Upcoming Shows: Slits, Reagan Youth, Fiery Furnaces + more

[Upcoming Shows Playlist]
TONIGHT! Tuesday, December 8

Parts and Labor @ Brooklyn Bowl | Williamsburg, Brooklyn | FREE!
My new friends at The End of Irony caught this, which was somehow missing from my calendar. Parts and Labor are easily one of NYC's best bands. They make intensely, intensely loud music using bass, drums and electronic noise. It's like a jet engine in your face. This din, however, supports wide-open, heartfelt pop melodies. Bring earplugs. [MySpace]


TOMORROW! Wednesday, December 9

Darlings, She Keeps Bees @ Cake Shop | LES, Manhattan | $6
Get there early, the good bands are first! Darlings mix pop hooks with completely bizarre, unexpected arrangements for music that's smart and interesting but still easy to enjoy. She Keeps Bees are a minimalist blues band disguised as an indie rock band, and their singer, Jessica Larrabee, is really good. [Darlings MySpace] [Darlings RFR Review] [SKB MySpace]


Thursday, December 10

Reagan Youth @ Trash Bar | Williamsburg, Brooklyn | $8
Reagan Youth were one of the original NYHC bands of the early 80's. Playing political hardcore punk in the greatest American tradition, Reagan Youth were stars at CBGBs and the A7 club back in the day. Go see them. [MySpace]


Friday, December 11

Fiery Furnaces + Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers @ Music Hall of Williamsburg | Williamsburg, Brooklyn | $15 adv./$17 dos.
The Fiery Furnaces are one of the most insane bands ever. They are a brother and sister, but if a classic evil villian living alone in a castle at the top of a mountain in Romania were going to make an indie pop album, it would sound pretty much like Fiery Furnaces' Blueberry Boat. Assuming that evil villain knew quite a bit about writing hooks and melodies. And Shilpa Ray is opening. Her raw blues-punk is centered around her hand-powered harmonium and ability to scream the f-word very loudly. (That's a good thing.) [FF MySpace] [SR&HH MySpace]

Forgetters @ Market Hotel | Bushwick, Brooklyn
Forgetters are a punk band formed by Blake Schwarzenbach of Jawbreaker and Jets to Brazil, along with Against Me! drummer Kevin Mahon and visual artist Caroline Paquita. There is no one on earth who can conceive of how deeply I love Jawbreaker. Um, fuck yes.


Saturday, December 12

Fiery Furnaces + Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers @ Bowery Ballroom | LES, Manhattan | $15 adv./$17 dos.
See above.

Tyvek @ Silent Barn | Ridgewood, Queens
I want to mention Tyvek because they are from Michigan so you can't see them any old time. They are a punk band. However, they come to NYC pretty often and Silent Barn is an awful venue, so I'd skip it. [MySpace]

A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Jaguar Club @ Union Hall | Park Slope, Brooklyn | $10
I've kind of cooled off on electrogazers ASDIG after their disappointing album earlier this year. Jaguar Club, on the other hand, is an unquestionably awesome rock band. Maybe not anything to write home about, but definitely a great way to spend a Saturday night. [ASDIG MySpace] [JC MySpace]


Sunday, December 13

Blank Dogs, Led Er Est, Silk Flowers @ Monster Island Basement | Williamsburg, Brooklyn | $7
Blank Dogs play extremely lo-fi gothy post punk. Led Er Est are also goth-influenced, playing minimal electronic-based post punk with a psychedelic edge. I haven't decided how I feel about Silk Flowers, but they involve synthesizers and slurry, neanderthal-styled dark post punk music. So basically, this line-up actually makes sense, with each band sounding different from the others, but all fitting into the gloomy, measured style of the early 80's, and all putting their own experimental spin on that sound. [BD MySpace] [LEE MySpace] [SF MySpace]


