Tomorrow’s Arcade Fire show at Madison Square Garden is sold out, but tickets remain for Thursday’s show. And you can help make music history because this Thursday marks the launch of UNSTAGED, an original live-music series from American Express. There will be a high- quality music stream, but there’s also much more because UNSTAGED will connect the online audience to the live show in some pretty interesting ways: You’ll be able to choose your camera angles, vote on songs and take part in digital “happenings,” which will connect the fans and the artist through creative ways.
The series kicks off this Thursday at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with a live stream of Arcade Fire directed by none other than Terry Gilliam (Time Bandits, Brazil, Twelve Monkeys and, of course, the American guy in Monty Python). Learn more at http://youtube.com/ArcadeFireVevo. Sounds pretty cool, right? And not to get all Ron Popeil on you, but wait, there’s more:
• “SHARE YOUR SUBURBS” PHOTO PROJECT Be part of the show. In support of Arcade Fire’s new album, The Suburbs, out today, everyone (including you) can upload pictures of their suburbs—front porches, back roads, empty parking lots, you name it. The band will feature their favorite submissions onstage during their live performance. Share Your Suburb here.
• “ASK ARCADE FIRE” TWEET Q&A Have some burning questions for Arcade Fire? Tweet the band using the hash tag #amexarcadefire and they’ll respond during a special preshow Q&A before their performance.
The Australian alternative band the Cat Empire began as a trio back in 1999, with Ollie McGill on keys, Ryan Monro on bass and Felix Riebl on percussion. Over the years, they’ve added Harry James Angus on trumpet, Will Hull-Brown on drums and Jamshid “Jumps” Kahadiwhala on turntables and percussion (plus he’s even been known to bust a move). Although the lineup has changed, the band continues to deftly combine funk, jazz, rock, ska and a little Latin flair to make quality music—three live discs and five studio albums, the most recent of which, Cinema, came out earlier this month. But let’s face it: Australia is far from here. So the Cat Empire (above, performing “The Lost Song”) is bringing the music to you: See them play Webster Hall tomorrow and Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday.
The Postelles - The Bowery Ballroom - July 28, 2010
When the Manhattan-based band Postelles originally booked last night’s headlining date at The Bowery Ballroom, they likely didn’t know that they would be opening a handful of dates on Kings of Leon’s and Interpol’s summer tours before they got to play the show. Still, lead singer Daniel Balk was humbled by the experience, thanking the packed crowd for being there and explaining the feeling of honor to play a venue where he “watched my favorite bands play.” “Now,” he said, “let’s shake this floor.”
For more than an hour, the band spun through material off their White Night EP along with new material set to be released in October as a self-titled, full-length debut (coproduced by the Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr.). Balk’s stage presence oozed Joseph Gordon-Levitt style cool—he could easily be mistaken for him in a crowd, a claim supported by the Beatlemania-style screams coming from the audience all night as girls nearly fought to get closer to the stage.
Lead guitarist David Dargahi pumped out Strokes-like riffs with Hives-like style. He glued his feet in place while thrashing around from the torso up during songs like “123 Stop.” The set had a wonderful rhythm to it, with most songs swelling during their verses until they inevitably burst into dance-and-shout choruses. For now the Postelles go back out with Interpol (they will be at The Wellmont Theatre next Wednesday), but they will hopefully be playing back home soon. Chances are, however, they’ll be headlining something even bigger. —Sean O’Kane
The English space-rock band Spiritualized has been making lush, atmospheric music since its debut, Lazer Guided Melodies, came out in 1992. Despite several personnel changes over the years, the group—guided by frontman Jason Pierce (J. Spaceman)—has continued to produce quality albums, including the much acclaimed Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space, which features a gospel choir plus Dr. John on one track. Why bring up a disc that came out in 1997? Great question: Because as part of SPIN25, Spiritualized (above, playing the dreamy “Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space”) will perform the LP in its entirety with a choir and orchestra on Friday at Radio City Music Hall. And how can you top that?
