California Wives Release New Single For Download


New wave indie-pop quartet California Wives have premiered a new single off their EP “Affair” for download. The track has an upbeat pop rock sound somewhere in between Phoenix, Against Me and a John Hughes movie.

Formed in 2009, California Wives is Jayson Kramer (vocals, keys, guitar), Dan Zima (vocals, bass, guitar), Joe O’Connor (drums) and Hans Michel (guitar, keys), have spent the past year working on their 5-song EP Affair. Since then, the Wives have kept busy, they just cut a Daytrotter session last week, and continue to add dates to their upcoming Winter tour.

Tour Dates

Dec 22 – Schubas – Chicago, IL

Jan 28 – Subterranean Chicago, IL

Jan 29 – Mike and Mollys – Champaign, IL

Jan 30 – Firebird – St. Louis, IL

Arboretum Reveals Track Listing & Cover Art For Upcoming Album

 

Inspired by Carl Jung’s The Red Book, Arboretum’s upcoming fourth album The Gathering has woven together a mixture of songs based on the concept of “losing one’s way and finding it again.”

Dave Heumann, singer, guitarist and primary man behind the lyrics, has always been an admirer of Jung’s work and says that he’s been a longtime fan of experiences that surpass comprehension. Using imagery based on Jung’s psychological archetypes and themes from Gnostic mythology, The Gathering is a perfect display of the perfect melding together of Heumann’s lyrics and guitars with Corey Allender’s driven bass lines that make it easy for listeners to get lost in the imaginary world the band has created.

For The Gathering, Arboretum enlisted Matt Boynton who recorded the band’s 2007 release Rites of Uncovering. Boynton was able to capture the sound Arboretum was trying to create and the result is somewhat of a masterpiece with both the album version and live performances blowing the audience away with such vivid detail.

Arboretum plays Cameo in New York City on Friday, December 3rd. The Gathering will be released February 22nd on Thrill Jockey Records with a tour to follow in the U.S. and Europe.

Tracklist:

01 The White Bird
02 When Delivery Comes
03 Destroying to Save
04 Highwayman
05 Waxing Crescents
06 The Empty Shell
07 Song of the Nile

Grinderman Personally Invited Shilpa Ray to Join North American Tour Dates


Grinderman, currently in the midst of their North American Tour, were in need of an opener for their show one night in Washington, DC, and they were personally requesting Shilpa Ray be there to play the date. Without hesitation she jumped out the door, harmonium in hand, and was on her way south to the 9:30 club.

Once praised by Nick Cave as a “Band of The Day” in the canadian National Post, Shilpa Ray was honored to help warm up the audience that night. She then joined Grinderman on their next few dates in Atlanta, Memphis, and Nashville as well.

Following the release of their album “Teenage and Torture” January 18th 2011, and a CD Release party at Brooklyn Bowl January 21st with Hooray For Earth and Soft Black, Shilpa Ray And Her Happy Hookers will embark upon a National Tour with Japanese psychedelic group Acid Mothers Temple.

Check out this track from the new album, Heaven in Stereo, a punky garage rock with a great female voice in the lead.

http://soundcloud.com/justgentile/shilpa-ray-heaven-in-stereo

Upcoming Tour Dates:
* = w/ Acid Mothers Temple
JANUARY
21 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl (Record Release w/ Hooray For Earth, Soft Black)
22 – Buffalo, NY – Mohawk Place
MARCH
23 – Los Angeles, CA – Spaceland*
24 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill*
26 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge*
27 – Bellingham, WA – The Wild Buffalo*
28 – Seattle, WA – Chop Suey*
29 – Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret*
31 – Calgary, AB – Broken City*
APRIL
01 – Missoula, MT – The Badlander*
02 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge*
03 – Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge*
04 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre*
05 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry*
06 – Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle*
07 – Kalamazoo, MI – The Strutt*
08 – Toronto, ON – El Mocambo*
09 – Montreal, QC – Il Motore*
10 – Allston, MA – Great Scott*
11 – Milford, CT – Daniel Street*
13 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brendas*
14 – Washington, DC – Red Palace*
15 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar*
16 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506*
17 – Knoxville, TN – Pilot Light*
18 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl*
19 – New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks*
20 – Houston, TX – Fitzgeralds*
21 – Dallas, TX – The Loft*
22 – Austin, TX – Red 7*

Introducing Roman Photos

Roman Photos’ new 7″  is set for release on Atlanta label Double Phantom Records this December. Their music can best be described as chill, 80s inspired electro with an interesting twist.
Roman Photos’ music offers an interesting dichotomy, formed between the vocals of their music and the instrumentals. At first, the somberness of the vocal is a bit jarring when laid over the upbeat instrumental but it eventually grows on you. Listen to their song new song “Decline” below, or download it HERE.

Aesop Rock “Butchers” Grimace Federation

Not meant to confuse, “Butchers” is the humble credit Aesop Rock has taken in his remixing of Grimace Federation’s first single, “Bosico.”  The video was shot with the contribution of Cage, Jeremy Fish, and Fish’s van, and was produced by 900bats contributors Alexander Tarrant and Justin Metros.  Cruising around San Francisco — with the most recognizable shot in the video being a passing Polk St sign — Aesop lashes out on haters of a specific breed: elitists.  “I’m gonna guess you thought this all before me, but better and with a more elite view; that’s what you do,” he raps out in his oddly articulate, laid-back flow.  Then again, that juxtaposition is what allows him to stand safely on the ivory tower he builds throughout the song.  Well, perhaps less of a tower and more of a Formica countertop to give a better perspective.  How else could you possibly remix a song, call it butchering, cry fowl to hubris in that song, and all the while look like your enjoying a trip to an overcast beach with a crew including a guy with a bigger beard than Zach Galafinakis?  

Check out the video below:

Brew Your Own Cup of Wilco


With Black Friday right around the corner, its time to start Christmas shopping for your loved ones. Not sure what to stuff their stockings with? How about some Wilco Coffee?

I know what you’re thinking. What is Wilco Coffee? Well, some of band’s members visited Inteligentsia Coffee’s Cupping Lap to pick their favorite variety. They settled on a coffee from the Sidama region of Ethiopiam, grown by the Homecho Waeno co-op.

Our friends over at Stereogum have a description of the coffee’s flavor, which I have admit sounds intriguing. The retail price ($21 per pound) is a little steep. But, for those who are interested, you can purchase Wilco Coffee here.