by Andrew Frisicano

Los Angeles pop duo Kisses, Jesse Kivel (of the band Princeton) and singer/keyboardist Zinzi Edmundson (and a drummer live), are coming to New York for the first time for CMJ. Their shows for that include a Tuesday, October 19th IAMSOUND showcase at Santos and a Saturday, October 23rd show at Arlene's (a Forcefield PR/Windish show). For the Santos show, Men, Salem (last seen at Milk Studios) and Restless People are also on the bill, and tickets are on sale.

I guess that the Santos show will be Kisses' defacto album release gig, since their debut, The Heart of the Nightlife, comes out the same day on This Is Music.

With Kisses, the first thing to note is Kivel's bass-heavy, sometimes-loungey voice (basically unchanged from his singing with Princeton, if you know that). Its sound, combined with the music's '80s-nostalgia, compares favorably to Jens Lekman. Like Jens, Kivel has an ear for retro sounds, which he arranges variously as Muzak-inspired ballads, Arthur Russell disco burners and funk jams (one song, "Midnight Lover," could be on the new Chromeo, including its killer kicker of a chorus "I would like to take you out for a nice steak dinner"). The lyrics have a (slightly put-on) lonely-upper-crust perspective, and play between earnest and ironic (the words are supposedly inspired by a stint Kivel had writing reviews of holiday destinations he never visited).

I caught the band at what (unknown to me then) was their second show ever at the Echoplex in Los Angeles the night before FYF Fest. I partly wound up there because on my way through San Francisco, I saw the the members of Kisses blown up huge on the cover of the free weekly SF Bay Guardian, a really strange amount of pre-any-live-show buzz for the band's still TBA show there in November.

At the Echoplex, they played second on a four-band bill before Hawnay Troof and Stereo Total. The jitters were pretty obvious, though the band sounded good with their hard-hitting drummer and ample help from their programmed backing track. There's no problem with using a backing track, per se, but it was just a bummer to have some of the best hooks - a marimba run, a frantic Hammond solo, their defining bass pulse - played by a faceless laptop. The crowd got into it by asking questions, respectfully answered, between songs. "You guys are good!" blurted one person, almost incredulously, before asking when the record came out.

They'll have some more time to work out the show on the fly with October gigs in the UK and Japan. Until the record, there are two singles (with remixes) you can check out now.

Live videos from those first two shows, an official music video for their single "People Can Do The Most Amazing Things" (one of the record's least dancey songs) and all tour dates (LA, NYC, Japan, and Europe twice) are below.

Continue reading "Kisses played their 1st shows in CA, coming for CMJ (tour dates, videos, album info, more) "

photos by Benjamin Lozovsky

"the memory tapes / cut copy show was pretty epic tonight. i was in the air half the time, jumping with the rest of the crowd. so. good." - Chris Casual

"Cut Copy went on about a quarter after 6, opening with "Lights & Music." This is one of their most popular songs and a great opener. The group was fully into it, head banging and jumping to their own music. I love when a band feels what they're doing and you feel it too. You could never tell that they had just flown in from Chicago and had barely slept. Other hits were "Nobody Lost, Nobody Found" and "So Haunted." The sound system was more to be desired - and bassist Tim Hoey's mike was too low for the first few songs - but a small setback.

The band brought a nice surprise when they played 2 new songs off of their untitled upcoming album. "Where I'm Going" was an instant crowd pleaser. It's a blend of 60's beach/psychedelia harmonies and poppy rhythms. Later they played "Blink and You'll Miss the Revolution," and I just have to say wow. You can tell a new song is a success when the audience is dancing uncontrollably. It's much heavier on the drum and bass than their typical stuff, yet still maintains an essence of 80's nuwave. This will definitely be one of the hits off the album.

