Punch Brothers @ Prospect Park in 2011 (more by David Andrako)

The Punch Brothers will be out on the road for much of February and March and then some in April and over the summer too. Many of those dates are with Jesca Hoop including April 26 at Town Hall in NYC which goes on sale at 11am today (2/3). All tour dates are listed below....

Continue reading "Punch Brothers -- 2012 Tour Dates (include Town Hall in NYC, Clearwater, Telluride, MerleFest & more)"

Jane Birkin finishes a short North American tour at Town Hall in NYC tonight (12/11). The great NYC entertainer Joey Arias opens the show and tickets are still on sale.

Jane will be performing the work of her late husband Serge Gainsbourg backed by a group of Japanese performers. As a recent review reads:

A Japanese-originating quartet of piano, drums, trumpet and violin (originally assembled, she told us, to play post-tsunami benefit shows in Tokyo which has since coaxed out on tour) executed the tunes with both original details (those cafe jazz breakbeats when called for) and a modern panache that was needed to hold the whole shebang together. One audience member with an accent explained to another that Birkin was "not rock" just before the show. It was, of course, more beatnik-jazz-pop-cabaret than rock. Still, hearing the likes of "Do Di Dah" without guitar picking might not have been the same, but its playful spirit came shining through in a jazz rendition. Birkin's voice and easy way with a tricky series of notes here and there was a bit of a revelation to some, for sure, and proved more than capable of carrying tunes when the band receded. If it wavered over the high notes, it shouldn't have come as a surprise. That delicacy and naturalism was surely what drew Serge and us to her the first time around--um, and the drop dead gorgeous thing, probably.

Meanwhile, Jane's daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg whose 2010 Beck-produced album IRM gained her lots of attention and brought her to our shores for shows at places like The Bell House, Coachella and Webster Hall, recently released an EP and then an album. The longer album, Stage Whisper, "includes seven unreleased studio recordings and eleven live songs. Many of the studio tracks come from sessions for IRM." The EP, Terrible Angels, was released earlier via Because Music / Elektra, and contains "two unreleased studio tracks, two live recordings, and two videos." All four of the songs are also on Stage Whisper.

You can watch one of the videos, with more info on the two releases, below...

Continue reading "Charlotte Gainsbourg released an album; Jane Birkin on tour (plays Town Hall w/ Joey Arias tonight)"

(photo by _crobin)

For the entire hour-long set, during which he played only old songs, the audience sat rapt, hanging on every note. And between songs, if anything, the focus sharpened alongside a collective hope that the odd, angular figure in the page-boy cap might take five minutes to explain everything: why he took a J.D. Salinger-like dive out of public life, why he's back now, and what the future holds.

But true to character, Mangum gave up little. At one point, he said the audience could ask him questions -- and a few rang out. But the one he chose to answer -- "What's your favorite book?" -- he didn't really answer at all. "You know the answer to that one," he said, cryptically. Devoted fans suspected, perhaps, that he was referring to "The Diary of Anne Frank," which supposedly inspired many of the songs on "Aeroplane." But it could have just as easily been anything else -- "The Catcher in The Rye" or "Gravity's Rainbow," the Bible or the Koran or "How to Make Friends and Influence People." Who the heck knew?

Over the course of the set, we did get something out of the guy: When he performs, he craves a sense of community. It was unexpected, coming from someone who has so cautiously guarded his privacy throughout the years. But he repeatedly asked the audience to sing along with him -- and uttered gracious notes of thanks when we complied. Twice, he asked for the house lights to be raised so he could "see the faces" of those to whom he was playing, and he answered several "we love you, Jeff!" hoots throughout the night, with an earnest and direct: "Thank you, my friend." [Wall Strett Journal]

Continue reading "Jeff Mangum played Town Hall (setlist)"

Furthur are going on a tour that hits MSG on November 10th. Tickets are on sale now. The after party is at BB King's.

As previously mentioned, Ray Davies is going back out on tour. Tickets to the Beacon Theater show are now on AmEx presale and go on general sale Saturday at 10am.

