by Dominick Mastrangelo

Serenades @ Knitting Factory

Serenades, the Swedish duo of Alex Olenius (Shout Out Louds) and Markus Krunegard (Laakso), made their NYC debut on Thursday (12/15) at the Knitting Factory. Their short tour culminated with a midnight show on Friday (12/16) at the Mercury Lounge. One might have excused the duo for going the easy route and performing to only backing tracks, but the Swedes brought along members of Miike Snow and Lykke Li's band to create a formidable five-piece.

The band only has a handful of shows under their belt, but their unabashed, full-on pop already seems too big for such small venues. "Birds" is arguably the best of the lot with ebullient horns and quick-fire strings, punctuated with the refrain "There was something missing in my life / now I know what love is all about." The alone-at-the-holidays track "Come Home" (also the title of their EP) was timely and "All The Words," the lead-track on their full-length, Criminal Heaven (due for a US release in the spring), is already perfectly slotted as the set closer.

Out of the two NYC shows, the Mercury Lounge show had the better turnout, later start time, and better vibe. Based on the strength of the songs and as more Shout Out Louds fans become aware of the project, it won't be surprising to see Serenades at the Bowery or Music Hall when they return for a full tour next year.

Of note was Knitting Factory opener XNY, the Brooklyn-based guitar and drum duo of Pam Autuori and Jacob Schreiber. Not entirely sold on the recorded stuff yet but their live set was assured and enjoyable.

More pictures, Mercury Lounge setlist and the video for "Birds" below...

Continue reading "Serenades played Mercury Lounge w/ Parlovr & Knitting Factory w/ XNY (pics & review)"

By Bill Pearis

Serenades are a Swedish duo who formed just this year, but you might be familiar with the members. Adam Olenius fronts Shout Out Louds and Markus Krunegård spent most of the '00s in the band Laakso. The band makes their NYC debut this week with shows on Thursday (12/15) at Knitting Factory and a late show Friday (12/16, doors at 10:30) at Mercury Lounge with Montreal's Parlovr opening.

Parlovr, who I just saw in Montreal, also play the Popgun Holiday Party at Glasslands with North Highlands, BELL, and Leisure on Thursday.

With their indiepop backgrounds you might not be surprised to learn that Serenades are tuneful, with heart-on-sleeve lyrics and anthemic/precious arrangements, though the duo are definitely more full-on radio-friendly pop than Shout out Louds (who are still together) ever were. Serenades' debut album, Criminal Heaven, is out now in Sweden but America is going to have to settle for the digital-only Come Home EP until next year.

The EP's title cut (which is on the album too) is a pouty, holiday-themed track that takes it's cues from Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (The production and melody part, not the pretense or Bono wailing "Thank god it's them instead of you!" part.) You can also watch the video for "Oceans" at the bottom of this post and download the track (via a widget) as well...

Continue reading "Shout Out Louds offshoot Serenades playing NYC this week, Parlovr too"

by Dominick Mastrangelo

Two months after their record release show (as well as a couple of secret shows) the Swedish band Shout Out Louds returned to New York and Webster Hall on Wednesday, 5/5 (one night after Yeasayer played the same venue and one night before Beach House played there ). The band were only a few days into a three-week tour of the US in support of their third full-length, Work, and minus bass player, Ted Malmros, who stayed in Sweden awaiting the birth of his child. Opening were Freelance Whales who are supporting the band the entire tour and opened for their show at the Music Hall back in March. More pictures and the SOL setlist below...

Continue reading "Shout Out Louds & Freelance Whales played Webster Hall - pics & setlist"

Freelance Whales @ SXSW (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Freelance Whales, who are one of the many artists on the recently-announced Lollapalooza lineup (and who were just at SXSW) (and who recently played on a subway platform), will celebrate the Mom+Pop/Frenchkiss Records physical re-release of their debut album Weathervanes by playing a set of music at Other Music in NYC on Monday, 4/12, at 8pm. The free show comes one day before their sold out headlining show at Bowery Ballroom which I have a free pair of tickets to give one lucky winner. Details below with more tour dates...

