by Andrew Sacher

Speaking of dub/psych artists who are playing Austin Psych Fest later this month, but are meanwhile in NYC for Unsound this week, Madison, Wisconsin duo Peaking Lights (who play a free Unsound show at Lincoln Center on Thursday with LXMP) just dropped the first track off their upcoming album, Lucifer (out 6/19 via Mexican Summer) and it's pretty great. Stream that track, which is called "LO HI," along with all of their dates, below...

Continue reading "listen to a new Peaking Lights track, see them for free"

by Andrew Sacher

Mike Wexler

Brooklyn's Mike Wexler released his sophomore LP, Dispossession, earlier this month via Mexican Summer. The album follows his debut LP, Sun Wheel, which arrived five years earlier and in that time he's been honing his brand of psychedelic folk and making it sound even starker than it does on his debut. Dispossession recalls the loner folk of late '60s/early '70s artists like Gary Higgins and Mark Fry, and also the plodding songwriting of more contemporary artists like Will Oldham and Phil Elvrum. Like those artists, Mike Wexler takes his time with every track on the album, more than half of which is made up of 6-9 minute songs. This gives him plenty of space to work in subtle embellishments like backgrounded hand drumming patterns, scattered guitar effects, and airy horn lines. Stream two tracks from the album below or listen to the entire album on Spotify. The artwork and tracklist are also below.

Mike Wexler is playing a record release party for the album TONIGHT (3/30) at Zebulon with Amen Dunes and Hiro Kone. If you miss tonight's show, Mike will play another local show at Glasslands on May 9 with Future Shuttle. Tickets for the Glasslands show are on sale now.

You can also catch another local Amen Dunes show at The Stone on April 17, the same day that Guardian Alien (Greg Fox) plays.

All dates, streams, album artwork and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Mike Wexler released 'Dispossession', playing shows (one with Amen Dunes tonight)"

Oneohtrix Point Never at MHOW in 2010 (more by Erez Avissar)

Oneohtrix Point Never (aka Daniel Lopatin) has a few upcoming shows in March including two NYC shows, the Jeff Mangum-curated ATP in Minehead and SXSW where he is exclusively playing the Mexican Summer showcase.

The first NYC show is a Red Bull Music Academy Session at The Studio at Webster Hall on March 6. The session starts with a conversation with Daniel Lopatin which ends with a Q&A, and then he'll play a free a show at the venue with an opening set by special guest Cubic Zirconia. RSVP info is on the flyer below. More info on what the Red Bull Music Academy can be found in a video below.

Oneohtrix Point Never will then play a Brooklyn show three days later at 285 Kent on 3/9 with Touch Here to Resume (aka MV Carbon and Ynot Darnoc), Diamond Terrifier, for whom the show doubles as a release show for his "Shrine Flu" tape, La Big Vic, and Win Win (DJs). Tickets for the Brooklyn show are on sale now. The show flier is below.

UPDATE: Oneohtrix Point Never also plays the Dessner-curated Crossing Brooklyn Ferry Festival at BAM on May 5th.

All dates, video and fliers below...

Continue reading "Oneohtrix Point Never playing shows, speaking at one"

Light Asylum at MHOW in 2010 (more by Benjamin Lozovsky)

Brooklyn duo Light Asylum (Shannon Funchess and Bruno Coviello) made a pretty good impression last year with their In Tension EP, and they're following that with a self titled debut LP, due out on May 1 via Mexican Summer. They just released the gothy first single, "Shallow Tears," with the mostly instrumental "Genesis" on the b-side. You can stream both of those below, along with the album artwork and tracklist.

Light Asylum are going on a short US tour in support of the album which kicks off with an album release party in NYC at Le Poisson Rouge on May 3. TIckets are on sale now. The show is with oOoOO (who also has a new release on the way) and Black Marble, a new project from members of Team Robespierre who has a new release on Hardly Art and are opening for TRUST at Glasslands on 3/9.

All dates, streams, album artwork and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Light Asylum announce LP & tour dates, NYC show w/ oOoOO & Black Marble (dates & new song stream)"

by BBG

Art for the Lilacs & Champagne LP

It's nearly impossible to nail down a Grails release as far as influence is concerned; odd 70s soundtracks, prog, kraut-rock, post-rock, goth and dashes of metal all rear their head in every release in equal measure. Every song is a journey, a similar tactic employed on the new Lilacs & Champagne LP. The band, which features half of Grails including Emil Amos of Om/Holy Sons and Alex Hall, uses those influences as a jumping off point but explores psychedelia through the lens of hip hop, filtering the music as it might be envisioned by MF Doom, Madlib, J.Dilla, or The Alchemist.

