This is hard for an Italian to admit, but, even though French wines and cheeses are obviously inferior to ours (he he), I have to concede that French musical influences are way, way, way more "usable" in an indie context than Italian ones. Led by French singer Quay Quinn-Settel, Slowdance is one of the newest bands belonging to the rather copious battalion of francophile and francophone artists produced by the NYC scene in the past decade (La Laque, CoCoRosie, Die Romantik, and Elodie O are some of the other notable ones). Their new single "Boyfriend" (out as a 7" on White Iris Records), end even more so side B "Airports," revisit the simple, charming melodies of 60s French pop and baptize them in a dream pop musical backdrop. This "French-girl-dream" formula is rather pleasing and conspires images of desperately needed motorcycle trips through Provence’s spectacular countryside. That is a good sign. But since you obvioulsy can’t afford that, you should probably go see Slowdance live at the next opportunity, which is on June 15 at Cameo, and dream about it. – PDG
New Diplo EP Available for Streaming via Spotify
We mentioned earlier this week that Diplo is running a contest to win free lifetime entry into all his shows to celebrate the upcoming release of his Express Yourself EP on June 12. (Sorry dudes, apparently it’s for females only, and unlike Donald Trump and Miss Universe, we highly doubt transgender individuals will be allowed to enter. However, we don’t think that they’ll be testing so we’d love to see one win just to see the disappointed look on Diplo’s face. ;o) Well, you can now get a sneak preview of the album via Spotify, which also has contributions from Elephant Man, GTA, Datsik, Nicky Da B and more, so pop into that handstand and “let your booty go.”
Show of the day: Langhorne Slim/Ha Ha Tonka/The Roseline
The Jackpot, Lawrence, 9 pm, 21+, $10
Two area bands are featured at The Jackpot in Lawrence tonight: The Roseline, a pure, melodious country group from Lawrence, whose sound will mesh with the soulful, rootsy rock of the Ozarks group Ha Ha Tonka. Ha Ha Tonka has been touring with well-known singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim and continues to make a name for itself around the country.
Check out the latest video from the boys, "Lonely Fortunes," off their acclaimed 2011 album Death of A Decade.
Birthmark “Antibodies”
Nate Kinsella’s latest project, a full-length album called Antibodies released under the name Birthmark, came out last month through Polyvinyl. It is his second release as Birthmark. This project is both intimate at times and grand at others. Kinsella has a way of delivering vocals in a hushed but emotional way. Yet it is the instrumentation that gives this album its warmth. Pulsing strings, looping beats, dissected sounds, every sound is thought out and well places.
Birthmark performs next at Empty Bottle on August 13th for free show.
Panda Riot “Serious Radical Girls”
Panda Riot released their new 7" single "Serious Radical Girls" yesterday through Saint Marie Records.
The band will be celebrating the release this Saturday, June 9th at Panda vs. Panda (3144 W. Carroll Ave.) with Videotape and Sister Crystals.
Lawrence Field Day Fest Announces Lineup
The lineup for the first Lawrence Field Day Fest has been announced! The pre-party starts July 5 at The Jackpot with Stephen Egerton of The Descendents/ALL. See below for the full lineup:
Thursday, July 5: The Jackpot (Pre-Party)
- 10:00-10:45 Drag The River
- 11:00-11:45 Stephen Egerton
- 12:00-12:45 Stiff Middle Fingers
Friday, July 6: The Bottleneck
- 6:00-6:30 Soma
- 6:40-7:10 Busted Open
- 7:20-7:50 Jabberjosh
- 8:00-8:30 Field Day Jitters
- 8:40-9:10 Many Moods of Dad
- 9:20-9:50 Radar Defender
- 10:00-10:30 The Empty Spaces
- 10:40-11:25 Panda Circus
- 11:35-12:20 The ACBs
- 12:30-1:15 Mouthbreathers
Saturday, July 7: The Bottleneck
- 4:00-4:30 Sex Tapes
- 4:40-5:10 Black on Black
- 5:20-5:50 Awestrich
- 6:00-6:30 Dismantle The Virus
- 6:40-7:10 White
- 7:20-7:50 Melting Point of Bronze
- 8:00-8:30 Robocopter
- 8:40-9:10 Deco Auto
- 9:20-9:50 Dean Monkey
- 10:00-10:30 Doubleplus
- 10:40-11:25 Radkey
- 11:35-12:20 Major Games
- 12:30-1:00 Approach
Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 8. The festival is sponsored by New Belgium Brewing Co., KJHK 90.7 FM, and Midwest Music Foundation.
Heypenny Debut Live Video for “You Shine”
Known primarily for the creative charm of their music videos and the energy and sweat that emanates from their live shows, Heypenny have teamed up with Love Drunk to combine both of their most outstanding elements in a live performance music video of "You Shine," from their album A Jillion Kicks.
Representing Nashville in Hear Nebraska‘s scavenger hunt for the East Coast’s best bands, the four piece dance, sing, and clap their way through the performance amongst a barrage of Chinese lanterns and exposed electrical wiring, proving that Heypenny can not only play a great show anywhere but that they can also create a charming aesthetic in even the oddest environment.
For more on Heypenny’s involvement with the Hear Nebraska project, visit the blog. — Brianne Turner
Peanut Butter Lovesicle to Play Cameo This Friday 06.08
Peanut Butter Lovesicle has a lot of things going for them. A name you can’t forget, a bluesy-psycadelic sound that brings back the ‘70s like no other, and a show at Cameo this Friday. The band has been tearing through Brooklyn for a while now, but nothing about them, from their bluesy guitars to their drummer’s hair, is what comes to mind when the term “Brooklyn Rock Band” is thrown around. These guys are a throwback with an original twist, and have the capability to literally rock your face off, a quality that has become all too rare these days. – Max Lefkowitz
Local Correspondents Fest begins at Bar4 with Hannah Fairchild, Emily Mure and Jodi Shaw
Hannah Fairchild, Emily Mure and Jodi Shaw are among the 12 NYC artists performing on the first night of the four-night-long, Deli sponsored 6th Annual LC Fest, organized by independent music community Local Correspondents at Bar4 in Park Slope, Brooklyn (444 7th Ave.).
Hannah Fairchild is an energetic singer who fronts the punk cabaret band Hannah vs. The Many, while Emily Mure is a classically trained, smoky-voiced singer/songwriter currently recording her second album (pictured, check out hes song Joanne, streaming below). Jodi Shaw, whose new album, “In Waterland,” was just released on May 15, draws comparisons to Suzanne Vega, Fiona Apple, and The Beach Boys.
Shows are free, doors open at 6 p.m., and performances begin at 8 p.m. For a complete schedule of all four nights (from June 6 through June 9), go here.
Mp3: Emily Mure – Joanne
Nervous Wreckords return with “Let Them All Talk”
Let Them All Talk, out June 26, is the first national release from San Diego’s The Nervous Wreckords (featuring guitarist/vocalist/producer Brian Karscig of LOUIS XIV). "Indie pop" is not the band’s favorite descriptor, but with catchy guitar riffs, sass-fueled lyrics, melodic choruses, and beats that dance, it’s hard not to call it pop music. Recorded on all Neve and ’60s and ’70s gear in Karscig’s home studio, it can’t be called anything but independent. With nods to T-Rex, Prince and even some AC/DC, the band takes a fresh, forward-looking approach to their sound. Breakups, jealousy, beauty, and confidence (with a healthy dose of sexual tension) are all rolled into an album that sounds like a party you should’ve been at. In the two years since its formation, the band has toured and played with The Killers, Cee-Lo Green, Brandon Flowers, Florence + the Machine, Death Cab for Cutie, the Naked and Famous, and many more. The band has been busy in 2012 with finishing up the album, touring with Weezer, Yuck, Antlers and Wavves through the Caribbean, and preparing for their own US/Canada tour later this year.
Beautiful Small Machines play Pianos on June 08
I have yet to hear someone discuss how they’d love to take my money as sympathetically as I have with Beautiful Small Machines’ joyously acoustic, recently released version of MIA’s ‘Paper Planes’ (streaming below). While some might dismiss the duo’s banjo/piano inventions here as mere novelty, there is something to be said about the loving time and care the band imparts to the tune that’s truly the attraction here. The band’s careful attention to details like this helps them to construct a world around their toys, building synth stabs that move to explosion in their last EP’s title track ‘Robots in Love,’ and the stomping B-52’s inspired ‘Superconducter.’
Their machines may be small, but their attention to aesthetic detail makes the efforts beautifully unique. No wonder Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon accepted to work with them in their breakthrough track ‘Simple Joys.’ See the band when they play Piano’s this Friday evening. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
New Music Video: “Love’s A Rondo” – Blues Control
Blues Control recently premiered a new music video for the track “Love’s A Rondo” via Stereogum. It was directed by Tara Sinn. The experimental duo will be releasing their forthcoming album Valley Tangents on June 19 via Drag City.