Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #3: JESSIE WARE

27 Dec
Hummingbird #3 Brought to you by one of these best artists of 2012 Jessie Ware

Hummingbird #3 Brought to you by one of these best artists of 2012 Jessie Ware

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #3: JESSIE WARE
I am struggling with this pick. Really and truly, I actually think Jessie Ware is the #1 Best New Artist of 2012, but I also think that Alabama Shakes and The Lumineers made their impact in 2012. Here is the rub, they really don’t need our help here at NBD. Not that it makes our list any less legit, but I’m not handing out Grammy’s here. This isn’t about record sales, this is about a band that will withstand the test of time and be there in 10 years. I don’t think the Lumineers will be there and Alabama Shakes needs some song-writing and arrangement help. The album got a little tedious and didn’t exploit her voice like it should have. So that’s why our list DOESN’T include those two super chart busters. Jessie Ware should be #1 in any other year, but frankly #2 and #1 are just a hair strand better in our minds. We love Jessie’s production quality, her danceable mood driven tracks and her ode to 80’s stylistic sounds like Lisa Stansfield to make her our second favorite female lead of the year. We love Jessie Ware and we know she will not be going away any time soon.

Vitals:
Founded: 2010
Hometown: Brixton, London
Members: Jessie Ware
Sonic Soulmates™: Sade, Whitney Houston, Tracey Thorne
Trackables™: From her debut LP Devotion
Listen to “110%”, “Strangest Feeling” and “Wildest Moment” the title track “Devotion” here.

“110%”

“Strangest Feeling”

Follow Jessie Ware:
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Hummingbird Awards – ALL YOUR BEST NEW BANDS FROM 2010, 2011 and 2012:

Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
#11 Fear of Men
#10 The Weeknd
#9 Nude Beach
#8 Class Actress
#7 Johnathon Boulet
#6 DIIV
#5 Hey Sholay
>#4 Alt-J (∆)
#3 Jessie Ware
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #4: Alt-J (∆)

26 Dec
Alt-J deserves the Hummingbird Award

Alt-J deserves the Hummingbird Award

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #4: Alt-J (∆)
This might be a record for us, two bands back-to-back from Leeds. First Hey Sholay now Alt-J, although this civic rivalry may be problematic since most of the Hey Sholay lads are from Sheffield…either way, something is brewing in the water and it’s not ale, it’s a penchant for good quality music that leads the pack in some of the best new bands of 2012. We loved Alt-J back in September and we still love the Awesome Wave LP, hell they won a Mercury Prize…not why we loved them, but rarely does a winner of that prize suck. Read the original Uncorking here.
Alt-J is definitely still riding the hang-over of the 2011 layered electronic, dreamy sonic sounds of Animal Collective and Midlake, but at times we hear the timeless Fletwood Mac beauty shine through. Please listen to “Breezeblocks” and tell us you don’t love these guys.

Vitals:
Founded: 2011
Hometown: Leeds, UK
Members: Gwil, Joe Newman [guitar/vocals], Gus Unger-Hamilton [keyboards] and Thom Green [drums] met at Leeds University in 2007
Sonic Soulmates™: Midlake, Nurses, Animal Collective
Trackables™:
“Breezeblocks” – Amazing single

An Awesome Wave

Follow Hey Sholay:
Alt-J Website
Facebook

Hummingbird Awards – ALL YOUR BEST NEW BANDS FROM 2010, 2011 and 2012:

Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
#11 Fear of Men
#10 The Weeknd
#9 Nude Beach
#8 Class Actress
#7 Johnathon Boulet
#6 DIIV
#5 Hey Sholay
#4 Alt-J (∆)
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #5: HEY SHOLAY

23 Dec
#5 is oh so fine. Hey Sholay. Photo Credit Lofty Fiasco

#5 is oh so fine. Hey Sholay

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #5: Hey Sholay

It’s always nice to spread the Christmas cheer and joy with an uplifting set of mates from Leeds and Sheffield. We’ve been harmonizing with them since August just waiting for this day to award them with a Hummingbird Award. They’re part indie anthem rock see Arcade Fire, part party music see Los Campesinos! with a final dash of London Suede for your festivus celebration. “Wishbone (Wish Wish Wish) is the song that will take them a mile above the Earth to their stardom. Whatever your taste, the album cleverly titled ((O)) will make your end of year plans a little happier.

