Beach Fossils @ Mercury Lounge in 2011 (more by Diana Wong)

Widowspeak, in case you missed the post we updated, have a show coming up at Glasslands with Mac DeMarco (who opens for Beach Fossils at Music Hall of Williamsburg), but first you can catch them with Dum Dum Girls at Maxwell's tonight (2/11).

And it turns out Music Hall of Williamsburg and SXSW (with Widowspeak) aren't Beach Fossils' only upcoming shows. Check out the flyer for tonight's free Fashon Week shindig at Tribeca Grand, below.

Continue reading "Beach Fossils play Tribeca Grand today; Widowspeak are in NJ"

Girls @ Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 (more by Tim Griffin)

Girls, who are playing the sold out Coachellas this year, play their big sold out headlining show at Terminal 5 tonight (1/14) along with support from Real Estate and King Krule (who also played Glasslands and Mercury Lounge this past week).

Tonight's afterparty goes down at the Tribeca Grand hotel, upstairs in the Club Room, where Girls, Real Estate, Sky Ferreria, Ilirjana, and Dean from True Panther are all DJing. Expensive Looks is performing live. Like all "Live From Tribeca" events, it's free with rsvp: events@grandlifenyc.com.
Update: Action Bronson was also added to the bill.

In related news, tickets are still on sale for Real Estate's upcoming show at K&K Super Buffet.

The Drums @ Brooklyn Bowl in 2009 (more by Oren Loloi)

The previously mentioned Drums show happening at Mercury Lounge on April 7th with iO Echo (io Echo's first-ever NYC show) is sold out, but you can catch the band even sooner and for free and TONIGHT (3/25) at Tribeca Grand. RSVP and more info is in the flyer below.

You can also catch the Drums, who weren't at SXSW to sing with Edwyn Collins, at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on April 11th with Matthew Dear who will be playing with his own band. Tickets are on sale. All tour dates are below...

Continue reading "The Drums add dates, like Tribeca Grand TONIGHT & Knitting Factory w/ Matthew Dear & other places"

Teengirl Fantasy

Teengirl Fantasy can be found at the following locations, tonight, in NYC, in the future, and elsewhere...

Continue reading "Teengirl Fantasy play Glasslands, DJ Shea Stadium & Tribeca Grand & open for Midnight Juggernauts ++ other dates "

DOWNLOAD: Annie - My Love Is Better (Sunkh Knight remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Annie - I Don't Like Your Band (MP3)

Annie's second album, Don't Stop, was supposed to come out last year, and for the Norwegian singer's net-savvy audience, it basically did. The version of the record that is being commercially released now is a bit different from what leaked in 2008-- a few tracks have been cut, a few more have been added-- but since it is being released with a bonus disc that includes every notable excluded track save for her cover of Stacey Q's "Two of Hearts", the final product is less glass-half-empty and more cup-runneth-over. [Pitchfork]

The bonus disk is an EP called "All Night" - tracklisting below. Two tracks off the new album (one being a remix) above. A video for a different "new" song below.

Annie won't be performing live to promote the release, but she is in town as a DJ. You can catch her at Tribeca Grand tonight (11/21) where Boy Crisis is also playing. The flyer for that show and all dates below...

Continue reading "Annie - new albums out (MP3, video), DJing in NYC tonight"

Baria Quereshi @ the NBC Experience Store (more by Tim Griffin)

Rumours were rife that The xx guitarist Baria Quereshi had left the group after she decided not to play at their gig at the Village Underground in Shoreditch last night.

The band declared they were "devastated" at her absence.

The Quietus favourites took to the stage without Baria, prompting bassist and singer Oliver Sim to tell the crowd: "Obviously this has been a really tough few days for us. This is the first time we've played as a three piece...

...He added that although the band had been forced to cancel their European tour dates, they planned to discuss their future after the weekend, and described Baria's absence as a temporary break rather than anything more permanent.

The statement said: "Baria didn't perform last night after feeling exhausted from The xx's recent touring commitments. As a result, the band performed as a 3 piece in London last night and have postponed some European shows which they are hoping to reschedule. They are next due to play in Frankfurt on 3rd November." [The Quietus]

The xx were just in NYC over the weekend and played a bunch of CMJ-related shows, including one in an NBC store (pictured above), and a Saturday late night set at the Tribeca Grand Hotel. Videos from the latter below...

Continue reading "a member of The xx is taking a break? dates canceled "

DOWNLOAD: Dirty Sound System - Summer Tape 2009 (MP3)

Dirty Sound System

It's been a while since I was this excited about a weekend, dance-wise. One of the many reasons why is Dirty Sound System is coming to New York this Saturday (8/1). According to their website, the French duo of Clovis Goux & Guillaume Sorge...

