CLUES: CLUES
Its finally Friday. Karamu, fiesta, foreva. Heres a new video for you from the Montreal based duo Clues for their new single “Haarp”. Clues are an indie band formed by former Unicorns frontman, bass, keyboardist Alden Penner and Brendan Reed, most noted for his former bands Arcade Fire and Les Angles Morts. Their new self titled album was just released this week on Constellation Records, and a North American Tour is set to follow this summer. Of course Discosalt Local will keep you updated on any shows in the NYC vicinity. The video was created from footage of the band flying kites in the snow…ahh Canadians…and was shot entirely on Super 8 by local experimental filmmaker Karl Lemieux. Great song and great vid that really captures a fleeting nostalgic feel. Cop a feel yourself and watch it and let us know what you think.
TODAY THE MOON, TOMORROW THE SUN: THE LIGHTNING EXHIBIT
Today The Moon, Tomorrow The Sun are an Atlanta based “90’s alternative” indie rock throwback band that rely heavily on electronics and indie pop. Its a bit like Muse meets Metric but with a female singer that reminds us of Liz Phair… and maybe a little Ladytron thrown in there. What the hell. No NYC Tour dates in sight for this summer but you can catch them up and down the eastern seaboard on their Lightening Exhibit tour. The video for “Like it or Not”, featured on their new EP “The Lightening Exhibit”, is a no frills concept artfully shot by Jason Brown in the band’s studio. Check it out and chime in. Do you like it or not?
Lately we have been featuring a lot of new music videos on discosalt, and we would like to keep this trend going… so if any bands are interested in premiering their videos with Discosalt, contact us at: info@discosalt.com.
JUDITH SUPINE’S FLYING CIRCUS IN NEW YORK
Brooklyn Artist Judith Supine keeps earning street cred with his surreal combination of old engraving art mixed with hand-drawn and painted images around the city. He works with wheat paste posters in cut out shapes of characters with over sized heads and flourescent green skin and inserts them into bizarre street scenarios that require a double take. Supine isnt new to street art and has a history of some really insane street art stunts like wheatpasting a Times Square army recruitment center and dangling an awesomely large figure over the side of the Manhattan Bridge. Check out some of these newer images recently spotted in Brooklyn.
DAVID BYRNE & BRIAN ENO: EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS WILL HAPPEN TODAY
Just a little free ear crack from David Byrne and Brian Eno to help get you over the hump and ease you down that slowly descending flight pattern to the weekend.
BICYCLE FILM FESTIVAL HITS NEW YORK CITY
What: 2009 9th annual Bicycle Film Festival
When: June 17-21
Where: Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Ave, New York, Ny 10003
Discosalt effin hearts the Bicycle Film Festival. They have been doing the festival for the past 8 years and they are doing it and doing it and doing it well. We checked it out last year and it was more fun than Willy Wonka. The BFF hits 30 cities to celebrate the bicycle lifestyle through art, film and music, featuring all styles of bikes and biking from Tall Bike Jousting, Track Bikes, BMX, Alleycats, Critical Mass, Bike Polo, Cycling to Recumbents . Past BFF’s have featured work from artists such as Jorgen Leth, Mike Mills, Jonas Mekas,Blonde Redhead, Swoon and Michel Gondry. Its also where we first learned about “encyclopaedia”. Look it up. Sign up for the email list or just come out and enjoy. Need some new gear for the festival? have our friend fifocycle hook you up, just tell her we sent you.
DISCOSALT ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: SHANE O’BRIEN
Shane O’Brien is an artist, educator and gallery owner. After finishing an undergraduate degree at Bowdoin College, Maine, he completed his MFA at the University of Colorado in Photography and Electronic Media. He currently lives in Vancouver, Canada and is a member of the Discosalt artist collective. Check out more of Shanes work in the Discosalt artist section or contact him for purchasing at Obrien Gallery
SUCKERS: SUCKERS
Suckers are a Brooklyn synth and percussion-based quartet that sound like a mix between Yeasayer and Modest Mouse. Think experimental pop with lots of backround harmonies, primal beats and hand claps. Their self-titled EP was actually produced by Yeasayer’s Anand Wilder, and the video for “Easy Chair” bears resemblence to “Float on” both in its sound and visuals but it brings its own style too. So, slide your easy chair over and check it out, its pretty cool. Suckers are Quinn Walker and Austin Fisher, two cousins from coastal Connecticut, joined by friends Pan and Brian Aiken. The four are getting some real hype for their live shows that incorporate Serbian interpretive dancers into their futuristic high energy performances. Check them out on the Suckers Webs
Suckers have a busy summer schedule planned playing five shows with Rock Plaza Central, opening for MGMT at Prospect Park on July 1st and a July Pianos residency.
