The Next Big Thing: The Antlers
June 25, 2009 by Devorah Klein
Image: Ben Ritter
The Antlers have come a long way. New Yorkers that have been working the club scene for a while and releasing their own albums, they are finally getting some recognition. Frenchkiss is re-releasing their latest album, Hospice, on August 18, but you can stream it now here. Their music is beautiful and sad and did I mention beautiful? The critics have been raving, and Pitchfork gave their song “Bear” an 8.0.
They’ve been playing shows nonstop, so unsurprisingly they have a bunch coming up. This Friday, June 26, they will play the Rooftop Films event at Open Road Rooftop (350 Grand St), followed by a screening of Humpday. You can buy tickets here. The they will jaunt around the country for a while, returning to NYC on August 21 for a record release show at Mercury Lounge with Murder Mystery, Twin Thousands and Brent Arnold (solo cello). Tickets on sale here.They also recently did a piece on NPR. Check it out here.
It just so happens that The Antlers were one of the first bands to reach out to me when I started writing for this blog, so I have long championed them. Frontman Peter Silberman took the time to answer a few of my questions:
Big Apple Music Scene: You guys have come a long way in the last couple years. I remember when I first took over this blog at the end of 2007, you were one of the first bands to email me with show information and back then you were playing some pretty tiny venues. Now, you have released a critically acclaimed album, are playing multiple shows at Bowery Ballroom, Music Hall Hall of Williamsburg, etc., and you just got signed to the awesome label Frenchkiss! How does it feel to have accomplished so much in so little time? Do you think things will change a lot with your increased exposure?
Peter Silberman: It’s all completely bizarre. This big change was completely unexpected, but I feel like in a pretty short period of time, we’ve been working really hard and are really dedicated to what we’re doing. It’s all extremely encouraging…definitely a dream come true.
As for whether or not things will change, they’ve already changed monumentally, and that seems to happen almost every day. I have no idea what the future’s going to bring, but that’s a good feeling.
BAMS: You’ve been opening for a lot of great bands lately, and have more in the future. What bands are the most fun to work/play with?
PS: It’s been amazing to get the chance to play with a lot of bands we really admire and are huge fans of. That Walkmen/Beach House bill in April was a dream bill. The White Rabbits show was great too, and Cymbals Eat Guitars are super impressive and sweet people.
BAMS: Your album, Hospice, is a bit of a somber affair. What were you going through when you wrote it?
PS: It was a long period of getting social readjustment, a lot of attempts at understanding the past and moving forward with it.
BAMS: After the re-release of Hospice this summer, what’s next for The Antlers?
PS: Well, we’re touring a bunch this summer up until then, and then will probably continue to do that, hitting Monolith Festival in September and CMJ in October. If we get any free time in between tours, I think we’re all really itching to start recording again.
BAMS: How does being from NYC influence you music–or not?
PS: New York’s full of a lot of amazing bands…probably too many. I think it makes us work harder, practice more, etc. But I think in addition to all the influential music happening here now, there’s also so much musical history here that sometimes it seeps into what you’re writing/recording or how you’re playing live.
BAMS: What venue here has been the best to play at?
PS: It’s safe to say we’ve all got a soft spot for Cake Shop, where, for awhile, we were playing almost every two weeks. Recently we’ve been really fortunate to have the chance to play some of the bigger venues. I’d say my & Michael’s favorite’s been Music Hall of Williamsburg and Darby’s has been Bowery Ballroom.
Danielson, Mike Watt, and More On Sale
March 19, 2009 by Devorah Klein
The following shows are on sale now:
- Mike Watt and the Missingmen on May 7 at Maxwell’s and May 8 at Mercury Lounge. Tickets
- Crystal Antlers on May 12 at Mercury Lounge. Tickets
- Danielson on May 15 at Mercury Lounge. Tickets
- Bell and Bowerbirds on April 27 at Mercury Lounge. Tickets
- Violens, Apache Beat, Blonde Acid Cult, Bottle Up and Go on April 11 at Santos Party House. Tickets
- Quintron & Miss Pussycat and Psychedelic Horseshit on April 22 at Santos Party House. Tickets
- Travis Morrison Hellfighters, Palomar, and Limbs at The Bell House on March 21. Tickets
- Enon on April 9 at The Bell House. Tickets
- Crooked Fingers and Wye Oak on April 14 at The Bell House. Tickets
- Nada Surf and Holly Miranda on April 15 at The Bell House. Tickets
- Her Space Holiday on May 21 at The Bell House. Tickets
- The Tallest Man on Earth and Red Cortez on April 14 at Union Hall. Tickets
Wavves, Walkmen, and More On Sale
March 4, 2009 by Devorah Klein
These shows are on sale NOW:
3/30 - DD/MM/YYYY / WAVVES - Mercury Lounge Tickets
4/8 - THE ALTERNATE ROUTES - Mercury Lounge Tickets
4/16 - THE WALKMEN with Beach House - Webster Hall Tickets
5/13 - WYE OAK / POMEGRANATES - Mercury Lounge Tickets
5/29 - CAKE - Terminal 5 Tickets
Win Tickets To See Lydia and Black Gold
February 19, 2009 by Devorah Klein
Black Gold, whose debut album Rush recently came out, will be at the Mercury Lounge with Lydia on March 5. You can buy tickets here OR you can win them, plus money for your cause! Through the national “Illuminate Your City” contest, one fan in each market will win tickets to the show and space at the merch table to showcase their local cause. One grand prize winner will win a $1,000 donation to their charity at the end of the tour. For more information and videos from the bands, click here.
