TixGirl.com

All Points West Festival 2009

2009-07-14T14:12:00.001-07:00

This would sooo be worth coming out of retirement for! Alas, your very own TixGirl will be upstate planning her wedding (yes, wedding!), so I'll have to live vicariously through all of you who post your photos and vids online...

In the meantime, check out photos from last year's All Points West Fest, featuring Radiohead, CSS and Grizzly Bear.

The New TixGirl.com Under Construction

2009-01-08T17:37:00.000-08:00

Greetings, loyal TixGirl readers. Thanks for your patience as we undergo what we ladies might call a radical facelift. I'll be back with all the latest breaking news you've come to expect: must-see tours, tickets going onsale, insider info on private gigs, and photos straight from the pit at my fave shows.

In the meantime, check out BrooklynVegan for the latest breakings. He's my go-to-guy for all things NY indie. Make him yours. And we'll see you back on the scene soon.

Cheers,
Your TixGirl, Ames

BREAKING NEWS: Death Cab For Cutie Tickets On Sale This Weekend

2008-08-12T20:44:00.000-07:00

Yo Check It: Death Cab For Cutie bring their popified sonic soundscapes to the grande
dame herself, Radio City Music Hall, October 6th. New York tix go on sale Friday, 11am!

Death Cab for Cutie, Theatre at Madison Square Garden, 11/8 - 11/9/06

DEATH CAB TOUR DATES GOING ON SALE:
New York, NY: Friday, 11am.
Wallingford, CT: Friday, 10am
Atlantic City, NJ: Saturday, 10am
Clolumbus, OH: Saturday, 10am
Plus: More dates to be released soon.
Bookmark this page to buy tickets!

MORE DEATH CAB:
See Photos: Death Cab for Cutie Live @ Madison Square Garden

Watch Video: Death Cab for Cutie Live @ Madison Square Garden

Tags: death cab, death cab for cutie, radio city music hall, radio city, ny, new york, music, live music, concerts, breaking news, tickets on sale, tixgirl

FESTIVAL NEWS: All Points West Festival Set Times

2008-08-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

What I'm planning on catching...

================================

FRIDAY
8:30 - 10:30 Radiohead!!!!

5:45 - 6:45 CSS

5:15 - 6:15 Grizzly Bear

5:00 - 6:00 New Pornographers

4:00 - 4:45 Mates of State

3:45 - 4:30 Michael Franti & Spearhead

2:30 - 3:15 The Go! Team

================================

SATURDAY

8:30 - 10:30 Radiohead Again!!!!

7:15 - 8:15 The Roots

5:30 - 6:45 Sia

2:30 - 3:15 Chromeo

================================

SUNDAY

7:30 - 8:30 Trey Anastasio, mayyyyybe

6:45 - 8:00 Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, mayyyybe

6:10 - 7:00 The Secret Machines, mayyyybe

5:00 - 6:00 Cat Power

3:30 - 4:30 Rodrigo y Gabriela

2:15 - 3:00 Amadou & Mariam

================================

ALL POINTS WEST FESTIVAL SET TIMES

Tags: all points west, all points west fest, all points west festival, festival set times, set times, music, live music, concerts, radiohead, css, grizzly bear, mates of state, new pornographers, sia, the roots, chromeo, cat power, rodrigo y gabriela, amadou & mariam, festival news, summer festivals, summer concerts, nj, ny, liberty state park, tixgirl

NEW PHOTOS & VIDEO: Yaz Live @ Terminal 5 in New York

2008-07-18T18:44:00.000-07:00

Who would have ever dared dream they'd have the chance to see Yaz live onstage
together again, after they broke up in the distant past of 1983. That new wave dance
fantasy came true on 7/16 and 7/17 when two sold-out crowds piled into New York's
Terminal 5 to see Alison Moyet and Vince Clark reunited on tour.
Un-be#$%&ing-lievable.

Though I admit I wasn't surprised that the average age was higher than I care to admit, it
was pure, unbridled joy in the audience. And it was clear from the glee on Alison Moyet's
face as she danced around belting out some of the best songs of the 80s, that she had
missed the thrill of performing for an adoring audience. Get a load of the best songs of the
night and feel the dance madness for yourself...

MORE YAZ:
See Photos: Yaz Live at Terminal 5 in New York 7/16/08
Watch Video: Yaz Live at Terminal 5 in New York 7/16/08

Tags: yaz, yazoo, uk, british bands, 80s music, 80s, new wave, techno, electronic music, live music, concerts, music, new york, ny, terminal 5, new photos & video, tixgirl

HOT TIP: Catch DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist Last 5 Shows Including McCarren Park Pool

2008-06-30T16:22:00.000-07:00

If you've ever wondered what it is that gives Jurassic 5 that signature old-timey
sound, Cut Chemist is the man. And hallelujah, now we have the opportunity to
see why he's the man! He's heading back to the US with DJ Shadow to
perform the last 5 dates of their Hard Sell world tour.

Wish I could catch 'em at DC's 9:30 Club, as that would be the ultimate joint for
this kind of show. But who's complaining when we New Yorkers can catch
them at Brooklyn's McCarren Park Pool, smack dab in the heart of hipster
heaven, Williamsburg.

Here's the deets from their lovely PR peeps:

As with their two previous sets, [the now-legendary "Brainfreeze"
(1999) and"Product Placement" (2001)], the pair eschew
theirown material in favor of an amalgam of music from all eras
and styles,providing for amusing and provocative mash-ups; rap
mixes with fiddlemusic, doo-wop with new wave, and every thing
in between...all whileavoiding the obvious, "been there, heard that"
stuff you get from mostDJs.

The first time "The Hard Sell" wasperformed in the United
States was in front of 15,000 people at the worldfamous
Hollywood Bowl (2007). As demand for the show hasgrown,
the pair have continuously refined and reworked the song selection,
so that aspects of it are different every time. In the words of
Shadow himself, "If you happened to catch one of the earlier
shows, neverfear...you won't be disappointed!" Don't miss these
final appearances bytwo of California's most cutting-edge DJs.The
Hard Sell exists as a resultof a unique combination of the duo’s
shared passions –forrecords, for playing them to people, for
collecting them as objects andunderstanding their tactile properties
as well as loving, appreciatingcontextualising and recontextualising
the sounds they were designed toreproduce.

This is the third part in the trilogy of Cut Chemist& DJ Shadow
collaborations and is probably the most ambitious in itsexecution.

The Hard Sell Dates

16-Jul-2008 Washington, DC 9:30Club

17-Jul-2008 Brooklyn,NY McCarren Park Pool

18-Jul-2008 Atlantic City,NJ HOB

19-Jul-2008 Mariaville, NY Indian Lookout CountryClub

25-Jul-2008 Portland, OR Roseland Theatre

26-Jul-2008 Seattle, WA ShowboxSoDo

27-Jul-2008 Pemberton, BC Pemberton Festival Site

BUY TICKETS: DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist Live

HOT TIP: Cold War Kids Play Free Show at Prospect Park

2008-06-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

The Cold War Kids are an amazing live band. Even moreso when it's free, eh?
While I'm ashamed to admit that I don't have a single one of their tunes -- not
even the intensely catchy, "Hang Me Up To Dry" -- I've gone out of my way to
see Cold War Kids twice. And both times I was wowed out of my socks. So I
can personally vouch for the power of their playing. Catch them tonight at
Prospect Park Bandshell and see for yourself... free!

Cold War Kids @ Bowery Ballroom, NY 4/7/07

Per the peeps at FreeNYC:
Unleashing “cave-stomp drums, barroom piano and chiming post-punk
guitars,” (Rolling Stone) Cold War Kids eschew preciousness for grit. Live,
they’re all smoldering energy and raw power. Joining them are local favorites
Elvis Perkins in Dearlandwith their dream-like folk rock “drenched in equal
parts sunshine andcloudy grey skies,” (Drowned in Sound) and the tuneful but
hard hittingSam Champion, “an absolute force of nature.” (Sterogum) All
Ages.

Cold War Kids @ Madison Square Garden, NY 8/6/07

MORE COLD WAR KIDS:
--See Photos: Cold War Kids Live at Madison Square Garden
--Watch Video: Cold War Kids Live at Madison Square Garden
--See Photos: Cold War Kids Live at Bowery Ballroom
--Watch Video: Cold War Kids Live at Bowery Ballroom
--Read Up: Brooklyn Vegan on Cold War Kids' 2008 Tour

Tags: cold war kids, prospect park, prospect park bandshell, park slope, brooklyn, new york, free shows, free outdoor shows, music, live music, concerts, outdoor concerts, free concerts, hot tip, tixgirl

HOT TIP: Paul van Dyk Ditches Central Park For Pier 54 As His NY Summer Stage

2008-06-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

Paul van Dyk, the Berlin-based electronic music pioneer, has madeCentral
Park the home of his annual summer concert in New York for 5years running.
This summer he breaks with tradition and holds hispeerless outdoor
bacchanalia river-side at Pier 54. Catch him August 16th!

Paul van Dyk @ Central Park Summerstage, Rumsey Playfield, NY 8/18/07

Here's the deets, courtesy of the lovely rephlektor ink peeps:

For five consecutiveyears Paul van Dyk’s annual concerts in Central Park have
been one of NewYorkCity’s most anticipated live music events. In 2007, over
10,000 loyal fansfromaround the world descended upon New York City with the
sole purpose ofexperiencing their favorite artist in this surreal environment. This
year,vanDyk and Made Event leave the friendly confines of Central Park and travel
westto the famed Pier 54 for a waterside dance music extravaganza that’s never
beenexperienced before.

For the first time ever in New York City,Paulvan Dyk’s 4-hour live set is to be
accompanied by a full sound systeminstallation engineered specifically for this
event by acclaimed sounddesigncompany Integral Sound. Fans in attendance at
Pier 54 will enjoy Paul vanDyk’smusic in its purest form and at an unmatched
level of clarity.

Tickets for Paul van Dyk at Pier 54 areavailablein advance for $45 dollars per ticket fromwww.ticketweb.com.

Tags: paul van dyk, electronic music, dj, berlin, germany, techno, dance music, central park, summerstage, pier 54, new york, ny, concerts, music, live music, hot tip, tixgirl

BREAKING NEWS: Madonna's 4th & Final NY Show Added - Tix On Sale Friday 6/6

2008-06-05T15:47:00.000-07:00

Good news for those of us out there who weren't able to snag seats at one of Madge's
first three NY dates in the 2 minutes before they sold out: She's putting a fourth and final
show on sale tomorrow!

Madonna Sticky & Sweet Tour
October 12th - Just Added
Madison Square Garden

(October 6th, 7th & 11th Sold Out)

October 12th Tickets go on sale Friday, June 6th at 9am.

Tickets available from LiveNation.com, Ticketmaster.com, Madonna.com & at the MSG box office.

More Madonnna:
--Watch Video: Catch the Candy Wall at Madonna.com for all her best Vids!

Tags: madonna, madge, sticky & sweet tour, tickets, concerts, live music, music, madison square garden, msg, new york, breaking news, tixgirl

HUH-WHA? Rosie O'Donnell Plays What For Who?

2008-06-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

Sitting squarely in the "um, really?" file is this headline, courtesy of WNBC.com:
Rosie O'Donnell Plays Drums On Lauper Tour

Um, really? You're serious? Well, I guess so. Here's a snippet from the news peeps:
"Rosie O'Donnell is living her rock star dream, riding in her own tourbus, playing
drums and singing backup for Cyndi Lauper on her "TrueColors" tour."

Get the full story...

Tags: rosie odonnell, cyndi lauper, true colors, tours, touring, drums, wnbc, wnbc.com, huh-wha, tixgirl

HOT TIP: Catch Bell X1 Playing the Fillmore Irving Plaza 6/4

2008-05-19T14:35:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard of Bell X1, your only excuse should be that you don't live in
Ireland. Over there, their debut album has gone platinum 5 times over. Here, in
NY say, their sold-out shows at the Bowery Ballroom were packed to the gills
with die-hard fans who knew every word to every song. And with their
trademark Irish wit and moody, layered music, it's no wonder they've already
made a sizeable dent in the American market. Bell X1's show at the Fillmore
Irving Plaza on June 6 should go a long way toward satisfying the fans edged
out of tickets to last winter's Bowery shows by folks who were quicker to click
for tix.

