Paul McCartney at Barclays Center - 6/8/13 (more by Greg Cristman)

Bear Mountain at Governors Ball - 6/7/13 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Browse our full NYC show calendar for all of tonight's shows. Here are some highlights...

Paul McCartney @ Barclays Center
Paul McCartney recently landed in Brooklyn for a Barclays Center show on Saturday (6/8), where he played a three hour set with a ton of Beatles songs. He's set to do it again at the same place tonight, and tickets are still available.

The Drums @ Webster Hall
This is the kickoff party for NYC music industry event The New Music Seminar. It's been a while since The Drums have played (and the members seem to be working on solo stuff these days, so here's a good chance to catch them. Also on the bill: Pearl & the Beard, Avan Lava, and Hess is More who are worth showing up early for.

Bear Mountain @ Glasslands
One of the newer bands we were excited to see at this year's Governors Ball was Vancouver pop four-piece Bear Mountain (pictures of their set), and they won me over. They played at 12:45 PM under a tent on the Friday, so I'm sure some of the people in attendance were just there to stay dry, but most of the very large crowd looked like they were there to see them. They do lean a bit on the mainstreamy side, but they've got the live show to back that kind of thing up, and the tunes are strong too. It doesn't seem like it's going to be very long before these guys are playing way bigger venues than Glasslands, so while they're still in town, it's definitely worth catching their set at the Brooklyn venue tonight. Black Light Dinner Party and Cookies open. - Andrew

The Body, Sannhet & more @ Acheron
The Body played The Acheron last night with Mutilation Rites/Geryon (pictures are up at Invisible Oranges), and return to shake the venue again tonight (tickets) with Sannhet, Theologian and Hasj.

Marijuana Deathsquads (ft. mems of Polica) @ Mercury Lounge
Polica just stopped by NYC to play Governors Ball, and singer Channy Leaneagh plus the two drummers are sticking around to back Marijuana Deathsquads (aka the group led by Ryan Olson of Gayngs) at their Mercury Lounge show tonight. Solid Gold, who also played Govs Ball, and opened Polica's afterparty.

Turnip King at Cameo
Sea Cliff. Long Island's Turnip King make the sort of scruffy indie rock that relies equally on melody, dissonance and washes of ethereal guitar. Tonight's show is with Departures and Don't.

Fat Tony @ Knitting Factory
Houston rapper Fat Tony releases his new mixtape, Smart Ass Black Boy, this week (stream it) and he'll play a release show for it in NYC tonight at Knitting Factory with Tom Cruiz, 1OILLE, and Tecla.

Marc Ribot's Los Cubanos Postizos @ Le Poisson Rouge
Experimental guitarist Marc Ribot (who has played with Tom Waits, John Zorn, and more), is bringing his group, Marc Ribot's Los Cubanos Postizos, to Le Poisson Rouge tonight. Support comes from Edmar Castaneda.

Chaka Khan & more @ The Apollo
The Spring Gala at NYC's legendary Apollo Theater goes down tonight, and it includes a performance by soul/funk veteran Chaka Khan. There will also be performances "in salute to Chaka" by Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Holliday, Patti Labelle and Alexandra Burke.

Half Moon Run @ Mercury Lounge
Montreal's Half Moon Run swung by NYC for a show at Glasslands on Friday (6/7), and they'll be sticking around for a show at Mercury Lounge tonight with Oceanographer.

Diane Birch @ Joe's Pub
Singer/songwriter Diane Birch plays Joe's Pub tonight.

Plus, there's always good weekly comedy shows on Monday like Whiplash @ UCB and Night Train w/ Wyatt Cenac @ Littlefield.

Gunplay's SOB's show, which was originally scheduled for tonight, is now happening on Wednesday (6/12), and is billed a release show for his Acquitted mixtape, which drops on Tuesday.

If you don't want to go out in the rain, HBO's Pussy Riot documentary, Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer, airs tonight at 9 PM EDT.

