photos by Vincent Cornelli

Ska band The Pietasters played a Rocks Off Concert Cruise on July 29th with DJ 100DBs. A set of pictures and videos are in this post.

The Pietasters will return to the area for a weekend of East Coast dates in October. They'll kick off the short run of shows at Maxwell's in Hoboken on Oct 7th. Tickets are on sale. All dates are listed below.

D 100DBs will also be on the 1s & 2s when ska band The Slackers play a Rocks Off Cruise on August 20th. Tickets are still on sale. The Slackers also play a boat show in Boston one day earlier with iLa Mawana.

In somewhat related news, Oi punks The Business will hit Mercury Lounge on September 2nd as part of a larger East Coast/Midwest tour before they loop back for a another leg of dates that will include RiotFest 2011. Tickets for Mercury are on sale. The Business released their last LP Doing The Business last year via Sailor's Grave.

Pics, videos, and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "pics from the Pietasters boat show, more dates & The Business & The Slackers too"

photos by Jessica Amaya

"Just got off the boat w ggd linked up w traxman and aziz in d santosss
so hottt nyyyyy" - Nguzunguzu

"Oh and NGUZUNGUZU straight murdered it tonight. And after that I did some moshing. What day of the week is it again?" - deemehlow

"See death grips live. That is all" - Michael Washington

Gang Gang Dance played the Golden Airplane and Rocks Off presented boat party last night (7/21) with Bubbles. As the tweet above says, GGD tour-mate Nguzunguzu was also on the boat. In fact, though they weren't billed, Nguzunguzu and Total Freedom both played together for 30 minutes before GGD's set like they did on tour. Nguzunguzu then played the official GGD after party at Santos with Death Grips, Traxman, Azizaman, and others.

If you missed Death Grips last night, you have another chance Sunday at Rock Beach with the Miracles Club.

The Miracles Club also play PS1 Saturday with Gang Gang Dance (DJ set) and Lunice who also plays tonight with Pictureplane (DJ set) who plays Saturday at 285 Kent.

Bubbles plays again, and for free, Saturday at Union Pool.

More pics from Gang Gang below...

Continue reading "Gang Gang Dance played a boat with Bubbles (pics), Nguzunguzu played the afterparty w/ Death Grips"

words & photos by Keith Marlowe

The Bronx on a boat

"We've been a band for a long time, and we've toured all over, and I'll tell you shows like this don't come around very often. We're on a boat going around New York City, and for a couple of you, this is gonna be the best night of your life. This is as good as it's ever gonna get. It's just a long slow slide to death from here," Matt Caughtran told the sweaty crowd from the top of the speaker stack on the Queen of Hearts last Wednesday (6/22).

The Bronx played their first album from start to finish, and closed with a bunch of songs off their last two records. People were clutching the ceiling to keep back the constant push of the crowd, coupled with the slant of the boat to the back where the stage is, and the constant rocking from the water. Anyone who got on top of the crowd had to keep themselves from smashing into the top of the boat as they got tossed around. A couple times I heard the unmistakable sound of skulls hitting metal over the blaring music. And I got yet another opportunity to hold a mic so people slamming into the stand didn't smash out a friend's front teeth while he sang. Boat shows are great for that. They closed out the night with the brutal "History's Stranglers" that had everyone screaming along 'Motherfucker I want your bloooooooooooooood.' Awesome.

Cold Fur opened the show, announcing this was their fourth show as a band, also their first and possibly last boat show. Cold Fur played a fast, heavy set, which is what you'd expect from a band made up of dudes from Rye Coalition and the Want.

The Bronx returns to town Tuesday night (6/28) to play a free show at Brooklyn Bowl as Mariachi El Bronx with Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers and The Two Man Gentlemen Band.

I've known the Bronx guitar player Ken Horne for about ten years, from him touring as the lead guitar player for the Dragons. They used photos of mine on their albums on Junk and Gearhead records. I got a chance to talk to him a bit at Union Pool after the boat show. Our chat and more pictures from aboard the Queen of Hearts are below.

