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Class Actress Confirms Headlining Tour & SXSW Performances
Brooklyn synth-pop duo Class Actress (Elizabeth Harper & Company) is in the midst of preparing for their headlining tour with MillionYoung in support of their debut release, Journal of Ardency EP, available now on Terrible Records- the brainchild label of Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor and Ethan Silverman. The coast-to-coast trek follows Class Actress’ successful North American tour this past fall with Small Black, Delorean, and Matthew Dear. The tour kicks off next week in Atlanta, with the band now confirming a full set of SXSW 2011 performances in Austin from March 16-19.
Stay tuned for Class Actress’ debut LP this summer, with further details to be announced soon. Complete list of dates and venues below:
Mar 10 Savannah, GA @ Savannah Stopover
Mar 11 Miami, FL @ The Vagabond
Mar 12 Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum
Mar 13 Orlando, FL @ Backbooth
Mar 14 New Orleans, LA @ Republic
Mar 15 Pharr, TX @ Jagz w/Nite Jewel
Mar 16 SXSW @ Lipstick 24 (Flavorpill Party) – 3:30pm
Mar 17 SXSW @ Club 1808 (Piano’s Party w/Das Racist, Still Corners, etc.)
Mar 18 SXSW @ East Side Drive In (Pitchfork Party) – 12:45pm
Mar 18 SXSW @ Friends (Warp Magazine Showcase) – 11pm
Mar 19 SXSW @ Space 12 (Parafora Party) – 7pm
Mar 20 Dallas, TX @ Bro Fest 2011 @ Club Dada
Mar 21 Little Rock, AR @ Arkansas Community Arts Co-Op
Mar 22 Kansas City, MO @ Crosstown Station
Mar 23 Iowa City, IA @ Gabe’s
Mar 24 St. Louis, MO @ Old Rockhouse
Mar 25 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall w/Miami Horror
Mar 29 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge w/Miami Horror
Lucas/Lukas Unveil Music Video, “Made For You”
Lukas Haas has been acting for over 20 years, first starring alongside Harrison Ford in “Witness” when he was just 8 years old. Since then, Haas has appeared in dozens of films, including “Inception,” Woody Allen’s “Everyone Says I Love You,” Tim Burton’s “Mars Attacks!” and the upcoming “Red Riding Hood.” Lukas also plays drums and piano for The Rogues, and appears in music videos for My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade,” OutKast’s “Roses,” UGK’s “International Player’s Anthem (I Choose You),” Death Cab For Cutie’s “Cath…” and Jet’s “She’s a Genius.”
Australian actress Isabel Lucas recently starred in “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” HBO’s eight-time Emmy winning series “The Pacific,” as well as “The Cove,” an Academy Award-winning documentary exposing the brutal business of dolphin harvesting in Japan.
Together, Lucas and Haas are Lucas/Lukas, purveyors of dreamy indie pop. Their first video collaboration, “Made For You” was filmed and recorded in Lukas’ studio in Los Angeles, directed by Carleton Ranney, with editing done by Real Sprague and Destin Douglas.
MUTE Announces Lineup For Short Circuit Festival At The Roundhouse, London
As part of the annual Short Circuit Electronic Music Festival, Mute Records will curate two days of performances and installation at London’s historic The Roundhouse. The label is pleased to announce the first details of the artists to be showcased on May 13-14, with further festival announcements to follow in the coming weeks.
The two-day event will feature performances and unique collaborations from Mute artists past, present, and future- alongside DJs, talks, workshops, screenings, and installations. A celebration of Mute’s unique and influential work as both label and publisher, the occasion will see all of The Roundhouse’s public spaces open together for the very first time.
Founded by Daniel Miller in 1978, Mute Records has since signed and developed some of the world’s most influential recording artists, including Depeche Mode, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Yazoo, Goldfrapp, Erasure, Moby, and Richard Hawley – quickly becoming home to a crop of both emerging and steadfast talent.
While maintaining an incredibly eclectic roster, from the earliest days of The Normal, Fad Gadget, and DAF, through to the techno era with artists such as Plastikman/Richie Hawtin, and Speedy J, and to the present day with hybrid electronic artists such as Yeasayer and S.C.U.M, the label has always been one of the foremost champions of electronic music.
