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  1. Interview with Dustin of The Fling

    June 16, 2011 by Steph

    I caught The Fling on FutureSound’s The Rumble Tour in May so of course when I was offered an interview with frontman Dustin, I was stoked. Their recent release When the Madhouses Appear is available now on Dangirbird Records and it it’s hot from start to finish. Somehow When the Madhouses Appear draws inspiration direct from the classics, and manages to stay fresh, with twangy guitar riffs, lots of cymbal, winding guitar solos and classic rock voice, often breaking into four-part harmonies. They certainly slot well among the psychedelic-rock alt-folk acts like Dawes and Delta Spirit and I’m excited to hear more from them in the coming months.

    Listen to “Wanderingfoot” by The Fling

    A Chat with Dustin…

    S: Dustin, you started out making music for The Fling as just a one-man project. What were you doing before The Fling? And did you always see The Fling becoming a five-piece?

    Dustin: I have been in bands since I was a teenager.  I was always the guitar player.  I’d write a guitar part, and have somebody else write a melody and lyrics over it.  To me, it was like making a painting and having somebody else give it color.  A lot of times the colors wouldn’t match and the painting would get distorted until you couldn’t even tell what it was originally supposed to be.  I kept getting tired of losing control over my ideas, so I started writing my own melodies and lyrics to keep myself happy.  I did a batch of home recordings and came to Long Beach with the idea of putting a band together.  Eventually we all sort of found each other and evolved into a five piece band with four main songwriters. (more…)

    Category Features, Interviews | Tags: ,,,,, | 1 Comment

  2. Twiggy Frostbite’s “By the Ocean”

    June 15, 2011 by Steph

    Twiggy Frostbite

    After browsing some international blogs yesterday, I came across a great track by a band called Twiggy Frostbite from Borlänge, Sweden. These lovely ladies could be straight out of a couture fashion shoot and their music is just as lovely. The indie pop project has hints of shoegaze and a bit of the signature Scandinavian ethereal-ness. “By the Ocean” is completely beautiful, and every second captures your full attention with a hushed sense of despondence and passion.

    Not sure if this song will be on an upcoming full-length, but will possibly be part of a limited-edition 7-inch release.

    MP3: Twiggy Frostbite – “By the Ocean”
    [audio:http://addicted2shows.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/twiggy-bytheocean.mp3|titles=\ By the Ocean|artists=Twiggy Frostbite]

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  3. Interview with Casey of LA’s Belize

    June 15, 2011 by Steph

    Belize

    Los Angeles project Belize will be releasing Tidal Tales from the Other Side on June 20th, 2011. Singer/songwriter Casey Curry is also a professional photographer in Los Angeles and he’s taken time out of his crazy schedule to chat about his new album, photographing Andrew W.K., and working with Frankie Siragusa in the studio.

    S: Starting with the name, what made you decide to dub your project Belize? Do you have any associations with the country?
    Casey: When writing and recording Tidal Tales, my goal was not just to create dynamic and evocative songs that would be compiled on a record, but to essentially create a score for the lives of my listeners. I geek out on space, and I love the ocean. In my opinion, Belize has some of the most inspiring oceanography one can encounter on this earth. The name of the band was not premeditated in any way, shape, or form. It is simply a result of the journey traveled while making the album.

    S: Your music draws influence from a lot of the classics like Brian Wilson, Nick Cave, and Pink Floyd. If you could chat with any musician, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
    (more…)

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  4. Manchester Orchestra, Sleeper Agent, & Twilight Sleep

    June 8, 2011 by Steph

    Twilight Sleep

    Twilight Sleep

    The first band to take the stage was Los Angeles’ own Twilight Sleep. Their contribution to the night was moody, noisy pop backlit with blues and purples to set the mood. “Broken Record” stood out as a leading track for the band, as if Silversun Pickups paired with White Sea’s synth. Their aesthetic certainly translated well live, with the front woman sporting a hood and a slinking around stage.

