Congrats to the Parlor Mob on tomorrow's live TV appearance!

NYCUG here - giving a warm congrats to our homies, and one of the most talented emerging acts out there, the Parlor Mob.

They are playing on Live TV tomorrow, Saturday night the 23rd of December at 1:00 A.M. on Fox 5, on Fearless Music TV(this is technically Sunday Morning but you get the point). Go to www.fearlessmusic.tv for the Fearless website to see what channel it airs on for you. It's on Fox; NJ/NY area, that's channel 5. Tune in and watch their performance.

You can then see them live, up-close-and-personal, on New Years, as they help us ring in the New Year at the inaugural NYCUG New Years Celebration.

Click the flyer for details.

don't forget - Fearless Music, Fox 5, Sunday/ Saturdayish at 1:00 A.M.

TK Webb @ Europa 12/22

Have the pre-holiday blues? Then check out the Social Registry's token gritty-folk-singer TK Webb @ Greenpoint's Europa this Friday.

Webb is not your typical dude-with-an-acoustic-guitar-and-harmonica. Sure, he channels Neil Young & Bob Dylan just like everyone else-- but he's also got an abundance of the "Waiting for the Man" guitar-chugging cool so lacking in Average Joe Indiefolk.

check out his tunes here, and buy tickets here.

TRACHTENBURG FAMILY SLIDESHOW PLAYERS @ Knitting Factory – Fri. 12/22

Here’s one for you outsider music enthusiasts. This is a band literally comprised of the Trachtenburg family; Jason (the father), Tina (the mother), and Rachel (the daughter). While Jason sings and plays guitar, Rachel drums fairly well for a young’un and Tina clicks her way through old slides of family vacations, various landmarks and road stops. Tina also used to bake food for the audience, but their popularity has increased a little too much so she had to put a stop to that, but you might get lucky. Although Jason looks like a David Cross character, the topics of the songs may be a bit bizarre to most people and his voice can get very annoying at times, however, you will see a better drummer in Rachel than, say, Meg White. You can also pick up their release on Bar/None records if you feel so inclined.

RIYL: Wesley Willis, Daniel Johnston, The Frogs

Psychic Ills & Indian Jewelry @ Knitting Factory 12/16

Psychic Ills and Indian Jewelry are closing their joint U.S. tour this Saturday at the Knitting Factory. It is a night of kicked-out jamz not to be missed.

The Social Registry's latest it-band, NYC's own Psychic Ills, create a seamless blend of psychedelia, drone, and shoegaze; imagine an even-spacier Spacemen 3. Their live show is a captivating and somewhat overwhelming spectacle (expect a full-on wall-of-sound assault). Check out some of their tunes on the band's myspace.

Indian Jewelry come from a similar school of thought as their touring buddies: they too encorporate electronics and psychedelia amidst their (carefully-planned) chaos & confusion. Have a listen here.


Psychic Ill's fellow Social Reg. labelmates Telepathe are opening.

tix

THE EX w/ Aloha @ Knitting Factory – 12/13

Post-punk granddaddies The Ex reprieve their angst-ridden songwriting from the early 80’s to a new generation of the disenfranchised, all of which is on display this week at the Knitting Factory. Formed in Holland over two decades ago, The Ex was a forerunner in the experimental noise genre coupled with the political and social commentary mostly associated with punk music. They were never really overly commercially successful and some claim their pitfall may have been their ingenuity, as due to their guidance, the post-punk genre started to lead to other genres such as industrial music in the late 80’s. No one can argue their influence, however, which has led them to work with such music industry giants as the late John Peel and Steve Albini. Jazzy experimentalists Aloha will join them this Wednesday.

RIYL: Crass, Sonic Youth, Wire, Einsturzende Neubauten

Krs-One @ S.O.B.'s - 12/11 - 8pm - $20

Native New Yorker, Kris Parker, also known as blastmaster KRS-One is taking it to the S.O.B.’s this Tuesday...a rowdy and uplifting affair you won’t wanna miss. Hailed as “the teacher”/metaphysical philosopher in the hip-hop world, his appearance signals that class is in seshion. Unlike the majority of rappers, KRS has never hesitated to address social issues regarding faith, American culture and the current state of hip-hop. For those in attendance at his show, KRS is gonna challenge you to perceive hip-hop as more than just a source of entertainment. “You are not just doing hip-hop, you are hip-hop/like if you have a badge and a gun you are the cop/like if you practice medicine you are the doc/you just forgot that rappers rap about cars a lot.” Despite his lack of commercial exposure, KRS’s unrivaled longevity in the rap game (’87-today) is a testament to his underground appeal and lasting substance as an emcee. Go see how Knowledge.Reigns.Supreme-Over.nearly.everyone aka KRS-One breaks it down.

