photos by Jessica Amaya

"EVERYONE IN NEW YORK IS A BABE" - SLOWCLUBREBECCA

Slow Club @ Europa

I'm not sure why The Wave Pictures came all the way back to the United States from the UK to play just one late Sunday night Northside Festival show at Public Assembly the end of an exhausting and busy weekend, but I'm bummed I missed it. Anyone go? How was it?

And the Wave Pictures were one of two UK Moshi Moshi bands here for the festival. Slow Club was also representing, but with two shows at least - one was Friday night at Europa and then they played one secretish one the next night at Cameo. Jessica stopped by Europa where Netherfriends and Phil and the Osophers also performed. More pictures from that gig below...

Continue reading "Moshi Moshi represented @ Northside - pics from the Slow Club, Netherfriends & Phil and the Osophers show"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Miracles of Modern Science - I Found Space (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Jacuzzi Boys - Bricks or Coconuts (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Aerosols - China (AAC)

The Phenomenal Handclap Band

We'll start this week with a contest. The Phenomenal Handclap Band play Music Hall of Williamsburg this Saturday (6/12) and if you'd like to win a pair of tickets, just send an email to BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM with "Phenomenal" as the subject line (include your first and last name) and we'll pick a winner at random and notify them on Friday. The show is 18+. If you've never seen PHB before, it's '70s psychedelic disco overload, like if Michael Viner had formed a cult where the drink was Mai Tai's, not poison Kool Aid. The record is fun, but seeing them live is where it's at. And, like I said, where it's at is MHoW.

Miracles of Modern Science

If The Incredible String Band wasn't already taken as a band name, that might have been a good one for the next group I'm going to talk about, but since it was they opted for Miracles of Modern Science. Eschewing guitars, the go for cello, double bass, violin and mandolin (plus drums). Actually, I'm pretty sure the whole "science" aspect of their name comes into play too, what with song titles like "I Found Space" (downloadable above), "Bossa Supernova" and "Luminol." So their music is nerdy in two completely separate ways. But it's also clever and catchy and not really pretentious despite all that goddamn science and orchestral stuff they're throwing in our face.

Miracles of Modern Science have a residency at Cake Shop starting this Thursday, with The Albertans (ex-Bravo Silva),  The Royal Chains, and Quiet Loudly rounding out the bill. MoMS play the two following Thursdays as well.

Jacuzzi Boys

Friday night has two competing shows -- both in Williamsburg --  for your garage rock dollar, and if you're into this scene at all you're going to find it difficult to choose between them. Or at least pause for a second.

At Death by Audio, there's Quintron and Miss Pussycat, JEFF the Brotherhood and Golden Triangle. Actually, garage isn't the right term for Quintron's sleazy keyboard R&B which is augmented by some homemade equipment like the Drum Buddy, The Disco Light Machine and the Spit Machine. Quintron shows are a party. As are JEFF shows as you should know by now. As are Golden Triangle shows. Both of whom will be in their element at DBA and it will no doubt be packed to the gills and sweaty as hell. If you want to see JEFF and Quintron (who are on tour together) in more temperature-controlled environs, they also play Santos on Sunday (6/13). More dates HERE and below.

The other garagey option Friday (6/11) is at Knitting Factory with what is a pretty killer bill: Seattle protopunks The Spits, and the depraved lunacy that is Nobunny, plus Florida's Jacuzzi Boys and Liquor Store. I've written about The Spits and Nobunny before so I'm gonna focus on Jacuzzi Boys here if I may.

While definitely within the garage milieu, there's definitely more going on here with this Miami trio. Jacuzzi Boys sound is less blown-out sounding than most of their brethren, with a  strong post-VU New York vibe with them -- Television and The Feelies are pretty obvious influences here I think -- and their album from last year, No Seasons, is pretty damn great. A new single on Mexican Summer is worth checking out too, and you can download it's A-side at the top of this post.

