My Pet Dragon played to an enthusiastic and good-sized audience at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 Wednesday night. The five person band played for for about 45 minutes. MPD’s music has influences which range from U2 to mid-80s electro pop and includes Indian dance from backup singer Reena Shah.
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Reviews | Tagged: My Pet Dragon, Rockwood, Rockwood Music Hall, Rockwood Stage 2 | 
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Posted by Eliot
Sasha Dobson has been on the road for most of the past year, both opening for and then playing in Norah Jones‘ band. Norah’s tour is finally over and Sasha is once again playing shows here in her home base. Tonight she plays The Living Room. Most likely Sasha will be joined by her band (including Steve Elliot on lead guitar) and play songs from her 2010 EP, Burn, which was one of Now I’ve Heard Everything’s Best Albums of 2010, and the title track was also one of NIHE’s Best Songs of 2010. NIHE gets a constant stream of people looking for Burn. Sasha sells it at her shows, so if you are looking for an excellent bunch of songs, tonight’s your night to get it.
Update: Tonight’s show is with a full band. Playing lead guitar tonight will be Aaron Lee Tasjan from The Madison Square Gardeners.
Sasha Dobson, The Living Room, 154 Ludlow Street between Stanton and Rivington Streets (F Train to 2nd Avenue, use the 1st Avenue exit), 9pm, No Cover (but a contribution for the band is highly recommended)
Leave a Comment » | Live NYC | Tagged: Aaron Lee Tasjan, Best of 2010, Burn, Living Room, Madison Square Gardeners, Norah Jones, Sasha Dobson, Steve Elliot | Permalink
Posted by Eliot
My Pet Dragon is a band with some interesting 70s and 80s influences and whose live show is musically interesting and fun. Their song, Lover in Hiding, is one of my favorite songs released in 2010. They consist of Todd Michaelsen (guitar, lead vocals), Reena Shah (backing vocals, percussion) Mario Padron (bass), Rajeev Maddela (drums) and Vincent Mascolo (guitar). They’ll be playing in the big room at The Rockwood Music Hall. So even if they still haven’t plowed your street, see if you can get out tonight.
My Pet Dragon, The Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2, 196 Allen Street between Houston and Stanton Streets (F Train to 2nd Avenue, use the 1st Avenue exit), 10pm, No Cover (but a contribution for the band is highly recommended)
Leave a Comment » | Live NYC | Tagged: My Pet Dragon, Rockwood, Rockwood Music Hall, Rockwood Stage 2 | Permalink
Posted by Eliot
It’s almost January so it’s time for the monthly music calendar. Next month is absolutely jammed packed with good shows, assuming that we don’t have another city-stopping blizzard.
Jan. 1 – The Detroit Cobras – The Bell House – 8pm
Jan. 2 – Hannah Cohen – Rockwood Music Hall – 11pm*
Jan. 4 – Nick Africano – Rockwood Music Hall – 6pm
Jan. 4 – Julia Haltigan – Rockwood Stage 2 – 8pm
Jan. 4 – Aaron Lee Tasjan – Rockwood Music Hall – 10pm*
Jan. 4 – Rich Hinman – Rockwood Music Hall – 11pm*
Jan. 5 – Danny Kalb Quartet – The Living Room – 10pm*
Jan. 6 – Lelia Broussard – Rockwood Music Hall – 8pm
Jan. 6 – Adam Levy and The Mint Imperials – Rockwood Music Hall – 9pm
Jan. 7 – Dar Williams, KaiserCartel – The Bell House – 7pm
Jan. 7 – My Pet Dragon – Cameo – 9pm*
Jan. 8 – Carolyn Wonderland – Rodeo Bar – 11pm
Jan. 8 – Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds- Rockwood Stage 2 – 11:15pm
Jan. 9 – The Lascivious Biddies – Rockwood Music Hall – 5pm
Jan. 10 – Martha Wainwright – Rockwood Music Hall – 9pm
Jan. 10 – Aaron Lee Tasjan – Rockwood Music Hall – 10pm*
Jan. 10 – Rich Hinman – Rockwood Music Hall – 11pm*
Jan. 11 – The Good Lovelies – Rockwood Music Hall – 7pm
Jan. 11 – Mojo Mancini – Rockwood Stage 2 – 7pm
