photos by Chris La Putt

DOM in the Puma Store

For CMJ, SPIN hooked up with the Puma store in Union Square to present a series of free in-stores. Wednesday's schedule included one of the three shows that The Duke Spirit played, one of Dom's many CMJ 2011 appearances, and even a set by Weekend (who played the BrooklynVegan official showcase on Friday night). This Puma commercial continues below...

Continue reading "bands like Dom, the Duke Spirit & Weekend played in a Puma store (pics)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: The Duke Spirit - Don't Wait (Live) (MP3)

The Duke Spirit's new album, Bruiser, won't be out in the U.S. till January but NYCers have two chances to see them tomorrow (10/18) as part of the CMJ Fest: 8:30 PM at Bowery Hotel and then at 11PM at Brooklyn Bowl. Both shows are free whether you have a CMJ badge or not and RSVP details are below. The band are also playing Wednesday afternoon (10/19, 2:30PM) at the Puma Store in Union Square, which is also free.

For those who don't mind not owning a physical product, Bruiser will be out digitally on November 21. The album, which was mixed by Alan Moulder (U2, My Bloody Valentine, TPOBPAH), and is another solid collection of big riffs, anthemic choruses and the powerhouse vocals of pistol Liela Moss. To hold you over, at the top of this post there's a live MP3 of new single "Don't Wait" recorded for Later With Jules Holland. Additionally, The Duke Spirit are also have a track on the soundtrack of the new Dark Night: Arkahm City videogame, which also includes songs by Noel Gallagher, MGMT, Florence and the Machine, and Adele.

The show at Bowery Hotel is the KCRW-hosted It's A School Night party that also features US Royalty, Marcus Hall and Hands. It's free (21+) with RSVP.

The LIVE4EVER-presented Brooklyn Bowl show also features Damndogs, Pint Shot Riot and more. Free with CMJ badge or RSVP. This one's 21+ too.

You can watch the video for "Everybody's Under Your Spell" and video of The Duke Spirit's recent appearance on Later with Jules Holland after the jump.

Continue reading "The Duke Spirit playing 3 free CMJ shows ahead of new album release (dates, video & a live MP3)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: The Fresh & Onlys - Waterfall (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Erland & the Carnival - Trouble in Mind (Mp3)

The Fresh & Onlys

It's an early installment of TWII this week. Most of the awesome shows (to me) seem to be tonight through Thursday.

First up we've got The Fresh & Onlys who are currently on tour with Clinic. They both play tonight at Bowery Ballroom with Girls at Dawn opening. I like Clinic just fine -- their new album Bubblegum is good -- but we're seeing the Fresh & Onlys still riding a wave of creativity/prolificasy that has been going strong for almost two years. The band's new album, Play it Strange, is maybe their best yet, definitely their most sonically advanced. And live, they always seem to be on. They were great at the Northside Fest back in May. I know I write about them a lot, but they really are tops. Go see them!

There was supposed to be a second Clinic/F&Os show Wednesday night at Music Hall of Williamsburg but that ended up getting canceled, so now The Fresh & Onlys will play Shea Stadium instead (11/3), sharing the bill with fellow San Franciscans The Royal Baths, plus X-Ray Eyeballs and Dutch Treat. The Fresh & Onlys and Royal Baths will also play Vassar on Thursday (11/4).

Royal Baths also play tonight (11/2) at Monster Island Basement with an otherwise all Baltimore bill: Ponytail's Dustin Wong, Holy Ghost Party and Avocado Happy Hour.

The Dears

I will be speeding off to Shea Stadium on Wednesday after seeing The Dears at Knitting Factory, the first their two-night stay previewing their new, yet-to-be-titled album which won't be out till next year. (Tickets are available for Wednesday and Thursday.) As an occasional Dears-obsessive (2004 - 2005 I wouldn't shut up about them) I'm pretty excited about these shows, especially now that guitarist and O-Face master Patrick Krief is back in the band, as well as former members Rob Benvie and Roberto Arquilla. Drummer George Donosso [now in the High Dials] is still missed - we'll see how new member Jeff Luciani does on the kit.

