The portable-infinite

Fujiya & Miyagi @ Echo

2012-02-01T12:28:00.000-08:00

Fujiya & Miyagi plays at the ECHO tonight, Feb 1st, 2012.

The Watson Twins @ Troubadour

2012-01-31T16:05:00.000-08:00

THE WATSON TWINS are playing with Jessie Baylin tonight at the Troubadour, Jan 31st. Show starts at 8pm. This is the last show of a west coast tour.

The Cult: Choice of Weapon

2012-01-31T15:26:00.000-08:00

THE CULT TO RELEASE NEW STUDIO ALBUM

Band Will Support Release with 2012 World Tour

LOS ANGELES, CA - (TUESDAY, January 31, 2012) - One of the finest British rock acts to have enjoyed worldwide success over the last few decades, The Cult has wrapped up recording Choice of Weapon, the group's first studio album in five years. The album is set for a May 22, 2012 U.S. release on the band's new label Cooking Vinyl, and its 10 tracks reveal the band at its rawest and most visceral, encapsulating cinematic visions and themes of love, revolt, and redemption. Fans can get an early taste of the album by logging onto the band's website - www.thecult.us - where the track "Lucifer" is now available as a free download.

L-R: Billy Duffy, Chris Wyse,
Ian Astbury, John Tempesta

Choice of Weapon is the follow up to the critically-acclaimed 2007 release Born Into This that the UK's Mojo magazine called "a wholehearted, utopian and irrefutably exciting record." Long-time Cult collaborator and producer Bob Rock (Metallica, Bush), who produced one of The Cult's most successful albums, the Platinum-certified Sonic Temple, put the finishing touches on the foundations that were laid by co-producer Chris Goss (Queens of the Stone Age, U.N.K.L.E., Masters of Reality).

The album was written by Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy, recorded in New York City, Los Angeles, the California high desert, and the band's Witch Mountain studio between July and December 2011. The new release features founding members Astbury on vocals and Duffy on guitars, with drummer John Tempesta and bassist Chris Wyse. "We have had the opportunity to work with two of the most influential and talented producers in the world today," said Astbury. "They pushed us beyond our comfort zone, and helped us craft 'Choice of Weapon.'"

Choice of Weapon is aimed at the heart of The Cult's loyal following. It reflects the current discontent and destruction of our eco systems, the search for individual meaning against a tide of rampant materialism, narcissism and disconnected lives. "We went deeper . . . we worked a bit harder on this record. We have great fans and they deserve our best," added Duffy, "and I feel this is as strong as any album we have ever released.

The Cult is working on film and graphic elements to accompany the album's release, and plans are being confirmed for the band's 2012 World Tour.

Choice of Weapon

* Produced by Chris Goss and Bob Rock

* Release Date: May 22, 2012

* Label: Cooking Vinyl

* All songs by Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy

__________

Advance music will be available shortly. Please email back with choice of digital download or physical CD.

__________

Choice of Weapon

Track Listing:

Honey From a Knife

Elemental Light

For The Animals

Life>Death

The Wolf

Amnesia

Lucifer

Wilderness Now

A Pale Horse

This Night in the City Forever

__________

The Cult Official Web Site:

http://www.thecult.us/

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/official.cult

Twitter:

@THE_CULT_NYC

The Darkness: US Tour 2012

2012-01-31T15:24:00.000-08:00

THE DARKNESS:
DEBUT “NOTHIN’S GONNA STOP US”
--FIRST NEW SONG FROM THE BRITISH BAND IN SIX YEARS--
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1
ON WWW.ROLLINGSTONE.COM

MULTI-PLATINUM GROUP KICK OFF NORTH AMERICAN TOUR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1
WITH A SOLD-OUT SHOW IN TORONTO

THE DARKNESS (L-R): Dan , Hawkins, Justin Hawkins, Ed Graham, Frankie Poullain.

THE DARKNESS are coming!

The multi-platinum British group has reunited and is ready to storm North America with their electrifying and outrageous rock n’ roll. On Wednesday, February 1, THE DARKNESS--original members JUSTIN HAWKINS (vocals/guitars), DAN HAWKINS (guitars/backing vocals), FRANKIE POULLAIN (bass) and ED GRAHAM (drums)--will debut “Nothin’s Gonna Stop Us,” their first new song in six years. The song and video will premiere on www.RollIingStone.com at 9:00 AM EST and be available on the band’s official site www.theactualdarkness.com. Fans have waited patiently since THE DARKNESS last released material in 2006, and “Nothin’s Gonna Stop Us” will be available for free as a “Thank you” for all who’ve supported the band with sold-out tours on both sides of the Atlantic. The video for the song was created by artist Thom Lessner and director Ted Passon--and it was worth the wait. Check out a sneak-peek of the artwork here:

Pictured above, still photo from the video for “Nothin’s Gonna Stop Us.”

Also on February 1, THE DARKNESS kick-off their first North American tour since 2004 to a sold-out crowd in Toronto and wrapping February 25 in Seattle; the dates are below, with the majority of them sold-out in advance. After winning three prestigious BRIT Awards, rocking sold-out crowds across the globe and selling millions of records worldwide, the group has established quite a formidable legacy in less than a decade. The new tour features all the guitar mastery and electrifying performances that THE DARKNESS are well-known for. The group will perform music from 2003’s multi-platinum album Permission To Land, including favorites “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” and “Get Your Hands Off My Woman”; 2005’s One-Way Ticket To Hell And Back with “One Way Ticket” and “Is It Just Me?”; as well as several new songs off their forthcoming yet-to-be-titled third album.

Watch THE DARKNESS performing “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” with Queen guitarist Brian May at their sold-out Hammersmith Apollo show this past November 2011.

THE DARKNESS performing with Brian May:
http://youtu.be/4t5aOdDIXJ4

For more on THE DARKNESS, check out the following sites:

www.theactualdarkness.com
www.facebook.com/thedarknessofficial
www.twitter.com/darknessactual

THE DARKNESS 2012 North American Tour:

DATE		CITY	VENUE
Wed	2/1	Toronto, Can	Phoenix
Fri	2/3	Boston,MA	Paradise
Sat	2/4	New York,NY	IrvingPlaza
Mon	2/6	New York,NY	IrvingPlaza
Tue	2/7	Philadelphia,PA	Trocodaro
Wed	2/8	Washington, D.C	9:30 CLUB
Fri	2/10	Detroit,MI	St. Andrew's Hall
Sat	2/11	Chicago,IL	Metro
Sun	2/12	Minneapolis,MN	First Avenue
Wed	2/15	Denver,CO	Summit
Fri	2/17	Las Vegas,NV	House of Blues
Sat	2/18	Phoenix,AZ	Celebrity Theatre
Sun	2/19	Los Angeles,CA	House of Blues
Tue	2/21	San Francisco,CA	Fillmore
Thu	2/23	Portland,OR	Roseland Theatre
Fri	2/24	Vancouver,BC	Commodore
Sat	2/25	Seattle,WA	Neptune

The Lumineers

2012-01-31T15:20:00.000-08:00

The Lumineers Announce Self-Titled Debut Album

Band Signs to Dualtone

To Be Released on April 3

Touring In US March and April

Denver band The Lumineers are proud to announce the release of their self-titled debut album, out on April 3rd via Dualtone. The band's style of emotive, powerful folk-rock has garnered comparisons to Edward Sharpe and Mumford and Sons, and is in line with Dualtone's history of supporting talented folk acts. The album was produced and mixed by Ryan Hadlock (Foo Fighters, Ra Ra Riot, Metric) at Bear Creek Studios, with additional mixing by Kevin Augunas (The Black Keys, Cold War Kids, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros) at Fairfax Recordings, and follows the band's eponymous self-recorded EP that was released earlier in 2011.

The Lumineers will be touring in support of the debut, beginning in March and playing through the end of April. The tour will start along the West Coast with stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle, and will run through other major markets including Chicago, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. For a full list of tour dates, please see below.

Off the strength of a self released EP the band was named one of the 20 best new bands of 2011 by Paste Magazine:

http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2011/12/the-20-best-new-bands-of-2011.html

The band also played at World Café, which you can check out at NPR here:

http://www.npr.org/2012/01/09/144900622/the-lumineers-on-world-cafe-next

The Lumineers were formed by Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites in New York. Their story begins in 2002, the year Jeremiah's brother and Wesley's long-time best friend, Josh, died from a drug overdose at 19. Amidst the loss and grief, Wes and Jeremiah came together and found solace in music, writing songs and playing gigs around New York. After battling the city's cutthroat music scene and impossibly high cost of living, the two decided to expand their horizons. They packed everything they owned and headed for Denver, Colorado. It was less a pilgrimage than act of stubborn hopefulness.

The first thing they did in Denver was place a Craigslist ad for a cellist, and the first person to respond was Neyla Pekarek, a classically trained Denver native. As a trio, they began playing at the Meadowlark, a gritty basement club where the city's most talented songwriters gathered every Tuesday for an open mic and dollar PBRs. Neyla softened Wes and Jeremiah's rough edges while expanding her skills to mandolin and piano. And so The Lumineers sound took shape; an amalgam of heart-swelling stomp-and-clap acoustic rock, classic pop, and front-porch folk.

The Lumineers Tour Dates

Wed-Mar-21 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah

Thu-Mar-22 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hotel Café

Sat-Mar-24 - San Francisco, CA @ Café Du Nord

Sun-Mar-25 - Santa Cruz, CA @ The Crepe Place

Thu-Mar-29 - Eugene, OR @ Axe & Fiddle

Fri-Mar-30 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios

Sat-Mar-31 - Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern

Sun-Apr-01 - Vancouver, BC @ Media Club

Wed-Apr-04 - Boise, ID @ Neurolux

Thu-Apr-05 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room

Fri-Apr-06 - Bellvue, CO @ Misawaka Indoors

Sat-Apr-7 - Boulder, CO @ Shug's

Mon-Apr-09 - Ames, IA @ The Maintenance Shop

Wed-Apr-11 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry

Thu-Apr-12 - Madison, WI @ The Frequency

Fri-Apr-13 - Chicago/Evanston, IL @ SPACE

Tue-Apr-17 - Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground Lounge

Wed-Apr-18 - Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse

Thu-Apr-19 - Fairfield, CT @ StageOne

Fri-Apr-20 - Berklee, MA @ Café 939 (festival)

Sat-Apr-21 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

Sun-Apr-22 - Vienna, VA @ Jammin' Java

Tue-Apr-24 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas

Thu-Apr-26 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506

Fri-Apr-27 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement

Sat-Apr-28 - St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill

Sun-Apr-29 - Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar

A Place To Bury Strangers EP + Tour

2012-01-31T15:16:00.000-08:00

A Place To Bury Strangers' New EP Available for Streaming Now New Tour Dates Announced This Spring

Onwards To The Wall, the new EP from A Place To Bury Strangers, is available for streaming right now - a week in advance of release date - on Hype Machine. The disc has 5 brand new face-melting tracks and will officially be released on Dead Oceans next week on February 7. The Boston Phoenix calls it "indebted to the pleasures of pressure...a suicide tease," and KEXP recently made "So Far Away" their Song of the Day. You can also check out the new video for "So Far Away" created by band member Oliver Ackermann using a collage of his own Hipstamatic photos. SPIN called it an "animated flipbook. There are kissing sequences, driving sequences, mustaches, and cameo appearances from both the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Alamo." Stream "Onwards To The Wall"


TOUR DATES: 03/08/12 - Toledo, OH - Frankies w/ Big Black Delta 03/11/12 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge 03/12/12 - San Francisco, CA - Independent* 03/13/12 - San Francisco, CA - Independent* 03/14/12 - Los Angeles, CA - The Music Box* 03/17/12 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre* 03/19/12 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Cafe^ 03/20/12 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre^ 03/21/12 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle w/ Apteka 03/22/12 - Bloomington, IN - The Bluebird^ 03/23/12 - Cincinnati, OH - 20th Century Theatre^ 03/24/12 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade^ 03/25/12 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel^ 03/26/12 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club^ 03/28/12 - New York, NY - Terminal 5^ 03/29/12 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer^ 03/30/12 - Boston, MA - Paradise^ 03/31/12 - Montreal, QC - Cabaret Mile-End^ 04/02/12 - Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace^ * = w/The Joy Formidable ^ = w/Exit Music

Whispertown "Parallel" EP

2012-01-31T15:14:00.000-08:00

WHISPERTOWN TO RELEASE PARALLEL EP MARCH 20TH

FIRST SINGLE "OPEN THE OTHER EYE"

AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD AT WHISPERTOWN.COM

PERFORMING AT SXSW 2012

Acony Records and LA-based Whispertown are proud to announce the March 20^th release of the Parallel EP. Whispertown is the latest iteration of the unique vision of Morgan Nagler (songwriter, lead vocals, guitar). What was once The Whispertown 2000 has morphed into a less structured version of itself, with Nagler's unmistakable vocals leading a revolving cast of musicians and artists. As a preview of the upcoming EP, the first single "Open The Other Eye" is available for fans to download at whispertown.com. Whispertown will be performing songs from the EP at SXSW 2012 this March.

Stream "Open The Other Eye" at Soundcloud

As The Whispertown 2000, Nagler and company garnered support slots for Jenny Lewis, The Breeders, Rilo Kiley, Bright Eyes, She & Him, The Elected, Azure Ray, Maria Taylor and many more. The band soon caught the attention of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, inspiring the first signing to their own Acony Records. Shortly thereafter, the band released 2008's Swim, their debut release from Acony, comprised of classic songwriting and harmonious folk-pop. Spin magazine wrote that "Whispertown 2000 separate themselves from L.A.'s soft-rock heap by virtue of Morgan Nagler's acute lyrics and heartsick vocals." Filter praised the album for its "arch simplicity, angst-free acoustic poetics, home-spun urban sweetness, and melodies that start spinning in the head and never stop."

