Hal Willner & Lou Reed

As previously mentioned, music producer Hal Willner will present a concert in Prospect Park celebrating the 50th anniversary Freedom Riders. PBS recently premiered a film on the same subject...

"FREEDOM RIDERS is the powerful harrowing and ultimately inspirational story of six months in 1961 that changed America forever. From May until November 1961, more than 400 black and white Americans risked their lives--and many endured savage beatings and imprisonment--for simply traveling together on buses and trains as they journeyed through the Deep South. Deliberately violating Jim Crow laws, the Freedom Riders met with bitter racism and mob violence along the way, sorely testing their belief in nonviolent activism."

The free Celebrate Brooklyn! concert at the Prospect Park Bandshell on June 16 still hasn't revealed its entire lineup, but some more artists were announced including Lou Reed. If you've never been to a Hal Willner show, it's usually many different artists playing various covers over the course of a long show. The theme this time is music from the civil rights movement, "songs that inspired, illuminated, and sprang from the tumultuous aftermath of the Movement." and announced artists are Lou Reed, Rosanne Cash, Toshi Reagon, Tao Seeger, Geri Allen, and Steven Bernstein. More TBA. The artists will also hold a discussion before they perform. The event is free and begins at 7 PM.

Laurie Anderson is not listed on the lineup, maybe because she'll be on tour in Europe, but you can catch her in an outdoor setting with Bill Laswell at Castle Clinton on June 30th. She also plays Lincoln Center Out of Doors on August 10th.

MEANWHILE, Andrew Bird kicks off Celebrate Brooklyn! tonight at 8 PM (directions HERE). Although thunderstorms were initially in the forecast, as of now it's looking pretty clear. No opener.

Speaking of Lou Reed and Hail Wilner, the May 24th installment of their New York Shuffle Sirius radio show featured songs by Little Scream, Tyler, the Creator, Gang Gang Dance, Middle Brother, tUnE-yaRds, and more. Video of Lou & Hal recording an older show edition of the show, below...

Continue reading "Lou Reed playing Hal Willner 'Freedom Riders' show in Prospect Park (where Andrew Bird plays for free tonight)"

photos by Tim Griffin

""Oh, this is beautiful!" said singer David Johansen, who emerged before a wall-to-wall crowd in a snug black blazer and skin-tight jeans, with a silky leopard print scarf draped around his neck, and who, along with guitarist Syl Sylvain, is one of the band's two surviving original members. (Guitarist Johnny Thunders died a mysterious, drug-related death in 1991, and bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane passed away from leukemia just weeks after the British singer Morrissey reunited the Dolls for a concert in London in June 2004.)

"This is beyond my wildest dreams," the rail-thin Mr. Johansen continued a few songs later. "Did you hear that shit? That was good. Let's dance to this next one!"

To the disappointment of some in the audience, almost all the songs played during the roughly 45-minute set were new, save a half-blazing, half reggae-esque version of the iconic Dolls' anthem "Trash" during the encore. But the performance was, after all, a record release party for the band's new disc, 'Cause I Sez So, as well as the launch of Mr. Varvatos' new rock 'n' roll show on Sirius Radio, which was broadcast live. [The New York Observer]

Continue reading "NY Dolls @ the John Varvatos Store (ex-CBGB) in NYC - pics "

Liberty Media Corp. will invest $530 million in financially struggling satellite radio company Sirius XM Radio Inc., the companies said Tuesday.

The investment on the first business day comes after Sirius warned it could file for bankruptcy as early as Tuesday if it cannot successfully negotiate with its debt holders.

As part of the deal, Liberty will provide a $280 million senior secured loan to Sirius, $250 million of which will be funded on Tuesday. Sirius will use the proceeds of the loan to repay $171.6 million of its maturing 2-and-a-half percent convertible notes that had been due Tuesday. The rest will be used for general corporate purposes.

The loan bears a 15 percent interest rate and matures in December 2012.

