Indie Rock Cafe

Day Two at SXSW: Shearwater, The Low Anthem, The Middle East, Peter Wolf Crier, Rogue Wave, Beach Fossils, Delta Spirit

2010-03-19T00:17:00.000-07:00

Rogue Wave played to an oversized crowd at Emo's Thursday night @SXSW

Day Two of SXSW in Austin was jam packed with a variety of showcases that included electro-pop and indie rock to folk , hiphop, country and heavy metal. But, in general, we are sticking with artists and bands that we've featured on IRC in the past.

It was a calculated, but difficult, decision to not go to the convention center to see the day time show there that featured The Walkmen, Frightened Rabbit and others, instead opting for the daytime show at The Galaxy Room to see Shearwater, Lou Barlow, The Low Anthem, The Lonely Forest, and the Middle East. All great shows, especially Shearwater and The Low Anthem. The Middle East show was terrific, but it was 15 minutes late getting started, and unlike other venues, there's no going over scheduled times.

"Castaways" - Shearwater

"Cage The Songbird" - The Low Anthem

"The Darkest Side" - The Middle East

Next, we were able to squeeze in a half set of Givers at Emo's Annex; definitely a band worth checking out if you haven't heard of them. We're trying to get in a varied selection of other venues, but they tend to be sold out over and over again. After checking out Givers, we went to see a NPR-recommended band, Peter Wolf Crier - not bad, but not spectacular. That's cool because we were waiting to see ex-Beulah member Miles Kurosky followed by Rogue Wave. Both of those shows were amazing; Kurosky had as many as eight other musicians on stage, and Rogue Wave delivered their usually dependable set, featuring a bunch of new songs from their new album. See our special edition this weekend for videos, photos, samplers, and more from SXSW 2010.

"Good Morning" - Rogue Wave

DD MM YYYY ripped it out for a capacity crowd on Emo's other stage - can't even remember what stage that was. Then it was back to the Galaxy Room for sets from Avi Buffalo and Efterklang, and then to Wave Rooftop for Beach Fossils - a young pop rock band that thrash all about the stage. Even though it took 20 minutes to work out technical issues, the band pleased the crowd anyways with a killer set. Beach Fosssils are definitely a band that will be looking at again. During the set, a photographer from a magazine that we won't name was drunkenly trying to take photos, but he was too blitz to get a shot in focus - we saw him try and even offered to take the dang picture for him. We'll be publishing a bunch of official and unofficial SXSW 2010 videos this weekend.

"Daydream" - Beach Fossils

From the Wave Rooftop it was back to Galaxy Room to see The Ruby Suns, but after waiting 20 minutes for them to work out technical issues, we headed back to Emo's to see Austin's own White Demin, followed by one of the best performances we've seen so far at SXSW 2010, Delta Spirit.

"C'mon People" - Delta Spirit

Via Large Hearted Boy's awesome, free and legal SXSW MP3 collection

More from SXSW 2010 coming soon.

Day One of SXSW Wraps Up With Big Success, St. Patrick's Day Madness, and Plenty of Great Music

2010-03-18T02:40:00.000-07:00

The sun came out just in time for the first day of South By Southwest in Austin, and the big venues filled up to packed crowds as the day went on. Free Energy followed by The Freelance Whales created a line outside The Galaxy Room two blocks long.

We started the day around noon time at Emo's to see Rural Alberta Advantage followed by The Morning Benders. RAA belted out one catchy song after another, as the sun rays beamed in through the shackle roof to light up the stage while the band played "Frank AB" and "Don't Haunt This Place."

"Don't Haunt This Place" - Rural Alberta Advantage

By the time the Morning Benders got on stage, it took them 10-plus minutes to get the soundcheck right, and as a result, they were only able to fit in four songs - three from their new, critically acclaimed LP, Big Echo. Nevertheless, they got the crowd to clap and sing along with them on their most popular recent songs, "Promises" and "Excuses."

"Excuses" - The Morning Benders

Next it was over to The Galaxy Room just in time to catch Philadelphia's 70's FM pop rock (in a good way; think Cheap Trick) band Free Energy. They put on an energetic, engaging performance that had a packed crowd really going - definitely one of the most inspired shows of SXSW's Day One. Half way into Free Energy's set, the line outside The Galaxy Room had grown down the block and around the corner on Red River Street. Free Energy, a young, talented band have built a strong following in the past half year, and have been an IRC band to watch. The recent release of their album, Stuck on You, proves why.

"Dream City" - Free Energy

Following Free Energy at Wednesday's Paste Magazine showcase was Freelance Whales, yet another recent phenomenon to hit the "indie rock" scene in the past year. The band of musicians from the various boroughs of New York City fuse keyboard new wave pop with banjo-picking, stellar choruses and perfectly-timed bass, drums and guitar that round out a sound uniquely their own. By the time Freelance Whales were into their second song, the people outside in the line - including those with the all-mighty badges - were pretty much stuck there - no one was leaving at that point. And for good reason.

"Hannah" - Freelance Whales

Next it was over to Red 7 to see New Jersey's Real Estate perform a number of their widely acclaimed songs, including "Beach Comber," "Suburban Dogs" and "Green River." The band are likely to follow up their praise from CMJ last fall to even bigger buzz post-SXSW. They are scheduled oddly enough for only one official SXSW show, but are actually performing seven 'unofficial' shows by the end of Saturday. The only problem with the Real Estate show at Red 7 was that the vocals were not loud enough, and thus some of the songs sounded more like instrumentals, and still they pulled it off marvelously - which says much about any band's musicianship.

"Green River" - Real Estate

Official SXSW at Night: Good Luck Getting into the Best Showcases

That pretty much put an end to the day shows, which, interestingly enough, are not even considered official SXSW shows. In fact, the official SXSW Music Pocket Guide does not even list the day time shows. This is an interestingly separation as one spectator pointed out today. The day time shows, which are usually free, and somewhat easier to get into than night time shows, offer many regular folks who cannot afford - or get into - the exclusive, and official, evening showcases, a chance to see talented bands. The daytime shows also expose bands to a more diverse audience, and provide a better chance to connect with non-industry people, not to mention the perfect conditions for making new fans.

The interesting thing about the night time shows, is that not even the folks with the expensive badges, can get into a venue once it has hit capacity. The same goes for wristband holders. Many of the evening showcases are open only to badge and wristband holders, who tend to be music industry and press people. But it's still about capacity.

This was the case tonight at Stubb's, where the bill included The Walkmen, Broken Bells and Spoon. The line was extremely long, and not moving enough to create hope of seeing those bands. Before The Walkmen even completed their set, venue staff were telling people in line that they might as well go somewhere else because the joint was at capacity and badge holders, if there was capacity to let anyone else in, would get first priority. Basically, even badge holders were not guaranteed entry because any sane person that actually got in to Stubb's this evening wouldn't be stupid enough to leave, especially since Spoon wasn't scheduled until 12:15am. For many of us, not getting in was a big let-down. OK, get over it fast, and hit another venue with a solid showcase that may be a better shot.

So, we dashed across the street to Club De Ville in hopes of seeing Here We Go Magic, The Middle East, Bowerbirds and Califone. Unfortunately, it was pretty much the same deal. Club Deville was filled to capacity with little chance of getting in no matter how long you waited.

One thing you find out pretty fast about SXSW, especially at the official, popular night showcases, is that you may not get into see a lot of bands you planned on seeing - regardless of who you are, or whether you have a badge or wristband.

Leaving the Deville and weaving our way through the huge crowds in the closed-to-cars streets of downtown Austin, we headed over to The Galaxy Room to catch Denmark's Choir of Young Believers, and an awesome set from London's Fanfarlo.

After those shows, it was looking doubtful that we'd get into The Parish a few blocks away in time to see Codeine Velvet Club, We Were Promised Jetpacks and Frightened Rabbit. After 20 minutes in a long line, the staff informed everyone that it was sold out.

"Vanity Kills" - Codeine Velvet Club

"Swim Until You Can't See The Land" - Frightened Rabbit

Still, we were able to get into Wave, and proceeded to ascend to the relatively small, cramped rooftop area to see Florida's Surfer Blood, one of the most influential new bands, partly responsible for a wave of popularity in the "indie" surf rock trend that started to take hold in 2009, and is showing no signs of slowing down in 2010. Fans of bands like Pavement and Built to Spill are most likely to be interested in Surfer Blood. One indication of a new band's popularity is the number of profile views they have on MySpace. Surfer Blood's MySpace page already has well over half of a million profile views.

The band played an amazing 40 minute set, but it was literally the most packed crowd yet. Whether we liked it or not, the person in front and back of you were pressed up against you - through no fault of their own. Thankfully, we had a really fun, and tolerable, group of people that were having a blast and took for what it was worth - after all, it's SXSW, and St. Patrick's Day.

During Surfer Blood's set, the band grooved on their psychedelic surf rock sounds on tracks like "Floating Vibes" and "Take It Easy," saving their most well-known song, "Swim (To Reach The End)," to close out the set. During "Take It Easy," front man JP Pitts, took his name a bit literally and jumped into the crowd who caught and held him up perfectly, giving many people the first chance to see a band member because the stage was so low only the people right in front saw the band - unless you were seven-feet tall.

"Floating Vibes" - Surfer Blood

See other Surfer Blood posts with more songs

By the time, Surfer Blood finished, it was 2 am, and time for the festival to close up until 10 am this morning, when dozens of daytime showcases will kick-off and go on all day throughout Austin, with a brief break, usually between 6-8 pm, before the big nightime shows started.

No matter what one does when they visit SXSW, there is no way you can see most of the bands you planned to, not only because they are playing at the same time in different dozens of venues. So, the best one can do at SXSW, is to hope and to get to see as many shows as possible. But after 15 hours on your feet, it starts taking it's toll.

There were many other artists and bands that we wanted to see today that we could not for no other reason than having to make tough choices about which showcases we wanted to see, and which we had the best chance to get into, preferably where you can stay for at least a few sets in a row. Some of the shows we missed today, unfortunately, included Titus Andronicus, Beach Fossils, Neon Indian, Small Black, Washed Out, and Japandroids, to name a few.

"Time" - Beach Fossils

"Phone Call" - Washed Out

One of the saving graces when missing shows by artists you want to see, is that many play more than one - in some cases up to eight - other gigs during the four-day festival, many times at unofficial SXSW showcases. And yet, no matter how well you plan and try, there are going to be bands that you want to see that you simply will miss.

Thursday is yet another big day for SXSW, although it will lack the same energy and green attire and costumes that Day One/St. Patrick's Day offered.

The Austin Convention Center has a great day showcase featuring The Walkmen, Frightened Rabbit, Codeine Velvet Club and Dr. Dog.

"The Rat" - The Walkmen

"California" - Dr. Dog

However, the Bay Area Takeover Party at the Beauty Bar (617 E. 7th St.) offers a splendid lineup for the entire day, including The Ferocious Few, Sonny and the Sunsets, Leopold and His Fiction, Sleepy Sun, Man/Miracle, and so on, not to mention the "other" Beauty Bar (distinguished as "Palm Door" at 401 Sabine Street), which is hosting Bear Hands, Yacht, Fool's Gold, Banjo or Freakout, Growlers and Active Child.

"Too Young To Burn" - Sonny and the Sunsets

"Hot Sprawl" - Man/Miracle

"Upside Down" - Banjo or Freakout

The Fader Fort (1101 E. 5th St.) will host Everything, Everything, Best Coast, Neon Indian, Local Natives, The Morning Benders and others. The Galaxy Room, with an inside and outside stage, will have Shearwater, Miles Kurosky (of Beulah), Lou Barlow, The Lonely Forest, The Low Anthem, The Middle East, Black Prairie and Dinosaur Feathers.

"Sun Hands" - Local Natives

"Blood" - The Middle East

Check back tomorrow for more about the Thursday night shows, news of the day shows, and some videos, photos and more as they begin to pile up. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook for lots of updates that we send out during the entire day and night events.

As we are putting this together at a ridiculous time of the morning, we're still debating how we can see most of our top-pick shows tomorrow, while also considering heavily the logistics.