LOW @ Bowery Ballroom – Wed 12/06

Low hails from Duluth, MN as a forerunner in the slowcore movement in the mid 90’s. Along with bands such as Calla and Red House Painters, Low creates an unsettlingly soft and quiet sound with a certain trademark roughness. However, Low isn’t all about sparse guitars, as every occasionally they will surprise their audience by turning up the amps. As an added bonus, Low’s album Christmas is an extremely underrated seasonal album: a perfect pairing for the annual tofurkey and box-of-wine dinner at your Williamsburgian friend’s house. Members of Ida, another band in the genre, are also performing, so get ready for an exciting night of quiet admiration!

RIYL: Palace, P:ano, Kind of like Spitting

Dinosaur Jr. @ Rebel 12/1 & 12/2

Last year was the year of the Dinosaur: 2005 saw the reformation of ultra-influential indie-rock group Dinosaur Jr., with a slew of reissues of their classic 1980s releases, and a wildly successful reunion tour. Guitarist J Mascis, bassist Lou Barlow (who went on to form Sebadoh), and drummer Murph appear to have set aside their differences for good, and are again embarking on a tour. 2007 will see the first release of new material of Dinosaur's original lineup since 1989. Awesome.

Mascis & friends will be playing 2 NYC dates, both thisweekend, both at Rebel.
Tickets are a little pricey at $25 apiece, but well worth it. Buy them here and here.

Stream a few essential Dinosaur Jr. cuts on the band's myspace page.

La Laque & The Fabulous Entourage @ The Annex, Thursday, 11/30

Once you’ve heard La Laque’s would-be single, “La Sirène Dort,” you might see their potential or think them too eccentric. The band’s sultry chanteuse, Devry, sings airy vocals in French over weeping violins and colorful guitar riffs. And while La Laque has yet to cut an ep, they are silently ringing the doorbells of the underground with a series of poignant songs. Seeing them play Sin-E a month or so ago had you at the edge of your seat trying to catch that sexy glance. Now, you can see this perceivably Godard-inspired, Brooklyn quintet take it to the the Annex alongside The Fabulous (destin d’Amèlie) Entourage. Expect The Fabulous Entourage to pull you out of the plush red reverie of La Laque, and get you shot up back on your feet again like seven expressos to the dome.

MY MORNING JACKET w/ The Slip @ Roseland – Thursday 11/30

For those of you unaware of the phenomenon known as My Morning Jacket, read on. Formed in Louisville, KY, the five-piece headed by frontman Jim James concocts a uniquely haunting and dreamy blend of americana harmonies rooted in the classic country and western style. Their sound, however, is embellished by the liberal use of reverb and distortion on guitars and vocals resulting in an often watery and spacey feeling for the listener. With four excellent albums and counting to their credit, MMJ is currently touring behind the latest release of a live album/DVD entitled Okonokos. Not to be missed is one of Jim James’ favorite underground bands, The Slip, warming the crowd for MMJ.


RIYL: Mercury Rev, Neil Young, Galaxie 500, Flaming Lips, Black-Eyed Snakes

Avey Tare & Kria Brekken @ Tonic 11/26

Tomorrow night @ 8pm @ Tonic, Animal Collective's Avey Tare is teaming up with múm's Kria Brekken (aka Kristin Anna Valtysdóttir) for a night of acoustic goodness. This is not the first time these two have crossed paths- Kria plays keys on Animal Collective's 2005 masterpiece Feels. For those fans who enjoy AC's quieter moments, be sure not to miss this.

Some live mp3s from an April Avey/Kria show can be found here.

Beach House and Over the Atlantic are opening.

tix

PERE UBU w/ Bush Tetras – Wed. 11/22 – Knitting Factory

Pere Ubu has been around for quite a while now and they have been saying for years that they are finally going to call it quits, but that has not happened yet, leaving you with a chance to catch them in Tribeca’s Knitting Factory.

