As it turns out, The Drums did not open for Phoenix here in Columbus in December. Bummer. But that won’t keep you from enjoying their surf-pop from now til Austin.
Author Archives: Adriana Mundy
SXSW 2010 Video Countdown: The Drums
Fanfarlo announces Columbus date + SXSW
MP3: Harold T. Wilkins or How to Wait for a Very Long Time
My own involvement with BenCo aside, I’m thrilled to announce that Fanfarlo will be coming to town to play The Summit on April 1st with Lawrence Arabia and Robert Francis supporting. (My previous thoughts on Fanfarlo here.)
From the press release:
Acclaimed U.K. five-piece Fanfarlo have announced more North American headlining dates for March and April with Lawrence Arabia and Robert Francis as support. The band whom are just finishing up a string of European headline shows will be back in America next week to make their national television debut on the Late Show with David Letterman Monday, February 15th.
Tickets go on sale Saturday. All tour dates, including SXSW appearances, after the jump. Continue reading
Posted in MP3, Music, SXSW Blog, Tour, Video
Tagged Benco Presents, Fanfarlo, Lawrence Arabia, Robert Francis, SXSW Blog, the summit
SXSW 2010 Video Countdown: Local Natives
http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=102501078
For those planning on attending SXSW this year (or for those just curious about who will be there), I’ve been sifting through the extensive list as something of a countdown until the festival.
Today’s video is from Los Angeles-based Local Natives, who will be releasing their record Gorilla Manor on Frenchkiss February 16th.
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Posted in Music, SXSW Blog, Video
Tagged Frenchkiss, Local Natives, SXSW 2010 video countdown, SXSW Blog
First Aid Kit releases debut record on Wichita
MP3: Sailor Song
As a follow up to their EP Drunken Trees, Swedish duo First Aid Kit released their full length album yesterday on London-based Wichita Recordings. The Big Black and the Blue is an enchantingly beautiful continuation from the first time I heard them cover “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song” on YouTube. The raw talent is undeniable in these girls’ voices and appreciation for it can only be heightened by seeing them in person. Even more impressive is that sisters Klara & Johanna Söderberg (born in 90 and 93) have been writing and composing material since adolescence. In a post-show conversation with them during the fall, they commented on the fact that it was Conor Oberst who really inspired them to make music. Since then their creative storm has blown their music all over Europe and it’s slowly trickling its way to the Americas. Similar to Oberst, they seem to write on subjects wise beyond their teenage years. I envision a sizable demographic of desperate housewives all over Sweden blowing out their speakers on songs like “You’re Not Coming Home Tonight.”
Both releases are now available stateside, and they’ll be touring on this album in the spring.
Super Desserts Release Banjo Forever
MP3: Yr Heart
The Super Desserts are set to release their new record Banjo Forever this Sunday (Jan. 24) at Used Kids Records. In a way, this is a new old record, as many tracks come from previously released material that have been remixed with added instrumentation. Singer/guitarist Bobby Miller explains: “Really it’s just the culmination of a plan we had from day one. We set out to record as many songs as we could in a two-year span, releasing them in DIY fashion along the way. Then, we took our favorites and packaged them with the strongest of our “new” songs to create this record.” Whether you’re new to their music or not, their efforts don’t seem to be in vain as they’ve managed to channel all of their energy into a highly enjoyable album.
This quirky gaggle of artists call on a variety of instruments (as with the first album, Barefoot in the Disenchanted Forest) that seem to tell stories of the mishaps of seeing life through melodic, rose-colored glasses. In fact, their airy way of tale-telling can refresh your inner child and leave you whistling, like in the track “Gotta Lotta Sun.” While I’m left wanting to hear more new material, I’ll be playing outstanding tracks such as the Sondre Lerche-like tune “Falling Out of Fashion,” the charming “Yr Heart” and the tragically fun “I Only Love You Because You Can Play Guitar” on repeat for a while.
On Sunday you’ll be able to purchase your own vinyl copy as well as catch an in-store performance from both Saintseneca and Super Desserts.
Video: Blue Roses – I Am Leaving
MP3: Doubting Comforts
While perusing the SXSW 2010 band list (yet again), I was reminded that Blue Roses will be playing. This is the project of singer/musician Laura Groves from Shipley, Yorkshire whose influences range from Tears For Fears to Debussy. Combining years of practice on the piano and guitar with days of interest on other instruments, she’s managed to compose some heartbreakingly darling folk tunes. “I like writing songs for instruments I can’t play yet and making choirs out of my voice” says Groves. She released her full-length Blue Roses last July and EP Does Anyone Love Me Now in December, both on XL.
