Laura Stevenson @ MHOW in June (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Laura Stevenson and the Cans have a short run of dates this month which kicks off in NYC for CMJ and then makes its way south, culminating in Gainesville's The Fest. During CMJ the band will play the Deli showcase at The Delancey on October 16 with Blonds, Shakey Graves, XNY, Backwords, Swear and Shake, and more. Then after that, they'll play the Let's Get Messy showcase at The Rock Shop on October 17 with Roomrunner, Archie Powel & The Exports, Twin Tigers, Pretty & Nice, and more. Advance tickets for the Rock Shop show are available and you can also try to get into both of those shows with your CMJ badge.

As mentioned, when the band returns home after their October run, they'll play a local show in Brooklyn at Public Assembly on November 11 with The Shondes, Leda, and ADVAITA. Tickets for that show are still available.

In related news, The Mountain Goats' 2002 LP, Tallahasse, celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, and in honor of that, Crooked Neighbor is releasing a tribute album called Tallahasee Turns Ten, out digitally on November 5 and physically in January, 2013. The album features covers by Laura Stevenson, Kimya Dawson, Jeffrey Lewis, Miracles of Modern Science, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Bomb the Music Industry! and others. You can stream Laura Stevenson's take on "No Children," and check out a list of all upcoming LSATC dates below.

Continue reading "Laura Stevenson playing CMJ before The Fest, covered Mountain Goats for 'Tallahassee' tribute LP (dates & stream)"

by Dominick Mastrangelo

Serenades @ Knitting Factory

Serenades, the Swedish duo of Alex Olenius (Shout Out Louds) and Markus Krunegard (Laakso), made their NYC debut on Thursday (12/15) at the Knitting Factory. Their short tour culminated with a midnight show on Friday (12/16) at the Mercury Lounge. One might have excused the duo for going the easy route and performing to only backing tracks, but the Swedes brought along members of Miike Snow and Lykke Li's band to create a formidable five-piece.

The band only has a handful of shows under their belt, but their unabashed, full-on pop already seems too big for such small venues. "Birds" is arguably the best of the lot with ebullient horns and quick-fire strings, punctuated with the refrain "There was something missing in my life / now I know what love is all about." The alone-at-the-holidays track "Come Home" (also the title of their EP) was timely and "All The Words," the lead-track on their full-length, Criminal Heaven (due for a US release in the spring), is already perfectly slotted as the set closer.

Out of the two NYC shows, the Mercury Lounge show had the better turnout, later start time, and better vibe. Based on the strength of the songs and as more Shout Out Louds fans become aware of the project, it won't be surprising to see Serenades at the Bowery or Music Hall when they return for a full tour next year.

Of note was Knitting Factory opener XNY, the Brooklyn-based guitar and drum duo of Pam Autuori and Jacob Schreiber. Not entirely sold on the recorded stuff yet but their live set was assured and enjoyable.

More pictures, Mercury Lounge setlist and the video for "Birds" below...

Continue reading "Serenades played Mercury Lounge w/ Parlovr & Knitting Factory w/ XNY (pics & review)"