words & photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

Last night, election night, I made my way to The Bell House in Park Slope/Gowaus for what was sure to be a nervously excited crowd counting down the minutes until the new president was announced. I've only been to The Bell House once, but I can't imagine that the new venue has ever been more packed than it was last night. People came out in masse for the election coverage - so much so that they even turned people away at the door. I think I heard 500 people. Watching an election in a large group of like-minded individuals like that was truly overwhelming - especially when they announced Virginia and a bunch of people jumped on stage and gave everyone a beer shower.

After Obama gave his acceptance speech, things didn't calm down. Host Eugene Mirman said a few words congratulating our first "half-white president," and introduced The Blue Album Group, who rocked out, pretty much note for note, Weezer's Blue Album. Though a lot of people went home, those that were left drunkenly danced and celebrated. After the last note of "Only in Dreams" rang out, I grabbed a quesadilla from the Red Hook soccer field vendors - another big draw of the evening. It was delicious.

More pictures below...

Continue reading "election night in Brooklyn w/ Eugene Mirman & The Blue Album Group @ the Bell House - pics"

The World Wakes Up To M.I.A.
"Paper Planes" Enters Top Five; How Many Votes Fix Mix Released
M.I.A. Takes On World
Opens School; Starts Label; Launches Clothing Line

"Everyone's a winner now, we're making that fame/Bona fide hustler, making my name."
As it turns out, "Paper Planes" is no mere smash, it's also a proven prophecy. Over a year after the release of Kala, M.I.A.'s playful boast has become reality.
BANG! BANG! BANG!

Continue reading "MIA 'takes On world', starts label, releases Vote Fix Mix, etc"

somewhere in NYC, frighteningprospect.com (pic by mediafury)

today in NYC
* Dance
* Election-related events
* Mr Lif @ Knitting Factory
* Clues @ Exit Art Gallery
* The Black Crowes @ Town Hall
* Woods, MV & EE @ Death By Audio
* Keren Ann & Avishai Cohen @ Joe's Pub
* Rival Schools, Innaway & The King Left @ Maxwell's

Diplo will be playing on Current TV. Eugene Mirman is hosting at the Bell House. Patton Oswalt is live-blogging for Comedy Central. John Zorn is playing Judson Church.

Fred "Sonic" Smith of MC5 died today in 1994.

Do you know where you're supposed to vote?

Daft (Punk) the Vote. Video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday? (Election Day)"

"Indeed, I will be liveblogging the election coverage for four hours. Four fucking hours of me scanning through all the election coverage -- the three majors, MSNBC, FOX, CNN and, God help me, PBS. Why not drop by at INDECISION 2008? Would it kill you?* (*If it would literally kill you, please don't)" [Patton Oswalt]

For more election-related ideas on how to spend this evening, check out our own full list (and don't forget to look in the comments for even more).

Ben Stiller, Beastie Boys, Diplo, Santogold and others appear in the official Get Out and Vote video below...

Continue reading "Patton Oswalt & Diplo doing live election stuff tonight"

David Byrne @ the Paramount, Austin, TX (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Pardon the bulk mailing. I Can't Vote. I am an immigrant with a Green Card and, therefore, I am not eligible to vote in a federal election. ... On Election Day, I see my neighbors heading to the nearby elementary school to cast their ballots. The voting booth joint is a great leveler; the whole neighborhood - rich, poor, old, young, decrepit and spunky - they all turn out in one day.

But most of you can vote. What can I say? The Republicans have made us less safe than before 9/11, bankrupted this economy, started an illegal war they can't - and don't intend to - finish, removed what sympathy (after 9/11) and respect the world had for the US, and have robbed US citizens of many of their basic rights.

Global warming? What's that? Science and education? Investment in our future? No, thanks - we'll stick with a good 'ole hockey mom. Ignorant, and fucking proud of it, as is always the case.

Although it looks like a shoo-in, it ain't over 'til Florida. And there are plenty of racists in this country who will vote against their own best interests. So please, get to your local elementary school, post office, town hall, or whatever, and cast your vote and make this a country we can all be proud of. We can get out of this mess, and life can be better than it is.

David Byrne
NYC

Download the 2CD "ultra-limited release of the David Byrne live bootleg "'Stop Wearing Suits'" at this RapidShare link.

And in semi-related news, the Talking Heads song "Once in a Lifetime" appears in the trailer of the Oliver Stone movie "W". You can watch that video below...

Continue reading "David Byrne played NJ (setlist), says vote (though he can't)"

photos by Bao Nguyen

Obama supporter Saul Williams wrote an election day poem. Listen to him read it in the video below..

Continue reading "Saul Williams' election poem (video) ++ Lollapalooza pics "

Trent @ the Izod Center (more by Zach Dilgard)

From: Nine Inch Nails [mailto:no-reply@nin.com]
Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2008 10:15 PM
To: ###@####.###
Subject: *Important* Regarding Tuesday's Election

Next Tuesday [Today] we will elect the next President of the United States. The result will have great consequences for the nation.

This election offers a choice between two men with dramatically different visions of the future. We have strong feelings about this choice. But we feel even more strongly that all Americans, regardless of political preference, have a stake in the outcome and should vote in this critical election.

This is likely to be a close election. Your vote matters. Please use it and make a difference.

Sincerely,
Trent Reznor

Beastie Boys m- Get out the Vote Tour - Milwaukee, WI (eytonz)

When the song ended and both audience and artists caught their breath, Mixmaster Mike donned a cheesy Uncle Sam Hat and the "Get Out And Vote" logo flashed on the video screens. An energetic (and skinny) Mike D. shed his green button-down sweater and addressed the fans, thanking them for coming out and encouraging them to vote this Tuesday.

"We're doing big things on this stage," he said with conviction and to applause, adding that the tour's been fun -- unlike the last 8 years of politics. "I voted absentee at home and personally, I voted for Barack Obama." Then they asked the audience to throw their hands up in the shape of 'O' for Obama, kicking off a set of tracks from Ill Communication with "Flute Loop," "Alright Hear This" and an amazing live version of "Sure Shot," Ad Rock's robust energy carrying the set. [Minneapolis City Pages]

Today is the last day to register to vote in some states, so hurry.

Built to Spill @ ATP NY (more by Zach Dilgard)

today in NYC
* FREE
* DANCE
* Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival
* Motel Motel @ Pete's Candy Store
* The Bad Plus @ The Village Vanguard
* Joan Osborne @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* The Phenomenal Handclap Band @ Tribeca Grand
* Dressy Bessy & The Coast @ Arlene's Grocery
* Adventure, Future Islands & WZT Hearts @ Crash Mansion
* Rachel Yamagata & Kevin Devine @ Joe's Pub
* Tokyo Police Club, Mobius Band @ Maxwell's
* Built To Spill, Meat Puppets & Dinosaur Jr @ Terminal Five
* Dame Satan, The Child Ballads & Callers @ Glasslands
* Joan As Police Woman, The Pierces, Violet @ Bowery Ballroom
* Steve Earle (solo and acoustic), Allison Moorer @ Judson Memorial Church
* Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, B. Dolan, Metermaids @ Mercury Lounge
* Willie Nelson, Jakob Dylan & The Gold Mountain Rebels @ Radio City Music Hall

Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham died on this day in 1980. He was 32.

Murs says Rock the Vote. video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Such tumultuous times. And in the spirit of giveaways that seem to be sweeping the nation, we've got something free for you. No it's not a pile of cash (sorry) but rather an audio postcard of sorts from a summer's night in Oregon with our friends the Fleet Foxes & a lovely Bob Dylan tune. All we ask is you check the "I pledge to vote in the 2008 Election" button below. If you can spare it, we also encourage you to consider a donation to Feeding America . (and please feel free to pass this link along to friends, family members, etc.). [WILCO]

Fleet Foxes have two NYC shows coming up too.

photos by Chris La Putt

Stella Hosted, Nina Persson, Alberta Cross, OK Go & Joan as Policewoman played

Paul Rudd also showed up at the event. More photos & videos below...

Continue reading "Shudder To Think reunited @ Get Up & Vote @ Bowery"

DOWNLOAD: Craig Wedren - Poolkiss (MP3)

Craig Wedren & Angela McCluskey @ Ars Nova, Dec 1, 2007 (CRED)

* VOTE tomorrow
* or Register to Vote
* Exodus & Goatwhore @ BB King's
* Death Vessel & Thao Nguyen @ Knitting Factory
* Barack Rock hosted by Stella w/ Craig Wedren, OK GO & more
* The Slits play Webster Hall for Chloe Sevigney (RSVP may be necessary)

Craig Wedren, Stella and the rest of the cast of tonight's sold-out Barack Rock show at Bowery Ballroom reminded me to remind you to get up and vote tomorrow. In honor of that, Craig gave us a brand spankin' new MP3 that you can download at the top of this post, and Dangle & Junior of Reno 911 recorded some special video messages that you can watch below. What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday? (Craig Wedren, Stella, vote, MP3)"

Craig Wedren @ Pianos, NYC (BV CMJ), NYC - Oct 20, 2007 (Bao)

Craig Wedren helped put together this "Get Up And Vote" show at Bowery Ballroom on February 4th. All his friends from Stella will be there, his former bandmate Nathan Larson, Nathan's wife Nina Persson, Joan as Policewoman, AND: OK GO (of YouTube fame) are headlining. More details below.....

Continue reading "Barack Obama "Get up and Vote" show @ Bowery Ballroom"