Snoop Dogg has announced two notable/WTF and/or who-cares shows, one in NYC and one in Austin. First, he'll be making an appearance at the annual Perez Hilton SXSW party on Saturday (3/20). Second, he'll play a Brooklyn venue that definitely seems small for the big star. Tickets go on sale Saturday at noon (not today as originally announced by Bowery Presents) for an April 19th show at Brooklyn Bowl.

photos by Tim Griffin

Ladyhawke

"New Zealand rocker Ladyhawke may sing about Paris burning, but on Wednesday it was New York City that was on fire. At the headliner of the "Perez Hilton Presents" concert at the Fillmore at Irving Plaza, Ladyhawke was well-worth her witching-hour performance, featuring crowd-friendly renditions of "Back of the Van" and "My Delirium." Unfortunately, fellow co-headliner Ida Maria was a no-show because of illness. No matter. The two surprises Hilton pulled out of his sleeve certainly made up for it.

"I'm marveling that I was able to pull it off, because I've never put on a tour before," Hilton told MTV News. "The reason why I'm doing the tour, the reason I have a record label, the reason why I write about music on my Web site is because I think music lovers like sharing good music with other music lovers."...

...Last-minute surprise act Little Boots hit the stage sans her band mates (they were stuck across town) and performed solo with only a piano to accompany her. She thanked Hilton with a run through a haunting cover of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" and was followed by another surprise in Kat DeLuna, whose high-octane hip-swirling show made the walls sweat." [MTV]

By "across town", they mean at Bowery Ballroom where Little Boots also played on Wednesday night (9/16). Ida Maria was in fact a no-show, though the type of illness is unclear - it may have been a case of Perez-itis because she seemed to be doing okay when she performed at the Betsey Johnson fashion show a night or two earlier. Officially it became this:

Friday, September 18, 2009

Ida Maria will not be finishing the current Perez Hilton Presents Tour. She is suffering from total exhaustion and will be heading home to Norway to rest and be under Doctor's care. Her personal statement to everyone is:

Dear Friends and Fans. I am so very sorry but I cannot finish this tour. After touring in Scandinavia, Europe, the UK, Australia, Japan and the USA for 3 years straight I am just completely exhausted. I have learned that I am not a superwoman.

I love all the bands, musicians and crew on this tour. Go see these bands! I will be back and look forward to playing you my music both new and old. The new music is in forefront of my mind. Thank you all again. See you soon. I wish you peace.

Ida Maria

One night before the Irving show Ladyhawke played the Apple Store. More pictures from Irving Plaza (NSFW - there were strippers), below...

Continue reading "Ladyhawke, Little Boots, Semi-Precious Weapons & friends @ Irving Plaza in NYC (the Perez Hilton show) - pics (NSFW)"

'New York City concert was hotter than a whore in heat! So amazing!' - Perez Hilton

'Ida Maria appeared to be drunk and phoning it in' in DC, Sep 12 (Francis Chung)

"So, you'd assume that the self-proclaimed "queen of all media" would have been tweeting the crap out of Ida Maria walking off stage at her Boston show on Monday night. Perhaps a few scathing blog posts on his 20-million-hits-per-day web site and maybe some speculation -- totally unwarranted and without any actual, factual reporting -- that drugs and/or alcohol are to blame for the rising star's troubled performance.

But, no. Not one word was uttered, tweeted, typed or mentioned on any of the multiple social-networking sites to which Perez Hilton regularly contributes and certainly nothing on his astronomically famous web site, PerezHilton.com.

The gossip blogger and frenemy to the stars, has recently been toting his "Perez Presents" tour all over the internet, giving him even further bragging rights (in the past, Perez has taken credit for the successes of Lady GaGa and Mika) for "discovering" new talents Ladyhawke, FrankMusik, Eric Hutchinson, Sliimy, Semi Precious Weapons, and Ida Maria.

Despite the fact that most, if not all of the artists have been touring their home countries -- most artists are from overseas -- for the past year, and anyone who reads any sort of music news would know some of their names, Perez continues to promote his gig as a musical experience worth the $30plus price tag, because it will expose you to a whole "new" world or music.

I'd beg to differ. And I'm sure the mere 250 people who attended the event at the House of Blues [in Boston on Monday, September 14th] would agree, especially once co-headliner Ida Maria had a melt-down during song one-and-a-half, rendering her unable to perform the rest of her set.

The Norwegian rocker seemed less-than-impressed by the dwindling crowd as she took the stage (the three-story music venue can hold more than 2,400 people). She pouted her way through her first tune, refusing to sing the last two lines on the song, and opting, instead, to have a pow-wow with her guitarist, who pleaded with her to continue the performance under hushed mics.

