Interview: GOSPELS Prep for CMJ

Made up of Alex Frenkel, Mike Gordon, Alex Marans and Owen Murphy, New York based band GOSPELS are ready to take over CMJ this year. We caught up with the band pre-CMJ to have a quick chat about what Gospels is all about.

Catch the band TONIGHT at CMJ! Tuesday, October 16th, 9pm at Webster Hall.

Gospels will be taking the stage for the Ooh La La Records Official Part with Starlight Girls, The Last Royals, Ambassadors and more!
What is the story behind Gospels’ name?
Gospels was the first we felt was a keeper.

How did the project come about?
A few of us were playing with groups in the bushwick, bk area…playing in basements and equally cramped spaces. At some point we decided to make the move to a stand-alone house in Queens. From there, we built up a sound we were excited about and started working on an EP.

It’s been stated that you recorded your EP “Animal Feelings” in your home in Forest Hills. How would you describe your creative writing process? Is it mostly a fluid stream of consciousness for the whole group or more organized?
One benefit of living in the same place is being able to work in different configurations, at different paces and with different production approaches. A vocal melody will sell us on bringing a song to completion.

How would you describe your music to a new listener?

Tough question to answer..our drummer just said “fierce, but stable”, so we’ll go with that.

Describe a regular day in Gospels’ house.

When we’re in rehearsal mode, we run the set together in our basement a few days a week. We also have our own recording rigs, so a lot of time is spent on new sounds and demos for the next record. During recording and writing periods, we’re working at all hours. We have this amazing attic that’s incredibly warm-sounding, so we head up there for some guitar stuff. The floor boards aren’t very well nailed down, it’s sort of like being in the bowels of an old ship.

What is the best part about participating in the CMJ this year?
Seeing a reaction to this thing we’ve put a lot of time into, for sure. Our friends have been scratching their heads wondering what the hell we’ve been up to in Queens the past few months.

What’s next for Gospels?
We start writing for the first full-length after CMJ, really looking forward to that.

California Wives Debut New Video, Head On Tour with Diamond Rings


California Wives seem to be everyone’s favorite band this year, and they certainly have even greater things ahead as 2012 comes to a close. Not only did they just premiere their newest video for “Purple,” during this week’s VMA’s (What? MTV playing music? Absurd!), but they have also just announced a batch of lengthy tour dates with Diamond Rings this fall, that kicks off later this month. Two stellar acts on one bill? You would be well advised to jump on those tickets early!

California Wives Tour Dates

9/12 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall (CD Release Show)
9/16 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
9/17 – Toronto, ON – Parts and Labour
9/18 – Buffalo, NY – Ninth Ward

Tour Dates w/ Stars and Diamond Rings

9/20 – Portland, ME – Port City Music Hall
9/21 – Boston, MA – Paradise
9/22 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
9/23 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
9/25 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater
9/26 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
9/27 – Charlotte, NC – Visulite Theatre
9/28 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
9/29 – Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
10/2 – Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall
10/3 – Cincinnati, OH – 20th Century Theatre
10/4 – Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe @ Old National Centre
10/5 – St. Louis, MO – Plush
10/6 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note
10/9 – Lawrence, KS – The Bottleneck
10/10 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
10/11 – Little Rock, AR – Revolution Music Room
10/12 – Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s Upstairs
10/13 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theatre
10/17 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
10/18 – Los Angeles, CA – Mayan Theater
10/19 – Santa Cruz, CA – Rio Theatre
10/20 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore

Cymbals Eat Guitars Premiere New Track “Hawkeye”


I still remember seeing Cymbals Eat Guitars as a bright-eyed band playing at Brooklyn Bowl at an Insound Anniversary party co-headlining with Real Estate and The Drums a few years back. The critically acclaimed group are opening for the legendary Bob Mould on a few East Coast dates, kicking it off last night at the Williamsburg Waterfront in Brooklyn. Cymbals Eat Guitars unleashed a new track to the masses yesterday as they premiered “Hawkeye,” on Pitchfork yesterday afternoon. The dreamy track blends just enough sugary twee feel into their unique sound, creating the perfect song to get you in the mood for Fall. Give it a listen, you won’t be sorry.

