Tonight DJ Mojo presents No Grave Like The Sea, Glitter Freeze, Cavallo and North Elementary for the low low price of $7, then he’ll DJ the after party into the wee hours.  Scroll down for details!

TONIGHT’S SHOW ($7):

• 10:00 PM — No Grave Like The Sea is, for all we can tell, an instrumental, mostly-ambient post-rock project based in Brooklyn.  Notably their members include Tony Maimone, who has spent decades playing with experimental rock legends Pere Ubu.  There’s really only one song available online, and if it’s any indication of their music as a whole then you can expect a melodramatic atmospheric soundscape that’s something like if Explosions In The Sky, Jesu and early Sigur Rós all came together as one.  Listen here.

• 11:00 PM — Heather Elle describes her New York City-based trio Glitter Freeze as “Blondie vs. Depeche Mode, or Robert Smith and Madonna’s awkward lovechild.”  We’re thinking more like a cross between The xx and Echo & The Bunnymen, but is that splitting hairs?  Listen here.

• 9:00 PM — The Baltimore Weekly calls Cavallo “end-times instrumental art-rock.”  Beard Rock says they “specialise in instrumetal rock that purrs, twinkles, then bares its teeth, fur flying, whilst retaining a harmonic core.  The twin guitars work in telepathic partnership, complementing each other even when the songs are at their chewiest.”  Listen here.

• 8:00 PM — Triangle Music says North Elementary is “two parts rock, one part pop and half parts country and electronic filtered through fuzz.”  We think it’s a little bit Pavement, a little bit Sebadoh and a lot of Wilco.  Listen here.

LATE NIGHT (no cover):

DJ Mojo, the man BreakThru Radio calls “A force in the independent music scene for over four decades,” will man the decks in the DJ booth from the show’s end until 4:00 AM. And he’d go much later if we’d let him.

It’s Country Sunday!

TONIGHT’S SHOW (no cover):

• Tonight, starting at 7:00 PM, we’ll have two sets by Brooklyn honky-tonk hooligans The Dixons.  Their label, Cow Island Music, calls them “the most authentic Bakersfield style country band since The Derailers.”  Dan Ferguson of Freight Train Boogie says they’re “rooted in a classic country sound chock full of pedal steel that drives or cries with the song subject matter, plenty of twangy guitar, and a burly-voiced lead singer in Jeffrey Mowrer who’s got an Ernest Tubb flavor to his voice.”  You will definitely feel like you’ve stepped into a Buck Owens song, so bring your cryin’ eyes, your dancin’ boots and your drinkin’ hat.  Listen here.

LATE NIGHT (no cover):

DJs Cowboy Mark and Tony, who you may know from Country Night on Mondays at Union Pool, will be playing honky tonk, country swing, bluegrass, real old school Americana and more.  We’ll turn on the disco ball and oil the springs under the dance floor.  Come get your two step on!

• The Dixons
• Sunday, May 20th 2012
• Time: 7:00pm
• Admission: $TBA
• All shows 21+ unless otherwise noted

TONIGHT’S SHOW ($9):

• Of Cinema, Cinema, CMJ says, “Pounding two piece…created a musical melting pot of sonic soundscapes, avant-pop, and good old-fashioned rock songs…an atmospheric journey into the art of sound…filled to the brim with floor-trembling drums, sleazy guitars, and gut-wrenching vocals that garner fist-pumping status…overall vibe is dingy and dark, evoking imagery of a New York City back alley in the early 70′s.”  Listen here.

• As you’d imagine judging by their name, With Knives is adult contemporary à la Celine Dion or Brian Adams.  Just kidding.  This is a sludgy metal trio who knows what they’re doing.  With lyrics like “Praise be given, the beast is in our hearts,” and album titles like Schadenfreude, they’ve secured their place as the band we’ll have playing while we light the five red candles of the pentagram on our altar next time the stars align for the Dark One’s rising.  Listen here.

• You can hear Your Skull My Closet‘s Detroit roots in their ferocity.  It’s angular pop set in a nest of sharp-as-razor hooks and occasional shrieks.  Listen here.

LATE NIGHT (no cover):

Larry May and Maria DJ punk rock ’til you puke rock.

