Sunday, January 16, 2011

Don Juan Peligroso


Portland, Oregon's Don Juan! Peligroso! was formed on a whim by six eccentric, music-loving friends during late 2010. After performing their first show at Portland's famed White Eagle Saloon, the band decided they had crafted a collection of songs weird enough to document. They then recruited their friend Jim Prescott (former bassist of G. Love and Special Sauce) to help them record their debut EP.

When not playing music together, the band members can be found aimlessly wandering the streets of their home city, wearing extravagant masks.

If that doesn't seem weird enough for you, wait until you listen to them. You'll be left scratching your head as you hear the saxophone mixed in amongst guitar and drums. It's like listening to a much cooler version of smooth jazz. Think of it as easy listening that it's ok to like...perfect music then for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Download: Nap Time
Download: Ken Doll 6

ESG Releases Best Of....


London’s iconic Fire Records is proud to announce the global release of the two-disc Dance To The Best of ESG from New York's legendary punk/funk family affair ESG (Emerald, Sapphire and Gold.)

For the very first time, all of the songs that made the band such an innovative influence are available in a single release. Covering their earliest Martin Hannett produced tracks such as "Moody" and "UFO" right through their more recent killer tunes, this compilation leans heavily on the foundation that made them one of the most sampled artists of all-time, while touching on every one of their stellar records.

Every cut runs deep and every ass had better shake. When ESG says dance you had better dance dammit!

Download: Dance to the Beat of Moody

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Not Necessarily The Sound Of Growing Up


The Sound Of Growing Up is the moniker of singer/songwriter Justin Kao (kay-oh). A Boston transplant via Long Island, NY, Kao moved to Boston shortly after finishing college to pursue his career in music. Having played small shows and open mics in the local area, Kao began building up a network of fans, friends, and musicians with his catchy melodies and earnest lyrics.

The band’s aptly titled debut EP, Drifting, due out March 8, 2011, is a sweeping range of emotions that travel from uncertainty and apathy to hope and promise. This is total nerd core intermingling with indie pop and as a result sounds like Ben Folds Five in a fist fight with Weezer after several shots of espresso.

Keep an eye out for their album in March and in the meantime enjoy The Kite.

Download: The Kite

Breathe Owl Breathe


Beginning February 19th in New York City, Breathe Owl Breathe return to the road for another collection of North American dates in support of Magic Central, the band's spellbinding first album for Hometapes.

Breathe Owl Breathe will be joining venerated French composer and musician Yann Tiersen on a coast-to-coast journey, transforming venues into campfire circles, conjuring smiles in the dark, and revealing, to whole new worlds of people, what happens when you start doing your "Own Stunts."

Here's the dates...
2/19/11 - New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom
2/21/11 - Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
2/22/11 - Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
2/23/11 - Detroit, MI @ The Crofoot Ballroom
2/24/11 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
2/25/11 - Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge
2/26/11 - Minneapolis, MN @ Cedar Cultural Center
2/27/11 - Winnipeg, MB @ WECC
3/01/11 - Edmonton, AB @ The Starlite Room
3/02/11 - Calgary, AB @ Republik
3/04/11 - Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theater
3/05/11 - Seattle, WA @ Neumo's
3/06/11 - Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
3/08/11 - San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
3/09/11 - Santa Cruz, CA @ Rio Theater
3/10/11 - San Diego, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
3/11/11 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Music Box

Download: Dog Walkers of the New Age
Download: Across The Loch

Friday, January 14, 2011

The Concretes Solidify US Tour Dates


Sweden’s dreamy indie-pop ensemble The Concretes dropped their new album, WYWH, November 9, 2010 via Friendly Fire Recordings, and now they're announcing their first North American tour in four years!

The tour is split in two, with the band hitting markets on the East Coast, Midwest and Canada in January, then returning in February to tackle the West Coast.

Here are the dates...
January 14 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
January 15 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
January 16 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
January 17 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
January 18 – Ottawa, ON @ Mavericks
January 19 – Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa
January 20 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott
January 22 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
January 24 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas
January 25 – Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
February 26 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
February 28 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
March 1 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
March 3 – Sacamento, CA @ Blue Note
March 4 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
March 5 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah

Download: My Ways (Remix)

Digits Calculates His Return


Alt Altman is Digits, an electronic indie pop artist from Toronto, and it's been a while since Hold It Close but Altman has emerged out of the studio with new music.

A blend of indie pop songwriting and danceable electronic arrangements, Digits has been likened to the Junior Boys, Belle & Sebastian, and Broadcast. Although to me the record reminds me of early 90's Creation/Factory/Sarah records with an electronic edge, think Pacific, The Wake, etc. Altman writes lush, detached stuff that's kind of sparse the way so many of those early 90's records were and that's why I love this record. His new stuff continues that tradition as it tugs at your heartstrings.

For a first glimpse, "Lost Dream," holds a lot of detached/aloof promise of what is to come. I for one can't wait to hear what Digits calculates next.

Download: Lost Dream

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Eli Escobar Is Back


This past summer, Plant Music released Eli Escobar's four-part Love Thing EP which included a vocal workout by Amanda Blank on Part 3 (check out the awesome video).

Well, the remix package just dropped featuring mixes by DFA's Runaway, Edbanger's DJ Mehdi, Mike Simonetti, and John Selway. Eli also reworked Part 1 of "Love Thing" to wondrous effect.

House is a feeling and this has more feelings than it can handle.

Download: Love Thing (Part 1) (Eli Escobar Rework)
Download: Love Thing (Part 2) (DJ Mehdi Club Mix)
Watch: