Them Crooked Vultures at Coachella 2010 (more by Rachel Carr)

Father of two Robert McIndoe, 52, was unable to sleep for three months after going to a rock concert that left him with a permanent ringing in his ear. He was watching supergroup 'Them Crooked Vultures' at Brixton Academy.
In the coming months Mr McIndoe faced an uphill struggle to to get proper treatment for the condition, Southwark Coroner's Court heard.
His wife eventually received a letter of referral to a hospital ear, nose and throat specialist on November 1 last year - the day after he apparently killed himself.
Shirley McIndoe told the hearing that the day after the gig last July, her husband was "cross with himself" for not taking ear plugs.
She said: "When it first happened he wasn't too bothered about it because he thought it would subside, and the friend he had been with also had ringing in his ears that day.
"But it was a constant irritation.
"He didn't get a night of sleep after that until he went to hospital."-[Telegraph]

Brian O'Connor @ Webster Hall (more by Chris La Putt)

Eagles of Death Metal bassist Brian O'Connor has been diagnosed with cancer, and is undergoing treatment in Los Angeles. He will undergo surgery today and will begin chemotherapy in three weeks.

When Brian alerted members of his vast family of bands of his diagnosis, a human chain of support formed immediately. Members of Eagles of Death Metal, Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures and Rage Against The Machine, all touring in various locations around the globe, mobilized to take the load off Brian, so he could focus on preparing his mind and body for what lay ahead.

Brian has no health insurance, so the first order of business was to organize a London show and an LA show to raise money for his medical expenses.

Them Crooked Vultures announced the London show today; they have added a July 5 Brixton Academy date to their European festival run. Details for the Los Angeles show are being finalized now and will be announced soon.

Eagles of Death Metal have decided to honor all tour dates in their schedule. Dean Fertita from Dead Weather and QOTSA will fill in for Brian on EODM's dates this week in Toronto, Santa Cruz and San Francisco. A friend will stand in for Brian on EODM tour dates until he returns.

If you'd like to contribute to Brian's medical care fund please visit here for information.

The EODM Toronto show they're referencing is the NXNE kick-off party happpening in Toronto tonight (6/16). If I don't miss my plane, I might be there. All dates and a statement from Brian is below...

Continue reading "Eagles of Death Metal's Brian O'Connor fighting cancer (dates not cancelled), Them Crooked Vultures announce benefits"

photos by Rachel Carr

Devo

"An aggregate 225,000 people bought tickets to see a [Coachella] roster headlined by Jay-Z, Muse and Gorillaz during the April 16-18 event at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio.

The previous attendance record was set in 2007, when the headliners included a reunited Rage Against the Machine. Final figures are still being tallied, but AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips said the gross will exceed $20 million.

Phillips said the future looked bleak for AEG Live's nascent All Points West festival, which took place in 2008 and 2009 across the Hudson River from lower Manhattan at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, N.J.

"We're probably going to kill it," said Phillips. "As beautiful as (the site) is, it's very hard to get New Yorkers to cross that river. All Points West is an experiment that just didn't work." [Reuters]

Continue reading "more photos from Coachella, more confirmation that All Points West is not happening"

photos by Rachel Carr, words by Daiana Feuer

Jay-Z, Beyonce & Johnny Rotten

This year, the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival reveals that tattoos are more ubiquitous among social scenes than ever before. A walking museum of quotes and legendary faces from Jesus to Michael Jackson decorates the backs, shoulders, calves and fingers of people fashionably reliving their favorite historical decades at this heat-stroke inducing music marathon.