Vitals:
Hometown: Sheffield and Leed, UK
Members:
Rob Philpot (Drums), Stef Kania (Bass, Moral Support), Liam Ward (Keys and Guitar), Liam Creamer (Vocals and keys and ) and Laurie Allport (Guitar)
Sonic Soulmates™: Arctic Monkeys, Maccabees, Los Campesinos!, London Suede
Trackables™ from the new LP ((O))
“My Blood”
“The Bears the Clocks the Bees”
“Wishbone (Wish Wish Wish)”

Follow Hey Sholay:
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Hummingbird Awards – ALL YOUR BEST NEW BANDS FROM 2010, 2011 and 2012:

Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
#11 Fear of Men
#10 The Weeknd
#9 Nude Beach
#8 Class Actress
#7 Johnathon Boulet
#6 DIIV
#5 Hey Sholay
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #6: DIIV

20 Dec
Hummingbird #6 DIIV...The Real Estate of 2012

Hummingbird #6 DIIV…The Real Estate of 2012

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #6: DIIV

I hesitated with this one, primarily because this band has the buzz right now. But as we debated here we came to the conclusion that our list would be incomplete without DIIV. These Brooklyn boys lit up our headphones early in the year with their break-out track “Sometime”, we heard it all over the blog-o-sphere, Gorilla v Bear, Pitchfork, even in a Converse campaign. DIIV which was forced to change it’s name from Dive, belong in our top 5 of 2011, they have that beachy spacey sound that dominated the Animal Collective trail. They seem to have perfected it though. Zachary Cole Smith of Beach Fossils, a fan favorite of NBD years ago, has taken this band from experimental to the real thing. The greatest comparison we can make here at NBD is that of our band crush Real Estate and The Ark bands of Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, etc.

Vitals:
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Members:
Zachary Cole Smith
Andrew Bailey
Devin Ruben Perez
Colby Hewitt of Smith Westerns
Sonic Soulmates™: Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Real Estate
Trackables™ from her new LP Oshin
Past Lives”, “How Long Have You Known”, and “Doused” a

Follow DIIV:
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Hummingbird Awards – ALL YOUR BEST NEW BANDS FROM 2010, 2011 and 2012:

Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
#11 Fear of Men
#10 The Weeknd
#9 Nude Beach
#8 Class Actress
#7 Johnathon Boulet
#6 DIIV
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #7: Johnathon Boulet

19 Dec
Just listen and trust us. One of the best records of the year.

Just listen and trust us. One of the best records of the year.

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #7: Johnathon Boulet

Since we already posted the Playlist for the End of Times, which by note is on Friday, we couldn’t help ourselves and we had to award Johnathon Boulet with a Hummingbird. Nothing this year got us more pumped up for a fist fight then Johnathon Boulet. I wanted to watch Australian Rules Football drink a pint of Foster’s and beat some ass. There is no single rock record that should be listened to this year then their new LP We Keep The Beat Found the Sound See the Need Start the Heart. We dare you to hate it. Fine we hope you love them like we do. By the way, we know you music snobs will remind us that Johnathon Boulet had a record in 2009, and yes that record rules too, but seriously they deserve the nod and they are still considered BREAKING!!!! SO break them you fan boys!

Vitals:
Hometown: Sydney, Australia
Label: Ode to my boys at Modular
Members:
Ravi Gupta
Tim Watkins
Harrison Wood
David Rogers
Jono Boulet
Sonic Soulmates™: Indie Folk is what they call themselves???? Less Mumford and more Kasabian. A little Kurt Vile’s lonely loveliness, Blur’s get up and riot attitude, and Kasabian’s anarchy anthems.
Trackables™ from her new LP We Keep The Beat Found the Sound See the Need Start the Heart
“This Song is Called Ragged”
“You’re an Animal”
“Piao Voca Slung”

Follow Johnathon Boulet:
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official
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Hummingbird Awards – ALL YOUR BEST NEW BANDS FROM 2010, 2011 and 2012:

Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
#11 Fear of Men
#10 The Weeknd
#9 Nude Beach
#8 Class Actress
#7 Johnathon Boulet
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #8: CLASS ACTRESS

18 Dec
Class Actress is one of our favorite artists of 2012. #8 Hummingbird

Class Actress is one of our favorite artists of 2012. #8 Hummingbird

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #8: CLASS ACTRESS

The original post was way back in January of 2012. We loved her 80’s simplicity similar to that of early OMD, Madonna or even Human League, and the electroclash is better than we’ve heard recently. Her sound sits in the Twin Sister, Chairlift, Grimes arena of modern music and we have yet to turn her off, it’s been 11 months. Back in 2011 we were obsessed with EMA for the same reason, catchy riffs, electronic odes to the 80’s and a sultry pleasant voice that brought the mood up a notch. Her record was technically a 2011 release, but it came out late, it hurt her positioning on our Top 12 Hummingbird List, but hell she is #8. Listen and love.

