Florence + The Machine Live at Creators Project 2011

Last year’s epic Creators Project at Milk Studios in New York City was revived last weekend in the picturesque neighborhood of Dumbo, Brooklyn. This year’s multimedia extravaganza had a much stronger focus on the art exhibitions rather than the party vibe of last year’s Creators Project, making things a lot less chaotic. The all-day event was spread across different warehouse spaces and was strategically immersed throughout Dumbo’s architecture and welcoming community.

I fell in love with the exhibitions, namely Quayola’s Strata #4 Abstracts The Flemish Masterpieces (see a video clip below) and Mick Rock and Barney Clay’s Life on Mars Revisted (also a clip below) among many others. Florence + The Machine and Chairlift tested out brand new material from their upcoming albums, while Four Tet played an enthralling live DJ set in the archway under the Manhattan Bridge. Sets from Clams Casino A$ap Rocky, Justice, Ikonika and Girl Unit also turned up the energy a few notches with attendees who seemed only mildly drunk yet extremely content.

It was another job well done for Intel and Vice on Creators Project 2011 and a step in a more sophisticated direction. My only criticisms being the lack of open bar and the ‘WTF moment’ when headlining act Justice got shut down early in their set. Check out some pictures and videos below and be sure to visit The Creators Project for anything else you may have missed. Full gallery HERE.

With lyrics like “it’s always darkest before the dawn”, this truly powerful and uplifting track is currently stuck on repeat and has already been adopted been as my personal anthem for the season. I’m eagerly awaiting to hear more from the Paul Epworth-produced album which will be released on October 31st in the UK and November 1st in the States. Check out the tracklisting below along with streams of both tracks. Pre-order Ceremonials HERE.

Ceremonials Tracklisting
01. Only If for Night
02. Shake It Out
03. What The Water Gave Me
04. Never Let Me Go
05. Breaking Down
06. Lover to Lover
07. No Light No Light
08. Seven Devils
09. Heartline
10. Spectrum
11. All This and Heaven Too
12. Leave My Body
Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks
13. Remain Nameless
14. Strangeness & Charm
15. Bedroom Hymns
16. What The Water Gave Me (Demo)
17. Landscape (Demo)
18. Heartlines (Acoustic)
19. Shake It Out (Acoustic)
20. Breaking Down (Acoustic)

Florence + The Machine – Shake it Out

mp3: Florence + the Machine – Rabbit Heart (SLOF MAN Dubstep Remix)

mp3: Florence + The Machine – Dog Days Are Over [alt]

Thanks to YATM for the heads up on the video!

MP3: Florence + The Machine – Flakes (Mystery Jets Cover) or zshare

The online series goes behind the scenes with 10 artists as they pick their favorite songs for an exclusive playlist. The 10 featured artists along with Florence are N-DubZ, Chipmunk, LOSTPROPHETS, Pixie Lott, Nelly Furtado, Kasabian, 50 Cent, David Guetta and Alicia Keys.

Check out my review of Florence’s first headlining New York show at Bowery Ballroom HERE.

MP3: Florence + The Machine – Throwing Bricks or zShare

<< MNDR >>

has been building steam over the past couple months through her blog, MySpace, and her frequent party gigs.

Bushwick’s MNDR was a breath of fresh air in the sweaty basement of the ACE Hotel, jumping from keyboards, knob-turning, and moving the crowd with her incredibly fun and tech-no-logic set.

Keep an eye out for MNDR!

MP3: MNDR – C.L.U.B. or zShare

______________________________________________________________

<< The Temper Trap >>

were essentially CMJ’s headliner, playing some of the biggest showcases of the week and gracing the cover of the CMJ industry newsletter.We saw The Temper Trap Wednesday night at The Music Hall of Williamsburg for the Blue Flowers showcase in the headlining slot once populated by Speech Debelle.

I’m going to be honest in saying that I was not impressed by their set that night, and was quite frankly bored. However, the band I saw onstage at MHOW was not at all the same one smashing the stage at the ACE Hotel.

I think The Temper Trap are more comfortable in a smaller and more intimate setting where they connect with the fans, stepping up their stage presence 150% and feeding off of the energy of the crowd. The crowning moment for me was when lead singer Dougy Mandagi poured bottles of water on the drums to create a geyser effect while Jonathan Aherne swung his bass around like a chainsaw. Now that’s what I call a show!

MP3: The Temper Trap – Science Of Fear (Herve Remix) or zShare

______________________________________________________________

<< Jenny Wilson >>

was first on my radar as the guest vocalist on The Knife’s infectious You Take My Breath Away from the band’s 2005 album Deep Cuts.

Fellow Swedes Olof Dreijer and Karin Dreijer Andersson (aka The Knife) signed Jenny Wilson to Rabid Records where she released two records: Love and Youth (2005) and this year’s Hardships!