MORE BELL X1:
--Buy Tickets: See Bell X1 on Tour
--See Photos: Bell X1 live at New York's Bowery Ballroom
--Watch Video: Bell X1 live at New York's Bowery Ballroom

Tags: bell x1, fillmore irving plaza, irving plaza, fillmore, bowery, bowery ballroom, new york, ny club shows, music, live music, concerts, ireland, irish bands, indie music, hot tip, tixgirl

UPDATED INFO: GBH 10th Anniversary Party Set Times Tonight At Webster

2008-05-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

For tonight's killer party at New York's Webster Hall celebrating GBH.tv's 10th Anniversary:

Updated Schedule for the Evening:

08:00 - 10:00PM: Open Bar sponsored by kluster & Music by DJ Alex English
10:00 - 11:30PM: The Legendary Grandmaster Flash
12:00 - 01:00am: James Murphy (of LCD Soundsystem)
01:00 - 04:00am: Sets by LA Riots / MSTRKRFT / Does It Offend You, Yeah?
What: MashBash NYC : Mashable’s NYC Spring Party!
Who: 2,500 sold out crowd, 450 Mashable VIP Tickets on Balcony, Grandmaster Flash starts the night off
When: Friday, May 16th, 2008
Drinks: Open Bar, 8 - 10 pm sponsored by Kluster (21+ only)
Where: Webster Hall, 125 East 11th Street, New York, NY

MORE INFO:
--VIP Tix
--Mashable's coverage
--Metromix's coverage

James Murphy with LCD Soundsystem, Randall's Island, NY 10/6/07

BREAKING NEWS: Madonna's North American Tour Dates On Sale 5/19

2008-05-09T16:40:00.000-07:00

Omigod, I'm beside myself with glee. Set your alarms for 8:59am on May 19th, fellow Madonna Maniacs, these tix will sell out in 2 minutes flat. Here's the details from Madonna's lovely publicity peeps:

The North American leg of the “STICKY & SWEET TOUR” begins October 3rd at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with stops at New York's Madison Square Garden on October 6th and 7th, followed by performances in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and more before stopping at Miami's Dolphin Stadium on November 26th. Madonna's “STICKY & SWEET” tour will also visit Mexico and South America later this year.

TICKETS:

Tickets for "Sticky & Sweet" tour at The Izod Center in E. Rutherford and Madison Square Garden will go on sale Monday, May 19th at 9am. Tickets will range from $55.00 through $350 offering a variety of excellent seats at all price levels. Tickets can be purchased online at www.livenation.com and www.ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone dial 212.307.7171 or 866.448.7849. If tickets remain they will be available at the respective box offices on Tuesday, May 20th. Additional on-sales vary and are listed below or available at www.livenation.comand www.madonna.com. There will be a 4 ticket limit per person at the arena performances and a 6 ticket per person limit for stadium events.

MADONNA

STICKY & SWEET

TOUR ITINERARY 2008

Showdate: City: Venue: On sale Date:

23-Aug Cardiff Millennium Stadium Fri. May 16

26-Aug Nice Stade Charles Ehrmann Fri. May 16

28-Aug Berlin Olympic Stadium Wed. May 21

02-Sept Amsterdam Arena Sat. May 17

04-Sept Dusseldorf LTU Arena Wed. May 21

06-Sept Rome Olympic Stadium Fri. May 23

09-Sept Frankfurt Commerzbank Arena Wed. May 21

11-Sept London Wembley Stadium Fri. May 16

20-Sept Paris Stade de France Fri. May 16

03-Oct E. Rutherford Izod Center Mon. May 19

06-Oct New York City Madison Square Garden Mon. May 19

07-Oct New York City Madison Square Garden Mon. May 19

15-Oct Boston TD BankNorth Garden Sat. May 17

18-Oct Toronto Air Canada Centre Sat. May 24

22-Oct Montreal Bell Centre Sat. May 24

26-Oct Chicago United Center Sat. May 17

30-Oct Vancouver BC Place Stadium Sat. May 24

01-Nov Oakland Oracle Arena Sun. June 1

04-Nov San Diego Petco Park Sun. June 1

06-Nov Los Angeles Dodger Stadium Sun. June 1

08-Nov Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena Sat. May 31

11-Nov Denver Pepsi Center Sat. May 31

16-Nov Houston Minute Maid Park Sat. May 31

19-Nov Philadelphia Wachovia Center Mon. June 2

22-Nov Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Mon. June 2

24-Nov Atlanta Philips Arena Sat. May 31

26-Nov Miami Dolphin Stadium Sat. May 31

Additional dates and venues to be announced.

Tags: madonna, sticky & sweet tour, concerts, music, live music, madison square garden, msg, east rutherford, nj, tickets, breaking news, tixgirl

FESTIVAL NEWS: Rock The Bells 2008-Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Mos Def, Spank Rock-On Sale 5/17

2008-05-06T15:03:00.000-07:00

Rock The Bells may just as well rebrand itself the Reunion Fest, considering
last year's landmark Public Enemy and Wu-Tang performances, and the sight
of Mos Def sharing the stage with Blackstarr collaborator Talib Kweli. And
now this year the bad-ass fest is boasting A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul,
half the members of Wu-Tang again(!) and special guests, The Pharcyde.
Dang! Is it worth trekking all the way out to Jones Beach? Well, um... yeah. You
better believe it is.

Here's the deets, courtesy of their publicity peeps:

ROCK THE BELLS 2008

Nikon @ Jones Beach Theater, August 3rd

A TRIBE CALLED QUEST -- NAS -- MOS DEF
Method Man & Redman, De La Soul, Raekwon & Ghostface,Immortal
Technique, Dead Prez, Murs, Jay Electronica, Spank Rock, Kid Sister,The
Cool Kids, Santogold, Wale, B.O.B., Kidz In The Hall, and Flosstradamus

Hosted By: Supernatural & Scratch

With Special Guest: THE PHARCYDE

TICKETS ON SALE SATURDAY, MAY 17th At 10AM

Need Further Convincing?
Check out the photos of last year's fest:

L to R: Ghostface Killa, Method Man, Mos Def

BREAKING NEWS: McCarren Park Pool Parties Announce Free Summer 2008 Shows

2008-05-01T15:36:00.000-07:00

Yet another reminder of why I heart Brooklyn Vegan so v. v. much. He tells me
about awesome things like The Breeders rumored to be signed on to play a
FREE show at McCarren Park Pool. (*sigh*) Brooklyn Vegan, you make my day.

OK, just in case you missed it, allow me to repeat the important stuff:
--The Breeders
--FREE
--McCarren Park Pool in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Yes, that's right kids, JellyNYC's annual Sunday Pool Parties are back at
McCarren for 2008. Hallelujah! I've been lucky enough in the past to catch
?uestlove and Beirut for free, thanks to JellyNYC. So here's the deets
according to Brooklyn Vegan:

JellyNYC is confirming that the following artists will play free Sunday shows in Brooklyn's McCarren Pool this summer:

TheBreeders, MGMT, The Hold Steady, Liars, Aesop Rock, Black Lips,Deerhunter, Fuck Buttons, Matt Kim, Black Moth Super Rainbow, TeamRobespierre, The Loved Ones, Panther, King Khan and His Shrines, &Ting Tings

Joy! The last time I saw the Breeders they were opening up for Nirvana. Yes, I
am that old. (Shhhh, don't tell anybody.)

Tags: the breeders, the hold steady, mgmt, liars, aesop rock, black lips, deerhunter, fuck buttons, matt & kim, black moth, super rainbow, team robespierre, the loved ones, panther, king khan and his shrines, ting tings, mccarren, mccarren park pool, mccarren park pool parties, pool parties, jellynyc, newyork, summer concerts, free concerts, concerts, music, live music, brooklyn vegan, breaking news, tixgirl

HOT TIP: Bloc Party NY Dates On Sale 5/2 Plus Super-Secret MSTRKRFT Show for GBH 10 Year Anniversary

2008-04-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

BREAKING NEWS:
Bloc Party have two New York dates going on sale this Friday, 5/2. Catch 'em
at Webster Hall on 8/6 and 8/7! They're one of my fave live bands. High energy
fun for all. Check out their performance of "Flux" live at the WAMU Theater at
Madison Square Garden last October:

SURPRISE SHOW:
MSTRKRFT will be playing GBH's 10 Year Anniversary Party at Webster Hall
on Friday, 5/16. It was nigh impossible tracking down the link for tix, so there it
is for ya nice and easy. Also appearing will be Grandmaster Flash and other
DJ goodness.

Tags: mstrkrft, does it offend you yeah, l.a. riots, grandmaster flash, gbh, gbh 10 year anniversary, webster hall, ny, ny club shows, private parties, concerts, music, live music, dj sets, hot tip, breaking news, tixgirl

MUST-SEE SHOW: Gogol Bordello at McCarren Park Pool

2008-04-27T13:41:00.000-07:00


	Omigod: Gogol Bordello playing McCarren Park Pool 6/20. Tix went on sale 4/25, so there should be plenty left... for now. They're huge in New York, so you better act fast!

Tags: cerrone, gogol bordello, eugene hutz, battery park, mccarren park pool, mccarren, disco, french disco, gypsy punk, ny, music, live music, concerts, must-see shows, tixgirl

NEW PHOTOS & VIDEO: Dave Matthews at Kokua Festival at Waikiki Shell Honolulu

2008-04-20T04:21:00.000-07:00

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds put on an unforgettable show at the Waikiki Shell in
Honolulu for the first night of the Kokua Festival, Jack Johnson's annual Earth Day
celebration festival on Oahu. Tim Reynolds' unusual sound was a true jaw-dropper, but
as expected, it was Dave Matthews who stole the show.

MORE DAVE MATTHEWS:
--See Photos: Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds live at Kokua Festival
--Watch Video: Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds live at Kokua Festival
--Watch Video: Dave Matthews at the Kokua Festival Press Conference MUST SEE!

TIXSNIPPETS: Ticket Buying Frenzy With Yaz, Raconteurs, The Roots, Elana James & Mackers

2008-04-13T09:39:00.000-07:00

Continuingthe ticket buying spree, bought tix to see closing night of Macbeth onBway with Patrick Stewart! Mackers! Bway! Jean-Luc Picard! 8 minutes ago
Gotmy Yaz tickets at Terminal 5 for July 16! Can't wait to see them.Actually, I guess you could say I've been waiting since 1984. about 15 hours ago
VA Friends, see Elana James &Hot Club of Cowtown at Vienna's Jammin Java 5/23. Why? http://tinyurl.com/5aarmm about 16 hours ago
Justgot my tix to the 6/1 Raconteurs show at Terminal 5. Get tix beforeit's too late! The other two nights are already sold out. about 16 hours ago
Hallelujah, The Roots' new album drops 4/29! Lots o' guests on this album, but it's ?uest that keeps me coming back every time. 2 days ago

follow tixgirl at http://twitter.com

L to R:Jack White of the Raconteurs at Roseland Ballroom, NY9/25/06
?uestlove & BlackThought of The Roots at Coachella, CA 4/29/07
Whit Smith& Elana James of the Hot Club of Cowtown at Rodeo Bar, NY3/29/07

Tags: yaz, raconteurs, elana james, hot club of cowtown, roots, macbeth, patrick stewart, jean-luc picard, broadway, mackers, bulletins, twitter, twitters, tixsnippets, tixgirl

FESTIVAL NEWS: Paid Dues Independent Hip Hop Festival with Rakim & Gza On Sale April 19

2008-04-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

Because I love to support this independent hip-hop fest, and because Gza's gonna be there...

Wu-Tang Clan at Rock the Bells, Randalls Island, NY 7/28/07

Courtesy of their lovely publicity folks:

Paid Dues Independent
Hip Hop Festival

STARRING
Rakim, GZA, Blackalicious,
Murs & 9th Wonder,
Buckshot of Boot Camp Clik, Supernatural & Scratch,
Kidz in the Hall, & Yak Ballz

June 4
6:00PM DOORS/7:00PM SHOW

On Sale Sat. April 19th at Noon!

NEW PHOTOS & VIDEO: Explosions in the Sky at Terminal 5 New York

2008-04-08T21:22:00.000-07:00

A trippy night, a trippy band, trippy chill-out music for a sold-out crowd.

New York's new uber-club, Terminal 5, was a far cry from the barely 50-member-strong
audiences in the dimly lit clubs of Austin for Explosions in the Sky, as those in the know
fondly recall. And a far cry even from the Warsaw, that Williamsburg haven of indie
discoveries in waiting. No, New York wasn't offering a kielbasa with a side of spacey
guitar freak-outs, this time around.

I'm happy for Explosions in the Sky, with their hard-earned notoriety and well-deserved
place in the pantheon of indie rock. You've come a long way, baby.

Give Explosions in the Sky's show tonight a listen and you'll understand why so many
made their way to the Westernmost reaches of NY's known universe to hear what would
normally be a soundtrack at an NYU smoke-fest. They created atmospheres, vibes and
energies. If only I could think of any less bohemian adjectives, I'd certainly use them. But,
well, listen and you'll get the idea.

MORE EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY
--See Photos: Explosions In The Sky live in New York at Terminal 5
--Watch Video: Explosions In The Sky live in New York at Terminal 5
--Buy Tickets: See Explosions in the Sky in concert

P.S. My dream Central Park Summerstage lineup for summer '08: DevendraBanhart,
Grizzly Bear and Explosions in the Sky. Now that would be anight. Explosions in the
Sky, with their heady soundscapes and anabsolute lack of any kind of vocalization,
would be a perfectcounterpoint to Grizzly Bear's harmonies and Banhart's freak folk
fuzz. And all under a starry night sky. (*sigh*) What do you say, Kara, can you make it
happen?

Tags: explosions in the sky, terminal 5, austin, tx, austin bands, new york, music, live music, concerts, new york club shows,new photos & video, grizzly bear, devendra banhart, central park summerstage, tixgirl

BREAKING NEWS: Modest Mouse & The National to Tour With REM & Tix On Sale Saturday April 5

2008-04-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

Fans of Modest Mouse and The National, rejoice! They're heading back to
New York. And guess who they'll be touring with...

