Category Archives: Awesome

May 16, 2013 · 2:38 pm

!!! Video + Contest

chk

!!! have just released their fifth full length album THR!!!ER and are hitting the road starting today for a month long US tour. Guest vocalist Sonia Moore (of “2 Legit 2 Quit” fame) will not be joining, so the band is going to choose one fan per city to come up on stage and sing along.

Sing With Chk Contest – Note from the band:

Come on, admit it. You’ve dreamed about singing with !!!. Only a few of us have been able to live that dream but now you can too. We’re not bringing Sonia Moore, the singer from One Girl/One Boy, so we want you to come up and sing w/ us when we hit your town.

Upload a youtube video of you singing along or send an mp3 to singwithchk@gmail.com. No big deal, just you in front of the mirror singing into the hairbrush style will do. We’ll sift through the entries and holler at you if you’ve got what it takes. You’ll of course be judged on your vocal ability, but dance moves and star quality definitely help. If anything, it’s a free ticket for you and your bff for the show. No flakes, no egos, no drug problems.

Click HERE to download instrumental music and lyrics

US TOUR DATES
MAY 
16 Cambridge, MA @The Sinclair *
17 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom *
18 Washington, DC @ Black Cat *
19 Durham, NC @ Motorco *
20 Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel *
22 Atlanta, GA @ Earl %
23 Birmingham, AL @ Bottle Tree %
24 New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina’s %
25 Austin, TX @ Mohawk (Outdoor Stage) %
26 El Paso, TX @ The Lowbrow Palace %
27 Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress ^
28 Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom ^
29 San Diego, CA @ Casbah ^
30 San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw
31 Sacramento, CA @ Cesar Chavez Park

JUNE
1 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre ^
3 Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar ^
4 Vancouver, BC @ Fortune Sound Club ^
7 Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Café *
8 Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge *
9 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick *
10 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern *
11 Montreal, QC @ Le Belmont *
12 Burlington, VT @ Signal Kitchen *
13 Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall *
14 Hamden, CT @ Spaceland Ballroom
15 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *

AUGUST 
25 Los Angeles, CA @ FYF Fest
31 Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot

Support
*Sinkane
%Shockwave Riderz
^White Arrows

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May 15, 2013 · 11:35 am

Check ‘Em Out: Lucius – “Until We Get There” (The song from New Girl!)

Lucius

“… they’re something special” – The New York Times, Paul Krugman

“[Lucius’] buoyant sound calls to mind the girl groups of the ’60s… ” – Wall Street Journal

“There’s no mistaking Lucius for anyone else… ” – Rolling Stone

“luscious, leonine, ’60s-indebted indie-pop” – SPIN

Momentum continues to build for NYC’s Lucius as the band hits the road this summer making stops at several high profile US music festivals and events including the Nelsonville Music Festival, Mountain Stage, Bonnaroo, Wilco’s Solid Sound and the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival. With emotionally charged, upbeat, 60s inspired songs and a sincere crowd connection, the quintet has solidified its reputation as a must-see live band.

Fans spoke and Lucius listened. Since airing on FOX’s hit show New Girl last week, Lucius’ demo version of “Until We Get There” was uploaded to YouTube by fans and has garnered 45K+ plays. As a sneak peek to the debut album coming in the fall, Lucius is giving a stream of the track to fans (and download for email exchange) HERE.

For a taste of the band’s seductive live show, check out the “Don’t Just Sit There” live studio video among other songs from their WNYC Soundcheck appearance last month and the infamous NPR “Tiny Desk Concert”.

