Matthew Dear @ MHOW in 2008 (more by Bao Nguyen)

As mentioned, Pitchfork will be hosting three days of shows at Brooklyn Bowl during, but-it-looks-like/probably completely unaffiliated with, CMJ this year (Thursday/Friday/Saturday CMJ week). "Brooklyn Bowl is located at 61 Wythe Avenue between N. 11th and N. 12th streets. The festival starts at 2 p.m. each day, with doors opening at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10, both in advance and day of the show." They're calling it the #OFFLINE Festival.

Based on the lineups and start time, it looks like each #OFFLINE day will be about a 12 hour show. No set times yet though, but the full lineups and ticket links are below...

Matthew Dear is one of the biggest names on the list (he plays Saturday), and it will be one of three CMJ week shows for Matthew. His first is Friday night at Webster Hall with Jamaica and Dominique Young Unique. His third is later on Saturday at Public Assembly for the FIXED/Making Time Party with Matthew Dear, Crocodiles, Holy Ghost!, Javelin, Gold Panda, Jamaica, and Kisses.

The FIXED/Making Time party starts after the BrooklynVegan party which is also happening at Public Assembly that same day. Just to be clear:

SATURDAY OCTOBER 23RD
* BrooklynVegan @ Public Assembly 12-6pm (free - more details TBA)
* FIXED/Making Time @ Public Assembly 9pm-late (tickets)
* Pitchfork @ Brooklyn Bowl 2pm-late (tickets)
* BrooklynVegan metal @ Union Pool 7pm-late ($5.00 or CMJ badge at the door)

We (BrooklynVegan) will also be at Public Assembly all day on Friday, October 22nd (details TBA), and at Music Hall of Williamsburg on the Thursday night.

All Matthew Dear tour dates (many of which we previously posted including a November show at MHoW), and the Pitchfork #OFFLINE Fest info, below...

Continue reading "Pitchfork announces #OFFLINE not-CMJ parties, Matthew Dear also playing Making Time & Girls & Boys parties (lineups) "

photos by Chris Gersbeck, words by BBG

"Oh ps we are at radio city for the second night of drake ahows" -thefader

"@thefader SO JEALOUS IM NOT THERE" -bestcoastyy

Just before Small Black took the stage at the sold-out Bowery Ballroom tonight, Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino was Tweeting (what else?) about how she wished she were at the Drake show instead. Sounds about right. She doesn't seem to take her band, or its success, especially seriously. You get the sense that her prolific output in the past two years is less a result of creative urgency than just writing down the first thing that pops into her head...

Given her priorities, it's hard to fault her for giving a lackadaisical performance. She did a grateful little speech about going from disgruntled New School student to Bowery Ballroom headliner, but if Cosentino is otherwise excited about her new place in the world, she didn't show it. There was a lot of staring dead-eyed into the middle distance and laughing at the minor antics of guitarist Bobb Bruno, the hardest-rocking member of Best Coast mostly by virtue of how much hair he has. -[Village Voice]

Of the three bands, Best Coast's tour-mates Male Bonding left the strongest impression on Chris (who took these photos). He says they "knocked people's socks of for 35 minutes". Male Bonding is also on board to play tonight's show, along with Alex Bleeker & the Freaks.

The Drake show last night was the second in a row at Radio City for the pop star. Jay-Z, Birdman, Fabolous, and Trey Songz all made guest appearances, performing songs they recorded with the crooner/MC. TeamYee reports that Baby, J. Cole, Young Jeezy, Tyga, and Mack Maine all showed up the night before. Bethany missed out.

Is it possible to Tweet a sigh of disappointment? If so, look for one later today. More pictures and the setlist from the Bowery Ballroom show, and Drake's setlist from the first night at Radio City, below...

Continue reading "Best Coast played Bowery Ballroom w/ Male Bonding & Small Black (pics), missed Drake & Jay-Z @ Radio City Music Hall"

SoSB @ MHOW - CMJ 2009 (more by Vincent Cornelli)


The CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival "has announced its first round of performing artists." The full list, BrooklynVegan showcase semi-included, and more is below.

