Mazzy Star will release their first single in 15 years next week. Naturally, the internet has beat them to the punch. "Common Burn" was apparently leaked on Spotify (check here) earlier today and someone ripped a stellar copy. The single, backed with "Lay Myself Down", officially drops 10/31 and will be followed by a vinyl release on 11/8.
"Phoenix are the subject of a new documentary, From a Mess to the Masses, about their 2009-2010 tour in support of their breakout album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. It was directed by Antoine Wagner, who also directed the video for their 2009 single "Lisztomania", and Francisco Soriano."
Retro-pop duo Tennis drop this excellent cover of the classic Zombies track "Tell Her No".
“We’ve spent the last several months writing and preparing for what we hope will keep us busy all winter. We will be announcing a Forest Family release in the next couple of weeks as well as tour dates to make up for the Vaccines tour cancellations. Also, we are excited to announce the existence of our next album (produced by our new friend Patrick Carney) coming out early next year. In the meantime, we made this cover of the Zombies “Tell Her No.” It’s been a long time favorite of ours and is the best use of a lone-clap we’ve ever heard.”
By now, you must have heard that the American rendition of I'll Be Your Mirror invaded Asbury Park, NJ this past weekend. For 3 days the decaying Convention Hall and accompanying Paramount Theatre and Asbury Lanes played host to a rare appearance by Jeff Mangum and the East Coast return of Portishead with tons of other great acts spread out over the course of the weekend. Shellac took to the stage Friday evening for a pummeling performance of heavy jarring guitar and witty banter. Saturday saw Battles rock through heavy hitting tunes mostly from their latest effort Gloss Drop playing with such precision and ease and sneaking in trimmed renditions of "Atlas" and "Tonto" to accompany newer favorites "Ice Cream" and "My Machines". Deerhoof blasted through noise-pop tracks early on Sunday and Public Enemy gave a weekend highlight performance ripping though Fear of a Black Planet and other greatest hits before Portishead closed out the Convention Hall Sunday evening.
While there were numerous fantastic shows throughout the festival, the weekend sincerely belonged to the headliners. As the lights descended on the declining Paramount Theatre a shadow moved across the stage and a hush fell over the crowd. An orange glow illuminated the legend in the flesh, Jeff Mangum, as he sat center stage, surrounded by four guitars, and gently dove into what would be a magical evening. As nearly every number from the infamous Aeroplane Over the Sea and several tracks from the also excellent On Avery Island rang out over the crowd, the audience watched along silently still in supreme wonder that this event was actually taking place. Mangum hardly spoke as he delivered stunning renditions of such highly regarded songs many thought would never be heard again. As main set closer "Holland, 1945" came to a close, Jeff quickly set down his guitar and exited off stage. He shortly returned for a request of "Naomi" and final number "Engine" and the left again into darkness leaving a crowd of people in utter bliss.
English gloom and doom trip-hop pioneers Portishead, took to the stage Saturday night to a glowing P projected behind the group before they ripped through an unbelievable performance the Eastern seaboard had been anxiously awaiting since the late '90s. After two tracks from 2008's remarkable Third, Dummy opener "Mysterons" sent the crowd into a frenzy as the band went on to unleash stunning renditions of classic numbers "Sour Times" "Glory Box" and a breathtaking intimate version of "Wandering Star" all of which were fit between Third sensations "Magic Doors" and "The Rip". Perhaps it was initial reaction to actually seeing Portishead, but Saturday's out of this world set could not be matched on Sunday despite the inclusion of recent highlight "Chase the Tear" and a ridiculous "Machine Gun" featuring the one and only Chuck D of Public Enemy spitting verses from "Black Steal in the Hour of Chaos". After years of staying out of the spotlight and earning a reputation of being a reserved performer, Beth Gibbons capped off Saturday's spectacle by diving into a crowd of adoring fans.
