popwreckoning

So, there’s this band whose CD has been playing in my car constantly since seeing them at Crosstown Station a while back. They’re called The Bright Light Social Hour and they’re from Austin, Texas.

It was one of those impulsive “I’m going to see this show, it could be really awesome or really terrifying” kind of nights. Well, it was definitely the former.

TBLSH has been on tour since September throughout the entire U.S. and Canada. They even made a PSA video about their tour.

If they played the whole tour like they did in KC, I’m sure they are making an impact in every single venue. They are just one of those bands. The kind you dance to the entire night, get their songs stuck in your head for weeks, and that you can’t seem to get enough of.

Sitting down with them before the show I could tell it would be an eventful night. Between the laid back personalities and the kindness of every member, they treated me like I had known them for months.

TBLSH is fronted by bassist and lead vocals, Jack O’Brien who’s stage presence pulls the audience in. Although, it could be his long hair and epic moustache that makes him so memorable.

These guys know how to rock, plain and simple. Their sound is a fusion of blues, funk and southern rock all mashed together making a beautiful blend that appeals to any loving rock n’ roll fan.

There’s this moment in their live show that sticks out the most. During a dynamic guitar solo from Curtis Roush, all four band members dancing around the stage stop to snap their fingers in the microphone.

After giving their self-titled a listen, the snapping has easily become my favorite part of their album. About halfway through the 10 minute track “Garden of the Gods,” I find myself snapping along with ease and usually rocking out the solo in my car.

Oh, and they have a keytar. Any band with a keytar is a win in my book.

These guys took home six awards at SXSW 2011, including Band of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Bassist, Best Keyboardist, and Best Producer. They have played Austin City Limits, appeared on the cover of The Austin Chronicle twice, were featured in Paste Magazine’s Best of What’s Next and have sold out multiple venues in Austin and across the U.S.

The Bright Light Social Hour is a band we all need to keep our eyes on. They’re going places.

Death Cab For Cutie have announced a fall tour to start September 30th in Cincinnati and go through the end of October. Support includes Telekinesis, The Hold Steady, Explosions In The Sky, and The Head And The Heart. Furthermore, DCFC will also be among the headline acts appearing at Sunrise, Florida’s annual Langerado Music Festival on October 8^th and San Francisco’s Treasure Island Music Festival on October 16^th. Below is a complete list of tour dates. For more information please visit www.deathcabforcutie.com.

