Jimmy Kimmel Live in Brooklyn! (Oct 29 – Nov 2)

Brooklyn native Jimmy Kimmel recently announced that he will be bringing his late night talk show to the Brooklyn Academy of Music from October 29 through November 2. The BAM shows are timed to coincide with the start of the Brooklyn Nets first season in the NBA. Tickets will be available “this summer,” keep your eyes on 1iota.com for more details.

The Brooklyn-born late night prince announced on Monday that he will return to his hometown in October to host “Jimmy Kimmel Live” from the Brooklyn Academy of Music in celebration of the Brooklyn Nets’ first game in the borough. [TheBrooklynPaper.com]

Beach House release another stunner with their new album Bloom

Words: Drake Lelane

Maybe it’s the effects of a full week of sunny weather, but it’s been hard not to feel optimistic about new music, even when there’s only a couple albums with May release dates that I’m wearing out in the headphones. One of those releases has been Beach House‘s latest, Bloom, which expands only slightly on their breakthrough 2010 release, Teenage Dream.

Longtime Drake fave Tenacious D stage a comeback, and decide to include some new fans (my kids, for one) with a thoughtfully done clean version.

Elsewhere, look to new releases from Best Coast, Cornershop, Plushgun, Josephine Foster, MV & EE, Bang On!, Willie Nelson, The Cribs, the comedic stylings of Reggie Watts and an Occupy compilation featuring veteran artists like Patti Smith. In reissues, check out the first digital offerings from the back catalog of Seattle’s proto-grunge group Skin Yard (started by legendary producer Jack Endino and bassist/CZ records’ Daniel House in 1985).

Playlist: New Releases 05.15.12: Spotify

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Beach House – Bloom [Insound]
LP/CD purchase via Sub Pop / iTunes / Stream via Rhapsody

Four albums into their already impressive career, Baltimore’s Beach House have never seemed like they were in a hurry to get anywhere. “Drifting in and out,” begins the stunning opener, “Myth,” and the duo of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally are content to do just that through Bloom. While the release is merely a lateral move from the 2010′s breakout Teenage Dream, is there really any need to venture out from the oasis they’ve carved out in the land of dream pop? The band is staying put, venturing only to switch out some light bulbs (can these rooms seem even softer?) paint the trim, polish the silver and maybe set out some hallucinogenic potpourri. I thought, for a moment at least, that fellow Baltimore dream pop agents Lower Dens (with their release Nootropics)had possibly made another Beach House release unnecessary this year. Bloom, however, proves itself to be very necessary.

Free AOL Album Stream

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More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Tenacious D – Rize of the Fenix [Google Play] / Free AOL Album Stream
Best Coast – The Only Place [Google Play] / Free AOL Album Stream
Plushgun – Me.Me. [emusic] / “Waste Away” [mp3]
Cornershop – Urban Turban [emusic] / Free AOL Album Stream
Guided By Voices – Class Clown Spots a UFO (Single) [emusic]
Josephine Foster and the Victor Herrero Band – Perlas [Google Play]
MV & EE – Space Homestead [Insound]
Willie Nelson – Heroes [Google Play]
The Cribs – In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull [Google Play] / Free AOL Album Stream
Occupy This Album [Google Play]
Tu Fawning – A Monument [Google] / Free AOL Album Stream / “Anchor” [mp3]
Slugabed Time Team [Google Play] / Free AOL Album Stream
Mewithoutyou Ten Stories [Google Play]

REISSUES
Skin Yard – Skin Yard [Google Play]
Skin Yard – Hallowed Ground [Google Play]
Skin Yard – 1000 Smiling Knuckles [Google Play]
Skin Yard – Start at the Top [Google Play]

J. Tillman at Union Hall with Fleet Foxes (07/11/08)

Photo: D. Caplan

J. (Joshua) Tillman, who is probably best known for his stint as the drummer of Fleet Foxes, has a new band/solo project called Father John Misty. FJM’s debut album, Fear Fun, came out on May 1 via Sub Pop and here’s what Drake had to say about it at the time:

The album starts with the other worldly Fleet Foxes sound, but gradually moves further and further away, incorporating the sarcastic wit of Harry Nilsson, along with much of the musical variance he liked to employ in his recordings. For fans of Tillman, the stylistic changes can come as a shock, and coupled with his new found lyrical boldness, at times it’s about as far from J. Tillman as you could go. “Oh pour me another drink. And punch me in the face. You can call me Nancy,” opens the excellent “Nancy From Now On,” while “I’m Writing a Novel” starts with “I ran down the road, pants down to my knees, screaming please come help me that Canadian shaman gave a little too much for me.” It’s an awful lot of fun, the kind you have with enough mushrooms to choke a horse. The hallucinogens are optional, but ignoring this release is not. [Drake Lelane]

Father John Misty played a sold out show at the Mercury Lounge last night (May 18), but he’s playing again tonight (May 19) at the Knitting Factory Brooklyn with Har Mar Superstar and Jenny O. (Tickets may still be available at the door.)

Video for “This Is Sally Hatchet,” Fear Fun album art, and more FJM tour dates after the jump.

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The Great Googa Mooga (May 18-20)

Hey folks, as you might recall, the inaugural Great GoogaMooga will take place this weekend in Prospect Park (May 19-20) and in case you were wondering how to make the most of your festival going experience, the promoters have sent around a list of “things to know” before you go.

