Friday, April 30, 2010

Concrete Blonde Reunites and Tours

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of their "Bloodletting" album, Concrete Blonde have announced they're reforming and hitting the road with a set list celebrating the album and their career. Released in 1990, Bloodletting spawned the top 20 hit “Joey,” as well as alt-radio staples “Tomorrow, Wendy”, “Caroline”, and “The Sky Is a Poisonous Garden”.

Lead singer Johnette Napolitano explains how the tour came about: “People started emailing me and calling me up and telling me that it was the twentieth anniversary of Bloodletting, which had “Joey” on it and was a big hit for us all over the world. My dad passed away recently and was a big fan of the band and it occurred to me that a twentieth anniversary’s only going to happen once and that my dad would have said that it’s a good idea and that we should do it. So we knocked it together and it looks like it’s going to be fun, doing twenty-year-old vampire songs should be fun.”

Beyond Bloodletting, the band is responsible for classic alternative songs including “Still in Hollywood”, “God is a Bullet”, and their iconic cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody Knows”.

Here's where you can catch the tour:

6/8: Boston, MA @ Royal Boston
6/9: Fairfield, CT @ Stage One
6/10: New York, NY @ Webster Hall
6/11: Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
6/12: Chicago, IL @ Vic
6/13: Detroit, MI @ Majestic
6/15: Washington, DC @ 930 Club
6/16: Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
6/17: New Orleans, LA @ Republic
6/18: Dallas, TX @ Granada
6/19: Austin, TX @ Emos
6/21: Denver, CO @ Arvada Center
6/22: Salt Lake City, UT @ Depot
6/24: Seattle, WA @ Showbox
6:25: Portland,OR @ Roseland
6/26: San Francisco, CA @ Regency
6/28: Hollywood, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater

Here's their cover of "Everybody Knows":

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

JJ: Seaside Sounds


JJ no.3 actually came out last month, while winter was still lingering here in Boston. But as the sun re-emerges and the air warms with the promise of spring, I find myself listening to the Swedish duo’s third album more or less constantly—right now, their tropical-tinged, sample-inflected hazy pop songs just sound perfectly uplifting.


On “Let Go,” Elin Kastlander’s voice is as gentle as an ocean breeze and as gritty as sand—striking a perfect balance between sweetness and salty melancholy. When she sings, “Let go / let your skin show / that you’ve been in the sun today / let’s go / let your mind blow / all your sorrows away,” I’m ready to start making plans for my next beach vacation.

Download JJ’s “Let Go” on MP3 (sunscreen not included).
- Anna K

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Patrick Watson Brings Distinctive Sound to US Tour

Montreal musician/self-titled band Patrick Watson—whose clanking, clattering, crooning, unpredictable Wooden Arms was one of my favorite albums from 2009—are heading out on their first US tour for a long time. Catch Watson and his band at the dates below… but why no Boston, hmm, guys? Don't tell me I'm going to have to go all the way to NYC to get my fix.

Patrick Watson - 2010 Tour Dates
Apr 21 Rimouski @ Salle Desjardins-Telus Rimouski, Quebec #
Apr 22 Sept-Iles @ Salle de Spectacle Jean-Marc Dion Sept-Iles, Quebec #
Apr 23 Baie-Comeau @ Théâtre de Baie-Comeau Baie-Comeau, Quebec #
Apr 25 Québec @ L'Impérial de Québec Québec, Quebec #
May 04 Laval QC @ Église Sainte-Rose Laval, Quebec
May 06 Brooklyn NY @ Bell House Brooklyn %
May 07 New York NY @ 92YTribeca New York %
May 08 Washington DC @ Rock & Roll hotel Washington %
May 17 Chicago IL @ Schuba's Chicago
May 19 Denver CO @ Larimer Lounge Denver
May 22 Los Angeles CA @ Hotel Café Los Angeles
May 24 San Diego CA @ Casbah San Diego
May 26 San Francisco CA @ Café du Nord San Francisco
May 28 Portland OR @ Doug Fir Portland, Oregon *
May 29 Quincy WA @ Sasquatch Festival Quincy
# w/ Timber Timbre
% w/ Doveman
* w/ Laura Marling

And to get a feel for the band's distinctive sound, download the rain-spattered, string-haunted lament “Tracy's Waters” on MP3.

-- Anna K

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

New Album From The Futureheads in June, Get The Single Here Now.

The Futureheads' fourth album, The Chaos, gets a US release on June 1 via Dovecote Records.

Here's the first single, a slice of the kind of punky-pop the band is best known for:

Cover Song Of The Week: Girl In A Coma - "Transmission"

I have (and I'm sure you have too) heard Joy Division's "Transmission" covered about a hundred times, but I've never heard it quite like this. Watch Girl In A Coma take on this classic song live at Casbeers in San Antonio, Texas this past January.



Girl In A Coma's covers project, "Adventures In Coverland" is out next Tuesday on Joan Jett's Blackheart Records. They're

They start a tour with legends The Wedding Present this Sunday night, and continue on the road with Sia through May:


