Brooklyn's Cat Martino is giving away a free tune titled "Jennie's Gone Down," in honor of Memorial Day 2010. The tune is off her forthcoming release due out this fall. “Last May (2009), I woke up to read a story on NPR about Jennie Hodgers, a woman who changed her identity to Albert Cashier to fight in the Civil War." says Martino as her inspiration for the song. Cat sings often with Sharon Van Etten including on Van Etten's beautiful new tune "Love More." Martino has a very lovely voice and her songs range from singer songwriter-ish tunes to more experimental stuff which in her live performance she uses a loop pedal to sample a plethora of instruments including an omnichord, electric and acoustic guitars, drums, piano, Casio keyboard and her voice.Cat Martino: Jenni's Gone Down from Foglight Films on Vimeo.
This Saturday! It's only $5 to see some great bands, great art & BBQ. Colt 45 presents The Budos Band, Monogold, The Stationary Set 3pm at The Secret Theatre Saturday, May 29th.
Sharon Van Etten recommended that I check out Brooklyn’s Milagres. The band had recently changed their name from The Secret Life Of Sofia to Milagres after gaining quite a buzz with the former moniker. I quickly investigated their tunes on MySpace and was pleased enough with what I heard to check them out live. They were playing on a bill in my neighborhood at the Bell House. 
Head over to www.arcadefire.com and hear a small taste of two new Arcade Fire tunes "The Suburbs" and the "Month of May." Both due to be released on a 12″ single.
We are very excited to announce Domino Recording artist Villagers have been added to our showcase on June 16th at Knitting Factory! The show features the lovely Marissa Nalder, Brooklyn finest Natureboy and Monogold, Ireland's Villagers, Portland's Rey Villalobos and Victoria of Sweden's Taken By Trees DJ-ing between sets. Click here for tickets here
Taken By Trees aka Victoria Bergsman has confirmed a special show in NYC next week on Tuesday, May 25th at Le Poisson Rouge. Click here for tickets and here for more info on the event. If you haven't seen her perform live this is a must see show. Victoria will be DJ-ing at our kevchino.com III showcase on June 14th at the Knitting Factory.
If aural beauty could be distilled from noise and melody there you would find Mono, the instrumental post-rock foursome from Japan. Touching down at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, Mono's sound was polished and delivery passionate. Fronting this effort was lead guitarist Taka Goto & bassist Tamaki Kunishi; while Yasunori Takada played drums and shiny gong, and Yoda provided otherworldly guitar sound-scapes in the background. 
Raison d'être for this live treat was Mono's extensive 31 date US tour, in support of their latest release "Holy Ground"; a live record recorded in NYC with orchestral backing. Bathed in blue light, the band oscillated visually between being shown in silhouette and subtle theatrical light. They treated the audience of the El Rey to well over an hour of ear candy, riding the waves of melodic guitar feedback. Their performance sometimes resembled a rock/post-rock concert, and sometimes seemed as eloquently presented as a recital; the likes of which would be worthy of the Royal Albert Hall.
Mono's sound-scapes were an instrumental cross between Mogwai and Slowdive; reminiscent at times of darkwave luminaries This Ascension, and at other times of alternative legends Sonic Youth. In love with the beauty and emotion of every note, Mono played an introspective set; the kind that invokes memories yet unrealized - the warmth by a cafe fireplace, listening as the rain come down...
New York music chef's Deli Magazine are putting on a music festival. The shows start this Thursday May 13th and goes thru Saturday May 15th! Click the flyer or visit here for more details. Please note Asa Random won't be able to play the Friday show at Glasslands.
Brooklyn's The Secret Life of Sofia are now called the Milagres. The band will release their debut LP titled Seven Summits on May 25th here. 
Director, Stephen Kijak's amazing documentry Scott Walker: 30th Century Man, will premiere on US Cable TV on Sundance Channel this Monday. Film will start running on Monday, May 10 at 8pm. Check the website for times.
Sharon Van Etten played a intimate Friday night show last night at Union Hall. She had just played a Chris Knox benefit show the evening before which raised over $50,000. Sharon played with Yo La Tengo, Kyp Malone and Jeff Mangum who played a set of Neutral Milk Hotel songs. The benefit show at Le Poisson Rouge was put together by Ben Goldberg of Ba Da Bing Records.
Warpaint have been on heavy rotation at kevchino headquarters for many years now. We had a chance to speak with one of the lovely front women of the trio (now four-piece), Theresa Wayman, about the band’s record deal, SXSW, and their new LP. Teresa also stars in a film released this fall titled Pete Smalls Is Dead alongside Tim Roth, Rosie Perez, and Steve Buscemi. Read interview here.
Kevchino.com presents
Before Sharon Van Etten heads into the studio to work on her follow up to Because i was in love she will be performing two intimate shows in New York. If you haven't had a chance to witness Sharon's room quieting performances, now's your chance! 
Once a member of such amazing bands as Slowdive and Mojave 3, Neil Halstead now plays an acoustic guitar, on which he performs some Nick Drake-style folk music. He was joined by a violinist during a few tunes at the end of his set.
Mercury Rev played in the main tent with a live orchestra for most of their set. Jonathan Donahue was an entertaining frontman to say the least with his infectiously happy personality and sparkly eyes along with his dramatic stage antics. I really enjoyed their set, especially the song "Holes" and their Flaming Lips-esque "Carwash Hair." I also really enjoyed their Daniel Johnston and Nico covers too.
The Sadies often collaborate with other country rock artists, such as Blue Rodeo, Jon Langford, The Tragically Hip, The Deep Dark Woods, and Andre Williams and are the preferred live backing band of singer Neko Case. No collaborations this night, but their live set was high energy filled with surf guitar leads and some country twang.
Cat Martino packed The Barn at 11 p.m. and entertained the crowd with a set using a plethora of instruments including an omnichord, electric and acoustic guitar, piano, Casio keyboard, her voice, and a loop pedal. She was joined onstage by both of the festival founders, Robin Bennett, who sang along with Cat, and his brother, Joe Bennett, on guitar. Her music ranged from very experimental to more folk/singer-songwriter music. Her beautiful and engaging set was talked about the following morning by many. 
Brooklyn trio Natureboy put on a great set in The Roadhouse for an intimate early afternoon crowd. Singer/guitarist Sara Kermanshahi's voice sounded just as mesmerizing at one in the afternoon than at one in the evening. The stark and building tunes were brought to life with Sara's amazing voice and live band, which includes Cedar Apffel on bass and guitar and Rory O'Connor on drums and keyboards, both from the band Masterface. Natureboy performed two brand new tunes for the first time at this show and closed the set with the always pleasing "Heart To Fool" off their debut LP.
