wildnothing66

Wild Nothing, Cosmetics, Stereo Total, Magic Bullets, Unnatural Helpers, Bare Wires, Jacuzzi Boys & more in This Week in Indie

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Wild Nothing – Golden Haze (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Cosmetics – Sleepwalking (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Magic Bullets – Lying Around (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Stereo Total – Baby Ouh (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Unnatural Helpers – Sunshine/Pretty Girls (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Unnatural Helpers – Girl in the Window (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bare Wires – Seeking Love (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Sundelles – Gold (MP3)

Wild Nothing
Wild Nothing

It’s another Double Issue sized column this week with a lot of exciting stuff this week. We’ll start with a contest. Wild Nothing headline an all-Captured Tracks bill at Bowery Ballroom on Saturday night (8/28) with Cosmetics, MINKS, and Blank Dogsand we’re giving away a pair of tickets to the show. Just send an email to [email protected] with the subject line “Wild Nothing” and we’ll pick a winner at random.

There’s a lot going on in Wild Nothing’s world. The band, who hail from Blacksburg, VA, are packing their bags and moving Brooklyn. Not really surprising, except that it took this long. They also have a new EP, Golden Haze, coming out on Captured Tracks sometime in the near future. Apart from the title cut (which you can download above), tracklistings on the CD, 12″ and digital versions will vary, which reminds me of the way they used to release multiple versions of UK CD singles in the ’90s to get a higher chart position. Fun with formats, or milking the fans? I guess if all the songs are worth hearing it won’t matter.

No matter which one you buy, “Golden Haze” is another sparkler from these guys who have been playing a lot of new songs at their shows. And if you haven’t picked up their debut Gemini yet, I think it’s one of the year’s best. And with a permanent line-up (and a new, really solid drummer), Wild Nothing have been a really good live band too.

P.S. Captured Tracks will be giving out free mixtapes at the Bowery Ballroom merch table

Cosmetics
CosmeticsCosmetics

Also on that Bowery bill are Vancouver synthpop duo Cosmetics who are playing a string of NYC shows in this week: tonight (8/25) at the Wierd party at Home Sweet Home, then the Bowery show on Saturday, and finally at Glasslands for Pendu Disco on Tuesday (8/31) with Cult of Youth and Seattle’s King Dude. Cosmetics only have two singles out at the moment, though both are pretty good shavings of retro-futuristic minimal disco. (Not too far off from what Glass Candy does.) You can download the A-side of their current single, “Sleepwalking,” at the top of this post.

Stereo Total
Stereo Total

If you want more minimal beats but with an angular, more arty bent, Stereo Total are playing tonight (8/25) at Le Poisson Rouge. The veteran French-German duo have been supercolliding styles for nearly 20 years. Krautrock, chanson, new wave, punk, garage…Stereo Total make it their own. They were the first band I ever saw at Bowery Ballroom, sometime in 1998, and I still remember a medley they did that featured covers of Salt n’ Peppa’s “Push it” and Hot Butter’s “Popcorn.” That’s sort of Stereo Total in a nutshell. Their eighth album, Baby Ouh!, is a lot of fun. Check out the album’s title track at the top of this post.  The band are just getting started on their North American tour, and all dates are at the bottom of this post.

Magic Bullets
Magic Bullets

If you’re going to see Tennis at Glasslands on Thursday, make sure you get there in time to see San Francisco’s Magic Bullets. The band’s debut album, just out on Mon Amie Records, recalls the early ’80s days of Orange Juice, Aztec Camera, Haircut 100 and The Style Council, with a little C-86 in there as well. (That’s basically the formula to get me to come see your band. Well, one of them.) In addition to drawing from a bunch of influences dear to me, they write some fantastically catchy songs. Download one of them, “Lying Around,” at the top of this post.

If you can’t make the Glasslands show, Magic Bullets are also doing an in-store at Permanent Records in Greenpoint on Friday (8/27) afternoon and then play Pianos Saturday night with Blood Orange (aka Dev Hynes aka Lightspeed Champion) and Staunton, VA’s Cinnamon Band.

Unnatural Helpers
Unnatural Helpers

Still more! Seattle’s Unnatural Helpers released one of my favorite songs of Summer 2010, the addiction-loving “Sunshine/Pretty Girls,” which can be found on the band’s Hardly Art debut, Cracked Love and Other Drugs. It can also be found at the top of this post in MP3 form. Download it right now. If there’s nothing else quite as glorious on the rest of the album, that makes the rest of it merely very good.  Frontman Dean Whitmore plays drums in The Intelligence (whose forthcoming new album is pretty fab) but where that band is making cerebral garage, Unnatural Helpers punkish driving force is man’s other frontal lobe. If you know what I’m saying.

