Niki and the Dove are back in New York. Instead of playing support, Niki and the Dove headlined a sold out Bowery Ballroom. The duo hailing from Stockholm, Sweden did not disappoint nor were there any jitters from such a big show.

There is something instantly engaging with Niki and the Dove. Be it the easy smiles from Malin Dahlström or the club-worthy beats laid out by Gustaf Karlöf, Niki and the Dove build a strong foundation right away and it doesn’t hurt to have a handful of pop gems to work with.

Full review, including photos, after the jump.
continue reading "Niki and the Dove Charm Bowery Ballroom"

Aesthetics are everything for a band. If you don’t have an identity it is easy for a band to lose their place in a crowded field. Vacationer do not have that problem and it’s easy to see why they had more than a few fans at Bowery Ballroom on January 12.

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Vacationer are just that, a trip away from the mundane and the daily grind. Step back, step out and set your blanket down. Vactioner may be too on the nose with their set up, a lit up globe, videos of scenic destinations, but the vibe and the atmosphere that they created resonated with the crowd. With songs like “Gone,” “Trip” or “No Rules,” Vacationer are a band that feels remarkably poised and established and that credit goes to the established identity of the group and its music as well as to their frontman, Kenny Vasoli.

More of the review and full set of photos from the night after the jump.
continue reading "Vacationer Chill Out Bowery Ballroom"

Niki and the Dove kick off a US tour today in Philly. We last caught the Swedish duo at the Music Hall of Williamsburg last fall when they were opening for Twin Shadow. This time they’re headlining, and we’re psyched. Here are the dates:

01/10 – Union Transfer – Philadeplphia, PA
01/11 – Rock N Roll Hotel – Washington, DC
01/12 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
01/13 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
01/14 – Le Belmont – Montreal, QC
01/16 – Wrong Bar – Toronto, ON
01/18 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
01/19 – Triple Rock Social Club – Minneapolis, MN
01/22 – The Crocodile – Seattle, WA
01/23 – Electric Owl – Vancouver, BC
01/24 – Doug Fir Lounge – Portland, OR
01/26 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA
01/27 – Constellation Room – Santa Ana, CA
01/28 – El Rey Theater – Los Angeles, CA
01/29 – Casbah – San Diego, CA
01/30 – The Barn – Riverside, CA

It’s October 16, and in New York, that means the start of the 2012 CMJ Music Marathon. Perhaps the easiest thing you’ll do in the next four days will be picking up your badge. From there, there are endless possibilities to spend your day and night. So over the next four days, TheMusic.FM will help ease some of that burden. Come along and let’s see some of the best acts and showcases for Tuesday and Wednesday.

See our CMJ recommendations after the jump.
continue reading "Your Primer for CMJ 2012: Part 1"

Gotye concluded his two night stay in New York at Williamsburg Park on September 27. The night was a little different than his previous night at Radio City Music Hall. The outdoor venue let fans get up close to Gotye and enjoy the music on a warm fall night and were treated to a longer set.

The night began a little differently with Gotye starting with “Eyes Wide Open” in Williamsburg and through the night Gotye sprinkled in some other songs that he did not play at Radio City Music Hall including “Don’t Worry, We’ll Be Watching You” and “The Only Thing I Know” in the main set. Of course, fans were delighted to hear “Somebody I Used to Know” although there was no special guest vocals to accompany Gotye.

For the encore, Gotye added “I Feel Better” in addition to “Seven Hours With a Back Seat Driver” and closed the night with “Learnalilgivinanlovin.”

Check out the set list after the jump.
continue reading "Photos: Gotye at Williamsburg Park"