Anamanaguchi is a boy band made up of hackers and producers born & raised on the Internet, currently living in New York City.

On May 14th, they [released] Endless Fantasy through their own brand new label, dream.hax - their first album since soundtracking Scott Pilgrim vs. The World in 2010.

Meanwhile, you can also catch Anamanaguchi in a slightly more intimate setting at The Space in Hamden, CT tonight (5/16). It's the start of a tour that was recently extended throughout the summer. All dates, many with Chrome Sparks and Kitty Pryde, are listed below.

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Anamanaguchi @ BV-SXSW 2013 (more by Sarah Frankie Linder)

Anamanaguchi, who we were happy to host for a 2nd time at SXSW in Austin this year (watch their ENTIRE performance below), has also been keeping busy with a very successful Kickstarter related to their new album release. Head over there to add to the $176,317 they've already raised in 13 days and for more info. Head below for more album info, songs and videos to consume, and all tour dates...

Continue reading "Anamanaguchi kicking ass on Kickstarter, released an LP, expand tour (dates)"

Pictureplane will still open for Anamanaguchi at Irving Plaza on Friday, but his show with San Jose rapper Antwon scheduled for tonight, Thursday, 5/16 at Santos Party House has been cancelled.

Pictureplane will hook up with Antwon later in the month though for a series of dates in California. They're all listed below.

Antwon, who was actually just in NY for Downtown Music Fest instead (where "he seemed a little too angry"), also has a show scheduled at Hotel Vegas in Austin as part of Chaos in Tejas, and is playing FYF Fest in LA which, as mentioned, goes on sale at noon California time today.

Dates listed along with a stream of Pictureplane's track from the video game soundtrack Injustice: Gods Among Us - The Album, below...

Continue reading "Pictureplane playing shows w/ Antwon, but NYC cancelled; FYF Fest on sale today"

(via @bangzy_)

Tickets to see Dinosaur Jr. at Irving Plaza go on Governors Ball presale today at 10 AM. Live Nation and Music Geeks presales are happening Thursday at 10 AM (Music Geeks password: "music geeks") with the general on sale starting Friday at 10 AM.

Courtney Love has a couple NY-area shows this summer, playing The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on June 27 and the Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, NJ on June 28. Tickets to the Stone Pony show go on Live Nation and Live Nation Mobile presale today at 10 AM with the regular on-sale happening Friday (5/10) at 10 AM. Tickets to the Cap show go on sale Friday at noon.

Tickets to see Mac Miller with openers Chance the Rapper, Earl Sweatshirt, Action Bronson, The Internet, Vince Staples and Meek Mill at Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, NJ, Manhattan Center Hammerstein in NYC, Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT and Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park, NY go on Citi and VIP Package presale today at 10 AM. Citi/Live Nation/Ticketmaster presales for the Hammerstein show begin Thursday at 10, Live Nation Mobile App presale for the Stone Pony show begin Thursday at 10 and Live Nation/Ticketmaster presale for the Oakdale show begin Thursday at 10 AM. General on sale for the Stone Pony, Hammerstein Ballroom and Upstate Concert Hall shows start Friday at 10 AM and general on sale for the Oakdale Theatre show begins Friday at noon.

Owen was added to the Laura Stevenson and Field Mouse show at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets for that show are still available.

Tickets to see Austra and DIANA at Webster Hall go on AmEx presale today at noon. Tickets to the Music Hall of Williamsburg show are still available.

Tickets to see CSS and Io Echo at Bowery Ballroom go on AmEx presale today at noon. Tickets to the Brooklyn Bowl show go on sale Friday at noon.

Tickets to see Savages at Webster Hall go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets to see Donnie & Joe Emerson at Mercury Lounge go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets to see Gold Panda at Webster Hall go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets to see Bob Saget at Bowery Ballroom and Music Hall of Williamsburg go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets to see Mark Kozelek (of Sun Kil Moon & Red House Painters) at Music Hall of Williamsburg go on AmEx presale today at noon.

The Psychedelic Furs are playing Irving Plaza on August 3. Tickets for that show go on Live Nation/Live Nation Mobile App/Music Geeks presale today at 10 AM (Music Geeks password is "musicgeeks").

Pictureplane was added to the Anamanaguchi show at Irving Plaza. Tickets for that show are still available.

Superhumanoids is playing Mercury Lounge on June 21. Tickets for that show go on AmEx presale today at noon.

by Andrew Sacher

Pictureplane at BrooklynVegan SXSW showcase 2013 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

As mentioned, Pictureplane is going on a US tour this spring with Crystal Castles, but first will be in New Haven, CT at Toad's Place tonight (4/12) for a show with Mykki Blanco, Beat Culture and Oberhofer (who has upcoming NYC shows).

After returning home from that tour, he'll play show at Santos Party House on May 16 with another rapper, Antwon, whose album End of Earth features some production by Pictureplane. Tickets for what should be a pretty great show are on sale now. All tour dates are listed below.

Pictureplane also just released a new track, "Pure War." In his words, "the song is really about waging a war. a pure war against the war that is waged on us everyday.
reclaiming yourself." It's one of the heaviest tracks Pictureplane has ever done, with dark, booming synths that will translate really well on the dancefloor. And while tracks like "Real Is A Feeling" have already proved Pictureplane as a strong vocalist, there's a newfound conviction in his vocals in this song that arguably tops anything he's done to date.

