In their own words, "PALOMAR is playing a "benefits residency" every Tuesday [at the Rock Shop] from Nov 16-Dec 14, called 5 GREAT NIGHTS, 5 GREAT CAUSES. The band will play songs from their new, yet-to-be-released album, and have roped in some big names including Nada Surf, Charles and Kevin of The Wrens and many more." Other guests at the shows include Walter Schreifels, Todd Barry, Dave Hill, Eugene Mirman, and Robbers on High Street. Right now only $40 tickets are on sale. That gets you into all five shows. Individual show tickets will be on sale Friday.

Exact dates, full lineups, flyer, and more below...

Continue reading "Palomar playing benefit shows w/ very special guests (Nada Surf, Wrens members, Todd Barry, Walter Schreifels, more)"

photos by Jonny Leather

'@Joslynm congrats on your pop culture trivia expertise!' - Pat Kiernan

Pat Kiernan

Jimmy Fallon

"Without being too cheesy, I have to say there was a really beautiful spirit at last night's concert. The venue was sold out and aside from the silent auction, Bell House raised $35,000.00 for Save the Children and Partners in Health. I missed the first hour or so because I had to stop by my place, but got there in time to see Jimmy Fallon do a Neil Young impression. Then Freelance Whales played. You all should check them out. They're getting crazy attention right now and they are based out of Queens. Now that's special! Anyway, it was good times all around. Cat Power and Pavement records and CDs were given away for trivia knowledge, Ted Leo who also has shows in town, was adorable and even though Cold War Kids pulled out of the show, the Walkmen did an amazing job closing the show." [Petunia Eats]

All artists, including Here We Go Magic, played short sets. If you want to see more of them (HWGM), they play as a headliner at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday.

More pictures and some videos (by Tim Duffy of Pop Tarts Suck Toasted) from the Bell House (in alphabetical order), below...

Continue reading "Jimmy Fallon, Pat Kiernan, Ted Leo, Walkmen, the Wrens & others played a Haiti benefit @ the Bell House - pics & video "

The Blow @ SXSW 2008 (more by Ryan Muir)

As the Bell House's Haiti benefit on Wednesday, January 27th approaches, the show's lineup keeps getting more and more interesting. Since the initial announcement a few changes have been made (The Walkmen replacing Cold War Kids for one) and more acts have been announced. The schedule below reflects the expected set times, with the disclaimers that "performers will be playing abbreviated, acoustic and/or stripped down sets" and "line up subject to change."

AC Newman (who's putting out a new New Pornographers record), Rhett Miller and Nicole Atkins are playing as a Seekers cover band (a supergroup similar to what St. Vincent & Bon Iver did at MHOW on Saturday). Zach Galifianakis was also at the BV Haiti event,

UPDATE: Despite a press release that went out, The Bell House says that Paul Rudd & Zach Galifianakis are not on this benefit (they never said they were, but the press release did). Also the venue says that the set times that were posted (including here last night) are wrong.

Freelance Whales (who have quite a few shows, NYC and otherwise, coming up) are playing, as is Ted Leo (who himself has longer shows planned).

One notable addition is The Blow, aka Kaela Maricich, who played Art Basel in Miami this December, but hasn't played NYC in quite a while (possibly since CMJ 2007).

Tickets for the benefit show are still on sale.

The Blow's last album was 2006's Paper Television, when Jona Bechtolt from YACHT was still in the group. For YACHT's upcoming tour, Bechtolt and member Claire Evans will bolster their live show (previously them and a laptop) by a band consisting of Rob Kieswetter of Bobby Birdman (who is also opening), Jeff Brodsky of Jeffrey Jerusalem, and D. Reuben Snyder of Rob Walmart. The backing band's name is 'The Straight Gaze'. A tour preview clip is posted below.

More Bell House info with full lineup & poster below...

Continue reading "Bell House Haiti benefit expands (to include The Blow & more) - WEDNESDAY NIGHT"

A BENEFIT FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI
100% of the proceeds will be split between Save The Children and Partners In Health.

