by Andrew Sacher

Low Fat Getting High at Cake Shop earlier this month (more by Chris Gersbeck)

Brooklyn punks Low Fat Getting High have been playing raucous local shows for some time now, and as mentioned, they're finally laying down that intensity for a new EP, which is called Bad Yoga, and has just been officially announced. The EP will be out on July 18 via Dead Broke/Money Fire Records. It kicks off with three tracks of menacing, breakneck-speed punk, and culminates in a fourth track of Bleach-style noise and sludge. The whole thing is just over ten minutes and it's a real ripper so keep an eye out for it. You can stream the opening track, "Better Better Worse," along with the artwork and tracklist below.

Low Fat Getting High have a ton of upcoming shows as usual, including a previously discussed Gimme Tinnitus-presented show TONIGHT (5/22) at Big Snow with another solid local punk band, Big Ups, CYHSY-related Radical Dads (for whom the show is a record release party), and Miniboone. $7 at the door gets you into tonight's show. Doors are at 8 PM. All ages. Show flyer below.

After that, they've got a bunch of other local dates, including a Converse Rubber Tracks show on June 12; Silent Barn on June 14 with another great local punk band, Sleepies, noise rockers Eula, indie rockers Shark?, sludgy psych rockers Psychic Blood and others; a release party for the new EP on July 18 at Shea Stadium with Big Ups, Vulture Shit, and Flagland (who play with Butter the Children and Ovlov soon); and even more local dates, all of which are listed below.

In related news, as mentioned, Big Ups and Psychic Blood also play a Northside show with Nu Sensae and Destruction Unit.

All LFGH dates are listed, along with the song stream and album info, below...

Continue reading "Low Fat Getting High announce new EP & upcoming shows"

still from "UFO" video

Absolutely Free, the band formed from 4/5ths of DD/MM/YYYY, released their debut EP last fall and have just released a video for one of its tracks, "UFO." It's powered by a very Can-like beat, and you can watch its video below. A stream of the entire EP is below as well.

The band, who were here for CMJ, have a few tour dates lined up this week, including a stop in NYC on Friday (2/8) at Big Snow Buffalo Lodge with Alan Watts, Yvette, Breeding Program and DJ Porkchop. $7 at the door and more info is here. They'll be at SXSW too. All tour dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Absolutely Free made a new video, playing shows (dates)"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Dan Friel - "Ulysses" (short edit) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Dan Friel - "Valedictorian" (MP3)

Dan Friel - Total Folklore

Dan Friel of the now-defunct Parts & Labor has been continuing to play a ton of solo shows in NYC since that band's demise and, after recently signing with Thrill Jockey (which he released the Valedictorian/Exoskeleton EP on in 2012), he announced that he'll release his first full length for the label, Total Folklore, on February 19. So far, Dan has let loose two tracks from the album, "Ulysses" (short edit) and "Valedictorian," and if you're a fan of buzzsaw distorted synths, you should check these out. You can download them both above or stream them and check out the full tracklist below. That's the album's awesome cover art (designed by Maya Hayuk) above.

Dan will celebrate the album with a release show the day it comes out (2/19) at Knitting Factory with a solid lineup of likeminded experimental musicians Guardian Alien, Yvette, and DJ set from ex-Battles frontman Tyondai Braxton. Tickets for that show are on sale now. It's Dan's only announced date at the moment.

Streams and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Dan Friel readies 'Total Folklore,' playing release show (MP3s)"

photos by Greg Cristman; words by Bill Pearis

Jeff Goldbloom / fish. @ Brooklyn Rock Lottery 3

The third annual Brooklyn Rock Lottery happened at Knitting Factory on Saturday (12/1). Musicians of varying styles and ages met at 10 AM and put their names in a hat and the five drummers picked their bandmates at random out of it. They then spent the day coming up with a name, writing original songs and practicing and made their stage debut that night. Proceeds from tickets and merch went to Hurricane Sandy relief. It was a lot of fun.

Even though the members were chosen at random, it seemed like the bands formed kind of naturally and had a cohesive sound. First up for the night was Jazz Karate, which featured Kenny Bernard (Ra Ra Riot), Franz Nicolay (ex Hold Steady / Against Me!), Pamela Martinez (Teletextile), Matt Singer, and Tom Blankenship (My Morning Jacket). With a harp and an accordion onstage, their music veered towards gypsy jazz and included a song about Tony Danza.

Next was Jeff Goldbloom whose members were Lua Rios (Gold Lake), Nick Sylvester (Mr. Dream), Noah Kardos-Fein (YVETTE), and Craig Lulada Pfunder (VHS or Beta). With a distinct sound -- heavy, shoegazy guitar epic-ry -- they were definitely the one group of the night that I'd actually want to see again. Good!

Then came the band I was most looking forward to, that had Yuck drummer Jonny Rogoff, Hospitality bassist Brian Betancourt, and Spanish Prisoners main man Leo Maymind, not to mention Dave Harrington from Nicholas Jaar's band and Gang Signs' Bryan Quackenbush. I was expecting melodic pop, but their name -- fish. -- shoulda been a giveaway. They played one 12-minute "jazz odyssey" type jam that showed just how good their collective musicianship was, but this has never been my thing.

