MGMT Played To A Packed McCarren Pool

MGMT may be the reigning kings of Brooklyn's music scene right now...and they proved it with a killer performance at McCarren Park Pool on Sunday (July 28).

The line was insanity...people were waiting hours in the rain to get in, they shut off the VIP list, beer was tapped, you name it and it happened.

Coming on at around 5:45PM with dreary skies above, the band played a set list with all the goodies from "Oracular Spectacular" that had everyone dancing.

Playing "Time To Pretend", "Kids", "Pieces Of What", "The Youth", "Weekend Wars" and many others, the crowd was going mental throughout the whole gig.


Photo credit: Clampy505

Does It Offend You, Yeah? Zombify Jimmy Kimmel

Does It Offend You, Yeah? had a little fun on their appearance with Jimmy Kimmel the other night by making Halloween come a little early.

Playing "Dawn Of The Dead" live, the band threw on some zombie costumes and put some fun into live TV.

Check out the clip here:

Likely Listens - Alphabeat

Alphabeat are the most perfect 80's band ever...its a shame they were babies in the 80's.

Regardless of what year they were born, this band have created one of the most catchy albums of the year with their self titled album...its definitely going to be a Top 10 of 2008 (so far!).

Hailing from Denmark, their already a huge success in their native country and are creeping their way up to strdom in the UK. Of course, the US is the last to know about anything (unless its midwestern rock) but hopefully Alphabeat will make a name for themselves with their killer single "Fascination".

Here is the video for "Fascination":



Now, don't tell me you didn't get out of your seat and dance...

Liz Phair Brings Exile In Guyville To More Cities

So, you got really sad that you missed the Chicago, SF or New York Exile In Guyville dates? Not to fear, as Liz Phair has added 3 more dates to the tour!!!!!

Now she will play Philadelphia, Washington DC and Boston in late August...and luckily for us New Yorkers the Philly show is only a public transportation destination away!

She apparently will be adding other shows too along the way so stay tuned to this space for the latest

Here are the tour dates:

Philadelphia, PA, Theatre Of Living Arts – August 27
Washington, DC, 9:30 Club – 28
Boston, MA, The Paradise - 29

MGMT - Electric Feel (Behind The Scenes)

I sort of think this video could be the worst thing ever created.

Therefore, now you can see scenes from how the "worst video ever made" was created. Maybe I'm being too harsh and its not the worst video ever made...but its b-a-d. I still have love for MGMT though!

Karen O Announces Side Project

As the Yeah Yeah Yeahs continue on making their third album, Karen O has just announced she will play two inimate shows with her side project "Native Korean Rock".

The shows will happen on July 21st at Union Pool (wooo Karen getting back to her BK routes!)

The tickets are on sale now through Ticketweb...not sure if they will be sold out when you try to purchase them but good luck.

Here's all the info from the official YYYs website:

"Native Korean Rock is a side project of mine comprised of a body of love songs written over the last two years, to be performed with a motley crew of NYC natives. Expect high drama, high stakes in two intimate performances.

Does Native Korean Rock have anything to do with Yeah Yeah Yeahs? NO

Are these the leaked demos of years ago? NO"

Likely Looks: The Verve - Love Is Noise

Now I'm not going to lie...The Verve can do no wrong in my book. The video is quite simple...just close ups of Richard (who minds THAT though) and some nice pretty scenes of people making out and in l-o-v-e.

Quite sweet, yea?

Beck Announces US Tour

When Beck announces a tour then its something to talk about...

In support of his latest record, Modern Guilt (which is brilliant by the way!) he'll be playing a few headlining dates and a few festivals along the way.

If you've never seen Beck live...well then, CHANGE THAT!

Here are the dates (from nme.com):

Reno, NV Grand Sierra Resort and Casino (August 21)
San Francisco, CA Outside Lands Festival (22)
Bend, OR Les Schwab Amphiteater (24)
Seattle, WA Bumbershoot Festival (30)
San Diego, CA Street Scene Festival (September19)
Hollywood, CA Hollywood Bowl (20)
Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theater (22)
Albuquerque, NM Kiva Auditorium (23)
El Paso, TX Abraham Chavez Theatre (25)
Austin, TX Zilker Park, Austin City Limits Festival (27)
Kansas City, MO Uptown Theatre (29)
Minneapolis, MN Wilkins Auditorium (30)
Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom (October 2, 3)

The Verve Changes Album Release Date

Us Verve fans are going to have to now wait a week longer for the new record, "Forth" to come out.

Its been announced today that the new release date with be August 26th in the US and Canada and August 25th in the UK.

Bummer...

Likely Looks: Albert Hammond Jr. - GFC

Albert Hammond Jr seems to continue his indie rock domination with his new album "Como Te Llama?"

The video features Albert and the band on a nice psychedelic trip courtesy of a spinning lamp. Fun!

Manda Rin Releases A Solo Album

Its been quite some time since we've heard from the members if Scottish band Bis, but that has changed. Manda Rin, 1/3 of the band, has now announced details of a solo album!

The tracks are a nice little slice of fun electro pop and are influenced by the likes of CSS, Operator Please and others.

The album will be released through This Is Fake DIY records on September 8th, 2008.

