photos by Robert Altman

Vampire Weekend @ Roseland Ballroom - 4/28/2013

Vampire Weekend played their very sold out and small (for them) show at Roseland Ballroom last night (4/28) in support of their upcoming album, Modern Vampires of the City (due out 5/14 via XL). If you couldn't get in, did you watch the Steve Buscemi-directed live webcast? Did you maybe watch it at Brooklyn Bowl? Like they said they would, Vampire Weekend previewed material from the new album at the show, and videos of them playing two new songs -- "Obvious Bicycle" and "Everlasting Arms" -- can be watched below (via Consequence of Sound). Comedian/musician Fred Armisen, as Thatcher-loving punk Ian Rubbish, opened the show and Steve Buscemi came out of the control booth for an appearance as well. Pictures and VW's setlist from the show are in this post and you can stream the entire concert below.

Not very surprisingly, like Phoenix did, Vampire Weekend have given fans who missed their small album-preview show a chance to see them in a much larger space this fall, Barclays Center on September 20. Tickets for that huge show go on sale Saturday (5/4) at 10 AM. Also as mentioned, the band will make their return to Saturday Night Live on May 11 when Kristen Wiig hosts.

Updated dates are listed, along with more pictures, the setlist, and videos from Roseland, below...

Continue reading "Vampire Weekend played Roseland Ballroom (pics, videos, setlist), announce Barclays Center show (updated dates)"

We're only a couple weeks out from Vampire Weekend's third album, Modern Vampires of the City, which hits retailers digital and physical on May 14. Look for the band, who just played Coachella, to preview tracks from the album at their sold-out show on Sunday (4/28) at Roseland Ballroom which is being broadcast live on the internet as part of the American Express Unstaged Performance series. The webcast, which is being directed by Steve Buscemi, starts at 9 PM EDT.

For those in NYC who would like to make the webcast experience a little more concert-like, Brooklyn Bowl, with help from the Tribeca Film Festival (which concludes on Sunday), will be showing it live on their many giant HD screens with "full concert sound." It's free entry.

Speaking of bowling, Vampire Weekend and Steve Buscemi, the band and Boardwalk Empire star are continuing to play out their friendship on the web with a second installment of the "documentary" about prepping for the Roseland show, which ends up at Brooklyn's Melody Lanes. There's also other episodes -- one with Grimes -- and you can watch them all below.

And last but not least, Vampire Weekend will appear on the May 11 episode of Saturday Night Live which is hosted by former castmember Kristen Wiig. So get ready for affable indie rock and the probable return of Gilly. Kanye West and Ben Afleck will apear on SNL's 38th Season Finale on May 18, and next weekend (May 4) it's Zach Galifianakis and Of Monsters and Men.

All upcoming Vampire Weekend tour dates (there are some new ones including Hollywood Bowl with Beirut, not NYC) are listed, along with the bowling video, below...

Continue reading "Vampire Weekend add dates, playing SNL (w/ Kristen Wiig) ++ more Buscemi videos (one with Grimes!); Roseland livestream @ Brooklyn Bowl"

The weird mutual appreciation society between Vampire Weekend and actor/director Steve Buscemi will not be stopping anytime soon. As mentioned, Buscemi is directing the webcast of their upcoming show at NYC's Roseland Ballroom (4/28) which is part of the American Express Unstaged series. Leading up to that, the band (who just played Coachella) is releasing a series of web videos detailing how all this supposedly came about. Fans of awkward comedy will surely enjoy the first installment which you can stream below.

Continue reading "watch behind-the-scenes "documentary" on upcoming Steve Buscemi-directed Vampire Weekend webcast"

by Bill Pearis

Vampire Weekend have announced that their sold-out April 28 show at Roseland Ballroom will be webcast live on YouTube and directed by longtime Brooklynite and current Boardwalk Empire star Steve Buscemi. It's part of the American Express Unstaged series that previously paired Werner Herzog with The Killers. Bassist Chris Baio told Rolling Stone:

Growing up, I was a huge Sopranos fan and one of my favorite episodes is 'The Pine Barrens,' which he directed. Also, I just realized this morning he directed the 'Leap Day' episode of 30 Rock last year; that's one of my favorites. I feel safe in his hands.

This goes a ways to explaining events of the last couple days which some thought was just elaborate April Fools Day shenanigans. Friday, the band posted on their Instagram feed a picture of Buscemi holding up a copy of the NY Post's story on the band's SAAB-burning controversy. Then on Sunday (3/31), Buscemi and Vampire Weekend walked in the NYC Easter Parade together, with Buscemi singing a version of their single "Diane Young," Rudy Vallee style through a megaphone. Turns out it's just a bit of fun with new style marketing.