In celebration of their debut release (out TODAY via Mexican Summer), Lilacs & Champagne have kindly shared a recent DJ set entitled Suicide Solution Vol.1 exclusively here. The record also features "Sensations", which also makes its debut here, as well as "Everywhere, Everyone" which is available in video form. Stream all songs/videos below.

Continue reading "Lilacs & Champagne = 1/2 of Grails, new album out today on Mexican Summer --- listen (exclusive song stream & DJ set)"

by Andrew Sacher

Megafortress

Megafortress (aka NYC musician Bill Gillim of Tigercity) is releasing his self titled EP on January 31 via Ford & Lopatin's Mexican Summer imprint, Software. There's definitely a How to Dress Well vibe going on with Gillim's simultaneous understanding of ambient electronics and soaring falsetto vocals, but they differ in that Megafortress shies away from any type of beatwork, relying only on his voice, sampled bells, and synthesizer. Check out the lead track, "Green Child," which you can stream and watch the video for below. The album artwork and tracklist are also below. You can pre-order the vinyl at the Mexican Summer webstore now and an MP3 download is coming soon.

Megafortress has one show coming up and its in his hometown of NYC on the album's release date, January 31 at Glasslands. The bill also includes his Software (who is co-presenting the show with PopGun) labelmates Slava and Giffoni, in addition to When the Mountains Turn Blue and DJ Joel Ford (of Ford and Lopatin). Tickets are on sale now.

Slava also plays 285 Kent on January 20 with Huerco S, LF WInd (of Teengirl Fantasy), Innergaze, and Terekke.

Carlos Giffoni also plays The Stone on February 2.

Also catch Software co-owner Daniel Lopatin when Oneohtrix Point Never opens for Tycho at MHOW (2/4). Tickets are still available.

Video, stream, album art and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Megafortress releasing EP on Ford & Lopatin's Mexican Summer imprint, Software (song stream & upcoming show)"

by BBG, Bill Pearis & friends

DOWNLOAD: The Young - Bird in the Bush (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Young - Sweet (MP3)

Austin reverb-drenched, garage punk four-piece The Young are in town this weekend and have managed to get themselves opening slots on some notable bills: Tonight (11/11) they open for Kurt Vile and Widowspeak at Webster Hall (tickets still on sale); then tomorrow afternoon (11/12, 3PM) they play with Pacific Northwest punk legends The Sonics at Maxwells (sold out); and then again Saturday night they're at Union Pool with Endless Boogie AND Call of The Wild (ex-Awesome Color). They also play Philadelphia on Sunday (10/13). All dates are at the bottom of this post.

The band has a single and an album on Mexican Summer under their belt and have recently signed with Matador Records. You can check out a couple MP3s above from their Mexican Summer output which have more than a whiff of sneery, late '70s power pop/new wave/punk to them. Their Matador debut is due out early 2012.

All tour dates, the tour flyer, a live video and another song too, below...

Continue reading "The Young are here, signed to Matador, playing four shows (with Kurt Vile, The Sonics, Endless Boogie)"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Quilt - "Penobska Oakwalk" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Quilt - "Cowboys In The Void" (MP3)

Boston psych-folk quartet Quilt are set to release their self titled debut LP on November 7 via Mexican Summer. The band's male/female vocal harmonies are about as Haight-Ashbury c. 1967 as a Boston band from the 00's can get without being a disingenuous imitation, and when set to gentle guitar patterns and Eastern-tinged drones, Quilt are making some of the most refreshing '60s nostalgia I've heard this year. Take a listen to "Cowboys In The Void" and "Penobska Oakwalk," which you can download above. Both songs appeared on a single the band released this past March which also included two other songs and an instrumental version of "Penobska Oakwalk." You can stream all five of those tracks and purchase them for $4 at bandcamp. You can check out the album art for that single and the upcoming LP below.

Quilt will celebrate their LP with a record release party in NYC on November 9 at Glasslands. Tickets for the show are on sale now. No openers have been announced yet.

Album art and some recent live videos below...

Continue reading "Quilt releasing debut LP on Mexican Summer (MP3s), playing Glasslands (watch some live videos too)"

crowd @ Warm Up 2010 (more by Zach Dilgard)

The full schedule for MoMa's 20l1 'Warm Up' season at PS1 has since been announced. The dance parties happen at the Long Island City location every Saturday from July 2 through September 3 from 2 PM to 9 PM. Admission is $15 and includes access to all exhibitions and 'Warm Up.' Check out the full lineup below.

As discussed, Four Tet and Matthewdavid play 'Warm Up' on July 9. STBRKT (who recently collaborated with Little Dragon) along with FaltyDL and others are also on that bill.

