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Friday, March 25, 2011  It is with no small amount of pleasure that I'm able to share some truly wonderful news: After a 4-year wait, we'll soon see and hear a new full-length from The Ladybug Transistor. The Brooklyn combo has readied their seventh collection, the 10-track "Clutching Stems", for release on Merge Records on June 7th, and it marks the band's first recordings since the immensely sad and sudden passing of drummer San Fadyl in 2007. Frontman Gary Olson, bassist Julia Rydholm, and keyboardist Kyle Forester have carried on, adding new recruits Mark Dzula, Eric Farber, and Michael O’Neill to the mix, resulting in a record that both honors and expands upon the Ladybugs' rich aural history.Thanks to Merge, I'm not only sharing the news, but also some sight and sound, with a first peek at the album cover, tracklist, and a high-quality MP3 of its lead-off title track. Enjoy, and get those pre-orders in to score a poster of the album cover... [MP3] Ladybug Transistor - "Clutching Stems"  The Ladybug Transistor – "Clutching Stems" Release Date: June 7, 2011 on Merge 1. Clutching Stems [MP3] 2. Light on the Narrow Gauge 3. Fallen and Falling 4. Ignore the Bell 5. Oh Christina 6. Caught Don't Walk 7. Breaking Up on the Beat 8. Into the Strait 9. Hey Jack I'm On Fire 10. Life Less True Pre-order from Merge Records  Tuesday, March 22, 2011  This Saturday, March 26th, I'm very happy to be co-hosting the Boston-area release party for The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart's new album, "Belong", which popped up today on iTunes and officially hits record stores next Tuesday. Starting at 10pm at The Independent in Somerville's Union Square, I'll be spinning the record along with a slew of other fine Slumberland Records-released songs. And thanks to that ridiculously-great label, we've got some cool merch to give out during the party, including Pains posters, limited-edition white vinyl copies of "Belong", and 7-inches of the album's first single, "Heart In Your Heartbreak".  Two lucky attendees will also each get a pair of tickets to see the band play at the Paradise on Tuesday, May 3rd with tourmates Twin Shadow and locals Cuffs (grab tickets here). Speaking of Cuffs, guitarist Martin graciously helped me set this night up, and he'll also be hosting/spinning along with his Reports bandmate Joe. We'll also probably get a guest-DJ appearance (and more Slumberland hits) from Cuffs singer/guitarist Andrew who, of course, fronted the wonderful Slumberland trio Pants Yell!. If you didn't get all that straight, don't worry, you won't be graded.So, in short: You. Us. The Independent. 10pm. Come Saturday. RSVP, if you please. By the way, the band appears tonight on David Letterman. Think they'll play the album's title track? Here it is for your streaming pleasure... The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Belong by Slumberland Records Sunday, March 13, 2011
Sharing a few live cover songs, all recently performed here in the Boston, on this gray Sunday afternoon...   First, a song from late in Superchunk's set at the Royale back in September. This one was both a gift for aging fans of early Boston hardcore in the crowd and maybe a quick, minute-long lesson for some who weren't even born when SS Decontrol was putting out records almost 30 (!) years ago. Featuring rare lead After their hectic 2010 of record-releasin' and audience-rockin', Superchunk have taken some well-deserved time off so far this year. On deck, though, is a Record Store Day shared 7-inch with Coliseum, each band doing a Misfits cover. Look for the limited-edition split, a co-release from Merge and Temporary Residence Ltd., on April 16th at finer record shops.  Next up, Rivals Schools, who hit the Brighton Music Hall last weekend and closed their set with a cover that was no surprise to fans of frontman Walter Schreifels' old band, Quicksand. The Smiths' "How Soon Is Now?" was a live staple of their shows, and was released in studio form as a bonus cut on their classic "Slip" album. I never got a chance to see them do it, so I pretty psyched to see them give the song a run through... [MP3] Rival Schools - "How Soon Is Now?" (Smiths cover) live at Brighton Music Hall, Boston, 3/5/2011 The Rivals Schools reunion is in full swing, with "Pedals" (just their second album after 2001's ace "United By Fate") hitting shelves and servers last week. It's a worthy follow-up, especially considering the 10-year gap, and the new tracks fit perfectly in place in their live setlist alongside all the excellent old stuff. Their short U.S. East Coast tour just wrapped, and they'll be spending most of April overseas before hitting the West Coast in May. Check here for dates.  And finally, Wild Flag. The quartet made their Boston debut last Monday, and I'm still on a bit of a high from it (and still suffering slightly-dulled hearing in my right ear - should have left those earplugs in, but I was feeling it, man). How they were able to meet and squash my ridiculously-high expectations is a mystery. Oh, wait, no it's not, just look who's in the band. Show of the short-year so far, I'd say. Until they come back. Here's the set-closer, a ferocious Patti Smith cover, fronted by Carrie Brownstein... Wild Flag has a handful of live dates left on their current tour (including a stop at SXSW later this week). If you're fortunate enough to catch them, check out the merch table for their first official release: The "Future Crimes"/"Glass Tambourine" 7-inch. Produced by Spoon's Britt Daniel, the two tracks are a tease for an eventual Fall full-length on Merge. If you can't make it to one of their remaining March shows, then get ready for Record Store Day on April 16th, when the 7-inch will also be one of Merge's special releases. Saturday, March 05, 2011
If you're in Boston and reading this on Saturday evening, March 5th, then you're in luck - you can still make it over to Great Scott to catch Endless Wave at their album release show (and if I was a better blogger, I'd have given you more notice). They're batting clean-up in a line-up that includes The December Sound, J/Q, and Eksi Ekso (who are also releasing their brand new record this evening). Even if you don't make it over, grab the song below to hear how Endless Wave's new "Notes From The Compound" LP kicks off. This track's a top-notch slice of layered guitar-psych anchored by a killer rolling bass line, and gives you a good idea what you're in for... The rest of the record (which was recorded at the famed Camp Street Studios/former Fort Apache location just before it closed down) can be streamed and purchased at their Bandcamp page, and a very-limited-edition CD version of "Notes..." can be had at tonight's show (for free... so arrive early). The album's right up my sonic alley, and I'm hoping my previous plan to catch Rival Schools a couple blocks away at Brighton Music Hall tonight allows me to skip over to Great Scott to see some of EW's set. At the very least, I want to try and grab one of those discs. Head to the band's Facebook page and do that 'like' thing or hit up their Twitter to stay in the loop, and check out their 2010 debut EP, "City Walls", on Bandcamp, where you can snag the track "Ocean Drive" gratis. Tuesday, March 01, 2011  Now that we're living in world where everyone writes something about everything instantly, it shouldn't be surprising that relatively new quartet Wild Flag has been the subject of more pre-release digital scribbling than any band without studio recordings. I'd never call it undeserved hype, though - you can put solid money down that all the words will be worth it, given both the pedigree and the label behind them. That pedigree? Mary Timony (solo artist/ex-Helium) on vocals & guitar, Rebecca Cole (ex-The Minders) on bass, and 2/3rds of Sleater-Kinney in guitarist/singer Carrie Brownstein and drummer Janet Wiess (also of Quasi & the Jicks). Seriously, that is some superstar power right there. And the label that will be putting out their stuff, including an imminent debut Record Store Day 7-inch? None other than Merge, who are batting pretty much 1000% so far this year. A mere two months into 2011 and they've already given us records from Apex Manor, East River Pipe, Jonny, Destroyer, and Telekinesis, with Wye Oak and the Mountain Goats on deck. I could listen to nothing but Merge stuff and not be left lacking. It's almost embarrassing.After a string of West Coast appearances late last year, Wild Flag hits our coast for the first time on a 14-date tour that starts this Saturday in Brooklyn. Two days later, on Monday, March 7th, they'll be here in Boston at the Brighton Music Hall with tourmates Yellow Fever and personal local faves Shepherdess. Wanna go, too? I've got a pair of guest list spots to give away to one fortunate soul, so email giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com before this Friday at Noon with a subject line of "Wild Flag!". Include your full name in the email, and keep Monday night free, because on Friday afternoon I'll email the winner with some post-weekend plans for you and a pal. Head here for tickets of your own, and hit up the FB event page for some RSVP action. If you want to avoid Ticketmaster fees (and really, who doesn't?), you can stop by the Paradise box office down the street, where they sell tix for BMH shows. |
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