If you can't make it Friday, Jacuzzi Boys also play Cake Shop on Sunday (6/13) with K-Holes (mems of Black Lips) and Xray Eyeballs (half of Golden Triangle).

The Aerosols

Visiting us from San Francisco are The Aerosols, playing four shows this weekend, hitting three boroughs. When you hear about Bay Area bands these days, you tend to think of reverb, scratchy guitars and in-the-red levels of distortion. The Aerosols are more a little more jingle jangle, blissed-out sunshine pop that might go better with a nice cup of tea instead of a PBR. You can check out their song "China" at the top of this post to hear what I mean but if you dig mid-90s Elephant Six you're gonna like The Aerosols. The band they really remind me of -- and I'm going obscure here -- is the late '90s UK band Salako who put out records on Jeepster (Belle & Sebastian's original label) who always sounded to me like a field of daisies.

The Aerosols play Thursday night (6/10) at Silent Barn with My Teenage Stride, Dream Diary (who were one of the Popfest highlights this year) and The Surpriserswhich I think is the don't-miss show of their NYC visit.

They'll also play the Rock Star bar on Friday (6/11) with Fly Ashtray, Nude Broom (members of Flaming Fire), Bucolic Night Light Fungus' Fungus The(e); Staten Island's Doorway (62 Van Duzer St.) on Saturday (6/12) with Artanker Convoy; and then finally the downstairs room at Santos on Monday (6/14) with Persephone's Bees, Lily and the Parlour Tricks, and Alana Amram & the Rough Gems.

A few more shows, night by night:

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9

School of Seven Bells debut material from their quite good second album, Disconnect from Desire, tonight and tomorrow at Mercury Lounge. Both shows are sold out but lurking outside hoping someone's got an extra ticket does pay off sometimes.

Breakthru Radio are throwing a fifth anniversary party at Glasslands with Glass Ghost, Werewolves, Phil & the Osophers and My Teenage Stride. It's a free show with free beer.

continued below...

Continue reading "Miracles of Modern Science, Quintron, Jacuzzi Boys, The Aerosols, TPHB, Starring & more in This Week in Indie "

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Zoos of Berlin - Electrical Way (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fanfarlo - Finish Line (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fanfarlo - I'm a Pilot (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fanfarlo - Luna (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Ballet - The House of Fire (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Phantogram - When I'm Small (Mp3)
DOWNLOAD: Invisible Hand - There's Room in My Will (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Invisible Hand - Caught Myself in a Coy Trap (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Drunk Tigers - Outer Banks, Inner Peace (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Phil and the Osophers - We Have All Summer (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Dream Diary - Bird in My Garden (MP3)

French Horn Rebellion

As previously reported, Detroit band Zoos of Berlin are in town this weekend -- playing Matchless tonight (12/18) and Cake Shop tomorrow (12/19). Mixing elements of baroque, Krautrock and '70s shag carpet, Zoos of Berlin don't really sound like anybody else -- which is a good thing, right? They're good live too, maybe even better than on their album (which is worth seeking out).

I'm told Zoos of Berlin are on early-ish (9:45) so my personal plan for tonight is to catch ZoB at Matchless then head over to Cameo Gallery for the Cantora Late Nite Holiday Special featuring Savoir Adore and French Horn Rebellion. Doors are at 11PM and if you RSVP, admission is only five bucks. I think I've probably written enough about Savoir Adore this year (and you can read their year-end Q&A) for you to know that I'm a big fan and think you should go see them. French Horn Rebellion is David Perlick-Molinari, who plays in the live line-up of Savoir Adore, and his brother Robert -- and their brand of funky electro draws inspiration from Michael Jackson and early '80s disco. They know their way around a catchy tune too -- "Up All Night" is pretty irresistible, and will end up on my Best Singles of 2009 list...whenever I get around to putting that together. That song's video is at the bottom of this post. I've never seen them live -- Paul and Diedre of Savoir Adore play in the French Horn Rebellion touring unit -- so looking forward to seeing them.