WHAT TO BRING

**Most importantly, BRING CASH. Our vendors do not accept credit cards. You’ll find ATMs throughout the GoogaMooga grounds, but waiting for people to poke machines might be the worst use of your time at the fest.

Feel free to bring plastic water bottles, picnic blankets and soft backpacks. Please do not bring glass containers, coolers, picnic baskets and boomboxes. See our website for a full list of allowed and forbidden items. And leave your sporks and spifes at home. We’ll provide all the utensils you will (and won’t) need.

Read the rest of the Great GoogaMooga FAQ after the jump.

“The Great GoogaMooga FAQ” continued after the jump

The Bamboozle (May 18-20, 2012)

The 2012 Bamboozle Festival is happening this weekend right now (May 18-20) in Asbury Park, NJ. This year’s top of the bill headliners include Skrillex, Foo Fighters and Bon Jovi, view the rest of the Bamboozle lineup in words after the jump.

“The Bamboozle Is Happening Now” continued after the jump

2012 Today Show Toyota Summer Concert Series

The 2012 Today Show Toyota Summer Concert Series kicks off today (May 18) with a performance by Usher at Rockefeller Plaza. Here’s the rest of this year’s schedule for all you Top 40 loving early risers out there.

2012 Today Show Toyota Summer Concert Series
05/18 – Usher
05/25 – Pitbull
05/31 – American Idol winner and runner up (special Thursday concert)
06/01 – The Band Perry
06/08 – Chris Brown
06/15 – Justin Bieber
06/22 – Kenny Chesney
06/29 – Maroon 5
07/06 – Flo Rida
07/13 – Zac Brown Band
07/20 – Hot Chelle Rae
08/24 – Train
08/31 – Jason Mraz with special guest Christina Perri

Cartoonist, author and professional pencil sharpener David Rees will be doing a reading and book signing tonight at Public Assembly Brooklyn with John Hodgman and Jonathan Coulton.

David Rees with Jonathan Coulton and John Hodgman at Public Assembly
Start: 05/18/2012 7:00 pm
Buy Tickets

In the culminating event of his tour, David Rees will be joined by fellow funnymen John Hodgman and Jonathan Coulton. The evening will include a pencil sharpening tutorial, a Q&A and signing, and much much more.

Please note: This event will take place at Public Assembly, and is 21 and up only! Doors will open at 6:30pm, and the show will start at 7pm SHARP. Each ticket includes admission and a copy of How to Sharpen Pencils; extra books, including John Hodgman’s, will also be available for purchase.
[wordbrooklyn.com]

Here’s a little more about David Rees’ artisinal pencil sharpening service:

In July 2010, Rees announced his Artisanal Pencil Sharpening service, where for $12.50 plus $2.50 S&H, people can mail in their own pencils to be sharpened, or receive a sharpened pencil provided by the craftsman. According to the site, “…craftsman David Rees still practices the age-old art of manual pencil sharpening. His artisanal service is perfect for artists, writers, and standardized test takers. Shipped with their shavings and a ‘certificate of sharpening’, these extra-sharp pencils make wonderful gifts.”. His book, How to Sharpen Pencils, was released April 16, 2012. [wikipedia]

Regina Spektor at United Palace Theatre (05/15/12)

Photo: Jon Klemm

Regina Spektor will perform a free concert presented by NPR Music on Thursday, May 31 at 10pm at (Le) Poisson Rouge in New York. Fans can RSVP free today for a limited amount of tickets by clicking on this link. The entire show will be available worldwide live via free streaming at NPR.org/music and in the NPR Music mobile apps. The event will be hosted by World Cafe’s David Dye and Rita Houston of WFUV and will be broadcast live on air at public radio stations WFUV New York and WXPN in Philadelphia. Today, Spektor premieres the single “How” from her forthcoming, much-anticipated new studio album What We Saw From The Cheap Seats out May 29 on Sire/Warner Bros. Records on The New York Times Magazine site. She can be seen tonight [Thursday, May 17] performing her single “All The Rowboats” on “The Late Show with David Letterman.”

Regina Spektor played the United Palace Theatre this past Tuesday night (May 15) in support of her new record, What We Saw From The Cheap Seats. For more pictures from that show you can check out the gallery at Jon Klemm’s website.

Video for “All The Rowboats”, album art and more Regina Spektor 2012 tour dates after the jump.

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4Knots Festival (07/14/12)

The Village Voice, the nation’s largest alternative weekly newspaper, is thrilled to announce the initial line-up for the 4Knots Music Festival at the South Street Seaport, Piers 16 & 17 on Saturday, July 14, 2012 from 1:00 – 8:00 PM. The Drums, Crocodiles, Hospitality, Bleached, Nick Waterhouse are scheduled to perform, plus more to be announced.

Sara Watkins at Joe’s Pub (08/19/08)

Photo: Jon Klemm (more)

The lovely and talented Sara Watkins just released a new solo album last week entitled Sun Midnight Sun. Produced by guitarist, singer, and songwriter Blake Mills, Sun Midnight Sun also features special guest appearances by Fiona Apple, Jackson Browne, Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Benmont Tench, and Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek). On Sara’s upcoming tour, she’ll be supporting Jackson Browne and Dawes in most cities, as well as headlining a few select dates of her own. In NYC, she’ll be playing a “record release” show at the City Winery on June 16 (Buy Tickets) and then coming back to open for Jackson Browne at the Beacon Theatre on August 3 (Buy Tickets).

Album art and more Sara Watkins tour dates after the jump.

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