Clipse @ Highline Ballroom in 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

today in NYC
* Bamboozle
* Kate Biggar @ The Stone
* Down @ Starland Ballroom
* Elisa Ambrogio @ The Stone
* The Roulette Sisters @ Barbes
* Jon Anderson of Yes @ BB King's
* Bill Frisell @ Village Vanguard
* Cheick Hamala Diabate @ Barbes
* Marshall Crenshaw @ City Winery
* Tiajuana Caravan @ Mercury Lounge
* Egyptrixx, Cubic Zirconia @ Glasslands
* of Montreal, Painted Palms @ Webster Hall
* Yelle, French Horn Rebellion @ Irving Plaza
* LAKE, AgesandAges, Sea of Bees @ Mercury Lounge
* Double Negative, Kim Phuc, Nomos @ 538 Johnson
* Cherry Blossom Festival @ Brooklyn Botanic Garden
* DeRobert & The Half-Truths, Magic in Threes @ Southpaw
* White Fence, Family Portrait, Easter Vomit @ Cake Shop
* A-Trak, Clipse, Kid Sister, The Gaslamp Killer @ Terminal 5
* Paul Collins' Power Pop A Licious Festival @ Asbury Lanes
* Mr. Dream, Shapes, Yvette, Young Adults, Lettercamp @ Pianos
* Air Waves, Soft Healer, Hatchet Wound, Widowspeak @ Glasslands
* Titus Andronicus, The Suzan, Dinowalrus @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Gordon Voidwell, Chin Chin, Emily Warren & The Betters @ 92YTribeca
* Alejandro Escovedo, Jesse Malin & The St. Marks Social @ The Bell House
* Pearl & The Beard, Kingsley Flood, Ugly Purple Sweater @ The Rock Shop
* Sexy Crimes, Sports Bar, Crazy and The Brains, Nuclear Santa Claust @ The Acheron
* CunninLynguists, Tonedeff, Blue Sky Black Death, Bed Stuy Chew @ Knitting Factory
* Bang on a Can All-Stars, Eighth Blackbird, Kronos Quartet, So Percussion (The Music of Steve Reich - 75th Birthday Celebration) @ Carnegie Hall
* Japanther, Florida, The Courtesy Tier, The Wicked Tomorrow, Baby Brother, Live Footage, Jessy Tomsko (Japan Fundraiser) @ Brooklyn Fire Proof East

Go Green! Greenpoint Earth Day festival is today (12-4 PM) at McCarren Park, Brooklyn.

The Cherry Blossom Festival is happening at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Today is also the Tribeca Film Fest Street Fair.

What else?

The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival opening night announcement has been the buzz of the city for the past few weeks, with lots of questions circling about how New Yorkers can get a seat at the free outdoor screening of Cameron Crowe's documentary, The Union.

Set to premiere at 8:15 pm on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, The Union chronicles the making of the 2010 album of the same name, a collaboration between pop icon Elton John and legendary rock 'n' roll keyboardist Leon Russell. Crowe is, of course, known for making classic music narratives, including Singles (1992) and Almost Famous (2000), and fans can't wait to see what he does in the documentary format with Elton and Leon.

We've been working hard on a plan for the opening night event, which will be co-sponsored by AOL, supported by Goldman Sachs, and hosted by Brookfield Properties, the owner of the World Financial Center, the location of the outdoor festivities. And special thanks to ESPN.

Here's the scoop:

• A TFF wristband is required to be seated at the event.

• Wristbands will be distributed to the public on a first-come, first-served basis on April 20 at 4:00 pm.

• The distribution site is the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center--at the West Side Highway entrance, just north of Chambers. (See #4 on our Maps page.)

• There will be a limit of two wristbands per person.

• When you get your wristband, you will also get a list of details about how, when, and where to find your seat.

• The screening will begin at 8:15 pm on April 20.

• Details are still being firmed up, but programming at the Plaza may begin at approximately 7:30.

• Note: Venue access and capacity are at the discretion of the NYPD.

Elton John announced today that he'll be playing at Ceasars in Vegas for at last another three years. Tickets for the first 16 shows go on sale April 25th.

Continue reading "Elton John announces another Vegas residency, playing free NYC show tonight (here's how to get in)"

As that little banner I grabbed off their site says, tickets go on AmEx presale today (4/12) for Tribeca Film Festival movies. To be more exact, starting at 11am, "Single Tickets on sale exclusively for American Express® Cardmembers (Online, Phone, and Ticket Outlets)." Tickets then go on sale to "downtown residents" starting at the same time on Sunday. General public can grab tickets starting Monday, April 18th.

