Destroyer at Pitchfork Fest 2011 (more by Josh Darr)

today in NYC
* Whiplash @ UCB
* Brain Cloud @ Barbes
* Chicha Libre @ Barbes
* Now, Now @ Mercury Lounge
* Blues Control @ Other Music
* Brazilian Girls @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Worst Audition Ever @ Joe's Pub
* Heavy Cream, Hunters @ Death By Audio
* The Heavy, The Skins @ Mercury Lounge
* Hot Tub with Kurt and Kristen @ Littlefield
* Ziggy Marley @ Apple Store Upper West Side
* BLACK. Curated by Colman Domingo @ Joe's Pub
* Destroyer, Sandro Perri @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple
* Joe Purdy, The Giving Tree Band @ Bowery Ballroom
* Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir @ Union Pool
* Steve Gunn, Michael Chapman, Nathan Bowles @ Zebulon
* Steve Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra @ The Stone
* JEFF The Brotherhood, Uncle Bad Touch, Skimask @ Maxwell's
* The Dig, NinjaSonik, Black Cobain, Maren Morris @ Santos Party House
* Brazos, Landlady, Deer, DJ PG Companion (Pepi Ginsberg) @ Glasslands
* Future of the Left, I Hate Our Freedom, With Knives, Freshkills @ Saint Vitus
* So Percussion's International Night of Awesome(ness) @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Oxzana, Electric Sun, Riot !n Paris, Emergency Service, McLovins @ Cake Shop

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Fiona Apple will be on Fallon tonight.

McLovins, who play Cake Shop tonight as part of the New Music Seminar have nothing to do with McLovin's band who played Glasslands on Saturday (6/16) as part of Northside Fest.

If you happen to be in Times Square at 8:45 tonight, look up at the Jumbotron and you'll see the premiere of Twin Shadow's new video, "Five Seconds." Twin Shadow will intro the video, but no performance, unfortunately.

Twin Shadow's video for "Five Seconds" will premiere on a Jumbotron in Times Square today at 43rd Street and Broadway at 8:40. Twin Shadow will no longer be performing after the screening though.

Sigur Ros have a new NSFW video for "Fjögur Píanó" which stars Shia LeBouf. Check it out below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

The Walkmen at Sasquatch last month (more by Chris Graham)

today in NYC
* Big Terrific @ Cameo
* Lettuce @ Brooklyn Bowl
* LP, Delta Rae @ Joe's Pub
* Jason Isbell @ City Winery
* Heidi Ferrell @ Zebulon
* Dirigo Rataplan @ Barbes
* The Walkmen @ Bowery Ballroom
* James Chance @ The Manhattan Inn
* Dada Life @ TBA Manhattan Location
* Huff This!, Luciar @ Knitting Factory
* The Mandingo Ambassadors @ Barbes
* Vensaire, Certain Creatures @ Cameo Gallery
* Magmana, Little Horns, Ex Cops @ The Rock Shop
* The Cribs, Alex Winston, Devin @ Santos Party House
* In Camera, Andrew Pekler, VioSac @ Issue Project Room
* The Dandy Warhols, Psychic Ills, 1776 @ The Bell House
* Horna, Kommandant, Mutilation Rites, Mortum @ Saint Vitus
* Shapes, Slothrust, I Am The Heat, USS, The Balconies @ Pianos
* Ben von Wildenhaus, Garrett Devoe, Shoddy Prototypes @ La Sala
* Alan Watts, Woodsman, Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk @ Shea Stadium
* The Golden Age of Radio, The Holy Shakes, Sea Graves @ Cake Shop
* Dawn Landes, The Jack Grace Band, Diamond Doves @ The Green Building
* Larry Graham & Graham Central Station, Milo Z @ Beekman Beer Garden
* Strawberry Hands, Sam Buck Rosen, No Sky God, Pink Drink @ Death By Audio
* Celestial Shore, Little Racer, Earthquake Party!, Grand Resort @ Public Assembly
* Skotch Davis, Deena Jonez, Julian Stephen, Ab'Stract, Mic Blaque @ Public Assembly
* The Babies, Nude Beach, Marvin Berry & The New Sound, Highway Gimps @ Glasslands
* Hearing Things, Ryan Sawyer/Mike Bones/Patrick Holmes Trio, Charles Gayle, Aram Shelton/Tomas Fujiwara Duo @ Union Pool

Larry Graham and Graham Central Station play Beekman Beer Garden tonight before kicking off BAM R&B Fest tomorrow.