R.E.M.?

OK, yeah, that sounds odd to me, too. Then again, Modest Mouse has been
known to engage in a little hero worship from time to time (read: Johnny Marr
of The Smiths, now in the band). So maybe I shouldn't be so surprised.

The important stuff: Tickets go on sale this Saturday, 4/5!
>>Buy REM / Modest Mouse / The National tickets here<<

R.E.M. tour dates with Modest Mouse & The National:

May

23 Vancouver Deer Lake Park

29 Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl

31 Berkeley The Greek Theatre

June

03 Denver Red Rocks Amphitheatre

06 Chicago United Center

08 Toronto Molson Amphitheatre

10 Raleigh Walnut Creek Amphitheatre

11 Washington, DC Merriweather Post Pavilion

13 Boston Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts

14 Wantagh Jones Beach Theater

18 Philadelphia Mann Center for the Performing Arts

19 New York City Madison SquareGarden

21 Atlanta Lakewood Amphitheatre

The National accepting their Song of the Year Award
for "Fake Empire" at the Plug Independent Music Awards,
Terminal 5, NY 3/6/08.

Tags: modest mouse, the national, rem, r.e.m., the smiths, johnny marr, touring, concerts, live music, music, tickets, on sale this weekend, breaking news, ny, tixgirl

BUZZ BANDS: David Ford is Converting the Masses One Live Show at a Time

2008-03-26T16:08:00.000-07:00

How often is it that one sees a show that drops jaws whilesimultaneously
calling into question the very nature of live music?

It's an odd question, I admit. But the moment you see David Ford perform, that
awfullyfuzzy question instantly crystalizes.

Photo by Kyle Dean Reinford at Flickr

Must a band play the instruments at all times in order for a performance to be
considered "live"? Anyone who has ever seen a DJ or an electro-popband
will instantly answer, "no, there's playback, and it's totallylegit." To them I say
sure, sure, there's a place for playback in musictoday. But playing a canned
recording is a far cry from being truly"live". And that's precisely why most
bands don't like to draw muchattention to their reliance on playback.

OK, so playback isn't precisely live. But what about looping?

Enter the maestro, David Ford. The Englishman's solo live performances are
thestuff legends are made of. Witness the buzz building to a deafening pitch
onblogs and ye olde print medium magazines. What sets Ford apart from the
usualslate of solo singer-songwriters? He is a one-man-band -- a fully
self-contained orchestra of sounds playing simultaneously, with only one dude
on the stage.

How does he do it? He’s loopy.

As Café Eclectica explained so eloquently after catching lastweek’s Bowery
Ballroom show, “Ford blew me away with his one-man looping band,where he
would play a part of the song, record it in a loop, and continuouslyadd to it.”
With a number of instruments on hand to build out his orchestralmontage,
Ford loops to create lush, many-layered, moody atmospheres with his
melancholy tunes. It’s an approach that he raises to an art form.

It also raises that tricky “what is live music” question.We’ve agreed playback
isn’t live, even when it’s used in a live show. But inthe case of David Ford’s
loops, where he plays the part right there in front ofyou, you can witness for
yourself that the first instance of the part was,indeed, live. And though it is
played back repeatedly, it’s not playback.Dambit Gumby, it IS live.

And in David Ford’s deft hands, it’s electrifying.It’s unique. It’s what makes him stand
apart from the Damien Rice and DavidGrey comparisons. It’s what enables
him to stand apart from the lushbackgrounds and refocuses our attention on
his emotive vocal performance – thepart he uses to really connect with an
audience. Most importantly, it makesconverts out of all who witness the
hitherto unheard of artist, and inspiresthem to spread the gospel.

Check out one of these upcoming shows and witness the loopinessyourself:

Mar 28 2008 8:00P TOWN BALLROOM BUFFALO - USA

Mar 29 2008 8:00P ST ANDREW’S HALL DETROIT - USA

Mar 31 2008 8:00P MERCURY LOUNGE NEW YORK - USA

Apr 15 2008 8:00P HOTEL CAFE LOS ANGELES - USA

Apr 16 2008 8:00P HOUSE of BLUES SAN DIEGO - USA

Apr 19 2008 8:00P SINGS LIKE HELL SANTA BARBARA - USA

Apr 22 2008 8:00P Paradise *SOLD OUT* Boston, Massachusetts

Apr 23 2008 8:00P Irving Plaza *SOLD OUT* New York, New York

Apr 24 2008 8:00P TLA *SOLD OUT* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Apr 28 2008 8:00P 9:30 Club *SOLD OUT* Washington DC, Washington DC

Apr 29 2008 8:00P Neighborhood Charlotte, North Carolina

Apr 30 2008 8:00P Variety Atlanta, Georgia

Tags: david ford, bell x1, bowery ballroom, british, english, uk, british bands, ny, music, live music, concerts, buzz bands, ny club shows, tixgirl

SCENE IN NY: Cut Copy Interview & Sold-Out Show at NY's Mercury Lounge

2008-03-18T22:40:00.000-07:00

It was another pinch-me moment on Monday, when your very own TixGirl sat down
with one of my favorite bands of the last several years - Australia's Cut Copy - just hours
before their sold-out show at New York's Mercury Lounge.

L to R: Cut Copy's Mitchell, Dan and Tim sit down for a beer with TixGirl at D.B.A. before the Mercury Lounge show

Here's what Mitchell, Dan and Tim had to say about their SxSW experience, breaking
into the US market, and their sound on the (phenomenal!) new album, "In Ghost
Colours," hitting the virtual shelves on April 8th.

TixGirl:
So I understand you're here in NY fresh from SxSW. How was it?

Tim:
Yeah it was good, it was a busy schedule. A lot busier than last time we were there. A lot
more shows, a lot more press. We had a lot going because we have a new record
coming out. A lot of Mexican food, as well. It was good, actually.

Tim @ The Mercury Lounge, New York, 3/17/08

Mitchell:
I looked at our schedule once we got there, and we had no time to see any other bands.
So we didn't even really look at who was playing. But we happened to catch about two
bands. One of the shows was all suits. Yeah, it was a bit weird - very SxSW experience.

TixGirl:
Were the shows down there the size venues you're used to playing?

Tim:
Well I guess it was a bit more intimate, which is kinda good at times, I think. Yeah, I like
that, it'sgood. And sometimes you do the big scene, too. I mean they catered it for us,
anyway. (laughing)

TixGirl:
SxSW isone of those events that's really geared towards breaking bands. And you know
exactly what it's like, coming from Australia, to be trying to break into the American
market. Have you had any challenges there?

Dan:
Um, not so much, um, we found that a lot of people automatically knew a lot about us
already. I guess because we already had a record out, and had toured around on a
bus. So we had a bit of an advantage on the bands coming to the States for the first time.
If anything it was just a really positive experience. We got some really good size crowds,
and a lot of people said we were the best thing they'd seen at the whole event. So yeah, it
was really positive. We hadn't released anything or toured in a while, so it was a good
thing to get in front of some really key people - the tastemakers and industry people, and
especially the real fans who will spread the word about our release when the new
record comes out. And it was good for the band to play from the record.

Dan @ The Mercury Lounge, New York, 3/17/08

TixGirl:
The new album is called "In Ghost Colours" and it's out April 8th. Congratulations on
that, by the way. I love it - I was lucky enough to get an advance copy, and everyone
I've played it for has been just amazed. I'm curious about the title...

Tim:
With Cut Copy it has always been about the whole creation of our kind of music - past
and present. Yeah and I guess it was kind of like that, like ghosts of the past.

TixGirl:
Well musically, it harkens to your first album, to me. But it sounds like a bit of a departure
from your EP. Were you trying to go in a different direction for the EP, "Lights & Music"?

Dan:
Ah, well, the EP was more like kind of a single, really. At least in Australia. I think
releasing it as an EP was more in America. But when you talk about the sound, it's really
about the album that's just coming out. With this one, the album is a lot more realized than
the first one. I think all of us, when we think of the first one, we agree we sort of got half
way there. But on the new one we got a lot closer to the sort of sounds we're after. There
are some different aspects to it - more layered, more dynamic, as well as some more
loud, dance-y sections to it. And with the guitar there were many-layered sections as
well. It got the real highs and lows, the real floaty bits, which I think is sort of a secret to
our sound, with a lot of segues so that it just sort of flows together. And I think it's a lot
more, kind of... complete.

Dan @ The Mercury Lounge, New York, 3/17/08

TixGirl:
I'm curious about how you approach writing. Cuz I mean, it's such an original sound. I
hear elements here and there of things that are familiar, whether they're New Order, or
maybe a little Brian Ferry. I'm curious how you approach the writing process, and your
influences.

Dan:
I guess with us it's just that we like challenging ourselves, and I guess internally exposing
each other to all sorts of different music.

TixGirl:
It sounds like there's such a scene in Australia right now. Or at least bands are making it
over here more. The Presets, Sarah Blasko. I feel like I'm hearing more from Australia
than I'm used to hearing. Is it a "scene", so to speak?

Mitchell:
Yeah, I think there are a bunch of bands that are all touring the US at this point. I mean
there's us, The Presets, the Midnight Juggernauts... I think it's a bit easier for Australian
bands to become more prominent in the US, just because, you know this new modern
world of technology. It took the power away from record bosses and gave it to people
you know you want to have live with the music. I mean, you've probably heard lots more
from Swedish bands, as well, right?

Mitchell @ The Mercury Lounge, New York, 3/17/08

TixGirl:
Right, it kind of cuts down those international barriers. So you're from Melbourne, right?
Is Melbourne known as a music city?

Dan:
Yeah, there's a lot of bars, and a lot of bands, and a lot of places to play. So it's definitely
a good place if you're just starting out in music.

Mitchell:
Sydney's the biggest city in Australia. But Melbourne is more like the cultural capitol.

Get a glimpse of the Cut Copy sound with these videos from the unusually tiny, turning-them-away-in-droves show at NY's Mercury Lounge, including a tune off the forthcoming album, "In Ghost Colours"...

And be sure to catch them live when they're back on US shores -- first for Coachella, and then for a full US Tour with CMJ 07's big buzz band, Black Kids.

MORE CUT COPY:
--See Photos: Cut Copy live at Mercury Lounge in NY
--Watch Video: Cut Copy live at Mercury Lounge in NY
--Find Tickets: See Cut Copy in concert

Tags: cut copy, mercury lounge, ny, dba, australia, australian, oz, aussie, australian bands, sxsw, music, live music, concerts, ny club shows, interviews, the view from my seat, scene in ny, tixgirl

SCENE IN NY: Cut Copy Afterparty Tonight Following Mercury Lounge Show

2008-03-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

The must-see show of the week deserves a must-be-seen afterparty, obviously...

Plus: Get a free download of Cut Copy's "Hearts On Fire", (Joakim remix) from the lovely ModularPeople.

Tags: cut copy, mercury lounge, new york, australia, australian bands, oz, aussie bands, the randolphe, afterparty, after-party, ny club shows, modularpeople.com, modular, fader, thefader.com, music, live music, the juan mclean, concerts, dj, electro, electronic music, scene in ny, tixgirl

SCENE IN NY: Plug Awards with Nick Cave, Jose Gonzales, Dizzee Rascal, Patton Oswalt @ Terminal 5 NY

2008-03-09T17:28:00.000-07:00

It's awards season, so why should indie music go without somehonorifics of its own? In
steps the PlugIndependent Music Awards to A.) save the day, B.) give indieartists some
well-deserved exposure, and C.) give NY hipsters ananti-awards show to not dress up
for. (Ironict-shirts being the only exception, as comedian and PlugAwards host Patton
Oswalt pointed out in his opening speechification.)

ThePros
A few things I love about the PlugAwards:
1. Theirmission.
2. Their choice of Terminal5 as a venue. Nothing says"independent" more than the city's
newest venue floating on its own asthe lone outpost of hipster street cred in the dead
calm of MidtownWest Manhattan. I mean, seriously, the only other venues remotely
nearby are Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center! Opera buffs would bescandalized if they
only knew what lurked past 11th Ave.
3.The upstairs VIParea. A-buzz with excitement, lush without being too luxe,lots of
famous-face photo ops, and free drinks. Oh, and a kick-ass viewfrom above for when
your feet just couldn't stand the flooranymore.
4. Their inclusion of best music site, best musicblog, and best music zine in the
nominationcategories. It's like a crib sheet for any new scenesterworth their salt. Get
thee to Google and set up your RSS's today, myfriend. You'll have all the music news
you can handle from these threelists alone.
5. They understand the power of the indie onlineradio station. KCRW and KEXP are
among the brightest stars in thatfirmament, and despite the public's rapid movement away
fromterrestrial radio, these online radio stars show no signs ofdimming.
6. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Jose Gonzales. Michael Showalter's Mixtapes. Dizzee
Rascal. Thatfirst duo that opened up the whole show. (Who were they,anyway? I must know!)