Fanfarlo @ MHOW during CMJ (more by Tim Griffin)

Also tonight: after a successful CMJ (including their great performance at the Brooklyn Vegan showcase), Fanfarlo are back in NYC, moving up to Webster Hall where they play with Freelance Whales. Not bad for a band who have yet to get written about at all on Pitchfork. (Though they are one of the choices in their Bands to Watch in 2010 section of theirreader's poll.) I'm still listening to their debut, Reservoir, which has held up over the last 10 months or so. It's a nice pairing with Freelance Whales who were lovely the only time I saw them --at the Brooklyn Vegan day party during CMJ where they played acoustic. Fanfarlo seem like a good band to see during the holidays -- they're very Christmasy. Tickets are still available. Fanfarlo recently stopped by the NPR offices to film an acoustic performance, including a cover of Low's "It Was Just Like Christmas," and you can watch that at the bottom of this post.

The Ballet

The long-running indiepop party Mondo! happens tonight (12/18) at Don Hill's and tonight features a performance by The Ballet who were kind of a big deal with blogs a few years back and played on a few choice bills, opening for Voxtrot, The Hidden Cameras and others. And then they just sort of faded away. Well, The Ballet are back with their second album melodic, upbeat synthpop, Bear Life, and I like it quite a bit. You can download album track "The House on Fire" at the top to this post. Stephin Merritt comparisons are inevitable but it's definitely more Future Bible Heroes than Magnetic Fields.

Phantogram

Moving on to Saturday (12/19), there's a worthwhile free show at Brooklyn Bowl with Phantogram and Class Actress. I might try to hit this one as I have yet to see Phantogram live and am a fan of their debut album, Eyelid Movies, which will get an official release on Barsuk Records in February 2010. You can download "When I'm Small" from the album at the top of this post. It's a pretty good taster for the album, which is kind of trip-hoppy but in a '00s sort of way (breakbeats but no John Barry or Morricone samples). Chilled, atmospheric, but still danceable.

Class Actress I wrote about last week, but have now actually seen them play (at Mercury Lounge). I don't think they've quite figured out the live show, but they're not bad. I like the EP which will be out on Terrible Records in the new year.

If you miss the bowling alley show, Phantogram also just added a February 12th show at Mercury Lounge. Tickets are on sale at noon.

Invisible Hand

And finally, for the indie pop fans out there we've got a good show at Matchless on Saturday night, featuring Brooklyn bands Dream Diary and Phil & the Osophers, plus two bands from Charlottesville, Virginia -- The Invisible Hand and Drunk Tigers. The Invisible Hand remind me a bit of Of Montreal by way of Superchunk or the Clean. Definitely a '90s indie rock thing going on, pretty good. You can download two tracks at the top of this post. Drunk Tigers aren't bad either, a little more in the shouty Port O'Brien school of things.

As for the local acts, I'm on record as being a fan of Dream Diary whose jangly style should appeal to fans of The Pastels and other '80s-era Creation Records bands. And Phil and the Osophers have been at it for nearly five years and whose new album, Parallelo, is worth checking out -- you can download an MP3 at the top of this post.

That's gonna do it for this week. No column next week, so happy holidays folks. Videos, flyers and tour dates are below...

Continue reading "The Ballet, Zoos of Berlin, Fanfarlo, Savoir Adore, Phil & the Osophers, Phantogram & more in This Week in Indie"

photos by Faith Ann-Young

L.A.-based band Princeton collaborated with with the Stephen Pelton Dance Theater at their June 5th show at Lincoln Center's Pope Auditorium. The day after that (June 6th) the band played more standard set at Pianos with The Young Republic. Pictures from that Pianos show are in this post.

