Johnny Marr w/ Andy Rourke @ MHOW 5/3/2013 (via @fabiomoretti)

Johnny Marr played the second of his two sold-out NYC shows last night (5/3). The setlist was the same as Irving Plaza, but there was one big difference: he brought out Smiths bassist (and lifelong friend and current Brooklyn resident) Andy Rourke out to play on "How Soon is Now?" That's about as close to a Smiths reunion as we're likely to get these days. Video of that is below.

Continue reading "former Smiths bassist Andy Rourke joined Johnny Marr for "How Soon is Now?" at MHOW last night (video)"

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

Johnny Marr @ Irving Plaza, 5/2/2013

Everyone obsesses over why the Smiths broke up. But can you tell me about one of your happiest memories in that band?
Tons of them! When we gate-crashed Glastonbury festival '84 or '85 -- I can't remember the year, but I remember the situation. Glastonbury was very different then, of course, but it was nevertheless an alternative festival. And we were outsiders. We'd had a couple of hits by then, but just kind of stood out on our own. I felt part of something new. It's easier to be alternative at the Grammys. But to be alternative in a field full of English snobs was quite a feat. There were many, many amazing times that filled me with pride like that.

And all of a sudden, your following became fanatic. And legion.
When we gained success, we had that thing going, like a lot of bands did, where people jump out in front of cars and pull you off the stage. They climbed on the outside of hotels to try to get into windows. Those kind of things. Used to go on quite a lot, really. That was kind of freaky, especially because I was so young.

And now you're going to be 50. How do you plan to celebrate your birthday?
Probably in a tour bus between Nottingham and Liverpool. [Laughs.] I'm not freaked out by getting to 50. I never really paid too much attention to those things. But it's also because I've been able to mark out periods of my life with records and bands and those kinds of things. That's always what I've wanted. I have to say that playing the Inception soundtrack with an orchestra at the Cannes Film Festival was probably a bigger kind of marking point in this period of my life. I'll remember that more than a day on the bus with some candles. As long as people [book] me decent gigs, that's all I'm about, man. - [Vulture]

Johnny Marr's solo tour hit NYC last night at Irving Plaza, the first of two sold-out shows here. The former Smiths guitarist, who has spent time in Electronic, The The, Modest Mouse and The Cribs as well, is supporting his not-too-shabby solo debut, The Messenger, but wasn't shy about recognizing his past either. Irving Plaza got five Smiths songs: "Bigmouth Strikes Again," "London," "Stop Me If You Think That You've Heard This One Before," "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out," and "How Soon is Now?," which was the final song of the evening. And he did a bang-up job, too, and seems to be having a blast playing them. To quote our photographer, who has shot Moz more than once, "he sings them so much better than Morrissey!!!" Marr also did a few Electronic songs (his collaboration with New Order's Bernard Sumner), including their discofied hit "Getting Away with It." Setlist below.

Johnny Marr and tourmates Alamar play NYC again tonight (5/3) at Music Hall of Williamsburg (sold out). Seeing how it's his second night here, maybe he'll switch up the Smiths songs. Toronto got "The Queen is Dead" instead of "London." More pictures and the setlist from Irving Plaza below...

Continue reading "Johnny Marr played Irving Plaza (pics, setlist)"

by Bill Pearis

Johnny Marr @ Coachella 2013 (more by Dana [distortion] Yavin)

Guitar legend Johnny Marr is currently in NYC for two sold-out tour stops -- tonight (5/2) at Irving Plaza and Friday (5/3) at Music Hall of Williamsburg -- and last night he stopped by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to perform live. On the show he performed the title track to his new solo album, The Messenger. But then for the online exlusive, he and his band pulled out The Smiths' classic "How Soon is Now?" (aka "the indie Stairway to Heaven"). Marr is one of my heroes, and I love the Smiths as much as any sane person does, but it's a little strange (but not really so) to see him sing Morrissey's lyrics. I didn't watch his Coachella performances and wasn't expecting him to do any Smiths songs at all. He does a pretty good job though, and it's a thrill to watch him play those riffs for sure.

In fact he's also been playing a lot of Smiths on this tour: "Bigmouth Strikes Again," "London," "Stop Me If You Think That You've Heard This One Before" and "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out," in addition to "Getting Away with It," "Get the Message" and "Forbidden City" which he wrote with Bernard Sumner for Electronic. So expect trips down Memory Lane if you're catching him live.

