by Andrew Frisciano

The on-again, off-again rain on Sunday didn't cancel the 17th annual WBAR-B-Q, but it did move the show inside to Barnard's LeFrak Gym, a bit different aesthetically from the lush spring greenery outside but serviceable enough. It helped that the lineup had a focus on experimental noise and noise-inspired acts - every act I saw had the reverb and distortion keyed up, so the added resonance of the hall wasn't really an issue.

The show kicked off with Prince Rama, U.S. Girls and Think About Life, all of whom went on before I got there a little after 2pm. By then the free food was gone too, but the cotton candy machine and sno-cones were stocked all day.

On the center stage, Baltimore's Lower Dens (with guitarist Jana Hunter) played floating, moody distorted rock; drone violinist and loopmaster Burning Star Core/C Spencer Yeh serenaded (with huge bass drops) along the back wall; and Blues Control performed effects-heavy keyboard-and-tape jams.

The room looked fairly empty for most of the day (being a huge gym), but by the time Cold Cave went on people were on their feet and dancing. New member Jennifer Clavin (ex-Mika Miko) played keys and stepped in for vocals, and the band was off after a short-ish, no-encore set. Twin Stumps and their crazily enthused frontman set up on the floor across the gym and kept the show going with dissonant, pointed punk. Liturgy closed the show, but I took off before they played.

It was the second free show of the weekend for Cold Cave, who played the HEALTH-headlined NYU Solar One show the day before (which I heard also had plenty of room for people to move around). They play (Le) Poisson Rouge on Thursday with Cult Of Youth, Beaut, Max (reading), Mike Goodstein (WFMU) and DJ Mike Simonetti (Italians Do It Better). Tickets are still on sale.

More pictures from Barnard and a video of HEALTH at Solar One are below...

Continue reading "Cold Cave (and a lot of bands) played free shows @ Solar One (for NYU) & in Barnard's LeFrak Gym (WBAR-B-Q rain location)"

HEALTH is the secret band at Saturday's free, open to the public, NYU, Earth Day, Cold Cave show at Solar One (thx Mike!). If you miss it, HEALTH are back in June as part of a tour.

by Andrew Frisicano

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

Cold Cave and a surprise headliner will top a free concert on Saturday, April 24th at Solar One (same location as the annual CitySol, 23rd Street at East River) as part of NYU Earth Week. Also on the bill are lightly orchestral, layered pop band North Highlands and echo\y, tuneful Oberhofer. The show starts at 4pm and Andrew WK DJs between bands. The headliner will be announced the day of the show.

Columbia University is hosting a show with Of Montreal, Wiz Khalifa and Ghostface Killah the same day.

Cold Cave also playing the WBAR-B-Q the next day (4/25) and LPR on April 29th.

Also NYU-related is the annual Strawberry Festival on Friday, April 30th, noon to 4pm, outdoors on LaGuardia Place between W 3rd and 4th Sts. The show (an "NYU only event") includes music from Hop Along, Little Lungs, Fiasco, Screaming Females and Japanther.

Video from last year's Strawberry Fest and a recent gig by Japanther at Party Expo are below...

Continue reading "Cold Cave, a surprise headliner, Screaming Females, Japanther & other bands playing upcoming free NYU shows"

On July 10-12, 2009, Solar One, NYC's first green energy, arts and education center, will present Citysol, a celebration of urban sustainability and creativity in a mini music and arts festival.

Continue reading "Citysol 2009 (July 10-12) - full lineup (Dead Prez, Shilpa Ray, Fiasco, So So Glos, Rachel Trachtenburg, more...)"

Shilpa Ray @ Santos (more by Faith-Ann Young)

We already knew that Fiasco is one of the band's playing Citysol 09 on July 11th at Stuyvesant Cove Park in NYC (23rd St in Manhattan - all the way east). The confirmed lineup for that free show also includes Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers, Love Like Deloreans, Hi Red Center and Schwervon!.

