Bettye Lavette at Highline Ballroom (more by Jacob Blickenstaff )

A quick reminder that one of the greatest songwriters of all-time, Neil Young, will be celebrated at Carnegie Hall in two days (2/10) as part of a benefit for music & arts programs of underpriviledged youth. The bill is beyond diverse, featuring The Roots, Nada Surf, Glen Hansard, DeVotchka, J Mascis and Bettye Lavette just to name a few of the twenty+ that are on board. "100% of the net proceeds from this event" will benefit charities like Fixing Instruments for Kids in Schools, Church Street School for Music & Art, The Pinwheel Project, Music Unites, The American Symphony Orchestra and Young Audiences New York, so pick up your tickets with a clear conscious!

Meanwhile, quite a few of the Neil Young-tribute artists have recently been or will be very active. Glen Hansard recently played City Winery and the Doveman show at LPR. Patti Smith & Jesse Smith are scheduled to play the Tibet benefit at Carnegie Hall in March. When Questlove of The Roots isnt going to see Prince or spinning at Brooklyn Bowl, he can be found on Jimmy Fallon. Nada Surf recently played Mercury Lounge and Rock Shop. DeVotchKa will play Highline in March with El Mariachi Bronx. Juliana Hatfield & Evan Dando were just at Maxwell's and the Bell House. J Mascis has his upcoming tour with shows at Mercury Lounge and MHoW.

Ben Ottewell of Gomez plays the Neil Young event and an early solo show at Mercury Lounge the next day.

And last, but certainly not least, Bettye Lavette, besides paying tribute to the great rock'n roll patriarch from the North, also has quite a NYC residency in the spring when she'll set up shop at Cafe Carlyle from 5/24 - 6/3 (no shows on 5/29, 5/30). Ticketing info is forthcoming, but all tour dates, the full Neil Young Tribute lineup and some videos are below...

Continue reading "Neil Young tribute show coming, Bettye Lavette playing shows at Cafe Carlyle & elsewhere, Ben Ottewell will be at Merc"

Ben Kweller just toured through NYC, hitting the Rock Shop in Park Slope for two performances on Saturday night (11/27). Those who chose the early show were treated to guest appearances by both Adam Green and John Shade (who has a show coming up with Mountain Man). Those who chose the late show also got Green and Shade, but won with an appearance by Conor Oberst who joined Ben for a rendition of Bright Eyes song "Another Travelin' Song." A video of that is below.

You might remember Bright Eyes as that band/project Conor led before he started calling himself by his actual name. You may remember seeing Ben Kweller and Conor Oberst play together on stage when Ben opened for Conor at Terminal 5 in 2008.

If my calculations are correct, it's been a bit over three years since "Bright Eyes" played NYC. That November 2007 show was at Radio City Music Hall with Thurston Moore and the Felice Brothers, and earlier that year Bright Eyes played seven nights in a row at Town Hall with special guests that included Britt Daniel, Ben Gibbard, and Ben Kweller.

On March 9, 2011 Bright Eyes will return to NYC and to Radio City Music Hall for a sort-of-all Merge Records bill that will include opening sets by Superchunk and Wild Flag (Conor put out a solo album on Merge and Wild Flag are signed to Merge too). Radio City tickets ranging in price from $25-$39.50 will go on general sale Saturday, December 4th, at 10am, but a presale begins somewhere on December 1st at noon for that show, and for Bright Eyes' only other scheduled gig: June 23rd at Royal Albert Hall in London. There's also an AmEx presale for the NYC show starting Wednesday at noon.

The UK and NYC shows will be in support of a brand new Bright Eyes album, that is coming out on Conor's label Saddle Creek on February 15th, 2011. It's called The People's Key...

"Since 2006 the once revolving cast of Bright Eyes players has settled around permanent members Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis and Nathaniel Walcott, with additional musicians joining them in the studio and on tour. Fully realized and bursting with charisma, The People's Key is an assured and accomplished album, artfully arranged and filled with the engaging and mesmeric songwriting for which Oberst is renowned. Recorded in Omaha, Nebraska, at the band's own ARC Studios, The People's Key was produced by Mike Mogis and engineered by Mogis and Andy LeMaster.