Monday, December 14

The Slits + Sisters, the Sundelles @ Highline Ballroom | Chelsea, Manhattan | $15
The Slits were one of the greatest punk bands of the initial punk explosion in London in 1977. These ladies hung with the Sex Pistols and were as just as badass. Their influence on punk, indie pop, grunge and riot grrrl is immeasurable. Also, apparently, whoever is picking out their opening acts has the same tastes as me, since Sisters and Sundelles just played at my showcase Friday and were totally awesome. The Sundelles play energetic, balls-to-the-wall garage rock. Sisters play lo-fi noise pop with insane drumming and hummable songs. This is worth way more than fifteen bucks, don't miss it. [Slits Website] [Sisters MySpace] [Sundelles MySpace]


Tuesday, December 15

The Antlers + Sharon van Etten @ Bowery Ballroom | LES, Manhattan | $13 adv. / $15 dos.
The Antlers are a very sad trio who make very noisy ambient songs about abuse and loss. Their 2009 album is easily one of the best of the decade. Comparisons to Radiohead, Arcade Fire and Neutral Milk Hotel are in order. [MySpace]

[Upcoming Shows Playlist]
The long view...

December
16
Raekwon @ The Fillmore

17
The For Carnation @ Knitting Factory
Pterodactyl @ Cameo

29-31
Patti Smith @ Bowery Ballroom

January 2010
15
Gang Gang Dance, DJ/Rupture @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

16
Dinosaur Jr @ Bowery Ballroom

17
Dinosaur Jr @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

25
Cheap Trick @ The Fillmore

29-30
Mission of Burma @ Bowery Ballroom

February
6
Don Giovanni showcase: Shellshag, Screaming Females, Jeff the Brotherhood + more @ Bowery Ballroom

9
Residents @ Webster Hall

13
Magnetic Fields @ Brooklyn Academy of Music

[Upcoming Shows Playlist]

Upcoming Shows: Wavves, Harlem Shakes + more

Thursday, March 26
Harlem Shakes @ Music Hall of Williamsburg || Williamsburg, Brooklyn || $10/$12
After a year without shows or releases, NYC pop kings the Harlem Shakes are back! This week sees the release of their album Technicolor Health (which I will review shortly) and the Shakes are holding a release party Thursday night. You should go. :: MySpace


Friday, March 27

Titus Andronicus + Real Estate @ Market Hotel || Bushwick, Brooklyn || $?
Titus Andronicus are one of the best hardcore bands around these days, playing music that's at once true to the original punk spirit and entirely modern. I've written plenty about them in the past, including putting their 2008 release at #4 on my Best Albums of 2008 list. I don't know anything about Real Estate except that they are the newest buzz band in the no-fi/Woodsist crowd. :: TA MySpace :: RE MySpace

She Keeps Bees + Naked Hearts @ Cake Shop || LES, Manhattan || $8
She Keeps Bees are a pretty badass duo that play blues like it's indie rock. Their bare-bones music is gritty and smart. The Naked Hearts will open and while I wasn't wild about their last release, their live show is pretty cool - noisy indie rock with poppy melodies and male-female vocals. :: SKB MySpace :: NH MySpace


Saturday, March 28

Wavves @ Market Hotel || Bushwick, Brooklyn || $?
Ultra-lo-fi punk/surf/pop band is coming back to New York for the second time this spring (and the second time ever). I reviewed the latest release last week. You should really check them out on one of the three dates they have in town. :: MySpace

Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers @ Mercury Lounge || LES, Manhattan || $12
I've told you about Shilpa many, many, many times and did a live review in December. :: MySpace

Primal Scream @ Webster Hall || E Village, Manhattan || $36/$40
The crowning achievement of the British acid house/britpop fusion, Primal Scream's classic Screamadelica has been acclaimed as one of the greatest albums of its time. They may not be as good as they were back then (1991) but they're still legendary. :: MySpace


Sunday, March 29

Cro-Mags @ Europa || Greenpoint, Brooklyn || $15
The Cro-Mags were a pivotal band in the NYHC scene, welding hardcore punk and heavy metal influences. They are nothing short of legendary. :: MySpace

