LIVE JOURNAL
JezebelMusic.com @ the Northside Festival | June 11-14, 2009
From June 11-14 The L Magazine’s Northside Festival took over the bars, galleries, and, most importantly (to us anyway) music venues of the “north side” (i.e., Williamsburg and Greenpoint) of Brooklyn. With somewhere around 80 showcases crammed into just three and a half days, the number of musical options was dizzying and, for some, agonizing. One frantic text I received during the weekend read: “Quick, who do you think I should see? Les Sans Culottes (ye ye esque) or Wild Yaks (drunk rock). I’m suffering from crippling indecision!” The sentiment was the same among others – especially when having to choose between the big headliners (Bill Callahan, The Hold Steady, Sunset Rubdown, The Dodos, Asobi Seksu, Bishop Allen) at bigger venues (Music Hall of Williamsburg, Studio B) and lesser-known acts (Pet Ghost Project, Ava Luna, Glass Ghost, Knight School, Browns) at smaller, more intimate spaces (Trophy Bar, Bar Matchless, Coco66, Cameo Gallery). I tended to opt for the latter and was happy I did. I caught some of the liveliest, rawest, most refreshing performances I’ve seen in a while – Drink Up Buttercup banging the shit out of their “smashcans” with maracas and bells, Tune-Yards wailing atop her primitive, soulful, pummeling beats, The Albertans singing sweetly in the sun, during an acoustic sidewalk set, Ghost Gamblers howling out their hearty Americana-cum-country tunes. At our own showcase, I was thoroughly impressed by the total talent that characterized the night. I repeatedly caught myself thinking, “Wow, these guys are good,” and then finding my surprise silly – I had, after all, booked the bands. What was especially notable about the weekend was that nearly every act involved was Brooklyn-based, a testament to the vitality of the current local music scene. The festival had it’s flaws, of course – badgeholders not being admitted to shows, set time screw ups – but, especially given that it was its first year, I would say an overall success.
Below, the reactions and reminiscences of some of our writers and, here, a slideshow capturing some images from the weekend.
[All images copyright 2009 Jen McManus]
Artists pictured (in order of appearance): Patrick Bower and the World Without Magic, Neckbeard Telecaster, The Art of Shooting, Bottle Up and Go, The Press, Ghost Gamblers, Katie Eastburn, Tune-Yards, The Dodos
by Elana Jacobs
JezebelMusic.com Northside Coverage:
Northside Ladies by Erin Sheehy
Tallest Man on Earth by Eva Meszaros
Cymbals Eat Guitars by Max Sebela
1928 Recordings Showcase by Erin Sheehy
Weekly Review
Despite the persistent downpour as of late, that antsy, endless-activity feeling of summer is starting to creep its way into the music stratosphere. Though some are promised to come out sooner than others, the number of tours and albums announced this past week alone is staggering – even the old timers are finding their way back into the storm. And talk of summer festivals and concert series, both old and new, has begun to saturate the air. Hopefully soon, the clouds will clear so we can walk away from at least some of them with that sunburn badge of honor and start listening to those new releases by the pool – or perhaps bringing them into the pool. Wet t-shirt contest, anyone?
by Elana Jacobs
Weekly Review
What are you doing on your computer on a day like today? Unless you’ve already got yourself in refresh-position to purchase these tickets, in front of the glowing screen is not where you should be. No, you should be out under the glowing sun, running around town in your new kicks (for the Chuck Taylor fans, for those who prefer Vans), listening to the Top 10, mapping out the record stores you’re going to hit up the Saturday after next or scouting out a park to name. But as long as you are here, I’m glad you’re spending your time constructively, brushing up on last week’s news, rather than procrastinating, watching some silly 90s-era music video. Though, wait a minute, that was part of last week’s news. Alright, I guess it’s okay then. Procrastinate away:
by Elana Jacobs
NOT ROCK
For your not rock, not Autotune, not ringtone, not iTunes, not singalong, not pc, not #1, not Z100 consideration:
(Apologies for the not video – couldn’t get a good MP3).
by Elana Jacobs
Blues Artist Koko Taylor Passes Away [NY Times]
Modest Mouse to Release Limited Edition 7” [The Tripwire]
Jane’s Addiction Offering “Living Room” Sets On Current Tour [NME]
AC/DC on Your Converse! [Prefix]
Afro-Punk Invades Brooklyn [Brooklyn Vegan]
Brilliant Words from Ghostface Killah [Prefix]
Brittney Paying Federline to be a…um, Father? [NME]
The (MGMT) Video Everyone’s Blogging About Today [The Tripwire]
Jay-Z Sets Blueprint Release Date [Billboard]
First Single From Yo La Tengo’s Newly Announced Album [Prefix]
compiled by Elana Jacobs
Stream Dirty Projectors’ Excellent Bitte Orca on NPR [NPR]
New Arctic Monkeys Album out August 25 [Prefix]
Bon Iver, Beth Gibbons Turn Talents Towards Charity [Pitchfork]
Los Campesinos! Tour One Man Short [The Tripwire]
M.I.A.’s Political Pop [Prefix]
Asher Roth Headlining Tour – Hits New York July 15 [NME]
The Hold Steady Team Up with Top Chef [Pitchfork]
compiled by Elana Jacobs
June 1, 2009
Jeremih | “Birthday Sex”
IN THE TUBE
Chicago-born artist Jeremih was just signed to Island Def Jam records. He has been accused of using Auto-Tune. The lead single off his new album is entitled “Birthday Sex” and includes lyrics like, “You say you want passion/I think you found it/Get ready for action/Don’t be astounded.” It just reached No. 36 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Sounds like he’s got all his ducks in line for becoming the next young, hot hip-hop thing. But the video for aforementioned single just hit the net. And it is far from “hot.” One might expect a video for a song called “Birthday Sex” to be at least a little bit racy. But this just feels like some slightly sexed-up ad for a new home design store (seriously, what’s with all the tan?). Everything is so crisp, and neat, and clean. Even the fruit-squashing looks sterile. How disappointingly un-scandalous.
by Elana Jacobs
Weekly Review
Last week was a moody one for the music world: ex-Wilco member Jay Bennett passed away at the age of 45; eleven attendees of a concert in the capital of Morocco were killed by a fallen fence, bringing the week-long Mawazine music festival to sad close; and though he is expected to be fully recovered in time to start performing again on June 8, Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan underwent a relatively serious surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his bladder. There were some less solemn news stories to be had – Eminem hit the top of the charts, Kanye West authored a book, Lady Gaga graced the cover of Rolling Stone – but nobody seemed to be in a particularly chipper mood. Some major artists staged a rally against the British National Party, Lady Sovereign stormed off the stage in San Fran, and Wavves pretty near did the same in Barcelona.
So, here you go, a little pick-me-up after a less than stellar week.
by Elana Jacobs
