by nmcollins

Deer Tick Release Christmas Single, Acoustic Dates

Country-rock stalwarts, Deer Tick, have released your grandmother’s least favorite Christmas single. Titled “Holy Shit, It’s Christmas,” the Providence, Rhode Island natives bring a much needed kick in the pants to holiday music. This two song single, featuring both the title track and the song “Christmas All Year Long”, is out now on Itunes but can be picked up for free via the Partisan Records website with the purchase of any physical Deer Tick merch.

On the heels of their Christmas single, lead singer/guitarist John McCauley and guitarist Ian O’Neill have released a series of stripped down acoustic shows. McCauley has also added a solo date on December 20th to benefit Invisible Children, a non-profit committed to ending conflict in Uganda.

Tour Dates:

Mon-Dec-20 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour *
Fri-Jan-14    Boston, MA    Middle East Upstairs
Sat-Jan-15    Providence, RI    Met Café
Sun-Jan-16    Northampton, MA    Iron Horse
Wed-Jan-19    New York, NY    City Winery
Thu-Jan-20    New Haven, CT    Daniel Street
Fri-Jan-21    Philadelphia, PA    First Unitarian Church Santuary
Sat-Jan-22    York, PA    Strand Capitol Performing Arts Center
Sun-Jan-23    Washington, DC    Rock and Roll Hotel

* = John McCauley only, w/ Mountain Man, Guards

Christmas All Summer Long by nmcollins

12.07.10

by wesleyambrecht

The New Odd Couple: Jaime xx and Gil Scott Heron

2010 saw a rise to fame for frontman Jamie xx of The xx and a return to prominence for fusion artist Gil Scott Heron. After a 13 year hiatus from music, Heron released I’m New Here to mostly rave reviews, while Jamie saw equally positive reviews pour in for his band’s debut album, xx.

Now, the pair are teaming up for what is sure to be one of 2011’s most intriguing releases. Less of a collaboration than a reinterpretation, Jamie plans on taking 13 of the songs Heron recorded during the I New Here sessions and twisting them into a new body of work. Entitled We’re New Here, the album is set to be released on February 22nd.

The first single from We’re New Here, “NY is Killing Me,” was released earlier this week and is currently available for download HERE. You can also peep the video down below.

12.07.10

by mcirigliano2

The Joy Formidable Announces New Album

Welsh rock trio The Joy Formidable are set to release their debut album, The Big Roar, March 15th on Canvasback/Atlantic Records. The band spent much of 2009 touring, in support of Editors, Temper Trap, and Passion Pit. After self-releasing their A Balloon Called Moaning EP at home last February, The Joy Formidable quickly became critical darlings, receiving rave reviews from The Guardian, NME, The London Times, Spin and Pitchfork, as well as praise from Garbage’s Shirley Manson.

In late April, The Joy Formidable teamed with a new label started by Passion Pit’s Ayad Al Adhamy, Black Bell Records, to release A Balloon Called Moaning in the U.S. The New York Times‘ Jon Pareles praised the EP’s “cryptic lyrics that glint with urgency,” and said that “the music regenerates the turbulent haze of 1990s rock, but it’s less tormented and more anthemic, confident of the pop structures at its core.”

When touring came to an end, the band quickly got to work on crafting new material for The Big Roar. Lead Singer Ritzy Bryan, bassist Rhydian Dafydd, and drummer Matthew Thomas holed up in their London flat, recording ideas as they came along, ultimately creating a remarkable collection of modern rock songs that explore what Bryan describes as “the possibility of victory in a hopeless situation.”

Lead single “I Don’t Want To See You Like This” is available now. Full tracklisting below:

1. The Everchanging Spectrum Of A Lie

2. The Magnifying Glass

3. I Don’t Want To See You Like This

4. Austere

5. A Heavy Abacus

6. Whirring

7. Buoy

8. Maruyama

9. Cradle

10. Llaw = Wall

11. Chapter 2

12. The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade

12.07.10

by Sedera Ranaivoarinosy

The Duke Spirit Offer Up New Song, “Villain”

The Duke Spirit are giving us a taste of their upcoming album Bruiser, due out on Shangri-La Music out in Spring 2011, with a free download of their new track, “Villain,” premiered on SPIN.com.

On this fiery track, we find the band’s leading lady, Liela Moss, on the piano, and singing as seductively as ever over hauntingly carnal guitar riffs. The British rockers are sure to leave you yearning for more new sounds with this one.

Listen to the “Villain” below, and download it for free HERE:

12.07.10

by nmcollins

Pujol Premiere Jack White Produced Single

Pujol, the brainchild of frontman Daniel Pujol, has been rocking Nashville so hard, Jack White finally heard. Pujol “recalls Paul Westerberg on those early, bratty Replacements records.” Prefix Mag. One of Spin Magazines five Nashville bands you need to know, Pujol’s 7″ “Black Rabbit” is out now on Third Man Records. There is also a limited edition 7″ coming later this month (“No Feeling”) on Turbo Time Record. Check out “Too Safe” produced by Jack White, then catch them on the road.

Pujol Too Safe Single by nmcollins

Upcoming US Tour Dates
12/13 – Siberia – New Orleans, LA*
12/14 – Fitzgerald’s – Houston, TX*
12/15 – Theo’s Billiards – Corpus Christi, TX*
12/16 – Korova – San Antonio, TX*
12/17 – Red 7 – Austin, TX*
12/18 – Rubbergloves – Denton, TX*
12/19 – Buccaneer – Memphis, TN*

2/1/11 – The Bottletree Cafe – Birmingham, AL**
2/2/11 – The End – Nashville, TN**
2/3/11 – King Barcade – Raleigh, NC**
2/4/11 – Comet Pizza – Washington D.C.**
2/5/11 – 285 Kent – Brooklyn, NY**
2/6/11 – Machines with Magnets – Providence, RI**
2/8/11 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH**

*w/ Turbo Fruits
**w/ Monotonix

12.07.10

by summer826

Surf City Gives ‘Kudos’

It has been a long time since a band could combine elements of early ‘80s alternative with the velvety guitar melodies of ‘90s college rock to the poetic lyrics of many indie bands of today, but New Zealand’s Surf City has managed to do all of that and still sound original and on the edge of something truly spectacular.

Surf City was formed by guitar mavens Davin Stoddard and Josh Kennedy. They quickly added Josh’s brother Jamie on bass and Logan Collins on drums and from there the group was complete. Driven with a passion to create some of the best psychedelic pop music around, they sought out Steve Keene who had previously worked with bands Pavement and Silver Jews to produce their self titled EP. Upon the release of their first EP, Surf City immediately gained momentum which did not go unnoticed as they impressed music Web sites Stereogum and All Music.

Surf City released their long awaited debut album Kudos on Fire Records on November 30^th to a lot of buzz with the band being hailed as New Zealand’s most hyped and possibly best indie band to emerge in a very long time. The first two singles, “Crazy Rulers of The World” and “Kudos” have already whet the palettes of music lovers everywhere leaving them all wanting more.