Continuing the trend of London Grammar from last week, today I had to share the UK group’s third single “Wasting My Young Years” released off their new EP yesterday. The original track is a pop ballad featuring the haunting vocals of Hannah Reid, which have been likened to those of Florence Welch. The EP includes this powerful rework by German house producer Henrik Schwarz, a beautiful bass-infused composition that only serves to strengthen the original.
Disclosure released their debut album Settle a week ago (6/3), which includes the following collab with trio London Grammar. “Help Me Lose My Mind” is the perfect downtempo track for a rainy Monday night such as the one we’re currently experiencing in DC (power out at 930?!).
Catch the UK duo this summer at Lollapalooza in Chicago 8/2, and at New York’s Central Park Summerstage 8/6.
If you can’t get enough of this future garage group and are anticipating the weekend already, check out Baauer‘s dance remix of Disclosure’s “You & Me” (w/vocals by Eliza Doolittle).
Although I featured TEED on my Best-of-2012 list and mentioned him briefly on this Foals feature, I have been fascinated with the UK artist (and his futuristic headgear) for some time and have yet to pay him proper tribute. Thus, what better time to recognize electronic DJ/producer Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs than on the day of his concert in DC? (There are still tickets avail, though I can’t imagine why — what with his alleged glittery cannons and dancing dinosaurs on stage.)
TEED, otherwise known as Orlando Higginbottom released his first EP in 2009 and eventually his debut album Trouble in 2012. Sample some of the addictive and avant-garde electro-house beats with “Household goods” and “Garden” below, available on iTunes.
Little is known about the LA trio Sir Sly, and that’s okay by me. I like my music with a side of mystery. Anyway, this indie pop number stands out in a line of their darker, previous efforts — and has been on heavy rotation on my playlist since it was re-released in April. Listen to “Found You Out” below.
The divine Devendra Banhart is a Venezualan-American folk singer whose fourth album, Mala released in March. His enticing blend of Latin American romantic folk is infused with “flamenco-tinged guitars, ranchera-influenced group vocals, strutting mariachi percussion and quietly-enunciated, reverb-coated Spanish vocals,” as described by All Things Go.
It doesn’t get much better than that – but when you add a beach house backing by the skilled London-based producer Daniele di Martino, the result is an exquisite rework that’s perfect for a Friday afternoon (or rooftop rendezvous).
Make sure to pick up a free download below and check out the tour dates. He’ll be playing at DC’s Sixth & I Historic Synagogue June 8th.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
5/31 Park West – Chicago, IL Buy Tickets
6/1 Saint Andrew’s Hall – Detroit, MI Buy Tickets
6/3 Danforth Music Hall – Toronto. ON Buy Tickets
6/5 Théâtre Corona – Montreal, QC Buy Tickets
6/7 Wilbur Theatre – Boston, MA Buy Tickets
6/8 Sixth & I Historic Synagogue – Washington, DC Buy Tickets
6/10 Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA Buy Tickets
6/12 The Town Hall – New York, NY Buy Tickets
6/26 Button Factory – Dublin, Ireland Buy Tickets
6/28 The Old Market – Brighton, UK Buy Tickets
6/29 Glastonbury Festival – Pilton, UK Buy Tickets
7/2 Kulturkirch – Köln, Germany Buy Tickets
7/3 Gruenspan – Hamburg, Germany Buy Tickets
7/4 Muffathalle – Munich, Germany Buy Tickets
7/6 Heineken Open’er Festival – Gdynia, Poland Buy Tickets
7/8 Heimathafen Neukölln – Berlin, Germany Buy Tickets
7/9 Mousonturm – Frankfurt, Germany Buy Tickets
7/11 Paradiso – Amsterdam, Netherlands Buy Tickets
7/12 Le Splendid – Lille, France Buy Tickets
7/13 Le Trianon – Paris, FR Buy Tickets
7/14 Montreux Jazz Festival – Montreux, Switzerland Buy Tickets
7/17 The Ritz – Manchester, UK Buy Tickets
7/18 Barbican Hall – London, UK Buy Tickets
7/20 Plaine de la machine à feu, Dour Festival – Dour, Belgium Buy Tickets
7/21 Colours of Ostrava festival – Ostrava, Czech Republic Buy Tickets
7/22 KKL Luzerner Saal – Lucerne Switzerland Blue Balls Festival Buy Tickets
7/25 Piazza Napoleone – Lucca, Italy With Neil Young Buy Tickets
7/26 Rock in Rome – Rome, Italy With Neil Young Buy Tickets
7/27 CarroPonte – Milan, Italy Buy Tickets
7/30 Sala Apolo – Barcelona, Spain Buy Tickets
7/31 Teatro Circo Price – Madrid, Spain Buy Tickets
8/2 Casa da Musica – Porto, Portugal Buy Tickets
8/3 CCB, Lisbon – Portugal Buy Tickets
8/24 FYF Fest – Los Angeles, CA Buy Tickets
One listen to CHVRCHES shimmery new single and you’ll understand why the electropop number is currently seated at the apex of the indie stratosphere. Although I prefer their previous release, the Scottish trio is an undeniable pop force. Officially out July 25th in the UK, “Gun” is sure to be featured on their highly anticipated debut LP – set to release sometime in September.
