Music - News

Now and Then: Bat for Lashes

Natasha Khan was relatively unknown in the US when her album as Bat for Lashes titled Fur and Gold was nominated for the hailed Mercury Prize in the UK. Immediately her popularity skyrocketed almost as quickly as an artist with a song in an iPod commercial. This year she released the follow up to that album called Two Suns. The album was critically touted from the start and deservedly so. To sample it yourself watch the most recent video for “Pearl’s Dream” and after it watch the wonderfully creepy video for “What’s a Girl to Do?” Bat For Lashes - "Pearl's Dream"
What's a Girl To Do - Bat For Lashes

Between The Covers - Song to the Siren

Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins did the lovely cover of Tim Buckley's song "Song to the Siren" off the album Starsailor for This Mortal Coils It'll End in Tears. Many people I know have not heard the Tim Buckley original, maybe due to the fact it was written in the late sixties. Tim is the late Jeff Buckley's father and died a tragic and early death as well.

Jim James Releases George Harrison Tribute

Jim James is gearing up to pay tribute to late Beatle George Harrison. Recording under the name Yim Yames, the My Morning Jacket frontman will release his A Tribute To George Harrison EP on August 4th. The disc, James' first solo offering, was recorded in 2001 in the days following Harrison's death but fans who can't wait for the official release can log on to yimyames.com and download the entire EP on July 7th. The track "Behind That Locked Door" is currently streaming on the site and is also available as a free download. A portion of the proceeds from the EP will benefit the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary.

