by Bill Pearis

Boston powerpop combo Pretty & Nice caused a bit of a stir with their 2008 album, Get Young, which was one of the first releases on Sub Pop's Hardly Art subsidiary. Since then the band have been flying under the radar a bit, having severed ties with that label, but are finally set to release that record's follow-up, Golden Rules for Golden People, on April 30. Their love of late-'70s new wave (Squeeze, Elvis Costello, XTC) is still in full effect, as is the band's way with an infectious hook. We've got the premiere of first single, "Q_Q," which you can stream below.

That song will be released as a 7" single for Record Store Day (4/20). The band are also currently on tour, including an NYC show on May 11 at Cameo with Drunken Sufis and Noxious Foxes. Tickets for the NYC show are on sale now.

All tour dates are listed, along with the track stream and a live video, below...

Continue reading "Pretty & Nice releasing new album, touring (dates, stream)"

photos by Rebecca Reed; words by Fred Pessaro // BBG

What's next for reunited post-hardcore heroes Quicksand? After finishing their second of two NYC dates at Webster Hall last night (1/31, the first was 1/30), which was the final date of a larger reunion tour, it's hard to know what this crew will do. I do know this, Walter & co still put on one hell of a live show on on Wednesday, plowing through favorite after favorite like a well-oiled machine at Webster Hall. Cymbals Eat Guitars had the unenviable task of direct support but held their own in clearly hostile territory.

If you missed Cymbals Eat Guitars at either date at Webster, you're in luck. Look for the band to hit Shea Stadium on March 2 with Grooms, Pretty & Nice and Maquina Supervium. Tickets are on sale. If you happen to be allergic to Bushwick, live vicariously through the pictures/setlists from Wednesday's Webster Hall show below.

Continue reading "Quicksand played two nights at Webster Hall (night 1 pics/setlist); Cymbals Eat Guitars playing Shea Stadium "

via @theluyas

Rockwood Music Hall is open again.

Power is back to most of Manhattan following four days of blackout in half the borough, with ConEd promising to have everywhere in the city back on by tonight and things are starting to get back to normal, though the Subways aren't quite there yet -- though the 4, 5, 6 and 7 lines are up and running. Current subway outage map is here.

Tomorrow's NYC Marathon is cancelled, though, as you probably have heard.

Here's our list of things happening or not happening in NYC on Saturday (11/3).

The Lower East Side early Friday evening and Cake Shop is open and tonight's free show with Montreal's The Luyas is on. Making it even more Canadian is Vancouver's Peace. The show is FREE and starts early (Luyas are at 8 PM) and there will be a donation box that goes to New Amsterdam Records' relief fund.

Later that night at Cake Shop (and not free) it's Home Blitz, and Watery Love.

As previously announced, Peace are also playing Pianos tonight at 10 PM and that's a free show too. on a diverse bill that also features Jennifer Stuart & the Design, Myra Flynn, and Randall Shreve & the Sideshow. (Peace play again at Death By Audio on Monday).

Next door, The Living Room is also back in business with James van Cuylenburg (of The Tealeaves), Chris Riffle, Deni Bonet and New Ponies.

The same goes for East Village club The Stone that will hold a Hurrican Relief benefit tonight at 8 PM, featuring John Zorn (sax) Joel Rubin (clarinet) James Moore (guitar) Ikue Mori (electronics) Sylvie Courvoisier (piano) Jeremiah Cymerman (clarinet) Brian Chase (drums) Eyal Maoz (guitar) Tim Keiper (drums) Jon Madof (guitar) James Ilgenfritz (bass) and many special guests. Then at 10 PM, it's Anthony Coleman.

It looked like Santos was going to be open for tonight Shiny Toy Guns, Colourmusic and MNDR show, but the venue just tweeted, "Due to complications in the wake of Sandy, we regret to announce that our events for this wknd are canceled. Refer to site for more info." Show has been moved to Monday, November 5.

Mercury Lounge is open but tonight's Anaka show has been postponed till December 2. The early show with Gangstagrass and The Newton Gang is still on.

Bowery Ballroom is back tonight with their first post-Sandy/blackout show: Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Ava Luna.

STS9 plays Best Buy Theater in Times Square.

Sunshine Cinema on Houston is open for business but the BV-presented screenings of Miami Connection have been rescheduled for next weekend (11/9, 11/10).