Pere Ubu was formed in the 1970’s in Cleveland after members of local favorite Rocket from the Tombs disbanded to pursue other goals. Using his No-Wave and experimental music backgrounds, David Thomas began Pere Ubu and since then, the band’s lineup has included such underground legends like Tim Wright of DNA and Mayo Thompson of the Red Krayola.

This is a good opportunity if you’d like to see underground legends and one of the most important bands of the ever-growing nu-wave and noise genres.

RIYL: Captain Beefheart, Wire, Can, Sonic Youth

Black Dice @ Uncle Paulie's 11/18

Unfortunately, Brooklyn noisemakers Black Dice recently had to cancel their upcoming tour of Scandanavia, disappointing their decibel-loving Euro fans. This, however, works out for the NYC fan, as Black Dice have decided to play a hometown show in its place.

Black Dice, in case you don't know, are something of an anomaly. The only experimental act on an otherwise disco label (DFA records), the band makes use of all sorts of electronics to create the otherwordly tones their soundscapes are made up of. Use caution, though, casual music listener- a Black Dice show can prove to be overwhelming (and possibly pretentious?) to the unready ear.

Telepathe is opening.

The show is $8, 8pm @ Uncle Paulie's - 460 Monitor Street, Brooklyn NY 11201

NYCUG Presents Low Art - 8:00 PM 11/16 @ Plan B

Incase you haven't heard, we are throwing our second party tonight. We are doing it bigger than before with a one hour open bar special coutesy of Pabst Blue Ribbon, Live performances by The States and Barrington, DJ sets by Dizzy D,DJ Treats and DD Rej.

Also, a new ting we are trying out. We wanted to throw some love to local artist. So check out the press release below on Heather Boose-Weiss, who will be showing her work at Plan B from tonight until November 30th.

See you there.

__



Recent Portraits by Heather Boose-Weiss
Curated by Andreis Costa

Opening reception: Thursday, November 16th, 2006

Heather Boose-Weiss, a graduate of the School of Visual Arts is currently living and working in Greenwich, Connecticut. For the past several years the artist has focused on narrative portraits following in the tradition of Peter Beard and Francesca Woodman. Traveling across the globe the artist introduces herself into magnificent environments from the glaciers of Norway to the plains of Africa in an attempt to create a visual poetry between natural traces and the human body. The artist often dresses in costume or paints her skin to create these poems. Characterized by ideas of fragmentation with an interest in manipulating ideas of peoples appendage or skin, which serve to distort and dislocate some of our preconceived notions, walking the line between fiction and reality. Some more direct then others; the artist makes comments on what is authentic and how nature changes with our every step. The work, at times playful seems to harbor an ominous edge. “This is what I come with and this is what I leave with.” The artist says about her process of bringing herself and the camera and leaving with the capture image. The work is about finding a place in the finite and the infinite and the relentless pressures put on a denatured world.

The artists will be featured in an upcoming exhibition at Kathleen Cullen Fine Arts in February 2007. www.kathleencullenfinearts.com

for more info.

www.nycug.com

flyer designed by John Hemminger

Low Red Land @ Sin-e' Tonight 11/15 9:00 PM

Formerly known as "Great American", Low Red Land has abandoned their partriotic past but have carried forward they're musical influences that are deeply routed in American Folk Rock and Country. Like a Phoenix's rebirth from the ashes, this new project shines with the same glory as it fuses their past sound with the currently popular indie electronic sounds; thus creating someting that is very unique and worth checking out.

HIDDEN CAMERAS w/ Spiral Beach @ Bowery Ballroom – Wed. 11/15

The Hidden Cameras mix upbeat and poppy music with a strange variety of lyrics that the average listener would not notice upon first listen. Their lyrics range from singing about pissing on someone to singing about pooping on someone, all with a cheeky smile and guitar. The real golden shower about this band, however, is the live show, which includes anything from puppets to slideshows to strippers all with a lot of audience participation.

Come for the songs; stay for the go-go dancers!

No word if Cleveland is steaming.

RIYL: Magnetic Fields, Mosquitos, Belle and Sebastian, Jens Lekman

El Perro Del Mar @ Zebulon 11/12; @ Joe's Pub 11/13; @ Union Hall 11/14; @ Mercury Lounge 11/16

Sweden's latest indie-pop offering, El Perro Del Mar (who are, in actuality, a single person: Sarah Assbring), is/are playing a sum total of four NYC dates in support of her/their eponymous debut album.

