Archive | January, 2011

Band of the Day (1.31.11) Chalk and Numbers

31 Jan

Authentic pure quality sound of 60's bubblegum love pop - Chalk and Numbers


Band of the Day (1.31.11) Chalk and Numbers

Well you all are familiar with Tennis from our 2010 Hummingbird awards? Right? I used “Y’all because I am catching a connecting flight in Dallas right now. Well, the 60s pop XX/XY duo was a hot thingy in 2010. Many bands attempted it, many failed. Tennis succeeded because it captured the finest of The Walkmen, griity, somber rock guitar with what amounts to a perfect set of female vocals. Chalk and Numbers is even more of the 60’s bubblegum pop. Yeah 2010 was the year of it, but 2011 is the year others perfect it. Hell there were many many MP3 players before the iPod. It just took Apple to make the best one, with the content store…Chalk and Numbers are authentic and if you added some pop and crackle, you’d swear it was a 45 from 1963. I’m not equating Chalk and Numbers to Apple, but I am comparing them to Tennis. I think they’ve nailed the sound and the tamborines just close the deal for me. I’m sold. Hell it’s fun music, so enjoy it and let Chalk and Numbers know you love em too. Got the band tip from these “new to the scene” chaps from @_DeadJournalist on Twitter…Muchas Gracias. Find him here

Vitals
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Members: Sable Yong and Andrew Pierce
Sonic Soulmates: Spectoresque, The Shangri-Las, Tennis, Jenny and Johnny, Fitz and the Tantrums
Must hear tracks:
“Here With Eachother” – It’s The Byrds with a little Tennis and whole lot of 60’s bubblegum love all over it.

“I Really Want to Work This Out” – Just so good.

Grab their new EP at BandCamp for free or a small price!

Follow Chalk and Numbers:
MySpace
Facebook

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day (1.28.11) Disappears

28 Jan

Rock re-appears with Disappears


Band of the Day (1.28.11) – Disappears

2011 is Becoming Rock Heaven! Another fantastic rock band, these boys are from Chicago and they are brilliant. Bottom-line Lux from Disappears was an amazing record. It was part Lou Reed par Iggy Pop/Stooges, part REM. Odd dichotomy, but it works. The title track “Lux” is so dizzyingly close to the weird Velvet Lou Reed echoed chants, that I thought it was him…but as you dig deeper, the distorted scuzzy tracks from their first album were on the verge of something really good. It reminds me of Bleach , the true Nirvana fan record. No big studio budget, just the three-some in the studio, Kurt screaming and Dave pounding away and a frenetic pace. Then Nevermind hit the streets and we all realized the garage screaming hatched perfection. I’m not comparing the boys sound to Nirvana, but I am comparing the evolution of the band. They could be big, it takes the voice of the fans to make it happen, but from the little I’ve heard from the new record Guider, this may just be the Chicago boys moment! Take a listen

Vitals
Hometown: Chicago, IL, USA
Members: Brian Case, Damon Carruesco, Jonathan van Herik
Sonic Soulmates: REM, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop
Must Hear Tracks:
“New Fast” – Newest bestest track from Guider

“Gone Completely” – The best track from Lux…F’n LOVE IT!

Follow:
MySpace
Facebook
Official Site
Twitter

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day (1.27.11) – MillionYoung

27 Jan
cred: David Andrako www.davidandrako.com

cred: David Andrako http://www.davidandrako.com of MillionYoung

Band of the Day (1.27.11) MillionYoung

Chillwave was a 2010 phenom, at least it was the talks of the blogs. Our faves in the category, Washed Out and Toro Y Moi, were chilly and wavy, but they had a flavor of groove. Both captured the airy space sound, but they coupled that with beautiful harmonies and layered sounds. MillionYoung, of Ft. Lauderdale, So Florida, captures the finest of chillwave but he adds in a layer of clean guitar that really makes for a great sound. Where he may get a little out of tune on some tracks, he makes up for it on the tracks where he stays on track, in tune. MillionYoung is a pseudonym for South Florida’s Mike Diaz. His first EP was released in 2009, “Sunndream”. His second EP was released in early 2010, entitled “Be So True”. He’s potentially got the chance to dethrone our chilled leaders…you be the judge, listen below…

Vitals
Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, South Florida, FL, USA
Members: Mike Diaz
Sonic Soulmates: Toro Y Moi, Washed Out,
Must hear tracks:

“Gravity Feels” – Wow there is a lot going on here. At around 3:00 minutes the song hits a new level, love this track.