Music-related films this year include Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, Mama Africa (about Miriam Makeba), The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye, Crash&Burn, God Bless Ozzy Osbourne, Sing Your Song (about Harry Belafonte who will also be on hand for a conversation moderated by "noted broadcaster" Tavis Smiley), The Swell Season (a documentary about Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova and their film Once), The Union (about Elton John & Leon Russell), When the Drum is Beating (about Haiti's 20-member band Septentrional), Roadie (about a roadie for Blue Oyster Cult), and Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon.

Elton John will also be performing live on opening night, April 20th...

"The first big piece of news about the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival has broken, and it's a doozy. To open the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by American Express®, we've assembled some serious talent: award-winning director Cameron Crowe, seminal rock keyboardist Leon Russell, and Elton John, with the latter performing live on April 20!

What do these three men have in common? Well, in 2009, Elton John teamed up with his longtime idol Russell to make an album called The Union, produced by the legendary T-Bone Burnett. Director Crowe--himself an avid music fan, having explored the musician's life in such classics as Almost Famous and Singles--decided to film their collaborative process, from writing through recording. The result is a documentary of the same name, the world premiere of which will be shown as the opening night film on Wednesday, April 20, 2011.

"As a longtime fan of both artists, it was a pleasure to spend a year filming their collaboration," said Cameron Crowe. "We can't wait to show it to one of the greatest audiences in the world, the Tribeca Film Festival."

What's more, with this year being the 10th edition of the Festival, opening night will be a free, outdoor screening--as a sincere thank-you to the New York City community for its ongoing support. After the film screens at the North Cove at the World Financial Plaza, the legendary Elton John will perform live for the audience. How cool is that?...

....Details will follow about how YOU can join us on opening night. We can't wait to share The Union with you!" [Tribeca Film Fest]

According to comments on the fest's blog, they're working out a wristband distribution system for the free concert.

Other special events include the Tribeca Drive-In with free films at the World Financial Center Plaza, and the April 30th Family Festival. A clip from "The Union" is below...

Continue reading "Tribeca Film Fest begins 4/20, tix on sale today, Elton John to perform live, lots of music-related films"

Omar & fan @ Tribeca Film Festival - Apr 22, 2010 (Sylvia Hatred)

The new date for the Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group show at Highline Ballroom is September 17th. Tickets are on sale. The Mars Volta member's film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last night. As you can see above, Omar was in attendance.

Squeeze & Cheap Trick play Radio City Music Hall in NYC on July 13th. Tickets just went on sale.

Alice Smith has scheduled a last-minute acoustic show at Highline Ballroom... tonight, Friday April 23rd. Tickets are on sale.

The May 3rd Chapterhouse and Ulrich Schnauss show at The Bell House sold out. Tickets are on sale for a 2nd show one day later with the same lineup.

Matmos and So Percussion will be playing at (Le) Poisson Rouge on Wednesday, June 9th. Tickets are on sale now.

Saturday night's show at Bruar Falls is free and going to be packed.

Also free: the shows at Grand Central for Earth Day today.

Gainsbourg, Je t'Aime... Moi Non Plus

The Tribeca Film Festival runs this year from April 21st to May 2nd, and the offerings include a number of music flicks, many with in-person Q&A's attached. The schedule includes two new biopics Gainsbourg, Je t'Aime... Moi Non Plus and the life of The Blockheads' Ian Dury Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll. There's also Rush:Beyond the Lighted Stage with members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson in attendance, and Last Play at Shea, which focuses on the stadium's history as a music venue and includes footage of Shea's last concert, by Billy Joel, who will be at the screening.

Mars Volta's Omar Rodriguez Lopez directed The Sentimental Engine Slayer which makes its North American premiere at the festival on April 22nd with Omar in attendance. Less than two weeks later Omar headlines a concert at Highline Ballroom. Omar was set to play a NYC show less than two weeks later, but it has been postponed.

Hip Hop related films include Ice Cube's Straight Outta L.A., and White Lines & The Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug.

Free programs include Tribeca Drive-In movie series from April 22-24 at the World Financial Center, which will screen Big and other films.

Festival packages are on sale now. For individual films, tickets go on AmEx presale starts today at 11am. Then there's a presale for "downtown" residents only (in person, with proof of zip code below Canal St) on Sunday, April 18th. Finally, tickets go on sale to the public Monday, April 19th at 11am. "Tickets for the Festival will be $16.00 for evening and weekend screenings and $8.00 for daytime weekday and late night screenings. TFF will also offer a selection of screenings that include in-depth panel discussions with filmmakers and talent for $25.00."

Info on the above-mentioned films and more, below...

Continue reading "Tribeca Film Festival 2010 - full schedule, music films, tickets "

photos by Chris La Putt

Ted Leo played a three song, acoustic set at 92YTribeca last night (4/23). The mostly-comedy show was not affiliated with the Tribea Film Festival, though the fest is holding some events at that venue and many other places in the same neighborhood this week.