Also check out their punchy pop remix of MS MR‘s “Hurricane.” See a list of the group’s upcoming tour dates below — including a sold out show at DC’s Black Cat! June is going to be a good month : )
CHVRCHES – Upcoming Tour Dates
6/1 — Los Angeles, CA — Troubadour
6/2 — Solana Beach, CA — Belly Up Tavern
6/5 — Austin, TX — The Mohawk
6/6 — Dallas, TX — Granada Theater
6/7 — Lawrence, KS — The Granada Theatre
6/8 — Minneapolis, MN — Fine Line Music Cafe
6/10 — Chicago, IL — Lincoln Hall
6/12 — Toronto, ON — The Hoxton
6/15 — Montreal, QC — Le National
6/16 — Boston, MA — Paradise
6/17 — New York, NY — Webster Hall
6/21 — Washington, DC — Black Cat
6/22 — Dover, DE — Firefly Music Festival
6/23 — Philadelphia, PA — Union Transfer
Australia is constantly churning out great indie groups, and Atlas Genius is no exception. They released their debut LP When It Was Now a couple months back, and just last week put out a cover of Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” that elevates the original. (Truth be told, I’m not a huge fan of the original, but I dig their acoustic rendition. Hoping DP has more to offer on their new album that releases next week).
If you’re not already familiar, sample the group’s genius with the infectious tracks “Trojans” and “Symptoms” below.
And for another great cover of the XX, go here.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
5/20 Soho Restaurant and Music Club Santa Barbara, CA
5/22 Harlow’s Sacramento, CA
5/24 Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR
5/25 Sasquatch Festival Quincy, WA
5/26 Venue Vancouver, Canada
5/29 Kilby Court Salt Lake City, UT
5/31 Bluebird Theater Denver, CO
6/1 The Black Sheep Colorado Springs, CO
6/4 Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
6/6 Deluxe at Old National Centre Indianapolis, IN
6/7 Newport Music Hall Columbus, OH
6/9 3rd & Lindley Nashville, TN
6/11 The Norva Norfolk, VA
6/12 The Canal Club Richmond, VA
6/14 Bayou Cafe Albany, NY
6/15 The Sinclair Cambridge, MA
6/17 Met Cafe Providence, RI
6/18 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY
6/19 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY
6/20 Wolf Den Uncasville, CT
6/21 Firefly Music Festival Dover, DE
6/23 The Opera House Toronto, Canada
6/24 Shelter Detroit, MI
6/27 Summerfest Milwaukee, WI
7/6 Kelowna’s Waterfront Park Vancouver, Canada
7/10 Ottawa Blues Festival Ottawa, Canada
7/13 Bunbury Music Fest Cincinnati, OH
8/2 Lollapalooza Chicago, IL
8/44 Osheaga Music and Arts Festival Montreal, Canada
9/20 91X Fest San Diego, CA
Beat Connection is quite possibly my favorite new electropop group to emerge last year. From Seattle, the tropic-vibes trio released their debut LP The Palace Garden August of 2012. They kicked off a brief West coast tour last week with fellow Washington based duo Odesza, who remixed their track “Saola” in honor of the collaboration.
Grab the track (gratis!) below, and sample some of the other ‘beats’ as well.
I feel too little and think too much.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
5/7 – Sacramento: Jambalaya (w/Odesza)
5/9 – Eugene: WOW Hall (w/Odesza)
5/10 – Vancouver: The Electric Owl (w/Odesza)
5/17 – Seattle: Neumos Crystal Ball
New British band The 1975 have been hard at work recently, having released three EP’s to date with their fourth, IV out on May 20th. I’ve been meaning to share the delectable track “Chocolate” from their latest EP Music for Cars for some time, however it was their sexy new video for “The City” that finally impelled me to pull the trigger on the post. Props to the artistic director as the vid features some stunning overlaid shots of the urban cityscape.
Also in the works is the group’s first full length album, which will be co-produced by Mike Crossey, the producer behind the Arctic Monkeys, Foals, and Ben Howard. The 1975 is getting ready to kick off a US tour with headliner The Neighbourhood — in my hometown of Tulsa no less (huzzah!) — on June 4th. More tour dates listed below.
The 1975 w/ The Neighbourhood Tour Dates:
6/4 – Tulsa, OK @ Vanguard
6/5 – Dallas, TX @ Trees
6/7 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s
6/8 – Austin, TX @ Antones
6/11 – Orlando, FL @ The Social
6/12 – St. Petersburg, FL @ The Local 662
6/14 – Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room
6/15 – Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits
6/17 – Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl
6/18 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos Southend
6/19 – Norfolk, VA @ The Norva
6/22 – Rochester, NY @ Main Street Armory
6/23 – South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground Showcase
6/25 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
6/26 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg
7/24 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour (headlining)
7/25 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop (headlining)
Avec Sans is a new electropop duo out of London, consisting of Alice Fox and Jack St. James. Their take on Swiss Lips “U Got the Power” officially releases April 29th – but get ahead of the game and pick up a free download for your weekend below.
poetry in an empty coke can 