"Every time I mention I like her or Justin
on Twitter though I lose like 20 followers," - Grimes

DOWNLOAD: Doldrums - She is the Wave (MP4)

Grimes at MHOW, 10/25/2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

There is no doubt Grimes has had an amazing, perhaps overwhelming, year, selling out four 600-capacity nights in NYC recently to her album Visions ending up on many Best Albums of 2012 lists (like Rough Trade Shops, NME and Fred Armisen's). But what did Claire Boucher pick as her favorite albums of the year? We asked her and you can check out what she told us below.

She cheated a bit though, listing her tour-mates and Arbutus Records label-mate Doldrums' Lesser Evil as her #1, which doesn't actually come out till February 23, 2013, but if it's a list of what she heard in 2012 then we'll let it slide. You can download a track from that Doldrums album above or stream it below along with its music video.

Check out Grimes Top 10 (plus one more, actually) of 2012, which includes both Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift and possibly some inside jokes (we're just printing what she gave us), and that Doldrums song, below.

Continue reading "Grimes' Top 10 LPs of 2012 --- includes Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber & Doldrums' 2013 LP (stream a track)"

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Aaron Turner w Old Man Gloom @ Europa, 5/8/12 (more by Fred Pessaro)

As announced some weeks back, Hydra Head has come to a difficult juncture in our existence and the future of the label is precarious... We've arrived at the conclusion that it is no longer possible for us to continue releasing new albums, but rather than shut the label down completely, we're hoping to be able to continue in a capacity that would allow us to preserve and perpetuate our catalog of works by the large cast of truly amazing and groundbreaking artists we've been lucky enough to work with over the years. In order to do this we're asking for help from anyone and everyone that would like to see the label continue and who is willing to support us in this effort. This is not however a request for charity - we would like to offer something in exchange for whatever level of funding our potential benefactors (that is you), are willing to bestow upon us.

Meanwhile, Aaron Turner of Hydra Head / SIGE / Mamiffer / Old Man Gloom fame has dropped off his musings on music in 2012 in list form. Check that out below.

Continue reading "Hydra Head starts fundraiser to keep catalog in print ++ Aaron Turner lists his Top 10 2012 'albums or musical related events'"

Pallbearer at Knitting Factory, September 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

Decibel Magazine has compiled their annual list of top 40 albums of the year. As usual, there are some surprises but the 2012 top ten is basically a list of nine veterans with only a single newcomer to the bunch. The full list of top records of the year according to Decibel Magazine is below, along with a tweet from the winning band. Buy your copy HERE.

Continue reading "Decibel Magazine's top 40 LPs of 2012"

Via Buzzfeed & Laughing Squid, comes this handwritten list Kurt Cobain made, as published in Journals in 2002. Read the whole thing typed, below...

Continue reading "Kurt Cobain's 50 favorite albums"

Swans at Bowery Ballroom last night (photo by Chris Clarke)

Looks like Swans couldn't hold off the apocalypse two nights in a row. Their Music Hall of Williamsburg show with Devendra Banhart, which was the only major show still on tonight, has now been postponed. A tweet from Music Hall of Williamsburg confirms, "Tonight's Swans show is not happening. We're working to reschedule it b4 we make an official announcement but we will be closed to tonight."

"Swans aren't canceling their Bowery show tonight. That's pretty badass, but it's sort of impossible to get around the city tonight. #refund?" - Dylan Treadwell

"Swans. Single handedly attempting to protect New York with a force-field of post-punk-noise from their Bowery Ballroom fortress. #Godspeed" - Wazu

"Of course Swans are still doing their NYC show in the face of imminent natural disaster. #Frankenstorm #Sandy" - @bloodandwires

Swans @ Bowery Ballroom - 10/28/12 (photo via Chris Clarke)

With almost everything else in NYC being cancelled, Swans, who already sound like the eye of the storm, decided to keep their Bowery Ballroom show on last night (10/28). Sandy hasn't really kicked into full effect yet, but with NYC public transportation shut down, many people were unable to get to the sold out show. Did you go?

Grimes would have played Music Hall of Williamsburg last night (where Swans are still set to play tonight), but her show was cancelled. She tweeted, "Swans is the only band that didnt cancel their show tonight despite the hurricane lol SOOO awesome." Swans band member Thor Harris also took to twitter, saying, "Swans are playing Bowery Ballroom in NYC to ring in the apocolypse. See you all in Hell."

