I was doing a mini-tour of the northeast last week with a friend and singer-songwriter, and NYC’s Joe’s Pub was a particularly memorable gig: Great sound, great staff, wonderful room. And the backstage and “green room” areas rocked, as well.
Oh, and this post inaugurates a new series on cool venues. Enjoy…
Onstage with Billy Simons and band, Joe's Pub, NYC. I'm far left.
If you didn’t know already, one of the most compelling outlets for discovering new music is that behemoth of indie music information, BTR—or breakthruradio.com.
The mammoth, faux-wood-paneled BTR site features articles, reviews (of albums, shows, venues, and more), a concert calendar (searchable by city, date, venue), and a vast, labyrnthine multimedia archive.
Newsletters, podcasts, and a BTR iPhone app are available, of course.
Contests and food drives abound.
But BTR’s raison d’etre is, um…its on-line radio programming…
Last week brought to conclusion my work on New York singer-songwriter Billy Simons‘ latest album, Music For The Motion Picture.
Billy’s sound straddles pop, rock, folk, and even a bit of country. His acoustic-driven tunes are inventive and well-crafted. While I’m inspired as much as anyone by “indie” acts, Billy’s work provides a welcome alternative to the legions of Brooklyn Vegan-sanctioned scenesters emerging daily from L-train stops in Williamsburg. Look, I’m a huge fan of Grizzly Bear, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and (especially) The National. But there’s a place on my playlist for songs like Billy’s, as well—tunes that are refreshing in their earnestness, their refusal to hide in ironic detachment, their humor, accessibility, and authenticity. Plus, the record was a complete blast to make.