The track will apear on the video game soundtrack for Injustice: Gods Among Us, along with tracks from Killer Mike (listen below), Minus the Bear (listen below), Depeche Mode, The Faint, and others.

All Pictureplane dates are listed, along with all song streams below...

Continue reading "listen to Pictureplane's new song "Pure War," see him with Antwon after Crystal Castles tour (and in New Haven tonight)"

Mykki Blanco at Official BV SXSW 2013 Showcase (more by Amanda Hatfield)

NYC rapper Mykki Blanco is on a tour now, which includes a previously mentioned hometown show on April 2 at Bowery Ballroom. Since we first posted that show, openers were announced -- DJ MikeQ, Rizzla, and Ian Isiah -- and tickets are still available. The tour also hits the Ivy League circuit with stops in Princeton, NJ for a Princeton University show at Terrace Club and New Haven, CT for a Yale University show at Toad's Place. All tour dates are listed below.

Mykki's Yale show is with Pictureplane, who he also shared a bill with at the BrooklynVegan Official SXSW showcase (pics of that are HERE and HERE), along with Beat Culture and Physical Therapy. Pictureplane is also heading out as a support act on the second leg of Crystal Castles' upcoming tour.

Meanwhile, Doldrums, who also played a BrooklynVegan show at SXSW this year opens the first leg of Crystal Castles' tour. His tour also hits NYC for shows on April 13 at 285 Kent with Arbutus labelmate Sean Nicholas Savage (listen to a track below) and on May 8 at Mercury Lounge. Tickets for the 285 Kent show and the Mercury show are still available.

All Mykki Blanco, Pictureplane, Crystal Castles, and Doldrums dates are listed, along with a stream of Mykki's free mixtape and that Sean Nicholas Savage track, below...

Continue reading "Mykki Blanco on tour, Pictureplane playing with him before Crystal Castles tour (dates)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield, words by Dave & Andrew Sacher

Zebra Katz & Njena Reddd Foxxx / XXYYXX / The Underachievers

When we weren't throwing free day parties and bridge shows at SXSW last week, we were busy throwing nighttime official showcases. On Saturday (3/16), our metal blog Invisible Oranges put on a showcase at North Door and on Friday, we put on a showcase on Maggie Mae's rooftop which was mainly hip hop and electronic with 3421, Mykki Blanco, Man Without Country, Giraffage, The Underachievers, Pictureplane, Brooke Candy, Zebra Katz, and XXYYXX. With so much rock in our day parties, we wanted to mix it up at night and had a ton of fun doing it. Bonus points for the view from venue down onto the 6th Street mayhem,.

3421, who since played NYC shows at Merc and Knit, came all the way from Israel to kick off the Friday night show with a set of their live dubstep. They were the perfect beginning for the crowd who immediately started to fill the 400-capacity room/roof as soon as doors opened, though 3421 work latenight too. That's when we saw them in Tel Aviv over the summer as part of the Jerusalem Music Conference. That time they were the last act of the night and got the drunk crowd moving with help from bombastic MC Miss Red. Miss Red was originally supposed to play with 3421 at SXSW too, but instead she watched this show from the audience (#majorbummer), With her at the show was The Bug who she was playing SXSW with instead (you can catch Miss Red & The Bug in NYC this weekend).

3421 were followed by NYC rapper Mykki Blanco, who was in his usual abrasive mode on stage, which we and the crowd were loving. Then things cooled down a bit for a shoegazey set by Wales' Man Without Country and the chill electronica of Giraffage. (He really caught our ear when he remixed Alice Deejay's "Better Off Alone." Is it cool to like that song in 2013? I hope so.)

Then for the next five acts, the show was on a total high. NYC rap duo The Underachievers were totally on point and started really getting the dancing going, including a bunch of their friends on stage and Pictureplane, who was up next. Like Mykki Blanco, we've seen him at shows and parties in NYC for a while now, and it was great to see him bring his always-fun set to Austin too. He stuck around for more of the show too, and also loved Brooke Candy and Zebra Katz as much as we did. Brooke's outfit was tamer than in her video (she did have a see-through top though), but she paid more attention to her rapper side than her stripper side at the show (not a bad thing). The crowd went completely nuts for her. Frank says:

The Tumblr princess-turned-stripper-turned-rapper turned heads at the Brooklyn Vegan showcase, clad in a white fishnet top and latex peplum skirt. The Los Angeles-based rapper played a short but high-energy set, swinging her crazy long braids (and huge boobs) all over the stage. After going viral via World Star Hiphop and the internet in general, Candy has released video after video for her aggressive, sex-heavy tracks. Joined by best friend and DJ, Jesse St. John, Brooke's crowd of homo-cyber-hipster kids screamed along to every word. Hits "Das Me," "I Wanna Fuck Right Now," and "Everybody Does" dominated her 20-minute set, as she twerked in her platforms, fueling the fire that is her online presence with more and more YouTube-worthy content.