As she led into her second song, the singer put down her own guitar and stood facing the audience folding her arms with an un-entertained, unenthusiastic, "I could care less" look written all over her face, before storming off mid-song leaving her band clueless. After a brief period of confusion, the stage managers reeled out a screen from which the audience could watch music videos. Already angry concert goers booed as Kanye graced the screen. Management were quick to replace his video with Janet, Madonna and of course, Taylor Swift.

Later, Maria would return from her fit back stage to apologize in broken English..." [Boston Daily Free Press]

That interesting, but somewhat unsympathetic article, fails to mention that Ida was crying, and that when she returned, she emotionally finished "Keep Me Warm" before apologizing "in broken English" and then finally leaving the stage for the last time. Video of the incident below.

Two nights earlier at the DC show, things weren't much better...

Continue reading "Ida Maria was drunk in DC, had a meltdown in Boston (video), was replaced by Kat DeLuna @ Perez Hilton show in NYC "

photo by Tim Griffin

UPDATE: Ida Maria had a breakdown two nights earlier in Boston, and was replaced by Kat DeLuna in NYC.

PREVIOUSLY: Little Boots is playing Irving Plaza tonight

DOWNLOAD: Little Boots - "Earthquake" (Yes Giantess remix) (MP3)

Little Boots' Tenori-On @ LPR (more by Chris La Putt)

Little Boots is in town to play a sold out show at Bowery Ballroom tonight (9/16) with Plasticines and Yes Giantess. The latter is responsible for the remix you can download on top of this post. The show goes right up against the Perez Hilton tour stop which is happening not that far away at Irving Plaza.

Thanks to a tip by Renaldo, I called Irving Plaza. In addition to a recording saying the show wasn't sold out, it listed these set times:

8:00 doors
9:00 Frankmusic
9:30 Little Boots
10:00 Semi Precious Weapons
10:45 Ida Maria
11:45 Ladyhawke

Ladyhawke also played the Apple Store yesterday. All Little Boots dates below...

Continue reading "Little Boots is here (tour dates) -- playing Irving Plaza too? "

Ladyhawke, Ida Maria, Sliimy, Julian Perretta, FrankMusik, Eric Hutchinson and Semi Precious Weapons are on the 'Perez Hilton Presents' tour that kicked off in Atlanta on September 10th. It hits Irving Plaza in NYC on Wednesday (9/16) with a night off tonight (9/15). Ladyhawke is using the time for another show...

Don't miss LADYHAWKE as she performs tracks from her special edition CD, an expanded version of her self-titled debut album that includes five new tracks.

September 15, 7:00 p.m.
Live at the Apple Store SoHo
103 Prince Street
NY, NY 10012
212226-3126

It's free, but don't expect a long set. The special edition CD was released on September 1st. All Perez dates below...

Continue reading "Ladyhawke on Perez tour, plays Apple Store in NYC today"

Yeasayer @ MHOW 12/06 (more by Ryan Muir)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Ben Perowsky Quartet @ Barbes
* Drug Rug, Your Nature @ Union Pool
* Ida Maria, Franz Nicolay @ Maxwell's
* Tracy Bonham, Tony Scherr @ Joe's Pub
* De La Soul, Buckshot @ Nokia Theatre
* Rakim, DJ Souljah, U-God @ Highline Ballroom
* Tori Amos, One Eskimo @ Radio City Music Hall
* Necking, Piles, Work, Crime Novels @ Bruar Falls
* Prayertown, Edom, Martin Bisi, Queening @ Coco 66
* Yeasayer, Amazing Baby @ Pier 54/Hudson River Park
* Friendly Fires, The xx @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Mostly Other People Do the Killing, Afuche @ Zebulon
* CKY, Graveyard, ASG, Fall from Grace @ Gramercy Theatre
* Gliss, Purcane, Automatic Children, Lights On @ The Annex
* Children, Lullabye Arkestra, Violent Bullshit @ Glasslands
* Blondie, Pat Benatar, The Donnas @ Asser Levy/Seaside Park
* Bottle Up & Go, Royal Bangs, Calypso, Slim Twig @ Death By Audio
* Mike Bones, Amen Dunes, Virgin Forest, Up Died Sound @ The Cameo
* Canyons, Justin Miller & Jacques Renault @ Rocks Off Concert Cruises
* Nighthorse, Barracks, Engine Room, Tee Pee Recs special guest @ Pianos
* Holy Hail, Pacific Theater, Aerial East, Bird Love @ The Ghost Factory
* Beach Fossils, Blind Man's Colour, Small Black, The Tony Castles @ Cake Shop
* Out of Doors Fest w/ Snehasish Mozumder & Som, Jake Shimabukuro, The Derek Trucks Band @ Damrosch Park

Free outdoor music tonight includes Blondie, Pat Benatar and The Donnas at Asser Levy/Seaside Park in Coney Island, a Lincoln Center Out of Doors Fest show with Snehasish Mozumder & Som, Jake Shimabukuro and The Derek Trucks Band at Damrosch Park, and Yeasayer and Amazing Baby at Pier 54/Hudson River Park.

