Photos/Review: CBGB Festival Day Two (MxPx, Radio 4, Reggie Watts)

Reggie Watts @ The Bell House

CBGB Festival (Day Two) - July 6, 2012

Photos/Review: Geanna B. & Chris

Day Two of CBGB Festival had a lot of great options, but unfortunately our day jobs and inability to be in two places at once greatly limited what we were able to cover. Luckily, Geanna was game to check out pop-punk purveyors MxPx at Best Buy Theater, while I took a trip to The Bell House to catch one of comedian Reggie Watts' viciously unique sets. I'm happy to report that neither of us were stabbed throughout our excursions. Here's Geanna's account of the MxPx show:

Well, my ears are still ringing from Friday's MxPx show at Best Buy Theater for two reasons: 1. They totally rocked out, and 2. Because I might be getting old. Celebrating their 20th Anniversary as part of the CBGB Festival, this was one of the fest's shows that I absolutely had to see. Oh, Memory Lane, how often I visit thee. Who needs a DeLorean when nostalgia is just a subway ride away?

Photos/Review: Codeine @ The Bell House

Codeine @ The Bell House – June 29, 2012
Photos: Jennifer Harmon & Chris / Review: Chris

On Friday night, slow-core progenitors Codeine played their first NYC-area show in nearly two decades to one of the most focused and dedicated crowds of recent memories at the Bell House in Brooklyn. That is to say, during the band’s hypnotizing hour long set you could hear a pin drop during their most quite parts, and you could feel the energy utterly immerse you as they hit their most powerful moments. Many audience members in the front row stood with their heads bowed down and eyes closed, but make no mistake… no one was sleeping. Deeply concentrating on every strum of John Engle’s guitar, every whisper of Stephen Immerwahr’s lyrics, and every crash hit of Chris Brokaw’s drum parts just may be the best way to experience a live Codeine show. The set was absolutely beautiful.

The band’s reunion is somewhat of a celebration of the reissuing of the band’s discography, which includes two LP’s, an EP, and a smattering of demos and Peel Sessions--all of which are included on the deluxe box set which is finally on sale--earning the distinction of Pitchfork’s “Best New Reissues” title. Having seen the box set myself, it’s a beautifully packaged and comprehensive set. The band performed songs from all of their releases, even though current drummer Chris Brokaw (a singer/songwriter in his own rite) only played drums on the band’s debut Frigid Stars (I myself didn’t know if Brokaw or other drummer Doug Scharin would be playing that night until I saw Brokaw behind the merchandise table).

Opener Stephen Brodsky, openly a huge Codeine fan himself, seemed to have his greatest dream come true when he was invited onstage to perform “Cave-in” with the band towards the end of the set. It was a cathartic moment for the guitarist, who thrashed his head around on stage to the song a he played, making it one of the most exciting moments of the night. After the band’s set, which included a two-song encore, Immerwahr and Engle stuck around onstage and chatted with excited fans (myself included). When I asked Engle why they decided to put cats on their most recent tour t-shirt, he just grinned at me and said, “…that’s my cat.”

Codeine will return to New York City on July 15 when they play our other favorite venue, Le Poisson Rouge. Tickets are still on sale. In the meantime, check out the band’s reissues over at the Numero Group, and take a look at a set of photos Jen and I took on Friday below…

Photos: Diamond Rugs @ The Bell House

Diamond Rugs @ The Bell House - June 22, 2012
Photos: Sam Cornwall

Last night, indie supergroup Diamond Rugs performed a somewhat last minute show at the Bell House and our photographer Sam Cornwall was able to make his way in to snap some photos for us. Check out his full gallery below.

Reminder that tomorrow you can catch Diamond Rugs for FREE when they open for Alabama Shakes at Central Park SummerStage. That show starts at 3pm, so make sure you get there early enough to also catch Robert Ellis!

Photos/Review: The Dandy Warhols @ The Bell House

The Dandy Warhols @ The Bell House - June 6, 2012

Photos/Review: James M. Graham

I cannot say enough great things about the Bell House. It is truly Brooklyn’s BEST venue. The only negative thing I can say is I haven’t been there enough. I was there on Wednesday night for the second sold out Dandy Warhols show, the first being at Irving Plaza the night before. I did not attend the Irving show, but The Bell House show seemed very intimate – because of the venue, easily 1/4 the size of Irving, and because of the band’s rapport with the audience and the set-list.

This was my 4th DW show. Back in 1997, I reviewed a T/K Records showcase for CMJ at, oddly enough, Irving Plaza. The Dandy’s preceded The Wipers, who I was there to see, but they charmed me and the next day I bought CDs (perhaps you’ll see that 15 year old review here at some point). I’ve been a fan ever since. I sort of put The Dandy’s in the same category as Queens of the Stone Age – they don’t take themselves too seriously, but they kick ass.

Photos/Review: Hospitality & Eleanor Friedberger @ The Bell House

Eleanor Friedberger

Hospitality & Eleanor Friedberger @ The Bell House - April 18, 2012
Photos/Review: Chris

Last night at The Bell House, Merge labelmates Hospitality and Eleanor Friedberger shared the stage for what turned out to be a showcase of two of the stronger artists in the indie scene today. I’ve seen Eleanor a couple times in the past, as both a member of Fiery Furnaces and as a solo artist, so I was a little more excited to finally check out Hospitality--whose recent self-titled album released in January has received considerable attention (and plays on my Spotify account). Their live show didn’t disappoint. Frontwoman Amber Papini possesses one of the most satisfyingly unique voices I’ve heard in a while, and the band’s songs exhibit a genuine and playful sense of songwriting. If you haven’t heard their album yet, give it a listen at the bottom of this very post. And prepare to listen to it repeatedly.

Photos/Review: Screaming Females @ The Bell House

Screaming Females @ The Bell House - April 6, 2012
Photos: Chris / Review: Damien

Let's start out with the weirdest / most hilarious part of the night: Chris got kicked out of The Bell House. For crowd surfing. For 15 seconds. At a PUNK ROCK SHOW.

Despite the weird new rules that come with punk shows in 2012, one thing still holds true: you can still have a blast watching a particularly awesome band rock the hell out in tight, furious sonic bursts. Tonight, that band happened to be none other than New Jersey's own Screaming Females, and the opportunity to see them flex their three-piece rock muscle was well worth the possibility of getting kicked out for being a punk at a punk show.

Pause as everyone chuckles Beavis & Butthead-style at the phrase "three-piece rock muscle." Continue.

FN News Roundup: April 3, 2012

News time, my droogs!

• There's a tribute show for the legendary Curtis Mayfield taking place on July 20 at Lincoln Center. Considering Mavis Staples, Aloe Blacc, Tunde & Kyp from TV On The Radio, and The Impressions involved, you're going to want to be too - tickets on sale now (BrooklynVegan)


• It's been a good three years since 2009's Eating Us, but Black Moth Super Rainbow are officially recording new music!! Check out the great new cut "Spraypaint," and we'll keep an eye out for more (Pitchfork)


• Two of our favorite (and loudest) Future Nostalgia bands, Ceremony and Screaming Females, are letting their powers combine for a Spring / Summer tour! Kinda! While they won't be on the same bill here in NYC (Ceremony's got two shows on April 23 at Terminal 5 and Mercury Lounge, while Screaming Females will be here this Friday at The Bell House), they'll be rocking together in June from Austin, TX to Hamden, CT (Consequence of Sound)


• Speaking of Screaming Females, you can stream their new LP Ugly and pick it up via Don Giovanni today! (SPIN)


• Take this with the huuuuge grain of salt you need to apply to pretty much all NME articles, but the sons of The Beatles might form a band together. Once again: HUGE grain of salt (NME)


• Haven't been able to see the most excellent Deer Tick live? Wanna see them again, with the Levon Helm Band? Well get thee to Beacon Theatre this Friday! Tickets are still on sale (PhotoEveryone)


