The bookers at Brooklyn Academy of Music really want you to pay them a visit. And it’s been working. First news about Paul Simon’s BAM residency (and his interest in Grizzly Bear for it) started spreading on the hush hush after he paid a visit to the band at their NY Society For Ethical Culture gig (we sorta liked that show). Apparently, Paul saw what he needed to in Daniel’s “Graceland” cover that night: Simon’s officially invited the Grizzled ones to perform during his month-long residency, in addition to booking David Byrne and other very talented people you probably care about a litlte less. Via bam.org:
In an unprecedented month-long residency at BAM, Paul Simon collaborates with an extraordinary range of artists to offer three musical constellations from the career of one of America’s greatest songwriters.Latin beats and 50s doo-wop fill New York City’s nights with Songs from The Capeman. In Under African Skies, Simon rekindles a love affair with the sounds of South Africa and Brazil which began with his masterpieces Graceland and The Rhythm of the Saints. Finally, Simon revisits the quiet railway stations, urban rhythms, and immigrant dreams of his greatest American Tunes.
Lineup info is sketchy as of now, but we have some requests, both for and against. What we do know of the details, laid out after the jump.
SONGS FROM THE CAPEMAN
Oscar Hernández and The Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Featuring performances by Claudette Sierra, Obie Bermudez, Ray De La Paz, Paul Simon
Special guest performance by Little Anthony and The Imperials
More artists to be announced
Apr 1–6 at 8pm
BAM Harvey Theater
$30, 50, 65
UNDER AFRICAN SKIES
Featuring performances by Hugh Masekela, Milton Nascimento, Kaïssa, David Byrne, Luciana Souza, Paul Simon
More artists to be announced
Apr 9* at 7pm
Apr 10–13 at 8pm
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
$45, 60, 75, 95
*BAM 2008 Spring Gala
AMERICAN TUNES
Featuring performances by Olu Dara, Grizzly Bear, The Roches, Paul Simon
More artists to be announced
Apr 23–27 at 8pm
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
$45, 60, 75, 95
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CONGRATS ON THE NME NOD, STEREOGUM!!!!
this is going to be awesome. WHen I saw grizzly bear perform Graceland it gave me chills, really looking forward to this collaboration
i saw grizzly bear play graceland and they kinda butchered it. even left out the entire “there’s a girl in new york city” verse which seems odd that we were in nyc
you guys should definitely check out a chilean band called Picnic Kibun. They have all their music on their blog http://www.picnickibun.com
Hello! this is an interesting mix up. I wanted to suggest that you guys listen to a new chilean band called Picnic Kibun (www.picnickibun.com). They made a theme song for the World Social Forum among other things lately… I think you might enjoy them. They have their music in their blog. You can download their first Ep in the following link:
http://download370.mediafire.com/ntbozkczbmxg/9w2ibhbnn14/Picnic+Kibun+Ep.zip
hope you like it
check out the album Zulu Rock by Lizzy Mercier Descloux if you like Graceland.
BAM is doing a bunch of interesting stuff. They have this festival called “Brooklyn Next” and it’s giving love to lots of cool bands. The National’s playing two nights there with My Brightest Diamond. I got burned ’cause tickets were sold out for weeks. But they’ve got stuff in the cafe space, too. White Rabbits, EFFI BRIEST, Miss Fairchild, Kyp and Tunde from TVOTR. And they have other bands playing in clubs all over Brooklyn, too, like Laura Cantrell, Charles Burst, Foreign Islands. There’s a page on their website: http://www.bam.org, and click on the link to Brooklyn Next.
i went to this last night – Grizzly Bear did a great job!!