photos by Bryan Bruchman

The Rapture

The Rapture, Crystal Castles & A-Trak played a show at DCTV firehouse in Chinatown on Saturday night (10/22). Here are some pictures from the dance party (hopefully you danced with that lineup!). They continue below...

Continue reading "The Rapture, Crystal Castles & A-Trak played a SPIN/Ray-Ban CMJ party @ DCTV (pics)"

photos by Tim Griffin

As you may have heard, SPIN is throwing a Ray Ban-sponsored party in NYC Saturday night with the giant lineup that is the Rapture, Crystal Castles and A-Trak. They're giving away tickets through various methods. One of those is right here on BrooklynVegan. For instructions on how you can enter to win a pair (if you're 21+), see below.

The Rapture were just on a tour that brought them to La Zona Rosa in Austin on 10/12. Here are some pictures from that show too. More of them with the contest details, below...

Continue reading "The Rapture played La Zona Rosa (pics), playing SPIN party Saturday w/ Crystal Castles & A-Trak (win tix!)"

photos by Ryan Muir

The Rapture @ SPIN

The Rapture, whose last proper NYC show was a sold out one at Music Hall of Williamsburg, play a sold out show at Webster Hall tonight (9/23) as part of a larger tour in support of their recently released DFA album. Tonight's show, with Chain and the Gang, is now sold out. Earlier this week the the Rapture played six songs at an invite-only event at SPIN's NYC offices...

"Opening with a newbie, "In The Grace of Your Love," the guys warmed up the already-sweaty room before delving into four classics: "Get Myself Into It," "W.A.Y.U.H.," "House of Jealous Lovers" and "Echoes." The band's antics showed not an ounce of age, which can sadly often cripple performers aiming to reestablish themselves years later. The Rapture, however, moved and wailed with the energy and passion of teenagers and immediately brushed aside any notion that time had gone by.

I was close enough to see Luke Jenner close his ultramarine blue eyes and grip the mic as if he were right where he should be. Gabriel Andruzzi switched off between saxophone and cowbell, and to be honest, I am not sure which was more captivating. I have seriously never seen a cowbell upstage anyone before, and on Tuesday night, I'm confident I did." [Huffington Post]

Continue reading "The Rapture play Webster Hall tonight (SOLD OUT), played a SPIN party (pics)"

photos by David Andrako

Anna Calvi played a private show on the roof of Spin's offices as part of their "Spin House Live" series last night (7/28). She played a public show at LPR the night before (7/27). The shows were her only US appearances as part of a July visit that also included a stop on David Letterman where she played "Desire". She does hit Osheaga in Montreal this weekend before she heads back to Europe though.

We posted LPR pics. SPIN pics are in this post. More of them and the Letterman video below...

Continue reading "Anna Calvi played Letterman & Spin House too (pics, video)"

photos by Graeme Flegenheimer

TVOTR @ Stubb's (SPIN Party)

"Since TV On The Radio is preparing to drop Nine Types Of Light soon, I just assumed that its Spin party set would be heavy on new, untested material. And as the band slowly warmed up with a few free-jazz drones while Dave Sitek attached a giant set of wind chimes to the end of his guitar, those assumptions turned to worry that said new material was going to herald the beginning of the group's deathly dull "blue period" or something. But all fears were allayed by the crash of opening number "Young Liars," as TVOTR went all the way back to the beginning to remind fans why they'd been missed during their hiatus. Older numbers like "Staring At The Sun" got the benefit of the band's newly forged arena-rock assault, with the set never once waning in energy as it barreled through uptempo songs such as "Dancing Choose" and "Wolf Like Me." Tunde Adebimpe introduced new number "Repetition" by asking everyone whether they would dance if they played it: "But what if it's terrible?" he asked. No worries there. The group turned in easily the best set I've seen all week." [AV Club]

Since Austin, TV on the Radio (whose new album is now up for pre-order) have announced who will be opening for them on their upcoming tour. It varies by date. Some shows have Lissie Trullie, others get Glasser, some are with Celebration, and the Radio City show will be opened by Light Asylum.... who play Glasslands in Brooklyn with Banjo or Freakout tonight (3/25). Radio City tickets are still on sale.

