photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

Will the woman who lost a small baby please come to the stage...

Two days after their appearance on Fallon and one day after they headlined Wellmont Theater in Montclair, the Flaming Lips played a 6:15pm set in Prospect Park as part of the first day of the second year of GoogaMooga (which ended up not having a third day). They want on in the light after the Darkness and before Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Here are some pictures, the setlist and video from their set. It all continues below...

Continue reading "The Flaming Lips played GoogaMooga (pics, video, setlist)"

The Flaming Lips, who continue their NYC-area adventure with a show at Wellmont Theater in NJ tonight (5/16) followed by an early Friday gig for GoogaMooga in Prospect Park, played Fallon last night. Watch the performance that aired, the web exclusive (a cover of David Bowie's "Heroes"), and Wayne Coyne playing Pictionary with Jimmy, Julie Bowen, and Demi Lovato, below...

Continue reading "watch Flaming Lips cover Bowie on Fallon, Wayne Coyne play Pictionary (videos)"

Bleached on the Gorburger Show

Gorburger @ a BrooklynVegan SXSW party (more by Amanda Hatfield)

We were excited to recently meet alien talk show host Gorburger in the flesh (if that's what you call it), when he and the rest of the cast of The Gorburger Show stopped by our BrooklynVegan SXSW 2013 Wednesday day party to pose with and eat a few fans dipped in vegan queso. We're also happy and honored to be debuting the latest episode of the Gorburger show featuring BV-SXSW-2012 vets Bleached who stopped by the Japanese news network that Gorburger invaded for an interview with the host and a performance of their song, "Next Stop," from their recently released album, Ride Your Heart. Watch below!

It's the 16th episode of Gorburger's The Warner Sound YouTube show, which previously featured artists like Tegan & Sara, Dum Dum Girls, and Flaming Lip Wayne Coyne. Wayne's episode can also be watched below.

Bleached are on tour with Hunters and then Ex Cops, and that tour brings them to NYC for a show on April 23 at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets for that show are still available. All dates along with the Gorburger video, below...

Continue reading "Bleached on tour, hung out with Gorburger (video & dates)"

The Flaming Lips at Jones Beach in 2011 (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

The Flaming Lips, who just expanded their tour (it hits the NYC-area on 5/16 at Wellmont Theatre), have finally officially revealed the first taste of their new album, The Terror, which comes out on April 2 via Warner Brothers. NPR is streaming the album's opening song, "Look... The Sun Is Rising," so head to their site to hear that.

As mentioned, the Flaming Lips tour includes SXSW, and while they're there, they'll be premiering Wayne Coyne's iPhone-shot film. The band will also be on the Late Show with David Letterman on April 3.

Updated dates are listed below...

Continue reading "The Flaming Lips streaming first track off 'The Terror', premiering Wayne Coyne's iPhone-shot film at SXSW, playing 'Letterman'"

"Sorry Sorry Sorry!! Everyone that was inconvenienced because of my grenade at OKC airport!!" - @waynecoyne

The new face of terrorism (via)

What kind of dumbass packs a freaking grenade in his carry-on ... and accidentally tries to take it onto a plane? Answer: Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne. And he shut down an Oklahoma City airport in the process.

The grenade wasn't live -- thankfully -- but according to the police report, Coyne still accidentally packed it in his bag on November 10 and triggered an alarm at the TSA checkpoint at Will Rogers airport ... like a dumbass.

Needless to say, TSA freaked ... and shut down the terminal while officers frantically tried to figure out how to handle the situation.

...

According to reports, Coyne was flying to LAX to catch a preview of the new Flaming Lips musical "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" -- and told police he was given the dead grenade at a party as a joke.

Shocker, the grenade reportedly resulted in several missed flights ... and lots of wasted money -- but once TSA determined it was harmless, they let Coyne go. -[TMZ]

UPDATE: He explains the whole story to Pitchfork.

BEAUTIFUL NOISE is an in-depth exploration of a music movement in the late 20th century, a fascinating period when some innovative musicians mixed guitar noise into conventional pop song structures while maintaining a philosophy of letting the music speak for itself.

Although many of the people interviewed are notoriously press shy they have opened up about their music and experiences from over 20 years ago; how they defied the rules and became sonic innovators that have inspired so many.

Currently the documentary is in the final stages for worldwide release, and we need your help to raise the $75,000 to pay for limited run licensing and finishing costs to distribute in Film Festivals and on DVD/Blu-Ray.

This documentary will finally be released only if the fans of this music believe in this project and contribute.

This comes shortly after the news that My Bloody Valentine plans to release an album by the end of the year.

Campaign video below...

Continue reading "My Bloody Valentine, JAMC, Cocteau Twins, Ride and more feature in shoegaze doc that launched Kickstarter campaign"

Tamaryn @ Emo's in Austin, April 2011 (more by Tim Griffin)

Royal Thunder @ Knitting Factory, September 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

today in NYC
* The Heavens @ Barbes
* Nass Gwana @ Zebulon
* Henry Rollins @ Joe's Pub
* Patton Oswalt @ Town Hall
* The Molecules @ The Stone
* moe. @ The Capitol Theatre
* Aziz Ansari @ Apollo Theatre
* Tea Leaf Green @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Ed Osborn @ Issue Project Room
* Psychic Ills @ Knitting Factory
* Cody ChesnuTT @ Mercury Lounge
* Justin Bieber (!!!!) @ Izod Center
* Rush Midnight @ The Studio at Webster Hall
* Mimosa, Curren$y @ Best Buy Theatre
* Cadence Weapon, Fat Tony @ Grasslands
* Tamaryn, Young Prisms @ Mercury Lounge
* Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Irving Plaza
* Phil Lesh & Friends @ The Wellmont Theatre
* Janeane Garofalo, Todd Barry @ Eastville Comedy Club
* Dredg, The Big Sleep, Ben Henderson @ Bowery Ballroom
* Nadastrom, Sabo, Uproot Andy, Geko, Blass @ 285 Kent
* Ten Kens, Psychobuildings, Idgy Dean, Indyns @ Cake Shop
* Corrosion of Conformity, ASG, Royal Thunder @ Saint Vitus
* Metro Area, Braille, Brenmar, Mykki Blanco, Mess Kid @ Cameo
* Kingdom, Nguzunguzu, Jam City, Mike Q, Rizzla @ Glasslands
* Wolfgang Gartner, PROXY!, L-Vis 1990, Popeska @ Terminal 5
* The Sic F*CKS, Blue Coupe, Andy Shernoff @ The Bowery Electric
* Lawrence Arabia, Ludwig Persik, Mercies, Eureka Birds @ Pianos
* Caged Animals, Jamaican Queens, Phone Tag, Passalacqua @ Shea Stadium
* Gross Relations, Rarechild, The Judas Knife, Image Society @ Grand Victory
* Forgetters, Radical Dads, Weird Fantasy Band, Tiny Tusks @ Death By Audio
* Girls & Boys w/ Dillon Francis, Clockwork, Baauer, Alex English @ Webster Hall
* Gold Panda, Photek, Still Live, The Rapture DJ set, Karizma, Grenier @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Omar-S, Jackmaster, Deadboy, Nick Catchdubs, Drop The Lime, Onra, Morri$, Matt Shadetek DJ set @ Public Assembly

The New York Comedy Fest is happening as we speak. Tonight includes Patton Oswalt at Town Hall and Aziz Ansari at The Apollo.

The Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival kicks off tonight with a few events, most notably Gold Panda and Photek at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

The first of two BV-presented screening of Miami Connection happens tonight at Sunshine Cinema. It's a midnight show and tickets are still available.

BrooklynVegan presents a FREE SCREENING OF THE COMEDY at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn this Sunday. Meanwhile you can live-stream a Q&A Tim will be a part of in LA tonight.

Follow @BrooklynVegan on Twitter.
Follow @bvChicago for just Chicago stuff.
Also follow @bvAustin for just Austin stuff.

Be our friend on Facebook too, and BV Austin's friend on Facebook and BV Chicago's friend on Facebook.

Follow BrooklynVegan on Instagram.

Amanda Palmer made a video for "Do It With A Rockstar," which Wayne Coyne (who worked with a naked Amanda Palmer in the Flaming Lips video for "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face") directed and appears in. Check out the expectedly ridiculous video below. And it's Amanda Palmer so it goes without saying that it's NSFW. You can read the video's backstory at Amanda's blog.

Foals have a new single, "Inhaler," and you can watch the video for that below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

Hunx as Gayracula

All things considered, we hope you had a Happy Halloween. You already saw what John Vanderslice and Freelance Whales dressed up as, and Dum Dum Girls' nun costumes (Crocodiles in there too). We also already posted Deap Vally, Those Darlins & the Mountain Goats in Halloween attire, and you saw Vampire Weekend all decked out for Kimmel. Here's a whole bunch more. That's Hunx and a punx above. See the rest (sort of NSFW), below...

Continue reading "more pics of Bands in their Halloween Costumes -- (Wayne Coyne, Kickball Katy, Dirty Projectors, Hunx & more)"

Real flyer on Grand Ave. 'HIPSTERS ONLY Please!' (via @adelaloconte)

Guy Fieri, Smashmouth frontman Steve Harwell and Sammy Hagar are teaming for what is likely to be the most exclamation-point-filled cookbook of all time. Also, maybe the worst.

Those of a certain age may have fond, fuzzy memories of MTV's sock puppet hosts Sifl & Olly. Well they're back! Reviewing video games? Sort of. Check out a video below.

Speaking of fond MTV memories, you can catch Kurt Loder in the flesh at at the Bell House in Brooklyn tonight (9/20) (with Julie Klausner who has other upcoming gigs too).

Bruce Springsteen plays again in NJ tonight tomorrow. Meanwhile check out his setlist from last night.

