• The Cribs at Irving Plaza on January 17. Tickets
• Vampire Weekend has three dates at three venues: January 17 at United, Palace, January 18 at Webster Hall , and January 19 at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets
• Lady Gaga has added two more shows with Kid Cudi at Radio City Music Hall on January 23 and 24. Tickets
• Bear in Heaven and Oh No Ono at Mercury Lounge on January 27. Tickets. Bear in Heaven, whose new album just got Best New Music from Pitchfork and are also playing a free show at Sound Fix on December 3.
• Amanda Blank at Santos Party House on January 29. Tickets
• Alberta Cross at Bowery Ballroom on February 4. Tickets
• Yeasayer at Bowery Ballroom on February 8 and Music Hall of Williamsburg on February 9. Tickets
• The Residents at Webster Hall on February 9. Tickets
• Slayer, Megadeath, and Testament at IZOD center on February 11. Tickets
• Magnetic Fields at BAM on February 13. Tickets
• Jonathan Richman at Music Hall of Williamsburg on February 12, 13, and 14. Tickets
• Four Tet and Nathan Fake at (le) Poisson Rouge on February 17. Tickets
• Wild Beasts at Bowery Ballroom on February 26. Tickets
• The Magnetic Fields at Town Hall on March 10 and 11. Tickets
• Hot Chip and The xx at Terminal 5 on April 22. Tickets. Hot Chip is also DJing a Fixed holiday party on December 9. Tickets.
• Gwar are at Irving Plaza on December 13. Tickets
• eRadio Live Show Taping with Tori Amos and Jesse Winchester on December 7. Tickets

On Sale Saturday:

• Gang Gang Dance at Music Hall of Williamsburg on January 15. Tickets
• Jay-Z at IZOD Center on March 6 and Nassau Coliseum on March 12. Tickets

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British author and musician John Wesley Harding (Wesley Stace is his real name) has put together a sort of variety show that has been appearing at (le) Poisson Rouge about every month since the spring. Last night was his last one of the year in NYC and he made it memorable with some great guests: Comedians Eugene Mirman and Mike Birbiglia, author Stephen Elliott and Steve Almond, and musicians Rhett Miller (Old 97s) and A.C. Newman (New Pornographers).

Harding started off the evening by introducing all the guests with a short rhyming poem about each one, setting the tone for the night: silly, clever, and entertaining. Harding and his new band, The English UK, got things started with his song, “Top of the Bottom,” recalling Elvis Costello as he does so well.

Next Stephen Elliott read from his latest book, The Adderall Diaries. After that A.C. Newman took the stage. I’ve seen the New Pornographers several times, but had never seen Newman solo, so it was a nice treat. He first played one of the Pornographer’s tunes, “From Blown Speakers,” but since it was just him and an acoustic guitar, it was a totally new sound. He then had a violinist join him on stage for one of his solo songs–”There are Maybe Ten or Twelve”– that was very beautiful. After that, Harding and his band, The English UK, joined Newman on stage for a Julian Cope cover of “All The Blowing-Themselves-Up Motherfuckers (Will Realise The Minute They Die That They Were Suckers)” that was fabulous.

Steve Almond, took the stage next as the sounds of Toto’s “Africa.” He then launched into a hilarious critique of the horrible, yet addictive song, analyzing its lyrics and melodies as the audience hooted with laughter. The diatribe was clever and funny and nearly everyone could relate to it–don’t we all know that the song is ridiculous but yet still enjoy listening to it? You can see him doing this performance at Tin House Magazine’s 10th anniversary party here.

Harding and The English UK stepped in here to play his song “A Very Sorry Saint.”

Next up was local Brooklynite Eugene Mirman, one of my favorite comedians. He cracked the crowd up as usual.

The sexy and talented Rhett Miller was up next and first exclaimed his awe for playing with A.C. Newman which was very cute. He claimed Newman’s songs were complicated and impressive while his own were so simple. But the two songs he played (”Come Around” and “I Need To Know Where I Stand”) were beautiful and emotional and he definitely impressed the crowd. Harding then join him on stage with his band and they did a wonderful cover of David Bowie’s “Five Years.” Miller’s voice was intense and magnificent as he did is best Bowie.

Next was comedian Mike Birbiglia, who had a one man show called Sleepwalk With Me at the Bleecker Street Theatre for some time, but has now taken the show on the road. He is one of my favorites (I saw him record a Comedy Central special last year) and did not disappoint with his story about throwing up on the Scrambler carnival ride with his crush in 7th grade.

Harding and The English UK ended things with his songs “Oh! Pandora” and the older “The Devil in Me.”

For the finale, all the guests got on stage with Harding and the English UK for a cover of The Monkeys‘ “I’m a Believer” that had all the musicians singing and the comedians and authors on back up/dancing/ Eugene Mirman playing an electronic instrument.

Unfortunately you have to wait until next year for the next Cabinet of Wonders in NYC, but be sure and catch it when it returns. More photos after the jump.

