photos by Tim Griffin, words by Andrew Frisicano

The Woodsist/Captured Tracks Festival's Day One (7/3) was moved inside the Market Hotel. Thankfully, the weather held out for its second, 4th of July lineup, which went off as planned in the grassy, rock-filled lot of 979 Broadway Backyard.

I arrived just as Real Estate was going on, and the New Jersey band nearly stole the show with dreamy rock that seemed to be made for a sunny afternoon. The Beets held down their set with a casualness befitting a park lodge show (kind of what the fest was on a slightly bigger scale). The guys gave new meaning to the word "ramshackle" as things seemed to be toppling over continually onstage.

German Measles played a set before I got there. Bill caught them and said they "aren't actually that bad... But they're also not very good. And that kind of seems to be the point. Shambolic is an understatement, like 'why rehearse when we can just play shows?"

The Great Excape did a set of Jersey-style pop-punk that included their own theme song, several politically-themed tunes (a nice touch) and a cover of "Summertime Blues." Ganglians brought one of the day's only keyboards, and burst with a flurry of reverb and overdrive.

Brilliant Colors started out with straight-ahead noise punk, with a bit of a melody void left by their super-reverbed vocals (maybe a theme of the night) and washed-out guitar. When the bass stepped up its riffs a few songs in, the band immediately sounded twice as catchy. The Fresh and Onlys took that bass-forward momentum and went with it. Their bassist pounded the notes in between and then some. As a result, the group had one of the most complete sounds of the night (with a tambourine and three-part harmonies rounding it out). They dedicated their last song to the member of Tyvek in the hospital (the reason for that band's cancellation). Hopefully their situation turns out better.

Dum Dum Girls had to be one of the night's cleanest sounding groups. The band relied heavily on singer Dee Dee's vocals, which harmonized with drummer Frankie Rose on their songs' many hooks.

The atmospheric rock of Woods definitely got jammier as it progressed. As Bill Pearis pointed out, the group's fourth member, who sat on the floor twiddling effects and singing into a microphone strapped to his face, was a bit strange considering the rest of the guys were dressed proper enough for church. Whatever you have to do to make it sound good I suppose.

Kurt Vile & the Violators roared into the night as the sun finally went down. Vile and Vivian Girls (who, as one commenter pointed out, "played with a great intensity") more than warmed up the crowd for Thee Oh Sees, who capped the night (for some) with an unstoppable set. Frontman John Dwyer was literally foaming at the mouth as a streak of white drool smeared across his face for part of the set. Thee Oh Sees' strange, repetition-laced anthems are amazing for shaking and rattling, as the crowd proved. The band even got talked into playing an encore before sending everyone into the night.

The rest of the pictures from Day Two, with a bunch of videos, below...

Continue reading "Woodsist/CT Fest Day Two in pics & video (Thee Oh Sees, Real Estate, Ganglians, Fresh & Onlys, Woods & more)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Ty Segall - It #1 (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ty Segall - The Drag (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Charlie & the Moonhearts - Cagemouth (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Most Serene Republic - Heavens to Purgatory (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Your Nature - Triangle Eyes (M4A)

Ty Segall

This week it's all about San Francisco, as far as this column is concerned. (Actually, next week will also be all about San Francisco, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Especially, I've already digressed into a long parenthetical statement after only one sentence.) As mentioned previously, garage rock wunderkind Ty Segall will be in town this weekend and I really hope you go see him. His new album, Lemons, is just fantastic, much better than I was honestly expecting and I like his debut. It's thick and sweaty sounding, perfect for the hot and humid nights that are just around the corner. And while the sonics are not so difficult to master (reverb, in-the-red levels), it's the songs that has kept Lemons on repeat lately. The album's not out till July 14, but he'll have copies for sale at the shows: Saturday (6/27) at Cake Shop and Sunday (6/28) at Death by Audio.

Both shows are with Orange County's Charlie & the Moonhearts. At Sunday night's DbA show, you also get New Jersey's Liquor Store and currently hot, constantly gigging Beets.

