"Highlights of amazing @tibethouseus concert: Ira Glass dancing, Jim James singing, & Patti Smith & Phillip Glass performing a Ginsberg poem." - Ann Napolitano

Jim James and Ariel Pink (via Force Field)

The 23rd Annual Tibet House Benefit Concert went down at Carnegie Hall last night (2/21) with Jim James, Merrill Garbus (aka tUnE-yArDs), Ariel Pink, Patti Smith, Rahzel, Tenzin Choegyal, Jesse Smith, and artistic director Philip Glass, with backing from Scorchio Quartet, dancing from This American Life's Ira Glass, and an opening Monk chant.

As these shows usually go, the participating musicians all collaborated with each other on stage throughout the show. Some highlights include Ariel Pink being joined by Philip Glass at one point and then Merrill Garbus at another, Patti Smith reading Allen Ginsberg's "Wichita Vortex Sutra" as Philip Glass played backing piano, and the concert's final song, which saw everyone but Pink coming on stage for Patti Smith's "People Have the Power."

If you were there, did you see Uma Thurman in the audience? She was there with her father, Robert, a Buddhist writer who is President of TIbet House US, and who, along with Philip Glass, gave an introductory speech at the concert.

The full setlist and a couple shots of Jim James' set below...

Continue reading "Jim James, Merrill Garbus, Ariel Pink, Patti Smith, Philip Glass, & Rahzel played the Tibet House US 23rd Annual Benefit"

Ariel Pink at Webster Hall in 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

The Tibet House 23rd Annual Benefit Concert is returning to Carnegie Hall on February 21 and in addition to the previously announced lineup of Jim James, tUnE-yArDs, Rahzel, Patti Smith with Jessie Smith and, of course, artistic director Philip Glass, the lineup was just expanded to include Ariel Pink and Tenzin Choegyal.

Tickets for the concert are still available via Carnegie Hall or you can also pick up special packages that include a dinner reception with the performers via Tibet House US. Proceeds will support Tibet House US, the Hurricane Sandy Relief Foundation, and the TIbet Community of New York & New Jersey.

Ariel Pink has other upcoming dates, including Festival Nrmal, all of which are listed below...

Continue reading "Ariel Pink and Tenzin Choegyal added to Tibet House benefit"

tUnE-yArDs at Lollapalooza 2012 (more by James Richards IV)

The Tibet House Annual Benefit Concert will return for its 23rd year at Carnegie Hall on February 21. Like in past years, artistic director Philip Glass will perform and he's brought along a typically awesome and diverse lineup of Jim James (whose band My Morning Jacket just kicked off a 3-night run at the Capitol Theatre), tUnE-yArDs, Rahzel, Patti Smith with Jessie Smith, and more TBA. Tickets for the concert are on sale now via Carnegie Hall and special packages that include a dinner reception with the performers can be purchased via Tibet House US. Proceeds from ticket sales will support Tibet House US, the Hurricane Sandy Relief Foundation, and the TIbet Community of New York & New Jersey.

Rahzel also took part in the 2012 Tibet House Benefit Concert. Check out pictures from that.

In related news, Patti Smith recently announced that she's working on a sequel to her memoir, Just Kids.

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

"Not even kidding. lou reed watched @dasracist perform tonight & flipped the fuck out. at carnegie hall. how was your night?" - El-P

"The night wrapped up with Lenny Kaye leading the Patti Smith band through a brief tribute to the garage-rock compilation Nuggets, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and Lou Reed, who performed three songs. Reed conducted the string quartet and the drummer to improvise with him at moments, which felt awkward in the beginning; the ending, however--as the string quartet jammed in tandem with Smith's guitarists and Reed himself--was pretty impressive. At the very end Laurie Anderson and the whole evening's cast returned to the stage for a curtain call, during which the room sang "Happy Birthday" to Philip Glass." [Village Voice]

Continue reading "2012 Tibet House benefit pics (Philip Glass, Das Racist, James Blake, Antony, Lou Reed, Stephin Merritt, Rahzel & more)"

This thing just keeps growing:

