On Random: Hanne, Rufus, Mika, Hanson & Le Bon

It's April 15, tax day for those of us in this part of the world ... time to crank up "Taxman" and grumble about the IRS trying to squeeze blood from a turnip or something. It's also time for some random bits and bobs from the world of QNYC ... well, from my inbox.

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Hanne Hukkelberg is playing tomorrow night ... the pertinent deets are below. The word "roof" is mentioned too many times in the info for my liking and I'm not all that fond of heights. But, I'm sure it'll be great.

Special Screening
Friday, April 16
Rooftop Films and Sweden's Music Doc Festival Present Cool & Crazy On The Roof at Open Road Rooftop

VENUE: Open Road Rooftop above New Design High
ADDRESS: 350 Grand Street (at Essex)
7:30 PM: Doors Open
8:00 PM: Live music by Hanne Hukkelberg
8.30 PM: Fever Ray - Keep the Streets Empty For Me (music video)
8:45 PM: Cool & Crazy
Presented with Music Doc
TICKETS: $10 online or at the door

www.myspace.com/hannehukkelberg

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Rufus Wainwright has a new record coming out. His All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu hits the streets on April 20. Check out Douglas Gordon's tour visual film that was designed to accompany the record HERE. The clip, “Sonnet 10,” is one of 12 that will be projected behind Wainwright as he performs on tour. Oh yeah, he's going on tour in the UK ... the closest he's coming to the States, for now, is a show on July 11 in Westhampton Beach, NY. At any rate, the video is beautiful, albeit kind of creepy. Okay, perhaps the creepiness is just an issue I have. Two things that in general creep me out ... loose hairs and eyes and there's an abundance of the latter. I just know at any minute I could see a stray eyelash and go into some overly dramatic fit of hysteria.

This is the record cover. Sorry Rufus, as stunningly magnificent as you are, the whole eye thing is just creeping me out!

www.rufuswainwright.com
www.myspace.com/rufuswainwright

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Someone whose music taste I generally respect once recommended I give Mika a good listen to, that I might actually like him. Well, I only ended up listening to a few songs because well, shit happens and I never got around to going back and listening to more! Why are we talking about Mika? Well, he's releasing a new song as part of the Kick Ass soundtrack. The song, aptly titled "Kick Ass," is the first new Mika song since the release of his The Boy Who Knew Too Much record in late'ish 2009. Yeah, I know, that wasn't really that long ago, but if you're a fan then it's nice to get a new song without waiting for the next album to show up. At any rate, the single will be released on May 3.

I was going to show you the video but, the folks over at UMG don't want you to see it! Yeah I know, evil corporate monkeys. Normally, I wouldn't call folks evil or monkeys, okay, maybe I'd call them evil but I don't make a practice of calling folks monkeys as it's generally an insult to the world monkey population ... anyway, moving right along. I got a lovely email from a lovely PR type with all of the pertinent deets and a nice little YouTube link. Oh sure, I got the email almost two weeks ago and I'm just now getting around to it, sue me, I was busy. Anyway, when you go to watch the video you get this lovely message "This video contains content from UMG. It is no longer available." For the love of music gods, when you go over to Mika's official YouTube page, you get that same message. Really? Seriously, UMG? Seriously?! Are you seriously telling me that Mika can't even hawk a video of his own song?! Wow. So there you have it, this weeks Evil Corporate Monkey award goes to UMG. Congratulations, come collect your award and put the damn video back up!

www.mikasounds.com

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So, many moons ago, I knew a young lady who liked Hanson. This was back when the adorable little moppets were making squealing messes out of little girls worldwide with their sugary, sunshiny "MMMBop." I thought she's such a nice girl but, she might well be a little off, off, in a good way ... the don't mind my little sister, it's just a phase kind of way. I mean after all, we had gathered at her house and were sleeping on her floor to converge all bright and early on some festival or another to see The Black Crowes. Well, I'm woman enough to admit that back then I may have kinda sorta definitely wrongly mis-assessed Hanson and their music. Whether you like them or not, they have crafted some rather good pop songs in their career.

Well, they're back (not that they actually ever left) with their fifth studio album. Shout It Out, will hit the streets on June 8 while the single "Thinking 'Bout Somethin'" will be available on April 27. They will also play 5 sold-out nights here in NYC at Gramercy Theatre. They'll be playing Shout It Out in its entirety on the fifth night. In case you wondered, they'll be playing the previous four albums the other four nights, one would assume in order or release.

Check out the video for "Thinking 'Bout Somethin'" where the brothers go all Jake and Elwood. Check it out below.

The music video for "Thinking 'Bout Somethin'" is HANSON's recreation of a scene from The Blues Brothers, where soul music incited a huge impromptu crowd to dance in the streets. HANSON took to the streets of their hometown of Tulsa, OK, with more than 300 extras, including two of Taylor's children, 60 local dancers and hundreds of loyal fans who traveled from far and wide to participate. To top it off, 'Weird Al' Yankovic made an unforgettable guest appearance.

www.hanson.net

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So, earlier my video watching day was marred by evil corporate monkeys. But, Cate Le Bon has single handedly erased the corporate stench. How? She laid an egg! Oh sure the above video of the Hanson brothers bustin' a move brought sunshine to my day but none of them laid an egg! There's a lot going on in this clip. Check out "Hollow Trees House Hounds" below.

Also, Le Bon's debut album Me Oh My will see it's release, physically, in the US on May 4. It's already available via digital outlets so if you can't wait, get out your digital shopping carts and start shopping. You can download "Shoeing The Bones" from the album in the MP3 Grab at the bottom of the post.

MP3 Grab: "Shoeing The Bones"

www.catelebon.com
www.myspace.com/CATELEBON

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - I Learned The Hard Way

Old school soul showed that it is still a force to be reckoned with. I Learned The Hard Way, the new record by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings debuted at #15 on the Billboard Top 200 charts. And, what do you do when you have a new hot record out? You tour, of course! The soulful bunch have a slew of dates ahead. New York, while their release party at the famed Apollo Theater on April 30 is sold-out, they'll stick around for a second show there on May 1 ... tickets are still available to that one folks, grab 'em while you can. They'll even be taking their old school soul to the legendary Newport Folk Festival on August 1. That my friends, sounds like a road trip waiting to happen.

I've given I Learned The Hard Way several spins since its release. It's a good record. Personally, I would have preferred some numbers that were more upbeat as I'm a fan of the hot, sweaty, shake your booty 'til it falls off, funky soul. In an age where vocals often fall to the wayside, Jones reminds us that you don't need gimmicks or fancy computerized technology. A good, old fashioned, soulful voice goes a long way.

Check out the video for "I Learned The Hard Way" below.

www.sharonjonesandthedapkings.com
www.facebook.com/sharonjonesandthedapkings

Video - The Apples In Stereo - "Dance Floor"

The Apples In Stereo have released a video for their song "Dance Floor" featuring Elijah Wood which will make even more sense if you've seen "Exploring The Universe" both of which are below. Check them out. And for the concert goers in the city, they'll be at Bowery Ballroom on April 21 which is the day after their record Travellers in Space and Time hits the streets.

"Dance Floor"


"Exploring The Universe"

www.applesinstereo.com
www.twitter.com/applesinstereo
www.facebook.com/theapplesinstereo

Video: Circa Survive - "Get Out"

Circa Survive's new record Blue Sky Noise is scheduled for release, April 20. To get you in the mood, check out the video they've released for "Get Out" below.

www.circasurvive.com

Help Cobi Narita Fight Parkinson's Disease, 4/18, St. Peter's

Producer and jazz aficionada Cobi Narita has put together a concert to benefit Parkinson's Unity Walk. The concert will take place Sunday, April 18, at 7:30 PM at Saint Peter's Church. The 16th annual Walk will take place on Saturday, April 24 at Central Park, from 10 AM - 3 PM. Narita, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's six years ago, will be there heading up Team CobiJazz.

To donate online, log on HERE. Donations also may be sent directly to Parkinson's Unity Walk, PO Box 275, Kingston, NJ 08528; include a note on Memo Line: For Team CobiJazz.