Day One of SXSW includes shows from The Walkmen, The Morning Benders, Free Energy, Real Estate, Frightened Rabbit, Broken Bells and More

2010-03-17T02:38:00.000-07:00

Today, Wednesday, March 17, is the date that Austin's South by Southwest fest transitions from a focus on film to music, bringing thousands of artists and spectators from around the world to downtown Austin for four days and nights of every imaginable type of music.

The music festival and conference held at SXSW for 16 years now, is the event of the year where musicians and bands, press and bloggers, spectators and fans, record industry executives, music scouts and agents, and so on, gather in conventions, centers, music halls, bars and clubs, churches and museums, backyards and roof tops to play, listen to and chronical more music than is ever possible to hear.

At anytime of the day or night, there are dozens and dozens of bands playing at venues throughout downtown Austin. SWSX organizers say there are more than 1,700 artists and bands scheduled just for the official showcases. However, there are also hundreds of unofficial SXSW events. Relatively unknown artists perform in pizza joints, hotels and cafes; better known bands perform at the top venues, such as Stubb's, Emo's and The Galaxy Room.

Wednesday will be a big day for places like The Galaxy Room (508 E 6th St.), which features two stages (inside and outstage) will host shows from Roman Candle, Free Energy, Freelance Whales, Suckers, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Roky Erickson with Okkervil River and Frightened Rabbit.

"Generator First Floor" - Freelance Whales

"Lost Coastlines" - Okkervil River

"Heads Roll Off" - Frightened Rabbit

Red 7 (611 E 7th St.) a few blocks away will host the SXSW Terrorbird/Force Field Day Party with shows (inside and outside) from The Fresh and Onlys, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Toro Y Moi, Inlets, Beach Fossils, Real Estate, Neon Indian, Choir of Young Believers and The Rural Alberta Advantage.

"Terminally Chill" - Neon Indian

"Action Reaction" - Choir of Young Believers

The Fader Fort (1001 E. 5th St.) is featuring shows from We Were Promised Jetpacks, Free Energy, Freelance Whales, Visqueen and others.

"Conductor" - We Were Promised Jetpacks

Not far away at Emo's (603 Red River St.), showcases include The Morning Benders, Titus Andronicus, Japandroids and The Black Angels.

"Excuses" - The Morning Benders

"A More Perfect Union" - Titus Andronicus

Just up the street at The Mohawk, there's an all-day showcase that includes White Demin, Besnard Lakes, Washed Out, Small Black, Royal Bands and Phantogram, to name a few.

That's just a sampling of the day shows for Day One of SXSW 2010. Stay tuned for more about night showcases that include The Walkmen, Broken Bells, Here We Go Magic, The Middle East, Califone, Fanfarlo, Princeton, Surfer Blood and more.

Best New Releases of the Week: Drive By Truckers, Standard Fare, Casper Bangs, The Rest, Eddy Current Suppression Ring and More

2010-03-15T03:01:00.000-07:00

With South by Southwest the major deal this week for most music freaks, it is fitting, and not surprising, that some of the best new releases of the week are from artists who are scheduled to appear at SXSW 2010.

Firstly, Athens, Georgia's Drive-By Truckers officially release their new album, The Big To-Do, today - perfectly timed for their SXSW show this Thursday at Stubb's in Austin. Unfortunately, and unlike many other bands at SXSW, TBT have only appearance booked at SXSW before they head to New Orleans for back-to-back concerts on Friday and Saturday. From the little bit we've heard of the new album, The Big To-Do, it sounds so good, so far.

"This F*cking Job" - Drive-By Truckers from The Big To-Do

Drive By Truckers on MySpace

Drive By Truckers SXSW Show:

March 18 @ 10:30pm at Stubb's

From the UK to Austin, Texas, and three shows at SXSW. Not a bad deal for a relatively new band; Standard Fare specialize in catchy post-punk influenced pop songs, and are one of the lesser-known bands that should win over some new fans this week. The band's debut album, The Noyelle Beat, is available today.

"Fifteen" - Standard Fare from The Noyelle Beat

Standard Fare on MySpace

Standard Fare SXSW Shows:

Mar 17 @ 3:00P Music For Listeners Day Party
Mar 19 @ 1:00P SXSW Day Party @ Waterloo Cycles
Mar 19 @ 8:00P SXSW Showcase at Mohawk inside

Casper Bangs are a relatively new indie pop band from Washington, D.C. In the past year of so, the band has created their own good buzz within the "music underground." Casper Bangs are booked for two shows this week at SXSW, including a spot on Sneak Attack Media's Thursday night showcase, and the daytime BYT Party at the Red Fez. The DC band received good reviews for the DIY release of their debut, self-titled EP last year, and have since been building a modest, but loyal following. Casper Bangs started as the band project of Rob Pierangeli.

"Skylark" - Casper Bangs from I Woke Up

Casper Bangs from MySpace

Casper Bangs SXSW Shows:

Mar 18 2010 8:00P SXSW - Sneak Attack Media Showcase
Mar 20 2010 1:00P SXSW - Red Fez - BYT Day Party

Not all of the band's with new notable releases this week are scheduled for SXSW, but it would have been good if they had been. We previously wrote about the Hamilton, Canada band, The Rest, in praise of their last album, Everyone All at Once, most especially for the tracks, "Apples and Allergies" and "Modern Time Travel."

Acclaim of the album reached across the oceans to Europe as well, and landed the band opening tours with Final Fantasy's Owen Pallet, Deerhoof, The Besnard Lakes and The Twilight Sad. The band's new EP, Cried Wolf, drops this week on Autuer Recordings, and includes the invigorating, forward-driving rocker, "With Every Heartbeat," perhaps the EP's most accessible track, followed closely by the sprawling, artistic folk rock of "Cried Wolf (and Other Animals)." Thanks to the band for sending these songs in to share with the world.

"With Every Heartbeat" - The Rest from Cried Wolf

"Cried Wolf (and Other Animals)" - The Rest from Cried Wolf

- The Rest on MySpace

If you haven't heard of Eddy Current Supression Ring, here's your chance. The band is definitely on our radar for 2010. Also, check out new tracks from Moneybrother, herMajesty, and One For The Team.

"Anxiety" - Eddy Current Suppression Ring from Rush to Relax

Eddy Current Suppression Ring

"Born Under a Bad Sign" - Moneybrother from Real Control

"World Smiles" - herMajesty from Images from the Vanishing Night EP

herMajesty on MySpace

"Hard for You" - One for the Team from Ghosts

One for the Team

SXSW 2010 Bands to See, Vol. I: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Princeton, Real Estate, The Drums and Surfer Blood

2010-03-12T23:11:00.000-08:00

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

It's not a stretch that Black Rebel Motorcycle Club would be high on the list of bands to see at SXSW in 2010, even though they are definitely not indie (they're signed to a major label), yet rule in the minds of many alternative-to-heavy rockers. The band's new album proves their status in the rock world. The band keeps pumping out exciting rock songs with all the right elements to keep their original fan base engaged, and reach new fans. The music speaks for itself.

"Conscience Killer" - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club from Beat The Devil's Tattoo

BRMC SWSX Shows:

March 19th at 11:00 at La Zona Rosa
March 19th at 4:30 at Cedar Street Courtyard

- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on MySpace

Princeton

Kanine Records (Grizzly Bear, Surfer Blood, The Depreciation Guild) has steadily been building a solid roster of bands in the past few years. One of their most recent family members, are the shoegaze pop band Princeton of Eagle Rock, California.

The band has climbed up quickly since the release of their 2006 DIY EP debut, A Case of the Emperor's Clothes, followed in 2008 with their second EP, Bloomsbury. Last year, their debut LP, Cocoon of Love was released to critical acclaim and a growing following of fans.

"Calypso Gold" - Princeton from Cocoon of Love (2009)

"Korean War Memorial" - Princeton from Cocoon of Love (2009)

Bonus tracks:

"Ms. Bentwich" - Princeton from Bloomsbury EP (2008)

"The Waves" - Princeton from Bloomsbury EP (2008)

Princeton shows at SXSW:

Mar 17 2010 10:00P KANINE SHOWCASE @ WAVE ROOFTOP
Mar 18 2010 12:30A CREEKSIDE LOUNGE
Mar 19 2010 12:00P BROOKLYN VEGAN PARTY@ CLUB DEVILLE
Mar 20 2010 4:00P KEVCHINO PARTY @ CAFE MUNDI

Princeton on MySpace

Real Estate

New Jersey band Real Estate are returning to SXSW for their second year. Plus, the band released their much anticipated debut LP in November to a great deal of positive reviews. The LP is definitely one of the best debuts of 2009. Check out our review of the LP and then come back here to listen to two additional songs not included in the release review. This band is truly amazing and unique and just about every track on the LP is a keeper - can't say that about most debut albums. Anticipate big crowds for their shows at SXSW next week.

"Suburban Beverage" - Real Estate from s/t debut (2009)

"Black Lake" - Real Estate from s/t debut (2009)

Real Estate Shows at SXSW:

Mar 17 2010 1:00A Underwater Peeps house show
Mar 17 2010 4:30P Forcefield Party @ Red 7
Mar 18 2010 3:00P Other Music show @ French Legation Museum
Mar 18 2010 9:00P 2908 Cole Street w/ Woods, Pocahaunted, Beach Fossils, Eternal Tapestry, Silent Land Time Machine
Mar 19 2010 12:00P Ground Control Party @ Urban Outfitters
Mar 19 2010 2:00P Pitchfork Party @ Emo’s Jr.
Mar 19 2010 11:00P Gorilla Vs Bear/ Mexican Summer @ Klub Krucial
Mar 20 2010 2:00P The Mohawk, Mog Party
Mar 20 2010 6:45P Fader Fort
Mar 20 2010 11:45P Woodsist Showcase @ Red 7

- Real Estate on MySpace

Surfer Blood

Surfer Blood definitely fall into the new wave of surf rock bands during the past year or so. The West Palm Beach, Florida area band broke through last August after putting on a much-talked-about show at Brooklyn's Bruar Falls, and subsequently, during last falls' NYC CMJ festival. The band relentlessly toured throught 2009, including bills with Art Brut and Japandroids. Within months of literally becoming a band, Srufer Blood were making it on to many music blogs' and sites' "Bands to Watch" lists. Heather Phares of the All Music Guide wrote warmly that Surfer Blood "fuse sunny surf rock charm with indie rock cool." In January, the band released their excellent debut LP, Astrocoast.

"Swim (To Reach The End)" - Surfer Blood from Astrocoast

Surfer Blood SXSW Shows:

Mar 17 2010 4:00P Waterloo Records (live free instore)
Mar 17 2010 11:45P The Wave Rooftop, Kanine Records SXSW Party
Mar 18 2010 1:00P Club Deville (Insound SxSw Party)
Mar 18 2010 3:00P The Parish (NPR SXSW Party)
Mar 18 2010 5:45P Sled Island Party
Mar 19 2010 1:00P La Zona Rosa: Village Voice SxSW Party w/ The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Superchunk, The XX
Mar 19 2010 5:30P Emos (Pitchfork SxSw Party)
Mar 19 2010 10:00P Lustre Pearl (Filter, Dickies SxSw Party)

- Surfer Blood on MySpace

The Drums

The Drums have busted through in the past year to praise from bloggers and the music press, not to mention enthusiastic fans. It's easy to get lost in the vast ocean of "hot, new" indie bands from Brooklyn nowadays, but The Drums have definitely carved out their little piece of home turf with their decidely catchy, post punk/pop sound. The Drums are considered by some to fall into the so-called "surfer indie rock" that has been attributed to other bands like, ironically enough, Surfer Blood, Real Estate, Holiday Shores, all of which are also favorites to be seen at this year's SXSW fest in Austin.