WHO: Philip Glass, Lou Reed, James Blake, Das Racist, Antony, Laurie Anderson, Stephin Merritt, Rahzel and Dechen Shak-Dagsay

WHAT: 22nd Annual Tibet House Benefit Concert

WHEN: Monday, February 13, 2012 at 7:30pm

WHERE: Carnegie Hall - Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage

TICKET INFO: Concert-only tickets ($33 - $95) are available through Carnegie Charge at 212.247.7800, on www.carnegiehall.org, or in person at the Carnegie Hall Box Office (57th Street and Seventh Avenue). Benefit package tickets (prime concert seats and entrance to a post-concert dinner party) are available exclusively through Tibet House US at 212-807-0563 and www.tibethouse.us.

In related news, Philip Glass turned 75 yesterday (1/31). Happy Birthday Phil!

Maybe you went to the birthday celebration at Carnegie Hall last night, or to the one held at Le Poisson Rouge two days earlier. The NY Times has a review of the LPR event. If you missed 'em, you still have more chances to join the celebration.

And for more Philip Glass, check out NPR's "Philip Glass At 75: Listening With Heart, Not Intellect", NPR's "Ira Glass Interviews His Cousin, Composer Philip Glass", and NY Mag's "Had I Never Listened Closely Enough? On trying to like Philip Glass, again and again and again."

Antony @ Radio City (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Antony played a show at Radio City Music Hall last night. And this was just announced:

Tibet House US is thrilled to announce that Antony and Stephin Merritt have joined the bill for the 22nd Annual Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall on Monday, February 13th, 2012 at 7:30pm. This year's esteemed line-up, curated by Philip Glass, the concert's artistic director, includes Lou Reed, James Blake, Dechen Shak-Dagsay, Laurie Anderson, and Rahzel, in addition to Antony and Stephin. Tickets are on sale now and available through the Carnegie Hall Box Office. Special packages that include concert tickets and a fundraising reception following the show with the event's Honorary Chairpersons Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard and the evening's performing artists are available through Tibet House US.

James Blake is also DJing Le Poisson Rouge while he's in town.

The Magnetic Fields are going on tour in March and April.

Lou Reed at Prospect Park in 2011 (more by David Andrako)

When we first announced this year's Tibet House US benefit, which is happening on February 13 at Carnegie Hall, it was surprising that a Philip Glass-curated event in NYC with Laurie Anderson wouldn't also include Lou Reed. Well, as it turns out, Lou Reed will in fact be performing at the event. As mentioned, the lineup also includes "Newcomer of the Year" James Blake, Dechen Shak-Dagsay, Rahzel, and still more to be announced. Tickets are still available.

by Andrew Sacher

James Blake at MHOW in October (more by Amanda Hatfield)

The 22nd Annual Benefit Concert for Tibet House US is taking place this year at Carnegie Hall on February 13. Philip Glass, who is the artistic director for the Tibet House benefits, will perform alongside an as-usual incredible lineup which includes James Blake, Dechen Shak-Dagsay, Laurie Anderson, Rahzel, and more to be announced. Tickets are on sale now via Carnegie Hall and special packages that include a fundraising reception following the performance will be available soon via Tibet House US. More details below.

Philip Glass also has tons of upcoming events in celebration of his 75th birthday.

James Blake, who put out one of our favorite albums of 2011 capped the year off with the three-track Love What Happened Here EP. The title track recalls the material of James' 2010 EPs but throws splashes of funk and R&B with grabbing vocal samples and synthetic horn flourishes. The next track, "At Birth," is a more ambient affair which also brings to mind parts of his earlier work, but the final track, "Curbside," builds off instrumental boom bap and if not for the trademark vocal samples it would sound almost nothing like any of his other material. Buy the EP at eMusic and stream all three of its tracks below.

Details on the Tibet House US show and streams below...

