popwreckoning

Seattle’s Campfire OK is set to release Strange Like We Are and they’re sharing the title track as a free download now. Who doesn’t like free stuff?

Download “Strange Like We Are” from here. It’s a fun indie folk jam with a building melody line that is sure to have you singing along by the end. You can also check out a video of the band performing the song below.

If you like this song, the rest of the album will be available February 1 on various forms. They’ll also play a hometown CD release show on February 5 at the Columbia City Theatre.

Foster the People, the trio behind this past Summer’s indie pop anthem “Pumped Up Kicks” is releasing its self-titled EP on January 18.

The EP will feature the catchy “Pumped Up Kicks” as well as two new tracks: “Helena Beat” and “Houdini.”

If you missed out on the Peter Bjorn and John-esque “Pumped Up Kicks,” you can check it out below.

“Pumped Up Kicks”

For more on the EP and to keep an eye on Mark Foster, Cubby Fink and Mark Pontius as they finish up their full-length debut, visit fosterthepeople.com.

This time of year, roads are finding extra wear from families driving to grandmas, airports are flooded with people returning home for the holidays and for those that can’t travel, they’re gathering their friends close together with holiday parties and chats over hot cocoa. This is because the point of Christmas isn’t commercial as some Scrooges might have you believe. The point, whether religious about the holidays or not, is about love and expressing that by being around the people you love. Taking Back Sunday’s new holiday tune, “Merry Christmas; I Missed You So Much” is all about returning to home and the people you love.

“Merry Christmas; I Missed You So Much” was recorded while the band has been in the studio working on its new album. The song starts off much like another song by the band, “Divine Intervention.” Just a strummed rhythm on acoustic guitar, while Adam sings, the title. Then the band expands it – a fingered guitar line, a marching drum roll and then the band’s famous vocal call and response. My personal favorite part of the song is when the “Ho-o-o-ome” lyric enters and is providing a harmony with “Merry Christmas; I Missed You So Much.”

You can listen to the new Christmas song on the band’s MySpace here.

The vintage indie pop of Denver duo Tennis has been a treat for anyone who has been following the spurts of 7″ released by them. “Marathon” has already made its web-rounds, but now Tennis has a new track to tickle your senses: “Take Me Somewhere.”

Stream “Take Me Somewhere” off the upcoming Cape Dory here. It’s the first track on record.

Cape Dory is the debut full-length from Tennis due out on Fat Possum on January 18, 2011. The band is currently touring in support of the release.

Tour Dates:

Nov 11 The Echo – Los Angeles, CA %
Nov 12 Pomona College – Pomona CA
Nov 13 Cellar Door – Visalia, CA
Nov 14 Hotel Utah – San Francisco, CA
Nov 16 Holocene – Portland, OR
Nov 17 The Crocodile – Seattle, WA
Nov 24 Bluebird – Denver, CO
Dec 01 Mercury Lounge – New York, NY
Dec 02 Terminal 5 – New York, NY *
Dec 03 9:30 Club – Washington, DC *
Dec 05 Kung Fu Neck Tie – Philadelphia, PA
Dec 06 Middle East Club – Cambridge, MA
Dec 07 Casa Del Popolo – Montreal, QC
Dec 08 The Drake Hotel – Toronto, ON
Dec 10 Schubas Tavern – Chicago, IL
Dec 11 Mojo’s – Columbia, MO

* = w/ The Walkmen
% = w/ Sonny and the Sunsets

Tracklisting:

01 Take Me Somewhere
02 Long Boast Pass
03 Cape Dory
04 Marathon
05 Bimini Bay
06 South Carolina
07 Pigeon
08 Seafarer
09 Baltimore
10 Water Birds

Calling all dancers or anyone who likes in-your-face, mind-blowing music; Bad Speler, the new project of Nebraska’s Darren Keen, has released a free mixtape.

Darren Keen is perhaps best known for his work with The Show Is a Rainbow – an act well-known for Keen’s crazy live shows featuring him, his macbook, erratic dance moves and crazy video backdrops.

The mixtape called Bill$ Gate and His Michael Soft Umpire Present: The Babble iFad is the second of several 100% live mixes (no edits!) that will be released exclusively on the Illegal Art site every few months (pay what you want).

You can download the mixtape here.

Bad Speler is touring throughout November.

Fran Healy, the frontman of popular Scottish rock band Travis, has been a busy man. He just released his debut solo album, Wreckorder and is preparing to go on tour with The Killers‘ Brandon Flowers.

For this week only, iTunes is offering a special Healy duet with Neko Case as a the free download for the single of the week. You have until November 8 to download “Sing Me to Sleep” here.

On November 9, Healy joins Brandon Flowers for a two week tour. He’ll be in Lawrence on November 20 at Liberty Hall.

