The Polyphonic Spree at BV-SXSW 2013 (more by Sarah Frankie Linder)

Progressive pop cult The Polyphonic Spree have a bunch of festival dates scheduled for this spring/summer and they'll also be touring around those fests, playing a number of club dates throughout the US. Those dates include NYC shows happening on July 9 at Music Hall of WIlliamsburg and July 10 at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets for those shows go on sale Friday (5/3) at noon with an AmEx presale starting Wednesday (5/1) at noon.

The Polyphonic Spree were also among the recent additions to this year's Bonnaroo lineup. Other additions include Solange, White Lung, Mac DeMarco, Black Prairie, Maps & Atlases, Royal Thunder, William Tyler, Cat Martino, On An On, Bilal and more. 4-Day passes for the festival are still available.

All Polyphonic Spree dates are listed, along with a full list of the Bonnaroo lineup additions and a video of the Polyphonic Spree covering Nirvana's "Lithium" at our BV-SXSW day party (one of our greatest moments at SXSW this year), below...

Continue reading "The Polyphonic Spree touring --- dates include 2 NYC shows & the recently-updated Bonnaroo lineup"

photos by Sarah Frankie Linder

Polyphonic Spree/Thermals/Diamond Rings

The Main was packed for our Friday SXSWS day party (3/15). That includes the the actual stage, as all 23 members of The Polyphonic Spree on hand to headline. The Spree's joyous set ended with their cover of Nirvana's "Lithium" that had the whole place singing. Diamond Rings -- who now count Miracle Fortress/Think About Life's Graham Van Pelt as a touring memeber -- tore the place up too with one of the most fun sets on our stage this week. So did The Thermals, for that matter. The Main also saw sets from UK neo-postpunk act TOY, Swedish pop vets Shout Out Louds, Akron/Family, and Montreal's Half Moon Run. The Jr. stage was curated by our loud brethren at Invisible Oranges (and Heavy Dicks) and will have pics of that carnage soon. Meanwhile, dig into more of Friday's action from The Main below.

In addition to the music, Onkyo was there, sampling their new headphones which hit stores next month. mophie maker of invaluable iPhone chargers, were giving away discount cards good at their pop-up shop which was set up right across the street on Red River.We were also serving complimentary Jameson, and Zico coconut water, free vegan queso and chips from Food For Lovers, and free vegan breakfast tacos from Pink Avocado. We also had BrooklynVegan t-shirts for the first 50 people in the door, thanks to American Apparel. Also thanks to our other sponsors, M for Montreal, Korg, Vox, Blackstar, Creative Recreation, Signazon, ASCAP, MailChimp and Redigi.

Today (3/16) is the final free BV SXSW day party at The Main and The Jr. The fun starts at noon CDT and The Main stage is co-presented by our friends at Pianos and features Unknown Mortal Orchestra, A Place to Bury Strangers, Austra, Foxygen, Palma Violets, Autre Ne Veut and Empress of. The Jr stage has King Tuff, Dodrums, MS MR, The Orwells, Peace (UK), Feathers, White Lung, and TEEN. That is a pretty amazing line-up if we do say so ourselves.

And tonight is the offical BrooklynVegan/Invisible Oranges SXSW showcase with KEN Mode (who replace Pinkish Black), Homewrecker, Full of Hell, Mutilation Rights, John Baizley, and Pallbearer. If you're in Austin, come on down!

Continue reading "BrooklynVegan SXSW Friday day party in pics (Polyphonic Spree, Thermals, Diamond Rings, Akron/Family + more)"

As you know, BrooklynVegan is returning to Austin for SXSW this year and throwing four days of day parties at The Main & The Jr aka 603 Red River Street at the corner of 6th aka the old Emo's location. Those happen Wed (3/13), Thurs, Fri and Saturday (3/16). All shows are 100% FREE with RSVP.

We announced Saturday and Thursday, and now HERE IS FRIDAY...

