Thursday, March 31, 2016

Movies: Miles Ahead Opening Tomorrow, 4/1

Miles Ahead
(Sony Pictures Classic)
Don Cheadle as Miles Davis
Photo by Brian Douglas, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Don Cheadle stars as the late trumpeter Miles Davis in this bio-pic he co-wrote with Steven Baigelman. In his directorial debut, Cheadle explores a tumultuous period of Davis' life during the late 70s where he had pretty much disappeared from the public eye. The film co-stars Ewan McGregor as a music reporter who ends up on an adventure with the caustic Davis.


MILES AHEAD is a wildly entertaining and moving exploration of one of 20th century music's creative geniuses, Miles Davis, featuring a career defining performance by Oscar nominee Don Cheadle in the title role. Working from a script he co-wrote with Steven Baigelman, Cheadle's bravura directorial debut is not a conventional bio-pic but rather a unique, no-holds barred portrait of a singular artist in crisis. 

In the midst of a dazzling and prolific career at the forefront of modern jazz innovation, Miles Davis (Cheadle) virtually disappears from public view for a period of five years in the late 1970s. Alone and holed up in his home, he is beset by chronic pain from a deteriorating hip, his musical voice stifled and numbed by drugs and pain medications, his mind haunted by unsettling ghosts from the past.


Trixie Whitley Releases Video For "Closer"

Photo credit: Renata Raksha


Check out the newest video from Trixie Whitley. The clip is for the track "Closer" and was directed by  Anders Malmberg.

Trixie Whitley released her latest album Porta Bohemica, February 2016. You can pick it up HERE.


Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Garbage To Release New Album In June

Photo credit: Joseph Cultice


Garbage (Shirley Manson, Steve Marker, Duke Erikson and Butch Vig) will release their sixth studio album, the self-produced Strange Little Birds. The album is scheduled to arrive on June 10 via the bands own label Stunvolume.


Working initially in Vig's basement and then at Red Razor Sounds in Los Angeles, Garbage drew on a variety of sources, from their recent fan letters back to the albums they loved growing up.  "The guiding principle was keeping it fresh, and relying on instinct both lyrically and musically", said frontwoman Shirley Manson.  Strange Little Birds is "less fussed over" than anything Garbage has ever made. "We fell in love with immediacy," adds Vig.



Track Listing

  • Sometimes
  • Empty
  • Blackout
  • If I Lost You
  • Night Drive Loneliness
  • Even Though Our Love Is Doomed
  • Magnetized
  • We Never Tell
  • So We Can Stay Alive
  • Teaching Little Fingers To Play
  • Amends


Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Television: Empire Returns Tomorrow, 3/30

L-R: Jussie Smollett, Taraji P. Henson and Trai Byers in the "Death Will Have His Way" spring premiere episode of Empire. ©2016 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Chuck Hodes/FOX

The spring premiere of Empire is upon us.

Lyon patriarch Lucious (Terrence Howard) has lost control of his company. Not being one to go down without a fight, he's going to do anything to get it back. Feeling the sting of Hakeem (Bryshere "Yazz" Gray) siding with his lady love Camilla (Naomi Campbell), family matriarch Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) will do things her way to get the empire back. How will Andre (Trai Byers) and the rest of the family handle the cliff-hanger tragedy that befell his wife Rhonda (Kaitlin Doubleday)? We shall see.

It was announced in January that FOX renewed Empire for its third season.

Empire airs Wednesdays on FOX, 9:00 PM ET.

Television: Pagent Brewster Returns To Criminal Minds Tomorrow, 3/30

© 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

After lasts weeks departure of fan favorite of Derek Morgan (portrayed by Shemar Moore), Criminal Minds is bringing back a familiar face. Paget Brewster returns as Emily Prentiss to guest-star in this weeks episode, "Tribute". 

Interpol agent Prentiss reunites with her BAU family to catch a serial killer she's been tracking.

Criminal Minds airs Wednesdays on CBS, 9:00 PM ET.

Chris Watts Releases Video For "Let Go"


Check out the video for "Let Go" from Chris Watts.  It's insanely catchy. You can buy the single HERE.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Clairity Releases New Song, "Broken Things"


Musician Clairity released her new single "Broken Things", this past Friday, March 25.  You can check out the track below and pick it up HERE.