...spin everything from house, electro free jazz to spacey disco, acid house, krautrock, sunshine pop, folk, rythm'n'blues, music soundtracks... it depends on how far the dancefloor is ready to go.

Based on the awesome set their Dirty compatriot Pilooski spun at Mister Saturday Night back in May (which you can now download here) and their excellent selections on Dirty Edits 1 & 2 & Dirty Space Disco I have no doubt about their ability to get a dancefloor moving.

Info on the party they are deejaying on Saturday night below, plus download their Summer Tape 2009 at the top of this post and some mixes by Prince Language's (who is also deejaying the party) here. Also, be sure to check out Dirty Sound System's latest release Dirty French Psychedelics (available at Turntable Lab and on iTunes).

continued below...

Continue reading "the week in Dance w/ Showtrotta (part 2) (Dirty Sound System, Plant Music, Ete D'amour, Sunday Best, APW & more)"

The Field

"As with most of the Field's music, Yesterday and Today works better through headphones than in the club. You'd get too many people transfixed, just staring out into the middle distance. But that's what makes it such a powerful experience to listen to on your own. So cue up "Sequenced": let its static alternation and its basic bass and hi-hat drift through you and out across an icy landscape. It's the pulse of 2009. " [PopMatters]

Hopefully you had a good time getting down Friday night. Get ready to do some more dancing tonight (Saturday, 6/19) and read on for a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Fatboy Slim at Terminal 5 next Wednesday:

Continue reading "the week in Dance w/ Showtrotta (part 2) (The Field, Juan Maclean, Iggy Pop, Fatboy Slim ticket contest & more) "

Louise Harman is just 23, but already she's had quite a life. By the age of 20, she had scored a Top 10 hit with the Ordinary Boys - Nine2Five - and recorded with the Streets. In 2005, she got a deal with Island Records in the UK, while Jay-Z himself signed her to his Def Jam label in the US...

...Then things started to fall apart. "I went on strike and stopped doing stuff, so Def Jam got the hump with me," Harman shrugs, sipping on a vodka and Red Bull in a pub in Wembley, north London, near where she grew up. Her initial meeting with Jay-Z took place in front of R&B star Usher and producer LA Reid, and was, she remembers, an uncomfortable experience. "All these executives, on the top floor of a high-rise building, all eyes on me. It was like an audition. Jay-Z is a cool guy, but we only hung out properly once - it's not like we were best friends." Her mother was (and still is) seriously ill with a brain tumour. Meanwhile, Def Jam had spent vast amounts marketing her debut album, Public Warning, and saw little chance of profiting from its 300,000 sales. The pressure was on.

The tipping point was a disastrous performance at New York's Studio B in May 2007. Harman told the audience she was broke and bored of performing the same songs; she left the stage after two tracks to a chorus of boos. "I lost the plot a few times. I was cutting myself and stupid things like that. I was tired," she says now. "I felt like it was just push, push, push. I didn't have a chance to record any new stuff, it was the same old songs."

She flew back home. "My manager rang me and said, 'OK, it's definitely over.' And it hit me." She insists that Def Jam didn't drop her; the parting was a mutual decision. "It just had to be done, for their sake, for my sake. It wasn't messy, it was just ... gone."... [Guardian]

Lady Sovereign doesn't kick off her proper North American tour - the one that includes shows at Highline Ballroom and Music Hall of Williamsburg - until May 1st, but she is in NYC now to promote her record, Jigsaw, that came out last week. That promotion included two NJ Hot Topic in-stores (as if you needed another reason not to like her). That promotion also includes a free (with RSVP) show at Tribeca Grand tonight (4/11). Ladytron and (members of) The Faint, who play their second of two shows at Webster Hall tonight, are both DJing. All dates below...

Continue reading "Lady Sovereign (no longer on Def Jam) tour dates (tonight @ Tribeca Grand w/ Ladytron/Faint DJs)"

"First I have to begin by saying that when Morrissey brought his baby Sebastien on stage, and holding him, it was the highlight of the night. Several months ago, I actually wrote on here, the board, that I wanted that. Soooo it was like a guardian angel read it. And I got it. The baby got so big. He is so big now and so much cuter than you, you can imagine. He is even more cute now than on the cover of YOR. Morrissey is so blessed to have his baby, and now I am.

Getting back to the show, Morrissey came out in a tuxedo. Stunning! Boz -- gorgeous. Jesse -- hot, etc., etc. Too many lyrical changes to mention. Ones above obviously. Oh yes, Morrissey asked Who am I? I'll try to remember them, this is hard, because for some reason, I am seeing me all over the place.
Right -- too much codeine, wine, everything. Haaaaa Morrissey was saying that there were certain people that should be in their graves, something like there were certain people that he thought should be in graves. I wanted to tell him, right there that you know who should be. Won't mention any names, but you all know. Hint -- they wreck instruments. Morrissey also used the word died. He said also that the band got beaten up, that they were all beat up. Like they were broken down. No, he said beaten up. Another comment was that he was saying, listing out loud people who played at Carnegie Hall. He also said something like none of you know this song, none of you heard of this person.

