valentine's day Top 10 (Musical) Things To Do in New York This Weekend

This weekend, the best and brightest (but fortunately not hottest) options for your musical-themed entertainment, as humbly suggested by us....

10. Run for the hills! It's Iron Maiden at Madison Square Garden SUNDAY

9. Take the ferry over to Staten Island and Rock The Harbor at SI's first original rock festival SATURDAY

8. Enjoy Bonnaroo AND air-conditioning all at once on SUNDAY at 9:00pm when Fuse airs My Morning Jacket and Mastodon's Bonnaroo sets

7. Head to The Yard SUNDAY and get your block party on with Afrika Bambaataa

6. Hit up Jones Beach Theater after a SATURDAY on the beach to see The National, Modest Mouse, and R.E.M.

5. Or, stay indoors at Bowery SATURDAY or SUNDAY as Mission of Burma performs Signals, Calls, & Marches in its entirety

4. Celebrate The Music Slut's 3rd Anniversary at Pianos SATURDAY with Drink Up Buttercup, Mussels, Unicycle Loves You, and The Physics of Meaning

3. Pretend Central Park Summerstage is the Columbia quad with Vampire Weekend SATURDAY

2. Blow your mind with the Brooklyn Philharmonic as they perform John Adams' "Shaker Loops" synched along with two barges worth of fireworks SATURDAY at South Street Seaport

1. Witness Oneida perform 2005's The Wedding in its entirety alongside a string quartet and multimedia art show at the Kitchen FRIDAY and SATURDAY

A fairly eclectic mix but still only scratching the surface. What are your top picks for the weekend?

valentine's day EAR FARM's Top Photos

valentine's day (above photo of Bell at Pianos... more pictures of Bell HERE)
In preparing for our move over to http://earfarm.com (happening on Monday, June 16th!) I decided to take a look at all of the pictures I've taken thus far for EAR FARM and select some of my favorites. It wasn't easy - I've uploaded over 2900 photos (mostly live concert shots) to EAR FARM's Flickr page since October of 2006. But I managed to select about 200 of my favorite ones and put them in a nice little Flickr set that you can view HERE. Over time I'll be sure to continually add favorites to this set. As well, if you'd like to see these pics in a nice little slideshow, click on through to the other side where there's a lovely TV theme song waiting for you...



Listen: "Picture Pages Theme Song"

*above slideshow created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

valentine's day After the Jump Full Lineup and Schedule Announced

valentine's day Here is the official After the Jump Fest flyer, designed by Rob Corradetti of Mixel Pixel (also playing the evening show at ATJF). Taking over the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Galapagos Art Space, and a substantial chunk of North 6th Street starting at noon on June 21st, ATJF is partnering with Make Music NY, Metromix, Stereofame and others (including over 40 bands) to support underfunded New York City school music programs.

So you want a specific schedule and set times to the madness? You got it...after the jump...

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valentine's day Chuck Berry @ BB King's - 6 June 2008 (pictures, live video)

valentine's day "I have no business running around on stage like a young boy... I'm eighty-one years old," Chuck Berry explained as he excused himself for launching into a signature duck walk during the song "School Day." The passing of time clearly weighed heavily on his mind last Friday night - he choked up mentioning the recent death of his good friend Bo Diddley on more than one occasion, and obviously felt as if he needed to apologize to the audience for time having finally caught up with him in regards to his ability to run, dance, jump, and duck walk around stage the way he used to. Yes, the duck walk. And he can still pull it off. Kind of. Or, not really. But given the man's age, it was as rousing and impressive a feat as I could've imagined. Here was one of the fathers of rock and roll - at eighty one years old - so caught up in the moment that he couldn't help himself. He was on fire, mid-solo, and it just happened. The audience erupted and he finished the song with a huge smile on his face.

About a third of the show went just like this, a living legend living up to his name. The rest of the show was partially uneven, out of tune, and aged. However, the spirit of Chuck Berry carried the night handily; most memorably, as he caught himself repeating a song mid-set and then admitted that he'd forgotten what he was playing...

(pictures and live video after the jump)


above: Chuck Berry @ BB King's slideshow
Berry had just finished a medley of hits (including a rocking version of "Roll Over Beethoven") while showing a hint of difficulty remembering the lyrics to one song. He paused briefly before beginning "My Ding-A-Ling" to reassure the audience that he'd "remember the words to this one." Indeed, he did. However, after leading the crowd through the song he went right into "Roll Over Beethoven" - again. An air of unease settled over the room as everyone but Chuck realized immediately that we'd just heard "Roll Over Beethoven." Within measures Berry realized what he'd done and stopped mid-song. "I actually forgot what I was playing... I'll admit it!" he confessed, "Politicians oughta do that - admit it!" His handling of the moment brought levity and refreshing honesty to what could've been a miniature disaster. Instead, he went right into "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" without pause. You can see the whole thing for yourself below.

For the final two songs of the night, Chuck invited "six young ladies" to join him on stage. The "six" ended up being closer to fifteen or twenty women, and they brought Chuck Berry right back to late-'50s form... rocking, rolling, dancing, and strutting around the stage. He even ventured out into the audience while rocking out before departing to a standing ovation with his impromptu entourage of twenty screaming female fans in tow. The concert was one third amazing, one third showing signs of old age, and one third pure entertainment. No matter how you slice it, a living legend.

Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll.

*above slideshow created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Listen:
"Memphis, Tennessee"
"School Day (Ring Ring Goes The Bell)"

Watch:
"My Ding-A-Ling" into "Roll Over Beethoven" into "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" (live, from this show)

Visit Chuck Berry on MySpace.

valentine's day Top 10 (Musical) Things To Do in New York This Weekend

Music, BBQ, music, green markets, music, outdoor films, music, empty pools and more music...must be the dawn of summer in NYC. Below we give you our semi-biased top ten music-related events going down this weekend, and there's no shortage of options:

10. Go see Squirrel Nut Zippers jitterbug all over Highline Ballroom TONIGHT
9. Get your Hot Rocks off at the Delancey SATURDAY with Autodrone, Bella Noir, and Monster Eiffel Tower
8. Watch some short films on a rooftop and listen to Dirty on Purpose TONIGHT with the kickoff of the Rooftop Films 2008 Summer Series
7. Head to Music Hall of Williamsburg SATURDAY to see EF faves White Rabbits along with The Subjects and Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
6. Enjoy food, drinks, community, and music from These New Puritans at GOOD Magazine's Farmer's Fair SATURDAY
5. Sign off MySpace and physically go to Fillmore SUNDAY as Gnarls Barkley and Battles play Rupert Murdoch's 150th Secret Show
4. Witness rock royalty with your own eyes TONIGHT at B.B. King's with Chuck Berry and SUNDAY with Little Richard
3. Catch the first McCarren Pool show of the summer TONIGHT with M.I.A. and Holy Fuck
2. Soak up live jazz, bluegrass, and R&B while soaking up copious amounts of BBQ at the Big Apple Block Party SATURDAY
1. Won't you take me to MonkeyTown...TONIGHT as Takka Takka performs their new album Migration in it's entirety at 7:30pm and 10:00pm

You know the deal, this doesn't pretend to be a comprehensive list of this weekend's offerings but rather what's most caught our fancy. So, what is catching YOUR fancy?

valentine's day The Naked Hearts @ Club Rehab - 4 June 2008

valentine's day The Naked Hearts kicked off their June residency at Club Rehab on Wednesday night, delivering a smoldering set of taut, melancholic tracks.

Projected shifting patterns provided the only illumination onstage and emphasized the spare, dark qualities of the band's material. And it was great to hear these songs, previously confined to the intimate but limited confines of a 4-track recording, come to life and pop with an urgent swagger in the live setting. Even better was the handful of other standout tracks I had yet to hear (and that hopefully will all make it onto the band's forthcoming debut album). The Hearts check into Rehab for the next two consecutive Wednesdays so be sure to check them out; in the meantime check out more pics after the jump...

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Listen:
"Mass Hysteria"

See The Naked Hearts Live:
11 Jun - New York, NY @ Rehab w/ SUSU and So L’il
18 Jun - New York, NY @ Rehab 18 2008 9:00P
21 Jun - Brooklyn, NY @ Make Music NY Festival
24 Jun - Brooklyn, NY @ Zebulon w/ So Li’l

Visit The Naked Hearts on MySpace

valentine's day Naked Hearts Residency Starts Tonight

valentine's day The Naked Hearts are a relatively newish trio on the NYC radar, having only played their first show earlier this year at the Delancey. StereoactiveNYC was there and plenty liked what they heard, and from their praises - and a more recent glowing CMJ review - our interest was considerably piqued.

Imagine our delight when singer/bassist Noah Wheeler hooked us up with their melancholic and moving pop gems (which we will in turn hook you up with below), a batch of songs that were deftly constructed and lovingly recorded on a Tascam 4-track and in full embrace of the lo-fi hiss and warbles that came along with it (nowadays you need a Pro Tools plug-in to get those effects).

The band continues their steady ascendancy by kicking off a June residency at Club Rehab TONIGHT. After that, they plan on recording their debut album in July. Here are all their dates:

04 Jun - New York, NY @ Rehab w/ Hologram and the Soundscapes
11 Jun - New York, NY @ Rehab w/ SUSU and So L’il
18 Jun - New York, NY @ Rehab 18 2008 9:00P
21 Jun - Brooklyn, NY @ Make Music NY Festival
24 Jun - Brooklyn, NY @ Zebulon w/ So Li’l

And here are the tunes...

Listen:
"Mass Hysteria"
"Like I Do"
"Naked Hearts"

Visit The Naked Hearts on MySpace

valentine's day Dead Confederate & All the Saints LIVE tonight @ Pianos, NYC

EAR FARM favorites Dead Confederate and All the Saints are finally in New York City tonight playing a show together at Pianos! Be sure to check out both bands as they're undoubtedly going to blow the roof clean off that mother. For a preview of what to expect, check out the video (above) that we grabbed in Austin of Dead Confederate opening for R.E.M. during South by Southwest. Seriously, watch it. You get to see that at Pianos! Unreal.

More goodies after the jump...