Clairity released her debut EP, Alienation, July 2015.

Upcoming: Lola Marsh To Play 2 NY Shows


Indie-pop duo, Lola Marsh will be making a couple of stops in New York. They will be at Mercury Lounge on May 25 and at Rough Trade NYC on May 28. See below for more details.

Lola Marsh released their You're Mine EP, January 2016. You can pick up a copy HERE.


Wednesday, May 25
217 E Houston Street
New York, NY
Doors: 6:30 / Show: 7:30PM
21+

and

Saturday, May 28
64 N 9th Street
Brooklyn, NY
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
21+

Sunday, March 27, 2016

The Joy Formidable Release New Album + Tour Dates


The Joy Formidable released their latest album, Hitch, March 25 via their own label C'Mon Lets Drift. They will be touring in support of the new record and will make a stop in New York.  Thursday, April 14, they will take the stage at Irving Plaza.  See below for more details and tour dates.

The band has also released a video for the first single, "The Last Thing On My Mind". The video is deemed NSFW…there are male backsides and pixilated male genitalia.  Check it out below.

Of the video...
"It's a song about freedom, about feeling alive & a part of that is about sexual liberation too, which is why we wanted to make a music video from the perspective of a heterosexual female gaze. It shows men in many forms, being free, being sexy, being watched, it's beautiful and provocative and is some small attempt to re address the existing imbalance of perspective and nudity in music videos"


Thursday, April 14
17 Irving Place
New York, NY
Doors: 7PM
All Ages


Tour Dates
  • Monday, March 28th 2016 Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy
  • Tuesday, March 29th 2016 Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy
  • Wednesday, March 30th 2016 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
  • Friday, April 1st 2016 Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
  • Saturday, April 2nd 2016 Seattle, WA @ Neumo's
  • Tuesday, April 5th 2016 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
  • Wednesday, April 6th 2016 Chicago, IL @ Double Door
  • Thursday, April 7th 2016 Iowa City, IA @ Mission Creek Festival
  • Friday, April 8th 2016 Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
  • Saturday, April 9th 2016 Columbus, OH @ Express Live
  • Sunday, April 10th 2016  Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr Small's Theater
  • Tuesday, April 12th 2016 Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
  • Wednesday, April 13th 2016 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
  • Thursday, April 14th 2016 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
  • Friday, April 15th 2016 Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
  • Saturday, April 16th 2016 Spring, TX @ 94.5 Buzzfest
  • Tuesday, April 19th 2016 Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn
  • Wednesday, April 20th 2016 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack's
  • Thursday, April 21st 2016 Pensacola, FL @ Club Vinyl
  • Friday, April 22nd 2016 Orlando, FL @ The Social
  • Saturday, April 23rd 2016 Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits
  • Monday, April 25th 2016 Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
  • Tuesday, April 26th 2016 Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
  • Thursday, April 28th 2016 St. Petersburg, FL @ The Theater
  • Friday, April 29th 2016 West Palm Beach, FL @ SunFest
  • Saturday, April 30th 2016 Dallas, TX @ EDGEFEST
  • Sunday, May 1st 2016 Memphis, TN @ Beale Street Music Festival
  • Friday, May 27th 2016 Napa, CA @ BottleRock Napa Valley
  • Thursday, July 28th 2016 Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
  • Friday, July 29th 2016 Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
  • Saturday, July 30th 2016 Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza

Upcoming: The Cave Singers at Mercury Lounge


The Cave Singers are making a stop in New York. They will take the stage at Mercury Lounge on June 9.  See below for more details.

Blank Range
Thursday, June 9
217 E Houston Street
New York, NY
Doors: 6:30PM / Show: 7:30PM
21+

The Cave Singers released their latest album, Banshee, February 2016. You can pick up a copy HERE.

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Television: CBS Announces Series Renewals

Hawaii Five-0


Yesterday, March 25, CBS announced the series that have been renewed for the 2016-2017 season.  

