Crooked Fingers Coming To Brooklyn, Archers Of Loaf Reunited (Video)

Crooked Fingers at Great American Music Hall, from the HAD Archive

Eric Bachmann must be looking for a steady fix of NYC these days: after visiting Mercury Lounge in December, Crooked Fingers will be returning in February. This time the band will be playing Brooklyn, at the always-lovely Bell House. The show is on the 19th, and we certainly encourage you to make an appearance - we have yet to see a Crooked Fingers show that we didn't love. What's more, the band's web site has news of them wrapping up recording on a new record, so we're guessing this will be your first chance for a taste of the new material. Tickets are on sale now.

If that's not enough Bachmann-centric news for you, we'll do you one better: last week in North Carolina, Bachmann's old band Archers of Loaf entered into a spontaneous reunion, much to the joy of all present. Some kind soul was kind enough to grab some video from the front row, and so we have for you the fantastic takes on "Wrong" and "Web In Front". For even more video awesomeness, head to mumblepop's YouTube page.

mp3: Crooked Fingers - I Am Not Willing (Moby Grape Cover)

Chocolate Genius Coming To The Bell House

We first heard Chocolate Genius when we were living in Seattle back in the summer of 1999. He was a guest on David Byrne's program Sessions From West 54th, and he blew us away with his distinctive vocals on the heart wrenching "My Mom"(below). Since then, Marc Anthony Thompson has taken the Chocolate Genius moniker through a number of iterations, landing on the current Chocolate Genius Inc.

That's the name that Thompson has applied to his collective, and their subsequent work over the past few years. Regardless of what he calls it, we can assure you that Thompson is a singular talent, and well worth your time. Lucky you, then, that he'll be playing at The Bell House on November 2nd. Make sure you're there.

Tickets are on sale now

mp3: Chocolate Genius - My Mom

Walkmen At Work On New Record And Bell House In April, Presale Today

The Walkmen at Summerstage, from the HAD Archive

After the near-universal fan and critical praise for You & Me, The Walkmen would be silly to mess with the formula they have going: and they know it. The band just signed to Fat Possum records to release another record with You & Me producer Chris Zane, and they're in the studio now. But - that's not all!

Never ones to shy away from the road while recording, the band has also lined up a handful of spring dates where (hopefully) we'll get to hear some of that new material. This includes a benefit show at MoMA on March 3rd, a show with Spoon (!) at Stubb's BBQ in Austin on St. Patrick's Day, and a show at the Bell House in Brooklyn on April 1st.

The Brooklyn show is probably the most accessible for most New Yorkers, and as such the band has done everyone the favor of setting up a presale that starts at 10 today. Just head over here, the password is "eatinpuppies2" (yeah, we don't get it either).

mp3: The Walkmen - New Country