Friday, April 27, 2007

KNOCKOUT Round 4 - TONIGHT!

9 - Sure Juror
10 - The Mugs
11 - Mussels
12 - Beat Radio

Pop Tarts and The Music Slut will be djing between sets.

2-4-1 beers (from 8-9pm)
2-4-1 mixed well drinks OR a shot of whisky and a beer for $5.00 (from 1-2am)

THIS RULES - Mussel's Cannon On A Clothesline is the #7 Most Requested song over at WOXY!!!!

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Update - In The City of NY


Uh oh. Watch out. Enter Shikari are coming. Hype alert!


Previously:

In The City - New York Music Festival / Convention

Sam Champion - Album Finished, Bowery Show

The new Sam Champion album is finished! Can't wait to hear it. Here's the info:

GOOD NEWS, we've finished our almost-titled-but not quite second album. You can find the first "leaked" song at myspace. Or you can visit our permanently under construction home page, www.samchampionband.com, and take it home with you.

Here's the tracklisting:
> Like A Secret
> Be Mine Everyone
> Heavenly Bender (also at their Myspace!)
> You Can't Stop
> Space Heater
> We Will Awaken
> Dead Moon
> Direct
> Jealous Shakes
> There Was A Doubt
> Lorraine
> Commitments

These tunes plus a bunch of others to be released in some form or another, recorded in a barn in new paltz, new york and jack's apartment.


Download -> Like A Secret mp3

Slightly poppier and produced than the songs off their first album, but it's still good old rocking Sam Champion. The thrashing middle section is going to be thrilling live.

Which brings me to that Bowery Ballroom show:

LIVE: We're playing BOWERY BALLROOM ON MAY 15.
We realize it's been awhile since a lot of you have seen us play so
we're playing somewhere that can accommodate all of you and more!
Please save the date and share your evening with us and a whole bunch
of awesome bands at the BOWERY BALLROOM. We're burning up some tunes
to give away but you gotta know the handshake.

DETAILS:
Tuesday, 5/15/07
BOWERY BALLROOM
6 DELANCEY STREET
NEW YORK, NY
Tiger City, Stylofone & The Affair are also playing.
WE PLAY AT 10:00


Tix here.



Previously

KNOCKOUT Round 4 - Tomorrow! Drink Specials!



































KNOCKOUT storms into Manhattan tomorrow with an army of past KNOCKOUT bands. We will accept nothing short of victory. Charge into The Delancey right as doors open for 2-4-1 beers (from 8-9pm) and get your pre-party on for this dream lineup:

9 - Sure Juror



10 - The Mugs



11 - Mussels



12 - Beat Radio



The battle doesn't end with Beat Radio. Admiral Pat, Colonel Jen and General Matt will continue to rock your face with all the good tunes that the kids are listening to these days as you consume 2-4-1 mixed well drinks OR a shot of whisky and a beer for $5.00 (from 1-2am).

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

DMST @ Bowery - Via Baeble

Via Baeble:

Friction - Sat May 12



A Saturday. Nice. Details here. Tix here.

And don't be confused. Lions and Tigers are not Tigers and Monkeys.

The Lisps - News From The Road

Cesar of The Lisps has posted a massive synopsis of the first leg of their cross-county tour. Sounds like things are going well. For lots of pics, stories, and spontaneous stuck 'n traffic song lyrics, go here.

Pianos - Wed May 2

The Aeroplane Pageant Pianos residency related flyers are all the rage right now. Here's another one:

























This flyer is also one.

These shows are shaping up to be quite excellent. Here's what we know so far:

Wed May 2 - Aeroplane Pageant, Big Bang TV, Mussels, A Nothern Chorus
Wed May 9 - Aeroplane Pageant, Bridges and Powerlines, Champ: The Rock Show
Wed May 16 - Aeroplane Pageant

FYI - Jeff of Aeroplane Pageant and Slowlands is also involved in Champ: the Rock Show, which I am very much looking forward to checking out. Here's the description of the project from their Myspace:

CHAMP is a musical/theatrical tribute to the inter-dimensional love story that is at the core of all future mythology. It's a mix of science fiction, visual fancy and foot-stomping music. We've got a dance troupe, a projection wizard and Champollion, the future's most infamous pit band.