Additional Bright Eyes players on The People's Key: Andy LeMaster, (Now It's Overhead), Matt Maginn (Cursive), Carla Azar (Autolux), Clark Baechle (The Faint), Shane Aspegren (The Berg Sans Nipple), Laura Burhenn (The Mynabirds) and Denny Brewer (Refried Ice Cream)." - Saddle Creek

Full tracklist below.

The Radio City show is one day before Wild Flag (the Sleater-Kinney band) plays DC.

Ben Kweller opens for Pete Yorn at Terminal 5 on March 11th.

The Kweller/Oberst video, all dates, and the tracklist below...

Continue reading "Bright Eyes releasing an LP, playing Radio City w/ Superchunk & Wild Flag, Conor played w/ Ben Kweller @ the Rock Shop"

Tickets are still on sale for DJ Shadow's upcoming show at Irving Plaza. And I have a couple of pairs you can win. Details below.

Tickets are still on sale for the Shearwater/Damien Jurado/Anni Rossi show at Music Hall of Williamsburg. And I have a pair you can win. Details below.

"WITNESS' 6th Annual Focus for Change Benefit Dinner & Concert" goes down on Thursday, December 2, 2010 at Roseland Ballroom in NYC. Co-Hosted by Peter Gabriel, there will be performances by Antibalas, Jimmy Cliff and Sheryl Crow. Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, will be there too. Click the link to get your $750 tickets.

Fistful of Mercy is Joseph Arthur, Ben Harper & Dhani Harrison, and you can catch them at the Apollo Theater on November 17th. Tickets are still on sale.

Tickets go on sale at noon for the upcoming Girl Talk shows at Wellmont Theatre and Terminal 5.

Tickets go on sale at noon for Gang of Four's show at Webster Hall.

Tickets go on sale at noon for the Interpol show at Radio City Music Hall.

Iron & Wine Radio City tickets are on sale now.

Tickets go on sale at noon for the Tokyo Police Club/Two Door Cinema Club show happening at Temrinal 5.

Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band play Terminal 5 on 2/12. Tickets are on sale.

Pete Yorn and Ben Kweller play Terminal 5 on 3/11. Tickets are on sale. Way before that you can catch Ben Kweller on his own solo tour which is underway now.

Bindlestiff Family Circus has been added as an opener to the New Years Eve Drive by Truckers show at Terminal 5. Tickets are still on sale.

UK band Peggy Sue are worth getting to Terminal 5 early on November 19th. They open that date for Kate Nash. Tickets are still on sale.

Randy Newman plays Town Hall on March 5th. Tickets are on sale.

Ray Davies plays the Beacon Theatre in NYC with the Dessoff Chamber Choir on Wednesday, November 24th, two days before his previously announced NJ show. Tickets are on sale.

Lia Ices, full of CMJ buzz, plays Mercury Lounge on 12/14. Tickets are on sale.

Rural Alberta Advantage play Mercury Lounge on 1/12. Tickets are on sale.

Contests below...

Continue reading "Peter Gabriel, Randy Newman, Ray Davies, Josh Ritter, DJ Shadow, Interpol, Girl Talk, Fistful of Mercy, Lia Ices & other tickets"

ACL 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

October 8-10, 2010 | Zilker Park, Austin, TX

"The Austin City Limits Music Festival began as a modest, two-day event and now, as it enters it's 9th year, has become a perennial American music experience. Taking place at the heart of Austin, Texas in the legendary Zilker Park, ACL Festival has grown to 3 days, 8 stages and over 130 bands."

Tickets go on sale today. The 2010 ACL lineup is below...

Continue reading "Austin City Limits announces 2010 festival lineup (Eagles, Muse, Phish, Strokes, MIA, LCD, Spoon, Gayngs, more) "

Dec 2 - Phoenix w/ Passion Pit @ Hammerstein Ballroom (RXP show 1)
Dec 3 - Phoenix @ PC Richard Theater
Dec 6 - David Gray & Pete Yorn @ Hammerstein Ballroom (RXP show 2)

Animal Collective @ the 2009 Sasquatch Festival (more by Chris Graham)

