Tag: music news

NEWS ROUNDUP: The White Stripes, Amber Coffman & More

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  • Amber Coffman Releases Solo Song, Video

    “This is a mantra, a pep talk, a love song to yourself,” the former Dirty Projectors member said about her new song, “All To Myself.” “A small reminder not to spend too much time fretting and just to get out there, live your life and do what makes you happy.” The dreamy song opens with a buzzing hook, the video showing her walking along a beach shore and buried in the sand. Current Dirty Projectors’ member David Longstreth has also recently released new music; Longstreth’s stretched the band’s sound to a deeper, darker place, while Coffman’s veers in a more positive, pop direction. Watch “All To Myself” below:

  • The White Stripes Reunite Against Donald Trump

    The Trump campaign used “Seven Nation Army” in a campaign video, and The White Stripes responded with a Facebook post saying, “[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][We] are disgusted by this association, and by the illegal use of [our] song.” They made their stance on Trump even clearer on Thursday night by making “Icky Trump” t-shirts on the Third Man Records website. It’s a play on the Stripes’ 2007 album Icky Thump, and contain lyrics to the song on the back: “White Americans, what? Nothing else to do?/ Why don’t you kick yourself out, you’re an immigrant too.”

  • Listen To The Tut’s Ode To A Terrible Manager

    “1982” tells the tale of an unfortunate situation the West London punks found them in: After taking a DIY approach to their musical affairs, they signed with a manager who did nothing for them, blaming them for his incompetence. They eventually found out his last contract with a client had ended in 1982, making him severely out of touch with today’s musical scene (and reality, we assume)?  But as the fiercely fun video shows, they’ve managed to rise above- without a manager. Watch below:

  • Watch The Making Of A Seat At The Table

    A Seat at the Table, Beginning Stages contains footage of the early stages of Solange’s latest album, giving insight into the “jam sessions, exploring of sounds and ideas, and experimentation” that created A Seat At The Table. It’s an interesting look at an artist’s process, and you can check it out below. And if you haven’t yet, go listen to the album itself.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Solange, Iggy Pop & Recommended Events

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  • Listen To Solange’s A Seat At The Table

    On Tuesday, Solange announced she would release a new album at the end of the week. A Seat At The Table is here, and features guests like Kelela, Q-Tip, Kelly Rowland, Lil Wayne, Dev Hynes, Moses Sumney, The-Dream, BJ the Chicago Kid and Sean Nicholas Savage. Listen to “Don’t Touch My Hair,” which features Sampha, below and stream the whole thing here.

 

  • Watch The Trailer for an Upcoming Iggy Pop Documentary

    The Jim Jarmusch documentary, Gimme Danger, will be widely available in theaters on November 4th(if you’re in NYC or Detroit, you can catch it as early as October 28th). As the trailer shows, the movie will have plenty clips of Iggy Pop’s iconic performances with The Stooges and commentary from the singer himself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fgiW_S2Hgk

  • Read A Brief History Of Presidential Campaign Songs

    From NPR: “The political endorsement song is a strange beast… part commercial jingle, part aspirational anthem and, with nearly no exceptions, a soon-forgotten novelty.” This is also a friendly reminder that you should register to vote ASAP. Read the article here.

  • Recommended Events:

Jenny Hval @ (le) Poisson Rogue – Tonight!

Yonatan Gat @ The Bell House – Tonight!

Charly Bliss @ Brooklyn Night Bazaar- Saturday

Sam Evian @ Rough Trade – Saturday

Paear @ Silent Barn – Saturday

Kishi Bashi @ Webster Hall- Sunday

NEWS ROUNDUP: Video Edition

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  • Do Your Makeup With Sadie Dupuis

    The video for the second single from Dupuis’s solo project, “Less Than 2,” is a spoof of over the top YouTube makeup tutorials. Bored with the beauty vloggers who want to teach you how to contour like Kim Kardashian? This video features blood facials and shows off looks like “Bagel Head,” “Poisonous Lips” and my personal favorite, “Your True Reptilian Self.” Slugger will be released on 11/11 via Carpark Records- watch “Less Than 2” below.

  • Listen To The First Dirty Projectors Song Since 2012

    David Longstreth is sad. In the black and white video for “Keep Your Name,” he does sad things like smash a guitar, take a lonely walk along what appears to be a power plant, and paints a poop emoji alone in an empty room. The song, which samples the earlier Dirty Projectors track “Impregnable Question,” is a satisfyingly melancholy breakup song, but gets a little awkward when Longstreth kinda starts rapping and throws out lines like “What I want from art is truth/ What you want is fame” and “Our band is a brand and it looks that our vision is dissonance.” It’s unclear whether the song is part of a larger project or new album, but if it is, it will be the band’s first since 2012’s Swing Lo Magellan.

