photos by David Andrako

Jose & band

Jose Gonzalez, while he was in town to play Prospect Park with Junip, DJ the afterparty at the Bell House, and play a show for Rooftop Films (who were screening a movie about him), also played a private Red Hot & Rio2 party at the "Red Bull Loft" in SoHo on Monday (6/20).

Like the private Beirut loft party before it, the event was happening mainly to create promo videos for the upcoming charity CD. The other artists who played this one were Om'mas Keith and Mia Doi Todd, and they were all backed by a house band consisting of Stuart Bogie, Luke O'Malley, Miles Arntzen, Adam Weinger, David Ellenbogan, Mike Loren Lavalle and Chelsea Baratz.

That's 10 musicians total, but don't worry, you didn't miss much. They only played a total of three songs throughout the night (all of which appear on the CD), though actually they did play each song multiple times (until they got one they were happy with releasing). Some more pictures from the shindig below...

Continue reading "Jose Gonzalez, Mia Doi Todd, Om'mas Keith & friends filmed videos for Red Hot & Rio2 (pics)"

photos by David Andrako

Beirut's upcoming shows include Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, and a Northside Festival show in McCarren Park with Sharon Van Etten. Tickets for the Brooklyn show are still on sale. Beirut's recent performances include a big, public, sold out one at the Wellmont Theater in NJ, and a very small, private one in Stratosphere Sound Recording Studio.

Before any of those, back on March 27th, Beirut played three songs at a Brooklyn loft party in celebration of the new Red Hot Tropicália tribute CD, Red Hot + Rio 2, that we discussed HERE and HERE. Like Beirut, Superhuman Happiness, The Phenomenal Handclap Band, Brazilian Girls, and Forro In The Dark, all have songs on the forthcoming Red Hot charity comp, and each of those bands performed the song they have on the CD (and actually, they each performed their song more than once, as the performances were being filmed to help promote the release, and they wanted the videos to be good). The setlist and more pictures from the party, below...

Continue reading "Beirut played a 'Red Hot' loft in March too, w/ Superhuman Happiness, Phenomenal Handclap Band & more (pics) "

As far as I can tell, Bebel Gilbeto has just four shows coming up, and all of them are in NYC, which makes sense since the Brazilian singer-songwriter was born and lives here.

Tickets are still available for both Red Hot + Rio 2 shows happening at the Brooklyn Academy of Music tonight/Thursday and Friday. As previously noted, CéU, Curumin, José González, Otto, João Parahyba (from Trio Mocoto), and Bebel Gilberto are the artists playing those shows.

An all-star benefit tribute to the music and culture of Brazil, Red Hot + Rio 2 salutes Samba Soul, the post-tropicália movement of the 70s that merged elements of North American soul music with Brazilian rhythms. Mixing samba with R&B, soul with baião, pioneering artists like Jorge Ben Jor and Tim Maia signaled a cultural awakening that changed the direction of Brazilian music forever. The concerts at BAM bring together the newest generation of Brazilian and international artists who represent the legacy of this influential musical style.

Bebels' third upcoming show is in a much more intimate setting, but unfortunately/not surprisingly, the $40 tickets to her December 9th show at Joe's Pub are all sold out. Tickets are still on sale though for her recently announced, fourth upcoming NYC show, at Town Hall, but that's not until June. All dates, in a list format, below...

Continue reading "Bebel Gilberto tour dates - BAM (today), Joe's Pub, Town Hall "

NY Mag's next 'indie rock' event takes place this Saturday with Islands. The one after that will take place on September 28th and be called "Campfire by the Canal"...

Unlike all those years you spent at Boy Scout camp, no group push-ups, map making or log carving will be required for you to feel the love at this special campfire celebration at The Yard in Brooklyn. All you'll be asked to do is sit back and enjoy a full set by José González. We're also giving you hilarious tales of summers gone by performed by members of the Upright Citizens Brigade. Campfires never looked this good.

Tickets on sale in August 2008

And that's not it for Jose and NYC in 2008. He'll be back again to perform two more times in December, again in Brooklyn, but this time at BAM:

Red Hot + Rio 2
The Next Generation of Samba Soul

Dec 4 & 5 at 8pm

An all-star benefit tribute to the music and culture of Brazil, Red Hot + Rio 2 salutes Samba Soul, the post-tropicália movement of the 70s that merged elements of North American soul music with Brazilian rhythms. Mixing samba with R&B, soul with baião, pioneering artists like Jorge Ben Jor and Tim Maia signaled a cultural awakening that changed the direction of Brazilian music forever. The concerts at BAM bring together the newest generation of Brazilian and international artists who represent the legacy of this influential musical style.

Featured artists: CéU, Curumin, Bebel Gilberto, José González, Otto
Backing band: Kassin +2, Moreno Veloso, Domenico, João Parahyba Sr. & son
Music Directors Kassin & Mario Caldato, Jr.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit BrazilFoundation's AIDS-related projects.

BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
Running time: 120min, no intermission
$25, 45, 65

BAM tix go on sale to the general public on September 2nd. All Jose G dates below...

Continue reading "Jose Gonzalez - 2008 Tour Dates (BAM, NY Mag @ the Yard)"