words by BBG, photos by Paul Birman

Toby Driver kicked off the first Saturday (2/6) of his month as curator at The Stone by inviting his own band, Kayo Dot, to play a pair of sets, both full album shows. The 8PM sett featured Choirs Of The Eye while the later show was their new baby, Coyote. Greg Massi (Baliset) was part of the band and reports:

I am choosing to talk about this because it had a profound effect on me. It was inpsiring to say the least. I got to hear the new KD album in full performed live and during the performance I had visions of creativity and sparks flying into my brain to help me write for the next Baliset album.

And it also was weird because i felt alot like Captain Jack Harkness at the end of Doctor Who season 3. You are teased into believing that he might rejoin the Doctor for adventures but in the end he tells the Doctor that he has his own team now and they need him and that summed up my feelings on Baliset. They are my team now and I feel more comfortable musically with them than anyone else I have ever played with and while it was fun living the fantasy life of being in Kayo Dot complete with a sold out crowd and exhuberant fans shaking your hand and making you feel larger than life, I missed my team.

I am happy with the success we have built for ourselves and if i took one thing away from this whole experience, it is that it gave me a focus point in my head for the next album.

But Toby and the rest of KD know they can call on me for help at any time and as a friend I will help them with whatever they need but as I return to my life of anonymity once again, I do get excited for working on where Baliset my new team is going.

The Thrones date at The Stone happens one day after a newly announced show with Thrones and Carla Bozulich at Ash's Place (on 2/18 at N4th and Wythe).

More pics from the The Stone are below...

Continue reading "Kayo Dot performed 2 albums @ The Stone (pics) "

by BBG

* Toby Driver photo by Gemma Fleming

Toby Driver is an "other". Not like Benjamin Linus or one of the Dharma Initiative, but in that his artistic endeavors Kayo Dot and Maudlin of The Well exist in the in-between, and outside. Driver's current project, Kayo Dot, is prepping to release their fourth album Coyote via Hydra Head on April 6th. On Coyote, elements of goth, avant-jazz, prog, ambient, and the kitchen sink meld with the avant-garde, making for an intensely fascinating and eclectic listen.

Driver was recently asked to curate the month of February at The Stone, John Zorn's non-profit club in the East Village. We sat down to ask Driver about some of the bands he chose which include solo sets from members of Krallice, Dysrhythmia, Extra Life, and Bloody Panda in addition to Baby Dee, Oxbow, Gnaw, and a full performance by his own band doing Coyote from start to finish, and the recent resurrection of Maudlin of The Well.

Full interview and Stone schedule, below....

Continue reading "Toby Driver curated Feb @ The Stone - interview & schedule"

by Andrew Frisicano

Andrew W.K. w/ Fucked Up in Brooklyn on November 5th (more by Jake Forney)

One of the best kept secrets in the entertainment industry, Jonté is known to the stars as a virtuoso choreographer, able to bring out the beast in his clientelle, which includes Beyonce Knowles among others. As a solo act, he brings it on all fronts, executing the freshest moves while spitting the fiercest vocal heard. His unique urban fem style is shattering culture barriers and leaving liberation in its wake. - Santos website

As previously mentioned, Andrew W.K. has quite a bit going on in the coming months. He appears at Joe's Pub on February 11th as part of Gonzales' residency there. He'll be answering your questions at Santos on February 23rd (the same day he releases a new album), and he'll be on Warped Tour this summer.

Andrew W.K. produced a new album for performance artist/cabaret singer/songwriter Baby Dee, though not her next upcoming record A Book of Songs for Anne Marie, which comes out March 23rd on Drag City (pushed back from its original January release date). An album and book with the same name was released by Dee in 2004, but Dee points out "this is a new version of the album, now produced and arranged by Maxim Moston from Antony and the Johnsons." The album Andrew worked on does not yet have a name or release date. He has also played as part of Baby Dee's band in the past,

On February 4th Andrew will be part of "We Sing Baby Dee! #3," a night at Joe's Pub organized by composer Sxip Shirey and dedicated to "Interpretations of the songs of Baby Dee." Also performing will be Corn Mo, Little Annie and Paul Wallfisch, Curtis Eller, Aimee Curl, Lance Horne, Mathew and Sarah, Philip Raia and Lila, "a special guest appearance by 9 year old singer Frankky Lou Hightower from Kansas City" and Baby Dee herself. Tickets are on sale.

Baby Dee will also be performing at The Stone the next night (2/5) with cellist Matthew Robinson. Baby Dee will be touring extensively this February and March in Europe and April and May in North America.

All tour dates, contest info and videos are below...

