The Oblivians @ Knitting Factory, 2010 (more by Andrew Friscano)

The Seaport Music Festival already announced that Unknown Mortal Orchestra would be playing on June 28 and they've recently announced a couple more dates on the schedule. Memphis garage legends The Oblivians will play with their Goner labelmates Ex-Cult on June 7. And then on June 21, jangly UK indie pop quartet Fear of Men will play. No opener has been announced for that show yet. All Seaport Music Festival shows are free and all-ages.

More shows are still to be announced. Also happening at Pier 17 at the Seaport is Village Voice's 4Knots Music Fest which happens June 29 with headliners Kurt Vile & the Violators, plus The Men, Parquet Courts, and Marnie Stern and more TBA.

As you may remember, South Street Seaport was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, taking out most of shops on the brick street area down there which also suffered heavy looting, and most of those storefronts are still empty. (The mall is open, though.) Seaport Music, the label, are putting out a compilation album titled Anchored & Amped and 100% of the sales going to Seaport area businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The record includes exclusive tracks from Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, The Wedding Present, Wire, Savoir Adore and more It will be available on June 4 via local record stores and at Seaport Music Festival shows.

Ex-Cult will also be back in July with Austin's OBN IIIs, playing Mercury Lounge on 7/24. Tickets to that show are still available. Updated Ex-Cult dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Seaport Music Festival announces more shows (Oblivians / Ex-Cult, Fear of Men), releasing Sandy relief benefit LP"

Kurt Vile at Coachella, 4/14/2013 (more by Dana [distortion] Yavin)

We already knew that The Men would be playing this year's 4 Knots Music Festival, but the Village Voice have just announced a few more acts: Kurt Vile, Parquet Courts, and Marnie Stern. With two stages and seven hours for each, there are lots more bands still be be announced. Village Voice's 4Knots Music Festival goes down June 29 at South Street Seaport from 1 - 8 PM. It's free and all-ages. Flyer is below.

Continue reading "Kurt Vile, Parquet Courts and Marnie Stern added to 4Knots Fest 2013 line-up"

The Men at Bowery Ballroom in March (more by David Andrako)

We just told you about a bunch of Record Store Day releases that we're excited for, and here's one more that should be pretty great. Sacred Bones is releasing the third installment of their Todo Muere series, and this one features tracks from The Men, Moon Duo, a Psychic Ills remix of Follakzoid, Jozef Van Wissem & Jim Jarmusch, Zola Jesus, The Holydrug Couple, Wymond Miles, and Case Studies. Check out the album art and stream The Men's contribution, "B Minor," a track from their New Moon sessions, below.

The Men are on tour now and will be back in NYC for a Northside Festival show on June 14 at Warsaw with the Greg Ginn/Ron Reyes incarnation of Black Flag, Ginn's other project Good For You, and Netherlands (sold out). They're also playing 4Knots Festival at the South Street Seaport on June 29, though that lineup has not been announced in full yet. Stay tuned.

Jozef Van Wissem and Jim Jarmusch also have a NYC show coming up which happens at Mercury Lounge on May 7 with drone guitar great Noveller. Tickets for that show go on sale today (4/12) at noon. It's Jozef & Jim's only US date before heading overseas for Primavera Sound and other shows.

All Jozef Van Wissem and The Men dates are listed, along with The Men song stream, below...

Continue reading "Sacred Bones releasing RSD comp; The Men playing 4Knots; a new Jozef Van Wissem & Jim Jarmusch show (dates/stream)"

Darlene Love @ South Street Seaport 2010 (more by Chris La Putt)

November 2012 update from The Howard Hughes Corporation:

The safety and security of our employees, tenants and customers is always our top priority, and we are grateful that no one was seriously injured at The Seaport during the storm.

Hurricane Sandy caused incredible devastation to our City, and The Seaport was seriously impacted.

While we currently do not have a definitive timeline for reopening, The Howard Hughes Corporation is very committed to rebuilding the Uplands and Pier 17 as soon as possible. To that end, we are working diligently to coordinate all necessary assessment, remediation and inspection of the many buildings that make up South Street Seaport. In fact, remediation in some areas is already underway, including certain common areas. However, because of the various issues related to the Uplands and Pier 17, it will be several weeks before everything is fully evaluated by experts and a more firm timetable can be established. Some buildings at The Seaport may open sooner than others and we will share updates through our website and other channels as available.

