W♥M

Best of the Fests

Read More OMD Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (or rather the shortened OMD) is coming to the Varsity Theater on July 8 July 22. This is a long way from now, but hopefully, if it all works out, I will be at that show. ...

Read more Festivals.

FESTIVAL MUTE MEXICO
puntodeencuentromx.org

Mute are delighted to announce the Festival Mute Mexico 2015, presented by Punto De Encuentro. The festival, on Saturday March 21st, 2015, takes place at Valentín Gómez Farías in Tlaquepaque.

Curated by Mute founder, Daniel Miller, the festival will feature some of Mute's artists, including live sets from Liars, Ben Frost and Land Observations plus DJ sets from Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode/Erasure), Irmin Schmidt, Apparat, Daniel Miller. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (OMD) will perform live as very special guests.

Looks like a great lineup, wish I was going!

Details:

Saturday - 21 March 2015

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Vince Clark

Liars

Daniel Miller

Ben Frost

Apparat

Irmin Schmidt

Land Observation

Read More Sam Smith As previously predicted, Sam Smith was the big winner at this year's Grammy Awards... winning four top awards (Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist and ....

WAYHOME MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL
wayhome.com

Sam Smith, Alt-J and Modest Mouse are just some of the biggest headliners at the inaugural WayHome Music and Arts Festival, taking place place this July 24-26, 2015, at Burl's Creek Event Grounds near Barrie, Canada.

Executive Director Shannon McNevan is very excited about the lineup, "We couldn't be more excited to finally launch the name of our new festival as the WayHome Music and Arts and announce this inspiring line-up. Sam Smith is one of the hottest and most exciting new artists in the world right now, so it's awesome to see acts like him join Kendrick Lamar and Alt-J on our inaugural bill as Canada's international destination music festival..."

The complete WayHome Music and Arts lineup is below:

Sam Smith, Kendrick Lamar, Alt-J, Hozier, Modest Mouse, Bassnectar, The Decemberists, Passion Pit, St. Vincent, Girl Talk, Vance Joy, Future Islands, The Sheepdogs, Odesza, The Gaslight Anthem, Walk The Moon, Run The Jewels, Kaytranada, Hey Rosetta!, G-Eazy, Sylvan Esso, Danny Brown, Cold War Kids, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Big K.R.I.T, July Talk, Fucked Up, Timber Timbre, Thousand Foot Krutch, METZ, Alvvays, Yukon Blonde, Courtney Barnett, Sloan, Delta Spirit, Broods, How to Dress Well, SZA, Viet Cong, Com Truise, Bear Mountain, Evening Hymns, Lowell, The Highest Order, Dear Rouge, Chris Stapleton, For Esme, Saxsyndrum

Read More South By So What?! The 7th Annual South By So What?! Music Festival is scheduled to take place on March 14th, 15th & 16th at QuikTrip Ballpark, just minutes from downtown Dallas! This year's festival . ...

SOUTH BY SO WHAT?!
thirdstringproductions.com/

With the 300lb gorilla that is SXSW coming up in March, Third String Festivals is riding its momentum with the annual South By So What?! Music Festival in Grand Prairie, Texas (sort of near Austin). In addition, they will be bringing back Unsilent Night Music Festival this December... so mark your calendar.

Festival founder Mike Ziemer stated, "We will be changing the name of our flagship festival 'South By So What?!' to 'So What?! Music Festival' and bringing the brand to new markets in 2016. When analyzing our ticket sales data over the past 5 years, we've seen an increasing amount of traffic coming from outside of Texas as well as outside of the United States. Our festival has become a destination event and the time feels right to bring it to new markets."

There is some truth to this, as I've seen with the commercialization of SXSW in the past few years that some music fans would rather attend alternative festival... and South By So What?! Music Festival may be the answer they are looking for. Now in its 8th anniversary with over 150 bands registered to play within the three dates (March 20-22).