Continue reading "an interview with The Bronx, pics from their boat show"

GGD @ the Creators Project (more by Ryan Barkan)

One day after they finish a July tour with Nguzunguzu and Total Freedom, Gang Gang Dance will headline a Rocks Off Concert Cruise. Tickets for the July 21st NYC show are on sale now. Two days later they'll play a DJ set at Warm Up. All tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Gang Gang Dance playing a boat, touring (dates)"

DOWNLOAD: The War On Drugs - "Baby Missiles" (MP3)

The War On Drugs at Webster Hall in April (more by Amanda Hatfield)

The War On Drugs are releasing Slave Ambient on August 17 via Secretly Canadian. In support of the new album, the band is going on a North American tour with Caveman. The tour hits NYC on August 19 at Cameo Gallery (tickets) and August 20 at Mercury Lounge (tickets), though note that the Mercury show is the only date on the tour where Caveman is not currently listed as an opener (nobody else is either).

Caveman are also supposedly playing the Northside Festival, and play a Rocks Off Cruise on June 25 with Hollis Brown. Tickets are on sale for the boat show.

All tour dates, War on Drugs album artwork and tracklist below...

Continue reading "The War on Drugs announce new LP, tour w/ Caveman (dates)"

The Greenhornes at Garage Fest 2010 (more by BBG)

The Greenhornes just finished up a tour with JEFF the Brotherhood, and have announced a few more shows this summer including the Rocks Off Concert Series with The A-Bones. If you're not familiar, that means both bands will be playing sets during a three-hour boat ride around NYC. It rules and will rock. Tickets are on sale now.

JEFF the Brotherhood will be back in NYC on tour in June. They play 285 Kent with a whole bunch of "special guests."

The Ettes

The Ettes, who didn't play with the Greenhornes last night in Memphis due to weather, and who will be touring with JEFF's friend Heavy Cream in August (dates TBA), have a new album on the way. Wicked Will will be releaed on 8/2 via Krian Music Group / Fond Object / Fontana. Listen to the first track, "Pendulum", below.

Speaking of Heavy Cream, they were added to the upcoming Japanther/Shellshag show at Music Hall of Williamsburg. They have some other shows coming up too.

All tour dates for everyone, below...

Continue reading "The Greenhornes are playing a boat w/ A-Bones, The Ettes releasing an album, Heavy Cream playing shows & stuff"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Dam-Funk - "Don't Give Up" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - "Fright Night (Nevermore)" Dam-Funk Remix (MP3)

Dam Funk at Fun Fun Fest (more by BBG)

Dam-Funk will team with his live band Master Blazter (Computer Jay & J-1) to play a funky Memorial Day party aboard 'The Queen Of Hearts' as part of a Rocks off Boat Cruise on May 30th. Joining Dam-Funk will be the silky smooth vocals of Steve Arrington (of Slave, who has been known to collabo with Dam-Funk, and who will also have a full band), Bryant K, and Beautiful Swimmers. Tickets for the NYC show are on sale. Flyer below.

The boat show happens one day after Dam-Funk plays B.O.M.B Fest which is one day after he plays the Detroit Electronic Music Festival. All dates are listed below.

Dam-Funk recently released an unreleased and unmastered "Don't Give Up", a remix for the Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti track "Fright Night (Nevermore)", and a new mixtape (culled straight from vinyl... atta boy). All tracks are either downloadable above or streaming below.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti is scheduled to play Irving Plaza on June 2nd with Silk Flowers and R. Stevie Moore. Tickets are still available for the show which happens right before The Roots Picnic in Philly.

Continue reading "Dam-Funk remixed Ariel Pink, playing a boat w/ Steve Arrington after B.O.M.B. Fest & other dates"

The Slackers

Lots of veteran ska bands hitting the road this spring and summer...

Congratulations to The Slackers, who will celebrate their 20th anniversary with a show in their hometown at Bowery Ballroom on June 17th. Tickets are on sale. The show comes less than two weeks after the band returns from a trip to the EU for a few weeks of dates which are all listed below.

Meanwhile, NYC's The Toasters celebrated their 30th anniversary with a beer (named after them, that is) (video below), and after the band returns from Europe, they'll play a Rocks Off Cruise on June 12th. Tickets for the NYC boat show are on sale. All tour dates are below.

The Pietasters will follow the lead of The Toasters, and play July 29th on a Rocks Off Concert Cruise. Tickets are on sale. The show is one of a few East Coast dates scheduled for the band, all of which are listed below.

Bad Manners returns to the US and to NYC with a pair of local shows: May 5th at Maxwell's with Hub City Stompers (tickets) and June 14th at The Studio at Webster Hall (tickets).

UPDATE: The English Beat have added a NYC show happening July 2nd at Irving Plaza in NYC.