Tickets to all four National shows at Beacon Theater (in case you hadn't noticed) go on sale today (9/16) at 11am.

Other shows now on sale at the Beacon include Steely Dan, Bryan Ferry, Yo Gabba Gabba!, The Jayhawks & Rosanne Cash, Gillian Welch, Weird Al, NY Comedy Fest stuff, two Noel Gallagher shows, and Tori Amos.

Shows coming up and on sale at Town Hall include more comedy stuff and Rufus & Martha Wainwright's "Not So Silent Night" Christmas Show.

Steve Earle in Austin in July (more by Tim Griffin)

In the NY Post:

You might recognize roots singer Steve Earle from his turn on the Big Easy HBO series "Treme." Or you might have seen him around town, walking or on the F train.

Born in Virginia, raised in Texas and settled in Nashville, Earle made New York City home a few years back. Reflecting on a pair of hometown shows -- Town Hall on Tuesday and the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Wednesday -- Earle says, "Your guest list ends up looking like the extras from 'The Ten Commandments,' there's the usual stress of a hometown gig. But I love to play New York City, it's home." He adds, "You have to work a little bit harder. It's like playing baseball in New York."

Earle would like to take the subway to his gigs, but was still discussing it with his wife, singer Allison Moorer, who shares the bill with him and his band the Dukes (and Duchesses).

Tickets are still on sale for both Town Hall and Music Hall of Williamsburg. All dates are listed HERE. Welcome home Steve & Allison (for a few days anyway).

Doveman (more by Vincent Cornelli)

Rufus Wainwright has been added as a confirmed guest at the next Doveman 'Burgundy Stain Session' at Le Poisson Rouge. Tickets are still on sale.

Martha played the last one.

Rufus also has a free show coming up at the World Financial Center.

Rufus & Martha will both be performing in honor of their mother next week at the 90-year old Town Hall. The birthday party was last night...

Jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli surprised and wowed guests when his son John joined him on stage. The two were a joy to watch as they showed family love as well as an abundance of craft. Surprise guest, Norm Lewis, in from London's "Les Miz," and in town for rehearsals to an up-dated "Porgy and Bess," sang "I'd Rather Be Sailing," "Make Them Hear You" and "Bring Him Home." Jeffry Denman and Noah Racey showed why they are two of the best dancers on Broadway. The one and only Liz Callaway made "Hey You in the Back Row" come alive with her musical director Alex Rybeck, then forgetting the lyrics to "Another Hundred People" (not really), broke into the best parody of Sondheim I have ever heard. She ended her set with a song from the act she and her sister Ann Hampton Callaway are performing at Birdland this week. Tovah closed the show making 90 years of politically informative, musically innovative and electrifying cultural history begin its 91st year with a bang."

Continue reading "Rufus Wainwright added to Doveman show, Town Hall turned 90, Esperanza Spalding playing there, but first w/ Prince"

The mysterious Wordless show will NOT be in NYC (it's in Cambridge, MA), but Jeff Mangum will in fact play NYC's Town Hall on October 29th AND Loew's Theatre in Jersey City (where the Strokes are filming a video today) on November 6th. Tickets TBA. All dates (Toronto in AUGUST included), below...

Continue reading "Jeff Mangum announces MORE tour dates, Town Hall in NYC"

On May 12 and 13, Rufus and Martha, along with their aunt Anna McGarrigle will host A Celebration of the Music of Kate McGarrigle, a pair of tribute shows to be held for their late mother at New York City's Town Hall. These shows will feature performances by Rufus and Martha, as well Anna McGarrigle, Jimmy Fallon, Emmylou Harris, Antony (of Antony and the Johnsons), Krystle Warren, Teddy Thompson, Justin Bond, Jenni Muldaur, Sloan Wainwright and more. Tickets for both shows are onsale now at Ticketmaster.com.

All profits from these events will go to the Sarcoma Foundation of America. Rufus and Martha were recently named as the 2011 spokespersons for the Sarcoma Foundation of America. Kate McGarrigle passed away from Sarcoma in January 2010.

Teddy Thompson has many other shows and a tour coming up.

Justin Bond played Doveman's last Salon, and Martha Wainwright plays the next one.

by Rachel Kowal

BPB & the Cairo Gang @ Town Hall - 12/8/10 (photo by Reuben Strayer)

By this point, it's no secret that Oldham likes to keep things interesting. The prolific singer/songwriter has collaborated with a myriad of talented musicians (Tortoise, Scout Niblett, Matt Sweeney), performed/recorded under a range of monikers, and has even tried his hand at acting (Old Joy, Wendy and Lucy).

His musical act evolves so rapidly that the surprise of the evening at Town Hall came not during the main act when he played with the talented backing band The Cairo Gang, but during the mysterious opener's set. Earlier in an interview when asked about the band he shared a bill with, Oldham responded nonchalantly that The Babblers were simply an "obscure" band from Shreveport. But within seconds of seeing the group (and hearing the two vocalists), it became apparent that they were actually just a wild permutation of the main act, led by Oldham himself.

With his arm outstretched above his head and his eyes cast heavenward, Oldham's alias had more than a passing resemblance to a cult leader. But instead of matching Reeboks, he and his backing band wore sunglasses and one-piece pajama suits (complete with a zipper, hood, and footsies). The stage itself was decorated accordingly with a mismatched collection of bedroom lamps.

Given Oldham's involvement, The Babblers of course had that characteristic love it or hate it Bonnie 'Prince' Billy twang, but the songs were also quite distinct from Oldham's lengthy discography. Female vocalist Angel Olsen sang songs with a thrilling intensity as if her adopted persona gave her more confidence, freedom, and creative power. Olsen was a joy throughout the evening, but her role in The Babblers really let her shine since it occasionally gave her reason to exchange her smooth, rich vocals for a no-nonsense battle cry. "Sweetheart, Sweetheart, let's get it together!" she shrieked in desperation during one song. Upon witnessing Olsen's sudden transformation, the crowd broke the polite silence perpetuated by the fancy theatre with enthusiastic cheers. Together on stage, Oldham and Olsen were like cool criminals. There was a perverse quality to their back country gospel rock that made it mesmerizing to witness.

In recent weeks, the baffling story of The Babblers has been slowly unfurling. One theory holds that The Babblers project was modeled after the pre-existing work of Kevin Coyne and Dagmar Krause, and after comparing Wednesday night's notes to the track listing for the British duo's album (conveniently titled 'Babble'), this definitely seems to be the case. The Babblers played the entirety of 'Babble' in sequence.

Following the rousing set by The Babblers, there was a quick costume change and Oldham and his band emerged once more - this time under the guise of a different name. Everything was back to normal. (If your definition of normal allows for Oldham's eyeliner, fancy suit/do-rag combo, awkward dancing, and weird tics - that is.)

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and The Cairo Gang were definitely not as volatile as The Babblers (had Oldham one-upped himself?), but they were still compelling to watch. In her becoming black dress, Olsen charmed the crowd once again, even if her vocals were more subdued for the second half of the evening. After such an intense display earlier, I'm impressed she could continue to sing so beautifully.

Though the majority of the set was lifted from the group's recent collaborative album, 'Wonder Show of the World,' Oldham also included a handful of older tunes, including "Only Someone Running" (which featured Matt Sweeney on guitar) and the breathtaking "Cursed Sleep." They concluded their encore with "Go Folks, Go," which allowed Oldham to retain the position of charismatic religious fanatic once more as he echoed the song's title repeatedly, as if delivering a benediction to his receptive crowd of followers.

I don't think the Town Hall staff and promoters knew what they were getting into when they booked Will Oldham, but I'm certainly glad they took a chance and surrendered to the crazy pajama'ed gang and its fearless leader.

Bonnie Prince Billy & The Cairo Gang opened for Yo La Tengo at Maxwell's one night earlier. Their Town Hall setlist is below...