Here are details on the three major festivals coming soon from Third String Festivals:

South By So What?! Music Festival 2015
Friday, March 20th | Saturday, March 21st | Sunday, March 22nd
Venue: QuikTrip Park |1600 Lone Star Parkway | Grand Prairie, TX | 75050

Unsilent Night Music Festival 2015
Sunday, December 27th
Venue: Bomb Factory | 2713 Canton Street | Dallas, TX | 75226

So What?! Music Festival 2016
Friday, March 18th | Saturday, March 19th | Sunday, March 20th (Tentative)
Venue: TBD

Going for Gold XIX

Read more Going for Gold.

Read More Primus Primus’ first full-length studio album in nearly 20 years, ‘Primus & The Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble’ is out today via ATO Records. In support of their album, the definitive Primus line up -- Les Claypool, Larry LaLonde …

PRIMUS
primusville.com

How would you like to see Primus live... FOR LIFE? That's exactly what you could do, if you are one of the five elusive Golden Ticket within five Golden vinyl for their album Primus & The Chocolate Factory.

What a great theme, obviously based around Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the 1964 children's book turned into two featured films. When asked about the title and homage, band leader Les Claypool said that the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder, was important to him, and confessed, "in some way, wanted to be Willy Wonka."

Primus & The Chocolate Factory is Primus' first LP in nearly 20 years, and is out how on ATO Records.

Primus & The Chocolate Factory Tour Dates

11/07 – Taft Theatre – Cincinnati, OH
11/08 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
11/09 – Hard Rock Live – Orlando, FL
11/11 – The Fillmore – Miami, FL
11/12 – Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater, FL
11/14 – Hard Rock Live – Biloxi, MS
11/15 – The Moody Theater – Austin, TX
11/16 – The Majestic Theatre – Dallas, TX
11/17 – Majestic Theatre – San Antonio, TX
11/19 – Orpheum Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
11/21 – Orpheum Theatre– Los Angeles, CA
11/22 –Center For The Arts – San Siego, CA
11/23 –Fox Performing Arts Center– Riverside, CA
12/31 – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA*
01/02 – Arlene Schnitzer – Portland, OR
01/03 – Paramount Theater – Seattle, WA

*annual New Year's show, without Chocolate Factory

Read More Fly Golden Eagle Fly Golden Eagle's Quartz is a 26-song epic, a collection of songs that join together to form a narrative arc describing a story that is sometimes vulgar, sometimes profane …

FLY GOLDEN EAGLE
flygoldeneagle.net

Quartz Bijou is the 26-song epic album from Nashville's Fly Golden Eagle.

"I wanted this album to be a real reflection of the whole band effort, of the vibes of us playing together," said band leader Ben Trimble. "I want people to listen to it and be able to feel the chemistry."

Fly Golden Eagle are currently on tour with J. Roddy Walston & The Business, in support of Quartz. We've seen J Roddy Walston live a few times, and Fly Golden Eagle are in for a good foot-stomping good time.

Tour dates:

11/06 - Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair#
11/07 - New York, NY - Stage 48#
11/08 - Philadelphia, PA - Theater of Living Arts#
11/14 - Nashville, TN - Grimey's In-Store
11/14 - Nashville, TN Stone Fox
11/15 - Nashville, TN - Queen Ave Art Collective
12/06 - Washington DC - 9:30 Club

# = with J. Roddy Walston & The Business

Read More Hiss Golden Messenger Hiss Golden Messenger's reissue of Bad Debt as an Expanded Edition on January 14th by Paradise of Bachelors Records; the album was previously released in 2010. The Expanded Edition …

HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER
facebook.com/hissgoldenmessenger

North Carolina's Hiss Golden Messenger, American folk duo (MC Taylor and Scott Hirsch), recently announced their upcoming tour in support of Lateness of Dancers (Merge Records). Some dates are with Ben Howard.

