Take a break from scouring Airbnb for remotely affordable places to stay during SXSW, cuz passes just became available for a couple of other first-rate festivals. First off, early-bird badges went today for Brooklyn’s own Northside Festival, set for June 8 to 14 this year. Prices are $25 for Film (around 50 films are expected), $70 for Music (around 400 bands), and $245 for Innovation (around 150 speakers).
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mexican summer
Will Fussell of Mood Rings Got His Bucket Hat Stolen By a Groupie
Zach Wolfe
Last month I had the glorious opportunity to see Atlanta-based band Mood Rings open for Cults but I didn’t because I was too busy getting drunk or straightening my hair (or getting drunk while straightening my hair). At any rate, this is now a deeply felt regret as yesterday evening they opened for Connan Mockasin at Mercury Lounge and they were just swell — despite being down their synth player, who could not make the 14-hour drive for personal reasons. Luckily, his absence was well compensated for with generously used effects and a setlist consisting largely of songs they had written back when they were a four-piece.
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Another Greenpoint Label Is Celebrating Five Years With a Blowout
Last month Captured Tracks turned five with a weekend of shows and now everyone’s doing it! Another one of our fave Greenpoint indie labels, Mexican Summer, is celebrating the big fiver with a two-day festival in Red Hook — and a hardcover book with a 10″ EP.
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Jorge Elbrecht of Lansing-Dreiden and Violens On His 7″ With Ariel Pink, Out Today
Self-portrait of Elbrecht as a child (from the new 7″).
Jorge Elbrecht’s introduction to the music industry came in the early 2000s with the success of his band/art collective, Lansing-Dreiden, which reissued its entire catalog this past spring. During its heyday, the group received two favorable “Art in Review” write-ups in The Times.
Following Lansing-Dreiden, Elbrecht went on to form Violens and earlier this year joined Ariel Pink’s band as their new guitarist. The Costa Rica-born artist has also become an in-demand producer, most notably making the new Au Revoir Simone record, whose single “Somebody Who” was released in June.
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