• Cinema Cinema
• with With Knives, Your Skull My Closet
• Thursday, May 17th 2012
• Time: 7:00pm
• Admission: $9
• All shows 21+ unless otherwise noted

How do we explain what an awesome night tonight is at The Grand Victory?  Not only are we welcoming space rock legend Adam Franklin and NYC luminaries Heaven (who are celebrating the release of a split seven-inch together) plus two other fantastic acts, but then at midnight it rolls over to the second installment of AXIS, the new killer dance party hosted by our very own Brother Paul and his incendiary DJ cohorts.  Last week AXIS blew up our humble little bar, and we expect them to do the same tonight. Cancel all your plans, because THIS is where you need to be tonight:

.
.
.
.

TONIGHT’S SHOW ($10):

• Holy crap, Adam Franklin & Bolts of Melody is playing at The Grand Victory!  Adam Franklin was the frontman of seminal space rock group Swervedriver (one of our favorite bands when we were young).  We’ve seen Franklin tour solo several times over the years and we’ve never been let down.  Greg Barbrick of Blogcritics has this to say:  “As the former leader of Creation Records’ legendary Swervedriver, Adam Franklin’s place in the indie-music pantheon is secure. But don’t count the old chap out just yet, because I Could Sleep For A Thousand Years ranks right up there with the best of his previous band’s work.  I Could Sleep is Franklin’s third solo outing, and it is miles ahead of last year’s Spent Bullets. The difference here is that for the first time, Franklin has recorded with his touring band, Bolts Of Melody. The group add so much to the songs that it is really unfair to even classify the album as a solo record. This is a group effort in every sense of the word.”  As for The Grand Victory… We are fucking excited to have them.  Listen here.

• From their bio:  “Heaven are a shiny new collaboration from New Yorkers Matt Sumrow (The Comas, Dean and Britta, Ambulance LTD), Mikey Jones (The Big Sleep, Snowden, Swervedriver), and Ryan Lee Dunlap (Fan-Tan).  A romantic clash between your Dad’s long lost favorite psych record and the soundtrack to a John Hughes film, Heaven ride a big sonic wave to deliver their dear and dreamy songs.”  For once a band’s bio is spot on!  And come on, former members of Slowdive and Ambulance LTD?  What if we told you this is one of our favorite NYC bands?  Still don’t trust us?  Then just listen here.

• Lou-is is mid-tempo melancholy rock with jangly guitars and clangy bass lines, reminding us of Idaho, Calla, Grandaddy, Radio Dept., Pedro The Lion or The New Year.   Perfect for indie nerds who know how to waltz (and you’re truly an indie nerd if you just caught that reference to Low).  Listen here.

• On Brooklyn two-piece KNTRLR, from their label’s website: “Charles and Michael are KNTRLR, the nasty two-piece responsible for the hauntingly beautiful b-side “Kursk” on their upcoming split 7” with The Big Sleep, which narrates the experience of a submariner writing a farewell letter to his wife as he accepts his tragic fate.”  This music is all at once spooky, beautiful, repetitive, soothing, creepy and extremely tense.  Listen here.

LATE NIGHT (no cover):

The Grand Victory’s own bartender Brother Paul and his cohorts are taking over The Grand Victory every Wednesday night with their new weekly party AXIS.  It’s beat-matching heaven, with scantily-clad go-go dancers and butt-moving music.  Here’s what they have to say for themselves:

“Resident DJ’s Billy Music, Neighborhood DJ, and Brother Paul attack every Wednesday night at 11pm with no surrender till 4am. Our weapons of choice include, but aren’t limited to, italo, synth pop, electro dance, go go dancers, booze, and bright shiny things. Come join our ranks and shake that thing.”

So, needless to say, we’ll see you there!

• Adam Franklin & Bolts of Melody
• with Heaven, Lou-is, KNTRLR
• Wednesday, May 9th 2012
• Time: 7:00pm
• Admission: $10
• All shows 21+ unless otherwise noted

Twin Guns

The Omens

Washerwoman

• Twin Guns
• with The Omens, Washerwoman
• Thursday, May 31st 2012
• Time: 7:00pm
• Admission: $7
• All shows 21+ unless otherwise noted

TONIGHT’S SHOW ($8):

Freshkills

The Unstoppable Death Machines

Violent Bullshit

Filthy Savage

DJ Jah Jah (NinjaSonik)

• Freshkills
• with The Unstoppable Death Machines, Violent Bullshit, Filthy Savage, DJ Jah Jah (NinjaSonik)
• Saturday, May 26th 2012
• Time: 7:00pm
• Admission: $8
• All shows 21+ unless otherwise noted
• Buy tickets

TONIGHT’S SHOW ($7):

