Bonde Do Role @ Studio B, Brooklyn, NY April 13, 2007

Bonde Do Role opened for the Klaxons last Friday. (I am a bit embarrassed that it has taken me so long to post these pictures.) In short -- these people are wild. Rolling Stone magazine listed them as one of the "10 Bands to Watch" last month.


Below is a snippet from the Rolling Stone write up:

SOUND In complete disregard for U.S. copyright law, Bonde do Role (D'eyrot, 22, MC Marina Ribatski, 21, and producer and DJ Rodrigo Gorky, 25) pile super-recognizable samples -- AC/DC, the Grease soundtrack, Tone-Loc -- into an over-the-top party-starting mix. A typical lyric (from "Melo do Caldinho"): "I was at a party/And I saw a whore/I put my tongue into her asshole/And my tongue came out all dirty." "That's the shit we're doing, man," D'eyrot says. "Nasty stuff. Sex with food, general perversion."

WHAT'S NEXT The group is planning a U.S. tour this summer and is working on an LP with Diplo. "We're going to try to use some samples that are not so recognizable and try to get a guitarist," says Gorky. But for now the trio is psyched to be playing increasingly raucous live sets at home. "The crowd at the last show was a mix of playboys and, how do you say, high-class whores," says D'eyrot. "That was crazy."

Haste The Day Plays Irving Plaza Tonight (April 20th)

Haste The Day is co-headlining the bill at Irving Plaza tonight with From Autumn to Ashes and tickets are available at the door. I had the opportunity to meet the band earlier today as they were filming a video interview for Metal Machine.

More on this tomorrow...

Haste The Day Pressure The Hinges CD Review

Haste The Day's new CD falls into the more melodic side of metalcore. New vocalist Stephen Keech has a vocal range similar to All That Remains' Phil Labonte which can range from a melodic harmony to a death metal growl. Musically, the band is less brutal than ATR and a closer point of comparison may be Midtown. Guitarist Jason Barnes was quoted as saying "We wanted melodies influenced by bands like AC/DC and Def Leppard rather than the bands we’ve toured with." There are a lot of strong songs on this CD and it has held up to repeated listenings.

The band doesn't stray much from its core melodic hardcore sound with the exception of the tracks Janet's Planet and Chorus of Angels. The later is an epic track that includes portions of Eye of the Needle (the first track on the disc). This track ties all the songs on the disc together and serves as a perfect closer. On the melodic side, my favorite tracks are Stitches (probably the best track on the disc) and The Minor Prophets. Both feature strong vocals and 'exploding' choruses.

Haste the Day are co-headlining a show with From Autumn to Ashes this Friday night (April 20th) at Iring Plaza with supporting bands Alesana, Twelve Gauge Valentine and Maylene and the Sons of Disaster. Tickets are still available and are only $15.75.

Links:
Haste The Day MySpace page (link)

Art Brut Afterparty @ R Bar Tonight, April 17th (12AM - 4AM)

After tonight's show at the Bowery Ballroom, check out the afterparty at R Bar. The party starts at 12AM and you can hang out with the band and hear the new CD It's A Bit Complicated in its entirety. Bar R is at 218 Bowery (btwn. Spring & Broome).




The band has a show at Club B in Brooklyn tomorrow night (Wednesday, April 18th) and the new CD will be released on June 26th.

H20 & Negative Approach Added to Superbowl of Hardcore at Studio B on May 19th

The Superbowl of Hardcore is going to be a big show as H20 and Negative Approach were just added to the lineup. Below is the list of bands that have been announced thus far:

NEGATIVE APPROACH (first NYC appearance since the 80s)
H20
COLD AS LIFE
ONE 4 ONE
DARKSIDE NYC
ALL OUT WAR
COLDFRONT
FULL BLOWN CHAOS
BILLY CLUB SANDWICH
H8 INC
SAVANNAH

The show is at Studio B in Brooklyn. Doors are 2PM and tickets are $25.

Madball Plays Show on Staten Island on May 4th

I hate having to get in the car to drive to a show but Madball is one of those few bands that could get me to drive into Staten Island. Since CBGB and L'Amour closed, I think the closest Madball has played is Long Island.

Here are the details on the show:
May 4th
Dock Street
691 Bay Street
Staten Island, NY

SI Rich Productions Presents:

MADBALL
THE BANNER
FOLLY
ENRAGE
MY BITTER END
THE PAST IS PRESENT
REASON ENOUGH
AS YOU WERE

Doors 6pm
1st band at 7
$15 Bucks at the door
All Age

Subhoodz Release No Regrets CD on April 17th

I got into Subhoodz in the late 90's but the band has been pretty quiet for the last few years. Tomorrow, the band releases a killer compilation covering their 16 year career as a band. This CD contains material from This Boy's Life and the Genuine B-Boyz CDs and some remixes and new material. The band is supposed to be hitting the road soon for a tour and a CD of new material will follow later in the year.

Stress calls Subhoodz' music "Hip-Hop for the Hardcore at Heart". For fans of old-school metal/hip-hop fusion (think Biohazard, Crown of Thornz, 25 Ta Life and Skarhead), this CD is a must-have.

Frauke is Playing Fat Baby Tomorrow Night (April 16th)

Frauke makes its NYC debut tomorrow night and are playing Fat Baby in a celebration of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's birthday.








Here is what the band has posted to their MySpace page:

Since this is a Monday night, and it's our first NYC show, we'll probably be playing with a bunch of bands who apparently maybe like joy division. But we do not know. We only hope that there will be many fat babies in attendance, and perhaps the regular sluts from the fat baby bar to serve us lager and bay breezes. Won't you come and join us, this show will be an absolute fucking disaster. Come for Frauke. Stay for the lager and for to celebrate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's birthday but do not pay heed to anything or anyone else at the lagerhausen that is Fat Baby.

I have Frauke loaded on my iPod but haven't had a chance to listen to the songs so..more on Frauke later.

Links:
Frauke's MySpace page (link)

The Klaxons @ Studio B, Brooklyn, NY April 13th, 2007

MTV Urge Nights sponsored The Klaxons at Studio B last Friday night. I haven't seen a crowd this ready to party since the closing shows at CBGB. The show was sold out and the club was at capacity.


The crowd started pogoing and dancing from the minute the band hit the stage up until the last song. With that many people moving, the temperature rose quickly and that jacket (in the above picture) didn't last long.


As I have heard The Klaxons' music described as "new rave" so I was expecting their live show to sound something like the Happy Monday's. This wasn't the case at all. Below is part of an interview that Urge did with singer/keyboardist James Righton:

URGE: What does the phrase "new rave" mean to you?

Righton: Jaime [Reynolds] invented the term for the band, just as a joke. Then NME got ahold of it, and what the NME says suddenly becomes gospel. So it spread. It's a misrepresentation of the music and misleading in a lot of ways.

URGE: So you're saying you don't take 10 ecstasy pills a day and wear a Dr. Seuss hat to bed?

Righton: No, no. [Laughs.] It's not happening. It's funny, because as soon as it got talked about, we tried to distance ourselves from it. I don't think any band likes a tag, let alone one that conjures up images that we probably don't adhere to.

URGE: What are the differences between the first generation of rave and what you're doing?

Righton: The differences are musical: We don't use electronics, we don't use 303s, we don't use any of that. We're a live band, an organic band, and that allows for human failures and elements. We don't go onstage dressed in neon out of our minds, either. Not every night.





