Black Lips & Vivian Girls Played Webster Hall Last Night

Black Lips have an album coming out which was produced by Mark Ronson which will kill lo-fi dead. Last night they brought their insane live show and new tunes to Webster Hall. Brooklyn's own Vivian Girls opened the gig. Metromix posted a short review and some pics from the gig.

Link:

Metromix Saw Black Lips

Tonight: TVOTR @ Music Hall; Black Lips & Vivian Girls @ Webster Hall; Chris Cornell @ Town Hall; Surf City & Darlings @ Glasslands

There are a ton of killer shows tonight. TV On The Radio ($31 - sold out)and Vivian Girls (w/ Black Lips, $20) are both dropping albums today and playing shows to celebrate. Chris Cornell is doing a solo acoustic show  (w/ William Elliot Whitmore, who is amazing) which I would fucking kill to be at. Yes, his new solo shit is atrocious but then again have you ever heard the acoustic version of "Like Suicide"? Hearing that live is worth $50. Not down for big, fancy venues tonight? Surf City and Darlings are at Glasslands ($8). 

Vivian Girls New Album Out Today (Full Stream) + Playing Webster Hall Tonight With Black Lips

There's a new Vivian Girls album, Share The Joy, out today and you can stream the whole damn thing on NPR. Try before you buy and what not. They are playing what will surely be an amazing show with Black Lips tonight at Webster Hall.

Link:

Stream Share The Joy by Vivian Girls

Black N' Blue Bowl With Gorilla Biscuits, Agnostic Front, Sick Of It All

I'm old and tired and just can't deal with hardcore shows anymore but if there was ever one I would go to it would be this one. The legends of NYHC - Gorilla Biscuits, Agnostic Front and Sick Of It All are headlining this year's Black N' Blue Bowl. Unfortunately, I'm out of town that weekend so I'm going to miss it but if you're around I highly suggest going. Gorilla Biscuits are fucking amazing live and would be worth the price of admission on their own.

Link:

Black N' Blue Bowl

Tonight: Wild Yaks, Bottle Up & Go, Steel Phantoms @ The Studio



CMJ Day #2: STRIFE!

Yesterday's CMJ festivities started with the press mixer at the Rivington Hotel. They had a 3-hour open bar and finger foods. Needless to say I left drunk and full. I was actually surprised by how few people I bumped into. I mean, the place was packed but very few of the NYC crowd was there. Anyway, it was a nice way to kick off the night.

After that I ran over to Webster Hall for the Orchard party. Surfer Blood and The Drums were playing upstairs but I just wasn't feeling it. Especially knowing that one of my all-time favorite hardcore bands was playing a free show at Mercury Lounge. All I could think about was how much I would hate myself if I didn't get in. So I had a couple of drinks and split.

I got to Mercury Lounge around 10:30 (I think) and had to wait a few minutes to get in but there wasn't a line. The joint was packed and Iron Age was just getting started when I got there. I've heard their albums and thought they were good but holy shit, they're fucking killer live. Next up was Disembodied and well, it's pretty generic hardcore - nothing special.

After Disembodied finished up the place kinda cleared out. I don't know why because Strife was due up next. I was so friggin' excited to see Strife. I think I may have seem them in the 90's but I can't say for sure. Those days are a blur now.

Strife took the stage and upon the first strike of a chord the crowd busted open and the middle of the room cleared out. The familiar circle of a mosh pit took shape, I can't say I've ever seen that at the Merc before. The crowd was a nice mix of hipsters, CMJ music nerds, beardo metal-heads and only a handful of hardcore goons. The pit was the fun kind where you don't have to worry about ending up in the hospital.

Rick, the vocalist, was pretty much on the floor in the pit the entire show. He's still got his trademark shaved head but nowadays he's sporting a monster beard to go with it. He was fucking shit up the whole time down there and passing the mic off to damn near everyone who wanted to get in on the action. It was an old-school hardcore show, the kind that simply don't exist anymore.

I was singing along to all the words that I could remember, which were fewer than I expected. Despite a busted knee I was right up front, standing around the edge of the pit, hoping someone wouldn't roll over my knee (almost happened - from Rick!).

I can't even express the sense of nostalgia that came over me. This was the type of show that made me love music and I felt like a fucking kid again. Sure, it's cliche but it's totally true. I miss these types of shows. Hell, every show used to be like this but that scene is dead now and these shows are gone.