Apr 8, 2010 9:00 PM The Basement Nashville, TN
Apr 11, 2010 8:00 PM Bowery Ballroom w/The Wedding Present New York, NY
Apr 12, 2010 7:30 PM Middle East Downstairs w/The Wedding Present Cambridge, MA
Apr 14, 2010 8:30 PM Horseshoe Tavern w/The Wedding Present Toronto, ON
Apr 15, 2010 8:00 PM Pike Room w/The Wedding Present Pontiac, MI
Apr 16, 2010 8:00 PM Double Door w/The Wedding Present Chicago, IL
Apr 17, 2010 8:00 PM 400 Bar w/The Wedding Present Minneapolis, MN
Apr 20, 2010 8:00 PM The Biltmore Cabaret w/The Wedding Present Vancouver, BC
Apr 21, 2010 8:00 PM The Crocodile Cafe w/The Wedding Present Seattle, WA
Apr 22, 2010 8:00 PM Doug Fir w/The Wedding Present Portland, OR
Apr 25, 2010 7:00 PM Vic Theatre w/Sia Chicago, IL
Apr 26, 2010 7:30 PM St.Andrews Hall w/Sia Detroit, MI
Apr 30, 2010 8:00 PM Club Soda w/Sia Montreal, QC
May 1, 2010 6:30 PM House Of Blues w/Sia Boston, MA
May 2, 2010 7:30 PM Theatre of the Living Arts w/Sia Philadelphia, PA
May 4, 2010 7:30 PM 9:30 Club w/Sia Washington, DC
May 6, 2010 7:30 PM Terminal 5 w/Sia New York, NY

Girl in a Coma - "Clumsy Sky" mp3

Monday, April 05, 2010

Eastergaze with Serena-Maneesh and the Depreciation Guild

Instead of hunting for eggs or using peeps to recreate 20th-century masterworks, I spent my Easter Sunday at TT the Bear’s, having my eardrums vibrated by the fuzz-drenched double bill of Serena-Maneesh and the Depreciation Guild .

The latter’s forthcoming Spirit Youth has already found a home on my spring playlist, especially songs like “Trace,” “My Chariot,” and the elated, giddy guitar-swirl of “Dream About Me.” Despite a slightly muddy live sound mix that buried Kurt Feldman’s soft vocals, the Depreciation Guild played a tight and energetic live set, with fluttery synths and tight drums sharpening the intensity of their blurred, noise-drenched sound.

Download The Depreciation Guild – "My Chariot" MP3

Meanwhile, headliners Serena-Maneesh started a little short-handed with the absence of core member Hilma—I have to admit I missed not only her distinctive stage presence, but also her whispery-soft vocals, which add a fascinating lightness to the band’s more abrasive moments. However, singer-guitarist Emile Nikolaisen more than made up for her absence, draped in a ragged blanket and shaking maracas frantically on new songs like the addictive “Ayisha-Abyss” from the newly released No:2: Abyss in B Minor. I picked up a vinyl copy after the show, and if it’s even half as awesome as their last, self-titled album, it will definitely be a worthwhile purchase.



The tour is almost over, alas, but if you move quickly you can catch both bands on these (non-religious-holiday) dates:

4.5 - Milford, CT @ Daniel Street
4.6 - Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
4.7 - Washington, DC @ DC9
4.8 - New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge

-- Anna K

Saturday, April 03, 2010

The Besnard Lakes Tour US, Make the Sound of Dreams


Last night I dreamed about watching the Besnard Lakes perform a live concert in a giant underground cave, stalactites dripping from the ceiling. It's not surprising, I guess, since their towering, cinematic new album The Besnard Lakes are the Roaring Night has been on repeat in my iPod since its release last month. The album sounds even better (and has a cooler title) than it did when I first heard some of it live last October.

Make sure you check out the Besnard Lakes as they embark on an epic tour across the US later this month. Not sure if any underground cave dates are scheduled, but they seem to be playing just about everywhere else. (Here's hoping they remember the fog machine this time.)

And finally, if you haven't yet enjoyed the bittersweet, soaring drone of their new single "Albatross", well, you've been missing out. Click here for the MP3.

Besnard Lakes Tour Dates 2010

04/27/10 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry
04/28/10 Winnipeg, MB - The Royal Albert Arms
04/29/10 Regina, SK - The Exchange
04/30/10 Saskatoon, SK - Amigos
05/01/10 Edmonton, AB - Pawn Shop
05/02/10 Calgary, AB - Broken City
05/04/10 Victoria, BC - The Lucky Bar
05/05/10 Vancouver, BC - The Media Club
05/07/10 Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
05/08/10 Eugene, OR - W.O.W. Hall
05/10/10 San Francisco, CA - The Independent
05/12/10 San Diego, CA - Casbah
05/13/10 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
05/14/10 Tempe, AZ - Sail Inn
05/15/10 Tucson, AZ - Plush
05/20/10 Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
05/24/10 Chicago, IL -
05/25/10 Bloomington, IN - The Bishop w/ Early Day Miners
05/26/10 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
05/27/10 Washington, DC - Black Cat
05/28/10 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
05/29/10 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
05/30/10 Boston, MA - TT the Bear's Place

-- Anna K.

Thursday, April 01, 2010

New Jason Collett Video For "Love Is A Dirty Word", New Tour Dates, Too.


Here's the first video for the first single off Jason Collett's new album, Rat A Tat Tat, which hit stores in March on Arts & Crafts. Collett is in the midst of a six week North American tour with backing band Zeus.



"Love Is A Dirty Word" was directed by Peter Lynch, shot in the Rex Hotel in downtown Toronto, and features the guys in Zeus as well as Gentleman Reg, making a guest cameo. Tourdates below.

4/1/10 – Calgary, AB @ The Legion
4/2/10 – Regina, SK @ The Exchange
4/3/10 – Winnipeg, MB @ West End Cultural Ccentre
4/4/10 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry
4/5/10 – Rock Island, IL @ Daytrotter
4/6/10 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
4/12/10 – Hamilton, ON @ Casbah
413/10 – Waterloo, ON @ Starlite
4/14/10 – Ottawa, ON @ Zaphod’s
4/15/10 – Montreal, PQ @ Petit Campus
4/16/10 – Peterborough, ON @ Red Dog Tavern
4/17/10 – Kingston, ON @ Grad Club
4/20/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Café Live
4/21/10 – Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse
4/23/10 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
4/24/10 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall
4/29/10 – Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s