Lake Jons - Jon Lindsay - Safari Gold - Honeymilk - Sur Back

Lake Jons - Lake Family.

Background -  “Lake Family” is the final single that Helsinki’s innovative lo-fi pop trio Lake Jons are sharing ahead of the release of their self-titled debut album (out next Friday, January 19th via AntiFragile Music). “Lake Family” is a euphoric track, masterfully showcasing frontman Jooel Jons’ effortless vocals and the bands’ undeniably assured, anthemic sound. 

Lake Jons has been flourishing in their hometown of Helsinki since 2014, utilizing atmospheric samples, simple driving rhythms, delicate guitar progressions and lush, hook-laden vocals as pillars of their forward-thinking songs. The result is an alchemic blend of ambient lo-fi pop, psych, soul and folk… it's the kind of album that could only come from a state of severe isolation and a mystical connection with the natural world.

It also explores themes of introspection, existentialism and human relationships, while the lyrics detail a quieter existence. A calm and persistent “life will go on” motif is prevalent throughout, which follows the bands’ previous two EP’s they released in 2016, Explore and Explode, along with their most recent singles from this album, “Call Me” and “Breathe Out The Fumes”. FACEBOOK.

Upbeat and refreshing 'Lake Family' also has plenty of heart and soul, the bands lo-fi music is the perfect soundtrack some really appealing vocals.

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Jon Lindsay - Zebulon (feat. Matt Douglas).

Background - Chicago’s File 13 Records has announced they will release 'Zebulon', the compelling yet irresistibly catchy new single from solo artist Jon Lindsay.  Slated for worldwide release on December 22, this track features a ridiculously funky horn arrangement from Matt Douglas of The Mountain Goats and drums by John Howie Junior.

'Zebulon' also happens to artfully tackle systemic bigotry—from the bigot’s point of view, no less. A sonic departure from Lindsay’s 2016 modern pop/rock opus 'Cities and Schools' (via File 13 Records), Lindsay describes the “Zebulon” sound as “sort of this psychedelic gospel pop”. While the vibe is indeed reminiscent of late-era George Harrison and Warren Zevon, and the horns, keys, congas and infectious hooks are in step with pop masters of the 1980s like Steve Winwood, something entirely new is happening here.

Lindsay (self-described as “way, way left”) wrote the song based on a true story. One night last summer, he accidentally wound up in rural North Carolina, playing music on a farm at the going away party for a farmer’s daughter, who was heading off to a northern college in the fall. Lindsay knew very little about the situation heading into the evening, but there was a lot of narrow-minded language and odd ideas voiced that night, much of it by the farmer himself. Some of this is echoed in the song.

“I didn’t want to just skewer a guy like this with some preachy, easy tune," explains Jon Lindsay, "I wanted to put a more three-dimensional character sketch together that got at the undercurrents of why this person felt like his whole world was getting away from him. Maybe it would help me understand how these things happen? I just tried to imagine how somebody could turn out so hateful and seemingly not realize it even a little bit.” WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Bright and engaging from the opening moments 'Zebulon' is a rhythmic and catchy pop song with a musical arrangement that skillfully adds some extra instrumentation just at the right moment.

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Safari Gold - Easy Company.

Background - I remember sitting in a hotel room (working) in India shortly after we put our first single ‘Howl’ up, and feeling grateful that people seemed to get what we were doing; especially the contrast between the light and the dark of Mog and Danny’s vocals and the mixture of organic and electronic instrumentation, which I’d tried hard to give equal bearing in the mix. More importantly, I was proud of what we’d made, and was excited
to see where it could take us.

Then a couple of us got shipped around the world with work again, passed exams, bought houses, dogs, vans…. for a while recording felt like thumbing putty into the gaps in our schedules, trying to stop the band from leaking away. But all the little seconds and minutes built up, as did the songs, and the idea of a ‘release’got swallowed up by tweaks and changes, mixing, re-mixing…. I realised we had to let go of it at some point or I might get swallowed as well.

