by Andrew Sacher

Blues Control at MHOW in 2012 (more by Greg Cristman)

Psych rockers Blues Control released their newest album, Valley Tangents, via Drag City in 2012, and they're about to kick off a tour in support of it which begins with two NYC shows this month and continues across the US and Canada through March. The NYC shows happen on Friday (1/18) at Cozy Royale (434 Humboldt St) with Sightings and 1-800-BAND and January 26 at Shea Stadium with Home Blitz, Illegals, Trepanning, and DJ GDFX. Both shows are all ages, the Cozy Royale show is $8 at the door, and the Shea Stadium show is $10. After the tour ends, they'll play the Deerhunted-curated ATP in the UK (which just expanded its lineup).

The band recently recorded a live Drag City Limits session video for Valley Tangents single, "Iron PIgs," which was filmed on the other side of a doorway from the room they're in and is blurred even more by the dark room and spastic light show. It fits their sound well. You can watch that video and check out a list of all dates below.

Continue reading "Blues Control going on tour (dates & live session video)"

Conceived and curated by power pop legend Paul Collins (co-founder of THE NERVES, THE BREAKAWAYS and THE BEAT), the fest will bring together some of the finest young guitar-driven power pop, garage rock and punk-pop bands from the eastern seaboard and Canada. Of the lineup, Collins says, "Power Pop-A-Licious 2 is a unifying rally cry for the thriving rock-n-roll subculture, and is a means for power pop fans of all ages to discover a wealth of talented new acts in one power-packed weekend."

Power-pop-A-Licious 2 is ground zero for a burgeoning DIY power pop scene fueled by the devotion of its fans, the immediacy of the internet and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Each day will feature bands from the East Coast that are left right and center of the new generation of the guitar driven melodic rock scene. Collins adds: "Today's power pop bands blend punk, garage, retro-power pop, and psychedelic into one swirling sound. Personally I am not a purest about power pop, I am more interested in promoting bands that have cool songs and use electric guitars to get their point across."

Power Pop-A-Licious 2 was originally scheduled to take place at Asbury Lanes back in November but got postponed due to Hurricane Sandy. It's now happening at Cake Shop here in NYC on February 1 and 2 and, in addition to a set from Paul Collins & the Beat, includes Montreal's Kid Sentiment, Portsmouth, ON's The Connection and Kurt Baker, Toronto's Pow Wows (not to be confused with Brooklyn's pow wow!), Brooklyn's Party Lights and more. Full schedule is below and advance tickets are on sale now.

Continue reading "Paul Collins curating Power Pop-A-Licious 2 fest at Cake Shop"