World's Fair

Condé Nast’s Daily Traveler has already been showing some early love to Hollywood, Mon Amour, the new project from Nouvelle Vague’s Marc Collin. The self-titled record, out March 3 on [PIAS], is a collection of 80s’ movie songs reimagined and reinvented by Collin with the help of some of his favorite singers, including Juliette Lewis, former Morcheeba star Skye, Yael Naim, Nadeah, and Cibelle.

The Daily Traveler was enamored with the covers, going through the album nearly track-by-track and taking a particular liking to the contributions from Skye (”Her understated version of ‘A View to a Kill’ (the theme from A View to a Kill 1985) is, excuse me, way better than Duran Duran’s, and it puts romance back into the song“) and the Australian-born Nadeah (”…did the world ever need to hear ‘Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)’ (Arthur 1981) again? Australian-born Nadeah’s version will change your mind“). You can read the whole piece here.

Marc Collin and Nadeah recently performed “Call Me” live on the Belgian national TV program De Laatste Show. Check it out below.

Artist: Hollywood, Mon Amour
Album: Hollywood, Mon Amour
Label: [PIAS] Recordings
Street Date: March 3, 2008

CONNECT: World’s Fair | MySpace | Website

Roger O’Donnell, former Cure member and keyboardist extraordinaire, is getting ready to release his second full-length, Songs From The Silver Box, almost exactly one month from today. The album features Roger on his beloved Moog Voyager, and while many of the tracks are instrumental, Roger is giving away the song “Tiny Pieces of You,” which features vocalist Erin Lang. You may check it out for yourself right here.
 
 
 
DOWNLOAD “Tiny Pieces of You”
 
 
 
 
 

Artist: Roger O’Donnell
Album: Songs From The Silver Box
Label: Great Society
Street Date: January 20, 2009

CONNECT: World’s Fair | MySpace | Website

Curumin, who was recently in Brooklyn as a featured performer at Red Hot + Rio, is coming back to the States early next year for a full tour, with stops Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, and San Francisco, among others (and with more dates to come!). The LA show will feature special guest Money Mark, while San Francisco will have Money Mark, Tommy Guerrero, and Blackalicious.

Curumin’s new song, “Caixa Preta” (from his full-length JapanPopShow), was also featured as RCRD LBL’s mp3 of the day on Tuesday.

DOWNLOAD “Caixa Preta” (via RCRD LBL) here

Jan 20 San Diego, CA @ The Loft
Jan 21 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo (featuring special guest Money Mark)
Jan 22 San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s (featuring special guests Tommy Guerrero, Blackalicious & Money Mark)
Jan 23 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
Jan 24 Seattle, WA @ Nectar
Jan 27 Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar
Jan 28 Chicago, IL @ Old Town School

MORE DATES TO COME!

Artist: Curumin
Album: JapanPopShow
Label: Quannum Projects
Street Date: OUT NOW

CONNECT: World’s Fair | MySpace | Youtube

This holiday season, the ghosts of alt-rock Christmas bring a special re-release from Secret Machines’ front man Brandon Curtis, featuring vocalist Tamaryn, whose solemn adaptation of the relentlessly familiar 1818 German Christmas classic “Silent Night” evokes the darker side of human nature in its quest to rekindle compassion for mankind. The digital-only offering will be available from the Secret Machines’ website starting Monday, December 15th as a free download, with the option to make a donation to the children’s charity, Safe Horizon, which will receive 100% of the proceeds.

“We originally released it in 2006 as a little Christmas gift of our own, on MySpace. Tamaryn and I were both performing in New York at the time, and we were looking for an opportunity to work together on some music. It was December and we were confined by the cold, confined by the holidays, and confined by our own disillusionment. It started with this story which Tamaryn had written,” explains Curtis. A pastor looks down from a hill and meditates on a peaceful blanket of snow. From beyond the heavens he hears the sound of angels singing; a leader is born in silence, no fireworks or roaring crowds a child of sovereign blood first hears. Everything quiet, calm and otherworldly, the angels continue to sing, their romantic illuminations so powerful that one trembles upon seeing them and recognizes the dawn of grace.

The story behind the song’s inspiration gives way to the importance of giving back to those in need during these trying times. The song is being offered free of charge, or with the option to make a goodwill donation to Safe Horizon, a New York-based charity that assists victims of abuse, neglect, and domestic violence. “Silent Night is the song of an angelic yearning for the perfection of pure love. To sing it is to join in the universal hope that it exists,” continues Tamaryn. “It’s a really pretty image — Utopian for sure — but isn’t that what it’s all about?” adds Brandon.

Tamaryn is a vocalist living between New York and San Francisco. Her EP Led Astray, Washed Ashore is being released by Troubleman Unlimited this spring.

To download the song and donate to Safe Horizon, visit www.thesecretmachines.com.

Yep, it’s that time again: time for new takes on old holiday favorites. Oklahoma indie rock quartet Colourmusic, who are known for their high energy shows, chose to slow things down on their cover of the Duke Ellington/John Coltrane classic “In A Sentimental Mood.”

Which you may find here:
DOWNLOAD Colourmusic’s cover of “In A Sentimental Mood”

Colourmusic just finished up their tour with Dressy Bessy; they have a few more dates in the West (including a show tonight in Fort Collins!) before heading into an East Coast run in January.