SHORT CIRCUIT FESTIVAL 2011
FRIDAY MAY 13th
LIVE
RECOIL
NITZER EBB
RICHARD H. KIRK
CARTER TUTTI with Nik Void
NON
THE BALANESCU QUARTET
POLE
T.RAUMSCHMIERE
THOMAS FEHLMANN
THOMAS BRINKMANN
KOMPUTER
DJ
DANIEL MILLER
SATURDAY MAY 14th
LIVE
ERASURE AND SPECIAL GUESTS
THE RESIDENTS
LAIBACH
LIARS
ALISON MOYET (SPECIAL GUEST)
S.C.U.M
POPPY AND THE JEZEBELS
SFT AND MIRA CALIX
BIG DEAL
JAMES BROOKS
PETER GREGSON
DJ
DANNY BRIOTTET
IRMIN SCHMIDT AND KUMO play The Sound Of Can – CAN ARCHIVES SPECIAL
FILMS
MARK STEWART ‘ON/OFF’ (2009)
AN EXCLUSIVE NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS FILM BY IAIN FORSYTH AND JANE POLLARD WITH MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
TALKS
GARETH JONES ON PRODUCING MUTE ARTISTS,
STEFAN BETKE (AKA POLE) ‘AN INTRODUCTION INTO THE SCIENCE OF MASTERING’
PLUS MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
INSTALLATIONS – MAY 13th + 14th
SCHNEIDERS BEURO
FLIES, GUYS AND CHOIRS
FELIX’S MACHINES
Beat Connection To Release ‘Surf-Noir’ Mini-Album
Electronic pop duo Beat Connection are set to release their latest work, Surf Noir, worldwide on April 12, via Tender Age/Moshi Moshi. The ‘mini-album’ will be available on CD, vinyl, and all digital formats. Surf Noir features eight tracks, five of which are reworked songs- “Sunburn,” “In The Water,” “Wildheart,” “Theme From Yours Truly,” and “Silver Screen”- that have been mastered for the first time. The mini-album is preceded by the worldwide digital release of the previously announced “Silver Screen” single on March 1- also featuring remixes of the title cut by Young Montana and Dreamtrak Diamond Sound, along with a previously unreleased track, “Space Vacation”.
An early version of Beat Connection’s Surf Noir was released in the summer of 2010: a pre-mastered, online demo via the group’s Bandcamp page. While hoping to book shows and gain attention from labels, one of the LP’s tracks, “In The Water,” caught the attention of online sites on both sides of the Atlantic, eventually leading to the band’s signing with Tender Age. Before they knew it, Beat Connection were being lauded by the critics at Pitchfork, NME, The Guardian, KEXP, Consequence of Sound, The Line Of Best Fit, The Stranger, Seattle Times, Artrocker.
In addition to the Surf Noir release, Beat Connection will be playing a handful of dates, which will include an appearance at SXSW in March. Full tour info, as well as the Surf Noir tracklist, below:
| Surf Noir
CD/LP/Digital 1. Sunburn 2. In The Water 3. Wildheart 4. Theme From Yours Truly 5. Fresh Touch 6. Silver Screen 7. Motorway 8. Same Damn Time “Silver Screen” Single Digital Release 1. Silver Screen (Stream) 2. Space Vacation 3. Silver Screen (Young Montana Remix) 4. Silver Screen (Dreamtrak Diamond Sound) |
| TOUR DATES |
|
The Wombats Release Free Single, “Addicted To The Cure”
While final details on The Wombats’ highly anticipated sophomore album are still pending, the UK trio’s momentum towards the April 26th U.S. release date of This Modern Glitch on Bright Antenna/ILG continues with the free download of the infectiously energetic new track, “Addicted To The Cure.” The club-friendly track features frontman Murph presenting himself with a cigarette in his mouth, in a room strewn with used nicotine patches, asking “When did we get addicted to the cure?” When, indeed!
This Modern Glitch features production by Rich Costey (Muse, Interpol, Franz Ferdinand), Jacknife Lee (U2, Snow Patrol, R.E.M.), and Eric Valentine (Queens of the Stone Age). The collection includes both recent Top 20 UK hit “Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)” – with an accompanying video that has reached over 1.2 million plays - and the successful follow-up single, “Jump Into The Fog.”
The band is about to start an already-sold out UK tour next month, with word on a US tour to be released later in the spring.
To download “Addicted To The Cure,” simply follow this link for the special download widget here.
Smith Westerns Add New Tour Dates & Sasquatch Appearance
Despite recently wrapping up a European tour with MGMT, Smith Westerns have now launched a massive US tour, supporting their critically-acclaimed sophomore LP, Dye It Blonde. The Chicago trio will make appearances at both SXSW and the Sasquatch Festival in George, Washington. The first leg of the tour will find Smith Westerns sharing the stage with fellow Fat Possum labelmates, Yuck- who are crossing the pond from the UK to make their first appearances in the US. The band is also very pleased to announce that the handful of May concert dates are in support of none other than Wilco- a highly-revered band for the guys, who have provided a great deal of inspiration for Smith Westerns.
Full list of tour dates below:
02/10 Phoenix AZ Rhythm Room*
02-15 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge %
02-16 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret %
02-17 Seattle, WA – Crocodile Cafe %
02-18 Boise, ID – Neurolux %
02-19 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court %
02-21 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge %
02-22 Kansas City, MO – The Record Bar %
02-23 Omaha, NE – Waiting Room %
02-24 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club %
02-25 Madison, WI – The Frequency %
02-26 Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle % –SOLD OUT–
02-28 Toronto, Ontario – Legendary Horseshoe Tavern %
03-01 Montreal, Quebec – La Sala Rossa %
03-02 Boston, MA – Great Scott %
03-03 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge % –SOLD OUT–
03-04 Washington, DC – Rock and Roll Hotel %
03-05 Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory % –SOLD OUT–
03-16 – 03-19 Austin, TX – SXSW
05-02 Montgomery, AL – Montgomery Performing Arts Centre #
05-03 Mobile, AL – Saenger Theatre Mobile #
05-06 Houston, TX – Verizon Wireless Theater #
05-07 Denton, TX – University of North Texas Main Auditorium #
05-08 Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom #
05-27 George, WA – Sasquatch Festival
* = w/ Yuck
# = w/ Wilco
% = w/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Bright Eyes Announce Additional Tour Dates
The excruciating wait is almost over until the release of Bright Eyes’ seventh studio album, The People’s Key (out February 15 via Saddle Creek), and now the celebrated Omaha band have added further dates to their already mammoth US tour. In addition, more supporting acts have also been confirmed: Titus Andronicus, Jenny and Johnny, Farmer Dave Scher, Conduits, and Dawes will all be joining the band on select dates.
Ahead of the official release, Bright Eyes fans have received a number of sneak peeks into the band’s new material. Last week, The People’s Key was premiered in full on NPR’s ‘First Listen’ HERE, as well as on YouTube in their first ever online listening party HERE. Additionally, Conor Oberst will be co-hosting Sirius XMU every afternoon this week at 5pm, with Rolling Stone critic and XMU host Jenny Eliscu – yet another chance for fans to hear tracks from The People’s Key prior to release, as well as old favorites from the Bright Eyes catalog and Conor’s own personal selections.
Conor and Co. kick off the new tour next month in Miami. Check out the slew of new tour dates below [all recently added dates are shown in bold].
3/2 Miami, FL Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theater *
3/3 Lake Buena Vista, FL House of Blues *
3/4 Atlanta, GA The Tabernacle *
3/5 Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe Auditorium *
3/6 Richmond, VA The National *
3/8 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall ^
3/9 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall ^ SOLD OUT
3/10 Boston, MA House Of Blues # SOLD OUT
3/11 Portland, ME State Theatre#
3/13 Toronto, ON Sound Academy#
3/14 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre # SOLD OUT
3/15 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre # SOLD OUT
3/16 Champaign, IL Foellinger Auditorium #
3/17 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium #
3/19 Austin, TX SXSW Ground Control Touring Showcase Auditorium Shores**
4/2 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theatre ^^
4/3 Milwaukee, WI The Riverside Theater @
4/3 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue @
4/5 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue @
4/8 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballro0m @
4/9 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom @
4/10 Arcata, CA Arcata Community Center +
4/12 Oakland, CA Fox Theater +
4/13 Pomona, CA Fox Theater ## + SOLD OUT
4/16 Indio, CA Coachella Festival SOLD OUT
4/28 George, WA Sasquatch Music Festival
6/1 Boise, ID Knitting Factory Concert House ##
6/3 Denver, CO Filmore Theatre ##
6/4 Council Bluffs, IA WestFair Amphitheater ##
6/6 St. Louis The Pageant %
* w/ Cursive
^ w/ Superchunk and WILD FLAG
# w/ Mynabirds
**w/ The Felice Brothers, Middle Brother, and Man Man
@ w/ Titus Andonicus
^^ w/ Conduits
+ w/ Farmer Dave Scher
## w/ Jenny and Johnny
% w/ Dawes
Miami Horror Announce North American Tour & SXSW Performances
Psych-electronic group Miami Horror have announced their return to North America for a coast-to-coast tour, making stops in Canada, Mexico, and SXSW along the way. The Australian four-piece embarked on a successful freshman tour of the States this past fall behind their debut album, Illumination- now available in the US iTunes store. The original Australian release is also now available as a 2-CD limited edition, which includes a bonus album of Miami Horror hottest tracks, as remixed by the likes of YACHT, Shazam, and Fred Falke.
