The New Pornographers, the effervescent Canadian pop gang led by red headed-songwriter AC Newman and red headed-chanteuse Neko Case, strolled into town last weekend for headlining shows at Terminal 5 and Bell House. They played a generous 24 song set before a packed crowd at the former Saturday night, barely pausing as they jumped from song to song, each stuffed with dementedly catchy hooks upon hooks. It was as sugary as a Snapple, but Newman is a tricky songwriter, always finding ways to subvert expectations and throw in the surrealist lyrics imaginable. The band played the bulk of new album Together, along with raging highlights from their whole discography, including "The Electric Version," "The Laws Have Changed," "Myriad Harbour," and five songs from their masterpiece, Twin Cinema. The night ended with a rendition of "Testament To Youth In Verse," with an extended audience singalong of "no's" led by the ever compelling Dan Bejar. If you enjoy pop music in any of its wild forms, you'd be remiss in missing The New Pornographers next time they're in town: their jelly donuts are filled with substance. more ›

TREE LIGHTING: Earlier this year, New Yorkers Fountains of Wayne transformed Demetri Martin into a lonely suit living in Brooklyn in this video. Tonight the band will be rockin' around the Stuy Town Christmas tree. A reader writes in:I just happened to see this flyer hanging up for the annual christmas tree lighting. And what the hell is this...7:30-8:00pm, FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE. Seems like it's top secret, but there are flyers everywhere.Random! But if you're... more ›

After GBH announced that Courtney Love was to play a free show at Hiro Ballroom, the biggest question besides what she'd sound like or how badly would Hiro screw up the crowd control, was what type of raucous scandal would Love cause during the set. Would she be trashed? Would she get into a fight? Would she show at all? Well, to the pleasant surprise of any real fan, the show went on without a hitch, and Love played a solid set of some old favorites as well as a bunch of new songs, many of which were co-written by professional hitmaker Linda Perry. Check out Freshbread for some pics (like the one above), and Ephemerist and Productshop for some more reviews. more ›

The theme to this summer's outdoor concert season seem to be coming up with new ways to deal with rain. While Manu Chao embraced it and Cheeseburger/Oxford Collapse had to cancel because of it, the New Pornographers just kind of went on despite it. First, indie one-hit wonder Midlake opened with a perfectly serviceable set. After came out the newly bearded A.C. Newman and the gang to play a high spirited show featuring songs off all their albums, including the soon to be released, Challengers. Sure, it's a little strange celebrating America's independence with a Canadian band, but they seemed to embrace the irony and kick out the jams to the waterlogged faithful. Nobody can pass up a free show (no matter how many hoops one has to jump through to get a ticket...) and the concert was well covered. Read more about it at Pop Tarts, Stereogum and Music Snobbery. (pic via Muzicspy's flickr.) more ›

If you aren't at a BBQ, aren't watching the fireworks or a big budget summer movie...below are some options for you. Whatever you do, though, bring sparklers! more ›

Tis the season for hibernating and canceling plans 'cause it's too cold to go out. Here's what could, possibly, maybe get us out from under the covers this week: more ›

Antony and the Johnsons will play their first NYC show since winning the UK's Mercury Music Prize last month. The past year has seen Antony rise from a relatively unknown eccentric NYC club performer to an international superstar. His headlining show at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, and his upcoming appearance on Letterman, are two signs of his well deserved success. Those attending the Carnegie show will also be treated to a rare opening set by vocalist Jimmy Scott, "the man whom Joseph Hooper, in a New York Times Magazine profile, called 'perhaps the most unjustly ignored American singer of the 20th century.' [Fantasy Jazz]. more ›

Day 2 was significantly busier than Day 1. All in all, we made it to 12 different shows between 10:00am and 2am, we'll highlight the highlights here. more ›

Hip-Hop dominates this week with at least three recommended shows. Some of the best acts in indie hip-hop play Irving Plaza tonight (Monday). It’s one of the only stops on the Stone Throw Records Tour featuring Madlib, M.E.D, Peanut Butter Wolf, and J-Rocc. On Tuesday Madlib and M.E.D. will also perform for free at Fat Beats. [Listen to some music Madlib put out on Blue Note.] Last year Madlib joined MF DOOM to release a highly acclaimed album as Madvillain. MF DOOM joins the not-very-indie De La Soul and The Roots on Summerstage Tuesday night for a benefit to save the Rhinos. Alternatively, Jean Grae (another indie favorite) joins Killah Priest from Wu-Tang Tuesday night at SOB's. [Listen to Jean at her website.] Wednesday the "Best Damn Rap Tour" with J-Live, Vast Aire, and C-Rayz Walz are at Northsix. Thursday 50's enemy Ja Rule plays BB Kings. more ›

CRAFTY CONSUMERISM: The Renegade Craft Fair is a DIY extravaganza which has only since taken place in Chicago. This weekend it sets up shop in Brooklyn with 150 vendors who will showcase and sell their one-of-a-kind handmade wares, including reconstructed clothing, comics, zines, jewelry, silkscreened gigposters, iPod cozies and more. more ›

Call it shameless self promotion if you want, but the place to be tonight (Monday) is Knitting Factory for Gothamist's own Movable Hype 3.0 show featuring some of the hottest bands from NYC and Austin. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah just self-released their debut self-titled album and its quickly become one of our favorite listens of the year (read the Gothamist interview). Fans of Talking Heads and the Arcade Fire should take note (MP3s at their site). And the $8.00 bill doesn't end there. NY Press cover stars The Fame (read the Gothamist interview), local favorites Man in Gray (read the Gothamist interview), and the popular electronic rock duo Ghostland Observatory from Austin make this show more than a bargain. Even Pitchfork agrees with the hotness. Get tickets (also available at the door if it doesn't sell out). more ›

Coolfer hasn't attended a music festival since the 1995 edition of Lollapalooza, but this Saturday's Little Steven's International Underground Garage Festival is promising enough to prompt a ticket buy. Most bands won't play more than a few songs, but the line-up is amazing and mixes the old and new very well: The Stooges, the New York Dolls, the Strokes, Chocolate Watchband, the Pretty Things, Big Star (Alex Chilton is pictured to the right), the Raveonettes, the Romantics, the Mooney Suzuki, the Fuzztones, the Shazam, the Electric Prunes, the Star Spangles, the High Dials, the Dictators and too many more to mention. That's a lot of bands for $20 ($25 at the gate). The concert will be held at Randall's Island. Gates open at--are you ready for this?--10am. Show starts at 11am. It's gonna be a long day, and a very long day if the rain hangs around through the weekend. more ›

[Ed: Like clockwork, music picks from prodigious music blogger Coolfer. Also check out more at Gothamist Events.] more ›

Aaron at 601am inspired us with his suggestions for an indoor Memorial Day weekend for guests. Since lousy weather makes getting past the front door even harder, we have included many things that are great stay-at-home activities: more ›