One of those performing artists is School of Seven Bells who headline the Windish showcase at Santos Party House on Saturday, October 23rd. Tickets are on sale for that (or you can try to get in with your CMJ badge). SoSB played MHOW during CMJ last year.

Meanwhile School of Seven Bells will kick off a tour with Active Child at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg on September 9th. $5.00 tickets are still on sale.

All SoSB dates, the CMJ artist list, Bad Books info and more, below...

Continue reading "CMJ announces initial 2010 lineup (list), School of Seven Bells touring w/ Active Child (dates) ++ "Bad Books" & more"

Beach Fossils @ South Street Seaport last Friday (more by Chris La Putt)

Captured Tracks confirm that Beach Fossils guitarist Sennott Burke has left the band. Sennott himself got in touch and told me, "I have nothing but love for the band and everyone in it. I just need to do my own thing." He added that, "If you are interested in playing guitar for Beach Fossils, get in touch via email beachfossils@gmail.com ASAP and be ready to leave Friday." Friday is the date of their Toledo, Ohio show.

This may or may not have something to do with a bass being lobbed into a river.

This news comes the same day that Vivian Girls & Best Coast announce new drummers.

Beach Fossils are scheduled to play Mercury Lounge with Small Black on Wednesday night (7/14, before Friday, before Toledo) (and the Bug Jar in Rochester tonight, even more before Toledo). It's unclear if these shows are affected at the moment (update: Sennott says, "Yeah, I'll be there, I'm going to finish this leg of tour and possibly longer, pending replacement."). All dates below...

Continue reading "Beach Fossils guitarist leaves band (wanna replace him?)"

photos by David Andrako

Small Black & Washed Out @ The Bell House

[Beach House's] opener, Washed Out, one-man band Ernest Greene, also showed command in his performance, which is a challenge for a solo artist/performer. The music was literally ringing, as he vibrated the venue with synthesizers and looped vocals. Though Washed Out managed to have a strong presence playing alone (a combination of sick beats + him prancing around with microphone in hand), his set really came alive when the band members of Small Black joined him on stage for the latter half of his set. They played a show together the night before at the Bell House and it was evident that there was amazing chemistry there. [Morning After Pills]

Small Black next plays a hometown show on a Wednesday, July 14th at Mercury Lounge with "Special Guests." Tickets are on sale. It's the final date of a currently-very-short U.S. tour.

More Bell House pictures and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Small Black played the Bell House w/ Washed Out (belated pics), playing Mercury Lounge & other tour dates "

Washed Out @ Mercury Lounge (more by Benjamin Lozovsky)

Washed Out and Small Black, whose March & April tour together already brought them to Mercury Lounge for two nights and to Music Hall of Williamsburg for one, have more shows scheduled together. One of them is in NYC, and soon. They'll play the Bell House in Brooklyn on May 5th. Tickets are on sale.

The Bell House show happens one day before Washed Out opens for Beach House at Webster Hall (sold out). After NYC, BH & WO continue touring to Philly and Baltimore. Washed Out and Small Black will tour Europe together starting at the end of May. Beach House will be back in NYC in July to open for the National in Prospect Park. By then, Washed Out and Beach House will have both played the Pitchfork Festival in Chicago. All dates below...

Continue reading "Washed Out & Small Black add more shows, Beach House too"

by Andrew Frisicano

HEALTH @ The Smell in LA in November (more by Rachel Carr)

HEALTH are going on tour with Indian Jewelry and Gold Panda this June for shows around North America. All three play Music Hall of Williamsburg on Sunday, June 20th. Tickets go on AmEx presale Wednesday (4/14) at noon. General sale starts Friday at noon.

HEALTH will release DISCO2, the follow-up to its 2008 remix record, HEALTH//DISCO, on June 22nd through Lovepump United. Remixers on the disc, which also features new track "USA Boys," include Crystal Castles (who play Irving Plaza tomorrow, April 14th), Javelin, Small Black, Salem, Tobacco and Pictureplane.

They recently released an intense & unspeakably creepy video for their song "We Are Water," directed by Tim & Eric's Eric Wareheim. That, album info and tracklist (with a complete list of remixers) and all tour dates (including dates in Europe) are below...