The Dears are masters of epic, anthemic songs and I'm psyched to get to hear a whole new album in this way for the first time. And if this sounds a little daunting, reviews of other shows in Montreal and Toronto where they've been doing the same thing have said they're encoring with a set of favorites. And when the band is on, they can make the hair on the back of your neck stand at attention. Here's hoping we get a little of that bristly excitement this time. You can check out live footage of new single "Omega Dog" at the bottom of this post.

The Duke Spirit

Also mid week: Bluesy London rock band The Duke Spirit are here playing a one-off show at the now-reopened Santos Party House on Wednesday (11/03) where five bucks gets you in the door. I was a big fan of The Duke Spirit's 2008 album, Neptune, which matched big pop hooks with the band's already proven muscle. The band have a new EP, Kusama, out in December -- you can download "Everybody's Under Your Spell" from their website if you give them your email address -- and a new album in February 2011.

The Duke Spirit are definitely worth seeing live. All eyes tend to be on powerhouse vocalist Leila Moss, who has an undeniable stage presence and can play mean harmonica too. And for five bucks it's kind of a no-brainer.

Erland and the Carnival

If you wish The Coral were still doing sea shantys, you might want to check out London's Erland and the Carnival who are in town playing two club shows this week with Ireland's Villagers: tonight (11/2) at Knitting Factory and Wednesday at Mercury Lounge. Then they'll play a headlining show on Friday at The Rock Shop and then open for Paul Weller on Saturday (at the Apollo) and Sunday (at the Nokia Theater).

There's a bit of that hurdy-gurdy folky seaside sound to the group -- they're recording their new record on a ship, apparently -- and their debut album is pretty good if you like Pentangle, Delta blues, Love and The Doors all mixed together in a bucket. Erland Cooper is a talented songwriter, and I'm told a captivating live performer, and managed to recruit guitarist Simon Tong (formerly of The Verve, Blur and The Good, The Bad and The Queen) into his band. Will they be the next Mumford and Sons? I think they're a little too odd for that (probably a good thing), and there's no shortage of opportunities to see them. You can download an MP3 at the top of this post and there are a couple videos below.

A few more shows of note, day-by-day, not mentioned above:

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 & WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3

Vocoder-loving Canadians Shout Out Out Out Out bring their many keyboards to Le Poisson Rouge Tuesday and Glasslands Wednesday (moved from Coco 66). Every time I write about this band -- who are pretty fun live -- I have to count the number of "outs" in their name. I can never remember. (Note to self: four "outs".)

continued below...

Continue reading "the Fresh & Onlys, Royal Baths, Dears, Duke Spirit, Erland and the Carnival, Dandy Warhols & more in This Week in Indie"

Andrew WK celebrating @ Santos Party House (more by Andrew Frisicano)

After some difficulties and forced Halloween weekend cancellations, NYC music venue Santos Party House was cleared to officially open back up today (though their troubles are not all behind them yet). Check their schedule for all upcoming shows, Wednesday night's The Duke Spirit show included.

Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival is taking place this year August 28th-30th at Golden Gate Park. Tickets for the fest go on Visa presale Wednesday, April 15th at 1pm ET, and general sale Sunday, April 19th at 1pm ET.

Like last year, the San Francisco fest shares a headliner with NJ's All Points West. In 2008, it was Radiohead. In 2009, it's the Beastie Boys.

Also on the schedule for the fest is the Dead Weather, Jack White's new band. Dead Weather plays its first show tonight (April 14th) at the Bowery Ballroom.

M.I.A., Ween, TVOTR, Mastodon, Os Mutantes, Extra Golden, Tom Jones, and many others are also playing. Full Outside Lands line-up and poster below....

Continue reading "Outside Lands 2009 festival lineup, Dead Weather tonight"

Spank Rock is performing at a Unis & Anna Sheffeild party tonight (2/12) at Chloe (81 Ludlow St) (10pm - 3am)

The Duke Spirit are performing an an Alexander McQueen party on Friday (2/13) at 330 West St (8-11 p.m.) The Duke Spirit also play NYC-area shows on Sunday and Monday.