Jan. 11 - Amy Correia – Rockwood Stage 2 – 9:15pm
Jan. 12 – Laura Cantrell – 11th Street Bar – 9pm§
Jan. 12 – Drina and The Deep Blue Sea – Banjo Jim’s – 10pm
Jan. 13 – Ursa Minor – Rockwood Music Hall – 7pm
Jan. 13 – Lelia Broussard (acoustic all covers show) – Rockwood Music Hall – 8pm*
Jan. 13 – The Pierces – Mercury Lounge – 10pm
Jan. 13 - Ulysses S. Grant – Classic Country & Western Music featuring Pete Harper, J Blynn, Rich Hinman, Chris Morrissey, Dan Rieser, Jim Campilongo – Rockwood Stage 2 – 10pm*
Jan. 13 – The Youpornographers featuring Aaron Lee Tasjan, Rich Hinman, and Mark Stepro of the Madison Square Gardeners & Chris Morrissey of Taurus – Rockwood Stage 2 – 11:59pm§
Jan. 14 – Demolition String Band – The Living Room – 7pm
Jan. 14 – The Ramblers – Mercury Lounge – 8pm§
Jan. 14 – Wes Hutchinson – Rockwood Stage 2 – 10:30pm
Jan. 15 – Lianne Smith – The Living Room – 7pm§
Jan. 15 – Deni Bonet – The Living Room – 9pm
Jan. 15 – Israel Nash Gripka – Pete’s Candy Store – 10pm
Jan. 15 – Spanking Charlene – Lakeside Lounge – 11pm
Jan. 15 – Harper Blynn – Rockwood Stage 2 – 11:59pm
Jan. 16 – Teddy Thompson & Friends – City Winery – 8pm
Jan. 17 – Martha Wainwright – Rockwood Music Hall – 9pm
Jan. 19 – “I Beg Your Parton” Addie Brownlee sings Dolly (with Special Guest Martha Wainwright) – The Living Room – 8pm
Jan. 19 – My Pet Dragon – Rockwood Stage 2 – 11pm§§
Jan. 20 – Lelia Broussard (with special guests) – Rockwood Music Hall – 8pm§
Jan. 20 – Harper Blynn – Union Pool – 9pm§§
Jan. 20 – Misty Boyce – Rockwood Music Hall – 11pm Canceled§§
Jan. 21 – Alejandro Escovedo w/strings – City Winery – 8pm
Jan. 21- Emily Zuzik – Rockwood Music Hall – 10pm
Jan. 22 – The Morning Pages – The Living Room – 7pm
Jan. 22 – Alejandro Escovedo w/ Sensitive Boys Orchestra & Special Guests – City Winery – 9pm
Jan. 24 – Martha Wainwright – Rockwood Music Hall - 9pm
Jan. 25 – Sasha Dobson – Barbes – 7pm
Jan. 28 – Richard Julian - Rockwood Music Hall - 8pm
Jan. 28 – James Maddock – Knitting Factory – 8pm§
Jan. 29 – Sarah Jarosz – Rockwood Music Hall - 7pm
Jan. 29 – My Pet Dragon – Bowery Ballroom – 8:30pm†
Jan. 29 – Leslie Mendelson – Rockwood Music Hall - 9pm§
Jan. 29 – The Ramblers (with strings and a horn section) – The Living Room – 9pm§
Jan. 31 – Robbie Fulks – Mercury Lounge – 7:30pm
Jan. 31 – Richard Julian - LIC Bar – 8pm†
Jan. 31 – Martha Wainwright – Rockwood Music Hall – 9pm
*Updated Dec. 29-Jan. 6
§Updated Jan. 10-14
§§Updated Jan. 18-20
†Updated Jan. 24-25
Leave a Comment » | Calendars, Live NYC | Tagged: 11th Street Bar, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Adam Levy, Addie Brownlee, Alejandro Escovedo, Amy Correia, Banjo Jim's, Bowery Ballroom, Cameo, Carolyn Wonderland, City Winery, Danny Kalb, Dar Williams, Demolition String Band, Deni Bonet, Detroit Cobras, Drina and The Deep Blue Sea, Drina Seay, Emily Zuzik, Hannah Cohen, Harper Blynn, Israel Nash Gripka, James Maddock, Julia Haltigan, KaiserCartel, Knitting Factory, Lakeside Lounge, Laura Cantrell, Lelia Broussard, Leslie Mendelson, Lianne Smith, LIC Bar, Living Room, Martha Wainwright, Mercury Lounge, Misty Boyce, Mojo Mancini, My Pet Dragon, Nick Africano, Pete's Candy Store, Rich Hinman, Richard Julian, Robbie Fulks, Rockwood, Rockwood Music Hall, Rockwood Stage 2, Rodeo Bar, Sarah Jarosz, Sasha Dobson, Sister Sparrow, Spanking Charlene, Teddy Thompson, The Bell House, The Good Lovelies, The Lascivious Biddies, The Morning Pages, The Pierces, The Ramblers, Union Pool, Ursa Minor, Wes Hutchinson | Permalink
Posted by Eliot
If you are still looking for something to do on New Years Eve, here are some shows with no cover or not all that expensive tickets. The shows which are not charging covers and those marked pay at the door are where you should head if you are making up your mind Friday night.
