Muse began their filled-to-the-rafters show at Madison Square Garden with a bang: elevated on towering platforms that were lit up like Christmas trees, the band tore into “Uprising,” the first single from their latest album, The Resistance. A Muse show is much like a rock opera — you get all the theatrics, but the music is loud enough to thrum in your chest. And, like a proper rock opera, there followed fist pumps and head banging, but without any hardcore crowd surfing.

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On record, The Dodos sound like the quintessential indie band: poppy melodies, mellow vocals and a good beat. Live, they’re far from cookie cutter.

The first thing you notice is the xylophone/church organ hybrid taking up half the stage. It’s a vibraphone, and you can play it with stringed bows, usually reserved for stringed instruments, as well as mallets. The atmosphere just creates itself.

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Todd Goldstein, best known for his involvement with New York band Harlem Shakes (RIP), is a solo artist in his own right. Kids Aflame, ARMS‘s debut album is finally getting its US release through Gigantic Music on October 27th. New Yorkers can preview the material this Saturday at the Bell House when he plays a free show with his new band; in the meantime, read what Todd has to say about his inspirations, the direction of the second album, and why ARMS and not legs. Read More »

The hype for the newest UK export Little Boots aka Victoria Hesketh began to build just a scant year ago. Since then she’s been to the coasts several times and released the short US-only Illuminations EP; the full album release date is not forthcoming. Despite that oversight, the sold-out Bowery Ballroom was full of ecstatic concert-goers singing along. View a photo slideshow here>>

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