DOWNLOAD: Thao & Mirah - "Eleven" featuring tUnE-yArDs (MP3)

Mirah & Thao Nguyen at MHoW (photos by Amanda Hatfield)

Mirroring the sentiment that was out in force this past weekend, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down will headline a Planned Parenthood benefit at Bowery Ballroom on April 4th with The Bloodsugars. Tickets go on sale Thursday 3/3 at noon. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down are also scheduled to play SXSW and the sold-out Coachella festival next month. All dates are below.

In related news, Thao's collaborative efforts and tours with Mirah last year have borne fruit, as the pair are preparing to release an LP entitled "Thao & Mirah" via Kill Rock Stars on April 26th. Check out the album's first track, "Eleven", which features and was produced by tUnE-yArDs. MP3 above and stream below. The LP's tracklisting/art and a live video of a second track "How Dare You", with all dates, also below...

Continue reading "Thao Nguyen playing Planned Parenthood benefit in NYC, releasing an album w/ Mirah (listen to a song w/ tUnE-yArDs)"

Cloud Cult and M Shanghai String Band @ Cross-Pollination 4/18/06 (more photos)

Free, weekly NYC music series Cross-Pollination is celebrating its 5th anniversary at Pianos tonight, May 12th. The night's bill pairs Brooklyn bands Dinosaur Feathers and The Bloodsugars.

Cross-Pollination was created by Jay Goettelmann and Wesley Verhoeve, the founders of creative collective Liberated Matter, with the hope of bringing artists together in a unique way. They came up with the concept of pairing two artists together, with each playing a 45-minute set, followed by a collaborative set in which both performers share the stage. These special sets are 'one time art' and have included everything from bands joining in on each others songs, collaborating on covers, and co-writing new songs for the event.

Back in 2005, Jay and Wes spoke with BrooklynVegan about their series...

What is your most memorable Cross-Pollination experience?

Wes: Hmm, I'd say the Kimya Dawnson/Paleface collaboration with a whole set of newly written songs was very special. Seeing Jaymay hold a note for about a full minute once during her performance was quite spectacular as well.

Jay: For me it was probably one of our big alumni shows where Casey Shea and Jeff Jacobson (of the Undisputed Heavyweights) did a rendition of the entire second half of Abbey Road. Or when Jason Trachtenburg ended his show in punk style, knocking the mic over and trying to bash these wooden flame decorations with his guitar.

We just asked Wes the same question (now almost four years later).
His answer this time:

Wes: There's a lot of memorable moments, but to highlight a few: Frightened Rabbit and The Brother Kite's performance was phenomenally packed and amazing. Casey Shea and Wakey!Wakey! covering Dick In A Box mere days after it was on TV was a big hit with the crowd. Cloud Cult playing with great intensity to a fire-hazard stuffed upstairs. Dave Deporis and My Brightest Diamond were so delicate and beautiful, then still at the Apocalypse Lounge. Jason Trachtenburg also played there early on and destroyed the stage and the wall behind the stage at the end of his set in front of a baffled audience. It was amazing, sort of a nebbish version of Terminator.

Cross-Pollination is currently streaming a 5th anniversary mixtape with new and exclusive tracks by Dawn Landes, Takka Takka, Twi the Humble Feather, Jaymay and others. You can stream it or download it below. They posted a similar mix in 2007 for their 3rd anniversary.

Both bands playing tonight are series regulars (The Bloodsugars even played the Cross-Pollination's 4th anniversary bash last year, video below.) They're both at other local-music celebrations this summer too. Dinosaur Feathers will be playing Saturday, May 16th at Park Slope's Bar 4 as part of the weeklong Local Correspondents Festival hosted by the venue. The Bloodsugars will play a Northside Festival show at Public Assembly on June 14th.

Cross-Pollination 5th anniversary mixtape (streaming and downloadable), with track listing, and all upcoming shows, below...

Continue reading "the weekly Cross-Pollination series turns five (party tonight, more upcoming shows & a free mixtape- stream & download) "

We've got another slew of announcements for you today, starting with Swedish folk singer Kristian Matsoon, whose Tallest Man on Earth has been added to the Brooklyn Vegan showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg (along with John Vanderslice and more TBA) on Friday, June 12. We're also pleased to inform you that the good people at the legendary Ninja Tune Records will be hosting a showcase, featuring Megasoid, Daedelus and Ghislain Poirier.

The Tallest Man On Earth was just one of many artists added to the previously announced Northside Festival lineup today. Full list below...

Continue reading "Northside Fest lineup expands w/ Ninja Tune showcase, etc"

photos by Tim Griffin

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is the nation's leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider. For more than 90 years, we've done more than any other organization in the United States to improve women's health and safety, prevent unintended pregnancies, and advance the right and ability of individuals and families to make informed and responsible choices.

Regina Spektor, Ra Ra Riot and The Bloodsugars made up the bill at the Planned Parenthood benefit concert that took place at Bowery Ballroom in NYC last night (1/22). There was also a raffle. To quote Tim, they "gave away a lot of high end pampering ($300 haircuts etc), 1 day of recording studio time, a vintage guitar, ipod touches, and a bunch of cds autographed by the bands and a meet n greet with Regina."

Tim also said Regina was amazing, and that many in the crowd thought so even more than him ("they kept crying out I LOVE YOU! every 2 minutes"). At the beginning of her long set, she forgot some lyrics, but "it didn't take long for the audience to sing along in unison to prompt her along." As you can see in the pictures, she had a big piano there on the Bowery Ballroom stage.

Ra Ra Riot put on "their usual good show", and Tim said that The Bloodsugars were a good opener "and really earnest". You can catch the Bloodsugars next at the Guilt By Association Vol. 2 Release Party at the same NYC venue on February 5th. Francis and the Lights and Savoir Adore are also on that bill. Ra Ra Riot don't have any other scheduled NYC dates at the moment, but they do have plenty of other tour dates.

More pictures from the show below...

Continue reading "Regina Spektor, Ra Ra Riot & the Bloodsugars @ Bowery Ballroom for Planned Parenthood, NYC - pics"