The Outside Lands Festival, which runs from 8/12 - 8/14 in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, released their 2011 lineup in April (and now it's May, so consider this a catch up post). Tickets are on sale.

This year's fest will appearances from The Shins, Muse, Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, The Black Keys, Phish (two sets), !!!, Erykah Badu, Big Audio Dynamite (who played Coachella and are also playing Lollapalooza), Girl Talk and many more. The full lineup is below.

Continue reading "Outside Lands 2011 lineup"

Ty Segall @ Death By Audio in March (more by Andrew St. Clair)

Ty Segall will release a new 7" single, I Can Feel It, on Drag City on 5/17 (you can listen to and buy it at the link). The a-side comes from Goodbye Bread, his next full length which is due out June 21st on the same label. His last release was a 6-song, limited edition 12" of T Rex covers. It came out on Record Store Day and you can get one now at Goner Records.

From now until the end of the summer, Ty and band have some dates scheduled across various countries, including three shows in Toronto in June for NXNE, and a July west coast tour with Audacity. There aren't any NYC shows advertised, but actually there is one coming up....TODAY (4/28):

Thursday, April 28 · 6:00pm - 7:00pm @ KcDc Skate Shop

Ty Segall will be playing a FREE solo evening affair at the KCDC Skate Shop this Thursday evening at 6pm. Get there early to make sure you get in - because it's going to get rowdy. He'll be doin' his thing on the ramp, and its not be missed.

Continue reading "Ty Segall announces single, LP & tour dates (and is playing a 'secret show' in Brooklyn TODAY)"

Evan Dando at The Bell House (more by Graeme Flegenheimer)

Evan Dando & The Lemonheads have a few random upcoming dates scheduled. The Lemonheads will share a bill with The Canon Logic on April 28th at Maxwell's in Hoboken. Tickets are still available. You can also catch Josh Lattanzi of The Lemonheads at Bowery Ballroom on May 26 & 27 as part of the Bob Dylan tribute that will also include members of the Strokes, Hold Steady, etc, etc.

All other upcoming Evan Dando dates are in other countries at the moment, including a June 16th Evan & Juliana Hatfield show in Toronto for the NXNE festival which, like Brooklyn's own multi-venue festival Northside, recently expanded its lineup. Some of the other bands playing are in the title of this post. The rest are listed below.

All Dando-related dates and some videos below too...

Continue reading "Lemonheads playing shows, NXNE expands lineup (includes Descendents, Stars, Devo, OFF!, Juliana Hatfield, more)"

words by Andrew Frisicano, photos by Andrew St. Clair

Ty Segall @ Death by Audio

Ty Segall and band stopped by on their current SXSW-inclusive tour for a pair of NYC gigs on Tuesday and Thursday. The first of those happened at a crammed Mercury Lounge, where the band played a 45-minute set that mixed Melted gems with new tunes. Last time I saw Ty, his voice was shredded from a day of grueling CMJ performances, and the set ended with a guitar-smashing outburst. Here, coming off a (hopefully relaxing) cruise, there were no such issues; Ty hit all the falsetto cues and edged down to a whisper for the quieter moments. Those lulls always have a way of roaring back, which is part of what makes Ty Segall such a compelling live act: the briefly empty spaces that explode into hair-flailing shred-work. The other part is the melodies, which are catchy and incredibly memorable, even if you can't tell what he's saying, or even what the songs are about ("Finger" something....??).

Ty's Thursday NYC show was at Death by Audio with Heavy Cream, Liquor Store, and Home Blitz. Hopefully Ty and the band will be back in New York soon (or at least by the release of his new disc, Goodbye Bread, on June 21). Heavy Cream (who have a new drummer) return to Death By Audio on April 2nd.

All tour dates, and more pictures and videos from the DBA show, below...

Continue reading "Ty Segall played Mercury Lounge & Death By Audio w/ Heavy Cream, Liquor Store & Home Blitz (pics & video)"

photos by Patrice Jackson

Turbo Fruits

"Over the weekend, I see many other compelling images: Black Lips bassist Jared Swilley launching his instrument into the sea while shooting a music video. Surfer Blood singer John Paul Pitts hunting for a hot blackjack table. Former MTV News anchor John Norris, on assignment for noisevox, interviewing pool-bound members of Vivian Girls while a Fellini-esque cast of hipster paparazzi snap away on SLRs. And finally, in Nassau, four of the cruise's acts--Black Lips, Vivian Girls, The Strange Boys, and Turbo Fruits--playing to a crowd of Bruisers and fratboys and bachelorette partiers at the least punk rock establishment in any port of call in the entire Atlantic Ocean: Señor Frog's.

"I think a lot of people on this cruise hate us. I think they think we're gay," Swilley tells me on Sunday. "I was drunk last night walking through the hallway, I only had my underwear on, and some guy was like, 'Get back in your room, faggot!'" He points across the pool. "Some guy who looked like that guy, with the backward visor." [Washington City Paper]

Continue reading "more pictures from Bruise Cruise"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Ty Segall - Girlfriend (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ty Segall - Caesar (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sic Alps - Do You Want to Give $$ (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tahiti 80 - Keys to the City (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Small Sins - Pot Calls Kettle Black (MP3)

Ty Segall in San Fran in January (more by kolored)

...and this is the week that SXSW comes to New York. Dear lord, there's a whole lot going on, so This Week in Indie is coming to you in two installments. This one runs, basically, though Thursday, March 10. Do take advantage of this embarrassment of indie rock riches.

We're got some quality San Francisco garage rock in town courtesy of Ty Segall, fresh off the Bruise Cruise and whose most recent album, Melted, still gets a lot of play in these parts. (Download two tracks from it at the top of this post.) Few are doing this kind of music with more melody, attitude and enthusiasm as Ty, which really comes across in the live show. He plays Mercury Lounge tonight (3/8, sold out!) and Death by Audio on Thursday (3/10).

The Mercury Lounge show is with Brooklynites Devin Therriault and The Sundelles. At Death by Audio, Ty is joined by Nashville's Heavy Cream (yes it's true, they have a new drummer), Liquor Store and Home Blitz. Ty then heads to Austin for SXSW. Look for Ty's new album, Goodbye Bread, out this summer on Drag City.

While many acts under the garage umbrella -- Ty Segall, The Intelligence, The Fresh & Onlys -- have begun to embrace mid-fi recording, Sic Alps remain happily in the sludge. Their new album, Napa Asylum, is 22 tracks -- short songs but thick as molasses. Something about this band raises the temperature, probably because it sounds like it was recorded in a moldy basement in a swamp in July. Some bands use lo-fi as camouflage. For Sic Alps it's all about atmosphere.

Live shows can be just as sweaty, even when it's freezing outside, and the less traditional the venue, the better they tend to sound. Which bodes well for these shows. Sic Alps play the Old Firehouse (aka DCTV HQ, 87 Lafayette in Manhattan) on Wednesday (3/9) and 285 Kent (next door to Glasslands) on Thursday (3/10). Both shows are with touring mates Magic Markers. The Old Firehouse show also has Gary War and Total Slacker; the 285 Kent show is with PC Worship and Hubble.