• And we'll head out into the night with the official video for Garbage's "Blood For Poppies" - their first new video in five years! - off of their upcoming album Not Your Kind Of People (due out May 15) (Spinner)

Codeine announces US tour dates (playing LPR and The Bell House this Summer)

We've previously reported on the reunion of Codeine for a performance at ATP I'll Be Your Mirror London in May, and now we have US dates to look forward to as well. For New Yorkers, the band will be performing on June 29 at The Bell House and July 15 at Le Poisson Rouge. Tickets for both shows go on general sale this Friday (2/24).

Below, check out Codeine's current tour schedule, as well as some videos of the legendary slowcore band live in their heyday (including a lengthy performance at Boston venue TT The Bear's)...

Future Nostalgia: Atlas Sound Playing Annual Winter Shows At The Bell House & Bowery Ballroom

Future Nostalgia shines a spotlight on newer bands who, in our eyes, are on the cusp of achieving legendary status. These are acts we normally wouldn't feature, but feel so strongly about we just couldn't resist.

As we've hopefully made crystal clear by now, we're huge fans of Deerhunter frontman and Atlas Sound mastermind Bradford Cox. Which is why we're psyched to share that, even though Deerhunter as a whole won't be back in NYC anytime soon, Cox will be back on December 17 and 18 for his annual winter shows in NYC to play songs from his new (and excellent) Atlas Sound album Parallax.

The shows will take place at The Bell House and Bowery Ballroom, and tickets are on sale for the Bell House show right now; you'll have to wait until Friday (11/25) for Bowery tickets. Definitely make it happen, folks - and in case you haven't heard Parallax yet, Spotify has you covered. (Cheers to BV for the tip.)

Photos: The Supersuckers / Nashville Pussy @ The Bell House

The Supersuckers

The Supersuckers / Nashville Pussy @ The Bell House - November 20, 2011
Photos: Carrie Jordan

On Saturday and Sunday night both The Supersuckers and openers Nashville Pussy took over Maxwell's & The Bell House in Brooklyn for two nights of raucous, sludgy rock ‘n’ roll. The Supersuckers, the self-proclaimed greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the world, are currently on a massive tour that will take them out to the west coast and the southwest all the way through February of 2012. Photographer Carrie Jordan sent us a set of photos of both bands from Sunday’s Bell House show, and if they are any indication, it was a pretty wild time. Take a look at the shots below, and be sure to check out the remainder of The Supersuckers tour dates over at their website…

Nashville Pussy

The Supersuckers

Shonen Knife Playing The Bell House On 11/18, Releasing A Christmas Single

I interviewed Naoko Yamano way back in the day, check it out!

While we unfortunately missed Shonen Knife when they came to NYC for CMJ, the legendary Japanese punk rockers are giving us another chance a little over a week from now when they come back to rock The Bell House next Friday (11/18). Tickets are still available, so grab one and come have a beer with us at the show.

The band will also be wrapping up their yearlong 30th Anniversary celebration by releasing a new Christmas Maxi Single juuuuust after Thanksgiving on November 29. The single will include studio and acoustic cuts of the seasonally-appropriate song (accept it, Christmas is just a little over a month away) "Sweet Christmas," plus their take on the classic "We Wish You A Merry Christmas." (Thanks to BV for the tip)

Check out the single teaser below via Good Charamel. Since this is a Shonen Knife song, there is understandably some delicious cake involved.

Lee Renaldo added to Wild Flag's Bell House show

Lee @ Bowery Ballroom in May for the Our Band Could Be Your Life show (more here)

We just saw supergroup Wild Flag open for Sonic Youth at the Williamsburg Waterfront last week, and now SY guitarist Lee Renaldo will return the favor by opening for Wild Flag. As confirmed on Sonic Youth's Facebook page, Lee will open for the band solo at the Bell House on October 15, for which tickets are no longer available. This is certainly a show to catch, so be sure to find your way in no matter what it takes. I wish more info was available, but the announcement (as shown below) hasn't even made it to the Bell House's website yet. We'll keep you updated for sure.