Returning will be:

  • BLUE BLOODS
  • ELEMENTARY
  • HAWAII FIVE-0
  • MADAM SECRETARY
  • MOM
  • NCIS: LOS ANGELES
  • NCIS: NEW ORLEANS
  • SCORPION
  • 2 BROKE GIRLS
  • SURVIVOR
  • THE AMAZING RACE



CBS previously announced that NCIS and The Big Bang Theory have been renewed.

Television: FOX Announces Renewals

Last week, FOX announced that it ordered a third season of their drama Gotham.

GOTHAM is an origin story of the great DC Comics Super-Villains and vigilantes, revealing an entirely new chapter that has never been told. From executive producer/writer Bruno Heller (“The Mentalist,” “Rome”), GOTHAM follows one cop’s rise through a dangerously corrupt city teetering between good and evil, and chronicles the birth of one of the most popular super heroes of our time. 

Gotham airs Mondays, 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT




This week, FOX announced that it is renewing comedies The Last Man On Earth for its third season and Brooklyn Nine-Nine for its fourth season.

The Last Man On Earth airs Sundays, 9:30 PM ET

Brooklyn Nine-Nine airs Tuesdays, 8:00 PM ET


Jeff Buckley - You and I


Columbia / Legacy Recordings / Sony Music Entertainment Australia released You and I from Jeff Buckley. The tracks from the album consist of the first studio recordings he made for Columbia Records.

The recordings were discovered in the Sony Music archives during research for the 20th anniversary edition of Grace. Collectors of Jeff Buckley's work are no doubt overjoyed at this release. Perhaps because I'm listening on my laptop but it sounds a bit hollow. At any rate, it's a nice addition to the collection.

You and I was released March 11. You can pick up a copy HERE.

Long rumored to exist as the “Addabbo sessions”, but previously unheard outside the studio, these seminal recordings are a fan's Holy Grail, a rare opportunity to hear Jeff Buckley in peak form, developing his artistry through a series of intimate, spellbinding and breathtaking solo performances, each one captured in pristine sonic detail.  
Recently discovered in the Sony Music archives, the performances on You and I reveal, in part, the eclectic scope of Jeff Buckley's extraordinary musical tastes and abilities. The covers on the album include Jeff's highly personal interpretations of songs by Bob Dylan, Sly & The Family Stone, The Smiths, Led Zeppelín and others. Rounding out You and I are two pieces of original music: the first-ever solo studio recording of his signature song, "Grace" and "Dream of You and I," a mysterious and haunting piece which informs the deeply intimate and profoundly personal mood of the album. 
These 10 tracks offer an incredible, rare glimpse of an artist, alone, in the sacred space that is the studio. You & I is an important addition to Jeff’s recorded legacy and will be a thrill for both his devoted longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Track List

  • Just Like A Woman (Bob Dylan cover)
  • Everyday People (Sly & The Family Stone cover)
  • Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Cryin’ (First recorded by Louis Jordan)
  • Grace (original)
  • Calling You (Jevetta Steele cover)
  • Dream Of You And I (original)
  • The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (The Smiths cover)
  • Poor Boy Long Way From Home (traditional blues song, Bukka White cover)
  • Night Flight (Led Zeppelin cover)
  • I Know It’s Over (The Smiths cover)


Friday, March 25, 2016

Kidsmoke Release New Single


Kidsmoke released their new single "Cut Yourself Loose" on February 26. Check the track out below. You can pick up the single HERE.


Formed in 2013 in Wrexham, North Wales, Kidsmoke consists of: Lance Williams on vocals and guitar, James Stickels on bass and vocals, recent addition Sophie Ballamy on Guitar and vocals and Chris Trow on drums. They quickly rose to prominence in April that year following the release of their debut EP ‘Higher’. Since then the band have reached the final of the Green Man Rising competition, played the festival and also supported the likes of Paul Smith (Maximo Park), Glass Animals, Satellite Stories and Widowspeak. BBC Radio Wales’ Adam Walton took a liking to the band, playing a number of their tracks several times on his show and has voiced his support for them such as when talking about Track ‘On And On’, saying that “It would thaw the heart of a dead Polar bear”.

The Zipper Club Release New Track

Zipper Club (Photo by Ben Pier)

Check out "Going The Distance from the Zipper Club below.


