If I Dropped By... with Imperial Railway

This week, I posed my "If I Dropped By..." question to the band Imperial Railway.  They're out of the Pittsburgh area.  I spent some time in Pittsburgh so I thought hey, we must be simpatico or homies or something...how about we get to know them?  So, I hypothetically stopped by the homes of Dave Beshero, Ryan Matteo, Sean Atkins and Michael Duncan. This is what I learned.

Quirky NY Chick (QNYC): ... and brought a friend who didn't know your music, what song of yours would you play for them and why?

Dave Beshero (DB): The Nest. It's the song I wanted to write when I was 15. I think lyrically, it's the best I'll ever write as it means the most to me. 

Sean Atkins (SA): Twin Sisters - because it's my favorite song by us and I think it shows what we do best as a group - everyone has a part in it.

Ryan Matteo (RM): I'd have to go with You are the Blood. It's a really simple and to-the-point song that covers all of the dynamics of our sound pretty well along with clever lyrics to back it up.

Michael Duncan (MD): Twin Sisters. It's our most diverse, and it has a really epic/climactic ending that's really fun to play live.

Snowden To Play Two New York Shows

Snowden
Isadora
Thursday, May 30
Mercury Lounge
217 East Houston Street
New York, NY
Doors: 9:30PM
Tickets: $10 advance / $12 dos
21+

Irma Thomas' In Between Tears To Be Re-released on May 14

The classic Irma Thomas album In Between Tears will be re-released on May 14.  The CD and digital versions will include two bonus tracks and new liner notes written by the albums producer, Jerry Williams, Jr., also known as, Swamp Dogg.  It will also be released on vinyl for the first time since it was originally released in 1973.  Speaking of Swamp Dogg, his Gag A Maggott album is being re-released on the same day.  If you haven't heard these releases, I recommend you do.

Track List

• In Between Tears
• She'll Never Be Your Wife
• These Four Walls
• Whats So Wrong With You Loving Me
• You're The Dog (I Do The Barking Myself)
• Medley: Coming From Behind (Monologue)
• Wish Someone Would Care
• Turn My World Around
• We Won't Be In Your Way Anymore (CD & digital bonus track)
• I'll Do It All Over You (CD & digital bonus track)

Around New York ... May 12 - May 18, 2013

Upcoming Shows in the New York area ...

Kopecky Family Band at Mercury Lounge, 5/16

May 12 -- Alice Russell at (le) poisson rouge
May 12 -- Joan Osborne / Ollabelle / Elizabeth Mitchell at City Winery
May 13 -- Clara Lofaro at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2
May 14 -- Iron & Wine at The Beacon Theatre
May 14 -- The Hush Sound / Hockey / River City Extension at Webster Hall
May 14 -- Wakey!Wakey! at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2
May 14 -- Spacehog / VAZ / Hubble at Union Pool
May 14 -- What It Means / Dawn Landes / Mesiko at The Rock Shop
May 14 -- Vera Flash / Parson James / Moxiie / Lyons / Nightbox at The Bowery Electric
May 15 -- Har Mar Superstar / The Young Things / Nightbox at (le) poisson rouge
May 16 -- Kopecky Family Band / Matrimony at Mercury Lounge
May 16 -- The Veda Rays / Lazyeyes / BNLX / Wormburner at Pianos
May 16 -- No Joy / Weekend / Grand Resort at Glasslands
May 17 -- The Lonely Wild / Yellow Red Sparks / The Lonelyhearts at Union Hall
May 17 -- Bettye LaVette / The Blind Boys of Alabama at The Town Hall
May 17 -- Christine Vaindirlis at Blue Note
May 17 -- Melissa Ferrick / The Western Den at The Bell House
May 18 -- Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band / the Felice Brothers at Terminal 5
May 18 -- James McCartney / Melissa Giges at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2
May 18 -- The Feelies at The Bell House
May 18 -- Kitten / Lights Resolve at Santos Party House
May 18 -- VietNam / Andy Animal's Cannibal Tribe / Country Mice at Glasslands 

Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band to Play Terminal 5 on 5/18

  Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band
The Felice Brothers
Saturday, May 18
Terminal 5
610 W 56th Street
New York, NY
Doors: 7PM / Show: 8PM
Tickets: $32 advance / $35 dos
All Ages

Josh Ritter released his new album, The Beast In Its Tracks on March 5.

