As of today, HBO content is available for download at the iTunes store. Of course, the addition of the mighty HBO to iTunes is news in and of itself, but what’s more interesting here is that HBO is the first network to charge $2.99 per episode for an iTunes TV download (it should be noted, that only some, but not all of the HBO shows are priced at $2.99). In the short term, people might be happy about the addition of this high quality content to the iTunes library, but as the The Hollywood Reporter article points out, it seems like it will only be a matter of time before other networks renegotiate their pricing structure with Apple, which will invariably to higher prices across the board.

HBO will become the first TV network to charge more than the standard $1.99 per episode on Apple’s iTunes.

The network announced Tuesday that a wide range of programs would be made available on iTunes, with “The Sopranos,” “Deadwood” and “Rome” going for $2.99 per episode. “Sex and the City,” “Flight of the Conchords” and “The Wire” go for $1.99.

Forthcoming episodes of currently running series will go day-and-date with their DVD releases.

Still unknown is whether the network is getting a higher revenue split than other iTunes partners. [THR.com]

CityParks Concerts highlights include Hip-Hop Hall of Fame inductees, Whodini, KRS-1, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, Naughty By Nature, Jungle Brothers, Bahamadia, and Brand Nubians. The Chi-Lites and Delfonics will perform for those who enjoy the sounds of smooth soul, and salsa icon Willie Colon and Latin Grammy nominee Michael Stuart also join us for this summer’s festival.

Schedules for other citywide performing arts festivals were also just announced including: CityParks Theater, CityParks Dance, and the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival.

Check out the full CityParks Concerts schedule below.

Bronx

St. Mary’s Park
146 St. & St. Ann’s Ave.
Tuesday, July 8th: TBA
Tuesday, July 15th: TBA
Tuesday, July 22nd: TBA

Crotona Park
173 St. & Crotona Park East
Wednesday, July 9th: TBA
Wednesday, July 16th: TBA
Wednesday, July 23rd: Tony Touch & Brenda K Starr

Brooklyn

Red Hook
Bay St. btwn. Henry St. & Clinton St.
Tuesday, August 5th: Jungle Brothers
Tuesday, August 12th: BT Express
Tuesday, August 19th: Michael Stuart

Von King Park
Tompkins Ave. btwn. Lafayette Ave. & Greene Ave.
Thursday, July 3rd: Felix Hernandez Rhythm Review
Thursday, July 10th: Whodini
Thursday, July 17th: TBA

Brower Park
Brooklyn Ave. & Prospect Park Pl.
Wednesday, July 9th: Brand Nubian
Wednesday, July 16th: Richie Spice
Wednesday, July 23rd: Bahamadia

Manhattan

East River Park
At the Band Shell along the East River
Between Grand & Jackson Sts.
Thursday, July 17th: TBA
Thursday, July 24th: KRS-ONE
Thursday, July 31st: Willie Colón

Highbridge Park
174 St. & Amsterdam Ave.
Tuesday, August 12th: Toby Love
Tuesday, August 19th: Shino Aguakate
Tuesday, August 26th: Tulile

Jackie Robinson Park
147 St. & Bradhurst Ave.
Wednesday, August 6th: The Chi-Lites
Wednesday, August 13th: Slick Rick
Wednesday, August 20th: TBA

Marcus Garvey Park
124 St. & Mt. Morris Park
Thursday, August 7th: TBA
Thursday, August 14th: Big Daddy Kane
Thursday, August 21st: TBA

Queens

Queensbridge Park
41 Ave., Bridge Plaza, Vernon Blvd. & East River
Tuesday, July 15th: Felix Hernandez Rhythm Review
Tuesday, July 22nd: Naughty by Nature
Tuesday, July 29th: The Delfonics

Springfield Park
184 St. & 147 Ave.
Thursday, July 31st: TBA
Thursday, August 7th: The Chi-Lites
Thursday, August 14th: TBA

Staten Island

Mahoney Playground
Beechwood Ave., Crescent Ave., Cleveland St. & Jersey St.
Wednesday, July 30th: The Delfonics
Wednesday, August 1st: TBA
Wednesday, August 6th: Chubb Rock

I wonder if they’ll bring back the the live action “Spiderman” they used to do.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In an updated blast from the past, PBS will air a new version of the 1970s children’s series “The Electric Company.”

