Tag Archives: CA

Best New Bands of 2010 Hummingbird Award: #10 Lord Huron

16 Dec

Best New Bands of 2010 Hummingbird Award: #10 Lord Huron

I’ve never been more proud then when I read the year end reviews of Lord Huron. We’ve been spreading the Lord Huron love since the summer. We’ve seen him all over LA and we’re even on his MySpace page as the originals to spread his work. Leading our Top 10 Best/Most Important Bands of 2010, is our favorite hometown crush Lord Huron.

Vitals:
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Interesting note: Huron Lake shore, in Presque Isle, Michigan
Sonic Soulmates: Ariel of the Little Mermaid meets Grizzly Bear and they create the best summer soundtrack ever!
Buy the EP: Buy it here.
Tracks of the Year:
“Into the Sun”

Lord Huron – “The Problem With Your Daughter”

Original Band of the Day Post 8.2.10

Follow Lord Huron:
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2010 Hummingbird Awards
Hummingbird Award #20: Crocodiles
Hummingbird Award #19: Miniature Tigers
Hummingbird Award #18: Gamble House
Hummingbird Award #17: Tame Impala
Hummingbird Award #16: Paper Crows
Hummingbird Award #15: Perfume Genius
Hummingbird Award #14: The Fresh & Onlys
Hummingbird Award #13: Tennis
Hummingbird Award #12: Memoryhouse
Hummingbird Award #11: Karkwa
Hummingbird Award #10: Lord Huron

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Best New Bands of 2010 Hummingbird Award: #14 The Fresh & Onlys

11 Dec

Best New Bands of 2010 Hummingbird Award: #14 The Fresh & Onlys

It’s important to remember that not all bands are derivatives of others. Really, after so many years and decades of hearing bands, it’s hard not to compare a band to someone else. I do it all the time here at NBD. It’s the best way to give you a frame of reference. So The Fresh and Onlys from San Francisco, released a song so amazing this year, it’s hard not to say you’ve heard it before. Just erase the past and listen to one of the BEST NEW BANDS and SONGS of 2010.

Vitals:
Hometown: The greatest city on Earth San Francisco, CA
Band members: Tim Cohen, Shayde Sartin, Wymond Miles, Kyle Gibson
Sonic Soulmates:….I can’t do it to you…just listen to the track!
Song of the Year:
“Waterfall”

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Original BOD Post: 9.21.10

2010 Hummingbird Awards
Hummingbird Award #20: Crocodiles
Hummingbird Award #19: Miniature Tigers
Hummingbird Award #18: Gamble House
Hummingbird Award #17: Tame Impala
Hummingbird Award #16: Paper Crows
Hummingbird Award #15: Perfume Genius
Hummingbird Award #14: The Fresh & Onlys

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Best Bands of 2010 HUMMINGBIRD AWARD: #18 Gamble House

7 Dec

Best Bands of 2010
#18 Hummingbird Award – Gamble House

Gamble House is what rock has become. Clean guitars, layered vocals and whole lot of So. Cal vibe. I love Grizzly Bear and the like…but there’s something clever and simple that Gamble House provides that I miss when I’m listening to the others. Maybe it’s the California plucking harmonies, no matter what it is, these guys deserve the love and that’s why they are #18 on our Hummingbird award list. The 18th best new band of 2010. Thanks boys.

VITALS:
Hometown: Silve Lake, CA
Members: Ben Becker, Keith Karman, Ben Cassorla and Brian Mclaughlin
Sonic Soulmates: Animal Collective, Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear. Yeah they have The Pet Sound
Tracks of the year:
“Bonny Doon”

“Rising Tides”

Follow:
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Read the original post: 9.17.10

2010 Hummingbird Awards
Hummingbird Award #20: Crocodiles –>
Hummingbird Award #19: Miniature Tigers
Hummingbird Award #18: Gamble House

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Band of the Day (11.15.10) MNDR

15 Nov Photo by Bek Andersen

BOD (11.15.10) MNDR

So the holiday is over and life has changed for New.Band.Day. A new XX/XY duo was officially wed in Kansas and life has never been better. So with that we celebrate another fantastic XX/XY duo MNDR, pronounced Mander. Forming in 2009, Amanda Warner and Peter Wade have two EPs under their belt and hopefully a full length on the way. Warner is a fellow Bay Area resident, having moved to NY to get her music career on the right trajectory. Hey we might be the only MUSIC BLOG based in Berkeley, but we know where bands break.

They’ve toured with Yacht and Deerhoof and now with Chromeo. With a resume like that, you’d think MNDR would have a gigantic following or at least a full length. Never-the-less, MNDR’s Warner sounds like Berlin backed with the most minimalistic of electro-clash sounds. She may sound like Santigold, she has a trajectory not supported by MIA, but rather Mark Ronson and the entire Bay Area and New York. We love the sound and we want MNDR to be your new favorite band.

Hear:
“I Go Away”

Download –> MNDR – “I Go Away”

“Fade to Black”

Follow:
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MNDR site Grab a free MP3 here too
MySpace

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Band of the Day (11.8.10) Lakes

8 Nov

BOD (11.8.10) Lakes

Lakes of San Luis Obispo are great. The new record “The Agreement” is nothing more than a good old fashioned love record. Sometimes I get exhausted listening to music that drains my emotions. I need a feel good record and Lake’s completely delivered. Today I’ll call this band cool, but I promise they will get so big, we will all look back on this post and say “Remember when Lakes was a cool Indie band from San Luis Obispo?” Or maybe not. The record is strong with several “playlist” love tracks that your girlfriend will surely appreciate. The lyrics are clever and the music is good. I think you’ll all agree that what makes a GOOD band is great songwriting and a set of pipes. Where Lakes excel is where most local bands fall flat on their face. Seth Roberts can sing and the tracks are great. Take a listen.

Hear:
“Loose Fix” – Not the pop driven single but a good The Alarm type track. Who didn’t love The Alarm!?!

“Broadlyn” – The single…again, this band will be MASSIVE, so enjoy their Indie status now. This track is poppy….

“The Heart is an Anchor” – A little DCFC sounding.

Follow:
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Lakes Band Site

Band:
Seth Roberts
Jeremy Wells
Justin Sears
Jacob Wick
Matthew Covington

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Band of the Day (11.1.10) Crocodiles

1 Nov

Band of the Day (11.1.10) Crocodiles

Okay, I’m writing this and watching Brian Wilson win the city of San Francisco their first baseball championship. Quite a night for our city. We felt it appropriate to focus on a band from a city that gave the Giants the NL West, Crocodiles of San Diego. 2008-09’s meteoric rise of the “Neon Jesus” single catapulted Charles Rowell and Brandon Welchez to almost-fame. They’re still on a tear with a sound that is a tribute to the early 80’s indie rock/electronic of Jesus and the Mary Chain, Love and Rockets and even a little Echo. In 2010 they released Sleep Forever and our good friend Bristian reminded us of our most giant band crush…with two great tracks. Love them like we do. Please let us when you get back on tour, hope everything is okay guys.

HEAR:
“I Wanna Kill” – Love and Rockets garage synth sound.

Download —>>>>Crocodiles – I Wanna Kill

“Sleep Forever” – Jesus and the Marypranksters…love this TRACK SO MUCH!!!!

Download —>>>Crocodiles – “Sleep Forever”

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Band of the Day (10.7.10) Warpaint

7 Oct

BOD: (10.7.10) Warpaint

All girl quartet Warpaint has been on the LA scene for some time now. Over three years of hard core touring, and a few EPs, the band has really found their groove. With a new LP hitting stores this fall, we’ve find the cherokee ladies of Silverlake perfectly mixing electronic sounds with layered vocals. As Cat Power goes retro cover chic, Warpaint smashes it live with the likes of John Frusciante mixing new tracks. Time to make Warpaint your favorite female artists of 2010.

Hear:
“Elephants”

Download — Warpaint – “Elephants”

“Billie Holiday” – Arranged by Red Hot Chili Pepper John Frusciante, this track is vocals first and very pleasant

Download — Warpaint – BillieHoliday

Band:
Emily Kokal /// vocals, guitar
Theresa Wayman /// vocals, guitar
Jenny Lee Lindberg /// bass, vocals
Stella Mozgawa /// drums, keys, vocals

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Band of the Day (10.6.10) Moon Duo

6 Oct

BOD: (10.6.10) Moon Duo

San Francisco is a hot bed for new music. I’m not kidding, see Tamaryn and The Fresh and Onlys. Don’t believe me, we don’t care, because we’re here and there is a sound forming. Moon Duo is the finest of what SF has to offer. Their a wall of spooky sounds and their wall includes a shoegazey horrorific approach that keeps you listening. Our friends at the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride were looking for new music for this year’s event and we at NBD suggested Moon Duo. Sanae Yamada and Ripley Johnson formed Moon Duo in the City in 2009 and their latest EP is kraut driven and it reminds us of BRMC with a mix of Royal Trux and a dose of Turbonegro.

Hear:
“Escape” – Surf rock for the night dwellers.

Download – Moon Duo – “Escape”

“Motorcycle, I Love You”

Download – Moon Duo – “Motorcycle, I Love You”
Band:
Sanae Yamada
Ripley Johnson

Follow:
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MoonDuo.Org

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Band of the Day (9.21.10) The Fresh & Onlys

21 Sep

BOD (9.21.10) The Fresh & Onlys

Awhile back we were on a tear here at NBD talking about the cool SF scene that was emerging. So many cool bands, most of which were featured on our Facebook only days, visit here to see. Bands like Girls, which were Band of the Day #3 for us, or Sonny and The Sunsets have helped rekindle the cool scene here in the Upper Bay and we’re loving it. It’s been awhile since a rock band billowed from the fog. Well The Fresh & Onlys have inspired our turn-tables, iPhones, and Macs here at NBD.