For a taste of Sarah's sugar-sweet melodies, click.

RIYL: the Shangri-Las, the Ronettes, the Pipettes, the Magnetic Fields, Architecture in Helsinki


Sunday @ Zebulon - FREE
Monday @ Joe's Pub - $15 tix
Tuesday @ Union Hall - $10 tix
Thursday @ Mercury Lounge - $10 tix

Cut Chemist with Lyrics Born @ Webster Hall - Friday, 11/10

So it is in fact true that Cut Chemist, formerly a DJ for the west coast underground crew Jurassic 5, has gone solo with the recent release of his album, “The Audience Is Listening.” Similar to DJ Shadow, who played Webster Hall two weeks ago, this L.A. native continues to cultivate the art of mixing rare, never-before heard tracks into a hip-hop format. The results that emerge from Cut Chemist's lab experiments are definately worth checking out: no broken glass, just smooth playfully polished rhythms that elicit his penchant for funk and old-school rap.

Enter Lyrics Born, the first artist to record on DJ Shadow’s Solesides record label (which is now Quannum). Lyrics Born is not your average west coast underground rapper or rapper in general. Just listen to him sing “I Changed My Mind,” a classy funk throwback. His sing-song voice resonates on any recording, while it translates even better in a live setting.

Oakley Hall @ Mercury Lounge- Friday, 11/10

This Friday, Oakley Hall sets up shop at Mercury Lounge, along with Micah P. Hanson. Oakley Hall are almost knocking on the door of alt. country, but every now and again they pull a surprise punch that makes you realize they listened to a LOT of Led Zep growing up.

Either way, these guys (and girls) end up being pretty diverse in range, even evoking The Band at times, while other times pushing the beat forward a la The Shins. No matter what, Oakley Hall always brings a ton of energy and soul to the stage, and it’s just outright feel-good rock and roll. Definitely worth checking out. (listen)

ZOX w/ Tally Hall @ Knitting Factory – Wed. 11/8 - $10

Providence, RI’s Zox combines elements of new-school ska and the jam band sound but with one vital difference: Spencer Swain’s virtuous violin arrangements add a mostly untapped feature in the indie music world. This band was originally pinned as the type that would nicely fill any fraternity’s booze soaked basement, but with their latest release entitled The Wait (licensed by the primarily punk label Side One Dummy) strives to dissociate themselves from that style. With a turn towards the more heartfelt ballad, primary songwriter Eli Miller opens his heart for all to hear resulting in an incredibly fun and listenable sound. Zox is currently on a North American tour and you will have a chance to catch them at the Knitting Factory with Tally Hall.

RIYL: Counting Crows, 311, The Specials, Boyd Tinsley

Voxtrot @ Bowery Ballroom 10/7

Austin's Voxtrot have an absurd amount of buzz behind them for a group that hasn't even released a full-length album yet. We have, however, gotten a glimpse of this act's delightful brand of indie-pop by way of a handful of EPs they've released this year. It is clear (from the blogs anyway) that Voxtrot are destined to be the next biggest thing.

Their new EP "Your Biggest Fan" drops Tuesday, and to celebrate, they're playing Bowery Ballroom. You can stream the 3-track EP on the band's myspace & you can buy tickets to the show here.

RIYL: Belle & Sebastian, the Smiths, Clap Yr Hands Say Yeah, Stone Roses, the Lucksmiths

O’DEATH @ Delancy – 11/3

Although O’Death is an unsigned band, they are causing quite a stir around the club circuits in New York and have built up a good sized following in the process. A self-proclaimed “blackgrass” band, they combine elements of country and bluegrass with gothic sounds and lyrics to create a disturbing brand of music suited for a midnight camping trip through the Appalachians. Their finished product is dark and brooding indeed…and maybe a little inbred. This band is recommended for fans of Tom Waits, Morphine, or Circus Contraption.