Jon Batiste and Stay Human To Play The Bowery Ballroom on 6/25

  Jon Batiste and Stay Human
Tuesday, June 25
The Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey St
New York, NY
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
Tickets: $25 advance / $28 dos
18+

Jon Batiste and Stay Human are scheduled to release their debut album in June.  If you're attending the legendary Newport Jazz Festival this year, you'll be able to catch them there as well on Sunday, August 4.  If you haven't got tickets, grab some now.

Mermaid Parade Launches Kickstarter Project

The Mermaid Parade has been a staple in Coney Island since 1983.  Thanks to Hurricane Sandy wrecking havoc, the folks that put on the parade are working hard to keep a much loved tradition alive.  So, they've started a Kickstarter project.  Click HERE for more details on what you can do to help save a much loved institution.

As a photographer, the Mermaid Parade is one of the most fun events to photograph. It is in general, a complete and total blast to experience.  

Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on the Coney Island community. It also destroyed our historical museum and performance space at 1208 Surf Avenue. We rely on the income from our popular side-show and gift shop, along with registration fees, to pay for the Mermaid Parade. With our building severely damaged and donations slowing to a trickle, our not-for-profit has had virtually no income. In many ways we’re still underwater. What this all means is that the 31st Mermaid Parade now has a budget shortfall of $100,000. This is an impossible gap for a tiny not-for-profit arts organization like ours.

Bob Schneider to Play Bowery Ballroom on 7/26

Bob Schneider
Wheeler Brothers
Friday, July 26
The Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey St
New York, NY
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
Tickets: $25
21+

Bob Schneider has a new album, Burden of Proof, scheduled for release on June 11.  The single, "Unpromised Land" was released in early April.

Iron and Wine To Play The Beacon Theatre on 5/14

Iron and Wine
Tuesday, May 14
The Beacon Theatre
2124 Broadway
New York, NY
Doors: 8PM
Tickets: $45 - $60

Iron and Wine released their new album, Ghost On Ghost, on April 16.
 

Pokey LaFarge To Play The Bowery Ballroom on 6/4 + New Record

  Pokey LaFarge
Luke Winslow King
Tuesday, June 4
The Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey St
New York, NY
Doors: 7PM / Show: 8PM
Tickets: $15
18+

Pokey LaFarge will release his new full-length album, Pokey LaFarge, via Third Man Records on June 4.  CD's and Vinyl can be pre-ordered HERE.

Deap Vally Release New Video

Deap Vally recently released their new video for "Baby I Call Hell".  The clip was directed by Jess Holzworth.  The track is from their upcoming debut album, Sistrionix, which is scheduled for release in the US in September.  They released their Get Deap! EP last month. Check out their new video below.

Shooter Jennings to Play The Bowery Ballroom on 5/21

Shooter Jennings
Daniel Romano
Tuesday, May 21
The Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey St
New York, NY
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
Tickets: $20 advance / $25 dos
21+

Shooter Jennings released his latest album, The Other Life, on March 12.

If I Dropped By... with Jamie DiTringo and John BellaVia of The Golden Furs

This week, I posed my "If I Dropped By..." question to Jamie DiTringo and John BellaVia of New York based band The Golden Furs.  This is what I found out during my hypothetical visits to their homes.

Quirky NY Chick (QNYC): ... and brought a friend who didn't know your music, what song of yours would you play for them and why?

John BellaVia (JBV): O Father! Acapella. You would play bongos and your friend can do hand claps. As long as there is someone else with a deep Barry White-ish voice for the bass, we are set.  O Father! just brings people together.

Jamie DiTringo (JDT): Amethyst. It’s one of the 1st songs John, Saul and I wrote together when we started the band and has a special place in my heart. Awww.. It has a lot of elements we really enjoy from the experimental intro, to the snappy verses and heaviness that drives the song. It’s tough to pick one because O Father is fan favorite at the moment.