Bowery Electric is now actually electric again, but tonight's David Johansen show with Romans and Kay Kasperhausen has been postponed.

Joe's Pub is back in business and tonight they have Jack Hitt: Making Up the Truth.

Le Poisson Rouge's power is back on and tonight's FIXED show is happening with The Magician. This past Tuesday's cancelled Kitsune event with The Twelves and Yuksek has been rescheduled for Sunday, November 4th at LPR (New Moods are no longer on the bill).

Peter Wolf's shows at City Winery tonight and tomorrow are cancelled.

Webster Hall has power and though there's no show in the main space tonight, The Studio will be open with Gallows, Barn Burner, For Sleeping or Jumping, and DeathThrob.

The Jefferson Starship show that was to happen at The Concert Hall at New York Society for Ethical Culture is being postponed to a later date TBA.
Metropolitan Talent reports:

Due to Hurricane Sandy related logistical challenges, the following concerts in New York City are postponed:

Thursday, Nov. 1 Rickie Lee Jones - rescheduled for 11/14
The Concert Hall at New York Society for Ethical Culture

Friday, Nov. 2 Blackmore's Night - new date tba
The Concert Hall at New York Society for Ethical Culture

Saturday, Nov. 3 Jefferson Starship - new date tba
The Concert Hall at New York Society for Ethical Culture

Friday, Nov 9 Little Feat & Leon Russell - new date tba
Hammerstein Ballroom

Sunday's Little Feat & Leon Russell show at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester is also postponed.

Citizen Cope at Beacon Theatre has been postponed, date still TBD.

The Dethklok / All That Remains / Machine Head / The Black Dahlia Murder that was to happen tonight at Roseland has bee postponed till Dec. 14. TIckets will be honored. This is the 2nd Dethklok show in a row at Roseland cancelled or postponed.

Matisyahu at Starland Ballroom, like the two Social Distortion shows before it, is cancelled.

Henry Rollins appears to still be appearing in Trenton, NJ tonight.

George Lopez's gig at Wellmont Theater on Saturday is postponed to 2/23/2013, and his Capitol Theater show will instead happen 2/22.

Maxwell's in Hoboken is still closed.

Teebs and Reggie Watts play a party in Long Island City.

Meanwhile in Brooklyn, most venues are up and running.

Galapagos in DUMBO, which was ravaged by the storm, is back open tonight with Floating Kabarrette.

Shellshag are at XPO 929.

Free show at the Bell House in Brooklyn tonight with The Stompin Riff Raffs and Daddy Long Legs. The show previously cost money and had T Valentine on the bill.

Wabasco Burlesque at Union Hall.

The Rock Shop is open.

Littlefield is hosting a Stache Bash.

Savoir Adore and Slowdance play the Brooklyn Museum with Jarana Beat. It's a free show that begins at 5 PM.

The Brooklyn Botanical Garden is open and free.

Union Pool has Wolvhammer, Kreig, Doomsday, part of their BV-presented tour.

Music Hall of Williamsburg plays host to Woods, Widowspeak (who went Star Wars for Halloween), and Purling Hiss.

Knitting Factory is having a benefit for the Rockaways with Vast Aire, The Kominas and more.

Fagettes, Baroque Punk, and Dirty Virgins play Death By Audio

285 Kent will be pumping tonight to the sounds of Zomby, DJ Rashad, Massacooramaan, and J-Cush

Around the corner at Glasslands, it's Lazyeyes, The Doorbells, and The Midnight Hollow.

S. 5th St loft space Dead Herring plays host to Dead Stars, Little Radar, Anchorline, and Elliot & the Ghost. More info here.

At Cameo tonight, they have Eyes Lips Eyes, Leverage Models, and Beast Patrol early, and then at midnight it's indipop dance party Mondo! NYC.

Landlady and Marble Fawn are at Pine Box Rock Shop

At Le Loft (252 Norman in Greenpoint), it's Pretty & Nice, MiniBoone, Grooms, and Earthquake Party. More info here.

Shea Stadium has Sidekicks, Glocca Morra, Radiator Hospital and Brick Mower. More info here.

Over at Big Snow Buffalo Lodge, it's Celestial Shore, Grass Is Green, Baked, Highway Gimps.

Paper Diamond are at Brooklyn Bowl.

Zebulon is open and wants you to dance. DJ Tropical Jeremy provides the music.

