Aug

15

Fight Bite - Emerald Eyes

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August 15, 2008 | 1 Comment


There are certain bands that bring to mind the word ‘haunting’ in their music for me. I am not sure why always, but it usually has to do with hushed vocals and subtle but ever present keyboards. Of course, the lyrics can set the haunting scene as well. And there is something haunting about the Denton, Texas duo known as Fight Bite, who are new to me and probably to you as well.

What the so-called “dream pop” duo have to share on the album brings to mind the best of bands like Beach House. However the incredibly sad and (here it is again) haunting lyrics set the stage for an album full of slow growers. Check out a free tune from the upcoming album below.

Their debut album, Emerald Eyes is out now in their hometown but you have to wait until the end of October to get it elsewhere.

Fight Bite - Widow’s Peak

Aug

14

Bowerbirds Release First Video, Head Overseas

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August 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment


It’s always bonus when good things happen to great people, and that is just what the past year or so has been like for Bowerbirds. After getting scooped up by Dead Oceans records to re-release their excellent album, Hymns For A Dark Horse earlier this summer, the band have been out on the road with Bon Iver and others and having a blast in the process.

And now, a music video (their first) is checked off the list of things to do in 2008 for the North Carolina band, and just in time for the European leg of their current tour. Below, check out the new video, and listen to their recent session with us at WOXY.com.

Bowerbirds - Live On WOXY.com

After the jump, view the full slate of tour dates….
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Aug

13

These United States Commit Crimes, Coming To Cincinnati

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August 13, 2008 | 3 Comments

***Hope to see lots of you tonight at the Gypsy Hut!

As you can see from the show poster above, we are pretty stoked about TONIGHTS show here in Cincinnati featuring These United States out of Washington D.C. I told you about the gig a couple weeks ago, but consider this your reminder. The show is TONIGHT! here in Cincy at the Gypsy Hut. Two great local bands are supporting in The Seedy Seeds & Wake The Bear.

And on top of that great news, if you can handle some more news, These United States are preparing to drop a new album on us as well, titled Crimes on October 7th and I have a new song from the record to whet your appetite. Enjoy “West Won” below, and hit the read more link for the full slate of tour dates.

These United States - West Won

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Aug

12

Horse Feathers - House With No Home

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August 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment


When it comes to mostly acoustic based, sometimes quiet singer songwriter types, I am, admittedly, quite the fan. So it should not come as a big suprise that I am totally bowled over by Horse Feathers. The Portland based trio are preparing to release their second full length album, House With No Home, on Kill Rock Stars and I can honestly tell you that this has become my morning album of choice during the past month or so.

As I have stated before, there is something almost sacred about good morning music for me. It has to be gentle enough for me to ease in, but not so sleepy and I stay in my morning coma. Horse Feathers achieves both of those and more on this new album. Combining the hushed tones of early Iron & Wine with vocals and the backing strings you might find on a Bonnie Prince Billy album, Horse Feathers have created a soothing yet complex piece of art.

So, if you have ever called yourself a fan of Sam Beam, Will Oldham, M. Ward, John Fahey, or Bon Iver, this is required listening. House With No Home drops on Septemeber 9th from KRS, but you can listen to a song below right now.

Horse Feathers - Rude To Rile

Aug

11

The Airborne Toxic Event Making A Splash With Debut Album

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August 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment


Here is a band that we were pretty fond of a couple years ago, and are really excited to see them getting some overdue love from the blogosphere and beyond. The Airborne Toxic Event are based in Los Angeles and had released a EP & a 7″ in the past two years or so, and now have their debut full length out to be consumed.

The self titled debut album has really grown on me in the past month, with its mixture of sunny indie pop and delicate lyrics. But don’t confuse these guys for the Beach Boys, as their driving guitars can bring to mind bands like Franz Ferdinand or fellow west coasters Silversun Pickups.

Check out this free download below from Airborne Toxic Event, and be sure to snag thier debut full length from Majordomo Records.

The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight

Also check out this video of the band doing the same song acoustic…

Aug

8

Coming To Cincinnati: Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

Posted by caitlin

August 8, 2008 | 1 Comment


Perhaps it’s my Kentucky raising finally coming through, but in the past few years, my music tastes have leaned more towards alt-country. So of course, it only makes sense that I would dig Ryan Adams & The Cardinals.