  • Watch Beck’s Video For “Wow”

    Ok, this one came out last week. But it’s pretty cool, and maybe you missed it.The video matches the lyrics by being an eclectic mashup of different moods, ideas, and sounds- there’s a gun twirling cowboy, dancing kids, random animations and a rose with an eyeball. Those were contributed by guest artists to create something of a “music video art gallery,” which were placed between clips of Beck dancing on the street and a cowboy riding through the desert. Check it out below:

  • New White Stripes Video Released

    From The White Stripes YouTube Account: “ “City Lights” was written for The White Stripes’ Get Behind Me Satan but then forgotten until White revisited the 2005 album for Third Man’s Record Store Day 2015 vinyl reissue and finished the recording in 2016. The track is the first new, worldwide commercially released song by The White Stripes since 2008.” Filmmaker Michel Gondry made the video on his own and sent it to Third Man Records as a surprise. The simple video is a single shot of a foggy shower door as an unseen bather inside draws shapes and figures in the condensation.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Kim Gordon, G.L.O.S.S. & Featured Events

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Photo Credit: Emma Reeves

  • Listen To “Murdered Out” By Kim Gordon 

    “Murdered Out”  is what you call a car that’s been covered with black matte spray to strip it of identifiable features; covering up logos, tinting the windows. The trend’s popularity in Gordon’s hometown of Los Angeles inspired her new track, which is also the first time she’s released a song under her own name. It’s quite a debut, with a sinister, almost dancey foundation under her trademark breathy, rhythmic vocals.  As Gordon told NPR, Producer Justin Raisen provided the rhythmic structure of the song as well as the bass, while she added vocals and guitar and Stella from Warpaint played drums. Check it out:

  • G.L.O.S.S. Turns Down Epitaph Record Deal

    G.L.O.S.S., the queer, feminist punk band from Olympia Washington, turned down a record deal from Epitaph this week, stating they didn’t want to give up their DIY ethos in favor of something more corporate(Epitaph is distributed by Warner Bros.). As singer Sadie Switchblade wrote in a now widely shared Instagram post, “we don’t have to jump into their world, we can create a new one.” Listen to G.L.O.S.S.’s “Outcast Stomp” below:

  • Featured Events

     Here’s the scoop on this weekend’s must-see shows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r248o_rUfKE[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

NEWS ROUNDUP: Apple, The Pixies & SXSW

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  • Apple Gets Rid of the Headphone Jack

    I am practically attached to my earbuds, yet I misplace them a million times a day. So it was with absolute dread that I learned that with the iPhone 7, Apple is trying to phase out normal headphone jacks (unless you want to buy an adapter). Instead, we’ll wear AirPods, which don’t attach to the phone, or to each other. It’s a change that seems to bring few, if any benefits, and a major drawback which is you’ll probably lose one or both or the pods and have to shell out $159 to replace them. Change is good, but sometimes this adage only applies to doing laundry.

  • Watch The New, Creepy Pixies Video

    What do you think of the new, Kim Deal-less Pixies? On the one hand, they seem more mature, and tamer, not always in a good way – you might find yourself switching it off to listen to Surfer Rosa instead. On the other hand, they’ve been around a long time and there’s probably few things more annoying than an old band getting flak for deviating from their old sound. Whatever your opinion is, the video for “Tenement Song” is worth a watch:

  • First Round of SXSW Artists Announced

    It’s only the first round, but it’s a pretty long list that includes Brooklyn bands such as Yoke Lore, Pastel Ghost, Lazyeyes and San Fermin. Check out the full list here.

  • Listen to “Ten Year Tenure” by halfsour

    The frantic, catchy song is about the difficulties of being an artist when your home is a big city, specifically the band’s, Boston. Their upcoming Charm School comes out 10/14 via Disposable America and Too Far Gone. Check out “Ten Year Tenure” below:

NEWS ROUNDUP: Aviv, CMJ & Cherry Glazerr

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  • Aviv To Close In October

    According to a Facebook post, the Greenpoint DIY venue will be closing when its lease expires at the end of October. The owners promised they would set up shop elsewhere at some point, but before it’s gone forever, check out some of their last upcoming shows: Parlor Walls (9/15), Pharmakon (9/17), Slingshot Dakota (10/10) and this weekend’s Summer’s End Music Festival, featuring Sonnymoon, Guerrilla Toss, Pill, Honduras, Surf Rock Is Dead, and more.

  • Watch Cherry Glazerr’s New Video

    “I’d Told You I’d Be With The Guys” is a track brimming with fierce intensity, that stresses the importance using female solidarity to escape everyday sexism. Singer/guitarist Clementine Creevy lounges in all white, as an endless parade of middle-aged men in red polos and khakis infiltrate the room the band plays in.

  • What’s Up With The CMJ Festival?

    After a series of articles that speculated CMJ wouldn’t happen this year due to lack of funds (to be fair, dates/lineups haven’t been announced yet), CEO Adam Klein sent Pitchfork a statement regarding its future. It read, in part, “We are all totally committed to protecting CMJ’s unique and ‘live’ heritage while adapting to the ever changing demands of artists, fans and the music industry….. A little patience and a whole lot less wild and unsubstantiated speculation is what we need right now.” So is it happening? Kinda maybe.

  • Watch Angel Olsen On ‘Colbert’

    I know, I know, there’s been a lot of Angel Olsen coverage lately. But, she’s amazing and her My Woman is finally out, today. Right now! You can also watch her perform “Shut Up Kiss Me” on The Late Show, below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RGAHeeFr_E&feature=youtu.be

NEWS ROUNDUP: Sad13, Angel Olsen, & Sweet Synths

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  • Sadie Dupuis’s Announces Solo Project, Sad13

    Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz has announced a solo album and single under the name Sad13. “Get A Yes” is a shimmery, pop departure from her band’s 90’s rock sound, full of synths and electronics. It explores the idea of consent. As Dupuis told NPR, “How many kids learn about sex from pop music? And how many fun-sounding pop musicians do a heinous job as sex-ed teachers?… [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][like] ‘Blurred Lines,’ in which the narrator presumes to know what his partner wants?”