Mike Doughty – Maxwell’s – 7:30pm -$25
Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings – Best Buy Theater – 9pm -$55
The Brooklyn Boogaloo Blowout – 55 Bar – 10pm – 2am – Probably No Cover
The Fleshtones and The Detroit Cobras – Maxwell’s – 10:30pm – $25
The Buzzards – The Rodeo Bar -10:30pm – No Cover
The Mike Hunt Band – Lakeside Lounge – 11pm – $10 (pay at the door)
The Madison Square Gardeners – The National Underground – upstairs – 11pm – $20 (pay at the door)
Lorraine Leckie and her Demons – Banjo Jim’s – 11pm -$10
Mother Feather Rockwood Stage 2 – 12:30am – No Cover
Leave a Comment » | Live NYC | Tagged: 55 Bar, Brooklyn Boogaloo Blowout, Lorraine Leckie, Madison Square Gardeners, Maxwell's, Mike Doughty, Mike Hunt Band, Mother Feather, Rockwood, Rockwood Music Hall, Rockwood Stage 2, Sharon Jones, Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, The Buzzards, The Detroit Cobras, The Fleshtones, The National Underground | Permalink
Posted by Eliot
I posted three shows for tonight on the December calendar. Here are the blizzard updates for them as of 2:30pm:
Postponed: Dar Williams and KaiserCartel at The Bell House. The show has been rescheduled for January 7.
Definitely on: Dayna Kurtz at Barbes at 6pm.
Update at 5:20pm: Definitely on: Sasha Dobson at Rockwood Stage 2 at 9pm
Leave a Comment » | Live NYC | Tagged: Barbes, Dar Williams, Dayna Kurtz, KaiserCartel, Rockwood, Rockwood Music Hall, Rockwood Stage 2, Sasha Dobson, The Bell House | Permalink
Posted by Eliot
As you’ve probably have seen already, the back together again Del-Lords placed an album, Under Construction, and a song, When the Drugs Kick In on the Now I’ve Heard Everything Best Albums of 2010 and Best Songs of 2010 lists. Now, they have a freebie to gift upon you. Here’s the story in the Del-Lords’ own words:
Way back when the Del-Lords invited ace musicologist Andy Shernoff up to their little practice room/clubhouse/studio on 8th Avenue to help them record a Christmas song that Scott had written. They dubbed 200 of them to cassette and stuffed them in envelopes that went to friends, fans and family pretty much in lieu of gifts for that year. This holiday season the Del-Lords would like to pass that gift along to all of you.
Click here to get Merry Christmas Baby. And be sure to check the Del-Lords website for more information about the group.
Leave a Comment » | Freebies | Tagged: Best of 2010, Del Lords, Freebies, Merry Christmas Baby | Permalink
Posted by Eliot
Finishing off Now I’ve Heard Everything’s Best of 2010 lists, here are the Best Music Videos of 2010. I know I originally said there would be three, but I’ve decided to choose four.
The winner of NIHE’s Best Music Video for 2010 was never in doubt from the first time I saw this video. It’s far more than a video for Bottled in Cork by Ted Leo and The Pharmacists; it’s a mini-movie send up of “”half-assed musicals that…cheapen the music and embarrass everyone involved.”
Next up is a video put together by a fan for that wonderful ode to The Minnesota Twins, Don’t Call Them Twinkies by The Baseball Project, with Craig Finn contributing the lyrics and vocals
This next video is also fan created, this time for the song Resolution by Steve Wynn and The Miracle 3
And finally, this charming video created for the title track from Second Dan‘s album, Angeline
Leave a Comment » | Reviews | Tagged: Angeline, Bottled in Cork, Craig Finn, Don't Call Them Twinkies, Resolution, Second Dan, Steve Wynn, Steve Wynn & The Miracle 3, Ted Leo, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, The Baseball Project, The Miracle 3 | Permalink
Posted by Eliot
Here are the final five songs (listed in alphabetical order) in Now I’ve Heard Everything’s Best Songs of 2010:
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists – Even Heroes Have To Die: Take the lyrical poetry from folk and the immediacy and power from punk, mix them with the take no prisoners approach of Ted Leo and The Pharmacists and you have that music that will both inspire and make you move at the same time. Punk-folk or folk-punk, take your pick. Whatever you call it, this song is a winner.