Efterklang’s Magic Chairs to be released in February
MP3: Modern Drift
Over the last ten years, the men of Danish band Efterklang have been conjuring up and evolving a sound that is finally getting some decent exposure on our side of the Atlantic. Childhood friends Casper Clausen, Mads Brauer and Rasmus Stolberg grew up on the small island of Als and relocated to Copenhagen in 2000, with the collective aspiration of making music for a living. Quite ambitious as only a handful of bands coming out of Denmark have gained international recognition. (The three that come to mind are Mew, The Raveonettes and, yes… Aqua) Drummer Thomas Husmer joined them soon after the move and their first EP, Springer, came out in 2003. In those three years, they began their own label, Rumraket, from which they continue to work. (Rumraket’s first non-Efterklang release was Grizzly Bear‘s Horn of Plenty.)
Efterklang was recently added to London-based label 4AD, which will release their new album Magic Chairs in late February. This album has made quite a hike from previously recorded material (released on The Leaf Label) that meandered through electronic experimentation (Tripper) and orchestral proclamation (Parades). While there will still be enough instrumental creativity going on to satisfy old fans, there will also be constructed melodies that those who follow The Dodos and Mum will appreciate. They also consistently have some of the most amazing album artwork thanks to the brains of Hvass&Hannibal.
Live video of the Sufjan-meets-Sigur Ros song “Cutting Ice to Snow” after the jump. Continue reading
Tagged 4AD, Aqua, Grizzly Bear, Hvass&Hannibal, Mew, Mum, Rumraket, The Dodos, The Raveonettes
Saturday night in Columbus: Holiday Show @ Skully’s
MP3: The Receiver – Skin and Bone
This Saturday, Phantods will be hosting a holiday show featuring The Alphabet, Six Gallery and The Receiver. I caught up with Casey Cooper from The Receiver about his thoughts on the holiday season and the coming year.
What can we expect for Saturday night’s show?
This is meant to be a holiday show for The Phantods, with each band invited to play a holiday song or two if they’d like. Phantods asked us to play a little while back. And because we love their music, we were all about playing with them.
Ok, so on a scale of 1-10, how much do you like holiday music?
I’d say overall, about 6. It works for me mostly on Christmas Eve and Day, but that’s about it. I’ve always been a fan of orchestral music, so I can appreciate that aspect of most holiday music played on the radio. The only holiday music that I voluntarily play throughout the span of the season is A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi Trio. I can listen to that album over and over without getting sick of it.
Continued after the jump Continue reading
Posted in Music
Tagged Phantods, Six Gallery, Skully's Music Diner, The Alphabet, The Receiver
Phoenix to visit The Newport
MP3: Phoenix – 1901
MP3: The Drums – Let’s Go Surfing
Frenchmen Phoenix have been quite the busy lads these last few months. Since their latest album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was released in May, they have been touring almost non-stop across fifteen different countries. After perusing their blog, they’ve also somehow found time to become quite the photographers. Their tour continues strong into 2010, where they will be playing at the Vancouver Olympics before returning to Europe. They’ve come a long way in the last ten years (wow, it’s really been ten years?) since they began. From their ties with other French icons Air and Daft Punk, to paving the road for bands like Empire of the Sun and MGMT, they’re pretty much the real pop deal.
The awesomely fun rockers drop into Columbus next Wednesday to play a show at The Newport. Supporting Phoenix will be Florida-turned-Brooklyners The Drums. Their infectiously high-spirited songs about being in the sun and surfing are juxtaposed only by the fact that they seem to fit the Brit-pop model to a T. Perhaps that’s why NME called them “New York’s official Coolest New Band.” Regardless, I’m looking forward to a great show.
Six Gallery sign with Superball Music
Columbus band Six Gallery inked a deal with German label Superball Music (Trail of Dead). The label, along with label InsideOut, recently announced that they will be cooperating with Century Media Records and EMI Music to distribute their artists’ music worldwide. The official press release will be out soon, but I decided to talk to Six Gallery’s singer/guitarist Daniel Francis (former Pirate) first.
How did this deal with Superball come about and how much time has passed since the beginning stage?
The entire record deal probably took about two months worth of conversation. We emailed someone. He was completely disinterested. We kindly asked him if there was anyone he might know who would like it and here we are..
So I understand SG’s record Breakthroughs in Modern Art will be the first record released on the Superball in 2010?
As far as I know, that is correct.
And it will be distributed in Hollister stores in the US and Canada? What are your thoughts on this?
There’s no reason to not distribute your music as widely as possible. I’m too cool for Hollister? No, I’m not too cool. There’s nothing keeping people who shop there from being uneducated in music. People find bands they like in stranger places.
Posted in Columbus, Music, SXSW Blog
Tagged Phantods, Six Gallery, Skully's Music Diner, Superball Music, SXSW Blog, The Alphabets, The Receiver, Trail of Dead