The show was their first of two NYC shows with Devendra Banhart, and the second is scheduled to happen tonight POSTPONED. Most shows in NYC are already cancelled, but perhaps unexpectedly, this one is still on at the moment. Tickets are also still available... if you dare.

Some more Instagrams from the Bowery show are below.

Continue reading "Swans actually played Bowery Ballroom; their MHOW show is still on as of this post too (UPDATE: now postponed)"

UPDATE: This post was mostly about Sunday. Monday's cancellations HERE.

We'll keep you posted, but at the moment, Swans @ Bowery, Sic Alps @ Knitting Factory, and the show at Cake Shop are still listed as happening. Most other Sunday night shows (and a bunch of Monday shows) we would have listed are cancelled or postponed due to Frankenstorm (Hurricane Sandy). Subways and buses stop running at 7pm which is also when people living in "Zone A" are supposed to be evacuated by.

UPDATE: The Juan Maclean's DJ set at Le Bain is also still on (as of this post) CANCELLED too.

UPDATE: The Men are playing Don Pedro.

Union Pool doesn't have a show tonight, but is open.

ASPCA reminds you: All pets are accepted on the subway, taxi and trains during evacuation.

Fontana's says, "Hey everyone - we're going to be open this evening till we can. At least 2am. All Manhattanites workin the shifts - come keep us company."

Pianos is closed.

The Living Room is closed.

Cake Shop's show is now cancelled, but they "might still be open upstairs for fun and the bored-at-home-with-only-comic-books-you-haven't-read-yet-from-the-early-2000's. Stay tuned."

Spectre Folk, who were set to open for Sic Alps, at Knitting Factory tonight "have cancelled due to weather related travel issues. The show will go on with Sic Alps and PC Worship but will end early (10pm)." Tickets are still available.

Hannibal Buress is stuck in Houston. Not sure if his Knitting Factory show is going on without him.

UCB: "Due to MTA shutdown, both ASSSSCAT 3000 shows are cancelled tonight. Refunds will be issued to ticket holders."

All shows past 5:30pm at UCB East are also cancelled.

Pretty Good Friends is cancelled at Union Hall which will also be closed Monday.

The Bell House postponed an event tonight, and sadly cancelled Monday's Pat Kiernan Halloween trivia night.

Grimes, who has been in NYC the past few nights for her sold out four-night run, was set to play her last of those shows at Music Hall of Williamsburg tonight with Elite Gymnastics and Majical Cloudz, but due to the incoming Frankenstorm, tonight's show has been cancelled. Refunds are available at the point of purchase.

Mercury Lounge is also cancelled/closed.

Brooklyn Bowl is closing at 6pm.

The Molly Nilsson show at Glasslands tonight has been cancelled.

The xx were scheduled to play their second of two shows at the Paradise Theater tonight. They write...

Due to safety concerns related to Hurricane Sandy and the MTA shutdown in New York, we have been forced to postpone our remaining shows in New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, including tonight's show at the Paradise in the Bronx. We are working with our partners to reschedule as soon as possible, so please hang on to your tickets and we'll advise as soon as we can. We'll have another announcement coming later in the week, including information on these shows and a new run of US dates in early 2013. In the meantime, please be safe. We'll be back to see you all soon.

Villains is cancelled at Saint Vitus who write "We are closed this evening due to mandatory evacuation of "zone A". Obviously Mayor Bloomberg is not a Metal Head. We will reopen as soon as we can. In the meantime, enjoy this!"

Child Abuse at The Paper Box is cancelled.

Cat Power's Philly show at the Electric Factory has been postponed to January 2.

Brandie Carlile and Blitzen Trapper were set to play their first of two Beacon Theater shows tonight, but both tonight's show and Monday's show have been postponed.

Drom has cancelled multiple Sunday & Monday shows.

Sunday & Monday shows at Joe's Pub are cancelled.

"Due to impending hurricane, S.O.B's will be closed Monday and Tuesday. Shows will be rescheduled at a later date."

The Trey Anastasio Band show at Capitol Theater has been postponed to Monday, November 5. All tickets for tonight's show will be honored.

Louis CK was set to wrap up his run at the New York City Center tonight but has postponed the shows until March 2. Read his letter about postponing HERE.