Listen to Cymbals Eat Guitars “Hawkeye” over at Pitchfork HERE

DATES with Bob Mould
9/10 – The Paradise – Boston, MA
9/11 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA

Oberhofer Heads On Tour, Releases Video for “Cruisin’ FDR”

With CMJ coming up shortly, Oberhofer always brings back memories. I remember catching one of his earliest sets a few years back, as he played a CMJ day show at Piano’s on the Lower East Side. It is truly amazing to see how he, and the band,  has grown since then. Just as catchy and intriguing as when they first started, Brad Oberhofer and Co. continue to bring their music to the next level, without fail, every time. The group has just released their latest video for “Cruisin FDR,” and a slew of tour dates for your eyes and ears with Matt & Kim, Best Coast and Phantogram to name a few.

Tour Dates 

09/16 – KBZT / SD’s Annual Independence Jam – Oceanside, CA #
09/22 – Pearlpalooza – Albany, NY *!
10/03 – Higher Ground Ballroom – South Burlington, VT *
10/04 – The Westcott Theater – Syracuse,    NY *
10/05 – Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto, ON *
10/06 – Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY *
10/07 – Electric Factory – Philadelphia, PA *
10/09 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC *
10/10 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC *
10/11 – The Fillmore Charlotte – Charlotte,  NC *
10/12 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA *
10/13 – Austin City Limits Festival – Austin, TX
10/14 – The Fillmore Miami Beach – Miami Beach, FL *
10/16 – The Moon – Tallahassee, FL *
10/17 – The Ritz Ybor – Tampa, FL *
10/18 – House of Blues – New Orleans, LA *
10/19 – House of Blues – Houston, TX *
10/20 – Stubb’s BBQ – Austin, TX *
10/21 – House of Blues – Dallas, TX *
10/23 – Marquee Theatre – Tempe, AZ *
10/25 – The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA *
10/26 – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA *
10/27 – Roseland Theater – Portland, OR *
10/28 – The Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC *
10/30 – Neptune Theatre – Seattle, WA *
11/01 – In the Venue – Salt Lake City, UT *
11/02 – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO *
11/03 – Liberty Hall – Lawrence, KS *
11/04 – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO *
11/06 – Slowdown – Omaha, NE *
11/07 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN *
11/08 – Rave Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI *
11/09 – The Vogue – Indianapolis, IN *
11/10 – Congress Theater – Chicago, IL *
11/11 – Majestic Theatre – Detroit, MI *
11/13 – House of Blues – Cleveland, OH *
11/14 – Newport Music Hall – Columbus,    OH *
11/15 – Terminal 5 – New York, NY *
11/16 – House of Blues – Boston, MA *
11/17 – Wellmont Theatre – Montclair, NJ *

# with Fiona Apple, Best Coast, Gardens & Villa

* with Matt & Kim

! with Phantogram


 

DIIV Launches Video on Rolling Stone, Tour Dates in Tow

Zachary Cole Smith’s side project, DIIV, has certainly gained a lot of exposure in the past year, and the height of their popularity just keeps on growing. This week the band released the dreamy new video for “Doused,”  via Rolling Stone. The dreamy video goes perfectly with the haunting track which mixes in some of the most colorful and intriguing live footage you will ever see.  Launching a big premiere on Rolling Stone, it seems obvious that DIIV may become just more than a side project. It’s already a phenomenon.

The band has just kicked off a massive U.S. tour this week, and will be headed directly to Europe soon after.

DIIV NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES

9/07/12 @ Biltmore Cabaret- Vancouver, BC *

9/08/12 @ Music Fest Northwest- Portland, OR *
9/09/12 @ Neumos- Seattle, WA *
9/12/12 @ Larimer Lounge- Denver, CO *
9/13/12 @ Jackpot Music Hall- Lawrence, KS *
9/14/12 @ The Sandbox- Omaha, NE *
9/15/12 @ Triple Rock Social Club- Minneapolis, MN *
9/16/12 @ Empty Bottle- Chicago, IL *
9/17/12 @ Magic Stick- Detroit, MI *
9/18/12 @ The Great Hall- Toronto, ON *
9/19/12 @ Ill Motore- Montreal, QC *
9/20/12 @ Brighton Music Hall- Boston, MA *
9/24/12 @ Union Transfer- Philadelphia, PA *
9/25/12 @ Rock and Roll Hotel- Washington, DC *
9/26/12 @ The Southern- Charlottesville, VA *
9/27/12 @ Grey Eagle- Asheville, NC *
9/28/12 @ Exit In- Nashville, TN *
9/29/12 @ 529- Atlanta, GA *
10/1/12 @Warren Wilson College- Swannanoa, NC
10/6/12 @INDEX Festival- Deep Ellum, TX
10/9/12 @ Echoplex- Los Angeles
* w/ Wild Nothing
DIIV EUROPEAN TOUR DATES
 
