CMJ: Delorean, Via Tania, Fall On Your Sword and Au Revoir Simone

Delorean at Le Poisson Rouge, 10.23.09

As you know last week was a whirlwind of shows in NYC for CMJ! Some days we hit about 4 different showcases, as was the case on Friday.

My Friday CMJ-age started at Rockwood for Au Revoir Simone’s set for SPIN Magazine, Dolorean at Le Poisson Rouge for self-titled Magazine, followed by Via Tania and Fall On Your Sword at Norwood  for The Hours & High-Rise Showcase, topped off with Sleigh Bells at Market Hotel for the Anti-CMJ showcase by Quiet Color (to be discussed in a separate post.)

In this post I’ll discuss each act and share a few of my favorite shots of the day. More pictures can be seen HERE.

MP3: Delorean – Seasun or zShare
MP3: Fall On Your Sword – Powerless Man or zShare
MP3: Au Revoir Simone- Sad Song (RAC Remix) or zShare
MP3: Via Tania – On Sawyer (Agrape Dope Remix) or zShare
MP3: Lemonade – Big Weekend (Dolorean Remix) or zShare

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Au Revoir Simone at Rockwood >>

After seeing Au Revoir Simone for the first time at The Music Hall of Williamsburg a few months ago, I fell in love!

Their musical chemistry blends together seamlessly as they swap instruments, lead vocals and jokes that create a warm concert experience whether it be in a music hall or a tiny tiny space such as Rockwood.

The highlight of their short set came in the form of the “alternate version” of Sad Song from their latest album Still Night, Still Light.

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<< Delorean at Le Poisson Rouge

I’ve been familiar with Barcelona’s Delorean for quite some time, their remixes of Lemonade, The Big Pink and The Teenagers having been some of my favorites over the past year. However, I’m embarrassed to admit that it wasn’t until seeing them live that I’d familiarized myself with the new material! The shame!

With this said, Dolorean was one of my surprise stand-out acts from CMJ 2009. It’s hard not to enjoy their punkish-electro sound and not thrive off of the energy projected from their live set.

The foursome are following up their Ayrton Senna EP (2009) with a full-length album slated for 2010. I eagerly await the release and the chance to catch their full set!

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Fall On Your Sword at Norwood >>

Brooklyn’s Fall On Your Sword, whom I’d been unfamiliar with previous to their gig at Norwood, played a 30 minute set as a part of The Hours and High-Rise CMJ showcase.

FOYS’ backdrop provided a great visual guide, featuring footage of New York, a drunken David Hasselhoff and everything in between. I thought it was a great set from an unfamiliar band and definitely have them on my radar now.

The absolute greatest and most unexpected moments came when the band played some excellent covers including David Bowie and one of my absolute favorite New Order songs Ceremony. Major +++ points for that one!

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<< Via Tania at Norwood

Chicago’s Via Tania was another new discovery during CMJ for me. VT’s voice and music are very dreary, almost like being stuck at the in-between state of consciousness.

Via Tania’s sophomore album Moon Sweet Moon was released a few weeks ago, don’t miss out on this truly unique musical experience.

CMJ: The Xx Secret Show at The Delancey

The Xx at The Delancey 10.22.09

Last week Jess and I were discussing how The Xx makes the most out of their time in New York. Back in August the band played about 6 shows in a week (See: TLC Spotlight: The xx Take on NYC) and last week played about twice as many shows in New York during CMJ including Thursday night’s 1AM “secret show” at The Delancey.

Yesterday news outlets may have jumped the gun in reporting that guitarist Baria Quereshi has quit the band, taking into account the latest development that the band is taking a break due to exhaustion.

Whatever the real story may be, we adore The Xx and hope they get it together and maybe slow down on the touring side of things. We’ve seen this time and time again. Hype brings on too much pressure and the best way to stay afloat in my opinion is to let the dust settle before stepping back out into the spotlight.

More pictures from the show HERE.

MP3: The Xx – Intro or zShare

La Roux at Highline Ballroom with Body Language

La Roux at Highline Ballroom, 10.26.09

La Roux made their highly anticipated return to the states on Monday night at Highline Ballroom with Brooklyn’s Body Language as the supporting act. Since interviewing Elly Jackson last month, we’ve been anticipating the North American tour, but along the road Elly’s been struggling through a viral infection that’s gone after her voice. The illness has forced cancellations of the Chicago and Boston tour dates, but luckily she was able to gather up enough strength to perform Monday in New York.

We also previously interviewed Body Language and regarded them as a band bound for big things this year, and under 5 months landed the supporting gig for Mercury Prize-nominated La Roux! They did a great job rousing the crowd with their funky dance tunes, which at times are pleasantly reminiscent of 90’s after hours house music in NY.

