Want a piece of art by the Les Savy Fav frontman? Want it for free? Keep reading...

Continue reading "Tim Harrington giving away free art"

photos by Tim Griffin

Les Savy Fav are playing very few shows in 2011. One of them was at Music Hall of Williamsburg on 9/6. Another took place 23 days later in Austin as part of the Mohawk's 5th birthday celebration. Happy birthday Mohawk! Here are some pics from that Texas show. They continue below...

Continue reading "Les Savy Fav helped the Mohawk celebrate 5 years (pics)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield, words by Andrew Frisicano

The "Our Band Could Be Your Life" tribute Sunday night at Bowery Ballroom ran more than four hours with 14 bands playing the music of 13 bands (plus a special encore act that covered Nirvana). Set changes were kept short, and bands generally played about 10-15 minutes (between one and four songs). Unannounced guests included Tim Harrington and Lee Ranaldo singing the Minutemen, Craig Finn playing the role of Minneapolis cop, and Dan Deacon's multimedia barrage and three-piece band. More highlights, lots of pictures, and a bunch of videos (UPDATE: NPR has audio of the show) are below...

Continue reading "'Our Band Could Be Your Life' in pics, video & review (Dirty Projectors, St Vincent, Dan Deacon, Ted Leo, Wye Oak & more)"

Ra Ra Riot @ MHOW in 2010 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Speaking of Japan benefits, The Bell House has two special ones scheduled....

Continue reading "Ra Ra Riot, Wyatt Cenac, Tim Harrington, Todd Barry & many, many more playing Japan benefits @ the Bell House "

photos by Chris Doss

DOWNLOAD: Dominique Young Unique - Show My Ass (MP3)

"Jelly pool party was historic/epic. DMC + Andrew WK + Les Savy Fav+Doug E Fresh : unforgettable. Gucci mane is the gertrude stein of hip hop" -erikhinton

Gucci Mane @ Williamsburg Waterfront Sunday

When they said "surprise" they meant it, though as rumored (and here), Gucci Mane was on the lineup of the final Jelly Pool Party on Sunday, August 29th, at Williamsburg Waterfront. Andrew WK hinted at his participation the night before, but for the most part, the lineup remained a rumor until the artists hit the stage. Featuring DJ sets by The Rub and Smalltown DJs, Sunday's Pool Party-that-almost-didn't-happen featured performances from DMC (of Run DMC), Andrew WK (and Cherie Lilly), Doug E Fresh, Doug's son's group, Big Freedia (and dancer), The Cool Kids, Tim Harrington (of Les Savy Fav), and Atlanta MC Gucci Mane in addition to the previously announced Dominique Young Unique and Delorean.

Unlike Run, Andrew WK and Tim Harrington helped DMC perform "It's Tricky" and "Walk this Way". Delorean, already headlining multiple nights at 600+ capacity venues in NYC, played 2nd on the bill after an opening set by Dominique Young Unique who was busting out of her top as she played songs like "Show My Ass" (download that song above).

Dominique Young Unique

But Dominique's outfit was nothing compared to the stage show of New Orleans's Big Freedia who brought "Ass Everywhere" to a NYC crowd for the third time in two days (Freedia also performed at PS1 on Saturday and at Coco66 later that night) (Dominique also played again later Sunday night at Brooklyn Bowl).

So was it the final pool party ever?

...Series' co-founder, Sarah Hooper, has said that she "hates" what the beloved Pool Parties have become: lame concerts with muted speakers, too many security guards and too much oversight from the state and its patron, Open Space Alliance. She even hinted that Jelly's current side-project, a six-show free series called "Rock Yard" on Wythe Avenue, could replace the Pool Parties (so named because they began at the McCarren Park pool).

Hooper didn't fork over any of the juicy details when she took the stage on Sunday to give a crammed park its final farewell.

"Thank you so much, we love being in Brooklyn," she said to a roaring crowd. "Don't ever let anybody tell you that you can't be yourself." -[Brooklyn Paper]

More pictures and some videos from the whole day, below...

