Category Archives: music

music, video, watch

[watch] Icarus Himself//On Your Side

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Madison’s electro-psych-folk band Icarus Himself just released a brandnew video for “On Your Side”.

“On Your Side” is the first single from the band’s upcoming album Career Culture, to be released on October 11th on Science of Sound Records. The band’s sophomore full-length is a sonic cinema, drenched in the influences of artists like Kurt Vile, Deerhunter, The Who, and David Bowie. [source: planetary group]

 

♫ Icarus Himself – On Your Side ♫

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Tour Dates
10.8 Madison, WI @ UW Union Der Rathskellar
10.14 Eau Claire, WI @ The Mousetrap
10.15 Minneapolis, MN @ Kitty Cat Klub
11.2 Chicago, IL @ Utlra Lounge
11.3 Carbondale, IL @ Hangar 9
11.4 Bloomington, IN @ Rhino’s
11.6 Lexington, KY @ Cosmic Charlie’s
11.7 Asheville, NC @ Lexington Ave. Brewery
11.9 Brooklyn, NY @ Spike Hill
11.11 Toledo, OH @ Ottawa Tavern
11.12 Rock Island, IL @ Rozz Tox

hot off the press, music, video

[hot off the press] Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

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Having spent most of the summer roaming across the globe destroying everything in his path, the creature that goes by the name of Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs has returned to the US after great showings at this year’s SXSW. The UK-based producer (nee Orlando Higginbottom) has announced the US release of the single “Trouble,” which will be coming out on October 18th. His tunes will definitely appeal to fans of Hot Chip, as much as it appeals to Hot Chip themselves. Hot Chip-er Joe Goddard released the first EP and tracks from the young Mr. Higginbottom last year on his Greco-Roman label.

Sure to be another highlight in TEED’s rapidly expanding catalogue, “Trouble” finds him completely immersed in the role of vocalist, singing throughout, providing the story with a genuine heartfelt quality. Of course this is paired with his trademark sub-bass, electro bounciness and washed-out synths that combine to create a stunning piece of modern dancefloor pop. You can watch the video for “Trouble” below…which takes place at the weirdest party you’ve never been to.

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs swings between overt musicality and scarily on-point dance floor intuition, tearing up gigs around the globe with his live show of bizarre instruments, glitter cannons and of course… dancing dinosaurs. He’s also been quite busy as of late, having recently traveled to the Congo with Damon Albarn to be one of the producers for his DRC Music project, which sees a release via Warp on October 4th.

After releasing his previous three EP’s through Greco-Roman, TEED has now signed to Polydor Records and is busy putting the finishing touches to his eagerly anticipated debut album. Joining label-mates such as Jamie Woon, La Roux, Klaxons and many more, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs is in good company! [source: girlie action]

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Upcoming Tour Dates:
10/20 – New York, NY – DROM (CMJ)
10/21 – New York, NY – Santos Party House (Neon Gold CMJ show)
10/22 – Brooklyn, NY – Cameo Gallery (PopGun Booking CMJ show)
10/26 – Vancouver, BC – Venue TBD
10/28 – San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop
10/29 – Los Angeles, CA – HARD Haunted Mansion
11/2 – Chicago, IL – Beauty Bar
11/3 – Miami, FL – Bardot
11/4 – Toronto, ON – The Mod Club
11/5 – Montreal, QC – Club Lambi

hot off the press, music, remix

[hot off the press] Rahmixes

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Rah Rah, Regina, Saskatchewan’s expansive pop-rock collective, recently announced the release of their new remix record Rahmixes on November 15, 2011.

The digital and vinyl release marks the band’s first full-length under Hidden Pony Records and features remixes by a host of acclaimed musical pioneers and interpreters like: NGHTBLND (Alex Rose of Minus the Bear), Silverclub (Elbow, Frank Black’s Grand Duchy), Grandtheft (supported U2, Arcade Fire & official DJ of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics), Rich Kidd (Drake, Kardinal Offishall, Saukrates), Kitchen Party (Shad & Dallas Green, Library Voices) and Cadence Weapon (two-time Polaris Music Prize nominee, world-wide festival DJ), amongst others. All take the essence of Rah Rah’s songs and transform them into epic and otherworldly creations.

Rahmixes take select tracks from Rah Rah’s sophomore album, Breaking Hearts (2010) and the band’s debut, Going Steady (2008). Rah Rah has previously toured in the U.S., across  Europe and at major music events like the Regina Folk Festival, Pop Montreal, Sled Island, the 2010 Vancouver Cultural Olympiad and NXNE and SXSW this year.

