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Saturday, August 21, 2010
New Track:: The Wrens - Crescent
Like many of you we have been waiting seven long years for the follow up to 2003's magnum opus, The Meadowlands. Well a very dim light seems to be appearing on the horizon. The Wrens have contributed the demo version of Crescent to the upcoming Dear New Orleans, a 31 track benefit album to be issued on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. A fully produced version of the song is expected to appear on the band next album, whenever the hell they get around to finishing that. To our ears Crescent sounds like a perfect pop gem.
[Embedded MP3 From P4K]
Friday, August 20, 2010
Plan Accordingly:: Black Helicopter/Travels/The Sinbusters/ & Magic Shoppe at The Rosebud Diner & Bar/Davis Square Somerville, MA Tonight!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Introducing:: The Martha's Vineyard Ferries
The pedigree of it's members alone was more than enough to capture our attention, however if the track that their label has posted to bandcamp is any indications this new trio is much more than a kick ass resume. The Martha's Vineyard Ferries is a new band that features Bob Weston (Shellac), Chris Brokaw (Come), and Elisha Weisner of Massachusetts based, Kahoots.The three friends got together at Bob Weston's house in Chicago in 2009 to record tracks for the bands forthcoming 4 song EP, In the Pond and a short time later a fake band was born.
Elisha Weisner explains how the band came together and what the future may hold for The Martha's Vineyard Ferries: "the band started as a fake joke band name bob and I were using with some vague intention of maybe playing some music. we asked Chris to be the drummer in the fake band. A while after that we decided to actually do it, sent demos back and forth and got together at bobs house in Chicago for a couple days of recording and eating hot dogs. Basically it's just 3 friends playing punk rock. all of us have larger musical commitments outside of the ferries but, for me at least, it was fun to just kind of come up with a silly idea see it turn into something really cool. I am certainly looking forward to playing some shows and future recording. It's fun to be in a band with no pressure, no expectations and no real time frame.”
Thanks to the good kids at ClickyClicky we are now well informed that The Martha's Vineyard Ferries play their first area dates on August 24th at The Dive in Oak Bluffs on the island for which the band is aptly named (sort of) and at TT The Bears on the 25th. Both shows are with the superb Denton, TX band TreOrsi.
In The Pond will be issued on September 21st by Sick Room Records on CD and limited edition 12" vinyl. However I am told by the bands label that they will have some copies for sale at the upcoming shows.
Get Them Young is the first track offered from the In The Pond EP. We recommend you listen to it repeatedly until your head hurts or your laptop speakers say uncle.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Snippet:: Belle and Sebastian
Our first glimpse into the forthcoming B&S long player, Write About Love. Albeit a brief glimpse via the album track, I Want The World To Stop. The record will drop on 10/12 just a few days before the bands Boston appearance at The Citi Performing Arts Center|The Wang Center.
Friday, August 13, 2010
This Weeks Short Bursts :: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yelstin, Sharks, & The Capstan Shafts
Springfield, MO's popsmiths Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin drop their new full length in a matter of days. Let it Sway will be released on Tuesday August 17th via Polyvinyl Records. The new LP was recorded at Smart Studios in Madison, WI with Chris Walla (Death Cab For Cutie) and Beau Sorrenson (Sparklehorse) and combines the bands early bedroom recording aesthetic with fully produced power pop. The record's been garnering some glowing reviews on the internets, check out The Music OMH. SSYBY have teamed up with Telekinesis for a fall tour that will have them playing TT The Bears on September 7th. Currently the band are raising funds through kickstarter to finance a new tour van. Donate here
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Sink/Let it Sway
Rising U.K. post-punks, Sharks have signed on with London's Best Before Records (Danananaykroyd/Johnny Foreigner) to release the bands new EP, Show of Hands. Over the past couple of years Best Before have been responsible for some of our favorite records and look to keep the streak going with new signees,Sharks. Admittedly we don't know much about this band other than they hail from Royal Leamington Spa or the "Leam" in Warwickshire, U.K. and have our full attention with one foot in 1977 and the other in 2010. Sharks will support The Gaslight Anthem on the New Jersey bands upcoming fall tour throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.