All images: Devorah Klein

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Image: Newscom

According to Billboard, members of the seminal Andy Warhol-sponsored band the Velvet Underground are making a rare public appearance at the New York Public Library. Lou Reed, Maureen Tucker, and Doug Yule (who replaced John Cale in 1968) will be at the library on December 8 in support of a new book: The Velvet Underground: New York Art, “a new compendium of previously unseen photographs, poster and cover designs by Andy Warhol, Lou Reed’s handwritten music and lyrics, underground press clippings and other reviews, flyers, handbills and posters. The book, published by famed Italian book house Rizzoli, contains a recorded conversation between Reed and Tucker as well as contributions from Vaclav Havel and Jon Savage,” writes Billboard.

Tickets to the event are $25 ($15 for donors, students, and seniors) and can be bought here. It doesn’t exactly sound like they will play any music, but you never know….

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Magnetic Fields have a new album called Realism, coming out on January 26. They will be going on tour next year in support of the record and will be at BAM on February 13 and Town Hall on March 10 and 11. A limited number of tickets are available for the Town Hall shows for the fan club through MusicToday. If you are a member of BAM you can get tickets to that show now. Otherwise, all dates go on sale on Friday. Tour schedule below.

Hot Chip also has a new album coming out (!!!) on February 9 called One Life Stand. Their tour next year will bring them to Terminal 5 on April 22 with CMJ darlings The xx. No ticket info yet, I will keep you posted though! Tour schedule below.

The Magnetic Fields – 2010 Tour Dates
February 04 WASHINGTON, DC Lisner Auditorium @ George Washington University
February 06 MONTREAL, QC Corona Theatre
February 08 TORONTO, ON Queen Elizabeth Theatre
February 10 BOSTON, MA Wilbur Theatre
February 11 BOSTON, MA Wilbur Theatre
February 13 BROOKLYN, NY Howard Gilman Opera House @ BAM
February 21 PORTLAND, OR The Aladdin Theater
February 22 PORTLAND, OR The Aladdin Theater
February 23 SEATTLE, WA Town Hall Seattle
February 24 SEATTLE, WA Town Hall Seattle
February 27 OAKLAND, CA The Fox Theater
March 01 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Herbst Theatre
March 02 LOS ANGELES, CA Wilshire Ebell Theatre
March 04 MILWAUKEE, WI Pabst Theatre
March 05 BLOOMINGTON, IN Buskirk Chumley Theater
March 06 ST. LOUIS, MO The Pageant
March 07 CHICAGO, IL Harris Theater @ Millenium Park
March 10 NEW YORK, NY Town Hall
March 11 NEW YORK, NY Town Hall
March 22 LONDON UK Barbican Centre
** Full Europe itinerary coming soon **

Hot Chip & The xx – 2010 Tour Dates
April 16 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
April 19 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre
April 20 – Toronto, ON – Koolhaus
April 22 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
April 24 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club

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Tomorrow (Saturday), Alela Diane is playing a free show at Sound Fix at 3 pm. Don’t forget, they moved to 44 Berry St. in Williamsburg.

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On sale now:

• Jack White’s side project The Dead Weather is playing a small show at Music Hall of Williamsburg next week, on November 17. Tickets
• 101.9 WRXP Presents Matt Pinfield’s Holiday Extravaganza 2 featuring David Gray, Pete Yorn, and Company of Thieves on December 6. Tickets
• Pink Martini at Town Hall on December 10. Tickets
• Life of Agony at Highline Ballroom on December 15. Tickets
• Raekwon at Irving Plaza on December 16. Tickets
• Parachute at Bowery Ballroom on January 8. Tickets
• Little Feat at The Concert Hall on January 12. Tickets
• Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven at Highline Ballroom on January 15. Tickets
• Lady Gaga and Kid Cudi at Radio City Music Hall on January 20 and 21. Tickets
• Nouvelle Vague at Webster Hall on January 23. Tickets
• Citizen Cope at Music Hall of Williamsburg on February 10 and Bowery Ballroom on February 12, 13, and 14. Tickets
• Akron/Family and Warpaint at Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 3. Tickets
• Miike Snow added another show. this one at Webster Hall on March 27. Tickets

On sale tomorrow (Saturday) at noon:

• Mariah Carey on New Year’s Eve (December 31) at Madison Square Garden. Tickets
• Flogging Molly at Hammerstein Ballroom on March 2. Tickets
• Robin Thicke at Nokia Theatre on December 14. Tickets

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Image: Newscom, Interscope Records

Even though the Lady Gaga and Kanye West tour quickly fizzled, the Lady is still hitting the road with her tour The Monster Ball this winter. She arrives in New York at Radio City Music Hall on January 20 and 21 with Kid Cudi and Jason Derulo. Tickets are on presale now until 10 pm tonight (password = HEGAGA) and go on regular sale tomorrow at noon.

Also on sale NOW:

Neon Indian added a second show at Mercury Lounge on December 15. Tickets

Rural Alberta Advantage added an early show at Mercury Lounge at 7:30 pm on January 9. Tickets

Dashboard Confessional (acoustic) canceled his three shows at Nokia Theater and scheduled one at Highline Ballroom on December 11. Tickets

American Idol almost-winner Elliott Yamin will be at Highline Ballroom on January 1. Tickets

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Brooklyn Museum is celebrating their newest exhibit: Who Shot Rock: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present and their Target free First Saturday event this past Saturday celebrated music and photography. Aside from the three indie rock bands that played (The Beets, Grass Widow, and Crystal Stilts), there was an excellent high school marching band complete with drums, horns, flags, and a baton twirler. I missed the Beets’ set, but I did see San Francisco’s Grass Widow. The all-female trio reminded me of similar all-female group Electrelane, with their off-beat harmonies and somewhat atonal vocals. The Crsytal Stilts followed with their garage-rockish vibe, but the sound was kind of off for them. The museum did its best to promote rock show photography in honor of the exhibit by reserving the section in front for anyone with any kind of camera and encouraged people to put up their photos on the museum’s Flick pool. More photos after the jump.

All Images: Devorah Klein

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Monsters of Folk, the supergroup made up of M. Ward, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes), and Jim James (My Morning Jacket), played two New York-area shows this weekend: Friday at United Palace and Sunday at the Beacon Theatre. I was lucky enough to go to the Friday show.

The men looked super snazzy in their dark suits and skinny ties, and played for about 3 hours with no opener–quite a skill in itself. They had with them drummer Will Johnson (Centro-Matic and South San Gabriel) to play on the tour. The fellas were energetic and happy and genuinely seemed to be having a grand old time. They played songs off their new, self-titled album, as well as songs written by each individual musician. Sometimes M. Ward would back up Jim James, or Jim James would sing with Conor Oberst, or M. Ward would do a solo…you think of the combination and they did it.

M. Ward was in full f0rm, especially when he was rollicking on the upright piano. His voice is like no other and every time I hear it come out of his small frame I am shocked. Jim James guitar playing was superb, and the songs where he was led vocalist stood out for me as touching and beautiful. By contrast, I felt Conor Oberst’s songs were dull and immature, both in lyrics and vocals. But he had plenty of fans there and none of them seemed to mind. I guess that’s why I’m not a Bright Eyes fan.

Monsters of Folk is a fun but soulful album and definitely worth checking out. It will be interesting to see if this group is just a one-time thing or if they will release others albums together. More pictures after the jump.

All images: Devorah Klein

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Cast Spells and Good Old War. Images via: Dave Clifford, Us/Them

Lots of good stuff on sale today, including all of the shows for Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series, which will host Marianne Faithfull, St. Vincent, Dirty Projectors, and many others. Good Old War and Cast Spells (solo project of Dave Davison of Maps & Atlases), are releasing a split EP on Sargeant Records for their December tour and their show at the Knitting Factory is definitely one to see.

• WRXP Presents Matt Pinfield’s Holiday Extravaganza featuring Phoenix, Passion Pit, Jack’s Mannequin, and Manchester Orchestra at Hammerstein Ballroom on December 2. Tickets
• Neon Indian, one of my new favorites, will be at Mercury Lounge on December 16. Tickets
• Devendra Banhart and Little Joy have added a show after their Town Hall appearance at Music Hall of Williamsburg on November 23. Tickets
• Screaming Females at the Bell House on November 25. Tickets
• Shaky Hands, Takka Takka, and U.S. Royalty at Knitting Factory Brooklyn on December 2. Tickets
• Good Old War and Cast Spells at Knitting Factory Brooklyn on December 3. Tickets
• Suckers at Knitting Factory Brooklyn on December 10. Tickets
• A Sunny Day in Glasgow at Union Hall on December 12. Tickets
• Fabolous at Irving Plaza on December 12. Tickets
• Keren Ann and Clare and the Reasons at City Winery on December 13 and Knitting Factory Brooklyn on December 14. Tickets for CW and for KF
• Lee “Scratch” Perry at Highline Ballroom on December 13. Tickets
• Talib Kweli at Highline Ballroom on December 23. Tickets
• Fischerspooner at Irving Plaza on December 31. Tickets
• Okkervil River with The Levon Helm Band at Terminal 5 on January 7. Tickets
• The Dutchess & The Duke at Mercury Lounge on January 8. Tickets
• Joe Pernice at Mercury Lounge on January 15. Tickets
• Serena Maneesh at Mercury Lounge on January 22. Tickets
• Aventura at Madison Square Garden on January 20, 21, and February 1. Tickets
• Marianne Faithfull at Lincoln Center, The Allen Room, on January 13. Tickets
• Martha Plimpton at Lincoln Center, The Allen Room, on January 16. Tickets
• Suzanne Vega at Lincoln Center, The Allen Room, on January 28. Tickets
• St. Vincent at Lincoln Center, The Allen Room, on January 29. Tickets
• DOOM featuring Mos Def at Nokia Theatre on January 30. Tickets
• B.B. King and Buddy Guy at United Palace on February 12. Tickets on presale now with password “record,” regular sale tomorrow.
• Nellie McKay at Lincoln Center, The Allen Room, on February 18. Tickets
• Dirty Projectors at Lincoln Center, The Allen Room, on February 19. Tickets
• Gabriel Kahane at Lincoln Center, The Allen Room, on March 3. Tickets
• Miike Snow at Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 26 and Webster Hall on March 27. Tickets

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