Check out this super cool video from Krista, which starts out at a basement party and moves on to different spots throughout Brooklyn. Krista is a Sunset Park, Brooklyn native who opened for Kelly Clarkson‘s Summer Tour 2009. She’s signed on with J Records (RCA)/Vel Records and now playing on radios across the country. Krista melds the aggressive, melodic and powerful elements of rock and pop with the rap she was so influenced by growing up. The chorus of “Hypnotized” reminds me of Robyn. This song is really fun; the kind that gets stuck in your head but your mood actually gets better because of it.
Category Archives: Check ’em Out!
Free Download: Teleprompter – “Banshee”
“the sweat-soaked energetic feel of acts like Death From Above 1979, Les Savy Fav and early Rapture. Makes me wanna angry-dance.” –Dan Buhagiar, triple j
Teleprompter merges angular post-punk with indie rock elements, resulting in an enigmatic, no-holds-barred sound that is a departure from conventional classification. The first single from this EP is “Banshee”, produced by Yama Indra (G.L.O.V.E.S/Damn Arms). “Banshee,” as the name suggests, is a frenzied indie-punk tune with melodic vocals and catchy guitar work.
Download: Teleprompter – “Banshee”
Melbourne, VIC | June 4 @ Cherry Bar
Sydney, NSW | June 9 @ Good God Small Club
Newcastle, NSW | June 10 @ Great Northern
Gold Coast, QLD | June 26 @ Elsewhere
Brisbane, QLD | July 2 – Warehouse Show (click here for exclusive details & tickets)
Adelaide, SA | July 23 @ Ed Castle
Filed under Check 'em Out!, downloads, Shows
Newest Love: Caveman
Gino DePinto, AOL
Caveman is pleased to announce the digital release of their debut album CoCo Beware on September 13th, followed by the physical CD and vinyl release on November 15th. Exploding out of the New York scene over the last few months, the band has decided to get this “hot off the presses” album out as soon as possible via a digital self-release. The fans wanted it, so the fans get it — a straight-ahead ethos for a band that’s about the music FIRST.
In honor of the New York five-piece’s first release, the band has made “Old Friend” available as a free download, premiering the track with Fader Magazine this morning. Recorded and produced by Nick Stumpf (French Kicks), CoCo Beware showcases the dreamy chamber pop and multi-part harmonies that have been turning heads at the band’s live shows for the better part of a year. Leading up to the release of their debut, Caveman will also be heading out on tour with The War On Drugs, hitting the east coast, midwest and Canada before returning to New York to celebrate their album release at the Mercury Lounge on Thursday, September 15th.
Listen/download: Caveman – “Old Friend”
For Caveman, the last year and half have been a whirlwind. Formed in New York back in January of 2010, the band has gone from relative unknowns to opening for Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, White Rabbits, Here We Go Magic, Cursive, Wye Oak and Yuck in a little under a year. Listening to CoCo Beware, it’s easy to see why the band has garnered so much attention in such a short period of time. Caveman’s lush four-part harmonies, spaced-out guitars, and inventive percussion come together perfectly on the tracks “Easy Water” and “My Room.”
To get a further taste of the album, watch the quintet perform their tracks “Vampirer/Old Friend” at the Fader Fort HERE. Also, in a more public setting, Caveman run through “Decide” on FADER.tv HERE. And you can see a live version of “Easy Water” on IFC HERE.
