Chains of Love Release Debut EP

Vancouver-based Chains of Love release their debut EP, Strange Grey Days, tomorrow, Tuesday, March 13 via Manimal Vinyl Records. The band blends girl group vocals with dirty lo-fi garage rock. I caught a performance by the band this past June. Their set felt like an electric shock that generated some tingly excitement and all out fun.

With an intoxicating energy, Chains of Love's sun-soaked romantic pop is injected with the stomp of vintage 60s soul, the wild abandon of 70s garage, and the guitar grime of The Cramps and early JAMC. Initially inspired by the “memory of that girl group sound” when forming the band, Chains started by referencing certain artists such as Gail Harris, Ike & Tina, The Ronnettes, and The Shangri-la's by using their lo-fi recording styles as a blueprint for the sound they wanted to create but their debut EP Strange Grey Days signals that their sound expanding yet maintains rare urgency of that sets Chains of Love apart from their throwback-y, reverb-drenched contemporaries.

In a recent interview, singer Nathalia Pizzaro says “I don’t wanna just say that we sound retro or Motown—that we’ve got a kitschy, candy shop vibe to us—I feel like there’s a raw element to our sound, too.” guitarist/vocalist Rebecca Marie Law Gray adds "We have so much fun when we’re recording. I think it translates in what you hear.” The band all would agree that Chains of Love is truly a passion project, putting every bit of energy and emotion into it. Uninitiated audiences who have been lucky enough to stumble across seeing them live often come away witnessing the best show they never expected to see.

Tour Dates

• February 16, 2012 -- Vancouver @ The Biltmore
• February 21, 2012 -- Seattle @ The Funhouse
• February 23, 2012 -- San Francisco @ Brick and Mortar
• February 24, 2012 -- San Diego @ Soda Bar
• February 25, 2012 -- Los Angeles @ Echo
• February 27, 2012 -- Los Angeles Live on KXLU
• March 1, 2012 -- Portland @ Mississippi Bar
• March 14-17 -- Austin - SXSW

Hank & Cupcakes To Play Santos + Releases New Video

Hank & Cupcakes released the video for "Liquid Mercury," the first single from their upcoming album. You can view it at the bottom of the post.

New York, Hank & Cupcakes will be killin' it down at Santos Party House on Wednesday, March 28. Doors are at 7PM. It's an 18+ show and it will cost you $13 advance/$15 dos. You can buy tickets HERE.

Video Details
Creative Director & Stylist: Melanie Willey
Cinematography: Uri Shwartz, Matt Bockelman
Assistant Cinematography: Dimitri Saintvill
Editor: Matt Bockelman
Actors & Crew: Sasha the fire gypsy, Viet Nguyen, Jacqueline Patchen, Scott Darda, Laurabeth Lima, Sarah Ganley, Sterling, Ian Sternthal

Corruption At Tammany Hall, 3/15

Corruption happens every Thursday...

Video of the Day: Air Bag One - "Whatever You Want"

Electro-pop/indie-rock band Air Bag One released their debut EP Summer Killed Us at the end of February. I'm really digging this four-song EP. If you haven't had the experience, you should check these guys out. They've released a video for the records closing track, "Whatever You Want." You can watch the Koya Kamura & Matthias Jenny directed video below.

Wasabassco Burlesque @ Union Hall & City Winery Tomorrow, 3/10

Two shows, two boroughs, one night ... that's what Wasabassco Burlesque is offering tomorrow, Saturday, March 10.

Tickets for the Union Hall show can be bought HERE. You can get tickets for the City Winery show HERE.

Metallica Announces Director For 3D Film Project

Rockers Metallica have announced a director for the upcoming Metallica 3D feature film project. They've tapped award-winning director Nimród Antal for the Charlotte Huggins produced project.

Um, Dear Metallica, I'm not really a fan of anything 3D though the thought of James Hetfield growling and looking menacing in 3D is frightening yet disturbingly thrilling to me. As long as I don't have to wear 3D glasses, we'll remain on good musician/fan terms. Moving on...

The film, a mix of narrative and concert, will star the members of Metallica and the fans. It will begin filming in August and is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2013.

"I've been a fan of Nimróds since his first Hungarian film, Kontroll, showed up at Cannes in 2004 and blew everybody away, said Metallica's Lars Ulrich. "I've watched with excitement his career in Hollywood blossom over the last few years. Within five minutes of meeting him I was addicted to his enthusiasm, his take on the creative process and his "thinking outside of the box" personality. Let's get on with it!!!"

