McCarren Pool - June 29, 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Gothamist: Do you have spaces in mind for similar shows next year?

Sarah Hooper (JellyNYC): Yes we do, The Open Space Alliance, Parks Department and even Marty Markowitz's office has been very clear that there will be a space for concerts no matter what in Williamsburg. It looks more and more like that will become the Williamsburg waterfront, but I'm just hoping wherever it is that it's a little less hot than 50,000 square feet of concrete! It literally is at the point where we all look like we're at a waterpark all day from trying to stay cool--either a quick juant down the Slip 'n Slide,a bottle of water over the head, or finding whichever sponsor has provided a misting fan and sitting there until I'm soaked!

Any prospects for a space that you can talk about?

As well, since there is no McCarren next year, we have decided to take Pool Parties national....

Continue reading "free Pool Parties going national AND staying in Brooklyn"

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

"hold steady came on around 5:45, play until around 7ish. weather cleared up for their great set." [jkov]

"They played a holy fuckload of the new album, and as one who tries to avoid iTunes and is thus waiting for its proper release the show was hard to get into." [Tito]

Continue reading "the Hold Steady, Loved Ones, slip n slide, dodgeball & rain @ the 1st 2008 McCarren Pool Party, Brooklyn, NY - pics"

The Hold Steady's new album isn't out until July 15th, but they posted the whole thing to MySpace. They play McCarren Pool on June 29th (thx Ray).

Continue reading "2008 free McCarren 'Pool Party' lineup announced "

Spiritualized are streaming their entire new album @ MySpace. "Songs in A&E" is out June 3rd. The "Mister Lonely" soundtrack is out now. Tickets for their show at Terminal 5 are on sale. More tour dates here. Are they playing Music Hall of Williamsburg too?

The Hold Steady have a new song called "Sequestered in Memphis" streaming at MySpace. Stay Positive is out on Vagrant on July 15th. Tour dates HERE.

Beck has a new song called "Chemtrails" streaming at MySpace. The track was produced by Danger Mouse.

Wolf Parade have a second new song for download at MySpace (it's called "Language City"). Their new album At Mount Zoomer is out on Sub Pop on June 17th. Tickets are still on sale for their show at Terminal 5. More tour dates HERE.

NIN have a whole new FREE album out (in case you forgot). Tickets for their NJ show are on sale. You can also catch them in CT with gambling and Deerhunter.

The Hold Steady @ Webster Hall, NYC (more by Paul Bachmann)

As previously announced, The Hold Steady will be kicking off the free "Pool Party" season at McCarren Pool on June 29th. They'll also be be playing all of the following places....

Continue reading "the Hold Steady - (many more) 2008 Tour Dates, presale"

photos by Paul Bachmann

The first free Brooklyn 'Pool Party' of the summer will happen (at McCarren Pool) on June 29, 2008. The linuep is: The Hold Steady, The Loved Ones, and The Muslims, and the date is not long before the Hold Steady release their fourth album...

Stay Positive is due July 14 in the UK from new overseas home Rough Trade and July 15 in the States from Vagrant. The John Agnello-produced set, recorded in the greater New York metropolitan area this winter, sports both a wider array of instrumentation than past Hold Steady discs, and lyrics that concern themselves with "the attempt to age gracefully." Check out our chat with Craig and guitarist Tad Kubler from February for a little more insight into the forthcoming disc straight from the source. [Pitchfork]

Continue reading "the HOLD STEADY - Tribeca Film Festival pics, McCarren Pool details, a new album in July, tour dates"

Tickets to the The Hold Steady/Virgins show happening at Webster Hall on Friday May 2nd are still on sale (and now you don't need an American Express to buy them).

On a related note, The Hold Steady played that John Varvatos store opening too - the one people were protesting. Rolling Stone has some good video from the whole night.

The Hold Steady also may or may not be playing McCarren Pool this summer. More official Hold Steady tour dates below...