Fiona Apple got busted for hash possession at the same Texas checkpoint that got Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson. She's out on bail, but tonight's ACL Live show is canceled (which means no pictures tonight on the BVAustin Instagram).

Speaking of Austin, Ume is funding a new record via Kickstarter.

Speaking of Kickstarter, Gawker discusses their accountability problem, Amanda Palmer included.

That said, we're sure Owen Pallett, like many others, was happy to hear that Amanda is now paying all musicians.

Meanwhile, if you're looking for backers for your Kickstarter, Forbes listed the 400 richest Americans, Oprah Winfrey, David Geffen, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas included.

Speaking of money, Iggy Pop, Wayne Coyne, Ben Folds, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney and more will appear as guests on Ke$ha's new album, Warrior.

Speaking of Patrick Carney, congrats to him and his now-wife Emily Ward on their recent wedding. Will Forte officiated. Shaun White was arrested.

The first track from Neurosis's new LP Honor Found in Decay has slipped out. Stream "At The Well" at NPR now.

more stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: Sifl & Olly are back, Smashmouth/Guy Fieri cookbook, Little Pete vs Lindsay Lohan, Patrick Carney, Neurosis & more"

photos by David Andrako

Flaming Lips in Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto - 6/16/12

As previously mentioned, The Flaming Lips will "attempt to break a Guiness World Record by playing the most concerts in multiple cities during a 24-hour period, a record currently held by Jay-Z. They've got eight shows scheduled to take place on June 27 and 28 in Memphis, Clarksdale, Oxford, Jackson, Hattiesburg, Biloxi, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. Each show is with a different band. Openers include Grimes, Neon Indian, Gary Clark Jr., Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, GIVERS, and more." Those shows begin on 6/27 at 4:30pm PT aka 7:30 ET aka now, and the whole thing will be streamed live at the O Music Awards site on three channels (the bus, the venues and the control room). The list of shows and bands they're playing with is below.

A little over a week earlier, on 6/16 to be exact, the Flaming Lips played a huge free show in Yonge-Dundas Square in downtown Toronto as part of NXNE. I don't know if it set any records, but the outdoor square was PACKED with people, many who were supposed to be at Radiohead, but ended up having some free time on their hands. At the show, Wayne Coyne and crew paid tribute to Radiohead by doing covers and constantly sending their love to Radiohead family during stage banter. Our pictures from that show are in this post too, and continue along with the 24 hour shows schedule, below...

Continue reading "Flaming Lips streaming 24 hours of record-breaking shows NOW, played Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto (pics)"

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

The Flaming Lips and Weezer played their second of two co-headlining shows at a wet Jones Beach on Friday (7/29). As we learned from the first show in NJ the night before, Wayne and Rivers opened the show by riding in their own space bubbles as the remaining members of both bands played "Sweet Leaf" (Black Sabbath) on stage. That was followed by alternating sets by the two bands every few songs, starting with The Flaming Lips.

According to Rolling Stone, "The Flaming Lips had a tougher job because they were playing to what was clearly a majority Weezer fan audience. They even had to endure some obnoxious "Weezer! Weezer!" chants between songs." Those in attendance who do appreciate the Flaming Lips's great work were treated to their recent Neon Indian collaboration "Is David Bowie Dying?," in addition to popular standouts like "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song," "What Is the Light?" "The Observer," and "Do You Realize??"

Weezer, whose new material is slightly lacking (to say the least), focused a little more on their earlier stuff like they did on their Blue Album/Pinkerton tour. They played old favorites like "El Scorcho," "My Name is Jonas," "Surf Wax America," and "Buddy Holly," though they didn't touch on early b-sides like they did the previous night when New Jerseyans were rewarded with "You Gave Your Love to Me Softly" and "Susanne," in addition to two more Pinkerton tracks. They also covered Radiohead's "Paranoid Android" like they did in May when they posted a live-in-studio video of them recording the track to their YouTube account.

The encore saw both bands rejoin on stage for one of each band's quirkier tracks. Wayne and Rivers traded verses on the Lips' "She Don't Use Jelly" and Rivers sang lead on "Undone - The Sweater Song" as Wayne ran into the audience shooting confetti.

Yeasayer opened the show in the rain with a short set made up of their singles and fan favorites.

More pictures, videos, and setlists from the show below...

Continue reading "Weezer & the Flaming Lips shared the stage again @ Jones Beach (pics, setlist, videos & Yeasayer too)"

photos by Toby Tenenbaum

The Flaming Lips and Weezer played side-by-side sets at PNC Banks Arts Center last night (7/28) with an opening set from Yeasayer (who we missed). Pictures from the NJ show are in this post.

As mentioned, Rivers Cuomo was quoted in a recent press release saying, "I asked Wayne if he has an extra bubble I could ride in." He wasn't joking! Toby Tenenbaum, who shot the show, writes:

The special intro comprised the two lead singers from Flaming Lips and Weezer (Wayne Coyne and River Cuomo) pulling one of the most original stunts I had ever seen. They were both inside their own inflatable balloon and used it to crowd-walk/surf over the heads of the crowd. It was truly awesome and unique.

