photos by Maryanne Ventrice

"This is Nate Martinez's first solo project. After spending years of recording and touring with the band Pela, he now records under the moniker Thieving Irons. He is currently completing his first album entitled 'This Midnight Hum' with the help of Mike Brown. A collection of songs written by Nate and supported by some of his very talented friends." [Thieving Irons]

Pela broke up towards the end of 2009. As you can read above, Nate has been keeping busy with a new solo project called Thieving Irons which is currently in the midst of a four week Thursday night resideny at Brooklyn club Sycamore. Actually, the residency is billed "The Garden Grows" with "Nate Martinez and Josh Kaufman". Nate is Thieving Irons. Josh is Rocketship Park and a member of Dawn Landes's band The Hounds. Each week there will be special guests. Tonight (2/18) is the second week and they've got "Dawn Landes, Annie Nero, and many more". Also, "In celebration of the residency Josh and Nate will put together an album of live songs recorded during the residency for release after the shows culminate."

Pictures from last week and all dates below...

Continue reading "Nate Martinez (ex-Pela) is Thieving Irons - a residency w/ Josh Kaufman @ Sycamore - pics, dates, special guests"

RIP Pela. You can read their goodbye letter below...

Continue reading "Pela breaks up"

photos by Tim Griffin

Last time we spoke, Holly Miranda had four NYC shows coming up. Three of those are now in the past, leaving just the one she's playing with Nada Surf at the Bell House in April coming up. One of them was opening for the White Rabbits at Mercury Lounge. That's where the pics were taken that decorate this post, and that's the venue Holly is playing a newly-added show tonight, March 10th, when she opens for Pela at their second of two NYC residency shows. More pictures below...

Continue reading "Holly Miranda - Mercury Lounge tonight, Mercury Lounge pics "

words & photos by Fresh Bread

Pela returned to the stage last week with the first of two sold-out shows at the Mercury Lounge. The band has been working on their next studio album for the past few months (due out this spring) and are using these shows to test out the new material in front of a live crowd. They hadn't played a show in a while, but you couldn't tell from their performance. Lead man Billy McCarthy and band earnestly and energetically performed eight new songs during the hour-or-so set. The rest of the fifteen song set list, including old jams like "Lost To The Lonesome", "Calvary", "Tenement Teeth", and "Waiting On The Stairs". An encore cover of the Clash's "Guns Of Brixton" had the packed house trying to match the band's energy (result was a draw - band 1, crowd 1).

The second of two Pela shows at Mercury Lounge is tonight, March 10th. More pictures from last week below...

Continue reading "Pela @ Mercury Lounge (week 1) in pics & review "

Tickets are on Ticket Rush presale for the Hold Steady show at Irving Plaza (password = venue) (thx Bao).

Tickets are still on sale for all three Pogues shows at Roseland Ballroom.

Lil Wayne, T Pain, Gym Class Heroes, and Keri Hilson are playing the Prudential Center on March 19. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10AM.

Tickets are still on sale for the Napalm Death show at Blender Theater.

Adele's May show at Roseland Ballroom is sold out is still on sale. Franz Ferdinand's show at the same venue is also still on sale. Tickets are also still available for Lily Allen's show there in April. Adele doesn't, but Lily, Franz, Duffy and Estelle all have songs on the new War Child Heroes charity comp.

The Dead sold out MSG, but not Nassau Coliseum or Izod Center yet.

The Gaslight Anthem added a May 8th show with Pela and Good Ole War at the Stone Pony. Tickets are on sale. The Gaslight Anthem are also playing Sasquatch and Coachella and Webster Hall. Pela also have some shows coming up at Mercury Lounge.

Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton are playing the Izod Center on June 10th. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10AM.

Daryl Hall and John Oates are playing two night at Irving Plaza in March. Tickets range from $80 to $150 and are on sale.

Hey everybody,

It's been a while. We've been busy finishing our album over the past 4 months. It's been a long road. We know we haven't done the best job keeping you up-to-date, so here we are. There's a lot we want to catch you up on. But, instead of a long-winded letter right now, we've got a better idea - less talk more rock.

We are extremely excited to announce a few intimate shows we'll be playing in NYC. We've decided to set up a mini-residency at The Mercury Lounge in March. We'll be playing new material with a few oldies and we couldn't think of a better place to do it than in our hometown. The dates are March 3 and March 10. Tickets will go on sale February 6 at Noon.

NOTE: presale tickets are available to Amex cardholders [at noon].

PELA

Openers for both shows TBA. A live Pela video below...