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Check out the full NYC show calendar for all of tonight's shows.

What else?

photos by Tim Griffin

Paul McCartney @ Frank Erwin Center, Austin, 5/23/2013

Paul McCartney's Out There tour just swept through Austin with a two-night stand at the Frank Erwin Center and we've got pictures (and setlists) of the pyrotechnic/av/hit-filled extravaganza over at BV Austin.

The former Beatle plays two nights at Barclays Center in a couple weeks and while  the June 8 show appears to be sold out, tickets are still available for June 10.

In other news, McCartney has joined the growing list of musicians supporting the release of incarcerated Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina who is currently on a hunger strike. He wrote a letter to Russian officials, saying:

My personal belief is that further incarceration for Maria will be harmful for her and the situation as a whole, which, of course, is being watched by people all over the world. In the great tradition of fair-mindedness which the Russian people (many of whom are my friends) are famous for, I believe that you granting this request would send a very positive message to all the people who have followed this case.

Continue reading "Paul McCartney asks Russian officials to free Pussy Riot, reissuing 'Wings Over America', played two nights in Austin (pics)"

Last night (3/24), CBS news program 60 Minutes did a segment on Russian feminist punks Pussy Riot, whose arrest last March (and subsequent imprisonment) following a protest in Moscow's largest cathedral got a lot of worldwide attention. Lesley Stahl interviews Yekaterina Samutsevich (who was released in October) as well as one of the members who has gone into hiding. You can watch the segment below.

Continue reading "watch '60 Minutes' segment on Pussy Riot"

Pussy Riot's Yekaterina Samutsevich out of jail

Good news from the Pussy Riot saga:

An appellate court in Moscow on Wednesday set free one of three jailed members of a punk protest band but upheld the two-year prison sentences of her band mates, issuing a split decision in a case that has drawn international condemnation of Russia over the suppression of political speech.

The ruling, by a three-judge panel of Moscow City Court, upheld the guilty verdict against all three women on charges of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred, stemming from a "punk prayer" performance in the city's main cathedral last February in which they urged the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Vladimir V. Putin.

The judges, however, ordered the immediate release of one of the women, Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, accepting an argument by her new lawyer that she had far less of a role in the cathedral stunt than her band mates, and that the lower-court judge who convicted the women in August should have taken that into account.

"The method of punishment in the form of imprisonment is to be canceled," said the judge, Yury A. Pasyunin, reading the court's decision, reached after a half-hour break to consider the arguments. "Samutsevich is to be released from custody." She emerged from the courthouse less than an hour later to applause from supporters, clutching her father, tears streaking her face.

The appeals hearing, originally scheduled for last week, had been delayed after Ms. Samutsevich, citing disagreement over legal strategy, announced that she wanted to fire her lawyer and separate her defense from the team representing the other two women in the band, Pussy Riot.

The other women, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Maria Alyokhina, 24 -- both mothers of young children -- were ordered to serve the remainder of their original sentences, two years in a prison colony. Their lawyers promised continuing appeals. - [NY Times]

Grizzly Bear are on the cover of the new issue of NY Magazine, which makes two weeks in a row that Brooklyn was prominently featured.

Despite making it into Billboard's Top 10 with their new album, Shields, the band still aren't making a lot of money.

Check out pictures from the show they just played in Chicago with Lower Dens.

And speaking of Brooklyn, get ready for Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas.

"The Artwork of Robert Pollard & Tobin Sprout" is opening in Brooklyn soon. Meanwhile check out our recent Guided by Voices pictures from both Austin and the Deluna Fest in Florida.

Crystal Castles and HEALTH play Roseland on Wednesday (10/3). We're giving away tickets here and on our Facebook too.

Also on Wednesday, M83 plays Hammerstein Ballroom and we're giving away tickets to that on Facebook too. Tickets are also still on sale.

Another Facebook contest: win tickets to see Raveonettes and Melody's Echo Chamber at Webster Hall on Friday (10/5).