AUGUST

1                      Boston, MA                           Bank of America Pavilion

2                      Brooklyn, NY                        Williamsburg Waterfront

5                      Philadelphia, PA                  Mann Center for Performing Arts

6                      Pittsburgh, PA                      Stage AE

7                      Columbia, MD                      Merriweather Post Pavilion

8                      Cary, NC                                Koka Booth Amphitheatre

10                    Nashville, TN                       Bridgestone Arena

11                    Alpharetta, GA                     Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

12                    New Orleans, LA                 Kiefer UNO Lakefront Arena

13                    Grand Prairie, TX                 Verizon Theater

15                    Phoenix, AZ                          Comerica Theatre

16                    La Jolla, CA                           RIMAC Arena

18, 19              Los Angeles, CA                  Greek Theater

20                    Las Vegas, NV                      The Pool

22                    West Valley City, UT          Maverik Center

23                    Morrison, CO                        Red Rocks Amphitheatre

25                    Chicago, IL                            UIC Pavilion

26                    St. Paul, MN                          Roy Wilkins Auditorium

SEPTEMBER

30                    Cincinnati, OH                     PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music

OCTOBER

1                      Champaign, IL                      University of Illinois-Assembly

2                      St. Louis, MO                        The Pageant

5                      Memphis, TN                       Mud Island Ampitheatre

6                      Birmingham, AL                  Alabama Theatre

7                      Jacksonville, FL                    Florida Theatre

8                      Sunrise, FL                            Langerado Music Festival

10                    Houston, TX                         Verizon Wireless Theatre

11                    Austin, TX                             Austin Music Hall

15                    Santa Barbara, CA                Santa Barbara Bowl

16                    San Francisco, CA                Treasure Island Music Festival

18                    Boise, ID                                Taco Bell Arena

20                    Portland, OR                         Portland Memorial Coliseum

21                    Vancouver, BC                     Rogers Arena

22                    Seattle, WA                           Key Arena at Seattle Center

Japandroids will take their live show back on the road in late August for a five-week, North American tour, their first headlining tour in almost a year. Japandroids have been busy writing the follow up to their critically acclaimed debut Post-Nothing and will premiere new songs from their forthcoming album due in 2012. The tour begins on August 27 in Vancouver, BC at The Waldorf Hotel and wraps up on September 29 in Edmonton, AB at Brixx and will also feature support from Fat Possum act Drum of Death on select dates. The tour also includes a handful of festival appearances, including Hopscotch in Raleigh, NC (Sep. 9),  Pop Montreal in Montreal, QC (Sep. 21) and Polyvinyl Records 15th Anniversary Showcase at Pygmalion Music Festival in Champaign, IL (Sep. 24).

Japandroids’ Post-Nothing, won raves from outlets all over the globe including Pitchfork, NY Times, NPR and Rolling Stone.   The band also made appearances on late night TV with performances on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Last Call With Carson Daly.  Japandroids have logged in over 200 shows and festival appearances in support of Post-Nothing.

Tour dates can be seen at www.japandroids.com

Two of punk rock’s rising stars and label-mates La Dispute and Balance and Composure, have announced plans to tour select cities in Ontario and Quebec, Canada with friends Make Do And Mend this summer.

The dates are in support of the bands’ recently released and forthcoming material on No Sleep Records, including La Dispute’s recent split EP with Koji and sophomore full-length album due out later this Fall, as well as Balance and Composure’s debut full-length album, Separation.

La Dispute w/ Balance and Composure and Make Do And Mend

July 05, 2011 London Music Hall London, ON
July 06, 2011 Mavericks Ottawa, ON
July 07, 2011 Underworld Montréal, QC
July 08, 2011 L’App-Art Trois-Rivières, QC
July 09, 2011 Café L’ Agitée Quebec City, QC
July 10, 2011 Bar Le Magog Sherbrooke, QC
July 12, 2011 Millard’s Garage Sudbury, ON
July 13, 2011 Mansion Nightclub Barrie, ON
July 14, 2011 The Mansion House St Catherines, ON
July 15, 2011 Time To Laugh Kingston, ON
July 16, 2011 Mod Club Toronto, ON

For more information check out www.ladisputemusic.com and www.balanceandcomposure.com

Following on from a completely sold out, very well received solo tour this past spring, English folk singer/songwriter Frank Turner has announced a huge tour of North America beginning at the middle of September to the beginning of November. This series of dates takes Turner and his band to many places he hasn’t headlined yet, including several major Canadian cities.

Turner’s new album, England Keep My Bones, will be released on Epitaph Records next Tuesday (June 7) in America.

Tour Dates
Sep 20 – Heirloom Arts Theatre / Danbury, CT
Sep 21 – Bowery Ballroom / New York City
Sep 23 – Ottobar / Baltimore
Sep 24 – Alley Katz / Richmond, VA
Sep 25 – New Brookland Tavern / Columbia, SC
Sep 27 – Social / Orlando
Sep 29 – Culture Room / Ft. Lauderdale
Sep 30 – Crowbar / Tampa
Oct 01 – Masquerade / Atlanta
Oct 03 – Emo’s / Austin
Oct 04 – Loft / Dallas
Oct 05 – Conservatory / Oklahoma City
Oct 06 – Record Bar / Kansas City
Oct 07 – Marquis Theatre / Denver
Oct 08 – Launch Pad / Albuquerque
Oct 10 – Rhythm Room / Phoenix
Oct 11 – Glass House / Pomona
Oct 12 – SOMA Side Stage / San Diego
Oct 13 – El Rey / Los Angeles
Oct 14 – Slim’s / San Francisco
Oct 15 – Hawthorne Theatre / Portland
Oct 16 – Neumos / Seattle
Oct 17 – Biltmore / Vancouver
Oct 19 – Starlight Room / Edmonton
Oct 20 – Republik / Calgary
Oct 21 – Exchange / Regina, SK
Oct 22 – WECC / Winnipeg, MB
Oct 23 – Triple Rock Social Club / Minneapolis
Oct 25 – Turner Hall / Milwaukee
Oct 26 – Bottom Lounge / Chicago
Oct 27 – Magic Stick / Detroit
Oct 28 – Phoenix / Toronto
Oct 29 – Corona Theatre / Montreal
Oct 30 – Mavericks / Ottawa
Oct 31 – Cercle / Quebec City
Nov 02 – Middle East Downstairs / Boston
Nov 04 – TLA / Philadelphia

Frank Turner: website | myspace | Rock & Roll EP review | @ Red Palace

Chicago-based indie-punk songwriter Evan Thomas Weiss of Into It. Over It. has announced plans to tour the U.S. and Canada opening for UK-based Epitaph recording artist Frank Turner and American folk punk band Andrew Jackson Jihad.  The tour, which stretches from late September to early November, follows Weiss’ recent set of dates supporting Fake Problems, Pomegranates, Laura Stevenson and The Cans, and Mansions.

