Vintage Trouble will be taking the stage at Highline Ballroom on Monday, March 4. Doors are at 7PM and the show is at 8PM. It will cost you $15 (tables, first come, first seated $10 minimum per person).
New York, Australian band The Beards will be making astop at Sons of Essex on March 24 as part of The Aussie BBQ festival. For those not in the know (like I was!) they're a group of guys who exclusively perform songs about one subject... beards! Yep, you heard me, BEARDS. They have a new album, Having A Beard Is The New Not Having A Beard, which is scheduled for release in the US on March 5. And since I maybe, probably, have a beard fetish, I had to show them some love. Check out the video for “You Should Consider Having Sex With A Bearded Man” below.
The concept of The Beards is simple: a band of bearded men that exclusively perform songs about just one subject – Beards. Forming in 2005 to perform one show only in their hometown of Adelaide, South Australia, The Beards soon found their truly unique concept in hot demand. Their hardline pro-beard stance, coupled with their passion-fueled live shows and unquestionable musicianship, meant they developed a cult following right across the country, and the advent of social media soon led to a global fan-base. From their bearded lair, Johann Beardraven (vocals, keyboards, and saxophone) speaks of the band’s mission: “I regard us as freedom fighters. We started this band because bearded men in Australia were heavily discriminated against. We provided a voice for the bearded underdog and now everyone in our country has a beard.”
Having A Beard Is The New Not Having A Beard is the band’s third full-length album since its inception, following the self-titled 2007 debut and 2010’s aptly titled Beards, Beards Beards. “It’s our third concept album about the same concept – the only concept of any importance to any of us – beards!” Explains drummer John Beardman Jnr. With other songs of various rock enormities on the album, including the rocksteady-tinged “Bearded Nation,” the L.A. sleaze-rock of “Why Having A Beard Is Better Than Having A Woman,” and the piano ballad “I Think Beards Are Great,” any notion that The Beards may have run out of material is comprehensively quashed. The band—rounded out by Nathaniel Beard (bass guitar/vocals) and Facey McStubblington (guitars/vocals) - proudly point out that this is “definitely our most beard-related album yet”.
The music universe has been a buzz since iconic rocker David Bowie announced the release of his upcoming album, The Next Day, which is scheduled for release on March 12. The first single "Where Are We Now?" got lots of buzz and blew up my social media feeds...you have obviously been missed Mr. Bowie. Now, he has released a new video for the track "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)". Joining Bowie in the Floria Sigismondi directed video is actress Tilda Swinton. The clip is visually beautiful, artsy, a little weird and fantastically Bowie. Check it out below and enjoy.
ZZ Ward will be paying a visit to New York next month. She will be down at Irving Plaza on Tuesday, March 5. Doors are at 7PM and Ward hits the stage at 8:30PM. It'll cost you $16. Also on the bill that night, Delta Rae and Martin Harley.
I first heard Ward without knowing it. I'd heard the bluesy singer/songwriters "Put The Gun Down" and enjoyed it tremendously but had no idea who it was until an email landed in my box. It was one of those "so that's who sings that song I like!" moments. She released her terrific, Til The Casket Drops back in October. Check outthe song below.
ZZ Ward Delta Rae, Martin Harley Tuesday, March 5 Irving Plaza 17 Irving Place New York, NY Doors 7PM / Set 8:30PM Tickets: $16
Sweden based Junip released their video for "Line Of Fire" earlier this week. The song is the first single from their upcoming Junip album which is scheduled for release on April 23 via Mute. The video clip was directed by Swedish filmmaker Mikel Cee Karlsson. Check it out below.
The first installment in a two-part series leading up to the release of Junip’s sophomore self-titled release on April 23rd “Line of Fire” is best explained by Karlsson himself, "The video(s) tell the story of a tormented old man, stuck in a relationship that perhaps was not his choice, or preference to begin with. We see fragments from childhood, the first awkward kiss, the father watching over him. Making sure he follows the right path. The old man, like all of us, a person programmed by the convictions and beliefs of others. In the case of the old man, the unconscious suddenly manifest itself when a young, jeans wearing character appears in their home, forcing him to question who he really is."
“Line of Fire” is the first single off Junip’s self-titled sophomore album. Featuring vocals by José González with Elias Araya on drums and Tobias Winterkorn on keys, “Line of Fire” showcases a bolder, more mature Junip.Returning to their rehearsal space in Gothenberg, Sweden (where they recorded their 2010 debut release, Fields) the trio once again engaged the assistance of producer Don Alsterberg.
San Francisco based artist Violent Vickie is scheduled to release her debut album, Monster Alley, on March 1. Check out the premiere single, "The Wolf", below.
Monster Alley ingeniously disguises Violent Vickie’s feminist political agendas in 11 dance-’til-you-die songs. In the introductory track “Drugs,” she croons “you ain’t got to worry when you got drugs” with a strung-out detachment to a uptempo, diamond-hard beat, while the ironically lascivious “Come and Run” concerns a bad sexual experience, and “The Scientist” takes a critical look at the pharmaceutical industry. Following in the footsteps of the iconic electropop band Le Tigre, Violent Vickie breathes a new punk rock ethos into electronic music.
Accompanied by Tyler Holmes on synth, her live shows are a multisensory experience, featuring electrifying psychedelic images.
Semi Precious Weapons have been out on the other coast writing, being glamorous and doing whatever people do when in Cali. Now, we get to hear a taste of what they've been working on. They have unveiled a new song, "Aviation High", which they're offering up for free. It's a little different than what we're used to hearing from them. It will be interesting to hear what the rest of the music they've been working on sounds like. Check it out and grab it below.
Israeli dream pop duo The Aprons recently released their debut single and video "Sound Stain". The pair, Hava (drums, vocals) and Talia (Bass, vocals) are, according to their bio, "urban nymphs that produce magical miniatures and haunting tunes." I don't know about the urban nymph part or the magical miniatures part but, they did produce a haunting tune which I really like. The "Sound Stain" video took a crew of 40 animators and a year realize. Check it out below and after you've done that, grab the single via the handy widget.
The title track showcases the mystery and windy melodies of their debut album "Sound Stains".
About the music video (From director Liran Goldberg): The concept came from the thought of taking the femininity and gentleness of the female pair and give it a visual interpretation to a world that everything feels organic yet fragile. From this concept I thought to film everything in the forest and wrap it with crystal made animals, where the hunters emphasize the conflict. The making of the video took a year to realize, with a crew of 40 animators that volunteered for the project.
Chicago based band Maps & Atlases have released the second video from their Beware & Be Grateful album. The clip, "Fever", was directed by Erin Elders and stars Barret Walz, Dennis Bisto and Megan Ligeti. Check out the clip below.
Maps & Atlases began a Euorpean tour last week and will begin the US leg in April. So far, no NY dates have been announced.
The clip, which further develops the story of an anonymous man introduced in their album trailer video, was directed by guitarist Erin Elders and produced by drummer Chris Hainey.
Since their formation in 2004, Maps & Atlases have captured the indie imagination with their extraordinarily artful amalgamation of polyrhythmic beats, elaborate melodies, and post-rock ingenuity.
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