The Girls In The Band Screening at Lincoln Center, 5/10 - 5/16

The Girls In The Band
Friday, May 10 - Thursday, May 16
Lincoln CenterFrancesca Beale Theater
144 West 65th Street
between Broadway & Amsterdam
New York, NY
Tickets: $8 - $13  

THE GIRLS IN THE BAND tells the poignant, untold stories of female jazz and big band instrumentalists and their fascinating, groundbreaking journeys from the late 30′s to the present day.

These incredibly talented women endured sexism, racism and diminished opportunities for decades, yet continued to persevere, inspire and elevate their talents in a field that seldom welcomed them. Today a new breed of gifted young women is taking their rightful place in the world of jazz which can no longer deny their talents.

Laura Stevenson to Play The Bowery Ballroom on 5/24

Laura Stevenson
Field Mouse
Friday, May 24
The Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey Street
New York, NY
Doors: 7:30PM / Show: 8:30PM
Tickets: $13 advance / $15 dos
16+
Laura Stevenson released her new album Wheel on April 23.

Around New York ... May 5 - May 11, 2013

Upcoming Shows in the New York area ...

L.A. Guns at The Bowery Electric, 5/7

May 5 -- Free Energy / Deap Vally / Leda at The Bowery Ballroom
May 6 -- Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors / Caleb / Andrew Ripp at Rock Wood Music Hall, Stage 2
May 6 -- Ronnie Spector at City Winery
May 7 -- Spin Doctors / James Maddock at Brooklyn Bowl
May 7 -- Anna Rose at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 1
May 7 -- Aaron Lee Tasjan / Mia Dyson at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2
May 7 -- Wakey!Wakey! at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2
May 7 -- James Blake / Falty DL at Terminal 5
May 7 -- L.A. Guns / The Liza Colby Sound / Splinter / Sweet Cyanide at The Bowery Electric
May 7 - 12 -- Take 6 at Blue Note
May 8 -- Steve Earle & The Dukes / Mastersons at Music Hall of Williamsburg
May 8 -- Dessa: Early Words / Brick + Mortar at Union Hall
May 9 -- Lily and the Parlour Tricks at Cake Shop
May 9 -- Great Divide at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2
May 9 -- Jesus on the Mainline / A Brief View of the Hudson / Amanda Cross / Ashley Allen at The Bowery Electric
May 10 -- Sky Ferreira at Mercury Lounge
May 10 -- Shout Out Louds at Webster Hall
May 10 -- The Stationary Set / The Midnight Hollow / Joseph King at Cameo Gallery
May 10 -- Hypnotic Brass Ensemble at Blue Note
May 10 -- French Horn Rebellion at Brooklyn Bowl
May 10 -- Take Back The 80's Burlesque: Francine "The Lucid Dream" & Minnie D'Moocha at Parkside Lounge
May 11 -- Clementine and The Galaxy at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 1
May 11 -- Sir Sly / Little Daylight / The Griswolds at Brooklyn Bowl
May 11 -- Mudhoney / Pissed Jeans at Music Hall of Williamsburg

VietNam to Play Glasslands Gallery on 5/18

VietNam
Andy Animal's Cannibal Tribe, Country Mice
Saturday, May 18
Glasslands Gallery 
289 Kent Avenue  
Brooklyn, NY
Doors: 8PM
Tickets: $10
21+
VietNam released their new full-length album, an A.merican D.ream, this past February.

The Milk Carton Kids to Play The Bowery Ballroom on 5/19

The Milk Carton Kids
The Barefoot Movement
Sunday, May 19
The Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey Street
New York, NY
Doors: 7PM / Show: 8PM
Tickets: $17
18+

The Milk Carton Kids, Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan, released their album The Ash & Clay this past March. If you're going to be at the legendary Newport Folk Festival, you can catch them there on Friday, July 26 and luckily, tickets are still available for that day.  

Geri Allen & Friends to Play Apollo Theater on 5/11

Apollo Theater Presents
Geri Allen & Friends  Celebrate the Great Jazz Women of the Apollo
Saturday, May 11
Apollo Theater
253 West 125th Street
New York, NY
Doors 2PM / Show 3PM; Tickets $10 - $55 Doors 7PM / Show 8PM; Tickets $10 - $55

This show is a part of the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival.   The festival takes place May 6 - 11. 

Apollo Theater presents Geri Allen & Friends Celebrate  the Great Jazz Women of the Apollo featuring Geri Allen & Timeline Tap Quartet, Dianne Reeves, Terri Lyne Carrington, Lizz Wright, Tia Fuller, Karen Malina White, Marvin Sewell, Dormeshia and Afro Blue. Staged by S. Epatha Merkerson, narrative by Farah Jasmin Griffin with Deejay Val Jeanty. 

Hockey To Play Webster Hall on 5/14 + New Album

  Hockey
Tuesday, May 14
Webster Hall
125 East 11th Street
New York, NY
Doors: 6PM
Tickets: $20
16+

When last I saw Hockey, they were supporting their debut album Mind Choas and garnering a lot of attention for the infectious single, "Too Fake".  Now they're set to release their sophomore album, Wyeth IS digitally on May 7.

Marc Cary To Play Harlem Stage on 5/10

Harlem Stage Presents
Marc Cary Celebrates Abbey Lincoln with “Moseka House: The House That Abbey Built”
Friday, May 10
Harlem Stage Gatehouse
150 Covent Avenue at W. 135th Street
New York, NY
7:30PM
Tickets: $10

This show is a part of the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival.   The festival takes place May 6 - 11. 

Harlem Stage, paying tribute to Clark Monroe’s Uptown House, presents Marc Cary Celebrates Abbey Lincoln with “Moseka House: The House That Abbey Built.”  Abbey Lincoln’s former pianist Marc Cary accompanies vocalists Keith Ailer, Maggie Brown, Pyeng Threadgill, and Imani Uzuri as they pay homage to Ms. Lincoln. Harlem Stage Gatehouse.

Great Divide to Play Rockwood Music Hall on 5/9

Great Divide  Thursday, May 9
Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2
196 Allen Street
New York, NY
Doors: 8:30PM
Tickets: $10
21+  

Great Divide released their sophomore album, Great Divide, in February.

Cab Calloway Orchestra To Play The Alhambra Ballroom on 5/9

Jazzmobile Presents  A Night of Swinging with the Cab Calloway Orchestra
Thursday, May 9
The Alhambra Ballroom
2116 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard
New York, NY
8PM
Cash Bar / Food Available for purchase
$10

This show is a part of the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival. The festival takes place May 6 - 11. 

Renewing their partnership for the third year, the Apollo Theater, Harlem Stage and Jazzmobile, Inc., in collaboration with Columbia University, have joined forces to present the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival from May 6 – 11, 2013. These cultural organizations will present a series of concerts and events to celebrate the rich legacy of jazz in the uptown community while bringing both established and emerging artists to famed Harlem venues. This year, the festival will pay tribute to The Alhambra Ballroom, the Apollo Theater, The Baby Grand, Minton’s Playhouse, Clark Monroe’s Uptown House, Showman’s Jazz Club, the Sugar Cane Club and the Cotton Club. In addition to concerts at jazz shrines throughout Harlem, festival events will take place at Harlem Stage Gatehouse, Cowin Auditorium at Teacher’s College and Ginny’s Supper Club.

Mia Dyson to Play Rockwood Music Hall on 5/7

 

Mia Dyson
Tuesday, May 7
Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2
196 Allen Street
New York, NY
Doors: 6:30PM
Tickets: $10
21+

Mia Dyson recently released her latest album, The Moment, here in North America.  Add this to my recommended listen list.  Check out the video clip for the track "Pistol" below.

Shout Out Louds to Play Webster Hall on 5/10

Shout Out Louds
Friday, May 10
Webster Hall
125 East 11th Street
New York, NY
Doors: 7PM
Tickets: $22 advance / $25 dos
18+

Shout Out Louds released their latest album, Optica, in February.  Check out the video for the track "Illusions" below. 

