4/4 Free Spring Fling Showcase: Hank & Cupcakes, Dad Brother, The Big Drops @ The Lamp Post, Jersey City

Next week we have a doozy of a show for you. We are excited to present a Spring Fling showcase with ever sexy couple Hank & Cupcakes who wil make you dance and sweat with their infectious drum and bass pop. This free show happens at The Lamp Post, 382 2nd street in Jersey City, NJ on Thursday April 4th. Also, performing are rock 'n' rollers Dad Brother and The Big Drops. Come out and party with us as we celebrate warmer weather and fun times. We'll have records for sale and free stickers!


Hank & Cupcakes - fun, funky dance pop from Brooklyn http://hankandcupcakes.com/

Dad Brother - duo rock 'n' roll from Montclair http://dadbrother.bandcamp.com/

The Big Drops - psychedelic, sunshine, beatlesque pop http://thebigdrops.bandcamp.com/

21+
FREE
10pm Start

Paulson to play Maxwell's on Feb. 23rd

One of my favorite New Jersey bands, Paulson will perform at Maxwell's in Hoboken on Feb. 23rd to support friends and have a good time. I have my tickets but now all I need is a date. Check out this stellar Saturday night line-up:

Paulson
http://www.facebook.com/PaulsonIsABand?fref=ts

Future of the Party (featuring Alex and Jesse of Paulson)
http://www.facebook.com/FutureoftheParty?fref=ts

New London Fire (Jersey pop-rock-folk)
http://www.facebook.com/newlondonfireband?fref=ts

House of Fools (Greensboro, NC rock and roll)
http://www.facebook.com/houseoffools?fref=ts

Vuvuzela (featuring James and Josh of Kiss Kiss)
http://www.facebook.com/WeAreVuvuzela

Get tickets at: http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/eventV2/215687?utm_medium=bks&wrKey=2DB0306A55B1ECE367C3721B0FA74E80

Bodega Girls say "Live Free or Die"

 

A. Live Free or Die [5:52]
B. Everybody Wants A Piece Of My Baby [4:07]

This month we celebrated America's independence. We partied and watched the fireworks and had a merry time. This month we also got a gift to America - Bodega Girls cassingle "Live Free or Die." Who's Bodega Girls? Only one of the hottest bands outta Boston with a knack for making me sweat, dance like a fool, and loosen me up. In other words they are one sexy band. Now what's a cassingle you might also ask? A thing called cassette tape became a popular way for people to listen to music in the 1960s and although its use started to decline in the 2000's as CD's and digital music were all the craze, bands like Bodega Girls have resurrected this format, going back to music's roots. It's kinda a fuck you to the digitalized overtake of music. The classic "cassingle" or cassette single was a popular way to promote a band's  music. I simply love playing this cassette in my mahogany Crosley 4-in-1 cassette player-radio-record player-cd player - all the goods in one package. Bodega Girls inside my Crosley Player spinning around making sweet love - I mean playing sweet music. Can it get better than that? 

To me "Live Free or Die" highlights the "do it yourself" ethic of the band and the American given right of freedom. It reminds me of the saying "D.I.Y. or DIE." When we are born we are given freedom, and as Carmen sings, "I got freedom in my veins." It's a ridiculously hot song that makes me confident to do what I want to do. The expression, "Live Free or Die", is New Hampshire's state motto used in this song to capture the confident vibe the band carries that reminds me that one should not live in fear. The use of a red cassette signifies the blood, sacrifice, and courage depicted in the red we see in flags such as the American Flag.  So live free and dance. So live free and try. So live free or die.

Pick up the tape, which also features a slower but equally sweet B-side here: http://burningmill.bigcartel.com/product/bodega-girls-cassingle. I hope you hear what I hear because that's freedom ringing in my ears.

