Fair Phair

By Meredith Deliso

Liz Phair didn’t always like performing. She suffered from stage fright from the start, and would roll her eyes at bandmates who loved the live experience. But now, she’s one of the junkies.

“I’ve turned a corner about my live show,” said Phair from Los Angeles before she kicked off an East Coast tour that brings her to the Music Hall of Williamsburg this Wednesday. “I used to get so stressed out before going out on tour. Now, I’m really enjoying it.”

The singer can’t really point to what changed, though part of it may that after being on the scene for as long as she has, she’s a chameleon who’s finally comfortable in her own skin.

The indie rock goddess exploded onto the music scene with her 1993 debut, “Exile from Guyville,” a song-by-song refutation of the Rolling Stones’ “Exile on Main Street.”

Since that groundbreaking album — an anthem of audaciousness for all young, independent women — Phair’s played with people’s expectations, even if that’s meant losing the edge of her twentysomething rebellion. There was 1998’s “Whitechocolatespaceegg,” which revolved around themes of motherhood and family, rather than shocking songs about sex and relationships; the commercial, glossy pop of her 2003 self-titled album; and her latest, the off-beat “Funstyle,” which finds the singer on one song rapping (yes, rapping).

That experimentation may have alienated fans of “Guyville”-era Phair, but when she plays live, the musician’s learned to give the people what they want.

“I have enough records under my belt so that I can really play songs that people want to hear,” said Phair. “It’s fun.”     

Make that funstyle.

Liz Phair at Music Hall of Williamsburg [66 N. Sixth St. between Wythe and Kent avenues in Williamsburg, (718) 486-5400], Jan. 26 at 8 pm. Tickets $25. For info, visit www.lizphair.com.

Read more...

Dan Zanes is back

By Meredith Deliso

Believe it or not, Dan Zanes still questions whether he can sing.

Even after five albums with the 1980s pop band The Del Fuegos and eight as a children’s musician — one of which garnered him a Grammy — those doubts still nag the Fort Greene-based kiddie rock star.

“We all have the voices in our heads that say we’re not that musical,” said Zanes, who, by the way, sings with a warm, lazy growl. “I just don’t let it stop me anymore. I want to set a good example for my daughter. I don’t want to be hiding in the corner, not throwing myself into things. I’d rather set an example of someone who can step through inhibitions and participate in life.”

With his baby girl now 16, Zanes admits those days of setting an example might be over, but he still has tons of other kids to inspire.

Since releasing “Rocket Ship Beach” 10 years ago, Zanes has skyrocketed to the top of the kiddie music scene, packing outdoor concerts with strollers, enjoying an almost constant rotation on channels like the Disney Channel and Noggin, and getting some of the best in the business (Aimee Mann, Lou Reed, Matthew Broderick) to sing on his albums.

Zanes has found more success as a children’s musician than a garage rocker, more often playing schools than stadiums, and while that prospect may rattle some, Zanes is just genuinely grateful to still be making music.  

“Music saved my life for sure. That’s what gave me focus and a creative outlet, and a reason to get up every day,” said Zanes, who’s now known as much for his wild, unkempt gray hair as his kid- and parent-friendly rock. “I’ve been very, very lucky to then be able to have not one but two careers in music. It’s practically unheard of.” 

And after 10 years on the kiddie throne, he’s still able to channel his inner four-year-old.

“I have so much in common with young people, so it really isn’t much of a problem to find things to sing about that have emotional meaning for me, as well as a 4-year-old,” said Zanes. “When I’m writing, I think about things like friendship, my neighbors, Brooklyn, people, the weather. There aren’t any songs about learning how to eat with a fork, but there aren’t any songs about drinking and old girlfriends, either. Somewhere in the middle is where I live.”

That place includes dancing, a sense of mystery and — this is key — a party. And the rocker will certainly bring it when he plays this Nov. 28 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, where he’ll be joined by Father Goose, a Jamaican emcee who’s been with him from the beginning, and the BAM/Restoration DanceAfrica Ensemble.

“It’s been 10 years since our first CD came out, so we’re celebrating 10 years of handmade all-ages music,” said Zanes. 

Dan Zanes at the Music Hall of Williamsburg [66 N. Sixth St. between Kent and Wythe avenues in Williamsburg, (718) 486-5400], Nov. 28 at 3 pm. Tickets $25. For info, visit www.danzanes.com.

Read more...

CMJ Day 3

It's the back-to-back edition.

At the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Vegan throws a showcase, headlined by fuzzed-out cuties The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, who just wrapped their second album, so expect some tunes from that. Also on the bill are The Blow, Screaming Females, Suuns and Young Man.

Right next door, Public Assembly is hosting New Shapes, a showcase thrown by Neon Gold and Chess Club. And there's a lot of music going on - 20 bands, to be exact.

In the front room, brought to you by Neon Gold, check out The Good Natured, Savoir Adore, Body Language, Samuel, Spark, Emil and Friends, Brahms, Fenech Soler, Sound of Arrows, Penguin Prison, and The Knocks.

In the back, the Chess Club Roomm,, Santah, Alex Winston, Keepaway, Ava Luna, Oberhofer, Devin Therriault, 1,2,3, Grouplove, and The Postelles.

So even while bands set up at one stage, you won't be without a live act somewhere on these three stages.


Music Hall of Williamsburg [66 N. Sixth St. between Kent and Wythe avenues in Williamsburg, (718) 486-5400]; Public Assembly [70 N. Sixth St. between Kent and Wythe avenues in Williamsburg, (718) 384-4586].

Read more...

Go 'Fourth'

By Ben Kochman

On July 4, the smart set stays right here in Brooklyn rather than rushing off to beaches (we’ve got those), parties (check) or hot concerts (um, this is music city, after all). Don’t believe us, here’s our full guide to this weekend (so full, in fact, that you’ll need to take Monday off).

