The Morning Benders Plan Extensive Tour


The Morning Benders have recently added a slew of more tour dates to their ever growing schedule. The band already announced a few months ago their plans to play a number of dates, but now the tour has expanded all the way to next year. The Morning Benders’ newest release, Big Echo (+1/Roughtrade), which came out earlier this year, has been a turning point in the band’s career. The shows will feature the group as headliners as they travel through the United States, Europe and Australia. Take a look at the tour dates below. If you miss out on these shows you should reconsider your love of music.

The Morning Benders – “I Wanna Be Like You (Jungle Book cover)” by ModernMysteryBlog

The Morning Benders Tour Dates:

09-11 Berlin, Germany – Berlin Festival
09-12 Heidelberg, Germany – Karlstorbanhof
09-13 Cologne, Germany – Luxor
09-14 Utrecht, Belgium – Tivoli de Helling
09-16 Aarhus, Denmark – Vox Hall
09-17 Stockholm, Sweden – Debaser
09-18 Gothenburg, Sweden – Pustervik
09-19 Oslo, Norway – John Dee
09-21 Haldern, Germany – Haldern Bar
09-22 Dresden, Germany – Beatpol
09-26 Winterthur, Switzerland – Sazhaus
09-27 Eindhoven, Netherlands – Effenaar
09-28 Brussels, Belgium – AB
09-29 Paris, France – Nouveau Casino
09-30 London, England – Borderline
10-09 Dallas, TX – Kessler Theater
10-10 Austin, TX – Austin City Limits
10-12 Tempe, AZ – Clubhouse Music Venue
10-13 Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
10-14 Los Angeles, CA – Music Box
10-15 Santa Cruz, CA – Rio Theatre
10-16 San Francisco, CA – Fillmore
10-18 Seattle, WA – Neumo’s
10-19 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
10-20 Vancouver, British Columbia – Venue
10-22 Boise, ID – Neurolux
10-23 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
10-25 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
10-28 Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
10-29 Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall Ballroom
10-31 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
11-02 Newport, KY – Historic Southgate House
11-03 Columbus, OH – Basement
11-05 Toronto, Ontario – Mod Club Theatre
11-06 Montreal, Quebec – Cabaret du Mile End
11-07 South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Showcase Lounge
11-09 Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
11-10 Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall
11-11 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
11-12 Washington, DC – Black Cat
11-18 New York, NY – Webster Hall
12-30 Hobart, Australia – Falls Festival
12-31 Lorne, Australia – Falls Festival
01-02 Busselton, Australia – Southbound Festival
01-06 Brisbane, Australia – Sunset Sounds Festival

The Morning Benders “Big Echo”

Why did it take me so long to review this album? Well I was too busy enjoying it, that’s why.

The Morning Benders have taken a new approach on their sophomore record, Big Echo (+1/Roughtrade). With producer and Grizzly Bear cohort Chris Taylor in tow, the band went into the studio last year to record an album that has finally launched their career into the spotlight.

While their first record Talking Through Tin Cans (+1) brought out the sweet, sugary, indie pop side of the band, this time they are headed in a different direction. This is indeed four guys who have grown up drastically since the last time they went into the studio. The songs show a more mature side of the group and it seems natural and effortless.

The album opens up with the first two singles, “Excuses,” and “Promises.” Both are only the beginning of what is to come on this record. If you were lucky enough to catch singer Chris Chu’s solo performance at CMJ 2009, you were able to see some of these songs including a special teenaged filled background vocal performance of “Excuses.”

“Wet Cement,” brings a bit of the first record in with it. It’s a very mellow and adorable song to say the least. One thing that stands out even more on this album is Chu’s voice. It is dreamy, smooth and flawless. This is more often than not hard to find these days. It’s as if his voice has the capability to bring you back into the 60’s. One of my personal favorite tunes on the record is “Cold War (Nice Clean Fight),” which clocks in under the two minute mark. This is a stomp your feet, clap your hands along song with it’s infectious beat.

“Pleasure Sighs,” “Hand Me Downs,” and “Mason Jar,” bring out a more experimental sound in the band. A little pyschadelic if you will, which the band has never really hit on before. Though somehow it fits and they manage to pull it off. You can really see Taylor’s influence in these songs.