Continue reading "Gucci Mane, Doug E Fresh, Dominique Young Unique & the Cool Kids played the final Pool Party too (pics) "

photos by Chris Doss

"It was all worth it to see DMC, Andrew WK and a yeti-dressed Tim Harrington on stage together singing "Walk This Way."

Watching that. Then turning around and seeing the Manhattan skyline over the East River. And seeing the hundreds of people sitting in the grass behind the tents. Then walking home to my apartment. And realizing that this is something real that has actually happened. It's hard to be mad at the pretentiousness of a crowd, or peoples' ignorance (heard a dude say "Who is that guy?" when Tim Harrington came out. Made me giggle.) when this is a world where things like this can happen" [Times Ain't That Rough]

Continue reading "Andrew WK & Tim Harrington played w/ DMC (instead of Run) @ the Pool Party @ Williamsburg Waterfront (pics & video) "

Marnie Stern will be one of the bowlers (but not one of the performers) at a Stereogum "Gumbowl" charity event tonight at Brooklyn Bowl. You can't watch her bowl yet, but you can go to the concert afterwards (that she is not playing)....

"While the doors have to be closed during the tournament in order to film it all for charitable posterity -- and be sure we'll present you with the footage -- we're celebrating afterward by throwing open the gates for a FREE CONCERT, headlined by Woods, and featuring an opening set from the 'Gum-beloved rising sextet Effi Briest, DJ magic from Ms. St. Vincent Annie Clark, and loitering by our celebrity bowlers, who may or may not still be wearing the sweet-ass bowling jerseys we're throwing on them. We want you there (if you're 21 or older (sorry, kids!))." - Stereogum

Other charity bowlers include The Blow (who has a show coming up at Joe's Pub), Nick Islands Thorburn Diamonds (who has 3 NYC shows coming up), Alan Neon Indian Palomo (who has multiple NYC shows coming), and Tim Les Savy Fav Harrington (who has a scheduled Brooklyn show too). The full list of bowlers is also below.

If you want to catch Marnie Stern play live, her next show will be at Glasslands on Friday, June 18th along with White Hinterland, Anni Rossi, Translations and True Womanhood. It's not free, but you get a discount if you RSVP to that here.

Anni Rossi will also be playing Pianos the night before (6/17).

More info on the Gumbowl and flyers are below...

Continue reading "Marnie Stern bowls tonight (before the free Woods show), plays in June w/ Anni Rossi who has 2 upcoming shows"

Tegan & Sara @ T5 in 2008 (more by Kurt Christensen)

tonight in NYC
* John Cale @ MoMa
* Chicha Libre @ Barbes
* Holly Miranda @ Other Music
* The Love Hangover @ Union Hall
* Les Paul Guitar Tribute @ Iridium
* Talea Ensemble @ Issue Project Room
* Bluebrain, Fredrik, Treasure @ Pianos
* VV Brown, Gordon Voidwell @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Tegan & Sara @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Mute City, Storms, Jeffertitti's Nile @ Zebulon
* Reverend Vince Anderson & His Love Choir @ Union Pool
* Plastic Ono Band (Yoko dress rehearsal) @ BAM Opera House
* Daffed Punkz (Daft Punk Tribute), Cobra Krames, Greg 2000 @ Europa
* We Were Promised Jetpacks, Bad Veins, Royal Bangs @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn
* Laura Veirs & The Hall of Flames, The Old Believers, Led to Sea @ Mercury Lounge
* Dream Diary, North Highlands, Phil and the Osophers, Fluffy Lumbers @ Bruar Falls
* Double Leopards, No-Neck Blues Band, Michael Chapman, Endless Boogie @ Market Hotel

"The brainchild of musician Richard Alwyn, The Love Hangover is now in its 11th year of pairing up musicians to perform a post-Valentines showcase of duets about love in all it's many guises: the joy, the pain, the humor, the frustration, the agony and the ecstasy." Tonight's lineup at Union Hall includes:

Tracy Bonham & Garrison Starr
Hannah Marcus & Rick Moody
Kendall Meade & Dave Derby
Keir Woods & Richard Alwyn
Anna Johansson & Pete Fitzpatrick
Margaret White & Joe Seely
Therese Cox & David Nagler

Continue reading "What's going on Monday? (President's Day)"

by Bill Pearis

Diamond Nights

For those who miss the hedonistic days of Williamsburg 2004, this show's for you: Diamond Nights and Cheeseburger play Brooklyn Bowl on February 13. $5.00 tickets are on sale.