Friday

Kicking off the holiday weekend, Prospect Park will be ablaze on Friday night, as Jamaican reggae veterans Fab 5 hit the Celebrate Brooklyn stage. The group will celebrate its 40 years on tour with an evening of lively grooves. Opening will be percussionist Junior Wedderburn’s band Uzalo, who will get the party hopping with a “cornucopia of rhythm.”

Afterwards, head down to Coney Island’s weekly Friday night fireworks over the Boardwalk. Shot from the beach, the bombs burst directly overhead, dazzling beach-front revelers. Deno’s Wonder Wheel, the Cyclone Roller Coaster and the Brooklyn Cyclones are some of the sponsors who make this festive tradition possible.

Fab 5 at the Prospect Park band shell [enter at Prospect Park West and Ninth Street, (718) 855-7882], 7:30 pm. Free; Fireworks (between W. 10th and W. 12th streets, no phone) begin at 9:30 pm. Free.

Saturday

The Brooklyn Cyclones offer fans a chance to pre-game the holiday on July 3 with fireworks display plus a BBQ tool set giveaway so you can grill in style this Fourth. Pepsi outfits the first 2,500 fans in attendance with free grilling paraphernalia before the Cyclones beat the despised Staten Island Yankees. The team celebrates Independence Day with post-game fireworks shot from the outfield. Sounds like a home run.

If you’d rather watch a film than baseball, head the Old American Can Factory, where Rooftop Films screens a selection of shorts that are sure to make foodies blush. In a collection from the Umami film festival, viewers will witness experimental interpretations of the complex power that food possesses. Umami is the Japanese word for “savory,” and these films hope to capture the elusive yet satisfying taste of a savory, earthy delight.

After stimulating your mind, quench your thirst at an after-party, where free Radeburger Pilsner will be on tap. That’s free, as in you can drink as much as you want.

Later, rewind back to 1980 at Brooklyn Bowl, where rockers Destroy Babylon will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of “London Calling” by performing The Clash’s famed album in its entirety.

Destroy Babylon describes its sound as “punky reggae,” which makes them a good fit to honor The Clash, who were known to experiment not only with various substances but with different musical styles.

Independence Day Celebration at MCU Park [1904 Surf Ave. at W. 17th Street in Coney Island, (718) 449-8497]. Game starts at 6 pm; Films at Old American Can Factory [232 Third St. between Sackett and Union streets in Gowanus, (718) 417-7362] begin at 8 pm. Tickets are $10; Destroy Babylon at Brooklyn Bowl [61 Wythe Ave. between 12th and 13th Street in Williamsburg, (718) 963-3369] starts at 8 pm. Tickets $5.

Sunday

It will be man-eat-dog mania when the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest returns to Coney Island. Last year, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut set an all-time record of 68 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, and has apparently sent Takeru Kobayashi packing as he goes for his fourth consecutive title at the corner of Stillwell and Surf avenues. If Kobayashi doesn’t show, look out for “Notorious B.O.B” Bob Shoudt — who just recently surpassed Kobayashi for the No. 2 eater.

If you’re a betting man, head on over to Willie’s Dawgs instead and sign up for the Park Slope spot’s hot dog eating contest lottery pool, with the spoils (a $100 discount at Park Slope Veterinary Care) going to whoever correctly predicts the amount of hot dogs it will take to win Coney Island’s fabled event (last year it was 68, and everyone knows that Chestnut will eat 74 this year). The hot dog joint plans to donate all proceeds from the lottery to the Sean Casey Animal Rescue organization, which helps keep man’s best friends safe.

Later, head to Floyd Bennett Field for a Fabolous day. That’s no misprint: the Brooklyn MC will co-headline the third annual Brooklyn Music Festival at Aviator Sports. He’s joined by the infamous Shaggy, whose hit song “Wasn’t Me” lit up the charts in the late 1990s, and B.O.B, the young budding rap star from Atlanta who topped the charts in 2010 with his soulful ballad “Nothin’ on You.” Other acts include Tony Matterhorn and Lady Saw, two Jamaican dancehall deejays who plan to ignite the dance floor, and Jamaican crooner Barrington Levy.

For those looking to move, put on your Fourth of July dancing shoes and head out to Bushwick for a patriotic powwow of massive proportions. The Sunday Best crew is at it again with its self-proclaimed “best doggone backyard barbecue in Brooklyn,” at its new home at Brooklyn Fire Proof. Burgers, corn on the cob and, of course, hot dogs will be on the grill, while special DJ guest Rich Medina will keep the tunes pumping from 3 pm into the night — but ending early enough for you to catch some fireworks.

And for a good old-fashioned picnic, head to Bay Ridge for state Sen. Marty Golden’s third annual gathering. Blues Circus, the Groove, High Tides, Piranha Bros., The Ridge, and Frank Marra and His Band will provide the tunes, while hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage, drinks and ice cream will be available.

Hot Dog Eating Contest at Nathan’s Famous [between Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island, (718) 946-2202], noon; Hot dog eating contest lottery at Willie’s Dawgs [351 Fifth Ave. between Fifth and Sixth streets in Park Slope, (718) 832-2941], noon. Enter for $5; Brooklyn Music Festival at Floyd Bennett Field [3159 Flatbush Ave. off the Belt Parkway in Marine Park, (718) 758-7556], noon to 10 pm. Tickets $59; Sunday Best at Brooklyn Fireproof [119 Ingraham St. at Porter Avenue in Bushwick, (718) 456-7570], 3-9 pm. Tickets $12. RSVP to rsvp@sundaybestnyc.com; Greater Bay Ridge Fourth of July Picnic [82nd Street and Shore Road, (718) 238-6044], 11 am to 9 pm. Free.

Monday

What better way to mark Independence Day than through an exhibit devoted to the Revolutionary War?

At the Harbor Defense Museum in Bay Ridge, you can explore artifacts from the period that were used to secure your freedom, including a three-pound cannon, Coehorn mortar and 18th-century Charleville musket at its permanent exhibition devoted to the war.