Girls with girls

Saturday's Ty Segall show at Cake Shop is the don't miss show of the week, however, as San Francisco's hazy, folky, occasionally very very loud Girls are also on the bill. It's been almost a year since they last played in town. I saw them twice then -- at Market Hotel and Glasslands -- and they had people going crazy then (as you can kind of see in murky video I shot, which is at the bottom of this post) with only one single out. A year later, they still haven't released much else but that will change soon -- their debut album is due out on True Panther Sounds on September 22. You can still download two tracks from RCRD LBL, including the awesome, epic "Hellhole Ratrace" which will be released as a 10" single (it's nearly seven minutes long) prior to the album's release. The just-released video for the song is at the bottom of this post.

Actually, all three shows Girls are playing this weekend are worth seeing. Tonight (6/25) is the first, at Mercury Lounge where they share the stage with St. Louis' Radical Sons, Philadelphia DFA signees Free Energy (who are kind of like the Strokes covering Journey, which is better than that may seem), and Texans The Paper Chase whose new album, Someday This Could All Be Yours, just came out on Kill Rock Stars.

Friday night (6/26), Girls play Monster Island Basement with Real Estate (kind of a perfect match), Kurt Vile & the Violators (now on Matador) and Beach Fossils. (Both Real Estate and Beach Fossils also play the Woodsist/Captured Tracks Festival next week.)

If you miss Girls this time around, they'll be back in August with Los Campesinos!

--

Other worthy show choices for you: Tonight is also the latest Adult Swim Presents' Summer Series at Santos Party House. I feel confident in saying that, apart from maybe a festival somewhere down the line, this may be your only chance to ever see Cheeseburger and A.C. Newman on the same bill. Mr. Newman, if by chance you're reading this -- wear old shoes. The stage will be an inch-thick in beer after the mayhem that is a typical Cheeseburger set. There's also the garage rock sounds of Atlanta's Woggles, and burlesque fun with the Pontani Sisters. The evening is hosted by "Jon" from Adult Swim's very funny Witness Protection Program reality show Delocated. As I said, it's free so get there early if you want to get in. Doors are at 7PM, 18+.

Following the Adult Swim mayhem, they're gonna mop the stage (well, they should) and get ready for the second show of the evening: The Phenomenal Handclap Band, who've been gigging a lot lately, which isn't surprising as their debut album just came out this week on Friendly Fire. If you haven't seen them yet, you should definitely make a point to do so -- they are quite the '70s disco/rock explosion. If you RSVP, admission is free for the first 100 through the door -- after that it's only five bucks. If you don't RSVP, you're dumb, and it's $10. Doors are at 10PM, and this one's 21 and over. We've also got a couple pair of tickets to give away.

(editor's note: the triple PHB attack was not planned)

The Most Serene Republic

Also tonight (6/25): Canada's Most Serene Republic are in the midst of a short East Coast tour, revving up interest in their new album, ...And the Ever-Expanding Universe, which is out July 14. While I often find their music a bit too complicated for its own good, I have always found them fascinating live, that they can actually pull off those complex arrangements. I haven't heard the new album, but "Heavens to Purgatory" which you can download at the top of this post, clocks in at a mere 2:34 and is pretty catchy. So maybe they've turned over a new, concise leaf. Most Serene Republic play tonight at Cake Shop with Your Nature who sound like a lot of things I liked in the '80s (U2, The Chameleons come to mind), and you can download thier song "Triangle Eyes" as well at the top of this post. MSR also play Union Hall on Saturday (6/27) with Pursesnatchers and Adam's Castle. In between (6/26), they fit in a Philadelphia show too. All tour dates at the bottom of the post.

Also also, a bunch of good show options on Friday: The Feelies play an special, acoustic show at the Whitney on Friday; Blonde Redhead and the Olof Arnalds play a free Celebrate Brooklyn show at Prospect Park; and I did a double take when I saw that '80s Australian noisemongers Lubricated Goat were playing Don Pedros. Was unware they were still together -- clearly I don't follow this site close enough.

