This staunchly eclectic indie-rock band released its first album, “Silent Moving Picture” (Smells Like), back in 2003. Its second album, “Showface” (Anthemusa), has finally been released, and whatever mystery lies behind the long wait, the new music feels tough and loose, totally incubated. As ever, Ursa Minor lives and dies by the effort of Michelle Casillas, an assertive lead singer and a broodingly earnest songwriter. She used to play keyboards in the band and now focuses on electric guitar, which may account for the punchier underground-rock tone. There are guest turns by the guitarists Teddy Kumpel and Jim Campilongo, the violist Caleb Burhans and a handful of jazz-trained horn players. And the band still has one of the most flexibly rugged rock rhythm sections in New York, with Tony Scherr on guitars, Rob Jost on bass and Robert DiPietro on drums. (Mr. Scherr and Mr. Kumpel produced and mixed the album.) The songs run the gamut — power pop (“She Wants You”), ragalike rock (“No Other”) and retro-grunge (“Guerilla”) — and they’re often infused with surprising details. They make you want to see Ursa Minor in action at a place like the Living Room, where the band will play next Saturday. Details on that show are at ursaminor.info. -Nate Chinen  [Photo by Dina Regine]

URSA MINOR REUNITES! This Sunday at 11PM at Rockwood.     New Songs, New Season.  With Michelle Casillas, Robert DiPietro, Rob Jost, & Tony Scherr.  Don't miss it! 

Come at 9pm for ROBERT DIPIETRO, whose band will be featuring some of the same cast of characters, plus Mark Tewarson on guitar and Tony Mason on drums!   [Photo by Todd Chalfant]

196 Allen Street, between Houston & Stanton, NYC     www.rockwoodmusichall.com

With Randy Schrager (Scissor Sisters)

With Catherine Popper (Ryan Adams & the Cardinals), Tad Kubler (The Hold Steady)

Donate to STRUMMERVILLE, the Joe Strummer Foundation for New Music HERE

           Christmas lights. Coke bottles. Cover-free. www.petescandystore.com

CMJ @ the Bowery Electric Map Room:  Ursa Minor Solo, Lenny Kaye, Robert Gordon & many more

Derek Cruz, Jesse Malin, Michelle Casillas

  Jesse Malin, Lucinda Williams, Derek Cruz, Michelle Casillas, David Garza

Lucinda Williams, David Garza

L/G to Lorimer-Metropolitan  Tickets @ bk.knittingfactory.com  Photo by Dina Regine

I'll be playing a few solo songs at 11:50pm, after Austin Donahue (Graph Rabbit) and before Jesse Malin.  Open bar from 10-11pm.  No cover.  Come on out!  327 Bowery @ 2nd Street, NYC

Photos by Dina Regine.  Purchase advance tickets at  www.lepoissonrouge.com

MICHELLE CASILLAS, JEAN ROHE, & ALICE BEIRHORST.  TUESDAY JULY 3RD, 8-10PM @ 627 5th Ave, Park Slope. Michelle will be joined by ALICE BIERHORST on drums and BEN GALLINA on bass.  Photo by Dina Regine.

TONIC reunites! MONDAY MAY 9TH at POISSON ROUGE

Great music all night: Ursa Minor, Sex Mob, Elysian Fields, Heather Greene, Yuka Honda, Jamie Saft, White Out, Billy Martin, Ben Perowsky, Vernon Reid, Dougie Bowne, Mike Wolf

Don't miss it!  More info / Advance tickets HERE 

158 Bleecker Street, NYC  www.lepoissonrouge.com

SUNDAY April 29TH, show starts @ 7

URSA MINOR SOLO @ 8:30pm, & joining JESSE MALIN @ 9pm

THE BOWERY ELECTRIC  327 Bowery @ 2nd Street, NYC

Great cause, Great music.

More info / Ticket purchases HERE

     Photo by Dina Regine  

Hosted by Adrian Grenier, Music by Ursa Minor.  Proceeds from the auction benefit SHFT Initiatives, to promote sustainability issues through the intersection of commerce, art & design, and communication.  The gala will be held at Liberty Island on Thursday, March 15, 2012, and will kick off Glenfiddich's year-long celebration of its 125th anniversary. Bidding is open to the public.  Interested bidders should contact info@glenfiddich.com    Further info HERE

Ursa Minor, Bruce Cockburn, Melissa Ferrick, Ellis Marsalis, Larry Carlton, And JD McPherson Are Among Nominees Of The 11th Independent Music Awards

March 7, 2012 – “Staunchly eclectic indie rock band” (-NY Times) URSA MINOR of NYC join more than 300 exceptional self-released and independent label artists, as well as former major label acts named today by Music Resource Group (MRG) as Nominees in The 11th Independent Music Awards (The IMAs), the influential awards program for independent bands and fans.

Steve Lewis + Kelli Scarr + Ursa Minor

Ursa Minor @ 8pm,  Kelli Scarr @ 9pm,  Steve Lewis @ 10pm

8PM URSA MINOR,  9PM KELLI SCARR,  10PM STEVE LEWIS  WWW.UNION-POOL.COM   484 Union Avenue, Williamsburg Bklyn

MONDAY DECEMBER 19TH @ THE BELL HOUSE / PUSS N BOOTS is:      Sasha Dobson, Norah Jones, and Catherine Popper. With special guests Teddy Thompson & Jeff Hill, Michelle Casillas, Kaki King, So Brown, Harper Blynn and more!  Featuring burlesque by Nasty Canaste, and Minnie Tonka. Tickets, directions, and more info click HERE. We came!  We Xmassed!  We conquered!

Michelle Casillas and Norah Jones.  Photo by Dina Regine

            L to R: Teddy Thompson, Norah Jones, Michelle Casillas, Sasha Dobson, Catherine Popper                 Photo by Dina Regine

            L to R: So Brown, Teddy Thompson, Sasha Dobson, Norah Jones, Michelle Casillas                               Photo by Arthi Krishnaswami