While Miami Horror initially began as one synthesizer-obsessed producer huddled over a laptop, the group has now become a full, live band, recently playing critically-acclaimed sets at Australia’s biggest festivals, as well as some A-list slots opening for Phoenix, Friendly Fires, La Roux, and Lily Allen.
Complete list of tour dates below:
MIAMI HORROR 2011 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
Mar 6 – The Snow Ball Music Experience – Vail, CO
Mar 9 – Ghostbar – Las Vegas, NV (DJ set)
Mar 10 – Mezzanine – San Francisco, CA
Mar 12 - Echoplex – Los Angeles, CA
Mar 13 – 35 Conferette – Denton, TX
Mar 15 – Never Say Never Music & Arts Festival – McAllen, TX
Mar 16-18 – SXSW – Austin, TX
Mar 19 – Caradura – Mexico City, MX
Mar 25 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
Mar 26 – U Street Music Hall – Washington DC
Mar 29 - Mercury Lounge – New York, NY
Apr 1 – Mod Club – Toronto, ON
Apr 2 – Le Belmont – Montreal, QC
Oberhofer Release Two Tracks; Extend U.S. Winter Tour
Tacoma, Washington, via Brooklyn band Oberhofer have not one, but two releases ready to hit the ears of their diehard fans: both “Petz” and “Away Frm U” are available for download, via RCRD LBL. The new tracks find the power pop band continuing to hone their sound, creating jaunty songs that juxtapose lush lyrics full of longing with percussive beats and staggering guitars. Oberhofer wowed both critics and audiences at CMJ 2010- performing daily sets for the entire duration of the festival, and winning them the applause of critics from Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, L Magazine, and The New York Times.
In addition, the guys will be continuing their trek across the U.S., adding a handful of dates to an already ambitious roster of cities and venues. Full tour dates below:
1/26 – Billiken Club – St. Louis, MO
1/27 – Gardner Lounge (Grinnell College) – Grinnell, IA
1/28 – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI @
1/29 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL @
1/31 – Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH @ !
2/1 – The Blind Pig – Ann Arbor, MI @
2/3 – Paradise – Boston, MA @
2/4 – Music Hall – Brooklyn, NY @
2/5 – Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA @
2/7 – Rock and Roll Hotel – Washington, DC @
2/8 – Jefferson Theater – Charlottesville, VA @
2/9 – Grey Eagle – Asheville, NC @
2/10 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC @
2/11 – The Earl – Atlanta, GA @
2/12 – Mercy Lounge – Nashville, TN @
2/14 – The Bottletree – Birmingham, AL @
2/15 – Thirsty Hippo – Hattiesburg, MS @
2/17 – Fitzgerald’s – Houston, TX @
2/18 – Emo’s – Austin, TX @
2/19 – The Loft – Dallas, TX @
2/21 – Sticky Fingerz Chicken Shack – Little Rock, AR @
2/22 – The Opolis – Norman, OK @
2/23 – Mojo’s – Columbia, MO @
2/24 – The Waiting Room – Omaha, NE @
2/25 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN @
2/26 – The House Cafe – Dekalb, IL
* Cloud Nothings
# Handsome Furs
% Jaill
& Distractions
^ The Vaccines
@ Tapes N’ Tapes
! Film Strip
Darwin Deez Releases Free Willy Wonka-Sampled Rap Mixtape
Darwin Deez has been incredibly busy lately, having spent much of the last year releasing incredibly infectious and off-kilter pop songs, while winning acclaim for his eponymous freshman album, which is set to release in the U.S. on February 22, via Lucky Number. Deez has sold out numerous shows- winning over audiences across the world, and surely becoming one of the most offbeat and cherished pop stars in recent memory. So how does an artist go about following up such epic feats?
Well, when you’re Darwin Deez, you go back to the studio and create a full length rap mixtape called Wonky Beats- created entirely from samples from the 1971 surrealist children’s classic “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” of course.
