One of the most eclectic lineups in the US, Hopscotch Festival in Raleigh, NC, will be back for 2013 on September 5 -7. Pulling from all genres, this year's line-up includes names like Big Boi (who plays NYC tonight), Spiritualized, Sleep, Wolf Eyes (who have a new video), The Breeders (performing Last Splash), John Cale, Kurt Vile & the Violators, Gorguts, Inter Arma (who play NYC on Saturday), Double Negative (who played NYC this past weekend), Swearin' (them too), Pissed Jeans, Dan Friel, Waxahatchee and many many others. Three-day wristbands are on sale now with individual day tickets going on sale in June. Full lineup is below.

Continue reading "Hopscotch announces 2013 lineup (Big Boi, Sleep, Spiritualized, Kurt Vile, Wolf Eyes, John Cale, more)"

DOWNLOAD: Owl Eyes - "Closure" (Giraffage Remix) (MP3)

Giraffage at official BrooklynVegan 2013 SXSW showcase (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Glitchy beatmaker Giraffage and ambient pop musician Mister Lies are teaming up for a tour of the US and Canada this June into early July. It kicks off in Mister Lies' hometown of Chicago and ends in Giraffage's hometown of San Francisco, hitting NYC in between for a show at 285 Kent on June 21. Tickets for that show are not on sale yet but check Ticketfly for updates.

The tour begins after Giraffage returns home from his European trek with XXYYXX. All dates are listed, along with a stream of Giraffage's brand new remix of Owl Eyes' "Closure" (also downloadable above) and the tour flyer, below...

Continue reading "Giraffage has a new remix, touring w/ Mister Lies (dates/MP3)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield, words by Dave & Andrew Sacher

Zebra Katz & Njena Reddd Foxxx / XXYYXX / The Underachievers

When we weren't throwing free day parties and bridge shows at SXSW last week, we were busy throwing nighttime official showcases. On Saturday (3/16), our metal blog Invisible Oranges put on a showcase at North Door and on Friday, we put on a showcase on Maggie Mae's rooftop which was mainly hip hop and electronic with 3421, Mykki Blanco, Man Without Country, Giraffage, The Underachievers, Pictureplane, Brooke Candy, Zebra Katz, and XXYYXX. With so much rock in our day parties, we wanted to mix it up at night and had a ton of fun doing it. Bonus points for the view from venue down onto the 6th Street mayhem,.

3421, who since played NYC shows at Merc and Knit, came all the way from Israel to kick off the Friday night show with a set of their live dubstep. They were the perfect beginning for the crowd who immediately started to fill the 400-capacity room/roof as soon as doors opened, though 3421 work latenight too. That's when we saw them in Tel Aviv over the summer as part of the Jerusalem Music Conference. That time they were the last act of the night and got the drunk crowd moving with help from bombastic MC Miss Red. Miss Red was originally supposed to play with 3421 at SXSW too, but instead she watched this show from the audience (#majorbummer), With her at the show was The Bug who she was playing SXSW with instead (you can catch Miss Red & The Bug in NYC this weekend).

3421 were followed by NYC rapper Mykki Blanco, who was in his usual abrasive mode on stage, which we and the crowd were loving. Then things cooled down a bit for a shoegazey set by Wales' Man Without Country and the chill electronica of Giraffage. (He really caught our ear when he remixed Alice Deejay's "Better Off Alone." Is it cool to like that song in 2013? I hope so.)

Then for the next five acts, the show was on a total high. NYC rap duo The Underachievers were totally on point and started really getting the dancing going, including a bunch of their friends on stage and Pictureplane, who was up next. Like Mykki Blanco, we've seen him at shows and parties in NYC for a while now, and it was great to see him bring his always-fun set to Austin too. He stuck around for more of the show too, and also loved Brooke Candy and Zebra Katz as much as we did. Brooke's outfit was tamer than in her video (she did have a see-through top though), but she paid more attention to her rapper side than her stripper side at the show (not a bad thing). The crowd went completely nuts for her. Frank says:

The Tumblr princess-turned-stripper-turned-rapper turned heads at the Brooklyn Vegan showcase, clad in a white fishnet top and latex peplum skirt. The Los Angeles-based rapper played a short but high-energy set, swinging her crazy long braids (and huge boobs) all over the stage. After going viral via World Star Hiphop and the internet in general, Candy has released video after video for her aggressive, sex-heavy tracks. Joined by best friend and DJ, Jesse St. John, Brooke's crowd of homo-cyber-hipster kids screamed along to every word. Hits "Das Me," "I Wanna Fuck Right Now," and "Everybody Does" dominated her 20-minute set, as she twerked in her platforms, fueling the fire that is her online presence with more and more YouTube-worthy content.