BEN HARPER AND RELENTLESS7: WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES
[rating:3]
Band: Ben Harper and Relentless7
Album: White Lies For Dark Times
Label: Virgin
Ben Harper is largely underappreciated and while I suspect that’s perfectly fine with his fans, Mr. Laura Dern deserves that one record to cement his status as God-like Musical Genius. White Lies for Dark Times is, sadly not that record.
What it is, is a mix of fun, funky, hook-laden bluesy numbers that channel Buddy, Muddy, Jimi and Stevie (Lay There and Hate Me, Why Must You Always Dress In Black, Keep It Together) and soft’n strummy heartache ballads that echo Croce and Cat (Skin Thin, Faithfully Remain). The rest are a mixed bag that wouldn’t be out of place as background music on any number of network TV dramas.
The single, Shimmer and Shine, however is a straight-up raw rocker with a sweet, poppy side that is the only product of Relentless7 sessions that doesn’t feel like a leftover from the old Harper & Innocent Criminals discog. In fact, fans may recognize some of WLFDT songs from past live shows dating back as far as 2004.
Taken for what it is though – a new group/side project’s recorded jam sessions fleshed out with some reworked miscellaneous – White Lies For Dark Times is a decent populist showcase of the very talented, genre hopping Ben Harper. If anything – as anyone who’s ever been before will tell you – Ben Harper is always better live and this will serve to whet the appetite of those anxious to hear and see their man and his band, Relentless7 serve up something much more satisfying.
-CB
ROOFTOP FILMS 2009:UNDERGROUND MOVIES OUTDOORS
$9.00 indie flicks from a rooftop with hooch and live bands. Find a better way to spend a weekend in New York this summer and Discosalt will buy you a taco. Now in its 13th year, Rooftop Films “Underground Movies Outdoors” has announced its summer film lineup for May and June. The Summer series includes a fresh crop of 19 independent feature-length film premieres and 150 shorts, filmmaker Q & A and Live music pre-shows provided by Sound Fix Presents .The great thing is all films are coupled with venues that connect artists with audiences so that each event is unique and memorable.
Here’s the Discosalt breakdown of what’s playing where:
Friday, May 22
Romantic Short Films: Endless Forgiveness
Love, lust and sexual confusion.
Shorts: Endless Forgiveness display the many varied sacrifices we make to be with the people we love and lust after.
Venue: On the Open Road Rooftop above New Design High School
Address: 350 Grand St. @ Essex (Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Saturday, May 23
Dangerous Docs
Train surfers, beard competitions, and rare chicken rescues. You can’t make this stuff up.
Venue: On the Roof of Brooklyn Technical High School
Address: 29 Fort Greene Place (Fort Greene, Brooklyn)
Friday, May 29
Dark ‘Toons: Optical Illusions
Animated short films that bring the still to life.
Venue: On the Open Road Rooftop above New Design High School
Address: 350 Grand St. @ Essex (Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Saturday, May 30
Strongman
(Zachary Levy | New York, NY | | 113 min.)
A humorous but heart-wrenching verité documentary about Stanless Steel, the only man in the world who can bend a penny with his fingers, a working class strongman struggling to succeed and survive.
Venue: On the Roof of Brooklyn Technical High School
Address: 29 Fort Greene Place (Fort Greene, Brooklyn)
Stanless will be in attendance to perform a stunning feat of strength.
Friday, June 5
Trapped Inside The Machine
A fun, frantic, fantastical program of films about losing your grip on reality, and reality losing its grip on the world.
Venue: On the Open Road Rooftop above New Design High School
Address: 350 Grand St. @ Essex (Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Saturday, June 6
Stingray Sam
(Cory McAbee | Brooklyn, NY | | 70 min.)
New York Premiere!
A dazzling six-episode musical-western comedy that takes place in outer space, written, directed by and starring Cory McAbee, the creator of The American Astronaut.
Venue: On the Roof of Brooklyn Technical High School
Address: 29 Fort Greene Place (Fort Greene, Brooklyn)
The filmmakers will be in attendance.
FILASTINE: DIRTY BOMB
Frequent partner in sonic crime, Filastine, Barcelona-based DJ & poducer Grey Filastine, drops his sophmore effort, Dirty Bomb. This video, made in BCN by the Kognitiv Krew was just released for the track “Singularities” where Filastine, a lone gypsy like superhero, takes on the waves of greed and globalization with his dark beats until he finally just gives up and returns to the sea. Its a bleak, Requiem for A Dream reminicent track paired with some really cool desaturated visual imagery. Check it out for yourself and chime in.