To join the Walk, register on line at www.unitywalk.org and sign up to Team CobiJazz.

NEW YORK, NY – Join producer and jazz aficionada Cobi Narita on Sunday, April 18, at 7:30 pm at Saint Peter’s Church, 619 Lexington Avenue at 54^th Street in New York City, for a concert to benefit the Parkinson’s Unity Walk. The 16^th annual Walk takes place on Saturday, April 24, from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at Central Park and Narita will be there in her wheelchair heading up Team CobiJazz.

The concert will feature Bobby Sanabria & Quarteto Aché, Terell Stafford Quintet, Doc Vollmer's Harlem Blues and Jazz Band as well as vocalists Tina Fabrique, Carline Ray and Jeree Wade, accompanied by the Frank Owens Trio. Produced by Narita, the concert will be hosted by the Rev. Dale R. Lind, Jazz Pastor Emeritus of Saint Peter's Church, and Narita’s husband, Paul J. Ash, President of Sam Ash Music Stores.

Narita, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease six years ago, chose Parkinson's Unity Walk because 100 percent of all donations goes to research through the seven major U.S. Parkinson’s disease organizations. Her goal is to raise $10,000, which will be her birthday present to Parkinson's research and a fitting tribute to Parkinson's Awareness Month (April).

To donate on line, log on to http://www.unitywalk.org/events/participant.php?memID=3764&eventID=1. Donations also may be sent directly to Parkinson's Unity Walk, PO Box 275, Kingston, NJ 08528; include a note on Memo Line: or Team CobiJazz. Once a check is received, it will be entered on Cobi’s Participant Page, for Team CobiJazz. To join the Walk, register on line at www.unitywalk.org and sign up to Team CobiJazz.

Representing the Afro-Cuban sound will be Bobby Sanabria & Quarteto Aché with Bobby Sanabria, drums, vocals, percussion; Peter Brainin, tenor & soprano sax, flute, vocals, percussion; Enrique Haneine, piano, vocals, percussion; and Alex Hernandez, acoustic bass, vocals, percussion. Performing with the Terell Stafford, trumpet, will be Jeb Patton, piano; David Wong, bass; and two surprise special guests. The Final Group will be Doc Vollmer's Harlem Blues and Jazz Band, with Joey Morant, trumpet; Art Baron, trombone; Fred Staton, tenor saxophone; Max Lucas, tenor saxophone; Bertha Hope, piano; Michael Max Fleming, bass; Buddy Henry, drums; and Ruth Brisbane, vocals. Joining Frank Owens are Lisle Atkinson on bass and Greg Bufford on drums.

Tax-deductible donations beginning at $25 and up will give music fans entrance to the dynamic event. Seating sections include:

• $500 or more: Platinum Circle
• $100 or more: Gold Circle
• $50 - 99: Silver Circle
• $25 – 49: Bronze Circle

All concert expenses will be paid for by Paul Ash, allowing his wife to donate every dollar to Parkinson's Unity Walk, which will distribute the funds to Parkinson’s organizations for continuing research.

The Parkinson’s Unity Walk, founded in 1994 by Margot Zobel, is an annual event where the entire Parkinson’s community gathers with the goal of not only raising awareness of the condition, but of raising donations for research. The Parkinson’s Unity Walk has made a significant impact on the Parkinson’s disease community since its inception, raising more than $7 million for Parkinson’s research by uniting the community under a common goal of winning the war against Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s Unity Walk raised $1.5 million in 2009. Support for the Walk has grown considerably each year – from 200 participants at the first Walk in 1994, to more than 10,000 last year. The event unites the strength and spirit of the seven major U.S. Parkinson’s disease organizations:

• American Parkinson Disease Association
• National Parkinson Foundation
• Parkinson’s Action Network
• Parkinson’s Disease Foundation
• The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
• The Parkinson Alliance
• The Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center

With 100 percent of donations given to research, the Walk provides the public with an opportunity to help the Parkinson’s community and change the lives of millions of people suffering from the disease.

For more information, visit www.unitywalk.org.

