by Bill Pearis

Holiday Shores @ Pianos in 2009 (more by Tim Griffin)

For a while it didn't look like Saturday's (4/24) Bruar Falls First Anniversary show was going to be much of a party. The 1990s are stuck in the UK thanks to that pesky volcano, and German Measles canceled due to a death in the family.

To say they've recovered is a bit of an understatement. Check out the new line-up: Holiday Shores, Micachu & the Shapes, Beach Fossils, plus house band Moonmen on the Moon, Man. There's also DJs Peggy Wang (of Pains at Being Pure at Heart) and Shirley Braha (of NY Noise), plus balloons and a 1AM open bar. It should be mentioned that the show is FREE.

Holiday Shores will be running over to Bruar following their opening set at the Morning Benders show Brooklyn Vegan is presenting at Music Hall of Williamsburg (we added them a while ago, but didn't rush to announce it because the show was already sold out), that now also includes our Montreal friends The Luyas (who we added yesterday!). Meanwhile Micachu have been stuck in the U.S. also thanks to the volcano, and have been playing around NYC to keep themselves busy. Maybe you saw them last night at Mercury Lounge. And Beach Fossils are one of the areas best new bands, and put on a fun live show -- they were great last Friday at Bruar Falls, even with a substitute drummer.

Bruar Falls has become one of my favorite places to see a show (living two blocks from it doesn't hurt) and there's always a nice community vibe there. It's been a great addition to the Williamsburg music scene. Between the bands, the free booze, the balloons and the very affordable entrance fee, this should be a hot ticket even on a very busy Saturday night. You might want to get there early.

Speaking of Saturday, The Music Hall Show on Saturday with Morning Benders, Holiday Shores and The Luyas is sold out, but if you really want to go we're giving away a pair of tickets. Just send an email to BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM with "Morning Benders" as the subject. We'll pick a winner at random and be in touch with the lucky person tomorrow.

In other news, the 1990s show at The Bell House that was supposed to be tonight has been rescheduled for next Friday, April 30 (the whole show, not just the 1990s). Crystal Stilts, The Oranges Band (who just opened for the Hold Steady at Music Hall) and The Forgery Series (featuring Sohrab of Obits) will open. No word on whether the 1990s will play a makeup date for Bruar as well, but we'll keep you informed.

Check out a Holiday Shores video below...

Continue reading "Holiday Shores play 2 NYC shows Saturday (1 w/ Micachu @ Bruar Falls) ++ 1990s & Crystal Stilts reschedule & stuff"

words by Andrew Frisicano, photos by Jessica Amaya

"About to see the hold mother fucking steady at music hall of wburg. I've been drinking all day in preparation." - David Chaitt

The Hold Steady hosted a pair of NYC shows on Saturday (4/17) to celebrate their new album, Heaven Is Whenever, out May 4th, and its limited Record Store Day release earlier that day (miraculously, the album remained unleaked up to that point, so those that braved the line for one of their store's 5 or so copies were the first to hear it). Now it's legally streaming in full online.

The shows were also a chance to show off the band's new touring members - guitarist Steve Selvidge (ex-Lucero) and keyboardist Dan Neustadt (ex-The World/Inferno Friendship Society) - who replaced key player/accordionist Franz Nicolay, and who'd been with the group for less than two weeks.

The late crowd at Music Hall of Williamsburg (the earlier show was at Bowery Ballroom) were part enthused revelers, part intent observers. Those up front were going wild.The set mixed old and new - "Massive Nights," "Stevie Nix," and late-in-the-set "Stay Positive" came off riotously, while the newer, more neat and polished songs like "The Weekenders" and "Rock Problems" were more subdued (time will tell how those play live post-release).

The band seemed sober and focused, a good or bad thing depending on your perspective. Craig Finn raised a sole bottle of beer to end the night, "I think I've earned this." (Compare to the two NYC shows by LCD Soundsystem a week prior, with frontman James Murphy demoing his new album blissfully shitfaced.) With the new album, the Hold Steady have clearly done some growing up. Appropriately, their next show set for New York will be at the regal, seated Beacon Theatre on October 7th.

NYC Taper has a recording of the Bowery show. More pictures from Music Hall of Williamsbug and both setlists below...

Continue reading "The Hold Steady played 2 NYC shows in 1 night (pics, setlist), new album streaming online"

The Hold Steady have updated their tour schedule, which already included a NYC show at the Beacon Theatre on October 7th, with two more NYC gigs on Saturday, April 17th. That night they play an early show at Bowery Ballroom with J-Roddy Walston And The Business, and a late show at Music Hall of Williamsburg with The Oranges Band. Two shows. One night.

Early show tickets and late show tix go on "Internet Presale" today (2/12) at 4pm. The presale is for people that bought tickets to Beacon, but it seems reasonable to believe that it might just be a password that anyone can enter. General sale starts Wednesday (4/14) at 10am.

Speaking of the Beacon show, tickets are also still on sale.

The new record, Heaven Is Whenever, comes out May 4th. Tracks from it (including the newly leaked "Barely Breathing") are below...

Continue reading "The Hold Steady add 2 NYC shows happening the same night (presale today), leak more new songs "