Portland’s Wampire got my attention at SXSW and I loooove them. Their debut album, Curiosity, is out Tuesday via Polyvinyl Records. You can buy it here on clear vinyl, purple cassette or CD. Check out my favorite track and new single, “Trains,” below then go buy the album. Here’s the link again or go to the record store on Tuesday.
I recently got the chance to catch Quiet Company again in Atlanta at the Drunken Unicorn and as always, they were quite incredible. The Austin-based five-piece brings high, intense energy and classiness (see ties, vests, etc.) to the stage. If you haven’t seen them live, I highly recommend catching a show the next time they pass through your city. You won’t be disappointed.
Back in April Quiet Company rereleased their 2006 debut, Shine Honestly. Of course, this isn’t your run of the mill rerelease. Taylor Muse and company rerecorded all 12 tracks to reflect how they’ve grown over the past 7+ years and recorded two bonus tunes, “…And You Said it Was Pretty Here” and “Gun Control Means Using Both Hands.” Listen below and watch the video for the track, “The Emasculated Man and the City That Swallowed Him.”
You can order this amazing album here (color vinyl, y’all) as well as their other stellar releases.
New favorite band alert everyone. And that band is Grape St. from Austin, TX. I saw them at SXSW, they blew my mind. They have a new record coming out soon via Austin Town Hall Records. It’s chuck full of jams. Check out the title track below, listen to the whole thing here and buy it here.
I know about Beachniks thanks to Bleeding Gold Records and this fantastic split 7″ with smilelove that I highly recommend. Beachniks is great and I can’t get enough of their new record, In Color, out now (they’re sold out, but you can find it here). Check out “Spy on Me” below and float away to some sunny surf pop with me.
Myspace, what? Yes, stay up-to-date!
So instead of me going on and on about how great SXSW was (it was really great), I made this 8tracks mix of tunes from the bands I got to see. Because let’s be real, despite what some might say, SXSW is all about the music if you make it all about the music.
Peep the list of bands on the mix below along with some handy dandy links.
PS – breakfast tacos are still the jam and Austin is the best city in the world.
THE BANDS
Shugo Tukomaru
Widowspeak
Wampire
Ex-Cops
Jacco Gardner
Mac DeMarco
High Highs
Hip Hatchet
The Pass
Nerves Junior
Rod Argent & Colin Blunstone of The Zombies! (Thank you, Zach. Thank you, sonaBLAST.)
Francisco The Man
Hundred Visions
Eagulls
Ume
Haerts
Blue Hawaii
FIDLAR
Grape St.
I am so behind on updating, y’all. Bear with me.
Alright, let’s get started with this fantastic tune from Chicago’s architecture. It landed in my inbox a couple of days ago and I can’t stop listening to it. Insanely gorgeous vocals over a synth ladened beat that takes this slow jam to the next level. Check it out.
They’ve got a 7″ coming out soon, be sure to get one over at Notes and Bolts.
Check out this new video from one the best bands around.
And if you haven’t already, download Hundred Visions’ album Permanent Basement via Bandcamp.
This gorgeous gem was dropped in my inbox a few weeks back from Boston-based singer-songwriter Steph Barrak. The whole album is beautiful in every sense of the word, but this track moved me to tears. And I’m going to tell y’all, it’s not often that I cry while listening to a song or album. Chills yes, tears not so much (unless I’m seeing Pavement for the first time on my birthday). Anyway, check out “Hardwired” from Words to Break Your Heart below, I’ve included the album version as well as an acoustic version, both (and the entire album) are definitely worth your time. But if you do nothing else, click play on the video at the very bottom.
album version
acoustic
Words to Break Your Heart is available now via Steph’s bandcamp, you can also find it at all the hot spots like iTunes and Spotify.
Follow Steph on Twitter!
Send your likes to Facebook!
Watch this video for Warm Soda‘s track, “Busy Lizzy” off Someone For You out now via Castle Face Records. I LOVE this band, haven’t been able to stop listening to their LP.
Burger Records is one of my faves so obviously I’m all over their Soundcloud on the regular. A couple of weeks back they posted a stellar track from Seattle’s La Luz. The track is “Call Me In The Day” and it’s from the band’s Damp Face EP (released back in Sept. but out now on cassette via Burger). It’s just some great west coast girl pop that you should get in your ears ASAP. Check it below and go buy cassette here.
Like La Luz on Facebook!