The band members of Rah Rah share a collective mentality, taking turns taking the lead, both in songwriting and while on stage and constantly switching instruments. The proud prairie rockers sing of the seriousness of art, poetry, love, and politics, and contrast it with a stage full of confetti, pinatas, candy, and six friends loving life and having fun. But don’t let their fresh faces, confetti cannons and constant sugar highs fool you, Rah Rah are old souls. This young, six-member ensemble artully bridge sincerity with the absurd. Despite lyrics that touch on underwater sea creatures, stockbrokers, Saskatchewan, Montreal, and impressionist painters, their songs are built to break your heart. All this along with the melodic male/female vocals and diverse instrumentation (guitars, bass, drums, keys, violin, accordion, ukulele), ensures that a Rah Rah show will not disappoint.

Rah Rah is currently on tour in Canada with Said the Whale and UK solo artist Sara Lowes. They will begin work on their next studio record after the tour wraps, under the production guidance of the inimitable Gus Van Go (The Stills, Hollerado, Preistess) and with an expected release date for the new album in early 2012. [source: planetary group]

♫ Rah Rah – Parkade ♫

♫ Rah Rah – Parkade (NGHTBLND remix) ♫

concerts, live music, music, on the road

[on the road] Hello Electric

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Portland’s trio Hello Electric promises a series of dynamic shows on their tour of the West Coast, beginning October 15th, which includes stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Seattle, and their hometown of Portland (check the dates below).

Kirk Ohnstad, Henry Gibson and Zachary Bendt make minimal electronic rock with a dash of power shine. Their live shows are centered on depth, intensity and simplicity. Each member has a distinctive role, although they all have the same roots: the drum set. Rhythm is essential to Hello Electric. Their live show combines real drums with electronic beats and pushes the low end with dark keys and thick synths. Unity takes shape with gritty guitar leads flourishing the heavy bass-driven backbone.

“I am inspired by minimalism, open sounds and emptiness. It’s a difficult place to be because of the amount of patience involved…” explains Onhstad.

 

The band’s next venture, Dead Champion EP, will be released on October 11th. Catch a preview of the newest songs live at their shows down the West Coast. [source: planetary group]

♫ Hello Electric – Introduction ♫ 

TOUR DATES
Oct 14 Portland, OR @ Ella St. Social Club
Oct 15 Corvallis, OR @ Cloud 9
Oct 17 San Francisco, CA @ The Knockout
Oct 20 Los Angeles, CA @ Origami Vinyl
Oct 20 Los Angeles, CA @ The Standard Hotel
Oct 21 San Diego, CA @ Tin Can Alehouse
Oct 23 San Diego, CA @ Kava Lounge
Oct 25 Portland, OR @ Holocene
Oct 27 Seattle, WA @ The Mix
Oct 28 Tacoma, WA @ The New Frontier
Oct 29 Bellingham, WA @ The Wild Buffalo

concerts, live music, music, on the road

[on the road] Said the Whale

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Vancouver, Canada’s Said the Whale made their first foray into the U.S. last March, touring on their sophomore album Islands Disappear, traveling from Seattle to Austin’s SXSW and back up the West Coast. Now as they ready to release a new EP in November, the quintet prepares to launch another tour of the United States, touching down in some familiar spots along the West Coast as well as a spattering of dates in unfamiliar territory around the rest of the U.S.. They’ll be joined by Kelowna, BC’s atmospheric progressive pop band We Are the City, who will release in the U.S. their debut EP, High School, plus brand new 7″ single, “Mourning Song/Morning Song” on October 4. [source: planetary group]

♫ Said the Whale – B.C. Orienteering ♫

SEPTEMBER
30 – Boundary Bay Brewery and Bistro (FREE) – Bellingham, WA

OCTOBER
15 – Dirtroom (Double Door) – Chicago, IL *
16 – Eagle Theater – Pontiac, MI *
18 – M Room – Philadelphia, PA *
21 – Piano’s (CMJ Music Festival) – New York, NY
26 – The Cave – Chapel Hill, NC *
28 – The Vagabond – Miami, FL *

NOVEMBER
01 – Emo’s – Austin, TX *
03 – The Rhythm Room – Phoenix, AZ *
04 – The Mint – Los Angeles, CA *
05 – Bows and Arrows – Sacramento, CA *
06 – Hemlock Tavern – San Francisco, CA *
10 – Ella St Social Club – Portland, OR *
11 – Q Cafe – Seattle, WA *

DECEMBER
08 – The Phoenix – Toronto, ON, Can #

* with We Are the City
# with Tokyo Police Club and Born Ruffians