by Bill Pearis

Brooklyn band Vietnam were a fixture of the '00s local scene but went quiet a few years ago to the point where some may have wondered if they still existed. Main man Michael Gerner reactivated the name last year as a six-piece, and has put the finishing touches on a new Vietnam album, an A.merican D.ream, which is out February 26 via Mexican Summer. You can check out cover art and "Kitchen Kongas" from the album below.

The six-strong Vietnam will play a record release party in NYC at Mercury Lounge on February 28 with TV Baby and Hectors Pets. Tickets are on sale now. Shortly after that the band will head out on tour, including the inevitable stop in Austin for SXSW (which just announced the film lineup) and they play Austin Psych Fest too. All tour dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Vietnam releasing first LP in 5 years, touring (dates, stream)"

We knew Caveman were finishing up their new album and now we have the details. The self-titled album will be out April 2 (a popular release date) via Fat Possum. You can stream the first track released from it -- the synth-drenched "In the City" -- below. Cover art and track list is below as well.

As mentioned, Caveman (who just played Kidrockers at Brooklyn Bowl) are gearing up for an extensive North American tour that will hit SXSW, both coasts and Canada before returning to NYC for a show at Webster Hall on April 10 to which Pure Bathing Culture have been added to the bill (tickets). Updated tour dates are below.

Continue reading "Caveman announce new album, expand tour, playing SXSW (stream, updated dates)"

Montreal's Valleys have announced details of their new album, Are You Going To Stand There And Talk Weird All Night?, which will be out April 30 on Kanine Records. The record was produced by Alec Dipple of legendary UK indie band The Monochrome Set and you can check out the track list and genuinely terrific cover art below.

While no tracks have been released from the album yet, you can watch a live session of LP cut "See the Moon?" from Pop Montreal 2012 below. Valleys will be going on tour this spring on their way down to Austin during SXSW, including a stop in NYC at Pianos on March 7 with Praha Depart, Bowmont, Man Without Country, and Late Guest at the Party. Advance tickets are available.

After that, the band do a short East Coast tour in April with Fol Chen, including stop in NYC at Glasslands on 4/4. No advance tickets for that show just yet, but you can check out all upcoming Valleys tour dates below.

Continue reading "Valleys announce details of new LP (artwork, track list); playing SXSW, touring with Fol Chen in April (dates)"

SXSW is no doubt a great way to see a lot of bands in a short amount of time and can be a lot of fun. But it can also be a little much for some. If you'd like to see many of the same bands but in a more genteel setting, you might be interested in The Savannah Stopover which happens the weekend before SXSW (March 7 - 9) in at various clubs in Savannah, Georgia. Over 100 bands will play, including Of Montreal, Merchandise, Mac DeMarco, Chelsea Light Moving, Hunters, Braids, Delicate Steve, Turbo Fruits, Ducktails and loads more.

Tickets ($30 per day or $75 for three-day pass) are on sale now and more info is at Savannah Stopover's website. The full announced lineup is below.

Continue reading "of Montreal, Chelsea Light Moving, Merchandise, Mac DeMarco, & more playing Savannah Stopover before SXSW"

Bleached's debut album, Ride Your Heart, will be out April 2 via Dead Oceans. That's the cover art above. You can stream the album's single "Next Stop" below and, like just about everything else we've heard from Jennifer and Jessie Clavin so far, it's pretty damn catchy.

Bleached will be in Austin for SXSW, then hitting Santa Ana, California for Burgerama II which will be followed by a proper North American tour, inlcudinga NYC show at Bowery Ballroom on April 23 with Hunters. Tickets to that show go on AmEx presale today (1/30) at noon with the regular on-sale happening Friday (2/1) at noon.

All Bleached tour dates, plus that single stream, are listed below.

Continue reading "Bleached releasing debut album in April (stream a track), going on tour (dates)"

As mentioned, Phosphorescent's new album, Muchacho, will be out March 19 via Dead Oceans. Matthew Houck will be taking he's revamped, five-member line-up on the road around the same time for a North American tour. It kicks off with a visit to Austin for SXSW and wraps up in NYC at Bowery Ballroom on April 18. Tickets to that show go on AmEx presale Wednesday (1/30) at noon with a general on-sale starting Friday (2/1) at noon. After the Bowery show, Phosphorescent head to Europe and all upcoming dates are listed below.

