Misery In Brooklyn

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I didn't take many pictures or much video at last night's Blonde Redhead show -- in which they performed the entirety of their 2004 album Misery is a Butterfly with a small orchestra inside the grand Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Brooklyn -- because it was more of a sit n' soak in the sound kind of atmosphere. But during their encore a bunch of people rushed up the aisle and it became a bit looser so I recorded their final song, and you can watch that below if you care to. Fantastic show. They also performed two new songs which were really lovely and now I'm immediately impatient for a new album.

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Clashing Lies And Clashing Thighs

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I'm a little lopsided tired today because as I mentioned earlier this morning alongside those Aaron Johnson Beefcake Pictures I went to a concert last night - well here's my requisite concert post! It was Blonde Redhead, again - I've had to have seen them at least a dozen times now. And every time's been worth it! I hope y'all are fans. You should be fans. Go buy all of their albums and become fans, so we can continue being friends. I uploaded four videos from the show onto YouTube but here, I will share the video I took of them performing my number one favorite song last night, "Spring and By Summer Fall" off of their album 23...

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You're Alive, It's The Same

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I mentioned yesterday that I was up to this last night but Blonde Redhead played a short set for a record release party for their new album called Barragan out in Brooklyn last night and far be it from me (very far, obviously) not to share. Below's a video I took of them performing their new song "Dripping" and if you click over here you can also see them perform a ten-minute new song called "Mind To Be Had." I adore these guys.
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Kazu & The Twins

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The new album Barragan by Blonde Redhead, one of my favorite bands, is out today - go buy it! You do that and I'll go see them in an eensy weensy space in Brooklyn for a record release party tonight, deal? Deal.

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Dripping With Blonde

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Hey look it's the second single off of Blonde Redhead's upcoming new album Barragán, huzzah! This song is called "Dripping" (via) and it follows the song called "No More Honey" which they released online just about one month ago. At this rate we'll already have half the album by the time it's out in September. What I most want and don't yet have though is news of their U.S. tour - they have a bunch of dates lined up in Europe in September and October but nothing announced here yet. I've gotten to see them live on New Years Eve twice now and I'd be cool with that again. Just in case you're listening, guys!

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No More Honey

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Oh my god you guys - new music from Blonde Redhead! (via) The song is called "No More Honey" (hence this post's title, ta-dah!) and it's from their upcoming new album Barragán, which will be released on September 9th. Here's the cover:

Have I got some BR fans up in here? They are one of my most favorite bands - their albums Misery is a Butterfly and especially 23 are straight-up masterpieces that I can (and have) listen to on repeat for endless hours upon hours.I need them to announce tour dates immediately.
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You Have All Let Me Down

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Seriously. All y'all need some thinkin' time in the corner, because I am severely disappointed in you. A brand new Sufjan Stevens song is released, and no one tells me? Just... HOW COULD YOU? I am ashamed. Deeply ashamed of every single one of you. I don't know if I can look you in the face right now. Just... just leave me alone. No... don't say you're sorry, I said just leave me alone. I need time to... NO... I have to think. God. Via:

"Today's Dark Was The Night track comes to us from a guy named Sufjan Stevens. It's a cover of the Castanets' "You Are The Blood," originally on Ray & rotating Co's 2004 album Cathedral (keeping it in the Asthmatic Kitty family, see). For his updated take, Stevens replaces the original's minimal gothic atmospherics with crazed keyboarding, carnival percussion, high-pitched vocalisms, and layers of general instrumental zaniness until a soft, Sufjan-y return. Take a listen. It sounds like he decided to put every piece of equipment in his studio to use."

Dark Was The Night is a charity compilation - a kick-arse compilation - that comes out on February 16th. Because it's for charity - AIDS, y'all - I'm not gonna offer any free downloads, but you can listen to the Sufjan song right at this link.

There's also a new Arcade Fire song on it, which you can hear here. Other tunes on the compilation are by Grizzly Bear, Feist and Ben Gibbard, Bon Iver, My Brightest Diamond, The Kronos Quartet, The Decemberists, Iron & Wine, Beirut, My Morning Jacket, The New Pornographers, Cat Power, Blonde Redhead... AND MORE. Seriously... that list blows my mind.
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What I Did This Weekend

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I had no clue when I bought tickets to see Arcade Fire that I was signing on for an all-day festival-type gig. I thought it was a little odd that the show was starting - or, that is, was scheduled to start - at 3:30pm on Saturday, but I figured since it was an outdoor show on Randall's Island that they were just taking advantage of the supposed to be cooling weather (ha!).

But no, there were a couple surprises in store for me. Like the four other bands playing. I knew LCD Soundsystem was on the bill, but Wild Light, Les Savy Fav, and Blonde Redhead were all news to me. All told, I ended up being there for about seven whopping music-filled hours. Was a fantastic show, though, and well worth the endless nightmare of getting off the island after the show... that sort of hassle that always seems to follow a big show in NYC. Arcade Fire were fantastic live, and I highly recommend y'all check them out if you ever get the chance.


I also found myself really digging Blonde Redhead, whom I'd always seen lumped with bands I like but had never listened to before. Quite good, them.

(pics from here)

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