All shots by our staff photographer, Alexis Maindrault. Such a blast!

View many many many more images AFTER THE JUMP…

(Read the article)

Simply put, Suckers are the best up-and-coming NYC based act around. I described their recent Bowery set as ‘epic’ and last night’s performance was nothing short of brilliant as well. I’m in love. Watch their new video for ‘Easy Chairs’ here. Suckers recently recorded a Daytrotter session. Try your hardest to catch Suckers on the final two dates of their current NYC residency.

View more photos & download a Suckers tune AFTER THE JUMP…

(Read the article)

The debut full-length from Japandroids may be titled Post-Nothing but I’d probably classify the boisterous Canadian duo as ‘post everything’. Melding together the best elements from the worlds of punk, noise, garage & shoegaze, Japandroids are tremendous in every sense of the word. Last night’s hour long set proved that they’re more than worthy of the sea of buzz that they’ve generated over the past few months. Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Japandroids @ Seattle’s Capitol Hill Block Party here. Japandroids recently dropped by KEXP. Be sure to visit Japandroids at their MySpace page.

View more photos & download a Japandroids track AFTER THE JUMP…

(Read the article)

Catch ‘em this July at:

Thu. July 9 New York, NY @ Piano’s
Thu. July 16 New York, NY @ Piano’s
Thu. July 23 New York, NY @ Piano’s
Thu. July 30 New York, NY @ Piano’s

Yesterday, they debuted a clip for ‘Easy Chairs’.

Read my review of Suckers @ NYC’s Bowery Ballroom here.

Visit Suckers on MySpace.

Their debut EP is available now via iTunes.

MP3: Suckers – It Gets Your Body Movin’

Every once in a great while, a vocalist comes along and brings you massive goosebumps. For me, right now, that musician is most definitely Sharon Van Etten. I was fortunate enough to catch her twice during CMJ 2008 and fell hard for her passionate, intimate and breathtaking performances. Sharon will probably be grouped alongside Cat Power, Leona Naess & Rachael Yamagata in forthcoming reviews, but in all honesty she truly resonates an immediacy that far surpasses all of the aforementioned artists. Sharon Van Etten’s proper debut full-length will drop in early 2009. Visit SVE on MySpace.

MP3: Sharon Van Etten – Consolation Prize

Accompanied by a full band (as well as a magnificent backing vocalist), Wakey! Wakey! brought ample smiles & sing-alongs to the Ludlow Street haven. Alongside his own glorious tunes, Wakey! Wakey! busted out his ridiculously electrifying cover of Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Crazy’. A crowd pleaser, if ever there was one. All in all, another delightful (albeit brief) set from the Brooklyn based artist. Visit Wakey! Wakey! on MySpace. MP3 at bottom of post.

MP3: Wakey! Wakey! – Brooklyn (Live)

Last night, Stellastarr* performed an intimate set (their second of five) showcasing tunes from the band’s forthcoming junior release in addition to highlighting myriad favorites from their first two LPs. Back in 2003, I was highly enamored with their brilliant self titled debut and saw the quartet’s live show more times than I can possibly remember. With the undeniably tepid response to 2005′s Harmonies For The Haunted (in spite of mega single: ‘Sweet Troubled Soul’), Stellastarr*’s light seemed to be somewhat fading. It is with a happy heart that I report that the handful of new selections I heard twelve hours ago (including ‘Numbers’) sounded truly flawless. Tracks such as ‘The People’, ‘Graffiti Eyes’, and most notably, ‘Prom Zombie’, are simultaneously powerful and a perfect progression from the band’s earlier material. View photos from the gig below. Visit Stellastarr* on MySpace.

(Setlist) Tokyo Sky. Sweet Troubled Soul. Graffiti Eyes. In The Walls. Freak Out. Jenny. The People. A Million Reasons. School Ya. Numbers. On My Own. Prom Zombie. Somewhere Across Forever. My Coco. No Weather.

MP3: Stellastarr* – My Coco

Be sure to catch the band next month on these dates:

November 5th
November 12th
November 19th

Visit B&P on MySpace.

MP3: Bridges & Powerlines – Carmen

Enjoy a snippet from their outstanding performance below. MP3 at bottom of post.

MP3: The Physics Of Meaning – Down At Columbia & Cameron

Enjoy a snippet from their outstanding performance below. MP3 at bottom of post.

MP3: The Physics Of Meaning – Down At Columbia & Cameron