OMD

Tonight (3/8) also marks the first show first-generation synthpop group OMD have played in New York in 25 years. The show is at Terminal 5 and tickets are still available. As reported before, this is the inarguable classic line-up of the band, the one that created their first six albums. And while there is a new album they're touring for, the shows have been packed with hits. According to Unrest/TeenBeat honcho Mark Robinson's twitter feed, last night's show in Boston included "Messages," "Tesla Girls," "Electricity," "Forever Live and Die," "If You Leave" and pretty much everything else you'd want to hear.

If you're going tonight and still care about music that was made more recently than 20 years ago, do get there early for opener Oh Land who, like OMD, will be at SXSW next week. She plays the BV/M for Montreal day party in Austin on March 19 at Barbarella/Swan Dive.

Tahiti 80

What else? Parisians Tahiti 80 never got as popular as their contemporaries Phoenix but the band have made consistently engaging, danceable pop over the last 15 years, including  what's found on the band's fifth album, the just-released The Past, The Present, & the Possible. The band play Mercury Lounge on Thursday (3/10).

I don't think I've seen Xavier Boyer and the rest of the band play since catching them at Brownies on the Wallpaper for the Soul tour, but have caught a number of their shows and Tahiti 80 are a solid live group. And the new album is good, dividing time between '60s influenced pop and more dancefloor-friendly material, both of which they do well. You can check "Keys to the City" at the top of this post.

Small Sins

Some of you may remember Toronto band Small Sins, who made a small splash back in the mid-'00s, putting out two albums of electronic-inflected indie pop on Astralwerks. They used to play NYC quite often back then. After 2007's Mood Swings the band kind of fell off the map, and I'd assumed singer-songwriter Thomas D'Arby had moved onto something else. Small Sins were basically a solo project for him after the dissolution of his old band Carnations anyway.

But turns out D'Arby was just in hibernation. Working with Tortise's John McEntire, D'Arby and the rest of Small Sins made Pot Calls Kettle Black, which came out last summer in Canada. A little bigger, a little more serious-sounding than the two other albums, Smalls Sins retain that mix of electronics, atmospherics and solid pop songwriting. You can download the album's title track at the top of this post.

I think the last time I saw them live is when they opened for Sloan at Southpaw back in 2007, though maybe I'm misremembering. Anyway, Small Sins are back in town this week, playing Santos Party House on Thursday (3/10) and The Rock Shop on Friday (3/11). The Santos Show is with '90s-rockin' Mr. Dream (who were good at Glasslands last week) and Quitzow; the Rock Shop also has True Womanhood and Suddenland.

Ok, that's the big stuff for mid-week. Stay tuned for Part 2 of TWII where we'll talk Still Corners, Edwyn Collins, Withered Hand, Megaphonic Thrift and more. Some more day-by-day picks are listed here:

TUESDAY, MARCH 8

Kurt Vile, whose new album Smoke Ring for My Halo is out today and garnered a well-deserved Best New Music in Pitchfork. He's doing three in-stores today: Academy in Williamsburg 5PM, then into the City for a stop at Generation (7PM) and Other Music (9PM). Soon to be on tour with J Mascis.

continued below...

Continue reading "Ty Segall, Sic Alps, OMD, Tahiti 80, Small Sins, Kurt Vile & more in This Week in Indie (part 1)"

words & photos by Gabi Porter

You are all going to hate us. I fully expect the comments section to light up like the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center with all kinds of vitriolic bile and hummus inflected hatred, but you know what, we won't care because we had fun. Four hundred garage rock fans gathered from all over the world in Miami last Friday and boarded the Carnival Imagination cruise ship bound for the Bahamas, and had a giant party on the high seas full of fruity, candy-colored drinks, unlimited belly-busting buffets, hot tubs and music. Dazed hipsters and music fans wandered the Lido Deck in their jorts and tattoos, clutching their Hermann Hesse novels looking for a little shade poolside, while family vacationers stared and asked, "What's going on?" The [sold out] Bruise Cruise is what happened, and it was like summer camp for alcoholic indie rock fans, all who became friends by the end of the weekend.

Although they only played one blistering set at Senor Frogs on Saturday night in the Bahamas - if you don't count the pre-party in Miami on Thursday night, and we're choosing not to remember that horrible horrible place with the $8 beers - The Black Lips were like all the other bands' cooler older brothers. They stirred up their signature good-time chaos, drank more than everyone, partied harder, and managed to keep the peace all at the same time. Jared Swilley said he was looking forward to a weekend with no internet, no email, no computer, "I have our new album on my laptop, if I brought it with me I'd get drunk and start burning copies for everyone." Instead he tried to go down the waterslide in his underpants, where he was thwarted by a diminutive attendant who wouldn't let him on in his skivvies, despite pleas of, "This *is* my bathing suit! I'm European!" [In Beach Fossils fashion] he later threw his bass off the back of the ship during a clandestine music video shoot. Cole Alexander looked like he won big at the casino. And Ian St Pe jumped on a table with his guitar at the final dinner and was chased out of the formal dining room, only to return disguised in a baseball cap. Joe Bradley was scheduled to play piano at 2am on Sunday at the Mirage Piano Bar - "I'm really looking forward to that! I never get to play piano for people." - he showed up with pomaded hair and a tux and played a very dapper set, Maker's Mark in hand.

If The Black Lips were like older brothers, then Thee Oh Sees were the cooler older cousins who used to be troublemakers, but have settled down with nothing to prove because they've already proven themselves. John Dwyer and company may not have brought bathing suits, lounging poolside in jeans with beers in hand, but they were "mowing them down, cutting that spring grass!" as one "Bruiser" pointed out as they melted everyone's sun-addled minds on our final day at sea. Their first set early on Friday afternoon was just a warm-up. On Sunday early-evening, fueled by an open bar, they played the second to last set of the festival to a full gilded chrome ballroom. It might have been the best set we saw all weekend (admittedly I also heard someone say that about pretty much every set this weekend, but you know what, everything was pretty damn good). Drummer Mike Shoun said he was just trying to hit really really hard, and indeed he did, nearly coming off his drum stool more than once.

Surfer Blood and their buddies (and festival co-organizers) Turbo Fruits teamed up for a Sunday brunch set in the - wait for it - Shangri La Lounge. Clutching danishes and mimosas some said Turbo Fruits, with lead singer Jonas Stein losing his voice, was the best set of the weekend (see above). I spent the cruise with Surfer Blood's janglier live version of the vaguely tropical "Take it Easy" on replay in my head, arguably the cruise's theme song. JP from Surfer Blood chatted with me after their sparsely attended first set on board on Saturday afternoon, as everyone jumped ship and rented scooters to hit the island (this may be the last time Surfer Blood play to a room of 30 people).

I asked what the band thought when they were asked to participate in the Bruise Cruise, "We thought it was a cool idea, and we thought it was either going to be really cool or a complete and total disaster. But if you think about it that's kind of like how ATP started in the UK. I mean they took over a holiday park or something. It was a little bit cheesy, a little bit family oriented and they turned it into, you know, like a total party. And they've been doing it forever." When we asked how they felt about their sparsely attended set on Saturday he said, "If I had to pick between seeing a young band we kind of like, or going out to explore the Bahamas, I'd be pretty torn. We're playing again tomorrow anyway."

More about "tomorrow" (and the rest of the cruise) coming soon. Pictures from the pre-party and the first day, continue below...

Continue reading "the Bruise Cruise in pics & review (part 1)"

photos by kolored

Monotonix & fan in San Francisco

"Shelev, after a rowdy and rambunctious set, stated that he was 46-years old, their drummer was about to become a father, and their guitarist had some seeds to sow as a single Israeli. He then instructed the crowd to tweet, text and, actually, drive to San Francisco and Austin to follow them on their last tour ever. Whether this is true or just another stunt in their stunt-filled show is yet to be seen. -[OneThirtyBPM]

Monotonix's final (??) round of US dates in support of their new LP Not Yet is ongoing. The band will play Birmingham, Alabama tonight (2/1) and eventually end up at 285 Kent Ave on 2/5 for their final (??) show in NYC...

Saturday February 5th @ 285 KENT AVE
:: Monotonix ------- from Israel, on Drag City
:::: Pujol
:::::: Federation X
:::::::: the Stalkers
:: special guest comedienne: Elisa Da Prato
| 285 KENT AVE |
285 Kent Ave @ S 1st St | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
L-Bedford, JM-Marcy | 8pm | all ages | $tba

Ty Segall is scheduled to play NYC TWICE in early March on his way to SXSW: at Mercury Lounge on 3/8 with Devin Therriault (tickets) and Death By Audio on March 10th with Heavy Cream.

More San Francisco pictures and (final?) tour dates below...

Continue reading "Monotonix played San Francisco w/ Ty Segall & Nodzzz (pics), announce that this is their final tour??? (updated dates)"

by BBG

Echo & The Bunnymen (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

Echo & The Bunnymen will repeat themselves, sort of. The band will return to North America to focus on, like they did at Radio City, playing a full album (actually albums) for a tour that includes Irving Plaza on May 13 (the site of their last NYC appearance) and with Kelley Stoltz, who joined them at the venue in 2008 and on a UK tour in 2010... but that's where the similarities end.

Whereas the Radio City show focused on Ocean Rain in its entirety, Irving Plaza will focus on their first TWO LPs, Crocodiles & Heaven Up Here, in their entirety, plus a selection of "hits". Tickets for the NYC show are on sale in regular and VIP varieties, which include "front of the line access, a poster, and access to a designated area of the balcony". All dates below.

In related news, Kelley Stoltz was involved in a fascinating project by Sonny Smith:

Last year, local songwriter/cool guy Sonny Smith started an art project you may have heard a thing or two about: He invented 100 fake bands, wrote 100 different singles from each one (with an A side and B side!), and made art for those 100 singles.

But then, Smith and a bunch of friends began recording some of those songs... Collaborators on the project include: Ty Segall, Kelley Stoltz, the Sandwitches, Tim Cohen of the Fresh & Onlys, and others. -[SF Weekly]

That song stream, all tour dates and some video is below.

Continue reading "Echo & the Bunnymen performing 'Crocodiles' & 'Heaven Up Here' on tour w/ Kelley Stoltz (who's involved in '100 Records')"

Jeff The Brotherhood at Fun Fun Fun Fest (more by BBG)

Like last year, Jeff the Brotherhood are heading down to Texas for SXSW this year, but not before they finish a European tour that is underway now. After Austin, the duo will scoot up the Northeast, hitting Princeton University with Screaming Females, The Meat Locker in Montclair and NYC along the way. The NYC show is at Santos Party House on March 31 with Ninjasonik, Juiceboxxx, Teen Witch, and DJ Thanksgiving Brown. Tickets are on sale, and full tour dates are below.

Jeff's partners in crime Heavy Cream are also planning a tour around SXSW this year including a string of dates with Ty Segall. The two groups will play Death By Audio on March 10th. Ty Segall is also scheduled to play NYC two days earlier at Mercury Lounge (on March 8th) with Devin Therriault (tickets still on sale).

Ty Segall has announced two shows at SXSW so far, 3/18 as part of the Goner Showcase at Beerland and 3/19 as part of the Panache showcase. All other Ty Segall dates, Heavy Cream dates and Jeff dates, below...

Continue reading "Jeff the Brotherhood, Heavy Cream & Ty Segall are playing shows (updated 2011 tour dates)"

by BBG

Ty Segall at BV Day Party during SXSW (more by Chris Gersbeck)

Ty Segall's Favorite Albums of 2010 (via)
1 White Fence - S/T
2 Moonhearts - S/T
3 Royal Baths - Litanies
4 Thee Oh Sees - Warm Slime
5 The Whines - Hell To Play

Continue reading "Ty Segall lists his top 2010 albums, touring in 2011 (dates)"

DOWNLOAD: Surfer Blood - Take it Easy (Red Wax Session) (MP3)

Surfer Blood recording the above track (more by Diana Wong)

"On October 21st, 2010, Insound & Maker's Mark hosted an artist lounge & recording session at Stratosphere Sound in New York City, the likes of which has never been done before. Grammy winning engineer Geoff Sanoff (Nada Surf, Secret Machines, A Camp) took on the insane task of recording eight of indie music's most talked about new bands in eight hours, and the results are nothing but stellar." [Insound]

And speaking of Surfer Blood, they've been added to Bruise Cruise...

Bruise Cruise is a rock 'n' roll music festival aboard the Carnival Imagination, sailing from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas and back February 25-28, 2011. Tickets are on sale now for this exclusive and all-inclusive Caribbean getaway.

Bruise Cruise is pleased to announce West Palm Beach's SURFER BLOOD on the festival line-up. Their "floating vibes" are a welcome addition to the Bruise Cruise party barge as it sails from Miami to the Bahamas over the course of 3 days filled with sun, rock'n'roll and relaxation. SURFER BLOOD recently completed a US tour with The Drums and are preparing for an upcoming European tour with Interpol.

Just a reminder that Bruise Cruise is also excited to announce the launch of Bruise Cruise Records. BCR will be releasing a series of limited edition vinyl. Each performing artist will be featured on one side of a 7" vinyl release over the next few months. The first record will be distributed in the first week of November featuring un-released songs from Ty Segall and Thee Oh Sees. The 7"s will feature artwork by Rob Corradetti [www.radrox.com].

Every Bruiser will receive at least one complimentary record. As the sailing date nears, Bruise Cruise will be gifting the entire box set through a variety of contests that will be announced on our site.
In the midst of attendees' three days at sea, Bruisers will have the pleasure of soaking up the sun experiencing 24 hours in the Bahamas. Bruise Cruise will be announcing a series of events that will occur in Nassau, including the big island party concert at Señor Frog's, which will feature select Bruise Cruise artists and conclude with New York Night Train's Soul Clap and Dance-Off.

Continue reading "Insound releasing free Red Wax Sessions (MP3) w/ Surfer Blood who are playing Bruise Cruise (lineup)"

photos by Chris Gersbeck

"At Brooklyn Vegan showcase. Free booze & food. Sick line-up. Ty segall, times new Viking, Dom, lower dens, asobi seksi, devotchka, etc. #cmj" - death & taxes

"Almost forgot about Shrag, what a find! fun band!" - Ryan Muir

"Pretty sure Ty Segall just won CMJ." - J. Edward Keyes

Ty Segall

"The large number of bands at the BV party was split between Public Assembly's two stages, with sets overlapping. With free Magic Hat Number Nine (somehow apricot-flavored beer seemed like a suitable substitute for breakfast), both sides of the club were filling rapidly. So while I caught a minute or two of Lower Dens' vespered melodies, I wasn't about to miss Times New Viking . The Columbus trio recently wrapped up work on a new record (due out on [a label] sometime in the near future) and this was to be the first time I would hear the new stuff. Though the band was by their own admission still tired from the night before, their set didn't show it, with the buoyancy of songs like "Skull Versus Wizard" and "Teenage Lust!" undiminished. The new tracks, which showed the most prominent melodies TNV has composed yet, fit in alongside the older cuts. Though I've now lost count of how many times I've seen the band, I'm always struck by how they remain too anxious to stay in one sonic realm for long, their quick succession of albums marked by continual revision." [ Limewire]

Did you miss the Phantom Band at this show or one of the other few CMJ shows they played? Well, don't miss them this week when they return as part of their tour with Frightened Rabbit (at Terminal 5 on Saturday they're on first of three before Plants and Animals).

Wanna see Dom again soon? They play NYC again this Saturday (10/30) too.

More pictures and some more videos from Public Assembly, below...

Continue reading "BV Friday day party in pics & video - part 2 (Times New Viking, Shrag, Lower Dens, Phantom Band, Luyas, Corndawg & more)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield, videos by Bleary Eyed Brooklyn

"Phantom Band at Public Assembly. This is making me very happy" - amanda farah

"Just learned that DeVotchKa is headlining today's BV free CMJ day party at Public Assembly. I'm so there!" - M. Millions

Devotchka

"[Friday] included a bit of borough hopping between Brooklyn and Manhattan. First up was the Brooklyn Vegan showcase at Public Assembly. This included two rooms of free music and free alcohol (if you like [Magic Hat] or Firefly). There was also a table selling BV shirts, proceeds of which go towards "Music Has Power" (The Institute for Music and Neurologic Function). Good music + a good cause = good party by the Vegan. There's another one [Saturday] that has a sick line-up. Gonna head there first thing [Saturday].

One other thing worth noting about that BV party is one of the bands: Shrag. This band was from the UK, which got me thinking about how many bands travel from all over the world (especially places like the UK and New Zealand) just to come to CMJ. I think it's really cool how this festival gives people a chance to experience music from not just all over the country, but from different parts of the world as well. Because let's face it, how many of us are going to be visiting New Zealand any time soon?" [News on Shuffle]

Jonny Corndawg is an Esmont native who plays in Charlottesville all the time (his website says he's in Nashville) and who I caught for the first time over the weekend. His square jaw was beard-covered and framed in a cowboy hat and huge sunglasses. The silly facade--"Jonny Corndawg" is inlayed on his acoustic guitar!--can only hide his chops for so long. If he didn't have chops, would he have written these lines:

"Drink water and juice with a little slice of lemon/ eat a raw clove of garlic every once in a while/ meditate, appreciate, learn a foreign language/ and understand that immigrants have the hardest lives." [c-ville]

As Andrew also pointed out, John Vanderslice (who played Mercury Lounge the night before) ended his solo set in a very special way - on the floor with 2 guest musicians (one with a horn). The crowd, dreaded member of Nada Surf included, had the three performers completely surrounded. After the set, John went out to coffee with fans (or at least that's what he said he was going to do).

Devotchka capped things off on the main stage, complete with more horns. Thanks again to Vinny's Music for the equipment. More pictures and some videos from the whole day (with a second set on its way). below...

Continue reading "BV Friday day party in pics & video - part 1 (Devotchka, Ty Segall, John Vanderslice, Asobi Seksu, Dom & more) "

by Bill Pearis

Ty Segall @ Death By Audio in August (more by Eric Rex)

The Bruar Falls all-day extravaganza continues into the evening with Oberhofer, Rooftop Vigilantes, Reading Rainbow, Big Troubles, Eternal Summers, Woven Bones and Air Waves. That is a seriously good bill right there and is a likely place to find me tonight. $10 without a badge.

SEE ALSO: more CMJ shows, tour dates & parties (Andrew Cedermark, Lord Huron, Big Troubles, etc)

A few blocks away at Glasslands, Popgun booking is throwing an unofficial party that's especially notable as one of the few shows Jaill are playing. Jail are awesome. Also playing: Baths, Dominant Legs, Teen Daze, Mon Khmer and Porcelain Raft, but not Yuck. Send an email to RSVP@popgunbooking.com to get in for $5. All others pay double that.

The last Impose night at Don Pedros is solid as well: Cloud Nothings, Woven Bones, No Joy, Coasting, Heavy Hawaii and more. FREE, and PBRs are only a buck. Crocodiles will DJ in between sets. There's an after-party that starts at 2AM brought to you by Penache Booking...so maybe we'll see Ty Segall pop up here? Stay up and find out.

Rooftop Vigilantes play Cake Shop as part of the Daed Pizza showcase that also has Freshkills, Gentleman Jesse & His Men, Young Man, and We Are Trees. $10 without a badge, but there is free pizza.

If you missed Shrag, your last chance is tonight (11PM) at Lit Lounge.

Montreal's High Dials bring their harmony-laden jangle psychelia to Local 269. Mysterious lo-fi cult figure Capstan Shafts plays after at midnight.

SEE ALSO: Canadian invasion @ CMJ 2010 (PS I Love You, Hot Panda, No Joy, Radio Radio, Diamond Rings, High Dials, Braids, more)

Tonight's also the BV/BBG metal showcase at Union Pool with The Body, Cough, Intra-Arma, and Royal Thunder.

Ty Segall, who was great yesterday at our day party (Bleary Eyed Brooklyn video proof below), plays the Panache Booking showcase at Knitting Factory, with Turbo Fruits, Heavy Cream (who play our day show today), AIDS Wolf and more.

If you missed First Aid Kit at our day party yesterday, or The Loom at our loft, catch both tonight together for MusicSnobbery's late show at Joe's Pub.

The Offline Fest at Brooklyn Bowl has The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Cults, Ty Segall, Matthew Dear, Titus Andronicus -- plus a late night party brought to you by Fools Gold. $10.

SEE ALSO: more bands, CMJ parties & tour dates (#OFFLINE set times, Freddie Gibbs, Small Black, TPOBPAH, Dent May & more)

AND ALSO TONIGHT
* Muse @ Nassau Coliseum
* Helmet @ Gramercy Theatre
* Gary Numan @ Best Buy Theatre
* Cheech & Chong @ Beacon Theatre
* Fixed/Making Time @ Public Assembly
* VFW Group Presents @ Bowery Ballroom
* Fat Wreck Chords @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

What else?

DAYTIME picks HERE. NIGHTTIME flyers below...

Continue reading "CMJ 2010 - Bill's Saturday NIGHTTIME picks (Bruar Falls, Impose, Jaill, Rooftop Vigilantes, Shrag & more)"

Though we maybe went less crazy this year compared to others, there will be no lack of BrooklynVegan shows taking place during CMJ this year. You already know about the big official show Thursday night at Music Hall of Williamsburg, and the much darker one taking place Saturday at Union Pool. I can now finally tell you about the first of two free day parties taking place at Public Assembly in Brooklyn during CMJ week....

The date: Friday, October 22nd, 2010
The time: noon-6pm
The place: Public Assembly (70 North 6th St)
the bands:

STAGE 1
12:30 Magic Bullets
01:15 The Phantom Band
02:00 Ty Segall
02:45 Times New Viking
03:30 Dom
04:15 Asobi Seksu
05:15 TBA (will announce Thursday night)

STAGE 2
12:00 Jonny Corndawg
01:00 First Aid Kit
01:45 The Luyas
02:30 Lower Dens
03:15 TBA (will announce soon)
04:00 Oberhofer
05:00 John Vanderslice

* free EarPeace (while supplies last)
* free V-Spot breakfast burritos & empanadas (while supplies last)
* free Firefly Vodka + Bourbon (while supplies last)
* free Magic Hat beer (while supplies last)
* free Raw Revolution bars

The Friday day show is John Vanderslice's only unofficial gig. His only official one is a sold out (not counting CMJ badges) show at Mercury Lounge. Grab his new free EP.

The BV day party is also Asobi Seksu's only show that isn't their official CMJ showcase (which is taking place at Santos Party House on Saturday night).

Ty Segall plays his official showcase Saturday night, but at Knitting Factory. Also on that Panache Booking Showcase are AIDS Wolf, Turbo Fruits, Heavy Cream, Pujol, Tôg, Circle Pit, and SCREENS.

Stay tuned to @bvCMJ for even more CMJ news and updates than you'll find on BrooklynVegan.com.

And stay tuned for what we're doing in the same exact venue during the same exact times one day later. And stay tuned for the bands playing the other two Friday slots.

Also thanks to: Zach Jaeger of Tonally Dude Productions for the sweet flyer you see above, and to Vinny's Music for providing us with some sweet gear, to Line 6 for even more sweet gear, and to Underground Press for getting us some merch printed to help raise money for charity.

Some videos below...

Continue reading "the free BrooklynVegan Friday day party @ Public Assembly lineup (14 bands, free food, free booze & more)"

Matthew Dear @ MHOW in 2008 (more by Bao Nguyen)

As mentioned, Pitchfork will be hosting three days of shows at Brooklyn Bowl during, but-it-looks-like/probably completely unaffiliated with, CMJ this year (Thursday/Friday/Saturday CMJ week). "Brooklyn Bowl is located at 61 Wythe Avenue between N. 11th and N. 12th streets. The festival starts at 2 p.m. each day, with doors opening at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10, both in advance and day of the show." They're calling it the #OFFLINE Festival.

Based on the lineups and start time, it looks like each #OFFLINE day will be about a 12 hour show. No set times yet though, but the full lineups and ticket links are below...

Matthew Dear is one of the biggest names on the list (he plays Saturday), and it will be one of three CMJ week shows for Matthew. His first is Friday night at Webster Hall with Jamaica and Dominique Young Unique. His third is later on Saturday at Public Assembly for the FIXED/Making Time Party with Matthew Dear, Crocodiles, Holy Ghost!, Javelin, Gold Panda, Jamaica, and Kisses.

The FIXED/Making Time party starts after the BrooklynVegan party which is also happening at Public Assembly that same day. Just to be clear:

SATURDAY OCTOBER 23RD
* BrooklynVegan @ Public Assembly 12-6pm (free - more details TBA)
* FIXED/Making Time @ Public Assembly 9pm-late (tickets)
* Pitchfork @ Brooklyn Bowl 2pm-late (tickets)
* BrooklynVegan metal @ Union Pool 7pm-late ($5.00 or CMJ badge at the door)

We (BrooklynVegan) will also be at Public Assembly all day on Friday, October 22nd (details TBA), and at Music Hall of Williamsburg on the Thursday night.

All Matthew Dear tour dates (many of which we previously posted including a November show at MHoW), and the Pitchfork #OFFLINE Fest info, below...

Continue reading "Pitchfork announces #OFFLINE not-CMJ parties, Matthew Dear also playing Making Time & Girls & Boys parties (lineups) "

photos by Eric Rex, words by BBG

"DBA is as packed as i've ever seen it. Royal baths on now,
Ty Segall up next." -soundbitesnyc

"saw #tysegall at death by audio last night. incredible show, but i can't believe people moshed to every ty segall song. drank like 10 #pbr" - Sean McKeown

"about 4x as many people crammed in as last time. bodies everywhere. sweaty flying ones." - 9000

And apparently Death By Audio on 8/13 was so packed for the Ty Segall show that they started to stack people on top of each other. DBA was one of two NYC shows for the sugar-y San Fran garage rocker, with the FIRST taking place a day earlier at Cake Shop. Featuring support from Royal Baths on both dates, DBA also got sets from The Babies (mems of Vivian Girls, Woods, etc) Moonhearts (formerly Charlie & The Moonhearts), and The Zulus. Cake Shop (the day before) got The So So Glos and Weekends. Pics from DBA are below.

Both Ty Segall and Royal Baths are touring in support of LPs. Royal Baths will welcome their debut LP in September via Woodsist, while Ty Segall's fun new album Melted is out NOW via Goner.

The Babies are scheduled to play Cake Shop on Sept 24th in support of Garotas Suecas, alongside Sundelles and Holger. It's one of two dates for Garotas Suecas, with the second just two days earlier at Knitting Factory.

Tons of pics from Death By Audio and the crowd-surfin' mayhem is below, though unfortunately none of Royal Baths (Eric had escaped to the back of the room at the time)....

Continue reading "Ty Segall & Royal Baths played Cake Shop & DBA (pics) "

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Fergus & Geronimo - Girls with English Accents (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fergus & Geronimo - Harder Than It's Ever Been (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ty Segall - Girlfriend (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ty Segall - Caesar (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Royal Baths - Nikki Don't (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Eternal Summers - Pogo (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Rayon Beach - The Memory Teeth (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Dog Day - Synastry (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Dog Day - Wait it Out (Mp3)
DOWNLOAD: Deerhunter - Revival (ZIP)
DOWNLOAD: Versus - Invincible Hero (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: How to Dress Well - Ecstasy with Jojo (MP3)

Wild Beasts @ Lollapalooza 2010 (more by Josh Darr)

Just like the August bounty of tomatoes, corn and zucchini that can be currently found at your local farmer's market, we looking at five extremely fertile days of live music, much of it free. Take advantage now -- this crop is extremely perishable.

Wild Beasts are stopping in NYC tonight on their way back from Lollapalooza, playing Highline Ballroom. Their second album, Two Dancers, was my favorite album of 2009 and a year later I'm still listening to it. It's up for this year's Mercury Music Prize and if anybody is going to beat The xx it'll be Two Dancers. If you missed their shows last September, or their appearances here in February , don't miss them this time. Tickets are still available. The fluid interplay between the band is something to behold -- a real case of four people working as one mesmerizing whole. And those who still haven't gotten used to their vocal style, I say go see them live and everything makes more sense.

Domino Records is offering a free downloadable four-song EP featuring "We've Still Got the Taste Dancing on Our Tongues" in original and remixed form, a track previously only available as a Japanese b-side and an acoustic version of "The Devil's Crayon." The download widget is at the bottom of this post and expires August 14 so get on that. And do go see them live tonight if you can. Denmark's The Kissaway Trail and UK artist Lone Wolf are also on the bill.

Fergus and Geronimo

It's been a year since Denton, TX's Fergus & Geronimo were last in town, and while they haven't released anything new since last summer's initial flurry of singles, that should change soon. The band have signed with Sub Pop subsidiary Hardly Art who will hopefully be putting out a record sooner than later. In the meantime, UK label Transparent (who put out "Tell it in My Ear" last year) have offered up a new F&G track "Girls with English Accents" that you can download at the top of this post. Maybe a little more dreamy/folky and less soul-tinged than their previous output, it's still another winner from this excellent four-piece.

I saw them at 92-Y Tribeca last summer and thought they were terrific. Fergus & Geronimo play Cake-Shop tonight (8/11) with Radical Dads and Little Gold. They then play Saturday (8/14) at Don Pedro's with Liquor Store, Home Blitz, Moonmen on the Moon, Man, and Nashville's Pujol. That sounds like a party.

Also here from Texas this weekend are Austin's Rayon Beach who play Bruar Falls on Saturday (8/14) and Death by Audio on Sunday (8/15). Like a lot of the bands on Hozac Records (or bands from Austin for that matter), this trio fit under the psych/garage umbrella but there's a decided Brit bent to their music. Baroque garage, is that a thing? Think Syd-era Pink Floyd or The Pretty Things more than Woven Bones. Make no mistake -- Rayon Beach can and do get plenty loud. It's just sometimes with pinkies extended. Check out Memory Teeth's title track at the top of this post.

The Bruar falls show is with Girls at Dawn and Xray Eyeballs; the Death by Audio show also features The Beets and Andrew Graham & Swarming Branch.

Ty Segall

We're just getting started. Ty Segall and The Royal Baths are here from San Francisco, playing Cake Shop on Thursday (8/12) and Death by Audio on Friday (8/13). For my money, it doesn't get much better in the new garage scene than this guy, who has been cranking out records over the last two years. Amazingly, they're pretty much all good, and each record goes somewhere new. The latest, Melted, just out on Goner Records, adds some nice '60s paisley pop touches. You can download two tracks from it at the top of this post. And he's great live.

The Royal Baths, meanwhile, are sort of the flip side to Ty's sunshine pop. I wrote before that they're "kind of bad trip acid rock, dark and seedy but not atonal. But it's definitely down the rabbit hole. In a good way." Royal Baths debut LP is due out on Woodsist in September and you can check out album track "Nikki Don't" at the top of this post.

Eternal Summers

Still more. Roanoke, VA's Eternal Summers are back -- they were last here for the Northside Festival -- for two shows: Thursday (8/12) at new Williamsburg venue The Pyramids and then Friday night (8/13) at Cake Shop. The band have signed with Kanine records who will put out their first full-length, Silver, in September. You can check out the album's first single, "Pogo," in the popular MP3 format at the top of this post. If you dig C-86 inspired pop like Brilliant Colors or Liechtenstein, you should definitely seek this duo out. Absolutely worth seeing live and nice folks too.

Both shows Eternal Summers are playing have pretty stacked bills. The Pyramids gig is with Philly's Reading Rainbow, all-girl quartet Rescue Bird, the shambly goodness that is German Measles and the wistful surf of Family Trees; Friday's Cake Shop show also has new-ish Brooklyn duo Yvette, the tinny, witty pop of Knight School and Halifax, NS band Dog Day.

Dog Day

Dog Day are actually here playing two shows. They play Thursday (8/12) at Bruar Falls in addition to the Cake Shop show on Friday. It's been a while since Halifax's mid-90s indie explosion that gave us Sloan and Thrush Hermit, but Dog Day are helping put the coastal city back on the map. Led by husband-and-wife team of Seth Smith and Nancy Ulrich, the quartet make moody, melodic indie rock that is not too dissimilar from The Figurines or The Comas. Last year's Concentration was one of 2009's lost gems. There's two songs to download at the top of this post and I highly suggest you do. You might find yourself saying "why haven't I heard these guys before?" Normally a quartet, for these NYC shows Dog Day will just be a duo of Smith/Ulrich and they'll be testing out new songs for their upcoming album.

Savoir Adore @ Coco66 for Northside (more by Don Gochenour)

And last but not least, Friday is the last Seaport Music Festival show of the season but they are really going out with a bang with The Wedding Present and Savoir Adore. I'm told we're getting a full 90-minute set from the Weddoes pretty close to what they played at Bowery Ballroom back in April: a career-spanning "hits" set and then they'll play 1989's Bizarro in full.

I saw the Bowery Bizzaro show and it was fantastic, especially the stuff from Side Two of the LP, the long, jangle-on-speed workouts of "Bewitched" and "Take Me!" David Gedge may be 50 but he can still tear into his guitar like Thatcher was still in office. There's video of "Take Me" from Bowery at the bottom of this post. The hits set was peppered with a few new songs too, which I thought were pretty good.

Savoir Adore, one of my favorite new NYC bands of the last few years, are always good live. If you have yet to check out their self-titled debut from last year, you definitely should.

-----------------------------

As if this wasn't enough, here are a few more picks by day that weren't already covered above:

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11

Two of the best new bands of the last year -- Twin Sister and Oberhofer -- play Mercury Lounge with Ontario's MemoryHouse. Twin Sister and Memory House also play together on Thursday (8/12) at Monster Island Basement, the start of a two-week tour together. All dates at the bottom of this post.

At Coco 66 it's another installment of Show Off Your Sugar which pairs one band and one author to benefit 826NYC, a non-profit writing center for New York City students. Rock critic Chuck Klosterman reads and Here We Go Magic will rock.

continued below...

Continue reading "Wild Beasts, Fergus & Geronimo, Rayon Beach, Ty Segall, Eternal Summers, Dog Day, the Wedding Present & more in This Week in Indie "

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Ty Segall - Caesar (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Royal Baths - Nikki Don't (MP3)

Ty Segall

Ty Segall may crank out the records but, so far, they're all good, and each platter goes somewhere new. (Well, new for Ty.) The latest, Melted, just out on Goner Records, adds a nice '60s psych pop flower power vibe to the proceedings, including some trippy flute courtesy Oh Sees frontman John Dwyer. Above all else, Ty Segall has the sound but, more important, he's got the songs, which is what keeps the records in rotation. Check out Melted's first single, "Caesar," above.

It's been almost a year since Ty last played New York but he'll remedy that next month when he stops at Cake Shop on August 12 and Death By Audio on August 13.

Royal Baths

Both NYC shows -- and the bulk of this tour -- are with San Francisco neighbors Royal Baths, who used to be known just as Baths until they added the Royal so as not to be confused with the other Baths, from L.A., who are signed to Anticon. In fact, they were still called just "Baths" when they played our Noise Pop show in February. Royal Baths are kind of bad trip acid rock, dark and seedy but not atonal. But it's definitely down the rabbit hole. In a good way. Royal Baths debut LP is due out on Woodsist in September and you can check out album track "Nikki Don't" at the top of this post.

All Ty Segall/Royal Baths tour dates are below.

Continue reading "Ty Segall released another album (MP3), touring w/ Royal Baths (formerly Baths, not to be confused w/ LA's Baths)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Ty Segall - Girlfriend (MP3)

I believe the phrase "prolific San Francisco garage rocker" is redundant these days, but Ty Segall is certainly in the running -- along with Thee Oh Sees and The Fresh & Onlys -- to win the Most Releases award. (Sic Alps, you guys need to step it up.) That most of the nine things Segall released last year ranged from Pretty Good to Awesome is an even more impressive achievement. There is no shortage of this kind of low-fi stuff in general right now, but his songwriting chops and enthusiasm keep things fresh.

That continues with his new album, Melted, out May 25 on Goner. The title is a good descriptor for Segall's sound -- which feels like a humid day in July. You can download the first released track from Melted, "Girlfriend," at the top of this post. No tour plans in his immediate future apart from playing Chaos in Tejas on May 27 and a June 27 date at SF's Bottom of the Hill with Grass Widow, Sonny & the Sunsets and The Baths. But I can't imagine Ty will be resting for long. UPDATE: West coast dates announced (below).

The Fresh & Onlys on the other hand are back in NYC for two shows this weekend starting with Monster Island basement tonight (5/14). The "Melted" cover art and some Ty Segall videos and all dates below...

Continue reading "new Ty Segall MP3 from new Goner album "Melted""

by BBG

Rorschach at The Charleston (more by Ryan Muir)

Last year's jaw-dropping lineup at Chaos In Tejas was sick, and 2010 is proving to be no different. For four days across four different Austin venues, May 27th to the 30th at Emo's, Mohawk, Red 7 and Beerland, the festival will offer some of the most impressive names in the independent/underground scene including the indestructible Rorschach, the first ever US appearance from Australian punk greats X, a one-time reunion of Japanese crust-core band Bastard, the quirky cutesy indie pop-punk of Grass Widow, Gehenna (who just played A389), Subhumans, Bastard Noise (who have a new record), Bone Awl, BV faves Jeff The Brotherhood, The Spits, Psychedelic Horseshit, Ty Segall, The Ponys, Iron Lung (who recently played Cake Shop), Poison Idea, Inquisition, and many many many others.

In addition to the obvious mayhem that will ensue over the four days, Chaos in Tejas will also showcase art from some of the scene's most interesting names including Tim Kerr (of Big Boys), Winston Smith (responsible for tons of collage work, including the Dead Kennedys best album art), and Bryan Ray Turcotte (best known for his book Fucked Up and Photocopied).

The full (and intimidating) list is below...

Continue reading "Chaos in Tejas 2010 (May 27-30) - intial lineup (Rorschach, Bastard reunion, Spits, Bone Awl, Ty Segall, much more)"

After months of speculation (much of it in our own corridors), we can happily announce that Matador Records has purchased the True Panther Sounds label. TPS, best known to many of you as the imprint behind Girls' recent rise to prominence, will continue to be managed by label founder Dean Bein. What would possess Matador to become involved with another label in this capacity? As Victor Kiam once explained his decision to purchase the Remington Shaver operation, "I liked it so much, I bought the company." Needless to say, we like Dean, Girls, Glasser, Tanlines, Lemonade and Hunx & His Punx much more than than Mr. Kiam appreciated those razor blades.

At the moment, Girls' 'Album' is the only True Panther Sounds title to be worked through Matador's fearsome promotional & marketing machinery (ie. Hunx' recent 'Gay Singles' LP, was not). However, in the months to come, additional offerings from TPS' impressive roster (prior releases have included titles from The Fly Girlz, Ty Segall, Rainbow Bridge, The Standing Nudes amongst others) will receive similar treatment. Stay tuned! [Matador]

Girls were not here for CMJ when Matador and True Panther teamed up for a showcase at The Suffolk.

Tanlines' last NYC show was at the Guggenheim with Yeasayer.

DOWNLOAD: Shonen Knife - Super Group (MP3)

Shonen Knife kick off the North American tour for Super Group (their new album) today (10/16) with a show at Santos Party House. Joining them will be Miho Hatori's New Optimism and Shellshag. Tickets are still on sale.

The rest of the dates for their tour have been greatly updated. Their post-Fun Fun Fun Fest run in November with Jeff the Brotherhood now includes a Saturday, November 14th show at Maxwell's (with Girls At Dawn too). Tickets are on sale. The penultimate date on the tour is a November 18th show at Brooklyn Bowl with Jeff and Golden Triangle. Tickets are up for that.

All updated dates are below...

Continue reading "Shonen Knife kick off tour - updated dates, Santos Friday"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Dream Diary - Bird in My Garden (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Big Troubles - Drastic and Difficult (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ty Segall - It #1 (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fanfarlo - Finish Line (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fanfarlo - I'm a Pilot (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fanfarlo - Luna (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Jeremy Warmsley - If He Breaks Your Heart (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Slaraffenland - Meet and Greet (Mp3)
DOWNLOAD: Slaraffenland - Open Your Eyes (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Horrors - Sea Within a Sea (MP3)

Ty Segall's drummer @ Cake Shop (more by Tim Griffin)

I realize we're all concerned about This Week Next Year in Indie, what with this Pavement stuff, but there are actually good shows in the next few days too, so let's get down to it.

Ty Segall is back in town, playing three area shows before heading down to Memphis for next weekend's Gonerfest. If you haven't picked up his new album, Lemons (which is on Goner Records), you really should -- I think it's one of the year's better slabs of garage. And by all means see him live. He (and his band) were great when they played Cake Shop back in June. You can catch him Friday (9/18) night at Death by Audio (as part of this Maze installation which I have yet to see, and where they recently "chopped some of the walls in half [to help] with the viewing".), Sunday night (9/20) at Mercury Lounge with Golden Triangle, and Monday (9/21) at Maxwell's.

