name	Mercury Lounge
address	217 E Houston St
location	New York, NY 10002 USA
coordinates
type	Nightclub
opened	1993
owner	The Bowery Presents
seating capacity	250
website	mercuryloungenyc.com }}

The Mercury Lounge is a club/music venue, in the Lower East Side section, of New York City. The structure, at 217 East Houston Street, housed the servants to the Astor Mansion, connected to it by an underground labyrinth of tunnels. Garfein's Restaurant occupied the space in the early part of the twentieth century and from 1933 to 1993 the storefront housed a seller of tombstones.

In 1993, it was converted into a music venue. It has a capacity of 250 people.

References

External links

Official Site

Category:Lower East Side Category:Nightclubs in New York City Category:Music venues in New York City Category:Event venues established in 1993 Category:Drinking establishments in Manhattan

ca:Mercury Lounge fr:Mercury Lounge id:Mercury Lounge

name	Sharon Van Etten
alt	Sharon Van Etten performing in 2010
background	solo_singer
birth name	Sharon Van Etten
birth place	New Jersey, U.S.
genre	Indie rock, folk
associated acts	The Antlers
occupation	Singer, songwriter
label	Ba Da Bing, Language Of Stone
website	}}

Sharon Van Etten is an American singer-songwriter based in Brooklyn, New York City.

Her songs were described by the music website Pitchfork Media as "with some echoes of folk tradition but generally in a more personal, introspective space." NPR Music describes: "Her songs are heartfelt without being overly earnest; her poetry is plainspoken but not overt, and her elegant voice is wrapped in enough rasp and sorrow to keep from sounding too pure or confident."

Biography

Van Etten was born and raised in New Jersey. She moved to Tennessee to attend Middle Tennessee State University, where she discovered a variety of influential music. After moving back home to New Jersey, Van Etten was encouraged by Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio to pursue a career in music.

Her official debut, ''Because I Was In Love'' was released in spring 2009. In April 2009, Van Etten performed vocals and guitar for the song "Coming Home" written by Jeremy Joyce for the feature film "Woman's Prison." In August 2009, she appeared in ''Hospice'', the critically acclaimed album by indie rock group The Antlers and performed vocals on the track "Thirteen". In January 2010, Van Etten was a featured artist on Weathevane Music's Shaking Through Web Series. On September 21, 2010 she released her second album ''Epic''. She also contributed backing vocals to The National's song "Think You Can Wait" from the soundtrack to the film ''Win Win'' in 2011.

Discography

Albums

''Because I Was In Love'' (2009)

''Epic'' (2010)

References

External links

Category:American female singers Category:American songwriters Category:American singer-songwriters Category:Songwriters from New Jersey Category:American folk singers Category:Living people

Alice Smith (born 1978) is an New York City-based singer, her style anchored in rock, R&B;, blues, jazz and soul. Raised between Washington, D.C. and a farm in Georgia, she sang in ''Moomtez'' and ''Black Rock Coalition'' while studying History at Fordham University. Releasing her first LP in 2006, Smith has a powerful voice, and ''Rolling Stone'' said of her, "Smith could easily be lumped in with expressive chanteuses like Norah Jones and Alicia Keys, but she has a broader palette than either." The magazine listed her as one of the 10 Artists to Watch in 2006..

Her debut album, ''For Lovers, Dreamers & Me'', is a collection of songs spanning genres from country to rock to funk and almost everything in between but rap. The title is also eclectic, having been borrowed from an unexpected source—the Muppets. "We were just trying to think of a title because I haven’t thought of a name after it was all done," she said in an interview with Hiphoprnbsoul.com. "We were thinking about the music and we were throwing ideas around. We were thinking about The Beatles and The Wizard of Oz and whatever else made us think of. Then something made me think of The Muppets. I don’t even know. It wasn’t something in the forefront of my mind. I just thought of it and it came to me like that."

The song ''Dream'' was featured on an episode of ''Entourage'' (season four) during the closing credits. ''Dream'' was also featured in the final act of episode four, season five, of the Showtime series The L Word ("Let's Get This Party Started"). In 2007, she was nominated for a Grammy Award under the Best Urban/Alternative category.

In 2011, she collaborated with Aloe Blacc to contribute the track "Baby" to the Red Hot Organization's most recent charitable album "Red Hot+Rio 2." The album is a follow-up to the 1996 "Red Hot + Rio." Proceeds from the sales will be donated to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV and related health and social issues.