THE BLACK ANGELS: DIRECTIONS TO SEE A GHOST
The Black Angels: Directions to See a Ghost
Label: Light In the Attic
Release Date: May 13, 2008
Most people know this Texas band from their first EP and full length albums on the well known Austin label Light In The Attic. I will never forget the first time I saw these guys play, mainly because I imagined that seeing Big Brother and The Holding Company back in the 60’s was probably a similar vibe. Uber psychedelic, fuzzed out guitar with projected images all over the room. Very cool show. Their new album “Directions To See A Ghost” is definitely not much of a departure from their previous work. But I will say this; the album is almost worth buying for the artwork alone: a rare thing these days when physical CD’s are thought of as disposable at best and a pain in the ass at worst. There is no doubt that if you like getting stoned vand nailing hippie chicks that don’t shower this album will appeal to you. Everything about it is about mood and tone as opposed to hooks and structure. It’s a true 60’s throw back to the point that giving a real track by track breakdown is almost pointless. You really need an evening to drop yourself in to the most comfortable part of your couch or bed to really enjoy this album for all it is worth. If you are a fan of true blues, psychedelic rock this album and a shower should definitely be in your future.
Anderson van Luftsworth
CAKE SHOP: 4 YEARS, 4 SONGS, 4 EVA
What: Cake Shop 4 year anniversary
Where: Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
When: Saturday May 16th
Damage: $4.00
This month Cake Shop celebrates its 4 year anniversary with a series of special concert series Saturdays. Kicking things off this Saturday (5/16) is an ADD-friendly marathon of 16 bands playing four songs each with different drink specials in between. Its like a live ipod shuffle with a recession friendly cover of only $4.00. Its going to be more fun than a clown on fire. Come for Knight School, stay for Darlings, My Teenage Stride, The Beets, Boy Genius, Air Wave, and Moonmen on the Moon, Man. See ya there.
UPCOMING ALBUM RELEASES: JUNE 2009
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- Discosalt- the dead weather album art
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- Discosalt- Deer tick- born_on_flag_day album art
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- Discosalt- dinosaur-jr-farm-album-art
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- Discosalt- elvis-costello-secret-profane-sugarcane-album-art
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- Discosalt- fieryfurnaces im going away album art
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- Discosalt- franz-ferdinand tonight album art
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- Discosalt- marsvolta_new ablum art
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- Discosalt- dirty projectors album art
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- Discosalt- Pete Yorn back and forth album art
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- Discosalt- Rhett Miller album art
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- Discosalt- sonic_youth-the-eternal-album_art
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- Discosalt- the lemonheads varshons album art
June 1:
Franz Ferdinand-Blood[dub version of Tonight: Franz Ferdinand]
June 2:
Elvis Costello- Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
June 9:
The Dead Weather (Jack White, Allison Mosshart)- Horehound
Dirty Projectors- Bitte Orca
Rhett Miller- Rhett Miller
Sonic Youth- The Eternal
June 23:
Deer Tick- Born on Flag Day
Dinosaur Jr. – Farm
The Lemonheads- Varshons
The Mars Volta- Octahedron
Pete Yorn- Back and Forth
June 30:
Fiery Furnaces- Im going away
Wilco- Wilco (the album)
MAKE THE GIRL DANCE: BABY BABY BABY
Viva la France! Premiere Video from Parisien electro rock duo Make the Girl Dance. Who else wants to move to Paris? Reminds us of Matt and Kims video for “Lessons Learned”…only more French…and way sexier…and less police brutality.
THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART: LIVE AT BOWERY BALLROOM
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are just as sweet as their name implies. While the EP was making its way around the blogosphere in 2007, I fell in love and before entering last nights show at the Bowery Ballroom, I thought to myself, this is going to be the cutest night the Bowery has ever had. Cute people, cute music, and an all around cute vibe.
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart play perfectly blended pop music with comparisons abound to the fuzzy and melodic My Bloody Valentine and late 80s/early 90s pop in general, and while I’m not quiet certain you could go so far as to label it twee, it’s not far off. With their bookish lyrics and happy demeanors, they could turn even the most unpleasant of moods around in minutes.
After seemingly making their rounds to every venue in New York, we were fortunate to catch the Pains for their first Bowery gig, and their awe and appreciation was evident. Whether these kids have any notion of how good they are is unclear, but their modesty is sincere. I was left with the impression that each of them had likely been to countless performances at the venue over the years and the magnitude of playing the same stage as the bands they idolized was recognized. Additionally, we were also fortunate to catch what I believe was the first show with Christopher Hochheim as a permanent member at second guitar from Kurt Feldman’s (Pain’s drummer) other project, the incredible The Depreciation Guild.