Lucius Tour Dates

6/1: Nelsonville, OH @ Nelsvonville Music Festival
6/2: Morgantown, WV @ Mountain Stage
6/13: Pittsburgh, PA @ Three Rivers Arts Festival (FREE)
6/14: New Albany, IN @ New Albany Bicentennial Park Concert Series (FREE)
6/15: Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo (New Music Lounge / 5.20 – 6.10pm)
6/16: Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo (Sonic Stage / 1:45-2:15pm)
6/17: Charlotte, NC @ Stage Door Theater at Blumenthal PAC
6/19: Baltimore, MD @ The Metro Gallery
6/20: Sellersville, PA @ Sellersville Theater %
6/22: North Adams, MA @ Solid Sound Festival
6/26: Lewiston, NY @ Artpark *
7/31: Toronto, ON @ Edgefest
8/7: New Haven, CT @ Bar (FREE)
8/16: Lyons, CO @ Rocky Mountain Folks Festival
8/28: Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo #
8/29: San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall

% co-headlining with Hey Marseilles
*supporting Dispatch
# Touché supports

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May 13, 2013 · 1:42 pm

Must Download: The Delta Routine – “New York Avenue”

deltaroutine

Listen/download: The Delta Routine – “New York Avenue”

“Milwaukee’s Delta Routine can rock the blues and deliver grade-A hooks just as well as any of its contemporaries. It’s no wonder they’ve been receiving plenty of accolades in their hometown”– MAGNET MAGAZINE

“Influenced by the Stooges, the Stones, Kings of Leon, the Ramones, and Robert Johnson, Milwaukee’s The Delta Routine is built upon the raw elements of guitar-driven rock. Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Nick Amadeus creates memorable hooks and quirky riffs all while paying homage to the old days of rock & roll.” - THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

“On its third full-length album, Cigarettes & Caffeine Nightmares, the band serves up 11 fat-free slices of hooky, slithery, and perfectly pitched tunes that wouldn’t be out of place in the early ’00s—or the ’70s that inspired those early ’00s. It’s an unabashedly enjoyable collection from one of Milwaukee’s most unabashedly populist bands. Cigarettes & Caffeine is a big step up from 2011’s More About You, and finds The Delta Routine up to its ears in songs exceedingly well-crafted.” – Matt Wild / THE ONION A.V.CLUB

“I won’t waste your time now,” Delta Routine frontman Nick Amadeus sings with his Liam Gallagher-esque vocals on the opening track. He’s true to his word. At 32 minutes, the album is mercifully low on fat but thrills all the same with warped organ and guitar reverb snarls on “Switchblade.” Likewise, “Around Your Neck” does its bluesy, White Stripes-like, swagger-soaked thing in less than two minutes’ time.”  – Piet Levy / JOURNAL SENTINEL

“The Delta Routine’s new single “Switchblade,” from their new album Cigarettes and Caffeine Nightmares sounds like early Oasis, but with a definite Midwest vibe.” -88NINE RADIO MILWAUKEE

“If you love a mixture of 60s rock ‘n’ roll, angsty punk and modern day indie, then The Delta Routine’s Cigarettes & Caffeine Nightmares is definitely an album you’ll love.” – SHOW ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT: UK

“Nods appreciatively at the likes of The Rolling Stones, Oasis and The Strokes whilst ensuring they don’t just sound like copycats.” – PLUG IN MUSIC

dr

THE DELTA ROUTINE TOUR DATES

6.09 – Milwaukee, WI – Locust Street Festival
6.13 – Sturgeon Bay, WI – SBSF (Steel Bridge Song Fest)
6.14 – Sturgeon Bay, WI (Steel Bridge Song Fest)
6.21 – New Buffalo, MI – Hard Rock Cafe
6.22 – Milwaukee, WI – Summer Soulstice Festival
6.26 – Milwaukee, WI – River Rhythms
6.28 – Spring Green, WI – Traders
7.05 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest
7.26 – Decorah, IA – Nordic Fest
7.27 – Bridgman, MI – Getaway
7.28 – Chicago, IL – Taste of Lincoln Avenue Festival
8.24 – Bluffington, IA – Adventure Camp Festival
8.31 – Milwaukee, WI – Harley Davidson 110th Anniversary Celebration

 

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May 9, 2013 · 10:51 am

Wack Wednesdays

Yeah, I know — I shoulda posted this yesterday…woopsies.

Anyways, The Lonely Island is coming out with a new album and they have an announcement to make. See below.

