Ladybug Transistor

Bill's Indie Basement (6/12): the week in classic indie, college rock, and more

This week in the Basement: reviews of new albums from Savages’ Jehnny Beth, Drab Majesty, Built to Spill (Daniel Johnston tribute), Let’s Wrestle’s Wesley Gonzalez, and more.

Bill's Indie Basement (7/27): the week in classic indie, college rock, and more

This week: Swervedriver’s best and least heard album gets a much-deserved reissue; plus Anna Calvi, new Slumberland band Peel Dream Magazine; Chilean psych duo The Holydrug Couple; UK indiepop megagroup THe Fortuna Pop All-Stars, and more.

Kyle Forester (Crystal Stilts/Ladybug Transistor) shares 2nd single/video from new solo LP, playing NYC shows (1 free)

Ladybug Transistor and Crystal Stilts keyboardist Kyle Forester will release his self-titled solo album in May and he’s just released another song off it, “Didn’t Try to Run Away.” Kyle’s got a way with the kind of lightly-strummed guitar pop ofter associated with the early ’70s, and this is another good example of his talent. […]

Kyle Forester (Crystal Stilts, Ladybug Transistor) readies solo LP, shares "Won't Go Crazy Tonight," playing Cake Shop

You may know Kyle Forester as the affable, often wisecracking keyboardist for The Ladybug Transistor (and it’s offshoot O/R/F) and Crystal Stilts…

Still Flyin' released 'Perfect Future' (listen), on East Coast tour, play NYC tonight w/ mems of Love Is All, Ladybug Transistor

Led, San Francisco’s Still Flyin’ has been around since the mid-’00s, more a collective than a band and featuring a revolving lineup that has, over the years, included Jens Lekman, members of Love is All, The Aislers Set, Versus, Ladybug Transistor, Architecture in Helsinki, and other groups…

NYC Popfest 2014 Friday preview / streams (The Flatmates, My Favorite, Haywains, Bart & Friends) ++ unofficial shows

Night 2 of NYC Popfest happens at Knitting Factory (tickets) and is headlined by C-86 era UK band The Flatmates whose tight, hook-filled songwriting and loose, loud style — and a career that only saw them release singles and EPs, breaking up before they managed an album — makes them one of the quintessential ’80s UK indiepop bands…

NYC Popfest announces 2013 dates +++ belated pics of Allo Darlin', Ladybug Transistor & Wave Pictures from 2012

; words by Bill Pearis Save the dates, May 30 — June 2, 2013. That’s the weekend for the seventh annual NYC Popfest which will happen across multiple venues in NYC…

Chickfactor 20 @ the Bell House (night 3 pics/video/review) -- Stevie Jackson, Honey Bunch, The Softies & more

Belle & Sebastian’s Stevie Jackson is a genuine charmer. Headlining the final night of Chickfactor 20: For the Love of Pop at The Bell House, he did much of the set solo (and with a scraggly beard and a bushy head of hair, Jackson looked a lot like Angel from The Rockford Files) and held the crowd’s attention the whole time, performing a mix of Belle & Sebastian songs (not necesarilly his own), songs from his new solo album (I Can’t Get No) Stevie Jackson, and covers (including a surprisingly great take on Elton John’s “Rocket Man”). He’s …

Chinese government bans Jay-Z concert

“China has dropped Jay-Z‘s concert this month in Shanghai. Apparently the Culture Ministry wants to protect fans from the vulgar language in his songs…