"Pace Presents at The Schimmel Center for the Arts is disappointed to announce that, due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy on the city, our 2012 Banjo Summit with BELA FLECK tonight, Sunday October 28, has been CANCELLED. We are currently in discussions with the artists regarding rescheduling this show. More information will be released as we have it. Again, our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. Stay safe and dry in the storm!"

Irving Plaza says, "Tonight's Xavier Rudd show is postponed. We're working on a rescheduled date, will send out info asap. Refunds avail at point of purchase."

The Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def) show at Apollo Theater, which was initially postponed to tonight from June 14, has now been cancelled.

"BAM Rose Cinemas will close today following the 4:40 screening of Argo. The cinemas will remain closed tomorrow and possibly Tuesday."

Blue Oyster Cult at Best Buy Theater is postponed.

Maxwell's says, "tonight's show with Ours has been postponed to Sunday, December 2nd. all tickets will be honored and refunds are available as well."

Carnegie Hall's Sunday & Monday shows are cancelled or postponed.

City Winery says, "Due to the inclimate weather in the New York area and the suspension of all major travel services tonight's (10/28/12) Shawn Colvin concert has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. The show has been rescheduled for February 3, 2013. In addition the Eric Hutchinson show scheduled for Monday, 10/29/12 has also been cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date."

If you had been planning on celebrating Halloween with Rusko at Pacha tonight, you'll have to settle for spending New Year's with him. Tonight's show has been postponed until December 30.

UPDATE: This post was mostly about Sunday. Monday's cancellations HERE.

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Swans @ Bowery Ballroom, 10/10/2012

No alarm, no text message notification, no construction site noise, no rowdy kids outside my window. Something far more sinister jarred me awake at 6AM on Wednesday... the thundering jackhammer of a migraine beating down on my head. My world was collapsing. After several hurried trips to the bathroom to vomit profusely, I shut all of the shades and tried to soundproof my room. Mental note: invest in a silent coffin.

Though my symptoms had mostly subsided by early that afternoon, I was still in positively no shape to see one of my favorite bands live later that night at Bowery Ballroom (10/10), the pounding, cro-magnon gods of no-wave known as Swans. I'm a man of my word though, so there I was on Delancey St. at the moment doors opened. Not to sound anything but blessed, but sometimes it's a good thing to force yourself out.

Easing into my night were the simple, the gypsy-laden carnival sounds of A Hawk & A Hacksaw who were light and fun, peppered with a shirtless dance from masked men. Accordian, dulcimer and electric violin were the main weapons of choice for the duo, who also employed an odd cross-breed between a violin and a horn that seemed to work off of contact mics and a single broken violin string. Regardless of instrumentation, A Hawk & a Hacksaw was far less brooding than Swans on their lightest day, but still fascinating and worth a watch. I felt the need to wear castanets.

Clad in black, Michael Gira just oozes intensity. His square jaw seemingly comes off the hinges for his anguished screams and he heaves his thrashing body, leaving trails of white hair in streaks behind him. Backed by a crew of five including a percussionist, drummer, guitar, bass and lap steel, Gira proceeded to hammer his way through new material at Bowery Ballroom last night. If there is one thing that Swans know that many others probably should, it is the value of a good crescendo. Swans take the lightest moments and build upon them gently, eventually crashing down in a full on primitive sledgehammer assault. Swans are a singular breed of brutality.

In the midst of a positively amazing set from Gira & company, I came to and remembered the hours that lead up to the Swans show... the migraine, the doubling over and subsequent blackout and isolation from society. The aches and pain were gone. I may have figured out a new cure for recovery... smash away the pain.

Pictures and the setlist from Bowery Ballroom are below. If you missed it last night, Swans play a pair of NYC dates at the end of October.

Continue reading "Swans played Bowery Ballroom with A Hawk & A Hacksaw (pics, setlist)"

Justin Vernon wants this image on his body

We already posted lots of posts today. Here's some more, and some reminders too...

Bon Iver's Justin Vernon is looking to get a tattoo based on '90s TV show Northern Exposure (which is where he got his band name) and maybe you can help? They play this week don't you know.

How did you spend your Occupy Wall Street anniversary? Possibly in temple? What are you doing tonight?

As you can see in this new set of Austin pictures, Twin Shadow bassist Russ Manning has been replaced. Russ is now focusing on his solo project Rush Midnight instead.

We interviewed Jack Tatum of Wild Nothing.

Duo AlunaGeorge made a video for their awesome, recently released single"Your Drums, Your Love" which you can watch below.

Out now on paperback (which I noticed via an ad on this site): Will Oldham on Bonnie 'Prince' Billy.

Check out pictures from this past weekend's A.V. Fest / Hideout Block Party (and here).

Can you beat Swans' Michael Gira at a staring contest? Try it below (via Pitchfork).

more stuff below...

Continue reading "Also: Justin Vernon seeks 'Northern Exposure' tattoo; Wye Oak on Papa Roach; 'Palmer Vs. Albini' Round 2, and much more"

Bob Mould

today in NYC
* Sherta @ Barbes
* Sarah Alden @ Barbes
* Kinda Green @ The Stone
* Kelly Joe Phelps @ Joe's Pub
* Elysian Fields @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Shy Hunters, Aaron Roche @ Zebulon
* Brown Rice Family @ The Greene Space
* Perkis, Park, & Eisenstadt @ The Stone
* DANCENOW Joe's Pub Festival @ Joe's Pub
* Starkey, Chrissy Murderbot @ Glasslands
* The Roots, Bob Weir @ The Capitol Theatre
* Sick of It All, CIV, Stigma @ Webster Hall
* Wreckless Eric, Amy Rigby @ Bowery Electric
* Devin, The Psyched, The Wilsen @ Glasslands
* Rustie, Flosstradamus, Brenmar @ Webster Hall
* Rafiq Bhatia, Pepepiano, Icewater @ Cameo Gallery
* Kreator, Accept, Swallow the Sun @ Best Buy Theatre
* Bright Moments, Leverage Models @ Knitting Factory
* Bob Mould, Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Williamsburg Park
* Psychobuildings, Steel Phantoms @ The Grand Victory
* The Shakes, Bad Doctors, Frank Hurricane @ Big Snow
* Rooftop Vigilantes, Big Tits, Cuss Words @ Cake Shop
* Har Mar Superstar, Computer Magic @ Knitting Factory
* Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (invite only) @ John Varvatos
* The Giraffes, Moon Hooch, Slothrust @ Mercury Lounge
* Patrick Watson, Great Lake Swimmers @ Bowery Ballroom
* Colleen Green, Total Slacker, Plateaus @ 285 Kent Avenue
* Xeno & Oaklander, Ike Yard, Led Er Est @ 285 Kent Avenue
* The Rapture, TV Baby And Gabe @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Runny, Bugs in the Dark, Lakookala, Seasick Mama @ The Gutter
* The Rapture (DJ Set), Midnight Magic (DJ Set) @ Public Assembly
* Omar Souleyman, Janka Nabay & The Bubu Gang, DJ Hutz @ The Well
* Cult of Youth, Pharmakon, Pink Reason, Zatsuon @ Public Assembly
* Xenia Rubinos, Railbird, Lady Lamb The Beekeeper @ The Rock Shop
* BLOWOFF (the DJ Sounds of Bob Mould & Richard Morel) @ Highline Ballroom
* Life Eaters, The Everymen, TV Sound, Tijuana Bibles @ Maxwell's
* Lightning Love, Miracles of Modern Science, Jamaican Queens @ Spike Hill
* Gemini Club, Nolita Kings, Love of Everything, Earthquake Party! @ Pianos
* Shark?, The Hairs, What Next?, The Weather Balloons, Hippy @ Shea Stadium
* Ava Luna, Ed Schrader's Music Beat, Lost Boy?, Indian Rebound @ Living Bread
* Matt Embree (Rx Bandits), Vinnie Caruana (I Am The Avalanche) @ Mercury Lounge

Indie rock legend Bob Mould (of Husker Du/Sugar) plays a free show at Williamsburg Park tonight where he'll play Sugar's 1992 debut Copper Blue in its entirety, plus a set of songs from throughout his long career. Doors are at 5:30 PM, Cymbals Eat Guitars are on at 6:30 PM. If you haven't heard Bob's new album, The Silver Age, it's very much in the Sugar vein and his best in a long while. Check out the video for his single "The Descent" below as well as video of him performing it on Letterman.

