Today's free and legal mp3 downloads: Blue Roses : "Doubtful Comforts" [mp3] from Blue Roses (out July 21st) other Blue Roses posts at Largehearted Boy Final Spins : "Down the Road" [mp3] from This Is Then/That Was Now Final Spins : "Let Me Fall" [mp3] from [...]

Poster by James Key I love a good festival. I love a ton of bands all packed in to one place, and I absolutely love the thrill of discovery sure to blindside you at any festival worths it densely powdered elephant ears and cheap, overpriced beer. Now, I'm not even in Seattle this weekend, but friend and Abandoned Love Records guru Jon Rooney has been plying me with the sweetness that is this weekend's Cumulus Music Festival for weeks now. Rooney, he of Virgin of the Birds fame (and a mammoth interview I've still [...]

Hopefully, you're already planning to be in Ballard for the CD release party for soon to be local legends The Moondoggies (and Whalebone, recommended HERE!). Well, say you've got a bit of time to kill prior to that show, I recommend this my swarthy friends: head on over to The Sunset Tavern and check out Levi Fuller's Ball of Wax live series. It features short, acoustic sets by a bunch of great bands (Virgin of the Birds - someday I'll transcribe the interview). Each band will be performing at least one song off the most recent Ball of Wax release [...]

I gave you guys a taste of Jon Rooney a week or so again when I posted the track "Two Horses" by his now defunct Bay Area group Morning Spy, but that's not all. As I stated earlier, Jon and I had a marathon-style interview that I'll be posting at some point, but for now I just want to direct you sorry sacs to his very acoustic performance tomorrow night at the McLeod Residence. Mr. Rooney will be performing as Virgin of the Birds and taking part in Levi Fullers' excellent Softly Now Series , an ongoing concert series [...]

Looking for a shot of new wave techno rave that's heavy on the dance vibes and easy on the bass lines? Try giving Couples Therapy , the latest EP from NYC duo The Glass . It came out last month and its futuristic throw-back sound how paradoxical is that?) is sure to get your feet moving and glow-stick swinging. The Glass - Mad At You : Couples Therapy [...]

Named after a poor English translation of a Salvadore Dali painting, Virgin of the Birds is primarily Jon Rooney augmented by the talents of various folks for live shows and selected recording. Virgin of the Birds was created as an outlet for Rooney's songs outside of Morning Spy, an indie pop/rock band he formed in San Francisco that has enjoyed considerable inconspicuous acclaim since their debut release first surfaced in early 2004. As a collection of pop songs, Mixed Choir , released in July 2007 by Abandoned Love Records, treads a line between [...]

Hey Austin, no one cares about Arkansas State. The game will be over in the 1st Quarter. Get yourself over to the Scoot Inn as soon as possible on Saturday for the First Annual Austin Sound Off. Here's the word: AustinSound.net is celebrating its one year anniversary with the first annual Austin Sound Off Festival , an all-day party at the Scoot Inn with some of our favorite local bands and bloggers. On tap to peform are Golden Bear, Peel, Brazos, Black Before Red, Leatherbag, The Black, Sunset, Charles Potts Magic Windmill [...]

A consistent and intimate first release from these bedroom popsters.

Austin, TX More soothing sounds from Austin... Mixed Choir from Virgin Of The Birds is available from Abandoned Love Records . "City Falcons" Virgin Of The Birds on MySpace Virgin Of The Birds on The Hype Machine

Virgin of the Birds is primarily the work of Morning Spy member Jon Rooney. His songs fumble and creep along with no apparent direction or means to get there. This is a good thing....they're languid when necessary and purely sublime in sections. If you like the rambling folk weirdness of Felt than you'll no doubt like this as well. The new record, Mixed Choir , is available for pre-order from Abandoned Records . I'd get on that list if I were you. Sister At The Sound Of [...]
Turbo Fruits - "Know Too Much" I feel like my mouth is full of drum fills, my mind racing towards a drink, the smell of smoke. A song for, perhaps, near misses and old mistakes. [Site] Virgin of the Birds - "You Haven't Talked to Tara" Sounds like Destroyer at age 17. More nerves than flourish, more trepidation than flashing teeth. But the kind of potential in a mysterious polaroid, or a cool person's younger sibling. [Site]...
Camper Van Beethoven : 2003-02-02, BBC 6 [mp3,ogg,flac] "Pictures of Matchstick Men" [mp3] other music blog posts: @lhb @hype @elbo.ws | @myspace Cowboy Junkies : 2007-05-20, Northampton (early show) [mp3,ogg,flac] "Hunted" [mp3] Cowboy Junkies : 2007-05-20, (late show) [mp3,ogg,flac] "Misguided Angel" [mp3] other music blog posts: @lhb @hype @elbo.ws | [...]
Alasdair Roberts : "The Old Men of the Shells" [mp3] from The Amber Gatherers (out January 23rd) not@myspace @hype machine Bonk : "Life Is Noise" [mp3] from Bonk Against Nothing @myspace @hype machine Chavez : two tracks [mp3] from Better Days Will Haunt You @hype machine Ghost : "Caledonia" [...]