The show wrapped up with XXYYXX and for such a young producer (he's 17!), he really knows how to get the party started. The stage filled with people a few songs into his set and everyone was just dancing and going nuts until the club pulled the plug at 2am. Frank says:

Seventeen-year-old XXYYXX headlined the Brooklyn Vegan showcase on the Maggie Mae's rooftop. Despite only recently beginning to tour, the producer was relaxed, barefoot, and very much in his element while onstage playing a combination of his signature chill-out-and-vibe beats, and more hyped up hip-hop remixes including TLC's "No Scrubs" and Waka Flocka's "Fuck This Industry." Following suit with the mellow vibe of the Orlando based producer's music, the security eased up and allowed any crowd member who was feeling it to hop onstage.

Check out some songs played at the show in our Best of SXSW Spotify playlist. More pictures from the party below...

Continue reading "BrooklynVegan Official SXSW Show pics (XXYYXX, Zebra Katz, Brooke Candy, Pictureplane, Underachievers, Mykki Blanco, 3421, Giraffage, more)"

XXYYXX

The Underachievers

The 2013 BrooklynVegan official SXSW showcase (the one that isn't a metal show or a Red Cross Syria benefit) will take place on Friday, March 15 at Maggie Mae's Rooftop (323 E. 6th Street in Austin, TX). SXSW badges are welcome, and we'll also have some general admission tickets for sale at the door (come early!).

The lineup this year, as you can see in the flyer below, leans toward the dancier side of things, with a headlining 1 AM set from Orlando downtempo artist XXYYXX, who was recently in NYC for two sold out shows at 285 Kent. Before him, there will be sets by 3421, who are bringing their live-band dubstep over to Austin all the way from Israel, a set by manic NYC rapper Mykki Blanco, electro-shoegazers Man Without Country, R&B-indebted producer Giraffage, Brainfeeder-affiliated rappers The Underachievers (whose free mixtape, Indigoism, is out now), the synth pop of Pictureplane, rapper/stripper/Grimes collaborator Brooke Candy, and finally, Zebra Katz, who you know best for "Ima Read.". Though (the show is in a week), it didn't all finally fall in place until last minute, this one was fun to put together.

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To make it even more of a party, we'll have wearable "social lighting" available courtesy of Illuminode. The lights, which people will get to try on when they walk in the door, sync with the music (first come, first served on those, but you can always grab one when someone returns theirs too).

The show begins at 8 PM and as noted above is one of three official BrooklynVegan nighttime events at SXSW, including the one the same night with Omar Souleyman, Black Lips, Deer Tick, and more; and the official BrooklynVegan/Invisible Oranges metal showcase on Saturday (3/16) with Pallbearer, John Baizley (Baroness), and more. We also have four days of day parties (March 13-16, full lineups coming soon!).

As is usually the case with SXSW, many of the bands on our showcase are stopping by NYC for shows before and after SXSW also. As mentioned, 3421 plays Mercury Lounge on 3/20, Man Without Country plays Pianos (tonight, 3/7) and Knitting Factory (3/9), Giraffage plays 88 Palace on 3/9 with JETS. And Mykki Blanco and Pictureplane always have stuff going on in the area too.

See you in Austin.

Continue reading "BrooklynVegan 2013 SXSW showcase @ Maggie Mae's Rooftop (lineup includes XXYYXX, Mykki Blanco, Pictureplane, The Underachievers, 3421 & more)"

Orlando producer XXYYXX (aka Marcel Everett) has dropped a number of releases and remixes over the past couple years, pulling from ambience, downtempo, and dubstep. Those releases include his 2012 self titled album, which you can stream below or download at bandcamp (name your price).