If you haven't heard "Song for Zula," the ethereal first single from Muchacho, you can stream that below.

Continue reading "Phosphorescent announces 2013 tour (SXSW & NYC included)"

Nearly three years after making their much-lauded debut, Astro Coast, Surfer Blood are set to release their second album, Pythons, this summer on their new label home of Warner Brothers. The album was recorded in Los Angeles with veteran alt-rock producer Gil Norton (Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen) behind the boards. You can stream the first-released track from the LP, "Weird Shapes," below and you can download it via the band's website for the price of your email address.

No word on any NYC shows, but the band will play some West Coast dates on their way to SXSW this year and those dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Surfer Blood return with 'Pythons' this summer (stream a track), playing SXSW and West Coast (dates)"

Jonathan Clancy in Detroit...

What started as solo home recordings from A Classic Education's Jonathan Clancy, His Clancyness has become a full band over the late couple years and have become as active as ACE. The band recently finished their new album in Detroit with producer Chris Koltay (Atlas Sound, Liars, Lotus Plaza) which should be out sometime in the near future.

His Clancyness are coming over from their Bologna, Italy home for SXSW and will be playing shows outside of Texas too. The only announced date so far is in NYC: March 10 at Glasslands. The rest of the lineup is still TBA but tickets are on sale now.

While we wait for the their new album, you can check out His Clancyness' cover of El Perro Del Mar's "I Can't Talk About It" which is streaming below...

Continue reading "His Clancyness covered El Perro Del Mar (stream), readies new album and playing NYC before SXSW"

by Bill Pearis

Montreal songwriter Leif Vollebekk will release his new album, North Americana, on February 19. That's the cover art above and the photo was actually taken by BV contributor Dominick Mastrangelo. Vollebekk spent nearly two years making the album, recording it in Montreal, New York City and La Frette-sur-Seine, France and features violin work from Arcade Fire's Sarah Neufeld. You can stream "Off the Main Drag" below.

We've caught Leif a few times, at M for Montreal and SXSW for example, and he's an engaging live performer. He's got some shows coming up, including one in NYC on February 7 at Rockwood Music Hall, opening for Willy Mason. Advance tickets are available. He'll be at SXSW too and all tour dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Leif Vollebekk releasing new album, touring (dates, stream)"

by Bill Pearis

Everything Everything released their second album, Arc, last week and if the kitchen sink bombast of their 2010 debut is a bit more focused this time out, it still pulls in so many disparate styles and elements one wonders how a group could ever arrive at a sound like this. There's a bit of Foals precision, but also flashes of R&B, '80s widescreen pop, marching band music, you name it. And they mostly make it work, at least into a sound that could only be described as "Everything Everything." You can stream the album via Spotify and check out videos for singles "Cough Cough" and "Kemosabe" below.

The band are coming to America to play SXSW and will swing through NYC on the way back, playing Bowery Ballroom on March 25. Tickets go on AmEx presale today (1/23) at noon and the regular on-sale is Friday (1/25) at noon.

Everything Everything album stream and videos below...

Continue reading "Everything Everything released 'Arc' (stream), coming to America for SXSW and NYC show"

by Bill Pearis

Mac Demarco, who will be here next week with Ty Segall, has announced a March tour surrounding his appearance at SXSW in Austin. Most of the tour is with Captured Tracks labelmate Naomi Punk and fellow Canadian Calvin Love. The tour hits NYC before SXSW at Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 1 with Eola also on the bill. Tickets, reasonably priced at $10, go on AmEx presale on Wednesday (1/23) at noon with the regular on-sale happening on Friday (1/25).

If you're unfamiliar with opener Calvin Love, he released his debut album, New Radar, via Autumn Tone back in November and is sort of electropop lonely highway music. You can stream the whole album below.

A list of all Mac DeMarco tour dates and the Calvin Love stream are below...

Continue reading "Mac DeMarco touring with Naomi Punk and Calvin Love, including NYC and SXSW (updated dates)"

Austin's fuzzed-out Black Angels are set to release their fourth album, Indigo Meadow, on April 2. That's the album art above and you can stream the album's zeitgeist-y single "Don't Play with Guns" below.

The Black Angels will be heading out on a two-month tour right after the album's release, including a stop in NYC on April 8 at Webster Hall. Elephant Stone and Allah-Las will open and tickets go on AmEx presale on Wednesday (1/23) at noon with the regular on-sale happening on Friday (1/25) at noon.