Deerhoof, Excepter, Erase Errata @ Hiro Ballroom 11/3

San Francisco's Deerhoof are a talented and wildly entertaining live act. Vocalist/bassist Satomi Matsuzaki sings delightful sugar-pop melodies over the noisy, angular guitar work of John Dieterich and the spastic drumming of Deerhoof founder Greg Saunier. Their recorded songs translate extremely well to the live setting, which, coupled with a charming, off-kilter stage presence, makes for a great live show.
RIYL: Blonde Redhead, Sonic Youth, OOIOO, Xiu Xiu, Lightning Bolt

Fellow SF group Erase Errata offer simple, punk-inspired dance traxx.
RIYL: Le Tigre, Bikini Kill, The Slits, Sleater-Kinney

NYC's own Excepter kick out some of the most interesting electronic music of the 00's. This group seamlessly fuses experimental and house music, with results that can fall anywhere between psychedelic krautrock, abrasive noise squeals, and squiggly techno.
What should you expect from Excepter? Warbly synth tones, driving drum box beats, incoherent ramblings, the unexpected.
RIYL: Black Dice, Suicide, Gang Gang Dance


info: 4pm @ the Hiro Ballroom @ the Maritime Hotel
buy tix

BLACK LIPS @ Sin-e’ – 11/2

If you don’t know the Black Lips, you are certainly missing out on a real cultural treasure. That being said with only a small degree of sarcasm, the BL’s have a loud, trashy garage rock sound reminiscent of the Stooges or the Germs. But if you are the average concert goer: WATCH OUT! Their amazing latest release Let It Bloom on In the Red Records, only scratches the surface of the dirtiness of their live act. Turning a live concert into something of white trash performance art, you will get some type of bodily fluid all over your clothing. This may be vomit, piss, most certainly spit, or possibly something far more foul. And then there are the firecrackers…. Needless to say, their antics have gotten them barred from almost every venue in Atlanta and others around the country. Definitely see them before they get booted out of NYC.

Just remember, wear clothes you don’t care about.

OH NO! OH MY! w/ Dim Mak Showcase @ Lit Lounge – 11/2

Partly from Texas and partly from Tennessee, Oh No Oh My is the latest band to gain huge popularity on their own by way of MySpace and a stellar self-recorded debut album. Their sound takes from both the Shins and their hipster idol predecessors Clap Your Hands Say Yeah yet amazingly, earlier this summer they hadn’t even played a single live show. Now there is a bona-fide record label feeding frenzy surrounding this band, almost assuredly making the first pressing of their debut album soon to be worth a fat stack of cash. So if you want to see record label executives acting like idiots or just want to see a good live show, ONOM is a sure thing.

Dewar's - A Night With ESL - Thursday 11/12

Free Booze + Good Music = A Spledid Time

Race your buddies to see how much free booze you can drink in 1 hour.

Complimentary drinks 9-10

dj sets by : Thievery Corporations's Rob Garza and Thunderball's Federico Aubelle

Get more info here - http://www.reupmag.com/dewarsrsvp/

Cheers

OPPENHEIMER + THE SLIP @ Tonic – 11/1

This year’s Bar/None Records showcase features two of the hottest bands around in the Slip and Oppenheimer. The Slip hail from Providence, Rhode Island as a jazzy jam band that has toured all over the world with a mission to knock people’s socks off. They have worked with the likes of the Allman Brothers and Mark Ellard, and even have a track off their new album on the video game Guitar Hero, proving their widespread influence. A new addition to the Bar/None roster, the Slip puts on one of the best live performances you will see, so catch them while they are still playing clubs before their popularity skyrockets.

The boys from Oppenheimer have a bit of a different story. Hailing from the cold and foggy reaches of Northern Ireland, Shaun and Rocky weren’t even in a band more than a year before the folks at Bar/None heard their demo and signed them up immediately. It wasn’t long before BBC radio hailed them as the next big thing out of Ireland, mainly on the heels of their breakout single “Breakfast in NYC”. Their crafty execution of electro-pop and flytrap-like catchiness makes this act a sure thing, especially for the Moog or vocoder enthusiast in all of us.

Exclusive HALLOWEEN promo: BASSNECTAR @ ELEMENT - 11PM and Beyond

The name could not be more on point for what Bassnectar brings to a venue: hard hitting bass mixed with sweet juicy rhythms. Now that he has just rocked his native San Francisco, he’s coming back to NYC to deliver a performance that was announced several weeks ago in front of a packed dancefloor at Element. Ever since then, I’ve been bumping his most recent album, “Mesmerizing The Ultra,” released by Amorphous Music. Similar to other top notch big beat heads, Bassnectar tactfully bends songs out of their normal shape and then blends them seamlessly together to create a kaleidoscope of sounds that’ll have your body swinging and bouncing in ways you didn’t think was possible. The disco ball that dangles down from Element’s cavernous ceiling is going to be spinning until dawn, so if you’ve been out but you’re still craving something delicious, this might be the right treat for you.

