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.
Long before José González made a name for himself as a critically-acclaimed solo artist, he was cutting his teeth with the folk rock group Junip, which consists of the Swedish–Argentine singer-songwriter on vocals/guitar, Elias Araya on drums, and Tobias Winterkorn on the organ/moog. The trio have reunited for another collaboration on their third and self-titled album, which released today. Listen to their single “Your Life, Your Call” below.
José and his hushed pop lay at the heart of Junip, however, with his seductive bossanova sound and haunting vocals ever-present. So hard to pick just a few, but check out a couple of choice solo efforts below — including one of my favorite covers of all time.
Junip will be performing at the Highline Ballroom in New York June 13th, followed by a show at the 930 Club in DC June 15th. For a full list of tour dates, visit their site here.
The Neighbourhood is a new alt-pop group out of California that has been embraced by the indiesphere after releasing a succession of singles in anticipation of their April 23rd drop of debut LP, I Love You.
And while I’m not sure I would requite the album’s sentiment, I am wildly in-like with their song “Alleyways” (shit gets real at 0:52 in the bridge). If you’re intrigued and want to hear more, the album can be streamed in its entirety via Rolling Stone here.
*Update: The Neighbourhood will be embarking on a US tour with The 1975 June 4th!
The Postal Service are back from a long hiatus with a 10th anniversary edition of their immensely popular 2003 debut album, Give Up. Released April 9th last week, the reissue contains a number of rare b-side gems, PS covers and two previously unreleased tracks – “A Tattered Line of String” and most recently “Turn Around” (audio below).
The group that originated as a side project for Death Cab For Cutie‘s Ben Gibbard, Rilo Kiley‘s vocalist Jenny Lewis, and producer Jimmy Tamborello has just embarked on a reunion tour in celebration of the release – the dates of which can be found here. I’m pleased to report that I will be seeing them in June at the Merriweather Post Pavilion, with opener Ra Ra Riot (who I was remiss for having not seen at 930 club!). Kismet.
Also check out the following remix of “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” (on the reissue as well) and one of my favorite original tracks, “Clark Gable.”
I want so badly to believe that there is truth, that love is real
And I want life in every word to the extent that it’s absurd.
poetry in an empty coke can 