    Slugger comes out 11/11 via Carpark Records. Check out “Get A Yes” below.

  • Watch Angel Olsen’s “Sister” Video

    Continuing her steady stream of amazing new songs and videos from the upcoming My Woman, Angel Olsen released the single “Sister.” Not as wildly defiant as “Shut Up Kiss Me” and “Intern,” “Sister” paces along steadily and gracefully with images of Olsen walking through a Los Angeles desert landscape.  The video breaks the fourth wall at the end, with Olsen running over to a friend on the beach who asks, “Are you shooting a music video?”

  • Turn Your Laptop Into A Synth-Making Machine

    We just told you about cool music by other people, but maybe now you want to make your own? Here’s a unique, new way to do it. BlokDust is a website where you can program your own song, using a kind of visual synths system. You drag and drop and different effects and sounds onto your screen, and turn your laptop keyboard into, well, a real keyboard. The program, which “makes use of Tone.js as an audio frame,” was developed in the UK and is a collaborationn between Luke Twyman, Luke Phillips and Edward Silverton. Check it out here!

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NEWS ROUNDUP: Rock Shop & Featured Events

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  • The Rock Shop Is No Longer A Music Venue

    In today’s weekly installation of “what’s changed with local venues,” we have some bad news. As Brokelyn reported, The Rock Shop, one of the only music venues in Park Slope, will no longer have live music. Instead, the first level’s stage area will be become a game room. Its last show took place on Wednesday night and featured a Weezer cover band. Stay tuned for next week, when we tell you which of your beloved music hubs will be turned into a condo (hopefully not).

  • What’s going on this weekend? 

    Lots of stuff. Here’s some music we strongly suggest you see:

    PILL – Friday @ Park Church Coop

  • Surf Rock Is Dead – Saturday @ (le) Poisson Rouge

  • Far True Fest – Saturday @ Governors Island

    Featuring artists such as Wolkoff, Hannibal King, JBDK, Conrad Clifton and more!

NEWS ROUNDUP: Brooklyn Bazaar, Stranger Things, & Green Day

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  • Brooklyn Bazaar Is Reopening

    It seems like every week we’ve been reporting that a venue is opening or closing – usually closing. This week, we have some good news regarding the Brooklyn Bazaar. The beloved Greenpoint event, which featured live music and vendors, is reopening in September at the cross street of Manhattan and Greenpoint Avenue. As well as housing a music venue, the new space will be open every night of the week and feature a restaurant, four bars, and an arcade. The bazaar will officially open on September 9th with a Clap Your Hands Say Yeah show. Check out the show calendar here.

  • Listen To The ‘Stranger Things’ Soundtrack

    As well as being a freakin’ awesome and addictive show, “Stranger Things” has a surprisingly catchy soundtrack (when characters aren’t singing along to “Should I Stay Or Should I Go,” of course). It was created by the Austin synth duo Survive, aka Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein. Need something to listen to while you ponder what’s hiding behind your walls? Stream the soundtrack via Apple Music below.

 

  • Hey, Remember Green Day?

    Speaking of nostalgia, Green Day is back with a new track and lyric video. A quick review: it sounds very much like Green Day is supposed to sound/notable, puzzling lyrics are “I got my photobomb/I got my Vietnam” and “I want to be a celebrity martyr.” Watch below: 

NEWS ROUNDUP: Frank Ocean, Palisades & Cereal

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  • Frank Ocean Album Still Shrouded In Mystery

    After impatient speculation about when the singer would release his new album, Boys Don’t Cry,  it looked like it would finally be released today after a mysterious live stream began on Frank’s website, featuring people doing woodwork in a large hall while ambient music played and the singer in a Bowie t-shirt. As of now (11am), it’s not here yet. Sources say the album will be released exclusively through Apple Music, so get ready to pay another $10/month subscription if you want to hear it.

    Check out one of the tracks in the live stream below.

https://soundcloud.com/thisisallexperimental/frank-6-guitar

  • RIP Palisades

    As we mentioned in June, the venue on Bushwick’s Broadway was shut down during Northside Festival for several code violations. Apparently, the shutdown is permanent, as Brooklyn Vegan has reported the former DIY space is now up for rent. No offense guys, but you were definitely a fire hazard.

  • Old Rolling Stones Commercial Uncovered

    The Jingle was written by the band’s first lead guitarist, Brian Jones, and it’s kind of hilarious to listen to Mick Jagger mumble his way through singing the praises of Rice Krispies, including the slightly aggressive endorsement “Wake up in the morning there’s a crackle in your face.” 

  • Spotify Wants To Replace Albums With Playlists

    Via WIRED: “For decades, we all listened by the album: drop it on the turntable, put the needle down, sit back, and let the LP wash over you…. Somewhere in there, we lost the ability to just press play, close our eyes, and enjoy. Playlists are giving that back.” Today Spotify launches Release Radar, a weekly, 2 hour playlist curated just for you! (By an algorithm they use for everyone else, of course).

NEWS ROUNDUP: Music In Space, Prophets Of Rage, & The Strokes

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  • Coming Soon: Music In Space?

    It’s been a busy month for Jack White. After being named to Nashville’s new Council On Gender Equity, he and Third Man Records are planning to put a record player into the cosmos to be the first to play one in space. Their choice for the mission, which will take place tomorrow, is Carl Sagan’s A Glorious Dawn. I’m still not entirely sure if this is all a joke, but  I do want to know: are aliens more into vinyl, or cassettes?

  • Watch Prophets Of Rage On Jimmy Kimmel

    The supergroup contains Rage Against The Machine members Tim Comerford, Tom Morello and Brad Will, as well as Chuck D and DJ Lord from Public Enemy and B-Real from Cypress Hill. For their TV debut, they played “Killing In The Name Of” in front of a “Make America Rage Again” banner as the crowd moshed. The protest band’s performance comes soon after they played in Cleveland, in stark contrast to the RNC events taking place there. Watch them play “Killing In The Name Of” below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7KGJUbsfiU

  • Watch The Strokes On Jimmy Kimmel, Too

    On Tuesday, the NYC rock group played “Threat Of Joy,” with Julian Casablancas stumbling endearingly and almost making the whole performance without taking his sunglasses off. The song is from their new EP, Present Future Past, out now via Cult Records. Check the performance out below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gybGhy8fFk

NEWS ROUNDUP: Politics & PJ Harvey

  • Listen to PJ Harvey’s “Guilty”

    “Guilty” was recorded at the same time as Harvey’s latest album, The Hope Six Demolition Project. It’s a political shuffle that tackles subject as a corrupt judicial system and drones. Check it out:

  • Let’s Get Political

    Breaking news: The world sucks, guys. Here’s a brief roundup of musical responses to the tragedies of the past few weeks:

    My Morning Jacket: “Magic Bullet” – The lightly funky song was posted on Soundcloud on Monday with a long message condemning gun violence, which reads in part: “It does not matter your race/creed/sexual orientation we are all filled with the same beautiful blood- a mix of old and new generations… past present and future…we are all in there somewhere…in the blood lines together…all of humanity.”

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    https://soundcloud.com/my-morning-jacket/magicbullet

    “23 Ways To Die” – Alicia Keys organized celebrities and artists such as Beyoncé, Chance The Rapper, Rihanna, Common, Chris Rock and Taraji P. Henson for “23 Ways You Could Be Killed If You Are Black In America.” The video, which premiered on Mic.com, opens with a sparse piano track. The powerful video shows clips of those mentioned before, and others, stating the reasons Black people have been killed by police in America; simple things like wearing a hoody, failing to signal a lane change, and walking towards or away from the police.  Watch it here.

    Wahsa: “Justice” – The experimental Brooklyn band shared the song “Justice” on Facebook Sunday, with the following message: “A year ago, Max Mellman approached several artists and I in support of the Baltimore riots to compose songs around field recordings taken during the protests. Although the songs were never released, I feel now is a more relevant time than ever to share in support of those whose lives have been lost. My thoughts and prayers are with you.” The ambient track features the sounds of chanting in the background, and becomes suddenly intense at the end as the voices chant “justice.”

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    https://soundcloud.com/washamusic/justice

 

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NEWS ROUNDUP: Courtney Barnett, The Pixies, & Phone Controversy

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  • Courtney Barnett Debuts Video For “Elevator Operator”

    “Elevator Operator” tells the story a protagonist who dreams of leaving a boring office job- one where he’s “idling insignificantly”- for what he considers to be a more fulfilling life as an elevator operator. In the video, Courtney Barnett plays a bored elevator attendant who encounters a wide variety of characters during her work day: Sleater-Kinney, Jeff Tweedy, dancing nuns, vampires, wacky scientists and more. It ends with a rooftop concert à la The Beatles. Check it out:

  • The Pixies Announce New Album, Single

    The Pixies have announced a new 12 song album, Head Carrier, and released its first single, “Um Chagga Lagga.” The sound is a little darker than what you expect from their previous work, but still full of the same frantic energy. After parting with Kim Deal in 2013, and then Kim Shattuck(The Muffs), the Pixies’ current bassist is Paz Lenchantin (A Perfect Circle, Zwan, and the Entrance Band). What is an Um Chagga Lagga? Why is it on the side of the road? Listen below to find out.

  • Do Cell Phones & Live Music Mix?

    You’re one of two people in this world: Person A, who spends every second of a concert taking selfies, filming the band that, snapping pictures and only interacting with their environment if it’s filtered through an iPhone lens. Or, you’re Person B, who is cursing Person A, because Person A insists on blocking their view by raising their phone-cradling arms above their head to capture every moment. I guess there’s also a Person C, who might snap a picture or two during crucial moments but isn’t as obsessed, but they probably don’t care about the current cell phone controversy: do artists, or others, have the right to force you to put the phone away during their performance?

    As NPR notes, Apple was granted a patent to create technology to “use infrared signals to forcibly disable cell phone cameras at specific locations, ie. concert venues and theaters.” Yondr is also developing a method, in the form of a pouch that would restrict access to phones for the duration of a performance. Good idea, or bad idea? Cast your vote here.