CMJ Music Marathon

OMG this week is like a concert lover’s wet dream. The CMJ music marathon brings to us a week filled with over 100 concerts throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn and below is a short list of shows you must see, even if you have to perform sexual acts to get in.

If you are like me and did not spring for the $400 CMJ Badge, don’t worry; you can still enjoy the festivities. Just check with the individual venue box offices, which you can find through their websites, and show up early and you should be fine. I called a few venues to get an idea of which shows would reach capacity. If you don’t want to be disappointed, I suggest you try to call a head also.

Also, we are pleased to announce that NYCUG is throwing an after party for our friends Rose’s Pawn Shop! They’ve been in NYC for the past month giging hard and I’ve taken a liking to them. Help us give them a warm send off.

Tuesday 10/31
Hammerstein -- Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Medeski Martin & Wood
The Delancey -- Dragons of Zynth + others

Wednesday 11/1
Bowery -- TapesnTapes, Dr. Dog, Cold War Kids + others – SOLD OUT
Parkside Lounge –- NYCUG After Party featuring Rose's Pawn Shop
Cake Shop -- Beach House + others
Knitting Factory -- The Slits, Genghis Tron + others
Mercury -- Girl Talk, Figurines, Canada + others
Northsix -- Magnolia Electric Co, Cex, Fog + others
Webster -- The Knife

Thursday 11/2
Bowery -- Shins, Album Leaf, Thermals, CSS, Elected, Oxford Collpse (Subpop showcase) – SOLD OUT
Knitting Factory -- Blue Cheer + others
Skirball Center -- The Walkmen
Webster -- Hot Chip, Gang Gang Dance

Friday 11/3
Arlene's Grocery -- Bop records showcase (Asteroid No. 4, Morning After Girls)
Hammerstein -- The Decemberists – SOLD OUT
Maritime Hotel -- Deerhoof, Erase Errata, Excepter
Irving Plaza -- Architecture in Helsinki, Apples in Stereo + others
Nokia Theater -- Black Angels, Black Keys
Pianos -- Plastic Constellations, Thunderbirds are Now!
Warsaw -- Secret Machines (also Saturday)

Saturday 11/4
Maritime -- The Fall
Mercury Lounge -- French Kicks, The Tyde, Nethers + others

Full Listing of CMJ Shows

CSS @ Apple Store Soho 10/31

What better way to kick off yr Hallowe'en than by getting down to some hottt Brazilian mutant disco at the Apple Store in Soho?

CSS may claim to be tired of being sexy-- but it's clear that their #1 priority is to get you to dance yr ass off. Check out some of their jamz (including the overwhelmingly catchy single "Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above") here.

What's that? A free show, you say!? Count me in.

Show starts @ 3pm. Be sure to get there early.
info: Apple Store Soho


CSS is also playing Bowery Ballroom (with the Shins, the Album Leaf, and the Thermals) on Thursday. It's sold out to the general public, but people with CMJ passes can get in (again, be sure to be there early).

THE FORMS @ Sin-E, Monday 10/30, 8pm

I guess you could say The Forms let it all hang out, though not with the kind of swagger you’d expect. In fact, everything these guys do seems to be a bit understated, often letting drums and reverb-heavy guitar patterns guide the way as each tune works its way to a blistering high-point before receding. Vocals blend in like an instrument at times, putting texture and overall arrangement ahead of all else. Even so, even in 4/4 these guys put together complex rhythmic patterns that keep even the mellowest of songs alive with energy and momentum.

Not quite emo, but a fair comparison might be to the loosest parts of a Death Cab for Cutie song, or maybe Copeland.

Either way, these guys are definitely worth checking out live at Sin-E on Monday, 10/30. You’ve got a long week ahead- better de-stress early with some great mellow music on a Monday night. (listen)

LOVE IS ALL @ Knitting Factory main stage, 10/27

Straight out of Sweden, Love is All has all the energy of a pack of mentos dropping into a Coke bottle, taking a decidedly upbeat and fun twist on the post-punk scene. Even so, this quintet’s sound is anything but naïve.

The four guys- Nicholaus, Fredrick, Markus, Johan (yes, they’re REALLY Swedish), and female lead singer and keyboardist- Josephine Olausson (she’s Swedish too) churn out steady-bopping baselines and sing-along choruses, but even so, there remains a thread of the uncertainty and angst that lends a sense of credibility and know-how to every shining-happy note.