"Let's Go Surfing" - The Drums from Summer Time EP

"I Felt Stupid" - The Drums from Summer Time EP

The Drums SXSW Shows:

Mar 19 2010 1:00am NME Showcase @ Latitude
Mar 19 2010 3:45pm FADER FORT
Mar 20 2010 10:00pm Stubb’s Showcase

- The Drums on MySpace

Bands that Should be at SXSW 2010: The Swimmers: We plan to feature this band in the near future. They are good. Also, The Canon Logic; see our review for perspective on that. Other bands that would have been cool to see at SXSW, but apparently won't be there, include Pete and the Pirates, Frank Ferdinand, Sigur Ros, The White Stripes. Getting conflicting messages of whether The Ruby Suns are showing or not. While they are doing one show, more slots at SXSW of The Morning Benders would be a good thing.

Best New Releases of the Week, Part Two: Broken Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Frightened Rabbits, Mighty Tiger, Thunder Power and More

2010-03-10T23:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we published part one of the Best New Releases of the Week; it was necessary to make two installments because there is a lot of great new music out this week. In the first installment, we featured The Morning Benders, Ted Leo, Free Energy, Titus Andronicus, Josh Rouse and others. So far this year, there have been at least eight weeks of solid new releases that have made for some fantastic playlists of 2010 songs, including today's playlist. Listen to it from start to finish with the built-in player to get the full experience of the diversity of terrific songs.

First up is new music from Broken Bells (a collaboration between The Shins' James Mercer and Danger Mouse). Broken Bells performed on The Late Show with David Letterman last evening in what must have been a difficult performance for Danger Mouse and Mercer, both of who had collaborated with the late Mark Linkous, who founded the band Sparklehorse in 1994. Sparklehorse was arguably one of the most influential groups of the alternative rock movement that grew in popularity from the mid to late 1990s, and into the new millenium. Linkous was also a frequent influenetial bands of the alternative rock movement that who died last Saturday in Knoxville following a reported suicide. IRC paid tribute to Mark Linkous and his music in a special feature on Monday.

"The High Road" - Broken Bells from s/t debut
Stream the entire album via Spinner
Broken Bells official website

LA alternative rockers Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's new album, Beat The Devil's Tattoo, was released yesterday on Vagrant Records. After streaming it a few days ago via Spinner, fans of the BRMC are likely to be well satisfied - it rocks from start to finish. The band is currently on an extensive tour that will cover much of North America over the next three weeks, and then on to a six-week European tour. The band is set to perform one show next week during Austin's annual South By Southwest music festival and conference.

"Conscience Killer" - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club from Beat The Devil's Tattoo

Brooklyn's power pop band, The Canon Logic, sent in two singles to share with all of you from their new album FM Arcade. Sounds like yet another promising band to break out of Brooklyn. Also, Emanuel and the Fear, a New York City band, have a new album release that dropped yesterday via the growing line-up of indie label, Paper Garden Records.

"Avenue of Criminals" - The Canon Logic from FM Arcade

"Nights at Armour Mansion"- The Canon Logic from FM Arcade

Canon Logic official website

"Dear Friend" - Emanuel and the Fear from Listen
Emanuel and the Fear on MySpace

In addition, don't miss these splendid fresh tracks from new albums (worthy additions to your music collection; otherwise, we wouldn't recommend them) by Frightened Rabbit, The Besnard Lakes, The Ruby Suns, Mighty Tiger, Thunder Power (produced by Ian Aeillo [Bright Eyes, Cursive, Matthew Sweet]), Jatun and others.

"Swim Until You Can't See Land" - Frightened Rabbit from The Winter of Mixed Drinks
Frightened Rabbit on MySpace

"Albatross" - The Besnard Lakes from The Roaring Night
The Besnard Lakes official website

"Cranberry" - The Ruby Suns from Fight Softly
The Ruby Suns on MySpace

"33 1/3" - Mighty Tiger from Western Theatre
Mighty Tiger on MySpace

"Heartifact" - Thunder Power from Hearts Intersect EP
Thunder Power on MySpace

"Circuit Eater" - Jatun from Blanket of Ash
Jatun official website

"Fare Thee Well" - McCabe & Mrs. Miller from Time for Leaving
McCabe & Mrs. Miller on MySpace

"Song for Dreaming" - Judson Claiborne from Time and Temperature

"Leave Me Alone" - Pretty Good Dance Moves from PGDM

"No Logic" - White Hinterland from Kairos

As if releasing their debut record Witches last week wasn't enough, FUR teamed up with Coyote Clean Up on another EP available now for free download. The two artists took a crack at remixing each others tracks, both ironically titled "Lackadaisical" and added a few more of their own to boot. The Lackadaisical EP was described by Gorilla vs. Bear as "haunted lounge-house" and is available for free download via the Waaga Records website. Power Animal also have a new song out from their new album, People Songs, out later this month, and will be performing at next week's SXSW, followed by a month-long U.S. tour.

"Lackadaisical" (Coyote Clean Up Dub) - FUR from Lackadaisical EP

"Dear My Body" - Power Animal from People Songs

Other Posts and Playlists You Might Dig:

Best New Releases of the Week, Part One: The Morning Benders, Free Energy, Titus Andronicus, Josh Rouse, Ted Leo and More

RIP: Artists Remember Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse (1962-2010)

In Dee Mail Special Edition, Vol. VIII: The Middle East, The Love X Nowhere, Emanuel and the Fear, Solfege Radio and More

Disbanded: Band Break-Ups, Vol. I: New Faces, The Fake Fictions and The Catholic Comb

Best New Releases of the Week, Part One: The Morning Benders, Free Energy, Titus Andronicus, Josh Rouse, Ted Leo and More

2010-03-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

The Morning Benders widely anticipated new album, Big Echo, officially drops today, March 9th. We have two terrific singles, the album opener, "Excuses" (via Stereogum) and "Promises," from the folks at Beggars Group. The band will embark on a six-week tour of the U.S. and Canada with a kick-0ff show tomorrow in Philadelphia (see the tour schedule).

"Excuses" - The Morning Benders from Big Echo

"Promises" - The Morning Benders from Big Echo

It goes without saying that Free Energy are one of the hottest indie bands of the past year. With their blissful 70's pop rock sound and energetic live shows, the band have won wide praise from the music blogging and mainstream press communities.

"Hope Child" - Free Energy from Stuck On Nothing

"Dream City" - Free Energy from Stuck On Nothing

- Stream Stuck on Nothing

One of our favorite shoegaze bands from the Garden State, Titus Andronicus, released the follow up album to their widely acclaimed debut, The Airing of Grievances, this week, and so far, it sounds like a real keeper. The band were nice enough to share not one, not two, but three tracks from the new album. Titus Andronicus will be performing a free in-store performance during SXSW at Waterloo Records on March 18 at 1pm in downtown Austin.

"A More Perfect Union" - Titus Andronicus from The Monitor

"Four Score and Seven (Part One)" - Titus Andronicus from The Monitor

"Four Score and Seven (Part Two)" - Titus Andronicus from The Monitor

- Titus Andronicus on MySpace

"The Mighty Sparrow" - Ted Leo and The Pharmacists from The Brutalist Bricks

"Even Heroes Have to Die" - Ted Leo and The Pharmacists from The Brutalist Bricks

- Ted Leo on MySpace

"I Will Live On Islands" - Josh Rouse from El Turista

- Josh Rouse on MySpace

- Stream El Turista via Spinner

"Do The Method" - Method Actors from This is Still It

"Bleeding" - Method Actors from This is Still It

- Method Actors on MySpace

"Crystals" - Thrushes from Night Falls

- Thruses official website

"Song for Dreaming" - Judson Claiborne from Time and Temperature

- Judson Claiborne on MySpace

Check out Part Two of the Best New Releases of the Week featuring Broken Bells, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Frightened Rabbit, Mighty Tiger, The Ruby Suns, Thunder Power, The Besnard Lake, The Canon Logic and more.

Other Posts You Might Enjoy:

Feetz to Da Beatz, Vol. I - Bands That Get You Dancing: Body Language, Yes Giantess and Friends Electric

2010 Releases You Might Have Missed: Boy Eats Drum Machine, Phantogram, ArpLine, BlueBrain, Wakey! Wakey!

Best New Releases of the Week: Bear Hands, Local Natives, The Hush Now, Field Music, Son Lux, The Good Listeners

Band to Watch: Nashville's The Vermicious K'nids

RIP: Artists Remember Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse (1962-2010)

2010-03-08T20:08:00.000-08:00

The alternative rock world has lost another giant. Over the past couple of days the news of the death of Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse has shocked and saddened many fans, friends and artists. On Saturday, The New York Times reported that Linkous committed suicide in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was 47.

Colin Greenwood, the bassist for Radiohead, released this statement: "I was very sad to hear the news that Mark Linkous has died. He and his band toured with us in Europe, at the start of OK Computer, and they were great every night...He was softly spoken, with an Old South courtesy I hadn't heard before...Mark wrote and played some beautiful music, and we’re lucky to have it. Rest in Peace."

From Steve Drozd, multi-instrumentalist for The Flaming Lips: "R.I.P. Mark Linkous. You were a kind soul...Mark Linkous toured with us in 2003. Every night he and I would share a quiet moment with a shot of whiskey and a few laughs. A nice memory."

Via Twitter, the band Metric, wrote: "Don't care about the Oscars. Thinking only of our latest loss too soon, Mark Linkous," and Californe: "goodbye mark l., we will miss you badly."

Linkous' family has released the following statement: "It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and family member, Mark Linkous, took his own life today. We are thankful for his time with us and will hold him forever in our hearts. May his journey be peaceful, happy and free. There's a heaven and there's a star for you."

Linkous had a Twitter account, but he rarely used it. His last message was in November of 2009, and seemed to indicate a sense of excitement about a new project: "working on a film about Beatles guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi."

In 1995, Sparkelhorse's first album, vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, was released, and quickly became a hit on college radio, as did the song, "Someday I Will Treat You Good." The following year, Sparklehorse toured Europe with Radiohead. While in London, Linkous overdosed on a combination of anti-depressants, heroin, alcohol and valium, and almost lost the use of his legs from the resulting emergency surgery. He was confined to a wheelchair for six months.

Ironically, last December, a mentor and fellow musician, Vic Chesnutt, who Linkous had collaborated with on the 2001 release of It's a Wonderful Life, committed suicide in Georgia. Chesnutt was bound to a wheelchair for his adult life following a car crash at the age of 18. He was 45.

After recuperating, Linkous and the band released Good Morning Spider in 1998, a somber album that contained the song, "Saint Mary," which Linkous is reported to have dedicated to the nurses who helped in his recovery.

Following GMS, Linkous and Sparklehorse recorded It's a Wonderful Life, that, in addition to Chesnutt, included collaboration with another mentor, Daniel Johnston, plus, Tom Waits, Bob Rupe (The Silos and Cracker), Nina Persson and PJ Harvey. In 2006, Sparklehorse released their fourth album, Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain.

Last year, Linkous teamed up with Danger Mouse and producer David Lynch on the Dark Night of the Soul project, which was not released due to a legal battle between Danger Mouse and EMI. However, Pitchfork announced last week that Danger Mouse and EMI had resolved their differences, and the multimedia project, which Linkous co-wrote, co-composed and co-produced, would officially be released sometime this summer. Much of music from the project had already been leaked on the Internet.

According to BrooklyVegan, Linkous' publicist confirmed that Sparklehorse was nearly done with a new album that was scheduled to be released by Anti- Records. However, there is no information on the Anti- website about the project or Linkous' death.

Other collaborators on Dark Night of the Soul include James Mercer of The Shins, The Flaming Lips, Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals, Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, Frank Black of the Pixies, Iggy Pop, Nina Persson of The Cardigans, Suzanne Vega, Vic Chesnutt, and Scott Spillane of Neutral Milk Hotel and The Gerbils.

For anyone who has followed Sparklehorse over all of these years, the loss of Linkous cannot be overstated. He was truly one of the most gifted singer and songwriters of the alternative scene.

"Little Girl" - Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse featuring Julian Casablancas from Dark Night of the Soul (2010)

Stream Dark Night of the Soul on NPR

"Little Fat Baby" - Sparklehorse from It's a Wonderful Life (2001)

"Saint Mary" - Sparklehorse from Good Morning Spider (1998)

"Return to Me" - Sparklehorse from Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain (2006)

"Heart of Darkness" - Sparklehorse from Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot (1995)

KCRW interview with Mark Linkous upon the release of It's a Wonderful Life.