Rakim, DJ Souljah and U-God play Highline Ballroom, while De La Soul's Three Feet High And Rising anniversary tour comes to Nokia Theatre with a 10-piece band and Buckshot. A video of "Me Myself and I" on Arsenio Hall is below.

Canyons and Justin Miller & Jacques Renault appear at a People Don't Dance No More party aboard Rocks Off Concert Cruise. Canyons was last seen over the weekend at Central Park Summerstage.

Nighthorse plays with a Tee Pee Records special guest headliner at Pianos tonight.

Brits Friendly Fires and The xx play Music Hall of Williamsburg. Last night the show was at Le Poisson Rouge.

Ida Maria visits Maxwell's with Franz Nicolay (who plays Union Pool tomorrow). She'll be back in the NYC-area on September 16th with the Perez Hilton tour, which today added Semi Precious Weapons to the bill.

San Diego's Lights On have a series of NYC shows this weekend. One is a Saturday Union Hall show with Beach Fossils and Blind Man's Colour (who play tonight at Cake Shop). Catch Lights On tonight at The Annex with Gliss, Purcane and Automatic Children.

Two nights of Animal Collective in Prospect Park begin tomorrow.

Jazz combo Mostly Other People Do the Killing play at Zebulon tonight.

Ben Perowsky Quartet plays a CD release show at Barbes for his new disc, Esopus Opus, out on Skirl Records. That CD deals in largely-accordion-driven jazz. Tonight, Perowsky (drums) will be joined by "Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, The Melvins, Electric Masada) and Matt Mitchell on piano (member of Tim Berne's new sextet), and saxophonist/clarinetist Chris Speed."

Tori Amos nears the end of her Abnormally Attracted to Sin-supporting tour tonight at Radio City Music Hall.

"Next to nothing is known at the moment about "These Are My Twisted Words," the purported new Radiohead song that mysteriously appeared online last night. Unlike "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)," which Radiohead surprise-released almost exactly one week prior (hmmm), this one seems to have materialized on various illicit music hubs without any official announcement or acknowledgment from the band." [EW]

Radiohead's new mystery song "These Are My Twisted Words" is posted below, as is a clip of Bonnie "Prince" Billy on Tim & Eric's Music Express segment.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

"This truly is a dream come true!" - Perez Hilton

Perez Hilton @ SXSW 2009 (photo by Nate "Igor" Smith)

For better or for worse (as I always say before I say his name), Perez Hilton is putting his name on a tour that will feature two female artists who also played his SXSW party this year. Ida Maria and Ladyhawke will kick things off in Atlanta on September 10th, hit Irving Plaza in NYC on September 16th, and eventually end their trip together on the west coast in early October. Julian Pertetta and FrankMusik also play all dates. Perez promises "a pre-sale this Thursday before tickets go on sale to the general public this weekend." All dates below...

Continue reading "Perez Hilton Presents Ida Maria & Ladyhawke on tour (dates)"

Ida Maria @ Union Hall (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Les Paul @ Iridium
* papercranes @ City Winery
* Glasvegas, Ida Maria @ Webster Hall
* Gringo Star, Des Roar @ Glasslands
* The War on Drugs, The Drones @ Union Hall
* Oh Land, Jason Anderson @ Pete's Candy Store
* Sharon Van Etten, Virgin Passages, Regia @ Cake Shop
* DD/MM/YYYY, Wavves, Vampire Hands, Real Estate @ Mercury Lounge
* The Dead @ Roseland Ballroom, Gramercy Theatre & Angel Orensanz
* Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears, miniboone, The Fumes @ Pianos
* The Hold Steady, The Rosewood Thieves, Black Gold @ Irving Plaza

Black Joe Lewis is also opening for Gomez at Bowery Ballroom tomorrow.

All Points West 2009 lineup announced.

Ladyhawke, Ida Maria, Yelle, Thunderheist (whose album is out this week) and others (including Kanye West, but not Lady Sovereign who cancelled) played the Perez Hilton (love him, or more likely hate him...) party at SXSW. A video compilation featuring live performances and interviews from that event, below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

I was never an Indigo Girls fan, and for whatever reason, the inner immature child in me still thinks it's funny just to say their name ("Indigo Girls. ha ha ha! worst! ever!...").... They're probably amazing. My experience is limited to, like, "Galileo"....

