by Jane Lambert

Spoon Announce U.S. Tour with Deerhunter

Last week another gigantic buzz album hit stores in the form of Spoon’s Transference (Merge). To celebrate the release of their record, the band is heading out on tour starting this March with friends, Deerhunter. Spoon will travel from Glasglow to California, and are also taking The Strange Boys and Micachu and the Shapes along with them with Deerhunter to take over as openers in the spring. The venues look pretty intimate for the tour, and very classy for the most part. Spoon will be hitting Radio City Music Hall when they come to New York City which is certainly a step up for the band who seems to get bigger and bigger everytime they release a new song. Check out the tour dates below!

02-14 Glasgow, Scotland – King Tut’s
02-15 Manchester, England – Academy 3
02-16 London, England – Electric Ballroom
02-18 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
02-19 Cologne, Germany – Luxor
02-20 Berlin, Germany – Frannz Club
03-17 Austin, TX – Stubbs (NPR SXSW showcase) %
03-18 New Orleans, LA – Republic %@
03-19 Birmingham, AL – Workplay Soundstage %@
03-20 Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle %@
03-22 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club %@
03-23 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club %@
03-24 Richmond, VA – The National %@
03-26 New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall %@
03-27 Boston, MA – House of Blues %@
03-29 Toronto, Ontario – Sound Academy %@
03-30 Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theater %@
04-01 Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom %^
04-02 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue %^
04-03 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue %^
04-05 Denver, CO – Ogden Theater %^
04-06 Denver, CO – Ogden Theater %^
04-07 Salt Lake City, UT – In the Venue %^
04-09 Seattle, WA – Moore Theater %^
04-10 Seattle, WA – Moore Theater %^
04-11 Vancouver, British Columbia – Orpheum Theater %^
04-13 Oakland, CA – Fox Theater %^

% with Deerhunter
@ with the Strange Boys
^ with Micachu and the Shapes

01.25.10

by Jane Lambert

Pavement’s Greatest Hits Gets a Tracklisting

The contest and wait is finally over. Matador Records has just released the winner of the Pavement’s greatest hit’s contest, and have revealed the tracklist. The winner who was announced early this week is Flavio Seixlack of São Paolo. He managed to get 17 out of the 23 tracks correct, and won a nice trip to New York City to see Pavement play in Central Park. Quarantine the Past will be out March 9th, with a limited edition vinyl release out on April 17th for Record Store Day. Check out the tracklisting below as well as ALL of the Pavement reunion dates. It’s going to be a long summer, babe.

01 “Gold Soundz” (CROOKED RAIN, CROOKED RAIN)
02 “Frontwards” (WATERY, DOMESTIC EP)
03 “Mellow Jazz Docent” (PERFECT SOUND FOREVER EP)
04 “Stereo” (BRIGHTEN THE CORNERS)
05 “In The Mouth A Desert” (SLANTED & ENCHANTED)
06 “Two States” (SLANTED & ENCHANTED)
07 “Cut Your Hair” (CROOKED RAIN, CROOKED RAIN)
08 “Shady Lane” / “J Vs. S” (BRIGHTEN THE CORNERS)
09 “Here” (SLANTED & ENCHANTED)
10 “Unfair” (CROOKED RAIN, CROOKED RAIN)
11 “Grounded” (WOWEE ZOWEE)
12 “Summer Babe (Winter Version)” (SLANTED & ENCHANTED)
13 “Range Life” (CROOKED RAIN, CROOKED RAIN)
14 “Date w/ IKEA” (BRIGHTEN THE CORNERS)
15 “Debris Slide” (PERFECT SOUND FOREVER EP)
16 “Shoot The Singer (1 Sick Verse)” (WATERY, DOMESTIC EP)
17 “Spit On A Stranger” (TERROR TWILIGHT)
18 “Heaven Is a Truck” (CROOKED RAIN, CROOKED RAIN)
19 “Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite At :17” (SLANTED & ENCHANTED)
20 “Embassy Row” (BRIGHTEN THE CORNERS)
21 “Box Elder” (SLAY TRACKS 1933-1969 EP)
22 “Unseen Power Of The Picket Fence” (NO ALTERNATIVE COMP)
23 “Fight This Generation” (WOWEE ZOWEE)