La Roux’s frontwoman Elly took the stage in a colorfully striped pantsuit after 10PM and kicked off the 35 minute set with Tigerlily. The shortened 9-song set included the UK bonus track Saviour but unfortunately left off Fascination. Luckily my favorite song Colourless Colour was smack in the middle of the dance set as my favorite moment of the night along with the crowd sing-a-long/assistance for the closer Bulletproof.

The states haven’t been kindest to La Roux with having to overcome sickness and extreme weather conditions (see All Points West Day 3: La Roux) but through it all we’ve seen 2 memorable sets from Elly & Co this year. Looking forward to the 2nd leg of the tour dubbed The Gold Tour in 2010 including rescheduled dates for Boston and Chicago. Get well Elly!

Check out our pictures and tunes below, including one of the most genius mashups: La Roux vs. The Killers – Smile Like You’re Bulletproof by SugaMotor!

More pictures from La Roux’s show on Monday HERE.

MP3: La Roux – Saviour or zShare

MP3: La Roux – Smile Like You’re Bulletproof (The Killers Mash) or zShare

MP3: Body Language -  Sandwiches (Body Language Mix) or zShare

MP3: Marina & The Diamonds – Obsessions (Body Language Remix) or zShare

Body Language (more pictures)

Florence + The Machine’s NYC Debut: Sweeter Than Heaven + Hotter Than Hell

Florence and the Machine at The ACE Hotel, 10.24.09

I spent all of last week anticipating Florence + the Machine’s New York debut for the Fader Party at the ACE Hotel! Lungs is a beautifully crafted album and may be my favorite album of 2009, hands down!

The basement of the ACE hotel was a sauna of sweaty bodies, open bar and music fans eager to catch the epic line-up that  included The Temper Trap, MNDR, Sam Sparro, Mark Ronson, Theophilus London, Midnight Juggernauts, Jenny Wilson and of course Florence + the Machine.

Florence took the stage after 7PM in a killer pair of boots with only a guitarist onstage strumming along. Florence’s voice is like a rogue angel, so raw and so rare it moved me to tears. The set consisted of only a handful of songs but time stood still and I had not a care in the world at that moment. It was a truly gut-wrenchingly soulful, moving and religious experience.

Florence and the Machine plays Bowery Ballroom tomorrow night, this is your last chance New York!!! Also, check out the official videos for The Xx remix of You’ve Got the Love HERE and the Steve Pitron and Max Sanna Remix HERE.

MP3: Florence + the Machine – Hospital Beds (Cold War Kids cover) or zShare
MP3: Florence + the Machine – Postcards from Italy (Beirut Cover) or zShare

New Fever Ray Music Video: Stranger Than Kindness

Yesterday while we were out CMJ-ing Fever Ray released a brand new video for the cover of Nick Cave and Anita Lane’s Stranger Than Kindness. The creepily sexy tune recreates the amazing feeling we felt last month when seeing Fever Ray play Webster Hall with Vuk (Fever Ray + Vuk Final Night at Webster Hall: Now’s The Only Time I Know) The tune comes from the upcoming expanded re-release of Fever Ray’s self-titled debut out November 24th. The release also includes bonus tracks Stranger Than Kindness and a cover of Vashti Bunyan’s Here Before and a bonus DVD containing an entire live show and music videos!

MP3: Fever Ray – Coconut or zShare

BRB at CMJ

Sleigh Bells wow at Santos Party House, 10.21.09

Pete and the Pirates NYC debut at The Bell House, 10.21.09

Our heads are currently spinning trying to just digest CMJ so far and what is yet to come (still 3 full more days including today!) The bands, crowds and parties have been fantastic so far! If you are in New York this week we urge you to go out and see some kick ass bands play all around the city.

Anyway, long days of doing the aforementioned leave us astray from the computer so blogging will be at a minimum until CMJ wraps this weekend but we’ll be checking in!

So far we’ve seen Apache Beat play Club NME, Sleigh Bells, Theophilus London, Midnight Juggernauts and Vega play Hype Machine’s showcase, Pete and the Pirates, The Love Language, Let’s Wrestle, and Surf City at The Bell House, and a slew of our favorite celebrities as well.

And there’s so much more in store! Check back for pics and updates here or follow our live Tweets @tlcblog!

MP3: Theophilus London – Crazy Cousins or zShare
MP3: Pete and the Pirates – She Doesn’t Belong to Me or zShare

Washed Out’s New York Debut at Santos with Restless People

Washed Out at Santos, 10.19.09

Yesterday was a night of debuts at Santos Party House with Georgia’s much buzzed-about Washed Out making his NY debut along with Restless People also playing their first show.