Vitals:
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY via Philadelphia, PA
Members: Elizabeth Harper
Sonic Soulmates™: Twin Sister, Depeche Mode, Kate Bush, Chairlift, OMD, Grimes, Madonna
Trackables™ from her new LP Rapproacher
“Weekend”
“Keep You”
“Need to Know”

Follow Class Actress:

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official
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Hummingbird Awards – ALL YOUR BEST NEW BANDS FROM 2010, 2011 and 2012:
Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
#11 Fear of Men
#10 The Weeknd
#9 Nude Beach
#8 Class Actress
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #9: NUDE BEACH

17 Dec
Nude Beach photos were fun to look for, but their music is just as good. Hummingbird #10

Nude Beach photos were fun to look for, but their music is just as good. Hummingbird #9

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #9: NUDE BEACH

There was a time in my life where it revolved around my jean jacket, my shaggy hair, my need to date any girl that looked like she was wearing ripped up jeans and a loose fitting shirt and quite possibly a mutual desired love for The Jam. It’s good to know that that phase has passed, but the sonic soulmates of that ERA keep cropping back up. Most of which absolutely suck, really they do. Only one or two will last longer than their actual predecessors, not to say that the early pop rock Gods were any good either. They had their time and it passed, but with our generation of Millenials who believe that nothing existed before 2000, here is something to remember. Every band has a Sonic Soulmate. Even your beloved Radiohead. Nude Beach is quite good and deserves to be on this year’s list. They skate the Costello riffs and The Jams rip and tear to produce a high quality record. We look forward to their follow-up LP and some tour dates.

Vitals:
Home: Brooklyn, NY
Members: MChuck Betz, Ryan Naideau, and Jimmy Shelton
Sonic Soulmates™: 1983 guitar pop bands see Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, The Jam, The Alarm
Trackables™: Notable tracks from his release II, but listen to the whole damn thing
“Walkin’ Down My Street”
“Radio” – Tom Petty
“Some Kinda Love”

Follow Nude Beach:

Facebook
BandCamp
official

Hummingbird Awards – ALL YOUR BEST NEW BANDS FROM 2010, 2011 and 2012:
Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
#11 Fear of Men
#10 The Weeknd
#9 Nude Beach
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #10: THE WEEKND

14 Dec
The Weeknd is better than Frank Ocean so we gave him a Hummingbird

The Weeknd is better than Frank Ocean so we gave him a Hummingbird

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #10: THE WEEKND

I hate secrets. Especially when they are about me. So why is The Weeknd such a secretive dude? Why won’t he tell us the truth or remove the shroud and celebrate his greatness. We want an interview! Here is what we do know, his music is absolutely amazing, he is Abel Tesfaye, he released three mix tapes in 2012, he signed to Universal Republic, he has important friends, he is a man, he sounds like Drake and R. Kelly, he is one of our favorite new artists for 2012, he just won a Hummingbird. So here is what we said last month…and enjoy our gift to you! He should be #1, but dude your Trilogy came out too late this year. He skyrocketed up our list around September and held onto to Spot 10. We even got several hundred votes from readers for him.

Vitals:
Home: Toronto, CA
Members: Abel Tesfaye
Sonic Soulmates™: R. Kelly, Drake
Trackables™: Notable tracks from his release Trilogy, but listen to the whole damn thing
“This Morning”
“Wicked Games”
“House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls”

Follow The Weeknd:
Facebook
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official

Hummingbird Awards – ALL YOUR BEST NEW BANDS FROM 2010, 2011 and 2012:
Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
#11 Fear of Men
#10 The Weeknd
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #11: FEAR OF MEN

13 Dec

Hummingbird Award Winners Fear of Men

Hummingbird Award Winners Fear of Men

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #11: FEAR OF MEN

Really, Fear of Men should be our anthem for 2012. 2012 was our Lillith Fair 2.0. More women leads, more female solo artists and no men, anywhere. Here’s what we said about them in our “Fresh Nectar” report back in November…they made our playlist for the End of Times
“Man will surely be the reason why the world ends. Something we created, some manufactured food, only God knows. What I do know is that Fear of Men are the BEST BAND OF 2012…Really and truly. Fear of Men are the London/Brighton quartet of Jess Weiss, Dan, Alex and Mike” EPs and some great tracks made up their year as we await a full length any day now. we’re now 2 for 2 with female leads. Did we mention that this was the

Vitals:
Home: Brighton, UK
Members: Jess Weiss, Dan, Alex and Mike (last names not available)
Sonic Soulmates™: Veronica Falls, St. Etienne, GRMLN
Trackables™: “Green Sea” single — one of our favorite songs of the year.

