Live: Shellac at Bell House 10.4.11

Shellac has been ramping up their live presence in recent years. After a long spate of no shows outside of the odd Chicago show, this set of shows marked at least the third or fourth set of NYC live shows post the release of Excellent Italian Greyhound. Irritatingly enough, the shows were in Brooklyn again, which save for the fact that I got to ride out to the show with Col, continues to be an irritation, even if The Bell House is a great place to see a show.

We missed Helen Money this time around, owing to social issues, but managed to post up front and center for the proceedings. Steve was a bit sick, and crankier than usual, despite the (in my mind, at least) glaring lack of Odd Future heckling was in fine obstreperous form. Luckily some douche managed to step up and piss him off, garnering him a headlock chastising and begging the question what one has to do to get thrown out of a show in this day and age. Douchebaggery aside, the set was aces as usual, with Trainer putting in a clinic on skin-beating. No surprises in the set (or The Rambler Song for that matter) with the gents going maybe an hour before pulling the rip cord and bailing. Good times, good company. No word on any new releases, or any other dates round these parts, but East Coasters (and UKers) can see them at this year's ATP shows.

R

Austin Lucas and The Bold Party @ Union Hall 8.23.11

Almost shit the bed on this one. Were it not for a heads up from Rut, I would have totally stayed on the phone talking to someone who has since proven somewhat shitty and not made it over the bridge to bucolic Park Slope for this show. As it was, I ended up missing Marcellus Hall open owing to social matters, which again in retrospect was a bummer. I enjoyed Railroad Jerk and White Hassle a good bit back in that day and was wondering what he'd been doing. I assume that he's moved out of the LES, as I've not seen him around in a dog's age, but really have to check out what he's bringing to the table with The Hostages.

A couple drinks and an ominous harbinger later, I posted up frontside for good sightlines and some digitization. I like the new record ok, but if anything it was a little lacking in focus. The songs were there, but while a lot of his stronger material is acoustic, apparently Austin wants to meld his rock and song-driven sides a little more, so this time he's got a trio of Bloomington heavies backing him, including one Braddlesnake from his last tour through town. Listening back to the recording, I like the band more in retrospect. The Bold Party seems more a bunch of solid players about Bloomington touring behind Austin than a tight band, but the set was solid. A pretty good selection from the new record in the rock end of things, closing with a solo Go West in the crowd. Thanks to the guy who pointed out that I was in record ready three songs in. If you want a copy of the recording, hit me up via the e-mail.

R

Live: Christie Front Drive @ Bell House 7.30.11

Boy, reunion city has a whole bunch of new residents, lately. In yet another of a series of events seemingly calculated only to remind me of my rapidly advancing age, Christie Front Drive have reunited for two shows (one Brooklyn, one in their home town of Denver), fifteen years after their last live performance as a band. Yes, there was a one-off in Denver a couple of years ago, but let's move forward.

So I got an email about this once it firmed up and bought a ticket with the rapidity you might expect for a nerd such as myself. I figured there was a pretty good chance that I missed CFD play previously, but it seemed prudent to rectify the situation this time around. I had seen all the post-CFD Richter projects and interviewed him a couple times in The 101 era. As I understand, Golden City is defunct and Richter is projectless currently.

Rolled up to Bell House just as the opener I had fully intended to miss finished and ran into Jason and his band (and Band) of AZ ex-pats. Shot the shit for a bit about current Seven Storey/Jimmy Eat World goings-on and staked out some recording real estate as the gents started their intro music. The team sounded pretty decent for having been fallow for the better part of a decade and a half. People are heavier, but seemingly in good health, although one never really though of this crew as being the biggest crew of party animals. I didn't figure on so comprehensive of a set, but they opened with Seven Day Candle and closed with an impromptu version of Dirt about an hour and fifteen minutes later. The set wasn't without it's rough spots, but was pretty aces for the most part.

I got a pretty good recording of the whole thing that I'll pass around, barring the CFD crew nixing the idea. Email me for a link. The last 10 seconds of Dirt are cut off, but the rest is definitely excellent.

R

Live: Seaweed @ Bell House 4.22.11

I'm no David or Jim Wilbur, but I like me some Seaweed. It had been a long damn time since I had seen them, and Aaron mentioned it had been ten years since they'd been East. I can only assume that the show was the lackluster SESAC showcase at Coney Island High, a memory that didn't portend all that well for a one-off fly-in show on borrowed gear. In fact, the poor sound for the first couple songs did little to diminish my crankiness over having ridden out to the wilds of Brooklyn. Luckily, by the time Losing Skin jumped off things were firing on all cylinders and Tacoma's finest dispensed with the ass-kicking for the duration.

Seaweed have songs. Check that set list, kids, and know that while some pounds have been added to various frames in the franchise, these veterans can still bring it. I'd like to see them and Samiam do some touring together. There's a new Seaweed record coming, so lets hope that the planets align and its not just on the West Coast.

R

Live: Shellac with Helen Money @ The Bell House 9.7.10

When I first moved into my own Manhattan apartment in the early 90's, my roommate was your textbook over-educated rock guy from Buffalo, with record-collection to match. I know that's how I heard Shellac for the first time, but I'm a bit hazier as to when I saw them for the first time. I'm pretty sure it was at the Houston St. Knit with Rodan. I definitely saw them after that behind At Action Park at the Leonard St. Knit. Regardless, a live Shellac show is a proposition not to be missed.

I didn't even know that Shellac were coming through town, but blundered upon the Bell House listing and snatched up a ticket. As the date grew nigh, I suddenly remembered the show was coming up and thought that maybe I had missed it, but ginkgo was on my side and I made it to Bell House with little incident. Shellac have evidently garnered quite a following with the cycling set, as there was no parking to be had for blocks. The show was sold out, and The Bell House was full both in the live room and in the bars. Hooked up with Aaron and caught a good part of the Helen Money set. Ms. Money is a solo cellist who loops and distorts in the manner you might expect from a Chicago solo cellist opening for Shellac. Good stuff. Aaron bought the record, so look for a review soonish. She seemed to be well-received, so I'd expect a solo show in town soon.

Shellac were on a little after 10 and tore the place up in their time-honored fashion. Trainer still sets up on the lip on the stage and the identical amps and Travis Beans are still in evidence. Weston works the crowd nicely (as evinced by the 90+ minutes of banter compiled here by Henry Chunklet), but had me at the Aqua Teen Ignignok and Err wristbands. No mention of any new release, but there haven't been a ton of dates behind Excellent Italian Greyhound, so I guess we'll call this promotion for same. I would have liked to have heard The Rambler Song, but most of my favorites popped up in the set. It went maybe a song or two long for a school night, but this show marks as one of the best sets of 2010 nonetheless. The team is off to Europe for a week or so, but no other US dates seem to be on the docket and I'm not sure where you would find out if they were playing more shows, as Shellac have no formal web presence that I've discovered. Free to point out the error of that statement and I'll print/bookmark accordingly, but in the interim see this crew if they come within a couple hundred miles of your earholes.

R

Free Ice Cream Party - Tomorrow 4/2 at Bell House

Hey Kids:

Party at The Bell House with the Free Ice Cream posse:

Peep the skinny below

R

Kats and Domer Present: FreeIceCream.net

Hi Friends,

Time for another Free Ice Cream Party! We'll be celebrating the release of DJ SmutVillain's solo album, The World's Strongest Millionaire at The Bell House in Park Slope on Thursday, April 2 @ 9PM. As always, we’ll hook you up with a FREE copy of this brand new album! And as always, it will be available for FREE download at www.freeicecream.net that same day. Plus we’re good for a FREE drink or two...featuring Maker’s Mark Whiskey (while supplies last) and the super-delicious Maker’s Mark Vanilla Ice Cream Milkshakes...FREE!

The Bell House is located at 149 7th Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn. HERE's the Facebook invite.

World's Strongest Millionaire will be one of seven FREE downloads currently available at www.freeicecream.net ... so if you are new to our list, or missed one of our previous releases, make sure you get them all! And if you like what we're doing, please help us spread the word about all this great FREE stuff - forward this e-mail to one or two people who may not know about us. We really appreciate it!

Hope to see you at The Bell House...Peace!

Kats, Domer & DJ SmutVillain
www.freeicecream.net

FreeIceCream.net is dedicated to creating fun and giving it away for FREE. Our FREE parties always feature FREE drinks, FREE music give–aways, and of course, FREE Ice Cream! So make sure to check in regularly for details on the next one. We also have FREE downloadable albums, and a variety of super cool "Free Ice Cream" t–shirts, which we sell to help us pay for everything, so buy one please!

FreeIceCream.net was founded by two New York hip–hop artists, Kats and Domer, following the success of their free BBQs and parties at the Huckleberry Bar in Williamsburg and shows at the Knitting Factory Mainstage, Crash Mansion, 3rd Ward, Public Assembly, Cutting Room, Death By Audio and other notable New York venues.

FreeIceCream.net is home to great FREE music, including Kats and Domer’s Almost Fameless Mixtape series, Business Casual, and projects by DJ SmutVillain and Das Wyld Saloonatiks.

- The Almost Fameless Mixtapes feature Kats and Domer collaborating with some of New York City’s premier MCs and producers. Each mixtape is a ten–song party of all new material chocked full of bangin beats, top–notch rhymes and memorable guest appearances.
- Business Casual combines the lyrical styles of Kats, Domer, brokeMC and the Metermaids with Domer’s hip–hop remixes of your favorite indie rock bands, including the White Stripes, Spoon, MGMT, the Black Lips and more.
- DJ SmutVillain and his crew, Das Wyld Saloonatiks, weave old school hip–hop into 80’s dance beats and blend pop hits with dusty viny gems to create feel good party mixes.

So thanks for visiting FreeIceCream.net, and if you like what we’re doing, sign our e–mail list, buy a t–shirt or make a donation to support the cause.