Continue reading "Baby Dee playing shows, touring, releasing album --- collaborator Andrew WK playing too (win tix & champagne)"

by Andrew Frisicano

William Parker Quartet

New York Guitar Festival, with shows between January 8th and February 4th, has already been mentioned here in a few different contexts. The "Silent Film/Live Guitars" portion is certainly a big highlight, with one-off performances by Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and Steve Kimock, David Bromberg and Marc Ribot, Alex de Grassi and James Blackshaw, and the fest closers Chicha Libre and Gyan Riley. Tickets are still available for all but the Vernon/Kimock show.

There's more on the schedule too. World Financial Center Winter Garden hosts a free opening show on Friday, January 8th with Hindustani slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya. There are also theme nights, with Barbes holding Django [Reinhardt] A Go Go (1/24) and 92nd Street Y hosting a Bach Guitar Marathon (1/31).

And LPR has two shows for the fest as well - a night headlined by James Blackshaw (with Max Ochs, Ben Hall, and Nick Jonah Davis too) on January 26th (tickets) and a previously mentioned show with the stellar pairing of Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog and Skeleton$ (possibly in Big Band form). A video of the Skeletons Big band from their December show at the Stone is below. Tickets for Marc Ribot/Skeletons show are on sale.

(Le) Poisson Rouge is also one of the main spots for the NYC Winter Jazz Festival this Friday and Saturday, when it hosts Jenny Scheinman & Jason Moran, Vijay Iyer Trio, Darcy James Argue's Secret Society and others. Other Village venues are well-stocked with talent too (and getting better - Saturday's Sullivan Hall lineup just added William Parker Quartet). Tickets to day one and two (or a two-day pass to both) are still on sale.

Iyer is also at the Stone this weekend, on Sunday (1/10), as is Tyshawn Sorey, who plays there Friday (1/8) (and plays the Winter Jazz Fest on Saturday).

While on the topic of Iyer, a few other excellent, top-of-their-game, consistently original pianists have shows in the same week (could be called the 'inadvertent piano fest'). McCoy Tyner Trio with special guest Gary Bartz are at Highline Ballroom on Friday, January 8th on a latin-tinged bill with Francisco Mela's Cuban Safari, Jon Batiste Band and Alfredo Rodriguez. Tickets are still on sale.

Ethan Iverson of the Bad Plus has a show at LPR, where he'll open with a solo "cocktail" piano set, with The Respect Sextet on Tuesday, January 12th. Tickets are on sale.

Pianist Brad Mehldau, whose new Jon Brion-produced album is due February 23rd, plays two solo sets at Highline Ballroom on January 14th, as a benefit for JazzReach. Tickets are on sale.

The full schedule for the NY Guitar Fest and videos are below...

Continue reading "NY Guitar Fest, Winter Jazz Fest & a bunch of great piano shows kick off Friday - updated schedules, venues & dates"

by Andrew Frisicano

"Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Marc Ribot (but were afraid to ask)" is the first of the Stone's new Monday night seminar series and, as previously mentioned, it happens tonight (1/4). The first 13 of those events, which the venue describes as "a special series of workshops, lectures, seminars and Q&As on a variety of fascinating subjects by some of the world's most unique, cutting edge musical thinkers," are laid out below and cover a huge spectrum of musicians and topics.

Ribot will be performing as part of the NY Guitar Festival on January 14th (doing a live improvised score to Charlie Chaplin's "The Kid") and playing with his stellar group Ceramic Dog on February 2nd at (Le) Poisson Rouge (with Skeletons, who played NYE and New Year's Day shows at Zebulon, opening). Tickets for the LPR show, which is also part of the NY Guitar Fest (more on that later), are on sale.

Another interesting, very different Q&A event is also coming up. On February 23rd, Santos Party House will host "Ask Andrew W.K. Anything: An intimate evening of unpredictable performance." Presumably the event is being held to further address the internet rumor that Andrew W.K. is an actor who plays the part of Andrew WK. Tickets are on sale. In other news, he's re-releasing his formerly-import-only-record Close Calls With Brick Walls with a new "lost" disc Mother of Mankind on February 23rd, and he's on this year's Warped Tour.

More info on the Andrew W.K. event and the Stone's seminar series are below...

Continue reading "Marc Ribot & Andrew W.K. answer your questions and other upcoming events (The Stone, Santos, LPR & more)"

by Andrew Frisicano

DM Stith plays The Stone on X-Mas...
pictured @ 92YTribeca in October (more by Vincent Cornelli)

The Stone has a great lineup of innovative pop-based acts scheduled for this December. Curators Sam Kulik (multi-instrumentalist who plays trombone in Nervous Cabaret) and David Garland (singer & songwriter and host of WNYC's "Spinning On Air" and "Evening Music") are the month's guest curators at the space.