Rad.

In addition to their show with the Pageant on May 9, they will also be at Knitting Factory on Thurs May 24.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Apostle Of Hustle - TONS Of NYC Shows In June

I think you should be able to get out to at least one of these Apostle of Hustle shows:

Mon Jun 11 Mercury Lounge Residency
Sun Jun 17 Union Hall
Mon Jun 18 Mercury Lounge Residency
Sun Jun 24 Central Park Summerstage
Mon Jun 25 Mercury Lounge Residency

Woo hoo for Summerstage! Added to the list!

Been listening to National Anthem of Nowhere quite a bit recently. It's a grower for sure. Listen to the two best tunes from the album at their Myspace.




Previously:

Apostle of Hustle - News, Download New Song

Bridges and Powerlines @ Pianos - Wed May 9

Monday, April 23, 2007

You WANT To Be Yoko?



"Chuck Berry, John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Elephant's Memory rock out on the Michael Douglas show. Note the awkwardness on the stage when Yoko starts doing her "primal scream" thing in the middle of the song. Chuck Berry seems totally weirded out by her."



Thanx for the vid Scott.

Diggers, 28 Weeks Later

I haven't been to the movies in forever. Trying to remember the last movie I saw. Hmmm. Damn, it's been a while. Well here are two movies that might get me to fork whatever ungodly amount of money they are demanding these days. Have we reached the $15 mark yet?

Diggers
























DIGGERS arrives this Friday

Come check out DIGGERS, a fabulous new movie starring Paul Rudd, Lauren
Ambrose, Ron Eldard, Josh Hamilton, Ken Marino, Sarah Paulson and Maura
Tierney. Written by Ken Marino; executive producer is David Wain. It's
been getting rave reviews on the festival circut and is now coming to
these theaters, this Friday, April 27th - get a group together!

Berkeley, CA: Shattuck Cinemas
Palm Desert, CA: Cinemas Palme D'Or
San Diego, CA: Ken Cinema
San Francisco, CA: Lumiere Theatre
West Los Angeles, CA: Nuart Theatre
Denver, CO: Starz Filmcenter
Hartford, CT: Real Art Ways Cinema
Washington, DC: E Street Cinema
Atlanta, GA: Midtown Art Cinemas 8
Chicago, IL: Landmark's Century Centre Cinema
Cambridge, MA: Kendall Square Cinema
Minneapolis, MN: Lagoon Cinema
University City, MO: Tivoli Theatre
Cary, NC: Galaxy Theatre - Cary
New York, NY: Sunshine Cinema
Sayville, NY: Sayville Theatres
Seattle, WA: Varsity Theatre
Ithica, NY: Cornell Cinema (May 12)

If you're not in one of these cities you're still in luck...DIGGERS
comes out on DVD five days later, on Tuesday May 1st. Also it will be
shown on HDNet Movies, Friday night at 9 & 11 p.m.!


And one of those theaters is just minutes from me. Nice!

28 Weeks Later
























Even if this movie lacks Boyle's touch and ends up being nowhere near as good as the the first one (which I LOVED), I am a sucker for zombie movies.

Thom's Got The Album

...or something like it.

radiohead starts up again having finally caught up on some sleep next week
i have a cd of what we've been up to...
and you haven't.
yet.
(sorry)

i must listen to it, after taking an ear break
that always makes me nervous
hope you're well

yours

Thom


Come on man. SHARE!!!

Frauke @ Trash - Wed May 9

Frauke is at it again. Show #2. You've been forewarned.
