Discography

''For Lovers, Dreamers & Me'' (BBE, 2006)

References

Reviews

Giant Step - For Lovers, Dreamers & Me / Alice Smith

Sound Generator - For Lovers, Dreamers & Me / Alice Smith

Rainbow Network - For Lovers, Dreamers & Me / Alice Smith

Music Emissions - For Lovers, Dreamers & Me / Alice Smith

External links

Alice Smith Official site

Alice Smith On Reelblack TV

Alice Smith Performs NEW RELIGION (Live)

Alice Smith performs DREAM (Live)

Alice Smith Spinner/AOL video podcast

Alice Smith at NPR Music

Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:American soul musicians Category:Musicians from New York City Category:American female singers Category:African American singers

pt:Alice Smith

name	Alexi Murdoch
background	solo_singer
origin	London, England, UK
genre	Alternative, acoustic, indie folk
years active	2002–present
occupation	Singer-songwriter
label	Indie
website	Official website
notable instruments	}}

Alexi Murdoch is a singer-songwriter born in London and raised in Scotland, Greece and France, now living in Berlin.

Background

Murdoch was born in London to a Scottish father and Greek-French mother and raised in Greece, just outside of Athens until he was ten, when his family moved to Scotland.

Murdoch moved to the United States in 1992 to study at Duke University, before moving to Los Angeles, California to be with a girlfriend. He first gained notice when an influential Los Angeles DJ, Nic Harcourt, began playing his music on the radio station KCRW. It led to much interest from the LA's music industry, which Murdoch largely ignored, turning down advances from record labels and opting to release his music independently.

''Four Songs'' EP

He self-published the EP ''Four Songs'' through independent record stores and website CD Baby in November 2002. CD Baby sold over 50,000 copies of the release, becoming the site's all-time bestselling record.

In 2003, he performed at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference and that year's Sundance Film Festival. and, in 2004, at the Hollywood Reporter/Billboard Film & TV Music Conference. In 2004, the song "Orange Sky" from the EP also became the most-played song on Philadelphia indie station WXPN.

''Time Without Consequence'' LP

Murdoch's first album, ''Time Without Consequence'', was released on June 6, 2006 on his own label, Zero Summer. As with the EP, Murdoch continued to turn down the record deals he was offered from numerous major labels in order to maintain creative control. (The record was distributed nationally through Sony BMG.) ''Time Without Consequence'' peaked at #25 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.

On June 9, 2006, Murdoch began a 34-city tour in conjunction with the Coalition of Independent Music Stores, with most bookings at independent record stores.

The album became one of the most licensed albums of the decade, receiving placements on dozens of films and television shows. "Orange Sky" appeared in ''The O.C.'', ''House'', ''Prison Break'', ''Ugly Betty'', ''Dirty Sexy Money'', ''Ladder 49'', and in promotions for Oscar nominated foreign film, ''Paradise Now'', ''Southland'' and a Honda commercial. "Home" appeared in a season 2 episode of ''Prison Break''. "All My Days" was featured in ''The O.C.'', ''Grey's Anatomy'', ''Scrubs'', ''Without a Trace'', ''Stargate Universe'', and a promo for ''Southland''. "Song For You" appeared in ''Everwood''. "12" appeared in the show "Brothers & Sisters" and "One Tree Hill." "Blue Mind" was featured in the 2008 adventure film ''The Sharp End'',, and several episodes of ''Dawson's Creek''. "Breathe" was used in ''Stargate Universe'', and the 2008 film ''Tenderness'', where the album ''Time Without Consequence'' is also shown on a scene of the film. "Wait" was used in the shows ''Defying Gravity'' and Parenthood. "It's Only Fear" was used in the ''Brothers and Sisters''. Several songs were used in a surfing documentary One California Day.

Recent activities

In the spring of 2009, Murdoch embarked on a rare U.S. headlining tour, during which he has been distributing an early version of a new album entitled ''Towards the Sun'' in a limited edition packaged in a hand-printed, cardboard sleeve.

Several of these new songs quickly appeared on the internet. Later, the song "Through the Dark" was used in the final scene and end credits of actor Ben Affleck's directorial debut, ''Gone Baby Gone'', as well as the television series "The Vampire Diaries". Several other ''Towards the Sun'' songs were used on the soundtrack to Oscar winner Sam Mendes' 2009 film ''Away We Go'' which had a screenplay by the writers Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida. There was an album tied to the film release which contained a mix of songs from ''Time Without Consequence'' and ''Towards the Sun'' alongside single songs by The Stranglers, Bob Dylan, George Harrison and the Velvet Underground.

Recent bookings by Murdoch include two concerts in Berlin, one small club appearance and a second as part of the City Slang label's 20th anniversary. In February 2011 he performed in New York City as part of Lincoln Center's prestigious "American Songbook Series", after which he went on a sold out tour of major markets throughout North America. (i.e. Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, Chicago, Minneapolis.) 2011 will also see the official release of his third recording, "Towards The Sun".

Critical reception

His first album "Time Without Consequence" was met with wide critical praise, gaining him five stars with Alternative Press as well as placing him on Rolling Stone's Top Ten Artists list. His newest release "Towards the Sun" is gathering higher praise still in both the U.S. and in Europe. PopMatters, giving the record a 9/10 calls Murdoch's performance "hauntingly beautiful" and "heartbreakingly lovely". Q Magazine in the U.K. give the record 4 stars with this to say: "Acoustic troubadour makes stunning second outing. Anyone who harps on about how the songwriters of today don't match up to those of yesteryear should be directed to this remarkable second record."

Discography

LPs

''Time Without Consequence'', 2006

''Towards the Sun'', 2011

Extended Plays

''Four Songs'', 2002 (EP)

References

External links

Official website

Alexi Murdoch Myspace

CD Baby: Alexi Murdoch

CNN: The 'Britney' backlash: Budding songwriter rejects record contract

Alexi Murdoch live on WOXY.com, July 11, 2006

Alexi Murdoch at NPR Music

Category:British male singers Category:British songwriters Category:British singer-songwriters Category:Greek male singers Category:Greek songwriters Category:Greek singer-songwriters Category:British expatriates in the United States Category:Greek expatriates in the United States Category:Living people Category:Duke University alumni

cs:Alexi Murdoch de:Alexi Murdoch es:Alexi Murdoch fr:Alexi Murdoch nl:Alexi Murdoch sv:Alexi Murdoch

name	Kurt Vile
background	solo_singer
birth name	Kurt Vile
born	1980
instrument	Vocals/Guitar/Trumpet/Banjo/Keyboard
genre	Rock, heartland rock, roots rock, lo-fi, indie rock
occupation	Musician
label	Matador Records
associated acts	The War on Drugs
website	}}

Kurt Vile is a guitarist and singer born in 1980 from Philadelphia. He was signed by Matador Records as a solo artist in May 2009.

His music has been likened to that of Bruce Springsteen His influences include Fleetwood Mac, John Fahey, Bob Dylan and FM Rock generally. His first album for Matador Records is titled ''Childish Prodigy''. In an interview with ''Women's Wear Daily'', Sonic Youth bassist and singer Kim Gordon was asked, "Your guilty pleasure right now?" Gordon replied, "Listening to Kurt Vile's latest CD, ''Childish Prodigy.'' Guilty because I listen to it too much..."

Vile released two previous solo albums, ''God Is Saying This To You'' and ''Constant Hitmaker'', on Mexican Summer and Woodsist, respectively. He plays solo shows as well as shows with a backing band called The Violators.

Vile's "He's Alright" is featured during the credits of Eastbound & Down in the second season's finale. Vile was chosen by Animal Collective to perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival that they curated in May 2011.

Discography

Albums

''Constant Hitmaker'' (2008, Gulcher Records; 2009, Woodsist Records)

''God Is Saying This To You'' (2009, Mexican Summer)

''Childish Prodigy'' (2009, Matador Records)

''Smoke Ring For My Halo'' (2011, Matador Records) US chart: #154

EPs

''Fall Demons'' 7" EP (2009, Skulltones)

''The Hunchback'' 12" EP (2009, Richie Records)

''Square Shells'' 12" EP (2010, Matador)

Singles

''He's Alright'' 7" single (2009, Matador Records)

''In My Time'' 7" single (2010, Matador Records)

References

Category:American male singers Category:American folk singers Category:American rock singers Category:American singer-songwriters Category:American rock guitarists Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Pennsylvania Category:1980 births

da:Kurt Vile fr:Kurt Vile