XXYYXX will be heading out on a tour with Teen Daze (who will be DJing at the shows) of the US and Mexico this February and March, before heading to Austin for SXSW. That tour includes the previously discussed NYC show on February 21 at 285 Kent, which is now sold out, but XXYYXX has added a late show happening at the venue that same night. Tickets for the newly added show are on sale now. An updated list of dates and the tour flyer are below.

XXYYXX was also just interviewed by Human Serviette Nardwuar, who, in typical Nardwuar fashion, bombarded him with questions about Marcel's obscure past projects (including a hardcore band!) and gifted him with vinyl of artists he has sampled in his songs. You can watch that video, along with the list of tour dates and song streams, below.

Continue reading "XXYYXX interviewed by Nardwuar, adds 2nd NYC show to tour w/ Teen Daze (video, updated dates)"

Tickets for the Iceage, White Lung, and Parquet Courts show at Bowery Ballroom go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets for the Solange show at Webster Hall go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets for the Liars show at Brooklyn Masonic Temple are on ale now. Tickets for their show at the Met are still available too.

The Queers are going on tour with fellow Ramones worshippers Teenage Bottlerocket and Masked Intruder which hits NYC on March 2 at Santos Party House. Tickets for that show are on sale now. All dates are listed below.

'90s alt-lite faves Sixpence None the Richer play Knitting Factory on February 6. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Toots & the Maytals are playing with Galactic and Nigel Hall Band at Terminal 5 on April 13. Tickets for that show go on AmEx/Ticketmaster presale today at noon with a general on-sale starting Friday (1/11) at noon.

Birthmark (aka Nate Kinsella) has been added as an opener to the Tim Kasher shows at Knitting Factory and Maxwell's. Tickets for the Knit show and tickets for the Maxwell's show are still on sale.

Hirsute Pursuit (mem of Thee Majesty) will team with the ever controversial Boyd Rice/NON as part of a show at Europa on January 24th. Support will come from Cult of Youth and House of Blondes. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Tickets for the Gojira, Devin Townsend, and The Atlas Moth show at Music Hall of Williamsburg go on AmEx presale today at noon.

Tickets for the Dawn Richard show at SOB's are on sale now.

Tickets for the Rockie Fresh and Lunice show at SOB's are on sale now.

Tickets for the Amon Tobin DJ gig at Le Poisson Rouge are on sale now.

Celtic punks The Tossers are playing Mercury Lounge on March 8 with Continental. Tickets for that show go on AmEx presale today at noon with a general on-sale starting Friday (1/11) at noon.

XXYYXX and Teen Daze are playing 285 Kent on February 21. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

All Queers, Teenage Bottlerocket, Masked Intruder dates are listed below...

Continue reading "tix on sale: Iceage, Solange, Queers, Sixpence None the Richer, Toots & the Maytals, Gojira, Teen Daze & more"

BEMF 2010 (more by Chris Doss)

The Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival is here tonight (11/9) and Saturday (11/10), and since our last update, the full schedule has been revealed. They're no longer using Villain as one of the venues, but will be using 285 Kent instead.

Tonight's updates include Omar S, Drop the Lime, Nick Catchdubs, Morri$, Deadboy, Jackmaster, and Matt Shadetek playing Public Assembly; and Nadastrom & Sabo, Uproot Andy & Geko, and DJ Blass playing 285 Kent (all ages). Those are in addition to the previously discussed sets by Gold Panda, Photek, and more at Music Hall of Williamsburg; Nguzunguzu, Kingdom, Fatima Al Qadiri, MikeQ, and more at Glasslands; and Braille, Brenmar, Mykki Blanco, Mess Kid, and more at Cameo.

Saturday's updates include Groundislava, Shlohmo, Salva, Lazy Brow, Jubilee, Wildlife!, Dre Skull, Dubbel Dutch, Fantasy Thrilla, and a special guest at Public Assembly; and Hussle Club and Body Language at Brooklyn Bowl. Those are in addition to the previously discussed sets by Nicolas Jaar, Lauren Flax, Nick Hook, and Heathered Pearls at Music Hall of Williamsburg; KI:Theory, FaltyDL, Benji B, and Pearson Sound at Cameo; and Baths, XXYYXX, Hiawatha, and Shadowbox at Glasslands.