PAVEMENT TOUR DATES

03/01 Auckland, New Zealand @ Town Hall
03/04 Sydney, Australia @ Enmore Theatre
03/05 Sydney, Australia @ Enmore Theatre
03/06 Meredith, Australia @ Supernatural Amphitheatre (Golden Plains Festival)
03/07 Adelaide, Australia @ Thebarton Theatre
03/08 Perth, Australia @ Metro City
03/10 Brisbane, Australia @ Tivoli
03/12 Melbourne, Australia @ Palace Theatre
03/14 Melbourne, Australia @ Palace Theatre
04/07 Tokyo, Japan @ Studio Coast
04/08 Tokyo, Japan @ Studio Coast
04/10 Osaka, Japan @ Zepp Osaka
04/12 Nagoya, Japan @ Zepp Nagoya
04/18 Indio, CA (Coachella)
05/04 Dublin, Ireland @ Tripod
05/05 Glasgow, Scotland @ Barrowland
05/07 Paris, France @ Le Zénith
05/08 Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
05/10 London, England @ Brixton Academy
05/11 London, England @ Brixton Academy
05/12 London, England @ Brixton Academy
05/13 London, England @ Brixton Academy
05/15 Minehead, England @ All Tomorrow’s Parties
05/18 Brussels, Belgium @ Ancienne Belgique
05/19 Berlin, Germany @ Astra
05/20 Prague, Czech Republic @ Palac Akropolis
05/21 Vienna, Austria @ Arena
05/22 Munich, Germany @ Muffathalle
05/24 Rome, Italy @ Atlantico Live
05/25 Bologna, Italy @ Estragon
05/27 Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Festival
05/29-31 Quincy, Washington @ Sasquatch! Festival
06/25 Berkeley, CA @ The Greek Theater (Just added! On sale Thurs. Thanks for the tip, Kyle.)
07/01-04 Roskilde, Denmark @ Roskilde Festival
09/21 New York, NY @ Central Park Summerstage
09/22 New York, NY @ Central Park Summerstage
09/23 New York, NY @ Central Park Summerstage
09/24 New York, NY @ Central Park Summerstage

01.24.10

by Jane Lambert

Secondhand Sunday: The Elected “Not Going Home”

This Secondhand Sunday is perfect for a rainy afternoon in New York. Riding off the coattails of Rilo Kiley, former “Salute Your Shorts” member Blake Sennett, went for a new approach a few years ago with his new band, The Elected. It’s always nice to see Blake move to the front of the microphone and take charge. The most successful song on the album Sun Sun Sun was a haunting track called “Not Going Home.” Watch out for the owl costume. You may want to steal it.

The Elected “Not Going Home”

01.22.10

by Jane Lambert

Getting Crafty with Dan Werb of Woodhands

This week, I caught up with Dan Werb of the Canadian duo, Woodhands. Don’t try to pigeonhold these guy’s sound. Drawing their influences from everywhere imaginable, they prove not to be a one trick electro indie group. Only a few weeks away from releasing their third album, Remorsecapade(Paper Bag), Werb is more excited than anything. And he has reason to be. This is truly a brilliant record filled with tunes that will have your ass out of the seat in no time. Here’s what Werb had to say:

MM: How did you come up with the name for the new record, Remorsecapade? Is there any specific meaning behind it?

WERB: For us, Paul and I, when you’re a band of two pieces, you do things to pass the time. We like to make portmanteaus which is putting together two words to form one. I like ‘Disastery,’ which I came up with when we were eating unwieldy tacos at the same time. We’re really excited about them. We wanted the new album title to be hilarious. I like to think of it as a remorsing ice capade or a strange ride you’d take at a shitty theme park. It can also be heartbreaking, serious and somber, that also links to the record.

The two of you met in Henry Faberge and the Adorables. What made you decide to start a collaboration on your own?

We met in that band, but we were both into our solo stuff. We passed each other on stage and just mutually expressed our admiration for each other as musicians. Then we started jamming, and we didn’t really know each other. It was like the first day jitters the first time.

What is the main inspiration of the songs on the new album?

