Local Natives @ BV loft - CMJ 2009 (more by Chris La Putt)

Frenchkiss Records is celebrating its 10th year in existence. Started by Les Savy Fav's Syd Butler in 1999 as a way for his band to release their second album, the label has grown to include over 25 bands with over 40 releases. Most recently they've found success with The Dodos, The Antlers, and of course, Passion Pit who are definitely now pretty "huge". Though still on Frenchkiss, Passion Pit are also shared with Columbia Records (home of Mew, MGMT, The Ting Tings, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, and... Slayer).

And it continues. Frenchkiss announced this week that they signed not one, but two CMJ 2009 buzz bands - both with fine new albums and impressive live shows to match. The NYC label will release California band Local Natives' Gorilla Manor (already out in Europe) on February 26, 2010. They also just signed NYC's Freelance Whales, though like with Passion Pit, that deal is shared with someone else - Mom+Pop Records to be exact, aka. the label that also just snagged Tokyo Police Club (who share a manager with Passion Pit).

The Antlers headline Bowery Ballroom on December 15th. Get tickets before they sell out. Uninhabitable Mansions and Sharon Van Etten (who is sure to sing with the headliners too) open the show. Their only other scheduled show at the moment is March 3rd at Union Chapel in London.

Local Natives are still on tour with Fool's Gold and Edward Sharpe. They visited NYC in November which wasn't long after CMJ when the band played two BV parties - one at Pianos and the one in a loft. Updated dates below.

Freelance Whales are currently on tour with Fanfarlo. That tour ends in NYC on December 18th at Webster Hall. Tickets are still on sale. Freelance Whales also played a BV CMJ show @ Pianos.

Tim Harrington, when not belting out rock songs and climbing over the crowd on a ladder in his underwear as the frontman of Les Savy Fav, makes a "line of patterned products" called Deadly Squire. This Sunday (TODAY), December 6th, Deadly Squire is having a huge sale at Bird in Williamsburg (Brooklyn). Flyer below.

Slayer is going on tour with Megadeth and Testament in January. A "Raining Blood" video with all the other stuff below...

Continue reading "the label connections of Slayer-->Passion Pit-->the Antlers--> Local Natives --> Freelance Whales --> Tokyo Police Club"

photos by Tim Griffin

"2008 proved to be a whirlwind of a year for Brooklyn's dream-pop trio Chairlift, culminating with the band's recent signing to Columbia Records. Chairlift plans to re-release Does You Inspire You through their new label home on April 21st. The album has been remastered and features two new tracks. The first, "Dixie Gypsy" was produced by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear, and is more psychedelic than the band's previous ventures. The second, "Le Flying Saucer Hat", is both French and English, lounge and disco, dance and pop, and serves as a great example of the group's versatility."

Chairlift played a late-night short set at Santos Party House last Saturday. More pictures from that show and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "Columbia Records band Chailift -Santos Party pics, tour dates"

photos by Bao Nguyen

"Buzz buzz! That's the sound of Passion Pit turning their newfound 'it band' status into concrete plans. For starters, the Boston area boys have signed to Columbia for the UK release of their debut EP, Chunk of Change, in February. Frenchkiss is still the band's home in the States and will actually co-release Chunk of Change in the UK with Columbia." [Pitchfork]

Passion Pit played for about 30 minutes (they don't have that much material) to a packed (too packed?) Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn on Friday night (12/5). Their next NYC show will be at Bowery Ballroom. All tour dates HERE. More pictures below...

Continue reading "Passion Pit signed to Columbia, played Glasslands - pics"

The Avett Brothers @ Jam on the River 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

To our dearest fans,

Since we first performed as The Avett Brothers, we have been fortunate enough to find and build a genuine and mutual respect with those who care to listen. It is this kind exchange that champions our music, and allows us the forum to continue on our path, with this work, this art. We believe this to be an appropriate time for a brief update, as we would like for you all to know of the most noteworthy of present developments.

We have recently begun working on a new full length album with Rick Rubin. The recording process has been,and will no doubt continue to be,an experience defined by heightened levels of commitment and conviction. It is our distinct pleasure and honor to be in such fine company as we build and bring this most current chapter of songs to fruition.

With this union has come another, as we have just completed and signed an agreement with American/Columbia Records,the label with whom we will proudly release our next record. It is our sincere hope, in regard to this news,that our ongoing relationship with Ramseur Records is understood. There have been, and will be no hard feelings or abandon-based resentment from either party involved. The Avett and Ramseur camps remain strongly and truthfully connected, both personally and professionally. There has been no change in these matters through this momentous transition.

For all of you who have gone to such great lengths to show your appreciation, we continue in our most sincere efforts to return the sentiment. The music would go nowhere without you. Our hearts and our minds are on the recording of this next album, and we look forward with great anticipation to sharing it with you all. Until then, thank you as always, and we will see you somewhere on that open road...

Sincerely,
The Avett Brothers
July, 2008

The Avett Brothers are playing a free show at Rockefeller Park in NYC this Wednesday July 9th. Some videos and all tour dates below....

Continue reading "the Avett Brothers sign to Columbia, FREE SHOW, tour dates "

Black Kids @ Coachella 2008 (by Lucy Hamblin for SPIN)

Black Kids' debut album, Partie Traumatic, will be released on Tuesday July 22, 2008 on Columbia Records. Tour Dates below....

Continue reading "Black Kids signed to Columbia Records, continue touring"

Adele this week @ Joe's Pub (more by Bao)

Columbia Records will give hot British newcomer Adele's debut set "19" a summer Stateside release, through a joint venture struck with XL Recordings.

British critics and record buyers adore Adele in equal amounts, and she can count producer-of-the-moment Mark Ronson among her fans and collaborators. [Billboard]

el Guincho this week @ Mercury Lounge (more by Eduardo)

I'm not fond of the term 'DiS fave', as it implies a consensus view among our writers that just doesn't exist, but if I was, I'd use it to describe el Guincho, whose debut album will be made widely available in the UK through XL/Young Turks in time for the start of summer.

The well decent label are currently in the process of clearing the samples that colour Alegranza, but Pablo Diaz-Reixa, the man behind the album, says that "hopefully the record will be out at the end of May or something. It's a summer record so summer release!"

Could it make any more sense? Aside from that, el Guincho will be in London and Dublin for a series of live shows next week. I may be at all of them.

March
24 London Durrr
26 Dublin Antics
27 London Moshi Moshi night

April
1 London White Heat [Drowned in Sound] (via)

Previously
* el Guincho @ Mercury Lounge was pretty awesome
* Adele @ Joe's Pub, NYC - pics
* el Guincho played SXSW - in NYC tonight & tomorrow
* Adele (XL, from UK) 2008 Tour Dates (NYC, SXSW, LA)