Let's get into some highlights.

Skeletons Big Band and Capillary Action bring their new large-ensemble compositions (which Skeletons have been playing out since September) to the venue on Sunday, December 6th.

Danielson will somehow pack his "family group" into the venue for a night of music on December 22nd. They just put out a new 7" single on his Sounds Familyre label. The video for its lead track "Moment Soakers" is below. Later that night, you can also see M6, a six-person vocal ensemble that performs the work of innovative composer Meredith Monk.

Sisters Ruth and Merrill Garbus (the latter of which heads tUnE-yArDs) will split an evening on December 23rd.

Diane Cluck is there on December 16th.
Larkin Grimm plays after David Garland on the 17th.

Rob Moose plays violin and other instruments with Antony and the Johnsons, My Brightest Diamond, Sufjan Stevens and others. He plays his first-ever solo show at the venue on December 18th.

Currituck County aka Kevin Barker is the late show on the 19th, and the one and only Dave Deporis will be there on the 27th.

And for those with an open Christmas Day, the venue presents an 8pm set from Asthmatic Kitty-signed songwriter DM Stith and a 10pm set that promises to be entertaining: David Garland (piano, clarinet), son Kenji Garland (some-input mixer) and guests present "Processing Xmas" which will features "Familiar seasonal songs processed and emancipated; family improvs; audience sing-alongs; a warm get-together on a winter night."

On December 29th Extra Life, typically a brooding, dark prog ensemble, will play as a duo, with frontman and guitarist Charlie Looker accompanied by the group's violinist Caley Monahon-Ward.

Then the month and year end with "JOHN ZORN'S ANNUAL END OF THE YEAR IMPROV" on Dec. 30th, and a TBA New Year's Eve event.

The Stone's full December schedule is below...

Continue reading "The Stone's December lineup (is really great) - Danielson, DM Stith, Skeletons, Dave Deporis, David Garland & more"

"omfg!!!!! watching tune-yards on stage now. this is some of the GREATEST ish I've seen in a minute!!!!" - Questlove

tUnE-YaRdS blew away Questlove (and everyone) while he was waiting to join the Dirty Projectors on stage on 11/22. A set of pictures from her opening set at that Bowery Ballroom show are in this post.

Her next show is her only scheduled one that I know about, and it takes place in NYC on December 23rd at The Stone. She goes on at 10pm after an 8pm set by her sister Ruth Garbus ("Formerly of the group Feathers, and currently of Happy Birthday, Ruth Garbus has been spending most of her time making songs in Vermont. She comes south to share her lilting and penetrating music for voice and electric guitar.")

The Bowery show with The Roots was the last show of a tour for tUnE-YaRdS and Dirty Projectors. It was also the fourth of four NYC shows in a row. Two were at Music Hall of Williamsburg, and the first was also at Bowery Ballroom. More pictures from the last, below...

Continue reading "tUnE-YaRdS - QuestLOVE, another show & pics from Bowery"

by Andrew Frisicano

Tyshawn Sorey, one of the "Five Drummers Whose Time Is Now" according to the NY Times, will be curating the month of August at, NYC music venue, The Stone. He'll also be releasing a new CD, Koan, on September 29th on 482 Music. On the disc, Sorey leads an ensemble of guitarist Todd Neufeld and bassist Thomas Morgan. That trio will play a set of compositions from the album in a sort of CD release show at the Stone on August 5th, but that's far from your only chance to catch the drummer and his crew. All three play at various times with guests and solo throughout the month.

Other upcoming shows at the venue include a special Monday night show (usually the venue is closed Mondays) with Laurie Anderson and saxist Colin Stetson on August 3rd. Alto player Tim Berne, who played at the Stone on July 30th with Nels Cline, will appear as part of Terrence McManus' "The Wealthy Industrialists" ensemble on August 11th. Artistic director John Zorn's regular Improv Night benefit will take place on August 23th, and will feature Sorey and variety of guests.

Full schedule below...

Continue reading "August 2009 @ The Stone -- curated by Tyshawn Sorey"

Jeff Tweedy @ Beacon High School (more by Eric Townsend)

"Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy gave fans a scare Saturday night at the recently refurbished Fox Theater in Pomona when he declared, 12 songs into the band's set, that the Chicago-based act was "approaching the end of an era," and promised more details later.

