by BBG

These Arms Are Snakes at Shea stadium (more by Chloe Rice)

It's with a heavy heart we tell you that These Arms Are Snakes is no more. It's been a great run and we'd like to send out a very hearty "Thank You" to everyone that we've worked with or anyone that we've toured with; anyone that lent us a floor, towed our van and/or trailer, lent a van, given us a listen, downloaded our records prior to their coming out, bought our shit, or asked us where our band name came from; everyone who cooked us food, made habanero-infused tequila, had a safety meeting with us, let Steve gyrate all over you, had to live with any of us, made us pay shitloads of money to get off your punk label, got us into LOST, found Steve drunkenly wandering the streets of Tokyo alone, played Madlibs in the van (plural nouns), lost money promoting one of our shows, took Chris to the hospital, put up with our drunken sorry asses, got into a fight with us, etc. etc.

This band could not have been possible without all of you. We sincerely thank you.

Much love,

TAAS 2002 - 2009

These Arms Are Snakes' final shows in NYC were 9/25 at Shea Stadium and 9/27 at Mercury Lounge. The band also killed the crowd as part of a BV Day Party at SXSW 2009. They rule(d) and will be missed. Check out some videos below...

Continue reading "These Arms Are Snakes broke up "

photos by Chloe Rice, words by Black Bubblegum

These Arms Are Snakes @ Shea Stadium

The wildmen of These Arms Are Snakes were back at it on Friday 9/25 at Shea Stadium, when the band teamed up with Violent Bullshit (mems Panthers, Orchid, Black Army Jacket, Half Man, etc) and DD/MM/YY.

The Shea Stadium gig was one of two in NYC for the band. The second was Mercury Lounge the next day (9/27). How were they?

Brian Cook of TAAS does time in another band, Russian Circles, who are scheduled to take on Bowery Ballroom with Young Widows and Phantom Family Halo. Tickets are on sale.

Meanwhile, some bad news out of the Young Widows camp that will force them to cancel all remaining dates with Thursday, though their Russian Circles tour is mostly unaffected for now.

Unfortunately, due to circumstances completely out of our control, we have had to drop of of our tour with Thursday. Apologies to all but our attention is needed at home right now.
A big thanks to the Thursday crew for taking us out and being extremely supportive of what we do; it means a lot.
You can look for us to make up the dates in the next 2 months with our friends Russian Circles. We'll also be playing a bunch of new material, so we hope to see you on the road.
-Nick

All the best to the band.

All affected Thursday dates, with more pics of TAAS & Violent Bullshit from Shea Stadium (Chloe was at Santos shooting Rorschach reunion just before this show, so she missed DD/MM/YY and the other openers), below...

Continue reading "These Arms Are Snakes played Mercury & Shea Stadium (pics), Young Widows drop off Thursday tour"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Russian Circles - "Malko" (MP3)

TAAS

Minus The Bear are touring and working on new material. Their Suicide Squeeze labelmates have been busy as well!

These Arms Are Snakes, who we already knew were playing Mercury Lounge on 9/26, have scheduled a date the night before (9/25) at Shea Stadium in Brooklyn. TAAS also recently dropped the digital single "Washburn" from their previously released split with All The Saints. Vinyl split cover art below.

Russian Circles currently dont have any NYC dates, but the band is hitting the road in late October, hitting up Fun Fun Fun Fest along the way. Russian Circles have a new long-player on the way, Geneva, due on 10/20. Dig on "Malko" from that record above.

Full Russian Circles and TAAS dates, below...

Continue reading "These Arms Are Snakes add 2nd NYC show - updated tour dates +++ new Russian Circles MP3"

by Black Bubblegum

These Arms Are Snakes destroying The Radio Room (more by Leia Jospe)

These Tour Dates Are Exciting. Well actually, THIS tour date is exciting, as These Arms Are Snakes have scheduled an NYC show at Mercury Lounge on September 26th with DD/MM/YYY. Tickets are currently on Amex presale. Regular sale starts Friday, 7/24 at noon.