Meanwhile check out those Fallon videos below.

Continue reading "Johnny Marr is here, played "How Soon is Now?" on Fallon"

by Bill Pearis

As mentioned before, Johnny Marr's solo debut, The Messenger, is out February 26 and finds the guitarist pointing the spotlight on himself after years of taking a backseat in bands such as The Cribs, Modest Mouse, The The, and Electronic. (The Smiths were okay too.) Unlike his band The Healers from 10 years ago who made Oasis-style Britrock, the tracks released so far off The Messenger have some of the flair that made Marr one of the most influential guitarists of the last 30 years.

The new single off album is "Upstarts" and the video for that track just debuted and you can watch it below. For more on Johnny Marr, check out the February issue of MOJO which has him on the cover. A North American tour is in the works as well.

Johnny's old songwriting pal Morrissey just played his first-ever Brooklyn show.

"Upstarts" video is below as are two other tracks from The Messenger, plus album tracklisting.

Continue reading "Johnny Marr releases new video from upcoming solo LP"

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin; words by Bill Pearis

Morrissey at BAM, 1/11/2013

Morrissey made his first trip to Brooklyn on Friday night (1/11) for a show at BAM, the second of four shows the former Smiths frontman is doing in the NY area this month. Opening the show with new-ish song "Action is My Middle Name" (which he performed recently on Letterman) and a handful of different oldies ("How Soon is Now," "Please, Please, PLease," "November Spawned a Monster") swapped in, the setlist was different enough for Moz fans to justify going to see him again after he was just here in October. (Setlist is below.) Of course for some, the only justification needed is he's playing. And those are the people who try and get on stage and hug him.

Like the shows in October, Kristeen Young opened. Morrissey plays House of Blues in Alantic City tonight (1/12) and The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on January 19.

In other Smiths-related news, Morrissey former co-writer Johnny Marr is on the cover of the new issue of MOJO. The issue comes with a CD featuring many of Marr's colaborations over the last 25 years, including Sandy Shaw's somewhat rare version of"Hand in Glove" which she recorded with Marr and the rest of the instrument-playing Smiths in 1984. It's also got "The Right Thing Right," the opening track from Marr's upcoming solo album, The Messenger (out Feb. 26), and you can stream that below.

More pics and setlist from BAM and that Johnny Marr song stream are below.

Continue reading "Morrissey played BAM (pics, setlist); Johnny Marr on cover of new 'MOJO' (stream a track from his new LP)"

words by Phillip Pantuso, photos by Gretchen Robinette

J. Mascis / Frank Black

Throughout the 90s and the first half of the 2000s, Dinosaur Jr. was one of the last rock groups you would have expected to get the old band back together, go on tour, and record new music--not to mention new music that's every bit as good as anything the original lineup made in the 80s. When J Mascis unceremoniously kicked out Lou Barlow, his high school friend and longtime bandmate, in 1989, it seemed like a mercy killing of the original lineup, which had devolved into a psychodramatic mess, marred by lack of communication and irreconcilable personality difference between Mascis and Barlow. ("It makes me sick that I spent six or seven years putting my heart and soul into that band," Barlow told Cut zine in 1990. "They're sleazebag snob pigs like no one I have met in my entire life. J's always been an asshole.") Mascis and Murph, and then just Mascis, went on to record a string of major-label records throughout the 90s that, though inconsistent, contain some of Dinosaur Jr.'s best and most well-known songs.

When Mascis killed Dinosaur Jr. in 1997, it seemed inconceivable that, a decade later, Mascis, Barlow and Murph would reunite. Time heals all wounds, I guess. It's perhaps less surprising that the band would be able to ably reprise their sprawling, melodic, blitzkrieg guitar-rock sound. Three records in to the latter-day reign of Dinosaur Jr., the band sounds as good as they ever have.

On Saturday at Terminal 5, Dinosaur Jr. celebrated the 25th anniversary of the release of You're Living All Over Me, their second album and the one that made nonchalance cool, made the extended guitar solo cool (again), and wedded melodic tendencies with noise and feedback in a theretofore unheard of fashion in the indie rock underground. The band opened their set with "Thumb," from 1991's Green Mind, with Suzanne Thorp of Mercury Rev guesting on flute, before Mascis matter-of-factly announced that now they'd be playing You're Living All Over Me in full.