Diamond Nights, who also play Coco 66 the night before (2/12), haven't played together since 2007. For a while it seemed like they were going to be the next big thing with their mix of Thin Lizzy and The Cars and a song -- "The Girl's Attractive" -- that was everywhere for a while. They were also a fun, super-tight live band. But Diamond Nights dissolved soon after the release of their debut album, Popsicle, and singer Morgan Phalen moved to California and guitarist Rob Laakso joined Amazing Baby. Pretty sure these two shows are for the fun of it, but as someone who thought they ended too soon, maybe playing live again will rekindle things.

Cheeseburger

Meanwhile Cheeseburger (who played at least a few shows in 2009) have just put the finishing touches on their second album and have grown from a bassless trio to having two guitarists and a full rhythm section and one of our premier party-rock bands. I've heard some of the new record and while it would be incorrect to say they've grown up, they've definitely matured as songwriters and musicians. Live shows are still mayhem, though more from the fans than on-stage shenanigans these days. I hope shiny Brooklyn Bowl knows what it's in for.

However, this won't be your typical Cheeseburger show. Singer Joe Bradley is due to be a new father any minute and won't be there. Instead, the band is getting a different guest vocalist for every song, including comedian Jon Glaser (Adult Swim's Delocated), Les Savy Fav's Tim Harrington and Andy Reuland, Jason Green of Violent Bullshit, Diamond Nights' Morgan Phalen, and some surprise guests. Personally, I think they should rename themselves Cheeseburger Deluxe for this gig but that's just me.

A couple Diamond Nights and Cheeseburger videos after the jump...

Continue reading "Diamond Nights return for 2 shows, Cheeseburger playing w/ guest vocalists (Jon Glaser, Tim Harrington, more)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: The Yummy Fur - Policeman (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Big Troubles - Freudian Slips (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Adam Green - What Makes Him Act So Bad (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Total Slacker - Demos (mediafire zip)

The Yummy Fur

There's a lot of great shows this weekend, but top of the list for me is Scottish cult indie rockers The Yummy Fur who have reformed to play a few shows surrounding a new best-of compilation, titled Piggy Wings, due out sometime soon on What's Your Rupture. They play 171 Lombardy Market Hotel Friday night. More influential than popular, The Yummy Fur started their life making scratchy, scrappy indiepop a la early Fall but got more glammy and synthy as they went on. Frontman John McKeown took the glam part further with his current band, 1990s. And former members Paul Thompson (who'll be part of tomorrow's show) and Alex Kapranos (who probably won't) have done okay for themselves since in Franz Ferdinand.

You can download one of my favorite Yummy Fur songs -- the 1999 single "Police Man" -- at the top of this post. This is the first, and likely last, time they've ever played the States, so miss this gig at your peril. What to expect? McKeown tells the NY Press:

Nothing. I'm never even really sure there will be people there, but I'm happy to play for whoever shows up. It's not like the band is our life anymore, so it doesn't mean anything to us except that we have affection for it. We do take it seriously, we play the gig straight, but we want to have fun. When 1990s plays the States and same with Franz Ferdinand, there are always people who come out and say they loved The Yummy Fur but we never made it over. This is their one chance.

Grant Hart is back in town for two shows -- tonight (1/14) at Cake Shop and Friday at Knitting Factory. For a man whose previous band put out eight albums in six years (two of which were double LPs), Hart has slowed down a lot since -- Hot Wax is Grant's first album in ten years, and only his fourth since Husker Du split. He talked about his current Quality Over Quantity policy with the The AV Club.

AVC: Why the 10-year hiatus between Good News For Modern Man and Hot Wax?