Cut Copy ended after an hour long set, an encore, and soaking through their shirts. It was a great day, an outstanding show." [guilt free pleasures]

Continue reading "Cut Copy, Memory Tapes, Glasser, Restless People & Punches played the Pool Party (pics, new song & tortilla videos)"

@ a 2009 Pool Party (more by Tim Griffin)

I don't know what Veoba is either. The press release explains it though...

For the past 4 years, JELLY has hosted over 200,000 people for what has become one of the most groundbreaking FREE concert series in New York. Summer Sundays in Brooklyn have become synonymous with The Pool Parties and in the series' 5th Anniversary year, Pool Parties promises not to disappoint.

This year, The Pool Parties are again on the Williamsburg Waterfront for 7 dates from July 11th--August 29th. Due to scheduling conflicts, our August 1st date will be moved to a "Block Party" in and around Brooklyn Bowl making it 8 total "FREE Pool Party Sundays".

In celebrating our 5th Year Anniversary, JELLY also would like to give a big thanks to Senator Chuck Schumer and Phillip Goldfeder from the Senator's office for all of their support ensuring JELLY'S return to the Williamsburg Waterfront. JELLY owners Alexander Kane and Sarah Hooper state that, "It has been a long hard road this year to bring this series back to Williamsburg and it 100% could not have been done without Senator Schumer's efforts. "

The Pool Parties will be co-presented by VEOBA, an online resource for artists, managers, and record labels. Based in Chicago, but with global reach, VEOBA provides the music community with select services to progress and maintain their livelihood. VEOBA launched in May 2010 as a collective made up of music industry veterans, writers, managers, artists, and cartoon characters. From co-founder Jay Parkin, "More often than not, musicians rely on others to take their careers to the next level. We're here for those who care enough to do it themselves." Sharing Jelly's values of creativity and innovation, the people at VEOBA are thrilled to be involved in this summer's production. Parkin concludes, "For the independent and the like- minded, VEOBA facilitates the next step."

JELLY as well wants to give a shout out to all of their partners this summer from the new faces to old friends. Special thanks to AllSaints and Vans. As well as Amp Energy, vitaminwater®, SESAC, ZICO Pure Premium Coconut Water, ZYNC from American Express^(SM), Spin Magazine, KEXP, and Main Drag. Along with OSA sponsors: Time Out New York, Brooklyn Brewery, and Heineken.

Now onto our official Pool Parties 5th Year Anniversary lineup! Check back soon for surprise guests we cant announce yet, the official DJ lineup for The Pool Parties 2010, and more fun things that are SURE to make the 5th Year Anniversary series one you will never forget!

The Official After-Pool Parties, presented by Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, will be held at Brooklyn Bowl following every Sunday's Pool Party!

The only difference between the leaked lineup and the official lineup is the addition of another "SECRET SPECIAL GUEST" and the listing of some curators. You can see the full list of confirmed free shows, below...

Continue reading "Jelly & Veoba confirm Williamsburg Waterfront 'Pool Party' lineups ('Secret Special Guests', Brooklyn Bowl afterparties)"

words & Pianos photos by Andrew Frisicano, Glasslands photos Chris Doss

DOWNLOAD: DELOREAN- Stay Close (MP3)

Delorean @ Pianos

Barcelona's Delorean played a pair of sold-out NYC shows before skipping to the West Coast. They'll be back for a free July 7th show in Stuy Town and a July 10th show at Bowery Ballroom with globally-inspired BK duo Tanlines and breezy texture pop act Glasser. Tickets are still on sale.

Both Delorean shows were in settings that feel intimate with a packed house - June 4th's at Pianos with MNDR opening, and June 5th's at Glasslands with Restless People (mems. Tanlines) and MillionYoung. For a nearly 90 degree day, Pianos was pretty comfortable, with dancing room to boot. I wasn't there but the notoriously sticky Glasslands reportedly had new overhead fans spinning to fight the temperature.