[Video]Sharks - Fallen on Deaf Ears
The Capstan Shafts is the brain child of former Lydonville, VT resident and current West Virginian Dean Wells. On August 24th The Capstan Shafts will release Revelation Skirts their 3rd full length for Rainbow Quartz and if my math is correct 23rd release over all, with 20 of those being self released CD-R's that Wells recorded between 1999-2007. The one time one man band has assembled a solid crew of backing musicians and recorded in a proper studio with the tracks found on the new record committed to tape at Strange Weather Studios in Brooklyn with producer/drummer/P4k writer Matt Lemay. The two tracks available at Rainbow Quarts are mid-fi classic pop and lookey, lookey here we've linked them for your listening and fist pumping pleasure.
After wrapping up a lengthy tour with Silversun Pickups & Against Me! California's pop stalwarts The Henry Clay People have announced another batch of dates. This time the band will be headed out with Drive By Truckers. However as luck should have it the band have booked a headlining show at TT The Bears on October 17th. Not that we have anything against the bands that The Henry Clay People have been playing with over the past couple of months, they're just not our cup of tea and we definitely need to see this band in a headlining slot. Tickets for their next Boston area show go on sale this morning through TicketWeb at 9AM.
[Video]The Henry Clay People - Slow Burn Recorded Live @ Waterloo RecordsAustin, TX
Saturday, August 7, 2010
This Weeks Short Bursts: Deep Heaven Now & In Case of Evacuation Record Release
Somerville's Union Square will be rocking this afternoon, due to The Deep Heaven Now Festival going down at both PA's Lounge and Precinct. Deep Heaven Now gathers the finest east coast purveyors of ambient/Psychedelic rock for one glorious event. 10 bucks gets you admission to both stages and as bonus the Somerville Rock and Roll Yard sale will be held just out side of Precinct, where you will find a truck load of vintage vinyl & arts and crafts. 10 bucks for 19 bands, including The Hush Now, Young Adults, and the reunited Abunai! If that wasn't enough to get you there, the first 100 people get a free beer from Narragansett. The event kicks off at 2PM at Precinct.
This Just in: Young Adults set has been cancelled according to their myspace page, but don't let that keep you away from this great event.
On Sunday, Exploding In Sound takeover Church for a record release party for their In Case of Evacuation Compilation, 2 discs worth of new music from some of Boston's finest as well as some national acts as well, offered to you as a free download. The album features music from Black Helicopter, We Were Promised Jetpacks, and Doomstar! to name but a few. The record release will feature a few of Boston's up and comers included Grass is Green,The Dirty Dishes, and Ribs, as well as Washington D.C.'s Solar Powered Sun Destroyer. Tickets are just $7.00, it all kicks off at 8PM.
For more info or to download In Case of Evacuation pay a visit to Exploding In Sound.
Friday, August 6, 2010
The Evolution of Clinic Clinic are set to return on October 5th with album number six, Bubblegum. The English post-punk collective recorded the tracks with John Congleton at Elevator Studios in Liverpool, which mark the first time the band has worked with a producer since 2004's Winchester Cathedral. The bands label, Domino is calling the new album a high water mark for the band. We were huge fans of the bands early work, however they lost us a few records ago, so we're hoping this is a fact. The band has described the record as watery psych pop filled with ping-pong symphonies. Based on the album's opening track and the excellent Pete Fowler created new video, I'm Aware, Clinic are coming as advertised with dulcimers, harpsichords, and beautiful melodies in tow.
Clinic will play the Paradise on November 8th, get tickets here.
Merge Records took another step toward complete world domination today when it was announced that the Durham, N.C. indie powerhouse have signed The Mountain Goats and The Extra Lens to it's ever expanding roster. The first release planned from the new signing is Undercard from The Extra Lens, a collaboration between John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats) and Fraknlin Bruno (Nothing Painted Blue) to be released on October 19th. Undercard is the follow up to 2000's Martial Arts Weekend when the band was known as The Extra Glenns. We have no idea what precipitated the name change, but we're digging on the album track, Only Existing Footage.
I believe in giving credit where credit is due, my brother introduced me to Versus by way of the bands debut full length, The Stars Are Insane. In fact after hearing that record in 94' I borrowed it from my older sibling and never returned it, sorry bro. After my Versus introduction I purchased pretty much everything the band released and caught them live on couple of fateful evenings, and then without warning they were gone. Sure James Baluyut went on release music under +/- with former Versus member Patrick Ramos, Richard Baluyut formed Whysall Lane, and Fountaine Toups concentrated on The Fountaine Toups, but as much as I enjoy those hiatus projects, something was missing, that something was one of indie rocks most consistently engaging bands.