All performers will be playing abbreviated and stripped down sets. Scheduled to appear:
JIMMY FALLON
New York State Senator DIANE SAVINO
COLD WAR KIDS
TED LEO
THE WRENS
SONDRE LERCHE
EUGENE MIRMAN
AC NEWMAN of NEW PORNOGRAPHERS with RHETT MILLER of OLD 97s and NICOLE ATKINS as THE SEEKERS.

More performers and ticket information to be announced on Monday, January 18.

City Winery also has some fine benefit shows coming up.

Others are raising money for Haiti with vegan baked goods.

words & photos by Anna Scialli

AVC: Why the long gap between Meadowlands and this record [that is coming out in 2010]?

Charles Bissell: There's no easy answer, although part of it [is] we needed a break. The funny thing is, we toured all the time, had jobs, and did a couple weekends a month. The biggest thing I guess was the last record took so darn long to make and a lot of it was pretty boring stuff. A lot of it was how we work as a band and how we brought in songs. I vowed never to do that again--never to take four years [with a record]--but it took five years to ensure that would never happen. [Laughs.]

Friday's first show drew a full crowd as early as 7:30 PM which is when Brooklyn-based Palomar took the stage. The quartet played fun, catchy pop songs that got the crowd moving. After a tight, enjoyable set Palomar wrapped up, joking that they needed to leave two hours for the Wrens: "one for each decade."

"Hi, we are the Wrens, and we're 20 years old," exclaimed Wrens vocalist and bassist, Kevin Whelan. The Wrens tore through the tracklist of the Meadowlands, occasionally making asides to talk about the significance of their band's longevity. Fan favorites such as "Happy" and "Everyone Chooses Sides" brought the crowd to their feet, yelling the words along. As per usual at their shows, the Wrens handed out drumsticks and invited fans on stage to play percussion along with "Boys, You Won't."

AVC: How did the Maxwell's Meadowlands shows come together?

Charles Bissell: It came about because it's our 20th anniversary this year. It was also Merge [Records]'s 20th anniversary, and they had a festival. People reunited, exhumed Lincoln's body, there was a papal visit. We felt like we were missing our own boat; not a lot of bands get there. If you only put out three records in 20 years, so be it! [Laughs.]

Continue reading "The Wrens played 'Meadowlands' & another two special shows @ Maxwell's in Hoboken - pics "

The Wrens @ Sasquatch 2009 (more by Chris Graham)

Howdy,

Just dropping to our own electronic ghost town to say that we've added a third show for our 20th anniversary / mirthday shindig - an early show for Friday, Dec. 4th at 7:30. In keeping with our theme of...um, having themes, this show will be the Meadowlands record, top-to-bottom. We'd tried setting this up last year to put that baby to bed, but it never really came together. This will be the one time you'll probably ever hear '13 months in 6 minutes' or whatever it is and 'ex-grille confection', although I think we tried that one live once. Anyway, thanks to the folks that requested this - very flattering.

Tickets here. More info on the other two shows [below].

And if you come by, maybe we'll pour some sherry and regale you with the story of the time we walked one end of Hoboken to the other, handing out demo tapes to every bar & club in town - including Maxwell's - in the hopes of securing one of the many lucrative live concert bookings that seemed just a lucky break away in the big city (that's Hoboken in this story). And how we were surprised to find most of the bars closed.

It turns out both that it was the evening of January 1st - you know, the day after the busiest tavern day of the year - and that we were jackasses. (It was also New Year's Day 1990 but that part of the story is more about how old we are, not how dumb we were.) And come to think of it, that pretty much is the story. Gaston, my son, it's not much of a story, true, but hey...

And forgot to mention that if you'll be attending the Dec. 3rd show, that also happens to be Kev's special birthday (starts with a 'four', rhymes with 'sporty'). And hilariously or sadly, depending, he's the baby of the band. Tempted to say BYOCake but if we get it together we'll have some there.

