by Andrew Sacher

Niki & the Dove

Stockholm's Niki & the Dove (aka Malin Dahlström and Gustaf Karlöf), who released The Drummer EP and "The Fox" single last year and made BBC's 'Sound of 2012' list, recently announced a short US tour which will take place this March and hit NYC on March 10 at Knitting Factory. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

The band just released the video for "The Fox," which you can watch below alongside a widget to download the track. There's definitely some Bjork coming through in Malin's vocals, and she's backed by thick, dancefloor-ready pop with synthetic brass, clap snares, and exploding choruses.

Also on the Knitting Factory bill is Clock Opera, who will release their debut album, Ways to Forget, on April 9 via Moshi Moshi, and quickly rising UK pop singer Charli XCX.

Charli XCX recently played an MTV show in London with The Maccabees, which Lana Del Rey was also scheduled to play, but cancelled like she did with SXSW after her SNL performance and an interview with Vogue where she said she might never record an album again. Like Lana Del Rey, Charli XCX seems groomed for mainstream pop-ularity and was one of the many singers Balam Acab remixed last year. Charli's other dates include a March tour of Europe with Sleigh Bells (who are the musical guest on SNL next weekend).

All Niki & the Dove dates, video and widget below...

Continue reading "Niki & the Dove release new video, announce dates, a Brooklyn show w/ Charli XCX & Clock Opera"

When we first announced that rapper/DJ Spoek Mathambo will release his sophomore LP, Father Crepper, on March 13 via Sub Pop, we mentioned that he had dates including SXSW and NYC. A few of those dates, including a NYC show happening on March 22 at S.O.B.'s have since been announced. Tickets for the S.O.B.'s show are on sale now.

You can pre-order his album at the Sub Pop webstore and grab the single, "Let Them Talk," HERE. The album trailer along with all dates is below...

Continue reading "Spoek Mathambo playing SOB's after SXSW (and other dates)"

THEESatisfaction

As mentioned, Shabazz Palaces collaborators THEESatisfaction (aka Stasia Irons and Catherine Harris-White) are releasing their debut LP, awE naturalE, on March 27 via Sub Pop. We recently posted a non-album track, "Do You Have Time," which you can grab HERE, and the group have just revealed their first track from the album, "QueenS," which you can download below via a widget.

THEESatisfaction have also announced some dates in support of the album including one in NYC on March 9 at Cameo Gallery. Tickets are on sale.

They'll be arriving in NYC a bit before their tour kickoff to film the video for "QueenS" and they're looking to cast 20 black women aged 21-30 in the NYC area for the shoot. If interested, email your full name, age, high, and headshot to theesatisfaction@gmail.com or submit it via tumblr. Poster below. Head over to their website for more info. Casting ends February 17.

Shabazz Palaces also have an upcoming tour which hits NYC on April 13 at S.O.B.'s (tickets) and April 14 at Brooklyn Bowl (tickets).

All dates including SXSW and song widget below...

Continue reading "THEESatisfaction release MP3, playing a show & filming a video in NYC (casting call underway)"

Speaking of Fleet Foxes members and Sub Pop, Sub Pop also announced the signing of Poor Moon, a band with Fleet Foxes members Christian Wargo and Casey Wescott and The Christmas Cards members/brothers Ian and Peter Muray. Sub Pop will release the band's Illusion EP on March 27. Download the track, "People in Her Mind," off of the EP below in exchange for your email address below.

Poor Moon will be touring this Spring with Lost in the Trees. That tour hits NYC on April 11 at Le Poisson Rouge. Tickets are on sale now. All dates are listed below.

Meanwhile catch Lost in the Trees in NYC at Housing Works on Friday, February 17.

In other Fleet Foxes news, a tumblr has arisen called Fleet Foxes Sing, where a group of people cover songs like James Blake's "The Wilhelm Scream" and Madonna's "Like A Virgin" in the style of Fleet Foxes. It's not nearly as funny or convincing as Bon Joviver though.

Father John Misty is one of two new Fleet Foxes-related projects signed to Sub Pop. The other is Poor Moon.

Widget and dates below...

Continue reading "Poor Moon (mems of Fleet Foxes) sign to Sub Pop too, touring with Lost in the Trees (dates & MP3)"

DOWNLOAD: Father John Misty & Phosphorescent - "I Would Love You" (MP3)

Father John Misty aka J. Tillman
with Fleet Foxes on an ACL Episode (more by Tim Griffin)

Farewell Fleet Fans and Friends. Back into the gaping maw of obscurity I go. Tokyo is my last show with the Foxes. Sorry if I was distant and obtuse if we ever met. Have fun.

Both before and during his time in Fleet Foxes, he had been recording solo material as J. Tillman. Since leaving Fleet Foxes, he's announced that he has signed to Sub Pop under the name Father John Misty and will release his first album under that moniker, Fear Fun, on the label on May 1. The album was recorded with Jonathan Wilson and was produced by Phil Ek, who also produced both Fleet Foxes albums, in addition to albums by The Shins, Band of Horses, and others. He's got a few west coast dates announced, which are listed below.

Our first taste of Father John Misty was a collaboration with fellow rural folkie Phosphorescent called "I Would Love You" (via Aquarium Drunkard). Grab an MP3 of that song at the top of this post. You can read the song's lyrics on the Father John Misty tumblr. He's since revealed a song from Fear Fun called "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings," which you can download via a widget below. You can also watch the video for it, which stars Aubrey Plaza of NBC's Parks and Recreation, at Entertainment Weekly.

All dates and widget below...

Continue reading "J. Tillman left Fleet Foxes, became 'Father John Misty', signed to Sub Pop (listen to two songs, 1 w/ Phosphorescent)"

Shabazz Palaces at Treasure Island Music Fest 2011 (more by Autumn Andel)

Shabazz Palaces are beginning to reveal dates for a North American tour they'll head out on this spring. The whole thing hasn't been announced yet but so far there's a Chicago show, a NYC show happening on April 13 at S.O.B.'s and a few others. Tickets for the NYC show go on sale Tuesday (1/31) at noon. All currently known North American dates below.

In related news, Shabazz Palaces collaborators and Sub Pop labelmates THEESatisfaction are releasing their debut LP, awE naturalE, on the label on March 27. They recently released a song, "Do You Have Time," which won't be on the album, but you can grab it via a widget below. Their only scheduled dates at the moment are hometown shows in Seattle and SXSW.

In other Sub Pop-signed-rapper news, Spoek Mathambo will release his sophomore LP, Father Creeper, on the label on March 13. Grab the album's lead track, "Let Them Talk," via a widget below. According to his website, SXSW, CMW & NYC dates coming soon.

All dates and widgets below...

Continue reading "Shabazz Palaces scheduling dates; THEESatisfaction & Spoek Mathambo announce Sub Pop LPs"

photos by Amanda Hatfield, DDG photos by Bryan Bruchman

Memoryhouse @ Mercury Lounge

Like Still Corners, Xray Eyeballs, Gem Club, Jacuzzi Boys and Memoryhouse played the Hardly Art/Sub Pop CMJ showcase at Mercury Lounge during CMJ. Here are some previously unposted pictures from that show.

J Mascis and Dum Dum Girls also played this Merc show, but we missed 'em. We did however catch DDG at their headlining Bowery Ballroom show. Some pictures from that one in here too. They are all below...

Continue reading "Memoryhouse, Jacuzzi Boys, Gem Club & Xray Eyeballs @ Mercury Lounge (belated Sub Pop CMJ show pics)"

Sharon at LPR in October (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

As mentioned, Sharon Van Etten signed to Jagaguwar and will release her next album with them in early 2012, which Aaron Dessner (of The National) is producing. A release date still hasn't been set for the album, but we now know that it's called Tramp and will feature contributions from Matt Barrick (of The Walkmen), Doveman, Zach Condon, Jenn Wasner (of Wye Oak), and Julianna Barwick.

After Sharon opens for The National at Beacon Theatre (12/13) (tickets), she'll go on a tour in support of her new album with one of her favorite bands Shearwater. That tour hasn't been announced in full yet (update: now it has), but it hits NYC on February 24 at Music Hall of Williamsburg and February 25 at Bowery Ballroom, and also includes two Chicago shows. Tickets for the MHOW show, and the Bowery Show, go on sale Friday (11/11) at noon with an AmEx presale starting Wednesday (11/9) at noon.