The second phase of Liberty's investment provides another loan of $150 million to Sirius's subsidiary XM Satellite Radio. Liberty has also agreed to offer to buy up to $100 million of the loans outstanding under XM Satellite Radio's existing credit facilities from the lenders. [Yahoo News]

..But now Sirius XM, the satellite radio company, has problems with much bigger price tags. It has hired advisers to prepare for a possible bankruptcy filing, people involved in the processsaid.

That would, of course, be a grim turn of events for the normally upbeat Mr. Karmazin, Sirius XM's chief executive, who had hoped to create a mobile entertainment juggernaut with stars like Howard Stern.

It is unclear how a bankruptcy would affect customers. Service is unlikely to be interrupted, but the company might have to terminate contracts with high-priced talent like Mr. Stern or Martha Stewart.

A bankruptcy would make Sirius XM one of the largest casualties of the credit squeeze. With over $5 billion in assets, it would be the second-largest Chapter 11 filing so far this year, according to Capital IQ. The filing by Smurfit-Stone, with assets of $7 billion, has been the year's biggest to date... [NY Times]

by Ryan Barkan

Advertising agencies make lots of online commercials. You know, spots made not for television, but with the hope the brand's message will spread virally on the net in an organic way. Though lots of them never catch steam like a rickroll, the new Guitar Hero World Tour "Bike Hero" video has already been watched over one million times. The creative takes The Living End's "Prisoner of Society" and turns it into a live action, first person bike ride through the song's playable level in GHWT. It's a pretty cool idea with amazing execution and a slight bit of computer magic. Watch the video below.

Other Notable Licensing News:

Bishop Allen played two shows in NYC over the weekend. They are a band that has benefited from some key licensing placements in the last year. The band appeared and performed in the recent Michael Sera movie, Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. Watch the scene below. The song they performed, "Middle Management", was also on the soundtrack and used in the film's trailer. They were also used in a commercial for Sony digital cameras late last year - watch the spot here.

Crayola goes indie-cool this holiday season with Dan Deacon and Lightspeed Champion songs in the campaign for the new Glow Station (via Pitchfork). Watch the spots below.

The new holiday commercial from LL Bean features "Valley Winter Song" by Fountains Of Wayne.

Danish band The Blue Van rock the soundtrack to the new Samsung Behold commercial. Watch below.

While enjoying college football on Saturday, I heard Nick Drake's "Place To Be" used in a promo spot for Michigan State. That video is below too.

I have a bunch of friends that can not get enough of the show Top Chef. Some of those friends are also crazy for the Foo Fighters (editor's note: with friends like that who needs enemies? JUST KIDDING. Actually that doesn't even make sense...). Those friends will be in heaven when TC goes "Foo Fighters Thanksgiving" this upcoming November 26th. The episode taped during a tour stop in Rochester, NY; the band will guest judge the few remaining contestants. Apparently, TC is Dave Grohl's favorite show.

You may have heard A-Ha's classic jam "Take On Me" before. It is/was a popular song and video. So popular, A.C. Newman is going to cover it for an upcoming Valentine's Day compilation for Starbucks. Even more so, you can take it on karaoke-style in the new video game by Microsoft, LIPS. The pretty clever commercial for the game uses the song as well. Watch it below.

The game's soundtrack also includes songs by The Police, Coldplay, Duffy, The Cure, Peter, Bjorn, & John, Radiohead, and more.

Nintendo DS and Wii players can now get their skateboard on while on the go with the release of EA's Skate It. The soundtrack contains tracks by Cut Chemist, Fujiya & Miyagi, Judas Priest, The Clash, Sly & the Family Stone, and more.

continued below...

Continue reading "This week in Music Licensing "

Sirius XM Radio, the pay-radio marriage of the two former satellite services, formally combined their program lineups Wednesday.

Some channels from each service went away in the merger, with Sirius and XM Radio subscribers each getting new channels from the other service. Some channels will be moved and/or re-named.

Sirius XM said there will be no increase in the subscription fee or need to change or upgrade existing radios for the basic service, but that doesn't include the "Best of" packages.

