AOL Music has a new Interface with Britt Daniel of Spoon. It is worth checking out. I found this picture of Beatle Bob backstage on Spoon's website. I used to see that guy everywhere when I lived in St. Louis. I can't really believe that he found a show to see every night. He was always dancing and he was always up front. I don't know anybody who could touch his consecutive show record.
Out of all of the recommended shows for this week, none could be a better value than the all Barsuk line-up of The Long Winters, Menomena, and What Made Milwaukee Famous at Bowery Ballroom. This show is only $13 (adv. tix) for three bands, all worth seeing separately.
John Roderick of The Long Winters is very quick on his toes and his stage banter is half of the show. That is probably why he did a solo thing at Revenge of the Book Eaters. Anyway he was funny at Mercury; he will probably be funny at Bowery. Their new album is pretty good too.
Pushover (MP3)
Carparts (MP3)
Menomena is another Pacific Northwest band but these guys make pop melodies fueled by hip-hop drums. In recording those songs they sample their own drums, rearrange it, and then rerecord the sequence live. I love some funky drums and prefer a drummer actually playing them. Jerry Yeti says they will have the Wet and Rusting EP for sale since their new album will not be ready till 2007.
Sista Social Theme ... (MP3)
What Made Milwaukee Famous just released a remastered version of their album. The tracks with the dancier aspects of Spoon are quite fun. Being from Austin, obviously they are making a reference to beer rather than themselves in the band name. If that is not enough to get you to the show then I don't know what is.
IDecide (MP3)
Sweet Lady (MP3)
Also in addition to these MP3s, the Barsuk online store has more songs from bands that "put out" recently. If you have not heard this stuff you could make yourself a little mixtape. I would recommend checking out this new stuff: Viva Voice, John Vanderslice, Starlight Mints, Smoosh, Jim Noir, and Mates of State.
As Heart On A Stick pointed out O'Death is playingback-to-back nights this week. Don't worry I am sure there is plenty of whiskey to go around. Next Tuesday they are also at The Empty Vessel Project, I sure hope that show starts at 8pm because Entrance is also at Cake Shop. But I am getting ahead of myself. This week is crammed full of good music. It seems like I will be spending some QT at Town Hall.
TUESDAY 9/26
Of Montreal / Jamie Lidell @ Irving Plaza
Beg Yr Pardon 9 w/ O'Death / The Vandelles / Tiny Masters of Today / DraculaZombieUSA @ The Delancey - Bands at 8:00
Grizzly Bear / Dirty Projectors / Stars Like Fleas @ Bowery Ballroom
Nels Cline (of Wilco) @ Tonic - 8:00 & 10:00
WEDNESDAY 9/27
Gothamist Movable Hype 9.0 w/ O'Death / The Occasion / The Big Sleep / The Rogers Sisters @ Spiegeltent
Regina Spektor @ Town Hall
Nathan Asher & The Infantry @ Knitting Factory
Ladytron / CSS @ Webster Hall
You Say Party We Say Die! @ Piano's
THURSDAY 9/28
Be Your Own Pet / Black Lips @ Bowery Ballroom
Ladytron / CSS @ Webster Hall
Fishbone @ CBGB
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah / Architecture in Helsinki / Takka Takka @ Central Park Summer Stage
FRIDAY 9/29
Be Your Own Pet / Black Lips @ Southpaw
Sufjan Stevens / My Brightest Diamond @ Town Hall - Sold Out
The Long Winters / Menomena / What Made Milwaukee Famous @ Bowery Ballroom
Young Blood Brass Band @ Northsix
SATURDAY 9/30
Sufjan Stevens / My Brightest Diamond @ Town Hall - Sold Out
Mountain Goats @ Bowery Ballroom - Sold Out
Mates of State @ Irving Plaza
SUNDAY 10/1
Mountain Goats @ Bowery Ballroom
The Hold Steady @ Irving Plaza
Water Cooler Gossip is back in action. Last week we were really busy trying to finalize the details on our unofficial CMJ party, which we will announce later this week. Here are some thoughts on shows that happened in the past few days (ice ages in blogger years). Travel with me backwards in time.
9/25 :: Bowery Ballroom
Sunset Rubdown tried to create an intimate show at Bowery with the lamps. Spencer modestly talked about how they had never played the club, which he probably said for Wolf Parade too. I was too far back to really see him sweat profusely maybe that was the reason for the low lighting. No covers this time but a very similar set list to Mercury Lounge.
