Meet Mary Jane Smith and Victor Alexander Thell. Also known as Smith & Thell for short.
Some time ago they met and fell completely head over heels in love with each other’s musical urge, ambition, vision and passion for the art. After joining forces the outcome of their musical marriage has taken many turns and looked and sounded very different and members of the collective have come and gone. At a certain point Mary and Victor decided to replace them all with machines and somewhere in this electro acoustic landscape inspired by strong influences such as Björk, Chemical Brothers and Bat For Lashes they´ve managed to give birth to something we like to call unique and very promising.
Category Archives: Awesome
Video: Smith & Thell – “Kill It With Love”
Filed under Awesome, Check 'em Out!, listen, video
Newest Love: “One Day/Reckoning Song” (Wankelmut Remix)
Check out this catchy little remix of Asaf Avidan & the Mojos’ song “One Day/Reckoning Song” by Wankelmut.
Then, check out Part 2 of the video if ya fancy.
I’m addicted!
Listen: Moullinex – “Take My Pain Away” (Gigamesh Remix)
Click to go listen and dance to Gigamesh’s remix of “Take My Pain Away”
Gigamesh’s funked up remix of Moullinex’s ‘Take My Pain Away’ is available for preview and will be released October 12th on Gomma Records.
A staple producer for nu disco fans, Gigamesh is known for combining sounds of the future and synth grooves that ultimately result in the catchiest songs on the dance floor. Most recently, recieiving praise for his rework of Junior Byron’s “Dance To The Music“.
Strange Talk – “Cast Away”
Melbourne’s four-piece Strange Talk return to the fray with a new single, “Cast Away”, the first offering from their debut album due out in early 2013.
A laid-back cavalcade of synth washes, toms, layered vocals and organic instrumentation, “Cast Away” perfectly showcases Strange Talk’s ambitions to bring together futuristic soundscapes with hook-laden direct songs.
Key songwriters and producers, Steve Docker and Gerard Sidhu’s influences (the pomp and clout of Queen, the dream haze of M83) are as diverse as their backgrounds (Steve a classical violinist, Gerard a club DJ).
Strange Talk have already commanded airwaves and online with their previous singles “Climbing Walls”, “Eskimo Boy” and “Sexual Lifestyle”. They’ve followed this up with key performances at the likes of Falls Festival, Parklife and supports slots for the likes of Kele, Marina & The Diamonds, Foster The People, The Rapture, and Art Vs. Science.
STRANGE TALK USA DATES:
THU 10/11 – SAN FRANCISCO @ RICKSHAW STOP w/ Violens (tix Rickshaw Stop)
FRI 10/12 – LOS ANGELES @ ECHO w/ wildcat! wildcat! (tix Echo)
WED 10/17 – NEW YORK @ Mercury Lounge (CMJ) (tix Mercury Lounge)
THU 10/18 NEW YORK @ TBD (CMJ)
FRI 10/19 – NEW YORK @ Terminal 5 w/ The Presets (CMJ) (tix Terminal 5)
SAT 10/20 NEW YORK @ TBD (CMJ)
Filed under Awesome, Highly Anticipated, listen, Shows, video
Bad Books – “Forest Whitaker”
Bad Books, the collaboration between Kevin Devine and Manchester Orchestra, will release their sophomore album II on October 9 via Triple Crown Records and Favorite Gentleman. This October the band will hit the road for tour dates across the US, with stops in Seattle, Los Angeles, and a performance at Austin City Limits.
Early enthusiasm for II and lead single “Forest Whitaker” continue, as the song charts at the #2 spot on Commercial Specialty Radio and enjoys heavy airplay on Sirius XM’s Alt Nation. Last week Bad Books launched the music video for their single, which highlights a number of movie scenes from legendary actor Forest Whitaker’s extensive career.
II was recorded at Favorite Gentlemen Studios in Atlanta, GA and was produced by Devine, Manchester Orchestra’s lead singer Andy Hull, and Bad Books/Manchester Orchestra guitarist Robert McDowell. Rob Schnapf (well known for his work on Elliott Smith’s seminal recordings XO and Either/Or) leant his talent to mixing the album. II expands upon the band’s well-received self-titled debut, which won praise for the unique “union of opposites” in Hull and Devine’s songwriting explored on NPR’s All Things Considered. Alternative Press praised the dynamic as well, writing “the thing both Hull and Devine are famous for is the ability to write great songs,” going on to say that “when the two styles meet, it’s especially rewarding.”