The Lonely Island, the comedic rap trio comprised of Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone, will release the highly anticipated The Wack Album on Tuesday, June 11th. The group’s third studio effort on Republic Records will include new songs featuring Pharrell Williams, T-Pain, Billie Joe Armstrong, Solange, and other special guests to be revealed. These artists join previously announced collaborators Adam Levine, Kendrick Lamar, Justin Timberlake, and Lady Gaga.

Beginning, well, yesterday – the group is kicking off “Wack Wednesdays” on their YouTube channel. Every Wednesday leading up to the release of The Wack Album, they will debut new content including music videos, exclusive announcements, and world premieres of tracks. These videos will also be distributed on twitter via @thelonelyisland with #wackwednesdays.

Here’s the first video of The Wack Wednesdays Series:

The Lonely Island recently released The Wack Album’s lead single, “YOLO” (feat. Adam Levine and Kendrick Lamar), which has garnered over 40 million views on YouTube in only three months. The trio also boasts a staggering 1.2 billion overall views on their YouTube channel. Their 2011 album Turtleneck & Chain, which debuted at #3 on Billboard, was nominated for a Grammy® in the category of “Best Comedy Album” and featured such talents as Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, Santigold, and Beck. The album’s first smash single “I Just Had Sex” (feat. Akon) was certified platinum. The second single, “The Creep” (feat. Nicki Minaj and John Waters) has over 74 million YouTube views. Additional singles, “Jack Sparrow” (feat. Michael Bolton) has 105 million views and “Threw It On The Ground” has 52 million views on YouTube.

Their 2009 debut album, Incredibad, included Emmy® winning sensation “D*** In A Box,” featuring Justin Timberlake. The album also featured the follow-up gold records “J**z In My Pants” and “Like a Boss” which have over 234 million views combined on YouTube. The Grammy® nominated third single “I’m On A Boat” (feat. T-Pain) went platinum and catapulted the album into over 430,000 copies sold making it the #1 selling comedy album in 2009 and 2010. The trio established themselves with the enormously popular series of corresponding Digital Shorts for their singles, which were frequently featured on Saturday Night Live beginning with the debut of the pop culture sensation “Lazy Sunday” in 2005.

Originally from Berkeley, California, the group splits their time between Los Angeles and New York City. To learn more about The Lonely Island, visit www.thelonelyisland.com, https://twitter.com/thelonelyisland andwww.youtube.com/thelonelyisland

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May 7, 2013 · 2:00 pm

CHAPPO Show at 6119

6119

Last night I went to see Chappo playing at a venue that I’d never been to, 6119. The name is also the address. My friend and I finally found it by the small logo on the door. “It doesn’t look open,” she said. “This is the loading door only, it says,” I explained. So, we took a stroll around the block to the other side of the building and alas, there was the entrance (though still quite hidden).

We went up some steps and there were two guys sitting there taking money and checking ID’s. I saw there was no credit card machine, so I asked, “Is this place cash only?” They said yeah, but there was an ATM upstairs. Perfect. “Is there alcohol up there?” “Yeah,” the guy laughed. Perfect. Okay, so we had enough cash to get us upstairs and then we could get more out of the ATM.

When we went upstairs, it was pretty cool. It was a long hallway with the stage at the end. We went to the bar and tried to figure out what to get to drink. The bartender described the place as a “glorified house party,” which I liked. After our first or second drinks, I noticed the ATM had no shine to it. It wasn’t plugged in. I asked our bartender friend if it was available. “It’s broken,” she said. Well, that ended our alcohol intake. Despite that, we had a really good time. One of the people working there told us that the place hasn’t been open for quite a year yet, but it’s set to shut down shop next month. Good thing we made it just in time! Someone bought the buildings on the block and so the venue will be looking for a new home.

