Childhood friends Jesse Lortz and Kimberly Morrison had already played together in a few garage-punk groups over the years when they decided to write material together. In a nod to the Flying Dutchmen, a “deconstructionist R&B band” they’d been in, they named their new musical outfit the Dutchess & the Duke. Their sound comes off as rough-and-tumble folk and punk, and they put out their first album, She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke, in 2008. Their second LP, the less stark Sunset/Sunrise, was released last year. And the Dutchess & the Duke (above, doing “Out of Time”) play Mercury Lounge on Saturday night.
Archive for the ‘Preview’ Category
The Dutchess & the Duke Are Coming Your Way
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 A FREE Night of Garage Rock at Mercury Lounge
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
Originally a five-piece from Cincinnati, the now three-piece Greenhornes make quality music combining garage rock, blues, the British Invasion and ’60s R&B. The band has toured nonstop (except when the guys in the group are busy with some of their many other projects, like Jack White’s the Raconteurs and the Dead Weather), which brings the Greenhornes (above, playing “Can’t Stand It”) to Mercury Lounge Friday night. And while that is good news, want to hear something even better? Thanks to Sailor Jerry, you can go for free. Just RSVP here.
Marina and the Diamonds Come to Webster Hall
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
Marina Diamandis dropped out of four different music programs at four different schools before deciding to make music her own way. While her piano-driven songs lean toward pop, they’re often more soulful and melancholy than you’d expect. The Welsh singer-songwriter earned fame in the UK when, under the name Marina and the Diamonds, she took second place in the BBC’s Sound of 2010 on the strength of her EPs. Since then, Diamandis, who performs live with a full band, released her debut album, The Family Jewels. And now Marina and the Diamonds (above, doing “Mowgli’s Road” for BBC1) are on the road, and they play Webster Hall tomorrow night.
The Lowdown on Lay Low
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
Lovísa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir was born in London and raised in Iceland. Early piano lessons led to studying guitar and bass and then to joining bands. Eventually she began singing and decided to go out on her own under a name much easier to pronounce: Lay Low. Her mix of blues, country and folk—initially posted on MySpace—won the notice of a record label. Shortly afterward, her debut album, Please Don’t Hate Me, was released and quickly went gold. Since then, the singer’s kept busy acting in and scoring a play, working on a movie soundtrack and being a part of Benny Crespo’s Gang, but she still made time to release another disc, Farewell Good Night’s Sleep. The LP came out in the U.S. last year, and Lay Low (above, playing “By and By”) brings those new tunes to Mercury Lounge tomorrow night.
See MNDR on Monday Night
Friday, August 27th, 2010
You’re probably familiar with the expression “Go West, young man.” Well, simple logic dictates that the opposite would be “Go East, young woman,” which is exactly what Amanda Warner did, in the hopes of becoming a songwriter for hire, when she ditched Oakland for NYC. But then she met Peter Wade and decided she wanted to write for herself and front her own band. And thus began MNDR (above, playing “Fade to Black” for Fearless Music). Warner and Wade uploaded four songs to MySpace last year, which later became an EP, and are currently working on a full-length album to be released next year. In the meantime, MNDR has opened for Deerhoof and Massive Attack, and you can see what the fuss is about on Monday at Mercury Lounge.
Wild Nothing Hits The Bowery Ballroom on Saturday
Thursday, August 26th, 2010
Virginian Jack Tatum used to be in Jack and the Whale and Facepaint. But last year he decided to go it alone, one-man-band style, recording under the name Wild Nothing and putting out several demos and EPs. People liked what they heard of the dreamy synth pop, so Tatum decided to take the music on the road, rounding out the sound with drummer Max Brooks, guitarist Nathan Goodman and bassist Jeff Haley. The band’s first LP, Gemini, came out earlier this year, garnering some Pitchfork love, and now Wild Nothing (above, doing “Live in Dreams” for Fader TV) is on the road, playing The Bowery Ballroom on Saturday night.
Get to Know These United States
Thursday, August 26th, 2010
The rousing, rootsy These United States have toured steadily since forming in 2006. Of course it’s easy to do so when you’ve just about always got new music. And one thing’s for sure, these guys are prolific: In 2008, the band released two albums just six months apart, A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden and the more rousing Crimes, to much acclaim even though the discs cover somewhat different musical territory. Last year they put out Everything Touches Everything, and in July they released What Lasts. Led by Jesse Elliott, These United States (above, playing “I Want You to Keep Everything” for hearya.com) sometimes sound psychedelic and at other times endearingly rambling and twangy, but, regardless, they’re always fun. Find out for yourself on Saturday at Mercury Lounge.
