Shwa Losben and The Good Times: May 20 @ Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
Shwa Losben has a new album, Good Times, Good Times, that came out earlier this month. What does one do when one releases a new record? You have a party to celebrate. That's just what they did. Now, I confess, I'd never heard of Shwa Losben before I walked into Mercury Lounge Thursday night. Now that I've witnessed the band, I have two songs stuck in my head, "Sandy Don't Worry" and the highly infectious "Penultimate Dance." The former song, has been on repeat and the latter song, there's something about it that reminds me of "White Wedding" ... yeah, what? Don't look at me all funny like that, y'all know I'm prone to questionable comparisons. At any rate it has a killer disco beat and it's sure to inspire way more off beat dancing than necessary. Being a guitar fan, I'm diggin' the guitar player, y'all cool with that? Check out some photos from their set and a video of "Everything Fell Into Place."
Last Thursday, I went down to Mercury Lounge to see a band I like who happened to be the last act playing that night. But, since I like live music, I decided to get there early to check out the other bands playing.
Val Emmich was set to start shortly after I arrived. My first thought was "who?" and my second thought was, "that's a lot of lights they've got set up." Well, out walks Emmich and I thought, "isn't that the guy from Ugly Betty; you mean he's a real musician?" The answer was yes to both of my internal queries. Anyway, he was charming and his fans were loud. It was possibly the most well lit show I've ever encountered in a club and I'm slightly surprised nobody had a seizure or went blind but, it made for fun photos of Emmich in a variety of hues. Check out some photos from his set as well as video of "Snowy Day."
Des Roar are one of those bands whose name I've heard around but I'd never actually seen until Thursday night. Well, I'm glad I finally saw them. They're full of high energy, sweat inducing, in your face punk that kicks you in the gut. They left me rather lightheaded ... love it when you get a musically induced buzz. Check out some photos from their set.
Doppelgänger: May 20 @ Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
Doppelgänger took to the Mercury Lounge stage Thursday night. I last saw them back in March so I was excited to finally get a chance to catch them again. Since I last saw them, Ryan (drums/vocals) and Rob (guitar/vocals) have added Joey (bass/vocals). The trio put on one hell of a show.
They took no prisoners and rocked everyone in attendance into hot, sweaty rock 'n' roll messes. Every time I see this band, I'mreminded exactly why I like my rock live. They're loud, wild, raw and fun. They're like being in a speeding car on a cliff side road with the threat of careening over the edge at any moment. But, you don't care because you've got that tingly adrenalin sensation running up your spine and burning your gut; you feel impending danger and excitement all at the same time. That's rock 'n' roll and that's how I like it.
A copy of Doppelgänger's six song EP, Get It Over With Already, landed in my appreciative, quirky little hands. I've been looking forward to this record and I'm not disappointed. The energy they have live translates well on the record.
I had a great night. And in the end, I went home hot, sweaty and giddy.
The Walls are coming, the Walls are coming, hooray, the Walls are coming! No, I haven't lost my mind. Well, I have but, that happened a long time ago!
Talking To Walls, the Connecticut band of rockers, are on tour and coming back to New York. They're going to be everywhere! Here in NYC, the band will grace the Bowery Poetry Club stage on Friday, May 28. Hell fire, they're even playing Six Flags y'all. So go see them ... one show, two shows, all shows! They're an incredibly fun live band.
As you may already know, Talking To Walls released a new album earlier this year. We Were Not So Tall is the bands second full-length record and was produced by Greg Giorgio. It happens to be a stellar piece of work in case you're wondering. The album and band have been getting a good deal of buzz. We Were Not So Tall entered the CMJ College Radio charts, debuting as the #19 most added record in the US & Canada in its first week. I am, by the way, currently in lust with "Crossed My Mind" ... just thought I'd share.
Public Image Ltd frontman John Lydon will be interviewed in the EVR booth this morning, May 18 at 10AM EST on a special edition of Pizza Party. The ever outspoken Lydon is sure to be entertaining.
The deets ...
Listen Live. Special Edition of Pizza Party Tuesday, May 18 • 10AM-Noon ET Exclusively on www.EastVillageRadio.com
PiL have a couple of shows in NY this week. They'll be at Terminal 5 on Tuesday, May 18 and the following night, they'll be at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Wednesday, May 19.