Guide to Summer in NYC

Leo’s Guide to a NYC Summer on the Cheap Summer time! Here are some ideas for fun and exciting things to do that are FREE or relatively inexpensive. I’ll be gone for most of July, so you’ll have to make sure to have enough fun for the both of us! (Plus, I would kill for a video of Built to Spill playing the Siren Fest…I’m just saying) MUSIC FESTIVALS Central Park Summer Stage hosts a HUGE line up of bands and performers all summer long. Some key shows, Cat Power and The Pretenders. For details, go to: www.summerstage.org/index.aspx?lobid=8446 Celebrate Brooklyn! Offers many bands, films and performances for free or for a suggested donation of $3.00, Blonde Redhead played TONIGHT! And Saturday, June27th is a FREE show from Dr.Dog. Animal Collective, and MGMT are not to be missed. For info: http://www.briconline.org/celebrate/schedule.asp The Siren Music Festival at Coney Island…go for a swim, grab a Nathan’s Famous and watch a full day of bands for free. Built to Spill is the headliner. Saturday, July 18th www.siren.villagevoice.com/siren/ Virgin Music Festival is FREE this year…but you have to get yourself to Baltimore. Merriweather Post Pavilion. FREE. www.virginmobilefestival.com/#/home/ All Points West will be incredible this year… The Beastie Boys, Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs!, My Bloody Valentine and Vampire Weekend. www.apwfestival.com/ South Street Seaport Music Festival with such noted line-up highlights as The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. www.seaportmusicfestival.com. McCarren Park Pool. I thought this was finished last year, but check it out at www.mccarrenpark.com for details. River to River. This year the stand out artist is one of my personal favorites; Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes will play with his Mystic Valley Band along with Jenny Lewis and Arlo Guthrie. Check out www.rivertorivernyc.com for details SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK All you have to do is wait on line early in the morning and you’ll get tickets to see a play in Central Park FOR FREE. There is also a virtual line at the Public Theater website…much easier than getting up at 6:00AM. This year’s performances begin with Anne Hathaway starring in Twelfth Night. GOVERNOR’S ISLAND Take the ferry to Governor’s Island, where there are free bikes rentals on Fridays, free art exhibitions, take a picnic lunch and watch some free shows, for info and the line-up, go to http://www.govisland.com/Visit_the_Island/default.asp One concert at the island I know of for sure: June 21, Sunday: Make Music New York presents Punk Island, 11 AM to 5 PM a "one-day experiment that transforms the stately island into a punk rockers’ paradise" (NY Times). With Reagan Youth, Blanks 77, and dozens more. FILMS Summer in New York City means that once again you can enjoy a variety of movies beneath the stars in New York City. Each of these film festivals offers visitors and New Yorkers a chance to watch a movie, as well as enjoy some of New York City's best outdoor scenery -- from skylines to parks. Bryant Park Summer 2009 Free Film Series Enjoy classic films under the stars from June through August at the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival. It's always a great scene -- lots of New Yorkers picnicking and enjoying summer in the city -- followed by classic films including highlights such as Close Encounters of the Third King, Harold and Maude and The Sting. Central Park Film Festival From August 18-22, 2009 enjoy five nights of films under the stars in Central Park. This is the 7th year for this film festival, which will feature films with the theme "Be Cool" - five films that feature actors or actresses who epitomize "cool". RiverFlicks 2009 Every Wednesday and Friday in July and August, enjoy free movies under the stars. Movies begin at dusk (approximately 8-8:30 p.m.) and there is even free popcorn available (beverages and other snacks are for sale). Summer on the Hudson: Movies Under the Stars Free movies are being shown in Riverside Park South on Wednesday evenings in July and August. Films in the 2009 series will be shown on Pier 1 in Riverside Park. Movies with a View: Brooklyn Bridge Park Summer Film Series This free series features films and music on Thursdays from July 8 - August 27, 2009. You can bring a low chair if you like, but there are also chairs for rent, as well as concessions. Pre-movie music begins at 6 and the movies begin at sunset. Rooftop Films This eclectic series runs from May through September and includes everything from independently produced animation to documentary films about New Yorkers. Screenings feature music at 8 p.m., followed by a series of short films beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are $9. The good news is that, even if it rains, the movies will be shown at an indoor space in the same location. Celebrate Brooklyn Movies & Music Series This series of movies feature soundtracks performed live by a variety of musical acts. Free performances take place at the Prospect Park Bandshell, but a $3 donation is suggested. MUSEUMS FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION EVERY DAY • Forbes Magazine Galleries Admission is always free to this interesting museum featuring collectibles such as toy soldiers, Monopoly games and more. 62 Fifth Avenue (at 12th Street) 212-206-5548 • Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology Admission to the museum displaying articles from the permanent collection, as well as changing exhibits on fashion, is always free. Seventh Avenue at 27 Street Phone: 212-217-5970 • National Museum of the American Indian Admission to the the sixteenth museum in the Smithsonian Institution is always free. 1 Bowling Green, George Gustave Heye Center Phone: 212-668-6624 • Goethe Institut Weekdays you can experience German language and culture exhibits for free at the Goethe Institut, which is conveniently located across from the Met. 1014 Fifth Ave Phone: 212-439-8700 • Sony Wonder Technology Lab Admission is always free to this entertainment and technology museum located in Midtown. Sony Plaza Public Arcade at 56th Street and Madison Avenue Phone:212-833-5414 Museums With Suggested Admission In order to make museums affordable for all, these museums have "suggested" admissions. That means you can pay the amount of admission that you can afford and still enjoy access to the museum. • Metropolitan Museum of Art Although they raised the "suggested" admission to $20, you can pay what you can afford to see one of the greatest art museums in New York City. Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue Phone: 212-535-7710 • American Museum of Natural History The "suggested" admission at the American Museum of Natural History is $15, you can make whatever contribution you see as appropriate to enter the museum (though you'll have to pay full price for planetarium shows, etc.). Address: Central Park West at West 79th Street Phone: 212-769-5000 Tuesday Deals • Brooklyn Botanical Garden Free admission on Tuesdays (Admission is free every weekday from mid-November through February) 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY Phone: 718-623-7200 • Staten Island Museum Admission is free on Tuesdays from 12 to 2 p.m. 75 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, NY Phone: 718-483-7114 Wednesday Deals • Bronx Zoo Admission by donation all day on Wednesday 1040 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY Phone: 718-367-1010 • New York Botanical Garden Free admission (covers grounds only) on Wednesdays Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road, Bronx, NY Phone: 718-817-8700 Thursday Deals • American Craft Museum Pay What You Wish from 6 - 8 p.m. to see the decorative and functional pieces showcased here. 40 W 53rd St Phone: 212-956-3535 • Children's Museum of the Arts Free fun for the kids--from 4 - 6 p.m. you can pay what you wish on Thursdays. 182 Lafayette Street Phone: 212-274-0986 • Museum of Arts and Design Pay What You Wish from 6 - 9 p.m. 2 Columbus Circle Phone: 212-299-7777 Friday Deals • American Folk Art Museum Free Admission on Fridays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. 45 West 53rd Street Phone: 212-265-1040 • Asia Society and Museum Free Admission on Fridays from 6-9 p.m. 725 Park Ave. at 70th St. Phone: 212-288-6400 • Brooklyn Botanical Garden Free admission for Seniors on Fridays 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY Phone: 718-623-7200 • Bronx Museum of the Arts This contemporary art museum is open late on Wednesdays (from 12 - 9 p.m.), so visitors can explore the exhibits for free. Fordham Road and the Bronx River Parkway, Bronx, NY Phone: 718-681-6000 • International Center for Photography Admission to the frequently changing exhibitions is available with your voluntary contribution on Fridays from 5-8 p.m. 1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd St. Phone: 212-857-0000 • The Morgan Library Admission is free on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street Phone: 212-685-0008 • Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Free Admission on Target Fridays from 4 - 8 p.m. 11 West 53 Street Phone: 212-708-9400 • Museum of the Moving Image Free to gallery Fridays from 4 - 8 p.m. (does not include film screenings) 35 Avenue at 36 Street in Astoria, NY Phone: 718-784-0077 • New York Historical Society Free admission Fridays, 6-8 p.m. courtesy of American Express Company. 170 Central Park West between 76th & 77th Street Phone: 212-873-3400 • Whitney Museum of American Art Pay what you wish on Fridays from 6 - 9 p.m. 945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street Phone: 212-570-3676 Saturday Deals • Brooklyn Botanical Garden Free admission from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Saturdays 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY Phone: 718-623-7200 • First Saturdays at the Brooklyn Museum of Art Evening admission (5-11 p.m.) on the first Saturday of every month is free. Includes most exhibits, music and movie screenings. 200 Eastern Pkwy Brooklyn, NY 11238-6052 Phone: 718-638-5000 • Guggenheim Museum Pay what you wish on Saturdays from 5:15 - 7:45 p.m. (last ticket issued at 7:15) 1071 5th Avenue at 89th Street Phone: 212-423-3500 • The Jewish Museum Free admission on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5:45. 1109 Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street (between Fifth and Madison) Phone: 212-423-3200 • New York Botanical Garden Free admission to the grounds from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Saturdays Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road, Bronx, NY Phone: 718-817-8700 Sunday Museum Admission Discounts • The Frick Collection On Sundays, pay what you wish from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 1 East 70th Street Phone: 212-288-0700 • Museum of the City of New York Free admission on Sundays between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St Phone: 212-534-1672 HIT THE BEACH! Take the Staten Island Ferry FOR FREE and hop on a bus to SOUTH BEACH, there’s a boardwalk and restaurants and a nice groomed sandy beach. Take the A Train to FAR ROCKAWAY BEACH, watch the surfers, go into town and eat at a great pizzeria or restaurant. Take the B or the Q to BRIGHTON BEACH or to CONEY ISLAND, walk the boardwalk, go to the amusement park, have some street pirogis! Yum! Go to FIRE ISLAND for the day. Take the LIRR and save with a getaway package! EXPLORE BROOKLYN! Take the IKEA Shuttle to the Red Hook Ball Fields and enjoy vendor foods from central and south America and Mexico, walk to Steve’s Key Lime and get a swingle…key lime ice cream frozen, dipped in chocolate, on a stick! Get thee to Bushwick…Explore the galleries and art spaces, eat at Roberta’s, Potion, or any number of taquerias. Fort Greene Rules! Go to the Fort Greene Park and see the Memorial to the Martyrs of Revolutionary War Prison Ships, go to Tilly's for a coffee, to the FIVE SPOT for some soul food and music, or go to the BAM for a movie or performance and eat at 67 Burger, Pequena, Havana Outpost, or the Smoke Joint..yum! Green Point/Williamsburg! Go to the Nassau stop and eat some great homestyle Polish food at Pyza, walk to the Disco Pharmacy, eat at Lokal, or just take a bus or the L train to Lorimer to McCarren Park and play or watch dodge ball, soft ball, four square, or soccer. Of Course, there's the SLOPE and the HEIGHTS and the FULTON FERRY LANDING... if you have additional suggestions, please post them!

