Occupy Sandy presents acoustic performances from the above acts this Saturday, November 17 at the Brooklyn Heights church St Ann & The Holy Trinity.

Tickets and donations at occupysandy.eventbrite.com.

Chilly Gonzalez is one man with many facets to his personality and performance. Behind a piano at Le Poisson Rouge and backed by the Fuck Luck Orchestra, Gonzalez is a powerful performer who can make you laugh and think with alarming ease.

Gonzalez’s “Piano Talk Show,” is a performance act that features Chilly talking about modern life, inspiration for his songs as well as playing the piano and rapping. This may seem like a bizarre concoction of a mad man, and you’d be right. But with Chilly, this strange brew of comedy and musical genius goes down smooth.

More from the night, including photos and a video after the jump.
continue reading "Chilly Gonzales’ Unique Style Strikes a Chord at Le Poisson Rouge"

Is this long overdue or what? Jack White is finally releasing a solo album of his own.

Despite amazing success with The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, we have never heard a solo album by the prolific Jack White. He set up Third Man Records and helped re-launch careers such as Wanda Jackson’s. It’s finally time that White takes front and center with Blunderbuss.

Blunderbuss will be White’s solo debut. It will be released on Third Man Records on April 23 in the UK and April 24 in the United States. You can check out the lead single “Love Interruption” above.

“Love Interruption” is pretty stripped down, which I expected from a White solo venture. It features White accompanied by some keys, an acoustic guitar and features backing vocals by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Ruby Amanfu adding some nice depth to a simple song. It’s a great start and sure to whet the appetite for White’s solo debut.

“Love Interruption” will be released on a 7″ single on February 7. You can pre-order the single here. The 7″ single will include a non-LP B-side, “Machine Gun Silhouette.” You can buy it digitally on January 31, 2012.

Jack White has been the front man for The White Stripes and The Raconteurs (although he shared those duties with Brendan Benson) and has either handled or shared song writing duties. It will be interesting to see what Blunderbuss will be as it will be all Jack White.

Hot off the heels of the initial announcement, CMJ has announced its second round of artists set to play the music marathon. Unfortunately, Handsome Furs are not appearing this year but J. Mascis, Gang Gang Dance, Shonen Knife, Cloud Nothings and Free Energy might help ease that pain.

That’s not all folks as Oberhofer, Zomby, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Boy & Bear, Casiokids, Pujol, Smif-N-Wessum and Kendrick Lamar, T. Mills, Joker, Painted Palms, Flatliners, Robbers on High Street, Bag Raiders, Young Buffalo, Skeletonwitch, Gary Clark, Jr. and 1, 2, 3 have also been added to the lineup.

It’s an eclectic mix of artists this round that will pair nicely with the initial round of artists announced. I still feel like CMJ is missing out on another larger act as well as rounding out its roster of exciting new acts. A lot of these acts have been making the rounds and are somewhat known commodities. Don’t panic just yet as there will be plenty of additional artists added to the lineup that will prove me wrong.

The early discount for CMJ badges ends on September 26. Get your tickets here.

Kurt Vile and the Violators stopped by The Echo in LA last week for an amazing set that included gems from his latest album Smoke Ring From My Halo.

continue reading "Kurt Vile Plays The Echo, LA (Photos)"