Continue reading "James Blake released an EP, playing Tibet House Benefit in NYC (with Philip Glass, Rahzel & more)"

DOWNLOAD: Steven Drozd - "Born" (MP3)

Tibet House US Benefit 2010 (more by Chris La Putt)

No word on how a giant vagina entrance, a bear suit, Wayne Coyne in an inflatable ball, Hulk hands and similar props will work at Carnegie Hall, but The Flaming Lips will join recent addition Taj Mahal at the 21st Annual Tibet House US Benefit Show on 3/3. The two join a veritable all-star lineup that includes Michael Stipe, The Roots, Patti Smith with Jesse Smith & Michael Campbell, Angelique Kidjo, James McCartney, and of course curator Philip Glass. Tickets for the concert are on sale via Carnegie Hall, while tickets for the concert and a fund-raising dinner are on sale via Tibet House directly. (Note: Do not expect a full set by any band - they usually play 3 songs each at the most, with a few collaborations and group sing-alongs).

In related News, Wayne Coyne recently talked to Spin about some of the Lips' plans for 2011...

First up, the band is heading to New York to cut tracks with synth-pop artist Neon Indian and longtime producer Dave Fridmann, and they're hoping to release the results on the fly. "We're going to do two or three songs with him and that shit should be ready to go pretty quickly," says Coyne, who posted a demo of a potential collaborative track earlier this week. "I have a couple of tunes that he's heard and we'll just do that shit and fix that up and fuck around together."

Coyne adds that he'd love to do similar collaborations with Deerhoof and Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: "I think everybody would be up for doing something. But a lot of it comes down to us fitting into their schedules. I can always sneak in on their thing."

Finally, Steven Drozd of The Flaming Lips recently dropped the score for The Heart Is Drum Machine, a documentary that examines music and human attraction to it. The twelve-track mostly-instrumental LP features tracks like "Born" (downloadable above, streamable below) and a cover of Elton John's "Rocket Man" featuring none other than Maynard James Keenan of Tool/A Perfect Circle. The film also features Drozd, Keenan, & Wayne Coyne, alongside appearances from Jason Schwartzman, Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock, Juliette Lewis, Spoon's Britt Daniel, George Clinton, and many others who all discuss their personal connection to music. The Heart Is A Drum Machine is out now on DVD and the soundtrack is out now on iTunes.

The soundtrack tracklisting, the film trailer, and that song stream are all below.

Continue reading "Flaming Lips & Michael Stipe playing Tibet Benefit, Deerhoof playing Europa, Heart Is A Drum Machine score out now"

photos by Chris La Putt

Performances by Iggy Pop, Patti Smith and Gogol Bordello brought the crowd at Carnegie Hall to its feet on Friday night, as the musicians took part in the 20th annual Tibet House benefit.

The concerts, whose musical acts are organized by composer and Tibet House Vice President Philip Glass, are scheduled to coincide with the Tibetan New Year and bring in anywhere from $100,000 to $250,00 for the nonprofit group every year.

The evening began with chanting from several Drepung Gomang Monastery monks, followed by comments from Glass about the difficulty in finalizing a final roster of performers every year given all the participants' busy schedules. Next, Robert A. F. Thurman, the president and one of the co-founders Tibet House, likened the Tibetan people to the Na'vi, the blue, cat-like aliens featured in James Cameron's sci-fi film "Avatar." He noted that both groups of individuals deserved and needed saving, and repeated the film's catch phrase "I see you" for double effect. [Wall Street Journal]

Continue reading "Tibet House Benefit 2010 in pictures (Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Regina Spektor, Gogol Bordello & more)"

According to an email I got, "dirty projectors had to cancel this year despite appearing in the tibet house member newsletter". It makes sense since their show with an orchestra in LA is only one day later. That said, Iggy Pop is the latest confirmed Tibet House benefit show performer. He joins the previously announced list of performers that includes Gogol Bordello, Regina Spektor, Philip Glass, Baaba Maal, Patti Smith & Pierce Turner. Tickets for the February Carnegie Hall show are still on sale.

You can also catch Iggy at ATP this September.

Dirty Projectors released a digital 7" of unreleased Bitte Orca session outtakes today (1/11) through Domino. The two tracks on it (previously available only on the UK-only "Temecula Sunrise" EP), "Ascending Melody" and b-side "Emblem of the World," are available as free downloads through the band's website and via the widget embedded below.

