Vic Chesnutt "Chain" MP3 + Fall Tour!

This fall Vic Chesnutt will embark on a six-week North American tour in support of At the Cut, the Athens, GA-based singer-songwriter’s latest effort. The touring band features Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto and members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Silver Mt. Zion, all of whom collaborated with Chesnutt on the new album which is out September 22 on Constellation Records. "Chain" is a great preview of what is to come!

Download Chain MP3!

October 23 Mavericks Ottawa, ON
October 24 Ukranian Federation Hall Montreal, QC
October 25 Sommerville Theater Cambridge, MA
October 26 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY
October 27 Music Hall of Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY
October 28 First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, PA
October 29 Ottobar Baltimore, MD
October 30 Black Cat Washington, DC
October 31 The Soapbox Wilmington, NC
November 1 The EARL Atlanta, GA
November 2 40 Watt Club Athens, GA
November 4 Southgate House Newport, KY
November 5 Lincoln Hall Chicago, IL
November 6 Detroit Institute of Arts Detroit, MI
November 7 Lee’s Palace Toronto, ON
November 19 Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
November 20 West End Cultural Centre Winnipeg, MB
November 21 Amigo’s Saskatoon, SK
November 22 McDougall United Church Edmonton, AB
November 23 Knox United Church Calgary, AB
November 25 Richards on Richards Vancouver, BC
November 26 Lucky Bar Victoria, BC
November 27 Crocodile Seattle, WA
November 28 Mississippi Studios Portland, OR
November 30 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA
December 1 The Regent Los Angeles, CA
December 2 Club Congress Tucson, AZ
December 4 Hailey’s Denton, TX
December 5 Central Presbyterian Church Austin, TX

Tags: vic chesnutt chain mp3

Free Lou Barlow MP3! Gravitate!

Merge Records is kind enough to give us all a free MP3 of the track "Gravitate" from the upcoming Lou Barlow release Goodnight Unknown due out on October 6th! It's pretty great. We are really excited about the record.

Download Lou Barlow's Gravitate MP3

Tags: lou barlow gravitate mp3

Metric - Help I'm Alive Video

Here's the latest video from Metric's album Fantasies! This album is really turning out to be their most solid release to date. Enjoy!

Mark Mallman - Invincible Criminal Video

Here's a really fun video from Ruby Isle's Mark Mallman. His solo album Invincible Criminal is due out late August 2009! Check it out!

Cocoon Live in Concert Thanks to Our Pals at Grandcrew!

The first time you hear charming French duo Cocoon they will steal your heart. Our pals at Grandcrew.com caught them at La Maroquinerie in Paris. In the player below, you can watch the crowd sing along to song "On My Way", which is great, but not even close to being their best song. The entire concert is 17 songs long and can be viewed here:

Cocoon Live in Concert

Tullycraft Tribute First String Teenage High Gets Digital Re-release

First String Teenage High: The Songs of Tullycraft Played By People Who Aren't, was orignially co-released in 2003 by AAJ & Bumblebear records. The initial run was only 500 cds and has been completely sold out for quite some time. This was back in the day before iTunes, Amazon MP3, Emusic, etc...were easily accessible to small indie labels.

First String Teenage High started as a labor of love by Bumblebear Records owner Jimmy Hughes (current member of Elf Power & mastermind behind wonderful band Folklore). With Sean Tollefson's support, Hughes lovingly complied the tracks over a two year period. Some of the songs covered are actually from Sean's bands that were precursors to or side projects of Tullycraft - Crayon and Six Cents & Natalie. Sadly, very few of the bands that contributed to the album are still in existence.

First String Teenage High will be available for download via all major outlets on July 28th, 2009 thanks to the fine folks at Unchikun Records!

Download Murder Beach Doing "8 Great Ways"
Download Bugs Eat Books Doing "Sweet"

Track List:
1. Pipper the Kissing Cat - Pedal
2. Murder Beach - 8 Great Ways
3. Invaders from a Forbidden Planet - Josie
4. Kanda - Break Seaside and Over
5. Snowfort Inc. - Snap Tight Wars
6. Crewsin' for a Brewsin' - Bailey Park
7. Seasick Crocodile - Pink Lemonade
8. Hollie Impossible - Actives & Pledges
9. Blister Fist - Surfer Girl
10. Eric Metronome - Spoiler / Needed To
11. Saltine Crack Whores - Wild Bikini
12. My Place in Space - Superboy and Supergirl
13. Boyracer - She's Got the Beat
14. Beltline - The Lives of Cleopatra
15. Kisswhistle - My Date with Rachel Sweet
16. Yar's Revenge - Bee Sting Stings
17. Gang Wizard - Meet Me in Las Vegas
18. Winnebago - Knee High Susan
19. The Boys' Star Library - Stay Cool I'll See You This Summer
20. Genoe - Miss Douglas County
21. Bugs Eat Books - Sweet
22. Dipstick & Eggnog - 1st String Teenage High
+2 Bonus Tracks That Were Hidden on the CD!