NY Magazine's Fashion Week party list includes performances and/or DJ sets by The Virgins (acoustic), James Murphy, Mandy Coon (2MANDYDJS), Mike Nouveau, Deakin (Animal Collective) (DJ set), and White Magic (DJ set).

Santos Party House is hosting a Fashion Week party (DOSSIER / NOMIA) on Sunday (2/15) with DJ Holy Ghost and a live set by Lemonade (downstairs 9pm... 21+).

A rumor is going around that Thom Yorke is here and possibly performing, but Men.Style.com says...

I've got some good news and some bad news for all you fashion, music, and fashion music fans. The bad news first: Despite the rumors Twittering around the Interwebs, Thom Yorke will not, in fact, be playing tomorrow's Rag & Bone show. The good news, however, is that the Radiohead singer did "curate" the tunes that'll accompany the models down the runway. Guess he's returning the favor after the nice bomber jacket the lads hooked him up with for the Grammys. (Notably, Lil Wayne also wore the brand last Sunday--who knows, maybe he's hard at work on a playlist for Spring 2010.) In any case, autograph seekers should leave the Sharpies at home, as I'm told Yorke won't even be at the show. (I assume the same's true for Wayne.)

In other Thom Yorke news rumors, EW says that "Radiohead's publicist assures me that rumors of frontman Thom Yorke contributing music to McG's movie Terminator Salvation are, yep, just rumors -- something that everyone who's at all familiar with the respective oeuvres of Thom Yorke and McG already knew."

This is the second time Terminator Salvation came up recently. The first was because of Christian Bale freaking out.

Leave more party tips (if you have them) (preferably ones where bands are playing) in the comments.

Tickets are on Am Ex presale for the two Van Morrison shows happening at the Theater at MSG.

The Duke Spirit is coming back in February Tickets are on sale for a February 16th show at Music Hall of Williamsburg, and for one a day earlier at Maxwell's.

The Ting Tings are playing Webster Hall on March 16th. Tickets are on Am Ex Presale at noon.

Tickets are on Am Ex presale for the Brian Jonestown Massacre show happening at Terminal 5.

Tickets are on Am Ex presale for the Tom Jones show happening at Terminal 5.

Fab Faux have announed yet another show at Terminal 5. The date is March 14th and tickets are on Am Ex presale.

Tickets are on Am Ex presale for the two Bishop Allen shows coming up at Bowery and Music Hall.

Yes, it is something of a bummer.

Three or four decades of stops and starts -- mostly stops -- in this legendarily faded and ill-starred stretch of the Jersey Shore and finally, finally, things seem to reach a critical mass. Revived music halls of all shapes and sizes. Cool bars, a Mexican taqueria, a surfer shop, glass blowers and a potter on the Boardwalk. The renovated Convention Hall and Paramount Theater with its "Greetings From Asbury Park" sign out front. And the famous Thursday evening "doggy yappy hour" for pets at the Wonder Bar...

...Lance Larson, a veteran musician who helps run the Wonder Bar, figures that Asbury Park has a heritage of music, art and eccentricity that will attract people, tough times or no.

"We have one thing that no one else does, and that's entertainment," he said, picking at a cheeseburger on Thursday afternoon. "It's not just because of Bruce [Springsteen]. It's always been that way. I've toured every place, and there's no place like playing here. It's like Parris Island, the boot camp of music. If you can play here, you can play anywhere." [NY Times]

The recently re-opened Wonder Bar is suddenly on everyone's radar...

"It feels really great, it's exciting," said manager Debbie DeLisa of Deal. "There's a lot going on down here right now, with (concert promoter) Live Nation coming in to do the shows at Convention Hall. They're going to do some shows here also."

DeLisa's upbeat, optimistic tone is a far cry from last year, when the Ocean Avenue club was set to close to make way for a redevelopment project by developers Asbury Partners, which had purchased the property.