"Metallica has always been a huge part of my life, and it's an incredible opportunity when we get to work with our heroes," said Antal. "We are going to harness the powerful and almighty energy of Metallica's live shows, inject a narrative into it, and shoot it in 3D to elevate the entire experience."

Edward Rogers' Porcelain To Be Released In The UK + MP3

New York based Brit, Edward Rogers will be releasing his latest album, Porcelain, in the UK & Europe on April 2 via Bucketfull of Brains. The record was released this past November here in the US via Zip Records. Scroll down to the bottom of the post and check out the video for the title track which features footage from Bond film Moonraker. You can also grab the song in our MP3 Grab at the bottom of the post.

“The title of the album,” explains Rogers, “directly reflects the emotions represented in the songs and my mood during the writing process – rage, love, broken friendships, good days, bad days…fun days.”

Rogers explains the track in his own words: "I once met a very young, very sick girl who was put in foster care because her family couldn't afford to take care of her. I couldn't get her off my mind. She made me think of the fact that life is so delicate, so vulnerable and breakable... like porcelain. That young girl and the challenges she was going to face was the inspiration for 'Porcelain.'"

MP3 Grab: "Porcelain"

Madi Diaz To Perform Two NY Shows & Releases Video + MP3

Madi Diaz recently released a video for her single "Gimme A Kiss." The video was directed by Erich Weiss and can be seen if you scroll down. Also, you can grab the song in our MP3 Grab at the bottom of the post. The song is the lead song on her Plastic Moon record which was released in January.

New York, Diaz will be in town for a couple of shows. She'll be supporting Rachael Yamagata at Highline Ballroom on April 2 (doors at 6PM / $25) and April 4, over in Brooklyn at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (doors at 8PM / $25 / 18+).

MP3 Grab: "Gimme A Kiss"

Upcoming: Nikka Costa At Highline Ballroom, 5/24

New York, Nikka Costa is coming back to the Big Apple! Y'all know I dig this lady. If you haven't seen her live, you're missing out. You will dance, you will sweat and you will damn sure have fun.

Costa will be at the Highline Ballroom on Thursday, May 24. Doors are at 6:00PM, showtime is 8:00PM and it will cost you $18 in advance. If you wait until day of show, it'll cost you $20. You should seriously consider going if you haven't already made plans to.

Back in 2008 when I first started my blog, I wrote this about Costa ... I got hooked on Nikka's music when I fell asleep with the television on one night. I woke up in the wee hours to the video for "Like A Feather" from her then current release Everybody Got Their Something. There on my screen with a shock of fiery hair, decked out in vibrant blue and on very good terms with double-sided tape, was one funky lady with "NIKKA" flashing behind her in lights and swirling colors. I scribbled her name on the box of tissue by my bed and went back to sleep. Later that morning, I went to the store and bought the album. A Nikka fan was born.

Some years later, in stark contrast to the vibrant "Like A Feather" video, she released one for her song, "Nylons In A Rip" a while back. The song is from her most recent record, PRO*WHOA. It's done in beautiful black and white and will rock your face off. Check it out below.

Teeth & Tongue Release Video For "Unfamiliar Skirts" + Show

Teeth & Tongue debuted her video for the new single "Unfamiliar Skirts" last week. The Lucy Dyson directed video was shot in black and white; we like all things black and white. Scroll down and check it out as well as show information.

Shot entirely in stark black and white, the 60s film-noir influenced clip was directed by London-based filmmaker Lucy Dyson, and features singer Jess Cornelius, managing to be coy and be direct all at the same time. It is impossible not to be hypnotized by Cornelius’s vocals as she sings of a woman delivering this cruel prediction to her wayward lover: ‘You will seek salvation in their unfamiliar skirts, until you finally realize I’m the only thing that works.” Ouch!

The making of “Unfamiliar Skirts” was a spontaneous affair: written and recorded in just one evening while making use of an in-home studio, these initial demo recordings would become Teeth & Tongue’s mesmerizing first single, nominated for the EG Award’s “Song of the Year.”

Gig Alert!!!

Teeth & Tongue
(The Aussie BBQ)
Sunday, March 25
The Bell House
149 7th Street
Brooklyn, NY
www.thebellhouseny.com
718-643-6510
Doors @ 1:00PM
Set Time: 6:30PM
(A dozen + other bands on the line-up)
$12 advance / $15 dos