Tags: first string teenage high tullycraft unchikun records

Japancakes - Behind the Mountains Video

Japancakes "Behind the Mountains" is their first ever song to utilize voclas! While the band has mentioned the idea of introducing vocals to their music through the years, it has never quite happened… until now. From Athens, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Taiwan, Japancakes have put together three versions of their single "Behind The Mountains." With the comforting airy vocals from Orenda Fink (Azure Ray) on the English version, accompanying Japancakes soundtrack style, some beautiful and simplistic visuals are drawn. These visuals come to life in the first ever video from Japancakes, directed by Ryan Berg. Stunning and simple, this video captures a glimpse of the beauty that comes to mind when thinking of all involved in the project. Even more so, another beautiful vocal version is available. With lyrics written and performed in Mandarin, by Moon (Miss Stocking), this unique version is equally beautiful in all areas. And keeping with Japancakes true instrumental roots, an instrumental version is also available. You can digitally download the tracks on iTunes the song starting July 28th!

Tags:japancakes behind the mountains

Girls Rock NC (GRNC) July 18th show at the Cats Cradle

If you live within a few hundred miles of the Chapel Hill, NC area, you owe it to yourselves and to the future of indie rock to go to the Girls Rock show at the Cats Cradle on July 18th.

Come witness a new generation of young, musical women who have just finished up a unique week of summer camp where they trained and practiced tirelessly to perform original compositions in front of a live audience. Eighteen girl bands with members ages 7-17 will take the stage at this premiere local concert venue to showcase their creativity and individuality and to play some rockin’ tunes.

Each band was formed and all music was composed on-site at three Girls Rock NC camp locations around the Triangle region of North Carolina. Girls Rock NC is an organization that provides music and arts programming and makes the creative community more accessible for young women. It places musical instruments in the hands of girls and encourages them to express themselves through song, rhythm, and movement. Girls Rock NC also promotes self-assurance by addressing important issues surrounding body image, gender equality and helping girls develop good relationships with their peers.

This year marks the 5th annual Camper Concert Showcase and, once again, the public is invited to attend to support these young musicians and the efforts of the Girls Rock NC organization. The program will be emceed by Laurelyn Dossett of traditional roots duo Polecat Creek and Betsy Shane of punk rock band Pink Flag. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the door on the evening of the show. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit girlsrocknc.org or call (919) 641-2727.

Whoever wrote that girls are made of “sugar, spice and everything nice” could have just summed it up by saying, “GIRLS ROCK!”

Footage From Girls Rock 2007!

Val Venosta - Peace & Quiet is For Libraries Video + Free MP3!

Keeping with the electronic dance theme of this weekend, the fabulous Swedish band Val Venosta sent us this fun-tastic video and free mp3 of their song "Peace and Quiet is For Libraries" along with the following note:

Hi, as we say in Sweden "Liten tuva stjälper ofta stora lass",
which means that in the summer you can't just sit in your room and play
with you synthesizers!

Download Peace & Quiet is For Libraries MP3!

Tags:val venosta peace and quiet is for libraries

Vitalic - Your Disco Song Video

Amazing French electronica band Vitalic are coming out with their first album in 4 years in September 2009! Your Disco Song is the first preview of the album available. Enjoy!

Tags: vitalic your disco song

Apteka - Tour EP

We get a lot of music on a daily basis from bands that for one reason or another have to do their own promo. We actually encourage this and really do listen to absolutely everything sent our way! Thankfully, Apteka found us on the interwebs and decided to send us their latest EP entitled Tour. Based out of Chicago, Apteka has done a fantastic job re-imagining the indie rock sounds from the early to mid-90s that made thier hometown the hotbed for truly rockin' indie tunes. We might be biased since we love Steve Albini, Seam, and Touch and Go Records, but Apteka does a great job invoking that era without completely mimicing it. Their are offering their EP as a free download.
You can get it here:

Free TOUR EP Download

Summer Cats - Songs For Tuesdays

Slumberland Records has been knocking it out of the ballpark as of late with fantastic releases. Australian band Summer Cat's album Songs for Tuesdays is yet another homerun. If you like really well done, upbeat indie pop/rock, then you owe it yourself to check these guys out. The album is due out on July 14th. Take a listen to the free MP3 and watch the video below! You will definitely be hearing a lot from Summer Cats in the coming months!

Download Hey You MP3!



Tags: summer cats songs for tuesdays

Casper & The Cookies and Everything Now on Tour Together!

