Category Archives: Check ’em Out!

Newest Love: Rene Lopez

Though only recently launching his solo career, Rene Lopez is one of the more enduring figures on the New York music scene. He has been writing and performing music in New York since the early 90s when he was part of The Authority, a cult favorite and staple of venues like Nightingales and The Wetlands. More recently, Rene’s high-energy solo shows at Nublu have earned Rene a reputation as one of the best performers in The Lower East Side and The East Village, playing a version of latin soul that pays tribute to the that area’s past. In many ways, it’s musical style that’s at the heart of his upbringing. The son of a trumpet player in the Latin band Tipica ‘73, Bronx native Rene grew up in the salsa clubs of New York City and from the first moment he stepped inside a club, Rene was hooked on live music, and choosing to spend his life creating it “felt so natural that there was never a thought that I would do anything else.” His father’s influence, along with the influences of Rene’s own favorite artists, contributes to a unique and distinct sound all Rene’s own. (From: MusicRemedy)

Rene’s new album People Are Just People, will be out May 4th through Liberation Label. Click here to check out the video for his new single from the album “Wednesday.”  Honestly, I hadn’t really listened to Rene’s stuff previously, but after listening to “Wednesday” and checking out some of his other stuff, I’m a big, big fan. It’s catchy, it’s happy, it’s fun. Think Lou Bega but even cooler.

Aaaaand, if you’re in New York, be sure to check out his release party at Nublu on the day of the release, May 4th.

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Newest Love: Deluka

Deluka is the new sensation from the UK. Led by Ellie Innocenti, their songs have already gotten attention all over the place, including on MTV’s “The City” and the 2009 VMAs. Deluka are an English electronic, indie band, whose sound has been likened to nearly every genre from Punk to Disco, Electro to indie and New Wave to No Wave. Deluka’s fresh new sound is the eclectic evolution of Birmingham’s storied pedigree, a perfect storm of fluid electronic beats and hailing rock riffs, pulsating bass and breathtaking vocals.

NME calls it, “Girl-charged electro-skuzz punk, akin to Ladytron snacking on The Killers for brunch.”  

They’re set to play a couple shows here in the US this year, and their debut album will be out soon. BUT, until then, click here to listen to the track “Cascade”

4/20
LOS ANGELES, CA
The Viper Room
04/28
PHILADELPHIA, PA
Khyber
04/29
BROOKLYN, NY
Brooklyn Bowl
04/30
ALBANY, NY
Bayou
05/06
BOSTON, MA
Harper’s Ferry
05/08
HARTFORD, CT
The Warehouse

 

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Pretty Good Dance Moves “Bad Habits” Single

Dance Duo Pretty Good Dance Moves have premeired a new track called “Bad Habits”, which features the dreamy, sultry vocals of Lissy Trullie. With nods to Prince and Depeche Mode, this track comes just in time for dancing on roofs and cars in the heat of the summer night.

PopWrap says:

The ghostly haunting vocals of Lissy paired with the synth and spacy layers that Pretty Good Dance Moves have claimed as their signature sound mix together in “Bad Habits” like chicken and waffles — sweet, spicy and paired like our ears have taste buds.

Click here to have a listen for yourself!

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Video: Tunng “Hustle”

Tunng ‘Hustle’ – official video

This is my favorite track from Tunng’s new album …And Then We Saw Land, the band’s 4th album — released earlier this month.

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Setting Sun – “Driving”

‘Driving’ by Setting Sun

Here’s the new video from Setting Sun, aka prolific songwriter Gary Levitt, in anticipation of the upcoming release of Fantasurreal on June 1. Set to Levitt’s bouncy indie folk and animated by artist Charles Pieper, the video pays tribute to ’90s independent animation, a la MTV’s iconic “Liquid Television” series. Watching the Pieper’s trippy claymation interspersed between shots of Levitt, it’s hard not to expect early Mike Judge and “Æon Flux” shorts to follow.

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Broken Bells Released Today!

Danger Mouse and James Mercer’s collaborative project Broken Bells FINALLY released their self-title debut today.

Track listing: (my favorites are in BOLD)

1. The High Road

2. Vaporize

3. Your Head Is On Fire

4. The Ghost Inside

5. Sailing To Nowhere

6. Trap Doors

7. Citizen

8. October

9. Mongrel Heart

10. The Mall & Misery

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Highly Anticipated: Ninjasonik

Ninjasonik – Daylight Remix

The trio Ninjasonik is unleashing a raw and uncut synthesis of styles with their Art School Girls full length debut album via Green Owl / Chief Records due April 20th, 2010. Green Owl is a label that is ahead of the game in itself by respecting the planet both economically and environmentally through sustainable technology, news, and information. 