All tour dates and some videos, below...

Continue reading "ska roundup (Slackers, Toasters, Pietasters & Bad Manners) --- upcoming shows & tours"

3/4 of Kyuss (no Josh Homme) announced the creation of Kyuss Lives! last year. Original Kyuss members Brant Bjork, John Garcia, and Nick Oliveri, along with guitarist Bruno Fevery, have live dates scheduled this year in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South America and now North America too. So far it's just two U.S. shows, but more will be announced. One of those is at The Fox Theater in Pomona, CA on October 8th, and the other is at NYC's Terminal 5 on September 23rd (the same venue Queens of the Stone Age recently played). Both Kyuss shows are with The Sword, and tickets for both go on sale this week (Terminal 5 goes on sale Friday).

In semi-related news, stoner-blueshounds Clutch will hit the road with Corrosion of Conformity (Animosity lineup) to play a string of dates together that will include Brooklyn Bowl on 7/20 (tickets go on sale Friday). The following day, Clutch play a solo show aboard the Temptress on 7/21 (a Rocks Off Concert Cruise). Tickets for that show are not yet listed.

All tour dates and some videos below...

Continue reading ""Kyuss Lives!" announces shows w/ the Sword +++ Clutch touring w/ Corrosion of Conformity (and playing a boat)"

"Rock N Roll has lived, breathed, evolved and injected itself into NewYork City - transforming itself, the city, the people and the very culture of America and the world along the way. Please allow us to show you the when, the how, the why, and the who.

A walk through Manhattan's East Village is a walk through Rock N Roll history. Boston can have their Freedom Trail and Philly can keep their Liberty Bell, nowhere has more history, culture and tradition than New York City and nowhere rocks nearly as hard. Since famed radio DJ Alan Freed coined the term Rock N Roll, New York has been its ground zero.

Sure, you could go to Cleveland and walk through a museum, or surf Wikipedia until you're blind....OR you could immerse yourself in the very streets and sights where ordinary men and women became immortal rock gods and the proverbial "shit went down." We're talking about a walking tour of the great Rock N Roll haunts of NYC, a one-of-a-kind pilgrimage through the East Village and Lower East Side. From the late 19th century Vaudeville and Yiddish Theaters of the Bowery to the Homesteading by the Beatniks in the 50s, the hippies and radicals of the 60s and the classic rock and punk rockers of the 70s, this is where rock transformed from music to religion.

The Rocks Off Rock N Roll Walking Tour will show you ALL OF IT and then some. See where Leadbelly spent the last few years of his life, Charlie Parker's historic home, the Fillmore East, CBGB, Max's Kansas City, The Electric Circus, The Palladium, The Ritz / Webster Hall, Irving Plaza, Tompkins Square Park, Madonna's first NYC apartment, and tons more! Be prepared to walk the streets that LEGENDS have walked, piss in urinals that Lou Reed pissed in, drink egg creams that the NY Dolls drank, shit where GG Allin shit (everywhere). See where everyone who was anyone partied, played, created, and inspired the whole wide world."

Murder by Death @ Pop Montreal 2010 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Murder by Death aren't on tour right now, but they are opening for the Hold Steady at Terminal 5 tonight (4/8) (tickets still available), and have some other random upcoming shows including a May 20th Rocks Off Concert Cruise, and a May 21st appearance at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Somerset, NJ. That's how the band lists it, though a bit of research reveals that the NJ show is actually part of the Steampunk World's Fair which is happening at that location from May 20th - May 22nd.

All MbD dates, and details on an art contest for an upcoming 7", below...

Continue reading "Murder by Death opening for the Hold Steady, playing a boat in NYC, and a hotel in Somerset, NJ (dates & a 7" art contest)"

photos by Chris Gersbeck

DOWNLOAD: Built to Spill - Three Years Ago Today (live on the boat) (MP3)

"Hopefully this boat isn't built to spill, yuk yuk yuk" - Matthew Conover

Built to Spill played a BV-presented show on a Rocks Off boat last night (9/2), and all those in attendance did in fact safely make it back to shore (aka the West Side Highway) in one piece. Not everyone may remember it though.

If you missed it, or even if you were there and remember every detail, you'll be happy to know that they'll be back in NYC soon. The band will play record release shows on October 5th at Music Hall of Williamsburg and October 6th at Highline Ballroom. Tickets for the Manhattan show are now on sale. Brooklyn show tickets go on sale Friday, 9/10, at noon. The new shows will both be opened by ReVoLtReVoLt, will feature a post-show DJ sets by Doug Martsch (who DJ'd the boat too), and they come right before the Philly show on their recently announced tour.

More good news: NYC Taper taped it and will be posting the full audio soon. In the meantime, you can get a preview of the recording above, and check out the full recording setlist with more pictures, below....

Continue reading "Built to Spill played a boat (pics, setlist & live recording), playing Highline Ballroom & MHOW in October "

photos by Andrew St. Clair

Detroit Cobras

The girls in Heavy Cream opened for the girls in Detroit Cobras on the Rocks Off boat 'Half Moon' on Friday night. For Heavy Cream it was their first of six NYC shows happening before September 8th. More pictures from the boat show, below...

Continue reading "Detroit Cobras & Heavy Cream on a boat (pics) "

Tombs @ the Studio in 2009 (more by Jason Jamal Nakleh)

today in NYC
* H2O on a boat
* Robert Black @ The Stone
* Ute Lemper @ Joe's Pub (early & late)
* Leon Russell @ Mexicali Live (NJ)
* Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio @ Jazz Standard
* Forest Fire, Oh Land, Normandy @ Glasslands
* Scott McMicken of Dr. Dog, Springs @ The Rock Shop
* Diddy, Rick Ross, Ciara & more @ Governors Island
* Hannibal Buress, King Sickabilly @ Knitting Factory
* Miya Masaoka, Mary Halvorson, Okkyung Lee @ The Stone
* Reid Paley Trio, Sam Chanse, Sugar Life @ Knitting Factory
* Nullsleep, Bit Shifter, Glomag, NO CARRIER @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Tombs, Radiation, Planks, Gods & Queens, Dawn @ Death By Audio
* Chromeo, The Suzan, Telephoned, Kid Sister @ Williamsburg Waterfront
* Metal Rouge, Sam Hamilton, Jane Austen, Greg Fox, Diablo @ Silent Barn
* Seaven Tears (Charlie Looker), Tartar Lamb (Toby Driver), Music of the American Avante-Garde (Bracken/Kidambi) @ Zebulon
* Religious To Damn, Fielded, Psychic Steel, Kevin Hufnagel @ Bruar Falls
* The Big Sleep, Fan-Tan, Sensual Harassment, Replicas, Michna (DJ Set) @ Cameo
* Mia Riddle, Pearl & The Beard, Madison Square Gardeners (Farm To Folk Fest) @ Union Pool (see below)
* New York Night Train's Ya Ya Yacht w/ DJ Mr. Jonathan Toubin & DJ Ian Svenonius
* Saviours, Priestess, Ramming Speed, Antidote [NYHC 1983], Rorschach DJ's, Hamsoken, Gatekeeper, Cult of Youth, Naam, Titan, Natur, Snake Sustaine, Primitive Weapons, Cleen Teeth @ Santos Party House
* K Holes, Electric Tickle Machine, My Teenage Stride, Food Stamps, Weekends, Weed Hounds, Shark?, Lost Boy, The Runaway Suns, The Caterpillers (and much more) @ Don Pedro (see below)

A lot to do today for a rainy Sunday at the end of a slow week.

Individual tickets are on sale today for the 2010-2011 NY Philharmonic concert season.

To make sure they don't get shut down, tonight's sold out H2O show happening on a Rocks Off boat is going to be dry ("Our First Ever NO BOOZE CRUISE - Straight Edge on the Hudson!"), which is ironic since those that step outside will probably not be dry at all thanks to the H2O coming down from the sky.

Good thing there's going to be a Pool Party on August 29th. Otherwise they would have went out on a rainy note. If it doesn't get cancelled, Chromeo, The Suzan, Telephoned, and previously-known-as "Special Guest" Kid Sister play the free show at the Williamsburg Waterfront today.

Today is the day The Specials were supposed to play in the rain at Central Park Summerstage.

Though there are still free events, there are no more free concerts on Governors Island this summer, which means tonight's potentially-soggy Diddy fans paid for their tickets. Same situation for the Jonas Brothers fans at Jones Beach.

Two indoor options today include "Farm to Folk Fest" at Union Pool (3-8pm) and "My Endless Summer" at Don Pedro from 4pm to 4am. Flyers and more information for both below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday?"