Tour dates:

Nov 6/ Barboza/ Seattle, WA
Nov 7/ The Biltmore Cabaret/ Vancouver, BC
Nov 8/ Doug Fir Lounge/ Portland, OR
Nov 10/ The Crepe Place/ Santa Cruz, CA
Nov 11/ The Independent/ San Francisco, CA
Nov 13 / Masonic Lodge Los Angeles, CA
Nov 14/ Mountain Stage
Nov 18/ The Late Show With David Letterman
Dec 3/ 02 Apollo/ Manchester, UK#
Dec 4/ Civic Hall/ Wolverhampton, UK#
Dec 5/ Hare & Hounds/ Birmingham, UK
Dec 6/ Usher Hall/ Edinburgh, UK
Dec 7/ Olympia/ Dublin, Ireland#
Dec 8/ Olympia/ Dublin, Ireland#
Dec 10/ 02 Academy Brixton/ London, UK#
Dec 11/ 02 Academy Brixton/ London, UK#
Dec 12/ De Spot/ Middleburg, Netherlands
Dec 17/ Forest National Club, Belgium#
Dec 18/ Heineken Music Hall, Netherlands#
Dec 19/ Heineken Music Hall, Netherlands#
Dec 20/ Heineken Music Hall, Netherlands#
Feb 6/ Bleach/ Brighton, UK
Feb 7/ Independent/ Sunderland, UK
Feb 8/ Brundell Social Club/ Leeds, UK
Feb 9/ Stereo/ Glasgow, UK
Feb 10/ Deaf Institute/ Manchester, UK
Feb 11/ The Lantern/ Bristol, UK
Feb 12/ Bush Hall/ London, UK
Feb 13/ AB/ Brussels, Belgium
Feb 14/ Rotown/ Rotterdam, Netherlands
Feb 15/ EKKO/ Utrecht, Netherlands
Feb 17/ Privatclub/ Berlin, Germany
Feb 18/ Atlas/ Aarhus, Denmark
Feb 19/ Pustervik/ Gothenborg, Sweden
Feb 20/ John Dee/ Oslo, Norway
Feb 21/ Vega/ Copenhagen, Denmark

# w/ Ben Howard

Read More Liars Before the band took stage, Liars' Aaron Hemphill was getting Prince tattoos on his fingers in the green room. This say to me that they are massive Prince fans, and playing at the legendary First Avenue's …

LIARS
iarsliarsliars.com

I'm No Gold is the new single (out November 4th on Mute Records) by Liars. The song is taken from Liars' latest album Mess.

We saw the band live in Minneapolis in 2012 in support of their then-album WIXIM, and I noted that the band are massive Prince fans... even getting tattooed for the special occasion. Plus, the entire crowd was moshing and dancing to all the three-song encore.

I'm No Gold is out now.

Tracklisting:

1. I'm No Gold - Daniel Miller Mix
2. B-Side - Poison Bender
3. I'm No Gold - Nest Of Teens Remix
4. I'm No Gold - Album Version
5. C-Side - At The Mercy Of Her Mind
6. I'm No Gold - Thanks For The Remix Remix
7. I'm No Gold - Instrumental

Read More Martin Garrix Martin Garrix has a hit on his hands with "Animals". It's gone gold, when the song climbed to #32 on Top 40 radio (last year it charted on iTunes' Dance Single at #1). What's interesting to note …

MARTIN GARRIX
martingarrix.com

DJ/producer Martin Garrix's debut EP Gold Skies debut at #1 on the iTunes Top Dance Albums Chart (earlier in July), and in typical remix culture, he's also releasing Gold Skies (Remixes) via Casablanca Records last month, with new remixes from his peers Tiësto, DubVision, and more.

This is one of the hottest DJ around, and he's young... expect him to stick around for a while.

Tracklisting:

1. Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix, DVBBS - “Gold Skies” [Feat. Aleesia]
2. Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix, DVBBS - “Gold Skies” [Feat. Aleesia] (Tiësto Remix)
3. Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix, DVBBS - “Gold Skies” [Feat. Aleesia] (DubVision Remix)
4. Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix, DVBBS - “Gold Skies” [Feat. Aleesia] (Ferreck Dawn & Redondo Remix)
5. Sander van Doorn, Martin Garrix, DVBBS - “Gold Skies” [Feat. Aleesia] (Metrik Remix)

AND IN GOLDEN DUO NEWS.....

OH, BE CLEVER ohbeclever.com Salt Lake City duo Oh, Be Clever (Brittney Shields and Cory Scott Layton) made their debut in the UK with their new single "Paint Me Gold". Look for them to tour in Europe in Spring 2015.