Living Days @ Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn w/Mux Mool (tonight)

Living Days perform tonight at Glasslands Gallery in Williamsburg for their EP release show of Make Out Room Pt. 1. The band sound like A Ha meets The Human League meets The Gossip. How hot, right? They'll get you dancing soon enough. They'll perform with electro beatmaking producer Mux Mool and eletro-pop kid Expensive Looks plus Warm Ghost. Tickets are only $7 here.

Also, check out our review of the band's show over the summer: Live Review: Living Days @ Brooklyn Industries, Union Square 7-29-10

Deluka (from U.K.) playing 4 NYC shows + free download

DOWNLOAD: Deluka- Cascade

U.K's Deluka is a feet sliding, shoulder moving, head bopping explosion of dance. On May 19 they play the Nicky Digital Dance Party at Ella Lounge. 11pm. On May 20 they play the Crush Party featuring Hundred in the Hands, Truman Peyote, and Lorraine Sangre (DJ Set). Tickets are $7 in advance, $10 at the door. Purchase at http://www.revtone.com/tickets. 21+. May 21 they play at Pianos. No cover. 21+. 158 Ludlow Street. They finally wrap up their NYC shows at Nublu. Make sure to catch the band while they're in the area.

Live Review: The Phenomenal Handclap Band open for Gossip and Rye Rye @ Terminal 5, 4-30-10

By M. Morales

Two tambourines shake. Keyboard kicks in. Then guitar, bass, and drums. The built-up intro from The Phenomenal Handclap Band was a nice way to start off the early 8pm evening at NYC's Terminal 5. At eight minutes into the set the first vocals from their second or third song were finally heard. The 8-piece New York based band, who was probably new to the Gossip crowd, got some people moving with their brand of soulful, rockin', disco tunes, and that set the mood for the night. As expected they got the crowd clapping their hands during the set. The band was dressed sharply and sounded cool without being pretentious, even though they call themselves phenomenal. This was something I appreciated. The big band could have easily put on an exaggerated, extravagant show, but didn't. With minimal between song banter or even vocals during the songs, it was obvious that this band was all about the music and bringing a soulful throwback '80's sound with some rock grooves added in here and there for good measure. 

Hank and Cupcakes ("Pleasure Town" Music Video, Free NYC Show + EP Release May 12)

The delightful NYC dance duo, Hank and Cupcakes have released their first music video for the song "Pleasure Town" (see above). It was directed and shot by Matt Bockelman at Coney Island. They also have two upcoming shows. One is a free show at The Studio at Webster Hall on April 21 with Saadi, Arms and Legs, and Unsolved Mysteries. The second is their EP Release Party at (Le) Poisson Rogue on May 12. The show is only $6. Tickets are available here.

The band recently wrapped up gigs in London and Israel. They'll be back in the Big Apple to bring you a sexy, high energy, bass and drum  live performance that will make you dance. Get into it!

Crush Party f/ Streetlab this Thursday in Brooklyn

Get your groove on at the next Crush party this Thursday at Cameo. This time Streelab, a classic rock / electro mash-up group, is performing. Pharoah, known for its ravey-Latin music is also on the bill to spice things up. Finally,  Sepalcure, mixing tribal, dub, house, and two-step beats, will help get your feet moving. Tickets are $5 in advance at www.revtone.com Cameo is located at 93 N. 6th St in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, just 5 minutes away from the Bedford L train stop. 

Are you ready to dance?

Secret Lunar New Year Party this Friday in Chinatown

To celebrate the Chinese New Year a mega bash is going down at a secret location in Manhatten's Chinatown this Friday, Feb. 26. Tiger Beer is hosting the party with DJ's Tittsworth, Justine D, Egg Foo Young (Michna), and Tiny Pants. Entry is free, but you must RSVP at http://www.tigeroftheyear.com/ Early attendees receive free beer and free Asia Dog hotdogs, and everyone gets a night of dance from 10pm-2am. Before the party you'll receive an e-mail with the location. So if you dig a good party and your Friday night is empty, we've just made plans for you.