Ten years in the waiting, One The Ones and Threes marks the return of Versus and the return of original member Edward Baluyut. However instead of sounding like a comeback album or a band trying to recapture some of their past glory, On The Ones and Threes sounds like the album the band would have made had they not taken at ten year break. The album kicks off with the sixties infused pop and chunky guitars of Invincible Hero, and just like that Versus are back with arguably 10 of their finest songs, 12 if you pre-ordered from the bands label, Merge Records. The album's center piece, Cicada is a Burma-esque romp that burst out of the gates and never lets up, and has me reaching for a replay with each listen. When I first heard that Versus were returning as a three piece with original nucleus of the band intact, I was thrilled, but I had no idea they would deliver such a strong and instantly lovable record. On The Ones and Threes combines the pop gloss of 2000's Hurrah with the bands grit found on their early recordings, pretty much the perfect marriage of the bands strengths. The album is full of sublime melodies and finely crafted songs from a rejuvenated band at the peak of their powers. I for one hope they stick around for awhile (this time).
One The Ones and Threes gets it's official release today, August 3rd and the band will be in town to support Superchunk at Royale Boston on September 21.
King of The Beach Wavves a.k.a. Nathan Williams will officially drop his new record, King of The Beach via Fat Possum on Tuesday. The album has been available digitally for the better part of the last month, so if it seems a bit anticlimactic, I'm with you. However the album is a big step forward for Williams and co., it retains the bands sonic edge, but the record feels a bit more mature to me and seems to being standing up well after a month of steady listening. Wavves have announced a headlining tour that will bring the California kids to our area for three dates, however none of which are in Boston, but it looks like I just found my excuse to check out the soon to be re-opened Met Cafe in Providence. Pre-order King of The Beach at Fat Possum
You can acquire Small(23) music at Amazon, we recommend that you do so, immediately. For more info check out: Small(23) Myspace.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Forthcoming: Bottomless Pit - Blood Under The Bridge
On August 10th Bottomless Pit will unveil their second long player and third release over all with Blood Under The Bridge on Princeton, NJ's Comedy Minus One. Tim Midget and Andy Cohen both of Silkworm fame return with band mates Chris Manfrin (Seam) and Brian Orchird (.22) to pick up where there two superb 2008 releases left off, Hammer of The Gods, and the Congress EP, respectively. The soon to drop, Blood Under The Bridge spans 9 songs spread out over 2 x 12" vinyl (45 RPM), breaking the LP up 2 songs per side, the band also hooks you up with CD copy of the album with your purchase.
You can check out four songs from the album over at the Bottomless Pit site, which coincidentally is where you can order the LP as well, so order away.
The band has recently announced short fall tour, that will bring them to The Middle East with Black Helicopter and Chris Brokaw on November 12th.
Bottomless Pit Live Dates:
Sat 31 Jul 2010 - Wavelength Festival (Three Oaks, MI) with Robbie Fulks, Freakwater, JC Brooks and Uptown Sounds, Archer Prewitt
Sat 18 Sep 2010 - Depaul U. (Chicago) with Bear Claw and the Bismarck
Fri 5 Nov 2010 - Hideout (Chicago) with Black Helicopter
Sat 6 Nov 2010 - TBA (Milwaukee) with Black Helicopter
Thu 11 Nov 2010 - Howlers (Pittsburgh) with Black Helicopter and Karl Hendricks Trio
Fri 12 Nov 2010 - Middle East (Cambridge) with Black Helicopter and Chris Brokaw
Sat 13 Nov 2010 - Knitting Factory (Brooklyn) with Black Helicopter and guests TBA
Sun 14 Nov 2010 - Treehouse (Columbus) with Black Helicopter and Kyle Sowashes
Thanks to the fine folks at Comedy Minus One, we are able to share the albums final track, 38 Souls.
This Weeks Short Bursts: Admiral Radley, Film School, & No Age The pairing of two California pop darlings, Earlimart and Grandaddy have spawned Admiral Radley and the results are somewhat, what you might expect. That is if you expected a batch of melancholy pop songs that seem to bounce around your head for days on end. The band consists of Jason Lytle and Aaron Burch from Grandaddy as well as Aaron Espinoza and Arianna Murray from Earlimart with help from ex- Grandaddy guitarist Jim Fairchild.
