Maxwell's Adds More Shows: Mission of Burma, Freedy Johnson & Others, Terre T. Live Broadcast, & More

Mission of Burma, "Nu Disco," at one of Yo La Tengo's Hanukkah shows at Maxwell's in 2010. See the latest shows added to the Maxwell's schedule below.

Maxwell's in Hoboken continues to go out with a bang, adding more shows as it heads into its last week and a half in existence. (Get tickets to the shows here.) Just added to the lineup:

• Wed., July 24th: Freedy Johnston, the Health & Happiness Show (led by former Bongo James Mastro), Anton Fier, and others (8 p.m.)
• Sat., July 27th: WFMU's Cherry Blossom Clinic hosted by Terre T.—live remote broadcast starring Hackamore Brick (3 p.m.)
• Sun., July 28th: Mission of Burma (9 p.m.)
• Mon., July 29th: Bern and The Brights, Secret Islands, and Val Emmich (8:30 p.m.)
• Wed., July 31st: Closing Night Block Party (DJ music) (4 p.m.)

The Wednesday show is billed on the website as "Bar None Records Presents A Night Of Folks and Fondue feat. Freedy Johnston, The Health and Happiness Show and Chris Stamey with Gene Holder and Anton Fier plus a host of special guests." That should be a great one, and it's only $15.

 The Maxwell's website shows a dwindling number of remaining concerts... and a photo of a sad puppy underneath "Upcoming Shows."

No show has been announced for the night of the 31st, though NJ.com says that the final show will feature the first band to play the club, called "a," as well as the classic bands that grew out of "a": The Bongos and The Individuals.

Maxwell's has been hosting a number of sold-out shows in the last few weeks as it counts down to the end. We were fortunate to attend several of these concerts, all great stuff, featuring acts of wildly varying styles: garage-rock masters The Fleshtones, Mott the Hoople frontman Ian Hunter, singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata, and Glen Rock punk rockers Titus Andronicus (on the first gig of their three-night run). Podcast Party be at at least five more shows at the club at 1039 Washington St.

Maxwell's to Rise Again in Jersey City?

Amid the sad news of Maxwell's closing, there is hope that it may live on (in some sense) in a nearby location. Various sources have reported that co-owner Todd Abramson is actively looking to open a club elsewhere in New Jersey, with Jersey City (next to Hoboken) as the most likely location. Particular attention has focused on the under-renovation White Eagle Hall, which is about a half mile from the Grove Street PATH station.

We hope that plan works out. Stay tuned for details.

Now Streaming: New Albums from Jeff the Brotherhood, Mission of Burma, Old Crow Medicine Show, & More

There's another hefty-sized helping of new albums streaming this week, including releases from the Nashville rock outfit Jeff the Brotherhood, Old Crow Medicine Show, Clare and the Reasons, and more. There's also "Unsound," the latest album in Mission of Burma's comeback after a 20-year absence (Paste gives it an 8.2 review).


Teaser video for Jeff the Brotherhood's "Sixpack."

Singer-songwriter Eleni Mandell is also back with a new album, "I Can See the Future." I had heard various songs from her work in the past but didn't really get interested in her until I heard a story on her in connection with her last album, 2009's "Artificial Fire." Her latest album is produced by Joe Chiccarelli, who has previously worked with The Shins, The Strokes, and The White Stripes.

Also this week: a best-of set from The English Beat, and a new album from Louis Prima Jr., who carries on the legacy of his famous father.

And this week you'll get a second chance to preview the new releases by Dirty Projectors, Debo Band, and Rhonda Vincent.

NPR First Listen:
"Hypnotic Nights" by Jeff the Brotherhood
"Major" by Fang Island
"Yellow and Green" by Baroness

Spinner.com's Listening Party:
"Swing Lo Magellan" by Dirty Projectors
"Carry Me Back" by Old Crow Medicine Show
"Unsound" by Mission of Burma
"I Can See the Future" by Eleni Mandell
"KR-51" by Clare and the Reasons
"Forever So" by Husky
"Debo Band" by Debo Band
"Keep the Beat: The Very Best of the English Beat" by The English Beat
"Just Married" by Glocca Morra
"You Belong to the Minutes" by The Ugly Club  (CD release party July 13th at Maxwell's)
"Small Fame" by Bend Sinister

AOL Music Listening Party: 
"Harakiri" by Serj Tankian
"Sunday Mornin' Singin' LIVE!" by Rhonda Vincent
"Return of the Wildest!" by Louis Prima Jr.
"Backbone" by June Divided

Free Summer Concerts: Aretha Franklin (Tonight); Ra Ra Riot, Mission of Burma, Friendly Fires, & More this Weekend

 Above: Ra Ra Riot's video for "Boy," from their 2010 album "The Orchard."

The blitz of free summer concerts continues, and after last night's rainouts the skies look clear for the much-anticipated Aretha Franklin make-up show at Coney Island tonight. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at West 21st St. and Surf Ave., next to the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball stadium. See directions at the Seaside Summer Concerts home page.

The action continues on Friday night when Ra Ra Riot, Delicate Steve, and Buke & Gass (pronounced "byuke" and "gace") play Celebrate Brooklyn in Prospect Park.

Hailing from Syracuse, Ra Ra Riot made a big splash a few years ago with their album "The Rhumb Line," combining catchy pop accented with a violin and viola. Their latest album, "The Orchard," came out last summer.

The most interesting band on Friday's Celebrate Brooklyn bill is Buke and Gass, a duo that plays an mix of modified steampunk-style instruments, including the "buke" (baritone ukelele) and "gass" (a combination of a guitar and bass).


Above: Cults play "Abducted" live at the WFUV studios. 

On Sunday you've got to choose between two free rock shows in Manhattan happening at the same time. Summerstage's Central Park Mainstage (directions) presents Friendly Fires, The Naked and Famous, and Cults at 3 p.m. I'm not too familiar with the first two bands, but have been enjoying the music of the male-female duo Cults the last month or so. You can read an interview they did with WFUV's The Alternate Side here (which includes the video above).

Also at 3 p.m. Sunday, the influential late '70s/early '80s band Mission of Burma plays the Beekman Beer Garden (at South and Beekman Sts., on the north side of Pier 17). Bands ranging from R.E.M., Nirvana, and Throwing Muses has cited Mission of Burma as an inspiration to their own work. As of now the Beekman gig is the only date on their tour schedule, so if you want to see them you'll want to get to this show. Mission of Burma's latest album is "The Sound, The Speed, The Light." (directions to Beekman Beer Garden.)