Tag Archives: Neko Case

05.19.11
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My Morning Jacket Add New Dates


In celebration of their forthcoming album, Circuital, My Morning Jacket have announced a slew of additional tour dates.  Joining them on the road will be Neko Case. And, the band will donate $1 from every ticket sold to local charity.

Additionally, MMJ have also just released their “Official American Express UNSTAGED Trailer” in celebration of  joining forces with Todd Haynes for their upcoming performance in the American Express’ “Unstaged” music series. Peep the trailer and a full list of dates below.

My Morning Jacket Tour Dates:
(New dates in bold)

05/20:  Gulf Shores, AL @ Hangout Festival
05/31:  Louisville, KY @ Louisville Palace Theater
06/02-06/05:  Ozark, AR @ Wakarusa Festival

06/05:  Hunter, NY @ Mountain Jam
06/09-06/12:  Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Festival
06/16:  Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater
06/17:  Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre
06/22:  Los Angeles, CA @ Pantages Theatre
06/24: Oakland, CA @ Fox Theatre
06/26:  Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
06/28:  Portland, OR @ Edgefield
06/29:  Vancouver, BC @ Orpheum
06/30-07/03:  Quincy, CA @ High Sierra Music Festival
7/2 Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara Bowl
07/11:  Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus
07/12:  Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
07/16: Southwold  @ Latitude Festival
07/17: London  @ Somerset House
8/2 St. Louis, MO The Pageant 
8/3 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater 
08/04:  Denver, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
08/05-08/13:  Bangor, ME @ The KahBang FestivalTOUR DATES W/ NEKO CASE:  
8/7 Indianapolis, IN The Lawn at White River State Park 
8/8 Columbus, OH LC Pavilion 
8/10 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE 
8/12 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion 
8/14 Boston, MA Bank Of America Pavilion 
8/16 Rochester Hills, MI Meadow Brook 
8/17 Cincinnati, OH PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
8/20 Alpharetta, GA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater 
8/21 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheater 

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03.21.11
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Neko Case Leaks New Dodos Track + Tour Dates

 

Siren of smoky smoothness, Neko Case, sings on half of The Dodos’ forthcoming fourth LP, No Color,and has shared a new track from the record through her Twitter page.
Listen To And Download The Dodos’ “Don’t Stop” from No Color, which will hit stores on March 15th via Frenchkiss Records in the U.S. Pre-order No Color & Get An Immediate Download Of “Black Night” Now.

The band will be on tour in North America and Europe all this spring. The band is also running ticket giveaways in each city they’ll be playing in over the coming tour from their Facebook page. Fans need simply comment on the date of the show they’d like to attend, and a random winner will be chosen to receive a pair of tickets for every date (with the exception of festivals).

US + European 2011 Tour Dates
03-21 Kansas City, MO – Record Bar
03-22 Omaha, NE – Waiting Room
03-23 Minneapolis, MN – Cedar Cultural Center
03-24 Fargo, ND – Aquarium
03-25 Winnipeg, MB – West End
03-26 Saskatoon, SK – Amigo’s
03-28 Calgary, AB – Republik
03-29 Edmonton, AB – Starlite
03-31 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw
04-01 Victoria, BC – Sugar
04-02 Bellingham, WA – Wild Buffalo
04-04 Seattle, WA – Neumo’s
04-05 Portland, OR – Doug Fir
04-07 San Francisco, CA – Filmore
04-08 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theater
04-09 San Diego, CA – Casbah
04-27 Spain, Donostia – Gazteszena
04-28 Spain, Vigo – University
04-29 Spain, Madrid – El Sol
04-30 Spain, Barcelona – Plaça de la Odissea (Free Outdoor show)
05-02 Grenoble, France – Le Ciel
05-03 Milan, Italy – Salumeria Della Musica
05-04 Rome, Italy – Circolo Degli Artisti
05-05 Ravenna, Italy – Bronson
05-06 Aarau, Switzerland – Kiff
05-07 Munich, Germany – 59-1
05-09 Berlin, Germany – Magnet
05-10 Hamburg, Germany – Prinzenbar
05-11 Cologne, Germany – Blue Shell
05-12 Nijmegen, Holland – Doornroosje
05-13 Amsterdam, Holland – Melkweg
05-14 Brussels, Belgium – Botanique Festival
05-16 Vendome, France – La Chapelle Vendome
05-17 Strasbourg, France – La Laiterie
05-18 Paris, France – Divan du Monde
05-19 London, UK – Scala
05-20 Manchester, UK – Deaf Institute
05-21 Glasgow, UK – Arches

01.11.11
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Album Review: Libby Koch “The Shadow of This Town”

It’s only right that true Alt-Country music hails from the South. Carrying the torch is Libby Koch, a Houston, TX singer/songwriter that will draw you in with her country, bluegrass, and folk brand of music. Koch has just released the enchanting album The Shadow of This Town and the Texas staple is finally starting to branch out to the rest of the world.