The Compact Disc turns 30 years old today. The first CD pressed in America was Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA (though Billy Joe's 52nd Street came out in Japan before that). What was the first CD you bought?

Speaking of Bruce Springsteen, Kenny's Castaways, where he used to play is hosting their final show tonight.

Producer and TV On the Radio member Dave Sitek has launched Federal Prism, "a new record label where Sitek will personally record, mix, produce, and release a series of limited edition 12-inch vinyl picture discs with a uniquely curator-driven perspective. The vinyl will be limited to 500 numbered copies each with a jacket personally hand silkscreened by Sitek."

Federal Prism's first release is "Destroyer" by Telepathe. "The b-side of the vinyl will feature a remix by Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor with Alessandro Cortini and Atticus Ross. Sitek adds, "I told Trent I was starting my own label and would love to have him remix something on the first release. I sent him the session and before he actually said 'YES', he sent back this mighty dark space that he, Alessandro and Atticus had built for me! I was shocked and am certain I will have to keep ripping them off for years!"" It's on sale now.

Speaking of Trent Reznor, he says his his band How To Destroy Angels, have "formally partnered with Columbia Records for our next series of releases. The first of these will be available in November and it's called An Omen EP."

Scary: Ryan Adams revealed via Twitter: "Recording a track with my new pal @deadmau5 today. Sounds like BladeRunner starring Don Henley."

More scary: As if it wasn't bad enough that Bruno Mars has been announced as the host of the 10/20 episode of SNL, they're letting him be the musical performer for that episode too!

But here's some good news: Now That's What I Call Music 83 will reportedly be the last in the series.

more stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: Grizzly Bear on cover of New York; CDs turned 30; Dave Sitek's new label, Trent Reznor, Ryan Adams, Deadmau5, more"

The Illuminator, whose mission is "to smash the myths of the information industry and shine a light on the urgent issues of our time", and whose projections have been seen everywhere from the Russian Consulate in Manhattan ("Free Pussy Riot") to Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn "99% Occupy", lit up the rusty facade of the new Barclays Center the other night, as you can see in the pictures above and at the website of Develop Don't Destroy.

Protests continue tonight outside the venue as Jay-Z takes the stage inside (Talib Kweli spins the afterparty).

Most Wanted autograph

The Insane Clown Posse is suing the FBI because "Juggalos were unjustly called a gang in its 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment."

Speaking of juggalos, you know that Throbbing Gristle Nico tribute we posted about? Genesis P. Orridge has some qualms with it being called a TG release and has gotten in a Twitter fight with Chris Carter over it. Pitchfork has all the gory details.

How was your Yom Kippur? Did you fast? Drink coffee? Gothamist editor Jake Dobkin spent his holiday live blogging his experience with caffeine suppositories.

Honey Boo Boo will be (in your) home for the holidays.

Voxtrot's Ramesh is funding a new album via Kickstarter.

Grizzly Bear scores #7 on the Billboard chart (beat only by Pink, Kanye, The Killers, Dave Matthews, Little Big Town and the unstoppable Carly Rae Jepsen).

Check out pictures from Grizzly Bear's recent Radio City show, and the pictures we posted earlier today from ATP.

'PUSSY RIOT! A Punk Prayer for Freedom,' the book we told you about already, is available now for your e-reader.

Coming soon to a cool coffee table near you: '80s punk photo book We Got Power! Till then check out our photo gallery excerpts.

Portland stoners Red Fang have released the new single "Crows In Swine" which is currently available for purchase. Check that out at Soundcloud and check out a tour documentary below.

If you're near Texas on October 4, we'd like to invite you to Dana Falconberry's LP release party. if you're in NYC on October 18, we'd like you to experience Texas in Manhattan.

CMJ is three weeks away. We're still tired from SXSW!

More stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: Insane Clown Posse Sues FBI; Grizzly Bear goes Top 10; Throbbing Gristle Twitter fight; Elliott Smith, Ramesh + more"

We already posted lots of posts today. Here's some more, and some reminders too...

