Big names and regulars aside, there are a few bands I want to highlight on the just-announced Sasquatch lineup: Wolf Parade ("indefinite hiatus" rumors be damned), The Flaming Lips (performing "The Soft Bulletin"), Death From Above 1979 (now three reunion shows total), Guided By Voices (they're not done yet), and... Archers of Loaf (!). The full lineup of the fest that goes down in Gorge, Washington in May (Memorial Day Weekend), is below...

Continue reading "Sasquatch 2011 lineup announced (Archers of Loaf, Guided By Voices, Wolf Parade, DFA 1979 & "The Soft Bulletin" included)"

words by Andrew Frisicano, photos by Chris Juarez & Rachel Carr

Local Natives & the crowd @ FYF Fest Saturday

Yesterday was FYF Fest. We know all the problems... The lines... And are addressing them now. In no way are we sleeping on these problems. The bands were amazing and the turn out was unreal. I'm speechless. -Sean Carlson & FYF Fest

The day's short sets kept you wanting more from nearly every act, many of whom played for a half hour or 35 minutes (which expanded in 5 minute increments up to an hour for the headliners). That made for tough decisions between overlapping sets. Ted Leo and band blew through their 45 minutes, and Titus Andronicus could've continued for another 35 at least with the momentum from their Monitor songs. Those two, along with Screaming Females, were part of what Ted Leo termed the "New Jersey Takeover" - three punk bands with Garden State roots who all played great sets at the fest.

Ariel Pink

Los Angeles represented with a number of notable hometown acts. Growlers, in grey facepaint, brought an earthy, ramshackle sound and lots of friends. Best Coast, Abe Vigoda, Local Natives and Ariel Pink also repped their hometown - the latter two with mezmerizing late afternoon sets.

Other acts brought some nice surprises. A chorus of kids, costumed as zombie versions of dead historical figures, backed Dead Man's Bones' Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields. The Blow introduced some of her new songs written for an unnamed celebrity (and played recognizable earlier songs too, including one "written with Sting...when [she] was 7"). And Big Freedia, the fest's only act with any trace of hip-hop, shocked the crowd with a short pre-headerliner dose of "Azz Everywhere."

Big Freedia

There was plenty of garage rock (Thee Oh Sees brought the man responsible for their cover art, William Keihn, to play tambourine), punk and metal. A reunited Sleep, in New York this week, grinded away, as !!! had people shaking their ass on the sister stage. On the fest's third stage, hardcore band 7 Seconds reminisced about their first time in LA almost 30 years ago and lead a spirited circle pit. Add to those bands, breezy folk from AA Bondy, the jams of Warpaint and Delorean to name a few.

If FYF's organizers are a bit defensive above, it may be with good reason: the few critical organizational errors were fairly memorable. A long line at will call (an hour would be a short estimate) kept many waiting in the 90 degree sun while the first bands of the day (Magic Kids, Let's Wrestle and The Goat) could be heard starting in the distance. Water inside was also an issue, with limited access to free drinking water and bottled water at $4 (which, according to Noah Lennox, ran out).

By the end of the night, the two final acts - The Rapture and Panda Bear - set up on competing stages. Panda Bear aka Noah Lennox interspersed his dreamy lullabies with patches of noise and dissonance while videos and images that could be described only as "trippy" played behind him; I think your response to the set depended largely on your state of mind after the long day: exhausted or ready for a patience-testing string of songs and sounds. He and The Rapture provided, alternately, a place to dance or doze.

--

Unsane also played a rare runion set at the festival where Off! shared a bill with Lower Dens. School of Seven Bells, Davila 666, Cults and Ceremony were there too.

Read what Noah thought about his own set, HERE. More pictures from the entire day, below...

Continue reading "FYF Fest 2010 in pics & review "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Maserati - "Pyramid Of The Moon" (MP3 EDIT)

Maserati 2009

Shrinebuilder and Maserati have very little in common, musically speaking. One relies on bluesy/sludgy riffage and post-metal roar, while the other is more concerned with muscling you out on the dancefloor. Yet both have absolutely incendiary live shows and now, both have killer songs called "Pyramid Of The Moon".