The Legends are also here.

And finally, Steve Wynn and his current band, The Miracle Three, will perform The Dream Syndicate's classic 1984 album, Medicine Show, in full on Saturday (6/27) at the Bell House (tix) -- the first time the album has been played live start-to-finish by Wynn, ever. (They'll do it again in LA on July 9.) One of the originators of LA's '80s "Paisley Underground" scene, The Dream Syndicate were one of those bands that never quite managed to capture the magic of their live performance on a studio album -- but Medecine Show comes pretty close.

Videos, tour dates, and flyers after the jump...

Continue reading "Girls, Ty Segall, Most Serene Republic, Legends, Lubricated Goat, Steve Wynn & more in This Week in Indie"

DOWNLOAD: Woods - To Clean (MP3)

"...it has been damn near impossible to keep up with [Blank Dog] Mike Sniper's Captured Tracks label, who have hit the ground running with eight releases since the start of the year and many more slated for the near future. Captured Tracks is, to put it plainly, an outlet for Mr. Sniper to release records by bands he loves. In his mind it is "not a boutique label, " and by that he means that the releases are not meant to become instant eBay collectables, and will remain in print as long as there are people buying them. Some will have limited edition versions with alternate artwork or bonuses, but even these editions are easily and widely available. Affordable, available and well made, Captured Tracks is the populist record label. " [Agit Reader]

Continue reading "Woodsist/CT Festival - final 2-day lineup, set times, tickets "

Aleks Campesinos! (in the red dress) @ Coachella 2009 (more by Darren Kim)

I don't really know how to start this. I'm not sure I can really find the right words to express how I feel about leaving the band. Not in a vaguely coherent manner anyway so I'm sorry if this all comes across as either overly-sentimental or strangely detached.

Making the decision to leave was very difficult and even though I'm excited about what the future has in store for both me and the rest of Los Camp! (once they unveil their bright spangly new line-up), I still get a lump in my throat every time I think about my time in the band coming to an end. Trust me, I'm gutted. The past 3 years have given me some of the best times of my life full of incredible experiences and wonderful people. I am really grateful to have been a part of the Los Campesinos! story. I'm going to miss so much about the whole thing and no doubt regret this move a thousand times over when I'm stuck in some dark corner of a library, while the band are busy playing to thousands in some paradise location...

On the other hand, I can't wait to attend my first Los Camp! gig and watch from the audience: I'll be like a proud parent. (Or a bitter heckler, we'll see how it goes) I know they can only get better. In any case, they better put me on the guest list.
And now our Wikipedia page will have a "Former Members" section: won't that look impressive...

That all seems massively inadequate.

To sum up:

:(

Leks x

Almost all dates are with San Francisco's Girls who will also be making a trip to NYC even earlier...

Friday June 26th @ MONSTER ISLAND BASEMENT

:: Real Estate
:::: Girls
:::::: Beach Fossils

| MONSTER ISLAND BASEMENT |
128 River St @ Metropolitan Ave | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
L-Bedford, G-Metropolitan, JM-Marcy | 8:30pm | all ages | $7

Tickets for the Webster Hall show are now on AmEx presale. All dates below...

Continue reading "Los Campesinos! losing a member - 2009 tour dates (Webster Hall) w/ Girls (who have 2 sooner NYC shows too)"

Sunday June 14th @ FORT TILDEN BEACH
:: FREE ALL AGES UNAMPLIFIED ACOUSTIC BBQ 2009
:: each year we throw an informal, quiet party in a beautiful public place, w/
:: many diverse musicians playing two or three songs w/ no amplification
:: this year, it's on Fort Tilden Beach in the Rockways! best beach in NYC! [Todd P]

Continue reading "Todd P's UNAMPLIFIED ACOUSTIC BBQ 2009 (at Fort Tilden)"

Broadway Backyard (more by Tim Griffin)

Woodsist and Captured Tracks have joined forces with Todd P to present a two-day festival of bands at Broadway Backyard in Brooklyn this July 3rd and 4th. More info and full lineup (so far) below....