The two bands then alternated every few songs. To quote Toby again, "With the average song length for FL being about 6 minutes per song and for Weezer its the standard 3 minutes per song it felt that Weezer were simply playing intermittently between a Flaming Lips show. One high point for Weezer was the Radiohead Paranoid Android cover." The bands also played together at the end of the show. The full setlist and other videos are also below.

All three bands will play again tonight (7/29) at Jones Beach Theater in Long Island. Tickets are still available. Stay tuned for pictures and a review from that show too, and congrats to all the BV contest winners that were/are in attendance.

More pictures, the video and the NJ setlist below...

Continue reading "Weezer & the Flaming Lips played 'side by side' @ PNC Bank Arts Center (pics, video & setlist)"

DOWNLOAD: Steven Drozd - "Born" (MP3)

Tibet House US Benefit 2010 (more by Chris La Putt)

No word on how a giant vagina entrance, a bear suit, Wayne Coyne in an inflatable ball, Hulk hands and similar props will work at Carnegie Hall, but The Flaming Lips will join recent addition Taj Mahal at the 21st Annual Tibet House US Benefit Show on 3/3. The two join a veritable all-star lineup that includes Michael Stipe, The Roots, Patti Smith with Jesse Smith & Michael Campbell, Angelique Kidjo, James McCartney, and of course curator Philip Glass. Tickets for the concert are on sale via Carnegie Hall, while tickets for the concert and a fund-raising dinner are on sale via Tibet House directly. (Note: Do not expect a full set by any band - they usually play 3 songs each at the most, with a few collaborations and group sing-alongs).

In related News, Wayne Coyne recently talked to Spin about some of the Lips' plans for 2011...

First up, the band is heading to New York to cut tracks with synth-pop artist Neon Indian and longtime producer Dave Fridmann, and they're hoping to release the results on the fly. "We're going to do two or three songs with him and that shit should be ready to go pretty quickly," says Coyne, who posted a demo of a potential collaborative track earlier this week. "I have a couple of tunes that he's heard and we'll just do that shit and fix that up and fuck around together."

Coyne adds that he'd love to do similar collaborations with Deerhoof and Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: "I think everybody would be up for doing something. But a lot of it comes down to us fitting into their schedules. I can always sneak in on their thing."

Finally, Steven Drozd of The Flaming Lips recently dropped the score for The Heart Is Drum Machine, a documentary that examines music and human attraction to it. The twelve-track mostly-instrumental LP features tracks like "Born" (downloadable above, streamable below) and a cover of Elton John's "Rocket Man" featuring none other than Maynard James Keenan of Tool/A Perfect Circle. The film also features Drozd, Keenan, & Wayne Coyne, alongside appearances from Jason Schwartzman, Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock, Juliette Lewis, Spoon's Britt Daniel, George Clinton, and many others who all discuss their personal connection to music. The Heart Is A Drum Machine is out now on DVD and the soundtrack is out now on iTunes.

The soundtrack tracklisting, the film trailer, and that song stream are all below.

Continue reading "Flaming Lips & Michael Stipe playing Tibet Benefit, Deerhoof playing Europa, Heart Is A Drum Machine score out now"

photos by Tim Griffin

"An estimated 200,000 people journeyed the grounds of Zilker Park this weekend for the Austin City Limits Music Festival.

The descent of the iconic guitar sign Monday signified the end of an incredibly successful ACL Music Festival, and with eight stages and 130 bands, clean up is expected to take the rest of the week.

"This year's ACL was one of the best. The weather was incredible," City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department spokesperson Victor Ovalle said.

The show's producer, C3 Presents, takes care of cleaning up Zilker Park, and the city sends crews into the surrounding neighborhoods to remove any trace of music fans who know how to have a good time.

After C3 Presents leaves the park later this week, fertilizing and watering the grass will city's number one priority." [News 8 Austin]

Continue reading "ACL 2010 Day 3 in pics (Foals, Eagles, Yeasayer, Norah Jones, Ted Leo, Devendra Banhart, Morning Benders & more)"

photos by Tim Griffin

"Watching Deer Tick at One Eyed Jacks in
the French quarter..." - Wayne Coyne, one day after ACL

"Burbank, CA - What would Halloween be without THE FLAMING LIPS? Certainly nothing as magical and incendiary as their annual Ghouls Gone Wild event held in their hometown of Oklahoma City, that's what. As we fall into the crisp Autumnal night air of the season's darkest yet sweetest holiday, THE FLAMING LIPS ask the question: Want to Participate in This Year's MARCH OF 1000 FLAMING SKELETONS?

This October 23rd, The LIPS will once again host their annual MARCH OF 1000 FLAMING SKELETONS Parade in downtown Oklahoma City's Bricktown district, just a stones throw away from FLAMING LIPS ALLEY.