A sleepy-looking Lee Ranaldo came out to share vocals with J on "Little Fury Things." Guests, some announced ahead of time, would be a recurring theme throughout the night, but not until later. Dinosaur Jr. ripped through the songs on their best album as if it were 1987 all over again. "Sludgefeast" was a punishing onslaught of guitar and staccato, gunfire drums, with Mascis's high lonesome whine cutting through the gain and distortion. "Tarpit" set off joyous dancing, propelled by Barlow's chunky bass chords and a deafening roar from Mascis's Jazzmaster that threatened to draw blood from the ears.

Watching Barlow and Mascis play on stage, it's not hard to extrapolate the personality differences that created their rift. Barlow, with his black Rickenbacker slung low, literally bounces from one foot to the other when playing, the joy at doing just this very thing--playing to an audience--so evident. He smiles, he cracks jokes, he acts as if he's living through the music. Mascis, on the other hand, with his laconic, slowhands style and deadpan announcements ("All right. Thanks a lot. That was side one."), plays as if the music lives through him. He's the hermetic savant tuned in to a frequency no one else can hear.

Barlow brought out a ukulele for "Poledo," the "awkward end to the amazing record," in his words. The cavernous space of Terminal 5 made the strident desolation of the song even more acute.

The second half of the show is the stuff legendary bootlegs are made of. A succession of guests filed onstage to help Dinosaur Jr. play their songs, or to transform them into other bands entirely. The first was Frank Black, who sang and played guitar on "Almost Fare," from this year's I Bet On Sky. Next, the band plus Black covered one of Black's songs--"Tame," from The Pixies' Doolittle. Black roared the chorus, tossed a painting into the first rows of the crowd, and exited. Kurt Vile, whose band opened the show, and Al Cisneros from Sleep were next. Cisneros took over bass duties from Barlow for a couple of songs, including the doom metal glazer "Alone" from 1997's Hand It Over. Harvey Milk's Kyle Spence took the drums for that one.

Smiths and Modest Mouse guitarist Johnny Marr and Broken Social Scene guru Kevin Drew emerged to play "The Wagon" with J, Lou and Murph. Then they covered Smiths track "The Boy With the Thorn In His Side," the words to which J was, uh, a little unsure of. Melvins drummer Dale Crover relieved Murph behind the kit for a skin-searing rendition of "Training Ground," a song by Mascis and Barlow's pre-Dinosaur hardcore band, Deep Wound. Don Fleming of Gumball and Dante Ferrando of Iron Cross helped the band cover "Crucified," and Kim Gordon gave a tempestuous performance on "Don't", Barlow's song from Bug that directly addresses the fractured relationship between him and Mascis. Gordon screamed, bellowed and cooed the song's one lyric ("Why don't you like me?") over and over again, dropping to her knees and falling to the stage like she was having an exorcism. It was intense. If Sonic Youth is over, she should start a hardcore band.

The encore began with a cover of the Stooges classic, "T.V. Eye," with Tommy Stinson on bass and Fred Armisen (whose show, Portlandia, will feature an appearance from J Mascis in its upcoming third season) on drums. Dinosaur Jr. closed with two classics: "Start Choppin" and "Freak Scene," the song that invented the slacker generation. It was a poignant, circle-closing moment. "Because when I need a friend," J sang, "it's still you," we all responded. The night was an amazing tribute to a great band, 25 years removed from their (so-far) signature achievement and, improbably, still going strong.

More pictures, some videos, and the setlist from the show (which also counted John Petkovic of Death of Samantha as a guest), below...

Continue reading "Dinosaur Jr. and many guests celebrated 'You're Living All Over Me' at Terminal 5 (pics, videos, setlist)"

by Dave Hill

Dave Hill (or Oscar Wilde) asks a question, Radio City Music Hall 10/10/2012

We already ran photos of Morrissey's Radio City Music Hall appearance on Wednesday (10/10) and you can see more of Chris La Putt shots here. But we asked Moz superfan Dave Hill (who has hosted Smiths Speed Dating before) to review the show for us and his fully-clothed report follows...

Wednesday night I saw Morrissey at Radio City Music Hall here in New York City. A lot of people think they like and/or "get" Morrissey as much as I do but they are wrong. This was my (insert number of times you or anyone you know has ever seen Morrissey and then add at least one)-th time seeing Morrissey live and I was pretty excited about it because every time I see him he ends up singing all of the songs directly to me no matter where I'm sitting. Somehow he just knows.

