|
Read More From what I can tell, there was a lot of buzz about this Smith-Westerns band when their album, Dye it Blond, was released earlier this year. One listen to "Only One" and I understood why: they're quite good! …
|
SMITH-WESTERNS
smithwesternsmusic.com
It’s been two years since Chicago’s fuzzy dreamsicles Smith-Westerns dropped some teenage kicks on our skulls with their effervescent single “Weekend†and it’s equally energetic album Dye It Blonde. Hard to believe the band were little more than teenagers when they started in 2007 - their debut owes more to scuzzy 60s garage-rock than to the dream-pop that would appear on their next record. But don’t let those baby faces fool you; these guys know what they’re doing. The band’s third LP Soft Will, released back in June, sees members Max Kacacek (guitar), Cullen Omari (vocals) and Cameron Omari (bass) crafting a more sophisticated sound. The songs certainly have a bit more restraint to them, but still have that lovely, undulating melody that’s both thoughtful and head-noddingly catchy. And maybe it’s because I just got home from seeing the new Big Star documentary Nothing Can Hurt Me, but when I hear Cullen sing, I can hear Big Star’s Chris Bell with his piercing, melancholic vocals somewhere inside.
Be sure and catch Smith-Westerns at the Varsity Theater on August 20th. If you can’t make it, do yourself a favor and check out the great homage to the Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated†video the band did for their single “Idol†available at their website.
Tour dates:
smithwesternsmusic.com
It’s been two years since Chicago’s fuzzy dreamsicles Smith-Westerns dropped some teenage kicks on our skulls with their effervescent single “Weekend†and it’s equally energetic album Dye It Blonde. Hard to believe the band were little more than teenagers when they started in 2007 - their debut owes more to scuzzy 60s garage-rock than to the dream-pop that would appear on their next record. But don’t let those baby faces fool you; these guys know what they’re doing. The band’s third LP Soft Will, released back in June, sees members Max Kacacek (guitar), Cullen Omari (vocals) and Cameron Omari (bass) crafting a more sophisticated sound. The songs certainly have a bit more restraint to them, but still have that lovely, undulating melody that’s both thoughtful and head-noddingly catchy. And maybe it’s because I just got home from seeing the new Big Star documentary Nothing Can Hurt Me, but when I hear Cullen sing, I can hear Big Star’s Chris Bell with his piercing, melancholic vocals somewhere inside.
Be sure and catch Smith-Westerns at the Varsity Theater on August 20th. If you can’t make it, do yourself a favor and check out the great homage to the Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated†video the band did for their single “Idol†available at their website.
Tour dates:
08/05 + Kansas City, MO - The Riot Room
08/06 + Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
08/07 + Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
08/09 + San Francisco, CA – Outside Lands Festival
08/10 + Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre
08/11 + Pomona, CA - The Glass House
08/12 + San Diego, CA – Casbah
08/15 + Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
08/16 + Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
08/17 + Vancouver, BC - Electric Owl
08/20 + Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
10/04-10/06 + Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival
10/11-10/13 + Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival
08/06 + Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
08/07 + Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
08/09 + San Francisco, CA – Outside Lands Festival
08/10 + Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre
08/11 + Pomona, CA - The Glass House
08/12 + San Diego, CA – Casbah
08/15 + Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
08/16 + Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
08/17 + Vancouver, BC - Electric Owl
08/20 + Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
10/04-10/06 + Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival
10/11-10/13 + Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival
|
|
BALMORHEA
balmorheamusic.com
Austin's Balmorhea just kicked off their West Coast tour this month, August. They don't have a new album, but with over five LPs, including their 2012's Strangers on Western Vinyl, they should have more than enough material to work with.
Check out "Pyrakantha" from Strangers:
Tour dates:
balmorheamusic.com
Austin's Balmorhea just kicked off their West Coast tour this month, August. They don't have a new album, but with over five LPs, including their 2012's Strangers on Western Vinyl, they should have more than enough material to work with.
Check out "Pyrakantha" from Strangers:
Tour dates:
08.03 • Echo (Los Angeles, CA)
08.04 • Bottom of the Hill (San Francisco, CA)
08.08 • Mississippi Studios (Portland, OR)
08.09 • Columbia City Theater (Seattle, WA)
08.10 • Shakedown (Bellingham, WA)
08.11 • Rickshaw Theater (Vancouver, BC)
08.15 • Live Oak Music Hall (Ft. Worth, Texas)
08.16 • Mohawk (Austin, TX)
08.04 • Bottom of the Hill (San Francisco, CA)
08.08 • Mississippi Studios (Portland, OR)
08.09 • Columbia City Theater (Seattle, WA)
08.10 • Shakedown (Bellingham, WA)
08.11 • Rickshaw Theater (Vancouver, BC)
08.15 • Live Oak Music Hall (Ft. Worth, Texas)
08.16 • Mohawk (Austin, TX)
|
|
AISHA BURNS
aishaburns.com
Speaking of Balmorhea, Aisha Burns is their resident violinist and occasional vocalist for the band. It would seem that her Western Vinyl debut record, Life in the Midwater, is coming out September 17th. You can check out two songs on NPR.org right now. NP describe her music as "delicate intimacy".
I am going to assume she's out on tour with Balmorhea, so see dates above.
Life in the Midwater track listing:
aishaburns.com
Speaking of Balmorhea, Aisha Burns is their resident violinist and occasional vocalist for the band. It would seem that her Western Vinyl debut record, Life in the Midwater, is coming out September 17th. You can check out two songs on NPR.org right now. NP describe her music as "delicate intimacy".
I am going to assume she's out on tour with Balmorhea, so see dates above.
Life in the Midwater track listing:
- Sold
- Midwater
- Shelly
- Gatekeeper
- Discerpo
- Requiem
- Mine to Bear
- Destroyer
- Nothing
Comments