Saturday, November 27, 2010

Just Because: Nico Vega - "Maggot Brain"



Back in December of 2009, I went to see Nico Vega at The Studio at Webster Hall. I adore them. It was a great show ... wrote about the show here in my little blog world. Well, they had a camera crew there filming the show and now some of that footage has been released. Check out their cover of "Maggot Brain" below.


Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Junip To Play Irving Plaza Tomorrow, 11/24

Junip will be closing out the last night on their North American tour tomorrow night, Wednesday, November 24 at Irving Plaza. Doors open at 7PM. So, if you're in town and don't have plans or want to get away from self-invited holiday guests, head on down and hear some good music.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Oh Land At Mercury Lounge


Oh Land: November 16 @ Mercury Lounge,
New York, NY


Singer/producer Nanna Øland Fabricius, under her moniker Oh Land, took the stage at Mercury Lounge Monday night to an welcoming crowd. Having heard through the grapevine that Oh Land was a must see act, I was eager and curious to check out the show.

Having only heard a couple songs prior to going to the show, I had braced myself for some heavy electronic music. While there was the electronic element, it was also a very warm soulful sound. Fabricius has a strong voice. I admit, that took me a bit by surprise. My experience in the past has been, when electronic do-dads are involved in a live situation, vocal strength isn't always found in great quantity. I'd be interested in hearing her in a stripped down setting.

Their single "Sun of a Gun" elicited a big response from the crowd as did "We Turn It Up." It was a good show and I'd definitely recommend catching an Oh Land show.

(More Photos HERE)

Annie Fitzgerald To Play Rockwood Music Hall 11/20


Singer/songwriter Annie Fitzgerald will be taking the stage at LES venue Rockwood Music Hall. She'll be performing Saturday, November 20 at 3:00PM. It's a free one so go have a drink and enjoy some good music.

For those who are unfamiliar with Fitzgerald, she released her first full-length record, In Good Time, this past September. She has a beautiful and captivating voice. Give a listen to "How Long" from the record below.





Talking To Walls: Beard Races For Charity


Happy Novembeard! Yeah, okay, it's not a real holiday but it is notable. East coast rockers Talking to Walls are growing beards!

Three fourths of the band, Brian Kelly who is supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Nat Webb who is supporting the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America and Matt Miklos who is supporting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society are in the mist of a beard race.

How did all of this come about? Well, Miklos who normally sports a beard, set about trying to convince smooth as a baby's bottom Webb to grow a beard while on tour this past summer. Apparently, Miklos wore him down and it was decided that if you're going to grow a beard, it might as well be done for charity! So, November 1, the three aforementioned members of Talking to Walls shaved, started sprouting and launched a website to chronicle it all. Fans can vote on the band members' beards and submit their own beards which can also be voted on. The bands votes are submitted as online donations. Donations will also be accepted at shows.

100% of all donations will go to the charity of the band member that wins. There will be prizes for fans as well.


Voting opened Monday, November 15th and runs through midnight, Tuesday, November 30th. So, head on over to the Novembeard site, join in on the fun and help out a charity in the process.

For all of the pertinent deets, click HERE.

Robert Plant Confirms North American Tour Dates


Robert Plant and Band of Joy announced they will be hitting the road early 2011 for a North American tour. New Yorkers, Plant will be at the Beacon Theatre on January 29. Those of you not in the New York area, check below for dates near you.
Rounder Records is excited to announce that Robert Plant has confirmed a 15-date North American tour. Beginning January 18th in Asheville, NC, this will be the first tour on these shores since the triumphant release of his latest album, Band of Joy, which Rolling Stone magazine in its four-star review called "sweet, elegant folk that still swings like Satan's barn door." The touring band will once again be the same that made the record: Patty Griffin, vocals; Darrell Scott, multi instrumentalist/vocals; Byron House, bass/vocals; Marco Giovino, drums and percussion/vocals, and co-producer Buddy Miller, guitar/vocals. North Mississippi Allstars will be supporting on all the dates.
Tour Dates

January
  • 18 Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
  • 19 Pittsburgh, PA Peterson Events Center (University of Pittsburgh)
  • 21 Ann Arbor, MI Hill Auditorium
  • 22 Toronto, ONT Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
  • 25 Boston, MA House of Blues
  • 26 Upper Darby, PA Tower Theatre
  • 28 Mashantucket, CT MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino
  • 29 New York, NY Beacon Theatre

February
  • 1 Washington, DC DAR Constitution Hall
  • 2 Raleigh, NC Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
  • 4 North Charleston, SC North Charleston Performing Arts Center
  • 5 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre
  • 7 Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium
  • 8 - 9 Nashville, TN War Memorial Auditorium

Friday, November 5, 2010

The Duke Spirit & Levi's Offer Free Download



The Duke Spirit are offering a free download of a new song "Procession," on Levi's Site. Check out the handy widget below. On a side note, I still have my sad face on over having to miss their show at Santos'.
After a triumphant return to NYC this week with a show at Santos Party House, The Duke Spirit played a captivating set at last night’s Levi’s Men's and Women's Spring 2011 Preview party. Fierce and magnetic frontwoman Liela Moss led the band through the bold new songs from their forthcoming album, due out in February on Shangri-La Music, including “Everybody’s Under Your Spell” (available as a free download at www.thedukespirit.com) and “Procession,” which is available as a free download on Levi’s site: http://us.levi.com/home/index.jsp.









Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Richard Ashcroft To Release New Record In 2011


Richard Ashcroft, the British rocker best known as frontman of The Verve, has signed with Razor & Tie. His upcoming release, The United Nations Of Sound, will be released early 2011 here in The States. The 12-song record was produced by hip-hop producer No I.D. "Are You Ready?," the single, was released last month and is available at your favorite digital outlets. I'm digging this track so I'm looking forward to checking out the upcoming release.

Ashcroft is expected to tour the US in 2011, his first solo trek in six years, to support the album.

"It's an honor to work with someone as esteemed as Richard," said Beka Tischker, Vice President of A&R at Razor & Tie. "Besides being one of the seminal figures of modern British rock music, his music has touched my life. It's the icing on the cake in this business when you get to work with someone who soundtracked important parts of your life."

Songs from The United Nations of Sound are already in great demand and enjoying massive worldwide exposure through television and film placements. The anthemic lead track "Are You Ready?" is featured in Volkswagen's new Jetta ad campaign (viewable here), had been in promos for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals and is currently being used in FOX's broadcasts of Major League Baseball's postseason games including the opening of the World Series. Another track, "She Brings Me the Music" was recently featured in NBC's hit series Chuck. The forthcoming Matt Damon sci-fi flick The Adjustment Bureau will include a new song written and performed specifically for the film's opening by Richard and ten-time Oscar-nominated composer Tom Newman. The film will also feature "Are You Ready?" over the closing credits.

"Are You Ready?" is available for purchase on iTunes at this link.


Monday, November 1, 2010

Caught My Ear: The Nico Blues


I was going through my email recently as I'm apt to do on a somewhat reasonably r
egular basis. A lot of cool and kind people send me info and music which I eventually get around to listening to. I just don't get to listen as quickly as I'd like to ... not enough hours in the day with real life, work, etc.

All of that being said, I opened an email with info on a band called The Nico Blues. They're an indie band from the NY/NJ area. Hey, cool, local music! They released an album, Blame the Boredom, Blame the Basements, this past July. So, I listened. It turns out The Nico Blues are an alternative indie band. They're really fuzzy ... their music that is ... they themselves might be too but I've not encountered them personally to know that tidbit. There's a 90's alt appeal to them. I'd say think Smashing Pumpkins but minus the whininess and the annoyance factor. Ooo, did I offend some Billy C. fans? At any rate, I've been digging what I've heard so far. They're going to be playing a show in Brooklyn at Glasslands Gallery on November 23. Check them out. You might find you've come across a new band to show some love to.