Whispertown's sophomore release on Acony Records, Parallel, sticks to Nagler's earth grounded wisdoms while taking a turn toward a new form of lo-fi electronica. Parallel moves easily through rock gems like "Blood From Wine" and "State Of Mind" with lyrical prowess, only to be punctuated perfectly by stark dance tracks such as "Open The Other Eye." The seven song EP was produced, recorded and mixed by Andy LeMaster (Bright Eyes), Co-Produced by Jake Bellows (Neva Dinova), and was Executive Produced by David Rawlings.

www.whispertown.com

Upcoming Tour Dates:

SXSW 2012

March 17th @ St. David's Church (Hotel Cafe Showcase)

More TBA

Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio @ CSULB

2012-01-30T14:10:00.000-08:00

Dead Kennedys @ MOCA

2012-01-30T14:05:00.000-08:00

Shabazz Palaces US TOUR

2012-01-30T13:03:00.000-08:00

SHABAZZ PALACES ANNOUNCE NEW TOUR DATES & VIDE FOR “ARE YOU…CAN YOU…WERE YOU...? (FELT)

Shabazz Palaces:
2011 was a stellar year for Seattle’s Shabazz Palaces, the sonic movement of Palaceer Lazaro (Ishmael Butler). The debut release, Black Up, was one of the most critically celebrated records of 2011, landing of the Best of lists at SPIN, LA Times, The New Yorker, Pitchfork and more. Shabazz Palaces has no plans to slow down in 2012, announcing the groups first official stateside touring, kicking off on April 3 in Minneapolis, with European dates predating their North American tour.

To remind you how truly awesome Shabazz Palaces really is, we thought we would share with you the new video for the groups song “Are You... Can You... Were You...? (Felt)“, which was directed by Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes. You can watch the video by clicking here.

Shabazz Palaces Tour dates:

Saturday, February 18, 2012 La Cave aux poetes, Roubaix France

Sunday, February 19, 2012 Stereolux, Nantes France

Monday February 20, 2012 Les Trinitaires, Metz France

Tuesday February 21, 2012 Strasbourg La Laiterie, France

Friday February 24, 2012 Palace, St Gallen Switzerland

Saturday, February 25, 2012 Stall 6, Zurich Switzerland

Wednesday, February 29, 2012 Astoria, Turin Italy

Thursday, March 01, 2012 Circolo degli Artisti, Rome Italy

Friday, March 02, 2012 Bronson, Ravenna Italy

Saturday, March 03, 2012 Studio 2 Vigonovo (Venezia) Italy

Tuesday, April 3, 2012 The Whole, Minneapolis MN (All Ages Show)

Wednesday, April 4, 2012 Mad Planet. Milwaukee WI

Thursday, April 5, 2012 Lincoln Hall, Chicago IL

Friday, April 6, 2012 Magic Stick, Detroit MI

Saturday, April 7, 2012 The Horn Gallery, Gambier OH

Sunday, April 2012 The Shadow Lounge, East Liberty PA

Tuesday, April 10, 2012 Lee’s Palace, Toronto ON

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 II Motore, Montreal QC

Thursday, April 12, 2012 Iron Horse, Northampton MA

Friday, April 13 2012 SOB’s, New York NY

Saturday, April 14, 2012 Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn NY

Psychic Ills : US Tour and SXSW

2012-01-30T13:00:00.001-08:00

PSYCHIC ILLS ANNOUNCE CO-HEADLINING TOUR W/ PRINCE RAMA

photo by: Dalton Flint

New York City's Psychic Ills returned after a brief break with 2011's Hazed Dream, their debut record for Sacred Bones.

Hazed Dream is a long stony trip, the album boasts their classic psych guitar riffs and also drone, organs and most importantly, the album is a return to songwriting. Psychic Ills have taken bits and pieces of their previous work and expanded their ideas into their most accessible album to date. So, take a hit and wander with Psychic Ills this spring when they hit your town with always joyful duo, Prince Rama.

PSYCHIC ILLS

HAZED DREAM
! AVAILABLE NOW !
SACRED BONES

1. Midnight Moon

2. Mind Daze

3. Incense Head

4. Mexican Wedding

5. That's Alright

6. Ring Finger

7. Travelin' Man

8. Sungaze

9. Dream Repetition

10. I'll Follow You Through the Floor
11. Same Old Song

TOUR

3/06 Raleigh, NC - Kings Barcade

3/07 Atlanta, GA - 529 !

3/08 Memphis, TN - Lamplighter

3/09 Denton, TX - Denton Confederette *

3/11 New Orleans, LA - Cafe Istanbul

3/12 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live #

3/14 - 17 Austin, TX - SXSW

3/19 Hot Springs, AR - Low Key Arts $

3/20 Lawrence, KS - Jackpot Music Hall

3/21 St. Louis, MO 2720 Cherokee $

3/22 Chicago, IL - Hideout $

3/23 Cleveland, OH - Happy Dog $

3/24 Pittsburgh, PA - Assemble $

4/06 Baltimore, MD - Golden West %

4/07 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge %

4/08 Philadelphia, PA - Phonographic Arts Liberty Festival

! = w/ Lyonnais & Lotus Plaza

* = w/ Woodsman
# = w/ R. Stevie Moore & The Men

$ = w/ Prince Rama

% = w/ Night Beats

Lou Reed in Long Beach

2012-01-30T12:26:00.000-08:00

Lou Reed in Conversation with Bob Ezrin at Carpenter Center

Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio at University Art Museum CSULB

Does it sound confusing? Last weekend there was an exhibit of Lou Reed's "Metal Machine Music" in an art gallery and he was here in person to talk about it. Earlier in the day, Lou was over at Fingerprints to sign some records and CDs. There was a long line around the block for the legendary singer of the Velvet Underground. The crowd was large at Carpenter Center in Long Beach. I had never been to this building at the northern tip of CSULB, but it's much like Walt Disney Hall or Luckmann Fine Arts. And we were here for.... a conversation with Bob Ezrin, who produced many of Lou Reed's albums.

The casual conversation drifted off into many areas. Lou Reed repeatedly advised the audience to "walk for ten minutes to the art museum and hear the installation of Metal Machine Music. The conversation became technical and they started talking about vinyl and earplugs. Ezrin mentioned how lousy MP3 were. Lou Reed briefly voiced support for the Occupy Movement. People laughed and were generally bewildered. One man stood up and said: "Talk about the music!" Lou countered: "You don't have to be here, wise guy." The man left, as did a number of people who didn't care for the hour long discussion.

Metal Machine Music was released in 1975. It was an uncompromising album of noise. A few years ago Ulrich Krieger had contacted Reed. Krieger was a music teacher at Cal Arts. He had written down and notated Metal Machine Music. Reed thought that this was impossible. It soon led to live performances and the creation of Metal Machine Trio, with Reed, Krieger, and also Sarth Calhoun. They recorded a live performance at the Blender Theater in 2009. John Zorn also performed with this group. It was recorded by Arup Sound Lab as an ambisonic recording in 3D.

When you get to the installation at the museum, you enter a dark room with 12 speakers. It is a loud hour long performance and sounds like you are onstage with the band. Reed and Ezrin discussed that this new technology was futuristic and advanced. They hoped that many more experiences like this one would happen. This was a revolutionary environment. So after the conversation many of us in the audience headed over to the exhibit to experience this sonic moment in person. Lou Reed and the members of Metal Machine Trio soon appeared.

I entered the dark room. It was hot and crowded. It was meant for twenty people but at least 50 had crowded the room. I stepped out to listen from outside. The second time I entered the room, people were sitting in a circle, and it seemed like some satanic ritual. Lou Reed himself entered the room for a while. This was an amazing experience.

This will be at the museum until April 15th, 2012: www.csulb.edu/uam

The Return of Death By Chocolate

2012-01-29T23:34:00.000-08:00

This is the second band in 2012, who I interviewed many years ago, and disappeared, and then made a return this year. Actually Death By Chocolate are on their third album. They are on Darla Records. They still have not played any gigs but you can check them out here. And here's the old interview:

The Land of Chocolate

Death by Chocolate is a new interesting group being foisted on the American public. Where do they come from and what are they about? This playful record is a mix of sixties psychedelia and bubble gum pop. Imagine Captain Beefheart meets Shampoo. Angela Faye Tillet is a teenage chambermaid from Clacton-on-Sea, miles and years from London. Songs like "Mustard Yellow" and "Ice Cold Lemonade" recall a different time and place, and should go down well with people with "Japan" fever. They also do songs by Dudley Moore, and from the movie Harold and Maude, plus the theme song from The Flying Nun. I talked to lead singer, Angela Faye Tillet the other day on the phone right before Angela had to go to work.

AL: Is this a band proper or is just you?

Angela: Oh no it's a band. It's me and two other guys. There's also a producer who decides what we will record. They do the music and I do most of the lyrics.

AL: How did you find each other?

Angela: Through Michael Way who runs the label, L Records. He got us together, because he knew we were of like minds. We got along immediately.

AL: Were you in other bands before that?

Angela: I did some stuff with Michael Way, but not really, I was in no other bands. Death by Chocolate has been together for a year now. We did a couple of tracks for a compilation, "Songs for The Jet Set, volume 3." That seems like a long time ago.

AL: Were those like demo songs?

Angela: Yeah, it was a practice for the album. We wanted to see what it would be like.

AL: The album seems like it was conceived as a whole, mixing the spoken bits and the songs. Who's idea was that?

Angela: A bit of both really. Michael wanted to do stuff about colors and things like that. I had to write down what all these colors meant to me. It all comes down to editing.

AL: Were you influenced by children's stories?

Angela: We wanted it to be like you were watching the film Willy Wonka.

AL: Have you played any shows yet?

Angela: None. We want to. We just want to establish ourselves and release a few records and get known. But I am looking forward to playing some live shows. I hope so. It might be like a picnic in the park. I can't imagine it being like a normal evening in a club. We want to have sets and scenery.

AL: So you live outside London?

Angela: Yeah, I live in Colchester. It's about an hour out on the train from London.

AL: Has that influenced you and your music?

Angela: You mean being out in the sticks? Probably because when you grow up in a small village you are only surrounded by people who are into the same things that you are into. I think so. You get narrow minded about things, sometimes in a good way and sometimes in bad way. I think we have went in the good way. It's more inspiring and realistic in a way. London is all very well, but a bit of a nightmare and really expensive. Living in London is expensive.

AL: You have lived in London?

Angela: I used to work there when I was at school. It was a ride but a little bit too hairy for my taste. I used to work for the government. I worked in the publicity office. It's a job that you do when you're at school. It was at Whitehall right by Big Ben.

AL: What do you do now?

Angela: I work in a pub. I grew up in a pub, so I like it. That's what they did. I like to drive around in my car. I like Cider. I drink Guinness too.

AL: You have a song about Salvador Dali? What was that about?

Angela: Oh that was Mike's idea. It's just titles and things about paintings mixed together. I suppose that I like art.

AL: Are you a fan of Dali?

Angela: Not particularly. I think he's quite dark. I do appreciate him, but he's not my thing.

AL: Many of his painting are about masturbation and being a narcissist.

Angela: Yeah, I know. All fucked up things. I like things a little bit more straight and narrow.

AL: You did a song from the movie "Harold and Maude." Was that your idea?

Angela: No. That was something that Joe was into. I haven't seen it. I knew you were going to ask me that. I should buy it on video. I'll make an effort. I've heard about it.

AL: What about "The Singing Nun?"

Angela: Which one? The Singing Nun? I don't know which one you mean?

AL: Sally Field. "Who Needs Wings to Fly?"

Angela: Right. When people say that I think that they're saying The Leaping Nun. Sorry. Mike was a big fan of that song. I liked it a lot. We did it a long time ago.

AL: Are you a big Dudley Moore fan?

Angela: He's alright.

AL: Do you have any favorite films?

Angela: That's one of those questions where you draw a blank. Well, Bedazzled obviously. I like Ghostbusters. Anything that has Bill Murray in it is fabulous.

AL: I like Rushmore a lot.

Angela: I never heard of that. When did that come out?

AL: About two years ago.

Angela: Wooo. That went by.

AL: It's a great film. It's one of the great Bill Murray films.

Angela: Is it? What's it like? What does he play in it?

AL: He plays a rich guy. There's a private school. One of the students falls in love with a female teacher. Bill Murray has two sons at the school. The student looks to Bill Murray for help, and they both end up battling for the girl.

Angela: Sounds familiar now actually. Sounds nice.

AL: What about TV shows?

Angela: There's a few good things on at the moment which are quite obscure. Comedies. We have a program called "Operation Good Guys" which is a spoof of police documentaries. There are a few fake news programs. I used to be really into comedy. These are things that you haven't heard of, because nothing has crossed the Atlantic.

AL: Why do you think people choose to do music?

Angela: You have to want to do it because you believe in personal expression. Don't bend over backwards to please other people. Just do something silly and relevant to yourself. You are not going to change the world and be anything better than you are. Do it for the right reason.

The Good Natured @ Echo

2012-01-29T14:15:00.000-08:00

The Dead Kennedys @ MOCA

2012-01-28T15:13:00.000-08:00

DEAD KENNEDYS perform with X and The Avengers at MOCA today, January 28th 2012, 7pm.

Bonnaroo: What, Which This, That, The Other

2012-01-27T11:53:00.000-08:00

BONNAROO: WHAT, WHICH THIS, THAT, THE OTHER;

BOOK AVAILABLE NOW VIA BONNAROO.COM;

IN STORES NATIONWIDE APRIL 1

FIRST OFFICIAL BOOK ON THE LEGENDARY FESTIVAL

CONTAINS OVER 400 PHOTOS

ESSAY BY ALAN LIGHT AND WRITTEN CONTRIBUTIONS BY TOP ARTISTS

Superfly Presents, A.C. Entertainment, and publisher Abrams Image, are proud to announce the release of the book, BONNAROO: WHAT, WHICH, THIS, THAT, THE OTHER. The book is available now, and can be purchased via bonnaroo.com. It will be in stores nationwide on April 1, 2012. This first official book about the country's premier summer music and arts festival contains over 400 photos covering all 10 years of Bonnaroo, featuring shots taken by some of the best shooters working in music today, including Danny Clinch, C. Taylor Crothers, Jeff Kravitz, and Ryan Mastro, among others. It also highlights numerous personal anecdotes from fans, the festival producers, various staff, and some of the top musicians and comedians who have performed there.