I thought Wale didn't show up, but later found out that he showed up late. Baroness demonstrated the art of rocking out at least three to five times before each song reached a satisfied climax. Metal can be a real turn on, especially surrounded by sweaty good-looking people. Deer Tick performed an R+B version of "Ashamed" followed by John McCauley caressing his nipples. LA band Iglu and Hartly had enthusiasm, but is this Mickey Avalon without the drugs and prostitutes? Which leaves what? Sleigh Bells began with a booty melting bass line palpable from the VIP section across the field, soon overtaken by hipster hop metal pop for people that like beaches and children. The Avett Brothers made an exciting second Coachella appearance on the Outdoor Stage. Two years ago, the band played Sunday gospel time, all manners and simplicity, but the Bros returned with a full band, and a few thousand people singing every word, stomping to the banjo, and hugging during the sweet parts. The banjo will take over America. Just wait. Country music is infiltrating avant-garde and above ground indie worlds alike.

Standing midway between the big stages, just a few feet from yet another girl with the words "Have u seen my friend Molly?" scrawled on her back, the Avett Brothers' heart-wrenching "January Wedding" got a reggaeton remix from Calle 13 booming on the Main Stage. This Puerto Rican dancefloor marvel used a tea kettle for a mic effect, and taught the audience to say "No me jodas las pelotas" against negativity ("Don't fuck my balls"). Speaking of balls, Yeasayer's crowd went absolutely nuts screaming, but the guys barely seemed aware, transported as they were to some space station cloud. The harmonies rocked like angelic aliens-but, smile, guys. Hockey demonstrated a genuine interest in moving indie rock standards forward, especially attracting the PG-13 festival contingency. M. ward raspy singing "Roll Over Beethoven" during She & Him's set delivered tingly shivers, but Zooey Deschanel's approach to "I Put A Spell On You" did not crumble souls. Her jazzy voice and bouncy energy otherwise made for a good time that elicited repetitive shouts of "I Love You!" from the first row.

Gil Scott-Heron

Music should be at least marginally weird or infinitely classic, but Tom Morello's band, Street Sweeper Social Club, brings nothing new to either category and so seems a waste of great musicians. Get weird or the future will never arrive. That being said, the musicians Coachella digs up from history often present the most exciting moments. Rock steady ska pioneers The Specials sent a crispy, warm message to Rudy that every witness appreciated immensely, but it was outrageous that barely any photographers showed up for Gil Scott-Heron's smooth, soulful set [editor's note: ours did!]. The man is partly responsible for getting Martin Luther King, Jr. a holiday, godfathered hip hop, and that doesn't merit attention? A large crowd attended his every word, but the photos won't show it. Later on, James Murphy screamed Gil Scott-Heron's name during "Losing My Edge" as if it were the name of God. Glad he gets it. LCD Soundsystem's first single in 2002, "Losing My Edge" is a historical document worth preserving for the ages, an essence that speaks to what Coachella seems bent on capturing and rewriting every year. Echo & The Bunnymen rode the high-hat zealously-as many have copied since-giving chapped lips sugar kisses. Public Image, Ltd., could not take Jay-Z's audience away from him nor unglue Fever Ray fans from Karin Dreijer Andersson's encompassing fog spell, but I'll be damned if PiL wasn't the best show all day. John Lydon's hair stood on edge and he rolled his rrrr's heroically. His gang of old men put the good junk in post-punk.

As this first 12 hour music summary comes to a close, a few acts remain worth giving a hoot about. Grizzly Bear's hypnotic power hardly needs mentioning and Vampire Weekend knows you love "Horchata." New cool La Roux magnetizes with a disco flavor that Anita Ward might approve. As hoped, Little Dragon's gentle fire breathing soul pop fronted by Yukimi's sexy voice and adorable stage presence comes in as Friday's second favorite. The music's weird enough, bent on discovering surprises. One-woman band Imogen Heap, as well, is the queen of surprises. She moves around her instruments, looping this and dubbing that as if casually mixing a magic potion or prepping a sandwich. Jay-Z's "On To The Next One" is an appropriate theme song for the attention span needed to get your money's worth at Coachella. And then Beyonce came out. We all bowed down before her short shorts.