Other days feature Delicate Steve, Odd Future DJ Syd tha Kyd, Black Dice, Juan Maclean, Blood Orange, Solange, Grimes, Tanlines, Sun Araw and many other DJs, producers and and bands. Das Racist, Simian Mobile Disco, Ford & Lopatin, Gang Gang Dance and a few other groups are performing DJ sets.

More info and the full schedule below...

Continue reading "PS1's 2011 'Warm Up' lineup announced"

photos by Josh Darr

DOWNLOAD: a mixtape by Tamaryn for Vice (MP3) (via)
DOWNLOAD: Tamarayn - Love Fade (MP3)

Dum Dum Girls at Aragon Ballroom

"Dum Dum Girls opened the [Radio City] show [on September 16th] and Dee Dee was sick- she was actually taken to a doctor immediately after the show but she put on a brave performance for a crowd that was still filing in. Didn't matter- seeing friend's band play at Radio City Music Hall in NYC: check." [CatDirtSez]

Dum Dum Girls will go from one Music Hall to another, as the band who recently played the massive stage of Radio City Music Hall (where they supported Vampire Weekend) will now headline a date at Music Hall of Williamsburg on November 1st with support TBA as part of a larger US tour that will also incude an appearance at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, TX. Tickets go on sale Thursday (9/23) at noon.

After those recent dates with Vampire Weekend and Beach House, Dum Dum Girls played their own show at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn before linking up with another band large enough to fill up Radio City on multiple nights, MGMT. The two bands are currently touring Europe through middle October. Hopefully Dee Dee is feeling better...

"Dee Dee was in much better health for [the Knitting Factory] show and it came through in the performance. The crowd was enthusiastic. The girl in front of me actually got out her filp phone and texted "ddg r killing it" right in front of me in conspicuous fashion. Mike Sniper of Blank Dogs/Captured tracks and Wes Eisold of Cold Cave were there. I also read that the lead singer of Vampire Weekend and David Cross were there too but I didn't see them." [CatDirtSez]

Meanwhile, former Dum Dum Girl and current member of Frankie & The Outs, Frankie Rose, played a record release show at Glasslands last week. Their next NYC show on the calendar will take place at Coco66 on 10/22 as part of a CMJ show with Tamaryn and Light Asylum.

Tamaryn

San Francisco's Tamaryn, who is signed to Mexican Summer and who you could easily mistake for a member of the Dum Dum Girls in the above picture (their songs are not so dissimilar either), also plays the Mexican Summer CMJ showcase at Knitting Factory on Thursday, October 21st with Lower Dens, Robert Lester Folsom, Viva L'American Death Ray Music, Soldiers Of Fortune, and No Joy. Tickets are on sale. The two NYC shows are Tamaryan's only upcoming dates at the moment. Grab "Love Fade" and a mixtape Tamarayn made above, and check out the video for the same song below. Tamaryn's album The Waves is out now.

Before DDG/BH/VW played Radio City, the band tagged Aragon Ballroom in Chicago on 9/5. Pictures from that show adorn this post, and more are below, along with all dates...

Continue reading "Dum Dum Girls, Frankie Rose & Tamaryn schedule more shows (not together) - MP3s, video, pics, dates, CMJ"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Eddy Current Supression Ring - "Anxiety" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Pissed Jeans - "False Jesii Part 2" (MP3)

Pissed Jeans at WFMU (more by Chloe Rice)

Tickets are still on sale for Pissed Jeans at Knitting Factory in April and now the band have added two more NYC shows in June, both of which are opening slots for Australian punks Eddy Current Suppression Ring:

If you were looking for a day job that would reinforce the credibility of your garage punk band, you could hardly do better than to follow the example of Eddy Current Suppression Ring -- the four members of the group met when they were working at a vinyl pressing plant in Ormond, Victoria, Australia. Inspired by hard-edged, primitive rock in the manner of the Troggs, the Pagans. and X (the Aussie band, not the California punks of the same name), Eddy Current Suppression Ring got its start in late 2003 [and] ...after lots of local gigging and a handful of 7"s and EPs, the band issued their self-titled debut LP on Dropkick Records in 2006. ...The group formed their own label, Aarght Records, to release their second full-length album, 2008's Primary Colours. The album became an unexpected crossover success, rising to number six on the Australian charts and earning ECSR a nomination for Best Rock Album of 2008 at the Australian Music Industry Awards.

ECSR and PJ will play Cake Shop (!) on 6/18 with Home Blitz and Bloody Gears (advance ticket sale info is on the way) and then do it again the next night (6/19) at Market Hotel with Population 1280. Both shows are part of the ongoing Hardcore Gig Volume series.

