Petty Fest is returning to NYC this October, though unlike previous years, this year there will be "Two Nights To Get Drunk And Celebrate The Songs Of Tom Petty." The fest is taking place October 5 at Music Hall of Williamsburg and October 6 at Bowery Ballroom. The fest is (almost) the same lineup of musicians that usually get together for things like this, like Norah Jones, Nicole Atkins, Jesse Malin, Sammy James Jr. (The Mooney Suzuki), Jody Porter (Fountains of Wayne), Tad Kubler of The Hold Steady, Josh Lattanzi of The Lemonheads, and others. Interesting additions inclue Har Mar Superstar and Jonny Corndawg. I hope they do a duet. And of course there will be "surprise guests". Tickets for both nights go on sale Thursday (9/1) at noon with an AmEx presale starting Wednesday (8/31) at noon. $2 from each ticket will be donated to Doctors Without Borders.

Jonny Corndawg meanwhile will also be in NYC TONIGHT (8/30) for his record release show at Union Pool.

Full Petty Fest lineup, flier, and a recent video of Neko Case and My Morning Jacket covering "Stop Dragging My Heart Around" together, below...

Continue reading "Petty Fest returns in 2011, 2 nights, 2 venues"

Nicole Atkins during SXSW 2011 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

If you like Bob Dylan and booze-soaked singalongs, you might want to consider hitting Bowery Ballroom on May 26th and 27th for Dylan Fest, a two day extravaganza in celebration of the 70th birthday of musical deity. Much like the one-night fest last year (and at the similar Petty Fest), both nights boast familiar names like Norah Jones, Adam Green, Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis of SNL, Jesse Malin (who has other shows coming up), Nikolai Fraiture of the Strokes, as well as members of Little Joy, The Hold Steady, Fountains of Wayne, Mooney Suzuki, The Lemonheads, and many more, with Nicole Atkins on board for the first night (5/26). Tickets are on sale for both the 5/26 and the 5/27 shows at noon today. The full linuep is below.

Nicole Atkins and her band The Black Sea have also added a headlining show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on July 8th. Tickets go on sale Friday April 29th at noon. The show is one of a few scattered dates scheduled for Atkins in the coming months. Check out her whole schedule below.

In related news, Norah Jones has been announced as the special guest for Saturday's previously discussed Doveman show at Le Poisson Rouge. Tickets are still available. The show is one of three more scheduled for Doveman at LPR, with other appearances occurring on May 26th and June 24th. Details on guests for those shows are still forthcoming.

In also related news, Nicolai Fraiture's day job, The Strokes, have announced that they will appear at the sold out T In The Park festival in Scotland in July along with Pulp, Coldplay, Slash, and Foo Fighters. The band also recently appeared on Conan O'Brien (on 4/20). Check out a video of their performance of "Games" alongside a Nicole Atkins video of "Cry Cry Cry" from SXSW and all tour dates and stuff, below.

Continue reading "Dylan Fest returns , Nicole Atkins adds shows, Norah Jones adds appearances, The Strokes played Conan (video & dates)"

photos courtesy of WireImage/Tommy

Julian Casablancas of The Strokes being stylish

Billed as "A Night To Get Drunk And Celebrate Tom Petty's 60th Birthday!!!", the annual Petty Fest takes place at Bowery Ballroom on 10/28, and it includes essentially the same big group of musicians that keep getting together for these tribute shows to Petty and Dylan. This next one promises appearances from numerous performers including Adam Green (who just showed up at the final Dufus show), Norah Jones (I wonder if she'll sing with Belle and Sebastian at Williamsburg Waterfront tonight), Will Forte & Jason Sudeikis of Saturday Night Live, Nicole Atkins, Nikolai Fraiture, Catherine Pierce, Jesse Malin, Tyson Ritter of the All American Rejects, Reeve & Zane Carney, Jody Porter of Fountains Of Wayne, Sammy James of the Mooney Suzuki, Steve Schiltz of Hurricane Bells & Longwave, Antony Ellis of Five O'Clock Heroes, Mikki James, and Hymns. They wanted to have this in the Varvatos Store but he was booked already that night. I kid. Tickets are on sale for the 18+ show.

Speaking of Nikolai Fraiture, his band The Strokes (whose singer is pictured above) still don't have a new album out and still haven't played a proper NYC show, though they did play one on 9/12 for Tommy Hilfiger during Fashion Week this year.

Scale appeared to be the theme of the entire party, which was equal parts industry corporate, swanky, and of course - this is Tommy we're talking about - preppy. Outside, nearly 40 khaki-clad male models lined the dramatic red carpet, backlit by the designer's bright initials in shifting hues of red, white, and blue set against green grass. Inside, we lost count of the number of rolled-up pants with loafers, kind of like our inability to count the number of celebrities sipping champagne and snacking on lobster rolls: Mark Ruffalo, Ed Westwick, Russel Simmons, Kimora Lee Simmons, Neil Patrick Harris, Christina Hendricks, Kelly Osbourne, Jeremy Piven, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lopez.

...By the time The Strokes played their loud-as-hell set including hits "Last Night," "Someday," and "Reptilia," the crowd was ready to dance. Julian was in full form, sliding around in black stretch jeans and white shades, filling the atrium with powerhouse vocals.

A typically reserved crowd of A-list attendees broke out into a spontaneous dance party on the first-floor staircase, like a cross between The Stroke's best-looking fans and J.Crew's latest advertising campaign. After a supremely satisfying set of about eight songs, The Strokes walked off, thanking the crowd. -[Elle]

Continue reading "Petty Fest 2010 includes that same big group of artists, members of the Strokes (who played a fashion week show)"

by Black Bubblegum

Don't know if I am going to start an internal war here with our resident comedy expert Klaus Kinski, but here goes... One of my favorite commercials from the Tim & Eric Awesome Show, "Lazy Horse Mattresses" featuring SNL's Will Forte....

Continue reading ""Lazy Horse Mattresses" featuring SNL's Will Forte (video)"