You can also watch the video for his single, “Buttercups” below:

Tour Dates:
With Brandon Flowers:
* Indicates in-store performance / signing with Fran Healy only
11/9/10 Pomona CA Fox Theater
11/10/10 Los Angeles CA The Wiltern Theater
11/11/10 Oakland CA Fox Theater
11/13/10 Portland OR Music Millennium *
11/13/10 Portland OR Roseland Ballroom
11/14/10 Seattle WA Sonic Boom *
11/14/10 Seattle WA Showbox Sodo
11/15/10 Vancouver ON Commodore Ballroom
11/17/10 Salt Lake City UT The Depot
11/18/10 Denver CO The Ogden
11/20/10 Lawrence KS Liberty Hall
11/21/10 Minneapolis MN Electric Fetus *
11/21/10 Minneapolis MN First Avenue
11/23/10 Chicago IL Riviera
11/24/10 Royal Oak MI Royal Oak Music Hall

Headlining Dates:
12/2/10 Philadelphia PA World Café
12/3/10 Annapolis MD Ram’s Head
12/5/10 Austin TX The Parish
12/6/10 Chapel Hill NC Local 506
12/7/10 Carrboro NC Cat’s Cradle
12/8/10 Atlanta GA The Loft
12/9/10 Boston MA Café 939
12/16/10 New York NY The Bowery Ballroom

There’s a trend sweeping through indie music: amazing multi-part harmonies. You know that sound that Fleet Foxes and Local Natives tapped into with the simple instrumental layerings of a catchy drum beat and guitar riff enriched with beautiful harmonies like you are gathered around a campfire with friends singing folk songs together? Yeah, that’s the trend I’m talking about and I hope it never stops.

The latest group to really catch my ears has been Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Their single, “Vocal Chords” has quickly risen to the top of my most played list.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. just released a remix EP, My Love Is Easy: Remixes Pt. 1. As a special bonus, they’re offering up a remix of “Vocal Chords” for free download.

Download “Vocal Chords” (Diego and the Dissidents remix) here.

The EP will be followed by their full length debut in Spring 2011.

My Love Is Easy: Remixes Pt. 1

Track Listing
1. Nothing But Our Love (Kasper Bjørke Remix)
2. Vocal Chords (Deastro Remix)
3. Nothing But Our Love (Prussia Remix)
4. Vocal Chords (Diego and the Dissidents Remix)

The wild, glam rockers in Foxy Shazam just began a nationwide tour with Free Energy. Both acts are billed as two of Spin Magazine’s ‘bands to watch’ in 2010.

The tour hits Kansas City this Thursday, Oct. 21 at the Record Bar and is not something to be missed. You never know what surprises these guys will pull out in a live show.

As part of the celebration for the tour kickoff, Foxy Shazam debuted a new song called “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” which you can check out here.

Tour Dates with Free Energy:
10/18, Columbus, OH (The Summit)
10/19, Nashville, TN (The End)
10/20, St. Louis, MO (The Old Rock House)
10/21, Kansas City, KS (Record Bar)
10/22, Dallas, TX (The Loft)
10/23, Austin, TX (Mohawk)
10/25, Phoenix, AZ (Rhythm Room)
10/26, Pacific Beach, CA (710 Club)
10/28, Los Angeles, CA (Troubadour)
10/29, San Francisco, CA (Slim’s)
10/30, San Jose, CA (Blank Club)
11/10, Portland, OR (Doug Fir Lounge)
11/11, Seattle, WA (Crocodile Café)
11/12, Vancouver, BC (The Media Club)
11/14, Edmonton, AB (Pawn Shop)
11/15, Calgary, AB (Republik)
11/16, Saskatoon, SK (Amigos)
11/17, Winnipeg, MB (Pyramid Cabaret)
11/18, Minneapolis, MN (400 Bar)
11/19, Chicago, IL (Lincoln Hall)
11/20, Indianapolis, IN (Radio Radio)
11/21, Cleveland Heights, OH (Grog Shop)
11/22, Albany, NY (Valentine’s)
11/23, Boston, MA (Paradise)
11/24, New York, NY (Bowery Ballroom)
11/26, Brooklyn, NY (Music Hall of Williamsburg)
11/27, Philadelphia, PA (The Theater of Living Arts)
12/1, Washington, DC (Rock and Roll Hotel)

Meiko‘s a sweet singer with some serious attitude. At a live show at L.A.’s Hotel Cafe, the singer put her sass to use and supported the food service industry with “You Gotta Fuckin’ Tip.” The tune is smart and funny and you can check it out for free below. Just right click and save or stream on our site. 

. “You Gotta Fuckin’ Tip (Live at Hotel Cafe)”

Meiko is currently in the studio recording her next album, which is tentatively scheduled for release in spring 2011. You can hear more of her work at meikomusic.com.

Tim Kasher, the front man of Omaha’s The Good Life and Cursive, is set to release his debut solo album on Saddle  Creek Records.

The album, The Game of Monogamy, hits stores October 5, and is now available for pre-order. One of the songs, “Cold Love,” is also available for streaming and free download. Go here to either pre-order or download the song.

Kasher told Spin.com about “Cold Love” that it is: “Mostly, (the it’s about) really boring sex, couples who have run out of steam in their relationships, whose sex life is reduced to going through the motions.”