Those aren't words to be taken lightly for Wilco followers. Depending on who's doing the counting, the group has had as many as six different eras since releasing its country-obsessed 1995 debut, "A.M." Yet its audience has remained loyal through a host of lineup changes, Tweedy and bassist John Stirratt being the only constants in Wilco's career.

While the comment raised concerns about a future without, say, the participation of local guitar slinger Nels Cline or rhythmic contortionist Glenn Kotche, the truth turned out to be nothing so worrisome. After 45 minutes, Tweedy revealed only that multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone was turning 40." [LA Times]

"Due to production changes, field tickets have just been released" for Wilco's upcoming show at Keyspan Park in Brooklyn. Yo La Tengo is opening.

Nels Cline has three non-Wilco NYC shows coming up. One of those shows is the previously-mentioned M. Ward Central Park Summerstage gig where Nels will play in a band with Mike Watt, Yuka Honda, Dougie Bowne. That foursome is called Floored by Four, and according to Mr Watt, they "plan to record a album the two days before the gig." Add it to the list. All Nels dates below...

Continue reading "Wilco played the Fox Theater (setlist), more NYC tix released, Nels Cline & Mike Watt are Floored by Four"

Since the closing of LES spot Tonic in 2007, The Stone has been one of the venues that's attempted to fill the void left by the experimental-music-friendly space.

Like Tonic did, The Stone frequently brings on guest curators (not coincidentally Stone founder John Zorn was one of Tonic's most regular hosts and played at Tonic's final show). Now, with guitarist Grey Gersten's monthlong May curatorial run ending Sunday, May 31st, former Tonic co-owner Melissa Caruso Scott comes out of booking retirement to take the reigns in programing the first two weeks of June at The Stone.

Speaking about her choices Scott said, "These artists played some of my favorite Tonic shows and I can't wait to see them again." Her picks include Japanese musician Yuka Honda, who's also playing a Summerstage show with Mike Watt, guitarist Charlie Hunter, Elysian Fields, Vernon Reid, Joan as Polcewoman, cellist Erik Friedlander, and more. Her full schedule is posted below.

Speaking of Friendlander, he plays on Yoko Ono's new DON'T STOP ME! EP (out June 9th Via iTunes Exclusive Digital Download), and you can also catch him live on June 5th along with saxophone player Colin Stetson at the Abrons Art Space Recital Hall. The show is presented by The Manhattan New Music Project, and tickets are on sale.

Before the time of both Tonic and The Stone, the original Knitting Factory on Houston Street featured an ecclectic mix of avant and experimental music (frequently with Zorn and others). The co-founder of that venue, show promoter and current owner of City Winery Michael Dorf, will curate the second half of the June at The Stone.

Acts on his schedule include Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers (who have completed their Pianos residency and are also playing Citysol), Ethan Iverson (of the Bad Plus) with saxist Tim Berne, and Marc Ribot, the guitarist who's had considerable presence at each of the aforementioned venues -- gigging regularly at the Knit on Houston St, getting arrested for protesting the closure of Tonic, and hosting several nights of his 55th-birthday retrospective at The Stone in mid-May.

Check out the full June schedule for The Stone, below...

Continue reading "Tonic owner returns, joins City Winery's Michael Dorf to curate John Zorn's club The Stone in June - full lineup"

Sonic Youth @ No Fun Fest 2009 (more by Lori Baily)

Maybe you caught Sonic Youth's noise set at No Fun Fest or have been streaming The Eternal through Matador's Buy Early Get Now program.

If both left you wanting more, you'll have your chance tonight (May 22nd)

First, Bill Nace, ie. the guy who wasn't Lee at NFF, will play the late set at The Stone tonight (10pm). Joining him will be Greg Kelley on trumpet and Jake Meginsky on percussion. Before that, the Stone's May curator, Grey Gersten, performs with tape-guy G. Lucas Crane and drummer Ryan Sawyer.

If you'd rather follow the The Eternal route (ie. you're sick of listening to the record in your home), Matador is hosting a listening party for the album tonight (5/22) at NYC's Envoy Gallery (131 Chrystie St.) It's free admission, capacity permitting, but RSVP is required. Flyer below.

After that party, there's also an invite-only after-party with LIVE music at Home Sweet Home, which will be closed to the public. Local bands will be playing Sonic Youth covers. Those local bands include The Antlers (who played Bowery Ballroom last night), Suckers (who have a lot of other shows coming up), Joan As Policewoman (who recently played with Iggy Pop), Tiny Masters of Today (who are playing Citysol this year), and The Homosexuals (who are now Bruno Wizard with Fiasco as his backing band according to someone that got to the Dan Deacon show last week early enough to see their unannounced set), AND "more are being confirmed" (for tonight's show). We have three pairs of tickets (guestlist spots) to give away for the afterparty. Info on how to win them, below...