Continue reading "HEALTH - 2010 tour dates w/ Indian Jewelry & Gold Panda, new remix CD & Eric Wareheim video "

photos by Bryan Bruchman

Vivian Girls @ Club DeVille

"Brooklyn Bowl is gearing up for round two of Local X Local featuring Brooklyn's own indie chick-rockers Vivian Girls, with support from the German Measles. This monthly celebration of Brooklyn art and culture showcases local artists, musicians, food, entertainment and anything else that defines Brooklyn. As the borough continues to emerge as one of the nation's fastest growing culture capitals, Local X Local allows New Yorkers a free, monthly opportunity to sample the fruits of Brooklyn."

Brooklyn Bowl will be Vivian Girls' first hometown show after returning from a tour that started at SXSW where they played a bunch of shows. One of those was the Insound Party at Club DeVille where they went on after Small Black and before Liars (who we interviewed that morning). Another one of those was an intimate show at Todd P's location, Cheer Up Charlie's (ex Ms Bea's). Cassie was celebrating a birthday that day and the crowd sang for her. We got it on video which you can watch below with other videos of the band playing that venue with all dates and more pictures from Club DeVille....

Continue reading "Vivian Girls played SXSW w/ Small Black (pics, video), playing free Brooklyn show w/ German Measles Sunday & other dates"

As anyone following along on @bvSXSW knows, after some serious transportation issues, Andrew Frisicano eventually made his way down to Monterrey, Mexico from Austin, TX (counting waiting for the bus to show up, it took him something like 18 hours which was 4 hours shorter than it took Ryan Muir) in time for a bit of the 2nd night and all of the third day (aka today, 3/22). Here is some of his story so far...

The Coathangers @ MtyMX (by TiTa_Elizondo)

"You Will Remember Tonight" was the song that stuck out in Andrew WK's headlining set at MtyMx Festival last night in Monterrey, Mexico. It was the second night of the fest, and the only set I saw because of a lengthy, complicated bus trip that started much earlier in the day.

There were a lot of questions coming down to Mexico: transportation, accommodations and food were mostly left in the hands of the festival, and at MtyMx now (5pm Monterrey time), most of those continue to be issues, sadly distracting from the bands who did make it. For some bands and showgoers the trip took 20+ hours of waiting and riding on buses, but if one thing has been consistent, it has been that no two MtyMx trips have been the same.

Due to spotty bus service from Austin, shaken confidence in the festival and scheduling issues, a number of the bands on the bill have canceled or been unable to make it down. Those bands (editor's note: which Todd P sarcastically addresses in a video below) include Washed Out, Small Black, Tanlines, No Age, Lucky Dragons, Anamanaguchi, Pocahaunted, Beach Fossils, MNDR, Sun Araw, Total Abuse, Talk Normal, The Wave Pictures, Fucked Up, The Sandwitches and Liturgy. On the festival's last day, arranging transportation back to Austin or elsewhere has been an overriding theme.

story continued below with video & more pics...

Continue reading "Andrew Frisicano reports from MtyMx (which he had much trouble getting to, and he's not sure how he's getting back) "

by Benjamin Lozovsky

When Small Black joined Washed Out on stage midway through the latter's performance, during their first of two shows at Mercury Lounge (Monday, 3/7), they helped blow the French doors wide open on Washed Out's woozy boudoir pop. A note to all solo electronic protagonists out there in search of dreamy soundscapes: please bring a full band with you on tour.

Washed Out's (the stage moniker of Georgia based musician Ernest Greene) music was never envisioned beyond a solo manifestation, Greene pointed out after the show. But the benefit of added live instrumentation connected immediately with an audience that was up until then caught in the delicately moving haze of recorded samples and distant vocals that categorized Washed Out's solo performance. It's not often you get such a before/after scenario. While the merit of the purely electronic one-man show was undeniable, adding bold textures to the already phyllo-like layers of sounds presented by Greene greatly raised the show's level of intensity. Sometimes taking a hammer to subtly persuasive musical inclinations is a necessary evil. Monday night, it was devilishly effective.