Last year's third annual Ghouls Gone Wild event was a huge success that drew LIPS fans from around the globe. Naturally, this year's Supernatural procession will be even more elaborate as festive floats, (in)appropriately adorned cars, walking groups and plenty of surprises along with 1000 strong undead snaking through the streets of Oklahoma City.

Order your costume bundle for this year's parade now in the official Flaming Lips store: www.flaminglips.com/store

Continue reading "the Flaming Lips played ACL (pics, setlist), made a poster w/ Wayne's blood (video), announce Skeleton Parade, other dates"

photos by Eliza Koch

""This night is f---ing perfect," Coyne announced at the top of the show following his now-customary climb over the audience in a giant inflatable hamster ball. He wasn't necessarily talking about the music but rather about the weather, as the oppressive summer humidity had dissipated long enough to create a warm, breezy summer night. It provided the ideal backdrop for the Lips' set, which was heavy on the amorphous material from Embryonic. On the album, the melodies float several layers below the surface and are constantly teased out by the adroit production abilities of Dave Fridmann. In a live setting, the band let the fuzz do the talking, and allowed most of the tunes to build into swirls of distorted noise and churning beat science." [MTV]

Tonight, Tuesday, you can catch the band at Terminal 5 with Fang Island . The show is sold out, but it will also be streaming, like Smashing Pumpkins last night, online. The Flaming Lips return to the David Letterman show on Wednesday.

More pictures, a bunch of videos, and the setlist from Summerstage, below...

Continue reading "the Flaming Lips played Central Park Summerstage (pics, video setlist), playing Letterman Wednesday & T5 (tonight) "

Jeffrey Ross & Wayne Coyne @ Bonnaroo (via Jeffrey Ross)

tonight in NYC
* Dam-Funk @ BKLYN YARD
* Leo Allen @ 2pm in Union Square
* Big Apple BBQ @ Madison Square Park
* John Zorn Improv Night@ The Stone
* Hillstock @ 967 Bergen St, Brooklyn
* Evelyn Evelyn @ Lucille Lortel Theatre
* DM Stith, Inlets, Silje Nes @ Littlefield
* Care Bears On Fire, Jack Skuller @ Maxwell's
* Walter Schreifels, Brandon Reilly @ Maxwell's
* Kelli Scarr, Natureboy, Jo Schornikov @ Zebulon
* Fela! Tony Party & Afterparty @ Knitting Factory
* Girls At Dawn, Selmanaires, Carnivores @ Bruar Falls
* Pocahaunted, Prince Rama, Sleepover Forever @ Pianos
* The Jacuzzi Boys, K-Holes, X-Ray Eyeballs @ Cake Shop
* Slick Rick, B.C., Par-City @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn
* The Entrance Band, The Growlers, Orphan @ Death By Audio
* Undead Jazz Fest @ LPR, Kenny's Castaways & Sullivan Hall
* Rooftop Films at BAM w/ Teddy Blanks @ BAM Cinematek Parking Lot
* Friendo, Yourself & The Air, Murder Mystery, Nonviolence @ Glasslands
* Greg Zifcak of Eats Tapes, MNDR, synt.tofs @ Monster Island Basement
* Quintron & Miss Pussycat, JEFF The Brotherhood, Ava Luna @ Santos Party House
* Sing Me To Sleep w/ Tanya Donelly, Jenny Owen Youngs, Julie Peel (noon show) @ Joe's Pub

The Tony Awards are tonight. Fela! is up for lots of them. Knitting Factory host a party and an afterparty.

Watch the World Cup at Brooklyn Bowl.

There's also a record show at Brooklyn Bowl.

Bonnaroo concludes today. STREAM IT. Some videos from yesterday below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday?"

Wayne Coyne's living room (via)

In addition to playing NJ, Ithaca, Bonnaroo (where they'll do Dark Side of the Moon), the Flaming Lips are playing a Central Park Summerstage show on Monday, July 26th. Tickets go on sale Friday, February 19th at noon.

They're also playing Poughkeepsie's Mid Hudson Civic Center on April 17th. Tickets go on sale March 8th at noon.

If you haven't already seen, pictures of Wayne Coyne's futuristic house in Oklahoma house have surfaced on the website of the architectural firm that designed it. And no, not the pictures of Wayne taking a bath on his lawn that people uncovered via Google Maps. Fitzsimmons Architecture has more photos of the inside like the one above.

"Having seen Coyne's appropriately trippy poop cave, it's got me wondering if other musicians' homes reflect their sensibilities as closely. Is John Mayer's house ordinary and forgettable on the outside but chaotically and impenetrably decorated on the inside? Does Prince's Minneapolis home have a bunch of sex swings? Yes, yes, I'm sure it does." [Gizmodo]

Continue reading "Flaming Lips add 2010 dates (Central Park Summerstage), pictures of Wayne Coyne's house spread around the Internet"

Charlotte Gainsbourg, with full band, played her first of two shows at The Bell House in Brooklyn last night (1/19). Beck was not there, but Wayne Coyne was (in the audience). Not counting Letterman (which she already taped and I think airs Friday), Charlotte will perform four shows total while she's visiting. The final gig happens on January 23rd at Hiro Ballroom.

