"Did you start that fire?" Besides the fact the band's new track repeats my name over and over for the last 40 seconds of the song, there are a number of other reasons for me to like Fair Ohs . They've got a great handle on their instruments, they work with London's Tough Love Records (home to my once-favorite but now defunct Sheffield band Situationists), and their jangly afro-pop instrumentation, as it has come to be known, is great for any occasion. [...]
> I haven't mentioned this up until now, but I am also a staff writer over webzine The Music, The Message . The site has a number of great features, so head over there to read new band features, disc reviews, show reviews, interviews, etc. I'm excited to be a part of it. >> I've just posted my interview with the fantastic Atlanta band Winston Audio , which can be read at the link below. I was [...]
"I'll teach you what you need to know." Young Brisbane, AU band Last Dinosaurs is supremely under-represented in blogosphere. I expected a good page or more of hits from the Hype Machine (hypem.com), but all that came up was a lonely few. The EP launch show earlier this weekend celebrated the release of Back From The Dead . Pick up a copy when you get chance, as all five tracks are equally fantastic. For preview below is my favorite [...]
"If you push, we'll push back..." In honor of the one year anniversary of their debut album, Atlanta indie band Winston Audio is giving away The Red Rhythm for free. There is a "pay what you want" option, and any DIY band will tell you that every bit helps...but the idea is simply to reach as many new ears as possible. Tell your friends. The band is in the midst of a short Midwestern tour, and will hit the [...]
"You are dragging me down." After go-to media outlets like Pitchfork and the Hype Machine have had their way with a band, I have a tendency to pigeonhole hypothetical band as hipster buzz-waste. Not the case with Brooklyn's B ear Hands . Absolutely not the case. The debut single "What A Drag" was released last week by way of Cantora Records, and is followed with a solid two months of shows throughout the US. I plan [...]
"Make my day, come and let me out." Joe Steer, the multi-instrumentalist and mastermind behind Broadcast 2000 , is making larger waves than he probably ever expected he would. Steer started as one half of humble London folk duo Artisan, who I had the pleasure of seeing a few years back and have since posted about more than a few times . Steer's stunning and multilayered brand of neo-folk is awe inspiring considering it's all coming from the mouth and mind of one [...]
"We'll all burn out until there is nothing left at all." I'm only surprised I hadn't written about them sooner. Scottish 3-piece t he Xcerts released one of my favorite discs of 2009, and I impatiently pass the time until the next. They head to New York later this month to start work on the second record. In the meantime, In the Cold Wind We Smile is available via London's Xtra [...]
"You don't have to have opinions on everything." One of my favorite bands, local or otherwise, will be playing a benefit show in the First Avenue main room tomorrow night here in Minneapolis (Friday, February 12). Halloween, Alaska will play to help local sound engineer Matt Lindquist, who was recently holed up in the hospital with a bad case of H1N1. Anyone without health insurance knows the bills can mount all too quickly, even for the most routine of clinic visits. [...]
"Why can't we all just get along?" Leeds, UK alt-punk outfit Itch came to me in a dream. Or in an e-mail. Either way, they came to me, and I haven't been this excited about a new artist in awhile. The band can alternate between the raucous and the melancholic in a matter of seconds, and their arsenal of technical guitar licks is enough to keep anyone interested. The recently released full-length An Illusion of Grandeur from [...]
"You walk as well as any diplomat I've seen." Finally, it happened, and I couldn't be more happier. The band never officially disbanded, so I'd be incorrect to call it a reunion. It certainly feels that way, though. Former Minneapolis cult favorite, which includes front-man James Diers and drummer Dave King or new local cult favorite Halloween, Alaska, the Love-Cars got together this weekend at West Bank's Triple Rock Social Club to play to [...]
After hearing a few good things from a good friend about Armando Iannucci's In The Loo p , I had to add it to my Netflix queue. I watched it last week and, with any reservation, can absolutely say it is my new favorite film. It's a satirical political commentary regarding a fictionalized series of events between a few groups of US and British politicos leading up to the invasion of Iraq. Can't say enough. [...]
"It's just a series of unfortunate events." The slightly enigmatic Glaswegian three-piece, with one song released and not a ton of definitive news regarding is what is to follow, is apparently taking their little slice of the Scottish alternative music scene by storm. Energy! is up for the "Best Rock/Alternative" band at this year's, appropriately named, Scottish Alternative Music Awards. Additionally, the band plans on releasing their debut EP Where the Water Meets the Land sometime in next few weeks. [...]
I've always been a champion of young London band Tom Williams & the Boat , as evidenced by this , this , and my always overwhelmingly enthusiastic commendations when my friends ask, "Who are we listening to right now. I like it!" Moreover, I've always appreciated the DIY efforts that band's make in their quest to reach a few more pairs of ears. When Tom recently e-mailed telling me about the group's newly re-recorded single "Concentrate" and the full length album to follow in it's wake, both of which they are [...]
"This could very well be the end." The Brits and the Swedes never had a hard time making music, but it's time we started paying more attention to the Danes. Marvin's Revolt , a Copenhagen three piece, has been one of my favorite bands since my 2007 post about their debut album Killec . In the past two years, the band has toured through most of continental Europe and the UK. This month takes the band out [...]
I watched James Merendino's SLC Punk! for the first (and probably last) time last night solely for the Jason Segel cameo appearances. It did, however, remind me how much I love this song... (MP3) Generation X - Kiss Me Deadly
"The ones before me were more graceful..." It's rather unfortunate that this post has to be done posthumously. It was only months ago that I was all too excited about the newly discovered Jocasta Sleeps , as evidenced by my previous post back in August. The Glasgow three piece, much much much to my dismay, has since decided to amiably call it quits and move in different directions. If I could even dare to suggest there is one positive thing [...]
"I've got some bad news, but happy birthday all the same." Edinburgh post-punkers Your Neighbour the Liar have just released three new demo tracks for free download. You can grab the tracks as a package over at the band's Bandcamp page. I've included my favorite of the bunch for preview below. The band has only existed for a surprising few months and has only played an even more surprising two shows since. Color me [...]
"You're going to find a way to be." In the wake of all the Vampire Weekend hullabaloo, I think its only fair to rip my one little miniscule corner of internet spotlight far away from them. Not too far away, I suppose, as Lafayette, Lousiana band Givers also seem to be capitalizing on everyone's new obsession with indie afro-beat. I'm not alluding to imitation, though. Givers does their own thing, and they do it well. The band is currently touring in [...]
"I'm stuck in myself." As a precursor to their debut full-length, suburban Los Angeles band Set to Sea recorded and released 5-track EP The Last Solid Ground in April of 2009. Equal parts experimental, atmospheric, and radio-friendly pop/rock, the EP serves as a good introduction for the yet to be released (but any day now, it sounds like) LP. The band plays regularly in and around Los Angeles, and I expect they'll be playing more in the upcoming [...]
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