Vampire Weekend's Modern Vampires of the City is out May 7. Video of Buscemi's Easter Parade "Diane Young" performance, such as it is, below...

Continue reading "Steve Buscemi directing Vampire Weekend webcast, walked with them in the NYC Easter Parade"

The Stones setup @ Barclays Center (via BrooklynVegan Instagram)

The Rolling Stones are playing Barclays Center in Brooklyn tonight (did you get a ticket?), and as wished/hoped/rumored, they were in fact added to the much-scalped Hurricane Sandy Benefit happening at Madison Square Garden on 12/12, a show that will be very "widely distributed"...

The producers of "12-12-12" announced today that the concert at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2012, at 7:30 PM (ET) to aid the victims of Hurricane Sandy, will have unprecedented and historic global distribution, similar to that of the Superbowl, the Academy Awards®, and the Grammys®.

Nearly 2 billion people worldwide will be able to access "12-12-12" on television, radio and the internet. The concert, presented by Chase, will be available to all 114 million television households in the US and to more than 400 million television households outside the country via networks and feeds in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Further elevating this event to its historic levels of distribution is live streaming on the largest online video services in the world, including YouTube, AOL, Yahoo, Hulu, and others. Combined, these video streaming services reach over 1.4 billion monthly unique users worldwide.

In addition, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, with its 239 million monthly listeners and more than 48 million monthly digital uniques, will broadcast the concert live on its radio stations across the country, and will also video stream live on iHeartRadio, Clear Channel's digital radio service, and across the websites and Facebook pages of its 850 stations.

The Stones join the all-star line-up that already included Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton, Dave Grohl, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Chris Martin, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Roger Waters, Eddie Vedder, Kanye West, The Who and Paul McCartney.

AND: "A new list of celebrity presenters was also released today, including Steve Buscemi, Jessica Chastain, Chelsea Clinton, Sean Combs, Billy Crystal, Leo DiCaprio, Jimmy Fallon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Karlie Kloss, Seth Meyers, Bobby Moynihan, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Susan Sarandon, Jon Stewart, Kristen Stewart, Quentin Tarantino, and Brian Williams."

Stay tuned for Check out the Barclays Center setlist, guests Mary J. Blige and Gary Clark Jr. included.

The Rolling Stones' two NJ shows happen right after MSG.

On the Road, the new film adaptation of Jack Kerouac's classic Beat Generation novel of the same name, hits theaters on December 21, but BrooklynVegan is proud to present an advance screening happening at Knitting Factory Brooklyn on Sunday, December 16 at 7:30 PM with live jazz by the Stan Killian Trio beginning right after the movie to keep you in the mood. The screening is totally free to the public. All you have to do is show up. First come, first served.

On the Road was directed by Walter Salles and the screenplay was done by Jose Rivera. They also worked on The Motorcycle Diaries together. It stars Sam Riley (who played Ian Curtis in Control), Garrett Hedlund (Friday Night Lights, Tron: Legacy), Kristen Stewart (Twilight), Viggo Mortensen (The Lord of the Rings), Amy Adams (Junebug), Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men), Kirsten Dunst, Steve Buscemi and others.

Oh, and our screening at Knitting Factory is one of many events happening during "Beat Week". You dig? Movie trailer and full size poster below...

Continue reading "'On the Road' opening in theaters after a FREE BrooklynVegan screening in Brooklyn"

The Black Keys are releasing their new album El Camino via Nonesuch on 12/5 and will play a NYC show at a TBA venue on that same day. Stay tuned for more details and for the chance to win a pair of guaranteed entry tickets to the show (it might be free) right here on BrooklynVegan.

Meanwhile you can catch The Black Keys on Saturday Night Live this weekend (12/3) along with host Steve Buscemi, and you can stream five new songs at the band's site. They're also hitting Colbert (12/6) and Letterman (12/7) while in town.

is below...

