Gardens & Villa open your eyes your about to break!
BOD 11.11.11 Gardens & Villa
It’s been awhile and I apologize. Today we’ve found a band that may just be the Hummingbird winner of 2011. Can’t believe these guys have flown under the radar for this long. I’m assuming they will pop up on some irrelevant TV show soon, but in the meantime steal their fame and be the first to follow.
Gardens & Villa are a combination of GOOD Vampire Weekend a splash of MGMT and a great reason to pull out The Shins ancient relics and give them a spin. The boys hail from our favorite turkey time villa of Santa Barbara, CA. Their synth pop indie rock is right in line with the shiat today. This band won’t be under the radar, they’ll be in every commercial right around February. The band formed in 2008, joined Secretly Canadian and befriended our good friend Richard Swift. He influenced this self-titled beauty and you really really really need to get yourself a copy. Buy it on vinyl here
Vitals:
Hometown: Santa f’n Barbara, CA….the album was recorded in Oregon Members: Chris Lynch, keyboardist Adam Rasmussen, bassist Shane McKillop, and drummer Levi Hayden Sonic Soulmates™: The Shins, MGMT, Vampire Weekend (the good not lame version), The Police, Richard Swift Trackables™:
“Black Hills”
Don't Be Alarmed, People Still Go to the LIbrary and They Still Whisper
Band of the Day (10.11.11) Library Voices
I still have the urge to post more information about our “Already Profiled” bands that have new records. There are so many, it’s hard to keep up. We can’t forget about the new ones, we really can’t. Today’s band is a Canadian delight. Now that we’re finally over the maple leaf obsession, we get a band from Regina, Saskatchewan, CA dead center of Winnipeg and Calgary. Some of the most beautiful country in the world, but it’s damn cold. The band Bon Iver’d up in a small town of Kronau (population: 209) to record their sophomore record and it’s quite good. The band has not been on the golden road to Oz, their trailers have been robbed, their instruments and studio destroyed in a flood, but the seven piece Reginates are aiming for their own US rocket ship. The record hits next Tuesday and we have a track or two below. Think of the bell clanging female backed Los Campesinos combined with 80’s horn driven favorites like Bruce Hornsby and then sprinkle in some good ‘ol home cooked Canadian bacon like Stars and The Dears and you have Library Voices. Love ’em and you will be hearing them all over soon.
Vitals:
Hometown: Regina, Saskatchewan, CA
Members:
Amanda Scandrett – keyboards /vocals
Paul Gutheil – saxophone / vocals
Michael Thievin – drums
Brennan Ross – Guitar /vocals
Carl Johnson – lead vocals
Michael Dawson – keyboards / vocals
Eoin Hickey-Cameron – bass guitar
Sonic Soulmates: Los Campesinos, The Dears, Stars, The Range with Bruce Hornsby
Trackables:
“Generation Handclap”
90's dirty basement rock, Sleigh Bells vocals and a new record...GOOD STUFF!
Band of the Day (5.4.11) – EMA
EMA – Erika M. Anderson, former lead of the California noise-folk band Gowns, a band she led with her BF, brings a celebratory record. She was the darling of SXSW this year and she is the darling of our eyes. By the way it’s been over 20 years so it’s safe to use Nirvana chords without being ridiculed, but now it’s cool. She cleverly creates self harmonies, layered with those 90’s rock riffs, piano notes and snare drums. She makes me feel so dirty with “Milkman”, but soothes me and clears my guilt with “Breakfast”
It’s cool shiat and I think you’ll find her busting through on 2011 best of lists.
Vitals
Hometown: West Oakland … originally from South Dakota
Members: Erika M. Anderson, Nicole Anderson, Nicky Mao, Leif Shackelford
Sonic Soulmates™: Zola Genius, Sleigh Bells, Early Hole
Trackables™:
“Grey Ship”
Okay okay okay okay….if you read NBD every day you’ve noticed that I’ve been dormant. Well I apologize. My MacBook died. Literally. Photos, music, documents, all locked away behind my hibernating Mac. It was my good friends at Keane Mac repair that 7xed my Mac and brought NBD back to life. So happy today and so happy that I met a place that does something well! Cheers to you my friends!
Coincidently, I’ve been waiting almost a week to post about our new favorite Arizona Turk derived obsession….SLOWNESS! Yes it explains my posting strategy for April, but their music was well worth the wait. You know we love the local music scene in SF, but we’ve never put limits on our posts. We just find it fun to feature bands from our own music backyard, this market for some reason took a shit in the 90’s and 00’s and it’s just now having it’s moment…again. Drone rock can be fun, the shoegaze theme hasn’t really worn thin, but it’s the hipster version of a jam bands. It’s just darker arenas, less patchouli, and heavier distortion. We like to stick our nose down to our shoes to the Phishes of the world, but let’s be honest if you give them an amp and hair in their face you have Phish goes shoegaze. That being said Slowness takes the best of the genre and delivers a perfect EP. Harmonies, wailing whining guitars and eerie vocals. I liken their sound to one of our faves The Raveonettes, even Autoluxie a bit. Really a great band and I’d expect to hear Geoffrey Scott, Julie Lynn and Scott Putnam bouncing around the country and on the festival circuit very very soon.
