Ever wish you could hear Roxy Music songs as Prohibition-era jazz instrumentals? Jazz Age, the new album from The Bryan Ferry Orchestra, does just that, making Roxy classics like "Do the Strand" and "Love is the Drug" sound like they were recorded on '78s. Colin Good, a film composer who also fronts a '30s-ish jazz band Vile Bodies, worked with Ferry to get that appropriately tinny sound. You can stream a few tracks below and listen to the whole record at NPR.

Continue reading "The Bryan Ferry Orchestra reworked Roxy Music songs as old-timey jazz (stream)"

Welcome to the first in a series of holiday gift guides here on BrooklynVegan. For this one we've partnered with American Express as part of their Points For Presents program. That means I'll run through a whole bunch of my own gift ideas, like I would normally, but then I'll show how you can pay with Membership Rewards points which you might be earning if you happen to have an eligible American Express card. Let's get right into it...

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1) Hurricane Sandy Relief

Don't forget about those affected by Hurricane Sandy this holiday season. There are lots of avenues to help. I told my parents not to buy me any clothes this year, but that if they insist on shopping, to buy stuff for hurricane victims instead.

Another way to donate is with Membership Rewards points.

Gift Guide continued below....

Continue reading "2012 Holiday Gift Ideas"

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

Bryan Ferry is in the midst of a rare US tour that hits NYC on Thursday, but first brought him to Montclair, NJ's Wellmont Theater last night (10/4). Before Jersey was DC:

"This was Ferry's first D.C. area visit since his latest release, 2010's "Olympia," but he barely acknowledged that album. Instead, the singer presented two sets of greatest cult hits, featuring such Roxy Music standards as "Avalon" but heavy on other people's tunes he's claimed as his own. Ferry wore a black suit and tie -- white shirt for the first hour, black for the second -- and performed R & B stompers (Wilbert Harrison's "Let's Stick Together") and craggy rockers (Neil Young's "Like a Hurricane") as if they were cut from the same Savile Row cloth as his urbane originals." [Washington Post]

Continue reading "Bryan Ferry played NJ's Wellmont Theater (pics & setlist), hits Beacon Theatre Thursday"

by BBG

The velvety voice of Roxy Music and solo artist Bryan Ferry CBE (I think dude deserves a "Sir") recently released his thirteenth solo album Olympia. Featuring Kate Moss on the cover, the LP spans twelve tracks including "You Can Dance" which was given a video treatment and was performed on Letterman earlier this year (videos are below).

Ferry will tour the world to celebrate. His upcoming live dates include Israel, Russia, Europe, and the United States for the first time since 2002! Some might remember when Ferry played Beacon Theatre back in 2002. Some might remember his shows at the NYC venue in 1994. Bryan will return to NYC's Beacon Theatre on October 6th as part of a TBA fall tour that also includes Wellmont Theater in NJ on October 4th.

Tickets for the NJ show go on sale Friday. Tickets for the NYC show go on sale at 10AM on Thursday (6/16) with a presale code of "HEAVALON".

All currently announced tour dates (more TBA?) and videos below...

Continue reading "Bryan Ferry released 'Olympia', announcing tour dates (Beacon Theater presale being soon)"

The title of this post is how an October 4th Santa Barbara show is being billed. There's also a September 20th Atlanta show on sale. As previoulsy posted, David Byrne and Brian Eno are going on tour. UPDATE: People don't think Brian Eno will actually be going on this tour.