Ted Leo performed his firs two songs solo, one of which was a cover of Nick Lowe's "So It Goes". The third song was a duet with comedian, and host of the evening, Paul F. Tompkins. They did "Atlantis" by Donovan. Ted Leo's next NYC-area show is in NJ. More pictures from 92Y below...

Continue reading "Ted Leo, Paul F Tompkins & friends @ 92YTribeca - pics "

Passing Strange

Spike Lee got this Broadway hit on film. Now you can see this coming-of-age Bohemian rhapsody on the big screen.

A reminder (and this is from the tickets page): Never Say "Sold Out" - Even if advance tickets are no longer available, don't give up--just think RUSH TICKETS. We admit those standing in the RUSH TICKETS line approximately 15 minutes prior to a film or panel's scheduled start time, until a theater is at capacity. Lines begin forming approximately 60 minutes before each screening, so be sure to arrive early.

This reminder applies to quick-selling flicks like Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful, Burning Down the House: The Story of CBGB, and Soundtrack for a Revolution. Don't forget: there is also the chance of additional screenings being added.
[A Song For You: The '09 Festival's Musical Films]

photos by Paul Bachmann

The first free Brooklyn 'Pool Party' of the summer will happen (at McCarren Pool) on June 29, 2008. The linuep is: The Hold Steady, The Loved Ones, and The Muslims, and the date is not long before the Hold Steady release their fourth album...

Stay Positive is due July 14 in the UK from new overseas home Rough Trade and July 15 in the States from Vagrant. The John Agnello-produced set, recorded in the greater New York metropolitan area this winter, sports both a wider array of instrumentation than past Hold Steady discs, and lyrics that concern themselves with "the attempt to age gracefully." Check out our chat with Craig and guitarist Tad Kubler from February for a little more insight into the forthcoming disc straight from the source. [Pitchfork]

Friday night was the Tribeca Film Festival show at Webster Hall (May 2, 2008). Those who were there said it was good, but short. The Hold Steady's set was less than an hour with no encore. That's because there were lots of bands on the bill and it was more a film festival event than a proper concert. More photos from that, along with the new album tracklist, and tour dates, below....

Continue reading "the HOLD STEADY - Tribeca Film Festival pics, McCarren Pool details, a new album in July, tour dates"

Enjoy cinema under the stars! The Tribeca Drive-In, the Festival's classic outdoor screening series, will present a 25th anniversary celebration of "Thriller," the family-friendly Meerkat Manor, and the winning film of the Fans' Favorite Football Flick in the plaza of the World Financial Center, April 24-26. Screenings are free and open to the public, and doors open at 6:30 p.m., with programs beginning at 7:30 and screenings at 8. [Tribeca Film Festival]

Tonight "Join filmmaker and 'Thriller' video director John Landis for a special 25th anniversary screening of Michael Jackson's epic 1984 music video, plus the classic Making of Thriller. Learn the Thriller dance and take part in the world's largest zombie disco..."

info @ Apple's site.

the Hold Steady @ Terminal 5 (more by Leia)

Tickets are on sale for the May 2nd Hold Steady show at Webster Hall. Also, Impose is reporting that The Hold Steady and White Denim are playing a show at McCarren Pool on Sunday June 29th.

White Denim are also playing two shows in NYC this week.

...and photos of Franz Nicolay playing on the street in Austin

There was a lot in that last post, so just to be clear:

Returning to the Tribeca Film Festival for a second time is Grammy-nominated music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, who owns Chop Shop Music Supervision and recently launched her music label Chop Shop Records. Patsavas will curate Breaking the Band sponsored by Target, an exclusive live music showcase featuring The Hold Steady, The Virgins, and Republic Tigers that will take place Friday, May 2 at Webster Hall. Tickets will be available beginning Saturday, April 12 through the Tribeca Film Festival Box Office at www.tribecafilmfestival.org.

More Hold Steady tour dates, and more photos of Franz Nicolay playing in the streets during SXSW a few weeks ago, below.....

Continue reading "The Hold Steady & The Virgins are playing Webster Hall..."

win tickets....

The Hold Steady and The Virgins are playing Webster Hall on May 2nd. Tickets go on sale April 12th. Regina Spektor, Nick Lowe, Sondre Lerche and many others are playing the annual day show at Canal Room (April 29-May 2). This is all part of this year's Tribeca Film Festival which believe it or not includes movies too (Lou Reed's Berlin directed by Julian Schnabel included). The day shows are for festival pass holders only, but I have two pairs of tickets to give away that get you in to the Canal Room for the whole week. How to win, and full festival details/lineups, below.....

Continue reading "Tribeca Film Festival music programming - The Hold Steady, Regina Spektor, Nick Lowe, Sondre Lerche, movies & stuff"