NYC.com Music Guide

Richard Swift/ Cold War Kids Play Webster Hall

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:25:44 GMT

                                                                                   Richard Swift

Richard Swift and The Cold War Kids have been friends since both acts were just getting their start back in Long Beach, CA, and now they're hitting the road together. There'll be some tangled fun this Fall as Swift joins the Cold War Kids for eight dates of their bi-coastal U.S. tour, playing songs from his critically acclaimed album, 'Dressed Up For The Letdown'.

Tour Dates:

11/16/07 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom   w/ Cold War Kids
11/17/07 San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theater   w/ Cold War Kids
11/23/07 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern   w/ Cold War Kids
11/27/07 Washington DC, - 9:30 Club   w/ Cold War Kids
11/28/07 Washington DC, - 9:30 Club   w/ Cold War Kids
11/29/07 Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore at the TLA   w/ Cold War Kids
11/30/07 New York, NY - Webster Hall   w/ Cold War Kids
12/01/07 New York, NY - Webster Hall   w/ Cold War Kids

Check out Swift's 'Kisses For The Misses' here.

Tags: Cold War Kids, Richard Swift, Webster Hall

The Verve: Version 3.0 - First New Music After Reforming Available As FREE Download!

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:44:22 GMT

The Verve, one of the UK's greatest bands ever has re-entered the studio after 9 years apart and is offering the first 14 minutes of The Thaw Session FREE via NME.com

Recently The Verve announced its reformation which includes the original line-up of Richard Ashcroft, Nick McCabe, Simon Jones and Pete Salisbury.

The band's intention is to offer its fans the opportunity to hear - flaws and all - the rough, early stages of their return to the studio. There is no question when listing to the session that The Verve have not only been sorely missed, but will potentially create some of their best music of their careers in the coming months. Their last album, 1997's 'Urban Hymns' sold over 8 million copies worldwide and included the anthem, 'Bittersweet Symphony', 'The Drugs Don't Work', 'Sonnet' and 'Lucky Man'.

There continues to be much anticipation around the reformation of The Verve and though reports of new material have surfaced including several new track titles, there is no confirmed date as to when this new material will get an official release.

US tour dates are yet to be announced but The Verve have already sold out their first UK tour scheduled for November 2007 and announced the details of a second, much grander tour for December which includes a date at London's O2 Arena.

Stay tuned.

Tags: NME, Richard Ashcroft, The Verve

Phosphorescent Play NYC: Nov 9 + 10

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:37:25 GMT

Anyone who has seen Phosphorescent perform knows that the only thing you can expect is the unexpected. Matthew Houck might show up with an acoustic guitar, junk store stage props and a sampler pedal, creating a wash of sound that you would never expect from just one man and his guitar. Or, he might appear with a ramshackle eleven-piece band, some of whom may have never performed the songs before, presenting loose, shambling renditions of Phosphorescent's catalog. It might be a classic quartet, guitar, bass, drums and piano, rearranging the quietest songs into something far more fleshed out, while restraining the joyous, jubilant tunes into precise and delicate numbers. No matter what incarnation of the band shows up, Phosphorescent is always centered around Houck's arresting songs.

Phosphorescent will be on tour throughout the fall, joined by Bowerbirds on the east coast supporting "Pride" (out Oct 23rd through Dead Oceans).

Check out: 'A Picture Of Our Torn Up Praise'

Tour Dates:

10/09/07 Grantham, PA - Larsen Student Union, Messiah College
10/10/07 Rochester, NY - Bug Jar
10/11/07 Scranton, PA - Test Pattern
10/12/07 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Tavern
10/13/07 Grand Rapids, MI - The DAAC
10/14/07 Chicago, IL - AV-aerie
10/15/07 Urbana, IL - Canoply Club - Void Room
10/18/07 Denver, CO - Hi Dive
10/19/07 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
10/22/07 Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern
10/23/07 Portland, OR - Towne Lounge   w/ Au
10/24/07 San Francisco, CA - Hemlock Tavern w/ Lazarus, Alex Delanda
10/26/07 Los Angeles, CA - El Cid
10/27/07 Phoenix, AZ - Casa Blanca
10/29/07 Austin, TX - Cactus Café w/ Weird Weeds
10/30/07 Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves
11/04/07 Wilmington, NC - Bella Festa   w/ Bowerbirds
11/05/07 Washington, DC - Black Cat   w/ Bowerbirds
11/07/07 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Side Chapel   w/ Bowerbirds
11/08/07 Allston, MA - Great Scott   w/ Bowerbirds

