Matador Records

Fucked Up play Brooklyn tomorrow night with Parquet Courts, Night Birds and Lemuria

December 20th, 2012 at 4:14 pm by Patrick

Fucked Up play Brooklyn tomorrow night with Parquet Courts, Night Birds and Lemuria. At Warsaw, tickets still available here:

http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail

In case you missed it, the controversial fourth video from David Comes To Life, "Inside A Frame," came out a couple weeks ago:

http://youtu.be/39ye4wS_zkk

Looking For Gold

Yo La Tengo - "Ohm" from Overlook Park in Portland, Oregon

December 20th, 2012 at 10:00 am by Gabe

This weekend Portlandians previewed a few tracks from Yo La Tengo's new album Fade via some wild geo-targeting magic at the giant tree in Overlook Park that doubles as Fade's cover-star.

Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo had this to say: "I am reminded of the oddball great Beach Boys song "A Day in the Life of a Tree," from Surf's Up and sung on that record by their manager at the time Jack Rieley (adequate vocalists obviously being hard to come by in the Beach Boys proper), covered once and only once by YLT--Sept. 17, 1998, at Maxwell's."

Here's what happened, set to the song "Ohm", from Fade:

Video by Josiah Marshall and Chris Cantino

Pre-order Fade from iTunes.

Exclusive Mixes From Yo La Tengo's 2012 Hanukkah Residency, On Sale Friday AM Via Download To Benefit Norton Records

December 18th, 2012 at 6:01 pm by Gerard

(EDITOR'S NOTE : The damage done to Norton Records' Brooklyn warehouse by Hurricane Sandy has been covered elsewhere ; if you've already purchased the mix CD's mentioned below at the Maxwell's shows, you can still help Norton out with a donation here For everyone else, the following message was sent to the Yo La Tengo mailing list earlier today).

Hi everybody,
Thanks to all of you who were able to attend this year's Hanukkah shows at Maxwell's, and I hope those of you who could not followed the bouncing ball here.
As we've done the last two years, we're going to make the mixes that Georgia, James and I compiled available to you the downloading public for 24 hours: noon Friday December 21 until noon Saturday December 22, and that's eastern standard time. These are drawn from our record collections--the music is not BY us, just SELECTED by us.
Each download will cost $10 and every penny will be donated to our pals at Norton Records, who were very nearly wiped out by Sandy. (Read all the grisly details here.

But wait! there's more . . . you will also have the opportunity to pick up two custom mixes from the incredible Norton catalog, one compiled by Miriam Linna and one compiled by Billy Miller.
And we're still not done!! The good people at Three Lobed Recordings have graciously allowed us to offer downloads of the mix we sold during night six.
All you've got to do is go to http://www.yolatengo.com/forsale/ on Friday at noon.

ok?
Ira

New Cat Power US dates in January!

December 18th, 2012 at 8:00 am

She's baaaack! On the heels of a clear running stream of Best Of 2012 praise (NPR, Rolling Stone, Spin, Billboard, Stereogum, Paste, All Music, Magnet, more more more), Cat Power is playing some US dates before her Australian tour.

Tue 01/22 Santa Ana, CA / Observatory

Thu 01/24 Denver, CA / Ogden Theatre

Fri 01/25 Dallas, TX / South Side Music Hall at Gilley's Dallas

Sat 01/26 Austin, TX / ACL Live at the Moody Theater

Tue 01/29 New York, NY / Terminal 5

Wed 01/30 Philadelphia, PA / Electric Factory

Photo courtesy Funny Or Die.

Spaghetti with anchovy and chiles

December 15th, 2012 at 1:33 pm by Patrick

Extremely easy recipe from the excellent Fried Neck Bones And Some Home Fries blog.

Seasonal too - one of the Seven Fishes For Seven Dishes meals served in Italy on Christmas Eve.

Esben and the Witch - Deathwaltz video

December 14th, 2012 at 5:39 am

Esben and the Witch unveil another cinematic music video for Deathwaltz from their new album Wash The Sins Not Only The Face (pre-order here) - the same track you might have heard re-worked by Mr Dave Sitek just the other week.