L to R: Nick Cave, recipient of the Plug Impact Award, performing with his legendary band the Bad Seeds

TheCons
While certainly deserving of our attention,admiration, and ceaseless celeblogtion, there
were a few spots wherethis year's installment fell flat:
1. This year's lineup oflive performers left a little to be desired. I mean compare this year
to last year's lineup. Um hello, what are we? Chopped liva? Don't wedeserve the same
kind of stellar lineup as last year'scrowd?
2. Nobody showed up to accept their awards. I take thatback. Only St. Vincent, The
National and Nick Cave showed up to accepttheir awards. Even the Battles took the
stage only to hand out an award-- not to accept their own for Best Video. What's up
withthat?!
3. Ok so you couldn't be there in the flesh, but whywas it that only Justice bothered to
do a video acceptance of theiraward? You other winners too lazy? Or did you somehow
know in the backsof your minds that a video acceptance would be just as awkward as
noacceptance at all?
4. Technical difficulties. Poor, poor WhiteDenim and their unlucky bassist. And that's all
I have to say aboutthat.
5. Bad band branding. I still have no idea who the veryfirst band (twosome) was,and
they were among my favorite performancesof the whole evening. So if you're here to
spread the word aboutunknown artists, then by all means, spread the word. In print. In
biglights. Over the stage. And leave it up there the whole time they'replaying. Or
somewhere. Or at least put a list of the performers on yourofficial website. Not just the
highlights you thought newsworthyenough. The Plug Awards are just as much about the
little guy as thebloggable behemoth, remember?
6. What do all of the previous 5Cons have in common? Do they speak to a larger
problem? Maybe theindustry wasn't ready to embrace an awards show that is all about
embracing the unknown. But if that's the case, how come last year'slineup was so
strong? I know there's a message in there somewhere. Ijust haven't quite figured out
what it is.

L to R: Dizzee Rascal, Jose Gonzales, Fred Armisen presenting Plug Award to Annie of St. Vincent, Ian of the Battles

Pros and cons aside, the 2008 Plug Awards are likea one-stop-shopping list for all your
indie needs. So open a newbrowser window, pull uptheir nominees/winners list, and
settle in for a Spring thatreally sings.

Thanks, Plug Awards! Can'twait to see what (or who) is happening in the scene nextyear...

FESTIVAL NEWS: All Points West Festival is Coachella for the East Coast

2008-03-04T18:27:00.000-08:00

Have you snagged your All Points West Festtickets yet? Seriously, have you? Got mine
today, and it's the one thingconsoling me over my depressing inability to attend
Coachella. But believe itor not, this is actually betterthan Coachella, if one can even
conceive of such a thing. Yessiree,my 3-day passes to the All Points West Fest
guarantee that I get to seeRadiohead twice. Yes, TWICE! Wait, think about that for a
sec. Nowrun and go getyour tickets here!

Yes, you East Coast Radioheadnaysayers still have many reasons to catch the All Points
West Festival.Spanning the weekend of August 8-10, it's the first festival to attempt on
theEastern Seaboard what Goldenvoice has achieved so magnificently in the desertwith
Coachella: A multi-day, must-see festival bringing together a diversearray of genres and
the buzziest of buzz-worthy bands. Yep, this is your shotat bragging rights for the next
full year, cuz you caught all the bands thecool kids will be talking about. And you'll have
thephotos to prove your newly cemented indie kid cred.

Myfavorite things about the All Points West Festival:
--Radioheadheadlining TWO nights (and I'll keep saying it, thank you verymuch!)
--Chromeo
--CSS
--The Roots
--TheNew Pornographers
--Mates of State
--Cat Power
--Sia
--AnimalCollective
--Amadou & Mariam
--Rodrigo yGabriela
--Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
--Oh yeah,and Jack Johnson is headlining day 3. How's that for switching it up?

The All Points West Festival 2008Official Lineup

Friday, August 8th
Blue Comet

Bullet

Queen of the Valley

Saturday, August 9th
Blue Comet

Bullet

Queen of the Valley

Sunday, August 10th
Blue Comet

Bullet

Queen of the Valley

>>Get Tickets: All Points West Festival<<

Tags: all points west festival, all points west, radiohead, jack johnson, chromeo, underworld, kings of leon, rodrigo y gabriela, cat power, the roots, the new pornographers, youssou n'dour, animalcollective, andrew bird, the secret machines, michael franti & spearhead, metric, css, girl talk, the go! team, amadou & mariam, sia, grace potter and the nocturnals, black kids, mates of state, liberty state park, jersey city, nj, ny, music, live music, concerts, festivals, summer festivals, tickets, festival news, coachella, goldenvoice, tixgirl

SCENE IN NY: Bust Magazine Launch Party w/ Heloise & the Savoir Faire & Mixel Pixel

2008-02-05T16:13:00.000-08:00

Fashion Week = Parties Parties Parties

What's more fashionable than a big bust? A big Bust Magazine launch party. Yessiree, it
was a look-at-me fest at Fontana's last night, where the hipster femmes flitted about
feeling fabulous about their busts. I mean their new copies of Bust - you know, the one
with Eve on the cover, flashing the claws that famously festoon the tops of her t!t$.

What was it going to take to get us in the mood? Some live music from a pair of New
York's fave female-fronted electro outfits. Heloise & the Savoir Faire followed Mixel
Pixel to the tiny stage. Could the one out-weird the other? I think not! This is New York,
baby, where the fashionable set sings, "I keep on dancin, baby, yeah yeah yeah."

MORE MORE MORE:
--Heloise & The Savoir Faire
--Mixel Pixel
--Bust Magazine

Tags: heloise & the savoir faire, mixel pixel, bust magazine, bust magazine release party, bust magazine feb/mar issue, eve, fontana's, ny, ny club shows, ny fashion week, fashion week parties, music, live music, concerts, scene in ny, tixgirl

FESTIVAL NEWS: Bonnaroo 2008 Dates Announced, Lineup Coming Soon

2008-01-30T16:19:00.000-08:00

The latest from the Bonnaroo website...

It'sofficial! The 7th Annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is nowconfirmed for June 12 - 15, 2008. The four-day camping and musicfestival will once again be held on our beautiful, 700-acre farm inManchester, TN, 60 miles southeast of Nashville.

We'll beannouncing our spectacular 2008 line up and more in late January/earlyFebruary. Stay tuned to this website and look for our emailannouncements for all upcoming festival information and more. Onceagain, we're looking forward to seeing everyone down on the farm inManchester for yet another unforgettable Bonnaroo Music and ArtsFestival!

More to come as additional info is released...

Tags: bonnaroo, bonnaroo festival, bonnaroo 2008, manchester, tn, bonnaroo music and arts festival, camping, music, live music, concerts, festivals, summer festivals, festival news, tixgirl

FESTIVAL NEWS: Bamboozle Festival 2008 Lineup Announced Plus Bamboozle Roadshow Tour

2008-01-29T17:54:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again, my festival-going friends. Yup, it's the season of the festival
lineup announcement. Meaning we'll have lots of festy news to catch up on and lots of
advance notice to set about planning our Spring/Summer concert calendars. Get
psyched!

Here's the first, for folks in the greater NY / Tri-State area: Bamboozle Festival 2008.

Don't live anywhere near the Meadowlands? Fret not! The nice folks behind the fest are
sending a Bamboozle Roadshow out on tour to capture the ears of future fans
nation-wide. Here's the lineup, courtesy of the lovely Live Nation publicity peeps.

GET TICKETS & INFO:
--Bamboozle Festival 2008 Tickets | Official Site
--Bamboozle Roadshow Tickets | Official Site
--Last Year's Lineup

FESTIVAL NEWS: Coachella 2008 Lineup With Portishead, Kraftwerk, Breeders, Love & Rockets

2008-01-24T17:35:00.000-08:00

Holy @$#%! Portishead AND Kraftwerk BOTH playing Coachella 2008?!
Kim Deal bringing the Breeders back from the dead?! Daniel Ash rises from
the ashes to bring Love & Rockets to the California desert? And here I thought
I might skip Coachella this year. HA!

Jack White of the Raconteurs, Roseland Ballroom, NY 9/25/06 | Justice, Terminal 5, NY 10/22/07 | Stars, Town Hall, NY 10/18/07

TixGirl's Picks:
Day 1: The Verve, The Raconteurs, The Breeders, Tegan & Sara, Stars, Aesop Rock,
Les Savy Fav, Midnight Juggernauts, Diplo, Jens Lekman, Architecture in Helsinki,
Cut Copy (yay!)

Day 2: Portishead (holy crap!), Kraftwerk (am I dreaming?), Death Cab, Rilo Kiley,
Hot Chip, Cold War Kids, Animal Collective, DeVotchKa, Islands, Jamie T, VHS or
Beta,Kavinsky, New Young Pony Club

Day 3: Roger Waters, Love & Rockets (at last!), My Morning Jacket, Justice, Gogol
Bordello, Chromeo, The Streets, Simian Mobile Disco, Dimitri from Paris, Sia, Black
Kids, Shout Out Louds

MORE COACHELLA:
--Get Tickets: Coachella 2008
--See Photos & Video: Coachella 2007
--Get More Info: Coachella Official Site

Coachella Festival Grounds 2007, Indio, CA 4/27 - 4/29/07

Tags: coachella, coachella valley music & arts festival, coachella festival, coachella 2008, portishead, kraftwerk, raconteurs, death cab for cutie, the breeders, my morning jacket, festivals, summer festivals, indie music, indio, ca, palm springs, music, live music, breaking news, music news, concerts, outdoor concerts, tickets, festival news, tixgirl

BREAKING NEWS: Cut Copy & The Presets US Concerts Supporting New Releases

2008-01-24T17:08:00.000-08:00

Testing, 1… 2…. Yes, I'm breaking the radio silence from settingup the new home for TixGirl.com to report some awesome news: My two faveAustralian bands, Cut Copy and The Presets, both have new albums queued up todrop within the next several months. And they're coming to the US for some rareshow dates! Oh happy day!

Here's the super-secret scoop, before the press releaseshit the wires… Cut Copy will be playing:

3/10 Los Angeles @ The Echo

3/12 SXSW @ Modular showcase

3/15 Brooklyn @ Studio B

3/17 New York @ Mercury Lounge

Could I be more psyched? Um, no. This will be my firsttime EVER seeing Cut Copy. Did I mention EVER? Despite the fact that I’ve been spreadingthe word like a dance evangelist and turning it up to 11 every chance I get, I’veyet to see the mad Melbournians live. If you haven’t heard their last album,Bright Like Neon Love, run straight to your local iTunes Search Box and buyyourself a little helping of boogie goodness.

The Presets, they of the eclectic dance insanity fromSydney, are dropping their new album shortly, too. Rumor has it they’ll be in LA for a few intimatedates long before they return for their proper North American tour behind thenew album. You lucky Angelenos! P.S. TheUS tour kicks off in May or June.

Between the Cut Copy and Presets news, and Justice at WAMUTheater at MSG, my Spring promises to be just as full of incredible electronicmusic shows as was my 2007. Now if only my fave Australian soloist, SarahBlasko, could be induced to follow their examples. (*sigh*) Sarah or no, I’m soexcited I can barely see straight.

Tags: cut copy, the presets, sarah blasko, justice, sidney, melbourne, australia, oz, aussie, australian music, aussie bands, dance, dance music, electronic music, techno, dj, music, live music, concerts, tours, touring, new york, breaking news, tixgirl

2007 YEAR IN REVIEW: Best in Live Music - Electronic Music Explodes

2007-12-31T17:39:00.000-08:00

2007 Year In Review:
Best Live Music | Best Coachella Catch | Best CMJ Ticket | Best Crowd

Maybe I've been living under a rock and you've known it all along, butis electronic music
having a new renaissance? What I'm talking aboutextends beyond just the realm of the
recording to the live concertexperience. Not only has it been a ridiculously good year for
releases,but it's been an unparalleled year (in my memory, at least) for thesheer number
of electronic tours to come across our doorsteps.

Take these videos and photos of the best live shows I saw this year as cases in point.

1: Daft Punk
Keyspan Park, Coney Island, NY
One of the Top 3 shows I've ever seen.
Photos | Video

2: Justice
Terminal 5, NY
Photos

3: Paul Van Dyk
Central Park Summerstage, Rumsey Playfield, NY
Photos | Video

4: Bjork
United Palace Theatre, Harlem, NY
Photos |  Video

5: DJ Krush
Highline Ballroom, NY
Photos |  Video

6: Simian Mobile Disco
KEXP Live Broadcast from CMJ, Gibson Showroom, NY
Photos   |   Videos

7: LCD Soundsystem
Randall's Island, NY
Photos   |   Videos

8: UNKLE
Webster Hall CMJ Showcase, NY
Photos   |   Videos

9: Teddybears
Hiro Ballroom, Maritime Hotel, NY
Photos   |   Videos

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Runners-Up:
I'dlike to call out Brazilian Girls, CSS and Klaxons as among the topDance shows, as
well. All of them at Coachella, btw. But alas, I thinkit's appropriate to set the limit of
requiring some portion of themusic to be performed by DJs in order to be considered
true "electronicmusic." So there you have it.


