29169
Timothy S. Griffin

Rain Machine played Bell House, doesn't have bed bugs, playing CMJ/Bowery Ballroom, is buds w/ Sharon Van Etten

DOWNLOAD: Rain Machine – Give Blood (MP3)

“Rain Machine” with TVOTR in Philly in June (more by Tim Griffin)
TVOTR

TV on the Radio has become an alternative-rock sensation, with a blend of musical styles that’s not only innovative but also brilliantly authentic. For vocalist/guitarist Kyp Malone (who just released the debut CD from his Rain Machine solo project), keeping it real, however, has its limits.

“It’s pretty old. It’s on the bedbug list,” Malone says, complaining about the prewar building in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where he’s lived in a one-plus-bedroom, sixth-floor walk-up for the past four years. “I’ve seen people cycle through. They spray and bomb and all the things you’re supposed to do, but it doesn’t work.”

Despite the building’s bedbug misfortune (a bullet he’s managed to dodge), the apartment, which Malone has shared since December with his artist girlfriend, Jessie, has served him well through multiple redecorations. [NY Post checks out Kyp Malone’s apartment]

Rain Machine played at the Bell House on September 21st with Sharon Van Etten and Candles of Paradise. Videos from that gig are below.

Kyp and Co. are currently on tour, working their way back from the West Coast. They’ll play a CMJ show on October 24th show at Bowery Ballroom. Again, they’ll have Sharon Van Etten opening, along with Violens, Imaad Wasif, Threes And Nines and Stricken City. Tickets are on sale Wednesday, September 30th.

There’s a reason Sharon Van Etten and Kyp Malone seem to keep showing up at the same gigs…

Van Etten went to college in Tennessee to study recording but dropped out after her first year. To take her music in a more serious direction and to reconnect with her family, Van Etten moved to New York City. It was there that she hooked up with TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone, whose brother was a close friend of hers in high school. The connection proved fruitful for Van Etten.

“[Kyp] ended up taking me under his wing,” says Van Etten, “introducing me to friends, and showing me new music that I didn’t know existed. If it wasn’t for him I probably would have played at a place called Zebulon, which is my favorite place in Williamsburg. I started playing more seriously and getting encouraged by people.” [Microphone Memory Emotion]

Sharon just played two nights in NYC with Great Lake Swimmers and The Wooden Birds (which unfortunately we lost pictures from due to a faulty memory card). She leaves that tour on October 3rd to join Rain Machine, who she’ll play with through October 25th.

Videos and tour dates are below…

Rain Machine: Give Blood Bell House, Brooklyn September 21, 2009

Rain Machine: Smiling Black Faces Bell House, Brooklyn September 21, 2009

Rain Machine – 2009 Tour Dates
Sep 28 The Independent San Francisco, California
Sep 30 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, Oregon
Oct 01 Neumos Seattle, Washington
Oct 02 The Biltmore Vancouver
Oct 09 Bottle Tree Birmingham, Alabama
Oct 10 One Eyed Jacks New Orleans, Louisiana
Oct 12 40 Watt Club Athens, Georgia
Oct 13 The Earl Atlanta, Georgia
Oct 15 High Noon Saloon Madison, Wisconsin
Oct 16 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, Minnesota
Oct 17 Double Door Chicago, Illinois
Oct 18 The Magic Stick Detroit, Michigan
Oct 19 Lee’s Place Toronto, Ontario
Oct 20 Il Motore Montreal, Quebec
Oct 22 Middle East Upstairs Cambridge, Massachusetts
Oct 23 Johnny Brenda’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Oct 24 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY
Oct 25 Black Cat Washington DC, Washington DC

Sharon Van Etten – 2009 Tour Dates
Sep 29 Johnny Brendas w/ Great Lake Swimmers, The Wooden Birds Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Oct 01 The Black Cat w/ Great Lake Swimmers, The Wooden Birds WASHINGTON, Washington DC
Oct 02 The ArtsCenter w/ Great Lake Swimmers, The Wooden Birds Carrboro, North Carolina
Oct 03 The Southern w/ Great Lake Swimmers, The Wooden Birds Charlottesville, Virginia
Oct 09 Bottle Tree w/ Rain Machine Brimingham, Alabama
Oct 10 One Eyed Jacks w/ Rain Machine New Orleans, Louisiana
Oct 12 40 Watt Club w/ Rain Machine Athens, Georgia
Oct 13 The Earl w/ Rain Machine Atlanta, Georgia
Oct 15 The Annex w/ Rain Machine Madison, Wisconsin
Oct 16 7th Street Entry w/ Rain Machine Minneapolis, Minnesota
Oct 17 Double Door w/ Rain Machine Chicago, Illinois
Oct 18 Magic Stick w/ Rain Machine Detroit, Michigan
Oct 19 Lee’s Palace w/ Rain Machine Toronto, Ontario
Oct 20 IL Motore w/ Rain Machine Montreal, Quebec
Oct 22 Middle East Upstairs w/ Rain Machine Cambridge, Massachusetts
Oct 23 Johnny Brendas w/ Rain Machine Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Oct 24 Bowery Ballroom w/ Rain Machine New York, New York
Oct 25 Black Cat Backstage w/ Rain Machine WASHINGTON, Washington DC