Previously

AMNY Presents @ Southpaw - This Thurs April 26

The Undisputed Heavyweights! For Free!







































Thu. 4/26
AM NEW YORK ARTIST NOW MUSIC SHOWCASE "ART ROCKS" FEAT.
the ATTORNEYS
CAVALIER KINGS
UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHTS
Locksley
8 pm doors
no cover

At Least It Doesn't Say Knockout

Not my show.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Not Good

It's been 17 years since the Yankees have been swept at Fenway. Ug. That sucked. Three painful, ugly, long games to watch. Yanks need to get Wang and Mussina back ASAP, because the bullpen needs a break and four consecutive homeruns is unacceptable. You can have this series, sux fans, and we'll see what happens in August. Another five game season breaking sweep?

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Cross-Pollination @ Pianos - This Tues April 24



Tix

KNOCKOUT Round 4 - Flyer



































Bunkre delivers another mean uppercut.

9 - Sure Juror
10 - The Mugs
11 - Mussels
12 - Beat Radio

Previously

Thursday, April 19, 2007

HE JUST DID IT AGAIN!!!

Another walk off homerun!!! Yankees win 8-6!!! WOOO HOOOO!!! 10 homeruns in 14 games! Best start all-time for an American League player!

Frauke

Fucking hate you.



I really don't know what to make of Frauke. Kind of sound like The Go! Team meets Mclusky and The Pixies. Very infectious.

You can stream their EP here. There's also some neat stuff here. And here's their Myspace.

Meant to throw up a heads up re: their first show ever at Fat Baby this past Monday, but didn't get a chance to. Shucks. Well they do have another show on their calander. Wed May 9 at Trash.

Shows! Flyers! Rock!

Tomorrow!



Saturday!



Next Thurs!




Here are the specs:

Thursday April 26 • 8PM
Bar Matchless
557 Manhattan Ave (on the corner of Driggs)
Brooklyn, NY
Ten Minute Turns / The Information / Lolita Bras / Telecom


Next Sat!



I'm not the only one celebrating a one year with the beat.

Keeping Track Of Summer '07

Here's what I got my eye on so far:

Fri June 1 Animal Collective, Danielson - Seaport
Sat June 16 Television, Apples in Stereo, Dragons of Zynth - Summerstage
Sat June 23 ERMP
Sun June 24 Apostle Of Hustle - Summerstage
Sat June 30 The Stills, Sam Roberts Band, Malajube - Prospect Park

Wed July 4 New Pornographers, Midlake - Battery Park
Fri July 6 Fujiya & Migyagi - Seaport
Sat July 7 Built to Spill - McCarren Pool
Wed July 11 Spoon - Battery Park
Fri July 13 Menomena - Seaport
Sat July 14 Dispatch - MSG
Mon July 16 The Decemberists, Grizzly Bear - Summerstage
Fri July 20 Bishop Allen, Rock Plaza Central - Seaport
Sat July 21 - Siren (Confirmed?)
Sun July 22 Brazilian Girls - Summerstage
Sat July 28 ERMP

Thurs Aug 9 Daft Punk, The Rapture - Keyspan Park
Sat Aug 11 Jonathan Kane’s February, Taiko Masala - ERMP
Fri Aug 17 The National, Takka Takka, The Forms - Seaport
Sun Aug 19 Wolf Parade - Warsaw
Tues Aug 21 José González - Spiegeltent
Fri Aug 31 Battles - Seaport

Sat Sept 8 ERMP

Dang! And the Pool Parties haven't even been announced yet.

I'll be updating this as more are announced.

KNOCKOUT Round 4

So hey, this past Sunday April 15 was the one year anniversary of The Battering Room! Hooray! So I figured I'd round up some old friends and celebrate the occasion. Let's have a party! Next Friday April 27 @ The Delancey. That's right bitches, we're taking the fight to Manhattan. We'll....just barely over the bridge. Here's the lineup w/set times:

9 - Sure Juror
10 - The Mugs
11 - Mussels
12 - Beat Radio

In addition to these four fantastic bands, my blogger amigos over at Pop Tarts and The Music Slut will be djing between sets.