Continue reading "Woodsist & Captured Tracks throwing a festival in Brooklyn"

Vivian Girls @ Bowery Ballroom in December (more by Zach Stern)

As we pointed out back in April, and further confirmed in a list of Abe Vigoda tour dates, The Whitney is hosting some indie rock shows this July, in conjunction with their Dan Graham Retrospective. And the full schedule looks something like this:

Fri, June 26 - Acoustic Evening with The Feelies
Fri, July 10 - Titus Andronicus / Real Estate
Fri, July 17 - Abe Vigoda / Grooms (Muggabears)
Fri, July 24 - (band TBA) / YellowFever
Fri, July 31 - Vivian Girls / These Are Powers

The Feelies show is "Free with Museum admission (free for Whitney members)." and "Tickets for this [Feelies] concert are available day of show only, beginning at 1 pm at the Museum. Space is limited; tickets are first-come, first-served." The other four shows basically say the same thing, but just, "Free with museum admission. Seating is first-come, first-served. No reservations." More details below.

Other programs include "Dan Graham in Conversation with Glenn Branca" and a family performance of Rock and Roll Ice Cream by Japanther. Full schedule below...

Continue reading "indie rock shows @ The Whitney in July (Vivian Girls, Titus Andronicus, These are Powers, Yellow Fever & more) "

WAVVES @ Less Artists More Condos (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

WAVVES headlines a Todd P-like bill at Bowery Balllrom in NYC on July 15th. Opening the show is Woods, Real Estate, and Popo. It's one of just two U.S. shows WAVVES has scheduled at the moment. The other is July 18th at the Pitchfork Music Festival (July 17-19 in Chicago) which recently announced its final lineup additions. They are Final Fantasy, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Bowerbirds, Michael Columbia, The Thermals and Killer Whales. Full lineup below...

Tickets for the NYC show go on AmEx presale Wednesday at noon, and then regular sale on Friday. All dates below...

Continue reading "WAVVES adds a NYC show ++ final Pitchfork Fest lineup "

photos by Fresh Bread

DOWNLOAD: Think About Life - Paul Cries (old MP3)

I'm sorry if I offended anyone, but I'll stand by my statement that without Marnie Stern, the "Ponytail / Think About Life show at Music Hall of Williamsburg" is/was "still exciting, but slightly less interesting". Real Estate were good, but pretty much any bill will become less interesting when Marnie Stern drops off it.

That said, the highlight of Saturday night's show for me was Think About Life. As the Montreal three-piece (drums, vocals, and Graham Van Pelt on guitar/keyboard/sound effects) pointed out from the stage, it was [almost] three years since the last time they played NYC. I hope they don't stay away so long again.

It was unfortunate that Think About Life played first, but everyone who got there in time to see their 9:30 pm set seemed to be having a good time. And TAL frontman Martin Cesar (aka Dishwasher) was ESPECIALLY having a good time. He let everyone know it, more than once, and it rubbed off. He would occasionaly come into the crowd, and people were actually, even dancing.

Think About Life's set featured a lot more of Martin actually singing than I remember from their sets in the past. It's not that he didn't sing before, but I remember it being heavier with more speaking/screaming than singing. I liked the band a lot before, but this was even better than I remembered. Can't wait to hear their new album, Family (and see them again soon. hopefully).

Ponytail, who TAL are currently still on tour with (updated dates below), also "killed it" (as usual). More pictures from the show below...

Continue reading "Think About Life, Real Estate & Ponytail @ MHOW, NYC - pics "

Tonight's Ponytail / Think About Life show at Music Hall of Williamsburg is still exciting, but slightly less interesting (4/25). I'm not sure when it happened, but Marnie Stern was replaced by Real Estate on the 3-band Brooklyn bill. Tickets are still available.

