New York-based DJ Van Scott has been keeping pretty busy, both with his own work, and with his DJ/production duo Drlkt Freddie (Van + Jad Cooper), which we first introduced last year.
Drlkt Freddie is currently working on a remix project with Casey Spooner (of Fischerspooner) for Casey’s first solo album. So far, the duo has remixed two singles: “Faye Dunaway” and “Spanish Teenager.” Drlkt Freddie (or just Van) may be working on additional tracks from the forthcoming EP and LP. No release dates are set just yet.
Meanwhile, Van recently sent over a couple fun remixes that he’s created on the side:
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YACHT released See Mystery Lights , their first album of DFA Records, last year and it was a solid debut featuring some great moments like “Psychic City”, “The Afterlife”, and “Summer Song.” Luckily the band is currently at work at a follow-up but there is still going to be a bit of a wait until we hear any new recorded material from the band. In the meantime, check out their cover of X’s “Nausea” that was record live on BBC 6. YACHT had this to say about the cover:
X has long been one of YACHT’s favorite bands. Doing a cover of their “Nausea” allowed us to lay hands, albeit momentarily, on the very structure of their greatness. To get lost inside a song we love, a song immortalized in our minds for its chaotic and sludgy performance in the opening credits of The Decline of Western Civilization. We wear Nausea like a cloak, a little ill-fitting perhaps, but draped with reverence.
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You can download the track above and while we wait, YACHT are still on the road with their backing band The Straight Gaze and are set to play a couple of shows including a free show at South Steet Seaport and opening up for The Chemical Brothers in LA. All dates below.
YACHT Tour Dates
08-06 New York, NY @ South Street Seaport (FREE show)
08-21 Trondheim, NO @ Pstereo Festival
08-24 Helsinki, FI @ Club YK
08-26 Copenhagen, DK @ Loppen
08-27 Malmo, SE @ Babel
08-28 Stockholm, SE - Debaser
08-29 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl (with Chemical Brothers and Chromeo)
We knew that !!! was going to follow up their awesome Myth Takes from 2007 with Strange Weather, Isn’t It? but now we have a date and the wait is almost over as the album will drop on August 24.
Strange Weather, Isn’t It? was recorded in Sacramento, Berlin, and New York and if lead single “AM/FM” is any indication, the band has continued their progression from Myth Takes with otherworldly funkiness and insatiable pop goodness. It’s not just great party music, the lyrics are incredibly strong and provide their own sense of fun with great gems of insight. The lyrics for “AM/FM” are below, I also recommend you check out their homepage which offers some cool previews as well as full lyrics to the new album.
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While we are excited about a new album, !!! thrives in a live setting and the band has announced a huge global tour. The Williamsburg Waterfront show will be intense and a must catch event if you are in the area. The band plays the Capital Hill Block Party, Fuji Rock Festival, FYF festival, The Nor’easter, and the Treasure Island Music Festival. The lineup for !!! has evolved over time and now includes frontman Nic Offer, guitarist Mario Andreoni, horn player/keyboardist Daniel Gorman, saxophonist/percussionist Allan Wilson, vocalist Shannon Funchess (of Light Asylum) and drummer Paul Quattrone (of Modey Lemon). All dates below.
Nomi Ruiz broke out in 2008 with her vocal contributions to Hercules and Love Affair’s debut album and subsequent tour with the band. She’s now the singer of Jessica 6, a Hercules spin-off of sorts, with former Hercules collaborators Andrew Raposo (bass) and Morgan Wiley (keyboards).
While Jessica 6 plans to stay active — a debut album appears to be ready for release — Nomi is preparing an album of her own to follow her 2005 debut Lost in Lust.
Your first preview of the forthcoming album Borough Gypsy is this live version of the song “Scarred”:
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Nomi will perform a special one-off show at Joe’s Pub in NYC this Saturday, featuring her new “Borough Gypsy” solo work. The show will feature a full band, with guests including Morgan Wiley on piano and keys, Ben Tyree on guitar, Jim Orso on drums, Marlan Barry on cello, David Azzoni on turntables, Andrew Frawley on percussion, and a horn section, bass player (of course) and background vocalists.
You can also preview an unreleased Jessica 6 song that we shot during fashion week, here, along with the band’s cover of Madonna’s “Justify My Love.” Also check out the music video for Jessica 6’s debut single, “Fun Girl.”
Nothing says summer like outdoor shows. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, The Jelly Pool Parties are no longer held in a pool but the appeal and charm are still there. On a busy day featuring the World Cup final, the party kicked off in a truly unique way. Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof combined to perform Joy Division’s 1979 album, Unknown Pleasures. While it didn’t scream “summer fun,” the set was engaging as the musical muscle and might of the two bands channeled Joy Division’s great energy and intense, haunting music.
