Around New York ... March 30 - April 5, 2009

Upcoming shows in the New York area ...

March 30 -- James Moody Scholarship Fund Benefit Concert (pictured) at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
www.bbkingblues.com
March 30 -- The War On Drugs / The Drones at Union Hall
www.unionhallny.com
March 30 -- Sharon Van Etten / Virgin Passages / Regia at Cake Shop
www.cake-shop.com
March 31 -- Ray LaMontagne / Low Anthem at Wellmont Theatre
www.wellmonttheatre.com

April 1 -- Omar / Teedra Moses at SOB's
www.sobs.com
April 1 -- Brian Jonestown Massacre / The Asteroid #4 at Terminal 5
www.terminal5nyc.com
April 2 -- George Wein and Friends: To Joyce With Love at Carnegie Hall
www.carnegiehall.org
April 2 -- Black Taxi / Gildron Works at The Annex
www.theannexnyc.com
April 2 -- Ariel Pink / Vivian Girls / Duchess Says at Music Hall of Williamsburg
www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com
April 2 -- Ray LaMontagne / Low Anthem at Wellmont Theatre
www.wellmonttheatre.com
April 2 -- Bad Veins / Eulogies / Josh Wise at Union Hall
www.unionhallny.com
April 2 -- Adam Taylor (pictured) at The Living Room
www.livingroomny.com
April 3 -- Bob Schneider at City Winery
www.citywinery.com
April 3 -- Wayna at Blue Note
www.bluenote.net
April 4 -- Paul McCartney and Friends at Radio City Music Hall
www.radiocity.com


April 4 -- Soft / Soren Well / Telltale / Astrid Pierce at Public Assembly
www.publicassemblynyc.com
April 4 -- Josh Ritter / Sondre Lerche at Wellmont Theatre
www.wellmonttheatre.com

Astronauts of Antiquity Lets Their Trippy Neo-Soul Show

Every time I sat and listened to Astronauts of Antiquity, I kept trying to come up with a way to describe what I was hearing. I discovered that was a hard task! Each time I come up with a description, I listen again, and come up with something else. So, this is the description? conclusion? I came too ... funky-soulful-electro- jazzy-trippy-trance-lounge-club-pop music. Yeah, I know, that's quite a label! But their sound encompasses all of that.

If you're in the New York area, they'll be at World Music venue Shrine in Manhattan on April 10.

Check them out for yourselves. Listen to a few songs from their album Rocket Science For Dummies which came out November of last year.

"Breakthrough"


"Strangest Places"


"Rocket Science"


www.astronautsofantiquity.com
www.myspace.com/astronautsofantiquity

Enter The Haggis - Gutter Anthems

A couple of weeks ago, I saw Enter The Haggis perform. I have since become a fan. Earlier this week, they released their latest album Gutter Anthems. The album is filled with great, often rousing songs. These guys, simply put, are excellent musicians. The highlights of the record for me are "The Ghosts of Calico" and "The Death of Johnny Mooring."

Download "DNA" from Gutter Anthems.www.enterthehaggis.com
www.myspace.com/enterthehaggis

Eulogies To Play 2 Shows In NY

The Eulogies are taking the stage at Pianos on March 31 in Manhattan and at Union Hall in Brooklyn on April 2.

Download The Fight (I've Come To Like)www.myspace.com/eulogiesmusic
www.dangerbirdrecords.com/artists/eulogies

Deastro To Play 2 Shows In NY

Deastro is taking the stage at Bruar Falls on March 27 in Brooklyn and at Cake Shop in Manhattan on March 28.

Click the image to download "Parallelogram" from their upcoming record Moondagger which is due out on June 23. (right click, save as)

www.myspace.com/deastro
www.ghostly.com/artists/deastro
www.deastroband.blogspot.com

Jump Back Jake

Jump Back Jake has a new album out, their debut, Brooklyn Hustle/Memphis Muscle. Curious to hear what these guys were about, I gave it a couple of spins. It's a record filled with blue-eyed Southern style soul. At times, Jump Back Jake recalls Gregg Allman's more pop leaning forays, Arc Angels, Cowboy (remember them?) and even a bit of Johnny Rivers. Many of the songs are infused with dripping horns.

This is the song that caught my ear the most.

Other songs that caught my ear were "Pay Out On The Front End," "Easy Answers" and "Don't Wanna Go."

Click on the image to stream the entire album. You can purchase the digital record there as well.

www.jumpbackjake.com

Lisa Bianco To Play Ace Of Clubs, April 4

Singer/songwriter Lisa Bianco is taking the stage at Ace Of Clubs on April 4.

Listen to a stream of "Sideways" from her album Post Data.


For more info about Lisa Bianco, click the image.


www.myspace.com/lisabianco

On Sale Dates For The Week of March 22

Tickets go on sale this week for upcoming shows in the New York area.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

August 14 -- Animal Collective at Celebrate Brooklyn at Prospect Park Bandshell
www.briconline.org/celebrate; www.bowerypresents.com/event/2880

Thursday, March 26, 2009

June 9 -- Santigold at Terminal 5
www.Terminal5NYC.com

Friday, March 27, 2009








May 5 -- Ben Harper and Relentless7 (pictured) at Webster Hall
www.websterhall.com; www.bowerypresents.com/event/2874
May 8 -- Ben Harper and Relentless7 at Music Hall of Williamsburg
www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com
May 17 -- The Shins at Wellmont Theatre
www.wellmonttheatre.com
May 18 -- The Shins at Terminal 5
www.Terminal5NYC.com
June 1 - 5 -- Art Brut at Mercury Lounge
www.mercuryloungenyc.com
June 11 - 12 -- Meat Puppets at Mercury Lounge
www.mercuryloungenyc.com
June 16 - 17 -- Johathan Richman at Bowery Ballroom
www.boweryballroom.com
June 17 -- Metric at Terminal 5
www.Terminal5NYC.com

Chester French's Jacques Jams, Vol. 1: Endurance

Chester French and Clinton Sparks, are releasing a mixtape titled Jacques Jams, Vol. 1: Endurance. It features collaborations with some of their favorite artists including Diddy, Jermaine Dupri, Pharrell, Janelle Monae, Bun B, Talib Kweli, Solange, Cassie, and more. The best part is, it's free and we all like free! The only thing you have to do is head on over to their website and become a member of their VIP Concierge Service and they'll hook you up with the free goodies before anyone else gets their little hands on it as well as keep you informed of what they're up to.

If that's not enough DA & Max for you and I'm sure it's not (I know it's not for me), their full-length debut album, Love the Future, will be released April 21. www.myspace.com/chesterfrench

Introducing: George Wein's FOLK FESTIVAL 50 and George Wein's JAZZ FESTIVAL 55

Music fans will be happy to know that dates for folk and jazz festivals in Newport have been announced!

* * *

Music impresario George Wein announced today that he will produce and present George Wein’s FOLK FESTIVAL 50, July 31 – August 2, and George Wein’s JAZZ FESTIVAL 55 August 7 – 9 in historic Newport, RI. Both festivals will include two full days of music at Fort Adams State Park and a Friday evening concert.

* * *

Artists for both festivals will be announced in early April. The tradition of excellent music festivals in Newport is sure to be upheld with legendary producer Wein at the helm. Both he and Newport are well known for presenting a bevy of excellent performers. So, I'm sure we're in for a stellar line-up at both festivals.

www.jazzfestival55.com
www.folkfestival50.com