Shearwater also have a new home (Sub Pop), and they'll be releasing their next album on the label in early 2012. They released some live recordings and experimental pieces on their bandcamp back in April in honor of the signing.

All dates below...

Continue reading "Sharon Van Etten planning tour w/ Shearwater (who are now on Sub Pop) -- some dates announced"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: The Soft Moon - "Total Decay" (MP3)

At the tail end of 2010, San Francisco's Luis Vasquez released a self titled debut LP on Captured Tracks under the name The Soft Moon. The album embodies the gothy side of '80s post-punk and industrial, but with a greater interest in dark atmospheres than many of the poppier post-Interpol bands who cite early Factory Records and 4AD artists as influences. Luis Vasquez has since brought in bassist Justin Anastasi, drum machine/synth player Damon Way, and Ron Robinson on visuals to fill out The Soft Moon's lineup. You can grab two songs off the LP HERE.

The Soft Moon are following that album with an EP titled Total Decay, which they're aptly releasing on Halloween via Captured Tracks. The EP's title track, which you can download above, will send you into an even more unsettling trance than the full length. The atmospheres are just as heavy, but instead of the Joy Division-esque beats that filled out most of The Soft Moon, on "Total Decay" they sound like the occult practices of a tribal drum circle.

The Soft Moon will be opening for Mogwai on their rescheduled tour dates which include September 26 and 27 at Webster Hall. Tickets for both NYC shows are still on sale.

Speaking of Mogwai, they released the Earth Division EP this past Tuesday (9/13) on Sub Pop. The EP includes the track "Get To France," which you can stream below, along with the album art and tracklist. You can also order the album as a 12" EP or CD at the Sub Pop webstore.

All dates, song stream, album art and tracklist below...

Continue reading "The Soft Moon releasing new EP, playing shows w/ Mogwai (who just released an EP) --- MP3s & dates"

DOWNLOAD: Gem Club - "Twins" (MP3)

J. Mascis at Hammerstein Ballroom in August (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

Sub Pop/Hardly Art are presenting Lamefest II: Eclectic Boogaloo (aka their 2011 CMJ showcase) at Mercury Lounge on October 20. The lineup includes J. Mascis, Still Corners, Jacuzzi Boys, Gem Club, Xray Eyeballs, and special guests. Tickets go on sale Friday (9/9) at noon with an AmEx presale starting Wednesday (9/7) at noon. Update: Here are the set times:

Special Guests- 1am
J Mascis - 12am
Still Corners - 11pm
Memoryhouse - 10pm
Jacuzzi Boys - 9pm
Gem Club - 8pm
XRay Eyeballs- 7pm

Gem Club also play Glasslands on September 30 with Youth Lagoon and Gardens & Villa. They've recently released a new track, "Twins," off their upcoming LP Breakers. Grab an MP3 of that track above.

Jacuzzi Boys also play a Hardly Art CMJ party at 285 Kent on October 21 and the Bruise Cruise CMJ show on October 22. Venue and full lineup TBA.

Still Corners recently made a video for "Cuckoo." Check that out along with all dates below...

Continue reading "Sub Pop CMJ showcase announced (J Mascis & Still Corners included), Xray Eyeballs playing other shows too (dates)"

by Bill Pearis

Portland's dreamy trio Blouse are playing their first NYC show at Glasslands on September 15, opening for Unkown Mortal Orchestra. (Woven Bones and Man/Miracle also play.) It's their only NYC show too, though others may be added?

Blouse currently have singles out on Sub Pop and Captured Tracks. The latter will be putting out their debut album this fall and like a lot of C/T bands, Blouse channel the John Hughes '80s: icy synths, moody basslines, delay-pedal guitars and big catchy choruses. You can stream a few songs at the bottom of this post.