Marnie Stern is instead now scheduled to open for Blonde Redhead at Old Dominion University in Virginia tonight, and her next NYC show is instead May 3rd at the Bell House where she'll share a bill with Tera Melos. Tickets are on sale. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Marnie Stern not playing Music Hall, is playing Bell House"

DOWNLOAD: Harlem Shakes - Strictly Game (MP3)

Harlem Shakes @ Highline Ballroom (more by Ryan Muir)

Harlem Shakes' new album, Technicolor Health, is out now on Gigantic. The disc's first single , "Strictly Game," which we've posted before, is posted again above.

The band has upcoming May/June tour dates with Passion Pit and Cale Parks, though none in New York. But that doesn't mean there aren't any Harlem Shakes shows to be had.

First the band plays a "Big Ups to Jules De B." show at Bushwick's Starr Space on Thursday, April 23rd with LD Beghtol (Magnetic Fields, Flare), Hospitality, and Mr. Dream. That show is a party for Jules De Balincourt, who did the artwork for the band's newest record. (More details and artwork below.)

Then the band has a free early show at Pianos on Wednesday, May 6th with The Cringe and Sean Bones. (That's before the Japandroids, The Octagon, Heavenly States show the same night.) Poster for the Shakes gig below.

Then, after a May 16th Sarah Lawrence show (in Westchester County) and the Passion Pit/Cale Parks tour, Harlem Shakes return for a July 1st show at the Bowery Ballroom. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 24th at noon. Openers aren't announced yet.

Before embarking on that tour, Cale Parks (you may know him as one of the guys who plays percussion/piano/vibes in Aloha) is performing at Santos Party House on Saturday, May 9th with Cymbals Eat Guitars, So So Glos, Real Estate and Luke Temple (Here We Go Magic). The show, hosted by Andrew WK, is a benefit for DKMS, which is the world's largest bone marrow donor center. Tickets for that show are on sale.

One day after finishing their tour with the Harlem Shakes, Passion Pit play two headlining shows of their own at Bowery Ballroom (both now sold out).

Video from the Harlem Shakes' March 26th MHOW gig, details on the band's Bushwick show, and all upcoming tour dates below...

Continue reading "Harlem Shakes - 2 small NYC shows, 1 free, 1 big one & other 2009 Tour Dates (w/ Passion Pit & Cale Parks) "

DOWNLOAD: Friendly Foes - Full Moon Morning (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Real Estate - Suburban Beverage (MP3)

Friendly Foes @ the Bell House (more by Tim Griffin)

The new band from Ryan Allen of Thunderbirds are Now!, Friendly Foes - not to be confused with Friendly Fires, is currently on tour and visits NYC this Saturday night (4/11) for a show at Pianos.

"I have multiple personalities in songwriting," said Friendly Foes singer/guitarist Ryan Allen, referencing the more-fun-n-simple-style-sun bursts of the songs that served as the genesis for the trio - while comparing it to the splintery-jostle-punk pop of his other band, Thunderbirds Are Now! "I just wanted to do something that played into what I actually listened to," including mid-90's rough hewn indie rock and straight-up-fun-sugar-pop bands.
[Real Detroit Weekly]

Also playing that show Saturday at Pianos is Real Estate, who, are also playing a show on Friday (4/10, tonight) (and have plenty of other local shows scheduled over the next month). If you haven't caught them by now, well, you have lots of chances. All dates below.

The Friday Real Estate show (tonight) is a Showpaper benefit at Monster Island Basement that TK Webb & the Visions, Vaz, Necking, Sisters and Skeletons are also playing. It looks like a great lineup that was put together very last minute; one of two big Todd P shows happening this weekend - the other is Black Dice at Market Hotel.

Skeletons also just played shows at both Mercury Lounge and Zebulon. Andrew Frisicano writes:

Skeletons, who spent most of March in Europe, opened the Thee Oh Sees-headlining show at Mercury Lounge on Sunday, April 10th. The trio was sparse and on point, playing mostly the tuneful tracks of 2008's Money. An extended groove stretched out the middle of the band's set (the longest of the night) showcasing its counterpoint guitars and textured drums under the poetic, wiry vocals of frontman Matt Mehlan.

