Roky Erickson Is Back, Still Badass

This spring, psych-rock pioneer Roky Erickson will release his first new album in 14 years, True Love Cast Out All Evil, produced by Okkervil River’s Will Sheff and featuring the band on backup. The album collects songs Erickson wrote over the last 30 years, including recordings he’d made while incarcerated in Rusk State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, undergoing forced electroshock therapy treatments.

Stream “Goodbye Sweet Dreams” here. Buy the album here on April 20.

If you’re not familiar with Roky Erickson’s tragic and ultimately triumphant story, check out the documentary about him, You’re Gonna Miss Me, which tracks his early genius and success, quick descent into mental illness and neglect, and current status as Texan living legend. Here’s the film’s trailer:

In 1966, Roky’s band the 13^th Floor Elevators scored a hit with the garage-y psychedelic single “You’re Gonna Miss Me.” He was 19. It still rules.

Tour dates after the jump….

Dark Dark Dark Try to Be Bright Bright Bright

The cover of Dark Dark Dark’s new EP, Bright Bright Bright

Dark Dark Dark, a six-person band, who are aptly described as being a “chamber-folk” group, feature intense vocals with lush, beautiful instrumentation (instruments featured include trumpet, accordion, and piano) on their latest release, a six-song EP called Bright Bright Bright. Some of the six songs have a sorrowful tone (like the opener, “Bright Bright Bright”–listen to it HERE–and “Something For Myself”), but band member Marshall LaCount says, “These songs are about new beginnings, and usually have a little triumphant twist in them,” which is clearly apparent in the song, “The Hand,” which features a buoyant melody and jaunty lyrics. Their tone and theatricality reminds me a bit of Shearwater (who also have a new release: The Golden Archipelago), but they are certainly unique and I for one am looking forward to their sophomore full-length album, which is due this fall.

Nona Marie Invie and her band, Dark Dark Dark, and friends

Dark Dark Dark played (le) Poisson Rouge last night and play Union Pool on Friday, April 2. For the rest of their tour dates, click here.

New Erykah Badu Video, “Window Seat”

The fearless Ms. Badu released her video for “Window Seat” over the weekend and, no surprise, she’s in butt-kicking form. The clip follows the singer as she walks down Dallas’ Elm Street, the site of JFK’s assassination, gradually taking off her clothes one item at a time. Check it out here and stick around to the end.

UPDATE: The record label has blocked the video. Watch it at Badu’s website instead: www.erykahbadu.com

Badu’s new album, New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh), is out tomorrow.

The vid’s concept was inspired by Brooklyn cuties Matt & Kim, whose 2009 video “Lessons Learned” featured the duo stripping down to their birthday suits in Times Square.

Eat This: Biscuits & Gravy at Tupelo

Biscuits & Gravy at Tupelo in Cambridge, MA

If you’re ever in Cambridge – Massachusetts, not Great Britain – on a Sunday morning and are missing good ol’ Southern cooking, head over to Tupelo for brunch. A delightful alternative to eggs and  toast, cure your Sunday morning hangover with buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy in Inman Square. The biscuits are fluffy and buttery,  barely crumble, and are oh-too-delicious when dipped in the gravy. The gravy sauce is creamy and sweet with just a hint of tang. It was quickly agreed that this is the best biscuits & gravy either of us have ever tasted. They also have other incredible-looking dishes, local coffee that got Matt’s seal of approval, and desserts that we were too full to eat from Petsie Pies.

Tupelo, 1193 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA, 617-868-0004

Posted by guest bloggers M&M

Marissa Nadler & Meg Baird at Littlefield, JudyJams weekly picks #2

This past Thursday at the new venue Littlefield in Gowanus, Brooklyn, I had the pleasure of seeing Meg Baird open for Marissa Nadler. Despite some technical difficulties during Meg Baird’s set (which delayed her starting time significantly) her songs sounded beautiful. A member of the popular psych-folk group Espers, Baird has established a well-received solo career over the past few years.

Meg Baird at Littlefield, Brooklyn on March 25, 2010

To make up for lost time, Marissa Nadler followed quickly after, apologizing for the technical problems and thanking the audience profusely. Nadler’s fan base is very devoted, and it is not hard to see why (and if you ever attend any of her shows, make sure to notice the gaggle of doe-eyed males lining the front row, consistently). Her voice is haunting, almost gothic, and this makes her style especially exquisite. Marissa played a range of songs from her discography; the bulk of these were from her last two records, Songs III: Bird on the Water (“Mexican Summer”) and her most recent Little Hells (“Rosary” and “The Hole is Wide”). After the first few songs, she brought on stage the guitarist from the band Tulsa, who accompanied her for the rest of the set. This is the first time I had seen her with another guitarist, and he added an extra layer to her already lush sound.

Marissa Nadler at Littlefield, Brooklyn on March 25, 2010

Marissa Nadler with Carter, the guitarist from Tulsa

Marissa Nadler, Littlefield, Brooklyn, March 25, 2010

And now, for the weekly picks #2! First, a new track from the fun, quirky Trans Am, one of Thrill Jockey’s longest running bands: Apparent Horizon which is on their new album Thing out in late April.

The second pick is the Toast N Jams Mixtape #1! Go download it!

Toast ‘N Jams for Breakfast: Mix #1

Top o’ the morning! Today we’re psyched to debut a regular feature here at Toast ‘N Jams—the TNJ mixtape.

This first installment is devoted to—what else?—breakfast! So enjoy your ham ‘n eggs this morning with Toast N Jams for Breakfast.