Starting off the record is the captivating song “Lonesome Bound,” which sets the perfect tone with a harmonica. Already the listener will be drawn in. Koch’s voice isn’t soft as it has a rather raspy tone to it, even while she is hitting high notes. “Walk Away” has a driving beat behind it that you will not be able to resist tapping your foot to. One thing the listener will notice about Koch is her Southern accent. It comes out clear in her vocals and it is charming to say the least. It allows her to put a unique twist into her music that doesn’t tire.

“Texas Saturday” brings a dose of kitsch to the album, and it’s not a bad thing, though it tends not to fit into the album lyrically. The words are playful but come off as a bit childish. Telling the story of a Saturday night in Texas, the song takes the seriousness away from the music on the record in general. Picking it back up is the title track, “Shadow of This Town,” which shows Koch’s ability to write a great song. The slow picking of the guitar and brushes used on the drums set the mood for the track and it must sound even more effective in a live setting.

“Still in Love” is a touching piece that comes right from the heart. Lyrics such as “I got a thousand songs to sing you if you stay” come off as romantic and sincere. This is the standout track on this record as it showcases Koch beautifully both vocally and musically. And yes, there is a hint of banjo in there. “Too Damn Hard,” which is a low tempo song, continues to carry on the audacity of what Koch is trying to do. She doesn’t play by any rules but her own, and that is what makes a successful musician. Though the album rarely deviates from the path it was set on, it not only works, but it works well. “Settle Down” brings the energy back up and carries in with that classic harmonica that the listener will hear throughout the record. The down-down-up-up strokes of the guitar add life into a song that could come off as dull otherwise.

“Starting to See” begins with a slide guitar in a haunting tone. A new twist on the album begins when harmonies enter and the sorrowful song about heartbreak invokes the emotion in Koch’s voice. On the other side of the spectrum is “Here By My Side,” which is the complete opposite of having sadness. The track picks up not only vocally but musically with its fast paced tempo in which Libby doesn’t have a second to catch her breath. “Tonight,” continues on this route and will have the listener out of their chair and dancing in no time. Infused with a great deal of country, it will appeal to everyone no matter what type of music they enjoy. It shows another side that we haven’t seen of Koch before but seemingly it fits.

Closing out the album is “Feelin’ Good Again,” which seems like an homage to her entire piece of work. Ending with the same harmonica that carried the album in, Libby Koch managed to make a record that knows almost no boundaries with The Shadow of This Town. She plays by her own rules, and that is what will set her apart from the others and get her through to the top, where she rightfully belongs.

04.27.10
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The New Pornographers Announce New Record and Massive Tour

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Canadian indie pop outfit, The New Pornographers, or at least it seems like it anyway. The band is back in action with the announcement of a new album and a tour of epic proportions.

They’ll be releasing their most recent record on their longtime label, Matador Records titled Together, out May 4th. The first single titled “The Crash Years,” just went on sale at iTunes today.

If you head over to the Matador Store, you get the sweet deal of a FREE EP of the New Pornographers covering three songs by Detroit’s own Outrageous Cherry.

That’s not all the band has in store though. They’ll be launching a massive tour from May 19th to August 4th! The band will be taking The Mountain Goats, Here We Go Magic, The Dodos, The Dutchess and The Duke and Imaad Wasif. Check out the tour dates below!

The New Pornographers Tour Dates

5-19 London, England – Electric Ballroom !
05-21 Berlin, Germany – Magnet Club !
05-22 Hamburg, Germany – Molotow !
05-23 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg !
05-25 Brussels, Belgium – Orangerie !
05-26 Paris, France – La Maroquinerie !
05-27 Toulouse, France – Cafe Rex !
05-28 Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound Festival !
05-31 George, WA – Sasquatch Music Festival
06-07 Calgary, Alberta – MacEwan Hall *
06-08 Edmonton, Alberta – Edmonton Event Centre *
06-09 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – The Odeon Events Centre *
06-10 Winnipeg, Manitoba – The Garrick Centre *
06-11 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue ^#
06-12 Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater ^#
06-13 Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall ^#
06-15 Toronto, Ontario – The Sound Academy ^#
06-17 Montreal, Quebec – Le National ^#
06-18 Boston, MA – House of Blues ^#
06-19 New York, NY – Terminal 5 ^#
06-21 Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero Theatre ^#
06-22 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club ^#
06-23 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club ^#
06-25 Chapel Hill, NC – Memorial Hall at UNC ^#
06-26 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse ^#
06-27 Nashville, TN – Cannery Ballroom ^#
06-28 St Louis, MO – The Pageant ^
07-15 Vancouver, British Columbia – The Vogue Theatre ^%
07-16 Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom ^%
07-18 Oakland, CA – Fox Theater ^%
07-19 Los Angeles, CA – Henry Fonda Theater ^%
07-20 Los Angeles, CA – Henry Fonda Theater ^%
07-21 Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre ^%
07-23 Austin, TX – Stubb’s BBQ ^%
07-24 Dallas, TX – The Showroom at Palladium ^%
07-25 Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom ^%
07-26 Lawrence, KS – Liberty Hall ^%
07-28 Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre ^%
07-30 Boise, ID – Egyptian Theatre ^%
08-04 Madison, WI – Orpheum Theatre ^