New Kevchino Column - Between The Covers

Between The Covers – is a new weekly kevchino column where each Tuesday I will present a well know cover song and the original, with accompanying video or audio files. I will briefly introduce the songs with information about the albums they first appeared on, the artist, and the occasional minor trivia factoid. I will try and keep my opinions brief and let you, the reader, form your own opinions about the covers. I did a beta test of this feature on Facebook and people really seemed to enjoy it. So we'll give it a spin on the kevchino site and see if it feels the same. This column was inspired by Nick Greto’s Thursday column entitled Now and Then where he shows a current and old video by an artist to witness their evolution. Tune in this Tuesday June 30th for the debut.

Short & Sweet NYC Sat & Sun June 27th & 28th

Saturday June 27 Location: Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Bands: Silent Disco Show time: 8 PM Venue: BKLYN Yard Food: Jake’s Barbecue Restaurant Drink: Brooklyn Social Miscellaneous: The Coffee Den What better way to start off the summer than at an outdoor disco? Resident DJ Zemi17 curates Silent Disco with a variety of eclectic DJs playing music live through FM radio transmissions straight into your headphones. For great Kansas City style BBQ, check out Jake’s Barbecue Restaurant where the use of dry rubs, sauce and slow cooking make for some mouthwatering food. Try the Pulled Pork Platter ($14.50), the Half BBQ Chicken ($12.95) or any number of combinations. A former Italian Social Club, Brooklyn Social still has that old 1930s charm and a great drink menu with mixed drinks falling in the $8 range. As much of a fan I am of Dunkin Donuts, I say skip it and try The Coffee Den. They have a nice selection of coffees from dark to light roasts and even have Gorilla Coffee, one of the best and darkest in the city. Saturday June 27 Location: Midtown East, NYC Bands: Istanbulive Show time: 2 PM Venue: Central Park SummerStage Food: Peking Duck House Drink: Blackstones Pub & Restaurant Miscellaneous: New York Milkshake Company Celebrate and/or learn about Turkish music at Istanbulive where you can see three sets of awesome music from Turkish folk-rock legends Mazhar Fuat Özkan (MFÖ), pop band Painted on Water (featuring Sertab Erener and Demir Demirkan), and Hüsnü Senlendirici & Vassilis Saleas with NY Gypsy All-Stars and Brooklyn Funk Essentials. At one of my favorite places to get duck, The Peking Duck House, the meat is succulent and the skin crunches like a potato chip. Sometimes you just want to grab a pint without paying a cover charge or playing host to a group of people after work, which is why I like Blackstones Pub & Restaurant. It looks like an old-time saloon and has two pool tables in the back and plenty of other games, while also being big enough to grab traditional American food from the menu. If you’re still hungry, check out the New York Milkshake Company for one of the best $6 shakes of your life. Sunday June 28 Location: West Village, NYC Event: Pride March Show time: 5th Avenue & 52nd St. to Christopher & Greenwich St.; noon – end Venue: Various areas Food: Tortilla Flats Drink: White Horse Tavern Accessory: Magnolia Bakery Celebrate gay pride with the mother of all marches as Grand Marshalls Dustin Lance Black, Cleve Jones, Anne Kronenberg, and Hon. New York State Governor David Paterson lead the festivities at the Pride March, one of the most fun parades in NYC. For dinner, check out Tortilla Flats. The food is Mexican and delicious, but it’s the insanity within (bingo and hula-hoop nights) that is the real calling for this place. For drinks afterwards, hit the White Horse Tavern, a great bar and the old haunting grounds for Dylan Thomas. If you somehow have time before all of this, stop by Magnolia Bakery for some of the best tasting cupcakes in the city.

Sky Saxon of The Seeds RIP

Lead singer and bass guitarist Sky Saxon of The Seeds died on June 25th, 2009 at 63.

Michael Jackson RIP

Michael Jackson, died yesterday on June 25th, 2009 at age 50 of a cardiac arrest. He will leave behind his style and dance moves which will inspire many future generations of pop, soul, R&B and hip-hop artists.

Short & Sweet NYC Friday June 26th

Friday June 26 Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn Bands: Blonde Redhead Show time: 7:30 PM Venue: Prospect Park Bandshell Food: Chiles & Chocolate Oaxacan Kitchen Drink: The Gate Miscellaneous: Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. Blonde Redhead play one of Brooklyn’s best summer festivals, Celebrate Brooklyn! This art pop trio has been consistently putting out great albums while adjusting their noise leanings to beautiful melodious songs that are rough around the edges. Best of all, this show is FREE! Ever have Oaxacan food? Chiles & Chocolate Oaxacan Kitchen serves up some fantastic, not exactly Mexican food. Try the smoky flavored Mole Negro, one of the best mole sauces I’ve had in NYC. Before leaving, you must try one of the hot chocolates like the Chiles Y Chocolate. A hint of chipotle without too much heat is a nice kick start for the night. The Gate is a great Park Slope bar with excellent beers on tap and a outdoor courtyard to chill. If time permits, you must, and I mean MUST go to the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co., a non-profit organization that helps kids with their writing, that’s fronted by a store selling super powers. Friday June 26 Location: East Village, NYC Talk: Werner Herzog Show time: 7 PM Venue: McNally Jackson Booksellers Food Supper Drink 2A Miscellaneous Whole Foods on Bowery Legendary director Werner Herzog discusses his new book Conquest of the Useless: Reflections from the Making of Fitzcarraldo (Ecco) which contains his journal from making this 1982 film in the Amazon Rainforest. He will also be signing copies of the book. Those looking for good and inexpensive Italian food should most definitely check out Supper. Do yourself a favor and try the “Priest Stranglers” pasta with Marinara and soft Ricotta di Pecora cheese. A good nearby bar is 2A. With two floors of windows, it’s great for watching the remaining hipsters who can still afford to live in the city pass by. If all your dinner/drink plans fail and you need an all-in-one, the Whole Foods on Bowery is your upscale go-to grocery store for dinner and snacks.

Portland Musicfest MFNW 2009

Portland, Oregon is hosting Willamette Week's Musicfest NW. The dates are September 16, 17, 18 & 19. The line up will include Sunny Day Real Estate, Explosions In The Sky, Beach House, Girl Talk, Bad Brains, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Mudhoney, Grouper, plus many more bands and more to be announced. Please visit www.musicfestnw.com for more details on performers and where to purchase passes.