SY played a free 4th of July show last summer in Battery Park (to be released as a bonus disc with some copies of the new record). That gig was within eyeshot of the Statue of Liberty and other iconic landmarks. This summer the band is playing a free show under St. Louis' famed Gateway Arch on July 17th as part of that city's Live on the Levee summer festival. It's just one of the many dates on Sonic Youth's summer North American tour, the openers for which were recently announced.

Listening party flyer and contest details below...

Continue reading "Sonic Youth listening & after-party (w/ live bands covering SY) - WIN TIX +++ Bill Nace at the Stone TONIGHT"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Grey Gersten - Hard Times (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Grey Gersten - Of The Year Was (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Grey Gersten - Fumbles In The Dark (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Grey Gersten - Your Voice, A Seed in the Wind (MP3)

Grey Gersten, The Stone's May curator

Seach and Restore: How did you approach and deal with the task of curating an entire month of shows at the Stone, two shows a night?

Grey Gersten: I started last year by making a huge list of different artists, musicians and film-makers that I thought would create unique performances specifically for the series. It's impossible to plan anything like this because there are so many uncontrollable factors constantly shifting. At times it felt like a gigantic three dimensional Rubik's Cube! I would reach to adjust it and the blocks would morph into crazy micro Rubik layers. John Kilduff's "Lets Paint" videos were a source of constant motivation. His ability to multi-task and remain flexible is very inspiring.

A number of those Ribot birthday shows will be at the Stone. That includes a Wednesday, May 13th "Tribute" with Gersten and others playing Ribot's work.

Ribot "warms up" for that week of shows with an appearance at Zebulon in Brooklyn on Wednesday, May 6th (tonight). He'll joins extra heavy jazz group Whoopie Pie.

At the Stone Wednesday, May 6th (tonight) JG Thirlwell, composer of the soundtrack to Cartoon Network's The Venture Bros. among other credits, performs with his Manorexia ensemble. It's scheduled to be the group's only NYC performance this year. Thirlwell's Venture Bros. work was recently collected and released on a disc that is out now through Adult Swim.

Part of the Stone's lineup this weekend includes a Saturday, May 9th show with Lucky Dragons and special guests Gersten and Ches Smith. Smith, who plays as part of Ceramic Dog (see above) and Secret Chiefs 3 (who recently visited NYC), collaborated with Gersten and Kato Hideki on a limited-edition LP. MP3s of that record are posted above.

Gersten put together a mixtape to highlight artists at the Stone this month. Artists on the mix include Ribot, Nels Cline, Karl Blau, Lucky Dragons and more. SearchandRestore.com is currently hosting a stream of that mix. Tracklist below.

Speaking of Blau and Cline, they round out the Stone's weekend lineup with respective early and late sets on Sunday, May 10th. Karl Blau is also playing Zebulon on Monday, May 11th, and Bruar Falls on May 12th. Nels Cline plays with Mike Watt at the Central Park Summerstage on Saturday, August 1st. M. Ward headlines that show. Watt has been recording in Brooklyn all week and has two nights of NYC-area gigs starting Thursday, May 7th.

JG Thirlwell and Manorexia videos, with gig poster and album track list and art, plus Gersten mix tracklist, below...

Continue reading "May @ the Stone continues w/ curator Grey Gersten (MP3s), Manorexia & birthday boy Marc Ribot (plays Zebulon today)"

by Andrew Frisicano

Musician and filmmaker Grey Gersten is curating the month of May at non-profit East Village space The Stone. Gersten is currently working on a new LP with Ches Smith (Xiu Xiu, Ceramic Dog, Secret Chiefs 3) and Kato Hideki (Death Ambient, Tremelo of Joy). His performances during the month with various performers are just some of the many worthy events scheduled.

A portion of Marc Ribot's 55th birthday celebration will happen at the venue on May 12th-14th. That includes a new addition to that weeklong series, "A Tribute to Ribot" - led by Gersten - on Wednesday, May 13th. That night is billed as, "Six colleagues, fans and cohorts of Marc Ribot pay tribute to the master in this special night of musical madness. Three performances per set feature music from several of Ribot's most beloved projects" Full info below.

Other acts that jump out include guitarist Loren Conners, who collaborated with Jim O'Rourke on 1997's Two Nice Catholic Boys, on Friday, May 1st; two performances by JG Thirlwell's Manorexia on May 6th; Lucky Dragons with special guests Ches Smith and Grey Gersten on Saturday, May 9th; and a pair of Sunday, May 10th shows with K Records artist Karl Blau playing an early set, followed by a late set from Wilco guitarist Nels Cline.