Unnatural Helpers are in the area for four shows. They play Bruar Falls Dead Herring (it moved from Bruar Falls) on Saturday (8/28) with Bare Wires (more on them in just a sec), Shea Stadium on Monday (8/30) with the Babies, Maxwell’s on Wednesday, September 1st, and then Cake Shop on Thursday, September 2. The band are then going on tour with Mudhoney, and those dates are at the bottom of this post.

Bare Wires
Bare Wires

As mentioned above, the Saturday show at Bruar Falls Dead Herring is with Bare Wires whose new album (their second) just came out on John Dwyer’s Castle Face Records, a label that only seems to spring to life when the Ohsees frontman finds a band he likes. (Previous Castle Face releases include debuts from Ty Segall and the Fresh & Onlys.) Though the two previous sentences might lead you to believe Bare Wires to be blown-out low-fi garage. They are in fact a really great power pop band in the tradition of The Nerves or even The Sweet,  and the album, Seeking Love, is decidedly mid-fi. Don’t believe me? There’s an MP3 of the album’s title track up there amongst all the others. These guys know their way around a hook.

In addition to the Bruar Falls show on Sunday (a kind of don’t miss in my book if you can tear yourself away from Mad Men and True Blood), Bare Wires also play Friday (8/27) at Monster Island Basement with Xray Eyeballs and Liquor Store.

And finally, Montreal’s incredible Think About Life were supposed to play two shows/cruises on The Boat on Friday (8/27) but the concerts struck a metaphorical iceberg and sunk. (It got canceled.) Luckily, Think About Life abandoned ship and are now playing Santos Party House instead. I’ve said it a zillion times in the last year, TAL are one of my favorite live bands of the moment and they’ll be one of yours too if you go see them. No matter how bad a mood you’re in, you’ll leave smiling. Don’t be dumb…go to this show!

And a few more recommended shows not covered above.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25

Florida’s awesome Jacuzzi Boys are playing Knitting Factory tonight for another of those Scion Garage shows, this time with Nobunny headlining. Free with RSVP. I’m not sure what it is about their sound — the singer’s voice, the more garagey Feelies-esque jangle — but I just love them. Nobunny is fun too, of course, but I kind of wish he’d spring for a new bunny mask. It’s getting really, really creepy.

Austin’s TV Torso play Death By Audio tonight. Their new EP, Status Quo Vadis, is darkly romantic, atmospheric, and rockin’. It’s also a free download via their bandcamp site. I dig it. Also playing: Juston Stens & Get the Real Gang, and Slow Animal.

Tennis play the first of their NYC shows at Cake Shop.

continued below…

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26

Tennis flyer

Relatively quite night. If you’re not at Glasslands for Tennis, you might try around the corner at Death by Audio where Denton, TX’s Tre Orsi headline.

flyer

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27

Top pick: The London indiepop club night Dance Magic Dance Club comes to Cake Shop with a full night of fun: TWII faves Sisters, Boston trio Girlfriends, New Jersey’s  Slow Animal, the post-apocalyptic dystopia of Sweet Bulbs, and Candy Hearts punky pop.  Plus DJs Peggy of TPOBPAH and Cameron of ‘Sup Mag.

The Sundelles bring their sun-dappled pop to Glasslands tonight. The band just finished recording their debut LP which will be out in the near future, but you can get an early listen via the MP3 of “Gold” at the top of this post.  Also playing: Steel Phantoms, Chappo and Landlady.  new MP3
Elk City @ the Rock Shop

flyer

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28

During the day you can visit the Jelly Rock Yard in Williamsburg where, unlike the Pool Parties, the vibe is chill and actually feels like a party. Plus the slip-n-slide. Dark and moody trio Zaza, who I love, would not be my first choice for a mid-afternoon outdoor show, headline and I’m sure will do just fine. Also playing: Motel MotelSport of Kings, and The Stationary Set. But you can just go and hang out too and have a good time. It’s that kind of thing.

And if you like big butts and you cannot lie, maybe you should check out Big Freedia and House of Ladosha at Coco 66.

Ok, that’s it for this week. Go see some live music. Tour dates, flyers, videos, etc after the jump.

Cosmetics

Cosmetics – Soft Skin

Cosmetics // Soft Skin from Wooden Lens on Vimeo.

flyer

Cosmetics – 2010 Tour Dates
Aug 25 WIERD RECORDS NIGHT @ HOME SWEET HOME NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Aug 28 BOWERY BALLROOM w/ WILD NOTHING, BLANK DOGS, MINKS NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Aug 31 PENDU DISCO @ GLASSLANDS BROOKLYN, NY
Sep 24 OLIO FESTIVAL @ BRANDIZ VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA
Oct 31 FAST WEAPONS FACTORY w/ DANGEROUS BOYS CLUB, DJ CHAIN + MORE PORTLAND, OR

flyer

Stereo Total – 2010 Tour Dates
25.08.2010 US-New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge
26.08.2010 US-Cambridge/Boston, MA – Middle East
27.08.2010 CA-Montreal – La Sala Rossa
28.08.2010 CA-Toronto – El Mocambo
29.08.2010 US-Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
30.08.2010 US-Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
31.08.2010 US-Seattle, WA – Chop Suey
01.09.2010 US-Portland, OR – Doug Fir
02.09.2010 US-San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
03.09.2010 US-Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex
04.09.2010 US-Austin, TX – Mohawk
07.09.2010 US-San Diego, CA – Tin Can Alehouse (NEW!)
08.09.2010 MX-Tijuana – La Mezcalera
09.09.2010 MX-Guadalajara – F. Bolko
10.09.2010 MX-Mexico City – Covadonga
11.09.2010 MX-Monterrey – Escénica
01.10.2010 ES-Madrid – Ochoymedio Club
02.10.2010 ES-Barcelona – Nitsa @ Apolo
14.10.2010 SI-Ljubljana – City of Women Festival @ Kino Siska
16.10.2010 ES-Bilbao – Jet Lag Festival
23.10.2010 TR-Istanbul – Bronx Pi Sahne
19.11.2010 FI-Tampere – Valoa Festival @ Yo-Talo
20.11.2010 FI-Helsinki – Korjaamo

Magic Bullets – 2010 Tour Dates
Aug 26 Glasslands Brookyln
Aug 27 Permanent Records Brooklyn, NY
Aug 28 Piano’s (Lower East Side) New York, NY
Aug 29 Black Cat Washington, DC
Sep 11 Bottom of the Hil San Francisco, CA
Oct 14 Rickshaw Stop San Francisco, California
Oct 19 New York – CMJ New York, NY

Unnatural Helpers – “She Was Your Girlfriend”

Unnatural Helpers – 2010 Tour Dates
Aug 26 The Bishop Bloomington, IN
Aug 28 Bruar Falls, Brooklyn, NY
Aug 29 Magic Room Brighton, MA
Aug 30 Shea Stadium Brooklyn, NY
Aug 31 Black Cat Washington DC, .
Sep 2 Cake Shop New York, NY
Sep 5 Bumbershoot Seattle Center Seattle, WA
Sep 11 Ash Street Saloon w/ Pierced Arrows, the Zeros Portland, OR
Sep 30 Cyprus Avenue w/ Mudhoney Cork, ., IRELAND
Oct 1 Button Factory w/ Mudhoney Dublin, ., IRELAND
Oct 2 Roisin Dubh w/ Mudhoney Galway, ., IRELAND
Oct 3 Limelight w/ Mudhoney Belfast, ., UNITED KINGDOM
Oct 4 Northumbria University w/ Mudhoney Newcastle, ., UNITED KINGDOM
Oct 5 Concorde 2 w/ Mudhoney Brighton, ., UNITED KINGDOM
Oct 6 Electric Ballroom w/ Mudhoney London, ., UNITED KINGDOM
Oct 7 Leeds University w/ Mudhoney Stulus, ., UNITED KINGDOM
Oct 8 The Tunnel w/ Mudhoney Aberdeen, ., UNITED KINGDOM
Oct 9 Arches w/ Mudhoney Glasgow, ., UNITED KINGDOM

Bare Wires – Artificial Clouds

Bare Wires – 2010 Tour Dates
Aug 25 Case University w/ Tyvek (college peeps only) Cleveland, OH
Aug 26 Now Thats Class Cleveland, OH
Aug 27 Monster Island Basement Brooklyn, NY
Aug 28 Bruar Falls Brooklyn, NY
Aug 29 M Room Philladelphia, PA
Aug 30 Velvet Lounge w/ Mabye Baby Washington DC, Washington
Aug 31 The Station Carrboro, NC
Sep 1 Little Kings Athens, GA
Sep 2 Star Bar Atlanta, GA
Sep 3 Glen Danzig’s House Nashville, TN
Sep 4 Murphy’s w/ River City Tanlines + The HUMMS Memphis, TN
Sep 6 Ole Tavern w/ Wild Emotions Jackson, MS
Sep 7 Saturn Bar New Orleans, LA
Sep 8 Notsuoh Houston, TX
Sep 9 Beerland Austin, TX
Sep 10 Beerland (AGAIN !) Austin, TX
Sep 14 RIPS Phoenix, AZ
Sep 15 Bar Pink San Diego, CA
Sep 17 The Smell Los Angeles, California
Sep 18 The Juke Joint Anaheim, CA
Sep 19 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA