This Week's Nostalgia (9/12-9/18)

Quite an exhausting week for me personally, but not exactly the fullest week for shows here in New York City. However, we did get to check out Les Savy Fav at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Tuesday, as well as the free Patti Smith show at Webster Hall on Thursday. I also saw TV on the Radio but haven’t had a chance to post my review yet (travelling to/from a wedding takes more time and energy than you’d think). There’s some interesting/weird things coming up this week though…

Blondie @ Highline Ballroom

Monday, September 12 / Tuesday, September 13

Talking Heads, The Ramones, Television… and Blondie. Those were the most popular bands that devised the NYC punk scene at CBGB’s in the late seventies. Of that school, Blondie have been the most consistent in releasing new material and touring over the past few decades, trumped only by the occasional recent Richard Lloyd-less Television performances. Honestly, the last time I saw a live Blondie performance it was on VH1 in 1999, and I was mostly watching because my friend Jamie was chosen to fill out the crowd (she dressed like a typical teenage punk girl. I assume that was just the kind of credibility VH1 was going for). So while I couldn’t tell you how good/bad these shows could be, it’s probably a safe bet that they will play “Heart of Glass” and possibly “The Tide Is High” if you clap hard enough (or not). Tickets are available for $72. Seventy-two motherfucking dollars. Um, have fun.

Peter Hook & The Light @ Gramercy Theatre

Tuesday, September 13

Moved from the original venue of Irving Plaza, Peter Hook and his new band The Light will be performing Joy Division’s Closer in its entirety on Tuesday night at Gramercy Theatre. If the idea of a bassist performing the songs of a band he was in whose singer tragically committed suicide, then you may not get a kick out of this show. But if you’re still filled with rage that you never got the chance to see Joy Division live, then this may be the next best thing for your aching heart. Reviews of the show have been surprisingly ecstatic, despite public outcry of blasphemy. And who knows, now that New Order has pissed off Hooky by reforming behind his back, he may even take a jab at his old bandmates. We can only hope. Tickets are still on sale.

Sloan @ The Bell House / Bowery Ballroom

Tuesday, September 13 / Thursday, September 15 / Friday, September 16

We were lucky enough to cover Sloan’s recent show at Bowery Ballroom in July, and I’m excited to see the Canadian rock band is back in New York City so soon. Their most recent album The Double Cross is a solid collection of anthemic power pop tunes, and a surprising later addition to their discography. Only a handful of bands can nail the late-career critically acclaimed record, but Sloan pulled it off seamlessly. Do be sure to check out The Bell House show in Brooklyn or Bowery Ballroom on Thursday, but if you’re in the mood for a more intimate setting, head over to Hoboken’s Maxwell’s on Friday for what is sure to be a memorable night. Tickets are still on sale for all three shows.

The Big Four (Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer, Metallica) @ Yankee Stadium

Wednesday, September 14

What the shit? This is actually happening. At Yankee Stadium. Weird. You can actually still get decent seats if you don't mind dropping $134. Let us know how this goes.

Not exactly in the realm of nostalgia, but worth mentioning: Swedish indie rock trio Peter Bjorn and John are doing a tour of New York City of sorts, hitting nearly every mid-sized club in New York City (or at least the ones Bowery Presents book). Check out tickets here, the shows start tomorrow night at Brooklyn Bowl (which is sold out, with limited admission at doors).

That's all for this week. Check out our playlist for This Week's Nostalgia over on Spotify. If there's any shows you feel we missed, please let us know in the comments below. Until next week...

Review: Sloan @ Bowery Ballroom

Sloan @ Bowery Ballrom - June 29th, 2011
Photo & Review by Francesca McCaffery

Boy, these guys in Sloan sure play fair. Each member of the twenty-year old Toronto-based quartet play, sing and compose their songs in equal parts--and switch duties and instruments onstage accordingly. Chris Murphy also appears to be one of the happiest, sanest guys in recent rock history. Wednesday night at Bowery Ballroom hundreds of diehard fans streamed in to clap, sing and hum along to the clean yet still scruffy band’s bouncy, kicky and sometimes (sort of!)  sexy pop songs, and put on a very decent show filled with old favorites and a few newer ones. The line-up is still astonishingly the same: Chris Murphy, Patrick Pentland, Andrew Scott, and Jay Ferguson, with (I believe), Gregory Macdonald on keyboards (tucked away, behind the amps.)

Taking a tiny while to warm the crowd, they soon heated up with “Who Taught You To Live Like That?,” “Used To It,” “Crossing the Line,” and “She’s Slowing Down Again.”  “Plain To See,” with Murphy back again on vocals, really cooked. But the ultimate crowd-pleaser, judging by the audience’s worshipful reaction, was definitely “One Situation Or Another.” The boys, ever dutiful, came back onstage for two full encores, and the crowd left soaked in happy memories and warm beer, traipsing out into the humid NYC evening.

