This is Supergrass live at Rock City, Nottingham, England back on the 18th January 1998. The band split up last year (2010) siting musical differences however during their eighteen years together a legacy of energised, excuberent performances both live and recorded will I am sure be remembered with great fondness by many.
In mid-1994, Supergrass issued their debut single "Caught by the Fuzz" on the small independent local (Oxford) label Backbeat Records. The song recounts lead singer and guitarist Gaz Coombes' experience of being arrested and cautioned by police in possession of cannabis. The limited release of vinyl copies sold out quickly, thanks in part to support from John Peel on his Radio One show. The Parlophone label signed the band and re-released the single in the autumn of the same year. It achieved the rare feat of both NME and Melody Maker "Single Of The Week" status in the same week.
"Mansize Rooster", released in February 1995, peaked at number 20 in the UK Single Charts and "Lenny" just made it into the top 10. "Lenny" was followed soon afterwards by the band's debut album, I Should Coco (May 1995), which entered the UK Album Charts at number one. It achieved a half-a-million sales in the UK and over a million worldwide. NME reviewer Steve Sutherland gave the album a nine out of ten rating, writing, "These freaks shall inherit the earth." The album's fourth single, the double A-side release "Alright"/"Time", stayed in British Top Three for a month, peaking at number two.
Supergrass followed I Should Coco with 18 months of heavy touring, appearing at festivals such as Scotland's T In The Park and the Glastonbury Festival. After Performing in Rio's Hollywood Rock Festival in April 1996, Supergrass met the infamous train robber Ronnie Biggs, and apparently said to him, "I was frightened for my life when I heard there was a supergrass in the area." A photograph of Ronnie Biggs and Gaz together was subsequently included in the music video for their single release of the same year, "Going Out". "Going Out" was a success peaking at number five in the UK charts and sold more than 100,000 units. Having taken a short break in 1996, Supergrass returned to Sawmills Studio to work on In It For The Money (released April 1997), produced by the band themselves with John Cornfield. The album was a critical and commercial success, it also has since gone platinum in the UK. But some were confused by the darker sound. The single, "Richard III" reached number two. Subsequent releases, "Sun Hits the Sky" and "Late In The Day" reached numbers 10 and 18 respectively.
Around this time Supergrass also appeared on the front cover of The Big Issue (a UK magazine sold by the homeless as part of a self help iniative), interviewed for the magazine at Heathrow Airport by infamous ex-drug smuggler Howard Marks.
Source: BBC Radio Broadcast.
Sound Quality: Very good stereo MP3 @320kbps.
Genre: Alternative rock, Britpop.
Set: Full set.
Set List:
1. I'd like to know.
2. Caught by the fuzz.
3. Cheapskate.
4. Mansize rooster.
5. Time.
6. Richard III.
7. You can see me.
8. Late in the day.
9. Alright.
10. Condition.
11. Odd.
12. Lose it.
13. Sun hits the sky.
14. Caught by the fuzz.
15. Strange ones.
16. Lenny.
Website: Official HERE, (links into official fansite).
This is Debbie Harry performing live at the Metro Nightclub in Melbourne, Australia back on the 20th March 1990. This was the only gig outside of the UK and USA in 1990 (as I understand) and the set list was a mixture of solo material and Blondie songs.
Debbie released the album Def, Dumb and Blonde in 1989. At this point she reverted from "Debbie" to "Deborah" for her professional name. The first single "I Want That Man" was a hit in Europe, Australia, and on the U.S. Modern Rock Charts. The success of the single propelled the album to number 12 on the UK charts. However, with little promotion from her record company in the US, it peaked at number 123. She followed this up with the ballad "Brite Side" and the club hit "Sweet and Low". "Maybe for Sure", a track originally recorded by Blondie for the Rock and Rule animated film, was the fourth single released from the album in June 1990 to coincide with a UK tour (her second in six months). "Kiss It Better" was also a Top 15 Modern Rock single in the U.S.
From 1989 to 1991, Debbie Harry toured extensively across the world with former (and ongoing) Blondie guitarist Chris Stein, Underworld's Karl Hyde, and future Blondie bassist Leigh Foxx. In July 1991, she played Wembley Stadium with INXS, (I remember the Wembley concert well, she was the main reason I went along and after Chris Stein played what appeared to be an improvised guitar solo introduction Debbie came on stage with whip in hand and delivered a 'rather dominant' set).
Whilst in Melbourne for the 1990 gig she was interviewed by local TV and after the interview piece part of her show was shown live in the TV feature. (see YouTube clip below).
Source: FM Broadcast.
Sound Quality: Very good stereo MP3 @320kbps.
Genre: New wave, pop, rock, punk rock, disco.
Set: Full set.
Set List:
01 - Dreaming (3:44)
02 - Rapture (6:38)
03 - I Want That Man (3:33)
04 - The Tide Is High (3:43)
05 - Heart of Glass (4:24)
06 - Sweet & Low (4:56)
07 - Kiss It Better (4:05)
08 - Call Me (3:40)
09 - Brite Side (4:29)
10 - Hanging On The Telephone (2:33)
11 - French Kissing in the USA (4:29)
Links: Official Blondie HERE, very good Deborah Harry fan site HERE.
Background: When you think of finely tuned guitar-pop, Stockport, UK is not what necessarily comes to mind as a breeding ground for the next big thing. Indie rockers The Kill Van Kulls - now Manchester-based - have only been together for six months and have already garnered attention from the likes of XFM and BBC. While finding inspiration in a disused mill and working through the night to sharpen their upbeat four to the floor, kick heavy pop songs, The Kill Van Kulls plan to release their first single “Fools Wish” via the band’s own label on February 28th.
In the grand tradition of Echo & The Bunnymen, what started out as a three piece plus a drum machine, has evolved into a more robust and lush sounding quartet that’s reminiscent of The Doves, The Cure, Simple Minds and pretty much any John Hughes film soundtrack. More recent artists with the same flair for indie pop and new wave rock that come to mind include Twin Shadow, Brahms, Amazing Baby, and Neon Indian.
Their lead single “Fools Wish” is a lean chunk from the new wave era with driving electro pop and enough sound and texture to envelop venues of all sizes. To complement the “Fools Wish” single, the band has recently released a new music video for their exclusive track “Wooden Heart” which features 70’s surf footage that rightfully fits their Dick Dale trebly guitar tones and washy surreal reverb drenched vocals by front man Gareth Bartlett.