Shot in their Brighton, UK hometown the Deathwaltz video was partly shot on a high-speed Phantom HD Gold camera, shooting at 1000 frames per second, allowing super slow-motion shots, as you might have seen in such modern classics as Inception and Jackass 3.5, it makes everything look mind-bendingly time warped.

On the road next year, Esben and the Witch play the below tour dates, with tickets the Brighton show available to those pre-ordering the album at Brighton record store Resident. The vinyl version of the album comes with a bonus 7", featuring the Dave Sitek re-working and exclusive track 'Trail', only available at shows and from independent record stores.

www.esbenandthewitch.co.uk

January

20 - Brighton - Green Door Store - Tickets via pre-order

February

07 - Birmingham - Hare & Hounds - Tickets

08 - Glasgow - School Of Art - Tickets

09 - Manchester - Bunker - Tickets

15 - Brussels - Botanique - Tickets

16 - Munster - Gleiss 22 - Tickets

17 - Hamburg - Knust - Tickets

18 - Berlin - Bi Nuu - Tickets

20 - Munich - 59to1 - Tickets

21 - Zürich - Rote Fabrik - Tickets

22 - Cologne - Gebaude 9 - Tickets

23 - Utrecht - Tivoli Oudegracht Spiegelbar - Tickets

24 - Paris Point - Ephemere - Tickets

26 - London - Scala - Tickets

Attn : PHILLY PHANATICS, PHRIENDS - T. Moore Jazzmaster Stolen

December 13th, 2012 at 12:54 pm by Gerard

Somebody walked off with Thurston Moore's circa '66 Jazzmaster (above) last night around midnight at the Best Western Inn (501 N 22nd St). If you have any info about this guitar, please let us know.

Interpol - Facebook/Spotify playlist competition winner announced

December 13th, 2012 at 12:30 pm by Gabe

We've selected the winning entrant in the recent Interpol Turn On The Bright Lights: The Tenth Anniversary Edition Facebook/Spotify "Where Were You In 2002" playlist competition. Matthew Phillip Ordes took the prize for, among other things, his essential inclusion of Hot Snakes' "Suicide Invoice" and his brazen selection of Spoon's "Metal Detektor" from A Series Of Sneaks (an album that which came out in 1998 but, in fairness to Matthew, was reissued by Merge in '02 - great fucking song in any year).

Matthew, look out for your sure-to-be-weird-in-all-the-right-ways video montage of Interpol drummer Sam Fogarino rocking your playlist, as well as an autographed copy of the new reissue. Everyone, here's your winner:

Cat Power on Funny or Die: No One Gives A Shit About Q

December 12th, 2012 at 9:12 am

Kindergarteners get a classic Cat Power show.

An Orgy of Self-Congratulation, Grandstanding & Overconsumption : Matador Artists & Staff Select Their 2012 Favorites

December 12th, 2012 at 8:00 am by Gerard

(above : angry mob reacts to the news that at least two or 3 people didn't even mention the Total Control 7")

Around this time every year, your ~~overpaid~~ overworked editor attempts to coax a list of favorite recordings, books, television programs, life events, etc. out of the label's artist roster and our rock biz colleagues. In the past, the exercise has been an arduous process, fraught with nagging, teeth-gnashing and no shortage of reluctant participants. In more recent times, however, the serial oversharing epidemic that's run rampant throughout all online activity has infected our bands and staff alike. The rhetorical question, "who fucking asked you?" cannot be applied in this instance, because they were all asked. For some historical perspective, here's last year's pile. Questions or comments about our lousy tastes and/or blatant omissions are welcome (but not necessarily appreciated). And away we go!

Damian Abraham, Fucked Up

My fav records that I acquired off my want list this year:

Da Slyme - "st" (with 1/1 FUCKED UP "Couple Tracks cover" haha) DBLP
- I got this thru Hits and Misses (RIP) in Toronto but it came from the drummer I believe. It didn't have a cover but the covers were just spraypainted covers of random records, so my friend Woody made me a copy of his cover and I recreated the stencil on a Fucked Up lp. A seminal Canadian record that I have wanted since I read about it in the Smash the State lp insert.