Murphy's Law on a Rocks Off boat in 2004 (more)

Rocks Off reports...

"It's with regret that due to unforeseen circumstances (aka pressure from local authorities who unfoundedly seem to think that our planned show will be a magnet for "violence"), tonights' Murphy's Law show has had to be cancelled. We appreciate it's very late in the day, however all tickets purchased through Ticketweb will automatically be refunded in full. If you bought from a physical outlet you will need to go there for a refund, We apologise for the short notice. We at Rocks Off were really looking forward to this show, as well as last night's Cro Mags show that we also were forced to cancel, and hope we can find a way to make it up to you all soon." [Rocks Off]

Last night's cancellation was also a last minute surprise for the hundreds of people that planned on checking out, and undoubtedly having a safe time with, the Cro-Mags on a boat. The band, probably John Joseph, posted the following to Facebook afterwards:

"Scumbag rich fux in NYC
who don't want their chump rich people to have to go to their yacht
past our crew, greased the cops and had our show canceled. Well, the
fact that assholes didn't know how to act at the Murphy's Law boat show,
or the hip hop idiots stabbing people didnt help either! SORRY
...EVERYONE - see you in Philly Saturday"

So why the trouble all of a sudden? And what "hip hop idiots stabbing people" do the Cro-Mags mean? Well, apparently about a month ago there was a stabbing AFTER a boat cruise near the West Side Highway. It wasn't a Rocks Off boat, but it was violence happening in Manhattan that was at least in a small part related to entertainment on a boat. That caused cops to be on alert, and Rocks Off felt it hard when about a zillion cops showed up to their Peter Rosenberg Birthday Bash on July 21st (he's a Hot 97 DJ). The birthday party, which was a Pete Rock & DJ Premier show, left the dock an hour late after cops reportedly boarded and looked around. The boat was then tailed by police who were also waiting for the boat when it got back to shore. Nobody was arrested or making any trouble though (except the cops!).

Now this. No other boats are affected at the moment (like Tao Seeger tonight for instance). Hopefully no more are either.

UPDATE, GOOD NEWS:

!! VENUE CHANGE !!
The Murphys Law | Jimmy G's B-Day show tonight is NOT CANCELED but is relocated to a new venue!!! The annual boat trip was canceled and this great yearly event is now happening at Brauer Falls located at 245 Grand St in Brooklyn (across the street from Trash Bar) at 10pm.
Please spread the word and join the party!!!

words & photos by Keith Marlowe

The Black Lips are a tough band. The first time I shot them was in 2004, and they're in as good, if not better, shape now then they were then. They've toured hard, constantly, for over seven years, playing every conceivable venue from derelict house parties to huge festivals. It takes strength, mental and physical, to hold up for that long on the road, many bands can't take it and fragment under the pressure. The Lips play shows that turn into near-riots, survive being crushed by the crowd, go out and party all night, and wake up and do it the next day. The boat show on Monday was no exception. Both the opening bands also seemed to know what was in store, and really laid it all on the line.

Brooklyn darlings the K-Holes opened the show before we were barely out of the dock, and gave the crowd a taste of the insanity that was to follow. I can't say enough nice things about them. Check them out for yourself. They raged, got paid, thought they were MC Hammer rich, and their singer ate all the profits.

Natural Child are from Nashville, Tennessee. They have a loose sound, are really fun and a good fit with the Black Lips. I talked to Seth (singer/guitar) to find out a bit more about them. "We started 15 months ago. Wes and Zack (other two dudes in the band) had eaten a bunch of pot brownies. They kept calling me, all day, telling me I had to be in a band with them. I finally told them I'd do it if they would practice five days a week and tour a lot, they said cool, and here we are." They're in the middle of a two week east coast tour right now and have a new 7" out called "Bang My Head."

The crowd was getting thick even before the Lips started playing. When their set began, there was about a five foot gap between the monitors and drums, where Ian, Cole and Jared were standing. By the end of the second song they had been pushed back into the drums. The bass amp Jared was borrowing had a beveled back and kept tipping over. I jumped behind it and jammed my foot into the space so he could keep playing and helped Joe reset the drums when he needed it. You know it's a good party when the drummer gets swarmed.

