• It's CMA time, and with it comes a really good article on the life and times of Cliff Cody and other songwriters trying to earn a living in Nashville. (Read article at The Columbus Dispatch)

• Keven Federline's show at NYC's Webster Hall (capacity 1,600) pulled in an estimated 100 paying customers. At least there were no lines at the bars. (Read post and view pictures at Stereogum)

• The trend at this year's CMJ? Newsday says it was "a continuing drift toward dance music, or anything even vaguely danceable." (Read article at Newsday)

• Sony BMG's Legacy Recordings will have the soundtrack to the upcoming, seven-part Ken Burns documentary, "The War." (Read press release)

• An interview with Ian MacKaye (Fugazi, The Evens). (Read post at Gothamist)

Posted by Glenn at 4:13 PM | Link
|New York City||Sony BMG|

Last Friday, a few members of the New York bloggerati caputred a performance by Norah Jones' other band. No, not The Little Willies. They witnessed El Madmo, a band that features pop-jazz superstar Norah Jones, at a half-empty Delancey in Manhattan. (They were all there to see another band on the bill, Pela.) Naturally there were posts galore and plenty of pictures of an incognito Jones wearing a blonde wig and fishnet stockings. If not for the pictures nobody would have ever believed them.

Recaps can be found at Stereogum, Gothamist, Yeti Don't Dance and Village Indian.

(Photo from Village Indian)

Posted by Glenn at 11:35 AM | Link
|New York City|

On Wednesday , February 1st, Coolfer and Daily Refill will host Shake Your Halo, an event with bands and DJs. We've got a great evening lined up Fat Baby, a new club in the Lower East Side. On stage downstairs will be Bravo Silva, Overnight and Nepo. All three are excellent bands who we're excited could join us. Upstairs we'll have some DJs, including Craig Wedren (ex-Shudder to Think) and Michael Jurin (stellastarr*).

Since there hasn't been a Coolfer gathering in quite some time, everybody is invited to Fat Baby's happy hour from 7pm to 9pm for a meet and greet. You're welcome to stay later and check out the bands ($8 to see the bands downstairs, no charge upstairs). Bands play at 8pm, 9pm and 10pm, and Shake Your Halo will go until closing.

Listen to the bands of Shake Your Halo:

• Bravo Silva: "Strawberry Blonde" MP3
• Overnight: "Sorry" MP3
• Nepo: Go to Nepo's online player to listen to songs

Posted by Glenn at 8:55 AM | Link
|Coolfer||New York City|

CMJ is over. While the Sparks cans are being recycled and the country's college radio station managers are heading back home, let's take a look at the coverage on the four-day music frenzy.

So whose stock rose and who failed to impress?

The NY Times' Jon Pareles highlighted Apollo Sunshine, Tom Vek, Xbxrx and others. He praised New Buffalo for her use of samples in her solo set at the Hiro Ballroom (though he didn't mention that the samples were on pre-recorded music that she played on an instrument that found its way into more than one CMJ set: an iPod).

Stereogum declared that We Are Scientists "kick ass," Halopaw's set "failed to impress," loved the Giraffe's show at the Pussycat Lounge, claimed The Morning After Girls "showed promise," proclaimed Clap Your Hands Say Yeah lived up to the hype and admitted Devendra Banhart's band "actually rocked."

Tom Breihan said Lady Sovereign "owned the stage at Webster Hall."

In Spin's day two recap, they championed the bland Hockey Night and named The Vacation's gig at Ace of Clubs as the "show of the night" and found a workable euphemism for Foreign Born's boring show.

Daily Refill said Two Gallants was the best show she saw this year.

Brooklyn Vegan didn't use very many adjectives to describe the shows he saw, but did use the word awesome three times to describe The Gossip's set at the Knitting Factory.

Coolfer didn't see many shows this year but I did catch a few that are worth noting. Test Icicles (pictured above) had a good crowd in Scenic's air conditioned little dungeon. Before the show an employee of Domino Records (the band's label) told me he'd give me $1,000 if I didn't as much crack a smile during the show. Safe bet. The Icicle's spazz rock had me chuckling throughout and the Slayer-meets-meets-Bloc Party songs showed the band is happily off in a world of its own.

Another standout was the Silversun Pickups' brief set at the Filter space on Saturday. I expected, after hearing a few MP3s, a lighter shade of indie rock. Instead I heard a loud and often blistering rock band with a well honed pop craft and the ability to improvise. Central Village was there and enjoyed the gig, and my friend Erik said that was the best of the many shows he had seen the perform.

Finally, I must mention Aloe Blacc's performance at Nublu in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Blacc (pictured above), a member of Emanon, will soon be part of the Stones Throw family (I ran into Peanut Butter Wolf earlier in the evening outside of the Canal Room) and I'm willing to bet his debut album will be a stunner.

Posted by Glenn at 8:27 AM | Link | Comment (6)
|Music||New York City|

CMJ is, as I often say, nothing but 50% more bands and 100% more people. New York has an oversupply of live music in an average week, but for four days once a year hundreds of bands descend upon the city's clubs and transform that oversupply into a glut. They'll play a showcase or two or three in hopes of being one of the very few to come out of the event with that magical, almost indescribable attachment to their careers: The CMJ Buzz.

CMJ isn't necessarily about who's good, it's about who's hot. Who will be create this year's buzz? Coolfer has a few thoughts on some of this year's contenders for The CMJ Buzz, and almost all of them happen to be both hot and good.