NEWS ROUNDUP: St. Vincent, Led Zeppelin, & Angel Olsen

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  • Watch St. Vincent Perform As A Toilet

    During a benefit concert on Tuesday, St. Vincent performed several songs dressed as a toilet. (There’s probably a great potential for puns here, but we’ll let you take care of that). The benefit was for the song of Annie Clark’s drummer, Jasper Johnson, who is recovering from a severe seizure. Father John Misty,  Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, Elysian Fields, Joan As Police Woman, Nina Persson also performed. Check out footage of “Bring Me Your Loves” below:

  • ICYMI: Led Zeppelin Is Innocent

    Rock legends Led Zeppelin were dragged into a lawsuit claiming that “Stairway to Heaven”’s signature guitar riff was actually a ripoff of Spirit’s “Taurus,” an instrumental song from 1968. Though Led Zeppelin had performed with Spirit before, they denied their song, written in 1970, was based off of “Taurus.” Now, the lawyer on Spirit’s side, Francis Malofiy, is being suspended from practicing law for 3 months. Apparently, Malofiy violated a bunch of rules of conduct during a previous copyright infringement lawsuit, involving Usher’s “Bad Girls.” Read more here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q7Vr3yQYWQ

  • Watch Angel Olsen’s “Shut Up Kiss Me”

    Angel Olsen dons a sparkly, silver wig once again in the video she self-directed for “Shut Up Kiss Me.” She also gets pretty wild on a roller skating rink. Check out the video below, and pre-order her upcoming album MY WOMAN here.

  • Support Phil Elverum’s Crowdfunding Campaign

    Phil Elverum, of the Microphones and Mount Eerie is currently raising money for his wife Geneviève, who was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer soon after the couple had a daughter. Other musicians are currently helping the cause by auctioning merchandise; Neutral Milk Hotel is offering a signed box set, and Fugazi and Bikini Kill are auctioning several things. Check out the crowdfunding campaign and auction.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Ticketmaster, LA Weekly, & Guitar Pedal Sneakers

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  • Ticketmaster Is Still The Worst

    Those outrageous “service fees” that get tacked on to each concert ticket you buy resulted in a $386 million class action lawsuit against Ticketmaster. You would think that would mean there would be no more fees, but instead, customers were informed that they would have access to ticket vouchers in their account and discount codes worth- wait for it- “a $2.25 credit on a future online ticket purchase of primary tickets.” You can use up to two of these per transaction, but many customers are having trouble accessing them.

    Of course, you could take advantage of the free tickets the company is offering to make up for their sketchy business practices, if you want to see artists such as The Kidz Bop Kids or an Elton John tribute band. Granted, there are some cool shows available, but as other sites have noted, shows are only available in 19 states.

  • Sky Ferreria vs LA Weekly

    The super-gross Sky Ferreria “thinkpiece” caused a lot of negative reactions on the internet; personally, it’s one of the most misogynist things I’ve ever read, though it inspired a pretty funny satire where Tom Hawking rewrote the article with John Lennon as the subject. LA Weekly has apologized for trying to be edgy with the article, but has decided to leave it online as a “topic of discussion, or outrage, or as a cautionary tale about how not to write about a female recording artist in 2016.” Pretty sure that nearly every other writer already knows that, but thanks for clarifying guys.

  • Watch J Mascis Test A Wah-Wah Pedal Shoe

    Hey musicians, Converse has gotten use one step closer to not having to carry around a bunch of pedals- just put them on your feet! The “All Wah” shoe allows you to plug directly into a Converse sneaker, and uses Bluetooth and microsensor technology to determine the position of your foot. Watch J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr test it out below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkF7Mq1ZUR0

NEWS ROUNDUP: Palisades, Deerhoof, & Patti Smith’s Nico Tribute

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  • Palisades Shut Down For The Summer

    Hopefully it’s temporary; during last weekend’s Northside Festival, the DIY space Palisades was shut down by police and the venue’s shows have been moved to other locations. Management tweeted that it would be closed for a few days, but it’ll be more like most of the summer after the NYC Department of Buildings gave them a complaint for problems like “GROUND FL OPERATED AS A CABARET WITHOUT A SPRINKLER SYSTEM CELLAR WORK W/O PERMITS & FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PREMISES.”

  • Patti Smith to Release Nico Tribute

    Patti Smith recorded a tribute to the late Velvet Underground singer, with Smith’s daughter contributing as well. “Killer Road” is inspired by Nico’s own poetry, her harmonium is used on the track. It sounds kind of like Nick Cave decided to take a shot at ambient music: chilling and foreboding with whispers in the background alluding to death. The track will be officially released on the Soundwalk Collective’s Killer Road, coming September 2nd. Listen below:

https://soundcloud.com/soundwalk-collective/sets/soundwalk-collective-jesse

  • Deerhoof’s The Magic Now Streaming on NPR

    The unpredictable band recorded The Magic by renting an abandoned New Mexico office building and recording for a week with no prepared material. NPR describes the result as a “tense, visceral, unpredictable sound that doesn’t let listeners get comfortable for very long.” Stream The Magic here, and watch the video for “Criminals Of The Dream,” which appears on the album, below:

NEWS ROUNDUP: Northside Fest & Opening/Closing Venues

 

northside news

  • Northside Festival Continues This Weekend

    That means, there’s amazing shows everywhere. From Greenpoint to Bushwick to Far North East Williamsburg, or whatever the newest, cool made-up neighborhood is. Feeling overwhelmed? We even wrote you a guide to cool shows. Look at how much fun everybody had last year:

  • Other Music Farewell Shows

    As we’ve written about before, Manhattan record store Other Music will be closing at the end of this month. But, you can catch an awesome goodbye show at Bowery Ballroom on 6/28. Performers will include Yo La Tengo, Julianna Barwick, Sharon Van Etten, Frankie Cosmos, Helado Negro, Menahan Street Band, Matana Roberts, and John Zorn’s Simalacrum (with John Medeski, Matt Hollenberg, and Kenny Grohowski). Check out this performance by Regina Spektor at the store in 2009: 

  • New Brooklyn Venue Opens, Two Set To Close

    The Glove held their soft opening on Wednesday, and Facebook posts state that their calendar will be opening soon. From the venue’s page: “Members of The Bohemian Grove present a new space: The Glove… an experimental venue, theater, gallery, and multimedia studio space.” It is located in Bushwick between the Kosciusko and Gates stop on Broadway.

