by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: The Mary Onettes - Puzzles (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Mary Onettes - Dare (MP3)

Sweden's Mary Onettes are back in the U.S. next week for a string of East Coast dates, including three dates in New York: November 4 at Union Hall, Nov. 6 at The Studio @ Webster Hall and Nov. 8 at Mercury Lounge. Next week also sees the release of their second album, Islands, which is out on Labrador Records (The Legends, Pelle Carlberg and The Radio Dept.). You can download the Island's first two singles, "Puzzles" and "Dare," at the top of this post. Where their first album went for more of a straight early-'80s, guitar-driven Cure/Bunnymen/JAMC gloomy pop vibe, Islands is much more lush, with layers of strings and keyboards added to mix. Though not synthy/dancey, Island's big choruses and plaintive vocals kind of remind me of Xymox's poppy 1989 album Twist of Shadows, which is not a bad thing at all.

I saw both of The Mary Onettes when they played here in May 2008 and was impressed by their ability to incorporate what are almost strictly '80s influences but not make it feel like someone else's nostalgia. Maybe it was the volume. They are quite loud. The Mary Onettes have some well-chosen openers for their three NYC shows, as well: Blacklist, with whom they played last year, will open at Union Hall; the dancey dreampop of Kordan for the Studio @ Webster Hall (you can download their new EP for free); and The Art of Shooting at Mercury Lounge.

The Mary Onettes also play Boston and Philly while in America. All 2009 tour dates and a video below...

Continue reading "The Mary Onettes - new album, MP3 & 2009 Tour Dates"

photos by Maryanne Ventrice

Drink Up Buttercup @ Bruar Falls

"After seeing somewhere around forty bands, eating exactly four amazing taco truck tacos, and drinking something like 40,000 beers, half of which were free and half of which I'm totally going to expense, the first annual Northside Festival has officially come to an end.

I believe I can speak on behalf of the L Magazine staff, as well as our sponsors and various partners, when I say thank you--to the people who bought badges, the press people who covered it, the pedestrians who stopped doing what they were doing so that they could watch bands perform on the street, the venues who trusted us with their spaces, the showcase presenters, and most importantly, to the nearly 350 bands that played--for making this entire thing an overwhelming success. [L Magazine]"

Mayanne Ventrice was running all over the place for the four dates of the Northside Festival. On the second day, Friday (6/12), she saw nine bands in four venues (Public Assembly, Spike Hill, Cameo, and Bruar Falls), stopped by Music Hall of Williamsburg for a peak at the BV photo show, and accidentaly caught Shilpa Ray playing with her band on the street. The rest of her pictures from that day are below...

Continue reading "Northside Fest 2009 - Day 2 in pictures "