Brooklyn local band Up the Empire has a lot going on. For starters, lead singer Doug Keith has a show tonight (Tuesday) at the Living Room and is releasing his first solo album, Here’s to Outliving Me, on January 13.

Up the Empire’s Loose Ends EP cover

Then, the band as a whole as a new EP Loose Ends coming out December 16. To celebrate they will be at Mercury Lounge the next night (December 17) with Cougar labelmates Ford & Fitzroy and Bon Savants.

Photos permission: Tony Bonyata, Pavement PR

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Coming at you straight from New Orleans, Hurray for the Riff Raff are poised to make waves in the music scene. Their debut album It Don’t Mean I Don’t Love You is a haunting, sorrowful, but beautiful composition. Singer Alynda Lee’s voice is mesmerizing, and against the backdrop of accordion, banjo, musical saw, and upright bass it is simply heart wrenching. Part Cat Power and part Mark Kozelek, Lee’s vocals and lyrics are magnificent. The music is southern and folky and lovely.

Good news! They are playing two upcoming New York shows. One is on December 5 at Pete’s Candy Store and the second is on December 8 at Piano’s with Sharon Van Etten–and it’s free. Check ‘em out live, check out the album, just check them out!

Photos permission: Tom Wironen, Post Hoc Management

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Also on sale as of today is a Rosebuds show at Bowery Ballroom on January 16. Tickets for that are here.

Also on sale today is a Bebel Gilberto show at Town Hall. This one’s not until June 19, but chances are good that it will sell out. Get your tickets here.

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Argentinean mastermind El Guincho, who canceled multiple tour dates in the U.S. this summer, is finally making it back and is playing two shows in NYC at (le) Poisson Rouge. The first was a DJ set with Prefuse 73 on Saturday night. Was anyone there? How was it?

The second is tomorrow (Tuesday) night and will be a live performance, starting at 10 p.m. after an early (7:30 p.m.) Nellie McKay show. Openers will be Lemonade. Tickets are still on sale and I highly recommend getting some. I’ll be there–come say hello!! Oh, and Nellie McKay tickets are also still available.

Photo permission: Brice @ boomBoom

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Track Listing:

1.      Blue Christmas - Girl in a Coma
2.      The Elf Song - The Vacancies (original)
3.      Santa Baby - The Dollyrots
4.      Little Drummer Boy - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
5.      Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You - The Cute Lepers
6.      Father Christmas - The Vacancies
7.      I’ll Be Home For Christmas - Girl in a Coma
8.      Winter Wonderland - Thommy Price featuring Nefertiti Bones
9.      Home For Christmas - Kenny Laguna
10.     All I Ever Want (Under The Christmas Tree) - The Cute Lepers (original)
11.     Silent Night - The Blackhearts and special guests

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What’s that? You’ve always wanted to go to Ikea with a member of Pavement? Well, now’s your chance! In honor of the release of the expanded edition  of their classic fourth album Brighten the Corners, the band is running a contest.

All you have to do is submit a photo of your house/apt./shack and a short essay describing why your home is need of a makeover to the Pavement fan group on imeem. You could wind a $500 gift card to Ikea and a day of shopping there with a member of Pavement (which one? Guess it’s a surprise…). They’ll even throw in some Swedish meatballs for lunch! The deadline to enter is December 6 and the winner will be chosen on December 9. Click here to enter.

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Debonair, heartfelt singer/songwriter Doveman, aka Thomas Bartlett, has a unique sound (that he calls “lamp rock”) that he will be bringing to Joe’s Pub on February 4 after a brief UK tour. The twist? He will be playing his version of the Footloose soundtrack, which he has also made into an album that is currently streaming for free. Click here to listen. Tickets are on sale now.

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