Arcade Fire for Cheap?

United Palace Theatre [3,500 ppl] x two nights + Radio City Music Hall [6,000 ppl] = 13,000 tickets sold.

Sure craigslist is alive with offers and beggars, but hundreds of people bought extras thinking they can easily dump them at the venue if their friends flake out. Wait outside United Palace at show time and get in for 1/2 off. People will be pleading with you to take their spare for $20.

Irving Plaza renamed Fillmore NY - Now with Apples

Irving Plaza, a New York City institution, is changing it's name to become Starbucks Music Hall. Not quite, but close enough. Live Nation is branding it Fillmore New York. Accordingg to the press release, their goal is to compete complement -blah!- with the 11 House of Blues venues around the nation.

"Upon entering the venue, there will be fresh apples for hungry live music aficionados and a greeter to let them know about upcoming shows."

In the lobby there will be a gift shop with Fillmore NY shirts, mugs and Statues of Liberty.

It all begins with Lily Allen's April 11th show [sold out, boys].

I hope they get rid of that hideous overhang; I hate being trapped under that thing. And what about the free condoms? Who really wants apples anyways? [thx kyu]

Thermals and Hold Steady to play NYU [Or not?] [Or yes?]

PFM alludes to The Hold Steady playing Eisner & Lubin Auditorium [aka: NYU] on April 26th with an asterisk, that asterisk being the Thermals. If the Blow "sold out", what will this do? Combust?

[thx eduardo]

Update: But since yesterday it's been removed? Maybe this show ain't happening. :(

Update #2: Apparently it *is* happening, but it's a "PRIVATE" show and "shouldn't have included it on the itinerary."

Kate Havnevik @ Joe's Pub

Kate Havnevik - Grace [yousendit mp3]

Norwegian female vocalist Kate Havnevik [website/myspace] played Joe's Pub last week and although that genre -one on the verge of easy listening- may not normally appeal to me, there was something piqueing about her myspace tunes. "Grace" especially grew on me, and I admit this knowing how dangerous it is for a tough guy like me to do so. Typically I listen to Fall Out Boy while I'm at the gym. It. Gets. Me. Pumped.

Brooklyn Vegan draws a Bjork comparison in her work that doesn't really work, but that's not to say there aren't other artists she's emulating. OK, maybe BV has a point with this picture. Only a handful of her songs are strong her on their own and "Grace" is the only one I genuinely like. She sang a cute Norwegian "Happy Birthday" but I doubt that made the album.

Blogotheque: Arcade Fire

If you guys haven't familiarized yourselves with the Parisian site Blogotheque, then you really must. They produce gorgeous videos of our favorite artists performing in unique places/situations. I've mentioned the Doveman performance before.

They recently completed their taping of the Arcade Fire before they were forced to cancel their European tour. Win Butler and the ensemble cram into a freight elevator for "Neon Bible" before entering the crowd for "Wake Up."

It gives me chills watching it. Watch here [or click image above].

Wikipedia Article of the Day

The Care Bears' ultimate "weapon" is the "Care Bear Stare", in which the collected Bears stand together and radiate light from their respective tummy symbols, combining to form a ray of love and good cheer which could bring care and joy into the target's heart. The "Care Bear Stare" has several different looks. One has a beam coming from the tummy being made up of several replicated images of the symbol. Another variation forms a rainbow when multiple Bears and/or Cousins are involved. A yellow beam with red hearts is sometimes seen as well.

[Wiki]

Three Arcade Fire NYC Shows, On Sale Dates Announced

It's confirmed [thx kyu]:

The long-awaited New York appearances during The Arcade Fire’s North American tour have just been announced. On May 7 and 8, the band will perform at the United Palace at 175th and Broadway. On May 9, they’ll headline legendary Radio City Music Hall as the inaugural event of the David Bowie-curated High Line Festival. Tickets for all three shows will be available through TicketMaster beginning on Friday, March 30 at 10:00 AM.

Better luck this round kiddos. I want them to come back to Judson.

Neat Links

Some links via Mefi, Boing Boing, and Digg:


- 15 Unintentionally Hilarious Comic Panels.