The 25th Anniversary edition of Michael Jackson's BAD contains a previously-unreleased, disconcertingly-upbeat anti-abortion song, "Abortion Papers," which you can stream below.

Reggae group Easy Star All Stars, who in the past have tackled Radiohead and the Beatles, just released a "Thriller" tribute album called "Thrillah."

Kanye West allegedly announced a new album, and has may have another new release on the way: a sex tape!

Mercury Prize nominees Django Django kicked of a North American tour in Chicago last night.

Widowspeak, who play a free show at Brooklyn Bowl on Wednesday (RSVP), play a show at Swarthmore College on Saturday with Total Slacker and Blonds.

Blonds are not to be confused with Blondes who played 100 Troutman the other night.

Teengirl Fantasy were supposed to play that show but will play a no-longer secret show at 285 Kent tonight instead.

Adam Ant is on tour and we got some pictures from his Austin show.

Big K.R.I.T. played Irving Plaza last night (9/20), and was joined by special guests Slim Thug and Paul Wall who teamed up to perform the Mike Jones favorite "Sill Tippin'". Video of that is below.

Do you agree with Forbes that Williamsburg is the third hippest neighborhood in the United States?

Did you get your new iPhone 5?

Pussy Riot, who were just awarded a LennonOno Peace Prize, are still locked up, and it still sucks, as the Dave Hill Remix of Peaches' "Free Pussy Riot" reminds us. You can watch the video for the original at Vimeo.

Europe and the US approve the Universal purchase of EMI.

Fiona Apple, who is out of jail, will play Houston tonight.

More stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: Michael Jackson's anti-abortion song; Kanye West sex tape?; Paul Westerberg, Pussy Riot, Big KRIT, EMI & more"

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday called for the early release of jailed members of the Pussy Riot punk band.

Speaking to United Russia activists in Penza, Medvedev said the jail time already served by the three band members was "a very, very serious punishment" and adding any more would be "counterproductive in this case," Interfax reported.

A Moscow court on Aug. 17 sentenced band members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich to two years in jail for their February "punk prayer" in Christ the Savior Cathedral in which they denounced Putin and Patriarch Kirill.

The verdict against Pussy Riot will not go into force until the Moscow City Court rules on their appeal on Oct. 1.

Medvedev also made it clear that he was not prepared to support the band.

"I am sick over what they did, of their public appeal and the hysteria that surrounds them," he said.

Medvedev's comments came less than a week after President Vladimir Putin condemned the band's performances as "witches' sabbaths." - [Moscow Times]

"sigur rós would like to apologise to anyone disappointed not to see the band's bestival performance live online last night. early in the day a decision had been made to delay broadcast till after the show to give the band a chance to review the footage ahead of webcast, since they were dismayed that their guaranteed "darkness" slot had been pushed into daylight by the expansive demands of the headliner. the band's only uk show of the year, this would-be highlight of the 2012 calendar, would have to be conducted without proper lights or visuals. sadly then, a perfect storm of production issues and technical problems conspired to mean that the band went on to have a thoroughly miserable experience on stage too. and to spare everyone's blushes a decision was made to draw a discrete veil over proceedings. sorry, but we can be so much better than what you missed. another time, for sure." - Sigur Ros

Continue reading "Sigur Ros apologize for cancelling daylight Bestival stream, announce more international tour dates"

So turns out this bizarre footnote to the Pussy Riot saga was just that:

MOSCOW -- Investigators say police have detained a man who has confessed to killing two women in a central Russian city, and then tried to mislead investigations by scrawling a message at the murder scene demanding freedom for jailed members of the Pussy Riot band.

The man -- a 38-year-old university professor named Igor Danilevsky -- was detained Thursday in Kazan, Russia's Investigative Committee said on Friday. It said Danilevsky wrote "Free Pussy Riot" on a wall in the victims' blood because he wanted the deaths of the 38-year-old woman he dated and her mother, 76, to appear as if they were a "ritual killing."