Continue reading "Hold Steady - Webster Hall tix on sale, played CBGB too"

Another Seattle music festival....

Continue reading "2008 Capitol Hill Block Party (Seattle) - lineup announcement"

Impose posted this:

The shows keep getting bigger but the pool stays the same. Here are some of the official lineups for Jelly NYC's annual McCarren Pool shows, which, on their third year, can officially be dubbed a hipster tradition. Since we are enormous hipsters over here at Impose, we've already broken out the seasonal short shorts and started shaking the dust out of our giant beards, which we are hoping are still fashionable after a ten month stint in our closet (the beards, not us).

June 29::
Hold Steady with White Denim
(as just previously posted)

July 20::
Liars and special guests who may have played an after party with Angus and the crew a few months ago.

July 27::
MGMT and Black Moth Super Rainbow
(Black Moth part was previously confirmed)

August 3::
Black Lips, Deerhunter, and a crazy motherfucker who those aforementioned Atlantans (and Vice) seem to think is the second coming

There are other rumors as well. Apparently The Breeders may make an appearance in July, though no date's set. Team Robespierre's in that same boat.

Wilco is also playing McCarren Pool.

So are M.I.A., Death Cab & Ween. (and Armin Van Buuren)

And Devo I think.

the Hold Steady @ Terminal 5 (more by Leia)

Tickets are on sale for the May 2nd Hold Steady show at Webster Hall. Also, Impose is reporting that The Hold Steady and White Denim are playing a show at McCarren Pool on Sunday June 29th.

White Denim are also playing two shows in NYC this week.

...and photos of Franz Nicolay playing on the street in Austin

There was a lot in that last post, so just to be clear:

Returning to the Tribeca Film Festival for a second time is Grammy-nominated music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, who owns Chop Shop Music Supervision and recently launched her music label Chop Shop Records. Patsavas will curate Breaking the Band sponsored by Target, an exclusive live music showcase featuring The Hold Steady, The Virgins, and Republic Tigers that will take place Friday, May 2 at Webster Hall. Tickets will be available beginning Saturday, April 12 through the Tribeca Film Festival Box Office at www.tribecafilmfestival.org.

Continue reading "The Hold Steady & The Virgins are playing Webster Hall..."

win tickets....

The Hold Steady and The Virgins are playing Webster Hall on May 2nd. Tickets go on sale April 12th. Regina Spektor, Nick Lowe, Sondre Lerche and many others are playing the annual day show at Canal Room (April 29-May 2). This is all part of this year's Tribeca Film Festival which believe it or not includes movies too (Lou Reed's Berlin directed by Julian Schnabel included). The day shows are for festival pass holders only, but I have two pairs of tickets to give away that get you in to the Canal Room for the whole week. How to win, and full festival details/lineups, below.....

Continue reading "Tribeca Film Festival music programming - The Hold Steady, Regina Spektor, Nick Lowe, Sondre Lerche, movies & stuff"

Some details on tomorrow's show HERE. Info on the CD you see above, below...

Continue reading "The Hold Steady playing Hard Rock, on Hard Rock comp"

Ra Ra Riot @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - March 7, 2008 (Bryan Bruchman)

Hold Steady members @ KiDROCKERS @ Living Room 2/10/08 (Maryanne Ventrice)

* Shara Worden & Dayna Kurtz are @ Union Hall
* Ra Ra Riot sold out Bowery Ballroom Friday night
* the Hold Steady recently played for kids @ The Living Room
* Ra Ra Riot is playing for kids at the Living Room today
* The Living Room is turning 10 years old
* Yuka Honda of Cibo Matto plays with Sean Lennon a lot
* Samamidon plays in Doveman's band in addition to playing solo
* Samamidon has been getting some serious acclaim himself lately
* Yuka Honda, Doveman, Luke Temple & Samamidon are @ Mercury Lounge

KiDROCKERS is a monthly concert series that you have to bring your kids to. Ra Ra Riot's 'Dying is Fine' video is below. What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday? (kidrockers/Ra Ra Riot/Samamidon)"