People in the front had both arms stretched up, clutching the upper deck in an attempt to keep from getting shoved into the band. As the show went on, the wall of people with their arms up got thicker and thicker. A couple people jumped from the upper lever, and things really got crazy. There was no way to hold out forever, and bodies began crashing over the band like ocean waves. After slamming into them, they tried to brace themselves against the amps and drums as the crowd kept pushing in. Jared was pushed farther and farther backward, until the only way he could keep singing was to turn the mic, face the drums and turn his back to the crowd. He had to constantly keep his foot on the mic stand leg to keep from getting hit in the face too hard. Between songs people kept crashing down on him. He muttered, "There isn't even any music. What the fuck......." The band couldn't always see each other, so they had to shout out what the next song was gonna be over the PA.

Near the end, some Justin Bieber looking idiot decided to grab the mic to sing along, disconnecting it and losing the cord underneath all the feet. He was to busy singing with his eyes closed to realize the mic was unplugged, so I found the cord and grabbed the mic from him. At this point, the stand was long gone, so for the last two songs I just held the mic for Jared. Not really the kind of show I wanted to shoot one-handed, but what're ya gonna do?

As I held it, bodies slammed into Jared's back, I could feel the impact of his teeth hitting the microphone, and he looked at me with this big smile. It was like he was in a tornado of people. A huge crush came in, and he was gone under a writhing pile of bodies. When he scrambled up, still playing, he got on top of the crowd and climbed up to the second level of the boat to finish the show.

I talked with him downstairs after their set. He told me they're recording a new album, and it's being done on the fly, like most of their other albums. "It's 60% done. We've been working on it whenever we get a chance. It'll be out next spring, and we're gonna do a big tour with Deerhunter." Other future plans include, "We're trying to play Iraq, we've got friends over there, so we're working on that. Hopefully that'll go smoother than our trip to Kurdistan, where we missed our flight because Joe forgot his wallet," he laughed. "We're gonna take a break from long tours and finish this record. One-off shows and stuff, but no long trips in the van til next year. It's the longest break we've had in over seven years." Some of their one-off dates in August are Austin on the 10th and the Hellow Festival in Monterray, Mexico on the 28th.

More pictures from the show below...

Continue reading "Black Lips, Natural Child & the K-Holes rocked a boat (pics) "

Built to Spill @ Outside Lands 2009 (more by Chris Graham)

Built to Spill played Irving Plaza on Wednesday, July 28th. Download their set recorded by NYC Taper. One day later later they played a show in Long Island (at the Crazy Donkey). Video and setlists below.

The band continues on tour, playing headlining shows between dates with Kings of Leon. They do the latter on August 5th at Camden, NJ's Susquehanna Bank Center, and the former (aka their own show) at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park on August 6th.

Built to Spill will be back in NYC on Thursday, September 2nd for a BrooklynVegan-presented Rocks Off Concert Cruise. Tickets are on sale now.

In other news, BTS' Doug Martsch and Brett Nelson covered the band's own songs in a synthy style as the Electronic Anthology Project...

"Dug Martsch and Brett Nelson are both members of Built To Spill.The Electronic Anthology Project is a side project that Dug and Brett made.It's basically one song off of each BTS record,completely replayed by Brett (synths/drum machine) and resang by Dug.If you like Built To Spill and 80's New Wave then you may like the two together."

All tour dates, the Irving Plaza & Crazy Donkey set lists and more, below...

Continue reading "Built to Spill played NYC & Long Island, playing a boat (BV presents), covered their own songs using synths "

by BBG

Buzzoven live in the 90s

Buzzov-en was a sludge metal band from North Carolina, formed in 1989 by the remaining members of Sewer Puppet. The band was known for being one of the founders of the sludge genre (after Eyehategod), and also for their out-of-control and violent live shows. The band in its early days toured heavily around the United States and built up a cult following leading up to the release of their debut album, To a Frown (1993), which caught the attention of Roadrunner Records, who released the band's second album Sore (1994). The band was dropped by Roadrunner, and from then on have gone through several periods of being split-up and reformed, with the only constant member having been Kirk Fisher.

The NYC show is just 26 days after Black Tusk plays NYC with Fu Manchu (tickets), and will mark their fourth NYC appearance in less than five months. Their LP, Taste The Sin, is out now via Relapse - the label responsible for Buzzoven's latest EP, Violence From The Vault.

Some video of Buzzov-en, and full tour dates are below....