“001” – Very Toro Y Moi…really like this track as well

Follow Millionyoung:
Facebook
MySpace
Twitter
Official Site

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day (1.26.11) The Vaccines

26 Jan

UK boys on the rise...Best New Band of 2011? The Vaccines


Band of the Day (1.26.11) The Vaccines

Buzz buzz buzz, well sometimes bands just deserve it. The Vaccines have been buzzing through London on the backs of two quality singles. The first, released in August, 2010 “If You Wanna” — hear below — quickly gave The Vaccines the air coverage they needed. It’s a 50’s diner track coupled with Surfer Blood vocals. It’s a GREAT track. The second single, “Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra)” was released in November. A fast paced track that gets from here to there quickly. Much like the career arch of The Vaccines. Traditionally we wait on these so called buzz bands for do something impressive before we feature them, but these may just be The Strokes of this decade. Their songs are anthems, not just power pop punk, but 1:50 anthems that beg for you to hit repeat. With DNA attached to The Horrors and Jay Jay Pistolet, the band has the world a buzzin’ so we’re in, count us one of the many who believe the hype. I personally believe that this band will rise to the top and get the US recognition it deserves. We have to make it our duty to help these GREAT London acts make a name for themselves in the US. IT’s TIME. So we say “Today you just found your favorite new band.” 2011 is Rock Heaven

Did we mention that this is the Year of Rock? Well check this out…see Coachella line-up, three rock headliners, see Wolf People, see Black Pistol Fire…we believe The Vaccines will lead this charge! It’s time.

Vitals:
Hometown: London, UK
Members: Justin Young, Árni Hjörvar, Freddie Cowan, Pete Robertson
Sonic Soulmates: The Strokes, Chapel Club, Surfer Blood
Must Hear Tracks:
“If You Wanna”

“Blow it Up”

Follow:
Facebook
MySpace
Official Site

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day (1.25.11) Ex Libras

25 Jan

Three peeps making complicated music - London Boys Ex Libras

Band of the Day (1.25.11) Ex Libras

A three-piece that formed in a Hounslow library, in Hounslow, London are often compared to the “apocalyptic” nature of Radiohead, with Thom Yorke vocals. They describe themselves as “post-backbeat” — a term more associated with hip-hop, but you can hear their slow tempered beats derived from hip-hop DNA. Their most current release, “Cut(s)”, is a re-deux of their 2010 “Suite(s)” album, stripping down 5 tracks, adding loops, cello to create a self-coined “blood-relative” to the aforementioned “Suite(s)”. Ex Libras is a like a bottle of great bordeaux, their sophisticated, deep, dark, emotional and built for those who are aware. If you know your wines, then a bottle of bordeaux tastes so much better. If you know your music, Ex Libras sound so much better. Their sophisticated, mature and so worth the listen/fanhood! Follow them now and you won’t regret it.

Vitals:
Hometown: Hounslow, LONDON, UK
Members: Amit Sharma / Kieran Nagi / Ross Kenning
Sonic Soulmates: Suede, Talk Talk, xx, Radiohead,
Must Hear Tracks:

FROM “Suite(s)”
“Underachievers (Live)” – Add the drums and guitar riffs and you see a complete band…hear stripped down versions below…

FROM “Cut(s)”
“For Us, For Me” – Minimalistic xx/Talk, Talk stylings bring a soulful moody track from London boys.