The official Sparklehorse website

Sparklehorse on MySpace

Band of the Week: Dark Dark Dark Has New EP, Sophomore LP in Process and Three Upcoming SXSW Shows

2010-03-08T03:51:00.000-08:00

Their music is carefully crafted and performed brilliantly; it is touching, cinematic and enchanting, not to mention wonderfully experimental.

Dark Dark Dark are a hybird of musicians from New York, New Orleans and Minneapolis, including the magnificent lead vocalist and piano and accordion artist Nona Marie Invie, supported by the vocals and multi-instrumentist Marshall LaCount (banjo, piano, clarinet), two choir singers, Jonathan Kaiser on cello, and multi-instrumentalist Water McClements (piano, trumpet and accordion), plus the talents of drummer Brett Bullion and bassist Todd Chandler.

The new EP from the chamber folk sextet Dark Dark Dark is a wonderful follow-up to their widely heralded debut album, The Snow Magic, in 2008.

It's another winner and a tease for a sophomore album slated to be released later this year. The band is musically advanced in both songwriting and performance, Invie's splendid and moving lead vocals are at the center, the music incorporates many styles and is always inventive, at times gypsy-like, theatrical, tragic, joyful, and, of course, dark - all accomplished with remarkable sophistication and what would otherwise be a contradiction - an uncanny rawness.

We listened to Bright Bright Bright a number of times and enjoy it more with each subsequent spin. Marshall LaCount summed up the new EP as a conceptual piece "about a character finding a place in the world, and the strange interactions that happen along the way."

Dark Dark Dark has also be wildly successful on the road, touring with one of our favorite, still really indie bands WHY? The EP was recorded on analog at the suggestion of Minneapolis producer Tom Herbers (WHY?, Low, Retribution Gospel Choir, The Jayhawks, Fog) who wanted to capture the band's live chemistry on analog equipment from start to finish. "Recording like this allowed so much room for musicality, warmth and energy," Herbers said.

Dark Dark Dark has been recording new material for the upcoming LP at the historic Music Box Theatre in Minneapolis with Herbers, and are currently touring their way to Austin next week where they are slated to perform at three shows for the South by Southwest music festival.

"Bright Bright Bright" by Dark Dark Dark from the Bright Bright Bright EP (2010)

New Music from The Pass, Secret Cities, City Light, Scanners, Sambassadeur, Undersea Poem, David Vandervelde, Mako Sica & More

2010-03-06T04:30:00.000-08:00

Last month, Louisville, Kentucky's electro pop quintet The Pass dropped their DIY debut EP, Colors. The four-piece outfit, with their admiration for 80's synth and pop music, recently signed to SonaBlast Records, and are now recording their debut LP that will be mixed by producer and engineer Alex Aldi (Tokyo Police Club, Passion Pit, and The Walkmen). If The Pass' self-released EP is any indication of what's to come from their first album, it could be a big year for The Pass; they're already one of our Bands to Watch in 2010.

"Crosswalk Stereo" - The Pass from Colors

"Colors" - The Pass from Colors

> The Pass on MySpace

Secret Cities is a psychedelic electro-acoustic indie band from Fargo who recently signed with Western Vinyl Records in Austin. The band recently released a double side single, and in June will drop their debut LP, Pink Graffati.

"Pink Graffati" - Secret Cities from Bright Teeth/Pink Graffitti single (Feb. 23rd)

> Secret Cities on MySpace

City Light is a San Francisco area band born out of the ashes of post hardcore with a knack for mixing 8-bit samples with electro-lush synths and raspy Conor Oberst-like vocals. Stream their new album, Burned Out Bright, on MySpace.

"Some Day Maybe" - City Light from Burned Out Bright (Feb. 1st)

"Apologies" - City Light from Burned Out Bright

> City Light on MySpace

"Stranded" - Sambassadeur from European (Feb. 23rd)

> Sambassadeur website

"Still Again" - The New Monarchs from Blue Prints (Feb. 16th)

> The New Monarchs on MySpace

"Makes Me Happy" - Undersea Poem from s/t debut - (Feb 9th)

> Undersea Poem label page

"We Never Close Our Eyes" - Scanners from Submarine (Feb. 16th)

> Scanners official website

"Eileen" - Lord Numb from Numbskull (out Feb. 15th)

> Lord Numb label page

"Learn How to Hang" - David Vandervelde from Learn How to Hang (Feb. 16th)

> David Vandervelde offical website

"Blue-Eyed Universe" - Fictionist from Lasting Echo (Feb. 19th)

> Fictionist website official website

"I'Itoi" - Mako Sica from Dual Horizon (Feb. 16th)

> Mako Sica on MySpace

Flashtrack: The Japandroids

This is just a little diversion from the theme of this playlist. This next track comes by way of the Japandroids, a Vancouver indie rock duo who broke through the saturated playing field to gain a rather large following in short order, as well as wide praise from bloggers and the mainstream media. Last summer, the two college buddies released their debut LP, Post Nothing, via Polyvinyl Records. The album was subsequently nominated for Canada's prestigious Polaris Music Prize.

"Art Czars" - Japandroids from Post Nothing (2009)

/Japandroids official website/

Singer and Songwriter Spotlight Series Vol. V - Iceland's Lay Low and California's Noel Carlon

2010-03-05T02:43:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard of Lay Low, it's not because this talented artist's moniker matches her status within the world of music. Icelandic singer-songwriter Lovísa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir, with her unusual moniker and all, has a voice of gold. Since being discovered nearly four years ago, she has done anything but "lay low," garnering international critical acclaim for her folk meets blues meets pop signature sound. It is simply impossible to ignore one of the most terrific female vocalists - and songwriters - to come out of Iceland in recent years.

In 2006, Lovísa was contacted by a local label that showed interest in a raw demo she had placed on her MySpace page. Just a few short months after being discovered, she had recorded and released her debut album, Please Don't Hate Me, which topped the Icelandic charts, and became the best-selling original album in the country that year, as well as being nominated for four Icelandic Music Awards (and winning three of them) in the process. Her latest album, Farewell Good Night's Sleep, was released last year to positive reviews, and her MySpace views have top 350,000.

"By and By" - Lay Low from Farewell Good Night's Sleep (2009)

"I Forget It's There" - Lay Low from Farewell Good Night's Sleep (2009)

Lay Low on MySpace

Los Angeles musician Noel Carlon was born in Tijuana and grew up in southern California where he played his uncle's guitar and wore out his father's records. As a child in a "strange land," Carlon found himself isolated, spending countless hours in the local library reading the poems of Edgar Allan Poe, Federico Garcia Lorca, and William Shakespeare. During college, he honed his songwriting skills and formed a band called Delarosa. Today, he is continuing his work using the moniker, Noel Carlon and the Dead Poets.

With help from guest musicians, Carlon brought his compositions to life and released his debut album, Insecure, last year. His musical influences include the Beatles, the Smiths, Soda Stereo, Jeff Buckley, Elliott Smith, Tom Waits, and Chet Baker.

"Runaway" - Noel Carlon and the Dead Poets from Insecure (2009)

"Lady Kiss Me" - Noel Carlon and the Dead Poets from Insecure (2009)

Noel Carlon on MySpace

Best New Releases of the Week, Part II: Twin Tigers, Man/Miracle, Bridges & Blinking Lights, Megaphonic Thrift & More

2010-03-03T09:30:00.000-08:00

Straight out of the Athens, Georgia indie rock scene, Twin Tigers mix pop, rock and shoegaze overtones to create a signature sound that is some of the best new music to come out of the southeast in years.

And, there's an interesting back story; Twin Tigers was formed by co-workers at Athens' Grit restaurant, which is owned by REM founder, and local celebrity, Michael Stipe. Guitarist and vocalist Matthew Rain and bassist Aimee Morris founded Twin Tigers in the ashes of their previously dissolved bands. In February of 2008, the band released their debut EP, Curious Faces/Violet Future, to rave reviews. Soon the Twin Tigers were building a loyal fan base and opening shows for artists like Deerhunter, Dead Confederate, Jay Reatard (RIP), Black Lips, Woods, Snowden and A Place to Bury Strangers.
Following a number of lineup changes, the band brought on drummer Doug Crump and guitarist Forrest Hall, opening for Les Savy Fav at the Earl in Atlanta just weeks before their SXSW 2009 apperance. In no time the band began recording their debut LP with Athens producer Joel Hatstat, and where picked for a national tour with Minus the Bear and the Antlers last fall. The album, Gray Waves, was released yesterday via Old Flame Records. IRC is happy to announce three winners of the new album in a recent giveaway contest via our Facebook page. There will be more contests throughout the year, so make sure to check back.

There are limited editions of blue and black vinyl copies (includes digital download) of Gray Waves available via the Old Flame store. You can also get an EP download for free.

"Passive Idol" - Twin Tigers from Gray Waves

"Automatic" (WOXY Studios) - Twin Tigers from Gray Waves

Twin Tigers on MySpace

Follow Twin Tigers on Twitter

We are big fans of Man/Miracle, a Santa Cruz (and now Oakland), California indie rock band that have really broken through in the past year or so. In addition to performing with Rogue Wave and Princeton at last week's Noise Pop festival in San Francisco, the band are heading out soon for SXSW in Austin. Fans will be thoroughly entertained thanks in large part to the release of the band's debut LP, The Shape of Things, that officially dropped yesterday.

The first track featured here, "Hot Sprawl," is one of the LP's most memorial songs, as is the follow-up track, "Pushing and Shoving." To call these among the album's top tracks is saying a lot because there are a lot of "keeper" tunes on The Shape of Things. In a time when indie rock is arguably over-saturated with bands that rely heavily on synthesizers and computerized sound effects, Man/Miracle deliver refreshingly straight up rock, and are easily one of our top Bands to Watch in 2010.

"Hot Sprawl" - Man/Miracle from The Shape of Things

"Pushing and Shoving" - Man/Miracle from The Shape of Things

Following Man/Miracle, the rock keeps rolling with the blazing guitars, raspy vocals and thumping percussions of Bridges & Blinking Lights' "Undercover," followed by the energetic, chorus-heavy punk pop song, "Acid Blues," by The Megaphonic Thrift.

"Undercover" - Bridges & Blinking Lights from Heroes, Guns & Snakes

"Acid Blues" - The Megaphonic Thrift from Decoy, Decoy

Former Trail of Dead bassist Danny Wood's new fuzz folk rock band project, Borrowed Eyes, released their debut LP, Some Demons You Can Share With Others, yesterdayWhat do you guys think of the title track featured below?

Also check out new tracks from The Paparazzi, plus a mix of songs from new releases by talented female singer and songwriters Emma Pollock, Kate Miller-Heidke and Jen Wood.

"Some Demons You Can Share with Others" - Borrowed Eyes from Some Demons You Can Share with Others

"The Rococo Tape" - The Paparazzi from Rococo

"Hug The Harbour" - Emma Pollock from The Law of Large Numbers

"Politics In Space" - Kate Miller-Heidke from Curiouser

"Pills" - Jen Wood from Finds You in Love

Don't miss Part One of Best New Releases of the Week, featuring Rogue Wave, Portugal. The Man, The Whigs, These New Puritans, Peasant, A Weather and more.

Best New Releases of the Week, Part I: Rogue Wave, Portugal The Man, The Whigs, These New Purtians, Peasant, A Weather and More

2010-03-02T01:57:00.000-08:00

There are so many great new releases this week, that we had to break them up into two installments (and it's looking that way for next week as well). A list of artists and bands for part two of this week's best new releases is featured below. That playlist mix will be published tomorrow. But first, here is part one. Enjoy and share with friends.

The fourth LP from California rockers Rogue Wave comes on the heels of some recent bad news for the band, including the tragic death of an ex-band mate, Evan Farrell, and serious health issues suffered by band founder, Zach Rogue.