IVY & GOLD ivyandgoldmusic.co.uk British duo Ivy & Gold (Rachel Wilkinson and Jamie Davies) released Smoke and Mirrors EP to a sold-out show at London's St Pancras Church last month. Look for the London band live this December 9th at Roundhouse Studio.

GOLDEN PONY thegoldenpony.com Brooklyn production duo The Golden Pony (Timothy Monkiewicz and Thomas Murphy) recently remixed Talking Heads' "Pyscho Killer" for Halloween. You can hear it on Soundcloud.

GOLDIE THORN goldiethorn.com Even more duo... Goldie Thorn (Reverend Thorn and Gold & Chain) are from London, by the way of Australia. Their single "Down Town Time" is out now on Cabana Records.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Going for Gold XVIII

Read more Going for Gold.

Read More Goldfrapp I've gone on record in the past, saying that I am a fan of Goldfrapp. I love them, even though I don't have their new album, I did pick up Seventh Tree.…

GOLDFRAPP
goldfrapp.com

Goldfrapp is back! The UK dance band just announced their new album Tales Of Us will be coming out September 10th, 2013, via Mute Records.

The album is described as Goldfrapp's most narrative, cinematic and intimate recording to date. Does this mean a new direction (away from dance music?)

Be on the lookout for Goldfrapp to play some shows in the summer, including a special double date at the Manchester International Festival on July 17th and 18th. They've arranged for the Royal Northern College of Music string orchestra to playTales Of Us live for the first time. Of course, tickets are already sold out!

Their European headlining tour will take place in October and November. U.S. dates to be announced soon. Personally, I cannot wait!

06/23/13 Trinity Centre Bristol, UK
07/17/13 Manchester International Festival
07/18/13 Manchester International Festival
07/20/13 Somerset House Summer Series
07/21/13 Lovebox - Victoria Park
10/21/13 Paradiso, Amsterdam
10/22/13 Ancienne Belgique, Brussels
10/23/13 Heimathafen Neukölln, Berlin
10/25/13 Le Trianon Hall, Paris
10/26/13 Kaufleuten, Zurich
11/01/13 Hammersmith Apollo, London

BONDAX
facebook.com/Bondax

UK duo Bondax (Adam Kaye and George Townsend) is coming back to North America for a 2013 tour. They are in the middle of writing a new album, as Kaye mentioned, "We're only just writing our album now, but we're going to have songs, but songs treated differently so the structures aren't what you expect. It's got to keep the interest and not just be trying to do what's current."

Check out their new song, "Gold".

07/10 - Ottawa, ON - Ottawa Blues Festival
07/11 - Toronto, ON - Wrong Bar
07/12 - Mariaville, NY - Camp Bisco
07/13 - New York, NY - MoMA PS1 Warm Up
08/01 - Phoenix, AZ - Monarch Theatre
08/02 - San Francisco, CA - 1015 Folsom
08/03 - Los Angeles, CA - Hard Summer
08/30 - New York, NY - Electric Zoo
08/31 - Chicago, IL - North Coast Music Festival

SIR SLY
facebook.com/sirslymusic

Los Angeles' Sir Sly recently just signed to Cherrytree/Interscope Records, and their first release is the Gold EP (available now).

Hear the title track, "Gold", on soundcloud.com:



Tracklisting below:

1. Where I'm Going
2. Gold
3. Found You Out
4. Ghost

BRIEFLY BROOKLYN:

GOLD LAKE goldlakeband.com Gold Lake is Brooklyn's latest band, although two of the members are Carlos and Lua from Madrid. The two originally was playing music as the band We Are Balboa (distributed by PIAS), before relocating in New York as Gold Lake. Anyway, Gold Lake's We Already Exist is coming out this week, June 18th, 2013. Expect to hear some of those songs at their upcoming show at the Glasslands with Isadora on July 23rd.