GH: I've delved into a lot of non-musical projects. Learning new things and accomplishing things with my hands that I put aside as an adult to devote all my time to music. As I've gotten older, I've been concentrating on quality and no filler, and spending more time constructing all of the parts of music, rather than going into the studio with one or two parts and then letting the rest work itself out. The first song, "You're The Reflection Of The Moon On The Water," I took a year to come up with what I thought was an appropriate third verse. That's a long time to hold back on a song that you're excited about in order to make it more of a fulfilling experience. Would I have taken that opportunity in 1985? Hell no.

More things to do this weekend:

Zee Avi

Tonight (Thursday, 1/14)

Les Savvy Fav's Tim Harrington hosts a night of comedy and music at The Bell House, featuring charming Malaysian singer-songwriter Zee Avi, and one of my favorite comedians of the moment, Kumail Nanjiani. Plus Stardweller, Rory Scovel, Kevin Barker and screenings of Harrington's Beardo shorts. Plus other shenanigans.

Another chance to see Hot Rats, Danny and Gaz of Supergrass in cover band mode at Bowery Ballroom. Their take on The Beastie Boys' "Fight for Your Right" is pretty great. I'm told Tuesday's show at MHoW was a blast. The Heavy open (and then play 92YTribeca on Saturday).

At Silent Barn is a night of hazy indiepop, headlined by fine new local band Big Troubles whose debut 7" just came out and is well worth picking up. You can download "Freudian Slips" from it at the top of this post. I doubt they've ever heard '90s shoegazers The Boo Radleys, but "Freudian Slips" bears more than a little resemblance to the Boos' single "Lazy Day," dontcha think? Also playing: next generation twee poppers Dream Diary, the experimental noise of Blissed Out and dreamy New Haven band Procedure Club.

Real Estate @ Brooklyn Bowl - 1/5 (more by Andrew Frisicano)

Friday (1/15)

Not tired from playing every day last week, Real Estate headline a killer Less Artists More Condos show at new venue St James Church. There's open bar from 8 - 9, which is my kind of religion. Real Estate just put out a new EP on Mexican Summer which is, I think, the band's 78th release in just under a year. Also playing are The Tony Castles, The Beets, and two of my favorite new(ish) local bands: Beach Fossils and Total Slacker. You can download Total Slacker's five-song demo (via a Mediafire link) at the top of this post.

The Bell House has a fun show of new sound for now: Brooklyn chamber pop band Miracles of Modern Science (download their EP for free here), the raucous pop of Philadelphia's Drink Up Buttercup, Ravens & Chimes' folk pop and Milagres (maybe you remember them when they were called The Secret Life of Sophia).

Joe Pernice plays a solo show at Mercury Lounge where he'll likely talk as much as he will sing, which is fine -- he's a great banterer. A pretty good writer too, as read in his first novel, It Feels So Good When I Stop which he'll read from I'm told. Joe just finished his next album, which is apparently not a Pernice Brothers or Chappaquiddick Skyline or solo record. I hope he hasn't gone synthpop. Something entirely new for 2010 sounds good.

The Cribs @ Bowery Ballroom in 2008 (more by Vincent Cornelli)

Saturday (1/16)

If you can't make the St. James Church show on Friday, you can catch Beach Fossils again on Saturday night where they're playing a show at Monster Island put on by blog Chocolate Bobka. This looks to be a good show, as it also boasts Alex Bleeker & The Freaks, Cleveland's Cloud Nothings and the druggy sounds of New Hope, Pennsylvania's Nude Beach. It's where I'll be Saturday night.

The Cribs (still with Johnny Marr) are at Irving Plaza where they'll play with our (well someone's) generation's Jim Morrison, the always entertaining Adam Green. "What Makes Him Act So Bad," the first MP3 off of Adam's upcoming album, Minor Love (out 2/16 on Fat Possum), is at the top of this post. The Cribs were just great when they played Bowery Ballroom in November.

Videos, flyers and tour dates follow...

