April 21, 2008

After The Jump Summer Fest



In a few short months, it will be Summer and that means the second annual After the Jump Fest! Bigger, better with even more acts and surprise guests, this year the festival takes place along side the city wide music event, Make Music New York (which itself is a part of the worldwide music phenomenon that takes place in 300 cities in 108 countries) on the first day of Summer, June 21st.

After the Jump Fest is the effort of 20 New York City music bloggers whose goal is to help new artists gain exposure while raising money for struggling school music programs. This year, After the Jump is teaming up with The Music Hall of Williamsburg and Galapagos Art Space for a festival stretching from noon until last call. In the next few months, After the Jump blogs will be making more announcements about the festival including new artists and pre-parties. Stay tuned . . .

AFTER THE JUMP IS ORGANIZED BY: themusicslut . batteringroom . disconap . earfarm . ryspace . irockiroll . merryswankster . softcommunication . theunderratedblog . sitdownstandup . watercoolergossip . bumpershine . themodernage . productshopnyc . subinev . punkphoto . poptartssucktoasted . stereoactivenyc . jinners

For press opportunities such as interviews with the organizers or bands, please contact publicity@afterthejumpfest.com. For sponsorship and all requests, contact producer Jennifer Kellas: jkellas@afterthejumpfest.com.

March 12, 2008

2008 SXSW Torrent File and Review of the Songs — All of Them

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sxsw_08.jpgThere is a legal torrent file of the 2008 SXSW participating bands floating around on the web (thanks to whoever made this), and Paul Ford has reviewed each of the 763 of the songs in exactly six words.

I don't 100% agree with some of his star ratings but the reviews are funny. However his star distribution chart showing 254 of 763 bands getting only one star (the please kill me rating) seems about right — because lots of bands out there just suck. The only thing that is missing is the a graph showing the amount of time he spent doing this (he says he listened to all the songs in full) and how that adds up for each star rating.

March 10, 2008

SXSW Countdown

So SXSW is almost here. After the Jump has a showcase and a party; the details are below. Don't miss out!

Friday 3/14, 7pm
The After the Jump Backyard @ 1204 Salina St. - East Side
Free and open to the public + Free beer and BBQ!

07:00 Laura Palmer
07:45 Senryu
08:30 The Physics of Meaning
09:15 Salt and Samovar
10:00 Oliver Future
10:45 These United States
11:30 The Lisps

Saturday 3/15, 2pm
The After the Jump Backyard @ 1204 Salina St. - East Side
Free and open to the public + Free beer and bbq!

02:15 Bell
03:00 Laura Gibson
04:00 Luke Temple
05:00 The Lisps
06:00 White Ghost Shivers
07:00 Jukebox the Ghost

Saturday 3/15, High Noon
ATJ/Indie Outlaw/Paper Garden Day Party @ Lucky Lounge 209 W 5th St
Free and open to the public
Open bar + BBQ and free shirts and bags courtesy of Speakerheart!

12:15 Peasant
01:00 The Pendletons
01:45 Darla Farmer
02:30 The Answering Machine
03:30 LoveLikeFire
04:15 Morning State
05:00 Cloud Cult

Saturday 3/15, 7:30pm
ATJ Official SXSW Evening Showcase @ Lambert's BBQ
401 W 2nd St

badges and limited tickets @ door

08:00 The Teenage Prayers
09:00 Care Bears On Fire
10:00 Neimo
11:00 Tigercity
12:00 Cassettes Won't Listen
01:00 Project Jenny, Project Jan

THESE SHOWS ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY (CHECK 'EM OUT):
Trak Image
Speakerheart
ASCAP
WOXY
BlogFresh Radio
BuzzFeed

AFTER THE JUMP IS ORGANIZED BY:
themusicslut . batteringroom . disconap . earfarm . ryspace . irockiroll . merryswankster . softcommunication . theunderratedblog . sitdownstandup . watercoolergossip . bumpershine . themodernage . productshopnyc . subinev . punkphoto . poptartssucktoasted . stereoactivenyc . jinners

February 08, 2008

Style Wars Director Tony Silver R.I.P.

Stylewars_cover.jpg

Tony Silver - co-director of Style Wars - died earlier this month. Tony, along with famed graffiti photographer Henry Chalfant created a serious documentary about graffiti and hip hop in the early eighties as it was happening. The movie is great because it covers graffiti in New York from all angles: the writers, their parents, the city, the commuters, the fine art world, and the hip hop world. The movie also captures the vibrancy of rapping, break dancing, DJing, and hip hop fashion at that time. It is probably best documentary about hip hop that I have ever seen. Also the opening title sequence is pretty good. (via The Daily Swarm)

January 16, 2008

Greenwood's Popcorn, Le Sac vs. Pip, Jack & Dummy, Best Haircut of 2007, and Unlikely Tours

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Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip (above) are coming back to New York for a headlineing show at Bowery Ballroom. I saw them at Mercury and while they had no instruments they were highly entertaining. But frankly, I am suprised the duo is playing there since they have yet to release an album.

Jonny Greenwood’s “Popcorn Superhet Receiver” will be performed by the Wordless Music Orchestra on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, Columbus Avenue at 60th Street. The New York Times has a writeup about both Wordless Music and Greenwood's classical composition. There has been some confusion about who is actually performing at the show but all that seems sorted now.

Jack Peñate is coming to New York this month. I think the proper way to say his last name is "pen-ya-tay" but I have also heard that "pen-ah-tay" is acceptable. You can read about him in the latest issue of Dummy. The print mag is available online.

Check out the latest issue of Fader to while you are reading print mags off of a screen, especially the party pics from their last issue release. You never know who you might see.

lightspeedchampion_hair.jpgLightspeed Champion, formerly of Test Icicles, has also planned a trip to New York in the spring. Since I did not do a best of list yet (never?) for this year, I will start with this one: Lightspeed Champion - Best Haircut of 2007. Yes he beats the Klaxons.

The Hatch—one of the first bands to be eliminated from America's Next Great Band—is playing Luna Lounge. I am not saying you should go but it is still funny you can book a tour off that.

Finally, the Army is looking for a "professional celebrity rock music band" tour Kuwait and Afghanistan. Read about the band's (if they find one) mission here.

Here is an updated show list with the additions in red.
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UPCOMING SHOWS
JANUARY

The Wordless Music Orchestra performing Jonny Greenwood’s “Popcorn Superhet Receiver” :: Church of St. Paul the Apostle :: Wed 1/16 & Thu 1/17
---
The Mugs / The Diggs / Mussels / Excellent :: Cake Shop :: Fri 1/18

Apes & Androids :: Mercury Lounge :: Sat 1/19 :: SOLD OUT
---
Jack Penate :: Mercury Lounge :: Tue 1/22 :: Also 1/23 @ Union Pool

The Hatch (see above) :: Luna Lounge :: Fri 1/25
---
The Teenagers :: Mercury Lounge :: Wed 1/30 :: Early Show

Vampire Weekend :: Bowery Ballroom :: Tue 1/29 & Wed 1/30 :: SOLD OUT

Karaoke Relapse with The Thermals :: Studio B :: Thu 1/31
---
FEBRUARY
Joanna Newsom :: BAM :: Fri 2/1 :: SOLD OUT

Hot Chip :: Highline Ballroom :: Sat 2/2 :: SOLD OUT

The Teenagers / Hot Chip DJ set :: Studio B :: Sat 2/2

Bang Camaro :: Music Hall of Williamsburg :: Sat 2/2
---
Robyn :: Highline Ballroom :: Tue 2/5

Nada Surf / Illinois :: Music Hall of Williamsburg :: Thu 2/7 :: Also 2/8 @ Bowery Ballroom :: SOLD OUT

Gallows :: Music Hall of Williamsburg :: Fri 2/8 :: Also 2/9 @ Bowery Ballroom

Liars / No Age :: Warsaw :: Sat 2/9

Jukebox The Ghost :: Union Hall :: Sat 2/9
---
White Williams / Ecstatic Sunshine :: Studio B :: Sun 2/10

No Age / High Places :: Venue TBA :: all ages :: Mon 2/11

Foals :: Bowery Ballroom :: Tue 2/12

Sufjan Stevens :: Carnegie Hall :: Wed 2/13

Yeasayer :: Bowery Ballroom :: Wed 2/13

Yeasayer :: Music Hall of Willaimsburg :: Thu 2/14 :: SOLD OUT

Sam Champion / Drug Rug :: Bowery Ballroom :: Fri 2/15

DJ Scottie B (Baltimore) / Dre Skull :: Silent Barn :: all ages :: Sat 2/16
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Friction Presents: The Big Sleep (Record Release!) / Sian Alice Group / Priestbird / Heavy Creatures :: Mercury Lounge :: Thu 2/21

The Magnetic Fields :: Town Hall :: Thu 2/21 – Sun 2/24 :: SOLD OUT

Bon Iver / Black Mountain :: Bowery Ballroom :: Fri 2/22

The National :: BAM :: Fri 2/22
---
DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist :: Irving Plaza :: Tue 2/26

Pela :: Music Hall of Williamsburg :: Wed 2/27

Bowerbirds / Phosphorescent :: Mercury Lounge :: Fri 2/29 :: Also 2/27 @ Union Hall

Oneida / Company / Oakley Hall :: Knitting Factory :: Fri 2/29
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MARCH & AFTER
Born Ruffians / Cadence Weapon :: Union Hall :: Sat 3/1 :: Also 3/2 @ Mercury Lounge

Lightspeed Champion :: Mercury Lounge :: Wed 3/5 :: Early Show
---
The Black Lips :: Music Hall of Williamsburg :: Tue 3/11 :: Also 3/10 @ Bowery Ballroom

Rock Over London Presents: Dan Le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip :: Bowery Ballroom :: Tue 3/11
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Tilly & The Wall :: Knitting Factory :: Fri 3/21

Le Loup + Special Guests :: Union Hall :: Mon 3/24

Acid Mothers Temple / Danava :: Mercury Lounge :: Tue 3/25

Crystal Castles :: Studio B :: Tue 3/25

Friction Presents: Crystal Castles / Health / Apache Beat :: Mercury Lounge :: Wed 3/26

Blitzen Trapper / Fleet Foxes :: Bowery Ballroom :: Sat 3/29 :: on sale 01/16 12:00 pm

Boredoms (In The Round) :: Terminal 5 :: Sun 3/30
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Beachhouse / Papercuts :: Bowery Ballroom :: Wed 4/2

Man Man :: Bowery Ballroom :: Thu 4/10

Hot Chip :: Terminal 5 :: Sat 4/12

January 09, 2008

Mountain Goats Tickets Onsale at Noon

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The Mountain Goats are going back on tour. Yes. They will play Webster Hall and Music Hall of Williamsburg in March. Somehow, the Music Hall show seems more appealing than the last time they were here at Bowery. Tickets.

DOWNLOAD
The Mountain Goats - New Monster Avenue (MP3)
The Mountain Goats - Lions Teeth (MP3)
The Mountain Goats - Palmcorder Yajna (MP3)
The Mountain Goats - Source Decay (MP3)

THE MOUNTAIN GOATS NYC TOUR DATES
March 18 - New York, NY, Webster Hall
March 19 - Brooklyn, NY, Music Hall of Williamsburg

See the rest of the tour dates here.

November 19, 2007

Upcoming Shows: December Could be a Busy Month

thesword_freya.jpgHere is a list of shows to get you through the week. While it was a slow November, things are really picking up next month. There are some top notch U.K. acts coming to New York like Los Campesinos! and Richard Hawley. There are some long-time favs like Elvis Perkins and Dirty Projectors headlining Bowery with killer support like Bon Iver. Old timers like GZA and The Sword are performing in December as well. And Friction stacks their next party with Yeasayer and Team Robespierre. Hopefully I can catch all the bands on this list.

THIS WEEK
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Jinner's Presents - Cheeseburger @Knitting Factory (Tap Bar) FREE

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Drug Rug / Butane Variations @ Mercury Lounge

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21
The Hold Steady / Art Brut / 1990s @ Terminal 5
Terminal 5
--
Alela Diane @ Union Pool

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23
Black Dice / Awesome Color @ Highline Ballroom

UPCOMING SHOWS
BOWERY BALLROOM
11.30 Los Campesinos! / Spinto Band
12.01 Richard Hawley
12.04 Dirty Projectors / White Williams
12.05 The Sword
12.07 Elvis Perkins / Bon Iver
02.08 Gallows
02.10 The Black Lips / Quintron & Miss Pussycat

MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG
12.15 White Magic / Phosphorescent
02.09 Gallows / This is Hell / Cancer Bats
03.11 The Black Lips / Quintron & Miss Pussycat

NYU KIMMEL CENTER
11.29 The Mountain Goats / Deer Tick

MERCURY LOUNGE
11.27 Maritime
12.13 Le Loup
12.14 Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip
12.15 Friction Presents: Yeasayer / Team Robespierre
01.30 The Teenagers

SUPREME TRADING
12.13 Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip

KNITTING FACTORY
11.30 Gil Mantera's Party Dream
12.01 Gil Mantera's Party Dream
12.08 After the Jump Winter Fest
12.14 Gza (Wu-Tang Clan)

STUDIO B
12.07 Daft Punk LP Release Party with Faux Punk
02.02 The Teenagers

SOME SONGS TO HELP YOU PREPARE
Bon Iver – Skinny Love (MP3)
Deer Tick – Ashamed (MP3)
Dirty Projectors – Rise Above (MP3)
Dan le Sac vs. Pip – The Beat That My Heart Skipped (MP3)
The Teenagers – We Are the Teenz Mix (MP3)
Gallows – In the Belly of a Shark (MP3)

November 15, 2007

Tim Harrington

timharrington.pngTim Harrington's mere presence is funny. Somebody should give this guy a reality TV show now. In his latest offering, he dresses up like a mosquito to join the charge in what appears to be the NBA's fight against malaria—Nothing But Nets. The Spinner HR interview is pretty funny too. I know I am a little late to these but you can watch the videos below.

