07/02/09

CITAY Perform A New, Improved, LIVE Session For TheBayBridged CITAY were recently featured on the TheBayBridged.com's new feature, New, Improved, LIVE. The band performed cuts from their self-titled debut and their 2008 Dead Oceans longplayer, Little Kingdon. But the real prize here is the band's cover of "Set Me Free," from Sweet's 1974 album Sweet Fanny Adams. Check out cuts from the session HERE.

07/02/09

Akron/Family Announce Tour Dates, "Sun Will Shine" Vincent Moon Video Akron/Family are gearing up for a North American tour that features a handful of summer festivals plus headlining club and theater dates. Just back from Japan, Akron/Family will be joined by Wooden Wand for an east coast run and in September by very special guests Jeffery Lewis & The Junkyard and Slaraffenland. The Slaraffenland horns will join the band on stage each night (a la The Dodos or Megafaun before them) to form the Akron/Family big band. For a reminder of the Akron Family live experience, see this breathtaking redition of "Sun Will Shine," brilliantly captured by Vincent Moon and showcasing the band at their finest. Interacting with the crowd, joined by guest musicians, and letting the music lead them off the stage and into Union Pool's courtyard, this performance is the way to close an Akron/Family show. This video was shot during Akron/Family's New York residency in March 2009, as part of multi-night stands the band did in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, Montreal and New York, leading up to the release of Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free. object width="400" height="225"> Fiume Night 09 _ Akron Family _ williamsburgh, march 2009 from vincent moon / temporary areas on Vimeo.

06/30/09

MT. ST. HELENS VIETNAM BAND Featured On Daytrotter MT. ST. HELENS VIETNAM BAND has been on a tear across North America since releasing their self-titled Dead Oceans debut later this year. On said tear, the band stopped by the Daytrotter Studios for a shred session. Hear the four-song session by clicking right HERE. Daytrotter's Sean Moeller said this of the band: "These are songs full of kicking and swinging, full of fight that seeks more eligible energy – a fire seeking more oxygen for a bigger pronouncement – and the smoke coming off of the towering inferno is that of something pleasant and dear despite the lacerations. "

06/29/09

BISHOP ALLEN Plot European Tour, Star In Movie, Release New Music Video Following a wildly successful European tour last spring, Bishop Allen are returning for another round of club shows and festival dates, visiting Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. We’re thrilled the band has been able to spend so much time with their European fans while supporting Grrr… but for those of you in North America, the band will be touring again before the year is up. Bishop Allen’s Justin Rice also spends time as an actor, appearing in acclaimed indie films such as Mutual Appreciation and Alexander the Last. Currently, Harmony and Me (written and directed by Bob Byington) starring Justin, as Harmony, a depressed lyricist clinging to the memory of an ex-girlfriend, is gaining notoriety at film festivals worldwide, screening at the likes of the Los Angeles Film Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival and Cine-Vegas Film Festival. Harmony and Me also includes an excellent supporting cast including Kevin Corrigan (Pineapple Express, Superbad, The Departed), and Pat Healy (Rescue Dawn, Ghost World, Great World of Sound) as well as bandmate, Keith Poulson, who is currently manning the bass in Bishop Allen. Bob Byington, who directed Harmony and Me was kind enough to shoot a fun, off-the-cuff music video for Bishop Allen for the song “Shanghaied” from their March release, Grrr…. Check out the video below and view the trailer for Harmony and Me HERE. And see a complete list of Bishop Allen's tour dates HERE.

06/24/09

Great Video Of WHITE HINTERLAND San Francisco Performances Now Online For Your Viewing Pleasure In the early Spring of this year, the wonderful Nate Chan (of Left/Right Hand) captured WHITE HINTERLAND'S Casey Dienel as she played "Mon Amie La Rose" and "Vessels" (from Dead Oceans' releases Luniclaire and Phylactory Phactory respectively), strolling through the city's panhandling district. Ease through the rest of your hump day with the videos below. White Hinterland "Mon Amie La Rose" & "Vessels" from Left | Right Hand on Vimeo. White Hinterland has a few live dates to round out the month, all of which can be views HERE.