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Before that we had a fun set from WHY?, who combined some great rolling hip-hop rhythms with an energetic and indie edge. There is a reason why The Jelly Pool Parties have become a Sunday Brooklyn staple and it’s due to the consistently great sets of music. Sunday didn’t disappoint and I can’t wait for the rest of the series.
The Pool Parties run all summer and next week features the Murder City Devils, Jeff the Brotherhood, and Obits. For now, check out photos of Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof, WHY?, and some special guests below.
Oh look, it’s John Norris chatting with Neon Indian:
Foals are back and ready to return to the states. The UK band released their highly anticipated follow up to Antidotes in May and Total Life Forever sees the band continuing to expand upon their sound. The songs build outwardly, less bombastic but just as intense, it is definitely a more mature and refined sound that doesn’t lose sight of what they do best. With a new album out, the band just announced an American fall tour.
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Kicking off on September 23 in Minnesota the band makes its way across America, including two stops in New York, the Bowery Ballroom on October first and the Music Hall of Williamsburg on the second. Foals are one of the best live acts I’ve seen in awhile. They have an infectious sound, and their musicality really shines live. The music grabs audience and there is nothing to do but get wrapped up in the swell of sound and needless to say I’m excited to see the band back. All dates below.
Foals Tour Dates
09/23 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry
09/24 – Chicago,IL @ Lincoln Hall
09/25 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
09/27 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
09/28 – Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa
09/29 – Boston, MA @ Paradise
10/01 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
10/02 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/03 – Washington, D.C., @ Black Cat
10/05 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
10/08 – Houston, TX @ Walters
10/09 – Austin, TX @ Stubbs
10/10 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival
10/12 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
10/14 – San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
10/18 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
10/21 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
“It’s Friday night and the weekend’s here. I need to unwind. Where’s the party, Mr. D.J.? I am ready to call my friends so we can all get down. Where’s the party? Hey Mr. D.J. Hey Mr. D.J. (You can get this started,) Everybody’s ready to party. (All night, all night,) All the girls are ready (so we can all get to it) so we can party ’till the break of dawn, oh!!! Everybody move your body, now do it. Here is something that’s gonna make you move & grove. Hey D.J. keep playing that song, all night. On and on and on…” - Zhane
FRIDAY
Bear in Heaven, Zola Jesus at South Street Seaport (Free, 7pm)
Designer Drugs at Webster Hall (RSVP)
Jessica 6, Re:Redux, Navegante at Southpaw
SATURDAY
PS1 Warm-Up with Klement (live), Acid Washed (live), Veronica Vasicka (DJ)
Discovery party at Santos with Jacques Renault, Lovefingers & Lee Douglas (RSVP)
Real Estate, Kurt Vile at Maxwell’s
Delorean, Tanlines, Glasser at Bowery Ballroom
SUNDAY
Sunday Best party with Alex from Tokyo (DJ) at Brooklyn Fire Proof Courtyard
3pm - 9pm, food available, 119 Ingraham Street, Brooklyn
$12 at the door, $8 in advance at residentadvisor.net/sundaybest
or $8 before 4pm with RSVP to rsvp@sundaybestnyc.com
The Roots, Talib Kweli, More at Prospect Park Bandshell (Free)
Xiu Xiu, Deerhoof (playing Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures w/ Xiu Xi), Why?, Fang Island, Pictureplane at Williamsburg Waterfront (JellyNYC Pool Party)
Fresh off the release of their album Night Work, Scissor Sisters have announced tour dates for North America and the UK. Find them all, below.
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Fresh off the release of his epic debut album Heartbeats in May (stream below), Grum has announced some North American tour dates. He’s also provided us with an hour-long “summer mix.” And so we provide you with all of these wonderful things, below.
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Thu Jul 22 - Dallas @ PM
Fri Jul 23 - New York @ Webster Hall
Sat July 24 - Toronto @ Wrongbar
Thu July 29 - San Francisco @ Popscene
Fri July 30 - Los Angeles @ Avalon
Get your party gear on because Jelly just announced the Pool Party lineup and it’s got something for everyone. Chuck Schumer pushed to save the parties last year and thanks to his effort, we are getting eight stellar summer Sundays.
The festivities kick off on July 11 with a special rendition of Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures performed by Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof. The second half of the parties look like a dance party with acts like Cut Copy, Chromeo, !!!, Memory Tapes, and Delorean all set to play. Check out the full lineup above and head over to The Pool Parties for all the latest info including details on the official after shows at Brooklyn Bowl.
