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 Spinto Band with The Miniature Tigers @ Mercury Lounge, NYC -8/13/2010

A little late, I know, but one hell of a show. Spintos + Mini T’s + One Show = AMAZING!

Neon Indian Reissues “Psychic Chasms”

Though it’s not completely necessary to do such a thing, Neon Indian fans are pretty excited right now. Myself included. Neon Indian will be releasing, well, re-releasing Psychic Chasms as Mind Ctrl: Psychic Chasms Possessed.

The record will be released as remastered deluxe edition on CD and for you vinyl heads, on double Vinyl on September 28th. The album will be out digitally on August 31 on the FADER Label / Static Tongues. The new record contains nine bonus tracks which has exclusive remixes and cover versions by Toro Y Moi, DNTEL, Bibio, Javelin, YACHT and more. Talk about a Chillwave fest.

Neon Indian will be emarking on another tour this Fall with Prefuse 73 and Modern Mystery favorites, Miniature Tigers, in addition to their previously announced tour dates they will be headlining with Chromeo and Phoenix.

Singer/songwriter Jesse Woods has also recently done a highly acclaimed cover of Neon Indian’s “Mind, Drip,” which you can listen to below, as well as the original.

Neon Indian Tour Dates
07/30/2010 House of Blues, Boston, MA *
07/31/2010 Metropolis, Montreal, QC *
08/14/2010 The Beach @ Governors Island, New York, NY
09/19/2010 Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, CA #
09/21/2010 SDSU Open Air Theatre, San Diego, CA #
09/22/2010 The Pearl Concert Theater, Las Vegas, NV #
09/23/2010 The Rail Event Center, Salt Lake City, UT #
09/25/2010 Virgin Mobile FreeFest, Columbia, MO
09/26/2010 PNE Forum, Vancouver, BC #
09/27/2010 Showbox at the Market, Seattle, WA !
09/28/2010 Wonder Ballroom, Portland, OR !
09/30/2010 Mezzanine, San Francisco, CA !
10/01/2010 Music Box at the Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles, CA !
10/02/2010 Club Congress, Tucson, AZ !
10/03/2010 Black Market, El Paso, TX !
10/05/2010 Granada Theater, Dallas, TX !
10/06/2010 Argentum (Formerly The Engine Room), Houston, TX !
10/08/2010 Spanish Moon, Baton Rouge, LA !
10/09/2010 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA !
10/10/2010 Southgate House, Newport, KY !
10/11/2010 Metro, Chicago, IL !
10/12/2010 Lee’s Palace, Toronto, ONT !
10/14/2010 House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV *

* = w/ Chromeo
# = w/ Phoenix
! = w/ Prefuse 73 & Miniature Tigers

Neon indian – “Mind, Drips” by ModernMysteryBlog

Jesse Woods – “Mind Drips” by ModernMysteryBlog

Miniature Tigers Release New Video and Announce Tour with The Spinto Band! (a.k.a. My head just exploded in EXCITEMENT!)


Whenever, and if ever, two of your favorite band’s tour together, most people consider it extremely lucky. Yesterday it was announced that the Miniature Tigers are not only doing their first headlining tour, but they are taking The Spinto Band along with them as openers.

Can we say ‘Dream team’? Because I’m going to.

The groups will be taking over the U.S. in full force this summer for your listening pleasure.

The Miniature Tigers have also just released their first video for the single “Gold Skull,” from Fortress (Modern Art), due out July 27th. The new record was produced by no other than The Morning Benders’ frontman, Chris Chu, and also features a produced track (“Gold Skull”) by Alan Palomo, better known as Neon Indian. The Spinto Band are also working on new material so be prepared to be filled with new tunes this summer by both bands.

Check out the tour dates below, and the new video from the Mini T’s!

“Gold Skull” by Miniature Tigers.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

