And so another week goes by. Our overrated and overstated hype guards were really blowing it this week, what with Lupe Fiasco sounding like a Linkin Park on Colbert, Death Cab enlisting Shepard Fairey to wheat paste platitudes to distract from their awkward music and Tyler passing up on receiving a coveted “Best New Music” sticker. What relevance any of this has on our lives will only be known years from now but let us relish first in what this week has brought us in no particular order.
This week I learned that Pictureplane is putting out Thee Physical July 19 on Lovepump United and it will be mixed/co-produced by HEALTH’s Jupiter Keyes. I read too that frontman Travis Egedy is allegedly responsible for coining the now immortal brand designation of “witch house;” a sound that captivated our drive for eerie keyboard sounds, electronic beats, preferably recorded through means of lower end fidelity. Aside from long winded discourse on who influenced who, Egedy has brought the synth forward pop appeal into an even brighter and bigger production level than Dark Rift’s splendor. If you can’t feel “Real Is A Feeling,” than I can offer no visceral remedy.
Pictureplane, “Real Is A Feeling”
While on the topic of contemporary progressive electronic pioneers, our friends Tearist just made a wild, black and white video for “Disposition (in black)” that is completely lit with strobes and Yasmine Kittle practicing her own martial arts/dance maneuvers amid pluming bass synth drops. I’m sure Laurie Anderson would dig this.
Remember Rich “Throw Some D’s On It” Boy? He just dropped a mix tape, titled Gold Kilo$ that extols virtues of gold bricks and brings to mind fellow OG gold enthusiasts MC Hammer or Ed McMahon (r.i.p.) as featured on any of Fox News’Cash4Gold scam commercials. Rich Boy goes from throwing D’s to throwing gold keys. Damn son. Download here.
Wait, wait, stop the presses because the Bruise Cruise Festival has announced a second year with a partially disclosed lineup. Tour dates are planned to be February 10-13, 2012, sailing from Miami en route to the Bahamas and back, and is so far scheduled to feature the talents of The Dirtbombs, King Khan & The Shrines, Neil Hamburger, The Soft Pack, Thee Oh Sees, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, New York’s soul DJ, Mr. Jonathan Toubin and more to be announced between now and February. Tickets are on sale now, watch this space for further details.
Um, is this real? Fruit Bats have collaborated with J Mascis on their new track “WACS” from the to-be-released album Tripper due August 2. Also, Fruit Bats and Mascis will be performing at the second annual Huichica Music Festival, June 4 at Gundlach Bundschu along with Breathe Owl Breathe, CB Brand, Sonny & the Sunsets, Richard Swift, These United States, Tu Fawning and David Williams. Enjoy “WACS” which is said not to be on the upcoming album Tripper but is a great pop tune in its own right.
Tape Deck Mountain are teaming up on the road with Woodsman and both parties wish to consummate their national tour by sharing singles with us. TDM’s “Kellies” has lots of haunting “ooowaaahh” loops and rave glitches that will make you think for a moment it’s some kind of Morse code error. Relax in the comfort that these are not distress signals but rather the noises of TDM tearing ish up.
Woodsman's present “Insects,” which will take you through a soaring vision quest of the sort that can only be described as having Woodsman accompany as you vicariously live through one of those National Geographic episodes that get all subterranean and employ 3D graphics to show insect tunnels. That been said, here’s the track.
Word has it that Tape Deck Mountain's lead single 'Kellies' will be available in a limited batch of 100 cassettes on their Woodsman summer tour at following dates:
June
02 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo with Woodsman
03 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar with Woodsman
04 – Sacramento, CA @ Luigi's Fun Garden with Woodsman
05 – San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern with Woodsman
06 – Portland, OR @ Someday Lounge with Woodsman
07 – Seattle, WA @ The Funhouse with Woodsman
08 – Boise, ID @ Visual Arts Collective with Woodsman
09 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge with Woodsman
10 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge with Woodsman
11 – Boulder, CO @ Astroland with Woodsman
12 – Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot Music Hall with Woodsman
13 – Iowa City, IA @ Public Space One with Woodsman
14 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas with Woodsman
15 – Flint, MI @ Woobies Bar with Woodsman
16 – Toronto, ON @ NXNE with Woodsman
20 – Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar
21 – Scranton, PA @ Embassy Vinyl with Grooms
22 – New York City, NY @ Mercury Lounge with Keepaway
23 – Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory with Grooms
24 – Philadelphia, PA @ M Room with Grooms
25 – Baltimore, MD @ Golden West Cafe with Grooms
26 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter with Grooms
27 – Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor
28 – Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light
30 – Jackson, MS @ Hal & Mal's
July
01 – Ft. Worth, TX @ Lola's
02 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk (inside)
03 – Houston, TX @ The Mink
05 – Albuquerque, NM @ Low Spirits
06 – Phoenix, AZ @ Trunk Space
That Teen Daze fellow has a new mp3 and a cool new video counterpart called “The Bluest Water I’d Ever Seen” which was recently released via his bandcamp.
