New music video from Sylvan Esso - Radio

One of my favorite bands of all time, Sylvan Esso's new music is on point. Here's the video for their single, Radio.

Friday Fix

Hiss Golden Messenger

I hope everyone's been having a good week... or at least a better week than last week! It's time for the weekly run down!

Some songs I think you should listen to:

1. Today's song you really should check out: @theavettbros (well, Seth) and Jessica Lea Mayfield: "Twilight" #todayssong

   — Karthik Subramanian (@ksub2000) November 11, 2016

2. Today's song you really should check out: @FirstAidKitBand "Walk Unafraid" #todayssong

   — Karthik Subramanian (@ksub2000) November 12, 2016

3. Today's song you really should check out: @foxygentheband "America" #todayssong

   — Karthik Subramanian (@ksub2000) November 14, 2016

4. Today's song you really should check out: @hissgldnmssr "Biloxi" #todayssong

   — Karthik Subramanian (@ksub2000) November 14, 2016

5. Today's song you really should check out: @passionpit "Where the Sky Hangs" #todayssong

   — Karthik Subramanian (@ksub2000) November 15, 2016

6. Today's song you really should check out: @wearexylo "Fool's Paradise" #todayssong

   — Karthik Subramanian (@ksub2000) November 16, 2016

7. Throwback Thursday Special:

   Today's song you really should go back and check out: @springsteen "Glory Days" #todayssong #tbt

   — Karthik Subramanian (@ksub2000) November 17, 2016

Album of the week: Leonard Cohen, You Want It Darker

There are legends, and there are those who the legends call legends: Leonard Cohen was the latter. His final album, "You Want It Darker," is a perfect farewell to his fans and to anyone who describes themselves as a fan of music. It's a necessary jaunt through the Kubler-Ross stages of grief, and if you don't cry while listening to it, I'm not even sure I want to know you...

"You Want It Darker"

All the tracks shine, but the title track is one of the weightiest songs you'll ever put into your ear-holes. He was ready to go, even if we weren't ready to lose him. It's our fault (or at least mine) for waiting until he was gone to listen to it. If you're looking to get it on vinyl, I'd suggest going to Vinyl Me, Please. (While this is shameless product placement, they're not sponsors/advertisers of the site, and I'm just an enthusiastic customer who has used them to augment my vinyl collection with really cool and unique pressings.)

Shows coming up in DC in the next three months that you should go to, and I might go to:

Monday 11/21 - Lincoln Theatre - Ingrid Michaelson * - I'll be there
Tuesday 11/22 - Lincoln Theatre - Ingrid Michaelson
Saturday 11/26 - Warner Theater- Brian Setzer Orchestra
Tuesday 11/29 - Gypsy Sally's - Girls, Guns, and Glory * - I'll be there
Wednesday 11/30 - 9:30 Club - Starfucker * - I'll be there
Wednesday 12/7 and Thursday 12/8 - Fillmore Silver Spring - 94.7 FM Not So Silent Night (two days)
Wednesday 12/7 - Fillmore Silver Spring  - 94.7 NSSN Day 1: Mike Posner, Lindsey Stirling, and JoJo
Thursday 12/8 - Fillmore Silver Spring  - 94.7 NSSN Day 2: Third Eye Blind w. Wrable, The Rua
Thursday 12/8 - Birchmere - The Dan Band
Saturday 12/10 - Black Cat - Reverend Horton Heat
Sunday 12/11 - Hamilton Live - Edwin McCain
Monday 12/12 - Birchmere - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Thursday 12/15 - Birchmere - Carbon Leaf
Thursday 12/15 - 9:30 Club - Thievery Corporation
Sunday 12/18 - Fillmore Silver Spring - Lauryn Hill
Tuesday 12/20 - Hamilton Live - Los Lobos
Friday 12/23 - Hamilton Live - Virginia Coalition
Friday 12/23 - Fillmore Silver Spring - 80s and 90s Dance Party with DJ BIZ MARKIE!
Friday 12/30 - Hamilton Live - Old 97s * - I'll be there
Saturday 12/31 - Hamilton Live - Old 97s
Wednesday 1/4/17 - Hamilton Live - $20-25 - Cherry Poppin Daddies - WITH A DANCE FLOOR!
Thursday 1/12/17 - Echostage - Run the Jewels * - I'll be there
Friday 1/20/17 - Birchmere - Ricky Skaggs
Saturday 1/21/17 - Birchmere - Ricky Skaggs
Friday 1/27/17 - Howard Theatre - Ginuwine
Sunday 1/29/17 - Birchmere - Phil Vassar

Stations you should create this week:

1. Nickel Creek

If you like newer folk music, this band is for you. Having now gone their own separate ways to the Punch Brothers, Fiction Family, the Watkins Family Band, I'm With Her, Works Progress Administration, and so many more, this band is a perfect starting point to get into. As an added bonus, when you're perusing music videos or seeing him live in any of his current bands, there's nothing like the pure joy on Chris Thile's face when he treats his mandolin like a heavy metal axe. If you want to add variety to this station, just throw in the bands listed above, but honestly, this is a strong seed.

2. Warren Zevon

If you want the perfect seed artist to create a damn fine rock 'n' roll station, Warren Zevon is your man. This station will give you Springsteen, Tom Petty, Van Morrison, and so much more, but Zevon will shine through on this station, especially with "Lawyers, Guns, and Money," though the order in which he asks for them is pretty much the opposite order of usefulness when the shit has hit the fan. If you feel the need to add any seeds to this station, you are a bad person and should feel bad.

Thought of the week:

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." - Desmond Tutu

'Til next time... keep on listening, keep on singing, and keep live music alive.

Friday Fix

Lindsey Stirling

Hey all! I know, two posts in two days, what does this guy think he owns the place? Well, as a completely unqualified man, I'm going with "yes, yes I do."

Some songs I think you should listen to: (Spoiler alert, it's a recap of the last 7 #todayssongs I've tweeted out)

1. 
   

   Today's song you really should check out: @TheWarOnDrugs: "Under the Pressure" #todayssong

   — Karthik Subramanian (@ksub2000) November 4, 2016

2. 
   

   Today's song you really should check out: @LindseyStirling and @andrewmcmahon: "Something Wild" #todayssong

   — Karthik Subramanian (@ksub2000) November 5, 2016

3. Today's song you really should check out: @youngthegiant: "Amerika" #todayssong

   — Karthik Subramanian (@ksub2000) November 6, 2016

4. Today's song you really should check out: @GoodOldWar: "Small World" #todayssong

   — Karthik Subramanian (@ksub2000) November 7, 2016

5. Today's song you really should check out: @thestrumbellas: "Shovels and Dirt" #todayssong

   — Karthik Subramanian (@ksub2000) November 8, 2016

6. Today's song you really should check out: @officialkaleo: "Way Down We Go" #todayssong

   — Karthik Subramanian (@ksub2000) November 9, 2016

7. Throwback Thursday Special:

   Today's song you really should go back and check out: @ziggymarley covering his dad: "Three Little Birds" #todayssong #tbt

   — Karthik Subramanian (@ksub2000) November 10, 2016

Shows coming up in DC that I'm going to:

Tue 11/15 - Lincoln Theatre - The Naked and Famous

I've seen them before in concert, and the energy that they exude while on stage is contagious. You cannot go to this concert and not be super happy. Since bursting on the scene about 6 years ago, they've released albums every 3 years, and each has built upon the energetic body of work preceding it. I challenge you to listen to "Young Blood," and not feel like, well, you're young and naïve still.

You can find their new album "Simple Forms" here: iTunes | Spotify

I'm also really interested in seeing XYLØ open for them, because I'm nothing if not a sucker for electropop.

Mon 11/21 - Lincoln Theatre - Ingrid Michaelson

I first heard of her when I saw her open for Dave Matthews Band in 2008. (In case you were wondering, I can't be a music snob when I've been to over 50 DMB shows, but please don't hold that against me... too much.) Her smoky, but optimistic, voice carries melodies that make you sway with the beat, and from what I've heard, her "Hell No" tour, which started in my home city of Cincinnati, has been full of her rocking small to mid sized venues.

I'm not sure which sibling act opener I'm more excited to see - XYLØ for TNAF, or AJR for Ingrid Michaelson. These three guys are hilarious and have taken their new attention 100% in stride. You just can't beat "bad white folks dancing" for a self-aware video, and they did it perfectly. Their sound is fun, their vibe is fun, and sometimes there's nothing better than a garden variety pop sound.

