Sonny And The Sunsets Reflect On Their Youth


Hospitals have been good to Sonny Smith. He began singing while a patient at Warm Springs Foundation Hospital in Texas. And, at the Canyon Manor Rehabilitation Center north of San Francisco, he met drummer Kelley Stoltz. After adding Sonny’s brother and wife, Ryan Browne and Tahlia Harbour, the Sunsets were born.

Last month, Sonny and the Sunsets released their debut album Hit After Hit, and earlier this week they unveiled the music video for their new single “Reflections on Youth.” Check out the video and a full list of tour dates down below.

Summer Tour Dates

06/04 – Huichica Festival – Sonoma, CA

06/22 – 06/25 Sled Island Festival – Calgary, ALB

06/27 Waldorf Cabaret – Vancouver, BC *

06/28 The Funhouse – Seattle, WA !

07/01 Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA !

07/07 Soda Bar – San Diego, CA $

07/08 The Echo – Los Angeles, CA $

07/22 Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL !

07/23 Pike Room – Pontiac, MI !

07/24 Sneaky Dee’s – Toronto, ON !

07/26 Divan Orange – Montreal, QC !

07/27 North Star Bar – Philadelphia, PA !

07/28 DC9 – Washington, DC !

07/29 Mercury Lounge – New York, NY !
07/30 Glasslands – Brooklyn, NY !

08/05 – 08/07 Pickathon – Happy Valley, OR

* = w/ Hunx and his Punx, Shannon and the Clams

$ = w/ Wounded Lion

! = w/ The Sandwitches

Sam Roberts Band Announce Album and Release Single

Rockers the Sam Roberts Band have announced a tour to promote their upcoming album, Collider.  The album will be released on May 10th but you can listen to the first single from the album, called “The Last Crusade,” right here:
http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F13437341 Sam Roberts Band- The Last Crusade by MMMusic

Here are the tour dates!

May 16th         Rock N Roll Hotel            Washington DC
May 18th         Bowery Ballroom            New York City, NY
May 20th         Brighton Hall                   Boston, MA
May 24th         The Troubadour              Los Angeles, CA
May 25th         The Independent            San Francisco, CA
May 26th         Mississippi Studios         Portland OR
May 28th         Malkin Bowl                     Vancouver BC
May 29th         Sasquatch! Festival         The Gorge OR
June 3rd           Massey Hall                     Toronto ON
June 4th           Massey Hall                     Toronto ON
June 6th           First Ave                           Minneapolis MN
June 7th           Lincoln Hall                      Chicago IL
June 8th           St. Andrew’s Hall             Detroit, MI

The Wooden Birds Announce Tour and Drop New Single

Indie rockers The Wooden Birds have just announced they’re be going on tour in support of their new full length album, Two Matchsticks.  Led by Andrew Kenny of American Analog Set and Broken Social Scene, the band has also announced the release of previously unreleased songs.  You can listen to the title track of the new album right here: http://read.mtvhive.com/2011/04/18/song-the-wooden-birds-two-matchsticks/

Here are the spots you can see them on tour:

6/16 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room (all ages)
6/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo (18+)
6/18 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar (21+)
6/19 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Crepe Place (all ages)
6/23 – Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern (21+)
6/24 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir  (21+)
6/25 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill  (all ages)
7/8 – Chicago, IL @ The Hideout (21+)
7/9 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Founders Brewery (21+)
7/10 – Toronto, ON @ The Drake (all ages)
7/11 – Montreal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo  (all ages)
7/12 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott (18+)
7/14 – New York, NY @ Mercury (21+, 8pm)
7/15 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rock Shop (21+)
7/16 – Washington, DC @ DC9 (all ages)
7/17 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl (21+)
7/20 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk (all ages)

NXNE Announces 2011 Line Up

North By Northeast (NXNE) recently announced the second wave of bands for the 17th edition of the festival, taking over Toronto June 13-19, 2011. Now confirmed for the event are Devo, Descendents, Stars, The Pharcyde, Men Without Hats, Digable Planets, Twin Shadow, OFF!, Art Brut, Shad, Land of Talk, Chad VanGaalen, and Cults. They join previously announced acts that include The Dodos, Deerhoof, Hot Water Music, The Bouncing Souls, and Anti-Flag, Dum Dum Girls and others.

All NXNE Festival passes and wristbands are now on sale, available at www.nxne.com. Early-bird pricing for NXNE Priority Passes is available through April 25. And, the complete NXNE Music line-up and schedule, NXNE Film schedule and additional NXNE Interactive programming will be announced over the next few weeks. Stay tuned!

The Black Swans Release Video and Announce Shows and LP

The Black Swans have been mighty busy.  Their LP Don’t Blame the Stars was put on hold while recording when band member Noel Sayre passed.  The band finished recording their fourth LP by putting forth an even more profound resonance in their songs.  The LP drops on May 31st and you can see the video for the single “I Forgot To Change The Windshield Wipers In My Mind” right here:  http://www.magnetmagazine.com/2011/04/12/film-at-11-the-black-swans/

You can also catch them on tour on the following dates:

4/28 – Columbus, OH @ Treehouse w/Southeast Engine
5/15 – Nelsonville, OH @ Nelsonville Festival
5/20 – Cleveland, OH @ Survival Kit
6/3 – Columbus, OH @ Rumba *Record Release Show

Bill Callahan Releases New Album And Announces Tour Dates

Bill Callahan, also known as Smog, is a lo-fi underground rock artist best known for releasing Jandek-influenced experimental rock before growing more nuanced and “professional” sounding as his career has progressed.

Drag City, his longtime label, just released latest album Apocalypse on April 5th in preparation for a nationwide tour! Check out the song “Baby’s Breath” here and tour dates below!

Tour Dates

Mon. May 2 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
Tue. June 14 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launch Pad
Wed. June 15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room
Thu. June 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
Fri. June 17 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Soho
Sat. June 18 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
Sun. June 19 – Big Sur, CA @ Henry Miller Library
Wed. June 22 – Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s
Mon. June 27 – Denver, CO @ High Dive
Fri. July 1 – Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center
Sun. July 3 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
Fri. July 8 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Andy Warhol Museum
Sun. July 10 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
Mon. July 11 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Tue. July 12 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
Fri. Aug. 5 – Sat. Aug. 6 – Portland, OR @ Pickathon