The ‘Daze has also remixed Bravestation’s “White Wolves” with all the right vertical escalading beat programming to help you get you’re A-game on this weekend while on the prowl and trying not to look like a complete douche clubbing-it.
Bravestation, “Whtie Wolves (Teen Daze)”
Bristol duo Malachai have recruited BAFTA Award Winner John Minton to direct the video for “Anne” from their second album Return to the Ugly Side on Domino Records. It’s black and white, it’s grainy, it’s arty, I know you’re gonna “like” it.
And if you can’t get enough of the Brit Pop-esque swagger of “Anne,” be sure to gorge yourself on remixes courtesy of Pink Fingers (or shall I say Dom Thomas from Finders Keepers) and British producer Paul White. The remixes will also be available to download May 17 via iTunes. Malachai – Anne Remixes
Local boyzzz Nodzzz are proud to announce the upcoming release of their second LP Innings, available on Woodsist this Tuesday, May 17. Anthony, Brian and Sean Paul are giving you 14 tracks and even break the two minute barrier on at least three tracks, an ambitious move from a group that has perfect the minute and half pop punk nugget. Enjoy album closer, “Old Clothes” that relishes in that perfect “So You Wanna Be a Rock n’ Roll Star” Byrds guitar for almost two minutes but lasts some four, five decades.
Brad Laner is releasing split 12″ with Joensuu 1685 through the Norwegian Label Splendour. Stateside you can find it on Hometapes, or preview a copy of this classic keyboard sounding jam right here:
Brad Laner, “Feelin' Stronger Every Day” (Chicago Cover)
Big news; Woodsist has a new label imprint called Hello Sunshine. In celebration of this new sub-sect, we see the release of Ryan Garbes of former Raccoo-oo-ooon and Wet Hair fame step out solo to make some Lou Reed inspired recordings for his May 17 debut release Sweet Hassle.
With a Velvets fixation, debut single “Boys are Back” sends the entire post-VU 70s New York rock scene into an oscillator that shoots the next 3, 4 decades in 2 minutes and 21 seconds time.
Also in the revelry of Hello Sunshine’s inception is a release from Matt Lajoie of Herbcraft called “Fleet Guru.” Herbcraft has an album in the works entitled Ashram to the Stars, due June 14. Much has been said of this dude’s “freak folk” sound, but this 9-minute freakout will send you places that ascend the folk conventions of acoustic guitar by delivering you up a stream of scuzz with plenty of foreboding, echoey vocals.
Zach Rogue of San Francisco’s Rogue Wave has a new project called Release the Sunbird. The hippiness of the moniker can be dissected any which way you like, but I get a slight almost Jesus Movement vibe with the following featured track “Always Like the Son.” Look, I’m not knocking the scene, I even rock out to the occasional Keith Green record (No Compromise is kinda boss, right?) but I might get more excited about this project if Zach reinstates former Rogue Wave keyboardist/Oakland Improv Collective leader/session musician for the stars, Steve Taylor. Hey, it wouldn’t hurt. Check it here.
What we get here from Mr. Rogue is that laid back, contemplative pseudo-confessional style that gives Starbucks moms something slightly more “alt” than your usual venti-caramel-macchiato-with-a-splash-of-a-Jack Johnson-CD purchased from their local coffee chain checkout counter. Sunbird’s debut Come Back to Us comes out on Brushfire Record July 26.
Are ya’ll digging Bass Drum of Death? Did you dig their recent appearance on Fuel TV? How about their backup band work for Mellowhype’s “64” also on Fuel TV’s Daily Habit? After you sort all that out, enjoy this video for “Get Found” which features John and Colin having a rocking good time.
Their debut GB City is available now via Fat Possum. Tour dates:
June
19 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle – Hanni El Khatib, Pujol
21 Toronto, ON Legendary Horseshoe Tavern – Hanni El Khatib
22 Montreal, QC Club Lambi – Hanni El Khatib
23 Allston, MA Great Scott – Hanni El Khatib, Kal Marks
24 New York , NY Mercury Lounge – Hanni El Khatib
25 Brooklyn, NY Glasslands – Hanni El Khatib, Heavenly Blows
26 Philadelphia , PA Johnny Brendas – Hanni El Khatib
27 Washington, DC Red Palace – Hanni El Khatib
28 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506 – Hanni El Khatib
29 Atlanta , GA 529 – Hanni El Khatib, Killing Floor
July
22 New York, NY Mercury Lounge – WU LYF
23 Brooklyn, NY Knitting Factory – WU LYF, Dapwell DJ Set
EAR PWR want you to know their back on the scene. Their Self-Titled album comes out May 24 on Carpark and with the help of fans a la Kickstarter they are in the process of making a video for featured single “National Parks.” You’ll first think you’ve put Nite Jewel on by mistake but the big difference being Sarah Reynolds vocals soar to heights higher than Mount Whitney (housed by Sequoia National Park I might add).