At this time, tenants are being permitted to access their spaces to assess damage and address their own business issues. Otherwise, Pier 17 is currently closed to the public, except for essential personnel.

The Seaport is a popular and treasured destination in Lower Manhattan, and we have an exciting redevelopment plan for Pier 17 that will continue despite the storm. We are very proud of the hard work of our team and hope to be able to share more updates soon. We look forward to rebuilding and welcoming visitors and neighbors back to The Seaport as soon as possible.

Darlene Love, as always, will still be celebrating the holidays though. Her Annual Christmas Celebration at B.B. King's in NYC has gone from one to two nights of cheer. Tickets are sale for shows on December 9 and December 10. You can also catch Darlene on Letterman on 12/20 (watch the video of her appearance last year below and at NJPAC in Newark two days later. All of her dates are listed below along with the video of her performance on Letterman last year.

Ronette Ronnie Spector, also in the Hall of Fame and who has also played the Seaport tree lighting, is also keeping up tradition and will bring her "Best Christmas Party Ever!" back to NYC, DC and CT this year. Tickets are on sale for the 12th annual show at B.B. King's on 12/14. All dates are listed below...

Continue reading "No Christmas at the Seaport this year, but Darlene Love & Ronnie Spector still celebrating (dates)"

Front St. on Monday evening (via @iggsactly)

Lower Manhattan got it pretty good by Sandy, South Street Seaport included. The area was under multiple feet of water. The Seaport Music Festival, who put on the free shows down there, still had their stage set up. Some gear was ruined though they luckily had taken down the deck, lights, tent and canopy in preparation for the hurricane. No word on how the Beekman Beer Garden fared, though one Tweeter fears it is "definitely gone". Wine store Pasanella and Son was reportedly "decimated". Sadly, there has also been some looting at the Seaport's shops.

At a press conference this afternoon, Mayor Bloomberg, who recently confirmed at least 18 Sandy related deaths in NYC, announced that like the subways (Buses start returning tonight [10/30]), it may be three or four more days before power is restored to the tons of residents who lost it due to Hurricane Sandy. This includes all of lower Manhattan where, as you know, a whole lot of Manhattan music venues are. Which probably means no shows till the weekend for Pianos, Cake Shop, The Living Room, Arlene's Grocery, Fontana's, Rockwood Music Hall, The Slipper Room, Mercury Lounge, Bowery Ballroom, Santos Party House, Le Poisson Rouge and others.

Good news, apart from no power, the Ludlow St. area venues all came out ok, with folks at Pianos, Cake Shop and Arlene's Grocery specifically saying there was no water damage. Williamsburg clubs, are getting somewhat back to normal sooner, with shows at Union Pool and Glasslands tonight.

Elsewhere, Park Slope/Gowanus's Bell House reports that they "had some minimal flooding but will be back to business as usual by tomorrow. Working on fundraiser ideas for you now " Bar 4 in Park Slope lost their awning.

photos by Amanda Hatfield; video by Jessica Amaya; words by Bill Pearis

One night before the 4Knots Music Festival too over the space, fire included, it was the last Seaport Music Festival show of the year on Friday (7/13), a nice, if low-key affair (part of the River to River Festival) with Fiery Furnace Eleanor Friedberger. With no new album to plug, Friedberger seemed pretty relaxed and jovial, playing mostly songs off last year's great Last Summer with added pizaz from sax player Robbie Lee.

The undercard slot went to Ex Cops who were just teriffic, I thought, with a sound that's some where between New Zealand 1985 and London/Manchester 1992, and great songs like their Other Music debut single "You Are a Lion, I Am a Lamb" and a few that I hadn't heard before. The band can really play too. Looking forward to their first album, which is due out this fall.

I didn't catch that much of Zambri's opening set, but am a fan of all things slinky, tribal and gothy and have enjoyed their shows in the past.

In addition to more pictures of all three bands below, you can also check out video performances from Friday night's show.

Continue reading "Eleanor Friedberger, Ex Cops and Zambri played South Street Seaport (pics, video)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield and Chris La Putt; words by Bill Pearis

Archers of Loaf / Crocodiles / the scene at 4Knots 2012

Even though the fire that broke out on the deck at the South Street Seaport Mall was certainly the most memorable act of the day, the Village Voice 4Knots Festival was a fine time at South Street Seaport, loaded with good performances amid the smoke and oppressive humidity. There was a big crowd for this second year of the fest, much bigger than last year, and though there wasn't a headliner the size of, say, Steve Malkmus or M.I.A. or Spoon (like they had at Siren in years past), that seemed by design in these post-Drake years. I like every band that played the main stage.

Well, I don't know anything about the first two bands who played the main stage -- The Smiling Lies and Fast Years -- who played before I got there at 1PM and seemed to be on by contractual obligation. Nick Waterhouse made a good, friendly primer for the day with his vintage, baritone sax-fueled '60s soul and R&B, looking dapper in a white oxford shirt that had to have been hot on stage. I prefer him in a tiny sweaty club to a big outdoor fest (I can say that about most bands) but he had the sweaty part down.

Bleached were up next and while we've yet to get an album from these girls, the crowd seemed to know most of their set of hook-laden poppy, punky, curled-lip songs. Hospitality were up next -- almost exactly a year ago they played to about 60 people at the Fulton Stall Market across the street from the Seaport, and they've come a long way since. Most of the crowd was bobbing along to much of their Merge debut... at least till the fire cut their set short.

After the smoke cleared it was Crocodiles whose new album Endless Flowers finds them branching out of strict JAMC love into brighter, poppier corners. They were probably the most animated band of the day with Brandon Welchez definitely playing up the rock frontman gig to the hilt. Crocodiles also inspired the only crowd surfing I saw on Saturday (but I might have missed some).

Speaking of animated, The Drums were up next. Once known for their Bring It On as an indie rock band, tambourine-tossing fabulousness, they are now a real live rock band with little in the way of backing tracks. While I think their most recent album was pretty good, and they sounded tight, they are a little on the subdued side live these days, or at least have been the last two times I've seen them. I think I liked them better live when they mostly pretended to play their instruments.

I was wondering if a lot of the crowd might leave after The Drums' set but, nope, everyone stuck around for recently-reformed '90s indie rock royalty Archers of Loaf. I'll admit I was never the biggest fan -- that was my college roommate, who seemed to get mail-order daily from TeenBeet, Merge and Simple Machines while I scoured import racks for Ride and Blur EPs -- but I certainly absorbed a lot through osmosis and the hit-filled set ("Web in Front," "Wrong," "Plumb") was even recognizable to this casual Archers listener. My friend Chris, a giant Archers fan, dubbed their performance "awesome."

Meanwhile on the Skipper's stage, we got mischievous Montreal band Doldrums, the twangy retro rock of Devin, punk-ish rockers Team Spirit (featuring Ayad of Passion Pit) and Delicate Steve whose set was also cut short due to the fire. And the afterparty went down in Beekman Beer Garden where things got wild during Black Lips' set.

More pictures from 4Knots are below...

Continue reading "4knots Festival in pics (Archers of Loaf, The Drums, Crocodiles, Bleached, Hospitality, Nick Waterhouse and more)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield and Chris La Putt; words by Bill Pearis

As you may have heard, there was a big fire at the Pier 17 mall at South Street Seaport during the 4Knots Festival which broke out around 4PM, right in the middle of Hospitality's set. I was in the crowd watching the band and left about 3/4 of the way through to meet some friends on the VIP/press boat The Peking which is docked on the other side of the stage. Walking up the gangplank, I noticed everyone on the boat seemed to be gathered on the side, looking over at the Skipper's stage. My initial thought was "wow, Delicate Steve (who was playing or about to play) is more popular than I thought" but then I saw the smoke, which was emanating from the lower outside deck on the Southeast corner of the mall.

