I never thought Exitfare would make 100 posts, let alone 500, but I managed to keep this thing going long enough to write about some cool bands and make some new friends. To celebrate this milestone, I am giving away a pack of CDs, all from bands that I have blogged about over the past two years. If you like the site, chances are you'll like the albums. First person to e-mail me gets it!
This weekend is full of great shows, starting with two of our longtime favorites tonight.
03.30: Cold War Kids/Tokyo Police Club/Delta Spirit @ Middle East Down 03.30: Birdmonster/Ra Ra Riot @ Middle East Up 03.30: The Pill [f/ The Information] @ Great Scott 03.30: Sebadoh/The Alternate Routes @ The Paradise 03.30: Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 @ TT The Bears 03.30: Christina Aguilera/The Pussycat Dolls @ TD Banknorth Garden 03.31: Rocky Votolato/Owen/Drag The River @ Great Scott 03.31: Wheat/The Plain Janes/The Yarrows @ T.T. The Bears 03.31: Antibalas @ Middle East Down 03.31: Celebration/The Blood Brothers @ Axis Elk City: What do ex-members of Luna and The Lovelies do after their bands break up? They continue making engaging, dreamy indie rock. Look for New Believers, which is out through Friendly Fire on April 17th. [mp3]"Los Cruzados"
The Delta Spirit: My first experience with these guys was at the Skewer BBQ at SXSW, and all I knew was the name. After a few songs, I finally got ahold of what they had going, as it bounced around between the punk rock revivalism of Nation Of Ulysses, Northern Soul and boozy bar rock. Definitely a band to keep an eye on. [mp3]"Streetwalker"
The Noisettes: This British garagey/blues act has just dropped What's The Time, Mr. Wolf?, an album rife with scorching tunes that can only be experienced properly live. They are kicking off a US tour tonight in LA, and then are coming back later this spring. [mp3]"Don't Give Up"
Sally Shapiro: Surprsingly enough, this is my first post about Sally, and you think I would be all over her considering this is right down my alley, bringing to mind electro-pop greats like Saint Etienne and Kylie Minogue. Her first album, Disco Romance, is available now on Diskokaine as an import. [mp3]"I'll Be By Your Side"
Sorry for the late post today, but I spent the morning at the dentist getting a tooth pulled. This hasn't been one of my favorite days, but alas, the pain has gone away and the percocet has sinked in! Sky Larkin continues to plug away in Leeds, and while a full-length seems pretty far off on the horizon, they still have something new for us. On April 2nd, Dance To The Radio will release their third compilation, called Something I Learned Today, which features some of our favorite new bands -- I Was A Cub Scout, Foreign Born, Black Wire and Sky Larkin. The Sky Larkin track is yet another mid '90s-influenced indie gem, one that first in nicely with all of the other great bands featured. If you happen to be in Leeds, many of the bands will be getting together for a pretty awesome celebration next Friday.
The Manics will never release records as great as The Holy Bible and Everything Must Go, but as with most great bands, they know their strengths and run with them. In the past deacde, they have excelled at writing impassioned, stadium-ready rockers, a sound that would have been out of place in the days of Richey, but fits the band perfectly now. Send Away The Tigers will be released in the UK on May 7th and to kick things off, the band is offering the first single "Underdogs" as a free download on their site. Their next single, "Your Love Is Not Enough" drops on April 30th, and it features Nina Persson from The Cardigans.
It's not often that I read Pitchfork, and it's even less often that I cite them for any music news, so that's when I was surprised to see who was opening for Bloc Party on the next leg of their spring tour: The Maccabees. While I expected the band to delve into the craziness that is SXSW, maybe it's good that they didn't. The band will be front and center, opening for one of the biggest British bands of their generation. While there have been no album or US label announcements, the band has a slew of great songs floating around the internet, from their latest "About Your Dress" to the remixed "X-ray" to their finest moment "Lego," it should be easy to get familiar with this band quickly if you haven't already. The band draws heavily on the same influences that make Bloc Party great, but they've tapped into a scene that has been referenced more and more as of late: late '90s DC post hardcore. This is a band that values Q And Not U as much as Gang Of Four.
05-27 Pompano Beach, FL - Pompano Beach Amphitheatre 05-28 Tampa, FL - USF Sun Dome 05-29 Orlando, FL - UCF Arena 05-31 Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle 06-01 Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues 06-03 Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall 06-05 Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre 06-06 Boston, MA - WFNX Radio Show 06-07 Asbury Park, NJ - Convention Hall 06-09 San Francisco, CA - Live 105 Radio Show 06-11 Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theatre 06-12 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre 06-13 Las Vegas, NV - Palms Casino Hotel 06-16 San Diego, CA - Concerts in the Park
So far, 2007 has been a year of disappointing albums. I had huge hopes for the new Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse and Ted Leo records, but on repeated listens all have fallen flat for me. It's only March, but I was starting to get scared... that is, until a couple of weeks ago when Apartment released their debut album, The Dreamer Evasive. The record is full of hits, the type of pulsing indie rock that gets kids on the dancefloor and keeps them there ("Paid in Full," "My Brother Chris"). But unlike some of the other dance rock bands in the UK right now, Apartment can also do a killer downtempo number showcasing David Caggiari's throaty baritone, subtle phrasing, and utter knack for writing a good melody ("Pressures," "Everyone Says I'm Paranoid"). With a little luck, Apartment will blow up this year.