To date, the band has kept live appearances to a minimum. Nevertheless, The Kill Van Kulls have already managed to perform at the In The City music conference, and shared the stage with The Naked and Famous at the Borderline in London and with Mona at the Night and Day in Manchester. XFM recently featured the Kill Van Kulls in their 21 Tips for 2011 poll and they were interviewed on Chris Moyles’ show early this year as part of BBC Introducing. Consider this a warning North America. Stay on your toes with ears wide open, as The Kill Van Kulls plan to make a trip across the Pond, poised to spread their infectious tunes to US and Canadian audiences alike.
2011Candy Says: A memorable band name that will quite possibly become a well known band name in the coming months, we here in the UK have a few musical 'exports' up our sleeves for 2011, this band are one of them. Listen:Fools Wish. Web:MySpace.
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Background: The Saw Doctors are known in Ireland for ridiculously catchy songs and for rocking the road week after week from Galway to Melbourne and, come March 2011, from New York to Las Vegas. They’ve hopped up countless crowds, including at two inaugurations of Maryland governor Martin O’Malley, with upbeat anthems to everyday people.
A fun-loving reputation precedes the band thanks to their zany hit “I Useta Lover” or the recent sneak Irish radio chart-topper, “Red Cortina A Cappella.” But it belies a more reflective side with deep roots, a side sometimes forgotten even by the group’s biggest fans.
“That one-sided perception of the band haunts us, even in our hometown here in Western Ireland,” chuckles Saw Doctors singer and guitarist Leo Moran. “A few months ago, in a pub here, I sang one of my favorite songs, 'Same Oul Town', the title track of our third album. It's about a small town in winter, where everyone knows everyone else's business. Another local singer, who has known us forever, came up and told me, 'That's a lovely song; you should record that!'"
Bittersweet portraits of everyday people and the landscape that surrounds them are what the band does best. The Saw Doctors have a Springsteen-like ability to get at the poignant perspectives of ordinary folks: the lovesick pub regular, the guys on the corner, the wise old woman who greeted all comers with a slice of bread and butter.
This ability flows from the roving group’s strong ties to Tuam and to the lives and stories of the people in it. It’s a town of wits and eccentrics, folks like cartoon artist Squigley McHugh, who humorously sketched the Saw Doctors as superheroes for their stage backdrop. Tuam is known for its gregarious, sometimes overly curious conversationalists. It’s a place where people still pop down to the pub in the afternoon, looking for a pint and a good gossip.
2011Candy Says: Always partial to a listen to the Saw Doctors and The Further Adventures is a fine reminder that beyond their excellent live performances they have laid down some excellent studio material down the years. Listen:Takin The Train. Web:Official.
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Background: OK we are a little late with this one but another band recently contacted us and said the following - Hey, we The Bynars, are a synth-pop band from Boston and are releasing the first single from our debut album on Valentine's Day. If you're not familiar with us yet, please check out the links below. This first song is called "How Does It Feel to Be in Love?" and it'll be available for FREE/name-your-price via our bandcamp site - here is a link for public download, though it won't be active until Feb 14 (it's now of course active HERE ). A really fun, interactive music video for this song will be revealed shortly after the single is released. There will be a 2nd single in March, and the full (self-titled) album will be released in April. Shows/tour coming soon.
2011Candy Says: We have a nice upbeat indie pop song here, that reminds us that Spring is on the way in our part of the world. Looking forward to the album on the strength of this fine song. Listen: How Does It Feel To Be In Love. Web: Official.
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Background: The Carps began their career in Scarborough, Toronto, in 2005. In addition to touring Europe and North America, The Carps have played with The Cool Kids, MIA, Holy F++k, The Hives and Lupe Fiasco among others. Singer Jahmal Tonge is featured on the Mstrkrft album Fist Of God. The Carps have released two EPs to critical acclaim, and have been applauded for their ability to weave genres of all types into a seamless and cohesive sound. In March 2007, The Young & Passionate Days of Carpedia Vol 2.1 was released under Urbnet Records (D-Sisive, Kae Sun, Miles Jones). This was followed by the release of Waves & Shambles in April 2008, containing the featured track “Veronica Belmont” which was named after a well-known San Francisco-based tech journalist. The Carps are currently working on their debut full-length album at DFA studios in New York.
"It's been a long time since we released music. With Neil in Oxford doing his PhD, and me playing drums for MSTRKRFT and Thunderheist, it felt like we'd never get around to that foreboding full length. But here we are. Releasing the entire album as a collection of singles. Two songs a month for 6 months. The first, Bo Jackson/Kelly Gruber are named as such after two amazing athletes who nearly made it, were close to being champs before their careers were ended by injury. I feel like that's what happened to The Carps. We almost made a living off music for a second. This is our swan song, our knee surgery, our post Cadillac-golf club tabloid moment. These songs, some of them four to five years old are likely the most honest songs we've ever recorded. And whatever the outcome, we're just happy to be The Carps." - Jahmal
2011Candy Says: The featured song really surprised me with the mix of synth and a driving rhythm. The vocals are a treat and the whole thing left me wanting more. Listen: Bo Jackson. Web:Urbnet.
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Background: Hailing from Brighton, Ice Black Birds are a music-lovers band. Gaining fans not by hype, or by big label force behind them, but by doing what they do best. Making music. Playing music.
Forthcoming third single ‘22:22’ is, in short, a tune. However, Ice Black Birds’ talents lie not just in catchy hooks and danceable beats (though they have both in spades) but in the dirty guttural guitar riffs and screamed bluesy vocals. It’s reminiscent of early Kings of Leon when the music was raw, fresh and dripping with soul. It’s a flashback also to The Yardbirds or The Stones, a blend of vintage 1960’s blues-rock where fine musicianship and unhinged energy and emotion came together. It’s music that audibly swaggers with untouchable confidence and gusto. For Ice Black Birds, as it was for the likes of The Stones, the swagger is not just on record, but a snaring visible beast live. Ice Black Birds’ charismatic front-man Sam Denniston regularly jumps into the crowd as if that space were an extension of the stage he owns, microphone gripped passionately in hand and a attitude and strut akin to a young Jagger - yet made wholly his own simultaneously.
Their self released debut ‘Ear to the Ground’ and its follow-up, ‘As Birds We’d Be Fine’ (a 7” on London label Laissez Faire Club Records) – saw the band’s videos spread across the web, with Ice Black Birds being hailed as the new ‘purveyors of indie-dance-blues’ and Hugh Stevens of Radio 1 cementing the fact Ice Black Birds were something special indeed by declaring their music "A bright, startling and unusual sound”
‘22:22’ is out on 21st March - a release date intentionally picked; as it marks the bands return from their first SXSW showcase. ‘22:22’ is b/w the track ‘S.S.W’, a jangly, soul laden break-up track that wouldn’t be amiss on the a-side.
