Longstanding local champions of 90's style guitar rock, Morning Theft, announced that they're splitting up (amicably) and won't be playing any more shows. Definitely a bummer for those of us who have been fans of this band for years. Read what the band has to say in this myspace blog.

You can still get their WHOLE ALBUM, Between Walls, for FREE at the band's website. Don't pass this up, music this good is worth paying for.

Previously: Morning Theft Robotinev

"We're very sorry to report that the Luna Lounge was temporarily closed down by the New York City Health Department last night and the Benefit show for Common Ground is canceled. Those of you who bought advance tickets can use them for the rescheduled show. Also, please note that the advance ticket sales will all go right to Common Ground.

Because we don't know all of the facts, I hesitate to disparage the responsible parties. But I feel completely free to write that it seems very unfair to shut down a rock venue/bar on a Friday night right before the music starts, and thus putting the business out for the whole weekend, unless the public's health is really at risk. I highly doubt this was the case..." Read the full post at Jezebel Music.

After a number of closings (both temporary and permanent) for venues (Sound Fix comes to mind, obviously) it's really starting to feel like there's a very specific push right now-more than ever before-to get music venues and bars shut down. Somehow it doesn't look like it'll be slowing down any time soon, so I wouldn't be surprised if your favorite local venue was the next target, unfortunately.

After the Jump Fest is the effort of 20 New York City music bloggers whose goal is to help new artists gain exposure while raising money for struggling school music programs. This year, After the Jump is teaming up with The Music Hall of Williamsburg and Galapagos Art Space for a festival stretching from noon until last call. In the next few months, After the Jump blogs will be making more announcements about the festival including new artists and pre-parties. Stay tuned and in the mean time, check out AftertheJumpFest.com for information on our past events and mark your calendars! It's going to be a doozy.

For press opportunities such as interviews with the organizers or bands, please contact publicity@afterthejumpfest.com
For sponsorship and all requests, contact producer Jennifer Kellas: jkellas@afterthejumpfest.com.

The fine gentleman pictured above (taken at the Holy Moly show at Sound Fix on February 8th) is none other than Jared Friedman. Let's get with the full disclosure before anything else: he's one of my best friends, and over the past 10 years he's been a bandmate, roommate, business partner, radio show co-host, and many other things that would keep this from being at all objective.

Joining Jared will be Gabriel Miller-Phillips, who I've talked about before (and sent on tour for a digital release with Alina Simone, who you know is playing at Joe's Pub tonight). I'm actually a little behind in posting this, and have already missed the first date that I'm about to tell you about, but I'll include it anyway just to maintain the full scope of their tour Southern tour.

Though they'll be on the road together, the real news here is that it's the debut outing for Jared Friedman, whose solo work is quite different from what you would expect from the shirtless stomping bassist of Man In Gray - even when he's playing songs that get the full-on rock treatment by that (our) band. The songs he's singing are brilliantly composed tales that just might even break your heart. No, I'm not kidding.

If you're in one of the areas they'll be stoping in, please try to check them out. You can even follow their adventures on the (hopefully soon to be updated) Folk 'N' Roll tour blog.

Read on for all the dates...

Alina Simone - "Half Of My Kingdom"

I've mentioned this a few times, and it's likely I've emailed you about it if I know you personally - but here's one more push to get you to attend what's sure to be an unforgettable show...

This Friday, April 4, Eugene will be hosting a show at Joe's Pub in NYC where Alina Simone (Russian-born, Boston-raised, recently back to Brooklyn after a stint in North Carolina, whew!) will perform songs from her upcoming record, Everyone Is Crying Out To Me, Beware, which consists of covers of Russian punk-folk icon Yanka Dyagileva. All I have to say is that there will be horseradish vodka drink specials and that sounds AWESOME to me. Get tickets here!

eugenemirman.com | alinasimone.com | unionhallny.com
Alina Simone Robotinev!

Every band in the world @ SXSW

Prefix galleries: Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat, Playboy
My SXSW outtakes/leftovers

Le Loup @ Union Hall

Citay @ Sound Fix

Mountain goats @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg

Local "band" (err, solo project of multi-instrumentalist Jason Drake) Cassettes Won't Listen will be doing a tour of Brooklyn Industries stores this weekend. He played a great set at the After The Jump official SXSW show in Austin (see all my photos from SXSW 2008 at Prefix Magazine) and I'm looking forward to seeing more!

Saturday is pretty convenient for me, with 1pm at the Smith Street store and then 3pm at the (5th Ave) Park Slope store! Sunday he hits Williamsburg, SOHO, the West Village, and Chelsea.

CWL on Myspace.

But if you DO feel like rockin to live music of some sort, Insect Guide are still in town and have shows in NYC Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I highly recommend checking them out before they head back to the UK. As for tonight, there's Delta Spirit + Port O'Brien at Union Hall in Brooklyn (the same show is happening tomorrow night at Pianos in the city.)

Oh and it's less than two weeks to Alina Simone's big show at Joe's Pub on April 4th! Yay!

Some photos up at Prefix, tons more to come.

A few personal favorites that were all new to me: Mae Shi @ Flamingo Cantina, The Ting Tings @ Buffalo Billiards, Hot Springs @ Canadian Day, Los Campensinos! @ Filter party, Dark Meat @ Vice late night, Does It Offend You, Yeah? @ Fader Fort, Throw Me The Statue @ Mohawk. What a week.

Each show has some incredible tricks up its sleeve, so if you are headed to Austin, don't miss out!

Friday 3/14, 7pm
The After the Jump Backyard @ 1204 Salina St. - East Side
Free and open to the public + Free beer and bbq!
7 Laura Palmer
745 Senryu
830 The Physics of Meaning
915 Salt and Samovar
10 Oliver Future
1045 These United States
1130 The Lisps



Saturday 3/15, High Noon
ATJ/Indie Outlaw/Paper Garden Day Party @ Lucky Lounge 209 W 5th St,
Free and open to the public, Open bar + bbq and free shirts and bags courtesy of Speakerheart!
1215 Peasant
100 The Pendletons
145 Darla Farmer
230 The Answering Machine
330 LoveLikeFire
415 Morning State
5 Cloud Cult




Saturday 3/15, 2pm
The After the Jump Backyard @ 1204 Salina St. - East Side
Free and open to the public + Free beer and bbq!
215 Bell
3 Laura Gibson
4 Luke Temple
5 The Lisps
6 White Ghost Shivers
7 Jukebox the Ghost

Saturday 3/15, 7:30pm
ATJ Official SXSW Evening Showcase at Lambert's BBQ
401 W 2nd St - badges and limited tickets @ door
8 The Teenage Prayers
9 Care Bears On Fire
10 Neimo
11 Tigercity
12 Cassettes Won't Listen
1 Project Jenny, Project Jan

Find out more about us and our causes at www.afterthejumpfest.com and stay tuned for some big announcements in 2008!



Make sure as well to check out our sponsors whom have devoted time and money to aid After the Jump in their efforts. Without them, this would not be possible:

Trak Image
Speakerheart
ASCAP
WOXY
BlogFresh Radio
BuzzFeed

This Saturday, StereoActiveNYC Presents the pre-release party for Renminbi's new album The Phoenix at The Delancey. Details on the bands, all timed out so you can plan yr night accordingly:

8pm - Big / 9pm - Luff / 10pm - Pink Noise / 11pm - RENMINBI / DJ SANYC all night!

One of the first reviews I wrote for the Deli back in the day (like, years ago) was of a Renminbi ep that included a couple of the tracks found on this new full length. The stuff sounded cool then, but the band has definitely been working hard and made a solid album that you should pick up at the show. Highly recommended if you're into Helium (I think they're just my reference of the month, actually, deal with it!), Sleater-Kinney (who I'm convinced stole one of Renminbi's riffs for a song on The Woods), and just a little bit of mathiness to your rock music. You can RSVP if you're into letting people know where you'll be and such (oh and you can win stuff/get discounts by doing that too).

I don't even want to get into how long ago I did this drawing and tried to review the new Nada Surf disc, Lucky. This is a record that I've been having trouble with since I first heard it. The lead track, "See These Bones," kicks off with and instantly memorable line, and then the music slides right into a distinctly familiar Nada Surf style. That's all great, and the whole album is a good listen, but there's something just a little "off" with it. Maybe what bothers me the most is that my favorite track, "The Film Did Not Go 'Round" was not actually penned by the band (but rather, but someone I happen to know, which I was unaware of until recently). Even without comparing the other tracks to this standout, the collection falls a bit short of what Nada Surf are capable of. While there's no reason to expect them to be as angsty or noisy as they were in the High/Low days, it feels like they're playing it a little too safe on Lucky. Songs like "From Now On," "Ice On The Wing," and "Weightless" definitely make attempts at capturing some of the magic of past hits, but unfortunately the're a little too close - so much so that they don't stand up on their own.

However, Nada Surf remain one of my favorite current bands, and I'll be looking forward to the next record.

NadaSurf.com

Get better soon Billy!

[Pela Robotinev]

First, new dude in town with the band that's playing every show happening, Spanish Prisoners are opening for and backing up Daniel Johnston at the Highline Ballroom! I made them a flyer for the show...

Spanish Prisoners' songwriter, Leo, is also a last-minute addition (replacing Scary Mansion) to the Naked Hearts show at Glasslands tonight (Forest Fire are also on the bill - they're one of those bands that have been popping up in my world a lot lately too).

The Gay Blades are out at Maxwells tonight.

I booked a nice little compact two-act lineup happening next Thursday (2/28) at Sound Fix in Williamsburg... and it's free! Caithlin De Marrais (from Rainer Maria) and Josh Mease are playing. Here's the flyer!

And of course this weekend is the Man In Gray TOTALLY AWESOME BIRTHDAY WEEKEND CELEBRATING ME TIMES 28! NYC (@ Mercury Lounge) on Friday and then down to DC (@ The Red And The Black) on Saturday! Yeah, it's gonna rule. GET TICKETS FOR MERCURY! (Yes, we're opening for Dax Riggs, that's the correct show).

Pals Morning Theft have released an awesome new record that you can download all for free! You can even enter a contest to win a Wii. For real!

Oh, and
Eli from The Hot IQs has started a "Dear Abby for bands" at Denver's Westword called Bandicoots. Should be interesting...