Black Task - Blacktask/Spikes To The Wall (Radio Raheem)
Feedtime - Today Is Friday (SSR), box set (Sub/Pop),
The Pin Group - 'Retrospective' (Siltbreeze)
Soggy - Slog (Memoire Neuve)

live : Monoshock, (Hemlock Tavern, SF, July), Destruction Unit (Beerland and The Grand, Austin, March, Red 7, Austin, July and November), Pygmy Shrews finale (285 Kent, Brooklyn, February) Bits Of Shit (Beerland, Austin, September, Hi-Tone Lounge, Memphis, September), Gary Wrong Group (Hi-Tone Lounge, Memphis, September), SsserpentssS (Austin, too many times), Shellac (Lincoln Theatre, Chicago, August) Mark Kozelek (Scottish Rite Theatre, Austin, September), Swans (LaZone Rosa, Austin), Feedtime (Beerland, Austin, April, Midnight (Beerland, Austin, June), Puffy Areolas (Beerland, Austin, March), ), Sonny Vincent & The Bad Reactions (Beerland, Austin, May), Death Of Samantha (Trailer Space, Austin, March), Wussy (Mohawk, Austin, June)

Fucked Up and Titus Andronicus co-headline UK tour plus new Fucked Up video

December 12th, 2012 at 6:00 am

The two headed beast that is Fucked Up and their pals Titus Andronicus will be on tour in the UK in May.

The dates announced today are below and follow Fucked Up's previously announced date at the Field Day festival in London on Saturday 25 May 2013.

Sun 26 May 2013, Bristol, The Fleece w/ Titus Andronicus tickets

Mon 27 May 2013, Leeds, Brudenell Social Club w/ Titus Andronicus tickets

Tue 28 May 2013, Glasgow, SWG3 w/ Titus Andronicus tickets

Wed 29 May 2013, Manchester, Soundcontrol w/ Titus Andronicus tickets

Thu 30 May 2013, London, Electric Ballroom tickets

And check out the new video for "Inside A Frame", taken from the album David Comes To Life, Directed by Kyle Davison.

Ted Leo's going on tour with Aimee Mann in Europe

December 11th, 2012 at 2:42 pm

Following their overwhelmingly popular US run, Ted Leo & Aimee Mann will be taking their joint tour overseas. Dates and ticket links below, don't miss out!
1/15 Stockholm - Nalen TICKETS
1/16 Gothenburg - Pustervik TICKETS
1/17 Malmo - KB TICKETS
1/18 Aarhus - Train TICKETS
1/20 Berlin - Columbia Club TICKETS
1/21 Hamburg - Fabrik TICKETS
1/22 Cologne - Gloria TICKETS
1/24 Amsterdam - Paradiso TICKETS
1/25 Gent - Vooruit TICKETS
1/26 Paris - Bataclan TICKETS
1/28 London - Royal Festival Hall TICKETS
1/31 Dublin - Bord Gais Energy Theatre TICKETS

* photo lifted fromlorilovesyouu's flickr

Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights: The Tenth Anniversary Edition now available physically

December 11th, 2012 at 2:00 pm by Gabe

Following a week's manufacturing delay, the immaculate physical editions of Interpol's Turn On The Bright Lights: The Tenth Anniversary Edition (hardbound book containing double vinyl + DVD, hardbound book containing double CD + DVD) are now available to own.

Iceage 'You're Nothing', out February 19

December 11th, 2012 at 9:30 am

We're pleased to announce further details on Iceage's forthcoming
longplayer, set for release on February 19, 2013 (the 18th, ex-North
America).

Titled, 'You're Nothing', the album was recorded & produced by Iceage
in Copenhagen and Møn, Denmark. Artwork is above and tracklisting
below.

"You're Nothing" pushes Iceage's singular sound to further extremes.
Twelve examples of the myriad ways Iceage have written, and re-written
the short aggressive rock song. We're excited for you to hear it.

1.Ecstasy
2.Coalition
3.Interlude
4.Burning Hand
5.In Haze
6.Morals
7.Everything Drifts
8.Wounded Hearts
9. It Might Hit First
10.Rodfæstet
11.Awake
12.You're Nothing

Iceage have one US date confirmed as of this writing, January 25 at Brooklyn's 285 Kent. Further information on NYC area events will be forthcoming.