Continue reading "check out Blouse --- song streams, tour dates, a NYC show"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Still Corners - Endless Summer (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Still Corners - Don't Fall in Love (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Still Corners - Eyes (MP3)

Still Corners @ SXSW (more by Amanda Hatfield)

As befitting their autumnal sound, Still Corners' debut album, Creatures of an Hour, is set for release October 11 on Sub Pop. Later that same week, the UK act will start a fairly extensive North American tour which will roll into NYC on October 20 and 21 for this year's CMJ festival. Exact details of their CMJ shows is still TBA but the rest of the tour is pretty much set and all tourd ates are at the bottom of this post.

Also at the bottom of this post is a download widget for Creatures of an Hour's first single "Cuckoo," an icy blast that is pretty representative of Still Corners' sound. (You can download some older tracks above.) I've seen them a few times now, at Glasslands and a couple times during SXSW -- including BV's official Dot Com Day Stage show:

They sounded fantastic: part '60s soundtrack music (Barry, Morricone), part psych pop (Strawberry Alarm Clock, VU) and a big dose of motorik Kraut, as heard in a very Neu!-esque instrumental. Guitarist Leon Dufficy is a vintage man, be it fashion (Jarvis via Cecil Beaton) or his arsenal of pedals (he's got a vibrato worthy of Portishead); singer Tessa Murray would've been a perfect Warhol superstar. The rhythm section right in the pocket. Still Corners know exactly what they're aiming for and have pretty much hit the bullseye.

All Still Corners tour dates and that download widget are below.

Continue reading "Still Corners release new MP3, album info, tour dates, CMJ"

Handsome Furs at the Great Escape in May (more by Tim Griffin)

The Handsome Furs 8/18 show at Webster Hall has been moved to Bowery Ballroom. All tickets will be honored, and are still available. THEESatisfaction have also been added as the opener.

Last time I noticed THEESatisfaction's name it was on a bill with Handsome Furs' Sub Pop labelmate Shabazz Palaces. Well, it was also just announced that THEESatisfaction, who have collaborated with Shabazz, have signed to Sub Pop too...

THEESatisfaction, the self-produced "lo-fi rebel hiphop" duo comprised of Seattle's Stasia Irons and Catherine Harris-White, (thankfully) accepted Sub Pop's proposal to join our eclectic family! To celebrate this union, they will be headlining the Vera Project stage at Capitol Hill Block Party today July 22nd. The group, who has released five EPs to date as well as contributed to label-mates Shabazz Palaces latest release Black Up, are expected to release their debut full-length album early next year, For now, the kind women of THEESatisfaction have decided to give you the track Do You Have the Time for free! - Sub Pop

The Bowery show is part of a longer international Handsome Furs tour that includes Parlovr on some dates. Parlovr meanwhile play Mercury Lounge tonight (7/25).

Updated Handsome Furs dates & THEESatisfaction song below...

Continue reading "Handsome Furs show moved to Bowery, now with THEESatisfaction who are now on Sub Pop --- updated dates"

The Head & the Heart @ Sasquatch 2011 (more by Josh Darr)

To quote Sub Pop:

Seattle's The Head and the Heart have been on the road since February and clearly have no plans to slow down anytime soon. They've recently played shows with Death Cab for Cutie in Europe, My Morning Jacket in London, Iron and Wine in the Midwest, and have an upcoming string of US dates with The Decemberists. And, the band just announced their first ever headlining tour, which starts immediately after they play at the Austin City Limits Festival on Sept 18th, and ends October 20th in Vancouver, BC. Thao with the Get Down Stay Down will open these dates, with Devil Whale and Lemolo playing select shows as well.

Sub Pop released The Head and the Heart's self-titled debut full-length on April 16th of this year, and to date the album has scanned over 50,000 copies in the US. So far this year the band has performed at the Sasquatch and Bonnaroo festivals and before year's end will play the Newport Folk Festival, Capitol Hill Block Party, the Doe Bay Festival, and ACL.

Continue reading "The Head & the Heart & Thao with the Get Down Stay Down -- 2011 Tour Dates"

DOWNLOAD: Male Bonding - "Bones" (MP3)

Male Bonding at Bowery Ballroom in 2010 (more by Chris Gersbeck)

UK lo-fi rockers Male Bonding are releasing their followup to last year's debut, Nothing Hurts, this summer. The new LP, Endless Now, comes out on August 30 via Sub Pop. The band brought in producer John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.) to help beef up their sound on the new album. Frankie Rose provided harmony vocals on the album, and the band also worked piano, cello, and mellotron into their songs. Frontman John Arthur Webb recently spoke to Pitchfork about the album's bigger sound:

It would suck to just fucking knock out lo-fi albums once a year. We're happy to be shaking that off. It's an easy way to hide-- a bunch of reverb and compression disguises a lot of things. It worked great for us on the first record but you have to try and explore the avenues that are open to you; we never could've paid to go into a studio before Sub Pop was involved.

