by Chris Owyoung

More photos from last night's show at The Church of St. Paul the Apostle, below...

Continue reading "Jonny Greenwood Wordless Music Series photos"

Wordless Music Series, NYC - Jan 16, 2008

Wordless show last night was EXCELLENT. If you don't have tix, I strongly recommend figuring out some way to get in for the show tonight. [The Battering Room]

outside Rough Trade in London, Jan 16, 2008 (CRED)

No offense to the Wordless Music Series (they are good), but I do think it was confusing to non-Classical people (myself included) to list the show as "Jonny Greenwood" when Jonny Greenwood won't actually be there. If you look at the 2007-2008 Wordless schedule, the list of performers reads: "Do Make Say Think, Beirut, Valgeir Sigurdsson, Grizzly Bear, Mum, Max Richter, Jonny Greenwood: Jonny Greenwood: Popcorn Superhet Receiver". The Jonny one is the only time it's a "piece" instead of a performer. That said, I realize now that there is no real reason for Jonny to be there, and I'm sure the string orchestra performing his work will still be great (though I bet there will be at least one disgruntled Radiohead fan in the crowd). The NY Times has an article today (thx Hiro)....

In a way this is a peculiar program for Wordless Music, now in the middle of its second season. Most of Mr. Givony’s concerts have offered both indie rock bands (or members of more famous groups in solo spinoffs) and classical performers, an expression of Mr. Givony’s conviction, as a longtime rock fan and newcomer to classical music, that anyone who likes Bjork, Radiohead or other experimental pop would also enjoy classical pieces.

The shows are January 16th (tonight) & 17th, 2008 @ The Church of St. Paul the Apostle in NYC.

In related news, Mr. Ronen Givony will soon also be doing shows @ The Village Gate. He is also expanding the Wordless Music Series. Not only is the upcoming Stars of the Lid show in NYC a "Wordless" show, so are the ones in Portland and Minneapolis. Tickets will be in sale in about a week. Plus, there are those upcoming David Byrne shows too.

And further proof Jonny won't be there tonight: Radiohead are about about to webcast a live performance from the Rough Trade shop in London.

The Village Gate, the historic Bleecker Street club, will reopen next spring. Art D’Lugoff debuted the club in the fifties and closed it in 1993; since then, it’s been leased to tenants. Now, new owners have taken over the space and, with D’Lugoff’s blessing, will revive it as an 800-seat venue called Le Poisson Rouge. (The iconic VILLAGE GATE sign will remain.) “I’m very eager to come back to the Village,” D’Lugoff says. “These kids have got good taste; they’re the right type of people to do what I started years ago—the whole schmear: folk, jazz, blues, everything.” Programmer Ronen Givony, who made his name with the Wordless Music Series, which presents different genres of music on the same bill, wants to do the same thing here. “Everywhere you go, you see an indie-rock band with two or three identical indie-rock bands opening for them,” he says. He plans to offer “African guitar with string quartet one night, a rock band the next.” D’Lugoff likes the sound of that. “This is intelligent stuff,” he says. “It’s not a schlock joint.” [NY Mag]

In other West Village venue news, The Lion's Den was recently renamed Sullivan Hall.

I knew that Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead just put out a CD, and I've seen the creepy trailer for the new Paul Thomas Anderson movie starring Daniel Day-Lewis, but it wasn't until today that I put two and two together and realized that both of these things are There Will Be Blood.

Anderson had been a fan of Radiohead's music and listened to Popcorn Superhet Receiver halfway through writing the screenplay. After agreeing to score the film, initially Jonny Greenwood had his doubts and thought about backing out but Anderson's reassurance and enthusiasm for the film convinced the musician to stick with the project. [Wikipedia]

There Will be Blood opens on December 26th. The soundtrack is available at Amazon, and three songs are streaming at its official site.

Popcorn Superhet Receiver is being performed (apparently WITHOUT Jonny Greenwood in attendance, although I'm told there's a chance he might show up) in NYC on January 16th & 17th.

Aside from the convenience of St. Paul’s being half a block away from FCLC, the church proved to be a wonderful setting for the show. The amazing geometry of the space, combined with the simple yet appealing light display that appeared behind the performers, made for a space that beautifully accompanied the ambient, crescendoing aspects of the music. [Fordham Observer]

Mum played a couple of shows in NYC this past weekend - part of the "Wordless Music Series" that will feature a composition written by Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead next (and a couple of David Byrne shows), and that Grizzly Bear & Sigur Ros recently took part in. More photos by Chris Owyoung below....

