Recently Queens venue Silent Barn was trashed, and seemingly saved by a Kickstarter campaign... and now its Brooklyn's turn to suffer a blow to the scene. Rumors have been flying around recently that Williamsburg's Monster Island would be demolished and reincarnated as a Whole Foods, and while there's no proof in the grocer taking over the space, it will be coming down this year. more ›

Last week a newspaper box was up for sale on eBay, and with days left was already up to a four-figure bid. To recap: the box had been adorned by graffiti artist Cost for an art exhibit in November, and following the exhibit's opening it, and 11 other boxes, were put back on the street. Back on the sidewalks, the boxes dispensed the free show-listing publication Showpaper. more ›

Rickety stairs, shaking floors, bathroom doors that never shut, impossible to avoid smoking rooms, sound delays, teenagers, getting screamed at for being within 50 feet of the front door... there have been plenty of times we secretly wished Market Hotel (run by Todd P) would get raided when we were inside. But in reality, news of an actual raid which seems to have shut it down over the weekend isn't good news at all. Before getting down to the dirty details, here's what John Norris told us this afternoon regarding the importance of DIY venues like this: more ›

Click through for more on MtyMx, the Black Lips at Bowery, and LCD Soundsystem news. more ›

This just in: an employee over at Pianos on Ludlow Street has just informed us that the venue suffered some damages from a fire earlier this morning. He tells us, "There was a small electrical fire at Pianos this morning—the sprinklers went off and soaked everything, so we're going to have to close the club tonight. Things will resume as normal tomorrow for the Unisex Salon/Vulture Whale show." more ›

An interesting police strategy is described in this otherwise "non-story" on Free Williamsburg, which overall delves into a rumor that someone is out to bring down the Market Hotel, a Todd P venue in Brooklyn. The promoter has now addressed the rumors that were in the original story, which focused on a "raid" that took place last Friday and included baseless accusations that he was "being brought up on a slew of charges including weed and underage alcohol distribution." more ›

Out of the blue, Karen O announced late last week that she was going to play two shows at Union Pool on Monday night. Not as her normal role as front woman of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but with a new band called Native Korean Rock & The Fishnets. The two back-to-back sets contained all new material and a fresh new sailorsuit-clad backing band plucked from other local bands like the Mooney Suzuki and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. There's no word on anything coming up for these guys, but this likely won't be the last we hear from NKR. Likely any upcoming shows will spring up as suddenly as these two did. more ›

MTV has once again invaded Brooklyn; earlier this year the network dissected the Todd P scene, and last night they were right back at it, filming at the Market Hotel (or Harket Motel, which it has more recently been called). Reports say that a sign greeted show-goers last night saying, in short, that "MTV is filming and can use your likeness in all media that exists, or may exist in the future, and by being there you agree to be filmed, if you don’t agree, leave." The BushwickBK blogger worries that "the scene will implode (like poor grunge!)" and when he inquired about the network's presence, was suspicious of the answer: "they were just filming the bands to put up on mtv.com." Maybe one of the new Real World Brooklyn castmates is Todd P! Bands on the bill last night included Mae Shi and Ponytail; after MTV's appearance they were promptly moved into the "so over" column on indie-snob scorecards. more ›

more ›

MTV is getting all old school and reporting on relevant music! The channel traveled all the way to Brooklyn for a piece on bands closely associated with the Todd P scene. Best of all, they declare Manhattan's LES dead! Not a great way to promote their new vLES, we suppose. more ›

Since settling in New York in 2001, promoter Todd Patrick – known through his website as Todd P – has established himself as a major force in the avant-garde rock scene. In the fastidious spirit of a modern day Bill Graham – though without the passion for profits – Patrick has distinguished himself with his commitment to producing shows at atypical, under-the-radar locations like lofts, rooftops and funky, “illegal” clubs. Often eschewing such vagaries as... more ›

Todd P is known around town as one of the hardest working men in D.I.Y. show biz. He created a scene out of avant garde bands, old buildings and some plywood -- and has given plenty of music lovers a place to hear good music for cheap, while sipping on a $2 beers and sweating in barely ventilated (or legal) venues. But what's this...Todd P is going on hiatus? To work on a print 'zine?... more ›

EVENT: Berlin takes over New York this month with the Berlin in Lights Festival. Through the 18th you can soak up the German city through film, music, art, architecture and more. This evening you can check out a couple of Berlin-esque events. First up is the "Urban Design and Memorials" dialogue. A panel discussion which will touch on the "challenges of integrating memorials into the urban fabric, and how Berlin and New York address issues... more ›

BEER: This one is pretty simple...there will be lots (58!) of New York beers, and a few bands to soundtrack your drinking them, at the Seaport tonight. Go, imbibe, enjoy! more ›

MOVIE: The L Magazine kicks off their summer movie series, Summerscreen, tonight at McCarren Park Pool. We're pretty sure we'll be attending most of these this summer (even though we feel there is a lack of horror filcks on their schedule). So bring something soft to sit on and head over tonight for the cheerleading film that introduced us all to spirit fingers, Bring It On. In two weeks: Dazed and Confused! Alright, alright, alright. more ›

