It's great to be gigging in 2011

[Fiona]

That kind of rhymes if you say it in a Kerry accent...

Anyway, my 2011 kicked off with Les Savy Fav just as the new year began. Monster two hour set. And unlike in Barcelona in May, the hell I went down the front during this gig. Mentalness.

qwYsSfpksWs

tinobeat - Peter O'Shea managed to get himself onstage and drum with them for a song! Amazing.

[TheSadDebaser]

Went to see Jeff Lewis with Pete Stampfel (of the Holy Modal Rounders) last night at Cake Shop. Saw them play together at Sidewalk a few years ago, and I think it was even better this time around. I've never really listened to the Holy Modal Rounders, but I bought a copy of the DVD about them from Jeff after the show.

If I may do some shameless self-promotion, my pop-y indie-y rock-y band (the Impossible Buildings: myspace (http://myspace.com/theimpossiblebuildings), facebook (http://facebook.com/theimpossiblebuildings)) will be playing at Cake Shop on Sunday, January 23rd. Here's a facebook event (http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=124121270986308) for it, if you are so inclined.

You know, I don't mind telling people about shows nearly as much as I hate actually telling people I'm in a band or struggling to describe it without sounding like a total dork.

[dola]

Damn I wanted to see that Cake Shop show but it was sold out a half hour before Jeff was to go on. I guess I should've went earlier but for some reason I didn't think it would get to capacity...

[yovan]

The Love Language last night at Cat's Cradle.

Archers of Loaf played a surprise show too, first show in ten years or something like that.

[johansen smith]

The Love Language last night at Cat's Cradle.
They play here all the time (must be the same for you, since they're a Triangle band) but I'm finally going to one of their shows in a couple weeks

Probably going to go see Small Black and Robyn, not sure I have enough energy on a work night to go to Girl Talk, seeing Marnie Stern in March which will rule

[yovan]

Where do you live?

[TheSadDebaser]

Archers of Loaf played a surprise show too, first show in ten years or something like that.

Whuuuuuuuuuuut?

[yovan]

Whuuuuuuuuuuut?

Yeah, apparently they're reuniting. It was a complete surprise to me until I walked into the Cradle.

[Paul]

Yeah, apparently they're reuniting. It was a complete surprise to me until I walked into the Cradle. Are they, or was it just a 20th anniversary one-off? Because a one-off seems more likely.

[yovan]

Yeah, I don't really know. That was the talk/whispers of the drunk crowd around me (and including me) but you're right, a one-off seems more likely.

[baconfat]

one of my friends is friends with one of the guys in the band and he indicated on facebook sunday that they'd probably do a few more shows.

[johansen smith]

Where do you live?
Charm City

[baconfat]

guess there's no time like the present to say i'll be at the first 4 shows of TheWheelYLT tour this week - philadelphia, dc, and both nights at the cradle in carrboro.

i'll be the guy freaking the fuck out when they play "(Straight Down To The) Bitter End" (which they've never played live before).

[Fiona]

Primavera 2011 - the best festival line-up ever? Obviously a few duds in there, but that's a seriously high percentage of must-see acts.

Aias, Ainara LeGardon, The Album Leaf, Animal Collective, The Annuals, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Arto Lindsay, Autolux, Avi Buffalo, Baths, Battles, Belle & Sebastian, Berlinetta, Big Boi, The Black Angels, Blank Dogs, BMX Bandits, Caribou, Carte Blanche, Caspa, Cloud Nothings, Comet Gain, Connan Mockasin, Cults, Cuzo + Damo Suzuki, Dan Melchior und Das Menace, Darkstar, Das Racist, Deakin, Dean Wareham plays Galaxie 500, Del Rey, DJ Shadow, DM Stith, Ducktails, Dúo Cobra, Echo & The Bunnymen performing Heaven Up Here & Crocodiles, Einstürzende Neubauten, El Guincho, El Mató A Un Policía Motorizado, Emeralds, Explosions In The Sky, Factory Floor, Field Music, The Fiery Furnaces, The Flaming Lips, Fleet Foxes, The Fresh & Onlys, Games, Gang Gang Dance, Girl Talk, Glasser, Glenn Branca Ensemble, Gold Panda, Gonjasufi, Grinderman, Half Japanese, Holy Ghost!, Incarnations, Interpol, Islet, James Blake, Jamie XX, John Cale & Band + Orchestra perform PARIS 1919 live, John Talabot, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Julia Kent, Julian Lynch, Kode9 And The Space Ape + Kode9 Burial Set, Kokoshca, Kurt Vile & The Violators, La Célula Durmiente, Las Robertas, Les Aus, Lichens, Lindstrom, Low, Lüger, M. Ward, Male Bonding, Matthew Dear Live, Me And The Bees, Mercury Rev perform Deserter's Songs, Mogwai, Money Mark, The Monochrome Set, My Teenage Stride, The National, Nisennenmondai, Nosoträsh "Popemas", Odd Future, Of Montreal, Oneohtrix Point Never, Ornamento Y Delito, P.I.L. (Public Image Limited), Papas Fritas, Pere Ubu plays "The Annotated Modern Dance", Perfume Genius, Phosphorescent, Pissed Jeans, PJ Harvey, Pulp, Rubik, Salem, Seefeel, Shellac, Simian Mobile Disco, The Soft Moon, Sonny & The Sunsets, Sufjan Stevens, Suicide, The Suicide Of Western Culture, Suuns, Swans, The Tallest Man On Earth, Tennis, Thelematicos, Toundra, Triángulo De Amor Bizarro, tUnE-yArDs, Twin Shadow, Ty Segall, The Vaccines, The Walkmen, Warpaint, Wolf People, Yuck.

So, any of you going to come over and party by the Mediterranean?

[larry]

I saw chris brokaw and he was rad.

[Brushback]

Nude Beach

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/OneBase/NudeBeachFDZ2-4-1120915-1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/OneBase/NudeBeachFDZ2-4-11351080-1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/OneBase/NudeBeachFDZ2-4-1132860-1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/OneBase/NudeBeachFDZ2-4-11531220-1.jpg

[baconfat]

saw wild nothing last night. they were pretty decent but hampered by a very wimpy PA and a crowd of mostly drunk college kids.

they did a fun cover of primal scream's "velocity girl" too.

[Fiona]

Recently:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5093/5486463741_c6100c2fe9_z_d.jpg

Glasser

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5547839412_b42f3084c7_z_d.jpg

The Mantles

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/5547203749_79139b46a8_z_d.jpg

Nodzzz

I went to see Deerhunter on Friday night which, some of you will have already gathered, was one of the least enjoyable gigs I've ever been to. A great performance ruined by absolute effing pricks.

Going to see James Blake on Tuesday and am rather intrigued as to how that's going to work out live.

[larry]

I saw sic alps a few weeks ago. they were wretched beyond all reason. I'm all for ragged and raw and whatever, and the last time I saw them (2008?), they were awesome, but this time they acted like they didn't even care if they played the riffs close to correctly...total disdain for everything. cough syrup city.

puke

the price of fame, I guess...

[Fiona]

I saw them (Sic Alps) last month and thought they were great. There did seem to be some sort of a disagreement between the band regarding the length of their set. Pretty discreet though. Magik Markers stole the show though, Elisa Ambrogio was on absolutely top shredding form.

I went to see James Blake last week and just... wow. Like a lot of people the album felt rather unsettling after the EPs, and I haven't warmed to it fully still. The live performance is astonishing though - so assured yet unassuming. And so fully realised - his own keyboards and the drummer's styles of playing were honed to perfection. His voice would send shivers down your spine, and the thundering bass did loosen some of Whelan's plasterwork. Amazing.

[Brushback]

Pissed Jeans

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/OneBaseOnOverthrow/PissedJeansTrinity2-26-1191140-1.jpg


Estrogen Highs

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/OneBase/EstrogenHighsCafeNine3-29-116925-1.jpg

[Dave]

So obsessed with those recent Estrogen Highs records. They are leaps and bounds beyond the early records. Sadly, I missed them back in Dec. or Jan. Hey, Estrogen Highs. Come play NYC on a weeknight with a set that starts around 11PM.