All dates (with openers listed), those pictures, and TV on the Radio's new video for "Will Do", below...

Continue reading "TVOTR made a video, played SXSW, announced tour openers (Light Asylum opens Radio City & plays Glasslands tonight)"

TV on The Radio at Roots Picnic 2009 (more by Tim Griffin)

Tickets are still available for TV On The Radio's date with Radio City Music Hall on 4/13, and since we last spoke the band announce many more tour dates. They kick things off on 4/8 in Philly and all dates are listed below.

Those heading to Austin this month don't need to wait as long. Spin has announced their annual SXSW party (that Hole played last year) and the lineup includes TV on the Radio, The Kills, OMD, The Vaccines, OFF!, and the Smith Westerns on the main stage, with MNDR, Young the Giant, Dom, Electric Child, and 28 North holding down the indoor stage. Skrillex, Wolfgang Gartner, Designer Drugs, and Anika man the 1's and 2's. It happens 12:30 - 6PM at Stubb's on Friday, 3/18 (about a block away from the TBA BrooklynVegan party happening that day - stay tuned!)

OFF! probably wont be off too much during SXSW. The Keith Morris-led band, in addition to the Spin party, the Pitchfork #OFFLINE party, and an official showcase, are also playing other shows including the just-announced MWTX fest (formerly Mess With Texas)! The free show goes down on 3/19 at The East Side Drive Inn (where Pitchfork's #OFFLINE festival will be the two days prior) and will feature appearances from The Dead Milkmen, Odd Future, !!!, Surfer Blood, The Dodos, Deer Tick, and many others. The full lineup so far is below. (and there's also BrooklynVegan parties this day, but MWTX runs much later, so you can do both!) (stay tuned for more about that).

Off! hits the road with Trash Talk soon after SXSW, and play Santos Party House on 3/26 (tickets are still on sale).

This now makes three shows total for the Dead Milkmen who also have shows coming up in Brooklyn and Chicago.

All TVOTR tour dates, the MWTX lineup (thus far) and the flyer is below.

Continue reading "TVOTR playing SXSW & touring, Dead Milkmen playing MWTX"

Both Rolling Stone and Spin Magazines have released their top LPs of the year. Guess who tops them both? Full lists below....

Continue reading "Rolling Stone & SPIN list their 'best albums of 2010'"

photos by Bao Nguyen

Local Natives

Local Natives played a private SPIN/Ray Ban party (that we gave away a pair of tickets to) at the Firehouse (87 Lafayette St.) in NYC on October 21st, the same night as the BrooklynVegan showcase at MHOW. Local Natives will be back to play two nights at Webster Hall this week. Titus Andronicus, who played a short set at our Saturday day party at Public Assembly, opened the SPIN show. Animal Collective's Geologist DJ'd. More pictures below...

Continue reading "Local Natives & Titus Andronicus played the Firehouse (pics)"

Local Natives @ Sasquatch 2010 (more by Chris Graham)

There is so much going on tonight. Here are two more sort-of-options.

Local Natives (who have two shows coming up at Webster Hall) are playing their only CMJ-week show at a secret venue for SPIN and Ray Ban with Titus Andronicus (who play two more shows Saturday - ours and Pitchfork's). The SPIN show is invite-only, but I have a pair of tickets to giveaway. Oh and Geologist from Animal Collective is spinning. Details and flyer below.

Also on the sort of invite-only tip is Cut Chemist who is playing a record release party at the Red Bull Space. The difference here, is that the address is on this flyer (below), and Cut Chemist posted the RSVP info too.

All Local Natives tour dates are down there, with contest details and flyers, too....

Continue reading "Local Natives play SPIN/Ray Ban show w/ Titus Andronicus tonight (win tix), Cut Chemist is @ Red Bull Space"

...with a choir and an orchestra with strings and horns. Mindblowing, mesmerizing, massive, epic, surreal, amazing, glorious, fantastic, "Best Concert Ever", "I can Die Happy Now"... whatever adjective you choose, Spiritualized was it at Radio City Music Hall on Friday night. Jason Pierce and band performed their most acclaimed album, 1997's Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space, in NYC's swankiest venue, followed by a 2-song, 'spellbindingly sensational' encore of "Out Of Sight" and "Oh Happy Day" to close out the setlist.