I already mentioned that I thought it was funny interesting that PJ Harvey (who is playing Irving Plaza tonight (3/26)!) was opening for the Indigo Girls at Stubb's during SXSW. Even more interesting, was that the special guest at the Perez Hilton SXSW party was not, as rumored, Britney Spears, but was in fact the Indigo Girls (on the same bill as Ladyhawke, Ida Maria, Little Boots, etc...).

I have since also found out that the Indigo Girls have at least three NYC shows coming up. The first is tonight, March 26th, at the very tiny Living Room on the Lower East Side (file under big artist playing very small venue), and after that it's Highline Ballroom on April 15th (file under Tax Day concerts), and finally a much larger headlining performance this summer (June 16) at Central Park Summerstage (file under who is playing Central Park Summerstage this year).

More Lilith Fair fans HERE.

photos by Nate "Igor" Smith

After missing her two official SXSW showcases due to getting stuck at the border, Ida Maria did in fact make it to her scheduled appearance at the Perez Hilton party in Austin on Saturday night. Now on tour with Glasvegas, and, as Bill just pointed out, that brings her back to NYC very soon. More Perez pictures below...

Continue reading "Ida Maria @ Perez Hilton's 2009 SXSW party - pics"

Ladyhawke @ Perez Hilton's 2009 SXSW party Saturday night (SchnappyStar)

"New Zealand Eighties revivalist Ladyhawke ran through an extremely polished set of tightly arranged synth-rock. Opener "Dusk Till Dawn" shimmered with Scissor Sisters boogie, "Magic" throbbed with the power of propulsive but eerie disco and "Another Runaway" recalled both Donna Summer and Pat Benatar with its anthemic yet glittery vibe. Singer Pip Brown stood anchored center-stage strumming her guitar while warm washes of keyboards saturated the night sky and her tight band pulsed along. Picking out the '80s tunes the group was referencing was a popular exercise (the theme from "Fame"! The opening of Van Halen's "Jump"!). Wrapping with a three-song whammy of "Back in the Van," "Paris Is Burning" and the big, bold single "My Delirium," Ladyhawke definitely brought the party, though the tunes could have used a bit more build-up-and-break-down dynamics. "My Delirium" got a few hands in the air -- and what looked like a flying saucer in the sky -- as Ladyhawke made a fairly strong case for herself as the indie rock Lady Gaga. The sound may be familiar, but it sure is fun." [Rolling Stone @ SXSW]

Ladyhawke's US trip continues with two shows in NYC this week. Tonight (3/24) at Bowery Ballroom is sold out, but tickets are still available for the Thursday show at Studio B.

Also here from overseas and SXSW, Camera Obscura kick off their two-night, both-sold-out, NYC run at The Bell House tonight (3/24).

"You really had to feel for Camera Obscura. The Scottish indie pop sextet's first U.S. performance in a long while had them practically begging audience members to stick around. Of course, while the crowd hemorrhaged members, that had nothing to do with the band -- they were the final act in a long night and after a full day of partying most in the audience were tired, hungry and ready to head out. By the time lead singer Tracyanne Campbell belted out the final song, a rollicking, enthused "If Looks Could Kill," from 2006's "Let's Get Out of This Country," the venue was only at about one-third capacity." [Austin 360]

That's the problem sometimes with the semi-random and long bills that get put together at SXSW. Anni Rossi and Shelley Green open tomorrow's Camera Obscura show at Mercury Lounge. Laura Cantrell opens tonight at the Bell House where Victoria Bergsman (Taken by Trees, the Concretes) will also be acting as DJ.

Not at SXSW, Bloc Party also kick off a two-night run in NYC tonight. Longwave are opening both sold-out shows at Terminal 5.

by Andrew Frisicano

Ida Maria @ Union Hall (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

I wanted to re-release my album, the way I wanted it to be.

I have designed the artwork, added three new songs, and changed the track listing.

Now it sounds, looks and feels like I want it to feel, and I am so excited again.

The story behind this cover is a story similar to a homebaked applecake.

You take what you have in your kitchen and experiment a little and hold tumbs that no one will notice you kinda forgot the recipe.

And then it turns out tasting good as hell and nobody can ever make it again.

My drummer Olle is a photographer (!) and has shot the genius cover photo in his apartment in Stockholm, with use of just the light that was there. Lamps in the livingroom, and pocket flashlight.

The cover art is designed by my friend Jon Edergren. -[Ida Maria's Myspace blog]

Fortress Round My Heart, Ida Maria's 2008 debut, is coming out in the US, digitally on March 24th and on CD, April 14th, on Universal's Mercury Records. The US release will sport a new cover and re-arranged track list, but won't include the bonus tracks described above (though new song "In the End" will replace previous closer "See Me Through").

