After Canadian indie rock band Germans called it quitsies in 2013, frontman Aidan Koper took a break from music to focus on his performing career. Under the name Billions Cobra, he’s been performing stunts involving fire, lawnmowers, and bullwhips for audiences around the world for 16 years. No longer able to resist the call of his passion for music, he’s returned all by himself under the moniker No Terrain. Check out “So Slow” below. The EP will be out on November 18th.
Filed under Check 'em Out!, Newest Love, video
Oslo based duo Anna of the North unveil a new take on their latest single “Us” – a self-recorded visual accompaniment to a delicate, acoustic rendition of the original, which has been streamed over 2 million times.
The fascinatingly fragmented, synth-driven follow up to previous singles “Sway”, “The Dreamer” and “Baby”; “Us” delves deeper into Anna of the North’s lore and emotion, dusk into evening and all the promise — good and bad — that night brings.
Speaking of the track the duo, consisting of Anna Lotterud and Brady Daniell-Smith, say: “It’s about a relationship between two people with a really strong connection. When it’s so good it’s bad for you. All of us have had that special person you’ll never forget where the timing wasn’t right”
The duo’s songs have been streamed over 32 million times, and caught the attention from tastemakers like Fader, NYLON, Noisey, Pigeons and Planes and Gorilla Vs Bear and have risen to the top of the Hype Machine charts. “Sway” also garnered an official remix from certified hit makers, The Chainsmokers.
Anna Of The North has recently completed a tour with Kygo, as well as run of UK dates including The Great Escape and shows with Liss. Further news of live shows coming soon. “Us” is out now via Honeymoon.
Photo Credit: Gabe Ayala
After a period of chart-topping collaborations, Canadian electro-pop trio Dragonette have made a valiant return with their fourth studio album Royal Blues to be released worldwide on November 11. Perfectly timed to keep listeners warm while the winter months creep in, the 13-song collection is an irresistibly hook-laden, dancefloor-ready celebration of wisdom that only comes from life experience.
Sonically strapped with a joyous energy, the record is tinged with melancholy undertones. “Sweet Poison” is a deeply personal album cut about love that you can’t hold onto nor let go of. The purposeful simplicity of the video artistically elevates the emotion of the lyrics.
To celebrate the release, the band will embark on a 22-date North American tour making stops in Boston, LA, Chicago, Portland, Toronto and more.
11/9: Waterloo, ON @ Maxwell’s*
11/10: Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre*
11/11: Montréal, QC @ Théâtre Fairmount*
11/12: Ottawa, ON @ Bronson Centre*
11/16: Winnipeg, MB @ Pyramid Cabaret*
11/17: Saskatoon, SK @ Louis’ Pub*
11/18: Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room*
11/19: Calgary, AB @ The Gateway at SAIT*
11/22: Kelowna, BC @ Sapphire Nightclub*
11/23: Vancouver, BC @ Imperial*
11/24: Victoria, BC @ Sugar Nightclub*
11/26: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge ^
11/27: Seattle, WA @ Neumos ^
11/29: San Francisco, CA @ The Independent ^
11/30: West Hollywood, CA @ The Roxy Theatre ^
12/2: Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Bar ^
12/3: Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater ^
12/5: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry ^
12/6: Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall ^
12/8: Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar ^
12/10: Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw ^
12/11: Boston, MA @ Royale Boston ^
Filed under Highly Anticipated, new albums, Shows, video, Whoa!
The end result is a 5th album jam packed with the excitement and energy of a debut album…but with the mastery that can only come from a seasoned writer like Brand, where the lessons learned and scars born from a life dedicated to music are not in this case in vain but celebrated in the mastery of expression in it’s truest form.
Filed under Awesome, listen, new albums, Newest Love, video
NENA coming to America: it’s one of the great unrequited love stories of pop culture history.“99 Luftballons” was the first German-language song to enter the US charts since Marlene Dietrich, yet although the pop queen toured all over the world, she never made it over to the US to perform. NENA has continued to rule the charts in Germany with sixteen studio albums and countless hits, and now is finally her time to take America by storm.
In the 33 years since it was released, NENA’s “99 Luftballons” (“99 Red Balloons”) has had an unmatchable impact on popular and music culture. Although NENA never stopped making music – she’s had a three-and-a-half decade career of hits and 16 studio albums behind her in Germany – and has toured in countries as far as Japan, NENA never got to tour the US. It’s one of those flukes in music history where what should have happened didn’t happen. But in NENA’s own words, “…now’s the right time. It’s always now!…When you want to do something and it just doesn’t happen, you shouldn’t be sad or disappointed because, well, 35 years later, it happens! It’s perfect timing.”
At the heart of NENA is a rock’n’roller with unbeatable stage presence and energy to spare, whether she’s playing to regularly sold-out crowds at the biggest arenas or more intimate club venues. Just take a listen to NENA’s latest outing – the excellent, energetic and rocking live album Live at SO36, recorded during a within-minutes sold-out concert at the famed Berlin club SO36. The opening rocking riffs of “Noch Einmal” NENA struck on her Telecaster sent out a shockwave of energy that carries through an entire night. From pure rockers to new-wave favorites to the touching ballads that fans sing along word-for-word, NENA can electrify a crowd with her incomparable, instantly recognizable voice and her own brand of rock’n’roll that includes influences of The Ramones, Blondie, and Talking Heads, among many others. The dancing never lets up with NENA until the lights finally go on at the end of the night. That’s what NENA is going to ultimately bring to the US – an amazing live energy that can shake an entire audience to its core.
