The National at Virgin Free Fest (08/30/09) (Amex Early On Sale | Jan 27 at 11AM)

Photo: PJ Sykes

Charlotte Gainsbourg at The Bell House (01/20/10)

Photo: Jon Klemm

From the beginning the musical career of Gainsbourg fille has been entwined with that of Gainsbourg père, who died in 1991. Ms. Gainsbourg made her recording debut in 1985 at 13, a duet with her father on one of his juiciest succès de scandales, “Lemon Incest.” On Ms. Gainsbourg’s 2006 CD “5:55,” her first album after a 20-year musical hiatus, she sounded weighed down by her patrimony, singing in a voice delicate to the point of self-effacing amid orchestral pop arrangements that explicitly echoed her father’s records.

“Just because my father was such a genius with his songwriting, his lyrics, his music — that doesn’t mean I have any gift,” Ms. Gainsbourg, 38, said in a telephone interview from her home in Paris. “I don’t believe in that. I have my own path. But the comparisons are constant. And the comparisons are heavy to wear.”

In an e-mail message Ms. Birkin asserted that her daughter has already found her own identity. “I think she has established, in two very big-selling records, that ‘she is she,’ not Serge, not me. But, sweetly she has our voices in her head.”

Yet on “IRM,” which was produced and largely written by Beck, Ms. Gainsbourg’s anxiety of influence seems to have dissipated. She still sings in that patented Gainsbourgian hiss on “Master’s Hands” and several other tracks. But she branches out elsewhere, ambling through folk-rock ballads, venturing into dance-punk and blues, and letting Beck swamp her voice in layers of distortion. The result is an engrossingly eclectic pop record and a kind of coming-out party: the first time that Ms. Gainsbourg the chanteuse has displayed the charisma of Charlotte Gainsbourg the actress. [NYTimes.com]

I caught the second of Charlotte’s performances at the Bell House (Jan 20) and while some people at the club who attended both shows said she was less nervous on night 2, she still didn’t seem completely comfortable up on stage to me. She played a 45 minute set, with one 15 minute encore, and aside a little talk about Beck before “Master’s Hands”, there wasn’t much banter between songs. I’m glad I went, and while it was great to see the mysterious and iconic Gainsbourg live and up close, in the end, I don’t think this will go down as one of my “top shows” of 2010. Her whisper-like voice was drowned out a bit by her backing band, and even the strongest songs like “Heaven Can Wait” and “Master’s Hands” lacked a bit of the punch that they have on the record.

If you missed Charlotte in concert, you can catch the New York premiere of her new film Persécution tonight (Jan 25) at The Florence Gould Hall in Manhattan. Her new record IRM (which I really do like) is streaming this week (Jan 25-31) at Spinner.com. (No word on whether Charlotte will be putting together a full-blown your behind IRM, her upcoming Jan 29 concert in Toronto has been cancelled.)

More photos from the Bell House and a poster and trailer for Persécution after the jump.

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The Uglysuit at Rockwood Music Hall (10/23/09)

Photo: Jon Klemm

Oklahoma’s The Ugly Suit were here during CMJ 2009 and I while I unfortunately wasn’t able to see them play during the marathon, Jon Klemm captured a few pics of their set at the SPIN Magazine party at the Rockwood Music Hall. They were just here again last week (at The Living Room and Bowery Electric), and once again I missed them, but this time I was’t too busy, I actually just found out too late. They’re still on the road though, and you can catch them during January, March (SXSW and CMW) and June at various venues in the US and Canada. Last but not least, though there isn’t any official word, according to a couple of wall posts on their Facebook page, they’ve been in the studio working on a new album which should be released in 2010.

More Uglysuit pics, tour dates and a video of their recent on-air performance at WDST in Woodstock, NY.

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Peter Gabriel – Scratch My Back (02/15/10) Virgin

“Scratch My Back,” Gabriel’s eighth studio album since departing Genesis in 1977, is due in stores Feb. 15. The set features Gabriel covering works by other artists–including David Bowie’s “Heroes,” Radiohead’s “Street Spirit (Fade Out),” Neil Young’s “Philadelphia” and Paul Simon’s “The Boy in the Bubble”–with plans in the works for a future album entitled “I’ll Scratch Yours” featuring the same artists covering Gabriel’s work in return.

