[mp3] Lord Huron - "Auld Lang Syne"

Happy New Year from Lord Huron!

Last January, Lord Huron released a very special holiday cover of "Auld Lang Syne". With the coming of the new year, I'd like to share (via ForceFeld PR) the beautifully crafted renditition of one of my favorite holiday songs. Enjoy, and happy new year!

Hump Day Power Play (12-28-2011)

Year-End Edition

With 2011 wrapping up, we are smack-dab in the middle of Year-End List-o-mania. Three Colours' Year End List is soon to drop (check back in a few days), so I thought this Wednesday's Hump Day Power Play should feature songs from the best albums of 2011, as this will be the last HDPP of the year. Enjoy, and happy new year!

Hear it by simply clicking here. Playlist is below.

:: Hump Day Power Play (12-28-2011) ::

01 :: "Shit-Hawk In The Snow" - Moonface

02 :: "Tracers" - Miracle Fortress

03 :: "Lotus Flowers" - Radiohead

04 :: "French Exit" - The Antlers

05 :: "Gone" - Vacationer
06 :: "Video Games" - Lana Del Rey

07 :: "Reunion" - M83

08 :: "Don't Stop (Color On The Walls)" - Foster the People

09 :: "Repatriated" - Handsome Furs
10 :: "Walk At Night" - Cults

11 :: "Devils" - Say Hi
12 :: "Lonely Boy" - The Black Keys

13 :: "Drug" - White Denim
14 :: "Minnesota, WI" - Bon Iver
15 :: "Nothing But Our Love" - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

16 :: "Grown Ocean" - Fleet Foxes

Get Spotify (if you don't already have it).

[video] Lana Del Rey - "Off To The Races"

Women Kick Ass

Lana Del Rey's debut album Born To Die is out next month (January 30 via Interscope), and she's been sharing some of the tracks that are album-bound. Check out the video above for "Off To The Races", which features video clips of ladies kicking ass and taking names later.

Speaking of Del Rey, she'll make her national television debut on January 14's Saturday Night Live. Don't miss it.

[new music] The xx - "Open Eyes" (Demo)

New music from the xx

Back in 2009, the xx dropped their debut album on my unexpected ears and completely blew me away. Earning honors in the top 3 LPs of 2009 and unofficially winning "Rookie of the Year" titles, the South London trio have treated us (via their blog) with holiday cheer by giving us all a sweet xx-mas present. Feast your ears on this slow, softly sung demo below, and get pumped about the idea of a new xx album in the distant future. Happy holidays!

 

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (12-21-2011)

Holiday Edition

This will be the last playlist before the holidays, so I thought I'd put together an appropriately themed Hump Day Power Play. Hopefully everyone makes it home safely to their holiday destination this break, and perhaps this playlist will bring some extra cheer? Again, you need Spotify to listen to it. Hear it by simply clicking here. Playlist is below.

:: Hump Day Power Play (12-21-2011) ::

01 :: "Vacation" - Beach Fossils

02 :: "Gone" - Vacationer (amazing song)

03 :: "Holiday" - Body Language

04 :: "Winter Vacation" - Atlas Sound

05 :: "One Big Holiday" - My Morning Jacket

06 :: "French Holiday" - The Walkmen

07 :: "Every Day Should Be a Holiday" - The Dandy Warhols

08 :: "I'm Good, I'm Gone" - Lykke Li

09 :: "Holiday" - Vampire Weekend

10 :: "The Holiday Song" - Pixies

11 :: "We Used to Vacation" - Cold War Kids

12 :: "Holiday" - Weezer

[new music] Lord Huron - "Man Who Lives Forever"

New Song from Lord Huron

Back in October, Rollo & Grady posted a video series with Lord Huron, capturing the three-song private session that the band played for the LA music bloggers. Earlier, I shared links to two of those songs, "She Lit A Fire" and "The Stranger". A third song, "Man Who Lives Forever", was also shared later, and you can view/hear it above. It's really catchy, and makes me excited about the idea of Lord Huron LP (hopefully in the works).

Lord Huron tour dates:

01-13-12 :: Founders Hall at The Segerstrom Center for the Arts - Costa Mesa, CA

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (12-14-2011)

To help you over the hump.

Continuing with our weekly installment of the Hump Day Power Play, this week's playlist is a mix of new wave and surf-inspired rock. Hopefully this makes the mundane magnificent. Again, you need Spotify to listen to it. Hear it by simply clicking here. Playlist is below.

:: Hump Day Power Play (12-14-2011) ::

01 :: "Age Of Consent" - New Order

02 :: "Shelia" - Atlas Sound

03 :: "Transmission" - Joy Division

04 :: "Break My Body" - Pixies

05 :: "Neighbor Riffs" - Surfer Blood

06 :: "Honey Boney" - Girls

07 :: "King of the Beach" - Wavves

08 :: "Mind, Drips" - Neon Indian

09 :: "Taken For A Fool" - The Strokes

10 :: "Love Will Tear Us Apart" - Joy Division

11 :: "Ceremony" - New Order

12 :: "I'm Not Ready" - Surfer Blood

[tour dates] Cults Announce Spring Dates

Drink up...

Cults, creators of one of my favorite albums of the year, has just released a whole slew of concert dates. The winter months will conclude a short US visit before the band travels to Australia, Singapore, and even Japan. But in March, Cults will blaze across the contiguous 48 states, spreading their ritualistic awesomeness to a city near you.

Cults tour dates:
12-31 :: West Hollywood, CA - The Standard *
01-13 :: Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
01-14 :: Washington, DC - Black Cat
01-19 :: New York, NY - Webster Hall
01-28 :: Brisbane, Australia - Fortitude Valley
01-30 :: Auckland, Australia - Silo Park
02-04 :: Melbourne, Australia - Footscray Community Arts Centre
02-05 :: Sydney, Australia - Sydney College of the Arts
02-10 :: Adelaide, Australia - Fowler’s Live & UNISA West Courtyards
02-11 :: Perth, Australia - Perth Cultural Centre
02-12 :: Fort Canning, Singapore - Laneway Festival
02-15 :: Tokyo, Japan - Unit
03-02 :: Hoboken, NJ- Maxwell’s
03-03 :: Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
03-04 :: Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
03-06 :: Atlanta, GA - The Earl
03-07 :: Birmingham, AL - Bottletree
03-09 :: Orlando, FL - The Plaza Live
03-10 :: Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon
03-11 :: Houston, TX - Fitzgerald’s #
03-17 :: El Paso, TX - Lowbrow Palace
03-18 :: Tuscon, AZ - Club Congress
03-21 :: Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
03-23 :: Pamona, CA - The Glass House
03-24 :: Santa Barbara, CA - Velvet Jones
04-03 :: Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room
04-04 :: San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
04-05 :: San Francisco, CA - Slims
04-06 :: Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
04-07 :: Seattle, WA - Neptune
04-09 :: Vancouver, BC - Venue
04-11 :: Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
04-12 :: Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
04-13 :: Boulder, CO - Fox Theater
04-14 :: Lawrence, KS - The Granada Theater
04-16 :: Minneapolis, MN - First Ave
04-17 :: Madison, WI - Majestic Theater
04-18 :: Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom
04-20 :: Chicago, IL - Metro
04-21 :: Bloomington, IN - Rhinos
04-22 :: Ferndale, MI - The Magic Bag
04-23 :: Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place
04-25 :: Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre
04-26 :: Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre
04-27 :: South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
04-29 :: Northhampton, MA - Pearl Street Nightclub

* with Jenny and Johnny
# with Of Montreal

[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (12-7-2011)

To help you over the hump.

So as many may know, I've joined the ranks of Corporate America, leaving behind the wonderful/terrible work schedule that accompanies graduate school. While the laboratory hours were long, schedule flexibility was amazingly redeeming.

With this recent move, however, I'm going to attempt to bring something new to Three Colours, as this change in scenery and lack of concert-going regularity have left me feeling inadequate in my posting frequency. Since I spend a large part of my day listening to Spotify Unlimited at my desk (lifesaver), I figured it'd be extremely easy to start sharing some of the playlists that I tend to make to get me through the work week. Hopefully, some of my readers are in the same boat as I, and they will think of these playlists as emergency "pick-me-ups", should the mundane be overwhelming.

I'll play around with the format of these playlists, but since today is a Wednesday, and I'm in dire need of some "motivation", I'll call this first one the "Hump Day Power Play". You need Spotify to listen to it, but I'll post the playlist below, too. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope I enjoy this format enough to keep it going. It could be fun!

So without further ado, I give you the inaugural Three Colours "Hump Day Power Play" (future name subject to change), which can be heard by simply clicking here at Spotify.

:: Hump Day Power Play (12-7-2011) ::

01 :: "Doncamatic" - Gorillaz (feat. Daley)

02 :: "In The Morning" - Junior Boys

03 :: "Midnight City" - M83

04 :: "Modegreen" - Yeasayer

05 :: "Burning" - The Whitest Boy Alive

06 :: "French Exit" - The Antlers

07 :: "The Mall & Misery" - Broken Bells

08 :: "Seven" - Fever Ray

09 :: "The Equalizer" - Junior Boys

10 :: "We Almost Lost Detroit" - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

11 :: "Empire Ants" - Gorillaz (feat. Little Dragon)

[new music] The West - Don’t Make a Sound

The West will rise again!

Formerly known as simply Bob and Anthony, this two part Seattle band, comprised of Anthony Darnell (of the local Satori Group) and Bob Husak (drummer for the Blakes), has added three more members to the line-up and changed their moniker to The West. Last year, Bob and Anthony released their first single "Underground", which made me an instant fan (heard here).

For those wanting more, you'll be happy to learn that The West has just released their first EP entitled Don't Make a Sound. The newly formed group is still crafting the melodic jams heard on "Underground", but there's a little more energy and synth injected into the upbeat sing-alongs, thanks to the addition of keyboardist Adrienne Clark, producer / guitarist Reed Griffin, and songwriter / electronic producer Arthur Ross. Hear it for yourself (the EP can be streamed below).

So go pick up a copy of the The West's 4-song EP Don't Make a Sound - it's the best 4 bucks you'll spend this week. And also check them out in Seattle at the Comet Tavern tomorrow night (9 PM, $7 at the door).

[new music] Plants and Animals - The End of That

P&A Announce New Record

“Let’s make a new record,” they say. “How do we do this? Let’s do it differently—let’s write a whole pile of songs and develop them big time before we go into the studio to record—let’s not do the fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants routine for a change—too crazy, too pressed. Let’s create in a cave, off the clock, take some time. Like normal people,” they say.