She’s captured the hearts of Germany: her numerous top ten hits and 25 million sold records are proof of that. Now it’s time to share that with America. NENA’s most recent studio album, Oldschool, is the perfect fusion of her constant drive for artistic development and genuine authenticity. Produced and co-written by German hip-hop superstar Samy Deluxe, it blisters with a sense of immediacy and newness while especially playing lyrically with references to her past.
NENA has never been a nostalgia act; she still delivers onstage an exhilarating mix of her amazing and expansive discography. With that much spark, it’s a recipe for an utterly mind-blowing evening. American fans that missed the opportunity to see NENA when they were first introduced to her now have that chance. To paraphrase her latest single, there’s no time like “Genau jetzt” (right now).
NENA will be playing San Francisco on September 30, Los Angeles on October 2, and New York City on October 4.
Filed under Awesome, Holy Freaking Crap!, Shows, video, Whoa!
This track from Drop Out Vegas has been hiding in my messages for over a month. Today I finally got around to listening, and whoa! What a hidden gem!
Singer Skyler James explains, “‘Sleep Alone’ is a coming out story of bad relationship and hook up experiences, told in a way to bring a voice to the Tinder & Grindr generation, and to hope for a better day for those with low self confidence.”
It’s so catchy and I LOVE the video, too!!!
Check it out:
(That crescendo at 2:43 though!)
Filed under Awesome, Check 'em Out!, listen, Newest Love, video
Photo: Cara Robbins
“Imagine the crunch of The White Stripes and the sheer raunch of Prince and you’d be somewhere close to Beware Of Darkness.” – CLASH Mag
LA-based Beware of Darkness reveal album release details today for their forthcoming LP Are You Real? out on September 16th via Bright Antenna Records. Fans who pre-order album will receive singles “Dope” and “Muthafucka” instantly.
Are You Real? is the band’s biggest and boldest statement yet. The 12-track collection serves as an urgent call to arms not only for frontman Kyle Nicolaides, but for the band’s sound as well. The music ushers the rebirth of a sound that is as refreshing as it is addictive, and goes much deeper than riffs.
The album illustrates how a rock star on the rise fought uncertainty and disillusionment to avoid flaming out. And, more importantly, how he has come through the other side revitalized and focused, and with the best songs of his young career.
Are You Real? Tracklist
Muthafucka
Blood, Sex, Violence, & Murder
Dope
Summer Daze
Tell Me This Is Fate
Are You Real?
Angel
Surrender
Hieroglyphics
Sugar In The Raw
Beware
Delirium
Filed under Check 'em Out!, listen, new albums, Newest Love
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“The five-track effort is likened to a roadtrip, “a collection of journeys” in which Stone Cold Fox venture out to discover who they really are when all the layers are peeled back and they’re forced to look in the mirror.”
– Consequence of Sound
“…delivering dancey and joyful synthesizer beats, overlaid with groovey guitar leads. The band has an innate knack for finding the sweet spot of catchy music that isn’t shallow, leading you to want to teleport from your shitty apartment to an island paradise. “
– NOISEY
“…while it retains energy, [Firing Squad] opts for something far more ethereal. The track basks in a haze of guitar effects and subtle performances, proving that Stone Cold Fox can sound subdued without feeling lethargic…”
– The AV CLUB
“Amongst the slew of synth pop revivalists, Brooklyn-based four piece Stone Cold Fox are doing things a little differently. By staring their song producing process with an indie-rock core, they craft songs that are essentially guitar led, before channeling that heart into an addictive electronic, synth-heavy format.
– Wonderland Magazine
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If you’re digging that sound — check out the EP here and now:
Filed under Awesome, Check 'em Out!, listen, Newest Love, video
Photo credit: Steve Bays
“The four piece pop band from Vancouver are upbeat and undoubtedly having lighthearted fun with their music, and the song is layered in sugary harmonic vocals and melodies for you and your friends to get dark (or drunk) to.” – VICE’s Noisey
“a danceable exploration into experimental indie pop” – Culture Collide
Vancouver indie-pop darlings The Zolas have released a cutting-edge video for their fuzzed-out, guitar-driven pop anthem “Swooner”, which just reached #2 on the Canadian Alternative Chart this year. The interactive live video was shot on four GoPro cameras mounted in a special 360° tripod that allows the viewer to pan around the room and explore different viewpoints. Make sure to watch on Chrome or Firefox!
The Zolas’ Swooner LP, released this year via Light Organ Records, dives headlong into vibrant, experimental pop, showcased by stirring modern production, highlighted by flashes of grungy hard-panned guitars, Prince-like synth flourishes, eurodance vocals and electric pianos. The band is heading out on a North American tour in June, including a stop at NXNE Festival and Pemberton Music Festival.
Tour Dates:
6/13: San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
6/14: Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
6/15: Santa Barbara, CA @ Velvet Jones
6/16: San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
6/18: Toronto, ON, Canada @ NXNE Festival
6/20: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
6/21: Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern
6/22: Spokane, WA @ The Bartlett
7/14-17: Pemberton, BC, Canada @ Pemberton Music Festival
Filed under Awesome, Check 'em Out!, Shows, video, Whoa!
Musically Amusing 