The show wrapped up with XXYYXX and for such a young producer (he's 17!), he really knows how to get the party started. The stage filled with people a few songs into his set and everyone was just dancing and going nuts until the club pulled the plug at 2am. Frank says:

Seventeen-year-old XXYYXX headlined the Brooklyn Vegan showcase on the Maggie Mae's rooftop. Despite only recently beginning to tour, the producer was relaxed, barefoot, and very much in his element while onstage playing a combination of his signature chill-out-and-vibe beats, and more hyped up hip-hop remixes including TLC's "No Scrubs" and Waka Flocka's "Fuck This Industry." Following suit with the mellow vibe of the Orlando based producer's music, the security eased up and allowed any crowd member who was feeling it to hop onstage.

Check out some songs played at the show in our Best of SXSW Spotify playlist. More pictures from the party below...

Continue reading "BrooklynVegan Official SXSW Show pics (XXYYXX, Zebra Katz, Brooke Candy, Pictureplane, Underachievers, Mykki Blanco, 3421, Giraffage, more)"

XXYYXX

The Underachievers

The 2013 BrooklynVegan official SXSW showcase (the one that isn't a metal show or a Red Cross Syria benefit) will take place on Friday, March 15 at Maggie Mae's Rooftop (323 E. 6th Street in Austin, TX). SXSW badges are welcome, and we'll also have some general admission tickets for sale at the door (come early!).

The lineup this year, as you can see in the flyer below, leans toward the dancier side of things, with a headlining 1 AM set from Orlando downtempo artist XXYYXX, who was recently in NYC for two sold out shows at 285 Kent. Before him, there will be sets by 3421, who are bringing their live-band dubstep over to Austin all the way from Israel, a set by manic NYC rapper Mykki Blanco, electro-shoegazers Man Without Country, R&B-indebted producer Giraffage, Brainfeeder-affiliated rappers The Underachievers (whose free mixtape, Indigoism, is out now), the synth pop of Pictureplane, rapper/stripper/Grimes collaborator Brooke Candy, and finally, Zebra Katz, who you know best for "Ima Read.". Though (the show is in a week), it didn't all finally fall in place until last minute, this one was fun to put together.

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To make it even more of a party, we'll have wearable "social lighting" available courtesy of Illuminode. The lights, which people will get to try on when they walk in the door, sync with the music (first come, first served on those, but you can always grab one when someone returns theirs too).

The show begins at 8 PM and as noted above is one of three official BrooklynVegan nighttime events at SXSW, including the one the same night with Omar Souleyman, Black Lips, Deer Tick, and more; and the official BrooklynVegan/Invisible Oranges metal showcase on Saturday (3/16) with Pallbearer, John Baizley (Baroness), and more. We also have four days of day parties (March 13-16, full lineups coming soon!).

As is usually the case with SXSW, many of the bands on our showcase are stopping by NYC for shows before and after SXSW also. As mentioned, 3421 plays Mercury Lounge on 3/20, Man Without Country plays Pianos (tonight, 3/7) and Knitting Factory (3/9), Giraffage plays 88 Palace on 3/9 with JETS. And Mykki Blanco and Pictureplane always have stuff going on in the area too.

See you in Austin.

Continue reading "BrooklynVegan 2013 SXSW showcase @ Maggie Mae's Rooftop (lineup includes XXYYXX, Mykki Blanco, Pictureplane, The Underachievers, 3421 & more)"

Andrew W.K.'s Super Bowl 2013 halftime show at Santos (more by Dan Bracaglia)

If you live in NYC and want to see Andrew W.K., the question isn't ever really "when will there be a show?" as much as it's "which one should I go to?" with pretty much new Andrew W.K. shows popping up by the minute. He just did a Super Bowl halftime show at Santos and has a slot at upcoming pop punk festival Skate and Surf.

But this upcoming 285 Kent show on March 6 that he just scheduled is looking like one of his cooler appearances in a while. That venue's been hosting some pretty great bills lately, and for this one, Andrew W.K. will be joined by DOM, CIties Aviv, Dickpic (aka the collaborative project of DJ Dog Dick and Pictureplane), and Cool Serbia. That should make for an all-around crazy night and tickets to be part of it are on sale now.

Andrew W.K. will also be at IFC Center on February 28 (323 Avenue of the Americas) for a screening of David Lynch's The Elephant Man. Not sure what he'll be doing, but he'll be there.

All dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Andrew WK playing more shows, including one in Brooklyn w/ DOM, Cities Aviv, Dickpic, and Cool Serbia (dates)"

"@kittaveli that new song u made is fucking awesome. thats like, really cool. i really like it" - Grimes

Kitty Pryde at BV-CMJ 2012 (more by Chris La Putt)

Kitty Pryde plans to release her followup to the haha im sorry EP this month with her new EP, D.A.I.S.Y. rage and she just revealed a teaser video for the EP which features the new song, "Dead Island." The video was directed/produced by Steamclam and you can watch it below. She's also been tweeting that her new mixtape will drop soon on Cocaine Blunts and she'll appear on the new Le1f mixtape, Fly Zone, which is due out on January 13.