“All Day Day Light,” contains a bit of an 80’s meets 60’s vibe to it. Take that for a leap of decades, right? It flows perfectly and trust me, it will not be leaving your head anytime soon. This is one to put on repeat. The album ends with the breezy “Stitches,” and “Sleeping In,” which appears to draw influences from the Beach Boys in the most flattering way.

Big Echo has launched The Morning Benders from small time indie band to full time buzz band. There is bound to be a lot more where that comes from so be on the lookout. If you haven’t checked out this record yet, do not hesitate. It has the makings to be an indie classic.

The Morning Benders – “Dreams” (Fleetwood Mac Cover) by modernmysteryblog

Lollapalooza Announces 2010 Lineup

Lollapalooza is almost here! The festival just announced this morning the full line up, and we must say, it’s the best batch of bands we’ve seen in years. It makes us wish this was still a show that went on tour. The fun all goes down from August 6th to 8th at Grant Park in Chicago.

Reunions and big name stars will be gracing the stage and you won’t know where to go first. Some of the bands and artists that will be appearing include the recently reunited Soundgarden, The Strokes, Lady Gaga, MGMT, New Pornographers, The Morning Benders, Arcade Fire, Spoon, The National, Gogol Bordello, Mutemath, Metric, Dirty Projectors, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Phoenix, the xx, Blitzen Trapper, The Miniature Tigers, Grizzly Bear, The Walkmen, Waaves, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Javelin, Harlem, Hockey and TONS more.

The tickets will only set you back $ 215 at the Lollapalooza site.

Check out the full lineup!

Soundgarden
Green Day
Lady Gaga
Arcade Fire
The Strokes
Phoenix
Social Distortion
MGMT
Jimmy Cliff
Hot Chip
The Black Keys
The National
Spoon
Devo
Cypress Hill
Cut Copy
The New Pornographers
Erykah Badu
Slightly Stoopid
Grizzly Bear
Gogol Bordello
Chromeo
Wolfmother
Yeasayer
X Japan
MUTEMATH
Metric
Dirty Projectors
AFI
Mavis Staples
Matt & Kim
The xx
Drive-By Truckers
Blues Traveler
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
The Temper Trap
Jamie Lidell
Frightened Rabbit
F**k Buttons
Deer Tick
Blitzen Trapper
Stars
Raphael Saadiq
The Cribs
Minus the Bear
Switchfoot
The Walkmen
Mumford & Sons
Wild Beasts
Rogue Wave
Los Amigos Invisibles
The Big Pink
The Dodos
Hockey
Cymbals Eat Guitars
B.o.B
Dawes
Warpaint
The Antlers
The Soft Pack
Rebelution
Balkan Beat Box
Wavves
American Bang
The Ike Reilly Assassination
Company of Thieves
Nneka
Harlem
The Constellations
Miniature Tigers
Mimicking Birds
The Kissaway Trail
HEALTH
Javelin
The Morning Benders
Foxy Shazam
Violent Soho
Royal Bangs
NEON TREES
Freelance Whales
Semi Precious Weapons
Dan Black
The Band of Heathens
Dragonette
My Dear Disco
Shawn Fisher
Neon Hitch
Skybox
The Ettes
Jukebox the Ghost
These United States
MyNameIsJohnMichael
PERFORMING AT PERRY’S
2ManyDJs
Empire of the Sun
Digitalism
Perry Farrell
Tiga
Felix da Housecat
Rusko
Erol Alkan
Kaskade
Flosstradamus
Wolfgang Gartner
Joachim Garraud
Mexican Institute of Sound
Caspa
Peanut Butter Wolf
Dirty South
NERVO
Cut Copy (DJ Set)
Beats Antique
Steve Porter
Didi Gutman of Brazilian Girls
Ancient Astronauts
Ana Sia
Team Bayside High
Dani Deahl
FreeSol
DJ Mel
BBU
Vonnegutt
Only Children
Lance Herbstrong

Listen to the New Single “Excuses” by The Morning Benders!


Earlier this we showed you the new video by The Morning Benders, called “Excuses,” off of their upcoming record, Big Echo (Roughtrade) due out March 9th. Today the band put up on their website the new song to download. The studio version of the track is even more beautiful than the one in the video. The Morning Benders have always been a great band, and it’s nice to see they are finally gaining some recognition. Stream “Excuses” on Modern Mystery below!

