Toy - “It’s Been So Long”

Toy released a video for their track “It’s Been So Long” this week.  The clip was directed by Douglas Hart.  The song is from their second album Join The Dots which was released this past December.  Check it out below.

"The video for TOY's It's Been So Long features calibration charts used for everything from testing focus on microscopes and optical movie projectors to the calibration of cathode rays and the accuracy of the US Army Air Force's bomb and gun sights. The video also includes colour reference charts which instruct technicians as to the true nature of black, white and the three primary colours which combine and overlap within optical devices to create every imaginable colour and shade. Often these charts include strange symbols mapped out in mysterious lines, spirals, and solid shapes, some of which look like they belong on the pages of a New Orleans Voodoo curse, or on an Op Art canvas." - Douglas Hart  

TOY are: Tom Dougall (vocals / guitar), Dominic O'Dair (guitars), Maxim Barron (bass / vocals), Alejandra Diez (synths / modulations) & Charlie Salvidge (drums / vocals).

Dr. Dog - “Distant Light”

Dr. Dog debuted their new video for their song “Distant Light” via Stereogum.com this week.  The clip was directed by Aaron Hymes. The track is from their album B-Room.  Check out the clip below.

Dr. Dog - "Distant Light" from stereogum on Vimeo.

Tour Dates

• 1/29/14 - Cabaret Mile-End - Montreal **
• 1/31/14 - Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA
• 2/01/14 - Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA
• 2/03/14 - Madison Theatre - Cincinnati, OH **
• 2/05/14 - Turner Hall - Milwaukee, WI **
• 2/06/14 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
• 2/07/14 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN **
• 2/08/14 - Riviera Theatre - Chicago, IL
• 2/19/14 - Civic Theatre - New Orleans, LA
• 2/20/14 - Warehouse Live - Houston, TX **
• 2/21/14 - Stubb's - Austin, TX
• 2/22/14 - House of Blues - Dallas, TX **
• 2/24/14 - Crescent - Phoenix, AZ **
• 2/25/14 - Crescent - Phoenix, AZ **
• 2/26/14 - The Observatory - Santa Ana, CA **
• 2/27/14 - Wiltern - Los Angeles, CA **
• 2/28/14 - Catalyst - Santa Cruz, CA **
• 3/01/14 - Warfield - San Francisco, CA **
• 3/03/14 - Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR **
• 3/04/14 - Venue - Vancouver, BC **
• 3/05/14 - Neptune Theater - Seattle, WA **
• 3/07/14 - Complex - Salt Lake City, UT **
• 3/08/14 - Boulder Theater - Boulder, CO **
• 3/10/14 - Liberty Hall - Lawrence, KS **
• 3/11/14 - Slowdown - Omaha, NE **
• 3/12/14 - The Pageant - St. Louis, MO **
• 3/14/14 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC

** - With Saint Rich

Big Head Todd and the Monsters - “Josephina”

Big Head Todd and the Monsters released a video for their song “Josephina”.  The track is from their upcoming album, Black Beehive which is scheduled to be released on February 4.  Check out the video below.

When Big Head Todd & the Monsters launch their extensive national tour behind Black Beehive in January—which will continue through the summer and hit most major markets—they will be honing the album’s ageless blues along the way, and simultaneously affirming their own longevity. It’s clear that they possess a rare musical wholeness that has not only survived for 25 plus years, but still has them looking forward to creating music together night after night.

Fanfarlo To Release New Album In February

London’s Fanfarlo will release their new album, Let’s Go Extinct, on February 11 via Blue Horizon.  Check out the video for the track “Landlocked” below.  The clip was directed by Inga Birgisdóttir. 

New York, Fanfarlo will be doing a couple of shows here.  On April 22, they'll be at the Bowery Ballroom  on the LES and on April 23, they'll be at Rough Trade over in Brooklyn.