DANCE: Since the Copacabana is closed for now, get your dance on under the night sky. WhatsUpNYC tells us that every Monday through July 23rd (though the NYC Parks site says through August 13th), the Parks and Rec department will conduct Dancing Under the Stars. Get dance lessons from the experts at American Ballroom Theater, then grab a partner and tear up the dancefloor. more ›

THEATER: Gertrude Stein is regarded as an avant-garde intellectual whose adventurous prose has long overshadowed her plays – despite her Broadway hit Four Saints in Three Acts. (Who could forget?) A crack team of downtown experimental theater types are now hoisting six of Stein’s one-acts out of obscurity with a production in the East Village. The evening, irresistibly dubbed Steinese Takeout, boldly embraces Stein’s radicalism and runs with it. How radical are these plays? “How about no plot, no setting, and no pre-defined characters. Cryptic? Definitely. Absurd? Perhaps. Balderdash? Not at all.” – John Del Signore more ›

FESTIVAL: The New York Ukulele Festival has arrived. The weekend includes: "nonstop Ukulele Fun! Concerts, Vendors, Workshops, Jams! 40,000 Square Feet, Two Concert Stages! FREE BEER ALL WEEKEND. FREE UKULELE DOOR PRIZES AT EVERY CONCERT!!” more ›

THEATER: John Fugelsang, the son of an ex-nun and a former monk, declares war on right-wing evildoers in his one man comedy All the Wrong Reasons. Targets include sex, politics, Klansmen, stem cells and the drug war (which Fugelsang recently skewered on the Huffington Post.) Theater blogger What’s Good/What Blows raves: “…once he settles in to tell the story of trying to get through Orlando airport with an 1/8th of weed in his sock and another 1/8th in his girlfriend's bra, you're pretty much on the edge of your seat till the end. He even throws in some touching realizations. This is a great evening to take a date to.” - John Del Signore more ›

Some venues close and reopen in lower rent areas (like Luna Lounge) and some shut their doors forever (CBGB). Most recently, the Roxy called it quits and Sin-e and Tonic have announced their closings as well. Tonic was saved two years ago (we interviewed one of the owners at the time), and they have not yet announced why they're closing for good this time (they'll shut down in two weeks). As far as smaller downtown venues go, we're left with some less than ideal spaces: the Annex, the Delancey and Fat Baby - none of which have ever been a favorite to see a show at. Seems if Pianos, Cake Shop and the recently made-over Knitting Factory can manage to keep their doors open, they'll be the places to go (though the Todd P shows and their ever-changing venues are probably the best option in town). more ›

The much anticipated, David Bowie-curated High Line Festival has finally announced a lineup. more ›

We've been down in Austin for South By SouthWest for most of the last week, but before taking off, we caught one of the most enjoyable shows we've seen all year in Of Montreal at Irving Plaza. For those who claim the show was boring, we don't know what they would have to do to satisfy you. There were costume changes, songs performed oh the shoulders of mustachioed, white bodysuit wearing men, and music from what is perhaps the best album released so far in 2007. Not sure what more one could ask for. (pic via Leia Jospe Flickr) more ›

The Forms (Steve Albini-recorded) shimmering rock is our new go-to comfort music after a terrible night finally ends. You know, when you've totalled the rental car but the stereo still works and all you need is something until the tow truck comes? This is that formally febrile, meticulously messy something. more ›

READING: Jonathan Franzen reads at the Bam Cafe tonight, but not after a buffet that include wine from the Pine Ridge Winery and other treats. There will also be a live acoustic performance and a Q&A with Franzen. more ›

READING: John Sellers will be reading from his book, Perfect from Now On: How Indie Rock Saved My Life, tonight. Idolizing bands like Joy Division, Sonic Youth, Pavement and Guided by Voices, the book outlines how he developed his taste in music. It reads more like a blog, than a book, which makes sense since Sellers has one. more ›

Things are starting to pick up around here. The weather was nice, people were out leaving the cave from the post-New Years hibernation and getting back on their feet. It's still coming around, but the rock scene is starting to show some life as well... more ›

SIGNING: Just a few days ago LL Cool J was out signing his book (which, is actually a workout book). Tonight 50 Cent will be at Borders Bookstore with two of his writers for the launch of, wait for it...G Unit books! Some titles: Death Before Dishonor, Baby Brother and The Ski Mask Way. Get there early! more ›

During CMJ, everything becomes a venue - from a living room to an abandoned storefront. During the rest of the year, Todd P keeps that sort of thing going on. And in the more "legit" world of venues, new ones are popping up everywhere. more ›

Has anyone been? Smoke machines, VIP lounge, "over the top" lights...what is this doing in Greenpoint? Todd P is booking shows there, which sounds promising. more ›

Matt and Kim are: Um, Matt and Kim more ›