Brazilian Girls | CSS | Klaxons
Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2007, Indio, CA

Tags: 2007, 2007 year in review, year in review, new years, electronic music, dance music, techno, dj, music, live music, concerts, tixgirl

2007 YEAR IN REVIEW: Best Coachella Catch - The Good, The Bad & The Queen

2007-12-31T17:36:00.000-08:00

2007 Year In Review:
Best Live Music | Best Coachella Catch | Best CMJ Ticket | Best Crowd

Best Coachella Catch:
1: The Good, The Bad & The Queen:    Photos   |   Videos
2: Bjork:                                            Photos   |   Videos
3: Brazilian Girls:                                Photos   |   Videos
4: CSS:                                             Photos   |   Videos
5: Klaxons:                                        Photos   |   Videos
6: Peter Bjorn and John:                     Photos   |   Videos
7: The Arcade Fire:                            Photos   |   Videos
8: Rufus Wainwright:                          Photos   |   Videos
9: The Decemberists:                         Photos   |   Videos


The Good, The Bad & The Queen | Peter Bjorn & John | The Arcade Fire | Rufus Wainwright | The Decemberists
Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2007, Indio, CA

Tags: 2007, 2007 year in review, year in review, new years, new york, music, live music, concerts, coachella, ca, coachella valley music & arts festival, festivals, tixgirl

2007 YEAR IN REVIEW: Best CMJ Ticket - KEXP Seattle In-Studio Live Broadcasts from CMJ

2007-12-31T17:31:00.000-08:00

2007 Year In Review:
Best Live Music | Best Coachella Catch | Best CMJ Ticket | Best Crowd

Best CMJ Ticket: KEXP Seattle In-Studio Live Broadcasts from CMJ Music Marathon
Featuringlive performances broadcast from the Gibson Showroom, NY

Why didn'teverybody do this? It made KEXP the only terrestrial radio station onmy
radar right now. (Sorry, FNX, it's been a while.) It was the abilityto sit right in the room
with the artists that made these shows THEguest list to be on. The interviews and
between-tune banter made theBand of Horses broadcast one of the most memorable of
my CMJexperience. But as for incredible performances, watching cross-leggedon the
studio floor while Simian Mobile Disco did their animatedknob-twiddling was one of my
most favorite live "show" memories of theyear altogether.

1: Simian Mobile Disco Photos   |   Videos
2: Band of Horses    Photos   |   Videos
3: The Maccabees    Photos


SimianMobile Disco | Band of Horses
KEXP Live Broadcast,2007 CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival, Gibson Guitar Showroom, NY

Tags: cmj, cmj music marathon, cmj music marathon & film festival, new york, festivals, indie music, simian mobile disco, band of horses, the maccabees, music, live music, concerts, radio, live broadcast, live radio broadcast, kexp, seattle, tixgirl

2007 YEAR IN REVIEW: Best Crowd - Keyspan Park, Coney Island for Daft Punk

2007-12-31T17:26:00.000-08:00

2007 Year In Review:
Best Live Music | Best Coachella Catch | Best CMJ Ticket | Best Crowd

Best Crowd: Keyspan Park, Coney Island for Daft Punk
DaftPunk wins, hands down. But the fever that spread through Terminal 5when the
Daft Punk discoveries, Justice, nearly tore the roof off them*otherf*cker led to an
unbelievable display of wild abandon. Bacchuswould have been proud.

The crowd for Daft Punk @ Coney Island, NY

1: Daft Punk, Keyspan Park at Coney Island, NY      Photos | Video
2: Justice, Terminal 5, NY                                          Photos
3: Gogol Bordello, Irving Plaza, NY                       Photos | Video
4: Rufus Wainwright, Central Park Summerstage, NY Photos | Video
5: Paul Van Dyke, Central Park Summerstage, NY     Photos | Video
6: Les Savy Fav, Randall's Island, NY                          Photos | Video
7: Cypress Hill, Rock the Bells at Randall's Island, NY Photos | Video
8: Balkan Beat Box, Bowery Ballroom, NY       Photos | Video
9: Justin Timberlake, Madison Square Garden, NY      Photos | Video

The crowd for Justice @ Terminal 5, NY

Tags: 2007, new year, year in review, best crowd, live music, music, concerts, new york, tixgirl

NEW PHOTOS & VIDEO: Cake & Brazilian Girls at Terminal 5 NY Dec 12th

2007-12-16T13:25:00.000-08:00

Finally! (*gush*) After nearly a decade of near misses attempting tosee my beloved
band and cursing Murphy's Law run amok, I have at lastwitnessed the Unlimited
Sunshine that is a Cake concert. Yay!

Forgive my giggling girlitude about the matter, but there's justsomething so uplifting and
happy-making about Cake.

How do theyinvariably manage to make me feel so good? Maybe it's their quirky,
winking lyrics. (I offer up "Satan is my motor, feel my motor purr," asevidence.) Maybe
it's their Mexicali funk-tinged alt-pop, that sounded sodifferent from anything else the 90s
pumped out. Possibly it's thatunmistakable rockabilly guitar with its ballsy, low end
fullness thatanchors the lightheartedness. Very likely it's that signature trumpetthat makes
every Cake tune immediately identifiable. Most definitelyit's the "aw yeah, aw no, alright"
that punctuates nearly every tune.I can't get enough of those. I find myself 'aw yeah, aw
no,alright'ing for days after listening to Cake, and it never ceases tomake me smile.

Theone thing missing from my adoration was the ability to say, "Aw yeah,I've seen 'em
live." And now I can gladly say that Cake live up to allmy expectations live. No wonder
they've dubbed their annual trek theUnlimited Sunshine Tour. They spin sunlight. Sample
some of these livemoments, and let the sun shine in on your long winter's nap.

Thisyear's trek celebrates the release of their new album, "B-Sides andRarities." Anyone
who had one of those, "Is that... could it be..."moments hearing the opening notes to
Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" wouldbe well advised to pick up a copy of the new disc.
(See what I said about it at Spinner.com.)

Alsoalong for the ride were one of my most favorite live bands: TheBrazilian Girls.
Sabina and Co. were their New York arty, gorgeousselves. But alas, it wasn't exactly
the right pairing of sounds for atour. Brazilian Girls are the epitome of nighttime New
York. They arenot happy-go-lucky, sunshiney, nor goofy. What they are is sexy,
sophisticated, and sultry with a sly, European lunacy. It's like addinga single trip-hop
band to an all alt-folk lineup. And I think itbackfired.

TheBrazilians tried their darnedest, but they never won over the Terminal5 crowd. And
their energy flagged as a result, which simply served toperpetuate the problem.

Alas, the 12th just wasn't their night.Therefore, I choose to remember their free show at
Brooklyn's FortGreene Park a summer or two ago, where they proved they really can
besunshine-friendly in an outdoor summertime setting. Or their triumphantturn last New
Years Eve atIrving Plaza. Or their hot as hellfire showin the CA desert last Spring at
Coachella.

Check out one of my faves from Coachella and see why I love them so...

MORE CAKE LIVE
--See Photos: Cake live at Terminal 5 in NY
--Watch Video: Cake live at Terminal 5 in NY
--Get Tickets: See Cake live in concert

MORE BRAZILIAN GIRLS LIVE
--See Photos: Brazilian Girls live at Terminal 5, Coachella, New Years Eve at Irving
--Watch Video: Brazilian Girls live at Terminal 5 and Coachella
--Watch Video: Brazilian Girls New Years Eve show live at Irving Plaza
--Get Tickets: See Brazilian Girls New Years Eve in San Francisco

Tags: cake, brazilian girls, unlimited sunshine tour, terminal 5, new york, music, live music, concerts, ny club shows, coachella, new years eve, tixgirl

HUH-WHA?: Howlin Pelle Almqvist of The Hives Attempts Fatal Stare-Off

2007-12-03T12:35:00.000-08:00

(*sigh*) Yet another reason to love The DL Show on Spinner.com:

Tags: the dl show, dl show, the hives, howlin pelle almqvist, staring contest, sweden, swedish rock, indie music, spinner.com, videos, huh-wha, tixgirl

HOT TIP: Gogol Bordello Guarantee a Crazy New Year's Eve at Terminal 5

2007-11-28T16:26:00.000-08:00

Looking for something extraordinary to set this New Year's Eve apart from all that came
before? Say it with me: "Gogol Bordello"

Yessiree, the band that brought Gypsy Punk to the masses is celebrating the birth of
another year at my new favorite NY venue, Terminal 5. Why is this so extraordinary?
Well, first of all, it's Gogol Bordello.And that means it's one of the most wild,
unabashedly rowdy live actsyou'll ever see. That energy whips their fans into a frenzy the
likesof which I've rarely seen at an indie rock show.

Justlook at what they did to the crowd at Irving Plaza last July (above).Then imagine
that magnified by the size of Terminal 5 (below).

Canyou picture the party? Not quite convinced? Check out how Eugene Hutz& Co.
bring down the house on a date of no particular annualimportance, and imagine how that
would translate to New Years eve...

Yeah, now you see what I mean. But will I see you there? We shall see...

GOGOL BORDELLO LIVE:
--Get Tickets: Gogol Bordello @ Terminal 5 New Year's Eve
--See Photos: Gogol Bordello live in NY @ Irving Plaza
--Watch Video: Gogol Bordello live in NY @ Irving Plaza
--Read Interview: Eugene Hutz talks with TixGirl

Tags: gogol bordello, terminal 5, new york, new years, new years eve, new years eve concerts, new years eve shows, club shows, ny club shows, tickets, concerts, music, live music, hot tip, tixgirl

FESTIVAL NEWS: Bumbershoot 2008 3-Day Passes for Only $60 - Get Special Code

2007-11-27T10:55:00.000-08:00

Bumbershoot is one of the best reasons I can think of for loving US music fests. Not that
I have actually been to Bumbershoot myself, mind you. I know, I know, you're thinking
"how can she make some grandiose statement like that without firsthand experience?!"
You're right. So maybe I should take advantage of this uh-mazing offer and 'go west,
young [wo]man!'

Here's the deets, straight from the Bumbershoot peeps:

Bumbershoot 2008 (August 30 – September 1)

It's an Insider's Deal just for BumberFans. The best part is BumberFans can

get these limited offer tickets at last year's Insider's Deal prices—just $60 for a

three-day pass to the Festival that hits all the right notes by celebrating

eclectic music AND innovative arts.

Yes, you read that right. You can lay your hands on a 3-day pass for

considerably less than if you bought two single day tickets… it's like getting a

whole day of party for free! These tickets aren't available to the public, and

they're never going to bethis cheap again, so don't put it off or you'll kick

yourself later.

All you need is the special code that allows you access!

You ready? Here it is: BUMBERHOLIDAY.

Get tickets here: http://www.bumbershoot.org/tickets/

Tags: bumbershoot, tickets, festivals, summer festivals, bumbershoot 2008, bumbershoot festival 2008, seattle, wa, festival news, ticket discounts, tixgirl

THE VIEW FROM MY SEAT: Via Audio Live at the Lion’s Den in New York

2007-11-05T16:30:00.000-08:00

Via Audio are my new favorite cause. I want to help the whole world learn their name,
learn their tunes,and learn to love them the way I do. Alas, I doubt my modest blog has
quite that kind of reach... But CMJ sure does. In fact, that's exactlywhat CMJ is all
about: Taking the unknown, unsigned, or otherwiseundiscovered and elevating them to
the forefront of crowd consiousness.A showcase at CMJ gets 'em where it counts -- a
packed audience full offuture fans in the making, and music industry influencers.

After months of near misses, I finally had my shot at seeing the one local Brooklyn band I
wanted to catch above any other at CMJ. With a slot just before the Meat Puppets, the
Lion's Den sported a packed house for Via Audiothat 10/17 evening. They're a little
unpolished, a bit sloppy, and evenover-excited at times. But with some time to grow,
their liveperformance will catch up with their songwriting.

Thatsongwriting is downright formidable at its highest points, as you canplainly hear
on their debut album, Say Anything. These kids think inpop confections whose melodic
simplicity is beautiful... and catchy ashell. Each one of them has a point of view. Each
one a marked style,presence and personality onstage. Give them a listen and you'll pick
up on hints of both of Montreal's whimsical pop tunesmithing, and delivery akin to Mates
of State (who also played that evening across town at Avalon).

Take in some of this footage,and you'll hear the roots of something special in the making.
With anever-broadening fan base, much of which is thanks to their CMJ facetime,
they're sure to clock more time onstage. I'm looking forward towatching their live show
mature in front of my very eyes. Join me, andwhen they explode, we can all say we
knew them when.

Seeing the as-yet undiscovered hit the radar for the first time. Isn't that exactly the point of CMJ?

MORE VIA AUDIO LIVE :
--See Photos: Via Audio @ the Lion's Den
--Watch Video: Via Audio @ the Lion's Den
--Hear Tunes: Via Audio's MySpace
--See Them Live: Find Tour Dates

Tags: via audio, cmj, cmj music marathon, lion's den, meat puppets, mates of state, of montreal, brooklyn, new york, avalon, music, live music, indie music, festivals, music festivals, concerts, club shows, ny club shows, tixgirl

HOT TIP: Whitey Plays Cheeky Bastard’s DUMBO Loft Party this Halloween Weekend

2007-10-25T14:51:00.000-07:00

Got plans for this Halloween weekend? Despite being in semi-hibernation since CMJ
& Justice / Midnight Juggernauts,this DUMBO loft party with Whitey is just what the
doctor ordered toget me up and out the door in my dancing shoes... matching my
costume,of course.

