On October 25th, West Palm Beach based Surfer Blood will release Tarot Classics, an EP that marks the band’s first major release since their 2010 debut Astro Coast. Down below you can take a listen to the EP’s lead single “Miranda” and look over the band’s upcoming tour dates.
Tour Dates
8/31 Neumo’s – Seattle, WA
9/16 Echoplex – Los Angeles, CA
9/17 – The Getty – Losa Angeles, CA
9/21 Crowbar – Tampa, FL
9/22 Double Down Live – Gainesville, FL
10/27 The Wellmont Theatre – Montclair, NJ *
10/28 Asbury Park Convention Hall – Asbury Park, NJ *
10/29 Palace Theatre – Waterbury, CT *
10/30 Hampton Beach Ballroom – Hampton Beach, NH *
11/1 State Theatre – Portland, ME *
11/2 The Armory – Rochester, NY *
11/3 State Theatre Center for the Arts – Easton, PA *
11/5 Paramount Theatre – Huntington, NY *
11/6 Grand Opera House – Wilmington, DE*
11/7 Ottobar – Baltimore, MA
11/8 War Memorial Auditorium – Greensboro, NC*
11/9 Louisville Palace Theatre – Louisville, KY *
11/10 Tennessee Theatre – Knoxville, TN *
11/11 North Charleston Performing Arts Center – North Charleston,SC*
12/8 The Brixton Academy – London, UK ^
12/9 ATP – Somerset, UK
Brooklyn-based all girl trio, Vivian Girls, are sparking interest in their latest album Share the Joy with the release of their first single, “I Heard You Say”. The album, which is the ladies’ third release but their debut on the Polyvinyl label, continues the ever evolving path of the group’s own mixture of garage thrash backed with their sweet melodic voices. Vivian Girls have been getting quite a bit of attention with their latest release as they venture into a more mature sound and have become very influential among young budding girl groups.
With their video for “I Heard You Say”, Vivian Girls keep the setting simple while letting the lyrics speak for themselves. Add in the nostalgic guitar and hard-hitting drums and the combination is the perfect blend.
Vivian Girls will launch their tour February 22nd in Los Angeles and will spend two months trekking across the US before coming to a close in Houston on April 29th. They will be sharing the stage various acts along the way including Catwalk, Cold Showers, Black Lips, Surfer Blood, Thee Oh Sees, The Strange Boys & more.
02/22 Los Angeles, CA The Smell !
02/25 Miami, FL Bruise Cruise ~
02/26 Miami, FL Bruise Cruise ~
02/27 Miami, FL Bruise Cruise ~
02/28 Miami, FL Bruise Cruise ~
04/05 Asheville, NC Sage Café / Warren Wilson College #
04/06 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle #
04/07 Baltimore, MD Ottobar #
04/08 Washington, DC Black Cat #
04/09 Philadelphia, PA The Trocodero #
04/12 New York, NY Webster Hall #
04/13 Providence, RI The Met Café #
04/14 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club #
04/15 Montreal, QC Le National #
04/16 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre #
04/17 Detroit, MI Magic Stick #
04/19 Columbus, OH Outland Live #
04/20 Newport, KY Southgate House #
04/21 St Louis, MO The Firebird #
04/22 Chicago, IL Logan Square Auditorium #
04/23 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater #
04/25 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room #
04/26 Kansas City, MO The Beaumont Club #
04/27 Dallas, TX The Loft #
04/28 Austin, TX Emo’s #
04/29 Houston, TX Fitzgeralds #
! = w/ Catwalk, Cold Showers
~ = w/ Black Lips, Surfer Blood, Thee Oh Sees, The Strange Boys & more
Spring may seem far away, especially for those of us plagued by a constant influx of snow, but the Vivian Girls were kind enough to send over a new song and some good news. The threesome-guitarist/vocalist Cassie Ramone, bassist/vocalist Kickball Katy and new drummer Fiona Campbell have announced an April 12th release date for their new album Share The Joy.
“The sound is more open, more free. I think that this album really shows our strengths as musicians, and shows us melding together musically. Share the Joy has the most diverse batch of songs of any of our albums,” says Ramone of the album. And that is evident in the record’s first single, “I Heard You Say,” which can be listened to below and downloaded HERE. Vivian Girls – I Heard You Say by WesleyAmbrecht
In a few days, the trio will take to the road for a nationwide tour, promoting Share The Joy.
Vivian Girls’ Tour Dates
02/22 Los Angeles, CA The Smell !