Continue reading "BrooklynVegan free SXSW 2013 Friday day party lineup (Polyphonic Spree, Thermals, Akron/Family, Shout Out Louds, Diamond Rings, TOY, Half Moon Run & more)"

photos by Joe McCabe

The Polyphonic Spree at Webster Hall - 12/15/12

For the show the Spree performed two sets: a Christmas spectacular and a regular rock set. But of course this wasn't a solemn Christmas affair. Not a bit of that. Featuring Christmas songs old and new (A Nightmare Before Christmas's "Town Meeting Song" was sung) the set included confetti, balloons, Santa, a snowman, and more rocking the yuletide spirit. And of course there was the large band all dressed up in festive versions of their usual chorus dresses. The only band member in pants was lead singer Tim DeLaughter (his dress came out in the second set) who exuded a wonderful demented Christmas Willy Wonka vibe--especially when he invited the children in the audience up on stage. It was all very silly, and by the time "Feliz Navidad" it was hard not to bounce around, high on the holidays, and forget the latest horrible news [Gothamist]

More pictures and a video from the show, below...

Continue reading "The Polyphonic Spree brought their Holiday Extravaganza! tour to Webster Hall (pics, video)"

The Polyphonic Spree at Webster Hall in May (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

The Polyphonic Spree released their new Christmas album, Holidaydream: Sounds of the Holidays Volume One on October 23. Of the ten standards it features, the collective just made a video for "Winter Wonderland," and you can watch that for the first time at the bottom of this post.

The video's director Josh David Jordan writes:

"When I first heard Winter Wonderland I was really moved by the way it had a beautiful haunting beginning. I remember thinking, " What happens when Santa has had too much of the elves, the up keep of the North Pole's day to day, and turns in the cookies and milk for a glass of scotch." Lucky for me my friend Jack enjoys scotch, has Santa's snowy locks and can be easily found on the patio of the City Tavern in downtown Dallas. Jack was also the original voice of Popeye's Chicken commercials, so when I asked him to recite 'Twas the night before Christmas' intro, he didn't hesitate. Spontaneity took over for the rest of the video. I dressed my youngest as the elves, my beautiful and talented wife Jessica Jordan (who is a member of the Spree) assumed the part of the queen elf and partner in crime ( we broke into an old abandoned church for her scenes), and Tim allowed me to get up close and personal for the mouth shots. In the end, Santa just may have had one too many scotch's and will be back to the milk and cookies just in time for Christmas this year."

The "Winter Wonderland" video and the album's trailer video, below...

Continue reading "watch The Polyphonic Spree's video for 'Winter Wonderland'"

photos by Toby Tenenbaum

The Polyphonic Spree played Webster Hall last night (5/23), which was recorded for a future live album. The front of the stage was covered in a wide red ribbon, from which Spree leader Tim DeLaughter cut out a heart, from which the rest of the band -- 22 of them this time -- emerged. The rest of the theatrical set included a medley of The Who's Tommy, and an encore where the band appeared at the back of the room, making their way through the crowd back onto the stage.

Spree keyboardist Sweet Lee Morrow opened the show with a mix of songs and comedy. In addition to the live album, The Polyphonic Spree, who play Philly tonight, will release a Christmtas album later this year. Check out more pictures from the show below, along with a list of remaining tour dates.

Continue reading "The Polyphonic Spree played Webster Hall (pics)"

The Polyphonic Spree are on tour with Sweet Lee Morrow and play Webster Hall in NYC on May 23, a show they're going to record and release...

"NYC was our first home away from home in the States," says Spree frontman Tim DeLaughter of the decision to record their first concert album there. "We went from very small crowds in Texas to the UK for for the Meltdown Festival curated by David Bowie in 2002, then straight to New York to play eight shows in seven days on our 'layover' back to Dallas. Our friend took all of our first photos in Williamsburg near the East River (before it was developed) and the rest is history. New York embraced us from the get go. Cynicism wasn't part of it, ironically. We toured so much overseas initially, and coming 'back to the States and feeling at home' meant Brooklyn and Manhattan."