Continue reading "Buzzoven playing shows including a boat in NY w/ Black Tusk"

DOWNLOAD: Endless Boogie - Tarmac City (MP3)

The rumor as to why Jelly couldn't do the Pool Party at Williamsburg Waterfront this weekend is because the state, OSA or someone made up a rule that said no more than two shows can happen at the space per weekend, and OSA & AEG had already booked Primus/Gogol Bordello on Friday (tonight) and Nas & Damian Marley on Saturday. By the way, both of those shows are sold out. I am told that there will be no tickets at the door (except maybe from scalpers/people with extras).

The Pool Party this weekend is instead at Brooklyn Bowl.

Pavement play a ticketed show at Williamsburg Waterfront on September 19th. Tickets are actually still available, but that hasn't stopped Rocks Off from offering an alternative way to see the show...

"Wanna see Pavement's show at the Williamsburg Waterfront? Too bad sucka - it sold out quicker than you could say "step on a crack and break yo mamma's back." But lucky for you the stage faces the water.. and its fucking LOUD - we know, we tested it our during the Faith No More show. Took a boat out to watch and listen for ourselves. In fact, all the shows that happen there, we can hear all the way across the river at our marina at East 23rd Street. So we KNOW you're gonna be able to hear and see from the boat. And guess what... you can drink $5 beers on the boat. And you won't have to get a wristband from one vendor to then buy drink tix from another venndor to then walk through gated turnstiles and turn the ticket in for beer from yet a third vendor. Then you gotta stay in the penn and drink that shit like the piggy in Animal Farm. Fun Fun fun Til Your Daddy Takes the 12 Ounce Away.

We gonna make it nice and easy. And for only TWENTY BUCKS. Fuck man. We'll probably even be sure to leave late enough to make you not have to sit through that whiny chick from the Wizard. Come on out with us so we can point and laugh at the suckas who paid twice our price!" [Rocks Off]

Speaking of Pavement, more openers have been confirmed. Endless Boogie open the Summerstage show on Thursday, September 23rd. The Beets open Friday, September 24th. Openers for the other three NYC shows are listed HERE, but maybe there will be two openers for each show because Endless Boogie (who just released a new album on Tuesday - MP3 above) tell me that they may be opening at the Waterfront show too, and Slothbear say they're also opening the 23rd.

by BBG

Cro-Mags at Santos (more by Paul Birman)

In a show that could possibly rival the infamous Eyehategod-on-a-boat rager from October of last year, NYC hardcore greats Cro-Mags will play the Temptress on August 11th. Tickets are on sale. Bets are on as to how many people will attempt to dive off of the top floor into the crowd below.

The next day (8/12), the rage continues as Murphy's Law will play the Temptress as part of Jimmy Gestapo's "annual birthday bash". Tickets are still on sale. Murphy's Law have a DVD and a pair of new LPs on the way, a covers LP and an album of new material. The band will also reissue previous releases on vinyl via I Scream Records.

Full Murphy's Law dates and some video is below...

Continue reading "Cro-Mags playing a boat, Murphy's Law too & other dates "

words by BBG, photos by Alysse Gafkjen

"Floated around Manhattan in a boat with Dead Meadow and some friends, amazing show and loved the skyline as our backdrop" - Lucy Ellis

Does psychedelia nullify seasickness? Dead Meadow tested the limits of that theory when the band played a Rocks Off boat cruise on 6/11 as part of an ongoing tour in support of their new live DVD/CD combo Three Kings. Naam, who headlined Cake Shop two days before, opened the show. Full tour dates, which last through the remainder of June, are with more pictures from the show (though none of Naam this time), below...

Continue reading "Dead Meadow played a boat (pics) "

The Jewel (more by Tracy Allison)

It's beautiful out. Get on a boat!

words & photos by Tracy Allison

DOWNLOAD: Deer Tick - Sun Street (Katrina & the Waves cover) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Deer Tick - 20 Miles (MP3)

Last night (6/7), Deer Tick played a private show on the Rocks Off Concert Cruise boat The Jewel in celebration of their friend's birthday. Around 7 p.m., a line wrapped around the pier on 23rd street and FDR while approximately 200 close friends slowly began to board the boat for the surprise party.

The evening began with the members of Deer Tick playing backup for singer-songwriter Jonny Corndawg, who engaged the entire audience to the point in which everyone in sight began shouting along to the music and providing backup vocals for his song "Shut Up".