MNDR opened the Pianos show with her one-woman dance party; others joined in as she persuaded the early crowd to get moving. Her future-pop anthems (even power ballad "I Go Away") were quotable after one listen and meshed into a star-ready whole. The headlining Delorean inspired even more of a dance party. Their set was short on talk and long on pulsating jams. The Subiza tracks flowed like one melodic thread over a room-shaking beat (no surprise that they fit a pair of DJ gig in while in town). Simply said, these guys know what they're doing. The album was released this week on True Panther in all formats.

More pictures from both shows, all tour dates and Delorean's new unofficial video for "Simple Graces" are all below...

Continue reading "Delorean played Pianos w/ MNDR and Glasslands w/ MillionYoung & Restless People - pics & more dates "

photos by Erez Avissar, words by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Glasser - Glad (Delorean remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Delorean - Stay Close (MP3)

Delorean @ True Panther's SXSW party - March 2010

The new record from Barcelona's Delorean, Subiza, is out now (digitally) on True Panther Sounds. The physical release come June 8th on the same label.

That's around the same time the band will visit North America for a few shows. They play Friday, June 4th at Pianos (currently "sold out", but more tickets will be released closer to the show) and June 5th at Glasslands (with Restless People and MillionYoung). The Glasslands show is on sale.

The band will then be back in July to headline Bowery Ballroom. Tickets for that July 10th show go on sale Friday (4/30) at noon.

Last time they were in town, at the end of March, Delorean did five NYC shows, some of which were part of their tour with Miike Snow. The three opening shows included one at Webster Hall, and one of the others was a packed "secret show" at Coco 66. Earlier in March, Delorean was one of the artists who played the True Panther party at Cheer Up Charlie's during SXSW. Some pictures from that show are in this post.

"Stay Close" off Subiza and a remix are posted above. The video for "Stay Close", some live videos, more Austin pictures, and all tour dates (which include Pitchfork Music Festival) are below...

Continue reading "more Delorean tour dates, NYC shows, MP3s, videos & pics"

DOWNLOAD: MNDR - I Go Away (MP3)

MNDR @ Mercury Lounge (more by Erez Avissar)

MNDR plays a free show with Restless People at Brooklyn Bowl tonight (Tuesday, 2/9), and then again at the same venue with WAVVES exactly one week later (also free). Total that makes three upcoming NYC show for MNDR before she leaves on a tour with Yacht on February 28th. The third is a February 20th show with These Are Powers at a mysterious TBA location.

MNDR was supposed to also open for Ebony Bones at Southpaw on Saturday, 2/13, but she has been replaced on that bill by Jessica 6. The Brooklyn show is one of two upcoming NYC shows for Ebony Bones who also share a bill with Amanda Blank and Daniel Merriweather "at Hudson's new subterranean lounge, Good Units" (356 West 58th Street) on Wednesday, February 10th. This is another free show though RSVP is required.

All dates below...

Continue reading "MNDR playing 2 free Brooklyn Bowl shows but not playing w/ Ebony Bones who plays a free hotel show w/ Amanda Blank"

DOWNLOAD: The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Violens remix) (MP3)

Ted Leo @ Pier 54 in July (more by Chris La Putt)

Ted Leo is one of many the acts lined up for the space at 107 Suffolk St (alternately called The Suffolk, Flamboyán Theater and Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural Center) during this year's CMJ Festival. The space, which also has a "beach" bar, isn't unaccustomed to shows - it hosted Ponytail in April - but around this time of year its usually set up as a haunted house (now housed elsewhere).

Ted Leo (now on Matador) will be headlining a True Panther/Matador Records showcase at the Suffolk on Friday, October 23rd. The impressive lineup for that night includes Glasser, Harlem, Cold Cave (who just played NYC with Faust) and Lemonade (who have many other CMJ shows, listed below). It's one of the official CMJ shows there (full schedule is below).

That gig is one of two shows set up by True Panther - on Saturday, October 24th they're also putting on a show at Pianos with Restless People (mems. of Professor Murder/Tanlines who debut five days earlier at Santos), Janka Nabay (backed by Javelin), Glasser (backed by Tanlines), Delorean and Lemonade. Flyer below.