Continue reading "Mum @ The Wordless Music Series, NYC - pics"

Mum in Washington DC - Nov 7, 2007 (CRED)

Múm play Wordless Music Series shows here in NYC tonight (Nov 9) & tomorrow (tix). Check out their video for 'Rhubarbidoo', below...

Continue reading "Múm are here & they have a new video"

DOWNLOAD: Grizzly Bear - On a Neck, On a Spit (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fischerspooner - Megacolon (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Antony & The Johnsons - Cripple And The Starfish (MP3)

Ed Droste, Casey Spooner, Antony Hegarty

You probably heard: some writers are on strike. That means no new late night TV right now. That means Band of Horses didn't get to play Conan last night, Kanye West didn't get to play Letterman, and it means that Grizzly Bear don't get to play Conan tonight (Nov 6, 2007). They'll probably reschedule the performances, but Grizzly Bear misses out on a TV appearance that was going to synchronize perfectly with the release of their new EP. Friend (the latest addition to the 8.0 club) is out now. Order it from Insound to get a free limited edition silkscreen poster.

Speaking of Grizzly Bear, they performed at the Society of Ethical Culture in NYC on Saturday night (Nov 3, 2007) - part of the Wordless Music Series - to an audience that included Paul Simon (an artist that Grizzly Bear is known to cover, and who they did cover also that night). It was the same night that GB's "friend" Feist was playing right across town on Saturday Night Live. And speaking of SNL, that's another TV show that might not air this week if the writers don't get what they want. That means Amy Winehouse won't get to play it....or maybe she's not playing it already....I'm confused (she is definitely not playing the Woodies though - for "visa issues" related to the drug stuff).

Sigur Ros also has a new CD out today, and Sigur Ros also played the Wordless Music Series recently (October 5th to be exact). .

Grizzly Bear @ Wordless Music Series, NYC - NOV 3, 2007 (CRED)

As Ed pointed out early in the set, this show was an unofficial end of tour celebration of sorts, as the band had been on the road for most of the past year and a half. Usually when this is the case, the performance can go one of two ways. One option is that the band is so drained and sick and tired of playing the same songs that they launch into a sort of auto-pilot self parody (see the Strokes at the end of their "Room on Fire" tour). The preferable option, however, is that the combination of having become so technically in control of one's material coupled with the euphoria of playing a hometown show with the finish line in sight will make for something altogether different and spectacular. [read the rest @ Ear Farm]

Sigur Ros @ Wordless Music Series, NYC - Oct 5, 2007 (CRED)

Secondly, beautiful show not just the sigur ros part. And yes Sufjan was there. I was sitting right in back of him along with 2 of the guys from The National. They were all impatient and left right before Sigur Ros came on. Poor Sufjan was complaining he had to get out of there. Hard to blame him cause it was a sauna in there. Also there was Superwolf Matt or Chavez Matt however you like supporting his buddy Will. Great show and got to see Sigur Ros play the same amount of songs they are playing tomorrow night for umm lets see 35 dollars less. [Anonymous]

But wait, what is that photo on the top of this post you ask? Oh yeah, Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear has been named one of this year's Out 100 ("the men and women who made 2007 a year to remember") - a list that also includes James St. James, Beth Ditto (The Gossip), Bianca Casady (Cocorosie), Marc Almond, Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy), Nico Muhly, Casey Spooner (Fischerspooner), and Antony. That's Casey and Antony in the picture with Ed (some new "friends"?). Nico isn't pictured on the Out site yet, but he did recently play the same Wordless Music Series show that Sigur Ros played (the "not just the sigur ros part")....

Nico Muhly @ Wordless Music Series, NYC - OCT 5, 2007 (CRED)

Grizzly Bear are playing one more NYC (mini) show before taking a break for a long time - it's tomorrow (Nov 7th) @ the Virgin Union Square Megastore in NYC (7pm, free).

