Wednesday, March 30, 2011

[video] Fleet Foxes - "Grown Ocean"


New Song from Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes are treating us with a second track from their upcoming album Helplessness Blues, which drops May 3rd. Watch the video above to hear the epically triumphant "Grown Ocean." Listening to this track evokes some urge to embark on a road trip, and I'm sure this will find its way onto many a road-mix. Fittingly, the video contains clips of the band on the road and in the recording studio. And like all Fleet Foxes videos, this was shot and directed by the incredibly talented Sean Pecknold.

Also, if you haven't purchased tickets already, there are still a handful of US shows that haven't sold out yet. A full list of the band's stops are posted below. Of special note, FF will be in Seattle for two lovely nights at the Moore Theater (May 2 & 3). See you there!

Fleet Foxes tour dates:
04.29 - The Vogue Theatre - Vancouver, BC *
04.30 - The Vogue Theatre - Vancouver, BC *
05.01 - Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR *
05.02 - Moore Theatre - Seattle, WA *
05.03 - Moore Theatre - Seattle, WA *
05.05 - Fox Theater - Oakland, CA *
05.06 - Spreckels Theatre - San Diego, CA *
05.07 - Hollywood Palladium - Hollywood, CA *
05.08 - Rialto Theatre - Tucson, AZ
05.10 - Stubb's Waller Creek - Austin, TX *
05.11 - Palladium Ballroom - Dallas, TX
05.13 - Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN *
05.14 - The Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA *
05.15 - DAR Constitution Hall - Washington, DC *
05.17 - Orpheum Theatre - Boston, MA *
05.18 - The United Palace Theatre - New York, NY *
05.19 - The United Palace Theatre - New York, NY *
05.21 - Tower Theatre - Upper Darby, PA
05.25 - Astra - Berlin, Germany
05.26 - Dachau Summer of Music - Munich, Germany
05.28 - Primavera Sound - Barcelona, Spain
05.30 - Bataclan - Paris, France
05.31 - Hammersmith Apollo - London, UK *
06.01 - Hammersmith Apollo - London, UK *
06.02 - Hammersmith Apollo - London, UK
06.23 - Civic Hall - Wolverhampton, UK
06.25 - Custom House Square - Belfast, Ireland
06.26 - Live at the Marquee - Cork, Ireland
06.28 - Manchester Apollo - Manchester, UK
06.29 - Corn Exchange - Edinburgh, UK
07.01 - Eden Sessions - St. Austell, UK
07.03 - Rock Werchter - Werchter, Belgium
07.06 - Malta Festival - Poznan, Poland
07.08 - Alive Festival - Lisbon, Portugal
07.10 - Ruisrock - Turku, Finland
08.11 - Oya Festival - Oslo, Norway
08.12 - Way Out West - Gothenburg, Sweden
08.13 - Haldern Pop Festival - Rees-Haldern, Germany *
08.20 - Green Man Festival - Brecon Beacons, UK

* (already SOLD OUT)

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

[new music] Miracle Fortress - Was I the Wave?

New LP from Miracle Fortress Coming Soon

It's been nearly 4 years since Miracle Fortress released any new music. In 2007, Five Roses transported listeners into soloist Graham Van Pelt's fairytale dreams, and by the end of the record, it managed to make us all feel a little happier inside.

But in the process of writing a sophomore release (as well as supporting his other musical vehicle Think About Life), GVP seemed to quietly disappear. His tumblr account has been occasionally updated with cryptic posts and obscure YouTube clips, but the progress on new jams was never squarely addressed. However, after a much anticipated wait, it appears that new Miracle Fortress material is on the way! GVP has posted the following message to his fans over at the MF website:
I know I've been gone a while, but I feel like waking up from the long dream.
Currently, if you visit the site, you can hear some atmospheric guitar play, and the phrase "WITW?" makes you scratch your head. After a little research, it appears these letters refer to the title of his new album Was I The Wave?.

No official release date has been announced, but according to Amazon, the album should drop on May 3. Interestingly, though, other online record stores say April 26. Regardless of which date is correct, we should be hearing some new Miracle Fortress very soon!

New Fleet Foxes and Miracle Fortress on the same day, possibly? Sounds like an incredible day!

UPDATE :: According to Mr. Van Pelt, Was I The Wave? will be available via the here as of April 26. (Stores in Canada will have it on the same day; the USA will have it on May 17).

Fans expecting the same sound as Five Roses may also be in for a surprise:
In some ways it's drastically different than Five Roses, for those of you familiar with the first album. In other ways, it's rather similar. Like Five Roses, Graham served as composer, arranger, performer, producer, and engineer. He spent a lot of time holed up in various cramped spaces in Montreal (and the occasional hotel on the road) working out themes of alienation and anonymity, intimacy and domesticity.
Head over to the MF store (here) and pre-order a copy of Was I The Wave? today. There's a single from the album they're giving away now, "Raw Spectacle," in exchange for an email address. If you pre-order the album, they'll also send you the single and a remix of it by Pantha du Prince, tout-de-suite.

Monday, March 28, 2011

[new music] Arctic Monkeys - Suck It and See


Suck It and See - Out June 6

The Arctic Monkeys will soon release their fourth studio album, Suck It and See, on June 6. This will be the band's followup album to 2009's Humbug. Interesting, the band has described the LP's sound as more vintage pop - not as dark as Humbug. Produced by regular AM collaborator James Ford and recorded at South City Studios in LA, Suck It and See will be available on CD, vinyl and via digital download.

Starting in May, the band will tour through the US, however, no love for Seattle (tour dates here).

As a little teaser, the Arctic Monkeys posted a video of their newest track "Brick-By-Brick." You can watch the video above.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

[video] Dry the River cover Wolf Parade


Dry the River - "You Are A Runner And I Am My Father's Son"

A while back, Wolf Parade took part in a charity for the Yellow Bird Project. YBP is an organization that teams up with indie bands to help raise money for various causes. The band designs a t-shirt, and all the proceeds go to a charity of the band's choice. For Wolf Parade, all their t-shirt money went to the Glass Casters Union, which is a non-profit organization based in Eugene Oregon (buy the shirt here).

Dry the River is another band that took part in the Yellow Bird Project (shirt here). They also performed a three-song set for YBP, which included a cover of Wolf Parade's "You Are I Runner, And I Am My Father's Son." The video is above, and more songs are here if you like what you hear. I like how different their version sounds, and I respect a cover that unique to the original.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

[new music] White Denim - D

White Denim return with new album D

Two new White Denim jams are available for your streaming pleasure. This comes in the wake of the band's announcement of their next release - WD's third LP, entitled D, will hit shelves here in the US on May 24 (June 6 for UK). Below you can hear the two tracks, "Drugs" and "Anvil Everything", which will appear on D. Also, check out the band's tour schedule if you live in the Austin area - lots of chances to see their face-melting live act during SXSW this year. More dates are surely to follow.



Anvil Everything by WhiteDenim

White Denim tour dates:

March 10 - Denton, TX - Conferette 35 Music Festival
March 11 - Austin, TX - Ghost Room – 9PM
March 12 - Austin, TX - 205 Brazos - Uship.com Interactive 8PM
March 16 - Austin, TX - The Parish - Day Party at 5 PM
March 16 - Austin, TX - Club Deville – SXSW Showcase at 11 PM
March 17 - Austin, TX - Austin Convention Center - RCRD LBL Party at 5 PM
March 18 - Austin, TX - Klub Krewcial - Gorilla vs Bear Day Party at 5:45-6:15PM
March 19 - Austin, TX - San Jose Hotel - Day Party at 3 PM