- Choose Your Own Chose Your Own Advenure Adventure

-GRANDMOTHER: Did you see the politics? It made me angry.
DAD: Me, too. When it was over, I had sex. [Link]

-This American Life Parody

-Ira Glass on Story Telling

-The Codex Seraphinianus on Flickr. Wow.

Random Bits

-By the End of Tonight play their ONLY NYC show tonight at Cake Shop. There's a praising preview over at Oh My Rockness if you are on the fence. I recommend: GO!

-Three of my favorite albums of 2007 – and likely all three will be top 10 by December- came out yesterday: LCD Soundsystem [easily a 9.2], Andrew Bird, and Panda Bear. Pick up all three somewhere.

- Beat Radio has a new mp3: People Are Talking [mp3] and play Mercury Lounge on Monday. It's been forever since I last saw them.

-V-Fest at Pimlico will be announced this week. Who's playing? I can't say right now, but it should put it on the map with all the other summer festivals this year... including Bonnaroo, Coachella, and my beloved Sasquatch.

Fujiya & Miyagi Aren't Japanese At All

Fugiya & Miyagi - In One Ear & Out the Other [mp3]
Fugiya & Miyagi - Live KEXP Session [mp3]

"I'm David, and I... I whisper."

That introduction from the above KEXP session is really the best description of how Fujiya & Miyagi use vocals over their synth-groove & electro funk, aided with David's demi-rap delivery. I became an instant fan as the trio played the Mercury Lounge following a set by the novel(ty?) New Violators who were flew in all the way from SXSW Norway 1983. While the Violators grew tiring as they played, F&G only got better.

With the guitarist/whisperer, an array of keyboards and a groove-inducing bass player [both of whom provided back-up whispers], F&G got the crowd sexed-up and swayed down. The result felt like a relaxed chk chk chk -one for which you're more like sipping Black Russians in a lounge than chugging Jack & Cokes in Greenpoint.

Then again, it was a weeknight. Who knows what a weekend gig of Fujiya & Miyagi would produce?

Brooklyn Vegan liked it as well.

Also see: Soundbites & Musicsnobbery, who asserts, "If you haven't heard them yet, they'll be your new favorite band."

Worked for me.

New Voxtrot, Rare Voxtrot

First off, head over to Born by the River who has an EP's worth of Voxtrot rarities and b-sides I haven't seen elsewhere other than on my turntable at home.
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Voxtrot could have been the Jorge Luis Borges of the Indie Rock world, never composing anything longer than a short story and we would all love them just the same. Release an EP every month for all we care. Edgar Allan Poe only wrote one novel, so maybe they'll aspire to that analogy.

The Voxtrot LP leaked yesterday and I'm thinking they should have stayed with the EP format. Most band's full-length records could never live up to either of Voxtrot's first EP's, and now we see that -for the most part- neither can Voxtrot. It's a fine record, but it won't be nearly as fondly remembered in a couple months time. This isn't backlash; it's simply the truth. Had they made another EP, we could appreciate their brevity even in their mistakes. Hell, there are enough good ideas on the LP that had it been condensed, it might not even be viewed as a misstep.

My favorite song on the album wasn't even graced with a name, solely titled "Introduction." I've posted a live version of that before, but that's not the one Beggar's released for the blogs. Here's that one:

Voxtrot - Kid Gloves [mp3]

Other reactions:
Faronheit says because the last two EPs were amazing, y'all are hypocrites for disliking this release. I think he/she's jumping to conclusions saying the backlash has started. Most people who dislike this record probably already disliked them before.

Wolfnotes, a late adopter to the band, says "[Ramesh] just keeps singing, and this whole “lets see if I can note-hunt until I stumble upon something catchy” approach seems to me like something more appropriate for a long shower on his own time, and not his band’s first impression."

Obscure Sound aptly reports, "Voxtrot’s full-length debut is better than the majority of straightforward alternative albums released today. The hooks on the album are plentiful and sufficient, even if many of the songs leave the listener craving a bit more."