I've been a long-time fan of Maserati's spacey kraut-rock dancefloor-FONK and I'm excited for new material which will come soon in the form of a limited-edition 12" for "Pyramid Of The Moon". The song, and alternate version of the title track from the band's forthcoming album (!) Pyramid of The Sun, is available in edited form, for the first time, above, and will appear in all its extended nine-plus-minute glory along with a remix by The Field on the 12". Preorder it.

The new LP will include some of the final recordings of Jerry Fuchs, whose untimely passing left the band and the Brooklyn music community shaken. The LP, mixed with Justin Van Der Volgen (!!!, Out Hud, TBD) and Temporary Residence Limited founder Jeremy deVine (Sonna), includes collaborations with Steve Moore (Zombi) and will hit store shelves on 11/9. Make sure and check that out, it definitely cooks.

And speaking of !!!, openers have been announced for their upcoming 2-night run at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Fol Chen and Midnight Magic open the 11/6 show. Onra and Pattern is Movement play support on 11/7. Tickets (including the 2-day pass) are still on sale.

Continue reading "Maserati MP3 from 'Pyramid of the Sun', Chk Chk Chk openers "

photos by Tear-n Tan & Natalia Moena

Lee Fields / Darren Mabee

Lee Fields was probably the first act to ever perform at a Jelly Pool Party that promised the crowd his autograph after the show if they bought a CD, and that's part of the reason to love him. He's an old school genuine performer, now living in a land of modern day hipsters, at least that was the case on Sunday where he shared a bill with Future Islands, the Strange Boys and !!!.

Lee's soulful set included may of the great songs off his new album, "My World", including the title track, "Money is King", and "Ladies". The latter was one of many songs where Lee asked for crowd participation, and the rained-on crowd usually obliged. Many, including Darren Mabee, showed off their dance moves. Most at least swayed their arms back and forth in the air. For Lee, and some of his large backing band, it was their second big Brooklyn appearance in a short amount of time. The first was at Sharon Jones's headlining gig in Prospect Park.

Future Islands and the Strange Boys opened the free show for those that got there early enough. !!! headlined for those that stuck around around. More pictures from the whole day, below...

Continue reading "Lee Fields, Strange Boys, Future Islands & Chk Chk Chk played the Williamsburg Waterfront Pool Party (pics) "

photos by Tear-n Tan

Nic Offer of !!! (chk chk chk) @ Williamsburg Waterfront

"You were near the front at chk chk chk today, dancing all silly with your friends.
I was in a white t shirt and jeans, to your left. Thought we made eye contact a couple times.

Just wanted to say: you're a cutie."
[pink and stripes brunette at !!! - m4w (waterfront)]

Last we spoke, Chk Chk Chk announced plans to return to Brooklyn (their favorite place to play because they can say "What's up Brooklyn?!") in October to play one show at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Ends up that's TWO shows at the Williamsburg venue. The dates are October 6th and 7th, and tickets go on sale Friday at noon (like they do for the BrooklynVegan CMJ showcase happening at the same venue in the same month). They'll also be selling a $40 2-day pass which will save you $4+fees if you want to go both nights.

No openers have been announced for the Brooklyn shows, though maybe Light Asylum will open like they did when LCD Soundystem played that venue earlier in the year.

!!! also played a secret warm-up show Saturday night at Union Pool where they reportedly played six songs.

All the rest of the !!! tour dates are HERE. More pictures and some videos from the Pool Party, below...

Continue reading "!!! played a Pool Party (pics), playing TWO shows @ MHOW"

by BBG

Nic Offer and friends at Highline Ballroom (more by Ryan Muir)

!!! play the free Pool Party show on Sunday (8/15) with support from Lee Fields and the Expressions, The Strange Boys, and Future Islands, and yet that it somehow not enough; the funk-punk troupe is ALREADY itching to get back to Brooklyn (that's good news). Along with a veritable shit ton of US dates that kick off in early September, the band will play another NYC show on October 6th just down the street from the waterfront at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Ticket info is forthcoming.

The dates follow the release (Aug 23) of the band's new LP, Strange Weather, Isn't It?, their first since the Myth Takes LP from 2007. The album's first track, "AM/FM" recently surfaced as a limited 12" single, and is featured in the Black Dice-directed video below. A second, and more recent track from that LP, "The Most Certain Sure", is streaming below.

