Posts tagged ‘We Are Scientists’
MEET THE LANSKIES, YOUR NEW FAVORITE INDIE SENSATION; HEADED ON TOUR NOW & CMJ!
Are you a fan of The Futureheads? We Are Scientists? The Kooks? Well, anything and everything that is cool in music? Let us introduce to you the greatest French import of all time, THE LANSKIES
Starting to break out in the U.S. indie rock scene, THE LANSKIES are headed over to our side of the pond to embark on a few impressive tour dates. Are you ready for what they have to offer?
Having already won the prestigious award to support ZZ top in front of thousands of adoring fans at the Vielles Charrues festival in 2008, things have gone well for them since. And it is only looking up from here. Deeming themselves as a “Hot Wave,” group (move over New Wave!), the band is a combination of upbeat post-punk anthems and 80’s New York attitude. A force not to be messed with.
Fronted by Liverpool born, Lewis Evans, a charismatic performer on stage to say the least, he leads the band to the U.S. to take on the crowds. Having toured most of Europe and a successful tour of China, THE LANSKIES are well prepared for the U.S.
The group released their first album Bank Holiday last year and will be following up with the EP titled Romeo due out November 15th.
Meet the leaders of the new Paris-Liverpool rock scene, THE LANSKIES.
Be sure to catch the band on their West Coast and East Coast dates, including a stop at CMJ at The Hiro Ballroom.
TOUR:
10/08 in Los Angeles, CA @ Filter’s Festival (6pm)
10/08 in Los Angeles, CA @ Filter’s Festival (8pm)
10/09 in Los Angeles, CA @ The Cide (10pm)
10/12 in New York, NY @ Fontana’s (9pm)
10/14 in New York, NY @ Shrine Harleme (11pm)
10/19 in New York, NY @ Hiro Ballroom (CMJ) (8pm)
We Are Scientists Among Bands Contributing To Ben Sherman’s V.I.P. Charity for Trekstock
Mod British clothing company, Ben Sherman is about to open up a second round of auctions for their V.I.P. (Very Important Plectrum) charity. As it was the first time around 100% of the proceeds will be kindly contributed to a worthy cause. The focus for this auction is Trekstock, a UK-based foundation that specializes in this kind of thing. Trekstock works with Cancer Research UK, collecting donations and raising awareness for youth with cancer through shows, music and fashion collaboration, and the like.
Participating artists in the auction will offer up their signed plectrums, otherwise known as picks — but think more than just guitars! harpsichords, mandolins, and ukuleles need to be plucked too. To name a few bands involved: We Are Scientists, Anna Calvi, Band Of Horses, Interpol, and Broken Social Scene. Check the poster above to see all participating artists, and go to Ben Sherman’s VIP site or Trekstock’s site to learn more.
Modern Mystery’s Top 30 Albums of the Year
The time is finally here where we announce our favorite albums of the year. Yes, it took a whole lot of thinking and a whole lot of relistening, but in the end we figured it out. Trust us, it was no easy task this year. Take a peek at what kept our interest in 2010.
1. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – “Let It Sway”
This will forever be known as the album where SSLYBY fully matured. Working with Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla, the band produced a stunning record full of pop hooks and catchy lyrics. The result, Let It Sway (Polyvinyl), one of the greatest pieces of work our ears have heard by any indie band in a long time. We loved it so much we made a tribute video celebrating the record which you can watch below. Congrats SSLYBY!
2. Vampire Weekend – “Contra”
A nearly flawless album, the VW boys started off 2010 with a burst of energy that continued througout the year. Neck in neck with the Yeltsins, Contra (XL) also shared the tale of a too-good-to-be-true indie band growing up in the public eye.
3. The Morning Benders – “Big Echo”
Another record that was running with the big boys on this list, The Morning Benders released Big Echo (Kanine) early in the year and exploded like no one could ever have imagined. It’s ab out time. They deserve it. This is one of the catchiest albums we heard this year and it never gets old.
4. Of Montreal – “False Priest”
Of Montreal are always evolving. That is what we love most about the band. False Priest (Polyvinyl) takes them to a whole new level, dabbling in R&B and dueting with Solange Knowles. We may have been skeptical at first but it quickly won over our hearts and the dance floor.
5. Surfer Blood – “Astrocoast”
Everyone’s favorite “IT” band of the year produced a promising debut album called Astrocoast (Kanine). We followed the boys around CMJ 2009 and knew they were about to blew up huge. We were right, and now Surfer Blood has taken over the world.
6. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – “Before Today”
A chilling record filled with reverb and haunting vocals proved to be just the thing for Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti. Before Today (4AD) stunned the indie music world and makes us wonder what the next Ariel Pink chapter has to hold.