Dec 16 Ft. Collins, CO @ Road 34 Bike Bar
Dec 17 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive
Dec 19 Lawrence, KS @ Replay Lounge

Jan 14 Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s
Jan 16 Chicago, IL @ Schubas (Tomorrow Never Knows Festival)
Jan 17 Columbus, OH @ The Summit
Jan 18 Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop
Jan 20 Cambridge, MA @ TT The Bear’s
Jan 21 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall
Jan 22 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s (w/ Longwave)
Jan 23 Baltimore, MD @ The Ottobar (w/ Longwave)
Jan 24 Arlington, VA @ IOTA Cub & Cafe’
Jan 25 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
Jan 27 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
Jan 28 Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree
Jan 29 Nashville, TN @ 12th and Porter
Jan 30 Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Cafe

Artist: Colourmusic
Album: f, monday, orange, february, venus, lunatic, 1 or 13
Label: Great Society
Street Date: OUT NOW

CONNECT: World’s Fair | MySpace | Website | YouTube

The Dandy Warhols, besides touring Europe (they’re in Glasgow tonight and Dublin Wednesday), organizing a Benefit Project, and putting out a video/remix project, are also full engaged in the holiday spirit. They’re currently offering their version of “Little Drummer Boy” on their MySpace and Facebook sites. Longtime Warhols fans may recognize the song from around the time of their first album, Dandys Rule, OK? — but now it’s out for FREE.

AND, if you’re going to be anywhere near Chicago on the 31st, the Dandy Warhols will be playing a very special New Year’s Eve show at the Metro. Suffice it to say, it’s going to be a special event, complete with, among other things “awesome tuxedo shirts.”

You can check out song below.

Artist: The Dandy Warhols
Album: Earth To The Dandy Warhols
Label: Beat The World Records
OUT NOW

CONNECT: World’s Fair | Myspace | Website | YouTube | Facebook

The Secret Machines are pleased to announce the release of a very special 12″ of the previously physically unavailable “Dreaming of Dreaming” b/w the never-before-released “Daylight, It Won’t Be Long.” Both songs were recorded during the sessions that produced the band’s eagerly-anticipated third full-length, Secret Machines. The 12″ itself, purple marble vinyl, is limited to 600 copies only. Participating vendors can be found on thinkindie.com. The record can also be purchased on Insound.

The Secret Machines just finished up their extensive live tour last month, including 3 shows in Mexico opening for Oasis. They play tonight in Houston at Warehouse Live with special co-headliner Perry Farrell.

Dec 12 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live (Co-headlining w/ Perry Farrell)

That’s right, in case you hadn’t heard, Apollo Sunshine will be teaming up with gypsy-punk rockers Gogol Bordello on December 29 for a show at New York City’s Webster Hall.

What better way to start the New Year’s celebration early than with some high-energy music from two of the best live acts out there?!

Dec 29 New York, NY @ Webster Hall (w/Gogol Bordello)

Here’s the video for “Singing To The Earth (To Thank Her For You) to tide you over until the 29th…

Artist: Apollo Sunshine
Album: Shall Noise Upon
Label: Headless Heroes
OUT NOW

Brookville, the side-project for Ivy’s Andy Chase, will be playing three shows in New York in the next few weeks, including one TONIGHT at Park Slope’s Union Hall.

Next week there will be TWO chances to see the band, including a very special show on Tuesday, December 16 at Arlene’s Grocery with Lana Mir and Grey Race.

Dec 11 New York, NY @ Union Hall
Dec 16 New York, NY @ Arlene’s Grocery w/ Lana Mir
Dec 19 New York, NY @ Rockwood

Brookville - “Golden” [DOWNLOAD]

CONNECT: Myspace | Website | World’s Fair | iTunes | Amazon

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings — with labelmates Menahan Street Band — as openers, just finished up a short, and very successful, run of the Midwest and are now back home in Brooklyn before heading out west in January (and back in New York for Valentine’s Day…).

The band started their run in Minneapolis (Culture Bully reviewed it), then headed south, stopping first in Madison (her debut performance there), Chicago (where hometown legend Syl Johnson made a surprise appearance), and St. Louis before heading to Bloomington, IN to finish up the tour.

Present at all these shows was none other than Charles Bradley, who, besides gracing two Menahan Street Band songs with his vocals, sang a rousing duet of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” with Ms. Jones.

If you haven’t had a chance to see him yet (he was also at Daptone’s successful Obama fundraiser back in October), Charles will be singing with MSB at their December 20 show at Brooklyn’s Southpaw.

Also coming up next week is the one-and-only Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens, who will be taking a break from their regular Friday-night Fat Cat reign to play with Budos Band (who played a knockout free show at BAMcafe Live last Saturday night) at Mercury Lounge on December 19.

Budos Band/Naomi Shelton Tour Dates
Dec 19 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge

Menahan Street Band Tour Dates
Dec 20 Brooklyn, NY @ Southpaw

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Tour Dates
Jan 23 San Diego, CA @ 4th and B
Jan 25 Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theatre
Jan 28 San Francisco, CA @ Warfield theatre
Jan 30 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
Jan 31 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
Feb 13 New York, NY @ Nokia Live Theatre
Feb 14 New York, NY @ Nokia Live Theatre

DOWNLOAD Menahan Street Band — “Make the Road by Walking”

Budos Band — “Chicago Falcon” [DOWNLOAD]

Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens — “What Have You Done” [LINK TO STREAM]

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings — “100 Days, 100 Nights”