 North 6th Street, Brooklyn
Why:
1) For the kids-all proceeds benefit 826NYC
2) For the music-three killer DJ sets, each of them worth the price of admission
3) For the replacement memories, made to last a lifetime

A video about 826NYC below...

Continue reading "826NYC having a prom at MHOW (w/ DJ Vampire Weekend)"

photos by Toby Tenenbaum

Morgan Wiley and Andrew Rasposo are members of both of the bands that played at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC last night. Nomi fronts (headliner) Deep Red and sang one song with Midnight Magic (opener). Pat Mahoney of DFA / LCD Soundsystem was the DJ for the night.

It was Deep Red's first NYC show (maybe their first show ever). Their second (at the moment) is February 13th at Highline Ballroom where they'll be performing Sade songs. Tickets are still on sale.

Nomi is now best known as the frontwoman of Hercules and Love Affair. Deep Red's other members also play with that band, and based on what I've heard so far, the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree (is that the right expression?).

How was last night? More pictures below...

Continue reading "Deep Red & Midnight Magic @ (le) poisson rouge, NYC - pics"

DOWNLOAD: Deep Red - Fun Girl (MP3)

Deep Red is a collaboration that includes Hercules & Love Affair keyboardist Morgan Wiley, bassist Andrew Raposo, and vocalist Nomi Ruiz who met while on the 2008 Hercules & Love Affair Tour. They combine minimal electro, dance, and R&B to create what sounds like a cross between Afrika Bambaataa, Kraftwork & Madonna. The synergy of their live show [by who I'm not sure] is said to evoke Fleetwood Mac & Sade incorporating live saxaphone & flute.

Their first single 'Fun Girl', is a dark dance number full of tough vocal hooks, dirty bass and spooky synth lines. They are preparing to release a 12" this Spring followed by a run of shows in Europe and the US.

Deep Red make their debut in NY at Le Poisson Rouge this Thursday, January 22nd. Doors at 9pm, Midnight Magic 10pm Deep Red 11pm. DJ Pat Mahoney (DFA/LCD Soundsystem) will be spinning throughout the entire evening.

Deep Red is also playing as "Diamond Life" as Sade at Highline Ballroom on February 13th. Tickets are on sale.

Andrew and Morgan were also in Automato.

The flyer for tonight is below...

Continue reading "Deep Red is Nomi from Hercules & Love Affair & band ------------- 2 NYC shows (1 as Sade) & an MP3"

DOWNLOAD: USA for Affluence - Cash for Christmas (MP3)

The star-studded video is below...

Continue reading "Beardo Episode 5 - CASH FOR CHRISTMAS (Tim Harrington, Moby, Andrew WK, AC Newman, Will Sheff, etc, etc...)"

DOWNLOAD: Le Tigre - Deceptacon (DFA Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: LCD Soundsystem - Daft Punk Is Playing At My House (Soulwax Shibuya Mix) (MP3)

Continue reading "the DFA Holiday party is at (Le) Poisson Rouge"

DOWNLOAD: Team B - On My Mind (MP3)

Team B is the new musical endeavor of Kelly Pratt. While written and recorded primarily on tour with Arcade Fire and Beirut in 2007 and 2008, help was also found with his amazing friends Pat Mahoney on drums (LCD Soundsystem), Jon Natchez and Perrin Cloutier from Beirut, and Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire) on a track or two.

We don't have a label yet, but the cd is available now through this website, and will be available in a couple of weeks through other online outlets. If you want a copy just click on the link below and ye shall receive. Price is only $10 plus $2.50 for shipping (in the U.S). If you live outside the US please include $6.50 for shipping.
[Team B]

Kelly Pratt (Beirut, Arcade Fire)
Tracy Pratt (Beirut)
Ryan Smith (Twin Thousands, Stars Like Fleas)
Jon Natchez (Beirut, Stars Like Fleas)
Jason Poranski (Beirut, FreeTime)
Mike Fadem (The Jealous Girlfriends)

Jon Natchez's credits also inlude Shugo Tokumaru's live band, Bishop Allen, The Citizens Band, Escort and.... Skavoovie! Jon and Kelly also sometimes play together at venues like the Stone.

Mike Fadem's band The Jealous Girlfriends are going on tour with Nada Surf and have a NYC show coming up (Dec 10) at The Studio at Webster Hall where they also played during CMJ.

Stars Like Fleas have a track on Habitat, "a two disc set including 29 artists, covering the various manifestations of 'electronic music,' and produced as a benefit for Habitat for Humanity." You can get that at Asthmatic Kitty.

A video of Kelly, Tracy and Jon playing with Herman Dune at Union Hall below...

Continue reading "Team B (Kelly Pratt + Jon Natchez & other Beirut members) - an MP3, a Brooklyn show Monday"

James and Pat (more by Ryan Muir)

LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy has revealed that he is involved in a new band who are set to release material on his label, DFA.

Murphy told NME.COM that the collective, featuring LCD cohort Pat Maloney plus former Hockey Night members Paul Sprangers and Scott Wells, haven't decided on a name yet.

"There's this rock band arguing about what name they are," Murphy told NME.COM. "They're from Minneapolis.

"We've gone back and forth for months, there's no way to say [what the band name is]. Pat and I are the drummer and the bass player [respectively]."

Murphy said he expected to release material by the new collective next year.

