The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir is not a gospel choir at all, but a rock band; and they're not even from London - their home base is Chicago. But the band's sound has an underlying influence of the post punk movement in the UK during the 1980s, with an indie rock predominance that includes joyous guitars, flourishes of horns and string arrangements and subject matter that ranges from disillusionment and betrayal to loneliness and STDs.

In case you haven't heard, the band was involved in a terrible accident on September 24 in which all of the members were hospitalized. The band was traveling to Cincinnati for their next gig to promote their excellent new album, And The Horse You Rode In On. The police reports say the band's 1999 Chevrolet van blew a tire, causing the van to roll over "multiple times in the grassy median."

The most seriously injured, Mark Yoshizumi, SYGC's bassist, was airlifted to hospital with leg, internal, and major head trauma injuries, where he is still listed in serious condition.

We send our sincerest thoughts, and wishes for a full and speedy recovery for the band. If you want to help, the band is accepting donations to help off-set their medical bills, buy new instruments and equipment, and other mounting costs (via PayPal to tsygc@bloodshotrecords.com.) There will also be a Halloween night benefit concert for the SYGC.

Their new album, And The Horse You Rode In On, is brilliant! SYGC's MySpace page lists among their influences Ernest Hemmingway, The National Pop League, Jackson Pollock, "vegetarians, teenage punks and Daniel Johnston's honesty."

"Tear Down the Opera House" - The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir from And The Horse You Rode In On (2009)

"Stop!" - The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir from And The Horse You Rode In On (2009)
Bonus (out of print): "Lamp Post" - The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir


The next band in the Double Shots on the Rocks has been making a lot of buzz in 2009. They are LA's "tropical soul" band Fool's Gold, not to be confused with singer and songwriter Dan Folgenberg's back-up band of the same name from years ago.

Fool's Gold's nucleus consists of Luke Top and Lewis Pesacov, and at other times is supplemented by musicians from We Are Scientists (an awesome band, by the way) and The Fall (legendary post-punk pioneers). Peasacov also plays in Foreign Born, one of our favorite "new" bands of 2009 thanks to their stunning LP Person to Person. The band considers among their main influences Afropop music.

Fool's Gold debut, self-titled album dropped last month and has won critical acclaim from the mainstream press like The New York Times and music blogs, such as Pitchfork, and well, Indie Rock Cafe. Fool's Gold Luke Top hails from Israel and often sings in Hebrew on the band's exceptionally cheerful, infectious debut LP.

"Surprise Hotel" - Fool's Gold from s/t debut (2009)

"Nadine" - Fool's Gold from s/t debut (2009)

Other Posts and Playlists You Might Enjoy:

Halloween Indie Rock Songs, Vol VI: Akron/Family, Clues, Arctic Monkeys, Modest Mouse, The Black Lips & More

Ears To The Music, Vol. VII: Built To Spill, Modest Mouse, Pearl Jam, Clues, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Paramore & More

New Indie Releases This Week: Altas Sound, Spring Tigers, Sufjan Stevens, Port O'Brien, Neon Indian and More

In The Reels: 'Where The Wild Things Are' and Karen O and The Kids Soundtrack

Halloween Indie Rock Songs, Vol. IV: Evangelicals, Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, Beck, Islands, Ramones, REM & More

Ears To The Music, VI: The Dead Weather, Nirvana, Hopewell, Langhorne Slim, Bamboo Shoots, Fol Chen & More

Treasure Island Music Festival This Weekend: Flaming Lips, MGMT, Decemberists, Beirut, Grizzly Bear and More!

Halloween Indie Rock Songs, Vol. V: Bright Eyes, Mojave 3, Wilco, MLWTTK, Nick Cave, Hexes and Ohs and More

Labels: Bands to Watch 2009, Double Shots of Indie Rock, Indie Artist/Group Profiles