Ad Rad's debut, I Heart California was released earlier this month by The Ship and the band have just announced a lengthy tour that will bring them to T.T. The Bears on August 17th with Cambridge, by way of New York's Hooray For Earth.
San Franciso's shoegaze stalwarts Film School are getting ready to drop Fission, their fourth full length, albeit a little bit later than initially reported. It had been reported back in May that the album would be released on July 20th. However according to the bands new label, Hi Speed Soul, Fission will be released on August 31st. I can only assume the reason for the rescheduling of the release date is that the band initially had planned to self release Fission prior to signing with San Diego's Hi Speed Soul. Go ahead and dull your impatience with the terrific new single below.
No Age are poised to return with the follow up to their smashing 2008 debut long player, Nouns, with Everything In Between on September 28th via Sub-Pop. Recorded in their hometown between 2009-2010, the album consists of 13 songs of the bands signature noise pop, with the added element of sampling/sound collages that the band featured on last years Losing Feeling EP. On September 28th the duo of Randy Randall and Dean Spunt will issue the albums first song Glitter, via 7"+12" single. The 7" will consist of the Glitter b/w Inflorescence and the 12" will pair the A side with In Rebound and Vision II. Both versions can be pre-ordered through the band label as well as Amazon.
The bands been playing new material at recent shows. Excuse the camera angle (shot from behind Dean Spunt's drum kit) on this video, but the sound is decent and it features the track Depletion from the forthcoming Everything in Between, so we hope you dig it as much as we do.
No Age - Depletion @ Sweatstock, Little Haiti - Miami
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Los Campesinos! - All's Well That Ends
Los Campesinos! issued a new EP last week, All's Well That Ends collects acoustic versions of songs that appeared on the bands tremendous Romance is Boring album released earlier this year. The limited edition, 10" EP is being sold on the bands current European tour as well as through there label.
While we wait and hope for the bands next trip stateside, check out this video the band posted which chronicles the making of the new 4 song EP, courtesy of Ellen Campesinos.
Brooklyn's Suckers released their debut long player, Wild Smile in early June on French Kiss Records and we've been spinning it on the regular ever since. The band will hook with Menomena for national tour in September. Currently these lush- psych-pop wunderkinds are in the middle of a headlining tour that will stop at Great Scott on Sunday night with support from Boston's You Can Be Wesley and Sean Bones.
As luck should have it we have a pair a tickets to give to Sunday's show. All innterested parties, please send an e-mail to ashgrayproclamation [at]yahoo [dot] com with Suckers in the subject line and we'll sift through the entrants tomorrow afternoon and randomly pick a winner.
For those of who would rather not leave things up to chance, you can grab tickets at Ticket Web.
Suckers Live Dates
Jul 16 – Le Divan Orange Montreal, Quebec Jul 17 – OFF Festival’s Last Night Party Quebec City, Quebec Jul 18 – Great Scott Alston, Massachusetts Jul 29 – Terminal 5 New York, New York w/ The National Sep 08 – Neurolux Boise, ID Sep 10 – Showbox Seattle, WA* Sep 11 – Crystal Ballroom for MusicFestNW Portland, OR w/ The Dodos Sep 14 – Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA* Sep 16 – El Rey Los Angeles, CA* Sep 17 – Casbah San Diego, CA* Sep 18 – Clubhouse Tempe, AZ* Sep 21 – Fox Theatre Boulder, CO* Sep 22 – The Waiting Room Omaha, NE* Sep 23 – Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN* Sep 24 – High Noon Saloon Madison, WI* Sep 25 – Metro Chicago, IL* Sep 27 – Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, OH* Sep 28 – Mod Club Toronto, Ontario* Sep 29 – La Sala Rossa Montreal, Quebec* Sep 30 – Royale Boston, MA* Oct 01 – Webster Hall New York, NY* Oct 05 – First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, PA* Oct 06 – 9:30 Club Washington DC* Oct 07 – Cat’s Cradle Carrboro, NC* Oct 08 – The Variety Playhouse Atlanta, GA* Oct 09 – Mercy Lounge Nashville, TN*
Update: Congratulations to our winner Julie MacMillan of Norwood, MA.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Heedfest IV: Robert Pollard Live at The Canal Street Tavern
Robert Pollard took to the stage for his first live performance in two years at this years Heedfest. The yearly fan gathering and boozeathon of Pollard/GBV devotee's held in Dayton, OH.
