photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

Love, Minutemen (specifically the eventual Jackass theme "Corona") and Leonard Cohen were all the target of covers by Calexico during their October 13 appearance at Webster Hall. Check out the set list for the show below, which was part of a round of dates with The Dodos. The tour is in support of Algiers, Calexico's new LP which hit early last month.

More pictures from Webster Hall and the setlist are below.

Continue reading "Calexico and The Dodos @ Webster Hall (pics, setlist)"

How was your Columbus Day? We didn't take off, and posted a whole bunch on BV, BV Chicago, and BV Austin, and here's even more...

As you can see above, Emceez Ansari is really good at photoshopping Aziz Ansari's face into album covers.

Speaking of funny, get the new Tig Notaro from Louis CK.

Film School Rejects is reporting that Woody Allen has cast Louis CK and Andrew Dice Clay in a new movie (must. see.).

Blur, who just confirmed that they are not done and are playing Belgium's Rock Werchter 2013, are now also confirmed for Primavera Sound 2013 in Barcelona (5/24/13) and Portugal (5/31/13).

Philip Glass Rework is streaming at NPR where you'll also find streams of the new Jason Lytle and Martha Wainwright.

As you may have noticed via an ad on this site, Django Django are running a sale for their new Mercury Prize-nominated album via iTunes. We recently caught them live at Knitting Factory, Bowery Ballroom, and in Chicago too.

--
Purity Ring at Le Poisson Rouge (more by Amanda Hatfield)

If you've seen Purity Ring live this year, you may be wondering what, exactly, is the deal with those interactive light cocoons they use on stage. The Creators Project gets the scoop.

"Red Bull Music Academy" is presenting four upcoming shows in NYC:

1 - BRAINFEEDER SESSION NYC at Villain (October 10)
2 - SBTKRT LIVE at Terminal 5 (October 11)
3 - FOUR TET B2B JAMIE xx at Autumn Bowl (October 26)
4 - GRACE JONES at Roseland (October 27)

Kilo Kish, who has some CMJ shows coming up too, opens the SBTRKT show.

We're also giving away tickets to see tomorrow's Perfume Genius show at Le Poisson Rouge and Calexico and The Dodos at Webster Hall on 10/13 on our Facebook. (Perfume Genius meanwhile plays Music Hall tonight).

Check out an interview with Zammuto who is opening for Ultraista.

Listen to new Trent Reznor.
Stream the new Godspeed! You Emperor album.
Watch a marching band do Zelda , Mario & Pokemon.

Speaking of, PETA released a new Pokemon game.

AND, more stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: more Blur dates, John Cusack & Peter Gabriel, Emceez Ansari, Clueless reunion, Purity Ring, Pig Destroyer & more"

DOWNLOAD: Calexico & Ranier -- "Be Prepared" (MP3)

As mentioned in the beginning of June, "Calexico released a video for 'Para,' the first single from their new album Algiers which is out September 11." That's the cover art for the album pictured above and you can watch the video again below.

Meanwhile, Calexico (or its members) have a release in the form of a single song on a reissue entitled "The Inner Flame: A Tribute To Rainer Ptacek", out now (according to Fire Records) or June 26 (tomorrow, according to some sources). Regardless....

Slide guitarist Rainer Ptacek passed away from brain cancer in 1997, but with a new series of reissues, his influential sound will find new ears ready for his progressive approach to guitar playing. Inner Flame, the first of these reissues, was originally released in 1997 as a tribute and benefit compilation. "Be Prepared," off Inner Flame, finds Ptacek working with fellow Arizona musicians Joey Burns and John Convertino, who later formed the band Calexico. [Rolling Stone]

Between now and 9/11 (the new LP release date), Calexico will play a couple of shows - Osheaga in Montreal and Taste of Chicago (in Chicago). A month after the album is released, on October 10th, Calexico will head out on the road with The Dodos for a tour that visits Webster Hall in NYC on October 13. Tickets for that show go on AmEx presale Wednesday and general sale Friday. All dates are listed with the songs below...