The Hold Steady @ Terminal 5, NYC - Nov 21, 2007 (Leia Jospe)

That picture up there is Franz Nicolay of the Hold Steady playing with The Hold Steady at Terminal 5 in NYC right before Thanksgiving. It was the last show on their tour with Art Brut and the 1990s (not the 1900s who are playing Mercury Lounge tonight). I loved that show, and Leia even took a bunch of pictures for this website, but the post about it sort of got lost in the holidays, so.... here it finally is.......just in time to point out that Franz has some other shows coming up too...

January 11 - FRANZ NICOLAY @ Silent Barn (tonight!)
January 13 - FRANZ NICOLAY @ Maxwell's w/ Emilyn Brodsky & Whack
January 26 - GUIGNOL @ Luna Lounge - Masquerade Ball & Burlesque. Come fancy and masked.
Feb. 1 - WORLD/INFERNO @ Bowery Ballroom w/ Gutbucket!

Continue reading "Franz Nicolay shows, new Hold Steady album, Terminal 5 pics"

The Hold Steady are on tour with Art Brut. Pitchfork spoke to both of their frontmen at the same time....

Eddie Argos: I met John at the Pitchfork festival, actually. It was weird because I'd been playing Mountain Goats constantly. And I said, "I'm so glad to meet you! I'm playing you lot constantly!" And then they said the same back to us! Like, aha! This is nice-- when you really like a band, and it turns out they like you too. You're doing the right thing.

Craig Finn: That's one of the greatest things. If someone like John Darnielle says "God, that's a great lyric," you feel, "Whoa!" That's a great compliment. Where it's not like some college journalist saying "this album rocks!", you know? It carries a lot of weight. Like, John Samson from the Weakerthans, another one of my favorite lyricists. Right now-- I mean, Bob Dylan aside-- I feel like I know most of the really good lyricists personally. Like, they're in my phone. And that's a cool perk, I think. Obviously if you're into lyrics or rock'n'roll, you're out here doing it, making it your life... [more fun @ Pitchfork]

In related news, Eddie Argos has formed yet ANOTHER band....

Continue reading "the Black Arts' EDDIE ARGOS vs CRAIG FINN the great lyricist, WIN TIX (to Art Brut & Hold Steady)"

DOWNLOAD: The Weakerthans - Plea From A Cat Named Virtue (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Hold Steady - Your Little Hoodrat Friend (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Hold Steady - live on KEXP (Oct 16, 2007) (MP3)

a coffee cup and some plastic daffodils (CRED)

I always stress how great the lyrics are when I introduce someone to the Weakerthans. The music might have to grow on you, but their words allow you to instantly follow along. So, this quote by Craig Finn of the Hold Steady was cool to read:

John Samson from the Weakerthans—he is the lyricist that I can say, without hesitation, is better than I am. But almost everyone else I think I'm in contention with. [Other favorites are] Blake Schwarzenbach from Jawbreaker/Jets to Brazil, obviously Dylan, Springsteen—that kind of thing. But John Samson is the best right now. [Craig to the Stranger] (via)

Not surpringly, it wasn't that hard to find a few pictures of Weakerthan lyric-inspired tattoos. That one above with the plastic daffodils is the best. Two more tattoo pics, and some videos for you to sing along with, below....

Continue reading "Craig Finn, John Samson's lyrics & Weakerthans tattoos"

the Hold Steady @ 7 WTC, NYC - Sep 17, 2007 (CRED)

The Downtown Music Series debuted to a packed plaza at the base of the brand new 7 World Trade Center last night. With the state of the art 7 WTC behind them, and the 6-year-old Pit on their right, The Hold Steady performed a tight one-hour set primarily consisting of material from Boys and Girls in America. [NYCTaper taped the show]

(CRED)

BIG rock show in Brooklyn's beautiful Prospect Park Thursday night, drawing hundreds (nearly 1000?) to the bandshell to Celebrate Brooklyn and watch three fine rock bands twirl their guitars, sing their songs and pump the kids full of beer and amplification. Good times all around.