These guys had some serious buzz building up earlier this year after a substantial tour, and now’s your chance to check them out again in New York. They’re at the Knitting Factory main stage this Friday with Cause Co-Motion! and Devastations. (listen)

CARY BROTHERS w/ the Hotel Café Tour @ Bowery Ballroom – Sat. 10/28 - $20/$17 Adv.

If you have seen the movie Garden State or heard the soundtrack (if you’re reading this I’m guessing you have) then you might recognize Cary Brothers’ hit song “Blue Eyes”. While in fact a singular human being and not a combination of siblings, Brothers has been making quite a buzz in the past couple of years, mainly with the help of Zach Braff’s nose and the person connected to it by way of musical placement on the sometimes clever television show Scrubs. Brothers originally made his name, along with many other artists, at the LA singer/songwriter joint Hotel Café, from which the name of this tour comes. And while just the thought of Los Angeles with its sunshine and perma-smiles makes most New Yorkers physically ill, it’s never too late to jump on a bandwagon and catch the presumably soon-to-be very popular Brothers in concert.

Find out more about the Hotel Café Tour here.

Check out Cary’s Myspace page here.

SKALOWEEN f. TOASTERS + PIETASTERS @ Knitting Factory – Sun. 10/29 - $17

An incredibly stupid name veils a big time concert at a bargain price. The Toasters were virtually one of the first American ska bands to exist and paved the way for the ska explosion of the 90’s. Influenced by the likes of Madness and the Specials, British ex-pat Robert Hingley formed the band in New York in the early 1980’s and released a few singles on his own label, Moon. Since then, the Toasters have released several albums and changed their lineup many times, but Hingley still remains at the core. The Pietasters, on the other hand, are a much more recent ska band, hailing from Washington DC and have also released a few records on the Moon label. Now you have a chance to catch them both on the main stage at the Knitting Factory this Sunday. Skank!

Here is the Toasters website.

Here is the Pietasters website.

Prurient @ Glasslands 10/27

Prurient (AKA noise pioneer Dominik Fernow) is playing Glassland Gallery in Brooklyn this Friday. Fernow is an organizer of sound: specifically, microphone feedback, amplifier squeal, percussive clanging, and other various forms of confusion and disarray.

Beware though, casual music listener! This sort of thing is all sorts of unconventional, even unlistenable to the unprepared ear. For many, Prurient is the audio equivalent of listening to a fucking headache. Some, however, will be captivated by Fernow's performance, and will actually enjoy the throbbing in their skull. In any case, consider yourself warned.

Fellow noisemakers Mouthus and Air Conditioning are playing in addition.

info: 8pm @ 289 Kent Ave @ S 1st St Williamsburg, Brooklyn 11211

BE GOOD TANYAS w/ Katy Pfaffl @ Living Room – Thu 10/26 - $15

Blending country and folk music, the Be Good Tanyas, continue the female singer/songwriter genre, channeling such predecessors as Joni Mitchell and Emmylou Harris. With gentle guitars and reflective lyrics, this trio deserves to be in a class with contemporaries such as Neko Case and Laura Cantrell. They will be playing the Living Room this Thursday with the up-and-coming Katy Pfaffl, so for a relaxing night of good folk music, check them out.

Here is their website.

DR. JOHN @ BB King’s Blues Club - Fri 10/27 - $35/$30 Adv.

A lot has been said about the city of New Orleans in the past year and it cannot be overlooked that one of the most prominent exports over the decades has been innovative music. From delta blues to jazz, N’awlins musical output has been constantly changing the way we look at music and Dr. John is no exception. Although he has been making music since the 1950’s, Dr. John the Night Tripper (as he calls himself) never really gained the popularity he probably deserved. Combining a sort of voodoo blues and psychedelic rock styling, his music is eclectic to say the least and his influence has reached the likes of modern psychedelic band such as Gris Gris (named after a Dr. John album) and Spiritulized. He will fittingly be playing at BB King’s this weekend, so now is your chance to catch a living NOLA legend.

Check out his tunes on Myspace.

