Be 'Afraid'

 

Torture and the Desert Spiders, "a left-field garage project based around the songwriting" of the Brooklyn-based Anna Kunz, has several shows coming up in the neighborhood, including Wednesday at Mercury Lounge and a residency at Baker Falls (April 22 and 29). Check them out.

The video here is for the track "Sinéad, I'm Afraid."

'Rent' control

 

The London-based Snapped Ankles recently released its fourth record, the appropriately titled Hard Times Furious Dancing.

The video here is for "Pay the Rent." 

Tainted love

 

"Liquorice" is the latest single from Freak Slug... on the recently released deluxe LP I Blow Out Big Candles (But with a Cherry on Top). 

You can catch Manchester's finest at the Bowery Ballroom this coming Wednesday. Find tickets here.

Party like it's 2015

 

Brooklyn-based Two-Man Giant Squid (alums of a Tompkins Square Park Show Brain show) has just released a new self-titled LP. 

The video here is for "I was a DJ in 2015." 

You can check out their art-punk stylings on March 29 during a record release show at Market Hotel.

'Swamp' thing

 

Everything Is Recorded (aka Richard Russell, owner of XL Recordings in the UK) is back with his third studio release (on XL Recordings!). 

The above video is for "Swamp Dream #3," featuring Mary and The Junkyard's Clari Freeman-Taylor on vocals.

Damn Damn Damn

 

RIP Brian James, the guitarist and co-founding member of the Damned. He died this week at age 70.

In October 1976, the Damned released their debut single, "New Rose," written by James. The Damned was the first UK punk band to release an official song. It appreared on the Damned Damned Damned record. 

He also played with the Lords of the New Church and Iggy Pop, among others.

   

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• The Damned's Captain Sensible on the return of drummer Rat Scabies, the importance of the Ramones and the legend of CBGB

In the 'City'

We continue to highlight indie acts performing at this year's New Colossus Festival, which will take place in East Village and LES venues from March 4 to 9. 

Here is the darkwave-synth pop of Coatie Pop with "City Song." 

The NYC-based duo will perform on March 8 at 10 p.m. at the Bowery Electric on a bill featuring EVG favorites Genre Is Death.

Find Festival info here.

'Doppler' effect

We continue to highlight indie acts performing at this year's New Colossus Festival, which will take place in East Village and LES venues from March 4 to 9. 

On March 8, there's an all-day shoegaze showcase at Arlene's Grocery. On the bill: Washington, D.C.'s Skymender. The above video is for "Doppler," from the band's debut record. (Skymender is playing first in the afternoon session — $10 to see seven bands.)

Find Festival info here.

Mind the gap

We continue to highlight indie acts performing at this year's New Colossus Festival, which will take place in East Village and LES venues from March 4 to 9. 

Here's NYC-based Mahogany with "A Scaffold." Catch them at the all-day shoegaze party on March 8 at Arlene's Grocery.

Find Festival info here.

My 'Bloody' valentine

We continue to highlight indie acts performing at this year's New Colossus Festival, which will take place in East Village and LES venues from March 4 to 9. 

Here's Miami-based surf-punk duo Camp Blu with "Bloody Kisses" and a real creeper of a video 

Find Festival info here.

'Kiss' them for me

 

Over the next few weeks, we'll highlight indie acts performing at this year's New Colossus Festival, which will take place in East Village and LES venues from March 4 to 9. 

Here's dark-wave Canadian artist Frankie Flowers with "Kiss Me Like the World Is Ending." 

Find Festival info here.

In 'Memory' Of

 

NYC's Pop Music Fever Dream — veterans of Show Brain's summer shows in Tompkins Square Park —just released this new video for their song "Elegy for Memory" (from the Songs for Emotion EP). 

PMFD will be playing the New Colossus Festival around the neighborhood in early March. Check them out if you can.

Blue highway

 

In memory of filmmaker-musician-artist David Lynch, who died yesterday at age 78. 

The video here is for "I'm Waiting Here," the lead single from Lynch's third studio album The Big Dream (2013) ... with lyrics and vocals by Lykke Li. 

 I have no idea where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.

'Sunset' now

 

Local band Rebounder is working on a new album... and heading out on a short tour with JW Francis.

Rebound plays at Public Records out in Gowanus (tickets here) this coming Thursday (Jan. 16). They'll be on around 9 p.m.

The above video is for the band's most recent single, "Sunset Vision."

'Whisper' to a scream

 

Voyeur was one of the local bands on the bill this past New Year's Eve at Night Club 101, the new venue opening in the former Pyramid Club and Baker Falls. (More background here.) 

On NYE, Amiture opened, followed by Voyeur, then a surprise set by MJ Lenderman before headliner Water From Your Eyes.

Voyeur will be back at the Avenue A space for shows on Jan. 18, Feb. 15 and March 21. 

The video above is for "Whisper," from the NYC band's recently released EP, Something Becomes You.

A night like this

 

The Cure's A Song From the Lost World" (the band's first album since 2008) made plenty of year-end top-10 lists. (It would make the EVG top 10 as well.)

On Dec. 18, the band released a live version of the single "A Fragile Thing," recorded at the Troxy London show last month.

Our finest gifts we bring

 

Getting to some Christmas requests ... from 1998, a cover of "The Little Drummer Boy" by the Dandy Warhols...

95 Bulls session

 

This mini set via 95 Bulls was released on Nov. 22... filmed live at Mrs. Morgan's Flower Shop in Bronxville... and presented by Show Brain, which brought lots of live music to Tompkins Square Park (and elsewhere) this past year (bands that included 95 Bulls).

Built to 'Spells'

 

Freak Slug — aka Manchester-based performer Xenya Genovese — saw the release of her debut full-length release, I Blow Out Big Candles, earlier this month. 

The video here is for "Spells." 

She plays two shows in Brooklyn this weekend (Baby's All Right and Union Pool), though both are sold out. 

Freak Slug will be back around in April, headlining the Bowery Ballroom.

The 'Ghosts' in you

 

Seattle's KEXP recently released this video of an in-studio performance by EVG faves Cults. 

The band with local roots recently released their fifth LP, To the Ghosts, this past summer.

Enjoy the extended live set and interview...

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Cults classic: East Village-based duo on the release of their fourth record