boxelders_LP

Jeremy Jay, Julie Doiron, Katie Stelmanis, Blank Dogs, The Beets, Wizzard Sleeve & more in This Week In Indie

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Box Elders – Hole in My Head (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Jeremy Jay – In This Lonely Town (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Headlights – Cherry Tulips (TJ Lipple Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Headlights – Market Girl (Album Leaf Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Love Language – Lalita (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Julie Doiron – Consolation Prize (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Katie Stelmanis – In My Favour (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Savoir Adore – Transylvanian Candy Patrol (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Darwin Deez – Bad Day (MP3)

Box Elders

The Box Elders are back for the first time since their loin-clothed Market Hotel show back in January, playing Bruar Falls on Friday (4/24) and Cake Shop on Saturday (4/25). For those, like myself, who have played their sole single, “Hole in My Head,” to death at this point and are anxiously awaiting new stuff from them… we must continue to wait. Their debut album on Goner, Alice and Friends, won’t be out till August 4. Their next release is just a single that’s only available via the Hozac Hookup Club which subscriptions sold out quick for. And as mentioned before, Box Elders will have a single out on Jay Reatard’s newly-reinvigorated Shattered Records. Maybe the band will have a tour CD-R or something?

Friday should be one of the first real tests of Bruar Falls as far as in-demand shows. The place is teeny-tiny (not that Cake Shop is big). It should be a tight fit. Getting there early would be smart, and luckily the lineup is pretty good, with Bay Area psych folk band Dame Satan; Jackson Heights’ The Beets whose debut, Spit in the Face of People Who Don’t Want to Be Cool, is out now on Captured Tracks and worth seeking out for those who dig garagey ’60s proto-punk; and caUSE co-MOTION offshoot German Measles. The Cake Shop show should be a little more manageable.

Blank Dogs
Blank Dogs

Whichever night I’m not going to see Box Elders, I’ll probably go see Blank Dogs. Originally just the name of Captured Tracks head Mike Sniper’s many, many home recordings, Blank Dogs have become a real band over the last year and a good one at that. Sniper has also dropped the anonymity schtick for the most part, actually showing his face in a new press photo, just in time for the new double-LP, Under and Under, which is out in June on In the Red. It’s still of the mid-’80s goth sound (I think they sound like Red Lorry Yellow Lorry if you remember them) but more refined and catchier songs. The creepy/funny video to the album’s first single, “Setting Fire to Your House,” is further down this post.

Blank Dogs play Friday (4/24) at Secret Project Robot in Williamsburg which is the same building at Monster Island, and share the bill with two kindred spirits: the gothy (and a bit silly if you ask me) Cold Cave, and Brooklyn’s Mazing Vids who’ve been around for a while but don’t play very often anymore.

Jeremy Jay
Jeremy Jay

Saturday’s show at Silent Barn is a bit more varied and probably better for it, with two other bands that would be worth seeing on their own. Jeremy Jay just released his second album on K that swings from Cars-ish new wave, to twangy surf rock. It’s a good record, and you can download the single “In This Lonely Town” at the top of this post. Rounding out the solid line-up is Mobile, Alabama’s Wizzard Sleeve whose debut is out sometime soon on Hozac. With song titles like “Chrome Intensifier” and “Pterodactly Meltdown” you know your in for a trippy time, but it’s not paisley shirt acid rock. Their brand of psych feels very modern, with a big dose of krautrock for good measure. I really feel this show is a hard one to pass up.

Jeremy Jay also plays a show on Friday (4/24) at Union Hall with Illuminations and James William Hindle. Tickets are on sale. All dates below.

Julie Doiron
Julie Doiron

There are a lot of hard to pass-up shows this weekend. Canadian singer Julie Doiron is in town, playing Cake Shop on Friday (4/24) and Union Hall on Saturday (4/25). Some may know her for her work with Mt. Eerie, and others remember Julie from her days fronting Eric’s Trip who released three albums on Sub Pop in the early ’90s. She’s been prolific ever since Eric’s Trip broke up in 1997, releasing a string of quality, if somewhat downcast solo albums. Her latest, I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day, is ebullient in comparison but no less special. She’s got one of those voices, not unlike Chan Marshall or Beth Orton, that can make the hair on the back of your neck stand at attention. Check out the album’s “Consolation Prize” at the top of this post, and the video for “Heavy Snow” at the bottom.

Katie Stelmanis
Katie Stelmanis

The Julie Doiron Cake Shop show is an early one, so you could theoretically hit it before going elsewhere. Plus, speaking of magical, unique voices, fellow Canadian (and Cake Shop fave) Katie Stelmanis is also on the bill. There’s an MP3 at the top of the post (and a video below) and here’s what Popmatters said earlier this year:

Katie Stelmanis was already starting to pick up steam in 2008. Almost a year since her nearly unnoticed debut album, Join Us dropped on Blocks Recording Club (a record co-op based in Toronto), Stelmanis was featured on Fucked Up’s Chemistry of Common Life, and split a Matador released 7″ with them in late 2008. In 2009, people are bound to pick up on the ethereal and eerie leanings of this powerful vocalist and songwriter.