We’re back, we have a new hard drive and we’re ready to rule the world.
Vitals
Hometown: SF, CA, USA
Members: Geoffrey Scott: guitars, vocals, loops Julie Lynn: bass, keys, vocals Scott Putnam: drums, vocals
Sonic Soulmates: My Bloody Valentine, The Raveonettes, Autolux
Trackables:
“Slowboat”
Vivian Girls peaceful little bird creates a beauty with La Sera
Band of the Day (2.22.11) La Sera
I’m getting the sneaking suspicion that this year’s lot of new artists are falling into two camps. The female led, fuzzy Spectors and the garage rockers. There have been some outliers, but not enough to say that they have a clan of bands. La Sera falls into the Spector ladies. The Vivian Girls are fantastic and their dreamy morbid pop is always beautiful and their spin-offs are getting just as much press. Many of you probably have La Sera’s limited 7″ spinning on your iPhone or you may have picked up their self-titled LP last week. If you have, then you know that they are worthy of the Band of the Day nod. In February 2010 Katy Goodman started working on some new material that birthed La Sera. Her inspiration is part an attraction to early pop hits from the 1950’s and the other part an obsession with choral harmonies. The music of La Sera is less aggressive than Vivian Girls and has a more peaceful choir sound. Katy met Brady Hall (the director of Vivian Girls videos “Moped Girls” and “When I’m Gone”), and they immediately collaborated, flew to Seattle and the two recorded all the vocals, mixed the songs and filmed two La Sera music videos at Brady’s home studio. The albums dozen or so tracks stemmed from these sessions. Hear our three faves below.
Vitals:
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Members: Katy Goodman (bass, vox), Jenn Prince (guitar, vox) and Jonathan Weinberg (drums, vox, keys)
Sonic Soulmates: Tennis, My Bloody Valentine, Phil Spector 50’s ladies
Must Hear Tracks: “Devils Heart Grows Gold” – Quite possibly the best track from her!
It is Howlin Rain and you will be too when you hear the new EP
Band of the Day – 2.15.11 Howlin Rain
The rules are the rules, but sometimes you have to break them. Our tradition is to focus on bands that are near the beginning. A record or two at the most, but we can’t deny one of our faves Howlin Rain the glory of Band of the Day. Howlin Rain is a native San Francisco band, formed in 2004, released two LPs and now…a glorious EP. It’s brilliant and it’s time they hit the road and got their just due. We’ve been fans for years and we’re so glad to share them with you. The first time I heard them I thought I sent back to 1968 listening to Radio Luxembourg or DJ John Peel. That underground culture was fueled by zines like IT (International Times) and OZ magazine. It’s not too different than today. The market has been disrupted and the bloggers are fueling today’s music revolution. There are so many new bands and the good ones need your love. Listen to Howlin Rain.
Vitals:
Hometown: Formed in Oakland, CA
Members:
Ethan Miller – Vocals, Guitar
Joel Robinow – Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Cyrus Comiskey – Bass
Raj Ojha – Drums
Sonic Soulmates: Rod Stewart, Faces, Dead Meadow, Dungen, Traffic, Cream
Must Hear Tracks “Burning The Midnight Lamp” – Rod Stewart 70’s wailing coupled with psychedelic guitar
“Hung Out in The Rain” – Just a perfect 70’s style love tune. Might be their best track.
It’s Vday folks and my Muse surprised me with tickets to our #3 Hummingbird Award Winners from 2010 —- The Radio Dept. Pictures will be posted an we’re stoked to have some Swedes visiting out fine foggy or misty city of SF!
We love The Radio Dept. here, their accolades are below: #3 Hummingbird Award Winners of 2010
Voted #3 Best New Album Gem of 2010 – Editors Pick
Voted #1 Best New Track “Heaven’s On Fire” Gem of 2010 – Editors Pick
Bi-Coastal Buddies create a long distance indie folk anthem - Love Axe
Band of the Day (2.11.11) Love Axe
After years of playing in multiple bands, Chris Hatfield and Heath Johnson collaborated on this years folk anthem album of the month, maybe year. Love Axe feels like a passion project that took years to create and after reading their bio, it’s very true. Chris Hatfield lives in Oakland and Heath Johnson in Charleston, SC. They met back in 2000, formed a band named Army/Navy, broke up, moved to opposite coasts, but kept creating. They wrote the album over several years, finally meeting in SF to record. Phenomenomenons’ is that record they created and it’s part Jack Johnson, part Jayhawks, part indie folk. The album is anthemic with explosive folk codas. The songs drag a little, a few lag over 6:00, but they’re not repetitive, good diverse sound that pulls in electric guitars just at the right time.