Two really great indie bands Casper & the Cookies and Everything Now! are heading out on tour together on July 15th! They will be up and down the East coast and all throughout the Midwest. If they are coming to a town near you, get up and go!



7/16 - Columbus, OH - Circus
7/17 - Youngstown, OH - Cedar’s Lounge
7/18 - Pittsburgh, PA - Brillobox
7/19 - Scranton, PA - The Bog
7/20 - Boston, MA - Middle East Club
7/21 - New York, NY - Cake Shop
7/22 - Brooklyn, NY - Bruar Falls
7/23 - Philadelphia, PA - Danger Danger Gallery
7/24 - Washington, DC - Solly’s
7/25 - Fredericksburg, VA - Eyeclops Gallery
7/26 - Baltimore, MD - Joe Squared
7/27 - Charlottesville, VA - Twisted Branch
7/29 - Athens, GA - Caledonia Lounge
7/30 - Knoxville, TN - Pilot Light
8/1 - Little Rock, AR - TBA
8/3 - St. Louis, MO - The Firebird
8/4 - Columbia, MO - Mojo’s
8/5 - Lawrence, KS - Replay Lounge
8/6 - Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews
8/7 - Minneapolis, MN - Nomad World Pub
8/8 - Ames, IA - Ames Progressive
8/11 - Iowa City, IA - The Mill
8/13 - Madison, WI - The Frequency
8/14 - Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen
8/15 - Fort Wayne, IN - Bill’s City Grill

The Winter Sounds - Church of the Haunted South

The Winter Sounds are back with another great release Church of the Haunted South. The album is a 12 song re-envisioning of all things that were great about Brit & Scottish pop from the late 70s and all throughout the 80s. The album is like listening to your old records and reminiscing of a time when MTV still played videos and you could not wait to see what was coming on next. Take a listen to "Trophy Wife" in the player below. The band has also kindly made the track available as a free download.

Download Free MP3 - Trophy Wife!

Tags:the winter sounds church of the new south

WAVVES - No Hope Kids Video

This is the first official music video from WAVVES, directed by Pete Ohs, who has previously worked with The Arcade Fire, The Unicorns, Fiery Furnaces, Au Revoir Simone, etc. It was shot mostly on the band’s first European tour. WAVVES has three US dates coming up…..

WAVVES

07/15 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom*
07/18 Chicago, IL Pitchfork Fest
08/28 San Diego, CA Street Scene

Tags:wavves no hope kids video

Bird Names - Sings the Browns

Sings the Browns is the latest in a long line of great releases from Chicago's Bird Names. Experimental at their core, Bird Names seems to draw their musical compositions from bits and pieces of virtually every genre creating an interesting sound that, when at its best, fits somewhere between the easy-breezy sounds of early 70s folk-pop, mid 90s Japanese noise, and children making music with their Fisher Price tool kit. Somewhere around track 5 ("Natural Weeds"), this album takes off and never looks back culminating in eight songs in a row that will dazzle you with brilliance. My highlights include "Production", "I Had A Girl", and "Taxicabs & Bicycles." Give this record a listen, it's well worth your time.

Tags:bird names sings the browns

7 Silly Questions w/ Projekt A-ko!

I will have to admit a bit of a bias towards Projekt A-ko. I have been following the music of these crazy kids from Glasgow, Scotland for at least 13 years. Those in the know might remember Fergus Lawrie, Elaine Graham, & Ian Graham from their hugely popular previous band Urusei Yatsura (in the US, they were released simply as Yatsura). The music of Projekt A-ko still contains the high energy, fun loving spirit of Yatsura, but it is beautifully tempered by years of experience and the natural musical maturation process. The result is a truly magical collection of songs that only seasoned indie rock veterans can deliver.


Recently, Projekt A-ko released a fantastic full length CD Yoyodyne. Yoyodyne is the name of the secretive and possibly malevolent corporation in Thomas Pynchon’s book ‘The Crying of Lot 49’. You can preview many of the tracks in the player above. You can also download some MP3s to check out for yourself here: Free Projekt A-ko MP3s!


We caught up with Fergus and Elaine via the internet and convinced them to answer some of our highly suspect questions!

Viva: What's the most embarassing band you loved as a kid?
Fergus: Steeleye Span, still got a soft spot for them.
Elaine: My parents had a collection of those Top of the Pops albums with the saucy record sleeves and the dodgy cover versions. I didn't know they were cover versions for years and thought it was a band. That's pretty embarrassing.

Viva: Who smells the worst in van after a show?
Fergus: I do. I always sit as far away from myself as possible.
Elaine: Ian, no question. But then he is usually driving so it's best not to mention it or you could get left behind at a service station.