The Madison Square Gardeners – Young and In Love: When this song was released a few months back, I called it a Tom Petty inspired absolute joy of a song. That’s still my opinion. Of course, if you can see The Gardeners play this live, you’ll enjoy it more as you witness the constant kineticism of lead singer Aaron Lee Tasjan. Even if you can’t get to see this live, you can get Young and In Love for free, just click here. You’ll need to leave your email address for the band, but that’s a good deal, I think.
Angie Mattson – Make This Real: I first found Angie Mattson at SXSW a few years back when I was closed out of a big name act’s show. This summer I wondered whatever became of her and then found she would be in town (Angie’s based in LA) in a week. Angie came bearing a new EP on which this song appears. Moody, atmospheric and yearning, Make This Real is indeed the real thing.
Second Dan – Today: Start with an Austrailian ex-pat (Dan Rosen) and add a couple of musicians from Brooklyn, stir in a love of pop-style rock, turn up the volume and you’ll get Second Dan and this song. Today leads off their very good album, Angeline, and is also a stand-out of the band’s live show.
Steve Wynn & The Miracle 3 – Resolution: Steve and The Miracle 3 come up with a psychedelic flavored drone rocker to open their new album, Northern Aggression. Resolution is an insistent song that soon becomes an infections one. And it’s philosophical, noting that “everything that rises must resolve.”
The rest of The Best of 2010:
Check Now I’ve Heard Everything tomorrow for Best Videos of 2010
Leave a Comment » | Reviews | Tagged: Aaron Lee Tasjan, Angie Mattson, Dan Rosen, Even Heroes Have To Die, Make This Real, Northern Aggression, Resolution, Second Dan, Steve Wynn & The Miracle 3, SXSW, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, The Madison Square Gardeners, Today, Tom Petty, Young and In Love | Permalink
Posted by Eliot
Now, we’ll take a look at the best songs of 2010. There’s a flat out tie for first place. Both of Now I’ve Heard Everything’s top songs got there through their musical and lyrical intensity. One is about love and its aftermath; the other is about The Minnesota Twins.
The Baseball Project (featuring Craig Finn) – Don’t Call Them Twinkies: The Baseball Project joined forces with The Hold Steady‘s front man, Craig Finn, to craft this combination history lesson about and homage to The Minnesota Twins. The lyrics are by Finn and The Baseball Project’s Steve Wynn wrote the music. This is as rousing and intense a piece of rock as you can find. And if you don’t think there’s intensity in baseball, you’ve never sat there when your team was behind two runs, with one out, men on first and second and the tying run at the plate. This song will be part of the new album by The Baseball Project, which will be released in February, but it was released on iTunes right before the playoffs this past October.
Misty Boyce – Trouble: Whether the lyrics to this song are confession or fiction, they chronicle the results of a horrible break up. The narrator admits to some destructive behavior and all but orders a potential partner to stay away for his own good. The starkness of the lyrics are emphasized by the spare piano work. Although the record has strings on it, this song can be even more effective when done live with just a voice and piano. Trouble stands out even more as Misty is usually lyrically and musically upbeat, even playful. You’ll find this song on Misty’s debut album, the self-titled Misty Boyce.
The rest of the best songs of 2010 will be presented in alphabetical order by artist.
Del-Lords – When the Drugs Kick In: The EP from which this song is taken, Under Construction, was made up of five rough mixes and just put together so that the reunited Del-Lords would have something to sell when they toured Spain earlier this year. But this song sounds top notch to me. The song is well written (with a cautionary message) by Scott Kempner and boast some very tasty lead guitar work provided by Eric “Roscoe” Ambel.
Sasha Dobson – Burn: From Sasha’s EP of the same name. This song, and others on this EP seem to be born out of a disintegrating relationship. Set in some smokey after hour, Sasha’s emotional vocals are matched by the wonderfully expressive lead guitar provided by Steven Elliot. You don’t so much listen to this song as feel it.
Maura Kennedy – Chains: From Maura’s Parade of Echoes. Maura calls this her rock song, well, because that’s what it is. Power chords, very nice lead guitar work, loud bass and lyrics about love and obsession, it’s all here. Great vocal too.
The next five songs are shown here.
2 Comments | Reviews | Tagged: Burn, Craig Finn, Del Lords, Don't Call Them Twinkies, Eric Ambel, Maura Kennedy, Misty Boyce, Sasha Dobson, Scott Kempner, Steve Wynn, The Baseball Project, The Hold Steady, The Minnesota Twins, Trouble, When the Drugs Kick In | Permalink
Posted by Eliot