11/09/07 New York, NY - Cake Shop   w/ Bowerbirds
11/10/07 Brooklyn, NY - Venue TBA (Todd P show)   w/ Bowerbirds
11/22/07 Den Haag, Netherlands - Crossing Border Festival   w/ Akron/Family
11/23/07 Brussels, Belgium - AB Club   w/ Akron/Family

11/24/07 Brighton, UK - Pressure Point   w/ Akron/Family
11/25/07 Bristol, UK - The Croft   w/ Akron/Family
11/27/07 Aberdeen, UK - Lemon Tree   w/ Akron/Family
11/28/07 Glasgow, UK - The Beat Club   w/ Akron/Family
11/29/07 Newcastle, UK - The Other Rooms   w/ Akron/Family
11/30/07 Manchester, UK - Phoenix   w/ Akron/Family
12/01/07 Leeds, UK - Faversham   w/ Akron/Family
12/02/07 London, UK - Cargo   w/ Akron/Family
12/04/07 Nottingham, UK - The Social   w/ Akron/Family
12/05/07 Coventry, UK - Taylor John's House   w/ Akron/Family

Tags: Cake Shop, Dead Oceans, Phosphorescent

Minipop

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 22:31:01 GMT

Minipop

If you like your indie pop with breathy female vocals, shimmering guitars and catchy arrangements then listen up! In the tradition of Lush, Dubstar and The Darling Buds, San Francisco’s own Minipop are getting set to release their debut album next month and are preceding the release with a run of shows across the country, including some classy one-offs with Film School, Great Northern and Cursive.

“Like I Do” is one of the 5 hottest tracks in the world”- BBC Radio (Steve Lemacq)

Upcoming US shows:

Oct 10: Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court

Oct 11: Denver, CO - The Meadowlark

Oct 12: Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room - w/White Rabbits

Oct 13: Minneapolis, MN - The Terminal Bar

Oct 15: Detroit, MI - The Belmont Bar

Oct 16: Columbus, OH - Skully’s Music Diner w/Great Northern

Oct 18: New York, NY - CMJ Music Marathon - Ace of Clubs

Oct 21: Brooklyn, NY - Pete’s Candy Store

Oct 22: Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brendas w/Film School

Oct 30: Olympia, WA - Le Voyeur

Oct 31: Portland, OR - Mt. Tabor Legacy - Halloween Show

Nov 3: San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop - CD RELEASE!

Nov 8: Roseville, CA - The Underground Cafe - All Ages

Nov 11: Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland w/ Cursive

Tags: BBC Radio, CMJ, Film School, Great Northern, Minipop, Petes Candy Store

Soft: Album Launch and CMJ Shows

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 22:10:51 GMT

Soft

Merging and interesting assortment of British shoe-gaze and Madchester influences,Soft are a Brooklyn 5-piece worthy of your attention.They're planning a busy week in New York to promote the impending release of their debut album Gone Faded on October 23rd. Soft sold out of their first release, the Soft EP, while creating quite the buzz amongst indie music bloggers, then headed up to a ranch in upstate New York to record these 11 songs for a full-length gleaming with layered guitars and atmospheric pop.

Check out their catchy new track, Higher.

If you're heading out to the CMJ Festival next week then here are the details:

Tue 10/16: Official CMJ Showcase @ Delancey 10:30 PM $5 without badges/FREE with badges
Fri 10/19: Crashin' In Party @ Galapagos 2:00 PM $5
Fri 10/19: Soft Showcase @ Zebulon 9:00 PM FREE w/ My Best Fiend

Then to celebrate the album release date Soft will be playing an instore in their ‘hood!