Watch:
"Tortured Artist Saint" live @ Stubb's - 12 March 2008 (QuickTime, higher quality than YouTube)

Listen:
"The Rat" by Dead Confederate
"Sheffield" by All the Saints

Buy: Dead Confederate [EP]

See Dead Confederate/All the Saints live: dates HERE

See also:
- R.E.M. @ Stubb's BBQ - 12 March 2008 (SXSW Day 1, pics, live video/mp3)
- EF Band of the Week: Dead Confederate
- EF Band of the Week: All the Saints

Visit All the Saints & Dead Confederate on MySpace.

valentine's day Islands @ Webster Hall - 24 May 2008

valentine's day Islands made their second appearance - and first as headliner - at Webster Hall this past Saturday evening and filled the cavernous space with an appropriately large-sounding set. From the muscular opening riff of the show (and album) opener "The Arm" onwards, they seemed intent on channeling the darker, muscular rhythms and arrangements that dominate Arm's Way while explicitly turning their noses at the lighter fare that comprised much of 2006's Return to the Sea.

Personally, I enjoyed the attention and detail paid to Arm's Way; it's an involved affair that really benefits from the added openness and urgency found in the live setting. "Vertigo", the album's 11 minute closer, absolutely devastated as the perfect set closer, revealing layers upon layers of intertwined strings and rhythms that the band expertly allowed to breathe and evolve into a composition that transcended the sum of its parts. It was amazing. Same goes for "J'aime Vous Voir Quitter" and "Pieces of You", though the subversive moment of the night would have to go to Nick Thorburn crooning "Kids Don't Know Shit" to a blissfully unaware all-ages crowd. And it was this crowd that seemed to want more Return To The Sea, cheering wildly every time the band would launch into one of its selections while Thorburn deadpanned and downplayed their earlier material, telling them they should be more excited for the new songs.

Old, new, it doesn't really matter when seeing Islands live, and while some youngsters bristled at consecutive 8+'s to end the set and begin the encore ("Vertigo" followed by "Swans"), such sequencing decisions are just the tip of the eccentric iceberg when it comes to seeing Thorburn live (here I'm thinking back to a Unicorns show when they stopped "I Was Born A Unicorn" halfway through to close the set before finishing it during the encore). Better to go with it kids, because according to Thorburn you don't know shit anyway. Check out more pics and tour dates after the jump...

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*photos by Peter Beer

Listen: "The Arm"

See also:
- Islands @ Cedar St. Courtyard - 13 March 2008 (SXSW Day 2, pics, live video/mp3)
- Spam Filter: Islands are a comin'
- Islands @ R Bar - 19 October 2007

See Islands Live:
27 May - Ottawa, Ontario @ Babylon
28 May - Montreal, Quebec @ Le National
29 May - Toronto, Ontario @ The Phoenix
30 May - London, Ontario @ Call the Office
31 May - Waterloo, Ontario @ The Starlight
01 Jun - Pontiac, MI @ Crofoot
02 Jun - Chicago, Ill @ Logan Square Auditorium
03 Jun - Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave.
04 Jun - Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium
05 Jun - Winnipeg, Manitoba @ West End Cultural Centre
06 Jun - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan @ Amigo's
07 Jun - Edmonton, Alberta @ Starlite
08 Jun - Calgary, Alberta @ Warehouse
10 Jun - Vancouver, British Columbia @ Plaza Club
12 Jun - Seattle, Washington @ Neumo's
13 Jun - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
14 Jun - Eugene, OR @ Broadway Block Party
16 Jun - San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo's 365
17 Jun - Los Angeles, California @ Henry Fonda Theatre
19 Jun - San Diego, CA @ Epicentre
20 Jun - Tuscon, Arizona @ Club Congress
21 Jun - Tempe, Arizona @ Clubhouse
23 Jun - Austin, TX @ Emo’s Outside
24 Jun - Dallas, TX @ Granada Theatre
25 Jun - Houston, TX @ Walter's
26 Jun - Baton Rouge, LA @ Chelsea's
27 Jun - Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
28 Jun - Charlotte, NC @ Neighbourhood Theatre

Visit Islands on MySpace.

valentine's day Top 10 (Musical) Things To Do in New York This Weekend (Memorial Day Edition)

We figured we'd spend another Friday looking at the weekend's musical offerings. And why not? Though it's a holiday weekend and many of you may be fleeing the city (we don't blame you), some among us will be stranded. For those unable to Escape From New York, may we suggest the following (again in semi-particular order):

10. Stay in, be a hermit, and watch Neil Diamond on Jimmy Kimmel Live TONIGHT or R.E.M. on Austin City Limits SATURDAY
9. Expand your mind at the Knitting Factory TONIGHT with the psychedelic jams of Black Moth Super Rainbow (with Subtle)
8. Head back to the Knitting Factory (Tap Bar) SUNDAY for the Muggabears, Salt & Samovar, Forest Fire, and a Grizzly Bear DJ set
7. Go wish the Brooklyn Bridge a happy birthday and take in the array of performances there throughout the weekend
6. Like Ringo with your eggs? Go to B.B. King's SATURDAY for their Beatles Brunch
5. Enjoy the good weather (finally) at the opening of The Yard SATURDAY
4. Watch more than 30 bands all day SATURDAY and SUNDAY at the 2nd Olive Juice Music Festival at Cake Shop
3. See Van Halen at Madison Square Garden TONIGHT...hurry, go now before they reschedule again!
2. Go to Webster Hall (earlyish) on SATURDAY to see Islands
1. Celebrate Bob Dylan's 67th Birthday Bash with an awesome lineup of guest performers at Rehab TONIGHT

As always, this doesn't pretend to be a comprehensive roundup of everything under the sun, so please let us know what YOU are most looking forward to and enjoy the holiday weekend!

valentine's day Plants and Animals @ Mercury Lounge - 16 May 2008

valentine's day With no room left to hide offstage Friday evening, Plants and Animals' bassist/guitarist Nicolas Basque instead huddled precariously behind a guitar cabinet as the adoring crowd cheered for an encore.

