Modern Rivals

               

Modern Rivals are not like other bands; their music has whirling keyboards, effortless guitar tones and vocals. The boys; Mickey, Patrick, Alex, Alex, Erick are from New York and they say “We play our songs for other people with mania and with perfect control, and those people turn to each other and say I love you for the first time” (that sounds like my kind of music). They recently released Cemetery Dares album -- a great album that I can't stop listening too. As of right now I don't see I don't see any upcoming shows in the LA area but I will be keeping a look out for any upcoming shows.

The Strypes

         

Ireland's rock 'n' roll stalwarts The Strypes return with their second EP, 4 Track Mind, available digitally on August 19^th, 2014. This makes for their first release under the new partnership between Photo Finish Records and Republic Records. The EP will feature 4 tracks previously not available in the US including "Hard to Say No", "So They Say", "Still Gonna Drive You Home", which was produced by famed musician Paul Weller and a US-exclusive cover of The Ramones' "Rockaway Beach". Supporting the EP, the band will launch a string of very special shows this August, commencing August 19^th at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. Since bursting onto the scene last spring with their debut album, Snapshot, The Strypes have gone on to light up Austin during a string of explosive gigs at the SXSW Festival, perform on both The Late Show with David Letterman and Conan in the past year, and catch the attention of Rolling Stone.

“The Strypes skidded into New York's Bowery Ballroom sounding like 'My Generation' and Five Live Yardbirds only came out yesterday and anyone muttering the words 'boy band' would be skinned alive..." 

– Rolling Stone

SHOW DATES:

8/19 Washington, DC                          9:30 Club                    

8/20 Philadelphia, PA                          Union Transfer           

8/22 Cambridge, MA                          The Sinclair                

Le Common Diamond

            

They are only two and that is something the duality that drives each of the spirits and Floran Thomas is sufficiently heavy to carry. Since they met, they create music together and begin to develop their dreams. Le Common Diamond is the project they imagined fantasy and fed their frustrations, their emotions and true. Their music is brain and heart, mixing pop, electronic minimalism and open spaces. The space-pop. The beat is cold, hot guitar, vibrating synths and vocals transcend the service of songs, as illustrated by their first 7 "and EP released in October 2011 and May 2012. Duo inspired but does not heat. At the hype consumable, Le Common Diamond "remember" but never "identifies" he cultivates its own personality that is precious to him. And it is on stage he puts it, in spring 2013, the constant yearning for escape causes the duo to go to Europe during a tour of more than 3 months. The mind and heart full of adventure, the band hit the road in the fall of 2013 for a national tour. In spring 2014, The Common Diamond asserts itself with the single After All mixed by Ash Workman (Metronomy, Francois & The Atlas Mountains ...), heralding a new EP scheduled for the fall.

Tundra

               

Brisbane four-piece Tundra have been a well-known fixture on the club scene since 2012, renowned for infectious pop hooks, original indie grooves and a dynamic on-stage chemistry which dates back to high school friendships. 

After a short break away from the limelight, recording with rising producer Konstantin Kersting (Big Scary, The Belligerents) Tundra return with ‘Tangled’, the lead single from their soon to be released EP. High energy hooks, unforgettable melodies and instantly grabbing experimentation are what provide the foundation for this next release from a band that consistently deliver.

Chromeo at Central Park Summer Stage

      

Riding high through the release of one of 2014's most anticipated albums, White Women, and a whirlwind tour across North America and Europe (including main stage performances at the likes of Coachella, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Outside Lands and more), Chromeo will close out the summer, one set to be dominated by their anthemic “Jealous (I Ain’t With It)", with a headlining performance at Central Park Summer Stage on Friday, September 12th. 