Openers Elephant Stone is fronted by Rishi Dir who has spent time in The Black Angels touring unit and you can probably expect him to play sitar on a few Angels songs while they're out together. Elephant Stone's new self-titled album is out February 5 on the Reverberation Appreciation Society, the label run by Austin Psych Fest (which is run by THe Black Angels). Elephant Stone will be at SXSW in Austin before the Black Angels tour and additional tour dates are listed below.

Speaking of Austin Psych Fest, The Black Angels are headlining this year's event which happens April 26 -28 at Carson Creek Ranch.

Continue reading "Black Angels announce new LP and 2013 tour (dates, stream)"

by Bill Pearis

Makers of winsome, jangly pop, Brighton, UK's Fear of Men have released a steady stream of collectible 7" singles since forming two years ago. Those hard-to-find tracks are being compiled for the band's first North American release, Early Fragments, which is out in February 13 on Kanine Records. The marbled vinyl edition is limited to 500 copies and can be pre-ordered now. You can stream a few tracks from it below.

The band are making their first trip across the Atlantic for SXSW and they'll play Festival NRMAL in Montery, Mexico beforehand. After SXSW, Fear of Men will stop in NYC on their way home, playing Pianos on March 20 with Field Mouse. Tickets for that show are on sale now. I would be surprised if they didn't add a second NYC show, but we'll see.

Videos, streams, and a list of all tour dates below...

Continue reading "Fear of Men releasing 'Early Fragments' compilation, playing NYC after SXSW (dates, streams)"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Man Without Country - "King Complex" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Man Without Country - "Ebb & Flow" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Man Without Country - "Iceberg" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Man Without Country - "Inflammable Heart" (MP3)

South Wales duo (or trio at their live shows) Man Without Country make the kind of electro-shoegaze of M83, who they've toured with and remixed (listen below), and also pull in influences from 21st century disco and Postal Service-y emotronica. They've been around for a few years, but didn't release anything until 2011's King Complex EP, followed by their debut full length, Foe, in 2012, which included almost every track from the EP. You can stream five tracks from Foe below, and four of them are also available for download above.

Man Without Country will be making their way to the US for a few shows leading up to their appearance at this year's SXSW in March, and they'll stop by NYC twice before they get there: March 7 at Pianos and March 9 at Knitting Factory. Tickets for the Knitting Factory show are on sale now, and no tickets for the Pianos show yet but you can check ticketweb for updates.

A list of all dates and those song streams below...

Continue reading "Man Without Country released an LP, touring the US around SXSW (dates, streams, MP3s)"

by Bill Pearis

Savages @ BV CMJ 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

UK post punk act Savages came to CMJ on a deafening wave of hype that they not only managed to meet but exceed with their intense, blisteringly awesome live performances (and absolutely killer rhythm section). The quartet are currently wrapping up sessions for their debut album but will be coming back to America to take on another festival: SXSW. After their visit to Austin, Savages will hit NYC for two shows: Bowery Ballroom on March 18 and Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 19. Tickets to both shows go on AmEx presale on Wednesday (1/16) at noon with the regular on-sale happening Friday (1/18).

Video from Savages at CMJ below...

Continue reading "Savages finishing up debut LP, playing NYC after SXSW"

by Andrew Sacher

Glasgow's PAWS released their punky noise pop debut, Cokefloat!, last year via FatCat and after touring in support of it over in Europe a bunch, they'll finally make their way over to the US this March. They don't have much booked yet but we know they'll play SXSW and on the way to Austin they'll stop in NYC for a show on March 5 at Glasslands. Tickets for that show are on sale now. All dates are listed below.

Cokefloat! was one of the more promising debuts of 2012, and if you've yet to hear it, now that they're making their way over to our shores it'd be a good time to give it a spin. The album is packed with quick, punchy tunes that are endlessly catchy and as I've mentioned in the past, it's a must-hear for Japandroids fans. You can watch a Live 405 Session video of "Sore Tummy," a FatCat session, and listen to a spotify stream of the album below.

Continue reading "PAWS playing NYC before SXSW (dates, videos)"

Sweden's The Deer Tracks are set to release their new album, The Archer Trilogy Pt. 3, on February 12 via The Control Group. You can stream "Lazarus" from the album below which is in the Niki & the Dove / Knife school of Scandinavian dancepop. As the title implies, the album is the third -- and final -- part of the band's "Archer" trilogy.