Restless People kicked off their set at midnight, getting the antsy crowd moving and shaking. I had only heard a few of the demos available online and known that Brooklyn’s Restless People consists of members of Professor Murder, Michael Bell-Smith, The Brothers and Tanlines. The high energy set was a great time and got major bonus points for use of air horns, synths, chanting and heavy percussion. I’m not really sure what you’d classify RP under but with all the fun elements of soca, reggae, dub, pop and electronic music I’d just call it party music for now.

Although creating music since 2007, it wasn’t until this year that Washed Out has broken through into the blogosphere.  With this newfound platform Washed Out’s Ernest Greene now is in the position to bring his live show to music fans, last night being his second show ever at Santos Party House.

Restless People at Santos, 10.19.09

Audience criticisms ranged from boring to amazing to chilled out.  Being that his set was at 1AM I can sympathize with all of those opinions but if we’re talking about the music, it speaks for itself. A New York City debut at 1AM on a Monday before CMJ is a tough bill to carry but Washed Out did so graciously smiling and even clapping along with the crowd after each song.

The visuals were fun and Greene sounded good over vocal playback but there’s a lot of room for improvement. If you were bored last night, don’t count Washed Out out yet as I think we’ll see a much more polished set by next year and sold out shows. My main complaint of last night’s set was that New Theory was left off of the setlist, bummer!

MP3: Washed Out – Belong or zShare

MP3: Restless People – Victimless Crime or zShare

Restless People

TLC’s Artists to Watch at CMJ 2009

CMJ is here once again! With a sigh of simultaneous excitement and premature exhaustion, we begin our festival week. We’ve outlined some of our most anticipated acts below. Read, listen and then get away from the computer and go see some amazing artists.  See you at the shows + afterparties!

Pete and the Pirates

We put this dynamic and endearing band from Reading, UK under our spotlight a little over a year ago and interviewed them right before their BBC Electric Proms 2008 gig. They’ve been to SXSW but never NYC. We are so glad they are finally here.

See them here: The Bell House, Brooklyn 10/21

MP3: Pete and the Pirates – Knots or zShare

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Sleigh Bells

Quiet Color selected Sleigh Bells as Your New Obsession last week as a part of our feature and we couldn’t agree more.  Don’t miss them this week at the shows below!

See them here: Santos Party House, Manhattan 10/21, Market Hotel, Bushwick 10/23

MP3: Sleigh Bells – Infinity Guitars or zShare

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Let’s Wrestle

A lo-fi indie punk trio from London, Let’s Wrestle just released their debut album “In the Court of the Wrestling Lets” on Stolen Recordings. They’re charmingly self-aware, kooky and they love Paul McCartney. ‘Nuff said.

See them here: The Bell House, Brooklyn 10/21

MP3: Let’s Wrestle – I Won’t Lie to You or zShare

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The Love Language

We first heard of North Carolina’s The Love Language on one of Steve Lamacq’s last shows on BBC Radio 1. We were immediately enamored with the band’s (who just signed to Merge) breezy yet rich, retro  folk-pop.

See them here: The Living Room, Manhattan 10/23

MP3: The Love Language – Lalita or zShare

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Surf City

This quartet of Kiwis create lush aural landscapes a la Animal Collective but way poppier and, as their name suggests, with a subtle surf sound.

See them here: The Cake Shop, Manhattan 10/20

MP3: Surf City – Headin’ Inside or zShare

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Mumford and Sons

Despite hailing from London, these fellas very clearly play alt-country, folk, Americana music — refreshing considering the deluge of generic indie rock these days. We first saw them open for and perform with Laura Marling in June ‘08. Since then they’ve become Radio 1 darlings and we approve.

See them here: Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn 10/22

MP3: Mumford and Sons – Little Lion Man or zShare

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The Temper Trap

If you’ve seen 500 Days of Summer then you’re very much familiar with Australian The Temper Trap’s moody love song Sweet Disposition. Sure to be a big draw at CMJ!

See them here: The Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn 10/22, Bowery Ballroom, Manhattan 10/23

MP3: The Temper Trap – Drum Song or zShare

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Golden Silvers

London trio Golden Silvers released their debut album True Romance earlier this year to critical acclaim and will surely get the kids on the dancefloor this week!

See them here:  BLVD, Manhattan 10/20, Bowery Poetry Club, Manhattan 10/21, Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn 10/22

MP3: Golden Silvers – Please Venus or zShare

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Dan Black

We’ve been championing Dan Black’s quirky electro tunes since discovering his MySpace page early this year and have been anticipating his live show since!