Upcoming tour dates:

Jul 17             Dour Festival                                               Dour, Belgium         

Jul 19             Melt! Festival                                              Grafenhainichen, Germany

Jul 26             Capitol Hill Block Party                               Seattle, WA  

Jul 27             Center of Gravity                                         Kelowna, Canada   

Aug 1             Osheaga                                                      Montreal, Canada   

Aug 3             Lollapalooza                                                Chicago, IL   

Aug 5             Red Rocks Amphitheatre #                          Morrison, CO           

Aug 7             Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas                           Las Vegas, NV        

Aug 8             Outside Lands                                             San Francisco, CA 

Aug 15-17     Summer Set Music & Camping Festival        Somerset, WI           

Aug 30-31     Made In America Festival                            Philadelphia, PA     

Sep 12           Central Park Summer Stage*                      New York, NY          

Oct 3-5 /10-12  Austin City Limits Music Festival             Austin, TX    

           

# with Cut Copy, Flume & Duke Dumont 

* with Big Freedia 

BL_NK SP_C_S

         

New York based one man project, BL_NK SP_C_S is set to release his debut album on the fledgling You Records label on the 2^nd of June 2014.

‘Memory Man’, recorded with producer Martin Dubka (Aeroplane / Kitsune), features ten tracks including the recent critically acclaimed and BBC 6Music, XFM and Amazing Radio endorsed download single ‘The Great Shark Hunt’. A special video single of the ‘Memory Man’ track, which was inspired by David Bowie's 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' and Maya Deren's classic  'Meshes Of The Afternoon' short, can be viewed here;

BL_NK  SP_C_S began making his own take on electronic pop music last year and records everything on tape in his bedroom based analogue studio. His synth laden melodies, krautrock guitars and pop sensibilities draw influence from Eno, Neu, Morricone and The The, but there is something truly new and exciting about his sound. Soaring and uplifting there are too may highlights to mention, but album opener ‘A Parting Gift’, ‘Sneaking Back In’,  ‘No Sleep’, ‘Start’, Heavy The Lay The Crown’ and the eponymous album title track are as diverse and catchy as any great songs you will hear this year and beyond.

Album Tracklisting:

01. A Parting Gift                     06. The Great Shark Hunt

02. Too Far Gone                    07. As Good As It Gets

03. Sneaking Back In               08. Heavy Lay The Crown

04. No Sleep                           09. Memory Man

05. Start!                                 10. Talk The Talk

Billy Fox

         

 It’s been something of an auspicious introduction to Billy Fox, the Sydney-based musician, producer, writer and experimental purveyor of thought-provoking electronic. Launched late-2013 with the soulful ‘Monuments’, the new project was born simply out of perfect timing – one project ended, another naturally needed to begin. Writing began and the simple mantra of “If it feels good, then do it” quickly became the mission statement. Simplicity, according to Fox, is the key to his solo music-making, but when the layers are pulled back by the listener, musicianship, lyrical content and production-savvy recording are quickly revealed one by one. On the surface, the production values will immediately draw parallels to the likes of James Blake and recent work by James Vincent McMorrow for the listener, but dig deeper and a true songwriter will be revealed, someone who can skilfully create beautiful soundscapes, while delivering actual songs.

Fox grew up having jazz poured into his ears while he slept at night, and later explored a passion for the great writers – Lennon/McCartney and beyond. This education has seen him come closer to what his aesthetic exists as, but more importantly, what it will become as he grows.

Prolific in nature, Billy Fox’s first release will be an ambitious mini-album, featuring not only the steady and infectious yet soulfully-paced first single ‘Monuments’, but also the ultra-slick follow-up ‘Mystery’. Across all seven tracks, Fox takes all his influences and politely hands them to the listener as one beautifully-cohesive affair, delving deep into themes of love and life without neglecting the occasional reference to Greek mythology here and there. His love for hip hop shows its face, as does his more folk leanings, but the result is unique and versatile and something that can captivate anyone.

Milky Chance

         

In 2013, the Kassel duo of Clemens (vocals) and Philipp (producer) independently dropped their debut Sadnecessary. Its first single "Stolen Dance" amassed over 500,000 views on YouTube in less than a month's time (31 million to date!) and HypeMachine named them "most blogged about act" that month. Soon, they'd become a sensation beyond Germany, rising the top of charts in numerous European countries. Musically, they strike a fresh and fun balance between danceable electronic grooves and artful alternative folk with the right amount of reggae. Song is already soaring up the iTune alternative chart, get ready to dance with Milky Chance this year!