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www.saintpeters.org
www.unitywalk.org

Video: Cage The Elephant - "In One Ear"

 

The last time I posted a video by Cage The Elephant, it involved a rumble with garden gnomes.  Well, they've released a new video.  This time it's for their song "In One Ear" from their self-titled album.   Check it out below.

www.myspace.com/cagetheelephant
www.facebook.com/cagetheelephant

Video: Morningwood - "Snobby Little Elf"

Morningwood frontwoman Chantal Claret taught herself claymation and put together a video for their song "Snobby Little Elf" which is a great song btw. I can barely roll clay into a ball so, self-taught claymation is pretty cool in my book. Check it out below as well as the "making of" video.

www.morningwoodrocks.com
www.myspace.com/morningwood
www.facebook.com/morningwood

Video: Girl in a Coma - "Transmission"

Girl in a Coma will be playing Bowery Ballroom with The Wedding Present, Sunday, April 11. Check out the video below of their cover of Joy Division's "Transmission." "Transmission" will be released on their upcoming record Adventures In Coverland - Vol. 2, April 20 on Joan Jett's Blackheart Records.

www.girlinacoma.com
myspace.com/girlsinacoma

One Night With Bob Schneider ... At Bowery Ballroom, 4/3/10

Bob Schneider: April 3 @ Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY

After an excellent set by One eskimO and the horrible infliction that was the second act (review here), Bob Schneider took the stage at Bowery Ballroom. I hadn't seen Schneider in a spell so I was looking forward to it. His shows have become somewhat of a social gathering and it was nice to play catch up with my fellow frontline Bob fans.

Along for the ride, his top notch band, Billy Cassis (guitar) over on the far side of the stage where I could barely peep him, a demure looking Harmoni Kelly (bass), Conrad Chouchroun (drums) who was so close, yet so far away and Jay Thomas (steel drums on "Slower Dear") were in fine form. They are seriously one ass tight band. Schneider seemed to be having an extremely good time though his vocals seemed a little rushed at times and the beginning of "Big Blue Sea" was a little questionable. Somewhere along the line during "Tarantula," he donned a lucha mask. I don't ask questions. I just go along for the ride and he hasn't hit the ditch while I've been riding shotgun yet. Oh sure, there have been moments where I've wondered if we'd go over the rail but, no matter how many times we scrape the rail, I keep going along ... pure adrenalin.

I think the audience may have been the loudest I've heard in a while at one of his shows, seriously loud. One of the best parts of the audience experience, for me personally, I didn't have to endure an obnoxious, loud, drunk chick ... a first for me at a Bob show! I did more than my fair share of off-key singing along and oddly hilarious off-beat dancing because that's the kind of stuff that happens at a Bob Schneider show. Thankfully, there were no small animals or children around for me to frighten!

I had a ridiculously good time. And, I'll tell you again and again, you gotta see Schneider live. Join the cult, he won't make you drink purple kool-aid, only sing and dance.

"Ready, Let's Roll" (camera audio quality dodgy)

Set List

• Changing Your Mind
• Till Somebody Catches A Feeling
• Realness Of Space
• Gold In the Sunset
• Everything You Love
  
• Bullets
• Running From The Rain
• Trash
• Bombanaza
• Hand Me Back My Life
• Hit The Window
  
• Big Blue Sea
• Hard Rock Artist Menu (Cheeseburger)
• Slower Dear
• Boom Boom Baby
• Country Club
• Your Head Holds Gold. Your Heart Holds Diamonds
• Band Intro/Captain Kirk
• Metal and Steel
• Tarantula
• King Of The World
• 40 Dogs (Like Romeo & Juliet)
• Ready, Let's Roll
• Getting Better/Hell Yeah

www.bobschneider.com
www.myspace.com/bobschneider

One Eskimo At Bowery Ballroom, 4/3/10

One Eskimo: April 3 @ Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY

UK band One Eskimo kicked things off last night at Bowery Ballroom supporting Bob Schneider. They were rather laid back stage presence wise but they put on a good set. I question the drummers headlights but he sure did play the hell out of his cajón. If you missed them last night, they'll be at The Living Room on Tuesday, April 6. Drop by and see them. Check out some photos and video from their set below.

www.oneeskimo.com
www.myspace.com/oneeskimo