The move was purely symbolic; the crowd could easily see his Sideshow Bob mane tufting up from behind the amp, but the band still admirably improvised the whole classic disappearance/reappearance encore routine with what little material props they were given. The move was also metaphoric; the sight of Basque crouching behind an amp in lieu of retreating to a backstage oasis aptly summarized the experience of seeing Plants and Animals amidst the relative intimacy of Mercury Lounge. Which is to say this: their sound, songs, and performance could all well have obliterated a far larger venue.

From the opening strum of the epic "New Kind of Love" to rousing closer "Bye Bye Bye" - made all the MORE powerful and raw live without the layers of extra choral vocals heard on the album version - the band proved that three exceptional musicians playing three simple instruments (with an occasional touch of keys and autoharp) would have been enough to fill the cavernous space of Mercury's big brother Webster Hall down the street. It was remarkable to hear the intricately constructed anthems of Parc Avenue come to life with little more than two guitars and drums, as the bottom end of the band's sound was somehow filled and expanded for the duration of the set in which Basque didn't even play bass.

And while the set didn't progress as smoothly as singer/guitarist Warren Spicer probably would have liked (he broke strings on two different guitars on two consecutive songs), the band's infectious good cheer and enthusiasm, coupled with Matthew "The Woodman" Woodley's drum solo approximation of Bel Biv Devoe's "Poison", kept things upbeat and made for an even more memorable experience. It was a perfect end to a week of nerding out to Parc Avenue nonstop and made me instantly regret not going to see them at Union Hall on Saturday (did anyone make it out to that show?). Check out more pics of our most recent Band of the Week after the jump...

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Listen: "Faerie Dance"

See also:
- Band of the Week: Plants and Animals

See Plants and Animals Live:
01 Jun - Haarlem, Netherlands @ Patronaat
02 Jun - Utrecht, Netherlands @ Ekko (with Sunset Rubdown)
03 Jun - Njmegen, Netherlands @ Dornrosje (with the Do)
04 Jun - Tilburg, Netherlands @ O13
05 Jun - Dublin, Ireland @ Crawdaddy
06 Jun - Glasgow, Scotland @ The Captain’s Rest
07 Jun - Edinburgh, Scotland @ Wee Red Bar
09 Jun - London, UK @ Big Chill House
13 Jun - Lausanne, Switzerland @ Le Romandie
14 Jun - Paris, France @ Mains D’Ouevre
23 Jun - Seattle, WA @ Nectar
24 Jun - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
25 Jun - San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
27 Jun - Pomona, CA @ Glass House
28 Jun - Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland (with Panther)
10 Jul - Ottawa, Ontario @ Ottawa Blues Festival
16 Jul - Sherbrooke, Quebec @ La Telephone Rouge
18 Jul - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories @ Folk on the Rocks Festival
19 Jul - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories @ Folk on the Rocks Festival
25 Jul - Guelph, Ontario @ Hillside Music Festival
26 Jul - Guelph, Ontario @ Hillside Music Festival
03 Aug - Montreal, Quebec @ Osheaga Festival (Parc Jean Drapeau)
09 Aug - Marysville, Ontario @ Wolfe Island Musicfest
17 Aug - Salmon Arm, British Columbia @ Salmon Arm Festival

Visit Plants and Animals on MySpace.

valentine's day Top 10 Things To Do in New York This Weekend

....musical things that is. Apart from the New Kids on the Block/Miley Cyrus/Gavin DeGraw/Jonas Brothers tweenstorm at the Izod Center tomorrow night, here are ten things worth checking out during this (rainy?) weekend. In semi-particular order....

10. See The Midgetmen, The Bosch, and Red Beard @ Fontana's TONIGHT
9. Go to Bowery Ballroom SUNDAY and see if Black Kids have gotten any better
8. Pick up a limited-edition copy of Seven Summits while watching The Secret Life of Sofia (and others) @ Rehab TONIGHT
7. See Beirut @ Music Hall of Williamsburg SUNDAY before Zach Condon disappears again
6. Watch The Virgin Suicides SUNDAY at BAM and surrender to Air's mesmerizing soundtrack
5. If you have young'uns (actually a prerequisite for attending), head to the Living Room SUNDAY for a special kids performance by Los Campesinos! and Pela
4. Witness Local H bring down Union Pool SUNDAY
3. Catch EF Band of the Week Plants and Animals TONIGHT @ Mercury Lounge and SATURDAY @ Union Hall (w/Rock Plaza Central)
2. Get your METAL on with The Sword, Torche and Stinking Lizaveta @ Music Hall of Williamsburg SATURDAY
1. Spend your entire weekend at the Knitting Factory as the No Fun Fest takes it over TONIGHT, SATURDAY and SUNDAY

Of course, there are tons more options out there, these are just the ones that have most caught our eyes/ears/broken bones. Let us know what else is going on?

valentine's day My Morning Jacket Announce Summer Tour Dates, SNL this Weekend

valentine's day Last time we checked in with My Morning Jacket, they had just announced the release date for Evil Urges (June 10th) while also dropping news of a special show at Radio City Music Hall on June 20th.

Since then, it's been hard to keep track of all the developments, but we'll give it a try anyway: let's see, first there was a Spin cover story, then news of a Saturday Night Live appearance slated for this Saturday evening, and just yesterday the unveiling of an extensive summer tour that includes The Black Keys as openers from the Aug 16th through Oct 10th dates (with the exception of the Aug 21st Red Rocks show). Looks like the Radio City gig is still the only New York date so far, while they've instead gone ahead and doubled their pleasure in Chicago, not fair. Check out all the dates after the jump...

22 May - London, England @ St. James Church (Jim James solo acoustic)
12 Jun - Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo
16 Jun - Toronto, Ontario @ Kool Haus
17 Jun - Montreal, Quebec @ Le National
20 Jun - New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
25 Jun - Sheffield, England @ Leadmill
26 Jun - Bristol, England @ Academy
27 Jun - Manchester, England @ Academy
29 Jun - Glastonbury, England @ Glastonbury Festival
01 Jul - Hamburg, Germany @ Gruenspan
02 Jul - Cologne, Germany @ Gebäude 9
04 Jul - Werchter, Belgium @ Rock Werchter Festival
06 Jul - Kent, England @ The Hop Farm
08 Jul - Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg
09 Jul - Paris, France @ Le Trabendo
11 Jul - Nottingham, England @ Rescue Rooms
13 Jul - Balado, Scotland @ T in the Park
15 Jul - London, England @ The Forum
19 Jul - Benicàssim, Spain @ Benicàssim Festival
26 Jul - Pemberton, British Columbia @ Pemberton Festival
01 Aug - Newport, RI @ Newport Folk Festival (Jim James solo acoustic)
16 Aug - Louisville, KY @ Waterfront Park
18 Aug - Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theatre
19 Aug - Council Bluffs, IA @ Stir Cove
21 Aug - Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
23 Aug - Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom
24 Aug - Austin, TX @ Stubbs
27 Aug - Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre-Atlanta
29 Aug - Miami, FL @ The Fillmore Miami Beach - Jackie Gleason Theater
30 Aug - Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues
31 Aug - Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
02 Sep - Charlottesville, VA @ Charlottesville Pavilion
03 Sep - Washington, DC @ Constitution Hall
05 Sep - Philadelphia, PA @ Penn’s Landing
06 Sep - Boston, MA @ Bank of America Pavilion
19 Sep - Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre
21 Sep - Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
23 Sep - Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
24 Sep - Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint
25 Sep - San Diego, CA @ SDSU Open Air Theater
27 Sep - Portland, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield
28 Sep - Seattle WA @ McCaw Hall
02 Oct - Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
03 Oct - Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater
04 Oct - Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
09 Oct - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
10 Oct - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre

Visit My Morning Jacket on MySpace

valentine's day British Sea Power, The Rosebuds @ Cat's Cradle - 6 May 2008 (pics, live video/MP3s)

valentine's day Last night I headed back to the Cat's Cradle for a second time in three days to see two of my most favorite current bands - British Sea Power and EAR FARM BBQ pals The Rosebuds. The two are currently on tour together, so it was a bit of a homecoming for The Rosebuds and their fans were out in full force showing love and appreciation by way of dancing and high fives. The set was loose and friendly and fun, made up of old favorites and cover songs; however, they didn't play "My Punishment For Fighting" so I left the show throwing a tantrum*. What? It's only one of the very best songs released in 2007.

British Sea Power were received with a bit more hesitation and curious wonder, clearly still in the midst of building up a North Carolina fanbase. The audience reacted favorably to a few of the more popular songs from the band's recent record Do You Like Rock Music?, but didn't really wake up until the monstrous seventeen minute version of "Carrion" that closed the set. Words can not express my love for the music of British Sea Power - on record, live, in music videos, whatever; therefore, pictures, video, MP3s, and coverage of their two shows this weekend in NYC will have to suffice.

Click through for pictures and live videos/MP3s from each band after the jump...
The Rosebuds
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"Hold Hands And Fight" by The Rosebuds (live, from this show)
"Blue Bird" by The Rosebuds (live, from this show)

Watch:
"Hold Hands And Fight" by The Rosebuds (live, from this show) on YouTube
"Blue Bird" by The Rosebuds (live, from this show) on YouTube

See more Rosebuds pictures (from this show and others) HERE.

See also: EAR FARM's BBQ Tour '08 featuring The Rosebuds.

Visit The Rosebuds on MySpace.

British Sea Power
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valentine's day Listen:
"Lights Out For Darker Skies" by British Sea Power (live, from this show)
"Blackout" by British Sea Power (live, from this show)

Watch:
"Lights Out For Darker Skies" by British Sea Power (live, from this show) on YouTube
"Blackout" by British Sea Power (live, from this show) on YouTube

See more British Sea Power pictures (from this show and others) HERE.

