I’m From Barcelona at Southpaw (08/06/07)

Photo: D. Caplan (more)

According to the Brooklyn Paper, the pioneering Park Slope club will shutter its doors on February 20 to make way for a kids tutoring center.

A long-standing Park Slope concert hall will close and become a tutoring school now that the hood caters more to kiddies than roadies, owners say.

Southpaw — the legendary music venue that hosted the likes of Patti Smith and Joan Jett — will close on Fifth Avenue and Sterling Place by the end of February, according to co-owner and music guru Mikey Palms. [BrooklynPaper.com]

This is a disappointment to be sure, but in all honesty, the booking at Southpaw has gone off the rails over the last few years, and the club is rarely even open during the week. I’ve seen some great shows at Southpaw over the years (Neko Case, I’m From Barcelona, and M. Ward, just to name a few), but the void created by the passing of Southpaw has more than been filled by newer Park Slope clubs like The Bell House, Littlefield and even Union Hall.

120dB Concert Photography Group Show (01/27/12)

Hey folks, occasional Bumpershine photographers, Jessica Amaya and Abbey Braden, are just two of the good people taking part in 120db group photography show that opens this Friday (Jan 27) at Fort Useless in Brooklyn. The details below, if you can’t make it to the opening, the show runs until March 24, 2012 during events and by appointment.

120dB
A Fort Useless Event
Curated by Maryanne Ventrice
Opening: Friday, January 27, 2012

Fort Useless is proud to announce 120db, a group exhibit showcasing the work of thirteen female concert photographers prominently featured in Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, Prefix, Impose, Village Voice, NPR, House List and many other sites and publications. [I guess Bumpershine falls into the "many other sites" category. -ed.]

Participating photographers include: Jessica Amaya • Abbey Braden• Amanda Hatfield • Leia Jospe • Devyn Manibo • Samantha Marble • Gabi Porter • Emily Tan • Tear-n Tan • Maryanne Ventrice • Diana Wong • Dana Yavin • Laura Young

You are invited to join us for our Exhibit Opening and Artist Reception on Friday, January 27 from 6pm-10pm

Following the reception the exhibit will be open through March 24th, available for viewing during all other events and by appointment.

The Secret Policeman’s Ball at Radio City Music Hall (03/04/12)

The Secret Policeman’s Ball is letting America in on the party: The British-based music and comedy festival is coming to New York in March.

Coldplay, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Mumford & Sons and Russell Brand are among the acts who have signed on for the event at Radio City Music Hall on March 4. The concert will benefit Amnesty International, as it has since it started back in 1976 with celebrities like John Cleese. Over the years, Bono, Sting and others have participated. This will mark the first time it’s being held in New York City. [WashingtonPost.com]

Not surprisingly, the latest release from Pollard & Co. draws the attention (and admiration) of Drake. -ed.

The ‘Classic’ lineup of Guided By Voices returns with two new releases in 2012

Words: Drake Lelane

2012 continues to be slow, with only the excellent return of Guided By Voices to show for this week. Looking back through my archives, by this time last year we’d already had several albums of note, including Wire, Smith Westerns, British Sea Power and the debut from Tennis. Other releases of note include the latest from Kathleen Edwards, The Big Pink, Frankie Rose and Herman Dune.

Playlist: New Releases 01.17.12 / Spotify

While it was surely expected that Robert Pollard would bring back Guided By Voices, one cannot underestimate the joyous surprise that has been the year+ long reunion of the classic lineup circa ’93-’96. The pearl at the center of this GBV reunion is a pair of new albums, the first coming this week, and it slots beautifully with the lineup’s run of albums. It’s a lo-fi wonderful mess, the kind GBV fans love cleaning up with their ears, full of song ideas that spring forth and then fade out leaving you hungry for more. The fact that they were already working on a second release (Class Clown Spots A UFO, due May 22), bodes well as it seems that the band had a lot of ideas that no single album could capture. While this has always been Robert Pollard’s outfit, Tobin Sprout kind of steals the show here, having seemingly stockpiled good material in case a GBV reunion album came to be. Sprout’s “Waves” is the album’s best song, while tracks like the wonderfully schizophrenic “Spider Fight” and “God Loves Us” seem tailor made for Mitch Mitchell’s guitar windmills. Pollard has a couple instant classics himself, with the anthemic first single “The Unsinkable Fats Domino” and sugary “Doughnut for a Snowman.” Let’s Go Eat the Factory meets the hyped expectations, and while it’s not as great as the other albums during this lineup’s reign, it certainly bodes well for late May and Class Clown Spots A UFO, when Pollard rises higher to the challenge.

Download: “The Unsinkable Fats Domino” [mp3]

More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Kathleen Edwards – Voyageur / Free AOL Album Stream
The Big Pink – Come Sunday
Matthew Dear – Fallen Empires
The Shins – Simple Song
Frankie Rose – Know Me
Herman Dune – Tell me Something I Don’t Know / Free AOL Album Stream
Anthony Green – Beautiful Things / Free AOL Album Stream
Howler – America Give Up
Cate Le Bon – Puts Me to Work / Free AOL Album Stream / “Puts Me to Work” [mp3]
Pan Am: Music From and Inspired by the Original Series

Hey folks, Season 3 of the absurdist witness protection program reality show, Delocated!, will premiere on Adult Swim on February 2 at midnight. In addition to starring as the eponymous “Jon,” this season creator/star/co-writer/executive producer Jon Glaser also takes on the role of an entirely new original character. Janeane Garafalo joins the cast this season as a regular, and Todd Barry, Eugene Mirman, Jacob Kogan and Steve Cirbus are back in their supporting roles.

