Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray's Heavy Trash, Grinderman's Jim Sclavunos January 10, 2008

Heavy Trash, Puddin’ Tang, Feels So Good Let’s Do It – January 11, Glasslands (289 Kent, Williamsburg), 8pm, $7:

New York Night Train more than thrilled to bring Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray’s way out rockabilly project Heavy Trash to Brooklyn Friday for a rare NYC appearance to kick-off a world tour in support of their latest full-length Going Way Out With Heavy Trash. Anyone who knows anything about Spencer, or had the thrill of witnessing his vigorous showmanly performances with Pussy Galore, Gibson Brothers, Honeymoon Killers, Boss Hog, Blues Explosion, and many more, are well aware that the man is much more than one of the most prolific, distinctive, and stylish forces in contemporary music, but, briefly and bluntly, he remains a rare rock’n’roll heart who brings it like no other every time. Verta-Ray, a truly unsung hero of the NYC underground, isn’t only responsible for the lightning-fast, yet elegantly tight and soulful guitar incisions in Speedball Baby and Madder Rose, but is also the unseen hand behind a number of classic recordings by everyone from the Subsonics to Andre Williams. Tonight their band includes a supergroup rhythm section consisting ofPhil Hernandez, the skin-pounder behind Yoko Ono, John Cale, Ray Davies, and many more, and neighborhood surf/rockabilly legend and former Coyote master, the sinister Simon Chardiet on upright bass. While rockabilly is certainly their main frame of reference, this subterranean switchblade quartet zigzags around and beyond generic constraints to create a raw frenzy that flirts with tradition but remains undeniably vital and immediate. Get it while you can because these jetsetters never play NYC shows!

Best known for their legendary Velvet Underground impersonation filmed by Jonas Mikas, Puddin’ Tang, who just released their debut album What’s Our Name?, are purveyors of a rough bohemian homespun collision of “Cool It Down”/“Train Comin’ Round the Bend” late-Velveteen roll, swampy Tony Joe White humidity, and John/Exene masculine/feminine vocal trade-off/harmony – or not. You gotta just see it for yourself. Feels So Good Let’s Do It!, Williamsburg’s latest rock assemblage, including familiar talents like Bonnie from the Witnesses, Tina from Bad Wizard, and Jamie from Breakup Breakdown, light the first match of the evening with their second show ever.

Ants In Yr Pants Dance Party w/DJs Jonathan Toubin and Jim Sclavunous – January 11, Midnight – 4am, Savalas (285 Bedford), FREE:

New York Night Train will host the afterparty at its weekly Ants in Yr Pants Dance Party two blocks away at Savalas. This week Soul Proprietor and Conductor Mr. Jonathan Toubin will be joined by none other than guest DJ Jim Sclavunos. Jim, the current drummer for Grinderman, percussionist for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and leader of the Vanity Set, is also a former member of the likes of Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, 8-Eyed Spy, Sonic Youth, Tav Falco and the Panther Burns, Alex Chilton, The Cramps, Congo Norvell, Gunga Din, and at least a few dozen more. This tall handsome debonair gentleman, who, we regret to inform the ladies recently tied the knot, moonlights behind the decks under the pseudonym DJ Goofy. A regular guest at NYNT events, Sclavunos spins an eclectically tasteful mix of playful party favorites from all over the map. Goofy… but also a darkly perverse get-down!

What could you possibly have better to do?



http://www.heavytrash.net/

http://www.myspace.com/heavytrash

http://www.myspace.com/puddintangtime

http://myspace.com/theglasslands

http://www.thevanityset.com/jimbio.html

http://www.myspace.com/savalasbar

Official Website: http://www.newyorknighttrain.com