This Week In Boston 03.27: The Ponys/The Black Lips @ TT The Bears 03.27: Menomena/Field Music/Land Of Talk @ Great Scott 03.27: Castanets/Shapes & Sizes/Tigersaw @ Middle East Up 03.27: Do Make Say Think @ Middle East Down 03.28: Electric Six @ Middle East Down 03.28: Silversun Pickups/OK Go/Snow Patrol @ Agganis Arena 03.28: Bloc Party/Albert Hammond Jr. @ The Orpheum 03.29: The Long Winters/Broken West @ Great Scott 03.29: The Sterns/Jedi Mind Tricks @ Middle East 03.30: Cold War Kids/Tokyo Police Club/Delta Spirit @ Middle East Down 03.30: Birdmonster/Ra Ra Riot @ Middle East Up 03.30: The Pill @ Great Scott 03.30: Sebadoh/The Alternate Routes @ The Paradise 03.30: Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 @ TT The Bears 03.31: Rocky Votolato/Owen/Drag The River @ Great Scott 03.31: Antibalas @ Middle East Down 03.31: Celebration/The Blood Brothers @ Axis
Let's forget about Menomena for a second -- I think they have enough press already. They're playing Tuesday night at Great Scott, but the real treat of the night goes on first [at 9 pm!], and it's Montreal's Land Of Talk. The power trio harnesses all you loved about Pretty Girls Make Graves, but shaves away all of the emo/mall punk undertones to giving you a gritty, female-fronted group that PJ Harvey could be proud of. The show is sold out, but if you're the first person to contact us, you and your friend are going!
It's been close to a week since I've been back from Austin, but I've way too busy to get to any kind of formal wrap-up. Better late than never, right?
Anyway, this year was filled with many great bands, many of whom played their first Stateside show at the festival. Those that caught were Jamie T, The Automatic, The Wombats, The Sunshine Underground, The Pigeon Detectives and others. I am not really sure how to go about this, because if I try to write an exhaustive piece touching on everything I did last week, I will be here for days, plus I'll miss stuff. Also, I am not really into wasting your time with all of the minute details of what I did every second, who I hung out with, etc. You're here for some mp3s and to read about the good stuff, so I am only going to include the highlights.
[Photo Credit: Scott Johnson] The Wombats: There is one simple reason I caught every SXSW performance from The Wombats -- they're just that good. It's no secret that I've been listening to Girls, Boys & Marsupials non-stop recently, and it's great that their new tunes are better than anything on that record. "Kill The Director" and that song about Joy Division are still stuck in my head. Nice guys and great performers! The demo below will only be available until the end of the weekend. [mp3] "Kill The Director" [link removed]
The Black Lips: These dudes were literally everywhere at SXSW and at first I thought I failed because I only saw them three times, but really, I am probably should feel pretty lucky for ever seeing these guys once. If I had to pick one word for their shows, it would be insane -- the apathetic indie kids actually dance, every song is a rousing singalong, plus there is that oft-mentioned business of them kissing one another or peeing on the stage. Hey, it's all in good fun. [mp3]"Not A Problem"
Rademacher: These Fresno dudes just continue to amaze me. Their new album is absolute bonkers, and every time I see them, they just get so much better. Bands shouldn't improve that quickly, but I guess that's how you separate the greats from the pack. "If You Got Some Magic," which has just started making the rounds on the internet is their "Dirty Boots" -- it's a song that is catchy enough to reel in the masses, but it's every bit as weird and quirky as the rest of the bands material. [mp3]"If You Got Some Magic"
I suppose I could go on and on, but there are just too many great bands that played, and the best part is that a lot of them are going to be in Boston this week so I can see them again.
Incomplete list of bands I saw: The Wombats [four times], The Black Lips [three times], Chromeo [two times], Mew [two times], The Automatic [two times], Kristoffer Ragnstam [two times], Oppenheimer, Land Of Talk, The Gray Kid, Rademacher, Birdmonster, Division Day, Winterkids, White Rabbits, Peter Bjorn & John, Midnight Movies, Office, Bonde De Role, Saturna, Buffalo Tom, Robyn Hitchcock, The Blood Arm, The Good The Bad & The Queen, Sound Team, Plan B and many others.
This is the first weekend of Spring, and although the weather in Boston isn't exactly warm yet, I am totally in a upbeat music sort of mood. Here are some new albums to look forward to.
I'll be posting my SXSW wrap-up this weekend.