Visit British Sea Power on MySpace.
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*alright, I didn't really throw a tantrum... but I have listened to "My Punishment For Fighting" more times than you can even imagine. Must hear that song again live. Must!

valentine's day Van Halen @ RBC Center - 5 May 2008

valentine's day After a cancellation, and a bit of date-shifting, Van Halen finally played the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC last night. I was there with three of my best friends and we hit up Char-Grill before the show for a quintessential Raleigh meal. From there we headed straight for the RBC parking lot where we pumped out the old school jams on the car stereo and enjoyed a Cinco de Mayo tailgate celebration with a big huge cooler full of Mexican beer and limes. Big ups to John for the beer coordination.

Now, if you're beginning to conjure up mental images of Heavy Metal Parking Lot, don't. It was an entirely different -but expectedly so- scene in this parking lot. Mostly, it was a bunch of people our age (read: old) either recapturing their youth, or inflicting their musical past on their children. Which is to say, not many people were tailgating. But, my crew wasn't exactly in a hurry to see opener Ryan Shaw, so we took our time and made it into the arena minutes before Van Halen took the stage.

The band opened the evening with a boom, playing their cover of the Kinks classic "You Really Got Me" before moving into shredful versions of "I'm The One" and "Runnin’ With The Devil". From the moment they walked onto stage it was obvious that David Lee Roth was going to do whatever the hell he wanted (including mangling lyrics and melodies); and, no matter how much DLR tried to make it otherwise, the real stars of the evening were going to be the three Van Halens (Eddie on guitar, his brother Alex on drums, and son Wolfgang on bass).

Frankly, David Lee Roth's smiley the clown abrasive/fake personality very well could have ruined the show, but it didn't. So let me just cut to the chase and tell you the top three reasons why this concert RULED...

#1 - Eddie Van Halen is the greatest guitarist I've ever seen play live. By a long shot. And here's why: he plays his Bach-esque licks and solos with the greatest of ease. Beyond that even. His ten minute guitar solo (a modified/updated "Eruption") was otherworldly. And this is coming from someone (me) who plays Expert level on Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Yeah, he's that good. You heard it here first.
#2 - Again, the other two Van Halens held their own (even if Wolfgang was a bit too 'awkward emo teen' to rightfully share the stage with this band). The drum solo by Alex was nearly as amazing as Eddie's guitar solo.
#3 - "Jamie's Cryin'" + "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" + "Hot For Teacher" + "Panama" + "Jump" = FUCK YES, RRRROCK! Let's face it, Van Halen's got the back catalog to fill up and energize any 20,000 seat arena anywhere. Anytime. This show contained far too much filler (album cuts, obviously appreciated by many of the fans in attendance), and a couple of choice covers (such as "Magic Bus" and "Crossroads"), but the true stars of the evening were the 10 or so Van Halen über-classics. To see these songs performed live and sung by David Lee Roth (even with all of the flaws he brought to the table) was a real treat. To do so with some of my best friends in the world, the whole time looking up to the rafters at all of the NCSU banners hanging from the ceiling, made it the best 7 out of 10 concert I've ever seen.

Watch:
part of Eddie Van Halen's guitar solo from last night HERE

*above picture from HERE.

valentine's day Man Man, Yeasayer @ Cat's Cradle - 4 May 2008 (pics, live video/MP3s)

valentine's day It's always nice to be back home and it was an extra special treat to return to the Cat's Cradle last night, for the first time in eight years, to see Man Man and Yeasayer. After all, this was the club that raised me. I wondered, having spent the last seven years seeing shows in New York clubs, what would it be like now? And how would the audience differ from NYC crowds?

My questions were answered before I even made it into the venue as I waited in line for half an hour. A line! The posted time for doors was 8:30pm, they didn't open the doors until 9pm. Funny, but I take it for granted that doors always open on time at the shows in New York. Whatever. Once inside a second difference: HOT. 80 degrees outside and no AC! But hey, that just added to the atmosphere. Which, I must say, was awesome. The Cradle looked, more or less, as I remember it. The bar was in a different spot, the walls were setup differently (they have always enjoyed shifting around the interior of the place), but ultimately it was the same old faithful venue I'd been to a hundred times before.

The room was refreshingly packed by the time Yeasayer started and the band played their final show on tour with Man Man with obvious appreciation and extra intensity. Once again, they blew me away live in a manner completely contrary to the way they come across on their album All Hour Cymbals. They're soo freaking New Wavey yet organic and rock-your-body awesome... Talking Heads circa Fear of Music mixed with Gary Numan's Telekon. I'm very very much looking forward to Yeasayer's next record and hoping it better captures their live show. Man Man blistered their way through another stellar performance, whipping the crowd into a frenzied sing along/large mosh pit within a few measures. The audience involvement, and the band's furious performance, were strikingly similar to the last time I saw them at Bowery Ballroom. Made me happy to see that the Man Man army is not solely a New York phenomenon.

Check out pictures and a live video/MP3 from each band after the jump...
Yeasayer
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valentine's day Listen:
"No Need To Worry" by Yeasayer (live, from this show)

Watch:
"No Need To Worry" by Yeasayer (live, from this show) on YouTube

See more Yeasayer pictures (from this show) HERE.

Visit Yeasayer on MySpace.

Man Man
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valentine's day Listen:
"Big Trouble" by Man Man (live, from this show)

Watch:
"Big Trouble" by Man Man (live, from this show) on YouTube

See more Man Man pictures (from this show and many others) HERE.