One artist who's coming into CMJ with a truckload of momentum is Lady Sovereign, the UK grime sensation. She's been in the news recently here in the States. Pitchfork picked up on the story about Jay-Z wanting to sign her to Def Jam in the U.S. Her debut New York show was tainted by food poisoning but the weakened rapper still thrilled the capacity crowd at the Knitting Factory. This time Lady Sov will be in the middle of a bill at the dreaded Webster Hall. Chances are good she'll be the main draw of the evening.

Neo-hippie Devendra Banhart (pictured) has a new album coming next month and it easily lives up to the mythical aura that surrounds this San Francisco singer-songwriter. He's been through New York a number of times and has been an underground favorite for some time. Why might he capture some CMJ buzz? Cripple Crow, his new album, is sure to be considered by many as among the best of the year (Pitchfork gave it a 8.4 yesterday) and it looks like all the previous press, word of mouth and new record label (XL) could combine to send him into a higher orbit over Planet Music Hipster.

Voxtrot has been to town but has been getting a bit of blogger buzz and may be able to grab some curious listeners this week. Tom Vek could make a good showing. Spinto Band is another that is on the tip of a lot of tongues, so watch out for them. One last one: Smoosh. It's fun to say and these two young girls make fun music, and they just might rise above the din this week.

Posted by Glenn at 3:56 AM | Link | Comment (3)
|Music||Music Industry||New York City|

Don't forget, New Yorkers, tonight is Gothamist's Movable Hype 4.0. Show starts at 8pm with singer-songwriter-troubadour Langhorne Slim. Also on the bill are Bravo Silva, Raising the Fawn and Doveman. It's a good line-up. See you there.

Posted by Glenn at 8:48 AM | Link
|New York City|

Some bands are just different. Take The High Strung, a rock trio from Detriot-via-Brooklyn-via-Detroit. They once left their tour van in front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio -- with a note and the keys in the ignition.

The band's latest venture is a summer-long tour of libraries throughout the state of Michigan. "This American Life" from WBEZ public radio in Chicago caught up to the band and talked about their impending tour of the nation's bookhalls: 34 in total, one every other day from June through August.

Listen to the show in Real Audio and forward to about the 7:30 mark. It's extremely funny and -- though it may not be too cool to say this -- downright cute.

Extra credit:

Download three MP3s from the band's website, all from the sessions resulting in the band's upcoming album, Moxie Bravo (to be released on Future Farmer):

• The High Strung: "A Real Meal Ticket"
• The High Strung: "Seems It's One Thing"
• The High Strung: "N Over C"

Posted by Glenn at 9:45 AM | Link | Comment (2)
|Music||New York City|

Those in New York who like to stay ahead of the curve have a few rock shows to check out this week.

First is a show tonight at the once dreaded Mercury Lounge and a requisite stop for NME-following Anglophiles. First up is Nine Black Alps. Coolfer saw them at the Siren Festival on Saturday (view pics) and was impressed by their post-Grunge racket. Then non-Brits and local boys Sam Champion play. They're the only band on the bill that hasn't won the favor of the British hype machine/press, but they're young and still relatively unknown over there. They always put on a good show. Next up is Hard-Fi, then The Cribs. Download "Baby Don't Sweat" and "Another Number" from The Cribs' website.

On Thursday it's back to the Mercury for Shade, a band from Pittsburgh who is making a bit of noise. Expect to rub elbows with many A&R reps and curious label folks. Shade get the shoegazer tag all the time but they're much more than Slowdive clones -- and much more upbeat. Coolfer caught them at Rothko in early June and thought they were solid. Definitely worth checking out. Pictures at Flickr page. Go ahead and see Shade now before they sign to a label and start playing larger venues. It's gonna happen.

Posted by Glenn at 2:08 PM | Link | Comment (3)
|New York City|

This year's Siren Festival, the free concert thrown by the kind folks at the Village Voice, was an absolute success. Many said this year's line-up was weak but I couldn't disagree more. Expectations going in were cautiously set in the middle of the curve, and every performance I saw was really entertaining. Highlights: Dungen's post-Zeppelin psyche rock, Diamond Nights and their screaming (female) fans, Spoon's pro set, Ambulance LTD's diversity and excellent songs. Nine Black Alps were better than expected and have been listening quote a bit of Nirvana's Bleach from what I could tell.

Yesterday Femi Kuti and the Brazilian Girls played a free show at Central Park's Summerstage. Below are pics of Brazilian Girls (from a distance). Great show. Summerstage, which can be a brutally windless hot spot in Central Park, enjoyed a downpour during "Pussy," always the highlight of the band's set.

For more pictures go to Coolfer's Flickr page as well as the Siren Festival 2005 group Flickr page. Other photos can be seen at Brooklyn Vegan, The Modern Age, The Real Janelle's Flickr page, Jen C's Flickr page and Siren Festival photo set and Central Village's Siren Festival photo set. Or try your luck at the "sirenfestival" Flickr tag page.

Click for more...

Continue reading "Weekend (Free Concert) Recap" »

Posted by Glenn at 8:44 AM | Link | Comment (2)
|New York City|

The show is sold out. Hopefuls and profiters are posting up a frenzy at Craigslist. Whether or not you're going to sweat it out inside the velvet ropes of Webster Hall, drop by Revival prior to the show for a drink or three.

Posted by Glenn at 9:22 AM | Link | Comment (2)
|New York City|

Going to see Bloc Party on Wednesday? If yes, come to the pre-party. If not, come to the pre-party. Everybody has after-parties. Great for the unemployed and freelancers with flexible hours, bad for those with jobs. So why not a pre-party instead? It makes sense -- most complains about Webster Hall have to do with (a) the bar staff and (b) the prices.

It's at Revival at 129 E 15th (at Irving Place). Click here for the Google map. From there it's only a short walk to Webster Hall. Check for us in the garden first, then upstairs.

Posted by Glenn at 8:52 AM | Link | Comment (2)
|New York City|

After I had pretty much finished writing this post a friend told me about the "Rebel With a 401(k)" article that ran Thursday in the NY Post. It focused on some comments by the head of a local record label and a recent article by the Columbia Spectator. In it, FoC and Vice Recordings GM Adam Shore bemoaned the current "indie-yuppie establishment" and asserted that much of today's popular indie music -- he singled out The Postal Service, the Arcade Fire and the Shins -- is "comfy music." (Then it recapped the "You Might Be An Indie-Yuppie" contest at Stereogum.

The timing couldn't have been better. The other night I saw Built to Spill. Now, I can't argue with the legend of BTS. They're a great band. But...it didn't do it for me. It had been five or so years since I had last seen them. What happened during that span? Was it a different band or was I a different person? I had the same feeling the last time I saw Death Cab For Cutie, after a span of five or so years had passed since I last saw them. Just like with Built to Spill, it did absolutely nothing for me.

The best I can sum it up is this: Indie rock has become too self-aware, too predictable, too safe, too self-perpetuating. As its popularity has risen its sound has become a mirror of a mirror of itself, the result of the indie scene's exclusionary, cliquish mentality. At that BTS show, it was as if rock had been stripped of its energy, sexuality and stagemanship. To my ears and eyes, the extreme highs and lows of rock music had been clipped -- I was seeing and hearing a narrow channel in the middle of rock's spectrum.

Over the last few weeks, I've had the feeling that rock is back. Not rock in the white trash chic of Vice magazine or ironic trucket hat flirtations with middle class rock culture. (Drinking Pabst from a can doesn't mean you're into rock.) No, I mean rock as opposed to indie rock. There's a crop of bands that have skipped Joy Division Mach II, probably find The Strokes to be too staid and never picked up on Nick Drake when Volkswagen made him famous.

This next wave is bringing back such diverse and until now relatively untapped sounds as Thin Lizzy's Jailbreak, Rick Springfield's Working Class Dog, Pat Benatar's Crimes of Passion, Damn The Torpedos-era Tom Petty and even old Iron Maiden -- in addition to the usual rock standards like the Stones the Stooges.

Labels are edging -- one could even say hedging -- toward this kind of rock as well. Razor & Tie (yes, the label that has a bursting bank account thanks to the Kidz Bop series) has signed two NYC rawk bands, Danko Jones and The Giraffes. Matador signed neo-metal band Early Man. Kemado released an EP by Diamond Nights. TVT signed LA glam rawkers Tsar. Majors will follow suit. No doubt. Kings of Leon have been doing well with their modernization of classic rock. I think majors will go back to their "core values" in this year and the next (as soon as they get tired of trying to find the next Killers). If Kings of Leon become huge, you can bet majors will bring up the ranks similar bands.

So who will represent this new wave? Hard to say who -- if anybody -- will emerge from the underground, but here are a few bands that have caught my attention for one reason or another.

• Diamond Nights (pictured) just released an EP on Kemado Records. I haven't heard the EP but I'm told for every Thin Lizzy moment they have a Loverboy moment. The song I downloaded and have played quite a few times, "Destination Diamonds," is one of the band's Thin Lizzy moments.

• Last week I finally got around to seeing The Fame. This four-piece is a shot of early '80s album rock radio. Rick Springfield was one of the first that came to mind. They did a nice cover of Devo's "Girl U Want" that kept the punchy riff but threw a nice pop spin on the song.

• Bona Roba is a band that I've heard great things about but haven't mananged to see yet. Four guys from the Bronx who like to rawk. The songs on their website are impressive. I'd like to hear more. Friends tell me they're great.

• Tsar will have an album out on TVT next month. You may have seen them playing "Band-Girls-Money" on a Nestle Crunch commercial. They're not in an '80s or classic rock vein like some others I've mentioned, but they're certainly a band that stands apart from any of the current trends in rock music.

• A friend told me about Jessie Diamond last week. A few years ago I couldn't have imagined much attention being paid to a spandex-clad siren who sings like Pat Benatar. In May of 2005 it's not such a stretch.

Playlist:

• Diamond Nights: "Destination Diamonds"
• The Fame: "Lost In You"
• Bona Roba: "The Slip" and "Cunningham Park"
• Jessie Diamond: "American Hero"
• Danko Jones: "I Want You"
• The Giraffes: "Having Fun"

Posted by Glenn at 1:29 PM | Link | Comment (15)
|Music||New York City|

I've got a spare ticket to Paul Westerberg's show at the Supper Club on Tuesday the 26th. Lemme know if you want it. Face value.

Posted by Glenn at 5:51 PM | Link | Comment (1)
|New York City|

A recap of Thursday night's goings on in the Lower East Side.

First, Coolfer hit the formerly dreaded Mercury Lounge to see V2's Neon, a four-piece band from Melbourne, Australia. Very good show, lots of chunky power pop and riff rock. Their EP is out now, a full-length is on the way.

Then it was a short walk to the intimate Rockwood Music Hall to see Solar Face (pictured). FoC Leslie highly recommended seeing Fionn (a.k.a. Solar Face) and it was a wonderful surprise. Accompanied by a cellist, Fionn played a few songs on acoustic guitar and showed off an incredible voice and masterful guitar playing. And such flair and presence he had, too. Then he sat down at the piano and proved to be just as able a piano player. On paper it might not look good that he covered Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" -- it was odd to hear those famous riffs being pounded out on ivory keys -- but his interpretation was fantastic. When Solar Face plays Pianos in a few months be sure to check him out.

Then it was Tonic and its clouds of pot smoke for Antibalas. The men of TV on the Radio joined the band on stage for a few songs. Again, it might not look good on paper to read about Antibalas acting as TVOTR's backing band but it worked to perfection and provided great new versions of already great songs.

This weekend, if you're going to see Damien Jurado at Southpaw, stick around for the Jelly party afterwards. Nick Catchdubs will be on the decks along with DJ Ayres.

Posted by Glenn at 3:39 PM | Link
|New York City|

On Monday April 25, at 8 pm, LVHRD is hosting "Battle of the Moves," a live dance competition drawing sixteen dancers to
compete against each other in a tournament style dance-off.

The event will take place on Monday, April 25th from 8pm (dancers will need to arrive at 7 pm) until 10:30pm. It's non-commercial and for fun, so they aren't offering any tangible prizes for the winner (with the possible exception of the most amazing trophy your eyes have ever seen-- for the winner). However, winner and competitors will receive a large amount of press coverage. Their last event, the "Science vs. Beauty: Battle of the Minds" was featured in the center spread of the NY Post.

It will be a great way to gain exposure for you as well as Breaks Kru.

Please send responses to DMcGunigle(at)youthintelligence(dot)com.

Posted by Glenn at 2:18 PM | Link
|New York City|

World music fans will be sad to know that Stern's Music is closing its New York retail store on April 2nd. The UK head office will continue to operate the online store, and the US arm of that will operate out of New Jersey.

If there's a silver lining, it's that Stern's loss is our gain. Starting today and continuing through the 2nd, the store is knocking $2 off all CDs priced over $10. Stern's has an incredible selection of excellent, hard-to-find music from Africa and other parts of the world. So, let's go shopping!

Posted by Glenn at 11:43 AM | Link
|New York City|

For we New Yorkers who didn't go to South By Southwest, we can take comfort in a few facts. First, we're in the best music market in the country. There is never a lack of great live music. Second, many bands stop in NYC on the way to and/or from Austin. The coming weeks, regardless of what Gothamist says, are like a South By Lower East Side music festival. Many of the "next big things" will be in town in the coming weeks. (Heck, nearly all have been in town recently anyway.)

Last night, England's The Go! Team played their first NYC show at the once-dreaded Mercury Lounge. (Brooklyn Vegan has a few pics here.) Their music has yet to be released domestically, but they've sold out two shows (probably a third) and packed a giddy club. Like the album, The Go! Team's live show is energetic and fun, like the coolest high school rally ever held. One thing's for sure, they're pretty uppity for an indie rock crowd. I really liked the show. Central Village was underwhelmed, as were a few others I spoke with.

Tonight, The Go! Team plays Southpaw in Brooklyn (I'm expecting a show better than last night). Before that, Leslie Feist performs in anticipation of the domestic release (on Interscope) of her beautiful debut album, Let It Die. Feist is well known in these parts, having passed through town as a member of Broken Social Scene. Her album is also available as an import, yet the show sold out quickly.

On Wednesday, Tsar, a Coolfer favorite, plays at Pianos. Their second album will be out on TVT in May, and they're playing a few NYC shows after making the trip to Austin from their Los Angeles home base. Karen Ann, who has suddenly become a staple of the New York media and is being groomed like she's Blue Note's next Norah Jones, plays at Joe's Pub. And The Go! Team completes the hat trick with a show at the Canal Room.

The generally agreed upon #1 next big thing, The Bravery, play a show at tiny little Rothko on Thursday. Their hyped-to-death debut album will be out the following Tuesday. If The Bravery aren't the next big thing, Bloc Party is it. They'll be in town -- again -- in early April. Another of the super-duper next big things, The Kaiser Chiefs, are back in town on Friday at the Bowery Ballroom. Their album was released just last week, yet they're selling out venues in NYC. One of Matador's latest signings, The Double, are at Tonic on Saturday.

No, there's hardly a shortage of shows this week. It's a perfect week for the trend-conscious New Yorker who lives to be able to see a band in a small venue and later fondly recall seeing them back when they were nobodies. It's almost like we have our own music festival here...but it's just a typical week in NYC.

Posted by Glenn at 11:33 AM | Link | Comment (7)
|New York City|

New York City's Tonic, a landmark club that a cornerstone of the city's music scene, is in financial trouble. Here's an email that was sent to the club's mailing list:

"Since 1998 Tonic has been a haven for creative music. We have helped nurture the vital community of musicians and audiences who keep this music alive. Now we are in danger of closing and ask you to help us keep Tonic alive.