Production on the 21st century model of the PBS show for 6- to 9-year-olds was set to begin Tuesday on the streets of New York City and in a New Jersey studio, according to producer Sesame Workshop.

The series, aimed at reducing the literacy gap between low- and middle-income families, will promote the idea that “reading is cool” with help from online and community-based activities, Sesame Workshop said in an announcement Monday.

“The literacy crisis today is as pervasive and alarming as it was in 1971 when we created the first version of `The Electric Company,’” said Scott Cameron, director of education and research for Sesame Workshop (which is the nonprofit educational organization behind “Sesame Street”).

Weekly episodes of “The Electric Company” are scheduled to air nationally in January 2009 on PBS Kids. [Google/AP]

Taking a cue from Radiohead and Trent Reznor, Metallica (didn’t they retire?) just launched a new website offering streaming excerpts from their new album and behind the scenes of footage of recording sessions.

NEW YORK (Billboard) - As the September release of its first album in five years draws near, Metallica has launched a Web site to offer fans exclusive content and teasers of new songs.

At “Mission: Metallica“, a preview clip shows the rock band recording and clowning around in the studio. Fans who sign up will be eligible to “win backstage passes to every show this summer,” among other special offers.

“Mission: Metallica” also has a “platinum” level, entitling fans to a copy of the new album delivered on its release date, weekly “fly on the wall” video clips, contests to travel to shows or Metallica’s San Francisco compound, live show downloads, ringtones and more.

It is unclear what, if anything, the services will cost. [Reuters/Billboard]

Metallica plays the Wiltern Theatre in LA tonight, all other currently know tour dates below.

Metallica 2008 Tour Dates
May 14 Wiltern Theatre Los Angeles, California
May 16 Pima County Fairgrounds Tucson, Arizona
May 17 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Irvine, California
May 28 Slaski Stadium Chorzow
May 30 Pinkpop Festival Landgraaf
May 31 Electric Weekend Getafe, Madrid
Jun 03 Slavia Stadium Prague
Jun 05 Rock In Rio Festival Lisbon
Jun 07 Rock Am Ring Nurburgring
Jun 08 Rock Im Park Nurnberg
Jun 13 Bonnaroo Manchester, Tennessee
Jul 16 Bergenhus Castle Bergen
Jul 18 SKK Hall St. Petersburg
Jul 20 Skonto Stadium Riga
Jul 22 Parco Nord Bologna
Jul 23 Cotroceni Football Stadium Bucharest
Jul 25 Levski Stadium Sofia
Jul 27 Ali Sami Yen Stadium Istanbul
Aug 09 Ozzfest Dallas, Texas
Aug 14 Grand d’Arras Arras, Nord-Pas-de-Calais
Aug 15 Pukkelpop Festival Hasselt
Aug 17 Degenaupark Wil/Jonschwil
Aug 20 Marlay Park Dublin
Aug 22 Leeds Festival Leeds
Aug 24 Reading Festival Reading

And Sue’s “apology” here:

We are currently offering the opportunity to be a Seatfiller at the Bravo “A-List Awards” - hosted by KATHY GRIFFIN, taking place at the Manhattan Center (Hammerstein Ballroom) in NYC on June 4th (to air the following week).

Bravo is dedicated to celebrating the creative process and showcasing some of the leading creative minds working today, and as the only channel to include virtually every popular field of the arts - beauty, design, fashion, food and pop culture - it’s the most logical home for an event that celebrates these disciplines. “My Life on the D-List” star Kathy Griffin hosts Bravo’s first ever “A-List Awards” honoring those people that have made an indelible mark in the arts, with a special star-studded red carpet pre-show hosted by Tim Gunn (per Bravo website). Show promises lots of celebrity presenters and honorees.