It helped that Small Black is no stranger to glowing abstractions of shimmering drone. They served as a less restrained foil to Washed Out's even temperament, and the bouncy, enigmatic moves they displayed during their set followed them onstage as they helped out their tour-mate during his performance. The heavy, quick moving playing of their bassist both propelled Small Black's music beyond the rudimentary drum beat they seem mired in and added grime and counter rhythms to Washed Out's sound.

Having only rehearsed together for the first time last Monday, future tour attendees can look forward to an even greater fulfillment of collaboration between the two groups. And for the rest of the unaccompanied musicians with glo-fi and shoegazing aspirations, remember a backing band is like a credit card - never leave home without it.

Last night (3/8) was the second of those Mercury Lounge shows. Pictureplane opened both nights and will continue with both of the other bands on a tour that brings them to SXSW, into Mexixco, and back again. The next NYC show is April 10th at Music Hall of Williamsburg and tickets are still on sale.

More pictures from Mercury Lounge below...

Continue reading "Washed Out, Small Black & Pictureplane played two nights @ Mercury Lounge (pics & review), continue on tour"

Beach House @ The Bell House last Tuesday (1/26) (more by Jonny Leather)

Due to the overwhelming demand for our June 16th show at Radio City Music Hall, we've decided to add another New York show this summer in beautiful Prospect Park as part of Celebrate Brooklyn on July 27th. We're very excited to play just a few blocks from home and to have Beach House join us as a special guest (if you haven't heard their incredible new album "Teen Dream" yet, you should). We'll be in touch again soon regarding additional shows as we firm up plans.[The National]

There are also limited tickets still available for their June 16th Radio City show.

National side project Clogs have an upcoming show and a new album coming out. as well.

Beach House have a spring tour of their own coming up, part of which is opened by Washed Out (though maybe not their Webster Hall show in May). Washed Out just added an April 10th Music Hall of Williamsburg show with Small Black (who are at Brooklyn Bowl Saturday, Feb. 6) and Pictureplane to their three-band tour together (they're already playing two nights at Mercury Lounge in March). That trip goes to SXSW and Mexico too. Tickets to the MHOW show go on sale Friday at noon. All dates below...

Continue reading "Beach House opening for the National in Prospect Park, Washed Out & Small Black expand tour (dates) "

the concert site...

==BIG NEWS!==

It is my pleasure to announce the inaugural MtyMx All-Ages Festival of Art and Music!

The MtyMx festival will happen on March 20th, 21st, and 22nd at Autocinema Las Torres in Monterrey, Mexico

The MtyMx festival is a collaboration between Yo Garage and Todd P and will feature up to 25 bands a day for three days, playing outdoors on two stages in a beautiful drive-in movie theater on the side of a mountain in the Sierra Madre Oriental. Over one third of the bands playing are from Mexico!

Tickets are $30 for a three day pass. 75 bands!

Confirmed bands include: Dan Deacon, Neon Indian, Washed Out, Thee Oh Sees, Pocahaunted, Indian Jewelry, Male Bonding, Best Fwends, Banjo or Freakout and many many more, along with Mexican groups Los Fancy Free, Los Margaritos, and more to be announced in the coming days. -Todd P

The only bad news (for SXSWers) is that Todd will not be bringing his multi-day fest of day shows to Ms. Bea's again this year, though he doesn't seem to be ruling out doing at least something in Austin before Mexico.

Scared of Mexico? In an e-mail, Todd P told us, "Monterrey has a lower violent crime rate than NYC, Dallas, or Houston, even accounting for international drug trade violence. A major goal of the festival is to dispel US misconceptions that Mexico is the 3rd world, uneducated, dangerous and backwards. Mexico is a modern country with a surging middle class and a vibrant, plugged in 1st world art and music community. Another major goal is to correct the disenfranchisement of Mexican artists and bands caused by strict US visa restrictions on Mexicans. In short: these bands and fans can't go to SxSW."

Details and reservations for Austin-to-Monterrey round-trip bus service, hotel options and onsite camping are forthcoming. More info on MtyMx is below...

