Blog: OnlineRock

OnlineRock Podcast Vol. 61 Hosted By Andrew McNair Featuring: 1. Yuck: Georgia, Georgia single on Fat Possum Records 2. Club 8: Closer Now, Closer Now single on Labrador 3. Faun Fables: Parade, Light of a Vaster Dark on Drag City 4. Wolf Gang: Lions in Cages, Lions in Cages single on Atlantic 5. The Dead Trees: Back to L.A., Back to L.A. 7" on White Iris Records 6. La Sera: Never Come Around, Never Come Around 7" on Hardly Art 7. Spectrals: Chip a Tooth (Spoil a Smile), Spectrals Extended [...]

ShareThis What's a Working Band to Do? by Erik Jay A practical 15 part series of how-to articles. It is not about describing the unified field theory or exploring the outer reaches of human philosophy; it's about working in the music business in the real world, so it's not even about being a star, okay? It's practical, do-able advice. Erik Jay is a writer, designer, and BMI composer/artist who lives in L.A. with one wife and two dogs. At his site, erikjay.com, you can take Door #1 for his editorial and [...]

We are The Sunshine Factory. We started writing and recording somewhere in 2007 and then formed as a live act in 2008. We are known for our sensory overloading performances. Our live show includes lights, custom video linked to each song, fog and even aromatherapy on occasion.

• Twisted and Clover » Track 06 Twisted And Clover.mp3

The minutiae matters on Winterpills' fourth release, Tuxedo of Ashes, as the Northampton, Massachusetts five-piece string up a strong set of paisley-tinged, beautifully orchestrated folk rock. The EP's opening song, the psychedelically titled "Are You Sleeping (Cinnamon, Cardamom, Lithium)?" breaths out a fragile acoustic guitar line like a lungful of smoke. Songwriter Philip Price's subtly questioning overlayed vocals dwell on the tiny details ("I thought I saw your eyes move / underneath your eyelids") as an obsessive romantic edges dangerously close to stalker-lite tendencies, singing "I will hover above you / Create shadows of you / Find the one to [...]

The name is inspired by a local crime suspect, a small street, and a legendary president. Roosevelt Radio is fiery indie rock that defines the cutting edge of the San Francisco Bay Area music scene. Roosevelt Radio formed in Berkeley, California in early 2010. Within only three weeks of their first rehearsal, they released a set of demo tracks strong enough to attract the attention of acclaimed producer Chris Wonzer, known for his work with multiple platinum-selling artists. Wonzer's credits include pop superstar Christina Aguilera, rock chart-toppers New Found Glory, and soul legend Joe Cocker. Wonzer joined Roosevelt Radio in [...]

• Roosevelt Radio - Midnight

Neil Young is releasing brand-new solo album, Le Noise, Sept 28th on Reprise Records. The eight-song album is a collaboration between the acclaimed rock icon and musician/songwriter/producer Daniel Lanois, known for his work with U2, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, The Neville Brothers and many others.

Feeling like an audio equivalent of a private sketchbook stuffed with half-thoughts and tangled ideas, Le Noise finds Neil Young introspectively dabbling in hi-tech, lo-fi folk rock. While the outcome is full of peaks and valleys, the disc spins in way that suggests Young is looking forward musically, even as his lyrics tend to lock onto the rearview so intensely that that words begin literally flowing backwards in time (thanks to some tape loops and sampling). The record's title spotlights the importance of Young's collaborator here, mega-producer Daniel Lanois who goes to great lengths in order to burrow Young's ingratiating [...]

I've been anxiously waiting for my iRig to arrive and last week it finally got here. While I was looking forward to using it with IK Multimedia's AmpliTube and my iPad, I also wanted to see if the iRig worked well with other apps. I hope to write more about those in later postings.

With healthy doses of vintage 4AD-style dream pop, strobing drum work and deeply mesmerizing duel-vocal melodies, School of Seven Bells delivers an appealingly retrofied look into the future with Disconnect from Desire. The band's sophomore release is more monolithic and steady in its design than 2008's long-gestating debut Apinisms. This leaves less room for surprises but allows the entire album to effectively operate as a gigantic crashing-wave crescendo, a crescendo that finds beautiful articulation when juxtaposed with the windswept lullaby coda of "The Wait."