In related news, some of the final recordings from ex-!!! drummer Jerry Fuchs (RIP) will surface on the new Maserati LP, Pyramid Of The Sun, due on November 9th, 2010 via Temporary Residence Limited.

The sudden, tragic and unexpected passing of drummer Jerry Fuchs not only forever changed the lives of those that knew and loved him (a number that stretches into the tens of thousands by all accounts), but it immediately halted progress on a new Maserati album for which they had already begun recording. As one of Fuchs' final recordings, the band labored over its completion for the better part of a year. Afforded the utmost care and attention to detail, Pyramid of the Sun stands firmly as a celebration of Fuchs' legacy, and a testament to the ever-increasing brilliance of Maserati.

Mixed with Justin Van Der Volgen (!!!, Out Hud) and Temporary Residence founder Jeremy deVine (Sonna), Pyramid includes two collaborations with friend and tourmate Steve Moore (Zombi)... Closing the album is the bittersweet "Bye M'Friend, Goodbye," a motorik summer punk jam that splits the difference between Wipers and Neu! and carries the bittersweet distinction of being one of the band's finest songs, and the final track written and recorded with Fuchs.

!!! dates, new track & video, below...

Continue reading "!!! expand tour (dates), add another Brooklyn show, stream new song (album out soon) ++ new Maserati LP coming too"

by Andrew Frisicano

For what might be the strangest pairings of any Pool Parties this summer, on August 15th the Waterfront will host slinky disco !!!, vintage soul Lee Fields and the Expressions, froggy blues The Strange Boys and synth-rock Future Islands.

For the headliner, !!!, the date is currently their only NYC show. The group will head out on a lengthy tour of North America and Europe starting in September. Those shows are in support of their new album, Strange Weather, Isn't It?, due August 24th on Warp (that's the icy cover above).

!!! has gone through a few line-up changes since the release of Myth Takes and now consists of frontman Nic Offer, guitarist Mario Andreoni, horn player/keyboardist Daniel Gorman, and saxophonist/percussionist Allan Wilson. Vocalist Shannon Funchess (of Light Asylum) and drummer Paul Quattrone (of Modey Lemon) round out the live lineup.

Continue reading "!!! - new album, song, video & 2010 Tour Dates"

@ a 2009 Pool Party (more by Tim Griffin)

I don't know what Veoba is either. The press release explains it though...

For the past 4 years, JELLY has hosted over 200,000 people for what has become one of the most groundbreaking FREE concert series in New York. Summer Sundays in Brooklyn have become synonymous with The Pool Parties and in the series' 5th Anniversary year, Pool Parties promises not to disappoint.

This year, The Pool Parties are again on the Williamsburg Waterfront for 7 dates from July 11th--August 29th. Due to scheduling conflicts, our August 1st date will be moved to a "Block Party" in and around Brooklyn Bowl making it 8 total "FREE Pool Party Sundays".

In celebrating our 5th Year Anniversary, JELLY also would like to give a big thanks to Senator Chuck Schumer and Phillip Goldfeder from the Senator's office for all of their support ensuring JELLY'S return to the Williamsburg Waterfront. JELLY owners Alexander Kane and Sarah Hooper state that, "It has been a long hard road this year to bring this series back to Williamsburg and it 100% could not have been done without Senator Schumer's efforts. "

The Pool Parties will be co-presented by VEOBA, an online resource for artists, managers, and record labels. Based in Chicago, but with global reach, VEOBA provides the music community with select services to progress and maintain their livelihood. VEOBA launched in May 2010 as a collective made up of music industry veterans, writers, managers, artists, and cartoon characters. From co-founder Jay Parkin, "More often than not, musicians rely on others to take their careers to the next level. We're here for those who care enough to do it themselves." Sharing Jelly's values of creativity and innovation, the people at VEOBA are thrilled to be involved in this summer's production. Parkin concludes, "For the independent and the like- minded, VEOBA facilitates the next step."

JELLY as well wants to give a shout out to all of their partners this summer from the new faces to old friends. Special thanks to AllSaints and Vans. As well as Amp Energy, vitaminwater®, SESAC, ZICO Pure Premium Coconut Water, ZYNC from American Express^(SM), Spin Magazine, KEXP, and Main Drag. Along with OSA sponsors: Time Out New York, Brooklyn Brewery, and Heineken.