If you want even more Bob, he'll be at Highline Ballroom later as one-half of DJ duo Blowoff. Doors at 11:30

If you're going to see The Rapture tonight at their last show of a three-night run at Music Hall of Williamsburg, the afterparty happens right next door at Public Assembly with DJ sets by The Rapture and Midnight Magic. It's free.

Follow @BrooklynVegan on Twitter.
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Also follow @bvAustin for just Austin stuff.

Be our friend on Facebook too, and BV Austin's friend on Facebook and BV Chicago's friend on Facebook.

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Joey Bada$$ just released his new mixtape, Rejex. Download it for free HERE.

Swans, who play here next month, made a video for their song "No Words No Thoughts" -- a 10 minute edit of one of the half-hour tracks at least -- from their live album We Rose From Your Bed With the Sun in Our Head which you can watch below.

The VMA's were last night and while Frank Ocean didn't pick up a Moon Man, his performance of "Thinkin' Bout You" was a highlight of the evening. You can watch it below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

by Andrew Sacher

Swans at MHOW in 2011 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

As mentioned, Swans, who released one of the best albums of the year with The Seer last week (8/28), will be kicking off an international tour in support of the album in Vancouver this week. That tour hits NYC for the previously discussed show at Bowery Ballroom on October 10 with A Hawk and a Hacksaw. Tickets for that show are still on sale but the weight of the album must finally have them heading towards selling out because Swans just added two more NYC shows. The new shows happen on October 28 at Bowery Ballroom and October 29 at Music Hall of Williamsburg and both will be supported by Devendra Banhart. Nice! Tickets for both of those shows go on sale Friday (9/7) at noon with an AmEx presale beginning Wednesday (9/5) at noon.

If you've yet to check out The Seer, give it a listen on Spotify or pick it up at the Young God webstore. Swans have 11 other full length albums under their belt since 1983 and when main man Michael Gira called The Seer "the culmination of every previous Swans album," he really meant it and it stands true. If pressed to compare, it's most similar in sound to 1996's post-rocky Soundtracks for the Blind, but really it is like no other Swans album to date. The Seer is just under two hours long, its title track is over a half hour long, and two others are roughly 20 minutes, but not a second of your time is wasted. It's the type of album that consumes you for the entire listen, and no justice is done to it by skipping songs.

It's as soaring and ominous as a Godspeed record, as dissonant as Sonic Youth (or more accurately, Glenn Branca, who mentored members of both groups), and as heavy as Neurosis, who have collaborated with Swans' Jarboe, who is back on board for this record. And one of the things that makes this record differ from the other greats of 2012 is that it is distinctly not 2012. It completely defies its time and anyone else's, and is destined to be mentioned in years to come as a classic next to the magnum opuses of Swans' sonic contemporaries.

A list of updated dates and a stream of a clip of "The Apostate" are below.

Continue reading "Swans add 2 NYC shows w/ Devendra Banhart to tour (updated dates)"

by Andrew Sacher

Swans at MHOW in 2011 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

Swans, who had an extensive career throughout most of the '80s and '90s, reformed in 2010 for a new album, My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope to the Sky, and tour. As discussed, they'll follow that album with The Seer on August 28 via Michael Gira's Young God Records. The Seer is a massive double album which treks through the noisy, beautiful, scary, uplifting, and it's one of the band's best albums to date. Guest musicians include former Swans member Jarboe, Bruce Lamont, Ben Frost, members of Akron/Family, members of Low, and Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) who handles most of the lead vocals on "Song for the Warrior." You can now stream the album a week ahead of its release date at NPR.

As discussed, Swans will be supporting the album with a tour which hits NYC on October 10 at Bowery Ballroom with A Hawk and a Hacksaw. Tickets for that show are still available. An updated list of all Swans dates is below.

In related news, Karen O is one of the artists contributing to the soundtrack for Tim Burton's upcoming Frankenweenie film, along with Passion Pit, Robert Smith, Winona Ryder, Grace Potter with The Flaming Lips, and more. You can stream Karen O's contribution, "Strange Love," over at Pitchfork.

All Swans dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Swans streaming new album; Karen O has a new song (listen)"

Swans at MHoW (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

With the impending arrival of The Seer in our midst, the mighty Swans have added more dates to their previously discussed itinerary. The dates feature A Hawk & A Hacksaw and include a stop in NYC for a show at Bowery Ballroom on October 10th. Tickets go on AMEX presale at noon on today (6/27) with regular sale hitting on Friday.

