by Andrew Sacher

The Shins at Terminal 5 in 2009 (more by Natasha Ryan)

The Shins are back and will release their fourth album, Port of Morrow on March 20 via Aural Apothecary/Columbia Records. According to a press release, the album "was recorded in Los Angeles and Portland over the course of 2011 with James Mercer as usual handling all songwriting duties, lead vocals and the majority of instrumentation. The album was produced by Greg Kurstin and mixed by Rich Costey." You can pre-order a number of album packages from The Shins' website, including the deluxe audiophile pack which comes with a reel-to-reel tape of the album. The artwork and tracklist is below.

The Shins just revealed their first song from the album (!) and its a new-wavey track called "Simple Song," which you can stream below, along with the single's artwork.

They'll be touring in support of the album this spring with a lineup including Yuuki Matthews (bass), Jessica Dobson (guitar), Richard Swift (keyboards) and Joe Plummer (drums). A few West Coast dates were revealed, which are listed below.

All dates, artwork and tracklist below...

Continue reading "listen to a new Shins song (album out in March)"

As previously mentioned, Mount Eerie arrives back in NYC this week. Tonight's show is at 285 Kent and looks like this:

Wednesday September 21st @ 285 KENT AVE
:: Mount Eerie
:::: Nicholas Krgovich
:::::: Ed Askew Band
| 285 KENT AVE |
285 Kent Ave @ South 1st | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
L-Bedford, G-Metropolitan, JM-Marcy | 8pm | $12 | all ages

Buy your tickets at the door. Get there early to see psychedelic legend Ed Askew.

Tickets go on sale at noon for the Shins show that happens 9/25 at Bowery Ballroom.

Mount Eerie's next NYC show after tonight is 9/26 at Le Poisson Rouge. Tickets are still on sale. All dates (including SUNY Purchase) HERE.

Tickets on sale at noon for the Arrested Development reunion.

Tickets go on sale at noon for EMA's headlining show at Bowery Ballroom, a CMJ showcase.

Tickets are on sale now for the BrooklynVegan CMJ showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Tickets are also on sale for the BrooklynVegan metal CMJ show on a boat.

Tickets went on on various presales for My Morning Jacket/Band of Horses today.

The Shins at Terminal 5 (more by Natasha Ryan)

Annnnnnnd here is yet another MAJOR show announced this morning (My Morning Jacket/Band of Horses at MSG, Radiohead at Roseland). The Shins are scheduled to play this weekend's Popped Music Festival in Philadelphia, and have added a few Northeasten dates at smaller venues as well, including one at Bowery Ballroom on 9/25! Tickets go on sale at noon on Wednesday. Faces on Film open the show. The last time that The Shins played NYC was over two nights at the much much bigger Terminal 5 in 2009.

All tour dates and some videos below...

Continue reading "The Shins playing Bowery Ballroom after Popped! (dates)"

photos by Alexander Stein

Are you in the holiday spirit yet? Last night (12/1) was the first of the 101.9 RXP "Yule Rock Holiday Concert Series" featuring Broken Bells (whose member Danger Mouse recently collaborated with Jack White) and Karen Elson (who is married to Jack White), a series that continues tommorrow night (12/3) with My Chemical Romance at the sold-out Hammerstein Ballroom (one of three upcoming NYC MY Chemical Romance shows). The show was also the start of a short stint of Broken Bells tour dates that will last through the middle of the month, hitting nine cities before closing up shop at Gibson Amphitheatre Universal City, California.

Karen Elson next appears in NYC as part of her group the Citizens Band at Highline Ballroom on December 18th...

"Equal parts show-stopping performers, political activists, eclectic tastemakers and headstrong personalities, The Citizens Band has been one of the most lauded and prominent staples of New York City nightlife for the past few years - a potent combination of the city's urban smarts, diverse style and forward-thinking attitude. Performers for "The Past is a Foreign Country" include Chelsea Bacon, Mr. Blue, Ian Buchanan, Michael Cavadias, Adam Crystal, Jorjee Douglass, Karen Elson, Sarah Sophie Flicker, Rachelle Garniez, Mike Jackson, Dave Lebleu, Mark McAdam, Angela McCluskey, Amy Miles, Jon Natchez, Jeff Palmiotti, Rain Phoenix, Kelly Pratt, Matt Ray, Ronin and Leah Siegel with direction by Calla Videt."

The show "promotes the new Blue Key campaign, tackling the topic of refugees and displaced people. The Blue Key campaign, organized by USA for UNHCR draws attention to the work of the UN Refugee Agency and the global refugee crisis." Tickets are on sale.

Were you at the Irving Plaza show? Did Broken Bells mention their Grammy nomination from the stage? Maybe RXP morning host Matt Pinfield said something about it?

More pictures from the show, with both setlists, below...

Continue reading "Broken Bells & Karen Elson played Irving Plaza (pics, setlists), Citizens Band playing Highline Ballroom"

Fruit Bats @ MHOW in September (more by Raymond Haddad)

Fruit Bats, led by the Shins' Eric Johnson, put out their fourth record, The Ruminant Band, and toured North America this year; they're currently playing shows in Europe. In January they have a scheduled tour of the West Coast, and after that they currently have a sole NYC show (part of a TBA tour that covers the Southeast, Midwest and Northeast) scheduled for Monday, March 22nd at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 18 at noon.

While Johnson has been focusing on his Fruit Bats project, lead Shins songwriter James Mercer has been collaborating with Danger Mouse on a project they call Broken Bells.

Broken Bells features Mercer on vocals, guitars and bass while Burton plays organ, drums, piano, synths and bass. The pair play all the instruments on the album with the exception of a full string section arranged by Daniele Luppi. Broken Bells was recorded by Todd Monfalcone and Kennie Takahashi at Mondo Studio in Los Angeles and produced by Burton.

Their 10-track self-titled album will be our March 8th on Columbia - and they've promised the first single from it "The High Road" next week. The band recently launched a "viral" ad campaign with links to various anagram sites each hosting different instrumental clips from the album.

Fruit Bats videos and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Fruit Bats touring more in 2010 (NYC show announced), James Mercer working w/ Danger Mouse on Broken Bells"

Tough call, but I think I'm going to have to vote for Escort to win this year's Plug "Music Video of the Year". Check out all twelve of the nominated videos below....

Continue reading "the 12 music VIDEOS of the year (according to Plug)"