Chappo was better than I expected. When I listened to their album, not many of the songs stuck with me, but hearing them live made me LOVE it. I also know the drummer from about 5 years ago when he played with a different band. He said that this show was a little bit different because it wasn’t really a “rock club” and there weren’t as many people as they’d had on other legs of the tour. Regardless, he assured me they’d play with the same amount of gusto. And gusto they had. Alex Chappo passed around a huge ass dreamcatcher and encouraged us to put our dreams in it, which was really cool. He also talked about stuff like ghosts and shapeshifters, which I thought was also really cool. Surprisingly, they played their hit “Come Home” three songs in. It may have surprised me, but I like the unpredictableness of it. Towards the end of the show, he asked us to stand around in a semi-circle where we all danced and clapped along.

I heard they’re working on a new album at the moment, too.

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· 1:14 pm

Video: The Maine – “Love and Drugs”

the-maine2

Phoenix, Arizona’s The Maine has released their second single entitled “Love and Drugs” off their forthcoming full­-length studio album, Forever Halloween. Check out the official lyric video below and you can find a link to download the song for free here.

On June 4th, The Maine is set to release their fourth full-­length album, Forever Halloween. The record will be released independently in the US in partnership with their management team, Eighty One Twenty Three, and will be released via Rude Records in Europe, UK, Southeast Asia, Australia and Japan. The album, produced by Brendan Benson of The Raconteurs, will be the band’s second consecutive self-­funded release following their major label departure.

In support of the new record, The Maine will embark on a US tour from June through July. They will be headlining the first ever 8123 tour and share the stage with friends A Rocket To The Moon, This Century, and Brighten. Look for The Maine’s new album Forever Halloween on June 4th. Pre­orders for the record can be found at 8123.me/TheMaine and more information can be found at wearethemaine.net.

The Maine is John O’Callaghan, Garrett Nickelsen, Pat Kirch, Kennedy Brock, and Jared Monaco.

Tour Dates:
May 19 – San Diego, CA – YouthJamz Benefit Concert
June 4 – Tempe, AZ – Tempe Marketplace (Free Album Release Show)
June 7 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues
June 8 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
June 9 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
June 11 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
June 12 – Vancouver, BC – The Rio Theater
June 14 – Calgary, AB – The Den
June 15 – Edmonton, AB – Avenue Theater
June 18 – Winnipeg, MB – Garrick
June 20 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theatre
June 21 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
June 22 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
June 23 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
June 25 – Detroit, MI – Crofoot Ballroom
June 26 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Theatre
June 27 – Montreal, QC – La Tulipe
June 28 – Portland, ME – Port City Music Hall
June 29 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
June 30 – Wilton, CT – Trackside
July 2 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
July 3 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
July 5 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony
July 6 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
July 7 – Pittsburgh, PA – Altar Bar
July 9 – Cleveland, OH – Peabody’s
July 10 – Columbus, OH – A&R Bar
July 11 – Nashville, TN – 3rd & Lindsley
July 12 – Birmingham, AL – Workplay
July 13 – Atlanta, GA – The Loft
July 14 – Jacksonville, FL – Freebird
July 16 – Orlando, FL – Beachum Theatre
July 18 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
July 19 – Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s
July 20 – Austin, TX – The Parish
July 21 – Dallas, TX – Trees
July 24 – Denver, CO – The Summit Music Hall
July 26 – Tucson, AZ – The Rock
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April 18, 2013 · 2:52 pm

Debut: Team Spirit

TEAMS

Team Spirit are thrilled to announce their US Spring tour with Peace. The Brooklyn rock band, fronted by former Passion Pit member Ayad Al Adhamy, just wrapped up select dates with The Joy Formidable. Starting April 30th, Team Spirit will be supporting UK buzz band/NME cover darlings Peace for dates across the US in support of their self-titled debut EP, which came out last week on VICE Records / Warner Bros. Records. Check out the band’s new video for “Jesus He’s Alright” below.

Click image to check out the EP on iTunes

Click image to check out the EP on iTunes

‘Team Spirit’ EP Tracklisting:
  1. Jesus He’s Alright!
  2. MRDR It’s Ok
  3. Fuck The Beach
  4. Teenage Love
  5. Phenomenon

Confirmed Tour Dates:

EP Release Party:

04.25 – Swat Bar, 59 Canal St – New York, NY 21+, $10 at the door; doors at 9pm.