Pre-order at the Matador store and get a free limited-edition poster designed by Iceage.

http://iceagecopenhagen.blogspot.com/

Get To Know Your Local Independent Retailer Vol. 26 - 1-2-3-4 Go! Records

December 10th, 2012 at 1:11 pm

Forget the prelude. 1-2-3-4 Go! fucking rules. Read what owner Steve-O has to say about it.

1. Tell us briefly about your store.
1-2-3-4 Go! Records started as a label in 2001 and opened our real world store in Oakland, CA in March 0f 2008. Pretty much the worst time to start any business, especially one in an industry most people thought was on it's last legs. We're very proud to say we're having our 5th anniversary in March 2013! We moved in to our latest location last year and now host shows in a separate room. We have 4 to 8 a month as well as a rotating monthly art installation.

2. What got you into the independent record store business?
For most of my adult life I had worked in record stores or music related businesses so I had the history and I saw that there were some great really big stores in the bay area but nothing like the smaller shops I was used to working in. Well curated and focused on punk/indie/etc records. Since those early days we've expanded to have a small but pretty killer selection of jazz, blues, classic rock, funk, reggae etc as well but keep still keep our main focus. We pride ourselves on the fact that you can come in here, spend half an hour or so and walk out with an armload of great finds that would have taken you a few hours to dig out in larger stores.

3. Who are some of your favorite contemporary stores?
Green Noise in Portland, Singles Going Steady and Jive Time in Seattle and you still can't beat Amoeba for size and pure volume.

4. How have things been going from a business perspective?
Every year business is consistently up. We're currently doing five times the business we did the first year we were open so things are definitely moving forward. Always a bit tight but always getting better.

5. What do you think spells the survival for an independent record store today?
Focus. Not trying to be the everything to everyone sort of store. That's a brutal game to try and compete in and for one stop shopping people hit the internet these days I think. But if you offer something special you'll drag people out of their homes and offices to come have a look.

6. What are some of the coolest thing labels have done with you? Instores? Promotions? Sales?
Sales and giveaway stuff are always great. When a label works with you to sell a record you believe in it's the best for everyone. What's better than loving a new record and being able to get in someones hand at a discount and/or give them something cool to go with it? Nothin!

7. Why do we need record stores?
It provides an experience that you don't get online. The thrill of the hunt and subsequent score in a store can't be beat in my opinion. Every store is different and you never know what you'll find or who you'll meet inside it. Some of my longest band/genre tangents have been inspired by talking to folks at stores and about new things or getting hyped on them from customers or the guy behind the counter. I prefer it to blogs myself.

8. What kind of taco is your favorite?
Flour tortilla for sure. Heresy I know. I'm vegetarian so it can be difficult to get a good one but La Pinata in Alameda makes a damn fine one.

9. Who are your top 3 favorite bands right now?
Been on a huge Smog kick lately, got really in to Jobriath and I'm biased because their LP is coming out on my label but Synthetic ID is really killing it for me out here. Really great tense bay area post punk.

10. What is your favorite thing about your store?
The amount of support it continues to have from our customers. I'll be out and see our stickers on cars of people I don't know and if I ever overhear something about the shop it's how much people like it. I wanted to establish a place that was fairly priced and consistently had great new and used stuff in it, staffed by friendly people you can actually talk to about music and I think I did a pretty good job.

11. What are your goals for the future of your store? Long term and short.
Continuing to grow at the pace we have been short term. Long term (also possibly short) a second location. Possibly in San Francisco or Portland.

Yo La Tengo - Hanukkah 2012

December 9th, 2012 at 7:58 pm by Patrick

photo by Liz Clayton

Yo La Tengo kicked off their annual 8 nights of Hanukkah last night at Maxwell's in Hoboken. As always, each night features special secret guest bands, comedians and mix CDs. Last night featured the Raybeats, comic Emo Philips and a mix by the legendary Tom Scharpling.

Everybody who works on Yo La Tengo Hanukkah donates their time, and the entire proceeds go to charity. A considerable amount has been raised over the years for deserving causes. This year's proceeds will all go to Hurricane Sandy-related charities. Last night's income went to the Rebuild Hoboken Relief Fund. Hoboken was hit particularly hard by the storm - there is still no direct PATH train service between Manhattan and Hoboken, and it is not expected to return until 2013.

The band have made their usual diary entry on their site about last night. Read it for more details.