Now onto our official Pool Parties 5th Year Anniversary lineup! Check back soon for surprise guests we cant announce yet, the official DJ lineup for The Pool Parties 2010, and more fun things that are SURE to make the 5th Year Anniversary series one you will never forget!

The Official After-Pool Parties, presented by Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, will be held at Brooklyn Bowl following every Sunday's Pool Party!

The only difference between the leaked lineup and the official lineup is the addition of another "SECRET SPECIAL GUEST" and the listing of some curators. You can see the full list of confirmed free shows, below...

Continue reading "Jelly & Veoba confirm Williamsburg Waterfront 'Pool Party' lineups ('Secret Special Guests', Brooklyn Bowl afterparties)"

DOWNLOAD: That Ghost - The Red Bow (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Odawas - Harmless Lover's Discourse (MP3)

The Baths...

We've been very busy around putting together live shows in our spare non-blogging moments. It's especially obvious today as we continue to announce show after show - SXSW day parties, official showcases & a pre-SXSW show in NYC included. Next up, and even sooner....

BrooklynVegan will be hosting a happy hour event at this year's Noise Pop 2010 (in San Francisco from February 23rd to March 1st) on Saturday, February 27th at Benders Bar (806 South Van Ness Ave). For this show we decided to go with three local San Francisco Bay Area bands who we've been curious to check out and who were not already playing any other shows at the festival. The result: Odawas, The Baths and That Ghost. The three bands will play the free afternoon show on 2/27 from 4-7pm (21+) (thanks to Panache for their help with the booking!).

Odawas...

Odawas are a hazy folk-garage band on Jagjaguwar - their "Harmless Lover's Discourse" off last year's The Blue Depths is above.

The Baths do Kinks-style rock that gets both dirty and acoustic; they're appropriately touring with Thee Oh Sees this March (both bands will be at SXSW and MtyMx).

That Ghost, one Ryan Schmale who hails from Sonoma County, CA (north of SF), hides his vocals behind a wall of fog. His tune "The Red Bow" is above; other material from him is available from Twosyllable Records.

All three bands, like Noise Pop, are local to the San Francisco Bay Area. Yes, even Odawas...

MOKB: How is California treating you? Have you noticed any difference in the way that people respond to your music there, in comparison to your time spent in Chicago and/or Bloomington?

Michael Tapscott of Odawas: It's been fantastic here. There seems to be a lot of local support for what we are doing, and an abundance of supportive, creative people around. We left good friends in Chicago at our jobs and in musical friends, but we never quite caught on there. It was a transitional year when we were there anyway. Bloomington is a paradise. I miss it everyday. But when we left, it was time to go.

Will you be there? We also have a bunch of free tickets to giveaway to other Noise Pop shows. Details on those contests, videos and all Baths tour dates are below...

Continue reading "The Baths, Odawas & That Ghost playing BV Happy Hour @ Noise Pop - full schedule, MP3s, contests, tour dates & more"

DOWNLOAD: You Say Party! We Say Die! - Laura Palmer's Prom" (Los Campesinos Remix) (MP3)

Los Campesinos!

Los Campesinos just released their third record, Romance Is Boring, on Arts & Crafts at the end of January. It's their first LP since keyboardist Aleks left the band to go back to school last year. She's been replaced by frontman Gareth's sister Kim on keys and vocals. A video for the record's title track is below.

Speaking of Arts & Crafts, it seems like the Canadian label has been especially busy lately. Upcoming album releases for them include Jason Collett and Zeus, and most excitingly, Broken Social Scene.

Los Campesinos! plays the UK and Europe in February and March before coming stateside in April. They'll be in NYC for an April 22nd show at Irving Plaza. Tickets are on sale.

The above-linked MP3 is a new remix LC! did for Canadian band You Say Party! We Say Die! (that's a lot of !'s). YSP!WSD! has an upcoming tour as well. Dates (in full below) include SXSW and a March 29th show at Pianos in NYC. Speaking of SXSW!, it was just announced that !!! will actually be there too.