Kitty Pryde has some upcoming appearances in NYC scheduled, including Lil B's panel discussion at 285 Kent on January 17, where she'll appear along with Travis Egedy aka Pictureplane, Alexandra Gamlin (Afro-Punk), and Russ Marshalek and Sophie Wiener (of Silent Drape Runners). Plus there will be Lil B-themed DJ sets by Pictureplane and Prince Rama.

A couple weeks after that, she'll return to 285 Kent for a live show on February 7 with Nina Sky (who you probably know best from their 2004 single, "Move Ya Body" and who released the free mixtape, Nicole & Natalie last year) and Chippy Nonstop. Tickets for that show are on sale now. She doesn't appear to have any other dates scheduled at the moment.

Video below...

Continue reading "Kitty Pryde releasing new EP (watch a trailer w/ a new song), playing shows, appearing at Lil B's panel discussion"

Cake Shop added a last minute New Year's Eve show:

CAKESHOP's NEW YEARS EVE 2012/2013!!
ring in that new better year with
>> PICTUREPLANE << full set [lovepump united]
+DJ DOG DICK (11pm and COUNTDOWN)
+THE SUZAN [fools gold] 10pm
+SASHA DESREE 1am [splash/blissed out]
plus special guests and multiple surprises
$15, ADMISSION INCLUDES FREE DRINK(S)
9:45 DOORS
21+, please bring your ID

Speaking of Cake Shop, did you see Andy Bodor's end of year list?

Also check out our guides to NYE shows in Austin and Chicago.

Follow BrooklynVegan on Instagram.

Happy New Year!

What else?

by Bill Pearis

Prince Rama @ Cake Shop, CMJ 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

As you may be aware, Friday is December 21 aka 12/21/12, aka the day that the world is supposed to end according to the Mayan calendar. (Many people don't believe the world will actually end, or they probably wouldn't finished up Breaking Bad already.) There are a lot of Apocalypse parties happening, one of which will be at 285 Kent headlined by Prince Rama, which is entirely appropriate given their new album is called Top Ten Hits Of The End Of The World. You can check out the new video for that album's "So Destroyed" below. I bet they'll throw a good Ragnarök event which will double as a holiday party too in case you want to wear your Santa suit. Also on the bill is Dickpic (DJ Dog Dick and Pictureplane) and Ami Dang. Tickets are $8 at the door, but if you'd like to go for free we're giving away a pair. Details on how to enter are below.

Speaking of Top Ten Hits of the End of the World, we asked Prince Rama for their Top 10 albums of 2012. Instead, they gave us their Top 10 "Top 10 Lists of 2012" which you can check out below.

Continue reading "Prince Rama lists their Top 10 Top 10 Lists of 2012, playing end-of-the-world party in NYC (win tix!)"

Brooklyn Night Bazaar 2011 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

The Brooklyn Night Bazaar, a place to do your holiday shopping, eat and listen to music all at the same time, returns to its warehouse location (45 North 5th St.) in Williamsburg this winter, and is again hosting shows like they did last year (though BrooklynVegan is not involved this year).

The holiday bazaar is open on Friday and Saturday nights from November 23 to December 22, from 6pm to midnight. A lot of the music lineups are still TBA but confirmed bands so far include The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Black Dice, Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio, Ayshay (aka Fatima Al Qadiri), CFCF, Eternal Summers, MEN, and others. Everything is free to the public (except the food and other stuff people are selling there)

The current lineups and sponsors for each day, and much more info, below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn Night Bazaar returns to Williamsburg, live music too"

photos by Amanda Hatfield, words by Andrew Sacher

Prince Rama at Cake Shop - 10/17/12

BV photographer Amanda Hatfield and I were both running around the L.E.S. on Wednesday (10/17) and we crossed paths at the Terrorbird/Impose day party at Cake Shop. I got there when Jerome LOL was on. Jerome was one half of the now-broken-up LOL Boys, and even without his partner (Markus Garcia, who is also working on solo material now), Jerome was one of the better DJs I saw at this year's CMJ. Jerome LOL was followed by Mykki Blanco, who blew the roof off of Cake Shop (and not just because he's almost as tall as the basement's low ceiling). The venue really began filling up for him and he had most of the crowd dancing along. Fellow NYC locals Prince Rama followed and kept everyone just as upbeat as Mykki just made them. Though CMJ is a great time to check out new bands from around the world, parties stacked with local faves are a great time too. The show ended on an equally high note with a set from Pictureplane, who isn't from around here, but plays NYC all the time too, and is always worth showing up for.

Amanda was there for Prince Rama and Pictureplane, and she also caught Win Win earlier in the day, who I unfortunately missed. More pictures of those three artists are below.

Continue reading "Pictureplane, Prince Rama, Win Win & more @ Cake Shop (pics)"

by Andrew Sacher

Maria Minerva & LA Vampires - The Integration

As mentioned, warped pop singer Maria Minerva is releasing a collaborative album with Not Not Fun/100% Silk label head LA Vampires (aka Amanda Brown, formerly of Pocahaunted) called The Integration. The album will be out digitally and on vinyl on October 30 and it comes out on CD on November 13. GvsB just premiered the video for the album's single, "Seasons Change," which you can watch below. That's the cover art above and the tracklist is below.