Plants and Animals have just announced the news and release date for their third LP, The End of That. Set to release via Secret City on February 28, 2012, P&A are already sharing the first single, a slow-rocker called "Lightshow" (listen below). New tour dates have also been posted, most notably, the band will be hitting up the Crocodile in Seattle, as well as Shuba's in Chicago! Additionally, the band will be touring with a bass player and playing live as a four piece for the first time. Should bring some added depth to their stage sound - always a plus.

Plants and Animals tour dates:
12-7-2011 :: The Rock Shop :: New York, NY
1-6-2012 :: Rialto Theatre :: Montreal, QC
1-12-2012 :: Schuba's :: Chicago, IL (Tomorrow Never Knows Fest)
3-8-2012 :: Ritual Nightclub :: Ottawa, ON**
3-9-2012 :: Le Cercle :: Quebec, QC**
3-10-2012 :: Le Cabaret du Mile End :: Montreal, QC
3-21-2012 :: Rickshaw Theatre :: Vancouver, BC*
3-22-2012 :: The Crocodile :: Seattle, WA*
3-24-2012 :: Mississippi Studios :: Portland, Oregon*
3-27-2012 :: Starlite Room :: Edmonton, AB*
3-28-2012 :: Republik :: Calgary, AB*
3-29-2012 :: Amigos Cantina :: Saskatoon, SK*
3-30-2012 :: West End Cultural Centre :: Winnipeg, MB*
3-31-2012 :: 7th Street Entry :: Minneapolis, MN*

* w/ Little Scream
** w/ TBA

ADVANCE PRE-SALE TICKETS for all shows are available here.

[mp3] Spoon - "Towner on the B-Side" (demo) December Bonus Track

New Bonus Track from Spoon

Spoon wasted little time between releasing bonus tracks, bringing us all some early holiday cheer in the month of December. This month's song is a demo version of the aMiniature (the "a" is silent) cover "Towner on the B-Side". During a recent move, lead singer Britt Daniel apparently stumbled upon an old cassette tape that was made in the pre-Sneaks years. Cool!

Even cooler, a long while back I did a little write-up about my thoughts on the connection between Spoon and aMiniature, and to my surprise, aMiniature's lead singer John Lee responded. Read his comments here.

December's demo version is of Telephono's "Towner on the B-Side". For the full list of Spoon bonus tracks, go here. Check out this month's bonus track below.

MP3: Spoon - "Towner on the B-Side" (demo) - aMiniature cover
(December '11 Bonus Track)

BUY :: aMiniature - Depth Five Rate Six

[new music] The Black Keys - El Camino

Hear the new Black Keys album today!

Get the album, entitled El Camino (cover art above) on December 6 via Nonesuch. It'll make for a great stocking-stuffer. Below, for the mere price of your email address, you can legally sample 5 tracks off The Black Keys' latest rocker. For the virtual pirates sailing the digital seas, an advance copy is floating around amongst the flotsam for all to sample. Based on the songs streamable below, this is going to be yet another great BK LP.

BUY :: The Black Keys - El Camino

[video] Fleet Foxes - "The Shrine / An Argument"

Sean Pecknold's latest creation

Magical, imagination-provoking imagery drives this incredible Fleet Foxes' music video. Sean Pecknold has honed his mastery of animation and created one of his best films to date. I will say, the saxophone "solo" in this beautiful song is a bit grating when listening through Helplessness Blues, but watching the two-headed dragon scene in the video makes it much more tolerable.

Check out the video for "The Shrine / An Argument" above. And also take a gander at Fleet Foxes's live show as they continue their international tour.

Fleet Foxes tour dates:
EUROPE:
November 29, 2011 :: Heineken Music Hall / Amsterdam, Holland$
November 30, 2011 :: Forest National Club / Brussels, Belgium$
December 01, 2011 :: O2 Academy / Leeds, UK$ SOLD OUT

AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND:
December 29-31, 2011 :: Falls Festival / Lorne, Vic & Marion Bay, Taz, Australia
January 02, 2012 :: Sydney Opera House/ Sydney, Australia
January 03, 2012 :: Sydney Opera House/ Sydney, Australia
January 04, 2012 :: Sydney Opera House / Sydney, Australia
January 06, 2012 :: Palais Theatre / Melbourne, Australia SOLD OUT
January 07-08, 2012 :: Southbound Festival / Busselton, Australia
January 10, 2012 :: Tivoli/ Brisbane, Australia
January 11, 2012 :: Tivoli / Brisbane, Australia SOLD OUT
January 13, 2012 :: Hunter Lodge / Wellington, New Zealand
January 14, 2012 :: Town Hall / Auckland, New Zealand

JAPAN:
January 17, 2012 :: Big Cat / Osaka, Japan
January 18, 2012 :: Club Quatro / Nagoya, Japan
January 20, 2012 :: Studio Coast / Tokyo, Japan

$ w/ Vetiver

[video] Miracle Fortress - "Miscalculations" + Tour Dates

New video, tour dates from Miracle Fortress

My favorite, "feel-good" jam from Miracle Fortress's second LP Was I The Wave? now has a music video. During the band's 2011 summer tour for the sophomore album, Graham Van Pelt & Co. captured a lot of the road-tripping magic on 8mm, and the results are as touching as the song itself. I'm not sure what it is about this "Miscalculations" (which most resembles the dreamy-pop classics found on Five Roses), but when I hear it I'm dosed with a healthy shot of optimism.