7. Jukebox the Ghost – “Everything Under the Sun”
A thriving piano backed by a guitar and drums made an unexpected assault in the indie world this year. Everything Under the Sun (Yep Roc) dropped jaws quickly this year and had Jukebox the Ghost playing with big name bands and appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman.
8. The Love Language – “Libraries”
Much different from their first record, The Love Language stunned us with a near perfect record, Libraries (Merge) this year. There was a lot of buzz about this album and as the tracks leaked, we could feel the greatness building up. We were right.
9. We Are Scientists – “Barbara”
Without a record label in the U.S., We Are Scientists broke through this year with Barbara. They haven’t changed too much since the last time we heard from them, which is a good thing. They still have their driving 80′s vibe, W.A.S. charm and brilliant tunes.
10. Magic Kids – “Memphis”
This was an unexpected treat this year that had us putting Magic Kids on repeat. Memphis (Goner/True Panther) often has a lo-fi and retro vibe, and that is what really makes it special.
The rest of the list….
11. Miniature Tigers – “Fortress”
12. Matt Pond PA – “The Dark Leaves”
13. Wavves – “King of the Beach”
14. Sufjan Stevens -”Age of the Adz”
15. Arcade Fire – “The Suburbs”
16. Free Energy – “Stuck on Nothing”
17. Javelin – “No Mas”
18. Best Coast – “Crazy for You”
19. The Drums – “The Drums”
20. Tokyo Police Club – “Champ”
21. The New Pornographers – “Together”
22. Spoon – “Transference”
23. Hot Hot Heat – “Future Breeds”
24. Kids of 88 – “Sugar Pills”
25. MGMT – “Congratulations”
26. Harlem – “Hippies”
27. Broken Social Scene – “Forgiveness Rock Record”
28. Born Ruffians – “Say It”
29. Caribou – “Swim”
30. Interpol – “Interpol”
December 21, 2010 at 2:00 pm Melissa Nastasi Leave a comment
Modern Mystery’s Top 25 Songs of 2010
1. Of Montreal – “Sex Karma” featuring Solange Knowles
2. Vampire Weekend – “Cousins”
3. Love Language – “Heart to Tell”
4. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – “Everlyn”
5. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti -”Fright Night (Nevermore)”
6. Morning Benders – “Promises”
7. Jukebox the Ghost – “Half Crazy”
8. The Drums – “Let’s Go Surfing”
9. Surfer Blood – “Swim”
10. We Are Scientists – “Rules Don’t Stop”
11. Wavves – “King of the Beach”
12. Free Energy – “Bang Pop”
13. Magic Kids – “Hey Boy”
14. Robbers on High Street – “Electric Eye”
15. Beach Fossils – “Youth”
16. Javelin – “Oh! Centra”
17. Matt Pond PA – “Starting”
18. Miniature Tigers – “Gold Skull”
19. Ra Ra Riot – “Boy”
20. Best Coast – “Boyfriend”
21. Sufjan Stevens – “From the Mouth of Gabriel”
22. Hot Hot Heat – “21@12″
23. Tame Impala – “Alter Ego”
24. Caribou – “Odessa”
25. Jenny and Johnny – “Big Wave”
December 21, 2010 at 1:00 pm Melissa Nastasi Leave a comment
Rewards, Aaron Pfenning of Chairlift Adds New Tour Dates
With main project Chairlift on the sidelines for now, co-founder Aaron Pfenning has been keeping himself busy performing solo work under his own name and as Rewards. As the latter, with his deep, breathy baritone layered in (you guessed it) “sunny reverb-drenched guitar hooks and puffy surges of synthesizer” it makes perfect sense that Mr. Pfenning recently completed a leg of his European tour opening for Brandon Flowers of The Killers. Now it looks like Rewards will be staying busy for the rest of 2010, as he’s just announced additional dates in Europe and North America, first with current tour mates We Are Scientists and culminating in a five day run with rising act Warpaint.
Check out the full list below:
Rewards Tour Dates
Nov 16 – HMV Institute – Birmingham, UK #
Nov 19 – UEA – Norwich, UK #
Nov 20 – Academy – Manchester, UK #
Nov 21 – Shepherds Bush Empire – London, UK #
Nov 22 – O2 Academy – Liverpool, UK #
Nov 24 – Metropolitan University – Leeds, UK #
Nov 25 – ABC – Glasgow, UK #
Nov 26 – O2 Academy – Newcastle, UK #
Nov 27 – Rock City – Nottingham, UK #
Nov 30 – Great Scott – Boston, MA @
Dec 1 – The Studio at Webster Hall – NYC @
Dec 2 – Music Hall of Williamsbug – Brooklyn, NY @
Dec 3 – Voyeur – Philadelphia, PA @
Dec 4 – Rock and Roll Hotel – Washington, DC @
@ w/ Warpaint