Billed as Milko Waif & Bug Eyed Mums, Pollard took to the stage Friday night to play his forthcoming Moses On A Snail in it's entirety which you can order at The Factory of Raw Essentials. A handful of videos have been posted from this years debauchery, take a look. It's A Pleasure Being You (sound check)
Silk Rotor
Each Is Good In His Own House
Videos gracioulsy supplied by Lumptywangage and Brian Felhander A.K.A. BSFGBV.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Medications Become Completely Removed
Sometimes the time gets away from us, the stacks of new music on our desk and in our inbox get ignored, and before we know it a couple months pass by and we still haven't gotten around to listening to that album that we made to sure to order last spring.
The Most recent example of this is when over the Fourth of July weekend, I finally unwrapped Completely Removed, the third and most recent release from Washington, D.C.'s Medications. The duo of Devin Ocampo (Smart Went Crazy/Faraquet) and Chad Molter (Farquet) formed Medications in 2003 and released an EP and one long player on Dischord before shelving the band for nearly five years.
For Completely Removed Ocampo and Molter return in fine form. The duo wrote and performed nearly all the albums tracks with help from their long time friend and new Medications member Mark Cisneros. The band has recently been rounded out by drummer Jesse Fox.
The newish release,issued by Dischord back on April 20th takes things in a slightly different direction than the bands earlier work. Medications still has their sonic edge intact, however due to the album being recorded over 7 months at Treehouse studio by Devin Ocampos, it's allowed the band to focus on the arrangements and overall production of the album. It also finds Medication discovering some exciting new terrain.
Note: The next time Medications release a new album, listen to it immediately.
Medications are about to play a series of east coast shows that will bring them to O'Breins in Allston on July 24th with Big Big Bucks and Deleted Scenes.
This Weeks Short Bursts [MP3]: Trumans Water, Mean Creek, and Sun Kil Moon
As we prepare to shut it down for the long Fouth of July holiday weekend we thought we would share new music from some fine American artists. On behalf of The AGP clan we wish you all a safe and enjoyable Independence Day. We will return early next week, until then.
After a lengthy absence Portland, OR's Trumans Water is set to return on August 24th with their first U.S. release in nearly seven years, with O Zeta Zunis via Asthmatic Kitty. The spazz-core vets have been mainly releasing music in Europe over the past several years, so this is great news for the bands small buy loyal contingent of American fans. In addition to releasing O Zeta Zunis, Trumans Water have negotiated a deal with there new US label to release there entire back catalog.
[MP3/Stream]Trumans Water - 5-7-10 Split O Zeta Zunis Track Listing: 1. Since Yesterday - 2:27 2. Bev Toxin - 4:16 3. Ammunition - 1:12 4. Last Time - 2:42 5. Ur-Cod - 1:35 6. Greased Water - 4:08 7. Blasphemous Cordialantlers Ride! - 3:05 8. 2 Hands 4 Eyes - 1:58 9. Thew Eak Hen - 3:04 10. 5-7-10 Split - 2:42 11. We Fish - 2:19 12. Radio Played - 2:06 13. You Live Out Loud - 2:16 14. Horsesplinter Wraparound 0:41
Fresh off picking up the much coveted Best Local Act honors in this years Boston Phoenix Best Music Poll, Boston's Mean Creek are out to prove there not letting any of there much deserved accolades go to their collective heads. The band has issued the Comedian b/w Liar/Thief 7" through Old Flame Records. The new tracks were recorded by John Angelo (Sonic Youth/Dinosaur Jr.) who managed to capture the band's dynamic live performance as well as the fury of the new material.
Mark Kozelek's Sun Kil Moon will release Admiral Fell Promises on July 13th. The album was recorded entirely by Kozelek playing nylon string guitar over the albums 10 tracks. I'll Be There a 4 song EP that includes an outtake from the recording sessions and three covers can be yours if you pre-order the new LP through Kozelek's Caldo Verde label, you can also check three tracks from the album below.
Boston's lo-fipopsters, Girlfriends will celebrate the release of their new 7" single, Gov't Seizure b/w Creep Stuff tonight at Great Scott with Four Eyes and Doomstar!. The show will also serve as a kick off for Girlfriends summer tour that has the band on road over the next six weeks playing shows as far west as Olympia, WA. Treat them nice America!
The band will selling copies of the new 7" at tonight's show, you can also order it from the fine folks at Aurora 7.
One of our new favorite local blogs Mango Nebula has posted a preview of Govt Seizure for your listening pleasure.