According to his spokesperson Murphy is not officially a core member of the band, although he produces and contributes bass.

we're back and better than ever! pat und james have returned from brazil, japan, korea, the UK, ireland and the ukraine to get stupid with gentleman dj matt cash. $4 prb cans? $5 cover? it's like a hardcore show, if hardcore shows had really gay disco. oh--and NOT the straight edge kind of hardcore show, either. the fun kind. GET NAKED!

Continue reading "James Murphy - a new DFA band, upcoming NY appearances "

"People hear that word disco, and they see bellbottoms and 'That '70s Show.' No, no, no," says Murphy. "This is real liberation music for people who know where to go. This is the real deal."

Special Disco Version @ MoMA (more by Ryan Muir)

"The frequently overlooked and undermined period of American musical history resulted in some of its richest material, inspiring Murphy as he built DFA; and creating the role of the DJ and structure of the nightclub as we now know them. With bands like DFA's own Hercules & Love Affair snagging critical and fan praise all over the world, the air is rife for a second disco revolution.

'Special Disco Version' is an old term for a dance interpretation of a pop song, now known as a remix. It was frequently printed on a circular sticker and slapped on the record's sleeve, left for Murphy and Mahoney to discover 30 years later as they plumbed the bins at New York record stores. SDV the party will bring back such gems - some of which are more rock than dance, and more minimal than orchestral - to curious dance floors, and mix them with new material. The fresh blend will rock the party in unprecedented ways, and offer LCD fans a new perspective on the musical roots of their favorite band.

'With SDV, I can keep experimenting with remixes that we're working on, I can keep playing new stuff, and I can keep finding old records,' says Murphy.

SDV's disco is The Bee Gees' 'You Should Be Dancin',' but not the original: The unreleased dub version. It's not Studio 54: It's The Loft, a NYC venue open at the same time, where the music was so much the focus that DJ David Mancuso would let songs finish in silence, rather than mix them into each other, so each could be appreciated on its own. It's Francis Grasso, the New York DJ who would blend Led Zeppelin and Aretha Franklin during marathon, 12-hour sets, and reportedly lived in his DJ booth at West Side club Salvation. 'How punk rock is that?' says Murphy."

Continue reading "Special Disco Version (Murphy & Mahoney) - 2008 Tour Dates"

by Showtrotta

James Murphy and Pat Mahoney @ PS1 - July 26, 2008 (CRED)

The Crowd @ PS1 - July 26, 2008 (CRED)

Thursday night, despite the various dance happenings I decided to take a break and stay in. Friday I took a break from dancing again and went to the excellent Ween show. The no-dancing streak couldn't last much longer though - Saturday I headed to PS1 for the DFA-laden edition of Warm Up. I arrived around 5 and witnessed a line stretched around at least 3 sides of PS1. Thankfully I was able to go on the much shorter line for LIC residents. Inside was less crowded than I expected - perhaps some of the line was due to an attempt at crowd control. Unfortunately it was only temporary and PS1 turned into a barely navigable, wall to wall crowd of people standing around, many waiting in one of the ridiculously long and seemingly merging beer lines.

After several minutes of scurrying through gaps opening in the crowd I finally made it to the dancefloor where there was an odd little mix of people not dancing at all, people just tapping their feet a little bit, and people absolutely losing their shit. I fell somewhere between the feet tappers and wanting to lose my shit but James and Pat's selections just weren't doing it for me. Probably the one and only highlight for me was when they dropped "Planet E" by KC Flightt which heavily samples "Once in a Lifetime" by the Talking Heads. Check out the video which features the soon to be touring David Byrne dancing through every now and then. Around 8 I left PS1 feeling very frustrated, but I am already starting to feel better because of the amazing events headed our way this week:

First off, hopefully things will be better tonight (Wednesday July 30, 2008) at Santos Happy House with different DFA'ers, Juan Maclean and Tim Sweeney (Beats in Space) choosing the tunes. Apparently it's going to be an actual battle with Tim and Juan switching off every hour, with one of them emerging as the winner....

Continue reading "Sebastien Tellier, DFA & the Wednesday night in Dance"

photos by Ryan Muir

M.I.A. will give gave an exclusive benefit performance--to support the Museum's award-winning educational programs and the care, study, and exhibition of its collection--at the Party in the Garden After-Dinner Dance on Tuesday, June 10th, from 9 PM-midnight (10:30 PM performance), at The Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53 Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, Manhattan.

The evening will also feature featured a DJ performance by 'Special Disco Version' featuring James Murphy and Pat Mahoney of LCD Soundsystem.

Continue reading "James Murphy & Pat Mahoney @ MoMA's Garden Party - pics"

Pat Mahoney and James Murphy

James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem/DFA Records) posted the following message on the DFA board (thx all)...

ok, pat and i are starting a new party here in nyc. it's a dfa party, sure, somewhere between my old apt party (which was very fun) and the dfa parties at studio b. it's called special disco version and it'll have it's homebase at a new club my friend has in manhattan called 100 lafayette at, well, you guessed it, 100 lafayette street. we're also taking the show on the road.
the new spot isn't open yet, but there are some gigs a-coming up.

and here they are:
may 13th we're on beats in space
may 15th pat's in dublin (details to follow)
may 16th pat's at fabric in london
may 16th i'm at webster hall in nyc
may 30th pat's in austria at the urban artforms festival
may 31st pat's in belgrade
june 10th we're playing together at MOMA
june 13th & 14th there'll be some form of specialdiscoversion party in vancouver and toronto

so there.