Category Archives: Awesome

January 23, 2013 · 2:45 pm

Newest Love: The Rubens

therubens

Warner Bros. Records is pleased to announce that it has signed Australian rock sensations The Rubens to its roster. The band – which is brothers Sam Margin (vocals/guitar), Elliott Margin (keyboards), and Zaac Margin (guitar), plus their longtime friend Scott Baldwin (drums) – hail from the tiny rural town of Menangle in New South Wales (population 327) and have been on a whirlwind journey since forming in 2011. They have gone from being total unknowns to enjoying strong support from Australia’s influential radio station Triple J and playing the main stage at one of Australia’s biggest music festivals, Splendour in the Grass, alongside Jack White and Bloc Party. The Rubens also opened for The Black Keys in New Zealand and have been selected to support Bruce Springsteen during his tour of Australia this March.

The Rubens’ self-titled debut album, which was recorded in New York City with producer David Kahne (Paul McCartney, The Strokes, Regina Spektor), has already won over a legion of fans with its rich, soulful take on blues rock. The album debuted at No. 3 on the ARIA chart and sold more than 10K its first week, shooting to No. 1 on iTunes Australia. The album’s first single, “My Gun,” as well as the album itself, has been certified gold in Australia and has spent multiple weeks at No. 1 on Triple J.

The Rubens will make their U.S. debut performing at SXSW and touring here in March. Prior to that, the band will tour the UK and Europe with Walk The Moon beginning February 20th. The band are pleased to announce their first-ever headlining shows outside of Australia as follows:

  • Feb 19        Sebright Arms London, England
  • Mar 11       Mercury Lounge New York, NY
  • Mar 20      TBC San Francisco, CA
  • Mar 21       The Hotel Cafe Los Angeles, CA

Warner Bros. Records will release The Rubens’ album on June 11th.

Leave a comment

Filed under Awesome, Check 'em Out!, listen, Newest Love, video

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , ,

January 17, 2013 · 4:56 pm

Download: Dada Life – “So Young So High” ANDYBODY Remix

cuvm_DaDaLifeSoYoungSoHighCoverDILLON_1

Following the critically acclaimed release of So Young So High – the second single to be taken from their globally celebrated 2012 album The Rules of Dada – outrageous Swedish duo DADA LIFE now announce the release of Dillon Francis’ masterful rework, OUT NOW on PM:AM Recordings.

Previewed on Dada Life’s Soundcloud just a few days ago, this pounding, bass-heavy edit from one of the hottest names on the circuit right now has clocked up a staggering 100,000 unique plays already, and is available to buy now exclusively from Beatport.

The second in a distinguished line of exquisite remixes to come from So Young So High has been released as a free download. The crunching electro-house remix from mysterious enigma ‘ANDYBODY’ has set the online world alight over the past couple of weeks as it continues to gather hefty support from fans across the world.

Next up, it’s heavyweight Dutch veteran TIËSTO with his hard-hitting interpretation, which is set to drop mid-February.

Leave a comment

Filed under Awesome, downloads

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

January 16, 2013 · 3:50 pm

Brand New: Stream Cold War Kids “Miracle Mile”

cwk

Cold War Kids are excited to announce the release of their fourth studio album, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, on April 2, 2013 via Downtown Records (and via MapleMusic Recordings in Canada). In anticipation of the release, the band is currently streaming the album’s engaging lead single, Miracle Mile.

Stream: Cold War Kids – “Miracle Mile”

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts came to life at the band’s San Pedro, CA studio space. They enlisted new guitar player, Dann Gallucci (Murder City Devils, Modest Mouse) and Lars Stalfors to produce.   “We were shaken up, ready to let certain songs go further than before by trying new styles and arrangements, while keeping others sparse and caring more about the finished product and less about how we got there,” says lead singer Nathan Willett.

The band will release trailers, from the making of their record, each week leading up to April 2nd. Trailers 1 and 2 are available now on their website. They truly encapsulate the energy that Cold War Kids bring to their live performances and it are those performances which remain the heart of the band.

