Children Collide – “Chosen Armies”
Okay, I think I get it. Melbourne is the Brooklyn of Australia. Add Children Collide to the long list of Melbourne-based bands featured in this series. No doubt about it, these lads rock. They rock in the studio and tear it up on stage. As this photo attests. The trio released their debut album, The Long Now, in 2008 and is an assault of unapologetic rock. They they just finished recording their second album in LA last month – yet to be titled. Can’t wait.
Pets with Pets – “We Only Found This Place”
Meet Pets with Pets. A post punk band with strong influences in the experimental Krautrock band NEU! who has turned up on a tribute compilation called Brand Neu! along with many other heavy hitters – like LCD Soundsystem, Fujiya & Miyagi, Holy Fuck and more – paying homage to the seminal 70s band with this track contribution “We Only Found This Place” (an unreleased track). Check it out.
Check out this new video from Tame Impala’s forthcoming album, InnerSpeaker. I’ve been listening to their new album and I’m really, really digging it. Really. No, really. It’s like they’re channeling the psychedelic era of The Beatles. Color me obsessed. They just announced a US tour supporting MGMT in May/June. No San Fran or LA dates just yet, but reportedly they’re working on it. If they don’t, I might cry. Either way, score another point for Australia.
Fri May 28th || Avila Beach Resort || San Luis Obispo, CA*
Sat May 29th || Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium || Santa Cruz, CA*
Tues June 1st || Crystal Ballroom || Portland, OR*
Wed June 2nd || Crystal Ballroom || Portland, OR*
Fri June 4th || In The Venue || Salt Lake City, UT*
Sun June 6th || Stubb’s || Austin, TX*
Mon June 7th || House Of Blues || Houston, TX*
Tues June 8th || House Of Blues || Dallas, TX*
Fri June 11th || Red Rocks || Morrison, CO*
Sun June 13th || Uptown Theatre || Kansas City, MO*
Mon June 14th || The Vogue || Indianapolis, IN*
Tues June 15th || LC Pavilion || Columbus, OH*
Wed June 16th || The Fillmore || Detroit, MI*
Fri June 18th || Riviera Theatre || Chicago, IL*
Okay, I’m really getting sucked into the southern hemisphere here. My Aussie Week has turned into Aussie Two Weeks and the water in my sink is starting to swirl counterclockwise. No need to fret however. I’ll just keep calm and carry on.
This just in. The Crowded House -esque duo from Melbourne, Oh Mercy, has released another track from their debut, “Privileged Woes”, for your consumption called “Can’t Fight It.” No you can’t, so eat it up.
The Ferocious Few – “Porcelain Doll”
Back again in San Francisco, this time at Cafe du Nord, is The Rumble #29. One of my favorite showcases to hear new music. This month features SF blues rock minutemen and headliners The Ferocious Few. The show will also double as a release party for their debut album, Juices. Check out the single from their new album, “Porcelain Dolls”.
Also on the bill are local act, THE SERMON, a dark dirty garage rock group with blistering guitars and tinges of 60’s soul, plus a healthy dose of The Stooges. And LA based indie folk quintet, MISSISSIPPI MAN. As always, the party is free (with RSVP) and there will be TRUMER PILS specials all night!
Wintersleep – “New Inheritors”
One of the hazards of blogging is the endless hamster wheel of new music you find yourself treading on day in and out. There are worse problems to be had, for sure, but the sheer volume of new music to consume can make it difficult to enjoy some of your old favorites. Like Wintersleep, one of my faves of 2008/09. It took tooling around town in my friend’s car to be reminded of how much I missed it and curious to know what these guys were up to. Good things, I learned. They are getting ready to release their second album, New Inheritors, on May 18, followed by a tour that will land them at San Francisco’s The Independent on June 15. I was dragging people to see them two years ago at Hotel Utah and I’ll be dragging them again next month at The Independent. Keep your eyes on this band.
I liked Melbourne’s Beaches the moment I saw them at SXSW. An all girl psych rock band? Hell yeah, sign me up. Catch an all girl band these days and you can expect some lo-fi sprinkled in there. But the amount of trance-like haze and reverb these vixens whipped up was something to behold. Their self titled album is out now and a new 7″ is ‘coming real soon’.
Andy Clockwise – “Everybody’s In a Band”
Good music + good people = good times. It’s a fairly straightforward equation. And if it’s a good time you’re looking for, definitely call Andy Clockwise (aka Andy Kelly). These Aussies (masquerading as Angelenos) know how to get a party started with their variety of self-described schizo pop. Their music runs the gamut from balls to the wall, rock your socks off numbers like “Everybody’s in a Band” to softer ballads and cover songs like Bjiork’s “Hyperballad”. Their forthcoming LP “The Socialite” is due out this year. Meanwhile, the group will head back to Australia for a tour the month of May. And oh, did I mention that they have the most badass female drummer you’ve laid your eyes on? Her name’s Stella Mozgawa and she’s rad. (She also drums for Warpaint.) File under: One To Watch.
Everybody’s in a band these days. Everybody owns a label these days. The newest addition to the music label ranks is David Letterman’s new venture called Clear Entertainment/C.E. Music, a subsidiary of Worldwide Pants, Inc. production company, which will release the self-titled debut for the pop-punk group called Runner Runner later this summer.
First of all, what kind of BS genre is pop-punk? It’s a complete oxymoron. I already don’t like it. Secondly, is owning a record label the latest trend du jour? Every blog of importance seems to have one now and it seems to be crossing into the celebrity sphere. I fear this is heading down a dangerous and misguided path. Like the en vogue trend of actresses launching their own fashion/makeup/ fragrance lines. Just because you’re pretty and dress well, does that mean you should design clothes too? I don’t know. But it all seems to be a bit much.
One thing for sure about Letterman, he has the eyeballs and the media power to truly make a difference for a band. So more power to him. Too bad he doesn’t have better music taste. Take a listen to his pick and see if you agree.
Bon Chat, Bon Rat – “Map of Sao Paulo”
Main Entry: à bon chat, bon rat
Pronunciation: \ä-bōⁿ-ˈshä bōⁿ-ˈrä\
Etymology: French
Definitions:
I love it when this happens. I open my inbox to discover awesome new music, not only for me but you too! Bon Chat, Bon Rat is giving away their self-titled EP for free download. That’s right. Free!! So go ahead, drop it like it’s hot.
the OCMD 