Maria Minerva is playing a number of CMJ shows this week (maybe you saw her at the Panache showcase at Public Assembly on Wednesday or at Trip House or Le Poisson Rouge last night?) and you still have some chances to see her. She plays the Ad Hoc unofficial showcase at 285 Kent tonight (10/19) with Solar Year, Prince Rama, Le1f, Physical Therapy, Mykki Blanco, and Pictureplane (DJ). I just caught Prince Rama, Mykki Blanco, and Pictureplane (though it was live a set) at the Terrorbird party at Cake Shop on Wednesday and they were all great, plus Maria Minerva doesn't disappoint in a live setting, so that showcase is looking like a pretty solid show. $8 at the door.

Maria plays the 285 Kent show at 9 PM and after that she'll head to Delancey for a 12:30 AM set at the Underwater Peoples showcase with La Big Vic, Future Shuttle, Ian Drennan, and Limited. $5 at the door.

Then, as mentioned, Maria will play the Life or Death showcase at 92YTribeca on Saturday (10/20) with Kilo Kish, Sky Ferreira, Mac DeMarco, DIIV, Twerps, Starred, Dogbite, Slug Guts, and Jozef Van Wissem. $10 at the door, or you can try to get in with your CMJ badge.

A list of all dates, that video, and the album tracklist are below.

Continue reading "Maria Minerva has a new video from her collaborative LP w/ LA Vampires, playing CMJ shows"

Pictureplane at MoMA PS1 in 2011 (more by Erez Avissar)

Braids in Austin in 2011 (more by Tim Griffin)

Mac DeMarco at NXNE Bruise Cruise in June (more by David Andrako)

today in NYC
* Icona Pop, JJAMZ, Matt Sucich, Kate Earl @ Jet Blue's Terminal 5 (JFK)
* 12 Dirty Bullets, Dogbite, Denise Barbarita, Oh! My Blackbird @ Spike Hill (FREE)
* Dee Dee of Dum Dum Girls 'Meet the Musician' discussion @ Apple Store SoHo (2 PM)
* Dent May, Mac DeMarco, Teen Suicide, Poor Lily, The Deloreans, Attic @ Public Assembly (FREE)
* Friend Roulette, Kate Earl, Christopher Paul Stelling, Zach Williams (& the Bellow) @ Living Room (FREE)
* Daughter, High Highs, Cody Chestnutt, & Paul Banks @ CMJ Union (FREE w/ RSVP)
* Antigone Rising, Rachel Sage, A Fragile Tomorrow, Seth Glier, Julia Hatigan @ Rockwood Music Hall (FREE w/ RSVP)
* Conveyor, Sean Rowe, Pretty & Nice, Mean Creek, Generationals, Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes @ Fontana's (FREE)
* Pictureplane, Prince Rama, Myyki Blanco, Jerome LOL, Flume, Michna, Win Win, Eraas, Wild International @ Cake Shop (FREE)
* Psychobuildings, Dynasty Electric, GHXST, Magmana, The Tall Pines, Clementine & the Galaxy, Wojcik @ The Bowery Electric (FREE)
* Braids, Maus Haus, Blackbird Blackbird, Team Spirit, Solid Gold, Filligar, Triple Hex, Zulu Pearls, The Bowery Riots, Jon Derosa, Wooden Indian Burial Ground, Correatown @ Pianos (FREE)
* The Click Clack Boom, Avan Lava, Filligar, The Suzan, Generationals, Lazyeyes, Local H, The Hounds Below, The Life & Times, Turf War, Country Mice, American Royalty, Luke Rathborne, Joywave, The Danvilles, Wild International, Edelweiss, Cultfever @ The Studio at Webster Hall

It's CMJ week in NYC and, in addition to all of the showcases at night, that means venues will be hosting day parties, almost of all of which are totally free to the public, with or without a CMJ badge. Those parties are listed above, and we've pointed out which are free and when RSVP is required. Most start at or around noon, some a bit later. Another What's Going On post with tonight's shows will be posted later today.

Follow @bvcmj on Twitter for more CMJ coverage.

Braids, who play the Tell All Your Friends party at Pianos today, also headline the free BrooklynVegan day party on Friday (10/19).

Follow @BrooklynVegan on Twitter.
Follow @bvChicago for just Chicago stuff.
Also follow @bvAustin for just Austin stuff.

Be our friend on Facebook too, and BV Austin's friend on Facebook and BV Chicago's friend on Facebook.

Follow BrooklynVegan on instagram.

What else?

NYC rap crew Ratking (aka Wiki, Hak, Sporting Life, and Ramon) have signed to XL imprint Hot Charity (making them labelmates with Willis Earl Beal) and will release their debut EP, Wiki93, on the label on November 6. The whole thing was produced in-house by Sporting Life. You can get a taste of that EP with the song, "Wikispeaks," which is streaming below.

The band have been playing around NYC on some pretty good bills, including shows with Gunplay, Fat Tony, Smoke DZA, and more. They've got more upcoming shows this month during CMJ including a Yours Tru.ly party at Glasslands on October 19 with Joey Bada$$ (who will be rolling with his crew Pro Era), Jim-E Stack, Isaac Delusion, Evy Jane (who were supposed to make their NYC debut earlier this year but had to cancel), Night Panther and MØ. That show is free with RSVP. Then later that night (10/19), Ratking will play a free show at Mercury Lounge. The next day (10/20), they'll return to Glasslands for a show with Doldrums, Pictureplane (DJ), DJ Dog Dick, Haleek Maul, and Normally Important. $5 tickets for that one are on sale now. Their only other announced date at the moment is Pitchfork Paris.