TAAS features ex-Botch-er Brian Cook. Dave Verellen, also of Botch, recently dropped New Distances on Deathwish Records as part of Narrows. Stream the entire LP here.

photos by Leia Jospe

These Arms Are Snakes / Thao / Daniel Johnston & Hymns

Thirteen bands were scheduled to play the BrooklynVegan / Agency Group day party in Austin on Thursday, March 19, 2009. Twelve ended up playing - one of them twice. I think the story is that The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, who had a zillion other shows also scheduled during the SXSW week, got confused about what their set time was. For that reason (and traffic), they showed up too late to go on in their slot. Instead, The Wheel, who was our last-minute addition as opener on the inside stage, immediately went outside and played a second set on the larger outdoor stage in the late band's place. We got at least one "boo" when the "scheduling mixup" was announced, but what could we do? (sorry!) It was awesome of the Wheel to fill on a moment's notice. Hopefully the people outside enjoyed him after they got over the awkwardness. I didn't watch his second set, but he sounded amazing inside.

Due to overlap on the two stages, it was hard to see everyone that played the party. The most painful two decisions were Cursive or the Wrens, and These Arms or Snakes or Daniel Johnston. I think we originally had it worked out a little better in terms of that, but the main stage started to run late. I went back and forth and caught pieces of as much as I could (and all of Daniel).

Thanks to everyone who came!

Leia managed to catch 8 of the 12 bands (she missed The Wheel, Avett Brothers, New Villager and Au Revoir Simone). Her pictures are below...

Continue reading "BV day party @ Radio Room in Austin - pics by Leia "

DOWNLOAD: The Donkeys - Walk Through A Cloud (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Donkeys - Nice Train (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Wallpaper remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Come Saturday (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daniel Johnston - Honey I Sure Miss You (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daniel Johnston - Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Your Grievances
DOWNLOAD: These Arms Are Snakes - Red Line Season (MP3)

This free BrooklynVegan show takes place on two stages at Radio Room in Austin, Texas this Thursday afternoon, March 19, 2009 from noon-6pm. Set times, more info, and answers to (hopefully) all FAQ's below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn Vegan & Agency Group Austin day party lineup"

These Arms are Snakes @ Bumbershoot 2008 (more by Chris Graham)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Alan Braxe @ Studio B
* The Finches @ Cake Shop
* Chairlift @ Santos Party House
* Glass Candy @ Le Poisson Rouge
* The Bird & the Bee @ Carnegie Hall
* J*Davey & Amanda Diva @ The Studio
* Dropkick Murphys & H2O @ Roseland Ballroom
* Blank Dogs, Pink Noise, Gary War @ The Shank
* The Whigs & Dead Confederate @ Bowery Ballroom
* Marco Benevento Trio & Sean Bones @ The Bell House
* The Giraffes, I'm In You & Moon Rabbits @ Union Pool
* These Arms Are Snakes,Darker My Love & All The Saints @ MHOW
* Boogie Boarder, The Forms, Dinowalrus, Bachelor of Arts & Real Estate @ Dead Herring

Today is the 'First Saturday' at the Brooklyn Museum.

Warped Tour/major-label/Alternative Press-SXSW-party-playing possible-future-female-Canadian-pop-star Lights is playing her keytar at Pianos tonight.

Newsweek interviewed Neko Case.

"MARKET HOTEL HAS 2 ARTIST STUDIOS AVAILABLE. They are $450 (all inclusive) per month, app 150 sq feet, and feature natural light & private, secure locking access + private common area and kitchen area. Sorry, no living, but artist tenants do get a say in the Market Hotel collective and can organize events and curate art shows. for more info, email THEMARKETHOTEL@GMAIL.COM"

Clouds were originally on the These Arms are Snakes bill. Now it seems they're not.

Phish played last night.

Coolio busted with crack.