Them Crooked Vultures, Passion Pit, Dillinger Escape Plan, Yo Gabba Gabba, and The Whitest Boy Alive also played sets on Friday. The Cribs were among those who could not. Coachella continues for a second day today/Saturday (Record Store Day). More pictures and videos and stuff from the first day, below...

Continue reading "Coachella 2010 - Day One in pics, video & review "

DOWNLOAD: Crystal Castles - Airwar (Streetlab vs Eamon Harkin remix) (MP3)

Crystal Castles @ ATP NY 2009 (more by Ryan Muir)

tonight in NYC
* Konk Pack @ The Stone
* Peter Blegvad @ The Stone
* Joan Osborne @ City Winery
* Natalie Merchant @ Barnes & Noble
* Radio Moscow, Naam @ Cake Shop
* Iva Bittová @ Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall
* Red Sparowes, Doomriders (late) @ Mercury Lounge
* Quitzow, Setting Sun, Skidmore Fountain @ Southpaw
* Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars @ Highline Ballroom
* Crystal Castles, Pictureplane, Alex English @ Irving Plaza
* The Low Anthem, Timber Timbre, The Woes @ Bowery Ballroom
* Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Tri-State Conspiracy @ The Bell House
* Freddie T. & The People, Good Omens, Wheaton Plaza @ Bruar Falls
* Streetlab, The Hush Now, Bottle Up & Go, Das Racist (DJ) @ Santos Party House
* Dan Peck/Nate Wooley, Harris Eisenstadt, Andrew Barker/Daniel Carter @ Zebulon
* The London Souls, Radar Fiction, Simon Boyar, Future Shuttle @ Knitting Factory
* Mama Bear, Spanish Prisoners, Borrowed Eyes, Coyote Eyes @ Studio @ Webster Hall
* Aluminum Babe, 9th Harmony, ARE Weapons, Devil Be Gone, Seagull @ Death By Audio
* Montonix, Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers, Old Time Relijun, Skeletonbreath @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Nomo, Stuart Bogie's Superhuman Happiness, In Tall Buildings, Natalie Bergman @ Union Pool

Avant-improv trio Konk Pack and violinist-singer Iva Bittová (who'll also be improvising) play NYC tonight after performing on day one and three, respectively, of Knoxville's Big Ears Fest in March. Konk Pack plays downtown at The Stone, and Iva performs uptown at Carnegie Hall with tap dancer Maurice Chestnut.

Iva Bittová videos reposted below...

Tonight's Crystal Castles show is sold out, but there may still be tickets available to the show they're playing this summer at Terminal 5.

The Afrobeat blog says, "Nomo is a jazz fusion band out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. While they have a sound reminiscent of Afrobeat, they're simply too unique to classify. They have an aggressively dynamic horn section that cuts hard horn lines over an even nastier rhythm section." Tonight at Union Pool.

Them Crooked Vultures are among those playing Coachella this weekend. Last night they performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Videos from that below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

Yeasayer @ Hudson River Park in 2009 (more by Bao Nguyen)

tonight in NYC
* Whiplash @ UCB Theatre
* Chicha Libre @ Barbes
* Them Crooked Vultures @ Roseland Ballroom
* Yeasayer, Light Asylum, Bobo @ Bowery Ballroom
* Les Paul Guitar Tribute w/ Vernon Reid @ Iridium
* Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir @ Union Pool
* Dinosaur Bones, My Pet Dragon, Otterclean @ The Cameo Gallery
* Horse's Mouth, Your Nature, Blast Off, The Wailing Wall @ Death By Audio
* Knight School, Diehard, Family Portrait, Golden City @ The Studio at Webster Hall
* Unsound Festival: Anticipate Showcase w/ Sawako, Ezekiel Honig, Alexander Kaline @ Littlefield
* Destry, Mean Creek, The Narrative, Borrowed Eyes & The Blood Red Road @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn

The Unsound Festival continues.

