photos by David Andrako

Father John Misty / Andrew WK & Matt Sweeney

Petty Fest returned to NYC last night (10/24) at Webster Hall for a night of Tom Petty covers with a huge lineup of contributors backed by The Cabin Down Below Band. Cyndi Lauper, Fred Armisen, John McEnroe and Alia Shawkat were surprise guests. Nicole Atkins, Nick Zinner, and Josh Lattanzi teamed up for "Mary Jane's Last Dance," Father John Misty (who also played his second of two sold out shows in NYC last night and will be back at Webster Hall in January) did "Learning To Fly" and "I Won't Back Down," Har Mar Superstar did "Don't Do Me Like That," Andrew WK & Matt Sweeney did "Listen To Her Heart," Albert Hammond Jr. did "I Need To Know" (Fab played the show too), Caveman (who just played our day party and team up with Albert for a show again this Friday) did "Don't Come Around Here," plus a whole lot more.

More pictures from the Jameson-sponsored benefit show (all money went to Sweet Relief), and the setlist, below...

Continue reading "Petty Fest pics & setlist (Andrew WK, Father John Misty, Har Mar Superstar, Nick Zinner, Albert Hammond, Cyndi Lauper, more)"

by Bill Pearis

Win Butler at 'POP vs Jock' 2011

I remember as a kid, the Jaycees chapter in my hometown put on a "donkey basketball" game at the Junior High gymnasium and local "celebrites" (politicians, radio DJs, probably teachers) played. Donkeys are stubborn, as you know, and these non-atheletes fell off their animals pretty much every time they threw or caught the ball, and most times in between. It was HILARIOUS. And it went to a good cause.

While there are (thankfully) no donkeys involved, folks attending this year's Pop Montreal fest (Sept. 19 - 22) can see a bunch of fairly famous indie rock types (plus a couple ringers) wheeze down the court for "POP vs Jock : Charity Basketball Game" which happens on September 22 at McGill University Sports Centre.

The Arcade Fire's Win (6'4") and William Butler will lead Team Pop which includes Martin Starr (Freaks & Geeks, Party Down), Nikolai Fraiture of The Strokes, actual pro basketball player Luke Bonner and others; Team Jock will be members of the McGill Redman and Concordia Stingers. Soundtracking the game will be Kid Koala, Régine Chassagne, with a halftime show featuring David Byrne & Moment Factory. They did this last year too.

Tickets are $20 (for regular folks) or $1500 for corporate donations and can be purchased here.

by Bill Pearis

Rob Sacher had a hand in three iconic New York rock clubs in the in the last three decades: Sanctuary (1981-1986), Mission (1988-1993), and Luna Lounge (1995-2008). He's written about those experiences and more in a new self-published memoir titled Wake Me When It's Over which just completed a successful Kickstarter campaign. Here's more from Sacher himself:

I grew up in Brooklyn. Raised on the girl groups, I discovered The Beatles on the first day their first single was radio played in New York. Rocked at the age of eleven when I first heard an electric twelve string guitar, it was then that I knew that I would be a musician, spend my time around music, and live my life among friends who played and made music too.

This is my story, a musician and entrepreneur who created and co-owned nightclubs, now part of the history of music and nightlife in New York City. Starting with my first club, Sanctuary, and continuing with Mission in Manhattan's East Village and ending with the highly regarded Luna Lounge, this is the first book to cover a part of the New York rock music scene that came after punk, new wave, and no wave.

Luna Lounge opened the same year I moved to New York and I probably spent more time there (1995 - 2005) than just about any other single venue (maybe even bar) in the city. (Admittedly, I had good friends who played in bands there often, but still.) I said in the piece I wrote about Lotion's reunion show last year, that "What there was of a [mid/late '90s indie rock] scene, it mostly happened at Luna Lounge" and I stand by that.

Cake Like, Lotion, Muckafurgason, and Space Needle may have played Brownies just as many times (not to mention Coney Island High) but Luna Lounge was free, and that front room with the couches and foosball was a real hangout. If you had nothing else to do, you could always see who was at Luna Lounge. No doubt Rob has some stories from that time.

You can order Wake Me When Its Over directly from its website, where you can read excerpts as well.