As scores of hungry troubadours and starry-eyed journos prepare to descend into the Texas heat (or snow, as the case may be), we take a glance at what this week has offered and what next week might have in store, in no particular order.
We told you last May about the Wake returning to the scene after a 15 year hiatus. Well in the grand spirit of record store day, Captured Tracks is re-releasing the legendary Scottish post-punk group's two singles “On Our Honeymoon” and “Crush the Flowers” on April 16. The two singles show the bookends of their career, pre-Factory Records and post, being that “Honeymoon” was originally on Scan and “Flowers” on Sarah. But that’s not all – Beach Fossils and Wild Nothing both pay their respects with a white 7-inch vinyl tribute due April 26.
The Wake – harmony – on our honeymoon by Annie/Hall
Beach Fossils // Plastic Flowers by TheArtOf…
This week Frank Ocean was the latest artist from the Odd Future family to generate some buzz. He has caught the attention of Diddy, Lupe Fiasco and John Legend, who were impressed with Ocean’s smooth crooning delivery on a mixtape he dropped last month on the OF site. Further major label dealings promise bright things for the 23 year old, while he offers the Nostalgia, Ultra album as a free mixtape download. Rather than referencing the praise from LA Times, Fader, or Hot 97 radio hype, I’ll give you Frank Ocean’s message to the people in his own words:
“My name is Frank Ocean. I grew up in New Orleans. I'm from Odd Future. I wrote Nostalgia, Ultra in spring 2010. I think I have Synesthesia. I feel more like some type of visual artist than a musician when I'm working. I just mean my process is more about imagery. Maybe people wanna call it a certain genre because I'm a black guy singing. I don't really mind. To be honest, I don't think much about it. I categorize it in iTunes as Bluegrass or Death Metal usually. I'm pretty sure I have Synesthesia though. I also wear a Kippah from time to time. I smoke Marijuana for anxiety. Oh, and I used to battle-rap in High School.”
Download Nostalgia, Ultra here.
Frank Ocean, “Song’s For Women”
Frank is also getting the summer pool party going early with “Swim Good” also featured on Nostalgia, Ultra.
Frank Ocean – Swim Good by getfamiliar
Yuck has enjoyed a week of constant, non-stop, press-jamming activity. I initially got into them per the recommendation of Smith Western’s Cullen Omori, understanding full well the Smashing Pumpkins affinity from both bands. Perhaps nowhere is this illustrated better than the Corgan/Iha reminiscent guitar work on Yuck’s “Get Away.”
Still buzzing from their debut release a few weeks back, this week saw the release of the video for “Get Away,” SXSW announcements and frontman Daniel Blumberg’s news of making a solo LP under the pseudonym of Oupa. Like the gentle sound of their “Weakend” tape released through Mirror Universe Tapes last year, the garage fuzz is exchanged for stripped down piano and vocals that evoke something other than our derisive Pavement comparisons. We can expect the full length Forget sometime this June.
You can catch Blumberg’s Oupa solo project on the following dates:
March
17 Austin, TX Transparent / Gorilla Vs. Bear SXSW Party
25 London, UK St. Pancras Old Church Porcelain Raft
April
03 London, UK Blue Flowers (Curated by Oupa)
07 New York, NY Glasslands with Porcelain Raft
09 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom with Sebadoh
11 Nashville, TN The Basement with Porcelain Raft
Hey, have you been waiting with bated breath to hear the new Pains of Being Pure at Heart album? Well they’re streaming it for nothing, hear it here first:
And they’re also playing SXSW and beyond on these dates:
March
10 Denton, TX 35 Conferette
11 Austin, TX Venue 222 (SXSW Interactive)
12 Mexico City Polyforum Siqueiros (Indie O Fest)
15 Austin, TX Emusic Party @ Beauty Bar, 4:15PM
16 Austin, TX Insound Party @ Club Deville, 5:00PM
17 Austin, TX Instore @ Waterloo, 3:30PM
17 Austin, TX Billboard Party @ Buffalo Billiards, 12:00AM
18 Austin, TX Poolside in Austinarty @ Cheer Up Charlie's, 7:00PM
31 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church
April
01 Washington, DC Black Cat with Twin Shadow