Chromeo: I saw them play twice at SXSW, and they were absolutely ridiculous. Not only were the new songs great, but at their Vice day show, they capped off their set with The Outfield's "Your Love." Best song ever! Here's a track off the upcoming album. [mp3]"Tendreroni"
Kristoffer Ragnstam: Both of the times I caught Ragnstam at SXSW, he was massive, as he and his band commaded the attention of everyone in the room -- it was enough to make me love his new album even more. All of the Ted Leo and Beck comparisons are out the window now because he is definitely one of a kind. [mp3]"Man Overboard"
Crime Mob: Their first album brought them a sizeable following, but with Hated On Mostly, Crime Mob are poised to break into that mainstream that has largely alluded them. And if you want a good laugh, go to Amazon and read the customer reviews for their first album. These guys may be embracing Southern hip hop, but they are the furthest thing from "gangsta." [mp3]"Rock Yo Hips"
This Tuesday sees the release of the second effort from Leeds group the Kaiser Chiefs, an album that has already taken over the UK. The best part of Yours Truly, Angry Mob is that the songs are actually better, and you have to look no further than opening track "Ruby." It's one of those songs that you'll hear once and will never get out of your head. Look for the band on tour in the States for all of April, which includes a slot at this year's Coachella.
6 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory 7 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club 9 Boston, MA - Avalon Ballroom 12 New York, NY - Roseland Ballroom 17 Montreal, QUE - Spectrum 18 Toronto, ONT - Kool Haus 20 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre 21 Minneapolis, MN - First Ave. 24 Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom 25 Seattle, WA - Showbox Theatre 26 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom 27 San Francisco, CA - Warfield 29 Indio, CA - Coachella Festival
A couple weeks ago, The Young Knives had a bit of trouble getting into the country, forcing them to postpone their show at Great Scott. They eventually made it here, as they played a million SXSW shows and they are at Harper's Ferry tonight to play tunes from their recently released Voices Of Animals And Men. It's an album that is filled with infectious tunes, like "She's Attracted To," "Mystic Energy" and the indie disco hit "Weekends And Bleak Days [Hot Summer]."
The trio formed nearly a decade ago, and although they resemble the dudes that shelve your books at the local library, they play quirky, punk-infused Brit rock that is heavy on the colloquialisms. I was so busy last week in Austin that I wasn't able to catch them, so tonight's my chance. Show up early to catch some of Boston's finest, including Exitfare favorite Protokoll.
Leeds group O Fracas have been knocking about for a few years now, playing a type of post punk that recalls the best of Q and Not U and Les Savy Fav. I first discovered the band on Myspace two years ago and after listening to "What Jim Hears" and "Ones And Zeroes" to death, I brushed the band under the rug, filing them with a million other bands with promising demos and nothing more.
This band is smart, as they've side-stepped the hype machine and are quietly dropping Fits And Starts, an album full of brilliant next level punk nuggets. The guitars crunch over tight bass lines and absolutely bananas drumming, creating an urgent sound that is nowhere near self-important. These guys may never own the establishment, but that's not the point, all they want to do is write some killer tunes so you get your ass out of the seat and move around a bit.
London band Ghosts is about about to pop -- they've released a handful of singles, including the unforgettable "Musical Chairs," and are hard at work on their debut album, which will be released in the UK on Atlantic this spring. They've supported great acts like Air Traffic and Snowfight In The City Centre, and will be doing the same for The Feeling later this spring in the UK. I've heard five tunes from these guys so far, and for the most part, they are quite catchy and melodic. It's the type of stuff that will make any Keane fan go wild, and for some of us, that's quite a good thing.
This Week In Boston 03.19: Pete Yorn @ Avalon 03.20: The Autumn Defense [members of Wilco] @ Middle East Up 03.21: Explosions In The Sky/The Paper Chase @ Middle East Down 03.22: Helms/Bananas/Tiny Amps @ Great Scott 03.22: Read Yellow [final show]/Planes Mistaken For Stars @ Middle East Up 03.23: The Pill @ Great Scott 03.23: The Decemberists/My Brightest Diamond @ Avalon 03.24: Faces On Film/Age Rings @ TT The Bears 03.24: The Decemberists/My Brightest Diamond @ Avalon 03.24: Lucinda Williams @ The Orpheum 03.24: The Bon Savants/You Am I @ Middle East Down
One last thing -- I just got back from SXSW, and I saw a ton of great bands, and I have a huge wrap-up coming your way once I get all of my photos online.
If you're not tired yet, I think you're insane. Things start to slow down, but the last day is still filled with a ton of gems. I'll be checking out Plan B, Mew, The Wombats, The Black Lips, Delorentos and others.
1200 Plan B @ Beauty Bar [617 E. 7th St.] 1230 The Black Lips @ Red 7 [611 E. 7th St.] 120 Winterkids @ Habana Annex [708 E. 6th St.] 130 Land Of Talk @ Club de Ville [900 Red River St.] 215 The Pipettes @ Cedar St. Courtyard [208 W. 4th St.] 230 The Young Knives @ Club de Ville [900 Red River St.] 300-600 @ Latitude 30 [512 San Jacinto] f/ Hot Club de Paris, The Wombats, etc] 300 The Good, The Bad & The Queen @ Fader Fort [204 E. 4th St.] 400 Mew @ Cedar St. Courtyard [208 W. 4th St.] This band is ridiculously good, and as on-the-ball Americans, we are discovering this years late. Think of them as Danish progressive rock for the indie set. [mp3]"Am I Wry? No" 500 The Fratellis @ Cedar St. Courtyard [208 W. 4th St.] 500 Scanners @ Beauty Bar [617 E. 7th St.] 600 The Young Knives @ Waterloo [600 N. Lamar] 800 Walter Meego @ Exodus [302 E. 6th St.] 830 Oppenheimer @ Soho Lounge [217 E. 6th St.] 900 Mew @ La Zona Rosa [612 W. 4th St.] 930 Electric Soft Parade @ Cedar St. Courtyard [208 W. 4th St.] 930 Plan B @ Zero Degrees [405 E. 7th St.] 1000 Lethal Bizzle @ Flamingo Cantina [515 E. 6th St.] 1000 Kings Of Leon @ Stubb’s [801 Red River St.] 1030 Brother Ali @ Flamingo Cantina [515 E. 6th St.] 1100 The Pipettes @ Beauty Bar Patio [617 E. 7th St.] 1200 Midlake @ Buffalo Billiards [201 E. 6th St.] 1245 Mumm-ra @ Red 7 Patio [611 E. 7th St.] 1245 Delorentos @ Soho Lounge [217 E. 6th St.]
Nothing against the rest of the week, but this may be the best day of this year's festival.
1100 Antibalas @ Buffalo Billiards [201 E. 6th St.] 1200 The Young Knives @ Beauty Bar [617 E. 7th St.] 1230 Cold War Kids @ Maggie Mae’s [323 E. 6th St.] 1230 Briertone @ The Mohawk [912 Red River St.] 1235 The Panda Band @ Bush Square Park 1245 The Pipettes @ Emo’s [603 Red River] 100 Rademacher @ Party [1412 S. Congress St.] 100 Foals @ Victory Grill [1104 E. 11th St.] 100 Winterkids @ Austin Convention Center [500 E. Cesar Chavez St.] 130 Sea Wolf @ The Mohawk [912 Red River St.] 130 The Black Lips @ Club de Ville [900 Red River St.] 145 Ra Ra Riot @ Cedar St. Courtyard [208 W. 4th St.] 230 Walter Meego @ Club de Ville [900 Red River St.] 230 120 Days @ Emo’s [603 Red River St.] 300 Peter Bjorn & John @ Waterloo [600 N. Lamar] 300 Jamie T @ Fader Fort [204 E. 4th St.] 300 The Cinematics @ Austin Convention Center [500 E. Cesar Chavez St.] 315 Foreign Islands @ Victory Grill [1104 E. 11th St.] 315 The Panda Band @ Cedar St. Courtyard [208 W. 4th St.] 315 Bonde Do Role @ Buffalo Billiards [201 E. 6th St.] 315 Buffalo Tom @ The Dog & Duck [406 W. 17th St.] 315 Delorentos @ BD Riley’s [204 E. 6th St.] Excellent Irish indie group that is much like Interpol without the egos. [mp3]"Basis Of Everything" 330 Midnight Movies @ The Mohawk [912 Red River St.] 400 Bonde Do Role @ Victory Grill [1104 E. 11th St.] 400 Brother Ali @ Austin Convention Center [500 E. Cesar Chavez St.] 400 Annuals @ The Mohawk [912 Red River St.] 500 Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly @ Waterloo [600 N. Lamar] 500 The Oohlas @ Austin Convention Center [500 E. Cesar Chavez St.] 500 MSTRKRFT @ Beauty Bar [617 E. 7th St.] Ex-member of DFA 1979, plus their former producer get down behind the decks. [mp3] "Work On You" 515 Office @ Fader Fort [204 E. 4th St.] 530 Peter Bjorn & John @ Emo’s [603 Red River] 530 Chromeo @ Victory Grill [1104 E. 11th St.] 615 120 Days @ Victory Grill [1104 E. 11th St.] 630 The Black Lips @ across from Longbranch Inn [1133 E. 11th St.] 640 Mew @ The Belmont [305 W. 6th St.] 645 Datarock @ Fader Fort [204 E. 4th St.] 715 Against Me! @ across from Longbranch Inn [1133 E. 11th St.] 800 Dana Falconberry @ 18th Floor at Hilton Garden Inn [500 N. IH 35] 800 Annuals @ Austin Convention Center [500 E. Cesar Chavez St.] 800 Cities @ Dirty Dog Bar [505 E. 6th St.] 900 The Eames Era @ BD Riley’s [204 E. 6th St.] This Louisiana group has drawn many comparisons to Rilo Kiley, but the difference between the two is that the Eames Era is actually good. [mp3]"NC-17" 900 Buffalo Tom @ The Parish [214B E. 6th St.] 900-500 iheartcomix Blowout [f/ Chromeo] @ Blue Genie [916 Springfield Rd. Bldg 4] 900 Peter Bjorn & John @ Austin Convention Center [500 E. Cesar Chavez St.] 1000 Robyn Hitchcock @ Dirty Dog Bar [505 E. 6th St.] 1100 Ferraby Lionheart @ Buffalo Billiards [201 E. 6th St.] This Los Angeles singer-songwriter succeeds where most soloist fails -- he creates a sound and a feeling that eclipses most bands. [mp3]"The Fighter" 1115 Pela @ Eternal [418 E. 6th St.] 1200 Willy Mason @ Central Presbyterian Church [200 E. 8th St.] 1200 The Pigeon Detectives @ Club de Ville [900 Red River St.] Classic British garage rock done right -- short and tight songs with singalong choruses. [mp3]"I Found Out" 1200 Antibalas @ Antone’s [213 W. 5th St.] 1200 Winterkids @ Whisky Bar [303 W. 5th St.] 1240 Crime Mob @ Visions [614 E. 6th St.] 1245 The Good, The Bad & The Queen @ Stubb’s [801 Red River St.] 100 The Blood Arm @ Club de Ville [900 Red River St.] This LA group has achieved stardom in the UK, yet their debut album has yet to see a Stateside release. Where garage rock and dance punk meet is where this band comes together. [mp3] "Suspicious Character" 100 Sound Team @ Buffalo Billiards [201 E. 6th St.] This is the Austin band's only show of the festival, I believe. If you remember last year, they played at least 35 times, which I didn't mind -- I was loving the album at the time, and twelve months on, the record is just as good. [mp3]"Your Eyes Are Liars" 100 Apples in Stereo @ Dirty Dog Bar [505 E. 6th St.] 100 Electric Soft Parade @ Maggie Mae’s Rooftop [323 E. 6th St.]