Current confirmed tour dates are listed below:

  • February 15           Pappy & Harriet’s Palace – Pioneertown, CA
  • February 16           SLO Brewing Company  – San Luis Obispo, CA
  • February 21           The Observatory  – Santa Ana, CA
  • February 22           Cellar Door  – Visalia, CA
  • February 23           SOHO Music Club  – Santa Barbara, CA
  • March 8                 The Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ
  • March 9                 Tricky Falls  – El Paso, TX
  • March 11               Fitzgerald’s – Houston, TX
  • March 13               Clive Bar  – Austin, TX
  • April 3                    Gothic Theatre  – Englewood, CO
  • April 4                    Slowdown – Omaha, NB
  • April 5                    First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
  • April 6                    Metro – Chicago, IL
  • April 9                    Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH
  • April 10                  Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA
  • April 11                  9:30 Club – Washington, DC
  • April 12                  Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
  • April 13                  Webster Hall – New York, NY
  • April 15                  Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
  • April 16                  Cannery Ballroom – Nashville, TN
  • April 17                  The Masquerade –  Atlanta, GA
  • April 24                  Batacian – Paris, France
  • April 27                  Plaza – Zurich, Switzerland
  • April 29                  Flex – Vienna, Austria
  • April 30                  C-Club – Berlin, Germany
  • May 16                   Neptune Theatre – Seattle, WA
  • May 17                   Vogue Theatre  – Vancouver, BC
  • May 18                   Crystal Ballroom  – Portland, OR
  • May 23                   Regency Ballroom  – San Francisco, CA
  • May 24                   Henry Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
  • May 25                   Belly Up Tavern – Solana Beach, CA
  • May 1                     Paradiso  – Amsterdam, Holland
  • May 2                     Gebaeude 9 – Cologne, Germany
  • May 6                     Pumphuset – Copenhagen, Germany
  • May 7                     Grunspan  – Hamburg, Germany
  • May 9                     Forum – London, UK
  • May 10                   Ritz  – Manchester, UK

Leave a comment

Filed under Awesome, Band Change-ups, Highly Anticipated, listen, new albums

Tagged as , , , , , ,

December 18, 2012 · 3:52 pm

Video: Gold Fields – “Dark Again”

Lo_res_press_photo_1_1

Gold Fields’ debut album Black Sun is armed with pop hooks, tribal beats, danceable rhythms, and plenty of emotion. With a larger-than-life live show, the the Australian quintet has already shared stages with acts like Crystal Castles, Metric, Pnau and SBTRKT.

After releasing their debut EP earlier this year, the band settled down to record their first LP – a task that would take the band on a journey they never expected. Following recording sessions with Mickey Petralia (Flight of the Conchords, Ladytron, Peaches) and manager Scott Horscroft (The Presets, Sleepy Jackson, Silverchair), the band’s record came together after several weeks of recording while holed up in a singer Mark Fuller’s family garage. The result of relentless work and playful experimentation, Black Sun will be released February 26th via Astralwerks.

Single “Dark Again” is a pop gem flecked with driving guitars and bright synths, all building to a heavy-hitting chorus that’s sure to make you move. The accompanying video features mysterious scenes full of graphic symbols against a black and white backdrop and model Shaun Ross who has previously starred in videos with Katy Perry, Kanye West & Beyonce.

Hitting listeners with a power-packed punch from its first note, Black Sun opens with the infectious “Meet My Friends,” a bass and percussion-driven track with haunting vocals echoing in the background. Tracks like “Ice” with its dreamy, swirling layers and the sincere lyrics of “Happy Boy” showcase the band’s vulnerable side. The album also contains “Treehouse” and the electrically-charged “Moves,” which you can watch a live performance of, here.

Stay tuned for more from Gold Fields soon, including US tour dates!

Leave a comment

Filed under Awesome, video

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

December 17, 2012 · 12:16 pm

Video: C2C – “Happy”

Cover_Art_Tetra

C2C will unveil their first full-length album, Tetra, on February 11, 2013 via Casablanca Records. It’s preceded by the eclectic electro, jazz, blues, and dance gumbo of the invigorating track, “Happy” [featuring Derek Martin].

The phenomenal French electronic producers also recently dropped the digital EP, Down the Road, firmly planting their feet in the U.S. scene in the process. On “Happy,” these four turntable sorcerers—20Syl, Greem, Pfel, and Atom—mix a myriad of styles into a downright sizzling stew. Combining an organic swing with intricate scratching, the track bridges boundaries in a manner that electronic dance music has never seen before.

Since debuting on December 12, the music video has already racked up almost 100k views and counting. Boasting immense turntable talent and an adventurous knack for experimentation and production, this album will surely introduce the world to C2C.