Shellac playing the Bell House on October 3rd

In case you haven't been able to tell, we're a bit excited for the All Tomorrow's Parties I'll Be Your Mirror Festival that takes place this fall at Asbury Park. Among the plethora of amazing bands playing the three-day festival is the great Shellac, which features none other than producer Steve Albini (Big Black, Flour), Bob Weston (Mission of Burma, Volcano Suns) and Ted Trainer (Brick Layer Cake, Breaking Circus). Basically, one of those supergroups who sincerely rocks and features no household names. Well, I suppose Albini is debatable...

For those who can't shell out $249 for ATP passes, many of the bands playing the fest have scheduled tour dates in the NYC area before and after the three-day party. Of course, Shellac are on top of that. The band will play Brooklyn's Bell House on 10/3, and you can pick up a $17 ticket right now. I suggest you do just that, and then check out some Shellac videos we've posted below, along with the rest of their tour dates...

Listen: Yo La Tengo @ the Bell House (Night 1)

Ira, Georgia and James being adorable

On Tuesday I had the pleasure of seeing and photographing Yo La Tengo for one of their Wheel Spin shows at the Bell House in Brooklyn. Now, courtesy of New York City's live music archivist nyctaper, you can listen to that show in full. If you really need a reason to do that as soon as humanly possible, here is their setlist:

Set 1
Griselda
Georgia vs Yo La Tengo
Song For Mahlia
Moby Octopad
Avalon or Someone Very Similar
Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House
Watch Out For Me, Ronnie
The Evil That Men Do
Pass The Hatchet, I Think I’m Goodkind

Set 2

Our Way To Fall
Barnaby, Hardly Working
Demons
Stockholm Syndrome
The Crying of Lot G
Double Dare
Nothing To Hide
Decora
I Heard You Looking
The Door Into Summer [Monkees]
Drug Test
For The Turnstiles [Neil Young]

Thanks to nyctaper for posting our photo and link!

Photos: Yo La Tengo @ the Bell House (Night 1)

Yo La Tengo @ the Bell House, May 10th, 2011

Yo La Tengo played the first of two "Spin the Wheel" shows last night at the Bell House in Gowanus, Brooklyn. The fate of the show was in the hands of a random fan invited on stage to spin the band's meticulously designed wheel. After being presented with some rather scary options, including the possibility the band would act out an entire episode of a classic sitcom (the chance of that happening was purposely slim), the wheel landed on the "Name Game," in which all the songs for the first set (about 45 minutes) were songs named after someone.

This led to quite an amazing first set including Fakebook's "Griselda," I Am Not Afraid of You And I Will Beat Your Ass's "Watch Out For Me Ronnie," And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out's "Let's Save Tony Orlando's House, and a stellar rendition of "Moby Octopad" (yep, Moby is a name). A lot of these songs I've never seen performed live before, so it really was a treat seeing them whip out some of these.

After a rather long intermission, the second set included Yo La classics such as "Stockholm Syndrome," "Nothing to Hide" and "The Crying of Lot G." Who knows what tonight's show will bring, as there is always a chance you'll get an entire set of Condo Fucks songs, or even all of The Sounds of Science. As long as Yo La Tengo doesn't act out an episode of Family Matters, I think everyone will leave happy. Actually, that sounds pretty amazing...

For those going tonight, opener Antietam (who opened for YLT's first show at Maxwell's 26 years ago) took the stage at 8:30pm, and Yo La Tengo followed at 9:30pm. The Baxx Sisis's open tonight. Tickets for the show are sold out, but again, try your luck with craigslist, as there seem to be a lot of people selling tickets on there. There was also that woman walking around scalping tickets that I've seen at literally EVERY Yo La Tengo show doing just that. Good luck! Full set of photos of Yo La Tengo are below....