Updated tour dates are listed below, along with a trailer for the The Seer DVD.

Continue reading "Swans add Bowery date to tour with A Hawk & A Hacksaw"

The 2012 edition of MusicFestNW takes place in September 5 - 9 at 18 venues in Portland, OR and will feature performances from over 150 bands, including Passion Pit, Hot Snakes, Girl Talk, Danny Brown, Beirut Silversun Pickups, Dinosaur Jr. and Sebadoh, many more.

In addition to those previously announced artists, MFNW has just added The Hives, Flying Lotus, Wild Nothing, DIIV, Quasi, Moon Duo, My Goodness, DZ Deathrays, and Strand Of Oaks to the already impressive line-up. Wristbands, available various levels and packages, and tickets to individual shows are on sale now. Check out the complete MFNW lineup below.

Continue reading "MusicFestNW 2012 lineup expands (The Hives, Flying Lotus, Quasi, DIIV, Passion Pit, Hot Snakes, Beirut, Swans & many more)"

So it goes -- Brooklyn's own Akron/Family have scheduled a handful of dates for the coming weeks, including a stop at Brooklyn Bowl on June 29th with Stagnant Pools. Anyone with a Man is The Bastard shirt gets in free.... well, actually everyone who RSVPs does, while it lasts, regardless of garments (do wear clothes, though).

Though Akron/Family don't have any new releases scheduled for the near future -- though I wouldn't put a new CDR at the merch table past them -- members of that band do play on the new Swans LP. Updated Swans dates are below...still no NYC. Sigh.

Much like the recent Man Man Brooklyn Bowl performance, the show is sponsored by Denim & Supply, as is the Grace Potter one at Irving Plaza is tonight (6/14).

A listing of all dates and a recent Akron/Family video are below.

Continue reading "Akron/Family schedule shows (dates), playing Brooklyn Bowl (free with RSVP)"

Swans at Music Hall of Williamsburg (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

Swans are back with a new double album, The Seer, due via Young God Records on August 28. The new effort features appearances from Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), former bandmate Jarboe, Bruce Lamont, Ben Frost, members of Akron/Family ( who served with him in Angels of Light) and members of Low. Gira comments:

The Seer took 30 years to make. It's the culmination of every previous Swans album as well as any other music I've ever made, been involved in or imagined. But it's unfinished, like the songs themselves. It's one frame in a reel. The frames blur, blend and will eventually fade.

The songs began on an acoustic guitar, then were fleshed out with (invaluable) help from my friends, then were further tortured and seduced in rehearsals, live and in the studio, and now they await further cannibalism and force-feeding as we prepare to perform some of them live, at which point they'll mutate further, endlessly, or perhaps be discarded for a while.

Despite what you might have heard or presumed, my quest is to spread light and joy through the world. My friends in Swans are all stellar men. Without them I'm a kitten, an infant. Our goal is the same: ecstasy!

Continue reading "Swans releasing 'The Seer,' touring in Sept. (no NYC date)"

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

Swans @ Paramount Theater

You saw pictures from Friday and Portishead from Saturday (and Portishead Sunday). Here are the rest from that 2nd day in Asbury Park. They continue below...

Continue reading "I'll Be Your Mirror 2011 -- pics from ATP Saturday (Swans, Ultramagnetic MCs, Battles, Beak, Horrors & more)"

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

"Swans at Music Hall of Williamsburg. The most punishingly hot and loud show I've been to for a while. But pleasurably so, and they have a shirtless drummer named Thor. My brain is now a soft scrambled egg. Good night!" -snackish

"Watching the drummer from cop shoot cop be awesome w the swans reminds me how much I want a cop shoot cop reunion." -sethcdiamond

The Aquarian: You already recorded part of the new album in Berlin?

Michael Gira: We recorded the songs that we're playing live in Berlin, and also a portion of one that is built up from my guitar, my acoustic guitar. Now we have, at the end of this month's tour, we have another five days here in Upstate New York, we're going to record a bunch of new songs that I have written, and just build them up from the bottom up.

The album's going to be sprawling. I don't even know if you can call it an album--it's just a collection of music happening at the time. It can't be contained on vinyl, almost. It'd be like a six-vinyl set or something (laughs). So, I don't know how it's gonna be available, but we're just gonna do it and put it out later.