This isn’t their first time around the block though. C2C initially came together in 1998, formed by the four high school friends. From 2003-2006, they conquered the DMC Championship, winning four times in a row and garnering a rabid worldwide fan base. However, 2006 marked the beginning of a four-year break for other projects, Hocus Pocus and Beat Torrent, before these four musicians would reform. Now, C2C have returned, and they have their sights set on dance floor domination uniquely mixing live instrumentation and turntable fireworks.

C2C is not yet (see: yet) a household name in the US for electronic and urban music enthusiasts, but the three-letter name is synonymous in the world of “turntablism,” a highly technical yet intensely musical discipline, with performers using turntables as a bona fide musical instrument.

Leave a comment

Filed under Awesome, Check 'em Out!, new albums, video

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

December 12, 2012 · 12:04 pm

Newest Love: Caught a Ghost

Caught a Ghost is a new project from LA-based songwriter and producer Jesse Nolan, features a classic Motown and Stax sensibility mixed with modern samples, synths and beats. In its live incarnation, Caught A Ghost features an 8-piece band including a 3-piece horn section and visual projections tailor-made for each song.

Jesse describes the name of his band as referring to the sensation of being filled with the spirit of the past. “It’s an old expression” he says, “musicians used to say you caught a ghost if you gave a good performance. Like you were possessed.” It is this sort reverence for the music of bygone eras combined with his musical dexterity that makes Caught A Ghost so intriguing.

On and off the stage, Caught A Ghost is quickly gaining new fans. “Connected” recently premiered on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and My Old Kentucky Blog. “Time Go” was featured on the NBC show SUITS and by Paste Magazine. And “Hold Out” was praised by Rolling Stone and it’s music video by NYLON.

Nightworks, the debut EP from Caught A Ghost, will be released via +1 Records on February 12th, 2013.

Listen: Caught a Ghost – “Time Go”

Listen: Caught a Ghost – “Connected”

Leave a comment

Filed under Awesome, Check 'em Out!, Highly Anticipated, listen, Newest Love, video

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

November 21, 2012 · 3:35 pm

Newest Love: Conquistador – “With a Love Like That”

“Conquistador slays the stage…mad lights…Love Boat disco beats, Zappa-flaired psychedelia and Bowie glam rock… Let Conquistador conquer your heart.” –Los Angeles Weekly

“Edwardian Ziggy Stardust goes to Transylvania,”–Los Angeles Times

“An amalgam of Bowie, Queen, synth-pop, disco, psych… -and the introspection of a sensitive oddball who’s been told many times he doesn’t fit in, but is actually more normal than most people.”-BLURT magazine

The site of Conquistador has an immediate impact. A staple of red carpets, festivals, and Los Angeles nightlife – Conquistador has been sparking interest worldwide and leaving “Who is THAT?!” on everyone’s lips. Conquistador is an LA based musician and artist. A champion of true freedom, his work champions individualism and is defiantly eccentric. His presence alone has a transformative effect on any space. His signature look consists of cat suits, a Ushanka Russian hat, and most notably his award winning moustache which made him the first American, first Jew, as well as the youngest competitor in history to win the title of “World Imperial Moustache Champion” at the World Beard and Mustache Championships, held in Brighton, England in 2007.

Conquistador’s playful and daring image is just one facet of his work; his music exhibits the same freedom, abandon, and rebelliousness. Conquistador grabbed national attention this fall when he unwittingly became one of the highlights of MTV’s 2012 VMAs and caused a sensation on the red carpet. The infectious spirit in his music and performance art has lead to Madness and the Afghan Whigs inviting him onstage at festival performances. The image and music have always been inseparable for Conquistador. He grew up with Sparks as neighbors and was inspired to wear lycra catsuits by Todd Rundgren and Alice Cooper. The glitter movement inspired him to be exactly who he wants to be at all times and Conquistador is paying the inspiration forward. He has already won a pair of Latin GRAMMY nominations for his co-writing with Kinky.

Conquistador may have the most recognizable moustache in Los Angeles. It’s landed him in the LA Times and tabloids on countless occasions. He has been able to use his moustache for humanitarian work and is a supporter of Movember, an international charity event where men are encouraged to grow a moustache for the month of November to raise awareness and money for prostate cancer research. He has recently traveled to Australia and New Zealand to promote the event.