Kristeen Young, one of Morrissey's favorites, opened the show but I missed her because they took forever getting my order right at Burger Heaven around the corner so I was a little late. When I got to Radio City and showed the usher my ticket he was like "Wow- this the best seat!"

"Thanks," I said. "I know."

Then the usher pushed a bunch of people out of the way, throwing some of them to the ground even, and showed me to my seat which was basically on stage with the band. As soon as I got settled, Morrissey and his band walked out, which was awesome. Morrissey's band all wore matching T-shirts that said "killjoy" on them, which was crazy and confusing but whatever. Everyone in his band has short hair and look like they do crunches a lot except for the guitarist Boz Boorer, who looks like he does whatever the opposite of crunches are but he is so awesome it's like fuck it.

Once everyone had their instruments on, the entire band including Morrissey seemed to look at me briefly as if to ask "Should we start?" Of course, I was like "Fuck yeah!" so they launched into "Last Night I Dreamt Somebody Loved Me" by The Smiths, Morrissey's old band who are basically the best ever, even better than Def Leppard. Also, Morrissey had on a sort of light teal shirt, which looked great and really complimented the cool outfit I was wearing.

Morrissey in Shirt #1 @ Radio City Music Hall

After Morrissey finished singing the first song, a big picture of me with a word bubble asking "Who Is Morrissey?" was projected on the big screen behind the band. It was a nice touch, but totally unnecessary. I was just happy to be there so that was totally above and beyond.

The rest of Morrissey's set list consisted of about 1/3 Smiths songs, a bunch of his solo songs, and a sweet Frankie Valli cover. Given the fact that between the Smiths and his solo material Morrissey has about a bazillion hits, there were times when I was thinking "Hey, Morrissey, maybe you should play more of those songs, you know, mine and everyone else's favorites (though mostly mine)" but I realize that this is my own problem and not Morrissey's and I'm sorry for even bringing it up.

During the song "Meat is Murder" (by the Smiths, duh), they played scenes from the meat-based documentary Meet Your Meat. I saw Motley Crue a couple years ago in Columbus, Ohio and they had a bunch of video projections going too, but this stuff was really, really different from that. It featured a bunch of cows and chickens and stuff being tortured and it was really upsetting and would not have worked with "Girls, Girls, Girls" or really any Motley Crue song I can think of right now. At one point, they even showed a bull getting his nuts cut off. Fuck. I have no idea what they were selling at the Radio City concession stands, but I can't help but think sales must have really taken a hit after that song. Also, it should be noted that the original "Meet Your Meat" documentary is narrated by Alec Baldwin even though everyone knows that guy loves chicken wings so much it's actually kind of weird.

Morrissey wore a total of four different awesome shirts over the course of the night. Toward the end of the show, he ripped off the third shirt of the night. Even as I type this, I still can't decide which one of us works out more, but it was still great. After he put on his fourth shirt of the night, Morrissey and his band came back on stage and played one encore, "Still Ill", one of my favorite songs by the Smiths (mentioned earlier) and then I levitated over the entire audience and went home in a cab that the driver didn't even end up charging me for. I kind of wish Morrissey would have played like nine more songs but, again, this is my own hangup mostly.

Speaking of the Smiths, there are a lot of rumors flying around that they are reuniting next year. I would like to confirm that these rumors are, in fact, true. However, the Smiths will be reuniting for one show only, which will take place in my apartment and will be attended by just me and maybe like six of my friends. Sorry.

---

Morrissey plays tonight (10/12) and Saturday (10/13) at Terminal 5. Both shows are sold out. Check out more pictures and the setlist from Radio City.

And pick up a copy of Dave Hill's book Tasteful Nudes now!

Morrissey on 'Fallon'

Morrissey, as we mentioned he would, played Fallon last night (10/4), one night before his tour begins (tonight) in Boston. He covered Frankie Valli's "To Give (The Reason I Live)" as well as "You Have Killed Me" from 2006's Ringleader of the Tormentors. You can watch the videos below.

Was also recently mentioned that Morrissey claims Coachella will go vegetarian for a Smiths reunion. We however didn't mention the latest rumor  -- claiming that the Smiths actually were reuniting in 2013  --  which was, naturally, quickly denied by Morrissey's rep, but not before the Internet was full of new articles.