BLUE & GOLD blueandgoldband.com Speaking of Brooklyn, Blue & Gold's debut single, "Ghost Man", taken from their debut self-titled EP, will be out at the end of June. The band will be performing their first show at Pianos in NYC on July 17th, 2013. Hear "Ghost Man" song now, and see if you can hear Alabama Shakes and White Stripes influences:

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Finding Nemo

I hope everyone in the Northeast is safe and sound - after they had just experienced a record-breaking snowstorm last night. It's reported that in some areas that more than three feet of snow are on the ground ("with more to come")! You've all read the headlines: don't bother flying or visiting the Northeast area today or in the next few days.

COLD SPECKS
coldspecks.com

"When the City Lights Dim" is the new single from Cold Specks (lead by Al Spx), which is coming out March 5th, 2013, via Mute Records. The track is taken from last year's debut album, I Predict A Graceful Expulsion, from this Canadian singer/songwriter.

The album was a short-list for Canada’s Polaris Prize and was eMusic’s highest praise as the #1 Album of 2012.

Cold Specks will be doing some brief promotional shows in the Canada area:

03/15/13 Montreal, QC Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre
03/16/13 Montreal, QC Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre
03/18/13 Kingston, ON Sydenham St United Church
03/19/13 London, ON London Music Hall
06/08/13 Toronto, ON Historic Fort York

Can't wait for "When the City Lights Dim"? Hear "Holland" now:

SNOWDEN
snowden.info

I've seen Snowden twice. The first time, there was this huge blizzard in Minneapolis and then the second time for free because the headliner pulled out at the last minute. Snowden decided to continue on with the show.

The band is heading back to Minneapolis as part of their mid-to-late February tour and may preview some songs from their upcoming album, No One In Control, which will be released by Kings of Leon's record label, Serpents and Snakes.

You can preview their first single, "The Beat Comes", at Stereogum.

02/19 - Boston - TT The Bears
02/20 - Philadelphia - Johnny Brendas
02/22 - DC - DC9
02/23 - NYC - Mercury Lounge
02/24 - Chicago - Subterranean
02/25 - Minneapolis - Triple Rock
02/26 - Denver - Larimer Lounge
02/28 - Seattle - Barboza
03/01 - Los Angeles - Satellite Lounge
03/03 - Atlanta - The Earl

BRIEFLY:

LOVE IS COLDER THAN DEATH lictd.com The new Love is Colder Than Death (LICTD) album is called Tempest and it's coming out next week: February 15th, 2013. LICTD is a 90s dark wave German band, named after the 1969 Fassbinder film "Liebe ist kälter als der Tod".

FREEZE-TAG blogspot.com Freeze-Tag I (Marcus Alan Ward) is releasing Eskimo sometime in March 2013. According to his blog, "Taking time to finish the EP up.. But the video looks gorgeous.." Currently mixing at Field Day Recordings. Hear the title track now:

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

Girls Girls Girls: Sky Ferreira, Amanda Palmer, Laetitia Sadier

This is #12 in the Girls Girls Girls series.

Read More Sky Ferreira That might explained her "Sex Rules" title ? It's actually not what you'd think, it's the rules of nature, not that "it's totally awesome".

SKY FERREIRA
skyferreira.com

Sure, the single, "Red Lips," was released a few months ago (June), but I don't care. I think Sky Ferreira is awesome and we've been following her career since 2010.

"Red Lips" was written by Sky, Greg Kurstin, and … Garbage's Shirley Manson! The song is said to contain a new direction for Sky. Personally, it just sounds more or less in the same attractive pop/dance style, but with more guitars and less lo-fi.

Listening to "Red Lips," you wonder if Sky Ferreira is commenting on some other "little bitch" or on herself. I think you can read it both ways, but if that's the case, then certainly Ferreira know that she's playing that game … and if she's lost, then she'll walk. Then again, two-minute pop songs can't be all that smart, right?

Anyway, Ferreira's been quiet this past month, but expect a new EP from her next month, in September. The debut album, currently with a title of I'm Not Alright (changed from Wild At Heart), is coming out this year.

Check out her sexiest video yet: "Red Lips." The video featured Sky in her undies, lots of red lipsticks, and a lucky Toby the tarantula.