And if you’re looking to shake things up on your day off and throw in some variety, head on over to Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO for a night of tap-dancing bears, Kung Fu juggling, clown bands, sword swallowers, physical comedy and more. It’s all part of the Bindlestiff Open Stage Variety Show, so anything’s possible. Hope to one day be part of the act? Get a set of juggling balls and spend the day beforehand at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1 and practice, practice, practice.

“Battle of Brooklyn, August 27, 1776” at the Harbor Defense Museum [230 Sheridan Loop at Sterling Drive in Bay Ridge, (718) 630-4349], 10 am-4 pm. Free; Bindlestiff Variety Show at Galapagos Art Space [16 Main St. at Water Street, (718) 222-8500], 8 pm. Tickets $5.

— with Stephen Goodstein and Damian Harris-Hernandez

Read more...

Shepard Fairey's stamp on Brooklyn

When not speaking at the Brooklyn Museum, Shepard Fairey took over the upstairs bar area at the Music Hall of Williamsburg this past weekend, creating a one-of-a-kind permanent installation of two murals on adjoining walls.

Listening to a playlist including Metallica, Fugazi, and Band of Horses, Fairey pasted posters featuring images demonstrating his disdain for the dysfunctional democracy and the need for campaign finance reform.

The murals are the only indoor artwork that Fairey is creating to support his exhibition and will be first viewed by the public at Hellyeah’s show tonight at 9 pm.

The Music Hall of Williamsburg is located at 66 N. Sixth Street between Kent and Wythe avenues.

Photos by Gregg Greenwood

Read more...

Here We Go Magic's recipe: layer sounds, add heat, and let cool

By Meredith Deliso

Lately, Luke Temple has been on a cooking kick.

“I just saw ‘Julie and Julia,’ and it’s gotten me kind of obsessed with the idea of cooking,” says the musician. “I’ll actually wake up, have ingredients lying around in my head, and realize they want to be together. And I have to figure out a way to make that happen. It’s nice to put random elements together and see what happens.”

If you didn’t know any better, you’d think the musician was talking not about food but, well, music. But, for him, the two processes are very similar. Over the past year, Temple and his band, Here We Go Magic, have been gaining momentum for their ambient sound, an experiment for the singer-songwriter that found him working in layers and arranging his ingredients in a nontraditional song structure. Magic was born out of his bedroom with the help of his analog synths and cassette 4-track in a process Temple has described as a “call and response.”

“I kept building on these really linear forms...and was less involved in specific arrangements and more considering the whole sound,” he says.

Last year around this time, the band played Southpaw in Park Slope upon the release of their self-titled debut. This January 29, the band – comprised of Temple (guitar and vocals), Michael Bloch (guitar, vocals), Kristina Lieberson (keyboard), Peter Hale (drums), and Jennifer Turner (bass), headline Music Hall of Williamsburg in advance of the release of their sophomore album, out on Secretly Canadian this spring.

The album finds the band still dealing in repetition, but “with more of an expanse of sound. It’s jam-packed with information,” says Temple, who, when not on the road with the likes of Grizzly Bear and The Walkman, currently lives in Williamsburg. “It’s more song-oriented...but it still has that ambient quality to it. It’s not going to disappoint, I don’t think.”

Despite his confidence, Temple is not immune to the pressure that often accompanies the release of a sophomore album.

“Here We Go Magic started as a way to do more experimental stuff. There was less pressure,” says Temple. “Now ears are waiting to hear it, so that’s exciting. That’s something I’ve never experienced before, actual anticipation for what I’m doing.”

While Magic afforded an escape from his pervious work, Temple might have to leave his messing around in the metaphorical kitchen to his solo work, as Magic currently takes up most of his, and critics’, attention. Though he hasn’t abandoned his personal brand altogether; later this year he looks to put out a record of Luke Temple music on Western Vinyl.

And, while he’s still in Brooklyn and not on the road, he’ll also keep at it in the kitchen. Given his predilection for layers, it doesn’t come as too much of a surprise what Temple is most interested in tackling next.

“Custard desserts,” says the musician, “like, folding egg whites into cream. That’s a really great thing.”

Here We Go Magic play Music Hall of Williamsburg (66 North 6th St.) 9 p.m. With Midnight Masses and Glass Ghost. Tickets are $12 in advance or $14 day of show. For more information, call 718-486-5400.

Read more...

Culture club: the best bests for 2010

By Meredith Deliso

That was fast.

Another year has gone by in Brooklyn. These past 12 months may have found you dining at Buttermilk Channel, bowling at Brooklyn Bowl, or rocking out at the Knitting Factory, three acclaimed borough establishments that all came to be — or be reborn — in 2009. Or maybe you caught Cate Blanchett in her praised role of Blanche Dubois at BAM, took in the captivating “New Electric Ballroom” at St. Ann’s Warehouse, or had rock star insight at the Brooklyn Museum’s “Who Shot Rock and Roll” exhibition.

With 2010 right around the corner, we take a look at what’s in store for Brooklyn’s cultural landscape, from anticipated exhibits to concerts you should buy tickets for today (and don’t worry if you haven’t made it to the Brooklyn Museum exhibition yet; it runs until the end of January).

Brooklyn Sounds

There are shows on a daily basis in Brooklyn worth mentioning, but these caught our eyes, or, rather, ears. On January 29, Brooklyn Bowl has something for all you metal/tribute/Michael Jackson/Judas Priest/Cheap Trick enthusiasts. Promoter Rocks Off presents their Tribute Wars XXXII, with Dangerous, an all-metal tribute to Michael Jackson featuring members of 2 Skinnee J’s and Tragedy: All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees, as well as all-female tributes to Judas Priest.At 9 p.m. Tickets $5. Located at 61 Wythe Ave. For more information, call 718-963-3369.

That same night, fans of experimental indie rock might want to head over to the Music Hall of Williamsburg for a set from Here We Go Magic. These guys have just been growing since formed by Luke Temple two years ago. With a sophomore album coming out in the New Year, expect even bigger things. At 9 p.m. Tickets $12 in advance, $14 day of show. With Midnight Masses and Glass Ghost. Music Hall is located at 66 North 6th Street.