9/22 :: Mercury Lounge
Favourite Sons was pretty good live. Apparently the lead singer Ken Griffin was in the 90's band Rollerskate Skinny. Since then he has be bartending but some fans approached him to come out of retirement and form a new band. Thus you have new band that sounds like they have been around the block. Ken is quite the crooner.
9/21 :: Mercury Lounge
The Big Sleep had their record release party at Mercury Lounge. I like the huge name sign they hung in the back but I wish it also flashed with the floodlights. That is not even really a complaint but something to work on for the future. You can really get lost in the drone of their songs. I also saw The Science of Sleep the day before that and this Sleep was much better.
9/21 :: The Annex
Ra-Ra Riot was full of strings. The crowd loved them too. I did not get to see the whole set but the crowd thankfully cheer and encore out of them. Sam Champion was also good per usual. Yay ASCAP, whatever they do.
9/18 :: Cake Shop
A Place To Bury Strangers was loud. At the end of the show they killed the Christmas lights in Cake Shop and cut on a strobe. This thing flashed for so long I had to close me eyes and watched weird light patterns for like five minutes. During the applause somebody from the crowd said "Great. Now I'm deaf and blind." Ha. The strangers are buried behind thick walls of sound. My Best Fiend played as well. Similar wall but they made better use of electronic drums.
9/17 :: Cake Shop
This side project was just bad. No names shall be mentioned.
9/16 :: East River Amphitheater
The East River Music Project is a really nice idea. I am all for free shows in that neighborhood then $2 dumplings. Too bad not many people showed up on that Saturday. There were people there but not enough to fill the stands. Professor Murder had a weird vocal effect problem on one of their songs that made Mike's voice sound like he was on helium. Good show for them despite nobody was dancing–broad daylight may have had something to do with this. Love as Laughter also had some catchy songs and their band took up the entire stage.
9/15 :: Maxwell's
Man Man brought the fake lady voices, pots and pan style percussion, double saxophones, and lots of face paint. There was not a dull moment in the show and when Man Man chanting was in order, the entire crowd joined in.
9/14 :: Sin-é
The FRICTION party hosted by Crackers United is always fun. Hearing Gabe of Takka Takka play that harmonica makes me feel good. Annuals have a million people in the band and two drummers. They made some jokes about Brooklyn even though they live in North Carolina. The lead singer was really wearing a robe.
9/13 :: Piano's
At The Grates show I learned that Patience likes to talk, John should grow a mustache, and Alana has puppy dog eyes. Patience is into both bouncing around on stage and twirling a 20ft ribbon on stick (magic wand?) in the crowd. Can you spot the Scientist?
Don't forget about the East River Music Project and the Freedom Fest 2. Lots of bands, all free, all day, for Manhattan and Brooklyn. At Freedom Fest I would check out Earl Greyhound and Dragons of Zynth. At ERMP I would check out Professor Murder, Love as Laughter, and White Magic. You could also check out the free Monster Island Arts & Music Festival this Saturday as well. Everything starts at 2pm and goes into the evening.
EAST RIVER MUSIC PROJECT
East River Amphitheater – Manhattan (directions), 2pm, Saturday.
* White Magic
* Love As Laughter
* Professor Murder
* Home
* The End Of The World
FREEDOM FEST 2
The Hook – Brooklyn (directions), 2pm, Saturday.
Two stages with performances by:
*Earl Greyhound
*Vague Angels
*The Gang
*Smyer
*The Assault
*My Pet Dragon
*Pillow Theory
*Vermafug
*Suzan Hurtuk Band
*Dragons of Zynth
*Basement Band
*Honky Tonk Happy Hour
*Rockwell Rockwellian
Yes, I waited in the long line to see The Rapture for free yesterday at the Apple Store. What is wrong with this picture? This early in the set before "House of Jealous Lovers." The show was good but in an odd space and full of an odd combination of people. More thoughts at House of Product.
Chromeo played a packed show at Cake Shop last Thursday. Dave1, singer/guitarist, is about to head off to France for a year so this show was a farewell party. Pee Thugg, keyboardist/robot, wears the talk box hose like a loop of ammunition. They played their songs about girls from She's In Control and a few new ones (also mostly about girls). All the hip-hoppers were in the house to once again rep for irony. But I think a new line has been drawn and Chromeo is no longer what you thought it was, not that they lost their sheen or anything.
