WHY? are currently at work on their followup to 2009's Eskimo Snow. Not too many details have emerged on the album yet but we can assume WHY? have something crazy up their sleeves, because as promoter Worldess Music puts it, WHY? will be presenting "a pair of unusually intimate and seated album-preview shows" in NYC on September 21 at Florence Gould Hall at 7 PM and 10 PM. Tickets for both shows are on sale now.

Yoni Wolf recently spoke to the 405 about the new album:

"I have of the nineteen I'd call rap songs, the other half, I dunno... more melody and chords sort of thing," he says. "I tried to get rid of the electric guitars. Maybe just for stabs but nothing sustaining or long... it eats up so much of the high mid-range where the vocals sit. It's mainly percussion-based I would say, that's the driving force."

Continue reading "Why? working on new album, schedule seated shows"

photos by Amanda Hatfield, words by Rachel Kowal

Son Lux

Last summer at the Williamsburg waterfront, WHY?'s Yoni Wolf won me over with his over-the-top dance moves and compelling delivery, but I was curious to see him perform stripped down versions of songs in the swanky setting of Le Poisson Rouge on Friday night. First up, however, was Son Lux.

Following a week of listening to nothing but Son Lux's new album on repeat (thanks to NPR's First Listen series), I was thrilled to have the chance to see the material come to life so quickly. As part of The Wire magazine's annual RPM Challenge, Son Lux's Ryan Lott wrote and recorded the entirety of We Are Rising in just a single month (and the shortest one of the year at that), and the result is stunning. But he didn't stop there. As if all that wasn't strenuous enough, Lott quietly revealed that he would be performing even newer arrangements of the material.

With the help of Johnny Rodgers on guitar, Lott enthusiastically presented his songs with a grin on his face that seemed to reveal that he still couldn't quite believe that he had pulled off the challenge. With layers of synth riffs and hip-hop beats heavy in the mix, some of the new arrangements were a bit messy, but the sparse majesty of We Are Rising still shone through, and Lott's vocals were spot on. Stripped of Rodger's accompaniment, Lott concluded his all-too-brief set with the ballad "Stay" from his debut album.

the Wolf brothers

Following Son Lux's graceful set and more... conventional lyrics, Yoni Wolf's performance felt like quite a change of pace. (In his first song alone, Yoni referenced sex, titties, weed, and thugs). But as it turns out, sharing the bill isn't too much of a stretch for the two artists. As they each revealed over the course of their sets, Son Lux and WHY? toured Europe together a few years ago. (Their opinions of the experience, however, often contradicted humorously. To Wolf's consternation, Lott somehow had time to make pit stops at Greek ruins and the Eiffel Tower despite the long drives between gigs.)

Compared to last summer's show, Yoni's performance on Friday night may have been more restrained, but thanks to the unending stream of clever and provocative lyrics, it was no less irreverent and engrossing. This time, instead of egging on the crowd with his dance moves, Yoni spent the majority of the set seated behind a gorgeous piano, accompanied by just his younger brother Josiah (who also plays with WHY?) on guitar and backing vocals.

A showman at heart, Yoni has a natural ability to engage and entertain the audience with his free-flowing banter. Upon confessing that he'd love to move to New York if it didn't cost "a million" dollars, someone in the crowd suggested he move to Bushwick. "Bushwick?!" he exclaimed, his voice shrill with mock incredulity. "Is he trying to get me killed? Is he trying to get me murdered?!"

Whether rap is your thing or not, Yoni's madcap talent is readily apparent. The prolific artist pulled a Bradford Cox and wrote nineteen demos while staying at his parent's home this past winter, many of which he played on Friday night, in addition to a handful of older WHY? songs and a couple of covers (The Smiths' "Half a Person" and The Cure's "Close to Me").

Le Poisson Rouge may have been an odd setting for Wolf, but he had a good time with it, For one song Josiah jumped behind the keys which freed up his brother to exaggeratedly assume the pose of a lounge singer by leaning against the piano and serenading the crowd. The Wolf brothers concluded the evening with a three-song encore, ending with "One Rose."

More pictures from the show, below...

Continue reading "Son Lux released a quickly-made LP, played LPR w/ WHY?'s Yoni & Josiah Wolf (pics)"

It's hard to find time to discover new music at Fun Fun Fun Fest because so many bands I already like play (and many of them at the same time), but exploring can still be done, sometimes accidentally and especially in the early hours. That's when I came across Austin's The Black and White Years (who I have since found out were just in NYC for CMJ) (they played Bowery Ballroom on 10/20). The impressive voice of their mustached frontman Scott Butler channels David Byrne and other greats. They have the new wave sound of Devo, and the legendary Ohio band's good looks too.

Before their set was finished I headed to the appropriately named Black stage (aka where Danzig would play later) to see some of Philly hardcore band Reign Supreme who were thrilled to be playing on such a big stage at such a big festival. They sounded good despite the early hour and having just lost their drummer (he quit) (their manager or someone was filling in), especially to the five-or-so floor punchers who must have gotten a good night's sleep the night before.

From there I walked around the grounds a little. The festival, in addition to having four stages of music, has plenty of things to look at and spend money on (food, posters, glass pipes, etc) scattered throughout the park (not the least of which was the mechanical bull which I featured prominently in the pictures of Day One). Then I caught some of Texas post-rock band (think Explosions in the Sky) This Will Destroy You, but not for long because that's about the time it started to rain. The rain didn't stop me from getting soaked for almost the entire rest of the day, but at this early point I decided to take shelter at least until Fuck Buttons came on.