The Brooklyn trio has established themselves as the next generation of live hip hop by creating a synergy between their rhymes and a newly evolved performance art in the making. Having shared the stage with artists such as Spank Rock, Dan Deacon and The Cool Kids, Ninjasonik has melded enough sounds to bring in fans across all genres. 



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Yacht’s Weezer Cover

Portland’s YACHT previously announced that for the first time in their history they’ll be hitting the road with a backing band, who they’ve lovingly named The Straight Gaze.  Today you can hear your first taste of what YACHT sounds like with live accompaniment via their new iTunes session in the studio with The Mystery Lights Band.  The session features three tracks from last year’s critically acclaimed full-length, See Mystery Lights, as well as a cover of Weezer’s song “Holiday.” 

Click here to listen to Yacht’s version of Weezer’s “Holiday”

Fun fact:  Back in high school YACHT’s Claire L. Evans ran Geekrocklove, the 2nd most popular Weezer fansite at the time.

YACHT & The Mystery Lights Band iTunes Session Track List:

1.)  Summer Song

2.)  The Afterlife

3.)  Psychic City (Voodoo City)

4.)  Holiday

YACHT & The Straight Gaze Tour Dates: 

(All Shows with Bobby Birdman except Philadelphia with MNDR and Los Angeles with Small Black, Washed Out, Picture Plane)

02/19:  Vancouver, BC @ The Biltmore Cabaret

02/20:  Victoria, BC @ Sugar Nightclub

02/22:  Edmonton, AB @ Pawn Shop

02/23:  Calgary, AB @ The Hi Fi Club

02/24:  Saskatoon, SK @ Scratch

02/26:  Northfield, MN @ The Cave at Carleton College

02/27:  Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle

02/28:  Gambier, OH @ The Horn Gallery

03/02:  Pontiac, MI @The Pike Room at Crofoot Ballroom

03/03:  Hamilton, ON @ The Casbah

03/04:  Toronto, ON @ Wrongbar

03/05:  Ottawa, ON @Ritual

03/06:  Montreal, QC @ Le Belmont

03/07:  Buffalo, NY @ Big Orbit Soundlab

03/11:  New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

03/12:  Philadelphia, PA @ Voyeur/ Makin Time

03/13:  Monterrey, MX @ Festival Nrmal – Alianza Francesca

03/15:  Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel

03/16:  Atlanta, GA @ The Drunken Unicorn

SXSW

03/25:  San Diego, CA @ Museum of Contemporary Art

03/26: Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex (With Small Black, Washed Out, Picture Plane)

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Newest Love: The Drums


Post punk, indie pop rock band The Drums are catching on EVERYWHERE and I LOVE it!!! Definitely look out for these guys this year!

I can’t get enough…if you love New Order and The Cure, you won’t be able to get enough either!

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Pretty Good Dance Moves

Pretty Good Dance Moves = ingenious band name!

Formed in Chicago, IL and now based out of Brooklyn, electro-pop duo Pretty Good Dance Moves will release their long-awaited new EP, PGDM on March 9. The duo, Jimmy Giannapoulos and Aaron Allieta,  created an EP full of slinky synthesizers and seductive dance beats. The duo scoured the globe for vocalists and found voices to complement their laid-back, synth-pop sound, recruiting several important guest stars, including Chicago vocalist Angelina Lucero and singer-songwriter Heather Christian. You can hear the results on the band’s single “Leave Me Alone,” which features Swedish pop legend Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn & John on vocals and also as co-writer. Stereogum premiered the track, calling it “a triumphant little electro-pop track that tickles hearts and synths.” Preview it here.

PGDM’s first EP was released in 2006. The video  for their single “Demons Dancing,” stars Flight of the Conchord’s Kristen Schaal!

Track Listing for PGDM

1.       Sample Your Body (ft. Angelina Lucero)
2.      Leave Me Alone (ft. Bjorn Yttling)
3.      600 Days (ft. Heather Christian)
4.      Tear Us Up (feat. Sydney Wayser)
5.      Alive Tonight (ft. Angelina Lucero)
6.      Leave Me Alone (Infernal Devices Remix)

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