Category Archives: Spanking New Music

State Bird – Holy Spirits EP

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State Bird – “Good Vibes”

Holy smokes, where you have been all my life boys? While the Ohio-based group is releasing their third album, Holy Spirits, it’s the first I’ve heard of them.  And it likely won’t be the last.  Recorded right here in San Francisco at Tiny Telephone Records with the help of Ian Pellicci (Deerhoof, Rogue Wave), they’ve got a touch of that way back sound – a little 60s pop here, a little 70s reverb, hazy  psychedelia there. For a whopping $2, you can have the whole kit and kaboodle all to yourself. Get it here.

[Free Tix] What Laura Says – 5.14 @ Bottom of the Hill

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What Laura Says – “Training”

The Arizona-based band with the cheeky moniker is about to release their second album, Bloom Cheek, on June 8 and is out on tour in support of the new release. They’re playing San Francisco’s Bottom of the Hill this Friday, May 14 with Annuals and The Most Serene Republic and we’ve got a pair of tickets to giveaway!  First person to email me (theocmd at gmail dot com) or Tweet (@indierockgirl) gets ’em. It’s a great line up and you’re sure to succumb to the irresistible pop charm of this group.  Devendra Banhart loves them. So does Daytrotter.  Perhaps you should too.

Stuck in My Head: The Chain Gang of 1974 – “Stop”

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The Chain Gang of 1974 – “Stop”

The Chain Gang of 1974 is the solo act of Denver-based Kamtin Mohager. And he wants you to “stop fucking with his mind.” First time I laid ears on this track from his debut LP, White Guts, I thought someone was fucking with my mind because it reminded me so much of Beck.  Then I looked at the album cover and thought… it’s a Jedi mind trick! Maybe it is Beck. A day-glo, dance-party electro version of Beck. All funked up and disguised as The Chain Gang of 1974, which sounds exactly like the kind of band that would play at the Star Wars Cantina…doesn’t it? Hmmm. Well, the debut White Guts is out now so check it out and see for yourself. (These are not the droids you’re looking for.)

Hooray for Earth – “Surrounded By Your Friends” [Free MP3]

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Artist: Hooray For Earth
Album: MOMO
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Pre-Order: Insound
Featured Track: “Surrounded By Your Friends”

It was a happy day of sun, sand and surf today.  (Not in SF, mind you, but sunny Florida.) Such a lovely tropical day I just wanted to burst. Hooray for Earth!  Right? Right! While the oozing optimism of this NYC/Boston-based band may have been a bit too much for my SF cynicism, it was the perfect soundtrack for a hot, tropical day at the beach. It even made the meatheads with the gold grills blasting techno music all day tolerable. Hooray for Earth!!

The band’s EP, MOMO, will be released on June 1 followed by an East Coast tour supporting Surfer Blood and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.

Aussie Week: Children Collide

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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.

Aussie Week: Pets with Pets

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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.

Aussie Week Update: Oh Mercy – “Can’t Fight It” [Free MP3]

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Oh Mercy – “Can’t Fight It”

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.

Wintersleep Album “New Inheritors” Due May 18

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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.

Aussie Week: Beaches

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Beaches – “Eternal Sphere”

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’.

Aussie Week: Andy Clockwise

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Andy Clockwise – “Everybody’s In a Band” 

“Hyperballad”

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.