2011Candy Says: Not that far along the south coast of the UK from the Beehives secret hideaway is Brighton, which down the years has thrown up some fine bands and artists. This is no nonsense rock that delivers - enjoy! Listen:22-22. Web:MySpace.
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Background: Evocative folk/pop chanteuse Jill Goldberg is set to release her sophomore release, Girl, Polite in April 2011. Produced by Mark Turrigiano (Ingrid Michaelson, Lissy Trullie), the 6-track EP is a musical exploration of identity, transition, and empowerment, drawing inspiration from personal experience and the world around her. Armed with a sound that reflects Sheryl Crow’s pop/rock sensibility, Sara Barielles’ vocal prowess, Basia Bulat’s poignant poetry, and Sarah McLachlan’s graceful delivery, Girl, Polite provides a solid testament to Jill’s burgeoning musicianship and undeniable spirit. Featured tracks include the driving lead single “Not Worth It” and the candidly cathartic title-track.
Over the course of her career, Jill’s music has been featured prominently on the Martha Stewart Show and Ralph Lauren’s Big Pony Collection campaign. Additionally, she is the founder of her own Louar Music, a licensing firm that allows indie musicians to obtain song placement in high-profile television, film, and advertising projects. With her assistance, Jill’s clients have secured synchronization licenses with leading media outlets including MTV, PBS, and Bunim Murray Productions.
In support of Girl Polite, Jill is currently booking tour dates for select performances along the East Coast. Stay tuned for more announcements regarding additional dates.
Jill Goldberg Tour Dates:
March 25 – Cape May, NJ @ Singer-Songwriter Showcase
April 8 – Arlington, VA @ The Apple Store
April 9 – Bryn Mawr, PA @ Milkboy Coffee
April 15 – Boston, MA @ The Apple Store
2011Candy Says:I think we should hear more about Jill as the year progresses, just checkout this song and the above name checks begin to make real sense. Listen: Not Worth It. Web:Official.
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Background: Two worlds collided, chaos ensued, new life was formed. When the dust settled there appeared, The Morning Birds, a hybrid of sonic and spiritual understandings expressed through music, art, and moving images. While forming an uncanny mixture of sounds that embrace unlikely sources, the band’s sound is both familiar and mysterious, groovy yet mellow, profound but fun. It is often times ground breaking. Their powerful bass lines, lush harmonies and soulful strings are complimented by break beats, trumpets, and cascading keys while Jennifer Thorington and Samuel Markus’ vocals unfold into a gentle blend as if Imogen Heap met Andre 3000.
With a fervent love for life and its ever-benevolent grind, The Morning Birds have taken a hold of their career and are ready to take flight and leave the nest. Although music sometimes feels like a small piece of the massive puzzle we call life, The Morning Birds comprehend the greater substance and weight it carries.
The band’s coalescence of meshing voices within the caverns of their music is where both female and male vocals come together for moments where they soar over everything else. As Markus states, “Our goal is to inspire others to find their own creative voices and pursue their dreams with childlike abandon.”
2011Candy Says: This is a little gentler and the soft harmonies really stand out above the rhythmic drumming that seemingly ensures the pace is kept up before we softly drift away to something quite beautiful. Listen:Hearts Desire. Web:Official.
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Background: Quoting from Houses on Lefse records site - “I got laid off from my job at the end of last year and decided I needed a change. My girlfriend put in her two weeks and we moved out to a little cabin in Papaikou, Hawaii. It’s a pretty remote place outside of Hilo (i.e no plumbing/electricity/gas).
We worked for meals during the day cultivating indigenous micro-organisms and learning the basics of sustainable living. We drank showered and cooked with rain water. It was a beautifully simple experience. In our downtime, she would paint and I would record. We’d have to light candles in an effort to save solar power to keep my computer running. We inspired each other a lot out there, and I think it shows on the album. She sings on a lot of the tracks on All Night. The music comes from a place of love and ease. The video for Endless Spring was shot there in our spare time, and the music was sketched out loosely over the course of a few months. We just kind of melted into one person. We were able to keep our heads above water for a few months before we both went broke and moved back to Chicago in April. I put together all the arrangements and field recordings over the next few weeks, and that became All Night. ”
2011Candy Says: An interesting story above that thankfully lead to some great music. Atmospheric and dreamy, 'soak it up' is an excellent taster for 'All Night'. Listen:Soak It Up. Web: Lefse Records.
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Background: Moshi Moshi Records and Liverpool's Hot Club de Paris are proud to announce the release of Free The Pterodactyl 3, twelve tracks of "Lean, mean pop perfection," (Drowned In Sound) The group's North American debut was made available digitally January 18th and features tracks taken from their two widely celebrated previously released 10" EPs With Days Like This As Cheap As Chewing Gum, Why Would Anyone Want To Work?, and The Rise and Inevitable Fall of the High School Suicide Cluster Band.
The combination of releases is somewhat fitting for a band described by the NME as sounding like "3 bands playing at once. Fortunately all of those bands are f++king awesome," Those 3 bands could easily be XTC, Don Caballero and The Minutemen, all playing in perfect harmony. They among other groups are influences upon the trio Hot Club de Paris, composed of Paul Rafferty (vocals/bass/baritone), Matthew Smith guitar/vocals) and Alasdair Smith (drums/vocals).
Self recorded and produced in their Liverpool rehearsal space with frenetic abandon, the three seamlessly combine what has been described as "Spiky scouse pop songs, hollerin' sea shanty vox, baroque post-rock guitar twiddling and abstruse lyrical conceits." (MOJO) "Bizarre bedfellows that turn out to be uncannily compatible."
Already fairly well accomplished in the UK and Europe, they relish the opportunity to bring their craft to audiences in the United States.
2011Candy Says: Hot Club De Paris up the energy levels, and demand you listen up. Just when you thought guitar rock was on the wane this band snaps you back to the reality that said music has a long way to go. Listen:I'm Not In Love Neither Are You. Web:Official.
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Background: Record label Kind Turkey Records contacted us about Trent Fox and The Tenants.
We quote - I wanted to write you about the new 7" I put out on my label by Milwaukee's Trent Fox and the Tenants. It's 5 tracks of garage/pop/rock n roll with swagger. Release date is February 22nd. We're having 4 release shows in Wisconsin over a 3 day period (Madison, Milwaukee, Appleton, and Green Bay).
This is the debut 7" from this Milwaukee band known for running the venerable basement space, The Vault, where touring bands are always sure to stop. They've played a multitude of shows around the Midwest and are planning a tour this summer. Most notably they've played with Nobunny, Holly Golightly, Jaill, Wheels on Fire, Mondo Topless, Lover!, Thomas Function and plenty more!