Personally, I prefer the fajitas. And don't eat the pizza -- it's the worst shit ever. Today is packed with great shows. If you're not exhausted by the end of the day, you're a better man than me.
1100 Peter Bjorn & John @ Buffalo Billiards [201 E. 6th St.] 1200-530 Planetary's Skewer BBQ with Robbers On High Street, The Wombats + more There are a lot of great bands playing this party, plus there will be free booze and food. Full disclosure: this is the company I work for. 1255 Division Day @ Mother Egans [715 W. 6th St.] 100 Grand Ole Party @ Cedar St. Courtyard [208 W. 4th St.] 100 The Young Knives @ Buffalo Billiards [201 E. 6th St.] 120 The Gray Kid @ The Belmont [305 W. 6th St.] 130 The Pipettes @ Fader Fort [204 E. 4th St.] 200 120 Days @ Urban [2406 Gudalupe St.] 215 Foreign Islands @ Fader Fort [204 E. 4th St.] 230 Midnight Movies @ Cedar St. Courtyard [208 W. 4th St.] 300 Lily Allen @ Waterloo [600 N. Lamar] 300 Air Traffic @ Apple Street Bar [120 W. 5th St.] Excellent piano-driven indie rock from the UK. [mp3]"Charlotte" 300 The Black Lips @ Fader Fort [204 E. 4th St.] This is one of the best fucking live bands out there. I saw them twice in the span of three hours at CMJ, and by the end of the second show, I was covered in beer and my voice was just about gone. Garage rock you can sing with and the nicest guys ever. [mp3]"Dirty Hands" 315 Apples In Stereo @ Speakeasy [412 Congress] 315 Dana Falconberry @ The Peacock [515 Pedernales] 325 Scissors For Lefty @ The Belmont [305 W. 6th St.] 400 All Smiles @ Austin Convention Center [500 E. Cesar Chavez St.] 400 Les Savy Fav @ Speakeasy [412 Congress] 400 Ra Ra Riot @ Apple Street Bar 120 W. 5th St.] 420 Brother Ali @ Buffalo Billiards [201 E. 6th St.] 430 Bonde Do Role @ Fader Fort [204 E. 4th St.] 500 Oppenheimer @ End Of An Ear [2209 S. 1st St.] 500 Razorlight @ Austin Convention Center [500 E. Cesar Chavez St.] 515 The Fratellis @ Fader Fort [204 E. 4th St.] 530 Land Of Talk @ Austin Convention Center [500 E. Cesar Chavez St.] The second coming of Pretty Girls Make Graves? Something tells me that this band has much, much more up their sleeves. [mp3]"Speak To Me Bones" 600 Albert Hammond, Jr. @ Waterloo [600 N. Lamar] 600 Birdmonster @ Apple Street Bar 120 W. 5th St.] 645 Sloan @ Fader Fort [204 E. 4th St.] 800 American Princes @ Continental Club [1315 S. Congress Ave.] Seriously, everyone overlooked this band last year and their latest album was filled with great songs. Great, hyperactive indie rock, and they're playing at one of my favorite Austin clubs. It's a hike, but it's worth it. [mp3]"Never Grow Old" 800 Ra Ra Riot @ Emos Jr. [603 Red River St.] 800 The Cinematics @ Flamingo Cantina [515 E. 6th St.] Another gem from Scotland offering up their take on Editors/Maximo Park. [mp3]"Keep Forgetting" 800 The Gray Kid @ The Parish II [214 E. 6th St.] 800 Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly @ Stubb’s [801 Red River St.] 815 Protokoll @ Beauty Bar Patio [617 E. 7th St.] 830 The Wombats @ The Rio [301 San Jacinto Blvd.] 900 lo-Fi-Fnk @ Beauty Bar Patio [617 E. 7th St.] 900 Bob Mould @ Buffalo Billiards [201 E. 6th St.] 920 Foals @ The Rio [301 San Jacinto Blvd.] 930 Small Sins @ Antone’s [213 W. 5th St.] 945 Foreign Islands @ Beauty Bar Patio [617 E. 7th St.] Hyperactive dance punk that goes down well remixed. Almost too well. [mp3]"That's How This Goes Down"[Andy Pry and DWWG (Dances With White Girls) Remix] 1000 Midnight Movies @ Blender Bar [320 E. 6th St.] 1000 Cold War Kids @ La Zona Rosa [612 W. 4th St.] One of the best bands of the past few years -- America should be proud. This is a live show that is not to be missed. [mp3]"Heavy Boots" 1030 Hot Club de Paris @ The Rio [301 San Jacinto Blvd.] 1100 Office @ Blender Bar [320 E. 6th St.] 1130 Land Of Talk @ Maggie Mae’s [323 E. 6th St.] 1140 Air Traffic @ The Rio [301 San Jacinto Blvd.] 1200 Robbers On High Street @ Blender Bar [320 E. 6th St.] 1200 The Gossip @ Emos Main [603 Red River St.] 1200 The Black Lips @ Flamingo Cantina [515 E. 6th St.] 1200 Bloc Party @ Stubb’s [801 Red River St.] 1245 Against Me! @ Exodus [302 E. 6th St.] 100 Albert Hammond, Jr. @ Blender Bar [320 E. 6th St.] 100 The Fratellis @ Dirty Dog Bar [505 E. 6th St.] 100 Chromeo @ Flamingo Cantina [515 E. 6th St.] 100 The Young Knives @ Friends [208 E. 6th St.] 100 The Holloways @ Karma Lounge [119 W. 8th St.] 100 What Made Milwaukee Famous @ La Zona Rosa [612 W. 4th St.] 100 The Rumble Strips @ The Rio [301 San Jacinto Blvd.]
Does being Spin's Band Of The Day really mean anything? There are a lot of bands out there, so to be the #1 band of the day it's pretty sweet, but you have 365 other bands to contend with throughout the entire year, right?