Also, I still like this remix that Stereogum "commissioned":

Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Steve Reich [mp3]

Chris Ott Responds to Tricia Romano's UltraDrrrrvl

As you may already know, Tricia Romano wrote a cover story this week for the Village Voice who depicted UltraGrrrl as a martyr burning at the stake. I do not care for what Sarah Lewitinn [U.G.] represents nor Ms. Romano for that matter, but I never give them much thought. Tankboy over at Idolator comments in the discussion of the cover illustration, "Is that really the cover? Okay, why are you all wasting your time bashing Ultra when you should be hatin' on the VV art department?!"

Chris Ott -a fellow Village Voice contributor- vocally expressed his distaste for the article on the piece's website on Friday citing the possible conflict of interest in that Stolen Transmission [UltraGrrrl]'s band the Horrors played the Voice's SXSW showcase. He continues: "If Nick Sylvester can be fired because someone he lampooned turned on him, what do we do with you, Trish?"

Knowing the Voice's predisposition to fire or blacklist dissenters, I hope you are still getting along over there. You may have just painted yourself as a martyr, with smaller boobies.

Tricia,

As a Voice contributor - and participant in the I Love Music discussion you mention - I find it curious and not a little convenient that you did not think to reach out to me for a quote on this story. My views on Sarah are public, and far from anonymous. In fact, the two times I have spoken of her, my email address was displayed at the foot of the message (as it is here).

Read the rest of Ott's response.

All at Once Now

Since you don't have enough SXSW reviews, here are all the other shows I've been to in the past month. I've already reviewed the Thermals in Seattle, The Blow at NYU & Tunng at Union Hall, but I've neglected the dozen or so other shows I've seen.

02-09 Girl Talk @ Studio B
Even before Girl Talk commanded his 0's and 1's from his C:/ drive, the floor of Studio B was becoming most tumultuous for the simple act of the spinning Nirvana. GT didn't even have to do anything and we would be happy; so when he got up there and didn't do anything, we all went batshit insane. The security confiscated most of the girls from the dance floor and placed them on stage, resulting in the dance floor becoming a crushing field of bone and male sweat. You know that scene in A New Hope where they are about to be flattened by the trash compactor? Sort of like that, but not. How was Gillis's nothingness? IIRC, splendid.

02-10 Plug Awards @ Irving Plaza
Every year I have great hope for the Plug Awards, and every year the pacing never works. As David Cross put it during the failing bits, "It looked good on paper, I swear." Malkmus was the saving grace, but by the time he and the Jicks started, the momentum had them defeated.

02-16 Arcade Fire @ Judson Memorial Church
I get spoiled seeing my favorite large bands in these small settings. I was in awe and ready to proclaim that the Arcade Fire at Judson Memorial would be the Next Big Thing. Unfortunately the moment was fleeting and they will be on to bigger and lesser venues. People said Saturday was the best of the bunch, but only knowing Friday, and loving every second, I couldn't imagine it being topped - if only because Friday closed with their amidst-the-crowd rendition of "Wake-Up." It's a song to finish on, like a butterfly's last breath before it freezes in the night.

02-17 Rock Central Plaza @ Glasslands
They sound like an O'death with added quirkiness and varied orchestral arrangements. It wasn't nearly as successful at Glasslands, so we left to hit the open bar at...

02-17 !!!
Wow. !!! might be the best live band ever [See other rival contestant Matt & Kim below]. Some complained it was too short, but I was utterly exhausted by the set's end. Still, that didn't stop us from dancing afterwards until early morning. Whatever you do, go check them out at Bowery [Sold out?] and pick up their new album. Here's one of my favorite track off of it. One of the best songs of the year?

!!! - All My Heroes Are Weirdos [mp3]

02-18 Malajube, Rock Central Plaza @ Mercury
RCP [not to be confused with the RHCP] redeemed themselves from Saturday with more crisp dynamics that the Mercury Lounge could provide. Malajube rocked but their charm sparkles with their creative use of the English language. He said something about eat hot dogs on a NY sidewalk that melted all the girls hearts, including the little girl inside my soul.

02-27 Sparklehorse @ Spinhouse
Short set that left me bored and unimpressed. Unfortunate since I loved his performance at Bowery last fall.

03-02 Photo Atlas @ Pianos
Angular post-punk from Denver. They have potential but still need to define their own identity and sound -or at least write an insatiably catchy lick or lyric.