The Friday night show was the fifth of five ZYNC-presented SPIN 25th Anniversary shows (the other four were all at Terminal 5). And thankfully there was an online stream, so those who couldn't be at the concert, could still experience it live, and can probably experience it later since the whole thing is sure to show up in various bootleg forms including on YouTube fairly soon. Speaking of the stream, since it's Friday night and the show just ended and we won't have any real pictures anytime soon, a whole bunch more stream screen caps that still give you a good idea of what it looked like, continue below...

Continue reading "Spiritualized played Ladies & Gentlemen @ Radio City..."

photos by Matthew Eisman

"They opened with a strong, stirring rendition of "Start A War" (Featuring the immortal lyrics: "You were always weird but I never had to hold you by the edges like I do now. Walk away now. And you're gonna start a war.") and they never looked back. Highlights included stellar performances of "Bloodbuzz, Ohio," "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks," "Fake Empire" and "Mr. November" some charming, semi spastic arm waving gestures by the tall skinny lead singer with the wonderfully soulful baritone voice and a delicious veggie dog from the roof deck. They closed the show with "Terrible Love"--the opening song from their newest album. The only disappointment for me was they they did not perform "Racing Like a Pro" or the magnificent "Gospel." But it was a really great night. And a great live musical christening of my second half century." [Teddy Vegas]

Continue reading "The National, Suckers & Kurt Vile @ Terminal 5 (SPIN 25) - pics, setlist, live audio "

photos by Diana Wong

"Black keys midnight show at Terminal 5 melted my face. I officially have no fuckin face!" - Joe Thompson

Despite playing a headlining show at Summerstage earlier in the evening, the Black Keys still managed to melt faces for 90 minutes and 22 songs at Terminal 5 last night (7/28). The SPIN/ZYNC show, the third in a series of five, was opened by The Whigs and Lee Fields and the Expressions (including some familiar Daptone faces)...

"But the show belonged to Auerbach and Carney -- even when they had help. About halfway into the set, two members of Fields' backing band came out to play bass and keyboard for a few numbers. The extra muscle made songs such as Brother's "Everlasting Light" sound a tad conventional when compared to the lean aggression that fired "I Got Mine," from 2008's Attack & Release, but the former song's creeping eighth note bassline and eerie, clanging keyboard stabs were thrilling in their own right." [SPIN]

Continue reading "The Black Keys, Lee Fields & the Whigs played Terminal 5 (SPIN 25) - pics & setlist"

photos by Vincent Cornelli

"Everyone always says that when bands play places like L.A. and New York that no one wants to have a good time," frontman Wayne Coyne told the giddy crowd at Manhattan's Terminal 5 before The Flaming Lips' show last night. "But I think that's fucking bullshit!" [SPIN]

Continue reading "Flaming Lips & Fang Island played Terminal 5 (pics & setlist)"

photos by Jen Maler

"Billy Corgan says something about being our rock n roll puppet, still has beef w/ Pavement, mimes puppet him killing "guy from Pavement"" - BrooklynVegan

"LOL, one guess at the only thing @BrooklynVegan cared about from tonight's show. It's just too easy for Billy to troll the indie bloggers..." - Hipsters United (a blog about the Smashing Pumpkins)

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan had one message for long-time fans last night: I'm sorry.

The indie rocker issued the apology for reasons that remained unclear Monday night during a sold-out performance at Spin magazine's 25th anniversary concert at Terminal 5.

"For the old-school fans, sorry for what I've done to you," lamented the crooner, who headlined the event.

"We love you guys. Thank you so much." [NBC]

Don't forget that all five SPIN shows, including tonight's Flaming Lips show, are streaming online. For part of the show last night I was watching the stage with one eye, and the live video they were capturing with the other (on a TV screen), and the video was actually more fun to watch. They were doing a great job thanks in part to the serious set up they have going on with cameras flying over people's heads and on stage and in the photo pit.