Continue reading "Calexico on Rainer Ptacek tribute, releasing 'Algiers', touring w/ The Dodos (dates, video, MP3)"

DOWNLOAD: Laura Gibson - La Grande (MP3)

Laura Gibson's latest, La Grande, is out this week via Barsuk. The album, her third, also saw her in the producer's chair. As a press release reads:

"One reason the sound of La Grande is so purposeful is that, for the first time, Gibson remained in the producer's chair throughout its making, bouncing between home- recorded vocal sessions - piling as many as 15 Laura Gibsons on certain tracks - and proper takes at Type Foundry Studios alongside engineer and good friend Adam Selzer (M Ward, Norfolk and Western) and some great players including Calexico's Joey Burns, members of The Dodos (Meric Long and Logan Kroeber) and The Decemberists (Nate Query, Jenny Conlee), clarinetist Jilly Coykendall, and the drumming duo Rachel Blumberg and Matt Berger (affectionately known together as "Blumberger"). Don't get the wrong idea, though. While La Grande 's stage is shared with some very special guests, Gibson is at the center of every last note; contributing bits of bass, guitar, piano, pump organ, vibraphone, synthesizer, marimba, even a marching drum.

Continue reading "Laura Gibson releases 'La Grande', heading out on tour (dates include Other Music tonight)"

photos by Alex Broadwell

Future Islands

Like Guided by Voices, manay bands (duh) played the 2nd annual Hopscotch Music Festival in North Carolina celebrated in early September. Here are some pictures of a few of the bands that I forgot to post earlier. They continue below...

Continue reading "Hopscotch Fest 2011 (belated pics)"

photos by Tim Griffin

The DoYas @ Antone's in Austin

The Dodos and The Luyas are out on a tour that reaches Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn tonight (9/12). Tickets are still on sale and we have a pair you can win. Details below.

If you're like me and you've seen the Dodos and Luyas a few times each and don't quite have the motivation to see them again right now, consider that the two bands are collaborating on stage. As Tim learned at the 9/2 show at Antone's in Austin, the Dodos come out and play with the Luyas and vice versa. Jessie Stein of the Luyas kept calling the combination of bands: 'The DoYas'. I like it. Check out more pictures of The DoYas, a couple of videos of the bands playing together, and the contest details below...

Continue reading "The Dodos & Luyas on tour, collaborating (the DoYas!) played Antone's (pics & video), play Brooklyn tonight (win tix!)"

The Dodos at Bowery Ballroom in June (more by Amanda Hatfield)

The Dodos announced a tour with The Luyas back in June. That tour was originally scheduled to hit Webster Hall on September 13 but has since been moved to Music Hall of Williamsburg and will happen one day earlier (9/12). All Webster Hall tickets will be honored and tickets are now on sale for the Music Hall of Williamsburg show too.

Updated dates below...

Continue reading "The Dodos show moved to MHOW & on a different date (updated 2011 Tour Dates)"

photos by Amanda M. Hatfield

The Dodos @ Bowery Ballroom

The Dodos played Bowery Ballroom on Thursday (6/9) as part of their ongoing tour with Gauntlet Hair. They played almost all of the recently released No Color and a few songs Visiter. The 12 song set only included one track off 2009's Time To Die ("Longform") though. Both bands also played Music Hall of Williamsburg a day later.

Earlier this month it was announced that Gauntlet Hair have signed ot Dead Oceans which makes them labelmates with John Vanderslice, The Donkeys, Phosphorescent, The Tallest Man on Earth, Akron/Family, The Luyas and many others.

The Dodos are currently finishing up their tour which culminates in an appearance at NXNE with Gauntlet Hair and Deerhoof. After taking some time off the band will go back on the road in late August for a month-long tour with with Dead Oceans band The Luyas. That includes the Dodos' appearance at Hopscotch Festival and a NYC show on September 13 at Webster Hall . Tickets go on sale Friday (6/17) at noon.

The Dodos and The Luyas (who also play NXNE and other non-Dodos dates soon) recently performed the Luyas song "Tiny Head" together in Amsterdam. Check this out, along with more pictures and the setlist from the Bowery show, and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "The Dodos played Bowery Ballroom w/ Gauntlet Hair (pics & setlist), announce tour w/ The Luyas (dates)"

Big Freedia & crowd @ FFFFest 2011 (more by Tim Griffin)