But I digress - Strife fucking ruled! When I say one of the best shows I've been to in years I'm not exaggerating. Go see them tonight in Brooklyn at DBA, it's $10 and worth every penny. DBA is a DIY venue so it'll be pretty nutso.

Long live Strife!

***Sorry about the pic quality, didn't have time to edit.

Tonight: Make The Girl Dance @ The Studio (TRASH); Shai Hulud @ Party Expo

It's been a long as time since I've been to Trash and I think tonight might be the night I revisit it. Make The Girl Dance is performing live and while that type of music isn't typically my thing in a setting like Trash it should be pretty damn fun. If you wanna keep it heavy then Shai Hulud are playing the Bushwick Music Festival tonight (I don't get it either) at Party Expo. Shai Hulud is one of the more creative hardcore bands to come out of the 90's scene.

Shai Hulud @ Party Expo

$5

More info here

New Brujeria Album + Webster Hall Show

Talk about good timing. I was just in central Mexico, and appropriately, listening to Brujeria sipping on micheladas. While I was basking in the Mexican sun I thought, "man, when is Brujeria gonna get off their asses and make a new album?" Well now, just 3 days back in the States, I get my answer.

Brujeria are currently working on a new album and announced a single show date which happens to be in NYC! The price is kinda steep ($38) but considering how rare a Brujeria show is I guess that's not so bad.

Oh, and also there's the fact that they're one of the most bad ass metal bands ever. I repeat EVER! Growling Spanish lyrics about revolution, Zapata, witchcraft, and the drug trade all told, with a twisted sense of black humor, by masked anonymous criminals. The music is the best parts of pre-Ross Robinson 90's metal (that dude ruined everything), somewhere between Chaos AD Sepultura and Soul Of A New Machine Fear Factory (which has an interesting Robinson story attached). Yeah, that's awesome shit right there.

Tonight: Bottle Up & Go @ The Studio (FREE)

Tonight: Gogol Bordello & Dillinger Escape Plan @ Webster Hall

Two of the best live bands you'll ever see playing together. This will be intense to put it mildly.

Gogol Bordello & Dillinger Escape Plan

8PM
@ Webster Hall
$35

Gogol Bordello Played Webster Hall 12/28

Last night me and my old lady went to Webster Hall for Gogol Bordello. Their set time was 9PM so we arrived fashionably late at 9:15. I mean, bands never start on time right? Well to our surprise they were already on stage playing when we walked through the door. Bummer.

We headed upstairs but couldn't see shit because of the crowds gathered along the railing on the balcony. So we went back down to the main ballroom but the place was so packed that we couldn't get anywhere near the stage.

Then I got a text message from one of the dudes who books at Webster Hall, "We on balc right". We went back upstairs and found him and a few other pals at a booth right above the stage. So we went from not being able to see to having the best seats in the house. My five foot tall girlfriend was pretty happy about her spot right on the rail.

Gogol Bordello was fucking fantastic as they always are. The entire floor was packed and everyone there was dancing. The floor was like a moon bounce from everyone jumping up and down. The set lasted well over an hour and it was full on the whole time.

They finished the set and walked off the stage. The crowd demanded an encore. Finally, Eugene Hutz (front man extraordinaire) took the stage, just him and his guitar. All alone he broke into "American Wedding" and it was amazing. He started singing and playing guitar but at various points he stopped altogether and let the crowd take over while he conducted. He also did some beat boxing while using his guitar solely for percussive purposes. It was extremely raw and wonderful.

Afterwards the band came back out and played a few tunes. They closed with a very long version of "Undestructable". The show was one of the best Gogol shows I've been to. They've really hit their stride as a band and are extremely impressive. Tonight is the last night of the series and fucking Dillinger Escape Plan is opening, which is a mind fuck indeed and should get the crowd in a frenzy.

Link:
More Pics on Flickr

Tonight: Gogol Bordello @ Webster Hall; Tigersapien @ Santos

The always amazing Gogol Bordello are playing night 2 of 3 at Webster Hall tonight. My homey Leonard (who works at the sausage shack outside of Webster Hall) said last night was amazing. Brooklyn Vegan has more about last night as well. A little further downtown our boys Tigersapien from Philly are playing at Santos. While I've yet to see them live I've been telling people to keep an eye out for these dudes for almost a year now. So go check them out tonight.

