Blog: The Vinyl District

There have been quite a few vinyl releases coming out of Chicago in the last few weeks that I have been excited about, and this week is no exception. Chicago psych-rockers, Secret Colours , will be celebrating their vinyl release show this weekend at the Subterranean . The limited run of EP3+ is being released through DREAMOVERrecords in late April/early May, and will be available for special pre-order exclusively at Secret Colours' release party this weekend. Grab all of the [...]

What's the right time for Bo Diddley? Any time, and thanks for asking. For those more familiar with the sui generis rock 'n' roll architect's colorful legend then with the undying grandeur of his music, may I suggest starting at square one? That would be 1958's Bo Diddley, which stands as one of the finest debuts in the history of the whole r 'n' r shebang. In rock terms, the enormous figure that is the late Ellas McDaniel né Bo Diddley is basically inescapable. Of course fans of the wild '50s explosion that [...]

We're continuing our 10 Weeks of Vinyl Giveaways, our very own countdown to Record Store Day 2012, with a very special opportunity for Lucero fans. They recently released their highly-anticipated eighth album, Women & Work , on their new record label, ATO Records (Drive-By Truckers, My Morning Jacket). Women & Work is "a love letter from Lucero to its hometown, Memphis, TN," featuring country and soul influences from records like Delaney & Bonnie's first album on the Stax label, [...]

In 2011, the French Quarter Festival grew more over a single weekend than it did in the previous several years. Part of the increase in crowds was the addition of Thursday for the first time. This year, they have made Thursday equal in stature to Friday with a full schedule and are calling it "Locals Lagniappe" day. Here are my picks. Some of the best things about the French Quarter Festival include a chance to see new bands, old favorites and groups that don't play that often around town. [...]

Greater Manchester's most in the know radio host Shell Zenner broadcasts the best new music every Monday at 9pm on DIY Radio UK. You can also catch Shell's broadcast right here at TVD, each and every Thursday.

Gail O'Hara is multi-talented girl after my own heart. Working for publications such as Spin , Time Out New York , and DC's City Paper , she also co-founded Chickfactor Magazine with Pam Barry (also equally after my heart) of Black Tambourine and DC's much-adored label Slumberland Records . Chickfactor champions underground Brit-Pop and other indie music that might otherwise fly under the radar. In honor of the magazine's 20th anniversary, these two rock icons put together a smashing line-up of bands, all reminiscent of the early [...]

Record Store Day is a mere 10 days away, and everyone over here at TVD is starting to get really excited. We're continuing to celebrate the upcoming festivities with our 10 Weeks of Record Store Day Vinyl Giveaways. Today we have a copy of Imperial Teen's Feel The Sound that we want to put in the hands of one lucky TVD reader. Imperial Teen recently returned to the music scene with their first album in five years, Feel The Sound , released in 2011 on Merge Records . The band [...]

Sure, April showers bring May flowers, but with the fourth month of the year also comes a slew of great artists coming to the 9:30 Club and Merriweather Post Pavilion . As always, you have the chance to win tickets to each of the shows below... Mayer Hawthorne and the Country , Tues 4/17 Mayer Hawthorne , the moniker of Andrew Cohen, is a neo soul multi-instrumentalist based out of Los Angeles. Hawthorne has cited R&B heavy hitters like Curtis Hayfield, Barry [...]

Tonight is the annual kick off party and fundraiser for the French Quarter Festival. It takes place at the House of Blues from 6- 9 PM. The French Quarter Festival is celebrating 29 years of bringing free music to the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans. It's been a tradition to kick it off with a party. Tonight Jon Cleary (pictured) and his new band, the Philthy Phew, are providing the entertainment on the main stage. Cleary is a pianist and singer who has continually reinvented himself since landing in [...]

At the end of 2011/beginning of 2012, The Deli Magazine Chicago ran a poll to find Chicago's best emerging artists. When the results came in at the beginning of February, it was a tight race. With variables that included open submission, fan poll, and juror votes, the bands who ended up on the list were truly a representation of the best music coming out of the Windy City. Against some fierce competition, heavy rockers, Mutts came out as the overall winners. In honor of the poll [...]