06/17/09

THESE ARE POWERS premiere Chinese Ghost Festival-inspired video for Easy Answers, Plot China Tour in July The video for THESE ARE POWERS’ song “Easy Answers” was jointly inspired by the annual Ghost Festival held every August in China and the Chinese folkloric tradition of burning joss paper after the death of a relative or loved one. Joss paper has long been burned ceremoniously as an offering to the dead, representing all of the worldly goods that spirits may desire in the afterlife, including intricately detailed miniature paper replicas of mansions, BMW convertibles, laptop computers, karaoke VCRs, and large denomination “hell bank notes” or “ghost money.” Once burned, these items are believed to join the deceased loved ones in heaven, and for lost spirits who still roam the land of the living, small paper boats and lanterns are bought and released, which signifies giving direction to these restless ancestors. Meanwhile, These Are Powers will be bringing their soundtrack for the future peace movement to China for nine dates that include a residency at Beijing's D-22 Club with additional dates in Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan and Tiajin. Sharing the bill on select dates with Carsick Cars - pioneers of China's developing "No Beijing" scene - These Are Powers invitation to perform in China arrives at a crucial time as contemporary artists, modern composers and rock musicians in the world's most populated nation are experiencing a revival after years of suppression from the communist authorities. See a list of tour dates HERE.

06/15/09

BOWERBIRDS Preview Beneath Your Tree from Upper Air, Announce Album Pre-order Dead Oceans and Bowerbirds are pleased to offer “Beneath Your Tree,” the second MP3 from Upper Air. “Beneath Your Tree” features Phil Moore and Beth Tacular trading lead vocals, before joining in sweet harmony. Moore’s gorgeous melodic sensibilities are accentuated here by the familiar backdrop of accordion, acoustic guitar and percussion. Listen to "Beneath Your Tree" Bowerbirds recently completed a European tour, including an appearance at the Primavera Festival in Barcelona. They have also been tapped to perform July 18th at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago, as part of their North American tour that starts July 6th in Washington DC. See a full listing of Bowerbirds tour dates HERE. Upper Air is now available for pre-order from Dead Oceans on CD and LP. All customers pre-ordering the album will receive an immediate download code, so they can enjoy MP3s of Upper Air before the physical release hits their mailbox. Also included with the physical copy of the album will be a new 17"x 22" Bowerbirds poster which you can peep below. Upper Air will be available in stores on July 7 in the U.S. and July 6 in the U.K. Preorder Bowerbirds Upper Air HERE.

06/10/09

JOHN VANDERSLICE Debuts Video for Too Much Time on ABC's Amplified and Stereogum Today the ABC News site Amplified debuted a special video starring John Vanderslice and the Magik*Magik Orchestra. The video, featuring the song "Too Much Time," was shot by Nate Chan and Yours Truly at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. "Too Much Time," a favorite off of Vanderslice's recent release Romanian Names, was arranged for the Magik*Magik orchestra by founder and artistic director Minna Choi. Magik*Magik is the official house orchestra of Vanderslice's Tiny Telephone studio, providing groups of symphonic players for recordings and performances. Stereogum said this of the video: "There's some warm-hearted interaction at the open of this video, too, John and Minna Choi (the arranger for the Magik*Magik Orchestra) trading compliments for each other's contributions to this collaborative performance of Romanian's 'Too Much Time.' Vanderslice strums and sings tenderly while Magik*Magik supply beautifully bowed strings and percussion. You'd be right to detect a certain chemistry; Magik*Magik is 'the official house orchestra' of John's Tiny Telephone studio." "Too Much Time" on Amplified in HD John Vanderslice is on a nationwide tour to support the critically-acclaimed Romanian Names. See all the dates HERE.

06/04/09

BISHOP ALLEN Lines Up European Festival Dates, Captured On Video For Live Performance of Cue The Elephants In July, Brooklyn indie-popsmiths Bishop Allen will trot across Europe on a handful of festival dates. So, young people on your soul-searching backpack journey across Europe, let Bishop Allen be your guiding star. Check out all the dates HERE. Bishop Allen was recently captured on video at Philadelphia's Unitarian Church in a performance Grrr... cut "Cue The Elephants." Check out the video by going HERE.

06/03/09

AKRON/FAMILY Check In From Europe When Akron/Family's worldwide tour was announced, one particular tour date jumped out at us. On May 24, they were linking up with the Sublime Frequencies tour, and performing alongside Omar Souleyman and Group Doueh, in Bristol, England. These two artists are responsible for two of our favorite releases on the Sublime Frequencies label, and it was sure to be a special night of music. Seth from Akron/Family emailed this brief story about when they met Omar and Doueh and we thought we'd share it, along with this snapshot: "We got to do one night with the wonderful Sublime Frequencies tour. As soon as Omar and Doueh arrived they came over to hang out in the grass while I was changing the strings on my guitar. Omar was in a full, olive green NBA jumpsuit and sunglasses. Doueh played my guitar and we "talked" in sign language. We got to spend some time with Alan Bishop and Hisham who run Sublime Frequencies too. These guys are truly one of a kind and it was an honor to get to be part of the evening."