Continue reading "Todd P officially announces MtyMx Fest (March 20-22) in Monterrey, Mexico (expanded lineup - No Age & more)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: We Are Wolves - Blue (MP3)

At this point it's passed by funny and verges on absurd. When I mention to Alexander Ortiz that there is a We Were Wolves in Beaumont, TX and a We're Wolves (get it... werewolves?) from Belgium he can only chuckle. When his thrashy synth rock trio from Montreal named themselves nearly a decade ago (after a t-shirt he designed with a skull smashing through a keyboard) there wasn't also a Wolf Parade or an AIDS Wolf sharing the island.

Because we're not commercially a big band we don't exist [in the same way] for the world. Our name came around 2000, but in 2005 we were doing a show in Portland and a drunk kid comes up saying 'What's up with you fuckers, using the same name as everybody else,' and he mentions Wolfmother."

Once you get past the nomenclature, any resemblance to Australian faux classic rock melts away. Their debut on Fat Possum records, Non-Stop Je Te Plie en Deux, was a visceral blend of grimy guitar over hypno-synths with percussion both live and electronic. It got them compared to everyone from the Cramps to Suicide to Devo. Now on their third album, and second for Canadian indie label Dare to Care, the sound hasn't changed so much as been refined. [Exclaim!]

We Are Wolves were last here during CMJ. A couple videos, including the NSFW "Coconut Night," tour dates and a flyer for the Studio @ Webster Hall follow below...

Continue reading "We are Wolves releasing album (MP3), playing shows (dates)"

DOWNLOAD: Small Black - Despicable Dogs (Washed Out Remix) (MP3)

Washed Out/Ernest Greene...

[January 26th] sees the release of a SMALL BLACK / WASHED OUT split 7"! Unless you've been living under a rock/don't know what the internet is (that's ok too!!!), both of these bands have come out of nowhere this summer with two egregiously awesome debut EPs. We're proud to be following both of those up with a 7" wherein each band remixes the other. The resulting jams are dancefloor / bedroom-shenanigans ready. Bangers. Literally.
[Lovepump United]

Washed Out and Small Black have a pair of shows scheduled together, both at Mercury Lounge, on Sunday, March 7th and Monday, March 8th. Tickets go on sale Friday, January 22nd at noon.

Another record that comes out January 26th is Beach House's Teen Dream, which, like Charlotte Gainsbourg, is currently streaming at NPR. Beach House plays a sold-out CD release show that same night at Brooklyn's Bell House with Jana Hunter.

Beach House don't visit New York again until near the end of their spring North American tour. That NYC show, Thursday, May 6th at Webster Hall, will be opened by Washed Out (who opens about two weeks total of the tour, dates below). Tickets are still on sale.

Beach House is also scheduled to appear on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Jan. 22nd and has European shows booked for February and March. They'll also be at Coachella this April.

Small Black are also playing a February 6th show at Brooklyn Bowl as part of BAM's "Sounds Like Brooklyn" Festival. Tickets are on sale.

All tour dates and the WO/SB 7" cover are below...

Continue reading "Small Black & Washed Out split 7" (MP3) & shows + tour dates w/ Beach House (whose album is streaming)"

photos by Alexandra Ursitti

Happy Holidays! I take on more than I can handle. That results in a lot of unposted content. In the name of catching up, while also taking it easy during this final week of the year, here's some of that lost material.

A set of pictures from a show Small Black played at Market Hotel in December, continued below...

Continue reading "Small Black @ Market Hotel in Brooklyn - pics "

Starting December 17th, Insound, the online indie super-store, known for its impeccable selection of vinyl and well designed music merch and gifts, will open a unique holiday pop-up gallery at 303 Grand St. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The gallery will be selling the best designed music gifts from Insound's inventory, including silk-screened, limited edition posters, t-shirts, deluxe LP box sets, art books about music, turntables and unusual audio gear and music gifts.

In a neighborhood filled with great small record stores, Insound will not be selling standard LPs or CDs at the pop up gallery. Instead, the company's staff has curated the space with the intention of showcasing products that express the very best product design and quality applied to a love of music.