Ida Maria is one of the many scheduled to be at SXSW this week. She was/is supposed to play KCRW's Showcase at Buffalo Billiards, a show at Maggie Mae's , and is on the bill of Perez Hilton's "One Night in Austin" party on Saturday.

"One Night in Austin" will feature Yelle, Solange, Lady Sovereign, Margaret Cho, Ladyhawke, Little Boots, Ida Maria and Thunderheist, plus "a very special Surprise Musical Performance." No word on who: "Not Tori Amos [but] one of our FAVORITEST acts of all time!!!!!!" [RSVP for the party].

UPDATE: Ida Maria never made it to her official SXSW showcases...

I don't think Ida Maria played either Maggie Mae's or Buffalo Billiards. I wanted to see her play while I am down here, but both nights, she was removed from the official sxsw.com website. She was replaced with Zee Avi on wednesday and with Val Emmich yesterday. I hope she actually plays the perez show. Looking forward to seeing her at MHOW regardless" [Ashok]

EW confirms that, "...Zee Avi, a tiny girl with a warm smile filled the lonesome last spot at the KCRW showcase on Wednesday night. It was huge opportunity for the newcomer -- her self-titled debut will be out May 19 -- filling in for Norwegian rocker chick/hype magnet Ida Maria, who was reportedly stuck in U.S. customs."

After the festival (if she makes it at all), Ida Maria is touring with Glasvegas through March, including a March 28th show at Music Hall of Williamsburg (on sale ) and a March 30th one at Webster Hall (on sale). Ida Maria also has a scheduled appearance at Coachella Festival on April 18th.

Ladyhawke visits NYC after SXSW. Little Boots was here in February.

All Ida Maria tour dates and the "Oh My God" video below...

Continue reading "Ida Maria - now on a major label, playing Perez Hilton's SXSW party???, Coachella & other places"

"One year after she set the blogosphere on its collective ear by invading the indier-than-thou confines of South by Southwest with her own party -- and then shocking everyone when that party actually turned out to be pretty good -- Rachael Ray is at again, with plans for another SXSW soiree.

While details are still limited, a source close to the event told MTV News that Ray is looking to throw an "expanded" party at this year's South By, tentatively scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, March 21. Last year's party was held at Austin, Texas' Beauty Bar, but no location has been determined for this year's event.

The source said that "10 to 12" bands could be booked for Ray's SXSW party (last year's bill featured the Raveonettes, Holy Fuck and the Cringe, the band fronted by her husband, Jon Cusimano), and while not all the acts have been confirmed, we hear that a couple of fairly huge names -- the Hold Steady and the Airborne Toxic Event -- have already committed to play.

The source also added that another "big name" will be added in the coming days.

Ray will work out all the kinks at a SXSW pre-party, scheduled for February 25 at Andrew WK's NYC spot Santo's Party House. Semi-Precious Weapons, the Orion Experience and the Cringe top the bill." [MTV]

Tickets for the Santos show are on sale.

Last year it wasn't only Rachael that "set the blogosphere on its collective ear". It was Perez Hilton's entrance into SXSW too. His party ended up having Robyn, N.E.R.D., Riskay and others. Then he did a CMJ party too which Semi Precious Weapons also played (along with Sharon Jones and Lady Gaga).

Continue reading "Rachael Ray coming to Santos Party House, returning to SXSW ("Hold Steady & Airborne Toxic Event rumored")"

words & photos by Faith-Ann Young

A bleached-blonde, jolly, skinny (and hence nearly unrecognizable) Perez Hilton stepped on stage to Friday night (10/24) at Highline Ballroom ready to party. The bands he picked to play his party were performers who guaranteed a riotous, gossip-worthy show, from soulstress diva Sharon Jones to Yo Majesty's usually-topless, feel-good, with-attitude rap, to the catsuited were-you-a-stripper-before-you-learned-to-lip-sync? Lady Gaga. It wasn't as much about the music as it was the energy- and hence the MTV-loving crowd went wild.

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings kicked it off in style and soul - (those Dap Kings are getting around these days. Members were also spotted performing on October 21st with Daniel Merriweather at Mark Ronson's Allido showcase and with the Phenomenal Handclap Band at the BV showcase that same night) belting, grooving barefoot, and inviting random chicks and drag queens onstage for a sing-along.

In between sets, the drag queens ruled the dance floor - grinding, teasing, flirting and pulling at each other's hair and fake tits.

Yo Majesty's rapper Shunda K and singer Jwl B performed with a dude in a kilt and a dude in a superman spandex ensemble while laughing, joshing and rappin' back and forth to the crowd's roars.