Wed 10/24:Soundfix Instore @ Soundfix 8:00 PM (110 Bedford Ave, Williamsburg)

Tags: CMJ, Soft, Soundfix

Black Mountain To Play Two New York Shows!

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:20:41 GMT

Black Mountain

It has been almost two years since everyone's favorite rock quintet from Vancouver, British Columbia, have gone on a full North American tour. And if your pent-up demand for maximal prog-psych-folk-rock for the heart, soul and mind is not enough, then know this: BLACK MOUNTAIN will be previewing their upcoming full-length record "In The Future" which comes out on Jagjaguwar in January of 2008.

The band is also carrying with them a very special tour-only 12-inch release featuring two new songs, "Bastards of Light" and "Thirteen Walls", that you can't get anywhere else and that won't be on "In The Future". Included in this 12-inch is a digital coupon that will become active on November 13, providing a preview of "In The Future". It's the band's ham-fisted way of giving the first introduction of the new album to fans of the band who came out to see them perform live this fall.

Supporting the band on the below tour-dates are The Cave Singers, good friends of the band from Seattle, who are releasing their debut, "Invitation Songs" on Matador on September 25.

Mercury Lounge 10/10

Black Mountain w/The Cave Singers Gowns

$12 ADV/$14 DOS

Southpaw, Brooklyn 10/11

Black Mountain w/The Cave Singers

$12

Tags: Black Mountain, Mercury Lounge, Southpaw, The Cave Singers

Underworld: New Album + Central Park Rumsey Playfield Show This Friday

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:19:15 GMT

On October 16^th , Side One Recordings will release Underworld's Oblivion with Bells, the duo's first studio album since 2002's A Hundred Days Off.

True to form, Underworld tread their own path through modern electronic music – nodding to current trends but exhibiting an élan unmistakably their own. On Oblivion with Bells, the Underworld palette is richer than ever: epic techno nestles next to frail acoustics, beatific prose next to sharp, urban observation, amazing sound texturing mix with mobile phone recordings.

Underworld will launch an extensive world tour on September 7^th in San Francisco, CA, marking their first U.S. show since 2003. Live, the pair blend aural and visual elements into an unforgettable experience that more resembles a journey than a concert. "Billowing chords, brooding melodies, thumping beats and vocals that crooned in one song and jabbed in another were all juxtaposed in Underworld's two-and-a-half hour set," said The New York Times. "Mr. Hyde worked up the fans like a gospel singer."

View the new single, Crocodile here.

UNDERWORLD LIVE - 2007

September
7 San Francisco, CA The Warfield
8 San Francisco, CA The Warfield
9 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
11 Denver, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
14 New York, NY Central Park Rumsey Playfield
15 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion

October
4 Dublin, Ireland Tripod
5 Dublin, Ireland Tripod
6 Belfast, UK Kings Hall
8 Southampton, UK Guildhall
9 Birmingham, UK Academy
10 Norwich, UK UEA
12 Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Northumbria University
13 Glasgow, UK Academy
14 Nottingham, UK Rock City
16 Manchester, UK Apollo
17 London, UK Roundhouse
18 London, UK Roundhouse
19 London, UK Roundhouse
26 Munich, Germany Tonhalle
27 Prague, Czech Republic Electronic Beats Festival
30 Vienna, Austria Gasometer
31 Bratislava, Slovakia Electronic Beats Festival

November
1 Frankfurt, Germany Cocoon Club
3 Berlin, Germany Columbiahalle
5 Rotterdam, Germany Massilo
6 Koln, Germany Paladium, Koln
8 Hamburg, Germany The Docks
9 Amsterdam, Holland Heineken Music Hall
10 Gent, Belgium I Love Techno
21 Osaka, Japan Zepp
22 Osaka, Japan Zepp
24 Tokyo, Japan Makuhari

Tags: Central Park Summer Stage, Underworld

Eulogies + Film School Play NYC!