Miniature Tigers with The Spinto Band

July 21, 2010- The High Dive – Seattle, WA
July 22, 2010- Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR
July 23, 2010- Hotel Utah Saloon- San Francisco, CA
July 24, 2010- Spaceland – Los Angeles, CA
July 25, 2010- House Of Blues- San Diego, CA
July 27, 2010- The Rhythm Room- Phoenix, AZ
July 29, 2010- Kilby Court- Salt Lake City, UT
July 30, 2010- Larimer Lounge- Denver, CO
July 31, 2010- Santa Fe Brewing Company- Santa Fe, NM
August 2, 2010- The Loft- Dallas, TX
August 3, 2010- Stubbs – Austin, TX
August 5, 2010- The Waiting Room – Omaha, NE
August 6, 2010- Triple Rock Social Club- Minneapolis, MN
August 8, 2010- LOLLAPALOOZA – Chicago, IL
August 10, 2010- Pike Room- Pontiac, MI
August 11, 2010- Musica- Akron, OH
August 12, 2010- TT The Bear’s- Cambridge, MA
August 13, 2010- The Mercury Lounge, New York City, NY
August 14, 2010- TBA
August 15, 2010- North Star Bar- Philadelphia, PA
August 17, 2010- The Black Cat- Washington, DC
August 18, 2010- Sonar Club Stage- Baltimore, MD
August 19, 2010- Local 506- Chapel Hill, NC
August 20, 2010- The Star Community Bar- Atlanta, GA
August 21, 2010- The Blackbooth- Orlando, FL

Free Energy with Jukebox the Ghost and Miniature Tigers @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC – 5/29/10


On Saturday night, as I drove to the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, I wasn’t sure what to expect. From the lineup, I had one thought about each band.

1. I love the Miniature Tigers.
2. Who in the world is Jukebox the Ghost????
3. What’s all this hype about Free Energy’s live show anyway?

Well, mysteries were about to be solved tonight. The crowd was filled with mostly college and high school girls, that were trying to be ‘too cool’ for their own good. Mixed in with your average hipster and random frat guy, I was sort of afraid what I was going to get here.

Miniature Tigers were up to the stage first, as singer Charlie Brand sported a very noticable new haircut. The band played songs off their upcoming record, Fortress (Modern Art) that is due out on July 27th. Everytime I see the Mini T’s they seem to get better and better, if that is even possible. Displaying their newest single “Gold Skull,” and old hits like “Cannibal Queen,” they sure know how to get the crowd going. Many new fans were won over that night.

Jukebox the Ghost took to the stage next. I had not a clue as to who this band was besides a name slip here or there. I was completely blown away by them. Singer Ben Thornewill’s voice and piano playing alone is one of the most incredible combinations I have heard in quite some time. The song that really got me hooked was called “Hold It In,” which is the most sugary-indie-pop song ever made. The band releases their new record in September and played plenty of new songs…so they said. I didn’t know the difference at this point. The crowd was into it, clapping and singing every word along with the band.

So far the all of the acts were amazing, and now it was time for Free Energy to take the stage.

Free Energy reminds me of The Guest era of Phantom Planet. Maybe it is because singer Paul Sprangers reminds me a bit of Alex Greenwald in looks and voice. This band is EXPLOSIVE on stage. Free Energy really lives up to the ‘energy’ part of their name. The band was hopping across stage (except for the bass player who never seems to budge), and dancing around. The fans were dancing too. This was a beyond fun show. From their newest single “Bang Pop” to everything else, the crowd and the group did not stop one bit. Sprangers is a charasmatic, energenic frontman who really knows how to work the crowd. The wierd thing is though, it seems to come naturally to him. He doesn’t seem to be working at it.

This is one of the most astonishing show lineups I have ever experienced. I’m still not fully recovered from the mass amounts of fun that I had at that show. We all had fun.

When the show ended I was thinking this about each band.

1. I can’t wait to get the new Miniature Tigers album in my hands!
2. Will there be any Jukebox the Ghost records left at the merch table?
3. Why is Free Energy so awesome?

and lastly…

4. Can we do it all again??!!

FOR MORE PICTURES OF THE SHOW, CHECK THEM OUT HERE

Secondhand Sunday: Jukebox the Ghost – “Hold It In”


Yes, we know it’s been a few weeks since we did a glorious Secondhand Sunday piece.  I guess we’ve had it on a mini hiatus. Well, last night it was decided that it should make a return. Not always with videos from the way past though, but maybe up and coming bands?  We’ll see. You’ll see.

Today’s Secondhand Sunday goes to Jukebox the Ghost. Seeing the band play with the Miniature Tigers and Free Energy last night, in what was the most amazing lineup I’ve seen in possibly forever, at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom, they blew me away. Ben Thornewill has an incredibly catchy voice and you just couldn’t help but watch him on the piano. Mixed in with Tommy Siegel’s equally fun voice and guitar playing and Jesse Kristin’s  get-your-ass-up-and-dance drumming, I’m ashamed to say this is the first time I have ever taken a listen to the band.

One tee shirt and a record later, here I am. Take a peek at this amazing band’s 2008 video for “Hold It In.” Let the addiction begin.

ps. Review of the Miniature Tigers / Jukebox the Ghost / Free Energy show at the Bowery Ballroom to come this week with some amazing pictures.