The group will be coming over for SXSW and will hit NYC beforehand, playing Pianos on March 2 and Glasslands on March 4. No advance tickets for either show just yet. Those dates are part of a full tour which will be announced soon.

Song stream below...

Continue reading "The Deer Tracks ready new album, playing NYC before SXSW (dates, stream)"

The Specials @ T5 April 2010 (more by Chris La Putt)

The Specials will be returning to North America for a tour this spring which kicks off in Chicago and will include two appearances at SXSW in Austin. No specific dates just yet -- and the first leg sounds like it's going West and not East -- but we do know that vocalist/toaster Neville Staples, who has been ill, will not be joining them.

The Specials were last in NYC in April 2010.

Camera Obscura at Grand Ballroom in 2010 (more by Jessica Amaya)

Camera Obscura have been keeping pretty quiet lately. The Glasgow indie poppers haven't released an album since 2009's My Maudlin Career and haven't toured since 2010. They haven't announced any formal plans for 2013 yet but perhaps something is stirring over at the Camera Obscura camp because just yesterday (1/10) they were revealed as one of the bands playing SXSW, and they've now just announced a post-SXSW happening in NYC on March 19 at Le Poisson Rouge. Tickets for that show go on sale Monday (1/14) at 10 AM.

We're not aware of any other dates at the moment. The video for "French Navy" from My Maudlin Career is below...

Continue reading "Camera Obscura playing NYC after SXSW"

Frightened Rabbit @ T5, Nov. 2010 (more by Lionel Bergeron)

SXSW has just announced another round of bands for the 2013 edition of the annual music festival that will happen March 12 - 17. This brings the total current number of acts to around 1300. Someome of the highlights include Vampire Weekend, Frightened Rabbit, The Thermals, Black Lips, Camera Obscura, Merchandise, Bleached, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Eagles of Death Metal, Parenthetical Girls, Indians, Night Beds, IO Echo, KEN Mode, Prince Paul, Pure Bathing Culture, Sepalcure, UK motorik post-punks TOY, Finnish instrumentalists K-X-P, Toronto's Moon King, UK indie rockers Splashh (not Brooklyn Splash with one "h") and loads more. Head to BV Austin for the whole Round 3 list.

Flying Lotus at LPR in October (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Flying Lotus, whose great Until the Quiet Comes has been getting the credit it deserves on year-end lists by NME, Uncut, NPR, and Pitchfork, just made a list of his top ten films that have Criterion Collection editions. The whole list with commentary is on Criterion's website but you can see his picks below.

In related news, Flying Lotus' rap alter-ego Captain Murphy recently tweeted that he'll be in Austin this March for SXSW 2013. This announcement comes after SXSW's own recent announcement of artists which included Rhye, Savages, Flatbush Zombies, Deap Vally, Angel Haze, and more.

Flying Lotus' list below...

Continue reading "Flying Lotus lists his top 10 Criterion Collection DVDs; Captain Murphy playing SXSW 2013"

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Now that their recent tour with Title Fight has drawn to a close (they played Bowery Ballroom in November), Canada's Single Mothers are scheduling dates in the new year as part of a campaign toward SXSW. So far dates are spotty, but look for the band to hit in NYC on March 2 at The Studio at Webster Hall. Tickets go on sale Saturday (12/15) at 9AM.

Another date of note in that recently announced set is part of Fucked Up's Long Winter series, monthly shows in Toronto that last until February. The band will join Fucked Up (who also play Warsaw next week) as well as Absolutely Free, The Highest Order, Dusted, Marine Dreams vs The Weather Station, Laura Barrett and Kristian Pedersen at The Great Hall on 12/14. This all-ages event will feature "immersive and interactive music, installations, visual art, readings, food and dance" and is "pay what you can."

Single Mothers released their self-titled EP late last year which you can stream below.

In related news, Fucked Up have a new video for "Inside a Frame" which you can watch below alongside the Single Mothers stream and a list of all dates.

