by Bill Pearis

Minneapolis trio BNLX's debut album was one of my favorites of last year. It throws a variety of post punk styles into a blender, and manages both lip-curl attitude and tongue-in-cheek awareness at the some time. The songs are also catchy as hell, and you can stream the whole album below.

The band will be visiting NYC next month, playing two shows: Pianos on May 16 with Wormburner and May 17 at Big Snow Buffalo Lodge with Honduras, Eastern Hollows, and Grand Resort. All BNLX dates are listed below.

Continue reading "BNLX playing shows (two in NYC)"

photos by Kurt Christensen

Dean & Britta, The War on Drugs and Wormburner played the Shine a Light Music Festival at Mulcahy's in Wantaugh, NY on July 21. Presented by The Tommy Brull Foundation the festival supports Camp Anchor, a year-round recreation program dedicated to children and adults with special needs who reside within the Town of Hempstead. (More info about it is in this Newsday article.) The show was notable as a mini Luna reunion with guitarist Sean Eden joining Dean & Britta on-stage. (That band played their last show at Bowery Ballroom in 2005.) Their set included such Luna favorites as "Tiger Lily," "23 Minutes over Brussels," and "Moon Palace." A video of the band playing "Tiger Lily" is below. NYC Taper was there too and you can download the entire Dean & Britta (and Sean) set over his way.

Dean says he's done with doing Galaxie 500 shows (at least in NYC)... is it too soon for a real Luna reunion? More pictures of all three bands and the video of "Tiger Lily" are below.

Continue reading "3/4 of Luna reunited for Shine a Light Festival; The War on Drugs and Wormburner played it too (pics, audio recordings)"

Dean Wareham at Maxwell's in 2011 (more by Chris Gersbeck)

As mentioned, Dean Wareham is touring this summer and coming to NYC for a 'Galaxie 500 show' at Le Poisson Rouge on July 20. Since posting that show, LPR's website has noted that it will be his final 'Galaxie 500 show' in NYC. Tickets for that show are still available.

Dean and Britta also have another NYC area show the day after the LPR show, which happens in Wantagh, NY (near Jones Beach) at Mulcahy's Pub on July 21 with The War On Drugs. it's a benefit show billed as the "SHINE A LIGHT MUSIC FESTIVAL," in support of the Tommy Brull Foundation. Deer Tick played a similar show at the venue last summer, and like that show, this one will also be supported by Wormburner. Tickets for the Mulcahy's Pub show are on sale now.

You can also catch The War On Drugs play a free show in NYC next month when they join Guided by Voices, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and Cloud Nothings for a free Central Park Summerstage show on July 7 as part of CBGB Festival. They also play the XPoNential Music Festival in Camden, NJ.

All dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Dean & Britta & the War on Drugs playing benefit show in Wantagh; Dean's 'Galaxie 500' LPR show is his last in NYC"

Deer Tick as Deervana at Brooklyn Bowl in June (more by Jessica Amaya)

The Tommy Brull Foundation, whose "mission is to raise money to benefit people and organizations dedicated to serving people with physical, mental, and emotional challenges in Nassau and Suffolk counties," are presenting "Shine A Light Music Festival" at Mulcahy's in Wantagh, NY on August 10 (TONIGHT). That's near Jones Beach. Deer Tick headline the show which will also feature performances by Wormburner and Bad Boy Bench.

The "festival" is a non-profit event; all proceeds will be donated to the Camp Anchor Building Fund in memory of Michael Mulhall, Jamie Malone, and Paige Malone. Info on reserving a spot via advance donations are available at Tommy Brull Foundation's website. Doors open at 7 PM.

Deer TIck also play a free show with DOM at Pier 54 TOMORROW (8/11).

Wormburner video and a live Deer Tick video along with all Deer Tick dates below...

Continue reading "Deer Tick play a benefit in Wantagh tonight, Pier 54 tomorrow (and other dates)"