The Walkmen @ the 2009 Sasquatch Festival (more by Chris Graham)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Marduk signing session @ Duff's
* Antifolk Festival @ Sidewalk Cafe
* Dougie Bowne @ Issue Project Room
* David Johansen DJ set @ Home Sweet Home
* Dungen, Woods, Ducktails @ The Bell House
* Buildings, Precinct, Effing @ Market Hotel
* Woodstock Celebration w/ Anisette @ Joe's Pub
* ZAZA, Blind Man's Colour, Dinowalrus @ The Cameo
* Emiliana Torrini, Anya Marina @ Highline Ballroom
* Alela Diane, Sharon Van Etten, Luluc @ Union Hall
* School of Seven Bells, The xx @ South Street Seaport
* Wild Yaks, Grandchildren, Senors of Marseille @ Pianos
* Kurt Vile, Blues Control, Mad Scene, Hans Chew @ Cake Shop
* Raccoon Fighter, The Sundelles, Radio America @ Glasslands
* Animal Collective, Black Dice, Dam Funk @ Prospect Park Bandshell
* The Beets, Pop. 1280, German Measles, Fluffy Lumbers @ Silent Barn
* Hercules & Love Affair, House of House, Liv Spence @ Gramercy Theatre
* The Warlocks, The Morning After Girls, The Vandelles @ Bowery Ballroom
* Franz Nicolay & Major General, Doug Gillard, Pearl & The Beard @ Union Pool
* The Walkmen, High Places, Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band @ the Guggenheim
* ArpLine, Drug Rug, Attack Release, Ezra Furman & the Harpoons @ Mercury Lounge
* Woodhands, Project Jenny/Project Jan, Mixel Pixel, Class Actress @ Littlefield
* Rooftop Films w/ Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players @ Automotive High School
* Out of Doors Fest w/ Auktyon & John Medeski, Plastic People of the Universe @ Damrosch Park
* Anavan, Dazzler, Boogie Boarder, Darlings, The Tony Castles, Snakes Say Hiss @ Death By Audio

Free outdoor music tonight includes School of Seven Bells and The xx at South Street Seaport, a Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival show with Auktyon & John Medeski and Plastic People of the Universe at Damrosch Park, and Morphoses & The Wheeldon Company dancing with music from Martha Wainwright at Central Park Summerstage.

Animal Collective kicks off two nights at Prospect Park Bandshell. Tonight they're with Black Dice and Dam Funk.

Dungen, Woods and Ducktails play a post-AC show at The Bell House. The other afterparty for AC happens at the same venue on Saturday.

The Beets, Pop. 1280, German Measles and Fluffy Lumbers gig at Silent Barn. The Beets are also on the bill with Animal Collective on Sunday.

Kurt Vile and Blues Control, who played together earlier this summer, visit the Cake Shop with Mad Scene and Hans Chew.

The Walkmen (who also play Sunday with Dinosaur Jr.) inaugurate the "It Came From Brooklyn" series at the Guggenheim Museum with High Places and Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band. Next month's edition features Julian Plenti (aka Paul Banks).

The Waterpod is docked in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Raccoon Fighter, The Sundelles and Radio America play without The Drums at Glasslands tonight.

"It was 40 years ago Saturday when almost half-a-million people descended on a farm in upstate New York to enjoy a music festival called "Woodstock." But what nobody knew then was the impact it would have on a generation." [CBS]

Hercules & Love Affair come to the Gramercy Theatre for the first of two NYC shows. They play the Music Hall of Williamsburg at tomorrow.

Marduk conduct a meet-and-greet-style night at Duff's. They play a show at Gramercy Theatre one night later.

Emiliana Torrini visits the Highline Ballroom with Anya Marina. Emiliana's video for "Jungle Drum" is below..

The huge tour from The Warlocks and The Morning After Girls comes to the Bowery Ballroom with The Vandelles.

Blind Man's Colour perform at The Cameo with ZAZA and Dinowalrus.

Sidewalk Cafe's Antifolk Festival features The Wowz, Susan Hwang and more.

The new video from Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson, "Relator," is posted below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

Pete Yorn has added to his two-month North American summer tour a show at NJ's Wellmont Theatre on Friday, July 24th (tickets on sale Friday, June 19th at noon). The previously announced NYC dates are July 28th and 29th at Webster Hall.

The singer also added a last-minute CD release show at the much smaller Joe's Pub on Thursday, June 18th to mark the release of his latest disc, Back and Fourth, though that is sold out.