06/02/09

Video Of THESE ARE POWERS Performance At The Dig For Fire SXSW Lawn Party Emerges As they would say in the sporting world, Chicago/Brooklyn art-dance-punk trio THESE ARE POWERS "left it all on field" in each of the group's many electric, throbbing performances at the festival. A video of the These Are Powers at the Dig For Fire SXSW Lawn Party is now available at Babelgum.com. Check out the video by clicking right HERE. Meanwhile, These Are Powers have several shows lined up over the next couple months, including an appearance at Canada's NXNE music festival. Check out all the dates by heading HERE.

06/01/09

THE DONKEYS Plot Mega-Summer Tour, Share Dates With Magnolia Electric Co. The music of THE DONKEYS should own your summer activities. It begs you to drink green-bottled beer by it, to break out the Slip-n-Slide, to cut those slacks into short-shorts. Now, the men of The Donkeys are taking their message across the country this summer, sharing a load of dates with fellow neu-classic-rockers Magnolia Electric Co. This should be nothing short of radtastic. Check out all the dates HERE.

05/21/09

NURSES Team Up With Dead Oceans, Announce Album, Offer Free MP3 Welcome to the weird and wonderful universe that NURSES call home. Hailing from Portland OR, Nurses have crafted a fine, fine slice of psychedelic pop on their debut LP Apple’s Acre. Apple’s Acre will be released on August 4 on Dead Oceans (August 24 in the UK) but never fear, we have an MP3 and video to share right now. To immerse yourself in Nurses’ Apple’s Acre is to delight in a certain mental unraveling. These are songs where the vulnerability of pop with its heart on its sleeve engages in a double-dutch jumprope match with the euphoric surrender-to-the-weird that is essential to psychedelia. And Nurses is a band that scavenges beauty and wonder, uncovering Technicolor where others see somber hues. Their off-kilter psych-pop is driven by ever-swelling vocal harmonies, adventurous electronics, some serious wheelin’ and dealin’ on the Rhodes piano, and the kind of new-primitivist percussion that may or may not involve a standard drum kit. An encyclopedic list of musical influences and sound-alikes won’t necessarily cozy up your brain to the Nurses experience. Their compositions revel in the unexpected, and it creates music that’s endlessly fascinating. Part of the allure is that the songs of Aaron Chapman and John Bowers—the cosmic troubadours and longtime best friends behind Nurses—are in a constant state of motion, as if they’re evolving while you listen. Perhaps it’s no surprise, since Chapman and Bowers themselves have spent the past five years in a state of transience, as friendly nomads who gave up the comforts of normalcy for the deeper satisfaction of total devotion to making music. If the two aren't rambling in their own sonic imaginations, they're not satisfied. Download “Caterpillar Playground” for a whiff of Apple’s Acre -- it is a wonderfully strange taste of pop goodness. Also, be sure to check out the acoustic rendition of “Lita” lovingly rendered in high contrast black and white on YouTube for all to see. Listen to "Caterpillar Playground" HERE. Go HERE. to view the video for "Lita." And go HERE to see a full listing of Nurses live dates.

05/20/09

BISHOP ALLEN Performs Intimate Ukulele Session They say you know a song is strong when it can be stripped down to its most simple skeleton and still stand on its own. Recently, BISHOP ALLEN proved the strength of their pop writing chops with only voice, ukulele and melodica in a teeny French bathroom for France's Ukulele Sessions, for which they performed tunes from past albums Broken String and Charm School. The band upcoming dates at both Sasquatch Music Festival and North Side Fest. Check out all upcoming Bishop Allen dates HERE. Ukulélé Session Bishop Allen by cplesoir

05/19/09

JOHN VANDERSLICE'S Romanian Names Available Today Today, JOHN VANDERSLICE'S most excellent Romanian Names hits record store shelves and digital distributors of music the worldwide. Go get you some. Order Romanian Names HERE. In a solid Pitchfork review today, writer Joe Tangari said the following of Romanian Names: "There are plenty more moments to enjoy on Romanian Names, from the bounce of "C&O Canal" to the electro campfire sing-along of "D.I.A.L.O.", the slow back-to-nature majesty of "Too Much Time" and the lonely cello that closes the album. Vanderslice hasn't made a bad record, but he's only made a couple that are this good. If you've never dipped an ear into his world before, Romanian Names is a great place to do it." On Friday at 2 p.m., John will appear live on Seattle's KEXP and give a special in-store performance later on Friday at East Street. Listen to the KEXP session on Friday by going HERE. And find out more about the East Street In-Store HERE.