As always, thanks,

the wrens

As it says above, tickets are now on sale for the third Wrens show at Maxwell's where they'll be playing "Meadowlands" from start to finish (Feelies style). The new show is an early show happening before one of the two previously announced shows (two shows in one night - Pixies style) which are now both sold out.

If you bought a ticket to one of the other two shows already, be warned that "one show will be all-request old wrens songs, one will be all new songs". That quote is taken from the letter the Wrens posted to their website last week. The letter also includes instructions on how to send in your your requests. You can read it below...

Continue reading "The Wrens add 3rd Maxwell's show, playing Meadowlands start to finish, old songs by request & new songs"

Tickets are on sale now for shows on December 3rd and December 4th.

The Wrens @ Sasquatch Festival on 5/24 (more by Chris Graham)

In the fall of 2008, after a comprehensive proposal process with New York City, Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG) and The People's Firehouse, Inc. (PFI), were awarded the rights to re-develop the former Engine Company 212 firehouse. Located at 134 Wythe Avenue, in the Northside section of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the firehouse will now become home to both NAG and The People's Firehouse. Both organizations have historically served with dedicated action and activism while continually shaping North Brooklyn to benefit the diverse and vibrant community.

The newly redesigned building will become the Northside Town Hall Community and Cultural Center, and so much more...

This show is in addition to the shows They Might Be Giants have coming up at the Museum of Natural History and NYU.

At the end of July, the Wrens celebrated (or "noted with a website post") their 20th anniversary as a band. The full story on that, with a link to the commemorative t-shirt they made, is below...

Continue reading "Charles Bissell of the Wrens (who are 20), They Might Be Giants & Nada Surf (acoustic) playing a NTHCCC benefit"

photos by Chris Graham

The Wrens

"Some major changes have been made to the lay-out of the [Sasquatch] festival. The medium-sized stage (Wookie Stage) had been moved, as had the small stage (Yeti Stage) to make room for the new Comedy/Dance Tent. It didn't take long to get used to that, though...

...[The Wrens] did most of the songs from "Meadowlands", their bassist/keyboardist Kevin Wheelan exhorted the crowd multiple times and climbed atop his amplifiers, and the guys played like their lives depended on doing the best they have ever done. Their approach to the music is, in a word, fierce. [VARIOUS ECSTASIES]

Continue reading "Sasquatch 2009 - Day 2 in pics "

photos by Tim Griffin

"I'm having a really hard putting this show into words. I mean, how do you begin to write about being invited on stage to play a song with The Wrens at their sold out show on a Friday night in NYC? Seriously, what words can communicate that?

The words "thank you" come to mind first. Thank you to The Wrens. Thank you to Naomi for passing along my email to the band. Thank you to Kevin for getting in touch with me and offering to give me 5th Wren status for a night. Thank you to the rest of the band for letting me step on your stage. Thank you to the crowd at the Bell House for being so awesome." [100 Bands in 100 Days]

Continue reading "The Wrens (and friend) & Amazing Baby @ the Bell House in Brooklyn - pics "

The Wrens @ Radio Room in Austin (BV day pary) - March 2009

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Blowoff @ Highline Ballroom
* Crookers @ Webster Hall
* Ben Sollee @ Le Poison Rouge
* Kris Kristofferson @ The Concert Hall
* So Percussion, Matmos, PLOrk @ The Kitchen
* The Faint, Ladytron, Telepathe @ Webster Hall
* Joe Jack Talcum (of Dead Milkmen) @ Fontana's
* The Wooden Birds, Lymbyc System @ Mercury Lounge
* The Wrens, Amazing Baby, Overload @ The Bell House
* Young Love, US Royalty @ The Studio at Webster Hall
* the Jenny Scheinman Trio (w/ Nels Cline @ Blue Note)
* The Beets, Beachniks, Eleanor, Air Waves, Gutsies @ Glasslands
* Superdrag, Aberdeen City, Cassavettes @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Grand Mal, The Bloodsugars, Spacecamp, Mitten Fields @ Public Assembly
* Living Days, Gates of Heaven, Shannon of !!!, Patrick Cleandenim @ Coco 66
* Little Gold, Aimee (of Des Ark), Liza Kate, Out Like Limbs @ Death By Audio
* TK Webb & The Visions, Real Estate, Skeletons, Vaz, Necking @ Monster Island
* Ladytron (DJ), Tommie Sunshine, Depressed Buttons (Todd & Jacob of The Faint) @ LPR

What did you do last night?