Stream: Conquistador – “With a Love Like That”

Leave a comment

Filed under Awesome, listen, Newest Love

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

November 20, 2012 · 3:58 pm

ON AN ON – “The Hunter”

Click to listen to “The Hunter” from ON AN ON

ON AN ON have just released “The Hunter” – the second song from their forthcoming debut album Give In, out January 29th via Roll Call Records. “The Hunter” comes on the heals of their incredibly well-received debut single “Ghosts,” which Nylon gushed over as “dream-washed synth-pop that never gets too sweet,” and Consequence of Sound described as “haunted yet exquisitely exposed.” Music lovers seemed to agree, having streamed the song on SoundCloud over 140,000 times in under 5 weeks; an incredibly encouraging phenomenon for a brand new artist’s first introduction to the world.

Buy: ON AN ON – “The Hunter” at iTunes

The Chicago/Minneapolis based trio that make up ON AN ON (Nate Eiesland, Alissa Ricci, and Ryne Estwing) have played music with one another in various capacities for the better part of a decade before collaborating together as a trio. The culmination of a long and precarious, but ultimately rewarding journey, Give In was recorded with producer Dave Newfeld, known for his work on Broken Social Scene’s seminal album You Forgot It In People as well as records from Super Furry Animals and Los Campesinos.

Listen: ON AN ON – “Ghosts” (YACHT Remix)

ON AN ON close out 2012 with a string of dates across the Midwest. Full details can be found below. National 2013 tour dates in support of Give In to be announced soon.

UPCOMING TOUR DATES:

NOVEMBER 30 – Madison, WI @ The Sett

DECEMBER 01 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall (w/ Walk The Moon)

DECEMBER 02 – Champaign, IL @ The Velvet Elvis

DECEMBER 03 – East Lansing, MI @ The Loft (w/ Walk The Moon)

DECEMBER 14 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas

DECEMBER 15 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry

Leave a comment

Filed under Awesome, listen, new albums, Shows, video

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

November 19, 2012 · 2:47 pm

Download: Vitalic – “Rave Age Minimix”

Techno maverick, Vitalic, released his eagerly anticipated album, Rave Age, last week via [PIAS] America.  The French producer’s third album takes the laser-guided disco for which he’s known to an altogether wilder but no less euphoric place.  This is a savage and carefree statement from a dancefloor visionary who’s spent the last decade redefining electronic music in his own particular fashion and has decided, as only he can, to keep things simple. In celebration, he has released the Rave Age minimix for free download.

Mixed by legendary production wizard, Stephane Alf Briat, known for his work with Air and Phoenix, Rave Age is a ballsy, firecracker of an album that showcases not just a passion for big room, electro smashers and electronica, but a broad set of influences that stretch from punk and film soundtracks to disco and indie dance.

Vitalic grabbed the international spotlight in 2001 with his now classic debut, the Poney EP. The record’s instant and enduring appeal saw Pascal aligned with Daft Punk and Aphex Twin as a singular producer capable of shaping the future of electronic music and is arguably the first techno record of the last decade. He has released many essential records since then including the blistering euphoria of “La Rock 01” and “You Prefer Cocaine”. Vitalic is also known for his searing live show.

Listen/download: Vitalic – “Rave Age Minimix”

Rave Age Tracklisting:
1 – Rave Kids Go
2 – Stamina
3 – Fade Away
4 – Vigipirate
5 – Under Your Sun
6 – No More Sleep
7 – Nexus
8 – The March of Skabah
9 – Lucky Star
10 – La Mort Sur Le Dancefloor
11 – Next I’m Ready

Leave a comment

Filed under Awesome, downloads, listen

Tagged as , , , , ,

November 16, 2012 · 12:23 pm

NEW! The Dandy Warhols – “Autumn Carnival”

The Dandy Warhols have released their latest single, “The Autumn Carnival,” and I think it’s pretty great. The video was directed by Thomas Rhazi and produced by Wanda, shot in Blackpool, England, and stars young Owen Salthouse as “The Boy.”

“The Autumn Carnival” is taken from their latest album, This Machine, and was written by Courtney Taylor-Taylor with David J from Bauhaus/Love & Rockets. Says Court: “The song came from David J and I discussing Something Wicked This Way Comes. The theme here is how, as we age, our view of youth and our feelings regarding what it means become paper thin and almost totally unrealistic.”

Leave a comment

Filed under Awesome, Highly Anticipated, listen, video, Whoa!

Tagged as , , , , , , ,