Rogue (his real last name is Schwartz), found himself bed-ridden for months after a freak back accident. During his recovery, Rogue told drummer Pat Spurgeon that he "wanted to make a dance record," later elaborating that Permalight, the band's newest album out today via Brushfire Records, was about "physical music, about the visceral experience of hearing music and letting your body move to it." Indeed.

Next, John Gourley, lead vocalist of Portugal. The Man, said recently that the band has kept their latest album, American Ghetto, purposely under wraps, stating: "Nobody gets the record early; we will not be soliciting reviews, airplay or any support from the industry." The band's new single is available today along with the official drop of the LP.

Also, check out fresh tracks from The Whigs (with another free download on their website), the popular UK indie electronica band, These New Puritans. Scroll down for new songs from A Weather, Dinosaur Feathers, Peasant, Butterfly Explosion, plus advanced tracks from next week releases by Titus Andronicus, Jatun and Method Actors.

"Good Morning" - Rogue Wave from Permalight (via Stereogum)

Rogue Wave on MySpace

"The Dead Dog" - Portugal. The Man from American Ghetto

Portugal. The Man on MySpace

"In The Dark" - The Whigs from In The Dark

The Whigs official website

"Orion Hidden" - These New Puritans from Hidden

These New Puritans on MySpace

Portland, Oregon's A Weather are an indie-folk band whose sophomore album, Everyday Balloons, drops today via Team Love Records (the label founded by Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes).

As with their debut album, Everyday Balloons was engineered by Adam Selzer (M. Ward, The Decemberists, Norfolk & Western) at Portland's Type Foundry Studios. Also, the rising popularity of Brooklyn's Dinosaur Feathers have made them a favorite on many bands to watch in 2010 lists. They debut their first LP, Fantasy Memorial, also drops today.

"Giant Stairs" - A Weather from Everyday Balloons

A Weather official website

"Vendela Vida" - Dinosaur Feathers from Fantasy Memorial

Dinosaur Feathers on MySpace

Peasant is a Pennsylvania indie artist with a growing following.
"Well Alright" - Peasant from Shady Retreat

Peasant on MySpace

Butterfly Explosion are a shoegaze, post punk band from Ireland that blend powerful spiraling music with delicate vocals to form rich soundscapes of lush melodies, weaving moments of ethereal dream-pop and explosive sonic bliss. The debut album, Lost Trails, was released in the UK and Ireland in February on the Irish label, Revive Records, and recorded and produced by Torsten Kinsella (God Is An Astronaut). It's official U.S. release date was yesterday, March 1, 2010.

"Closer" - Butterfly Explosion from Lost Trails

"Chemistry" - Butterfly Explosion from Lost Trails

Butterfly Explosion official website

Check back tomorrow for part two of the Best New Releases of the Week, featuring reviews and music from the debut Twin Tigers' debut release, plus Emma Pollack, Kate Miller-Heidke, The Paparazzi, Jen Wood and The Megaphone Thrift. You might also want to view previous playlists of Best New Releases of the Week - packed with great music.

In Advance: Titus Andronicus, Jatun and Method Actors

A new feature we are adding to the end of each New Releases playlist mix provides a sneak peak at a few tracks that will be coming out next week. Look out for more new releases next Tuesday - it's a huge week for drops, so stay tuned.

"Four Score and Seven (Part One)" - Titus Andronicus from The Monitor

"Circuit Eater" - Jatun from Blanket of Ash

"Do The Method" - Method Actors from This is Still It

Best Rarely Heard Songs of 2009, Vol. IV: Barzin, Laterns, Tropical Depression, and The Parlophonics

2010-03-01T04:23:00.000-08:00

Barzin has been compared to such artists as Sparklehorse, Low, Red House Painters and Bill Callahan and his last effort, Notes to an Absent Lover, out on Monotreme Records, was acclaimed by Mojo, Uncut, and Q, and ended up on many year end lists for the best albums of 2009. "It's Come To This" is a previously unreleased song.

"It's Come to This" - Barzin, single release
Barzin on MySpace

This track was provided under the Creative Commons license by Bad Panda Records

San Diego's Lanterns have emerged in the past year as one of southern California's best new indie bands, and have opened for Matt and Kim and ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead. Alternative Press named them one of 2009's "Best Unsigned Bands."

"Midnight Psalms" - Lanterns from Apocalypse Now EP
Lanterns on MySpace

Another San Diego export, the duo named Tropical Depression, is Jordan Thomas and Joe Campesino, are multi-instrumentalists and songwriters who dabble in electronic psych pop experimentation. In November, they released their fourth album, Years on Years.

"Miniature Mountains" - Tropical Depression from Years on Years
Tropical Depression on MySpace

Dresden, Germany duo The Parlophonics are a DIY outfit that began writing and recording songs when they were only 14 years old, but just reunited only a couple of years ago after meeting at a gig. Their latest single release, "Staring at the Sun," was released late in 2009 and reviewed by Noel Gallagher (Oasis) on his MySpace page. The duo are now working on an album release due out sometime in 2010.

"Staring at the Sun" - The Parlophonics, single release
The Parlophonics on MySpace

Listen to more Best Rarely Heard Songs of 2009

Feetz to Da Beatz, Vol. I - Bands That Get You Dancing: Body Language, Yes Giantess and Friends Electric

2010-02-27T22:57:00.000-08:00

Feetz to Da Beatz is yet another new playlist mix series that offers our listeners a unique perspective on artists and bands that they might not hear elsewhere. In recent years, dance, soul, R&B, blues and hip hop styles have been increasingly incorporated under the growing umbrella term of 'indie rock,' which is just fine with us, but also confusing to many others.

That said, who doesn't like to move their feetz and dance to da beatz? Regular visitors to IRC know by now that we have an eclectic taste in music; the bottom line being - great music is simply great music no matter what genre it is labeled as, regardless of who makes or where it originates - you know it when you hear it.

Armed with an arsenal that includes vocoders, glockenspiels, graceful vocals and forceful percussions that sync to deliver a kinetic dynamite sound that even grandpa would find hard to sit through, Body Language have risen from the DIY scene to become one of NYC's most popular new dance bands of 2009-10, branding their own flavor of driving beats, sunny (and at times dark and heavy) synths and soaring, catchy choruses. Body Language is the ass shaking combination of Grant Wheeler and Matt Young graced by the soul styles of Ms. Angelica Bess, and the drum work of Ian Chang, known best as a member of Mickey Factz.

In September, Body of Language released a five-track EP, titled Speaks. The EP features the hopping grooves of the unforgettable song, "Huffy Ten Speed," which our friends at I Guess I'm Floating called: "..a darker/heavier sound with glitchy synths and forceful beats to boot - not to mention they've crafted a chorus as catchy as it is locomotive.."

"Huffy Ten Speed" - Body of Language from Speaks EP (2009)

After cutting their teeth on the local circuit and becoming one of NYC's most in demand party bands of 2008, Body of Language were recruited to collaborate on the production of Passion Pit's widely acclaimed 2009 debut LP, Manners, and Machinedrum's 2009 Late Night Operation EP.

The band was also contracted to back up Theophilus London in live shows dressed as 'The Lovers,' in addition to playing with Passion Pit, School of Seven Bells, Ninjasonik & Jimmy Edga and We Have Band.

Another excellent song from the Speaks EP, "Work This City," was featured on the collector's compilation, Moongadget: The Noctural State, released in 2009 via Ghostly International. The band is also working on remixes of tracks from Yes Giantess, Shuttle, and Alaska. This is one band that you don't want to miss in 2010.

"Work This City" - Body of Language from Speaks EP (2009)

Body of Language on MySpace

Since Boston's Yes Giantess has a tie-in with Body of Language, it is convenient, and fitting, to include a track from this popular electro-dance band that has created quite a stir in the past year or so with their groovy beats, pop-punk attitude, and intoxicating synth-gaze compositions. Make sure to heck out the band's MySpace link below for remixes and other tracks, plus the 411 on their upcoming performances at SXSW and the Sasquatch Festival.

"You Were Young" - Yes Giantess from 7" (2009)

"Tuff N Stuff" - Yes Giantess from 7" (2009)

Yes Giantees on MySpace

Up next in this Feetz to Da Beatz mix is Friends Electric, a group comprised of talented young lads from Neath, South Wales. One blogger described them as "a blend of seriously radio-friendly pop-candy and dance-synth/electro." The band's electro, keys glazed pop is hard to ignore, and is among our favorite new dance bands. Remarkably, like Yes Giantees, Friends Electric are unsigned. The band is currently working on new material for a 2010 LP, but no release date has been announced.

"Beep Beep Beep" - Friends Electric, single release

"Hours" - Friends Electric, single release

Friends Electric on MySpace

Popular Posts This Week:

2010 Releases You Might Have Missed: Boy Eats Drum Machine, Phantogram, ArpLine, BlueBrain, Wakey! Wakey!

Disbanded: Band Break-Ups, Vol. I: New Faces, The Fake Fictions and The Catholic Comb

Best New Releases of the Week: Fang Island, Shout Out Louds, Shearwater, Holly Miranda, Blood Feathers, Quasi and More

San Francisco's Noise Pop 2010 Festival Guide: Artists, Schedules, Trailers, Venues, Ticket Prices and Resources

Some of the Best Tracks of 2009: Radiohead, Girls, Sunset Rubdown, Flaming Lips, Deer Tick, WWPJP and More

2010 Releases You Might Have Missed: Boy Eats Drum Machine, Phantogram, ArpLine, BlueBrain, Wakey! Wakey!

2010-02-26T12:42:00.000-08:00

Every Tuesday, we publish the Best New Releases of the Week. However, there are always releases that we don't have time or room to feature, or that we don't hear about until after their initial release date. This playlist features 2010 releases that we're featuring for the first time. They include new tracks from Boy Eats Drum Machine, Phantogram, The Exhibition, ArpLine, Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore, Charlie Alex March, Bluebrain, Schooner, and Wakey!, Wakey!.

"Hoop + Wire" - Boy Eats Drum Machine from Hoop + Wire - released Feb. 16th
Boy Eats Drum Machine on MySpace

"Bright New Worlds" - The Exhibition from s/t EP - released Feb. 22nd
The Exhibition on MySpace

"When I'm Small" - Phantogram from Eyelid Movies - released Feb. 9th
Phantogram on MySpace

"Parts Unknown" - ArpLine from Travel Book - released Feb. 16th
ArpLine on MySpace

"Something, Somewhere, Sometime" - Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore from Dear Companion - released Feb. 16th
Daniel Martin Moore on MySpace
Ben Sollee on MySpace

"Ten by Ten" - Bluebrain from Soft Power - released Feb. 9th

"Twenty Two" - Wakey! Wakey! from Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said... - released Feb. 2nd
Wakey! Wakey! on MySpace

"Feel Better" - Schooner from Duke Kee Sessions - released Feb. 9th
Schooner on MySpace

"Black Glass" - Greg Gibson from Black Glass - released Jan. 17th
Greg Gibson on MySpace

"Carot No. 9" - Charlie Alex March from Home/Hidden - released Feb. 16th
Charlie Alex March on MySpace

Recent Popular Posts and Playlists:

Best New Releases of the Week: Bear Hands, Local Natives, The Hush Now, Field Music, Son Lux, The Good Listeners

Best New Releases of the Week: Fang Island, Shout Out Louds, Shearwater, Holly Miranda, Blood Feathers, Quasi and More

More Great Songs from 2009: Le Loup, The Perms, Jet, Netherfriends, The Vision, Loney Dear and More

Some of the Best Tracks of 2009: Radiohead, Girls, Sunset Rubdown, Flaming Lips, Deer Tick, WWPJP and More

Best Rarely Heard Songs of 2009 Vol. III: Furcast, Ape School, Regrets and Brunettes, Lower Heaven and Pure Ecstasy

Disbanded: Band Break-Ups, Vol. I: New Faces, The Fake Fictions and The Catholic Comb

2010-02-25T13:18:00.000-08:00

It sucks when good bands break up. In the past year, we've seen a number of bands split, and the band members go their separate ways, including Page France, the awesome indie duo The Format, the sensational band, The Sun, and a relatively unknown (in comparison to their talent), but fantastically promising, New Faces.