If I Dropped By… with Louis Epstein of HITS

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you decided to be random and drop by a musician’s home? No?  Well, I have.  So, I posed my, "If I Dropped By..." question to HITS frontman, Louis Epstein.  This is what I learned about my host when I paid a hypothetical visit to his home.

Quirky NY Chick (QNYC): ... and brought a friend who didn't know your music, what song of yours would you play for them and why?

Louis Epstein (LE): I'd casually play well-known songs from bands like The Talking Heads and Talk Talk and Tom Waits who just talks sometimes, while I slipped in a HITS song here and there, so when it stood out, they'd say, "Wait. Who's this?" I could say, "What this? Oh weird this is actually MY band. Why? Do you like it?"
 

Wakey!Wakey! to Play Rockwood Music Hall on 5/7

Wakey!Wakey!
Tuesday, May 7
Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2
196 Allen Street
New York, NY
Doors: 9PM
Tickets: $10

Vandaveer To Release New Album + New York Show

Vandaveer
SWIMM, The Ludlow Thieves, Rachel Brown
Thursday, May 2
Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2
196 Allen Street
New York, NY
Doors: 8PM
Tickets: $12 advance / $15 dos
21+

Vandaveer will release their album of morbid ballads, Oh, Willie Please... in North America on April 30.  Those into alternative folk will enjoy this collection of songs.

They have recently released a video for the track "Pretty Polly".  Check out the clip below.

Sir Sly to Play Mercury Lounge on 5/3

Sir Sly
JMSN, The Last Royals
Friday, May 3
Mercury Lounge
217 E Houston St.
New York, NY
Doors: 7:30PM
Tickets: $10
21+

Around New York ... April 28 - May 4, 2013

 

  
Upcoming Shows in the New York area ...

Dawn Landes at The Living Room, 5/3

April 28 -- Aly Tadros at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 1
April 28 -- Maya Vik at Pianos
April 29 -- Jim James / Cold Specks at Webster Hall
April 29 -- Cold Specks at Pianos
April 29 -- Purchase Jazz Orchestra featuring Jon Faddis at Blue Note
April 29 -- The Box Tiger / Weird Children / Mount Sharp at Union Hall
May 1 -- Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons / Joshua Black Wilkins / Leslie Dinicola / Rebecca Haviland & Whiskey Heart at The Bowery Electric
May 2 -- Communion featuring SWIMM / The Ludlow Thieves / Vandaveer / Rachel Brown at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2
May 2 -- Belle Mare / Cherokee Red / Adam Rubenstein at Mercury Lounge
May 2 -- Mary Bragg at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 1
May 2 -- The Bacon Brothers at The Town Hall
May 2 -- Amy Helm / Connor Kennedy at City Winery
May 3 -- Dawn Landes & The Hounds at The Living Room
May 3 -- Shwa and the Good Times Farewell Show at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2
May 3 -- Sir Sly / JMSN / The Last Royals at Mercury Lounge
May 3 -- Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite at Beacon Theatre
May 3 -- Doc Wasabassco's Burlesque at City Winery
May 3 - 4 -- The Great American Stomp at Union Hall
May 4 -- The Broadcast at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2
May 4 -- He's My Brother, She's My Sister / Jeffrey Lewis & The Rain / Beach Day at Music Hall of Williamsburg
May 4 -- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club / Bass Drum of Death at Terminal 5

Paula Cole to Play City Winery on 5/3

 

Paula Cole
Friday, May 3
City Winery
155 Varick Street
New York, NY
Doors: 6PM / Show: 8PM
Tickets: $30 - $40

Paula Cole released her latest album, Raven, on April 23.  She released a video for the first single, "Eloise", last month.  Check out the clip. below.

He's My Brother She's My Sister To Play Music Hall of Williamsburg on 5/4

  He's My Brother She's My Sister
Jeffrey Lewis & The Rain, Beach Day
Saturday, May 4
Music Hall of Williamsburg
66 North 6th St
Brooklyn, NY
Doors: 8:00 pm / Show: 9:00 pm
Tickets: $15
18+

He's My Brother She's My Sister released their latest album, Nobody Dances In This Town, October 2012.  I really dig this album.  It's on my list of recommended listens.