03-03 The Jukebox Ghost @ Pianos
Ben Folds Fivish pop band. Very talented pianist with an excellent voice. Can be a little too cutesy at times, but they don't even have a debut yet, just a 3 song sampler. I'd definitely check them out again next time they come up from D.C.

Go download "Good Day" over at Underrated.

03-04 The Thermals @ Bowery Ballroom
03-05 The Thermals @ Studio B
God I love this band. May also be the best live band ever. Bowery was crazier than Studio B, but they both left me panting in the pit. NY Times reviewed Sunday, Village Voice [with a really fantastic picture] reviewed Monday. Nothing destroys a good moshpit than crowd surfing. But Hutch blessed the attempts, and like following their shepherd, they obeyed.

03-09 Matt & Kim @ Bowery Ballroom
Matt & Kim may be the best live band ever. Their music itself is surprisingly average, but it induces such a fever in the crowd that it makes Beatlemania look like a bunch of bored teens. Perhaps it's in this middle ground that allows for people to let lose. It's not groundbreaking and no one cares. Don't think, just move. With the Studio B show and now this, Matt & Kim are easily the best new live act of 2007.

03-10 Shout Out Out Out Out @ Mercury Lounge
I was getting shin splints from all the dancing and jumping by the end of the week. Thank god SXSW took all the bands away so I could recover. Even if the entirety of the Mercury Lounge wasn't as enthralled as our enclave up front, we didn't care. They brought the dance music and we brought the moves, of which I have exactly two: Jumping and Fist Pumping. Both were married happily to Shout Out Out Out Out and the rest was all a blur. An electrical blur. 3xWes reviewed it here.

Alive Aliv-o!

I searched and searched this morning for my classic Irish music CD to no avail. Does anybody have a good [and upbeat] version of Molly Mallone? Anyway, here are a few Irish tunes:

The Clancy Brothers - Mountain Dew [mp3]


Paddyrasta - Molly Malone [mp3] [Rasta/Celtic? whatever.]

Gaelic Storm - After Hours at McGann's [Arrangement of: "The Primrose Lass", "Hewlett’s Reel", and "Reel Gan Anim"] [mp3]

That one's from Gaelic Storm's Herding Cats album, and what's a holiday without Cat Drinking Songs?!

Marc Gunn - Wild Kitty [parody of "Wild Rover"] [mp3]

I love the meows with the quesion mark: "meow?"

Tunng at Union Hall

Tunng - Beautiful and Light [mp3]
Tunng - Woodcat [mp3]

"You're late," I yelled silently in my mind as the hippy-looking British group known as Tunng took the stage. It had been more than a year in waiting for them to play New York and this year they were not promoting the stellar This Is Tunng album, but rather the tepid Comments of the Inner Chorus. I hoped they wouldn't ignore my silent requests I shouted all night - that is, the entirety of This Is Tunng.

Tunng has three acoustic guitarists. That's nearly an orchestra of guitars, or least the early formation of a jam circle. Behind the wall of strings, they had one guy on electronics and another on auxiliary percussion. Yes, in addition to the weird blips bleeps and blops, they had a guy solely dedicated to weird clangs, clunks, clinks. Helping out on auxiliary, was the sole female in the group. As a woman, she was the only member forced to stand for the entire show while the men lounged in chairs. Chivalry is dead.

They began their set with Young Folk "People Folk" and an amazing version of "Beautiful and Light." "Woodcat" and "Jenny Again" were the only tunes off Comment I truly adored. They whipped out their Bloc Party cover "Pioneers" to please many in the crowd, and tried to conclude with "Surprise Me 44." A minute later, the electric power shorted-out on the electronics and they were unable to go on.

Whhhhaaaaa? Surely a band with three acoustic guitarists and two auxiliary percussionists can improvise without a sample machine, no? With the crowd demanding another song, the wall of strings rose out of their chairs and played an incredible version of "Fair Doreen." My dream of seeing Tunng in concert was fulfilled.

Leaving the moment unspoilt, we didn't remain for Loney, Dear.

Tunng play tonight at Mercury Lounge!

Here's a really great bittersweet video for "Fair Doreen."

Tag Team's Sasquatch! Giveaway

My plane ticket for Memorial Day's Sasquatch Yeti Festival has been booked and the countdown to a return Seattle begun. I feel like I just came from there. Pack your bags, tents & granola and head out to the Gorge for some sunshine, music, and dehydration. Hopefully Neko Case won't be interrupted this year by an act of God.

Tag Team Media is offering a pair of 2-day passes to a winner who emails them here with their name, age, phone number, and the name of the site through which you found the giveaway -ummm ME!. The winner also will interview Tokyo Police Club [another Tag Team artist] for the site he confessed to reading.

Fine print:
-The Deadline for all entries is Monday April 2nd. Entries received after April 2nd will not be considered in the giveaway.
-The winner will be chosen at random and announced Wednesday April 4th.
-Only one entry per individual, per email will be accepted.
-The winner will be responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the festival as well as accomodations over the weekend. The giveaway only covers entrance to the festival.
-The winner and the site/blog through which they enter the contest, with the help of Tag Team Media, will work to coordinate the details of the Tokyo Police Club interview.

Podcasts | Need Recommendations

I've been listening to more and more podcasts lately, but as I sift through the myriad of topics out there, I find it hard to find programs of good interest or execution. Here are a few I have in my RSS iTunes feeder. There are numerous music podcasts out there too, but I don't care for them. If anyone has a favorite discussion podcast, please share it.

-This American Life - Duration: 60 minutes; Topic: [mostly] Nonfiction
A staple of American radio. It's the first program that got me into podcasts. It's most entertaining when they keep David Sedaris muzzled and far, far away from the mic.

-McLaughlin Group - Duration: 30 minutes; Topic: Politics
A favorite television show of mine for years. John McLaughlin is a superb host who looks like an ornery crank, but is quite pleasant as he moderates the discussion between Pat Buchanan & Tony Blankley [conservative] and Eleanor Clift & -usually- Mort Zuckerman [liberal]. He'll ask each of the panelists, "On a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 representing impossibility and 10 representing complete metaphysical certitude, what is the chance of [such and such]" before declaring that "the correct answer is three."

-TWiT [This Week in Technology] - Duration: 100 minutes; Topic: Technology, Internet
I've only listened to this for the first time last week, but there's a reason it's the #1 most popular podcast.

-Lostcast - Duration: 60 minutes; Topic: Lost TV show
Not a great podcast by any means, but its topic is at least of interest. I cringe whenever they make a remark that is wildly wrong about pop culture, or when they make preposterously speculative theories about the show, but whatever.

-Slate's Explainer - Duration: Approx 5 minutes; Topic: Curiosity Tangential to the News.
Great for filling in the gaps of your knowledge. Unfortunately it's far too brief, but there's usually a new one every day.

-Metafilter - Duration: 20 minutes; Topic: Random internet stories
Brand new podcast about my favorite aggregating news website. Matt and Jessamyn discuss the most popular or interesting stories and discussions that hit Metafilter.

The Blow @ NYU

SOLD OUT! the signs outside the Kimmel Center at NYU read. "Selling" out a free show is no great feat in this expansive city of ours, but for a unreal venue [but not like Unreal Tournatment is unreal] and for a small act like the Blow, it caught most of us off guard and ticketless. I got lucky. Other people just waited and walked easily right in.

Liz Isenberg began the show with songs structured like fancies of Joanna Newsom, but on guitar. The music demanded too much intimacy than the space could provide. I can't say I found her outright boring but at the time I couldn't focus, especially with that crowd. Her stuff on myspace is sweet though, so give that a shot.

Now: the crowd. I don't mind NYU kids. Stereotypes blah blah blah. I dislike people who characterize NYU kids as a brand. I hate prejudices of all types. Trust fund kids bleed when you dismember them too. But there I was, witnessing so much hipness, so much irony, so many kids wearing their father's high school clothes. Freaks and Geeks Redux. I don't mind that even, but put 400 or so of them in a room and -like the little sexy scientists we were- we noticed patterns emerge. I blame the Olson twins. Anyway, why were there so many? Was this some mandatory dorm event? Past NYU events never felt so skewed.