Around 9 p.m., Deer Tick took the stage- a very dimly lit area that took up the entire bow of the lower half of the boat. The theme for the night (aside from sailor hats and lei necklaces) seemed to be getting iced: John McCauley, sporting a gold tooth and straw hat, took a knee three times during Deer Tick's set to chug a Smirnoff Ice. McCauley began the set by singing the words, "I've got a cock that's hard as a rock/Every time I see my Johnny", a special song he wrote for the birthday boy.

"Let's do something stupid and maybe tomorrow we'll remember it." McCauley said before setting down his beer and beginning to play "Easy". Throughout the course of the 90 minute set, Deer Tick played songs from their previous two albums War Elephant and Born on Flag Day, as well as cover songs such as Lightnin' Hopkins' "Bring Me By Shotgun" and Tom Petty's "Breakdown" which provided a segway into a beautifully violent version of "These Old Shoes."

McCauley then stated, "We're going to do a cover song. Maybe you guys have heard of it..." and began to sing "Happy Birthday", which was followed by the birthday boy getting iced and the entire band shotgunning beers.

Towards the middle of the set, the noise began to mellow out with a slowed down rendition of "Diamond Rings 2007" with the lyrics changed to, "What good would fingers be/If it weren't for onion rings/Now I know you're leaving me/So I'm going to Burger King." However, things quickly began to pick up again, Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus joined the band for a song, and the audience went wild dancing and cheering as Deer Tick finished up their set with the appropriately chaotic "La Bamba".

The Jewel returned to the dock at 11 p.m., with no one completely content returning to land after such an amazing night on the East River.

Deer Tick's new album The Black Dirt Sessions is out TODAY (6/8). A track from that album is on the top of this post (Amazon is giving away the same song too) along with the track Deer Tick did for our Katrina and the Waves cover EP. They kick off a tour with shows at Maxwell's and Webster Hall this July. More pictures from the boat below...

Continue reading "Deer Tick & Corndawg played a birthday party on a boat (pics) "

words by BBG, photos by Keith Marlowe

The Giraffes on a Rocks Off Boat Cruise

Goes Cube will play June 11th at the Bell House, possibly their final show in 2010:

As individuals, it's a major year for us, as well. This summer, Matt Tyson (bass) and his wife will welcome twins into the world. Meanwhile, David and his wife are moving out of New York City to an undisclosed location (even to them) somewhere out west.

Obviously, with such big plans (the next full length, the EP), this is not the end of Goes Cube. No way.... The soonest we will be conceivably playing again in NYC would be this fall (we've already been invited to play CMJ). However, depending on how things go, it may be longer than that. And consider this: the next time we DO play NYC, it will be as a touring band. After all, it's not worth David coming all the way back to NYC for one show.

So, it stands to reason we'd put together a really fun show to celebrate.... Joining us on the bill will be two bands who have become incredibly close friends of ours, influences on our music, and who we've shared the road with: The Giraffes and East Of The Wall.

Goes Cube recently released "Property" b/w "The Ban Has Been Lifted" 7" via The End Records. Want one? I have FIVE available for giveaway! Details on how to win are at the bottom of this post.

For those of you who can't make it to the Bell House, you will get a shot to catch East Of The Wall in NYC at The Studio At Webster Hall on July 30 with Black Cobra, Howl, and Struck by Lightning (tickets), and/or The Charleston when they play with Name on August 2nd.

Meanwhile, The Giraffes have been ragin' away, most recently on a Rocks Off Boat Cruise on June 3rd. Pics from the (absolute) mayhem are below...

Continue reading "The Giraffes played a boat (pics), playing w/ Goes Cube (their last show for a while) & East Of The Wall in Brooklyn"

photos by Rachel Carr

All Leather

All Leather, the dude (Justin Pearson) from the Locust, was supposed to play Market Hotel tonight. As you know, Market Hotel was closed and shows have been relocated - most to other Brooklyn venues, and one to a boat. $10 tickets are still available for tonight's show (Friday, 5/7) on the Half Moon. I don't know too much about the Dim Mak-signed All Leather (hence the procrastination that led to this last minute post), but at a minimum I wouldn't mind seeing the opener The Death Set out on the high seas.

All Leather was the opener at a show with with NoBunny and Japandroids at the Echoplex in LA earlier on his tour. Pictures from that show, with an All Leather video and all dates (most with Yip Yip) below....

Continue reading "All Leather played LA w/ Japandroids & NoBunny (pics), playing a boat in NYC TONIGHT (and other dates)"