The LC! tracklist for their new record, new video and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Los Campesinos! released an album (video), remixed You Say Party! We Say Die! (MP3) - 2010 tour dates (for both bands)"

DOWNLOAD: Memory Tapes - Bicycle (MP3)

The intial lineup for Noise Pop 2010, which takes over San Francisco February 23rd to March 1st, has been updated. Newly announced acts include Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band (with Cornelius, Yuka Honda, Sean Lennon), The Dodos & Magik Magik Orchestra collaborative performance, !!!, Harlem, Deerhoof, Memory Tapes, The Fresh and Onlys, Scout Niblett, Far (Reunion Show), The Mumlers, P.E.E (Reunion Show), Mirah, Laura Gibson, Nico Vega, Japanese Motors, Princeton, Free Energy, The Growlers, Nurses, Magic Wands, The Lonely Forest, The Hot Toddies, Tempo No Tempo, Judgement Day. The full current lineup is posted below.

Tickets and passes for most of those are on sale now. Tickets for Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band (with Deerhoof) on February 23rd and the Dodos & Magik Magik Orchestra collaborative shows go on sale on Sunday, January 10th.

Memory Tapes, chillwave Jerseyan Dayve Hawk, is one of the acts scheduled for the fest. He's going to be in the UK for a short run of shows this January, and he's confirmed that US dates and a European tour are forthcoming. The song "Bicycle" off his debut, Seek Magic, is above. The album is being re-issued on Feb 8th, "with an exclusive 48 minute 4 track CD2 through Urban Outfitters and digitally exclusively via iTunes".

UPDATE: Memory Tapes is opening for Atlas Sound at The Bell House on February 3rd. Tickets are still on sale.

More info on Noise Pop 2010 below...

Continue reading "Noise Pop expands 2010 lineup - updates include !!!, Far, Yoko Ono & Memory Tapes who is touring soon "

Jerry Fuchs

"As the new millennium started gearing up, there was a obvious reason why Jerry started playing with all the DFA-affiliated bands (The Juan Maclean, !!!, etc.) as time went on: He was an invaluable monster on the drums that could recreate those motorik-like disco beats and make it sound human. Goddamn, the hair on the back of my neck stands on end when I think about it. Recent years saw him reaffirm his roots in Athens as he became the incredibly propulsive backbone to Maserati after they gave their original drummer the boot. And man, again, watching Jerry perform was always a treat. ALWAYS." [Chunklet]

338 Berry

What was Jerry doing at 338 Berry at the night in question? Well, this "AccesSoiree" benefit party was happening there...

The party advertised that there would be "DJ sets by fashion darling Judi Rosen, The Juan MacLean's Nancy Wang and more from New York's finest DFA crew to name but a few". The above-quoted Chunklet obit is one of the nicest I've seen, and as it reiterates, Jerry was a large part of DFA. Chk Chk Chk wrote this on their MySpace...

thanks to everyone who has contacted us with their love and support. we could never put into words how special a person jerry was and how much we loved him. we ask that you tell all the people you care about and are thankful for that you love them. we wish we still had jerry.

The first Juan Maclean video below (with a fake fight) explains the midi tattoo. The other video features a 16 minute live version of "Happy House" with Jerry behind the kit. Juan is DJing a benefit in San Francisco on November 20th. More details about that and both videos below...

Continue reading "remembering Jerry Fuchs (338 Berry, Chunklet, !!!, Hot Chip, Juan Maclean, a tattoo & a benefit in San Francisco) "

Gerhardt Fuchs grew up playing the drums in Georgia and went on to perform with bands that toured across the country, but it was in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, that he forged his reputation as a dynamic, driving drummer widely esteemed by his peers.

And it was in that same neighborhood, in the shadow of the Williamsburg Bridge, that Mr. Fuchs, known as Jerry, fell to his death on Sunday morning [11/8] in the elevator shaft of an industrial building on Berry Street. [NYTimes]

He recently came back from a tour playing drums with Maserati, who traveled with Mono. The tour included two nights in New York and an appearance at Pop Montreal on October 1st.

Juan Maclean wrote, "Jerry was one of my best and most loyal friends. He was hands-down the best drummer I have ever played with or seen for that matter. Jerry was with me from the start of The Juan MacLean, and we had countless adventures together all over the world. He was utterly sincere and fiercely loyal. During a particularly difficult time, while backstage in a club in Chicago, Jerry told me "Juan, I will follow you to the end of the earth and I will always be there for you." That was Jerry, the greatest drummer in the world, the greatest friend you could ever have."