And in case you missed it, the friends that appear on Grizzly Bear's new EP are Beirut, Dirty Projectors, CSS, Band of Horses, CSS and Deerhunter. Will Oldham is not one of Grizzly Bear's friends, but Will ("his buddy Will" in the review above) did also perform at that now-legendary "Wordless" show in October too...

Continue reading "Writers strike, Grizzly Bear, Wordless Music Series, stuff"

DOWNLOAD: Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: David Byrne - My Fair Lady (MP3)

David Byrne went to the better of the two shows I think...

Went to see Animal Collective and Vampire Weekend at Webster Hall last night (Oct 1). VW was really good — poppy, but fairly skewed too, with bits of soukous guitar thrown in from time to time, as if it was just a way of playing lilting guitar and not a specific African style. They’re not a “world music” act by any stretch; these various styles of playing are all just out there now, to be used when appropriate. I wondered if they sounded a little like early Talking Heads, a little bit, maybe, which of course wouldn’t bother me. They got the crowd moving, which is pretty impressive for an opening act. Catchy tunes too. I’d heard some on an EP or demo CD. They said they’re working on an album now. [Read about Animal Collective's set @ David Byrne's blog]

A few days later David was a special guest at one of Lucinda Williams' Town Hall shows.

This Saturday, David is talking about bikes. He's also talking in Boston on October 10th. (and as a commenter pointed out) It was announced at tonight's Wordless Music Series show, that David Byrne is playing two "Wordless" (with words) shows on January 24th & 25th.

Vampire Weekend's only listed tour dates are in Europe.

"Valgeir Sigurðsson (born 1971) is an Icelandic record producer, mixer, composer, engineer and programmer. He has been Björk's main studio conspirator since 1998 and continues to work with an array of innovative artists internationally as well as in his native Iceland.......Valgeir Sigurðsson's credits include....Bjork, Nico Muhly, Sigur Ros...[Wikipedia]"

"He [Nico Muhly] is amazing !!" [Bjork to BrooklynVegan]

Sigur Ros is playing two short shows in NYC on October 6th.

"Some people are saying it's the wordless show at lincoln center, others are saying it's bjork or will oldham or antony who are the special guests" [Sigur Ros secret show speculation in the comments]

Fri 10/5/2007 7:30 PM
Doors: 6:30 PM
Good-Shepherd Faith Church
At Lincoln Center
152 West 66th StreetNew YorkNY

Nico Muhly
Valgeir Sigurdsson
Sandro Perri

Tickets for this Wordless Music Series show are no longer available online, but you can get a few at the door. Secret show? I am not confirming that, but it sounds good either way.

Tickets are now on sale for the Wordless Music Series Grizzly Bear show. Beirut played a "Wordless" show at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple last night.....

More pics like the one above at ThatGreenPlanet's Flickr. Beirut has two more NYC shows coming up - one more "Wordless" one in Manhattan, and one that is part of Joe's Pub in the (Central) Park.

DOWNLOAD: Do Make Say Think - Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! (MP3)

This is just a reminder that Beirut & Grizzly Bear are not the only Wordless Music series shows coming up. In fact, Do Make Say Think play their show in the church-like New York Society For Ethical Culture TONIGHT (Sept 14). There's also Mum, Johnny Greenwood, AND the U.S. debut of Max Richter...

Wordless Music is honored to host British composer and Fat Cat recording artist Max Richter for his first-ever U.S. concert appearance. On Wednesday, November 28, Max will perform selections from his albums Songs from Before, The Blue Notebooks, and Memoryhouse in the 300-capacity Good-Shepherd Faith Church alongside a full chamber ensemble and accompanying video projections. Also appearing will be the Minneapolis ambient/electronic composer and Ghostly International recording artist Cepia, as well as New York City pianist Assaff Weisman, who will perform solo piano music by Joseph Haydn and Olivier Messiaen.

All shows and details at the Wordless site.

Jamie Lidell (not playing BK) & Ed from Grizzly Bear

The September 24th "Wordless" Beirut show is right around the corner (not really wordless - just the name of the series), and word has just come in that - around a few more corners after that - Beirut's good friends Grizzly Bear will also be playing one of these Wordless shindigs...