If you missed tickets to that (and have time to wait in line), you can still catch Yorn playing at the Apple Store in Soho tomorrow (June 16th) at 7pm. First come, first served.

In addition to that new album, Yorn will also be releasing a CD with Scarlett Johansson in September.

A video of Yorn covering The Smith's "Ask" at Joe's Pub in 2006, below...

Continue reading "Pete Yorn adds shows (Wellmont, Joe's Pub, the Apple store) "

In July, acclaimed singer and songwriter Pete Yorn will kick off a headlining tour in support of his new album 'Back And Fourth' (June 23, Columbia). Backed by his new band - a well-credentialed group of musicians including guitarist Jonny Polonsky who also played on the album, Joey Kennedy on keys, Scott Seiver on drums, Mark Noseworthy and Zak Schaffer on guitar - Yorn will preview the tour with a special album release show at the Roxy in LA on June 24....

Pete Yorn is currently on the road with Coldplay, through June 4. His first album in three years, 'Back and Fourth,' marks a bold new chapter for Yorn, who recorded in Omaha, NE, with producer Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Rilo Kiley). Columbia's Co-Chairman Rick Rubin also helped guide the project. The result is Yorn's most personal statement to date. [PR]

That tour takes Pete Yorn across North America for July and August. It includes the previously mentioned two nights at NYC's Webster Hall - July 28th and 29th. Tickets for the Tuesday/28th and Wednesday/29th shows are now on sale, as are two-day passes.

In addition to Back and Fourth, Yorn is also releasing an album with Scarlett Johansson called Break Up on September 8th through Atco/Rhino Records. The lead single, "Relator," is now streaming on the album's site and available on iTunes.

The album was recorded in 2006...Johansson completed her vocals for the project in two afternoon sessions.

Yorn said that the concept for the album was realised in a dream he had. The project was inspired by Serge Gainsbourg's 1967 and 1968 albums with Brigitte Bardot.

Johansson spoke about the project recently, "The idea of two people vocalizing their relationship through duets...I always thought of it as just a small project between friends. It perfectly captured where I was in my life at the time."[Wikipedia]

Scarlett, known mostly for... her acting, also released an album of Tom Waits covers in 2008. Yorn's new video for "Don't Wanna Cry," the first single off his forthcoming disc, with live clips, album art and track lists, and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Pete Yorn touring, releasing an album w/ Scarlett Johansson"

"Mika will be playing his only American show of the summer at New York City's Le Poisson Rouge on Tuesday, June 23rd. The show will be an acoustic, intimate affair, seeing Mika perform as a four-piece with a drummer and two guitarists in tow. He will be playing songs from his newly released EP, Songs For Sorrow, available now via his website - in addition to fan favorites from his debut, Life in Cartoon Motion. Tickets for the show are $25.00 and are available now."

By noon, tickets will be on general sale for both Dead Weather shows at Terminal 5. Screaming Females open both.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Built to Spill show at Maxwell's.

Pete Yorn is playing two shows at Webster Hall this summer. Tickets for July 28th and July 29th, and a 2-day pass, go on sale at noon.

Tickets are on sale at noon for all three local Chalatans UK shows: Bowery Ballroom, Music Hall of Williamsburg, and Maxwell's.

Tickets are now on sale for the Miike Snow show at Mercury Lounge. Tickets are also on sale for the show at Studio B, and for the one at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Tickets are on sale for the show Future of the Left is playing at Maxwell's. I also updated their list of tour dates since first posting.

Tickets are on sale for the show Grand Duchy is playing at Maxwell's.

Tickets are still on sale for the show Ted Leo is playing at Maxwell's.

Tickets are on sale for the show Frightened Rabbit is playing at Maxwell's.

Tickets are on sale for the A Place To Bury Strangers / Dead Combo / Secret Machines show at Santos Party House.

Demetri Martin & Pete Yorn (CRED)

Crowd Surfer?(CRED)

More photos and sad Ornette Coleman news below....

Continue reading "More photos and what not from Bonnaroo 2007"

Crowded House, fresh off their Coachella and Glass House reunion appearances, have announced their summer tour dates that include two nights at NYC's Beacon Theatre in August with Pete Yorn. All dates below....

Continue reading "Crowded House & Pete Yorn - 2007 Tour Dates"