today in NYC
* Risk! @ the Pit
* Brain Cloud @ Barbes
* Karsh Kale @ Highline Ballroom
* Glen Hansard @ the Met
* Dylan Fest @ Bowery Ballroom
* Questlove @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Ela Orleans w/ a Rooftop Film
* Bettye LaVette @ Cafe Carlyle
* The Donkeys, Citay @ Cake Shop
* Phyllis Chen, Cuddle Magic @ Barbes
* Big Freedia, Javelin @ Mercury Lounge
* Talibam!, Xalam Project @ Cameo Gallery
* Preservation Hall Jazz Band @ City Winery
* Jooklo Duo, Bill Nace @ Issue Project Room
* The Biters, The Booze, Wyldlife @ Maxwell's
* Aeroplane, JDH & Dave P @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Denman Maroney, Theo Bleckmann @ The Stone
* Adam Niewood & His Rabble Rousers @ The Stone
* French Horn Rebellion, Savoir Adore @ Glasslands
* The Ludlow Thieves, David Dondero @ Mercury Lounge
* Golden Animals, The Above, Boom Chick @ Shea Stadium
* Tribeca New Music Festival II @ Merkin Concert Hall
* El Jezel, The Whisperians, Birds in Weather @ Bruar Falls
* Noah Chernin Band, Takka Takka, Little Racer @ The Rock Shop
* The Prigs, The Yes Way, The Courtesy Tier, Monuments @ Pianos
* Across Tundras, Yorba Linda, Cavallo, Ominous Black @ Union Pool
* Ben Allison Band, Darcy James Argue's Secret Society @ Littlefield
* The Rassle, Ravens & Chimes, Living Days (Deli Fest) @ Brooklyn Bowl
* "Bhangra Dance Party" w/ Red Baraat & DJ Rekha @ Brooklyn Bridge Park
* Burning Star Core, Raft, Hiro Kone, Animal Hospital @ Public Assembly
* Menya, Tayisha Busay, Pomegranate, North, Jackpot Tiger @ Lit Lounge
* The Immaculates, The Splinters, Darlings, Household @ Death By Audio
* Bell, ARMS, Chairlift (DJ set), Bear In Heaven (DJ set) @ Knitting Factory
* Doveman, Rufus Wainwright, Sean Lennon @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Stornoway, Spirit Family Reunion, Sea of Bees @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Faith and Mark, Nidra, Teen Dreams, The Magick Report, False Positive @ Silent Barn
* Translations, Ravens & Chimes, ArpLine, Dream Diary, Prospector, Invisible Days (Deli Fest) @ Cameo Gallery
* Yc the Cynic, Add-2, Neak, Skotch Davis, Fresh Daily, The Black Sunn & 810, Sincerely Yours @ Public Assembly

Ravens & Chimes are not playing Cameo because Asher came down with pneumonia. Feel better Asher!

Lady Gaga and Good Morning America will be the reason there will be lots of people near Central Park Summerstage/Rumsey Playfield at 7am Friday morning.

Dylan Fest (night 1 of 2) tonight at Bowery features Norah Jones, Adam Green, Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis of SNL, Jesse Malin, Nikolai Fraiture (of the Strokes), Binki Shapiro (of Little Joy), Nicole Atkins, Tad Kubler (of the Hold Steady), Evan Dando, Reeve and Zane Carney, Danny Clinch, Adam Schlesinger and Jody Porter (of Fountains of Wayne), Sammy James, Jr. (of Mooney Suzuki), Ben Trokan (of Robbers on High Street), Steve Schiltz (of Longwave & Hurricane Bells), Antony Ellis (of Five O'Clock Heroes), Luke Rathborne, Jack Dischel (of Only Son), Josh Lattanzi (of The Lemonheads & The Candles) (Dylan Fest 2011) @ Bowery Ballroom.

Win tickets to see Fang Island tomorrow at Brooklyn Bowl on Facebook. We're also giving away a 3-day pass to the * Deli Fest shows at Brooklyn Bowl (starting tonight)

And congrats to the winner of the tickets to see Stornoway at Music Hall of Williamsburg tonight.

Big Freedia plays her first of two NYC shows tonight.

Daily Show correspondant Wyatt Cenac is one of the comedians who will "tell true stories they never thought they'd dare to share in public stories they'd normally tell close friends" at Risk! at the Pit tonight. Maybe you caught Wyatt Cenac's new Comedy Central special "Wyatt Cenac: Comedy Person"? If not it airs again Friday, June 3rd at 10:58pm. Maybe you were there? Listen to Wyatt discuss his friend's 30th birthday and Medieval Times in a video below.

Modern Weepers play Mercury Lounge this Friday night.

The Dodos have a new video for "Companions." Check that out below...

Yuck appeared on Jools Holland. Check that video out below too...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

The second annual Hopscotch Festival will go down in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, across 12 different venues with over 135 bands, from September 8th through 10th. The lineup this year runs the gamut of independent music... from traditional indie staples (The Flaming Lips, Guided By Voices, Superchunk) to southern-inflected rock (Drive-By Truckers) to noise (Prurient) to hip hop (Beans) to garage (Jeff The Brotherhood) to funk (Budos Band) to metal (Krallice), and everywhere in between (Swans, Rhys Chatham, etc etc). Tickets are currently on sale. Full lineup is below.