NOTHING BUT NETS


SPINNER HR INTERVIEW


RANDALL'S ISLAND SPOOF

November 08, 2007

Save the Date: After The Jump WinterFest

New York City, December 8, 2007 taking over all three levels of the Knitting Factory.

www.afterthejumpfest.com

curated by the people behind:
themusicslut . batteringroom . disconap . earfarm . ryspace . irockiroll . musicsnobbery . merryswankster . softcommunication . theunderratedblog . sitdownstandup . watercoolergossip . bumpershine . themodernage . productshopnyc . yetidontdance . slapyouinpublic . subinev . punkphoto . poptartssucktoasted . stereoactivenyc . fingeronthepulse

for more information, please email:
booking: booking@afterthejumpfest.com
charity: charity@afterthejumpfest.com
sponsors: sponsors@afterthejumpfest.com
publicity: publicity@afterthejumpfest.com

October 16, 2007

CMJ 2007 - The Schedule + Cheatsheet

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So here is a spreadsheet with posted set times of the best showcases - day parties included. The goal is too see as many bands as possible without buying any tickets, just using the badge. I want to find out how much the badge is actually worth. Be sure to check out the After the Jump show at Music Hall tomorrow.

An Update About The Last Month

So a month has passed and the homepage actually went blank. Yikes! Now that I / the proverbial we are back on the wagon here are a few pics from shows in past month.

The Black Lips at Music Hall of Williamsburg was epic. While the fellas in the band were rather well behaved - there was no puking, fireworks, or peeing - the crowd was out of control. Beer was thrown everywhere, people were stage diving, and some of them just fell flat on their face. And there was a parade from their earlier show at SoundFix.

All this other stuff is old news so I will just post the pics. Stay tuned for lots of CMJ coverage.

BLACK LIPS AT MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG
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blacklips_19Sept07_03.JPG

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LES SAVY FAV AT MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG
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A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS AT MERCURY LOUNGE
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DAN DEACON AT WEBSTER HALL
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dandeacon_15Sept07_03.JPG

August 28, 2007

Three Things You Should Do This Week

ONE
katenash.jpgBuy your Kate Nash tickets tomorrow at noon. She plays Joe's Pub on September 25th. Kate Nash is the next hot girl singer out of the UK. She epitomizes anti-folk with her lazy strums on the guitar and lyrics that look dumb on paper but actually sound earnest on record. However, the twist is that she also sings behind a few well-produced beats that flip the whole folk-singer thing on its head.

DOWNLOAD
Kate Nash - Mouthwash (MP3)

TWO
herman_dune.jpgGo see Herman Düne at Union Hall Thursday. These guys are awesome and should not be overlooked. They are kind of similar to Jens Lekman since they have a bunch of scattered gems on various releases that could combine them in to a fantastic compilation or re-release to give them the bump into the spotlight they deserve. If only they were all EPs.

DOWNLOAD
Herman Düne - I Wish That I Could See You Soon (MP3)
Herman Düne - This Will Never Happen (MP3)

THREE
battles.jpgGo see Battles and Deerhunter at South Street Seaport for free Friday. Math rock. Prog. Noise. Brilliance. Go - this is a killer double header and a great way to round out the summer series. Race in. Race out.

August 21, 2007

Your Guide to After The Jump Fest This Saturday at Studio B

pete_kember.jpgAfter The Jump Fest is finally coming up this Saturday, August 24th! Spectum aka Sonic Boom of the legendary Spacemen 3 is headlining the FREE day show and Riot in Belgium is headlining the night show. Free Blood (ex-members of !!!) has been added to the night show. Get your tickets before they are gone here. Help the kids!

All proceeds from the festival will help fund grants written by New York music teachers for their classroom via the Bloggers Choose chapter of DonorsChoose.org. Additionally, the free day shows will feature fundraising raffles with prizes such as concert tickets, cds and two CMJ passes.

There is also a pre-party with Friday on a roof in Williamsburg sponsored by The Musebox with performances by Luke Temple, Paul Duncan, and Butane Variations. The party is FREE and there will be FREE beer. 84 N. 9th St at Wythe Ave. 7:00 PM, Friday, August 24th. Click the image for a llarger flyer.

Check out all the interviews at the After The Jump blog and listen to some songs of the bands playing in the slideshow below. Set times and a word from our sponsors after the jump!


Continue reading "Your Guide to After The Jump Fest This Saturday at Studio B" »

July 20, 2007

After The Jump Fest Intial Lineup Announced

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[AFTER THE JUMP FEST]
AUGUST 25, 2007
STUDIO B (259 BANKER STREET)
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

RIOT IN BELGIUM * SOULICO * THE VIRGINS * LES SANS CULOTTES * RA RA RIOT * LOCKSLEY * APACHE BEAT * GOES CUBE * JUKEBOX THE GHOST * BLING KONG * FINGER ON THE PULSE (DJ SET) * DAVID BRUNO (SLAP YOU IN PUBLIC) (DJ SET) * AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!

FREE DAY SHOW (OUTSIDE STUDIO B)
NIGHT SHOW TICKETS ON SALE SOON

ORGANIZED BY:
themusicslut . batteringroom . disconap . earfarm . ryspace . irockiroll . musicsnobbery . merryswankster . softcommunication . theunderratedblog . sitdownstandup . watercoolergossip . bumpershine . themodernage . productshopnyc . yetidontdance . slapyouinpublic . subinev . punkphoto . poptartssucktoasted . stereoactivenyc . fingeronthepulse

All proceeds from the festival will help fund grants written by New York music teachers for their classroom via the Bloggers Choose chapter of DonorsChoose.org. Please join us in making a great day of music and a significant contribution to music education in our city.

WEBSITES:
www.afterthejumpfest.com
www.myspace.com/afterthejumpfest

CONTACT INFORMATION:
booking@afterthejumpfest.com
charity@afterthejumpfest.com
sponsors@afterthejumpfest.com
publicity@afterthejumpfest.com

July 05, 2007

Shows This Weekend & Hot Tickets

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Here are a few shows of note – that you have to pay for – happening this weekend. I forgot to mention the free Fujiya & Miyagi show with Black Moth Super Rainbow at South Street Seaport in the last post about free stuff. I am also very excited to see Casiotone for the Painfully Alone at Mercury Lounge tonight. His album Etiquette from last year should have made it on to my top 25 list but I did not start listening to it until this year.

HOT TICKETS
UNION POOL
Jamie T
Tuesday, July 17 (8:00 PM doors) $10

THIS WEEKEND’S WALK-UPS
THURSDAY, JULY 5
Benni Hemm Hemm / Casiotone For The Painfully Alone / The Donkeys
Mercury Lounge (7:30 PM Doors) $10

DOWNLOAD
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – Young Shields (MP3)
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – Malone Moves Home (MP3)
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – Daytrotter Session with The Donkeys

FRIDAY, JULY 6
Fujiya & Miyagi / Black Moth Super Rainbow
South Street Seaport (7:00 PM show) FREE

DOWNLOAD
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Sunlips (MP3)
--
Britta Persson
The Living Room (11:00 PM show) FREE

SATURDAY, JULY 7
Yeasayer / Suckers / Mgmt
Flamboyan Theatre – 107 Suffolk Street (9:00 PM doors) $tba
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Fixed presents: Simian Mobile Disco
Studio B (10:00 PM doors) $12

SUNDAY, JULY 8
Dan Deacon / OCDJ / Wyld Stallone
Death By Audio – 49 S 2nd (9:00 PM doors) $6
Http://Myspace.Com/Deathbyaudioshows


TUESDAY, JULY 10
New York Magazine Bad Art Auction with Band of Horses and Zach Galifianakis
Hiro Ballroom (8:00 PM doors) $30 tix

UPCOMING SHOWS
SILENT BARN AKA RAVEN’S DEN
Black Lips / Turbo Fruits / The Coathangers / Golden Triangle
Friday, July 20 (8:00 PM doors) $10

MERCURY LOUNGE
David Vandervelde And The Moonstation House Band / Blitzen Trapper / The A-Sides
Wednesday, July 25 (7:30 PM doors) $10
--
The Virgins / Lizzy Trullie
Tuesday, July 31 (7:00 PM doors) $10
--
Handsome Furs
Tuesday, August 7 (7:30 PM doors) $13

BOWERY BALLROOM
Deerhunter / Ex Models / Blues Control
Wednesday, July 11 (8:00 PM doors) $15
--
The Cribs / White Rabbits
Thursday, August 9 (8:00 PM doors) $15
--
Tokyo Police Club
Monday, August 13 (7:30 PM doors) $15
**Friday show sold out**
--
Cloud Cult
Saturday, September 8 (8:00 PM doors) $15
--
The Veils
Monday, September 10 (7:30 PM doors) $13

PIANO’S
Japan Seoul / The Hazey Janes / The Wildbirds / Eastern Conference Champions (CD Release Show)
Monday, July 23 (9:00 PM doors) $8

STUDIO B
Battles
Friday, July 20 (8:00 PM doors) $14
--
CSS / Shout Out Out Out / Dirty On Purpose
Friday, August 3 (8:00 PM doors) FREE with RSVP

LUNA LOUNGE
Shout Out Louds / Saturday Looks Good To Me
Tuesday, July 17 (7:30 PM doors) $15

WEBSTER HALL
Okkervil River / Damien Jurado
Friday, September 28 (7:00 PM doors) $20

HIGHLINE BALLROOM
Art Brut / White Rabbits
Monday, July 9 (8:00 PM doors) $18
--
Dj Z-Trip / Special Guest MCs: Gift Of Gab / Aceyalone / King Heron
Sunday, August 5 (6:00 PM doors) $30
--
Black Dice
Friday, November 23 (7:00 PM doors) $15

UNION HALL
Enon / Yeasayer
Saturday, July 14 (8:00 PM doors) $12

SOUTHPAW
I'm From Barcelona
Monday, August 6 (9:00 PM doors) $13

THE ARM
Totally Michael / Prizzy Prizzy Please / Sharon Cheslow
Friday, August 10 (8:00 PM doors) $tba
281 North 7th St @ Meeker St

KNITTING FACTORY
SubHumans / World Inferno Friendship Society
Sunday, September 23 & Monday, September 24 (6:30 PM doors) $12


Boredoms, Chromeo, and Dan Deacon: Free with RSVP this Weekend

spirala.jpg

77mainlogo2.jpg77BOADRUM with Boredoms
4 PM on Saturday, 7/7/07 at Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park under the Brooklyn Bridge
FREE with RSVP

From the Vice:

Legendary Japanese iconoclasts Boredoms, a visionary band who has spent over twenty years pushing itself toward new frontiers, will stage the most extraordinary concert of their career on July 7, 2007. A once-in-a-lifetime performance featuring 77 drummers, and meant to be performed just once (on 7/7/07), Boredoms will create 77BOADRUM as a free show in the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park section of Brooklyn Bridge Park.

They have recruited members from a bunch of other bands to bang from a spot in the spiral including: Modest Mouse, Lightning Bolt, Man Man, Gang Gang Dance, Soft Circle, Oneida, Excepter, Aa, Blood on the Wall, Pit Er Pat, Unwound, Enon, Arbouretum, Sunburned Hand of the Man, Sightings, White Magic, No Neck Blues Band, Panthers, Celebration, Negative Approach, and Tall Firs.

DOWNLOAD
Boredoms - Jungle Taitei (MP3)

chromeo.jpgCheeky Bastard presents: Chromeo / Flosstradamus / 33Hz
Thursday, July 5 at Hiro Ballroom
Svedka Vodka Open Bar 10 to 11 PM
FREE with RSVP

TONIGHT is a double dose of the duos Chromeo and Flosstradamus. If you plan to go out to Hiro get there early or you might end up paying the cover.

DOWNLOAD
Chromeo - Tendreroni (MP3)

dandeacon.jpgJellyNYC presents: Octopus Project / Erase Errata / Dan Deacon / OCDJ
Sunday, July 8 at McCarren Park Pool
FREE

And of course you could RSVP for the Pool Parties but that is unnecessary. Get there early for Dan Deacon and OCDJ. The first band usually goes on around 4 PM but doors open around 2 PM and folks from The Rub will be DJing.

June 18, 2007

Save The Date: After The Jump Festival

atj-logos_final_r2.jpg


After The Jump Festival 2007

www.afterthejumpfest.com

august twenty-fifth, two thousand and seven
line-up to be announced shortly

curated by the people behind:

themusicslut . batteringroom . disconap . earfarm . ryspace . irockiroll . musicsnobbery . merryswankster . softcommunication . theunderratedblog . sitdownstandup . watercoolergossip . bumpershine . themodernage . productshopnyc . yetidontdance . slapyouinpublic . subinev . fingeronthepulse . punkphoto . poptartssucktoasted . stereoactivenyc

for more information, please email:

booking: booking@afterthejumpfest.com
charity: charity@afterthejumpfest.com
sponsors: sponsors@afterthejumpfest.com
publicity: publicity@afterthejumpfest.com

June 11, 2007

Quantifying Seven Nights of Bright Eyes

brighteyesgraph.jpg

I always though that pointless graphics or statistics about indie rock shows would be a good idea. I had no idea the blog emo + beer = busted career even existed. Bravo. The New York Times sent Andrew Kuo aka Earl Boykins to all seven Bright Eyes shows at Town Hall to gather "data" about Conner's residency there. They explain the graphics as:

On the blog earlboykins.blogspot.com Mr. Kuo meticulously dissects indie rock and hip-hop records and shows and then transforms the data into complicated, brightly colored charts and diagrams. The joke is, the more banal the information or sweeping the generalization, the more complex the graphics.

The full set of graphs is huge and definitely meant for the printed paper. Click on the thumbnail after the jump to see all of the findings.

Also, take a look at the NYT'sWhite Stripes article, which mentions Product Shop being shut down for a whole day because of a few mp3s from their new album.

Continue reading "Quantifying Seven Nights of Bright Eyes" »

June 08, 2007

Bowery Presents Themselves

bowerypresents.jpg

There is an article in the New York Times about the booking prowess of the good folks at Bowery Presents with a nice history of the little club empire they have build. They have gradually expanded their size of their clubs they own with the idea that once you find a band with huge potential, you might as well try to keep them in the family as they move up the ladder of New York venues.
Supposedly there is a war going on for midsized venues with new ones popping up all over town. Location is an important factor. Any small club open every day would have major problems surviving in Manhattan above 14th street and west Union Square. Brooklyn is another story.
But ultimately, the booking is what determines whether a venue lives or dies. Some of those venues are destined to fail but I think Bowery Presents will be around for a while.