02 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle with Twin Shadow
04 Athens, GA 40 Watt Club with Twin Shadow
05 Atlanta, GA The Earl with Twin Shadow
06 Birmingham, AL Bottletree Cafe with Twin Shadow
07 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks with Twin Shadow
08 Houston, TX Fitzgerald's with Twin Shadow
09 Austin, TX Emo's with Twin Shadow
10 Lubbock, TX Jake's with Twin Shadow
12 Sante Fe, NM Corazon with Twin Shadow
13 Tucson, AZ Club Congress with Warpaint, Twin Shadow, PVT, Catwalk
15 Indio, CA Coachella
18 Visalia, CA The Cellar Door with Twin Shadow and Catwalk
19 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall with Twin Shadow and Catwalk
21 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge with Twin Shadow and Catwalk
22 Seattle, WA The Crocodile with Twin Shadow with Seapony
25 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock Social Club with Twin Shadow
26 Milwaukee, WI Turner Hall with Twin Shadow
27 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall with Twin Shadow
28 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall with Twin Shadow
29 Bloomington, IN Rhino's with Twin Shadow
30 Columbus, OH The Basement with Twin Shadow
May
02 Milford, CT Daniel Street with Twin Shadow
03 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club with Twin Shadow
06 New York, NY Webster Hall with Twin Shadow and Big Troubles
Been enjoying the latest offering from Dee Dee and the Dum Dum Girls’ He Gets Me High EP released recently on Sub Pop. With fancier production polish and a more intimate approach, we can hear a sample of what the follow-up LP to I Will Be has in store. Dum Dum Girls are also playing the Imposition II next week in Austin.
Dum Dum Girls, “He Gets Me High”
Cloud Nothings has also put out a fun video of shopping cart scavenging proportions. Also look for the split 7-inch release with Toro y Moi March 29 via Carpark Records.
Don’t forget to find them on any of their Austin dates
March
11 Athens, GA 40 Watt Club Toro y Moi
12 Atlanta, GA Drunken Unicorn with Toro y Moi
13 New Orleans, LA Saturn Bar with Toro y Moi
14 Houston, TX Fitzgeralds with Toro y Moi
15 Pharr, TX Jagz with Toro y Moi
16 Austin, TX Force Field PR @ Red 7, 1:00pm
16 Austin, TX The Windish Agency Party @ The Mohawk, 3:15pm
17 Austin, TX Urban Outfitters Party, 12:00pm
17 Austin, TX Carpark Showcase @ 512Bar, 12:05am
17 Austin, TX Floating Party @ Lovejoy's, 12:45pm
18 Austin, TX Impose Magazine Party @ Longbranch Inn, 11pm
18 Austin, TX Pitchfork Party @ The East Side Drive In, 1:15pm
18 Austin, TX Waterloo Records, 6:00pm
19 Dallas, TX Club Dada with Toro y Moi and BRAIDS
20 El Paso, TX Lowbrow Palace with Toro y Moi and BRAIDS
The Generationals endured DC’s raging heat during the recording of Actor Castor last summer. This is further evidenced from the sun spots on tracks like “Ten-Twenty-Ten”, which shine with that summer pop style we long for during winter/spring.
“Ten-Twenty-Ten” by Generationals by forcefieldpr
Also check out singer and instrumentalist Ted Joyner amid fun visuals in the video for “Ten-Twenty-Ten.” Look for the album Actor-Castor March 29 on Park the Van.
Ten-Twenty-Ten by Generationals from Jubadaba on Vimeo.
Catch the Generationals at SXSW:
March
12 Denton, TX 35 Conferette
16 Austin, TX Force Field PR / Terrorbird Media Party @ Red 7 (3pm)
17 Austin, TX Waterloo Records (instore) (2pm)
17 Austin, TX Treehouse party @ Cheers (5:15pm)
18 Austin, TX Music For Listeners Party @ Red House Pizzeria (3pm)
18 Austin, TX The Orchard showcase @ Cedar Street Courtyard (9pm)
18 Austin, TX Park The Van showcase @ Mi Casa Cantina (1am)
19 Austin, TX @ KUT Radio party @ KUT Cactus Cafe (12pm)
May
08 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Jazz Festival
Just announced in addition to their March 16 Red 7 Day Party is ForceField PR’s other showcase at the Sailor Jerry Lounge at Shangri-La. Here you will find the likes of the Fresh & Onlys, Hunx and His Punx, Beach Fossils, Veronica Falls, Dam Mantle, Young Magic, Fergus & Geronimo, Devon Williams. No RSVP, badge, or wristband required.
Force Field PR SXSW Showcase 3/17 @ Sailor Jerry Lounge at Shangri-La by forcefieldpr
