Amadou and Mariam are an awesome (and blind!) musical duo from Mali, who I’ve enthusiastically posted about earlier. What began as a traditional blues group has now become a blend of contemporary pop, African folk, blues, roots and funk. Here thet perform a stripped-down version of their song “Oh Amadou”. They’ve recorded songs with TV on the Radio, Santigold and Theopholis London, and have a new album out called Folia which drops tomorrow. These guys are the real deal.

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry

File this under Reasons I F’ing Love Living Here. Pitchfork just announced the lineup for the Crossing Brooklyn Ferry festival, which is curated by brothers Bryce and Aaron Dessner of The National. Sadly, it does not take place on a ferry, but instead at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and features St. Vincent, the Walkmen, Beirut, Sharon Van Etten, Atlas Sound, Twin Shadow, Oneohtrix Point Never, Pat Mahoney and Nancy Whang of LCD Soundsystem and more. It will also feature films by the likes of TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe, Wilco’s Glenn Kotche, and more. Crossing Brooklyn Ferry will take place May 3-5.

Brooklyn Torch

Yikes, this is embarrassing. Somehow, I was unaware that a project is under way to provide North Brooklyn (Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bushwick and DUMBO) with its own paper currency, otherwise known as a torch. This is actually legal and has a long list of supporters and vendors looking forward to accepting torches (1 torch = 1 dollar). I guess I’m not surprised? There’s still a lot of kinks to be worked out, including what the bills will look like (Kyp Malone’s face on a background of American Apparel models?) but word is they’ll will be circulating by Fall 2012.

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.] Lissy Trullie, Madeleine 0 plays

Artist Lissy Trullie is off to a great start. Already hailed as “a modern day Nico”, after listening to “Madeline”, I’m inclined to agree. You can stream her debut EP “Self Taught Learner” here, and she’s set to release a full length album this spring, produced by TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek.

Shh

Well, this is awesome. Coming to Portland this weekend, it’s the Quiet Music Festival. Artist and festival organizer Chris Johanson explains: “The idea of the show came because I love music, but don’t like to be around loud music anymore. Quiet music is so calm and peaceful and yin. I find that quiet music is restorative and want to celebrate it through having a concert in a community art space. Sharing it in this context will show how nice it is that music does not have to be so loud to create an emotional experience.”

The line up includes Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio, Tom Greenwood of Jackie-O Motherfucker, Stephen Malkamus of Pavement, and members of the Sunburned Hand of Man. The festival promises “emotional, vibrant, and low volume music” and will most likely just be a huge ego-fest for some members of amazing bands to show off their weird solo projects. Still, glad it exists and a good opportunity for music fans to ~~act like grandparents~~ see some unique shows and not go home deaf.

July Music Mega Post

Summer is the best time for music. Everyone is touring, playing in parks and on rooftops, bars and basements, and everyone comes through NYC. July, in particular, is looking really amazing and here’s a quick brag-worthy list of the bands I’ll be seeing this month.