If you’re a fan of Bat For Lashes (there’s a similar Kate Bush thing going on), Katie is well worth checking out. She also plays Death by Audio later that Saturday night, and new Brooklyn venue Sycamore the next day (4/25).

Opening for Julie Doiron at the Union Hall show on Saturday is Purse Snatchers, which is former Dirty on Purpose drummer Doug Marvin’s new musical project.

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A few more recommended shows:

I’ve plugged local band Savoir Adore before, who in my opinion are one of the best unheralded pop bands in town. They’re playing tonight (4/23) at Pianos and you should really go out and see them. There’s a newish song to download at the top of this post and is more indicative of what they do live than their concept-EP debut from last year. If you like Stars or The Go-Betweens or any classic pop, I really don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Also on the bill is Darwin Deez, who make infectious, ’80s-tinged dance pop that’s kind of hard to dislike. One of their MP3s is above too.

As you may have read on this site, Chicago’s Headlights are playing on Friday (4/24) at the Bell House. If you’re going to that show (or are looking for something to do and everything else I’ve written about here doesn’t sound interesting to you), I implore you to show up early and check out North Carolina’s The Love Language. I really like their self-titled debut that is warm and inviting, lush and low-fi at the same time.

And Sunday night (4/26) at Maxwells is the Fourth Anniversary party for Musicsnobbery.com. Last year, Moby filled in when headliners The Teeth broke up days before his Third Anniversary party. This year there’s no such drama, but the line-up is solid: Crystal Stilts, Mahogany (both faves of mine) and Motel Motel. Might I suggest you bring Musicsnobbery blog founder Chris some cookies in appreciation?

Tour dates and videos after the jump…

Box Elders – 2009 Tour Dates
Apr 23 – Vassar College Poughkeepsie, New York
Apr 24 – Bruar Falls Brooklyn, New York
Apr 25 – Cake Shop New York City, New York
Apr 26 – Cherry St. Station Wallingford, Connecticut
Apr 27 – O’Briens Boston, Massachusetts
Apr 28 – Jr’s Bar Philidelphia, Pennsylvania
Apr 29 – The Union Athens, Ohio
Apr 30 – Empty Bottle Chicago, Illinois
May 1 – Waiting Room Omaha, Nebraska
Jun 6 – BAMALAMA!!!! Huntsville, Alabama

The Beets – “Walk on Your Toes”

THE BEETS/JUAN WAUTERS/WALK ON YOUR TOES from matthew volz on Vimeo.

The Beets – 2009 Tour Dates
Apr 24 Bruar Falls w/ GERMAN MEASLES + BOX ELDERS + DAME SATAN + GREG ASHLEY [mirrors, gris gris] Brooklyn, New York
May 1 Red Star w/ THE SUBJECTS + POW WOW + WILD YAKS – Free Colt 45 for an hour, yaye. Brooklyn, New York
May 5 Cinco de Mayo @ Public Assembly Brooklyn, New York
Jun 18 Monster Island w/ HUNX and his PUNX + BABY SHAKES + NO BUNNY Brooklyn, New York
Jul 3 Cake Shop w/ AIR WAVES + REAL ESTATE + RARE FORM New York, New York

Wizzard Sleeve 2009 Tour Dates
Apr 23 Vassar College with Greg Ashley band and Box Elders Poughkeepsie, New York
Apr 24 Market Hotel (Brooklyn) with Mr. Quintron and Miss Pussycat and Psychedelic Horseshit New York
Apr 25 Silent Barn (Queens) with BLANK DOGS, Jeremy Jay New York
Apr 26 recording at WFMU Jersey City, New Jersey
Apr 28 Lager House with Greg Ashley band, Timmy’s Organism, and Kelly Jean Caldwell Detroit, Michigan
Apr 29 Y-NOT 3 Kevin’s Birthday Party w/ Greg Ashley band +++ Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Apr 30 Permanent Records in-store show Chicago, Illinois
Apr 30 Empty Bottle (Victim of Time presents) with Greg Ashley band, Box Elders and Radar Eyes Chicago, Illinois
May 1 Now Thats Class….Romantic Weekend festival cleveland

Blank Dogs – “Setting Fire To Your House”