Doors @ 8 & $8 to rock. 21+ for this show. Sorry youngins.

Flyer coming soon.

BTW - Exciting news!!! Our sponsor WOXY has just added Mussels to their rotation!!! Request! Request! Request!

Friday, April 13, 2007

The Most Delicious Thing...

...happened to me last night.



The local Kwik-E-Mart finally got it!

Scrumptious.

Best Ben & Jerry's flavor ever.

Well, it is a ripoff of Edy's Dreamery Coney Island Waffle Cone, but that seems to have been discontinued and I think B&J have done it better.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

KNOCKOUT Round 3 - Pics

You've seen the vids and setlists, now here are some pics:
























Welcome to KNOCKOUT Round 3 at Matchless.

Square Wave Punch































































The Diggs (Unfortunately, didn't get to many good ones of them.)









































benzos












































































































Bridges and Powerlines (Pretty drunk at this point, these are the best of the worst. Sorry guys.)




















































As usual, click pics to view larger. And some pics taken by Jules.

Lollapalooza - '07 Lineup

Thanx to BSC for the heads up on the Lolla lineup. It's a good one. I would go to this. Especially to see the bands in red:

Pearl Jam, Daft Punk, Ben Harper, Muse, Iggy & The Stooges, Modest Mouse, Interpol, My Morning Jacket, Satellite Party, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Snow Patrol, The Roots, Patti Smith, Kings Of Leon, The Black Keys, Regina Spektor, Spoon, Lupe Fiasco, TV On The Radio, Pete Yorn, G. Love, Paolo Nutini, Amy Winehouse, LCD Soundsystem, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Silverchair, Femi Kuti, Yo La Tengo, Hold Steady, Jack's Mannequin, Stephen Marley, STS9, MIA, Slightly Stoopid, Blonde Redhead, Sparklehorse, Sean Lennon, !!!, Blue October, Son Volt, Motion City Soundtrack, Polyphonic Spree, Peter Bjorn & John, Silversun Pickups, CSS, The Rapture, The Wailers, Roky Erickson, Tapes N Tapes, Heartless Bastards, The View, The Cribs, The Fratellis, Ghostland Observatory, Tokyo Police Club, Rhymefest, Soulive, Cold War Kids, Annuals, Fields, Electric Six, Jim Noir, Elvis Perkins, Sam Roberts, Black Angels, Charlie Musselwhite, Aqueduct, Juliette & The Licks, Dios, Viva Voce, David Vandervelde, Los Campesinos!, Chin Up Chin Up, Ryan Shaw, Colour Revolt, Satin Peaches, Illinois, Arckid, Mickey Avalon, The 1900s, Bang Bang Bang, Bound Stems, High Class Elite Carey Ott





Previously:

RUMOR - Daft Punk In NYC - RUMOR

Live Blogging Mussels' Little Voices

First of all, I would like to apologize to everyone who's music I've been neglecting over the past week. It's not my fault though, blame Mussels. Ever since I acquired their new album, Little Voices, everything else has been put on hold. This album is officially my #2 favorite album of 2007 so far, just behind LCD. I was nervous about whether or not I would like this album, after obsessing over their '05 Night Lights EP all last year. I was hoping that it wouldn't be the Outgoing Behavior to Crystal Skulls' Blocked Numbers, and be good, but not quite live up to my hopes. (Quick side note - Have Crystal Skulls broken up? Their Myspace hasn't been updated in eons, their website has vanished. No CMJ. No SXSW. No word about them from Suicide Squeeze in forever. Hmmmmm). Well fear not! This album has not only lived up to the EP, but has taken their sound to another level. Eeck. Sorry for all the cliches, but I really really dig this album.