Tue 11/29 - Gypsy Sally's - Girls, Guns, and Glory

The best way to describe these guys is that they inhabit the space somewhere between alt-country and Hank Williams... ALL of it. (The good, deceased Hank Williams, not his far-less-talented son.) Their unique sound is something to be cherished, especially because Gypsy Sally's is one of my favorite intimate venues in the DC area.

Check out their new album "Love and Protest" here: iTunes | Amazon | Google Play.

Wed 11/30 - 9:30 Club - Starfucker/STRFKR

It's difficult to make it to the mainstream when your name is Starfucker, but this band has done well with the name and the music. They're probably best known for "Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second," but they're a mainstay in both TV and Movies. They've done what they can to make their name safe for work, but their music is as potent as ever.

Check out their new album "Being No One, Going Nowhere" here: Spotify

Shows coming up in DC in the next three months that you should go to, and I might go to:

First of all, if you're not going to a show on Tuesday, November 15, I'm not sure I want to know you - there are three awesome acts all around the area.

Tuesday 11/15 - Echostage - Good Charlotte
Tuesday 11/15 - Fillmore Silver Spring - The Fray and American Authors
Tuesday 11/15 - Lincoln Theatre - The Naked and Famous
Thursday 11/17 - Echostage - Two Door Cinema Club
Monday 11/21 - Lincoln Theatre - Ingrid Michaelson
Tuesday 11/22 - Lincoln Theatre - Ingrid Michaelson
Saturday 11/26 - Warner Theater- Brian Setzer Orchestra
Tuesday 11/29 - Gypsy Sally's - Girls, Guns, and Glory
Wednesday 11/30 - 9:30 Club - Starfucker
Wednesday 12/7 and Thursday 12/8 - Fillmore Silver Spring - 94.7 FM Not So Silent Night (two days)
Wednesday 12/7 - Fillmore Silver Spring  - 94.7 NSSN Day 1: Mike Posner, Lindsey Stirling, and JoJo
Thursday 12/8 - Fillmore Silver Spring  - 94.7 NSSN Day 2: Third Eye Blind w. Wrable, The Rua
Thursday 12/8 - Birchmere - The Dan Band
Saturday 12/10 - Black Cat - Reverend Horton Heat
Sunday 12/11 - Hamilton Live - Edwin McCain
Monday 12/12 - Birchmere - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Thursday 12/15 - Birchmere - Carbon Leaf
Thursday 12/15 - 9:30 Club - Thievery Corporation
Sunday 12/18 - Fillmore Silver Spring - Lauryn Hill
Tuesday 12/20 - Hamilton Live - Los Lobos
Friday 12/23 - Hamilton Live - Virginia Coalition
Friday 12/23 - Fillmore Silver Spring - 80s and 90s Dance Party with DJ BIZ MARKIE!
Friday 12/30 - Hamilton Live - Old 97s * - I'll be there
Saturday 12/31 - Hamilton Live - Old 97s
Wednesday 1/4/17 - Hamilton Live - $20-25 - Cherry Poppin Daddies - WITH A DANCE FLOOR!
Thursday 1/12/17 - Echostage - Run the Jewels * - I'll be there
Friday 1/20/17 - Birchmere - Ricky Skaggs
Saturday 1/21/17 - Birchmere - Ricky Skaggs
Friday 1/27/17 - Howard Theatre - Ginuwine
Sunday 1/29/17 - Birchmere - Phil Vassar

Stations you should create this week:

1. Radical Face

Ben Cooper's haunting vocals will stay with you, and his sound provides a perfect keystone to create a station on. You won't have to add anymore seeds to this station and can just let the music wash over you.

"Welcome Home"

2. Andrew McMahon/Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness/Something Corporate/Jack's Mannequin

I'm not going to lie, I feel like "Everything in Transit" might be one of the most perfectly constructed albums of all time. It encapsulates its mood and its time perfectly. I challenge you to listen to it and not instantly be transported to the innocence of your first love and the crushing misery of your first heartbreak. Despite "Dark Blue" and "Into the Airwaves" starring on this CD, I can't let go of "La La Lie," and you shouldn't either.

"La La Lie"

Band tour to spotlight this week:

The Lumineers

There's really nothing more to say about this band than they're perfect. They are great live, they're great on an album, and even better, Kaleo is their opener! If you're ANYWHERE near them, you have to see them live!