The blisteringly sizzling grit-rock duo Hot Kid opened up for Sloan, and boy, were they great. The aptly named singer Shiloh Harrison looks like the sexy baby sister of Juliette Lewis, and the drummer, Robbie Butcher III- well, with a name like that, you just know he’s going to tear it up on drums, need I say more. Check them out fast. You won’t be sorry you did.

Below, check out some videos of Sloan's performance from the Bowery Ballroom, as well as their performance the next night at the Knitting Factory...

Watch: Sloan cover Gary Numan’s “Cars”

Sloan covers "Cars" by Gary Numan

The latest entry in the A.V. Club’s Undercover Series, in which bands perform cover songs in a very tiny room, finds Canadian band Sloan covering the song “Cars” by one Gary Numan. When I saw the Dead Milkmen back in April they also did a cover of “Cars” and I must say that it will be hard to find a rendition that tops it, though this is still pretty good.

As mentioned in This Week’s Nostalgia, Sloan plays the Bowery Ballroom tomorrow (6/29) and stop by Brooklyn to play the Knitting Factory on Thursday (6/30). Tickets are still available for both.

This Week's Nostalgia (6/27-7/3)

Ah, what a crazy week. To recap: we announced that Mission of Burma will be playing a free show at the new Beekman Beer Garden on August 7th, the Descendents are playing Roseland Ballroom on September 23rd, Radiohead released a new song and played a surprise set at Glastonbury, Nirvana announced a 20th anniversary reissue of Nevermind, Thurston Moore and Bob Mould stopped by Jimmy Fallon, and Dinosaur Jr. played an amazing show at Terminal 5. Shit.

We're checking out the Archers of Loaf show at Webster Hall tonight and will have a review and full set of photos up tomorrow. Moving on, let's take a look at what's in store for us this week:

Matt & Kim @ Terminal 5
Wednesday, June 29th

I first saw Matt & Kim at the Lollapalooza festival in 2007, playing to a pretty full crowd at like 1pm. Since then, they've become one of the bigger "indie" acts out there, who are about to go on tour with Blink-182 (wow, really?). If you're into two really smiley people playing silly synth-driven dance-punk, then they should be right up your alley. Tickets are so very sold out, but I'm sure you can pickup a pair on craigslist from some guy who was just dumped by the girl he was going to take as his date. Punk band the Thermals open.

Sloan @ Bowery Ballroom / Knitting Factory
Wednesday, June 29th / Thursday, June 30th

Sloan, the Canadian band whose lineup has not changed since forming in 1991, have long struggled to become as big in the US as they have in their home country. Pitchfork recently gave their latest album, The Double Cross, an 8.1--a feat most bands this day and age only dream of. You have two chances to catch the band, on Wednesday at Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan, and Thursday at the Knitting Factory in Williamsburg. Tickets are still on sale for both.

The Feelies @ Maxwell's
Friday, July 1st / Saturday, July 2nd / Sunday, July 3rd

When I think of Hoboken music venue Maxwell's, I think of two things: Yo La Tengo, and the Feelies. The latter will be playing my favorite venue outside of New York City three nights in a row, still celebrating the release of their first album since reuniting in 2008, Here Before, which came out in March 2011. As usual with the Feelies (and shows at Maxwell's), you can expect special guests and surprises, and there's still tickets for Sunday's show (Friday & Saturday are both sold out). Definitely a great way to spend your Fourth of July weekend, so don't miss out on your chance to see this classic underground band.

The (English) Beat @ Irving Plaza
Saturday, July 2nd

I've written before about my waning interest in ska, but if there's one band whose records still stand the test of time, it's the English Beat. Dave Wakeling, who has recently dubbed himself "the King of Ska," still tours regularly with his band and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Last time I caught the Beat was around 1999 or so, and even back then it seemed pretty amazing to still see them live. Saturday's show at Irving Plaza should be no exception. Tickets are still available. Make sure to say hi to Dave, as from everything I've heard, he's one of the nicest guys out there.

Fucking Nostalgic Presents: A Fucking Nostalgic Saturday Night Out! @ Motor City
Saturday, July 2nd

We here at Fucking Nostalgic are very proud to present our first party in the Lower East Side of Manhattan at Motor City Bar (which will be the first of many events). If you're into drinking on Saturday nights in dive bars and hearing great music blasting on the sound system, than this is the party for you. I will be spinning vinyl along with DJ Boozy Jo and Fucking Nostalgic contributor Dana Distortion, who made the event happen. Expect loads of old school punk, garage rock, psychedelia, new wave, no wave, noise rock, indie, and everything awesome. We'll also have some free stuff to take home with you, so be sure to come down this Fourth of July weekend to party your face off. Motor City is located at 127 Ludlow Street and admission is 100% free. Can't wait to see you there.

Notable mentions: Radiohead will be performing their latest album the King of Limbs on Friday, July 1st on Palladia here in the US, though according to Radiohead fan site At Ease, no air time has been confirmed. We'll be sure to keep you updated on that one. And if it tickles your fancy the same night, my band the Barrens will be celebrating the release of our self-titled debut album at Cameo Bar in Williamsburg.

If there are any shows you feel we failed to mention, please let us know about it in the comments section below. Until next week...