So, at last, what feels like a decade later, I present to you the fruits of our labour as Safari Gold; a self-produced, self-indulgent, subjectively beautiful 15-track mess that our parents and labels couldn’t get their heads round, to be released across all digital platforms on January 19th, 2018.  That Friday night we’ll also be holding our album release show at our beloved Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff.

I owe a special thanks to Todd Campbell @ Stompbox Studios for helping me to produce it all, and reining me in when I was halfway to the moon with a drum-mic. We’d also like to thank our friend Mal who designed and painted our album cover, which encapsulates so much of what this album is about.  And of course a huge thanks to any of our friends who got dragged into the whirlpool, however briefly. Its taken a long time to finish a) because we needed to learn how to make it and b) because of life. 

It’s fun, it’s sad; it might not be what you expected. I don’t really know how to describe it properly, but what I do know is we’re incredibly lucky to be here at all, and we wouldn't be without you. So thank you too. - Lew, Sion, Mog & Danny. FACEBOOK.   

'Easy Company' is a combination of indie pop and rock where both the music, vocals and charming harmonies, suggest the album only needs to be this good to be magnificent.

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Honeymilk feat. Matilda Wiezell - Coming Home.

Background - Honeymilk, who went from a four-piece to a two-piece a year ago, just completed their sophomore studio album, called “I Want You To Be Very Happy.

First track out from the album was “Time Will Kill You” which was released summer 2016, soon reaching 200 000 streams on Spotify. 

This was followed by “The Nothing New” and “Trip” which both was instantly hailed as the best tracks the band’s released by media outlets such as Clash Magazine, BBC Fresh On The Net and Jajaja Music. Airplay followed on renowned stations such as P3 in Sweden, Amazing Radio, German Flux FM, Norwegian NRK P13 and Finnish YLE Soumi..

Honeymilk’s new studio album “I Want You To Be Very Happy” is out January 26th on Birds Records. FACEBOOK.

'Coming Home' is a relaxed indie song that feels comfortable throughout, dropping hooks constantly and the vocal arrangement seriously adds some real wow factor as the tune unfolds.

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Sur Back - Valentino.

Background - NYC-based, orchestral pop artist, Sur Back, shares her lead single "Valentino" and announces her follow up EP, Kitsch II, due out February 23rd, 2018. The EP was written, recorded and produced by Sur Back, and mixed and mastered by Patrick Brown of Different Fur Studios (Toro y Moi, Grimes, Zola Jesus, K. Flay, The Morning Benders).

Sur Back is the solo project of Caroline Sans, a formally trained dancer and musician, who channels the two forms of art into a baroque pop aesthetic. Kitsch II is Kitsch's darker, more somber cousin, as displayed by the similar, but darker, album art. Although most of the second EP's tracks were written around the same time as the first EP, as a collection, the record has taken on a new meaning with Sur Back's transition to living in the city and moving away from her childhood home.

While finishing production of this record, Sur Back moved from South Florida to NYC, which is reflected through the EP's wide-eyed optimism and dreamlike aesthetic. "Valentino" was written as if scoring a fashion show, with a straightforward beat with a bit of jaggedness, as if walking in heels. The gorgeous instrumental layers that Sur Back is able to produce and write alone in her bedroom pushes past the typical DIY sound of bedroom pop. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Expect the unexpected with 'Valentino' and then enjoy the gorgeous musical journey. Fascinating and captivating, this is an instant replay, and some!

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Locks - Skin (Video Premiere)

Locks - Skin.

Background - The basis of the song is quite simple, it’s referring to inner demons, everyone’s are different and everyone deals with them in different ways. Some people are consumed by them to the point where their life revolves around them. Others fight them every step of the way. Sometimes they’re gone for good and other times they come back, either creeping slowly or rushing towards us like a juggernaut. The song is also linked to a previous track we did, but dropped unfortunately.

We shot the video on an iPhone again, we do all our videos on phones it seems.

The video started off with a very simple idea of inter cutting shots of each of us showing different expressions. Then had the idea of using coins found in a friends’ attic to coincide with the line ‘place two coins on those eyes before they start sinking’. Then this developed into the idea that we could use certain objects that could represent vices or triggers. We also tried to interweave the phrase ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ which represents both that and the constrictions we can place on ourselves, another nod to our inner demons. 