See him here:  Norwood, Manhattan 10/23, Santos House, Manhattan 10/24

MP3: Dan Black – Symphonies or zShare

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Midnight Juggernauts

Rolling Stone magazine once described Midnight Juggernauts as “David Bowie if his Berlin Trilogy was a collaboration with Kraftwerk and Faust.” Enough said.

See them here: Bowery Ballroom, Manhattan 10/21, Santos Party House, Manhattan 10/21, Santos House, Manhattan 10/24

MP3: Midnight Juggernauts – Raised by Wolves or zShare

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Restless People

We saw Restless People last night with Washed Out at Santos Party House and had a blast! Welcome our latest addition to the list, loving the Underworld sample in the tune below!

See them here: Pianos, Manhattan 10/24

MP3: Restless People – Days of Our Lives (Light In Mix) or zShare

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A Million Years

Brooklyn natives, A Million Years, are making their CMJ debut this year. They earned their stripes gigging all around NYC since ‘07 hawking their uncompromising and infectious brand of indie rock.

See them here: Bowery Electric, Manhattan 10/22

MP3: A Million Years – Suspicious or zShare

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Rumspringa

TLC caught LA’s Rumspringa back in April (after a heads up from our UK friends) and thought they had a “minimalist and unpolished raw sound that reminds me of garage jam bands of yesterday with a throw back to classic rock.”

See them here: Webster Hall, Manhattan 10/24

MP3: Rumspringa – Can’t Seem to Make You Mine or zShare

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Male Bonding

Robin, John and Kevin set up camp in Dalston, East London and became the poster boys of the burgeoning DIY/no-fi scene. This isn’t your dad’s punk rock, but it sure is a raucous good time.

See them here: Silent Barn, Ridgewood 10/21

MP3: Male Bonding – Pumpkin or zShare

Echo & The Bunnymen at Mercury Lounge: A Show of Strength

Echo & The Bunnymen at Mercury Lounge, 10.17.09

With a career spanning over 30 years, Liverpool’s Echo & The Bunnymen are polished industry vets, icons and heroes to some of today’s greatest. Fact. I was first exposed to E&TB through two of the greatest films ever Pretty in Pink and The Lost Boys and since then have held them in high esteem as instrumental figures to one of the most important decades of our time: The 80’s.

Nearly three decades into their career, original band members Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant made their rounds on the festival circuit this year and released the new album The Fountain this month. One local stop on the festival tour was at the All Points music festival in August but we unfortunately did not make it to their set due to the harsh monsoon-like weather experienced that day. We however received a stroke of luck this past Saturday when E&TB played the ultra intimate 250 person capacity lower-east side venue Mercury Lounge!

Brooklyn’s ZAZA opened the show with about 3 songs before E&TB took the stage to play a heavenly 1 hour + set. Lead singer Ian McCulloch’s voice sounded absolutely pristine over the strums and drums of the band. The gig was mesmerizing, with friendly fans old and new reveling in McCulloch’s stage presence and frequent banter. Personal highlights included Dancing Horses, Killing Moon,  The Cutter, Nothing Lasts Forever, and the cover of Lou Reed’s Take a Walk on the Wild Side. Unfortunately due to what I assume to be time constraints Lips Like Sugar was omitted.

If you missed them this time around, E&TBM will play Hammerstein Ballroom on November 22nd. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

MP3: Echo & The Bunnymen – People are Strange or zShare

MP3: Echo & The Bunnymen – Bring on the Dancing Horses (Extended Mix) or zShare

New Arctic Monkeys video: Cornerstone + US Tour Dates

You’ve all probably seen this already but at the risk of redundancy, here it is again: the latest Arctic Monkeys video directed by frequent collaborator Richard Ayoade (of The IT Crowd/Mighty Boosh fame). The Cornerstone vid is all A. Turn™ all the time in which he lip-synchs the song and accompanies it with a sort of interpretive dance. Some people think it’s unabashedly self-indulgent and others think it’s a stroke of subtle genius. The YouTube comments prove that the video has elicited a rather polarising response. I think it’s hilarious and charming and proof that this brilliant band does not take itself too seriously.

Oh yeah — and the band is coming back to the US this winter! Catch them at Terminal 5 in NYC on December 11 and if you’re up for it, head down to D.C. for a more intimate (and potentially better) experience at the 9:30 Club on December 8th. Full tour dates and on-sale info here.

MP3: Arctic Monkeys – Sketchead or zShare

MP3: Arctic Monkeys – Baby I’m Yours (Barbara Lewis cover) or zShare