by Bill Pearis

In this era of the half-listen, the new ALT-J single 'Matilda' arrived a couple of days ago and it sounded, well, pretty enough. It wasn't a disappointment. It classically filled a moment.

Which is where I've been going wrong: several plays later, after listening again (really listening), this is a magical record. It makes you want to replay it (to really listen to it).

It is spell binding in its simplicity and sensitivity (enough that you want to be alone with it; to spend three and a half minutes away from the blather and nonsense). There is hardly anything going on, yet what is there - the little rolling rhythm, swept along by a warm, shiny guitar and that rich, fragile vocal....all this sounds gorgeous. [-Steve Lemaqc, Going Deaf for a Living]

The band's debut album, An Awesome Wave, is out in the UK at the end of this month. You can check out videos to singles "Matilda" and "Breezeblocks" at the bottom of this post and stream (and download) a few demos below as well.

Continue reading "check out UK band ALT-J (NYC & LA shows scheduled)"

We are Serenades @ Hotel Vegan 2012 (more by Tim Griffin)

We Are Serenades (formerly Serenades), the group featuring Adam Olenius of Shout Out Louds, start a North American tour next week, and will play Mercury Lounge on May 9 (with Alt-J) and Knitting Factory on March 11 (with HITS and The Aviation Orange). all dates are listed below.

The band's debut album, Criminal Heaven, is out now and you can stream it on Spotify. Maybe you saw them last time they were in NYC or at SXSW (like maybe at one of our Hotel Vegan day parties)? A video and the dates, below...

Continue reading "We Are Serenades touring North America this month (dates)"

the flyer (with most of the bands playing on it)

BrooklynVegan is proud to team up with M for Montreal again for a FREE Day Party in Austin on Thursday, March 15th from noon-7pm at Hotel Vegan (one of BrooklynVegan's FOUR DAYS in the venue located at 1500 E. 6th St.).

I'll let this full three-stage lineup speak for itself...

Stage 1 (Hotel Vegas Outside)
12:00 Of Monsters & Men
12:45 Glen Hansard (of Swell Season & the Frames)
1:30 We Are Serenades (formerly Serenades, mem. Shout Out Louds)
2:15 Hospitality
3:00 Korallreven (mem. of the Radio Dept)
3:45 Fanfarlo
4:30 The Drums
5:15 The Wedding Present
6:15 This Will Destroy You

Stage 2 (Hotel Vegas Inside)
12:00 Half Moon Run
12:45 Thus:Owls
1:30 Cold Specks
2:15 Cymbals Eat Guitars
3:00 The Velvet Teen
3:45 Yellow Ostrich
4:30 The Jealous Sound
5:15 Parlovr

Stage 3 (Volstead) (BV Austin stage)
12:15 Love Inks
1:00 Feathers
1:45 Gashcat
2:30 Ringo Deathstarr
3:15 Silent Diane
4:00 The Young
5:00 Ume

In addition to the completely free lineup of 24 bands playing on THREE stages, we will also have complimentary drinks courtesy of HobNob Wines, the official wine parter of our entire week of FREE PARTIES at Hotel Vegan (check out HobNob's Facebook page for free music downloads), and a hosted bar courtesy of Sailor Jerry

We will also have FREE VEGAN TREATS courtesy of NadaMoo! and FREE Honest Tea. AND Supercuts will have a team of stylists on-site the entire day providing FREE haircuts and styling!

Special thanks to all of our partners and sponsors for making this party possible - including Vox, Blackstar and Korg, our official backline partners, as well as ASCAP, HobNob Wines, NadaMoo!, Sailor Jerry and M for Montreal! And special thanks to GBH Design for making our awesome flyer!

--

This is the first full day at Hotel Vegan announced. 2/3 of the Wednesday lineup is HERE. Friday and Saturday coming shortly.

We also have THREE official showcases (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday), and a Saturday metal day party at Lovejoys,