XM subscribers will have to pay extra if they want a "Best of Sirius" package with such premium draws as Howard Stern, Martha Stewart Living, Playboy, NASCAR and the NFL. Sirius subscribers will have to shell out more for a "Best of XM" lineup that includes Oprah Winfrey's Oprah & Friends, the NBA, the NHL the PGA and The Virus, which is home to Gregg "Opie" Hughes and Anthony Cumia.

Among the Sirius channels going away are Movin' Easy, Punk, Sirius Disorder, The Strobe, Boombox, Backspin and Universo Latino. XM channels being retired include XM Sports Nation, the Weather Channel, XMX, X-Country, Fungus, Rhyme, Raw, Beyond Jazz, Fine Tuning, The System, Chrome, Viva, Aguila, Caricia. [Chicago Tribune]

"XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio said Tuesday they have completed their long-pending merger. The combined company plans to use the name Sirius XM Radio Inc. Its stock will continue to be traded on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol SIRI. They first announced their deal in March 2007." [Yahoo News]

....that Sirius 'Blog Radio' may be be coming to an XM radio near you in the very near future.

The decision eliminates what was viewed as the toughest legal hurdle facing the $13 billion deal, which must be approved by the Federal Communications Commission. Consumer groups and traditional broadcasters have urged the FCC to impose conditions on the merger. [Washington Post]

DOWNLOAD: The Dodos - Fools (MP3)

The Dodos - a drum and guitar, singing duo from San Francisco - were in town to play two shows last week. I went to the one Monday night (Jan 28, 2008) at Mercury Lounge with Alberta Cross, and I would have went again on Saturday night with Phosphorescent at Union Pool if I wasn't at Hot Chip instead.

I saw so many shows last week, they're all starting to blur in my mind, but I know for sure I would recommend a live Dodos show, and I'm not saying that just because they were such nice guys when they visited Nick Masi (my co-host) and I on Tuesday night at Sirius to record an episode of the BrooklynVegan "blog radio" show (that aired on Wednesday). The new album Visiter - out March 18, 2008 on Frenchkiss - is good too. I was listening to it non-stop leading up to the show, which made the show even better. That's a track called "Fools" from the album for download above - listening to it and looking at the pictures will give you some idea of what the live show is like - two guys, fast drumming, ups and downs, builds, lots of tension, energy.....you can also watch a video.

The album is spelled "Visiter" because after The Dodos played a show at a special needs school in LA, the kids drew them pictures, and one of them said "Visiter" real big, and you'll see that picture and more in the art of the CD if you buy it.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Dodos were busy running around the city with Elizabeth Weinberg taking pretty pictures, and it was Elizbeth who took the pictures you see in this post....

Continue reading "The Dodos @ Mercury Lounge, NYC - pics "

"ME & GREG(BAD RELIGION) SHARE A LAUGH" (CRED)

More punk. More Sirius. I was pleased to have Ryan "Freshbread" of freshbread.blogs.com with me on today's (Aug 29, 2007) BrooklynVegan Sirius show. He chose all the music we played. That included a new Bad Religion track. Bad Religion is going on tour. There's a presale and a regular sale for a NYC and NJ show and other shows. All those tour dates, and Ryan's whole Sirius playlist, below....

Continue reading "the 'Freshbread' Sirius playlist & BAD RELIGION tour dates"

DOWNLOAD: Two Gallants - Seems Like Home to Me (MP3) (off EP)

The Brooklyn Vegan "Blog Radio" show airs on Sirius Left of Center every Wednesday at noon EST (and then again at midnight). On last week's show I was honored to have Two Gallants on as my guest.

Adam Stephens and Tyson Vogel (both Gallants) grew up together in San Francisco, started making music together at age twelve, are both really nice, and both picked most of the music we ended up playing on the show. We also played a bunch of their songs - old and new - inclduing a few tracks off their self-titled album that comes out on Saddle Creek on September 25th.

Two Gallants were in town after just finishing up a tour with Against Me! - we talked about how they were there when Tom Gabel was arrested. I tried to stay away from the played-out story about how they themselves were once arrested (and maced, etc) though.

