COLD CAVE/NITE JEWEL Playing Mercury Lounge This Week

Cold Cave - Laurels of Erotomania [mp3]
Cold Cave - Life Magazine [mp3]

Two of our favorite artists of 2009 are coming together for a sold out show at Mercury Lounge on Thursday. We'll be on hand for full coverage! Check out this video of Cold Cave performing at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, my favorite venue in the country.

MAPS - 'To the Sky'

I've written about MAPS before, but this weekend marks the NYC debut of James Chapman's live incarnation. And timely is such, that a new single and video have emerged from the Mercury Music Prize nominated album "We Can Create". 'To the Sky' will be released via Mute Records in the UK on October 8th, with a US release to follow shortly after.



Maps - To the Sky (music video)


Maps will be playing a pair of live shows in NYC this weekend - Mercury Lounge on Friday (early show) and Luna Lounge in Brooklyn on Saturday.

As I mentioned, "We Can Create" was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize this year. Here is their performance of 'It Will Find You' from the awards show, with Jools Holland introducing them...

Maps - It Will Find You (live at the Mercury Music Prize Awards)

THE FUCKING CHAMPS - Tonight at Mercury Lounge, Tomorrow Night Studio B

San Francisco's THE FUCKING CHAMPS are in town for two shows, tonight at The Mercury Lounge and tomorrow night at Studio B. We'll be on hand for the latter, with some pics and a brief interview with guitarist Tim Green. Their latest opus, appropriately titled "VI" was released on Drag City in April and has received this great review from Pitchfork Media.

Get ready for some hair-raising, mind-blowing, heavy metal action, cause these shows are simply going to rock!

Stream various tracks here.

THE RAVEONETTES - Loud, Intimate, Amazing

THE RAVEONETTES special Loud & Intimate Electric Duo set at The Mercury Lounge last night was simply breathtaking. This was my first time seeing the Swedish band play since their mindblowing 2003 performance at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco. It was such a different experience, but equally amazing. I cannot wait for their next record.

Opening act THE PITY PARTY, also a male/female duo, were also quite awesome. Lead singer/drummer/keyboardist Heisenflei is nothing short of extraordinary, giving the term 'multitasking' a whole new meaning. Wow. If you ever get the chance, see this band live.