Upcoming Caveman dates:
* w/ The War On Drugs
08/06 – Montauk, NY @ The Surf Lodge
08/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s *
08/19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Cameo *
08/21 – Allston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall *
08/22 – Burlington, VT @ Monkey Bar
08/23 – Montreal, CAN @ Casa del Popolo *
08/24 – Toronto, CAN @ Drake Hotel *
08/25 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig *
08/26 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern *
08/27 – Milwaukee, WI @ Club Garibaldi *
08/28 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry *
08/30 – St. Louis, MO @ The Biliken Club *
08/31 – Lexington-Fayette, KY @ Cosmic Charlie’s *
09/01 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe *
09/02 – Washington, DC @ The Red Place *
09/15 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge (Album Release)
* w/ The War On Drugs
08/06 – Montauk, NY @ The Surf Lodge
08/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s *
08/19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Cameo *
08/21 – Allston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall *
08/22 – Burlington, VT @ Monkey Bar
08/23 – Montreal, CAN @ Casa del Popolo *
08/24 – Toronto, CAN @ Drake Hotel *
08/25 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig *
08/26 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern *
08/27 – Milwaukee, WI @ Club Garibaldi *
08/28 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry *
08/30 – St. Louis, MO @ The Biliken Club *
08/31 – Lexington-Fayette, KY @ Cosmic Charlie’s *
09/01 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe *
09/02 – Washington, DC @ The Red Place *
09/15 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge (Album Release)
Filed under Check 'em Out!, downloads, Highly Anticipated, listen, Newest Love, Shows
Video: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – “Simple Girl”
Check out this unofficial video a fan made for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.’s song “Simple Girl.”
Upcoming Dates:
June, 25 – St. Andrews Hall – Detroit, MI
Aug, 05-07 – Lollapalooza – Chicago, IL
Sept, 16-18 – Austin City Limits – Austin, TX
Sept, 23-24 – Popped! – Philadelphia, PA
“one of the best debuts of the year” – Filter
“It’s A Corporate World is a refreshing full-length debut that would serve well on any
summer playlist.” – American Songwriter
“From the first hazy notes of album opener “Morning Thought” through to the bittersweet psych-dirge of “The Fisherman,” It’s a Corporate World seems custom-tailored to soundtrack the summer.” – ELLE
Filed under Check 'em Out!, Events, Shows, video
Check ‘Em Out: White Wives (Pittsburgh Natives!)
In anticipation of their forthcoming debut LP Happeners, due June 28 on Adeline Records, White Wives have premiered “Indian Summer, Indian Summer” on their website. Their tour kicks off tomorrow with their record release party here in their hometown of Pittsburgh!
This quartet brings together Western Pennsylvanian natives Anti-Flag’s Chris “#2” Barker and Chris Head, Roger Harvey of Dandelion Snow and Tyler Kweder of American Armada. While they share a hometown, they have as many creative and ideological similarities as they do differences. “I think our varying influences are what helps create the sound and aesthetic of White Wives,” offers “2”. “I grew up listening to a lot of music from the mid nineties: Nirvana, Pixies.” Harvey, on the other hand, cites traditional literary songwriters: “Neil Young, Townes Van Zandt, Gram Parsons. Of course Dylan and Woody Guthrie.” The diversity of inspiration speaks volumes about their creative origins, and serves as a reminder to set pre-conceived notions aside and allow the music to be the voice. The collection of 11 tracks range from high-gain electric rock n’ roll, to punk/indie rock, to carefully orchestrated acoustic songs.
White Wives is not, nor was ever intended as a side project. “I think that anyone who goes into listening to our record believing that it is an Anti-Flag ‘side project’ is going to be surprised and to be honest, perhaps a bit shocked,” affirms #2. The band will tour in support of the release, beginning in June, alongside quintet Touche Amore and Balance & Composure. They promise to bring a raucous live show – the stage is left in disarray after every set.