I hoped/thought the rain would stop actually, if not for Fuck Buttons, then definitely for Mika Miko who were up after them. Everyone was optimistic that it was going to pass quickly, but it never really did until right before the end of the day (before Danzig went). I watched Fuck Buttons from various angles, trying to stay dry and get used to getting wet. Read all about their recent NYC show with Growing (who also played Sunday at the fest, but before I got there) HERE. More pictures from Sunday below...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest - Day 2 pics (rain & Fuck Buttons) "

DOWNLOAD: Why? - This Blackest Purse (MP3)

Hi,
I know this is a really cheesy thing to do on myspace, but I'm desperate. I currently live in Oakland California and am moving out of the state on august first and would love assistance in getting rid of most of my worldly possessions. I am really bad at doing this kind of thing (craigslist, etc.) and am busy with other things to boot (album art/ some remix stuff, etc.)...if you are someone who excels at these kinds of projects, (and are preferably but not requiredly a cute female) I would be glad to split all revenue from sales of my stuff with you 50/50. you also can have a bunch of free stuff if you want.
- yoni wolf

Why?'s new record, Eskimo Snow, is on the way from Anticon sometime this year. "The Blackest Purse," from that disc, is above.

A video of Yoni talking about a DJ gig in June ("I'll probably just play a couple records, Arcade Fire mostly. Maybe some Sufjan Stevens.") and other more relevant topics (the new record, his band, etc.) below...

Continue reading "Yoni Wolf needs help selling his stuff ++ Why? playing NYC"

DOWNLOAD: Why? - This Blackest Purse (MP3)

"A year and a half after releasing the acclaimed Alopecia LP, WHY? returns with their fourth album, Eskimo Snow. The two records are each other's perfect foil: While last year's release found Yoni Wolf and the gang delivering a tight set of intricate rhymes, live loops, slurred hooks and acerbic wit, Eskimo Snow offers a sung, sobering take on mortality that unfurls in lush waves of Americana and pop-infused psych-folk. Pre-mixed in Nashville by Lambchop's Mark Nevers (Silver Jews, Bonnie Prince Billy, Calexico) and worked over by Alopecia engineer Eli Crews, this album is WHY?'s most live-sounding yet - a shadowy and sprawling piece as intimate in subject matter as it is handsome in timbre." [PR]

Continue reading "new Why? MP3 from new album 'Eskimo Snow'"

photos by Tim Griffin

DOWNLOAD: Yo La Tengo - Beanbag Chair (MP3)

After an opening set by Marc Ribot and John Zorn, and a bit of comedy by Slovin and Allen, Yo La Tengo headlined their third Hanukkah show in a row at Maxwell's on Tuesday with some help by guests Smokey Hormel (on guitar for the whole show) and Yoni Wolf of Why? (for a song at the end). Yoni was last seen playing a few sets at Anticon-fest at Knitting Factory last week, including one with/as his old group cLOUDDEAD. More pictures, and the setlist from Hanukkah Night Three, below...

Continue reading "Yo La Tengo, Smokey Hormel & Yoni Wolf @ Maxwell's, NJ (Hanukkah night three) - pics & setlist"

photos by Tim Griffin

John Zorn (sax) and Marc Ribot (guitar), playing a set of free jazz, were the surprise opener at Yo La Tengo's third Hanukkah show at Maxwell's last night (12/23). It's the kind of music you'll find played regularly (often by Zorn and/or Ribot) at Zorn's downtown club The Stone. I talked to two Maxwell's attendees after the show. Both had the same sort of "I wanted to like it...I know they are amazing musicians..." kind of attitude about the 30 minute opening set. Next came a set of comedy by Slovin and Allen which came before Yo La Tengo's set which included the special guests Smokey Hormel and Yoni Wolf of Why?. More pictures of the openers below...

Continue reading "John Zorn & Marc Ribot (Yo La Tengo night 3 openers) @ Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ - pics"

Yoni and Doseone @ Knitting Factory - Dec 18, 2008 (just_remember_to_roll)

"On Wednesday December 17th, Doseone, Jel and the other founders of Anticon played an intimate show in the Tap Room of the Knitting Factory. Doseone [told] the history of how the label came to be. I can't believe I missed it... I saw the 10th Anniversary show the next night. My show ended with a cLOUDDEAD reunion. The kids got a little crazy, I almost punched a few people. Seriously." [Jeff Devine]

Continue reading "cLOUDDEAD reunited, Doseone told the history of Anticon @ Knitting Factory - pics & video "

DOWNLOAD: Why? - Close To Me (the Cure) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Why? - The Hollows (MP3)

"Oakland musician Why? (aka Yoni Wolf), performed a haunting solo set at the Independent [on December 10th]. He did a few songs acapella and played his Rhodes for the rest of the set.
The set was great, but nowhere near as long as I would have hoped. Probably around 25 minutes long. Then again, I just really wanted to hear him do a minimal version of Broken Crow again. This was the first Why? show I had seen in quite some time... maybe since the original Hymie's Basement show in Minneapolis (5 or 6 years ago)." [pictures and words by docpop]