Seattle's New Faces split in November of last year, sending mini-shock waves through the Puget Sound music community. In a post on their MySpace page on Nov. 16th, the following statement was issued: "Due to irreconcilable conflicts, we have decided to break up. We want to thank everyone that supported us...Sorry there wasn't a second album."

The New Faces received a flood of critical praise, especially in the Seattle area, with the release of their debut EP in 2007, and their debut LP, Two Years, in 2008. They had an undeniable gift for enthralling music, a sound refined beyond their time as a band, and a potential that could have made them international rock stars (if they wanted it) - those are not usually characteristics of a fresh, unsigned, totally DIY band.

"My Alarm" - New Faces from Two Faces (2008)

"She's Like The Snow" - New Faces from s/t EP (2007)

"Ms Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" - New Faces from Two Years (2008)

But with as much promise as New Faces had, and the praise of music critics throughout the Northwest and beyond, it's a blow to all music fans when a spectacular band ends before they hardly got started. In 2008, the Seattle blog, Sound on the Sound, proclaimed: "I'm often asked what are the best new things I’ve been hearing...In the New Faces, I finally feel without reservation that I have an easy (and good) answer to that question."

Artists and bands that influenced New Faces: David Bowie, The Smiths, The Libertines, Interpol, The Strokes, The Clash, Franz Ferdinand, The Rakes, The Beatles, The Velvet Underground, Arctic Monkeys, New Order, Violent Femmes, Joy Division, NWA, The Cure and XTC.

When the punk pop band The Fake Fictions announced in January on their official website, "The Fake Fictions are done. It has been a wild ride. We played our last show on Nov. 20, 2009..." fans of the band were understandably disappointed. The band had delivered a steady stream of edgy, engaging albums and EPs since their formation early last decade.

Thankfully, however, the band has been good enough to offer much of their music as free MP3s, spanning a total of seven releases.

"Parallel World" - The Fake Fictions from Magic Infinity EP (2010)

"Laugh Track Loser" - The Fake Fictions from Les Faux Fictions (2008)

"TV Snow" - The Fake Fictions from Krakatoa (2009)

The Catholic Comb, only months after announcing work on a new album, Halloween Street, suddenly broke up last summer. In a non-explanatory post on their MySpace blog, dated August 4, 2009, and titled, 'Comb Over', the band wrote: "We are no longer a band. Sincere thanks to anyone who ever supported us in any way." The Catholic Comb were Adam Dishart, Daniel Awand, Ryan Rene Wansley and Andy Rice, all from the San Francisco Bay Area.

The band first rose to national, and in some cases, international, recognition with their 2005 single, "Sixteen to Twenty-One," which was later used as the soundtrack to a Corey Duffel skateboarding video.

"Sixteen to Twenty-One" - The Catholic Comb

The band described their music as "a morbid bicycle ride." But that doesn't begin to explain the far-reaching, intoxicating sound they had cultivated, and which was being gobbled up within the circuitry of the underworld alternative rock network.

The past year has seen plenty of evidence of culture's long-standing obsession with vampires, whether in film or music, but somehow most people missed out on The Catholic Comb's splendid track, "Vampire Life."

Not surprisingly, the song is all about the dreaded existence of life as a vampire, but with a musical twist that infuses acoustic pop, prog rock and goth to create a song that is hard to pin down, and even harder to ignore. Despite it's subject matter, the song is intriguingly bright and melodic.

The lyrics of "Vampire Life" fit perfectly with the tempo of the song, while being slightly ironic and direct: "I go out at night/I eat what I like/I sleep where I might/the vampire life..." Hmmm, is this The Smiths slowed down to a ballad pace or The Cure with folksy abandonment?

"Vampire Life" - The Catholic Comb from s/t 7"

The Catholic Comb on MySpace

Best New Releases of the Week: Fang Island, Shout Out Louds, Shearwater, Holly Miranda, Blood Feathers, Quasi and More

2010-02-23T13:35:00.000-08:00

This is a blockbuster week for music releases as evidenced by the sheer number of tracks featured in this post. Brooklyn's prog-rock quintet, and grads of the Rhode Island School of Design (which has also given us The Talking Heads, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Les Savvy Fav), Fang Island, belt out punk inspired pop with spirited vigor, triumphant harmonies, riff-heavy jams and uplifting tempos.

The Shout Out Louds return with their third album, Work, that will be followed by an extensive European and North American tour, including a sold out show next week at New York's Music Hall of Williamsburg. Shearwater are back with a new album, The Golden Archipelago, and the featured track, "Black Eyes."

Denmark's experimental pop band Efterklang released their new album, Magic Chairs, and will kick off a U.S. tour next week. The recently disbanded The Fate Fictions dropped their final album today, and the long-awaited new album from San Francisco's Brian Johnstown Massacre also dropped today. Another San Francisco band, Man/Miracle, released their new LP, Shape of Things, today. The band will perform tomorrow night as part of the city's 18th annual Noise Pop festival.

We also have new singles from fresh releases from Blood Feathers, Wolf People, Toro Y Moi, We Are Wolves, Holy Fiction, Xiu Xiu, Quasi, Holly Miranda, The Exhibition and others. Enjoy.

"Life Coach" - Fang Island from s/t debut
"Daisy" - Fang Island from s/t debut
Fang Island on MySpace

"Walls" - Shout Out Louds from Work
Shout Out Louds official website

"Black Eyes" - Shearwater from The Golden Archipelago
Shearwater official website

"Hot Sprawl" - Man/Miracle from Shape of Things
Man/Miracle official website

"Modern Drift" - Efterklang from Magic Chairs
Efterklang on MySpace

"Parallel World" - The Fake Fictions from Magic Infinity EP
The Fake Fictions official website

"Let's Go F**king Mental" - Brian Jonestown Massacre from Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?
Brian Jonestown Massacre

"Don't Know You at All" - Blood Feathers from Goodness Gracious
Blood Feathers on MySpace

"Repulsion" - Quasi from American Gong
Quasi on MySpace

"October Fires" - Wolf People from Tidings
Wolf People on MySpace

"Blessa" - Toro Y Moi from Causers
Toro Y Moi on MySpace

"Gray Death" - Xiu Xiu from Dear God, I Hate Myself
Xiu Xiu official website

"Iron Eyes" - Holy Fiction from Hours From It
Holy Fiction on MySpace

"Colors" - April Smith & The Great Picture Show from Songs For A Sinking Ship
April Smith & The Great Picture Show

"Waves" - Holly Miranda from The Magician's Private Library
Holly Miranda on MySpace

"Rapture" - Elaine Lachica from I Think I Can See the Ocean (feb 23 via
Elaine Lachica on MySpace

"Half Truth" - Dead Leaf Echo from Truth
Deaf Leaf Echo on MySpace

"Bright New Worlds" - The Exhibition from s/t EP
The Exhibition website

We realize that all of this music is a bit overwhelming, but it would be a disservice to our regular visitors, subscribers and new visitors to exclude certain tracks for the sake of creating a smaller list of releases - we feel all of the tracks we represent are worth the space they consume. While we do filter which tracks from new releases to present to you all (many do not "make the final cut"), we also try to be as thorough and eclectic as possible, and let you decide which songs you like the most in an effort to help you decide which albums you want to purchase for your music collection.

Reminder: You can stream continuously all of the songs in any of the playlists featured on IRC - while you do other things - just by clicking on the first song.

Next Week: Rogue Wave, Dinosaur Feathers, Portugal. The Man, The Whigs, Butterfly Explosion, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, Peasant, Kiki Pau and more.

Previous New Releases Mixes

2/16/10: Music Bear Hands, Local Natives, The Hush Now, Field Music, Son Lux, The Good Listeners

2/9/10: Music Showstar, Yeasayer, Hot Chip, Galactic, Vinca Minor, Drew Danburry, FM Belfast and More

2/2/10: Music from Midlake, The Album Leaf, King of Prussia, Seth Augustus, The Heligoats and More

1/26/10: Music from Beach House, The Magnetic Fields, No Through Road, Woodpigeon, Retribution Gospel Choir, Citay, Boy Genius and More

San Francisco's Noise Pop 2010 Festival Guide: Artists, Schedules, Trailers, Venues, Ticket Prices and Resources

2010-02-22T00:04:00.000-08:00

San Francisco's 18th annual Noise Pop festival, featuring indie rock artists, independent films, and special events that will take place at venues throughout the city over a span of seven days, starting this Tuesday, February 23rd.

Artists and bands scheduled to perform include an eclectic line-up, ranging from folk and rock to pop and electronic. Some of the headliners include Rogue Wave, The Magnetic Fields, The Dodos, Zee Avi, !!!, Edward Sharpe and the Zeros, John Vanderslice, Atlas Sound, Memory Tapes, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Thao Nguyen, Mark Kozelek, Foreign Born, Far and The Soundtrack of Our Lives.

Claudia Gonson Of Magnetic Fields will present the keynote speech at the opening ceremonies at the Industry Noise. A number of shows have already sold out, including performances headlined by Rogue Wave, Atlas Sound, Four Tet, Memory Tapes, Edward Sharpe and the Zeros and The Magnetic Fields' Monday night show at the Herbst Theatre. Some film screenings have also sold out (see details below; plus plenty of trailers).

The Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band will perform for the first time in San Francisco in 15 years opening night at the Fox Theatre in Oakland. Performing with Yoko Ono will be her son, Sean Lennon, With Cornelius, Yuka Honda and Deerhoof.

This is the full schedule for Noise Pop organized by music and film, and including information such as artists, venue names and locations, show times, ticket prices, song streams, and video trailers.

Wednesday, Feb. 24th

Music

Rogue Wave with Princeton, Man/Miracle, and Two Sheds at Bottom Of The Hill (website | 1233 17th St. ) - 8 p.m. Tickets: Sold Out. All ages.

"Good Morning" - Rogue Wave
"Sadie and Andy" - Princeton

The Ghost of a Saber Toothed Tiger at The Independent ( website | 628 Divisadero St. ) - 8 p.m. Tickets: $20. Ages 21+.

Harlem, Best Coast, The Sandwiches and Young Prisms at Cafe Du Nord (website | 2170 Market St. ) . Tickets: $12. Ages 21+.

"Friendly Ghosts" - Harlem
"This Is Real" - Best Coast

Foreign Born, The Fresh & Onlys, Free Energy and The Splinters at the Rickshaw Stop (website | 155 Fell St. ) - 8 p.m. Tickets: $15. All ages.

"Vacationing People" - Foreign Born
"Free Energy" - Free Energy

Film

Austin, Texas: Live Music Capital of the World? at the Roxie Theatre (website | 3117 16th St), 7 p.m. Tickets: $10. All ages.

Related: See a three minute, cool promo video mashup of Austin with some great shots of the music scene and other Austin attractions, via AustinTexas.org and set to music by Vallejo.

P Star Rising at the Roxie, 9 p.m. Tickets: $10. All ages.

Thursday, Feb. 25th

Music

Citay, Greg Ashley and Tape Deck Mountain at Cafe Du Nord - 8 p.m. Tickets: $12-$14. Age requirement of 21 years.

"Careful with That Hat" - Citay
"Ghost Colony" - Tape Deck Mountain

Far (Reunion show) with Stomacher, Picture Atlantic, The Trophy Fire at Bottom of the Hill - 8 p.m. Tickets: $14. All ages.

"Pony" - Far

The Dodos with Magik Magik Orchestra Collaborative at the Palace of Fine Arts (website | 3301 Lyon St.) - 8 p.m. Tickets: $25. All ages.

"Jodi" - The Dodos

Zee Avi with The Hot Toddies, Leslie and the Badgers and Tiny Television at Rickshaw Stop - 8:30 p.m. Tickets: $12-$14. All ages.

"First of the Gang to Die" - Zee Avi

Film

Blood Into Wine at Viz Cinema (website | 1746 Post St. ) - 7:30 p.m. Tickets: Sold Out. All ages.