Happeners Track List
1. Indian Summer, Indian Summer
2. Sky Started Crying
3. Hungry Ghosts
4. Spinning Wheels
5. Paper Chaser
6. Another City For A New Weekend
7. Hallelujah, I’m Mourning
8. Grow So Wild & Free
9. The Devil’s Alibi
10. Let It Go
11. Like A Runaway Slave
WHITE WIVES TOUR DATES
June 24 – Pittsburgh, PA – 222 Ormsby/record release show*
June 26 – Altoona, PA – The Archway Center
June 27 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
June 28 – Toledo, OH – Frankies
June 29 – Grand Rapids, MI – Pyramid Scheme
June 30 – DeKalb, IL – House Café
July 1 – Des Moines, IA – Vaudeville Mews
July 2 – Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
July 3 – Milwaukee, WI – The Project Lodge
July 5 – Toronto, ON, CANADA – The Horseshoe Tavern*
July 6 – Ottawa, ON, CANADA – Mavericks
July 7 – Quebec City, QC, CANADA – Café L’ Agitee
July 8 – Montreal, QC, CANADA – Divan Orange^
July 9 – Albany, NY – TBA^
July 10 – Brooklyn, NY – The Party Expo^
* without Touche Amore
^ White Wives only
Pre-Order Happeners
Filed under Check 'em Out!, listen, new albums, Shows
The Shivers: “Love Is In The Air”
Queens, NY band The Shivers have released their newest album, More.
More, runs the gamut of American rock ’n’ roll, delving into everything from gritty Lou-Reed-inspired rock to the swaggering soul of Nina Simone. “Love Is In The Air” comes in about halfway through the album, and kind of serves as the record’s anchor; a slow, swaggering summer jam.
Listen/Download: The Shivers – “Love Is In The Air”
Listen/Download: The Shivers – “Used To Be”
Filed under Check 'em Out!, downloads
Newest Love: The Japanese Popstars
New album Controlling Your Allegiance out June 21
The Japanese Popstars – Gary Curran, Declan ‘Decky Hedrock’ McLaughlin and Gareth Donoghue – may have been together for just four years, but they’ve carved out a reputation to rival the biggest names in dance music as a must-see live act and purveyor of raucous, foot-stomping, energetic electronic dance music. In the two years since their debut album We Just Are dropped on Gung-Ho! (UK), they have played major market dates in the U.S. including Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Electric Daisy Carnival in LA, played in Australia, across Europe and, of course Japan – a place that’s especially taken them to their hearts.
The band has also made a name for themselves as sought after remixers, having notched up their own inimitable re-rubs for luminaries such as Beyonce, Depeche Mode, Gorillaz and Kylie Minogue. In keeping with this proud tradition, The Japanese Popstars were also featured in the Tron Remix album, Tron: Legacy Reconfigured with their take on Daft Punk‘s Arena.
But it’s Controlling Your Allegiance, that’s the real leap forward as this is The Japanese Popstars first use of vocalists on an album. And they didn’t pick just any old session singers either… Wonder why the track “Take Forever” sounds like The Cure? That’s because the trio has enlisted collaborations from top notch artists such as Robert Smith (The Cure), Lisa Hannigan, Jon Spencer (of Blues Explosion), Tom Smith (The Editors), Green Velvet, Morgan Kibby, M83 and Ireland’s James Vincent McMorrow.
I’m not sure what this video is really about…and I’m not sure what that creature is. All I know is that I felt bad for it while watching…it sort of made me sad. Quite an odd video.
Anyhow, you’ll like them if you’re a fan of Depeche Mode and Gorillaz.
Related articles
Filed under Check 'em Out!, Newest Love, video
Check ‘Em Out: Millions
Click image to listen/download single "Those Girls"
Newcoming band, Millions, have only been playing for about six months, but already they’ve supported some awesome up and coming acts such as Bleeding Knees Club, Gold Fields, The Belligerents and Velociraptor. Members are Dominic Haddad (Moonfleet), Campbell Smith (Comic Sans), James Wright (Stature::Statue, Young Men Dead, Gung Ho) and Steve Kempnich (Goldentones).
Listen and download (in exchange for an email addy) their first single, “Those Girls” right here.
