What’s Up Your “S”? – MOONTOWER

I been away for sometime….but I’m super excited for what this band will become and I need to share with you!

Formerly known as MOONTOWERS, this Boston band has been on my radar for some time now.  I was fortunate enough to download a few things off their Bandcamp page before they removed it all.  They have removed the “s” from their name but most importantly reuploaded a few tracks on Bandcamp that must go into your collection.  I have yet to hear a MOONTOWER song I don’t like and if you’re a fan of fuzzy melodic psych then this band is right up your alley.  The more I listen to their stuff, and I do that quite a lot, the more I love this them.

– Aug. 30 2013 – Arts At The Armory – Somerville, MA
– Sep. 06 2013 – T.T. The Bears – Cambridge, MA
– Oct. 19 2013 – Precinct & PAs Lounge – Somerville, MA

Kurt Vile – New Video, New Record, And Tour Info

The long-haired indie darling has released new info about  his follow up to his 2011 album Smoke Ring For My Halo.  The new album Wakin’ On A Pretty Daze will be a double disc, 69 minutes long, and will come out April 9th, 2013.

A video clip, though not the official music video, has been released with the album’s namesake opening track.  Even more exciting is that Kurt and the Violators are heading on the road, Tickets go on sale Feb 15 except LA (Feb 16) and Seattle (on sale today).  

Sun, Apr 14 – Indio CA – Coachella Festival
Sun, Apr 21 – Indio CA – Coachella Festival
Sun, May 4 – Atlanta GA – Shaky Knees Festival
Mon, May 5 – Atlanta GA – Shaky Knees Festival
Tue, May 7 – Los Angeles CA – Echoplex # *
Wed, May 8 – San Francisco CA – Independent *
Fri, May 10 – Portland OR – Doug Fir # *
Sat, May 11 – Vancouver BC – Biltmore # *
Sun, May 12 – Seattle WA – Neumos # *
Tue, May 14 – Chicago IL – Lincoln Hall *
Thu, May 16 – New York NY – Bowery Ballroom * !
Fri, May 17 – Boston MA – The Sinclair * !
Sat, May 18 – Philadelphia PA – Union Transfer * !
Fri, May 24 – Barcelona ES – Primavera Sound Festival
Sat, May 25 – London GB – Field Day
Sun, May 26 – Brussels BE – AB
Mon, May 27 – Amsterdam NL – Paradiso
Tue, May 28 – Hamburg DE – Knust
Wed, May 29 – Copenhagen DK – Amager Bio

# The Fresh & Onlys
* Steve Gunn
! Angel Olsen

kurtvile.com

VIDEO: Brothers In Law – Leave Me (Shadow II)

Brothers In Law is a band from Italy that recently caught my ears thanks to one of my favorite labels We Were Never Being Boring.  Their debut album, Hard Times For Dreamers, is set for release on January 30th of this year via WWNBB.
A few days ago Seattle music blog The Finest Kiss premiered the video for Leave Me (Shadow II), the first single off the album. The video was shot in Chicago and was directed by Ryan Ohm.
This past weekend I preordered my copy of Hard Times For Dreamers – a signed, limited edition vinyl, YAY!  What’s more exciting is that the band has been invited to play at this year’s SXSW Festival in Austin, TX.  Buying a copy  of Hard Times For Dreamers in your preferred format will help get the band from Italy to Texas in March.  Order your copy of Hard Times For Dreamers here or here.
While their fundraiser page says your donations “will help fund train and flight tickets, and probably a few nights in scary motels”.  We cross our fingers for a show in Boston, MA during the band’s stay in the States where our sofa is open to   talented guests.

LIST: In My Ears In 2012

We are a bit late with our “best of 2012” so we won’t do one now.  In lieu of a well-thought out list I decided to give myself 60 seconds to jot down names of bands/artists who released something in 2012 that I really enjoyed.  The following list of artists provided a soundtrack for my year and their work really became a part of me.  As it happens  with music, memories were formed around these lovely sounds so this list isn’t ranked – because really, how can one rank memories?

WARNING: Some of the content on this particular post is NSFW (“Not Safe For Work” or for people under the age of 18).  Scroll at your own risk. 

Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel…

Damian Jurado – Maraqopa

The New Highway Hymnal – Whispers

Sharon Van Etten – Tramp

Conveyor – Conveyor

Leisure – Plastic Soul

Tame Impala – Lonerism

Father John Misty – Fear Fun

Creaturos – Swampp Thingg

MMOSS – Only Children

Welcome Back Sailors – (Love) That’s All EP

Nomadic Firs – Nomadic Firs

Moon Duo – Circles

Spiritualized – Sweet Heart Sweet Light

Death Grips – No Love Deep Web

VIDEO: CreaturoS – “Sunrise Wedding”

Ah a video from one of my favorite bands this year, Creaturos.  A couple of months ago they released their debut album Swampp Thingg and now here is the premiere of “Sunrise Wedding” with an Alejandro Jodorowsky feel to it.  Enjoy.