Viva: If Eiko Magami invited you to the Graviton High School prom, what song would you most want to slow dance to?
Fergus: Joe Le Taxi by Vanessa Paradis, just to maximize that kitsch ‘80s vibe.
Elaine: Little Trouble Girl by Kim Gordon/Kim Deal

Viva: What's the funniest thing that has happened to you on the road?
Fergus: Our dressing room got robbed in New York. That wasn't particularly funny, in fact we were very stressed out. We went back to the hotel room after the show and drank vodka while Ian phoned his insurance company in the UK. It was a bad line and whoever was handling the call wasn't used to Scottish accents. Ian kept on having to shout and repeat himself. Eventually they asked him to spell his name using call signs. He was having an increasingly hard time being understood and coming up with words for letters and when he got to the 'G' in Graham he said 'G for Gnome'. You had to be there.
Elaine: I once saw a woman with an accordian fall in a hole back stage at Pheonix festival. What a brilliant noise.

Viva: What other band names did you seriously consider before going with Projekt A-ko?
Fergus: None, it was a no-brainer once we found out about the connections between the Urusei Yatsura and Projekt A-ko films.
Elaine: I can't really say as we still might use them one day.

Viva: Who's in heavy rotation on your iPod?
Fergus: 'Yoyodyne' by Projekt A-ko, embarrassingly. I've just got a random play guy so I cleared everything else off to listen to the album when I got the final cut and I've yet to find time to put anything else back on.
Elaine: My iPod is busted so there are ghost tracks on it that I can't delete which fill up a load of space, luckily for me these are mainly from Sonic Youth's Sonic Nurse album.

Viva: What was the worst fight over nothing that you got into with each other after being road weary and exhausted?
Fergus: Can dolphins eat crisps. You know, trying to open the packets with flippers would be pretty tricky.
Elaine: We excel at these kind of arguments. Take your pick:
What is the best way to eat a chocolate eclair (the sweet not the cake)?
Cricket - what's the point?
Posters - is it ever acceptable to have a bands big fat faces on them?
Top of the Pops - don't get Ian started.....





Tags: projekt a-ko yoyodyne

First MP3 Released From New Polvo Record!!

Thanks to the fine folks at Merge Records, we all get a sneak peak at the first new MP3 from Polvo's In Prism due out Sept 8th. The song is "Beggars Bowl". It's pretty darn great. Enjoy!

Download Beggars Bowl MP3!

Tags: polvo beggars bowl mp3

7 Silly Questions w/ Hot Lava!

Twenty seconds after pressing play on my iPod to listen to the song Apple+Option+Fire, Richmond, VA’s Hot Lava had me in their corner. Their refreshing brand of indie pop is so infectious, you might just have to call the CDC to get their songs out of your head. The release of Lavalogy on Bar/None Records last fall cemented their place as one of the most entertaining and most respected indie bands in the country.

Hot Lava started out as art school buddies, Allison was design focused, Jared and Andrew did film and Matt did illustration and design. Their background had them playing in galleries and underground warehouse parties. “When we started playing live in late 2006, we didn't really have a niche. We played with a lot of local bands, but there wasn't a lot of chemistry at times,” explains Allison “We started playing shows with out of town bands (The Videohippos, The SadCobras) a couple months later and realized that we were all pretty likeminded folks. We've all networked a little now, and we’re part of a community that sort of spans up and down the East Coast. We're all friends of friends of friends and fans of each other's music. The internet has sort of fueled a new weird music revolution that's happening right now.”


We caught up with Hot Lava “boss” Allison Lava via the interwebs and told her if she didn’t answer our questions we would simply die. Thankfully, Allison spared our lives and agreed to answer some highly suspect interrogatives.

Viva: What's the most embarassing band you loved as a kid?
Allison: I really, really like Tracy Bonham. Mother Mother was the shit. She dispeared.

Viva: Who smells the worst in van after a show?
Allison: We all smell terrible!

Viva: Better Hot Lava song - South Park or B-52s?
Allison: B-52s for sure.

Viva: What's the funniest thing that has happened to you on the road?
Allison: Jared and Matt smashing beer cans against their heads to see if they can break them...their skulls and the cans.

Viva: Who would win in a fight? Unicorns....or Narwhals?
Allison: Unicorns. Narwhals can suck it.

Viva: Who's in heavy rotation on your iPod?
Allison: XTC & The Zombies

Viva: What was the worst fight over nothing that you got into with each
other after being road weary and exhausted?
Allison: I am always secretly pissed that I'm "not allowed" to drive the van. Although, sometimes I drive.



Download Mummy Beach MP3!
Download Apple+Option+Fire MP3

Check out these great Hot Lava videos!




*The second paragraph was taken from their Bar/None press page! It was written better than the crap we were coming up with!
Tags:hot lava lavalogy

Jenny Lewis - Black Sand Video!

Great new video from Jenny Lewis off last year's Acid Tongue.




Tags: jenny lewis black sand video