Their sophomore album, Cleopatra, takes and builds on the amazing sound they had four years ago with their self-titled debut. It's a richer, more complex sound: they're growing into it, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next!

Check out their new single "Angela/Patience" here: Vevo

JANUARY
17            Omaha, NE                             CenturyLink Center
19            Minneapolis, MN              Target Center
20            Rosemont, IL                        Allstate Arena
21            St. Louis, MO                        Chaifetz Arena
24            Kansas City, MO                 Sprint Center
26            Grand Rapids, MI              Van Andel Arena
27            Auburn Hills, MI                 Palace of Auburn Hills
28            Columbus, OH                     Schottenstein Center
31            Cincinnati, OH                     US Bank Arena

FEBRUARY
2               New York, NY                        Madison Square Garden
28            Grand Prairie, TX               Verizon Theater

MARCH
2               Sugar Land, TX                     Smart Financial Centre
3               New Orleans, LA                UNO Lakefront Arena
8               Duluth, GA                             Infinite Energy Center
10            Indianapolis, IN                   Bankers Life Fieldhouse
11            Cleveland, OH                     Wolstein Center
14            Pittsburgh, PA                     Petersen Events Center
16            Uncasville, CT                      Mohegan Sun Arena
18            Montreal, QC                       Bell Centre
19            Quebec City, QC                 Videotron Centre
21            Ottawa, ON                           Canadian Tire Centre
22            London, ON                           Budweiser Gardens
24            Des Moines, IA                    Wells Fargo Arena
25            Milwaukee, WI                   BMO Harris Bradley Center
28            Winnipeg, MB                      MTS Centre
30            Saskatoon, SK                      SaskTel Centre
31            Edmonton, AB                      Rogers Place     

Thought of the week:

Just do what you can to put as much love as you can into the world out there. Believe me, it needs it.

'Til next time... keep on listening, keep on singing, and keep live music alive.

A night with Joshua Radin and a night with Damien Jurado, all in one week

Damien Jurado at Rock & Roll Hotel

Hi there, readers! I'm the new guy in town, Karthik. (Well, I've actually been in DC for 5 years now, but I'm the new guy in this digital town.)

I go to way too many concerts, and I'll be doing a lot of live concert recaps for you. I guess there'll be more about me in the contributors page soon enough, but for now, screw it, let's just jump right in. You can find me on twitter here, but my posting is probably 10% music, 90% hippie liberal, so your mileage may vary. (No matter what, you get one song a day from me, if nothing else.)

I'm recapping two concerts that were 3 days apart because honestly, other than the concerts, there's not much linking the worlds of Sunday, November 6th, pre-election day and Wednesday, November 9th, post-election day.

The first concert was Joshua Radin, with the opener Good Old War, playing at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA and the second was Damien Jurado, with opener Doug Keith, playing at Rock & Roll Hotel in Washington, DC.

The reason I link these two guys is that, way back in the Spring of 2001, your intrepid blogger and then-college freshman found out about this really cool music service called Pandora that was supposed to replace Napster (RIP). It was super cool - you could put in an artist (or two or more) and it would play songs based on their sound. While I first made stations based on bands, I started to create stations based on moods, and one of my favorite stations was called "Wistful Singer-Songwriters" and was just a station based on six artists (in alphabetical order): Howie Day, Damien Jurado, Greg Laswell, Matt Nathanson, Joshua Radin, and Damien Rice. One of my (obviously ex-)girlfriends referred to that station as "Music to Kill Yourself By," and while she wasn't completely wrong, I still love it and listen to it pretty often.

Getting to see two of those guys in a week was something that 17-year-old me would have thought made up an awesome week, and it's one of the few things teen me would think was awesome about old me.

The first show (Radin/GOW) started off amazingly - if you haven't seen Good Old War, put them on your list immediately. (If you've seen them, you already know what I mean.) You'll come for Dan's amazing guitar solos, but you'll stay for Keith's endearingly awkward white boy dancing. (Tim's drum fills are great, as are his backing vocals: didn't want you to think I forgot about him.)

They started energetic, and then went sappy to sing an anniversary song to two of their friends in the audience, and, honestly, I think I've found a new song in the running for "my first wedding dance" song: "Amazing Eyes," (another post for another time) which they immediately followed with the fun and catchy "Small World."