Produced by Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, KISS), the set features Gabriel’s voice backed by an orchestra, with new arrangements of the material written by composer John Metcalfe. [LiveDaily.com]

If you’re a fan of songs like “Here Comes The Flood”, you’ll probably like Gabriel’s new covers record. For those of you looking for something a little more upbeat, you’ll have to wait for the next Gabriel solo album, because you won’t be finding much to dance to here. Peter will be doing some limited touring in support of Scratch My Back where he’ll be performing live with an “orchestra, no drums and no guitars.” The New Blood Tour rolls into Radio City Music Hall on May 2-3, 2010. Tickets for the North American tour dates aren’t on sale yet, but I’ll keep you posted.

UPDATE: Tickets are on fan club presale now (Feb 6), the password is SCRATCH. The American Express presale starts tomorrow (Feb 7) at 10AM (Buy Tickets).

Scratch My Back track list and tour dates after the jump.

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Here’s a little bit of new material from two of your favorite bands.

jj – jj nº 3 (03/09/10) Secretly Canadian

DOWNLOAD: jj – “Let Go” (mp3)

The xx – “VCR”

*I gotta admit, aside from the “xx” imagery, I don’t really understand this video at all.

The xx and jj begin their joint North American tour in March 2010. Tickets for The xx headlining show Webster Hall on March 31 are sold out, tickets for the jj show at Knitting Factory on March 30 are still available.

Next to Birthday’s and Christmas Day (and maybe the first night of Chanukah), there’s no greater cause for celebration around the Drake household than the release of a new Spoon record. For my money, it’s a pretty raw record (which is not a bad thing), it reminds me of “Girls Can Tell” minus a lot of the hooks, but it’s a good one for sure— a grower though. -ed.

Drake’s Take: New Releases 01.19.10

It’s another decent week for new releases in this first month of 2010, with the much anticipated latest from Drake fave Spoon (is every post this week going to feature Spoon? Perhaps). Other notable releases include new ones from Supergrass offshoot The Hotrats (profiled here), Eels, Surfer Blood, Josephine Foster, Barton Carroll, RJD2, Vulture Whale, Editors, the soundtrack to Crazy Heart, a vintage live Elvis Costello disc and the comedic stylings of Aziz Ansari.

Playlist: New Releases 01.19.10

Coming off their most commercial effort to date in Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Transference feels like a retreat back to basics, going all the way back to Drake Tungsten, Britt Daniel’s now defunct alter ego/solo lo-fi project. A Series of Sneaks, Spoon’s only major label release from 1998, is the album I’d compare it to, as its collection of rough sketches hint at something great and rely in the listener to finish. The album is Spoon in its rawest form, with nearly half the album remaining in demo form, which works well with a common Spoon theme of break-up. It’s the sound of a heart refusing to break, yet breaking all the same. Lead single “Written in Reverse” has Daniel writing himself out of a relationship, which is an act both of defiance and depression. Similarly, another standout track, “Is Love Forever?”, juxtaposes parental love with that of “some ex-girlfriend, call her Heather.” Since the album title is defined as a “redirection of feelings and desires towards a new object,” if Daniel is using the album (and, in turn, us) as part of his psychotherapy, slap a beard on me and call me Sigmund Freud.

AOL Album Stream

In the (fabulous) spirit of David Bowie’s Pin Ups comes this great collection of covers from bands that have inspired Supergrass‘ Gaz Coombes and Danny Goffey. The Oxford lads play it mostly straight on the selections, only re-imagining Beastie Boys‘ “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party),” while the production of Nigel Godrich (Radiohead) unfortunately keeps it from getting too raucous. But you can still hear the glee in their rendering of Bowie’s “Queen Bitch,” and Elvis Costello’s “Pump it Up.” And just about any cover of The Kinks’ “Big Sky” (I miss you Flop) is sure to please, in my book.

REISSUES
Nouvelle Vague – Nouvelle Vague
Bob Log III – School Bus

Bruce Sprinsteen and Elvis Costello at The Apollo Theatre

Photo: Ken Woroner

While Elvis Costello is currently wrapping up Season 2 of Spectacle with a special two-part interview with Bruce Springsteen (part 2 airs Jan 27 on Sundance), he’s also firming up his Spring tour schedule with a show at the United Palace Theatre on April 23, 2010. No word yet on when tickets will be on sale, but it looks like the Allman’s aren’t the only ones being kicked out of the Beacon this year. For fan club presales keep an eye out on tixx1.artistarena.com/elviscostello (user: elvis | password: costello).

More Elvis Costello tour dates and a clip from Spectacle after the jump.

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Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival (Buy Tickets)

Tickets for Coachella (April 16-18, 2010), the grandaddy of all summer music festivals, are on sale now.

In case you missed it, you can view the full lineup over here.