Continue reading "Single Mothers touring in 2013, playing SXSW & NYC (dates); playing festival curated by Fucked Up (who have a new vid) "

by Andrew Sacher

Oakland indie pop four-piece Trails and Ways have been picking up speed this year, releasing online singles in advance of their forthcoming debut LP, Trilingual (release date TBA). They first came to our attention when they were included on Hype Machine's list of the "Most Blogged About Artists of 2012," which may have been due in part to their choice of cover songs (which include recent hot tracks like M83's "Midnight City" and Miguel's "Sure Thing"). And of course this post adds another to that list. You can stream their original tracks "Border Crosser," "Mtn Tune," "Nunca," and "Tereza" below, along with some videos, and you can download them for free by liking the band's facebook page. All four members sing and together they create a harmony-laden take on the sort of dream pop that's been in style since the breakout of bands like M83, The xx, and Neon Indian.

To preface the full length, the band will be putting out a remix EP over the course of the next month, the first track of which was revealed today. You can check out The Seshen's remix of "Border Crosser" below.

Trails and Ways don't have much on their tour schedule at the moment, except for a few shows in their home state in early 2013, but they'll be heading to Austin for SXSW (who recently revealed a ton of artists) this March.

Streams and a list of dates below...

Continue reading "Trails and Ways get blogged about a lot (streams, videos, dates, covers of Miguel, M83 & more)"

by Bill Pearis

Sweden's Shout Out Louds have been a band now for 10 years which is pretty impressive these days. Having taking time off after 2010's Work for side projects and other life stuff, the band reconvened to make their new album Optica which will be out February 26 on Merge. The band produced it themselves, taking over a year to make it. Says the Shout Out Lounds:

In our eagerness to please no one but ourselves this time around, we decided to take on the challenge of producing our own music for the first time ever. Our close friend and sound aficionado of choice Johannes Berglund and his studio in Stockholm presented us with an ideal package for the endeavor. A secluded work space close to home, but off the earth's surface, a more than generous timeline, and the patient and brilliant sixth member we needed to get through the whole thing safely. Together we made up a downstairs world of explosive colors, big, warm sounds and a very, very uninhibited work process. We never worried about following a clear path, trusting that the conscious decision not to worry would be enough to lead us right, and that right doesn't necessarily have to mean rational or even reasonable...We all set prestige and skillfulness aside in favor of experimentation and sheer gusto. That will probably come across live too. I don't think we've ever been this excited to take an album on tour.

Speaking of ice, Shout Out Louds are releasing a special version of "Blue Ice" as an extremely limited edition 7" that is made not with vinyl but with actual ice... in a mold you can freeze yourself. If you could get one. They only made 10 of them and none were for sale. Not that you'd want to subject your turntable (or cartridge) to a bunch of melty ice, but it's a cool little gimmick and you can watch a video demonstration of the ice single below.

In addition to the new album, Shout Out Louds will be heading to North America for a tour next year. They'll play NYC at Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 11 and tickets for that show go on sale Friday (12/7) at noon with a AmEx presale starting Wednesday (12/5) at noon. The band will then head straight to Austin, TX for SXSW and their North American tour will start proper May 7 in Washington, DC. All tour dates are listed below, along with album art and tracklist, as well asthose videos.

Continue reading "Shout Out Louds releasing 'Optica' and touring in 2013, including NYC and SXSW (dates, stream)"

Nick Oliveri w/ Kyuss Lives! at Terminal 5 in 2011 (more by Greg Cristman)

According to a Facebook post on Nick Oliveri's band Mondo Generator's page, Nick, who last year dealt with some legal trouble but is back in Kyuss, "recently recorded his vocals on a new Queens of the Stone Age song." Nick was with QOTSA on their classic albums, Rated R and Songs for the Deaf. Dave Grohl, who recorded drums on Songs for the Deaf, is back on board for this album too and Trent Reznor is also doing some work on it. Here's to hoping they get Mark Lanegan on board for a full SFTD reunion.

Dave Grohl, who was recently added to the 12/12/12 Sandy benefit at MSG, will also by the keynote speaker for SXSW 2013 in Austin.

Trent Reznor, meanwhile, has been keeping busy with his How to destroy angels_ project, who recently released their An omen_ EP and are planning a full length follow up. He just put out a video for the song "Ice Age" off that EP, which was directed by John Hillcoat (The Road, Lawless). You can watch that video below.

Continue reading "Nick Oliveri working with QOTSA again (Dave Grohl & Trent Reznor too); How to destroy angels_ release video"