Zipper Club is the brainchild of Cerebral Ballzy guitar player Mason Orfalea. Cerebral Ballzy were UK press darlings who had “Hottest Record” from Zane Lowe at BBC on multiple occasions, graced the cover of NME, had several Vice features and played Reading & Leeds along with most major European festivals. 
They signed to Julian Casablancas’ label Cult and had their record produced by Dave Sitek (TV On The Radio). Mason left the band in 2015 and put together the songs for ZipperClub with the production help of James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins/A Perfect Circle). Rounding out the line up for the band is drummer Jahphet  (TV On The Radio) and Lissy Trulie (Downtown/Wichita) on vocals.

Jackie Venson Releases New Video


Guitarist/singer Jackie Venson has released a new video for her track "Always Free". Check out the clip below. You can pick up "Always Free" HERE.

Austin-born indie/blues guitarist/vocalist, Jackie Venson, releases a music video for her single, “Always Free" from here latest album The Light in Me. She is currently preparing to release a live album, due out this Fall. 
Daughter of Austin music staple, Andrew Venson, Jackie’s early drive for music led her to Boston’s Berklee College of Music, where she picked up a guitar for the first time. Inspired by blues, R&B and pop artists alike, Venson draws on diverse influences ranging from Buddy Guy to Sade to Alicia Keys. In April of 2014, she was handpicked from over 2,000 entries by Southern retail chain, Belk, for their Belk Fashion Lounge concert series. Throughout the series’ five amphitheater performances, she supported famed country and southern icons Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw and James Taylor. The Austin American-Statesman has hailed her sound as “an astonishing mix of raw soul, superb musicianship and laid back grace.”

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Art: WBGO Gallery Exhibition + Reception

Photo credit: Chuck Stewart
The Jazz Photography Of Chuck Stewart is on exhibit through March 31, 2016 at the WBGO Art Gallery

There's a Gallery Reception TONIGHT, March 24, 6PM - 8PM that is FREE and open to the public at the WBGO Art Gallery in Newark, NJ.


54 Park Place
Newark, NJ 07102


Regular visiting hours are Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Chuck Stewart has been an eyewitness to 20th century American social, cultural and musical history. He photographed over 2,000 album covers for record labels large and small including Mercury, Argo, Impulse, Chess, Atlantic, Columbia Records and more.
On his website, Stewart describes his work, "In my portraits and improvisational shots, I've tried to unveil the soul of the artists I photographed and communicate the essence of their craft. That's why they trusted me: James Brown, John Coltrane, Candido, Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Quincy Jones, Machito, Max Roach, Frank Sinatra, and many more. You know their names, but few people have known and photographed them as I have. My pictures and I have many stories to tell."

Movies: Weekend Watch List, 3/25

A few flicks are opening tomorrow, Friday, March 25, that you might want to check out. There are superheros, a Greek wedding, a country musician and a jazz musician…something for just about everyone! 

(Warner Bros. Pictures)

This much talked about film opens tomorrow. The Zack Snyder directed film stars Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent. This is the first big-screen pairing of the DC Comics characters. Who will win? Well, I think I'm partial to Superman so, go Superman…?



My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 
(Universal Pictures)

This is the follow-up to the highest grossing romantic comedy of all time. The Kirk Jones directed film stars Nia Vardalos alongside the entire returning cast including John Corbett and Lainie Kazan. There's a family secret involved in this tale.



I Saw The Light 
(Sony Pictures Classics)

Tom Hiddleston portrays country legend Hank Williams in this flick. Elizabeth Olsen co-stars as Audrey Williams, Hank's first wife, mother of Hank, Jr.  The film, based on the book "Hank Williams: The Biography" by Colin Escott, was written and directed by Marc Abraham.



Born To Be Blue 
(IFC Films)


This Robert Budreau directed film stars Ethan Hawke as jazz musician Chet Baker.

Is Tropical Release Black Anything + Video


London band Is Tropical released their new album Black Anything on March 11 via Axis Mundi Records.  You can pick up the vinyl bundle HERE and the digital version HERE.  Check out the video for for "Follow The Sun" below.


Black Anything is, in retrospect, a very dark record. Nocturnal, sleep-deprived, warped - but every track on the album has pieces of the place it was recorded imprinted on it. Never missing IS TROPICAL's pop sensibility, Black Anything is the sound of a late night, somewhere, anywhere. 

'Black Anything' will be released on five 10” transparent picture disc installments, containing 2 tracks per vinyl and displaying the continent in which it was conceived. The five vinyls when displayed on top of each other create the globe, unifying the concept as a whole - each vinyl existing as an artwork and tribute to the continent it was recorded in.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Upcoming: Chamomile & Whiskey At Pianos, 4/8

Photo credit: Rich Tarbell

Friday, April 8
158 Ludlow Street
New York, NY
Doors: 6:30PM / Show: 7PM
21+


Having released two albums on County Wide Records and having played hundreds of shows on the east coast, Chamomile and Whiskey is carving out a unique place for themselves on the Americana scene.  Much of their success can be attributed to their passionate and energetic live performance. A Chamomile and Whiskey show is a rowdy affair, often sending the sounds of whiskey being spilled, boots stomping, and fans howling towards the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Upcoming: Ian Mellencamp at Mercury Lounge, 4/4

Photo credit: Natsuko Matsumura

Monday, April 4
217 E Houston Street
New York, NY
Doors: 7PM / Show: 9PM
21+

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Upcoming: Arkells at Knitting Factory, 3/25


The Arkells will be taking the stage in Brooklyn at the Knitting Factory on March 25.  See below for more details and a list of tour dates.

Dreamers / The Karma Killers
Friday, March 25
361 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
All Ages

Tour Dates

  • March 22 - New Orleans, LA @ Parish Room at House of Blues
  • March 23 - Atlanta, GA @ Purgatory
  • March 24 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat
  • March 25 - Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory
  • March 28 - Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
  • March 29 - Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy
  • March 30 - Cleveland, OH @ The Grog Shop
  • March 31 - Columbus, OH @ The Basement
  • April 1 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
  • April 2 - Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room
  • April 3 - Denver, CO @ Lost Lake
  • April 4 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
  • April 6 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos
  • April 7 - Portland, OR @Holocene
  • April 9 - San Francisco @ Social Hall
  • June 16-19 - Dover, DE - Firefly Festival
  • July 22-24 - Oro-Medonte, ON - WayHome Music Festival


Anna Vogelzang To Release New Album + Tour Dates

Photo credit: Anda Marie Photography

Anna Vogelzang is set to release her new album Hiker on May 6. You can pre-order the album HERE. Check out the title track below.

Anna Vogelzang is thrilled to announce the release of her new album Hiker, due out May 6th via Paper Anchor Records. Produced by Todd Sickafoose (Anais Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, Andrew Bird) in the hills of Eugene, Oregon, Hiker is the record that she has been working towards for the last ten years of her career. “This album sounds most like myself,” she expresses, “most like the thing I’ve been striving for. It is the project that makes me feel like I am stepping over a threshold.”

Tour Dates
* = W/ Chris Pureka

MARCH
SXSW
  • 17 - Austin, TX - Panelist for “Creative Convergence: Artists As Labels Austin Convention Center, Room 10C (12:30-1:30 pm)
  • 17 - Austin, TX - Shangrila (Midcoast Takeover, 5:45 pm)
  • 18 - Austin, TX - Sidewinder (Midwest Dayparty, 1:15 pm)
  • 19 - Austin, TX - Goorin Bros. Hat Shop (5:00 pm)
APRIL
  • 22 - Milwaukee, WI - UW Milwaukee
  • 28 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Blind Pig *
  • 29 - Bryan, OH - Carnegie Concert Series
  • 30 - Evanston, IL - SPACE *
MAY
  • 01 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon * (Album Release Show)
  • 03 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry *
  • 05-07 - New York, NY - Co-Hosting The Grid Music Initiative: The Grid 101
  • 14 - Knoxville, TN - International Biscuit Festival
  • 14 - Knoxville, TN - Harmony House
  • 17 - Nashville, TN - 5 Spot
  • 26 - Austin, TX - Patika
JUNE
  • 12 - Madison, WI - Marquette Waterfront Festival
JULY
  • 21 - New York, NY - Rockwood Stage 2 w/ Emilyn Brodsky
  • 24 - Cambridge, MA - Club Passim