The venue was decked out with SPIN magazines - on tables and pasted on the walls along with "Zync Zones" and other sponsor stuff.

It's hard to get past the new band, and I wasn't really expecting much from the Billy Corgan show, but they sounded and looked (lights, stage setup, outfits) good. There was lots of wailing by Billy and a bunch of highlights in the set list, which you can see below with more pictures and some videos (grabbed from the stream) from the show...

Continue reading "Smashing Pumpkins @ Terminal 5, NYC (SPIN 25) - pics, setlist"

It's a busy week for big NYC shows. The Flaming Lips are here for two performances, starting with the gig tonight/Monday at Central Park SummerStage. Oneida opens. The Flaming Lips show Tuesday night at Terminal 5 is part of the Spin25 series of gigs running each day this week.

Spin25, sponsored by American Express's new ZYNC card (as you can see in the picture above), kicks off with Smashing Pumpkins tonight at Terminal 5, and continues with Flaming Lips on July 27th, the Black Keys on July 28th, the National on July 29th (all at Terminal 5), and Spiritualized on July 30th at Radio City. Show openers are listed below (Spiritualized, which has no opener, is the only one with tickets available currently).

THIS WEEK AT TERMINAL 5
7/26 - Smashing Pumpkins @ Terminal 5 (w/ Kill Hannah & The Jim Jones Revue)
7/27 - The Flaming Lips @ Terminal 5 (w/ Fang Island)
7/28 - The Black Keys @ Terminal 5 (w/ Lee Fields & The Expressions & The Whigs)
7/29 - The National @ Terminal 5 (w/ Suckers & Kurt Vile)
7/30 - Spiritualized playing Ladies and Gentlemen (TICKETS)

You can also watch the shows online: SPIN & ZYNC are streaming them.

Several of the above bands have more shows this week too. The Black Keys play two SummerStage shows with the Morning Benders on July 27th and 28th (the second being the an early show on same night they play T5). Those two shows are also a tour kick-off for the two bands. All dates below.

The National also play Celebrate Brooklyn on Tuesday, July 27th with Beach House opening. They'll be back in September for a show at Wellmont Theatre with Owen Pallett who opens both Arcade Fire shows at MSG next week.

Contest details and dates below...

Continue reading "SPIN 25 this week (win tix, stream the shows) ++ it's a busy week w/ more Black Keys, Flaming Lips & National shows too "

The Flaming Lips in Poughkeepsie in April (more by Ryan Muir)

Remember the five Spin 25th Anniversary shows announced in March? Here they are:

7/26 - Smashing Pumpkins @ Terminal 5
7/27 - The Flaming Lips @ Terminal 5
7/28 - The Black Keys @ Terminal 5 (a late show)
7/29 - The National @ Terminal 5
7/30 - Spiritualized playing Ladies and Gentlemen in its entirety @ Radio City Music Hall

The Spin shows are sponsored by American Express Zync, just like the National @ BAM show that happened in May.

The National have other dates (including Radio City June 16th) coming up. The Flaming Lips and the Black Keys both play Central Park SummerStage around the time of the T5 shows. In fact, the July 28th T5 show is late show following one of the Black Keys SummerStage shows.

Some related recent videos below...

Continue reading "Flaming Lips, Black Keys & the National, Smashing Pumpkins & Spiritualized playing SPIN 25th birthday shows (on sale now)"

photos by Ryan Barkan

But then it all started to slip away, as Ms. Love's abuse of cocaine and prescription pills took a toll. She became a tabloid regular, famous for behavior like flashing her breasts at David Letterman. It was hard to imagine her ever being taken seriously again. "I have lived the worst parts of my life in public," she said earnestly, "and now my band and I have made a relevant record."

"I went all in," she added. "I bet the farm on this record, which is dangerous, but great in a way, because when you do that, you have nowhere else to go. There is no Plan B."