[Brushback]

Yeah, the two records that Estrogen Highs have put out in the past few months are definitely much more accomplished and crafted than their earliest stuff. Stefan is finding his range.

The new 7" coming out on Southpaw sounds like it'll be killer, too.

[9000]

finally getting to see GBV again. going to vegas or terminal 5 not required, thankfully.

[johansen smith]

Vivian Girls and Black Lips were dance-tastic!

[tinobeat]

New York MBBuddies:

A new pop combo I play in called CUFFS is playing at Cake Shop tomorrow night, we're the first band, playing with Jowe Head and another band called Surprisers. It'd be sweet to see you folks, its been a while since my last (and only) MBBeverages. It's great to be spamming in two thousand eleven!

[vesper]

i'm sorry to say that i'll miss it. i hope to catch you next time you're in town though.

[9000]

same here. regardless, we should have a nyc-cambridge-(dublin*) crew mbbevies sometime soon.

[Brushback]

Queening

last night @ Popeye's Garage (New Haven)


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/QueeningPopeyes4-22-118710.jpg


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/QueeningPopeyes4-22-1111280.jpg

[tinobeat]

Last night I had the unusual pleasure of seeing Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 perform their first show in Boston in some 14-15 years, as they did a very under-publicized and warm-up show for their ATP trip.

It was staggeringly great. 90 minutes, every song I'd hoped to hear, just... wow.

I believe I saw username: narlus there taking photos, hopefully he can share some.

[Brushback]

(not TFUL 282 photos)

Tyler Jon Tyler

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/One-Base/TylerJonTylerPopeyes5-1-1121180-1.jpg


Medication

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/One-Base/MedicationPopeyes5-1-1112805-1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/One-Base/MedicationPopeyes5-1-1124930-1.jpg


Fuckheads

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/One-Base/FuckheadsWhitney5-6-1111514.jpg

[Brushback]

last night: Guitar Wolf/Cheap Time


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/GuitarWolfDanSt5-14-1132.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/GuitarWolfDanSt5-14-1157.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/GuitarWolfDanSt5-14-1118.jpg



http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/CheapTimeDanSt5-14-1114900.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/CheapTimeDanSt5-14-111960.jpg


(Estrogen Highs opened-- where was Dave??)

[Dave]

In NYC or CT? I saw Cheap Time and Guitar Wolf on Friday night. Cheap Time were great, the new line up is probably the best one yet. I can't wait for the new record.
Guitar Wolf: This was the best I've ever seen them, at least for the first 45 minutes. The next hour and fifteen minutes I'm not sure about. Very few bands should play that long and Guitar Wolf is certainly one of them, but they were legitimately great. Most folks who came to see Cheap Time missed them due to them going on at 9PM.

Also: I feel bad that I missed Tyler Jon Tyler in NYC a couple of weeks ago. I did hear them on Terre T's show on WFMU and it's been a while since I've seen Medication, but that Sacred Bones 12" is the best thing they've done so far.

[Brushback]

The Guitar Wolf show I'm talking about (w/Estrogen Highs) was the night after the NYC show, in Milford CT. Still not very far! (Just kidding, and they made Estrogen Highs go on at 9:00 anyway)



The Medication 12" is probably my favorite record of the year so far, even if it's only 5 songs.

[tinobeat]

Oh yeah, I totally saw Times New Viking last Thursday and holy moly did they really kill it. I love the new record a ton, they played most of that, some crucial hits off the Matador jammers, and then some sick deep cuts from the Siltbreeze recs, closing with WE GOT ROCKET. Boy howdy.

Also totally saw bitterfruit who was sporting a sweet Guided By Voices t-shirt. Reppin hard.

[Brushback]

Adrenalin O.D. reunion last night:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/One-Base/AODHeirloom6-4-118910-1.jpg


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/One-Base/AODHeirloom6-4-1110880-1.jpg


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/One-Base/AODHeirloom6-4-1133860-1.jpg


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/One-Base/AODHeirloom6-4-111900-1.jpg

[tinobeat]

Any of you MBB-ers going to see Milk Music at Bruar Falls tomorrow night? I'll be there partying, so stoked to finally see them, that record's been killing me all year.