M.I.A.'s baby is not named Ickitt.

Music therapist plays guitar for cancer patients.

The So So Glos are playing Death By Audio on Sunday. Joly posted some new video of the So So Glos from a show at Santos Party House during CMJ. Watch them below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

DOWNLOAD: Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Raveonettes - The Christmas Song (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Death Cab For Cutie - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (MP3)

Michael Daves and Chris Thile are playing the Living Room tonight, December 23rd. Tickets are on sale. Chris's band Punch Brothers are also at Living Room on January 15th and January 22nd.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the $10 Matt & Kim show at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Witch & Earthless show at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the upcoming These Arms Are Snakes show at Music Hall Of Williamsburg.

Dengue Fever is playing Maxwell's on January 10th. Tickets are on sale.

Lissy Trullie is playing Mercury Lounge on February 11th. Tickets are on sale.

World Inferno Friendship Society's Addicted To Bad Ideas show goes down at Webster Hall on January 9th. Tickets are still on sale.

Tickets are on sale for Meshuggah's show at Irving Plaza on February 19th.

Balkan Beat Box are playing Webster Hall on April 2nd. Tickets are on sale.

The Neville Brothers and Dr. John are playing Terminal 5 on February 20th. Tickets are on sale.

Adele is playing the crazy big Roseland Ballroom on May 5th. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are on sale for Bloc Party's upcoming show at Terminal 5.

Tickets are on sale for Eugene Mirman's book release party.

Tickets are on sale for the Welcome Wagon show at Southpaw.

Tickets are still on sale for Jewltide 6 @ Southpaw.

Tickets are on sale for Okkervil River's upcoming show at the Bell House.

Tickets went on sale for Beirut's 2nd BAM show.

Check out some other tickets that recently went on sale.

If you want to go to Knitting Factory before it closes, tonight is one of your last chances.

No tickets necessary for tonight's Dan Deacon show.

by Black Bubblegum

All The Saints @ Knitting Factory (BV CMJ) (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

These Arms Are Snakes have teamed up with Clouds and All The Saints for a tour in February and March. Tickets go on sale on 12/23 at noon for a March 7th show at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn.

These Arms Are Snakes recently dropped a limited split LP with Russian Circles (buy it here) as well as their looong awaited split with Pelican (pick up the vinyl here).

All The Saints' new album Fire On Corridor X is now out on vinyl via Touch N Go.... pick it up here. They are also playing a show on New Years Eve at the Drunken Unicorn in Atlanta. All dates below...

Continue reading "These Arms Are Snakes, Clouds & All the Saints - Tour Dates "

Boris @ South Street Seaport (more by Chris La Putt)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Illinois @ Rehab
* The Sway Machinery @ Southpaw
* Tina Turner @ Nassau Coliseum
* Boss Hog & Talk Normal @ Maxwell's
* King Khan & BBQ show @ the WIRED store
* Special Disco Version @ Santos Party House
* Vampire Weekend & The Teenagers @ Terminal 5
* Stellastarr*, Wakey! Wakey! & The Mood @ Pianos
* Boris, Growing & CLOUDS @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Ted Leo & The Pharmacists & Andrew W.K. @ Studio B
* Ghostface, Digable Planets & Alchemist @ Highline Ballroom
* Rosie Thomas and friends, Sheila Saputo & Cheyenne @ The Bell House
* Snowden, Sebastien Grainger, Twin Tigers & Josh Reichmann @ Mercury
* Gods and Monsters, Radio I-Ching (w/ James Chance) & Uncle Monk @ Cake Shop

Josh Reichmann, on tour with Sebastien Grainger, was the singer of Tangiers.

Here's the list of songs Ted Leo will be doing tonight.

Kevin Costner is in a band and has a new album and was supposed to play Gramercy Theatre today, but it was cancelled.

Ozzy Osbourne was born today in 1948.