Hopscotch happens almost three months after Guided By Voices play a Brooklyn Northside Festival show in McCarren Park (tickets) which is one day after Beirut plays a Northside Festival show on the same McCarren Park stage with... Sharon Van Etten (though she may have been accidentally announced at one point, they officially kept her placement on the bill under wraps until after Saturday's Music Hall of Williamsburg show). Tickets for Beirut/SVE are still on sale, and another opener will be added too.

Guided by Voices (whose Brooklyn show also has more openers coming) are also playing Pitchfork in July with Animal Collective whose Prospect Park show is now on AmEx presale.

Swans' upcoming NYC show is now on AmEx presale too.

Hopscotch lineup below...

Continue reading "Hopscotch Fest returns to Raleigh (2011 lineup announced), Sharon Van Etten officially added to Northside Fest"

DOWNLOAD: The Dodos - "Don't Stop" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Gauntlet Hair - "I Was Thinking..." (MP3)

After multiple appearances at SXSW 2011, including a headlining slot on one of the three stages at Barbarella/Swan Dive as part of the BrooklynVegan/Knitting Factory/Partisan day party, The Dodos went out on the road where they'll be through April 9th. Later that month the band will hop the Pacific to play a string of European dates before heading back for US dates in early June with Colorado's Gauntlet Hair who released a 7" on Forest Family and who are now signed to Dead Oceans. The NYC shows on that leg are June 9th at Bowery Ballroom and June 10 at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tickets for both shows go on AmEx presale at noon today (3/30) with regular sale hitting on Friday.

The Dodos have a new, Neko Case guested LP, No Colour, out now via Frenchkiss Records. Stream the entire LP at NPR, and check out some recent live audio via Minnesota Public Radio. All tour dates and their new video for "Black Night" is below.

Continue reading "The Dodos announce tour w/ Gauntlet Hair (dates, new video, MP3s, new album & more too)"

Savoir Adore

As mentioned in "What's Going on Sunday," 1,2,3 band were scheduled to play the next installment of 'Communion' at Public Assembly in Brooklyn tonight (3/8), but their label Frenchkiss Records reports that they have cancelled. Savior Adore, Keegan Dewitt, Lachi, and Paul Dempsey are still on the bill though.

Tonight's show will be Communion's third party at Public Assembly since they kicked off in early January, and their second unlucky cancellation. Laura Marling pulled out of the second one.

For Savoir Adore, tonight's Communion appearance will be their last NYC show before they head to Austin for SXSW. If you're going to be in Austin, make sure to stop by and see them play a BrooklynVegan party right at noon on Thursday, March 17th at Swan Dive/Barbarella (full lineup TBA). They play their official showcase one day later at Easy Tiger.

1,2,3 are also headed to SXSW where they'll play at least six shows including the Frenchkiss Showcase at The Parish on Wednesday, March 16th with The Antlers, The Dodos, Young Man, Fidlar & Ivan & Alyosha. More dates are listed below....

Continue reading "1,2,3 cancels Communion appearance, but Savoir Adore are playing tonight (and both bands are headed to SXSW) "

DOWNLOAD: J Mascis - Not Enough (MP3)

The first BrooklynVegan Swan Dive/Barbarella Austin Day Party lineup announcement is here! (this is the first of three BV day parties happening at these connecting venues, but just one of nine total BV events.)

This one happens Friday, March 18th from noon-6pm, is co-presented by KF Records (Knitting Factory) and Partisan Records, and features an exclusive Austin day party set by Middle Brother (aka Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, John McCauley of Deer Tick, and Matthew Vasquez of Delta Spirit). If you want to catch them though, you better get there early because the entire lineup is ridiculous and 100% free, and it looks like this.....

STAGE 1 (SWAN DIVE)
12:00 PM JBM
12:30 PM BOBBY
01:15 PM Holy Sons
02:00 PM Dolorean
03:00 PM John Grant featuring Midlake
04:00 PM Wye Oak
05:00 PM J Mascis

STAGE 2 (Barbarella Patio)
12:00 PM David Wax Museum
01:00 PM Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside
02:00 PM Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
03:00 PM Deer Tick featuring Jonny Corndawg
04:00 PM Old 97's
05:00 PM Middle Brother

STAGE 3 (Barbarella Inside)
12:15 PM AgesandAges
01:00 PM Paleo
01:45 PM Warm Ghost
02:30 PM Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers
03:15 PM Vetiver
04:00 PM Oberhofer
05:00 PM The Dodos

Note: We have Dolorean who is not to be confused with Delorean, yes that is Midlake up there backing the amazing John Grant, Jason Isbell will stick around to play with Middle Brother (like he did on their record), and yes Jonny Corndawg will be in the house.