Continue reading "Yummy Fur, Cribs, Grant Hart, Adam Green, Zee Avi, Big Troubles, Joe Pernice, Beardo & more in This Week in Indie"

Black Dice when they opened for Animal Collective (more by Tim Griffin)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Mitch Easter @ Maxwell's
* N.A.S.A @ Bowery Ballroom
* Dave Hill: Big in Japan @ UCB
* Wicked Awesomes @ Cake Shop
* Kaki King @ Galapagos Art Space
* Juana Molina, Lia Ices & Jetty Rae @ MHOW
* Alasdair Roberts & Bert Jansch @ City Winery
* Alina Simone, Ben & Vesper, Emilyn Brodsky @ Pianos
* Gringo Starr, Band of Skulls & Joel Plaskett @ Union Hall
* Asshole Parade, Apeshit! & Vermefug @ the Charleston
* Electric Six & Les Sans Culottes on a Rocks Off Cruise
* Amazing Baby (secret show) & No Bra @ Bruar Falls
* Bouncing Souls, Lifetime & None More Black @ Webster Hall
* Amy Ray (Indigo Girls), Von Iva & Jennifer O'Connor @ Mercury Lounge
* Das Racist, Best Fwends, Body Language & Natureboy Jim Kelly @ Studio
* Black Dice, Landed & Chinese Stars (Adult Swim party) @ Santos Party House

Bouncing Souls play their first of two NYC shows at Webster Hall tonight. Check out what Greg had to say to Kevin.

Black Dice just opened for Animal Collective. Tonight it's a free show at Santos Party House. "Adult Swim Presents Summer At Santos Series curated by Christy Karacas with Black Dice, Landed and Chinese Stars. Hosted by Tim Harrington"

"Zero Film Festival, the first festival exclusive to self-financed filmmakers, has our New York Premiere August 20th at Galapagos Art Space, in build-up to our week-long festival in December." Music by Kaki King, Soundpool, and Setting Sun.

Amazing Baby, who are headlining their own show at Bowery Ballroom on October 3rd (tickets now on sale), play a secret set at Bruar Falls tonight at 11pm.

Jennifer O'Connor says, "I'm playing 2 shows this week. One on Thursday, August 20, opening for the force of nature that is Amy Ray and her rock band. This will take place at Mercury Lounge in NYC. I will be playing with my own band/brand of rock (Michael Brodlieb on bass - and Jon Langmead on drums - Jon is also the drummer for Choo Choo la Rouge). Then I'm playing on Saturday August 22 at Union Hall in Brooklyn as part of a special Kiam Records showcase/record release party for the Choo Choo la Rouge record. I'll be going on first this night and be playing solo acoustic. I want ALL OF YOU in New York to please come to this show!"

A new video for a new song by Little Annie & Paul Wallfisch below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Les Savy Fav @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple (more by Natasha Ryan)

BROOKLYN KNITTING FACTORY SET TO OPEN / BROOKLYN'S LES SAVY FAV TO PLAY OPENING NIGHT

"The Knitting Factory, a leader in the New York arts scene for over two decades, is proud to announce that our new venue at 361 Metropolitan Avenue in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY will be opening September 2009. Brooklyn-based favorites, Les Savy Fav, will perform and host the opening night on Wednesday September 9th. Upcoming shows will feature performances by: Boss Hog, Rasputina, Mayer Hawthorne, Titus Andronicus, The Raincoats, The Spits, Mucca Pazza, Melissa Auf der Maur, cEvin Key, A Wilhelm Scream, Helado Negro, Maps and Atlases, No Neck Blues Band, Dub Trio, Smokey's Secret Family and much more to be announced. Upcoming special events include this year's Williamsburg Fashion Week's Fashion and Arts Premiere, the Miss LEZ Pageant and the Royal Flush Film Festival.

Tickets for the September 9th Les Savy Fav show are on sale (thx Coma). They also play Fun Fun Fun Fest in November.

Boss Hog is September 10th (tickets). They play ATP NY on September 12th.

The Titus Andronicus/So So Glos show (tickets) is the last date on a long tour that also includes a show at Maxwell's.

Melissa Auf der Maur plays KF on October 17th as part of the Royal Flush Film Festival which makes sense since she made a movie. Tickets for that event are on sale.