That said, it wasn't really that long ago that we recorded the first record, so we haven't changed that much. It's not going to sound like Odd Future or anything.

Male Bonding go on a short North American tour in support of the album with the no-frills indie pop trio Love Inks. The tour hits NYC on August 27 at Glasslands and August 29 at Mercury Lounge. Tickets are on sale now for the Glasslands show and the Mercury show. After the North American tour, both bands will head out on their own European tours.

All tour dates and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Male Bonding new album info, tour w/ Love Inks (MP3 & dates)"

photos by Natasha Ryan

Dum Dum Girls in Toronto for NXNE

Dum Dum Girls are following the He Gets Me High EP which was released earlier this year with their second full length Only In Dreams. As opposed to their first full length, I Will Be, which was recorded at home, the new album was done in Josh Homme's (QOTSA) Pink Duck Studios with Richard Gottehrer (Blondie, Go-Go's) and Sune Rose Wager of The Raveonettes. The album drops September 27 via Sub Pop.

They'll go on an international tour in support of the album. That tour hits Bowery Ballroom on October 21 and Maxwell's on October 24. Both shows are opened by Crocodiles and Royal Baths. Colleen Green opens up some other dates on the tour too. Ticket info is not available yet but check ticketmaster for the Bowery show and ticketfly for Maxwell's.

Like Cults, Dum Dum Girls recently paid a visit to Toronto for the NXNE fest. A few more pictures from their set there and all tour dates and the new album tracklist, below...

Continue reading "Dum Dum Girls announce LP, tour w/ Crocodiles & Royal Baths -- (dates & some NXNE pics too)"

photos by Jessica Amaya

Memoryhouse @ Glasslands

Memoryhouse played Glasslands on June 10 as part of a short run of dates. The Brooklyn show was with High Highs, North Highlands and Wonder Bear. A belated set of pics from that show is in this post.

Sub Pop is re-releasing Memoryhouse's The Years EP on September 13 on CD and vinyl. The EP has been re-recorded, remixed, and remastered and features two new songs. One of the new songs, "Modern, Normal" is available for download below. The band says:

"Very proud to share a first glimpse at our inaugural release with Sub Pop. This of course, is the first physical pressing of Memoryhouse's first EP, The Years, but I tend to find the term "reissue" doesn't really capture just what this EP entails. We've re-recorded Sleep Patterns, Lately, and To the Lighthouse in a manner that is consistent with memoryhouse's noises and idiosyncrasies while broadening our sonic pallet, and cleaning things up so that the songs are, you know, listenable. I'm even more excited about the new additions, "Modern, Normal", and "Quiet America". Believe me, these weren't added just cuz, which is to say that this isn't like the cantina scene from the 90s Star Wars re-release where random CGI monsters are found to be co-mingling with muppets. No. This EP is still full-muppet, but will provide some insights as to where our music is heading on our RealD 3D debut. So if nothing else, take with you the understanding that re-imagining The Years was a thorough and well-considered process, one that should hopefully yield many listens as the clock inches ever closer towards our first L.P.

Continue reading "Memoryhouse reissusing (sort of) 'The Years' (MP3), played Glasslands w/ High Highs & North Highlands (pics & video)"

DOWNLOAD: The One AM Radio - "An Old Photo of Your New Lover" (Dntel Remix)
DOWNLOAD: Dntel - "After Parties" (MP3)

Jimmy Tamborello, better known as Dntel (or perhaps even better known as one half of The Postal Service), is going on tour this summer with The One AM Radio and Geotic. That tour includes Music Hall of Williamsburg on August 18 . Tickets for the Brooklyn show go on sale Friday (6/10) at noon. All dates are listed below.