As the NY Post reports, "Fuchs is the second Maserati drummer to meet a tragic end. In 2005, then-drummer Mikel Gius was run down and killed as he rode his bike on a Sacramento street." Mikel Gius was in !!! too.

Maserati clips, which feature Jerry's stunning drumming in a central way, and other videos, below...

Continue reading "Jerry Fuchs, RIP (drummer for Maserati, Juan MacLean, !!!)"

photos by Ryan Muir

!!!/Battles

"Though the undercards threw devastating curveballs -- Pivot's set was punchy yet serene, Flying Lotus's DJ set spanned everything from his earlier EPs to wobbling, quaking dubstep 12"s -- it was the evening's headliners that offered the most surprises. !!! sounded loose and fluid in their only New York date of 2009; "Must Be the Moon," normally an insistent, beeping rave-up, became looser and more open, with looser, longer guitar leads; "Heart of Hearts," normally clenched around tense guitar and synth riffs, was practically liquid, echoing and ringing instead. Indeed, when the band previewed a new track, "Treat Me Right," they sounded (however remotely) like the Band, with old organ whirs girding the rhythm section's grooves. !!! is a band that's built its name on its rhythmic force, but even in this smoother, more limber style, the band sounded right at home. Frontman Nic Offer got to strut his stuff, and the band's rhythm section, which included two drummers and an additional percussionist, got to embellish their songs with more cymbal color.

But changes aside, !!! was also thoroughly upstaged by Battles, the night's headlining act. Playing their only North American show of the year, the American foursome treated the event like a special occasion." [PAPER]

"Among the new works played were tracks called "Sweetie and Shag" (a vocal and bass-heavy track), "SDICT" (which starts as a sparse set of back-and-forths between Braxton, Williams and Konopka and eventually comes to a crescendo when Stanier's drums kick in) and "Sanford and Son" (which features Williams playing a loop in the middle of the song that sounds like what would happen if an accordion and a harmonica had a child -- this was by far the best-received moment of the evening). Though it initially sounded out of place, the band played around it, letting the music evolve into something entirely different by the end." [MTV]

Continue reading "Battles, !!! & Flying Lotus celebrated Warp's 20th Anniversary @ Terminal 5 in NYC - pics "

"The prospect of an established rock musician venturing into classical territory will probably always raise eyebrows, and rightly so. It takes a major leap of faith to view Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio or Billy Joel's Fantasies & Delusions as anything other than a misguided stab at legitimacy.

Fortunately, Central Market, a new album of compositions by Tyondai Braxton--best known for his work with the innovative instrumental-rock quartet Battles, which plays this week as part of Warp20, an anniversary celebration for its esteemed label--falls on the extreme opposite end of the spectrum. No puffed-up vanity project, this set of lush, highly kinetic pieces, performed with the Wordless Music Orchestra, ranks among the year's most forward-thinking releases. And despite its grand scope, sci-fi-esque weirdness, cryptic titles and dearth of lyrics, the album is surprisingly accessible. For fans of Battles, this brand of listener-friendly experimentation shouldn't come as a shock: Despite its considerable oddness, the band's last effort, 2007's Mirrored, stunned the indie-rock set with its furiously funky rhythms and crystalline melodies." [Time Out]

And the Warp Records festival continues on Saturday with two shows. First is the free show at the World Financial Center that Flying Lotus was supposed to play before he was switched to the Terminal 5 show. The new lineup will "include sets from electronic masters Jimmy Edgar, Hudson Mohawke and Clark, as well as Warp DJs." The party continues Saturday night at Le Poisson Rouge with a show by Jamie Lidell, The Hundred in the Hands and Born Ruffians. Maybe because of the late set time, last minute notice, and holiday weekend, but tickets are still on sale.

Continue reading "It's Warp20 weekend (World Financial Center show included) ++ Tyondai Braxton releasing Central Market"

"The management of the Flying W have decided that our radness is just too much for their family establishment..."

members of !!! take a dip...

!!! embark today (September 3rd) on a short East Coast tour, dates below. The band will stop this Friday at Terminal 5 for the first night of Warp20 with Battles, Flying Lotus and Pivot. Tickets are still on sale.

