photos by Tim Griffin

Hum @ Fun Fun Fun Fest

I can say without any reservations that this was a moment I had thought about for nearly 15 years. HUM was a band that I worshiped from my mid teenage years until well into my twenties. Their two major label records, You'd Prefer An Astronaut and Downward is Heavenward, I clutched tightly against my chest and listened to on repeat in the closed world of my angst-fueled bedroom. Next to ninja turtles bed sheets, posters of Nirvana and Issac Asimov novels, were cassette and CD copies of both albums. I can still remember hearing when I was 13 or 14 that HUM would be playing a small festival show at Worlds of Fun with my other favorite band of the time, Kill Creek. I've been beating myself up for missing that show for over a decade. -[Demencha]

The above review comes from the Kansas City reunion appearance of Hum, which went down a month after they played the AV Fest in Chicago and right before their Fun Fun Fun fest showing. We only posted one picture from their Austin show. This post attempts to remedy that situation.

If you missed them (possibly because you live in the East Coast), we also have a consolation prize in the form of a live recording via Cavis Tapes who recorded the whole Fun Fun Fun Fest set and posted it as a free download, Grab that before the link expires.

You can also get your Hum fix via a tribute LP which was recently released via Pop Up Records. The record features contributions from names like The Esoteric, Constants, Junius, City of Ships, and many others.

So far Hum has not announced any more shows. More of those belated Hum pictures from Fun Fun Fun Fest are below...

Continue reading "Hum pics & audio from FFF Fest +++ a tribute CD out now"

by BBG

Constants

Constants have a new Justin Broadrick-produced record called If Tomorrow The War, out NOW. The band will celebrate by embarking on a short east coast tour which will include on 10/15 at Union Pool with the unstoppable (and unmissable) Rosetta and Cleanteeth (a BrooklynVegan/1000 Knives production). $10 gets you in to the Brooklyn show. The band will then take it on the road for a month+ tour in the US with Translation Loss representatives Irepress.

Rosetta dropped their new LP A Determinism of Morality via Translation Loss, and recently played NYC with KEN Mode at Union Pool on 5/28.

Constants dates, and some video is below...

Continue reading "Constants playing Union Pool w/ Rosetta, touring (dates) "

by BBG

The Body at Europa (more by Tim Griffin)

With their triumphant All The Waters Of The Earth Turned To Blood available to gen pop, The Body has started filling in holes on their massive US tour and will start with an NYC show on July 22nd. The Acheron will host the Providence band alongside a killer lineup of Atakke, Bad Dream, and Curandera (mem ASRA). $8 gets you into the all-ages event.

Acheron has quite a few other notable shows in the coming month as well, starting Friday (July 9th) when the venue will host Cleveland crustcore killers Masakari! The new Southern Lord signees (we profiled them last month) will team with Terror Level Red, Death First, and Zhenia Golov for the show,.

City of Ships and Constants will team up for a show with Vaste Burai and Wizardry for a show at Acheron on August 14th ($8 gets you in). It's one of two shows for the great Wizardry at Acheron, who will also play July 18th as part of a homecoming show after a tour with Bezoar. Teething and Defender support, $8 gets you in.

All dates and videos below...

Continue reading "City of Ships, The Body, Masakari, Wizardry & more (upcoming shows & tour dates) "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Caspian - "Ghosts of the Garden City" (MP3)

Caspian

Caspian is crescendo-ing their way through a US tour that placed them in Austin during SXSW, and will land the soaring post-rockers in NYC on April 15 at The Studio @ Webster Hall. Arms & Sleepers are along for the ride, and will team up with Sainthood Reps and Golden City for the date. Get yer tix.

Caspian is supporting 2009's Tertia, which the band initally gave away for free, and is now streaming in full. Download one of those tracks above.

Golden City's debut 10" on Magic Bullet Records was recorded by Ian Love who plays guitar in Rival Schools with Walter Schreifels. Look for Schreifels to make a solo appearance on May 5th at The Studio. Tickets are on sale. Meanwhile, Rival Schools is scheduled to play Union Pool on April 23rd, though tickets for that are now sold out.

Find Caspian dates in your area and some video below...

Continue reading "Caspian on tour, Walter Schreifels adds a show (dates) "