"Asbury Partners were going to tear it down, and I'm not sure what they were going to do, build condos," DeLisa said.

The venue was spared when developers Madison Marquette came into town and took over some of Asbury Partners' holdings, including the Wonder Bar.

DeLisa said the club is now waiting for approval from the city to construct a large outdoor deck facing the nearby Stone Pony; other plans include building a Tiki bar and adding a volleyball court to the facilities. [Metromix]

Live Nation has started booking the shows there, and I suppose that's why so many familiar names are suddenly playing in Asbury Park. Wonder Bar recently had Mates of State and Little Joy (see above). Upcoming shows include HR from Bad Brains (tonight), Rasputina, We are Scientists, and The Duke Spirit. Tickets can be found at Ticketmaster.

Watch a short documentary on Asbury Park's Palace Amusements below...

Continue reading "Asbury Park's boardwalk & Wonder Bar (a Live Nation venue)"

photos by Zach Dilgard

Eagles of Death Metal played their first of two NYC shows with The Duke Spirit at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn last night (11/16). Their second is tonight/Monday (11/17) at Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan.

Though EODM still consider their producer, Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), a member of a band, he is not currently touring with them. Other members of Queens of the Stone Age are though. According to Wiki, the current touring lineup is front-man Jesse Hughes AKA: The Devil / Boots Electric (guitar, vocals), Dave Catching AKA: Darlin' Dave (guitar) (Queens of the Stone Age contributor/Desert Sessions/etc), Brian O'Connor AKA: Big Hands (bass, vocals), and Joey Castillo AKA: The Sexi Mexi (drums) (Queens of the Stone Age/Mark Lanegan).

More dates HERE. More pictures, including of the setlists, below...

Continue reading "Eagles of Death Metal & the Duke Spirit @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, NYC - pics & setlists"

"TheWB.com - a premium, ad-supported, video-on-demand, interactive and personalized network - today announced the cast and the first group of bands to be featured on "Rockville, CA," the music-themed scripted web series created by Josh Schwartz ("Gossip Girl," "Chuck," "The O.C."). Production on the show began earlier this month at The Echo, a popular club and indie music venue in Los Angeles."

The rest of the Press release is below...

Continue reading "Rockville, CA - a new TheWB.com show w/ Passion Pit, Lykke Li, The Little Ones, Frightened Rabbit and more"

The Duke Spirit @ Mercury Lounge, NYC - Feb 13, 2008 (Abbey Braden)

* a free Mobius Band EP
* Super Diamond play Warsaw
* Crystal Stilts @ Union Pool
* The Duke Spirit @ Union Hall
* Kyp Malone is cooking dinner
* Bid on a dress designed by Antony
* The Gutter Twins @ Bowery Ballroom
* love advice from Atmoshphere's Slug
* Leslie and the Ly's @ Mercury Lounge
* Yeasayer & MGMT & Chairlift @ Music Hall
* Rufus Wainwright @ Radio City Music Hall
* Diamanda Galas Valentine Massacre @ Knitting Factory
* Mixhell, Moby (DJ Set) & Drop the Lime @ Hiro Ballroom
* a Valentine's gift from Rainer Maria's Caithlin De Marrais
* Band of Horses & Dirty on Purpose @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple
* These Are Powers, Apes, Knyfe Hytes, & Mixel Pixel @ Cake Shop

Happy Valentine's Day. Video of the Duke Spirit at Mercury Lounge below. What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday (Valentine's Day)?"

DOWNLOAD: The Duke Spirit - Cuts Across The Land (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Delta Spirit - Gimme Some Motivation (MP3)

Delta Spirit & The Duke Spirit

I was just looking for Delta Spirit NYC tour dates, and was totally confused until I finally realized there is a DUKE Spirit, and a DELTA Spirit. The Duke one is from the UK, playing Mercury Lounge on February 13th, playung Union Hall the day after that, and then SXSW. The Delta one is touring the West Coast, will probably be at SXSW, and will definitely be at Noise Pop. All tour dates below....

Continue reading "Delta Spirit vs Duke Spirit, 2008 Tour Dates"