ALBUM STREAM: CreaturoS – Swampp Thingg

I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is about CreaturoS that completely enthralls me.  Is it the cute lead singer? Nah, I’m not that shallow and I fell in love with their sound way before I knew what any of them looked like.  Is it their impeccable way of fusing garage, psychedelia, punk, and raising the volume?  Could be.  Is it their hypnotizing live performances?  Quite possibly.  But I’m leaning toward magic.

I’m not sure that CreaturoS has set out to be innovative.  This is not a new sound that they are creating.  Their equation is not unique.  And yet despite this they are able to reach for and hold a firm, tight grip on listeners.

The magic abounds in Swampp Thingg, the debut album by CreaturoS – out now on cassette and digital download via pRIMORDIAL sOUNDS, buy here or here. Stream below.

ALBUM STREAM: The New Highway Hymnal – Whispers

It is very easy to envy New York for the abundance of incredible musical talent that seems to sprout from their backyard.  Today isn’t one of those days.  The New Highway Hymnal is one of many Boston bands to make its city proud by allowing us bragging rights.  Their debut album Whispers [Vanya Records] is available for stream now, a day before its release.

I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing The New Highway Hymnal live several times.  Their shows have always been engrossing and energetic.  Because up until now my familiarity with them has been almost exclusively through live shows – Their Bandcamp page only has two songs in it, so far – I was a bit nervous about them disappointing me on record.  I was wrong.  Way the fuck wrong.  On Whispers the band manages to deliver the high doses of their energy I’ve come to love.  The production value also allows for various levels of garage tinged psychedelia to shine through nicely.  Fans of Tame Impala and Black Angels will love this – so when you can muster the will to press pause on Lonerism definitely check out The New Highway Hymnal.  Whispers is set for release on digital and vinyl via Vanya Records on October, 18 2012 – stream below.

TNHH Live: Oct. 18, 2012 – Album Release Show @ Great Scott – Allston, MA
TNHH: Facebook / Bandcamp / Website
Vanya Records: Facebook / Bandcamp / Website

STREAM: CreaturoS – James Day’s Milk Shake

Boston band CreaturoS is one that I’ve been shamelessly stalking in 2012 ever since stumbling upon their name while shamelessly stalking Fedavees.  What drew me in, besides their kick ass name, was a track on their  Bandcamp page with a price tag of $1000- yeah, that’s one-thousand big ones.  Sadly the track no longer appears on CreaturoS’ Bandcamp – good for my wallet because I was seriously considering fronting the money it was that good.  In its place though you will now find “James Day’s Milk Shake”,  the first single to their upcoming album Swampp Thingg to be released late October 2012 via Boston label pRIMORDIAL sOUNDS.  If you find yourself in our around Cambridge, MA on October 29th 2012 I expect to see you at their record release party – yeah it’s a Monday but what the fuck IT’S CREATUROS!

You can order your copy of CreaturoS and Fedavees sounds from pRIMORDIAL sOUNDS here.

CreaturoS on Facebook
CreaturoS Live:
Oct. 5, 2012 – O’Briens – Allston, MA
Oct. 29, 2012 – The Middle East ZuZu – Cambridge, MA

Fedavees on Facebook
Fedavees Live:
Oct. 13, 2012 – Rosebud Diner – Somerville, MA

NEW TRACK: Owensie – Distance Of Her Love

I’m absolutely loving this new track by Owensie from his upcoming second album Citizens – out 24th of October 2012 on Out On A Limb Records on vinyl and digital.
“Distance of Her Love” was “written about migrant domestic workers” says Owensie.  And while on its façade it may be easy listening, a more careful listen will reveal Jazz, Folk, and Brazilian/Latin influences.
Owensie’s staple instrument -acoustic guitar, a mellow percussion, viola, a saxophone, and Owensie’s delicate falsetto and lyrics coalesce to tell the story of a mother who sets out  far from her home and children in order to look after other people’s children as a necessary means to provide for her own.
If there is one thing that Owensie rarely fails at it would be providing powerful, inventive and, in this case, poignant stories through his music.
Citizens is out 24th of October 2012 on Out On A Limb Records and we’re looking forward to it.  Stream “Distance Of Her Love” below.

Owensie on Facebook
Out On A Limb Records on Facebook

VIDEO: Fiona Apple – “Every Single Night”

What a fucking comeback, we love this woman! This is from the forth-coming album ‘The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do’.