Morning Benders Excuses by melissa-2

The Morning Benders Release Friend Filled Video for “Excuses”

The Morning Benders have certainly come up in the world. You don’t have to search hard on Modern Mystery to find out that we’ve loved this band since day one. I personally recall listening to the band for the first time when one of their first videos for “Waiting for a War,” came onto the scene from their debut album Talking Through Tin Cans (+1 Music) in 2008. For most people, the guys have been a bit off the radar until recently. Now they seem to be exploding everywhere we look.  Their newest record titled Big Echo (Rough Trade) will be out on March 9th and is produced by no other than Grizzly Bear’s own Chris Taylor.

The Morning Benders just put out an amazing performance video of their new song ” Excuses,” which singer Chris Chu performed at CMJ during his very intimate Lit Lounge performance with a bunch of very talented teenagers. In the video for “Excuses”  the band was joined with the help of various people and friends (spot Chris from Girls? or the sensational John Vanderslice?) along with the Echo Chamber Orchestra. The Morning Benders are about to become your new favorite band, if they aren’t already. Check out the video and tour dates below including shows with Surfer Blood and The Miniature Tigers!

The Morning Benders on Tour 
02/25 – New York, New York @ Housing Works (Hype Machine CD Swap)
02/27 – Brooklyn, New York @ Market Hotel #
03/10 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania @ Johnny Brendas
03/11 – Washington DC @ Black Cat
03/12 – Chapel Hill, North Carolina @ Local 506
03/13 – Atlanta, Georgia @ Drunken Unicorn
03/15 – Birmingham, Alabama @ The Bottletree
03/17 – Austin, Texas (SXSW)
03/23 – Phoenix, Arizona @ Rhythm Room
03/25 – Los Angeles, California @ The Troubador
03/26 – San Diego, California @ The Casbah
03/27 – Costa Mesa, California @ Detroit Bar
03/28 – Santa Barbara, California @ Muddy Waters
03/30 – San Francisco, California @ The Independent
04/01 – Portland, Oregon @ Holocene
04/02 – Seattle, Washington @ Crocodile Cafe
04/03 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Media Club
04/05 – Provo, Utah @ Club Velour
04/07 – Denver, Colorado @ Hi-Dive
04/09 – Des Moines, Iowa @ The Vaudeville Mews
04/10 – Ames, Iowa @ The Maintenance Shop
04/11 – Rock Island, Illinois @ Huckleberry’s Pizza (Daytrotter Presents)
04/12 – Chicago, Illinois @ Schubas
04/14 – Toronto, Ontario @ The Drake Hotel
04/15 – Montreal, Quebec @ La Sala Rossa
04/16 – Winooski, Vermont @ The Monkey House
04/17 – Boston, Massachusetts @ TT The Bear’s
04/22 – New York, New York @ Mercury Lounge

# w/ Surfer Blood

JELLY Pool Parties are BACK!

Just when we thought they were gone for good, this week Senator Charles E. Schumer announced the plans to allow the JELLY Pool Parties to continue at the East River State Park. Schumer, who is originally from Brooklyn, attended a few of the shows last summer and was taken by the quality of acts, enthusiasm, and the massive crowd attendance. So far eight shows are scheduled to take place in the summer of 2010, though no artists have been confirmed yet. Schumer has been one of the most vocal advocates to save the summer shows. The following press release has stated:

“Summer in Brooklyn without the free JELLY Pool Parties simply would not have been the same and I am beyond thrilled to see that they will return in 2010,” Schumer said. “I have truly been inspired and energized by the enthusiasm behind these outstanding concerts and am proud to have worked so hard on behalf of concert-goers everywhere to see that they return. I’d like to thank OSA, NYS Parks, NYC Parks, Borough President Marty Markowitz, Assemblyman Joe Lentol, Senator Daniel Squadron and Councilman Stephen Levin for working so hard to see that the Pool Parties return in 2010. I can’t wait to ride my bike this summer to the East River State Park to rock out at these concerts once again.”

We’ll meet you by the pool this summer!