Continue reading "the new Beastie Boys video/trailer/single"

"Sharp has released over eighty-five recordings ranging from blues, jazz, and orchestral music to noise, no wave rock, and techno music. He pioneered the use of a lap top computer in live performance with his Virtual Stance project of the 1980s. He has used algorithms and fibonacci numbers in experimental composition since at least 1987. He has cited literature as an inspiration for his music and often favors improvisation. He is an inveterate performer, playing mainly guitar, saxophone and bass clarinet. Sharp has led many ensembles over the years, including the blues-oriented Terraplane and Orchestra Carbon." [Wikipedia]

Experimental/avant-garde musician Elliott Sharp will celebrate his 60th birthday in the best way possible, by giving back to the musical community. On March 4th, three days after his actual birthday, he'll perform multiple pieces with help from Jo Andres (film), Steve Buscemi (text and narrative), and JACK Quartet and Sirius Quartet. "

E#@60" is taking place at Issue Project Room's new location (110 Livingston), and the show is a benefit for IPR, a nonprofit and an important pillar of experimental/innovative music in our community. All proceeds will go towards "ISSUE's year-round critically acclaimed programs supporting hundreds of artists in the creation and presentation of groundbreaking new work." Tickets are on sale in various levels, including tax-deductible access to a VIP coctail reception with Jo Andres, Steve Buscemi, Jack Womack, and Tracie Morris.

BrooklynVegan is a proud sponsor of this event.

More details on the show and a stream of Eliott Sharp's Syndakit is below.

Continue reading "Elliott Sharp turning 60, celebrating at Issue Project Room (with Steve Buscemi, JACK Quartet, Jo Andres & more)"

Lou Reed @ Le Poisson Rouge (more by Lori Baily)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Tribeca Film Festival
* Harlem Shakes @ Starr Space
* Jandek @ NYU's E&L Auditorium
* Tanlines, Suckers @ Glasslands
* Darwin Deez & Savoir Adore @ Pianos
* Hush Arbors, Jason Ajemian @ Sycamore
* Fischerspooner @ the Performing Garage
* Wizzard Sleeve & Box Elders @ Vassar
* Ted Leo & Paul F Tompkins @ 92YTribeca
* Child Abuse, Bolongoni, Ezee Tiger @ Bruar Falls
* Lou Reed + Metal Machine Trio @ Gramercy Theatre
* Simian Mobile Disco, JDH & Dave P (FIXED) @ Highline Ballroom
* Papa, The Foundry Field Recordings, Olivia & The Housemates @ Union Hall
* Prefuse 73, Blast Off, Tiny Toones, Nine 11 Thesaurus, Grade 13 @ The Bell House
* Shooting Spires, Daniel Francis Doyle, Twin Powers, Ric Leichtung, Psychothriller @ Death By Audio

Psychedelic Horseshit played last night. They'll be back tomorrow.

Steve Buscemi performed at Issue Project Room the other night. How was it?

Fiasco plays Silent Barn tomorrow (really, this time).

Simian Mobile Disco will be back to DJ the Williamsburg Waterfront this summer.

Let me Twitter Dat (Video below)...

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

BEGATS - 04/21 @ 8:00pm - Hal Willner and Special Guests
Readings of the work of William S. Burroughs, Marquis DeSade & Edgar Allan Poe
with Steve Buscemi, Richard Hell, Chloe Webb, Tom Davis, & special guests

and music by Trevor Dunn, Yuka Honda, Sean Lennon, Doug Weiselman & Hal Willner

curated by Hal Willner

Tickets are still on sale.

PREVIOUSLY: Issue Project Room is 6 -- April (pre-move to Livingston St) benefit/birthday schedule w/ Moby, Hal Willner & more

photos by Leia Jospe

DOWNLOAD: Fiasco - Oh You Horny Monster (MP3)

====> TUESDAY 7/5 @ HARKET MOTEL <====

|| FIASCO TOUR KICKOFF
|| 2 stages!

|| NINJA SONIK
|||| FIASCO
|||||| THE HOMOSEXUALS
|||||||| Pony Pants
|||||||||| So So Glos
|||||||||||| Bat Attack

It took me a while to take Fiasco seriously. Well, it took me until I finally saw them live a few months ago when they opened for No Age @ Bowery Ballroom. I guess I didn't want to pay attention because they were lumped into the "kids rock" thing. It never bothered me that one of them has a really cool dad.

Impose is going to release their album "Native Canadians" on October 14th. See them tonight in Brooklyn with Ninja Sonik and The Homosexuals and others (see above). See them on tour (dates below), and see more pictures from the show they played Saturday night (August 2, 2008) with Monotonix at Bodega (below too)...

Continue reading "Fiasco - MP3, Bodega pics, 2008 Tour Dates (TONIGHT)"

Continue reading "Hal Willner's Vintage Disney Film Music @ St Ann's (benefit)"