Yeah Yeah Yeahs are playing Santos Sunday.

Dead Milkmen are playing Warsaw April 17th.

Happy Passover. Happy Easter. Happy Good Friday. Etc.

The new Peaches video, below...

The new St. Vincent video, below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

photos by Leia Jospe

These Arms Are Snakes / Thao / Daniel Johnston & Hymns

Thirteen bands were scheduled to play the BrooklynVegan / Agency Group day party in Austin on Thursday, March 19, 2009. Twelve ended up playing - one of them twice. I think the story is that The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, who had a zillion other shows also scheduled during the SXSW week, got confused about what their set time was. For that reason (and traffic), they showed up too late to go on in their slot. Instead, The Wheel, who was our last-minute addition as opener on the inside stage, immediately went outside and played a second set on the larger outdoor stage in the late band's place. We got at least one "boo" when the "scheduling mixup" was announced, but what could we do? (sorry!) It was awesome of the Wheel to fill on a moment's notice. Hopefully the people outside enjoyed him after they got over the awkwardness. I didn't watch his second set, but he sounded amazing inside.

Due to overlap on the two stages, it was hard to see everyone that played the party. The most painful two decisions were Cursive or the Wrens, and These Arms or Snakes or Daniel Johnston. I think we originally had it worked out a little better in terms of that, but the main stage started to run late. I went back and forth and caught pieces of as much as I could (and all of Daniel).

Thanks to everyone who came!

Leia managed to catch 8 of the 12 bands (she missed The Wheel, Avett Brothers, New Villager and Au Revoir Simone). Her pictures are below...

Continue reading "BV day party @ Radio Room in Austin - pics by Leia "

Passion Pit & The Wrens @ the BV party @ Radio Room - yesterday (3/19/2009)

Three down, one to go - by that I mean BrooklynVegan parties at SXSW this year. The pictures above come from yesterday's epic day party at Radio Room. Today, Friday March 20th, stop by Habana Calle for a six-hour, free taste of Norway and Sweden, and/or consider checking out the Dickies Battle of the Bands that Black Bubblegum is judging. If a Battle of the Bands is not your thing I understand, but now consider that they've announced that GZA, in addition to co-judging, will be also performing at the show WITH the Black Lips.

DOWNLOAD: The Donkeys - Walk Through A Cloud (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Donkeys - Nice Train (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Wallpaper remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Come Saturday (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daniel Johnston - Honey I Sure Miss You (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daniel Johnston - Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Your Grievances
DOWNLOAD: These Arms Are Snakes - Red Line Season (MP3)

This free BrooklynVegan show takes place on two stages at Radio Room in Austin, Texas this Thursday afternoon, March 19, 2009 from noon-6pm. Set times, more info, and answers to (hopefully) all FAQ's below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn Vegan & Agency Group Austin day party lineup"

Kevin Whelan, Charles Bissell, Jerry MacDonald, Greg Whelan

CHARLES BISSELL OF THE WRENS: Well, there are so many easy jokes about how I'm perpetually a year or two behind music. I've not heard from so many of the current bands. You mentioned Fleet Foxes, I think I've only heard 3 or so songs by them, and that's because I saw them on Conan or something once. Part of me thinks, like you were saying, there's a bit of that nostalgia factor. I mean, really all music sounds like something that came before, but as you said, if you're not in that phase that most people eventually go into, that transition where they're going into finding your own music, which happens in your teens or early 20's or whatever. If you're not that way, it's hard not to become that crotchety old Muppet in the balcony, listening to Vampire Weekend and saying, "Oh, we liked that the first time...when we called it Graceland!" It's harder to get excited about stuff, but it's really cool to see people are getting excited about it.