I'd say I'd recommend it for fans of the Black Lips, Nobunny, Wheels on Fire and the Smith Westerns First LP. It was recorded in Milwaukee by Josh White and mastered by Justin Perkins.
2011Candy Says: Garage rock with a twist of punk and a little bit of rockabilly thrown in and you have this upbeat song that demands you dance along. Listen:Mess Around. Web:MySpace.
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Background: Channeling Fleetwood Mac’s musical stylings with a hint of late-era Beatles, Family of the Year braid catchy melodies, stellar male/female vocals and personal folk tales to create some of the happiest and saddest music you’ve ever heard. The band’s classic musical style has been integrated with a modern fan base that the band continues to create and release new music for.
Like most American families, FOTY come from all over. Brothers Joe and Sebastian Keefe grew up in Wales before staking their claim as locals on the rustic country island Martha’s Vineyard. Christina Schroeter is a misfit of Orange County, CA while across the country southern gentleman James Buckey grew up in Jacksonville, FL.
Musical veterans Joe, Seb and James enjoyed local Boston success in their raw rock ensemble Unbusted. The Keefe brothers switched gears when they created the up-tempo indie-pop band The Billionaires, while James pursued a career in sound engineering. Christina, who spent five years of her childhood trying to weasel out of piano lessons, recently resigned from an entertainment PR firm, where she often rushed clients down red carpets before heading to band practice.
They spent last summer on tour with Edward Sharpe, and the band are currently in Europe where they have a number one radio hit in France. They played a few sold out shows in London a couple of weeks ago and performed on BBC Radio 6. They're finishing up a new album currently.
2011Candy Says: Pop songs can be brilliant, timeless and totally catchy still. Just listen to 'stupidland' - I rest my case. Listen:Stupidland. Web:Official.
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Background: For Greg Susoreny, it's been a long time coming. His debut as a songwriter and recording artist is the fulfillment of a genuine passion carried in his heart over several years. While his arrival in music comes after starting several businesses in other industries, he is not ending something; he's just getting started. With the sharp contemplation and adult contemporary/country sound that defines his music, time spent listening to Greg feels like talking over beers with Kenny Chesney and Don Henley. All insight, and no hangover.
Born in Northwest Indiana and raised in Dallas, Texas, Susoreny is the epitome of a good American man. Like good American men do, after graduating from college, he went to work, but not in music. With his business degree from Indiana University School of Business, Susoreny founded a technical staffing company in Dallas, owned a general contracting company in Miami Beach, and owned a small cafe in Las Colinas, Texas. A true entrepreneur, Greg has an impeccable eye for opportunity. As he watched musicians play at his cafe, he recognized his opportunity to pursue his passion for music, and his dream to start his own record label. It wasn't long after he started working on his songwriting that he founded Truth Records. He signed his first artist in 2001 after moving to Miami Beach, Florida.
Working with his first Truth Records artist was a good motivator for him, and as they worked on his album, Greg's desire to write and record his own music came calling. "I've always been a poet. Rhymes come easy to me, and I can clearly hear the songs in my head even though I don't play an instrument. I have an Arranger's brain and really enjoy the entire recording process." Original songs, from the heart and head, are a natural fit for Susoreny, who has always worn his heart on his sleeve and held honesty as his mantra. Being at the musical helm is also the right fit for his entrepreneurial spirit. Not only did he found Aqua Blue Records, the label on which his debut album, Ramblin Man, is released, but he directly managed every aspect of the creation, production, and release of the record.
2011Candy Says: Greg Susoreny oozes style, class and quality. Play him loud and impress your friends, great music for driving or chilling to. Listen:Ramblin Man. Web:Official.
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Background: Acclaimed LA-based 21 year-old songwriter Lelia Broussard has been selected by Rolling Stone for their “Do You Wanna Be A Rock & Roll Star” Contest.” Announced on February 14th nationwide in the USA on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Lelia is one of sixteen unsigned artists chosen by the editors of Rolling Stone. Voters can rate the bands by going to http://www.rollingstone.com/ choose the cover and eight artists will be eliminated by March 16th with only eight artists proceeding to the next round. The final round will see the last two artists compete in a battle of the bands on stage at the Bonnaroo Music Festival with the ultimate winner being the first unsigned act to ever appear on the cover of Rolling Stone and will also receive a recording contract from Atlantic Records.
Lelia who just finished an appearance at the Hotel Café in Los Angeles is supporting her fourth independently released record, Masquerade. A deluxe edition CD version with bonus tracks (as well as the original ten tracks in the November 2010 digital release) will be available on April 5th through various independent record stores and on-line retailers in the United States.
2011Candy Says: Lelia remains a firm favorite of the Beehive and we will be delighted if she does well in the Rolling Stone competition, either way hopefully a good number of people will discover her in the coming weeks, that's the least she deserves. Listen:Alone On A Train. Web:Official.
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Background: Ontario independent pop act The Elwins are a part of a vital practice of D.I.Y. pop eccentrics whose '60s swoon-worthy melodies unabashedly ignore current trends in indie music. A trio that sounds more like four or five reminds one of exactly what can be very good about rock and roll; simplicity and solid songwriting backed by some naturally talented young musicians makes The Elwins a true gem among other independent artists.
The Elwins recently returned from Seattle where they were writing and recording their debut LP to be released in spring of 2011. Produced by Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog, Man Man) and Ryan Hadlock (Stephen Malkmus, Metric, Islands, Blonde Redhead), and mixed by L. Stu Young (Prince, Sum-41), this record promises to be the fresh sound the Canadian indie music scene needs.
Matthew Sweeney’s voice, unrefined and appetizing, melds well with the quirky and memorable lyrics, at the same time leading the band with guitar riffs that stay with you long after hearing them. Travis Stokl, a pop savvy drummer, co-writes the songs with Sweeney, bringing his catchy rhythm that undoubtedly leaves toes-a-tapping. The bassist and longtime friend Feurd backs things up with a solid moustache.
The Elwins' charm and blissful attitude is a unique addition to the Canadian music scene. Their self-titled EP has sold a multitude of copies, garnering North American and European audiences to follow. Time spent with the boys can range from a peculiar conversation about dynamics and chord structures, to a spontaneous improvised performance, notably watching them switch instruments effortlessly. They've played at festivals such as Halifax Pop Explosion and Canadian Music Week. This March will bring their American debut, playing shows in New York City and Austin during SXSW. They have shared the stage with friends Toyko Police Club as well as The Coast, Maylee Todd, The Bicycles and Ruby Coast.
2011Candy Says: They put a smile on my face and a lift in my step. A little quirky and a whole lot splendid. Listen: Dear, Oh My. Web:MySpace.
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Background: “A psychedelic eruption in the factory.” That’s how Edinburgh’s new garage band on the block, FOUND describe their sound, which ranges from urgent, Wire-influenced punk to Joe Meek sci-fi pop, cheapo bossa nova and near acid house grooviness within the space of a few tracks.
"Factorycraft", their first album for Chemikal Underground, introduces us to the trio’s grubby world: rarely does a debut album have an opening statement as striking as urban love story Anti-Climb Paint. And throughout the album, the title is reflected in mechanically ticking beats, references to assembly lines and precise, brutal guitar stabs.
“[Singer] Ziggy used to work in a factory in the Borders,” say the band. 'He observed that the most exotic ideas are often FOUND lying amongst the swarf of the factory floor. We liked the idea of turning manual labour in to fine art, hence "factorycraft".'
Appropriately enough, the album was recorded in one productive week on an industrial estate in Glasgow, at Chemikal Underground’s own Chem 19 studio. While they were working on it, they were also busily building a sound installation called Cybraphon based on a 19th century orchestrion – a project that later won them a BAFTA. Because aside from being a band, FOUND are also hugely creative art collective.
First meeting at art school in Aberdeen, Ziggy Campbell, Kev Sim and Tommy Perman first began collaborating as an art group, The FOUND Collective, who played improvised music at their exhibition openings, “to avoid talking to people.” When they started being booked for gigs proper, the name stuck.
FOUND are giving away a free track every Friday until the album’s release. That's a lot of Fridays so it's a lot of free music. They’re giving away remixes they've done for other people, remixes other artists have done for them, choice selections from their back catalogue and unheard gems.
2011Candy Says: We finish with a band that reminds us that 'north of the border' in Scotland, there is no shortage of musical talent. Found are coming - you have been warned. Listen:You're No Vincent Gallo. Web:Official.
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This is Brinsley Schwarz in concert back on the 19th June 1974 at the former Top Rank venue in Cardiff, Wales (UK). This is a superb recording and demonstrates what a first class live act the band truly were.
Nick Lowe (bass, vocals) and Brinsley Schwarz (guitar, vocals) originally met at Woodbridge School where they played in school bands with Barry Landerman (keyboards, vocals) and Phil Hall (guitar). In 1964, whilst still at school, they toured RAF bases in Germany as "Sounds 4+1". On leaving school, Schwarz formed "Three's A Crowd" with Pete Whale (drums) and Dave Cottam (bass). Landerman joined in 1967 and they renamed themselves "Kippington Lodge". Their first two singles, produced by Mark Wirtz, in a close-harmony pop style, both flopped. Cottam left, and Schwarz invited Nick Lowe to join. Landerman then left to join Vanity Fare, Bob Andrews joined on keyboards, and finally, Whale was replaced by Billy Rankin on drums. Although the next three singles also failed, they had a residency as support band at The Marquee. The band's style was changing from pop into "a folk-rock band with psychedelic pretensions". In 1969 they renamed the band after their guitarist, and performed their new music under this name, whilst continuing to play pop as Kippington Lodge.
Later in 1970, Brinsley Schwarz released their second album, Despite It All, which had a definite country sound to it. They were heavily influenced by Eggs over Easy, who they first saw perform at 'The Tally Ho' in Kentish Town, and admired their laid-back style and extensive repertoire. In 1971, guitarist Ian Gomm joined the band, and they recorded their third album Silver Pistol. In response to "the hype", they became anti-commercial and spent much of 1971 rehearsing, although they toured on the Downhome Rhythm Kings package with Help Yourself & Ernie Graham (ex Eire Apparent), who were all managed by Dave Robinson. This led to them backing Ernie Graham on his eponymous solo album.
Brinsley Schwarz played at the second Glastonbury Festival (1971), and one track, "Love Song", appeared on the subsequent Glastonbury Fayre album. Their solid live performances soon garnered the band a large fan base in London, and, along with bands like Eggs over Easy, Brinsley Schwarz were soon dubbed "pub rock" by rock journalists. They sounded rather like The Band, with Schwarz's guitar work influenced greatly by Robbie Robertson's. In February 1972 they supported Hawkwind and Man at the Greasy Truckers Party, which was issued as a double album, and brought critical acclaim. Unfortunately, for a band known for its live performances, this was their only live album.
1972's ironic take on country-rock, Nervous on the Road, also received excellent reviews. It did not reach the charts, but earned them a UK tour, opening for Paul McCartney's Wings. The same year, they also acted as Frankie Miller's band for his debut album Once in a Blue Moon. Their fifth studio album Please Don't Ever Change, issued in 1973, was less well received by the critics, and achieved poor sales. In 1974 they arranged for Dave Edmunds to produce their sixth album The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz which was more polished, and again received good reviews. This association also led to their touring as Dave Edmunds' backing band, appearing on the live tracks of his Subtle as a Flying Mallet album. In addition to the albums, Brinsley Schwarz also issued a series of singles under their own name, and various pseudonyms, such as "The Hitters", "The Knees", "Limelight" and "The Brinsleys" but these all failed. They finally disbanded in 1975.
Source: Soundboard.
Sound Quality: Very good MP3 @192kbps.
Genre: Rock, pub rock, country rock.
Set: Full set.
Set List:
01. Intro & Country Girl
02. Hooked On Love
03. Trying To Live My Life Without You
04. Small Town Big
05. Honky Tonk/High Class Joint
06. Peace, Love And Understanding
07. It's Been So Long
08. Private Number
09. Happy Doing What We're Doing
10. Surrender To The Rhythm
11. You're So Fine
12. Do That Thing (Hip City)
13. Juju Man
Background:Kopecky Family Band released a limited edition, hand-assembled split 7” vinyl with friends, and Seattle locals Ivan and Alyosha on February 4th 2011. Animal and I Was Born to Love Her feature on the two-track release.
Both bands have long been vinyl enthusiasts and thought it the ideal time to offer their friends and fans a limited edition piece of music to not only listen to, but to keep as a creative addition to their music collection. The artwork was designed in-house by Kelsey Kopecky, and the vinyl was lovingly packed and assembled at Kopecky Headquarters.
Kopecky Family Band is readying themselves for a busy 2011 after achieving much in 2010. The band kicked off the year at SXSW in Austin, wowed locals and industry execs at Next Big Nashville, and floored the likes of Bob Boilen at CMJ in New York. A solid work ethic and collaborative approach to songwriting resulted in two EP releases in the second half of the year - The Disaster and (Of Epic Proportions), plus well received ‘seasonal’ tracks for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The band is now back in the recording studio and plans to release a brand new EP in April off the back of another stint at SXSW 2011.
2011Candy Says: Listening to The Disaster and featuring the first song from said EP, I am personally delighted to have been introduced to the Kopecky Family Band, superb harmonies that remind me of the Arcade Fire, with a definitive and different musical style, highly recommended. Listen:God and Me. Web: Official.
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Background: Inspired by italo, electro and the 80s new wave movement, Teeel aka Jim Smith credits his sound to marathon movie watching and being an obsessive gear head. Crammed in a 10x10 teal painted room, stacked with synthesizers and walls covered with vintage Moog ads, Jim creates music that is perhaps best described as hypnotic soft-vocal, synthpop.
2011Candy Says: There is a richness to Teeel that reminds me of another band covered later in this edition (OMD) however the vocals here are far softer and dreamy, the layers are built in a considered manner and the result is wonderful synth pop. Listen:Triangle Waves. Web:Moodgadget.
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Background:Helen Brown was born in Vancouver, Canada, but raised in an Athens, Georgia-based religious cult, and was blinded in one eye from a childhood baseball injury. As an adult, she dropped out of Evergreen and traveled the country for a while as a nomadic psychedelic folksinger, before forming her first band One Eyed Tramps. For years, she lived alone in a mountaintop in southern Alaska, where she befriended a Cherokee Shaman (later revealed as a fake) who encouraged her to pursue a frustrating academic career. Rampant drug use, frequent fainting on stage, and occasional self-inflicted knife wounds on stage led to more interest in her stage antics than her music. However, a few sides did emerge in the late ’90s (recording dates unknown), which feature a unique mix of country, girl group, RandB, and ghoulishness. Crude and amateurish at best, these recordings are appreciated for their sincerity and intensity of feeling.
Earth Girl Helen Brown comes to us from Sonny Smith's (Sonny and the Sunsets) uber-ambitious 100 Records project. The band now consists of Smith himself, as well as Heidi Alexander and Grace Cooper of the Sandwitches. The Story of an Earth Girl EP (out March 1st) is available for pre-order now via Forest Family Records.
2011Candy Says: This is an incredible song that reminds me of both the 1960's and has a groove that is timeless. Wonderful. Listen:Hit After Hit. Web:FF Records.
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Background: Vladimir Valette - the singing and the writing, Benedetto Socci - the knob-twiddling.
Electronic pop duo The Mystic Underground have released their latest single entitled Pride Of St. Mark's. The song, produced by Super Buddha (Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Franz Ferdinand), is a three and half minute tip of the hat to the rich punk and dance music scenes of New York's recent past and how that influence still resonates to this day.
Just recently featured on Tom Robinson's Fresh On The Net show (BBC 6 Music), the song is a prime example of what The Mystic Underground are about. Tales of life and love. Woe and elation. Rhythmic pulses serving as the backdrop to the human experience. In short, life...set to a dance beat. The single is available now on I-Tunes and Amazon.
2011Candy Says: No shortage of electro pop this time around and The Mystic Underground have a punchy vocal lead in Vladimir Valette that suits the tempo and rhythm perfectly, I am hearing the Human League at times but in a positive manner. Listen:Pride Of St Mark. Web:Official.
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Background: With the release of his debut EP Sidewalk Friend, 2010 has proven to be an exciting year for Toronto singer/songwriter Nick Teehan. A natural singer with a clear, lazy baritone - equal parts Tom Waits and Frank Sinatra - Nick Teehan is a unique voice, his songs fresh, energetic and unpredictable; his lyrics imaginative, irreverent and arrestingly insightful.
Growing up in suburban Oshawa (the Canadian equivalent of suburban Detroit) Nick felt most free after dark, whether he was watching rented Charleton Heston movies, wandering the city’s forest paths, or trekking south to yell and throw rocks at the 4:00 a.m. train. His teenage afternoons were spent pushing carts at the local grocery store and cruising his rusty old bike across town on the sidewalk.
Moving to Toronto to study jazz saxophone, Nick found himself drawn not to the city’s glittering lights but to its in-between places: abandoned factories, parks, boarded-up churches, rusting bridges. Nick cites the loneliness and solitude of post-industrial Ontario as one of his biggest sources of inspiration; other inspiration comes from legendary songwriters like Rufus Wainwright, Leonard Cohen, and Irving Berlin. When filtered through Nick’s unconventional imagination, the results are vivid dream-images: benevolent robots in a post-apocalyptic world; love-starved raccoons; an undead orchestra marching down Queen Street.
Nick has found some success as a saxophonist - playing the MuchMusic Video Awards, Ottawa Jazz Festival, Summerfolk Festival, and performing with Toronto funk/rock bands Barbarella and Pure Finesse - but songwriting is his true calling, where he relishes the freedom to explore. He’s supported by a talented six-piece band that includes his older brother Rob Teehan, also a Juno-nominated composer; the pair enjoy a fruitful collaborative relationship and plan to co-produce Nick’s first full-length album, expected in 2011.
2011Candy Says: This song has a beautiful mix of instruments none of which dominate and all of which compliment each other, Nick's vocals are sublime and the whole tempo just makes me want to hear more and more from this guy and the band. Listen: Sidewalk Friend. Web: MySpace.
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Background: From our friends at Paper Garden Records - There's something about Danish bands that we just can't get enough of these days. The latest to hit our bloodstream, standing side by side with fellow Danish bands Mew, Oh Land, Oh No Ono and Efterklang as well as Paper Garden & The Lovely Hearts Club's Frederick Teige, Dad Rocks! and Alcoholic Faith Mission, comes Anchorless.
Reminiscent of bands like American Football and early Appleseed Cast, Anchorless' self-titled EP is a delightful listen which borders on the edge of several genres. The Lovely Hearts Club is particularly fond of 'A Step Too Steep', which features a 90's-era pop sound like you would find from Harvey Danger or Deep Blue Something...but SO much better! This gem was discovered last April through the same label/management as Alcoholic Faith Mission and are thrilled to finally help bring it to the surface for all to hear.
2011Candy Says: Denmark, Sweden - there is something that's been going on in Scandinavia since the start of this century musically, that should have seen them take over the whole world by now ! Latest case study Anchorless, fast, punchy, confident and another example that they have something special in the water over there. Listen: A Step To Steep. Web:MySpace.
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Background: After a decade plus hiatus from the music business, jazz vocalist Erin Dickins is back with a new album and a new attitude. A founding member of the original jazz vocal group Manhattan Transfer, Dickins’ latest CD Nice Girls is a collection of beautifully recorded, exquisitely performed and brilliantly chosen gems - from cool sultry ballads to swinging arrangements. The release is the perfect soundtrack to Erin Dickins’ comeback.
Though she began recording Nice Girls in 2009, one could say that the opus has been in the making for the better part of the last two decades.
Having recorded with a virtual who’s who of musical geniuses— from James Brown and James Taylor to Leonard Cohen and Talking Heads—Erin Dickins quit the music business cold turkey. “I had not found my authentic voice as an artist, and it was time. I moved to Honolulu, as far away from New York as I could get,” she says. “It was there that I finally learned that what matters is the gift of music I have been given, and my willingness to share that gift.”
The highly accomplished singer/performer was lured back into making music after producing a show for Habitat for Humanity, a favored charitable organization. Working with 200 amateur performers on the show sparked Dickins’ creative juices for the first time in a long time.
Soon thereafter, Erin Dickins was invited to perform again and the ball began rolling from there. “It was meant to be. Everyone and everything I needed—musicians, writers, producers, songs and support team—all arrived, as if on cue. I couldn’t have stopped this if I wanted to.” Erin Dickins will be performing several spot dates throughout the U.S in 2011.
Thankfully for fans of good music, Dickins’ return to jazz will not be short lived. She is currently in the early stages of writing and pre-production for the follow-up to Nice Girls with Frederick. And the pair is even tinkering with the idea of a live album.
2011Candy Says: I started listening to Erin without realising just who I was hearing. To say that she has class, would simply be an exercise in stating the bl##ding obvious! Wonderful music from one of the best, would you expect anything less? Listen: Nice Girls Don't Stay. Web: Official.
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Background: Some quotes - "I lost track of Carey Ott after his Dualtone release Lucid Dream. That was one of the great lost albums of the decade in my opinion and it's nice to see he's still out there making music. " - No Depression
" He is the kind of talent that bridges generations, smashes genre walls and can make you effortlessly grove and endlessly dream at the same time. He's a kid in a sandbox, a man making grand designs--and the kind of artist whose gifts are seen rarely in any given generation. " - Chicago Tribune
" Windy City rocker reborn as Music City marvel.perceptive lyrics, supple and persuasive vocals, and melodies that cling like superglue." - Uncut Magazine
" His sweet vignettes ooze an epic-indieness, like a Rufus Wainwright or Teddy Thompson." - Maverick Magazine
"A moody melodicism that will appeal to Anglophiles who gravitate toward polished Britrock. The kind of pop that can appeal to both collegiate types and their moms----a la Coldplay." - The Tennessean
"A voice that conjures up an instant intimacy with incredible pop sensibilities." - eMusic.com
"As a melodicist, Chicago singer/songwriter Carey Ott is in the Neil Finn school of low-key classicism." - All Music Guide.
2011Candy Says: Sometimes it is far easier just to quote others hence the above examples. If you enjoy the featured track it just keeps getting better the further you dig so check this man out. Listen:Ain't No Upside.Web: Official.
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Background: Deborah Crooks is a seeker. The San Francisco Bay Area-born and bred singer/songwriter grew up at the nexus of two tectonic plates; close to a city known for its history of social, musical and political upheaval. These underlying conduits of tension seem bred into those from The Bay Area, but few more so than Crooks. As a performer Crooks wasn’t born until her twenties, even though she remembers writing songs as a young child. Something in those early ditties spoke to Crooks’ sense of Becoming, illuminating a self that was yet to be. These days Crooks is a vibrant artist carrying on the San Francisco tradition of powerful female singer/songwriters with literate lyrics and progressive musical attitudes; well respected within the music scene and increasingly so outside of it.
The lid came off of Crooks’ creative self during her studies at Colorado’s The Naropa Institute. The ecumenical Buddhist-based educational philosophy of the school inspired Crooks to take up Buddhist practice, begin studying yoga and to see her creative side as a spiritual outlet. Around the same time Crooks experienced the Telluride Folk Festival, and was inspired to walk in the footsteps of artists such as Michelle Shocked and Shawn Colvin. Little did Crooks know that she was embarking on a new life path. If yoga became the rock upon which Crooks life was built, music became the lifeblood.
The various tensions that swirl about the life of Deborah Crooks have catalyzed a songwriting talent that is soul-wise and edgy. Combine this with Crooks’ distinctive voice and you’ve discovered an artist capable of owning a room. Deborah Crooks doesn’t so much blow you away as she creeps into the questing places in your soul and insinuates herself as the reflective voice that sheds wisdom on a worrisome world. It’s this quality that first gained Crooks the attention of RockerGirl Magazine for her 2003 debut EP 5 Acres. The Roberta Donnay-produced EP landed Crooks on the RockerGirl Discoveries compilation and gained Crooks a national audience for the first time. In 2007 Crooks followed up with an EP entitled Turn It All Red, a stepping stone to her first full-length album Adding Water To Ashes, released in 2009. 2010 has seen the release of two EPs from the prolific singer/songwriter. It’s All Up To You was made possible by a Bay Bridged Grant and shows Crooks’ social conscience in full force, while Other Halves displays some of Crooks’ most focused songwriting to date alongside a stunning cover of Neil Young’s “Heart Of Gold”.
2011Candy Says: That alt country feel that I am a sucker for exudes through the featured song and is a great shop window on Deborah Crooks. If you like the song insist on hearing more and don't be surprised by the diversity of styles you will hear. Listen:Lets Move. Web:Official.
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Background:Sunbeam is the brainchild of music producer Brian Hall. After several previous (and relatively fruitless) efforts in more “serious” projects, Hall decided to change things up and start a new band with his wife, Amy. Band mates were found in close friends, and serendipitously, the band had an immediate chemistry.
A 6-piece baroque pop band from Portland, Oregon, Sunbeam channels diverse influences such as Cat Stevens, Nick Drake, and The Zombies. The typical sentiment in modern folk music might be one of melancholy and withdrawal, but Sunbeam aims to in addition evoke everything from the romanticism of David Bowie and the childlike wonder of a Shirley Temple film. Sunbeam is both refreshing and distinct for they are neither gimmick nor novelty but a genuine attempt to musically move past the dredges of indifference and express the experience of life to the fullest. Founded in 2010, in the band's relatively short existence, they've already played to a packed house at Portland's Crystal Ballroom and are looking toward an ambitious tour this Summer.
Sunbeam’s debut album, Sunbeam and the Lovely Ghost, is slated for release early this Summer (2011).
2011Candy Says: This is the sort of song and the sort of band I want to hear on the first sunny spring day of the year. Cheer yourself up naturally with Sunbeam, you can even unwind to them, now that's special. Listen:Bulldogs. Web: Official.