We had a lot of fun videoing this, there’s quite a lot of outtakes too and we got a huge amount of black paint everywhere. FACEBOOK.

We featured this song last month, then along came the opportunity to premiere the video. Now whilst plenty of music sites appear to love plastering "premiere" and other "first past the post" statements across their home pages, Beehive Candy's shoestring arrangements, usually mean that the caveat of demands that often come with such "opportunities" are just to time consuming.

Then along comes Locks - polite, easy going, if it's not to much hassle and so on, and for such a fine song. So lets just repeat our review, leave it at that, put our feet up & go & watch the TV (OK so we are exaggerating for effect).

Last month we stated "Bluesy and with a stripped back musical opening when the vocals and harmonies kick in this becomes a rich and very catchy song. I'm left looking forward to their debut album, and some."


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John MOuse - INHEAVEN - Phantoms VS Fire - Super Hi Fi

John MOuse - Bunkbeds and Broken.

Background -  After a successful fan funding campaign, John MOuse releases his fifth album ‘Replica Figures’ out through Keep Me In Your Heart Records on the 19th of February 2018.   For ‘Replica Figures’  John returns to work with original band member Sweet Baboo. It's been 15 years since the two worked under John's previous moniker JT Mouse and the result is a touching album with glimpses of John's black humour, which has been a signature throughout his career.

"We had talked about working together but other commitments had taken president. This is the type album I have been wanting to release for some time.” Says John of his decision to work with Steve Baboo “Steve understood straight away what I was trying to achieve and we worked really quickly on just letting the songs breath and be themselves. Nothing was over thought or overworked."

‘Replica Figures’ features Steve Black (Sweet Baboo) on piano and bass, former guitarist of early 90's indie band Hopper (who were signed to Tony Wilson’s Factory Too records), Paul Sheppard, and John's daughter Maggie Lola on backing vocals. The album circulates around the concept of memories, different memories, how they are created, the lack of memory, enforced and false memories...

"We wanted the album to have restrictions in place, a limited palette of instruments and sounds, and most importantly a vocal performance to capture emotion and the moment.” Says John about recording the album “We are so used to listening to perfect vocals and I wanted to create a snapshot, much like a memory." FACEBOOK.

'Replica Figures' is one of those rare albums that starts out well and genuinely just gets better song by song. Somewhere near the mid-point we have 'Bunkbeds and Broken' a track that gives some good flavour of the whole, an anchor point if you like, however I really do urge you to check the other songs out, even if the shared song only registers a little.


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INHEAVEN - Sweet Dreams Baby.

Background - After a year in which they fulfilled several landmark ambitions, INHEAVEN today share their brand new track ‘Sweet Dreams Baby’ – their first new material since their critically acclaimed debut album was released last summer.

‘Sweet Dreams Baby’ is an anthem for those who are hoping for better things to come in 2018. “Ever wish you were someone else? Every wish you were somewhere else?” begins frontman James Taylor, expressing desires that many will identify with. Subsequently joined on vocal harmonies by Chloe Little, the duo’s lyrics remind people not to lose sight of their aspirations.

Sonically, ‘Sweet Dreams Baby’ echoes a succession of timeless American influences – from the insistent percussion of the great 60s girl groups to Springsteen’s yearning and the widescreen hooks of Kings of Leon. The track was produced by INHEAVEN’s regular collaborator Tom Dalgety (Royal Blood, Pixies, The Amazons).

After selling-out London’s Scala in the autumn, INHEAVEN return to the road at the end of the month for a UK headline tour. The band will also embarking on their first North American tour alongside fellow British indie darlings Pale Waves. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

January
31st – Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
February
1st – Portland Arms, Cambridge
2nd – Esquires, Bedford
3rd – Moles, Bath
5th – The Boileroom, Guildford
6th – The Face Bar, Reading
7th – The Forum, Tunbridge Wells
9th – Arts Centre, Norwich
10th – Mining Institute, Newcastle
12th – Deaf Institute, Manchester
13th – Arts Centre, Wolverhampton
March
19th - White Oak Music Hall - Houston, TX
20th - Dada - Dallas, TX
23rd - Rebel Lounge - Phoenix, AZ
24th - Soma Sidestage - San Diego, CA
25th - Constellation Room - Santa Ana, CA
26th - Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA
27th - The Chapel - San Francisco, CA
29th - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
30th - Biltmore Cabaret - Vancouver, BC
31st - The Crocodile - Seattle, WA
April
3rd - Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO
5th - Recordbar - Kansas City, MO
6th - Ready Room - St. Louis, MO
7th - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL
9th - Velvet Underground - Toronto, ON
10th - Skully’s Music Diner - Columbus, OH
11th - U Street Music Hall - Washington, DC
12th - The Foundry - Philadelphia, PA
13th - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
15th - Sonia - Boston, MA

We featured INHEAVEN twice last year and ahead of the bands tour we now have 'Sweet Dreams Baby'. Once again we have a mature sounding rocker, where the production and clarity of sound is retained however much the energy levels build. With plenty of hooks the song quickly develops and insists on a second listen way before the closing chords.


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Phantoms VS Fire - Starfish.

Background - Electronic music artist Phantoms vs Fire has announced a new expanded version of ‘Swim’, his debut album set for release via Hypersoma Records. This special edition, available exclusively on Bandcamp, is called ‘Deeper Swim’ and includes two additional tracks not available on the original version.

Phantoms vs Fire is the solo project of Italy-based Brazilian multi-disciplinary artist Thiago C. Desant. Both a composer and graphic artist, Desant focuses on melodies that incorporate traditional musical instruments, synthesizers and orchestral arrangements.

While Desant says that the artists who most strongly influenced his composition are Sigur Ros, Radiohead, Max Richter, Trent Reznor, and Gustavo Santaolalla, Phantoms vs Fire's output is very distinct from any one of them. Tastefully blending electronica and ambient with dreamy classical influences, this album is bound to appeal to fans of Tycho, Com Truise, Youandewan, Bonobo, Philip Glass, Japan, and Mike Oldfield.

Clearly blazing his own remarkably beautiful path, Phantoms vs Fire engulfs the listener, who journeys with each composition from introspection and relaxation to reverie and intensity in the best tradition of Philip Glass, Japan and Ryuichi Sakamoto. This is the perfect soundtrack to late night stargazing, capable of lifting you to greater sonic heights. WEBSITE, BANDCAMP.

To often we receive electronic based music that in all honesty, is not really even at the demo stage if your serious about taking it further. 'Starfish' typifies the quality to be found in Phantom VS Fire's music, and whilst we are not here to lecture anyone about their music, this album may well inspire some original ideas for others to develop.


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Super Hi Fi - Dub to the Bone (Live in The Greene Space).

Background - Brooklyn, NY's funkiest, ambassadors of dub Super Hi-Fi are back with a genre melding new LP called Blue and White. By mixing elements of reggae, rock, world music, and jazz, Super Hi-Fi have created an album that feels as vibrant, dynamic, and undefinable as the boroughs of New York City. Holding true to their reggae roots Blue and White promises plenty of low-end heaviness and the dual trombone power that has come to define Super Hi-Fi's signature sound.

Super Hi-Fi- an underground supergroup of sorts whose members have backed a diverse collection of artists ranging from Beyonce to Donovan to Bill Frisell to the Skatalites- mixes jazz-inflected trombones, the heavy rhythmic thump of Jamaican dub and touches of afrobeat, funk and rock for a mix memorably described as an ‘imaginary soundtrack from Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, The Specials and Led Zeppelin.’ Led by bassist and composer Ezra Gale, whose last outfit, the San Francisco-based Aphrodesia, took their take on afrobeat all the way to Femi Kuti’s Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, Super Hi-Fi has been making waves in the fertile New York music scene since 2010, releasing records nearly non-stop since their debut full-length album, “Dub To The Bone,” in 2012.

Deservedly acclaimed both for their prolific recorded output and their live show, Super Hi-Fi’s unique double trombone-led sound is equally at home at a raucous dance party or an intense listening session. Applying the improvisatory dub mixing approach to live performances of the band’s original compositions and inspired covers, the group has shared stages with John Brown’s Body, Rubblebucket, Beats Antique, Debo Band, Meta and the Cornerstones, Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad and many others at venues like the Brooklyn Bowl, Maxwell’s, the Mercury Lounge, the Rocks Off Concert series and elsewhere.

Super Hi-Fi’s new release, “Blue and White”, will feature original songs and will have a stunning cover design from printmaker Robert Swainston, who designed a cover that will be printed on each album individually. “Each one will be a little different but will come from the same source” explains Gale, “which echoes the aesthetics of dub music where you have different pieces made from the same song.” It’s a different perspective and more ambitious than most, but it’s clear by now that there aren’t many challenges Super Hi-Fi isn’t interested in taking on. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We have a live version of 'Dub To The Bone' to share with you, it's the third of twelve tracks on the studio album and the featured version is a fine representation both of the original and also of the high calibre album as a whole. This is a band that can traverse genres whilst retaining a vibrant, uplifting and often highly energised sound. If you are going to name yourselves Super Hi-Fi then the production really ought to reflect that, and the band do, with plenty of sonic delight all round.


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Stav G - Fruition - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Stav G - My Sheltered Room.

Background - Stav​ ​G​ ​​is announcing her new single “My​ ​Sheltered​ ​Room​” due out in early January. The recent NYC​ ​​transplant offers a scathing attack on the machinations of war and an open desire for dialogue and coexistence amongst people. All this is delivered with her signature mix of venom and melody.

Growing up in a musical environment, Stav ​G​ ​​knew from a young age she wanted to bea voice teacher. She focussed on music during her High School years and continued her education at the Rimon College of Contemporary Music. 

After studying voice pedagogy and performing in multiple ensembles, Stav​ ​​went on to study at the Complete Vocal Institute in Denmark, where she graduated as a certified CVT teacher. In the meantime she also became the songwriter and leader of the indie-rock band Malinka​, as well as the indie-pop duo Stav​ ​&​ ​Roni​ ​​both of whom toured widely.

The upcoming debut album was produced by Stav​ alongside with Avi​ ​Elbaz​, who also recorded, mixed, and mastered the tracks, as well as recorded some drum, guitar, and keyboard sections. This is STAV’​s first solo album, and features all of her own original lyrics. “My​ ​Sheltered​ ​Room”​ is due out in January 2018. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

There are some refined rock hooks running through 'My Sheltered Room' which mixes refrains and flowing music as a backdrop for Stav G's determined vocals that are reminiscent of Grace Slick circa her Jefferson Airplane days, and if anything even more potent and determined. A highly impressive song!

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Fruition - Northern Town.

Background - Fruition have just released "Northern Town", the second single off their forthcoming album Watching It All Fall Apart, out February 2nd via LoHi Records. On Watching It All Fall Apart, Fruition transform pain and heartache into something truly glorious. With their songwriting sharper and more nuanced than ever before—and their sonic palette more daringly expansive—the band’s full-hearted intensity ultimately gives the album a transcendent power.

Fruition teamed up with producer Tucker Martine, (My Morning Jacket, The Decemberists, Modest Mouse) to adorn their folk-rooted sound with delicately crafted elements of psychedelia and soul. “Tucker helped us push ourselves to create something that glistens in subtle little ways that you might not even pick up on at first,” says Kellen Asebroek. “We got to play around with all this analog gear and these weird old keyboards we wouldn’t ordinarily use, like a bunch of kids in a toy store where everything is free.”

Watching It All Fall Apart finds the three singer-songwriters Jay Cobb Anderson, Kellen Asebroek and Mimi Naja fully embracing their rock-and-roll sensibilities bringing a gritty vitality to each track while still showcasing their sublime harmonies they first discovered during an impromptu busking session in 2008.

Fruition has now evolved from a rootsy, string-centric outfit to a full-fledged rock act, having taken the stage at such major festivals as Bonnaroo and Telluride Bluegrass (a set that inspired Rolling Stone to praise their “raucous originals filled with heartfelt lyrics and stadium-worthy energy”). Following the release of 2016’s Labor of Love, Fruition again made the rounds at festivals across the U.S., prompting Rolling Stone to feature the band on its “8 Best Things We Saw” at DelFest 2016. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Tour Dates:
 01/24 - Sandpoint, ID @ Heartwood Center
01/25 - Missoula, MT @ Top Hat
01/26 - Billings, MT @ Pub Station
01/27 - Bozeman, MT @ Eagles Ballroom
01/30 - Salt Lake City, UT @ State Room
02/02 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
02/03 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
02/07 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada
02/08 - St. Louis, MO @ Atomic Cowboy Pavillion
02/09 - Chicago, IL @ Martyrs
02/10 - Columbus, OH @ Woodlands Tavern
02/14 - Lexington, KY @ The Burl
02/15 - Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar
02/18 - Nashville, TN @ 3rd and Lindsley
02/21 - Fayetteville, AR @ George's Majestic Lounge
02/22 - Wichita, KS @ Barleycorn's
02/24 - Steamboat Springs, CO @ WinterWonderGrass Festival
02/25 - Steamboat Springs, CO @ WinterWonderGrass Festival
03/17 - West Dover, VT @ Shamrock Weekend Mt Snow
04/06 - Olympic Valley, CA @ WinterWondergrass Tahoe
04/07 - Olympic Valley, CA @ WinterWondergrass Tahoe
04/12 - Las Vegas, NV @ Bender Jamboree
04/13 - Las Vegas, NV @ Bender Jamboree
06/01 - Taos, NM @ Music On the Mothership
06/28 - Rothbury, MI @Electric Forest

'Northern Town' is one very impressive song. The vocals and harmonies are gorgeous, the musicianship equally fine and the arrangement is just right. Alt rock with some Americana vibes and a huge dose of timeless beauty.


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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Echo.

Background - Widely acclaimed California-based band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has released their new single “Echo” which is the latest offering from the veteran rockers that features a striking, heavy-hitting guitar riff with a tantalizing hook and a booming chorus. “Echo” is now available as an instant download when pre-ordering Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s forthcoming 7th studio album Wrong Creatures, out next Friday, January 12.

Recorded in Los Angeles, Wrong Creatures takes a journey throughout rock's history, taking unlikely twists and turns, both peppered with historic influences but also having one foot firmly in the present. Remarkably, drummer Leah Shapiro was recovering from a brain tumor she suffered a few years ago while the album was created. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has been crafting perfectly honed, bluesy, psychedelic garage-rock since 1998. Ultimately, the band are survivors during an era where rock'n'roll can often be overshadowed by garish pop and domineering hip-hop - they have learned how to cut out all the noise and concentrate on what matters.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has also announced a North American tour which will kick off on January 15th and bring the band to major cities across the country including Los Angeles, Washington DC, Boston, Brooklyn, and more – full tour routing is below and tickets are on sale now here. The band has partnered with Plus 1 for the tour in which $1 from each ticket will be donated to War Child, a worldwide organization that supports programs aiding women & children dislocated and impacted by war, political unrest, terrorism and poverty.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are Peter Hayes (vocal, guitar, harmonica), Robert Levon Been (vocal, bass, guitar), and Leah Shapiro (vocal, drums). WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

North American Tour Dates:
January 15 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
January 16 Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Bure                        
January 18 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
January 19 Austin, TX @ Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater
January 20 Houston, TX @ House of Blues
January 21 New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues                                             
January 23 Tampa, FL @ The Ritz Ybor
January 24 Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution Live                                     
January 26 Orlando, FL @ The Beacham
January 27 Charlotte, NC @ The Underground                                           
January 29 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
January 30 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
January 31 Boston, MA @ Royale                     
February 2 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel   
February 5 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
February 6 Toronto, ON @ Rebel
February 7 Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
February 9 Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
February 10 Chicago, IL @ Vic Theatre
February 11 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
February 12 St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall
February 13 Kansas City, MO @ The Truman  
February 15 Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
February 16 Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall     
February 18 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
February 19 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
February 20 Seattle, WA @ The Show Box   
February 22 Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
February 23 Pomona, CA @ The Glass House
February 24 Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre

With an expansive guitar sound and vocals that are immersed in a wall of hook laden music, 'Echo' suggests twenty years on, BRMC still have plenty of creativity and style.


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QWAM - They Might Be Giants - Rosie Carney

QWAM - Dirty Feet / Doggie Door.

Background - Brooklyn punk band QWAM will release its debut EP, Feed Me, on January 19th. 

It's a collection of five high-energy, angst-fueled tracks that feature driving guitars, frenetic drums, and snarling vocals from lead singer Felicia Lobo.

The band previously shared a taste of the EP with lead single "Doggie Door," and late last week they released "Dirty Feet," a song about finding yourself and holding on to who you are in a sea of faces.

Written during 3am subway rides and perfected in sweaty Brooklyn basements, Feed Me is full of clever lyrics, anthemic choruses, and catchy group vocals. It was produced, engineered, and mixed by Jack Counce at Studio G and is currently available for pre-order on Bandcamp.

QWAM will celebrate their debut release at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory on January 24th. BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.

Latest song 'Dirty Feet' from the soon to be released debut EP is accompanied by the first single 'Doggie Door' providing a double helping of QWAM and their uncompromising punk fuelled music. The band are smart and allow just enough melody to ensure the hooks keep on rolling through both songs, without compromising their delicious, exuberant energy.

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They Might Be Giants - All Time What.

Background - With new track ‘All Time What’ from new album ‘I Like Fun’ out on streaming services now, the return of their Dial-A-Song service, a world tour including UK dates kicking off on January 17 and a contest to create a video for their track ‘I Left My Body’ underway, it is an exciting time for legendary alt-rock veterans, They Might Be Giants.

‘All Time What’ is an upbeat fuzzy guitar number about a decidedly un-upbeat subject: the falling apart of a romantic relationship. The album is a remarkable 15-track album, available physically and digitally on January 19, 2018. ‘I Like Fun’ jumps with surprises, vitality, and the startling point of view of these Brooklyn originals.

Songwriters and band founders John Linnell and John Flansburgh have drawn on themes of dread, death, and disappointment and set them to their driving, hyper-melodic music. Fresh and sonically adventurous, the band’s command of the studio and the song is in rare form from beginning to end. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We featured the song 'I Left My Body' back in October and with a band of this calibre, sharing the newly available 'All Time What' was to use the old expression "A No Brainer." It's catchy, vibrant and typically They Might Be Giants, through and through!


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Rosie Carney - K.

Background - Rosie Carney’s heart-wrenchingly beautiful new cover of Cigarettes After Sex’s stand-out single “K.” which has just had an official release through Akira Records. Rosie's coming off a massive 2017, which saw the release of a trio of acclaimed singles, all of which are streaming via Spotify and SoundCloud.

Anyone that’s not already acquainted with Rosie’s mature-beyond-her-years songwriting would be forgiven for thinking she was some long lost contemporary of Joni Mitchell with decades worth of experiences to relate about life, love and adversity, and not a brilliant newcomer who’s barely left her teenage years behind. She writes the kind of music that'll stop you dead in your tracks, and has proven a deft hand at creating sublime tonal flourishes to complement her vivid lyrics and enchanting voice.

Of her decision to cover "K" she says “I wanted to record a song that was released by one of my favorite artists this year. I chose ‘K’ by Cigarettes After Sex because, firstly I’m a huge fan of this band and their music and aesthetic, and secondly because this song definitely resonated with me the most from their new record. It’s such an honest song and I just love the message it carries. I love how relaxing and transcending the melody is. It’s one of those songs that I wish were mine.” FACEBOOK.

If you include a recent duet then 'K' is the sixth feature we have carried for Rosie Carney, the artist that just keeps on giving beautiful musical renditions, be it her own compositions or gorgeous covers such as this.

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