Organized like a virtual journey through the festival itself (the book title comes from the names of the performance stages), it is a stunning, visceral celebration of the irrepressible spirit of the music, the artists and the community that make up Bonnaroo. It also celebrates the deeply collaborative nature of the festival -- a give-and-take continuum that occurs between bands and other bands; fans and their favorite bands; the festival and the local community and the land it's held on -- a place so uniquely located and laid out that it gives one the feeling that this beautiful thing could only exist right where it does. Most significantly, it honors the greatest collaboration -- the one between the fans themselves, who build an unspoken trust with one another and peacefully coexist while assembling what becomes the sixth largest city in Tennessee for the best weekend of their lives.

From dazzling atmospheric photos to exclusive up-close-and-personal shots of the artists both backstage and onstage, BONNAROO: WHAT, WHICH, THIS, THAT, THE OTHER profoundly captures the breadth and depth of what the Wall Street Journal called "one of rock's best festivals." Each photo bursts with the energy, power, and excitement one feels on the farm every day and night at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, an event Rolling Stone famously hailed as"one of the 50 moments to change the history of rock n'roll." With each page, the reader is treated to the best seats in the house.

BONNAROO: WHAT, WHICH, THIS, THAT, THE OTHER boasts an essay written by Alan Light, frequent contributor to New York Times and Rolling Stone, and Bonnaroo veteran of many years. It was edited by Holly George-Warren, the award-winning author and editor of many books on music and pop-culture.

"The book is as close as one can get to the feeling of actually being at the festival," says Superfly's Kerry Black. "It truly captures the spirit of Bonnaroo."

"Abrams has a rich history of publishing books on music and musicians," says Senior VP and Publisher of Abrams Steve Tager. "From the Beatles to CBGB's and most recently George Harrison, and rock photographers such as Bob Gruen and Lynn Goldsmith. We are thrilled to be working with Bonnaroo on a book that captures the excitement and cultural significance of this epic show."

About Bonnaroo:

Set on 700 acres in Manchester, TN, Bonnaroo is a four-day festival that draws 80,000 fans every summer. Featuring over 120 musical performances, along with comedy, cinema, sustainability workshops and more, the grounds are converted into a virtual city of music and art. The legendary event began in 2002 as a remarkable idea to serve a passionate fanbase, and ended up becoming the premier multi-day concert destination of the summer which dynamic and eclectic programming paved the way for the age of the great American music festival. Bonnaroo has now evolved into becoming much more than just a concert destination; it has become a cultural touchstone and, for two generations of music fans, a rite of passage.

Ane Brun "It All Starts with One"

2012-01-27T11:49:00.000-08:00

Ane Brun

It All Starts with One

(May 1, [PIAS] America)

“Do You Remember” featuring First Aid Kit MP3

Download It Here!

Much like her music, the path that led Ane Brun to It All Starts With One was peaceful, unhurried and full of unexpected, subtle surprises. It’s taken her from her small Norwegian hometown of Molde, to Barcelona where she was a street performer, and across the US last year supporting Peter Gabriel and singing on his New Blood album. The adventures culminated with the making of her new album It All Starts with One, a platinum hit in Norway for which she just won their Grammy equivalent, the Spellemann award, for best female artist. Download the lead single, “Do You Remember” featuring First Aid Kit here, feel free to post and share. Watch the transfixing video, the first in a series, here. Also, watch Ane and First Aid Kit team up for a stellar live performance of the track here.

Lou Reed + Bob Ezrin @ CSULB

2012-01-26T17:48:00.000-08:00

In Conversation:

Legendary Musician Lou Reed and Producer Bob Ezrin

Fri, Jan. 27, 2012 at 8pm

Hailed as the founding father of alternative rock music—Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Velvet Underground legend Lou Reed is revered by fans worldwide for reshaping underground music with his own style while pushing boundaries as an opera composer, playwright, poet and photographer. Reed sits down with Bob Ezrin—the noted music producer who has helped refine the sound of artists from Alice Cooper to KISS to Pink Floyd. Join us for a rare moment in music history as these two legends share a combined 90 years of experience, giving voice to their thoughts, processes and motivations.

Presented in conjunction with the world premiere exhibition, Lou Reed, Metal Machine Trio: The Creation of the Universe—an Arup SoundLab Installation of his remastered 1975 album Metal Machine Music. The exhibition is on view from January 27, 2012 through April 15 in the Project Room at the University Art Museum, CSULB.

$45 Regular

Buy tickets ›

Warpaint @ Space 1520

2012-01-26T17:43:00.000-08:00

WARPAINT is playing Space 1520 today Thursday, January 26th, 2012.

Mark Stewart vs. Primal Scream video

2012-01-26T12:48:00.000-08:00

Mark Stewart vs. Primal Scream

Exclusive Video Premiere of “Autonomia”

on The Onion's A.V. Club

Click HERE to Watch the New Video Directed By Douglas Hart
(founding member of The Jesus and Mary Chain)

“Starting out as a teenager in the late 70s with the Pop Group and thru the 80’s with the Maffia up to his new solo record, Mark Stewart has led the attack on conformist reality. Mark is a constant inspiration and a true Thief of Fire. A poet of paranoia and a great laugh. What a guy.” – Primal Scream

Approaching the release of his eagerly anticipated album The Politics of Envy (due out March 26^thvia Future Noise Music), Mark Stewart has joined forces with fellow subversive musical compatriot Bobby Gillespie and his band, Primal Scream, to release the video for his first single ‘Autonomia.’

Directed by Douglas Hart, founding member and bassist of The Jesus and Mary Chain, the video exhibits a raw, riotous & feverish vivacity infused with the artists’ trademark punk rock ethos to convey the song’s deep political message.

Written about Carlo Giuliani, an autonomist protestor killed in the 2001 G8 demonstrations in Genoa, 'Autonomia' features Bobby Gillespie's frenetic call-and-response chant with Stewart. Stewart explains that when he started writing the song “it was kind of like a protest song ... afterwards I started getting on with Bobby and I asked Adrian [Sherwood] about doing it. It’s important that people hear about the story, it’s the message and the atmosphere as much as anything." ‘Autonomia’ the single will be released through Future Noise Music on February 20^th.

Hart, who has been orchestrating music videos for over 30 years, has directed over 80 videos, including a number of videos for Primal Scream. Recently he directed a semi autobiographical short film entitled “Long Distance Information” which was screened at the 2011 London Film Festival.

Joining Bobby Gillespie and Primal Scream on the album is cult film-maker Kenneth Anger, original Clash/PiL guitarist Keith Levene, NYC punk innovator Richard Hell, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Gina Birch of the Raincoats, Slits bassist Tessa Pollitt, Jesus And Mary Chain bassist Douglas Hart, Factory Floor, and Daddy G of Massive Attack.

www.markstewartmusic.com

Chelsea Wolfe @ Echoplex

2012-01-26T11:29:00.000-08:00

Chelsea Wolfe plays the Echoplex today, Thursday, January 26th, 2012.

Anton Newcombe discovers new band: Magic Castles

2012-01-26T11:14:00.000-08:00

Anton Newcombe from Brian Jonestown Massacre loves Minneapolis' MAGIC CASTLES so much, he signed them and is releasing their double album and taking them on tour.

I love a band that encourages me to, "Sit back, light up a smoke and enjoy!"

MAGIC CASTLES RELEASE DOUBLE ALBUM MARCH 20th, 2012

The band's patchwork snippets of influence form an alluring concoction that shines with the best of the cities' soothsayers and sits comfortably with the history books. - MINNEAPOLIS CITY PAGES

MINNEAPOLIS LIVE DATE/Record Release Show: Saturday, April 14 @ Kitty Cat Klub

Magic Castles are set to release their eponymous double album on March 20th, 2012 through ‘a’ Records. Along with individual shows in the Midwest, the band is slated to join Brian Jonestown Massacre on the East Coast tour of the United States in 2012.

Stream the following tracks from Magic Castles:

“Death Dreams:” http://soundcloud.com/magic-castles/death-dreams

“Ballad Of The Golden Bird:” http://soundcloud.com/magic-castles/ballad-of-the-golden-bird

View the psychotropic video for “Ballad Of The Golden Bird:” http://youtu.be/LzytADGpfRA

Magic Castles have self-released three albums (two in 2009), all of which are currently out of print. But through word of mouth and blogs, the band’s profile spread and a YouTube video was passed to the legendary Anton Newcombe (Brian Jonestown Massacre) via his Ustream.tv outlet, We Are The Radio/Dead TV experimental social media phenomenon in 2010.

Anton Newcombe remembers, "The song that introduced me to Magic Castles was ‘Ballad of the Golden Bird.’ I really think it is special, so much so, I decided to ask the group if I could release this record through my label, ‘a’ Records. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do..."

Magic Castles are a band from Minneapolis, Minnesota that was abruptly formed in 2006 by Jason Edmonds, with the help of guitarist, Jeremiah Doering and bassist, Paul Fuglestad plusa rotating cast of players and friends. Lyrically concerned with trolls, golden birds, and other creatures conjured from the lands of the mushroomed mind (otherwise known as “mysticore”), the band takes a journey-is-better-than-the destination approach.

Inspired by Spacemen 3, Skygreen Leopards, Galaxie 500, the band combines warm Farfisa drones with hazy guitars and bright vocal harmonies to create something similar without sounding redundant. Whether it be storybook psych, mildewy dark garage, or forest folk, the band crafts its songs using an expansive approach that deftly oscillates between traditional song form and stretched-out, slowly unwinding abstract passages, managing both poles without a smudge of awkwardness.

Sit back, light up a smoke and enjoy!

MAGIC CASTLES ARE:

Jason Edmonds (guitar & vocals)
Jeremiah Doering (guitar & vocals)
Paul Fuglestad (bass)
Noah Skogerboe (keyboards & vocals)
Brendan McInerney (drums)
Matt Van Genderen (drums)

Magic Castles DOUBLE LP-Track Listing / Available on 180 gram Black virgin vinyl.

SIDE A - 1) Death Dreams 2) Now I'm a Little Cloud 3) Imaginary Friends

SIDE B –1) Ballad of the Golden Bird, 2) All My Prayers...

SIDE C – 1) Songs of the Forest 2) 10,100 3) Letterbox

SIDE D –1) Big Sur 2) Mystical Sage Warrior 3) Emory's Memories

Magic Castles CD Track Listing

1) Death Dreams 2) Now I'm a Little Cloud 3) Imaginary Friends 4) Ballad of the Golden Bird 5) All My Prayers... 6) Songs of the Forest 7) 10,100 8) Letterbox 9) Big Sur 10) Mystical Sage Warrior 11) Emory's Memories

DISCOGRAPHY

Lore of Mysticore (May 2008) (out of print – available on iTunes)

Dreams of Dreams of Dreams (released May 2009) (out of print)

Songs of the Forest ~ (October 2009) (out of print– available on iTunes)

http://listn.to/MAGICCASTLES

http://soundcloud.com/magic-castles

Stony Island @ Cinefamily

2012-01-25T13:19:00.000-08:00

STONY ISLAND
(first 35mm screening in 30 years, director Andrew Davis in person!)
Friday, February 10th | 10:30pm

Presented by The Numero Group. Co-presented by Cinespia.

For the first time in 30 years, this classic slice of 70s Chicago storytelling comes to the big screen in 35mm, with director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive) in person! Featuring a legion of legendary Chicago players (Gene Barge, Phil Upchurch, Larry Ball, Richie Davis, Tennyson Stephens, Ronnie Barron and a young Susanna Hoffs) alongside Dennis Franz and Rae Dawn Chong, Stony Island tells the story of a group of multiracial R&B performers, and how they're affected by the death of a veteran musician from their circle. This super-rare film gives you a priceless look back at Chicagos South Side neighborhood, at a time when very few films were made in within the city at all -- and also contains a Medium Cool-inspired sequence filmed at Mayor Richard J. Daleys funeral. Soon to be released this Spring 2012 on DVD/download for the first time, Stony Island is an incredible time capsule, and provides a sweetly funky soundtrack to boot. Andrew Davis will be here at the Cinefamily for a Q&A -- and Numero Group DJs will be here to spin tunes both before and after the film!
Dir. Andrew Davis, 1978, 35mm, 97 min.

Watch a vintage TV commercial spot for "Stony Island"!

Tickets- $10/free for members

Middle Class Rut announce winter tour

2012-01-25T12:36:00.000-08:00

MIDDLE CLASS RUT GEARS UP FOR TOUR

WITH CHEVELLE & JANUS

NEW SINGLE "ARE YOU ON YOUR WAY" HEATING UP

The Sacramento-based rock duo Middle Class Rut is gearing up for a run of dates with Chevelle and Janus. Beginning February 24 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the band will make their way around the Midwest and East Coast, with stops in New York, Providence, Atlantic City, Nashville, and more.

Middle Class Rut is touring in support of their debut album, No Name No Color,which spawned the smash radio hit "New Low" - reaching #5 at Alternative Radio. The anticipated new single "Are You On Your Way" will impact around the start of the tour. Having been named a "2011 Artist to Watch" by MTV and scoring a coveted spot in USA Today's "On the Verge" feature, Middle Class Rut are one of the most promising acts of the year. BBC Radio 1's tastemaker Zane Lowe awarded them Hottest Record honors, calling them "something propulsive and tribal that promises to unleash the rock, but remains unexpectedly restrained." AOL's Noisecreep declares the album "raucous, melodic rock," while Alternative Press asserts "MC Rut are riveting, the rawness and intensity of their performance drenched in the pints of sweat they undoubtedly shed at every show."