Select evenings in May will be broadcast live online on free103point9. Right now, scheduled broadcasts include Pauline Oliveros/Lucky Dragons on May 9thand Gersten/Crane/Sawyer and Bill Nace on May 22nd.

Full May calendar below...

Continue reading "The Stone's May schedule - Lucky Dragons, Marc Ribot, more"

by Andrew Frisicano

Marc Ribot @ Maxwell's (more by Tim Griffin)

Marc Ribot is an American guitarist and composer. His own work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, and Cuban music. Ribot is also known for collaborating with other musicians, most notably Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and composer John Zorn. Ribot's earliest session work featured on Tom Waits' Rain Dogs (1985) and helped define Waits' new musical direction. Ribot worked with Waits on many of his following albums including Franks Wild Years (1987), Mule Variations (1999) and Real Gone (2004).

He currently performs and records with his group Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog with bassist Shahzad Ismaily and drummer Ches Smith of the avant-garde band Secret Chiefs 3. [Wikipedia]

In May, Ribot will celebrate his 55th birthday with a week of NYC shows from Saturday, May 9th to Saturday, May 16th. Those gigs will showcase Ribot in a variety of bands and settings...

Continue reading "Marc Ribot's birthday week & other upcoming shows "

by Black Bubblegum

Mountains

John Zorn's shrine to experimentalism, The Stone, will host the Record Release party for Choral, the new record by Mountains, on Feb 26th at 10PM. The decidedly ambient and minimalistic Choral is out now on Thrill Jockey, and you can stream the whole thing at their site (click the individual songs). Thursday's outing is one of a pair that the band currently has lined up in their hometown of NYC, the second of which is a FREE show at Chelsea Market on March 9th!

Mountains is Brendon Anderegg and Koen Holtkamp, friends since their middle school days.... The group's third album, Choral, (their first self-titled release and second album Sewn were both on Apestaartje), is the culmination of their work to date and a balanced mix of the first two efforts. Mountains is often compared to artists such as Brian Eno and Fennesz citing their extended melodies and their unique broad guitar work. Mountains seamlessly blend pastoral electronic sounds with both field recordings and a plethora of acoustic instruments... Recorded by the duo entirely in the winter and spring of 2008 at home in Brooklyn, Choral is largely live and performed in real time, with only a few overdubs to create a more "choral" effect...Guiding us through sonic peaks and valleys, the band takes us on a journey through their realm of experimentation, occasionally crossing over into psychedelic and kosmiche (Harmonia, Cluster, Popol Vuh) territory.

All Mountains & Stars Like Fleas dates below...

Continue reading "MOUNTAINS - new album, record release show, other tour dates & Stars Like Fleas"

2/13 Friday 8 pm - Lexie Mountain Boys
2/13 Friday 10 pm - The Fable of Pitter Patter

A collection of improvisations and short compositions contributed by a group is made up of friends who come from many different groups and backgrounds, including Akron/Family, Vetiver, Butane Variations, and the MK Groove Orchestra.

DOWNLOAD: Chris Schlarb - Section IV (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Chris Schlarb - Section I (MP3)

To those located in the New York City area, Asthmatic Kitty are happy to announce a rare opportunity to experience a performance of musician and producer Chris Schlarb's debut solo record, Twilight & Ghost Stories in its entirety. Chris will be performing this modern composition on Saturday, February 7th, at The Stone with many of the artists who assisted in the creation of this work of personal identity and catharsis. Twilight is a dense 40-minute work featuring a disparate cross-section of musicians from the avant-garde, independent folk, jazz, and electronic communities. When performed with a live ensemble the piece is conducted using a custom built lightbox to simulate the layers of sound found on the album.

Performance will feature all New York-based musicians
Diane Cluck - voice and acoustic guitar Shannon Fields - omnichord, glockenspiel, clarinet Roberto C. Lange - electronics (Savath y Savalas) Mick Rossi - piano (Philip Glass Ensemble) Katherine Young - bassoon G. Lucas Crane - tapes, electronics (Vanishing Voice) Tom Abbs - acoustic bass, dijeridoo Chad Taylor - drums (Iron & Wine) Chris Schlarb - acoustic guitar, electronics, lights and special guests

Chris Schlarb's Twilight & Ghost Stories - Saturday, Feb. 7th @ The Stone, 8pm & 10pm

DOWNLOAD: Doveman - Honey (MP3)

Doveman pointing (more by Chris La Putt)

As previously posted, Doveman is playing a show at The Stone in NYC tonight, Tuesday December 16th.