Next up: Semi Precious Weapons, who weave a precarious line between hard rock and fake eyelashes over heavy duty eyeliner. Lead singer Justin Tranter 'affectionately' calling everyone "you bitches" and strutting his wry frame around like a cracked out professional stripper. The rest of the band provided the perfect contrast, looking right out of AFI or some other alt-rock outfit. The overwhelming amount of eye-candy throughout the set distracted from the music, which was hard rock with lyrics like "It's not my fault I look cuter in a party dress" and "I can't pay my rent but I am fucking gorgeous." Sound bloody aweful? Musically perhaps, but if you let yourself get offended, you're taking life farrrr too seriously.

Last up, came Lady Gaga. People BATTLED for front row on this- I was nearly bitten by a teething, rabid female, who was wasted and ready to slit wrists to get to front row. The chick's got a furious fan club so if you haven't heard of her yet, listen up. A brief history: she performed in a bra onstage at Lollapalooza in 2007. Though the music was god aweful, her F*-all attitude got her signed to Interscope. They marketed her, fed her cat-suit and stripper boot addiction, got her featured in W Magazine, filtered her single "Just Dance" into all the clubs and had her perform late night at gay clubs (we will call this the Madonna-music strategy). So now-a-days, the chick's "hot" in the Britney-RIP sense: white space-suit with granny panties, a troupe of boy back-up dancers and tens of thousands of dollars in moving TV screens and superfluous stage props (a glowing crystal stick anyone?) It is unknown if she was actually singing or just lipsyncing throughout the set. The teenage mob was screaming too loud to hear.

The bottomline is Perez's party wasn't about the music. It was about fun- the patent-leather, glitter, sex-for-sale sort of fun. Which meant overall it was a success, since in the Perez world of guiltless shits and giggles, you only live once anyway, so alls well that ends in glitter and catsuits.

Fun Fact: Lady Gaga is now on tour with, and opens for, the New Kids on the Block who happen to be playing Madison Square Garden tonight (Monday, October 27) (after which LG plays a free in-store at the Virgin Megastore in Union Square). More pictures from Perez's party below...

Continue reading "Perez Hilton's CMJ party @ Highline Ballroom, NYC - pics"

Sharon Jones @ ACL (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Sharon Jones will be performing at the Barack benefit going down at Southpaw Thursday night. Sharon Jones will be performing at the Perez Hilton party at Highline Ballroom on Friday night with Yo Majesty, Lady Gaga, Semi Precious Weapons & more TBA

I think the Menahan Band is playing the Southpaw show too (in addition to Budos Band and Naomi Shelton). Menahan are also opening for Sharon on the following dates...

Continue reading "Sharon Jones - 2 NYC shows this CMJ week! "

God Help Us

Perez Hilton has announced that Lady Gaga is headlining his CMJ showcase at Highline Ballroom. One thing I know about Lady Gaga, after some research just now, is that she stripped down to some revealing clothing and performed half-naked (a state she seems most comfortable in) at Lollapalooza in 2007. I also know she calls NYC home, is signed to Interscope, is opening for New Kids on the Block at MSG, and is working with Britney Spears. Semi Precious Weapons is also on the Friday night Perez bill, and though you might not be sold on this one yet, I have heard rumors that one of my favorite/the best NYC performers/bands/soul singers is also, for better or for worse, on this bill (which he'll be announcing piecemeal as the week goes on). The only way to get in is to RSVP.

LG video below...

Continue reading "Perez Hilton's CMJ RSVP (Lady Gaga + more TBA)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: M.I.A. - Boyz Remix featuring Wale (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: M.I.A. - Boyz Remix featuring Jay-Z (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Rhymefest - Man In The Mirror Mixtape (ZIP)

Ronson, Merriweather & Wale

Allido Records, named after one of my favorite Stevie Wonder songs, is the label co-owned by Mr. EVR aka potential Lohan In-Law Mark Ronson (sorry for getting all Perez-y). Mark Ronson will rep Allido when he appears as house DJ during the Allido CMJ showcase at SOB's on Oct 21st. Tickets are on sale.

The Allido Showcase will be headlined by Wale (pronounced wah-lay), who has appeared in NYC with Ronson before, and who recently hopped on a new remix of M.I.A.'s "Boyz" that some say is better than the Jay-Z remix that was released at the same time. Both are available for download above... you be the judge. Wale doesn't have an actual album to his name yet (he's a mixtape dude), but look for his debut to drop in Spring 2009 and feature Travis Barker (recently released from an LA burn center), Mark Ronson (no doy), 9th Wonder, Just Blaze, and Pharrell.