Miracle Fortress continues to blaze across the world in support of WITW? Of note, they'll be supporting Québec's Coeur de Pirate in February. For a full list of dates, look below.

Miracle Fortress tour dates:
11/19/11 :: Montreal QC @ Metropolis (MIRACLE FORTRESS DJ set)
12/05/11 :: Berlin DE @ HBC
12/06/11 :: Hamburg DE @ Astra Stube
12/07/11 :: Utrecht NL @ Ekko
12/08/11 :: Paris FR @ L'Espace B
12/09/11 :: Brighton UK @ Sticky Mike's
12/11/11 :: London UK @ Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
12/13/11 :: Manchester UK @ Night & Day
12/14/11 :: Glasgow UK @ Captains Rest
12/16/11 :: Dublin IE @ Crawdaddy &
12/17/11 :: Galway IE @ Rosin Dubh
02/03/12 :: Sorel QC @ Café Les Beaux instants #
02/10/12 :: Quebec QC @ Impérial #
02/12/12 :: Brossard QC @ Étoile Banque Nationale #
02/17/12 :: Rimouski QC @ Salle Desjardins-Telus #
02/18/12 :: Rivière-du-Loup QC @ Centre culturel de RDL #
02/25/12 :: Shawinigan QC @ Salle Philippe-Filion #

& w/ Moths
# w/ Coeur de Pirate

[mp3] Spoon - "Reservations" (demo) November Bonus Track

New Bonus Track from Spoon

Yet again, Spoon keeps releasing a demo version of very early songs that were rediscovered during Britt Daniel's recent move. Daniel apparently stumbled upon an old cassette tape that was made in the pre-Sneaks years. Cool!

November's demo version is of A Series of Sneaks' "Reservations". For the full list of Spoon bonus tracks, go here. Check out this month's bonus track below.

MP3: Spoon - "Reservations" (demo)
(November '11 Bonus Track)

[tour dates] White Rabbits are coming to a city near you

Tour dates now, new album soon

White Rabbits have reported that new music is on the way, and judging from their newly announced tour dates, we may be hearing said songs as early as November. White Rabbits put on one of my favorite shows in Seattle, and I think you should definitely take advantage of seeing them live if they're in a city near you. Dates posted below.

White Rabbits tour dates:

11/29/11 - Buffalo, NY @ Ninth Ward

11/30/11 - Toronto, ONT @ The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
12/01/11 - Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot
12/02/11 - Indianapolis, IN @ Radio Radio
12/03/11 - Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
12/05/11 - Iowa City, IA @ The Mill
12/06/11 - Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
12/08/11 - Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar
12/09/11 - Nashville, TN @ Exit/In
12/10/11 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
12/11/11 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar

[new music] White Denim - Takes Place In Your Work Space

New EP & tour dates from White Denim

It may seem like this came out of nowhere (no mention of it on White Denim's site, nor on Downtown's), but White Denim have been prepping a new EP which drops on Tuesday, October 25. Entitled Takes Place in Your Work Space, the band has apparently taken quite a departure from their previous LP, D. Check out one of the tracks, "Cat City", over at Dog Gone Blog. In support of this new material, the band has a handful of live dates across the US (posted below).

Also, the band recorded a live show over at Jack White's Third Man Records (here), which is definitely worth checking out.

White Denim tour dates:
10/21 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
10/22 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s BBQ
10/23 – Dallas, TX @ The Palladium Ballroom
10/25 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
10/26 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
10/27 – Pomona, CA @ Glass House
10/28 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
10/29 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
11/1 – Magna, UT @ Saltair
11/2 – Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall
11/4 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
11/5 – Minneapolis, MN @ Cabooze On The West Bank
11/7 – Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues
11/8 – Pontiac, MI @ Clutch Cargo’s
11/9 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Zoo
11/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
11/12 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
11/13 – Montclair, NJ @ Wellmont Theatre
11/15 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
11/16 – Richmond, VA @ The National
11/17 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
11/18 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos’ Southend Music Hall
11/19 – Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom
11/21 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
11/22 – Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House Of Blues

[video] Miracle Fortress - "Possession"

New video & tour dates from Miracle Fortress

Miracle Fortress just premiered the music video of "Possession", one of their recent summer singles (still freely available here). The video was directed by Tim Kelly, who "paints a stirring portrait of a young and real Montreal family on the verge of a new life, lovingly framed in an austere panorama of the city itself." Check it out above.

Additionally, Miracle Fortress will be performing in New York City this week for the CMJ festival, followed by a visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia for the Pop Explosion. And European fans can look forward to a visit from the dream pop extrordinaire Graham Van Pelt in December with dates in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Holland, and France. Details below:

Miracle Fortress Tour Dates:
10/20 - Brooklyn NY @ Public Assembly (3PM) &
10/21 - New York NY @ Arlene's Grocery (11:30PM) & %
10/22 - Halifax NS @ Olympic Community Hall #
12/05 - Berlin DE @ HBC
12/06 - Hamburg DE @ Astra Stube
12/07 - Utrecht NL @ Ekko
12/08 - Paris FR @ L'Espace B
12/11 - London UK @ Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
12/14 - Glasgow UK @ Captains Rest
12/16 - Dublin IE @ Crawdaddy ^
12/17 - Galway IE @ Rosin Dubh

& w/ Pat Jordache, Tonstartssbandht
% w/ The Barr Brothers, Hollerado

# w/ Chad Van Gaalen, Sunns

[mp3] Spoon - "Advance Cassette" (demo) October Bonus Track

New Bonus Track from Spoon

Keeping to their promise, Spoon continues to release demo versions of very early songs that were rediscovered during Britt Daniel's recent move. I like to think it was found under a couch cushion, but he apparently stumbled upon an old cassette tape (see above if you're not familiar with this technology) that was made in the pre-Sneaks years.

October's demo version of A Series of Sneaks' "Advance Cassette". For the full list of Spoon bonus tracks, go here. Check out this month's bonus track below.

MP3: Spoon - "Advance Cassette" (demo)
(October '11 Bonus Track)

[video] Lord Huron - "Mighty" & "She Lit A Fire"

New video, new songs from Lord Huron

Lord Huron just debuted the video of the title track from their Mighty EP (see above), and they also showcased a new tune entitled "She Lit A Fire", which they performed for Rollo & Grady (see below). The new song was recorded during a three-song private session for the LA music blog, and it was accompanied by performances of "The Stranger" and yet another new song entitled "Man Who Lives Forever". Currently, you can only watch videos of the former two songs, but the latter song will be revealed later this October over at R&G.

In other news, Lord Huron will kick off a series of tour dates with the New Orleans band Givers. See below for the full list, and make sure to check these guys out in a city near you. Last time I saw them in Seattle, I was totally blown away (review here).

Lord Huron Tour Dates:
10/17 :: Raleigh, NC @ Kings Barcade *
10/18 :: Washington, DC @ Black Cat *
10/19 :: New York, NY @ Living Room (Paste CMJ Day Party)
10/19 :: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge %
10/20 :: Brooklyn, NY @ The Rock Shop (CMJ) #
10/22 :: Clinton, NY @ Hamilton College
10/23 :: Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Downstairs *
10/24 :: Pawtucket, RI @ The Met Cafe *
10/26 :: Toronto, ON @ Wrong Bar *
10/28 :: Nashville, TN @ Exit/In *
10/29 :: Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree *
11/12 :: San Diego, CA @ Sunset Temple
12/02 :: Los Angeles, CA Skybar @ Mondrian Hotel
12/03 :: San Francisco, CA Velvet Room @ Clift Hotel

* = w/ Givers
# = w/ Strand of Oaks, The Lonely Forest, Dinosaur Feathers
% = w/ Pink Cashmere, Hey Marseilles, The Lumineers, Lissie Trullie

[Mp3] Moonface - "The Way You Wish You Could Live In The Storm"

New song from Moonface

In early August, Moonface (aka Spencer Krug) released his second LP entitled Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I'd Hoped. Apparently, the song posted below, "The Way You Wish You Could Live In The Storm", did not fit in well with the rest of the album and was ultimately cut from the record. It's a good one. Also, Moonface has announced more US tour dates which kick off this month. See below for a city near you. Notably, Moonface has been playing an awesome Fine Young Cannibals cover of "I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" (not "She Drives Me Crazy", unfortunately).

Moonface :: "The Way You Wish You Could Live In The Storm" (Unreleased)

Moonface tour dates:

10-07 :: Milwaukee, WI :: Cactus Club
10-08 :: Madison, WI :: U. of Wisconsin (The Sett)
10-09 :: Minneapolis, MN :: 7th St. Entry
10-11 :: Saskatoon, SK :: Amigo’s
10-12 :: Calgary, AB :: Republik
10-14 :: Vancouver, BC :: Waldorf
10-15 :: Seattle, WA :: The Crocodile
10-16 :: Portland, OR :: Doug Fir Lounge
10-18 :: San Francisco, CA :: The Independent
10-19 :: Los Angeles, CA :: The Satellite
10-20 :: San Diego, CA :: Casbah
10-21 :: Tucson, AZ :: Club Congress
10-23 :: Denver, CO :: Larimer Lounge
10-25 :: St. Louis, MO :: The Firebird
10-26 :: Chicago, IL :: Lincoln Hall
10-29 :: Washington DC :: Rock ‘N’ Roll Hotel
10-30 :: New York, NY :: Bowery Ballroom

[new album] Listen to Feist - Metals

First listen to Metals!

For the mere price of your email address, you can stream Feist's new album Metals in its entirety. The follow-up to the amazing LP The Reminder official drops on October 4, and pre-orders are still available. Check it out.

Pre-order :: Feist - Metals ($10 at Amazon!)

[news] Pink Floyd on Jimmy Fallon (plus MGMT, Shins, Foo Fighers, & Pearl Jam)

Pink Floyd makes rare TV appearance this week

Celebrating the massive reissue of Pink Floyd's entire catalog (14 remastered studio albums, a 16-CD box set with those releases, and an ambitious 6-disc box set focused solely on "Dark Side of the Moon"), Late Night With Jimmy Fallon will be hosting a number of interesting Pink Floyd-related musical acts this week. So set your DVR and don't miss these performances.

According to Billboard:

Monday :: The Shins will kick off the week and perform "Breathe" from "The Dark Side of the Moon." This will actually be the band's first TV appearance in four years. Floyd drummer Mason is stopping by for a talk segment with Fallon.

Tuesday :: Roger Waters is teaming up with Foo Fighters (for the first time ever) to perform "In the Flesh," off the singer-bassist's opus "The Wall." Fallon will also get a crack at interviewing Waters during the show.

Wednesday :: MGMT will take the stage to perform the early Floyd track, "Lucifer Sam," off 1967's "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn." The echo-heavy song, written and sung by original frontman Syd Barrett, was only performed by the band in the year of its release, but it's since been covered by the likes of The Flaming Lips and Jay Farrar (Son Volt/Uncle Tupelo).

Thursday :: "Late Night" will go country when hugely popular country charmer Dierks Bentley takes the mic to handle the Floyd staple, "Wish You Were Here."

Friday :: Pearl Jam will round out the week with their take on "Mother," another massive track off "The Wall." PJ recently made their Fallon debut by unveiling the new track, "Ole." Eddie and co. are riding high as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut, "Ten," along with the release of "Pearl Jam 20," a film, book and soundtrack.

UPDATE :: To see all songs performed on Jimmy Fallon, go here.

[video] Lana Del Rey - "Video Games" & "Blue Jeans"

"Video Games" b/w "Blue Jeans" Out October 16

Like many, I too fell for the siren-song of Lana Del Rey and the mystique of her self-made music videos. Her throwback-cinema style and her easy-on-the-eyes looks only add to her amazing sound. On October 16, Del Rey will release her newest single "Video Games" by way of "Blue Jeans". While this is her debut material under the Del Rey moniker, you can check out the songstress's evolution by listening to her earlier work released as Lizzy Grant.

Del Rey is currently working on a new LP which is due out early next year. Also, she just announced a couple of live dates, which are posted below.

Pre-Order :: Lana Del Rey - "Video Games" b/w "Blue Jeans"

(via Stranger Records)

Lana Del Rey tour dates:
09-21 The Box - New York City, NY
09-27 Hotel Café - Los Angeles, CA

[video] Handsome Furs Interview & Tour

The band that never stops

So the Handsome Furs are concluding the US leg of their Sound Kapital tour before hopping across the pond to embark on a European invasion. Notably (and sadly because I'm not there), Boeckner and Perry will be making a stop at Neumos in Seattle this Saturday (September 10). Handsome Furs never disappoint with their amazingly energetic live shows. Don't miss it.

Also, check out the video interview above from L Mag TV. It brings me happiness to see that these insanely talented musicians are also genuinely cool people - it's really obvious from the video. Watch the clip and learn how they formed the band, how their early dating involved music-making dates, how their music is ever-evolving, and how culture shock can be a "hilarious bummer".

So where will these world travelers tour next? Apparently their last show this tour is currently in Beruit, Lebanon, but they hint at the end of video on the possibility of traveling to Jordan and Iran. Maybe we'll even get to see a sequel to CNN's Handsome Furs: Indie Asia!

Check it out, and don't miss them if you live in the Pacific Northwest.

Handsome Furs tour dates:
09-07 Boise, ID – Neurolux Lounge
09-08 Portland, OR – Music Fest North West
09-09 Victoria, BC – Club 9ONE9
09-10 Seattle, WA – Neumos
09-13 London, UK – Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen
09-14 Manchester, UK – Deaf Institute
09-15 Dublin, IE – Whelans
09-16 Brighton, UK – The Hope
09-17 Tilburg, NL – Incubate Festival
09-18 Munster, DE – Gleiss 22
09-20 Paris, FR – Point Ephemere
09-21 Cologne, DE – Blue Shell
09-22 Hannover, DE – Glocksee
09-23 Hamburg, DE – Reeperbahn Festival
09-24 Berlin, DE – Berlin Independent Night at Lido
09-26 Munich, DE – Kranhalle
09-27 Stuttgart, DE – Schocken
09-28 Luzern, CH – Treibhaus
09-29 Graz, AT – Forum Stadtpark
09-30 Zagreb, CR – Tvornika Kulture
10-01 Budapest, HU – A38
10-02 Krakow, PL – Klub Pickny Pies
10-04 Lodz, PL – Zak Festiwal
10-05 Warsaw, PL – Cafe Kulturalna
10-06 Vilnius, LT – XI20
10-07 Riga, LV – NABAKLAB
10-08 Helsinki, FI – Tavastia
10-12 Stockholm, SE – Fritzs Corner
10-13 Oslo, NO – John Dee
10-14 Stavanger, NO – Folken
10-15 Bergen, NO – Perfect Sounds Forever Festival
10-19 Quebec City, QC – Le Cercle
10-20 Laval, QC – Maison Des Arts
11-24 Madrid, SP – Primavera Club
11-25 Barcelona, SP – Primavera Club
11-26 Beirut, LB – Indie Sessions

[mp3] Spoon - "Utilitarian" (demo) August Bonus Track

Spoon rolls out another bonus track

Fans of Spoon have been spoiled over the last few years by the generosity of Britt Daniel and company with their sharing of free, unreleased tracks. You're probably well-aware by now that nearly every month, the band's website has released a "bonus track" - usually a demo or live version of an existing Spoon song. After February of this year, though, there's been nothing but radio silence. That is, until late this August, a collection of cassettes (yeah, they still exist) was found while Britt was moving. According to the band, these tapes contain over a dozen old demos that had been thought to be lost and forgotten. Luckily for us, Spoon will be releasing these tracks over the next months. Go over there and check out the August bonus track, "Utilitarian", which wound up on Spoon's A Series of Sneaks.

Since I always seem to get a lot of requests from readers about the order of these bonus track releases, I've included the full list below, dating all the way back to February of 2008. Enjoy!

And while we're on the subject of Spoon, the band will be making an appearance at Austin's Fun Fun Fun Fest - I'll bet it's a fun show. The festival runs November 4-6, and the lineup includes We Were Promised Jetpacks, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Girls, Ted Leo, Passion Pit, Lykke Li, and many more. Get tickets here.

NOTE :: I'll get more links up for the previous tracks soon so you can have access to all of Spoon's bonus tracks.

Complete List of Spoon Bonus Tracks (2008-2011)

2008
"Paper Tiger (live Sydney '05)" February
"Eddie's Ragga (demo)" March
"Cherry Bomb (country version)" April #1
"I Turn My Camera On (first version)" April #2
"Don't Let It Get You Down (demo)" May
"Was It You (demo)" June
"Merchants of Soul (demo)" July
"You Gotta Feel It (rehearsal)" August
"My Mathematical Mind (demo)" September
"In The Right Place The Right Time (demo)" October
"Ghost (Ga ga ga ga ga ga ga demo)" November
"The Beast and Dragon (live Sydney '05)" December

2009
"Black Like Me" (demo) February
"30 Gallon Tank (Sydney, 2005)" April
"Japanese Cigarette Case (Demo)" June
"You Got Yr Cherry Bomb (from scratch demo)" July
"Vittorio E (Live Sydney '05)" August
"Rhythm & Soul (demo)" September
"Ghost (AcaPella)" October
"Everything Hits At Once (live @ Sydney '05)" November
"Japanese Cigarette Case (delay song demo)" December

2010
"Something To Look Forward To (early demo)" July
"Goodnight Laura (demo)" September
"Nobody Gets Me But You (demo)" October
"Out Go The Lights (demo)" November

"Mystery Zone (demo)" December

2011

"Is Love Forever (demo 2)" January

"Is Love Forever (demo 1)" February

"Utilitarian (demo)" August

"Advance Cassette" October
"Reservations" November
"Towner On The B-Side" December

2012

"I Could See The Dude" January

[Letter From The Editor] Three Colours Is Back

When Will I See You Again?

Well, as you may have noticed, it's been a long while since anything has been posted here on Three Colours. I feel like a I owe someone out there an explanation. Sadly, things must always come to an end, and when I enrolled at the University of Washington for graduate school, I knew that my Seattle stint would be indefinitely long. Conscious of this, I think I really took advantage of all the wonderful music opportunities during my six years in the Emerald City. Hopefully I was able to share some of my favorite moments with readers that stumbled across this humble blog. My goal all along was to talk about the bands that I happened to discover and really enjoyed, exposing those bands to anyone willing to read about them. I'm very happy with how it all turned out. But alas, that story has run its course, and once again, I find myself in a new and unexplored land: Southwest Michigan.

Interestingly, one of the last concerts I attended in Seattle was for Lord Huron at the Tractor Tavern. Those who are familiar with these Michigan folksters have probably heard their beautiful "When Will I See You Again", which concludes their amazing Mighty EP. At the very least, it was an emotional night knowing that I could have been experiencing my last Tractor Tavern show for many years. And when this song began, the lyrics for "When Will I See You Again" became so apt for all my feelings of the night, almost like the song could have been a dialogue between me and Seattle. It so perfectly put everything in perspective and wrapped up a wonderful period in the history of my life.

Lyrics:
If you got what you came for why should you stay?
If you know where you're going why delay?
If you won't be returning don't say goodbye.
Turn you back on the ocean and follow the sun through the sky.

I've already forgotten all of your names.
And I cannot remember when you came.
Grab your things and get going. Don't say goodbye.
Turn your back on the ocean. Go see what's out there to find.

It's time to let go.
Goodbye and so long.
All the best along the way.
Couldn't I keep you another day?

When will I see you again?

I have, in fact, turned my back on the ocean, so to speak, and have made the long journey across the country to my new home. I refuse to say goodbye to land of bumbeshoots and sasquatches, because I'm sure I'll be back some day - keeping my Seahawks season tickets has assured me of that. And while Southwest Michigan may not be the musical hot bed that Seattle is, I'm a quick train ride from Chicago which I've already taken full advantage of since moving here (Pitchfork Fest was sweet!).

So I'm not sure what the frequency of posting will be in the future days here at Three Colours, but I hope to continue to share the bands that I'm listening to and maybe even do a concert review here and there. Until next post...

[video] Wolf Parade - "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"

R.I.P. Wolf Parade

Last night, Wolf Parade played their last concert to a sold old crowd at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC. Fittingly (and quite strangely), the band ended the night with Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", which in reality could be their final song ever played. Joined by a mob of excited fans, Wolf Parade and Co. rocked out to the bittersweet ending of something beautiful. You can watch the fan-captured video above.

Until the reunion tour...

[live] Wolf Parade @ Sasquatch! 2011

Wolf Parade make their Sasquatch! debut

For those who couldn't make it out to The Gorge in George, Washington, this Memorial Day weekend, you can still hear Wolf Parade's 2011 Sasquatch! performance over at NPR (here). The show is one of two scheduled concerts to be played this year after the band announced its indefinite hiatus back in November. Hopefully, this is just a temporary break while the band members focus on their other musical projects.

But anyway, check out the 9-song set list of their show - it's practically a Wolf Parade "Greatest Hits" collection. Hearing these live had to have been awesome.

Stream :: Wolf Parade @ Sasquatch! '11 (via NPR)

Wolf Parade @ Sasquatch! (May 28, 2011) Set List:

Language City

What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had To Go This Way)

Ghost Pressure

You Are A Runner And I Am My Father's Son

Fancy Claps

Palm Road

I'll Believe In Anything

Shine A Light

California Dreamer

[new album] Moonface - Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I'd Hoped

Huge news from Moonface

Well, our rumors have been confirmed. Fantastic news has been posted over at Jagjaguwar's site, announcing the release date for Spencer Krug's newest album, along with US tour dates.

Recorded under the moniker Moonface, Krug's LP will be entitled Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I'd Hoped. The album is set to drop on August 2, and it appears to only contain 5 tracks. As Krug describes in the press release:

"Organ Music runs around 37 minutes and is dense, but in a satisfying way, I hope, like eating a small, heavy piece of cheesecake. It's music played with an organ, organ beats, organ beeps and bloops, and some digital drums. Music based on layers and loops, the hypnotizing sound of a leslie speaker, and the onslaught of melody. Originally there were something like 9 or 10 almost fully formed songs, but late in the recording process I decided to cut it down to five, crystalizing the good stuff, killing my troublesome darlings, and avoiding the weighty world of a 1.5 hour double LP. You're welcome. Cutting songs is like shucking the husk off a cocunut. Now we can just drink the milk. Now, in my mind at least, there is no filler on this album. Hopefully you will feel the same way. Please, let me serve you cheesecake and coconut milk. Please, enjoy."

To hear said organ beeps and bloops, check out "Fast Peter" below. It seems to be quite a departure from Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown, though you may notice the familiar backing vocals from fellow Rubdown-mate Camilla Wynne Ingr contributing the backup vocals. Tour dates are also posted below (no love for Seattle, yet).

MP3 :: Moonface - "Fast Peter"
(from Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I'd Hoped)

Track Listing:
01 :: Return To The Violence Of The Ocean Floor
02 :: Whale Song (Song Instead Of A Kiss)
03 :: Fast Peter
04 :: Shit-Hawk In The Snow
05 :: Loose Heart = Loose Plan

Moonface tour dates:

07/13/11 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
07/14/11 - London, ON - Call The Office
07/15/11 - Detroit, MI - The Lager House
07/16/11 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
07/17/11 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
07/19/11 - Allston, MA - Great Scott
07/20/11 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
07/21/11 - Washington, DC - Black Cat
07/22/11 - Raleigh, NC - King's Barcade
07/23/11 - Atlanta, GA - 529
07/26/11 - Austin, TX - Emo's Indoors
07/27/11 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada
07/29/11 - Oxford, MS - Proud Larry's
07/30/11 - Nashville, TN - 12th and Porter
07/31/11 - Bloomington, IN - Russian Recording
08/02/11 - Newport, KY - Southgate House
08/03/11 - Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe
08/04/11 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie
08/05/11 - Northampton, MA - Iron Horse
08/06/11 - Montreal, QC - Il Motore

[new album] White Denim - D (Stream it now!)

White Denim Drop D, Their Best LP Yet

Austin's White Denim have a brand new full-length D, which you can stream in its entirety here.

It's definitely an album that rewards upon multiple listens. Each song is a complex, genre-bending journey through American rock. This could very well be the summer soundtrack for 2011. Check it out.

BUY :: White Denim - D (iTunes)

Also, check them out, in a city near you.

White Denim tour dates:
5.24 - The Casbah - San Diego, CA
5.25 - The Echo - Los Angeles, CA
5.26 - The Bottom of the Hill - San Francisco, CA
5.27 - The Cellar Door - Visalia, CA
5.29 - Bunk Bar - Portland, OR
5.30 - Sasquatch! Music Festival - George, WA
6.1 - The Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT
6.2 - Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO
6.3 - Jackpot Music Hall - Lawrence, KS
6.16 - Hi Tone - Memphis, TN
6.17 - The Drunken Unicorn at MJQ Concourse - Atlanta, GA
6.18 - The Basement - Nashville, TN
6.19 - Uncle Slayton's - Louisville, KY
6.21 - Rock N Roll Hotel - Washington, DC
6.22 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia, PA
6.23 - Pearl St. Nightclub - Northampton, MA
6.24 - Brighton Music Hall - Boston, MA
6.25 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
6.27 - Il Motore - Montreal, QC
6.28 - El Mocambo - Toronto, ON
6.29 - Rock Lobster - Indianapolis, IN
6.30 - Schubas Tavern - Chicago, IL
7.1 - Mojo's - Columbia, MO
7.2 - The Opolis - Norman, OK