Continue reading "Friendly Foes, Real Estate & Skeletons - NYC shows, etc..."

Oh, hey, look it's Monday and it's rainy and miserable outside. Which is why you're seated comfortably in front of your computer looking for things to brighten your otherwise awful day. So the timing is perfect, it seems, for our first list of confirmed performers at this year's Northside Festival. For those of you who will only continue reading if you can be guaranteed a certain level of awesomeness, Sunset Rubdown, Bishop Allen, The Dodos, Bill Callahan, Vivian Girls, The Van Pelt, Brightblack Morning Light, O'Death, Asobi Seksu, and John Vanderslice are all included.

Now, you want to get yourself a badge, obviously, so that you can go see all this amazing music right in your own backyard, and so that you can take advantage of all the food and drink specials that'll be included. Good thing they'll only cost you $45 if you act now. We're selling a limited amount at this price, so don't sleep on it, folks. (Badge-holders must be 21 or older as of right now, but don't worry, kids, we've got some stuff in the works for you as well.) [Northside Festival]

FULL FESTIVAL 4-DAY PASS!
A very limited number of badges will be available at this discounted price! (Arrive to venues early to guarantee entry)

4 days, 30+ venues, dozens of galleries, lots of showcases, hundreds of bands - check northsidefestival.com often for updates!
Redeem your hard ticket at the Northside Registration Booth (booth location TBD at northsidefestival.com) to obtain your badge & other Northside goodies.

Full list of currently-announced artists below...

Continue reading "Northside Festival announces initial lineup - badges on sale"

words by Andrew Frisicano, photos by Leia Jospe

It's a cliche, but Titus Andronicus has got to be one of the hardest working/most tour-prone bands around. After a show-filled 2008, the band headed out on a monthlong winter tour with Los Campesinos, culminating in two Bowery Ballroom shows on February 14th and 15th (pics from Los Campesinos set). That was followed by a set of European dates, a Mar 13th KEXP Benefit at Bowery Ballroom with the Wrens , two shows with Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, and a bunch of SXSW shows in Austin (where they also met the mayor).

After SXSW, Titus Andronicus played three dates with Here We Go Magic, leading up to tonight (Friday, March 27th)'s show at Market Hotel with Real Estate (read more about them here) and Dinowalrus.

In April, the band heads out on tour with Lucero, stopping at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 18th (Tickets are still on sale). In June, the band will play a series of dates with their friend Ted Leo. No NYC date on that tour, but they will hit Toad's Place in New Haven on June 19th.

The band also recently released an iPhone application. Description: "Think Tetris, except you're their roadie and you have to load their gear into their tiny touring van."

More Bowery Ballroom pictures and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "Titus Andronicus - a tour with Ted Leo, Bowery pics, Market Hotel tonight, Lucero & other stuff"

DOWNLOAD: Sonic Youth - The Eternal (montage) (MP3)

Marissa Nadler @ the Lutheran Church (more by Nathan Miller)

today in NYC
* Young Galaxy @ Pianos
* Bjorkestra @ Jazz Standard
* Marissa Nadler @ Joe's Pub
* Holy Hail & Paper @ Cake Shop
* Van Morrison at the Beacon Theatre
* Thursday & Cancer Bats @ Nokia Theatre
* Anathallo & Sam Amidon @ Mercury Lounge
* Twi the Humble Feather @ Glasslands Gallery
* Early Man & Red Fang @ the Studio @ Webster Hall
* Rufus Wainwright (blackoutsabbath) @ City Winery
* Maps & Atlases, Pattern is Movement & So Many Dynamos @ Maxwell's

Tonight's show at Issue Project Room is cancelled.

Marissa Nadler's new album is streaming at AOL.

I saw a screening of Watchmen last night. I always meant to read the graphic novel, but never did, so even the story was pretty much completely new to me and I didn't judge how it was adapted from the original comic to the screen. That said, I loved it. Could have done without the My Chemical Romance cover of Bob Dylan though. Smashing Pumpkins-soundtracked trailer below.