Drive-By Truckers have released a video for their song, "Working This Job" or as it's titled on their album, The Big To-Do, "This Fucking Job." The video was directed by filmmaker Scott Teems and Ray McKinnon and starring Ray McKinnon. If you're adverse to gunshots then scroll down past the first video and watch the alternate less visually explicit version.
The band also just released a documentary called A Secret to a Happy Ending that just premiered at the Atlanta Film festival, which Ray McKinnon spoke at and drummed up excitement for our music video. The film is continuing it’s run through national film festivals now.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have released a video for "I Should Have Known It," the first single from their upcoming record. The album, Mojo, is their first studio record in eight years is scheduled to be released June 15 on Reprise Records.
New York, you know we're getting a visit from the band. They'll be at Madison Square Garden on July 28. If that's not enough for your rockin' hearts, Buddy Guy will be there as their support act. Get your tickets HERE while you can. To get you ready for all of this, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will be on Saturday Night Live this Saturday, May 15. Check out the video below. I'm really digging this song by the way.
With every online ticket purchase, you get a free download of Mojo (two songs right away, the rest of the album on June 15) and also a bunch of live tracks from the tour at the end of the summer.
Tour Dates
June 3 – Denver, CO – Red Rocks
June 5 – Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena
June 8 – Vancouver, BC – GM Place
June 11 – Seattle, WA – The Gorge
June 12 – Seattle, WA – The Gorge
June 15 – Calgary, AB – Pengrowth Saddledome
June 16 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place
June 19 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre
June 22 – St. Paul, MN – XCEL Energy Center
June 23 – Omaha, NE – Qwest Center
June 25 – Milwaukee, WI – Marcus Ampitheatre/Summerfest
June 26 – Milwaukee, WI – Marcus Ampitheatre/Summerfest
July 10 – Indianapolis, IN – Verizon Wireless Music Center
July 13 – Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center
July 15 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
July 17 – Chicago, IL – United Center
July 20 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center
July 22 – Detroit, MI – Palace of Auburn Hills
July 24 – Pittsburgh, PA – First Niagara Pavillion
July 28 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
July 31 – Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
Aug 11 – Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena
Aug 12 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
Aug 14 – Darien Lake, NY – Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Aug 15 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Aug 17 – Hartford, CT – Comcast Theatre
Aug 19 – Boston, MA – Comcast Center
Aug 21 – Boston, MA – Comcast Center
Aug 24 – East Rutherford, NJ – Izod Center
Aug 25 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Center
Aug 27 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center
Sept 16 – Tampa, FL – St Pete Times Forum
Sept 18 – Raleigh, NC – Time Warner Cable Pavilion at Walnut Creek
Sept 19 – Charlotte, NC – Charlotte Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
, that came out 
earlier this month. What does one do when one releases a new record? You have a party to celebrate. That's just what they did. Now, I confess, I'd never heard of Shwa Losben before I walked into Mercury Lounge Thursday night. Now that I've witnessed the band, I have two songs stuck in my head, "Sandy Don't Worry" and the highly infectious "Penultimate Dance." The former song, has been on repeat and the latter song, there's something about it that reminds me of "White Wedding" ... yeah, what? Don't look at me all funny like that, y'all know I'm prone to questionable comparisons. At any rate it has a killer disco beat and it's sure to inspire way more off beat dancing than necessary. Being a guitar fan, I'm diggin' the guitar player, y'all cool with that? Check out some photos from their set and a video of "Everything Fell Into Place."
earlier this month. What does one do when one releases a new record? You have a party to celebrate. That's just what they did. Now, I confess, I'd never heard of Shwa Losben before I walked into Mercury Lounge Thursday night. Now that I've witnessed the band, I have two songs stuck in my head, "Sandy Don't Worry" and the highly infectious "Penultimate Dance." The former song, has been on repeat and the latter song, there's something about it that reminds me of "White Wedding" ... yeah, what? Don't look at me all funny like that, y'all know I'm prone to questionable comparisons. At any rate it has a killer disco beat and it's sure to inspire way more off beat dancing than necessary. Being a guitar fan, I'm diggin' the guitar player, y'all cool with that? Check out some photos from their set and a video of "Everything Fell Into Place."
as it's titled on their album, 
(two songs right away, the rest of the album on June 15) and also a bunch of live tracks from the tour at the end of the summer.