He'll be joined by the entire Doveman band, featuring Sam Amidon, Dougie Bowne, Peter Ecklund and Doug Wieselman. This is the first time the entire band has played together since recording With My Left Hand I Raise The Dead.

Doveman's band was the first place I knew Sam Amidon from, but I almost forget that when I see Sam's name now. Now I think of Sam first and foremost for his own work which he'll also be playing when he and Doveman go on a tour of Europe with David Thomas Broughton this January.

And when they get back, it's one more Doveman show for NYC, but this Doveman show will be unlike any other Doveman show because at this Doveman show, Doveman will be performing his version of the Footloose soundtrack. Tickets are on sale. All dates below...

Continue reading "Doveman - 2008/09 Tour Dates (tonight, Europe w/ Sam Amidon, Footloose @ Joe's Pub) "

Joan as Policewoman will play shows at 8 and 10 pm at the Stone in NYC on New Years Eve. The 'Annual End The Year Improv Night' with John Zorn happens at the same venue three nights earlier. Other names on the Stone's schedule for December (curated by Jennifer Charles) include Gary Lucas, Erik Friedlander, Doveman, Alan Licht, Hal Willner's Parade (Yuka Honda & Sean Lennon), Elysian Fields, JG Thirwell, and Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog (tonight, Sunday December 7th).

January's schedule, curated by Craig Taborn, doesn't have many names
I recognize, but February, curated by Shannon Fields of Stars Like Fleas, has Twi the Humble Feather, Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio, Chris Schlarb, Diane Cluck, Jon Natchez, Kelly Pratt, Lexie Mountain Boys, Megafun, John Zorn, Ecstatic Sunshine, Sam Amidon, and Tristan Perich,

For other NYC shows on New Years Eve, browse HERE.

Joan Wasser (as Policewoman) and at least one band member also contribute to Gramercy Arms.

Marc Ribot is also playing December 9th at Blue Note and December 11th at Knitting Factory.

the Homosexuals @ WNYU (more by Leia Jospe)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* DJ Bob Mould @ Southpaw
* Yeasayer & Ponytail @ NYU
* Little Joy @ The Wonder Bar
* The Forms & Javelins @ Union Hall
* Drew Daniel of Matmos @ Housing Works
* Butch Walker & Jesse Malin @ Maxwell's
* Lebowski Fest w/ Tragedy @ Irving Plaza
* Sunburned Hand of the Man @ Silent Barn
* The Homosexuals & The Octagon @ Cake Shop
* The Giraffes & Goes Cube @ Mercury Lounge
* Kaiser Chiefs & Oxford Collapse @ Webster Hall
* John Zorn Improv night @ The Stone (early & late)
* Girl Talk, The Death Set & CX Kidtronik @ Terminal 5
* Fredrik, Twi The Humble Feather & Django James @ Pianos
* Calexico, Bowerbirds, & The Acorn @ Tarrytown Music Hall
* The Calder String Quartet w/ Andrew W.K. @ Le Poisson Rouge
* AC Newman, The Oranges Band & Bird of Youth @ The Bell House

@ Housing Works: "Matmos's Drew Daniel will read from his book on Throbbing Gristle (Throbbing Gristle: Twenty Jazz Funk Greats, 33 1/3 Books), answer questions, and do a solo dance music/noise laptop performance (aka dance party)."

@ Le Poisson Rouge: The Calder Quartet featuring Andrew W.K. - Performing composed and improvised music for string quartet and chamber ensemble, as well as solo compositions to be announced, Doors at 7:00pm, show at 8:00pm

@ The Stone: 8 and 10 pm - John Zorn Improv Night I--A Stone Benefit - John Zorn (sax) Scott Johnson (guitar) Ikue Mori (electronics) Jim Staley (trombone) Eyal Maoz (guitar) Trevor Dunn (bass) Ches Smith (drums) and many special guests. Come out and support The Stone! A night of wild improvisation East Village style to benefit The Stone. TWENTY DOLLARS.

@ Irving Plaza: Lebowski Fest New York Movie Party - Music by Tragedy (metal tribute to The Bee Gees), Creedence Clearwater Revival Revival plus a re-enactment of the Landlord's dance cycle by Paul Green. Followed by a screening of The Big Lebowski!

What else?