Wavves @ Cake Shop || LES, Manhattan || $8
Wavves, again. :: MySpace

Primal Scream @ Music Hall of Williamsburg || Williamsburg, Brooklyn || $36
Primal Scream, again. :: MySpace


Monday, March 30

Wavves + DD/MM/YYYY and Real Estate @ Mercury Lounge || LES, Manhattan || $10
DD/MM/YYYY are actually playing last, but Wavves is the real highlight. And that new hyped band Real Estate are opening so get there early to see what the fuss is about. :: Wavves MySpace :: DD/MM/YYYY MySpace :: RE MySpace

Upcoming Shows: Werewolves, Harlem Shakes, Mahogany + more

Thursday, February 19
Werewolves @ The Annex (Club NME) - LES, Manhattan
If you have been paying attention, you already know all about the Werewolves. If not, start here. I cannot recommend them enough. :: MySpace

The Secret Life of Sofia @ Bell House - Gowanus, Brooklyn - $5
I feel like I never pimp this band enough, but TSLOS, despite the rather obnoxious name, is a great band. They play shimmering, lonely noise-folk that will draw you in without your even realizing it. :: MySpace

**Update - Apparently TSLOS released a free EP today online, which I totally overlooked until I saw it on I Rock I Roll. I'll give you the lowdown soon, but in any case, I guess this show will involve songs from that release so check it out.**

Friday, February 20
Weird Owl (CD Release Party) @ Union Pool - Williamsburg, Brooklyn - $8
I just reviewed Weird Owl, so check it out here. :: MySpace

Saturday, February 21
John Joseph (Cro-Mags) SPOKEN WORD @ Webster Studio - East Village, Manhattan - $10
I have no idea what this is going to be like, but I do know it involves a member of the Cro-Mags, one of the greatest hardcore bands of all time. It's probably worth checking out.

Sunday, February 22
Team Genius @ Glasslands - Williamsburg, Brooklyn - $6
I've been trying to encourage everyone to check out this band for a while now. There are a whole bunch of people in the band and they play a whole bunch of instruments and make really pretty, fun, comforting pop music. Like the grown-up version of Los Campesinos! You can find my review of their last show at Glasslands (along with a review of their debut album) here. :: MySpace


I'm going to get a bit of ahead of myself here, but I'll repost closer to the date for these ones:

Wednesday, February 25
Tokyo Police Club and the Harlem Shakes @ Webster Hall - East Village, Manhattan - $18
If you missed the Harlem Shakes with Shilpa Ray on Valentines Day, then you really messed up. But all is not lost - you can still see the Shakes before they leave town. They are opening for Tokyo Police Club, another great pop band, at Webster Hall next week. It should be a very solid show. :: TPC MySpace :: HS MySpace

Thursday, February 26
Coin Under Tongue @ Cake Shop - LES, Manhattan - $7
To be honest, I don't know much about Coin Under Tongue except that it includes members of Dirty On Purpose and it's all the rage right now in the NYC underground. The second half of that doesn't really mean anything, but the first part (members of Dirty On Purpose) gives me pretty much blind faith that this band rocks. They are too cool to have a MySpace page, so I guess we'll just have to show up and see what it's all about.

Friday, February 27
Swirlies + Takka Takka, Autodrone @ Mercury Lounge - LES, Manhattan - $12
The Swirlies are a classic shoegazer band from the 90's, here again to capitalize off the current shoegaze fad - and who can blame them? They have chosen well for their supporting acts - Takka Takka is a pretty straight-up weird indie rock band that's been trendy for a surprisingly long time now. Autodrone is a band that could well be on the verge of a major break-through - their 2008 full-length debut reworks the darkest of New Wave ideas into 90's shoegaze soundscapes, with a touch of grunge and even prog just to keep it rocking hard. :: Swirlies MySpace :: TT MySpace :: Autodrone MySpace

