I’m impatiently awaiting May 11th to arrive, not because it’s mi madre’s b-day, but because I need some new National in my life. The National just stopped by Fallon for a live performance of ‘High Violet’s’ opening track, “Terrible Love”.
Apparently competitive eaters, like Kobayashi, eat small amounts of food prior to their huge pig-out session in order to stretch their stomach muscles. It’s no secret that SXSW is right around the corner, but did you know about the two festivals taking place this coming weekend (start tomorrow)?
There is the second annual fundraiser, ‘Harvest of Hope Foundation Music and Arts Festival’, which takes place on March 12-14th and located at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds in St. Augustine, Florida. The line-up includes bands such as: Freelance Whales, Bear in Heaven, Dr. Dog, Broken Social Scene, The Mountain Goats, Rogue Wave, Anti-Flag, Sea Wolf, Delta Spirit, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Dead Confederate, A Wilhelm Scream, Portugal. the Man…and more. Check out the lineup here.
Than there is ‘Foburg’, the music festival organized by The New Orleans Indie Rock Collective that takes place on March 12-14th at Frenchmen St in New Orleans. The line-up includes bands such as: Caddywhompus, My Name Is John Michael, Sun Hotel, The Pharmacy, The Bears of Blue River, The Blue Party, Silent Cinema, Brass Bed…and more. Check out the lineup here.
So if you’re heading to SXSW maybe you can stretch your belly with one of these festivals, and if you’re not descending upon the city of Austin on the 17th, perhaps you can fulfill your appetite with either Foburg or Harvest of Hope.
Dr. Dog has a new album coming out on April 6th, coupled with a complimentary tour shortly after its release. Following their appearance at SXSW the band will depart on a tour of the states along with a few stops in Europe. You can also grab “Stranger”, the first single from ‘Shame, Shame’, free of charge right below.
Take A Listen: Stranger from Dr. Dog
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download: Stranger (Right click on link and select “Save Target As” in IE or “Save Link As” in Firefox)
| 4-14 Toronto, Ontario @ Lee’s Place 4-15 Ann Arbor, Michigan @ Blind Pig 4-16 Chicago, Illinois @ Metro 4-17 Minneapolis, Minnesota @ Fine Line Music Cafe 4-19 Aspen, Colorado @ Belly Up 4-20 Denver, Colorado @ Gothic Theatre 4-22 Boise, Idaho @ Neurolux 4-23 Portland, Oregon @ Wonder Ballroom 4-24 San Francisco, California @ Great American Music Hall 4-25 San Francisco, California @ Great American Music Hall 4-27 Los Angeles, California @ Henry Fonda Theatre 4-29 Santa Fe, New Mexico @ Santa Fe Brewing Company 4-30 Dallas, Texas @ The Loft 5-1 Austin, Texas @ Emo’s Alt. Lounge – Outside 5-2 Houston, Texas @ Warehouse Live Studio 5-3 Fayetteville, Arkansas @ George’s Majestic Lounge 5-5 Birmingham, Alabama @ WorkPlay Theater 5-6 Nashville, Tennessee @ Cannery Ballroom |
5-7 Louisville, Kentucky @ Headliners Music Hall 5-10 Portland, Maine @ Port City Music Hall 5-11 Boston, Mass @ Paradise Rock Club 5-12 Boston, Mass@ Paradise Rock Club 5-13 Philly, Pennsylvania @ Electric Factory 5-14 Washington DC @ 9:30 Club 5-15 NYC, New York @ Terminal 5 5-23 Berlin @ Magnet 5-24 Koln @ Blue Shell 5-25 Amsterdam @ Paradiso (Upstairs) 5-26 London @ Cargo 5-27 Paris @ Nouveau Casino 5-29 Barcelona @ Primavera Sound Festival 5-31 George, Washington @ Sasquatch Festival 6-4 Hunter, New York @ Mountain Jam 6-11 Manchester, Tennessee @ Bonnaroo 7-2 Quincy, California @ High Sierra 7-3 Quincy, California @ High Sierra |
Dr. Dog – MySpace
After their performances at SXSW, Minus The Bear will head out on a spring tour of the states that just so happens to conclude in their home state of Washington at The Sasquatch Music Festival. The band is also giving away ‘Omni’s’ first single, “My Time”, for the small price of your email address, here.
Minus The Bear’s forthcoming album, ‘Omni’, will hit stores on May 4th via Dangerbird Records.