In addition to the upcoming dates, Weiss and Into It. Over It. have announced plans to begin recording their debut full length album with producer Ed Rose (Get Up Kids, The Appleseed Cast, The Casket Lottery) at Blacklodge Studios in Eudora, KS.  Tracking on the new record begins June 25th and will be released Fall 2011 on No Sleep Records.

For a complete list of over 40 tour dates, visit www.intoitoverit.com and www.nosleeprecs.com

Thursday night at the sold-out 9:30 Club in Washington was laid out like a three course meal at a fancy restaurant. First up was Springfield, Missouri band Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, whose name has be one of the strangest yet oddly memorable ones ever invented. Their music has a jaunty, peppy vibe and a perfect appetizer to start off the evening. Classic guitar riffs, bouncy melodies, really engaging instrumentation – all you really need or ever want in a good indie pop/rock band, really. (I’ve never understood the appeal of the Morning Benders; Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin is definitely more my thing.) A great example: “Sink/Let It Sway,” which like its name suggests, makes bodies in a crowd sway.

I always find it really cool when band members play musical chairs, and this happened with this band, as the original lead singer switched off with the drummer, who took over bass, while the bass player took over lead vocal and guitar duties. The result: a decidedly harder rock song, so hard that the guy drumming lost a stick in the first few seconds of hitting the skins. Hardcore. Other highlights of their opening set were “All Hail Dracula!” (appropriate for the “Twilight” fans, perhaps?) and the wistful “Pangea.”

Following some crazy techno pumping up the crowd and overexcited Two Door Cinema Club fans chanting “ah-oh-ah-ah-oh” off key, it was time for the first of the two co-headliners. A blinding light show ushered in the Northern Ireland band, but I can forgive them because they were on point their entire set. It was like enjoying the best Indian curry of your life – exciting, sweat-inducing, full of life, like you never wanted the experience to end. Second song in, at the start of “Undercover Martyn,” lead guitarist Sam Halliday flashed a broad smile at us in response to the “we love you Sam!” shouting and I knew it was going to be one stellar show. Earlier that day, lead singer/guitarist Alex Trimble visited one of the Nation’s Capital’s many fine pawn shops and scored a used yet gorgeous Fender for his guitar collection. After introducing the lone brand new song on this tour, “Handshake,” he thanked the 9:30 audience for being part of the first gig of what is sure to be an exciting musical history for his new baby. The new song didn’t disappoint, with its handclaps and intricate guitar lines.

It’s hard to believe that the band admitted to radio personality Tara O. in Ottawa last week that when the band co-headlined with Kitsune labelmates Delphic on a tour of the UK in late 2009, they felt unprepared and under rehearsed compared to the more experienced electronic band from Manchester. The days of Two Door Cinema Club feeling tentative are long gone. Songs like the forthcoming single “What You Know” and the perennial favorite “I Can Talk” resulted in widespread pogo-ing and a sea of arms in the air. Kev Baird‘s relentless bass line in “Come Back Home” proves Two Door does indeed rock out hard, and their sound has definitely won over Washington. The band were quick to show their appreciation for the adulation being given to them, with Baird saying at one point, “my friend told me this is the best venue to play at in the United States. And he was right!” Bring on album #2, guys.

Two Door Cinema Club Set List:
Cigarettes in the Theatre
Undercover Martyn
Hands Off My Cash, Monty
Do You Want It All?
Something Good Can Work
Handshake (new song)
Kids
You’re Not Stubborn
Costume Party
What You Know
Eat That Up, It’s Good for You
Come Back Home
I Can Talk

If Two Door Cinema Club was the entree, then Tokyo Police Club was the cooling dessert at the end of the meal, punctuated with hot fudge and a cherry on top. Funnily enough, one of the more memorable moments that can be attributed to the Canadian band happened before they even stepped foot onstage. I guess Tokyo Police Club are big Tom Jones fans, judging by the incidental music played before their set. “What’s New Pussycat” played on repeat at least four times, and I overheard one person behind me complain to his gigging buddy, “I seriously want to die.” As if someone was listening, “It’s Not Unusual” came out over the PA and everyone around me started singing along in approval.

