TONIGHT: The R's at Pianos + MP3

Head on down to Pianos TONIGHT, June 16 at 8PM to catch The R's! They're from Italy and we like Italian stuff. It'll cost you $8 which is way cheaper than a trip to Italy! So go partake in some cultural exchange.

MP3 Grab: "I Love My Family"

TAB the Band At Mercury Lounge This Friday, 6/17

Looking for a good live show to check out this Friday, June 17? Head on down to Mercury Lounge. You will catch TAB the Band and bonus music happiness, Red Wanting Blue is also on the bill. Both are terrific fun to see live. Doors are at 6:30PM and it'll cost you $10. See, look, now you have plans for Friday night!

This Wednesday: The Twee + JITG + Living Days

Check it out ... Wednesday night, June 15 at Pianos ... go have a drink and hear some good music! Living Days at 9PM, Jump Into The Gospel at 10PM and The Twees at 11PM ... all of that for only $8.

Elbow Announces North American Tour Dates

Elbow will be hitting the road in the fall and they'll be making their way to NYC! They'll be at Terminal 5 on September 25. Tickets go on sale, this Friday, June 17. Doors are at 7PM and it'll cost you $32 advance/$35 dos.

See below for other dates.

September 18th:
ACL Festival, Austin, TX, U.S.A.
(On Sale Now)

September 20th:
Center Stage, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.
(On Sale June 17th)

September 22nd:
9:30 Club, Washington, DC, U.S.A.
(On Sale June 16th)

September 25th:
Terminal 5, New York, NY, U.S.A.
(On Sale June 17th)

September 26th:
Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA, U.S.A.
(On Sale June 18th)

September 28th:
Sound Academy, Toronto, ON, Canada
(On Sale June 18th)

October 1st:
The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
(On Sale June 18th)

McCartney & McCartney II Reissues Out Tomorrow!

Continuing with their series of deluxe reissues, MPL and Concord Music Group will release Paul McCartney's solo efforts McCartney and McCartney II, tomorrow, June 14.

McCartney was originally released in 1970. This is the record that kicked off McCartney's solo career. There's a certain romance about this album. It has a certain warm homemade feeling about it ... a man creating musical interpretations of his world with his woman steadfastly by his side. Everything about McCartney screams, welcome, join us in a low-key way. This record has always felt like if you'd shown up at McCartney's house, he'd have been in the mist of recording one of these songs. That vibe, that hominess really shines through on the packaging.

McCartney's voice is in top form and the re-mastering highlights that. On previous versions, I've felt that "Maybe I'm Amazed" has sounded tiny and a bit tin'ish. Here the sound is much more lush, like the grand love song that it is.

The sound on these bookend reissues has been spit and polished giving them an air of freshness. McCartney even manages to maintain its vinyl charm through the re-mastering without the crackle and pops of course.

It has been a while since I've had a listen to McCartney II in its entirety. Normally I hear a song here and there as it comes into rotation on my music player. Listening to it in one full go, it sounds a bit dated in some spots. There is plenty of cutting edge (at the time) synth pop encased on this disc. While a great deal of fun, it doesn't hold up as well to me. It was originally released in 1980 and music wise, it generally sounds like it.

This of course is the album that has the insanely catchy "Coming Up" which frankly, never gets old. While listening to this package, I was re-introduced to "On The Way." It's a song that could have fit well on the first record. "Nobody Knows" is a country tinged, blues pop, stomp that sounds richer yet maintains it's fun, lo-fi quality.

McCartney sounds like a old friend you can't wait to catch up with. McCartney II, while it has its moments, just doesn't maintain the same charm.

I haven't seen the bonus DVD footage included on the reissues so I can't tell you about those. But, McCartney enlisted award-winning filmmaker Jack McCoy to create a music video for the previously unreleased track "Blue Sway." The song, written almost 20 years ago is available for the first time on the bonus audio/dvd of McCartney II. Check out the video at the end of the post.

New York, Sir Paul will be playing Yankee Stadium on July 15 and 16. Check HERE for tickets.

Photo Review: Terror In A Western Town

Terror In A Western Town: June 8 @ Pianos, New York, NY

When Matt Witte of Terror In A Western Town took the stage and kicked off the set solo and acoustic, I kept thinking, "how does he fit into this night of music?" The group right before had an amped up girl group sound ... think Shangri-la's and the band after was shake your booty synth rock. About halfway through the first song, I didn't care how he fit, I was just glad he was there. He reminded me of a cross between Johnny Cash and Neil Young ... more of the latter when the rest of the band joined him onstage.

By the end of the set, I had the urge to grab the band, a generator, some friends, a bottle of whiskey, find a swimming hole, make a bon fire and do a little swimming under the moonlight. Put Terror In A Western Town on your list of bands to check out if you haven't yet.

More photos HERE

Video Of The Day: Bob Schneider - "Let The Light In"

Bob Schneider released a video for the lead single off his A Perfect Day album. The video is for the song "Let The Light In" and was produced by Cosmic Toast Studios and directed by Andy Pagana. Check out the video at the bottom of the post.

For those who haven't picked up A Perfect Day yet, you can get it from Amazon for $5 for the month of June. The album finds Schneider laid-back, fun and family friendly. His lyrics are sharp, often witty and disarmingly charming. This record is like listening to an old friend. This is breezy, Sunday morning, porch swing music.

Photo Review: A Night With A Band Of Rock 'n' Roll Messiahs

Jump Into The Gospel: June 8 @ Pianos, New York, NY

This past Wednesday night, New York's own Jump Into The Gospel kicked off the first of their residency shows at LES venue Pianos. If you didn't catch them, fret not. You still have three weeks left! They'll be taking the stage at 10PM on June 15, 22 ($8) and 29 (free).

What happens when you toss five long guys on a stage, with instruments and lighting that altered between "what lighting? and a slightly trippy, seizure inducing bonanza." You get a show full of shake your ass music and a bunch of folks dancing in front of them!

The band dropped their new single "2012" recently and it seems to have garnered a lot love and attention. When they launched into it, the audience reaction, while always favorable, this time out was akin to that of fan favorites "Humvee Mansion" and "Flagship." If you like the recorded version, the live version is that and more ... it goes all extra synth(y) and guitar(y) at the end; it's the equivalent of sex on the dance floor. I vote another hot JITG song, "St. John," be released next because it needs to be on my music player of choice. But hey, that's just me.

Go see them. You'll have fun! And, if you didn't see it already, check out the Q&A they did for us earlier this week. They're funny... and possibly insane which is how we here at QNYC like our musicians!

They played this...
More photos HERE

...while looking like this.
(I just noticed I didn't get any shots of Chris performing ... I hang my head in shame!)

Video Of The Day: Joy Valencia - "Don't Wake The Lion"

Today's video is by Joy Valencia. The song, "Don't Wake The Lion." It was directed by Erin E. Cantelo. Check it out below.

Josh T. Pearson At Joe's Pub, Friday, June 10

Josh T. Pearson will perform his only US show this Friday, here in New York. He'll be at Joe's Pub at 11PM and it will cost you $12. Go check him out.

To whet your appetite, check out his recently released Daytrotter session HERE and the video for "Sorry With A Song" below.