Tour Dates

• 3/24/14                       San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
• 3/25/14                       West Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour
• 3/26/14                       San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
• 3/28/14                       Portland, OR @ Dante's
• 3/29/14                       Vancouver, B.C. @ Venue
• 3/30/14                       Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
• 4/1/14                         Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
• 4/2/14                         Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
• 4/4/14                         Kansas City, MO @ Middle of the Map Fest
• 4/5/14                         St. Louis, MO @ Duck Room at Blueberry Hill
• 4/7/14                         Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
• 4/8/14                         Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
• 4/10/14                       Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
• 4/11/14                       Columbus, OH @ Skully's Music Diner
• 4/12/14                       Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theater
• 4/14/14                       Detroit, MI @ Shelter
• 4/16/14                       Toronto, ON @ Lee's Place
• 4/19/14                       Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
• 4/22/14                       New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
• 4/23/14                       Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
• 4/25/14                       Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
• 4/26/14                       Washington D.C. @ U Street Music Hall

Polly Scattergood - “Subsequently Lost”

Polly Scattergood recently released the new video for her single “Subsequently Lost” which was directed by Tom Payne.  The single is out on March 11 via Mute Records and is taken from her latest album, Arrows.

Directed by Tom Payne, who Polly met at a film night he runs in London, explains: “I've always thought Polly's music had a very strong visual aesthetic to it, I really wanted to bring this out. It was very important to me to collaborate with Polly rather than dictate a narrative and I'm very proud of what we produced with this video”

Scattergood, taking about working with Tom Payne, said “Tom has a great eye, he knows exactly how to capture women and make them feel comfortable which results in very honest footage. Subsequently Lost is very close to my heart, it’s all about striving for something but never quite getting there and ultimately losing your mind. I loved the idea of the juxtaposition of the harsh reality and twisted fantasy, which is why we decided to go from the cinematic widescreen dreamscape asylum, to the close up reality”

Little Earthquake - “Planets”

Check out “Planets” from Australia’s Little Earthquake.  Their EP, Universal Mind, is scheduled for release in April 2014.

Little Earthquake is the brainchild of siblings Mathew and Justin Hyland, keen students of indie pop, embracing rock, electronic and acoustic instruments to bring their quirky electro-pop melodies to life. 

Upcoming: Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires at Shea Stadium on 2/1

Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, who just signed with Sub Pop Records, will be taking the stage at Shea Stadium on February 1.  Doors are at 8PM, they go on at 11PM and it’ll cost you $10.  See below for more details as well as tour dates.

Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires

Saturday, February 1

Shea Stadium

20 Meadow Street

Brooklyn, NY

Doors: 8PM / Set Time: 11PM

$10

Tour Dates

• January 23 – Charlotte, NC - The Milestone
• January 24 – Raleigh, NC – Slim’s
• January 25 – Durham, NC – Duke Coffeehouse
• January 26 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern
• January 27 – Washington, DC – DC9
• January 28 – Northampton, MA – The Elevens
• January 29 – Boston, MA – Great Scott
• January 30 – Wilmington, DE – Oddity Bar
• January 31 – Philadelphia, PA – North Star Bar
• February 1 – New York, NY – Shea Stadium
• February 3 – Columbus, OH – Woodlands
• February 4 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
• February 5 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen
• February 6  - Normal, IL – Firehouse
• February 7 – Bloomington, IN – Russian Recording
• February 8 – Nashville, TN – The Basement

Anna Rose - “Gimme Danger”

Anna Rose released her cover of the Stooges’ “Gimme Danger” earlier this month.  Check it out below.

Anna Rose released her sophomore album, Behold A Pale Horse, in August 2013.  

Shonen Knife To Release New Album This Spring

Shonen Knife will release their new album, Overdrive, on April 16.  The record will be released in North America via Good Charamel Records.  The group will be touring in support of the album with North American dates planned for September/October.

Hank & Cupcakes - “Cocaina”

Hank & Cupcakes released a video for their song “Cocaina” yesterday.  The video was shot almost entirely on their iPhone.  The track is from their upcoming album Cash For Gold which is scheduled for release this summer. Check it out below.

This is the first time we've made a music video completely on our own, we shot almost all of it, edited it - the works! It's another step on our path to creative independence & having the ability to realize our own vision which feels really good. For those wondering about 'The Booty Factory' in the video credit, since we're wearing so many hats at the moment, we came up with a pseudonym which will represent us in everything we do that isn't actually Hank & Cupcakes.