Around New York ... March 18 - March 24

Upcoming shows in the New York area ...

March 19 -- Ladysmith Black Mambazo at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
March 19 -- Rich Robinson / Amy LaVere at The Bowery Ballroom
March 19 -- Capsula / Briana & The Boys / Zoe Sundra at Cake Shop
March 19 -- Ra Ra Riot at The Rock Shop
March 19 - 20 -- Gomez at Brooklyn Bowl
March 20 -- Norman Vladimir at Stage 2 Rockwood Music Hall
March 20 -- NY School of Burlesque Showcase at Parkside Lounge
March 21 -- Ayo (pictured) at Highline Ballroom
March 21 -- Radical Something / Kinetics & One Love / Big Red at The Studio at Webster Hall
March 21 -- Black Forest / The High Irons / The Interest / Alex Mallett at Union Hall
March 22 -- Open Ocean / Boveda / Tyburn Saints / Browns at Glasslands Gallery
March 22 -- Danielia Cotton at Stage 2 Rockwood Music Hall
March 22 -- Band of Skulls / We Are Augustines at Webster Hall
March 23 -- Wasabassco Burlesque at Affaire
March 23 -- Wet Willie at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
March 23 -- The Bernie Worrell Orchestra at Brooklyn Bowl
March 23 -- Rhett Miller / Salim Nourallah at City Winery
March 23 -- Julia Weldon (pictured) at The Living Room
March 23 -- Dr. Dog / Purling Hiss at Terminal 5
March 23 -- Your 33 Black Angels / The Above / Gringo Star / Organs at Union Pool
March 24 -- JuiceBox at Blue Note
March 24 -- Kill The Alarm / Jessica Long at Mercury Lounge
March 24 -- Nat Baldwin / Glass Ghost / Sam Mickens at Union Pool

Flashback: The Wild Deer at Mercury Lounge

The Wild Deer: October 7, 2011 @ Mercury Lounge, New York, NY

Back in October I was down at Mercury Lounge to see a band (Robbers On High Street) and happened upon New York based The Wild Deer. I wasn't familiar with them but they had a sort of blues rock, punk laced rock 'n' roll thing going on and since I like rock 'n' roll, I watched, listened and took photos. Their frontman had me thinking if Mick Jagger and Scott Weiland produced a love child after having an orgy with Iggy Pop, it would be him. At any rate, they were fun. And, for your viewing pleasure, here's a little photographic flashback of their set.

More Photos HERE

Skipping Girl Vinegar Launch Monkey Into Space

Today we have for you a video from Australian band Skipping Girl Vinegar. The band recently released this fun and beautiful clip of their single "Chase The Sun." The song is off their album Keep Calm, Carry the Monkey. The video features Baker The Monkey who was attached to a low budget "spaceship" and a weather balloon with an on-board camera. Baker reached 110,000 feet before crashing back to earth. Watch the video at the bottom of the post, it'll give you a smile.

On the morning of Sat 27th Nov 2011, attached to a giant weather balloon, Baker and the onboard camera soared to 110,000 feet (5 times higher than Mt Everest) capturing the rolling image that is now part of this new film clip.

Reaching speeds of over 200kmh and experiencing temperatures as low as -50 degrees Baker carried an Mp3 player beaming out the new single and messages to the Universe from the people of Earth.

Monkey in Space was directed & dreamed up by Mark Lang & Chris Lansell, along with a team of cowboy artists and scientists including Leigh Ryan, Cobie Orger, Jody Muston, Michael Sacks, Emerald Buller, Grant Willis, Annika Fleur, Neil Thomas, Sare Lang, Amanthi Lynch, Chris Helm, Kelly Lane & The Project Horus Launch crew: Terry Baume, Matthew Cook, Graham Holman, Mark Jessop, Alan Kovacs, Joshua Morgan, Scott Testi, Carol Van Der Meer and Grant Willis.

Special guests contributing to Baker's mission included Dr Karl, Lawrence Leung & Lindsay 'The Dr' McDougall from Triple J.

Video of the Day: Some Velvet Morning - "How To Start A Revolution"

UK rockers Some Velvet Morning have released a new video for their song "How To Start A Revolution." You can pre-order the single, which will be released on April 15, HERE. I like the song and you know I really dig these guys. Check out the video below.

Lisa Redford Releases New Video

Singer/Songwriter Lisa Redford has released a new video. It's for "New York Song" which is from her album Clouds With Silver. It was filmed this past January. Check it out at the bottom of the post.

If the video wasn't enough for you, we have word that Redford will be releasing a new EP soon. We'll keep you posted on that.

Newport Jazz Festival Line-Up Announced

The 2012 Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management line-up was announced today. The festival will take place August 3 - 5 in Newport, RI at Fort Adams State Park. George Wein, producer/founder of the Newport Jazz Festival® and Chairman of Newport Festivals Foundation also announced that Natixis Global Asset Management (NGAM), who launched their global musical initiative with the 2011 Newport Jazz Festival, will return as presenting sponsor for three additional years.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 15, at 10:00 am at www.newportjazzfest.net. For more information, call (401) 848-5055.