Morrissey plays three NYC shows next week: Radio City Music Hall on October 10 plus Terminal 5 on 10/11 and 10/12 all of which are sold-out but we're giving away a pair of tickets to Radio City.

Fallon videos are below...

Continue reading "Morrissey played 'Fallon' (video), begins tour this week"

In an interview with Herald Sun (via FACT), Morrissey claims that Coachella offered to go "100% vegetarian" if he would reunite with Johnny Marr and headline the festival as The Smiths:

At Coachella a few years you complained about the waft of burning flesh from a nearby barbeque. Has that been a problem since at outdoor shows?

Not at all, and interestingly the agents for Coachella offered a 100-per-cent vegetarian event for the following year if I would agree to headline with Johnny Marr as the Smiths. Fascinatingly they made it clear that they would 'not require' the Smiths' bass player or drummer ... which I thought certainly said something.

The Moz always has to get in a little barb at Smiths rhythm section Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke, doesn't he? For more on the Smiths, you can pick up the October issue of MOJO which details the band's formation. And of course Morrissey will be in NYC next week for three sold out shows on his upcoming tour.

words & photos by Tim Griffin

Morrissey @ Bass Concert Hall

After a bumpy start (visa issues caused the the 11/10 Chicago show to be postponed), Morrissey began his North American tour in San Antonio, TX on Monday, and played the Bass Concert Hall in Austin the following night, last night, 11/15. He performed a mix of songs from The Smiths, as well as many from his solo career, to a full house at the Austin show. You can take a peak at the full setlist at the bottom of this post.

Kristeen Young, who has made amends with Morrissey since their previous tour which didn't go so well, opened the show with a short set.

Morrissey (with a bandaged right index finger due to his unfortunate encounter with a dog) opened with The Smiths' "I Want the One I Can't Have", setting the tone for the night. 26 years have passed since since its original release (1985), but it didn't show as Moz flexed his vocal prowess and delivered flawlessly.

His band (the bass drum was labeled 'ART HOUNDS') all wore matching Money t-shirts, and is the same lineup we've seen on previous tours: Boz Boorer, Solomon Walker, Matt Walker, Jesse Tobias, and Gustavo Manzur. Both Tobias and Manzur are from Austin.

Highlights included the between-song banter, as well as the alternative lyrics for Meat Is Murder: "Kill. Eat. Murder." After "I Know It's Over", a short break brought Morrissey back on stage with the band (and a changed shirt) for the finale, "Still Ill". The shirt was then thrown into the crowd, devoured, and never seen again.

Here are some Morrissey quotes from the show:

"I heard somebody laughing. It was me."
"To look at me you wouldn't really think it, but I'm much younger than that. You wouldn't really think it but action is my middle name."
"You may be very surprised to hear I have long horns of my own."
"I am one for whom there is no name."
"Do you have any comments? Well wait til you're asked!"
"Are you ready for a new president? Are you? I think most people in the hall are not ready for a new president. This is because the options are so bloody awful. Maybe the age of the president its dead."
"For God's sake whatever happens: Keep Austin Weird."

The tour continues on 11/17 in Dallas. All tour dates, the full setlist, and more picture from the Austin show, below...

Continue reading "Morrissey now on tour, played Austin's Bass Concert Hall (pics, setlist & updated dates)"

photos by Tim Griffin

Morrissey, the wry British icon of modern rock, tipped his hat to New Jersey by warbling the chorus of Bruce Springsteen's current single as he walked on stage at the Wellmont Theatre in Montclair Monday night [3/16].

"I'm workin' on a dream," Morrissey crooned, with just the right combination of mockery and respect.

To hear Springsteen's optimistic line emanate from Morrissey, who tends more toward the Oscar Wilde/Joe Orton school of narrative, was flat-out funny. The brevity of the parody made it that much more effective.-[from Asbury Park Press]

And NY Times said...

Morrissey's physical language was mostly refined and small and practical: a raised hand for emphasis, some delicate cross-stepping five feet to the right or left. Twice he took off his well-fitting dress shirts, and both times he threw the shirt to the audience: an impressive expense for Montclair, on the 11th night of a 78-show tour. He was telling us that he sympathizes with anyone flighty enough to worship a pop star. He was also telling us, perhaps, that he has calculated his own worth.-[NYTimes]

Morrissey's tour continues with the first NYC show happening this Saturday (3/21) at the very small (for Morrissey) Bowery Ballroom, followed by Webster Hall on Wednesday, and then Carnegie Hall the next night. Red Cortez opened the Wellmont show. The Courteeners will be opening all three NYC shows.