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 22:47:05 GMT

Eulogies

Eulogies have announced that they'll be touring with San Francisco shoegazers, Film School this Fall. Eulogies self-titled debut album will be released on September 11th via Dangerbird Records. The Peter Walker-fronted band formed while on tour with him as a solo artist last year. Upon returning to Los Angeles they recorded their album with co-production by Hrishikesh Hirway (The One AM Radio) and now the band is hitting the road for their first ever tour.

Check out: One Man.

Eulogies tour dates:

October
10 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Café
11 Portland, OR - Dantes
12 Sacramento, CA - Blue Lamp
13 San Francisco, CA - Bottom Of The Hill
16 Austin, TX - Emos
17 Dallas, TX - Cavern Club
19 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
20 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
21 Washington, DC - Rock N Roll Hotel
22 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brendas
24 Boston, MA - TT The Bears
25 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
26 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwells
28 Cleveland, OH - Beachland
29 Toronto, ON - El Mocambo
30 Pontiac, MI - Pike Room
31 Chicago, IL - Schubas

Tags: Eulogies, Film School, Mercury Lounge, New Music

Midlake Release Online EP and Announce Tour

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:38:20 GMT

Midlake

On September 4th, Midlake releases a digital EP of rarities for US & Canadian fans. "Oak and Julian" features acoustic versions of the indie hit "Roscoe" and fan favorite "It Covers The Hillside", both from the critically acclaimed 2006 release on Bella Union, "The Trials of Van Occupanther". In addition, the EP collects 2 rare b-sides from vinyl-only releases on foreign shores: "Marion", a delicate piano-based piece that brings Tim Smith's vocals to the fore while "Mornings Will Be Kind", a song featuring the whole band harkens back to the band's work on their full-length debut, "Bamnan and Silvercork".

This September, Midlake embark on a headline tour that includes performances at Webster Hall, Henry Fonda Theatre, Great American Music Hall, Chicago's Metro, and Austin City Limits.

Midlake on tour:

Tue - Sep 04 @ The Earl, Atlanta, GA

Wed - Sep 05 @ Cat's Cradle, Carrboro, NC

Thu - Sep 06 @ Black Cat, Washington, DC

Fri - Sep 07 @ Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA

Sat - Sep 08 @ Webster Hall, New York, NY

Sun - Sep 09 @ Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA

Tue - Sep 11 @ Grog Shop, Cleveland, OH

Wed - Sep 12 @ Metro, Chicago, IL

Sun - Sep 16 @ Austin City Limits, Austin, TX

Thu - Sep 20 @ Numbers, Houston, TX

Mon - Sep 24 @ Rhythm Room, Phoenix, AZ

Tue - Sep 25 @ Henry Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA

Wed - Sep 26 @ Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach / San Diego, CA

Thu - Sep 27 @ Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA

Sat - Sep 29 @ Doug Fir, Portland, OR

Sun - Sep 30 @ Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA

Tue - Oct 02 @ Bluebird Theatre, Denver, CO

Wed - Oct 03 @ Jackpot, Lawrence, KS

Tags: Midlake

John Martyn Plays His First US Dates In Almost A Decade

Sat, 18 Aug 2007 01:04:59 GMT

John Martyn

John Martyn is one of Britain's originals; a man whose distinctive, drawling vocals and virtuoso guitar playing have been an inspiration to household-name musicians for decades. As a musician, singer and songwriter he remains incomparable. His recording career now spans over five decades and he has produced more than twenty albums, incorporating elements of reggae, jazz, blues, folk, rock and hip-hop into his unique sound. Martyn's music has bewitched and enthralled audiences across the decades. With classic albums like Solid Air, Bless The Weather and One World, along with the extraordinary performances with Danny Thompson in the 70's, his legendary status is assured. A friend, collaborator and label-mate to the late, great Nick Drake, Martyn was of key importance to the UK folk scene of the early 70's.

If you still need convincing of Martyn's legendary status, check out May You Never.

This will be Martyn's first shows in the US in almost a decade and will most certainly sell out quickly:

The following shows go on sale Monday:

October 8th (9:30pm) - Joe's Pub $35
October 9th (7:00pm) - Joe's Pub $35

Tags: Joes Pub, John Martyn, Nick Drake