Coney Island's future collides with current realities at hearing.

U2 play Letterman for the third night in a row tonight.

Tea Lounge opening in Brooklyn Heights.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah play a new song on Jimmy Fallon tonight.

The Alternative Side has pictures of people preparing for U2's show at Fordham.

The MP3 on top of this post is a preview of the new Sonic Youth album.

Video of Real Estate playing at Glasslands below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Howlies - Chimera (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Gringo Star - All Y'all (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Spacecamp - Girls on Bikes (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Swirlies - Chris R. (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Swirlies - Bell (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Real Estate - Suburban Beverage (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Uninhabitable Mansions - We Misplaced a Cobra in the Uninhabitable Mansion (on WFMU) (MP3)

For about a year now, Cinema 16 has been giving short films a live soundtrack courtesy of local bands. Up till now, it's been happening at the Starr Space in Bushwick, but tonight (2/25) Cinema 16 heads to The Bell House for a double feature with four shorts and original music from Wild Yaks and Artanker Convoy.

Wild Yaks perform to leftist group Public Theater's Pie in the Sky and Edwin S. Porter's early cinema (1906) short Dream of a Rarebit Fiend. I actually caught them doing this at Cinema 16 a couple weeks ago and their ramshackle, Tom Waits-y wailing rock fit well especially with the Depression-era Pie in the Sky (which stars Elia Kazan!). Artanker Convoy, whose music leans toward the instrumental, atmospheric and trippy, are a more obvious fit for this kind of project. They'll be performing to an abstract animation by Harry Smith and Robert Enrico's Oscar-winning 1962 short, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, which was shown in America as an episode of The Twilight Zone. Again, both bands have composed original music for this that's unlikely to be heard anywhere else, so it's definitely something worth checking out. Also: free ice cream.

Howlies

Thursday (2/26) at Death By Audio are two of Atlanta's better rock bands (and there are a lot of 'em down there, let me tell you): Howlies and Gringo Starr. I particularly like the Howlies, who are celebrating the release of their debut album, Trippin' With the Howlies, which is one of the more fun rock records I've heard in a while. While steeped in nods to the '60s (surf rock, the Zombies, Love, the Troggs, etc) they've got good songwriting chops to go along with their good taste. Gringo Star, apart from the groan-worthy name (though it's better than A Fir-Ju Well which is what they used to be called), are a garage-rockin' party band not unlike Mando Diao that don't seem to have more of an agenda than having a good time. (And wanting you to have a good time too.) Which these days, should be enough. I can't say I listen to their latest album, All Y'all, a whole lot but they're fun live. Also on the bill: Brooklyn-via-Brazil duo Soundscapes who make '80s-inspired ethereal guitar pop, and Bonnie Baxter who you may have seen open for Apes and Androids at Music Hall of Williamsburg last month.

----

Friday (2/27): The Spicy Times blog (a joint production of the ladies behind Jinners and I Rock I Roll) is having its monthly party at Union Hall with a pretty great lineup with two bands I've written about before: Uninhabitable Mansions that features Robbie and Tyler from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Annie of Au Revoir Simone and who will be selling their debut 7" at the show; and Spacecamp, who are as we speak finishing up work as backing band on Lightspeed Champion's second album. Maybe they'll bring him along? Weirder things have happened. Also on the bill: Staten Island's all-girl seven-piece Vessels and free Colt 45.

Also Friday is that Swirlies show at Mercury Lounge, their first NYC show in five years. Swirlies also play Philly tomorrow (2/26) and Boston on Saturday (2/28).

---

Saturday (2/28): It's Cake Shop's monthly The World's Birthday Party party. If your birthday is in February you get free admission, a gift at the door and two free drink tickets. If you're not a February child, it's $8. Bands include Boston's Major Stars who should light up the joint with their stoner hard rock riffs, and Spectre Folk which features Mike of Magik Markers.

