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Last week, in honour of Saturday’s Eurovision Song Contest, we launched our own Alternative Eurovision shindig.

Over two parts (available here and here), we picked a track by an underground artist from each of the 39 countries participating in the official contest, and asked you to pick your favourite of the bunch. It was about as catholic a survey as you could hope for, encompassing head-nod, metal, trap, tech house, acousmatic music, purple and skweee, and you voted in your droves for your favourites. The results have been collected, compiled and independently verified, and we can officially reveal the winner is…Lithuania!

Congratulations to Zebra Katz collaborator Boyfriend, who stormed into first place with 16% of the total vote. Second place, meanwhile, went to hip-hop producer Yeah Left (Serbia), whose ‘Boom Bap Coup’ won 12% of the vote share. Bronze was awarded to caliginous sound artist Kondaktor (Greece) for his eerie collage piece ‘Kozak’. The chattering trap of ELOQ (Denmark) and thrumming grindcore of Nistokki (Finland) brought up the rear, making for an admirably broad Top 5.

Our incisive data analysis drew up the following important conclusions.

Nul points: Every country managed to secure at least a handful of votes, but, afte...

by Fred Pessaro

Mike Judge and Porcell with Judge at Webster Hall last night (via xfaceupx)

Twenty-three years after breaking up, legendary New York hardcore crew Judge took to the stage to a packed house at Webster Hall last night. The show was their second of two dates at the venue (May 18 & 19), both as part of Black & Blue Bowl with support coming from Breakdown on one night and Madball on the other, with other names like Kill Your Idols, Bane, Black Train Jack, Crown of Thornz and more across the two days. Check out some video of Judge from Webster Hall below, including almost all of their 5/18 set and a rendition of "New York Crew" featuring CIV and Toby Morse of H20.

If you missed Judge, Kill Your Idols, Bane or Black Train Jack, you're in luck. All three, as well as names like Cold World, Trapped Under Ice (last show), Sick of it All, Modern Life is War, Paint it Black, Kid Dynamite and Suburban Scum will play This is Hardcore 2013 in Philadelphia in August. Updated lineup is below and tickets are on sale in different incarnations.

In other NYHC news, in addition to his ongoing Lower East Side walking tours, John Joseph of Cro-Mags will lead a pair o...

Glitch-hop producer Derek Vincent Smith (aka Pretty Lights) has teamed with LG Electronics to create the music video for his new single “Around The Block”. In the video, Smith makes use of LG

Lauryn Hill isn’t the only soul legend in tax trouble.

TMZ reports that the IRS has filed a federal tax lien against Blige, who they claim did not pay taxes in 2009, 2010, or 2011, for a tax bill of $3,426,255.43.

The federal tax lien is the latest in a long line of legal troubles for the singer. Earlier this year, New Jersey issued a $900,000 tax lien against her, and she is being sued for allegedly defaulting on a $2.2 million bank loan.

Blige’s last album, 2011′s My Life II… The Journey Continues (Act 1), was the sequel to her iconic 1994 album My Life, and she was featured on Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City. The news comes on the heels of Lauryn Hill’s three month prison sentence for failure to pay taxes on about $1 million.

Jennifer O'Connor at Maxwell's in 2009 (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

As mentioned, indie rock vets Come reissued their debut LP, Eleven: Eleven, earlier this month (5/7) and they're supporting that reissue with a tour. And since we last spoke, openers have been announced for that tour. The NYC show, which happens on June 28 at Bowery Ballroom, will be opened by Come's Matador labelmate Jennifer O'Connor. Tickets for that show are still available. It's Jennifer's only announced date at the moment.

Updated Come dates are listed, along with some videos, below...

Continue reading "Jennifer O'Connor opening for Come (updated dates)" at brooklynvegan

Bleary San Diego rockers Crocodiles released Endless Flowers, their last album, just one year ago, and they’ve already announced plans to release Crimes Of Passion, its follow-up, due later this summer. Crocodiles frontman Brandon Welchez is married to Dum Dum Girls leader Dee Dee, and for this album, Crocodiles recruited a frequent Dum Dums collaborator, the Raveonettes, Sune Rose Wagner, to serve as producer. “Cockroach” is the first song we’ve heard from Crimes Of Passion, and it adds just a touch of polish to the band’s druggy roar. Download the song below.

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Tom Petty at MSG in 2008 (more by Eric M. Townsend)

today in NYC
* Onra @ Le Bain
* Whiplash @ UCB
* Brain Cloud @ Barbes
* Chicha Libre @ Barbes
* Doron Sadja @ Roulette
* John Hodgman @ Union Hall
* Majical Cloudz @ Other Music
* French Montana @ Fuse Studios
* Doug Benson @ Gramercy Theatre
* Andy D, Sofa Club, Ferns @ Glasslands
* Snowmine, Ski Lodge @ Mercury Lounge
* Laura Mvula, Foy Vance @ Bowery Ballroom
* Portugal. The Man, Royal Bangs @ Irving Plaza
* Colour Buk, Patrick Cole, Ultrabunny @ Big Snow
* Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers @ Beacon Theater
* Other Comfort, The People's Temple @ Cake Shop
* The Kin, Tall Tall Trees, Hayley Coupon @ Cameo Gallery
* Reverend Vince Anderson and His Love Choir @ Union Pool
* Jonathan Batiste and The Stay Human Band @ McKittrick Hotel
* Giorgio Moroder, T. Williams, Benjamin Damage, Francois K @ Output
* Elizabeth & The Catapult, Sullivan, Daniel Wayne @ Rockwood Music Hall
* Haunted Leather, Electric Citizen, The Electric Set, Ocean View @ Death By Audio
* Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Fitz and the Tantrums, DJ Cassidy @ Roseland Ballroom
* Wyatt Cenac, Chris Gethard, D.C. Benny, Seth Herzog, Ryam Hamilton, Jules Posner @ Littlefield
* Jonas Reinhardt, OdO (of Forma), Angus Tarnawsky & Shelley Burgon, 51717, Jacob Gorchov @ Rich Lane

Tonight's the first of Tom Petty & the He...

The label shares 40-seconds of music with a vague promise of something more tomorrow.

The brief clip features some hypnagogic sounds with shades of both Jacques Greene and How To Dress Well. While both names are flashed on-screen, it’s unclear whether this is a collaboration or a joint release. More as we have it.

Jacques Greene recently

Portland, OR's Eat Skull were once known for the sort of blown-out punk some called shitgaze but the band have begun turning the levels down to 9.3 and the band's move from Siltbreeze to Woodsist is telling. Eat Skull III, which came out back in February on Woodsist, is on the jangly side with forays into weird synth postpunk, plus melodies and everything. You can stream vaguely tropical "How Do I Know When To Say Goodnight?" as well as the whole album via Spotify, below.

Eat Skull are currently on a tour that will hit NYC this week for two shows: Wednesday (5/22) at 285 Kent with Total Slacker, Vaz, and Call of the Wild (who also play with Weed soon); and Thursday (5/23) at The Flat with Modra and The Abandos. All tour dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Portland band Eat Skull released new LP on Woodsist, on tour, playing two NYC shows this week (dates, streams)" at brooklynvegan

by Andrew Sacher

Vancouver's Weed make the kind of sludgy, melodic rock that bands like California X have also been helping to revive lately, and if you liked Cali X's album, or you know, Dinosaur Jr., this band is for you. They've got a few EPs/singles under their belt, including 2012's Gun Control, and their debut album, Deserve, will be out this July via Couple Skate Records. The album's first single, "Set Me Back," is less lo-fi than the band's past releases and even more hooky. Check it out below.

Weed are currently on a tour with Cascadia which comes to NYC this month for a show at Death by Audio on May 29 with Call of the Wild (who also play with Eat Skull soon) and Giant Peach. Admission for that show is $7 at the door.

All dates are listed, along with the song stream, below...

Continue reading "Weed releasing an LP (stream a track), on tour now (dates)" at brooklynvegan

“It’s easier to think you’re no fun,” Cullen Omori pines in “3am Spiritual”, the latest offering from Smith Westerns’ forthcoming third studio album, Soft Will. It’s melancholy in areas, but mostly a feel good jam that evolves as it ages, sounding like a latter-era Beatles track: think “A Day in the Life” or “Something”. Stream below.

[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/92659903" params="" width=" 100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

Soft Will is due out June 25th via Mom + Pop. The Chicago outfit will support the album with a North American tour this summer, the complete itinerary you can peep right after the tracklist.

Soft Will Tracklist:
01. 3am Spiritual
02. Idol
03. Glossed
04. XXIII
05. Fool Proof
06. White Oath
07. Only Natural
08. Best Friend
09. Cheer Up
10. Varsity

Smith Westerns 2013 Tour Dates:
07/19  - Madison, WI @ Live on King St
07/21

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Mr. Hansen plays ‘Sorry’ and ‘Heaven’s Ladder’ at Santa Cruz, California’s Rio Theatre.

On July 4, Beck will bring together Pulp

If Sun was Koreless’ foray into Phillip Glass territory, then new one Last Remnants, from the Yugen EP out today, is a touch more John Carpenter. Emotive synths and delicately pretty xylophones are like a stroll through a cherry blossom garden in Japanese summertime:

Don’t be hoodwinked by the name – if you’re looking for a band that’s impossible to doze to, Zs are the fellas.

Formed by disillusioned jazz students Sam Hillmer and Alex Mincek at the Manhattan School Of Music, the Brooklyn outfit have spent the last decade-odd building a channel of communication between the city’s high music circles and art-rock scene. Over the years, they’ve proved themselves to be eternal halfway men, determined to outrun expectations and evade purchase. They’ve undergone regular line-up transfusions, swelling from a duo to a six-piece then downsizing to a trio (Hillmer remains the only constant). They’re a valued (if marginal) part of the NYC jazz conversation, and yet they’ve shared bills and studios with Battles, Gang Gang Dance and Genesis P-Orridge. Their signature sound, honed from 2002-7 and collected on last year’s rapidfire Score box set, is similarly difficult to pin down – a bumper-to-bumper collision of free-jazz, prog and US hardcore, simultaneously venomous and prim. Subsequent releases have seen them sprint into even more unusual territory: witness 2010′s thundering New Slaves, a scandalously underrated noise-rock record.

New EP Grain marks another change in personnel, with saxophonist Hillmer joining forces with guitarist Patrick Higgins and drummer Greg Fox. As with so much of the Zs&#821...