Hipster Replacement: September 2007

Saturday, September 29, 2007

The National at Music Hall of Williamsburg

Finally getting to see the National headline at a venue I like. I saw them open for Arcade Fire in Philadelphia earlier this year and they were great. They are playing one show at Terminal 5 and two at MHOW, all are sold out. I am up to 5 out of 6 nights of shows around CMJ now. This is a lot for me.

Friday, September 28, 2007

KEXP Listener Appreciation Party at HiFi 10/17

KEXP, the only station that matters, is coming to New York for CMJ week and doing in-studios all week at the Gibson Guitar Showroom in midtown. All the in-studios are full (even the TBAs) but there is a free listeners party at HiFi on Wednesday, Oct 17. I will be there early to set up buttons, postcards and banners for the party. Hope to see you there!

Switcheroo - Kaiser Chiefs is out; Sea and Cake is in

Since I was really going to Kaiser Chiefs at the Beacon tomorrow night for the 1st opener, Datarock, who are awesome, and didn't really care about the main act, I decided to sell my Kaiser Chiefs ticket and buy a Sea and Cake at Warsaw ticket through Craigslist. (Datarock is playing Gramercy Theater for CMJ, I hope to catch them there instead.) I bought and sold both tickets at face (ethical people rejoice) within an hour of each other! Yay Craigslist! Psyched to see Sea and Cake at a non-Webster Hall venue for a change...

EDIT: This was a fantastic show. Both opening acts blew me away. Soft Circle is a drummer who sets up electronic, vocal and/or guitar loops and then does drum solos to the layers he's created. While it is a bit of a work in progress, once he gets going he really grooves. Catch him if you can.

Antietam came on next. A trio led by a woman who looks like she could be your mom's friend from yoga class - and I mean that in the most respectful way - killed on guitar and the audience was way into this band.

And of course Sea and Cake were mesmerizing, Archer Prewitt comes up with amazing guitar textures with way fewer gadgets than you'd think he'd need to do that.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Gary Lucas Gods & Monsters - FREE show at BAM Cafe

Gary Lucas, the guitarist from Captain Beefheart and the guy who wrote and played the instrumental line for Jeff Buckley on "Grace," is performing a free show 10/5 at 9PM in the BAM Cafe as part of the Next Wave Festival. I cannot tell you how cool it was to see Gary play Bowery Poetry Club and to have 2 Modern Lovers members (make sure you listen to I'm Straight), a Talking Heads member and a Television (man, I could find NOTHING; Wikipedia them I guess) member rocking out with him on stage. The sax player is great too, he's in the Hungry March Band.

Why this is free I have no idea.

Monday, September 17, 2007

BrooklynVegan CMJ Bowery Show

I am starting to plan my shows for CMJ. In addition to the numerous KEXP shows I will probably attend, I am definitely going to BrooklynVegan's showcase at Bowery on 10/16. Will update as my choices become clear.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

The Little Ones / Voxtrot 10/14

I heard and became friends with The Little Ones last year during CMJ, after seeing them open for Gomez a few weeks prior. They are playing CMJ again this year and opening for Voxtrot at Music Hall of Williamsburg Oct 14. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing them again, and also looking forward to Voxtrot who I haven't seen live yet but hear great things about...

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Vampire Weekend Blue CD-R: Bedtime Music

My 6-year-old loves the Vampire Weekend Blue CD-R collection and is listening to it as her bedtime music! Now if she'd only stop dancing and go to sleep already!! (she says Wolcott is her favorite song)

Girl Talk / Dan Deacon at Bowery Ballroom 9/15

Just bought a ticket to the Girl Talk show at Bowery for this Saturday night. I've been waiting to see Dan Deacon (2nd opener) for a few months now and am really looking forward to finally experiencing this. Held out for a venue I really like; I have passed on many shows of Dan's because the venues didn't suit me. (I am very picky about my venues.)

They Might Be Giants at Columbia University

They Might Be Giants is playing October 14 at Columbia University to support a Target-sponsored reading event for children. No word yet on a set time. I will be there with the family, should be fun!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Thou Shalt Always Kill

Check out dan le sac VS scroobius pip's song "Thou Shalt Always Kill." Heard it this morning on KEXP and it grabbed me. Awesome lyrics. My favorite line is

"thou shalt not want a girlfriend who's a freak like me"

Vampire Weekend has taken over my soul. Haven't been into a band this much since Gomez; VW are really fun live and they are moving up FAST. If they play in a small venue near you it is a must-see performance.

Monday, September 10, 2007

What I am listening to these days

Blue Scholars - Sagaba
Wormburner - A Heroes Welcome
Finian McKean - Monsters of the Deep Woods
The Sea and Cake - Everybody
Primal Scream - Riot City Blues
KEXP - Live at KEXP Vol. 3

Friday, September 07, 2007

Secret Machines, Vampire Weekend

I will be attending the Secret Machines residency at the Annex on 9/26. They are doing 4 dates there. Saw them in Baltimore at Artscape last year and they are really good.

I am also thinking hard about Vampire Weekend at the new Music Hall of Williamsburg this coming Saturday night 9/8. Great lineup including Harlem Shakes, who I saw open for the Go! Team a couple of years back, and Yeasayer, from which BrooklynVegan has 2 downloadable songs on his blog.