'Twas a sit down fest for The Teenage Prayers and The Big Sleep (more a result of the summer relaxed evening fun), but a stand-up arena rock show (as the crowd swelled) for The Hold Steady. And rightfully so. [Waved Rumor]

Regina Spektor

Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O

more pictures below....

Continue reading "Photos from Lollapalooza 2007 - Day 2"

Craig Finn at Hi Fi. Photo: Lee Pelligrini

It has been brought to my attention that the free show at Barnes & Noble will actually just be frontman Craig Finn solo. It is one of B&N's Upstairs in the Square events, and will be hosted by NPR's Kathryn Lampher. For all members of The Hold Steady, check out the shows in Prospect Park, and by the World Trade Center.

Just today I posted about the free show The Hold Steady are playing at Prospect Park, and another one at a Barnes & Noble. Nick Lowe recently played a charity show at Housing Works. The Old 97's are playing two shows on a boat this week (July 27), and as previously posted - M. Ward is scheduled to play a show in NYC on September 18th. What do all these things have to do with each other? This is what:

Three extraordinary evenings, nine exciting artists and it's FREE at 7 World Trade Center Park, Greenwich and Vesey Streets.

9/17: The Hold Steady, Old 97’s & Illinois
9/18: M. Ward, Victoria Williams & McCarthy Trenching
9/19: Nick Lowe, Holmes Brothers & Ollabelle

Presented by Wall Street Rising and produced by Michael Dorf

Continue reading "Hold Steady, Old 97's, Nick Lowe & M Ward - free shows @ the World Trade Center, a boat & other TOUR DATES"

Hold Steady @ Shake It, Dec 9, 2006 (CRED)

'Harry Potter' favorite The Hold Steady have a big, free, headlining show coming up in Brooklyn's Prospect Park on August 9th. They also have Craig Finn also has a much smaller, free, NYC show coming up - inside a Harry Potter-selling Barnes & Noble on September 13th.

Want your (photobooth) picture to appear in the artwork for the next Hold Steady single? Details on how you can make that happen, HERE. All tour dates below....

Continue reading "The Hold Steady playing B&N & other 2007 Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: The Long Winters - Ultimatum (MP3)

The Long Winters' John Roderick blogged Bonnaroo this year.

In all fairness, I should probably recuse myself from reviewing the Decembrists. They are a band I know, we’ve toured together and I’ve appeared in one of their music videos. Also, Decembrist Chris Funk guested on the Long Winters’ most recent album. I can’t possibly review their show impartially, because I like them too much.

On the other hand, I’ve been in a “fake feud” with them for several years, involving some “smack talking” and pranking, which despite my best efforts has failed to catch fire mostly because they reciprocate too passively. (I think they’re holding out for a fake feud with Sufjan Stevens or something). So I can’t really be trusted not to call them a bunch of fruity, Vaudeville, pirate-song-singing sissies just to burn their britches a little.

But in this instance I’m acting as a professional journalist and I must honor my caste by reporting the news without adornment. They played their epic song, "The Tain," which was a bold choice, and their kitchy theatricality played exceptionally well with the big crowd.

At one point Colin led the audience in bidding the sun to set, and the effect was like a pagan ceremony — 15,000 people all motioning in unison toward the sun. In the end Mavis Staples joined them for a song, which was a little like... Like... Well, there is no better analogy for an unfathomable incongruity than: Like Mavis Staples jamming with the Decembrists. [John Roderick]

These fellows have a rabid popularity that leaves me deeply conflicted. Although their live show is undeniably full of energy, full of engagement, and full of whimsy, their music is full of s--t.

More Decemberists photos (by BV Bonnarooo correspodent Andrew Fischler) below....

Continue reading "Long Winters vs the Hold Steady & Decemberists @ Bonnaroo"