Two Nights of Autolux
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
The L.A.-based trio Autolux—Carla Azar (drums and vocals), Greg Edwards (guitar and vocals) and Eugene Goreshter (bass and lead vocals)—formed in 2000 when Goreshter and Azar met while writing the score for a play. After performing live several times, they released their self-produced debut EP, Demonstration, in March 2001. When T-Bone Burnett caught one of their shows, he decided to sign them to his (and the Coen Brothers’) label, DMZ. Their first full-length, the shoegazing Future Perfect, came out in 2004. The band toured behind the album but didn’t release a new album—although they did put out a few singles—for quite some time, or more specifically, six years: Their second LP, Transit Transit, somewhat reminiscent of My Bloody Valentine, came out earlier this month. So Autolux (above, doing “Supertoys” for From the Basement) is touring again. And you’ve got two chances to check out their new stuff when they play The Bowery Ballroom tomorrow and Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday.
Two Nights of Scissor Sisters at Terminal 5
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010
Singer Jack Shears (Jason Sellards) and keyboardist-bassist Babydaddy (Scott Hoffman) met in the late ’90s and formed Scissor Sisters, combining glam rock, pop, dance, burlesque, multiple singers, performance art and outrageous live shows, in 2001. As is the case with many bands, they struggled for a while before finding success. But in this case it was overseas: On the strength of their disco take on Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” and “Take Your Mama” (with its shades of Elton John), their self-titled debut disc was the best-selling album in the UK in 2004. And if that weren’t enough, Bono labeled them “the best pop band in the world at the moment.” Since then, the group has toured considerably and released two more albums, the most recent of which, Night Work, came out in June. And now Scissor Sisters (above, doing “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’” on Later…with Jools Holland) are back, playing Terminal 5 tonight and tomorrow.
See the Giraffes for Free
Friday, August 20th, 2010
Looking for something fun and free to do tomorrow night? Then you’ve come to the right place because you’ve got the chance to see the Giraffes play the late show at Mercury Lounge on Saturday for free thanks to Sailor Jerry. The Brooklyn-based hard-rock band has been at it since 1998, releasing four LPs and Show, a live DVD. To say the Giraffes (above, doing “Haunted Heaven”) are committed to their music is no joke because not even an onstage heart attack has slowed down singer Aaron Lazar. But you can see for yourself if you RSVP here.
(The Greenhornes play another Sailor Jerry-sponsored show at Mercury Lounge on Friday, 9/3. RSVP here.)
An Extra Chance to See Florence and the Machine
Thursday, August 19th, 2010
Back in April, Florence Welch thrilled the sold-out crowd at Terminal 5 so much so that she’s returning to town to play the venue twice, on November 1st and 2nd. But you won’t have to wait that long to get your fix of the bluesy redhead with a big voice because Florence and the Machine will be performing “Dog Days Are Over” at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards (Sunday, September 12th). The song’s video is nominated for Video of the Year and Best Rock Video. Welch, an enthralling live performer, says the song is about “chaotic freedom and running really, really fast with your eyes closed.” Decide for yourself: Check out Florence and the Machine, above, in the video and, below, playing the song on the English show Live on Alan Carr.
See the English Beat on Saturday Night
Thursday, August 19th, 2010
The English Beat formed in Birmingham in the UK back in 1978. This ska revivalist group featured alternating lead vocals from guitarist Dave Wakeling and toaster Ranking Roger and an actual touch of Jamaica in Saxa, a former Desmond Dekker sax player. The band (known as the Beat outside of North America) quickly found success with their first single, a cover of “Tears of a Clown.” They released three albums between 1980 and ’82 and toured the world alongside the likes of David Bowie, the Talking Heads, the Clash and the Police, only to break up in 1983. The two singers then formed General Public while guitarist Andy Cox and bassist David Steele helped put together Fine Young Cannibals. Of course this is where the story would end if the band hadn’t reformed several years ago. But they did, and the English Beat (above, doing the oft-covered-by-Pearl Jam “Save It for Later” on Fearless Music) plays Webster Hall on Saturday night.
It Might Get Loud
Thursday, August 12th, 2010
Dax Riggs, out of Austin, Texas, has been a professional musician for quite some time—first in the sludge-metal Acid Bath and then, among others, Agents of Oblivion and Deadboy & the Elephantmen. But he began putting out his own music three years ago, and his third solo album, Say Goodnight to the World, came out last week. Although his songs can often contain brooding or subdued lyrics, it’s clear that Riggs likes his metal (and some cool covers). While it’s not all intensity all the time, to be sure, he can bring it. Find out just how much when Dax Riggs (above, playing “Night Is the Notion” for SPINhouse Live), along with Motel Motel, comes to Mercury Lounge for the late show on Saturday and another one on Sunday.