The Cardinals, featuring Ryan Adams, Neal Casal, Chris Feinstein, Jon Graboff and Brad Pemberton, have extended their fall tour with a stop in Cincinnati on October 3 at the Taft Theater. Tickets went on sale today but are going fast.

Now, the question is, will we see appearances from DJ Reggie and Sleazy Handshake?

Full slate of dates after the jump
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Aug

7

[Book Review] Sonic Youth - Goodbye 20th Century

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August 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment

As a blogger, there is alot of music that shows up in the mail on a weekly basis. From one sheets, to singles to full length cd’s and records, it stacks up pretty quick and sometimes stuff gets lost in the shuffle. So you can imagine my surprise and interest when I received a book in the mail last month. And not just any book, but a biography about the history of Sonic Youth.

Now, let me preface this by saying that I have never been a big Sonic Youth fan. I have always considered myself an appreciator of their music and a casual fan at best. But seeing as I was headed out of town on a long cross country trip, and had nothing to ready to pass some of the time, this immediately went into my baggage.

I actually ripped through the book pretty fast too, not only because it was an easy ready but it flowed really well, first detailing the personal backgrounds of the bands members and then showing the paths they took until they found each other. Author David Browne sheds light on their humble beginnings as a part of the New York art punk scene and details how they became trendsetters. We also get to watch the band become a group of musicians that, for the most part, had little to no musicial training, turn into of the the most revered bands to come out of NY in the past 20 years.
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Aug

5

Wilco - Take Me Out To The Ballgame @ Wrigley Field

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August 5, 2008 | 1 Comment

I love to mix baseball and music together whenever I can. And you all know I love to mention Wilco without much provocation. So consider me a bit giddy to see this video pop up that features Wilco singing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” this past Sunday after their incredible Lollapalooza set.

Jeff sticks around after the song to chat it up with the Cubbies announcers too, enjoy.

Aug

5

Catfish Haven Prepare For DEVASTATOR

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August 5, 2008 | Leave a Comment


It’s been awhile since we got a chance to talk about them, but the boys from Catfish Haven are back with a new album and a really expanded sound. The Chicago based band really blew the doors open with their Secretly Canadian debut album Tell Me in 2006 if this first song is any indication, they are about to rise to some new heights for Devastator.

When I saw Catfish Haven back in January at the Halfway To Forecastle show, I mentioned that frontman George Hunter had said the band was “Catfish Haven & The Cookers” because they had three backup singers supporting them for their set. Well, from the sound of things, they kept that kind of presence for the new album, as this new track, “Set In Stone” is seriously good and catchy.

Catfish Haven - Set In Stone

DEVASTATOR hits stores on October 7th from Secretly Canadian.

Aug

4

Lollapalooza 2008 Day 2 - Foals, BSS Steal The Show

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August 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment


(photo by David Evans of MOKB)
What any festival should be about is a combination of bands you know you love and bands that are brand new to you and you see for the first time. Lollapalooza is chock full of heavyweight bands, with several acts playing second or third support to the nights headliners that could be headliners themselves at other festivals. My Saturday at Lolla had a combination of the old and the new, and they fit in nicely alongside one another.

The Chicago weather for day 2 was a huge relief compared to the sauna like enviroment that was Friday. And as I stepped off the train I actually felt a nice breeze during my walk to Grant Park. The sun was out, but was not the same enemy that wore me out only 2 hours into Day 1. My first intention after breaching the gates was to check out Foals, who were playing an early afternoon set at the Citi stage in the middle of the park. The UK band put out a great debut this year on Sub Pop, Antidotes, and I was hoping would translate well in a live setting. As the band ripped into their high energy set, the crowd was surprisingly more than ready to push the energy right back and it made for an impressive combination of clapping, bouncing and all out fun.

Foals included great songs from their debut like “Cassius”, “Balloons”, “Red Socks Pugie,” “Electric Bloom” and “Two Steps, Twice.” It was certainly one of those sets that smack everyone upside the head and as I predicted, several people walked away saying “that was great, who were those guys”?
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