AMANDA PALMER & THE GRAND THEFT ORCHESTRA
amandapalmer.net

You may remember that seeing Amanda Palmer at the Cedar in 2010 was one of the best shows I've ever seen. It was hard to describe, but it wasn't just a regular rock n roll show, it was also part theater and part circus act.

I'm hoping to catch her again, this October at First Avenue. Will it live up to her Evelyn Evelyn show? I'll report back when I see her again. But hearing Palmer explain her latest work as "Rocky-Horror-meets-Scavenger-Hunt-meets-Interactive-Art-Happening," it sounds just as fun. Also, I am hoping to spot her hubby Neil Gaiman at the Minneapolis show.

Palmer's last album, Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under, was geared towards Australian, I still found the album to be fun and creative. The forthcoming album, under the Amanda Palma & The Grand Theft Orchestra banner is called Theater is Evil, and it will be out on September 11th on her own label, 8ft Records. You can preview one the song, "The Killing Type," on NPR.

Her tour dates starts September 10th.

09/10: Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre Of Living Arts 09/11: New York, NY @ Webster Hall 09/12: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club 09/14: Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle 09/15: Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse 09/17: New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina's Uptown 09/18: Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald's Upstairs 09/19: Austin, TX @ Stubbs (Outside) 09/21: Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre 09/22: Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom 09/24: San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues 09/25: Los Angeles, CA @ The Music Box 09/26: San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore 9/28: Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom 09/29: Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom 09/30: Seattle, WA @ Neptune Ballroom 10/03: Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue 10/23: London @ Koko

10/24: Manchester @ Cathedral 10/25: Glasgow @ Oran Mor 10/27: Amsterdam @ Melkweg 10/28: Berlin @ Festsaal Kreuzberg 10/29: Prague @ Palac Akropolis 10/30: Zurich @ Abart 11/01: Antwerp @ Trix Club 11/02: Paris @ La Maroquinerie 11/03: Cologne @ Gebaude 9 11/05: Vienna @ Arena 11/09: Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Theatre 11/10: Chicago, IL @ Metro 11/11: Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall 11/13: Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall 11/15: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club 11/16: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club 11/17: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club

LÆTITIA SADIER
myspace.com/laetitiasadier

You might know Lætitia Sadier from Stereolab.

Confession: Before the internet, in the early 90s, I thought this band came out of France. Not a surprise because singer Lætitia Sadier is French, however I thought they were French, up to 2008!

Anyway, Lætitia Sadier just released her second solo album, Silencio!, last month (July 24th) on Drag City.

The album is said to be about "the noise" preventing you from society and commercialism and the marketplace … so, yes, buy the album!

Sadier will be heading out on tour this September, along with Orca Team, a band that Lara likes. If it all works out, Lara is reviewing Sadier's show at the 400 Bar this September 30th.

09/15/12 Chicago, IL @ Schuba's 09/16/12 Pontiac, MI @ Pike Room at Crofoot 09/18/12 Toronto, ON @ Drake Hotel 09/19/12 Montreal, QC @ Pop Montreal Festival 09/20/12 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Cafe 09/21/12 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge 09/22/12 Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory 09/23/12 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's 09/25/12 Washington, DC @ DC9 09/26/12 Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Cafe 09/27/12 Cincinnati, OH @ Midpoint Music Fest 09/28/12 Urbana, IL @ Pygmalion Music Fest 09/29/12 Madison, WI @ University of Wisconsin 09/30/12 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar

10/03/12 Seattle, WA @ Barboza 10/04/12 Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar 10/05/12 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill 10/06/12 Los Angeles, CA @ Culture Collide Fest 10/10/12 Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive 10/11/12 Lincoln, NE @ Lincoln Calling 11/05/12 Manchester, UK @ Deaf Institute 11/06/12 Glasgow, UK @ Captains Rest 11/07/12 Edinburgh, UK @ Sneaky Pete's 11/09/12 Dublin, IE @ The Workman's Club 11/10/12 Galway, IE @ Roisin Dubh 11/12/12 Cardiff, UK @ The Globe 11/13/12 London, UK @ XOYO 11/14/12 Brighton, UK @ Sticky MIkes