On January 25, 2008, Wale and Mark Ronson, on Ronson's East Village Radio show, hinted that Wale was in the process of signing with Jimmy Iovine at Interscope Records and On March 12, he announced on 93.9 WKYS that he had signed with Interscope. [Wikipedia]

Speaking of 9th, also keep a look out for a Wale/9th Wonder collabo mixtape called Back To The Feature "up next", according to a recent interview in Giant Magazine. For now though, dig on "The Mixtape About Nothing" available for download at his blog.

Rhymefest of I-co-wrote-Kanye-West's-"Jesus Walks"-fame will also be in the (SOB's) house (check out the free Jacko-themed mixtape from earlier this year available above), as well as The Rumble Strips and Daniel Merriweather (not to be confused with Dan The Automator aka Nathaniel Merriweather of Handsome Boy Modeling School fame). Daniel was also at that Webster Hall show Ronson played in October last year.

In other semi-related news, Perez Hilton is announcing his full CMJ lineup on Monday, Pharell and M.I.A. recently got together, Jay-Z inspired a bunch of kids to search out Daptone's Menehan Street Band, and the BrooklynVegan CMJ showcase, happening the same night as Ronson's, is getting close to being sold out. Also that night: The Cool Kids & The Carps.

Wale videos and tour dates below...

Continue reading "Wale, MP3s, Mark Ronson's Allido CMJ showcase, other dates "

PREVIOUSLY: Perez Hilton did SXSW

Yo, anybody that's not a fan; don't come to my show. For what?! To try and throw ya'll two cents in? Ya'll rated my album shitty and now ya'll come to the show and give it a B+. What's a B+ mean? I'm an extremist. It's either pass or fail! A+ or F-! You know what, fuck you and the whole fucking staff!!! I know I shouldn't dignify this with a comment, but the reviewer threw a jab at all the artists. I just wanna know when was the last time you enjoyed yourself. If you can't have fun and lose yourself at this tour it's a good chance you're a very miserable person. I actually feel sorry for you guys. Your job forces you to not have fun anymore. Grab a drink, holla at some nice girls, and party bitch!! You don't know shit about passion and art. You'll never gain credibility at this rate. You're fucking trash! I make art. You can't rate this. I'm a real person. I'm not a pop star. I don't care about anything but making great art. Never come 2 one of my shows ever again, you're not invited and if you see me...BOW!! This is not pop, it's pop art! [Kanye West - ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY'S NOT INVITED!]

And after some controversy with Kanye walking off stage in Houston on Friday....

Continue reading "Kanye West loves Houston, says f*ck you to show reviewer"

Goth Ditto

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton has vowed to stop reporting on artists signed to SonyBMG after the record label issued a lawsuit against the gossip website.

Writing on his website, Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, said that artists such as Justin Timberlake, Adele and The Gossip were now considered "dead to us".

"These are some of our favourite musicians," he said.

"It really, truly pains us not to talk about them. But, it is something we have to do!" [Gigwise]

Gossip tour dates HERE.

Robyn Hitchcock & Peter Buck @ the Mohawk, SXSW 2007 (k-dj)

not to be confused (by name or look) with....

Robyn @ a FILTER party, SXSW 2008 (Nine Inch Nilina)

Robyn played SXSW three times. One of them was for Perez Hilton. The picture above is from a Filter party - the same party (but different day I think) that Kate Nash played with Billy Bragg.

I don't think Robyn Hitchcock played SXSW again this year, but he is going on tour and playing NYC very soon. Robyn played NYC in February, and she'll do it again in May, and then again in August sort of (she's been added to the All Points West festival lineup). Tickets are listed so far for her LA show. I'm sure NYC will follow soon. All dates below...

Continue reading "Robyn - played SXSW, new 2008 Tour Dates, All Points West"

yes, it's Robyn, Perez, and Pharrell @ SXSW - March 15, 2008 (this pic via Perez)

I spent all day Saturday - the last day of SXSW - watching bands and comedians. It was nonstop from noon to 10pm - mostly all at the awesome 3-stage Mess With Texas festival at Waterloo Park which ended with the Breeders and NOFX playing on stages very close to each other at the same time. I watched about half of each of them, but more about that later. With only four official hours left of SXSW, and maybe another 2-3 unofficial ones after that, I started to get depressed and wasn't sure what to do next. 10-11 ended up being spent in the hotel relaxing and figuring things out, and then at 11:00 it was off to Beauty Bar to see a Montreal band I hadn't seen in a long while - Think About Life. That decision was partly motivated by my love for them, partly due to BrooklynVegan Mike's influence, and partly because I knew a friend would be there.