M.I.A., born Maya Arulpragasam, is a talented and controversial, singer, songwriter, rapper, producer, fashion designer and visual artist. She was born in London, but moved around as a child. In the U.S., her career really took off with the smash hit “Paper Planes,” off her second album. The former Bed-Stuy resident now lives in Brentwood, Calif., outside L.A., with her husband and son. But despite residing in the suburbs, this music superstar is no less outspoken. And with the release of her third disc, Maya, M.I.A. (above, playing “Born Free” on Late Show with David Letterman) makes her only scheduled U.S. appearance this Saturday at the South Island Field at Governors Island. As part of the HardNYC event, Die Antwoord, Skream, Benga, Rye Rye, Sleigh Bells, Theophilus London, Borgore, Destructo, 12th Planet, Nguzunguzu and Ninjasonik will also be performing.
Arcade Fire sent over this trailer for their upcoming YouTube live stream of their August 5th show at Madison Square Garden as part of the AmEx Unstaged series. It’s an extravagant production for such a short clip, featuring sparklers, Win and Regine puppets and most important, part of the song “Rococo,” from the band’s upcoming album, The Suburbs. Arcade Fire also plays the Garden on August 4th.
In 1995 six guys from Western Kentucky University formed the Southern hip-hop group Nappy Roots. They got their start making music at a local record shop/recording studio and soon enough, their debut disc, Country Fried Cess, came out in 1998. Watermelon, Chicken and Gritz, most notable for the hit single “Po’ Folks,” followed in 2002. They’ve since released two more albums, and their most recent—and second as a quintet—The Pursuit of Nappyness, dropped in June. Check out their new tunes and get your weekend started right when Nappy Roots (above, in their TV show reel) play the late show on Friday night at Mercury Lounge.
Eyedea & Abilities were just a couple of friends in Minneapolis before they decided to link up as an MC (Eyedea)/DJ (Abilities) pair while still in high school. They got some well-deserved recognition in the underground hip-hop world following the release of two abstract, introspective albums, First Born and E&A, in 2001 and 2004 respectively. After several years spent working on their own sounds, they reunited on 2009’s By the Throat, which delves into the world of rock. Check them out when Eyedea & Abilities (above, doing “Burn Fetish”) hit Mercury Lounge tomorrow night for the late show.
Canadian electronic musician Dan Snaith began his career under the name Manitoba, and his debut EP, People Eating Fruit, came out in 2000. But despite releasing more material under the same moniker, a lawsuit forced him to make a switch. So following a move to London, Snaith, like a, well, caribou rising from the ashes, emerged as Caribou. His most recent albums, Andorra and Swim, have earned him much praise. The talented multi-instrumentalist and composer—who also happens to hold a Ph.D. in mathematics—plays live with a full band, which you can see for yourself when as part of the Gone to Governors series, Caribou (above, performing “Odessa” for Channel 4’s Music on 4) plays for FREE tomorrow night at The Beach at Governors Island with electro-rock duo Phantogram and the psychedelic the Chain Gang of 1974 opening.
FERRY INFORMATION
We encourage everyone to come early and enjoy The Beach. Governors Island ferries will run from the Battery Maritime Building until 5:30 p.m. If you are on the island early, please make sure to get yourself to The Beach by 5:30 p.m., when concert wristbands will be available. After 5:30 p.m., ferries will depart regularly from the north end of the Battery Maritime Building, which is easily accessible from the 1, 2/3, J/Z, R/W and A/C subway lines.
Singer and multi-instrumentalist Josh Kolenik was living in Portland, Ore., when someone suggested using Small Black as a band name. He remembered that upon returning to Long Island. And once there, Kolenik and a musician friend, Ryan Heyner, headed to Kolenik’s uncle’s attic and began recording dreamy pop songs. Their self-titled EP came out last fall, and after rounding out their live sound with Jeff Curtin and Juan Pieczanski, the Brooklyn band began to play live shows. A debut LP is on the horizon, and Small Black (above, performing “Despicable Dogs” for the Tripwire)—with Beach Fossils— plays Mercury Lounge tomorrow night.