Like Chauffeur and Florence + The Machine, Wilson made her debut performance in New York at Fader Fort’s CMJ party. It was a beautiful debut performance and a great introduction to her electro-orchestra sound complete an ensemble of horns, flutes, keys and percussion.

MP3: Jenny Wilson – Like a Fading Rainbow or zShare

______________________________________________________________

<< VEGA >>

is Alan Palomo’s third musical identity, the previous being Ghosthustler and the blog staple Neon Indian.

I first caught Vega live at Studio B last spring, and again at Hype Machine/Babelgum’s CMJ showcase before Fader’s party, and the set gets more and more polished each time.

MP3: VEGA – No Reasons or zShare

______________________________________________________________

<< Chauffeur >>

is the super-power collective of New York’s Thelophilus London, Australia’s Sam Sparro and the Transatlantic Mark Ronson.

I wasn’t quite sure what Chauffeur was upon seeing it listed on the bill, but I was pleasantly surprised to see these three artists from different places (musically and geographically) come together to make something fresh.

The trio played an extremely short set of about 3 songs, but wowed everyone with their cover of Sheila E.’s Glamorous Life. I’m interested to see what’s next!

MP3: Chauffeur – Soles of Fire or zShare

MP3: Sheila E. – The Glamorous Life or zShare

______________________________________________________________

<< Midnight Juggernauts >>

also played Hype Machine/Babelgum’s CMJ showcase with Vega. The Australian trio played a 6-song set that floated between punk and electronic, sucessfully rousing the sweat-soaked and spritied crowd into a hardcore dancefest.

We chatted with the band earlier that week (check back for the on-camera interview with ‘Sup Magazine) and they were excited to play CMJ, an energy that was pleasantly projected through their live set.

MP3: Midnight Juggernauts – Jump The Gun or zShare

______________________________________________________________

<< Florence + the Machine

My review of Florence’s acoustic set at Fader Fort can be read here: Florence + The Machine’s NYC Debut: Sweeter Than Heaven + Hotter Than Hell

MP3: Florence + The Machine – Howl or zShare

Florence + The Machine at Bowery Ballroom, 10.27.09

Florence + The Machine made their NYC debut at Fader’s CMJ party at the ACE Hotel on Saturday October 24, and we were front and center for the acoustic masterpiece! Last Monday we got a second dose of Florence at Bowery Ballroom, an enchanting set complete with a full band, bright lights and a gorgeous set design.

The show began at 9 PM when Tennessee’s Holly Miranda took the stage to play a melodic 45 minute set. Halfway through the set she was joined with members of Nada Surf before bowing out for the lady of the night, Ms. Florence Welch.

Nothing gets more intimate than being almost eye level with a performer during an acoustic set and serenading each other (yup it happened at Fader), but even during a bigger stage production Florence is a confiding storyteller confessing all of her secrets through her voice. The audience was entranced and anxious for Florence to hit the next note and bash her fire-red mane around while doing so.

I was so involved with the show that after the generous 12 songs, I turned to the person next to me and asked if it was REALLY encore time. Time really stands still when Florence is in the spotlight.

The set wrapped with You’ve Got The Love and Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up), the ultimate heartfelt combo that moved the entire venue to a unified and uplifted place. Yet another absolutely stellar and flawless performance.

More pictures of Florence + the Machine HERE and more of Holly Miranda w/ Nada Surf HERE.

MP3: Holly Miranda – Slow Burn Treason or zShare
MP3: Florence + The Machine – Flakes (Mystery Jets Cover) or zShare
MP3: Florence + The Machine – Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) ( Jamie T Lionheart Remix) or zShare

Holly Miranda w/ Nada Surf

Florence and the Machine at The ACE Hotel, 10.24.09

I spent all of last week anticipating Florence + the Machine‘s New York debut for the Fader Party at the ACE Hotel! Lungs is a beautifully crafted album and may be my favorite album of 2009, hands down!

The basement of the ACE hotel was a sauna of sweaty bodies, open bar and music fans eager to catch the epic line-up that  included The Temper Trap, MNDR, Sam Sparro, Mark Ronson, Theophilus London, Midnight Juggernauts, Jenny Wilson and of course Florence + the Machine.

Florence took the stage after 7PM in a killer pair of boots with only a guitarist onstage strumming along. Florence’s voice is like a rogue angel, so raw and so rare it moved me to tears. The set consisted of only a handful of songs but time stood still and I had not a care in the world at that moment. It was a truly gut-wrenchingly soulful, moving and religious experience.

Florence and the Machine plays Bowery Ballroom tomorrow night, this is your last chance New York!!! Also, check out the official videos for The Xx remix of You’ve Got the Love HERE and the Steve Pitron and Max Sanna Remix HERE.

MP3: Florence + the Machine – Hospital Beds (Cold War Kids cover) or zShare
MP3: Florence + the Machine – Postcards from Italy (Beirut Cover) or zShare