Matt Pond PA and Rocky Votolato are currently on a tour which stops by NYC this Saturday (3/19) at Bowery Ballroom after hitting The Loft in Poughkeepsie, NY a day earlier. Matt Pond told Austinist that he's finishing up the recording of his new EP Spring Fool due out this spring.

The Wooden Birds, American Analog Set frontman Andrew Kenny's project which Matt Pond has contributed to, are releasing their second full length Two Matchsticks on June 7 via Barsuk.

"Kenny wrote every song on Two Matchsticks and played every instrument, recorded it in a converted bedroom at home, and mixed at Austin's Resonate Studio with producer Louie Lino (Nada Surf). The album also features special guests Ben Gibbard, members of Ola Podrida, and Wooden Birds touring members Matt Pond and Leslie Sisson, who, in addition to backing vocals, takes a solo turn in a song custom penned by Kenny."

Continue reading "Matt Pond PA & Rocky Votolato on tour, Wooden Birds at SXSW & releasing a new album"

DOWNLOAD: Rocky Votolato - Sparklers (live in East Palo Alto) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Phantogram - When I'm Small (MP3)

Phantogram @ MHOW during CMJ (more by Vincent Cornelli)

Andrew Kenny's band The Wooden Birds just got back from a tour with Great Lake Swimmers and will headline a close-to-home show at Maxwell's in Hoboken tonight (11/3). The soothing sounds of Peasant will open the show. Tickets are $10.00. Check out a recent video interview with the band below.

The Wooden Birds released their debut album on Barsuk Records earlier this year. Barsuk also recently put out the debut by Ramona Falls who just released a new video for the song "I Say Fever". You can watch that below.

Barsuk has two new releases scheduled for February 2010. Rocky Votolato's new album True Devotion will be out on February 23rd. "Sparklers" is one of the songs on that will be on that album. You can download a live version above. Rocky kicks off a tour in a couple of days, but not just any tour. He'll be playing in people's living rooms up and down the east coast. There's a NYC show in midtown Manhattan on November 6th. Tickets are on sale. All dates below.

The other album Barsuk is releasing in February will be by Phantogram who just got done playing a few shows during CMJ including one at Music Hall of Williamsburg with The xx and School of Seven Bells. The album "Eyelid Movies" will be released on February 9th. Download the song "When I'm Small" from that album for free above. Phantogram is now on a tour of Europe, but will be back soon. They play a free show at Brooklyn Bowl on December 19th. All dates below...

Continue reading "Wooden Birds tonight, Rocky Votolato touring, Ramona Falls video, free Phantogram show & MP3 & other Barsuk news"

Willamette Week's Musicfest NW announces this year's festival line-up which will be held at various venues around the Portland, OR metropolitan area on September 16, 17, 18 & 19. On the heels of the most successful MFNW to date, MFNW 2009 launches with nothing but the hope of a bigger and better festival. MFNW's ultimate aim is to provide Portland with a unique and special musical experience that features all types of acts including nationally renowned artists while still honoring and supporting the special musical scene of the Northwest.

The lineup so far, including the newly-reunited Sunny Day Real Estate, is below...

Continue reading "Musicfest NW in Portland, OR (Sept 16-19) - lineup"

DOWNLOAD: Jennifer Gentile - Electric Princess (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Minus Story - Stitch Me Up (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Rocky Votolato - Postcard From Kentucky (MP3)

This week features one of the most anticipated albums of the year - Icky Thump by the White Stripes, and with an eagerly awaited album by the Polyphonic Spree - The Fragile Army.

Other new albums I can strongly recommend includeArt Brut's It's a Bit Complicated, Jennifer Gentle's Midnight Room, the Minus Story's My Ion Truss, and Rocky Votolato's The Brag & Cuss.

A couple of truly interesting albums are released this week too. Von Südenfed's Tromatic Reflexxions features Mouse on Mars backing the Fall's Mark E Smith, and Silver Monk Time is a tribute album to the Monks featuring the Gossip, the Fall, Jason Forrest, and others.

This week's interesting CD releases:

Continue reading "Largehearted Boy's Interesting CD Releases This Week"