After a long wait, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah will release their newest record, Hysterical, on September 12th. This album will also be self released by the band and this time around they worked with producer John Congleton who has worked with Modest Mouse, St. Vincent, and The Walkmen. Impressive roster to say the least. The band will re-release their debut album on vinyl, June 14th. CYHSY has also announced a handful of tour dates for the time being. Time to get excited folks.
August
12-14 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Outside Lands
27-28 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Sunset Junction Street Fair
September
2 – North Dorset, England @ End of the Road Festival
6 – Sheffield, England @ Queens Social Club
7 – London, England @ Scala
9 – Berlin, Germany @ Airport Tempelhof
12 – Paris, France @ La Maroquinerie
13 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg
14 – Cologne, Germany @ Gebaude 9
Some bands were just meant to be together. The New Pornographers and The Walkmen have just announced that they will be embarking on 7 date tour with each other before and after heading their different directions. For the solo NP dates, Menomena are set to open. Check out all of the tour dates below. Sorry kids, this is a mid western tour only. Dry your tears.
The New Pornographers / The Walkmen:
04-22 Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue
04-23 Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
04-25 Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
04-26 Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
04-27 Iowa City, IA – University of Iowa
04-28 Champagne, IL – Canopy Club
04-29 Columbia, MO – Blue Note
The New Pornographers:
04-13 Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre *
04-14 Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theatre *
04-15 Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre *
04-16 Indio, CA – Coachella Music Festival
04-17 Santa Cruz, CA – Rio Theatre
04-18 San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom *
* with Menomena
The Walkmen:
03-02 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jack’s
03-03 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s
03-04 Austin, TX – Stubb’s Bar-B-Q
03-05 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
05-18 Istanbul, Turkey – Babylon Club
05-20 Paris, France – Alhambra
05-22 Brussels, Belgium – Cirque Royal
05-23 Nimejan, Netherlands – Doornroosje
05-24 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Melkweg
05-28 Zurich, Switzerland – Mascotte
05-27 Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound Festival
Ezra Furman & The Harpoons are set to release their third studio album, Mysterious Power,on April 5th. The Boston band’s first release for Red Parlor Records, Mysterious Power boasts the production power of Doug Boehm (French Kicks, Starsailor). Additionally, the band is looking forward to hitting the road in the spring- making an appearance at SXSW before embarking on a U.S. tour thereafter.
A familiar staple on critic’s year-end lists, Ezra Furman & The Harpoons gained acclaim for their 2008 album, Inside The Human Body, being lauded by NPR’s “All Songs Considered,’ Paste, and the Chicago Tribune. The foursome soon found themselves performing their mix of folk-punk alongside the likes of Lou Reed, Matisyahu, The Walkmen, Delta Spirit, and Spoon.
On Mysterious Power, Furman employs the same open-chest honesty that drew ire for Ginsberg’s Howl and spawned speculation of Cohen’s Chelsea Hotel, as Furman pines for his “Wild Rosemarie” in the opening track- recounting bouts of transience he experienced while making the album. The Harpoons- Job Mukkada (bass), Adam Abrutyn (drums), and Andrew Langer (guitar)- deftly toy with dynamics, soldering rockabilly rhythm and love-struck doo-wop sensibility with punk rock ferocity.
Right now is a really exciting time for pop and rock music in New Orleans and Empress Hotel is a prime example. The group comprised of six young yet seasoned musicians is an offshoot from other bands that came before it, fellow forgers of an indie movement in the Jazz capital of the world.
Brothers Ryan and Eric Rogers on guitar and drums as well as Leo DeJesus on precussion/synth/vocals come from popular bands on the younger generation’s radar in New Orleans, like Antenna Inn and The City Life among others, and lead singer/guitarist Micah McKee founded local favorite Silent Cinema in 2002 which can be held responsible for other spinoff bands from its members, like Big History – a sexy new electronic emphasized band. The main point being, anything coming from this group of guys (and girls: Julie Williams plays keys and sings for Empress Hotel) which also includes Portland transplant Patrick Hodgkins on bass is going to be good.
“Bells Ring” is their recently released single to be included on the self-titled debut EP slated to drop in March on Park the Van Records. Whether it’s the shrill Cassio keys, the doo-woppy back up vocals or the lyrical imagery of not letting it (life?) pass by, the track instills a sense of nostalgia and envy all for an older era, childhood and even pastimes never experienced.
The drawn out, robust lead vocals that harkens The Walkmen’s Hamilton Leithauser, the steady, momentous drums and the bells that ring through the chorus also give the song a triumphant slant.
And don’t overlook “Here Comes the New Challenger” which can be found on the band’s Myspace page. The song is utterly cool with a Who-esque synth intro, inebriating lyrics and McKee and Williams’ vocal harmonies that are beyond charming.
Empress Hotel On Tour:
Dec 18 – Park the Van Holiday Soirée at HiHo Lounge – New Orleans, LA
Dec 31 – OpenHouse Music Presents: NYE, The Throwdown (Studio 3 Warehouse) – New Orleans, LA
Jan 21 – The BottleTree – Birmingham, AL
Jan 27 – Lola’s Saloon – Fort Worth, TX
Jan 28 – Ghost Room – Austin, TX
Jan 29 – Artmosphere – Lafayette, LA
Feb 19 – Blue Nile (Krewe du Vieux) w/ Big History and Booty Trove – New Orleans, LA
Feb 22 – 5 Spot – Nashville, TN
Feb 23 – Tea Bazaar – Charlottesville, VA
Feb 25 – Rock Shop – Brooklyn, NY
Mar 2 – Iota Club and Cafe – Arlington, VA (DC Area)
Mar 5 – Alabama Music Box – Mobile, AL
Mar – SXSW 2011 – Austin, TX
Lower Dens has been quite busy these the past few months. They have a new single called “Batman” and have covered Mayo Thompson’s “Dear Betty Baby.” Both songs are below: Batman by brunostroszek Dear Betty Baby by brunostroszek
The band has also announced a few tour dates with The Walkmen and Wye Oak.
01/12 – Carrboro NC – Cat’s Cradle $
01/13 – Atlanta GA – Variety Playhouse $
01/14 – Asheville NC – Grey Eagle Tavern $
01/15 – Nashville TN – Exit In $
03/11 – Washington DC – The Black Cat !
03/15 – Norman OK – Opolis !
03/16 – 03/19 Austin TX – SXSW
Modern Mystery 