Jeff Mangum Set List (Friday):
01 "Oh Comely"
02 "Two-Headed Boy, Pt. 2"
03 "In The Aeroplane Over The Sea"
04 "Song Against Sex"
05 "Gardenhead/Leave Me Alone"
06 "Ghost"
07 "True Love Will Find You In The End" (Daniel Johnston Cover)
08 "Two-Headed Boy"
09 "Baby For Pree"
10 "The King Of Carrot Flowers, Pt. 1"
11 "The King Of Carrot Flowers, Pts. 2 & 3"
12 "Holland, 1945"
--
13 "Naomi"
14 "Engine"
After witnessing the best way to see the Walkmen (gorgeous orange-lit skies over Manhattan and golden glows back-lighting the band), according to Robin Pecknold, Fleet Foxes gathered on stage to begin a triumphant set that covered nearly every song in the band's catalog. The evening kicked off with "The Plans / Bitter Dancer" before a well received "Mykonos" in which the band displayed their epic vocal powers and supreme melodies. The band left nothing behind as they churned out fantastic displays from both their notable self-titled debut and the likely to be album of the year, Helplessness Blues. With true grace, the band delivered majestic vocals and autumnal lighting added extra warmth to their beautiful tunes. The marching rhythm of "Battery Kinzie" and mesmerizing vocals of the 1-2 punch "White Winter Hymnal" -> "Ragged Wood" segue delighted the crowed allowing for massive vocal response that was no match for the elegance of Fleet Foxes. Witty banter rose between songs, J. Tillman really likes brunch it turns out, and showed a less serious side of the band which transitioned to serious concentration for each flawless song of the evening. The band ended the main set in the same fashion of their brilliant sophomore display, stunning vocals ended the evening in the true spirit of the band. While many contemporary bands are trying to make vocal harmonies in spirit of the Beach Boys, this band has invented a whole new approach making them classics in their own write. Robin graced the stage for a solo track to kick off the encore before finishing the evening with a rousing rendition of "Helplessness Blues". The band was in stunning form last evening bringing summer to an end and ushering in autumn in the most appropriate way.
Set List:
1. The Plans / Bitter Dancer
2. Mykonos
3. English House
4. Battery Kinzie
5. Bedouin Dress
6. Sim Sala Bim
7. Your Protector
8. White Winter Hymnal
9. Ragged Wood
10. Montezuma
11. Lorelai
12. He Doesn't Know Why
13. The Shrine / An Argument
14. Blue Spotted Tail
15. Grown Ocean
--
16. I Let You
17. Sun Also Rises
18. Blue Ridge Mountains
19. Helplessness Blues
Big Troubles came out swinging tonight, laying down jam after jam in support of their sophomore effort, Romantic Comedy, which is out next week via Sumberland. The band's progression on the newest record came through in full force during the performance, highlighting not only the cleaner production value, but also the maturity of the songwriting which seems to have risen to tremendous new heights. All, notably, without compromising the band's unique sound. The Brooklyn-via-New Jersey quintet delighted the hometown crowd consisting of members of Real Estate, Woods, and soon to be tourmates the Pains of Being Pure at Heart as they combined lo-fi/shoegaze jams and upbeat pop tempos recalling 80s and 90s dream-pop anthems. New tracks "Misery" and "Sad Girls" were epic crowd pleasers and definite highlights of the show as both tracks showcased the band's talent of combing 60s pop bliss and fuzzy rock hooks and should not surprise anyone if they ended up on many year-end lists.
Roughly a month and a half after releasing their self-titled debut album, Dream-Pop trio Widowspeak finished up their run with Vivian Girls last night with a hometown show in Brooklyn. Molly Hamilton delivered sultry vocals, which have gained plenty of Mazzy Star comparisons, that shone through dueling guitar work and displayed nods to both Phil Spector inspired pop reincarnations, much like Tennis, and the oozing and graceful guitar strokes of Beach House. Up tempo numbers such their debut single as "Gun Shy" got the audience to move and a mid set cover of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" got plenty cheers. The band continued to thank their friends for the support and remarked on how excited they were to be back in home. The group's simplistic approach to their particular style of celestial pop still left plenty of room for letting loose on stage and the band was able to give everything an extra push, highlighting anything that could have been lost on the record.
It is not every day that Broken Social Scene kicks off an evening. The indie rock veterans are worthy headliners, but they took the opening slot tonight in Williamsburg to "warm things up and fight off the rain." The band was in full force as five men stood at the edge of the stage, guitars blazing, as they kicked off an extended "Cause = Time" which was just one of many well received jams. Classic tunes were carried out with extra ambition as it would be the last time Broken Social Scene would play New York for quite some time. Instruments were passed back and forth between each track and horns blasted for "7/4 (Shoreline)" but it was the cover of Modest Mouse's "World at Large" that really got things exciting. Prime cuts "Fire Eye'd Boy" "Shampoo Suicide"and newby "Texico Bitches" were pieced together through smooth transitions and closer "KC Accidental" assured Kevin Drew that the band would not be forgotten.
A hometown welcome ushered in the men of TV on the Radio and they responded with a career defining set of songs. "Halfway Home" heated things up reinforcing the excellence of Dear Science, and the hits kept coming as newer numbers "Caffeinated Consciousness" and "Will Do" were dispersed among long time favorites "The Wrong Way" "Province" and "Blues from Down Here". Tunde dedicated an empowering performance of "Young Liars" to the late Gerald Anthony Smith, taking the already brilliant song to new heights. The sky was of slate and the white sparkles of the Manhattan skyline provided a serene setting for the long time Brooklynites. The band ripped through "Repetition" and launched into a howling rendition of the band's epic "Wolf Like Me". Many thanks were said to Brooklyn and the neighborhood for the years of support and a stunning execution of "Satellite" brought the night to a close.