Sigur Ros, whose new album, Valtari, just became their first album to hit the Billboard top ten, have a new video for that album's track, "Varúð." Check it out below.

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Follow @bvChicago for just Chicago stuff.
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Be our friend on Facebook too, and BV Austin's friend on Facebook and BV Chicago's friend on Facebook.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

DOWNLOAD: Perfume Genius - "Rusty Chains" (MP3)

Perfume Genius outside Glasslands in April (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Perfume Genius (aka Mike Hadreas) will be touring Europe at the end of this month into July, and it's just been announced that upon his return to the states, he'll open a few dates for Sigur Ros, including their sold out Prospect Park show on July 31. Perfume Genius also recently dropped a new track called "Rusty Chains," which you can download above or stream below.

While Perfume Genius will be handling support duties in NYC, Philly, and Toronto, Julia Holter will open the band's west coast shows. Julia recently announced a headlining tour of her own, which comes to NYC on August 31 at Bowery Ballroom. When we first mentioned that show, ticket info had not been made available yet, but we now know that tickets go on sale Friday, June 8 at noon with an AmEx presale starting Wednesday (6/6) at noon.

A list of all dates and the Perfume Genius song stream below...

Continue reading "Perfume Genius opening for Sigur Ros, including Prospect Park"

by Andrew Sacher

This past Thursday (5/17), Sigur Ros streamed their new album, Valtari, at 7 PM in every timezone worldwide during what they were calling "Valtari Hour." If you missed that stream (or even if you didn't miss it, but want to listen to it more), it's now streaming on NPR.

Valtari is the band's first record since 2008's Meo suo i eryum vio spilum endalaust, and first since coming off their recent hiatus. Forgoing the upbeat material they began toying with on Meo suo, and especially on Jonsi's solo album, Valtari is the band's most ambient record since ( ), and easily one of their strongest. The album drops on May 29 via EMI/XL.

Catch Sigur Ros on tour this summer, which stops in NYC for the sold out Celebrate Brooklyn show at Prospect Park on 7/31.

The band also have a new video for album opener, "Eg Anda." Check that out, along with the video for "Ekki Mukk," below...

Continue reading "Sigur Ros streaming their new album, 'Valtari' (listen); have a new video"

Sigur Ros will release their new record, Valtari, on May 29 via EMI/XL. You've already heard "Ekki Mukk", and another album track, "Dauoalogn," premiered on the CW's "The Vampire Diaries" last week (listen to that below).

This Thursday (5/17), you'll get a chance to hear Valtari in full when the band stream the album in full at 7 PM in every time zone worldwide, during what they're calling Valtari Hour. The album will be playing at local radio stations, local record stores, and at the Valtari Hour link. It will be playing on WNYC in NYC. The full (and growing) list is below. NPR affiliate stations like KEXP, WFUV, KCMP and more will also be posting the stream on their websites. Those who listen to the album at a record store will have the opportunity to pre-order the album with a limited edition Valtari print and enter to win a Valtari prize pack, which includes a "Valtari vinyl test pressing, a copy of the very-sold-out RSD exclusive Hvarf/Heim LP on clear vinyl, and a custom, limited print." The band is also encouraging fans to discuss the album on twitter and Instagram while its streaming using the hastag #valtarihour. The Valtari Hour flier is below.

Meanwhile, TONIGHT (5/14), City Winery will be hosting a screening of INNI, the live film that Sigur Ros released last year. $5 Tickets are on sale now. Doors open at 6 and the show starts at 8.

Sigur Ros will go on tour this summer, which includes the sold out Prospect Park show on July 31.

Video, flier and record store/radio station lists, below...

Continue reading "Sigur Ros streaming new album in full during "Valtari Hour"; --- "Inni" screening tonight"

After multiple quickly-sold-out pre-sales, tickets for Sigur Ros's Prospect Park Bandshell show will go on sale to the general public at noon today (4/20).

Since we last posted Sigur Ros dates, there have been two festival developments. Sigur Ros were announced on the lineup of Outside Lands which is on sale now, and Lollapalooza announced who was playing each day and put single day tickets on sale (Sigur Ros play on the Sunday).

In related news, Sigur Ros will be releasing two exclusive and limited vinyl pressings for Record Store Day Saturday.

Updated Sigur Ros tour dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Sigur Ros Celebrate Brooklyn tickets; Lollapalooza & Outside Lands on sale too"

"Another Planet Entertainment, Superfly Presents and Starr Hill presents, in a partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, are proud to announce the lineup for the fifth annual Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival. The world's only gourmet music festival will once again take place in San Francisco's historic Golden Gate Park August 10 - 12, 2012. Tickets will go on sale Thursday April 19 at 12 noon PDT via www.sfoutsidelands.com. A significant portion of every ticket sold will directly benefit San Francisco's Recreation and Park Department."

Continue reading "Outside Lands 2012 lineup (Metallica, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, Jack White, Foo Fighters, Beck, Skrillex...)"

Jonsi of Sigur Ros at Hammerstein Ballroom (more by Vincent Cornelli)

In addition to the previously discussed dates at festivals including Lollapalooza, Sigur Ros has added a few other dates including a show at Prospect Park Bandshell on July 31! Tickets go on AMEX/BRIC presale on Wednesday 4/18 at noon and regular sale on 4/20.

As discussed and as you can tell here, Sigur Ros's hiatus is officially over especially considering the band's new LP Valtari on the way via EMI/XL on May 29th. All known world tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Sigur Ros add dates, including Prospect Park!"

Lollapalooza (more by Grant MacAllister)

Chicago Sun Times reports:

Lollapalooza has revealed its official 2012 list of performers -- a typically wide-ranging smorgasbord of genres and styles topped by nearly a dozen mainstage headliners: the Red Hot Chili Peppers, freshly reunited bands Black Sabbath and At the Drive-In, the Black Keys, Jack White, Florence + The Machine, the Shins and Passion Pit, plus spotlighted electronic music including Swedish house titan Avicii, French dance duo Justice and DJ-producer Bassnectar.

The annual music festival is scheduled for Aug. 3-5 in Chicago's Grant Park.

Rumored lineups have circulated widely, as they usually do, and Lollapalooza itself stoked the speculation in recent weeks via a series of CTA and online advertisements that seemed to hint at who would be playing.

The ads featured lyrics from such acts as Sigur Ros, Santigold, Jack White, Kimbra, Twin Shadow, the Weeknd, Bloc Party and more -- all bands that wound up on the bill.

Continue reading "Lollapalooza 2012 lineup (Jack White, At The Drive-In, Sigur Ros, Black Keys, RHCP, Afghan Whigs, M83, Weeknd, SBTRKT, Black Sabbath & more)"

by Andrew Sacher

Sigur Ros returned from their hiatus last year with the live album/film Inni. Now they're finally set to release an album of new material titled Valtari, which is due out on May 29 via EMI/XL. It's their first since 2008's Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust. The album's lead track, "Ekki Múkk," which you can watch a grainy, minimal video of below, is one of the band's more ambient cuts, recalling the material on ( ) in texture, but is melodically more similar to the progressions Jonsi has been taking with his more recent work. According to this interview with The Wall Street Journal, we can expect the rest of the album to follow suit.

The band's only live dates at the moment are non-US festival dates in August and September, but one of those is at Osheaga in Montreal. Hopefully they'll add more as the album's release nears.

All dates, video, and Valtari tracklist below...

Continue reading "Sigur Ros announce new LP, some dates (listen to a track)"

Here's the info:

'we bought a zoo' released
today, december 13th, sees the release of the soundtrack for the forthcoming movie 'we bought a zoo' - the soundtrack comprises of over 30 minutes of brand new music from jónsi; two new songs from jónsi: "ævin endar" (life ends) & "snærisendar" (end of a rope) as well as nine shorter "theme" pieces, plus reimagining's of songs from jónsi's debut solo album "go". the soundtrack also includes "hoppípolla" by sigur rós.

information about the album, tracklisting, ordering and preview streams are all available on jonsi.com

to celebrate this release, today (december 13th) in new york city there will be a live q&a session with jónsi & the movie's director cameron crowe. this event [at Barnes & Noble] starts at 7pm nyc time and will be streamed live

Continue reading "'We Bought a Zoo' soundtrack released; Jonsi & Cameron Crowe appearing in NYC (and online) today"

photos by Matt Eisman

Recorded and shot over two nights at London's Alexandra Palace at the close of the 2008 world tour around their fifth full length album, Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, Inni sees the band at the peak of their powers, captured on film for the first time as a core four-piece since they were joined by string section amiina at the start of the century. Directed by Vincent Morisset (Arcade Fire's Miroir Noir), with film manipulations by Godspeed You! Black Emperor visual collaborator Karl Lemieux, Inni is Sigur Rós' second live film following 2007's hugely-celebrated tour documentary Heima.

If you prefer to view Inni early or somewhere other than the plush folds of your couch, then look for it in a theater near you. It comes to NYC on 11/5 at midnight (11/6) at IFC Center. Tickets are on sale.

The film premiered at Club NASA as part of the Reykjavik International Film Festival in the band's home country of Iceland last week. The RIFF (best name ever) kicked off on 9/22 and came to a close yesterday. BV photographer Matt Eisman happened to be in Iceland at the time and took some pictures at the premiere where various people spoke along with the film. Those pics are in this post. Check out more of them with the release details and a video preview, below...

Continue reading "Sigur Ros's "Inni" movie premiered in Iceland (pics), coming to a theater in NYC (tix on sale)"

Canon Blue

Canon Blue, the solo project of Daniel James, released his sophomore LP, Rumspringa, today (8/16) via Temporary Residence Limited (and via Efterklang's label Rumraket in Scandinavia) (Rumtaket's last-ever non-Efterklang release). The album is the follow-up to 2007's Colonies, a collaboration with Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear. It was recorded while he was on a European tour with Efterklang, who Daniel contributes to. Sigur Ros' string section Amiina provided string arrangements on the album (which they recorded in Iceland). Slaraffenland and Efterklang both also contribute to the album. Stream the track "A Native (Madison)" here and check out some video clips of album tracks below. Listen to the whole album at Spinner.

Canon Blue kicks off a tour in support of the album tonight (8/16) at Mercury Lounge. After a couple more East Coast dates, they'll play Glasslands on August 20 and then hit up other US and Canadian venues. Both NYC shows feature support from Atlantic/Pacific (ex-Texas is the Reason). Tickets are on sale now for the Mercury show and the Glasslands show. Canon Blue also tour in November supporting The Boxer Rebellion. Canon Blue are not listed as an opener when The Boxer Rebellion hit NYC on November 18 at Webster Hall but maybe that will change after Canon Blue's NYC shows this week. Tickets for the Webster Hall show are on sale now.

Speaking of Sigur Ros, they recently put a trailer video on their website for the film INNI, which will screen at the Venice Film Festival. The film was directed by Vincent Morisset, who also directed the Arcade Fire film Mirror Noir. Sigur Ros frontman Jonsi is also set to score Cameron Crowe's upcoming film We Bought a Zoo. Cameron and Sigur Ros last worked together when the band contributed music to his 2001 film Vanilla Sky.

All dates, videos, album art and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Sigur Ros doing film stuff, Canon Blue released an album & is playing shows (dates, songs & videos)"

photos by Vincent Cornelli, sarcasm by BBG

Washington Post: You've said that before you made a solo album, you felt as if you'd been in a cocoon. Did making the album give you more confidence?

Jonsi: For me, you mean? No. Maybe, yeah.

Do you think it will affect how you make albums with Sigur Ros?

Maybe. It was a good experience to do this, working with a lot of new artists and musicians and producers. It's healthy to work with different people.

Do you think you'll work with Nico Muhly again? You should say yes.

Yes. He's a fun guy to be around, anyway. So we definitely might do something together.

You've said you grew up listening to Metallica. For real?

Yeah, Metallica and Megadeth and stuff like that. But now I just listen to Billie Holiday and Django Reinhardt and stuff like that....It's nice to have in the background, like a comfy sofa.

Mountain Man opened the show, but we have no pictures of them unfortunatley. More of Jonsi, some video, and that Fallon appearance video are all below...

Continue reading "Jonsi played Hammerstein Ballroom & Fallon (pics & video) "

by Andrew Frisicano

Jonsi @ Terminal 5 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

The previously-mentioned Wordless Music show featuring Jonsi and Kjartan Sigur Ros, along with Alex Somers Of Riceboy Sleeps, The Hilliard Ensemble, Latvian National Choir and Wordless Music Orchestra, is happening at The Church of St. Paul the Apostle on November 15th. Tickets are on sale through the Lincoln Center, who are putting on the show as part of their White Light Music Festival.

Jonsi kicks off his own solo tour of North America on October 15th. Tickets for the Hammerstein Ballroom show are still on sale (Mountain Man open).

White Light Fest runs from October 28th-November 18th, and its other shows include Antony and the Johnsons at Alice Tully Hall on October 30th (that's their only North American show this year). That's now sold out. Listen to Antony's new LP, Swanlights, at NPR.

Also part of the White Light Festival is an October 28th show featuring the Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble at David Rubenstein Atrium. That crosses over with another new music series, Target Free Thursday at Lincoln Center's David Rubenstein Atrium. The full schedule for those shows, which run through December, is below. There's also free DJ nights at the Atrium on Saturday night; that schedule is below too.

To bring it back to Wordless Music, Kronos Quartet will be at (Le) Poisson Rouge for two nights this weekend (Oct. 8 and 9), each with different sets of mostly-new music. The first night includes pieces by Terry Riley and Michael Gordon (both with assists by Young People's Chorus of New York City) and young composers Bryce Dessner (of the National) and Missy Mazzoli (of chamber group Victoire). The second has another new work by Gordon, music by JG Thirwell, and new Schubert arrangements, reworked by vocalist Judith Berkson, who'll also be on hand. Unfortunately, both nights are sold out.

And since we mentioned Brooklyn composer Missy Mazzoli above, it should be noted that her band Victoire plays a free show at Dumbo gallery Smack Mellon on November 4th. Victoire's new album, Cathedral City, just came out on New Amsterstam. Their schedule is below too.

The full Free Thursdays schedule and more info is below...

Continue reading "Wordless & White Light Music, Josni, Kronos Quartet, free Thursdays, Meredith Monk, Victoire & more"

Jonsi @ Terminal 5 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Along with that Godspeed You! Black Emperor announcement, two Wordless Music Series-presented shows included, came this:

"Look for a full 2010-11 Wordless Music season announcement in the coming days, including world and U.S. premieres of new music for orchestra by Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, Jónsi and Kjartan of Sigur Rós with Alex Somers of Riceboy Sleeps, Kronos Quartet, The Hilliard Ensemble, Latvian National Choir, Tyondai Braxton, the Wordless Music Orchestra, Joshua Rifkin, Deerhoof, and the U.S. debut of the Carl Craig/Moritz von Oswald/Francesco Tristano Schlimé Trio, as well as collaborations with Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Library of Congress, Walker Arts Center, and Emerson College for concerts in New York City, Washington D.C., Boston, and Minneapolis."

Jonsi @ Terminal 5 in May (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Missed him last time? Jonsi will tour one more time in support his solo album "Go", and that will include the same big production as last time and another U.S. jaunt including November 10th at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. A tour trailer and all dates below...

Continue reading "Jonsi touring Australia, Europe & the USA again (dates) "

DOWNLOAD: Dean & Britta - Making Me Smile (MP3)

"Sing Me To Sleep" is a really fun compilation of lullabies and popular songs re-imagined as lullabies by some of today's best indie artists including: Dean & Britta, Tanya Donelly, The Leisure Society, The Rest, Telekinesis, Jenny Owen Youngs, The Real Tuesday Weld, Snowbird, Neil Halstead, and many more. All proceeds from this wonderful album are donated to The Valerie Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that provides support for the comprehensive health care of children with cancer and blood disorders. It's a beautifully produced album for indie-hipsters young and old.

Coming up, Joe's Pub will be hosting a June 13th show for the album with contributors Tanya Donelly, backed by a jazz ensemble, Jenny Owen Youngs and Julie Peel. This all-ages, kid-friendly (with face painting, free souvenirs and door prizes) starts at noon. Tickets are on sale.

Songs from the record (including Stars cover of the Smith's "Asleep") are streaming, and the Dean & Britta track is available above. Tracklist for the CD and show flyer are below...

Continue reading "Sing Me to Sleep - indie lullabies out now + an MP3 & NY show"

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

"omg omg I love you sigur ros you make me cry @sigurros and thank you jonsi for an amazing concert last night at terminal 5" - Andrew

jónsi: it's super scary. i dunno why. there was a big confusion because first of all i'd been in sigur rós for 15 years. and all of a sudden i went from this safe environment of having three other guys to bounce ideas off. when i get tired i could tell them to take over. it was so easy. i didn't actually realise until i went into this project when i had to do everything myself; everybody's coming and asking things and you have to pretend to know. it's also confusing because this album was supposed to be a small side step from sigur rós - not quitting or anything like that - they were all off having babies, not me. so i thought it was prefect timing to do something else. the first idea was to have a really low-key acoustic album but then it exploded into something totally different. the first demo was acoustic guitars, piano and ukulele. then songs became crazier and i had people in mind i wanted to work with like nico muhly. he's amazing. he did all the arrangements with strings and brass. then there was no holding me back. we were in my apartment and he had one small keyboard and a computer and he did five songs in a night. he is so hyper active; it was really fun and exciting. he had worked on some albums that i heard and liked the arrangements because they were not like sigur rós. i didn't want to have sigur rós arrangements. i wanted something crazier than the obvious choice.

Continue reading "Jonsi & Death Vessel @ Terminal 5 (night 2) - pics & video "

photos by Ryan Muir

"[Jonsi's] concert was a tribute to Nature, both sublime and pitiless. His backdrop was a window onto a dark forest; videos showed plants blossoming, predators pursuing prey and ravaging storms.

While the album starts with its thumping, upbeat songs, the concert took its time, starting with folky acoustic ballads, a somber hymn and Steve Reich Minimalist patterns. Folkiness carried over into the danceable songs. There was always something hand-played, an acoustic guitar or a plinking vibraphone, in the mix. And when the faster songs arrived, with the cosmic advice of "Go Do" -- "We should always know that we can do everything" -- Jonsi's high, clear voice was not only the carrier of insistent pop hooks, but also a messenger of ecstatic hope." [NY Times]

Continue reading "Jonsi & Death Vessel @ Terminal 5 (night 1) - pics & video "

Jonsi's tour kick in Vancouver 4/6 (A Hermida)

On a set that looked like the Museum of Natural History after a fire (trust me), a tight musical arc that fit the songs into one another like puzzle pieces, and gorgeous projections courtesy of London's 59 Productions, the show was less winsome rock and more serious Theatre. There were costumes, too: All but one band member wore a jacket trailing bright fabric strips that hung like rainbow tree moss.

But when the whole band combined like a marvelous machine, as on the twinkling "Sinking Friendships" or thrashing, thunderous closer "Grow Till Tall," the Jonsi experience reaches its height. Percussionist Samuli Kosminen manages to alternatively scare and soothe with tools both expected (good old drums) and unusual (a rock, I think).

In between, "Tornado" hinted at both orchestra and film score, "Go Do" found a sunny, breakneck pop sprint, and "Around Us" was a hypnotic, trippy epic, complete with live vocal loops.

The pinnacle, however, came in the encore. Jonsi, in full Native American headdress, emerged from the side of the stage and put his plumage on full display. Then he smiled, and it was clear: Sigur Ros is a beautiful thing, but when he goes solo, Jonsi does something amazing -- he lets his freak flag fly. "I want to be a miracle," he sang on "Boy Lilikoi." [Spin]

[Jonsi] enlisted a design company that creates sets for the Metropolitan Opera Company, the English National Opera and other bastions of high culture. The company, Fifty Nine Productions, was looking to branch out into pop music. "We were all really big Sigur Rós fans. They were literally on the list of people we wanted to work with," says director Mark Grimmer.

For Jónsi, Fifty Nine Productions created a sort of decimated museum exhibit on stage, with heavy use of video projections--without jumbo-sized screens. "We try to integrate the images into the fabric of the shows and project them onto objects that aren't dead when there's nothing on it," Mr. Grimmer says. For instance, video is projected in museum-like exhibit cases along with on Jónsi himself. [Wall Street Journal]

If you need a Jonsi fix sooner, there's a free listening party tonight at Le Poisson Rouge (no RSVP required) for the new album, which came out today (4/7)...

"Album available to purchase on site, and happy hour drink specials for the duration of the event. The album will be played in full, with giveaways set up for Jonsi/Sigur Ros vinyl, and tickets for Jonsi's Terminal 5 shows on May 8th and 9th. Video footage from Jonsi's new music videos and related projects to be screened as well."

Continue reading "Jonsi's album is out & his tour kicked off last night in Vancouver (pics, video, setlist & a bit about the stage setup) "

Tickets are still on "Jonsi presale" for the two Jonsi shows at Terminal 5 (password = "Go") (password applies to other shows on the tour too). Tickets for the Terminal 5 shows are also on AmEx presale as of 11am. General sale starts Friday at noon. Check out Jonsi's new video for "Go Do" below....

Continue reading "Jonsi - "Go Do" video & show tickets "

Jonsi's solo-album supporting tour will kick off in Vancouver on April 6th, pass through Coachella, and end in NYC for not just one, but two shows at Terminal 5. All dates below....

Continue reading "Jonsi (Sigur Ros) - 2010 Tour Dates (2 NYC shows) "

Jonsi's "Go"

Sigur Ros have announced that they're taking an indefinite hiatus to focus on family and other projects. Members Kjartan and Georg are spending time with their newborn children, and singer Jónsi is releasing a solo album and touring. The band was previously reported to be working on a new record last year. Jónsi wrote on their site, "we started working on something a few months ago, then we scrapped everything and sold our studio and rehearsal space. now we are back in the drummer's garage, rocking out like we did when we were 14. i think it's gonna be good."

Jónsi's debut solo album, Go, comes out April 5th on XL Recordings. The song "Boy Lilikoi" is streaming on his website and its artwork is above. The album features arrangement work by Nico Muhly, percussion by Samuli Kosminen, and production by Jonsi, Alex Somers (Jonsi's boyfriend and Riceboy Sleeps partner) and Peter Katis (who has worked wth Interpol, The National & Tokyo Police Club).

Jónsi is working with London-based 59 Productions on the set, costumes and stage-show for his upcoming world tour, which will "open in North America in April 2010, and will come to Europe in late May [dates TBA still]." The company recently leaked teaser photos (possibly mock-ups of the stage), which are posted below. The full tour hasn't been announced yet, but it will come to NYC's Terminal 5 on Saturday, May 8th. Tickets go on sale Friday, February 12th at noon.

UPDATE: Full tour announced and it includes two NYC shows.

Jónsi played songs off the new record on NYC's Soundcheck on January 21st. That's streaming on the station's site. Videos from the making of the album, teaser pictures and album tracklist are below...

Continue reading "solo album & shows from Jonsi of Sigur Ros (who are on indefinite hiatus)"

photos by Vincent Cornelli

FlavorPill: So you don't have any plans to move Stateside?

Olof Arnalds: Not now. Maybe in a few years it would be great. I have a son who's one and a half years old, and there's so much life quality in Iceland when it comes to having children because it's so safe. It's such a good environment for kids to have the freedom to play. I have a big family, and I wouldn't want to raise my kids anywhere else than Iceland.

FP: Can you talk a little bit about the music scene in Iceland?

OA: It's a very tight scene. Everyone's friends and help each other out. It's really vibrant because you can make things happen really quickly. It doesn't take a long time to make it happen. It's a gutsy environment. People just do things.

FP: How did you meet Kjartan Sveinsson from Sigur Ros, who produced your first album?

OA: His wife, Maria. We're friends from youth. She's from the quartet Amiina that played with Sigur Ros for many years. It's just a small scene of musicians. It's friendship. Sigur Ros and Mum, who I used to play with, are good friends.

Continue reading "Olof Arnalds played the Whitney, Rockwood Music Hall (pics)"