Good Old War: "Amazing Eyes"

Good Old War: "Small World"

And that was just the first half of their set! By the end of their set, I knew that I had a new band to start mainlining right into my ear holes, and while I'd suggest getting all of their music, their newest album "Broken Into Better Shape" was put out by Nettwerk and is beautifully produced if you're looking for just one to grab.

Before we move to Joshua Radin's set, here's links to his new single, "High and Low": itunes | spotify | amazon

And now, after Good Old War blew our minds, it was time for Joshua Radin to bring the mellow, and the mellow is strong with this one. It seemed that every song had to do with a girl, and every story pretty much had to do with almost breaking up, breaking up, trying to get back together, or explaining why they would never get back together... yup, story checks out. Then he went into "Winter" to close his set, and it took me back to my days of when I got all my music from Scrubs. He came out for two more songs, closing with a Bob Dylan cover ("Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"), continuing to prove the point that Bob Dylan's music is better when played by anyone other than Bob Dylan. (But damn if that Nobel Prize winner isn't an amazing poet.)

Joshua Radin: "I'd Rather Be With You"

The show was awesome overall, and after, I was able to grab a couple of albums and get them signed by Good Old War. The guys are way too nice, and we ALL need to reward them with fame and fortune, or at least with a few more listens. The Birchmere is also a unique venue, with tables and servers and semi-open seating. It's hard to describe in words, but I'd suggest going there for a show if there's someone you're 50/50 on seeing instead of skipping the venue.

Three days and a devastating presidential election later...

I'm not going to lie, I didn't sleep Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, I spent a lot of the day crying, and put in an almost 12 hour work day just to avoid thinking about things. That's part of why I forced myself to go to the Damien Jurado show with a friend, because there was no way I should have been home alone that evening, even if it was to go to a concert based on the "Music to Kill Yourself By" station.

Getting there a little early, there were maybe 25 people in the room when Doug Keith came out, but you wouldn't know it by the power he put into strumming his guitar. He came out, knowing the room was filled with those, like me, who had just had existential dread unexpectedly thrust upon them by 'Murica. He talked about how he was feeling - how we were all feeling - and then he gave us some folksy blues songs that honestly reminded me of an acoustic version of some Stevie Ray Vaughan picks, but with a voice that resembles a less-growly Springsteen. And, after 45 minutes, he jumped off stage, letting us wait for the main act.

Doug Keith: "The Lowest Low"

By then, the room had filled a little more, with probably over 150 people, but still enough that space wasn't at a premium.

Before jumping into Mr. Jurado's show, here's a link to a new single from his upcoming album of covers with Richard Swift called "Other People's Songs, Volume 1": Hello Sunshine.

Damien got up and without saying a word, jumped into a powerful ballad, and then, immediately upon finishing, started joking with the audience and putting us at ease, interjecting hilarity between each wistful song. He even brought up an audience member to be his percussion, and then after his powerful rendition of "Ohio" - which is maybe only powerful to me as someone from Ohio - he told us the story of how instead of getting into the story of the song, he just imagines himself behind a large sheet, hiding from the audience as he played. Best quip of the night: "My last name is pronounced Hu-rado like the question, but I guess I should go with Ju-rado given what happened last night."

Damien Jurado: "Ohio"

In contrast with the energy we had on Sunday, the Wednesday show was a combination of painkiller and gallows humor that was just what we needed.

Doug Keith's blues guitar just hurt so good, and I was lucky to catch him after the show to sign a vinyl for me.

In addition to thrilling teenaged me, this music has kept me level this week, and I hope you all find some good concerts! I'll do my best to keep people informed of concerts in the DC area, as well as artists you should be looking out for.

Next concert I'll be at: The Naked and Famous, Tuesday 11/15, Lincoln Theatre, Washington, DC

Til then keep on listening, keep on singing, and keep live music alive.

