In what is now an annual tradition, we're playing catch up during this final week of the year. If this post seems outdated, that's because it is. Happy Holidays!

photos by Chris La Putt

DOWNLOAD: Apache Beat - Another Day (Aaron LaCrate Remix) (MP3)

Apache Beat

Apache Beat & Blood Red Shoes played a CMJ show at The Rock Shop. A set of pictures from that show continues below...

Continue reading "Apache Beat & Blood Red Shoes played the Rock Shop (pics)"

photos by Chris La Putt

Blood Red Shoes @ MHOW

After Chris left the BV Loft Party all the way back on Friday, October 22nd, he headed over to Music Hall of Williamsburg for the Blue Flowers-presented CMJ showcase for a lineup of mostly UK bands including Chapel Club, Everything Everything, and Blood Red Shoes (who toured North America with Sky Larkin in October). Pictures from that show are in this post.

The occasion (to post these belated pics)? SXSW has already announced an initial lineup of bands playing in Austin from March 16-20, 2011, and Chapel Club is on that list (and I wouldn't be surprised of the other 2 mentioned bands end up coming too). Also on the list: Lia Ices, Braids, Asobi Seksu, Wye Oak, Suuns, Sun Airway, A Place to Bury Strangers and more. Full list under the rest of the MHOW pictures, below...

Continue reading "Chapel Club played CMJ w/ Everything Everything & Blood Red Shoes (pics), playing SXSW 2011 (intial lineup)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Sky Larkin - Year Dot (Spirit Spine Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sky Larkin - Barracuda (MP3)

Sky Larkin will be over from the UK this month for a North American tour which starts in Vancouver on October 12 -- the same day their teriffic new album, Kaleide, gets its American release. The band will be on the road with Blood Red Shoes, and the tour hits NYC during CMJ, specific dates still to be determined. Maybe you saw Sky Larkin last year during CMJ at one of the Brooklyn Vegan day parties? They're a powerhouse live (you might even call them a Power Trio) and I'm looking forward to hearing the new record on stage.

For Kaleide, the Leeds trio reunited with Seattle-based producer John Goodmason with whom they made last year's The Golden Spike. It's a stronger, more confident record all-around that at times reminds me of a harder rocking Blake Babies. You can listen to the whole thing via the streaming player at the bottom of this post.

Meanwhile, one of Kaleide's standout tracks, "Year Dot," is coming out as a single/EP next month with a host of remixes, including one by Spirit/Spine which you can download at the top of this post. Also up there is their deconstructed cover of the Heart classic "Barracuda" and you can watch a making of video about it at the bottom of this post.

That video, the streaming album player and all announced North American tour dates are below.

Continue reading "Sky Larkin return w/ a new album - MP3, remix, dates & more"