Then there were flames, and the smoke turned black. The flames got bigger. Hospitality were still playing, and didn't know anything was going on until someone came up and stopped them. Though you could hear the sirens wailing, the Shark boat was first on the scene using its hose to try and douse the flames which were now reaching the second floor deck. I thought for sure 4Knots would be canceled at this point. Then the FDNY boats arrived (it was a three alarm fire), and had most of the flames out quickly, except for the vending machine (a 'dippin dots' type ice cream thing) which would not go out and seemed to all of us watching to be the cause of the fire.

After about a half hour, things cooled down, and though that vending machine was still smoking (it took almost two hours to get it all out) the music resumed. Actually, Delicate Steve started playing what seemed to be improv jams to soundtrack the action which was under control at that point. Turns out it was an electrical fire:

Fire officials say the blaze that engulfed part of a building in New York City's South Street Seaport was caused by faulty electrical wiring.

Fire marshals also were looking Sunday into whether there was any structural damage from Saturday's blaze in the tourist-friendly historic neighborhood.

The fire started under Pier 17 on the East River. It covered about 100 square feet. Big plumes of black smoke wafted over the Manhattan skyline.

Fire Department spokesman Jim Long said the blaze "could have been a disaster." The pier was teeming with hundreds of visitors. But no one was hurt, and firefighters doused the flames in less than two hours. [AP]

Needless to say, the fire was extremely well documented, as dozens of photographers were there for the fest and of course hundreds more were there with their smart phones out. More of our photos and some videos are below.

Continue reading "South Street Seaport Mall caught fire during 4Knots Music Fest (pics & video)"

As you know, Siren Fest replacement 4Knots goes down at South Street Seaport this Saturday. Here are the times:

Main Stage
12:15 p.m.: The Smiling Lies
12:30 p.m.: The Fast Years
1:30 p.m.: Nick Waterhouse
2:30 p.m.: Bleached
3:30 p.m.: Hospitality
4:30 p.m.: Crocodiles
5:30 p.m.: The Drums
6:30 p.m.: Archers of Loaf

Skippers Stage
1:00 p.m.: Doldrums
2:00 p.m.: Devin
3:00 p.m.: Team Spirit
4:00 p.m.: Delicate Steve

Afterparty at Beekman Beer Garden (not free)
7:00 p.m.: doors
?:?? p.m.: DJ Jonathan Toubin
?:?? p.m.: Kid Congo Powers + The Pink Monkey Birds
?:?? p.m.: The Black Lips

Nick Waterhouse also has some other shows coming up.

Continue reading "free 4Knots Music Festival is Saturday (set times)"

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo; words by Bill Pearis

Patrick Watson and Loney Dear at South Street Seaport - 7/6/12

It was hot and sticky at the Seaport on Friday evening (7/6) but, apart from minor insect invasion, it was a lovely evening of gently swooning music with Canadian Patrick Watson and Sweden's Loney Dear. It was a large crowd out for the show too, who sat attentively during Loney Dear's set but rose to their feet for Watson whose music straddles the line between cabaret and anthemic folk (complete with a musical saw at one point). Loney Dear's Emil Svanängen joined Watson at the piano for a song, as well. Nice night.

Below are more pictures from Loney Dear and Patrick Watson's set at the Seaport Music Festival as part of the River to River festival. Friday night at the Seaport, it's a pre-4Knots Fest show with Eleanor Friedberger and Ex-Cops.

Continue reading "Patrick Watson and Loney Dear played the Seaport (pics)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield; words by Bill Pearis

Veronica Falls at South Street Seaport 6/29/2012

I have seen Veronica Falls a bunch in the last year. Four times? Five? They never fail to impress, even when these pale indie-poppers have to play in muggy 90 degree outdoor weather that wreaks havoc on hollow body guitars. The oppressive heat and humidity at the South Street Seaport last Friday (6/29) seemed to keep attendance down but there was still a good crowd, a dedicated group of folks there for some quality jangle. In addition to a good portion of their terrific 2011 debut, we also got their great cover of Roky Erickson's "Starry Eyes," ultra-poppy new single "My Heart Beats" (video of that below) and a couple new ones as well, including one called "Bury Me Alive" which sounded like an A-side to these ears. Really fun show.

Openers were Lansing, MI's The Peoples Temple who didn't quite fit with Veronica Falls but were good in their own right, laying down groovy '60s-ish paisley pop with a distinct midwest vibe.

Patrick Watson and Loney Dear play the Seaport Music Festival (part of River to River, dontcha know) this Friday (7/6). More pictures of Veronica Falls and Peoples Temple and a couple videos from the show as well are below.

Continue reading "Veronica Falls and The Peoples Temple played the Seaport Music Festival (pics, video)"

by Bill Pearis

Veronica Falls at MHOW in February (more by Amanda Hatfield)

As mentioned, Veronica Falls and Peoples Temple are tonight's attractions at the South Street Seaport as part of the River to River Festival which happens tonight (6/29) at 6PM and is free. Both bands most recent albums made my Favorite albums of 2011 list. Veronica Falls:

"Found Love in a Graveyard" made my Favorite Tracks of 2009 list and have been waiting a full-length ever since. The band does not disappoint. There's not a dud in Veronica Falls' 36 minute running time. New songs are equals to early singles which appear here in newly recorded versions that might actually improve on the originals. This is haunted pop, a brisk October breeze that calls for a nice cardigan.

As for Lansing, MI's The People's Temple, their album Sons of Stone is a big heavy slam of tuneful '60s-style psych rock. (You can stream it via Spotify widget below.) The band really knocked me back when I saw them at Death by Audio back in April. If you like Nuggets and early (catchy) BJM, you'll dig The Peoples Temple.

There are bands playing after Veronica Falls at Skippers' tiki bar (behind and to the right of the Seaport Stage) but they haven't announced yet who's playing tonight. It's free. It's also where the second stage at 4Knots Festival is happening.

Next Friday (7/6), the River to River Festival continues at the Seaport with Patrick Watson and Loney Dear. The Veronica Falls video and The Peoples Temple video and album stream are below.

Continue reading "Veronica Falls and The Peoples Temple play Seaport tonight"

photos by Chris La Putt

"Le Grand Continental" / Miracles Club at South Street Seaport 6/22/2012

The River to River Festival Web site makes a point of linking its free events to its city. Its tag line says: "Made in New York. Inspired by New York." And this week there will be several works by New York choreographers that promise to offer intriguing responses to that statement.

But these are tenuous claims when it comes to one of the festival's early dance offerings, "Le Grand Continental," by the Montreal choreographer Sylvain Émard. The concept for this large-scale work originated in Montreal in 2009 and has since traveled to Mexico City. Any metropolis, it seems, could have its own version; what, then, is particularly New York about this production, which opened Friday night (just after a dramatic thunderstorm) at the South Street Seaport?

...Mr. Émard's choreography, a modern-dance extrapolation of line dancing, doesn't suggest any specific location (nor does the score, a mash-up of various styles by several sound designers). More to the point, and more disappointingly, "Le Grand Continental" never truly uses the Seaport; this is site-specific work that could happen anywhere, inside or out. The neighborhoods of Lower Manhattan have such distinct histories and constituencies; shouldn't a festival led by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council honor, or at least acknowledge, these realities?

When "Le Grande Continental." concluded, most of the dancers stuck around to freestyle boogie to Portland, OR's Miracles Club who played a set of house tunes from the stage, complete with their own whirling, voguing dervish. More pictures of both Miracles Club and "Le Grande Continental" are below.

Continue reading ""Le Grand Continental" was performed at the Seaport; Miracles Club played too (pics, video)"

Eleanor Friedberger at Hotel Vegan, SXSW 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Eleanor Friedberger and Ex Cops will play a free show Pier 17 at the Seaport on July 13, the night before the 4Knots Festival. That brings the total up to four for Friday shows at the Seaport, the others being The Miracles Club on June 22; Veronica Falls with The People's Temple on June 29; and Patrick Watson with Loney Dear on July 6.

It looks like that's Eleanor's only upcoming show at the moment. Ex Cops, however, will play this week at the Northside Fest as part of Other Music Recording Co.'s showcase at Union Pool on Thursday, June 14 with Nude Beach, The Everymen and a mystery headliner. No advance tickets for that one.

Continue reading "Eleanor Friedberger and Ex Cops playing the Seaport"

The Mystery Lights

We're still a ways away from the Seaport Music Festival but the presenters are throwing an impromptu "beach party" tonight at Skipper's on Pier 16, which is what used to be called the Beekman Beer Garden EDIT: It's it a new venue, separate venue from Beekman, a tiki bar. Which sounds cool. Doors are at 7PM and performing are California garage rockers The Mystery Lights. Free show. Check out a Mystery Lights video below.

Look for more Skippers shows to happen "all summer long," so says the Seaport folks, schedule TBA.

Continue reading "Skipper's on Pier 16 hosting outdoor shows "all summer long" including tonight w/ Mystery Lights"

Archers of Loaf at Bowery Ballroom in April (more by Joe McCabe)

We finally posted those Archers of Loaf Bowery Ballroom pictures yesterday, and then today this happens:

The Village Voice, the nation's largest alternative weekly newspaper, is thrilled to announce the Archers Of Loaf added to this year's The 4Knots Music Festival at the South Street Seaport, Piers 16 & 17 on Saturday, July 14, 2012 from 1:00 - 8:00 PM. Team Spirit, Doldrums and Devin will also join the bill, featuring The Drums, Crocodiles, Hospitality, Bleached and Nick Waterhouse. More artists to be announced.

The 4Knots Music Festival will expand this year to include Piers 16 and 17 with a second outdoor side stage confirmed. Expanding to Pier 16 will allow the 4Knots Music Festival to include more performers.

And speaking of Nick Waterhouse, he just played Mercury Lounge, but unlike as previously reported, will not be back to play Dekalb Market. 4Knots is his next NYC show.

Other free shows coming up at South Street Seaport are listed HERE. No official word on whether they'll be another 4Knots pre-show like there was with Ted Leo last year (but stay tuned).

South Street Seaport concert (more by Chris La Putt)

The initial lineup of this year's free NYC concerts at the South Street Seaport is announced. The shows are part of the River to River Festival and some of them are also part of the Friday night Seaport Music Festival (which sadly doesn't host as many shows as it used to). Check out the list below...

Continue reading "South Street Seaport (Pier 17) shows announced (initial lineup)"

by Bill Pearis

Titus Andronicus' Patrick Stickles in the crowd at 4Knots 2011 (more)

While no bands have been mentioned yet, The Village Voice have announced the 4Knots Music Festival will return to Pier 17 at South St. Seaport for a second year: Saturday, July 14 is this year's date of the festival that has taken the place of the Coney Island Siren Festival (RIP). Says the Voice:

"We're thrilled about the return of the 4Knots Music Festival this summer," commented Village Voice publisher Josh Fromson. "Last year's inaugural event was a massive success and we've got a great deal of special things in store for this summer. Make sure to circle July 14th on your social calendar because it's going to be a great day of music at the Seaport."

The 4Knots Music Festival will feature renowned and emerging artists from today's music scene performing live all day in front of what is sure to be yet again an extremely large and enthusiastic audience. A full lineup of the day's events will be announced in coming weeks.

No word yet on this summer's Seaport Music Festival, though it will be back. (As will the Sound Bites Summer Series curated, full-disclosure, by me.) Hudson River Rocks, though, have announced their schedule which includes the just-added DIIV in addition to Grimes, Wild Nothing, Dan Deacon, Oberhofer, and more .

The band-less flyer for 4Knots Music Festival is below.

Continue reading "4Knots Music Festival is returning to the Seaport this summer"

photos by Chris La Putt

Like Darlene Love did last year (and Arlo Guthrie will do tonight at Lincoln Square), Ronnie Spector helped light a christmas tree at South Street Seaport on Friday. Pictures and videos from the holiday event continue below...

Continue reading "Ronnie Spector, Big School Chorus, School of Rock & more helped light the South Street Seaport Christmas Tree (pics)"

Robert Franklin as Santa @ South Street Seaport last year (more by Chris La Putt)

The South Street Seaport will ring in the holiday spirit on Friday, November 25th when the 28th Annual Seaport Chorus Tree Lighting Spectacular lights up the cobblestone streets of the Seaport's Historic District.