Cheeky B*stard Loft Party!!!!
Featuring Whitey & Rory Phillips (Trash,UK)
Saturday Oct 27 - in DUMBO. Open Bar All Night!

When we heard that one of the best electro artists ever to come out of the UK, Whitey
(a.k.a. Nathan J Whitey) was going to be in town this weekend andlooking to perform,
we just simply had to throw a party... and seeingas we haven't thrown a loft party for a
while... well... you know howit goes.

Whitey (currently on Dimmak Records in the US) has caught the ear ofmany in the music
industry. You have probably heard his single 'NonStop' on the Mitusubishi commercial -
but if that's all you have heardthen you are missing out. Whitey has remixed (among
others) Soulwax,Chromeo, Kylie, Bloc Party... and his tracks have appeared on
compilations by from Kitsune Records, The Glimmers and too many more tomention.
His latest album 'The Light at the End of the Tunnel is aTrain' is nothing short of
breathtaking, and he has a new album due outshortly. More...

>>Get all the details<< with the restof this handy flyer from those Cheeky Bastards.
Note: It says absolutely nothing about costumes being required for entry, so you have
no excuse to stay home!

Now where did I put that wig?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't live in NYC?
Whitey's on tour!
Full sked below.

Tags: whitey, rory, trash london, philpot, loft party, halloween, halloween party, ny loft party, cheeky bastard, dumbo, brooklyn, ny, music, live music, concerts, dj, electronic, hot tip, tixgirl

THE VIEW FROM MY SEAT: Klaxons @ Webster Hall

2007-10-24T20:31:00.000-07:00

Nu-rave, nu-shmave. Genre labels be damned, Klaxons are a party band. And I don't
mean the kind you suffered through while waiting in line for the keg. I mean they're the
kind of band that brings the party. It's nigh impossible to avoid having fun at a Klaxons
show, no matterhow gray your day was, nor how dead set against grinning like a fool
you may be. I mean seriously, there I was at Webster Hall on 10/12having lost my
schmancy new cell phone and my driver's license, and Istill couldn't help but forget my
troubles and shake my @$$.

With their infectious beats, multi-part harmonies and synth-laden sonics, it's no wonder
the Mercury Prize winners are catnip to the club kid set. And the club kids were certainly
out in force at Webster Hall, requisite glow sticks in hand. But with a heavier, more
aggro tone to several of their tunes, they've drawn a much more diverse crowd than I
would have expected. And that made me happy.

Why? It shows promise. Not only does it mean the US market can see beyond the
pigeon-holing labels, but it also means that Klaxons have a good shot at having legs. They
may well achieve the brass ring of longevity and ever-broadening appeal that signals a
solid future in the biz. I can't wait to see what they do next.

Unfortunately, I may have to. The Webster show was their last US performance at the
tail end of a grueling touring season that saw them in Cali as early as April at Coachella.
After such a lengthy road, who can blame them for heading back across the pond to
savor their Mercury Prize win and relax. ...And then hopefully start the party up again.

MORE KLAXONS LIVE:
--See Photos: Klaxons at Webster Hall
--See Photos: Klaxons at Coachella
--Watch Video: Klaxons at Coachella

Tags: klaxons, mercury prize, nationwide mercury prize, britain, uk, england, british bands, electro, dance rock, nu-rave, webster hall, new york, music, live music, concerts, new photos, tixgirl

NEW PHOTOS & VIDEO: Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem, Blonde Redhead, Les Savy Fav @ Randalls Island

2007-10-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

The must-see show of the fall season? I think most in NY would agree that Randall's
Island can boast having hosted that show: Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem, Blonde
Redhead, Les Savy Fav and openers, Wild Light, 10/6/07.

>>Arcade Fire

Yeah, read that lineup again. What indie music fan could live with themselves having
passed up that opportunity? Not I, certainly. Thankfully, not only did I get to catch the
show, but I also got to shoot it. Watch and believe:

MORE FROM THE SHOW:
--See Photos: Arcade Fire @ Randall's Island
--See Photos: LCD Soundsystem @ Randall's Island
--See Photos: Blonde Redhead @ Randall's Island
--See Photos: Les Savy Fav @ Randall's Island
--See Photos: Wild Light @ Randall's Island
--Watch Video: Arcade Fire @ Randall's Island
--Watch Video: LCD Soundsystem, Blonde Redhead, Les Savy Fav & Wild Light

>>L to R: LCD Soundsystem, Blonde Redhead, Les Savy Fav

THE VIEW FROM MY SEAT: DJ Krush @ Highline Ballroom 10/4/07

2007-10-16T15:57:00.000-07:00

Why am I only now finding out about DJ Krush? He's been making history, forging new
ground, pioneering in the turntablist arts for well over 10 years. "History of DJ Krush" is a
fitting tribute to a man equally respected among the hip-hop community as he is by the
electronic cognoscenti. The "History of DJ Krush" is both the DVD release around which
the buzz machine kicked in, and the unexpected gift that introduced me to something I
find extraordinarily memorable. (Thank you, Justin!)

Let's get this straight: DJ Krush is from Tokyo. Despite the language barrier, he has
collaborated with some of the brighter lights in the landscape of DJs and vocalists. You'll
find Black Thought of The Roots, the heavenly Esthero, and even Zap Mama's Marie
Daulne. But rather than being an unseen force behind the scenes, DJ Krush is really the
scene-stealer here. His beats are what I can only lamely under-describe as "fat." Words
just don't do it justice. And nowhere is this more evident then in seeing DJ Krush live.

DJ Krush is the perpetrator of some of the lowest low ends I've ever encountered live.
My ears sang with joy. (Disclaimer: I have a particular weakness for bass.) His taste in
hooks -- both vocal and instrumental -- areinfectious in the way that only the most gifted
trip-hop auteurs can boast. I'm thinking Portishead. I'm thinking Massive Attack. An
elder-statesman after more than 10 years on the international scene, it's a rarefied
universe that DJ Krush finds himself inhabiting.

All of the aforementioned owes a debt of honor to Krush's most noteworthy ability. He is
a world-class, stunning turntablist. This man spins. Seeing him spin, one is mesmerized by
the speed and agility of his fingers. He plays it all live. His fingers move like smoke and
mirrors. They are magic, and lightning fast.

The best thing about the "History of DJ Krush" release is that it comes with three
individual DVDs, two of which are heavily saturated with live footage. You can watch the
man's fingers move up close, in ways that my humble video couldn't capture. I only hope
you can get a smidgen of a sense of the kind of atmospheric webs DJ Krush weaves
within the confines of four walls.

MORE DJ KRUSH LIVE:
-See Photos: DJ Krush live at Highline Ballroom NY
-Watch Videos: DJ Krushlive at Highline Ballroom NY

Tags: dj krush, history of dj krush, dj, electronic, trip-hop, hip-hop, turntables, turntablist, japan, tokyo, new york, highline ballroom, concerts, music, live music, club shows, ny club shows, the view from my seat, tixgirl

MUST-SEE SHOW: Klaxons Celebrate Mercury Award Win With NY Plus Sasha & Spooky

2007-10-12T14:59:00.000-07:00

New Yorkers: Looking for something to do TONIGHT that's all thriller, no filler?
Try the double-biller of Webster's October calendar: The Klaxons, plus a late-night
dance bacchanal that features legendary Welsh dj Sasha and his new London cohorts,
production duo Spooky.

New Yorkers are lucky to catch the Klaxons' last US date before heading back over the
pond to the land that, just last month, awarded them the internationally prestigious
Nationwide Mercury Prize for 2007. Past winners have included otherworldly expat
Antony and the Johnsons, and Arctic Monkeys, who found themselves nominated again
this year.

Show up by 8pm and you'll most likely be in time to catch the openers, billed as "Special
Surprise Guest". Ok, intriguing...

Meanwhile, late night revelers will shake it to the sounds of Sasha. You'll recognize the
name from Sasha and Digweed fame. They've recently collaborated in the studio with
interesting new production duo from London, Spooky. Tonight marks their first-ever
show together in New York, and they'll celebrate the release of the fruit of their
collaboration, the new double disc "Open."

See you there. Yeah, that's me up front with the camera, so say hello.

Tags: klaxons, sasha, spooky, digweed, nationwide mercury prize, mercury prize, uk, britain, england, london, wales, dj, electro, electronic, dance, dance music, music, live music, clubs,club shows, ny club shows, coachella, webster, webster hall, new york, must-see shows, tixgirl

CMJ MADNESS: Brooklyn Vegan’s Recommendations Help Us Cut Through The Noise at CMJ

2007-10-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

OK, so I've been poring over the CMJ schedule, and just as in years past, I've noticed
that old familiar creeping sensation of being overwhelmed. (*sigh*) This may be
unbloggerly conduct, but I'm going to admit my extreme uncoolness and announce, "I
have never heard of most of these bands! Who the Hell am I going to choose?!" I mean,
I love a whole slew of the band names (The Most Serene Republic, Care Bears on Fire,
The Beasts of Eden, Tall Firs, and most especially Giddy-up, Helicopter), but is that
reason enough to see them? Ummmm...

Granted, there ARE tons of bands whose shows I've been anxiously awaiting for weeks,
and in the case of Via Audio, months even. But still, I know I could use some advice
from a sage one, full of CMJ wisdom. Couldn't you?

As if on cue, enter Pop Tarts Suck Toasted and Brooklyn Vegan: The Interview. Thank
you, Pop Tarts Suck Toasted. Not only have you revealed Brooklyn Vegan's name
(Dave), but you've also had the forethought to provide us with a lovely Q&A to help us
mine our CMJ schedules and make the most of our precious time to rock. A few snippets
to whet the appetite:

- Out of your lineups what bands are you most excited to see?
I'm really excited to see everyone, but of course there's the Black Kids coming up
here from Florida, and then there's the return of the Maccabees from the UK who I
loved last time they played NYC. Then of course there's the Meat Puppets. Saturday
night at 205 I'm doing an afterparty with David Bruno, and we have Professor Murder
playing as King Oppression which is like their other identity –they sing Professor
Murder songs over other people's beats - live remixes I guess – or something like that.
They did it at a Pitchfork Festival after-party in Chicago, and supposedly it went over
really well there, so I can't wait.

- Are there any other blogger's shows that you are interested in seeing during the week?
Gothamist, Underrated, After the Jump, Big Stereo, and Pop Tarts Suck Toasted of
course. Are there others? I haven't totally figured out everything going on yet.

-Read the whole interview at Pop Tarts Suck Toasted.
-Study the CMJ showcase schedules and build your own.
-Get to know Brooklyn Vegan and why his opinion counts.

>>James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, Randall's Island, 10/6/07

I'll find a way to make it work, I will!
For my part, I am going to do my damnedest to see the following:
--Brooklyn Vegan showcase at Bowery featuring Voxtrot
--James Murphy (of LCD Soundsystem) DJ Set at Hiro (not officially CMJ?)
--Via Audio at Lions Den and Ace of Clubs
--Mates of State at Avalon and The Annex
--Fools Gold Records showcase at Hiro featuring Cool Kids & Kavinsky
--Islands & ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead at Highline Ballroom
--New Young Pony Club at Studio B
--Dirty Vegas at Highline Ballroom
--Sister Suvi at Mo Pitkin's
--British Sea Power at Bowery
--The Shalitas at Europa
--Simian Mobile Disco at Music Hall of Williamsburg
--Abigail Warchild at Trash
--Illinois at Midway
--Band of Horses at Bowery
--Matt & Kim at Music Hall of Williamsburg
--Spoon at Roseland
--And just, frankly, because it seems like a good idea: Scotland Yard Gospel Choir at
Cake Shop or Union Pool.

>>Illinois at Irving Plaza, 5/10/07

Film Festival Recommendation: Greetings From The Shore
Directed by Greg Chwerchak
At IFC on 10/17, 3:30pm
--Winner, Best Feature: Big Bear Lake International Film Festival
--Winner, Best Feature: Red Bank International Film Festival
--Winner, Best Feature: Hope & Dreams Film Festival
--Winner, Best Narrative Feature / Best of the Fest / Best Actress: Great Lakes Independent Film Festival
--Premiere: Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival
--Official Selection: World Film Festival, Montreal
--Still to come: New Orleans Independent Film Festival (10/11-10/18), Oakland International Film Festival (10/18), Red Rock Film Festival (11/4), Queens International Film Festival (11/8-11/11), more...
--Read a review: "Indie Films Take Spotlight In Hope"

ALL THE CMJ LINKS YOU NEED:
--Full Schedule: Showcases and other live music performances
--Full Schedule: Film Festival screenings
--Full Schedule: Panels and conference events
--Registration: Get a CMJ Badge and get in on the action

CMJ NEWS: CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival Schedules Announced

2007-10-09T15:42:00.000-07:00

CMJ Madness is coming to New York, and we have only one week to wait! With such an impressive and exhaustive list of indie bands, films and panels to sift through, you'll need all the time you can get to fully plan out your week. Just remember this: With CMJ, every minute matters. Now if only I knew how to clone myself...