Continue reading "Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and The Cairo Gang (and The Babblers) played Town Hall (review & setlist)"

DOWNLOAD: The Babblers - Come Down Here (Kevin Coyne cover) (MP3)

"The Babblers turned out to be the alter-ego of the Bonnie "Prince" Billy lineup. Dressed in sunglasses and one-piece pajamas with hoods, the six band members ambled onto a mostly dark stage that was adorned by a handful of small table lamps and a vertical trellis of white Christmas lights. One could have easily taken this for some sort of silly dalliance, but in fact, it's a rather complex conceptual project: The group's name is a reference to Babble, an obscure, rock-opera-ish album from the late-70s by the late British outsider artist Kevin Coyne and German singer Dagmar Krause. The hour-long set was an in-sequence performance of the entire Babble album, with Oldham and Angel Olsen, as "Angela Babbler," in the lead vocal roles." [The Thread]

Continue reading "The Babblers are Will Oldham's mysterious new group (who opened for Bonnie Prince Billy on tour) -- MP3"

Though lately Bonnie 'Prince' Billy has been performing as/with "Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & The Cairo Gang" (aka Will Oldham and guitarist Emmett Kelly) (like at Monster Island), the December 8th show at Town Hall in NYC that has appeared on Ticketmaster just lists "Bonnie Prince Billy". Oh, and it also lists $328.50 in fees! (thanks Kate and William!). All dates below...

Continue reading "Bonnie Prince Billy playing Town Hall (holy fees!)"

by Klaus Kinski

Demetri

There are some big time comedy events upon us that require your immediate attention. First off, the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival kicks off TONIGHT (9/16) at The Bell House with An Evening of Comedy From 1986 featuring Emo Philips, Tony V., Larry Murphy, Ron Lynch and Jon Glaser, and Eugene Mirman. I am baffled that tickets are still on sale, but they are, so GET EM! The Fest continues through Sunday with some of the best line-ups this city has seen in ages. Participating venues include The Bell House, Union Hall, and The Rock Shop. See the full schedule below.

If you're a Manhattanite, just plain too lazy to make the trek out to Gowanus, or both, Tenacious D's less annoying half Kyle Gass will be tearing The Mercury Lounge a new one tonight with his band Trainwreck. This late show has doors at 9:30pm and tickets are still up for grabs. If you're a Brooklynite, just plain too lazy to make the trek out to Manhattan, or busy tonight, or all three, Trainwreck's tour also takes them to Brooklyn Bowl on September 21st. Tickets available for that too. All dates below.

Wait, are you telling me that neither of these shows are floating your boat? WTF? Well, howsabout a very titillating plan C? Longtime friend of BV Aziz Ansari headlines the massive Town Hall tonight. Looks like tickets for the show are gonzo, but check in with the box office later (or Craigslist) (or outside the venue) as they may have a few kicking around. You can alternatively go see him at the Beacon Theatre in November. Tickets are still available to that show that is part of this year's New York Comedy Festival.

And while we're on the subject of comedy happening at Town Hall, Demetri Martin has a whopping TWO SHOWS happening there on Friday September 24th and Saturday September 25th. Tickets to both shows are currently still on sale. I realize that in these tough times, it might be difficult to buy tickets for such a show. Luckily for you I have a pair of FRONT ROW TICKETS to give away to one, super lucky winner (for the Saturday show). Follow the procedure below and maybe, just maybe, you'll get all Charlie Bucket and whatnot. All dates and stuff down there too....

Continue reading "Mirman Fest kicking off, Demetri Martin playing shows (WIN FRONT ROW TIX), Trainwreck on tour (NY shows, other dates) "

They Might Be Giants will now be playing two "special shows for families" at Town Hall in NYC on Sunday, September 26th. Tickets are still on sale for the previously-announced 3pm show, and they added a 12:30pm show that goes on general sale at 11am. All dates and a copy of the band's video rider, below...