Grizzly Bear + special guests and classical performers TBA
The Wordless Music Series
Nov. 3, 2007
New York Society for Ethical Culture
6:30 PM doors / 7:30 PM show
Tickets on sale Monday 9/17/07 via www.wordlessmusic.org

Yes, Grizzly Bear have a lot of friends, so why not include some of them in their next album, and why not call that album "Friend"? And why not put a big picture of them all on the inside of the CD? In fact, why not put this picture? (click it for a much larger view):

FRIEND TRACKLISTING:
Alligator (Choir Version- feat. Zach Condon of Beirut and Dirty Projectors)
He Hit Me (Crystals cover)
Little Brother (Electric)
Shift (Alternate Version)
Plans(Terrible vs. Nonhorse: Sounds Edit)
Granny Diner
Knife (as covered by CSS)
Plans (as covered by Band of Horses)
Knife (as covered by Atlas Sound)
Deep Blue Sea(Daniel Rossen Home Recording)

Atlas Sound = Bradford from Deerhunter - you can see him there in the photo in his dress. How many of the other people can you name? Own the picture when the album comes out ("November 5 in the UK/Europe and November 6 in North America via Warp Records").

Going to Austin for ACL this weekend? Stop by the Hot Freaks (BrooklynVegan and other bloggers) afterparty to see Grizzly Bear for free. Make sure you add your self to the waiting list (RSVP) though, and get there early. All tour dates (and some more friends) below.....

Continue reading "GRIZZLY BEAR & friends, a "wordless" show, ACL this weekend & other 2007 Tour Dates"

Tickets went on sale Friday for the two "Jonny Greenwood: Popcorn Superhet Receiver" shows happening as part of the Wordless Music Series here in NYC.

Commissioned by the BBC in 2005, when Jonny Greenwood was named the BBC’s Composer-in-Residence, and premiered in November 2006 at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London by the BBC Concert Orchestra, “Popcorn Superhet Receiver” is a 20-minute work inspired by the phenomenon of white noise and the music of Krzysztof Penderecki, György Ligeti, and Olivier Messiaen. For its U.S. premiere, the work has been revised by the composer and will be performed by a string orchestra comprising 18 violins, 6 violas, 6 cellos, and 4 double basses.

The Wordless Music Orchestra will be led by conductor Brad Lubman, known for his work conducting the Steve Reich Ensemble, and will feature a one-time gathering of 50 instrumentalists, who represent many of the brightest talents in New York’s classical and new-music community. They come from a diverse group of bands and ensembles who have drawn inspiration from the music of Jonny Greenwood and Radiohead throughout the group’s 15-year history, including members of Alarm Will Sound and So Percussion.

The shows are January 16th & 17th, 2008 @ The Church of St. Paul the Apostle in NYC.

Tickets are on sale for the September 24th Beirut show, a Do Make Say Think show, and the Mum shows. (note: Zach will be singing at the "wordless" show)

Did anyone notice a member of Beirut playing a horn with The Citizens Band when they opened for the White Stripes at Irving the other night? I could be wrong.

Zach @ Primavera sound 2007, 9:00 am soundcheck (more about that)

Back in May it kind of leaked out that Grizzly Bear-fan Zach Condon and his band Beirut would be playing three NYC shows in September, but the tour dates I just received only list two September dates - so either plans changed, or they'll announce the third one after the first two sell out. All dates, and new album info, below....

Continue reading "BEIRUT - new album & 2007 Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: Benni Hemm Hemm - Snjórjljóssnjór (MP3)

* Screaming Masterpiece is a new DVD about Bjork, Sigur Ros, Mum and other Icelandic music.

* Milan Records is offering people the chance to win a trip to Iceland.

* Video of Bjork's recent appearance on Jools Holland is on YouTube. M.I.A. is opening for Bjork in France.

* There's a new book called In a Frozen Sea: A Year with Sigur Ros.

* I missed singer-songwriter Lay Low's recent NYC debut at Midway, Pianos, Lakeside Lounge and Zebulon respectively, but she will be back for CMJ. Video below.

* Dance to Lauren Flax's 'Iceland'.

* Tickets are on sale for two Mum shows happening in NYC in November. More tour dates and details on a new album below.

* Tickets are on sale for a July 5th Benni Hemm Hemm show at Mercury Lounge in NYC (w/ Casiotone for the Painfully Alone). All tour dates below...

What else? All that promised stuff, and more, below....

Continue reading "What is up with Iceland? Benni Hemm Hemm, Mum, etc"