As always, this offer is FREE.

DETAILS:
Date: 6/4/08
Venue: Manhattan Center (Hammerstein Ballroom) New York, NY
Arrival Time: 6pm (to be confirmed)
Dress: Cocktail attire (strictly enforced)
Age: over 21 (strictly enforced)

For more info on what it is to be a seatfiller, please visit our web-site at www.TVaudiences.tv

You can register to be a seatfiller for the Bravo “A-List Awards” at the following link https://www.mailermailer.com/x?oid=1007787z (you may have to cut and paste).

PLEASE ONLY SIGN UP IF YOU ARE ABLE TO ATTEND.

FYI - Each time you sign up for a specific show, you are considered a “new subscriber”.

You must use the link above to sign up - we do not accept email requests.

Be sure to set your spam settings to allow for mail from Seatfillers@aol.com and BravoAudience@aol.com.

By signing up, you are NOT confirmed to attend. Those confirmed will be sent an email approximately 1 week before the show.

You may forward this offer on to others, but they MUST sign up by FIRST registering at www.TVaudiences.tv and then can use the link provided above.

Tomorrow (05/14) could change Brooklyn nightlife as we know it.

Community Board 6’s advisory board lead by Lou Sones (the owner of Brazen Head) is taking action against Union Hall of Park Slope. They are recommending the removal of their liquor license based on a group of about 5 people from Union street, with no facts generated to prove any violations. I repeat… THEY ARE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY UNION HALL’S LIQUOR LICENSE WITHOUT A SINGLE VIOLATION! If this is allowed it could set a chain-reaction through the night life scene. If they can deny the renewal of a liquor license for an establishment with no violations they will be able to close down anyone they like.

DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN!

The General Board will be meeting on this and other matters at the address and time listed bellow. Show up in numbers with signs stating your support for Union Hall and Brooklyn Nightlife. The press will be there and we have to put the pressure on

Borough Hall Court Room / 6:30PM
May 14, 2008
209 Joralemon St
Brooklyn, NY

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

On May 13, Reprise will release “NOTHING BUT THE BEST,” a single-disc collection from Sinatra’s Reprise Years that features 22 classic cuts remixed and remastered from the original master tapes, plus a previously unreleased recording of “Body And Soul” featuring a new arrangement. The compilation will be available in physical and digital formats, online at www.franksinatra.com, and in more than 7,000 Post Offices across the country. For a limited time, each CD will contain a collectible, commemorative Sinatra stamp with official USPS first-day issue cancellation. The stamp was unveiled in December 2007 by the U.S. Postal Service and will go on sale May 13.

CD Giveaway
I’ve got a copy of “NOTHING BUT THE BEST” to giveaway to a random lucky person who emails me at contests@bumpershine.com and tells me what movie Frank Sinatra won an Oscar for.

Read all about the free Frank Sinatra stamp dedication day events after the jump.

Frank Sinatra Stamp Dedication Events: May 13, 2008
New York, NY
What: 42-cent Frank Sinatra stamp dedication ceremony.
Who: Frank Sinatra’s children, Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra Jr., Frank Sinatra’s granddaughter, A.J. Lambert (Nancy’s daughter), Chairman, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, Alan Kessler Rep. José E. Serrano (D-NY), a lifelong Sinatra fan who learned to speak English from listening to his father’s Sinatra records.
When: 10 a.m. ET Tue., May 13, 2008
Where: Gotham Hall, Grand Ballroom 1356 Broadway at 36th Street New York, N.Y.
Background: The Frank Sinatra commemorative stamp will be available nationwide May 13

Las Vegas, NV
At 3 p.m. ET (noon PT), Tina Sinatra joins Postal Service Governor James Bilbray in dedicating the stamp in Las Vegas at the Bellagio Fountains main alcove on Las Vegas Boulevard. Frank Sinatra stamp artist Kazuhiko Sano will also participate in this first-day-of-issue ceremony.

Hoboken, NJ
At 3 p.m. ET, Frank Sinatra, Jr., joins Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) and USPS Northern New Jersey District Manager Maria Morse in a first-day-of-sale ceremony in Hoboken, NJ, Sinatra’s hometown. The event takes place at Pier A Park at 1st Street and Frank Sinatra Drive. The park, near the Hoboken Post Office, which was renamed the Frank Sinatra Post Office in 2002. A 10-ft. image of the stamp will be unveiled with the New York City skyline in the background.

The events occur on the eve of the 10th anniversary of Sinatra’s death and are free and open to the public.

Jonathan Meiburg, frontman for Shearwater, has announced that he is leaving Okkervil River to focus exclusively on Shearwater. Meiburg says the split is “completely amicable”, and that Shearwater has grown to the point that it excludes his further participation in Okkervil. “This is just a logical extension of the way things have been going since ‘Palo Santo’”, Meiburg adds. “Shearwater’s increasingly demanding schedule has meant that I’ve performed with Okkervil less and less over the past two years, and with ‘Rook’ coming out in June, we all felt that it would be best if I completely disengaged from Okkervil rather than stretch myself too thin.” [Press Release]

Announcing Evening Benefit Portion of After the Jump Fest 2008
The Music Hall of Williamsburg
June 21st, 7:30pm featuring:

HEALTH
Titus Andronicus
Pattern is Movement
Project Jenny, Project Jan
DJ XXXchange (Spank Rock)
and more!

Tickets onsale NOW!
Click here for more information about the show.

After the Jump is the joint effort of 20 New York City music bloggers whose sites attract over one million readers a week. Founded last year in support of underfunded city school music programs, *After the Jump* has planned and staged concerts in association with the massive South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas and the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City as well as our own all day and night festival last summer in Brooklyn. This summer, on *June 21st*, After the Jump will be partnering with Make Music NY to throw our second annual festival, taking over the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Galapagos Art Space, and the North 6th Street itself with four stages and over 40 bands.

After the Jump Fest 2008 is brought to you by our awesome sponsors:
Metromix.com
Stereofame.com
Snoozer Loser

AFTER THE JUMP IS ORGANIZED BY:
themusicslut . batteringroom . disconap . earfarm . ryspace . irockiroll . merryswankster . softcommunication . theunderratedblog . sitdownstandup . watercoolergossip . bumpershine . themodernage . productshopnyc . subinev . punkphoto . poptartssucktoasted . stereoactivenyc . jinners

For press opportunities such as interviews with the organizers or bands, please contact *publicity(@)afterthejumpfest.com* For sponsorship and all other requests, contact producer Jennifer Kellas: *jkellas(@)afterthejumpfest.com*.

On Thursday of last week, members of Community Board 6 of the City of New York, voted 6 to 2 in favor of a, “motion that denies Union Hall a renewal [of its liquor license] unless the business’ owners sign a contract stipulating that they will take measures to ameliorate noise, such as stopping the sale of alcohol after midnight. Although the motion is ultimately only advisory, the committee member who introduced it—Lou Sones, who himself owns a bar, The Brazen Head on Atlantic Avenue—described it as the community board’s “nuclear weapon” in terms of being a powerful indication to the State Liquor Authority that Union Hall is disturbing the lives of nearby residents.” [Brownstoner]

As a resident of the neighborhood, and a frequent patron of Union Hall I fervently believe that the board’s decision couldn’t be more wrong headed, short sighted, or reeking with the appearance of conflict of interest. Since its inception, Union Hall has become one of the premier venues for live music not just in Brooklyn, but in all of the five boroughs. In addition to being a great place for music, it’s a much loved community gathering place, it plays host to a top notch comedy night (Tearing the Veil of Maya was voted Best Comedy Night by New York Magazine), and it brings in internationally renown scientists for The Secret Science Club (which has presented talks by three Nobel Laureates). In its short existence, Union Hall has vastly enriched the cultural landscape of the Park Slope and any entity that wants or purports to change it, should be met with a healthy degree of opposition by the community and the public at large. In short, if Union Hall loses its liquor license, it will be a travesty of justice.

To write CB6 and voice your opinion, you can go here.

To call CB6 and voice your opinion, you can use this number 718-643-3027.

To take a look at what Union Hall has done to address the concerns of CB6 up to now, (and their associated lack of response), you can go here.

You can view some video of last Thursday’s meeting after the jump.

CB6 Committee Meeting on Union Hall from Gabby Brownstoner

2008 Kidzapalooza Lineup
Perry Farrell
Paul Green School of Rock All Stars
The Jimmies
Peter DiStefano & Tor
G Love
Tiny Masters of Today
The Dream Jam Band
Homemade Jamz
The Q Brothers
The Terrible Two’s
Suzy Brack and the New Jack Lords
John Yost’s Rhythm Revolution
…and many more very special guests!!!

Ohbijou at Union Hall (05/09/08)

Check out the whole flickr set here.

Drake’s Take: New Releases 05.06.08

This week is all about the latest Sub Pop starlets No Age, as the punk-meets-90’s shoe gaze sonics release what might just be the album of the year (it’s still too early to coronate). Elsewhere this week also sees the latest from Elvis Costello, The Last Shadow Puppets, Matmos, The Morning Benders, Neil Diamond, an EP from Animal Collective, and the return of Old 97’s (in Rhapsody a week early).

Playlist: New Releases 05.06.08

Merging the styles of Loveless, New Day Rising, and Slanted and Enchanted, No Age’s (proper) debut on Sub Pop is taking the critical world by storm, and with good reason. Even though the LA punk duo is by all estimations still getting it’s bearings, Nouns seems to hit a sweet spot that’s been missing… sloppy DIY punk delivered via My Bloody Valentine guitar swirls, all encased with a tape-loop hiss that all together sounds far more accessible than you’d think it would. Songs like “Teen Creeps,” “Sleeper Hold” and “Brain Burner” create their own genre of punk-shoegaze-noise-rock anthems that sound familiar, like a hazy rememberance of what 1991 sounded (like before Nevermind came and squashed it). To that end, the vocals are buried, putting the sound at arms length, like those hard to reach memories (one of those hard to reach memories is Overwhelming Colorfast… another is early Don Fleming productions).

Of course, any discussion of the band No Age seems to be predicated on the recognition of the setting in which the band was born, namely the community surrounding the all ages venue The Smell. Much like Seattle’s The Vera Project, NYC’s ABC No Rio and Berkley’s 924 Gilman, The Smell is more than just a place to see shows, it’s a resource (and a vegan cafe). It seems it’s the politics and DIY ethics that propel Nouns beyond just a fine debut and push it into the realm of SCENE. Considering it’s only the duo’s debut, I hope their backs can withstand the weight of “NEXT”. It’s interesting, in that regard, that they opted for “Eraser” as the single instead of the obvious “Teen Creeps,” possibly not wanting to follow too closely down that pre-paved ‘Teen’ road.

Free album stream from AOL
Download: “Eraser” [mp3]

It seems with every Animal Collective album, there’s an EP to follow, collecting odds and ends from the previous albums’ sessions, and containing at least one nugget worth it’s purchase. Water Curses contains perhaps the best ‘nugget’ to date, with the bubbly title track, already one of my favorite AC songs. “Water Curses” takes on a watery sound, floating with dense electro flourishes, a technicolor wonder that probably felt too light to fit in with some of the harsher sounds that inhabited Strawberry Jam. For all the accessibility of the title track, the rest of the EP stretches out in all directions away from that starting point. For an album, it would approach annoying quickly, but in the safe setting of an EP, it makes for a nice ride around AC’s crazy block.