I thought being at Carnegie Hall would be a completely different experience. It wasn't. Anyways, Morrissey was absolutely outstanding, mind blowing when he sang the unexpected Mama, and the other perfect Carol. 1975, 75, 75, 7500. Dial a cliché.
Tuxedo, blue shirt, pink shirt. Jesse was amazing and hot. Boz was awesome and hot. Morrissey -- the most handsome Dad, mesmerizing, holding his beautiful baby. Above and beyond stunning.

Morrissey's voice was impeccable. Millions of handshakes, giving the microphone and responding to comments that did not particularly interest him. And who could blame him really. The world is full of crashing bores. He also said that. He insinuated that the people that attended that little tiny place where they were packed like sardines, that the fans were from planet KooKooo. He insinuated, in a matter of speaking. It is hard for me to remember everything word for word., I can't even remember what I did yesterday.

Comparing Carnegie to that other place. Right -- Morrissey proved that he can be with whoever he wants. I suspect this is because -- he is -- Morrissey I trust him. I, I trust him. Don't jump to the wrong conclusions. My analysis for the night -- he doesn't listen to anybody. I talked to him directed at how big Sebastien got. Sebastien is getting more cute. The baby is so big now compared to on YOR. I mean let's face it, you can't keep avoiding the truth. His son, a beautiful baby boy. I was just too jittery and sweaty to tell him what I wanted to. I'm just glad I got to talk to them. I have a lot on my mind, but when Morrissey said that he was thinking certain people should be in their graves, I only thought that about the one who wrecks bands, because, because he has done evil and despicable things to Morrissey. I won't mention the other people in my life, person, I mean. Because, because this was Morrissey's night, and Boz and Jesse. Their show. Their performance.
It was huge. I am so proud of him. I am so proud of Morrissey.

Thank You and Good Night. " [Kate2828 on the Morrissey board]

Morrissey and openers The Courteeners played the above-referenced show at Carnegie Hall on Thursday night (3/26). It was the end of a 3-night NYC run that also included shows at Webster Hall and Bowery Ballroom.

The Courteeners also played their own show at Mercury Lounge on March 17th, and they will do so again tonight, March 28th at Tribeca Grand Hotel. The GBH-promoted event is free with RSVP. Morrissey's Carnegie Hall setlist below...

Continue reading "Morrissey played Carnegie Hall (setlist), The Courteeners play Tribeca Grand tonight (free)"

photos by Lori Baily

Violens' self-titled debut EP will be available in stores March 17 (available digitally now)! Having already received critical praise and radio play from stations around the US and UK (BBC1, 2, 6Music, KEXP and XFM), the digipack re-release has been expanded to include forthcoming single "Doomed", preview the video below.

The Soundtrack of our Lives kick off their 2-night NYC run at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn tonight (3/11). Violens open that show.

Peaches kicks off a tour that includes a live show at
Webster Hall in May. And this Saturday (3/14) Peaches will play DJ at a show at Tribeca Grand Hotel. Violens are playing that show too, and it's free with RSVP! (tribecagrand@gbh.tv). Flyer and all Violens dates (including some shows at SXSW) and videos and more pictures below...

Continue reading "Violens - TSOOL tonight @ MHOW, a free Tribeca Grand show w/ DJ PEACHES, SXSW & other dates & videos"

Photos by Chris La Putt

A 24-year-old Blackpool lass (aka Victoria Hesketh) who is shaping up to be 2009's big pop breakthrough. Popjustice.com has called her "the pop star we've all been waiting for for years and years and years". [Guardian]

Little Boots played to "an anxious and overdressed" crowd at the Tribeca Grand at midnight on Wednesday night (10/22) and, according to Chris, "they were not let down". Chris also added...

"Mixing beats on a brightly blinking Tenorion it definitely sounded as if Hot Chip has a new successor to their throne. What I feel makes her different, is, if you take away the tenori and the hype, she still knows how to make wonderful hooks and that voice is such a knockout."

OK, maybe Chris is getting carried away with the "successor" thing, but Joe Goddard from Hot Chip is producing her album, and she does do a mean "Ready for the Floor"...

Little Boots - Ready for the Floor (Hot Chip) (on tenori-on)

Catch her this Saturday for free at the BrooklynVegan party at Knitting Factory. More pictures from Tribeca Grand below...

Continue reading "Little Boots @ Tribeca Grand Hotel (CMJ), NYC - pics"

Photos by Faith-Ann Young

More pictures from the party Tuesday at Tribeca Grand (10/21) below...

Continue reading "Lykke Li & MBAR @ Tribeca Grand (V Mag party), NYC - pics"