Craig Martinson and the Heartbeats

Fro

Hobson’s Choice

LATE NIGHT (no cover):

Finger Lickin’ Fridays

• Craig Martinson and the Heartbeats
• with Fro, Hobson’s Choice
• Friday, May 25th 2012
• Time: 7:00pm
• Admission: $7
• All shows 21+ unless otherwise noted

Metal Leg

Gung Ho

Samson Cromagno

LATE NIGHT (no cover):

The Grand Victory’s own bartender Brother Paul and his cohorts are taking over The Grand Victory every Wednesday night with their new weekly party AXIS.  It’s beat-matching heaven, with scantily-clad go-go dancers and butt-moving music.  Here’s what they have to say for themselves:

“Resident DJ’s Billy Music, Neighborhood DJ, and Brother Paul attack every Wednesday night at 11pm with no surrender till 4am. Our weapons of choice include, but aren’t limited to, italo, synth pop, electro dance, go go dancers, booze, and bright shiny things. Come join our ranks and shake that thing.”

So, needless to say, we’ll see you there!

• Metal Leg … then AXIS late night!
• with Gung Ho, Samson Cromagnon
• Wednesday, May 23rd 2012
• Time: 7:00pm
• Admission: $5
• All shows 21+ unless otherwise noted

Sad and French are not French.  As for the sad?  Well it’s lo-fi Americana folk.  This two-piece acoustic act can sound like a stripped down Two Gallants or even Jawbreaker when they’re ramping up, or a stripped down Bright Eyes when they’re not.  Either way, their hyperbolically heartbroken lyrics provide the perfect soundtrack for shooting whiskey, slamming beers and loudly proclaiming righteous indignation at anyone who’s ever mishandled your heart.  Listen here.

Patrick Salt Ryan is a troubled troubadour, howling boozed-up ballads all alone from a big stage.  These are slow but catchy melodies carrying words so depressed you can’t tell if he’s joking or not.  It’s like if Evan Dando was a drunk, not a junky, and wrote all his songs on the fourth morning of a week-long coke bender. Listen here.

• Sad and French
• with Patrick Salt Ryan
• Tuesday, May 22nd 2012
• Time: 7:00pm
• Admission: $TBA
• All shows 21+ unless otherwise noted

TONIGHT’S SHOW ($8):

• “Elizabeth Sullivan is a girl adrift.  The New York-based singer/songwriter pens moving, ethereal numbers that seem lost in time, songs culled from a lifetime marked by emotional hardship and spiritual exploration,”  says her label, Caelum Entertainment.  We’ve listened to a few of her songs.  We think it sounds like Tori Amos, Alanis Morisette and Trans-Siberian Orchestra met for a pow-wow in a Mongolian yurt.  Listen here.

• Terminal Service, judging by their available material online, is experimental indie folk.  At times this sounds like Codeine, at times like The Microphones, and at times like Graham Coxon’s early solo records. Listen here.

• Marzipan opens the show.

LATE NIGHT (no cover):

The Grand Victory’s own bartender Brother Paul and his cohorts are taking over The Grand Victory every Wednesday night with their new weekly party AXIS.  It’s beat-matching heaven, with scantily-clad go-go dancers and butt-moving music.  Here’s what they have to say for themselves:

“Resident DJ’s Billy Music, Neighborhood DJ, and Brother Paul attack every Wednesday night at 11pm with no surrender till 4am. Our weapons of choice include, but aren’t limited to, italo, synth pop, electro dance, go go dancers, booze, and bright shiny things. Come join our ranks and shake that thing.”

So, needless to say, we’ll see you there!

• Elizabeth Sullivan … then AXIS late night!
• with Terminal Service
• Wednesday, May 16th 2012
• Time: 7:00pm
• Admission: $8
• All shows 21+ unless otherwise noted

TONIGHT’S SHOW ($7):

Directly from the event page for this month’s installment of the U.S.Oh-No!! Variety Show:

After last month’s epic showcase of the absurd and raunchy, The U.S.Oh-No!! Variety Show!! is back for another round of ridiculously good fun!!!  For the fourth time, we present our vision, showcasing the crass and the class.  We are paying tribute to the traditional U.S.O. shows of yesteryear with a dose of patriotic debauchery sure to make you salute.

This carefully curated line up of some of NYC’s most talented and interestingly curious stage performers will let you rest assured that the evening will be nothing less than absurd.  Join us as we make our city just a little bit weirder and unpredictable!!

