skylarkin

Sky Larkin, BOAT, Cheeseburger, a 'Rogue Wave tribute band' & more in This Week in Indie

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Sky Larkin – “Molten” (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: BOAT – “(I’m A) Donkey for Your Love” (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: BOAT – “Last Cans of Paint” (MP3)
DOWNLOAD
: BOAT – “The Bar is Too Low to Fail” (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Cheeseburger – “Jelly Bean” (MP3)
DOWNLOAD
: Cheeseburger – “Saturday Night” (MP3)

Sky Larkin
Sky Larkin

Don’t miss show(s) of next week: The American live debut of Leeds, UK group Sky Larkin, who are one of 2008’s real hopefuls (to me at least). Not really part of any scene that would get them on the cover of NME, Sky Larkin are pretty straight-forward melodic guitar pop with a charismatic frontperson (Katie Harkin) and two ace singles under their belt. A bit slow in released material (they’ve been together since 2005), but the floodgates are about to open as the band have just finished recording their debut album in Seattle with producer John Goodmanson. They’re here in New York to shoot a video and are thankfully playing two shows when not in front of the camera: Wednesday (8/13) at Pianos and Thursday (8/14) at Union Hall (tix).

Boat

Seattle’s sloppy, poppy BOAT are making a rare trek to the East Coast for a tour they’ve dubbed “We Jam Super Econo and a Bit Cramped.” Signed to one of my favorite American labels, Magic Marker Records (Tullycraft, The Bats, The Owls), BOAT have a sort of classic American indie rock sound (think Pavement or Butterglory), with super-catchy songs and a nice sense of humor. I highly recommend last year’s Let’s Drag Our Feet, and hopefully the band will be bringing lots of copies of their new baseball-themed single “Topps” that comes with trading cards and stiff, crunchy bubblegum. Along for the ride will be similar-minded Philly band Creeping Weeds. The tour hits Cake Shop on August 17 and Union Hall (with the great My Teenage Stride as well) on August 20 (tix).

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This weekend is all about All Points West (well, Friday and Saturday…are people going on Sunday?), but there are some worthy shows that aren’t part of the megafestival.

Cass McCombsThis Friday’s entry in the Seaport Music Festival is a good one: Cass McCombs, who didn’t get as much attention as he probably deserved for last year’s fine Dropping the Writ; and Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson who might be getting more attention than he really needs right now, like him as I do.

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Saturday (8/9) brings the Vice/Colt 45 Tour with Cheeseburger to Glasslands Gallery, the last date on the tour. Has there been a more perfect marriage of rock to tour sponsors? I’ve never been good at math but Cheeseburger + free malt liquor + last night of the tour = mayhem. It’s also free with an RSVP but, you know how these things work, get there early or don’t get in.

Rogue Wave @ Lollapalooza 2008 (more by Bao Nguyen)
Rogue Wave

Also on Saturday at Union Hall is “Endless Shovels“, a “Rogue Wave Tribute Band” which seem like an odd thing to have when Rogue Wave are actually in town the next day playing APW. Hmm… Tickets are on sale.

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And if you are going to APW on Sunday, be sure to get there early to catch supertalented Slowdive/Mojave 3 guitarist Neil Halstead (check out our interview) who’ll be there supporting his brand-new, very good 2nd solo album, Oh Mighty Engine. He’s also playing Hamptons celeb hangout The Surf Lodge on Saturday if you’re up that way, as well as opening for Jack Johnson on a few dates before continuing on his own. All dates and videos below…

Sky Larkin

Sky Larkin 2008 Tour Dates
Aug 9 Midgefest! Wakefield
Aug 13 Piano’s w/ Passion Pit. Onstage 8pm New York, NY
Aug 14 Union Hall Brooklyn, NY
Aug 19 Brudenell – CAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL – see blog for details! LEEDS
Sep 2 Melkweg (w/ Conor Oberst) Amsterdam
Sep 3 Botanique (w/ Conor Oberst) Brussels
Sep 4 Den Atelier (w/ Conor Oberst) Luxembourg
Sep 5 Rote Fabrik (w/ Conor Oberst) Zurich
Sep 7 Backstage Werk (w/ Conor Oberst) Munich
Sep 9 Arena (w/ Conor Oberst) Vienna
Sep 10 Roxy (w/ Conor Oberst) Prague
Sep 11 Gloria (w/ Conor Oberst) Cologne
Sep 13 Nouveau Casino (w/ Conor Oberst) Paris
Sep 14 Alte Feuerwache (w/ Conor Oberst) Mannheim
Sep 15 Columbia Club (w/ Conor Oberst) Berlin
Sep 27 RoTa, Notting Hill Arts Club London
Oct 3 Concrete & Glass festival London
Oct 6 In The City, venue tba Manchester
Oct 10 Fibbers (w/ Hot Club de Paris) York
Oct 11 Independent (w/ Hot Club de Paris) Sunderland
Oct 13 Ruby Lounge (w/ Hot Club de Paris) Manchester
Oct 14 Brickyard (w/ Hot Club de Paris) Carlisle
Oct 15 Other Rooms (w/ Hot Club de Paris) Newcastle
Oct 17 Cabaret Voltaire (w/ Hot Club de Paris) Edinburgh
Oct 18 King Tuts (w/ Hot Club de Paris) Glasgow

BOAT / Creeping Weeds — 2008 Tour Dates
Aug 15 Johnny Brenda’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Aug 16 The Crackhouse Honey Brook, Pennsylvania
Aug 17 The Cake Shop New York City, New York
Aug 18 PA’s Lounge Boston, Massachusetts
Aug 19 The Oasis Pub New London, Connecticut
Aug 20 Union Hall Brooklyn, New York
Aug 21 The Lantern Blacksburg, Virginia
Aug 22 Brillobox Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Aug 23 Schuba’s Chicago, Illinois
Sep 5 Music Fest NW Portland, OR

Neil Halstead 2008 Tour Dates
Aug 8 johnny Brenda’s w/ Rogue Wave philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Aug 9 the surf lodge NY, New York
Aug 10 All Points West Festival w/ Jack Johnson Jersey City, NJ
Aug 12 Walnut Creek Amphitheatre w/ Jack Johnson Raleigh, NC
Aug 13 Lakewood Amphitheatre w/ Jack Johnson Atlanta, GA
Aug 15 Sandstone Amphitheater w/ Jack Johnson Bonner Springs, KS
Aug 17 Red Rocks Amphitheatre w/ Jack Johnson Morrison, CO
Aug 18 USANA Ampitheater w/ Jack Johnson Salt Lake City, UTah
Aug 22 Media Club Vancouver
Aug 23 Sunset Tavern Seattle
Aug 24 Douglas fir Portland
Aug 26 Cafe Du Nord San francisco, California
Aug 27 The Crepe Place Santa cruz
Aug 28 LA Hotel Cafe Los Angeles, California
Aug 29 The casbah San Diego, California
Aug 30 fingerprints record shop Long Beach, California