Memory Tapes @ Mercury Lounge (photo by Tom Burke)

Memory Tapes played Mercury Lounge on Friday (7/1) with opener New Moods in support of Player Piano which drops today (7/5) via Carpark. The show was the only North American show scheduled in support of the album, before Memory Tapes headed to Europe this week for a few dates. Memory Tapes will return for a longer string of North American dates later this month, including August 11 at Glasslands with SLEEP 8 OVER. Tickets are on sale for the Glasslands show now. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Memory Tapes played Mercury Lounge, adds more tour dates"

interview by Billy Jones

DOWNLOAD: Memory Tapes - Green Knight (Creep remix) (MP3) (via)
DOWNLOAD: Memory Tapes - Bicycle (MP3)

"For a guy who's never been on tour before, Dayve Hawk's Memory Tapes does a much better job than many bands well-versed in live performance. It's probably because his music is just so good he'd have to work hard to make it sound bad, and with the addition of live drumming and guitar, it sounded totally fantastic. It took me a while to warm up to Seek Magic, but live his work is clarified, catchy, and precise, more immediate than on the album. Vocals and instruments rose above sound effects. Indeed, a Memory Tapes record is for spaced-out, sunny afternoons; a Memory Tapes show is a place to let go and dance. We always need more of those. Thanks for giving us another one, Dayve." [Tiny Mix Tapes]

Memory Tapes brings his live show to Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday night. As mentioned more than a few times, the show is the BrooklynVegan Northside showcase which will also feature performances by Twin Sister, Dom and Zaza. Tickets are still on sale or you can try and use your Northside badge to get in.

Billy Jones, who recently talked to Dave Sitek on the phone and Dom via Gchat, caught up with Dayve Hawk via email. Their conversation can be read below....

Continue reading "an interview w/ Memory Tapes (who plays MHOW Saturday) "

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Pocahaunted - Save Yourself (It's Nice) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sleep 8 Over - Outer Limits (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Lower Dens -  Hospice Gates (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Future Islands -  Tin Man (MP3)

Pocahaunted

Los Angeles' dub/psych/tribal/etc outfit Pocahaunted are in town for two shows this weekend -- Saturday (6/12) at Glasslands and Sunday (6/13) at Pianos. The band has expanded to a five-piece following the departure of Bethany Cosetino (now of Best Coast) and released their second album, Make it Real, earlier this year. You can check out an MP3 at the top of this post.

Prince Rama

Both shows feature Brooklyn's Prince Rama who make blissed out ambient drone, and whose debut album is due out this September on Paw Tracks.

Also playing both shows are Austin trio Sleep ∞ Over . The latter are making their first visit to NYC and have a new 7" is out now on Forrest Family Records (label from the Gorilla Vs Bear/Weekly Tape Deck folks). You can download the A-side at the top of this post. It's dreamy, ethereal stuff and comparisons to Beach House aren't off the mark. In addition to the Pocahaunted shows, Sleep 8 Over are also playing a free day show at Co-Op 87 with Future Shuttle and Baltimore's Lower Dens . That starts at 3PM.

Lower Dens

Lower Dens is the new band from Jana Hunter (Matt & Mossy, Castanets) and their quite wonderful, seriously good debut album, Twin Hand Movement, is out next month on Devendra Banhart's Gnomonsong label. You can download "Hospice Gates" at the top of this post.  Lower Dens are also playing tomorrow with fellow Baltimorians Future Islands at Silent Barn.  And you can download a Future Islands track at the top of this post.

All tour dates and flyers are below.

Continue reading "Pocahaunted, Prince Rama, Sleep ∞ Over, Lower Dens & Future Islands - shows this weekend, new albums, MP3s, other dates"