With Peace:

  • 05.30 – Brick & Mortar – San Francisco, CA
  • 05.31 – Echo – Los Angeles, CA
  • 06.01 – Constellation Room – Santa Ana, CA
  • 06.03 – Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO
  • 06.05 – Turf Club – Minneapolis, MN
  • 06.06 – Schubas – Chicago, IL
  • 06.08 – Rock & Roll Hotel – Washington, DC
  • 06.10 – Johnny Brendas – Philadelphia, PA
  • 06.11 – Knitting Factory – Brooklyn, NY
  • 06.12 – Mercury Lounge – New York, NY
  • 06.13 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA

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April 3, 2013 · 1:07 pm

Download: Lance Herbstrong – “The Mother”

image

Austin trio, Lance Herbstrong,  have maintained an element of funk in their tunes and at times accented it with a bit of ghetto. They’re not ones to follow patterns either – they graft the guts from a spectrum of influences into something unexpected.

Lance Herbstrong, are back at it again, fusing Xavier Rudd’s “The Mother” in to a glitchy, dubby, backbone with a history of space travel.

With Peter Di Stefano (Porno For Pyros) on guitar and Joel Cummins of Umphrey’s McGee on Keys..

Listen/download: Lance Herbstrong – “The Mother” (Xavier Rudd x Lance Herbstrong w/ Joel Cummins of Umphrey’s McGee)

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· 12:52 pm

Check ‘Em Out: Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes

loveletter

Already breakout stars in their native Australia, Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes, who fuse a unique blend of soul, blues, doo-wop, jazz and R&B with Clairy’s powerful, soulful vocals at the forefront–have signed with the U.S. label Vanguard Records and will release their debut album Baby Caught The Bus on May 21. Their first single “Love Letter” is now #1 Most Added at Triple A Radio this week, while Baby Caught The Bus climbs to #15 Most Added. “Love Letter” also hit Amazon’s “Hot Singles: 20 Songs We’d Like to Date”.  The band will have their Tuesday, April 9th Los Angeles, CA show at The Troubadour taped for future airing on an episode of NBC TV’s “Last Call With Carson Daly.” On Thursday, April 11, they’ll perform live on Los Angeles’ KCSN “Afternoon Music Mix with Sky Daniels.” That can be heard in the greater Los Angeles area on 88.5fm or around the world online at www.kcsn.org.

Baby Caught The Bus is gaining strong praise from the media, in his album review for No Depression, Grant Britt declared, “Melbourne’s Clairy Brown & The Bangin’ Rackettes is the best stuff to come along in decades. This thing opens with a bang. ‘Love Letter’ leaps out at you like a Stax 45, blowing you back to the ‘60s through a funky time warp. Baby Caught The Bus is a treasure trove for r&b lovers, a ‘60s time capsule, a show and dance ensemble concept  that’s been away far too long. Import this one to your collection immediately for maximum satisfaction.”
The group just launched their U.S. tour at SXSW in Austin and are already blowing away U.S. audiences. In his live review for Bust Magazine at SXSW, writer Christian Detres described the group’s performance “With a peal of trumpet and a trill on a snare, Clairy Browne and her girls ginned up a stompy 60s revival that had the crowd dancing and spilling their vodka lemonades all over the floor.”
Clairy Browne & the Bangin’ Rackettes first gained international attention when “Love Letter” was featured in Heineken’s award-winning campaign The Switch and has surpassed 1 million views online!

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· 9:20 am

“My Legs Go Out Late Dancing…”

Dragonette

“…and I’ll pay for it tomorrow when I wake up!”

Bodyparts track “My Legs” is a buzzing, danceworthy cut that captures the electric energy of a wild night out on the town. The “My Legs” single will be released digitally on May 20th, and Beatport is currently hosting a remix contest for the track, which you can enter HERE through April 22nd.

Stream: Dragonette – “My Legs”

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