The Heart is a Drum Machine at the Viz Cinema - 9:30 p.m. Tickets: $10. All ages.

Friday, Feb. 26th

Music

John Vanderslice with Nurses, Honeycomb and Conspiracy of Venus at Swedish American Hall (website | 2174 Market St.) - 8 p.m. Tickets: $15. Ages 21+.

"Me and My 424" - John Vanderslice
"Asleep" - Nurses

Atlas Sound with Geographer, Magic Wands and Nice Nice at Great American Music Hall (website | 859 O'Farrell St. ) - 8 p.m. Tickets: Sold Out. All ages.

"Walkabout" (featuring Noah Lennox, aka Panda Bear, of Animal Collective) - Atlas Sound
"Can't You Wait" - Geographer

The Mumlers with The Growlers, Sonny and the Sunsets and The Ferocious Few at Cafe Du Nord - 8 p.m. Tickets: $12-$14. Ages 21+.

"Red River Hustle" - The Mumlers
"Barnacle Beast" - The Growlers

Wallpaper, The Limousines, Butterfly Bones and Battlehooch at Slim's (website | 333 11th St. ) - 8 p.m. Tickets: $14. All ages.

"Pool Party" - Wallpaper
"Dancing at Her Funeral" - The Limousines

Four Tet with Nathan Fake, Rainbow Arabia and New Villager at The Independent - 8 p.m. Tickets: Sold Out. Ages 21+.

"Plastic People" - Four Tet
"Harlem Sunset" - Rainbow Arabia
"Rich Doors" - New Villager

Scissors for Lefty, Judgment Day, Ghosts and the City, and Glaciers at Bottom of the Hill - 8 p.m. Tickets: Sold Out. Ages 21+.

Film

Blood Into Wine at ATA (website | 992 Valencia St. ) - 7 p.m. Tickets: $10. All ages.

Downtown Calling at ATA - 9 p.m. Tickets: $10. All ages.

Saturday, Feb. 27th

Music

Memory Tapes with Loquat, Birds & Batteries, and Letting Up Despite Great Faults at Bottom of the Hill - 9 p.m. Tickets: Sold Out. All ages.

"Plain Material" - Memory Tapes
"Sit" - Loquat

The Magnetic Fields at Fox Theatre in Oakland (website |1807 Telegraph Ave.) - 8 p.m. Tickets: $32.50. All ages.

"I Don't Believe You" - The Magnetic Fields

True Widow, P.E.E., Ovens, and Grass Widow at Cafe Du Nord - 8 p.m. Tickets: $12-$14. Ages 21+.

"Duelist" - True Widow
"Time Could Bend" - Grass Widow

We Were Promised Jetpacks with The Lonely Forest, Bear Hands, Tempo No Tempo at Slim's - 8 p.m. Tickets: $16. All ages.

"Conductor" - We Were Promised Jetpacks
"What a Drag" - Bear Hands

Thao Nguyen with Mirah and Horse Feathers, Dave Smallen, Carletta, and Sue Kay at Swedish American Hall - 8 p.m. Tickets: $15. Ages 21+.

"Beat" - Thao Nguyen
"Curs in the Weeds" - Horse Feathers

The Soundtrack of Our Lives with Nico Vega, Music for Animals, and Imaad Wasif at The Independent - 8 p.m. Tickets: $16. Ages 21+.

"Firmament Vacation" - The Soundtrack of Our Lives
"Beast" - Nico Vega
"Red Cells" - Music For Animals
"Wanderlusting" - Imaad Wasif

Mark Kozelek with Laura Gibson, Paula Frazer, and Fences at The Great American Music Hall - 8 p.m. Tickets: $26/$30. All ages.

"Celebrated Summer" - Mark Kozelek
"Come By Storm" - Laura Gibson

!!! with Maus Haus, Sugar & Gold, and My First Earthquake at Mezzanine (website | 444 Jessie St. ). Tickets: $20. Ages 21+.

"Take Estasy With Me (Magnetic Fields)" - !!!
"Rigid Breakfast" - Maus Haus

Black Prairie (with members of The Decemberists), Trainwreck Riders, Billy & Dolly, and Birds Fled From Me - 8:30 p.m. at Rickshaw Stop. Tickets: $14. All ages.

"Engine Driver" - The Decemberists
"Chug Along" - Trainwreck Riders

Film

Unusual Heroes: John Darnielle and Lou Barlow at ATA - 2 p.m. Tickets: $10. All ages

Woodstock: Now & Then at ATA - 4 p.m. Tickets: $10. All ages.

Sunday, Feb. 28th

Music

Dizzy Balloon with The Houds Below, Visqueen and Laarks at Bottom of the Hill - 1 p.m. Tickets: $12. All ages.
"Raise A Glass" - Dizzy Balloon
"All The Words" - Laarks

Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros with The Watson Twins, AB & The Sea, and The Northern Key at Bimbo's 365 Club (website | 1025 Columbus Ave ) - 7:30 p.m. Tickets: Sold Out.

"Daydream" - Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros
"Sky Open Up" - The Watson Twins

Film

The Secret to a Happy Ending at ATA - 2 p.m. Tickets: Sold Out. All ages.

All My Friends Are Funeral Singers at ATA - 4 p.m. Tickets: $10. All ages.

A Film About Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields at Mezzanine - 8 p.m. Tickets: $15. All ages.

Monday, March 1st - The Finale

The Magnetic Fields with Mark Eitzel at Herbst Theater (website | 401 Van Ness St. ) - 8 p.m. Tickets: Sold Out. All ages.

"All The Umbrellas in London" (Live at KVRX, 1999) - The Magnetic Fields

Tickets for all performances listed above can be purchased on the Noise Pop full schedule page

Note: The official website homepage's top menu links - Artists, Schedule, etc. - do not contain the updated 2010 information, for some strange reason; a bit confusing, but make sure to click here for all of the information for the 2010 event. The Bay Bridged put together a cool feature of free Noise Pop events.

We're gearing up for Noise Pop! Thanks to Tell All Your Friends PR and Noise Pop organizers for helping us out in planning for the festival.

Some of the Best Tracks of 2009: Radiohead, Girls, Sunset Rubdown, Flaming Lips, Deer Tick, WWPJP and More

2010-02-20T14:20:00.000-08:00

There have been literally hundreds, probably thousands, of blogger and mainstream music media "best of" lists of 2009 for indie and alternative rock and pop.

No list is right or wrong. However, we don't pretend that we can put together a definitive 'best of' list for an entire year because it's frankly too difficult, and perhaps pretentious. Plus, everyone has there own set criteria and personal tastes. This playlist mix is merely a representation of some of our favorite tracks of 2009 and also ones that all of you responded to the most when we originally posted them during 2009. You can also view hundreds of sweet songs from 2009 via the Ears To The Music playlist series.

"Hellhole Ratrace" - Girls from Album (2009)

"My Twisted Words" - Radiohead, single (2009)

"Apollo & the Buffalo and Anna Anna Anna Oh!" - Sunset Rubdown from Drayonslayer (2009)

"Pink Sabbath" - Dananananaykroyd from Pink Sabbath (2009)

"Quiet Little Voices" - We Were Promised Jetpacks from These Four Walls (2009)

"Roses in the Park" - Liechtenstein from Survival Strategies in a Modern World (2009)

"Silver Trembling Hands" - The Flaming Lips from Embryonic (2009)

"Know Better, Learn Faster" - Thao with the Get Down, Stay Down, single (2009)

"Easy" - Deer Tick from Born On Flag Day (2009)

"Bow Down and Die" - The Almighty Defenders from s/t debut (2009)

"Paralyzed" - Starlight Mints from Change Remains (2009)

Fantasy Nation - Kordan from Fantasy Nation (2009)

Best Rarely Heard Songs of 2009 Vol. III: Furcast, Ape School, Regrets and Brunettes, Lower Heaven and Pure Ecstasy

2010-02-18T13:46:00.000-08:00

The Best Rarely Heard Songs series continues today with music from bands that many of you have probably never heard of: Furcast, Ape School, Regrets and Brunettes, Lower Heaven and Pure Ecstasy.

California indie duo Furcast - comprised of Johann Carbajal and Vincent Mazza - evoke a dark, cinematic film noir sound on the track, "Grey is Old," a composition which could have fit nicely on a Kill Bill soundtrack. Shortly after the mid-point of the nearly seven-minute track, the song explodes into a brief fury, and subsequently transforms into a creepy, shifting piano and percussion piece that ultimately winds down and fades away, leaving the listener transfixed. Chances are if you like this track, you'll enjoy most or all of Furcast's debut EP, Together. Massive Attack fans take special note.

"Grey is Old" - Furcast from Together
Furcast on MySpace

On "Wail to God," one-man band Michael Johnson, aka Ape School, carries along the torch of film noir influenced music, and takes it to another level with the ascent of firey, almost disco-esque, beats accompanied by a neo-psych, Moog-heavy flare. The two and a half minute reverb-loving track closes with a steady descent "back to earth," complete with space alien-like sound effects. Throughout the Ape Man debut, Johnson's influences, which range from Phil Spector and Brian Eno to The Beach Boys and Animal Collective, are unmistakable. Before founding Ape School, Johnson was briefly a member of two terrific bands, the Lilys, and Florida's indie outfit, Holopaw.

"Wail to God" - Ape School from s/t debut
Ape School on MySpace

The attraction to Los Angeles indie rock band Regrets & Brunettes was immediate within the first half minute of hearing the band's song, "Tough Love," off their debut LP, At Night You Love Me, released last December. This single is the perfect precursor to the album itself, so if you really dig this track, you're probably going to love the album.

"Tough Love" - Regrets and Brunettes from s/t debut
Regrets and Brunettes on MySpace

Lower Heaven are an accomplished quintet from the Silverlake area of Los Angeles that crafts haunting, reverb-heavy melodies obviously influenced by some of their favorite self-proclaimed bands, such as My Bloody Valentine and Jesus and Mary Chain. Lower Heaven took their name from the lyrics of an Echo and the Bunnymen song, and they've opened for bands such as the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Darker My Love and The Black Angels.

"Fruitless" - Lower Heaven from Ashes
Lower Heaven on MySpace

Pure Ecstasy crafts sweet, lo-fi psychedelic pop reverberations that sound a bit like Wavves and Animal Collective in myosis. While we usually dislike songs that stop and restart at various points in the composition, Pure Ecstasy's track, "Easy," is too good to pass up. We hope the band will receive more "blog love" soon, and continue to grow their fan following.

"Easy" - Pure Ecstasy from Voices
Pure Ecstasy on MySpace

Other installments in this series:

Best Rarely Heard Songs of 2009, Vol. I - Sun Airway, The Ambience Affair, Brian Olive, The Bats, Land of Talk & More

Best Rarely Heard Songs of 2009, Vol. II - Ex Norwegian, We All Have Hooks for Hands, Pistol for Ringo and Fredrik

Singer-Songwriter Spotlight Series, Vol IV: Nashville's Award-Winning Andrew Belle and Chris Volpe

2010-02-17T10:42:00.000-08:00

In the on-going Singer-Songwriter Spotlight Series, we have a backlog of musicians to present to you in the coming weeks, with more new talent coming in all of the time. Most of the artists we feature are those who have sent their music in hoping to strike a chord, and more often than not, they do. With that in mind, we are expanding this particular feature to include more singer-songwriters into each installment just to keep up with them all.

Nashville recording artist Andrew Belle, a native of Chicago, has made quite a name for himself in the past year or so, especially within the Nashville scene. In December, Belle was part of the Ten Out of Tenn tour, a collective of Tennessee musicians who hit the road to entertain concert goers across the midwest and west, performing a range of classic and modern-day Christmas songs as well as rare indie songs. Watch a promo video of the TOT rehearsals for their Christmas 2009 tour.

In addition to Belle, the collective included Trent Dabbs, Butterfly Boucher, Katie Herzig, Andy Davis, K.S. Rhoads, Tyler James, Jeremy Lister, Matthew Perryman Jones, Erin McCarley and Will Sayles.