Top local acts are lined up for BAM’s “Sounds Like Brooklyn,” an annual music festival that has its ear to the borough’s diverse sounds. This year’s, which runs from January 29-30 and February 4-6, features Les Savy Fav with Vivian Girls, Rain Machine with Anti-Pop Constortium, and Ra Ra Riot with The Antlers, at BAM, with additional Brooklyn venues participating as well.Tickets range from $15 to $25. BAM is located at 30 Lafayette Ave. For more information, call 718-636-4100.

Live on Stage

Stew made waves with his Tony award-winning “Passing Strange” in ’08. In ’10, he brings a multi-media rock show to Brooklyn with “Making It” at St. Ann’s Warehouse in DUMBO. Are you making it? What are you making? When do you know you’ve made it? Watch as Stew and Heidi Rodewald explore these questions in their show, which traces the unlikely careers of Stew and Heidi from the dive rock clubs of Hollywood to the footlights of Broadway. We’ll say they’ve made it.

The show runs from February 17-21. Tickets $42 to $82. St. Ann’s is located at 38 Water St.

Bushwick band Pass Kontrol have been at work on their original rock opera “New Hope City,” doing workshops here and there. In February, they have the Bushwick Starr all to themselves as they present the work, from February 11 to 27. Should be out there. The Bushwick Starr is located at 207 Starr St. Tickets $10.

For a more traditional opera experience, BAM hosts its first ever opera festival this coming March. Curated by conductor William Christie, of the ensemble Les Arts Florissants, he brings a bit of the Baroque to Brooklyn, with two operas from Purcell – “Dido and Aeneas” and “The Fairy Queen,” and the French opera “Actéon,” plus a recital with Christie, Baroque cabaret and more. The festival runs from March 18-31. Ticket prices vary.

Ancient Art

For its next exhibit, the Brooklyn Museum in Prospect Heights draws more than 100 objects from its holdings of ancient Egyptian art (which numbers over 1,200) that illustrate the range of strategies the ancient Egyptians developed to cheat death. Fittingly, the exhibition is titled “To Live Forever: Art and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt,” and explores mummification and tomb rituals. Creepy or fascinating? You decide.

The exhibition runs from February 12-May 2 in the Robert E. Blum Gallery, 1st Floor. The museum is located at 200 Eastern Parkway. Suggested contribution is $10. For more information, go to http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/ or call 718-638-5000.

Big Fish

Katie Jarvis has been earning rave reviews for her performance in “Fish Tank” – which tells the story of a rebellious 15-year-old who becomes involved with her mother’s boyfriend – especially given her rookie status. The film itself, from Andrea Arnold, has won praise as well, taking the jury prize at Cannes. See it here, followed by a Q&A with the director, January 7 at 7 p.m. at BAM. Tickets $12.

Second Editions

New restaurants and shops pop up all the time in Brooklyn, those these following offerings give a second life to previously existing borough favorites.

Williamsburg’s Pies-n-Thighs shuttered to the dismay of barbecue lovers everywhere when they were kicked out of their space in 2008. The much-anticipated and long-delayed reopening a few blocks from the original is anticipated for early 2010. Happy New Year, indeed. Located at 166 South 4th St.

Lucali put Carroll Gardens on the pizza map when it opened in 2006. The year 2010 brings another pizza destination to Brooklyn – Giusepinna’s, or, as its been nicknamed, Lucali II, since it’s run by Chris Iacono, brother to Mark of Lucali, and initial speculation was that it would share the same name. Located in Greenwood Heights at 6th Avenue and 20th Street, the hope is that the new pizzeria will ease the wait at Lucali I once it opens, anticipated for late ’09, early ’10.

The Coney Island Boardwalk lost some flavor in early ’09 when Lola Staar was forced to close. Good news comes in the New Year, as the boutique and gift shop is set to reopen under the city’s new deal to buy land from developer Joe Sitt. As of press time, the new lease was in the works, but owner Dianna Carlin was hoping for a New Year’s Day party to celebrate the reopening and ring in 2010 with the Polar Bears as they make their annual New Year’s dip in the ocean.

For the past several months, Sixpoint Craft Ales in Red Hook (much in the news this year) has been under renovation to add space to make more beer, mainly meaning, no visitors allowed. That changes in the New Year, when the microbrewery, which has won fans for their rich stock of six brews, including their signature, Sweet Action, reopens to visitors. Since the brewery doesn’t bottle its beer, but rather sells it from kegs and at places like Biefkraft in Park Slope, that’s the best place to have it. How sweet it is. Located at 40 Van Dyke St.

Read more...

Honorary Title's last show

Since forming six years ago, Brooklyn-based alternative rock quartet The Honorary Title have toured incessantly, including Dashboard Confessional, Format, Switchfoot, Lucero, and Taking Back Sunday, while managing to release a couple albums along the way.

All that comes to an end this month, when they play their last show ever at Music Hall of Williamsburg November 20 (the break-up was announced during CMJ).

Lead singer Jarrod Gorbel will be continuing to make music solo, after releasing a solo EP, “Ten Years Older,” earlier this year, and anticipating his first full-length early next year, produced by Blake Sennett (Rilo Kiley, Elected).

With Gorbel and bassist Aaron Kamstra the founding members, the band has consisted of various members over the years, and the concert will consist of musicians who have been a part of the line up in recent years.

Doors are at 8 p.m. for the 9 p.m. show. Tickets are $13 in advance, or $15 day of the show. With the folky Robert Francis, who, based on his filled tour schedule to the end of this year, isn’t going anywhere any time soon. Music Hall is located at 66 North 6th St. For more information, call 718-486-5400.

Read more...

CMJ - Day 4

This is a tough night, with top acts at several Brooklyn venues. It might just depend on what you’re in the mood for.

Music Hall brings dream pop and much hyped bands (is that a good or a bad thing? Both?), with Brooklyn’s School of Seven Bells, London’s young upstarts The XX, and Brooklyn three-piece The Depreciation Guild on the bill. At 9 p.m. Tickets $20.