Coming up, Princeton has a fall North American tour planned in support of their debut record, Cocoon of Love, set to come out September 29th on Kanine Records. That trip stretches from the end of August into September, with tour-mates that include Ice Palace, Ra Ra Riot and Maps and Atlases. In NYC, they'll play with Phil and the Osophers at a Wednesday, September 9th show at Brooklyn's Union Hall. Ticket info to come.

More pictures from Pianos and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "Princeton sign to Kanine - Pianos pics, 2009 tour dates "

photos by Paul Birman

FOUR shows at Mercury Lounge!

"Argos - unlike most bands that try, which is most bands these days - can successfully appropriate other bands and other bands' songs as source material. Satan name-drops U2, Brian Eno, The Beatles and Stones ([Monday] night [at Mercury Lounge], he added The Beach Boys and Ramones to "What a Rush," Razorlight to "Demons Out!") and steals old titles for new songs ("The Passenger," "Twist and Shout"). Bobby Fuller gets reworked in "Mysterious Bruises:" "I fought the floor and the floor won." It's because Art Brut's self-conscious mission statement - look at us, we formed a band - was itself a retreat into music. They're allowed to bitch about pop charts ("Demons" was introduced as "a civilized customer complaint"). The realization that "those are just records that our parents owned" seems like blasphemy in this world, and not because it involves John & Paul & Mick & Keef." [heartonastick]

Four down, one to go! Art Brut played their fourth of five NYC shows at Mercury Lounge last night (6/4). Their fifth, with Jeffrey Lewis and Keith TOTP, is tonight, Friday, June 5th. More pictures from Thursday, including the openers and one of Art Brut's setlist, below....

Continue reading "Art Brut (night 4), Cymbals Eat Guitars, Phil & the Osophers @ Mercury Lounge in NYC - pics "

Art Brut @ Mercury Lounge - 11/10/05 (more photos)

Art Brut Five night NYC run @ Mercury Lounge is coming...

Mon 6/1 (Tickets)
Art Brut 10:00
Demander 9:00
The Picture 8:00

Tue 6/2 (Tickets)
Art Brut 10:00
Murder Mystery 9:00
Les Sans Culottes 8:00

Wed 6/3 (Tickets)
Art Brut 10:00
Tiny Masters Of Today 9:00
U.S. Royalty 8:00

Thu 6/4 (SOLD OUT)
Art Brut 10:00
Cymbals Eat Guitars 9:00
Phil & The Osophers 8:00

Fri 6/5 (SOLD OUT)
Art Brut 11:00
Special Guest 10:00
Keith TOTP & his Minor US Indie Celebrity All Star Backing Band 9:00 - DJ Eamon Hamilton (BrakesBrakesBrakes) 8:00

At first i thought, "do I really ever need to see Art Brut again?" Then I listened to the new album (Art Brut vs. Satan - out now on Downtown Records), and thought, "I really do want to see Art Brut again!", especially if again happens at a venue as small as Mercury Lounge.

As you can see above, tickets are still available for three of the five NYC shows. All dates HERE.

As you can also see above, the final night, now unfortunately sold out, seems to be the most special. Not only will it be the final night, but Keith TOTP means they're keeping it in the family ("Minor US Indie Celebrity All Star Backing Band" included), and "special guest" means, well... "Special Guest". If I could take one guess, my guess would be Art Brut 47 (aka We are Scientists), but that is just a guess.

A video diary of the recording of the new Art Brut album, with producer Frank Black (who by the way is playing the Siren Festival this year), is posted below...

Continue reading "5 NYC nights worth of Art Brut openers (one 'special guest') "

Photos by Tim Griffin

Les Savy Fav played Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on Sunday night (October 12) - the same venue they played a shorter set with less band members (for Barack) earlier in the week. Bear Hands and Phil and the Osophers opened the show last night. Fred Armisen joined LSF on drums for the encore. More pictures below...

Continue reading "Les Savy Fav & Bear Hands @ MHOW, Brooklyn, NY - pics"