If The Klaxons truely believe the world will end in 2012, they obviously aim to have some fun over the next five years. The new album's final song, "Four Horsemen Of 2012," references the final year of the Mayan Calendar, when some, including Klaxons (Reynolds, Righton and guitarist Simon Taylor-Davis), believe the world will end. But reveling in our worldly demise is cause for a party, according to Righton: "Celebrating that we all are going to die is great! Every gig, we give out the address to Simon's house, that's where the barbeque is going to happen on New Year's Eve 2012."

URGE: Do you really believe that the world is going to end in 2012?

Righton: Of course we do. We're going to design T-shirts that say "12 12 12." Then watches that say "countdown to apocalypse." They're not going to tell the time, just the countdown. You're all invited to Simon's barbeque, as well.

Made Out of Babies and Unearthly Trance Play Club Midway on Monday, April 16th

I almost didn't notice this show which I would have regretted as it looks like a great lineup of bands.

TimeOut's advance preview says "Made Out of Babies takes NYC rock back to the sewer where it belongs. Singer Julie Xmas goes from girl-child to Cookie Monster with a pervasive f*cked-up-ness that's only amplified by the rhyth, section's chthonic rumble and the guitarist's theatening riffage."

Opening acts Unearthly Trance, Minsk and Rwake are all on Relapse so that should say something for their sound.

Here are the details about the show...

Mon 04/16/07
CLUB MIDWAY
25 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009
212-253-2595
club@clubmidway.com
$10 ADV/$12 DOS

Made Out Of Babies 12:00
http://www.myspace.com/madeoutofbabies
http://www.madeoutofbabies.com/

Rwake 11:00
http://www.myspace.com/rwake

Minsk 10:00
http://www.myspace.com/minsk
http://www.thesoundofminsk.com/

Unearthly Trance 9:00
http://www.myspace.com/utny
http://www.unearthlytrance.com/

Voivod - Legal Music Download

I just found Voivod's official fan site (link) and there is an amazing amount of live and demo material available for download. Demos from Hatross and Negatron were just added to the site. I haven't gotten around to listening to these demos as I have had the demos from Nothingface on my iPod for the last week.

For anyone who is a fan of Voivod or thrash in general, this site is a great find.

Links:
Voivod Main Site (link)

The Dictators Release New 7" of Vault Material from 1978

New material from The Dictators is always great news. Norton Records has just released a new 7" of previously unreleased archive material from 1978. The tracks are:

16 Forever which was recorded at Bearsville Studios July 7, 1978 - the original board mix, which was never finished and Stay With Me which is the demo for the song on the Bloodbrothers album.

This 7" is available directly from Norton for only $4.00.

The Dark Horse Project - CD Review

The Dark Horse Project are an interesting return to the post-punk sound of the 90's and I have been enjoying listening to their first CD. The songs on this CD are diverse as the band successfully channels a number of apparent influences. The first track on the CD Haunted Face has heavy southern/gothic overtunes and could easily fit into the songbook of acts like Nick Cave or Mary My Hope. From here songs range from a stripped down power-trio sound (Dark Horse) to torch songs similar to the work Kid Congo Powers did in Congo Norvell and later work with Annie Anxiety.

The members of the band have an interesting pedegree which may explain the band's diverse sound. Singer/Guitarist Liv Mueller(Liv Lovely) tore up the CMJ charts as singer for The Lovelies for a number of years. Marc Hunter and Grant Curry play drums and bass on this disc and were part of James Hall's Pleasure Club for years. For those not familar with James Hall and the Pleasure Club, Hall is part Jim Morrison, part Nick Cave and part the peacher from The Poltergeist movies. This helps explains the dark undercurrent across this disc.

I haven't seen the band play live but they have two upcoming dates in the area and I am going to make a point of trying to catch one of them:

- May 3rd @ Pianos, NYC

- May 4th @ The Williamsburg White Room, Brooklyn

I hadn't heard of the White Room prior to reading about the band's upcoming shows so here is a (link) to the venue's website.

Band Links:
The Dark Horse Project Main Website (link)
The Dark Horse Project MySpace page (link)

New Interview with the Klaxons Posted to Urge.com

MTV has a new download service Urge that looks more than capable of giving iTunes a run for its money. The site has a 14 day free trial so check it out.

MTV Urge Nights are sponsoring the Klaxons at Studio B in Greenpoint this Friday night (and there are still tickets left) and just posted an interview with the band to Urge.com.

Below are some excerpts from the interview and a link to the full text is below.

URGE: What was the first gig you ever played as Klaxons like?

James Righton: We started the band on November 4, 2005, booked a gig for November 11th and so had to learn to play something quickly. The venue was located in the center of London in a small basement, and when we turned up we found out that the main act had pulled out, so we were suddenly playing our first gig as a headliner with literally three or four songs. Within the first two or three minutes of the set, every instrument fell apart, everything broke, and it was the most punk thing most people in London had seen in a long time.

URGE: Do you really believe that the world is going to end in 2012?

Righton: Of course we do. We're going to design T-shirts that say "12 12 12." Then watches that say "countdown to apocalypse." They're not going to tell the time, just the countdown. You're all invited to Simon's barbeque, as well.

The rest of the interview is available here (link)

John Joseph DJs @ Punk Slope @ Bar 4 in Brooklyn on Saturday

Punk Slope returns to Bar 4 with John Joseph and FK. This should be a great night -- The Punk Slope parties last year were wild.

Check out the Punk Slope website (link) for more details.

OzzFest 2007 Tickets -- Let the Hype Start

As much as I am going to make fun of the hype around this year's free OzzFest tickets and I really hate the idea of the closest location being PNC in Jersey, I am still going to try and get a pair of tickets. (If anyone can get me a photo pass, please drop me an email).

I just received the following email tonight:
----------------------------------------------------------
OZZFEST Announces How Fans Can
Obtain Their Free Tickets
To This Summers Ground-Breaking Extravaganza

You’ve heard about how OZZFEST is boldly redefining the concert industry this year by making all the tickets to the summer’s premiere touring concert festival entirely free for fans.

Well, Ozzfest fans have a number of ways to score a pair of tickets to “FreeFest”--which will rock mightily with festival’s namesake OZZY OSBOURNE and Lamb of God, Hatebreed, Lordi, Behemoth, Mondo Generator, Nile, Ankla, Circus Diablo, The Showdown, 3 Inches of Blood, Daath, Chthonic and In This Moment.

Ticket codes will be distributed through sponsor websites beginning May 12. Details on these programs are available on ozzfest.com, livenation.com, monsterenergy.com, jagermusic.com and fye.com. In the meantime, various sponsors will have offline initiatives, details of which will also be available via their respective websites.

These codes can be redeemed for tickets beginning June 12--exactly one month before the first OZZFEST 2007 show in Seattle. Fans will return to the site where they registered or www.livenation.com/ozzfest, enter their code and download two tickets to the show of their choice. Note: To ensure that everyone gets the chance for free tickets, there is a limit of two tickets per customer.

The 24-city earth-pounding 12th annual OZZFEST will launch July 12 in Seattle, WA at the White River Amphitheatre. OZZFEST will also hit George, WA, Sacramento, CA, Mountain View, CA, Devore, CA, Phoenix, AZ, Albuquerque, NM, Denver, CO, Kansas City, MO, Dallas, TX, San Antonio, TX, St. Louis, MO, Columbus, OH, Tinley Park, IL, East Troy, WI, Indianapolis, IN, Holmdel, NJ, Hartford, CT, Boston, MA, Philadelphia, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Detroit, MI, Charlotte, NC and West Palm Beach, FL.