Obviously relationships. You know break up, get back together, break up again. We tend to write music first and then fill in the blanks with lyrics and melodies. With lyrics, I’m inspired by the way the song sounds. We’re going for a darker and lush sound on the record, more provocative lyrics. Evoke a certain mood. It’s a very specific feeling you get in a place about relationships kind of. That feeling, that’s on the sidelines of a main event. It could be you having an amazing night, with a small moment, and then you’re alone. It’s fascinating.

When it comes to songwriting, do you write together, or bring in different ideas?For this album, songs started as kernels from things on the road. Piano songs, soft, slow ballads, and then turning into bangers. A lot of songs were jams tested on the audience live….the heart of the song live. If you can mix up how you write songs, you get all different sounds.

Does it bother you when people refer to you as an Indietronica band? Do you think you can be defined in one genre?

YEAH! Paul and I have totally diverse musical interests. We’re not part of a genre, we’re a genre of band. Like we engage with our crowds, get a ton of sound to get people moving. We move far away from electro. Our influences differ. I love hip hop and how MCs can own a room, hip hop producers….we take pianos, composers, etc. into our little empire.

How did you end up having Maylee Todd helping out with vocals, “Dissembler”?We both were in (Henry Faberge and) the Adorables. She also appeared on Iour last album, Heartattack, and is a good friend of ours.

What is your favorite song on the record and why?I really like that one with Maylee. It’s great. It’s a really personal song to me. I think we effectively achieved that song.

What do you like most about being in the recording process?

I love it all. I love being in studio with a million synths and drum machines. I’ll hear something and think “That’s amazing!” I don’t care if it’s of time. It’s an exploration for us. It’s exciting not knowing. I know what it took to make it, what it felt like, and when it’s done, I get to rediscover it.

What do you like most about playing in front of a live audience?

For us, we’re really about creating an immediate connection to an audience. They give us support. It doesn’t fucking matter what happens or is going to happen. If my voice gets destroyed or Paul breaks a snare drum, it doesn’t matter. It’s a shared beautiful experience in a room of vibes like that. It’s fucking incredible. It’s amazing.

Are you more nervous or excited about releasing the new album?

Excited! Definitely. Nerves, well we’re releasing our baby to the world. We’ve had a break since December, which really isn’t long. We’re excited about how this is going to do. We have a new live setup with lasers too. We’re crazy for lasers!

01.21.10

by Jane Lambert

Vampire Weekend @ United Palace Theater, NYC- January 17, 2010

I have something I’d like to admit. I’ve never seen Vampire Weekend live before. For some reason their shows have passed me by many times in New York City, and yet I never had the urge to attend one. Then came Contra which I still cannot stop listening to. Getting a ticket to Vampire Weekend in New York is like cramming six people into a standard cab. It’s just really hard to do and not likely it’s going to happen. Somehow with one ticket to see the band play the United Palace Theater, in the Bronx no less, my journey to Vampire Weekend was on it’s way.

The United Palace Theater is really decieving from the outside. Used as a church on the weekend, the place looks pretty dark and scary from the outside. The moment you walk in the door though, it’s one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever seen. The walls are gold and ornate with carvings and statues directly on it. The red carpet makes you feel nearly like royalty. Even the seats were comfy!

Titus Andronicus took the stage at promptly 8pm. Sadly this set was overtaken by people trying to find their seats and standing in the way of the audience. This made it hard to enjoy the band at all, but through what y0u could hear was amazing. Playing new tracks of the yet to be released album The Monitor, the band poured their heart out to anyone who was listening.

It was obvious though that everyone was there for the main attraction and it showed. Eager fans in a mixed aged crowd (we’re talking 5 to 65 here), couldn’t wait for Vampire Weekend to hit the stage. Out rolls the giant banner with the Contracover on it as the band walks out at around 9:15. Immediately launching into the set, the audience was up on their feet. This was really nice to see as everyone usually sits when seats are available. You couldn’t help but get up and dance to the music. Tonight was truly a special night as singer Ezra Koenig stated repeatedly that it was “their longest show ever.” And I can see that as it clocked in at about an hour and a half.
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Basically, no song was left off the setlist and this very intimate show. There were plenty of song highlights that night including new Contra favorites such as “Horchata,” “Cousins,” “Diplomat’s Son,” and “Giving Up the Gun,” and “White Sky.” The guest string section came out for such songs as “Run,” which was one of the highlights of the night. You could see that the band was amazed they were here at this moment in time, with their career exploding even more before their eyes. It nearly gave me chills that I was experiencing something so great. Vampire Weekend also managed to play most of their debut album from the foot stomping “A-Punk” to “Oxford Comma,” and fans were delighted to hear some of the old tracks that made them fall in love a mere two years ago. Closing out the night was “Ottoman” from Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist which was one of my favorites of the night, and “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa.” This was the perfect ending to a stellar night, that almost felt like a dream. It was almost too good to be true. Most of their upcoming tour is sold out, and trust me, you’ll get your money’s worth.