The rumor at the show was that it was her first public show ever - not just her first US or NYC show, but her first proper show anywhere. Maybe that's related to why I wasn't blown away, but then again, others were way more into it. To quote Bill, she was "a bit nervous, but charlotte gainsbourg was great at the bell house. no beck, nor his band...but c'est magnifique!" One Max Miller said, "Amazing show!" I heard similar accolades from others after the show too.

One highlight for me was her cover of Dylan's "Just Like A Woman", a tune she recorded with Calexico for the soundtrack of I'm Not There, a film she also appeared in. And speaking of films she's in, I'm a little scared to see Lars Von Trier's Antichrist after hearing some of its graphic details (Charlotte won 'Best Actress' at Cannes in 2009 for her role in it).

Dean & Britta opened the show. The full Bell House setlist with a few more so-so pictures from the night, below...

Continue reading "Charlotte Gainsbourg played (her first public show ever?) at The Bell House in Brooklyn - pics & setlist"

A deluxe version of Embryonic was released on October 13, 2009.

The deluxe edition includes the original 18 tracks (on two discs) as well as a bonus audio DVD which features the album in full dynamic range at 96k 24 bit audio. The CDs and DVD are in a "fur pack" with an extended booklet which features additional art, lyrics, and band photos. The deluxe edition also comes with a 14 inch by 28 inch lithograph featuring the full album cover. A limited number of pre-orders received an additional lithograph autographed by the band, shipped 2-3 weeks after the release date. [Wiki]

Continue reading "Flaming Lips' new nudity-filled video (NSFW)"

Thomas Function @ Cake Shop in January (more by Fresh Bread)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Rubies, Essie Jain, The Snow @ Union Hall
* Kid Koala, Adira Amram @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* The Woes, Phil and the Osophers, Shark? @ Glasslands
* Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band @ Giants Stadium
* Jemina Pearl, Two Tears, The Hoof & The Heel @ Bruar Falls
* A Rose Parade, Midnight Masses, Big Honey Mama @ Union Pool
* The Coathangers, Prisms, Ex-Humans, The Nymphets @ Cake Shop
* Nymph, Emma Kupa, Eskalators, Ava Luna, Aldertone, Air Waves @ Death By Audio
* Thomas Function, Yussuf Jerusalem, Liquor Store, Pink Reason, Indian Casino & Jail Hippies @ Silent Barn

Springsteen does the "albums" thing for the first time tonight, when he and the E Street band play Born To Run at Giants Stadium.

Code 46 and 24 Hour Party People are screening at 92YTribeca tonight.

Hatcham Social were scheduled to open for the Charlatans UK at Maxwell's tonight, until that tour was canceled. Now Hatcham are going on tour with Echo and the Bunnymen in the fall, though they won't be opening the show Echo just announced at Mercury Lounge.

Kid Koala presents The Slew: Live - a show that's "drums, bass/keys [featuring ex-Wolfmother rhythm section]...and six turntables [in] seventy minutes of raw guitar cuts and heavy beats" - at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Adira Amram opens. Her video for "Mom Song" is below.

According to their bio, "In less than three years, The Coathangers, Julia Kugel (guitar/vocals), Stephanie Luke (drums/vocals), Candice Jones (keyboard/vocals), and Meredith Franco (bass/vocals) have grown from a band of girlfriends buying the cheapest instruments an Atlanta pawn shop could offer, to a group of formidable, adaptable performers..."

The Coathangers played the Maze at DBA last night. Tonight they play at Cake Shop with Prisms, Ex-Humans and The Nymphets. Bands at the Maze tonight include Nymph, Emma Kupa, Eskalators, Ava Luna, Aldertone and Air Waves.

Also from the South (though she lives in NYC show): Jemina Pearl plays Bruar Falls tonight. In October she goes on tour with Islands.

A video of Nat Baldwin at the Silent Barn from 2006 is posted below. Tonight the venue hosts Thomas Function and others.

Nat is in Dirty Projectors who played Fallon two nights ago.

Sunny Day Real Estate performed "Seven" on Jimmy Fallon last night. Video below...

Wayne Coyne talks about the new Flaming Lips album in the video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

by Black Bubblegum, photos by Ryan Muir

'And for like ten minutes she would just do these fucking amazing animal yelps and screams and growling and all this shit.'

Its a beautiful warm Sunday morning at Kutscher's and Wayne Coyne is waiting for me in a golf cart near the main stage. Clad in his trademark light colored suit, I shake his hand and exchange pleasantries. Then he notices that I'm with photographer Ryan Muir.

"You want to take some pictures? Lets head to the pool."

One problem. The pool is separated by a chain-link fence and there is no way around.