Stay tuned to www.ozzfest.com and www.LiveNation.com for the most up to date information on this summer’s extravaganza.

Free Tickets to Patti Smith Shows at Bowery Ballroom with CD Purchase

The record company is really going all out to promote this new CD. More information was announced...I was wondering how Patti was going to play three separate shows and here is how it is going to happen:

The three 30-minute concerts will include acoustic music, spoken word performances, and in-concert surprises. The doors open for each "Bowery Sessions" show at 6pm, 8:30pm, and 10:30pm.

You can also get a free ticket to an of the shows (limit of 4 per customer) by purchasing the CD at any of the following stores:

Borders
461 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10022

Borders
576 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10016

Borders
100 Broadway
New York, NY 10009

Borders
The Shops at Columbus Circle
10 Columbus Circle
New York, NY 10019

Borders
2 Penn Plaza
New York, NY 10121

Virgin Megastore
52 E 14th
New York, NY 10003

FYE
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York NY 10104

J&R
23 Park Row
New York, NY 1003

It should go without saying that these free tickets are limited.

UMAMI Plays Free Show @ Luna Lounge on Saturday, May 12th

UMAMI, who is a pretty cool local bass and drums act, is playing a free show at the Luna Lounge on May 12th with a couple of other up-and-coming Brooklyn bands. Check out the tracks streaming on UMAMI's MySpace page and then check out the show.

Here is the complete lineup for the night:
8pm Broadband --- all-girl math-punk geniuses
9pm Limbs --- thoughtful, swirling compositions and moody vocals
10pm UMAMI --- two busy bass players, one frenetic drummer: intricate,high energy thunder
11pm Pink Noise --- fuzzy, dreamy drone-pop to get lost in

Tonic (LES Music Venue) To Close Its Doors Next Friday April 13th

It is sad to see yet another area club close its doors. Tonic was a great club so let's hope the owners are able to reopen elsewhere. There is a poll on the main page of the club's site asking "Which NYC borough or neighborhood would you most like Tonic to reopen in?" Thus far, the top choice is "Brooklyn - Gowanus (52%)". It would be great to have Tonic reopen in the neighborhood.

Below is the "farewell" post that John and Melissa have posted to Tonic's website:

Dear Musicians, Fans and Friends:

After more than 9 years as a home for avant-garde, creative, and experimental music, Tonic will reluctantly close its doors on Friday, April 13th, 2007. We simply can no longer afford the rent and all of the other costs associated with doing business on the Lower East Side.

The neighborhood around us has been increasingly consumed by "luxury condominiums", boutique hotels and glass towers, all making the value of our salvaged space worth more then our business could ever realistically support. We have also been repeatedly harassed by the city's Quality of Life Task Force which resulted in the debilitating closing of the ))sub((tonic lounge in January. Coincidentally, this campaign began as our immediate neighbor, the Blue Condominium building - a symbol of the new Lower East Side - prepared to open its doors.

As a business, we take responsibility for mistakes made along the way. If profit had been our chief motivation we could have changed our programming to something more mainstream and financially lucrative. Instead we were more committed to a certain type of music and loyal to the community that supported us. As a result, we've always just survived but never really prospered. It is, however, unfortunate that it is so difficult for small businesses to operate in this city and that a chain store that can afford a high rent is more desirable than a place like Tonic that has a different kind of value.

While this is certainly the end of Tonic at 107 Norfolk Street, we remain committed to what Tonic represents and plan to try again in some form as soon as possible. In the interim, Tonic will make efforts to present new music in existing venues such as the Abron's Arts Center located just a few blocks away.

We invite you to join us as often as you can over our remaining days to help us celebrate Tonic and more importantly the amazing artists, our unwavering staff, and the nurturing community that made Tonic possible. It’s because of you that we’ve stayed open as long as we have. Thank you!

Sincerely, Melissa and John

Mason Jennings - Bonecloud CD Review

Most of the CDs that I review are either metal, punk or hardcore so it takes a special singer/songwriter to catch my attention. Mason Jennings caught my attention...this is a great CD! I have read some reviews that compare Jennings' sound to Jack Johnson (whose songs frankly annoy me) but I don't hear a basis for this comparison. The songs on this disc are folk/Americana tunes that could be compared to works by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Bonecloud is Jennings' fifth CD and his first release on a major label - Isaac Brock's Glacial Pace Recordings (distributed by Epic Records). Jennings keeps this disc interesting by varying styles, tempos and rhythms across songs. Most of the songs are carried by Jennings' voice and not overpowered by the music. The music is carefully arranged but never overwhelming and when combined with Jennings' narrative lyrics, this draws the listener into each of the songs in a powerful manner. Some of my favorite tunes are Be Here Now which has a big sound and will likely become the radio hit from this disc, Moon Sailing on the Water which is a plaintive ballad backed with a sparse piano arrangement, Jesus Are You Real which has an 1970s Americana sound and Some Say I'm Not which contains some impressive percussion work. What I really enjoy about this disc is that each song stands on its own and tells a story. My only disappointment was the liner notes are sparse but songlyrics are available on Jennings' website. This is a minor complaint as this is a strong CD.

Jennings has three upcoming shows in the NYC area:

April 13 - Beacon Theatre (Supporting Guster)
April 18 - Luna Lounge, Brooklyn
April 21 - Gramercy Theatre, Manhattan

The following has nothing to do with this CD review but, with this being Easter day, is one of the funniest things I have read in a while.
(source: Mason Jennings' MySpace page)

Well, Easter week is here. My friend asked me if I was ready for the big Easter tradition of Peep Jousting. Well, I just looked at her for a while. Then she told me, after she got over the initial shock of me having no idea what she was talking about, that you put two Peeps facing each other in the microwave. You stick a toothpick into each Peep and turn the microwave on high for a few minutes. The peeps get huge, change shapes and, well, joust.

Links
Mason Jennings Main Website (link)
Mason Jennings MySpace Page (link)

Tanya Donelly - Legal Music Download

Who says that you can't go home again? When I lived in DC, Belly was one of the staples on WHFS during the mid-90s. I hadn't heard anything from Donnelly after 1997's Lovesongs for Underdogs and had (incorrectly) assumed that she had left the music business.

I just ran across Donnelly's website and she has some great mp3s posted for downloading (please notice and use the 'tip jar' on the site). I downloaded the 10-track Star demos (which became Belly's first CD) and have had them playing on my iPod non-stop. Very simply - this is a "must have"! This is Tanya playing mostly by herself and the songs take on different arrangements than what ended up on the final CD. It is fascinating to hear these work-in-progress demos.

Here are Tanya's comments on these demos (as posted on her website):

A mere 16 years later, here are the demos for Star (Belly's first), recorded with Joe Harvard at Fort Apache. (Thank you, Ivo, for having the original mixes on cd so I didn't have to mess with the tapes.) They were originally meant to be the second Breeders album, so Kim plays on a couple. She plays the high solo on White Belly and the counter-lead stuff on Feed the Tree. That's what I recall.

White Belly was co-written with Fred Abong, but for some reason he didn't play on it. I think possibly because it was intended for the Breeders, and we weren't planning to start a post-Muses band together at that time. It wasn't long after these demos were recorded that I decided to start my own thing and form Belly, and Fred came along. To be honest, I'm very fuzzy on my own chronology and some details.