Mosaic 7″

Follow Fear of Men:
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Hummingbird Awards – ALL YOUR BEST NEW BANDS FROM 2010, 2011 and 2012:
Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #12: ROSE ELINOR DOUGALL

12 Dec

HUMMINGBIRD AWARD WINNER Rose Elinor Dougall

HUMMINGBIRD AWARD WINNER Rose Elinor Dougall

Best New Bands of 2012 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD #12: ROSE ELINOR DOUGALL

I like what we said back in March, “I’m in love with Rose, have been since her 2010 LP. Not only is she quite hot but the new EP that hit my Inbox back in January has me stirring. The Distractions who accompany Ms. Dougall are shoegazey with such great guitar riffs i feel like I’m listening to My Vitriol or early Cure. Her lyrics and Hope Sandovalish voice are emotional and alluring. The two together sound like The Sundays discovering Teenage Fanclub.” I’m still in love with her and I hope that the world reads this post and gives her the credit she deserves.

Read the original post HERE

Vitals: London, UK
Members:
Rose Elinor Dougall – Vocals, Keys
The Distractions:
Tom Dougall – Guitar
Ralegh Long – Guitar, Mandolin, keys
Georgia Lee – Bass, Vocals
Martin Dean – Drums
Sonic Soulmates™: The Distractions = ’90s Brit-alt pop My Vitriol, Teenage Fanclub or The Sundays, Rose = Hope Sandoval, Holly Miranda
Trackables™:
“I’ve Always Known” – Her only release for 2012 was an EP and this is more of a plea to get a full record in 2013.

The whole EP The Distractions EP

Follow:
Facebook
Her site
Spotify

Hummingbird Awards – ALL YOUR BEST NEW BANDS FROM 2010, 2011 and 2012:
Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
Hummingbird Awards 2011
Hummingbird Awards 2010

THE 3rd Annual HUMMINGBIRDS ARE COMING 12.12.12 ****UPDATED******

4 Dec

*********UPDATED**********
The final 12!!!!!
Hummingbird Awards 2012
#12 Rose Elinor Dougall
#11 Fear of Men
#10 The Weeknd
#9 Nude Beach
#8 Class Actress
#7 Johnathon Boulet
#6 DIIV
#5 Hey Sholay
>#4 Alt-J (∆)
#3 Jessie Ware
#2 Grimes
#1 Toy

Editor Picks Best of 2012: RE’s 2012 Picks
Staff Picks Best of 2012: Arizona Turk’s Incredible List for 2012

Read the 2011 Hummingbirds
Did you know we predicted James Vincent McMorrow, Other Lives, La Sera and Widowspeak!

No Better Bands Then The One's Who Wear the Hummingbird

No Better Bands Then The One’s Who Wear the Hummingbird

Playlist:

Read the 2010 Hummingbirds
Did you know we predicted Best Coast, Sleigh Bells, Perfume Genius, Lord Huron & Tennis!

No Better Bands Then The Ones That Wear The Hummingbird

No Better Bands Then The Ones That Wear The Hummingbird

Playlist:

Where will she land? Tell us your favorite 2012 New Band and we will add them to our list!

November ’12 Picks — The Perfect Playlist for the End of Times

14 Nov

Doomsday Delights…the final list of music for the end of times.

Mayan calendars, apocalyptic weather patterns, locusts, temple completion. Oh it’s all coming down to 12/21/12 So let’s enjoy it with new music. Here are our top 10 bands, albums and what nots to make our November list or the last 30 days of our existence a memorable one. The perfect playlist of new bands for the end of times. Too bad these bands won’t make it past our little blog…or will they:

#10 –> April Maze
Melbourne duo, touring since ’10. Perfect Sad music for when you think back on the missed opportunities, the love lost, investment’s gaffed, etc. April Maze will be your last cigarette type moment. The new album is Two

#9 –> Dwntwn
When you want to dance in the streets with no clothes on…I know I’m going hear this band on Gossip Girl at some gala event to celebrate Blair’s new clothing line. Dwntwn’s new EP The Red Room

#8 –> The Vaccines
They go in the “BECAUSE WE WERE RIGHT” category. No band we were more sure about, well maybe Mumford, but The Vaccines new record Come of Age spills over with Johnny Rotten vocals and a soundtrack moment for the one last revenge eff. You know the one that got away, the one that dumped you HARD. Your cure is here. Needle up “All In Vain” and give her a call.