Continue reading "Freelance Whales playing free instore before Bowery (win tix)"

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

Shout Out Louds @ White Slab

One night after they played MHOW, Shout Out Louds played a not-so-secret free show at Pianos. One night after they played a pretty-much-secret private show at White Slab. Dominick went to all three. At Pianos they played a slightly shorter and Work-heavy set (just two older songs), but Dominick said it was "just as good as the night before". At White Slab they only played five songs for those who managed to get in. The Pianos setlist and more pictures from both of those shows, below...

Continue reading "Shout Out Louds played Pianos & White Slab (pics, setlist) "

Shout Out Louds @ MHOW (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Shout Out Louds played to a sold-out crowd at Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 1st. Then they played a free "secret" Pianos show on Tuesday (3/2), and they're back to headline Webster Hall on May 5th (tickets). But first they play another "secret" show tonight (3/3) - details are below with all tour dates...

Continue reading "Shout Out Louds play (another) secret show & other dates"

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

The Shout Out Louds were fantastic on Monday night (3/1). Their first show in New York in almost two years, the Swedish quintet were already in top form as they set out for an extensive tour in support of their new record Work. A 17-song set that flowed well, mixed perfectly between new and old material. Older songs like "Please, Please, Please" (from Howl Howl Gaff Gaff) led easily into "Fall Hard", arguably the best song off the new record. Adam Olenius sang with conviction and intensity and the whole band produced a swagger and confidence that they maintained throughout the show. The sold out Music Hall crowd sang along on several songs, especially "Very Loud" and later on set closer, the epic "Hard Rain", was every bit as moving as it is on record. For the encore the band played Our Ill Wills' other lengthy track. "Impossible", then finished off the show with a raucous version of "Walls", the single from the new record.

Freelance Whales opened the show which was one night before they played on the Bedford L subway platform.

Shout Out Louds also played a Tuesday night show, but theirs was in a regular club (at Pianos in Manhattan). And they play again TONIGHT (3/3). It's a secret show. Both NYC setlists and more pictures from the Brooklyn show, below...

Continue reading "Shout Out Louds played MHOW w/ Freelance Whales & then Pianos - pics & setlists"

"In celebration of the release of their new album Work, Shout Out Louds are in New York to play a sold out show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn tonight. As a special surprise, Shout Out Louds will play a free show tomorrow, March 2nd at Pianos on Ludlow Street, Lower East Side. No tickets necessary, but space is extremely limited! First come, first served! The show starts at 7 p.m."

DOWNLOAD: Shout Out Louds - Fall Hard (Passion Pit's Summertime Radio Remix) (MP3)

Shout Out Louds

tonight in NYC
* Whiplash @ UCB
* Chicha Libre @ Barbes
* Rev. Vince Anderson @ Union Pool
* Les Paul Guitar Trio w/ Stanley Jordan @ Iridium
* Mon Khmer, Home Video, Your Nature @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Shout Out Louds, Freelance Whales @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Kevin Blechdom & Irene Moon, Fabrizio Villegas, It Is It @ Pianos
* Sun Araw, Pierre Sogol, Blissed Out, Nonhorse, Run DMT @ Silent Barn
* The So So Glos, Beachniks, The Sundelles, Tough Knuckles @ Death By Audio

A new "official" (but short) Die Antwoord video for "$copie" below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Generator First Floor (live) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Generator Second Floor (live) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Ghosting (live) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Starring (live) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales - Kilojoules (live) (MP3)

Freelance Whales @ Webster Hall on December 18th (by Fresh Bread)

Freelance Whales spent some time on the road with Fanfarlo at the end of 2009. That culminated in a December 18th show at Webster Hall (pictured above).

More recently, Freelance Whales played Mercury Lounge on January 20th with Animal Tropical and Still Life Still (as part of their residency at the venue).

Freelance Whales will again be opening up for some great bands at bigger venues. On Thursday, February 18th they open for UK's Mumford & Sons at Bowery Ballroom (that show is sold out). Then on March 1st they open for Shout Out Louds at MHOW on March 1st (also sold out).