I'm also happy to point out that, though everyone will sound great already, they are going to sound even better thanks to our official microphone sponsor Line 6, not to mention due to the help of the Korg keyboards, and Vox & Blackstar amps that we'll have on hand - all generous and much-appreciated BrooklynVegan show sponsors.

Also Note:

• FREE Blublocker sunglasses to first 50 people in the door!
• there will be FREE vegan Izzoz breakfast tacos while supplies last!
• we'll have loads of FREE snacks courtesy of Sensible Portions!
• we'll keep you hydrated with FREE Honest Tea!
• you can keep your energy levels high with FREE Raw Revolution bars!
• FREE Tierras organic tequila cocktails while supplies last!
• more FREE food & DRINK details TBA!
• and there will be awesome giveaways from Partisan & KF Records
  throughout the day!

Continue reading " BrooklynVegan, KF Records & Partisan Records free Austin Day Party lineup (J Mascis, Middle Brother, Old 97's, Dodos, more)"

photos by Andrew St. Clair

DOWNLOAD: The Dodos - Don't Stop (MP3)

"In 45 minutes the show with Showalter starts! It's gonna be amazing, I can tell by his purple sweater. Color of royalty. He's feelin' it!" - Neko Case

Neko Case helped Michael Showalter promote his new book at an event at Barnes & Noble in Union Square last night (2/24), or to be more specific, Upstairs at the Square. Katherine Lanpher hosted. Neko sang four songs (setlist below). Showalter read a couple passages including a beat poetry inspired poem and a chapter about what to put in a Hollywood script. He also discussed the orgin of The Baxter, and they both talked about their writing process. Pictures from the bookstore are in this post.

Uptairs at the Square returns to Barnes & Noble in Union Square twice in March. Wednesday, March 9 will feature Rebecca Skloot (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks) and Cubic Zirconia (Follow Your Heart), and Thursday, March 24 has my favorite Keren Ann (101) with Barbara Browning (The Correspondence Artist).

Audience members included Eugene Mirman (who will again join Michael at the Bell House this weekend) and Todd Barry (who just announced an April tour with Neil Hamburger - dates below) (not to be confused with Neil's February and March tour).

Earlier in the day Neko "leaked" a new Dodos song via her Twitter. She wrote, "Fave song off new Dodos. Bummed I didn't didn't get to sing on it (I shouldn't be so greedy cuz I did sing on lots)." Download that above. The Dodos are heading out on tour in March and they'll be playing lots of SXSW shows in the process. Their updated dates, a BrooklynVegan day party included, are below.

Michael Showalter is also touring, though he won't be at SXSW. Neko Case is not touring, though she did just play a show at the Bell House and is giving away her car.

More B&N pictures, Dodos & Barry dates, and Neko's setlist, below...

Continue reading "Neko case played 'Upstairs at the Square' w/ Michael Showalter (pics), 'leaked' a new Dodos song (MP3) "

Menomena

In addition to separate upcoming dates, The New Pornographers and The Walkmen have announced a week long tour together at the end of April. Unfortunately though, the only time they're stopping in New York is April 25 at Town Ballroom in Buffalo. All dates are listed below.

The New Pornographers have no upcoming dates in NYC, but contributors Neko Case and Destroyer do. Neko Case will be at The Bell House this Sunday (2/6) with Lost in the Trees and is playing a free show at Barnes & Noble in Union Square on 2/24 with Michael Showalter.

As previously mentioned, Neko Case sings on about half of No Color, the new album by The Dodos out March 15. The Dodos released the first track off the album, "Black Night," listen below. An immediate download of this song is available on The Dodo's website with the pre-order of their album. They also recently performed on Pitchfork's Tunnelvision, video below. The Dodos also announced tour dates, including an appearance at SXSW (but no NYC dates at the moment).

Destroyer, whose ninth full length Kaputt was just released on January 25, is going on tour with The War On Drugs. They're playing Webster Hall on April 3. Tickets are still on sale.

The New Pornographers also have announced a few April dates with Menomena (including Coachella). According to Menomena's website, they recently lost Brent Knopf, who left the band to "focus on Ramona Falls and other creative pursuits." Ironically, Paul Alcott of Ramona Falls' live band is replacing Knopf on Menomena's upcoming dates. In addition to touring with The New Pornographers, they also have dates with Maps & Atlases, and an appearance at SXSW.