Two days later, on September 6th, !!! will play Jersey/Philly's final Making Time Pool Party of the summer (remember, the Dan Deacon/No Age/Deerhunter pool party with an actual pool?). Plans for the Making Time party have been shuffled a bit after the Flying W Pool and Resort dropped out as the venue. The September 6th show will be happening, but not there - not even in Jersey. Instead, Bamboo Bar in Philadelphia (which has a pool of its own) will host the event. Also in house will be resident DJs Dave P, Mike Z and many others.

Check out a video put together for the event, the flyer, the story behind the gig and all !!! tour dates, below...

Continue reading "!!! on tour (dates) --- Terminal 5 Friday (Warp20NYC), Making Time Pool Party Sunday (but not @ the Flying W anymore) "

After many months of planning, Wordless Music is deliriously proud to announce details of Warp20 NYC, the second and only U.S. installment in a series of worldwide events taking place this year in Paris, Tokyo, London, and Sheffield.

Warp20 NYC will be a four-day celebration of the music, films, and 20th anniversary of the the peerless UK label Warp Records, without which there would surely have never been a Wordless Music series.

On September 3-6, in venues across New York City, Warp artists Battles, Flying Lotus, Chris Clark, !!!, Prefuse 73, Pivot, and Hudson Mohawke will headline shows in two different venues, while The New Museum offers free and continuous screenings of full-length features, documentaries, music videos, and shorts from several dozen directors hailing from around the globe.

The other confirmed fest show will be a free concert at the World Financial Center Winter Garden with Flying Lotus, Chris Clark and Hudson Mohawke on September 5th.

The "kick off" for Warp20 NYC (two months before the fest...) will be tonight's (7/22) Alarm Will Sound show at (Le) Poisson Rouge. The program for the night commemorates the five-year anniversary of the group's 2005 album Acoustica with chamber orchestra arrangements of music by Aphex Twin, Autechre, Mochipet, John Dowland, and The Beatles. Nic Offer from the band !!! will DJ the late show. Tickets for both the late and early shows are still on sale.

Also starting tonight (7/22), and also celebrating 20 years of a record label's existence: XX Merge (the Merge Records party in North Carolina).

In addition to the above-mentioned acts, Warp is also home to Grizzly Bear, who will be playing a free Pool Party show on August 30th.

The full program for tonight's LPR show, with more info on Warp20 NYC, below...

Continue reading "Warp Records' 20th Anniversary Fest - shows at Terminal 5 (Battles, !!!, more) & WFC (Flying Lotus) & LPR (tonight)"

!!! is playing ACL 2009 (more by Chris Graham)

"The 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival will showcase a diverse blend of acts both fresh and familiar at the eighth edition of the event in Zilker Park October 2-4. Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, and Beastie Boys are performing for the first time at the Festival, with Kings of Leon, Ben Harper and Relentless7, and Thievery Corporation returning to Zilker Park once again. John Legend, The Dead Weather, and The Levon Helm Band will also make their ACL Festival debut, while Austin's own Ghostland Observatory will no doubt deliver another memorable set for festival goers.

With over 130 artists on this year's bill, the list of acts awes at each note with the likes of Sonic Youth, Mos Def, Toadies, Flogging Molly, The B-52s, Lily Allen, Citizen Cope, Arctic Monkeys, The Decemberists, Coheed and Cambria, Andrew Bird, Girl Talk, and many more.

In the tradition of the TV show from which it was born, the Festival has always aimed to offer musical discovery for the fans. The 2009 lineup is rich with pop, country, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, indie rock, hip-hop, and gospel, to name a few, spanning cultures and countries from New Orleans to Venezuela to France."

Continue reading "ACL (Austin City Limits) - 2009 festival lineup announcement"