Some of the vocals are oddly low -- I think that was my taste at the time, which is too bad. And I was very self-conscious about my voice, sometimes justifiably. And it is all extremely spare, mostly just electric guitar and vocal. But I think in general, these are pretty good, and at least interesting if you liked Star.

Re: Slow Dog -- Mariah Carey hadn't surfaced yet when I wrote this song. This is a very old song that I sat on for a while. The first time I heard her name was when a couple of the Pavement guys (who got the demo from someone who worked at 4ad at the time) said they liked the song I wrote about Mariah Carey. So Mariah became Maria. I always missed Mariah.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy these demos. I'm taking my sister's lead (copying her, in fact) and leaving a virtual tip jar. I'm also planning on putting up an additional live Windham set of mostly old songs that we did on one of the Hungry Life nights. Hopefully in a few months, a song or two at a time. That will be fun.

Aaron Dilloway (Wolf Eyes) Releases Limited Edition LP

I am a big fan of the indie DIY scene and used to be a big record collector. I admire bands like Boris, Sunn O))) and Wolf Eyes for releasing limited edition vinyl LPs. In the past, all of these bands seemed to press enough copies to keep the fans happy without getting stuck with unsold inventory. eBay seemed to change this all for Sunn and Boris (I have read that 8,000 copies were pressed of the recently released LP Altar) but Wolf Eyes and its members continue to plow ahead with ultra-limited edition releases.

Aaron Dilloway has just released a new LP, Concealed, that is limited to 300 copies. The LP is available from No Fun Productions for $15 (postpaid).

It goes without saying -- get it now or pay eBay prices!

Klaxons Play Studio B in Brooklyn Friday April 13th

I was surprised to see there are still tickets available for the Klaxon's show next Friday at Studio B. The band is playing Bowery Ballroom this Tuesday and tickets for this show sold out fairly quickly. The band also drew a strong crowd as headliners on the just completed NME tour in the UK so I wouldn't count on getting tickets day-of-show for this one.

For anyone not familiar with the Klaxons' music, Wikipedia notes that "HMV describes Klaxons as "acid-rave sci-fi punk-funk", while their MySpace page touts 'Psychedelic / Progressive / Pop'. Though the band's sound is decidedly art rock, they draw upon some less common influences (notably the rave culture of the 1990s, which they appropriate and redefine in a post-modern fashion). This is perhaps most evident in their cover of novelty rave hit "The Bouncer" by Kicks Like a Mule and 'Not Over Yet' by Grace." The Klaxons were recently named the Best New Band at Shockwaves NME Awards and just released their full-length debut Myths of the Near Future on Polydor Records. The new CD and the band's live show have been getting great reviews and many of the band's UK show in May are already sold out.

The show at Studio B is part of MTV Urge Nights and should be a fun night. Bonde Do Role from Brazil and Surkin from France are also on the bill. Tickets are only $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Advance tickets are available at Other Music (in the East Village) and at www.igetrvng.com.

Links:
Klaxons Main Website (link)
Klaxons MySpace Page (link)
Studio B, Brooklyn (link)

Jonah Smith Plays Noika Theatre in Times Square on April 6th

There was a good bit of buzz after Jonah Smith's shows last year at Joe's Pub and the Canal Room. The buzz has continued to grow and Smith is opening for Martin Sexton on Friday night at the Noika Theatre in Times Square. Smith is touring behind his self-titled debut for Relix Records which is continuing to get rave reviews from the national press. Check out the lead-off single from the new CD My Morning Scene [MP3, 3MB] which won an Independent Music Award earlier this year. I read through some of the press clippings on Smith's website (http://www.jonahsmith.com/pages/press.shtml) and was particularly impressed that the new CD has caught the ear of both the Washington Post and the Boston Herald as these aren't the easiest reviewers to impress.

Tickets for Friday's show are $30 and are still available through TicketMaster.

Roky Erickson - You're Gonna Miss Me Movie Premiers On June 8th

Kevin McAlester's documentary on Roky Erickson makes its premier at Cinema Village on June 8th. Cinema Village is at 22 E. 12th Street in the Village.

Chris Blackwell’s Palm Pictures will be releasing Keven McAlester’s directorial debut film YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME in theatres and on DVD. Recently nominated for a 2007 Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary, the film details the rise and fall of rock legend Roky Erickson, whose band, The 13th Floor Elevators, coined the 1960’s term “psychedelic rock.”

YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME will have a limited theatrical release starting in New York on June 8, and the DVD release shortly following on July 10th.

Outside Austin, Texas, a 53-year-old man sits in an apartment with four radios, three televisions, two amps, a radio scanner, and a Casio electric piano playing all at the same time. Loudly. He has three teeth, his hair is matted into one huge dreadlock, and he has a notarized document on his wall declaring himself an alien, "so whoever's putting shocks to my head will stop."

This is the story of Roky Erickson: the manic singer and front man for the legendary band, The 13th Floor Elevators who are considered by many to be the creators of psychedelic music and muse to Janis Joplin. YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME is a disturbingly intimate portrait of an imploding family and the struggle between modernized medicine and religion. Known for his colossal heroin and LSD binges and an ongoing struggle with schizophrenia, Roky has become one of music's legendary tragic figures.

First arrested for carrying one joint of marijuana, Roky enters an insanity plea, which lands him in a minimum-security mental hospital. After numerous attempts to escape, the state of Texas transfers him to Rusk State Hospital for the criminally insane, where he undergoes a series of implausible shock treatments, leaving this rock virtuoso a scarce whisper of his former self.

Now kept under lock and key by his mother Evelyn---who refuses him any treatment beyond love, prayer, and a view of psychiatry gleaned from the shows that she has seen on television. Erickson becomes the centerpiece of a surreal family struggle and the blank screen onto which those around him project their re-imagined pasts and hopeful futures.

Roky appears to be getting back on his feet and is playing two shows in town this month (which are both sold out). Here is his current tour itinerary:

April 13 Brooklyn NY @ SOUTHPAW
April 15 New York, NY @ BOWERY BALLROOM
May 2 New Orleans, LA @ PONDEROSA STOMP
April 28 Indio, CA @ COACHELLA FESTIVAL
June 18 SWEDEN @ HULTSFRED FESTIVAL
Jule 6 DENMARK @ ROSKILDE FESTIVAL
July 8 FINLAND @ RUISROCK FESTIVAL
August 8-11 NORWAY @ OYA FESTIVAL

If anyone has an extra ticket for the Southpaw show, please drop me an email.

Links:
You're Gonna Miss Me Movie (www.rokymovie.com)
Roky Erickson's Main Site (www.rokyerickson.com)

Patti Smith Plays 3 Shows at Bowery Ballroom on April 24th

Patti Smith is playing three separate shows at the Bowery Ballrom on April 24th. This should be a wild night -- I have heard that each show will be a different set and Patti's new CD (Twelve - which is a CD of cover tunes) will be given free with each ticket purchased. Tickets for each show are only $17 and a "3-Session" ticket for all three shows is $51.

If you buy the 3-Session ticket, you get a bonus 7" single with two non-CD tracks which has Patti covering:
A: A Perfect Day (Lou Reed)
B: Here I Dreamt I was an Architect (The Decemberists).

You can also get the bonus 7" when you purchase Patti's new CD from select indie music stores (link).

Lamour Reunion Next Weekend at Mystic Lounge in Staten Island

I spent many a night at Lamour so it will be great to see everyone back for a reunion show. Evidently the response has been so strong, the reunion has been expanded to two night. I am definately going to be at Friday's show -- Bobby Blitz's new band Cursed is playing and Vito Bratta will be signing autographs. There is supposed to be an "all-star" jam so it would be incredible if Vito is a part of this.

Mystic Lounge is located at 2354 Arthur Kill Road, Staten Island. Their phone is 718-605-3900 and the website is http://www.myspace.com/lamourrocks

Soulfly Guitarist Marc Rizzo Finishes New CD and Schedules NYC Solo Show

Soulfly guitarist Marc Rizzo is finishing his new solo CD which is to be released later this year on Shrapnel Records. Rizzo has scheduled a brief East Coast tour which includes a NYC stop on April 13th at Underscore/Bar East. Other dates on this tour are:

April 07 2007 - New Wave Cafe - New Bedford, Massachusetts
April 13 2007 - Underscore aka Bar East - New York, New York
April 14 2007 - Mexicali Blues - Teaneck, New Jersey
May 05 2007 - The Arena - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Stalkers Play a Free Show Tomorrow at Pass Out Records in Williamsburg

The Stalkers are playing a free show tomorrow afternoon at Pass Out Records in Williamsburg. The show is at 3:00PM and Pass Out Records is located at 131 Grand Street. There are a couple bands playing with The Stalkers which include The Makeout Party (from Los Angeles)and Blondsai (from Chicago).

Thrones, Growing and Plotkin/Wyskida Playing in Brooklyn Tomorrow (Mar. 31)

Todd P has a big show tomorrow night at a new venue in Brooklyn. There are a lot of great acts on this bill for only an $8 ticket.

TroublemanUnlimited reports that the "GROWING's going on a tour of Europe with Thrones and WOLF EYES. Should be fun. GROWING will have their new record entitled VISION SWIM with them in limited tour pressing form. The pressing is limited to 100 with 6-color screened and hand assembled/glued covers by Andrew and Sara of Wacky Prints. These covers are REALLY REALLY nice looking, and were very expensive to make."

Here are the details about tomorrow's show:

DEATH BY AUDIO - 49 S 2ND ST
49 S 2nd St btwn Wythe & Kent | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
L to Bedford, JM to Marcy, G to Metropolitan | 8pm | $8 | ALL AGES

:: STAGE NAPROXEN SODIUM
::
:: Thrones
:::: Ocrilim
:::::: Growing

:: STAGE IBUPROFEN
::
:: Child Abuse
:::: Microwaves
:::::: Plotkin/Wyskida
:::::::: Little Women

[ THE FORMS ]
"The Forms craft wiry, punchy indie pop. The singer's silvery voice soars like the album's namesake. Keep an eye and an ear out." - Pitchfork "The Forms are one of the most exciting, if not one of the best, new acts in indie rock right now. It is unbelievable how many musical ideas they get across." -Popmatters
-- MYSPACE / MP3s

[ GIANT SQUID ]
"The band intertwines folk elements, along with classical composition chops and a strange sense of melody, to its bass-heavy atmospheric doom. This is a band truly deserving of the word "epic," and their tales of seamen gone astray rival anything put out in their concept albums. It's just damned good and I wish I'd found them sooner." - decoymusic.com
-- MYSPACE / MP3s

[ TWO TON BOA ]
"Like a vivid collision-course journey through shadowlands of our fears and neuroses, Two Ton Boa's grinding musical landscape is equally unsettling, captivating and enveloping." - SxSW
-- MYSPACE / MP3s

[ 31 KNOTS ]
31 Knots is on Polyvinyl and make "streamlined indie-prog - but the importance of 31 Knots's rhythm section, the two Jays (Pellicci and Winebrenner), shouldn't be underplayed: Their supple, delicately shifting armature is a vital component of the songs' impact. But the central figure in the band is Joe Haege, who's responsible for the lyrics, vocals, guitars, samples, and piano. It's Haege's voice that first draws you to 31 Knots-- it's a powerful instrument, evoking operatic singers from Jason Molina to Jeff Buckley to Craig Wedren. Haege forgoes the mealy-mouthed style of the day and sings from the diaphragm; his voice is resonant and clear as a bell." - Pitchfork.com
-- MYSPACE / MP3s

[ GRAYCEON ]
"Grayceon is a composite group of sorts. Featuring Max Doyle (guitars) and Zack Farwell (drums) of excellent San Fran thrashers Walken, the band’s lineup is rounded out by one Jackie Perez Gratz on cello and vocals. Gratz is a veteran of long-running Relapse act Amber Asylum as well as a new member of the up-and-coming Giant Squid, not to mention a contributor to albums by the likes of Today is the Day and Neurosis, so you could say she’s something of a genre-buster veteran. It certainly comes out in Grayceon’s songwriting; this trio’s sound is immediately distinct and unusual. Highly recommended." - Metal Review
-- MYSPACE / MP3s

[ THRONES ]
Joe Preston, one time member of MELVINS, and later on HIGH ON FIRE, delivers bonecrushing solo-bass action with miles of bass rig stacks and mounds of pedals. Awesome and awe-inspiring spectacle.
-- SITE / MP3s

[ OCRILIM ]
"Ocrilim is the latest project from legendary guitarist Mick Barr. Admirers of Mick’s previous work with Orthrelm, Octis, and Crom Tech, will recognize his unmistakable sound, a virtuosic welding of metal-guitar expertise with influences as diverse as late-era Coltrane and Master Musicians of Joujouka. But it won’t take long to realize that this shows a new side of Mick Barr. Though still seriously heavy, the songs have a more deliberate compositional component. Themes and variations recur throughout, giving the complexity of Mick’s guitar work a new level of harmonic depth, like an extended suite of string duos. The record ends up sounding like the improbable, awesome child of Beethoven, black metal, and drone-pioneer Giacinto Scelsi." - I and Ear Records
-- MP3s / MYSPACE

[ GROWING ]
Two-piece "enveloping waves of finely wrought feedback and static that tap into the cosmos' universal hum - holy whorls of drones." - Portland Mercury. Growing have records out on Kranky Records, Zum and Animal Disguise, and are soon to release an album on MegaBlade / Troubleman Unlimited. "Reach for an initial word, a label - say Doom Metal - then watch, as the demonic guitars slowly morph into demonstrative bliss. Drone may come a bit closer to the truth, but only slightly, as silence plays an equally significant role in the proceedings. Alas, Growing's anomalous sounds dwell in perpetual nigh-fidelity, permeating the gaps between equalizer settings with evasive intent, frustrating any attempt at optimization, and therefore, classification." - Luke Calzonetti, Child Abuse
-- VIDEO
-- IMAGE

[ CHILD ABUSE ]
Luke Calzonetti plus Oran (x X27, x Cop on Fire) plus bass - keyboards, metaloid effects, screaming, distorted bass destruction, and plodding, hypnotic drum bursts. "Total blissful fast/stacatto jello-sounds for the new punks. CHILD ABUSE place audience members into complete aural convulsion and, at the same time, drench them in their own metaphorical I vomit. How? CHILD ABUSE combine the best of heavy machine gun spurts of atonal tech-metal to confusing off time blurps, growls and howls to 70s mud groove rock improvisations with the spirits of Drumbo and Carl Nielson hovering ominously overhead." Members have had stints in San Francisco mainstays Caroliner Rainbow, Mesh, Murder Murder and NYC's X27." - Luke Calzonetti. Recordings out on Folding Cassettes.
-- MP3s / MYSPACE

[ MICROWAVES ]
"In the anti-tradition of whitebread Bay Area thrash metal, the violent morass of New York no wave, and a familiarity with Ralph Records insanity, Microwaves draws from a palette that is somehow as wide as it seems limited. Kuzy spits tonality-impaired riffs like so much chaff from a surgically calibrated tree shredder. MacGregor processes his fretless bass with all manner of effects, often rendering it as more a bowel-rumbling presence than an instrument. When the two "groove" along to Roman's cyborg clatter, it is more the exception than the norm. The dual vocal attack of MacGregor's narrations from the edge and Kuzy, the detached town crier - seals the deal. Indeed, Microwaves pride themselves in creating a blues-free vacuum in a shot-and-beer milltown rife with 12-bar ponytail-growers." - Microwaves HQ
-- MP3s / MYSPACE

[ PLOTKIN/WYSKIDA ]
"Plotkin & Wyskida are a of stream-of-consciousness invention for guitar and drums. Themes rise, permutate into new themes and then fall into chaos. The dissonance becomes melodic upon further investigation. Rhythms stutter and threaten to solidify, but then refuse. Too dirty to be jazz, yet too free to be rock, their work lies slightly beyond these restrictive terms." - Ars Nova
-- MP3s / MYSPACE

[ LITTLE WOMEN ]
Ben Greenberg-guitar, Darius Jones- Alto saxophone, Jason Nazary- Drum set, Travis Laplante- Tenor saxophone
-- MP3s / MYSPACE

Mason Jennings Plays Three Shows in NYC in April

Minneapolis' Mason Jennings plays three shows in the area in support of his major label debut Boneclouds. This is an impressive CD so I am expecting Jennings' live show to be equally strong.


Here are the upcoming shows:

April 13 - Beacon Theatre (Supporting Guster)
April 18 - Luna Lounge, Brooklyn
April 21 - Gramercy Theatre, Manhattan

New Tori Amos Single Big Doll Premiers on AOL Music

Tori Amos' new CD American Doll Posse is scheduled to be released on May 1st. The first track, Big Wheel, premiers on AOL Music today along with previews of two other songs from the CD.

Tori describes Big Wheel as

"'Big.' One of my favorite words, along with 'Little.' Now if I'm a guy, I'm probably going to prefer the word 'Big' when associated with my abilities, rather than my other favorite word. As a woman, I don't mind at all if the whole world thinks that I have a Big Aspiration to straddle that piano stool every night for over 100 shows by Christmas. I don't mind that at all."

Milwaukee Metal Fest Announces Undercard

I just received this press release...With round-trip tickets from LaGuardia to Milwaukee currently selling for under $250, this has really gotten me thinking about trying to make it out to this show.

Milwaukee Metal Fest XIX is proud to announce that the majority of our undercard has been booked! Undercard bands are featured, non-headlining bands. 36 featured bands are listed below. Though the list is substantial, it's not quite all of them! We'll be making more undercard announcements in a few days.

Many of you are chomping at the bit to know who the main headliners are. Well, folks, me too. We are working hard to get them confirmed.

The Undercard:

GOD FORBID
SKINLAB
RE:IGNITION
EXCITER
BYZANTINE
VICIOUS RUMORS
3 MILE SCREAM
MASTERY
BROKEN TEETH
MACABRE
JUNGLE ROT
VIRGIN STEEL
CAGE
CORPSICLE
VAMPIRE MOOSE
AGENT STEEL
BATTERED (FORMERLY EINHERJER - NORWAY)
A.N.J. (RUSSIA)
HURT LOCKER
PAIN PRINCIPLE
YEARS OF FIRE
SNAKE EYES SEVEN
AZREAL'S BANE
PURITY
LUPARA
ACHERON (Performing The Rites of The Black Mass Set)
GODLESS RISING
UNMERCYFUL
ANAL BLAST
DEVITALIZE
CARDIAC ARREST
ENGORGE
THUS DEFILED
DIABOLIC POSSESSION
TERATISM
RAISE HELL
Milwaukee Metalfest XIX May 11-12, 2007, Waukesha Expo Center, Waukesha, WI
Pre-party: May 10, 2007, venue to be announced.

For more information visit www.chavisrecords.net, www.myspace.com/chavisrecords, www.myspace.com/milwaukeemetalfest

The Young Knives - Voices of Animals and Men CD/DVD Review

I have really enjoyed this disc and the bonus DVD adds to the fun. Musically, The Young Knives sound somewhat like The Jam or Stiff Little Fingers but they also incorporate the start/stop rhythms made popular by Gang of 4. Guitarist Henry Dartnall and his brother "House of Lords" have solid voices for this type of music (think Jimmy Pursey and/or Bruce Foxton) and share and trade off vocals throughout this disc.

This disc is well produced but shouldn't be confused with the slick pop sounds of Green Day or Franz Ferdinand -- many of these songs are played with the same urgency that The Jam had in their day. The songwriting is solid across this disc and the band is able to change and explore different sounds and tempos without losing their core sound. All of this keeps the disc interesting from start to finish.

There wasn't a lyric sheet with the disc so I haven't yet made out all of the words to the songs but what I have heard is interesting. A number of the songs are narratives in the style of the Stan Ridgeway-era Wall of Voodoo and highlight the band's dark and wicked sense of humor.

The DVD is quite enjoyable as well. It features 6 songs from a 2005 performance in London and includes two previous unreleased tracks. There are also some Monkees-ish non-sequiturs between tracks that add to the band's charm. There are also 9 videos that follow the band's live concert that play upon the band's humor and highlight their strong songwriting skills.

As this disc is priced lower than most single CDs ($14 on Amazon), I would consider this a "must have".

Previous Posts:
Review and Pictures from the Band's Show at Luna Lounge, Brooklyn [link]

Links:
The Young Knives Main Website [link]
The Young Knives MySpace Page [link]

Time of Orchids Headline Water Street Lounge, Brooklyn on Friday, March 30th

Water Street Lounge continues booking some interesting acts each weekend. Here are the bands that are playing this Friday:

Time of Orchids
Hazel Rah (mem. Friendly Bears)
Chubby Behemoth
A Three Ring Circus



8:30 - A Three Ring Circus
(as described on their myspace page):a wild depression-era bum canudleing with Stravinsky and Philip glass at a morose shadow puppet performace somewhere in java whilist lou reed and steven reich mutually masturbate behind the curtains.

9:30 - Chubby Behemoth
The Behemoth Returns! These guys were great the last time they played Water Street. They work from a definate Jazz foundation with compositions streatched and pulled into many different genres. Avant-fusion-thrash-rock?

10:30 - Hazel Rah
The Hazel Rah Returns! Tim Byrnes of Friendly bears is the brains behind this operation. That's all you need to know! You're psyched now!

11:30 - Time of Orchids
Time of Orchids reviews
"Seeing TIME OF ORCHIDS live is a crazy experience. While some songs top out at 10 minutes, moving from disjointed metal to eerie dream pop, others are 55 seconds of pure insanity. Their new Sarcast While features vocals by Julee Cruise and is out now on John Zorn's Tzadik Records." - Village Voice "Best of NY" issue, 10/05 ("Best Epic Avant Rock")

Shows are all ages and admission is only $10.

Exclusive Interview with Jon Modell from Car Bomb (Relpase Records)

I had the pleasure of speaking with Jon Modell, bassist for Car Bomb, this past Friday. Jon was nice enough to allow me to record the conversation so here is a link to both the podcastand the mp3.














Car Bomb has a few upcoming shows in the area:

April 1, 2007 @ Crazy Donkey, Long Island with Body Count(Ice-T)
April 21, 2007 @ Club Europa, Brooklyn with Years of Fire(x-Chimaira)

Pablo Returns to the Mercury Lounge on March 28th

Pablo's latest CD Half the Time was released late last year on Curb Appeal Records and is continuing to get great reviews. To lift a quote from the band's website "[vocalist]Paul Schalda has a ghost's voice, an old haunted soul that shivers its way up through his mouth to share its cracked-glasses view of the world with those of us lucky enough to listen."

This should be a good show and tickets are only $10. Check out some of the press quotes that Schalda and Pablo have earned over the last few months.

“My boy Pablo is the real deal.” - AOL MUSIC

“New York band Pablo’s release is one of the most honest and personal albums of 2006…Schalda’s distinct and heart aching voice bring out the kind of emotion you can immediately identify with and can’t ignore.” - John Richard KEXP and NPR.org

“Acoustic-laden, folk influenced project called PABLO, whose “Half the Time” marks a new direction for the artist, one which provides a fine foundation for his haunting and cigarette-roughed voice.” - New City Chicago

“This is a record that you wouldn’t mind getting caught singing along with it at a stoplight. Chances are that you won’t need much coaxing. This is one of the better debuts of the year to date.” - Wonkavision

New York's Pablo is the vehicle for that voice and the lives it's lived. Previously heard draped over the Pavement-influenced treble clang of outerborough indie rock heroes AWEK (see "NY: The Next Wave" on Kanine Records), Schalda's distinct and affecting vocals stand at the center of Pablo, drawing chills from the tight economy of his lyrics and conveying something deeper than most words usually get across anyway. It's smart music that connects at gut level, a rare treasure in a crowded space. Clipped stories prop themselves up against solitary acoustic guitar, or find a full body in the stellar and spare accompaniment provided by brother Will Schalda (ex-REALISTICS) and his varied keys, wife Maggie Schalda's harmonies, and the Strandberg Brothers' ample multi-instrumentation.

The result is a sound singular enough to equally evoke Odetta and the Replacements, and one that's perked up the ears of KEXP's "John in the Morning" and landed the outfit support slots up and down the East Coast with Matt Pond PA, Earlimart, Brendan Benson, myself and more. On the heels of a well-received self-released EP, Pablo's first full-length recording “Half The Time” is out on Curb Appeal Records.

Links:
Pablo's Main Website [Link]
Pablo's MySpace Page [Link]

Kristin Hersh (50 Foot Wave) - Legal Music Download

After a few acoustic solo tours, Kristin Hersh formed 50 Foot Wave in 2003 as an electric power-trio. Even though the band features Muses bassist Bernard Georges, 50 Foot Wave is a departure from the Muses' sound (but not in a bad way). Lyrically, Hersh's themes are the same as the past (emotional and confrontational) but her singing style has shifted to a throaty growl. This is pretty interesting stuff and worth the time to download.

The "FreeMusic!" EP was released in late 2005 via Hersh's main website. Below are links to the songs and the cover art.

FreeMusic!
1. Hot Pink, Distorted
2. Vena Cava
3. Pretty Ugly
4. Animal
5. The Fuchsia Wall
FreeMusic Cover Art [Link]

There are a couple other interesting 50 Foot Wave live performances and downloads that I have found on the net.

- Streaming video of 50 Foot Wave Live @ Twist and Shout (Record Store) [Link]
- Downloadable audio of 50 Foot Wave Live @ Mercury Lounge, NYC 6-14-2005 [Link]

New Tori Amos CD American Doll Posse due May 1st

Tori Amos' new CD, American Doll Posse, is due to be released on May 1st.










Tori has posted an audio message about the new CD and here is the track list:

Yo George
Big Wheel
Bouncing off Clouds
Teenage Hustling
Digital Ghost
You Can Bring Your Dog

Mr. Bad Man
Fat Slut
Girl Disappearing
Secret Spell
Devils and Gods
Body and Soul

Father's Son
Programmable Soda
Code Red
Roosterspur Bridge
Beauty of Speed

Almost Rosey
Velvet Revolution
Dark Side of the Sun
Posse Bonus
Smokey Joe
Dragon

Links:
Tori's Main Website (link)
Tori's MySpace Page (link)

The Young Knives - Luna Lounge, NYC March 20, 2007

The Young Knives put on a fabulous show last night at Luna Lounge. I strongly recommend catching their show at Annex on Friday night, which is also the last night of the tour. (Tomorrow's show at the Mercury Lounge is sold out) The band will be playing big rooms soon so catch them in the clubs while you still can.



TimeOut New York dismissed the band as being Clash wannabes. This description isn't even close. The band has a unique sound that I would compare to a cross between Gang of 4, The Jam and Stiff Little Fingers. Before last night, I hadn't seen a bass player whom I would compare to Bruce Foxton.





I hate to slag another band in a review but I can't help comparing this show to The View's show at the Mercury in January. What a night and day difference....The View played a 30 minute set to a sold-out room and I spent the first fifteen minutes wondering why they sounded like a Star Spangles cover band. The Young Knives played almost an hour to a half-full room and balls-out rocked from the first song to the last.


I never see multiple nights on any band's tour but last night's show was that impressive that I am very tempted to hit the Annex show on Friday. If tickets are still available, I'd get them quickly.

The Young Knives debut CD is out on Rykodisc (in the US) and is packaged with a bonus DVD that contains a live performances from a show in London along with a number of the band's videos. I'll be posting a review of the CD/DVD in the next few days.

Jesse Malin - Legal Music Downloads

This week I want to take a look at Jesse Malin's performance on World Cafe on March 1st. I found this podcast on iTunes and...unfortunately, it isn't worth the download.

The tracks I have heard from Jesse's new CD are great and he gives a good interview BUT the World Cafe podcasts are heavily edited. For instance, Jesse starts into a great live version of Don't Let Them Take You Down and it fades out after a minute. I didn't realize (until the end of the podcast) that World Cafe podcasts are just teasers to get you to stream the full show from NPR's website.

This has nothing to do with the podcast but I find it interesting that most of the current interviews with Jesse skip over his post-D Generation bands PCP Highway and Bellvue. (From NPR's site -- D Generation broke up in 1999, and Malin launched a solo career). I thought both bands were great and saw Bellvue many times.

After listening to a great Robyn Hitchcock podcast last week which originally aired on WNYC, the World Cafe podcasts are a disappointment.

Modest Mouse CD Giveaway

Contest is closed and winners notified
I have 5 copies of the latest CD from Modest Mouse to give away. Just click on the Contest Entry link and send us your full name and mailing address. One entry per person please.

All entries must be received no later than March 31, 2007. Winners will be notified via E-Mail.

For more info on Modest Mouse, check out these links:

Modest Mouse's Main Website

Modest Mouse on MySpace

Scalp Frattelis Tickets and Get Rich Quick

I have a friend who really likes The Fratellis and we unsuccessfully tried to get tickets for their show at Studio B. Is this band really that hot that scalped tickets are going for $100 - $200 (check out eBay and Craigslist)? I am very curious if these scalped tickets are actually selling.