This Weekend's Walk-ups

Here are a few things to do if you have not made plans. There are lots of sold out shows like The Veils, The Clientele, and The Long Blondes but these options seem pretty solid too. Saturday is a night of secret guests with Greg from O'death opening the free Music Slut Anniversary Show during the free PBR hour at 8:00 PM and We Are Scientists playing as Beat Up Old Fellas at the Mercury Lounge. It is even worth sticking around to see the headliners of those shows too.

FRIDAY, JUNE 8
Rooftop Films presents: This is What We Mean by Short Films / Luke Temple
Roof of 350 Grand Street (8:00 PM music performance, 9:00 PM short films) $8 door or $5 online w/ code RFJUNE

SATURDAY, JUNE 9
The Music Slut's Second Year Anniversary Party: The Glass / The Gaskets / The Lisps / Greg from O'death (secret guest)
The Delancey (8:00 PM doors) FREE w/ RSVP
FREE PBR from 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
--
The Spinto Band / The Teeth / Beat Up Old Fellas (We Are Scientist) / Bling Kong
Mercury Lounge (8:00 PM doors) $10
--
Project Jenny / Project Jan / The Bloodsugars / The 1900's
Union Hall (8:00 PM doors) $8
--
USAISAMONSTER / Eric Gaffney (ex-Sebadoh) / Thee Scarcity of Tanks / Child Abuse
Glasslands (9:00 PM doors) tba

SUNDAY, JUNE 10
Loney, Dear / The Silent League
Union Hall (9:00 PM doors) $12

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13
Flight of the Conchords / Eugene Mirman
Gramercy Theatre (7:00 PM doors) $25

THURSDAY, JUNE 14
Earl Greyhound / Dirty On Purpose / Great Northern
Bowery Ballroom (8:00 PM doors) $13
--
Flight of the Conchords / Eugene Mirman
Gramercy Theatre (7:00 PM doors) $25

June 04, 2007

Miranda Interviews Khaela

interview_maricich.gifI am back from Sasquatch. Yeah, I know the festival ending a week ago but I spent some time in Seattle after that. More later, but I can tell you now that one of the best acts I caught out there was the Blow. In this month's Believer, Miranda July interviews Khaela Maricich. The best part about seeing Khaela perform (besides her sweet dance moves) is that she likes to talk and has a lot of stories that lead into her songs. I can hear these words coming out of her mouth. It's a long read so here are a few excerpts.

KM: And then I decided to just try making a couple of pop records because it reaches a lot of people, and you can talk to a lot more than just people who like janky low-fi indie music performance. So the last two records of the Blow has been me and Jona, and in the future I don’t know what. Jona’s mom played “Parentheses” at her wedding.

. . .

MJ: Another beautifully sad lyric on that record is the one that goes, “If something in the deli aisle makes you cry…”

KM: What’s funny is that I made that up in my head around you.

MJ: Really?

KM: Yeah, we were in the Whole Foods, when I was visiting you in Portland one time, and I was staring at the overwhelming mass of all the food, kind of personal but really so impersonal. I had that really overwhelmed feeling; just wanting someone to come up and see that, and see me, and see that they should walk me outside.


Read on for the rest of the story. Also, if you have not done so already, check out Miranda's fancy website for her new book.

May 17, 2007

Hot Tickets and This Weekend's Walk-ups

And I thought there was nothing going on this weekend...

HOT TICKETS
THE ANNEX
The Secret Machines
Tonight! (10:30 PM doors / 12:00 AM show) $25 - tix
**See them here instead of The Highline Ballroom

MERCURY LOUNGE
The Veils / The Phoenix Foundation
Thursday, June 7 (9:45 PM doors) $10 - tix
**Early show added so this one must be close to selling out

STUDIO B
!!! (Chk Chk Chk) / Maserati / Telepathe
Wednesday, May 30 (8:00 PM doors) $16 - tix
**Duh. But really, why isn't this show on a weekend?

THIS WEEKEND'S WALK-UPS
TONIGHT
High Line Festival: Deerhoof / Dirty Projectors / Robert Stillman's Horses
The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza (8:00 PM doors) $16.50

FRIDAY, MAY 18
Frog Eyes plus Alex Delivery / Chris Garneau / Modern Skirts
Mercury Lounge (8:00 PM doors) $10
--
Bang Camaro / Fresh Kills / Stalkers
Luna Lounge (7:30 PM doors) $12
--
FUN presents: Lady Sovereign / Professor Murder / The Glass
Studio B (10:00 PM doors) $10
--
Tapes 'n Tapes / Ladyhawk / The Harlem Shakes
The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza (8:00 PM doors) $16

SATURDAY, MAY 19
Coco Rosie
Winter Garden at The World Financial Center (7:30 PM) FREE
--
Frog Eyes plus Alex Delivery / Chris Garneau
Union Hall (8:00 PM doors) $10
--
The Pull-Out Method presents: The Epochs / The Comas
Club Midway (11:59 PM show) $5
--
Fields / Page France / School of Seven Bells / My Best Fiend
Mercury Lounge (8:00 PM doors) $12

TUESDAY, MAY 22
Todd P presents: OhSees (J Dwyer from Coachwhips) / Castanets / Chen Santa Maria (Mr. George Chen) / Extra Life Charie from Zs / Shooting Spires (BJ from Parts & Labor)
Silent Barn (8:00 PM doors) $tba

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23
Handsome Furs / TK Webb
Mercury Lounge (9:00 PM doors) $13

THURSDAY, MAY 24
Oxford Collapse / Centipede E'est / Excellent
Union Hall (8:00 PM doors) $8
--
Handsome Furs / Sam Jayne
Mercury Lounge (9:00 PM doors) $13

May 11, 2007

The Aesthetics of Booking a Concert at a Far-Off Brooklyn Venue

issueprojectroom.jpg

The New York Times has an article and slideshow about the hipness of out-of-the-way Brooklyn venues. The article discloses a few tidbits that I did not know. Issue Project Room (pictured above) is leaving their space at the Gowanus Canal. MeanRed is taking the space over so I guess it will become a dance party venue. They have an outdoor concert series planned. Remember Turntables on the Hudson, try Turntables on the Gowanus. Also Todd P is no longer booking shows at Studio B. They name drop Silent Barn, Glasslands, Issue Project Room, Don Pedro's and Monkey Town. They also name drop Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dan Deacon, and Deerhunter.

I think the article are missing the concert goer's perspective. I would be interested to know how far people are willing to travel to see a show, if they are there to see a particular band or just because it is in the neighborhood, and if they feel more a part of a community since these venues are off the beaten path.

[Photo Credit: Michael Nagle for NYT]

This Weekend's Walk-ups

Here is another list of shows. Tonight I think your best bet is to go to Soundfix early and get there early because it is going to be packed for John Darnielle. Then Head to Don Pedro's for The Deathset. Tomorrow don't forget about FRICTION with Dan Deacon at Mercury. Looking to next week, you should definitely try your hardest to get to opening party at Solar One for the Bicycle Film Festival. It is free, the venue is solar powered and Mates of State will be performing. Mates of State has cancelled due to a family emergency. Dan Deacon will play instead! Brooklyn Vegan is helping to present this show. Also Sam Champion has an album coming out called Heavenly Bender. They are playing Bowery next week with Tigercity.

FRIDAY, MAY 11
John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats
Soundfix Records (9:00 PM doors) FREE
--
Todd P presents: Deathset / Abstract Artimus / Team Robespierre / Lidia Stone
Don Pedro's (8:00 PM doors) $6
--
My Best Fiend / Tussle / Shapes and Sizes / Stay High
Cake Shop (8:00 PM doors) $8
--
Elk City / Sea Wolf / Tim Bracy (of the Mendoza Line)
Union Hall (8:00 PM doors) $8

SATURDAY, MAY 12
FRICTION presents: Dan Deacon / Ponytail / Meneguar / Lions & Tigers
Mercury Lounge (8:00 PM doors) $8
--
O'Death / Artranker Convoy / Standing Nudes,
Glasslands (9:00 PM doors)
--
The Changes / Takka Takka / The End Of The World
Union Hall (8:00 PM doors) $10

MONDAY, MAY 14
Turbo Fruits (Be Your Own Pet side project) / The Clean Teens
Cake Shop (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM) $6, all ages

TUESDAY, MAY 15
Tigercity / Sam Champion / Stylofone / The Affair
Bowery Ballroom (7:00 PM doors) $13
--
Spank Rock / Ghostface / Roxy Cottontail
Highline Ballroom (7:00 PM doors) $22
--
Electrelane / Tender Forever / The Blow
The Fillmore at Irving Plaza (8:00 PM doors) $15
--
The Teeth
Piano's (7:00 set time) $8

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16
Bicycle Film Festival presents: Dan Deacon / Parts and Labor / Team Robespierre
Solar One, 2420 FDR Dr - 23rd St at the East River (7:00 PM - 10:00 PM) FREE
--
Bicycle Film Festival presents: Gang Gang Dance
Studio B (10:00 PM doors) FREE
--
Panthers / The Hidden Ratio / Square Wave Punch / Big Bang
The Annex (8:00 PM doors)

THURSDAY, MAY 17
Frog Eyes
Soundfix Records (4:00 PM doors) FREE

May 08, 2007

Presales for Wilco and Wolf Parade Shows at Warsaw

Warsaw has some interesting shows lined up this summer but are only booking bands whose names start with W.

There is a Wolf Parade presale today at noon. They are playing Warsaw on August 19th. I am surprised this is for their three shows at the tiny La Sala Rossa in Montreal. That seems more like a tour warm-up. Presale tickets here.

WOLF PARADE TOUR DATES
Aug 11 :: Wolf Island Festival Kingston, Ontario
Aug 19 :: Warsaw Brooklyn, NY
Aug 20 :: Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia, PA
Aug 21 :: Black Cat Washington, DC
Aug 22 :: Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC
Aug 24 :: La Sala Rossa Monteal, QC
Aug 25 :: La Sala Rossa Monteal, QC
Aug 26 :: La Sala Rossa Monteal, QC

Wilco is playing a small show at Warsaw on June 26th. They already sold out Hammerstein. More Details: Pre-Sale begins tomorrow at 10 AM. Public On Sale begins Saturday, May 12 at 1 PM at the Irving Plaza Box Office. 2 Ticket Limit. ID required for purchase and entry. Other Wilco tour dates here. Presale tickets here.

April 27, 2007

This Weekend's Walk-ups and Hot Tickets

Besides what is sold out, here is another list of shows.

THIS WEEKEND'S WALK-UPS
FRIDAY, APRIL 26
Awesome Color / Deerhunter / Telepathe
Silent Barn /aka Raven's Den (8:00 PM doors)
--
Acid Mother's Temple
Southpaw (8:00 PM doors) $15
--
Georgie James / Vampire Weekend / Pascalle
Union Hall (8:00 PM doors) $10
--
The Battering Room presents: Beat Radio / Sure Juror
/ Mussels / The Mugs
The Delancey (8:00 PM doors) $8

SATURDAY, APRIL 27
Professor Murder / The Rub
Canal Room(10:00 PM doors) $10
--
Finger On The Pulse presents: Apes & Androids / Cousin Cole
Studio B (10:00 PM doors) $5
--
Black Moth Super Rainbow
Pianos (8:00 PM doors) $10

MONDAY, APRIL 30
The Wordless Music Series presents: The Books / Real Quiet
Society for Ethical Culture (6:30 PM doors) $20

TUESDAY, MAY 1
Peter & The Wolf / Artanker Convoy / Heavy Creatures
Union Hall (8:00 PM doors) $8


RSVP
Going.com presents: Albert Hammond Jr.
Hiro Ballroom
Thursday, May 10 (8:00 PM doors) Free before 11:00 PM


ON SALE
Patrick Wolf
Bowery Ballroom
Wednesday, May 9 (8:00 PM doors) $15 (tix)
--
The Jesus & Mary Chain
Webster Hall
Monday, May 21 & Tuesday, May 22 (8:00 PM doors) $45 (tix)


UPCOMING SHOWS
MERCURY LOUNGE
Brightblack Morning Light
Saturday, May 5 (8:00 PM doors) $13
--
Friction presents: Dan Deacon / Ponytail / Meneguar / Lions & Tigers
Saturday, May 12 (8:00 PM doors) $8
--
Frog Eyes / Alex Delivery / Chris Garneau
Friday, May 18 (8:00 PM doors) $10
--
Handsome Furs / TK Webb
Wednesday, May 23 & Thursday, May 24 (7:30 PM doors) $13
--
The Veils
Thursday, June 7 (6:45 PM doors) $10
--
Brakes Brakes Brakes / Pela / Electric Soft Parade
Saturday, June 16 (8:00 PM doors) $12

BOWERY BALLROOM
TigerCity / Sam Champion plus Stylofone / The Affair
Tuesday, May 15 (7:00 PM doors) $13
--
Mystery Jets plus White Rabbits / Vampire Weekend
Saturday, June 2 (8:00 PM doors) $15
--
Lavender Diamond
Sunday, June 3 (8:00 PM doors) $15
--
The Long Blondes
Saturday, June 9 (8:30 PM doors) $13
--
Earl Greyhound
Thursday, June 14 (8:00 PM doors) $13
--
Heartless Bastards / Viva La Foxx
Saturday, June 16 (8:00 PM doors) $15
--
Deerhunter
Wednesday, July 11 (8:00 PM doors) $15
--
Tokyo Police Club
Friday, August 10 (8:00 PM doors) $15

WEBSTER HALL
Voxtrot / Favourite Sons / Au Revoir Simone
Friday, June 15 (6:00 PM doors) $18

STUDIO B
!!! (chk chk chk)
Wednesday, May 30 (8:00 PM doors) $16
--
Datarock
Saturday, June 2 (10:00 PM doors) $10

CAKE SHOP
Maserati
Saturday, June 2 (8:00PM doors) $7

UNION HALL
Frog Eyes / Alex Delivery / Chris Garneau
Saturday, May 19 (8:00 PM doors) $10
--
Oxford Collapse / Centipede E'est
Thursday, May 24 (8:00 PM doors) $8
--
The Veils
Friday, June 8 (8:00 PM doors) $10

UNION POOL
Langhorne Slim
Friday, May 4 (8:00 PM doors)

April 16, 2007

Spoon at Bowery Ballroom On Sale Now

Spoon is playing Bowery Ballroom next Monday, April 23. Get your tickets now. They went on sale at 9:00 AM. Last time I saw them was The Siren Festival. That was way too crowded and I think it rained. This show should be way better.