Brooklyn's Matt & Kim played somewhere in the middle of the Todd P Big Out Of Doors Show II on Saturday. Kim bangs on the drums; Matt bangs on the keys. I think it helped that by the time Matt & Kim went on, the show had surprisingly moved inside. There is something more encouraging about pushing somebody when you know that if they fall, they will hit the floor rather than the rough concrete. On the first bang, we all had that same idea to bodycheck our neighbor. Until my very last ounce of strength on their last song, I happily crashed into the people around me and they bounced back. Friendly pushing is nothing new but I was not expecting it. I have not had that much fun dancing all summer.
To hear Matt & Kim you should really see them live or go check out their website. For a mental picture now think Mates of State keys and pep + The Thermals fuzz and attitude - the female vocals x Brooklyn ≤ A good description of Matt & Kim. Or just download these two songs I have been obsessing over lately. Both of these will supposedly be on their upcoming album but get their EP To/From if you can find it.
Matt & Kim are going on an east coast tour with King Tuff. Find the full dates after the jump.
DOWNLOAD
Matt & Kim - Silver Tiles
Matt & Kim - Yea Yeah
PS - I lost the shaky pictures I took at the show but this one from their flickr at some other outdoor show will do.
MATT & KIM TOUR DATES
9/13 - PROVIDENCE, RI @ Girlhaus
9/14 - BRATTLEBORO, VT @ Vegetable Street
9/15 - BOSTON, MA @ lilypad
9/16 - PHILADELPHIA, PA @ 924 S 12TH st.
9/17 - COLLEGE PARK, MD @ 3130 South Campus Dining Hall
9/18 - RICHMOND, VA @ The Bonezone
9/20 - NORFOLK, VA @ Relative theory records
9/21 - KNOXVILLE, TN @ Old Radio station
9/22 - ATHENS, GA @ Secret Squirl
9/23 - SAVANNAH, GA @ DeSoto Row Gallery
9/24 - ST. AUGUSTINE, FL @ Fort Booyah
9/26 - PENSACOLA, FL @ sluggos
9/28 - MOBILE, AL @ Satori Sound
9/29 - NEW ORLEANS, LA @ the couch haus
9/30 - LAKE JACKSON, TX @ waiting for address
10/1 - HOUSTON, TX @ the proletariat
10/2 - SAN ANTONIO, TX @ tba
10/3 - AUSTIN, TX @ Flamingo Cantina
10/4 - FT WORTH, TX @ 1919 hemphill
10/5 - LITTLE ROCK, AR @ Tree house
10/6 - LOUISVILLE, KY @ 1617 Story ave
10/7 - BLOOMINGTON, IN @ Hospital
10/8 - CINCINATTI, OH @ 634 Philadelphia St.
10/9 - MADISON, WI @ tba
10/10 - CHICAGO, IL @ tba
10/12 - KALAMAZOO, MI @ rocketstar
10/13 - STATE COLLEGE, PA @ tba
Don't forget about the DeVotchKa shows at Spiegeltent this Friday and Saturday night. Come hear the stutter of the horns on their dark drinking ballads. And at what better place than a circus tent. There might even still be time to enter the Product Shop DeVotchKa Haiku Contest. Remember 5-7-5.
DEVOTCHKA UPCOMING SHOWS
Sept. 8 - Spiegeltent
Sept. 9 - Spiegeltent
Also get a free poster when you buy (or pre-order) the album that drops 9/12 at these shops.
VIDEO VIA AOL MUSIC
TV on The Radio - Wolf Like Me
So obviously today seems a little late to talk about the VMAs. But these two Gawker videos sum the awards up best. Nobody cares who won or who who performed. It is too bad there isn't somebody who appears in both videos for a rockstar hairdo and a gold grill.
Links to the original Gawker post: hair / bling.
Austin's Explosions In The Sky performed at Bowery Ballroom Saturday Night. These instrumental rockers put on the type of show that might be just as enjoyable with your eyes closed. The band rarely opened theirs. Some have called their shows life changing epic journeys through sound and I imagine these are the same people who were shouting "You Rock!" at a crucial quiet moment. Who knows if they were talking about a change for the better or the worse? I can't tell you if my life was changed from that show but at least I've still got my health. More thoughts a pictures of people at Product Shop.
Spank Rock was the last headliner at the JellyNYC free shows at McCarren Park Pool on Sunday afternoon. Gang Gang Dance also performed. Lots of people were dancing on stage by the end of the show. MIA made a surprise appearance for one song at the end of Spank Rock's set. More at Product Shop.
Have your mind blown here. This Saturday.
Also don't forget about Motherfucker with The Cramps on Sunday Night.
Enjoy the long weekend.
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Please do not link directly to any of these tracks.