#7 –> Jonathan Boulet
This is the soundtrack to overthrow the final vestiges of your leadership. The song you have pumping in the car when you finally tell authority to eat shit. Possibly my favorite record of 2012! “You’re An Animal” is the song that should be played! Another band from down under. New record is titled We keep the beat Found the sound See the need Start the heart

#6 –> Darren Hayman and the Long Parliament
If you want to impress her or him by addressing the dinner party with your deep dark knowledge of the Essex Witch Trials which took place during the English Civil War, then spend the time with Darren Hayman’s Violence. It’s a considered listen and it will definitely give you a leg up and the “End of Times Dinner Gala”. Who knows we might all be considered witches and this is a guide to avoid your own persecution.

#5 –> Clinic
Are we supposed to care about bands from 1997 when the world is about to end..Hell yes we are, especially when Free Reign is their best record since 2002. Liverpool’s Clinic is the music playing while you question your life choices, you say to yourself “Why didn’t I do XXXX” you can fill in the blank.

#4 –> The Weeknd
You’re now counting minutes, no not that stupid Justin Timberlake movie In Time, but the real minutes, who knows if you even have electricity left. This is the record that will be playing when the last ounce of oxygen is removed from the planet. Why, because it’s that good that you want to hear it again and again and again and….The Weeknd is Abel Tefsaye of Toronto who was/is about to redefine R&B. Drake and Kanye droool at the feet of The Weeknd. Trilogy is when you pray that this really isn’t the end because you need one more record from this cat.

#3 –> Fear of Men
Man will surely be the reason why the world ends. Something we created, some manufactured food, only God knows. What I do know is that Fear of Men are the BEST BAND OF 2012…Really and truly. Fear of Men are the London/Brighton quartet of Jess Weiss, Dan, Alex and Mike

#2 Crystal Castles
Did someone say endless amounts of drugs because it won’t matter when we’re all dead. Bring on the heroin, the crystal, hell bring on the krokodil tears, ever since I read about that shit in Vice, I really wanted to get my hands on some of that Russian brain melter from Novokuznetsk. So as you drift up to Neverland with Pan and his little people, play the perfect psychotropic soundtrack…Crystal Castles (III). Hell if you can find a boat head to the Nordics and enjoy the grime party.

#1 –> The Walkmen
Only because it’s what I want to listen to on my last day on Earth. It’s the band that perfectly explains my mental maturity. From the youthful rage of “The Rat” to the timeliness of You & Me to the soberness of the new record Heaven. It’s what I want to hear when I reach the pearly gates and need to explain myself to my maker. Just play “Heaven” on repeat until it’s over. The record provides aural courage.

Break Glass if needed:
NEW MUSIC FOR BEING CHASED BY ZOMBIES OR AN ANGRY MOB: GRAVEYARD

NEW MUSIC FOR THE MOMENT WHEN STANDING IN A CONVERTIBLE, HAIR BLOWING IN WIND: HEY SHOLAY ((o))

NEW MUSIC FOR THE MOMENT YOU REALIZE YOUR LOVED ONES ARE ALL GONE…so sad: HOW TO DRESS WELL Total Loss

NEW MUSIC FOR THE LAST RUN ON THE MOONLIT BEACH WITH YOUR LOVE…so romantic: BEACH HOUSE Bloom

Send us your picks….

The full playlist is here on Spotify:

UNCORKED™ – Best New Bands of 2012 (11.4.12) Christopher Owens

4 Nov

I love Girls but I think we love Christopher Owens more…

UNCORKED™ – Best New Bands of 2012 (11.5.12) Christopher Owens
I don’t know how I feel about this. It would be like Jack White going solo after the first two White Stripes records. Christopher Owens leaves Girls after a second record that quite possibly was the best record of this decade. His solo record is good, which shows us that the band Girls had far more depth. The Tullesque flute coupled with the electric guitar sounds like early Fleetwood and later Midlake combined. I’m sold, but dude don’t burn us and give your Girls bandmates a chance and do another record in 2013. We really do, did and still do love Girls —> read for yourself WE WERE RIGHT!!!

Vitals:
Founded: 2012
Hometown: SF, CA
Members: Christopher Owens
Sonic Soulmates™: Midlake, Girls, Fleetwood Mac, Jethro Tull
Trackables™: “Here We Go”

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