Ben Franklin's releasing 7'', NYC show w/ Gay Blades, The Press on Feb. 25

Ben Franklin is releasing its first wax with a 7'' on Kearny label Killing Horse Records. The a-side will feature "Urgency" and the b-side "No Pleasin' You." It will be released at the band's Feb. 25 Cake Shop show. 

Record Release Show at Cake Shop, NYC Friday Feb 25th

8pm, 21+,  $7

Featuring

The Gay Blades

Ben Franklin

The Press

I Am The Heat

10/18 Rob Sheffield, Sara Marcus reading + music by Starring in NYC

Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow, is hosting its monthly Mixer, a reading and music series. This time it features readings from three authors speaking on their latest books about riot grrrl,  Duran Duran, and more, plus one musical guest. Free. 7pm. 21+.

Sara Marcus, reading from Girls to the Front

GIRLS TO THE FRONT, the first-ever history of Riot Grrrl, is a lyrical, punk-infused narrative about a group of pissed-off girls with no patience for sexism and no intention of keeping quiet. A dynamic chronicle not just of a movement but of an era, this is the story of a time when America thought feminism was dead, but a generation of noisy girls rose up to prove everybody wrong.

Rob Sheffield, reading from Talking to Girls About Duran Duran

From Bowie to Bobby Brown, from hair metal to hip-hop, he loved them all. Talking to Girls About Duran Duran is a journey through pop culture of an American adolescence that will remind you of your first crush, first car, and first kiss. It’s a book about moments in time, where every song is a snapshot of a moment that helps form the rest of your life. Whenever you grew up, and whatever your teenage obsessions, Talking to Girls About Duran Duran brings those moments to life. 

Rachel Eliza Griffiths, reading from poetry book Miracle Arrhythmia

+ a musical performance from Brooklyn psychedelic group Starring

The Geek + Rock Tour 10/7-9 (NY, NJ) w/ The Measure (SA) & Black Wine

This weekend, two dudes and two bands are joining forces for a book reading and music tour. Mike Faloon and Joe Evans III will be reading (Mike from his new book 'The Hanging Gardens of Split Rock' out now on Gorsky Press, Joe from an in progress collection of personal essays). The Measure [SA] (who is releasing a new LP on No Idea Records) and Black Wine will be playing acoustic sets. Plus, a few extra surprises as well.

Thursday, October 7th, 7 PM

@ Goodbye Blue Monday

1087 Broadway

Brooklyn, NY

with full sets from The Safes and Thee Lexington Arrows

Friday, October 8th, 6 PM

@ Meat Town USA

New Brunswick, NJ

with an acoustic/solo set by Grath from The Steinways/ House Boat

Saturday, October 9th, 4 PM

@ Cake Shop

152 Ludlow St

New York, NY

with Grath and Ace from The Steinways/ House Boat

Kim Thompson (Beyonce) to play Tom Tom Magazine party @ Cake Shop

This Sunday female drum publication, Tom Tom Magazine will host the Issue 4 Release Party at NYC's Cake Shop.

Featuring Kim Thompson [of Beyonce's live band] playing 2 sets, once with her live band and once again with DJ Val Jeanty. Opening up the nite is Kiran Gandhi, up and coming multi-percussionist from DC. Followed by accomplished avant-turntablist Maria Chavez who is featured in Issue 4.

Please come dressed in formal wear. For $8 you can entry and a copy of the magazine, plus get to see some awesome drummers. You can't beat that. The event runs from 8pm-1am. 21+. It's sure to be hot!

www.tomtommag.com

Trophy Scars new EP out 10/26, artwork & pre-orders + tour dates with Orbs

'Oh Hell' artwork

As previously reported NJ's Trophy Scars will release a new EP, Darkness, Oh Hell, on Oct. 26th. The disc is up for pre-sale on the band's big cartel page. It will be released as a limited edition digipak of 1000. Also, the first 100 order receive a limited and exclusive autographed poster. Pre-order it here.