A list of all dates and that song stream are below.

Continue reading "Ratking releasing an EP on Hot Charity, playing CMJ (dates)"

Pictureplane @ PS1 (more by Erez Avissar)

Spend your weekend checking out art at the annual, three-day DUMBO Arts Festival, but also make time to get to Long Island City for the seventh annual NY Art Book Fair which runs at MoMA PS1 starting tonight:

NY Art Book Fair schedule
Preview: Thursday, September 27, 6-9pm
Friday, September 28, 12-7pm
Saturday, September 29, 11am-9pm
Sunday, September 30, 11am-7pm

The four-day schedule includes talks and performances including one on Saturday at 3PM by Travis Edgy (PicturePlane) and DJ Dog Dick. Pictureplane, who has played MoMA PS1 before, also plays a Saturday night gig at The Church of Dionysus Brooklyn with Bok Bok and others.

Pictureplane is probably playing CMJ too (dates TBA).

DJ Rashad

Chicago footwork producer DJ Rashad released the excellent TEKLIFE Vol. 1: Welcome to the Chi album earlier this year, and played a Brooklyn show at 285 Kent soon after with Total Freedom and J-Cush. All three of those artists will be returning this weekend for another show at 285 Kent on Sunday (9/23) with Visionist and a "surprise special guest." No word on who the guest is, but the show is the official after party for the Gang Gang Dance and Prince Rama show happening at 285 Kent earlier that night (the third of three GGD shows in NYC this weekend). Admission for this all ages party is $5 before 1 AM and $10 after.

As for LA producer Total Freedom (aka Ashland Mines), who opened on tour for Gang Gang Dance last year, he'll be landing in Brooklyn a bit earlier for a warehouse party at 110 Troutman TONIGHT (9/21) with $hayne and Rizzla. The flier for tonight's show is below.

Meanwhile, J-Cush will also be at 285 Kent on Saturday (9/22) for the previously mentioned Sasha Go Hard show. That bill also includes DJ Manny, Cedaa, and Durban. $5 at the door before 1 AM. That will be Sasha's second NYC show of this week, having played Santos with LE1F last night (9/20). How was that show? Sasha loved it.

If dancing into the wee hours of the night is your thing, those three shows are only two of the many dance options in NYC this weekend. Head below to see more...

Continue reading "DJ Rashad, Total Freedom, Midnight Magic, Nicholas, Pictureplane & more dance options in NYC this weekend"

Inspired by k3wl orgs like Public School, Cabinet, Brooklyn Brainery, & with a general commitment to diversity, Public Assembly's putting on the Ritz: gallery shows, panel discussions & radical arts get intermixed with our normal jams: cool bands, killer late night parties, and drank. Pro-women, pro-queer, pro-art, pro-imagination, proproblem solving, fans of the radical, and understanding of your budget - we're here to provide the best week-long version of a state-funded liberal arts college we can. Live
the dream.

Other events include a brewing discussion titled "How Beer Changed Everything" on 9/20, and "The Moon Presents ... A Tribute to Books" with comedian Chris Gethard and The Onion's Todd Hanson. All Et cetera events are listed below and there's more information at their website.

Continue reading "Stephin Meritt, Andrew McCarthy, Chris Gethard, Gang Gang Dance, Xeno & Oaklander, lectures, movies and more part of 'Et cetera' happening at Public Assembly next week"

Pictureplane and Grimes at 285 Kent in July (photo by Erez Avissar)

Pictureplane, who recently played 285 Kent with Grimes (who was DJing) and surprise guests A$AP Rocky and AraabMuzik, will be playing a few shows this September, including another at 285 Kent on September 17 with Dog Leather (aka Sewn Leather and DJ Dog Dick), Debbie DJs Dallas, and Yellow Tears DJs. No advance tickets for this one at the moment ($10 at the door). Pictureplane and DJ Dog Dick will then team up again later in the month for a 'collab noise set' at MoMA PS1 on September 29 for the New York Art Book Fair. It starts at 3 PM, is all ages and totally free to the public.

Speaking of AraabMuzik, he plays an Electric Zoo (which goes down on Randall's Island this weekend [8/31-9/2]) afterparty at Best Buy Theater on Friday (8/31) with Zeds Dead, Netsky, Dynamite and 12th Planet. Tickets for that party are on sale now. About a month later, he'll kick off a tour with Sleigh Bells which hits the NYC area on October 10 at the Capitol Theater (tickets).

No word yet on whether or not Pictureplane will expand his few announced shows into a larger tour, but a list of all currently known dates and a video of Pictureplane on stage at 285 Kent with Grimes, A$AP Rocky, and AraabMuzik are below.

Continue reading "Pictureplane playing shows, two in NYC (dates and video); Araabmuzik playing Electric Zoo afterparty on Friday"

Grimes at Pitchfork Fest 2012 (more by Chase Turner)

Grimes (aka Claire Boucher), who got her start in a more experimental scene before reaching much wider fanbases this year with her pop-centric Visions, is planning to follow that album with a more experimental project that she plans to release under a different moniker. Here's what she told MTV Hive about the new project:

Have you started on the follow up to Visions yet?

Yeah [but] I'm thinking about making one that is a bit more experimental that I don't put out as Grimes, because I want to stick with this pop aesthetic as Grimes. I've been working on more percussive noise music and also a lot of straight vocal music. I want to make [both] dark percussive shit and vocal ranging and release an album that's halfway between ethereal reggaeton and industrial dance music but is still very pop in its song [structures].

Meanwhile, Grimes will be in NYC TONIGHT (7/29) to DJ at 285 Kent with Pictureplane, Arca, Rezzie, and "special guests" are promised as well. Unfortunately that show is sold out (did you get tickets?) but if you want to try your luck, it looks like some people over at the facebook event have tickets that they're trying to sell. Grimes also has five upcoming live shows in NYC, including a free one at Pier 84 on August 9 with WIld Nothing and DIIV and four sold out paid shows.

A list of updated Grimes tour dates and the Solar Year album stream below...

Continue reading "Grimes releasing experimental project, contributed vocals to Solar Year, DJing 285 Kent tonight w/ Pictureplane & others"

by Fred Pessaro / BBG (not vegan)

There is a risk of locally damaging thunderstorms Tuesday evening and again on Independence Day, which could not only impact daytime picnics and festivals, but also evening fireworks in the Northeast.
Just about every major city and small community has some sort of fireworks display on or around the Fourth of July in the Northeast (many displays have been canceled elsewhere, due to dry conditions). However, storms erupting in over a dozen states could impact activities and have some folks running for cover.
Another surge of humid air and a warm front/cool front combination could have the atmospheric volatility index on the rise for July Fourth from the Ohio Valley states to the mid-Atlantic and New England. [Accuweather.com]

A good friend of mine once said "Who cares what's going on outside? Make your own fireworks." Here's a primer to figuratively do that on Independence Day 2012, all while avoiding any pesky arson indictments.

As discussed, the NYC fireworks are in the Hudson River this year, which means you can see them fine on the West Side Highway or in NJ or on your TV, but not very well from most of Brooklyn.

Spend the wee, early hours of July 4th (meaning, starting TONIGHT, July 3rd) getting down with the undead at the Zombie Rave at Webster Hall. DJs Alex English and Jess x Mischief will man the tables for the evening.

If you do choose the West Side Highway for viewing the fireworks, you won't need to go very far for a party right afterwards thanks to Pictureplane who is hosting a free July 4th bash at Westway (75 Clarkson in Manhattan) with DJ sets from himself, Physical Therapy, Heems (Das Racist) and a live show from Mykki Blanco. The event kicks off at 10PM, runs until 4AM and features free Budweiser for the first hour. More details can be found at the FB event page, and the flyer is below. Pictureplane no longer playing Cheap Storage and/or 285 Kent on the 4th.

As recently mentioned, Francois K, King Britt, FaltyDL and Infinity take over the daylight hours at Dekalb Market Brooklyn.

DIY Brooklyn venue Shea Stadium will celebrate their fourth anniversary with another July 4th blowout! The venue will host Afu Ra & The Shea Stadium All Stars, Dope Body, Roomrunner, Fuckton, Alan Watts, Ami Dang, Eleven Swords (mems. GDFX/Extreme Animals), Smhoak & Pals and The Jazz Massagers along with DJ sets from Beachballs, Magic Dan and the Impose DJs for the budget friendly price of $10.

In the spirit of summer, you can head to Secret Project Robot (389 Melrose Street, Brooklyn) for a "Sounds of Jamaica" dance party. The daytime event will last from 3PM until 9PM, and your vinyl "selectahs" will be Queen Majesty, Grace of Spades and Sweet V. Food and drink will be on hand and it'll only set you back a cool four bones. Details are at the FB event page.

If you aren't in the mood for a bit of reggae but still are in the mood to shake it, head to LP 'n Harmony (683 Grand Street) for a day-time-until-evening event (3-11PM) called "Beats & BBQ". For every drink you are entitled to a plate of BBQ (whaaaat) and tunage will be supplied by a bevy of DJs including Jose G (Face The Bass Radio), Ali Coleman (Voice of Voices NYC), Siren (Save the Robots), Ruby Red (Velvet Factory Production), Kyle McNeil (WBAI Pacifica Radio), Pinkie Tuscadero (Memoirs of a Party Girl), Ras (Hotter than July BK), and Herb Martin (Amadi). More details are available HERE.

I won't be anywhere near there (obviously), but you could spend tomorrow (or tonight) at Jones Beach with Phish. (both sold out)

July 4th is always a good day to fire up the grill and crank up some old tunes over a few cold ones. If you dont have/can't grill, accomplish two of those three at Mercury Lounge with Led Blimpie (Zeppelin cover band), AC/DC Done Dirt Cheap (wild guess?), and Guns N Hoses. Tickets are still available.

Brown Sugar lead a benefit at Acheron (57 Waterbury St, Bushwick) along with Creem, Deformity, Death Camp and Altered Boys.