The crowd reaction for Tokyo Police Club, at least in the beginning, seemed completely the opposite of the one for Two Door. Instead of responding physically, Tokyo’s fans seemed rapt with attention for lead singer/bassist Dave Monks, singing along to their idol. Overall, a much chiller vibe seemed to settle over the crowd. Later on though, “Wait Up (Boots of Danger)” and “Breakneck Speed,” both from last year’s release Champ, went down a treat and upped the energy level back up again. But what was the pièce de résistance? The bands joining forces to do an unexpected encore of the Strokes‘ “Last Nite.” Doesn’t really get better than this on a cold winter’s night in DC, I can assure you.

Tour Dates:
Jan 22 – Trocadero / Philadelphia^&*
Jan 23 – Newport Music Hall / Columbus^&*
Jan 25 – Masquerade / Atlanta^&*
Jan 26 – Crowbar / Tampa^&*
Jan 27 – Social / Orlando^&
Jan 28 – Culture Room / Ft. Lauderdale&*
Jan 29 – Jack Rabbit’s / Jacksonville&*
Jan 31 – Spanish Moon / Baton Rouge&*
Feb 01 – Granada Theater / Dallas&*
Feb 02 – La Zona Rosa / Austin&*
Feb 03 – Warehouse Live / Houston&*
Feb 05 – Exit-In / Nashville&*
Feb 07 – Blue Note / Columbia, MO&*
Feb 10 – Mad Hatter / Covington, KY&*
^with Two Door Cinema Club
& with Tokyo Police Club
*with support from Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Two Door Cinema Club: website | myspace | Two Door Cinema Club To Tour with Phoenix in Spring, Headline First North American Tour | “Something Good Can Work” video | @ Constitution Hall | Interview with: Sam Halliday of Two Door Cinema Club | @ Johnny Brenda’s | Two Door Cinema Club Announce Fall North American Tour | “Come Back Home” video | Two Door Cinema Club to Re-Release Debut Album with CD of Remixes and Special Documentary | Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History (Deluxe Edition) | Tokyo Police Club and Two Door Cinema Club Announce January 2011 Co-Headlining Tour | @ Neumo’s | Two Door Cinema Club – “What You Know” video
Tokyo Police Club: website | myspace | ‘It’s Good to be Back’: Tokyo Police Club – Champ | Bonnaroo 2010, Day 2 | @ Record Bar | @ Neumo’s
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin: website | myspace | @ Neumo’s | SXSW 2011 2nd round of announcements

Bangor, Northern Ireland’s Two Door Cinema Club have just released a new promo video for their forthcoming single, “What You Know,” taken from their debut album Tourist History that was released last spring on Glassnote Records here in America.

The video, filmed by Lope Serrano of the famed Spanish production company CANADA, features dancers dancing perfectly in time to the song’s frenetic rhythm. As ever, the lads are snappily dressed. Two Door Cinema Club is currently in the middle of a 2-week, co-headlining tour with Canadians Tokyo Police Club, dates below.

Tour Dates:
Jan 16 – Club Soda / Montreal^
Jan 17 – Met Cafe / Providence^*
Jan 19 – Paradise / Boston^*
Jan 20 – 9:30 Club / Washington, DC^*
Jan 21 – Terminal 5 / New York City^*
Jan 22 – Trocadero / Philadelphia^*
Jan 25 – Masquerade / Atlanta^*
Jan 26 – Crowbar / Tampa^*
Jan 27 – Social / Orlando^*
^with co-headliner Tokyo Police Club
*with support from Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Two Door Cinema Club: website | myspace | Two Door Cinema Club To Tour with Phoenix in Spring, Headline First North American Tour | “Something Good Can Work” video | @ Constitution Hall | Interview with: Sam Halliday of Two Door Cinema Club | @ Johnny Brenda’s | Two Door Cinema Club Announce Fall North American Tour | “Come Back Home” video | Two Door Cinema Club to Re-Release Debut Album with CD of Remixes and Special Documentary | Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History (Deluxe Edition) | Tokyo Police Club and Two Door Cinema Club Announce January 2011 Co-Headlining Tour | @ Neumo’s

Two of the hardest-working bands in the music business will be descending on North America in January and will no doubt bring some much needed sunshine this winter. And it’s definitely time to get down to the club. No pun intended. Canadian indie rockers Tokyo Police Club, who released their second album Champ this summer and are currently on tour in the UK, have announced on their website that they will playing a string of co-headlining dates with Two Door Cinema Club. The Irish trio have just released a deluxe edition of their debut album, Tourist History, and are themselves on the final week of their second North American tour of this year.