Freelance Whales Got Signed

Well it was bound to happen at some point and given the current freeze on signings I'm surprised it happened so soon. Nonetheless, barely a month after wooing the CMJ hoards Freelance Whales got a deal. Frenchkiss/Mom + Pop Records signed them up and their debut LP is expected to hit iTunes this Spring. Good news for the band and bad news for me. I guess I won't be booking them for a DIY Brooklyn show anytime soon (it's because I'm poor).

Also, they'll be opening for Fanfarlo at Webster Hall on December 18th. Will be interesting to see how they pull off that tiny delicate sound on a big monster stage.

Richard Lloyd Played The Studio At Webster Hall

On Thursday Gabe and I went to The Studio to see Richard Lloyd. Here's what Gabe had to say about the show.
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I was at home cramping a frightening amount of recording gear into my shoebox-size room when I got a text from Matt.

“Richard Lloyd 2nite?”
“Recording a new song tonite. Whos that?

…“Television”

The amount of time between my message and his, along with the one-word pithiness of his response had a subtext of, “Dude…really?”

“Oh right.”

Television is one of those bands that don’t really need an introduction. The scope of their influence on rock and roll is pretty massive. At least the rock and roll I like. So if you don’t know, betta axe somebody.

Music snobbery aside though, they are personally one of my favorite bands of all time. The recording of my shitty shit could wait.

“When and where?”
“Studio at Webster Hall. I got a +1”

Great. Free to boot. I finished up a vocal take and geared up to leave. Shoes, jacket, iPod, crossword puzzle, and one last gulp of wine for the road.

When I got there, Matt was waiting outside. We showed our ID’s to the bouncer and walked downstairs to the girl with the list.

“Matt K. I’m on the list. This is my plus one.”

It’s a good feeling to get in somewhere for free when other people are paying. Especially when you’re on “The List.”

First thing we did was weave our way to the bar. Matt and I seem to think alike in many ways. I noticed a sign with drink specials on it.

“$3 PBR’s”
“Yeah, I saw that”

Not a bad price for a place like that. But if I had my druthers, PBR would be free. Like ice water at a restaurant. Standard. You walk into a bar and the first thing the bartender does is crack you open a PBR and say, “What else you havin?”

The opening band was playing. Hey Battlefield I think they were called. A three-piece standard rock outfit. Unremarkable. Not bad really, just unremarkable. Nice little songs. They didn’t move much and neither did we. One woman called for an encore. Must’ve been one of their girlfriends or something. It was funny when they actually did it.

A long time passed between them and Lloyd. Matt and I compared iPhones. Lame, I know, except for the fact that I got mine for free. Finders keepers, right? Everybody follows that rule, right?

Lloyd’s drummer (JP, of Dictators fame) put his cymbals about 6 feet off the ground. They were really fucking high. And he played huge sticks. Must be a Bonham fan.

His bass player looked strangely familiar. A chubby little guy with shaggy red hair. He looked like a kid in high school at his first Battle-of-the-Bands.

They played a few songs I didn’t recognize, but if I had to guess, I’d say they were post-Television originals of Lloyd’s. Then they played a Television song. And he did it well. He’s still a damn good guitar player. But he had more of a squishy, bluesy feel to his playing. Much different from the choppy and angular stabs I recognize as the Television “sound.” It was Television played as a power trio, a la the Hendrix Experience.

Then Lloyd went to the mic and said a few words.

“This next song is the 5th symphony from Beethoven. One of my favorite composers.”

Then they started the “Dumm DAH Dumm DAH Dumm DAH Dumm DAH” octave riff. You know the one. The fuckin PURPLE HAZE intro, brah!

I think I let out an audible “huh” in puzzlement. Ok. He’s doing a Hendrix cover. That’s cool I guess. Then he did another Hendrix cover. And then another. And then a-fucking-NOTHER. He did 4 in the middle. Then he played a few more Television songs I think. But then he went back into MORE Hendrix covers. “What the fuck?” I thought.

It turns out he’s promoting an album of Hendrix covers. I was unaware. And, according to his Wikipedia page, he claims to have gotten guitar lessons from a guy who got guitar lesson from Jimi. AND, Matt says he read somewhere online that Lloyd claims that Jimi once WEPT into his hands. Apparently, they’d had a fight and Jimi felt bad about it. Bad enough to weep into another man’s hands. But hey, it was the 60’s. Love and openness all around. And mind-altering and emotion-oscillating LSD. That too.

Could be true I guess. Or he could be making it up to help promote an indulgent album of fanboy cover songs.

During an awkward rendition of “Are You Experienced?” I went to the bathroom. There were a group of 6 or 7 clubbing-type dudes in there smoking weed. Apparently, they thought enough Axe body spray would mask the smell. They did not look like Television fans. Well, television maybe, but not “Television.”

When I got back, Matt walked up to me excitedly with a smile on his face.

“Dude, he just introduced his band. You know who the bass player is?”
“Who?”
“Danny Tamberelli!”
“Who’s that?”
“Little Pete from Pete and Pete!”

With that, we had a good laugh and left.

Free Show: Here We Go Magic, Titus Andronicus, WOODS, Beach Fossils @ Webster Hall

I had a bunch of offers to do a Brooklyn Ski Club showcase for CMJ this year. But because I hate hectic madness I decided to not do anything for BSC (although there will be more shows soon). Then this show happened, which I'm involved in but nothing to do with Ski Club. Although, it's not actually a CMJ show.

I often use the word "awesome" to describe things but that just isn't good enough for this one so I'm going to use a word I hate but is (finally for once) appropriate, "epic." I mean it's a FREE show brought to you by Spinner, Going, and MyOpenBar with some of the buzziest bands out right now.

Tuesday, Oct. 20th

Here We Go Magic, Titus Andronicus, WOODS, & Beach Fossils
DJ Luiza Sa (CSS)
@ Webster Hall
8PM
18+
FREE w/Going iPhone App
(Rumor has it there's another way in free)

Editors @ Webster Hall

Last night I went straight from work to the Beauty Bar to have some drinks with my peoples. Half of us were pre-gaming for the big Editors show down the street. Everyone was talking about this gig. I initially bought the tickets just to see what the fuss was all about. Then I ended up at the show at the Warsaw and I knew what the fuss was about.

I was pretty excited to see them play last night. This was their show - they weren't sharing the bill with stellastarr* tonight. I got there around 9:15 or so and headed straight for the bar - because I'm a drunk. Beer in hand I headed down to the floor and fought my way through the crowd for a decent spot up front.

Unfortunately, my beer ran dry and I had to go on a quick run. During my incredibly long wait for a beer - the bar was empty for the record. I think the bartenders there are mildly retarded. Anyway, I hear the band start playing and I still don't have my beer yet. Finally, I say a few motivating words to the girl and I got my drink. The good news was I had beer, the bad news was I missed the first song.

When I got back up front to my spot I started taking some pictures. Editors are so goddamn good, they give off a similar vibe to U2. I don't mean the pretentiousness or their sound - I mean their amazing stage presence. The crowd was going pretty wild, at least where I was. The floor was bouncing up and down like a trampoline.

I'm amazed at how tight their sound is. I might go as far as to call it flawless. The tone of the guitars are so crisp and clear. It sounds like they've been playing together for 10 years. I can't wait to hear this guys after they've actually played together for 10 years.

The singer - I think his name is Smith - is just fucking amazing. His voice is good but I'm talking more about his performance. He seems so into the music, he writhes around flaring his arms and hugging his face like a man possessed. He really is the life of the band, not to take anything away from the rest of the boys.

The show was killer and I expect really big things from this band. After the gig everyone went to Black & White for the after party. I didn't want to go so I headed to the L train to go home. Of course as I got there the last L train left and then the line shut down for the night (fucking L train). So I decided I might as well check out the party before I hopped in a cab and headed home.

I got to Black & White to see what was up. The place was totally fucking packed by the time I got there. There were a bunch of people trying to get in so I got as close as I could to see what the deal was. I didn't feel like waiting and sure as hell didn't feel like doing the whole name dropping song and dance so I just said fuck it and went home. I was told I missed one hell of a party, if you're looking to get a job in the "biz" then you missed a golden opportunity to network.

So here are the pictures - sorry about the halfass review of the night. I'm pretty beat right now.

Death from above

Obviously sitting on a toilet here