At a 500% markup, this is more lucrative than the stock market...

Brett Scallions (Fuel, The X's) To Replace Ian Astbury in The Doors

Brett Scallions, most recently of The X's, has been picked as new singer for The Doors (Riders on the Sotrm). Brett has the following quote on his MySpace page:

"Well, we got the new singer. Brett Scallions from Fuel. He's going to be great! Big voice, commanding stage presence. Prowls like a cat. 6 feet tall, 165 lbs. Blond spiked out hair. Wears leather like it's licorice. I'm really excited about his joining the band. We auditioned him on the day after Robby and I received our Star on Hollywood Blvd. Two other guys came down (they will remain nameless) but Brett blew them away. Robby, Tom Vitorino (Riders manager) and I looked at each other and said "He's the one!" The next day we called Brett back and went to work. This is going to be serious fun. And the new songs are going to be great with Brett's voice on them. I can't wait to tour and for all of you to see him. It's a new era!"

- Ray Manzarek

Lola Danza debuts Naadu at Water Street Lounge, Brooklyn on March 31st

I have been listening to some mp3s of Ms. Danza and have liked what I have heard. I am also intrigued by an artist that is going back to the concept of combining art and music as haven't seen anyone try this since the early days of punk. I haven't seen Ms. Danza perform live but she is getting great press for her live shows. Give a listen to the mp3s and check out the show.

From Avant-Garde CD "Live At Rutman's" Boston MA, Recorded June 2nd 2005
Untitled 1
Untitled 2

The enchanting vocalist and composer, Lola Danza debuts her project Naadu, with visual artists: painter Jacqueline Chachitz and installation artist Meaghan Bates Saturday, March 31st 2007 at 8pm at the Water Street Lounge (66 Water St. (718.625.9352 in DUMBO Brooklyn, NY 11201-1048).

The project Naadu infuses two mediums: music and visual art. Naadu celebrates the organic, the spiritual and the primal creation of music and art at its most vulnerable state through improvisation. Naadu allows music and visual art to become one, the painter another member of the band, while the installation artist transforms space and time.

Ms. Danza combines Jazz, Avant-garde, World, Classical, Post Modern Pop and Americana music. Danza's created a new idiom in Jazz. Lola’s original compositions evoke images of impressionistic and abstract paintings rich in texture and colour. She sings beautiful flowing melodies and creative improvised lines with effortless mastery, Danza's voice is rich, warm and resonant, with a four-octave range and vast array of vocal techniques. Lola's music reveals a special connection to her soul that cultivates mutual inspiration between the musicians and captivates the audience.

Visual artist, Chachitz, provides intense, bold, thought provoking, raw, complex, innocence - the paint speaks for itself, using its own language. The physical reality of Ms. Chachitz’s painting is about exploring the fundamental process of creating, returning to the act of creating with no preconceived notions. Manipulating the canvas, creating and destroying figures and forms, spontaneously flowing with and against all direction - color, texture, shape, and the gestural brush strokes of each motion bring context to chaos.

Meaghan Bates' drawing concerns altering the states of time and space. The mark making is done with the intent to displace time and recognizable space in order to allow for looseness of thought in the viewer and the artist as the work is being made. When interrupted, the fragility of time and common space is evident. Materials such as Kozo paper and pastel or Sumi ink relate directly to the artist's interest in investigating fragility as a universal quality.

Ms. Danza is joined by musicians John Lockwood- Acoustic Bass, Garth Stevenson- Acoustic Bass and Nat Mugavero- Drums.

With Passion - What We See When We Shut our Eyes CD Review

Imagine a death metal band whose music is anchored by a guitarist that sounds like a Yngwe Malmsteen disciple. With Passion's music goes beyond the boundaries of technical death metal as the soaring guitar leads (which carry across all tracks) are closer to jazz-oriented power chords than the blistering speed metal of many tech-metal contemporaries. Across this disc, the music takes many twists, ranging from typical death metal stomp to soft melodic interludes -- often within the same song. The musical prowess of the band and diversity of sounds keeps this disc interesting through repeated listenings.

The band just finished filming their first video for the song "Pale Horse Rider" and have posted some stills from from the video shoot (link). The video is described as "dark and evocative, the shoot...capture(s) the band’s live performance coupled with a horror themed storyline that is sure to accentuate the eerie sentiment of the song." A release date for the video hasn't been announced but it looks like this will be something to watch for.

The band has just started a US tour and will be playing Club Europa in Brooklyn on April 23rd. I haven't (yet) seen the band play live but I have been watching some of the band's live clips on YouTube (below) and am looking forward to the show.

What We See When We Shut Our Eyes will be released on Earache on May 8, 2007.



Links:
Main Website (link)
MySpace Page (link)

Scott Ian (Anthrax) Is Appearing at Manny's Music on Thursday, March 15th

Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian announced on his MySpace page that he will be appearing at Manny's Music in NYC this Thursday.

I'll be appearing this THURSDAY NIGHT - MARCH 15 for RANDALL AMP NIGHT @ Manny's Music on 156 West 48th ST in NYC. Come on down and crank it with me. cheers, SI

Snake Eyes Seven CD Review and News

Canadian heavy metal act Snake Eyes Seven's debut CD will be released this spring and the band is playing the Milwaukee Metal Fest on May 11-12th at the Waukesha Expo Center in Waukesha, WI.

I have been listening to a pre-release of this CD and have been quite impressed. The band's bio describes their sound as "vintage Black Sabbath infused with Rammstein". I can hear the Black Sabbath influence as the band has a down-tuned doom-influenced sound. I really don't hear the Rammstein influence -- I would compare the band's sound to a doom influenced Skid Row or the more metal leanings of later-day Christian Death.

The band members have an interesting musical history as members have played in Into Eternity, Kick Axe, Wrathchild and Love Hunter. While S.E.S. has some noticable influences from its members' previous bands, their sound is pretty unique as it brings a refreshing new look to the guitar rock sound of the late 80s and early 90s

The songs on this disc are all strong rockers but none of the tracks are too hard to scare off radio play. The band has been rumored to be on OzzFest this year and that should give this CD the attention it deserves. The tracks that I particularly liked are Bitter Pill as it has great guitar hooks and vocals and the Christian Death sounding goth/doom track Devil with a Rosary.

The band is supposed to have a strong live show so hopefully the band will do a full US tour after the CD is released.

Links
- The band's main website (link)
- The band's MySpace page (link)
- Three tracks from this disc streaming on airplaydirect.com (link)

The Pipettes, Luna Lounge, NYC March 12, 2007

Last night was my first time at the Luna Luna since its reopening in Williamsburg. I really enjoyed the show -- The Booze (pictures to follow) were reminicent of the 1965 version of the Rolling Stones and The Pipettes were simply a lot of fun.

As this was my first time in the club - my general comments are great sound and great sight lines.



I picked up The Pipettes set list as I was leaving the club:
- Intro
- Baby Don't Leave
- Yr Kisses
- Why Did You Stay
- Your Love For Me
- Cuz It's Not Love
- Diuretics
- Hurts 2 C U
- Guess Who
- Tell Me What
- Really That Bad
- I Love You
- True Love Waits
- One Night Stand
- Judy
- Dirty Mind
- Pull Shapes