This weekend the band perform a few dates with ORBS, a new band featuring members of Between the Buried and Me, Fear Before and Cradle of Filth. This Saturday is an earlier show at Manhattan's Cake Shop:

7:45pm ORBS
7:00pm Trophy Scars
6:15pm Damn This Desert Air
5:30pm Thought and Memory

5pm Doors. $10. 18+. 

Full tour dates below.

Extra Life performing at Cake Shop this Sunday

DOWNLOAD: Extra Life - Your Body's Calling (R.Kelly cover)

Extra Life, an experimental group from Brooklyn, is headlining NYC's Cake Shop this Sunday, May 9 with locals Larkin Grimm and Queening. Doors at 8pm. This month marks the 5th year of the Cake Shop, so make sure to support the venue by attending a show.

Extra Life is fronted by guitarist/composer Charlie Looker, a core member of brutal chamber ensemble Zs who has worked with Dirty Projectors, Glenn Branca, Tyondai Braxton, William Parker and the S.E.M. Ensemble. The band is releasing a 12" split with Larkin Grimm (Planaria), as well as a Splayed Flesh remix EP (Planaria/Sockets), later this month.

 

Extra Life is touring in support of their latest album, Make Flesh. This is the band's last area tour before they head to Europe. The band's dark, slow sound drifts about in an interesting manner. 

Hosannas (from Portland) playing NYC this week

Hosannas (formerly known as Church) is bringing their brand of weird, spacey folk rock from Portland to NYC this week. The band is in town for two area dates. This Wednesday they're at Cake Shop in Manhattan with Mixel Pixel, Hermit Thurshes and Unicornicopia. $7 at the door. 9pm. 21+. Then April 22 at Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn with Nude Beach, Supergoose, Hair Rocket, Bananas Symphony, and Hermit Thrushes, Doomstar!. $8. 7:30pm. 21+. 

They are set to release a new album called Then and Now and Then, which included the band's first two EP's plus some unreleased material on May 11th. 

Past Lives is headlining Cake Shop tonight + other NY/NJ dates

Tonight Seattle's Past Lives will play a headling show at Cake Shop before their two Brooklyn shows with The Thermals. Opening is Air Waves and Violent Bullshit. Tickets are available at the door. 8pm. 21+. 

Tuesday they play a sold out show with The Thermals and The Coathangers. But Wednesday's show with Thermals and The Tony Castles is not sold out. Tickets are available for $16 here. 18+. Show starts at 9pm. 

They also play a student only show at Princeton University's Terrace Club on Thursday with Polite Sleeper. On Friday Los Campesinos and River City Extension are set to play the university, too. That is if they make it to the U.S. 

Past Lives latest album Tapestry of Webs is available on Suicide Squeeze. 

Live Review: MiniBoone / Ava Luna / Ball of Flame Shoot Fire @ Cake Shop 4-6-10

MiniBoone @ Cake Shop

Cake Shop hosted a night featuring three of the L Magazine's Top 8 NYC Bands You Need to Hear. The night started off with the peculiarly interesting Ball of Flames Shoot Fire. It wasn't just their name that was so, but the music, too. They sounded like an experimental indie rock bands employing accordion, electronic samples, saxophone, and keys. The music had a slow sounding vibe but picked up at times. They reminded me of Sunset Rubdown, Man Man, and LIARS. The performance lacked a liveliness that I'm used to seeing with these type of bands. Someone told me they had a Pink Floyd vibe.

Chambers w/ Blacklisted, Gods and Queens @ Cake Shop NYC on March 6

New Jersey's hardcore up-and-comers, Chambers are playing with Blacklisted, Gods and Queens, and Tiger Flowers at the Cake Shop in the lower east side of NYC on March 6th. Tickets are only $10 for this intimate show. You can get tickets here. Also, check out the band's MySpace for a new layout, other shows, and new merch here.