Rising indie acts converge on Glasslands Gallery (289 Kent Ave.) in Williamsburg tonight, with a Pop Gun Booking unofficial showcase featuring Francis & The Lights, Takka Takka, Pattern is Movement, Let’s Wrestle (UK), Naked Hearts, Drink Up Buttercup, and Bottle Up & Go, with DJ sets by Anamanaguchi. At 7:30 p.m. Tickets $10 with rsvp/$14 without.

Top indie acts are also over at the Bell House, with Japandroids, Headlights, James Husband, Cale Parks, Motel Motel, Common Loon, and special guests on the On the Polyvinyl Records showcase. At 7 p.m. Tickets $12.

Read more...

CMJ - Day 2

You made it through the first night. Congrats. Now, start planning your second. Here's a look at some of the highlights in Brooklyn tonight:

Expect crowds at Music Hall, when Deerhunter lead singer Bradford Cox performs as his solo project Atlas Sound. Also on the bill are Broadcast and The Selmanaires. At 9 p.m. Tickets $16.

Rock and bowl during CMJ when Julian Marley and The Uprising, featuring Stephen Marley, come to Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, fresh off the release of “Awake.” Also on the bill are Javaughn and Gully Bank Sound System. At 8 p.m. Tickets $16.

Back at the Knitting Factory, the Ernest Jenning Record Co. showcase features another diverse lineup, with Still Flyin, Wild Yaks, The Black Hollies, Title Tracks, La Strada, Takka Takka, Blood Warrior, and Nouvellas. Get your fill of indie, rock and pop. At 7 p.m. Tickets $10.

One of the newer Brooklyn venues, Williamsburg’s Cameo (93rd N. 6th St.) gets in on the marathon this year. Instead of music though, tonight, the biggest draw will be comedy. Anthony Jeselnik, Kumail Nanjiani and Matt McCarthy will perform, with Brooklyn comedy trio Big Terric – Max Silvestri, Gabe Liedman, and SNL newbie Jenny Slate (the one currently know for dropping the F-bomb on air) – hosting. At 7 p.m. Free.

Read more...

CMJ - Day 1

And so it begins.

Dozens of venues across the city (well, Manhattan and Brooklyn) will be opening their stages to CMJ starting tonight.

The organizers have a handy schedule that you can peruse by venue and date. Here are also our picks again for what's going on tonight in Brooklyn:

You can’t go with wrong with a Brooklyn Vegan showcase, and this one aims to please. Fanfarlo, The Antlers, Laura Marling, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel are scheduled to play Music Hall of Williamsburg (66 North 6th St.), with comedian Dave Hill hosting. At 7:30 p.m. Tickets $15.

Nearby at Knitting Factory’s new Brooklyn location (361 Metropolitan Ave.), labels The Social Registry and No Quarter present a sonic showcase featuring Sian Alice Group, The Psychic Paramount, Highlife, Coconuts, and local experimental instrumentalists Zs. Also that day at the Williamsburg venue are Brooklyn twee rockers Tiny Masters of Today. At 7 p.m. Tickets $10 in advance $12 DOS.

Over at the Charleston (174 Bedford Ave.) in Williamsburg, New Jersey quartet Carlon, fresh off their debut album "Johari Window," executive produced by Dispatch's Pete Francis, will play a CMJ showcase with NYCSmoke, Gold Streets and Hammer No More The Fingers. Starting at 8 p.m.

Farther south at Southpaw (125 Fifth Ave.), the Park Slope venue hosts a CMJ showcase from label Frank Radio, featuring rapper and Wu Tang Clan member U-God, as well as Puba, Wiz Kalifa, Trouble Andrew, Mr. Move, Stalley, Jasmine Solano, and DJ Souljah. At 9 p.m. Tickets $10.

Read more...

The Dodos: too good for extinction

By Meredith Deliso

When The Dodos come to Brooklyn, they hope they get here in one piece.

“We’ve had some pretty big scares recently on tour,” says Meric Long, lead singer and guitarist of the San Francisco-based band, which has been on the road in support of their newest album. “There were some pretty bad flights where we had to land early or at a different airport because of some f---ing malfunction with the airplane. That never used to happen. Maybe we cursed ourselves.”

With their latest album called “Time to Die,” you would think the band has some serious mortality issues (insert extinct dodos joke here), but the name has more to do with getting older and increasing expectations.

“It started out as a dumb catchphrase that I would say,” says Long. “For me, it means committing to something, which is representative of getting older.”

After their second full-length album, last year’s buzz-stirring breakthrough “Visiter,” the band also felt the pressure heading into the studio this time around.

“With the pressure and expectation that we were coming off of from my last record, this is a mantra for me,” says Long. “Just trying to have an attitude of, well, f--- it, we’re going to make this record, we’re going to do what we want, and we’re just going to commit to it whether we’re doing the right thing or not.”

So far, the band doesn’t have anything to worry about. Their third album, out mid-September on Frenchkiss Records, has gotten positive reviews from tastemakers like Pitchfork and Prefix, and comparisons to The Shins, Fleet Foxes and Bands of Horses (which, with Phil Ek, who’s produced for those bands before, on “Time,” isn’t a stretch), without losing their distinct charm.

“I feel like every album is a chance to improve upon things,” says Long, who’s joined by Logan Kroeber on drums and new Dodo Keaton Snyder on the vibraphone. “I wanted to work on certain things in the band, because I felt like I had suffered from touring off of ‘Visiter.’ Unless we were really careful about it, the show fell into this kind of rut of ‘This is what we do.’ I just wanted to take a step back.”

Touring almost nonstop since 2006, the band took some much-needed time off to record “Time,” but of course are back on the road, coming here October 13 at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Let’s hope they do make it in one piece.

“I really have my fingers crossed for this one,” says Long. “I hope I can make it through the show alive.”

