Friendo Debuts New LP And Announces Tour Dates

Friendo is not typically known for their conventional ways and generic sound.  Instead, this band enjoys pushing the envelope and seeking out new ways to expand their musical horizons.  With their recent release, entitled Cold Toads, band members Michael, Nicole and Henry decided to swap instruments allowing them to embark on new creative territory.

Heavily influenced by the sounds of ‘90s experimental rock, ‘70s punk and ‘60s pop, Friendo has recorded a unique masterpiece within the confines of their home and has self-released the album in a retro and smart format, the cassette tape.  The album has now been picked up by the St Ives label which is run by Secretly Canadian and the band is releasing 200 limited edition, hand crafted vinyl albums to run alongside the digital iTunes release in addition to the previously released cassette tape format.

Friendo just made their way through the UK and Europe on a two week tour playing with bands like BRAIDS and Future Islands.  For more information about Cold Toad and Friendo, visit the band’s site here.

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Cut Off Your Hands Announce Release Of New Album In August

New Zealand band Cut Off Your Hands have announced that they will be releasing the follow up to their 2008 album later this summer.  The album entitled Hollow will be a mixture of new sounds and a rediscovered passion for playing music from band front man Nick Johnston.  After 2008’s release of You & I, the band embarked on a three year tour and endured many personnel changes within the band, all of which left Johnston feeling a little disillusioned about music and wondering what his future would be.

“Something clicked in the time off between records,” says Johnston. “As I stopped worrying about what we should be doing, I began listening to records out of pure fun again and they ended up really influencing my writing.”

The result is a masterful sound of melancholic guitar riffs and melodies influenced by bands such as Echo & the Bunnymen, the Byrds, Bob Dylan and fellow countrymen the Bats and Bird Nest Roys.  This time out, the band knew which direction they wanted this album to go and how they wanted this album to sound. 

“A big thing for me was getting out of that songwriting slump,” explains Johnston, “realizing that making music is still meaningful for me.”

Hollow will be released on August 16th via Frenchkiss Records.  There are plans for a US tour following the release. 

Tracklisting

You Should Do Better
Hollowed Out
Fooling No One
Nausea
By Your Side
All It Takes
Oh Hell
Down and Out
Buried

Cut Off Your Hands To Relase New Album In August

New Zealand band Cut Off Your Hands have announced that they will be releasing the follow up to their 2008 release later this summer.  The album entitled Hollow will be a mixture of new sounds and a rediscovered passion for playing music from band front man Nick Johnston.  After 2008’s release of You & I, the band embarked on a three year tour and endured many personnel changes within the band, all of which left Johnston feeling a little disillusioned about music and wondering what his future would be.

“Something clicked in the time off between records,” says Johnston. “As I stopped worrying about what we should be doing, I began listening to records out of pure fun again and they ended up really influencing my writing.”

The result is a masterful sound of melancholic guitar riffs and melodies influenced by bands such as Echo & the Bunnymen, the Byrds, Bob Dylan and fellow countrymen the Bats and Bird Nest Roys.

DATAROCK Releases “California” Remix

Norway’s DATAROCK have a long-standing reputation for creating a unique sound which encompasses elements of new wave, indie dance and funk music.  They recently released Catcher in the Rye, dubbed “the most extravagant single in history”, as well as a secret EP titled California featuring tracks that will be featured in the upcoming DATAROCK-the musical.

This week, the group also released a remix by Ralph Myers of the title track from the EP on BigShot.  Both California and Catcher In the Rye can be purchased on iTunes.  And adding a little fun flair to the release of the single for TheCatcher In The Rye, fans can also purchase a collectible designer toy with a USB stick from SUPER7.  The USB stick features 113 tracks, 1500 photos taken at various shows with stops in 33 countries along with 20 music videos, Never Say Die, a brand new hour-long concert film as well as some other rarities and b-sides.

Check out the remix of “California“.

