Tour Alert: Fever Ray

While out of the limelight for a second, Fever Ray (Karin Dreijer Andersson of The Knife) will be coming to the US to tour behind her amazing self-titled record. While the record is mostly a dark, moody and subdued affair, Fever Ray videos have proven quite engaging and creepy as hell. The show promises the same. It kicks off with 2 shows at Webster Hall in NY. Dates after the jump. From the PR:

Swedish multimedia artist Andreas Nilsson - who designed The Knife's live show and directed the video for her debut single "If I had A Heart"- is also the visual mastermind behind Fever Ray's live show. “The album has a mixture of acoustic and electronic sounds... something hard and visionary combined with something that is more organic. The live show should embrace that feeling."

"Andersson may keep her face hidden, but the ascetic intensity of her performance is such that her soul is bared… [She] pulls you inexorably into the darkness of her world," - UK Guardian.

FEVER RAY DATES

Sept 28 NYC, NY @ Webster Hall
Sept 29 NYC, NY @ Webster Hall
Oct 1 Montreal @ Metropolis
Oct 2 Toronto @ Kool Haus
Oct 3 Chicago @ Metro
Oct 5 San Francisco @ Grand Ballroom
Oct 7 Los Angeles @ Henry Fonda Theater

The Bloody Beetroots @ Webster Hall

[MP3]

The Bloody Beetroots - "Butter"

April 3--OK, so I didn't make it 'til whenever the hell these dudes went on (3 AM?!) but this video sure makes me wish I did (watch them jump into the crowd! I want that.) I just don't know if I can handle Webster Hall though, but I do want to try again for Peaches in May. Ever since Nicky Digital posted "Butter" on his site, I've been longing to check out, and shake my ass to, The Bloody Beetroots. But for various reasons, I couldn't stay up that late last Friday-- OMG am I getting OLD!? The highlight of my night may have been escaping for pizza and stepping on a rat. Only in New York!

Let the beat drop.
~Lauren Mooney, Stark Contributing Writer

School of Seven Bells - "Alpinisms" and Webster Hall w/ M83

School of Seven Bells - "Conjur" - mp3

Yesterday, we picked up the new record, Alpinisms from School of Seven Bells, and while we've only listened a few times since yesterday, we can say that it's pretty damn excellent. As per the usual, before we could write about it, Pitchfork slapped it with an 8.0 and a recommended status -- but we shall not be deterred!

The record get's a little long towards the end (it's almost an hours worth of music,) yet, Alpinisms is consistent and dutifully crafted. Formed by Ben Curtis of the Secret Machines, this is the group's first full-length effort. The band has described the record as "mountain climbing music" and it seems to be just that. Each song develops well and constantly progresses to its dark and chilling natural peak. It's melodic, organic, and electronic all at the same time. That works perfectly for us. STARK recommended.

School of Seven Bells plays this Friday, Nov. 14, with another Stark favorite M83 at Webster Hall in NY. Should be a great show.

Full tour dates with M83 after the jump...

Nov 12 2008 8:00P w/ M83 Charlotte, North Carolina
Nov 13 2008 9:00P w/ M83 WASHINGTON, Washington DC
Nov 14 2008 8:00P w/ M83 New York, New York
Nov 15 2008 8:00P w/ M83 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nov 16 2008 8:30P w/ M83 Northampton, Massachusetts
Nov 18 2008 10:00P w/ M83 Boston, Massachusetts
Nov 19 2008 8:00P w/ M83 Montreal, Quebec
Nov 20 2008 8:00P w/ M83 Toronto, Ontario
Nov 21 2008 8:00P w/ M83 Chicago, Illinois
Nov 22 2008 10:00P w/ M83 Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nov 25 2008 8:00P w/ M83 Seattle, Washington
Nov 26 2008 7:30P w/ M83 Vancouver, British Columbia
Nov 27 2008 9:00P w/ M83 Portland, Oregon
Nov 28 2008 8:00P w/ M83 San Francisco, California
Nov 29 2008 10:00P w/ M83 Los Angeles, California