Visit Man Man on MySpace.

valentine's day Wakey!Wakey! @ Maxwell's - 25 April 2008

valentine's day Wakey!Wakey! played Maxwell's this past Friday night in an opening slot for the twenty nine member Swedish pop sensation I'm From Barcelona. EAR FARM was at the show to interview IFB's Emanuel Lundgren for our Band of the Week feature this week - expect to see tons of content related to I'm From Barcelona's incredible performance at Maxwell's (including an exclusive interview, live videos, and pics) on Wednesday - thankfully we got there early enough to see Wakey!Wakey! warm up the crowd with their happy-sad songs and supremely friendly demeanor.

Lead singer/pianist Mike Grubbs held court for the length of the band's set, moving from humorous between song banter to blowing the roof off the tiny venue with remarkable vocals in a single bound. There's a roaring strength that exists in the vulnerability of Wakey!Wakey! and behind that, much potential to appeal to larger audiences. We'll definitely be keeping our eyes on these guys, you can check out more pictures from the show, and a couple of MP3s, including a Wakey!Wakey! cover of a Weezer song, after the jump...

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Listen:
"Get Away (Here We Go Again)"
"Say It Ain’t So" (Weezer cover)

See Wakey!Wakey! live:
17 May - New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall
21 May - New York, NY @ Parkside Lounge
23 May - Bryn Mawr, PA @ Milkboy Cafe
24 May - Wilmington, NC @ WE Festival
25 May - Wilmington, NC @ WE Festival Showcase at the Soapbox

Download the Wakey!Wakey! cover album for free HERE.

See more pictures of Wakey!Wakey! from this show HERE.

Visit Wakey!Wakey! on MySpace.

valentine's day Paul Simon "American Tunes" @ BAM - 23 April 2008

valentine's day Paul Simon renewed his month-long residency at BAM Wednesday night in a concert billed as "American Tunes", an obvious foil to the two previous series "Under African Skies" and "Songs from The Capeman". The three separate concert runs were designed to highlight different periods of Simon's songwriting career with "American Tunes" revisiting his years as a songwriter working with Art Garfunkel into his early years as a solo artist, "Under African Skies", quite obviously, highlighting those years in the '80s and '90s when Simon delved into the music of Africa and South America, and "Songs from The Capeman" giving New York one final listen to music from Simon's Broadway disaster The Capeman.

EAR FARM skipped out on "Songs from The Capeman". But! We were lucky enough to attend the other two Simonfests (check out the EF review of "Under African Skies") and I was, in particular, looking most forward to seeing Grizzly Bear and Gillian Welch and Paul Simon perform Simon's earlier work. You know, the stuff that came from his soul, rather than from the mind of someone else. The American songs! Songs to be proud of as an American, because they were written by an American, in America! (gratuitous Trey Parker nod alert) America! Fuck yeah!

What follows is a song by song recap (in order) of we what heard and saw on Wednesday during night one of "American Tunes".

"American Tune" performed by The Roches and Paul Simon
Appropriately, from a thematic standpoint, the show began with the song that gave the final run of Simon concerts its name. However, because of the mellow nature of the song and below average performance by The Roches, it was an altogether lackluster start to the concert. Par for the course, really, when you've decided to begin a show with a song about "trying to get some rest" and being "weary to the bones". Simon remained in the background for the entire performance feebly strumming along, perhaps exhausted before he even began...

"Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard" performed by Paul Simon
Or not. As The Roches exited the stage Paul Simon launched into "Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard" and the cloud of doom that had permeated the building gave way to applause and dancing and joy. One of the great lessons learned during Simon's April residency is how automatically pleasing many of his songs are on the most basic of levels. Even when they're about drug deals and mothers witnessing illegal activity and all the whatever else this song is about. (side note: anyone else remember that video for this song featuring Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Spud Webb, Mickey Mantle, et al.? The one that came out like 15 years after the song?)

"Graceland" performed by Grizzly Bear
Simon exited the stage and the crowd waited for what seemed an eternity as the crew setup the stage for the next performance. It was a recurring theme throughout the night - the lull. Maybe they too were "weary to the bones"? Whatever the case, Grizzly Bear entered and launched into a mind-bending deconstruction of "Graceland" that split the crowd in two immediately. A surprise song choice, given that the song was also played at the "Under African Skies" concert, but easily one of the two major highlights of the night.

"Mother And Child Reunion" performed by Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear continued their too-brief appearance with an elegiacally poignant twist on "Mother And Child Reunion". The arrangement and the band's performance were both outstanding. It is, after all, and contrary to its upbeat reggae vibe, a song about a "strange and mournful day". Regardless, the audience seemed largely perplexed and the band departed with little fanfare. Marty McFly chided them in my mind, "I guess you guys aren't ready for that, yet. But your kids are gonna love it."

"Peace Like A River" performed by Amos Lee
Another lengthy change-over later and Amos Lee took to the stage. His take on Simon was much shallower water for the majority of those in attendance and they cheered with appreciation. If there was a time to visit the restroom, this was it.

"Jonah" performed by Amos Lee
In fact, if I hadn't noted the set list as I was watching the show, I'd have completely forgotten that Amos Lee even performed. His two songs were far from bad, but also nowhere near memorable.

