photos by Amanda Hatfield

Anni Rossi

"Anni Rossi is not the first to use a classical instrument in a rock 'n' roll context. But this violist isn't playing polite chamber pop -- she's rocking her instrument, with covers of Aaliyah, Ace of Base and Radiohead, as well as original compositions.

To get this sound, Rossi has done some unorthodox customization of her instruments.

Where they came from: "I had a viola that was very special to me that I played through parts of college. And then I decided to trade it in. It was a bit of a sad day, but I decided to trade it in for four violas."

What she does: "Basically what I've been doing is installing guitar pickups on to violas that are of lower quality so that I can modify them with less risk."

How she does it: "It's really hard to run electricity through a wooden instrument, so I've been working with a few different people to create a buzz on the instrument, because there's not enough metal on the instrument to ground it when I put it through an amplifier. ... They do make electric violins and violas, but that's a whole other sound that doesn't really suit what I'm interested in right now."

How she plays: "I rarely bow my instrument; I pick it with a guitar pick. The warmth of the tone comes more from the amps that I'm using and where my pickup is located on the instrument. It's just, like, a different set of rules that I have to go by to get the tone that I want.""
[AM New York]

If it wasn't obvious by the number of times her name has been popping up on NYC show lineups lately (including the upcoming Shearwater / Damien Jurado show at Music Hall of Williamsburg), the fact that Anni Rossi's MySpace says she is from "Brooklyn, NY" confirms that the 4AD-signed Minnesotan recently moved from Chicago. Glad to have her.

Some of those shows I noticed her on recently happened during CMJ, including Saturday's I Rock I Roll/Nachos NY party at the Delancey where Anni shared a bill with 14 bands including Ravens & Chimes, Savoir Adore, and Miracles of Modern Science. All the bands I mentioned are the ones Amanda got pictures of, and they continue below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn's Anni Rossi played the Delancey roof w/ Ravens & Chimes, Savoir Adore & Miracles of Modern Science (pics)"

DOWNLOAD: Woodhands - I Kissed a Girl (Katy Perry cover) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Woodhands - Can't See Straight (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Woodhands - Electric Avenue (MP3)

Toronto electro-duo Woodhands are on a US tour in the wake of their recent Paper Bag Records Dancer EP. After the success of their cover for Eddy Grant's one-hit wonder "Electric Avenue" (ABOVE) (blessed by Eddy himself), the keytar-n-drums unit of Daniel Werb and Paul Banwatt have decided to tackle Katy Perry's hit single "I Kissed a Girl" (ABOVE). According to Werb, "we did it because the spirit of the song spoke to us: It's that feeling of being overwhelmed by the moment, of indulgence, of unfettered hedonism. Also, Katy Perry is hella hot. And the song is dope." [Paperbag Recs]

The band closes its tour in NYC on Saturday, May 16th at the Delancey. The show is part of the venue's monthly Loose Nukes party. Savoir Adore and Deleted Scenes are also playing. In addition to the Dancer EP, Woodhands also released an iTunes-exclusive live EP earlier this year.

The Delancey show is also a release party for Savoir Adore's new Machines EP.

"They are also one of the featured bands on $99 Music Videos, with a new unreleased song. If you're not familiar with the series, we dared Savoir Adore and director Matthew Semel to create a music video for $99 or less. The result is in 2-parts: an awesome music video and a behind-the-scenes episode where you can check out footage that follows the band and the director during the music video shoot."

Watch both of those videos below.

If you want to see "I Kissed a Girl" done by its originator (do you?), Katy Perry is touring the world this summer. That includes a Tuesday, July 28th show at NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom. Tickets are on Citi/Live Nation presale now. General sale starts Saturday, May 16th at 10am.

A CFCF remix of Woodhands' "Dancer," with live videos of the band from 2009 (including at SXSW) and an interview, and all other videos and tour dates below...

Continue reading "Woodhands (touring) play NYC Saturday w/ Savoir Adore (new $99 video & EP), covered Katy Perry (MP3)"

Black Book: What bars do you claim as your own these days?

Johnny T: Black & White, Niagara, Bowery Electric, Cabin Down Below, and Pizza Shop.

Continue reading "spotlight on Johnny T (recently opened Cabin Down Below)"

Semi Precious Weapons & Rachael Ray @ Santos in NYC (Nicky Digital) (thx Krista)

As posted earlier today, Franz Nicolay & Major General will be opening for the Pogues at Roseland Ballroom on March 13th, but that is just one of many shows the Hold Steady's moustached member has coming up. Another one is tonight, March 5th...

