by aitorzabalegui

We Are Scientists Among Bands Contributing To Ben Sherman’s V.I.P. Charity for Trekstock

Mod British clothing company, Ben Sherman is about to open up a second round of auctions for their V.I.P. (Very Important Plectrum) charity. As it was the first time around 100% of the proceeds will be kindly contributed to a worthy cause. The focus for this auction is Trekstock, a UK-based foundation that specializes in this kind of thing. Trekstock works with Cancer Research UK, collecting donations and raising awareness for youth with cancer through shows, music and fashion collaboration, and the like.

Participating artists in the auction will offer up their signed plectrums, otherwise known as picks — but think more than just guitars! harpsichords, mandolins, and ukuleles need to be plucked too. To name a few bands involved: We Are Scientists, Anna Calvi, Band Of Horses, Interpol, and Broken Social Scene. Check the poster above to see all participating artists, and go to Ben Sherman’s VIP site or Trekstock’s site to learn more.

07.05.11

by John Grimley

Allison’s Invention Readies New Album

Already up for an Emmy for her work on the movie 5,000 Miles From Home, Allison’s Invention (real name Allison Tartalia) just put out a full-length album.

Fusing elements of jazz, soul, and rock, Sweet and Vicious is hard to pin down, and according to critics extremely hard to stop listening to.

The album was produced by Michael Leonhart (of Steely Dan and Lenny Kravitz fame) and will be released July 27th. That same day, Allison’s Invention will host a CD release show at Sullivan Hall in New York.

You can hear a sample of Allison’s Invention right here.

06.28.11

by Sedera Ranaivoarinosy

The Wooden Birds Premiere Tour Diary And Hit The Road

Tour diaries generally only interest die hard fans; the casual listener doesn’t necessarily care about what kind of pranks band members pull on each other or what their favorite food is. The Wooden Birds just released one of their own tour diaries to celebrate the beginning of the summer tour they kicked off in Phoenix, AZ on June 16th, but everyone can find something in it for themselves. Directed and narrated by front Andrew Kenny, this tour diary isn’t just a quick montage of random and silly video; it’s a story. And it’s told so well that Crawdaddy called Kenny “the indie rock Ira Glass.” Watch the video below:

But even better than just hearing about what tour life is like for The Wooden Birds would be to just catch them live supporting their album Two Matchsticks! Check the dates below to see if they’re coming near you in their summer-long trip around North America.

Here are their upcoming tour dates:

7/8 – Chicago, IL @ The Hideout (21+)
7/9 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Founders Brewery (21+)
7/10 – Toronto, ON @ The Drake (all ages)
7/11 – Montreal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo (all ages)
7/12 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott (18+)
7/14 – New York, NY @ Mercury (21+)
7/15 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rock Shop (21+)
7/16 – Washington, DC @ DC9 (all ages)
7/17 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl (21+)
7/20 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk (all ages)

06.27.11

by Jane Lambert

This Week in NYC Shows!

MONDAY

The Kooks, Smoke Signal @ The Bowery Ballroom

Jump Into The Gospel, Your 33 Black Angels, Hospitality (FREE SHOW)
@ The Rock Shop

Golden Animals, Sky Picnic, Twin Killers @ Cameo Gallery

TUESDAY

Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players @ Bowery Electric

The Present, People Get Ready, Man Forever (Guitar Quintet) @ Union Pool

WEDNESDAY

Sloan, Hotkid @ Bowery Ballroom

Seefeel @ Brooklyn Bowl CANCELED

Greg Laswell, Elizabeth Ziman (of Elizabeth and The Catapult) @ City Winery

Hussle Club, Jump Into The Gospel, Fort Lean, The Stationary Set (FREE)
@ Pianos

Matt & Kim, The Thermals, Autobot (from Flosstradomus) @ Terminal 5

THURSDAY

Sloan, Hotkid @ Knitting Factory

Sean Bones, New Moods, Keelay, Popular Music @ Cameo Gallery

ArpLine, Bad Girlfriend, Hard Nips, Huntronik @ Coco66

No Age, HEALTH, Cults, Ceremony @ House of Vans
RSVP HERE

I’m Turning Into, Clouder, Quiet Loudly, EULA, Little Racer @ Silent Barn

Josiah Wolf, First Nature, Prussia, ohnomoon @ The Rock Shop

FRIDAY

Ceremony, Veins, Give, Wet Witch @ Death by Audio

Memory Tapes, New Moods @ Mercury Lounge

Dinowalrus, Total Slacker, Soft Black, Life Size Maps
@ Monster Island Basement

Lower Dens, Dirty Beaches @ South Street Seaport

The Thermals, Big Troubles, EULA @ The Bell House

06.27.11

by Jane Lambert

Jack White and Stephen Colbert Release Single

Jack White has apparently been trying to fill his idle time lately, especially since disbanding The White Stripes. For better or for worse, White teamed up with news funny man, Stephen Colbert to record and release a 7″ single. Called “Charlene II (I’m Over You)”, with backing band the Black Belles, it features the b-side “Charlene (I’m Right Behind You).” You can buy the single at itunes or Third Man Records, which White owns. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Listen below.

06.21.11

by wesleyambrecht

Brendan Benson Re-Releases “Lapalco”

When Brendan Benson released his sophomore album, Lapalco, in 2002, the album was met with a flood of critical praise. NPR called it “terrific,” Rolling Stone proclaimed it “as universal as the late night, semi-drunken answering machine message or the love note you never quite had the guts to send,” and The Onion said it was an “almost overwhelmingly assured sophomore effort.”

Now, nearly a decade later, Benson has decided to re-release the record via his website. Digital and Limited Edition Vinyl versions of the remastered Lapalco paired with bonus tracks are available at brendanbenson.com

In addition to overseeing the re-release of Lapalco, Benson is recording and self-producing his fifth full-length album at Nashville’s Welcome to 1979 studios. More on that as it comes.