The Committee said Danilevsky had convinced the woman to take out a loan to repay his debts, and promised to marry her. Police had found the knife used to stab the women to death and disfigure their faces and bodies, it said. - [NYDN]

"Free Pussy Riot" scrawled at Russian Murder scene

A surreal and shocking twist/footnote to the ongoing Pussy Riot saga in Russia:

Moscow (CNN) -- Police in Russia are investigating the murder of two women found under a slogan backing the female punk rock band Pussy Riot, apparently written in the victims' blood, officials said Thursday.

The words "Free Pussy Riot" were scrawled in English on the apartment wall above the bodies of a 76-year-old woman and her 38-year-old daughter, investigators in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan said in a statement.

The two women, who shared a home, are thought to have died of numerous stab wounds between August 24 and 26 in the city of Kazan, the Tatarstan investigative committee said.

Their bodies were found Wednesday.

An investigation has been launched to uncover the circumstances of the crime, as well as those responsible and their motive, the statement said.

The murder inquiry comes two weeks after a court in Moscow sentenced three members of Pussy Riot to two years' imprisonment, a conviction and verdict that prompted international condemnation.

The three women were found guilty of hooliganism for performing a song critical of President Vladimir Putin in one of the Russian Orthodox Church's most important cathedrals.

Representatives of the jailed band members rejected the supposed link between Pussy Riot and the double murder in Kazan.

"I just found out about the incident in Kazan. Either it's a terrible provocation...Or psychiatry," Violetta Volkova, a lawyer for Pussy Riot, tweeted.

Those responsible "need to be found and punished," she said. - [CNN]

Pussy Riot protest in Times Square 8/17/2012 (via @gretchenrobinette)

Two members of the female punk rock band Pussy Riot have fled Russia, the group said.

"In regard to the pursuit, two of our members have successfully fled the country! Recruiting foreign feminists to prepare new actions," the group said on Twitter.

A Russian court this month sentenced three members of the band to two years in prison after they were found guilty of hooliganism for performing a song critical of President Vladimir Putin in a church.

Five members had taken part in the performance, but authorities had managed to arrest only three. Russian police were searching for the other two participants.

While Pussy Riot tweeted Sunday that two members fled the country "because of the danger," Pyotr Verzilov, husband of jailed band member Nadezdha Tolokonnikova, would not say Monday whether the two who have fled took part in the February performance in Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral.

"Two girls have left the country to protect themselves. They are in the safe place. Talking about whether they will stay there forever, it's hard to say because nothing lasts forever. Probably they will return one day. But you must remember that there are 12 or even 14 members who are still in Russia and participate in the band's work now," he said. - [CNN]

Continue reading "non-incarcerated Pussy Riot members flee Russia; Bjork designed a Pussy Riot t-shirt"

Chloe Sevigny @ Ace Hotel for Pussy Riot event (via jillypeppa)

IFC reports:

Academy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe®-winning actress Chloë Sevigny (Big Love, American Horror Story) is packing her bags and heading to Portlandia for season three of IFC's original comedy series. Created by Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein and Jonathan Krisel, the Emmy® nominated and Peabody Award-winning show depicts a romanticized and dreamy rendering of the city they love, Portland, OR. Season three is in production now and premieres in January 2013 with ten all-new episodes on IFC.

Sevigny will appear in multiple episodes throughout the third season as Fred and Carrie's roommate named Alexandra. Kyle MacLachlan (Made In Jersey, Desperate Housewives) will also return as the city's mayor. Stay tuned for more new residents visiting Portlandia during season three. Guest stars last season included Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park, Independence Day), Tim Robbins (The Shawshank Redemption) and Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids, SNL).

Chloe recently took part in a reading at Ace Hotel for Pussy Riot who were then found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison. Watch video from the event below...