Vitals:
Hometown: Oakland, CA USA (WOOHOO) & Charleston, SC, USA
Members: Keyboards, Bass, Vocals – Chris Hatfield & Drums – Heath Johnson
Sonic Soulmates: Jack Johnson, Bad Books, The Monday Mornings
Must Hear Tracks: “Don’t You Ever Change”
Here again we have another case of a Laney Boggs band. Curious what a Laney Boggs band is? Well Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook in She’s All That should answer that question. The teen romance story where your best friend of the opposite sex listens to you rant all night long about your horrible relationship, then in one moment you realize, “Damn she is really hottttt.” Maybe she removed her glasses, or got dressed up for prom, whatever it is, it’s a classic story and The Dodos are a perfect fit. The SF duo of Meric Long and Logan Kroeber have been trolling the small venues since 2005, playing gigs, putting out 3 LPs, 2008’s Visiter was very good, and it took their single “Black Knight” to make us realize how amazing they truly are. It’s simple drum guitar beat is great, but the vocals remind me of 2005 faves Born Ruffians or last year’s Morning Benders. The guitar slapping at the end reminds me of “Cherub Rock” by the Pumpkins, but it’s the whole package that makes this track great. I love this track and from what has slipped into my Inbox…the album is going to be huge. The album No Color is slated for March 15th and is rumored to have guest appearances from Neko Case, etc. The Dodos should be on your radar, and SXSW may be their Prom dress.
Vitals for The Dodos:
Hometown: San Francisco, CA, USA
Members: Meric Long, Logan Kroeber
Sonic Soulmates: Born Ruffians, Morning Benders, Smashing Pumpkins, The Kooks, Arctic Monkeys
Must Hear Tracks:
“Black Night” – Really might be my favorite track of 2011 so far. Gotta listen to it.
“Winter” – From the Visiter record and it’s shows their depth.
Arizona Turk reminds me on a daily basis to write about one his 2010 gems Suuns. It’s not that they aren’t worthy of a BOD nod, it’s just that they got lost in the shuffle. Suuns of Montreal, CN really are worthy… Their album, Zeroes QC, was released late 2010, and it received tons of accolades. They have groove rock tracks, mixed with heavy electro beats. They’re part Clinic, part MGMT, part Beck and part Thievery Corporation. These Canadian lads have the groove of MGMT and the swagger of David Bowie. I love their sound. It’s so unexpected, it’s kinda shocking. Give em a listen and love em like we do!
Vitals:
Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Members: Ben Shemie, Liam O’Neill, Max Henry, Joseph Yarmush
Sonic Soulmates: MGMT, Clinic, The Besnard Lakes, The Kills, Thievery Corporation with some Beck vocals
Must Hear Tracks:
“Arena” – Probably the best tack on the record
“Sweet Nothing” – If David Bowie recorded a track with MGMT.
“Up Past The Nursery” – I feel a little Beck with MGMT here
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
Spent the night trolling through tracks and was sent this from my friend Chris. Unbelievably great track…Mexican Summers signed these lovely ladies and they are truly going to be HUGE. Here are my guarantees:
A. They’re from LA, so hearing this track in a commercial will almost certainly be a YES
B. Puro Instinct will be playing at Coachella…why do I know this, because Pearl Harbor was a great band and Puro Instinct is even better.
C. They’re all ladies and the rise of the lady bands is the 2011 full tilt year…see No Joy for our commentary
D. If the album is as good as this track w/Ariel Pink then you can call it off because Puro Instinct could be winning the Hummingbird this year.
So to recap – Puro Instinct is dream pop skull soothing, rock from Los Angeles. the band is (mostly) made up of blondies who like to break little boys hearts. Now read the vitals and please pre-order their new record.
Vitals:
Hometown: Location LOS ANGELES, California, United States
Members: Piper & Skylar + Codhi, Dodi Porter, Jessie Clavin, Mike Baum, and Crazy Murray
Sonic Soulmates: Fleetwood Mac, Best Coast, Sleigh Bells….No Joy…etc.
Must Hear Tracks:
“I’ve Got Some Happiness” (Leland Cover) – So you broke up with a guy, this track is so brilliantly perfect for the imperfect kind of days.
“Stilyagi feat. Ariel Pink” – Might be the Gem of 2010, what a f’n great track.
Best Coast - Hanging with Ronnie and the Hummingbird Award
Best New Bands of 2010 Hummingbird Award: #6
Bethany Cosentino is Best Coast and she makes me feel good inside. We fell in love with her back in April. She can grind it out on her electric guitar, or break your heart with her vocals. Think Jenny Lewis with a vendetta to crush you. Her album was one of the best of the year and her summer track “All Summer” for Converse with Kid Cudi is our #1 track of the year. She will be here for a long, long time. Crazy For You is instantly likable and a good album, I love it as much as I did back in June. It’s definitely lasted the test of time. It’s shocking that 2010 was her debut year. We love you Beth and we’re so happy that you were our first BOD @New.Band.Day
Vitals:
Hometown: Eagle Rock, CA (Los Angeles)
Members: Bethany Cosentino
Sonic Soulmates: Jenny Lewis, Surf Rock and the sounds of a bad break-up
Track of the Year:
“All Summer” – Watching the video makes this even better. Who’d uv thunk that a TV commercial would bring the song of the year. Kid Cudi and Beth together the greatest XX/XY duo.
“Boyfriend” – When she’s by herself, you’ve gotta love the grind. Another Top 10 track of 2010.
NewBandDay 