These Arms are Snakes' new video for "Red Line Season" is below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Khanate - "Wings From Spine" (MP3 Excerpt)
DOWNLOAD: Grey Machine - Vultures Descend (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Outlaw Order - Siege Mentality (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Millions - "Lest the Professor Catches Fire"(MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Orphan - "Bogman"(MP3)

Hmm.... who's guitar rig could this be?

In his own special way, Stephen O'Malley dropped a bunch of news on his upcoming projects via a detailed discography. SOMA posted the following unreleased, unannounced records:

SUNN O)))
Che (SUNN O))) & Pan Sonic do a Suicide cover, pic 10" 2009)
Dimensions (TBA) (2xCD & 2xLP 2009)

Æthenor
Faking Gold & Murder (CD & LP 2008)

Khanate
Clean Hands Go Foul (LP & Picture Disc 2008, CD & CD Japan 2009)

So, TWO new sunn o))) records, a Khanate, AND an Æthenor record! We knew that sunn 0))) was working on a new record, but a quick search turned up that Blast First (Petite) will drop that sunn 0))) and Pan Sonic pic 10". On further review, Æthenor's website reveals the following:

David Tibet sings and contributes lyrics on the forthcoming Æthenor album; other guests are Kristoffer Rygg (Ulver) and long time Æthenor collaborator Alexander Tucker [who just played ATP].

Tentatively titled 'Faking Gold and Murder' from a line in the text, Æthenor is the project of Sunn O)))'s Stephen O'Malley, Vincent de Roguin (Shora) and Daniel O'Sullivan (Guapo)

Most importantly though, what the hell is that Khanate record Clean Hands Go Foul?!? Stephen O'Malley had this to say:

The long lost 4th KHANATE album Clean Hands Go Foul will finally emerge later this year. This was recorded directly after the Capture & Release album at Bisi Studio Brooklyn February 2005.

James Plotkin, bassist for Khanate, posted one unreleased song excerpt to his website, "Wings From Spine" which is downloadable above. Will "Wings" appear on Clean Hands Go Foul? Who knows, but in the meantime prepare for the thundering evil doom of the mighty Khanate! On a related note, Plotkin's Khlyst, is taking orders for Chaos Live, a multicamera live DVD shot at Hydra Head's CMJ show in 2006. While you're there, pick up Boris's limited-to-1000 Floorshaker 12".

Mastodon's Brent Hinds had a little run-in with King Khan over the weekend, and while we have heard King Khan's side of the story, ridiculous pictures included, we haven't heard a peep from Brent Hinds. My thoughts echo that of one astute Blabbermouth reader: "The real victim here is the beer". Brann Dailor of Mastodon was recently interviewed by Metal Injection.

Justin Broadrick (Jesu, ex-Godflesh) dropped a bombshell of sorts.... a new project, Grey Machine, featuring Aaron Turner (Isis), Diarmuid Dalton (Jesu), and Dave Cochrane (Transitional)! From the upcoming album Disconnected, the band posted "Vultures Rise" available for download above!

Crom is back on the west coast, but evidence from their east coast killing spree is popping up all over the net. Check out pics from their show in Worcester, MA at Return To The Pit, an interview with a shirtless Crom at Vice magazine, as well as audio (and video below) from their appearance at WFMU.

Crom Live at WFMU, Mayhem, Amon Amarth, Baroness, Tweak Bird, Bison BC and more below.....

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (09/30/08)"

DOWNLOAD: sBACH - Cold Hearted Snake (Paula Abdul) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: sBACH - Untitled track 3 (MP3)

sBACH - out since Aug 19 on Suicide Squeeze

Continue reading "sBACH is Spencer Seim from Hella & the Advantage"

photos by Chris Graham

Continue reading "These Arms Are Snakes - 2008 tour dates. Bumbershoot pics "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Landmine Marathon - "Bile Towers" EDIT (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Suicide Note - "Black Snow" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Toxic Holocaust - "Wild Dogs" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Asva - A Trap For Judges EDIT (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Noothgrush - Unreleased 1994 Demo (MEDIAFIRE, Details At KILL THAT CAT)

I think its safe to say that I am a smidge eager to get my dirty little hands on the new Landmine Marathon. Due October 28th on Level Plane, Rusted Eyes Awake features guest throat by Jonny Davy (Job For A Cowboy) and Antony Hamalainen (Nightrage) and is the follow-up to this year's awesome split with Scarecrow (mems Repulsion, Noothgrush, Dekapitator, Exhumed). Check out "Bile Towers" available for download above!

Toxic Holocaust has posted four songs from their vicious new rabid dog, An Overdose Of Death (due Sept 2nd on Relapse). Check out "Gravelord", "War Is Hell", and "Endless Armageddon" at their myspace and download the ravenous "Wild Dogs" above! The band is currently working on a video for "Wild Dogs", we'll let you know when that drops.

Jesu will drop the Why Are We Not Perfect? EP which is the Jesu part of their recent split with Eluvium with some added bonus tracks. Look for that on August 19th via Hydra Head. Jesu recently dropped their split with Battle Of Mice on Robotic Empire.

Heaven & Hell, Metal Masters Tour, PNC, NJ - Aug 9, 2008 (kitty kowalski)

In what has to be a first, Black Sabbath (or, in this case Heaven & Hell) have apologized for NOT playing their hit "Neon Knights" at both NY area Metal Masters shows. In related Metal Masters news, Testament has been added to the NYC date of the previously mentioned Children Of Bodom, Between The Buried and Me, and (now official) The Black Dahlia Murder tour.

Tombs are currently hard at work on their new album Winter Hours. It's the follow up to the their collossal self-titled debut on Black Box (Mike Hill of Tombs's label). Look for it to land in Feb of 2009. Meanwhile, the boys are readying a tour of Europe including dates with faves Capsule, Pulling Teeth and Ultra Dolphins.

The Haunted, Trap Them, more Metal Masters, Clutch, Baroness and much more below...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (08/14/08)"

by Black Bubblegum

Tail Swallower & Dove

Seattle's These Arms Are Snakes have declared their new album and Suicide Squeeze debut, Tail Swallower & Dove finis! Due Oct 7th, the record was produced by Chris Common at the Red Room (Matt Bayles & Common's recording studio) in Seattle.

In related ex-Botch news, Minus The Bear has announced another US tour this time with Annuals. The tour includes another date a Webster Hall with Sylvie on October 25th, tickets go on sale Saturday 8/9 at noon here.

Also in the ex-Botch file, the new Narrows seven-inch isn't out yet, but you can get it digitally on iTunes and Amazon.com.

A video of Minus the Bear's recent Jimmy Kimmel appearance and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "Minus The Bear & Annuals tour dates, Kimmel video & the new These Arms are Snakes record "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Narrows - "Life Vests Float, Kids Don't" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: These Arms Are Snakes - "Horse Girl" (MP3)

As mentioned by our fair compatriot Largehearted Boy, today marks the release of instru-metallers Russian Circles's Station on Suicide Squeeze. Mosey on over to Spinner and check it out. Me likey.

Russian Circles share a band member, ex-Botch-er and bassist Brian Cook, with These Arms Are Snakes who have announced a new album of their own. Slated for recording on May 9th and release on Oct 7th, the new album (the name is a secret) also has a new home....Suicide Squeeze! Chris Common, drummer of These Arms Are Snakes and producer of 2006's Easter (as well as Mouth Of The Architect's new one, and records by Minus the Bear) will run the boards.

Ryan Fredriksen (These Arms Are Snakes) has his own side project, Narrows, featuring the one and only Dave Verellen (ex-Botch) on throat but also boasting members of Unbroken and Some Girls. The band will release a 7" EP this month on Deathwish, followed by an LP due later this year.

Russian Circles are playing the MHOW with Daughters on June 29th. Tickets are on sale.