2009 IN REVIEW: The Year In Photos Part One, Featuring The Dead Weather, Wavves, Grizzly Bear, The Flaming Lips and 32 Other Standout Shows
Posted on December 31, 2009
Filed Under 2009 In Review, Features, Media | Leave a Comment
[Monotonix @ Santos Party House, 10.9.09]
School of Seven Bells, Free Blood, cLOUDDEAD, …Trail of Dead, Zombi, Circlesquare and Many More Squeeze Into self-titled’s Third Issue
Posted on March 11, 2009
Filed Under News, ST003 | 1 Comment
THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS: Alejandra Deheza (School of Seven Bells), Madeline Davy and John Pugh of Free Blood, Claudia Deheza and Benjamin Curtis (SVIIB)
As you might have noticed last week—when our self-titled widget switched from a bare-chested Jay Reatard to an unforeseen pairing of Free Blood and School of Seven Bells—we’ve finally unveiled our third digital issue. As always, we encourage you to view it in full-screen mode (the option is on the far right part of the toolbar) and keep your eye out for embedded links. Feel free to forward what’s inside, too …
S/T Survived…Our Own Damn Show, Featuring School of Seven Bells, Free Blood, Juan Maclean and Justin Miller
Posted on January 18, 2009
Filed Under Oscillations, S/T Survived | 2 Comments
Words and Photos by Aaron Richter
Sold out, they said. And we say, thank you! New York City packed into (Le) Poisson Rouge on a frigid evening this past Saturday to catch self-titled’s Oscillations party, featuring performances by Free Blood and School of Seven Bells with DJ sets by The Juan Maclean and Justin Miller. The venue was crammed. The fog was dense. The dancing was abundant. The drinks were spilled. And the acts were fantastic. Special thanks to Ghostly and DFA for helping make this evening happen and to (Le) Poisson Rouge for totally understanding when we just needed to get one more (promise!) person in on our guestlist.
S/T Readies Third Issue, Special OSCILLATIONS Party With School of Seven Bells, Juan Maclean, Free Blood and Justin Miller
Posted on January 15, 2009
Filed Under News, Oscillations, ST003 | Leave a Comment
We know—as lovely as J. Bennett’s story is, you’re tired of reading about Jay Reatard and eagerly awaiting the next digital, interactive issue of self-titled. Well, we’re happy to report that the cover image above (curated by our friends at Oak) is from ST003, our third irreverent but insightful collection of exclusive stories and eye-gouging photography. As you can see, we dropped Free Blood and School of Seven Bells in the same room for the first time to discuss the ballsy 180’s both bands did after ditching their more established gigs (!!!, The Secret Machines, On! Air! Library!). Their answers may surprise you.
BUY IT, BURN IT, SKIP IT: Desolation Wilderness, Free Blood, Danielson
Posted on November 4, 2008
Filed Under Buy It, Burn It, Skip It, Reviews | 2 Comments
[Photo by Sarah Cass]
By Aaron Richter
As we all know by now, new releases hit record-store shelves and digital-download services each Tuesday. That’s why self-titled presents the following every week: a new release you’d be stupid not to own (Buy It), one worth checking out if you’re the curious type (Burn It) and something you might have heard about but probably should avoid (Skip It). Simple, ain’t it?
Read more
CONFESSIONS OF A CMJ VIRGIN: Day 2, Featuring Women, Takka Takka and Free Blood
Posted on October 23, 2008
Filed Under CMJ, News | 6 Comments
CMJ does not care for The CMJ Virgin. Apparently.
And now, The CMJ Virgin presents a brief history of success and failure: Arriving at Bowery Ballroom for a showcase of bands no one cares about, our Virgin is informed that no more CMJ badges are allowed inside (fail). Hitting Mercury Lounge to catch another band no one cares about, the Virgin discovers it will be an hour before any more badges are allowed in the venue (fail). Strolling past a Stones Throw showcase, V-Money sours at the 200-plus line outside (fail). Discouraged, he hails a cab with self-titled Editor-in-Chief Andrew Parks and heads back to the CMJ Artists Lounge (where he caught shows the day prior). No line. Small crowd. (Success!) Sets by Women and Takka Takka there are worth the trip. The Women guys look bored (or maybe just tired), and Takka Takka transforms songs from Migration into dynamic, earnest and emotive catharsis. Out the door and off to Santos for Free Blood. No line. Small crowd. Best set yet of CMJ (success).
To summarize: The CMJ Virgin is confused. What’s the point of buying a CMJ batch if it doesn’t give you access to all the shows? Why are showcases that are populated with awful bands full while sets by good bands are sparsely attended? Does the CMJ Virgin just have really bad taste? Does the rest of the CMJ-going public know something our precious Virgin does not? How angry would he be had he actually paid for his badge? And most importantly, what do you think of Andrew’s new glasses?
Read The CMJ Virgin’s notes from the evening and see a few photos he snapped after the jump.
MUST SPIN OF THE WEEK: Free Blood, “Royal Family” 12-inch (Rong/DFA)
Posted on July 13, 2008
Filed Under Reviews | 1 Comment
[Photo by Jason Frank Rothenberg]
By Aaron Richter
Maybe it was the bass (which just about ruptured our ear drums and jostled our stomachs into fits of woozy delight). But when self-titled caught a performance by percussion-clattered Brooklyn dance duo Free Blood at Santos Party House a few weeks past, we found ourselves smitten. There’s no doubt that the deafeningly sick speaker setup at Santos was the bright red cherry on top of the duo’s playfully soulful and danceably grimey performance as a four-piece, but the fairly minimal songs—shambled in appearance, yet remarkably catchy—hold up just as well outside of the club.
Free Blood, which first grew its legs way back in 2003, is ex-!!! guy John Pugh (he’s the tall handsome dude, who sang lead on “Dear Can”) and fashion designer Madeline Davy (of NYC label Octopi). Both share lead vocal duties.
DANCE OFF: Santos Party House vs. Webster Hall, Featuring Free Blood, Crookers and More
Posted on June 23, 2008
Filed Under Reviews | 6 Comments
FREE BLOOD: VHS or beta style
With so many parties vying for your precious time (and dwindling budget) this summer, self-titled is determined to find out who’s ruling the night these days. That way you can make a more educated decision the next time an evening calls for dancing with someone other than yourself.
And this past weekend’s contenders were …