Over the past few years we have suffered a series of blows: our rent has doubled since 1998, our insurance costs have tripled, we’ve been robbed, and we’ve been plagued by the expense of maintaining a building in ill repair -- including the collapse of our main sewer line. Any of these things would be challenging on their own but together they’ve taken a more serious toll and we are now facing the threat of eviction.

A number of outstanding musicians have come forward to help save Tonic and throughout February we will be holding a series of fundraising concerts. If Tonic has been an important venue to you, we ask that you please attend as many of these concerts as possible.

Those who cannot attend but would like to help, please consider making a contribution. For Tonic to survive we will need to raise a upwards of $100,000 in the next few weeks. Only with your support can Tonic continue playing its role in presenting this important music to its fans. Our deepest thanks.

For more info please go to www.tonicnyc.com.

Come to the first fundraiser on Wednesday Feb, 02, JOHN ZORN IMPROV starting at 8pm, $15"

Posted by Glenn at 5:53 PM | Link | Comment (3)
|New York City|

Since they had one of my favorite albums of 2004, Coolfer would like to mention that The Go! Team is finally coming to America. They're going to play the Mercury Lounge on March 21st and Southpaw on March 22nd. If the show is anything like the album, it's going to be a ton of fun.

Before the NYC shows, they've got two shows at SXSW: the BBC 6 Showcase on March 18th and the Vice Magazine party on the 19th. Nothing else is booked yet, but the message board at the band's website says "there's likely to be more."

Posted by Glenn at 12:24 AM | Link
|New York City|

Dalek, the avante-garde hip hop group from Jersey, is playing a free show at Rothko tonight, and there will be free Red Stripe. Well, while supplies last there will be Red Stripe, and at some of these scavenger-filled events not much time elapses before the crowd is facing a cash bar.

The band's next album will be out in a few months, and their website currently has an MP3 of one of the tracks, "Ever Somber." It densely layers beautiful, distorted shoegazer riffs, and like My Bloody Valentine, Dalek pummels its audience with intense volume. It'll make for a good show. Bring your earplugs.

Posted by Glenn at 1:18 PM | Link | Comment (1)
|New York City|

Found at the NYC Craigslist site:

• "You like good fun music played at a normal volume, not inaudible hip hop played on your Cable TV jukebox." (women seeking men)
• "Love live music - rock and roll especially, indie rock sometimes." (women seeking men)
• "I love galleries, dark shady bars, cinema, and whiney indie rock." (women seeking men)
• "I like Mike Leigh movies and Spiderman, the Clash, old Stones and Bowie, Wilco and Beethoven." (women seeking men)
• "Any Punk-Grunge-Goth-Rocker Girls Want To Hang Or Date?" (men seeking women)
• "Would be nice if you're into indie/alternative music (Interpol, Killers, Franz)." (men seeking women)
• "She listens to old punk rock, Adverts to X-Ray Spex and all in between, oldies rock and R&B/soul, 80's new wave, Pixies, Ramones, Bowie, TMBG, Kraftwerk, Numan, etc." (men seeking women)
• "Sane Metal Guy Looking for Sane Metal Girl."
• "Looking for that cute, intelligent, and refined female who loves house, techno, and drum and bass." (men seeking women)
• "I am looking for someone who really loves music. She enjoys anything from Death Cab For Cutie to Alison Krauss, and loves to shake her bootie to some old-school Biggie every now and then." (men seeking women)
• "Looking for a stable rock star....." (women seeking women)
• "Seeking rock n' roll queer gal for steamy makeout sessions, or whatever." (women seeking women)

Posted by Glenn at 11:02 AM | Link
|New York City|

The Internet is afire with coverage of yesterday's free U2 concert in Brooklyn and the Georgia Satellites-style stroll through Manhattan on the back of a flatbed. Coolfer didn't attend, but then again I may not have been allowed in. From the looks of it, possession of some kind of digital camera was required to enter the makeshift venue at the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges.

Check the coverage at:

• U2Log
• New York Times
• Rolling Stone
• Gothamist
• The Real Janelle
• Brooklyn Vegan
• One Louder
• Amy Langfield

Posted by Glenn at 10:56 AM | Link
|New York City|

Some of you may be heading over to the Bowery Ballroom for the heavily buzzed, sold out gig featuring The Arcade Fire, The Hidden Cameras and Dirty on Purpose.

For the rest of you, consider Other Passengers and Menomena at Sin-e. Coolfer has seen Other Passengers and can personally vouch for them. This will be my first time seeing Menomena (who have one of the coolest--and most annoying--websites of any band in the country) but if their show is half as good as their album, I won't be dissapointed.

Or, if you have a ticket, you'll be at the Hammerstein watching Interpol, the Secret Machines and On!Air!Library! But those Hammerstein shows get over so early (this one starts at 6pm tonight) that you'll have time to get to Sin-e by 11pm for Menomena.

Posted by Glenn at 4:20 PM | Link | Comment (2)
|New York City|

For the Smog/Joanna Newsom/Weird War show at the Bowery Ballroom (December 18th and 19th), which is being billed as "It's A Wonderful Next Life: A Drag City Christmas Party," the website requests that people wear "a sweater with a knit cap or scarf."

Odd.

Posted by Glenn at 1:28 PM | Link | Comment (1)
|New York City|

Thanks to all who came out to the first ever (wasn't it?) music blogger happy hour. There are far too many names to mention, so in the tradition of heavy metal album liner notes, I'll just say, "You know who you are."

We'll have to do it again soon, no?

Posted by Glenn at 10:12 AM | Link | Comment (1)
|New York City|

Stop by The Magician tonight between 6pm and 8pm and hang out with music bloggers and other persons of interest. You'll know how to find us: band buttons on our bags, bloodshot eyes from staring into our computers screens way too much, passionate conversations about bands only 103 people worldwide care about...

After the happy hour I'll be at Irving Plaza for the Domino showcase, and later at the Bowery Ballroom for the Astralwerks gig.

Posted by Glenn at 11:54 AM | Link | Comment (1)
|New York City|

OK, let's see if this will work: Thursday at The Magician. 6pm-8pm, roughly. Yes, this Thursday.

Again, all music bloggers, plain ol' bloggers and Coolfer readers and anybody who wants to show up are welcome. Hopefully this time will work for everybody. It's not so early that you have to skip out of work early, and it won't run too late so everybody can get to whatever venues are on your Thursday itineraries.

Send me an email to let me know if you'll be there, and please spread the word.

Posted by Glenn at 3:11 PM | Link
|New York City|

Isn't 2004 such a year for benefit shows? This one, though, is not political. Friday, Spirit hosts a benefit for the Cedars Sinai Cancer Research Centre. The show is cleverly called Be Well: The Ramones Beat On Cancer (it combines the song titles "I Wanna Be Well" and "Beat on the Brat").

On the bill are three NYC legends: The Strokes, Blondie and Sonic Youth, plus special guests Andrew WK, Sean Lennon, Alan Vega, CJ Ramone and longtime Ramones friend and producer Daniel Rey. Even Marky Ramone is supposed to make an appearance. Tickets are $50.

Posted by Glenn at 8:30 PM | Link
|New York City|

Make space in your hectic social calendars for Thursday, October 14th. Early evening. Coolfer is lazily organizing a get-together for all music bloggers (and whoever else wants to come, everybody's invited) who will be in town during CMJ. I'd call it something like "Music Blogger Conference - Fall 2004" but it's just going to be an excuse to see friends, make new friends and throw down a few before heading off to Thursday night's shows.

I've already got verbal confirmations from a few of you. If you think you can make it, send me an email or reply in the comments section. Maybe in the future we can geek out and have it at the Apple Store in SoHo, though I'm not sure about their open container policy.

Details will be hammered out soon. If you've got a bar you'd like to nominate, let me know.

Posted by Glenn at 2:08 PM | Link | Comment (2)
|New York City|

More things to do in NYC. Sorry if I missed anything.

* = very recommended. ** = super hott

** Thurday, September 9th, Franz Ferdinand at Roseland Ballroom
* Thurday, September 9th, The Future Heads/The Roger Sisters with Franz Ferdinand DJ set at Rothko
- Friday, September 10th, The Natural History/Fort Ancient at Office Ops
- Friday, September 10th, Hopewell/Blue Sparks at Sin-e
- Friday, September 10th, To Live and Shave in LA at Northsix
- Friday, September 10th, Scissor Sisters at Irving Plaza
- Friday, September 10th, Laika and the Cosmonauts at Pianos
- Saturday, September 11th, Nektar/Caravan at BB King's
- Saturday, September 11th, Jesse Malin at the Bowery Ballroom
* Saturday, September 11th, Secret Machines/Bishop Allen at Rothko
- Saturday, September 11th, Marah at Sin-e
- Monday, Septemeber 13th, Nebula at Northsix
- Monday, Septemeber 13th, Sahara Hotnights at Southpaw
- Tuesday, September 14th, Snow Patrol at Irving Plaza
** Tuesday, September 14th, M83/Ulrich Schnauss at the Bowery Ballroom
- Tuesday, September 14th, Joseph Arthur at Pianos
- Wednesday, September 15th, Tommy Stinson at the Mercury Lounge
- Wednesday, September 15th, Bigger Lovesr at Sin-e
* Wednesday, September 15th, Elkland at Pianos
* Thursday, September 16th, The Thrills at Irving Plaza
- Friday, September 17th, Madison Strays at Rothko
- Friday, September 17th, Drive By Truckers at Irving Plaza
- Friday, September 17th, The Headset at Sin-e
- Saturday, September 18th, Film School/Burnside Project at Rothko

Continue reading "NYC Concert Calendar: Kiss You Paycheck Goodbye" »

Posted by Glenn at 11:16 PM | Link | Comment (2)
|New York City|

Jen of Gothamist Arts & Events has a few tips for tonight. Listening parties abound, as they usually do during the summer.

I posted my weekly music picks over at Gothamist. No need to repost or retype, just check the link.