05/18/09

MT. ST. HELENS VIETNAM BAND Rips A Live In-Studio Performance For KEXP The fine young people of MT. ST. HELENS VIETNAM BAND recently stopped by their hometown's most awesome radio station KEXP for a live-in studio session. The band brought along both their own flavor of Molly Moon's ice cream and their insanely tight "punchy rhythms, melodic phrasing and sharp guitar shredding." The KEXP site is offering up a hat-trick of videos from the session, and a fouth video as part of its Video of The Week podcast. Watch the video for "Who's Asking" below. This weekend MSHVB will play Sasquatch Festival before heading out for a full-on summer tour that includes a slot at Tennessee's Bonnaroo Music Festival. See a full list of dates HERE.

05/15/09

BOWERBIRDS Added To Pitchfork Music Festival Line Up Just as the Internet is abuzz over BOWERBIRD'S mp3 "Northern Lights" from the forthcoming Upper Air, Pitchfork has announced the band's addition to the 2009 Pitchfork Music Festival on July 18. Bowerbirds join the line up on a day that features the likes of The National, Beirut, Ponytail and Yeasayer. The festival runs July 17-19 in Chicago's Union Park. While the 'fork has already sold out of three-day passes, one and two-day passes can be purchased by going HERE. And peep a full listing of Bowerbirds tour dates HERE.

05/13/09

Exclusive First Listen Of JOHN VANDERSLICE'S Romanian Names On NPR Now Right now and leading up to the release of the album, NPR is offering an Exclusive First Listen of JOHN VANDERSLICE'S Romanian Names (released May 19). Stream Romanian Names in its entirety by going HERE. NPR shared these kind words regarding Romanian Names: "John Vanderslice has never seemed at a loss for inspiration. The San Francisco-based songwriter has released nearly an album a year since the arrival of his debut, Mass Suicide Occult Figurines, in 2000. Along the way, he's developed a well-earned reputation for writing smart, adventurous, appealing pop music that fiddles with form and structure. Now, nearly a decade into his career, Vanderslice is about to release his best record yet."

05/13/09

AKRON/FAMILY Do Improv Experimental Set For WFMU While plenty of the tunes off AKRON/FAMILY'S latest, Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free, could get your dad's toes tapping, the band has an experimental foundation that may leave pops a little puzzled now and again. Recently, Akron/Family was able to embrace these improvisational roots for WFMU's The Frow Show, making use of instruments like a cigar-box guitar and a, uh, "space blaster." WFMU is offering mp3 of the entire, hour-and-a-half freak out HERE. To further stoke your fire, read the comments from host Jesse Jarnow, who bared witness to this cosmic performance: "The plans for Cobra-like cues and Oblique Strategies borne from the Love Room loft fell by the wayside, and very quickly Akron/Family shut off the lights in WFMU's Studio B. Literally stumbling in the dark between their usual instruments, upright and toy pianos, Farfisa organ, space blaster, Scott Williams' cigar box guitar, Bryce's accordion, and other toys, the trio jammed for an hour-and-a-half straight, reconnecting with the experimental investigations that run beneath their current incarnation's cosmic folk and Afrodelic dreaminess."

05/12/09

Bowerbirds Share First MP3 from Upper Air, Announce Summer Tour We are pleased to offer the first glimpse into Bowerbirds sophomore album, Upper Air. “Northern Lights” is an absolutely breathtaking track, showcasing Phil Moore’s golden voice and timeless songwriting abilities. Sweet and sincere, “Northern Lights” is as perfect of a song you are likely to hear this year. Listen to "Northern Lights" HERE. Upper Air will be released on July 7th (July 6th in the UK) and in support of their new long player, Bowerbirds will be touring far and wide across North America. Opening for Bowerbirds on all dates will be Megafaun. See a full listing of tour dates HERE.

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