11/01/12 @ Pitchfork Paris Festival- Paris, France
11/02/12 @ The Rewire Festival- The Hague, Netherlands
11/03/12 @ Iceland Airwaves- Reykjavik, Iceland
11/05/12 @ Kuudes Linja- Helsinki, Finland
11/07/12 @ John Dee- Oslo, Norway
11/08/12 @ Debaser Slussen- Stockholm, Sweden
11/09/12 @ Loppen- Copenhagen, Denmark
11/10/12 @ Molotow- Hamburg, Germany
11/11/12 @ Bi Nuu- Berlin, Germany
11/12/12 @ Gebaude 9- Cologne, Germany
11/13/12 @ De Kreun- Kortrijk, Belgium
11/14/12 @ The Garage- London, UK
11/15/12 @ Plymouth Pavillions- Plymouth, UK w/ The Vaccines
11/17/12 @ Alexandra Palace- London, UK w/ The Vaccines
11/19/12 @ De Montfort Hall- Leicester, UK w/ The Vaccines
11/20/12 @ Deaf Institute- Manchester, UK
11/21/12 @ The Apollo- Manchester, UK w/ The Vaccines
11/22/12 @ Liverpool University- Liverpool, UK w/ The Vaccines
11/23/12 @ Doncaster Dome- Doncaster, UK w/ The Vaccines
11/25/12 @ 02 Academy- Glasgow, UK- w/ The Vaccines – Sold Out
11/26/12 @ 02 Academy- Glasgow, UK w/ The Vaccines
11/27/12 @ 02 Academy Newcastle- Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK w/ The Vaccines
11/28/12 @ Brudenell Social Club- Leeds, UK w/ The Raveonettes
11/29/12 @ 02 Academy- Birmingham, UK w/ The Vaccines
11/30/12 @ 02 Academy Bournemouth- Bournemouth, UK  w/ The Vaccines
12/01/12 @ Autumn Falls Festival @ AB- Brussels, Belgium
12/02/12 @ Le Guess Who Festival- Utrecht, Netherlands

 

Woods Announce Tour Dates, Premieres Video for “Cali in a Cup”


Woods had a few tasty treats for us in store this week! Not on have they given us a slew of new tour dates, but they have also unleashed their infectious new video, “Cali in a Cup.” Directed by Adarsha Benjamin, the piece is the first video from the upcoming Bend Beyond. The video was shot at this year’s Woodsist Festival on a Super 8 Camera. The stunning vintage footage acts as the perfect canvas for the gorgeous track, which you won’t be able to stop watching. Trust me. Woods releases Bend Beyond on September 18th via Woodsist.

Tour Dates

Sat-Sep-08 New York, NY Meatopia at Randall’s Island
Wed-Sep-26 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse *
Thu-Sep-27 Nashville, TN Cannery Ballroom *
Fri-Sep-28 Asheville, NC Orange Peel *
Sat-Sep-29 Cincinnatti, OH Midpoint Music Fest / Grammers *
Sun-Sep-30 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Smalls *
Tue-Oct-02 Toronto, ON The Garrison
Wed-Oct-03 Ann Arbor, MI Yellow Barn
Thu-Oct-04 Chicago, IL Subterranean #
Fri-Oct-05 Madison, WI Der Rathskeller at Memorial Union #
Sat-Oct-06 St Paul, MN Turf Club #
Sun-Oct-07 Iowa City, IA The Mill #
Tue-Oct-09 Denver, CO Larimer Lounge
Fri-Oct-12 Portland, OR Mississippi Studios
Sat-Oct-13 Vancouver, BC Media Club
Sun-Oct-14 Seattle, WA Barboza
Tue-Oct-16 Oakland, CA New Parish
Wed-Oct-17 San Francisco, CA Preservation Hall
Thu-Oct-18 Santa Barbara, CA TBD
Fri-Oct-19 Los Angeles, CA The Echo
Sat-Oct-20 San Diego, CA The Loft @ UCSD
Sun-Oct-21 Pioneertown, CA Pappy and Harriets
Wed-Oct-24 Austin, TX Red 7 %
Thu-Oct-25 Dallas, TX Club Dada %
Fri-Oct-26 Memphis, TN Hi Tone %
Wed-Oct-31 Chapel Hill, NC Duke Coffeehouse %
Thu-Nov-01 Richmond, VA Strange Matter %
Fri-Nov-02 Washington, DC Red Palace %
Sat-Nov-03 New York, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg %#

* = with The Walkmen
# = with Purling Hiss
% = with Widowspeak