Barbes in Park Slope is open with Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica and Banda Sinaloense De Los Banda Sinaloense De Los Muertos.

UCB West and East are open. The Pit too.

The Nets play their postponed first game of the season tonight at Barclays Center.

What else?

Laura Stevenson @ MHOW in June (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Laura Stevenson and the Cans have a short run of dates this month which kicks off in NYC for CMJ and then makes its way south, culminating in Gainesville's The Fest. During CMJ the band will play the Deli showcase at The Delancey on October 16 with Blonds, Shakey Graves, XNY, Backwords, Swear and Shake, and more. Then after that, they'll play the Let's Get Messy showcase at The Rock Shop on October 17 with Roomrunner, Archie Powel & The Exports, Twin Tigers, Pretty & Nice, and more. Advance tickets for the Rock Shop show are available and you can also try to get into both of those shows with your CMJ badge.

As mentioned, when the band returns home after their October run, they'll play a local show in Brooklyn at Public Assembly on November 11 with The Shondes, Leda, and ADVAITA. Tickets for that show are still available.

In related news, The Mountain Goats' 2002 LP, Tallahasse, celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, and in honor of that, Crooked Neighbor is releasing a tribute album called Tallahasee Turns Ten, out digitally on November 5 and physically in January, 2013. The album features covers by Laura Stevenson, Kimya Dawson, Jeffrey Lewis, Miracles of Modern Science, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Bomb the Music Industry! and others. You can stream Laura Stevenson's take on "No Children," and check out a list of all upcoming LSATC dates below.

Continue reading "Laura Stevenson playing CMJ before The Fest, covered Mountain Goats for 'Tallahassee' tribute LP (dates & stream)"

Ava Luna at BV Holiday Party last month/year (more by Jessica Amaya)

Wintersleep are going on a short North American tour this month which ends in 2 NYC dates happening on January 24 at Mercury Lounge with Pretty & Nice and January 25 at Glasslands with ARMS and Writer. Tickets for the Mercury show and the Glasslands show are on sale now. All Wintersleep dates are listed below.

Speaking of ARMS, their frontman, Todd Goldstein, is opening for John Roderick (of the Long Winters) at his Mercury Lounge show (1/28), which is three days after ARMS play Glasslands and one day after John Roderick opens for Aimee Mann at her sold out MHOW show. Tickets for the Mercury Lounge show are still available.

In other Glasslands/Mercury Lounge news, Har Mar Superstar has a few shows announced including Glasslands on March 7 with Rewards. Tickets are on sale now.

Rewards were also just announced as the opener for the second School of Seven Bells show at Mercury Lounge (3/1). Their record release show (happening at the same venue on 2/28) sold out and Tickets for the new show go on sale Friday (1/6) at noon.

Both Rewards and School of Seven Bells also DJ in Brooklyn next Friday (1/13) at Cameo Gallery with CREEP, who is also DJing. Doors are at midnight for this late show, which takes place after Radical Dads play the same venue a few hours earlier. Radical Dads recently played a great set at our Brooklyn Bazaar Holiday Party.

The day before that Cameo Gallery show, NewVillager and Avan Lava play Mercury Lounge (1/12). Tickets are available.

Avan Lava is not to be confused with Ava Luna, who just played a BV Holiday Party with Widowspeak and Twin Sister, the latter of which they're heading out on tour with later this month. That tour doesn't include any NYC dates but Ava Luna just announced their own NYC show happening shortly after the tour ends at Mercury Lounge on February 24 with Celestial Shore, Darlings, and Cindy Lou Gooden. Tickets for that show go on sale Friday (1/13) at noon with an AmEx presale starting Wednesday (1/11) at noon.

You can catch Darlings in NYC even sooner when they headline Glasslands on Thursday (1/12) with The Suzan, Fabric, and DAYTONA (mems. of Harlem and Wild Yaks). Tickets for that show are available.

Friends play Cameo on January 24th.

Faris (of the Horrors) and Honor (of Cerebral Ballzy) both DJ cameo this Friday night (tomorrow, 1/6).

More Wintersleep & Har Mar dates below...