Continue reading "The Wrens playing the Bell House & a BV SXSW day party"

Ryan Adams @ MSG (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Patton Oswalt @ Caroline's
* The Toasters @ Highline Ballroom
* Matisyahu & friends @ the Bell House
* Ryan Adams & the Cardinals @ Wellmont Theater

I can't vouch for its authenticity, but someone started SaveDaptone.org to raise money for the record label that was just majorly robbed.

Tonight is the Academy Awards.

Depeche Mode will be here in August.

The Thermals will be here in May.

If there are still tickets, there won't be for long for the Wrens show happening at Bowery Ballroom on March 13th. I'll also say for the first time, that you can catch the Wrens at the BrooklynVegan day party happening at Radio Room in Austin, TX on March 19th (full lineup details coming soon). Check out the new video for "Marked Up", their "still-kinda-new song", below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday? (besides the Oscars)"

Jane's Addiction - @ Echoplex, Los Angeles - Feb 16, 2009 (revolute)

Live Nation and Adam Zacks are pleased to announce this year's line up for the Sasquatch! Music Festival at the legendary Gorge in Eastern Washington. The festival, now in its eighth and most ambitious year yet, has evolved from a unique, homegrown & low key fest into a full blown three day extravaganza. A festival-goer's dream, it comes complete with camp-outs, canyons, sunsets, three stages and new this year, an expanded comedy and dance music tent. The tent will feature performances from comedians throughout the day, and then come dusk, will spotlight electronic and dance music artists.

Already the official opener to summer for music fans, the Sasquatch! Music Festival is becoming a certified monster of a musical event: this year features another exciting and diverse line-up for the musically adventurous, and ups the ante on an event already hailed for its independent spirit. Tickets go on sale Saturday February 28th at 10AM

Today it was announced that Jane's (feat. all four original members), NIN, Kings of Leon, Ben Harper & Relentless7, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Erykah Badu, The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, TV On The Radio, Animal Collective, Silversun Pickups, Bon Iver, Santigold, and many others are playing this year's Sasquatch Festival (May 23, 24, 25, 2009 @ The Gorge in Quincy, WA). Full lineup and ticket info below...

Continue reading "Jane's Addiction played LA, headlining SASQUATCH Festival (which just announced most of the 2009 LINEUP)"

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Wrens / Titus Andronicus / Bell show at Bowery Ballroom.

Tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the Camera Obscura show at Mercury Lounge.

Tickets are on Am Ex presale (@ noon) for the Bronx show at Bowery Ballroom, and tickets are on sale (@ noon) for the show at Maxwell's.

Icy Demons are playing Mercury Lounge on February 25th. Tickets are on sale.

Tickets are on Am Ex presale (@ noon) for the Lucero / Titus Andronicus show at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

As you know, The Wrens are back. They're playing SXSW in March, AND they're playing Bowery Ballroom right before that - on March 13th with Titus Andronicus, Bell and We Were Promised Jetpacks. The NYC show is a benefit for KEXP. Tickets go on sale Wednesday at noon.

We here at Absolutely Kosher Records are practically peeing in our pants with excitement to officially announce the commencement of recording for The Wrens fourth full length album. To kick off recording the band is offering up the new single, "Pulled Fences" digitally (available as of today!!!!). "Pulled Fences" was recorded at the historic and incomparable Abbey Road Studios for WORLDSPACE satellite radio in London, England and marks the first time since 1999 that Charles, Kevin, Jerry and Greg were in one room working on new music together.

Additionally, 2009 marks The Wrens' 20th anniversary as a band. Throughout The Wrens' 20 years together it has been a secret challenge that if they we were ever able to play in a setting that seemed rather important like lets say, ABBEY ROAD!.... That they would have the guts to make up a brand new song on the spot... and that is exactly what happened with "Pulled Fences". Keep in mind that this was a pretty precarious undertaking, given that the song was being broadcast over the internet, video-taped, and there was a small live audience in the room. Kevin had written "Pulled Fences" ahead of time, but Charles, Greg and Jerry had never seen the chords, or heard the song. What you hear in "Pulled Fences" is a first take. It was rather risky to say the least... which of course, made it that much better.