If there's one band that can graduate from Band Of The Day to much greater things, than it's Welsh group The Automatic, who dropped their debut disc last year in the UK through B-Unique, but now it's time for them to take over these shores. I know this is going to sound corny, but Not Accepted Anywhere [out this June through Epic] is full of hits. The chorus of "Monster" is one that won't leave your head for days, and "Raoul" and "Recover" are no slouches either, coming from the classic Brit-rock school, but giving nods to both new wave and punk. The band's official SXSW showcase is tonight at Stubb's [801 Red River St.] at 9 pm. This show is going to be packed, as Lily Allen, The Sunshine Underground and others are playing, so show up early. They'll be playing the Warped Tour this summer, too.
When I was putting together my schedule for SXSW, it occured to me that there are probably a few of you out there that are heading to Austin as well [let's hang out!], and chances are, you want to check out similar bands. Over the four days of the festival, I am going to post a list of all of the shows worth checking out and although the lists are pretty long and there is a lot of overlap, keep in mind, these are the all of the bands that I'd consider checking out if I could be in two, three or four places at once. Some bands are going to play 10 times and others are only going to play once.
I will also point out a few must see shows. Enjoy!
1230 The Gray Kid @ Austin Convention Center [500 E. Cesar Chavez St.] Start your day early with this LA rapper, a man that mixes memorable beats with smart lyrics. Bonus points: he's a Washington Wizards fan, and Gilbert Arenas is one of the game's best. [mp3] 130 White Rabbits @ Fader Fort [204 E. 4th St.] I just got their debut album on Friday and it has yet to sink in. One thing is apprent, though -- they have a knack for writing a great tune, recalling Ted Leo and Elvis Costello. [mp3]"The Plot" 200 Rademacher @ Plush Day Party [617 Red River St.] Another gem from the California desert. Their new album has quickly risen to the top of 2007's heap with songs that would make Earlimart and Silversun Pickups proud. [mp3]"If You Got Some Magic" 300 Winterkids @ Fader Fort [204 E. 4th St.] This British group recalls The Wedding Present with a hint of dance. [mp3]"Use Your Feet" 300 Pela @ Red Eye Fly [715 Red River] 300 Scanners @ Austin Convention Center [500 E. Cesar Chavez St.] 400 Robyn Hitchcock @ Austin Convention Center [500 E. Cesar Chavez St.] 430 Foals @ Fader Fort [204 E. 4th St.] 500 Peter Bjorn & John @ Red Eye Fly [715 Red River] 600 Hot Club de Paris @ Fader Fort [204 E. 4th St.] 800 The Sunshine Underground @ Stubb’s [801 Red River St.] This Leeds dance punk outfit is poised to be the next big thing [mp3]Commercial Breakdown" 800 Lemon Sun @ Friends [208 E. 6th St.] 800 The Pipettes @ La Zona Rosa [612 W. 4th St.] 815 iLiKETRAiNS @ Emos Jr. [603 Red River St.] 900 Division Day @ Blender Bar [320 E. 6th St.] This show is a no-brainer -- excellent LA indie rock! [mp3]"Tigers" 900 Rubicks @ Co-op Bar [400 E. 6th St.] 900 Kristoffer Ragnstam @ Lambert’s [401 W. 2nd St.] Swedish dude that channels both Ted Leo and Beck. [mp3]"Breakfast By The Mattress" 900 The Automatic @ Stubb’s [801 Red River St.] 915 White Rabbits @ Dirty Dog Bar [505 E. 6th St.] 945 Frightened Rabbit @ Mohawk Patio [912 Red River St.] 1000 The Panda Band @ Red 7 [611 E. 7th St.] 1000 Scissors For Lefty @ Soho Lounge [217 E. 6th St.] 1000 Jamie T @ Stubb’s [801 Red River St.] Sort of like Tom Vek with a hip hop edge. His debut has yet to find a label in the States. [mp3] "Sheila" 1100 Lily Allen @ Stubb’s [801 Red River St.] 1130 Illinois @ Beauty Bar Patio [617 E. 7th St.] While this band's EP is sort of a disappointment, that doesn't take away from the fact that they have a stellar live show. Another playing many times this week, so catch them a few times. [mp3] "Alone Again" 1200 IV Thieves @ Buffalo Billiards [201 E. 6th St.] 1200 The Wombats @ Friends [208 E. 6th St.] As if I haven't made my case for this band yet. They'll be all over SXSW, and their infectious singalongs should be 10x more exciting live. [mp3]"Moving To New York" 1200 Birdmonster @ Habana Calle 6 Annex [708 E. 6th. St.] One of the kings of 2006. The band is still playing wherever and whenever they can and are playing great tunes. Another can't miss group. [mp3] "Cause You Can" 1200 Razorlight @ Stubb’s [801 Red River St.] 1230 Peter Bjorn & John @ La Zona Rosa [612 W. 4th St.] 100 Les Savy Fav @ Red Eyed Fly [715 Red River St.]