Tickets for the festival are still available, including 2-day passes, 1-day passes for Friday (Saturday is sold out), and a special all ages ticket, which grants you access to tonight's 285 Kent stage (the rest of the venues are 21+).

Flyers with full lineups and set times are below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival 2012 is here (full schedule)"

FaltyDL - 'Hardcourage'

As mentioned, FaltyDL has been at work on his new album, Hardcourage, which features the single "Straight & Arrow." Details on the album have surfaced and we now know that it comes out on January 22 via Ninja Tune. That's the awesome cover art above [very Barney Bubbles - Bill] and the tracklist, including "She Sleeps," a collaboration with Friendly Fires' Ed Macfarlane, is below. The "Straight & Arrow" single comes out next week (11/13) via Ninja Tune and features remixes by Four Tet, Gold Panda, and MikeQ & Divoli S'vere. FaltyDL also just revealed the video for that track, which you can watch below.

As mentioned, FaltyDL will play Webster Hall on December 7 with Skream, but you can catch him in NYC sooner than that because he's been added to the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival, which happens this Friday (11/9) and Saturday (11/10). FaltyDL plays Cameo Gallery on Saturday with Pearson Sound, Benji B, and Ki:Theory.

Since we last spoke, the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival has revealed more of its schedule (some of it is still TBA though). You already know that Music Hall of Williamsburg is hosting Gold Panda and Photek on Friday and Nicolas Jaar and Nick Hook on Saturday. In addition to Cameo's aforementioned Saturday lineup, on Friday they have Metro Area, Braille, Brenmar, Mykki Blanco, and Mess Kid. Glasslands has Kingdom, Nguzunguzu, Jam City, MikeQ, and Rizzla on Friday, and Baths, XXYYXX, Hiawatha, and ShadowBox on Saturday. Lineups are still TBA for Public Assembly, Brooklyn Bowl, and Villain. Tickets for the festival are still available.

FaltyDL video and album tracklist below.

Continue reading "FaltyDL reveals album info and video, playing Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival (updated schedule)"

Jam City

As mentioned, the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival returns on November 9 and 10 to multiple Brooklyn venues, including Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Bowl, Public Assembly, Glasslands, Cameo, and The Villain Loft. Since we last posted, the lineup has been expanded and now includes Shlohmo, Jam City, Nguzunguzu, Kingdom, Salva, Groundislava, Brenmar, Nadastrom, Omar S, Mike Q, and more, in addition to previously announced names like Nicholas Jaar, Gold Panda, Photek, and others. The updated lineup is below.

Tickets for Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival are on sale now.

Continue reading "Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival expands lineup (Shlohmo, Jam City, Nguzunguzu, Kingdom, Salva, Omar S & more)"

by Andrew Sacher

As mentioned, Bass Squad are hosting the "On the Rocks" summer residency at Drom, which kicked off in May with Baauer and Flosstradamus, continued in June with Nicky Da B and Heartbreak, and in July with Kingdom and Sleepyhead. The August party at Drom goes down tonight (8/2) with LOL Boys, Sound Pellegrino, Thermal Team, Sleepyhead, Crisp, and Alex English. It's a 21+ party, $15 admission, and runs from 10 PM to 4 AM. The flier for tonight's show is below.

LOL Boys just released their Changes EP, which includes four original songs and remixes of the title track by Shlohmo and Anenon. Though it's a little hard to their name seriously, LOL Boys' music is a different story. The new EP works as the chill, sunny afternoon cousin of the ghostly Shlohmo, who they've shared multiple bills with. All vocals on the album (though heavily manipulated) were performed live by guest singers Heart Streets and Angelina Lucero. You can stream the EP in full below or purchase it for $6 on bandcamp.

Speaking of Bass Squad, they're also doing a show at Slate on August 30 with Brenmar (who plays NYC tonight), Sinjin Hawke (who plays NYC twice on Saturday [8/4]), and XXYYXX.

Flier for tonight's show, the LOL Boys EP stream and a list of all dates below...

Continue reading "LOL Boys released an EP, playing shows (dates and stream)"