And tickets and dates to all of the above mentioned shows are HERE.

More about the space, HERE.

Tim Harrington apologizes to his mom, in the video below...

Continue reading "Knitting Factory Brooklyn opening September 9th w/ Les Savy Fav (tix on sale) ++ other upcoming shows like Boss Hog"

DOWNLOAD: USA for Affluence - Cash for Christmas (MP3)

The star-studded video is below...

Continue reading "Beardo Episode 5 - CASH FOR CHRISTMAS (Tim Harrington, Moby, Andrew WK, AC Newman, Will Sheff, etc, etc...)"

photos by Eric M. Townsend

Nick Diamonds/Thorburn of Islands put together a NY Cares benefit at Knitting Factory in NYC. It happened back on December 8th. The three floor event featured experimental music, art and someone on LSD in a cage on the bottom floor (Old Office), comedy (Eugene Mirman, Dave Hill, Tim Harrington of Les Savy Fav, God's Pottery, Jessie Klein, etc...) followed by Street Carnage (Gavin McInnes showing funny pictures and telling really dirty stories about them) on the second flooor (Tap Bar), and music (Conrad Keely, Leona Naess, Marnie Stern, Despot and Nick Diamonds) and comedy (Eugene Mirman and Fred Armisen) on the main stage. More pictures below...

Continue reading "the rest of the NY Cares Benefit pics (David Cross, Nick Diamonds, Fred Armisen, Street Carnage...)"

to quote Nick,

Eugene Mirmen was added to the bill, along with comics Jessi Klein, God's Pottery, & Andres DuBouchet (which brings the total comedy to...a lot considering there's also Dave Hill, David Cross and Fred Armisen). Fred Armisen is going to be doing something special, and Andrew WK is gonna pop by and do a set, i think. Tim Harrington just rang and is gonna have a t-shirt booth, making customized ones for sale. plus, miracle fruit is crazy- it alters the receptors in your taste buds to make bitter and sour things taste sweet. Also, there will be a guy in a cage on LSD who you can interact with (but be gentle). this will be a fun night.

p.s. doing a solo set with accompaniment

Continue reading "Monday's NY Cares event "just got weirder""

Photos by Edwina Hay

DOWNLOAD: Fucked Up - No Epiphany (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fucked Up - Twice Born (MP3)

In order to capture as much of the 12 hour show that the band Fucked Up played at the Rogan Store on the Bowery near where CBGB used to be yesterday (10/14), we set up photographic shifts. Ryan was 4-6, Chris was 6-8, Edwina was 8-midnight and Tim was midnight until 2am. We failed at getting anyone there from 2-4 in the afternoon when it started. We also ended up with overlap because naturally, people stayed longer than their alotted time period, especially Ryan who was there for 8 hours. That's Jon Josef of Cro-Mags and Cro-Mags (jam) fame above in the red t-shirt (not the first time a hardcore/punk legend has joined FU on stage). The rest of Edwina's pics are below...

Continue reading "Fucked Up & friends @ the Rogan Store - the final set of pics"

Les Slip n Slide @ McCarren Pool - Aug 3, 2008 (by Bill Pearis)

Just like on July 9, 2006 when Les Savy Fav played the first concert at McCarren Pool, indie rock barber Tim Harrington could be found trying out the slip-n-slide (this time with his child) at today's Black Lips / Deerhunter / King Khan show. More coverage of today's Pool Party coming soon...

photos by Elizabeth Weinberg

Continue reading "Did Tim Harrington cut your hair @ the 2008 Pitchfork Fest?"

Zach G. & Tim H. in their underwear, May 21, 2008

I know the trivia contest was supposed to be fun and all, but after rocking a perfect score after 3 rounds, I was so disappointed in the last round. Love the idea, but they could have at least made it indie-rock related.

Great performance by Mr. Z and the band, although they sure took their sweet time getting on stage. [Anonymous]

photos by Ryan Muir

Continue reading "Les Savy Fav & Dan Deacon @ Coachella 2008 (day 1) - pics"