The Blacks To Play Popscene

Photo from the HAD Archive

You may recall that we were head over heels for The Blacks show at Rickshaw Stop back in January. Given that, we were psyched to learn that the band will be hitting up Popscene on April 23rd in the opening slot for A Place To Bury Strangers. Given the level of chaos and good times that were induced at the Rickshaw show, we can only begin to imagine what the scene will be like at an 18+ dance party. Suffice it to say, if relaxed, spacious environments are your thing, you probably shouldn't show up. However, if you (like we) do in fact dig on the rock and roll, then get there early and get in line. Tickets at the door only!

mp3: The Blacks - Raincoat

Cut Off Your Hands Will Be At Popscene Tomorrow Night

Picture from the HAD Archive

If you've been paying attention, you'll remember that we were pretty stoked on Cut Off Your Hands' off-the-hook show at Noise Pop last week. Today we happened to head to the band's myspace page to listen to some tunage, and we stumbled across their tour schedule.

It turns out that the band will be back in San Francisco tomorrow night to make an appearance at the always-hip Popscene. We here at HAD will be at the M. Ward show (and desperately hoping it ends in time to hit Popscene as well), but we can't stress enough: if you have the time to check this show out, do so. It will absolutely be worth your while. These guys kill live, and they made the trip all the way from New Zealand - not exactly a common occurrence. If you're elsewhere, check additional dates below.

Cut Off Your Hands 2009 Spring US Dates:
Mar 4 2009 Spaceland - Club NME w/ Princeton Los Angeles
Mar 5 2009 Pop Scene San Francisco
Mar 6 2009 Tonic Lounge Reno, Nevada
Mar 7 2009 Kilby Court w/ Future Cop Salt Lake City, Utah
Mar 8 2009 Hi Dive Denver, Colorado
Mar 9 2009 Slowdown Omaha, Nebraska
Mar 10 2009 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mar 12 2009 Rock Island Brewing Company Rock Island, Illinois
Mar 13 2009 Darkroom Chicago, Illinois
Mar 14 2009 Hideout Chicago, Illinois
Mar 15 2009 Firebird (formerly the Bluebird) St. Louis, Missouri
Mar 16 2009 Conservatory Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Mar 18 2009 Maggie Mae’s - Spaceland Party SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 18 2009 Vice - Rock Band Showcase SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 19 2009 Birds’ Barbershop - NASA SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 19 2009 Emo’s - Frenchkiss Showcase SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 20 2009 Stubbs BBQ - SPIN PARTY SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 20 2009 Radio Room - The Onion Party SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 20 2009 West Tent at Brush Square - NZ BBQ Austin, Texas
Mar 20 2009 Aces Lounge - NME Showcase SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 21 2009 Waterloo Park - Mess With Texas SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 21 2009 Peckerheads - RollingStone.com Party SXSW Austin, Texas
Mar 23 2009 Revolution w/ Passion Pit Little Rock, Arkansas
Mar 24 2009 The Cinemat w/ Ra Ra Riot & Passion Pit Bloomington, Indiana
Mar 25 2009 Musica w/ Ra Ra Riot & Passion Pit Akron, Ohio
Mar 26 2009 Blind Pig w/ Ra Ra Riot & Passion Pit Ann Arbor, Michigan
Mar 27 2009 Water Street Music Hall w/ Ra Ra Riot & Passion Pit Rochester, New York
Mar 28 2009 Westcott Theatre w/ Ra Ra Riot & Passion Pit Syracuse, New York
Mar 30 2009 Horseshoe Tavern Toronto, Ontario
Apr 3 2009 Alumni Hall w/ Manchester Orchestra & Bear Hands Hamden, Connecticut
Apr 4 2009 Webster Hall w/ Ra Ra Riot (early show 16+) New York, New York

mp3: Cut Off Your Hands - Turn Cold

Popscene Is Hopping In December: Franz Ferdinand (DJ Set), Vampire Weekend, The Virgins

This morning we decided to check out 330 Ritch's December schedule (well, actually, Popscene's), and we were pleasantly suprised to see that the venue is hopping for the holiday season. Most notably, on December 11th Popscene will be hosting the Not So Silent Night afterparty, and Franz Ferdinand will be DJing. A week later, Popscene will be having their own "holiday ball", and NYC hot-item The Virgins will be in the house. Granted, the place is always a mob scene, but if you're feeling the holiday party vibe, maybe that's not such a bad thing.

330 Ritch: Branching Out Beyond Popscene, Scissors For Lefty In November

Picture from the HAD Archive

330 Ritch is a familiar venue to anyone who has braved the hordes of 18 year olds to catch an up and coming band at Popscene. Well it now appears that the venue has begun hosting gigs full time, and rebranded itself as the "Official Venue Of Spin". Hrm. Interesting.

Well, regardless of venue renovations and branding, the more compelling part to us here is that the venue will be hosting Scissors For Lefty on Saturday, November 1st. The band's releasing their new EP this Saturday in New York, so we're guessing this will be something of a homecoming party for the same release. We haven't heard the EP, but we were liking the new tunes when we saw SFL at the Rickshaw in September. Checkit.

New Vampire Weekend Video + new performance dateS

Vampire Weekend will be in San Francisco for Popscene at the end of the month, but news has just come down the line that they'll also be playing a free show at Amoeba Records the following night, February 1st, at 7 PM. So, basically you have your choice of over-crowded, pain in the ass venues. Still, cheap tickets, so don't complain.

However, if that's not enough for you, check this out: The band will be back in March for a pair of dates at two of our town's finest independent venues: March 22nd at the Independent, and March 23rd at the Rickshaw Stop. So basically, if you're hooked on the Vampire Weekend crack pipe, your dealer's coming to town.

Meanwhile the band has an awesome new video out for "A-Punk". Enjoy:

Vampire Weekend @ Popscene 1/31

Well, those venerable hosts of hype over at Popscene have apparently caught wind of Vampire Weekend. The band is playing at 330 Ritch for the weekly dance party on Thursday January 31st.

Depending how you look at this, it's a blessing or a curse: On the one hand, it's a tiny venue, and it'll be cheaper than your average gig. On the other hand, there are no advance ticket sales and the sets are usually short and mobbed with high school kids.

Either way, we'll be there - best.

Arctic Monkeys to DJ @ Popscene

In the continuing trend of talented musicians proving they know how to play cds, Arctic Monkeys will be DJ'ing Popscene on September 27th. The DJ set is billed as an "afterparty" for their show earlier in the evening at the monolithic Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. So, if you like to watch British musicians play CDs in a room full of sweaty 18 year olds, this is your lucky day! I kid, I kid...everyone likes Popscene, right?

mp3: Arctic Monkeys - Flourescent Adolescent