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Background:Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, one of the UK’s most iconic bands, are back with their first new album in 14 years. The appropriately entitled ‘History Of Modern’ via Bright Antenna Records through Warner Music Group’s Independent Label Group, has already sold over 100,000 copies. And what a return!
Andy McCluskey has called it ‘our best album since Architecture and Morality’ – and few would disagree. The album was produced by OMD and mixed by one of the UK’s most in demand producers Mike Crossey (Artic Monkeys/Blood Red Shoes/Razorlight).
Last autumn the classic OMD line up of Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Martin Cooper (keyboards) and Malcolm Holmes (drums) embarked on their sold-out 'History of Modern' European tour. The press raved. The Times praised their “well-crafted song structures, lush arrangements and energetic stage performance” while Q Magazine declared them 'soaring synth-pop of the highest order'.
The tour is now officially heading stateside this March with North American stops including Boston, NY, LA, SF, Toronto and playing select shows at this year’s SXSW. It will be the group’s first US outing with the original line up since their 1988 stadium tour with Depeche Mode. After three years of critically acclaimed sold- out concerts in the UK and Europe these dates will feature the band mixing their most celebrated and classic hits; ‘Enola Gay’, ‘So In Love’ ‘If You Leave’ and ‘Souvenir’ with new songs, creating a distinctly contemporary live show.
It's nearly thirty years since OMD first harnessed their creative and commercial powers, and 2010’s comeback album 'History Of Modern' proves they still have a way with a warm melody and interesting lyric. For all their love of experimental German music, the Wirral duo remains at heart, slaves to the pop song. History of Modern is a powerful, pulsating, vibrant testament to their shared pop sensibility. Tracks such as ‘Pulse’, ‘Save Me’, ‘Sister Marie Says’ and ‘The Future’ are huge dance floor fillers while down tempo gems ‘Bondage Of Fate’, ‘If You Want It’ and ‘Sometimes’ are simply beautiful, classic OMD songs that invoke their pioneering and influential electronic roots. Many of today’s electro artists such as LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, Mark Ronson, The XX, MGMT and The Killers have repeatedly cited OMD as a massive inspiration.
March 5 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
March 6 Montreal, QC Le National
March 7 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
March 8 New York, NY Webster Hall
March 10 Washington, DC 9.30 Club
March 11 Pontiac, MA Crofoot Ballroom
March 12 Chicago, IL Park West
March 14 Atlanta, GA The Loft
March 16 Houston, TX House Of Blues
March 17 Austin, TX SXSW
March 18 Austin, TX SXSW
March 19 Austin, TX SXSW
March 20 Dallas, TX Granada Theatre
March 22 Denver, CO Bluebird Theatre
March 23 Salt Lake City, UT Depot
March 25 Los Angeles, CA The Music Box
March 26 Oakland, CA The Fox
March 27 San Diego, CA 4th and B
March 29 Los Angeles, CA The Music Box
2011Candy Says: It's OMD who are playing the USA next month! Can't write anything else I'm down in my garage digging out my original vinyl copies and getting ready to wake the neighbours up electronically! Listen:If You Want It. Web:OMD USA Tour Tickets.
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Background: Neon Hitch's got a nice buzz going on right now thanks to a series of covers she put out late last year that put her on Hype Machine's most popular charts for weeks. She's a great story. As a kid, Neon grew up on a bus, travelling the world as a trapeze artist and street performer. BBC even did a documentary on her life. At age 10, Neon began writing poetry, which led to her writing lyrics. Over the next several years, Neon found herself traveling with friends all over Europe, and living in squats in London while trying to pursue a singing career. In 2007, she signed to The Streets' Mike Skinner's indie label The Beats Recordings (a subsidiary of Atlantic's 679 Recordings) and went on tour with Skinner. She performed her first major show opening for rapper 50 Cent at England's Nottingham Arena before the label shut down in 2007. Since then, she's worked with artists ranging from Mark Ronson to Mike Snow (appearing on Blanco's remix of "Burial") and Deadmau5 (she sings on "I Can't Behave Myself" on the new album 4x4=12). She also co-wrote the iTunes No. 1 single "Blah Blah Blah" on Ke$ha's No. 1 album Animal.
Neon Hitch's debut album, Beg, Borrow, and Steal will be out on Reprise Records later this year. The album is shaping up to be a collection of striking songs that deploy Neon's soulful, jazz-inflected vocals atop an organic backdrop of eclectic pop melodies and hip-hop tinged beats.
2011Candy Says: As the old tired cliche goes, here's one to watch out for. No seriously here is someone to watch out for this year. You may not have heard of Neon Hitch first here, but if you have be sure to mention us when you hear her on the radio or see the videos. Listen: Get Over U. Web:Official.
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Background: ..The Prids are not only a really good band but they are also very nice people. They are all lucky to be alive after their van took a turn for the worse last year. They are what is good about independent music. They are getting out there and bringing a unique and worthwhile thing to their audience, this is what it's all about... ..Henry Rollins.. ..At first I thought The Prids are great cuz they rock so hard, especially Mistina's physical bass playing. Then I got into the way she and David sing together. But after a few year and records I realized that what makes them really special is that they write good songs--lyrically, melodically, rhythmically, and dynamically good songs... ..Doug Marstch- Built to Spill.. ..I remember the first time I saw the Prids. I had heard a couple of their songs and thought they were great, but was blown away by the power and intensity of their live show. I was completed enraptured by their set. They are one of the best bands I think I have ever seen and they write some of the best songs I have ever heard. They are continually on my list of shows to go to and albums to get my hands on... ..Oliver Ackerman- A Place to Bury Strangers.
2011Candy Says: More quotes above and plenty more positive comments from those in the music business for The Prids to be found if you look. Check out this song and catch them live if you can and make sure you listen to more of their music if you like this song! Listen:I'll Wait. Web:MySpace.
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Background: From Portland, Oregon, We Miss The Earth, dont give much away on the PR front. They describe themselves as influenced by the Beach Boys, Chameleons UK, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Lassie Foundation, Man...or Astro-man?, Medicine, Mighty Lemon Drops, My Bloody Valentine, OMD, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Ride, SF59, Skywave, Slowdive, The Sound, Spacemen 3, Spectrum, Spiritualized, The Swirlies, Ultra Vivid Scene, The Velvet Underground. After that you just have the music to go on...
2011Candy Says: OK so the info I have on 'We Miss The Earth' is limited, very limited, great song though and kind of finishes this round up off perfectly with their genre crossing sound that in part encompasses a number of the bands and artists in this edition of 2011Candy. Listen:Incentive.Web: MySpace.
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