Mar
Foxygen Replaces Entire European Tour With Stealthy Show in Santa Barbara Last Night
in Music
After wandering in the desert for a bit, we returned home yesterday to a tweet from Westlake Village buzz-band, Foxygen, announcing that they would play a barely-announced (pop-up?) show at hip new spot, The Loft at 48 Helena Street in Santa Barbara. So we raced down with some of our favorite females for their show last night, which included openers Pure Bathing Culture (tying the night together was both bands, along with garrulous hosts Gardens & Villa, having been fortunate enough to have Richard Swift as their album producer). True to the buzz, Foxygen came on strong and delivered a raucous, loud and good time for all in attendance.
Pure Bathing Culture opened the night with a scintillating set of pure-pop gems featuring the gossamer vocals of leader Sarah Versprule and gifted guitar-play of Daniel Hindman. While some of their canned percussion (particularly when they’ve got an actual human on drums) and harmony vocals grated on us (a pet peeve of ours), the sophistication of the songs and their delivery won us over completely. The band is currently recording their debut album with Richard Swift. Look out for it later this year.
In contrast to PBC’s carefully drawn pop songs, Foxygen came on and let fly. In contrast to the varied and nostalgic Swiftian production and arrangements on their modestly-aspirational (yeah, right) album, We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic, the band came out swaggering and swinging, and let their punkier flag fly, leaving the Kinks and other influences largely out of the mix. A somewhat rough (and ludicrously-loud) sound-mix likely contributed to the band’s fast-and-furious mode, but regardless the local indie-cognoscenti audience ate it up. The band performed most of the songs off of their debut album, letting up only slightly for their nostalgic slow-song San Francisco. Lead singer Sam France showed throughout why the band’s live act (in particular) has been garnering rapturous huzzahs, frequently jumping in place and exhorting the crowd (and himself) to higher heights. Co-founder and guitarist Jonathan Rado contributed radocal, melodic guitar throughout. Bassist Justin Nijssen, and keys/vocalist Jaclyn Cohen added immensely to the sound, while drummer Shaun Fleming was a highlight while walloping his kit and contributing sterling back-up vocals back in his corner-din. It was a treat for Santa Barbarans to experience the Foxygen onslaught in a hip, small venue, and we look forward to their next visit. [For a great vignette of Foxygen getting their Kinks on, check them out unplugged performing their Apeman-esque In the Darkness at bottom.]
We were somewhat taken aback early this morning when the band announced they were cancelling this summer’s European tour dates. The band explained in their press release:
“We have some unfortunate news. We have to cancel our upcoming EU dates for May/June and upcoming EU summer festival dates. We’d like apologize to all our European fans and supporters. We know this causes frustration and headaches for ticket buyers and promoters alike. We assure you this is ultimately for the creative health of the band. We will back in EU soon and promise to make this up to all of you. Please understand. Thank you again, all of you. Your time, attention and support mean the world to us. Love, Foxygen.”
Again, we feel fortunate to have caught them.
Their updated tour dates are below:
05-07 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
05-08 Montreal, QC – Il Motore
05-09 Toronto, ON – Wrong Bar
05-11 Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
05-14 Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory
05-15 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
05-18 Mexico City, MX – Festival Marvin
05-24 Amsterdam, Holland – London Calling, Paradiso
05-25 Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound Festival
05-29 Ravenna, Italy – Beaches Brew Festival
06-01 Porto, Portugal – Primavera Sound
06-03 Glasgow, Scotland – Stereo
06-04 Newcastle, England – Cluny
06-05 Manchester, England – Deaf Institute
06-06 London, England – Scala
06-07 Brighton, England – Green Door Store
06-21 Dover, DE – Firefly Music Festival
06-22 North Adams, MA – Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
06-23 North Adams, MA – Solid Sound Festival
07-07 Roskilde, Denmark – Roskilde Festival
07-12 Louisville, KY – Forecastle Festival
07-21 Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Music Festival
08-02 Happy Valley, OR – Pickathon
08-06 Oslo, Norway – Øyafestivalen
08-08 Gothenburg, Sweden – Way Out West
Mar
Frightened Rabbit: Listen to Two Alternate Versions from New EP; Download Free 2011 EP
in Music
Frightened Rabbit has been out on tour wowing crowds with their new album Pedestrian Verse. The band has now released an EP entitled Backyard Skulls EP, containing alternate versions of two songs from Pedestrian Verse and a new track, Norland Wind, which is their cover of a Scottish folk song. Listen below to superb alternate versions of (the anti-brimstone) Holy and The Woodpile songs from their album, and go buy the Backyard Skulls EP. And the band has graciously gifted fans their 2011 Frightened Rabbit EP, which you can grab HERE.
Holy:
The Woodpile:
Mar
Low Coming to Cali Next Week–Watch Them Perform “Holy Ghost”
in Music
The lofty Low will be in Cali next week in support of their mesmerizing new album The Invisible Way. You can catch them at the Troubadour in LA on April 2nd and at Great American Music Hall in SF on April 3rd. Thalia Zedek opens both shows and tickets are still available for LA HERE and for SF HERE. They will also do an in-store at Fingerprints in Long Beach on April 1st at 7:00pm. Admission is free and will be on a first come, first serve basis. To prepare, check Low out below singing in tongues on Holy Ghost for BeatCast OffBeat Sessions.
I feel the hands but I don’t see anyone. It’s there and gone. Feeds my passion for transcendence. Turns my water into wine. Makes me wish I was empty. Some holy ghost keeps me (hanging on, hanging on).
Indeed.