Image: Angela Wolf, Filter
Tickets on Sale
January 14, 2009 by Devorah Klein
Lots of tickets on sale or going or presale:
- Israeli band Idan Raichel Project at Town Hall on March 26, tickets here
- The Gaslight Anthem at Webster Hall on March 27, tickets here
- Anathallo at Mercury Lounge on March 4, tickets here
- The Airborne Toxic Event at Bowery Ballroom on March 8, tickets here
- Phosporescent performing their new album of all Willie Nelson covers at Bell House on February 28, tickets here
- Bell X1 at Highline Ballroom on March 14, tickets here
- Goblin Cock with Rob Crow of Pinback at Highline Ballroom on February 11, tickets here
- Black Kids and Mates of State at Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 5 and Webster Hall on April 6 is on AmEx presale now, regular sale Friday at noon
- Cursive at Bowery Ballroom on March 10 is on AmEx presale now and regular sale Friday at noon, their March 9 show at Music Hall of Williamsburg is also still on sale
- Clem Snide at Bowery Ballroom on March 18 is on AmEx presale now and regular sale Friday at noon
- Bloc Party added a second date at Terminal 5 on March 25. Tickets are on AmEx presale now and regular sale on Saturday at noon
- The Oddity Faire featuring Les Claypool with special guest Saul Williams, Secret Chiefs, and O’Death at Terminal 5 on March 28 is on AmEx presale now, regular sale Friday at noon
- The Leonard Cohen presale started today. The password is Fingerprints. (Thx Brookylnvegan)
Anya Marina Album and Tour
December 30, 2008 by Devorah Klein
Anya Marina, fresh off a mini-tour with Jason Mraz, is ready to go out on her own. Her debut album Slow & Steady Seduction: Phase II is being released on January 20 by Chop Shop Records. To celebrate she is going on tour and will be in Brooklyn at the Bell House on January 16 with Greg Laswell and Jenny Owen Youngs (Tickets) and she will be headlining the Mercury Lounge in Manhattan on January 20 (Tickets). Filter had this to say about her live show in LA.:
“The petite and dainty singer-songwriter stormed through the Hotel Café as if she were a ten foot tall behemoth finger-strumming, bossa nova-ing, and ripping jokes like she was just one of the guys… All joshing aside, Anya’s real strength was her music. Her mousy voice combined with the strong songwriting made for a really enjoyable set. She brought a hodgepodge of sound with each new song she introduced… Anya Marina is definitely one to watch.”
Can’t wait for the album to come out? Her first single, “Move You (SSSPII)” is available on iTunes NOW. Get it here. Full tour dates below.
January
14 Boston, MA - Great Scott *
15 Washington DC - DC9 *
16 Brooklyn - The Bell House *
17 Philadelphia - Tin Angel *
20 New York - Mercury Lounge
* w/ Greg Laswell & Jenny Owen Youngs
Image: Angela Wolf, Filter
Cursive Playing 3 NYC Shows
December 10, 2008 by Devorah Klein
Cursive will be in town in January and March to play three shows, two of which are at very small venues.
Doug Keith, Up the Empire Playing Shows, Releasing Albums
December 2, 2008 by Devorah Klein
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
Ben Harper at Mercury Lounge
November 26, 2008 by Devorah Klein
According to Brooklynvegan, Ben Harper will be playing the teeny tiny Mercury Lounge under the name “Relentless 7″ on December 11 at midnight. Tickets go on sale today (Wednesday) at 12 noon.
Tickes On Sale Today and Tomorrow
October 22, 2008 by Devorah Klein
A bunch of shows went on sale today and there are some more tomorrow and Friday. It’s hard to think about stuff in 2009…but I guess it’s that time.
On Sale Today:
12/10 - LONEY, DEAR - Mercury Lounge
1/23/09 - VIC CHESNUTT & ELF POWER - Bowery Ballroom
2/25/09 - TAPES N TAPES - Bowery Ballroom
2/26/09 - TAPES N TAPES - Music Hall of Williamsburg
On Sale Tomorrow (Thursday):
12/26 - WESTON - Mercury Lounge
On Sale Friday:
1/29/09 - KINGS OF LEON - Madison Square Garden
11/18 - THE SECRET MACHINES- Music Hall of Williamsburg
11/28 - AMAZING BABY - Mercury Lounge
11/29 - AMAZING BABY / MILES BENJAMIN ANTHONY ROBINSON - Mercury Lounge
12/7 - LOVE IS ALL - Bowery Ballroom
12/20 - LAKE TROUT - Mercury Lounge
1/09/09 - CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN - Bowery Ballroom
1/10/09 - CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN - Bowery Ballroom