On July 5th Dntel also plays a one-off LA show with Seefeel who will be on a rare but short US tour that also visits NYC.

Back at the end of 2010 Dntel released some stuff via his label Sub Pop who also promised more coming soon. They wrote:

On Dec. 7th, 2010 we are releasing new music from Dntel in the form of a pair of companion EPs, entitled After Parties 1 and (very sensibly, given their complementary relationship) After Parties 2. These two EPs collect 8 new Dntel tracks (3 on After Parties 1 and 5 on After Parties 2) which are a bit more minimalist and experimental in nature, all of them instrumental, and feature (to the best of our "knowledge") a list of guest contributors numbering exactly zero. These 8 new tracks are also, we are able to discern even through the mist of biases both personal and professional, really something special.

Both After Parties 1 and After Parties 2 will be available on 12" vinyl and as weightless, odorless digital audio files; neither will be available on CD.

It is worth mentioning here that at some as-yet-undefined point in 2011 we will be releasing an expanded reissue of Dntel's 2001 full-length Life Is Full of Possibilities, which is not only a great record, but notable for, among a great many other things, including the collaboration between Ben Gibbard and Jimmy (on "(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan") which led to the formation of The Postal Service.

The One AM Radio released Heaven is Attached by a Slender Thread back in April via Dangerbird. Dntel remixed the track "An Old Photo of Your New Lover" which you can grab above along with "After Parties" from the Dntel EPs.

All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Dntel touring w/ The One AM Radio & Geotic (dates), released & remixed stuff (MP3s)"

Congrats to Ernest Greene whose Washed Out project has inked a deal with Sub Pop Records for his upcoming and debut full-length LP called Within and Without. The new effort is due on July 12th and was recorded with Ben H. Allen, known for behind-the-curtain work with Animal Collective, Deerhunter, Gnarls Barkley, and even Diddy, among others.

So far Washed Out dates are few and far between, but you can look for Greene at the pre-Moogfest party (Halfway to Moogfest), Sasquatch and the newly added Bowery Ballroom on July 11th (the day before the record release). Tickets for the NYC show go on AmEx sale Wednesday (4/27) at noon and regular sale on Friday.

All tour dates, the new album tracklist, and a video, below.

Continue reading "Washed Out signs to Sub Pop for debut LP, announces shows"

DOWNLOAD Chad VanGaalen - free Soft Airplanes b-sides EP (ZIP)

charity EP info is below...

Chad VanGaalen (photo by Jared Sych)

Chad VanGaalen, whose recent work includes making J Mascis's new video for "Not Enough," is welcoming a new LP, Diaper Island, on May 17th, via via Sub Pop. It's his first long-player since 2008's Soft Airplane which was followed up by a free Soft Airplane B-Sides EP (grab that above), and the very-recently released Your Tan Looks Supernatural EP. The latter, composed of outtakes from Diaper Island, was released in "response to the crisis in Japan and 100% of all proceeds from the EP will be forwarded to the Red Cross Aid Effort." You can pick it up at his Bandcamp page, and stream it in full below.

Though a full tour is still TBA, it has been announced that Chad will head to NYC to headline Music Hall of Williamsburg on June 21st. Tickets go on AmEx presale Wed at noon (4/6) and regular sale on Friday.

A couple of other dates, the EP stream and the new LP cover and track list, below...

Continue reading "Chad VanGaalen released an EP for Japan -- new LP coming soon, Brooklyn show announced"

Shabazz Palaces have announced the fruits of their union with Sub Pop, the new LP Black Up. The duo whose primary member is/was also a member of Digable Planets, will unleash the new record on May 31st. It will include "An Echo From the Hosts that Profess Infinitum", which is the song currently streaming/avail for download for your email address.

Shabazz Palaces are joining the masses down at SXSW in Austin, TX this month, and the hip-hop crew will play Philly & NYC in May too. The NYC date is May 12 at Santos Party House and tickets are on sale. All tour dates and some videos below...

