The former Girls singer struggled to find his voice // Follow Owl and Bear on Facebook and Twitter for contests, MP3s, and links that don't make it onto the blog.
Check out my photos of Christopher Owens at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre over at Stereogum .
Modern day troubadour Christopher Owens recently kicked off a tour of the West Coast that stopped by the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. The evening was full of flute, harmonica, saxophone, and the delicate finger-picking of a nylon string guitar as Owens worked through his debut solo album, Lysandre , in its entirety. Owens really showed off his chops with a five-song encore set of covers, the highlight being his rendition of "The Boxer." Melted Toys opened the evening with a sugary blend of twee and shoegaze. Check out the photos in the gallery [...]
There are a ton of bands out there right now ploughing similar furrows to those in which Real Estate have long since been nestled, though there's this one thing I always pondered of the Ridgewood outfit, and that was (and to a lesser extent still is) thus: why would a band from landlocked New Jersey suburbia wind up sounding like a gaggle of plaintive San Fran slackers gawping out to a softly rippling Pacific? I've still no concrete response, though in sonic likeness and locational difference Californians Melted Toys are, to all extensive purposes, the real deal . Their SoundCloud [...]
Feb 8, 6:57am
DIY
Every day of the week, Neu gives you a choice show and a selection of new music tips, all in the name of exposing you to something new and exciting. If there's a gig that's worth heading to, we'll tell you all about it, and if there's a song you need in your life, we'll make sure it doesn't fly under the radar. It’s the Neu Bulletin. THE GIG Kurtz, Young Unknowns, Forest, Netil - Old Blue Last, London This is a strange coming [...]
San Francisco dream-pop outfit Melted Toys have released a new demo track entitled 'Always'.
![[Listen] Melted Toys: "Always"](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/4708981_lg.jpg)
Hace dos años Underwater Peoples se encargó de poner a la venta el primer EP de Melted Toys, y desde entonces lo que hemos podido escuchar de esta banda ha si muy poco, lo cual me parece muy extraño ya que al parecer durante el año pasado iban a poner a la venta un material de larga duración, mismo que al parecer ahora si estará siendo publicado antes de que este 2013 llegue a su fin. Christopher Owens estará dando un par de shows para promocionar su primera producción como solista, para los cuales ha reclutado a los chicos de [...]
This month, Ex-Girls frontman and FADER cover star Christopher Owens is touring in support of his new solo full-length, Lysandre, and he's picked fellow San Francisco-based three-piece Melted Toys to join him on a string ... read more
Ears of the Beholder Presents: Twin Sister, Exray’s and Some Ember tomorrow night at Rickshaw Stop. It’s been a while since the last EOTB show, so... (Visit my blog for more!)
NYC rockers DIIV hit Part Time Punks at The Echo last Sunday night with something fierce. San Francisco trio Melted Toys opened the evening's set with an eclectic drum machine, two guitars and bass collective. Melted Toys' mix had a clean mud to it, like a cleaner toned take on some 'gaze favorites like My Bloody Valentine; indiscernible lyrics juxtaposed to discernible melodies. The appropriately named, Part Time, also from SF, next filled the venue. The band had a new wave karaoke nostalgia in their style pop. The [...]
For their self-titled debut LP, Australia’s Twerps embrace the musical antecedents of that region - Aussie bands like Go-Betweens and The Church, and the Kiwi Dunedin Sound championed by Flying Nun Records (based out of Christchurch, actually) and Xpressway - as well as the band’s contemporaries. Twerps is a collection of eleven simple and endearing pop songs. On the sing-along track, "Who Are You," perhaps a nod to the pub-rock scene popularized in the 1980s, the band is joined by members of Eddy Current Suppression Ring , [...]