Photos by Lori Baily

Michael Gira played an intimate and intense solo show at the East Village club The Stone on Tuesday night (September 30). It was the final night of a month of Stone performances that were curated by JG Thirlwell. One of the highlights of the sweaty (it was hot in there) get-together, in addition to the music, was hearing Michael's back-and-forth banter with audience member, and former Swans guitarist, Norman Westberg, as they remembered past gigs together.

More pictures from the show below...

Continue reading "Michael Gira @ The Stone, NYC - pics"

by Black Bubblegum

the Psychic Paramount in Chapel Hill (photo by Shawn Brackbill)

Anything planned for this evening? Got a pair of ear plugs? GOOD ONES? The Psychic Paramount are set to play their first NYC show in over a year at The Stone TONIGHT (Sept 4) at 10PM as part of a short tour that'll last through the weekend (dates below). The band is currently prepping their new record for No Quarter, the follow up to the ear-shredding psych Gamelan Into the Mink Supernatural. The Psychic Paramount is also slated to play CMJ, so keep an eye out for that if ya can't make it out tonight.

The Stone was curated by J.G. Thirlwell (Foetus) for the entire month or September. Also tonight, at the same venue, right before The Psychic Paramount ruins your hearing...

8PM Toby Driver & Kayo Dot Auxiliary Unit
Toby Driver (bass guitar, vocals) Dan Means (alto sax) Tim Byrnes (trumpet) Terran Olson (piano) David Bodie (percussion) Yuko Sueta (projections)
WORLD PREMIERE of a new full-length piece by Driver, with lyrics and film fragments by Yuko Sueta.

The Psychic Paramount are playing with Thrill Jockey bands Arbouretum and Pontiak in Baltimore and Philly over the weekend. Both shows are part of a tour Arbouretum and Pontiak are going on together that then heads straight to NYC after Philly. The NY shows are at Glasslands (Sunday) and Cake Shop.(Monday) Also look for Arbouretum when they return to NYC to open for Earth at the Knitting Factory in October. All dates below...

Continue reading "the PSYCHIC PARAMOUNT playing 3 shows (1 today) (+CMJ), Arbouretum & Pontiak playing some too - 2008 Tour Dates"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Saturday Looks Good To Me - Whitey Hands (High Places Remix) (MediaFire MP3 link)

Fred Thomas has been keeping busy during the current Saturday Looks Good to Me hiatus. Under the City Center name, he's kept a steady blog of his audio experiments, while sporadically posting old SLGTM gems, with tour photos and journal entries along the way.

Though the latest post states, "It pains me today to officially retire as a musician and producer," I am pretty sure the City Center show at The Stone tonight (August 29, 2008) at 8pm, is still on. All dates below...

Continue reading "Fred Thomas (City Center) - blog w/ MP3s & 2008 Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: Mercury Rev - Senses on Fire (MP3)

As previously announced, Mercury Rev have two shows (in one night) coming up at The Stone in NYC....

Mercury Rev, long known for their pioneering work in experimental music, have confirmed two performances for Sept. 10 at The Stone, John Zorn's lower east side outpost for the avant-garde. The show, curated by Foetus front man Jim Thirlwell, will see Mercury Rev joined by Brooklyn's Feedtank, a collective of digital artists using new technologies to create playful interactive spectacles and light-based musical interfaces. Artist Alex Chechile will also join using a home-built electroencephalograph brainwave machine and hacked electrocardiograph heart monitor producing tones and music directly from the minds of Mercury Rev.

The collaborative performance will feature playing and improvising around motifs from the forthcoming Mercury Rev release Snowflake Midnight and its companion album (available for free download on release date [Sept 30]) Strange Attractor as well as the band's back catalog. The new albums, created using open-source audio technology as well as random note and word generators are a milestone for the band and mark a further embrace of experimental compositional techniques and cutting edge recording methods to make music that Stereogum says "brims with energy and a glossy, trippy feel."

Soon after these performances at The Stone, Mercury Rev will play the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Monticello, NY on Sept 21 at the behest of curators My Bloody Valentine.

Continue reading "Mercury Rev - new albums, MP3, 2 NYC shows, ATP & a tour"

On January 10, 2008, Lou Reed and John Zorn, joined by special guest Laurie Anderson, played two benefit shows for The Stone, an avant-garde performance space on the corner of Avenue C and 2nd Street in Alphabet City that supports itselfs solely on donations, giving all door revenues directly to the performers. Zorn, an alto-saxophonist and founder of the music label Tzadik, was the principal force in establishing the Stone in 2005 and currently holds the title of artistic director. [WallyG]

Saturday (Aug 23) @ The Stone: Ryan Sawyer/Thurston Moore Duo with Susan Alcorn

September @ The Stone: Everything JG Thirwell picked.