[vesper]

i have some other plans but i might be out and about if you want to do an after-show drink. how long are you in town?

[tinobeat]

i have some other plans but i might be out and about if you want to do an after-show drink. how long are you in town?

I'm heading back Saturday morning, unfortunately, won't have tons of time, but yeah if you're in the willamsburg area, this show ends around midnight, and I might try to go see Iceage who are playing somewhere up the street, but maybe a run-in might be possible!

I have most of the summer off before I start school in the fall, though, starting in a few weeks, and I'm planning a few trips to the big dirty city so some manner of MBB hang should occur.

[vesper]

hmm okay. i'm going to be in clinton hill/fort greene tonight, so i won't be that far away, but maybe just far away enough that it'll be tough to meet up between shows. let's plan to hang out on another one of your trips this summer!

[Brushback]

Medication in New Haven 6/18/11


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/MedicationElmBar6-18-11.jpg

[9000]

classic line-up GBV at mccarren and thee oh sees at brooklyn bowl this weekend. i'm still piecing my mind back together.

[tinobeat]

Milk Music were devastatingly great on Friday night. Tried to see a secret-ish Oh Sees show at DBA later that night but it was packed to the gills so no go.

Fun friday night in BKLN, really enjoyed the pork tacos I got from the truck up the street from Bruar Falls, we really need more late night truck eats up here in Cambridge/Boston.

[Brushback]

The Men last night at Popeye's Garage (New Haven)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/TheMenPopeyeys6-23-11-1180.jpg

[Brushback]

Guinea Worms at the Flywheel

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/GuineaWorms7-10-11038-870.jpg



http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/GuineaWormsFlywheel7-10-1128810.jpg

[vesper]

i saw harvey milk earlier this week. i didn't know anything about them going in (and don't have much of an ear for metal in general) but i was into it.

[Fiona]

I saw Harvey Milk at ATP a couple of years ago. My metal days are long behind me but I enjoyed it a lot - really sucks you in.

Haven't been to that may shows recently, a combination of not a whole lot happening and not having a whole lot of money. In the last month or so I've seen the Vaselines, Retarded Cop, Paul Simon (amazing!), Grinderman, Ducktails (VG), Big Troubles (EX), Julian Lynch and Yo La Tengo (consistently awesome). Oh yeah, the Flaming Lips too. Zzzz.

[Brushback]

Estrogen Highs last night at Cafe Nine (New Haven)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/EstrogenHighsCafeNine7-23-118850.jpg

Half their set was new stuff, leading off with "Tell It To Them" (which was pretty great and isn't on the LP of the same name). They also re-arranged/slowed down "They Told Me I Was Everything", which I can't remember them playing live at all for over a year at least. Finished off the set with "Kings Run Errands (For Me)" and "This Mild Delusion" -- they really killed it on those last two

[baconfat]

Love Dump? Frustrated that they rarely play outside of the NYC area except for random nights on Yo La Tengo's wheel tour? Well, James is bringing his love of Prince, Gerald Levert, and Devo to Charlottesville, VA, on August 13. Details here (http://holdmyticket.com/event/27559).

This show will feature James and his wife as the band, as opposed to "Yo La Tengo perform the Dump songbook."

[baconfat]

Just re-upping this for anyone in the area who may have forgotten or missed it. It's looking to be a special night in Charlottesville!

Love Dump? Frustrated that they rarely play outside of the NYC area except for random nights on Yo La Tengo's wheel tour? Well, James is bringing his love of Prince, Gerald Levert, and Devo to Charlottesville, VA, on August 13. Details here (http://holdmyticket.com/event/27559).

This show will feature James and his wife as the band, as opposed to "Yo La Tengo perform the Dump songbook."

[larry]

has there ever been another "solo" project that is so much better than the root band?

[pabost]

has there ever been another "solo" project that is so much better than the root band?

In a word: yes.