Saturday, August 4, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Fort Adams State Park

• Pat Metheny Unity Band with Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez and Ben Williams
• Dianne Reeves
• Jack DeJohnette’s 70th Birthday Celebration featuring his Quintet and an All-Star group performing two sets
• Bill Frisell – John Lennon Songbook
• Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas Quintet: Sound Prints
• The Bad Plus with Bill Frisell
• James Carter Organ Trio with Special Guests Rodney Jones and Miche Braden
• Dafnis Prieto Sextet
• 3 Clarinets: Ken Peplowski, Evan Christopher, Anat Cohen
• Christian McBride’s Inside Straight
• John Ellis & Double-Wide
• Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society
• Pedrito Martinez Group

Sunday, August 5, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Fort Adams State Park

• Tedeschi Trucks Band
• Maria Schneider Orchestra
• Jason Moran and the Bandwagon
• Kurt Elling
• Miguel Zenón’s Rayuela
• Jenny Scheinman & Bill Frisell
• Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet
• Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Samdhi
• Gretchen Parlato & Lionel Loueke with special guest Becca Stevens
• John Hollenbeck’s Claudia Quintet + 1 featuring Theo Bleckmann
• 3 Cohens: Yuval, Anat and Avishai Cohen
• Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks
• Lewis Nash Quintet featuring Jeremy Pelt and Jimmy Greene
• Ryan Truesdell’s Gil Evans Centennial Project
• Berklee Global Jazz Institute Sextet

New Song From U.S. Royalty

Fellow quirky people and music lovers, U.S. Royalty have a new song, "Sleepy Eyes," up on their Soundcloud page. And, nice fellas that they are, they're offering it up for free. Their exact words ... Go stream/download new song "Sleepy Eyes" from our soundcloud. Share it with a friend. So, we're sharing it here with you, my friends. Enjoy and remember, they're cool to you so be cool to them ... support them live and otherwise. Check out the handy widget below to download the song.

Chains of Love Release Debut EP

Vancouver-based Chains of Love release their debut EP, Strange Grey Days, tomorrow, Tuesday, March 13 via Manimal Vinyl Records. The band blends girl group vocals with dirty lo-fi garage rock. I caught a performance by the band this past June. Their set felt like an electric shock that generated some tingly excitement and all out fun.

With an intoxicating energy, Chains of Love's sun-soaked romantic pop is injected with the stomp of vintage 60s soul, the wild abandon of 70s garage, and the guitar grime of The Cramps and early JAMC. Initially inspired by the “memory of that girl group sound” when forming the band, Chains started by referencing certain artists such as Gail Harris, Ike & Tina, The Ronnettes, and The Shangri-la's by using their lo-fi recording styles as a blueprint for the sound they wanted to create but their debut EP Strange Grey Days signals that their sound expanding yet maintains rare urgency of that sets Chains of Love apart from their throwback-y, reverb-drenched contemporaries.

In a recent interview, singer Nathalia Pizzaro says “I don’t wanna just say that we sound retro or Motown—that we’ve got a kitschy, candy shop vibe to us—I feel like there’s a raw element to our sound, too.” guitarist/vocalist Rebecca Marie Law Gray adds "We have so much fun when we’re recording. I think it translates in what you hear.” The band all would agree that Chains of Love is truly a passion project, putting every bit of energy and emotion into it. Uninitiated audiences who have been lucky enough to stumble across seeing them live often come away witnessing the best show they never expected to see.

Tour Dates

• February 16, 2012 -- Vancouver @ The Biltmore
• February 21, 2012 -- Seattle @ The Funhouse
• February 23, 2012 -- San Francisco @ Brick and Mortar
• February 24, 2012 -- San Diego @ Soda Bar
• February 25, 2012 -- Los Angeles @ Echo
• February 27, 2012 -- Los Angeles Live on KXLU
• March 1, 2012 -- Portland @ Mississippi Bar
• March 14-17 -- Austin - SXSW

Hank & Cupcakes To Play Santos + Releases New Video

Hank & Cupcakes released the video for "Liquid Mercury," the first single from their upcoming album. You can view it at the bottom of the post.

New York, Hank & Cupcakes will be killin' it down at Santos Party House on Wednesday, March 28. Doors are at 7PM. It's an 18+ show and it will cost you $13 advance/$15 dos. You can buy tickets HERE.

Video Details
Creative Director & Stylist: Melanie Willey
Cinematography: Uri Shwartz, Matt Bockelman
Assistant Cinematography: Dimitri Saintvill
Editor: Matt Bockelman
Actors & Crew: Sasha the fire gypsy, Viet Nguyen, Jacqueline Patchen, Scott Darda, Laurabeth Lima, Sarah Ganley, Sterling, Ian Sternthal

Corruption At Tammany Hall, 3/15

Corruption happens every Thursday...