Additionally, every night from 7-10pm, in conjunction with The Fader, the gallery will host special live music events featuring surprise guest DJs and complimentary cocktails.

Continue reading "Insound Design Store in Williamsburg (Dec 17th-21st)"

sweet.jamz @ music hall... most fun show in awhile. Cold Cave had that bass banging! Free Tequila though, is a life killer.. -Small Black

Cold Cave @ The Suffolk during CMJ '09 (more by Tim Griffin)

Cold Cave and Small Black played sets at VBS.TV's holiday party at Music Hall of Williamsburg last night (Tuesday, 12/16). Cold Cave plays for $2 in Philly on Friday.

The band's upcoming tour with Nite Jewel will be kicking off with a February 4th show at Mercury Lounge (no Psychic TV). Tickets go on sale Friday, December 18th at noon.

Updated tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Cold Cave played MHOW (w/ Small Black), playing Mercury Lounge (w/ Nite Jewel) -- updated tour dates"

tonight in NYC
* Hanukkah
* Diane Cluck @ The Stone
* The Mellowmatics @ Brooklyn Bowl
* The Briars of North America @ Sycamore
* Matisyahu, Rana @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Cymbals Eat Guitars, Black Gold @ Wired Store
* Fur Cups for Teeth, Holy Hail, Big Digits @ Cake Shop
* Body Language, Color Radio, Spirit Animal @ Glasslands
* Raekwon, Capone & Noreaga, Queen Yonasda @ Irving Plaza
* Stellastarr*, The Postelles, Irv Irving @ Bowery Ballroom
* Yula Beeri, Hank and Cupcakes, Kiss Kiss, Emilyn Brodsky @ Maxwell's
* Telepathe, Walter Schreifels, DJ Nick Zinner @ Studio at Webster Hall
* Marduk, Black Anvil, Nachtmystium, Mantic Ritual, Dimentianon @ Gramercy Theatre
* The Brooklyn What, Sleepies, Highway Gimps, The Organs @ Death By Audio
* Neon Indian, MNDR, Toro y Moi, Electric Tickle Machine @ Mercury Lounge

Cymbals Eat Guitars and Black Gold play at the Wired Store on 13th St (RSVP required).

Raekwon's tour stops at Irving Plaza tonight. According to Pitchfork, Raekwon put out the 21st best song of the year.

Neon Indian and Toro y Moi play Mercury Lounge for a second night (with MNDR & Electric Tickle Machine). Palomo & band are at Brooklyn Bowl with Awesome New Republic tomorrow.

Hopefully Marduk doesn't body slam anyone tonight at Gramercy Theatre.

Telepathe and the Walter Schreifels band are at Studio at Webster Hall (w/ DJ Nick Zinner spinning). Video of Walt & band playing "Open Letter To The Scene" at the Charleston on Monday, posted below.

Phoenix's United album is only $1.99 at Amazon today.

Small Black's video for "Despicable Dogs" below....

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

Cold Cave @ Market Hotel during CMJ (more by Leia Jospe)

Cold Cave will be playing a free show this Tuesday, December 15th - the VBS.TV Holiday Party with Small Black at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Nick Gazin will be the DJ. The show is 21+; RSVP here to get on the list.

Cold Cave are also playing another holiday bash this Friday, though it's in Philly. The party, hosted by Making Time (aka the some of the same people who put on Fixed and who put on that other pool party last summer), will be at the Voyeur on Friday, December 18th. Tickets are $2 at the door. Flyer below.

In February, Cold Cave have a full slate of tour dates lined up. Those start with a Thursday, February 4th show at (Le) Poisson Rouge. Tourmates Nite Jewel will be there, as will the legendary Psychic TV aka Genesis Breyer P-Orridge's post-Throbbing Gristle project. No ticket info yet.

UPDATE: I'm told that the show with Psychic TV is not confirmed. Stay tuned for more info.

UPDATE 2: The NYC show is on February 4th, but without Psychic TV and at Mercury Lounge.

Psychic TV just toured overseas for the final time in November.