Yeasayer kick off a two-night run of NYC record release shows tonight. Their much larger tour kicks off in April with openers like Javelin and Sleigh Bells.

Them Crooked Vultures play a show at Roseland Ballroom tonight. On Saturday they appeared on Saturday Night Live. Videos from that show below...

The Who played the Superbowl Halftime show on Sunday. Videos from that below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has revealed that he was invited to join Them Crooked Vultures.

The age of the supergroup has returned. In the late 60s it seemed that every top musician was closing ranks, with the likes of Cream, Traffic, Big Brother Holding Company and more taking the music world by storm.

Last year the trend suddenly re-emerged as the likes of The Dead Weather, Monsters Of Folk and Them Crooked Vultures released celebrated albums.

Formed by Josh Homme and Dave Grohl, the American pair turned to Led Zeppelin bass player John Paul Jones to complete the trio. Releasing their debut album it seems as if the band could be an ongoing project.

However in a new interview former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney has revealed that he could have potentially joined the band. Speaking to the Daily Mail the iconic musician revealed that he had dinner with Dave Grohl after last year's Grammy awards when the project was mentioned. [Clash]

The NYC show is two days after the band play Saturday Night Live (Ashton Kutcher will host).

And the NYC show is one of three upcoming live shows the band is playing in February. Tickets are also going on sale Saturday for gigs in Charlotte and Atlanta. All dates below...

Continue reading "Them Crooked Vultures (a band Paul McCartney was invited to join) are playing shows in February, Coachella & SNL"

Wow...Public Image Ltd, The Specials, Grizzly Bear, Passion Pit, Echo and the Bunnymen, Grace Jones, Fever Ray, Devo, Hot Chip, Phoenix, Orbital, Spoon, Sly and the Family Stone, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sunny Day Real Estate, Yo La Tengo, Mew, Camera Obscura, Gil Scott-Heron, The xx, John Waters, Dillinger Escape Plan, Deer Tick, Gary Numan... Full Coachella 2010 lineup below....

Continue reading "2010 Coachella line up announced (Faith No More, Pavement, Muse, Gorillaz, Thom Yorke, Jay-Z, LCD Soundystem, ???)"

Them Crooked Vultures @ ACL 2009 (by Dave Mead)

Washed Out @ Santos Party House - Oct 19, 2009 (rezflicks)

Two very different acts - Washed Out and Them Crooked Vultures - both made their NYC debuts earlier this month (all the way back before CMJ). The first, Them Crooked Vultures are industry veterans and masters at playing live music. Washed Out on the other hand was playing live for the second time ever, and without much of a band backing him. Both came into town with lots of hype, and both left leaving people with mixed reactions...

Continue reading "about the recent NYC debuts of Washed Out and Them Crooked Vultures (who just debuted a new track)"

Tickets for the Them Crooked Vultures show happening at Roseland Ballroom in NYC on October 15th go on presale on 9/24 @ 10:00 AM EDT (Password: VULTURES), and then regular sale 9/26 @ 12:00 p.m. EDT.

Continue reading "Them Crooked Vultures - NYC show confirmed w/ ticket info "

Them Crooked Vultures didn't include NYC in their initial tour announcement, but it looks like they'll be playing Roseland Ballroom on October 15th. Stay tuned for more information.

Them Crooked Vultures--a/k/a Dave Grohl (drums, backing vocals), Josh Homme (guitar, vocals) and John Paul Jones (bass, keyboards, backing vocals)--has confirmed the dates of its first ever North American tour. The dates kick off with an October 2 performance at the Austin City Limits music festival, to be preceded by a September 30 Austin City Limits TV taping to air at a later date TBD, as well as an appearance at the October 1 Austin City Limits festival pre-party.

Tickets for the headline shows go on sale Saturday, September 5 at 10 a.m. local time.

Continue reading "Them Crooked Vultures (Dave Grohl, Josh Homme & John Paul Jones) - 2009 Tour Dates & Videos "