Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson & John Zorn @ the Stone in 2008 (wallyg)

Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson and John Zorn faced a furious crowd on Friday night, playing cacophonous music to a cacophony of boos at the Montreal International Jazz festival. Fans expecting Sweet Jane or Walk On the Wild Side were instead met by the skronk and skree of Reed's more recent free-jazz work, infuriating sections of the crowd. As audience members hollered their complaints, Zorn responded. "If you don't think it's music, then get the fuck outta here." Then the walk-outs began. [Guardian UK] (via)

More than 1,000 people turned out for a night of Reed/Anderson/Zorn improv on July 2nd (a week ago today). Some booed, heckled, walked out, asked (and got) a refund, and went home to complain about it on the internet (other people stayed, some maybe even enjoyed it). A very short clip of the concert is below.

A similar show that took place at The Stone in 2008 is for sale in John Zorn's shop as a live CD. All funds raised from its sale go to benefit the non-profit club. John Zorn next plays the Stone on July 30th.

Laurie and Lou recently went to Australia and Coney Island.

Laurie Anderson plays (Le) Poisson Rouge on Tuesday, July 13th (tickets), and has lots more coming up.

John Zorn will make an appearance at the New Museum on July 13th, and John, Lou and Laurie, as well as Faith No More's Mike Patton, will be getting together again for a show at the NYC Opera in 2011.

Video from the Montreal concert and a press conference from earlier in the day are below...

Continue reading "Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson & John Zorn booed in Montreal"

photos by Ryan Muir

Erykah Badu @ Good Units

"Erykah Badu went for a stripped-down approach for her new "Window Seat" video. Literally: As the standout tune from New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh (out tomorrow) plays, Ms. Badu walks through downtown Dallas gradually removing all of her clothing until she is 100 percent nude. If that sounds familiar, Badu credits that Matt & Kim video from last year for inspiration. No word on what role, if any, Alanis Morissette played." [EW]

You can watch that new video at the end of this post which also contains pictures from the second of two secret-ish Less Artists More Condos-organized NYC shows that Erykah Badu performed at this weekend. The first show (Friday night) took place at Damon Dash's open-when-it-wants-to-be basement space in Tribeca, Under 100. Class Actress, Grooms, and Skeletons were all also on the bill (video below). At the second, Saturday night, a very late Erykah (she left the crowd-that-got-smaller-and-smaller waiting for almost 2 hours), played with Spank Rock, MNDR, and Tony Castles at Good Units in midtown. Things didn't go so well for Spank Rock (who played 2nd to last)...

"During the final song, Spank Rock rapped something along the lines of (and I am paraphrasing here so my head doesn't get chewed off by Spank Rock die-hards), "wanting to fuck a white girl till my dick turns racist." Needless to say, Spank Rock got booed off the stage, something I haven't witnessed at a show in a very long time [editor: you weren't at the Fader Fort for Salem then]. He even tried to worm his way into the front row next to these two ladies I was standing next to so he could watch Erykah Badu and the two women were clearly horrified as they quickly spread themselves out to ensure he would not be joining us." [According to G]

Pictures and the videos below...

Continue reading "Erykah Badu played Under 100 & Good Units w/ Spank Rock & MNDR (pics), released Matt & Kim-inspired stripping video"