Besides the usual positive elements: catchy songs, good song writing, the lack of weak songs, two themes that really stand out to me are the track order, which is very important with this style of music, and the production. So here we go. Pressing play.

1) Don't Leave Your Coffee On The Bar

Hooks me from the first riff. And builds and layers. Here come the vocals. So crisp. I can actually hear what they are saying! But wait. What's this. Pause. And there it is. That's what I love about this band. All of a sudden they hit you up side the head. This one is short. But now I'm pumped up and into it.

2) I Would Have Met You For Dinner (But I'm Fucking Crazy)

Crazy guitar opening. Rolling Drums. And now we are moving. Welcome to Musselsland. And then there's the organ. Wolf Parade fans rejoice!!! So much fun stuff happening in this song, but the lead guitar is the real hero on this one. Comes to a nice crash at the end.

3) Boat on Land

This is the first taste of what I was talking about with the track order. Needed a nice lil break after thrashing about with those first two. Now I can catch my breath. More delicious Wolforgan. And fuck. The vocals are amazing on this album. I need to get a lyric sheet from them. The break doesn't last long though, cause here comes that lead guitar again. And the vocals and guitar dance around together perfectly. Rise rise rise. Fall. Strum strum strum. I think I can keep her steady. If we never let it get to heavy. Heavy. Beautiful. Love the imagery. I'm rocking around in my chair listening to this. Repeat. Then the fun little whispers. Twin guitar stroll through the park. This one is an underdog.

4) Cannon On A Clothesline

First time I heard this I screamed "YES!!!" The production of this album is starting to really shine. What an opening. I passed the torch to you. AND I WANT IT BACK. never meant to.... So I want it back. can't get enough of that organ. And here come the first of the two great, and very obvious, homages. Madonna. Brilliant. So fun when they add those little Easter eggs. Great guitar riff before the morning. ORGAN ORGAN ORGAN. Might need to get up and dance around a little. This song is going to slay me live, now that I have really gotten a handle of it. How could you miss the morning. Have I mentioned the drumming yet? Well there ya go. I just did. Excellent little touches move this one along. Pace quickens. It all comes together. And gently washes back.

5) It's Coming Down

Very playful beginning. Tasty transition. But then smash. BANG. This is the hardest we have rocked so far. Very vintage Mussels here. SCREAM! Head is banging, bobbing. Close my eyes. Just for a little while. And this!!!!!! So much harder than the rest!!! Lead, rhythm, and bass are really fighting for attention on this one. Vocals get a lil drowned out, but in a good way? A tad short though. I would love for them to jam this one out just a touch longer when they play it live.

6) Little Voices

The single. At least IMHO. Drumssssss. LEAD. oh fuck it. Sparks the lighter, waves over head. This song is my new national anthem. OPEN MINDS ARE HARD TO ORGANIZE. The vocal back and forth is...so choice. What can i say. Doves are crying. homage #2. Now I am tearing a little. Also can't help but smirk a little. What a jam there in the middle. I'm going to stop typing for a little and just listen. Let the pros get down to the nitty with this one. EPIC. Fuck. That second lead guitar explosion is my fav riff of '07. A crashing end for a brutal song.

7) Power Drill

Phew. I needed this. THANK god this song is here. Anything else would have been completely overshadowed. It's pleasant. It's still taking us in the right direction. But it gives me a break and gets me ready for the next peak.

8) My Hands Your Heart

Ahhhh....c'est l'amore. Whoever this song was written for must feel pretty good right about now. At least I think. Right? Scissor guitars cut me. Drumming and bassssssss. This song is sing along. Need lyrics. Did I mention the drums and bass. The spotlight is on you guys. Those jammy sections are like EITS on crack. WOOOOOOAAAAAAhhhhh. Sooo much going on in this one. Demands repeat listens. Come to think of it. Repeat. mmmmmmm. 2nd best song on the album.

9) Wake Up Boy, LOOK ALIVE!