All dates on this current tour are with fellow San Franciscans The Mantles whose self-titled debut is just out on Siltbreeze. Every time I think I've heard all the SF bands doing psych-garage, here comes another and they all seem to put their own stamp on it. The Mantles are a little more on the tuneful, paisley side of things -- think Lyres, Mouse & the Traps or even The Turtles -- that the scream through a distorted mic kind of thing, so they make for a good "similar but different" match to Ty's grittier style.

Dream Diary

It's Rosh Hashanah this weekend and the folks at Silent Barn are throwing a party Saturday night in celebration of it: "The party is to celebrate 5770 and will have a Jewish theme but non-Jews are definitely welcome... and encouraged to attend. Gonna be a party and a blast!" Headlining are Dream Diary, who I caught last week at Bruar Falls and thought were really good. Dream Diaryplay what I'd call classic indiepop: jangly guitars, fey vocals, with a love of both sunny melodies and rainy day minor chords. Think The Pastels, Orange Peels, or Trembling Blue Stars. You can check out an MP3 of "Bird in My Garden" at the top of this post, and there's video from the Bruar Falls show below. Also playing: duo Big Troubles who are also Fluffy Lumbers' backing band (if that means anything to you), and The Kezners. Plus: apples and honey!

Fanfarlo

We are in the midst of The Bell House's First Anniversary, which early in the week saw shows from OK Go, Fountains of Wayne and Rhett Miller, and is now ankle deep in the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival. The last day of this weeklong celebration (Tuesday, 9/22), however, is the one I'm most excited about: Fanfarlo. It's one of two dates they're playing in NYC, they also are at Bowery Ballroom on Monday (9/21). I'm a longtime champion of these guys and it's great to see them playing two of my favorite venues in the city -- a big move up from the 40 or so people in attendance at Fat Baby during CMJ 2008. Their debut, Resevoir, has been available digitally for some time (they were even selling it for a dollar for a while there) is finally getting a proper release on Atlantic in October. It's one of my favorites of the year, but I think Fanfarlo are even better in concert where their sweeping anthemicism really comes alive. The Finest Kiss caught the first show of their U.S. tour in Seattle:

Fanfarlo get compared to Arcade Fire quite a lot, but where Arcade Fire are all about pomp and bombast, Fanfarlo soften the corners coming across as a warmer friendlier band. They can sound big, but they also know how to do quiet. They all seem to be able to play multiple instruments, and apparently get tired of playing the same thing all the time based on all the switching off they did, and that restlessness spread to audience during the encore, when the band brought out hollow plastic whistling tubes and handed them out to various audience members for the song Ghost. It was just about perfect (except for ducking a few times) with the whistling forming and eerie bed of sound over which the band played. Like the stage set up, it was just another example of the band making a big impact with tiny props. It was a Monday night, but Chop Suey was pretty full for a UK band touring the US with no album out yet. The majority of the people there must have been fans, because after the encore the audience demanded another song. The house music and lights were coming on but everyone persisted and the band obliged. I rarely see a genuine encore, but this indeed was one, and the band were a little taken aback. They weren't sure that they even knew another song that they could play, but they pulled out the A-side to their second single "You Are One Of The Few Outsiders Who Really Understands Us." It may be the poppiest song they have, and just like the rush of the opening "I'm a Pilot" this put a smile on everyone's face. In a lot of ways a gig is like a salesman making a sale, it's all about the presentation, and Fanfarlo have got it down, visually and sonically.

Jeremy Warmsley

Helping fill out Fanfarlo's sound on this American tour (he's playing as a member of their band) is London musician Jeremy Warmsley who travels in the same circles as Noah & the Whale, Lightspeed Champion, Emmy the Great, Slow Club, the Wave Pictures and the rest of London's new folk scene, much of which was documented last year on his online show Welcome To Our TV Show. (You can watch an episode below.) His debut album from last year, How We Became, has yet to be released in America but it's well worth seeking out, a nice mix of acoustics, electronics and well-crafted songs. While here with Fanfarlo, he's doing his own solo show (which is also his NYC debut) on Wednesday (9/23) at Pianos. He's performing solo acoustic, but maybe some of the Fanfarlo folks will still be around to help him out? We'll see. He's good. You can download his single "If He Breaks Your Heart" at the top of this post.

Slaraffenland

If I wasn't going to the Fanfarlo show at Bell House I would probably be at Union Pool to see Denmark's Slaraffenland, their only NYC date of their current U.S. tour, most of which was spent opening for Akron/Family. Their new album, We're on Your Side, came out this week and while it's a little more straightforward than 2007's weird, wonderful Private Cinema, it's no less lovely. You can download two tracks from it at the top of this post. And I wholeheartedly recommend seeing them live. I wrote this about their show last year at Knitting Factory: "Live, Slaraffenland are pretty fascinating to watch, as all the members sing and play at least two instruments... often within the same song. The guitarist played the oboe; the percussionist played a variety of woodwinds; the bassist also played flute; and the keyboardist / sampler was often seen with a trombone. There is a lot of live sampling going on in their show -- many songs started with everyone playing horns which would become a backing loop -- so live percussion blended with canned bits. Very little of their music follows pop conventions, but there is melody and beauty if you stop waiting for the chorus and just let the music wash over you." You can also watch their Takeaway show further down this post.

If you're looking for things to do tonight, I can recommend three shows. At Glasslands (9/17), it's Savoir Adore, Drink Up Buttercup, The Art of Shooting, and Candles of Paradise. Savoir Adore, who I've plugged many times before here on this site, are a great live band and I really like their debut, In the Wooded Forrest which is out this week on CD and vinyl. (They're giving away three tracks from it at their website.) I've also written about Drink Up Buttercup more than once, and the band have just signed to Yep Roc who will release their debut album early next year. In the meantime, you can download the A-side of their new single "Even Think" from YepRoc's website after giving them your email address.

There's also The Horrors at Bowery Ballroom. They didn't win the Mercury Prize (no surprise) but as I've said before, their new album Primary Colours is pretty great. I'll quote myself: "Mind you, I'm prone to like things that owe to '80s post punk and goth, as well as '90s shoegaze, but they transcend the influences I think. Like My Bloody Valentine's Loveless, some of the sounds on the record make you wonder if your stereo is melting. In a good way." Opening are Crocodiles who do a good JAMC / Spacemen 3 impersonation that works, I think, because they've got the attitude and snarl to back it up. Or maybe it's the sunglasses. If you miss them, both bands will be back in October.

And at Union Hall tonight (9/17) are We Are Ivy League, Americans who do wispy Brit indiepop just about perfectly. They got most of their press from being part of another band who wrote the Snakes on a Plane theme song, but I think their album from last year stands on its own. They've been mostly quiet since releasing it. It might be worth going to the show just to find out what's going on with them these days.

That's it for this week (and a bit of next). Flyers, videos, and tour dates follow...

Continue reading "Fanfarlo, Jeremy Warmsley, Ty Segall, Dream Diary, Slaraffenland, Horrors & more in This Week in Indie"