Due in part to the success of the TOT holiday tour, Belle is now on the road again, performing a series of solo shows in Washington state, mostly at colleges and universities. In March, he will launch another tour of colleges and universities throughout the Midwest in support of the release of his first LP, The Ladder, which will drop on February 23rd. The LP is a self-release, and was mixed by Grammy award-winning engineer Vance Powell (The Raconteurs).

After you hear the magnificent live cover of Bright Eyes', "First Day of My Life," and the wonderfully memorable, "Static Waves," you'll probably not forgot Andrew Belle anytime soon. Remarkably, Belle's voice reminds us both of Johnny Legend and Chris Martin, especially on "Static Waves." Some of you may recognize Belle's voice from his debut 2008 EP, All Those Pretty Lights, from which a couple of songs were featured on 90210 and MTV's The Real World. Last August, Belle won MTV's 'Chicago Break Out Artist' VMA award for the song, "I'll Be Your Breeze."

Amazingly, his superb debut EP is available as a free download from Bandcamp.

"Static Waves" - Andrew Belle from The Ladder (2010)

"I'll Be Your Breeze" - Andrew Belle from All Those Pretty Lights EP (2009)

"All Those Pretty Lights" - Andrew Belle from All Those Pretty Lights EP (2009)

"First Day of My Life" (Bright Eyes) - Andrew Belle, live (2009)

Andrew Belle on MySpace

Americana singer-songwriter Chris Volpe is a self-taught guitar virtuoso who executes complex finger-picking styles akin to Leo Kottke and Paul Simon. Volpe taught himself to play piano, banjo, bass and drums, among other instruments and honed his skills for songwriting. After listening to half of a dozen of his songs from different releases, it becomes ever more apparent why Volpe has received as many music awards as he has in the span of five years.

"Don't Go" - Chris Volpe from Shipwrecked (2009)

In 2008, Volpe was picked to represent Nashville at the Forecastle Festival; earlier that year, Volpe won the international Lyric Writer Award for the song "Dusty Bibles," plus the Independent Music Award for the "Singer/Songwriter Album of the Year" category in 2006 for the LP, Refugee Blues. In fact, all 15 songs on the LP were recorded live in one take - a stellar recording feat. He won the studio time to record Refugee Blues as a prize for taking the "best song of the year" at the West Coast Songwriting Association's annual contest in 2004. Volpe's music is sometimes politically charged, as well as evidenced in "Dusty Bibles," which ruminates about Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden and David Koresh, and sounds a bit like a Tom Waits song.

Volpe’s top-quality songwriting and performing has also garnered him honorable mentions in the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest and Billboard Worldwide Song Contest. The following lyrics from the song "1849 Revisited" are one example of Volpe's songwriting abilities: For all along the river banks there lives/A residue collected in the weeds/It smells of tasteless regret: a faint glimpse/Of hearts that sold the life they own to lease.

With the help of Grammy award-winning producer Phil Harris, Volpe recorded songs that range in style from folk-jazz to Americana and country noir for his 2009 release, Shipwrecked. His band comprises some of Nashville’s finest musicians, including Jeff Coffin (Flecktones, Dave Matthews Band), Bryn Davies (Tony Rice, Patti Griffin), Donnie Herron (Bob Dylan, BR549) and Kenny Malone (Cat Stevens, Johnny Cash).

"Dusty Bibles" - Chris Volpe from Shipwrecked (2009)

Chris Volpe official website

Chris Volpe on MySpace

Check out previous installments from IRC's Singer-Songwriter Spotlight Series.

If you or your band wish to submit music for our review, please read and follow carefully the submission guidelines on our About page.

Other Posts You Might Enjoy:

Singer/Songwriter Spotlight Series, Vol. III: In Memory of Vic Chesnutt, 1964 - 2009

Artist of the Week: French Teenage Singer/Songwriter Louis Aguilar

The Musical Genius of Singer-Songwriter Will Stratton

Best New Releases of the Week: Bear Hands, Local Natives, The Hush Now, Field Music, Son Lux, The Good Listeners

Band of the Week: Oregonian Band The Dimes Present a History Lesson of Colonial Boston in Song

Best New Releases of the Week: Bear Hands, Local Natives, The Hush Now, Field Music, Son Lux, The Good Listeners

2010-02-16T01:06:00.000-08:00

This week's new releases include the fresh songs, as well as some tracks that have already made the rounds and are now being repackaged and re-issued in various forms. For example, Brooklyn's popular, but still unsigned, band Bear Hands, have re-issued their single, "What a Drag," today on white vinyl, and will celebrate this evening at The Studio at Webster Hall in New York, a kick-off show for an extensive tour of the U.S. with We Were Promised Jetpacks and Passion Pit. The band's shows with Passion Pit have already sold out in cities like Chicago, Minneapolis and Vancouver.

Los Angeles blog buzz band Local Natives' LP, Gorilla Manor, celebrates its official release today, but some of the tracks - and good ones at that - were leaked last fall, making them a band to watch in 2010. Bear Hands kicks off a European tour tomorrow night with a sold out show in Paris, and will then return to the perform three shows at next month's South by Southwest in Austin, followed by sets at Coachella and Bonnaroo music festivals.

Other tracks featured below from new releases include The Hush Now, Field Music, Son Lux, SPEAK and El May, as well as a handful of releases from last month that we didn't have time for, or that we just recently learned about, but are worth checking out.

"What a Drag" - Bear Hands from What a Drag
Bear Hands on MySpace

"Sunhands" - Local Natives from Gorilla Manor
Local Natives on MySpace

"Constellations" - The Hush Now from Constellations
The Hush Now on MySpace

"Measure" - Field Music from Field Music
Field Music on MySpace

"Weapons V" - Son Lux from Weapons EP
Son Lux on MySpace

"Carrie (Mindfull)" - SPEAK from debut EP
SPEAK on MySpace

"Don't You" - El May from s/t debut
El May on MySpace

Los Angeles indie folk pop band The Good Listeners released their third album, Don't Quit Your Daydream, last month via Three Finger Records. The LP was recorded during a month long journey to twelve cities across the US, and also made into an indie film documentary by the same name. At each stop on their adventure, the duo collaborated with a cast of strangers and musicians who forced them to reconsider what a life dedicated to the pursuit of music really means.

"Insect Losing Balance" - The Good Listeners from Don't Quit Your Daydream
The Good Listeners on MySpace

January Releases from Cop Shades, Sun Hotel, The Houston Brothers and More

In January, the experimental indie rock band Cop Shades released their debut album as a free download via Superbob Records - a label formed in 1993 by Ken Kelley, the drummer of The Monoxides. Cop Shades deliver gritty and fuzzy guitar rock almost guaranteed to attract rock fans who are hungry for something fresh and edgy.

Sun Hotel is an indie band from New Orleans that we are really beginning to like; we'll have more about them in our upcoming Bands to Watch in 2010 issue. The band released their LP, Team Spirit, on January 28th. Also, check out tracks from January releases by Adam Green, The Houston Brothers, Gobotron, and Charlie Hunter.

"I Sh*t Ponies" - Cop Shades from s/t EP
"The Sorority" - Cop Shades from s/t EP
Cop Shades on MySpace

"Allways" - Sun Hotel from Team Spirit
"Plantation Land" - Sun Hotel from Team Spirit
Sun Hotel on MySpace

"Castles and Tassels" - Adam Green from Minor Love
Adam Green on MySpace

"Confederate Dunce" - The Houston Brothers from The Archer
"Wasted Youth" - The Houston Brothers from The Archer
The Houston Brothers website

"Never Turn Around" - Gobotron from On Your Mark, Get Ready...
Gobotron on MySpace

"High Pockets and a Fanny Pack" - Charlie Hunter from Gentlemen, I Neglected to Inform You That You Will Not be Getting Paid
Charlie Hunter official website

Band of the Week: Oregonian Band The Dimes Present a History Lesson of Colonial Boston in Song

2010-02-15T00:31:00.000-08:00

When we first heard Portland, Oregon's The Dimes' splendid album, The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry, in December (after the band sent us some tracks), we were quickly head-over-heels, and since that time, the LP has become one of our favorite releases of 2009.

The album serves as a history lesson (or "musical Cliff Notes") of early Boston, and the people and events that shaped American history. There are songs about the Great Boston Fire of 1872 ("Damrell's Fire"); Clara Barton ("Save Me, Clara"), the Civil War nurse who founded the American Red Cross; Abigail Adams ("Abigail, Don't Be Long"), the wife - and woman's rights advocate - of the second U.S. president, John Adams; the prolific Concord born writer, philosopher and historian, Henry David Thoreau ("Walden and the Willow"), to name just a few.

"Damrell's Fire" - The Dimes from The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry (2009)

The Dimes' lush harmonies and unforgettable melodies are heavily influenced by the band's musical mentors, including Simon and Garfunkel and The Beatles. The Dimes' first LP, The Silent Generation, was released in 2007, and received national and international acclaim, with enthusiastic reviews from SPIN, NPR, Under the Radar, The BBC, The Oregonian, and many others. Similar positive reviews for The King have also brought the attention of The Dimes to a growing number of music lovers, bloggers and mainstream art critics.

The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry (album cover above) showcases singer-songwriter Johnny Clay's, and the band's, incredible talents, featuring a baroque assortment of instruments, sixties pop sensibilities, and delightfully simple arrangements that solicit repeated listening.

"Abigail, Don't Be Long" - The Dimes from The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry (2009)

For their sophomore release, the band turned again to the genius of engineer Jeff Stuart Saltzman (Death Cab For Cutie, The Decemberists, Sleater-Kinney), and a continuing appreciation for uniquely American historical themes that began with The Silent Generation.

If you like the songs featured in this post, we strongly recommend visiting The Dimes' store. A purchase of The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry also comes with a free copy of the EP, William Dawes and Other Forgotten Jems.

"Celia's Garden" - The Dimes from The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry (2009)

"Walden and the Willow" - The Dimes from The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry (2009)

Bonus: "Catch Me Jumping" - The Dimes from The Silent Generation (2007)

Check out the accompanying interactive Flash map of colonial Boston that ties in nicely with the release of their latest album. This is a band that really understands how to use the opportunities presented by interactive media to engage with their fans and market their remarkable music to a wider audience. We can only hope that the band's popularity will continue to grow so that they will embark on a national tour, and give more of you a chance to see them perform live.

The Dimes on Twitter

The Dimes on MySpace

The Dimes on Facebook

More Great Songs from 2009: Le Loup, The Perms, Jet, Netherfriends, The Vision, Loney Dear and More

2010-02-14T10:47:00.000-08:00

The year 2009 was a blockbuster year for indie and alternative music. In fact, there were so many amazing releases, we are still allocating time and resources to make sure you didn't miss out on some of the best songs and albums of the year, a good chunk of which are pretty hard to find anywhere else.

But first, if you haven't already, we encourage you to browse through the many playlists of 2009 songs that we've already published - including literally hundreds of songs featured in regular mixes, such as Ears to the Music, In Dee Mail and 2009 Indie Songs mixes.

In addition to those existing playlists, we'll be publishing more songs from 2009 (not already featured on IRC) for at least a few more weeks. The sheer volume of fresh tracks from 2010 are beginning to slowly build up, most of which - so far - have been featured in our Best New Releases of the Week series.

Today's playlist mix includes notable tracks from 2009 that we didn't have time to present in 2009, so hopefully the caliber of the music will compensate for the minor annoyance of "looking back."

"Forgive Me" - Le Loup from Family

"Running Away" - The Perms from Keeps You Up When You're Down

"Nunya (Beeswax)" - Netherfriends from Calling You Out

"Puzzles" - The Mary Onettes from Islands

"All My Exorcisms" - Beaujolais from Admirations

"Wherever I Run" - The Vision from s/t debut

"She's a Genius" - Jet from Shaka Rock

"The Number" - Woods from Songs of Shame

"Airport Surroundings" - Loney Dear from Dear John

"Woman Pin Down" - Dan Satch and his Atomic 8 Dance Band from Black Man’s Cry