The track listing is as follows:

1. DNA
2. Typeface
3. Bad Things Happen To Bad People
4. Guilty Pleasures
5. Do The Static
6. The Word Out
7. Break Up / Breakdown
8. Love To Hate You
9. No Language
10. Less Than Zero
11. Black Book
12. Bruises

Likely Looks: Beck - Gamma Ray

Beck is back with his new album, Modern Guilt and a new video for his single Gamma Ray. I guess he was feeling his inner Warhol because the video reminds me quite a bit of the screen tests Warhol did of The Velvet Underground some time long ago.

Also, I am digging the long hair...

Albert Hammond Jr Plays Special Show For Spin

Albert Hammond Jr has been all over NY playing gigs in support of his second solo album, Como Te Llama?. The private show for SPIN Magazine on July 9th was the second of his special gigs in NYC.

The vibe was a bit weird walking in as electro blared from the speakers of Hiro. The free Budweiser flowed as the typical hipster crowd showed up to catch Albert.

Taking the stage a little after 11PM and opening with "Everyone Gets A Star" from his new album, the crowd stood there placid as they thought they were too cool to dance to the tunes.

The sound at Hiro is a bit crap and it took its toll on Hammond and Co. They were (I am guessing) a little rusty from not playing for so long and it could have been better. Do I blame him? No. He had a bad crowd to deal with...

Overall, Hammond really did perform well despite the circumstances. Hopefully he gets a better crowd on any upcoming tours he has...or else it will be painfully boring for him.


Photo courtesy of Fresh Bread

Likely Looks: CSS - Rat Is Dead (Rage)

CSS is back with their new album "Donkey" and a killer first singl to go along with it. The video for "Rat Is Dead (Rage)" sees Lovefoxx in all her leotard glory running rapidly around set to a killer guitar rift. Guess all that covering L7 has given then a rock edge? Whatever it is...I dig it

Likely Listens - The Postelles

Hailing from New York, The Postelles are bringing back a little bit if retro to the Big Apple.

With their single "1 2 3 Stop" being produced by Albert Hammond Jr from The Strokes, the band has also opened for the singer as well.

They've mastered the art of making the perfect pop song...if it was the 60's of course!

The Postelles - Boy's Best Friend

Secret Machines Announce Deal With World's Fair

World's Fair seem to be picking up bands that are getting dropped from major labels like hot cakes. First it was The Dandy Warhols and now the latest addition is the Secret Machines!

Releasing their third album with a little help from World's Fair, the band is now officially freed from their contract from Warner Brothers.

Of course, with every album release there is usually a tour. Here are the tour dates to support the upcoming album:

July 08 - Glen Falls, NY @ Glen Falls Civic Center*
July 10 - Quebec City, QC @ Plaines d'Abraham
July 11 - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre*
July 12 - Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace
July 15 - Canandaigua, NY @ CMAC Performing Arts Center*
July 19 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Café
July 22 - Missoula, MT @ The Badlander
July 25 - Pemberton, BC @ Pemberton Music Fest
July 27 - West Hollywood, CA @ Viper Room
July 28 - Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre^
July 29 - El Paso, TX @ Club 101^
July 30 - Alburquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theatre^
Aug 01 - Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues^
Aug 03 - San Antonio TX @ White Rabbit^
Aug 05 - Jacksonville, FL @ Plush^
Aug 06 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution^
Aug 07 - St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Landing^
Aug 08 - Orlando, FL @ House Of Blues^
Aug 10 - Jersey City, NJ @ All Points West Festival - Liberty State Park

*With Stone Temple Pilots
^With Coheed and Cambria and Russian Circles

The Faint Announce US Tour

The Faint put on one of the best live shows ever...and with their new album Fascination coming out on August 5th, the band are going to play a few dates to support it.

Here are the dates:

Des Moines, IA People’s Court (July 27)
Sioux Falls, SD Ramkota Annex (28)
Denver, CO Ogden Theatre (29)
Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue (30)
Boise, ID Knitting Factory (31)
Vancouver, British Columbia Commodore Ballroom (August 1)
Seattle, WA The Showbox (2)
Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom (3)
San Francisco, CA The Fillmore (4, 5)
Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theatre (7, 8)
San Diego, CA Soma (9)
Austin, TX La Zona Rosa (11)
Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom (12)
Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse (14)
Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle (15)
Washington, DC 9:30 Club (16)
Philadelphia, PA Trocadero (17)
New York City, NY Terminal 5 (18)
Worcester, MA The Palladium (20)
Toronto, Ontario Opera House (21)
Chicago, IL Vic Theatre (22)
Omaha, NE Sokol Auditorium (23)

Don't miss these...they'll be wicked

Likely Looks: Bloc Party - Mercury

Bloc Party came out of nowhere with a new video and single called "Mercury". The song premiered on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show last night and I must say...its quite brilliant. Its a bit darker which I love and a bit less dancey which is a nice touch. Experimentation!

Here is the new video for "Mercury". Its a bit odd with all the animals and whatnot but I sort of dig it:



Also, sorry for the delay in posts. My trusty computer battery decided to officially die on me the other day so its been a struggle to get on line. Things will be back to normal starting tomorrow