The challenge is to make the quality of the music eclipse Ms. Love's tabloid celebrity, said David Massey, the president of Mercury. The label gave Ms. Love a multi-album deal just four months ago, before the recording was finished. "The decision to sign the band was entirely music driven," he said. "It's now become such a complete, great record that I'm blown away. One thing that impressed me when I got to know Courtney were her lyrics and ideas. Nobody else is doing such raw, truthful music." [NY Times]

Before those, there will be an acoustic in-store performance at the Best Buy Union Square on Monday, April 26th at midnight (aka when you can buy Hole's new album, Nobody's Daughter, which comes out April 27th). Details on that are below.

The band then heads to Europe before returning to the US for more shows this June. One of those will be a Friday, June 25th gig at NJ's Wellmont Theatre. Tickets go on sale at noon.

The picture above and more below are from the group's appearance at Spin day party at SXSW at Stubb's on March 19th. There are also pics of the other bands that played that show - Rogue Wave, Fucked Up, Miike Snow and Sharon Jones. Those, with the setlist, all tour dates and a teaser video for the record are below...

Continue reading "Hole adds a NJ show, an acoustic NYC in-store & other dates ++ pics from SPIN @ SXSW (w/ Courtney, Fucked Up & more) "

"The pinnacle of the 25th anniversary events will be a marathon week of music programming in July, called "SPIN's 25 Hours of Music." In partnership with the Bowery Presents, SPIN will produce five consecutive nights of concerts throughout New York City, featuring artists that have made the greatest music of the past 25 years. These ticketed events are being sponsored by VTech and Vitamin Water."

PREVIOUSLY: Hole are playing SPIN's SXSW party

There have been a few "big" SXSW-related announcements over the past few weeks. Stone Temple Pilots will be there. Big Star will too. Broken Bells are making a high profile appearance at the NPR show at Stubb's on March 17th (the show Spoon headlines). And... "Hole" is headlining the invite-only SPIN day party at Stubb's on Friday, March 19th. Crazy Courtney Love (who is on the cover of the new SPIN) has an all new band and a new album entitled Nobody's Daughter (out April 27th). If she actually shows up to Austin, as anyone that was at All Points West in 2009 can attest, I'm sure this year's SXSW will be full of Courtney sightings all week long.

It was previously reported that because of founding Hole member Eric Erlandson's legal rights to the band name, the new album would have to be released as a Courtney Love record. That seems to have been resolved. It was also originally/occasionally reported/misreported that bassist Melissa Auf der Maur would be part of the reunion, though that doesn't seem to be the case either. Instead, the lineup for Hole will include "23-year-old British guitarist Micko Larkin (formerly of London indie rockers Larrikin Love), bassist Shawn Dailey (of Rock Kills Kid), and drummer Stuart Fisher. (Jack Irons, formerly of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam, played drums on the album.)"

"Skinny Little Bitch," a track from the new Hole album, is available on the record's site today (3/4) only.

After SXSW, Hole has shows scheduled in L.A., NYC and the UK in April and May. The band plays Terminal 5 on Tuesday, April 27nd. Tickets are on sale Friday, March 12th at noon.

All tour dates, a recent Hole TV performance and the new song are below...

Continue reading "'Hole' playing NYC, LA, UK, SXSW - new MP3 free today only"

photos by Paul Birman

Contest winners and others who managed to get themselves on the guestlist were treated to a free show by Violens and Girl Talk at Hiro Ballroom in NYC last night (5/28). Hiro isn't the smallest venue, but it's much, much smaller than where Greg Gillis played the last three times he was in NYC. More pictures from the show, below...

Continue reading "Girl Talk & Violens @ Hiro Ballroom (Canon/SPIN party) - pics"

"Enter to win a new Canon PowerShot digital camera-- and tickets to see Girl Talk on May 28th in New York City! Just upload a concert photo that you've taken and you can be a winner! There will be 125 winners in all."

Continue reading "see Girl Talk at Hiro Ballroom, win a Canon camera too "

photos by Jacob Blickenstaff

Hot Legs @ the SPIN party @ Stubb's in Austin - March 20, 2009

AUSTRALIA's THE AGE's SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST BREAKDOWN

Bizarre supergroup: Tinted Windows features members of Hanson, Cheap Trick, Smashing Pumpkins and Fountains of Wayne playing catchy guitar-pop.

The pin-up: Sienna-lookalike Little Boots combines pre-recorded beats with synth and live drummer.