In addition to the live release, The Polyphonic Spree are planning to release a Christmas album this fall, before taking their annual Holiday Extravaganza, which they've staged in their hometown of Dallas for the last nine years, to other markets for the first time. And the band has commenced recording a new original album -- their first since 2007's "The Fragile Army" -- intended for release sometime in 2013. Details will follow later this year.

Tickets are still on sale for the Webster Hall show. All dates are listed below...

Continue reading "The Polyphonic Spree are on tour, recording live album in NYC, releasing new Christmas album"

Free Show Tonight in New York City...

The Polyphonic Spree and DJ Lord (from Public Enemy)
Tonight 10/1/09, 7pm @ Webster Hall.
Text NEW YORK to 68405 to get the code that gives you and one friend free admission.
Must be 21 and over.
Sponsored by Southern Comfort

Polyphonic Spree...

Southern Comfort will host a series of free shows beginning this August. The tour's two main headliners will be Ghostland Observatory and the Polyphonic Spree. DJ Lord of Public Enemy is set to open. The tour will bring the Polyphonic Spree to NYC's Webster Hall on October 1st.

What's the catch? You'll have to sign up for Soco's text messaging list to receive a ticket code.

SoCo is also involved in a new video series on Playboy.com called "Uncovered." That features musicians performing acoustic covers of their favorite artists -- the first edition, up now, is Dinosaur Jr. playing The Cure's "Just Like Heaven." Upcoming acts include Black Lips, A Camp, The Dears, Patterson Hood and Phosphorescent (who just announced a Brooklyn show). A partial list of who's playing what, with the SoCo tour's schedule and all upcoming Ghostland Observatory dates, below...

Continue reading "Polyphonic Spree, Dinosaur Jr, Ghostland Obervatory, Dears, others playing free SoCo shows, making Playboy videos"

Blonde Redhead are playing Terminal 5 in NYC on January 19th. $25 tickets go on sale Friday. .

The Blonde Redhead show is at the same new venue that Gogol Bordello recently played, and that Polyphonic Spree and Rooney are playing on Friday (Nov 16), and that Against Me!, Sage Francis and World Inferno Friendship Society are playing Saturday.

The Word ("featuring John Medeski, Robert Randolph and North Mississippi Allstars) are playing Terminal 5 too, but that's not until December 27th (part of a short year-end tour). Tickets are on sale now.

Details on how to win a pair of tickets to either of this weekend's shows, and more Blonde Redhead & Word tour dates, below...

Continue reading "BLONDE REDHEAD add NYC show, THE WORD, win tix to POLYPHONIC SPREE & AGAINST ME!, Tour Dates"

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Levon Helm @ Summerstage, NYC - June 28, 2007 (by Sandwich!)

Is anyone going to see Bob Dylan at Jones Beach tonight? What about Rush on Monday?

Rodrigo y Gabriela and Vietnam for free in Central Park on Sunday might just qualify as the show of the weekend. JDH and Dave P are DJing too. It's really too bad that it's going up against Man Man, Illinois, Dengue Fever, and What Cheer Brigade at McCarren Pool which is also free. I hope for both of them that this rain lets up by then. Dengue Fever is also doing an in-store at Sound Fix on Sunday. (though is a show there even technically an "in-store" anymore?)

PS1 kicks things off in Long Island City this weekend with DFA.

Seymore Saves the World is the new band of ex-Tapes n Tapes bassist Shawn Neary. Take a look at their tour dates at MySpace and you'll notice they're visiting NYC this weekend.

The Stills and Malajube are playing shows at Maxwell's, and also in the park that Manu Chao just played.

Groove Collective, Ravi Coltrane, Craig Harris help Celebrate Brooklyn this weekend too. Ozomatli, Babylon Circus & DJ Joro Boro are at Summerstage earlier the same day.

Gang Gang Dance headline Bowery Ballroom Saturday night. They're also involved in the 77 drum Boredums thing that's coming up soon.

Morrissey isn't doing so well. Hopefully he makes it to MSG on Saturday.

The Fiery Furnaces tour is about to arrive. They'll be playing some new songs off their new album Widow City - out on Thrill Jockey Records in October. (man, they change labels a lot don't they?)

Although Cake Shop's website lists Saturday night's show as "JASON TRACHTENBURG and pals", I'm being told the show will be a full-on Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players "open rehersal", and "a chance to see something new and be witness to the development of some new concepts that are being developed for the Edinburgh Fringe in Aug. A lengthy Q and A session will also occur."

Langnorne Slim and others are playing a benefit for the Drew Goren memorial fund at Luna Lounge.

The Polyphonic Spree tour gets to Warsaw this weekend. Pharoahe Monch plays a late show at Highline Ballroom. There's comedy going on.

Although they were some of the displaced tenants, Sam Champion is not playing the Pizza Plus benefit at Southpaw on July 13th with Teenage Prayers and The Legendary Captain Greech + the Shrimp Shooters. Wait a minute - who are The Legendar Captain Greech + the Shrimp Shooters???

Sam Champion are for sure playing at South Street Seaport tonight though - with Ra Ra Rabbit........I mean...

Don't forget about Citysol, and Britta Persson too.

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON? Wanna win a limited edition Black Lips/Yacht split 7-inch? Details below....

Continue reading "What's goin' on?"

How many pictures does it take to make a video....

Continue reading "VIDEO: The Polyphonic Spree - 'Running Away'"

The following review of Day 2 (May 27, 2007) of the 2007 Sasquatch! Festival in George, Washington is brought to you by Jerry Yeti exclusively for BrooklynVegan.com. If you're just joining us, you may want to start with Day 1.

Things kicked off at the Gorge on Sunday with a few more blankets, a nice spot on the terraced grass, and a sweet DJ set by Mix Master Mike. This was followed up by the hip hop duo Blackalicious. Both of these acts got the early attendees jumping. Blackalicious brought out their "Alphabet Aerobics" with its increasingly sped up delivery, but it was "Rhythm Sticks" that got people truly moving. If the ground wasn't on bedrock, the floor would have given way under all that impact.

All warmed up, Bad Brains was the only set on Sunday we were sure not going to miss. While we waited near the epicenter of anticipated mayhem, one of their most enthusiastic fans attempted to get others around him equally as stoked. He singled out a small guy that -as he informed him- was going to be propelled into the air. And sure enough, when the band appeared, he launched the poor kid into the unsuspecting crowd behind him. No, the bedrock below him did not give way. As the mosh pit grew in size, so did the size of the guys thrashing around in it. One giant of a man wore a Professional Slam Wresting shirt and bulldozed his way around. H.R. is a startling front man, appearing quite tranquil despite the tumult below - like a prophet amidst a storm. Dashingly dressed, if you had a video on mute, you would be baffled by the calm on stage, and the reaction below.

Unfortunately that was the last full set on the main stage before Polyphonic Spree had to cease for the blustery wind. It got cold within minutes, and sundown was still four hours away. While the crew re-prepped the stage to handle the winds, and let the worst of them pass, people migrated over to Tokyo Police Club at the Wookie. The Toronto band sensed they were playing for a much larger crowd, and they delivered. Their invigoration and charm very likely won over a few new fans.....

Continue reading "Sasquatch! 2007 | Sunday review in words & pics"

DOWNLOAD: The Polyphonic Spree - 'Fragile Army' album preview (MP3) (info)

The Arcade Fire (new interview at Pitchfork) kicked off the David Bowie-curated High Line Festival at Radio City Music Hall on Wednesday May 9th. Then Air & TV on the Radio chilled things out at MSG the next night. And on Friday, the "festival" continued with a show by the Polyphonic Spree at Manhattan Center's Grand Ballroom......

Continue reading "the Polyphonic Spree played NYC (High Line) + new 2007 Tour Dates (Warsaw, etc)"