Don't miss: Holy Ghost Tent Revival in Cambridge (Sat 2/19)

I've never seen Holy Ghost Tent Revival live, but I get the impression they're one of those bands that rolls into town, unloads their gear (most likely battered and duct taped) and proceeds to whip the crowd into a frenzy.  Then, they disappear as quickly as they came, leaving behind nothing but a trail of empty whiskey bottles, ringing ears and new fans.  Just a hunch.

Their sound recalls fellow North Carolinians The Avett Brothers (stomping bluegrass-punk, tender ballads, banjo) and adds blaring New Orleans horns to the mix.  Do yourself a favor and check out the band's show at Atwood Tavern in Cambridge this Saturday 2/19, it's gonna be a party.

If you doubt my hyperbolic expectations about the band's live show, listen to this track off their recent live album (get the whole thing here) and tell me I'm wrong:

Holy Ghost Tent Revival - Walking Over My Grave

Dr. Dog + The Head And The Heart @ Paradise 2/19-20

 

This weekend sees two of the best indie-folk-rock bands out there playing not one but two shows at The Paradise in Boston.  You've got two chances, don't blow it and miss out on this.

If you need convincing, here are some tunes.  Seattle's The Head And The Heart recently signed to Sub Pop, and their fantastic debut album has just been released.  Preview "Down In The Valley", a gorgeous road song...

The Head And The Heart - Down In The Valley

We were in the house the last time Dr. Dog played the Paradise and got this fantastic live recording to prove it.  Enjoy!

Dr. Dog
Paradise Rock Club - Boston MA
May 12, 2010

Mirror Mirror
Hang On
The Old Days
Army Of Ancients
The Way The Lazy Do
Someday
Shadow People
The Ark
The World May Never Know
I Only Wear Blue
Later
Unbearable Why
The Beach
The Breeze
The Rabbit, The Bat and The Reindeer
Station
The Girl
Shame, Shame
Jackie Wants a Black Eye
Stranger
Die Die Die
Fat Dog
Easy Beat
Heart It Races (Architecture In Helsinki)
My Friend

Full set download:  mp3 zip

On Vacation... back next week

Here's a taste of what I'm probably listening to right now...

Desolation Wilderness - Venice Beach
Real Estate - Suburban Beverage
Beach Fossils - Calyer
Holiday Shores - Phones Don't Feud

...back next week!

New music: The Strokes - “Under The Cover of Darkness”

It's been almost five years since The Strokes have put out new music.  In that time each bandmember has focused on solo projects of varying merit, but now the band that helped start the "indie rock goes mainstream" movement early last decade (and, along with Wilco helped drag my personal focus away from classic rock) is back with new tunes.  "Under The Cover of Darkness" is the first single from the upcoming album Angles.  Listen here:

The Strokes - Under The Cover of Darkness

New music: Abigail Washburn - "Chains"

Abigail Washburn's recent release City of Refuge has taken me completely by surprise.  While the singer/songwriter/banjo virtuoso is not new on the scene, her music elluded me until now.  Her sweet, pure voice has a warmth as if carried by a summer breeze.  The songs that comprise City of Refuge mix traditional folk and string music with indie folk-pop.  The album features appearances from members of The Decemberists, Old Crow Medicine Show and My Morning Jacket.  I think you'll be hearing more from Abigail Washburn.  Check out "Chains" below...

Abigail Washburn - Chains

Get to know Rodeo Church + Jeremy Lee Given

Rodeo Church is a band you need to know.  The Boston-based four-piece released a killer EP in the waning days of 2010.  Now, just a few frozen weeks later, they're back with a killer new single "Promises", which one hopes is a sign of things to come from their debut LP.  Lo-fi art-pop done so well that it wraps you up like a warm blanket.  Listen to Promises below and head to the Rodeo Church bandcamp page to grab the full EP (pay what you want).

Rodeo Church - Promises

In addition to contributing keyboards/vocals as a member of Rodeo Church, Jeremy Lee Given is churning out some noteworthy music of his own.  Taking a slightly folkier and mellower approach, his debut album Old Flames features the same catchy, lo-fi, analog-pop charms as his other band.  Listen to "Lorraine", one of my favorite tracks from the album below, and grab the whole thing here (again, pay what you want).

Jeremy Lee Given - Lorraine

TICKET GIVEAWAY: Frontier Ruckus @ Cafe 939 Saturday 2/12

Frontier Ruckus' fantastic "Deadmalls & Nightfalls" was our #1 album of 2010.  Matthew Millia's simple songs of vivid nostalgia played out on frozen, crumbling suburban landscapes burrowed their way deep into my head and when it came time to pick a favorite album, there was really no other option.  Now the band returns to Boston for a show at Berklee's Cafe 939 this Saturday Feb 12.

We're giving away 2 tickets to the show.  All you have to do to enter is head to our Facebook page
and post on the wall saying you want the tickets.  I will pick the winner at random at 5pm Thursday and notify the lucky one via Facebook.

Win or lose, I encourage all of our Boston-area readers to go to this show.  Let's pack Cafe 939.  The few of us that saw the band play a brilliant set to a mostly-empty Harper's Ferry last fall (listen to the show here) know that these guys put on an amazing show.  Make the trek through the snow/slush and bring your friends -- don't miss a chance to see a band of this caliber in a venue this intimate.

Want a preview?  Check out this amazing video of Frontier Ruckus playing "Springterror" on the streets of Brixton:

New music: Young Prisms - "Sugar"

San Francisco's Young Prisms have a sound that takes a jangly, beachy vibe (Real Estate, Best Coast) and drowns it in a thick swirling psych haze.  A little garage rock, a little shoegaze and there you go.

"Sugar", which you can grab below, is one of my favorites off their recent debut "Friends For Now".  Check out Young Prisms at The Middle East Downstairs this Friday 2/4 with The Radio Dept. 

Young Prisms - Sugar

 

New music: Modern Skirts - "Bumper Car"

I guess I lost track of Modern Skirts somewhere along the line.  Catalogue of Generous Men was one of my favorite albums back in 2004, but I never really got into 2008's All Of Us In Our Night and then at some point the band dropped off my radar.  Following an EP last year that I totally missed, they are back with a full-length LP Gramahawk. 

The first thing you'll notice is how much their sound has evolved; much of the bouncy jangle has been replaced by electronic blips, art-rock twists and a variety of experimental sounds.  Not what I expected, but nevertheless great.  Check out "Bumper Car", which features a deep groove, dark lyrics and a seductively ominous sound...

Modern Skirts - Bumper Car