The Dodos play Music Hall of Williamsburg (66 N. 6th St.) October 13 at 9 p.m., with Ruby Suns. Tickets are $15 in advance, $17 the day of the show. For more information call 718-486-5400.You can also catch them the next night at Bowery Ballroom (6 Delancey St.), doors at 8 p.m., also with the Ruby Suns. Tickets are $15 in advance, $!7 the day of the show. For more information, call 212-533-2111.

Read more...

Sufjan roundup

Brooklyn boy Sufjan Stevens hasn't played a US show in over two years, but there are several upcoming events here where you can get your fix.

If you're bummed his 92YTribeca appearance, featuring a screening of his musical tribute to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway fittingly called "The BQE," is sold out, you can catch the indie darling when he plays the Music Hall of Williamsburg October 6 and 7 while on tour with Cryptacize.

Tickets will go live sometime on Saturday, so stay tuned to that as the shows are sure to go fast.

If you're planning on going to ATP NY up in Monticello this week, he'll be playing there this Wednesday as well.

Stevens - and BQE - enthusiasts can also get ahold of the musician's film when it's released on DVD October 20. The comprehensive package features the CD soundtrack, the DVD of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway film footage, a 40-page booklet with extensive liner notes & photographs and an accompanying stereoscopic 3-D Viewmaster® reel. Furthermore, Asthmatic Kitty will release a limited edition double gatefold vinyl edition of The BQE on 180-gram vinyl with a large-scale 32-page booklet including liner notes, photographs and a black and white version of a 40-page BQE-themed Hooper Heroes comic book.

View the trailer below.

THE BQE- A Film By Sufjan Stevens from Asthmatic Kitty

Read more...

Brooklyn has 'Hometown' feel for Canucks

By Meredith Deliso

While on their month-long tour a couple weeks ago, Rural Alberta Advantage were heading to their next stop in Denver. They were feeling pretty good, because they had heard good things about the venue. Most times, they see what they’re in store for when they show up at the door with equipment in hand.

“We never know with shows,” said Nils Edenloff, lead singer of the Canadian indie rock band. “We don’t know if a place is going to be a dive or pretty awesome.”

Edenloff is too worried about their upcoming stop in Brooklyn, August 4 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.“I’ve never been to the Music Hall but I know it by name,” said Edenloff. “Every time we come through, somebody super incredibly awesome is playing there.”

The band has been through quite a few times, playing the New York area more than they’ve played their home base of Toronto in the past year at places like The Bell House and Union Hall.

As the name suggests, RAA was born out of Alberta, Edenloff’s hometown. When the songwriter moved to Toronto in 2005, his homesickness led him to write about his hometown and summers spent in the Rockies and winters on the farm. The end result was the band’s debut LP “Hometowns,” a yearning, oftentimes beautiful collection of songs dominated by Edenloff’s emotive, raw voice.

After blog buzz, stellar live shows, and spots on several “Best of 2008” lists, the album was picked up by Saddle Creek and released earlier this month on the indie label.Their Brooklyn gig will be heavy on “Hometown,” as the band has slowly been working towards polishing new material, and are starting to feel the pressure of scrutiny that good buzz and a label deal can bring.

“Before, we had the ability to do that slowly and in front of nobody, in a way,” said Edenloff. “[Our music’s] gotten a lot of attention, which is great. But it’s a little stressful. We want people to be happy with everything we put out.”

Brooklyn marks the last stop on RAA’s national tour, and while they’re looking forward to returning to Canada, the makers of “Hometown” are excited to make a stop where they feel right at home.

“We’ve gone to New York and the Brooklyn area and it feels every time we play there super warm and welcoming,” says Edenloff. “It feels like a second home.”

Rural Alberta Advantage play the Music Hall of Williamsburg (66 North 6th St.) August 4 at 9 p.m. (doors at 8 p.m.) with Hollerado. The show is free, and is 18+. For more information, go to or call 718-486-5400.

Read more...

mewithoutYou, Hunters find their way

mewithoutYou

By Meredith Deliso

Orchestral indie rock acts. Multi-instrumentalists. Epic storytelling.

With these elements in common, it’s no surprise that mewithoutYou and The Dear Hunter will be sharing the same stage this month at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.

On July 7, the bands’ national tour together nears its end, with them both celebrating the release of new albums in recent weeks.

The two-month long tour has also left the bands a bit discombobulated. Both were driving somewhere through Florida during an interview with this paper, finding it a bit hard to see much farther than the palm trees, let alone all the way to Brooklyn.

“There are so many shows between now and then, it’s hard to think about Brooklyn,” said Aaron Weiss, lead singer of the Philadelphia-based band mewithoutYou. “A lot of the shows blend together once you’re inside the club. You can’t tell if you’re in Brooklyn or Albuquerque.”


It’s all crazy may be a good way to describe life on the road, which also provides a nice segue to talk about mewithoutYou’s new album, “it’s all crazy! it’s all false! it’s all a dream! it’s alright.” Their fourth full-length album, out earlier this spring on Tooth & Nail, finds the band drawing inspiration from myths for their own storytelling, pulling from old bedtime stories Weiss’s mom used to tell him.

Hence children’s booky song titles like “The Fox, the Crow, and the Cookie” and “The King Beetle on a Coconut Estate.” Melodically, the album picks up right where their last effort album, “Brother, Sister,” left off.

“A few songs [on that album] were written toward the end of the process, were more acoustic based and more melodic. They turned out to be our favorites,” says Weiss. “We figured, let’s build upon what we liked the best from everything we’ve done so far and go further in that direction. Then we’ll like all our songs, not just a couple of our songs.”

With orchestral arrangements on their folk record, in the same vein as bands like Annuals and the Decemberists, it’s an impossible sound to create live with just the four of them – Weiss on vocals, his brother Michael on guitar, Greg Jeganian on bass and Rickie Mazzotta on drums.

“You have to make up for it with either playing the keyboard for example instead of a harp, or just the live energy of people playing,” says Weiss. “We hope to carry the show more in the absence of strings and horns.”