Posted by Glenn at 2:39 PM | Link
|New York City|

* = Hott Stuff

- Tuesday, August 17th, Oxford Collapse/Robbers on High Street/Sam Champion at the Mercury Lounge
* Wednesday, August 18th, Elkland/Dub Trio/Blonde Buddha at Pianos
- Thrusday, August 19th, Sufjan Stevens at the Mercury Lounge
* Thrusday, August 19th, Guided by Voices at Pier 54
- Friday, August 20th, Sufjan Stevens at the Mercury Lounge
- Friday, August 20th, Shade/Inevitable Breakups/Aerovox at Pianos
- Friday, August 20th, Stiff Little Fingers at Irving Plaza
* Saturday, August 21st, Sea Ray/The Everyones/Mobius Band at the Mercury Lounge
- Saturday, August 21st, Via Satellite/The Big Sleep at Sin-e
- Saturday, August 21st, Living Things/Headset at Rothko
- Saturday, August 21st, the Mooney Suzuki at Northsix
- Saturday, August 21st, Clogs/Eric Friedlander at Joe's Pub
- Saturday, August 21st, African Brothers Band at Satella
- Saturday, August 21st, Sons of Sound at Pianos
- Sunday, August 22nd, Golden Smog at the Bowery Ballroom
- Monday, August 23rd, Golden Smog at the Bowery Ballroom
- Monday, August 23rd, Ozomotli/Kinky at BB King's
- Tuesday, August 24th, Brant Bjork/Bad Wizard at Southpaw
- Tuesday, August 24th, The Polyphonic Spree at Irving Plaza
- Tuesday, August 24th, Shy Child at Sin-e
- Wednesday, August 25th, The Polyphonic Spree at Irving Plaza
- Wednesday, August 25th, Vincent Gallo & Sean Lennon at Rothko (two shows)
- Wednesday, August 25th, Madison/Blizzard of 78 at Sin-e
- Thursday, August 26th, Craig Wedren at the Living Room
* Friday, August 27th, Bad Wizard/The Witnesses at Rothko
* Saturday, August 28th, The Bravery/NYCSMOKE at the Mercury Lounge
- Saturday, August 28th, Sam Jayne/Azita at Tonic
- Saturday, August 28th, My Favorite at Sin-e
- Sunday, August 29th, The Epochs at Rothko
- Monday, August 30th, OK Go/The Quick at the Knitting Factory
* Monday, August 30th, Worm Is Green at Pianos
- Tuesday, August 31st, The Wrens/The Hold Steady at the Bowery Ballroom
- Tuesday, August 31st, Soma at Sin-e

Continue reading "So Many Bands, So Few Barstools" »

Posted by Glenn at 12:22 PM | Link
|New York City|

Those of you in NYC may want to stop by Other Music this Saturday for their sidewalk sale. It goes from 1:00pm to 6:00pm, weather permitting.

From OM: "Other Music recently acquired a couple great collections of vinyl LPs that we literally don't have room for in the store. So this Saturday we're throwing a Sidewalk Sale featuring a fantastic, diverse selection of rock, electronic and hip hop LPs and 12-inches, a majority of which have never made it to the sales floor. Don't miss it!"

Posted by Glenn at 5:48 PM | Link
|New York City|

- Monday, August 2nd, Adem/Sons and Daughters at Joe's Pub
- Tuesday, August 3rd, Baby/Morningwood/Dogs Die In Hot Cars at the Mercury Lounge
- Tuesday, August 3rd, Adem/Sons and Daughters at Northsix
- Wednesday, August 4th, Rilo Kiley/Matthew Caws at the Knitting Factory
- Wednesday, August 4th, Dogs Die In Hot Cars/Morning Theft at Rothko
- Thursday, August 5th, Rachel Loshak at the Living Room
- Thursday, August 5th, the Minders at Northsix
- Thursday, August 5th, Beulah at Castle Clinton National Monument
- Friday, August 6th, Walking Concert at the Mercury Lounge
- Saturday, August 7th, African Festival at Prospect Park Bandshell
- Saturday, August 7th, David Garza at the Mercury Lounge
- Saturday, August 7th, Xiu Xiu/On!Air!Library! at the Knitting Factory
- Saturday, August 7th, Dirty on Purpose/The Everyones at Rothko
- Saturday, August 7th, Tres Chicas at Joe's Pub
- Saturday, August 7th, Ova Looven/Vietnam at Northsix
- Sunday, August 8th, Kinski/Ueh at the Knitting Factory
- Sunday, August 8th, Modest Mouse at the Hammerstein Ballroom
- Monday, August 9th, Modest Mouse at the Hammerstein Ballroom
- Tuesday, August 10th, Lucinda Williams at Summerstage
- Tuesday, August 10th, Ill Ease at Sin-e
- Thursday, August 12th, Either Orchestra at Satella
- Friday, August 13th, Tanya Donnelly and Rachel Goswell at Joe's Pub
- Saturday, August 14th, Matt Pond PA at Northsix
- Sunday, August 15th, Nas at Summerstage
- Sunday, August 15th, Dr. Demento Show at BB King's
- Tuesday, August 17th, Oxford Collapse/Robbers on High Street/Sam Champion at the Mercury Lounge
- Wednesday, August 18th, Elkland/Dub Trio/Blonde Buddha at Pianos
- Thrusday, August 19th, Sufjan Stevens at the Mercury Lounge
- Friday, August 20th, Sufjan Stevens at the Mercury Lounge
- Friday, August 20th, Shade/Inevitable Breakups/Aerovox at Pianos
- Friday, August 20th, Stiff Little Fingers at Irving Plaza

Continue reading "It's Only Money, So Just Spend It" »

Posted by Glenn at 11:06 AM | Link | Comment (1)
|New York City|

I'm sorry to say that the current state of Pixies overload prevents me from mentioning that the band announced a truckload of North American tour dates and New York City is not on the list. Hey, Pixies, if I can't get there on my subway pass, I'm not going. Camden, New Jersey? Two shows? What, are you opening for Bon Jovi or something?

