News

Chris Bathgate Kickstarter/World Cafe Appearance

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A couple newsworthy events from the man behind one of our favorite albums of the year. First, Chris Bathgate has had a ridiculously unlucky string of accidents involving his tour vehicles this year. All the break-downs and accidents mean that he and his band have been left without a van to tour with, which means no Chris Bathgate live. This is truly a tragedy, so he started a Kickstarter page to fund the purchase of a van with biodiesel conversion. 

Head on over to his Kickstarter page and throw a little money his way. Even five bucks would help!

Second, Chris and co. were recently on NPR's World Cafe and played some songs live and talked about Salt Year. It's a great listen, so head to the World Cafe page to stream it.

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New Releases

Beat Radio – Teenage Anthems

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Beat Radio – Teenage Anthem For A Drunken Boat

Our friends in the great band Beat Radio are putting together a compilation of some songs they've released via website and blog over the past couple years. Teenage Anthems is available on limited edition, handmade CD or as a digital download. If the title track "Teenage Anthem For The Drunken Boat" doesn't get you to shell out for the whole album, I think we're going to have to break up. It's not me, it's you.

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News

Jeff Bridges Announces Album

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Put this is the "news that made my day" category. Jeff Bridges, one of my all-time favorite actors and a great musician, is releasing a major label debut album. Jeff Bridges will be released September 5th from Parlophone Records and the music sounds like it will echo the tone of Crazy Heart, which is a great thing. It also features guest vocals from the likes of Rosanne Cash, Ryan Bingham, and Benji Hughes.

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Unearthed Music

You Won?t

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Boston-based band You Won't brought me two revelations recently. First, they are quite possibly the least Google-able band ever. Second, their album Skeptic Goodbye is quickly becoming one of my favorite releases of the year.

 

You Won't – Three Car Garage

You Won't – Who Knew

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Unearthed Music

The Well-Informed – New York (We Love Her)

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The Well-Informed – New York (We Love Her)

I'm going to go ahead and use The Well-Informed's own words to describe their music, because it's basically more clever than anything I can come up with: "Cuban Missile make-out music". Alright, maybe it doesn't exactly conjure up a specific sound in your mind but it's a hell of a line isn't it?

The Well-Informed are a three-piece from NYC that make a theatrical brand of Prohibition-era, dixieland tinged pop. Their single "New York (We Love Her)" makes me picture all those scenes in a fancy bar in Boardwalk Empire where there booze is flowing, the ladies are dancing, and the band is playing. It's a modern ode to the women of the city, but it transports you to a period and a time.

I also really like that fact that The Well-Informed embraced the streets of New York with a busking tour. In a time where many small bands are rethinking the classic touring tradition, taking your music to the streets and connecting to people intimately is a great idea. I'm sure it didn't make them millionares, but they got to travel around the city, doing what they love, and meeting people, so fuck it right?

All The Well-Informed's songs are currently available for free on their Bandcamp page, so head on over and get your download on.

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New Releases

Gorilla Warfare Tactics – RewindRhyme

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Gorilla Warfare Tactics – RewindRhyme

One of the most promising hip hop acts emerging today, Gorilla Warfare Tactics, just released their first song since they dropped their Premier EP back in February. That EP has become one of my most listened to albums this year, so I've been waiting anxiously to see what the boys would do next.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: piano-led hip hop tracks get me everytime. Add in live (at least live sounding) drums and you've got the recipe for a Kyle guarantee. "RewindRhyme" is as solid, catchy, and rooted in nostalgia as we've come to expect from the young trio. GWT continue to carve out a unique, soulful sound in the oversaturated world of backpack blog rap. I wouldn't be surprised if these guys become a household name after releasing a proper album.

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Unearthed Music

Mr. Lewis and the Funeral 5

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Mr. Lewis and the Funeral 5 is  the self-proclaimed offspring of "...New Orleans jazz funerals, [and] jubilant melodies with discordant no-wave dirges about love, sex, death, and whiskey." Their recording debut was in 2007 with the release of Murder and the Art of the Dance, and their second album, Delirium Tremendous is set to drop July 26th of this year. Their cover of the Kinks tune Alcohol is featured on this project and is tasty enough to stop the room.

Mr. Lewis and the Funeral 5: Alcohol

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New Releases

Peter Wolf Crier – Right Away

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Peter Wolf Crier – Right Away

Peter Wolf Crier are releasing their new album Garden of Arms September 6th and have a released the first single in anticipation. This is good news indeed. I still spin their debut album regularly and they are a current favorite band of mine.

"Right Away" sees Peter Wolf Crier going in a bit of a different direction. The track is less rooted in the folk and Americana of Inter-Be and features increased production techniques, vocal alterations, and a seriously kick ass percussion section. If the whole album is this full of feeling and detail, I'll be a happy boy. Also, catch them live in support of their new album.

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