 | | | | It is with great sadness that we announce the departure of long-time Village Voice music editor Rob Harvilla, and great enthusiasm that we announce possibly his only worthy successor: powerblogger and pop savant Maura Johnston. Johnston comes to us via running Idolator, once the greatest music blog of all time before it became a sad parody of the sites it used to make fun of. She’s also an American Idol expert, Unrest superfan, Train hater, and pug enthusiast. And don’t worry about Rob (and the sudden absence of the greatest live reviews in America, no joke). He’s having a kid, moving to sunny California, and already has a swell new job lined up. Says the man, “This has been a dream job, and though it's time to move on, it's awfully hard to leave, and I'm grateful to you all for reading, writing, re-Tweeting, detracting, and however else you chose to react.” Congrats to you both! The Northside Festival is back, bringing another four nights of lots of indie bands playing lots of local venues (or, as we know it, “the weekend”). Their first lineup announcement boasts Beirut, Twin Sister, Deer Tick, Allo Darlin', Javelin, Ava Luna, Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt!, Gabriel and the Hounds, and whatever a Delicate Steve is. Tickets go on sale this weekend, so if you’ve ever wanted to see Brooklyn bands play Brooklyn clubs, you finally have your chance. The fest is June 16 to June 19, so clear those calendars and wash your good jean shorts!  Can’t say we didn’t totally see this coming: Turns out the oh-so-racist petition to close down the “Yo MTV Raps bling bling club” in Park Slope is increasingly looking like a hoax. Capital New York did a thorough and thoughtful piece about the whole debacle—including doing a lot of the fact checking that bloggers don’t exactly have time to do on their way to the next Charlie Sheen linkbait. Turns out that the author of the petition, Jennifer McMillen, doesn’t exist anywhere, and the owner of the club never said anything about rap music in the first place. When all is said and done, our few LOLs over racist Park Slope has just made it more annoying for this dude to open his club. So we hope you’re happy, everyone. News about Central Park Summerstage is starting to leak like the bottom of an August sno-cone. First on the docket is a paid show by indie chanteuse of the moment Lykki Li. She plays the outdoor show on August 1, hopefully bringing her booming rhythms at a sensible volume, so as to not disturb the always-complaining rich people who somehow live on the park’s perimeter. Tickers are on sale now, so get ’em while she’s famous! |  | | [ WHAT'S NEW ON SOUND OF THE CITY ] | | | | Of all the punks that paved the way, few loom larger on our brash attitudes (and affinity for wearing makeup) than the New York Dolls. On the occasion of their new album, Dancing Backwards In High Heels (their best since 1974!), our own Peter Gerstenzang sat down with founding guitarist Sylvain Sylvain. They get into some real New York ish—learn about “T Rexing” songs in the ’70s, almost getting thrown out of a Bo Diddley concert, and hoping Michelle Obama sings one of their songs. Put down that Real Estate album and show some respect, young’n: Read more > | | And speaking of New York legends, the Wu-Tang’s own loquacious rhyme-spitter Raekwon has a noir new record full of kung-fu imagery and classic W-PSSSH W-PSSSH sound effects. Our own J. Pablo met up with Rae for thoughts on staying relevant for 18 years, capturing his “third wind,” and why he “can’t unlearn” growing up in the crack era. He even addresses squashing the beef that divided the Wu during the 8 Diagrams era. Wu-Tang soldiers, this is a required de-briefing. Also… W-PSSSH: Read more > | | Edwyn Collins is a post-punk hero, college-pop legend, and true survivor—beyond his massive catalog, his new album is his first to be recorded in full since suffering a massive stroke in 2005. Our own Kevin Canfield caught up with the former Orange Juice frontman about his difficulties getting his voice back, why it’s easier to sing than speak, and why he’s a “nature punk.” Come find out why this dude is so, so, so much more than that song on the Empire Records soundtrack: Read more > | | Amy Andronicus must have run out of space on her Google calendar—she plays bass for punk-rock Ken Burns troupe Titus Anronicus, plays rad noise in Hilly Eye, blogs about feminism, started the activist group Permanent Wave, and even has a boss solo album, I Know What You Want. Our own Michael Tedder found a tiny hole in her schedule to ask about life as a third-grade riot grrl, why the conservative right has helped make feminism uncool, and the influence of Japanese noise on her music. She stated a new band in the time it took to write this e-mail. Read all about it here: Read more > |  | | --------------------------------------------
> THIS WEEKEND
| | Crystal Castles
Fri., March 18, 9:00pm We'd be glad to write off Crystal Castles as neon-hoodie-scene succubi, but their second eponymous record was just too sharp, too similar ... Read more > Mark Kozelek+Jennifer O'Conner
Fri., March 18, 8:00pm Having made pensive indie folk and indie rock for more than two decades, both on his own and in groups Red House ... Read more > Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Sat., March 19, 8:00pm South Africa's most important vocal ensemble released an album of Zulu children's songs this year, which made sense: they have a broad ... Read more > Richard Thompson
Sat., March 19, 10:00pm Having practiced, practiced, practiced for four decades in the folk collective Fairport Convention, with ex-wife Linda, and on his own, English folk-rocker ... Read more >
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> PLAN AHEAD
| | Janet Jackson
Daily from Fri., March 18 until Mon., March 21, 8:00pm Read more > Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Sat., March 19, 8:00pm South Africa's most important vocal ensemble released an album of Zulu children's songs this year, which made sense: they have a broad ... Read more > | | Now Sold Out!
Tue., March 29
Tuesday, March 29th at the Armory on Lexington and 25th Street. Featuring 50+ handpicked restaurants from Robert Sietsema's Counter Culture and Fork in the Road, along with complimentary craft beer pairings, wine and liquor beverages. Visit choiceeats.villagevoice.com for more information. Read more > | | |
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