Menomena will also be overseeing FILMguerrero's reissue of their debut I Am The Fun Blame Monster! which will be available this spring. As stated in a press release, the reissue includes "a CD/DVD package with extensive bonus materials." Their newest album, Mines, is out now via Barsuk.

All tour dates and videos and that Dodos song below...

Continue reading "a new Dodos song, Menomena minus a member, New Pornographers & Walkmen dates & stuff"

Neko Case at Lollapalooza with The Dodos (more by Josh Darr)

Neko Case is still on board to play a free show at Barnes & Noble in Union Square on 2/24 with Michael Showalter, but now she has another and longer show scheduled in NYC even sooner. She plays The Bell House on February 6th. Tickets go on sale at noon today (1/12).

Though she doesn't have a new record to flaunt at the show, Neko Case will have new material out soon. The Dodos, who recently parted ways with vibraphonist Keaton Snyder (making them a duo again), will release their new album entitled No Color via Frenchkiss Records on on March 15. Case reportedly sings on about half of it. You might remember that she joined the band on stage during their recent run of dates with The New Pornographers (pictures from the Terminal 5 date here). A video on the making of the LP, as well as the art and tracklisting are all below.

In related news, details on the previously discussed Michael Showalter show at Bell House have emerged:

"Pretty Good Friends" presents an evening of comedy, music and reading to celebrate the launch of Michael Showalter's new book, "Mr. Funnypants." The event is hosted by Michael Showalter and features Eugene Mirman, Reggie Watts, Kumail Nanjiani and special guests.

All tour dates and more details on that Dodos LP are below...

Continue reading "Neko Case adds Brooklyn show & appears on new Dodos album ++ Michael Showalter book release show details"

most photos by Josh Darr

Dodos w/ special guest Neko Case / The Antlers

"There were no special effects during Soundgarden's performance on the last night of Lollapalooza -- no lasers, no costume changes, no props or hydraulics. Even the video screens switched over to black and white. But the band didn't need any added visuals: Soundgarden delivered an explosive set of classic '90s songs in front of their biggest audience since their breakup 13 years ago. Chris Cornell underplayed the band's return, suggesting their decade-plus break was more like a few years. "It's good to be back!" said Cornell, who's grown his hair back out to its late-'80s length. "We just took a little break, but now we're back."" [Rolling Stone]

Continue reading "Lollapalooza 2010 - Day 3 in pics, Soundgarden setlist, videos"

photos by Greg Cristman, words by Rachel Kowal

The New Pornographers may be considered to be hopelessly passé by some, but for better or worse, they got a fair amount of play during my college radio days, so they are one of those bands that that I look back at fondly - even if their last two or three albums left me feeling somewhat ambivalent.

Founded in 1997, they're veterans of the Canadian indie rock movement. They've seen the industry evolve and shift to accommodate one fad or another, and through it all, they held their ground and continued to churn out expansive power pop medleys year after year. With Carl Newman (A.C. Newman), Neko Case and Dan Bejar (Destroyer) in the mix, The New Pornographers also served as something of a prototype for the modern supergroup.

For Saturday night's show at Terminal 5 (one night after the CD throwing incident in Boston), The New Pornographers focused heavily on their newest album, Together, playing all but three songs from it. But in addition to showcasing the new material, they dipped deeper into their discography and pulled out songs like: "Sing Me Spanish Techno," "Mass Romantic," and "The Electric Version." Their set list for the evening was expansive, but the band talked little between songs and sometimes powered into the next with no more than a brief break for applause. One of the show's major highlights came during the final song of their encore, "Testament to Youth in Verse," when Newman engaged the audience with a slowly building sing-along.

The sound throughout the evening definitely seemed to be too loud - especially with the Dodos. The levels were fine for build-ups and breakdowns, but everything in between suffered. Whenever a song picked up the tempo and increased in volume, the sound started to blend together to create one inchoate mass of energy. Individual guitar riffs became muddled and vocals, indecipherable.

Luckily for Terminal 5, the additional New Pornographers show at the Bell House on Sunday night wasn't announced until after Saturday night's show had already sold out. Given the vastly improved sound quality at the Bell House and its more intimate size and layout, couldn't help but wonder what Sunday night's show (where they promised to do at least ten different songs) was going to be like in comparison (pictures from that one coming soon).

