If you plan to embed these videos, please link to this page. I’ll be posting more clips from this show in the coming days.
“Siki Siki Baba” (encore w/ the Gulag Orkestar)
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Beirut’s last show at its three-day Bowery Ballroom residency was an absolute blast. It’s rare to like a show considerably more the second time, but tonight’s celebratory spirit and awesome crowd were exceptional. Perhaps it’s the familiarity built in two prior nights and the festive mood of jovial goodbyes. The band members were in top shape, as they were on Sunday, but everyone seemed more laid back and cheerier. There was even an adequate supply of confetti, and Owen Pallett’s animator-friend took on the job of shooting strips of ribbons from the stage. Zach might’ve been a little more drunk, too, and whatever the reason, he was a spirited frontman tonight (he said that Owen Pallett commented he made the best drunk frontman). Cafe Eclectica Music has reported that he is relocating from Brooklyn to Paris after a quick break in Montreal after these NYC shows. Tonight he was insistent that France won the World Cup, even integrating the sentiment into the lyrics at one point. He explained, “Sorry, I love France.”
(More videos after the jump)
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Last year Devotchka co-wrote the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack with Mychael Danna and headed to New York for a couple of charged intimate shows at Spiegelworld. These included an impressive performance by one of Spiegelworld’s many acclaimed burlesque dancers, of which there will be no shortage when Devotchka returns on July 24th and 25th.
(Full schedule after the jump)
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Download “Alone/Alive” (from the upcoming Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner)
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Sunday: Asthmatic Kitty’s Unusual Animals Series will host a release party for Canada’s Shapes and Sizes on May 13th at Union Hall. The album is Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner, which comes out on May 22. They will head out on a North American tour with the National in June, and are stopping by for one more NY date at the Cake Shop on May 11th.
Saturday: A terrible conflict of interest: YACHT plays w/ LCD Soundsystem at Studio B. Dan Deacon plays Mercury Lounge ($8).
Friday: Banjo-loving Illinois play w/ the Kooks at Filmore at New York Irving Plaza, currently sold out. Or head to Sound Fix Records to see a free Mountain Goats show or the previously-mentioned Shapes and Sizes at Cake Shop.
Download “Wake Up” (from ryspace.com, live at Judson Memorial Church)
or listen to this live track recorded by Ryan
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Arcade Fire’s first of three shows, this one at United Palace, was solid. It must’ve been quite a night for those in the first 30 rows or so. Even the Lower Loge seemed to have a great view. For the rest of us there was a sad realization, looking down from ULOGE G, that we have been spoiled by our Boweries and Mercuries. The venue was beautiful, though, and I was close enough to the ceiling to admire its intricate insanity. My favorite part of the night, however, would have to be an A train packed to the brim with Arcade Fire concert-goers after the show.
(Review and photos continue after the jump)
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I’m from Barcelona is a definite summer band. When the sun is out in Williamsburg, it’s all the more shine with 29 members of this Swedish outfit playing happy songs for us. So here’s hoping all of them will make it here for their August 5th show, as reported by Pitchfork. For now, their take-away show from La Blogotheque.
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The magical experience of Beirut is under the threat of annoying Zach-Condon-worshipping female fans- not all female fans, of course not, but there is a lot willing to shamelessly steal other people’s front row spots and openly offer themselves to Zach. The latter is excusable, though irritating (depending on the delivery/person), but pushing and shoving, trampling over each other even, as they did towards the end, to simply grab the set list from Zach was disturbing. Needless to say, I am also not a fan of continuous yelling of messages at the band, though half of these are usually fun. But people get carried away sometimes. One girl actually yelled, “You cancelled last year” (a band member responded by joking, “Security!”). New York is the only US city getting a Beirut treat at this time of the year when all other dates are non-US. Two fans next to me had driven all the way from Balitmore, and there seemed to be other out-of-towners, too, and I, for one, am thankful that these three dates were rescheduled. That they went to the trouble of bringing Gulag Okestar out, that they have Final Fantasy with them this time, that the performance was worth all the trouble fans have to go through and so on.
(Photos and review continue after the jump)
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Night one of three NYC shows with Beirut at Bowery Ballroom, and Owen Pallett / Final Fantasy did not disappoint. He spins a colorful world by weaving layer after layer on his violin and then some on keys. His voice is crisp, sounding exactly like in recording (woo-hoo), though he did not hesitate to drop a line he’d started to try it again. In the meantime, he shared his admiration of Zach Condon’s projection, calling himself a “pussy behind the microphone.” On stage, Owen is easily humble, charming and funny. In addition to old favorites like “Adventure.exe” and “It Took You Two Years to Win My Heart,” he played some new tunes, one of them being “Flare Gun.”
(Photos and review continue after the jump)
Continue Reading »
Download “Wake Up” (from ryspace.com, live at Judson Memorial Church)
or listen to this live track recorded by Ryan
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As I prepare for two Arcade Fire shows this week, writes Washington Post’s J. Freedom du Lac:
A ticket to an Arcade Fire show represents the possibility, if not the probability, of being transported — of transcendence. It’s the reason tickets to the 3,700-seat venue sold out in less than an hour. It’s also why the band is becoming increasingly known as one of the most vital live acts in contemporary popular music — a sort of modern-day art-rock answer to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, whose galloping music was echoed in Arcade Fire’s superlative set-closer, “Keep the Car Running.” (The Talking Heads are another important touchstone.)
Hmm. Full article.
Photo: Elizabeth Weinberg / Buy a print of this image
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How to save hip-hop: mash it up with the best of indie!
Back when the Hot 97 / Tsunami controversy was at its peak, I was in a room filled with disgruntled hip-hoppers and fans shaking their heads over the state of mainstream hip hop. I would’ve raised my hand and announced, “Behold! Not to worry my dear friends!” if I had only known how excitingly well mash-ups of indie rock and mainstream hip-hop could work. These, of course, would hardly ever satisfy those fighting against the MTV / Hot 97 brand of their art, but I’m here to announce how good of a job DJ’s at the Hood Internet have done.
My absolute favorite is “Absorb the Lip Gloss” that features Marnie Stern’s “Absorb the Numbers” and Lil Mama’s “Lip Gloss,” one of the many mixes listed on their website. Since I’ve yet to listen to all of them, my second favorite for now is “That’s That Whirlwind” featuring Architecture In Helsinki’s “Do That Whirlwind” and Snoop Dogg’s “That’s That.”
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All tracks are downloadable from the Hood Internet website.
Here we have our highly-rated, totally-popular question of all time: “What inspires your music?” And the equally adored compliment: “Oh she’s so intelligent!”
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I imagine these TV appearances will be happening frequently now, and I had forgotten how surreal these TV shows can be. I like what Feist has to say about not feeling at home in France.