Phenomenal Handclap Band’s Quinn Luke’s New Solo Project


Disco lovers can rejoice in the funkadelic sounds of Quinn Luke’s solo project, Bing Ji Ling.  Luke, of Phenomenal Handclap Band fame, has just released Shadow To Shine on March 22nd via Tummy Touch Records.  The sound is a journey back in time when disco balls and platform shoes were a staple but with a modern twist.  Luke is embracing the 70s indie retro sound, making disco fun again and is quickly moving to the forefront of this new style of music.

Bing Ji Ling, mandarin for ice cream, sparks nostalgia for those days of ABBA, Earth, Wind & Fire, and early Beck.  His refreshing retro vibe is making people want to get up and shake their groove thing.  Bing Ji Ling is setting out on a bi-coastal tour in support of the album.  Check out the first single, “Everybody“.

Tour dates:
April 23rd- San Fran, CA – Burritt Room @ The Crescent Hotel W/ Tommy Guerrero
April 25th –  Los Angeles, CA – Silverlake Lounge
April 26th – Costa Mesa Live, CA – Mesa
April 27th- Costa Mesa Live, CA- Mesa  (DJ set) w/DJ Scotty Coats
April 28th- Los Angeles, CA- Dance Right @ La Cita (DJ set) w/DJ Scotty Coats
April 29th- Santa Anna, CA- Obey Radio @ The Crosby (DJ set)

Figurines And An Horse Premiere Videos on MTV2

With their recent stellar performance at SXSW behind them, Australian duo An Horse are wasting no time in conjuring up interest in their latest single “Dressed Sharply”.  The first single off their highly anticipated new album, Walls, premiered on MTV2 last week.  You can catch it on the MTV.com Buzzworthy site here.   Walls will hit stores on April 26th via Mom+Pop Music and to celebrate its release, An Horse will kick off its tour at New York City’s Knitting Factory and then heading south sharing dates with Alkaline Trio and Manchester Orchestra.

And in other news, the Danish trio Figurines will be releasing their self-titled third album via The Control Group on April 12th.  The band launched its video for “Hanging From Above” on MTV.com Hive.  MTV also featured the band’s track “Free Today” on a recent episode of “Skins”.  In support of their new album, Figurines are hitting the road in the northeastern U.S. for the first time in nearly four years. 

Check out An Horse and Figurines on their latest tour.

An Horse Tour:
3/27/11 – Washington, DC @ DC9
3/29/11 – Hamden, CT @ The Space
3/30/11 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
3/31/11 – Lancaster, PA @ Lizard Lounge
4/1/11 – Pittsburg, PA @ The Smiling Moose Upstairs
4/26/11 – Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory
4/27/11 – West Chester, PA @ The Note ^
4/28/11 – Providence, RI @ Lupo’s ^
4/29/11 – New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place ^
4/30/11 – E. Rutherford, NJ @ Bamboozle/New Meadowlands Complex
5/1/11 – Towson, MD @ Recher Theatre ^
5/2/11 – Kansas City, MO @ Beaumont Theater #
5/3/11 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant #
5/4/11 – Chicago, IL @ Metro #
5/6/11 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom #
5/7/11 – Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall #
5/8/11 – Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt
5/10/11 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
5/12/11 – Albany, NY @ Valentine’s
5/13/11 – Providence, RI @ Lupo’s #
5/14/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ TLA #
5/16/11 – Toronto, ON @ Mod Club #
5/17/11 – Toledo, OH @ Mickey Finn’s
5/18/11 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House
5/20/11 – Fayetteville, AR @ Rogue
5/21/11 – Norman, OK @ Opolis
5/22/11 – Dallas, TX @ The Loft
5/24/11 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s Jr.
5/26/11 – Tempe, AZ @ Sail Inn
5/27/11 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
5/28/11 – Upland, CA @ The Wire
^ w/ Alkaline Trio
# w/ Manchester Orchestraœ
 

Figurines Tour:

6/5/11 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat Backstage
6/8/11 – New Haven, CT @ Bar Night Club
6/9/11 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge (early)
6/10/11 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
6/11/11 – Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory

6/12/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Café Live