For the new project, Deez recruited friends like Dev Hynes, KOOL AD from Das Racist, and Chiddy Bang. In addition to downloading the entire mixtape for free, five lucky winners will also find inside their zip folder a Golden Ticket- redeemable for the grand prize, a lifetime supply of Darwin Deez music, as well as tickets to local Darwin Deez headlining shows.
Take a listen to one of Wonky Beats‘ catchiest tracks, “Where’s The Chocolate” by clicking here.
On top of all of this excitement, Darwin Deez is also taking to the road this month- check out the full list of tour dates below:
2/1 – Tucson, AZ @ Solar Culture (w/ Friends)
2/3 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s Alternative Lounge (w/ Friends)
2/4 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s Downstairs (w/ Friends)
2/5 – Denton, TX @ Hailey (w/ Friends)
2/7 – Memphis, TN @ Hi Tone Cafe (w/ Friends)
2/8 – Nashville, TN – The End (w/ Friends)
2/9 – Birmingham, AL – Spring Street Firehouse (w/ Friends)
2/10 – Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder (w/ Friends)
2/11 – Atlanta, GA @ The Drunken Unicorn (w/ Friends)
2/12 – Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor (w/ Friends)
2/14 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 (w/ Friends)
2/16 – Charlottesville, VA – Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar (w/ Friends)
2/17 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat Backstage (w/ Friends)
2/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie (w/ Friends)
2/19 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (w/ Friends)
The Latest Junip Remix Now Available As Free Download
Junip, the Swedish trio led by singer-songwriter José González, has released “Always (Prefuse 73 Remix)”- now available as a free download on Pitchfork. The original track, off of Junip’s latest album, Fields, receives an electric punch that only beat-mixer Prefuse 73 (Guillermo Scott Herren) could give.
With anxious fans waiting for news from the reclusive group, Junip is happy to announce that the trio will be back on tour in North America this spring, playing select cities across the U. S. and Canada, with a full roster of dates to be announced in the coming weeks. In the meantime, check out the latest interview with José and Tobias, talking about their music and recording style backstage in Chicago with Tremble Tremble.
Freelance Whales Announce 2011 Tour Dates
Nearly a year after their release of their critically acclaimed Weathervanes, the Freelance Whales are continuing to tour the world, bringing their jaunty electro-pop to the U. S. and Canada this spring. Along with the British band Foals, the Freelance Whales will work their way across North America throughout much of April and May. The Queens, New York band has been compared to such indie greats as The Postal Service and Broken Social Scene, receiving high praise from such critical luminaries as NPR’s All Songs Considered, Stereogum, Paste [R. I. P.], and Entertainment Weekly.
4/11 – The Showbox at The Market – Seattle, WA*
4/12 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR*
4/14 – Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA (co-headlining with Foals)
4/19 – Fitzgerald’s – Houston, TX*
4/20 – The Loft – Dallas, TX
4/21 – La Zona Rosa – Austin, TX*
4/23 – The Firebird – St Louis, MO*
4/25 – The Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN*
4/26 – Metro – Chicago, IL (co-headlining with Foals)
4/27 – Outland Live – Columbus, OH*
4/29 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH*
4/30 – Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto, ON*
5/01 – Le National – Montreal, QC*
5/02 – Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA*
5/04 – Terminal 5 – New York, NY (co-headlining with Foals)
5/05 – Theatre of the Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA*
5/06 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC (co-headlining with Foals)
5/07 – Ottobar – Baltimore, MD*
5/08 – The Met – Pawtucket, RI*
*Foals & The Naked & The Famous
Melissa Nastasi
Eric Phipps
Jen Verzosa
tatyahna
theloudfeelings
danielleque
liv hauck
jdtorres
Joe Madonna
Sedera Ranaivoarinosy
cwaleko
navalmin
John Grimley
micheleyamamoto
wesleyambrecht
fearofdrowning
viktorsha
aitorzabalegui
tonyachin
laurenschwartzberg
merbster
N.Sanchez
leduffy
kenami
ivynoellew
iamrickylewis
travestyofthecondition
mcirigliano2
Gustave
kellykettering
firstrays1
justgentile
pbozic
nmcollins
summer826
Jordannahe
tunmer
sifreelanceguy
cristobalsaez
libbyh9190
benjammin
Zach Yanowitz
ijorissen
gabe563
cst2
bls3390
cjdubs