02/25 Miami, FL Bruise Cruise ~
02/26 Miami, FL Bruise Cruise ~
02/27 Miami, FL Bruise Cruise ~
02/28 Miami, FL Bruise Cruise ~
04/05 Asheville, NC Sage Café / Warren Wilson College #
04/06 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle #
04/07 Baltimore, MD Ottobar #
04/08 Washington, DC Black Cat #
04/09 Philadelphia, PA The Trocodero #
04/12 New York, NY Webster Hall #
04/13 Providence, RI The Met Café #
04/14 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club #
04/15 Montreal, QC Le National #
04/16 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre #
04/17 Detroit, MI Magic Stick #
04/19 Columbus, OH Outland Live #
04/20 Newport, KY Southgate House #
04/21 St Louis, MO The Firebird #
04/22 Chicago, IL Logan Square Auditorium #
04/23 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater #
04/25 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room #
04/26 Kansas City, MO The Beaumont Club #
04/27 Dallas, TX The Loft #
04/28 Austin, TX Emo’s #
04/29 Houston, TX Fitzgeralds #
! = w/ Catwalk, Cold Showers
~ = w/ Black Lips, Surfer Blood, Thee Oh Sees, The Strange Boys & more
The odd couple we might refer to them as….Surfer Blood and …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead are teaming up for a co-headlining tour starting in April. It all kicks off at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. We suggest you get your tickets NOW because they will not last. Check out the dates below.
…And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead/Surfer Blood Tour Dates:
04-29 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
04-30 Boston, MA – Middle East
05-01 Montreal, Quebec – Le Tulipe
05-03 Toronto, Ontario – Lee’s Palace
05-04 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
05-05 Columbus, OH – Basement
05-06 Lansing, MI – The Loft
05-07 Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
05-08 Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
05-10 Washington, DC – Rock and Roll Hotel
05-11 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
05-12 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
05-13 Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
The time is finally here where we announce our favorite albums of the year. Yes, it took a whole lot of thinking and a whole lot of relistening, but in the end we figured it out. Trust us, it was no easy task this year. Take a peek at what kept our interest in 2010.
1. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – “Let It Sway”
This will forever be known as the album where SSLYBY fully matured. Working with Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla, the band produced a stunning record full of pop hooks and catchy lyrics. The result, Let It Sway (Polyvinyl), one of the greatest pieces of work our ears have heard by any indie band in a long time. We loved it so much we made a tribute video celebrating the record which you can watch below. Congrats SSLYBY!
2. Vampire Weekend – “Contra”
A nearly flawless album, the VW boys started off 2010 with a burst of energy that continued througout the year. Neck in neck with the Yeltsins, Contra (XL) also shared the tale of a too-good-to-be-true indie band growing up in the public eye.
3. The Morning Benders – “Big Echo”
Another record that was running with the big boys on this list, The Morning Benders released Big Echo (Kanine) early in the year and exploded like no one could ever have imagined. It’s ab out time. They deserve it. This is one of the catchiest albums we heard this year and it never gets old.
4. Of Montreal – “False Priest”
Of Montreal are always evolving. That is what we love most about the band. False Priest (Polyvinyl) takes them to a whole new level, dabbling in R&B and dueting with Solange Knowles. We may have been skeptical at first but it quickly won over our hearts and the dance floor.
5. Surfer Blood – “Astrocoast”
Everyone’s favorite “IT” band of the year produced a promising debut album called Astrocoast (Kanine). We followed the boys around CMJ 2009 and knew they were about to blew up huge. We were right, and now Surfer Blood has taken over the world.
6. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – “Before Today”
A chilling record filled with reverb and haunting vocals proved to be just the thing for Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti. Before Today (4AD) stunned the indie music world and makes us wonder what the next Ariel Pink chapter has to hold.
7. Jukebox the Ghost – “Everything Under the Sun”
A thriving piano backed by a guitar and drums made an unexpected assault in the indie world this year. Everything Under the Sun (Yep Roc) dropped jaws quickly this year and had Jukebox the Ghost playing with big name bands and appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman.
8. The Love Language – “Libraries”
Much different from their first record, The Love Language stunned us with a near perfect record, Libraries (Merge) this year. There was a lot of buzz about this album and as the tracks leaked, we could feel the greatness building up. We were right.
9. We Are Scientists – “Barbara”
Without a record label in the U.S., We Are Scientists broke through this year with Barbara. They haven’t changed too much since the last time we heard from them, which is a good thing. They still have their driving 80’s vibe, W.A.S. charm and brilliant tunes.
10. Magic Kids – “Memphis”
This was an unexpected treat this year that had us putting Magic Kids on repeat. Memphis (Goner/True Panther) often has a lo-fi and retro vibe, and that is what really makes it special.
The rest of the list….
11. Miniature Tigers – “Fortress”
12. Matt Pond PA – “The Dark Leaves”
13. Wavves – “King of the Beach”
14. Sufjan Stevens -“Age of the Adz”
15. Arcade Fire – “The Suburbs”
16. Free Energy – “Stuck on Nothing”
17. Javelin – “No Mas”
18. Best Coast – “Crazy for You”
19. The Drums – “The Drums”
20. Tokyo Police Club – “Champ”
21. The New Pornographers – “Together”
22. Spoon – “Transference”
23. Hot Hot Heat – “Future Breeds”
24. Kids of 88 – “Sugar Pills”
25. MGMT – “Congratulations”
26. Harlem – “Hippies”
27. Broken Social Scene – “Forgiveness Rock Record”
Modern Mystery 