The annual environmental festival runs from July 10th-12th at Stuy Cove Park with the concert day being the Saturday. Like last year, Digiwaxx will be curating the fest's hip-hop/funk lineup. We helped out with the whole lineup in 2007.

Fiasco will also be at Citysol's pre-fest youth benefit concert at Solar One (same location) on Saturday, June 13th.

The benefit concert on June 13th was conceived and curated by [Citysol's] 18-year-old high school intern, Corinne Monaco. The other confirmed bands on the bill are Starscream, Run Time Error, The Mighty Handful, Consumer Feedback, The Sediment Club, The Whisky Crusaders and Lorrain and Her Demons.

It'll be Shilpa Ray's second year in a row at Citysol -- she also played the 2008 fest. This year she'll also be playing the Sly Stone tribute at Castle Clinton just a fest days after on July 16th, and a just-announced show at Southpaw on July 1st.. Her May Wednesdays residency at Pianos continues on the 20th and 27th of this month.

The Stuyvesant Cove Park is not to be confused with the Stuyvesant Town Oval, which is hosting its own free shows throughout the summer. The schedule for that series includes Kaki King, Jay Reatard, the Budos Band (who played Citysol in 2007) and more.

Videos from last year's fest, with upcoming Fiasco tour dates (including one at a new space - with a familiar name - Shea Stadium) below...

Continue reading "Citysol 2009 lineup announcement (Shilpa Ray, Love Like Deloreans, Hi Red Center, Schwervon!, more) "

Fiasco @ Death By Audio (more by Leia Jospe)

Fiasco is playing the "Citysol Festival @ Stuyvesant Cove Park" in NYC in July, though despite the July 7th date they are currently listing on their MySpace, I can now confirm that the festival will happen from July 10th-12th. love like deloreans are also on the music part of the bill (July 11th). Stay tuned for more information on the annual free, outdoor, solar-powered show.

photos by Chris La Putt

"We've challenged a top chef to feed your tummy at our first-ever Backyard BBQ event. We've given him the ingredients and space to prepare a feast for hundreds. Is he up to the challenge? You better believe it. Tell your friends, grab a blanket and come on out to this one-of-a-kind party. Look for a full-set performance by Islands, and enjoy FREE BEER all day. We're hosting a cook-off challenge where you'll have the chance to have your food critiqued by celebrity judges and win CASH PRIZES. Carnivores and vegetarians are welcome! This event is all ages."

Continue reading "Islands @ NY Mag's Highbrow BBQ @ Solar One, NYC - pics"

WHO: GOOD, Council on the Environment of City of New York (CENYC), Greenmarket, Solar One and JetBlue are teaming up to bring the farm to the city for a single night of fun, food and festivities. All subscribers to GOOD magazine 21 years of age and older are welcome to join. To non-subscribers, the price of admittance to this event is $20, which goes to support Greenmarket, a program of Council on the Environment NYC (CENYC), and adds you to GOOD's subscription base.

WHAT: At the "Choose GOOD Farmers' Fair," guests can participate in bee keeping, fresh mozzarella cheese making, farming and rainwater harvesting, while learning about the value of locally grown produce.

To keep the soiree going, a menu of unique Greenmarket cocktails and an assortment of fresh market-based noshes will be served, while musical guests: These New Puritans, Jacques Renault and David Prince perform throughout the evening.

WHEN: Saturday, June 7, 2008
5:00pm to 10:00pm (These New Puritans perform from 8pm-9pm)

Continue reading "Good Celebrates Green Market, These New Puritans playing"

Off the Grid 2008
April 19, 2008
1:00 pm to 8:00 pm

New York University's first sustainable music festival, featuring an afternoon of great talent, food, and organizations bringing the community together to kick off Earth Week at NYU and around the world. Featuring: Mission of Burma with special guests Revision, Tree Union, The Amygdaloids, and DJ Nuuro This event will be greened with bio-diesel generators, wind credits, solar panels, a waste management program, and more.

Mission of Burma is also playing full albums in NYC and Boston in June.