TODAY Show personality and fashion expert Jill Martin will host one of New York City's most beloved holiday traditions, with a 40-foot tree serving as the centerpiece of a seven-minute "Sparkle at the Seaport" light show spectacular. Festivities will kick-off with performances by the Darren Wallis Jazz Trio and the Soul Tigers Marching Band. All-male barbershop chorus, The Big Apple Chorus, will perform seasonal favorites, and costumed characters will help Santa Claus countdown to the tree lighting ceremony. To round-off the evening, Ronnie Spector will give a special performance, making it a night to remember for the whole family.

Ronnie Spector is also having the "Best Christmas Party Ever!" at the Cutting Room in NYC on 12/16 and 12/17...

This year the beloved tradition of twenty five years continues at the new Cutting Room located at 44 west 32nd street in Manhattan.

You can expect all the big Christmas hits-and Ronnie has the largest catalog of Christmas classics of any recording artist including 'Sleigh Ride' (#3 past decade) and 'Frosty the Snowman' (#17 past decade) along with her Ronette hits and cult classics. But what makes Ronnie's Christmas Party so special and endearing is her off-the-cuff patter and her childhood remembrances of Christmas and Santa in New York .

As the New York Times observed, "It's hard to think of a more appealing angel to welcome the holiday season than Ms. Spector."

photos by Chris La Putt

Mission of Burma played the final free show of the summer at Beekman Beer Garden on Sunday with The Labor Party. A set of pictures from that show, including one of their setlist, below...

Continue reading "Mission of Burma & The Labor Pool @ Beekman Beer Garden (pics & setlist)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield

The Raveonettes

The Raveonettes played a free Beach Party at Beekman Beer Garden on Sunday (7/31) with Eternal Summers. The day party was the day before both bands played Maxwell's in NJ. According to The Tear-N Tan Files, "Opening up was Virginia's Eternal Summers putting on a pop/post punk set with a tinge of surf for a faster summer feel.... The Raveonettes played an amazing set with a 2 song encore, but still a way too short set. The intense distortion was made all the more beautiful by Sharin Foo and Sune Rose Wagner's beautiful harmonies."

The sixth of six free Sunday shows at Beekman Beer Garden happens this Sunday (8/7) with Mission of Burma. If you haven't been there yet, the part-beach outdoor venue is around the back of the mall right on the pier at South Street Seaport.

More pictures and videos from the Raveonettes show below...

Continue reading "The Raveonettes & Eternal Summers played Beekman Beer Garden (pics & video)"

photos by WEIRD MAGIC

Gang Gang Dance and many others performed live at the free Mad Decent Block Party at the South Street Seaport on Saturday. Here are some pictures (from the second half of the day). They continue below...

Continue reading "pics from the NYC Mad Decent Block Party @ South Street Seaport (Gang Gang Dance & much more) "

SATURDAY FOR FREE AT THE SOUTH STREET SEAPORT:

Claude Von Stroke 8:00-9:00
Gang Gang Dance 7:00-8:00
ZEDS DEAD 6:00-7:00
Maluca 5:30-6:00
The Hood Internet 4:30-5:30
Bosco Delrey 4:00-4:30
PO PO 3:30-4:00
BAIO (Vampire Weekend) DJ Set 2:30-3:30
Uproot Andy 1:00-2:30
Benzona 12:00-1:00

photos by Chris La Putt

Neither recent health problems or a battle with lawyers could stop the funk. George Clinton (that's him in the blue coat) just turned 70 and he celebrated with a multi-hour Parliament Funkadelic show at Beekman Beer Garden at the South Street Seaport in NYC last night (7/28).

Earlier this summer George played a free lunchtime show at Metrotech in Brooklyn. Ginzburg was at that one:

"Covering just about all their hits, and even throwing in a ten foot or so alien life form on stage, George danced, pranced, did poetry, and sang in that gravelly voice of his that won't make Al Green lose any sleep. Sure, he took a few uncharacteristic rests in a chair in back of the stage, but great this was. And when the twenty or so musicians jammed, it was indeed a joyful noise."

Continue reading "George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic played Beekman Beer Garden (pics)"