Another nice break. This is when you really begin to realize what a good job they did with the track order. Don't wear out your welcome. EXACTLY. This song would be perfect for an acoustic, in-store performance. HINT HINT. But it isn't a departure from their sound. It's gentle, but it still has their fingerprints all over the shiny parts. And still manages to find a way to rock. The fast paced end picks you right back up again. The highlight is that part where everything cuts out and the lead gets the spot light. VERY I Might Be Wrong (for the record, my favorite RH song, live and on record. And I always get pissed when the band doesn't just let jonny play when they do it live, but they have stopped doing that recently).

10) Everyone's Stealing My Ideas

Speaking of RH. hehe. The title of this songs is appropriate. And I don't mean that in a bad way. I have no problem at all with people taking a good idea and running with it. In this case, Arcade Fire's Haiti? maybe? This one kinda ventures into new territory. It's a grower. Wasn't crazy about it at first, but now it is really sinking it's teeth in me. Shake shake shake shake. I'm bringing a shaker to their next show, in case they play this song. A little bit of Weezer in there too. And I really like the steel drummish keys. The lyrics are so thoughtful here. Love the line about the camera eyes. The production is so solid and I think this song makes that clear. Why not push the vocals a little closer to the front row? Plant another seed. Crank shit out of me. We're approaching the end

11) Thank You, Goodnight.

What a fitting ending. This is Mussels' version of Late Greats, sort of. Wraps it all up. Gives you taste of everything you have just experienced. Sounds like it would be a fun way to end a great set too, before coming back for an encore. This one could have fitted in well on their EP, but was destined to summarize this fantastic album.

I'm embarrassed. I don't usually gush like this. Probably won't do something like this again for a while. And hey Mussels, I love this album and all, but don't think this gets you off the hook. You still better play some songs off the EP!!!


Previously:

Mussels - Little Voices Finished, Record Release

Disclaimer - Yes, the band is playing my next show. And no, that had no effect on my opinion of this album. If you have a problem with that, well, whatever.

The Lisps - New Video - Compromise

Check out the new video from The Lisps:



It's no "I'm Sorry" (I'm biased), but it is pretty great. They crack me up.

Here's Pat's take on the vid w/ a good interview. Pat's first!

See them
when they come to your town.

ERMP '07 - It Is Indeed On

ERMP has finally spilled the beans. Here are the dates:

June 2: curated by Secret Project Robot and The Social Registry
July 28: curated by Venus
August 11: bands TBA
September 8: bands TBA


Awesome.


Previously:

ERMP - News, Merch, Photos, Video
The End Of The World / Professor Murder
This Sat - ERMP -> Union Hall -> Man Man
ERMP - This Sat - Aug 19
ERMP - Sat July 22, 2006
ERMP - New Website, Shows
ERMP - 6/17/06 Via Crappy Camera Phone
East River Music Project - June '06

Heat Vision and Jack

Have you seen this yet?



Info. Thanx Scott.

Monday, April 09, 2007

KNOCKOUT Round 3 - Thank You, Setlists, Videos

Thanx again to Matchless for being awesome and for getting better and better with every show, to Square Wave Punch, The Diggs, benzos, and Bridges and Powerlines, for completely blowing me away, to the DJs, for making me stop, mid conversation, on several occasions and say "Fuck, I love this song", to Bunkre, for another beautiful flyer, to everyone who told a friend to come or wrote about the show, to WOXY for sponsoring the show, and as always, most importantly, to everyone who came out, cheered so loud, yelled out requests, and put smiles on both mine and the band's collective faces.

Here are the setlists for each band with a quick video that I took of each. The room was dark and the sound was loud, so the clips aren't stellar, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Square Wave Punch - Alice





The Diggs - Stagg





benzos - Glass Souls





They also played "All The King's Men" as a bonus song/encore. It was the highlight of the show for me.

Bridges and Powerlines - Carmen





Pics coming soon. Next show is Fri April 27. And it's a BIG one. Announcement also coming soon.