Now you can color with cred! The new Indie Rock Coloring Book is apparently the first ever indie rock coloring book filled with mazes, connect-the-dot games and of course coloring pages. Whether you are a music fan just looking for an excuse to color or trying to get your child to listen to something other than Sesame Street’s Greatest Hits – coloring just became cooler.
The Indie Rock Coloring Book gives you the chance to color in and around some of indie music’s most beloved bands like The National, Rilo Kiley, The Shins and more. The book is being released by Montreal-based nonprofit Yellow Bird Project, who collaborates with indie rock musicians to create unique T-shirt designs that benefit an array of charities. You know what that means? All proceeds of the book go to charity.
On July 21st, Boston’s Wheat will release their new album White Ink, Black Ink, the followup to 2007’s Everyday I Said a Prayer for Kathy and Made a One Inch Square.
I have been a huge Wheat fan since I feel in love with their sophomore record Hope and Adams. The band had a brief stint with Columbia for their fantastic album Per Second…Per Second…Per Second…Every Second (2003) but have since disappeared from the spotlight. I personally was disappointed with Everyday I Said a Prayer…, but my faith has been restored with White Ink, Black Ink.
From the opening track “HOTT,” which is an abbreviation of “half of the time,” White Ink, Black Ink is the proper follow-up to Per Second… that the band should have released. From lush and gorgeous songs like my personal favorite “El Sincero” to the driving grungy guitar/piano anthems like “Music is Drugs,” I’m excited to say that the Wheat that I have grown to adore is back.
There’s really no point in giving a full review of a Fleetwood Mac’s concert at Madison Square Garden last night because as amazing as you imagine it would be is only a fraction of how great it actually is. Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood are rock royalty and still know how to bring it today.
Here’s a video I shot of “Gypsy” which includes an interesting story told by Stevie beforehand.
Yo La Tengo will be releasing their new album titled Popular Songs on September 8th. Matador Records describes Popular Songs as a large departure for a band that is already famous for their “stylistic range”:
Even for longtime followers of Yo La Tengo, the stylistic range encompassed on ‘Popular Songs’ is startling ; the band aren’t merely conversant with rock & pop subgenres stretching into the double digits, but their unselfconscious mastery of such is simply uncanny. Without absolving you of the sacred responsibility of listening to this album from start to finish (with no commercial interruptions!) , we can say with full confidence there are portions of ‘Popular Songs’ where a cursory needle drop reveals a band that doesn’t sound instantly like Yo La Tengo — or at least how you recognized them prior to now. In the words of Mike Wolf, “Yo La Tengo is not afraid. They walk confidently forward, into the unknown, hand in hand. And 12 (or 14) albums in, they may just be hitting their stride.”
It’s hard to imagine parts of a Yo La Tengo record that don’t sound like Yo La Tengo, but perhaps it’s because I’m too in love with this band and just about everything they’ve ever released. The longtime YLT fan has learned to appreciate the not-knowing what you’re going to get with this band and that’s part of the reason they are so beloved and still have a great career.
Passion Pit’s debut full length Manners is for sale today only for $2.99 as part of AmazonMP3’s “Deal of the Day.” Whatever you are doing, stop, and head over to cash in on this deal. Manners is easily one of the best releases of 2009 and will be on just about every “best of” list come December.
Last night, the band held their album release party in NYC via party boat!
The US tour kicks off May 23rd and features the following dates:
Passion Pit Tour Dates:
5-23 George, WA – Sasquatch! Music Festival
05-24 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
05-26 San Francisco, CA – 365 Club
05-28 West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour
05-29 Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex
05-30 Pomona, CA – The Glass House
06-02 Dallas, TX – Granada Theatre
06-03 Austin, TX – Emos
06-04 Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
06-05 Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon
06-06 Atlanta, GA – The Drunken Unicorn
06-08 Richmond, VA – The National
06-09 Washington, DC – Black Cat
06-11 Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
06-13 Covington, KY – Mad Hatter
06-14 Pontiac, MI – Crofoot Ballroom
06-16 Toronto, ON – Lee’s Place
06-17 Buffalo, NY – Mohawk Place
06-18 Boston, MA – Paradise
06-19 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
06-20 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
07-01 Longon, UK – Heaven
07-04 Malsaucy, France – Eurockeennes
07-18 Suffolk, UK – Latitude Festival
07-19 Ferropolis, Germany – Melt Festival
08-09 Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza
09-11 Isle of Wight, UK – Bestival
10-02 Austin, TX – Austin City Limits
10-27 London, UK – Koko
“Blue Lips” is another new track from Regina Spektor’s forthcoming album Far. “Blue Lips” will be available to buy this coming Tuesday as part of a two-song mini-EP available via iTunes, and will also contain the previously previewed “Laughing With.”
Tori Amos will be hitting the road in support of her forthcoming album Abnormally Attracted to Sin, which is due on May 19th. Tori is also giving away the first single, “Maybe California,” as a free download and ringtone.
Tori Amos Tour Dates:
07/10: Seattle, WA @ WaMu Theater
07/11: Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
07/13: Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theatre
07/14: Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theatre
07/16: San Diego, CA @ Humphrey’s
07/17: Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
07/18: Phoenix, AZ @ Dodge Theatre
07/20: Salt Lake City, UT @ Abravenal Hall
07/21: Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
07/23: Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre
07/24: Grand Prairie, TX @ Nokia Theatre
07/25: Austin, TX @ The Long Center for the Performing Arts
07/27: Atlanta, GA @ Chastain Park Amphitheatre
07/28: Orlando, FL @ Bob Carr Performing Arts Center
07/29: Miami Beach, FL @ The Fillmore Miami Beach @ The Jackie Gleason Theater
07/31: Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center
08/01: Washington, DC @ DAR Constitution Hall
08/03: Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
08/04: Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theatre
08/05: Minneapolis, MN @ State Theatre
08/07: Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theatre
08/08: Detroit, MI @ Detroit Opera House
08/10: Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
08/11: Montreal, QC @ St. Denis Theatre,
08/13: New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall,
08/15: Upper Darby, PA @ Tower Theatre
08/17: Boston, MA @ Bank of America Pavilion
Fans who pre-order the album on iTunes will be given an opportunity to purchase tickets before they go on sale to the general public.
If you haven’t been to Daytrotter in a while, now would be a good time to do so. Over the past month there have been some exceptional sessions recorded and available as free downloads. Some of my favorites include:
Last night, Pela and The Postelles performed at the WFUV Alternate Side launch party at Mercury Lounge. Alternate Side is the new indie focused streaming radio station from Fordham University, the same folks who bring you WFUV.
Pela performed in front of an intimate crowd and absolutley killed on stage as usual. This is the first time the band has played Mercury Lounge in a couple of months and new songs that didn’t make it on the set list from last time were showcased last night.
According to the Alternate Side website, videos of the performance will be uploaded later today, but in the meantime you can check out a few shot by yours truly; all three are new songs on Pela’s forthcoming record Rise Ye Sunken Ships. Enjoy!
Lately, it seems like creating mashups of Jay-Z tracks is the “in” thing to do. There have been some quality creations, but for the most part I’ve been left bored and uninspired. That was until I heard DJ Moondance’s Jay-Z / Dave Matthews Band mashup The Crash Album.
I’m generally not a fan of hip hop, but I can appreciate talent where it exists. While I may not consider myself a fan of Jay-Z, I respect him for his brilliant career and the way he has shaped the genre. On the other hand, I’ve been a Dave Matthews Band fan since the mid-90’s and will continue to support those guys; they were a huge part of my teenage years and will forever hold sentimental chains around my heart.
When I heard there was a mashup featuring DMB, I was definitely skeptical. It was either going to be a train wreck or a masterpice. Thankfully the latter is the case. From start to finish, it’s evident that DJ Moondance paid meticulous attention to detail. The rhymes and lyrics flow over each song as if they were created from the ground up.
Lead singer Murray Lightburn explains the story behind the song:
Because of my limited drum vocabulary, this is where the song was headed originally. I still like this version very much because of its kind of Coldplay vibe and if it stayed this way, this might’ve been a single and we maybe would’ve gotten played on Mix 96. However, the delicate drums on the final version capture the essence what the song was about. The difference between the two versions captures what the Dears is all about: pop deconstruction.
Regina Spektor has revealed the details on her forthcoming album Far and has debuted the new song “Laughing With” on her official MySpace page.
Far will be released on June 23rd on Sire Records and will feature the following 13 songs:
1. The Calculation
2. Eet
3. Blue Lips
4. Folding Chair
5. Machine
6. Laughing With
7. Human of the Year
8. Two Birds
9. Dance Anthem
10. Genius next door
11. Wallet
12. One more time with feeling
13. Man of a Thousand Faces
Miracle of 86 is one of my all time favorite bands, having seen them in concert more than 30 times. Former lead singer/songwriter and guitarist Kevin Devine has just released his brand new album Brother’s Blood. Highlights include “Carnival,” which would make Ben Gibbard proud, and the gut-wrenching “Brother’s Blood.” Even though I love Kevin’s softer side, the strongest tracks on his albums are where he unleashes the rock fury such as the single “I Could be With Anyone.” And even though “Another Bag of Bones” was previously released on an EP, it remains my favorite song on the entire record.
I still secretly hope Miracle of 86 reunites one day, but the latest offering from Kevin is worth a listen.
Kevin Devine Tour Dates
April 29 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Northstar (all ages)
April 30 – Baltimore, Md. @ Ottobar (all ages)
May 1 – Richmond, Va. @ Alley Katz (all ages)
May 2 – Chapel Hill, N.C. @ Local 506 (18+)
May 3 – West Columbia, S.C. @ New Brookland Tavern (all ages)
May 4 – Orlando, Fla. @ The Social (all ages)
May 5 – Tampa, Fla. @ Orpheum # (all ages)
May 6 – Delray Beach, Fla. @ City Limits # (all ages)
May 8 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Vinyl # (18+)
May 9 – Baton Rouge, La. @ Spanish Moon # (18+)
May 10 – Houston, Texas @ Warehouse Live Studio # (all ages)
May 12 – Austin, Texas @ Stubb’s Jr. # (all ages)
May 13 – Dallas, Texas @ The Loft # (all ages)
May 15 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ The Phix (all ages)
May 16 – San Diego, Calif. @ Voodoo Stage @ House of Blues (all ages)
May 17 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Troubadour (all ages)
May 18 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Bottom of the Hill (all ages)
May 20 – Portland, Ore. @ Hawthorne Theater (all ages)
May 21 – Seattle, Wash. @ Chop Suey (all ages)
May 23 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ Kilby Court (all ages)
May 24 – Denver, Colo. @ Marquis Theatre (all ages)
May 26 – Lawrence, Kan. @ Jackpot (18+)
May 27 – Iowa City, Iowa @ The Picador (all ages)
May 28 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ Triple Rock Social Club (18+)
May 29 – Chicago, Ill. @ Schubas (18+)
May 30 – East Lansing. Mich. @ Mac’s Bar (all ages)
May 31 – Cleveland, Ohio @ Grog Shop (all ages)
June 2 – Buffalo, N.Y. @ Mohawk Place (all ages)
June 3 – Toronto, Ontario @ El Mocambo (19+)
June 4 – Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Altar Bar (all ages)
June 5 – Hartford, Conn. @ Webster Underground (all ages)
June 6 – Boston, Mass. @ TT The Bear’s (18+)
June 7 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (16+)
Elvis Costello will be releasing his new record titled Secret, Profane & Sugarcane on June 2. Secret, Profane & Sugarcane will feature ten previously unreleased tracks produced by T Bone Burnett, as well as covers ofJohnny Cash’s “Hidden Shame” & “Boom Chicka Boom” as well as Bing Crosby’s“Changing Partners.”
Tracklisting
1. Down Among the Wine and Spirits
2. Complicated Shadows
3. I Felt the Chill
4. My All Time Doll
5. Hidden Shame
6. She Handed Me a Mirror
7. I Dreamed of My Old Lover
8. How Deep is the Red
9. She Was No Good
10. Sulfur to Sugarcane
11. Red Cotton
12. The Crooked Line
13. Changing Partners