Their vocals are from the new waves first wave, gloomy, dark and eerily cool, because the lyrics are brilliant, think Joy Division with a purpose to live. Their music is twangy, Indie and full of great musicianship. No overdubbing echoes, just twangy blues rock. Their production level has escalated and it’s time for this band to break. I promise these guys are fantastic and you’ll love them. One track and you’ll be hooked.

Hear:
“Waterfall”

Download –> The Fresh & Onlys – “Waterfall”

Band Members:
Tim Cohen, Shayde Sartin, Wymond Miles, Kyle Gibson

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Band of the Day (9.17.10) Gamble House

17 Sep You will never forget them

BOD (9.17.10) Gamble House

Grizzly Bear sonic twins, Gamble House, hail from the heart of Silverlake, CA. Yeah it took Ben Becker’s stint at NYU to create this masterpiece, but the move to LA solidified them as true rock stars. They are rockers at heart, with clean guitars, classic vocals that rival Animal Collective, Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear. I am fan, because they are classically California and they maintain their own sound. Yeah they have The Pet Sound, but they pull at your heartstring in a way you don’t get from the other PSers. Ben Becker, Keith Karman, Ben Cassorla and Brian Mclaughlin make up the sound of Gamble House. They deserve to be signed and they deserve the accolades. Listen to “Bonny Doon” only because the song is beautiful and I love that part of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It’s up there by Boulder Creek and if you have time see a show at The Brookdale. It’s very memorable. See them on tour with Rogue Wave and get these dudes a label deal, they deserve it!!!

Hear:
“Bonny Doon”

Download –> Gamble House – “Bonny Doon”

“Rising Tides”

Download –> Gamble House – “Rising Tides”

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Band of the Day (8.25.10) Glasser

25 Aug

BOD (8.25.10) Glasser

Glasser is LA based Cameron Mesirow (with help from her boyfriend Foreign Born’s vocalist Matt Popieluch). She has a knack for layering world sounds under her Bjork pitch. She’s more than just a voice, she writes, creates and is the embodiment of her music. Even the name Glasser, came from a midnight vision of a figure hovering over water. Her music isn’t heart-wrenching, it’s big, bold and complex. The only comparison I can make is that of Bjork or Emily Haines maybe sometimes I hear a little Kate Bus. I hope you enjoy “Home” and “Apply” please follow her before she becomes too famous.

Hear:
“Home”

“Apply” – I even hear a bit of Siouxsie Sioux in this track

Follow Glasser:
MySpace

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Band of the Day (8.23.10) Ferraby Lionheart

23 Aug Be prepared for a fantastic singer/songwriter/heartbreaker

BOD (8.23.10) Ferraby Lionheart

Two albums, one EP, a stint as the lead of Telecast, an onstage call-out by Jon Brion and Ferraby Lionheart is finally about to break. It’s taken seven years for this Nashville native heartbreaker to reach the “I’m About to Break” stage of his career, but oh how lucky we are to get a chance to hear him as he’s on the rise. His new album The Jack of Hearts has been well received by the Indie press. He’s since moved to LA so I have a sense that in two years, he’ll be doing duets with Emmylou Harris, touring the Grand Ole Opry and on the “A” stage of every summer festival. I’m just glad I found him before it was too late. His sonic similarity lie somewhere between Rufus Wainwright and Travis, with a drop of Morrissey. His arrangements are borderline 50’s crooner with a mix of John Lennon tambourine/drum strokes. See him on tour with the Watson Twins.

Hear:
“Arkansas” – It’s the tragic 50’s song, kid travels back home to find his kin only to discover Dad is locked up. His voice is amazing here and I love the harmonies.

Download Three Tracks via Daytrotter for FREE! If you don’t know of Daytrotter…they rule. Great sessions of some great NBD artists.

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His site
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Band of the Day (8.5.10) Fitz & The Tantrums

5 Aug LA scensters give new meaning to 60's revivalism

BOD (8.5.10) Fitz and the Tantrums

The hipster scene is an ever evolving landscape. It’s hard to track what the speakeasy crowd is doing or following. Fedora’s were so 2008, Chuck Taylor’s were so 2009 and 60’s revival rock is so right now. I can’t escape the MP3’s in my inbox that sound like something I would have heard in 1967. Today’s BOD is no exception. I was trying to find something ironic to say about this band, but simply put, LA based Fitz & The Tantrums are good ‘ol revival rock with an authentic analog sound and vocals that come from the heart. The piano, soul/gospel backing vocals and the male throttled love songs make Fitz a classic must have for 2010. Oh how I wish I lived during this time period. I love how vocals express sadness, not drum machines or a Mac. Fitz is as expressive as they come. Noelle is the epitome of a soulful vocalist. Wicks has a way of adding authenticity and King, Phillips and Ruzumma are the glue that make the analog/vinyl crowd proud.

I’ve posted two tracks for you to enjoy.
“Money Grabber”

“Breakin The Chains of Love”

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Fitz & The Tantrums Website

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