Ted Leo also has some other upcoming dates scheduled including a post-CMJ headlining gig at Bowery Ballroom

The Suffolk is also playing host to unofficial, non-badge, first-come, first-served parties. AAM has one on Thursday, October 22nd (10pm) with Surfer Blood, Air Waves, Surf City, Violens (Very Vest remix MP3 reposted above), Lemonade and New York Night Train DJ Jonathan Toubin (who has his own showcase at Santos on Tuesday).

Finally, it should be noted that The Suffolk has a "back room" and that will also be hosting shows, including a Japanther performance on Wednesday, Oct. 21st (Fool's Gold is also on that bill).

Schedules and flyers for all of the above shows are below...

Continue reading "The Suffolk = Flamboyan Theater = CSV Cultural Center = ex-haunted house -- Ted Leo, others playing CMJ there"

DOWNLOAD: Real Estate - Beach Comber (MP3)

Real Estate @ Brooklyn Bowl in August (more by Oren Loloi)

Real Estate have only been around short time, but it seems like hardly a week goes by without a show from the band or one of its member's solo projects (Ducktails, Predator Vision, etc.). They'll finally get around to releasing their debut LP, a self-titled record, on November 17th on the Woodsist label. The first track from that is posted above and two other "album versions" are up on their Myspace.

Real Estate play a tour send-off/Showpaper benefit on October 14th at Monster Island Basement with Big Troubles and Honeydos. The tour in question is a short jaunt down South, before they return for a slew of CMJ-related shows. The first of those happen October 21st at Pianos and Santos (the later of which is an Oh My Rockness party with The Drums and others). Their other CMJ gigs include an Underwater Peoples showcase at The Delancey, a Death & Taxes show at Glasslands on October 22nd with Japandroids (one of many CMJ gigs for that band) and a Mexican Summer/Kemado Showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 24th. Joining them at MHOW will be Farmer Dave Scher (his first in NYC since opening for Jenny Lewis in June), Young Prisms, The Smith Westerns who have other CMJ shows TBA), and The Amazing, a Swedish group with members of the Kemado-signed Dungen, Anna Jarvinen and Sagor & Swing (streaming tracks at their MySpace). Tickets for that Music Hall show are on sale.

One artist who's not playing that show or any CMJ shows at all is Washed Out (Georgia's Ernest Greene). He'll play just one NYC show (his second live show ever) one day before CMJ at Santos Party House on October 19th with Restless People. Tickets are on sale. I tried to get him to open the BrooklynVegan CMJ show at Music Hall on October 20th (one day later), but he said he can't even stay in town that long due to personal commitments back home.

Restless People features members of Professor Murder (and Tanlines). Listen to their first single "Victimless Crime", HERE. The Santos show will be their first show.

Rising, Breaking, Band to Watch vs Bear, Washed Out (the next Neon Indian even), though fairly new to the scene, already appears on a free Outfitters compilation that also includes tracks by Girls, Vivian Girls, A Place to Bury Strangers, No Age, Le Loup, Rain Machine, The xx, The Very Best, Kurt Vile and The Dodos (who have two NYC shows this week). Washed Out's "Life of Leisure" 12" is out on Mexican Summer now.

One day after CMJ (10/25), Real Estate play a 1:00PM NYC show just for kids (Kidrockers) at The Living Room with... Neon Indian. Tickets are on sale ("Adults must be accompanied by a kid and vice versa").

Real Estate will follow up their CMJ with a November tour with Girls. That hits Maxwell's on November 2nd and Bowery Ballroom on November 6th. Real Estate album, tour dates and flyers below...

Continue reading "Washed Out's NYC debut (& 2nd show ever), Real Estate's LP, tour dates & CMJ (Mexican Summer showcase, Kidrockers) "