“Teenage Eyes” – Swell Season meets Thom Yorke, meets the xx in an alley way, I think Thom Yorke wins…great track

Buy Cut(s) — Released in November 2010

Follow:
Facebook
MySpace
Official Site
Twitter

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day (1.24.11) Whitesand/Badlands

24 Jan

Minneapolis is home to 2011's well crafted Whitesand/Badlands

Band of the Day (1.24.11) Whitesand/Badlands

Well before we even profiled the band, Mr. Arizona Turk surprised us all by adding Whitesand/Badlands to his Gem list. Well they deserved the honorable mention honors, and now they have been granted the Band of the Day trophy. They recorded their new LP, Seeding the Clouds, at Sacred Heart Recording Studio, a 19th century cathedral now a beautiful recording studio. The band has been a band since 2008 and this, their second LP, is a beauty. It’s meticulously crafted and mixed. The songs are expansive and offer a great listening experience. This is not power pop, or 2:40 odes to loved ones, they’re complicated, airy and dreamy. Their one part Band of Horses, one part Radiohead and whole lot of Verve. Their tracks are on a mission, you just need to join up and listen.

Vitals:
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Members:
Holly Habstritt – fender rhodes, piano, guitars, vocals, trumpet
Casey Holmgren – bass
Ryan Parsons – drums, saxophone
Andy Larson – guitars, vocals, drum, fender rhodes (LEAD DOG)
Sonic Soulmates: Band of Horses, Radiohead, Verve
Must Hear Tracks: (These are expansive tracks that are full of nuances and beauty. Take your time and give them a chance to blossom)

“Syntax Trees” – Layered guitars, pianos and airy earthy vocals. Great track. A little Band of Horses

“Angels on a Pinhead” – Lovely shoegaze vocals with horns, Verve guitars and a kick ass ending.

Buy Seeding The Clouds now and you won’t regret it!

Follow Whitesand/Badlands:
Official Site
Facebook

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day (1.21.11) Black Pistol Fire

21 Jan

Rock is back and it's under the name of Black Pistol Fire


Band of the Day (1.21.11) Black Pistol Fire

Ahhh yeah, two rock bands in one week. Maybe just maybe we’re onto something. Rock music is dead and it’s time for a revival. Jack White tried, Tame Impala was lead dog in 2010, but I think this might be the year. I read that the only rock band to even have a Top 10 Hot 100 Billboard track f’n TRAIN. Just garbage. What happened to our rock bands? Well 2011 is Rock Heaven. The Austin, TX via Toronto, CN duo of Black Pistol Fire, rock just as hard as Meg and Jack. Black Pistol Fire features Kevin McKeown on Guitar/Lead Vocals and Eric Owen on Drums. Kindergarten bros have been crushing it for two decades. They’ve got the chops, the guitar riffs, the country swagger and the blistering drum beats to make this summer one to remember. I love these dudes and I hope this is a 2011 trend. It’s time for the GODS of ROCK to rise from the ashes and let Black Pistol Fire be your first.

Vitals:
Hometown: Austin, TX via Toronto, CN
Members: Black Pistol Fire features Kevin McKeown on Guitar/Lead Vocals and Eric Owen on Drums.
Sonic Soulmates: Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, Creedence Clearwater, The White Stripes
Must Hear Tracks:
“Your Not the Only One” – We’ll let the typo slide…because this is the best ROCK SONG OF THE YEAR! Kings of Leonesque.

“Sort Me Out” – These dudes can do the blues similar to The Black Keys.

Follow:
MySpace
Facebook

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day (1.20.11) Boy Friend

20 Jan

Austin, TX thank you for delivering our new fave Boy Friend


Band of the Day (1.20.11) Boy Friend

I think we’ve mentioned before that this is the year that female leads will dominate. Another XX/XX duo. We’ve already profiled 5 this year and Boy Friend might be the front runner. Their space age, chill wave is very 2010, but it’s the moments when Moon Safari takes over and the
chill turns into a nice groove. Really love the new EP and I appreciate how deep the Arizona Turk had to dig to find this Gem of a band. The vocals of Christa Palazzolo and Sarah Brown (formerly of Sleep∞Over). Playing together since tweenage-years has led the two ladies to this current project, started in December of 2010. New album is coming this year. It’s the track “Spirit Burner” that is the clincher…

Vitals: Hometown: Austin, TX
Members: Christa Palazzolo and Sarah Brown (formerly of Sleep∞Over)
Sonic Soulmates: Air, Sleep∞Over, Beach House, Cocteau’s Elizabeth Frazer
Must Hear Tracks:
“Spirit Burner” – Just a beautiful track. WOW!

“The False Cross” – I remember early Siouxsie Sioux and I think the ladies of Boy Friend do too.

Buy the new EP on BandCamp:
Follow:
Facebook

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Trend Update: 2011 is Rock Heaven

20 Jan

2010 was the worst year for rock since 1960. Not so for 2011....

2010 was the worst year for Rock music since 1960. The end-of-year figures for the music industry were horrific, we’ve mentioned this a few times, but only Train’s “Hey Soul Sister” reached the Hot 100 Top 10, and they aren’t rockers. In the UK only three songs classified as “rock” appeared in the Top 100 singles. Of those three singles, the highest-ranked Glee’s Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” at No. 25 and Florence And The Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over” at No. 93. So is Rock dead? You tell us…we’ve already posted 4 bands that may bring it back

The Rock Bands of 2011
Black Pistol Fire – The Black Keys, Creedence Clearwater of 2011
Wolf People – Tame Impala and Dungen of 2011
Disappears – Lou Reed Iggy Pop of 2011
The Vaccines – The Strokes of 2011

So is the trend line moving? Check out the Coachella head-liners? Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire, Strokes, Black Keys? Looks like rock to me. Then the rumors of big rock acts having records Strokes, etc. Who knows, but we’re calling it now. Follow the trend line here or add the RSS feed for 2011 Rock Heaven here

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day (1.19.11) Smith Westerns *****

19 Jan

Smith Westerns bring 70's dream rock Bowie style with a great new record


Band of the Day (1.19.11) Smith Westerns *****

Together as a group since 2007. These Chicago boys, all under the age of 21, have a big label deal, two LPs and the momentum of downhill big rig with no brakes. They’re rock poppy like Girls or The Soft Pack, even a little Supergrass in em. They have 70’s melodic guitars and synth rock coupled with the breathy vocals of Bowie. T-Rex would be proud of these boys. I love the new record and I can pretty much guarantee that this will be the year of SMITH WESTERNS. Hands down. The record is good enough to catapult them over any other record that’s been released this year. If they get the right festival schedule then, you’ll definitely see this record selling through-out the summer. Dye it Blonde was released earlier this month and the tracks are GREAT…and when we say GREAT in all caps, WE MEAN IT. Hear two of them below. I haven’t smiled this much since I first heard the Tallest Man on Earth record. Time to buy some tickets, get a t-shirt and claim this band as your favorite. By the way, if you don’t do it quickly, you’ll be hating them in a few months when you see them in he iPad 2.0 commercial.

Vitals:
Hometown: Chicago, IL, USA, that’s two days in a row. See The Ponys…is there a new scene in Chitown?
Members: Cullen Omori, Cameron Omori, Max Kakacek, Colby Hewitt
Sonic Soulmates: T-Rex, Bowie, The Soft Pack, Wavves, Kiss (Ace guitars), Supergrass, Girls
Label: Fat Possum
Must Hear Tracks:
“End of the Night” – 70’s dream rock Bowie style. Supergrass style and now Smith Western style.

“Weekend” – This was the single released back in October of 2010. It’s quite good.

Hear the NPR Stream as HERE

Follow:
MySpace
Facebook
Twitter

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Coachella 2011 – 22 New.Band.Day Artists YOU MUST SEE! @ COACHELLA

19 Jan

That’s right, 22 New.Band.Day featured artists are playing Coachella this year. Did you see Saturday’s line-up? Tallest Man on Earth, Cults then The Radio Department. Hells yeah…The Muse, The Turk and I will be going! By the way our all-time fave Death From Above 1979 is back! F’ YAY!

1. The Tallest Man on Earth
2. The Radio Dept.
3. Tame Impala
4. Sleigh Bells
5. Best Coast
6. Foals
7. Joy Formidable
8. Mariachi El Bronx
9. Here We Go Magic
10. Glasser
11. Love Language
12. Morning Benders
13. Phantogram
14. The Drums
15. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
16. Mumford & Sons
17. Lightning Bolt
18. Delorean
19. Trampled By Turtles
20. Cults
21. Warpaint
22. Jenny and Johnny
WTF! Death From Above 1979 reunion…no guitars all bass. Awesome!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day (1.18.11) The Ponys

18 Jan

It's time for the break-through. The Ponys become Colts Photo By Colin Smith!

Photo by Colin Smith!

Band of the Day (1.18.11) The Ponys

Why? Because 2010 was the comeback EP year and 2011 is the year where The Ponys break-through. Much like Pepper Rabbit yesterday, these great bands get overlooked because there are so many other bands doing similar things. The cream doesn’t necessarily rise to the top in the music industry. It’s those that have the right PR and marketing folks that make them or break them. In today’s music environment, it’s impossible to get enough attention to make an impact. There are no retail shelves or radio stations to make your mark. So it’s really all about social influencers, can you find those people that connect you to great music. Since 2002, The Ponys have been touring. In 2007 they hung it up with Turn the Lights Out but it was really the 2004 release Laced With Romance that made The Ponys a band to watch. Their recent Deathbed Plus 4 EP was comparable if not better then anything they’ve released to date. Maybe it was the time off the road, who knows, but the maturity of the band is obvious. Thank you to the Arizona Turk

Vitals:
Hometown: Chicago, IL, USA
Members: Jered Gummere, Melissa Elias, Brian Case, Nathan Jerde
Sonic Soulmates: Joy Division, Interpol, Thee Oh Sees, Black Lips, Coachwhips
Label: Matador
Must Hear Tracks:
“Deathbed” – So many bands wish they had this swagger.

“Is It Working” – Coachwhips wish they were this cool. Sounds like they’re 16 again.

Follow:
MySpace
Facebook

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Band of the Day (1.17.11) Pepper Rabbit

17 Jan

Pepper Rabbit is our Laney Boggs

Pepper Rabbit is our Laney Boggs


Band of the Day (1.17.11) Pepper Rabbit

New album alert from one of the big buzzes of 2010. Not that we weren’t watching, we were distracted. Well a secret little friend of mine sent a new track, can’t post it yet, but it’s brilliant. Then I went back and re-listened to Beauregard and I realized, F#$K, I didn’t give Pepper Rabbit what they deserved…A HUMMINGBIRD. Wow, it was a great record and they deserved our love here at NBD. We apologize for the lack of recognition. It’s like that girl…you’re friends..you talk to her about the empty souled hot blond twit. She tells you that the blond is a bitch. You ignore her for a year, the blond breaks your heart by hooking up with your best friend, then as you’re embracing that helpful friend, she removes her glasses and you realize, wow, she was sitting right next to you the whole time. Not that we’re re-writing another teen romantic comedy, but you are our Laney Boggs…who is Laney Boggs you ask? Well Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook in She’s All That should answer that question. Laney Boggs just made our Glossary….

I know they’ll be in our final year’s list when the new album is released. They’ve reached that moment for us…The moment when you realize that that band is THAT band. Not one of the bunch, but the band that will be remembered. Listen with love to the haunting, yet ironically upbeat tunes of LA’s Pepper Rabbit.

Vitals:
Hometown: Silverlake CA
Members: Xander Singh + Luc Laurent
Sonic Soulmates: Grizzly Bear, The Pet Sound, Nurses, Animal Collective
Label: Kanine Records
Must Hear Tracks:
“Harvest Moon” – From Beauregard and probably the best track from it.

“Babette!” – It was 2:00am and I re-listened to the track, and I thought….”thank you for taking off your glasses” haha

Follow Pepper Rabbit:
MySpace
Facebook

On the Road with Pepper Rabbit:
Upcoming 2011 Tour Dates
1/22 – Harlows – Sacramento, CA*
1/23 – Gundlach Bundschu Winery – Sonoma, CA*
1/25 – WOW Hall – Eugene, OR*
1/26 – Hawthorne – Portland, OR*
1/27 – Neumos – Seattle, WA*
3/23 – Low Brow – El Paso, TX**
3/24 – The Rhythm Room – Phoenix, AZ**
3/25 – The Casbah – San Diego, CA**
3/27 – Rickshaw Stop – San Francisco, CA**
3/29 – Holocene – Portland, OR**
3/30 – Crocodile Cafe – Seattle, WA**
4/1 – Filling Station – Bozeman, MT**
4/2 – Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, UT**
4/3 – Hi Dive – Denver, CO**

* w/ Ra Ra Riot
**w/ Miniature Tigers

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries