photos by Tim Griffin

Deakin

"This solo project from Animal Collective's Deakin (or Deacon, or Josh Dibb) was just as psychedelic, but in more of a dub vein, with spacey, ambient guitar over echoing reverberating distorted drum-pad beats. A pair of smoking-hot yoga-body hipster girls were dancing throughout--no idea how they found a beat to lock into, as loose as the rhythm was, but none of the guys nearby were complaining." [Dallas Observer]

If indie rock/pop/chillwave was all you were looking for, or even just dancing and hip hop, you had more than your share of best new music to keep you occupied from noon to 10pm on the Orange and Blue stages. Sunday alone featured Deerhunter, Toro Y Moi, Washed Out, Deakin, Magic Kids, Best Coast (Wavves played the day before) and Cults, not to mention Yelle, Polvo, P.O.S. and A-Trak. Those are most of the artists pictured in this post which continues below...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest - Day 3 pics (part 2) - Deakin, Best Coast, A-Trak, Yelle, Polvo, Deerhunter, Washed Out, Toro y Moi, more"

photos by Greg Cristman

Einstein Music Journal: What are the challenges of being both the owner of your record label and an artist on the roster?

LSF's Syd Butler: It's awful! But I wouldn't want it any other way. Thank God for Paul (label manager at Frenchkiss Records) or I would be submitted into a hospital. The big challenges come when I am in label mode and talking to my band mates about what is expected - as a label you want your band to tour and do as much as you can to work the record. My band has other plans - it's like herding cats.

Les Savy Fav traveled to Canada for a sweaty, close-quarters show at NXNE (pics from which are coming soon). They'll have a full tour this fall (TBA), but currently, they're back in Canada for a July 3rd set at Calgary's Sled Island Fest.

LSF's new album, called Root for Ruin, will be released September 14th on (bandmember Syd Butler's) Frenchkiss Records. The track list, cover art, more info and more pictures from the Newtown Barge Park show, below...

Continue reading "Les Savy Fav played Newtown Barge Park w/ Polvo & Grails (pics), announce new album (details)"

DOWNLOAD: Fucked Up - Here Lies Are (MP3)

Fucked Up @ MWTX in Austin (more by Andrew Frisicano)

Lineups for Brooklyn's Northside Festival are coming together-- and some of the bigger shows (that aren't at Music Hall) are going to be at Greenpoint's Newtown Barge Park. First, Titus Andronicus, Cults and a special guest play an afternoon (1pm) show on Saturday, June 26th. Later that night, Liars, Fucked Up and High Places play the space (6pm). Then the next night (6/27, 6pm), Les Savy Fav performs with Polvo and Grails. Tickets to all three are on sale now. The shows are all ages (badges, which you must be 21+ to purchase, get you in too, capacity permitting).

Northside writes that the shows will be the first at the 1,500-capacity park space. Newtown Barge Park is a triangle of land at the corner of Franklin and Commercial Streets, and is part of the proposed plan (PDF) to expand Williamsburg/Greenpoint's waterfront park space.

The BrooklynVegan Northside show takes place the same Saturday as Titus --> Fucked Up/Liars, but at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Doors for that are 8pm, and it goes later. Tickets are now on sale.

Titus may DO NOT have another Brooklyn show coming up, on Thursday, June 3rd at Glasslands with Boogie Boarder. It has been cancelled. It was supposed to be a benefit for Neighbors Allied for Good Growth, a group frontman Patrick Stickles has talked about before...

Pitchfork: Best Purchase of the Past Year

Patrick Stickles: We can't take too much pride in the things we that own, can we? If I can get on my soapbox for a minute.... Isn't it much more important not what things we bought, but where we bought them? I'd love for you to remind your Brooklyn-based readership that they should make a point of not supporting the new Duane Reade that's moving in across the street from the historic Kings Pharmacy on Bedford Avenue. If you'd pass that along I'd appreciate that a lot. You can read a lot more about it at the website of this community group called Neighbors Allied for Good Growth. We all need to remember to vote with our dollars and take a stand for locally owned independent businesses, because that's what makes American capitalism great.

Grails has a new EP coming out. Grab an MP3 from that.

Fucked Up recently posted a new song that'll appear on a 12" split with Serena-Maneesh. You can get it above. Also, Damian from Fucked Up has been Internet debating the new Arizona immigration laws with fellow Canadian band Stars via Twitter and Stereogum.

All tour dates for Titus and Fucked Up are below...

Continue reading "Fucked Up, Liars, Titus Andronicus, Les Savy Fav, Polvo & others playing Greenpoint's Barge Park (and other dates) "

"Like last year, everything will be taking place in Williamsburg and Greenpoint because walking long distances is a drag when there are bands to see and beer to drink, we mean seriously. Us here at The L Magazine will be booking a share of shows on our own, but, for a large chunk of the festival, we've once again handed over curatorial control to some of the most tasteful, talented and dedicated folks in New York's independent music scene -- record labels, bloggers, promoters and more -- allowing them to showcase the bands they think you need to hear. The Williamsburg Gallery Association is again on board to highlight special exhibitions and other events at over 25 art galleries in the neighborhood. And to celebrate Northside's second year, we've invited a few of the city's biggest aficionados of independent film to curate four nights of New York-made movies at Brooklyn's new, as-yet-unopened film house-music club-restaurant-bar, indieScreen."

Music, art and movies will be happening at "30+ venues" and "dozens of galleries" over the course of four days in Greenpoint and Williamsburg. Like SXSW & CMJ, you can buy tickets to individual events, or you can get a badge which gets you in to everything that isn't already at badge-capacity. $50 badges are now on sale to those 21 and over. If you buy a badge, "Arrive to venues early - badgeholders are admitted on a first-come, first-served, one-out, one-in basis."

If you buy a badge you can take your chances at getting into one of the four Northside shows happening at Music Hall of Williamsburg (BrooklynVegan showcase included), Fiery Furnaces at Brooklyn Bowl, and WAVVES & Cloud Nothings at Knitting Factory. TONS more shows TBA, but the initial list of bands that will be playing has been announced (I'm especially excited to see The Wave Pictures, Fucked Up, Liars, Parenthetical Girls and Les Savy Fav on there in addition to what we've previously talked about) (and yes Titus Andronicus is on there). Check it out below...

Continue reading "2010 Northside Festival - tickets & intial lineup (includes Liars, Fucked Up, Les Savy Fav, Polvo & many more)"

Screaming Females @ Above the Auto Parts Store in October (more by Leia Jospe)

tonight in NYC
* Louis CK @ Caroline's
* Robin Williams @ Town Hall
* Bebel Gilberto @ Hiro Ballroom
* Pixies @ Hammerstein Ballroom (late show)
* Sherlock's Daughter, Marit Bergman @ Pianos
* Pixies, Rain Machine @ Hammerstein Ballroom
* Darcy James Argue's Secret Society @ Iridium
* Julian Plenti (Paul Banks), I'm In You @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Strangers Family Band, Lord Jeff, MV & EE @ Glasslands
* Sonic Youth, Jemina Pearl @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Gordon Voidwell, BILLLL$, Das Racist @ Public Assembly
* Meat Puppets, Earl Greyhound, Kirkwood Dellinger @ Bowery Ballroom
* Screaming Females, The So So Glos, Bad Blood Revival @ The Bell House
* Holmes, The Black Hollies, Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears @ Maxwell's
* Nicole Atkins & The Sea, River City Extension, Atlantic Atlantic @ Stone Pony

Supervegan has a list of places to eat vegan Thanksgiving meals in NYC.

Sonic Youth, Meat Puppets, and Pixies (twice) all play tonight.

The Pixies performed on Fallon last night. Mos Def and Talib Kweli (not billed as Black Star) are performing on Jimmy Fallon tonight. Elvis Costello was on recently and played with the house band (aka The Roots). Video from that below.

Talib Kweli plays Southpaw on Saturday night.

Mos Def recently showed up and performed at a Knyfe Hyts / Javelin show.

The Roots recently performed with Dirty Projectors at Bowery Ballroom.

The Bell House hosts Screaming Females, The So So Glos and Bad Blood Revival. Screaming Females play Terminal 5 with Arctic Monkeys for two nights in December.

Julian Plenti (Paul Banks) and I'm In You play Brooklyn Bowl. Last night they appeared at Bowery Ballroom (and yes, they did cover the Pixies).

A new video from Polvo, "Right The Relation" off their new record, is posted below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday? (Thanksgiving-eve) "

DOWNLOAD: Polvo - Beggar's Bowl (MP3)

"I just pre-ordered the new Polvo -check out the stream at Merge- So Amazing" -Ryan Adams

art by Ryan Adams

Ryan Adams will be the first artist in residence at the Morrison Hotel Gallery (313 Bowery) for three weeks leading up to an exhibit of his work, which opens September 23rd (which I guess means, despite a "for lease" sign on the window, the gallery isn't going anywhere yet). During that time, Adams will be "creating additional canvases in the front of the gallery to be auctioned off at the opening. Proceeds from the auction will go to benefit the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, a nonprofit organization committed to ending the twin crises of AIDS and homelessness."

Adams' paintings are in addition to his recent moves as an author. His first book of short stories and poetry, Infinity Blues, came out in April, and his second, Hello Sunshine, is due in December (or September if you pre-ordered).

Last week, some speculated that Adams, a self-professed metal fan, was the mystery artist behind The Awl's hair-metal-inspired theme song, posted on August 18th. The site has since posted a punk remix of the song.

Polvo performs at the Bell House in Brooklyn on September 24th. Will Ryan perform music at the September 23rd Morrison Hotel Gallery opening? I'm not sure, but there is no mention of it (best to assume no). Some more of Ryan's paintings, and all Polvo dates, below...

Continue reading "Ryan Adams - enjoying Polvo, showing artwork @ Morrison Hotel Gallery in NYC, wrote some books & (possibly) a song"

DOWNLOAD: Polvo - Beggar's Bowl (MP3)

Polvo @ Brooklyn Bowl - July 31, 2009 (backharlowroad)

Philly Weekly: During the time Polvo was inactive, did you ever have a sense that the band would someday get back together in some form or for some reason, or did you feel like it was permanently over?
Ash Bowie: I didn't really have a feeling about it one way or the other. We never ruled out playing together again, but I don't think any of us were counting on it. Actually, I thought it was pretty unlikely.

PW: When you talk to fans after shows, are there a couple of questions that keep popping up? What do people generally have to say or want to know when they approach you?
AB: Sometimes people tell us how far they traveled to see us play. Otherwise, just questions about what our plans are and things like that. I've just started to realize how hardcore some of our fans really are. The response so far has been amazing and kind of surreal.

And the Polvo reunion continues. They're currently putting the finishing touches on In Prism, their first studio album since 1997's Shapes, set to come out September 8th on Merge (who are also releasing a new album by Lou Barlow soon). "Beggar's Bowl" from that Polvo album is posted above.

The band played the XX Merge festival in July, not long before the Brooklyn Bowl show. On September 24th they will play the the Bell House in Brooklyn. Tickets are on sale.

More tour dates from the band, the In Prism tracklist, with re-posted videos from Friday's show, below...

Continue reading "Polvo played Brooklyn Bowl w/ Obits, playing the Bell House (tour dates) ++ new Merge record on the way (MP3)"

line @ Brooklyn Bowl - 6:45pm (p_sean)

Dan Deacon @ Broadway Backyard (more by Tim Griffin)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Louis CK @ Caroline's
* Justin Ripley @ Monkey Town
* CineFest Brasil @ Central Park Summerstage
* Deerhunter, No Age, Dan Deacon @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Merce Cunningham Dance Company @ Rockefeller Park
* Ingrid Laubrock/Tyshawn Sorey/Kris Davis @ The Stone
* The Octopus Project, Exit Clov, Trtl Soup @ Mercury Lounge
* George Chen, Necking, Mi Or & The Pedestals @ Death By Audio
* Ethan Iverson, Reid Anderson & Paul Motian @ Village Vanguard
* Catfish Haven, Demander, Loudest Boom Bah Yea @ The Bell House
* Fiasco, Boogie Boarder, Balkans, Carnivores, Darlings @ Littlefield
* Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Stone Cherry @ Jones Beach Amphitheatre
* SNM w/ Keelhaul, Minsk, Unearthly Trance, Defeatist, Stats @ Public Assembly
* APW w/ Coldplay, Echo & the Bunnymen, MGMT, Black Keys @ Liberty State Park

Free music today includes the weekly Williamsburg Waterfront BROOKLYN BOWL Pool Party, with a special "round robin" show from Deerhunter, No Age and Dan Deacon. CineFest Brasil happens at the Central Park Summerstage.

All Points West heads into its third and final day at Liberty State Park. Headliners include Coldplay, Echo & The Bunnymen, MGMT and The Black Keys.

BV's own Black Bubblegum co-presents Show No Mercy with Keelhaul, Minsk, Unearthly Trance, Defeatist and Stats at Public Assembly.

It's your last chance to catch Ethan Iverson and Reid Anderson (2/3rds of the Bad Plus) with legendary jazz drummer Paul Motian -- their weeklong run at Village Vanguard closes tonight.

It's August at The Stone.

A clip from Blank Dogs' July 24th South Street Seaport show, below.

Polvo didn't get to play South Street Seaport. They played Brooklyn Bowl instead on July 31st. Video from that show below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday?"

Polvo @ Brooklyn Bowl on Friday (iPhone pic by windupgodzilla)

Like Friday's free Polvo & Obits show, today's free Dan Deacon, Deerhunter & No Age Pool Party show has been moved from the Williamsburg Waterfront to Brooklyn Bowl due to rain. Doors are at 6pm, sets will start at 7pm. Full lineup ("Special round robin set including Ed Schrader, White Rainbow, Infinite Body"). FREE. ALL AGES. First come, first served.

Brooklyn Bowl (more by Chris La Putt)

ONE NIGHT ONLY!
SEAPORT MUSIC HEADS TO BROOKLYN

For the first time in it's history, Seaport Music is ducking the rain and headed to Brooklyn, to save tonight's scheduled concert featuring Polvo with Obits. The show will be held at Brooklyn Bowl located at 61 Wythe Avenue (between N 11th and 12th Streets) in Williamsburg. Doors to the 600-person venue will open at 6 p.m., with bands scheduled to perform at 10p.m. First come, first served.

Just like Friday nights on the Pier, admission is free and on a first-come basis ONLY for the first . Keep in mind, show is 21 and over only. We apologize to our all ages fans but we are doing what we can!

Come out to Brooklyn and check out Brooklyn Bowl tonight, come for the show, stay for drinks and dinner. Show your support for your favorite series by 21 and up only Brooklyn Bowl is accessible via the L Train to the Bedford Ave. stop or the G Train to the Nassau Ave. stop.

In the meantime, those at All Points West (many on the BV team included) are getting soaked at the moment.

Due to rain. Obviously. :(

UPDATE: It looks like this show will be moved has moved.

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: The Veils - Killed by the Boom (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Foreign Born - Vacationing People (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Foreign Born - Early Warnings (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Jaguar Club - Sleepwalking (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Hospitality - Betty Wang (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Horse's Ha - The Piss Choir (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Polvo - Beggar's Bowl (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Obits - Two-Headed Coin (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Obits - Pine On (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Blacklist - Flight of the Demoiselles (MP3)

Jarvis Cocker @ MHOW in 2008 (more by Ryan Muir)

There is a ton of stuff going on this weekend, but clearly the gig of the week is Jarvis Cocker (who is also on Jimmy Fallon tonight) at Music Hall of Williamsburg (7/30). The last last two years Jarvis held my top spot for Show of the Year and I have no doubt he will deliver tonight as well. He's truly on another plane of existence when it comes to performers. But I'm like a lot of you this year, I didn't buy tickets for Terminal 5 (a venue I'm kind of proud I've never been to) and then kicking yourselves when the show got downgraded to MHoW. It's kind of killing me that I won't be at this show, but luckily there are a lot of other good options.

The Veils

If you are an Anglophile, I think your best bet tonight (7/30) is at Mercury Lounge for The Veils and Foreign Born. Tickets are still available. The Veils' new album, Sun Gangs, is a little more palatable, in my opinion, than 2006's Nux Vomica with singer Finn Andrews' vocals a little more reigned-in and less histrionic, though I realize that was a selling point for some people. (I was more of a fan of the first album, The Runaway Found, than the second album.) The new record is good, for fans of moody, heart-swelling anthemic rock. Check out "Killed by the Boom" at the top of this post. Having seen The Veils play for both previous albums (and both times at Mercury Lounge) I have not doubt that Andrews (son of XTC/Shriekback's Barry Andrews) will give 110%, if only that were possible. He will also likely wear a big hat.

Foreign Born

Foreign Born, meanwhile, are from L.A. but clearly were raised on classic KROQ and the influence of The Smiths, Echo & the Bunnymen, and House of Love was an undeniable presence on their 2007 debut, On the Wing Now, of which I was a fan. Their new album, Person to Person, still bears those influences but they've folded them in more delicately with their distinctly American sound so that it's more nuances than nods. (I do still hear a lot of House of Love in the guitars, though.) It's a really good album. They got a boost back in March when Ed Droste gushed about their new record on Grizzly Bear's blog:

I was pretty vocal about my love for their last album On the Wing Now, and this time around it's even better. I gotta say, something about the production of this album is really doing it for me. Crisper sounds, and Matt's voice sounds wonderful. This track "Vacationing People" is a lovely little pop gem, and it's not even scraping the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the album. I hope that you all enjoy the song and check these guys out.

If you can't make Mercury Lounge tonight, both Foreign Born and the Veils are playing on Monday at The Bell House and you can get tickets here.

The Horse's Ha

Another good option tonight (7/30) is at Bruar Falls which has the first Hospitality show since late May, as their bassist pulls double-duty in White Rabbits who were on tour the last two months (and play Saturday at All Points West). I previously wrote in May: "Singer Amber Papini's delicate, airy voice matches so perfectly with her songwriting: jazzy pop that kind of reminds me of '60s chanteuse Claudine Longet or Austin's Yellow Fever. I've yet to see them live but I'm kinda in love with the songs." I've listened to their swoon-worthy CDR EP I don't know how many times since then and was quickly won over when I saw them live. Check out "Betty Wang" at the top of this post and see if you don't feel the same way. They've promised to play a whole bunch of new songs tonight, too.

Also on the Bruar Falls bill are Chicago's The Horse's Ha which is reason enough to go. Primarily a duo of James Elkington of The Zincs (kind of the Windy City's American Analog Set), and Janet Beveridge Bean who has spent time in the great '90s indie rock band Eleventh Dream Day as well as '00s folkies Freakwater. The Horse's Ha are their homage to late-'60s/early '70s Euro-hippy-folk like Fairport Convention and Pentangle, and their voices sound great together on their debut album, Of the Cathmawr Yards, which, like their name, is a Dylan Thomas reference. With a backing band of ace improv-jazz players (Fred Lonberg-Holm, Nick Macri, and Charles Rumback), this should be something. You can download their song "The Piss Choir" at the top of this post.

The Mekons

The Horse's Ha are also playing two more shows this weekend, both of which are opening slots for The Mekons who also call Chicago home these days: Friday at The Bell House and a sold-out show at Mercury Lounge on Saturday. What do you say about the Mekons these days beyond that they are probably the only band from the original punk/post-punk era to rival The Fall on longevity, relevance, line-up changes, and essential output -- the only constant being change. The band are working on their 27th album, recording in Wales, so expect some new tunes at these two gigs: the Bell House show being semi-acoustic, the Mercury Lounge being full electric. Anyone who's seen the Mekons before should know to be prepared for a marathon, booze-soaked performance with a crowd of die-hard hard fans who match the band shot-for-shot, pint-for-pint. It can be a bit much for the uninitiated (or casual fan) but worth the effort. They are legends.

Obits

It's a great double-bill at the Seaport Music Series on Friday: Polvo are in town fresh off their appearance at XX Merge, have just re-signed to the label who will put out In Prism, the band's first album in ten years. You can check out "Beggar's Bowl" from it at the top of this post and if it represents the rest of the album, it definitely sounds like the Polvo I remember: intricate guitar lines, rhythmically complex, shredding indie rock. And Obits have put out one of my favorite rock albums of the year: full of pedal-to-the-metal, cheap trucker's speed style jams. I've seen them twice already this year, and Rick Froberg hasn't lost any snarl. Two downloadable tracks off their I Blame You album at the top of this post.

A complete 180 from Obits are... Modern English. Yes that Modern English, whose classic '80s single "I Melt With You" has been used at least twice in commercials to sell various things with cheese on it over the last 10 years, will be performing at The Studio at Webster Hall on Friday CANCELLED. While that may be the only thing anyone remembers about them, the album that song came from, After the Snow, is actually a really solid platter of goth-tinged pop which, you may not remember, came out on 4AD (home of Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil and The Wolfgang Press). It also contains the absolutely brilliant single "Life in the Gladhouse," probably the best thing the band ever did. The two albums that surrounded it (1981's Mesh and Lace and 1984's Ricochet Days) aren't bad either. I have no idea who is in this version of the band -- certainly singer Robbie Grey, probably guitarist Matthew Shipley -- or whether they're any good, but Modern English were more than a one-hit flashback fave.

Blacklist

I wonder if the members of Blacklist wouldn't be watching Modern English if they weren't playing at Cameo on Friday (7/31). Surely they've got a copy of Mesh & Lace in their record collection somewhere. Blacklist's debut, Midnight of the Century, was released this week and would've sounded at home on 4AD or Beggars Banquet in 1984. They've worked out the best bits of '80s goth: killer pumping basslines, effects-drenched guitars, the just-melodramatic-enough singing, and giant anthemic choruses. If you ever liked Sisters of Mercy, The Bolshoi, Death Cult, Xmal Deutschland, you're gonna dig Blacklist. It's pastiche, but it's done to perfection. You can check out "Flight of the Demoiselles" at the top of this post.

The Cameo show also features Austin's loud-as-hell shoegazers Ringo Deathstar who are way better than their name might suggest. Might be a good way to prep your ears for the My Bloody Valentine aural assault that will happen at All Points West on Saturday (7/31).

Justin Ripley

This is a big column this week! And it's almost over. Seattle's Justin Ripley is also in town this weekend. You may remember The Pamonas, the band he had in Lawrence, KS a couple years ago. Since relocating to Seattle, he went on a songwriting binge and has released three downloadable albums this year so far. It's a lot of material, wildly ranging in styles and fidelity, but quality across the tracks is surprisingly high. Plus, he's got power pop at his core and I'm gonna guess that's what you can expect from this weekend's shows, especially with half of the awesome, raucous Rooftop Vigilantes as his backing band. He plays Glasslands on Friday (7/31, with Midnight Masses), the Alphabet Lounge on Saturday (8/1) and Monkeytown on Sunday (8/2).

And finally I would be remiss to not mention All Points West, which is at Liberty State Park this weekend as I'm sure BV readers are already aware. I think it's a better lineup overall than last year (no Jack Johnson) and Saturday and Sunday are both pretty strong, though I'd have to give a slight edge to Sunday, what with Echo & the Bunnymen, Elbow, MGMT, Slilversun Pickups, Mogwai and Lykke Li. (Also La Roux, who I'm curious as to what they're like live.) I am no fan of outdoor festivals, but I had fun last year and am looking forward to this weekend.

Tour Dates and videos after the jump....

Continue reading "The Veils, Foreign Born, Hospitality, Horse's Ha, Mekons, Polvo, Obits, Modern English, Blacklist, Jarvis, Justin Ripley, Ringo Deathstarr, APW & more in in This Week in Indie"

by Andrew Frisicano

Mac and Britt embrace (Triangle Music)

The much anticipated XX Merge Festival took place last week in North Carolina with a five-day (July 22-July 26), Wednesday to Sunday run of shows. Last night (Sunday)'s show with She & Him, American Music Club and Wye Oak was the only fully announced lineup. The other four nights (and one day) were a grab bag of any number of Merge bands past and present. Did you go? What were the highlights?

Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band, who recently played a pair of big NY shows, headlined the fest's first night (which also included Magnetic Fields). Superchunk, which features Merge founders Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan, topped the bill of the second night. The third night included the reformed/reunited lineups of Spent, Polvo and Pipe.

Mac McCaughan came out on stage before [Pipe] instead of the night's emcee and announced that there was a lone protester outside. He invited him up on stage and it was Jon Wurster decked out in Phillies gear as Philly Boy Roy. He was holding a sign that said "Boycot MERGE." He complained that Merge didn't have any Philly bands on their roster and Mac said that they have bands from Jersey, which is close to Philly. You never compare Jersey to Philly in front of Philly Boy Roy. It was hilarious.

All of this led to the introduction of New Jersey punks Pipe. As soon as they kicked into their first song, beer cans and plastic bottles started flying. Frontman Ron Liberti ate it up and even put himself in the line of fire, headbutting some of the cans while kicking some back into the crowd. Liberti bounded around the stage, essentially taunting the crowd. The crowd loved the band's antics as did I (but that may have been different if I hadn't managed to stay dry). [triangle music]

In addition to the Cat's Cradle shows (the venue for 4/5 of the night shows), Saturday featured a day show that included Julian Koster solo as Music Tapes and Mac McCaughan with violin accompaniment as Portastatic. A few videos from that set, below.

M. Ward, who's playing the Central Park Summerstage this Saturday (August 1st), played at the fest's Saturday night showcase. Zooey Deschanel joined him for a cover of the Beatles' "Birthday." Not too big of a surprise considering She & Him headlined the Sunday night show.

Other XX Merge artists who recently stopped in NYC include The Clientele and Richard Buckner (they played Music Hall of Williamsburg last Sunday), Versus and Superchunk (they played South Street Seaport last Friday), and Spent (they played Coco 66). Spoon didn't play a NYC show, but they were spotted in the audience of Paul McCartney's third of three shows at Citi Field in Queens. Destroyer is on his way up. He plays Bowery Ballroom on Thursday. Mark Eitzel (as American Music Club) played Le Poisson Rouge and Maxwell's before XX Merge, and now he's on his way back for a show at The Bell House.

Lineups for each night of XX Merge, with videos, and a bunch of setlists, below...

Continue reading "Merge celebrated their 20th w/ 5 days of shows in North Carolina (lineups, reviews, pics, video setlists...)"

DOWNLOAD: The Clean - In Dreamlife You Definitely Need Rubber Soul (MP3)

Polvo (above) & The Clean (below)

This September Merge Records will be releasing new albums by both The Clean and Polvo.

Polvo's new disc, In Prism, their first in 12 years, will come out September 8th. The band's upcoming shows in June and July include a free Friday, July 31th gig at South Street Seaport with the Obits. A few days before that, the band plays the XX Merge celebration. More tour dates for the fall are on the way.

The Clean's new record, Mister Pop, also comes out September 8th. That'll be that band's first record in eight years. Check out a track from the new disc, above. In 2003, Merge put out a retrospective of the band called Anthology. In 2007, the band played some NYC shows. I'm sure there will be more with the new album, though none are scheduled that we know of at the moment.

Hamish Kilgour of The Clean is also on The Mad Scene who play with Times New Viking at The Bell House this Saturday, June 13th. Tickets are still on sale.

Polvo tour dates and track list below...

Continue reading "Merge releasing new albums by Polvo & The Clean (MP3)"

"It's simple really: Summer. Friday night. New York City. The first port in the new world hosting some of the best new music, as well as those established and influential artists you already know and love. All of this amidst the city's most inspiring views of tall buildings, historic ships and nighttime sky. All for FREE.

Get ready, cause summer is coming and with it another great line up on Pier 17 at the Seaport. Hard to believe we're entering our eighth season of summer shows but 2009 promises to be amongst our best.

Highlights this year include Superchunk, Polvo, Obits, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and well, pretty much every night is a highlight to us.

Our FREE, outdoor series runs every Friday night from July 3 to August 14. The music starts at 6pm with a Guest DJ and bands go on around 7pm. Join us downtown to take in the stunning backdrop and enjoy New York's best open air venue.

Seaport Music is presented by the River to River Festival."

Continue reading "updated 2009 South Street Seaport Music lineup (free shows)"

DOWNLOAD: Guv'ner - Bay's Way Cruel (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Guv'ner - Help Me (MP3)

In celebration of our 20th anniversary, Merge bands of the past and present will converge for 5 days of live music, July 22-26th in the heat of the sunny North Carolina summer. We are calling these 5 days of live music and mayhem, XX Merge.

XX Merge Wednesday, July 22nd - Sunday, July 26th
4 nights at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC
1 night at Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill, NC on UNC Campus Details of additional music & bedlam yet to come!

Featuring over 25 of your favorite Merge artists including...Superchunk, Spoon, Conor Oberst, Spent, M. Ward, The Rosebuds, Destroyer, Guv'ner, Polvo, Pipe & The Broken West. Many more bands both expected and unexpected still to-be-announced!

5-Day Passes are $150 and will get you in to all XX Merge festivities. Passes will go on sale on Wednesday, April 8th at 10 AM EST via catscradle.com and mergerecords.com. 5-day passes are nontransferable. A limited number of tickets for individual Cradle shows and the Memorial Hall show will be made available at a later date.

The Rosebuds are now in the midst of their April tour that brings them back to NYC for two shows soon.

M Ward is also playing Coachella and Central Park Summerstage this year. All dates below.

Check out the video for Spent's "Umbrella Wars", below...

Continue reading "XX Merge - ticket info & initial festival lineup announced (Guv'ner, Spent, Pipe, Spoon, Conor & M Ward included)"

interview by Black Bubblegum, photos by Zach Dilgard

DOWNLOAD: Om - Gebel Barkal (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Om - (Version) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Holy Sons - Gnostic Device (MP3)

Al Cisneros & Emil Amos

Om is the brainchild of Al Cisneros. In the wake of Sleep's dissolution, Al founded Om with his former Sleep and Asbestosdeath band-mate Chris Hakius. Sleep's guitarist Matt Pike went on to form High On Fire. Over five years, Om has carved a unique path... retaining the doom appeal of Sleep, while forging a new somber, yet also oddly calming tone over the course of three studio albums and various vinyl releases. Chris Hakius recently left the group, but was quickly replaced by drummer Emil Amos of former Om tourmates Grails.

Emil Amos is a juggler. Besides Grails and his new venture with Om, Amos also has a solo project called Holy Sons. Of course, Al Cisneros is also on the move, most recently forging an indie metal supergroup of sorts called Shrinebuilder - a four piece with Scott "Wino" Weinrich (of Saint Vitus, Hidden Hand, The Obsessed, many others), Scott Kelly (of Neurosis and Blood & Time), and Dale Crover (of Melvins and Porn).

Om was one of many bands who performed at the ATP festival at Kutscher's resort in upstate NY this past weekend. While there, we were able to coax the duo into taking a ride with us in one of the "sea nymphs", aka rowboats, on Kutsher's Lake. Along the way we paddled, and poked and prodded the band about Om, Shrinebuilder and their many other projects including, "Gebel Barkal", a limited Sub Pop 7" they recently put out (both songs from it are available for download on the top of this post). Among other things, we also found out about an electrician who happens to be very talented on the guitar.

Warning, if you have an aversion to poor yachting, please look away now.

Continue reading "an interview w/ Al Cisneros & Emil Amos of Om"

photos by Zach Dilgard, words by Black Bubblegum

British experimentalist Alexander Tucker kicked off ATP day two (9/20) with looping pedals and acoustic instruments (cello, guitar). A very interesting artist to start my day with and worth further investigation.

Next came ATP's own Apse and their triple guitar attack. They had some truly soaring moments.

Growing and their effects-laden noise drones sounded great on stage two, though sometimes I find it hard to watch a knob-twiddling live show.

Probably my biggest surprise of the day was The Drones who were urgent, angular, and punky. I was familiar with some of their work through a certain Vegan pal of mine. I will be familiar with more and won't miss them next time they make it to NYC (Philly, Richmond & DC have the chance over the next three days).

The Drones

continued below...

Continue reading "ATP NY day 2 - Om, Drones, Apse, Low, Lightning Bolt, more"

"Polvo Death Ray", Bowery Ballroom - June 21, 2008 (The Blueprint)

Salif Keita @ Prospect Park Bandshell, NYC - June 22, 2008 (cred)

today in NYC & NJ
* FREE STUFF
* JVC Jazz Festival
* Pearl Jam & Ted Leo @ MSG
* Gilberto Gil @ Nokia Theatre
* Butthole Surfers @ Asbury Lanes
* Made Out of Babies @ Union Pool
* Brooklyn Philharmonic in Central Park
* Ulrich Schnauss @ World Financial Center
* The Queers on a Rocks Off Concert Cruise
* Silver Apples & friends @ Knitting Factory
* Salif Keita @ B.B. King Blues Club and Grill
* Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band @ Radio City Music Hall

If you missed the free show Salif Keita played in Prospect Park on Sunday, tonight at BB King's is your second chance.

Other upcoming Rocks Off Cruises include Japanther, Lucero, a dance party hosted by David Bruno and Robot Blair AND FISHBONE.

What else?

As you know, Big Dipper got back together. Tickets are still available for the show in Brooklyn on Friday and for the one the day before that in Hoboken
(and for the one Saturday in MA).

The Feelies are playing in Hoboken too.

Same with Polvo who are also playing in Upstate NY with Built to Spill, Shellac and My Bloody Valentine.

Yo La Tengo played Conan last night.

Even more Polvo shows have been announced including June 22nd at Maxwell's - one day after Bowery Ballroom. All dates below....

Continue reading "POLVO adds NJ & other shows - updated 2008 Tour Dates"

As previously announced, Polvo are reuniting to play some shows, but now that includes some U.S. tour dates to0....

In May, original members Ash Bowie, Dave Brylawski and Steve Popson will be joined by Brian Quast (ex-Cherry Valence) on drums for some kicking and screaming the '00s wouldn't even know what to do with. Two dates have been confirmed thus far and there are several more to come.

Continue reading "Polvo - reunited, 2008 Tour Dates (in the USA)"

DOWNLOAD: Big Dipper - Shes Fetching (MP3)

$493??? Well, it is for charity, so that's good. For a more affordable donation, the David Kilgour autographed poster is still available for less than $50. David Kilgour plays Cake Shop tonight, tomorrow and the next day. Keep checking Merge's auctions through Christmas - they'll also be selling posters autographed by Robert Pollard, M. Ward, Oakley Hall, Spoon, The Rosebuds, Superchunk, Portastatic, and Destroyer. Or just screw charity, and check out Merge's holiday sale.

Robert Pollard is having an art show at Studio Dante in Manhattan in December. Listen to Spoon on NPR. Big Dipper is releasing an anthology. Polvo are reuniting for ATP. Every single Merge tour date, below...

Continue reading "signed Arcade Fire poster @ $493, Robert Pollard art"