    Sleeper Agent

    Sleeper Agent

    Sleeper Agent took the stage next and looked much younger than their songs let on. They had to prove themselves to the rest of the audience, but already being a fan I got to sit back and enjoy. They opened with the noisy and riotous “Sugar Cane” and singers Alex and Tony dominated the stage along with the rest of the sextet. “Get It Daddy” was a stand-out of the set and by the time time they played it, the audience had started to warm to the garage pop dominating the Music Box. They kicked ass, took names, and certainly won over many of the Manchester Orchestra fans. They put on a show that lived up to their album Celabrasion and I cannot wait to see more from this band. (Check out more in my interview with the band).

    Manchester Orchestra

    Manchester Orchestra

    The headliner began quietly, opening to a near-black stage. Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra was illuminated as they opened with the title track of their newest album “Simple Math.” With full power behind each note, Manchester Orchestra spoke little, letting the music say everything. They played a brand new minute-and-a-half song “Bananas” along with “100 Dollars,” “Mean Everything to Nothing,” “Virgins,” “The Only One”  and “Pitsacola” (which he seemed surprised that the crowd liked) among many many others. They played a perfect balance of new and old tracks and the whole audience seemed to know the words to every one. Somehow Manchester is a band that has managed to retain their cool factor as they’ve gotten bigger and they draw in fans from all walks of life. Being a part of that crowd was quite an honor.

    As the band wrapped their set, after so few words between songs, Hull hushed the whole crowd (very adamantly) and gave the most sincere thank you I’ve ever heard from a rock band, thanking the fans for their support in seeing the show. The band closed with “Now That You’re Home” from Like a Virgin Losing a Child and it was clear that the music means everything to Manchester Orchestra. And that’s why the music means so much to so many people.

    Category Live | Tags: ,,, | 2 Comments

  5. Vanaprasta’s New Song “G-“

    June 3, 2011 by Steph

    G- Album Art, Vanaprasta

    Until a few weeks ago, Vanaprasta was a name that kept popping up around town, but I hadn’t taken the time to listen. Then at The Roxy with Saint Motel I finally had a chance to catch this omnipresent LA band. Their experimental and psychedelic rock made for an energetic and interesting live show. It’s no wonder they’ve shared the bill with heritage bands Smashing Pumpkins and Slash.

    The band is currently preparing the release of their first full-length in late 2011. In the meantime, they’ll be releasing three tracks, the first of which is “G-” (pronounced G minus). “G-” is a Southern-tinged The Mars Volta with sultry vocals and a wailing guitar. These guys are barely an LA secret now, but they certainly won’t be come 2012 if “G-” is any indication of the quality of their record.

    Check it out “G-” below. Soon to come: “Supernumerary” and “Crushing Ants.”

    Saucy video for “G-” is NSFW!

    Category Features, Tracks | Tags: , | 1 Comment

  6. Scattered Trees Live at The Satellite

    June 2, 2011 by Steph

    Scattered TreesIt’s always a pleasant surprise when you have no plans on a Saturday and you get invited out to a show last minute. Friday afternoon I was quickly introduced to Chicago’s sextet Scattered Trees. Their recently-released LP Sympathy was quickly added to my iTunes and I was all set.

    Scattered Trees draws comparison to other Southern-tinged indie rock bands, leaning towards Wilco with hints of The Fray meets Snow Patrol. Their set was driven by the beautiful electric guitar melodies, layered with piano, percussion, and four vocalists. Their sound was tight and the tone was somber. It was only after seeing their set did I realize that the songs from Sympathy were written by lead singer Nate Eiseland in response to his father’s death. The songs held a certain sad beauty that captured this sentiment.

    That being said, I felt like the band was lacking a certain luster. For as many musicians were in the band, I expected the show to be more dynamic and intricate and the harmonies to be more prominent. While I found the songs to be well-written and certainly on point with the trend in indie rock, the energy and spark was a bit lacking. Although they have been playing together for many years, I see Sympathy as a step in the right direction, in preparation for something hopefully bigger and better.