Hardcore Lørd were next and it was almost entirely electronic, with tons of gear and lots of wires onstage. The band was Oliver Chapoy (Certain Creatures / ex Warm Ghost), Michael Sheffield (Sweet Bulbs / Heaven's Gate), Sara Lucas (Callers), and Christopher Puidokas (who toured with Blonde Redhead / The Silent Years). They took forever to set up but were probably my second favorite of the night, warm and ethereal.

The last band of the night was Nylon Guy and easily the most odds-n-sods, with Tyler Villard (Bezoar), Ian Young (touring saxophonist of M83), George Langford (Javelin), Jen Goma (People Get Ready / Sunny Day in Glasgow), and David Sheinkopf (The Subjects). No concessions were made to have a cohesive sound and everybody got to do their thing -- Villard doing a lot of hammer-on soloing, and Young smnoothing things out with his horn, and everyone else just kind of filling in the gaps. They did do a decent cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark," though.

ANIMAL New York were there too and got straight-off-the-board recordings of everybody except Nylon Guy. Check out streams of the other bands, as well as more pics from Brooklyn Rock Lottery 3, below.

Continue reading "members of My Morning Jacket, Yuck, Hospitality & more joined forces for Rock Lottery 3 (pics, streams)"

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

METZ at Knitting Factory, 11/20/2012

Somewhere in between Drive Like Jehu, Am-Rep noise rock, Young Widows, hardcore and the vibrato-laden vocals of Jon Spencer lies Toronto's METZ, who blessed Knitting Factory last night (11/20) with Yvette and Bennio Qwerty, their second of two NYC appearances this week (they played Mercury Lounge on 11/19). The performances were METZ's first NYC showing since playing a slew of CMJ appearances (including our own day party) following the release of their new self-titled LP, out now via Sub Pop.

Pictures of METZ from the Knitting Factory show are below (unfortunately, I missed both support bands).

Continue reading "METZ played Knitting Factory (pics)"

Heliotropes at 480 Pixels party in August, one of many bands who had shows at Delinquency this week, (more by Chris La Putt)

To all Delinquency family, friends, performers, and promoters: We regret to inform that we have been forced to close temporarily and relocate all CMJ shows:(((( Please stay tuned for new show locations. We are supper bummed but will be back in a few weeks to continue spreading the loving party vibes and good times we have all shared this amazing summer. - [Delinquency Facebook]

Tonight's Sleepies, Mr. Dream, Yvette, Alan Watts and Fasano show has been moved to XPO 929 (more info here).

Tuesday's Permanent Wave/Greenpointers Blog/Campers' Rule Records showcase (10/16) with Heliotropes, Leda, Beach Day, Backwords, The Suzan and Easy Lover has been relocated to Public Assembly.

Wednesday's We Listen for You / The Needle Drop / Beats Per Minute day party (10/17) with Dent May, Mac Demarco, Teen Suicide, Poor Lily, The Deloreans, Attic and Abasement has also been moved to Public Assembly

No word yet on where Wednesday night's Mobil party (10/17 with Heems, Sasha Go Hard, Kitty Pryde + more) will end up, or Bird Dog day party on Thursday (10/18 with Ava Luna, Royal Canoe, Fegrus and Geronimo, Murals and more), or the Old Flame Records / Heist or Hit Record day party on Friday (10/19 w/ Caged Animals, Your Youth, Gross Relations and more) but Delinquency has been posting updates on their Facebook.

Merchandise at Mousetrap in Chicago, April 2012 (more by Jimmy Farabi)

You may have noticed the announcements of CMJ artists trickling out as of late (like Sub Pop's lineup), but now comes the official word from the fest on another batch of bands. Highilights include AraabMUZIK, UK acts Savages and Everything Eveything, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Cities Aviv, Ken Mode (playing with Pig Destroyer), Daughn Gibson (playing with Pissed Jeans), Local H, Slug Guts, Dune Rats, Royal Canoe, and Sleepies among many many others. A full listing of the second round of CMJ artists is below.

One of said surprises is Merchandise, who plays NYC tonight at WIERD (9/12). The show is first of THREE NYC dates for the band, who will also play 538 Johnson tomorrow (9/13) before hitting Saint Vitus on Friday (9/14, tickets).

A list of the second round of CMJ artists is below, along with updated Merchandise dates and a recent video.

Continue reading "CMJ announces second round of artists; Merchandise is here, catch them three times this week (tonight at WIERD)"

The "special guest" playing Pianos Friday night with Selebrities is Puro Instinct whose tour with John Maus just brought them to both Glasslands and Mercury Lounge. Pics from Mercury Lounge are on the way, and we already talked about Glasslands (though briefly). If you missed it, Bill wrote:

" I caught [John Maus and Puro Instinct[ at Glasslands. Maus' show, which shouldn't work, does thanks to his dedication and intensity. A little goes a long way, though. (I really like the new album, I should say.) Puro Instict can really sing and play... better songs will come with time. They're young."

The Pianos show is a benefit for human trafficking survivors and advanced tickets are on sale. Slowdance, Yvette, Care Bears on Fire (even younger than Puro Instinct) and Blissed Out DJs are also on the bill.

Updated Puro Instinct tour dates, and a video they posted with a current Kickstarter campaign they have going, below...

Continue reading "Puro Instinct played Glasslands & Mercury Lounge, are the secret guest Friday night @ Pianos (updated dates)"