Continue reading "Pela announces a mini-residency at Mercury Lounge"

DOWNLOAD: Pela - Good Foot on a Bad Doorstep (new MP3) (via)

The song is about good old fashion infidelity and it folding back on the infidel. It was originally on banjo and didn't make Anytown [Graffiti]. But we knew we'd release it some day. It was recorded on a cheap Kimball organ... like the kind that Hare Krishna's use. The violin player was this old Cuban guy that hung at my bar. And he was so drunk during the session that his breathing was bleeding through the microphone... we thought he'd pass out but he never did... he just sat there smelling of alcohol and cologne. [Pela's Billy McCarthy to KEXP]

Billy is better and Pela headlines Bowery Ballroom tonight (June 6, 2008). The Big Sleep open. Pela are also playing the Middle East in Cambridge on Saturday.

Pela's Billy (safely) landing a few days earlier (hunta)

We are writing to you as our van heads back to New York. Billy has already returned to New York via plane, and is preparing for surgery.

During last night's show at Schuba's in Chicago Billy fell off the stage, landing on a broken pint glass. This happened during the triumphant finale of the set; the stage was crowded with people dancing and singing to 'Cavalry', while a strobe light turned their vision into a cut screen movie. His left hand has a gash on the palm, and a deep slice in his pinky finger which also cut tendons.

We regrettably must announce that Schuba's was the last night of the tour.

We promise to make up each and every show as soon as possible and apologize to everyone who purchased tickets. Arrangements are being made with all of the clubs on how best to handle the situation. We will have more information soon.

Webmaster note: you can send your best wishes to billy@pelamusic.com and I'll forward them to him. -Pela

Check out a video they filmed in the Chicago hospital below...

Continue reading "Pela cancels tour - Billy fell off stage & is injured"

words & photos by Bao Nguyen

Liam Finn (son of Neil) began his set to a small audience (an un-crowded house?) last night (Feb 26, 2008) at Sound Fix in Brooklyn (sans Eddie Vedder). He began his set with somewhat slow, folk songs which soon progressed into his own unique sound. Organized chaos can be used to describe some of Liam Finn's songs, where Ben Gibbard-esque vocals are met with sharp cadences and brief guitar riffs. Between songs the audience was amused with Finn's first taste of Brooklyn Lager and his aspirations to move to New York in three or maybe five years time. As the songs evolved and progressed, the audience also grew in size. His pleasant stage presence and unique songs make Liam Finn someone to watch in the future.

Liam is on tour with Pela (and eventually Eddie Vedder). He plays Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn with Pela & Apollo Sunshine tonight (Feb 27, 2008). More photos from Sound Fix below.....

Continue reading "Liam Finn @ Sound Fix, Brooklyn, NY - pics"

Continue reading "LIAM FINN - Soundfix tonight, w/ Pela, Eddie Vedder, Miracle Fortress, SXSW, 2008 Tour Dates, a video"

Pela desecrating a temple (CRED)

Pela is going on a short tour with Liam Finn at the end of February. That includes a show with Apollo Sunshine at Music Hall of Williamsburg in their hometown of Brooklyn, NY on February 27th. Tickets are on sale. All dates below....

Continue reading "Pela & Liam Finn - 2008 Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: Sleater-Kinney - Oh! (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Xiu Xiu - Clowne Towne (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Gossip - Sweet Baby (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Deerhoof - Gore in Rut (MP3)

Pela @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - Aug 25, 2007 (CRED)

* Clutch is playing a sold-out Rocks Off Cruise
* Hillary Duff is playing Radio City Music Hall?
* Hipster Olympics (in case you missed it)
* Feist & friends are playing Letterman
* Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Resigns
* Google maps to map NYC subways
* Tale of Two Cities (Joey Arak) is back

Not much really. What else?

DOWNLOAD: Pela - Lost to the Lonesome (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Elk City - Cherries in the Snow (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Elk City - Los Cruzados (MP3)

Camera Obscura @ South Street Seaport, NYC - Aug 24, 2007 (CRED)

* 826NYC
* After the Jump
* A free show at Governor's Island
* Papercuts is playing at Sound Fix
* Luke Pritchard of the Kooks is playing Sound Fix
* Pela is headlining Bowery Ballroom w/ Elk City
* Beachhouse & Papercuts are playing Mercury Lounge
* Ex-Models, Deathset, & Titus Andronicus are playing Silent Barn CANCELLED
* The Fiery Furnaces are playing for free @ Socrates Sculpture Park

What else?

* WOXY Goes Silent Again
* Notes on Today's Webcasters Blackout
* The Verve reunite, playing shows in UK
* The baby on Nirvana's Nevermind album is 17 (Pic) (via)
* Lily Allen flees UK to New York City
* Pela get in scuffle at Sweet Jane's in Hartford
* heartonastick's Mermaid Parade Pictures
* The 25 Most Ridiculous Band Names in Rock History (via)
* Weezer Comes Back To Life With New Album
* The Rentals touring, etc