    However, posts today indicated that both the Grand Victory in Williamsburg and Secret Project Robot in Bushwick will cease operating at their current locations, because of rising rents.

  • Stream Mitski’s Puberty 2

    The Brooklyn-based singer songwriter has received rave reviews for her new album, Puberty 2. It comes out next week via Dead Oceans, but you can listen to the stream on NPR and check out the video for “Your Best American Girl” below.

  • Lithuania Single Benefits ‘Women Against Abuse’

    This week the band premiered “Kill The Thing You Love,” a song that wasn’t included on their last album, Hardcore Friends, but will be released as a single. All proceeds from the song will benefit ‘Women Against Abuse,’ an organization that provides domestic violence services. Listen to the song on Post-Trash, and check out our interview with the band here.

 

AudioFemme’s Guide To Northside Festival 2016

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It’s that time of year again- Northside Festival is back in Brooklyn, and while you’ve probably heard about high profile artists like Conor Oberst and Brian Wilson playing in McCarren park, or Deradoorian covering Black Sabbath at Rough Trade, here’s ten other shows you shouldn’t miss.

FRIDAY

  • Cloud Becomes Your Hand @ AVIV

    Cloud Becomes Your Hand makes slightly weird, unapologetically different music that sounds like it came from a different world. Or, if you go by the band’s own description, “a renaissance faire acid trip underwater in grandma’s winnebago.” Stream their latest release, Rest In Fleas, here.

  • Very Fresh @ Bar Matchless

    Cindy Lou Gooden fronts the Brooklyn band Very Fresh, which plays 90’s inspired alternative rock. It’s a little reminiscent of Speedy Ortiz, but with a lo-fi twist.

SATURDAY

  • Yonatan Gat @ Baby’s All Right

    This amazing guitarist brings the energy of punk rock to improvisational music, creating a seamless blend of genres and moods that vary from jazzy to psychedelic within seconds. Check out Director here.

  • PWR BTTM @ The Lyft Stage (Williamsburg Walks, 4pm)

    This free event takes place on Bedford Avenue and N. 5th Street and on Saturday will feature acts Petal, Benny Sings, Pity Sex- and of course PWR BTTM, who needs no introduction; their glittery reputation precedes them wherever they go.

  • Yowler – National Sawdust

    From Ohio, Yowler creates pop music that recalls the hazy aftermath of a dream you can’t quite remember- meaning, it’s really pretty, ok? Catch them at the stunning new venue National Sawdust.

SUNDAY

  • Haybaby @ Aviv (3pm)

    Sometimes the only way to talk about a band is to quote directly from their bio: “Haybaby is a band of total babes that play honey-ass heartbreak crooning sometimes screamy sludgy pop & slop rock that will make you have some feelings.” If that’s not enough, check out “Joke/Rope.”

  • Bambara @ Palisades

    This Brooklyn rock band plays tunes that are dark and sinister, yet somehow irresistible as well. Catch them at Palisades before they leave for a mini tour of the Northeast.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Brooklyn Events, Angel Olsen & Turntable Kitchen

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  • Angel Olsen Releases “Intern”

    “I don’t care what the papers say/ It’s just another intern with a resume.” The new Angel Olsen track has a soaring, cinematic feel to it, as if was created for the emotional climax of a vintage movie. The accompanying video features Olsen donning a sparkly silver wig as she sings into a headset and is interviewed on a movie set. Check it out:

  • Brooklyn Events

    This weekend is all about Bushwick- here are some cool events for those of you in the area:

    Color Me Bushwick – This event combines style and sound, in the form of a three day, free music, art and hair festival at Pickthorn Studio salon. Performing artists include Sharkmuffin, Cosmonaut, Milan to Minsk, Gingerleys, The Teen Age and many, many more. More details here.

    Bushwick Collective Block Party – Another three day festival, this event will feature a live performance by Jadakiss, DJs, food trucks, live graffiti painting, and an art exhibition. Details here.

  • Turntable Kitchen Launches New Project

    Turntable Kitchen “is a site connecting food and music” that aims “to introduce food lovers to music and vice versa.” While I’m pretty sure most people have already discovered that both food and music are pretty awesome, their new project, Sounds Delicious, looks great. Artists like The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Mitski, Skylar Spence, Mutual Benefit, Quilt, Jonathan Rado, Yumi Zouma, GEMS, Salt Cathedral and others will pick an album, and then record a full length cover of it to put on vinyl; it’s currently in the Kickstarter phase.

  • End Your Week With A New Music Video

    “You And I” by Margaret Glaspy is a fun, rowdy track with a bright, playful video. Check it out!