I got to the venue too late to see The Dutchess and the Duke, who like the Dodos, are still on tour with The New Pornographers. More pictures (of all three bands) from the T5 show, and the headliner's setlist, below...

Continue reading "The New Pornographers, Dodos & the Dutchess and the Duke played Terminal 5 - pics & setlist"

"The 2010 Lollapalooza line-up is official: Soundgarden, Green Day, Lady Gaga, Arcade Fire, The Strokes, and Phoenix will headline, joined by Social Distortion, MGMT, Jimmy Cliff, Hot Chip, and The Black Keys. With 130 bands on this year's bill, its sure to be a weekend long feast for the ears.

It's a monumental year for Lollapalooza, filled with homecomings, reunions, and first-times. Soundgarden, 1992 and 1996 Lollapalooza alumni, return to the Lollapalooza stage for their first performance since 1997. Green Day will rock Grant Park sixteen years after their first Lollapalooza appearance. While Lady Gaga will headline the festival only three short years after playing the BMI stage at Lollapalooza 2007.

Arcade Fire returns to Grant Park, having played the reincarnated Lollapalooza in 2005. This is the first Lollapalooza for The Strokes - and also their first show in four years. And making their Lollapalooza debut: Phoenix." - Lollapalooza

Continue reading "Lollapalooza actually announces 2010 lineup "

DOWNLOAD: The New Pornographers - Your Hands Together (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Imaad Wasif - "Priestess" (MP3)

The New Pornographers SXSW "Together" shuttle (kelprecords)

A quick gander and the snowfall-laden countdown to the May 4 release of 'Together' reveals you've got limited time to GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER (sorry) to place a pre-order for the 5th and arguably finest studio album from The New Pornographers. And not to apply undue pressure on a Spring Tuesday morning, but you'll have even less time to get it in gear unless you wanna be on the outside looking in when The New Pornographers roll into your town (sadly, on a bus besides this one) in a few weeks time. Tickets for the North America tour starting June 7 go on presale today (dates below). -Matador

And there's a tour. The New Pornographers will be on the road for most of June and July and a few dates before and after that. Most of that time will be spent with The Dodos, and some of the dates are with The Dutchess and The Duke (three bands total) including June 19th at Terminal 5 in NYC. As mentioned above, tickets are now on presale. Other dates are with Imaad Wasif (who goes on tour with Dead Meadow even sooner). All dates below...

Continue reading "The New Pornographers, The Dodos, the Dutchess & The Duke, Imaad Wasif - 2010 Tour Dates, MP3s, stuff"

After a hectic day of updating the constantly updating Bonnaroo lineup page, the entire thing has been announced. Gwar, Norah Jones, and the rest of the lineup below...

Continue reading "the complete 2010 Bonnaroo lineup (Stevie Wonder, The Melvins, Kings of Leon, Isis, Local Natives & many more) "

DOWNLOAD: Memory Tapes - Bicycle (MP3)

The intial lineup for Noise Pop 2010, which takes over San Francisco February 23rd to March 1st, has been updated. Newly announced acts include Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band (with Cornelius, Yuka Honda, Sean Lennon), The Dodos & Magik Magik Orchestra collaborative performance, !!!, Harlem, Deerhoof, Memory Tapes, The Fresh and Onlys, Scout Niblett, Far (Reunion Show), The Mumlers, P.E.E (Reunion Show), Mirah, Laura Gibson, Nico Vega, Japanese Motors, Princeton, Free Energy, The Growlers, Nurses, Magic Wands, The Lonely Forest, The Hot Toddies, Tempo No Tempo, Judgement Day. The full current lineup is posted below.

Tickets and passes for most of those are on sale now. Tickets for Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band (with Deerhoof) on February 23rd and the Dodos & Magik Magik Orchestra collaborative shows go on sale on Sunday, January 10th.

Memory Tapes, chillwave Jerseyan Dayve Hawk, is one of the acts scheduled for the fest. He's going to be in the UK for a short run of shows this January, and he's confirmed that US dates and a European tour are forthcoming. The song "Bicycle" off his debut, Seek Magic, is above. The album is being re-issued on Feb 8th, "with an exclusive 48 minute 4 track CD2 through Urban Outfitters and digitally exclusively via iTunes".

UPDATE: Memory Tapes is opening for Atlas Sound at The Bell House on February 3rd. Tickets are still on sale.

More info on Noise Pop 2010 below...

Continue reading "Noise Pop expands 2010 lineup - updates include !!!, Far, Yoko Ono & Memory Tapes who is touring soon "

photos by Chris Graham

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.

The 2nd Annual Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco this past August benefited from a combination of improved planning and the luck of some of the nicest weather the city had seen all summer. The result was a far more pleasant and exciting experience for festivalgoers at this food, wine and music extravaganza.

The venue for the festival is extraordinary, taking up about a third of the massive Golden Gate Park. Once inside, it's hard to believe you're in the middle of a large city. Giant trees and grassy meadows block out any view of outside buildings, and the festival is arranged around the topography so that each group of stages has its own unique look and feel. There were many secluded areas and empty meadows nearby for those in need of respite from the music. Thanks to the efforts of innovative organizers, Outside Lands truly becomes a world unto itself. [Beachside Resident]

Continue reading "Outside Lands 2009 - Day 1 pics (Pearl Jam, The National, Q-Tip, Tom Jones, Akron/Family, Built to Spill, more)"

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

Meric Long of The Dodos

The New Gay: When did you first realize you were straight?

Logan Kroeber of The Dodos: In highschool after I broke up with my third boyfriend I realized I was fooling myself just going with the norm of homosexuality. I decided then and there to go against the grain and face the shame of dating chicks.

TNG: What is your least favorite stereotype about straight people?

LK: That the sexual acts I perform are not also condemned in the Bible. I can sin too even if I'm not gay!

The Ruby Suns played a few new songs from their album that's coming out early next year. The Dodos setlist included much material from their album that came out this year. Highlights included the encore and a song they played all in the dark with LED's on Meric's fingers and on the xylophone mallets. You can see it in one of the pictures which are continued below....

Continue reading "The Dodos & Ruby Suns played MHOW (pics) - Bowery tonight "

DOWNLOAD: Real Estate - Beach Comber (MP3)

Real Estate @ Brooklyn Bowl in August (more by Oren Loloi)

Real Estate have only been around short time, but it seems like hardly a week goes by without a show from the band or one of its member's solo projects (Ducktails, Predator Vision, etc.). They'll finally get around to releasing their debut LP, a self-titled record, on November 17th on the Woodsist label. The first track from that is posted above and two other "album versions" are up on their Myspace.

Real Estate play a tour send-off/Showpaper benefit on October 14th at Monster Island Basement with Big Troubles and Honeydos. The tour in question is a short jaunt down South, before they return for a slew of CMJ-related shows. The first of those happen October 21st at Pianos and Santos (the later of which is an Oh My Rockness party with The Drums and others). Their other CMJ gigs include an Underwater Peoples showcase at The Delancey, a Death & Taxes show at Glasslands on October 22nd with Japandroids (one of many CMJ gigs for that band) and a Mexican Summer/Kemado Showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 24th. Joining them at MHOW will be Farmer Dave Scher (his first in NYC since opening for Jenny Lewis in June), Young Prisms, The Smith Westerns who have other CMJ shows TBA), and The Amazing, a Swedish group with members of the Kemado-signed Dungen, Anna Jarvinen and Sagor & Swing (streaming tracks at their MySpace). Tickets for that Music Hall show are on sale.

One artist who's not playing that show or any CMJ shows at all is Washed Out (Georgia's Ernest Greene). He'll play just one NYC show (his second live show ever) one day before CMJ at Santos Party House on October 19th with Restless People. Tickets are on sale. I tried to get him to open the BrooklynVegan CMJ show at Music Hall on October 20th (one day later), but he said he can't even stay in town that long due to personal commitments back home.

Restless People features members of Professor Murder (and Tanlines). Listen to their first single "Victimless Crime", HERE. The Santos show will be their first show.

Rising, Breaking, Band to Watch vs Bear, Washed Out (the next Neon Indian even), though fairly new to the scene, already appears on a free Outfitters compilation that also includes tracks by Girls, Vivian Girls, A Place to Bury Strangers, No Age, Le Loup, Rain Machine, The xx, The Very Best, Kurt Vile and The Dodos (who have two NYC shows this week). Washed Out's "Life of Leisure" 12" is out on Mexican Summer now.

One day after CMJ (10/25), Real Estate play a 1:00PM NYC show just for kids (Kidrockers) at The Living Room with... Neon Indian. Tickets are on sale ("Adults must be accompanied by a kid and vice versa").

Real Estate will follow up their CMJ with a November tour with Girls. That hits Maxwell's on November 2nd and Bowery Ballroom on November 6th. Real Estate album, tour dates and flyers below...

Continue reading "Washed Out's NYC debut (& 2nd show ever), Real Estate's LP, tour dates & CMJ (Mexican Summer showcase, Kidrockers) "