ECSR is readying a new 7" for Mexican Summer, "Wet Cement" b/w "Hey Mum" + "Through The Trees", due this week. In addition, the band rill release Rush To Relax on Goner in March, dig on one of those tracks, "anxiety", above.

Dig on full ECSR and Pissed Jeans dates, as well as a few videos, below.

Continue reading "Eddy Current Suppression Ring (Goner/Mexican Summer) touring, playing 2 NYC shows w/ Pissed Jeans (dates) "

DOWNLOAD: Real Estate - Beach Comber (MP3)

Real Estate @ Brooklyn Bowl in August (more by Oren Loloi)

Real Estate have only been around short time, but it seems like hardly a week goes by without a show from the band or one of its member's solo projects (Ducktails, Predator Vision, etc.). They'll finally get around to releasing their debut LP, a self-titled record, on November 17th on the Woodsist label. The first track from that is posted above and two other "album versions" are up on their Myspace.

Real Estate play a tour send-off/Showpaper benefit on October 14th at Monster Island Basement with Big Troubles and Honeydos. The tour in question is a short jaunt down South, before they return for a slew of CMJ-related shows. The first of those happen October 21st at Pianos and Santos (the later of which is an Oh My Rockness party with The Drums and others). Their other CMJ gigs include an Underwater Peoples showcase at The Delancey, a Death & Taxes show at Glasslands on October 22nd with Japandroids (one of many CMJ gigs for that band) and a Mexican Summer/Kemado Showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 24th. Joining them at MHOW will be Farmer Dave Scher (his first in NYC since opening for Jenny Lewis in June), Young Prisms, The Smith Westerns who have other CMJ shows TBA), and The Amazing, a Swedish group with members of the Kemado-signed Dungen, Anna Jarvinen and Sagor & Swing (streaming tracks at their MySpace). Tickets for that Music Hall show are on sale.

One artist who's not playing that show or any CMJ shows at all is Washed Out (Georgia's Ernest Greene). He'll play just one NYC show (his second live show ever) one day before CMJ at Santos Party House on October 19th with Restless People. Tickets are on sale. I tried to get him to open the BrooklynVegan CMJ show at Music Hall on October 20th (one day later), but he said he can't even stay in town that long due to personal commitments back home.

Restless People features members of Professor Murder (and Tanlines). Listen to their first single "Victimless Crime", HERE. The Santos show will be their first show.

Rising, Breaking, Band to Watch vs Bear, Washed Out (the next Neon Indian even), though fairly new to the scene, already appears on a free Outfitters compilation that also includes tracks by Girls, Vivian Girls, A Place to Bury Strangers, No Age, Le Loup, Rain Machine, The xx, The Very Best, Kurt Vile and The Dodos (who have two NYC shows this week). Washed Out's "Life of Leisure" 12" is out on Mexican Summer now.

One day after CMJ (10/25), Real Estate play a 1:00PM NYC show just for kids (Kidrockers) at The Living Room with... Neon Indian. Tickets are on sale ("Adults must be accompanied by a kid and vice versa").

Real Estate will follow up their CMJ with a November tour with Girls. That hits Maxwell's on November 2nd and Bowery Ballroom on November 6th. Real Estate album, tour dates and flyers below...

Continue reading "Washed Out's NYC debut (& 2nd show ever), Real Estate's LP, tour dates & CMJ (Mexican Summer showcase, Kidrockers) "

Swedish folk troubadour Kristian Matsson, known better under the moniker The Tallest Man on Earth, will be playing to North American audiences this December alongside genre companion Bon Iver. The tour couples with the November release of Shallow Grave (LP/7 ", 1000 pressed), out on Mexican Summer, the limited edition vinyl and digital only label that launched September of this year.

Shallow Grave will join the initial class of Mexican Summer releases (13 to be exact) which are offered to collectors by way of three subscription options; 4 Months = 5 albums, 8 Months = 9 albums, and 1 Year = 13 albums, all at varying price points. Other artists to receive a limited pressing this year include Black Moth Super Rainbow, Bobby BeauSoleil & The Orkustra, Marissa Nadler and Valet.

Marissa Nadler also joins The Tallest Man on Earth TONIGHT, Tuesday December 9th, at Kristian's only U.S. show that isn't with his genre companion. Phil And The Osophers and Spirit Family Reunion are also on the Mercury Lounge bill. You can also catch The Tallest Man on Earth with Bon Iver at all three NYC show this week.

Pitchfork gave Shallow Grave an 8.3. Cokemachineglow's review is positive too. A bunch of songs are streaming at MySpace. All dates below...

Continue reading "The Tallest Man on Earth - 2008 Tour Dates (Marissa Nadler, Bon Iver), Mexican Summer releases"