Two Gallants' pre-Saddle Creek first-album The Throes has been re-mixed/mastered, and is being re-released, so they really have two records coming out really soon, AND they just came out with an EP. They kick off a tour with Blitzen Trapper on September 17th. Here's what we played:

Continue reading "Two Gallants' BrooklynVegan Sirius playlist"

please note: this post contains information on seeing Mr. Oizo at Studio B on Saturday night FOR FREE....

DOWNLOAD: Andy Butler (Hercules & Love Affair) on Beats in Space 3-20-07 (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Jamelia - Something About You (mr Oizo Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mr. Oizo - Nazis (Justice Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Justice - D.A.N.C.E. - (Tittsworth Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daft Punk - Human After All (Justice Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (Blaze's Nightmarish Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: N.E.R.D. - She Wants To Move (Justice Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (Charlie Fanclub Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Justice vs. Data "D.A.N.C.E." (Paste Back Remix) (MP3)

Mr. Oizo

If you caught me on the Brooklyn Vegan Blog Radio Show this week on Sirius, you might have heard us mention the upcoming People Don't Dance No More party June 15th at the Vault at Element. We'll be dancing to the sounds of one of the newest DFA signees (or is it signings?): Andy Butler of Hercules & Love Affair. Andy's upcoming releases on DFA mix a strong love of early 90s techno and early 80s slutty disco, as well as some collaborations with Antony on vocals.

Check out the Myspace for "Anthene" and "Classique2". Andy did a guest mix for Tim Sweeney's always stellar Beats in Space a few weeks ago (MP3 above). While you are listening shoot an email to the People Don't Dance RSVP $5 reduced list...

The full tracklisting to the Sirius Blog Radio show is all the way down at the bottom of the post.

Two absolutely smashing nights at Studio B this weekend. Friday night has Ed Banger's Kavinsky making his NYC debut at the Fun party. You might recognize Kavinsky's name from your Daft Punk ticket. He's going out on tour with the robots this summer. He loves him some 80s nitemusic.

On Saturday night, Fixed features another super ridiculous Ed Banger NYC debut DJ set from Mr. Oizo. If you listened to dance music, or watched TV in Europe, in 1999 you know "Flatbeat". If you've been listening to the Ed Banger sound this year, you'll know Mr. Oizo from his production work for Uffie, and remixes for Cassius and the Scissor Sisters. Just a word to the wise, its pronounced "Wah-zo" and his beats are as stunted, sleazy, and slutty as they come. His Transexual EP is the sluttiest yet and comes out this summer on Ed Banger. Added bonus, In Flagranti is playing live.

Thanks to your favorite malt likker, Colt 45 is giving free entrance to 300 people to the Fixed party on Saturday. Email TalesofNYC@viceland.com and tell them why you like Colt 45. (editor's note: duh. because it works every time)

NEWS

• Shock of the weeek! Justice and So_Me are releasing all those t-shirts from the D.A.N.C.E. video. Me from a few weeks ago:

  The boys have released their video for their massive next single "D.A.N.C.E." Its basically a pretty amazing ad for So Me's work with the Revolver clothing line.

• Puma is running a remix contest around their 1977 promotion: submit a remix for a song from 1977 and win
• THISISNOTANEXIT has a great preview of NYC's Rong label and a great mix
• Soviet Panda demonstrates the "Blog House" phenomena
• Pitchfork interviewed the Field. The Field loves Brooklyn Lager.
• Bye Fly Life: Tricia dances off into the sunset
• Thoughts on the new U.N.K.L.E. album and a track
• Headphone Sex runs down the Kitsune news.

• If you haven't picked up the Etienne De Crecy Remix of Chromeo get it now
• Head over to Are People Real's Myspace for a CURSES! DJ mix (click on the podcast button)
• XLR8R has a Touch of Class mix on their podcast (ATOC are also hosting a party at PS1)
• Music.for-Robots has a Teenage Bad Girl track (the cover of that single is by Dutch artist Parra who's got an exhibit going at Reed Space on Orchard, check it)
• Discobelle has got your weekly dose of blog house in the form of a Passions mini-mix for Kitsune

Continue reading "the week in Dance w/ David Bruno (06/08/07)"