Continue reading "Wintersleep, ARMS, Ava Luna, Avan Lava, Radical Dads, Har Mar Superstar, NewVillager, Friends & other upcoming shows"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Craft Spells - After The Moment (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Craft Spells - Party Talk (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Surf City - Crazy Rulers of the World (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bare Wires - Ready to Go (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bare Wires - Seeking Love (MP3)

Craft Spells

First up is Craft Spells who make their NYC debut tonight (4/8) at Music Hall of Williamsburg, opening for fellow Captured Tracks band Beach Fossils, plus Crinkles and an "Unannounced Special Guest" that might drum up some excitement if anyone could figure out who that might actually be. Craft Spells also play Saturday (4/9) at Glasslands with Cloud Nothings and the Sundelles, which is also a pretty solid lineup.

On record at least, Craft Spells is basically Justin Paul Vallesteros who made his debut album Idle Labor in his home. Vallesteros is making a go of it, having recently moved from Stockton, California to Seattle where he's turned Craft Spells into a quartet. Idle Labor is very much a bedroom pop album (and a very good one), clearly created by one guy who loves a lot of '80s music (OMD, Pale Fountains come to mind, as does New Order though mainly through the album art).

You can download two tracks from Idle Labor at the top of this post. But the Craft Spells live experience eschews the keyboards for a straight-up guitar pop sound that I'm told is a little more akin to Orange Juice. Which sounds pretty good too. We shall see.

Sebadoh

As you're reading this column, you're probably well aware that the '90s are totally back. Which means bands from that era are totally back too. Bands like Sebadoh whose classic albums Sebadoh III, Bubble and Scrape and Bakesale helped define the sound of "indie rock." (I tried in vein to find a clip of Lou [wearing a Joy Division t-shirt] talking at length about breakups on MTV's Sex in the '90s. Somebody get on this please.] And they're totally back -- in NYC -- this weekend, playing Bowery Ballroom on April 9th and 10th. It looks like the Sunday show still has tickets at the moment.

To be fair, Lou Barlow, Jason Lowenstein and Eric Gaffney started playing together again in 2007 but it seems a lot more interesting now, what with Yuck slyly cribbing their moves and all. Oupa -- Yuck singer Daniel Bloomberg's side project -- are supposed to open for Sebadoh Saturday, though it's not listed on the Bowery website now. For sure you'll get Richard Buckner, who's opening both nights.

BOAT

Keeping with the '90s indie rock vibe, don't forget Seattle's BOAT are playing Mercury Lounge tomorrow (4/9). It's a relatively early show -- BOAT are on at 9PM -- so you can go do something else after. They are super fun live, even when massive equipment failure threatens to derail them. BOAT persevere with good humor.

Surf City

One of the things you could do after BOAT is just stay at Mercury Lounge for the late show, featuring post-rockers Bardo Pond and New Zealand's Surf City. While they've never really broken up, Bardo Pond are best known for their late-'90s canon on Matador, full of lengthy spaced-out jams full of crashing waves of guitar noise and throbbing bass. The band's hazy groove sounds intact on last year's self-titled new album.

Surf City, meanwhile, are indebted to the classic Flying Nun sound, meaning a whole lot of the Clean, a good dose of The Jean Paul Sartre Experience, and maybe a little Bats for good measure. Their new-ish album is called Kudos and is loaded with catchy, noisy guitar pop, like "Crazy Rulers of the World," downloadable above. Coincidentally, Crazy Rulers of the World is also the title of my forthcoming coffee table book about novelty measuring sticks. Go figure.

Surf City also play Glasslands on Tuesday (4/12) with Darlings, Lingering Doubt, and Little Racer.

That's it for this week's This Week in Indie. A few more daily picks follow.

FRIDAY, APRIL 8

Boston power pop band Pretty & Nice play Spike Hill. These guys are solid.

The name is kind of horrible and I'm personally not crazy about the music but I'm told Gobble Gobble's live show is unforgettable which might be reason enough to go check them out at Glasslands tonight. With Headless Horsemen.

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

Dinowalrus, She Keeps Bees, Total Slacker, Gunfight, Quiet Loudly, Pet Ghost Project, Mussels, Data Dog, El Jezel, Nature Boy, Shark? and more play the Brain-Cave Festival at Shea Stadium. Starts at 2PM, $10.

SUNDAY, APRIL 10

Garagey power pop band Bare Wires are at Cake Shop on Sunday with Fergus and Geronimo. Bare Wires are great, go out and see 'em!

OK, that's it! Tour dates, video, and flyers are below.