Joshua Radin/Good Old War upcoming dates: (Good Old War is only at the US dates, Joshua is solo acoustic in Europe)

11.11    Boulder, CO-Fox Theatre
11.13    San Francisco, CA-The Fillmore
11.24    Madrid, Spain-Galileo
11.26    Barcelona, Spain-Foyer del Liceu
11.27    Budapest, Hungary-A38
11.28    Milan, Italy-Circolo Arci Bellezza
11.30    Cardiff, Wales-Tramshed
12.1      Nottingham, UK-Glee
12.2      Brighton, UK- St. Georges
12.3      Norwich, UK-Open
12.5      Edinburgh, Scotland-Queens Hall
12.9      St. Petersburg, FL-Mix 100.7 Mistletoe Show @ Mahaffey Theater

Damien Jurado/Doug Keith upcoming dates:

11/10/16 Richmond, VA-Strange Matter
11/11/16 Durham, NC-Motorco Music Hall
11/12/16 Asheville, NC-The Mothlight
11/13/16 Charleston, SC-Pure Theatre
11/15/16 Chattanooga, TN-JJ's Bohemia
11/16/16 Birmingham, AL-Syndicate Lounge
11/17/16 Atlanta, GA-The Earl
11/18/16 Gainsville, FL-The Wooly
11/19/16 Orlando, FL-Backbooth
11/20/16 Tampa, FL-The Crowbar
12/03/16 Seattle, WA-St. Mark's Cathedral

New video from Editors

Today, British band Editors shared their new single and released a video for the song, "Life is a Fear." It's an artsy, film noir-style video in which they did a lot of cool things with light and glass. And the song is classic Editors - dark but totally danceable. Check it out!


The album, In Dream, is due out October 2nd.

In Dream Tracklisting

1.     No Harm

2.     Ocean of Night

3.     Forgiveness

4.     Salvation

5.     Life is A Fear

6.     The Law

7.     Our Love

8.     All The Kings

9.     At All Cost

10. Marching Orders

Pre-order Links

iTunes

Standard CD

Deluxe CD

Vinyl

Stream

Florence & The Machine debuts short film / double feature music video

Leave it to Florence & The Machine to release a double-feature music video / mini-movie. I'm not entirely sure I understand the plot... There's a ton of hugging! Plus some fighting, modern dancing, storming off, brief nudity (NSFW!), and running. But it's beautifully shot and you should watch it just to feast your eyes on the gorgeous Scottish countryside.

Civil Twilight announce Fall headline tour dates

Alt-rock darlings Civil Twighlight are making some noise both literally and figuratively. Their brand of dramatic, emotive rock 'n' roll continues to impress. Their new album, "Story of an Immigrant," debuted at #1 on Billboard's "Heatseeker" and "New Alternative" album charts. I must admit, so far I like just about everything they've done. Here are the dates of their upcoming tour in support of that album (pre-sale tickets available for some dates starting August 5th here):

September 23 - Austin, TX - The Parish
September 24 - San Antonio, TX - Sam’s Burger Joint
September 25 -  Dallas, TX - Dada
September 26 - Tulsa, OK - The Vanguard
September 27 - Wichita, KS - Barleycorns
September 29 - Lubbock, TX - Blue Light
September 30 - Roswell, NM - Pecos Winery
October 2 - Phoenix, AZ - Rebel
October 3 - Santa Ana, CA - The Constellation Room
October 6 - West Hollywood, CA - The Roxy Theatre
October 8 - Reno, NV - Cargo: Whitney Peak Hotel
October 9 -  Sacramento, CA - Harlow’s
October 10 - San Francisco, CA - Brick & Mortar Music Hall
October 12 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
October 13 - Seattle, WA -  The Crocodile
October 14 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret
October 15 - Spokane, WA - The Bartlett
October 20 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
November 3 - Richmond, VA - Broadberry
November 4 - Washington, DC - The Hamilton
November 5 - Albany, NY - The Hollow
November 6 - Providence, RI - Met Café
November 7 - Boston, MA - Great Scott
November 8 - Portland, ME - One Longfellow Square
November 11 - New York, NY - The Cutting Room
November 12 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
November 13 - Rochester, NY - The Montage
November 14 - Columbus, OH - A&R Bar

*Note: Edited on 7/31/15 to add dates that were announced later.

Roisin Murphy - Hairless Toys

I have loved Roisin Murphy for a while now so I'm super psyched that she has a new album, "Hairless Toys," coming out May 12th. I will say that it's a little more low key and sparse than my previous favorites by her. But there is still that hint of funk, her sultry voice, and even some gorgeous ballad-like songs. I think my favorite track is Uninvited Guest. I also can't wait to hear some of the inevitable remixes that are made from this album.

Check out the music video for the first single, Exploitation:


Tracklist:
1. Gone Fishing
2. Evil Eyes
3. Exploitation
4. Uninvited Guest
5. Exile
6. House of Glass
7. Hairless Toys (Gotta Hurt)
8. Unputdownable

alt-J - This is Yours

It is my extreme pleasure to make my first new post for this newly revived blog about alt-J's upcoming album, This is Yours, out September 22nd. From start to finish, this album is pure aural seduction. Layers upon layers of sound that build and deconstruct and crescendo and decrescendo in a tantalizing magnum opus that will have you playing the album on repeat. It's the perfect combination of dark and light, sex and tenderness, drama and simplicity, intentionality and free-flow. These Brits have made a masterpiece.

My favorite track is still the dangerously, obsessively seductive single "Every Other Freckle," but there is not a single song on the album that I dislike. And while most of the songs are a little more downtempo than the singles they released, you can't help but move with them (and if you can, you have no soul).

Friday they released two almost identical videos for "Every Other Freckle" - one with a male star and one with a female star. Check them out below (NSFW, something I learned the hard way - much like the song, the videos are incredibly sexy and a little weird).




Track list for This Is Yours:

01. Intro
02. Arrival in Nara
03. Nara
04. Every Other Freckle
05. Left Hand Free
06. Garden of England
07. Choice Kingdom
08. Hunger Of The Pine
09. Warm Foothills
10. The Gospel Of John Hurt
11. Pusher
12. Bloodflood pt.II
13. Leaving Nara
14. Lovely Day (Bonus Track)


Tour dates (many of which are already sold out!):

Europe
September 18 - Glasgow - Academy
September 19 - Manchester - Apollo
September 22 - Wolverhampton - Civic Hall
September 23 - Brighton - Centre
September 24 - London - Alexandra Palace
September 27 - Dublin - The O2 Arena
September 29 - Paris - Casino de Paris

North America
October 14 - Vancouver, BC - Orpheum Theater
October 15 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theater
October 16 - Portland, OR - Roseland Ballroom
October 20 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theater
October 21 - Pomona, CA - Fox Theater
October 24 - San Diego, CA - Soma
October 27 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex
October 28 - Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium
October 31 - Minneapolis, MN - Myth
November 02 - Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre
November 04 - Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom
November 05 - Dallas, TX - Southside Ballroom
November 06 - Houston, TX - Bayou Music Center
November 07-09 - Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Fest
November 10 - Detroit, MI - The Filllmore
November 11 - Toronto, ON - Kool Haus
November 12 - Montreal, QB - Metropolis
November 14 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theater
November 16 - New York, NY - Beacon Theater
November 18 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theater
November 19 - Washington, DC - Echostage

New Tour Dates and video: The Big Sleep

After a literal "big sleep" of several years, the Brooklyn-based duo The Big Sleep is releasing a full-length album entitled Nature Experiments. Set to be released on Frenchkiss Records this month, the album is said to be full of "restless rhythms" and "blow-out beats."

To catch a glimpse of their work, check out their video for "Valentine" by clicking here.

Below are their upcoming US an UK tour dates:

US Tour Dates

4/13 - Beat Kitchen - Chicago, IL #
4/15 - The Ballroom at the Taft Theatre - Cincinnati, OH #
4/17 - Brillobox - Pittsburgh, PA #
4/18 - The Metro Gallery - Baltimore, MD #
4/20 - Maxwell's - Hoboken, NJ #
4/22 - Middle East Downstairs - Boston, MA #

5/21 - The Studio - New York, NY *
5/23 - Rock and Roll Hotel - Washington, DC *
5/24 - Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC *
5/25 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA *
5/26 - Crowbar - Tampa, FL*
5/27 - The Plaza - Orlando, Fl*
5/29 - Bottletree - Birmingham, AL*
5/31 - Sons of Herman Hall - Dallas, TX*
6/01 - The Parish - Austin, TX*
6/02 - Free Press Summer Fest, Houston, TX*
6/04 - Lowbro Palace - El Paso, TX*
6/06 - Casbah - San Diego, CA*
6/07 - Constellation Room - Santa Ana, CA*
6/08 - Troubadour - Lost Angeles, CA*
6/09 - Bottom of the Hill - San Francisco, CA*
6/11 - Bunk Bar - Portland, OR*
6/12 - Media Club - Vancouver, BC*
6/13 - Crocodile Cafe - Seattle, WA*
6/15 - Neurolux - Boise, ID*
6/16 - Kilby Court - Salt Lake City, UT*
6/17 - Hi Dive - Denver, CO*
6/18 - Waiting Room - Omaha, NE*
6/19 - Amsterdam Hall - St. Paul, MN*