Saturday, February 28
Mahogany and Blacklist + Cruel Black Dove and Depreciation Guild @ Mercury Lounge - LES, Manhattan - $10
Go to this show! Trust me. Mahogany's dream-pop and Blacklist's dark 80's soundscapes are going to make a delightfully varied but still cohesive evening (and a busy one for James Minor, who is a member of both bands). My last live review of Mahogany is here and my last review of Blacklist is here. And don't forget, those headliners are coupled with another 80's-esque, goth-influenced band, Cruel Black Dove, as well as electro-shoegazers Depreciation Guild, one of the best shoegaze bands around and also one of the hottest NY bands of the moment. This show is really, really, really going to kick some serious ass. :: Mahogany MySpace :: Blacklist MySpace :: CBD MySpace :: DG MySpace

Live: Titus Andronicus VS. A7 Club Tribute (a.k.a. Radio Flyer's weekend in punk!)

This past weekend was probably the punk-heaviest of my life. Friday, I saw up-and-coming modern punks Titus Andronicus playing with Wye Oak and O'Death, and Saturday, I stopped by the A7 Club tribute show at Knitting Factory.

Who: Titus Andronicus
When: 12/5
Where: Bowery Ballroom

Who: 30+ bands (I only caught a few) paying tribute to legendary NYHC club A7
When: 12/6
Where: Knitting Factory (all three floors)

I don't go to punk shows often because I rarely find them interesting. I actually really love punk and hardcore, but not much has happened in the genre since the mid-80's. That's because the scene is often dominated by traditionalists who aspire to recreate the raw brilliance of that 1977 to mid-80's era. And there's nothing wrong with that, it's a great era. It's just that nostalgia-driven music can't surpass the original, so I don't feel pulled to take an active interest when I can just go home and put some Minor Threat on the stereo. But that's just me.

And being me, I'm pretty excited about Titus Andronicus. Why? Because they are among a small group of bands who, seemingly independently, are dragging punk into the 21st century. The band is not afraid to mix their hardcore with folk and country twangs and ever-so-faint nods to indie pop (in songwriting) and shoegaze (in guitar technique). On a personal level, it's not my favorite music but it's certainly very interesting. For the first time since the early 90's, someone is making punk fresh.

Titus put on a great live show, and the energy is definitely that of a punk band. You know how you see all those pictures of old-school bands where someone with an electric guitar is jumping a good four feet above the stage? Well, I had never seen in it real life until Friday, and that may have been the highlight of the whole show for me. (Is that superficial? Maybe.)

Sadly, the set was interrupted by a handful of rude and belligerent audience members who ruined a big part of the show for those of us unluckily located in the midst of their fighting. But Titus isn't to blame just because some losers happen to like their music - their performance was outstanding and I was relieved when their arrogant, rock-star attitudes translated into not apathy but badassery on stage. What fun!

Titus Andronicus (Photo by Maryanne Ventrice, not taken at the Bowery show)

Urban Waste (A classic A7 band)

The next day brought me to the A7 tribute show, which, to be honest, I only attended because I was helping a friend out with some gear. In terms of punk, it couldn't have been more different. A7 was one of the most important clubs in the early 80's NYC hardcore scene, and Saturday's shows featured bands who had played there along with a few more recent followers. So where Titus Andronicus is unabashedly modernist, the A7 bands are unabashedly traditionalist. One guitar player summed it up: "This is how it was done twenty-five years ago, and this is how it should be fucking done now!"

I'm not going to review the show because I'm not really qualified to do so. I definitely enjoyed it though, and I will say, the crowd was a hundred times nicer than the previous night's. There's something to be said for punk traditionalists - for one thing, they know how to start a mosh pit without injuring people (which was how the problem in audience at Titus Andronicus began). For another thing, they know how to have fun and make great music, even if it's nothing new. I don't share their opinion that music should be frozen in time circa 1983, but it's kind of nice to know that someone will be keeping the tradition alive.