This just in: Girlfriends just posted the complete 7" for your streaming pleasure at their myspace page. Now you have to buy it!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Guided By Voices Reunites The Classic Line Up
The 1993-1996 line up of Guided By Voices will perform alongside Pavement, Sonic Youth, Belle & Sebastian, Spoon, & Superchunk in Las Vegas on October 1-3 as part of Matador Records at Twenty One. The bands line up will consist of,Robert Pollard, Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, Greg Demos, and Kevin Fennell. This simply can not be missed. Ticket information and more acts are scheduled to be announced on July 5th, via the Matablog.
An Open Letter To The Scene is Walter Schreifels solo debut and as of today a clear front runner for our favorite release of 2010. As a founding member of the seminal NYC hardcore band Gorilla Biscuits, and as the frontman of post-hardcore outfits Quicksand, and Rival Schools we thought we knew what to expect from WalterSchreifels, that is until we heard An Open Letter To The Scene. The LP is an acoustic pop master stroke that channels Walter's recent solo performances and finds influences in some unlikely places, at least for this hardcore luminary. During the recording of the album in New York and Berlin, Walter found inspiration in the music of The Byrds and The Beatles. The results are nothing short of stunning, An Open Letter To The Scene is record that requires your immediate attention.
Walter Schreifels plays upstairs at The Middle East tonight and tickets can be had here. Walter will be supported by Allston'sThe Cold Beat & Greg Lyon (Pending Disapointment).
In celebration of tonight's show, we're giving away a copy of the new album, An Open Letter To The Scene courtesy of Walter's U.S. label, Academy Fight Song. To enter just send an e-mail with Walter Schreifels in the subject line to ashgrayproclamation@yahoo.com.
Update:Congratulations to Thomas Siegel from Somerville for winning a copy of An Open Letter To The Scene. Thanks to all who entered.
Friday, June 25, 2010
This Weeks Short Bursts: Cloud Nothings, Black Helicopter, & Harlem
Cleveland, OH'sCloud Nothings were in town this week to support Wavves at Great Scott and if you follow us on twitter you probably already know that my ADD was in overdrive this week when I missed this show after grabbing tickets and somehow forgetting about it. Hopefully we'll get another chance to catch Dylan Baldiin the near future. Baldi's Cloud Nothings just released the new 7" Didn't You b/w Even If it Worked Out via Old Flame Records. Noise pop with an emphasis on the pop and another slab of lo-fi perfection from the young Mr. Baldi.
One of Boston's best and in my opinion criminally under appreciated bands, Black Helicopter will play P.A.'s Lounge on Saturday. The band quietly released there 3rd LP , Don't Fuck With Apocalypse back in May, once again via Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace label. Armed with tracks off the superb new record as well as some older gems too, Black Helicopter bring their covert operations to Somerville with support from Velvet Elvis, The IOA, and Lord Jeff.
Austin, TX'sHarlem are responsible for one of our favorite albums of the past few months. Hippies (Matador) is a gritty garage rock record that keeps finding it's way back onto the turntable, probably because it's damn good. The band will return to town to support Jack White's Dead Weather on July 14th at The House of Blues. Harlem have just issued a new video for the track Someday Soon. The video was directed The Focus Creeps, Ben Chapel and Aaron Brown respectively.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Photographic Evidence:The Futureheads We're finally ready to shut up about the great show we witnessed a couple a weeks ago, when The Futureheads made their first Boston appearance in over four years. I talked the wife into bringing the camera along to snap a few shots. We also wrote a review of the show for the fine folks at Melophobe that you can access here.
The Futureheads @ The Paradise June 7,2010
Photography: Nicole G. Hamill
Friday, June 18, 2010
Let's Wrestle Release Video & Announce U.S Tour
Let's Wrestle have announced a U.S. Tour with Man Man on the left coast that will kick off on September 5th in Santa Barbara, CA. Doesn't our favorite English 3-piece pop ensemble know we need a show in Boston too? We have no one to blame but ourselves. Ever since missing them open for Quasi back in April we've been kicking ourselves. The band has just released a video for I'm So Lazy, a song they recorded for a limited edition split single with The Love Language, originally released on Record Store Day.