NEWS ROUNDUP: New Singles, Bob Dylan, & Mitski

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  • Quadruple Singles
    • There was a ton of great new music released this week. Here’s four of the best singles we heard:
  • The Strokes: “Threat of Joy” is the latest single from The Strokes’ upcoming EP Future Present Past.  They take an easy-going beat and infuse it with tense energy, the lyrics quietly seething. The EP will be released via Cult on 6/3; check out the single below.

  • HOLYCHILD: The shimmering “brat pop” duo are back with “Rotten Teeth,” which features Kate Nash. Their music sounds like it comes from whatever pop factory churns out radio friendly hits these days, but pulls at the stray threads of culture, exposing the darker side with lines like “I know I’ll never be the girl I want to be” and “Do we eat or just starve ourselves tonight?”

  • Cass McCombs & Angel Olsen: McCombs and Olsen teamed up on “Opposite House,” a faintly jazzy track that creates a mystical space for guitar riffs to flutter in and out of and gentle harmonies to float through. Look for its accompanying album, Mangy Love, on 8/26.

  • Dinosaur JR: On Tuesday, Dinosaur Jr. debuted “Tiny,” the single from Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not, on Later… With Jools Holland. It’s classic alternative rock typical of the band.

  • Bob Dylan Celebrates 75th Birthday

    In honor of Dylan’s 75th birthday on Tuesday, Animal Collective released their own, remixed version of “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright.” Other artists honored the folk legend by covering his songs, such as Kesha. She sang  “It Ain’t Me” at the Billboard Music Awards and “I Shall Be Released” at Dylan Fest in Nashville.

  • Watch Mitski’s New Video for “Happy”

    On Monday Mitski released her music video for “Happy.” It takes a lot of twists and turns: a romance blossoms, then turns to heartbreak, with a gory ending that’s unexpected and somewhat terrifying. The song itself is a contemplative look at love and loneliness, and as a bonus, has an awesome saxophone part.

NEWS ROUNDUP: The Beastie Boys, Radiohead, & Brooklyn Weekend Events

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  • Father John Misty Shares “Real Love Baby”

    “What’s wrong with feeling?” After a series of sarcastic Soundcloud uploads, Father John Misty gets sentimental on his new song “Real Love Baby.” Although he stated on Twitter that the track “is just a thing” and won’t be on his upcoming album, the feel good, sappy love song is worth a listen.

  • Recommended Events

    Words & Guitars Fest: Words & Guitars is a “two day DIY zine, music, and art fest” that focuses on feminist art, and it starts tonight at Bushwick Public House. As well as performances by bands such as Yeti, Lady Bits, Drella and Lady Bizness, on Saturday there will also be a panel featuring members of the local punk scene on “their place as women in this scene today as musicians, educators, creators, and so much more.”

    She Shreds‘ 10th Issue Release Party: She Shreds is a magazine that focuses on women who play bass and guitar. Their 10th issue release party will be held at Market Hotel and will include performances by Lady Lamb, Allison Crutchfield, Field Mouse, and Holly Miranda. Buy tickets here.

  • John Berry of the Beastie Boys Dies

    As well as being a founding member of the group, Berry was the one who came up with their name. Though he left the group after they recorded their first EP Polly Wog Stew in 1982, the remaining members always mentioned him as an important member of the band. Berry died at age 52 from frontotemporal dementia, according to his father.

 

  • Radiohead Release Clip of “Numbers” Video

    The clip previews an upcoming music video, directed by Oscar Hudson. It features ominous background music as a man tidies up a small room, a futile task since sand is pouring in from a hole in the ceiling. Check it out:

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NEWS ROUNDUP: Music Festivals, YACHT, & Other Music Closure

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  • [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][Insert Joke About YACHT’s PR Stunt Sinking Like The Titanic]

    Earlier this week, you may have seen some hasty news reports about YACHT taking to Facebook to ask fans not to watch a sex tape of the couple that was leaked by a third party. They received an outpouring of sympathy, and a few hours later, stated they would be selling the sex tape as a way to take control of the situation. Some of their celebrity friends had tweeted about it, but no parts of the video could be found online, and the website selling it appeared to have crashed. Then the truth came out: it was all a hoax. Last month, the band had pitched the terrible marketing ploy to the publication Jezebel. In an email, the band stated, “In the days leading up to the video’s release, we’re going to pretend we were hacked…then try to “get out in front of it” and sell the sex tape, fake a server crash, etc.” When the it became widely known that the whole thing was a way to hock a new music video, the sympathy they received quickly turned to outrage. Even their PR company distanced themselves from the band. Nice try, YACHT.

  • NYC Record Store ‘Other Music’ Is Closing

    The East Village record, which regularly hosted live performances, announced this week that it would be closing on 6/25. The store opened it 1995 and outlived the chain music store Tower Records. The label associated with the store, however, will continue. Check out a video of Frankie Cosmos playing at the store last week:

  • Music Festival Announcements

    Summer is almost here! Don’t miss out on some great music, in the great outdoors in New York and beyond. Here are some festivals that recently released their lineups:

    • Hopscotch Music Festival – From 9/8-9/10, Raleigh, N.C., will host such acts as Erykah Badu, Beach House, Andrew Bird, Television, Converge, Big Freedia, Kelela, Baroness, Twin Peaks, Beach Slang, Julien Baker, Lavender Country, and many, many more. One day tickets will go on sale this summer; three day passes are already available.

    • Destination Moon – Its website describes the event as “dedicated to providing an immersive artistic experience with the smallest possible ecological footprint.” The event takes place 6/17-6/19 in Wurtsboro, NY and attendees have the chance to see artists including Antibalas, Delicate Steve, Porches, Moon Hooch, Sam Evian, You Bred Raptors? and more TBA.

    • Roots Picnic – Rolling Stone describes The Roots as “the hardest working band in hip-hop,” and if you feeling like going slightly out of state you can catch them in action. They’ll be backing Usher and hosting Future, Leon Bridges, Kelhani, Lolawolf and more at the Festival Pier in Philadelphia on 6/4.

  • Speedy Ortiz Announce New EP & Single

    “Death Note” is the latest Speedy Ortiz single, from their upcoming EP Foiled Again (Out 6/3 via Carpark Records). The song is named after an anime series, and its plot revolves around a notebook that kills anyone who has their name written in it.  Frontwoman Sadie Dupuis notes: “The song is about writing through your depression as a way to get better, and how in that way a death note can be kind of love letter to yourself.” Check it out:

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NEWS ROUNDUP: Radiohead, Prince Tributes, & Grimes

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  • Radiohead is Back!

    After erasing their social media presence, the band returned with their new single, “Burn The Witch.” Um, it’s awesome. The accompanying video looks like a cutesy stop-motion animation, until things take a darker turn (as the song’s title suggests). The animator states that it was inspired by the European refugee crisis. Radiohead has also announced tour dates, including Madison Square Garden, Primavera Sound Festival, Secret Solstice Festival, Osheaga Music and Arts Festival and Lollapalooza. Read our review of “Burn The Witch,” and check out the video below.

  • A Brief Roundup of Prince Tributes

    It’s been two weeks since Prince died, and plenty of tributes have been performed. Here are some highlights:

      • The touching tribute: One of Prince’s best songs is “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which opens with the line “It’s been seven hours and 13 days since you took your love away.” In honor of Prince, US radio stations coordinated to play the song at 5:07pm, 13 days and seven hours after his death. Stations all over participated in the event, initially started by the Minnesota public radio station The Current. Prince originally wrote the song in 1985 for The Family, who was signed to his Paisley Park label; on May 4th, they released a re-recorded version in memory of Prince under the band name fDeluxe.

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        The ensemble tribute: both the cast of Hamilton and The Color Purple have paid their respects by covering “Purple Rain.”

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        The big name tribute: Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen both performed Prince covers after his death. The ex-Beatle performed “Let’s Go Crazy,” while The Boss played “Purple Rain.”

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      •  The bizarre tribute: Mac DeMarco released a video covering “It’s Gonna Be Lonely,” accompanied by some interesting characters.

    Grimes Makes A Spectacle On Late Night TV

    Grimes brought dancers, dizzying background graphics and musician Hana Pestle to The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. She performed “Flesh Without Blood” from her latest album Art Angels, and said in an Instagram post that it was her first time performing in a corset. Check it out: 

 

  • Bad News For Musicians

    If you’re not a rockstar, you probably don’t have to worry about this. For the rest of you, take note: a recent study revealed that musicians die 25 years younger than the rest of the population. Conducted by the Australian psychology professor Dianna Kenny, the study “examined the lives and deaths of 12,665 musicians and stars from all popular genres who died between 1950 and June 2014,” and found that musicians were more susceptible to suicide, homicide, and accidental deaths. You can read the report here.

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NEWS ROUNDUP: The Politicization of Music, RHCP, & Radiohead

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  • Beyonce & the Politicization of Music

    Though Beyonce’s Lemonade contains unlimited potential for trivial gossip (Who is Becky?), the visual album is way deeper than that, as explained in The Rolling Stone here. Music has gotten a little more political lately, with artists canceling shows in anti-LGBTQ states or performing in support of political candidates (well, mostly Bernie Sanders), but when Beyonce weighs in, you know we’ve reached the peak of the politicization of music.

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  • Red Hot Chili Peppers Accused of Sexual Harassment

    Julie Farman, who worked at Epic Records in the 90’s, wrote a blog post detailing a “fucked up” experience she had during a meeting with members of the band. Farman wrote she was inspired to speak up after Amber Coffman broke her silence about Heathcliff Berru earlier this year, and blamed “the misogynistic culture of the music industry that kept [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][her] from speaking up in 1991.”

  • Watch White Lung’s Video For “Below”

    The band plays in a dark theater, their only audience a handful of Marilyn Monroe impersonators who are brought to tears by the performance. “Below” is from White Lung’s upcoming album Paradise, out on May 6.

  • Levitation Festival Is Cancelled

    Artists including Animal Collective, Courtney Barnett, Ty Segall, Ween and many more were scheduled to play the festival, which was cancelled due to dangerous weather in Texas.

  • A New Radiohead Album Might Be In The Works

    The band is promoting it in kind of a creepy way: sending fans in the UK leaflets that say “We know where you live” and referencing the early 2000’s song “Burn The Witch.” It’s the latest sign that a new album is coming, after they announced a world tour and registered the companies Dawn Chorus LLP and Dawnnchoruss Ltd. When it comes out, it’ll be the band’s first new album since 2011’s The King Of Limbs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uejn1f6pqMQ

  • Blink-182 Are Back?

    The pop punk group replaced Tom Delonge with Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio and released the first song from their upcoming album. California will be out July 1st, but “Bored To Death” was just presented to the internet in the worst way possible: a lyric video. Seriously, why do bands use these things? Anyway, here it is:

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