Take A Listen: My Time from Minus The Bear
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
If you are unable to download the track through the band’s site, you can get it right here. Download: My Time (Right click on link and select “Save Target As” in IE or “Save Link As” in Firefox)
| 4/19 Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory 4/20 Billings, MT @ The Rainyard 4/22 Omaha, ME @ Slowdown 4/23 Bonner Springs, KS @ Sandstone Amphitheatre 4/25 Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall 4/26 Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall 4/28 Covington, KY @ Madison Theater 4/29 Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom 4/30 Hartford, CT @ Webster Theater 5/2 East Rutherford, NJ @ Bamboozle Festival 5/5 Boston, MA @ Wilbur Theater 5/6 Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero 5/7 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club 5/8 Richmond, VA @ The National 5/9 Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore 5/10 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse |
5/11 Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution 5/12 Tampa, FL @ The Ritz 5/14 Houston, TX @ House of Blues 5/15 Dallas, TX @ Granada 5/16 Austin, TX @ La Zona Rosa 5/18 Albuquerque, MN @ Sunshine Theatre 5/19 Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues 5/20 Los Angeles, CA @ Mayan Theatre 5/21 Pomona, CA @ Glass House 5/22 San Diego, CA @ SOMA 5/23 Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theater 5/26 San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom 5/27 Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory 5/28 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre 5/29 George, WA @ Sasquatch Music Festival |
As previously mentioned, today is cholk-full of quality album releases, all of which I cannot wait to become better acquainted with. However, I won’t play coy, I am harboring feelings of favoritism towards one album in particular….’The Winter Of Mixed Drinks’ by Frightened Rabbit.
I’m not quite sure what to say about Titus Andronicus’ latest album, ‘The Monitor’, but I do know it deserves a nod. I was introduced to Titus Andronicus by way of their album ‘The Airing of Grievances’ in 2008, and while I wasn’t crazy about it, I was intrigued enough to check them out live. Seeing them live significantly increased my appreciation for their music, but the urge to revisit ‘Grievances’ after the show just wasn’t there.
My first impression of ‘The Monitor’: this is much more palatable than its predecessor, my second thought: man, some of these tracks are freakin long. Without liner notes and the inability to make out 60% of the lyrics, I only recently found out ‘The Monitor’ was a Civil War concept album… perhaps the track “Four Score And Seven” should have tipped me off. While I don’t have the attention span to listen to the album from start to finish, I’ve been enjoying it in small bits and pieces.
‘The Monitor’ hits stores tomorrow (March 9th) via XL.
Take A Listen: A More Perfect Union from Titus Andronicus
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download: A More Perfect Union (Right click on link and select “Save Target As” in IE or “Save Link As” in Firefox)
Video: Dumb Dadadum from Quail Lungs
Download: Dumb Dadadum (Right click on link and select “Save Target As” in IE or “Save Link As” in Firefox)
From what I’ve seen on the interwebs, it looks like Local Natives are prone to an introduction that includes, “They sound like/are reminiscent of (insert Grizzly Bear, Fleet Foxes, etc.)”, and yes, there are definitely some obvious and immediate similarities, it’s true. That being said, I still think Local Natives’ debut album, ‘Gorilla Manor’, is genuinely fresh with unique appeal; they’re doing their own thing, and it works! Although, I’m sure they don’t mind references to the amazing bands mentioned above.
‘Gorilla Manor’ has its fair share of standout tracks but it also works marvelously as a compilation. While the melodies and three-part harmonies had me at hello, I think it’s the multiple frontmen set up that keeps Local Natives sounding versatile and effervescent throughout the album. The percussions, whether subtle or blatant, also play a vital role in the alluring nature of the bands’ ethereal sound, as do the sporadic chants and howls.
“Wide Eyes” is a perfect introduction to ‘Gorilla Manor’ because it displays Local Natives‘ ability to work together as a band. You can clearly hear the separate elements building up and seamlessly melding together into one melodious arrangement. The track, “Sun Hands”, which was released as a single last year, is one of my favorite songs on the album, and according to Taylor Rice, the lyrics describe “that all too familiar feeling of wanting what you can’t have – especially when you once had it.”
Midway through ‘Gorilla Manor’ you’ll find the track, “Camera Talk”, which sounds a bit different than the rest of the album. During the initial moments I was fixated on the violin’s participation, then the chorus hit and the Local Natives drop into a ska-ish like rhythm, which was not expected but certainly welcomed. A couple tracks later and you end up at the Talking Heads’ cover, “Warning Sign”. “We’ve basically flipped the song on its head,” said Matt Frazier while explaining how they switched David Byrne’s original yelped vocals into a three-part harmony.
The album concludes on a strong note with the piano backed, hand clap invaded, “Stranger Things”. After repeated listens, I can safely say that ‘Gorilla Manor’ is one of my favorite albums this year, and that Frenchkiss Records has one of the best rosters around.
Take A Listen: Sun Hands from Local Natives
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download: Sun Hands (Right click on link and select “Save Target As” in IE or “Save Link As” in Firefox)