13th May – GOLD COAST: GRAVES @ Elsewhere W/ Velociraptor, Pirates Alive
27th May – SYDNEY: MUM @ World Bar W/ Myth and Tropics, The New Brutalists, Bird & Prey
2nd June – GOLD COAST: SKY PARLOUR @ Elsewhere (Headline Show)
10th June – MELBOURNE: PURPLE SNEAKERS @ Miss Libertine W/ BENI
24th June – BRISBANE: Woodland (Headline Show)
Filed under Check 'em Out!, downloads
Check ‘Em Out: Strange Talk
The Australian band Strange Talk has been climbing the Hype Machine charts lately with “Climbing Walls”. They now released a video for their other signature track “Eskimo Boy” of their Strange Talk EP, which was released on Neon Gold on May 2nd.
The video for “Eskimo Boy” was first premiered by UK’s Dazed & Confused.
Download: “Eskimo Boy” (Lightwaves Remix)
Download: “Eskimo Boy” (Vanguard Remix)
The last few months have seen Strange Talk flex their musical muscle as a live act, honing their show opening for the likes of The Rapture, Neon Indian and Marina and The Diamonds. Coming off like the perfect hybrid of Friendly Fires and Phoenix with a bit of that Down Under electro touch thrown in for good measure, Strange Talk are one of the most polished and exciting new acts to emerge. Fully equipped with an arsenal of stadium-ready anthems, “Climbing Walls” is all shimmering synths, cascading bass surges and expert delay pedal use, while next single “Eskimo Boy” shines as the bands flagship anthem, churning synths and heavy basslines slowly building up to the kind of dancefloor-swallowing breakdown Neon Gold dreams are made of.
The Strange Talk EP is available for HERE from the Neon Gold website.
Related articles
- Newest Love: Strange Talk (+ free download!) (musicallyamusing.com)
Filed under Check 'em Out!, downloads, video
Newest Love: Ki:Theory (+ free download)
Click image to listen to "Holiday Heart"
Ki:Theory (a.k.a. Joel Burleson) is a recording artist and producer who walks the tightrope between electronic and indie/alternative rock. Ki:Theory has also lent his adventurous sound to remixes for Daft Punk, Queens of the Stone Age, Ladytron, and Brazilian Girls among others. Having already rocked Bonnaroo and dj-ing for Betsey Johnson’s during NYC fashion week, Ki:Theory has returned to the studio to work on new material. Yesterday, he released the single for “Holiday Heart.” For the B-side, he teamed up with Holy Fuck for a remix of
UNKLE’s track “Natural Selection” which features The Black Angels.
Check out the “Holiday Heart” MP3 where it premiered on PopMatters or HERE!
“Holiday Heart” has a bright vocal melody, skittering beat, and an instantly memorable hook with something a little darker brewing beneath the surface. “(Holiday Heart) is actually a medical condition you get when you’ve been hitting the whiskey and summer sausage a little too hard (commonly around the holidays). I’ve always thought it makes a great metaphor for ‘to much of a good thing.”, explains Burleson. The b-side is an Olympian collaboration between Ki:Theory, UNKLE, Holy Fuck, and The Black Angels. “Natural Selection” is such a great song to start. I’m a huge fan of UNKLE, The Black Angels, and Holy Fuck. I did a remix for UNKLE once before [2007’s “Hold My Hand”], so getting asked to contribute to something all these great artists had collaborated on was just phenomenal. Holy Fuck had already laid some really nice textures and ambient soundscapes for the remix so getting in there with big drums and some leads seemed like a cool direction.”, says Burleson.
Ki:Theory has also recently contributed a remix of Daft Punk’s “The Son of Flynn” to Daft Punk/Tron: Legacy remix album “Reconfigured”. His song “Arms for Legs” is also featured alongside Sleigh Bells and Silversun Pickups in the trailer for John Singleton’s new film “Abduction”. This month, his remix of the song “Angelica” is also featured on the “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” soundtrack by Rodrigo y Gabriela with Hans Zimmer.
Related articles
- Ki:Theory – “Holiday Heart” MP3 (PopMatters Premiere) (Mixed Media) (popmatters.com)
Filed under Check 'em Out!, downloads, Newest Love
Musically Amusing 