I’m not sure what’s going on, but I think there’s an Australian music invasion afoot. Ever since I returned home from Austin my inbox has been pinged by an unusually high number of Australian-based indie bands looking for blog love. Hmmm. I did attend the SXSW Aussie BBQ showcase in Austin. Perhaps I was tagged. Perhaps it’s just a coincidence. Or maybe there is a plot to take over the airwaves. Every geography has it’s moment of musical dominance after all. Why not Australia?
Whatever the case, I met some lovely folks in Austin and have been introduced to some talented bands since then as well. And seeing as I love themes, I’ve decided to roll out my Aussie faves for you all week. Welcome to Aussie Week on The OCMD! Hope you enjoy.
The frontman for Black Moth Super Rainbow, Tobacco, has another album on the horizon called Maniac Meat, due out May 25 on Anticon and the track “Fresh Hex” features a collaboration with none other than the master himself….Beck. Happy Friday.
Dark, moody and melodramatic. Just the way I like it these days, so be forewarned. I’m a mood. And LA-based Warpaint fits the bill. It’s good medicine. And there’s more coming with their first full length album due out on Rough Trade later this year. Until then, you can get your fix from their Exquisite Corpse EP. Let’s all mainline it together, shall we? Then collapse in a heap to contemplate our angst. It will be cathartic, I’m sure. But right now I need a little room to sway.
Artist: Ty Segall Album: Melted Release Date: May 25, 2010 Track: “Ceasar”
Speaking of lo-fi love, Ty is getting ready to release a new album “Melted” on Nashville’s Goner Records next month. He’s been trying out his new tunes on the road and, no surprise, I like what I hear. Lucky for me (and you) he’ll be back in town at Bottom of the Hill 6/27 with Grass Widow and one of my new favs, The Baths. Feel the love.
Yay! One of my favorite bloggers, Dodge of My Old Kentucky Blog, has a new label called Roaring Colonel and has released his first 7″ for a local Indianapolis band called Burnt Ones – whose fuzzed out, lo-fi sound is right up my alley. Lo-fi love. Check it out. And be sure to give Dodge some love too. He needs it after Google shut down his site last week. The tech company that once was the Silicon Valley ‘can do no wrong’ darling, is fast becoming the new evil empire. Larry Ellison, move over.
In case you haven’t figured out by now, I have a soft spot for Brit rock and have been keeping and eye on this UK duo called Little Fish for quite some time. I like their stripped down, bluesy rock vibe and the raw energy Juju brings to the vocals – like Heartless Bastards on Red Bull. They’re in the states for a limited US tour, supporting Hole for much of it. Lucky for us, they’ll be hitting Cafe du Nord this week for a headline appearance. Get it while it’s hot!
Little Fish US Tour Dates (* w/ HOLE)
April 20, 2010 Cafe du Nord, San Francisco
April 21, 2010 Viper Room, Los Angeles
*April 22, 2010 Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles
*April 23, 2010 Henry Fonda Theater, Los Angeles
*April 27, 2010 Terminal 5, New York City
*April 28, 2010 Terminal 5, New York City
First Yo Gabba Gabba, now Apples in Stereo. Elijah Wood is making quite a name for himself on the hipster video circuit. He did a whole series of videos with Apples in Stereo. Interesting career move.
For Record Store day this Saturday, April 17, Apples in Stereo will pre-release their covers album “Future Vintage”. For a list of participating retailers, click here.
Track Listing
Side A:
1. “Ruby” by Ted Leo
2. “Benefits of Lying (w/ Your Friend)” by Bad Veins
Artist: Olney Clark Album: Olney Clark Release Date: April 13, 2010 For Fans Of: The Magnetic Fields, Rufus Wainwright, Nick Drake, Sondre Lerche Featured Track: “Tea and Thunderstorms”
The past few months have been so rainy, grey and gloomy here in San Francisco. Much more so than any other year I can remember. So when the good folks at Goldest Egg sent me this lovely debut album by Olney Clark during the peak of it, I wrapped myself in it like a warm blanket. Their soothing, orchestral sounds were the perfect remedy for this weather that ailed me. Upon discovering the band was from Scotland it made perfect sense. After all, they should know what it feels like to be wrapped in a continual grey mist and how best to remedy it – like with “Tea and Thunderstorms”. Good medicine it is, this album.
Artist: Future Islands Album: In Evening Air Release Date: May 4, 2010 File Under: Post Wave Featured Track: “As I Fall”
If you’re in need of a fresh sound, look no further. This Baltimore-based synthpop, new wave revival trio is really just…spectacular. It’s frontman Samuel T. Herring’s vocals that get me. At times growling like Tom Waits, at others crooning like Matt Johnson he forces you to sit up and listen. It takes a few spins to get acclimated to the album, the tempo, the sound, the voice. But once you do, it’s so damn compelling you won’t be able to stop.
Their debut LP “In Evening Air” will be released on Thrill Jockey May 4 and the band will play San Francisco’s El Rio on May 24.
Yeah, I know. This post is like a month overdue. But since Austin I’ve been in work hell, life hell and right-after-I-downloaded-all-my-SXSW-photos-to-my-Mac-the-hard-drive-fried hell. Thank God for Apple Care and Drobo. I’m back on line and slowly getting back on track. So, without further ado, here are my highlights from SXSW. Better late than never, right?
Best Venue: Luster Pearl on Rainey St. hands down. Great vibe, great bands, great people. Kudos Filter Mag!
Best Celebrity Sightings – The Fader Fort VIP area with Adrian Grenier and Billy Idol to name a few.
Biggest Buzz Band:Broken Bells. Though their cool quotient has substantially dropped now that their debut album is being retailed at Starbucks. Ah well, can’t blame them really. Their album was probably one of the biggest leaks on record.
Cutest Couple: Al and Claire, who after The Broken Bells show at Lustre Pearl dropped on bended knee and proposed. (Sniff.) While that album will always be sentimental for that moment, I will personally always think of them when I hear The Temper Trap’s “Love Lost”. We had such a great time at that show and it’s one of the best, sappiest love albums ever. So this one’s for you, you saps. Congrats!
Best Band Working The Street: San Francisco’s very own The Ferocious Few and Phantom Kicks. Both working the street crowd hard and making me proud. The Ferocious Few with their signature street performances and Phantom Kicks pressing demo CDs into any willing hand. Including mine. Good job!
the OCMD 