More pictures from last night are below...

Continue reading "Swans & Sir Richard Bishop played MHOW (pics), do again tonight (tix still available)"

by BBG

Wovenhand at Knitting Factory (more by Greg Cristman)

Though tickets for both Swans/Sir Richard Bishop shows are still available, the second night got a little more attractive with the addition of a third act - David Eugene Edwards, aka Wovenhand has been added to the bill! Wovenhand, who will also open for Swans in Boston on 9/29, will join the already awesome show on 9/28. The 9/27 will reportedly not get any extra bands. Get your tickets for either 9/27 or 9/28, or both. All Swans dates HERE.

Swans at Roadburn 2011 (more by Stefan Raduta)

Swans will now play two shows at Music Hall of Williamsburg with Sir Richard Bishop as part of a larger tour that leads up to Swans' appearance at ATP NJ. The first Brooklyn show, as previously announced, is on September 27. The new show will happen the next night (9/28). Tickets are still available for the 9/27 show and will go on sale for the 9/28 show on Friday (8/5) at noon with an AmEx pre-sale starting Wednesday (8/3) at noon.

All dates below...

Continue reading "Swans & Sir Richard Bishop expand tour, add 2nd Brooklyn show (updated dates)"

All Tomorrow's Parties returns to the USA this September in the new location of Asbury Park, N.J. bringing an I'll Be Your Mirror event to the iconic waterfront. For the inaugural U.S. I'll Be Your Mirror, Portishead will curate and headline their firrst East Coast shows since 1998 on the Saturday & Sunday.

As well as Day Tickets, ATP have to date been selling two types of weekend pass - "Three Day Jeff Mangum" passes that include Jeff Mangum's Friday show and guarantee access to one of the Portishead shows (as well as everything else at the festival) and "Three Day Portishead" passes that do not give access to Jeff's Friday show but give guaranteed access to both Portishead shows as well as the rest of the festival. Today we announce a third type of weekend pass...

Portishead have invited Jeff to play an extra show on the Sunday night of the festival. Therefore this week we release new "Three Day Jeff Mangum Sunday Passes" - these give access to all three days of the festival to passholders who will see Jeff Mangum on the Sunday night and are guaranteed to see one of the two Portishead shows. The original Three Day passes for the event are now called "Three Day Jeff Mangum Friday Passes."

That means Jeff is playing Asbury Park three times, twice during the actual festival (see above), and, as you know, once on Monday (10/3) at Paramount Theatre (the day after ATP and not actually part of the fest itself). The Monday show has been sold out for a while now, but ATP are releasing a few more tickets for it. "To buy email feedback@atpfestival.com with JEFF MONDAY TICKETS in subject line, and tell us how many tickets you want. We will respond as soon as possible. Payments must be made by Paypal." A Hawk and a Hacksaw (ft. Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeremy Barnes) open the show.

ATP NJ has a few other lineup additions including Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 (they first reunited to play the Animal Collective ATP that recently happened in the UK), avant guitar hero Marc Ribot, avant sax hero Colin Stetson, avant comedian Reggie Watts, and others. Also: "Today we are also very pleased to announce that in conjunction with The Jonathan Levine Gallery, renowned artist SHEPARD FAIREY (who has created the art for this event and will also DJ) will be presenting an exhibition of his art over the weekend entitled Revolutions: The Album Cover Art of Shepard Fairey. More details of the exhibition will be confirmed soon."

The updated lineup is below, along with updated Jeff Mangum tour dates (he added a few other shows recently too)...

Continue reading "ATP NJ adds another Jeff Mangum show, a new kind of pass & some more bands to the lineup"

Tickets are now on sale for the Steve Earle shows at Town Hall and Music Hall of Williamsburg (the Town Hall show went on sale at 11).

Tickets are now on sale for the Swans show at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Swans were also just added to ATP NJ which also has tickets on sale including a new "Portishead 3 Day Pass."

Tickets went on sale today for Animal Collective, Grace Potter, Cut Copy, and Dylan Fest

Cymbals Eat Guitars have a show scheduled at Glasslands on May 20th with Yellow Dogs and Mirror Mirror. Tickets are on sale.