More NJ Morrissey pictures below...

Continue reading "Morrissey @ Wellmont Theater in NJ - pics & setlist"

NYC-area Morrissey tickets are going on sale Friday. Bowery Ballroom (21+), Webster Hall (18+), and Wellmont Theatre (all ages) go on sale at noon 11:00. Carnegie Hall's sale also starts at 11am (also all ages). All four shows are presented by The Bowery Presents. Ticket prices are above. All dates are HERE.

Continue reading "Morrissey tickets on sale Friday: Bowery Ballroom & Webster Hall ($75), Wellmont Theater ($45/55), Carnegie Hall ($75)"

Umbrella Head (by Neil101)

Tickets are on sale for a March 26th show at BB King's called "Morrissey Afterparty-The Sons & Heirs-Tribute To Morrissey +The Smiths". March 26th is the day Morrissey is supposed to play Carnegie Hall which is the day after he's supposed to play Webster Hall which is four days after he's supposed to play Bowery Ballroom. All dates HERE.

Morrissey will release "Years of Refusal" in the US February 17, 2009 on Attack/Lost Highway. "Years of Refusal" will be Morrissey's first studio album since 2006's UK #1 "Ringleader of the Tormentors". In February, Morrissey will begin the US leg of his world tour that includes rare intimate club dates. ...

...Fans can pre-order "Years of Refusal" and get the opportunity to buy tickets through Ticketmaster 24 hours before they go on sale to the general public. On sale for select dates begins this Friday December 19.

As previously posted, Morrissey is playing Carnegie Hall on March 26th, but that's just one of THREE NYC shows. All dates below...

Continue reading "Morrissey - 2009 Tour Dates (BOWERY BALLROOM! WEBSTER HALL! CARNEGIE HALL! OTHER PLACES!)"

Krallice in Brooklyn (more by Leia Jospe)

Ryan Adams' Top 9 Albums of 2008

Testament, The Formation of Damnation (Nuclear Blast Americ)
Krallice, Krallice (Profound Lore)
The Killers, Day and Age (Island Records)
The Smiths, The Very Best of The Smiths (Rhino)
Metallica, Death Magnetic (Warner Bros.)
Mariah Carey, E=MC 2 (Island)
Coldplay, Viva La Vida (Capitol)
Fleet Foxes, Sun Giant EP (Sub Pop)
Ihsahn, Angl (Candlelight)

That list via Filter. Ryan Adams' next NYC show is at MSG with Oasis on December 17th. All dates below...

Continue reading "Ryan Adams - 2009 Tour Dates, top 9 Albums of 2008"

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Chris La Putt & Zach Dilgard

RS by Chris La Putt

RS by Zach Dilgard

After running up and down the stairs of the Knitting Factory to run an errand for the band, I ran backstage and caught a huddled Rival Schools preparing for their set. Whispering back and forth for a moment, the four of them ran up the stairs and hit the stage.... to be greeted by cheers & applause. Definitely a moment that I won't soon forget. I quickly headed upstairs to the balcony in time to catch the band tear into the day's, and United By Fate's, opener "Travel By Telephone". Over the next half hour or so, Rival Schools graced the BrooklynVegan day (now night.. we were a little behind) show with the first six tracks of United By Fate (closing with "Used For Glue") (video below), a cover of The Smiths' "How Soon Is Now?" (made famous during Walter Schreifels' stint in Quicksand), as well as revealing a few new arrows in their quiver ("Big Waves"). All in all, it was what you would expect to see from a Rival Schools show... the Schreifels pogo, Sammy Siegler bouncing up and down on his stool like it was spring-loaded, well-executed start-stop dynamics, and a good-time-by-all.

My only complaint was the mix... I was able to catch the band at Rebel a few days prior (with Trail of Dead and Margot & The Nuclear So & So's), and what I enjoyed the most about that set was how well it highlighted Ian Love's effects-heavy guitar flourishes, something that was lost in the outward mix at the Knitting Factory.

As Walter kindly pointed out on stage, you can check an interview with the band right HERE (part one anyway). Try and catch them in Novemeber at Mercury Lounge and Maxwell's if you can, but if not (both shows are sold out), Walter promised they'd be back much more including with a new album. More pictures, including one of the setlist, and a video from Knitting Factory below...