"Pulled Fences" is available now at The Wrens brand spanking new website, Absolutely Kosher Records brand spanking new website, iTunes and Amazon.com. The album is schedule for release in late spring. And by "scheduled," we mean...fingers crossed...

It was only just now while at JagJaguwar's site looking at the new Bon Iver EP did I realize they were coming out with a 7" called Will Sheff Covers Charles Bissell, Charles Bissell Covers Will Sheff. Will and Charles played a show together last night at Music Hall of Williamsburg, and they'll play another one together, tonight/Friday, at Sound Fix.

Will Sheff - 2008 Tour Dates
Dec 10 - Other Music in-store, NY, NY (8pm)
Dec 11 - Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
Dec 12 - Sound Fix Records, Brooklyn, NY (8pm)

All dates below...

Continue reading "Will Sheff - updated 2008 Tour Dates (again) (Sound Fix)"

DOWNLOAD: AC Newman - There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Okkervil River - Lost Coastlines (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Wrens - Surprise, Honeycomb (MP3)

Okkervil River (Will Sheff) @ Lollapalooza 2008 (more by Bao Nguyen)

Okkervil River's Will Sheff will be playing a solo show at Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on December 11th. Joining him on the bill is another great indie rock frontman, Charles Bissell of the Wrens, and Bird of Youth who are a Brooklyn band whose debut album (not out yet) was produced by Will (also, according to Wikipedia, "In college, Sheff originally wanted to be a filmmaker. He is currently dating Beth Wawerna of Bird of Youth"). Tickets for the Brooklyn show are on sale (at noon).

Bird of Youth also have another Brooklyn show coming up even sooner, with, ANOTHER indie rock frontman gone solo, The New Pornographers' AC Newman. That one is, as previously annnounced, at the Bell House on November 15th. Bird of Youth posted the info that, "rounding out the b.o.y. line-up for this show is: beth wawerna, clinton newman, johnny north, ira elliot and timothy bracy." Continuing with the frontman theme, you may recognize the name Timothy Bracy. He was the man behind the vocals in The Mendoza Line. And is Clinton Newman related to Carl (AC)?

The AC MP3 above is from AC's new album, Get Guilty, out January 20th on Matador.

There are two videos below. The first is Clinton, Timothy and Beth (aka a trio version of Bird of Youth) performing Okkervil River's "Pop Lie". The second is Will and AC performing Okkervil's "Lost Coastlines" (MP3 for the same song above too). Okkervil and everyone's tour dates down there too..

Continue reading "Will Sheff, Charles Bissell, Bird of Youth, Timothy Bracy, AC Newman & Clinton Newman - shows & videos"

The Capstan Shafts @ Stannard Church, Stannard VT, 10/6/07 (tasrepus)

"On October 6th, Dean Wells (aka the Capstan Shafts) played his first-ever live show at a tiny church in Stannard, Vermont." [Matt LeMay, PitchforkMedia.com]

I think The Capstan Shafts then visited NYC soon after to play a small CMJ-related show. I have no idea what the Jandek-like Dean Wells has been doing since. Probably writing music...

With over 17 releases since 1999 (self-released under his own Ladder The Xmas Monkey and through labels such as Asaurus and Yellow Mica), describing The Capstan Shafts as steadily prolific would be an understatement. However, until now, there has never been a properly distributed release, although word on Wells' deliriously prodigious recordings has been percolating in the indie pop underground and building momentum with each new release. The band has signed to Rainbow Quartz in 2007 to release a brand new 29-track LP, environ maiden. (Think early GBV meets Lou Barlow with a dash of the entire Elephant 6 collective.)
[from an October 2007 press release]

"To celebrate the 34th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood of New York City is pleased to partner with the Wrens and other guest bands (Takka Takka & The World Without Magic) for a benefit concert at the Knitting Factory on January 19, 2007."

Other Wrens tour dates at their site. Other Takka Takka tour dates at their site.