"This will be the last tour of PsychicTV/PTV3. Genesis Breyer P-Orridge is retiring from touring in any and all bands including TG to concentrate on art, writing and music. Genesis will still consider one-off projects if they are unique, interesting or challenging. S/HE will also continue to work with Tony Conrad occasionally on violin duets and perform expanded poetry projects with Thee Majesty.

PTV3 are rejoined by ALICE GENESE on bass for this last detour and as DAVID MAX Max just became father to a daughter, ONNA Israel Max, he will be replaced by lead guitarist JEFF BUNSEN BERNER."

All tour dates and flyers are below...

Continue reading "Cold Cave playing free NYC show Tues & for $2 in Philly ++ touring w/ Nite Jewel & playing NYC in Feb??"

by Andrew Frisicano

Kurt Vile @ Europa

Kurt Vile fit three shows into a recent two-day NYC trip. The first was a solo performance at an invite-only party at Public Assembly early Tuesday night (11/17). Later that night, he played a show at Europa with the Violators behind him and opening sets from Wild Yaks, Pink Reason and Home Blitz. Then on Wednesday (11/18), KV&V opened up for Big Star at Brooklyn Masonic Temple.

Kurt Vile and the Black Keys added a New Year's Day show after their NYE show in Chicago. In addition to his February tour with Fucked Up (the NYC dates of which are on sale), Kurt Vile will be playing a free show at Brooklyn Bowl on Tuesday, December 1st with Small Black and DJ Rezound (as part of the Fader Bowl series).

The next show for Wild Yaks happens Saturday, November 28th at the Living Room. The gig is part of Hex Fest that's happening at Cake Shop, Pianos, the Living Room and Googies the same day. The lineup for that includes Das Racist, Your Nature, Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit, Weird Owl and others. Tickets and days passes are on sale.

More pictures and words on the Kurt Vile/Wild Yaks show at Europa are below...

Continue reading "Kurt Vile adds free Brooklyn show (dates), played Europa w/ Wild Yaks (who are playing Hex Fest) - pics & review"

SXSWeek 2010: March 12-21
Interactive: March 12-16
Film: March 12-20
Music: March 17-21

Continue reading "SXSW 2010 - dates & initial band lineup "

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Diehard - Karaoke King (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Small Black - Despicable Dogs (MP3)

Free Energy

Philadelphia's nostalgic party rockers Free Energy are playing The Bell House next Tuesday (11/10). This is the band's first NYC show since a pretty successful CMJ run:

This group's laser-guided desire to be the go-to Dazed and Confused house band makes their ultimate intent curious. Considering the caveman riffs, boogie bass, and lyrics like, "you can do what you want to do," the question is: Are these guys kidding? The answer is (basically), "no."

Because when Sprangers sings, "you can do what you want to do," or, "never give up," or even, "bang pop pop," he means it-- possibly more than a grown man should. So this is seriously fun music, the type of thing Weezer have attempted for the last few years except not as creepy or cloying. [Pitchfork]

Free Energy are also playing Santos Party House on November 28 with Glint opening.

Back to the Bell House show though. Also playing are another band who had a good CMJ, Brooklyn's Small Black. While they seem a little more song-based than most of the bands lumped in with this chillwave/glo-fi thing, there is a Washed Out remix of their (very good) current single "Despicable Dogs" So let's just lump them in there too and make it easy on ourselves for now. Unlike Washed Out though, Small Black have already figured out how to make their live show interesting. So if you missed them during CMJ, here's another chance. They play Market Hotel on November 7th too, with Pictureplane, Cale Parks, Grass Widow, and The Girls at Dawn. All dates below.

Also on the Bell House line-up are relatively new band Diehard who seem to be actively channeling mid-'90s American indie rock like Superchunk, Archers of Loaf and Pavement, and they do it very well. Check out their song "Karaoke King" at the top of this post, and if you like that they've got two more downloadable MP3s at their website.

Live videos of Free Energy and Small Black from CMJ, plus all tour dates are below.

Continue reading "Free Energy tour dates without the Rakes who broke up, a show w/ Small Black who play Brooklyn w/ Pictureplane too"

Showpaper #16

Details below...

Continue reading "Pitchfork Todd P Showpaper benefit @ Market Hotel Saturday"