In other related news, Jon will be appearing at SF Sketchfest on January 21 (this Saturday) as part of the “Delocated Witness Protection Program Variety Show” along with Andy Blitz, David Cross, Brett Gelman, Jessi Klein, Eugene Mirman and Paul Rudd.

Last but not least, Seasons 1 & 2 of Delocated were just released on DVD on Tuesday and I’ve got two copies to give away to a pair of lucky readers. Here’s a little more about the new set:

Delocated! makes its debut on DVD with the January 17th release of a two-disc set featuring all 19 episodes from Delocated! Seasons 1 & 2 plus more than 90 minutes of additional content including deleted scenes, outtakes, flip books, demos and commentaries.

Delocated! contest entry form, a promo video and full 2012 SF Sketchfest lineup after the jump. Contest ends January 29 at midnight, 1 entry per household, US entrants only.

“Jon Glaser at SF Sketchfest, Win Seasons 1 & 2 of Delocated! on DVD, Season 3 Starting Soon” continued after the jump

One Step Beyond at AMNH

Hey folks, as a I mentioned a little while ago, the One Step Beyond music series is returning to AMNH on Friday, January 20 with Dirty Projectors (DJ Set), Skinny Freidman, and Import/Export. As I also mentioned, there was a chance that I would be giving away tickets to the show and the good news is that that giveaway is now officially happening. I’ve got two pairs of tickets to give away to Friday night’s show, which also includes a free future general admission visit to the museum. Contest ends Friday, January 20 at noon and winners will be notified right away. For a chance to win tickets, fill out the contest entry form after the jump. All entrants must be 21 or older.

“Win Tickets To One Step Beyond w/ Dirty Projectors at AMNH” continued after the jump

Nova Scotia’s premier indie party rocker, Rich Aucoin, is in town tonight (Wednesday, Jan 18) at Glasslands for his second of two NYC shows. If you’ve never seen Rich live before, I strongly suggest you go check him out, it’s got to be one of the most fun gigs you’ll ever experience.

Listen to Rich’s recent performance on CBC Radio’s Q over here. Latest We’re all Dying To Live sync video (10/11) and a few more Rich Aucoin tour dates after the jump.

“Rich Aucoin Playing Glasslands Tonight (Wednesday)” continued after the jump

Oberhofer at 4Knots 2011 (07/16/11)

Photo: Jon Klemm (more)

Music Geeks Presales (Password: MusicGeeks)
03/09 – Balkan Beat Box @ Irving Plaza (Presale runs 1/18 @ 10am – 1/19 @ 10pm)
03/23 – The Digitour 2012 @ Gramercy Theatre w/ Dave Days, DeStorm, Ricky Ficarelli, Alex Goot, Asher Monroe, Nice Peter and The Key of Awesome with Guest Host Michael Buckley (Presale runs from 1/19 @ 10am – 10pm)
04/19 – The Black Dahlia Murder @ Irving Plaza w/ Hour of Penance, Nile, Skeletonwitch (Presale runs 1/18 @ 10am – 1/19 @ 10pm)
05/04 – 05/05 – Martin Sexton @ Irving Plaza (Presale runs from 1/17 @ 10am – 1/19 @ 10pm)

M83 at Webster Hall (11/14/08)

Photo: Tim Griffin (more)

Hey folks, add another one to the 2012 Summerstage schedule. Tickets for M83‘s Aug 8 show at the Rumsey Playfield go on Amex presale on Wednesday, January 18 at 12:00 PM EST, general on sale begins Friday, January 20 at 12:00 PM EST. M83 is also playing (a previously announced) show at Terminal 5 on May 10 at with Swedish newcomers I Break Horses. M83′s most recent album, Hurry Up We’re Dreaming, was released in October of last year, Drake named it his No. 4 album of 2011.

More M83 tour dates after the jump.

“M83 Playing Central Park Summerstage (Tour Dates)” continued after the jump

THE TOBOLOWSKY FILES LIVE AT THE BELL HOUSE: FEB 28, 2012

BUY TICKETS ($15 ADV / $18 DOS)

When I first heard that they were putting on live versions of The Tobolowsky Files in cities other than New York (there should be a law against it right?), I was so passionate about getting them to come here too, that I reached out to the show’s producer David Chen and asked him if he’d like to bring the show to Brooklyn. Fast forward a couple of months, and thanks to the good efforts of producer extraordinaire Caroline Creaghead and myself, the show has now been set for February 28 at The Bell House. If you’ve ever watched movies or TV, you’re probably familiar with the work of Stephen Tobolowsky, he has about a million acting credits, but is probably best for known for his roles as Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day, Sammy Jankis in Memento, Hugo Jarry in Deadwood, Clayton Townley in Mississippi Burning as well as his current recurring role on Glee as ex-glee coach Sandy Ryerson. The Tobolowsky Files podcast arose as an offshoot of the charming 2005 film Stephen Tobolowsky’s Birthday Party and is based on stories from Stephen’s own interesting life experiences. The live show has been previously staged in Cambridge, MA and Seattle, WA. The debut performances at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge were a big success and the recent show at the Neptune in Seattle was completely sold out (850 tickets). Stephen is also currently writing a companion book of stories entitled The Dangerous Animals Club which will be published by Simon and Schuster in August. The show at the Bell House marks the live debut of The Tobolowsky Files in NYC and I really couldn’t be more excited about it. Tickets went on sale earlier this week (but you probably just got an email about it today) and I’m pretty sure the show will sell out quickly once the word gets out. If you haven’t heard The Tobolowsky Files podcast yet, I urge you to go check it out, Stephen’s stories and compelling and heartfelt and his recall is uncanny. After listening to it once, I’m sure you will be hooked, I know I was.

You can read more detailed information about the show after the jump and most of all you can get your tickets here. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one folks!

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