by Jane Lambert

Video: The Gay Blades ‘O Shot’

Sometimes when you hear a new band, they just hit you in the face with their musical power. This is the case for indie duo, The Gay Blades. Made of up two guys, Clark Westfield and Puppy Mills are currently residing in New York City where their music has really exploded. The band, not wanting to fit into a certain genre have labeled their music as ‘Thrash Pop,’ for they claimed they are more of a mixture of indie with a dab of punk and a helping of pop. Try to get that down if you will. Nonetheless, another band that is going to be big in 2009.

Watch the video for The Gay Blades ‘O Shot’

03.30.09

by Jane Lambert

Video: Chester French ‘She Loves Everybody’

Until about 11 o’clock last night, I had no idea who in the world Chester French was. I had heard the name before and that was about the end of our relationship. Was it a band? Was it a one man show? Is anyone named Chester besides that Sloan song circa 1998? I decided to check out Chester French out of curosity, and I’m not sure that I have ever taken to a band so quickly. Think of them as MGMT lite. Chester French is indeed a band. I checked out the video for ‘She Loves Everybody’ and I haven’t been able to get the song out of my head since. The duo of Maxwell Drummey and D.A. Wallach met at Harvard, named themselves after a sculptor (David Chester French), have been remixed by N.E.R.D., played SXSW and have been signed to Star Trax/Interscope Records. Phew. Chester French is definatly THE band to watch out for in 2009.

Watch Chester French’s ‘She Loves Everybody’

Also check the band out on their Myspace

03.28.09

by Jane Lambert

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band ‘Slowly (Oh So Slowly)’

Yes this is the new album cover!

Conor and the boys are back for a second time with their newest upcoming release Outer South due out next month on Merge. Yes, there has been a few complaints that the new Conor project isn’t really reflective of Bright Eyes, but who said it had to be? Oberst is more poetic and honest than ever…and not to mention there is a bit more ‘pep in his step’ if you will. The band just released a new single on their site titled ‘Slowly (Oh So Slowly)’ which continues with the spirit of their first record.

Listen to the stream of the new song at The Mystic Valley Band Website

On a Conor Oberst note, The Killers have just covered a version of Bright Eyes‘ Cassadega. Right now you can only view it on Youtube. Its a really interesting take on the song. It will appear on their Spaceman EP due out next month on Island.

03.24.09

by Jane Lambert

Flight of the Conchords, The Musical

Sunday was possibly the last episode of HBO’s hit sitcom, Flight of the Conchords. Jermaine and Bret aren’t quite sure if they want to do a Season 3, so we guess in time we will have to wait to see what they decide. Hopefully this isn’t the last of FOTC on tv. At least we’ll have their live shows and albums (the new one drops next month on Sub Pop). Season two’s ending had the guys acting in a musical written by manager Murray, and the boys ending back up in New Zealand once the authorities found out they were in the US illegally.

The Conchords will also be out on tour starting this month including two stops at New York City’s Radio City. The tour runs from March 31st to May 25th and a lot of the dates are already sold out.

Check the band out on their Myspace

Watch Flight of the Conchords ‘The Musical’

03.23.09

by Jane Lambert

Devendra Banhart and Joanna Newsom….in Film (?)

The freak folk explosion is still in existance, it just lives a little more underground now. This doesn’t stop Devendra Banhart and Joanna Newsom from being in a documentry together. The two will be featured in the new Kevin Barker (of Currituck Co.) film called ‘The Family Jams’. Yes we guess the family does jam but we’re hoping it doesn’t become a family tragedy.

Barker is also a member of the band Vetiver, who toured with Banhart and Newsom in the summer of 2004, which is when he shot his footage.

Judging from the trailer the film looks really interesting. It chronicles the artists mainly from their ‘smaller’ days of clubs and art galleries and vans. There seems that there will be some specatacular live footage in the fil,m as well. The Sarasota Film Festival will show the film first on April 2nd and 3rd.

Watch the trailer for ‘The Family Jams’ HERE

03.19.09

by Jane Lambert

Vampire Weekend on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

It’s pretty much set in stone that Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is only going to book the trendiest things going, so what took them so long to get Vampire Weekend? The band stopped by last night to perform ‘White Sky’ which we’ve heard live before. This time around the band performed it with a string section. I’m hoping the band makes it past their ‘dreaded album 2’ curse, because even though I didn’t think it at first, I’m pretty sure Vampire Weekend has some solid staying power. Only time will tell I guess.

Check out ‘White Sky’ live on Jimmy Fallon.