ALL THE CMJ LINKS YOU NEED:
--Full Schedule: Showcases and other live music performances
--Full Schedule: Film Festival screenings
--Full Schedule: Panels and conference events
--Registration: Get a CMJ Badge and get in on the action

Just like you, I'll be wading through all the glorious options and coming up with a schedule of my own. The minute my itinerary is done, you can bet I'll be posting it here.

Already know who you're seeing and when?
Post a comment and let us know which you think are the MUST-SEE shows.

Tags: cmj, cmj news, cmj music marathon, cmj music marathon and film festival, new york, music, live music, concerts, cmj showcase, film screening, cmj resources, bands, indie bands, indie artists, indie music, tixgirl

NEW PHOTOS & VIDEO: Bloc Party @ WAMU Theater at Madison Square Garden 10/3

2007-10-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

The boys from Bloc Party have been on a seemingly endless tour since last summer. But
no longer! With only one US festival date left before they head back across the pond,
their Theater at Madison Square Garden show was a fitting way to wrap up their trek.

You've already seen me wax rhapsodic about how much I adore seeing these lads live, so
I won't bore you with a bazillion synonyms for amazing. Though I don't think the material
from their new album is up to the same standard as the tunes from their debut, Silent
Alarm, but their live performance was the high energy fun I've come to expect from them.

Watch and believe...

MORE BLOC PARTY LIVE:
--Photos: Bloc Party at WAMU Theater at Madison Square Garden
--YouTube Videos: Bloc Party at WAMU & United Palace Theater
--UnCut Videos: Bloc Party encore at WAMU Theater at Madison Square Garden
--Blog Buzz: The Monitor & TixGirl laugh about Bloc[k] Party Madness

Tags: bloc party, kele okereke, matt tong, gordon moakes, russell lissack, wamu, theater at madison square garden, msg, new york, britain, uk, england, british bands, dance rock, concerts, music, live music, new photos & video, tixgirl

THE VIEW FROM MY SEAT: So You Think You Can Dance Live Tour at Continental Airlines Arena 9/29

2007-10-03T16:59:00.000-07:00

Know this: I'm a sucker for So You Think You Can Dance. I'm hooked. 100%
completely and totally. I'm a believer, and I'm not the only one.

ThoughAmerican Idol is famed for locating undiscovered talent, I'm put off bythe
machine it has become. I firmly believe almost any schmuck can singkaraoke to other
people's music and look relatively good doing it,thanks to the ministering of legions of
professional stylists and voicetrainers. The folks on American Idol are out there
specifically to playthe fame game. They're there to get famous.

Not so with So You Think You Can Dance.The kids who line up to audition for
SYTYCD are fully aware that theywon't become superstars. Though they may become
household names tothose who watch the show, the rest of the universe will slide blithely
by without taking any notice whatsoever when someone mentions "Benji"or "Sabra" in
passing. The winner of SYTYCD is not going to become the next Kelly Clarkson, and
everyone trying out on audition day knows it.

Asa result, there's a concentrated focus on true ability. Thenotoriety-seekers are
weeded out immediately, and you're left with thecream of the crop -- all of whom are
there because they have a dream:They want to be dancers. Working, employed dancers.
Dancers with acareer. And this show actually provides real opportunity foroutrageously
talented dancers who might never have thought they couldmake it farther than teaching a
hip-hop class at their local dancestudio.

Much has been made of the fact that SYTYCD and Dancingwith the Stars have brought
dance back into the mainstream. More powerto them for bringing dance into the living
rooms of those who mightnever have thought it was "manly enough" to enjoy watching a
flawlesswaltz, rhumba or disco routine. But speaking for those of us[congratulating
ourselves for] already loving dance as an art form,I'll admit I thought a reality show
dance contest couldn't possibly beanything more highbrow than a trumped-up talent
show. Man, was I wrong.

Not only is the quality of the dancers shockingly high, as Nigelhimself frequently pointed
out in Season 3, but it's also wonderfullyegalitarian. Because they put an emphasis on
turning out well-roundeddancers versed in every genre, there's room for everyone from
classically trained ballet dancers (Danny) and ballroom champions(Lacey & Pasha) to
B-Boys and B-Girls (Dominic & Sara).Therefore, not only will you find every kind of
dancer, but you'll beentertained by every kind of dance.

Being a die-hard fan, I made the long trek to Continental Airlines Arena in E. Rutherford,
NJalready convinced it would be a fantastic show. Between the immensetalent of the
finalists and choreographers, and the promise from theshow's judges that the most
beloved numbers from the season would makeit onto the program, how could they
possibly go wrong? I was notdisappointed.

On the other hand, I found some of the montageson the jumbotrons tiresome. We'd
already watched the full season,including the finale. How many more times do I need to
see Nigel askSex not to come back next year? That was a little much. But when allwas
said and done, the emphasis was on the dancers and thechoreography. We got to see
the Flower and the Hummingbird routine firsthand. We got to witness Danny and Lacey
burn down the house with one of the sexiest sambas you'll ever see in your life. We gasped
at the acrobatics as two princes vied for the throne. Mia's ode to her father was even
more beautiful and touching in person. Latin ballroom stars Pasha and Anya devoured
their salsa dish. And the Devil chased the Angel, just for us.

Having trouble with the player?
--Watch all the solos from the playlist on YouTube.
--Watch the couples dancing together on UnCut.

Evenif you don't give a damn about Sabra, Danny or the lot of them... Evenif you've
never seen the show once... Even if you despise reality TVand all it stands for... The
SYTYCD Touris still a worthwhile evening out. You'll come away from it having been
exposed to more forms of dance than you'll ever find assembled underone roof again.
You'll enjoy watching them performed by talented,humble artists who refuse to
disappoint, because they know exactly howlucky they are to be dancing for you. And lest
I forget, they also wantto thank you for voting them onto the stage in the first place.

Catch the So You Think You Can Dance Live Tour nationwide thru November:
>>BUY SYTYCD TOUR TICKETS<<

More So You Think You Can Dance Live Tour:
--Watch more videos from the SYTYCD Live Tour
--See more photos from the SYTYCD Live Tour
--Read Loralyn's Show Report @ Blogging SYTYCD

BREAKING NEWS: Martha Wainwright Announces Tour with Swell Season

2007-10-03T11:58:00.000-07:00

Martha Wainwright just made my day.

Yes,Martha fans, your prayers have been answered, your dreams have cometrue, and
one of your three wishes has been granted. She has officiallyannounced that she'll be
hitting the road with Swell Season for a fullUS tour. Dates are as follows, thanks to
Martha's MySpace Blog:

11/5/07- The Moore Theater, Seatte, WA
11/6/07- Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
11/8/07- Regency Center Grand Ballroom, San Francisco, CA
11/9/07- Regency Center Grand Ballroom, San Francisco, CA
11/10/07- The Wiltern, L.A, CA
11/11/07- 4th and B, San Diego, CA
11/13/07- Ogden Theater, Denver, CO
11/15/07- Stubbs, Austin, TX
11/17/07- Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA
11/18/07- Lincoln Theater, Washington, DC
11/19/07- Beacon Theater, NY, NY
11/21/07-Orpheum Theater, Boston, MA
11/24/07- Vic Theater, Chicago, IL
11/25/07- Vic Theater, Chicago, IL
>>BUY MARTHA WAINWRIGHT TICKETS<<

>>L to R: Signing autographs @ McCarren | With brother Rufus @ Gramercy (Yes, she's the one in pants.)

Ifyou haven't had a chance to witness the divine Ms. W. onstage before,this is your big
chance. It's her first time back on the road in theyear since she made the announcement
at last summer's McCarren show that she'd cease touring while she records the follow-up
to her self-titled album.

Not sure what Martha's all about? Look, listen, read, and show up at a show!
Martha Solo:
--Photos: Martha Wainwright at McCarren
--Review: Martha Wainwright at McCarren
--Videos: Martha Wainwright Live
--Tickets: See Martha Wainwright on Tour
Family Affairs:
--Photos: Martha Wainwright with brother Rufus Wainwright
--Photos: Wainwright Family Christmas at Carnegie Hall
--Review: Wainwright Family Christmas at Carnegie Hall

NEW PHOTOS & VIDEO: Jamie T @ The Bowery Ballroom 9/13/07

2007-09-27T17:52:00.000-07:00

What's the hottest accessory for NY hipsters these days? A Londonaccent. Or at least a
playlist that comes heavily loaded with Brits whoflaunt their natural-born accents when
they sing, rather than goingwith the usual American blues impersonation. Would I go so
far as tocall it another British Invasion? Not really. But the likes of Mike Skinner (The
Streets), Lily Allen, and newcomer Just Jack are now the big buzz kids in the NY show scene.

Add to that list Jamie T.

With an accent so thick you could stand a spoon up straight in it, thelad is the latest of
the lot to be critically lauded in his native landand shipped stateside to test the fame
machine that is the US musicscene. (I mean really, he's on Zomba, for @$%'s sake.)

September found the wonderboy from Wimbledon hopping the pond for a series of US
shows, including multi-night runs in NY and LA. His Williamsburg Union Pool and
Bowery Ballroom shows were must-sees for the indie in-kids. With a recent nomination
for the UK's uber-prestigious 2007 Mercury Prizeunder his belt, can you blame the
hipsters for indulging theircuriosity in the bright new Brit? I'll admit my own curiosity was
piqued by the odd contrast of the Mercury Prize nomination and thelukewarm review of
a previous show by the reliably spot-on Brooklyn Vegan blog. Hmmm, what to make of it?

Sportinga spitting style and a curled lip, Jamie T looked and sounded oddlylike a very
young Empire of the Sun-era Christian Bale. But a littleless polished and perfected, and
a lot more rock and roll.

Thoughthe arrangements and slick production mute the effect on hisrecordings, his live
performance belied a propensity and predilectionfor ska. More than just a strong
undercurrent, there's a downrightraging reggae river in his tunes.

Between the reggae, the accent, and the saucy attitude, is it any wonder the label paired
him with It-Girl Lily Allenfor a bonus track? It's synergy. But where Lily Allen forgot the
wordsleft and right, and royally botched her Coachella appearance lastspring, Jamie T's
slightly sloppy delivery at the Bowery Ballroomwas right in tune with his overall vibe, and
worked just fine.

Thoughhe could benefit from a bit more touring experience under his belt, itwas a fine
start to what could turn out to be a beautiful friendshipwith the US market. Keep
working at it, Jamie, and come back.

MORE JAMIE T LIVE:
--Photos from the show
--Videos from the show

Tags: jamie t, mercury prize, 2007 mercury prize nominee, mike skinner, the streets, lily allen, just jack, uk, britain, england, british bands, london, wimbledon, reggae, ska, new york, bowery ballroom, williamsburg, brooklyn, union pool, coachella, coachella festival, ny club shows, music, live music, concerts, new photos & video, the view from my seat, concert reviews, tixgirl

SCENE AROUND: Usher Fragrance Launch Party at Cipriani’s Brings Out Beyonce, Martha & Tameka

2007-09-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

Ever the hip-hopitome of luxurious glamour, Usher chose Cipriani's as the setting for his
fantasy fete in honor of the launch of his first line of fragrance. And as you'd expect with
Usher, it was a starry night, indeed.

Amongthe stars showing support by stalking the red carpet were a beamingBeyonce,
supermodel Liya Kebede, Martha Stewart, Gayle King, and asteady stream of models,
socialites and other assorted beautiful people.

One of the biggest hits of the evening was Usher's expecting bride, Tameka Foster.Clad
in Gucci - which she added she was lucky to find, as mostdesigners don't make clothes a
pregnant gal can shimmy into - she wasan absolute stunner. Her knockout smile and
confidence kept the pressa-twitter, as a barrage of questions about the wedding and the
babyswirled around her. Though Usher says he's looking forward to having a son,
Tameka played it coy, saying she's keeping quiet on the sex of thechild. (Um, but didn't
Usher just say he's looking forward to having ason?)

Parthost and part guest of honor, Usher was a natural, as is the fragranceconcept. When
your legal name has become a brand name, why not slapthat brand on a box and see if it
moves units? Especially when that boxencloses something that acts on the senses, transporting
one to animaginary intimate encounter with a certain hunky R&B superstar. Why not?!
These fragrances are going for the out-and-out sex appealUsher has made his trademark
in every other professional arena he'stried. It's everywhere from the packaging and the
ad campaign, to thescents themselves. Overripe and lusty, like something between Sex
OnThe Beach, the drink, and sex on the beach, the act.

Two of the divas in attendance know a thing or two about how to spin a brand. Of
course there's Beyonce, with her House of Dereon fashion label. And what hasn't
Martha Stewartbranded? There could be few better supporters to cheer Usher on
as heunveiled his hers-and-his fragrances, aptly (and briefly) named,"Usher."

Ofcourse each smells good on skin, but do they smell good together whenan "Usher
man" and an "Usher woman" are skin-on-skin? You can bet Ushertested it out
personally. Perhaps that's how he and Tameka foundthemselves expecting...

Tags: usher, beyonce, liya kebede, martha stewart, tameka foster, gayle king, usher raymond, usher perfume, usher cologne, usher fragrance, usher fragrance release party, usher fragrance premiere, usher fragrance launch, cipriani's, ciprianis, flatiron, new york, R&B, hip-hop, celebs, celeb spotting, celebrities, red carpet, black carpet, liz claiborne cosmetics, music, music industry, parties, tixgirl, blogplugs, friday blogplugs

HOT TIP: Teddybears Play FREE at Hiro Ballroom Thursday 9/27

2007-09-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

What's better than three Swedes playing a free show in New York? Three
Swedes playing a free show in NY dressed as bears. (*sigh*)Brilliant.

Seriously, this will be mythird time catching Teddybears, and I'm not sick
of 'em yet! In fact,I've already caught them at Hiro once before, and I'm
still signed upto catch 'em again. And so can you be! All you have to do
is RSVP here,and you're on the guest list...

Why should you bother with the 'bears?Get a load of this video, which
speaks louder thanwords...

Tags: teddybears, hiro, hiro ballroom, going.com, gbh.tv, cheeky bastard, maritime hotel, new york, ny club shows, music, live music, concerts, free shows, guest list, sweden, swedish bands, swedish indie rock, hot tip, tixgirl

CMJ NEWS: CMJ Music Marathon Features 1000 Artists & 1000 Reasons to Celebrate Indie Music

2007-09-24T13:42:00.000-07:00

Can't wait until spring brings SxSW to get your fix of undiscoveredindie music? There's
no need to wait, when CMJ Music Marathon is justaround the corner! That's right, the
East Coast's premiere indie musicfestival and resource for emerging artists is returning to
New York forits 2007 incarnation, 10/16 - 10/20.

During the day, conferenceattendees will have the opportunity to learn from the pros. But
it'swhen the sun goes down on the NY skyline that the party really starts.CMJ
showcases have been the coming out party for many of the lastyear's biggest buzz bands.
Among the breakout bands at CMJ 2006 werethe crazy Brazilians of CSS and the lads
of Cold War Kids.Some of the hardest working bands at last year's fest, they played
multiple showcases -- often several in the same day. Their unstoppablededication proved
that blood, sweat and tears will get you noticed bytastemakers, fans and the national
press, alike. Just look at them now!

>>L-R: CSS at Coachella 4/07; Illinois at Irving Plaza 5/07; Cold War Kids opening for Muse at Madison Square Garden 8/07

Newartists will be added right up to the event, so keep an eye on thisup-to-the-minute
listing of all the many wondrous bands on the CMJ Music Marathon lineup. In the
meantime, here's a handy list of all the bands already confirmed...

BANDS JUST ANNOUNCED:
M.I.A. - Justice - Band Of Horses - Devin The Dude - St. Vincent -UNKLE - Dan Deacon - Datarock - British Sea Power - Professor Murder -Islands - Tiny Masters Of Today - Simian Mobile Disco - Bouncing Souls- Deerhunter - Flosstrodamus - Celebration - Yo Majesty - Cool Kids -Meat Puppets - Del The Funky Homosapien - A-Trak - Xiu Xiu - Z-Trip -Dirtbombs - Mute Math

PLUS:
1990s - AIDS Wolf - A Band Called Pain - A-Trak - Aa - Keith John Adams- Adept - The Affair - Air Traffic - The Airborne Toxic Event - TheAkward Stage - The Alarmists - American Steel - Anathallo - The Apes -Apollo Heights - Arise and Ruin - Arizona - Asteroid #4 - Aux Raus -The Awkward Stage - Band of Horses - Bald Eagle - Tim Barry - ChrisBathgate - Bear in Heaven - Beat the Devil - Bella - Beneath The Sky -Big Bear - The Big Sleep - John Biz - The Black Hollies - Black TieRevue - Blackpool Lights - Blammos - Bloodhorse - The Bones of DaveyJones - Bonk - Bouncing Souls - Bound Stems - Bowerbirds - Jay Brannon- Brighton, MA - Bring Back the Guns - British Sea Power - The BrokenWest - Brother Ali - The Brought Low - The Brunettes - Bryan Scary +the Shredding Tears - C-Mon and Kypski - Canada - The Capitol Years -The Capston Shafts - The Caribbean - Carolyn Mark - The CarterAdministration - Casper and the Cookies - Catfish Haven - Celebration -Centro-matic - The Chapin Sisters - Chairlift - Chris Mills -Clockcleaner - Coheed And Cambria - The Color Fred - Colour Revolt -Connan And The Mockasins - The Contrast - Cotton Jones - CrystalCastles - Cut Off Your Hands - Damnation A.D. - Danava - Datarock -Christopher Denny - Deerhunter - De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig - The DeadTrees - The Dear Hunter - Dear Tonight - The Deleted WaveformGatherings - Del The Funky Homosapien - Dengue Fever - Devin The Dude -Die Romantic - Dirtbombs - Division Day – Dorp – Dragonette – Dri -Driver Side Impact - Paul Duncan - Dynasty Handbag - Eagle*Seagull -Earthless - Ecstatic Sunshine - Eisley - Fake Problems - The Falcon -Farewell To Freeway - Fight Amp - FiGO - Fire When Ready - Fishboy -Flosstrodamus - Flying - Fog - The Forecast - Foreign Islands - ForgetCassettes - Fourth of July - Frank Jordan - Freddy And The Dials -Freya - Georgie James - Get Him Eat Him - The Get Quick - The Giraffes- Gowns - Grady - Adam Green - Ha Ha Tonka - Hallelujah The Hills -Health - Head Of Femur - Higgins - High Class Elite - The High Strung -Ho-Ag -Holly and the Italians - Hollywood Holt - Holy Fuck - Holy Hail- Hopewell - Hornet Leg - Hot Iqs - Hot Springs - House And Parish -The Hugs - Hunter Valentine - Ida - Ida Maria - iLIKETRAINS - Illinois- Imperial Teen - Innerpartysystem - The Insomniacs - the iOs -Irepress - Islands - The Jealous Girlfriends - Jennifer O'Connor - Jesu- Japanther - Javelina - Jay Reatard - The Jealous Girlfriends -Jennifer O'Connor - Jesu - Josie Cotton - Justice - Kavinsky - King OfPrussia - Mike Kinsella - Jesse Lacey & Vin Accardi - Le Loup - LesBreastfeeders - Lewis & Clarke - Lifetime - Little Birdy - LittleBrother - The Little Girls - The Little Ones - The Loose Salute - TheLoved Ones - The Lovemakers - M Coast - M.I.A. - The Maccabees - MadeIn Mexico - Malkovich - The Mall - Mannequin Men - Mates Of State - TheMatches - Matt & Kim - The Meat Puppets - The Melismatics - TheMellowmen - MGMT - Mickey Hart & Zakir Hussein - The Midnight Show- Miss Georgia Peach - Mixel Pixel - Modico - Mohawk Lodge - Monomen -Monotonix - Moon + Moon - Monty Are I - Moros Eros - Mouser - Mr. Wix -MSTRKRFT - Mud - Mute Math - Nakatomi Plaza - The Narrator - NashvillePussy - National Seashore - Neimo - The New Amsterdams - The New Dress- Nikki Corvette And The Stingrays - No Age - The Nobility- TheNouvellas - o'death - Octoberman - Octopus Project - Old Time Relijun -Palomar - Papercuts - Paper Rival - Cale Parks - Pattern is Movement -Peachcake - The Peekers - Permanent Me - The Photo Atlas - Picastro -Poison Control Center - Polar Bear Club - Polytechnic - The Ponys - Pre- Prince Paul / Baby Elephant - Professor Murder - ProjectJenny/Project Jan - Pterodactyl - Robin Horlock Band - Robbers on HighStreet - Rock Plaza Central - Rock N' Roll - Rockethouse - Rodrigo YGabriela - Roman Numerals - Rosetta - Ruby Isle - Ruins - Saves the Day(acoustic) - Schoolyard Heroes - Tom Schraeder -Scissors for Lefty -Scotland Yard Gospel Choir - Scream Hello - Section Quartet - Shellshag- The Shaky Hands - Shock Cinema - Shout Out Out Out Out - Sightings -The Silos - Simian Mobile Disco - Single File - Slaraffenland - SlimCessna's Auto Club - Smittens - Smoke or Fire - So Many Dynamos -Southeast Engine - Speck Mountain - Spoon - The Spores - Spouse -Status Green - St. Vincent - The Sterns - Marnie Stern - Super Monster- Sybris - Takka Takka - Team Robespierre -The Teeth - Teenage Prayers- Ana Ternheim - The Three-4-Tens- -Thunderheist - Tigerbearwolf - TinyMasters Of Today - Torche - Total Fucking Destruction -Tulsa - UniqueChique - UNKLE - USSR - Velcro Stars - Vietnam - The Warlocks - We AreWolves - We Vs. the Shark - Craig Wedren - The Whip - White Denim -Willie Wisely - Wild Light - Witch's Hat - Wizardzz - Wooden Shjips -Xiu Xiu - Yip Yip - Yo Majesty- Z-Trip

Want the final word on schedules and lineups?
Here's what the CMJ folks have to say:
"Allthe updates on showcase placements will be available at cmj.com as soonas shows
are confirmed. The site will be updated frequently prior tothe event. A complete schedule
is printed in the CMJ Music MarathonFestival Guide, which comes in your registration
goodie bag. Theregistration bags can be picked up during registration hours at
conference headquarters."

Convinced you should go? Here are some handy links:
--CMJ Registration
--CMJ Band Lineup
--CMJ Film Festival
--CMJ Panels

And don't forget the film festival! Be sure to catch "Greetings From The Shore,"
winning audience awards at film fests across the country. See if you can spot any
past CMJ bands in the soundtrack!

Tags: cmj, cmj music marathon, cmj showcase, cmj artist lineup, greetings from the shore, concerts, music, live music, club shows, ny club shows, cmj 2007, new york, m.i.a., islands, spoon, flosstradamus, meat puppets, del tha funky homosapien, band of horses, british sea power, brother ali, coheed and cambria, datarock, dengue fever, illinois, kavinsky, le loup, mates of state, matt & kim, mickey hart, mixel pixel, MSTRKRFT, mute math, nashville pussy, the ponys, robbers on high street, saves the day, scissors for lefty, shout out out out out, simian mobile disco, takka takka, UNKLE, Vietnam, tixgirl

HOT TIP: Catch No Second Troy’s Fall North American Tour Dates

2007-09-19T16:02:00.000-07:00

This weekend promises quite a number of compelling options for the livemusic fans.
Need help cutting through the noise? Allow me to introduceyou to No Second Troy.
hypnotic indie band out of DC, they've just released their new album, Narcotic.
Spin magazine's Joseph Coscarelli had this to say about their first single:

Sharinga name with a William Butler Yeats poem, No Second Troy are not shyabout
their bookish origins, exhibiting a fine-tuned literary finesseon their bittersweet new single.
"Into Your Sun" is an earnest,articulate love song with a touch of sentimental longing
under whichtender acoustic guitars and tinkering piano lay the groundwork. Thesong's
video treatment, directed by Brent Green, presents flickeringfragments interspersed with
a handwritten narrative, beautifullycomplimenting the song's frailty with warm imagery.
Like scenes out ofan I-Spy book or snippets frompictures you might find browned and
curling in the attic, the romanticwistfulness and youthful nostalgia of the clip serve to
heighten thesong's serene glow. Narcotic, No Second Troy's self-released full-length
album, is out now. JOSEPH COSCARELLI

NewYorkers can catch No Second Troy at The Lion's Den on Saturday, 9/22.
Live elsewhere? Catch them on their Fall North American Tour:

>>BUY NO SECOND TROY TICKETS<<

Instant Gratification:
Watch the video for their first single, "Into Your Sun."
Hear the tunes on the No Second Troy MySpace page.

Tags: no second troy, into your sun, narcotic, spin, lion's den, new york, dc, music, live music, concerts, club shows, hot tip, tixgirl

HOT TIP: Music Downtown Gives us M. Ward 9/18 and Nick Lowe 9/19 FREE

2007-09-18T14:48:00.000-07:00

Looking for something to do this evening? Well high-tail it over to 7 World Trade Center
starting at 5:30pm, and you'll catch one of my all-time faves, M. Ward! He's sharing the
free bill with Victoria Williams and McCarthy Trenching, thanks to the Music Downtown
concert series.

Can't make it tonight? How bout tomorrow? You'll catch the legendary Nick Lowe, with
the Holmes Brothers and Ollabelle.

7 World Trade Center is located at Greenwich and Barclay Streets and the Music
Downtown events will be held in the outdoor plaza in front of the building. Need
Directions? View Map

More M. Ward:
--Photos: Live at Town Hall
--Photos: Live at MSG with Norah Jones
--Videos: Live at Town Hall, MSG & Webster Hall

Tags: m.ward, victoria williams, mccarthy trenching, nick lowe, holmes brothers, ollabelle, music downtown, wtc, world trade center, 7 world trade center, music, live music, concerts, free concerts, free shows, tixgirl