NKOTB at RCMH (06/18/10)

Buy Tickets

THE “I’M WITH COCO” BENEFIT FOR HAITI” at Comix (01/28/10)

The “I’m With CoCo” benefit at Comix on January 28, 2010 will bring out some of New York’s finest comedians along with artist Mike Mitchell (creator of the instantly iconic “I’m With CoCo” image) to raise money for Haitian earthquake relief. Proceeds from the evening will be donated to Partners In Health and Planting Peace.

In collaboration with Mike Mitchell, the creator of the “I’m with CoCo” phenomenon, Comix brings you a night of comedy to benefit the people of Haiti. Come see your favorite comedians talk some smack and raise some money in the name of everyone’s favorite redhead.

On this one-of-a-kind night, we’ll be raising money for two amazing organizations who have been on the ground in Haiti for years: Planting Peace and Partners in Health. More details to come, but you can expect headlining comedians and musicians, amazing raffle prizes, auction items and more!

Sir Mike Mitchell, the “I’m With CoCo” artist himself, is planning to attend and sign t-shirts and prints!

Line-Up (This list will be growing everyday):

Hosted by SETH HERZOG
Featuring:
DAVE ATTELL
TODD BARRY
WYATT CENAC
JOHN MULANEY
WIL SYLVINCE
ANTHONY JESELNIK
JEFF KREISLER
EUGENE MIRMAN
AASIF MANDVI
THE WRITERS OF “THE ONION”
& more!

Aside from this benefit, Comix also has some pretty interesting acts lined up for February and March including: Aziz Ansari, Judah Friedlander, Tom Green, Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer and many others. Check out more of Comix’s upcoming schedule after the jump.

““I’m With CoCo” Haiti Benefit at Comix” continued after the jump

UPDATE (01/25/10): This show has been cancelled, refunds are available at point of purchase.

N. 6th For Haiti (Buy Tickets)

N. 6th For Haiti
All proceeds to benefit Partners In Health
The Roots / Kaki King / Eric Krasno & Chapter 2 with John Scofield / very special guest Matisyahu / and more

Venue: Music Hall of Williamsburg
Date: Wed 1/27
Notes: 18+
Doors: 6:30 PM / Show 8:00 PM
Tickets: $35 advance / $40 day of show (VIP tickets available)

Washed Out / Small Black Split 7″

Buy Tickets

Dan Zanes and Friends at BAM (02/06/10)

The deadline to enter this contest is today (Jan 22) at noon EST. Once again, here’s what you can win:

1) 4 Tickets to Dan Zanes at BAM, Saturday, February 6 at 2 & 5pm
2) Fine Friends Are Here and 76 Trombones CD/DVD bundle
3) Fine Friends Are Here DVD
4) 76 Trombones CD

Fill out the entry form after the jump for your chance to win.

“Last Day To Enter Dan Zanes at BAM Contest” continued after the jump

As you may have heard by now, the New Pornographer’s have a new album coming out on Matador this year, on May 4, 2010 to be exact, and it’s called Together. Check out the artwork for the new album below:

Trainspotters may have noticed that the font on this album looks remarkably similar to the one used on Neko Case’s Middle Cyclone, well, that’s because the font is the same and it was actually designed by Neko herself. The cool cover art comes from a print called The Cliff by Walter Martin and Paloma Munoz. Check out the original image of The Cliff below:

The Cliff by Walter Martin and Paloma Munoz

For more images like this, check out Martin-Munoz.com.

Last but not least, here’s the official word from the label about the new record:

Coming on May 4: the new album from The New Pornographers, entitled Together. Their fifth full-length was produced by the band and Phil Palazzolo, and recorded in Vancouver, Brooklyn, Woodstock, and Catskill, NY. The album is comprised of 9 A.C. Newman songs and 3 Dan Bejar numbers, and features the full eight-person lineup of Carl, Dan, John Collins, Neko Case, Kurt Dahle, Kathryn Calder, Todd Fancey and Blaine Thurier. Additional musicians include Annie Clark (St. Vincent), Zach Condon (Beirut), Will Sheff (Okkervil River), and the Dap-Kings Horns, among other talents. [Matablog]

In case you forgot, Carl Newman, Nicole Atkins and Rhett Miller are playing as “The Seekers” at the big Haiti benefit at The Bell House on January 27, 2010. No NPs tour dates have been officially announced yet, but their booking agent has them slated to be on the road during June and July of 2010 (though not technically in June, a Sasquatch performance seems like a good way to kick off the tour).

PS So after searching the Internets high and low, I realized that pretty much every pun involving the words “Together” and “New Pornograhers” had already been used in a headline today, so I apologize for my lack of originality, there are only so many phrases a man can turn.