Briefly:

BLONDFIRE facebook.com Blondfire is a brother/sister duo (Bruce and Erica Driscoll), they've been around for a while. They recently announced that they've signed with Warner Bros Records and they are in the middle of mixing and recording new songs for a forthcoming album in 2013. To celebrate, they're giving you a sneak peak at their catchy new song, "Waves," at Soundcloud:

THE HERMIT CRABS myspace.com Scottish indiepop band The Hermit Crabs is back with a new EP called Time Relentless. This mark the first new material since their 2009's Correspondence Course EP. Time Relentless is strictly limited to 1,000 custom minijacket sleeve and available exclusively through Matinée Recordings. Download "Stop This Now" at Soundcloud:

CUUSHE cuushe.net Cuushe is a Japanese singer, and she's back with a THREE new EP Girl, You Know That I am Here, and But the Dream. She's offering a remix by Slow Magic of "You Know That I am Here" via, what else?, soundcloud.

BETH JEAN HOUGHTON bjh.tumblr.com Just quickly, but Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny has a new music video for "Dodecahedron." The video was directed by Sasha Rainbow, you can catch it on Vevo.com She'll be in Ireland in September: 09/16/12 Cork, Ireland Cyprus Avenue 09/17/12 Dublin, Ireland Whelans

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

When in Rome

ROMANIA, IF YOU WANT TO
asphalt-tango.de/fanfare

Romania's Fanfare Ciocarlia is heading out on a brief-eight city North American tour this year. The New York Gypsy Festival founder Mehmet Dede best summed up this band with this quote, "Fanfare Ciocarlia's wicked fast trumpets, tenor and baritone horns, tubas, clarinets, saxophones, bass drum and percussion from the Carpathian mountains are a sight and sound to behold. This tour is way overdue for the beloved Gypsy brass band tradition." Hopefully, if it works out, I'll report back if it's true at Minneapolis' Cedar Cultural Center, the last date on their tour.

2012 North American Tour
09/19/2012 Quebec City Le Cercle
09/20/2012 Montreal, Rialto Theatre (PopMontreal)
09/21/2012 Toronto, The Hoxton
09/22/2012 New York, Schimmel Center for the Arts
09/23/2012 Durham, NC - Duke Performances
09/24/2012 Pittsburgh, PA - Brillo Box
09/25/2012 Chicago, IL - City Winery
09/26/2012 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center

ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME
landobservations.blogspot.co.uk

Coming out on September 4th, 2012, is Roman Roads IV-XI, the debut album from Land Observations.

Land Observations is the exciting solo project of James Brooks, who previously was in another band, Appliance.

Look for Roman Roads IV-XI on CD, vinyl, and digital, as well as a very cool packaging featuring original drawings by Brooks, via Mute Records.

ROMAN ROADS IV-XI track listing
01. Before the Kingsland Road
02. Aurelian Way
03. From Nero's Palace
04. Via Flaminia
05. Appian Way
06. The Chester Road
07. Portway
08. Battle Of Watling Street

THE FALL OF ROMINA
rominaarena.com

Romina Arena's album, Morriconne.Uncovered, will be arriving in the fall (September 18th, 2012), via Perseverance Records. However, Italian stores will be able to carry the album next week, August 27th.

With the second single on its way ("The Woman in Me"/"What Can I Do?"), fans will be able to get a taste of what's to come on Morriconne.Uncovered. As you can guess, these are all songs written by the legendary Ennio Morricone, spanning from his various soundtracks from "Once Upon a Time in America" to "Loita" to "For a Few Dollars More."

