popwreckoning

Spiegelworld will return to Pier 17 on the South Street Seaport for its third annual Summer carnival, running from August 6 – November 2nd 2008. Once again, Spiegelworld will deliver a non-stop program of ground-breaking theater, intimate concerts, brazen burlesque, the city’s top DJs and superb dining, and dancing under the stars, all at the one stunning waterfront location.

Over the course of 12 weeks, 50 bands and 60+ DJs will play the waterfront under the Brooklyn Bridge in not one but two tents this summer and fall. The second hand-sewn tent known as The Deluxe will mark the first time in American history that two Belgian traveling venues will be side by side.

In addition to dozens of live concerts and dance parties being presented this year, Spiegelworld New York will present the world premiere of Desir, a daring new theatrical circus experience. Inspired by the sexual, intellectual and artistic adventurers of early 20th century Paris, Desir will take audiences backstage at the greatest nightclub the world has known.

Absinthe, the number one NYC summer event since 2006, will once again take New York by storm with a brand new line up of talent from the seediest and sexiest cabaret dens of the world. The 2008 season will also present the filthy-rich host of Absinthe, The Gazillionaire, in the premiere of his very own fully staged variety show of questionable entertainment. The Gazillionaire’s Late Nite Lounge will play six nights a week in The Deluxe, with his band Fish Circus.

The festivities start off with cabaret diva Meow Meow & Tony Award winning performer, Justin Bond followed by Amanda Palmer of the Brechtian punk cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls, brings her electrifying solo repertoire in a reprise of her legendary Spiegeltent engagements across Europe and in celebration of her forthcoming album, Who Killed Amanda Palmer produced by Ben Folds.

Look for the full schedule to be posted soon!

Spiegelworld: website | myspace

Grand Archives put out their debut album, The Grand Archives (Sub Pop), back in March. The attention grabber for me? Finding out that front man, Mat Brooke, was a former member of Band of Horses. That was reason enough to at least give the album a listen. I didn’t expect to fall in love immediately, especially given what a stubborn listener I can be.

When a tour was announced recently, I made sure to get myself a ticket. Even better, they scheduled a last minute second show at Union Hall in Brooklyn, which ended up being a more intimate (and more successful) affair than the initial Bowery Ballroom show. Sera Cahoone opened. Here are some photos:

Sera Cahoone:

Grand Archives:

On Wednesday, May 28th, Black Swan Wines Present… a special performance by super cute Brooklyn duo Matt & Kim.

Music by DJ Never Forget & Terry D (Finger On The Pulse)
Black Swan Wine Bar
70 Greene Street (btwb Spring & Broome) 8-11pm

Brooklyn’s Bear Hands has several tour dates coming up with the likes of Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Ghostland Observatory and more.

Tour Dates:
May 22 – Mercury Lounge/New York City (w/ Action Painters, Saints & Lovers, The Jaguar Club)
May 31 – Grog Shop/Cleveland (w/ Broken Spindles)
Jun 01 – Do-Division Festival/Chicago (w/ Ted Leo & the Pharmacists)
Jun 02 – The Barbary/Philadelphia (EARLY ALL AGES SHOW! w/ Die! Die! Die!)
Jun 26 – Cuneen Hackett Theatre/Poughkeepsie, NY (ALL AGES! w/ Ted Leo & The Pharmacists)
Jul 26 – Prospect Park/Brooklyn (w/ Ghostland Observatory)

Bear Hands: myspace

When I was told that Brooklyn based The XYZ Affair is “adorable,” I was slightly skeptical. Indie rockers are hip or ironic or cool. Rarely does Brooklyn associate itself with “adorable,” unless you’re talking to a Park Slope mom about her children, and even then you’re more likely to hear “precocious.” As soon as the quartet began loading their equipment, I discovered that “adorable” was more than an apt adjective.

Jokes were cracked throughout the load and sound check, and keyboardist / guitarist / vocalist Russ Maschmeyer was deadpan as he told the audience, “You all look very attractive. I like your haircuts.” Maschmeyer’s bandmates, Alex Feder (guitar, vocals), Chris Bonner (bass) and Sam Rockwell (drums) then laughed with each other, though Maschmeyer reiterated his sentiment moments before the band launched into their first song.

The quartet began their first song a cappella and stomping their feet commanding the audience’s attention before segueing into melodic indie pop with dynamic drums, a pulsing bass line and falsetto vocals. Another song in the set began a cappella and had a 1950s feel to it, yet wasn’t quite the doo wop it had the potential to be. Maschmeyer’s falsetto stood out especially in the a cappella parts, giving those songs a unique and welcome character.

Rockwell, despite problems with his monitor, went absolutely crazy on the next song while Bonner maintained his pulsing bass line on a fast and catchy pop song. While Rockwell’s monitor problems were being sorted out by the sound guy, the other band members gave stage banter a try. They asked, “Who bought 7 new tires in the past 3 months?” A strange question, it understandably caught the audience off guard.

Bonner answered the rhetorical question with, “We did. 7 new tires in 3 months. [pause] That’s a lot!” Later in the set, Maschmeyer apologized, saying, “We are notoriously bad at stage banter. Jukebox the Ghost [headlining band] is great at it! We’d come just to watch them banter for a whole set.” By then, Rockwell’s monitor problems were mostly solved and the band broke into “Smile,” which Maschmeyer used to tell the crowd, “so please feel free to.” They began hard and rocking but the song soon mellowed out, bringing prominence to the excess reverb in the monitors and amps.

Several new songs decorated the XYZ Affair’s set and the band announced that they’d be recording them later this month. Fans should look forward to a new EP dropping by June 1st, assuming all goes well. While their spring tour has wrapped, the XYZ Affair will be touring again in July for a few more weeks of hitting the road. Check back for tour dates!

more @ flickr

The XYZ Affair: website | myspace

Brooklyn shoegaze band Dirty On Purpose have released a 4-song EP they’re giving away for free download via RCRD LBL. The Dead Volcanoes EPis the band’s third release, following the successful debut full-length Hallelujah Sirens and the Like Bees EP.

The first single off this EP is “Leaving,” which introduces slide guitar to the group’s music for the first time ever. It’s a somber tune about drummer/singer Doug Marvin‘s wife Annie Hart from Au Revoir Simone always leaving home for tour and the hardships of being apart from the one you love. Download here!

The second song, “Hard To Tell You,” has singer/guitarist Joe Jurewicz singing to his daughter Sophie, trying to explain the unexpected trips and falls that life can and will bring, warning and encouraging her to tackle reality and become her own strong person. Download here!

The third track, “The Thing About Getaways,” was written when singer/drummer Doug Marvin was walking about the streets of Chicago, breathing in the spirit of the Windy City. There is an airy, poppy sensibility to the number that really draws listeners in. Download here!

Today, the fourth and final song, “Canned Fumes,” on the EP was revealed! Singer/guitarist George Wilson sings on this track, which takes the band to a new level of songwriting — the song beautifully builds and layers atmospherics until the whole arrangement swells with emotion. Download here!

The foursome’s sound has grown exponentially over the years, and the Dead Volcanoes EP truly achieves a maturation in the band’s music. You can catch the band live at the upcoming shows:

Tour Dates:
June 06 - Sound Fix Presents… Rooftop Films (Opening Party) @ The Open Road Rooftop Project at New Design -Doors 8pm, Music 8:45, Films 9:30 // $8 :: All Ages

June 07 @ The Bug Jar/Rochester, NY

June 11 @ Bowery Ballroom/New York, NY
w/ Swervedriver

Dirty on Purpose: website | myspace | rcrd lbl