Continue reading "a new Shabazz Palaces song, shows in NYC, Philly & SXSW"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Obits - You Gotta Lose (MP3)

As we told you already, Brooklyn's own Obits release their second album, Moody, Standard and Poor on Sub Pop on March 29. This sophomore disc finds the group expanding their palette with strings, hints of electronica, and Burundi drumming. Ok, not really. It's Obits. It's another fiery chunk of rock n' roll, 12 new songs, in and out in 36 minutes. The wry Sub Pop press release says that this album isn't "yelly" and maybe Rick Froberg "sings" a little more, but there is no signs of mellowing here. Check out kick-ass single "You Gotta Lose" at the top of this post. Also be sure to check out the video for it is at the bottom of this post, along with a download widget to get your mitts on a second Obits track -- the Sohrab Habbibion sung "Shift Operator."

As you do when you have a new record out, Obits are going on tour which includes -- surprise! -- stops in Austin for SXSW. I am super psyched to let you know that Obits will be playing the free BrooklynVegan day party at Barbarella on Thursday (3/17). Details, like who else is playing will be announced soon, but fans of Gentleman Jesse & His Men might want to show up to this one too.

Obits are also playing the official Sub Pop / Hardly Art SXSW showcase which happens Friday, March 18 at Red 7 which also features J Mascis, Dum Dum Girls, The Head & the Heart, Papercuts, La Sera, Hunx & His Punx, Fergus & Geronimo and more. Before hitting Austin, Obits will have a few dates with labelmates Jaill who are also playing the Sub Pop showcase. After SXSW, the band will head back up the East Coast, culminating in the April 2 record release show for Moody, Standard and Poor at The Bell House.

All tour dates, plus the "You Gotta Lose" video and that download widget, are below.

Continue reading "new Obits video (premiere) & updated tour dates (including a free BrooklynVegan day party at SXSW)"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Erland & the Carnival - Nightingale (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Still Corners - Endless Summer (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Frankie & the Heartstrings - Ungrateful (MP3)

Erland & the Carnival

In addition to the official BrooklynVegan SXSW Showcase (3/16), I'm happy to announce we are also officially presenting bands on Thursday, March 17 at the new Dot Com Day Stage in the Austin Convention Center. The line-up is:

12PM: Erland & the Carnival
1PM: Still Corners
2PM: Frankie & the Heartstrings

As it is in the Convention Center (Ballroom G to be specific), the Dot Com Day Stage is for SXSW registrants only (sorry). So if you've got a badge, do stop by (and if you don't, we and the bands have plenty other stuff going on too - stay tuned for more announcements and look at the full list of dates below). I'm pretty excited about the bands, three from the UK who I've been dying to see.

Led by charismatic singer/songwriter Erland Cooper, Erland & the Carnival are a strange, enticing blend of pastoral folk, psychedelic rock, Britpop and whatever else comes into their heads. The band (which includes former Verve/The Good the Bad & the Queen guitarist Simon Tong) recorded their very good new album, Nightingale , in the bowels of a ship. At times the album is reminiscent of the literate pop practiced by The Divine Comedy, in a psychedelic sea shanty hurdy gurdy man kind of way. (That's a good thing.) You can download the title track at the top of this post and the album is out in America on March 29 via YepRoc. Did anyone go see The Carnival when they played last November?

Still Corners

According to their bio on the SXSW website, Still Corners "have just signed an album deal with Sub Pop, single due out in April, debut full length in June," though there's been no mention of it from those at Sub Pop yet. One thing we do know: the band are playing their first-ever American show at Glasslands on Saturday, March 12. Check out the dreamy, captivating single "Endless Summer" at the top of this post. After SXSW, Still Corners head out on a North American tour with Papercuts and all tour dates are at the bottom of this post.

Frankie & the Heartstrings

Frankie & the Heartstrings, meanwhile, just released their Edwyn Collins-produced debut album, Hunger, which debuted at #38 on the UK album charts. (No word on an American release.) Collins' former band Orange Juice is a clear influence, as is pre-dungaree Dexy's Midnight Runners. Says The Fly:

"Occasionally a band comes along with the miracle secret to crafting perfect pop music - not pop in the bastardised, Olly Murs sense of the word, but pop in its purest, most exuberant form...Hunger could easily be a singles collection, such is the calibre of its contents."

If you're not going to Austin this year, Frankie & the Heartstrings play an early show at Mercury Lounge on Monday, March 21. The Merc's website lists Veronica Falls as opening, which would have been sweet, but I'm told that's not happening now (we .

We'll have more updates soon as to BrooklynVegan's goings-on in Austin during the week of SXSW so stay tuned. Videos from all three bands playing the DotCom Day Stage, and more tour dates, below...

Continue reading "BrooklynVegan SXSW Dot Com Day Stage & other Erland & the Carnival, Still Corners & Frankie & the Heartstrings news"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Banjo or Freakout - Go Ahead (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Banjo or Freakout - 105 (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Papercuts - Do What You Will (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Still Corners - Endless Summer (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Still Corners - Don't Fall in Love (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Still Corners - Eyes (MP3)

We last saw Banjo or Freakout in NYC  last March for the BrooklynVegan Pre-SXSW party at Knitting Factory where they opened the show. BoF will be back at SXSW this year and will stop in New York afterward, playing Glasslands on March 25 . Right after that they hook up with San Francisco band Papercuts for a short tour which kicks off at Knitting Factory on March 29. All tour dates are at the bottom of this post.

Banjo or Freakout's debut album is out March 8 on Rare Book Room and is a nice expansion of the Spacemen 3/My Bloody Valentine influenced sounds main man Alessio Natalizia has been self-releasing over the last couple years, with more melody and song structure added to his impressive soundscape skills. You can check out two songs from the album at the top of this post and stream the whole album (via the Hype Machine) at the bottom of this post.  As for the live show, BoF had just become a four-piece when they played here last year and I thought they were pretty good.

Papercuts

Papercuts meanwhile will release their fourth album, Fading Parade, on March 1 which will be their first for Sub Pop. If you liked 2009's You Can Have What You Want, you'll dig the new album too. It's a little bigger in scope, with producer Thom Monahan (Vetiver, Little Joy) helping Jason Quever expand Papercuts' sonic palette with glockenspiel, strings and old analogue keyboards. But Quever's intimate-yet-anthemic songs and breathy vocals remain at the heart of Fading Parade. Download "Do What You Will" at the top of this post and there's a widget at the bottom of the post that will let you download that song with another LP track as well as a previously unreleased song.

Before hooking up with Banjo or Freakout, Papercuts have a busy touring schedule. They begin a tour with Beach House this week which hits NYC next week (2/ 23, 2/25) for two sold out shows at Webster Hall. Papercuts will then tour with UK act Still Corners for their first U.S. tour which hits Mercury Lounge on March 26.

Still Corners

Still Corners with also be in NYC before their show with Papercuts, as they headline Glasslands on March 12. We're still waiting for details on their full-length and who is putting it out (they're playing with a few Sub Pop bands while in the U.S...maybe?), but in the meantime check out the band's two excellent singles from last year, "Endless Summer" and "Don't Fall in Love," and their gorgeous cover of Rogue Wave's "Eyes" at the top of this post.

Tour dates for Banjo or Freakout, Papercuts and Still Corners, plus album streams, download widgets and videos are all after the jump.

Continue reading "Banjo or Freakout, Papercuts & Still Corners are playing shows & releasing new stuff (MP3s & tour dates)"

Album art for Low's C'mon

After an appearance at SXSW, Low will prep C'mon, the band's new LP due on April 12th via Sub Pop which is currently up for preorder. Low is currently offering the first MP3 to emerge from the LP, "Try To Sleep", in exchange for your email address.

In between SXSW and the release of C'mon, Low will join Explosions In The Sky when they headline Radio City Music Hall on April 6th with recent addition Eluvium on solo piano. Tickets are still available.

Low recently dropped off ther dates for the C'mon tour, and though the RCMH show is listed as their only NYC appearance, the band recently stated otherwise in a Facebook post. Look for the band to "play a headline NYC show a few weeks later", most likely either on April 24th (after Pittsburgh, before Philly) or more likely April 27 and/or 28th (between DC and Boston). We'll keep you posted.

Explosions In The Sky recently updated their tour dates as well, and you can check out those, as well as the track listing for their new LP Take Care, Take Care, Take Care (due on 4/26 via Temporary Residence Limited) below.

Continue reading "Low announce tour & a new MP3, EITS add dates & stuff too"