The Blow held the stage much more confidently even though there was still only one person in front of us. Khaela began by directing the lighting - which went from dreadful to plain awkward [although by the end, it wasn't so terrible]. Khaela separates herself from other female singers in that her voice falters and wavers -but not from any nervousness- but rather like she's diddling around the house and not performing in front of hundreds. It's in this unabashed weakness makes the songs most powerful. The songs are so bare it's unfortunate she narrates so often between songs, trying to make the entire show follow some emotive story.

Anyone that has seen the Blow knows the most memorable thing isn't the songs themselves, but Khaela's movements as she sings them. Ever since CMJ, I can't listen to Paper Television anymore without picturing her gesturing to me while she sang Parenthesis. I could feel it. We connected. I melted into a puddle of Red Stripe right there.

This time, in the cavern of the auditorium, she tried she hardest to find me among the students and reach out...

but I blend in too well.

Need an Apartment in NYC?

My roommate and I need to find a new roommate by the end of the month. Anyone need something? Must be quiet, clean, and cat-friendly. Fort Greene, $850/month. I have a wii.

Parts and Labor

Back to concert reviews. So, where was I? Ah yes, February 9th Parts and Labor [myspace/website] gig for Girl Talk.

Parts & Labor - The Gold We're Digging off the forthcoming Mapmaker

Parts and Labor have been one of those perennial bands I almost nearly see and yet for some reason [Destiny? Dharma?] always tend to miss. Perhaps it's my impatience with opening acts or that their name is just too familiar in the local music scene that I discounted them. It was pleasant to see the audience pay so much attention to the trio who seem like they play somewhere in New York every few weeks. Maybe this isn't even true, but I remember since I started this blog that Parts and Labor have been on my radar and that's exactly where they had stayed. No longer.

Most memorable of the three was the drummer. Moving at speeds inhuman -or just punk- he drives the songs over their Brooklynesque sound. On the new album Mapmaker - not available until May- that tour de force/france percussion is most apparent on tracks like "Vision of Repair". Sonically they remind me of the local brethren Oxford Collapse, and like that band, the album takes a few spins to grow on you.

Some P&L tourdates:
04/04 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
04/05 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa
04/06 Brooklyn, NY - Luna Lounge
04/07 Allston, MA - Great Scott
04/08 New Haven, CT - BAR Nightclub
04/09 Washington DC, - Rock and Roll Hotel
04/10 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
More Dates here.

"Bob Dylan" sings Dr. Seuss

These are surprisingly good. If you like Bob or Dr. Seuss, both, or neither, give these songs a listen.

Yes, Bob Dylan impersonations are as tired as Monica Lewinsky jokes, but give this a try anyway. It's better than Modern Times at least.

Dylan Hears a Who - Green Eggs and Ham [mp3]
Dylan Hears a Who - Cat in the Hat [mp3]

Download a Zip file of all the songs. [via]

Hey Hey Hey B*tch!

Sorry to the people who hate the word "bitch", but this song is too funny. I'm really, really sorry. Skip this post, and especially this song.

Everyone knows I like 8-bit music, so when offered to review 8-Bit's "We Sold Our Souls" I said yes before realizing it was a Hip Hop album. This is more along the lines of ridiculousness, so it's not really serious Hip Hop.

So here's some ironic rap to conclude your week. [The 8-bitness is minimal in the track].

NSFW: 8-Bit - Crunk [mp3]

The Blow & Mirah Remixes and NYC Show

Jona of the Blow, aka YACHT aka My Name is Jona, has release a new compilation of remixes called Our Friends in Hell featuring remixes of The Blow [hey! that's Jona], Architecture in Helsinki, YACHT [see also: Jona], Mirah, and others. It can be bought here for $10.

Here are two tracks off the album:

The Blow - Hock It (We Two Remix) [mp3]

Mirah - Make It Hot (Over Remix) [mp3]

The Blow and Mirah will be playing a free NYU show on March 7th [free at least to students, there may be a nominal fee to non-students the day of the show] at the 4th floor of the Kimmel Center. Brooklyn Vegan has all the Blow's tour dates. The Blow's Paper Television was one of my favorite albums last year.