Continue reading "They Might Be Giants add early show & other tour dates"

photos by Graeme Flegenheimer

Joanna Newsom in Michigan

"At Town Hall on Thursday night, in a sold-out 90-minute show mostly drawn from her new album, "Have One on Me," (Drag City) she played the harp with precision but always with a little swing and bounce in the picking and damping. (She generates her own bass lines, too.) Her backing quintet had a drummer, Neal Morgan, but almost for color alone; he had far less rhythmic work to do than what she'd assigned to herself. Ryan Francesconi, the electric guitarist/banjoist/player of the Bulgarian tambura and kaval -- and also the arranger of the new album's songs -- came in a distant second for most notes played, but he made them within the tightest parameters." [NY Times]

The pictures in this post are from the first date of the tour (3/12) at Calvin College in Michigan where Bowerbirds opened. More pictures from that show, videos from Town Hall and the DC setlist below...

Continue reading "Joanna Newsom played Grand Rapids Michigan w/ Bowerbirds (pics), Town Hall in NYC & DC (listen @ NPR.com)"

As previously posted, Neko Case and Kelly Hogan both contributed heavily to Jakob Dylan's new album, and for what it's worth, are touring as part of his band. The tour will include shows at SXSW and one in NYC at Town Hall on April 21st. Tickets are on sale (@ noon). All dates TBA.

by Chris La Putt

DOWNLOAD: Laura Barrett - Bluebird (MP3)

Last night (3/10) marked the first of the Magnetic Fields' 3-night run at Town Hall (they also played a show at BAM earlier in the tour) in New York City with over two dozen songs spanning the band's 20-year discography. It also marked the release of the band's ninth album, Realism, ending Stephin Merrit's "no-synth" rule (reportedly, the upcoming album will be composed completely with synthesizers). The concert, like the new album, marked a direction towards a subdued (many critics calling it "folksy") sound to the Fields' repretoire; the antithesis of the band's 2008 album, Distortion, which was madeup entirely of guitar fuzz and feedback. Stephin serenely drolled on throughout the set, occasionally switching lead vocals with Claudia Gonson and Shirley Timms. During the set, Claudia announced that they'll be releasing 20 tickets for sale today, for tonight's show (I'm willing to bet there'll be some on Friday as well). Just get to the Town Hall box office before the show.

After this 3-day stint in NYC the band is off to Europe but you can can continue to see what's going on behind the scenes, and at the merch table, at their tour blog. Here's hoping that their NYC blog posts won't be all about Paul Rudd stopping by to see the show.

On April 20th, Merge Records will also be releasing the band's much celebrated 3-disc anthology, 69 Love Songs, on vinyl for the first time. Incidentally, the highlight of the show for me was finally hearing Wi' Nae Wee Bairn Ye'll Me Beget live.

What else is there for Stephin Merritt aside from composing music and lyrics to an off-broadway play and then having Peter Gabriel cover one of your songs? Well a documentary on Stephin and the band will be making its world premiere at SXSW next week entitled Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields. Take a look at the trailer below.

Laura Barrett opened for the band. More pictures and setlist below:

Continue reading "The Magnetic Fields played 1st of 3 shows @ Town Hall (pics & setlist), documentary premiering at SXSW (trailer)"

Magnetic Fields @ Loews Theater, Jersey City in Oct. 2008 (more by Chris La Putt)

The Magnetic Fields are happy to announce that they will be touring early next year in support of their forthcoming album, "Realism," which will be out on Nonesuch Records on January 26, 2010. The US and Canadian tour dates will take place in February and March. After their US and Canada dates, the band will be heading to Europe for a string of dates in mid- to late-March.

The 2010 tour hits a bunch of major cities and includes three NYC shows over the course of two separate visits. Most dates are on presale now.

During the first NYC visit, the Magnetic Fields play BAM's Howard Gilman Opera House on Saturday, February 13th. There's a limited fanclub & BAM member presale on sale now. General sale tickets go up Friday, November 20th.

Then the band returns for shows at NYC's Town Hall on Sunday, March 10th and Monday, March 11th. Again there's a fanclub presale on sale now, then tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 20th at noon.

Album art, tracklist, more info and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "The Magnetic Fields - new album, 2010 tour dates (3 in NYC)"

Bruce Springsteen & Lisa Lampanelli backstage @ Town Hall (Caroline's)

The New York Comedy Festival runs through Sunday. It kicked off last night at Town Hall with the "Stand up For Heroes" benefit...

[Host Brian] Williams walked onstage with a laptop and opened his monologue with the words: "Yankees 2, Phillies nothing." There was loud applause from the New York crowd missing Game 6 of the World Series.

He quipped that he wanted to be a full-service provider onstage and offer sports and weather updates in addition to covering the news. Williams also shared jokes about military food and being from New Jersey.

[Bruce] Springsteen threw in a few jokes, including one about Pepsi having created a drink that includes Viagra and that is called "MountAndDo."

One of his guitars and four Madison Square Garden tickets were then auctioned off by auctioneer Jamie Niven, the son of actor David Niven, for $50,000. "Law & Order: SVU" star Mariska Hargitay walked away with the goods to much applause.

Louis C.K. had the audience in stitches with edgy material about divorced life and his kids.

Colbert offered some topical humor, talking about his experience visiting the troops in Iraq, which he described as hot and dangerous, "like Texas with fewer guns." He also described a former Saddam Hussein palace as mindful of a house decorated by "The Real Housewives of New Jersey." [Hollywood Reporter]

After a massively successful career spanning more than 40 years, Ray Davies, the legendary lead singer of The Kinks, is back with creative and unusual interpretations of songs from his extensive catalogue. These are not merely re-recordings of the originals but whole new choral adaptations. Often referred to as "almost indisputably rock's most literate, witty and insightful songwriter," Davies had the ambitious idea to collaborate with the 65-strong Crouch End Festival Chorus at the 2007 BBC Electric Proms in London to create The Kinks Choral Collection. This masterful CD will be in stores November 10th on Decca with a nationwide tour scheduled to coincide with the release.

Also coming up at Town Hall is a zillion shows by Robin Williams, one by Devendra Banhart, and two by Tegan & Sara.

After canceling her tour with Kanye West, Lady Gaga came back with a tour announcement that includes two shows at Radio City Music Hall: January 20th & 21st. No tickets yet.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Antlers show at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are still on sale for the official BrooklynVegan CMJ show at Music Hall of Williamsburg (happening 10/20), a show that also includes the Antlers. Walter Schreifels plays a special early, hour-long set at 7:30pm. Before him is another opener that I'm about to announce. Fanfarlo closes the night around 11:00. Dave Hill, who is big in Japan, hosts the evening.

Speaking of Frenchkiss Records, tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the second Passion Pit show at Terminal 5.

Tickets are also on sale (@ noon) for the Mew show at Webster Hall.

Continue reading "Ray Davies, Lady Gaga, Antlers, Passion Pit, Mew, other tix"

The Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) and The New York Comedy Festival (NYCF) unite to present the third annual Stand Up for Heroes: A Benefit for the Bob Woodruff Foundation at Town Hall in New York City at 8:00 PM on Wednesday, November 4th. Brian Williams will host Stand Up for Heroes, which will feature star performances by Louis C.K., Stephen Colbert, Lisa Lampanelli, John Ondrasik, Bruce Springsteen and other surprise guests. These and other A-list entertainers have agreed to Stand Up for Heroes and ReMIND our nation that "Support our troops" is no longer a slogan. It's an action. The evening promises unforgettable performances, laughter, and sincere gratitude, with proceeds going to the BWF.

For the third consecutive year, all of our nation's living presidents have officially expressed their support to the Stand Up for Heroes event. President Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama, President George W. Bush, President George H. W. Bush, President Jimmy Carter and President William J. Clinton serve as the Presidential Committee for this year's event. Major television network executives join the Presidents as event co-chairs including Steve Capus and Sophia Faskianos (NBC), Ken and Kristin Jautz (CNN), Jon and Jennifer Klein (CNN), Sean and Tracy McManus (CBS), Philip Miller and Anne Sweeney (ABC), Richard and Lisa Plepler (HBO), David and Sherrie Westin (ABC), and Jeff and Caryn Zucker (NBC).

The show is part of the New York Comedy Festival.

In related news Louis CK is now on Parks & Recreation.

Colbert recently had John Darnielle on his TV show.

Bruce Springsteen plays his fifth and final show at Giants Stadium tonight (10/9).

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the show Devendra Banhart is playing at Town Hall.

photos by Vincent Cornelli

Okay, so you probably could've guessed it without too much work: Little Joy's opening act [Friday] night, Swami Shave-us Jr, was in fact Devendra Banhart. (The connections? Little Joy's Rodrigo Amarante played on Banhart's Smokey album; Noah Georgeson produced the band's sweet, sunshiney debut; Binki Shapiro played with Banhart on Beck's Record Club project. Phew!) Still, Webster Hall was buzzing with excitement as Banhart took the stage. He played a beautiful, twinkling set of favorites and new songs (including "Little Yellow Spider" and new single "Baby") accompanied by Megapuss bandmate Greg Rogove (on mbira and drums and backups). Little Joy's members grinned from the moment they took the stage, an adoring, fresh-faced crowd singing along with vintage Coca-Cola ad gusto....The band's encore...saw Banhart and Rogove back onstage, along with most of Webster Hall (cue flummoxed security, etc.). Joy indeed. [Time Out]

Two tracks from Devendra's new album, What Will We Be, are currently streaming on his MySpace. The album is set to come out October 27th, 2009 on Warner Brother Records. Via Wikipedia: "The album was co-produced by Banhart and Paul Butler from A Band of Bees. Rejoining Banhart are old band mates Noah Georgeson, Greg Rogove, Luckey Remington, and Rodrigo Amarante, all of whom worked with him on his previous album, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon."

Banhart spoke to Paste Magazine recently about a possible collaboration with GZA: "I played Coachella, and, lo and behold, I looked on the sidelines and there was GZA. I was stunned," Banhart says. "So we hung out and talked--we talked about atomic energy and how the sun is powered. We talked about dark matter. Then I sent him my catalog. And he said 'Hey man, will you write some stuff? Let's write together.'" At this point, says Banhart, "[GZA] has shared his new writing with me and I've sent a couple sketches. With his new work I can tailor the sketches I already had. We're at the beginning stages."

Little Joy has been quite busy since the release of their debut. No more scheduled upcoming shows at the moment though. Meanwhile, Fabrizio Moretti, who did play with Little Joy at Webster Hall, but is only a part time member now anyway, is probably finishing up another project.

More pictures and videos from Webster Hall, and the new Devendra album tracklist are below...

Continue reading "Devendra Banhart played Webster Hall w/ Little Joy (pics), playing Town Hall (tix), releasing major label album + GZA"

by Klaus Kinski

A few nights ago I had a dream that my personal favorite Monty Python cast member Michael Palin approached me after I had finished a speaking engagement and asked me to join a reunited Python cast for a world tour. I declined the offer because I was apparently about to head out on tour with Radiohead as their new drummer. Alas, that was only a dream and my, our, only opportunity to see the entire reunited Python cast in the flesh will be Thursday October 15th at the Ziegfeld Theater (full details below). Limited tickets for this Monty Python 40 Anniversary Reunion and presentation of a BAFTA Special Award went on sale and cost $150. If you would like to purchase tickets, shoot an e-mail to Screening@baftaeastcoast.com. If successful, you'll be e-mailed a link to a ticket registration site and you can proceed from there. Good luck!

There will almost certainly be squabbling at the reunion. "They love getting angry and shouting at each other," Ben Timlett, a director and producer of the documentary, said recently. There were (and are) genuine differences among the Pythons, which they sometimes exaggerate for comic effect now, and there have been so many books, articles and previous documentaries that there is no truly reliable account of practically anything associated with the group. Partly for this reason, a number of the Pythons were initially reluctant to take part in the documentary.