Have Yourself a Sandy Little Weekend
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010The weekend is, thankfully, fast approaching, and the weather looks great. So why not spend two nights outside with your feet in the sand listening to cool music? Neon Indian is the brainchild of composer Alan Palomo. He had been writing and creating music as part of the band Ghosthustler and then as the artist VEGA prior to creating the dreamy lullabies and grinding guitar of Neon Indian. After Palomo missed a date to take acid with a friend—Alicia Scardetta, who now provides Neon Indian’s visuals—he sent her a musical apology called “Should Have Taken Acid with You.” When she responded positively to the tune, it spurred him on to create more. The results of which, Psychic Chasms, came out last year to much acclaim. But when Palomo plays live, he doesn’t go it alone, instead he’s joined onstage by drums, keys and guitar. See for yourself when Neon Indian (above, doing “Terminally Chill” on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon) plays The Beach at Governors Island on Saturday.
The Philly pop-rock quintet Dr. Dog (below, performing “Stranger” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!) openly embraces lo-fi production and the upbeat, late-’60s sounds of the Beatles and the Beach Boys. They’re led by two frontmen, bassist Toby Leaman and lead guitarist Scott McMicken, but as you’ll see for yourself at The Beach at Governors Island on Sunday, the whole band harmonizes throughout their shows. The group formed in 1999 and has toured extensively over the years while still finding time to produce six albums, the most recent of which, Shame, Shame, came out earlier this year. And want to know the best part? Not only can you close out your weekend with a night of great music, but as part of the Gone to Governors series, this show is absolutely FREE.
MewithoutYou Returns to The Bowery Ballroom
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010
The Philadelphia experimental-rock band mewithoutYou—brothers Aaron (vocals) and Michael Weiss (guitar) and Greg Jehanian (bass) and Rickie Mazzotta (drums)—has released four albums of post-hardcore sounds, spoken-word melodies and religious imagery all rooted in a feisty punk ethos. Although the group’s most recent disc, 2009’s It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All a Dream!, reveals some of their folk influences. See for yourself when mewithoutYou (above, doing an acoustic “O, Porcupine”) plays The Bowery Ballroom on Thursday.
Spend the Night with a Jewel
Friday, August 6th, 2010
Ramona Gonzalez grew up in Berkeley, Calif., as the daughter of musically inclined parents. She attended school in L.A., and once there she eventually joined some rock bands and became a multimedia artist. After creating several synth instrumentals for installation art, Gonzalez began concentrating on music, using the name Nite Jewel. Her sound is dreamy dance pop, but it’s done decidedly lo-fi: She records on an eight-track cassette recorder, and her debut full-length, Good Evening, came out last year. When playing live, Nite Jewel (above, performing “Chimera” on the Interface for spinner.com) does it as a three-piece, which you can see for yourself when—along with Violens—she plays Mercury Lounge on Monday.
Spend Your Weekend at The Beach
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010If you check the weather forecast for this weekend, you’ll see nothing but sunny skies ahead, which is pretty great in itself. But why not make it even better with two nights of terrific music in the great outdoors? The L.A. five-piece Local Natives first gained attention last year at SXSW and then when the band toured Europe in support of their debut disc, Gorilla Manor, which came out in the U.K. nearly four months before its release in the U.S. While some groups have a clear leader and a set of complementary pieces, Local Natives (above, playing “Airplanes” for Seattle’s KEXP FM) are a true collaboration, from singing to songwriting to artwork. And when they come to The Beach at Governors Island on Saturday, expect to be dazzled by lush harmonies, lofty melodies and thumping tribal beats.
Josh Ritter has been at the game a little bit longer. He knew at a young age that he wanted to become a singer-songwriter, and so he did, self-releasing his first disc, Josh Ritter, back in 1999. Ever since then, the prolific musician has put out a large collection of EPs and LPs filled with intimate, folk-inspired music. As noted rock historian Mary Louise Parker says, “If you love music and have a device on which to play it, you should listen to Josh Ritter whenever you need sound.” And if you need sound on Sunday, head to The Beach at Governors Island to see Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band (below, playing “The Curse” on The Late Late Show). As an added bonus, this is part of Converse’s Gone to Governors series, which means the show is FREE.
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