Blank Dogs – 2009 Tour Dates
Apr 24 Monster Island w/ Cold Cave Brooklyn, New York
Apr 25 Silent Barn w/ Jeremy Jay and Wizzard Sleeve Queens, New York
May 8 Bell House w/ Crystal Stilts and Religious Knives Brooklyn, New York
May 10 Market Hotel w/ Times New Viking, Blues Control, WOODS Brooklyn, New York
May 16 NO FUN FEST w/ Sonic Youth and Bardo Pond at Williamsburg Music Hall Brooklyn, New York
May 17 Nottingham UK w/ Times New Viking Nottingham
May 19 White Heat @ Madame JoJo’s London
May 20 The Windmill Brixton
May 21 Stag & Dagger Event TBD London
May 22 Nuits Sonores w/ Butthole Surfers, The Gories, Black Lips, Chrome Lyon
May 24 Poppodium EKKO Utrecht
May 25 Paradiso Amsterdam
May 26 Le Batofar w/ The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart Paris
May 29 Vitaminic Festival
Jun 1 Powieksznie Warsaw
Jun 3 Sweat Club Lipzeg
Jun 4 Gruner Jager Hamburg, Hamburg
Jun 5 The Pitts Kortrijk (west Vlaanderen)
Jun 6 Old Blue Last London
Jun 7 Upset the Rhythm @ Bardens Boudoir London, London and South East

Jeremy Jay – 2009 Tour Dates
Apr 23, 2009 – Baltimore, Maryland
Talking Head Club –

Apr 24, 2009 – New York City, New York
Union Hall –

Apr 25, 2009 – New York City, New York
The Silent Barn –

Apr 26, 2009 – Washington, DC
The Velvet Lounge –

Apr 28, 2009 – Boston, Massachusetts
T.T. The Bears –

Apr 29, 2009 – Montreal, Quebec
Zoo Bizarre –

Apr 30, 2009 – Rochester, New York
The Bug Jar –

May 1, 2009 – Cleveland, Ohio
Beachland Ballroom –

May 2, 2009 – Chicago, Illinois
The Empty Bottle –

May 3, 2009 – Bloomington, Indiana
Bear’s Place –

May 4, 2009 – Columbus, Ohio
The Treehouse –

May 5, 2009 – Buffalo, New York
Soundlab –

May 22, 2009 – Los Angeles, California
The Smell – w/ Chain and the Gang, The Hivedwellers (Calvin Johnson)

May 23, 2009 – Wien, AUSTRIA
Transporter Sommerfest –

May 30, 2009 – Barcelona, SPAIN
Primavera Sound Festival –

Jun 1, 2009 – Paris, FRANCE
Point Ephemere –

Julie Doiron – “Heavy Snow”

Julie Doiron – 2009 Tour Dates
April 24 NYC @ The Cake Shop, all ages – on at 9PM
April 25 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall
April 26 Washington, DC @ DC9
May 26 Toronto @ Massey Hall, opening for City In Colour
June 3 Chicago, Illinois @ Empty Bottle
June 4 Minneapolis, Minnesota @ 7th Street Entry
June 5 Winnipeg MB@ Royal Albert with Dog Day
June 6 Saskatoon SK @ Amigo’s with Dog Day
June 10 Edmonton AB @ Pawnshop with Dog Day
June 11 Calgary AB @ Broken City with Dog Day
June 12 Kelowna BC @ Habitat with Dog Day
June 13 Victoria BC @ Lucky Bar with Dog Day
June 14 Vancouver BC @ BILTMORE with Dog Day
June 16 Seattle, Washington @ Tractor Tavern
June 17 Portland, Oregon @ Holocene
Julie 1st, Ottawa Ontario, Canada Day

Katie Stelmanis – “Join Us”

Katie Stelmanis – 2009 Tour Dates
Apr 24 Cake Shop w/ Julie Doiron (EARLY 7pm-10pm) New York
Apr 24 death by audio Brooklyn, NY
Apr 25 Sycamore Brooklyn, NY
May 12 The Lakeshore Theatre w/ Iron and Wine Chicago
May 13 Ronny’s Chicago
May 13 Daytrotter Session Chicago
May 17 Sneaky Dee’s Wavelength w/ EMMA McKENNA Toronto
May 20 Inside Out “Local Heroes Party” @ Buddies Toronto
May 28 Old Blue Last London, UK
Jun 4 The Fly Bar London, UK
Jun 17 Monto Water Rats London, UK
Jun 18 Bardens Boudoir London, UK

The Love Language – “Sparxxx”
The Love Language "Sparxxx"

The Love Language – 2009 Tour Dates
Apr 23 TT the Bear’s Place Cambridge, Massachusetts
Apr 24 The Bellhouse Brooklyn, New York
Apr 25 Campus Chaos at Old Dominion University – Webb Center w/ Blonde Redhead Norfolk, Virginia
May 1 local 506 DIVE show w/ americans in france and huguenots Chapel Hill, North Carolina
May 2 Soapbox w/ 12,000 armies, house of fools and max indian!!!!!! Wilmington, North Carolina
May 8 The Werehouse w/ terrance and the tall boys winston-saleem, North Carolina
May 9 The Pour House w/ TBA Raleigh, North Carolina

Savoir Adore – SXSW 2009