Artist: Terry Malts
Hails From: SF, baby
Release Date: February 21, 2012
Featured Track: “Nauseous”

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, San Francisco up and coming garage rockers, Terry Malts, have released a track from their forthcoming debut LP due out this February 21, called ‘Nauseous’.  More specifically, “your love makes me nauseous.” So sweet, indeed. Hardly a one man act, the properly named band is actually a trio of seasoned local musicians with a renowned live performance reputation. One of the Bay Area bands to watch, for sure. So come join them in their album release party February 17 at The Hemlock Tavern and see what it’s all about. As the press release says, “It’s an album, it’s a lifestyle, it’s a 34-minute hour of pure, unadulterated Malts.”

Yeah.

Jeff the Brotherhood debuted a video for “Bummer” this past week featuring family vaction-style highlights of their tour with Volcom this December in Hawaii. (A good brand/band partnership, I might add.) Like all their videos, it’s silly. But put into the context of a band who aspires to be as famous as Twisted Sister and Black Sabbath, it all makes sense. I love them.

Artist: Benjamin Francis Leftwich
Hails From: UK
Featured Track: “Pictures (GZUS Remix)”

There are times I leave my garage rock proclivities behind for a softer sound. And I do confess I have a little soft spot for Ben and his haunting melodies. The success of his debut album “Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm” will bring him stateside, with a North American Tour that will begin at SXSW and take him through May.

February 20 / Cardiff, The Globe
February 21 / Bath, Komedia
February 22 / London, Shepherd’s Bush Empire
February 23 / Manchester Academy 2
February 24 / Glasgow ABC 2
April 10 /  New York, Bowery Ballroom
April 13 / Philadelphia, Johnny Brendas
April 14 / Washington, DC
April 16 / Boston, Brighton Music Hall
April 17 / Montreal, Divan Orange
April 18 / Toronto, Mod Club
April 20 / Chicago, Lincoln Hall
April 21 / Minneapolis, Triple Rock
April 23 / Winnipeg, West End Cult Centre
April 24 / Saskatchewan, Amigo’s
April 26 / Edmonton, Pawn Shop
April 27 / Calgary, SAIT
April 28 / Nelson, The Royal
April 30 / Whistler, Lucky
May 01 / Vancouver, Biltmore Cabaret
May 03 / Seattle, Crocodile
May 04 / Portland, Mississippi
May 08 / San Francisco, Independent
May 11 / Los Angeles, Troubadour
May 12 / San Diego, Casbah

Artist: Mind Spiders
Album: Meltdown
Hails From: Texas
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Featured Track: “Wait for Us”

A cacophony of lo-fi goodness, Texas-based Mind Spiders is set to release their sophomore effort, Meltdown, next month. Just in time for SXSW at which, of course, they’ll be making an appearance.

Artist: Mike Wexler
Album: Dispossession
Hails From: Brooklyn
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Featured Track: “Pariah”

Artist: Pamela
Album: 7″ EP
Hails From: Oakland
Release Date: Pre-order now
Featured Track: “Desert”

I feel a Southpaw Records homage coming. Here’s another Southpaw nugget from the group Pamela, featuring members of The Splinters/Ex-Wax Idols, who are set to release their 7″ EP. Pre-order it now. Only 300 copies.

Artist: The Younger Lovers
Album: The Young Lovers 7″ EP
Hails From: Oakland, CA
Release Date: December 07, 2011
Featured Track: “The Boy From Leeds”

Home to some of my favorite hometown heros like Ty Segall, Bare Wires, The Sandwitches and Shannon and the Clams, Southpaw Records have recently released a new 7″ from Oakland’s The Young Lovers. Classic Bay Area lo fi garage rock. Yummy.

Artist: Jeremy Jay
Album: Dream Diary
Hails From: Los Angeles
Featured Track: “Out on the Highway”

There’s always the one album that gets away every year. And this year, for me, it was Jeremy Jay. Surprising too since I’ve been such a diligent follower of his work. Own every album he’s released, in fact. But it wasn’t until I stumbled upon (and purchased) a copy of his 2008 release, A Place Where We Could Go, in the vinyl bin at Amoeba that I was reminded of his indie pop charms. I highly recommend you roll up your sleeves and dig in to his work. His David Bowie/Belle and Sebastian-esque sound will hook you for sure. It’s a mood and meant to be consumed in it’s entirety.

Artist: Ava Luna
Album: Ice Level
Hails From: Brooklyn
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Featured Track: “Wrenning Day”

Dayam. What is this? Tune-Yards meets TV on the Radio? It’s so….fresh. With The Windish Agency behind them, they’re certainly bound to pop. Enjoy!

Artist: Royal Baths
Album: Better Luck Next Life
Hails From: Brooklyn by way of SF
Release Date: February 7, 2012
Featured Track: “Darling Devine”

I silently stalked the Royal Baths (formerly known as The Baths) during their debut album launch for Litanies last year, simultaneously in awe of their lo fi sound and androgynistic style. While it took a while to track down a consumable format for their music (no, I still don’t own a tape deck), they had no shortage of local live shows to satisfy my hunger; opening for some of my fav local acts like Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall and The Fresh and Onlys. Unfortunately for me those SF beer soaked bar room sets are over. The group recently signed with Brooklyn-based tastemaker label, Kanine Records, and relocated to the indie music mecca to release their sophomore album, Better Luck Next Life. How fortunate for them.