As expected, the Pains play with the energy of a band in love with their own songs and in love with performing. Frontman Kip Berman could rarely wipe the smile from face as he grinned ear-to-ear for each song while Peggy Wang danced at her keys and flashed a great smile on more than one occasion. Having fun, Peggy suggested that the crowd play “Truth or Dare with the Pains”, but unfortunately it turned out to be the lamest game of truth or dare to have ever been played as a result of a couple pathetically boring questions for their truths. I wanted to ask “Will you play Teenager in Love?” but I didn’t get the chance as they launched into their final song of the set. Although a shorter set than I would have liked (they had a 5am flight apparently), and being slightly disappointed that I didn’t get my song, the show was wonderful as they went hit for hit, from Young Adult Fiction to This Love is F*cking Right!, leaving the crowd sweaty and happy.
Starting the night’s performance was Zaza, which is (surprise, surprise) another side project of the very busy Kurt Feldman. Zaza played a very enjoyable minimalist pyschpop set with almost hauntingly distant vocals and driven by Kurt’s drumming which seemed to have been the focal point of the performance. The minimalist setup near the front of the stage was sans kickdrum but included an electronic drum loop overdubbed which was a little disappointing, but allowed Kurt to display his incredible drumming nevertheless. Set to beautiful backlit shoji blinds with a tree scene, Zaza played a great set and I hope to hear more out of them.
The second and last of the opening bands, Suckers, from IAmSound reminded me of a poppier and somewhat calmer Man Man (which explains the make-up and headgear). Their self-titled debut EP comes off as a poppier version of their live performance. The formation of the band is important to understanding the way they play. The four-piece started as three multi-instrumentalist one-man projects, later adding a drummer to round out their sound. For this reason, you’re likely to catch these guys playing any assortment of instruments at anytime doing whatever it takes to move your butt….and with songs like “It Gets Your Body Moving” and “Easy Chairs”, you’ll have a hard time not moving.
Check out More Pictures from the show on Backseatsandbar.com
Pains of being Pure at Heart Video for “Young Adult Friction”
WILCO: WILCO
Its hump day and Discosalt wants to help you get over the hump. Check out the new self-titled Wilco album streaming on their website. Enjoy!
HOLY FUCK: LP
Since 2004, Holy Fuck, a Canadian electronic band aye, has been cranking out electro sounding effects using live instrumentation without any laptops or programmed tracks. So while you think you might be hearing looping, splicing or programming in their music, they are actually playing it all. Young Turks Director: Drew Lightfoot from their new record “LP” in stores and online now
BLOC PARTY: INTIMACY REMIXED
This Bloc Party video was shot over just two nights at London’s Olympia theater by fans with cell phones! The footage was cut and integrated with some behind the scenes action to create a lo-fi masterpiece video for “Ares (Villains Remix)”. The Video may give you a seizure the first time you watch it but it has an amazing energy that captures the feeling of being right in the middle of a live show crowd and may induce leg dropping. And the remix is rowdy, so check it out. The track is taken from Bloc Party’s “Intimacy Remixed” out now on Wichita Recordings/ Atlantic (US).
HOMEBASE IV: BEAMING DOWN SPRING 2009 IN NYC
What: HomeBase IV
Where: 232 East Broadway, Lower East Side, New York
When: May 9th – 24th, Wednesdays through Sundays from 12:00-8:00pm.
Damage: free
If Star Trek is sold out but you still need to get out of the rain this weekend and explore strange new space, warp speed your @ss over to HomeBase IV/ Spring 2009. Its kind of like Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home but without the whales…kind of….Now in its fourth year, The Homebase Project (an international, artist-run, site-specific public art project that explores the notions of “Home”) has selected a group of 10 artists to transform a former medical center on the Lower East Side into their playing ground. The project is free to the public this month and will be host to a series of art talks, lectures, workshops, performances, and parties. Energize. Heglu’meH QaQ jajvam! Anyone speak Klingon here? 2009 Artists featured are: David Bar Katz, Willum Geerts, Oded Hirsch, Sandra Lee, Pessi Margulies, J. Morrison, Abby Robinson, Paul Sepuya, Dafna Shalom, Letha Wilson.
WIGHNOMY BROS & INNERVISIONS SECRET SHOW
What: Wighnomy Brothers and Innervisions Live: A Critical Mass
Where: Secret Location must RSVP to wighnomyinner@gmail.com
When: May 22nd (10 PM-10AM)
Damage: $20.00
Wighnomy Brothers and Innervisions are teaming up for one amazing DJ party at a 5,000 sq ft. secret warehouse (TBD) in Brooklyn that has us six kinds of excited. Real Quick, Wighnomy Brothers are two dudes that aren’t actually brothers but look like they’re brothers and they play music that is self described as “raving with reason”. Questions? Comments? Innervisions is a project of German electronic all-stars Henrik Schwartz, Dixon and Ame playing live as a 4 piece band and whose “live shows” are receiving all kinds of critical acclaim throughout Europe. This will be the first time US appearance for both acts and its one night only (electro…poof!) so not to be missed. PRE SALE TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW VIA RESIDENT ADVISOR. Buy 1 ticket, and your 1st drink is on the house!