Virgin Mobile Festival is Recession Priced

A few changes with the Virgin Mobile Festival. 1) It will only run for one day this year. 2) The venue has moved from Pimlico Race Course to Baltimore's Merriweather Post Pavilion. 3) Price = FREE* (*=Ticket charges may apply and there asking for a $5 donation to help the homeless) Website reads "Because you deserve it!" The lineup for this year's festival is: Weezer, 311, Franz Ferdinand, Public Enemy, The National, Girl Talk, St. Vincent, The Hold Steady, , Mates of State, and Wale will all take part. So what are you waiting for. Start watching some John Waters films, get your Pit Beef appetite ready and plan your trip to Baltimore, Maryland. More info can be found here. www.virginmobilefestival.com.

Now and Then: Regina Spektor

Regina Spektor won over a whole lot of people in 2006 with her album Begin to Hope. Her quirky but heartfelt tunes, including “Fidelity” and “Better,” landed her on many year-end lists (mine included). This time around, on Far (to be released on June 23, 2009), she sticks with the same formula. The first single, “Laughing With,” falls a little bit closer to “Samson” than the aforementioned Begin to Hope songs. Watch the video for both “Laughing With” and “Samson” below. Tour dates will be announced soon. Laughing With
Regina Spektor - Samson

Sunny Day Real Estate Reunion & Tour

Seattle, WA - Following a more than 10 year hiatus, all four original members of pioneering Seattle rock band Sunny Day Real Estate will regroup for a 20-date US tour starting Sept. 17th, 2009. In addition, Sub Pop Records will re-issue both Diary and the band’s second full-length album, commonly known as LP2 (or “The Pink Album” for its entirely pink cover). Both re-mastered albums will include rare bonus tracks as well as newly written liner notes and will be released on both CD and LP Sept. 15, 2009, just prior to the start of the tour. Tour dates are below. Diary, LP2 and the Sunny Day Real Estate Reunion Originally formed in Seattle in 1992, Sunny Day Real Estate featured Nate Mendel (bass), William Goldsmith (drums), Dan Hoerner (guitar,vocals) and Jeremy Enigk (vocals, guitar). Diary, the band’s first full-length album, was released in 1994 on Sub Pop, going on to become the seventh-best selling record in the label’s history with more than 231,000 copies scanned in the US alone. Diary was recorded at Chicago’s Idful Studios with producer Brad Wood and released to critical acclaim. Following the completion of a US Tour to support the debut release, the group headed back into the studio with Wood to record the follow-up. But during the recording sessions, internal tensions splintered Sunny Day Real Estate, resulting in a sudden break-up and the finished album being turned in to Sub Pop without a title or artwork. LP2 was released in November 1995, by which time both Goldsmith and Mendel had joined Foo Fighters and Enigk had begun a solo career. Without Mendel, Sunny Day Real Estate reunited in 1997 and released two more studio albums (the 1998 Sub Pop release How It Feels to Be Something On and in 2000 The Rising Tide on Time Bomb) before disbanding again in 2001. Sunny Day Real Estate’s influence has grown exponentially since the band’s initial split. “I wasn’t around for the second version of the band that recorded the 3rd and 4th albums, so I’ve always had a feeling of unfinished business there,” Mendel explains. “We had all these outsized ideas back then, ‘Everyone’s going to learn a new instrument,’ and ‘Let’s do a rock opera,’ but before we could get anywhere with them, the band broke up. We left behind all these weird and beautiful songs, though, and they’ve stuck with me all this time. I’m really happy that we get a chance to play them together again.” Both Diary and LP2 will be available everywhere including SubPop.com & Sunnydayrealestate.fm. Sunny Day Real Estate Fall 2009 US Tour September 17th Vancouver, BC/Commodore Ballroom September 18th Portland/Crystal Ballroom (Musicfest NW) September 20th Salt Lake City/Murray Theater September 21st Denver/Ogden Theater September 23rd Minneapolis/First Avenue September 24th Chicago/Metro September 25th Detroit/St Andrews Hall September 27th New York/Terminal 5 September 28th Boston/House of Blues September 30th Washington DC/930 Club October 1st Philadelphia/Trocadero October 3rd Atlanta/CW Center Stage October 5th Dallas/Granada Theater October 6th Houston/Warehouse Live October 7th Austin/La Zona Rosa October 9th Tempe/Marquee Theatre October 10th Anaheim/House of Blues October 11th Los Angeles/Henry Fonda Theater October 13th San Francisco/Fillmore October 15th Spokane/Knitting Factory October 16th Seattle/Paramount Theatre

Black Whales Ready Origins EP

Seattle band Black Whales are gearing up for the September 15th release of their EP Origins. The disc promises to be a sweet treat for pop culture lovers. Drawing inspiration from the sounds of everything from Spaghetti Western soundtracks to booming danceable beats and twangy guitar riffs, the quintet developed their sound with the help of producer Zack Reinig during their 2008 stint in the studio. The group emerged from the recording process with a group of songs whose thematic content was both a beginning and an ending - a beginning of the band's journey together and ending of all that had come before. The band's lead singer/guitarist Alex Robert describes it as, "No memories, no regrets, no heartbreak, no blood. The album is meant to sound wide-eyed and optimistic but with lots of ghosts and memories still hanging around." You can catch the band in their hometown of Seattle at Georgetown Music Fest on June 27th and the Gibson Showroom on July 2nd.