Continue reading "Chloe Sevigny joins Season 3 Portlandia cast; Watch her read for Pussy Riot"

Earlier today:

Three members of Russian punk band Pussy Riot have been convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred, over a protest in a cathedral.

Judge Marina Syrova said the women had "crudely undermined social order" during their action in February.

The women say their "punk prayer" was a political act in protest against the Russian Orthodox Church leader's support of President Vladimir Putin.

Prosecutors are seeking a three-year jail sentence.

Judge Syrova said Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, had offended the feelings of Orthodox believers and shown a "complete lack of respect".

"Tolokonnikova, Alyokhina and Samutsevich committed hooliganism - in other words, a grave violation of public order," she said.

The judge quoted prosecution witnesses as saying the act had been one of blasphemy, not politics. - [BBC]

And the sentence:: Each band member is to receive two years in prison which begins from the day of the arrest. At least it wasn't the three years the prosecutor wanted.

The three young women committed a "serious crime" and "should be punished", says judge Marina Syrova, sentencing them to two years' jail at a corrective labour facility for "hooliganism" and "incitement to religious hatred".
In the courtroom, the verdict was greeted by cries of "Shame!" and "Injustice!" [Yahoo]

Last night, a reading of Pussy Riot's s moving courtroom statements happened at Liberty Hall. Did anyone go? Even though the verdict is in, the Pussy Riot story remains developing.

The Pussy Riot trial wrapped up last week will have a verdict this Friday (8/17) at 3PM in Moscow (8AM EDT). The three members have been in jail for the last five months after being arrested for "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred" after they attended Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral and staged a political protest against the election of Vladimir Putin. It's not looking very good for them.

On the eve of the verdict (8/16), the band's powerful courtroom statements will be read at Liberty Hall in the Ace Hotel by supporters of the Free Pussy Riot movement, including Chloe Sevigny, Eileen Myles, Karen Finley, Johanna Fateman, Mx Justin Vivian Bond and others to be announced. The reading starts at 7:30 PM and is free. A flyer for it is below.

On Friday (8/17) at 9 AM, there's a musical masquerade protest party outside Nicholas Orthodox Church; a march on Madison Ave at 11 AM; and a Times Square rally at 1 PM. Details on those events can be found here.

Continue reading "Pussy Riot verdict on Friday; public reading with Chloe Sevigny +++ protests, marches and rallys this week in NYC"

To quote Gawker (this thing is being reported on all over the place),

"The Pussy Riot trial -- in which three members of a Russian punk collective were charged with "hooliganism" and held in jail for months over a guerrilla performance Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral -- ended yesterday with two of the defendants, Yekaterina Samutsevich and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (on the right and the left, respectively, in the above photo), giving closing statements. You should read them."

Pussy Riot

After Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot were jailed for a performance this past February where they called on the Virgin Mary to "throw Putin out" and were charged with "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred or hostility," the band went on trial on Monday (7/30). Reuters reports:

Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, were brought to Moscow's Khamovniki court for Russia's highest-profile trial since another opponent of Putin, former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was convicted of embezzlement in 2010 in the same courtroom.

Supporters chanted "Girls, we're with you!" and "Victory!" as the women, each handcuffed by the wrist to a female officer, were escorted from a police van into the courthouse.

The group's members have consistently maintained that their protest was political and that they meant no harm to Christians.

...

"Our performance contained no aggression towards the public - only a desperate desire to change the situation in Russia for the better," she said. "We are not enemies of Christianity. The opinion of Orthodox believers is important to us and we want all of them to be on our side - on the side of anti-authoritarian civil activists."

Alyokhina's statement said: "I thought the church loved all its children, but it seems the church loves only those children who love Putin."

Many benefits for Pussy Riot have gone on in NYC, and Change.org is now hosting a petition at their site. The petition states, "We support the right of artist to write and sing songs of protest and dissent" and "We demand the relase immedately of the PUSSY RIOT 3." Show your support.

Video of Pussy Riot's punk prayer below...