Real Estate

Late night Saturday at Cake Shop, it's a free show with New Jersey's Real Estate who are kind of getting a ton of hype right now from the likes of Pitchfork and Stereogum and Gorilla Vs Bear and others, all on the back of one three-song, white vinyl 7" which I have to admit I do like a lot. (Also having Matt Mondanile [aka Ducktails] in the group doesn't hurt.) Galaxie 500 seems to be the go-to reference for Real Estate and there is that dreamy vibe to their songs, but I'd also site criminally-overlooked '90s band Acetone as well. They've got a second 7" due out soon on Woodsist, so don't expect the interest to die down anytime soon. In addition to the Cake shop show, Real Estate have shows next week at Glasslands and Dead Herring, as well as an upcoming tour that includes a bunch of stops in Austin during SXSW (though none of them at official showcases). All tour dates at the end of the post.

Also Saturday: lovers of shoegaze, dreampop and goth should head straight to Mercury Lounge for a pretty stellar bill of Mahogany, The Depreciation Guild, Blacklist, Cruel Black Dove, and Home Video. Tickets are on sale.

That's all for this week. Tour dates and some videos after the jump....

Continue reading "Real Estate, Cinema 16, Howlies, Spicy Times, Major Stars, Mahogany, Swirlies & more in This Week in Indie "

(King Khan and) BBQ @ MHOW, CMJ (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Fastball @ Maxwell's
* Jim Gaffigan @ Town Hall
* Arlo Guthrie @ Carnegie Hall
* Harry Connick Jr @ City Center
* Fishbone @ Knitting Factory
* Real Estate @ Cake Shop (free, late)
* Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio @ Iridium Jazz Club
* They Might Be Giants @ (le) poisson rouge
* Devon Williams & The Feverfew @ Cake Shop
* Ewan Pearson & 2020 Soundsystem @ Studio B
* The So So Glos, Lidia Stone, Radiates & Banzai @ Silent Barn
* El Guincho & Prefuse 73 (both DJ sets) @ (le) poisson rouge
* Gang Gang Dance, Marnie Stern & 18th Dye @ Santos Party House
* Amazing Baby, MBAR, The Muggabears & My Best Fiend @ Mercury Lounge
* King Khan & BBQ Show, Golden Triangle & The Jacuzzi Boys @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

What do you think of Fishbone in 2008? They play Knitting Factory tonight.

King Khan is also at Bowery Ballroom on Sunday. That show is with Vivian Girls.

Dr. Lonnie Smith (master of the Hammond B3 organ) and Jim Gaffigan (comedian) also continue their multiple night NYC runs on Sunday.

The Game was born today in 1979.

Tina Turner hits MSG on Monday - the same night Snow Patrol play their small venue show at Bowery Ballroom.

"I feel like I invite music into my life rather than solicit it. I like peppering my career with very successful music as opposed to going out in a very highly competitive field and missing a lot to get the occasional hit. I have the luxury of doing that because film is my primary career." - says John Travolta on singing in Bolt.

They Might Be Giants play Apollo 18 in its entirety at Le Poisson Rouge tonight (early). El Guincho and Prefuse 73 DJ Le Poisson Rouge tonight (late). They Might Be Giants play Le Poisson Rouge again on January 31st. El Guincho plays Le Poisson Rouge on December 2nd.

The Real Estate show tonight at Cake Shop is a free late show after the 4-band bill Devon Williams is playing.

Todd P isn't currently listing any shows, but says, "...a bit of a quiet spell for me. Don't worry though, there are a whole lot of secret(ish) shows in the works, plus some much much bigger plans still in the early but very time consuming stages..."

The Christmas tree lighting @ South Street Seaport is today. The Big Apple Chorus will be there today and every weekend until Christmas. Ice skating and other (more fun) live music is coming to the Seaport soon too. Rockefeller Center's tree gets lit on December 3rd.

Jdimytai Damour, RIP

Video of Reverend Billy preaching in Union Square on Buy Nothing Day (Black Friday) (yesterday) below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"