Continue reading "Rival Schools @ Knitting Factory (BV CMJ) -pics/setlist/video"

Johnny Marr as a Modest Mouse member (more by Ryan Muir)

The Cribs - complete with Johnny Marr as part of their line-up - have revealed that they plan to release a new single this year during an exclusive video interview with NME.COM. The band had already revealed that they will record a full album in early 2009, but made the single revelation while speaking to NME.COM at the Leeds Festival on Friday (August 22).

"We don't know when it's going to happen, but we'll try and do that [release a single before the year ends]," said Marr.

The Cribs were scheduled to kick off a U.S. tour at Irving Plaza in NYC tonight (Sept 5), but it looks like all those shows were cancelled (again).

(most) photos by Eric M. Townsend

Stipe, Buck, Mills, and their two amigos came out whaling and they never let up. Playing only a couple of ballads, and everything being short and sweet, R.E.M. made the case for arena rock to live on just a little bit longer. The hypnotic goings on behind the band - a series of screens that relayed the scene on stage as if it was an already edited and produced performance video - were not only beyond impressive, they were actually distracting. At one point, it was even safe to wonder if the show would have been half as interesting without it. But the ferocity of "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" and "Bad Day" easily silenced that. Other highlights included the Mike Mills-led "Don't Go Back to Rockville", the Johnny Marr-joined "Fall on Me", "Losing My Religion", "Supernatural Superserious", "The One I Love", and "Man on the Moon". Michael Stipe did something I never thought he did...ever: He smiled and laughed a lot. In his dapper striped suit, the ever chatty, chrome domed Stipe had his usual political things to say but had even more to say in the field of being friendly, open, and inviting. Like the band's music.
[Sonic Parthenon]

More pictures from last night's show at MSG (June 19, 2008), below....

Continue reading "R.E.M. @ Madison Square Garden, NYC - pics & setlist"

I'm running a little behind again today...

Bigmouth has struck again and, heaven knows, he’s miserable now.

Morrissey is suing the NME and its editor for defamation after the music magazine quoted him on its cover this week as saying: “The Gates of England are flooded. The country’s been thrown away.”

The magazine lambasts the former Smiths frontman for taking a “naive and inflammatory” stance on immigration by employing language that “dangerously echoes” the British National Party’s current manifesto.

Morrissey’s reported comments come 15 years after the NME accused him of experimenting with racist imagery in some of his solo songs and by draping himself in a Union Jack at a gig in Finsbury Park, North London. The singer, 48, says that his words have been taken out of context and now, after one of the most intense relationships in British music, Morrissey and the NME could be heading for the High Court. [TimesOnline]

Morrissey played his third of five NYC show at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC last night (Oct 26, 2007). Photographer Eric M. Townsend was on hand. More photos by Eric, and the setlist, below....

Continue reading "photos from Morrissey in NYC (night 3)"

Morrissey @ HB, NYC - Oct 23, 2007 (CRED)

Andy Rourke of the Smiths is playing with an English band called Polytechnic at Mercury Lounge in NYC on November 16th. Morrissey of the Smiths played his second of five shows at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC last night (Oct 23, 2007). Set List below..

Continue reading "Morrissey played again, Andy Rourke NOT playing Merc"

DOWNLOAD: Morrissey - I Like You (MP3)

Morrissey @ Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC - Oct 22, 2007 (CRED)

Morrissey began his 5-night stand at Hammerstein Ballroom on Monday night with an energetic and powerful performance. Clearly understanding the disappointment at his cancellation of the June concert, Morrissey said “our little donkey finally made it to New York City, thanks for your patience, thanks for waiting” after the third number. He proceeded to deliver a set tight with recent numbers and weighed heavy on the back end with Smiths favorites, including the rare “Death of a Disco Dancer” from Strangeways. [NYCTaper taped it]

Set list and more below....

Continue reading "Morrsissey @ Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC (night 1)"

* Andy Rourke of the Smiths will be @ Pianos on May 3rd (tix)
* Johnny Marr will be will be in Philly that night
* Morrissey will be on the West Coast
* Andy Rourke raises $$ to fight cancer
* Johnny Marr writes Crowded House track
* Morrissey snubs Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame
* Morrissey tickets on sale Monday