"Let's just jump it" Wayne says, but he's already on the other side.

Wayne is a gracious, charismatic ringmaster/shaman who is up for anything, as long as it leaves a lasting impression, much like the lovable oddballs The Flaming Lips that he fronts.

Starting over 25 years ago as an acid-drenched punk band with a Butthole Surfers obsession, The Flaming Lips have aged gracefully into their current role as quirky pop elder statesmen by keeping their punk rock spirit and freak-out tendencies. 1999's The Soft Bulletin began the band's current trajectory towards poignant and epic melodies, which continues with the release of their new LP Embryonic. It impacts record stores on October 13th, and you can listen to it now courtesy of the Colbert Report.

As you probably heard, The Flaming Lips were invited to headline All Tomorrow's Parties New York (ATP NY) as well as curate the final day of shows at the festival this year. We sat with the Oklahoma native on that sunday (9/13), while a team of men in orange jumpsuits (read: The Lips crew) carted around giant lighting sets, trashcans filled with stuffed animals, and yeti costumes....

Continue reading "an interview w/ Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips "

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Ryan Muir

some of the stars of ATP NY 2009

What's almost the exact opposite of a soothing set of Seven Swans performed by one of the most delicate singers in indie rock? Try nine drummers (including Hisham Bharoocha, Zach Hill, and Kid Millions among other notables) bashing your fucking skull for so long that the stage manager has to come out to unplug their gear and remove toms from underneath them! That's how I started my ATP Day 3... with the Boredoms blowing my mind.

Starting off with sparse chords on the monstrous multi-neck guitar/percussive device, Eye set a calm and reflective mood... and then the cymbals. And then the toms. And then eight drummers pummeled away led by Yoshimi P-We. And then the synced rimshots that recalled an Animal Collective beat. All of this happened before a ninth drummer was carried into the show like an emperor while doing a call and response with the other eight.

Within about 10 minutes, I knew that Boredoms would take the prize as best show at Kutsher's that weekend. The sheer power of the coordinated drums, along with pregnant pauses and killer synth effects performed via keys, CD-DJ tables, and broomsticks (!) were beyond jaw dropping.

Following Boredoms, I poked my head into Oneida's Ocropolis for the first of many times. For 10+ hours, Oneida basically had the small and very decorated room all to themselves for a long jam session with their friends. Reportedly, the band had tape rolling the whole time (Ocropolis is the name of their Brooklyn recording studio) and had visuals provided by the Mighty Robot AV Squad. With local standbys like BJ Warshaw of Parts & Labor/Shooting Spires fame, Chris Weingarten (ex P&L), Todd P, and many others spotted in the Sportsman's Bar, it seemed like Brooklyn in the Catskills. Unfortunately, I missed every single special guest appearance (word is, and in part according to a sign on the door, Soft Circle, Yoshimi, Aaron from Tall Firs, Zach Hill, Steven Drozd and many others all popped in) but the band was very interesting to watch, alternating between songs, and droney ambient jams.

Caribou was next in the main room and the 16-piece(!) band including Sun Ra Arkestra member Marshall Allen, Koushik, Kieran Hebden (Fourtet) and many others. I had no expectations heading into the set and was pleasantly surprised, although I found the mix to have waaay too much low end.

I ducked out of Caribou early to catch the last twenty minutes of Hopewell who was billed to be playing "The Desperation Suite," "complete with a female choir and avant-garde saxophonist Mark Marinoff". From what little I saw, the three person "choir" did little but coo, ooh, ahh, and coordinate a dance, but the band did close with a rousing cover of Jane's Addiction's classic "Of Course".

continued below...

Continue reading "ATP NY 2009 - Day 3 pics & review (Boredoms, Caribou, Deerhoof, Boris, Jarmusch, Oneida, that crazy guy...)"

photos by Ryan Muir

DOWNLOAD: The Flaming Lips - Silver Trembling Hands (MP3)

For those complaining that the Flaming Lips didn't play any old songs, know this: 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' was released in 1939 - benjamin redder

"Those confetti-spewing, peace-loving, Bush-hating hippie weirdos the Flaming Lips are set to tussle with Stephen Colbert on a new episode of "The Colbert Report" airing this Wednesday, according to the TV show's official site. If previous musical guest appearances are any indication, the Lips will perform a song from their new album, Embryonic (due October 13 on Warner Bros.), and take part in a delightfully antagonistic chat with the host." [P4K]

Employing many of their old, but still great, tricks, The Flaming Lips were the perfect Kutscher's headliner (and curator of Sunday's lineup). It was big, yet intimate. Their set was sensory overload with loud music, psychedelic projections, lights, smoke, confetti, balloons, streamers, lasers (that the band gave out to the audience), fans in costumes, people in costume on stage (fully dressed yetis on the left, scantily clad yetis on the right), stage hands in orange jumpsuits, lots of screaming people, Wayne in his gray suit with megaphone, and other various instruments. That includes an old style trumpet that he played a funeral march on, and the gong. Their was Obama cheering and sing-a-longs. There was no hand puppet, War Pigs or Hulk hands. There was talk of weed and the smell of it in the air.