* With Maps & Atlases
# With Fang Island

UK Tour Dates

5/12 - The Hope @ The Great Escape - Brighton, UK
5/14 - Music In Beta @ The Castle - Manchester, UK
5/15 - Nice N Sleazys - Glasgow, UK
5/16 - The Barfly - London, UK
5/17 - Art Academy @ LSC - Liverpool, UK
5/18 - Fleche D'Or w/ EMA - Paris, FR
5/19 - London Calling @ Paradiso - Amsterdam

http://www.thebigsleep.net/

https://www.facebook.com/thebigsleepnyc

http://www.myspace.com/thebigsleep

https://twitter.com/#!/thebigsleepnyc

New video & Tour Dates From fun.

When I first went to check out this video, I was going CRAZY because I knew I had heard the song but not the original version, so I kept wondering if it was a cover or what. Then I realized I had heard it on Glee. To be honest I think I like the Glee version better, but it's still a good song, a fun(.) video (...get it?) and Janelle Monae (*heart*) is in it briefly. The one other weird thing: it has more likes than it has views. How does that happen, YouTube? (Tour dates after the jump)



And the Glee version, just for funsies.

02/29/2012 | Burlington, VT | Higher Ground | Buy Tickets

03/01/2012 | Pawtucket, RI | The Met Cafe | Buy Tickets

03/02/2012 | Towson, MD | The Recher Theatre | Buy Tickets

03/03/2012 | Carrboro, NC | Cats Cradle |Buy Tickets

03/07/2012 | St. Petersburg, FL | State Theatre | Buy Tickets

03/08/2012 | Orlando, FL | Beacham Theatre |Buy Tickets

03/09/2012 | Atlanta, GA | Center Stage |Buy Tickets

03/10/2012 | Birmingham, AL | WorkPlay Theatre |Buy Tickets

03/20/2012 | Houston, TX | Warehouse Live Studio |Buy Tickets

03/21/2012 | Dallas, TX | House of Blues | Buy Tickets

03/23/2012 | Tucson, AZ | Rialto Theatre | Buy Tickets

03/24/2012 | Pomona, CA | The Glass House |Buy Tickets

03/28/2012 | San Francisco, CA | The Independent | Buy Tickets

03/29/2012 | San Francisco, CA | Bottom Of The Hill |Buy Tickets

03/31/2012 | Salt Lake City, UT | In The Venue |Buy Tickets

04/03/2012 | Fort Collins, CO | Aggie Theatre |Buy Tickets

04/05/2012 | Denver, CO | Bluebird Theater |Buy Tickets

04/06/2012 | Boulder, CO | Fox Theatre & Cafe |Buy Tickets

04/09/2012 | Iowa City, IA | The Blue Moose Tap House |Buy Tickets

04/10/2012 |Omaha, NE |The Slowdown |Buy Tickets

04/11/2012 | Madison, WI | The Majestic Theatre |Buy Tickets

04/13/2012 | Minneapolis, MN | The Varsity Theater |Buy Tickets

04/14/2012 | Chicago, IL | Vic Theatre |Buy Tickets

04/15/2012 | Detroit, MI | St. Andrews Hall |Buy Tickets

04/18/2012 | Grand Rapids, MI |The Intersection |Buy Tickets

04/19/2012 |Columbus, OH | Newport Music Hall | Buy Tickets

04/20/2012 | Rochester, NY | Water Street Music Hall |Buy Tickets

04/21/2012 | Boston, MA | House of Blues | Buy Tickets

04/27/2012 | Clifton Park, NY | Northern Lights |Buy Tickets

04/28/2012 | Philadelphia, PA |Theatre of the Living Arts | Buy Tickets

05/04/2012 |Washington, DC | 9:30 Club | Buy Tickets

05/05/2012 | Charlottesville, VA | Jefferson Theater | Buy Tickets