Sharon Van Etten Live @ Central Park in a boat

Short & Sweet NYC Sat & Sun June 20th & 21st

Saturday June 20 Location: Coney Island, Brooklyn Event: Mermaid Parade Show time: 2 PM Venue: Coney Island Food: Nathan’s Famous Drink: Ruby's Old Tyme Bar and Grill Miscellaneous: Brooklyn Cyclones Whether or not you’re tired of hearing about how Coney Island is closing and (thankfully) hasn’t for the last several years, be happy that the 2009 Mermaid Parade is still happening. There will be a new parade route but the same hijinx will ensue. Expect floats featuring Harvey Keitel as King Neptune, a performance by They Might Be Giants, and Monster Truck “Blue Thunder.” While you may not be Kobayashi, eating a hot dog, a corn dog, or even cheese fries at Nathan’s Famous goes back several generations. Expect long lines, but it’ll be worth it! Not just a tradition but an institution on the boardwalk, Ruby's Old Tyme Bar and Grill is a great dive bar for cheap drinks and watching local drunks belt out Rat Pack songs. Even if this minor league Mets team isn’t playing a baseball game, The Brooklyn Cyclones’ stadium is worth the short walk over on the boardwalk to check out its size and beauty. Saturday June 20 Location: Union Square, NYC Bands: Vieux Farka Touré + BLK JKS Get Tickets Here Show time: 7 PM Venue: Highline Ballroom Food: Yama Drink: 119 Bar Miscellaneous: Barnes & Noble (Union Square location) Being the son of the great Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré can be a heavy burden to bear, but Vieux Farka Touré has already stepped into his own, especially on his latest album Fondo (the road) where his own style of guitar playing is just as powerful as his dad’s. Joining him are BLK JKS an awesome indie psychedelic rock act out of South Africa who rival TV on the Radio with African influences. One of the best Japanese restaurants in the city, Yama, serves up some of the hugest and freshest portions of sushi, while not being as expensive as you think. Close to Irving Plaza, 119 Bar is one dive where you can get cheap drinks, play pool and hang with friends while not standing out or being bothered when you’re a sweaty mess from dancing after seeing Shadow and Chemist perform, and I mean that in a good way! If you’re bored and early for the show, head over to the four floor Barnes & Noble to look through magazines and get a cup of coffee. Sunday June 21 Location: Midtown West, NYC Band: Beyoncé Get Tickets Here Show time: 9 PM Venue: Madison Square Garden Food: Supermac Drink: Stout Miscellaneous: Jack’s 99 Cent Store One of the biggest pop stars today makes her way to the stage at MSG as singer and diva Beyoncé embarks on her I AM…tour. Expect the hits as well as some great dance moves. Though small, Supermac packs a hearty punch with it’s gourmet mac & cheese’s like the Mac Cheesesteak with shaved steak, caramelized onions, roasted peppers, cremini/shitake, provolone and white American ($8.25 mini; $10.95 mega). A great place in NYC to get a full-bodied dark beer is at Stout. With a very detailed beer list complete with descriptions, I’ve never had a bad pint at this bar and restaurant, plus the food menu is American and quite good. Probably the biggest 99-cent store in NYC, Jack’s is three floors of some of the finest values you can find, especially in an overpriced area like Herald Square.

Short & Sweet NYC Friday June 19th

Friday June 19 Location: Lower East Side, NYC Bands: Crystal Stilts + The Pains of Being Pure At Heart + Hatcham Social Show time: 7 PM Venue: Cake Shop Food: Paladar Drink: Welcome to the Johnsons Miscellaneous: Economy Candy With their Velvet Underground wall of minimalist rock sound, the Crystal Stilts’ last album Alight of Night was a fun retro album filled with groundbreaking songs. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart on the other hand write dance-y pop rock that truly soars while Hatcham Social makes indie rock with a slight ‘80s feel. Paladar, whose celebrity chef, Aarón Sanchez is from the Food Network show “Melting Pot,” delivers a Pan-Latino concept taking traditional Spanish fare and adding deliciously executed gourmet twists. Feeling retro? Then Welcome to the Johnsons is the place for you. It’s like being in your uncles rec room from the ‘70s. With all wood paneled walls, plastic covered couches, and a Pac Man machine, this bar is out for a good time. Stop by Economy Candy and get a small taste of what it might be like to walk through Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, minus the hijinx, as there’s all sorts of candy everywhere. A real NY landmark, it’s been around since 1937. Friday June 19 Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn Bands: The Jaguar Club Show time: 8 PM Venue: Glasslands Food: Dumont Burger Drink: Radegast Hall & Biergarten Miscellaneous: Verb Cafe New York indie rockers The Jaguar Club offer plenty of ‘80s pop music references but with solid musical grooves they carve their own niche with some great songs that rock. With one of the best burgers in Williamsburg, Dumont Burger offers theirs with gourmet toppings, sandwiches, salads and their amazing mac & cheese. So you consider yourself a beer connoisseur and like to party—well, you can do all that and eat at Radegast Hall & Biergarten. The Austrian/German menu perfectly complements the 12 beers on tap and more than 30 German and Austrian bottles at this large beer hall. One of the oldest and best hipster hangout coffee shops, The Verb Cafe offers up excellent coffee and baked goods, a boho vibe