Lucero, out of Memphis, has been expertly combining country with punk and rock since 1998. They’re as much known for their red-hot live shows as for frontman Ben Nichols’ raspy, evocative growl. And the best news is, as part of the Gone to Governors series, Lucero (above, playing “I Can Get Us Out of Here Tonight” for Fuel TV) is playing for FREE tomorrow night at The Beach at Governors Island.
And as an added bonus, Converse, the Gone to Governors sponsor, is offering you a free MP3 download of “All Summer,” featuring Kid Cudi, Rostam, of Vampire Weekend, and Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino, here.
Governors Island Ferry Information Update
We encourage everyone to come early and enjoy The Beach. If you are on the island before the show tomorrow, get to The Beach venue by 5:30 p.m., as concert wristbands will be distributed earlier. Governors Island ferries will run from the Battery Maritime Building until 5:30 p.m. There will be no boats to the concert departing from the Battery Maritime Building after 5:30 p.m. Dedicated concert ferries will depart after 5:30 p.m. from Pier 11, located at the corner of South Street and Wall Street in lower Manhattan. Wristbands will be distributed at the ferry departure point on a first-come, first-served basis, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Cass McCombs is a California kid who eventually made his way to the East Coast. Although he spent quite a bit of time traveling the country, at one point the talented singer-songwriter settled in Baltimore and recorded his debut EP, Not the Way, released in 2002. Since then, he’s headed back to his home state and has put out four LPs of funny, poppy and dark music—the most recent of which, Catacombs, came out last year. And now Cass McCombs (above, playing “That’s That” on KCRW), along with Lightspeed Champion and Melanie Moser & the Eleventh Hour Band, comes to The Bowery Ballroom tomorrow night.
With sunny skies ahead all weekend long, you’ll want to spend some quality time outdoors beneath the sun and stars, which works out perfectly since we’ve got two great FREE shows for you—one during the day and one at night—at The Beach at Governors Island this weekend.
SATURDAY
Tomorrow, the very cool experimental-rock band Portugal. The Man (above, performing “People Say” for Fuel TV) and badass Brooklyn blues-rockers Alberta Cross hit the stage as the first part of the Gone to Governors one-two Fourth of July weekend punch.
Governors Island Ferry Information Update
We encourage everyone to come early and enjoy The Beach. If you are on the island before the show tomorrow, get to The Beach venue by 5:30 p.m., at which time concert wristbands will be distributed. Governors Island ferries will run from the Battery Maritime Building until 5:30 p.m. There will be no boats to the concert departing from the Battery Maritime Building after 5:30 p.m. Dedicated concert ferries will depart after 5:30 p.m. from Pier 11, located at the corner of South Street and Wall Street in lower Manhattan. Wristbands will be distributed at the ferry departure point on a first-come, first-served basis, starting at 5:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
Before you head out to see the fireworks on Sunday night, start Fourth of July with your feet in the sand while checking out Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward’s She & Him (above, playing “In the Sun” on Late Show with David Letterman)—with Brooklyn’s Oakley Hall opening. This is a day show and The Beach opens at 10 a.m.—so come out and get your holiday started early. Please check here on Sunday for this show’s ferry information.
Don’t call it a comeback because Courtney Love has been here for years. But her band’s fourth album (and first in 12 years), Nobody’s Daughter, came out this past April, and now Hole (above, playing “Skinny Little Bitch” on Late Show with David Letterman) is hitting The Wellmont Theatre on Friday. Want to try to win tickets? Fill out the form below, listing your name, e-mail address, which show you’re trying to win tickets to (Hole, 6/25) and a brief message explaining why you deserve a free night out on The Bowery Presents. The winner will be notified by Friday.