Catch EAR PWR on the road.
May
13 – 15 Minehead, UK – All Tomorrow’s Parties (Animal Collective-curated)
16 Bournemouth, UK – ibar
18 London, UK – Upstairs at the Garage
June
11 Chapel Hill, NC – The Nightlight
22 Brooklyn, NY – Glasslands
Austin TX’s Pure X have rereleased their debut EP in anticipation of their debut LP Pleasure due July 5 on Acéphale. “You’re in it Now” is like the sound of a sleepy band that got conned into playing some 10pm-5am festival slot where the trio remains focused yet attentions, vocals, guitars and talents drift toward sleep while filling the conscious void with brain massaging lullabies.
And enjoy the spacey, overlapping image edits that make up the video.
Pure X is on the road this month with fellow Austinites Sleep ∞ Over and This Will Destroy You:
May
16 Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room
17 Los Angeles, CA – Echo
18 San Francisco, CA – The Independent
20 Portland, OR – Star Theater
21 Seattle, WA – The Vera Project
22 Vancouver, BC – The Media Club
24 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
25 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
26 Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre 27 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry 28 Chicago, IL – The Bottom Lounge
Cassettes Won’t Listen have now added another cease and desist letter to the collection. The RIAA slapped Jason Drake with one of these prized threats 3 years back with the release of GNR/Ludacris mashup called Ludacris Democracy and now Kevin Spacey has served Drake over the title to CWL’s upcoming album now titled EVINSPACEY for obvious legal reasons. This electro controversial wonder hits the shelves June 21 via Daylight Curfew but you can enjoy with the following delights of the day “Perfect Day” and “The Echoes” as a taste of electronic dance to come.
Cassettes Won't Listen, “Perfect Day”
Cassettes Won't Listen, “The Echoes”
Here are few dates for CWL on the go, further tour dates TBA.
May
17 Brooklyn, NY The Rock Shop
July
14 Los Angeles, CA The Echo
Oakland’s Kids On a Crime Spree are finishing up their debut for Slumberland Records. While it seems like the hype would you have believe in sweeping comparisons to Brill Building era throwbacks, to me it sounds like great seasonal rock in the chord progression vein of “Summertime Blues.” As the story goes, ex-Ciao Bella and From Bubblegum to Sky Mario Hernandez heard Spector’s Back to Mono box set and had an epiphany to start making really simple yet fun pop and the result is his latest outing KOACS. Their EP We Love You So Bad is due May 31 on Slumberland and you can enjoy a quick preview right here.
Kids on a Crime Spree playing shows on both coasts this month.
May
19-22 Brooklyn, NY NYC Popfest 2011
28 San Francisco, CA Rickshaw Stop (Slumberland Showcase) with Brilliant Colors, Neverever, Terry Malts, Art Museums, Phil Wilson
Just heard that the Death Set are going to tour with WIN WIN (XXXChange, Devlin and Ghostdad’s new creation) in support of their new record Michel Poiccard Check out the trailer featuring GG Allin’s immortal words; My body is the rock n roll temple, and my flesh, blood and body fluids are a communion to the people.”
And if that doesn’t get you fired up, the ‘Set has made a tour documentary entitled The Death Set, “The Adventures of Quanni Cannonz” to rile you up proper.
The Bay’s own Hunx and His Punx have put together a quirky video for their song “Bad Boy” that are reminiscent of the fun you could have with full access to your High School’s old AV room.
Here are some west coast tour dates for Hunx:
May
13 San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore with Of Montreal
June
16 Costa Mesa, CA – The Detroit Bar
17 San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
18 Los Angeles, CA – Show Cave
22 Seattle, WA Crocodile with Sonny and the Sunsets
24 – 06/25 Calgary, AB – Sled Island
27 Vancouver, BC – Waldorf Cabaret with Shannon and the Clams and Sonny and the Sunsets
28 Portland, OR – Doug Fir with Shannon and the Clams
And in closing, KFJC presents the Battle of the Surf Bands tomorrow, Saturday May 14, 1pm – 5pm featuring 16 bands and 15 minute sets from the likes of Trivalve, Reefriders, the Del Mars, Meshugga Beach Party, Pollo Del Mar, The Berzerkers, etc at the British Bankers Club in Menlo Park. You can also listen live at here. Enjoy the weekend folks.