Commercial breakthrough: Cutesy New Yorkers Chairlift are already featured on an iPod ad.

Novelty act: Hot Leg is the new 1980s hair-metal project for Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins.

Critical darlings: UK act Mumford and Sons and their four-part harmonies.

Stadium potential: London goths White Lies attempt to merge U2 and the Killers. Playing Splendour in the Grass.

Crowd favourite: Boston act Passion Pit -- big on hand claps and synths.

Best new band name: Airborne Toxic Event have just signed to Universal and combine Bruce Springsteen and the Hold Steady.

More pictures Jacob took on Friday, below...

Continue reading "SXSW 2009 - Day 3 in photos by Jacob"

Meat Puppets @ ATP NY 2008 (more by Abbey Braden)

Stubb's in Austin is like Roseland Ballroom in NYC, except it's outdoors, it's conveniently located downtown near all the other venues, and you actually want to go see shows there (in my experience anyway). A lot of the "big" SXSW shows happen there. Last year Stubb's hosted R.E.M. and Motorhead. Metallica is still rumored to be playing there on the Friday night (which may or may not be the same show Jane's Addiction is or isn't playing). It's where the Decemberists will play their new album for the first time on that Wednesday, and it's where Andrew Bird is playing on the Thursday. PJ Harvey plays there that Saturday.

Each Stubb's bill has up to seven artists, and I think more than any other venue, they put together some... interesting combinations. Gomez is playing before Andrew Bird who is playing before Ben Harper. PJ Harvey and John Parrish are opening for... The Indigo Girls who are opening for... Third Eye Blind. AND, last but not least, The Meat Puppets are playing after... KATY PERRY. View the whole schedule, as it currently stands, at SXSW's site.

There are a couple of other big bands playing SXSW this year that I wanted to mention. The first is New York Dolls - they're playing Friday March 20th at 12:30 AM at Smokin' Music. The second is Echo and the Bunnymen - the UK band that recently headlined Radio City Music Hall have THREE official showcases scheduled in Austin, and they're scheduled to play the annual SPIN party at the 2500 (approx)-capacity Stubb's on Friday, March 20th, in the afternoon. Glasvegas, Passion Pit, Hot Leg (Justin Hawkins from the Darkness), Black Lips, and Cut Off Your Hands are also on SPIN's (invite only) bill.

Hot Leg also plays an official showcase Saturday night at Emo's Annex.
Videos below...

Full SXSW schedule at SXSW's site.
Lots more SXSW coverage right here at BrooklynVegan.

Continue reading "Katy Perry vs. Meat Puppets -- Stubb's -- New York Dolls, Echo & the Bunnymen, Hot Leg and other SXSW stuff"

Albert Hammond Jr. is playing a free show at the Virgin Megastore in Union Square at 8pm today (July 8, 2008)

He's also playing a sort-of-private SPIN Magazine show in NYC tomorrow (July 9, 2008) at Hiro Ballroom . I have two pairs of tickets to giveaway to that one. To get them, email BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: hammond). Include your first and last name. Two people will be picked and contacted. For another chance of winning, you can try for one of the 200 TICKETS GBH is giving away.

Like the recent show at Mercury Lounge, all this Albert Hammond hoopla is timed to coincide with the release of his latest album "Como Te Llama" which you can currently stream in its entirety at AOL.

Albert is also playing McCarren Pool in August with Regina Spektor (not to be confused with Ronnie Spector who played McCarren Pool this past Sunday). All tour dates below....

Continue reading "Albert Hammond Jr shows today & tomorrow + album stream "

X @ SXSW SPIN party - March 14, 2008

X played the SPIN day party at Stubb's during SXSW. I stopped by to check them out, but wasn't feeling it, so I left after a few songs. Somehow I missed the fact that Perry Farrell introduced them, though I did notice Perry and his girlfriend walking around the Playboy party the night before.

Tickets are on sale for a May 24th X show at Irving Plaza with Detroit Cobras who are also headlining a show at Maxwell's the next day. All dates below....

Continue reading "X - 2008 Tour Dates w/ Detroit Cobras, played SXSW"