Continue reading "Pussy Riot members on trial; sign the petition"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

Hilly Eye at Cake Shop 6/9/2012

Three members of Russian women's punk band Pussy Riot, who derided President Vladimir Putin in a protest in Moscow's main cathedral, were denied bail on Wednesday despite calls for their release by hundreds of supporters at the hearing.

Police hauled away more than 15 people when a crowd of about 300 whistled, chanted "Freedom" and unfurled banners demanding the released of the band members who have been held in pre-trial detention since early March.

Maria Alyokhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich face up to seven years in jail for hooliganism after storming the altar of the Christ the Saviour Cathedral on February 21 in short dresses and colorful masks to sing a "punk prayer" that offended some Russian Orthodox believers.

Their rendition of "Holy Mother, throw Putin out!" was a protest against the close relationship between the Church and Putin, whom it backed in the presidential election he won in March. -[Reuters]

Both tonight's "Free Pussy Riot" benefit and the one that happened at DbA are part of a series of shows curated by Permanent Wave, founded by Amy Klein of Hilly Eye. The group also produced the recent C.L.I.T. fest benefit at Acheron that featured Hilly Eye. Hilly Eye is scheduled to play Hillstock in Clinton Hill this weekend (6/23) and recently supported Shellshag with Necking, and Queening on June 9th at Cake Shop. Pictures from the Cake Shop show are in this post.

Shellshag are currently recording their new LP The Mighty Shellshag, release date TBA.

Speaking of MEN (but not The Men), the group play Gramercy Theater as part of CBGB Fest. The Men are also part of said festival, though they'll stop by Music Hall of Williamsburg on July 6 as part of a bill with Red Kross.

More pics from the Cake Shop show are below...

Continue reading "two Pussy Riot benefits this week (one at 285 Kent tonight), pics from Hilly Eye & Shellshag's recent show @ Cake Shop"

photos by Devan Council

Ad-Rock/Heliotropes

...The benefit, held amid the dimly lit, Marissa Pasternoster-painted backdrop of Brooklyn DIY venue Death By Audio, was filled with punk women and men wearing neon balaclavas to honor Pussy Riot. The latter punk performance crew has been targeted in Russia for protesting Putin the day before his election, and three of its members -- Maria Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, and Ekaterina Samucevich -- now face up to seven years in prison for simply voicing their opinions. Many punk scions have spoken out in support of the riot grrrl-influenced Pussy Riot, including Bikini Kill's Tobi Vail and Chicana punk goddess Alice Bag, and the proceeds from the show went to Pussy Riot's legal fees, so it was appropriate that Brooklyn feminist band Shady Hawkins opened their set with a song called "Not My Comrades," led by the vibrato growls of lead singer/Tumblr star Suzy-X. [SPIN]

Heliotropes' next live show goes down in a little less than a week from now, where the band will team with Mitten and Friend Roulette to play Union Pool on June 21st. $8 gets you in the door.

More pictures from Death by Audio are below.

Continue reading "Ad-Rock, Heliotropes and more played Free Pussy Riot benefit at Death by Audio (pics)"

photos by Chris La Putt with a video by Jessica Amaya

Heliotropes at Knitting Factory 5/23

Three alleged members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot, Maria Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Samucevich, charged with "hooliganism", have been remanded in jail, facing up to 7 years criminal punishment for allegedly participating in the punk-prayer Virgin Mary, Send Putin Away that publicly demonstrated for human rights and against the current oppressive regime under Putin. The case illustrates the gross level of violations against human rights in Russia and requires immediate attention. The detained activists now need the support of the world's community.

Heliotropes new single "Moonlight" came out last week on vinyl but you can download it for free via their Bandcamp, which we have streaming below. You can also watch a video of them playing that song from their recent Knitting Factory show (5/23) and check out more pictures from the show below.

Continue reading "Heliotropes released 7" (stream), played Knitting Factory (pics, video), playing Pussy Riot Benefit at DBA with Ad-Rock"