Their only currently announced NYC show is February 19th at Lincoln Center's Allen Room (as part of the American Songbook series). They're supposed to also do a short set at this year's Tibet House US benefit (at Carnegie Hall on Friday, February 26th), but they still don't appear on the lineup which now includes Gogol Bordello, Regina Spektor, and "Additional artists to be announced" in addition to Philip Glass, Baaba Maal, Patti Smith & Pierce Turner. Tickets are still on sale.

Dirty Projectors collaborator David Byrne is giving a free talk in Brooklyn tonight (1/11).

The free songs, a note from the band, and tour dates for their upcoming New Zealand/Australia tour in early March are below...

Continue reading "Dirty Projectors giving away digital 7", Tibet House Benefit concert lineup now includes Regina Spektor & Gogol Bordello "

Tibet House US will hold its 20th Annual Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall on Friday, February 26th. Philip Glass, the concert's Artistic Director, once again brings together an original line-up of contemporary artists including Patti Smith, Jesse Smith, Michael Campbell, Baaba Maal and Pierce Turner with more performers being confirmed soon.

Carnegie Hall is located at 881 Seventh Avenue (at 57th Street). Concert tickets are $35 to $85 and can be purchased by calling Carnegie Charge at 212.247.7800 or in person at the Carnegie Hall Box Office (57th Street and Seventh Avenue). Tickets go on sale December 24th.

photos by Ryan Muir

As those keeping count already know, Dirty Projectors played four NYC shows in November with Tune-Yards. Two were at Bowery Ballroom. Two were at Music Hall of Williamsburg. The final one featured two very special guests, one of which was The Roots, who, members of the Dirty Projectors then played with again on Fallon the night before Thanksgiving.

We had pictures/reviews from three of the four shows: Bowery, MHOW, MHOW (DP & TY), Bowery (DP & TY). The missing "DP" pics from MHOW are in this post.

As previously noted, Dirty Projectors also have another NYC show coming up, but in much fancier quarters. Tickets are still on sale for the February 19th show at Lincoln Center's Allen Room.

And it ends up that will be only one of two extra special shows the Brooklyn band plays in NYC that month. The other, though it will only be a short set, will happen exactly a week later...

Tibet House US will hold its 20th Annual Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall on Friday, February 26th. Philip Glass, the concert's Artistic Director, has once again brought together an amazing, original line-up of contemporary artists.

For the past twenty years at Carnegie Hall, the annual concert has assembled some of the biggest names in music and offers audiences a mix of unprecedented musical collaborations and solo offerings. And 2010 will be no exception!

Concert tickets are $35 to $85 and can be purchased by calling Carnegie Charge at 212.247.7800 or in person at the Carnegie Hall Box Office (57th Street and Seventh Avenue).

One day later (2/27), the Dirty Projectors will play the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles with the LA Philharmonic. Tickets are on sale.

All dates and more pictures below...

Continue reading "Dirty Projectors playing 2010 Tibet House benefit concert & w/ the LA Philharmonic (dates) ++ pics from MHOW"

photos by Tim Griffin

"It's been 10 years since Tibet was the hot issue in the rock community, but some stars still carry the torch. One of the biggest forums for this activism is the annual Tibet House benefit in New York, where an eclectic group of artists bands together to salute Tibetan culture.

This year's concert, held [Tueusday] at Carnegie Hall, started off on an energetic note, with Antibalas raising the sedate crowd to its feet. After playing a song, they were joined by Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo, who wowed with an energetic cover of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter," before performing one of her own songs, "Emma." Antibalas then exited stage right, while bluesman Keb' Mo' joined Kidjo for one more tune.

Curator Philip Glass then took the stage to introduce his son Zack, who was performing with the Patti Smith Band. The younger Glass played two pleasant, mainstream folk-rock tunes, the furthest thing possible from his father's experimental compositions. He was followed by Vampire Weekend, who played with a string quartet and debuted a new song that sounded even more influenced by Paul Simon's "Graceland" than its previous work, as well as "M79" from its self-titled debut.

At this point, the tone of the show changed, with the elder Glass perforing an original piano composition with the string quartet. The piece was lovely, but felt out-of-place after so much upbeat rock. To add to the discombobulation, the National, who played two excellent new songs, followed Glass.