~~Tonight's guests have not been officially announced yet, but this post will be amended when they are.~~ Tonight's guests are the Sun Ra Arkestra and Fred Armisen. Mix CD by Kurt Wagner.

Yo La Tengo's new album Fade comes out on January 15. You can preorder it on iTunes now if you want the digital version, and get an instant download of "Before We Run." Or if you prefer physical media, the Matador Store offers a preorder of the CD, the vinyl, or the deluxe vinyl with a bonus 7" and 3 exclusive extra tracks. The deluxe vinyl + 7" will be available exclusively from us and from independent retail stores that carry Matador releases.

Goat chops

December 9th, 2012 at 7:47 pm by Patrick

As temperatures drop around here, thoughts turn to goat. Goat chops, or to be precise, kid chops, are tender and can be patted dry, salted and brought to room temperature just like lamb loin chops. A quick 3-4 minutes per side under the broiler produces this succulence.

These chops were quite thick, so depending on how well done you like your goat, you should adjust your cooking time.

Interpol's 'Turn On The Bright Lights : The 10th Anniversary Edition' Out Today (Digital Version)

December 4th, 2012 at 3:00 pm by Gerard

(above : Daniel Kessler Recalls Interpol's Infancy At The Site of The Former Baby Jupiter)

Persons attempting research on the late LES venue Baby Jupiter might run across a number of Health Dept. sanctions for the since shuttered Cafe Charbon-Epicerie, so we're fortunate that Interpol's Daniel Kessler can recall more historic times on the block. The above clip happens to coincide with today's digital release of the expanded/remastered reissue of Interpol's landmark 2002 debut album, 'Turn On The Bright Lights', hailed earlier this morning by Pitchfork's Matt LeMay as an album that captured NYC as "a crushingly real place, rendered in such vivid emotional detail that it rings true even to those who have never set foot in the city." Just try to make a record like that today without mentioning Duane Reade once.

The physical versions of the TOTBL 10th Anniversary Edition (hardbound book containing double vinyl + DVD, hardbound book containing double CD + DVD) will be in stores Tuesday, December 11, however, we've already begun shipping to mail order customers who've preordered.. You can still purchase either edition from The Matador Store.

Esben and the Witch: Dave Sitek re-working, bonus 7" and an "out-store"

December 4th, 2012 at 6:21 am

Brighton's Esben and the Witch unveil a song today, a re-working of their latest track 'Deathwaltz' by Dave Sitek (TV On The Radio and several noteable production credit mentions) who rips the core vocal and instrumental elements from the the original track and pieces them back together along with his own added production.

The re-worked track appears with new original song 'Trail' on a bonus 7", available exclusively at all good independent record stores (UK/Europe only) with the LP version of Wash The Sins Not Only The Face, out in January.

As an additional bonus, each customer pre-ordering from Brighton record store Resident will receive a pair of tickets for a special show (read: in-store that won't fit in the store, so we guess this is an 'out-store'?) at Green Door Store in Brighton on January 20th, along with a signed poster.

Pre-order the album from Resident here.

Esben and the Witch live:

January

20 - Brighton - Green Door Store - Tickets via pre-order

February

07 - Birmingham - Hare & Hounds - Tickets

08 - Glasgow - School Of Art - Tickets

09 - Manchester - Bunker - Tickets

15 - Brussels - Botanique - Tickets

16 - Munster - Gleiss 22 - Tickets

17 - Hamburg - Knust - Tickets

18 - Berlin - Bi Nuu - Tickets

20 - Munich - 59to1 - Tickets

21 - Zürich - Rote Fabrik - Tickets

22 - Cologne - Gebaude 9 - Tickets

23 - Utrecht - Tivoli Oudegracht Spiegelbar - Tickets

24 - Paris Point - Ephemere - Tickets

26 - London - Scala - Tickets

Ceremony live on "Last Call With Carson Daly"

December 3rd, 2012 at 3:46 pm

Tonight, Ceremony round up an insanely full year of touring, with no less than 128 dates in the books, in Bethlehem, PA at the Space for Secret Art (ask a punk for the address). If you missed em (you really have no excuse), enjoy these two clips that NBC's "Last Call" captured at their show last month in Los Angeles.