Concerts

Smashing Pumpkins @ United Palace, Thursday, Nov. 6th

Anyone who was unsure as to what to expect from the Smashing Pumpkins’ performance at United Palace last Thursday surely had that question answered within the first few minutes. They started on time, and opened “Roctopus” with a Jimmy Chamberlin drum solo, after which erratic frontman Billy Corgan took the stage – in a dress....

Dispatches from CMJ, Day Five: Drink Up, Buttercup, Little Jackie, Pattern Is Movement

The first half of the last day of CMJ was something of a random draw, with there only being one band I was determined to see that day (Pattern Is Movement, seen above). I ended up at Cake Shop for a repeat performance of Drink Up, Buttercup, the only band I saw more than once...

Dispatches from CMJ, Day Four: Land of Talk, Broken Social Scene

By day four, this CMJ hound needed a bit of a rest – which, in CMJ terms, means I went to one show instead of five. Truthfully, the one show was likely better than any combination of five, as it featured everyone’s favorite obscenely huge Canadian collective, Broken Social Scene. Broken Social Scene kept it...

Dispatches From CMJ, Day Three: The Lovely Sparrows, Au, Goes Cube, Villa Vina

The third day of CMJ began at Fontana’s, with Austin, TX folk-duo the Lovely Sparrows. This is one of the shows I was looking forward to, as occasional T-Sides contributor Clay Franks turned me onto them. Fans of current rising-stars the Fleet Foxes will find much to love in this pair, who also play melodic-pop-folk,...

Dispatches from CMJ, Day Two: Sister Suvi, Drink Up, Buttercup, Project Jenny, Project Jan, Women, Ane Brun, So Many Dynamos

Remember how day one of CMJ was all about the blogs? Well, day two was also sort of all about the blogs, or at least one in particular, NYC-based Ear Farm, offering up the most appealing daytime option with its free showcase of bands as eclectic as its voices and subjects. Arriving late, I unfortunately...

Dispatches from CMJ, Day One: Emmy the Great, the Sammies, Shearwater, Ponytail, Passion Pit, Gang Gang Dance

The first day of CMJ (or the College Music Journal’s Music Marathon, should you prefer to be proper) this year was all about blog showcases, with New York City’s music and pop culture scribes scurrying off to give press to their own, most popularly The Music Slut, Pop Tarts Suck Toasted, Brooklyn Vegan and Stereogum....

TV on the Radio @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple, Wednesday, October 15th

There are some bands whose God-like characteristics fade a bit in a live setting. Merely seeing that they’re human is enough. They have arms and legs and eyes and ears and a nose, just like you, they’re holding the instruments you’ve seen hundreds of times, and maybe even know how to play.  They’re simply standing...

The Notwist @ Webster Hall, Monday, Oct. 13th

In their recordings, the Notwist might give off the impression of being a sleepy little electro-pop band, but don’t let that twist your notions of what their live show is like. Sure, they hide behind the gentle guise of glasses (four out of the five touring members wear them), but in a live setting, their...

Beck w/ MGMT @ United Palace, Wednesday, Oct. 8th

Beck could have been a more engaging performer at Wednesday’s United Palace show, but what he lacked in personality on stage, he made up for in song. The show was the opener of a three-day stand at the Washington Heights venue, and it was hard to tell whether he was tired from touring or simply...

Fleet Foxes @ Webster Hall, Sunday, Oct. 6th

It’s easy enough to say that live performance is the true test of a band. But there’s something that goes beyond that. Will a show that’s great once be great 10 times? In a culture prone to fanaticism, there should be things that interest the audience member who’s seen the band on every tour for...

T-Sides Exclusive: New Two Gallants Song (Live Recording)

Image courtesy flickr user FXR I’ve acquired a very good quality live recording of Two Gallants performing a new song at Bonnaroo. Yes, Bonnaroo was back in June. I must admit I’ve been sitting on it awhile because I’ve been trying to decipher the lyrics. I’m not sure of the title, but this particular unreleased...

8 Pictures, 88 Words, 8 Minutes & 8 Seconds from 88BOADRUM in NYC on 08.08.08

Drummers receive a lot of flak. Wild and tumultuous, bands go through drummers as a Lothario does women. They are compared to animals and stereotyped as stupid. Oh, come great 88BOADRUM, asking us to fall in love with drummers again! Coupled with an electronic composition, singer, guitarist and bassist, 88 drummers thumped into the night...