Think About Life were, unlike me at that point, full of energy and they put on a pretty good show, though I thought the sound was a little too muddled. So many New Yorkers are in Austin for SXSW, you basically run into more people you know or recognize while you're at SXSW than you would on any other week back home. This show was no exception, and one easily recognizable member of the crowd was Bronques from Last Night's Party who also seemed to know some people who were with the band...... probably related to his former life as a Canadian musician, and probably what got him to this somewhat random rock show.

Anyway, I was happy to see TAL, but then once again I wasn't sure what to do next. I originally wanted to see The Tough Alliance at the same club at 1am, but someone told me they were pretty horrible live earlier in the week, so I changed my mind. I knew I was going to eventually end up at the late-night VICE party that started at midnight, but that prospect wasn't totally exciting me either because the lineup was Jay Reatard, Fucked Up, and Dark Meat - all of whom I had already seen either that day or the day before. That's when my friend said he was off to the Perez Hilton party.

"REALLY?", I thought....Yes, they were serious, and they said they could get me in even though I didn't RSVP or have a laminate. They also reminded me that Robyn AND N.E.R.D. were both playing - two artists I wanted to see more than most of my other options at that point. That, mixed with the potential hilarity of it all kind of brightened my mood. It was also just a short walk away at a place called the Palm Door, I knew I could leave whenever I wanted, and I could still end up at the VICE party which was running really late. And so we went.

And yes it mostly sucked, but N.E.R.D. were awesome and made it all worth it. It basically went like this....

• We got right in without a hassle as promised. The crowd looked more like the Austin equivalent of our "bridge and tunnel" crowd than it did your typical laid back and hip SXSW audience. Bronques from Last Night's Party was also there - which made more sense than when I saw him earlier in the evening at Think About Life.
• The venue was about the size of Bowery Ballroom (maybe it fit 500 people?) with free rum, free massages, free gum, and a place to play Guitar Hero. NYC's own Larry Tee was the DJ.
• BAD NEWS: We missed Robyn. I hadn't seen the full lineup or set times, and it ends up she played at 10pm. damn.
• GOOD NEWS: N.E.R.D. was going on at 1:00 - the wait wouldn't be super long and then maybe I would even stay to see Riskay sing 'Smell Yo Dick' (the ultimate experience to tell the grandkids about) before heading over to VICE to catch Jay Reatard again.
• BAD NEWS: Every band that played before N.E.R.D. (that I was there for) was HORRIBLE
• Even worse: Joe Simpson, father of Ashley and Jessica, was there.
• Something I learned that night: Who Cisco Adler is, and why NOT to Google Image search him. (note: his new group Shwayze was scheduled to play between N.E.R.D. and Riskay. Cisco seemed to know Joe Simpson, and Cisco had a model girlfriend that was all over him most of the night. That's all the gossip I have for you.)
• Perez introduced every band and said how awesome they were and then would watch them from the side of the stage. It actually seemed pretty sincere except for that fact that it was impossible to believe that he or anyone could possibly like those bands (that coincidentally were all signed to majors) as much as he claimed.
• MORE BAD NEWS: Other people I knew showed up at the Perez party (which was actually good news, but...) and they informed me that VICE wasn't that great and that Jay Reatard had already played. damn.
• RELATED FUN FACT: Those same friends went to the Rachael Ray party earlier that day, officially making them the coolest SXSW-goers this year.
• Realization: The Perez party was running super late. The longer the night went on, the more guilty and ashamed I felt for being at Perez's and for missing whatever else was going on like Black Moth Super Rainbow who played an official showcase at 1am that night too (one of my original plans).
• Long story short: N.E.R.D. didn't go on until after 3:00 AM.
• GOOD NEWS: It was intimate. It was loud. It rocked. They were awesome. Great way to end SXSW.
• BAD NEWS: I definitely lost some hearing at the show.

After N.E.R.D I went home because I was tirrrrrred and had a plane to catch the next day which also meant I didn't get to see Riskay, and I wasn't even going to attempt to go to the secret Todd P party that was probably still going strong until the sun came up. The End. More photos below......

Continue reading "N.E.R.D, Riskay, Robyn, Bronques & Perez Hilton @ SXSW"

Mr. Lavandeira (Perez) has been negotiating a deal that would provide him with his own imprint at Warner Brothers Records, a division of the music giant Warner Music Group, he said. This was confirmed by several other people associated with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because no deal has been made. The talks are preliminary, and an agreement is not certain, but Mr. Lavandeira could receive $100,000 a year as an advance against 50 percent of any profits generated by artists he discovers and releases through Warner Brothers, these people said. [NY Times]

Perez will also be representing at SXSW this year.

Perez Hilton and Rachael Ray will each have a presence at SXSW this year (and so will at least 350 bands) (and BrooklynVegan too).