Fat Synths? Great Vocals? The Black Kids @ Webster Hall

THE BLACK KIDS
WEBSTER HALL
New York, NEW YORK
10.1.08

The Black Kids - "Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend..." - mp3

Not that we had low expectations for the Black Kids last night, but let's just say we weren't really expecting to see anything that earth shattering from our Jacksonville friends. Yet, somehow we found the words "fat synths" "Robert Smith-esque vocals" and "killer dance moves" floating through our heads during the performace at Webster Hall. Was this the same band whose live performances were resoundingly panned during last year's CMJ? Could this be the same off-key back-up singers and metronome-craving drummer we heard on the Wizzard of Ahhs EP? Somehow Columbia molded these five budding musicians into a real damn band. The girls were great - one could even say the highlight - and our boy Kevin Snow held down the time like a champ.

The one thing these kids have always had were well written songs. No matter how jaded you are, or how much you hate the whole scene - you shouldn't be listening to music if you can't tell that these are well crafted pop songs. And last night, the Black Kids came out, rode the strength of those tunes and nailed the shit out of their show.

Openers, the Virgins, played to a packed house of decked-out faux fashionistas moving through a tight set of songs from their eponymous debut released earlier this year on Atlantic. Part time actor/model/front man, Donald Cumming, has a distinct Jagger aura to him, and despite the success or failure of the Virgins, will be able to get a job as the front man for most any band.
Photo credit: Dese'Rae L. Stage

Tonight - Black Kids & The Virgins at Webster Hall

Black Kids - "Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance" - mp3
We've been following the Black Kids' rise to power this year on the back of their Columbia debut Party Traumatic, which proved a fantastic single-filled summer '08 soundtrack. We even spoke with drummer Kevin Snow before they embarked on their massive tour. While we missed their show at Santos Party House several months ago - we're going to be catching them tonight at Webster Hall. Also very enticing is the inclusion of the Virgins on this evenings bill. If you haven't checked them out, make sure you do.

In case you've been living in a cave - the Black Kids' "I'm Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You" is above. Tix are still available for tonight's show.
(photographed for SPIN Magazine by Fergus Padel)

The Tribeca Film Festival Broke Our Favorite Band

The Hold Steady sold out.

I'm sorry to say, but yes, it's true. The Tribeca Film Festival recently went over top of Bowery Presents to book The Hold Steady at Webster Hall. Those unfortunate enough to waste $15 last Friday night saw a rock show that ended at 9:30 p.m. Are you serious? The Hold Steady took the stage around 8:50 p.m., played for 40 minutes, then walked off, never to be seen again. Fans didn't leave in such a fashion. Everyone thought the band's exit was part of an elaborate encore. Then roadies began to break down the gear and fans began to break down as well. Grabbing anything in sight, angered and outright cheated Hold Steady followers began berating stagehands. Full beers, empty cups and gum found their way on stage all while "Fuck Tribeca" and "Hold Steady" chants echoed like that of a European soccer stadium. People were pissed off.

The pseudo-rioters then took to the streets, where fans drunkenly banded together to offer their ill-tempered sentiments to Tribeca officials stationed at the venue door.

You got it wrong, Tribeca. The show was poorly organized and outright embarrassing. Tickets were not even checked upon entrance.

Bowery Presents must have had a good laugh about this one, but Hold Steady fans did not.

HOLD STEADY TONIGHT!

Taking a break from the Nashville posts - Vince and I will be hitting up the Hold Steady/Virgins show tonight at Webster Hall in NY. Should be an awesome night. Here is a preview of what's coming up this weekend and next week...

* Replacements - A History ~Mike Bailey

*More Nashville recap and a review of Wax Fang at Nashville's Mercy Lounge.

* Coverage of the amazing new No Age record due out Tuesday, May 6 on Sub Pop. Stream the whole thing HERE!

*A recap of the Hold Steady's Webster show.

*A preview of the new album by Firewater out on Bloodshot.

... and finally a review of the new record from the hometown-Philly band Make a Rising.