Shout Out Louds (whose new album Work comes out February 23rd) have added to that date with a North American tour this May. They play May 5th at Webster Hall. Tickets are on sale. All tour dates and the video for the new album's first single are below.

Freelance Whales have been added to the Cymbals Eat Guitars/Bear in Heaven tour happening this March and April, though Freelance Whales do NOT appear to be playing the show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday, April 9th (tickets are on sale).

Freelance Whales were also added to the Bell House's Haiti benefit on Wednesday, January 27th. Tickets are still on sale.

The re-release (or "official" release) of Freelance Whales' Weathervanes on Frenchkiss/Mom + Pop Records comes March 16th. The band was recently a guest on online radio show Snacky Tunes (which is hosted by Finger on the Pulse). Their live session is posted above.

All tour and more are below...

Continue reading "Freelance Whales played Snacky Tunes (MP3s), playing w/ Cymbals Eat Guitars, Bear in Heaven, Shout Out Louds -dates"

DOWNLOAD: Shout Out Louds - Walls (MP3)

"Merge Records are excited to announce that Sweden's Shout Out Louds will be releasing their new record, entitled Work, on February 23, 2010. Work is the band's third album and second for Merge. It was recorded in Seattle and produced by Phil Ek (The Shins, Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses)."

The band will be touring North America behind the new record in 2010, but for now they've only announced one show: March 1st @ Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, and tickets are on sale.

New song "Walls" is available as a free download (above) and already has a video (below)...

Continue reading "Shout Out Louds announce new album (MP3) & NYC show"

by Avi Roig

DOWNLOAD: Jens Lekman - The Opposite Of Hallelujah (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Still get around (MP3)

Ida Maria

Ida Maria (SWE)
From Norway, operating out of Stockholm and currently making inroads in the UK - an international success waiting to happen. The thing that is winning 'em over? A fearless, unpredictable live show. The songs could be better, but I would not hesitate to see her get on stage and wreck shit.

Continue reading "some Swedish bands who are here for SXSW, NYC, etc"

This is a whole bunch of of Swedish awesome....

Continue reading "Lykke Li, Shout Out Louds, Robyn & The Concretes - A VIDEO"

Shout Out Louds are playing Langerado, Coachella, and....Joe's Pub - twice. Also:

Merge Records is on tap to release the Impossible EP April 8. The five-track EP features a radio edit and a couple remixes of its title track, a video for the track which was directed by the band's bassist Ted Malmros, and a couple non-album cuts. [Aversion]

Continue reading "Shout Out Louds - 2008 Tour Dates (Joe's Pub), new EP"

Shout Out Louds & Rosebuds @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - Oct 25, 2007 (CRED)

Bjorn (pre-DJing at Hiro Ballroom) and plenty of other Swedes were in attendance at the Shout Out Louds show at Bowery Ballroom last night (Oct 25). That's why it seemed strange that the only surprise special guest that joined the Swedish band on stage was one of their label-mates from North Carolina - The Rosebuds (a band who graced the very same stage just over a week ago). The Rosebuds didn't actually do very much - just some barely-noticeable backup singing on a song, and some dancing and shaking. It was a tease actually - I was hoping they'd grab the instruments, and bust into some songs of their own.

The show itself was okay - Shout Out Louds are good, but not super exciting. Emusic's review of Our Ill Wills sums up the main thing I got out of it....

If it does not already exist, let us now initiate a genre called Cure-core, a collection of bands who nick proudly and brazenly from the catalogue of R. Smith. Let us also quickly clarify: in no way is this a bad thing. Instead of taking cues from the smeared-mascara mope of early albums like Faith and Pornography — as so many before them have done — the Shout Out Louds shoot straight for 1987's Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. Their version of "Just Like Heaven" is called "Tonight I Have to Leave It" and it opens their second album on an impossible high. It's got the commanding stateliness of an overture, sweeping and sun-eyed and jubilant. [emusic]

Continue reading "Shout Out Louds, Rosebuds @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - pics"

DOWNLOAD: Lykke Li - Tonight (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Shugo Tokumaru - Young Folks (PB&J Cover) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Shout Out Louds - Tonight I Have To Leave It (MP3)

Peter Bjorn and John, Shout Out Louds, and Lykke Li are all from Sweden. Shout Out Louds play Bowery Ballroom in NYC tonight (Oct 25), Music Hall of Williamsburg tomorrow, Maxwell's on Saturday, and then they continue their North American tour (with Johnossi - also from Sweden). Björn Yttling (Bjorn) produced Our Ill Wills - the new Shout Out Louds record out on Merge. 21-year old Lykke Li (real name = Lykke Zahrisson) sings the girl parts on that record. Lykke Li just came out with her own EP as well. It was also produced by Bjorn. Bjorn and Lykke are here in NYC working on her full length album - which also explains part of the reason Peter and Bjorn have been around town. Lykke Li was the girl singing the the girl part on "Young Folks" at the CMJ show at Galapagos. Lykke Li is playing her own two shows - a free one at Knitting Factory on October 29th, and a not-free one at Mercury Lounge the next day. Bjorn will probably be at those shows to help her out. Maybe Bjorn and Lykke will also both be at the three NYC-area Shout Out Louds shows to help them out too. Lykke and the Shout Out Louds tour Europe together in November and December. One further connection all these artists have: Bud Fox manages Shout Out Louds, Johnossi, Lykke Li, El Perro Del Mar, and Bjorn. Peter plays Joe's Pub on November 19th. Who knows where the hell John is.

In related news, Sweden's Jens Lekman is also playing two shows this weekend.

Sweden in NYC, 2007'
Oct 25 - DJ Bjorn @ Hiro Ballroom (info)
Oct 25 - Shout Out Louds @ Bowery Ballroom
Oct 25 - SOL @ afterparty @ Lolita Bar
Oct 26 - Shout Out Louds @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Oct 26 - SOL afterparty @ Union Pool (w/ DJ Bjorn)
Oct 27 - Shout Out Louds @ Maxwell's of Hoboken
Oct 27 - Jens Lekman @ Webster Hall
Oct 28 - Jens Lekman @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Oct 29 - Lykke Li @ Knitting Factory
Oct 30 - Lykke Li @ Mercury Lounge
Nov 19 - Peter @ Joe's Pub

Lykke Li may be the new Annie or Sally Shapiro or Robyn (who Bjorn has also produced and who Bud Fox also works with), or something 'Swedish pop star' like that. All tour dates, and Lykke's video for "Little Bit", below.......

Continue reading "Lykke Li (from Sweden) Bjorn (without Peter & John) Shout Out Louds (tonight) --- Tour Dates, MP3, Video"

Sweden’s finest indiepop quintet, Shout Out Louds, return to North America this fall for a month-long tour in support of their sophomore full-length, Our Ill Wills. The tour will kick off October 6th at the LA Weekly Detour Festival and run through November 3rd in Dallas, with two nights in New York City.

Continue reading "Shout Out Louds & Johnossi - 2007 Tour Dates"

Shout Out Louds @ Spiegeltent, NYC - July 16, 2007 (CRED) (review)

* St. Vincent headlines Bowery Ballroom
* Slint does Spiderland at Webster Hall
* Chrisette Michele is playing at Borders
* Marc Ribot @ The World Financial Center
* The Shout Out Louds are at Luna Lounge
* Os Mutantes play Lincoln Center
* Jamie T is at Union Pool
* Stream new Editors, Magic Numbers, Cribs, Chemical Brothers

What else?

DOWNLOAD: Shout Out Louds - Tonight I Have To Leave It (MP3)

Swedish 'indiepop quintet' Shout Out Louds are in town are here to play tonight (July 16) @ the Spiegeltent in Manhattan, tomorrow @ Luna Lounge, and then two shows in California. I can't be sure, but perhaps they'll also be back in NYC to play the Merge Records showcase during CMJ because they've got a show scheduled in Chicago on October 19th. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Shout Out Louds - 2007 Tour Dates"

The Spiegeltent schedule I posted yesterday has been updated with new information. That includes a show by Merge Records' Shout Out Louds.