[larry]

seriously? who? I'd love to know who you think, because the gap is so wide here. perhaps the first brilliantine record compared to the dambuilders. I'd grant that one.

[baconfat]

has there ever been another "solo" project that is so much better than the root band?

this might not make me popular on this board, but i'll bite: Dump is better than Christmas.

[9000]

kurt vile, wild flag, and SY at the wb waterfront: grrrrrreat!

[tinobeat]

Iceage, Rank/Xerox, Vile Bodies and Life Partners last night, totally shreddin show

[Brushback]

Rank/Xerox

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/One-Base/RankXeroxFlywheel8-13-118940-1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/One-Base/RankXeroxFlywheel8-13-113880-1.jpg


Ultrabunny (née Bunnybrains)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/One-Base/UltrabunnyPopeyes8-7-1123960-1.jpg

[tinobeat]

Rank/Xerox were so so great

[Brushback]

Rank/Xerox were so so great

Yeah! Really cool guys too. I bought a Burning Sensations LP.

[Brushback]

Kitchen's Floor

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/KitchensFloorPopeyes9-2-1186-1.jpg

[yovan]

I'll be at Hopscotch Thu-Sat in Raleigh, NC. This is my itinerary:

Thursday:

Super Vacations
Lower Dens
Love Language
Cold Cave

Friday:

Soft Company
Loners
Vivian Girls
Swans or Japandroids

Saturday:

Des Ark
Beach Fossils
Future Islands
Yelawolf

[Brushback]

Kitchen's Floor (again-- this time at Feeding Tube Records)

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/KitchensFloorNorthampton9-4-11054-1.jpg

Their new one is my favorite LP of the year so far

[yovan]

slight Hopscotch change: just saw The Men are playing - I will be there.

[Dave]

slight Hopscotch change: just saw The Men are playing - I will be there.

One of the best bands I've seen in ages.

[tinobeat]

Kitchen's Floor (again-- this time at Feeding Tube Records)

Their new one is my favorite LP of the year so far

Yeah, the LP really is absolutely spectacular. They played an incredible 12 minute set in Somerville on Saturday night, would have loved for it to be longer, but it was a perfect slice of awesome.

[Brushback]

Wow, 12 minutes... both times I saw them, their set was regular length. I love how their songs are mostly all a minute and a half long -- no screwing around, just play the song and get out.

I think it was the Siltbreeze blurb that called 'em "X (Australia) crossed with Gordons", which is pretty accurate. Or maybe Pagans if they wrote one-minute songs and structured them like "Pink Flag".

[Brushback]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/EasyActionFlywheel9-23-1129980-1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/EasyActionWheelhouse9-23-1155940-1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/EasyActionFlywheel9-23-1144840-1.jpg

Saw Easy Action twice on Friday. They played in Easthampton at The Flywheel, finished before 10:15, and then shot 25 miles north and played an even better set at The Wheelhouse in Greenfield.

I didn't know how to get to the second place, so I followed their van up I-91. Then we both did a couple of U-turns in the center of Greenfield before finding The Wheelhouse (it's downstairs in a basement).

Thurston Moore was at the first show. About half of the people at the first show went to the second show also.

A band from the area called Powerblessings opened up the 2nd show, they sounded just like Pipe (the band that was on Merge back in the '90s). They were pretty great.

[Brushback]

Estrogen Highs

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/EstrogenHighsPopeyes9-29-1171910-1.jpg


Straight Arrows

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y142/Brushback/Brushback/StraightArrowsPopeyes9-29-1144890-1.jpg

[Miss Tasty Princess]

I went to a show for the first time in over a year last weekend. A friend got tickets for Music Midtown here in Atlanta, so I joined him. The Black Keys were great, as always, and I was pleasantly surprised by The Joy Formidable (knew of them, but had never heard them). The rest we saw were, at worse, inoffensive. We (and a ton of other folks) left about 30 minutes into headliners Coldplay's set. Ha!

I need to get out more. I think Dark Dark Dark are here soon, and Cold War Kids come to town on the 13th, I believe.

[yovan]

saw M83 a couple of weeks ago. love the new double album