Middle Class Rut's resplendent cover of the Bob Dylan classic"Hurricane" is now available for purchase via all online outlets. The digital bundle also features an exclusive live version of "New Low" (from No Name No Color) and "Dead Set" (from 25 Years EP), recorded live in the UK at Zane Lowe's Maida Vale session and at XFM Studios, respectively. The "Hurricane" 10" is also available on vinyl - order it HERE.

Middle Class Rut's Zack Lopez (vocals, guitar) and Sean Stockham (vocals, drums), have been playing together since they were teenagers. The pair records every song they write together almost immediately upon coming up with the idea in their rehearsal space, capturing the instantaneous spirit of a track while still in the moment. They've toured with a range of artists, including Linkin Park, Social Distortion, Alice in Chains, Them Crooked Vultures, ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, The Bronx and AWOLNATION. Their track "Lifelong Dayshift" is also featured on the exclusive GameStop release of the Transformers: Dark of the Moon soundtrack.

MIDDLE CLASS RUT TOUR DATES:

With Chevelle and Janus

2/24/12 - Grand Rapids, MI @ The Orbit Room

2/25/12 - Fort Wayne, IN @ Piere's Entertainment Center

2/26/12 - Niagara Falls, NY @ Rapids Theatre

2/28/12 - Portland, ME @ State Theatre

2/29/12 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza

3/02/12 - Providence, RI @ Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel

3/03/12 - Atlantic City, NJ @ House of Blues

3/05/12 - Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live!

3/06/12 - Norfolk, VA @ The NorVA

3/08/12 - Knoxville, TN @ The Valarium

3/09/12 - Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works

3/10/12 - Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room at Old National Centre

3/11/12 - Springfield, MO @ Gillioz Theatre

3/13/12 - Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion

3/14/12 - Omaha, NE @ Sokol Auditorium

3/16/12 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom

Marissa Nadler "The Sister"

2012-01-25T12:34:00.000-08:00

Marissa Nadler Takes a Confessional Turn in Forthcoming Release The Sister, Out May 29

Watch her teaser video for The Sister at YouTube

Boston-based songstress Marissa Nadler has announced the forthcoming release of The Sister, a collection of eight new tracks subtly linked to last year's self-titled critically acclaimed LP, out May 29 on her own Box Of Cedar Records.

"Heartbreak is a great muse, but it can wear you down," she admits, referring to the stormy relationships that haunted many of the heavenly hooks on her most recent works. "For The Sister, I realized I had muses all around me, whether it was childhood, betrayal, friendships, new love, nature, or hope. The narrator's stronger in my songs now, and more able to bounce back if they choose to."

The dream-folk artist notes that each year she feels freer to write what she wants. On The Sister she keeps her confessionals as intimate as possible explaining, "I wanted the starkness of every song to reflect the lyrical content. Some of my biggest influences are confessional songwriters. It's always been a very powerful thing to listen to Elliott Smith and Joni Mitchell, and feel so much from their stories."

SPIN called Nadler's 2011 full-length "one of the year's most disarming records... a cyclical, finger-picked beauty that, once you lean into it some, never lets you go," while Pitchfork gave it an "Albums of the Year: Honorable Mention" and an 8.1 review. The release was featured on Vogue, KEXP, NPR "World Cafe: Next," NPR First Listen, who called her music "dreamy, melancholy and utterly captivating," and made American Songwriter, WXPN, and Drowned In Sound's favorite albums of 2011 lists. Additional details about The Sister to come.

For more info, please visit: http://marissanadler.com
http://marissanadler.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marissa-Nadler/103715669667855
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Marissamoon6
http://twitter.com/#!/marissanadler

Big Deal "Lights Out"

2012-01-25T12:32:00.000-08:00

Big Deal's DEBUT record-- Lights Out --

OUT NOW!

"Big Deal has officially wheeled us in with their sentimental charm..."

-Earfarm

“Underwood and Costelloe have explored their broken hearts in a way that strikes at the core of all of us: love absolutely kills, but there’s beauty even in expressing it”

-Consequence of Sound

“One of the most electrifying new combos around.”

-NME

"Beguiling, heartfelt and addictive, Big Deal are certainly living up to their name." 9/10

-The 405

"Alice Costelloe and Kacey Underwood have undoubtedly created something pretty special with their debut album, Lights Out."

9/10

-The Line of Best Fit

WATCH "CHAIR"

DOWNLOAD & SHARE "CHAIR"

WATCH Big Deal Band's In Transit for UK's Radio 1

WATCH "DISTANT NEIGHBORHOOD"

Upcoming Tour Dates:

3/11--The Glasslands with 2:54--Brooklyn, NY

3/12--The Mercury Lounge with 2:54--New York, NY

3/13--3/18----SXSW---Austin, TX

3/20--Echo with 2:54--Los Angeles, CA

LOW announce US Tour

2012-01-25T12:29:00.000-08:00

LOW ANNOUNCE 12 DATE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR WITH DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

MP3- Try to Sleep
MP3- Especially Me
Video- Especially Me
Video- Try To Sleep

Beginning April 10^th, Sub Pop recording artists Low will serve as main support for the first 12 dates of Death Cab for Cutie’s upcoming North American spring tour. These dates will bring the bands to intimate venues and historic theaters across much of the United States, as Death Cab for Cutie performs with San Francisco’s innovative Magik*Magik Orchestra. Low was specially selected by Death Cab for Cutie as main support for these dates.

Low are touring in support of their 2011 release, C’mon, which was recorded in an old church in Duluth, MN and mixed in Hollywood, CA with producer Matt Beckley working alongside the band. C’mon received warm accolades from such places as: SPIN, Blurt, Entertainment Weekly, The Boston Globe, Washington Post, and NPR, who had this to say about their latest release:

Lush and beautiful in its simplicity…Longtime fans who've lived with Low will no doubt appreciate the return to form, while newcomers ought to fall in love with these songs and want to dig into the rest of the band's 18 years of passionate restraint.

Alan Sparhawk describes C’mon simply as: “Warm, pretty, large like Nashville without the country. Mim and I are talking to each other in the lyrics, sometimes it's not pretty, but it's as honest as love.”

Low Tour Dates:
Jan 27 First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
Mar 09 All Tomorrow's Parties, Minehead, United Kingdom
Mar 26 Teatro Central, Sevilla, Spain
Mar 27 Apolo, Barcelona, Spain
Mar 28 Teatro Kapital, Madrid, Spain
Mar 29 Sala Capitol , Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Mar 30 Kursaal, San Sebastian, Spain
Mar 31 Círculo de Bellas Artes, Madrid, Spain
Mar 31 Círculo de Arte de Toledo, Toledo, Spain
Apr 02 Glee Club (UK), Birmingham, United Kingdom
Apr 03 Royal Festival Hall, London, United Kingdom

w/ Death Cab for Cutie:

04/10/12 Denver CO @ Ellie Caulkins Opera House
04/11/12 Omaha NE @ Omaha Music Hall
04/13/12 Louisville KY @ Louisville Palace
04/14/12 Grand Rapids MI @ Covenant Fine Arts Center / Calvin College
04/15/12 Milwaukee WI @ Riverside Theatre
04/16/12 Chicago IL @ Chicago Theatre
04/19/12 Toronto ON @ Massey Hall
04/20/12 Montreal QC @ St Jean Baptiste Church
04/21/12 Boston MA @ Citi Performing Arts Center / Wang Theatre
04/23/12 Providence RI @ Veterans Memorial Auditorium
04/24/12 Buffalo NY @ Kleinhan's Music Hall
04/25/12 Philadelphia PA @ Tower Theatre

Blast from The Past: Mull Historical Society

2012-01-24T18:55:00.000-08:00

Mull Historical Society are back in 2012
Interview from 2003
by Alexander Laurence

The idea that all Scottish people are depressed is a myth

Mull Historical Society is a one man show starring Colin MacIntyre. He has a very fresh and interesting approach to music, which recalls the rich instrumentation of The Flaming Lips. He even designs his own record sleeves. Colin has played gigs with The Strokes and Travis. His first album, Loss (2001), contained a balance of songs ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime. Colin hails from the Island of Mull (population: 2,000) off Scotland's west coast. He went from playing small clubs to big venues within a a year.

Last summer the stage was set to create the new album. Colin went back to the studio with almost 35 songs to work on. Three months later he emerged with Us (2003). Not surprisingly, Colin is incredibly pleased with the results. The album immediately shot up to the top 20 in the UK. He has been creating a stir of interest in the United States and has played two small tours so far. Colin was in Los Angeles at the end of April 2003, playing to his cult audience. I chatted with him in the lobby of the Knitting Factory right before the show. I struggled to decipher his thick Scottish accent which is always a challenge. He seemed excited about bringing his music to a new audience. Colin MacIntyre is one of today's great songwriters.

I did this interview in 2003. After an eight year break Mull Historical Society
is back with a new album City Awakening (2012).

***

AL: Have you played here in America before?

Colin: This is the first proper tour. I have done some dates in New York. This is the first time I have gone east to west. I am playing the songs acoustic and with a stripped down sound. It's a challenge to play them that way. But often the songs are written on an acoustic guitar. This tour of America is just me and a piano player. Hopefully we will come back with a bigger lineup. Some of the shows in the UK I have had thirteen people on-stage. I prefer touring with a five-piece.

AL: How do the songs start out for you?

Colin: Piano or guitar. Or with nothing. It's random. Sometimes you hear something on piano or guitar, then you want to bottle it. You hear something that sounds interesting. I get the dictaphone out and try to record it. More often than not the melodies are just in your head. It has nothing to do with having an instrument in your hand. I'll see some words and maybe a title appeals to me.

AL: Were you in other bands before?

Colin: Not really. Growing up in Mull I was always in cover bands since I was a kid. I was in The Lovesick Zombies. We played anything from The Clash to Van Morrison, to The Beatles to Bowie. But I was always writing stuff on the side. Then I left Mull. I was learning how to write better songs and how to arrange songs. I wanted to make my own music.

AL: Why did you call yourself Mull Historical Society?

Colin: Mull is where I am from. There is an actual place called the Historical Society. It's an organization on the island. I saw one of their ads in the local press. I tried to imagine what they were like and what they did. I wrote a song about them. I just decided that I would call myself that.

AL: Did you have a lot of songs written before these two albums?

Colin: Yeah. I had hundreds of songs. They were all 4-track demos. Since I was fifteen, I had been writing songs on a 4-track. I just kept developing songs. I was working and doing other things. I had moved to Glasgow. Loss was me writing new stuff at that time. Sometimes I go back to the early demos and find a line that I can use or a melody. It's good to have that catalogue to use. It's like a library. Most of it is stuff that needs developing that will never see the light of day. But it is good to have there. Both Loss and Us is me writing at that time. I am starting to think about the next record. I don't need to record it for a while. But I am always thinking of songs.

AL: Had you done a lot of shows before you recorded Loss?

Colin: No. I probably did six shows before I signed to Warner Bros. I met my manager, Tony, and things just came together. I had played a lot previously about five years before that. I didn't play much in those years. I was writing, recording, and working jobs. Everything came together about three or four years ago. I felt like the songs started to sound like me as opposed to sounding like someone else. I met the right people. I held off for a long time. I was struggling for ten years sending demos off. It worked.

AL: The new album sounds more stripped down. The first few songs like "The Final Arrears" sounds like a continuation of Loss, but a few songs in, it goes into a different place.

Colin: That was definitely intended. Producing myself, as I have done with both records, I have to control that. Sometimes as a songwriter you want to keep adding. And as a musician you want to keep adding. As a producer, it's important sometimes to take away. It's a constant battle with myself in the studio. I think that I have got the balance right on this record. Loss was everything including the kitchen sink. The whole house really. I wouldn't change anything. It was just me making my first record. I wanted as much melody and as much sound on it as possible. Us I think is just more balanced. You want to evolve as a songwriter and as a producer.

AL: Did you want to do everything on the first record, because you thought that maybe you wouldn't have a chance to do another record?

Colin: I don't think that I was that pessimistic. At the time it was important to me to include the sounds of steel drums and tubular bells. There is a lot of that still going on with the new record. But it is important for those things to work together. I have done all my recordings at Gravity Studios in Glasgow. Even some of the first demos, some of which, became Loss. I recorded it on an Apple Performer. I worked with digital tapes too. I mastered it all at Abbey Road back through analog. I recorded both albums in much the same way.

AL: Were there any live takes with a band?

Colin: The only live takes I do are with the drummer. I use that as a skeleton, then I add all the other parts. I do a layered approach. It's like adding meat on the bones. Some songs I play the drums, so I do it differently. For me, sometimes the song can write itself. Songs like "Us" and "Minister For Genetics and Insurance" seem quite abstract. Recording the song actually became the song, if you can see what I mean. While recording the song, sometimes I wasn't sure exactly where it was going. Most of the rest were all written. When I did these albums, I worked on thirty or thirty-five songs all at the same time. You start to see the songs as a collective. You think: this one has too much strings.... Each song can help the others. I don't like too much of one thing. It helps me to decide what should stay in there. Like the sound of sheep at the end. Everything is there for a reason.

AL: You have quite a number of songs about animals?

Colin: I don't know why. All the videos have animals in them as well. There's one song "Animal Cannabus" that says that animals don't really have clothes. Animals still have a chain of conduct obviously. But the song was about why don't we be just like animals and get rid of fashion and style. You don't have to think about what to wear. You can just be yourself. There's a lot of that on the first record: in terms of people being an individual. Whether you want to be like an animal is your own preference. The feelings are the same on both records.

AL: Then you have a song like "Barcode Bypass" which is like a short story.