BAD BOOKS UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
- Oct 6 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
- Oct 7 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
- Oct 9 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
- Oct 10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
- Oct 11 – San Diego, CA @ The Irenic
- Oct 12 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
- Oct 14 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Music Festival
- Oct 16 – New Orleans, LA @ Parish @ House of Blues
- Oct 17 – Birmingham, AL @ Zydeco
- Oct 18 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
- Oct 19 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade – Hell Stage
Filed under Awesome, Check 'em Out!, listen, new albums, Shows, video
MIXTAPE: Bassnectar’s European Vacation!
The California-based DJ, producer and virtuosic maestro of all things bassy, and the man who has singlehandedly sold more hard concert tickets in North America than any other EDM artist this year (Deadmau5, Guetta, Skrillex, Avicii, Tiesto…the lot!) – is about to set off on his most gargantuan European tour yet!
Aptly christened “Bassnectar’s European Vacation” the original long-haired, dubbed-up superstar will play a total of 13 shows throughout Europe this summer, taking on a mixture of mammoth club gigs and eye-watering festival stages. Watch the official tour video below:
In preparation for the colossal occasion he’s also now decided to share a tasty, eclectic, bass-driven MIXTAPE.
Download: Bassnectar’s European Vacation Mix
“These are a few insane bangers which I decided to compile for my month long summer vacation in Europe. We will be hitting 13 shows (festivals & clubs) and this is a selection of dirty music which I hope you enjoy when you find yourself in a high-speed chase, or tightrope-walking between skyscrapers in a windy metropolis, or sumo-wrestling someone much larger than you…” – Bassnectar
Enjoy!
Got Milkman?
Back in May, I posted about Milkman and some ‘dope dancin’ downloads’ to grab. Now, The Los Angeles-based producer has served up another summer track in anticipation of his performance at Jay Z’s Made In America Festivalon September 2nd. See below to go check out “Neon Eyes.”
Emerging from the burgeoning mash-up scene of a few years ago Milkman has become one of the premiere up and coming electro / progressive house artists in the country with his most recent EP Fragments reaching #2 on the iTunes electronic chart in it’s first week of release.
Stream: Milkman – “Neon Eyes”
Stream/Download: Best of 2012 (Thus Far) Milkman Megamix
Filed under Awesome, downloads, Newest Love, Whoa!
Download: Eyes Lips Eyes – “Tickle”
Last month I posted about my newest love, Eyes Lips Eyes. Now, they’ve partnered with music aggregation site We Are Hunted to launch a free download of their hit-song “Tickle.” The song is the lead track from their forthcoming EP What You Want (If You Want) due out August 21 via Roll Call Records/ILG. The newcomers have already earned praise from MTV, who declares it “A wild indie rock dance party…It’s kinda nice to hear an indie act that trades in too-cool-for-school seriousness for hand claps and a sick bass line.”
This Fall, Eyes Lips Eyes will crisscross the nation on an extensive tour that includes stops in Los Angeles, Austin, New Orleans, Atlanta, New York and Boston. See below for details!
EYES LIPS EYES TOUR DATES:
- 08/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Bar
- 08/14 – Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar
- 09/06 – Provo, UT @ Velour
- 09/08 – Logan, UT @ The Big Agg: Utah State University
- 10/03 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Bar
- 10/04 – San Diego, CA @ The Griffin
- 10/09 – El Paso, TX @ Lowbrow Palace
- 10/10 – Austin, TX @ Gypsy Lounge
- 10/11 – Denton, TX @ Dan’s Silver Leaf
- 10/12 – Houston, TX @ Walter’s
- 10/13 – New Orleans, LA @ Howlin’ Wolf
- 10/14 – Mobile, AL @ Alabama Music Box
- 10/16 – Tallahassee, FL @ Retrofit Records
- 10/17 – Jacksonville, FL @ Burro Bar
- 10/18 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Respectable Street
- 10/19 – Miami, FL @ Bardot
- 10/20 – Orlando, FL @ The Social
- 10/21 – Tampa, FL @ New World Brewery
- 10/23 – Greensville, SC @ Radio Room
- 10/24 – Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre Rooftop
- 10/25 – Atlanta, GA @ The EARL (with Poor Moon)
- 10/27 – Pawley’s Island, SC @ Islander
- 10/28 – Wilmington, NC @ The Whiskey
- 10/29 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Box
- 10/31 – Annapolis, MD @ Metropolitan
- 11/01 – New York, NY @ Pianos
- 11/02 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall 11/03 – Brooklyn, NY @ Cameo Gallery
Related articles
- Newest Love: Eyes Lips Eyes (musicallyamusing.com)
Filed under Awesome, Check 'em Out!, downloads, listen, Newest Love
Interview: The Royal Concept
Check out this interview with Swedish band The Royal Concept, who released their self-titled EP in June via Lava/Universal Republic and has a full-length album due out in October. They’re also touring in October and November with Wolf Gang.