Mar
Listen to New Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Song; Coming to Cali
in Music
Detroit’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. will soon release a new EP entitled Patterns featuring all new songs. To kick things off, the band has released new song If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t on the Dancefloor), which you can listen to below. The song starts out all weepy, George Harrison-guitar and then morphs into an upbeat, uplifting ditty. In support of the EP, the band has announced a handful of shows, including the El Rey on May 16th and San Francisco’s Independent on May 17th. Tour and tickets info can be found HERE.
Mar
It’s Spring-Break: Watch Snowblink’s Video For “Inner Mini-Mississippi”
in Music
We love the crystalline, spare-pop of Toronto’s Snowblink and are still enamored by their sublime 2012 album Inner Classics on Arts & Crafts. Daniela Gesundheit’s lucent vocals combine with Dan Goldman’s winning ways with wires (guitar strings, electronics, you name it) to create perfect song-soundtracks. Speaking of which, the duo’s new video for Inner Mini-Mississippi is the perfect soundtrack for the current Spring Break set. Check it out below followed by a stream of Inner Classics. Warning: the video features gratuitous, heartwarming hula-hooping. The band is out on tour and the dates are at bottom.
Tour Dates (with Zammuto as indicated):
03/28 – Northampton, MA @ The Iron Horse
03/30 – Middletown, CT @ Wesleyan University #
03/31 – Montreal, PQ @ Il Motore #
04/01 – Toronto, ON @ The Garrison #
04/03 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Ladies Literary Club #
04/04 – Evanston, IL @ SPACE #
04/05 – Iowa City, IA @ Mission Creek Festival #
04/06 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry #
04/07 – Northfield, MN @ Carleton College #
04/08 – Grinnell, IA @ Grinnell College #
04/10 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom #
04/12 – Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center #
04/14 – Annadale-on-Hudson, NY @ Bard College #
04/16 – Brooklyn, NY @ Cameo Gallery
04/18 – Kittery, ME @ Buoy Gallery
04/19 – Portland, ME @ Space Gallery
04/21 – Guelph, ON @ Ebar
04/23 – Winnipeg, MB @ Park Theatre
04/24 – Regina, SK @ The Exchange
04/25 – Calgary, AB @ Palomino
04/28 – Vancouver, BC @ The Railway Club
# Zammuto
Mar
Watch Bahamas Perform “Southern Drawl” for HearYa
in Music
We are big fans of Canadian band Bahamas (led by the multifaceted, honeyed-voiced Afie Jurvanen). Check the band performing Southern Drawl off their first album Pink Strat for HearYa. Sweet sounds and song.
Mar
Watch Why? Perform “Shag Carpet” for Radio K
in Music
Yoni Wolf, of the fantastic and fantastically under-appreciated band Why?, is one of our favorite lyricists-songwriters. A few years back Why? unleashed a stentorian, stereophonic one-two via their twinned-albums, Alopecia and Eskimo Snow. In late 2012 Why? released another one-two via their Sod in the Seed EP and new album Mumps, Etc., both of which have added greatly to their beguiling discography. The band is now located in Wolf’s native Cincinnati after a long stint in Oakland, and is now out on tour in support of Mumps, Etc. We’ll write more soon about this great band and, in particular, the weight and worth of Wolf’s wordsmithing, but to get a feel for Wolf and the band check out the vignette below of them performing their song Shag Carpet on Minneapolis’ Radio K.
Mar
Check Out Brit-Buzz Band Peace’s Debut Album “In Love”
in Music
It’s getting harder and harder to keep up with all the young buzz bands coming out of the UK these days (Palma Violets, Daughter, etc., etc.). The latest is band Peace, who have made their mark with critics/fans both across the Pond and at SXSW. After listening to their debut album In Love, we understand the allure. They combine some of the best that British rock has offered: Oasis, Stone Roses, Beatles, Arctic Monkeys, etc., and add a dollop of the Beach Boys (check out the harmonies on California Daze below) and Nirvana (check out the Follow Baby official video below) . They have largely managed to make their own sound (the Oasis-influence is prominent though). If the lead track off the album, Brighter Than The Sun, is any indication, Peace is going to take over the world. That’s right–expect World Peace (apologies Metta). Time will tell if they continue to evolve. Check out some of their songs below or go over and stream their new album at NME
Mar
Watch New Noah and The Whale Video For “There Will Come A Time” Off New Album
in Music
We are huge fans of Noah and the Whale. The band largely strikes all the right chords with us, and their The First Days of Spring album remains one of our all-time favorites. NATW has now released their official video (below) for song There Will Come A Time off of their impending new album, Heart Of Nowhere. Evidently the video is a trailer for a short film directed by bandleader Charlie Fink that will accompany the release of the album on May 6th. We like the building, anthemic feel of the new song and can’t wait for the new album. Check the video below. After is the new album’s songlist.
The Heart Of Nowhere songlist:
‘Introduction’
‘Heart Of Nowhere’
‘All Through The Night’
‘Lifetime’
‘Silver & Gold’
‘One More Night’
‘Still After All These Years’
‘There Will Come A Time’
‘Now Is Exactly The Time’
‘Not Too Late’
Mar
More Low: Check out “Clarence White” and “Plastic Cup” on A.V. Club
in Music
Yesterday we posted a performance by the great Low at Saki’s for A.V. Club. Today A.V. has released a couple more songs from their new, Jeff-Tweedy produced album The Invisible Way. The new album is receiving near-universal raves, and these performances are so good we have to repeat ourselves and post them anew. First check out Clarence White (ostensibly an homage to the late Byrds member, but also Charles Heston–huh?) that builds bountifully as if a song by Low’s Alan Sparhawk’s Retribution Gospel Choir. Then check out one of the highlights from the new album, Plastic Cup. So high, but so Low. At bottom you can download new song Just Make It Stop. Don’t let it stop.
