by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: La Strada - Wash On By (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: La Strada - My New Home (MP3)

La Strada boldly started off a long day of music on March 18th at the Brooklyn Vegan / Anso day show at the Spider House in Austin. I say bold because most showgoers were still rolling out of bed (or lost in a cab like our photographer Tim), and the blinding noon sun was a harsh start to the day. Not so with the sound of La Strada. In the daylight, the band's sunnier parts came though strong. In truth, there are also some clouds in their orchestral pop - minor keys pitted against bouncy rhythms and filled out by violin, cello, accordion and additional percussion. Of the two songs posted above off their new album, New Home, "Wash On By" falls firmly in the latter category, with an undeniably upbeat pulse. "My New Home" works both angles to an anthemic, emotional climax.

La Strada's new record, produced by Kyle "Slick" Johnson (who's credits include Cymbals Eat Guitars' debut, and work with Modest Mouse and Fischerspooner), is out this week on Ernest Jennings Record Co. Two tracks are above, and you can stream it in full here.

Last night they kicked off an East Coast US & Canada tour. For NYC, there's a record release show coming up on April 30th at Knitting Factory with labelmates Cuff The Duke (who also have a new CD out), Yukon Blonde and Beat Circus. Tickets are on sale.

A video of La Strada playing an acoustic set at SXSW (after the power went out at one of their shows), more pictures from our Spider House show, album info and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "La Strada - new album out (free MP3s & full stream), on tour now - 2010 dates w/ a NYC show @ Knitting Factory"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Title Tracks - Every Little Bit Hurts (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Pretty & Nice - Tora Tora Tora (MP3)

John Davis of Title Tracks (by Shervin Lainez)

In early 2008, after several years spent in Washington D.C. bands like Q And Not U and Georgie James, John Davis decided he was ready to go out and start writing and recording albums on his own. John began work on the songs that were to become the first Title Tracks album in January 2008, as the unhappy fate of Georgie James became clear. By the time that Georgie James officially split up in the summer of 2008, John had an album's worth of songs ready to go and began playing shows with a new group behind him by the end of that summer. It Was Easy is the debut full-length from Title Tracks, John's solo project

Title Tracks' debut comes out February 23rd on Ernest Jenning Record Co. On the album, John Davis plays every instrument himself (minus guest sax by Kriston Capps and two vocal contributions by Tracyanne Campbell of Camera Obscura). Live he'll be accompanied by a band. The album's first song, "Every Little Bit Hurts" posted above, is an upbeat power-pop number in the vein of Police/Elvis Costello/Ted Leo, the latter of which they'll be touring with this March. They open the first leg of Ted's tour, not the later dates that include an Irving Plaza show on April 9th. (Tickets for that are on sale.)

Before the Ted Leo dates, Title Tracks go on tour with peppy indie-pop band Pretty and Nice from Boston. Both bands play Union Hall on March 6th with Gary B & the Notions (tickets are on sale) and Cake Shop on March 7th. Title Tracks will also be at SXSW.

Pretty & Nice, a Hardly Art-signed band whose past credits include a BV day party at CMJ 2008 and opening for the Thermals, happen to also play tonight (1/26) at The Cameo with Drunken Sufis. Their "Tora Tora Tora" is above. More tour dates are below.

Ted Leo performs at the Bell House's stacked Haiti benefit on Wednesday, January 27th.

All tour dates and tracklist/album art for Title Tracks' debut are below...

Continue reading "Title Tracks (John Davis of Q And Not U) - debut album, MP3, tour dates w/ Ted Leo & Pretty & Nice "

Girl Talk fans @ last night's show @ Hiro Ballroom (more by Paul Birman)

tonight in NYC
* DANCE
* Cake @ Terminal 5
* Zap Mama @ Joe's Pub
* The Radiators @ BB King's
* Mountain Jam in Hunter, NY
* Secret Chiefs 3, Kayo Dot @ Maxwell's
* New York Ukulele Festival @ Baruch College
* Grizzly Bear, Here We Go Magic @ Town Hall
* Mae, Barcelona, Person L @ Gramercy Theatre
* Rooftop Films w/ Javelin @ New Design High School
* Chase the Devil: Gary Lucas & Dean Bowman @ BAMcafe
* X, Steve Soto & The Twisted Hearts @ Bowery Ballroom
* Fursaxa and Mary Lattimore, Paul Metzger @ The Stone
* Awesome Tapes From Africa, Teengirl Fantasy @ 92YTribeca
* Grant Hart, Grass Widow, Querent, Stupid Party @ Cake Shop
* Team Robespierre, A.R.E. Weapons @ The Studio at Webster Hall
* Acoustic Cash IX w/ Rosanne Cash & Marc Cohn @ Rubin Museum of Art
* Undiscovered Islands w/ Missy Mazzoli, William Brittelle @ Galapagos
* Willie Mae-Ra-Thon w/ Sex Mob, Burnt Sugar, Secretary @ Public Assembly
* Tyvek, The Gutsies, James Ausfahrt (of Love Is All, Still Flyin) @ Bruar Falls
* Au Revoir Simone, The Antlers, Sophia (from Lights) @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Willie Mae-Ra-Thon w/ Wild Yaks, Hexa, Lady Magma, Beluga @ Monster Island
* Rural Alberta Advantage, La Strada, Chris Mills, The Black Hollies @ The Bell House
* Girls Girls Girls, Misstallica, Rodney Speed Experience, Queen Diamond @ Merc
* Wordless Music w/ Wolfgang Voigt's Gas Live, Contact performing Brian Eno's Discreet Music @ Miller Theatre at Columbia
* Ed Schraeder, Height, Dj Dog Dick, The Creepers, Santa Dads, Teenage Souls, Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez @ Death By Audio

Stupid Party are now also opening for Grant Hart.

The Rural Alberta Advantage, though not on the label, are headlining an otherwise all Ernest Jenning showcase at The Bell House.

Teengirl Fantasy are back again, and will be again soon. All dates at their MySpace.

The Wordless Music Show tonight is "The U.S. premiere of Wolfgang Voigt's legendary ambient GAS project, with an opening set by Toronto's CONTACT Contemporary Music Ensemble, performing a rare live/chamber version of Brian Eno's complete 1975 classic Discreet Music (CONTACT)."

Many of the same bands that played Andrew WK's show at Santos last night, are at Death By Audio tonight.

Roosevelt Live music series, on Roosevelt Island, hosts its first musical act of the summer with a Bluegrass Festival featuring Alex Battlesof The Whiskey Rebellion on Saturday.

Sunday is the Bang on a Can Marathon. It's one of two NYC shows Tortoise is playing this weekend, and one of three they have total.

Secret Chiefs 3 are also playing Brooklyn on Saturday.

Mutek is happening in Montreal.

BKLYN YARD is open for its second week.

A whole bunch of shows recently went on sale.

Jay Leno's final episode hosting the Tonight show is TONIGHT. Conan O'Brien and James Taylor will be his guests. Prince performed last night. Check out that video below...

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"