    MP3: “Four Days Straight”
    [audio:http://addicted2shows.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/04-Four-Days-Straight-2.mp3|titles=Four Days Straight]

    Website | Facebook | @ScatteredTreesMusic

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  7. Sasquatch Teaser

    June 1, 2011 by Steph

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  8. Interview with Sleeper Agent

    May 31, 2011 by Steph

    Sleeper AgentSleeper Agent’s debut album Celabrasion has not stopped spinning since I received it in the mail less than a week ago. It will be out on Mom & Pop on August 16th and they just set out on a tour with Cage the Elephant and Manchester Orchestra. If the above points aren’t enough to tell you that “these guys fucking rock,” then I’ll spell it out for you: their take-no-prisoners high-energy garage rock is only properly experienced at high volume and with repeat listens.

    I was recently given the opportunity to interview Sleeper Agent. No bullshit.

    S: First off, Sleeper Agent is a sextet, which is a pretty large group. How did you all meet? What’s the dynamic like?

    Sleeper Agent: A lot of us have been playing together or watching each other’s bands for years (as far back as 2004). Bands would crumble and I guess we’re the hodgepodge of a scene from yesteryear. Alex, joined in 2010. She’s from Ohio, we met her whilst she was opening for Sleeper Agent’s original lineup in 2008.

    S: Also, you all have nicknames–Tutone, Kidd, Keyser, Grizzlee, Saga, and Junior. How did those come about and do you go by those on a daily basis?

    SA: We don’t take ourselves too seriously and the nicknames have become a way of rib-poking each other (i.e, Alex is by far the youngest [Kidd], Tony plays with no pedals using only a clean or distorted channel [Tutone)]) Depending on our mood, we’ll interchange the real names and nicknames.

    S: You and Cage the Elephant are the only two bands I can think of from Bowling Green, KY. You’ve also toured with them quite a bit. Are you all close?

    SA: Justin, Tony and Scott have been stomping around with those guys since they were in Perfect Confusion. We consider them family.

    S: Are there any other bands in Bowling Green that we should know about?

    SA: Schools ( http://www.reverbnation.com/schools ). They’re on their way up. By far our favorite show to catch on break. We saw them four times on our last break.

    S: Some of my favorite bands have guy/girl duo vocals. When you started the band, was there anyone you were emulating or did you just think “we both have great voices, let’s both sing”? … (more…)

    Category Interviews | Tags: ,,, | 2 Comments

  9. Sounds of Sasquatch: 2011

    May 27, 2011 by Steph

    You have your camping gear, a cell phone charger, and your most hipster set of clothes and you’re ready to hit the Gorge for Sasquatch Festival. What’s left? Winnie Cooper has hooked you up with a Survival Guide and I am happy to provide the tunes for the drive. I’ve decided to include a sampling of almost every artist in attendance (leaving out only those I couldn’t find). Download and preview the sweet acts you’re about to experience. Or, if you can’t make it to Seattle this year, you’ll get a little taste of what you’re missing.

    Remember, these tunes are for a preview only so if you dig the bands, go buy their music. If any of these tracks belong to you and you would like them removed, please let me know.

    SIDE A (click to download)
    !!! – AM FM
    Against Me – I Was a Teenage Anarchist
    Alberta Cross – City Walls
    Aloe Blacc – Green Lights
    The Antlers – French Exit
    Archers of Loaf – Plumb Line
    Basia Bulat – Heart Of My Own
    Bassnectar-Magical World feat. Nelly Furtado
    Beach House – Norway
    Best Coast – Crazy For You
    Biffy Clyro – That Golden Rule
    Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears – Booty City
    Black Mountain – Roller Coaster
    Bonobo – Stay The Same (Feat. Andreya Tria)
    Bright Eyes – Shell Games
    The Bronx – Knifeman
    Chromeo – Hot Mess (Ride The Universe Remix)
    City and Colour – Fragile Bird
    Cold War Kids – Royal Blue
    Cotton Jones – Somehow to Keep It Going (acoustic)

    SIDE B (click to download)
    Dan Mangan – Sold
    Das Racist – hahahaha jk
    Death Cab for Cutie – You Are A Tourist
    Death From Above 1979 – Blood On Our Hands
    The Decemberists – January Hymn
    Deerhunter – Never Stops
    The Drums – Forever and Ever Amen
    Fitz and the Tantrums – Moneygrabber
    The Flaming Lips – Fight Test
    Flogging Molly – Drunken Lullabies
    Flying Lotus – Caravan Of Delight
    Foo Fighters – Best Of You Live at Wembley Stadium
    Foster the People – Warrant
    Gayngs – Faded High
    Givers – Up Up Up
    The Glitch Mob – Fistful Of Silence
    The Globes – Stay Awake
    Gold Panda – Quitters Raga
    Guided By Voices – Metal Mothers
    The Head and the Heart – Lost in My Mind

    SIDE C (click to download)
    Head Like a Kite – Directors Cut
    Iron and Wine – Sodom, South Georgia
    J Mascis – Not Enough
    Jaill – Everyone’s Hip
    Jenny & Johnny – Big Wave
    Local Natives – Sun Hands
    Macklemore – Irish Celebration (Prod Ryan Lewis)
    Mad Rad – The Machine
    Major Lazer – Cash Flow (Classixx Glass-Bottom Dub Mix)
    Mariachi El Bronx  – Cell Mates
    Matt and Kim – Block after Block
    Modest Mouse – Missed The Boat
    The Moondoggies – What Took So Long
    MSTRKRFT – Back in the USSA
    Noah and the Whale – L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.
    Old 97s – Every Night Is Friday Night (Without You)
    Other Lives – Tamer Animals
    Pepper Rabbit – Older Brother
    Pink Martini – Tuca Tuca
    The Radio Dept – Never Follow Suit

    SIDE D (click to download)
    Ratatat – Mirando
    Rival Schools – Undercovers On
    Robyn – Call Your Girlfriend (Feed Me Remix)
    Rodrigo Y Gabriela – Tamacun
    S. Carey – In The Stream
    Sam Roberts Band – Longitude
    The Secret Sisters – Tennessee Me
    Sharon Jones – How Long Do I Have to Wait for You
    Sharon Van Etten – Save Yourself
    Skrillex – First of the Year
    Sleigh Bells – Run the Heart
    Smith Westerns – Still New
    Stornoway – Fuel Up
    Surfer Blood – Neighbour Riffs
    Talkdemonic – Shaddered Into Dyes
    The Thermals – I Don’t Believe You
    Tokyo Police Club – Breakneck Speed
    Twin Shadow – At My Heels
    Typhoon – Summer Home
    Washed Out – Eyes Be Closed

    SIDE E (click to download)
    Wavves – Post Acid
    Wheedle’s Groove – Jesus Christ Pose
    White Arrows – The Voyeur
    White Denim – Anvil Everything
    Wilco – I’m the Man Who Loves You
    Wolf Parade – Shine a Light
    Wye Oak – Civilian
    Yeasayer – Devil And The Deed
    The Young Evils – Get Over It
    Young the Giant – My Body

    Missing:
    Bob Mould
    Rebecca Gates and the Consortium
    K-Os

    Download links:
    A: http://www.sendspace.com/file/nca6ob
    B: http://www.sendspace.com/file/l3b1pn
    C: http://www.sendspace.com/file/lxedr3
    D: http://www.sendspace.com/file/a7cmpf
    E: http://www.sendspace.com/file/h1b8c0

    Category Features, Tracks | Tags: | Comments Off on Sounds of Sasquatch: 2011

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