Continue reading "Craft Spells, Sebadoh, Surf City, BOAT, Bardo Pond, Bare Wires & more in This Week in Indie"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Golden Triangle - Jinx (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Golden Triangle - Neon Noose (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Sandwitches - Back to the Sea (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Title Tracks - Every Little Bit Hurts (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Pretty & Nice - Tora Tora Tora (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Pretty & Nice - Tora Tora Tora (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Summer Cats - Hey You (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Summer Cats - Super (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Summer Cats - Let's Go (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Summer Cats - TV Guide (MP3)

March is consistently one of the most insane months for shows, due to nearly every band being on tour thanks to SXSW. The flood doesn't really kick in till next week, so view this weekend as the relative calm before the storm. Also, before we get into my recommendations, I'd like to mention that New York Noise, the NYC-TV show that has been documenting the local indie scene for eight seasons, is in danger of cancellation. Given it's new Tuesdays at 5AM slot (and its showpage on the website now gone), it almost might as well be off the air -- a worse fate than 120 Minutes ever saw. There are so few outlets to watch music videos on actual television anymore, let alone ones from semi-obscure indie rock bands, and even less done in such consistently clever, funny, fresh ways. (Breakfast at Sulimays was not the first to interview old people about indie rock.)

Music is a huge part of New York City culture and surely the only show on the air about it deserves to continue. If you feel the same way I urge you to sign the Bring Back New York Noise petition. You can read more about it and what's going on with the show over at the Village Voice. And there are some highlights from the show at the bottom of this post.

The Sandwitches

Ok, back to the music. San Francisco's The Sandwitches are visiting this weekend for three shows before heading off on a tour that will lead them to Austin for SXSW where they'll play more than a few parties including the BrooklynVegan Thursday day party.

They play the Rockstar Bar tonight (3/5) and then Monster Island on Saturday (3/6) with Golden Triangle.  Singers Heidi and Grace both spent time in The Fresh & Onlys and drummer Roxy used to be in Brilliant Colors. Like Donnie & Marie, they're a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll. In a San Francisco indie sort of way, which means a fair amount of reverb.

Kelley Stoltz says of the Sandwitches: "Imagine a 60's Girl-group is on tour and their van breaks down near a gothic castle high on the hill, Dario Argento invites them in to perform a concert for his tweaked actors in a big dark red room inside and, if the dream is right, it's the Sandwiches - they'd fit right in with those misfits and speak the same language. I'd like to be there to dance." I'm not sure I can top that description. I like their album, How to Make Ambient Sadcake, quite a bit and you can download opening track "Back to the Sea" at the top of this post.

After SXSW they'll play Todd P's MtyMx festival and then tour back to San Francisco with Thee Oh Sees and The Baths.

Golden Triangle

That Monster Island show on Saturday is the official record release party for Golden Triangle's debut, Double Jointer, which came out this week on Hardly Art. You can check out two songs from the album at the top of this post. I think you either like this sort of fuzzed out, reverb-soaked garage rock or you don't, but this record is a lot of fun -- a psychedelic art school party band that's part B-52's, part paisley underground, part Cavestomp.

Saturday should be a fun one, with an almost all-girl lineup. In addition to the Sandwitches, there's Girls at Dawn and Coasting, all of whom I like. Golden Triangle are also playing a lot of shows during SXSW including the same Thursday BV show as Sandwitches. All dates are at the bottom of this post.

Title Tracks

Playing together two nights this weekend are Washington D.C.'s Title Tracks and Boston's Pretty & Nice. They play Saturday (3/6) at Union Hall and then Sunday (3/8) at Cake Shop.

As mentioned before, Title Tracks is the new band from John Davis, previously of much-loved Q and Not U, and the great but unfortunately shortlived Georgie James. That said, Title Tracks' just-released debut, It Was Easy, is pretty great, full of guitar-centric power pop in a late '70s style that might bring to mind Rockpile, Marshall Crenshaw or the dB's... or more recently Sloan and the New Pornographers. Two songs are at the top of this post. Davis is a fantastic songwriter (and performer) and while we may miss his previous bands, be glad he's still cranking out great tunes.

Pretty & Nice

Pretty & Nice's music tips just the other side of 1980, with slightly nervier pop (XTC and Chris Stamey's songs with the dB's being obvious influences) but just as catchy and their 2008 album, Get Young, didn't get enough attention I don't think. Hopefully they've got a new album out sometime soon and we'll hear songs from it at one of the shows. They're fun live.

-----

And last but in no way least are Australian band Summer Cats who make their NYC debut tonight (3/5) as part of the Mondo! party at Don Hills. They also play Sunday at Bruar Falls. Super-pumped to see these guys live tonight. I wrote loads about them earlier in the week so go read that, won't you? The Bruar Falls show also features local power-poppers Onward Chariots who sound pretty good on their Myspace. I'll be at an Oscar party (I'm bringing Hummus: Based on the Novel Precious by Sapphire) but those who don't care about the Academy Awards should show your support to these Cats. Like most of the bands in this post, they'll be in Austin for SXSW too. And elsewhere. Go see 'em.

That's it for this week. Videos and tour dates are below....

Continue reading "NY Noise, The Sandwitches, Golden Triangle, Title Tracks, Pretty & Nice, Summer Cats & more in This Week in Indie"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Title Tracks - Every Little Bit Hurts (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Pretty & Nice - Tora Tora Tora (MP3)

John Davis of Title Tracks (by Shervin Lainez)

In early 2008, after several years spent in Washington D.C. bands like Q And Not U and Georgie James, John Davis decided he was ready to go out and start writing and recording albums on his own. John began work on the songs that were to become the first Title Tracks album in January 2008, as the unhappy fate of Georgie James became clear. By the time that Georgie James officially split up in the summer of 2008, John had an album's worth of songs ready to go and began playing shows with a new group behind him by the end of that summer. It Was Easy is the debut full-length from Title Tracks, John's solo project

Title Tracks' debut comes out February 23rd on Ernest Jenning Record Co. On the album, John Davis plays every instrument himself (minus guest sax by Kriston Capps and two vocal contributions by Tracyanne Campbell of Camera Obscura). Live he'll be accompanied by a band. The album's first song, "Every Little Bit Hurts" posted above, is an upbeat power-pop number in the vein of Police/Elvis Costello/Ted Leo, the latter of which they'll be touring with this March. They open the first leg of Ted's tour, not the later dates that include an Irving Plaza show on April 9th. (Tickets for that are on sale.)

Before the Ted Leo dates, Title Tracks go on tour with peppy indie-pop band Pretty and Nice from Boston. Both bands play Union Hall on March 6th with Gary B & the Notions (tickets are on sale) and Cake Shop on March 7th. Title Tracks will also be at SXSW.

Pretty & Nice, a Hardly Art-signed band whose past credits include a BV day party at CMJ 2008 and opening for the Thermals, happen to also play tonight (1/26) at The Cameo with Drunken Sufis. Their "Tora Tora Tora" is above. More tour dates are below.

Ted Leo performs at the Bell House's stacked Haiti benefit on Wednesday, January 27th.

All tour dates and tracklist/album art for Title Tracks' debut are below...

Continue reading "Title Tracks (John Davis of Q And Not U) - debut album, MP3, tour dates w/ Ted Leo & Pretty & Nice "

DOWNLOAD: Talbot Tagora - Internet Fixture (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Le Loup - We are Gods! We are Wolves! (MP3)

Hardly Art is an independent record label based in Seattle, WA. Founded in early 2007 by Sub Pop Records, Hardly Art is run by two full-time employees and is distributed by the Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA) and Sub Pop. The label's name comes from a lyric the song "No Culture Icons" by [ex-Sub Pop band] the Thermals [who are in town], and the unofficial motto for the label is: Quality records for quality people since very recently. [Wikipedia]

The Hardly Art roster is now up to nine bands, the latest addition to which is Brooklyn Band Golden Triangle.

Golden Triangle @ NYU Strawberry Festival 2009 (more by Lauren Monaco)

Golden Triangle's upcoming shows include a gig on Saturday, May 9th at Rubulad with the Homosexuals. The band then plays a free show on Tuesday, May 12th at Southpaw with the Phenomenal Handclap Band. They're also scheduled to perform June 12th as part of the Northside Festival (again with The Homosexuals). All tour dates below.

Earlier this year when Golden Triangle were still unsigned, the group won the Dickies Battle of the Bands down at SXSW. The judges for that included Black Bubblegum, GZA, and Randy & Dean of No Age (who, being signed to Sub Pop, are now label cousins with the winning band).

Hardly Art intends to release Golden Triangle's debut full-length in early 2010. Other new signings by Hardly Art include Seattle bands Talbot Tagora and Unnatural Helpers.

Unnatural Helpers are a pretty righteous Seattle punk band with two former members of The Catheters, an ex-Sub Pop band of which I was especially fond and whose presence on the musical scene I miss dearly. Unnatural Helpers is ex-Catheters guitarists Brian Standeford (also of Idle Times and Tall Birds) and Leo Gephardt (Tall Birds), The Dutchess and the Duke's Kimberley Morrison on bass, though the band is the brain child of Dean Whitmore, who drums and sings. [Seattle Weekly]

A new track by Talbot Tagora (who named themselves after a type of car), "Internet Fixture," is currently posted at The Fader (and above). Their album Lessons in the Woods or a City will be released July 21st on CD and LP. From the label's more established acts, new discs are also planned for Le Loup and the Dutchess & the Duke by the end of this year.

Only one other Hardly Art band has an NYC date coming up: indie-pop trio Pretty & Nice play Union Hall on May 14th with the Dig and Middle Distance Runner. Tickets are on sale.

All upcoming Hardly Art tour dates below...

Continue reading "Golden Triangle & other bands signed to Hardly Art (like Talbot Tagora & Unnatural Helpers) - 2009 tour dates & stuff "

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

Pretty & Nice, now with a new drummer, opened for the Thermals at the sold-out, late-late show at The Bell House in Brooklyn Saturday night (1/31). It really was late too. Joseph Arthur's set at the early show ran long. I got there a little before midnight thinking I had already missed Pretty & Nice, but instead I found a line to get in down the block with a club employee handing out cookies to everyone who was now forced to wait in the cold. P&N went on around 12:30. Thermals probably went on around 1:30. It was well worth the wait.

Kathy (bass and occasional vocals) and Hutch (guitars and vocals), also with a new drummer, tore through old and new material and two covers (Nirvana's Sappy and Saints by the Breeders). The band and the sound system sounded tight. Everyone (well, a lot of people) was bouncing up and down and politely bumping into each other to the indie/post/punk/rock music. There were also a few slower jams, and at least one Obama shoutout. Now I really can't wait to hear the new album - Now We Can See is out via Kill Rock Stars on April 7, 2009 (which is around the time Hutch said the band would be back in NYC).

As someone told me at the show, The Thermals last played NYC exactly, to the day, one year earlier (Jan 31, 2008 at Studio B). More pictures and both setlists (from Jan 31, 2009) below...

Continue reading "The Thermals & Pretty & Nice @ the Bell House - pics, setlist"

Pretty & Nice @ Pianos for BV CMJ (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Tucked away in a basement somewhere on the outskirts of Boston, there is a secret lair filled with motley recording equipment, and a neatly organized cache of guitars, synths and other flashing electronics. The stockpile of gadgetry is owned and operated by three young gentlemen who call themselves Pretty & Nice.

Pretty & Nice will be opening for The Thermals at the Bell House tonight. It's a late show (starts at 11), and it's sold out. Joseph Arthur & The Lonely Astronauts play the early show in the same venue. Pretty & Nice play again in Brooklyn on February 5th. All dates below...

Continue reading "Pretty & Nice - w/ Thermals tonight & other 2009 Tour Dates"

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

Boston band Pretty & Nice have played Pianos in NYC at least twice already. There was the Sub Pop/Hardly Art showcase during CMJ, and there was the BrooklynVegan day party a day or two before that (at which they went on at noon). Their next NYC show is also at Pianos - this Sunday night. All dates, and more pictures from the BV party, below...

Continue reading "Pretty & Nice - 2008 Tour Dates (Pianos), BV party pics "

DOWNLOAD: Pretty & Nice - Tora Tora Tora (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Eagle Seagull - Photograph (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Twi the Humble Feather - higher than the end (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: James Jackson Toth - Nothing Hides (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: James Jackson Toth - Doreen (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Muslims - Beside Myself (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Shad - I Get Down (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Japanese Motors - Spendin Days (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Japanese Motors - Single Fins & Safety Pins (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Peasant - Exposure (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sharon Van Etten - It's Not Like (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: PWRFL POWER - It's Okay (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: PWRFL POWER - Alma Song (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sebastien Grainger - American Names (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Wye Oak - Warning (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Phosphorescent - A Picture Of Our Torn Up Praise (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Friendly Fires - Jump in the Pool (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Crystal Antlers - A Thousand Eyes (MP3)

ABOVE: You can download at least one MP3 from every artist playing the BrooklynVegan party at Pianos today (Oct 23, 2008). Which one do you like best?