And, if you’re feeling spicy, take a chance and tweet me a pitch.  I’ll pick the one I most want to see on stage in the audience participation portion of the show!  (Think of it as a mini talent show)

And what would a show be with out a dance competition and raffle?  it’s gonna be hard to beat last months’ game contestants.  Let’s just say, the audience seems to always be ready to jump in with both feet and get in on the “spectacle”, and we welcome your exuberance!!

This month’s show features the following:

• *Rachel Green* (Sultry Songstress who’s more than her Gs)
• *Bombazeen Bean* (The Stage Kitten)
• *Heather Loop* (The Bodacious Booty Bike Babe)
• *The Goon* (Pain Proof Side Show)
• *Jonny Porkpie* (The Burlesque Mayor of NYC)
• *Mysterion The Mind Reader* (Dr. of Mentalism with a PhD in ESP)(Canada!!)
• *Jo Boobs* (Head Mistress of the NY School of Burlesque)

Hick’ry Hawkins

• Hick’ry Hawkins
• Sunday, May 13th 2012
• Time: 7:00pm
• Admission: $TBA
• All shows 21+ unless otherwise noted

TONIGHT’S SHOW ($8):

• Mighty Fine is kicking off their UK tour featuring Mick Collins (of The Dirtbombs, Gories) by playing a home show right here at The Grand Victory.  From their Facebook page:  “Sweaty Rump Shakin’ Garage Soul is a great way to describe the band, the combination of a James Brown styled soul review and sweaty garage rock show.”  This is as apt a description as we can imagine.  Singer Steve Myers says, “In this band, New York and New Orleans meet at the crossroads and no one moves an inch.”  Listen here.

• Discovery, according to their bio, “makes deep and groovy music—mingling rock with funk. The band’s live sets bring rhythmic Afro-beat and Latin elements to mix with smooth, spacey tones. Comparisons have included new wave acts like Human League and The Creatures.” Listen here.

• Brooklyn’s all-girl three-piece  Crazy Pills play rock, garage and rockabilly.  Like fifties doo-wop, Holly Golightly and The Misfits all rolled up together.  Listen here.

DJ Leah Beth from The Nouvellas mans the deck between bands.

LATE NIGHT (no cover):

DJs Jumpy and Big Sir bring you awesome soul fun fun happy joy with Soul A Go Go.  Good time music for good times.

• Mighty Fine (feat. Mick Collins of The Dirtbombs)
• with TBA
• Saturday, May 12th 2012
• Time: 7:00pm
• Admission: $TBA
• All shows 21+ unless otherwise noted

Welcome to Sunday, the Lord-ordained best day of the week for afternoon drinking and listening to country.  We have happy hour specials from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM ($3 wells and draughts, $1 off all bottles), and we have great local country music, including a DJ and a special guest burlesque star, starting at 4:00 PM and running ’til 11:00 PM.  All for free.  So roll by The Grand Victory early, and there’s no reason for you to leave!

All this for FREE:

CLASSIC COUNTRY HAPPY HOUR @ 4:00 PM

Golden Bones would have been called “New Country” in the ’70s, placed alongside Gram Parsons and Townes Van Zandt.  They’d have been lumped in with the Jayhawks as Americana in the ’80s.  And in the ’90s they’d have fallen in with Uncle Tupelo or the Old 97s as Alt Country.  We just call it good music.  These are melancholy rainy afternoon songs with a swing and a banjo, sung not with an affected fake drawl but instead with their own natural God-given voices.  Listen here.

While Golden Bones aren’t playing, DJ Charles Watlington will play old country, honky tonk, and whatever your great-grandpa called “The Old Songs.”

SEAN KERSHAW & THE TERRIBLE TWO @ 8:00 PM

Sean Kershaw & The Terrible Two are a ”classic honkytonk-rockabilly-swing trio performing originals and covers,” a stripped down special acoustic live-only version of Kershaw’s main group, the raucous full-band Sean Kershaw & The New Jack Ramblers.  Sounds like the perfect drinking soundtrack to us!  Listen here.

And don’t miss special guest Brooklyn Babydoll!

We’ll see you there!

• Classic Country Happy Hour, then Sean Kershaw in the evening
• Golden Bones w/ DJ Charles Watlington 4-8, then Sean Kershaw & Brooklyn Babydoll 8-11
• Sunday, May 6th 2012
• Time: 7:00pm
• Admission: FREE
• All shows 21+ unless otherwise noted