12.31.09
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Modern Mystery’s Top 25 Albums of 2009

 

1. The Wooden Birds-Magnolia
From the ashes of the classic indie band, American Analog Set, rose a new project from former frontman, Andrew “AK” Kenny, called The Wooden Birds. Shifting completely everything he’s done musicially, AK has come out with one of the most surprising releases of the year. Creating a record that is more folk than rock, no songs on the album contain any drums what-so-ever. The bass and vocals really take off and captivate you, the listener. The live sets of the song also include Matt Pond on guitar along with songstress Leslie Sisson. I’m not sure I’ve heard such a heart felt and warm record in the past 10 years.

2. Julian Casablancas- Phrazes for the Young
It’s been a long time since we heard from The Strokes as a unified band. A lot of fans were hesitant on the thought of a solo album by the charasmatic leader, Julian Casablancas, putting out music that doesn’t resemble his band at all. What a surprise it was when we found he took his love for a bit of 1980’s dance and incoporated it with his unforgettable voice and lyrics. The end result? One of the coolest records of the year. We’d expect no less from him.

3. James Husband- Parallax 1
It took 10 years for multi-instrumentalist and drummer from Of Montreal, James Husband, to create his solo album masterpiece. Husband is in the spotlight for the first time in his career and wow, is he certainly taking advantage of it. Providing one of the best indie pop records of the past year, he lets out a 60’s retro sound that no one can mess with. The end result is something as charming as it seems. Raw, catchy, and glorious.

4. Alvin Band-Mantis Preying
Rick  Schaier is not only an amazing drummer and artist, but he is also an extremely talented singer and songwriter. Schaier who spends most of  his time playing drums in The Miniature Tigers has begun a new chapter in his book in the form of ‘Alvin Band,’ this year and completely blew our minds. Blending a retro sound with updated electronics, this is one album you should pick up if you haven’t yet. The catchy hooks and vocals will only leave you wanting more. That my friends, is a good thing!

5. Bishop Allen- Grrr
It’s been a long night since Bishop Allen gained attention by two teenagers named Nick and Norah, and fans were at the edge of their seat wondering what the Brookyln line up would come up with next. Taking a further step into their brilliant indie pop sound, the band did not disappoint at all with Grrr. See it as the next chapter in the Bishop Allen movie, one that is bound to have many sequels in store.

6. Grizzly Bear-Veckatimest
Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you may have heard of a little band called Grizzly Bear. Somehow exploding this year, it was certainly one of the most highly anticipated albums of 2009. Every song is flawless. Catchy yet moody. Beautiful in every way. This album describes itself better than anyone ever could.

7. Bat for Lashes- Two Suns
Completely out of left field, the lovely miss Natasha from Bat for Lashes surprised us all this year with making a stunning, charming, and beautiful record. The combination of her voice and the spacey background music is enough to send chills down your spine. And it does just that. The haunting track “Daniel” captivated the attention of many, and the rest of the album is able to keep you around.

8. Flight of the Conchords-I Told You I Was Freaky
Yes, they are known for writing ‘funny’ songs, but on this record, FOTC became even witty and even more advanced it seems in their writing. Their songs, even though the lyrics are mostly ‘silly’, are composed perfectly from start to end. Jermaine and Bret are really on top of their game with this record. We can’t wait to hear more!

9. Phoenix-Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
This band always makes a great record, and their 2009 hit was no different. Everyone wanted a piece of Phoenix and boy, did they get them. This classic indie dance pop record was a must have for everyone who ‘knew what’s cool.’ Apparently, this was the world.

10. Girls-Girls
An unlikely hit, this retro indie duo shocked us all with such a raw and appealing debut album. This lo-fi record filled with melodies, doesn’t need any frills or thrills to make it great. It hold’s its own firmly which is a hard thing to mess with.

11. Cass McCombs-Catacombs
12. Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Its Blitz
13. Pains of Being Pure at Heart-Pains of Being Pure at Heart
14. Casper and the Cookies-Modern Silence
15. Headlights-Wildlife
16. Japandroids- Post Nothing
17. Cymbals Eat Guitars-Why There are Mountains
18. Kevin Devine- Brother’s Blood
19. Joan of Arc- Flowers
20. Passion Pit-Manners
21. The Antlers- Hospice
22. Loney Dear-Dear John
23. Neko Case-Middle Cyclone
24. The Mountain Goats- The Life of the World to Come
25. Dirty Projectors-Bitte Orca