Tinariwen returns to NYC this summer. Tickets go on sale Saturday for a July 20th show at Highline Ballroom.

Did you miss getting tickets to Murder by Death's boat show? They added a 2nd happening the same day. Tickets for that one are on sale.

Tickets are now on sale for the Kid Cudi show at Williamsburg Waterfront.

Glasvegas are touring in support of a new album. Tickets are on sale now for a May 23rd show at Bowery Ballroom. All tour dates are below.

Continue reading "Steve Earle, Swans, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Glasvegas, Murder by Death, Tinariwen, Kid Cudi, ATP & other tix"

Updated ATP flyer

"Can we assume they'll be added to ATP, which starts a few days after the Bklyn date?," asked a commenter in the comments of our post announcing the Swans show at Music Hall of Williamsburg, and that commenter was dead on.

ATP NJ (aka "Ill Be Your Mirror") has updated its previously announced lineup to include Swans, Peanut Butter Wolf (who will be DJing), Battles, Deerhoof, Jim Thirwell's Manorexia, and Oneida (who will again perform in Ocropolis formation, like in 2009) "ONEIDA PRESENTS THE OCROPOLIS III which will take place at the Asbury Lanes Bowling Alley - the band will perform continuously throughout the day, sometimes with guests from the rich array of musicians also performing in the festival, sometimes alone and mostly improvised."

Though 3-day passes for the Asbury Park Fest, which include your only shot at seeing Jeff Mangum, are sold out (now called the Jeff Mangum Three Day Pass), tickets are still available in multiple incarnations for the three day celebration, including a new "Portishead Three Day Pass" which allows "passholders to see everything else from Friday-Sunday as well as giving priority access with the day pass holders to BOTH Portishead shows on Saturday and Sunday" (the pass doesn't include entry into Jeff Mangum). The "Portishead Three Day Pass" will go on sale at 10AM EST Thursday (4/21) and individual day passes are currently on sale. The versions of the 3-day pass that are sold out only guarantee you one night of Portishead. "Existing Day ticketholders or Jeff Mangum Three Day pass holders who wish to switch to a Portishead Three Day Pass should contact ATP via feedback@atpfestival.com before May 30th."

The current lineup is below.

Continue reading "ATP NJ adds 'Portishead 3 Day Pass', expands lineup (Swans, Oneida, Battles, Deerhoof, more)"

The second annual Hopscotch Festival will go down in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, across 12 different venues with over 135 bands, from September 8th through 10th. The lineup this year runs the gamut of independent music... from traditional indie staples (The Flaming Lips, Guided By Voices, Superchunk) to southern-inflected rock (Drive-By Truckers) to noise (Prurient) to hip hop (Beans) to garage (Jeff The Brotherhood) to funk (Budos Band) to metal (Krallice), and everywhere in between (Swans, Rhys Chatham, etc etc). Tickets are currently on sale. Full lineup is below.

Hopscotch happens almost three months after Guided By Voices play a Brooklyn Northside Festival show in McCarren Park (tickets) which is one day after Beirut plays a Northside Festival show on the same McCarren Park stage with... Sharon Van Etten (though she may have been accidentally announced at one point, they officially kept her placement on the bill under wraps until after Saturday's Music Hall of Williamsburg show). Tickets for Beirut/SVE are still on sale, and another opener will be added too.

Guided by Voices (whose Brooklyn show also has more openers coming) are also playing Pitchfork in July with Animal Collective whose Prospect Park show is now on AmEx presale.

Swans' upcoming NYC show is now on AmEx presale too.

Hopscotch lineup below...

Continue reading "Hopscotch Fest returns to Raleigh (2011 lineup announced), Sharon Van Etten officially added to Northside Fest"

by BBG

Swans at Roadburn 2011 (more by Stefan Raduta)

After a triumphant set at Roadburn 2011 (pictures from day one HERE, two HERE, and three HERE), Swans have announced a new NYC show that will happen almost a year after the first NYC reunion dates took place. Swans will land at Music Hall of Williamsburg on September 27th. Tickets to the Brooklyn show go on AmEx presale at noon on 4/20 with regular sale kicking off on Friday. At the moment it's their only North American date scheduled, though they'll be touring other areas of the world throughout May.

All tour dates and some video of Swans at Roadburn 2011 is below.

Continue reading "Swans announce Brooklyn show (and other dates)"