Colin: Yeah. I like ideas about how the whole culture is: fast food, fast food TV. It's all just crap. It's not really bad. I am not making any big comment on it. I am just observing it. "Barcode Bypass" is a song about a small shop owner. He talking about how the 24-hour supermarket is taking all the business away, and he's going to have to close down. He's too proud to admit so he just stops taking his medication. He walks off with his dogs. On Us I have a song called "The Supermarket Strikes Back." It's about the supermarket owner having his say about the situation. I do like the clash between the corporate, capitalist society and the community of small cottage industry. I like to pick characters who are living in that.

AL: What was it like playing with The Strokes in the UK when they broke out?

Colin: That was great. I spent six weeks with them. We played with Moldy Peaches as well. They are interesting guys. I enjoyed playing with them. It was the very start of it all for them at the time. It was two years ago. It was great fun. We spent six weeks together. It was their first UK tour. It was exciting. They will never forget it. I will never forget it either. I think that most people who came to see the Strokes also liked my band. By the end of the tour I had two of the Strokes singing "I Tried." The Moldy Peaches were there too. I remember that it was a very good feeling. It was like a traveling road show with three very different bands.

AL: Do you have any hobbies?

Colin: I play a little soccer. I write a lot. I like the Glasgow Celtic. I write short stories. I have written tow novel and about twenty short stories. I would love to publish them someday. They are similar subject matter to my songs. I have been reading a lot of American authors like Raymond Carver, Charles Bukowski, and Richard Brautigan. I like the rawness of it all. They don't put in a word that doesn't need to be there. I like that direct style. I would like to get published at some point, but at the moment I am just concentrating on music.

AL: Have you liked any recent records?

Colin: I don't listen to a lot of new music. I have about stack this high. I don't have a real record collection. I like the new Johnny Cash record. The Flaming Lips. I spent most of my time listening to my own music.

AL: What about the video for "Watching Xanadu?" How did you get permission to run on the dog track?

Colin: All my videos are done by friends. One is from Mull. We had to get permission. That dog track is in East London. It's famous. I had to run across the track in between races with all these people watching me. Thousands of people were shouting at me. We filmed for three days around the streets of London and the Underground. I was running the whole time. It was really hard to do. I just did the video for the new single "Am I Wrong?" It's good fun.

AL: What is your favorite part about doing music?

Colin: I think that the initial spark of coming up with a new song is why I do it. It gives me a lot of fulfillment. I love working in the studio. I love playing live.

AL: What should young people do if they want to do music?

Colin: Don't give up. Keep on writing. Keep doing songs. Don't send your songs away till you know that they are right. Try and find your own sound. Unless you sound original or are trying to be unique, you are nothing. There are all these sources and influences. You regurgitate these things. You soak them up and spit them out. All I can say is that I never stopped trying.

****

Website: www.mullhistoricalsociety.com

--Alexander Laurence

Sharon Van Etten US Tour 2012

2012-01-24T13:44:00.000-08:00

SHARON VAN ETTEN EXTENDS US TOUR IN SUPPORT OF TRAMP, OUT FEBRUARY 7 ON JAGJAGUWAR

WATCH WNYC SOUNDCHECK AND LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON PERFORMANCES

Sharon Van Etten is announcing even more tour dates in support of her forthcoming album, Tramp, out Feb. 7 via Jagjaguwar. Next month, Sharon kicks off a headlining tour of the East Coast and Midwest with a sold out performance at Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia. Before heading to Europe for a week, she’ll play three record release shows in New York – Fri. Feb. 24 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, and Sat. Feb. 25 and Sun. Feb. 26 at the Bowery Ballroom (Sat. Feb. 25 is sold out). Then she’ll head down to Austin for SXSW, and make her way out west with The War On Drugs. The newly announced dates include a tour of the Southeast and beyond.

Sharon kicked off 2012 with her January 5^th late night television debut on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, performing the Tramp single, “Serpents.” Last week, Sharon appeared at WNYC’s Greene Space for a special broadcast of “Soundcheck,” and the following night, she played Tramp in its entirety, including many of the new album’s songs for the first time, to a sold out Mercury Lounge crowd.

WATCH THE LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON PERFORMANCE HERE

WATCH THE WNYC SOUNDCHECK PERFORMANCE HERE

LISTEN TO/DOWNLOAD/SHARE TRAMP SINGLE “SERPENTS”

"Van Etten's combination of vulnerability and confidence -- not to mention her soaring, ethereal voice -- elevates her material from simple singer-songwriter fare to something truly sublime." -- Interview Magazine

"Van Etten's third album Tramp is both beautiful and damned." -- Bust

"Hearing her ethereal voice swirl around the packed venue as very corporeal cymbals crashed behind her was magnificent, and her backup band was up to the task; tracks swelled in just the right moments and crashed with impunity before building up again, brick by brick." -- Village Voice

Tramp, out February 7th on Jagjaguwar, is now available for pre-order in deluxe and regular editions.

Sharon Van Etten - Tramp pre-order link: http://scdistribution.com/SharonVanEtten/

Sharon Van Etten 2012 Tour Dates

Fri 02/10/12 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's # (SOLD OUT)

Sat 02/11/12 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat #

Sun 02/12/12 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle #

Tue 02/14/12 - Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center #

Wed 02/15/12 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Ladies Literary Club for Calvin College #

Thu 02/16/12 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall #

Fri 02/17/12 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall #

Sat 02/18/12 - Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center #

Tue 02/21/12 - Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace #

Wed 02/22/12 - Montreal, QC @ Il Motore #

Thu 02/23/12 - Boston, MA @ Paradise #

Fri 02/24/12 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg #

Sat 02/25/12 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom # (SOLD OUT)

Sun 0/2/26/12 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom ^

Wed 03/14/12 - Austin, TX @ SXSW

Thu 03/15/12 - Austin, TX @ SXSW

Tue 03/20/12 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Avalon *

Wed 03/21/12 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent *

Fri 03/23/12 - Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater *

Sat 03/24/12 - Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret *

Sun 03/25/12 - Seattle, WA @ The Neptune

Tue 03/27/12 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room *

Wed 03/28/12 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater *

Fri 03/30/12 - Iowa City, IA @ Mission Creek Festival

Sat 03/31/12 - St. Louis, MO @ Luminary Center for the Arts *

Sun 04/01/12 - Bloomington, IN @ Rhino's *

Thu. 04/19/12 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar

Fri. 04/20/12 - Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theatre

Sat. 04/21/12 - Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle

Sun. 04/22/12 - Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree Cafe

Tue. 04/24/12 - Knoxville, TN @ The Square Room

Wed. 04/25/12 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl

Thu. 04/26/12 - Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge

Fri. 04/27/12 - Cincinnati, OH @ Mayday Northside

Sat. 04/28/12 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Carnegie Lecture Hall

# w/ Shearwater

^ w/ Carter Tanton, Glass Ghost

* w/ The War On Drugs

Norah Jones "Little Broken Hearts"

2012-01-24T13:42:00.000-08:00

NORAH JONES SET TO RELEASE NEW DANGER MOUSE PRODUCED ALBUM

THIS SPRING ENTITLED “LITTLE BROKEN HEARTS”

JONES RETURNS TO HOLLYWOOD BOWL THIS SUMMER

Norah Jones is set to release a new album this spring entitled Little Broken Hearts (Blue Note/EMI), a collaboration with the producer and musician Danger Mouse. The two first worked together when Danger Mouse called upon Jones to contribute vocals to his acclaimed 2011 album ROME, and their connection proved deep enough that they decided to collaborate on Jones’ fifth studio album. Little Broken Hearts, which features original songs co-written by Jones and Danger Mouse, is the fascinating next step in the artistic evolution of one of the most intriguing singers to have emerged in the past decade. Together they have married their highly personal styles to create an entirely new sound.

It was that singular voice that caught the attention of Danger Mouse as he began to conceptualize ROME, his homage to classic Italian film score music. He already had Jack White in mind for the male role, and he and his collaborator Daniele Luppi realized that Norah’s voice would give the project the perfect balance it needed. Jones contributed three standout songs to ROME (check out a stripped-down live acoustic version of “Black” on RollingStone.com) and around the same time she and Danger Mouse began working on some of the material that would eventually become Little Broken Hearts.

The duo reconvened in Danger Mouse’s Los Angeles studio this past fall to finish what they had begun. The songs were all built from the ground up in the studio, with Jones and Danger Mouse sharing all the songwriting credits and performing the majority of the instrumental parts; Jones on piano, keyboards, bass, and guitar, and Danger Mouse contributing drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, and string arrangements.

Jones will tour extensively in 2012, performing at a mixture of festivals, amphitheatres and theatres in the US and abroad, including her return to the Hollywood Bowl, which has been announced as part of the venue’s subscriber series. The nine-time Grammy-winning singer will be appearing at the iconic outdoor amphitheatre in Los Angeles on August 10. The public may purchase subscriptions starting January 24. Groups of 10 or more may purchase subscription tickets starting January 30. Patrons may purchase five or more concerts at one time starting March 13. Single tickets go on sale on Saturday, May 5. For more information visit www.hollywoodbowl.com or call (323) 850-2000.

Jones will also perform at the Kodak Hall at Eastman Theater in Rochester, New York, on June 29. Tickets go on sale to the public here on Friday, January 27 at 10:00am EST. Many more dates will be announced in the coming months. Visit www.norahjones.com and sign up for the email list to receive tour updates.

The Jezabels announce US Tour

2012-01-24T13:39:00.000-08:00

THE JEZABELS ANNOUNCE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

RELEASE PRISONER PHYSICALLY IN THE US

Prisoner Available April 3rd via Mom + Pop

Grab embed code for album stream here

Anthemic Australian quartet The Jezabels is pleased to announce that its debut full-length record, Prisoner, will be available physically on April 3rd on Mom + Pop.

To celebrate the release, the band will embark on an extensive North American tour, kicking off at The Bowery Ballroom in New York on April 10th and traversing across the US and Canada through May. A full list of dates is below.

Recorded at Sydney's Attic Studios with producer Lachlan Mitchell and mixed by Peter Katis, Prisoner is a collection of soaring, sunkissed rock and goth-tinged pop. Since its Australian release in mid-September, The Jezabels have all but demolished Oz. In a matter of weeks, the band has sold out every show it has played Down Under, debuted at #2 on the Aussie charts (held off only by worldwide phenomenon Adele), and won a pair of AIR awards. All in a day's work.

Originally founded by Byron-bred singer Hayley Mary and keyboardist Heather Shannon, the band truly found its legs with the 2006 addition of guitarist Sam Lockwood and drummer Nik Kapoler. Like the three EPs that came before it (2009's The Man Is Dead and She's So Hard and 2010's Dark Storm), Prisoner calls to mind the theatrics of Siouxsie-indebted post-punk and Kate Bush melodrama, never losing site of the outsized, stadium-ready streak that runs through its fifteen tracks.

Tracklisting:

01 Prisoner

02 Endless Summer

03 Long Highway

04 Trycolour

05 Rosebud

06 City Girl

07 Nobody Nowhere

08 Horsehead

09 Austerlitz

10 Deep Wide Ocean

11 Peace Of Mind

12 Reprise

13 Catch Me

14 Hurt Me (Bonus Track)

15 Easy To Love (Bonus Track)

Tour Dates:

04/10 New York, NY, The Bowery Ballroom*

04/12 Pittsburgh, PA, Brillobox*

04/13 Philadelphia, PA, Johnny Brendas*

04/14 Washington DC, Red Palace*

04/16 Boston, MA, Brighton Music Hall*

04/17 Montreal, QC, Divan Orange*

04/18 Toronto, ON, The Mod Club*

04/20 Chicago, IL, Lincoln Hall*

04/21 Minneapolis, MN, Triple Rock Social Club*

04/23 Winnipeg, MB, West End Cultural Centre*

04/24 Saskatoon, SK, Amigos Cantina*

04/26 Edmonton, AB, The Starlite Room*

04/27 Calgary, AB, The Gateway Bar*

04/28 Nelson, BC, The Royal*

04/30 Whistler, BC, The Langhorn Saloon*

05/01 Vancouver, BC, Venue Nightclub*

05/03 Seattle, WA, Crocodile*

05/04 Portland, OR, Mississippi Studios*

05/08 San Francisco, CA, The Independent*

05/11 Los Angeles, CA, The Troubadour*

05/12 San Diego, CA, Casbah*

*w/ Guest Benjamin Francis Leftwich

http ://www .thejezabels .com /

https ://www .facebook .com /TheJezabels

http ://www .twitter .com /thejezabels

http ://thejezabels .tumblr .com

X + Dead Kennedys @ MOCA January 28th

2012-01-23T16:01:00.000-08:00

MOCA presents X
with special guests, THE DEAD KENNEDYS, and THE AVENGERS >>UPDATE: SOLD OUT

Photo by Neil Zlowzower

MOCA’S MEMBERS-ONLY PUNK CONCERT NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28; DOORS AT 6:30PM, SHOW AT 7:30PM
THE GEFFEN CONTEMPORARY AT MOCA

In conjunction with Under the Big Black Sun: 1974–1981, join us for one of the culminating events of The Pacific Standard Time Performance and Public Art Festival—an exclusive concert with three seminal punk rock bands that continue to shape California’s music scene.

SOLD OUT

Visit us at:
MOCA Grand Avenue
250 S. Grand Ave, LA 90012;

and The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
152 N. Central Ave, LA 90012.

Human Woman "Delusional"

2012-01-23T15:18:00.000-08:00

Icelandic Duo Human Woman Debut New Single And Spinning Video For 'Delusional'
Watch the video for 'Delusional' at the Discobelle premiere or YouTube

Icelandic duo Human Woman have teamed up with hfn music (Trentemøller, Kasper Bjørke) to release the single 'Delusional' in advance of their forthcoming LP due out later this year. Comprised of Gisli Galdur (aka Galdur) of Icelandic band Trabant and producer Jón Atli Helgason (aka Sexy Lazer), Human Woman have forged a fantastic fusion of modern electronic pop with the debut single. Taking influences across the board, the duo have cooked up a sensual, catchy indie-dance track that is pleasingly reminiscent of the 80s. Directed by Einar Snorri and Helgason, the psychedelic video for 'Delusional' merges footage of a master hula-hoopist with prismatic images that mirror the shapes she creates.