April 12, 2007

Wilco at Hammerstein On Sale Tomorrow at Noon

wilco.jpg

Wilco is finally going to stop in New York. Hallelujah. They play Hammerstein Ballroom with Low opening on June 25th. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (thx Adam) at noon. Their new one, Sky Blue Sky, is killer. Check out the last track on the album courtesy of the band.

DOWNLOAD
What Light (MP3)

WILCO TOUR DATES
06.13.07 RiverCenter: Adler Theatre – Davenport, IA
06.14.07 Bonnaroo Music Festival – Manchester, TN
06.19.07 Chastain Park Amphitheatre – Atlanta, GA
06.20.07 Ovens Auditorium – Charlotte, NC
06.22.07 Count Basie Theatre – Red Bank, NJ
06.24.07 Pines Theatre – Northampton, MA
06.25.07 Hammerstein Ballroom – New York, NY
06.28.07 Bank of America Pavilion – Boston, MA
06.29.07 The Green at Shelburne Museum – Shelburne, VT
06.30.07 Massey Hall – Toronto, On

[photo: Jim Saah / WilcoWorld]

April 05, 2007

This Weekend's Walk-ups

Here is another list of things to do this weekend. Obviously sold out shows are not mentioned. See the last list for some tickets to buy. Also The National added a fifth night at Bowery, Beirut will probably add a fourth.

THIS WEEKEND'S WALK-UPS
THURSDAY - APRIL 5
After the closing of Sin-é, FRICTION is moving to the Mercury Lounge. The have put together a big line up with Land of Talk headlining their first show there. Dave Bruno from Slap You In Public is DJing all night. Or you could check out UK pop sensation Patrick Wolf at Hiro Ballroom if you can stand the wait to get inside.

FRICTION Presents: Land of Talk / Mahagony / Vampire Weekend / Balún
Mercury Lounge (7:30 PM doors) $10
--
GBH Presents: Patrick Wolf
Hiro Ballroom (9:00 PM doors) RSVP Here

FRIDAY - APRIL 6
Bang Camaro bring to life the world's best Guitar Hero band. If you have every played the game you know exactly what their music sounds like. Plus they are backed by a choir of singing bros. Or Patrick Wolf again.

Bang Camaro
Mercury Lounge (8:30 PM doors) $12
--
FUN Presents: Patrick Wolf
Studio B (10:00 PM doors) $12

SATURDAY - APRIL 7
Knockout Round 3 is going down Saturday. Benzos and The Diggs are playing. The Battering Room has hand-picked a bunch of other bands too. Check the site for set times.

KNOCKOUT Round 3: benzos / The Diggs / Square Wave Punch / The Diggs / Bridges and Powerlines
Matchless (8:00 PM doors) $8

SUNDAY - APRIL 8 - EASTER
This Easter show is a random pairing of bands but is exciting because Casiotone for the Painfully Alone is making an overdue New York appearance. Also if you are missing The Black Angels and Vietnam at Mercury Saturday, you could always catch them at Luna Lounge.

Xiu Xiu / Shearwater / Casiotone for the Painfully Alone
Bowery Ballroom (8:00 PM doors) $17
--
The Black Angels / Vietnam / The Cave Singers
Luna Lounge (8:00 PM doors) $12

March 29, 2007

Shows This Weekend & Hot Tickets

I meant to put this up earlier this week but things got a little crazy. Also check out previous lists for upcoming shows not mentioned here.

ON SALE
BACK ON SALE - LISTED AS SOLD OUT
Cold War Kids / Tokyo Police Club / Delta Spirit
The Bowery Ballroom
Friday, April 6 (9:00 PM doors) $14 - tix
--
Cold War Kids / Tokyo Police Club / Delta Spirit
The Bowery Ballroom
Saturday, April 7 (9:00 PM doors) $14 - tix
--
Junior Boys / San Serac / Tigercity
The Bowery Ballroom
Wednesday, April 11 (8:00 PM doors) $16 - tix
--
Beirut / Final Fantasy
The Bowery Ballroom
Tuesday, May 8 (7:30 PM doors) $16 - tix
--
!!! (Chk Chk Chk)
The Bowery Ballroom
Wednesday, May 16 (8:00 PM doors) $16 - tix

ON SALE
Voxtrot / Favourite Sons / Au Revoir Simone
Webster Hall
Friday, June 15 (6:00 PM doors) $18 - tix
--
FUN Presents: Patrick Wolf
Studio B
Friday, April 6 (10:00 PM doors) $10 - tix

ON SALE - FRIDAY AT 10:00 AM
Polyphonic Spree
Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom
Friday, May 11 (6:30 PM doors) $33.50 - tix
--
Air
Theater At Madison Square Garden
Thursday, May 10 (8:00 PM doors) - tix
--
Bjork
United Palace Theater
Saturday, May 5 (8:00 PM doors) $46–$86 - tix
--
Arcade Fire
United Palace Theatre
Monday, May 7 & Tuesday, May 8 (08:00 PM doors) $35 - May 7 tix - May 8 tix

ON SALE - SATURDAY AT 11:00 AM
Daft Punk / The Rapture / Sebastian
Keyspan Park, Coney Island
Thursday, August 9 - $47.50

FREE WITH RSVP
Patrick Wolf
Hiro Ballroom
Thursday, April 5 (9:00 PM doors)
RSVP for the Cheeky List Here


THIS WEEKEND'S SHOWS
FRIDAY - MARCH 30
Ruff Club Presents: Lo-Fi-FNK
The Annex (10:00 PM doors) FREE

SATURDAY- MARCH 31
Fixed Presents: Data Rock / The Presets / Lo-Fi-FNK / Sebastian
Studio B (10:00 PM doors) $12
--
Ohmyrockness.com presents March Radness II: Walter Meego / Oxford Collapse / Dragons of Zynth/ Del Rey
Knitting Factory (7:30 PM doors) $10 - tix

SUNDAY - APRIL 1
Les Savy Fav plus The Big Sleep / Call Me Lightning
The Bowery Ballroom (7:30 PM doors) $18 - tix
--
The Long Winters plus Stars of Track & Field / The Broken West
Mercury Lounge (7:30 PM doors) $15 - tix
**Saturday and Monday Shows Sold Out**

UPCOMING
MERCURY LOUNGE
Cloud Cult / Young Galaxy
Sunday, April 15 (7:30 PM doors) $12
**Saturday Show Sold Out**
--
Brightblack Morning Light / Daniel A.I.U. Belteshazzar-Higgs / Chiara Gio
Saturday, May 5 (8:00 PM doors) $13

BOWERY BALLROOM
Art Brut / Holy Hail
Tuesday, April 17 (8:00 PM doors) $16
--
Ghostland Observatory
Wednesday, April 18 (8:00 PM doors) $13

WEBSTER HALL
Hot Chip
Thursday, April 19 (6:30 PM doors) $22
**Friday Show Sold Out**
--
Jarvis Cocker
Sunday, April 22 (8:00 PM doors) $32
**Monday Show Sold Out**

KNITTING FACTORY
Monday, April 16 at 7:00 PM
Smoosh with The Postmarks and Creeping Weeds
Monday, April 16 (7:30 PM doors) $12
--
Richard Lloyd (of Television)
Saturday, May 19 (7:30 PM doors) $15

PIANO'S
Headlights / Page France / Cheyenne
Friday, April 13(8:00 PM doors) $12
--
Richard Swift / David Vandervelde
Sunday, April 22 (8:00 PM doors)

UNION HALL
Land Of Talk / The Muggabears
Tuesday, April 3 (8:00 PM doors) $10
--
Page France / Headlights
Saturday, April 14 (8:00 PM doors) $12

SOUTHPAW
Acid Mother's Temple
Friday, April 27 (8:00 PM doors) $13

LUNA LOUNGE
Richard Swift and the Sons of National Freedom / David Vandervelde / White Rabbits
Saturday, April 21 (8:00 PM doors) $10

EUROPA
J-Live / IsWhat? / X:144 / SPS
Friday, May 11 (7:30 PM doors) $12

March 20, 2007

LCD Soundsystem Tickets Back On Sale! Redux

patMalBristol.jpg

This is the first time we have posted the same thing twice here. Bowery is messing with you, don't get caught sleepin'. I can also add that LCD Soundsystem's album The Sound of Silver got a 9.2 on Pitchfork, which seems like a high for the year at the world's biggest music blog.


Tickets are back on sale for the highly anticipated LCD Soundsystem shows at Bowery Ballroom.

BOTH NIGHTS! — HURRY

March 30th (tix)

March 31st (tix)


UPDATE
Listen to the entire Sound of Silver at Spinner. They have some other good stuff to like new albums from Ted Leo & The Pharmacist, Modest Mouse, and El-P.

March 19, 2007

Post-SXSW Shows All Week!

This week is post-SXSW in New York. Bands are just playing shows because they are in town. Last night I saw Reykjavik! from Iceland and David & The Citizens from Sweden. These bands had been in Austin earlier that day. David was even wearing a SXSW t-shirt. Anyway, that means there are some great walk-ups this week.

MONDAY - MARCH 19
REBEL - 251 W. 30th St
C-mon & Kypski (9:30) / Voicst (8:30) / and some other Dutch bands
(7:30 PM doors) FREE

When was the last time you could say you saw a good band that uses turntables? C-mon & Kypski serve up some hip-hop beats with drums, guitars, strings, samples, keyboards, and a little scratching.
Somebody said to me yesterday Voicst was the most underrated band in indie rock right now. Just so happens they are playing a free show tonight at Rebel.

VOICST DOWNLOADS
Detail 2003 (MP3)
Acts of Fire (MP3)
Sgt. Gonzo (MP3)

PIANO'S
The Automatic
(Sets at 9:00 & 10:00 PM) $10

No idea who these Brits are but a few people seem to be going there and it is in the neighborhood. Two sets!

TUESDAY - MARCH 20
MERCURY LOUNGE
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. / Fionn Regan
(7:00 PM doors) $12

I don't really like Get Cape... but they were nominated for a NME Shockwave Award. I would get there early for Fionn. He is a singer-songwriter from Ireland. Great album.

FIONN REGAN DOWNLOADS
Put a Penny in the Slot (MP3)
Be Good or Be Gone (MP3)

WEDNESDAY - MARCH 20
MERCURY LOUNGE
Panda Band / Jamie T / Luke Schurman
(8:30 PM doors) $12

Jamie T should be your priority for the week. But don't get there so early that I can't get in. He won a NME Shockwave Award.

PIANO'S
New Violators / The Epochs / The Dead Trees / Dappled Cities / Middle Distance Runner
(7:00 PM) $10

Pretty much every band on this bill has some buzz behind them. But New Violators could be one of the next big things. This band from Norway sounds exactly like 1982. "Runaway" seems to be a direct rip from "Girls on Film." Stereogum has some MP3s.

FRIDAY - MARCH 23
SIN-E
Brooklyn Vegan Presents: Pela / Shy Child / Marissa Nadler / Tim Fite / FUN
Friday, March 23 (8:00 PM doors) $10

Yeah Pela is good. Marissa Nadler plays dream-folk. Sin-e is closing. This will be a good one.

SATURDAY - MARCH 24
THE DELANCEY
Music Slut's Spring Fling Featuring: Locksley / The Silent Years / A Brief Smile / Cassettes Won't Listen, / The Midnight Hours
(7:30 PM doors) $9

Go support all the blogger shows. This is a solid bill. Locksley is almost too catchy.

March 15, 2007

Stuff by Stuff West

sxsw.gifHere are a few SXSW links you may be interested in...

– Sarah Hepola already has a recap of the entire 2007 SXSW Festival.
– The official SXSW site has a ton of free MP3s for download. But you have to browse through the bands playing. Click on the ones with cassette icons. Pitchfork has sorted out a few.

For those of you actually going to Austin, here are a few links that might help you find some good shows...

Done Waiting SXSW
Oh My Rockness SXSW & their free showlist
Austin, Tx Showlist
Pitchfork's SXSW Itenerary

March 14, 2007

Shows This Weekend & Hot Tickets

Well, in the time I wrote this and the last post, a few tickets were released for LCD Soundsystem and sold back out. Bowery is trying to keep you on your toes. There is not much going on this weekend because of SXSW but maybe some of those bands will head to New York after the party is over in Austin. Also see last week.

THIS WEEKEND'S WALK-UPS
PIANO'S
Reykjavik! (Iceland) / The Swimmers (residency)
Sunday, March 18 (9:00 PM doors) $8

HOT TICKETS
MERCURY LOUNGE
The Cribs
Wednesday, May 2 & Thursday, May 3 (7:30 PM doors) $15

BOWERY BALLROOM
Beirut / Final Fantasy
Tuesday, May 8(7:30 PM doors) $16
**Sunday and Monday Sold Out**
--
!!! (Chk Chk Chk)
Wednesday, May 16 (8:00 PM doors) $16

KNITTING FACTORY
Ohmyrockness.com presents March Radness II : Walter Meego / Oxford Collapse / Dragons of Zynth / Del Rey
Saturday, March 31 (7:30 PM doors)

SIN-E
Brooklyn Vegan Presents: Pela / Shy Child / Marissa Nadler / Tim Fite / FUN
Friday, March 23 (8:00 PM doors) $10

WARSAW
CoCoRosie
Friday, April 20 (8:00 PM doors) $18.50

LCD Soundsystem Tickets Back On Sale!

Tickets are back on sale for the highly anticipated LCD Soundsystem shows at Bowery Ballroom.

BOTH NIGHTS! — HURRY

March 30th (tix)

March 31st (tix)

March 09, 2007

Shows This Weekend & Hot Tickets

THIS WEEKEND'S WALK-UPS
UNCLE PAULIE'S
The Death Set / Team Robespirre / JuiceBoXXX / Naked Boys Makin Noise!
Friday, March 9th (8:00 PM doors) $6 at door

FONTANA'S
The Octagon (coming home party) / Other Passengers / Grammer Debate! Black Tie Revue
Friday, March 9 (8:00 PM doors) $7 at door

BOWERY BALLROOM
The Horrors / Favourite Sons / The Films
Saturday, March 10 (8:00 PM doors) $13

MERCURY LOUNGE
120 Days / Shout Out Out Out Out / Born Ruffians / Germans
Saturday, March 10 (8:00 PM doors) $10 at door

HOT TICKETS
MERCURY LOUNGE
Bishop Allen / +/- / Say Hi To Your Mom
Friday, March 30 (8:00 PM doors) $12
--
The Long Winters / Stars of Track & Field
Sunday, April 1 (7:30 PM doors) $15
**Saturday Show Sold Out**
--
Cloud Cult / Young Galaxy
Saturday, April 14 & Sunday, April 15 (8:00 PM doors) $12
--
Brightblack Morning Light
Saturday, May 5 at 8:00 PM (8:00 PM doors) $13

BOWERY BALLROOM
Guru's Jazzmatazz
Tuesday, March 27 (8:00 PM doors) $25
--
Les Savy Fav
Sunday, April 1 (7:30 PM doors) $18
--
Xiu Xiu / Shearwater / Casiotone For The Painfully Alone
Sunday, April 8 (8:00 PM doors) $15
--
Junior Boys / San Serac
Wednesday, April 11 (8:00 PM doors) $16
--
Sunset Rubdown / Katie Eastburn
Friday, May 4 (8:30 PM doors) $15
--
Panda Bear
Saturday, June 23 (8:00 PM doors) $15
--
The National plus guests
Monday, May 28 – Thursday, May 31 (8:00 PM doors) $15
**Thursday Sold Out**

WEBSTER HALL
Hot Chip
Friday, April 19 & Saturday, April 20 (6:30 PM doors) $22
**Second Night Just Added**
--
Jarvis Cocker
Sunday, April 22 (8:00 PM doors) $32
**Monday Sold Out**

LUNA LOUNGE
The Black Angels / Vietnam / The Cave Singers
Sunday, April 8 (8:00 PM doors) $12
**Mercury Lounge Saturday Show Sold Out**

UNION HALL
Fionn Regan with Hayes Peebles
Monday, March 19 (8:30 PM doors) $8

February 24, 2007

Matt & Kim Free Show Tonight!

Ted Leo may be cancelled but there is a free Matt and Kim show at Fordham University tonight. Kiss Kiss and a bunch of other Eyeball Records bands hit up Sin-é if you are not down to go to the Bronx.

MATT & KIM - FREE SHOW
Rodrigues Coffee House @ Fordham February 24, 2007 (Tonight!)
441 E. Fordham Rd in the Bronx (Take the D to Fordham Station).
All Ages. 8pm. Free & Open to the Public.

February 15, 2007

Secret Ted Leo Show at Mercury Lounge on 2/25 ??? & !!!

The Battering Room brings our attention to The Sons of Cain headlining the Mercury Lounge next Sunday February 25th. It is probably not the UK hard-rockers by the same name because on their website they say "There are no forthcoming gigs at the moment." And it seems they have been looking for a new bassist since April.

Download Ted Leo's new single – "The Sons of Cain" – at The Hype Machine. He has a ton more free MP3s on his website under Audio. Maybe grab them using DownThemAll.

Regardless we will be at the Merc. Hopefully so will Ted Leo & The Pharmacists. !!! is already sold out. Must be the moon or the free booze. Also The Battering Room is having Knockout II at Union Hall Friday. Sure Juror is playing. Go! Movable Hype 11.0 is tonight. White Rabbits are playing. Go!

UPDATE
This is definitely Ted Leo and a few tickets are back on sale!

UPDATE II

Due to illness Sons of Cain (Ted Leo & the Pharmacists) have cancelled their performance on Sunday, February 25th. We apologize for any inconvenience. Tickets are valid for entry to see Brother Reverend and Blip Blip Bleep. Refunds are are available at point of purchase.

Thanks,
Mercury Lounge

January 05, 2007

Burn Baby, Burn. And Shows This Weekend



I don't have Arcade Fire tickets (yet). Please contact the Arcade Fire Dept. with any complaints about not getting yours. Then go do this stuff with having to sit in a virtual waiting room or even having to wait for the show to come around.

FRIDAY
People Don't Dance No More @ Element, 10pm. $10 ticketweb / $15 door. Finally, you too can be one of those annoying people in line next door to the Mercury Lounge. Except most people won't know you are waiting to see Druzzi (somebody from The Rapture) and James F!@#$%^ Friedman DJ.
The Pull-Out Method @ Midway, 11:00. Free. Vampire Weekend will play and some other surprise band. This will go late and be full of cool people.

SATURDAY
Matt & Kim, Aa (Big A, little a), Tiny Masters of Today @ Studio B, 8:00. Well worth the $6. I might even get up front with my bum hand.
Black Dice @ Bowery Ballroom. I never thought I would see the day.

Photo credit to The Jane Family. Thanks.

December 31, 2006

WaterCoolerGossip's Top 25 Albums of 2006

Here are our top 25 lists finally. Also check out the Product Shop lists: Albums, EPs, and Singles.

1) The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
theholdsteady.jpgWhen I first heard Boys and Girls in America, I don’t think I would have predicted it would be my favorite for the year. I thought that the polished production and careful arrangements violated the realness of my favorite bar band. But Craig Finn has left his lyrical stomping grounds of the Twin Cities and the characters that he knew there and The Hold Steady is musically reaching farther than their local dives. Their territory has gotten bigger and so has their music. The songs are still set in bars and at parties – and fueled by booze and drugs – but these stories could be happening all over America.

2) The Thermals - The Body, The Blood, The Machine
thermals.jpgThe Thermals made a leap of faith by ditching the lo-fi simplicity of their three-chord assault and even adding some keyboards, which took their sound out of the garage and into the studio. Hutch Harris spent more time crafting these lyrics than he has in the past and even tried to cut down his rampant cursing. But this leap was not without reason; the resulting album is an apocalyptic vision of a fascist religious state. This album really resonates with me considering our current government. I also appreciate their DIY punk aesthetic that goes all the way down to the collaged album covers.

3) TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain
tvontheradio.jpgWhen I listen to TV On The Radio’s Return To Cookie Mountain, I try to imagine what Cookie Mountain would be like. I see a thick wooded forest covered in a blanket of dark fog with the rickety cabin at its peak, overlooking a huge metropolis below. Inside this one-lamp shack, there are reassembled transistor radios, exposed circuitry, and loose woofers from busted speakers. When all of these salvaged devices sing together, the haze over the mountain thickens. Tuned Adebimpe’s falsetto singing is similar breeze. That might sound like a bunch of BS but this album is vivid and tireless. However, the cookies will remain a mystery.

4) The Blow - Paper Television
theblow.jpgThe Blow have four albums, I am not sure why I have not heard of them before their last, Paper Television. Even more boggling is that Khaela Maricich used to be a part of K Records labelmates The Microphones. When I saw her perform at the Fader House during CMJ this year, I was hooked. Khaela is an unassuming Northwestern, who got on stage clad in fleece jacket and clutching only a microphone. She is a casual singer too, but she can spin the everyday mundane thing into a clever lyric, even if it is not in perfect pitch. Her songs are almost like monologues set to music. Just add Jona’s beats, which strike a happy balance between The Neptunes, The Post Service, and The Knife, and you get the folktro (yes, I made that up) duo know as The Blow.

5) Beirut - Gulag Orkestar
beirut.jpgZach Condon is a gypsy. He grew up in Albuquerque, traveled through Europe after high school, and then moved to Brooklyn. So naturally he stumbled upon Balkan gypsy music. The lush orchestration of ukuleles, accordion, trumpets, tambourines, and strings combined with his unwavering voice is both foreign and familiar. Gulag Orkestar is a serene portrait of his travels through pop songs he found in European folk tunes.

6) Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope
7) The Knife - Silent Shout
8) Hot Chip - The Warning
9) Man Man - Six Demon Bag
10) Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I Am Dreaming
11) Vetiver - To Find Me Gone
12) Archie Bronson Outfit - Derdang Derdang
13) Band Of Horses - Everything All The Time
14) Liars - Drum's Not Dead
15) Matt & Kim - Matt & Kim
16) Brightblack Morning Light - Brightblack Morning Light
17) Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
18) Islands - Return To The Sea
19) Tom Waits - Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers, and Bastards
20) Grizzly Bear - Yellow House
21) Pela - Exit Columbia Street
22) Build to Spill - You In Reverse
23) ¡Forward Russia! - Give Me A Wall
24) Herman Dune - Giant
25) Joanna Newsom - Ys


Here's Charles' list...

MY TOP 25 ALBUMS OF 2006, OR MORE LIKE: MY TOP 2 + THE REST

A few thoughts/notes to preface this name dropping show:

1) My music universe runs about 4 genres deep: (1) indie rock; (2) punk/emo; (3) hip hop; (4) commercial pop/r&b. I’ve probably given a spin to every major release from these 4 categories this year. I’m really just seeking exciting music, in whatever form.

2) I don’t really connect with electronic-driven music. I like The Knife, Hot Chip, The Blow, but see it all as just something to dance to. It’s tough for me to find the heart in any of it.

3) For the most part, indie pop doesn’t really do much for me. Bands like Peter Bjorn & John and Belle & Sebastian just sound too sparse and too cute for me. It’s catchy, but I’d rather listen to catchy popular music (J.T., Beyonce, Cassie, etc.).

4) Very few new artists leave a lasting impression on me these days. Annuals? Like em. Tokyo Police Club? Like em. Lupe Fiasco? He’s aiight. But looking back at year-end, they were all just something new to listen to. I put these albums in heavy rotation and enjoyed them for a few weeks, then moved on to the next big thing.

5) It’s tempting to empty out new music recommendations onto a year-end list. And while I listen to quite a bit of obscure stuff, my favorite albums of the year were all fairly well publicized. So I don’t think you really have to dig too deep to find the “best new music”. Here’s a short list of new faves that missed the cut: Cinemechanica, The Kingdom, Oh No

6) My criteria for this list is simple: it’s the music that impacted me the most in 2006. The thing about music is, if it doesn’t really connect with you somehow – if it’s only catchy – it becomes disposable. And honestly, I love everything on this list, but beyond my Top 2 (The Hold Steady and The Thermals), I didn’t really feel a strong connection with anything else this year. So with that said, here’s my Top 2 + the rest…

1) The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls in America
theholdsteady.jpgThis was a record made for the people. I memorized every word. I saw them live and jumped my little heart out. I not only loved this album, I lived this album. Just as 24 Hour Revenge Therapy was my soundtrack to being 13 years old growing up in San Francisco, Boys and Girls in America has become my soundtrack to being 25 years old trying to make it in New York.

2) The Thermals – The Body, The Blood, The Machine
thermals.jpgI love that The Thermals made a big sounding record without any gimmicks. They didn’t beef up the production, experiment with new sounds, bring in guest collaborators. They just stuck with what works, and made it work better than ever.




3) ¡Forward, Russia! – Give Me A Wall
forwardrussia.jpg¡Forward, Russia! get labeled post-punk, but have more in common with post-hardcore acts like At The Drive-In than they do with Joy Division or Gang of Four. “Fifteen Pt. 2” is the best screamo track of the year. Plus, Tom Woodhead does the meanest “mic whip” in a live act since Cedric Bixler-Zavala.



4) Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
ghostface.jpgAlmost every track on Fishscale is a hit, but “The Champ” wins out as the most triumphant hip hop joint of the year. Too often, you hear young MCs trying to make this track before they’ve really arrived. Ghost paid his dues, hustled his way to the top, and “The Champ” is the sound of him rightfully claiming his throne.



5) Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury
clipse.jpgBetween Lord Willin’ and Hell Hath No Fury, Malice and Pusha T have popularized enough new slang to write their own Clip-tionary. These cats are so trill, they just grindin’, all they do is wamp! wamp!






6) Silversun Pickups – Carnavas
The best commercial rock album of 2006. It just happens to be on an indie label.

7) The Roots – Game Theory
Fuck a mash-up. ?uestlove & Co. one-up every riff-rock beat by slicing up their own tracks organically. And props to Black Thought for reinventing himself as the new Chuck D.

8) Lily Allen – Alright, Still
Lily Allen is so damn charming. If you don’t like her, you’re probably trying to not like her.

9) Justin Timberlake – FutureSex/LoveSounds
It’s great to be self-aware and have great taste and all. But I don’t ever want to take music so seriously that I can’t enjoy something like this. If you’ve set foot on a dance floor these past six months, you’ve probably seen how “SexyBack” and “My Love” (in its various incarnations) kick the energy up to another level. And you can play FutureSex out for another year, cause it has another 5 singles left in it.

10) These Arms Are Snakes – Easter
TAAS understand what 96% of post-hardcore bands don’t get these days—which is, to scream, you have to know what you’re screaming about. Never once does their anger seem forced or misguided, and as a result, there is some real emo-tion here.

These Arms Are Snakes – Crazy Woman Dirty Train (mp3)

11) Mew – And The Glass Handed Kites
If you don’t get into this album right away, give it 10 more spins. Cause once you get into it, it’ll cast a spell on you.

12) Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton – Knives Don’t Have Your Back
This is the sound of pain. I’ve read reviews complaining that Emily Haines never picks up the pace, but if she had, it wouldn’t have felt right. This is a mood piece, and has found a place in my collection alongside Grace and Let It Die.

13) DJ Drama & Lil Wayne – Dedication 2
Best rapper in the game? That’s a stretch. But on this mixtape, Lil Birdman outshined some other dude calling himself King of the South. Weezy flipped on all of us with “Georgia…Bush”. The stage is set for Tha Carter III as the most anticipated rap release of ’07 – and no, I’m not forgetting Detox.

14) Nelly Furtado - Loose
Loose probably gets left off most year-end lists cause only half the album is worth listening to. But I like half this album better than a full album of anything lower on this list. After churning out 3 of the hottest singles of 2006, Loose could also drop 3 of the hottest singles of 2007: “Do It”, “Glow”, and “Wait For You”

15) Camp Lo - Fort Apache (The Mixtape Album)
What does Camp Lo have to do to get some respect in the rap game? Uptown Saturday Night has been deceptively influential in the world of jiggy rap. Let’s Do It Again was a gem of a follow-up that fell victim to Industry Rule #4080. It’s only fitting that this mixtape came in under the radar. I hope Camp Lo gets some decent promotion (or at least a Pitchfork plug or three) when their next LP drops, cause this is crossover rap that will bump anywhere: on the radio, in the clubs, from hipst__s’ MacBooks.

Camp Lo – Bed Rock (mp3 – recommended to anyone who likes Clipse)

16) Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Show Your Bones
I loved Fever To Tell back in 2003. I can’t bring myself to listen to it anymore. This may not be a popular opinion, but I’m glad YYYs moved away from post-punk. They’ve lost some momentum temporarily by abandoning the sound of the moment, but the shift towards straight up rock-n-pop should give them more longevity than The Strokes and The Rapture, who are stuck in the same tired sound.

17) Thursday – A City By The Light Divided
This is emo music for twenty and thirty somethings. It’s heavy stuff. I don’t think emo has ever sounded so mature. I would love to see bands like Brand New and Taking Back Sunday take a larger step toward this direction as they grow older.

18) The Game – Doctor’s Advocate
The Game is just getting comfortable as the new King of the Left Coast. Doctor’s Advocate shows he’s not afraid to show a little levity, and that should help keep him at the top for a while.

19) T.I. - King
When are people going to figure out that T.I. of 2006 = Ja Rule of 2001? For all his swagger and charisma, there’s not much to T.I. beyond that voice. But King works cause you got that voice backed by high-budget production. I’ll probably end up tossing King into the bargain bin as I did with Pain is Love, but for a five month span in 2006, this was my go-to rap album.

20) TV On The Radio – Return To Cookie Mountain
It’s a tough pill to swallow, but when I was in the mood for it, Cookie Mountain was some of the most powerful music I heard in 2006.

21) Bound Stems – Appreciation Night
This album is all over the place, but one of the more exciting releases I’ve heard this year. I think Bound Stems would be best served in the long run if they tighten up their sound, lose the tendency to break every song down into an indie pop hook, and just make really accessible mathy-rock as they do on “Risking Life and Limb for the Coupon”.

22) Amerie – Because I Love It, Vol. 1 (Mixtape)
I have a crush on Amerie, so I may be biased. The beauty of a mixtape is there’s no pressure to manufacture a hit. Amerie sounds so loose here. Has Beyonce, Ciara, or any other R&B diva ever spit with this kind of fire? This mixtape may do her more justice than her forthcoming LP, where she’ll again be restricted by the standard verse-hook-verse-hook-dance break/rap cameo-hook.

Amerie – Blow (mp3)

23) Sunset Rubdown – Shut Up I Am Dreaming
Spencer Krug is all heart. Even when I have no idea what he’s talking about (horsemen? kids sacrificing eyes? say what??), I’m still feeling it.

24) Man Man – Six Demon Bag
Man Man are in a genre of their own – it’s caveman music. You need to listen to it a lot before it stops being annoying, then you’ll start loving it.

25) The Blood Brothers – Young Machetes
You probably need to have ADHD to love The Blood Brothers. So I guess it’s time to pick up my Adderall prescription...

December 11, 2006

New Contributor to WaterCoolerGossip

Here at the office, we are pleased to welcome Charles to the watercooler. He has a wide range of musical tastes, but will mainly be writing about bands older than blogs. Look out for his upcoming posts.

December 07, 2006

The Helsinki Complaint Choir

While their Swedish rivals are busy pumping out quality indie rock, Finland is making some real innovations in choral music.

Finnish artists Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen collected the pet peeves and angst-ridden pleas of people in Helsinki and then composed this choral work around the list of complaints. Music composed by Esko Grundström.

December 05, 2006

Brooklyn Holiday Bonanzas

So I am typing with one hand because I fractured my right pinky metacarpal in at football game at Prospect Park. I don't even play football but whatever. At least I have these Holiday Parties to look forward to and still don't have to leave Brooklyn. Who likes eggnog?

DFA HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA
Friday, Decmber 8th @ Studio B (259 Banker St, Brooklyn) $5 (tix)
- James Murphy & Pat Mohoney
- Tim Goldsworthy & Tim Sweeney
- Andy Butler (Hercules & Love Affair)

With the new LCD Soundsystem album The Sound of Silver on the way, maybe we will get a taste here. You can't front on the $5 but you should probably get tickets in advance.

MODULAR X-MAS PARTY
Saturday, December 9th @ Williamsburg White Room (South 3rd and Roebling, Brooklyn), 10pm, $8 adv (tix)
- New Young Pony Club
- The Juan McLean
- Tim Sweeney

WaterCoolerGossip is obviously a fan of NYPC among the other dudes, so we can't wait for this show. Tim Sweeney is a holiday machine.

JELLYNYC HOLIDAY BASH
Saturday, December 9th @ Southpaw (125 Fifth Ave, Brooklyn), 9pm, $10
- The Big Sleep
- Anorak
- Goes Cube

The Big Sleep is back from their big US tour so go give them a big welcome back. With JellyNYC involved, you can at least pretend it is warm outside. They bring sunshine and pools wherever they go.

THE ONION'S ANNUAL OBIGATORY PARTY
Saturday, December 16 @ Union Hall (702 Union St at 5th Ave, Brooklyn), 8pm, $15
- Sloan
- David Cross
- Whitest Kids 'U Know
- Jessica Rose & The Hi-Life
- Found Footage Festival's Holiday Collection

We hear there will also be DJs, raffles, food and drinks—all for a mere $15 suggested donation. The proceeds will support programs at 826NYC, which helps Brooklyn kids with their reading and writing skills maybe so they can one day be better bloggers. Why would you not go to this?

FILTER MAGAZINE + BEN SHERMAN HOLIDAY PARTY
Thursday, December 14th @ Ben Sherman SoHo (96 Spring St, Yeah I know it's not Brooklyn), 8pm–11pm, RSVP Below
- Ra Ra Riot
- Guest DJ Set by Josh Madden

Ok. So you have to RSVP to rsvpnyc[at]filtermmm.com by Monday, December 11th to get in. See the Bass Ales hanging like ornaments? Enough said.

November 28, 2006

Archie Bronson Outfit Interview at Product Shop NYC

archiebronsonoutfit2.jpg

This post is exactly what the title says. Those guys are pretty funny. Go read the interview here.

DOWNLOAD
Dead Funny (MP3) - From Derdang Derdang
Funnel Of Love (MP3) - Wanda Jackson cover

November 21, 2006

New Young Pony Club's Short Tour of America New York and California

newyoungponyclub2.jpg

New Young Pony Club is coming to America and by America I mean NY, BK, LA, and SF but not in that order. Thankfully for us, New York and Brooklyn get the weekend of their short trip. I would rock one of those shirts too. Would you LA & SF?

Dec 6, Wednesday :: The Stone Bar – Modular Party :: Los Angeles
Dec 7, Thursday :: Popscene Party :: San Francisco
Dec 8, Friday :: Annex - Anthem Magazine Party :: New York
Dec 9, Saturday :: White Room – Modular Xmas Party w/ Juan MacLean and Tim Sweeney :: Williamsburg

November 17, 2006

Herman Düne on La Blogothéque

Remember that video I posted on of Herman Dune singing in a pink funny hat? Well he is at it again, wearing a brown funny hat this time, playing guitar in Laundromat then wandering the streets of Paris. Visit La Blogothéque to pretend you read French then watch the video.

I'm from Barcelona was also recently featured on the site. Go there.

Plug Awards & Free Brooklyn Show Tonight!

PLUG is presenting another show that is free this weekend (TONIGHT!) and worth mentioning. Come check out Takka Takka, The Harlem Shakes, Dragons of Zynth, and Illinois at The Syrup Room. Finger on the Pulse will DJ till 4 in the morning.

PLUG Brooklyn @ Syrup Room, 100 Ingraham in Brooklyn (Morgan L stop). Doors at 8pm. RSVP here! (Thx Brian)

Also don't forget to vote for your favorites of the year at the PLUG Awards. Vote for us – Sirius Blog Radio – under the Specialty Show of the Year (Commercial Radio) in the Media Categories (Obsessive). The organization of the categories is confusing, I know.

TV On The Radio on The Interface

tvontheradio.jpegTV On The Radio is on this week's edition of the Interface. Link. MP3. Enough said.

Free Show: The Twilight Sad at Piano's Sunday

twilight_sad.jpgThis is a repost from Product Shop. Might as well though because the show is free, those are hard to come by in the colder months....The Twilight Sad have come all the way from Glasgow to play in the FatCat Records residency at Piano's sponsored by our friends at Stereogum. Two shows down and one to go. This is your last chance to see this band of big noise and Scottish accents. Listen to their EP here.

Sunday 11/19: Twilight Sad at Piano's. Free. Doors at 9:30.

November 10, 2006

The Decemberists on The Interface

decemberists_interface.jpgFor those of you who don't know AOL Music's indie arm is now called Spinner and they have a brand new studio in LA. The Decemberists just happened to drop by for a chat and a few songs. I am sooo glad they did not play songs just from The Crane Wife because that is sooo not their best record. However, all the songs played here are good.

Go here to read about it and see some pics.
Go here for the the mp3 of the session.

The Big Sleep Tour Dates

bigsleep_21sept06_01.jpg

The Big Sleep is also one of those New York bands that I see every chance I get. I just saw them last night at NYU, which kicked off their tour. If you are not familiar, they play mostly instruemental tracks with occassional lyrics. I wioud liken them to the simple repetition of The Fall or the sweeping compositions of Explosions in the Sky or even Secret Machines. Let's hope they bring their flood lights with them.

DOWNLOAD
Murder (mp3) (video)
You Can't Touch the Untouchable (mp3)
More at their website

THE BIG SLEEP'S TOUR DATES
Nov 10 :: Philadelphia PA :: North Star Bar
Nov 11 :: Cleveland OH :: Grog Shop
Nov 12 :: Detroit MI :: Magic Stick w/ Dead Child
Nov 13 :: Toronto ON :: Lee's Palace w/ Annuals, Evangelicals
Nov 14 :: Buffalo NY :: Mohawk Place w/ French Kicks
Nov 16 :: Chicago IL :: Schuba's w/ Small Sins, Little Ones
Nov 17 :: Dayton OH :: Nite Owl
Nov 18 :: Pittsburgh PA :: Brillobox
Nov 25 :: Washington DC :: Black Cat w/ The Hold Steady
Nov 26 :: Carrboro NC :: Cat's Cradle w/ The Hold Steady
Nov 27 :: W. Columbia SC :: New Brookline Tavern w/ The Hold Steady
Nov 29 :: Orlando FL :: The Social w/ The Hold Steady
Nov 30 :: Tampa FL :: Orpheum w/ The Hold Steady
Dec 01 :: Tallahassee FL :: Beta Bar w/ The Hold Steady
Dec 02 :: New Orleans LA :: The Parish (inside House of Blues) w/ The Hold Steady

Matt & Kim Tour Dates

mattkim_27oct06_02.jpg

mattkim_27oct06_01.jpg

I was up front for Matt and Kim's CD release party (above) at Third Ward two weeks ago and it was fucking coconuts. I even skipped Love Is All, another dance-crazed concert, for that show. Somebody called this couple-core, like Mates of State but upbeat and more punk. They are about to go back out on the road, so don't miss these two.

DOWNLOAD
Yea Yeah (MP3)
Silver Tiles (MP3)
No More Long Years (MP3)
Verbs Before Nouns (MP3)


MATT AND KIM TOUR DATES
Nov 09 :: New York NY :: E&L Auditorium
Nov 24 :: Boston MA :: TBA
Nov 25 :: Philadelphia PA :: Circle of Hope
Nov 26 :: Richmond VA :: The Bonezone
Nov 27 :: Greenville NY :: The Spazzatorium Galleria
Nov 30 :: Atlanta GA :: TBA
Dec 01 :: Daphne AB :: Mama Engine's
Dec 02 :: New Orleans LA :: TBA
Dec 03 :: Austin TX :: TBA
Dec 04 :: Ft. Worth TX :: TBA
Dec 06 :: Phoenix AZ :: Trunk Space
Dec 07 :: Flagstaff AZ :: TBA
Dec 08 :: San Diego CA :: che cafe
Dec 09 :: Los Angeles CA :: TBA
Dec 11 :: San Francisco CA :: TBA
Dec 13 :: Portland OR :: Rotture
Dec 14 :: Seattle WA :: Camp Nowhere
Dec 15 :: Missoula MT :: TBA
Dec 16 :: SLC UT :: Kilby Court
Dec 17 :: Denver CO :: Rhinoceropolis
Dec 19 :: Omaha NE :: TBA
Dec 20 :: Minneapolis MN :: Triple Rock Social Club
Dec 21 :: Chicago IL :: Abbey Pub
Dec 22 :: Kalamazoo MI :: Rocket Star

Photos: Tod Seelie

Best of My CMJ MP3 Mix

cmj_logo.jpgI posted some songs from the best bands I saw live at CMJ this year. I would upload the MP3s here but that would be too much work. Just go get them from Product Shop. Sorry if it is annoying that Water Cooler Gossip's CMJ coverage is satellite. But our coverage is now complete so go get these MP3s.

CMJ Saturday Wrap-Up

cmj-sat.jpg

Finally, my CMJ recaps com to an end. The last one is over at Product Shop. It is basically about The Blow. CMJ was a blast. I am still exhausted.

CMJ SATURDAY
Fader House :: The Blow, Aloe Black, Malajube
AAM Day Party at North Six :: The Album Leaf
Modular Showcase at Midway :: The Soft Lightes
The Musebox Showcase at Lit :: Shout Out Out Out Out

November 08, 2006

CMJ Friday Wrap-Up: A Night Out With Product Shop NYC

cmjfriday.jpg

Friday at CMJ we spent the entire day preparing for our show at Studio B. There were a few fires to put out at the beginning of the day but the show turned out to be a hit. A big thanks to everybody who came. Pictures are over at Product Shop.

November 07, 2006

CMJ Thursday Wrap-up

CMJThursday.jpg

There are short reviews and pics over at Product Shop.

CMJ THURSDAY
KEXP Session at Gigantic Studios :: Hot Chip
Gothamist House :: Pela
Fader House :: Lo-Fi FNK, Dappled Cities, Annuals, 120 Days
Yep Rock / Stereogum Showcase at Pianos :: Cities, Apples In Stereo
Mercury Lounge :: Malajube, Benjy Ferree, Archie Bronson Outfit, Forward Russia
Vice Late Night Party at Cake Shop :: Cold War Kids, The Black Lips

November 06, 2006

CMJ Wednesday Wrap-Up

cmj_wednesday.jpg

WaterCoolerGossip is back after a short "CMJ-is-too-intense-to-blog" break. I tried to see as many shows as possible. Here is quick run down of what I saw on Wednesday. There short reviews and pictures over at Product Shop.

CMJ WEDNESDAY
Brooklyn Vegan Day Party - Pianos: Foundry Field Recordings, Thunderbirds Are Now! CSS, Ferraby Lionheart
Webster Hall - The Knife
Carpark / Pawtracks Showcase - Cake Shop: Beach House
Knitting Factory: Plot to Blow Up The Eiffel Tower, The Slits

October 25, 2006

This Friday October 27th – The Day of Reckoning

Friday is one of those days where there is too much going on. If these stars are aligned correctly you may be able to hit up the early Love Is All show at the Knitting Factory, head over to The Batteringroom's pre-CMJ party for Mussels at Matchless, then book it out to 3rd Ward for Matt & Kim's CD release party. The last shows for Love Is All and Matt & Kim in New York were giant frenzies, they were so crazy it was difficult to take a clear picture. Who can stand a double dose of that mania in one night? At least there will be time to chill at Knockout! (click for details). Never heard of those bands? Chris Batteringroom explains their merits here.

October 16, 2006

New Pela and CMJ Dates

pela_exitcolumbia.jpgRemember when indie rock bands didn't really have remixes. That was before the days of the mashups and cross-pollination between genres. Cassettes Won't Listen has put their touch on Pela's "Lost to the Lonesome," which happens to be the first track on their new EP Exit Columbia Street. For some reason I thought Pela's next release was going to be an album but I guess they decided to scale it back and just put the strongest songs on there. You can get it and preview it at iTunes. You can also catch this excellent Brooklyn band at CMJ—dates below.

DOWNLOAD
Lost to the Lonesome - Cassettes Won't Listen Remix (MP3)

PELA CMJ DATES
10/31 - Halloween party @ B61
11/2 - Gothamist CMJ @ White Rabbit Lounge
11/2 - Amp'd Mobile CMJ @ TBA
11/3 - KEXP and Friction CMJ @ Sin-é
11/5 - The Militia Group and Death & Taxes Magazine CMJ @ Union Pool

October 12, 2006

The Kooks Instore at Sound Fix 10/28

150px-TheKooksLogo.png Going to see The Kooks at Bowery or Northsix later this month? I am skeptical that this is Arctic Monkeys hype redux so I did not buy a ticket. However, I probably now will get a chance to see them at Sound Fix on Saturday 10/28 at 3pm. Free.

September 29, 2006

New Interface with Spoon

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.

September 06, 2006

VMAs: Hair Gel and Gold Fronts

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.

September 01, 2006

Explosions In The Sky Tickets Back On Sale!

Have your mind blown here. This Saturday.

Also don't forget about Motherfucker with The Cramps on Sunday Night.

Enjoy the long weekend.

August 09, 2006

Shows of Note This Weekend

Two shows you should check out this week. This Friday Takka Takka is playing at the Mercury Lounge, which is one of their three final New York shows before they go on tour with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Architecture in Helsinki. They came into Blog Radio on Monday and it was a blast. Go see for yourself.

On Saturday, Arizona is going to play a late but free show at Galapagos. They will finally have copies of Welcome Back Dear Children for sale. Also if you ask them nicely, they might just give you a copy of their EP The Sun and The Room. This will be the other place to be in Williamsburg Saturday evening and won't cost you $35. But even if you already spent that you could come after the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Finally, you would be stupid not go to the pool the next day for Jelly NYC's free show with Deerhoof, Beirut, Apollo Sunshine, and The Harlem Shakes. This one will be packed.


WEDNESDAY 8/9
Black Dice @ Knitting Factory
IO's @ Southpaw
A Place to Bury Strangers @ The Annex
Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players @ Mercury Lounge

THURSDAY 8/10
The Church @ Irving Plaza
RJD2, Lyrics Born @ Pier 54 Hudson River Park
Southpaw says they are closed to save energy

FRIDAY 8/11
Takka Takka, Illinois @ Mercury Lounge
Blood on the Wall, Sonic Youth, Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ McCarren Park Pool
Jeremy Enigk (ex-Sunny Day Real Estate), Stars of Track and Field @ Bowery Ballroom

SATURDAY 8/12
Arizona @ Galapagos (FREE – starts at 11pm)
Antifolk Fest @ Sidewalk Cafe (This goes for nine days)
Awesome Color, Sonic Youth, Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ McCarren Park Pool

SUNDAY 8/13
Deerhoof, Beirut, Apollo Sunshine, The Harlem Shakes @ McCarren Park Pool (FREE – starts at 2pm)
Celebration @ Joe's Pub

August 07, 2006

Music Reviews Are So Over

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"There needs to be a chocolate flavor available in this model."

483 other reviews and counting here.

The Knife Cuts Across America

As Pitchfork reported today, The Knife is finally coming to New York on November 1st (CMJ Jumpoff!). People should still be in spooky moods left over from Halloween. Andreas Nilsson, who directed the "Silent Shout" video, is going to coordinate the visuals.

THE KNIFE – USA TOUR DATES
11-01 New York, NY - Webster Hall
11-03 San Francisco, CA - Mezzanine (TIX!)
11-04 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theater

SILENT SHOUT

July 28, 2006

Tickets for Sound Team, Cold War Kids, Midlake Tonight

Tickets for the sold-out show at Mercury are back on sale here.

July 18, 2006

The Siren's Call

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So I went to Siren at Coney Island this Saturday. I was deep in the crowd so I don't have any good pics. However, I did have the privilege to actually hear the siren's call during The Stars. A cop and a medic tried to drive straight through the crowd toward the front of the stage and then made a slow left to drive across it. I assumed they were going for some drunken concertgoer who was suffering from heat exhaustion. But they just drove through the crowd, making big distraction. They were blasting their sirens. The Stars did not stop playing but did give a shout out to the police.

Man Man, Art Brut, and the end of Scissor Sisters were my favorite acts of the day. There is real music coverage at every other New York blog on the roll.

July 17, 2006

Jose Gonzalez on The Interface

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There is a live session with Jose Gonzalez over AOL's The Interface, possibly the best one yet. Remember, you can podcast these things. Check it out here.

Set List: Crosses / Deadweight on Velveteen / Lovestain / Heartbeats

Pic from Jose at Joe's Pub

July 13, 2006

Two Parties - PSNYC at R&R Tonight!

There are two things you should know about (click the images to see flyers bigger):

1. Ex-Lion Tamer and The Subjects at R&R
Yes we are calling this edition of the PSNYC parties Indiesexual. It is tough love. You may have seen the New York centric Movable Hype 8.0 Show earlier this week (more on that later); we are also putting together shows with some really cool New York bands. Come check out Ex-Lion Tamer (10:30pm) and The Subjects (11:30pm) tonight for a measly $7 at R&R (416 West 14th Street). They are streaming music at both their sites.

2. Siren After Party with Stars
Torquil from Stars and Dirty On Purpose will be at this post Siren. I have never been to Union Hall but it is owned by the good folks of Floyd on Atlantic Ave. Supposedly they have two bocce ball courts inside. This might be a good place to relax after a long and hopefully sunny day at Coney Island. There might a suprise acoustic set by a "DJ" too.

June 28, 2006

Gordy of Bloc Party Discusses New Album

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On the Bloc Party forum, Gordon Moakes talks about the recording their new album with the producer Jacknife Lee:

Bloc Party have finished a month at Grouse Lodge in County Westmeath in Ireland laying down licks and chops for the next record. It rained a lot but it was a truly enjoyable experience: in between the riffola and the twiddling we could be found walking through moist green meadows, exploring haunted houses, shooting at stuff with guns and generally lording it about as if the Irish Potato Famine never happened....

Jacknife Lee has guided us skilfully through the process, encouraging all kinds of thinking and attitude to get the best we can out of this record. We've all been banging and hitting things, detuning guitars, programming beats and making various kinds of racket.... I shan't reveal too much just yet, but expect a song where Matt and I play drums simultaneously; some truly R'n'B-styled beats; Russell's work with a Big Muff pedal; the sound of a guitar amp being thrown off a first-storey balcony; at least one unplayable guitar solo; both eggshell-thin fragility and trouser-flapping hugeness; piano, glockenspiel, strings; you name it....

And we've been filming a lot of this stuff too, so expect so see a bit of that here soon too.

G.x


We will probably hear some of those new tracks when Bloc Party plays a sold-out show at McCarren Pool on July 29th with Secret Machines and Mew.

June 21, 2006

Whores of Fashion: Rock N' Roll Pride Extravaganza

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At tomorrow's (June 22nd) Whores of Fashion Party at Club R&R (416 West 14th Street btw 9th and Washington), join 3xWes, Jason PSNYC, Lindsay Kollege Daily, Jeremito, and Randy Curls for an amazing rock n' roll party in celebration of gay pride week.

Tomorrow 6/22 :: Club R&R, 416 West 14th Street, $5 cover (or whatever you want), 10pm Doors, 21+

NEXT WEEK
Whores of Fashion will feature The Three Favorites (DJ Set) and Lions & Tigers (Live).......

June 20, 2006

Tons of Shows in the Next Two Weeks

There are so many shows coming up in the next few days. What are you going to?

6/20 TUESDAY
-Todd P: Wooden Wand, Vanishing Voice @ Union Pool
-Beirut @ Northsix
-Midlake, The 1900s @ Mercury Lounge

6/21 WEDNESDAY
-O'Death @ Pete's Candy Store
-Flashy Pythons @ Joe's Pub

6/22 THURSDAY
-PSNYC / Whores of Fashion Party with DJs 3xWes & Jason PS @ R&R

6/23 FRIDAY
-Stone Roses, Inc (Ryan Adams) @ Bowery Ballroom (doors at midnight)
-The Fantastic Ooze @ The Knitting Factory Old Office

6/24 SATURDAY
-Liars @ Warsaw
-Bedmeat DJs @ Liala Lounge
-Final Fantasy @ Tonic

6/27 TUESDAY
-The Grates, The Lovely Feathers, Tokyo Police Club, Persephone's Bees @ Mercury Lounge
-Oh No! Oh My! @ Knitting Factory
-The Streets, Layd Sovereign @ Webster Hall
-Calexico, Jason Collett @ Warsaw

6/28 WEDNESDAY
-Land of Talk, Figurines, The Little Ones @ Mercury Lounge

6/29 THURSDAY
-Jose Gonzalez, Juana Molina @ Bowery Ballroom
-Fiery Furnaces @ Webster
-Dirty On Purpose (Record Release Party), The Little Ones @ Mercury Lounge
-Todd P & BrooklynVegan: Land of Talk, Tokyo Police Club @ Syrup Room

6/30 FRIDAY
-TV on The Radio, Voxtrot @ Prospect Park (6:30 showtime FREE)
-Crackers United & Underrated: Birdmoster, Tally Hall, The Gaskets @ Sin-e
-Futureheads, The French Kicks @ Webster Hall
-The Walkmen @ Warsaw

7/1 SATURDAY
-Uncle Yeti (Unofficially presents): Birdmonster, By The End of Tonight @ Knitting Factory Tap Bar
-Matt Costa, Elvis Perkins, The Little Ones @ Bowery Ballroom

7/3 MONDAY
-Jose Gonzalez, Juana Molina @ Bowery Ballroom

7/4 TUESDAY
-Belle and Sebastian @ Battery Park (ticket info here)

June 15, 2006

PSNYC Whores of Fashion Party with Peaches TONIGHT!

jordanflyer05.jpgFROM PRODUCT SHOP NYC:
Peaches couldn't have asked for a better endorsement than when Radiohead took the stage Tuesday night with "Fuck The Pain Away" playing on The Theater's soundsystem. And with her new single, "Downtown" being her best song since "Lovertits", she seems poised to hit another career high.

Peaches will be doing a special DJ Performance at R&R (416 West 14th Street, NYC) this Thursday night as part of the new weekly Whores of Fashion party.

You still get on Devon Detrich's WOF RSVP list.
$15 cover | $10 list, RSVP HERE until 7:00 PM.

June 13, 2006

PSNYC Blog Radio Show III

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Jason Product Shop, Hoops from JellyNYC, and I crammed into the tiniest studio space they had at Sirius for the Product Shop NYC Blog Radio last night. Hoops officially announced the lineup all of those great FREE shows coming to McCarren Pool this summer in Williamsburg.
"Bands like Deerhoof, Of Montreal, The Walkmen, Les Savy Fav, Enon, Apollo Sunshine, Beirut, Dr. Dog, Human Television, Silversun Pickups, The Harlem Shakes, Elvis Perkins, and many more exciting surprise names that are soon to be announced, are all on board…plus expect the best of the best DJs rockin out on the wheels of steel from The Rub to Questlove."
Ice Cream Man is going to come through for one show and their is going to be a gigantic slip n' slide.

For the format of the show we were pairing something old with something new and talking about musical influences. Hopefully soon we will get a podcast of shows online.

PSNYC's Playlist 3.0 | 6-12-06 | Sirius Blog Radio | Channel 26

* Gulag Orkestar - Beirut
* Life In A Glass House - Radiohead
* Free Radicals - The Flaming Lips
* The Pot Head Pixies- Gong
* Company Dance - Sam Champion
* Honey Bee - Tom Petty
* All You Deliver - José González
* Which Will - Nick Drake
* Hang Me Up To Dry - Cold War Kids
* In the Meantime - Spacehog
* War - Celebration
* R U A Believer - The Make-Up
* Downtown - Peaches
* Sex Style - Kool Keith
* Woman - Wolfmother
* Sweet Leaf - Black Sabbath
* Damn Damn Leash - Be Your Own Pet
* Identity - X-Ray Spex
* Drunken Lullabies - Flogging Molly
* A Pair Of Brown Eyes - The Pogues
* Cheney - Brakes
* Weinerschnitzel - The Descendents
* Black Cat - Broadcast
* TV - The Flying Lizards
* My Lady Story - Antony & The Johnsons
* The Other Woman -Nina Simone
* Is This Love? - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
* Prove My Love - Violent Femmes
* Feel Good Hit of the Fall - !!!
* Shack Up - A Certain Ratio
* Feel the Machine - The Chalets
* Strobe Light - The B-52's
* Raised By Wolves - Voxtrot
* Timeless Melody - The La's
* Stadiums And Shrines II - Sunset Rubdown
* Blue Thunder - Galaxie 500
* Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken - Camera Obscura
* Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying - Belle & Sebastian
* All Hands And The Cook - Walkmen
* To Be Alone With You - Bob Dylan

Listening Parties at AOL Music

AOL Music has some great album streams this week. I love the new Hot Chip. I am also sort of obsessed with Regina Spektor right now.

Hot Chip – The Warning

Regina Spektor – Begin To Hope

Have not heard any of the albums below but I am really stoked to hear what these bands have been up to.

The Juan Maclean - Visitations

Sonic Youth – Rather Ripped
The Replacements – Don’t You Know Who I Think I Was

June 06, 2006

Blog Radio Show 2.0; Summer Music

Jason PSNYC, DJ Del, and I joked around last night talking about summer music for the Product Shop NYC Blog Radio show on Sirius' Left of Center station that aired from 10-midnight. BrooklynVegan's show airs tonight and Gorilla vs. Bear's show airs tomorrow. If you are curious about the shows, check out Sirius for a free trial.

PSNYC's Playlist 2.0 | 06-05-06 | Sirius Blog Radio | Channel 26

* I'm Nuthin' - Ethan Hawke
* Thunder Road {Acoustic Nebraska demo} - Bruce Springsteen
* Astral Weeks - Van Morrison
* This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) - Talking Heads
* Nightswimming - R.E.M
* Because the Night - Patti Smith
* Dancing In The Moonlight - Thin Lizzy
* Wake Up - Arcade Fire & David Bowie
* Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra
* Vindaloo - Fat Les
* I Predict A Riot - Kaiser Chiefs
* Be Aggressive - Faith No More
* The World's A Mess; It's In My Kiss - X
* Bad Town - Operation Ivy
* Hit The North Pt 1 - The Fall
* Whole Wide World - Wreckless Eric
* Chains Of Love - Erasure
* Electric Music & Summer People - Beck
* Mr. E's Beautiful Blues (Untitled) - Eels
* Peace Frog - The Doors
* The City Never Sleeps - Jonathan Fire*Eater
* Rain On The Scarecrow - John Cougar Mellencamp
* It Can't Rain All The Time - Jane Siberry
* Summertime Rolls - Jane's Addiction
* Sunny Road - Emiliana Torrini
* LDN - Lily Allen
* Heart Of The Country - Paul McCartney
* Let It Rain - Tilly and The Wall
* My Sweet Lord - Fitzroy Sterling

May 02, 2006

Voxtrot & Tapes n' Tapes Videos

Steven from Schedule Two tipped us off to some new video of Voxtrot and Tapes n' Tapes they uploaded. The two bands played the same show at 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis back in February. After watching a few, it is crazy how many cameras they brought to the venue. Take a look. The videos are even iPod ready.

VOXTROT (MORE AT SCHEDULE TWO)

Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives
Fast Asleep

TAPES N' TAPES (MORE AT SCHEDULE TWO)
Insistor
Cowbell

April 26, 2006

(CANCELLED) Product Shop NYC Reading Fest at Rothko Tomorrow

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Feel like you have not read any good books lately (or magazines for that matter–not pointing any fingers)? Been going to too many shows?

Come to Rothko tomorrow at 7:00 and let Chuck Klosterman, Marc Spitz, Sarah "Ultragrrrl" Lewitinn, Andy Greenwald, and Caryn Ganz read to you. These former SPIN writers will be reading passages from their novels, how-tos, and rants on music.

Yes you have time to do this before you go to John Vanderslice.

Product Shop NYC Reading Fest at Rothko
116 Suffolk Street (corner of Rivington)
Thursday, April 27th
7—9PM
$5 Cover

UPDATE:
This was cancelled due to venue problems.

April 05, 2006

Gnarls Barkley, Top of the Pops

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The single "Crazy" from the upcoming Gnarls Barkley St. Elsewhere debuted at #1 today on the UK charts. Except the song doesn't actually hit the streets until Tuesday, this is entirely from online single sales. If that many people bought it online, think how many downloaded it from a blog.

The album comes out on May 9th in the US on Downtown Records/Atlantic. Pitchfork has more.

OLD GOSSIP
Gnarls Barkley; That Dude

April 02, 2006

New York's High Priority

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Michael Bierut of Design Observer has collected all of the High Priority illustrations for New York magazine that describe what is going on that week. He describes it as:

Every week, the editors of New York magazine identify five upcoming "can't miss" activities in the magazine's back-of-the-book listings section. And every week, New York's design director, Luke Hayman, and art director, Chris Dixon, select a designer to create "High Priority," a typographic illustration using these five selections.
The rules are simple. The illustration is 4.4 inches high by 6.875 inches wide; it has to include the five events, the dates of the week, and the words "High Priority;" and it can only use two colors, red and black.

See a bunch more after the jump or go read/see more at Design Observer.

Above image by Todd St. John of HunterGatherer.

Continue reading "New York's High Priority" »

April 01, 2006

Colours

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Brian Eno and David Byrne are rereleasing a remastered version of My Life in the Bush of Ghost, a heavily influential album from 1981 that used a lot of atmospheric and found sounds. Here is an excerpt from an essay David Byrne wrote about the album:

At that time there were no samplers, so the found vocals were often flown in (this consisted of two tape machines playing simultaneously, one containing the track and the other the vocal) and, if the Gods willed, there would be a serendipity and the vocal and the track would at least seem to feel like they belonged together and it would be a “take”. . . . Sometimes we’d record radio sermons after-hours on our cassette players that were built in to our late 70’s boom boxes. The quality was sometimes dubious (on “Come With Us” we had to make the hiss part of the dark ambience)…but overall we came to realize that hi fidelity was vastly overrated- and sometimes the harsh megaphone like quality of these vocals was actually more immediate sounding. Like transmissions from a desperate planet. Other times the vocals often came from those records we’d been listing to over the previous year.

I think some people found all this disturbing. In the West anyway the causal link between the author and performer is strong. For instance, it is assumed that I write lyrics (and the accompanying music) for songs because I have something I need to “express”. And that as a performer it is assumed that everything one utters is naturally autobiographical. I find that more often, on the contrary, it is the music and the lyric that triggers the emotion within me rather than the other way around. By making music we are pushing our own buttons, in effect, and the surprising thing is that vocals that we didn’t write or even sing can make us feel a gamut of emotions just as much as ones that we wrote. In a way making music is constructing machines that, when successful, dredge up emotions- in us and in the listener. For some, this fact is, it seems, repulsive, a trick, a betrayal and deception. Many prefer to see music as an “expression” of emotion rather than a generator of it.


Watch this experimental video Mea Culpa from 1981 by Bruce Conner that uses a track from My Life in the Bush of Ghost. Peter Buchanan-Smith did the new cover above. Read more about the cover and see some studio pictures here.

Also, I have been obsessed with the new Hot Chip album for the past couple days. "Colours" has been on repeat; it's TweeTronic. The album has bit more range than that descriptor but it's all laid back. I did not really like their first album but there are lots of good tracks on The Warning. Look for this scorcher soon.

Colours (MP3)
Over and Over Video : Real Player High / Real Player Low // WMP High / WMP Low

March 30, 2006

Three 6 Mafia to Receive Key to their City

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Yes, Saturday is official Three 6 Mafia Day in Memphis where they will be presented with the key to the city. Apparently Paris Hilton interviewed them and they may be working on a song with her soon.

A Seminar for Night Club Bouncers

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A Seminar for Night Club Bouncers at McSweeney's. These guys are always in full effect outside the terrible club nextdoor to the Mercury Lounge. I will be there tonight (at the Mercury Lounge not the club — they probably would not let me past the velvet rope) for I Love You But Your Band Name Is Too Long For Me To Continue Typing It.

March 29, 2006

SXSW Recap of Recaps & Gigantic Mixtape

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Because I have waited so long to write something about SXSW I am going just mention a few of the recaps that I found particularly interesting.

1. A Cool Hunting SXSW Video
Although they don't really capture any crazy street shenanigans, they do film a ton of bands and the sound is pretty good.

2. Gorilla vs. Bear Recap
Chris has a lot of good pics. It seems like he was hanging out with Tapes n' Tapes a lot.

3. Central Village Talks A Lot

If you want to read 2000+ words about the three day music fest – have at it. I could not finish the whole thing.

4. Blue States Always Lose in Texas

I hope you are familiar with the wry commentary of Blue States Lose, which documents hipsters at their worst. If that is not enough for you, see more at The Cobra Snake.


I have compiled a SXSW Mixtape from some of the cool bands on the torrent. Get the 41 song mix and a lesson in downloading after the jump.

Image above stolen from The Cobra Snake

Continue reading "SXSW Recap of Recaps & Gigantic Mixtape" »

March 27, 2006

Beastie Boys Interview Complete

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So last week I mentioned that I interviewed the Beastie Boys at their studio with some other folks. Those three are really funny when they get together. It is pretty crazy that they have been making Hip Hop music for twenty years and have not fallen off. In that time they have explored some other projects. MCA has directed a concert film called Awesome; I Fucking Shot That!. Go hear or read part of the interview. Jason and I also did a Mystery Jets interview before their show Saturday and will post it later this week.

March 17, 2006

Awesome; I Fucking Shot That! Film

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Because I link to everything I do for Product Shop NYC, go check out my review for Beastie Boys' new concert film Awesome; I Fucking Shot That!

March 16, 2006

Post-SXSW in NYC

Can anybody heard the crickets chirping in New York? It is a very quiet week since the most of the music biz is down in Austin for SXSW. I am excite for post-SXSW in New York. Below is a list of shows you might want to consider (that are not sold out as of 3/16) for next few weeks. Are you seeing any cools shows this week (anywhere) involving bands that are not at SXSW?

THE NOT-YET-SOLDOUT SHOW LIST FOR MARCH

Sun 3/19 Sam Prekop (of The Sea & Cake), Archer Prewitt @ Southpaw
Mon 3/20 Annie, Shy Child @ Mercury Lounge
Tue 3/21 Matt Pond PA, Youth Group @ Northsix
Wed 3/22 The Go! Team @ Northsix
Fri 3/24 Detachment Kit, Foreign Islands, The Big Sleep, Goes Cube @ Brooklyn Lyceum (Oh My Rockness' March Radness Party)
Fri 3/24 & 3/25 Love is All, Cause Co-Motion! @ Knitting Factory & Southpaw
Fri 3/24 & 3/25 Mystery Jets @ Mercury Lounge
Sun 3/26 Part Chimp, Oxford Collapse, Die! Die! Die! @ Union Pool (ToddP presents)
Mon 3/27 White Rose Movement, Foreign Islands @ Mercury Lounge
Tue 3/28 Magnolia Electric Co., Destroyer @ Avalon
Tue 3/28 Editors & stellastar* @ Warsaw
Wed 3/29 What Made Milwaukee Famous @ Mercury Lounge
Thu 3/30 I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness @ Mercury Lounge
Fri 3/31 The Spinto Band, Human Television, Aeroplane Pageant @ Mercury Lounge
Fri 3/31 Bishop Allen @ Pianos

That should keep you busy for the rest of the month. I will be at few of them. There is more in April but ironically a lot of the good shows are already sold out. More on that and some of these bands later.

March 15, 2006

Brian Chase (YYY's Drummer) Speaks

Brian Chase of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs talks with Cool Hunting. Go read the interview.

OLD GOSSIP
Something Like a Phenomena
Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Bowery Ballroom

March 03, 2006

Fake Tales and San Francisco

If you haven't heard the news:

There were lots of shake ups in the rock critic world this week. Nick Sylvester has been cought in a scandal for writing a cover story for the Village Voice that read like a press release for The Game, a do-it-yourself seduction book, and fabricated a story about picking up girls at the bar 151 with some LA TV writers. Read about it here in Gothamist and Gawker (lots of updates here too). He has been suspended from The Voice and forced to quit at Pitchfork. Does anyone have a link to the real article (which has now been pulled)? He is certainly no comparison to Stephen J. Glass and Hollywood will probably not make a movie about him.

SPIN has also had its fair share of news. The magazine was sold to a San Fransisco publisher and people were fired or quit (including Chuck Klosterman and Marc Spitz). On the lighter side, Marc Spitz of SPIN has a new and supposedly good rock novel out called Too Much Too Late.

February 28, 2006

2006 SXSW MP3s

The torrent file for the 2006 SXSW performing artists is up, that's 750 free MP3s (2.3 gigs) from different bands playing the festival. There is a 30-second clip file as well.
If you need a bit torrent client, I suggest Azureus.