I am still not sure how I feel about The Horrors. While they may make some questionable fashion choices and I am bored of all of the hoopla surrounding them, they still have some pretty great songs. At times they bring to mind The Cramps or The Damned, but only time will tell if they are for real. May 15th should be the day of reckoning here in the States, as their debut album Strange House is released on Stolen Transmission. If their EP was any indication, if you focus on the music rather than the hype, you're in for a treat, as the band is excellent at crafting catchy, goth-tinged punk rock, and they're a band that is ace live. The band plays Great Scott tonight with Brooklyn's stellar Favourite Sons, as well as a host of SXSW and LA dates.
March 15th: Red Eye Fly- Austin, TX March 16th: La Zona Rosa- Austin, TX March 17th: Emo’s- Austin, TX March 19th: Echo- Echo Park, CA March 20th: Cinespace- Hollywood, CA
Unlike Dany, I don't get to go sunny Austin for SXSW so I refuse to cover a band playing said festival. Not that I'm bitter (ok I am), it's more that I've really wanted to talk about Sister Love for weeks and haven't gotten a chance to put pen to paper. Hailing from the beautiful city of Cologne, Germany, Sister Love is a totally killer little electro pop band. Their songs are driven by synthesizers and electronic dance beats, accentuated by a vocalist who reminds me of Nina Persson of The Cardigans and Jill Cunniff of Luscious Jackson. Their uptempo songs "Smack Smack" and "You're Sweet But I Won't" are perfect for the dancefloor, but don't be fooled--this band is not a one trick pony that can only produce syrupy pop songs. "Let It" and "Rockshow" are two devastating downtempo numbers that would be the perfect soundtrack for sinister things like slitting your wrists or anonymous sex.
03.12: Mae/Relient K @ Avalon 03.13: Sparta/Mewithyou/Aloha @ Middle East Down 03.13: The Roots/Lupe Fiasco @ Avalon 03.13: The Horrors/The Favourite Sons @ Great Scott 03.14: Sleepytime Gorilla Museum @ Middle East Down 03.15: Ratatat/Professor Murder/Despot @ The Paradise 03.15: The Shins @ Orpheum Theatre 03.15: The Appleseed Cast/The Life And Times/Harris/Caspian @ Middle East Down 03.16: Isis @ Middle East Down 03.16: The Pill @ Great Scott 03.16: Taxpayer/Mittens/Blizzard of 78 @ TT The Bears 03.17: Isis @ Middle East Down
All Smiles: I really hated Grandaddy, like I really didn't like them, and when I found out that the man behind All Smiles is Jim Fairchild, the guitarist from Grandaddy, I was pretty surprised. Ten Readings Of A Warning, out on April 24th through Dangerbird, is a personal collection of songs that came together in every corner of small town California and it's everything that his previous band should have been. Look for him at the Dangerbird Showcase on March 15th. [mp3]"Moth In A Cloud Of Smoke"
Land Of Talk: Described as a PJ Harvey-meets-Crazy Horse type creature, this Montreal band is finally making their way to the States on March 20th with the release of Applause Cheer Boo Hiss. Additionally, they're going to be all over SXSW, so you have absolutely no reason not to see them. [mp3] "Speak To Me Bones"
Winterkids: I've touched on this band before, and there is no reason not to bring them back up. "Tape It" is a ridiculously catchy song and they are another group that will be ubiquitous at this year's SXSW. Their new album will be released digitally on March 12th digitally here in the States. [mp3] "Tape It"
[Photo Credit: Hannah Devereux] Rotary Ten: Somewhere in between The Smiths and Slowdive falls Sheffield's Rotary Ten, a band that rocks the brooding pop song with the best of them, creating songs that are both catchy and memorable. They are an infectuous group, one that already stands heads and shoulders above most of their contemporaries, and with each new song, they continue to push the envelope. [mp3] "Idols of Our Own Design"
Sometimes lines can stick out, and often it won't even be part of the chorus or an important line, but the line still resonantes in some way. "The Plot," from Brooklyn band White Rabbits, is a beautiful jangly mess that is filled with good things, but it's that one line that grabs me each time, and not quite sure what it is. At times the band brings to mind Cold War Kids or early Walkmen, relying heavily on the soulful Brits of yesterday, when Elvis Costello was at the top of his game. They are the last band I profiled in 2006 and I am absolutely confident that they are going to be huge this year. Be sure to check them out at SXSW and look for Fort Nightly, which is out on May 22nd through Say Hey Records.