3/5 FRANZ NICOLAY @ Small Beast Salon
Guest-hosting & curating.
THIS WEEK: 8:15-8:45 Franz Nicolay
8:55-9:25 Yoni Gordon
9:30-10:05 Serena Jost
10:15-11 Jennifer O'Connor
@ The Delancey - 168 Delancey, NYC

Franz is doing the same thing at the Delancey with a different bill on March 12th too, and he's doing a reading at Bar Matchless on March 14th. He'll have a busy few days which almost immediately then turns into a Hold Steady trip to SXSW that starts with a pitstop in Portland for a March 16th show at the Crystal Ballroom.

At SXSW, Franz is playing one solo/Major General show, and The Hold Steady are playing two. The first HS show is Friday March 20th at Mohawk. That's a public, official SXSW appearance. The second is the next day at Maggie May's for the Tom Jones-and-Semi-Precious Weapons-loving Rachael Ray. And they're not the only ones playing her party. As previously mentioned, The Airborne Toxic Event will be there, and so will New York Dolls, Ra Ra Riot and The Thermals. You can see the whole lineup and more details on the Dunkin Donuts spokesperson's website. The picture above was taken at Rachael's NYC show at Santos last week. See more like it at Nicky Digital's site.

NY Dolls also have an official SXSW show, and Sylvain Sylvain is sitting on a SXSW panel called "The Sound and the Fury". This all in addition to a new record coming out...

After working together on the New York Dolls' influential debut in 1973, the group reunited this winter with producer Todd Rundgren to record their fourth studio album, Cause I Sez So, set for a May 5 release on Atco Records.

Recorded at Utopia Sound Studio in Kauai, Hawaii, the album features 11 original compositions and a new version of "Trash," which was on their 1973 debut album. "It was amazing working with Todd again, and I think we were able to evoke the special sound of our first album and drag it by the hair into the present," says frontman Johansen.

Prior to the album's release, the New York Dolls-David Johansen (vocals); Sylvain Sylvain (guitar); Steve Conte (guitar); Brian Delaney (drums); and Sami Yaffa (bass)-will appear at the South By Southwest (SXSW) music conference and festival in Austin, TX. [as outlined above]

No upcoming Dolls dates in NY, bit Ra Ra Riot are at NYU TONIGHT (3/5), The Hold Steady are at Irving Plaza on March 30th, and The Thermals are playing Bowery Ballroom twice in May.

The NY Times went to RR's SXSW show last year. Video below...

Continue reading "Franz Nicolay, Rachael Ray, NY Dolls, Thermals, NYC, SXSW "

The Death Set on F Yeah Tour (more by Tod Seelie)

The Death Set, Team Robespierre and Ninjasonik are sure to wreak havok as they travel across the country together this March starting with a hometown (for most of them) show at The Shank in Brooklyn on March 12th. BUT FIRST, Catch The Death Set at the Loose Nukes party at the Delancey tonight, February 20th, with Royal Bangs. Loose Nukes is a new monthly party at the venue. Past performers have included, yep, Team Robespierre and Ninjasonik. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "The Death Set, Team Robespierre & Ninjasonik tour dates"

photos by Tim Griffin

Baby Dee

Botanica frontman/keyboardist Paul Wallfisch has taken over booking Thursdays upstairs at the Delancey, effectively creating one of the very few "must-see" nights anywhere in the New York rock scene, especially considering that for the time being it's free. Simply put, New York hasn't had a consistent home for intelligent, challenging rock and rock-related music since Tonic closed two and a half years ago. With this new series, playfully titled Small Beast, Wallfisch aims to change that. Typically, he starts the evening solo on piano, perhaps introducing a guest or two and then bringing up the night's featured artist or artists." [Lucid Culture]

Last night's bill (1/29) also featured Erik Sanko (Skeleton Key), Little Annie (who released an album with Paul last year and sang with him at this show), and Baby Dee (currently signed to Drag City and who has shared the stage with Little Annie before). Andrew WK, like he's also done before, sat in as part of Baby Dee's band for the show.

More pictures from the night below...

Continue reading "Baby Dee (w/ Andrew WK), Little Annie, Paul Wallfisch & Erik Sanko @ The Delancey, NYC - pics"

January, 29 2009 08:00 PM - Main Floor: SMALL BEAST PARTY w/ Erik Sanko, Baby Dee, ANDREW WK & Little Annie
@ The Delancey, 168 Delancey St, New York City, New York 10002 - FREE

Thur., Jan. 29 Main Floor: SMALL BEAST CURATED BY PAUL WALLFISCH [EVERY THURSDAY] MUSIC SALON Presenting an eclectic mix of the world's most creative performers and songwriters !THIS WEEK features ERIK SANKO[from SKELETON KEY!] and very special guests BABY DEE / ANDREW WK / and LITTLE ANNIE FREE!!!!!8 pm doors SELECT OPEN BAR at 12 am!!!

Baby Dee is headlining the free show and will be joined by Little Annie and Andrew WK. Andrew WK interviews Baby Dee in the videos below...

Continue reading "whoah.. Baby Dee, Andrew WK & Little Annie for free tonight"