Through the course of four albums, New Brunswick, NJ's Screaming Females has grown into one of the most interesting and promising young rock bands on the scene. Heavy, distinctive, and featuring a legitimate guitar-hero in Marissa Paternoster, their latest record is called Ugly. Not only does it lack any signs of creative fatigue, it's easily their best one yet. The profile of Screaming Females has increased significantly in the last few years, and that's almost completely down to the band's hard work; they've played hundreds of shows since 2005, the majority naturally [...]

Last night at midnight, Chicago's biggest yearly music festival, Lollapalooza, announced it's long-anticipated 2012 lineup. The outdoor festival, which take place in Grant Park across the first weekend in August (8/3-8/5), will feature headliners Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Sabbath, The Black Keys, and Jack White. Other top billed names include Florence + The Machine, At The Drive-In, Bassnectar, Avicii, The Shins, and Justice. Check out the full lineup below, and pick up your tickets now from lollapalooza.com . [...]

What? You like crazy psychedelic music? You're into futuristic tunes that bridge gaps between different cultures and genres that are worlds apart? You're into mind-altering visuals and an incredibly involving musical experience? Well, I think we have the perfect recommendation for you. World famous electronic artist Shpongle are bouncing through Memphis to play at Minglewood Hall tomorrow, April 11th. In anticipation for the incredible evening, I had the pleasure of chatting with Shpongle's Simon Posford about music, performing, and of course, vinyl! [...]

Turns out some musicians are that into vinyl, they're just giving 'em away. Case in point, NYC's Neil Nathan who recorded and pressed his recent release The Distance Calls to vinyl, and in exchange for your email, he'll ship the thing to you. Free. As if that's not a bit over the top, Neil's just released a brand new video for LP track, "Better be Goin'" which "is a Sci-Fi adaption of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale The Wolf and the 7 Little Goats." [...]

In a year that's going to see (at least) two releases by the reformed "classic lineup" of Guided by Voices, it might seem feasible that Robert Pollard would relent just a little bit in his efforts to singlehandedly keep the nation's record pressing plants in business. Nope. Mouseman Cloud is the latest entry in his solo discography, and with producer/multi-instrumentalist Todd Tobias in tow, it's a strong if inessential effort. Lots has been made of Robert Pollard's gobsmacking level of prolificacy and his seeming disregard for what's been called quality control, but [...]

"When I think of my first recollections of vinyl, I think of my parents' stack of records next to the stereo." "I would go through them as a kid - just looking at the pictures. What stood out to me were some records by a Belgian comedian by the name of Urbanus with crazy drawings on the cover. The records feature really funny skits and songs in Flemish. His are the only records I can clearly remember listening to when I was a kid even though my parents had a decent collection of vinyl. [...]

This week sees the release of Crybaby 's self-titled debut album, and it's one of those records that is being talked about in all the right places. The London music scene cognoscenti, and trusted tastemakers are already referencing Crybaby, (real name Danny Coughlan) and he's being compared to Scott Walker, Richard Hawley, and Roy Orbison. The early lyrics of Morrissey also seem to be an influence. The ten songs on the album have an immediacy which draws the listener in, and repeated [...]

Rather than following fads, Matthew Sweet has always been one to create his own signature style. Although he has been cranking out jam-worthy music since the mid-'80s, his breakthrough came with the release of his 1991 album Girlfriend . This year just so happens to mark the 20th anniversary of the album. Hence the name of the tour, which will be featuring the album in its entirety for all to relive. Last September, Sweet debuted his latest album, Modern Art . The [...]

We're a conscientious bunch around here, let me tell you. Last week while we were merrily keeping time with Portugal. The Man and set the debut for their exclusive TVD video premiere for Friday...we pulled the plug on the proceedings. Curious, hm? Well, not so much. Given the convergence of both Passover and Easter and perhaps many a long weekend already under way, it seemed the smarter thing to do to would be to hold off on that exclusive debut. For now. [...]

Do you know Ty Segall ? Do you know White Fence ? If so, good. Now you get to see what killer shit they do together. If not, fine. Same deal. The two killer garage-psych acts have combined on a fantastic new album called Hair , due out on April 24th on Drag City Records . You're gonna want this one if you're anything like me. And potentially even if you're nothing like me. Dig a little taste of Ty Segall & White Fence together performing "Scissor People" from the [...]