MA: What song is the most played on your iPods?
TRC: Up until yesterday we all thought Jimi Hendrix was the god of rock guitar but then we saw St Vincent and now her song Cruel is constantly on our iPods.
MA: What chore do you hate the most?
TRC: Sneaking our guitars on board planes as carry on luggage.
MA: Are you attending any festivals soon? (Whether performing or just going to hang out)
TRC: We’re at one now actually! Europe’s best festival: Way Out West in a beautiful park in Gothenburg, Sweden. We’re actually playing ourselves. It’s a small independent festival with some other bands including, Kraftwerk, Black Keys, Blur, Bon Iver.
MA: If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
TRC: In the small and beautiful mountain village in Croatia called Groznjan. Filip is born in that neighbourhood and its the most inspiring place on Earth.
MA: Do you ever read any music blogs? If so, how do you pick which ones?
TRC: Our relationship with music blogs is random. It can lead anywhere. From big blogs to the tiniest ones. We have the blogs to thank for our success so far.
MA: What’s your favorite music media outlet? (TV, radio, shows, magazines, etc. and which ones?)
TRC: Is internet an option? Other than that old radios, vintage magazines, Spotify and all kinds of app’s. We almost never watch TV, honestly.
MA: What’s the first concert you went to?
TRC: David saw Joe Zawinul, the father of synthesizers, when he was really young and he’s still talking about that show. So that’s gotta be the one. Zawinuls band Weather Report is a huge inspiration for us when it comes to sounds, so please check that out if you haven’t heard it before.
MA: Oddest food combination that you love? (Everyone has one!)
TRC: Yellow pea soup, mustard, pork, dried Thyme and Arrak Punch – believe it or not this is a Swedish speciality that you eat on Thursdays.
MA: Do you believe in past lives? If so, what do you think your life was like before this?
TRC: 50 % of the band believes and 50 % only hopes. But as we don’t remember any past life, we probably won’t remember this life in a next life, so whats the point really. Let’s say we were Marilyn Monroe , Greta Garbo, Grace Kelly and Rita Hayworth then, that would explain a few things.
MA: What’s going to be your next big purchase?
TRC: A Jaguar probably, gotta get that real quick. And we also need some strings and band aid for the road, so we’re saving for that first.
The Royal Concept and Wolf Gang Tour Dates:
OCTOBER
1 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
2 San Diego, CA Casbah
6 Portland, OR Doug Fir
7 Seattle, WA Crocodile
10 Salt Lake City, UT Urban
11 Denver, CO Hi Dive
12 Colorado Springs, CO Black Sheep
14 Kansas City, MO Record Bar
15 Minneapolis, MN Varsity
16 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
18 St. Louis, MO Blueberry Hill
20 Columbus, OH A & R
22 Toronto, ON Wrong Bar
24 Providence, RI Met Café
25 Boston, MA Brighton Hall
27 Washington, DC U Street
28 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
29 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
30 Brooklyn, NY Cameo
NOVEMBER
1 New York, NY Santos Party House
3 Charlotte, NC Stage Door
4 Atlanta, GA Vinyl
5 Birmingham, AL Workplay
7 Houston, TX Fitzgeralds
8 Dallas, TX Trees
9 Austin, TX Parish
Related articles
- Free Download: The Royal Concepts – “Naked & Dumb” (musicallyamusing.com)
Filed under Awesome, Interviews, Shows, video
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