The same issue arises for the Providence, RI-based band The Dear Hunter (not to be confused with Atlanta’s Deerhunter) as they travel in support of their latest third full-length, “Act III: Life and Death,” out late last month on Triple Crown Records.

“It just isn’t about recreating the sound for us,” says Casey Crescenzo, the lead singer, as well as pianist and lyricist for the band. “For us it’s about doing the best show that we can with the members that we have,” which also includes his brother Nick on drums, Andy Wildrick and Erick Serna on guitar, and Nate Patterson on bass.

With a mythology of their own, “Act III” marks the third contribution in a six-album rock opera, continuing the narrative of an innominate fictional character with the band’s progressive, alternative rock sound.

“I like to write as many different styles of music as I can – jazz, fusion. Latin. The overflow lends itself to much more strange music,” says Crescenzo, though one thing does remain constant. “It’s always been about remaining genuine and honest with what we’ve been doing.”

When the band comes to Brooklyn, they’re hoping for a similar response to their music from their audience, though with stoic concertgoers, it can be difficult to tell.

“I guess I just have to get used to the fact that people really don’t jump around to the music that we play,” says Crescenzo. “I think everyone is enjoying what we’re doing, but it’s impossible for me to tell.”

Show your love when mewithoutYou and The Dear Hunter play Music Hall of Williamsburg (66 North 6th St.) July 9, also with Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground. The show’s 16+, with tickets $15, and starts at 8:30 p.m. The bands also play The Bowery Ballroom (6 Delancy St.) on July 10 at 8 p.m. Tickets are also $15.

For more information, call 718-486-5400.

Read more...

Dig this crazy lounge lizard live

By Meredith Deliso

Say cheese!

On July 7, a taste of Vegas comes to Brooklyn, when the swankiest lounge singer in action, Richard Cheese, brings his corny, crooning act to the Music Hall of Williamsburg with his band, Lounge Against the Machine.

The alter-ego of Los Angeles-based comedian Mark Jonathan Davis, for the past several years, late-night TV favorite Cheese has been bringing plenty of it to nightclubs across the country, performing familiar tunes like “Baby Got Back” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday” but with swing, and, in the latter’s case, an unexpected bit of mambo as well.

Evoking a dirtier Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, or Dean Martin, Cheese pulls from the types of songs that he envisions being the standards of tomorrow from all genres – rock, rap, heavy metal, and pop. Don’t expect to hear “Anything Goes”; instead, Cheese is a fan of the unexpected. Fittingly, Britney Spears is a favorite (“Crazy” and “Toxic”), as is Radiohead (“Creep”) and Rage Against the Machine (“Guerilla Radio”), and, the one that put Cheese on the map, Nirvana, with “Rape Me.”

Sound cheesy? It sure is, but it also makes for great, kitschy entertainment. With his voice as cocky as it is smooth, Cheese is impeccably backed by his jazz trio of Bobby Ricotta on piano, Frank Feta on drums, and Billy Bleu on bass. In his tiger-striped tuxedo and slick hair, the singer is not the only one dressed up for the act. Fans have been known to be inspired literally and come to shows sporting cow costumes, as well as gigantic hats shaped by cheese wedges.

Those fans have helped propel Cheese to over 175,000 albums sold, among them his debut, 2000’s “Lounge Against The Machine,” as well as “Tuxicity,” “I’d Like A Virgin,” “Aperitif For Destruction,” and, most recently, “Viva La Vodka,” a live album which features such “classics” as 2 Live Crew’s “Me So Horny,” the Pussycat Dolls’ “Don’t Cha’,” and AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long.” Minus such throwbacks as AC/DC, the track lists on his albums reads like a “Now That’s What I Call Music” album (a look at “Lounge Against The Machine” is quite the blast from the past, for anyone tuned into contemporary radio circa 1999).

Going strong for nearly 10 years now with this material, from a total of eight albums to hundreds of performances world-wide, this will be the last time you can see Lounge Against the Machine play in New York. After this year, Davis is done touring with Lounge Against The Machine, partly due to stress on his vocal chords, and also to pursue other projects.

With a new lineup of Hawaiian songs, including the exotica album “Lavapalooza” slated for release next year, a whole new swinging act may be coming to Brooklyn. For now, don’t miss Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine when they play the Music Hall of Williamsburg (66 North 6th St.) July 7 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35. For more information, call 718-486-5400.

Read more...

What's happening tonight

Luke Winslow-King

The weekend starts early this week. Here's a run down of some things happening tonight in Brooklyn:

Festivals: It's finally here: the four-day Northside Festival kicks off tonight, with many things to choose from, so put your badge to good use. Our picks: the opening party at Studio B (259 Banker St.), with Brightblack Morning Light, The Hold Steady at Music Hall (66 N. 6th St.) with Hype of the States, and Uncensored Interview's curated night with Sharon Van Etten and Ivana XL at Union Pool (484 Union Ave.). Put on those running shoes.

Books: For those who missed it the first time, Ben Greenman will be reading from his new novel, "Please Step Back," 0tonight at Cobble Hill's Book Court (163 Court St.) at 7 p.m. Published by DUMBO's Melville House, the book, which has gotten a lot of local positive press, tells the rise and fall of a '60s rock star in an absorbing, entertaining pseudo-bio.

Music: Straight from The Big Easy, Luke Winslow-King plays music inspired by New Orleans rag time, impressionism, delta and country blues, poetry, folk, and classical composition for a sound that is both rustic and elegant. He plays in Williamsburg tonight at Radegast Hall & Beer Garden (113 N. 3rd St.) at 9 p.m. and tomorrow at Zebulon (258 Wythe Ave.) at 10 p.m., pulling from his new album, "Old/New Baby," slated for release this August.

Read more...

Simply Devine

By Meredith Deliso

Traveling cross-country on tour to support his fifth album, the enthusiasm of his fans never ceases to amaze Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Kevin Devine.

“The response has been crazy,” says Devine while driving through California on his nation-wide tour in support of “Brother’s Blood,” out earlier this spring on Manchester Orchestra’s label Favorite Gentlemen Records. “That’s 3,000 miles from where I live...Sometimes I still have this thing in my head where people are all going to leave, even when it’s our show. Right before a set, I genuinely have a moment of panic.”