The Spy Music Festival is still going and July 4th it's happening at The Stone with performances fromn John Blum (8PM) and Trevor Watts + Veryan Weston (10PM).

Wyclef (who may or may not also be playing the CBGB Festival later in the week) & Lil Jon will play the waterfront at Pier 92 on the Hudson (52nd and 11th Ave) as part of a day-long celebration (noon - midnight). Tickets are on sale, and pimp cups are optional.

Feeling anti-social? Trying to escape any impending rain? Stream all of The Roots's Philly 4th of July Jam featuring performances from the Philly Crew, as well as Queen Latifah, Common, Daryl Hall and Joe Jonas. You could also just go see it live in Philadelphia. Or watch the annual Twilight Zone marathon on SyFy.

Of course you can always count on the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island at noon, but did you know that there is the Crif Dog Classic at Roberta's that day too? (and it's going to stream at Sports Illustrated).

Looking for something in the "free" range? Noam Pikelny and Friends, The Sweetback Sisters, and Spuyten Duyvil will head to Madison Square Park as part of the Oval Lawn Series.

BBC DJ Benji B brings Deviation to Le Poisson Rouge at 10PM with Kode9, Lunice, and more

What did we miss?

Flyers below...

Continue reading "a 4th of July NYC event guide (fireworks, Pictureplane, a zombie rave, the Roots, Shea Stadium anniversary & much more)"

by Andrew Sacher

Pictureplane at 285 Kent in February (more by Andrew St. Clair)

Pictureplane has some dates coming up in the next few weeks including two in NYC. The first is the LAZERPOP Northside Party at Glasslands on Friday (6/15), where he'll DJ along with DJ sets from Teengirl Fantasy (who have a new album coming out) and Hooray for Earth. Tickets for that show are on sale now. He's also got a show in Brooklyn at on July 4 at Cheap Storage (49 Wyckoff Ave) with DIIV (who have a bunch of other shows coming up as usual), Prince Rama, and Night Manager. All Pictureplane dates are listed below.

It's pretty hard to think about Pictureplane without thinking about Grimes these days, whether it be because Hipster Runoff thinks they're dating, shared bills, remixing each other, or Grimes wearing a Pictureplane shirt. So it seems like an appropriate time to quickly remind that AmEx presale began today at noon for her upcoming shows at Bowery and MHOW. In case you haven't been keeping up, Grimes dropped two collaborations with Blood Diamonds recently: one is the title track off Blood Diamonds' upcoming Phone Sex EP (due out 7/24 via 4AD); and the other also includes Kreayshawn and Tragik, and came out under the name L$D. The song's called "Don't Smoke My Blunt Bitch." Check out videos of both of those below.

In more related news, d'Eon, who Grimes released a split LP with last year, revealed an interview with Stereogum that he's a bit envious of Pictureplane: "I've seen him live a couple of times and he hypnotizes the crowd and 300 18-to-22 year old girls just want to fuck him at all times and I'm really jealous of that kind of charisma." d'Eon released the LP, simply titled LP, earlier this month and it's really great. It's a concept album that deals with real life vs internet life (there's a song called "My iPhone Tracks My Every Move"). All of the songs flow seamlessly into each other and there's a ton of musical reference points, including the art pop of Peter Gabriel, the sexy ambient R&B of How to Dress Well, and the production work you've come to expect from d'Eon. You can stream that entire album below.

Wild Nothing at Pitchfork Fest 2011 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Speaking of Grimes and DIIV, they team up for a free show at River Rocks on Pier 84 on August 9. That show is with Wild Nothing, who just announced a new album, Nocturne, which is due out August 28 via Captured Tracks in the US and a day earlier in the UK via Bella Union. Check out the song, "Shadow," from that album below, along with a list of all Wild Nothing dates, and the album's tracklist.

All lists of dates, videos, streams, and more are below.

Continue reading "Pictureplane playing shows (dates); Wild Nothing releasing new LP (stream a track); Grimes, d'Eon & more related news"

Grimes @ Glasslands (pic by thedeskofjob)

One night after struggling through two shows at Mercury Lounge, Grimes toughed out her throat problems and played a super-sold-out show at Glasslands in Brooklyn. How was it? Check out some videos below.

A couple of weeks earlier Grimes was in Austin for SXSW (where she did not play a BV party and) where Nardwuar (who did play a BV party) caught up with the fellow Canadian for an interview. Watch below...

Continue reading "Grimes played Glasslands in NYC, talked to Nardwuar @ SXSW (both while wearing her Pictureplane shirt) -- [VIDEOS]"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

Pictureplane @ 285 Kent

Class Actress and Pictureplane teamed for a show with Dog Leather and Beige at a sold-out 285 Kent on February 3rd. The show, which was followed by tunes from selectors Neon Indian and Joel Ford, was a one-off East Coast date for both headlining bands. Here are some pictures from the Brooklyn show (though we missed both openers.)

Look for Class Actress on the road and at SXSW this year, and from the looks of his tour dates, possibly Pictureplane in Austin as well. Check out a remix Pictureplane just did for for Black Marble, HERE.

More tour dates and 285 Kent pictures below...

Continue reading "Pictureplane, Class Actress & DJs Neon Indian & Joel Ford played 285 Kent (pics)"