The show started with a projection of a woman with her legs spread - a spinning hypnotic circle covered her most private of areas which got closer and closer and closer until all of a sudden the 3 non-Wayne band members made their grand entrance right through it (through a flap in the video screen at the back of the stage actually). Wayne then immediately kicked things off in the giant inflatable bubble.

They went on around 11:45 on Sunday night. I was outside of Kutscher's and on my way home in a car by 1:40 AM (then after some minor pit stops, I was home in Brooklyn around 4:30 Monday morning).

Wayne took time more than once throughout their set to repeatedly thank all the bands who played the festival including the Boredoms who played their killer Boadrum 9 set the same day. As others have pointed out, Yoshimi of the Boredoms (who I can't confirm was actually in the room watching) was there, and the Lips played "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" as part of their set.

"The lyrics of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots concern a diverse array of subject matter, mostly deeply melancholy ponderings about love, mortality, artificial emotion, pacifism, and deception, while telling the story of Yoshimi's battle. The title character is believed to be an allusion to Boredoms/OOIOO member Yoshimi P-We, who also performs on the album. Some listeners consider Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots to be a concept album; however, the story is debated, as it is only directly apparent in the first four tracks. However, despite the story-type title and science fiction themes of the album, the Flaming Lips frontman, Wayne Coyne, has made it clear that the album is not intended to be a concept album" [Wiki]

Wayne could also be seen walking around and enjoying the upstate NY festival throughout the weekend. One great moment happened earlier on Sunday as Deerhoof drummer Greg Saunier took time out from their set to thank everyone. As he thanked the Lips for inviting them, he turned his head to the side of the stage to direct his comment right at Wayne, who was in fact standing there watching.

No, there weren't old songs. Yes, they did play 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'. BBG's take on it, and the rest of the pictures from the weekend are coming soon (though Day One are already HERE). An interview we did with Wayne (with Ryan Muir-taken portraits) is coming soon too. The rest of the Flaming Lips pics and the setlist, below....

Continue reading "Flaming Lips played & curated ATP NY (pics & setlist), appearing on the Colbert Report Wednesday"

Flaming Lips @ Sassquatch Festival 2008 (more by Chris Graham)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* The Feelies @ Southpaw
* Allen Toussaint @ Joe's Pub
* Brent Arnold, Haale @ Zebulon
* Richard Hell (reading) @ New Museum
* Moving Sounds Fest @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* All Tomorrow's Parties @ Kutshers Country Club
* Rasputina, The Shondes @ Knitting Factory Brooklyn
* Dirty Three, Pillars and Tongues @ Bowery Ballroom
* Naked Raygun, Paint It Black, Shot Baker @ Maxwell's
* Harlem Gospel Choir sings Michael Jackson @ BB King's
* Sian Alice Group, Bear in Heaven, Hospitality @ Union Hall
* Mucca Pazza, Sxip Shirey, Stagger Back Brass Band @ Mercury Lounge
* Jedi Mind Tricks, R.A. the Rugged Man, Reef the Lost Cauzer @ Highline Ballroom
* Desolation Wilderness, The Intelligence, City Center, German Measles @ Cake Shop

All Tomorrow's Parties closes out strong at Kutshers Country Club. Today's Flaming Lips-curated lineup includes The Flaming Lips, Boredoms, No Age (as Husker Du), Caribou Vibration Ensemble, Deerhoof, Crystal Castles, Super Furry Animals, Boris, The Low Lows and Oneida doing The Ocropolis all day. Catch some of it on WFMU too.

Back from ATP, The Feelies play two sets at Southpaw. An unofficial video for "Loveless Love" below.

Dirty Three played Ocean Songs in full at ATP on Friday. Tonight they perform at Bowery Ballroom with Pillars and Tongues (and hopefully Nick Cave). Their video for the song "Great Waves" (featuring Chan Marshall) is below.

Moving Sounds Festival continues with music from TimeTable Percussion and others at (Le) Poisson Rouge.

Naked Raygun, Paint It Black and Shot Baker play Maxwell's.

The Howl Festival presents a reading with Richard Hell at New Museum.

On the occasion of the release of newly elaborated editions of his 1973 novelina, The Voidoid (now with drawings by Kier Cooke Sandvik), published in June, and his 1983 Voidoids album (with new guitar parts added by Marc Ribot, Bill Frisell, and Ivan Julian), which is re-released September 1 as Destiny Street Repaired, Richard Hell will make a rare [?] public appearance reading from his self-bio in progress, among other works, and will sing at least one song with guitar accompaniment. Possibly other media will get play, too.

Desolation Wilderness and The Intelligence gig with City Center (on tour) and German Measles at Cake Shop.

Wayne Coyne gives a rundown of bands playing ATP NY, below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday?"