Devine has nothing to worry about. After touring with Brand New in 2004 and on subsequent tours since then, the singer from Brooklyn has built a solid foundation of fans, with his introspective lyrics and sometimes sparse, sometimes amplified folk rock.

Growing up in Brooklyn and Staten Island, Devine now calls Bay Ridge home when he’s not on the road playing upwards of 200 shows a year. He culminates his current tour with a gig at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on June 7.

On his fifth album, Devine wanted to capture the live sound he has been honing with the members of his band, a collective of nearly a dozen musicians he pulls from, called the Goddamn Band.

“We were mindful of making something that was a bit more live sounding,” says Devine. “We were trying to get the right performance even if it wasn’t a perfect performance.”

Elements of ‘90s guitar rock, more ambient elements, and folk can be found on “Brother’s Blood,” the result of a collaborative effort with the band, who bunkered down in Williamsburg’s Headgear Studios last August for two weeks of recording.

“A lot of times it was me trying to make a Kevin Devine record,” says the musician of past efforts. “I think I let go of that more on the record and trusted the band, and I think the band really came through. This record is what it is without question because of that.”

Growing up in Bay Ridge, with his life revolving around school and church, “it gave me a picture of this kind of provincialism, of a really strong sense of community,” says Devine. “I think that’s in a lot of the music – wrestling with those ideas of faith and family and where you come from. Even though you change a lot, those are things that are elemental and unchanging. I think I learned a lot of that from Brooklyn and from where I grew up.”

From taking guitar classes at William McKinley Junior High School to hearing his mom’s Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan records, music has always played a large part in his life growing up. The fact that the musician, who has done everything from working at the Gap, a bakery, and as a counselor at Poly Prep’s summer camp, to even as a elderly woman’s personal assistant, is able to do it full time is still a surprise to him, and it inspires him at every show.

“Sometimes you can have the best show in the world and there can be 40 people there. But you have to play the same for that crowd as if you were playing in front of Madison Square Garden,” says Devine. “They chose to spend their time with you. I try to keep that in mind all the time and have some perspective.”

Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band play the Music Hall of Williamsburg (66 N. 6th St.) on June 7 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $13 in advance, available for purchase here, or $15 at the door.

Read more...

What to wear with Au Revoir Simone

The girls of Au Revoir Simone are as distinct as their dreamy, piano-based pop.

Their sweet yet sophisticated look in part comes from Brooklyn vintage stores like Malin Landaeus, on North 6th between Bedford and Driggs avenues in Williamsburg, and shoes down the street from Shoe Market to trot those vintage classics on.

They also, alas, find a lot of their outfits while on tour out of the country.

“We did a massive shopping spree in Stockholm,” says Erika Roster. “It's always really awesome to find touring dresses.”

Read more about the group's upcoming travels in support of their new album, “Still Night, Still Light,” after the jump.



All together now: Au Revoir Simone is sonic energy times three

Williamsburg’s favorite female trio, indie darlings Au Revoir Simone, have been busy hitting the road – and the skies – in support of their latest offering of electro-piano pop with the release of their third album, “Still Night, Still Light.” But before they fly off for a summer tour in Europe, they made it a point to get in a couple shows in town.

For the past two years, the band, comprised of Heather D’Angelo, Erika Roster and Annie Hart – all on keys and vocals, with D’Angelo on the drum machine – have been working on their follow-up to 2007’s “The Bird Of Music.” The newest album from the band, which formed in Williamsburg in 2002, promises more of the group’s dreamy, melancholy, piano-based pop. and finds the trio even tighter than before.

“We’ve always sort of felt psychically connected. And the three of us had spent two years constantly with each other, traveling the world and meeting new people. All of our influences were the same,” said Roster, while in the midst of moving out of her Williamsburg apartment for the summer in preparation of traveling yet again. “When it came to writing songs together, it was amazing how much we were all on the same page. Conceptually, lyrically and sonically – there was so much overlap between the three of us. Everything just came together.”

When looking for a fourth to join their group – a producer – the band turned to the guys in Peter, Bjorn, and John, whom they had toured with a couple years ago, for a recommendation.
“We really love Bjorn’s production style – there’s a great pop sensibility while still being really weird,” said Roster. “It was like, where can we find someone like that?”

They found Thom Monahan (The Whispertown 2000, Vetiver), who helped them dive deeper into their instruments and produce a more dance-heavy, bassy sound that alternates with their lighter, quieter moments.

After finishing up recording in Hart’s Greenpoint apartment and out in LA at Monahan’s, the album came out this past Tuesday on the band’s own label, Our Secret Record Company.

Before the album came out, the girls had been preparing for its eminent release, with a listening party earlier this month at (Le) Poisson Rouge and, before their month in Europe, a small, unannounced show at Williamsburg’s Union Pool.

“We made it a point of debuting our songs in Brooklyn first,” said Roster. “We wanted to invite our friends out and play new songs live, and be a part of that community on a smaller scale.”

Next, the trio can be found at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, headlining a show May 29, and then playing the following month at the Bowery Ballroom on June 27, before flying off on their European tour.

Until that point, they’re just looking to enjoy their time in Brooklyn before leaving for three months.

“As much as I feel exhausted and want to chill out, I think the weather is very inspiring to see people and spend time outside,” said Roster, who was looking forward to a bracelet-making party in McCarren Park this past weekend with some friends. “It’s so nice to visit new places, but it’s hard to imagine being anywhere except New York.”

Au Revoir Simone play the Music Hall of Williamsburg May 29 at 9 p.m. Get there early for Brooklyn-based acts The Antlers and Lights, an avant-folk quartet, for a night of solid indie pop.
Tickets are $15.

They also play Bowery Ballroom (6 Delancey St.) June 27 at 8 p.m. Tickets are also $15.

--Meredith Deliso
Published in the 5.21.09 issue of 24/Seven

Read more...