Lets Wrestle U.S. Dates 9/05 Santa Barbara, CA SOhO Restaurant and Music 9/06 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall 9/08 Seattle, WA Neumos 9/09 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theatre 9/10 Portland, OR MusicfestNW
Order Let's Wrestle's excellent debut as well as The Record Store Day split 7" from Merge Records Store.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Hallelujah The Hills Issue Two Summer Singles
As Hallelujah The Hills prepare to head out on the road with Titus Andronicus for a short eight date tour the band has posted two new tracks for free download with assistance from Brooklyn Blogger, Pop Headwound. Ever since first hearing the band shortly after the release of the bands debut Collective Psychosis Begone we've been singing the praises of HTH and these two tracks prove once again that Hallelujah Hills are crafting some of the finest and intelligent pop songs in Boston and beyond.
Hallelujah The Hills play Great Scott on July 8th with St. Clair, Mr. Sister, & Sleepy Very Sleepy. Grab tickets via Ticketweb.
Summer Vacation With Titus Andronicus Sat, Jul 10, 2010 New Haven, CT Lily's Pad Sun, Jul 11, 2010 Northampton, MA Pearl Street Mon, Jul 12, 2010 Albany, NY Valentine's Tue, Jul 13, 2010 Buffalo, NY Ninth Ward at Babeville Wed, Jul 14, 2010 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern Thu, Jul 15, 2010 Grand Rapids, MI Intersection Lounge Fri, Jul 16, 2010 Chicago, IL Subterranean Sun, Jul 18, 2010 Youngstown, OH Lemon Grove Cafe
Friday, June 11, 2010
This Weeks Short Bursts: Gruff Rhys and album #10 from Elf Power
Super Furry Animals king pin Gruff Rhys is looking at a busy summer with the release of his long awaited documentary Seperado! and the release of The Terror of Cosmic Loneliness, a collaboration with Barazilian muscian/tv repairman TonyDa Gatorro.
Seperado!, a documentary 5 years in the making will be premiered in the U.S. at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 24th. As of today there are no plans for a Boston area screening, however we expect more U.S. screenings to follow the L.A. premiere. The film chronicles Rhys' search for his long lost, guitar playing Patagonian uncle. Co-directer Dylan Goch follows Gruff Rhys as he tours nightclubs and tea houses from Wales to the Argentine Andes. The film also captures the recording process of the forthcoming The Terror of Cosmic Loneliness album. Pre-order the album at Amazon
Elf Power will return on September 14th with their tenth LP. The self titled release will be issued by Orange Twin and features guest appearances from Olivia Tremor Control/Circulatroy System alumni Will Cullen Hart, Bill Doss, John Fernandes, and Heather McIntosh. The Elves have offered up Strangers In The Window in advance of the fall release of Elf Power.
[MP3/Stream] Elf Power - Strangers in The Window
Friday, June 4, 2010
Review::The Futureheads : The Chaos
In 2004 I was completely bowled over by the debut record from Sunderland, England's The Futureheads. That sparkling debut, a record I still listen to on a regular basis, is filled with a near perfect batch of new wave post-punk anthems. The bands subsequent albums have been met with an unfair reception from fans and critics alike that seem to be waiting for the band to duplicate or repeat what they accomplished on their self titled debut or maybe their waiting for another Kate Bush cover, it's not gonna happen. As far as I can tell the band has yet to release a sub par record. Instead of going back to familiar ground the band chose to widen their sonic palate and push their sound forward on album number two, News and Tributes and again on 2008's This Is Not The World. With their just released fourth album, The Chaos on Dovecote Records in the U.S. and on the bands own Nul imprint in their native UK, The Futureheads have delivered their most sonically adventurous recording as well as their finest since releasing the much lauded debut.
Unlike the bands previous work, The Chaos took a little bit longer to reveal it's many charms. However after my 3rd listen I was completely sold and ready for another go. The album perfectly marries the bands four part harmonies, swarming guitars, and their odd and immediate pop hooks. From the opening chords of the title track, to the should be smash hit Heartbeat Song, to the a Capella heavy Jupiter The Chaos is relentless and unwavering.The album's filled with menacing pop songs and it's never more obvious than on Sun Goes Down, an infectious romp that serves as the albums most accessible and addictive tracks.
The Futureheads have released a stunning and exhilarating rock record comprised of charging and concise pop thrills. Just don't call it a return to form, The Chaos is the LP TheFutureheads have been hinting at over the past two records. While the masses waited for them revisit the sounds of their debut the band has upped the anti and ripped us all a new one with The Chaos.