WATCH OUR VIDEO FOR “HORCHATA”

SEE MORE VAMPIRE WEEKEND PICTURES AFTER THE JUMP

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01.18.10

by Jane Lambert

Julian Casablancas @ Terminal 5, NYC- January 14, 2009

DSCF1823 by ModernMystery. I had mixed feelings going into the Julian Casablancas show on Thursday night. His solo album, Phrazes for the Young, which is pretty incredible, would probably come off well, but would it be the same Casablancas I fell in love with when Is This It came out? Would it be awkward not seeing the rest of The Strokes with him? Could these songs possibly come off like sort of a lounge act on stage? I was probably more nervous than him, who was performing in New York City for the first time in years.

Getting to Terminal 5 super early, the line was already down the street for the sold out show. The crowd is still the hippiest group you’ll ever see. Folks, Strokes fans invented hipsters. The line rushed in as soon as the doors opened. A majority of people hit the merch table immediatly, something you rarely see these days. Sneaking up to the front of the crowd, I knew something special was about to happen tonight.

First taking the stage was Tanlines, a eletronic duo that managed to keep my attention. Telepathe took the stage next, which honestly I could do without. Every song sounded the same, and I possibly dozed off during one part. If the opener was just Tanlines than I would have been happy. Maybe it was because I was dying to see Casablancas, someone I haven’t seen on stage since the last time The Strokes played in New York 3 or 4 years ago.

Hitting the stage immediatly after, Casablancas came out like he was never gone. Launching into “Ludlow Street,” an homage to being back in NYC, the fans embraced him right off the bat. Singing along to every word from the start. It felt good to have him back, and he loved the attention. An audience favorite of the night was certainly “11th Dimension,” as the crowd sang along and danced. Casablancas seemed ecstatic to be playing in his hometown again and his energy was just incredible. Though he still manages to hold on to his microphone stand for dear life, he was not exempt from getting right in the crowd’s face, literally, as he hopped off the stage several times that night. “What a good lookin’ crowd. You’re still the best,” commented Casablancas to the screaming fans.

DSCF1846 by ModernMystery.

The 6 piece band behind him were extremely tight, but somehow you just couldn’t take your eyes off of the man himself. The night was filled with tracks off his solo record, and ones like “Out of the Blue,” riled up the crowd like no other. Though you would assume that with only one album under his belt, that he would have lack of material to play on stage. This was not the case. Blazing through nearly every track, he also whipped out a few surprises when he wasn’t talking about how upset he was with Alicia Key’s songs. He shocked us by playing a slow cover of the old Kings of Leon tune, “Velvet Snow,” which was beautiful to say the least. Leaving the stage after “Left & Right In the Dark,” he ran off, literally. The band wasn’t gone for more than 10 seconds before the crowd started to chant for them to come back.

Casablancas came back on stage with the guitarist and said “This is a cover of an old Strokes b-side.” Of course, fans went crazy for this as he performed “I’ll Try Anything Once.” Everyone was singing along, and Julian had the biggest smile on his face. Performing “4 Chords of the Apocalypse” with such spunk, Casablancas got right into the crowd and the security guards had to keep a hold onto him. And with that, he was gone again. But the fans were still hungry. An impromptu second encore then took place as he closed with “Tourist,” Casablancas left the stage by slapping 5 with people in the crowd only to come back instructing his drummer to play a beat for him to sing over “Let’s hear it for New York, these streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you,” and he was out like a flash of light. Julian we missed you, and from the looks of it, you missed us too.

SEE MORE PICTURES AFTER THE JUMP