GOTAN PROJECT @ Webster Hall - Wed 10/25 - 30a/35d

After having surfaced five years ago with the album “La Revancha del Tango”, the Gotan Project has since become more and more recognized. Their distinctive sound can be characterized by lush vocals and intoxicating bandoneon rhythms played over slick uptempo beats. The bandoneon, a South American instrument which sounds similar to an accordian, would sound dated and bizarre in the wrong hands. Yet, the Gotan Project masterfully put it to use in a way that can evoke an elegant Parisian promenade or an upscale lounge in Buenas Aires. Their curtain call is sure to have ladies and gentleman doing the tango on the balcony of Webster Hall. Go experience it for yourself!

The Rapture @ Webster Hall 10/30 - $22a/ $25d

With the passing of summer and the coming of the uninvited breezes of winter, also exiting is my daily jovial temperment. To counteract that annual occurance, my doctor has recomended I reduce my intake of down-beat and ambient music and inject a small dose of dance and pop. "That's a little harsh," I says, as my doctor hands me "pieces of the people we love" by The Rapture. He says, "Listen to this once a week, maybe catch a show and you should be fine. Call me if you start to build a tolerance."

So, I listened to the album. Felt pretty good. Now I'm going to catch the soon-to-be sold-out Webster Hall show. They are playing this concert before playing a sold out Bowery on openining night of the CMJ Music Marathon(check back for more coverage). If you are feeling the winter blues comming, or you just want to dance, I think you should come too!

Check out their funky website.

Listen to their tunes and become their friends on myspace.

Get tickets to the show here.

Thank us for the info by leaving a comment!

THE ISLES- Tuesday 10/24 @ Europa- 8pm

Okay, so before you dismiss The Isles as just another Brooklyn band that grew up in the Morrissey fan club, look again.

In many ways, The Isles may take us back to the 80’s alternative Brit-pop scene, but there’s also a distinctively modern edge here that, especially on their newest release, Perfumed Lands, pushes this familiar sound forward into… whatever we’re calling this decade these days.

Sure, Interpol sounds like Joy Division, but I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a critic genuinely willing to argue that they haven’t evolved that sound into their own. In the same way, The Isles start from the Smiths and work out, carving out their own territory with the same ease that they conjure up Johnny Marr.

So the real question becomes- are these guys really an evolution? Or just an imitation?

Check them out on Tuesday at Europa and decide for yourself. (listen)

Vice Records: 120 Days, Dysrhythmia, WZT Hearts @ Union Pool 10/24

Tuesday night at Brooklyn's Union Pool, Vice Records is showcasing their recent signees 120 Days, plus a pair of non-Vice all-stars.

120 Days is a synth-heavy Norwegian electro band, taking on the churning 4/4 motorik sounds of early 70's Krautrock acts like Neu! and Kraftwerk. (listen)

Dysrhythmia are a noisy guitar rock band, with hardcore and metal influences. These dudes clearly love all things Steve Albini-related. (listen)

WZT Hearts are like Boredoms' whiny little brother from Baltimore: rhythmic, sweeping, powerful, subtle. That said, they are pretty fucking good- not to be missed. (listen)


120 Days are also playing Mercury Lounge on Wednesday 10/25.

Supersystem @ Northsix 10/21

Former Dischord band El Guapo christened themselves Supersystem in 2005 and have since released two albums under the new moniker. This DC/NYC quartet makes out-of-this-world dance music, tinged with middle-eastern guitar riffs, Human League synth lines, and house beats. Sounds interesting, no? Check out some of their jamz here.

RIYL: The Rapture, LCD Soundsystem, !!!, Out Hud, Q and Not U

I've seen this band twice, and I assure you, they do not disappoint.

Buy tix.

BECK & FRIENDS

A SPECIAL SOLO ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE

SUNDAY OCTOBER 22 

6 PM DOORS 7 PM SHOW

ON SALE THU OCT 19 @ NOON

ANGEL ORENSANZ FOUNDATION

172 NORFOLK ST.

(between E. Houston St. & Stanton St.)

TICKETWEB.com 866-468-7619

TICKETWEB ONLY - NO BOX OFFICE SALES

TICKETS ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE

NYCUG Launch Party Photos- 10/12 @ Plan B

Thanks to everyone who made it out to the NYCUG Launch! And a big thanks to our staff photgrapher, Tory, for taking the time to capture the night and get up close with the bands and DJs. Especially since most of us are a little hazy on the details. Feel free to post comments or request a copy of any of the shots below, and we'll send them right out to you.

Enjoy the pics.. and check back soon for more updates from NYCUG on the next event.