The single also features remixes from Danish DJ and producer Kasper Bjørke who contributes a slow house-disco track and a tense Dub version as a digital extra. Berlin's Vincenzo then takes on the single with a bass heavy club mix that maintains the slow tempo. Zev, a DJ and owner of NYC label, Wolf & Lamb offers a 'Brooklyn Beatdown Mix' and a 'Dreamland Mix' incorporating dramatic washes of color and dreamy synth flourishes into the original track. Human Woman will release another single "Love Games" in late April before putting out their debut full-length.

Watch Human Woman's teaser video for 'Delusional' at YouTube

Delusional Digital Tracklisting

1. Delusional

2. Delusional (Kasper Bjørke Remix)

3. Delusional (Vincenzo Remix)

4. Delusional (Zev's Brooklyn Beatdown Mix)

Digital exclusives for selected stores:

5. Delusional (Zev's Dreamland Mix)

6. Delusional (Kasper Bjørke Dub)

For more info, please visit:

www.facebook.com/humanwoman
www.hfn-music.com
www.facebook.com/hfnmusic

Van Dyke Parks on Tour

2012-01-23T15:16:00.000-08:00

Van Dyke Parks Announces Select Run of Southeast Dates

Final Installment of Unique 45's Series Set for March 20 Release

"One of the most distinctive, idiosyncratic contributors to the American songbook." - AV Club

"A culty wingman whose fingerprints are conspicuous on several gargantuan moments in
pop history." - LA Weekly

Legendary artist, composer and producer Van Dyke Parks will embark on a run of Southeast tour dates, including a February appearance at NPR's Mountain Stage. After a set of dates with Fleet Foxes last fall, Parks will return to this part of the country once again in support of his unique 7" vinyl series with artwork from some of the most important contemporary artists of our time, including Ed Ruscha, Art Speigelman, Frank Holmes and many more. Parks will kick off this run of performances with a set at Santa Barbara's Soho Restaurant & Music Club on Tuesday, January 31. The show is in conjunction with an after party for the screening of "Music Man Murray," a documentary scored by Parks, and written and directed by his son, Richard Parks premiering at the Santa Barbara Independent Film Festival.

This series of 45's is Parks' first new studio music in over 15 years, since his acclaimed album Orange Crate Art. Announced last August on his own label Bananastan, the first four vinyls are available for purchase at the label's website and during the forthcoming live appearances. In December, Parks released the latest single 'Amazing Graces'/Hold Back Time' with Charles Ray art and will release the final two installments on March 20: 'Sassafrass'/ 'The All Golden' illustrated by both Billy Edd Wheeler and Klaus Voormann and 'Missin' Missippi'/'The Parting Hand' with sleeve art by Sally Parks, and Stanley Dorfman.

Parks also released Arrangements Vol. 1 last year, a compilation of some of his greatest arrangements, with Pitchfork saying, "the songs selected on 'Arrangements' are uniformly fantastic (8.6 'Best New Reissue')." At the heart of some of the great albums of the last 50 years, Parks' accomplishments include Brian Wilson's 'lost' masterpiece Smile, Randy Newman and Ry Cooder's first recordings, and Joanna Newsom's critically acclaimed 2006 album YS. Read his interview with the LA Times as he discusses his recent endeavors and work with Grammy-nominated artist Skrillex.

Van Dyke Parks On Tour

1/31 - Santa Barbara, CA - Soho Restaurant & Music Club
2/15 - St. Petersburg, FL - Craftsman House Gallery
2/16 - Jacksonville, FL - The Florida Theatre
2/18 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl

2/19 - Athens, GA - University of Georgia

Xiu Xiu "Hi"

2012-01-23T15:14:00.000-08:00

Xiu Xiu Premiere Video for "Hi"

Watch the video for "Hi" now on Pitchfork!

Directed by David Horvitz and Jamie Stewart, the video for "Hi" features footage shot on a crazed road trip through the decaying bizarre and gorgeous of upstate New York, photos taken throughout 2010-2011 Xiu Xiu world tours, and sneaking out during wee hours to burn dolls in church courtyards throughout Durham, NC, amongst other bad acts: throwing copies of Dick Cheney’s autobiography in a Barnes & Noble garbage, graffiti lyrics next to a gas station sink, and Jamie lighting his hand on fire.

Download "Hi," the first single from Always.

Always comes out March 6^th on Polyvinyl! It will be available on digital, CD and vinyl formats.

Always will be released on white vinyl and there will be 500 limited edition copies of translucent pink vinyl available via Polyvinyl mailorder. A collage poster of all the Xiu Xiu tattoos that exist in the world accompanies the LPs.

A Neo Tropical Companion, a book of haiku’s by Jamie Stewart being published by Uitgeverij, will also come out in March. A copy of the book and Always will be available as a special bundle purchase through Polyvinyl.

Xiu Xiu will tour the world in support of Always starting this spring – dates will be announced soon!

Foxygen "With All My Friends"

2012-01-23T13:39:00.000-08:00

Theophilus London @ El Rey

2012-01-22T11:50:00.000-08:00

THEOPHILUS LONDON is playing at the El Rey tonight, Janiarty 22nd, 2012.

Joanna Newsom "Austin City Limits"

2012-01-20T12:36:00.000-08:00

JOANNA NEWSOM PERFORMS ON AUSTIN CITY LIMITS THIS SATURDAY, JANUARY 21

This Saturday, January 21^st on PBS Stations across the nation, Austin City Limits presents an extraordinary performance by Joanna Newsom! By which we mean an everyday, ordinary Joanna Newsom performance – she’s always extraordinary! This will be Joanna’s debut performance on Austin City Limits following appearances on other late night programs including Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and the Late Show with David Letterman. Finally, Joanna has a chance to play some of her longer songs for all the world to see - thank you, ACL!

Recorded and taped August 1, 2011 at ACL Live at The Moody Theater, the episode features The Milk-Eyed Mender’s “Bridges and Balloons,” and Have One On Me’s “Good Intentions Paving Company” and title track, “Have One On Me.” As if Joanna on TV isn’t enough, this ACL episode is coupled with a performance by Fleet Foxes making for one supreme hour of entertainment by two musical acts who are also the best of friends!

Watch a sneak peek of Joanna Newsom performing “Bridges and Balloons” on Austin City Limits here:

http://www.acltv.com/3710-fleet-foxes-joanna-newsom/#joanna-newsom

Make sure to check your local listings and tune in to Austin City Limits January 21^st.

What else has Joanna been up to in the past several months? Just before making her way to Austin for the ACL taping, she traveled to the great Northwest for a guest stint on “Portlandia” and an Under The Radar cover story interview with Robin Pecknold, took part in Vogue’s CFDA Fashion Fund shoot, and lent her vocals to The Muppets Original Soundtrack’s “The Muppet Show Theme.”

The “Portlandia” episode featuring Joanna airs Friday, February 17^th. Be sure to tune into that too!

Photo courtesy KLRU-TV/Austin City Limits. Photo by Scott Newton.

Ladyhawke "Anxiety"

2012-01-20T12:34:00.000-08:00

WATCH ALBUM TEASER VIDEO

FIRST SINGLE 'BLACK WHITE & BLUE' TO PREMIERE ON MONDAY JANUARY 23RD

Following on from her multi-award winning, critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, New Zealand born LADYHAWKE will release her sophomore album, titled 'Anxiety', on March 27th in the United States.

The new album was recorded in New Zealand and France with producer and long-time collaborator Pascal Gabriel, and features ten new songs including first single, 'Black White & Blue'.

The single will premiere on Radio 1 (UK) with Zane Lowe at 7pm GMT on Monday Jan 23rd (2pm EST), and simultaneously on Australia's Triple J. You will be able to stream 'Black White & Blue' via the Ladyhawke website immediately after the premiere.

Stay tuned for forthcoming 'Black White & Blue' remixes by The Big Pink, Nile Delta, and Punks Jump Up.

To watch an animated album teaser, featuring snippets of music from 'Anxiety', click HERE

'Anxiety' will be out in the US on March 27th via Casablanca Records.

ANXIETY ALBUM TRACKLIST
1. Girl Like Me
2. Sunday Drive
3. Black White & Blue
4. Vaccine
5. Blue Eyes
6. Vanity
7. The Quick & The Dead
8. Anxiety
9. Cellophane
10. Gone Gone Gone

Dinosaur JR. "BUG live at 9:30 Club" DVD

2012-01-20T11:39:00.000-08:00

DINOSAUR JR.

"BUG Live at 9:30 Club: In the Hands of the Fans"

To Be Released on DVD and Blu-ray

February 21, 2012 via MVD Entertainment Group

BUG Live at 9:30 Club: In the Hands of the Fans is the visual document of a reunited Dinosaur Jr. (J Mascis, Lou Barlow, and Emmett "Murph" Murphy) performing live at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC, June 2011.

Through an online contest, six fans were selected to film Dinosaur Jr. performing "Bug" in its entirety. This production details the fans' joy as they witness a classic performance and meet their heroes face to face in an exclusive interview with the band.

Under the awesome direction of Dave Markey (The Year Punk Broke), In the Hands of the Fans brings the fans closer to the band and the music closer to you. It includes bonus footage of Henry Rollins speaking candidly to Markey about the band, and interviewing them on stage before the show.

"Since re-forming in 2005, the scorching troika of J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph have astonished all who dared doubt their late '90s vintage gnarl could have retained every ounce of its power," declares MOJO Magazine, and this show would prove to be no different. J and the boys sound as tight as ever as they blaze through classic songs like "Freak Scene," "Let It Ride," and "Pond Song," and finish the set with a fan singing on the emotionally draining "Don't."

MVD Entertainment Group, an industry leader in producing and distributing music-related audiovisual content, launched the In the Hands of the Fans series with the intention of utilizing the energy and talents of fans who, by means of an online video submission contest, win the opportunity to film a performance of their favorite band in HD and then interview the band members after the performance. The result is a high quality, low cost, unique program that is part concert film and part reality TV show.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsx9F2fkBfM

Item Info / Tracklist: http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=MVD5260D

Blu-ray: http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=MVD5261BR

In the Hands of the Fanswebsite:

http://www.inthehandsofthefans.com/

In addition to the In the Hands of the Fans project J Mascis has joined the ranks of the Aggronautix Throbblehead elite.

This figure is limited to 1000 numbered units, stands at 7 inches tall, and is made of a lightweight polyresin.

J is accurately sculpted right down to the big ole glasses, rockin' riff grip, and signature silver mane that features REAL DOLL HAIR -- a first for Aggronautix! Pick up this highly influential (and potentially face melting) figure today!

Link to Buy: http://aggronautix.com/products.cfm?productid=48

Mascis is the thirteenth person to be polyresinated by Aggronautix. In May of 2009, the company launched with the popular G.G. Allin "1991" figure, which quickly sold out of the 2000 limited edition numbered units manufactured.

# # #

Har Mar Superstar @ Satellite

2012-01-20T09:47:00.000-08:00

HAR MAR SUPERSTAR is playing the Satellite tonight, January 20th 2012.

Theophilus London @ Neumos

2012-01-19T13:27:00.000-08:00

THEOPHILUS LONDON will be playing the El Rey on Sunday January 22nd.

ALL Photos by Rachel Robinson

White Denim: US Tour w/ Wilco

2012-01-19T12:24:00.000-08:00

White Denim kick off their tour with Wilco tonight and just added new solo dates including a show at the infamous L.A. venue The Satellite on 2/11. In addition, the 2011 reissue 'Last Days of Summer' will be available exclusively on Spotify starting 1/24, perfect for pre-gaming.

TOUR DATES:

1/19 Fillmore Auditorium - Denver, CO

1/21 Gammage Auditorium - Tempe, AZ

1/22 Copley Symphony Hall - San Diego, CA

1/24 Hollywood Palladium - Los Angeles, CA

1/25 The Wiltern - Los Angeles, CA

1/27 Los Angeles Theatre - Los Angeles, CA

1/28 San Jose Civic Center - San Jose, CA

1/29 Warfield Theatre - San Francisco, CA

1/31 Fox Theatre - Oakland, CA

2/1 Mondavi Center - Davis, CA

2/3 Hult Center for Perf. Arts - Eugene, OR

2/5 Orpheum Theater - Vancouver, BC

2/6 INB PAC - Spokane, WA

2/7 Paramount Ballroom - Seattle, WA

2/8 Arlene Schnitzer Hall - Portland, OR

2/10 Arlington Theatre - Santa Barbara, CA

2/11 The Satellite- Los Angeles, CA

2/12 The Loft @ UCSD - La Jolla, CA

2/14 The Crescent Ballroom - Phoenix, AZ

2/15 Plush - Tucson, AZ

2/16 Book & Stage @ The Cosmopolitan - Las Vegas, NV

http://whitedenimmusic.com/

Wild Belle "Keep You"

2012-01-19T11:43:00.000-08:00

WILD BELLE TO DEBUT ‘KEEP YOU’ SINGLE ON

12” VINYL OUT FEB 21.

ANNOUNCE WEST COAST DATES & SXSW FOR MARCH 2012

Listen/Share: 'Keep You'

02/28 - SOhO Restaurant & Music Club - Santa Barbara, CA - 09:00PM

02/29 - Casbah - San Diego, CA - 09:30PM

03/01 - The Echoplex - Los Angeles, CA - 09:30PM

*03/13 - 03/18 - SXSW Dates TBA*

Chicago’s own Wild Belle are without doubt one of the most promising acts of 2012.

Since unleashing their debut single ‘Keep You’ via their bandcamp page earlier this month, Wild Belle aka Natalie Bergman and Elliot Bergman have managed to wow folks far and wide with their glistening combination of bold songwriting, studio wizardry and late-night vibes.

Growing up in a highly musical family, Natalie would join Elliot on the road with his band NOMO at only 17 years old. Still too young to (legally) get into most of the clubs, she played percussion, sold merch, and occasionally sang a song or two, wowing the audiences and Elliot with her undeniable stage presence and talent.

After extensive touring and some well-deserved downtime for NOMO, the two began a long-distance collaboration on what would eventually gel into Wild Belle. Natalie, in Chicago, dreamt up lyrics, banged out drum loops in her bedroom on her glitter-blue drum-kit and layered instrumental tracks on top. Elliot, in Brooklyn, would add to these foundations with kalimba loops, horn lines or some chords on the Hammond b3. Eventually they formed a backdrop for Natalie's striking vocals; stories of love and loss culled from overflowing notebooks or scribbled lyrics on napkins from her waitressing job.

A sound emerged from their diverse set of shared influences (Helene Smith, Etta James, Francis Bebey, Delroy Wilson, Lauryn Hill, Outkast, Tom Tom Club, Eurythmics), something immediately familiar while strikingly fresh.

Their music doesn’t come from a certain place, but sounds like a locale we'd all like to visit this year. The water’s warm, it’s a beautiful night, and there’s a dance party that’s starting just after midnight.

Wild Belle are currently in the studio working on their debut album due later this year. Be sure to catch them live on the west coast and at SXSW in Austin, Texas (more dates to be announced soon).

Barry Adamson "Turnaround"

2012-01-19T11:35:00.000-08:00

Barry Adamson Shares New Single, Announces
US In-Store Performances (FREE MP3)

“…the creator of a series of noirish solo albums that absolutely reek of atmosphere and a strangely troubling dynamism — Adamson is a mysterious person you always want to know more about.” – LA Weekly

Download the “Turnaround” MP3 HERE

Upcoming In-Store Performances
2/20 – New York, NY – Other Music
2/24 – Chicago, IL - Reckless

The legendary Barry Adamson (The Bad Seeds, Magazine) is set to release his 10th studio album, I Will Set You Free, on February 14th via Central Control. Today, he’s sharing the second single from the album, “Turnaround,” which you can download as a free MP3 here. Barry is also coming back to the US for two in-store performances in February, including Other Music in NYC, and Reckless in Chicago.

34 years after the first album he played on (the seminal Magazine's post-punk classic Real Life), Barry has made an album that touches on the sonic stepping stones he's used year by year to pave his way to the present. The memories and experience from performing and taking his work across the world with Magazine, the Bad Seeds, Iggy Pop, The Gun Club really come to life on the album.

Adamson has also written for David Lynch and Danny Boyle, and was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 1992. He returned to grace the stage with a reformed Magazine during their triumphant 2009 tour. All this has directly influenced I Will Set You Free, coloring it with a steady, sure-handed experience that emanates from the fingertip fire of rock numbers to emotive, yearning noir ballads and new wave inflicted power pop.

www.barryadamson.com

Andrew W.K. "I Get Wet" ten years later

2012-01-18T17:45:00.000-08:00

ANDREW W.K. ANNOUNCES

I GET WET TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY TOUR

READ MY EXPLOSIVE 2002 INTERVIEW: here

ANDREW AND HIS FULL BAND TO PERFORM HIS I GET WET ALBUM
IN ITS ENTIRETY, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!

FIRST HEADLINING TOUR IN SEVEN YEARS!

[I Get Wet is] as streamlined as anything Kraftwerk ever put to tape, and yet sounds like it's about to come unhinged at any moment. It's metal if the fans traded their pentagrams for smiley faces. - PITCHFORK (THE TOP 200 ALBUMS OF THE 2000s)

#2 Rock Album of The Decade - RHAPSODY

After one listen to I Get Wet, you'll swear you've heard it before... but somehow, you've never heard anything like it. - THE VILLAGE VOICE

The Savior of Rock N Roll and listed at #9 on the 50 Best Albums of the year. - NME

New York, NY- (Jan 18, 2012): Andrew W.K., rock & rolls reigning king of partying, has announced a tour celebrating his debut album's 10th anniversary. When his I Get Wet album first exploded onto an unsuspecting public one decade ago, it quickly polarized audiences with an intense sound and even more intense front man. Ten years later, Andrew has decided to do put on a special show in honor of his origins. The band will perform every song from his groundbreaking release, in album order, every night of the tour, including appearances at the Austin, Texas, South By Southwest Festival in March. (Tour dates listed below).

Originally released in 2002 on Island/Universal, I Get Wet was W.K.s urgent rally-cry to the world. It unleashed anthemic hits like, Party Hard and She Is Beautiful to an enthralled and sometimes enraged audience, helping secure the #1 spot on the Billboard Heat Seekers chart. W.K.s sound as, Alternative Press proclaimed, smashes up pop melodies, metal riffs and industrial beats with a hammer.., and ten years later, it continues to bring pure party happiness to thousands worldwide.

At a time when culture was saturated with pessimism and shadows of negativity, nihilistic messages tended to rule the airwaves. Ten years ago, it was difficult to find any contemporary songs about partying, fun, or positivity. The major-key club-rock sound of I Get Wet, and the undeniably powerful vision of its creator, have both proven influential and ahead of their time. The albums relentless four-on-the-floor up with everything dance rock was a blast of fresh air, and anticipated the shape pop music to come a decade ahead of schedule. As The Onions A.V.club noted, the album rocks almost recklessly, but without the trappings that burden its peers: There's no camp, no irony, and, most notably, no angst. The result was a re-setting of the bar for rock music and performance, paving the way for more fun and positivity in culture.

Known as the new ambassador of visceral rock & roll pleasure, Andrew W.K. Andrews furious delivery, charismatic charm, and energized enthusiasm continue to this day. His almost singular ability to straddle both mainstream media and fringe culture has made him an instantly recognizable modern pop icon. Besides his own albums which include a recent collection of improvised piano tracks (55 Cadillac), and a tribute album for the Japanimation franchise Gundam - Andrews recent accomplishments include hosting the successful Cartoon Network TV program, Destroy Build Destroy - with over 1.7 million viewers a week, the program quickly became the #1 show in its time slot for boys 6-11 on ALL of television, and it earned Andrew the Best Host award from KidScreen, (a youth TV industry publication). Andrew was invited to write and perform an official theme song to the 2012 World Snowboarding Championship in Oslo, Norway, and serve as the events musical diplomat. Andrew has also become a regular commentator on networks like VH1 and FOX.

The recent years have even seen Andrew turning his positive message into motivational lectures at such Ivy League universities as Harvard and Yale, and working with such artists as reggae and dub pioneer, Lee Scratch Perry (receiving a Grammy nomination in 2009 for producing Perrys Repentance album), as well as artists such as Matt & Kim, Soulja Boy, Current 93, Good Charlotte, Steve Aoki, Rivers Cuomo and even The Simpsons animated series (Andrew W.K. performed the theme song for the legendary cartoons 20th anniversary episode).

Pre-sale tickets for the upcoming tour are available as of Friday, January 20th, 2012, at 10am ET only on www.AndrewWK.com.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on the morning of Friday, January 27th, 2012.

TOUR DATES

U.S. & Canada
Sat Mar 3 - Vancouver, BC - Venue

Sun Mar 4 - Seattle, WA - Showbox Market

Mon Mar 5 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom

Tue Mar 6 - San Francisco, CA - The Regency Ballroom

Thu Mar 8 - Los Angeles, CA - Avalon

Fri Mar 9 - Las Vegas, NV - Body English @ Hard Rock

Sat Mar 10 - Pomona, CA - The Glass House

Sun Mar 11 - Tempe, AZ - The Marquee

Tue Mar 13 - San Antonio, TX - White Rabbit

Wed Mar 14 - Austin, TX - SXSW

Thu Mar 15 - Austin, TX - SXSW

Fri Mar 16 - Austin, TX - SXSW

Sat Mar 17 - Austin, TX - SXSW

Sun Mar 18 - Houston, TX - Fitzgeralds Upstairs

Tue Mar 20 - Denver, CO - Bluebird

Thu Mar 22 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue

Fri Mar 23 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave

Sat Mar 24 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews Hall

Sun Mar 25 - Chicago, IL - Metro

Mon Mar 26 - Cleveland, OH - House Of Blues

Tue Mar 27 - Toronto,ON - Phoenix

Wed Mar 28 - Boston, MA - Paradise

Fri Mar 30 - Philadelphia, PA - TLA

Sat Mar 31 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Wolf Den

Sun Apr 1 - Washington, DC - 930 Club

Mon Apr 2 - New York, NY - Webster Hall

Thu Apr 5 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade

Fri Apr 6 - Orlando, FL - Beacham Theater

Sat Apr 7 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution

READ MY EXPLOSIVE 2002 INTERVIEW: here

Jessie Baylin "Hurry Hurry"

2012-01-18T17:42:00.000-08:00

JESSIE BAYLIN RELEASES NEW VIDEO FOR
"HURRY HURRY"

MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTED BY ACTRESS SCARLETT JOHANSSON

WEST COAST DATES WITH THE WATSON TWINS CONFIRMED

NEW ALBUM, LITTLE SPARK, IN STORES AND ONLINE NOW VIA BLONDE RAT

Nashville, TN-based singer-songwriter Jessie Baylin is excited to announce the release of her new music video for "Hurry Hurry." The clip for the track was helmed by Jessie's close friend, actress Scarlett Johansson, with Adam Kimmel (Capote, Lars & The Real Girl) handling the cinematography. As a complimentary visual to the album's soft and sweeping opener, the elegantly filmed "Hurry Hurry" was a clip shot in one take on New York City's Manhattan Bridge with the New York skyline as its backdrop. Its simplicity perfectly balances the purity of emotion felt in the song.

"One of the greatest gifts of growing up with Jessie has been watching her develop as a musician," Director Scarlett Johansson said. "This song has a dreamy Brian Wilson sort of feel; I wanted to build on that and allow the video to carry on dreamily and use the changing tone and Jessie's expression to match the vibe of the melody."

WATCH: "HURRY HURRY" MUSIC VIDEO

(Directed by Scarlett Johansson)

Photo: Matt Wignall

Produced by Kevin Augunas (Cold War Kids, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros) and arranged by modern-day auteur and multi-instrumentalist Richard Swift, Little Spark, Baylin's third full-length album, carries with it a classic pop tone that evokes memories of the Brill Building and Laurel Canyon in the '70s while retaining a decidedly modern, empowered worldview.

JANUARY
25 - Seattle, WA - The Triple Door *
26 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir *
29 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent *
31 - Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour *

* = w/ The Watson Twins

Brian Jonestown Massacre: US Tour 2012

2012-01-18T11:09:00.000-08:00

BRIAN JONESTOWN ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM DETAILS, WEST COAST TOUR

BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE are glad to announce the start of their world tour for 2012. Below are the West Coast North American dates. This coincides with their new album release, Aufheben, on May 1, 2012 on ’a’ Records available through Redeye Distribution. East coast dates will follow.

West Coast Dates 2012

Fri April 27 Dallas @ Granada Theatre
Sat April 28 Houston @ Fitzgeralds
Sun April 29 Austin @ Psych Fest
Thu May 3 Vancouver @ The Venue (To Be Confirmed)
Fri May 4 Seattle @ Neptune Theatre
Sat May 5 Portland @ Wonder Ballroom
Tue May 8 Denver @ Bluebird Theatre
Wed May 9 Salt Lake City @ Urban Lounge
Fri May 11 San Francisco @ The Fillmore
Sat May 12 Los Angeles @ The Wiltern

brianjonestownmassacre.com twitter.com/BJM_Band facebook.com/Brian-Jonestown-Massacre

Unknown Mortal Orchestra tour w/ Girls

2012-01-17T18:42:00.000-08:00

Unknown Mortal Orchestra premieres "Thought Ballune" video, announces tour w/ Girls

VIDEO: "Thought Ballune" (Dir. by Jordan Blady & Ryan Knowles) -

http://bit.ly/zdMDri

or watch the video on Vimeo:

http://vimeo.com/34990605

Still from the "Thought Ballune" video

Unknown Mortal Orchestra premieres their best & most visually arresting video to date, for "Thought Ballune" today at RollingStone.com, directed by the team of Jordan Blady and Ryan Knowles. The band has a few headlining shows in California in Feb., then they will hit the road in support of Girls for the majority of the month of March. They'll also appear at this year's SXSW.

UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA

FRI 2/24 San Francisco CA Clift Hotel
SAT 2/25 Los Angeles CA Echoplex *
SUN 2/26 Santa Monica CA The Central
MON 2/27 San Luis Obispo CA SLO Brew
TUE 2/28 Visalia CA Cellar Door
THR 3/1 Santa Cruz CA Coconut Grove Ballroom #
FRI 3/2 San Diego CA Birch North Park Theatre #
SUN 3/4 Vail CO Snowball Music Festival
MON 3/5 Albuquerque NM Launchpad #
WED 3/7 San Antonio TX White Rabbit #
THR 3/8 Austin TX La Zona Rosa #
FRI 3/9 Dallas TX Granada Theatre #
MON 3/12 New Orleans LA One Eyed Jack's #
TUE 3/13 Houston TX Fitzgerald's #

WED 3/14 Austin TX Red 7 / Force Field PR / Terrorbird SXSW Day Party

FRI 3/16 Denver CO Gothic Theatre #
SAT 3/17 Salt Lake City UT In The Venue #
SUN 3/18 Reno NV Cargo #

* = w/ White Arrows

# = w/ Girls

M83 tour the US

2012-01-17T18:40:00.000-08:00

TOUR:

Mar. 24 – Miami, FL – Ultra Fest

Apr. 13 – Indio, CA – Coachella

Apr. 20 – Indio, CA – Coachella

Apr. 22 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore Auditorium (Sold Out)

Apr. 23 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore Auditorium (Sold Out)

Apr. 25 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theatre

Apr. 26 – Seattle, WA – The Neptune

Apr. 27 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre (Sold Out)

Apr. 29 – Salt Lake City, UT – In The Venue

Apr. 30 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre

May 1 – Lawrence, KS – The Granada Theatre

May 2 – Saint Louis, MO – The Pageant

May 4 – Chicago, IL – The Riviera (Sold Out)

May 5 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theatre (Sold Out)

May 6 – Toronto, ON – Sound Academy

May 7 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom

May 9 – Boston, MA – House of Blues

May 10 – New York, NY – Terminal 5 (Sold Out)

May 11 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer (Sold Out)

May 12 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club (Sold Out)

May 12 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club (LATE SHOW) NEW!

May 14 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre

May 15 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works

May 17 – Houston, TX – House of Blues

May 18 – Austin, TX – Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater (Sold Out)

May 19 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater (Sold Out)

Aug. 8 – NYC - SummerStage

M83 are confirmed to play two massive festivals this year including Coachella and Ultra Music Festival, plus a special show in New York City’s Central Park on August 8th during the 2012 NY Summerstage Season.

Tickets for Summerstage go on sale January 20th.

Black Bananas tour with Sleigh Bells

2012-01-17T18:37:00.000-08:00

Black Bananas announces tour dates w/ Sleigh Bells, record release party in LA

Plus new album teaser video

VIDEO: Album Teaser -
http://youtu.be/BvpRSbjhplg

MP3: "Rad Times" -
http://www.dragcity.com/system/tracks/downloads/5180/original/1-07_Rad_Times.mp3

Black Bananas

BLACK BANANAS

Feb 02 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo #

Feb 16 Washington DC @ 9:30 Club*

Feb 17 New York, NY @ Terminal 5*

Feb 18 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix *

Feb 21 Los Angeles, CA @ Mayan Theater*

Feb 23 San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom*

Feb 24 Seattle, WA @ Showbox at Market*

# = RECORD RELEASE SHOW w/ Pink Mountaintops, Ariel Pink DJ Set

* = w/ Sleigh Bells

Chelsea Wolfe UK Tour

2012-01-17T18:35:00.000-08:00

CHELSEA WOLFE ANNOUNCES FIRST EVER UK TOUR w/ 2:54 & TOURS EUROPE

PERFORMS "MOVIE SCREEN" FOR INCASE'S ROOM 205

3RD ALBUM, CHELSEA WOLFE (S/T), DUE 2012

photo by: WDRKMR

California native Chelsea Wolfe has always embodied both light and dark. Yet though her music is a raw strain of electric folk tinted by black metal and deep blues, it never wallows in despair. Instead, it wraps itself like a thick blanket around the human experience, encouraging uplift, seeking triumph. Her voice is a haunting call, warm and lingering, and her lyrics acknowledge life's obscure and melancholy moments in service to the unlikely truths and beauty they so often reveal. Her music exudes strength in the midst of adversity. It makes sense then that her influences run from Nick Cave and Selda Bagcan, to director Ingmar Bergman, with nods to the dramatic flair of Antony Hegarty, and even more so that she hails from the wilder, woodsy part of her state.

Wolfe's unique romanticism began early, but it was always a private affair. At 9, she started sneaking into her father's home studio to record warped keyboard covers and originals. Growing up, she lacked the confidence to share her work, and it wasn't until much later that she even considered making music for others to hear. But in 2009, Wolfe embarked on a three-month stint abroad with a group of nomadic performance artists, playing cathedrals, basements and abandoned nuclear factories, and returned home with a new vision and drive. She recorded two albums worth of material back to back, starting by toting around an 8-track and recording as the mood hit, eventually editing her findings into her stunning 2010 debut, The Grime & the Glow. Described as both healing and harrowing, enchanting and narcotic, the album established Wolfe as an elemental force on the rise. At last ready to embrace her gift, she relocated to Los Angeles in the same year and recorded her second album Ἀποκάλυψις (pronounced "apokalypsis") which found Wolfe in an actual studio with her live band, even as she maintained the strikingly visceral elements of her powerful debut. It was released in summer of 2011 and showcased her unique songwriting ability, as well as a serious heaviness of sound and an ever-present counterweight: that transcendent voice, which rightly landed it on numerous best of 2011 lists.

Chelsea Wolfe is already hard at work on a third album, fittingly self-titled considering her newfound poise, due out in 2012.

WATCH ROOM 205

SPRING EUROPEAN TOUR 2012
4/02 Waterfront Studio, Norwich, UK !

4/03 Buffalo Bar, Cardiff, UK

4/04 Deaf Institute, Manchester, UK !

4/05 Captain's Rest, Glasgow, UK !

4/06 Mello Mello, Liverpool, UK.

4/07 The Garage, London, UK *

4/08 Academy 3, Birmingham, UK *

4/09 Old Blue Last, London, UK.

4/10 The Thekla, Bristol, UK. !

4/11 Green Door Store, Brighton, UK !

4/12 Roadburn, Tilburg, The Netherlands

4/13 Magasin 4, Brussels, Belgium

4/14 4AD, Diksmuide, Belgium

4/15 L'Aéronef, Lille, France

4/16 L'Epicerie, Lyon, France

4/18 Postgarage, Graz, Austria

4/19 Locomotiv Club, Bologna, Italy

4/20 Init Club, Rome, Italy

4/20 Elita Festival, Milano, Italy

4/23 Cafe Potrvá., Prague, Czech Republic

4/24 Thalia Kino/Schauburg, Dresden, Germany

4/25 Berghain Kantine, Berlin, Germany

4/26 Debaser, Malmö, Sweden

4/27 Blå, Oslo, Noway

4/28 Strand, Stockholm, Sweden

4/29 Kuudes Linja, Helsinki, Finland

5/01 Molotow, Hamburg, Germany

5/03 Winston, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

5/04 Le Point Ephemere, Paris, France

5/05 Le 106, Rouen, France

Screaming Females: record store tour 2012

2012-01-17T17:49:00.000-08:00

SCREAMING FEMALES ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM, UGLY, DUE APRIL 3RD

WATCH A VERY RARE STRIPPED-DOWN TINY DESK CONCERT W/ A NEW SONG

BAND REVEALS 7in RECORD STORE TOUR IN FEBRUARY

photo by: Christopher Patrick Ernst

Screaming Females' seven years as a band, four full-length albums and 700 globe-spanning live shows has made them difficult to miss. Through it all, the New Brunswick, New Jersey trio have continued to exude a frenetic energy which is built upon the zeitgeist of America's punk and indie underground yet has always remained forward-looking. Fittingly, for Screaming Females' 5th album Ugly, the band enlisted legendary recording engineer Steve Albini, famed for his unique ability to capture the ferociousness of a live performance while delivering gorgeous sonic clarity. The album's 14 tracks reaffirm the touchstones of the band; they can still shred and front-woman Marissa Paternoster can still unleash a powerful howl. But it doesn't end there. The album ushers in new explorations for the band, a truly remarkable feat considering their already prolific output. Ugly has the perfect combination of raw energy and honed musicianship that produces the type of rock & roll which is still a force to be reckoned with.

As a lead up to Ugly, Screaming Females will release the album's first single, 'It All Means Nothing', on February 11, 2012 at the Don Giovanni Records Showcase in Brooklyn, NY. The 7" record will be backed with a live version of 'A New Kid' from a session recorded at the fabled independent radio station, WFMU. The showcase will be followed by a weeklong tour of free shows at record stores (and a bookstore). The new single will be exclusively available for purchase from the band during this run of shows.

WATCH SCREAMING FEMALES TINY DESK CONCERT

RECORD STORE TOUR

2/11 Brooklyn, NY - Don Giovanni Records Showcase @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

2/12 - Manhattan, NY - Generation Records

2/13 - Cambridge, MA - Lorem Ipsum Books

2/14 - Northampton, MA - Feeding Tube Records

2/15 - Philadelphia, PA - Long In The Tooth Records

2/16 - Richmond, VA - Steady Sounds

2/17 - Asheville, NC - Harvest Records

2/18 - Nashville, TN - Grimey's New and Preloved Music

2/19 - Chicago, IL - Permanent Records

Austin Psych Fest 5

2012-01-17T11:25:00.000-08:00

(Photo: Angel Ceballos)

Gallery is here. Brian Jonestown Massacre photos here taken by Angel Ceballos in Seattle.

Chairlift @ Mondrian

2012-01-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

CHAIRLIFT plays the Mondrian tonight Jan 17th.

Thee Cormans

2012-01-17T03:22:00.000-08:00

More shows:

Tues, Jan. 17 Oakland - Vitus
Wed, Jan 27 Long Beach - Alex's Bar

ALL PHOTOS by Rachel Robinson

More Bands at SXSW 2012

2012-01-16T15:42:00.000-08:00

ZOLA JESUS

MAGNETIC FIELDS

MIIKE SNOW

CHAIRLIFT

LIVING THINGS

THE LOVE LANGUAGE

ANIKA

BAND OF SKULLS

GLISS

CLOUD NOTHINGS

CAVEMAN

PRINCE RAMA

CRAFT SPELLS

FOXYGEN

RINGO DEATHSTARR

THE BLACK ANGELS

HUGH CORNWELL

THE BLACK RYDER

THE WEDDING PRESENT

MAGIC WANDS

PSYCHIC ILLS

All photos by Angel Ceballos

Public Enemy @ Occupy Skid Row

2012-01-15T14:07:00.000-08:00

PUBLIC ENEMY and other bands play Occupy Skid Row in DTLA today. FREE SHOW

The Good Natured: US Tour

2012-01-15T09:15:00.000-08:00

The Good Natured U.S. Tour Dates:

1/16 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge

1/17 Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands

1/19 San Francisco, CA @ Popscene (Rickshaw Stop)

1/20 Los Angeles, CA @ Echo

1/23 Los Angeles, CA @ Bardot

Coachella 2012 is sold out!!!

2012-01-13T13:27:00.000-08:00

The Big Pink: 4AD sessions

2012-01-13T11:46:00.000-08:00

4AD Session 011: The Big Pink

Click to watch The Big Pink's 4AD Session

Ahead of the release of their second album, Future This, The Big Pink have recorded a set of five songs as part of the 4AD Sessions series. Bringing to life the anthemic qualities of the new album, the session is a showcase of the unabashed step towards stadium dynamics the band have made on Future This, while also displaying the often-curveball influences that continue to underpin their best work.

Filmed in 3 Mills Studios, the location was to have a coincidental resonance with the music. Based on Three Mill Island in Bromley-by-Bow, the island is London's oldest surviving industrial centre with evidence to suggest that the mills it houses were listed in the Domesday Book. The grand historical associations and JG Ballard-esque setting appears fitting of the darkened, industrial undertones that course through even the most pop moments of The Big Pink's music. Channeling the epic, immersive and otherworldy feel of the new album, the stark backdrop of the warehouse-like space was coupled with lasers used in a structural way to frame the band and change the physical surroundings.

Playing several tracks from Future This, alongside spiritual cousin 'Velvet', taken from the first album, the session captures what makes The Big Pink such an intriguing band. Effortlessly moving between the outre sounds of the underground and their love for shameless pop hooks, the band display the full scale of their creative ambitions.

Tracklisting

1. 'Stay Gold'
2. 'Hit The Ground (Superman)'
3. 'Velvet'
4. 'Rubbernecking'
5. 'Give It Up'

The portable-infinite

Fujiya & Miyagi @ Echo

The Watson Twins @ Troubadour

The Cult: Choice of Weapon

The Darkness: US Tour 2012

The Lumineers

A Place To Bury Strangers EP + Tour

Whispertown "Parallel" EP

Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio @ CSULB

Dead Kennedys @ MOCA

Shabazz Palaces US TOUR

Psychic Ills : US Tour and SXSW

Lou Reed in Long Beach

The Return of Death By Chocolate

The Good Natured @ Echo

The Dead Kennedys @ MOCA

Bonnaroo: What, Which This, That, The Other

Ane Brun "It All Starts with One"

Lou Reed + Bob Ezrin @ CSULB

Legendary Musician Lou Reed and Producer Bob Ezrin

Warpaint @ Space 1520

Mark Stewart vs. Primal Scream video

Chelsea Wolfe @ Echoplex

Anton Newcombe discovers new band: Magic Castles

Stony Island @ Cinefamily

Middle Class Rut announce winter tour

Marissa Nadler "The Sister"

Big Deal "Lights Out"

LOW announce US Tour

Blast from The Past: Mull Historical Society

Sharon Van Etten US Tour 2012

Norah Jones "Little Broken Hearts"

The Jezabels announce US Tour

X + Dead Kennedys @ MOCA January 28th

MOCA presents Xwith special guests, THE DEAD KENNEDYS, and THE AVENGERS >>UPDATE: SOLD OUT

Human Woman "Delusional"

Van Dyke Parks on Tour

Xiu Xiu "Hi"

Foxygen "With All My Friends"

Theophilus London @ El Rey

Joanna Newsom "Austin City Limits"

Ladyhawke "Anxiety"

Dinosaur JR. "BUG live at 9:30 Club" DVD

Har Mar Superstar @ Satellite

Theophilus London @ Neumos

White Denim: US Tour w/ Wilco

Wild Belle "Keep You"

Barry Adamson "Turnaround"

Andrew W.K. "I Get Wet" ten years later

Jessie Baylin "Hurry Hurry"

Brian Jonestown Massacre: US Tour 2012

Unknown Mortal Orchestra tour w/ Girls

M83 tour the US

Black Bananas tour with Sleigh Bells

Chelsea Wolfe UK Tour

Screaming Females: record store tour 2012

Austin Psych Fest 5

Chairlift @ Mondrian

Thee Cormans

More Bands at SXSW 2012

Public Enemy @ Occupy Skid Row

The Good Natured: US Tour

Coachella 2012 is sold out!!!

The Big Pink: 4AD sessions

4AD Session 011: The Big Pink

Tracklisting

MOCA presents X
with special guests, THE DEAD KENNEDYS, and THE AVENGERS >>UPDATE: SOLD OUT