The theme at Cafe Du Nord last night was shoegazey/dreamy pop. Oh, and ironic t-shirts. Though there was a common theme to the bands, it got served up in a few different permutations. The Tambo Rays were by far the most dynamic performers of the night, bringing an energy and charisma that the other bands weren't even going for. They had what I'd call a "blue collar hipster" charm that really worked for them, and they just generally seemed to enjoy being on stage making their music. Maybe because they [...]
I might have been insane to go to a show the day before a final, but honestly, I don’t regret it one bit. Girls played an incredible show at the Music Box this past Tuesday, December 6th and I left the show happier than I was this entire finals week. We had a bit of trouble [...]
San Francisco based retro rock outfit Girls have arguably released the best album of 2011 in Father, Son, Holy Ghost . Their set at FYF Fest early this year showcased a larger band and more well rounded sound. I think its more than a little obvious that Girls show incredible promise to being a career band with may more to offer in the years to come. Tonight they will perform live at the Music Box in Los Angeles, CA with Support from The Tyde , and Rock Insider Favs Melted [...]
I'll be honest: the crest of 60s and 70s vintage rock 'n' roll has peaked early for me and I'm struggling, pretty hard, to still find interest in the cluster of bands aping curly haired hits of decades long gone. Not to say there isn't bands that I love (and my end of the year [...]
Keep it Nice by PreTeen Saturday, November 19th at El Rio (2-8pm, $7 or $5 with a can of food), the folks at Night Fog Reader are presenting a great show/food drive for the Dolores Shelter Program , a shelter for working homeless men. Bring canned food to help the shelter, use the $2 you'll save on admission to buy beer, and enjoy performances by Melted Toys , PreTeen , TINT and La Feline . That's [...]
GNARCOTICS UNANIMOUS by GNAR TAPES Gnarcotics Unanimous is a new tape/digital comp from Portland's Gnar Tapes , which includes unreleased songs from 34 bands and artists. The comp's got a number of locals in the mix, including Little Wings , CCR Headcleaner , Brian Wavefield (of Melted Toys ), Speculator , and Sacramento's G. Green , who join Alex Bleeker, R. Stevie Moore and a few dozen others. Stream the whole comp above, and if you dig it, give them [...]
On behalf of The Bay Bridged, San Francisco Mixtape Society and Treasure Island Music Festival , we would like to extend a thank you to the bands and attendees involved in Friday's Buried Treasure TIMF Popup Concert . No sailors clad in uniforms or North Beach slices of pizza could compare to the fun that was had inside San Franpsycho 's store that evening! Enjoy some photos of the event, including shots of the live sets from Melted Toys , ChuCha Santamaria y Usted , and [...]
Please join us tomorrow, Friday October 7th, at 6pm for our free Treasure Island Music Festival -themed "Buried Treasure" happy hour party ( RSVP on Facebook ) at San Franpsycho's flagship store (1314 Grant Avenue, San Francisco) in North Beach. We'll have performances by Melted Toys and ChuCha Santamaria Y Usted , as well as a DJ set by Elephant and Castle . Be sure to bring a mixtape with the theme "Buried Treasure": [...]
Every Monday, we'll be offering you early picks for some of the week's best concerts. Do you think we omitted something worthwhile? Let us know in the comments! Be sure to visit our Local Concert Calendar for an expanded set of daily listings. Friday: The Bay Bridged Presents "Buried Treasure," a Treasure Island Music Festival Happy Hour with Melted Toys, ChuCha Santamaria Y Usted, Elephant and Castle (DJ set) Whatever your other plans this week, [...]
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Boards of Canada - Reach for the Dead (from Tomorrow's Harvest)
Julia Holter - World (Official Video)
Washed Out - Paracosm (Official Album Trailer)
She & Him- I Could've Been Your Girl
Action Bronson - "Strictly 4 My Jeeps" (Official Video)
Stream: Disclosure – When A Fire Starts To Burn
EMPT Presents Indaba Music Weekly: Mexico Beach – I’m A Goner
The Jet Age Of Tomorrow – The JellyFish Mentality
Boards of Canada :: Tomorrow's Harvest