03/14: Dirty Dog Bar [ASCAP Showcase] 8 pm 03/15: Room 710 [SXSW Loose Record Party] 12 pm
I suppose this is the part where I say something witty or tell some long, meandering story about how I found this band, but it's not going to happen today. I am sick, I am tired and let's just say that a shrewd insider clued me into these guys, and I am glad he did! Air Traffic play a sort of piano-led indie rock that is much more exciting than Keane that has caught the ears of all of the great British tastemakers, like Zane Lowe, Jo Whiley and Steve Lamacq. Their first single came out on the ultra hip Fierce Panda label, while a new single "Charlotte" hits stores this month and a debut album slated for this summer through EMI. They are playing a few shows at SXSW, including the Hell Ya! show [03/15] and their official showcase that same night at 11:40 at The Rio at 301 San Jacinto Blvd.
"Never Even Told Me Her Name"
[Myspace]Air Traffic [mp3] "Charlotte" [mp3] "Just Abuse Me"
Those of you that count Stereolab and Saint Etienne among your favorite bands already know Rubicks, but if you missed out the first time aroud, then here's your chance. While at the heart of the duo are catchy electronic melodies, they are smart enogh to take it one step further by rocking Kevin Sheids-inspired guitars and mixes that would make Kylie jealous. The band's debut In Miniature came out last August in the UK, and while there may been a fair amount of mentions on these shores, the band will be making their first real splash at SXSW. Look for them on Wednesday at 9 pm at The Co-op Bar at 400 E. 6th St.
03.06: Gomez/Ben Kweller @ Avalon 03.08: Red Sparrowes @ TT The Bears 03.09: The Pill @ Great Scott 03.09: Rhett Miller @ The Paradise 03.10: Clinic/Holy Fuck @ Middle East Down 03.10: Mr. Lif @ The Paradise 03.10: The Pogues @ Avalon 03.10: The Rudds/The Snow Leopards @ Great Scott 03.11: Pop Levi/The Daily Pravda @ Great Scott 03.11: Loney, Dear/Of Montreal @ Avalon 03.11: The Cinematics/Mute Math @ Axis.
The Young Knives couldn't make it into the country, apparently they had visa issues. Hopefully they'll be around for SXSW. Go see The Cinematics on Sunday.
Electric Soft Parade: The Mercury Prize has not gone to their heads, as the band is back better than ever with No Need To Be Down-Hearted on April 24th. Band member Eamon Hamilton, who also plays in The Brakes, reconvenes ESP to continue to make gloriously weird indie rock. [mp3]"If That's The Case, Then I Don't Know"
O Fracas: Yet another Leeds band to keep an eye on this year, O Fracas have been creating a racket for a couple of years now, and each new song is even more exciting than the last. They take their cues from the Dischord catalog -- look for their debut album later this year. [mp3] "Moth To A Flame"
The KBC: Showing plenty of promise with several singles and demos that have been bouncing around the internet, Preston, UK band The KBC have started to record that much-anticipated debut. Their sound is not unlike that of Maximo Park or The Sunshine Underground, but it's the vocals that set them apart, seek out any of their tunes and you'll know exactly why. [mp3] "Poisonous Emblem"
[Photo Credit: Jah Seltz] Division Day: Don't let the fact that I haven't talked about this band for a few months on here make you think I've forgotten how awesome these guys are, or how excited I am to see them at SXSW. They are still hunting for a label and that is a crime against great music -- Beartrap Island is an album that needs to be in the hands of everyone. Indie rock has been way too obsessed wtih style over substance lately, but this is a band that brings it all back to Earth, writing great songs that don't need a gimmick to get stuck in your head. [mp3]"Hurricane"
Tonight at the Middlesex Lounge, Vice and Dewar's are hosting a sort of debate on men vs. women. You might recall Dewar's as being a scotch for old ladies, but fret not, because even if your grandmother might have a bottle locked up to get a little saucy when Matlock is on, that doesn't change the fact that it's good and free. It's start at 8 pm which means you can be good and drunk for your dance parties. Middlesex Lounge can be found at 315 Mass Ave., and you need to RSVP debate@viceland.com so the good times can happen!
the mp3s provided are for preview purposes only. if you like what you hear, go to the show or follow the
link to buy the album or single. also, i will be glad to remove an mp3 if you are the owner of the file and are unhappy with
its appearance here. thanks!