“Morricone.Uncovered” full track listing
01. “Ti Ho Amato” from “Once Upon a Time in America”
02. “What Can I Do” from“The Legend of 1900”
03. “Il Cuore Mio – Mi Corazon” from “La Piovra”
04. “The Woman in Me” from “Lolita”
05. “Saying Goodbye” from the motion picture “The Untouchables” (based on “Death Theme”)
06. “Gioco D’Amore” from the motion picture “Love Affair”
07. “Solo Noi” from the motion picture “Malena”
08. “Ritornerai Dolce Amore” from the motion picture “Casualties of War”
09. “Return to Me” from the motion picture “A Time of Destiny”
10. “Le Vent et le Cri” from the motion picture “Le Professionel”
11. “E un Attimo” from the motion picture “The Legend of 1900”
12. “Requiem for Love” from the motion picture “Per Amore” (duet with Marcello Giordani)
13. “Il Tempo Sa” from the motion picture “For a Few Dollars More” (based on “Sixty Seconds to What?”)
14. “Morir D’Amore – I Die a Little” from the motion picture “For Love One Can Die”
15. “Se Non Fossi Tu/ This Kind of Love” from the motion picture “Questa Specie D’Amore”

THE ROMANS ARE COMING
romansarealive.com

I am told that New York's Romans are "back in action," with their second new single for the summer called "Somedays."

Their music takes the best parts of doo wop, glam, and britrock, because, as singer Jeremy Fury puts it, "If you go far enough into the future and look back at a specific period from the past, everything seems to blend together."

I think the band is fairly new, based on the lack of cover artwork (I just put quickly put together a cover art) and ungoogleable band name (the results will bring you five million other "Romans" bands, including a Catholic band and a Georgian band). And it may sound cruel, but I predict in a few years' time, the name 'Romans' won't be around.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

I'm From Barcelona - Forever Today

Free Download Download "Get in Line" via Pitchfork (direct link). Tour Dates 05/07/11 Popadelica Huskvarna SWE 05/21/11 Strand Stockholm SWE Discography [Apr 2006] Let Me Introduce My Friends [Oct 2008] Who Killed Harry Houdini? [Jan 2010] 27 songs from Barcelona [Apr 2011] Forever Today Read More I'm From Barcelona I'm From Barcelona are a massive band started by Emanuel Lundgren. I love the city of Barcelona so it was with natural curiousity I purchased their debut album, "Let Me Introduce My Friends" and what a lot of friends Emanuel has! 29 musicians contribute to the majority of the songs on this album.

Cristina and I crowned Sweden's I'm From Barcelona as the largest/oversized band in the world, with its twenty-nine, count 'em, twenty-nine band members. Unlike the creepy chorus singers of The Polyphonic Spree (which changes rosters depending on touring location), the majority of I'm From Barcelona band members actually write and record and play instruments in the band (at least twenty-seven of them did solo-artist songs on their last record, 27 songs from Barcelona).

With that introduction, you'd expect the other twenty-eight band members to have their spot in the sun, but in reality, the majority of their music is written and sung by the band's founder, Emanuel Lundgren. This is not necessary a bad thing, you do need a leader to chart the course and direction of the music, otherwise you'll have a bunch of random songs that doesn't fit together.

I've been listening to their latest album, Forever Today a lot lately. This is not a difficult album to get into, hearing the first few notes on "Charlie Parker" or "Can See Miles", you know that this album is designed for the Spring or Summer. It's catchy, it's feels good, and it's definitely a lot of fun.

Some people might poo-poo simplistic/dumb lyrics like "we don't want to get in line, no we don't want to get in line, no we don't want to get in line" in "Get In Line" (which incidentally is the new single from the band, hear the song remixed on their Facebook) or "I want to be fast/I want to be slow/I want to have somewhere to go/I want to be high/I want to be low" in "Always Spring", but I think they forget that when you hear this song on a stage with all twenty-nine band members doing their parts - you'll love the easy-to-follow lyrics. Yes, that means you'll find yourself hand-clapping and singing along to these songs... even if you've never heard of them!

My favorite track is "Skipping A Beat", which sounds like they borrow the song from an old New Order classic. I also like "Come On", which is about taking it easy and not worrying too much. The only problem I have with this song is that the way "lights" is sung on the song, they made it out like there's three syllables. I understand it, I know they're just following the melodies.

If you like upbeat, happy pop music, you'll absolutely fall in love with I'm From Barcelona. The album, Forever Today, will be released in the US on April 19^th via Mute Records.

vu () ♥ www.imfrombarcelona.com