Tracks:

1. Cissy Strut — The Meters

2. Ham n’ Eggs — A Tribe Called Quest

3. This Girl — Cookin’ on 3 Burners

4. Starfish and Coffee — Soulwax (Prince cover)

5. Back to the Sea — The Sandwitches

6. If You Can Want — Smokey Robinson

7. Red Hot — Robert Johnson

8. Have a Cuppa Tea — The Kinks

9. Strawberry Letter 23 — Shuggie Otis

10. Hello Sunshine — Aretha Franklin

11. The Sun — Ghostface Killah (featuring Raekwon, Slick Rick, & RZA)

12. Willie & Laura Mae Jones — Bettye Swann

13. Orange Juice Blues — The Band

14. Beer for Breakfast — The Replacements

Local x Local at Brooklyn Bowl

This is small consolation for those of us who missed SXSW, but Brooklyn Bowl‘s monthly series Local x Local features local bands and local food for free. This month’s is on Sunday, March 28 and features Vivian Girls, who seem to be skyrocketing in popularity. The all-girl group plays punky, catchy tunes that will keep your head bobbing. German Measles, another Brooklyn band, will open with their 70s-style garage rock. On the food side there will be “Fish Tacos with Local Cod, red cabbage, pickled peppers and roasted tomato salsa, served on local tortillas made by the famous Tortilleria Mexicana los Hermanos in Bushwick,” chocolate from Mast Brothers (if you haven’t had their chocolate before, it is a must-eat!), and Blue Bottle Coffee, originally from Oakland, CA, but who have just set up shop in Williamsburg (160 Berry St.) to much acclaim. So for the cause of music and food, and of course bowling, get thee to Williamsburg this weekend!

Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211  (718) 963-3369

Eat This: Double Decker Egg in a Hole at Rye House

Rye House opened in November 2009, and started serving brunch in mid-December. The space houses a beautiful bar and a few tall tables in the front room, with some nice booths and communal tables in the back. Even though it was late in the day and I thought I had been hungry for lunch, when I saw this item on the brunch menu I couldn’t resist. Plus, the brunch included a free drink: choice of a Bloody Mary, French 75, or mimosa.

Images: Devorah Klein/Shanna Zell

The Double Decker Egg in a Hole ($10 including drink) is as extravagant as it sounds. It’s a buttery sandwich of hash browns and cheese, and bacon (although I got my bacon on the side to give to a friend). But wait! The top piece of bread has a gorgeous sunny side egg housed in a perfect hole smiling up at you. Although it was a little greasier than necessary, I love the idea of putting all of breakfast’s heavy hitters into one beautiful sandwich: eggs, toast, cheese, potatoes, and bacon (if you so desire). It reminded me of a breakfast I had at Over Easy in Scottsdale, AZ in December: The Wolfpack: 2 eggs any style, bacon, and cheese between two layers of hash browns. In that sandwich, the potatoes take the place of the bread and are formed into latka-style pancakes. And yes, it was as amazing as it sounds. If you are ever in the Scottsdale area, make sure to get up early and grab breakfast at Over Easy–this is a serious breakfast-only joint that closes at 11:30 am. Yeah, that would never fly in New York…

Back to Rye House, the Bloody Mary was ridiculously good, one of the better ones I’ve had. Friends reported the mimosa as only so-so and no one ordered the French 75…guess that means we’ll have to go back!

Rye House, 11 W. 17th St. btwn 5th and 6th Ave. (212)-255-7260

JudyJams weekly picks #1: SXSW edition

Just because we’re all sad that we’re not down in Austin this week, eating fried avocado tacos and breakfast burritos, doesn’t mean that we don’t want to make some SXSW suggestions. As per usual, the band line up is fantastic. And it happens to coincide with everything I’ve been loving lately.

First up is Brooklyn based five piece Fang Island:

Image: Sargent House

Fun loving and bouncy, Fang Island’s S/T debut came out in late February on Sargent House and they’ve been touring ever since, leading up to their three shows at SXSW this week. Check out their song “Daisy” here: Daisy

Next pick is Happy Birthday:

Image: Sub Pop

Their debut album came out on Sub Pop this past Monday. Also extremely fun but more psychedelic and traditional rock n’ roll, Happy Birthday are playing 10 different SXSW shows, and then heading out on a few Southeastern US tour dates. You can listen to their song “Subliminal Message” here: Subliminal Message

Many other great bands that are playing SXSW this year, that we have much love for over here at Toast ‘N Jams, are also touring the US/Canada: Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Surfer Blood, The Very Best and more. Check  out the SXSW official website for the full list of participants.

Dine In Brooklyn Features Brunch Specials

While Restaurant Week in Manhattan can be fun, Dine In Brooklyn takes it up a notch with a brunch prix fixe in addition to the traditional lunch and dinner. This year, some great restaurants are offering the brunch options, including favorites Junior’s, bussaco, Palo Santo, and relative newcomer Fonda. Too bad other favorite Brooklyn brunch spots, who are serving dinner and/or lunch prix fixes, like Rose Water, iCi, 12th Street Bar & Grill, Miriam, and Stone Park Cafe aren’t joining in on the brunch special. However, before you order make sure the prix fixe is worth the money–at some of the restaurants you can easily spend way less and be just as satisfied by ordering a la carte. If you have and Dine In Brooklyn brunches, let us know how they were!

The complete list of all restaurants offering a Dine In Brooklyn prix fixe brunch is after the jump.