...Patti Smith, a fixture at many Tibet House benefits, took the stage with her daughter Jesse accompanying her on piano.... [full review @ BILLBOARD]

Continue reading "The National, Vampire Weekend, Patti Smith & more @ the Tibet House Benefit @ Carnegie Hall (2009) - pics"

Steve Earle @ City Winery (more by Fresh Bread)

Tibet's Communist Party-controlled legislature has voted to create a holiday to mark China's defeat of a pro-independence uprising 50 years ago in the Himalayan region, calling it a day of liberation from feudalism, state media reported Monday.

The 382 legislators attending the session unanimously voted to designate March 28 as "Serf Liberation Day," the official Xinhua News Agency said, citing Legqog, director of the Standing Committee of the Tibetan Autonomous Regional People's Congress. Like many Tibetans, Legqog uses a single name.

The politically sensitive date marks the flight of Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, into exile in India as Chinese troops attacked in March 1959. On March 28 of that year, Beijing announced the dissolution of the Tibetan government and the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region under Communist rule.

China says Tibet has always been part of its territory, while many Tibetans say their land was virtually independent for centuries. [AP]

Antibalas is also playing a couple of full shows at Southpaw in Brooklyn a few days earlier.

His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama is appearing at the Beacon Theatre in NYC on May 4th. Paul Simon is playing there in February.

Le Poisson Rouge's ode to Philip Glass/Chuck Close (more by Chris La Putt)

As someone kindly pointed out, tickets are now on sale for the 2009 Tibet House Benefit concert happening at Carnegie Hall on February 3rd. The list of artists confirmed so far is in the title of this post.

Vampire Weekend are in the middle of their three-night NYC run at Terminal 5.

Patti Smith also has a three-night December run of shows coming up in NYC, AND, like Vampire Weekend (these two artists have a lot in common), is speaking at an upcoming NY Times event.

The Tibet show is a month before the REM show at Carnegie Hall that Patti Smith is also playing and which was organized by Michael Dorf who has Philip Glass playing multiple shows at his new City Winery.

Philip Glass is also playing a Roulette benefit Saturday December 6th at Roulette.

The Tibet House benefit show is an annual show put on by Philip Glass. Patti Smith has played it before. So has Antony, Sufjan Stevens, The Black Keys, Trey, Ray Davies, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Damien Rice, Band of Horses, and many, many more.

Video of Antony performing "You are My Sister" in 2006 (a fine moment), below...

Continue reading "2009 Tibet House Benefit concert w/ Philip Glass, The National, Patti Smith, Jesse Smith & Vampire Weekend"

sing-along @ Carnegie Hall, NYC Feb 13, 2008 (Kathryn Yu, P4K)

Sufjan Stevens treated show-goers to "The Star-Spangled Banner", while Kinks man Ray Davies led a bill-wide sing-along. Also on-hand for the evening of charity and good cheer: Band of Horses, Philip Glass, Marisa Monte, Ashley MacIsaac, Phamie Gow, Tibet-born Nawang Khechog, and the monks of Drepung Gomang. To learn more and find out how you can help, head to the Tibet House U.S. website. [Pitchfork]

Ray Davies @ Camden Roadhouse, Oct 28, 2007 (CRED)

Band of Horses, Tom Verlaine and Ray Davies join Sufjan Stevens and Philip Glass on the lineup of this year's Tibest House benefit concert at Carnegie Hall. Ray Davies also played the show in 2005. What I remember most about it is that he has really enthusiastic fans. This year's show is on Wed. February 13th....

Concert tickets are $35-$108 and can be purchased by calling 212.247.7800 or in person at the Carnegie Hall Box Office (57th Street & Seventh Avenue). Concert-only tickets are not available through Tibet House.

Ray Davies recently said the Kinks would reunite. Then Dave Davies denied it.

Tickets are on sale now for the 18th Annual Tibet House Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall (Feb 13, 2008). Confirmed performers are Philip Glass, Sufjan Stevens, Marisa Monte, and Nawang Khechog. Sufjan played in 2006 too.

And the winner of the Sufjan Stevens Christmas song contest has been chosen.