Bowery photos by Tim Griffin, Santos photos by Faith-Ann Young

TJM @ Bowery Ballroom

"Dressed in a dark blazer and white pants (after Labor Day, mind you!), John MacLean looked more like a professor than a dance-rocker. Perhaps his fashion sense is a remnant from his days teaching English in New Hampshire? Following a set from Chairlift, a Brooklyn-based trio whose career received a kick-start after Apple licensed "Bruises" for an iPod commercial, their fleeting allusions to Television and Bjork were bulldozed by The Juan MacLean's dance floor pastiche and their fondness for disco, house, and techno. Though MacLean's vocals sounded a little off at times (probably due to technical problems), when he's not singing and playing keyboards, he's constantly adding hand percussion and tweaking gizmos that give his music an interesting effect. Most notably, the icy vocal of singer/keyboardist Nancy Whang (of LCD Soundsystem) is a perfect yin to MacLean's yang. Their union shined on "Give Me Every Little Thing," a throbbing, squelchy, funky number laden with Theremin. Thankfully void of needless irony, it tipped its hat to Parliament-Funkadelic. Along the way, they dropped "Happy House," the first single from their forthcoming album, The Future Will Come, and it was a definite highlight. If tonight's performance is any indication, the future for The Juan MacLean looks very bright." [BigShotMag]

The Juan Maclean came on late closing out the DFA showcase...around 12:45- 1? John/Juan the man and his trusty troupe, including Nancy Whang and ex-!!! drummer Jerry Fuchs, brought dance chaos to the cold concrete floor of Santos. He oscilalted between a smorgasbord of samplers, tambourines, and modern electronic gadgets....and tastetested a track from upcoming album, The Future Will Come. Crazed lights and lasers added to the otherworld sci-fi vibe (that and the pills that were going around)... -Faith

More pictures from both Juan Maclean shows below...

Continue reading "the Juan Maclean played Bowery Ballroom & Santos (pics) "

photos by Chris Graham

Darondo--wiry and hyperkinetic in a flashy suit, gold sneakers, and white hat--hit the stage while Moschella and company backed him. The sexagenarian busted astonishing James Brown-cum-Michael Jackson moves, and belted out songs with a weathered tenor that suggested a cross between Al Green and The Spinners' Bobby Smith. He flat-out commanded the stage, delivering everything from moral indignation on "Let My People Go" to deliciously libidinous boudoir funk on "Legs". Dear God in a velour tuxedo, he was nothin' short of a revelation. [Pop Culture Petri Dish]

The Bumbershoot Festival took place in Seattle over Labor Day weekend. Beck headlined the first of three days. Everyone in this post also played that day (Saturday). More pictures below...

Continue reading "Bumbershoot 2008, Day 1 - Daronda, M Ward, !!! & other pics"

!!! @ the Pitchfork Music Festival (more by Joseph Juechao Xu)

today in NYC
* FREE STUFF
* Sunday Best\
* Bear Hands @ Union Pool
* Spiritualized Terminal 5
* !!! @ Music Hall of Williamsurg
* Bruce Springsteen @ Giants Statdium
* Todd Barry & Eugene Mirman @ Maxwell's
* MGMT, Black Mother Super Rainbow & Ting Tings @ McCarren Pool

What else?

photos by Joseph Juechao Xu

Boris

dancing in the mud

and much more....

Continue reading "a set of pictures from the 2008 Pitchfork Music Festival "

Tickets are now on presale for the upcoming Chk Chk Chk shows.

DOWNLOAD: Chk Chk Chk - Must Be The Moon (MP3)

!!! are going on tour this summer. Tickets go on sale Tuesday for a July 27th show at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. All dates below.....

Continue reading "!!! (chk chk chk) - 2008 Tour Dates (MHOW)"

!!! @ Webster Hall - Oct 11, 2007 by Adam Schneider (more)

* America is playing BB King's
* Ours is playing Nokia Theare
* MARY WEISS of The Shangri-Las is playing Southpaw
* Tori Amos is playing the Theater @ MSG again
* Architecture in Helsinki & Lo Fi Fnk are playing Studio B
* The Raveonettes & Nicole Atkins are playing Bowery Ballroom
* Enon & Frightened Rabbit are playing Death By Audio
* People Don't Dance No More @ 200 Orchard
* The Budos Band are playing Highline Ballroom w/ Chicago Afrobeat Project
* The Mother Hips, Katy Mae, Pink Nasty are @ Mecury Lounge
* Fionn Regan is playing Mercury Lounge early
* Marla Hansen is @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* The National & The Forms are @ Music Hall too
* Karl Blau & Benji Cossa are @ SoundFix
* FUN presents Juiceboxxx @ Studio B
* Klaxons and The Apes are @ Webster Hall
* Van Morrison is at United Palace
* White Stripes are selling cameras?

What else?