Phosphorescent's video for "At Death, A Proclamation" below...

Continue reading "OCT23 PIANOS DAY MIXTAPE (17 songs to download)"

DOWNLOAD: Friendly Fires - Jump in the Pool (MP3)

Friendly Fires

@ Pianos in NYC, Main stage, Thursday, October 23, 2008, FREE

time (PM), band
12:00 Pretty & Nice (Hardly Art)
12:45 Eagle Seagull
01:30 The Muslims
02:15 Japanese Motors
03:00 Friendly Fires
03:45 Crystal Antlers
04:30 Sebastien Grainger

There is also a 2nd stage upstairs running concurrently (and slightly later) with eight more bands, also free. That lineup will be announced shortly, but you already know it contains Wye Oak, Phosphorescent, Peasant, and Pwrfl POWER (lots of p's). (21+)

Friendly Fires play their first of two NYC shows with Lykke Li tonight (Oct 20)

Check out a video of Crystal Antlers playing a show at The Yard below...

Continue reading "BV CMJ day party #1 - Pianos main stage lineup & set times"

Friday October 24, 2008 @ Pianos in NYC

Upstairs room:
Pretty & Nice 8:00 - 8:30 pm
The Coathangers 8:45- 9:15pm

Downstairs room:
Cotton Jones: 8:30-9:00pm
Death Vessel: 9:15pm-9:45pm
Dutchess and the Duke: 10:00pm-10:30pm
sBACH: 10:45pm- 11:15pm
Oxford Collapse: 11:30-12am
The Ruby Suns: 12:15am-12:45am

Three labels, one small CMJ show.

Sub Pop has Death Vessel, Oxford Collapse and The Ruby Suns.

Pretty & Nice and Dutchess and the Duke represent Sub Pop's sister label Hardly Art who now represents six artists in total including Le Loup who are opening for Stereolab at Irving Plaza on October 4th.

sBACH (member of Hella), Cotton Jones (ex-Page France) and The Coathangers (friends with the Black Lips) are reppin' Suicide Squeeze. The Coathangers signing was announced September 4th. Cotton Jones was announced in August.

Sub Pop usually does a sell-out show at the larger Bowery Ballroom, so they're definitely taking it easy this year. Merge's is small too.

Check out the Pianos flyer below...

Continue reading "Sub Pop, Suicide Squeeze, Hardly Art, CMJ 2008"

Pretty & Nice @ Emo's, SXSW 2008 (Bandepart.FM)

Tilly & the Wall, SXSW 2008 (linoleum jet)

Sons & Daughters @ Free Yr Radio stage, SXSW 2008 (Chromewaves)

Bodies of Water @ the Mohawk, SXSW 2008 (chasingfun)

Jim Noir, SXSW 2008 (Sarah Pants)

* Jim Noir at Sound Fix (7pm)
* The Ting Tings are at Le Royale
* Modeselektor is playing Studio B
* The Living Room keeps celebrating
* Tilly & The Wall is playing Knitting Factory
* The Shackletons are playing Canal Room
* God is an Astronaut is playing Knitting Factory
* Pretty & Nice and Exit Clov are playing Trash Bar
* The Budos Band & Sweet Divines play Maxwell's
* The Octagon and Ford & Fitzroy are at the Red Door
* Sons and Daughters, Bodies of Water & The Brunettes play MHOW
* The Most Serene Republic, Miracle Fortress & Liam Finn play Mercury Lounge

Pretty and Nice is Sub Pop offshoot Hardly Art's latest signing. They're also from Boston. They're playing Trash Bar tonight with Exit Clov who they're also touring with, and they're playing Junkyard Palace in New Brunswick on March 32rd.

Jim Noir is in town from the UK. He took part in the Living Room 10th Anniversary celebration last night, and he's playing a last minute free show at Sound Fix tonight at 7pm - right before the Cassettes Won't Listen/Diggs show.

MusicSnobbery announced that he's throwing a show to celebrate his 3rd anniversary (not tonight). The Teeth, Salt & Samovar, and La Laque are all playing the April 10th show at Maxwell's.

Heartonastick is listing 53 reasons to hate Vampire Weekend. Check out Part 1.

What else?