St Vincent Three Acoustic Sessions

St. Vincent's Annie Clark stopped by a Nashville studio in which She perform three tunes off her new LP acoustically. The Studio was called Lake Fever Productions and these are now know as the Lake Fever Sessions. Check them out here.

Bonnarro Coverage 2009 by Michelle Koh

Greetings all! This was my first year attending the Bonnaroo festival, as well as my first attempt to cover a music festival. Therefore, this weekend was definitely a case of baptism by fire. First off, while driving from Massachusetts to Tennessee, the hard drive on my computer failed. And once I reached the festival, I discovered there were no free computers to be found with which to access the Internet, which is why this coverage is a couple days late. I apologize to the readers out there. I have been trying to figure out what would be the most useful coverage of the Bonnaroo festival. It’s like another world—one where strangers become neighbors within minutes, beer flows like water and weed is encountered so frequently and openly it might as well grow on trees. If you are suddenly handed a media pass and told to park your car in camp Mr. Miagi next to complete strangers, like I was, you might want to know a couple things in advance: 1) Be open. People are extremely friendly and everyone will talk to you. It is awesome. 2) Bring these items: Weed (although if you sneeze, someone will pass you grass) Beer (in cans—no glass allowed) Tent Sleeping bag Sunscreen Food (also bring a grill or a camping stove if you want to prepare any of it) Water (there is actually water in Centeroo but sometimes it runs out) Ice (you can refill it but it is price-y) A cooler (that beer gets warm!) Something to sit on, like a chair or a blanket Something caffeinated (more on this in a second) Baby wipes (showers are few and far between) Hand sanitizer (those porta potties get dirty) Toilet paper (those porta potties also run out of T.P. fast!) Lighter (this is the best way to make friends quickly) Camelbak backpack (not essential but it sure makes hydration easier) Camera (you can get close to those artists you love) Rain poncho and boots (it starts to look like Woodstock after awhile) Full tank of gas (you will idle in line to get in) 3) Buy your food beforehand.Unlike Burning Man, you can buy many of the above essential items once at the festival, including delicious food. However, like most concert events, the price of everything is way more expensive than stopping at the local Walmart beforehand. 4) Be prepared to get exhausted. Bonnaroo has a grueling schedule. Each day is jam packed with thirty or so amazing musicians and comedians performing sets that last anywhere from one hour to three-and-a-half hours (Bruce Springsteen can really rock out when he wants to) at seven or so different tents. This does not include the Bonnaroo cinema (which plays gems like Teen Wolf and hosts Lebowski Fests), the Silent Disco, the Ferris wheel or the assorted eco-friendly stands and merchandise geared to becoming a hippy on the spot. This is why, if you want to do and see everything at Bonnaroo, you might have to do drugs. Or take caffeine pills. Or power nap. I tried to go the Red Bull route but unfortunately this made me sick right before the 2:15am act I was most looking forward to (MGMT) and I had to pass out in a sea of nausea in my tent instead. I'm not really sure what the best solution is to this insane schedule but it is definitely something to ponder strategically beforehand. 5) Be prepared for security checks. Luckily, the good people of Bonnaroo realize that the success of their festival largely depends upon the intake of substances, so the pat downs are more performative than functional, but you will have your backpack searched every time you enter Centeroo. Okay, that's it for the practical advice. Now for the musical coverage (please be forgiving to a novice journalist). I thought I would divide the coverage up into days. This is what I managed to see in between Red Bull fiascoes, heat sickness, unfortunate boxed wine and frequent trips to the Johnny-on-the-spots: THURSDAY: I arrived late in the day. By the time I made my way into camp and set up my tent, I only had time for one act: 1) The Low Anthem. This guy is very mellow with a folk edge. And a good way to ease into the festival vibe. FRIDAY: 1) St. Vincent. She is lovely. She's like a tiny Sigourney Weaver dishing out sweet melodies and complex arrangements. She also has amazing hair. 2) Comedy set with Janeane Garofalo and Arj Barker. Unfortunately, I don't think comedy works as well as music at Bonnaroo. This is because some of the comics come off as bitter in an environment that is trying to promote free love, man. 3) TV on the Radio. Amazing. These guys know how to rock it. Bonus points to the lead singer for some stylin’ white linen pants, serious dance moves and a blouse that got completely soaked in the sweat he poured during his mission to deliver mind blowing tunes. 4) David Byrne. Outstanding. For two solid hours it was like being in the Talking Heads "Stop Making Sense" video. There were dancers doing crazy choreography. David Byrne's voice is as good as it was in the eighties and he played tons of old hits. During the encore, he performed "Burning Down the House" in a white tutu! It was genius. 5) Phish. I never got into the Phish scene during my youth. I was surprised at how stripped down the sound was. However, "Possum" was great, the crowd was fully into it and my concert mate described it best when he said, "Now I can check off getting high at a Phish concert from my list of life goals." SATURDAY: 1) Jimmy Buffet. I will never forget the experience of waking and baking with Tennessee locals to the sound of the man himself. A surprise guest, Buffet rocked out the hits at noon, including "Cheeseburger in Paradise," a cover of "Brown Eyed Girl," and "Margaritaville." 2) Robin Hitchcock. This Brit is hilarious. He is the epitome of dry, cracked out humor. During a press conference, his response to a line of questioning was "I'm here to eat babies." Dressed in a fluorescent pink shirt, Hitchcock told the crowd that he was glad we were still "young and unhappy" and delivered a set that can best be described as a sliver of the most hallucinogenic parts of the film "Velvet Goldmine." 3) Bon Iver. High pitched and poignant, Bon Iver captured the crowd with falsetto-driven songs that resonated with an emotional core. 4) Jenny Lewis. One of the best examples of indie girl sex appeal, Lewis oozed cool with her sunglasses and thick bangs, delivering relaxed songs with thoughtful lyrics. 5) Wilco. A truly awesome set. Wilco played at the headlining tent and the giant video monitors revealed that Jeff Tweedy has somehow become a man who smiles. It was shocking. The band's musicianship was in top shape as they churned out classics like "Jesus, etc.," “Misunderstood" and "I'm the Man Who Loves You." 6) Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. I am honestly not sure how Springsteen has the physical capacity to rock as hard as he does. The man knows how to put on a show and truly is the Boss. He also gave my favorite quote of the festival. After heading into the ecstatic crowd, he pulled all of the fans' signs onto the stage, and displayed the weirdest one, a human sized picture of Santa Claus. The Boss looked at the sign and opined, "It's too fucking hot for Santa." The band then began performing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and the sweaty thousands of concertgoers happily sang along even though it was a June night in the middle of sweltering Tennessee. SUNDAY: 1) A.A. Bondy. After waking up from the aforementioned Red Bull induced loss of consciousness that caused me to miss MGMT, I stumbled over to what might have been my favorite set. Not quite as famous as the other performers, A.A. Bondy had a sort of greenness to him that made all of his songs more raw and personable. When the crowd cheered, you could see on this folk singer's face that he was genuinely shocked to be so well received. It was the most stripped down and human performance that I saw at Bonnaroo. Well, that's it for Bonnaroo 2009. I had a truly amazing experience that I won't soon forget. I can't wait for next year. I might, however, leave the Red Bull behind. -Michelle Koh

Now and then Grizzly Bear

The time has come. Grizzly Bear have finally released a follow up to 2006’s Yellow House. All the hype in the world has followed them. And the band has lived up to the hype. For an opinion, see the Kevchino review which gives the band’s Veckatimest a 9 of 10 (which Pitchfork seconded). Check out the first video from the album the dreamy “Two Weeks” for a sample and after it see the video for the already classic song “the Knife”. Tour dates follow the videos 05.24 Portland, OR: Aladdin Theatre 05.25 George, WA: Sasquatch Festival 05.26 Vancouver, BC: Commodore 05.28 New York, NY: Town Hall 05.29 New York, NY: Town Hall 06.01 Washington, DC: 930 Club 06.02 Philadelphia, PA: Trocadero 06.03 Boston, MA: Berkley Performance Center 06.04 Montreal, QU: Le National 06.05 Toronto, ON: Phoenix 06.07 Minneapolis, MN: Cedar Cultural Center 06.08 Milwaukee, WI: Pabst Theatre 06.09 Bloomington, IN: Buskirk-Chumley 06.11 Carrboro, NC: Cats Cradle 06.12 Manchester, TN: Bonnaroo 06.13 Atlanta, GA: Tabernacle 06.15 Dallas, TX: Grenada 06.16 Austin, TX: The Parish 06.19 Los Angeles, CA: Wiltern 06.20 Los Angeles, CA: Wiltern 06.21 San Francisco, CA: Fillmore 06.22 San Francisco, CA: Fillmore