Posted by Glenn at 3:15 PM | Link | Comment (2)
|New York City|

Billboard has the lowdown on the Little Steven's International Underground Garage Festival that will be held at NYC's Randall's Island on August 14th. For a mere $20 ($25 the day of the show) you get Iggy and the Stooges, the Strokes, the New York Dolls, Bo Diddley, Raveonettes, the Pretty Things, the Mooney Suzuki, the Romantics, the Chesterfield Kings, the Fuzztones, The Shazam, the Electric Prunes, the Contrast, Cocktail Strippers, the High Dials, the Chains, Flaming Sideburns and more.

Watch and learn, Lollapalooza. First of all, it's on a weekend. Second, $20 is a bargain. Third, if you're gonna have a bunch of old guys on stage it needs to be a special event--and a reunited New York Dolls is a damn special event. Fourth, I'll bet they charge less for a bottle of water than the concession stands at Lollapalooza. Fifth, this kind of rock is better on a big festival stage. That Lollapalooza line-up should have been squeezed into a large indoor theater.

Tickets are on sale now.

Posted by Glenn at 2:08 PM | Link
|New York City|

I got soaked during Ted Leo's abbreviated set at the South Street Seaport on Friday night. Damn that rain!

Great show, though. Ted rocked, as always. The Real Janelle wrote about it for Gothamist Arts. Have you ever seen such beautiful blogging? "Brooklyn Heights continued to disappear in the background, fading further into the misty slate twilight as the storm grew stronger."

Oh, and I listened to the new Nick Drake collection, Made To Love Magic, on Rhapsody. Good stuff, but it's really an album for the Nick Drake completists out there. There's nothing earth-shaking on it, and I'd stick to his studio albums over this any ol' day of the week.

Posted by Glenn at 10:55 AM | Link | Comment (2)
|New York City|

Most evenings Coolfer feels like a typically jaded New Yorker, one of those hard-to-impress industry types who goes to so many shows it's honestly hard to get excited about many of them any more. By the time I got to the Bowery Ballroom last night, it was the same ritual as always: get in the door, get a drink, watch some of the opening band, go back downstairs to the bar, tell my friend that I'm to the point where I can't stand through two bands in one night and often walk out early on some great performances.

But when I ran into a friend from Warp Records, I started to feel a bit of anticipation. What brings you here? I asked. Gotta see the best live band in town, he replied.

This could be heatedly debated from the Lower East Side to Williamsburg, but I'd have to agree with him. !!! is the best live band in New York City. Last night, they put on a show for the ages at the Bowery Ballroom and nary a person was the slightest bit sorry about not being at Volume to rub shoulders with celebs and hipsters alike at the Franz Ferdinand show. For as great as Franz Ferdinand is--and Coolfer thinks they're an great live band with incredible songs--their live show is rudimentary in comparison.

Midway through the encore-less set, as the crowd has grooving with such might that the floor at the Bowery was starting to show some bend and spring, right around the time they dropped "Me and Guiliani Down By The Schoolyard (A True Story)" and the funk/post-punk jam was in full tilt, I realized the greatness of the moment: !!! are teaching the indie kids to dance again. Of course, I'm ripping that off from the great MP3 blog of the same name, but the point is that !!! had taken a room full of self-aware head bobbers and transformed them into dancing, shaking, jumping and damn well near-cartwheeling celebrants of indie rock's latest great band.

And that live show, I'll tell you...it's been fine-tuned to the point where the songs flow one into another like a DJ mixes records. Not to be confused with a jam band, !!! do however jam very well, in an improvisational way that allows each member a bit of freedom to experiment within the safe confines of the steady, beefy rhythm. No !!! show is the same because they don't play be sheet music; while the songs are tight and focused, they are winging it all the same. It's a thing of beauty. And as great as they are on record, !!! is best experienced live.

Yeah, it was a lot of fun. Not at all sorry I skipped Franz.

If you live in one of these towns, you know what to do:

Sat Jun 19 - Baltimore, MD @ The Otto Bar (w/White Magic)
Sun Jun 20 - Wash DC @ The Black Cat (w/White Magic)
Tue Jun 22 - Louisville, KY @ Uncle Pleasants
Wed Jun 23 - Detroit, MI @ The Magic Stick
Thu Jun 24 - Bloomington, IN @ The Blue Bird
Fri Jun 25 - St Louis, MO @ Creepy Crawl
Sat Jun 26 - Columbia, MO @ Mojo's
Sun Jun 27 - Milwaukee, WI @ Mad Planet
Mon Jun 28 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Triple Rock
Tue Jun 29 - Chicago, IL @ Logan Square Auditorium

P.S. If you want to Google !!!, just type in "chk chk chk."

Posted by Glenn at 1:39 PM | Link | Comment (6)
|New York City|

As always, NYC is a playground for a music lover.

- Tonight, !!! plays the Bowery Ballroom. Hot.
- Also tonight, The Subdudes play a free show at the Propsect Park bandshell for Celebrate Brooklyn!
- Tomorrow, Dirty On Purpose plays the Mercury Lounge. Hott.
- Also tomorrow, Image Node is hosting Better Living Through Technology at 88 Front St in DUMBO. DJs Spinoza and Klevervice are among those who will man the decks. There'll be video and art installations, per usual. It'll cost $5 if you're in a costume (choo