photos by Samantha Marble

DOWNLOAD: Gators! - Dinner With the Band theme song (MP3)

The Sword @ IFC House in Austin

IFC House at SXSW this year was a venue dedicated to all things IFC. Bands performed in front of video cameras for webcasts and possible IFC channel tv coverage. They had everyone there from Neon Indian to Broken Social Scene to The Sword who played a show in conjunction with a Dinner With The Band party at the venue. Chef & DWTB show host Sam Mason, and show creators Greg and Darin Bresnitz, were among those in attendance at the packed metal and food event. Pictures from that show are above and below.

The IFC Channel's rock 'n roll cooking show, Dinner With the Band, kicks off its official first season, with ten new artists, on Tuesday, April 27th (it then airs on the cable channel every Tuesday at 10:30pm). That's still two weeks away, but another party in the show's honor will happen at Santos Party House in NYC tonight (4/12). The free event will feature DJ sets by Au Revoir Simone and Vega, and live performances by Gators! (they wrote the show's theme song - MP3 above), Bad Brilliance, and CX Kidtronik. Andrew WK, along with Sam and Thu Tran, host the night which simultaneously celebrates Thu's IFC show "Food Party" (whose new season starts in two weeks too). "There will be FREE Thu Tran inspired munchies, beer and Sam Mason signature cocktails from 7-8PM". The flyer, along with more pictures from the Austin show, below...

Continue reading "The Sword played an IFC party in Austin (pics), Au Revoir Simone & Vega DJ a free one in NYC tonight (flyer)"

IFC is creating a cuisine-oriented programming block to air Tuesday nights.

After a successful six-episode run of "Dinner With the Band" that began in November, Rainbow cabler is ramping up its episode order to 10 and teaming it with "Food Party" as an hourlong block.

"Band" teams chef Sam Mason and an indie band, which performs on the show, at a Brooklyn loft. Conversation ensues about life on the road and the food the musicians eat while touring.... Programming block will air from at 10 p.m. beginning April 27. [Variety]

Ten artists will be appearing on the new season, among them Murder City Devils who will be here taping the show during the trip that also brings them to Nokia Theatre (NYC) and Theatre of Living Arts (Philly). Tickets for those (three) shows are still on sale. The full list of 2010 'Dinner With the Band' artists (which you have a chance to be in the audience for), and a video of Les Savy Fav performing on the preview season, is below...

Continue reading "upcoming artists appearing on Dinner With The Band (new IFC season premieres in April) "

photos by Erez Avissar

"Leichtung moved from San Francisco four years ago to study music technology at NYU's Steinhardt School. While perfecting his scruffy college boy look - think black-framed glasses, beat-up Converse sneakers, lots of band t-shirts and a permanent five o'clock shadow - Leichtung also found himself getting sucked into the DIY scene. He started out interning for Todd P, but now lives and works at the Market Hotel along with four friends and a revolving door of artists who rent out storage and rehearsal space for $394 a month. Though the Warhol's Factory aura of the Market is creatively appealing, Leichtung confesses, "Trying to go to bed before 4 a.m. around here can be a problem."" [The Brooklyn Ink]

More pictures from Friday's show, below...

Continue reading "Vega, Tanlines, Pictureplane, Reading Rainbow & friends @ Market Hotel in Brooklyn - pics "

Neon Indian @ Mercury Lounge (more by Erez Avissar)

Neon Indian finished their three-night NYC run with a show at Brooklyn Bowl last night (12/17). Toro y Moi didn't open that show like he did at the two previous gigs which were both at Mercury Lounge, but he will play Brooklyn Bowl on March 26th when he opens for The Ruby Suns. Tickets are now on sale...

"[At Brooklyn Bowl, the] electronic musician known also known for his recordings under the name VEGA, blasted off into the lo-fi synthy stratosphere along with his three compadres, including what looked like a 17 year-old D&D player (cape included) and a cute girl in hot shorts that acted as band cheerleader. Playing tracks exclusively from their excellent debut LP Psychic Chasms while doctored images from teen-angst film The Doom Generation played behind them, Neon Indian had fun and looked good doing it. Their brand of dance music has a whimsical, nostalgic feel to it without sounding forced." [NY Press]

Pitchfork just named Psychic Chasms the 14th best album of 2009. VEGA was just added to tonight's show (12/18) at Market Hotel with Tanlines. Future Islands canceled due to illness.

And the Market Hotel show is actually one of two appearances Neon Indian band members are making in Brooklyn tonight. Neon Indian (aka drummer Jason Faries) is also listed as a DJ at the new Germs party at Europa. More details on both shows below...

Continue reading "VEGA added to Market Hotel tonight, Neon Indian played Brooklyn Bowl (Toro Y Moi is playing there w/ The Ruby Suns)"

words & photos by Erez Avissar

Going by phone/digital camera clips I'd seen online, I wasn't expecting what I got from Neon Indian Tuesday night. This genre called "chillwave" seemed to me all but doomed to ever really work well in the live setting -- not only is it all lo-fi and bedroomy, but Alan Palomo's peers (Toro Y Moi, Washed Out, Memory Tapes) didn't make the decision to recruit a live band. Opener Toro Y Moi was good, but yeah, there is only so much one man can do live.

Neon Indian, fresh off a European tour, played with loads of confidence, improvising, tweaking, and expanding. And they delivered: "Terminally Chill" hit hard, as did "Deadbeat Summer," and the rest of the highlights from their great record. I didn't think there were any songs left for an encore, but what did they do? Come back out (sans-Leanne Macomber) as Vega to play an extended (12" version?), totally spaced/funked-out "No Reason," temporarily turning the place into the best club on earth.

Neon Indian finish their three-night NYC run at Brooklyn Bowl tonight (12/17) with Tigercity and Awesome New Republic (tickets available at the door?). More pictures from the first of two shows at Mercury Lounge below...

Continue reading "Neon Indian, Toro y Moi & MNDR played Mercury Lounge - pics "

Vega @ McCarren Pool (more by Bao Nguyen)

Pitchfork: Favorite City to Play?

Neon Indian: I think I'd probably have to do a little more touring to draw that conclusion. And although it's cliché, I think that the most fun that the band will consistently have is in New York City. We played at Cameo, Studio B, even McCarren Park; there's such a wide variety of venues that each have their own appeal and charm, and every show we've played has never been the same crowd twice, there's always been a slight variation. But I feel like I'm preaching to the choir, considering the band is relocating in December.

That quote is from a newly-posted Pitchfork interview with "Neon Indian" though to be specific, it was with Alan Palomo who also plays as Vega, and it was Vega who actually played in all of those NYC venues. Neon Indian (currently residing in Texas) (despite their claim on MySpace that they are from "Brooklyn/Austin") has only played in a random warehouse so far (and maybe The Living Room if you count the kids show they/he played the next afternoon). Actually, that interview even happened before those CMJ-time Neon Indian shows (as evidenced by Alan's answer to the last live show he saw) (Phoenix at the Monolith Festival in September) (not that it matters).

Also, Neon Indian is not actually moving to NY in December. They had planned to and still want to, and still may in February, but no definite plans at the moment.

Neon Indian will be back to visit in December though. First they play at two sold out shows at Mercury Lounge and then a show they just added at Brooklyn Bowl on December 17th. Tigercity is opening. $5.00 tickets will go on sale this Friday.

Meanwhile Vega is rumored to have signed to Fool's Gold (not to be confused with the band that is playing MHOW tonight). It's the A-Trak-co-owned label that put the new Kid Sister record "Ultraviolet" this week. Kid Sister has a NYC show coming up at Webster Hall on Friday 11/27 with Flosstradamus.

All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Neon Indian adds 3rd show in NYC (which may be their new home), Vega signs to Fool's Gold? (home of Kid Sister)"

words by Andrew Friscano, photos by Benjamin Lozovsky

Neon Indian made their NYC debut Saturday, October 24th at the Root Studio in Williamsburg, on a bill with Almighty Defenders and Cale Parks. Neon Indian's first record, Psychic Chasms (which came out on October 13th), is a solo project of ex-Ghosthustler Alan Palomo, whose other, more disco "solo act," VEGA, played a Pool Party this summer. Both bands play live shows with Palomo supported by guitarist Ronald Geirhart and drummer Jason Faries. For Neon Indian, the trio adds Leanne Macomber, the singer from Texas synth duo Fight Bite.

Neon Indian play Fun Fun Fun Fest on Nov. 7th, then launch into a series of North American and European tour dates. They visit NYC's Mercury Lounge for a show on Wednesday, December 16th. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 4th noon.

More of a second set of pictures from the Root Studio show, and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Neon Indian - 2009 tour dates (Merc) & more pics from CMJ "

DOWNLOAD: The Purrs - Stay With Me (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Pete & the Pirates - Jennifer (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Let's Wrestle - Tanks (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Surf City - Records of a Flagpole Skater (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Surf City - Kudos (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: A Classic Education - We Can Always Run to Hawaii (MP3)

A Classic Education

DAYTIME:

Again today (10/21) I suggest you just stay on the Lower East Side for your free day party action. At Cake Shop is the Terrorbird Digital party with the mod-ish Black Hollies, dark and dreamy Zaza, Nashville's fun Turbofruits, LA all-girl trio Warpaint, Montreal's Silver Starling and San Francisco's Tempo No Tempo. Plus: free cupcakes while they last.

Up the street at Pianos is the Force Field PR party which has Real Estate, Kentucky's These United States, CMJ overachievers Surfer Blood (who were good yesterday at Cake Shop), San Francisco's good time party pals Still Flyin', noisy locals Grooms (who were also good at Cake Shop yesterday), Sub Pop band Holopaw, UK act Stricken City and L.A.'s Seven Saturdays.

And you might even wander down to Santos Party House for the Hype Machine/Babelgum party that has a nice lineup of dance acts: Australia's Midnight Juggernauts, retrofuturist VEGA, Brooklyn duo Sleigh Bells, smooth and soulful sounds of Theophilus London, and Norway's Alan Wilkis who puts his own spin on early '80s new wave funk. This one starts a bit later than the other day parties, at a civilized 3PM.

If you're in Williamsburg this afternoon (maybe to pick up your Vice Late Nights info at American Apparel) you might want to swing by Bruar Falls where they'll be a low key day show featuring Bologna, Italy's A Classic Education (who will also be playing the Brooklyn Vegan day party tomorrow [10/21] at Pianos). They were one of my favorites from SXSW. Also on the Bruar bill are three Brooklyn bands: My Teenage Stride, Knight School and Palomar. 2 - 6PM. Free!

NIGHTTIME:

Personally, this is my most conflicted night with at least three shows in completely different places that I feel I could stay at the whole night. If you're downtown at the day parties, you might want to head over to the M for Montreal showcase which starts with a 5PM performance from Parlovr. I was talking to a friend yesterday who was raving about their recent Pop Montreal performance and said they might be the next MTL band to break out. The rest of the M4M bill is solid, including Think About Life who were just fantastic last night at the official BrooklynVegan showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Also dont' miss BEASTand Duchess Says, the latter of whom will also play our free day party Thursday at Pianos.

Then there's also the great show at The Bell House with personal faves Pete & the Pirates and excellent New Zealanders Surf City -- both of whom are also playing the free BrooklynVegan/Bowery Presents day party on Saturday at Pianos. Also on the bill are Pete & the Pirates' Stolen Recordings labelmates Let's Wrestle, as well as North Carolina's The Love Language, the latter of whom will be playing our Friday night loft party. The Bell House show is $14 without a CMJ badge.

There's also a great lineup of bands at Santos tonight on two floors, including Cymbals Eat Guitars and DEASTRO (who both play our Saturday party), Free Energy, Real Estate, and Beach Fossils, plus a couple awesome bands from Norway: Ungdomskullen and I Was a King. It's $15 if you don't have a badge.

Richard Davies

And I'd like to highlight a couple artists who play their only CMJ shows tonight, at the same timeslot (9pm) in different Bleeker Street venues. (I know.) At Kenny's Castaways is Richard Davies who fronted the great Australian band The Moles in the late '80s/early '90s, and then moved to the U.S. where he formed chamber pop duo Cardinal with Eric Matthews, and their sole 1994 album remains one of the best things Sub Pop has ever released. After Cardinal, he put out three very good solo albums (1998's Telegraph is pretty great, actually), and then in 2000 or so, he decided to go to law school and has had his own practice since. But he's started playing again recently and, according to this interview, he and Matthews have restarted Cardinal, which is kind of exciting. But tonight here he'll play as a trio with a new band. Glad to have him back.

The Purrs

And down the street at Wicked Willy's are The Purrs who hail from Seattle and have just released their very good second album Amused, Confused and More Bad News. Mix a little '80s Paisley Underground with '90s Britpop and you're in the ballpark of their sound. You can download their song "Stay Here With Me" at the top of this post. 9PM at Wicked Willy's (149 Bleeker).

What else is good today? Hip Hop recommendations HERE. Flyers and day party set times, and all Classic Education dates, below.

Continue reading "CMJ 2009 - Bill's Wednesday picks & stuff (day, night parties, A Classic Education, Richard Davies, The Purrs, more)"

Peter Bjorn and John @ Webster Hall in April (more by Tim Griffin)


Oops! Peter Bjorn and John's November 10th Terminal 5 show has been moved down to the smaller Webster Hall one day earlier (November 9th). El Perro Del Mar and Brooklyn (via Japan)'s The Suzan open the show. All T5 tix will be honored, and some are still on sale too.

El Perro Del Mar was supposed to play Joe's Pub on November 9th, so that was also canceled with this change.

The Suzan...

"was formed by two Japanese girls, RIE(Guitar) and SAORI(Vocal) in the summer of 2003. They had been sicking and tired of recent Japanese POP idol music. So they decided to produce their own songs and bring the movement and revolution to the music scene of not only Japan but also the world by their sound."

Based on watching one of their videos (below), I'm not sure how soon they'll be making a name for themselves in the world, but somehow they got on this T5 bill, and on one of the two Fool's Gold CMJ parties this year. The flyer and more info below...

Continue reading "Peter Bjorn & John's Terminal 5 show moved to Webster Hall -- The Suzan opening, playing Fool's Gold CMJ (flyer)"

photos by Bao Nguyen, words by Andrew Frisicano

It would be hard to describe the final Jelly NYC Pool Party, and the entire series this summer, as anything less than a success.

Like the week before with Girl Talk, the park reached capacity, meaning whoever was left in line, which I'm told wound down to Wythe Ave and back, had to listen from the street. Which might not have been so bad - the echoing sound from the show reached as far as McCarren Park, which made sense, because Grizzly Bear was loud and their sound, already loaded with reverb, was made to travel.

Beach House's set, which followed Vega's, seemed similar to Grizzly Bear in some ways - dreamy, washed out vocals and lethargic drums - but with a sound of their own. Grizzly Bear on stage simply sounded great. The band benefits from an echoey space that gives component parts time to fill out propery. The opener "Southern Point" broke into an ocean of sound that set the tone for the rest of the set. Later, Beach House's Victoria Legrand joined the group for her part on "Two Weeks," and throughout, both guitarists played with distortion that pushed the usually restrained GB (at least on record) over the edge. A great concise set, with a bit of jamming toward the end, and no encore (sadly, cause they earned it). With sunset behind them (in a non-blinding way) it was a great way to end the series (but hopefully, not the summer yet).

Grizzly Bear has lots of other tour dates coming up (but none in NYC). (And speaking of collaborations, Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan) sings lead on the b-side version of the band's "While You Wait for the Others" single - out on 7-inch and iTunes)

More pictures and the GB setlist are below...

Continue reading "Grizzly Bear, Beach House, Vega, Schumer & friends @ the last 2009 JellyNYC Pool Party (Williamsburg) - pics & setlist"

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo, words by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Neon Indian - Terminally Chill (MP3)

Electro rock act Vega played the opening set at the last Pool Party on Sunday. If you didn't already know, all their gear had been stolen in Sacramento about a week ago, though you wouldn't have known from their performance.

Thankfully, Palomo says, a number of supporters have chipped in, sending the band cash to help buy the replacement gear necessary for its upcoming slew of shows, which will also find the touring through Europe.

"Most of the donations have come from friends and supporters back home," Palomo says. "There have been a few random names that I don't know, though. It's just like, uh, thanks for the support, y'know?"

That kind of support also helped VEGA make up for the fact that it had to cancel some shows in Canada that it had planned to play before getting its gear stolen; on the way back home, the band was able to raise funds by performing at DJ gigs in Los Angeles on the way back home to Texas. And, in the coming days, Palomo says, the band should be able to re-purchase the bulk of the equipment it lost--or at the very least, the equipment it needs to create Neon Indian's warped, summery sounds in a live setting. [Dallas Observer]

A full list of all the equipment taken is below.

The blow is doubly crap-tastic for Alan Palomo, who uses the same gear in his Neon Indian project. Neon Indian is set to release its first record, Psychic Chasms, October 13th on Lefse Records. He's announced that the act "will be touring Europe and North America from September through December." Neon Indian are set to make their live debut on September 10th in Denton, TX, a few days before their Monolith Fest stop on September 12th. Palomo's upcoming tour, posted below, also has four days, October 20th-24th, marked off for CMJ. Good luck to him at getting the new synths and samplers together.

More Pool Party pics, the stolen equipment list, and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "despite stolen gear (full list), Vega played the Pool Party (pics), touring as/with Neon Indian (dates) "

August 25th, 2009 (Austin, TX) - Transmission Entertainment is pleased to announce the lineup for the 2009 Fun Fun Fun Fest, taking place on November 7th and 8th at Waterloo Park in Austin. Fun Fun Fun Fest made its first appearance on a cold Friday evening in 2006, offering a unique approach to festival booking, filling stages with talent bubbling from the underground: what sounded great, and what was making an impact, regardless of what mainstream media said was cool. What started out as a show for a few touring acts and local favorites has become a movement -- a festival that fans and bands alike realize needs to be experienced year after year.

Now in its fourth year, Fun Fun Fun Fest has made a significant impact on the country's winter calendar, successfully combining the vast worlds of indie, punk, rap, electronica and comedy while showcasing some of the city's most unique local businesses.

Greatest. Festival. Ever...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2009 lineup (Jesus Lizard, Of Montreal, Gorilla Biscuits, LSF, 7 Seconds, D.R.I. & DANZIG!! & more)"

We already know the lineup for Austin's 4th annual Fun Fun Fun Fest on November 7th and 8th will include 7 Seconds, The Jesus Lizard, Red Sparrowes, and Atlas Sound and Broadcast.

FFF's own "Lineup Leaks" page expands upon that list with Why? (whose tour is coming to NYC), GZA, Melt Banana, King Khan & BBQ Show and comedian Todd Barry.

BV would like to further leak that our most-favorite weekend in Austin will also feature sets by Alaska in Winter, Les Savy Fav, comedians Jake Flores, Joe Staats & JT Habersaat, VEGA, Lucero, Metallagher, The Night Marchers (they played Mess With Texas last year at the same venue), and Shonen Knife (part of their large upcoming tour).

Speaking of the Hot Snakes, Obits are scheculed to play the South Street Seaport in NYC tonight (7/31).

The official FFFFest "leak" page includes stage assignments, which are below. We have 2008's FFF Fest in pictures (day one & day two), and you can check out recap videos from 2006 and 2007, also below...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest - initial 2009 lineup (includes Les Savy Fav)"

DOWNLOAD: WZRDZ - Junglishious (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Max Pask - I Heart Classics (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mattie Safer - Feelin Kinda Horny Mix (MP3)

Last week/weekend I slacked off in the going out & dancing department. I missed the People Don't Dance No More Rooftop Disco BBQ which looked great and thankfully will be happening often. Friday night the heat zapped me of all energy and I skipped Tiga...and things continued down that road until Sunday when I finally went out to Studio B to see Vega.

I had just become familiar with Vega's music last week, but generally was into it and eager to see what a live show from them would be like. I wasn't too crazy about the first track they opened with, but they immediately had me with the second, "No Reasons" (video below) which sounded excellent live and is just a great poppy, dance track. Unfortunately after that something turned me off about their set. The songs were in a weird state somewhere between poppy & dancey, that I couldn't get into.

On to this week, beginning with Thursday (5/28):

Continue reading "the week in Dance w/ Showtrotta (part 1) "

DOWNLOAD: Phonique - Radio Sputnik DJ Mix, April '09 (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Vega - No Reasons (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Vega - Well Known Pleasures (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Kills - Black Balloon (Vega Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Flashmen - Flashmen Theme (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Flashmen - Little Wildkat (MP3)

Phonique

Regrettably I have no disco adventures to tell you about from Thursday night and Friday night hasn't happened yet (at least not when I was writing this)...but I do have info on a whole bunch of places to get down this lovely 3-day weekend (& beyond) starting with...

Continue reading "the week in Dance w/ Showtrotta (part 2)"

our deepest apologies to anyone who was expecting (respectively) to enjoy themselves at a dance show last night and instead felt the cold sting of a series of bullshit moves. The situation was unfortunately out of our hands but we greatly appreciate everyone who was looking forward to seeing us and especially to the people at Granada & C3 entertainment who worked with us empathetically amidst the long winded accusations. Though we can't change what CC apparently thinks of us and Granada, we at-least deserve an opportunity to defend our side of the story. Our explanation goes as follows:

Shortly after playing our set in Austin, Crystal Castles asked if they could use our guitar which we gladly agreed too. Shortly after the set the crew packed our gear and helped us load out. An FX pedal they used during their set was packed into our guitar cab (unbeknownst to us). Upon arriving back at my apartment we found it and immediately got ahold of their sound engineer offering to return it promptly. We were told to bring it to Dallas. The next day we arrive at the Granada in Dallas only to be asked to leave the premises by personal request of Crystal Castles via Tom Windish of Windish Agency. We handed the pedal to a sound guy and packed our shit without so much as an explanation for CC Party. Considering we were thrown out of the press pit during the show by their management, accused of mindfully drinking their booze, botching our guest list, and contentiously commenting this to our manager, the fact that they still have the nerve to accuse us of theft is flat out insulting. Do they truly think we'd stupid enough to compromise our reputation as a band, and ruin a rapport with a band we were initially honored to play with for a goofy FX pedal? Treating gigs like these flippantly is just something we don't do. That would be flat out moronic. We still have great admiration for Crystal Castles as artists and in all honesty they seemed very nice in Austin. But the lack of intervention to the arrogance of their management leaves me somewhat disappointed. Granada has already begun working out refunds and compensation. I commend their compassion for the fanbase they've built in Dallas. It's unfortunate that can't be said about the other party involved. I did a radio interview today explaining this shit storm (if things haven't already been made Crystal Clear) (MP3).

-Alan

Read more about the cancelled Crystal Castles show on Gorilla Vs Bear.

Sounds like all "Alan" Palomo aka "VEGA" stole is someone's name.