"I was very dubious about it," Mr. Cleese said. "I thought we had flogged this horse to death -- way past death, in fact." [NY Times]

And if that's not enough, in addition to the documentary, showings of Python film classics Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python's Life of Brian, and Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl, IFC will also be showing episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Monty Python's Flying Circus will air @ 11:30 PM ET/PT throughout the Network's Python-A-Thon beginning Sunday, October 18, and Every Monday at 7:30 p.m. and Friday at 11:00 p.m. thereafter

In other somewhat Monty Python related news, there's a show happening at Town Hall from October 6th - October 10th called An Evening Without Monty Python. Directed by original Python cast member Eric Idle, these shows consist of contemporary comedians and actors performing classic Python skits. I've read many positive reviews of the LA shows, but as a fan I don't think I'm alone in being a LITTLE skeptical about this. I feel like it'd be like seeing a cover band. Though, the Australian Pink Floyd is a cover band and they consistently sell out gigantic theaters all over the world. Maybe people don't mind a decent forgery? Anyhow, if you're feeling adventurous tickets are currently on sale. Video below.

Continue reading "Monty Python reunion almost here, on IFC... & at Town Hall?"

by Andrew Frisicano

Marc Ribot @ Hudson Square in August (more by Andrew Frisicano)

The Times wasn't too impressed by Marianne Faithfull's set at Town Hall on September 24th, though they did have good things to say about Marc Ribot, who once again backed her on guitar.

Despite a good band (most of the crew from the new record, directed by the bassist Greg Cohen and including the guitarist Marc Ribot, who repeatedly tore it up), despite the rousing volume, despite the healthy and unhealthy adulation from the crowd, much of the show felt a bit inert. Having finished her part in a song, Ms. Faithfull leaned against a stool or a keyboard or a speaker, smiling into the distance, waiting for the musicians to wrap it up.

It didn't help that she kept her eyes on lyric sheets; consequently, many of the songs felt like recitations. She seemingly became truly involved in the music only when she didn't need to be reminded of the lyrics, which happened in some of her old songs: a little bit in the morbid "Sister Morphine," a lot in the scabrous "Why'd Ya Do It?" When she traded elegant resignation for asperity, closing her eyes and shaking her fists, she was so much better. [NY Times]

Marc will be back at the venue on November 18th for a show with Akiko Yano. He played guitar on her 2008 T-Bone Burnett-produced album akiko, and it'll be their first NYC show together. Tickets are on sale. She plays without Marc Ribot (but with Will Lee & Chris Parker) at Joe's Pub on October 6th (tix).

Coming up, Marc Ribot will be part of the NY Guitar Festival's Silent Films/Live Guitars series in January 2010. Ceramic Dog will tour Europe this October. Those dates are below...

Continue reading "Marianne Faithfull played Town Hall w/ Marc Ribot (who plays LPR tonight & other upcoming shows) "

That above picture is the cover for the forthcoming Tegan & Sara album, Sainthood, due out October 27th on Vapor Records. The record is being produced by Chris Walla (of Death Cab and many producing credits) and Howard Redekopp (who's worked with New Pornographers, Mother Mother, and others) - interesting in that they've both worked on past Tegan & Sara individually.

The pair (Tegan and Sara) have a few shows scheduled at the moment. Two of those will happen at NYC's Town Hall on October 30th and 31st (Mischief Night and Halloween). Tickets go on sale Friday at 10am.

Tiestoremixed Tegan & Sara's track "Back in your Head" in 2007. Now the three have collaborated again on "I Feel it in My Bones," a song that'll be included on Tiesto's new album, Kaleidoscope, out October 20th on Ultra Records. That song is streaming on his MySpace. Also guesting on the Tiesto album will be Jónsi of Sigur Rós, Kele Okereke of Bloc Party, Emily Haines of Metric, and others. Full tracklist is below.

Tiesto is going on a pretty big tour that kicks off with three nights at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. Tickets for those shows (9/24-9/26) are on sale now. All dates, the Tegan & Sara album back cover and tracklist, and more, below...

Continue reading "Tegan & Sara - new album, 2 Town Hall shows, & collab. w/ Tiesto who is touring (dates) & playing 3 NYC shows"