Loren Weisman is an accomplished music producer and consultant based in Seattle, Washington. Having worked on hundreds of albums, studio productions, and tours as both a drummer and producer, he gained a spectrum of insight on the music industry as a whole. Loren is also the author of The Artist's Guide to Success in the Music Business. OnlineRock has reprinted a number of Loren's articles throughout the years. When he recently published his book, we thought we'd we ask him a few questions about it.

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Drink Up Buttercup's debut album is a travelogue of mutated hopscotch rock and acid-tinged absurdism. Seemingly adrift within a very loose structure of identities and voices, Born and Thrown on a Hook can sometimes feel like a compilation album of art projects and garage bands all helmed and connected by a single deranged ringleader.

Highlights from South by Southwest 2010. Interviews and performances from Becca, Peasant, April Smith of April Smith and the Great Picture Show, Gazz Carr of Butterfly Explosion, Sleepy Sun, Evan Hamilton of Monsters are not Myths, Jason Collett, Solid Gold, and The Low Anthem.

The SF MusicTech Summit brings together the thought leaders at the convergence of music and online technology to the region which leads the way in the evolving music/technology ecosystem. Entrepreneurs from companies large and small, developers, musicians, managers, lawyers, labels, service providers, press, investors, academics, authors, broadcasters, political representatives, and leading thought leaders from all the areas where music and technology converge, come together in person, at the intersection of culture and commerce. We gather to connect and do business, to share what we are doing and to spot future trends, to see old friends, and meet new ones, to [...]

Utilizing some beautifully beguiling tape splicing and dubby sonic tricks, Transference further explores the possibilities of Britt Daniel's special brand of bluesy, staccato rock. Spoon's latest album is full of fascinating contradictions, at once energetic and beatific, abrupt and fluid, as Daniel's shifty, quaking vocals switch modes in startlingly catchy and emotionally earnest ways.

Hometown: Seattle, Washington SXSW Show Times: Mar 19 7:45P - The Galaxy Room What do like most about playing at SXSW? The Mexican Food Are you out promoting anything? Promoting the latest full-length. Last year's "Oohs & Aahs." Are there any bands or musicians that you are looking forward to checking out? Best Coast, Phantogram, Liars, Pearly Gate Music, Surf City.

Hometown: Newcastle, United Kingdom SXSW Show Times: Mar 16 7:00P - The British Music Embassy, Latitude 30 Mar 18 7:00P - DIRTY BOOTS@THE WAVE BAR Mar 20 8:00P - Prague What do like most about playing at SXSW? It's the universal playground for new and old artist to perform, and gives break through acts like us, a chance for everyone to get a taster – bring your ear plugs - damn it we're LOUD!!! Are you out promoting anything? We have a single called Have [...]

SXSW Show Times: Mar 20 8:00P - Treasure Island - Music Gorilla Showcase Mar 20 11:00P - Mi Casa Cantina What do like most about playing at SXSW? It's a tie between the margarita machine at the Canadian house and seeing cool bands we would not normally get to see. Are you out promoting anything? We've got a new album called Territory and have recently ventured into the animated world with our new music video for a tune called Noisemaker.

What do like most about playing at SXSW? getting lost in the whirlwind and loosing track of time. Are you out promoting anything? we are promoting our new album Gray Waves (old flame records) -March 2nd Are there any bands or musicians that you are looking forward to checking out? the antlers, woods, ume What are the challenges in playing at SXSW? trying to make rock and roll feel good before noon. parking. making it through multiple shows in a day. but, it's awesome.

Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska SXSW Show Times: Mar 18 6:00P - Cherrywood Coffee Mar 19 3:00P - Sum Fun Day Party by PF Flyers // RVCA // Goorin @ Doc's Motorworks Mar 20 3:45P - Lovey's Loot w/It's True & more Mar 20 7:00P - SXSW @ Mi Casa Cantina What do like most about playing at SXSW? uh...EVERYTHING! Networking, seeing bands you've always wanted to see, being surprised by bands you've never heard of, open bars, BBQ, goodies everywhere...the whole experience is incredible! Are [...]