"Slip Slidin' Away" performed by Olu Dara
Olu Dara is the father of Nas? And... I learned something from Stereogum? Weeeeird. Anyway, Dara's presence was animated and magnetic. "Slip Slidin' Away" was the perfect song for him and his band.

"50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" performed by Olu Dara
However, he didn't hit full stride until he twisted and reworked the lyrics to "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover". Dara hit something like 1 out of every 5 lines correctly, but this was intentional. He was flippin' it. For our sake, and likely his own too. Who hasn't heard "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" 50,000 times? It was roborant, it woke me up a bit from my Amos Lee-induced daze, and was entirely entertaining.

"Still Crazy After all these Years" performed by Olu Dara
But wait, Olu Dara's a one-trick pony... I see. Well, why'd he have to butcher one of my favorite Paul Simon songs? Butthead.

"Another Galaxy" performed by The Roches
No! What freakin' song is this, and who let these women back on stage?! Yaaaaawn.

"Cecilia" performed by The Roches
"Cecilia" is one of Simon and Garfunkel's most rousing songs and a near can't-miss for an artist picking a Paul Simon song to cover. Unless, of course, you're The Roches. Not good.

"America" performed by Josh Groban
Josh Groban? Okay, I'm pre-disposed to dislike him, probably owing to the fact that he's like a black hole of indie-cred (hey, I can be honest with myself), but this was actually an excellent, if very straightforward, rendition of my favorite Simon and Garfunkel song "America". Groban's voice is good. Too good?

"Silent Eyes" performed by Josh Groban
It struck me during Groban's performance of this song that he sings rather like Superman would: perfectly, and utterly devoid of even a tiny hint of human emotion.

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" performed by Josh Groban and Paul Simon
This was the one. The one I'd been wondering about heading into the show: "who's going to sing Garfunkel for 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'?" I queried. Obviously it was going to be Groban. He was born to sing songs like this... And to save our planet from evil masterminds like Lex Luthor and Brainiac!

"Gone At Last" performed by Gillian Welch
Boy oh boy was Gillian Welch a site for sore eyes. Here, finally, was a performer with the ability to liven up BAM just a little bit. And that's precisely what she and guitarist David Rawlings with their take on "Gone At Last". Their bluegrass barnburner performances were far and away the highlight of the evening, much the same way David Byrne was at "...African Skies". I was a casual fan of hers before this show, now I need MORE GILLIAN.

"Duncan" performed by Gillian Welch
Is David Rawlings in Megadeth? I know that they too were in town this night, can anyone confirm or deny that he and Dave Mustaine are/aren't in fact the same person? Both play guitar, same first name... I'm just saying, dude can shred.

"The Boxer" performed by Gillian Welch
A pure classic, this song, and an audience favorite. But again, the impotent booms (rather than hefty BOOMs) that followed the "lai la lai"s should've been much mightier. Solid, but a missed opportunity. Grizzly Bear should've done this one.

"The Sound Of Silence" performed by Gillian Welch and Paul Simon
Pictured above, this performance was elegant and very good, if a tad on the "weary" side. It is, however, important for younger listeners (note to self) to remember that downtrodden, tattered, torn, weary, embodying ennui yet somehow beautifully full of harmony, is precisely what Paul Simon first made a name for himself with before he discovered the music of Africa, Jamaica, and Central America.

"Mrs. Robinson" performed by Paul Simon
As Welch and Rawlings left to a well-earned round of applause, Paul Simon and his backing band turned a corner and finally energized themselves and the audience by launching into a bluesier than expected version of "Mrs. Robinson". Paul beamed and clearly enjoyed performing this one.

"Train In The Distance" performed by Paul Simon
Inconceivably, Simon seemed to rise up to another level during "Train In The Distance". As if he was merely annoyed before that all of these guests had stayed so long at his party, but now he finally had the house to himself. His backing band soared here, most notably the sax solos at the end.

"How Can You Live In The Northeast?" performed by Paul Simon
Thanks to Paul's infatuation with appearing on Saturday Night Live, I was already familiar with his 2006 song "How Can You Live In The Northeast?" - a refreshingly relevant song for an artist in the twilight of his career. Again, Simon obviously enjoyed this one and so did I. A surprise favorite.

"The Only Living Boy in New York" performed by Paul Simon and The Roches
Ah yes, an obvious inclusion. But perhaps poorly placed within the set as the first song in the encore and... there are those damn harpies again! Who invited them back onto the stage??

"Late In The Evening" performed by Paul Simon
Right, well it was late in the evening at this point - probably 10:15? - so definitely late if you're... a sixty-six year old hobbit, weary from hearing three harpies slaughter your songs, and eager to get back to your Shire in New Canaan. What? I kid the living legend Paul Simon... But really, I was expecting "Kodachrome" as a final song and was more than pleased with "Late In The Evening". The song soared, helping Simon and crew to end the evening on a series of high notes (nudge nudge); unsurprising, perhaps, since "Late In The Evening" serves as a creative bridge to the vibrant Graceland. Which, ultimately, left me wanting to revisit the far superior concert that was "Under African Skies".

*above photo courtesy of Kathryn Yu.

Listen:
"Graceland" by Grizzly Bear

Also at this show: NY Times, Pitchfork, Stereogum, Thepunkguy, and Guac & Roll.

See Paul Simon perform "American Tunes" from April 24-27 at BAM.

Visit Paul Simon on MySpace.