A presale begins at 3 PM ET on Tuesday, November 2, with general ticket sales beginning on Friday, November 5.

Tour Dates
Jan 13 – Capital Music Hall / Ottawa
Jan 15 – Kool Haus / Toronto
Jan 16 – Club Soda / Montreal
Jan 17 – Met Cafe / Providence
Jan 19 – Paradise / Boston
Jan 20 – 9:30 Club / Washington, DC
Jan 21 – Terminal 5 / New York City
Jan 22 – Trocadero / Philadelphia
Jan 25 – Masquerade / Atlanta
Jan 26 – Crowbar / Tampa
Jan 27 – Social / Orlando

Tokyo Police Club: website | myspace | ‘It’s Good to be Back’: Tokyo Police Club – Champ | @ Record Bar | @ Neumo’s
Two Door Cinema Club: website | myspace | Two Door Cinema Club To Tour with Phoenix in Spring, Headline First North American Tour | “Something Good Can Work” video | @ Constitution Hall | Interview with: Sam Halliday of Two Door Cinema Club | @ Johnny Brenda’s | Two Door Cinema Club Announce Fall North American Tour | “Come Back Home” video | Two Door Cinema Club to Re-Release Debut Album with CD of Remixes and Special Documentary | Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History (Deluxe Edition)

Photo: Mary Chang

Exactly 1 year after a manic sold-out show at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg, English electropop / dance trio Friendly Fires have announced details of a forthcoming mix CD to be released through Rough Trade Records. The CD is one of a humorously-titled series called Bugged Out Presents Suck My Deck that has welcomed dance music acts / DJs such as Simian Mobile Disco and Brodinski to provide similar mixes. The Friendly Fires edition includes New York’s Phenomenal Handclap Band and Scandinavian disco-pop duo Lindstrom and Christabelle. While the album won’t be released until September 27, you can pre-order it now on Rough Trade’s website here.

In addition to 18 tracks hand-picked by the band from other artists, the compilation includes “Stay Here,” a collaboration with Toronto’s Azari & III. The tune will make its radio debut today on DJ Annie Mac‘s Radio1 show tonight from 7 to 9 PM GMT (that’s 2 to 4 PM ET). No worries if you miss it today, it will available for 7 days after broadcast on the BBC iPlayer.

Friendly Fires have been previewing other new tracks while on the European festival circuit this summer. Their yet-to-be-titled sophomore album is due sometime in 2011, according to various media reports. Track titles include “Running Away” and “True Love”, and the band have divulged that the new release will feature the Brazilian cuíca (commonly used in samba music) and the African kalimba.

Mix CD tracklisting:
01. The Egyptian Lover – Freak-A-Holic
02. Bot’Ox – Bearded Lady Motorcycle Show
03. The Phenomenal Handclap Band – You’ll Disappear (Munk Remix)
04. Tom Trago – Lost In The Streets of NYC (Boris Werner Lost In Malta Remix)
05. Ryan Crosson – Metro Bunker (Original Mix)
06. Lindstrom and Christabelle – Baby Can’t Stop (Aeroplane Remix)
07. Rebotini – 777 (Discodeine Remix)
08. Tensnake – Coma Cat
09. Munk – La Musica (Azari & III Remix)
10. Friendly Fires and Azari & III – Stay Here
11. Redshape – Dog Day
12. The 2 Bears – Be Strong
13. Butch – No Worries
14. George Kranz – Din Daa Daa
15. Jody “Fingers” Finch – Jack Your Big Booty (BHQ No Acid Vocal)
16. BDI – City & Industry
17. Alan Fitzpatrick – Green Light
18. Boo Williams – Mortal Trance
19. Round Two – New Day (Club Vocal Mix)

Thumbnail Photo: Mary Chang

Friendly Fires: website | myspace | Friendly Fires review | Remix Monday: “Skeleton Boy” | @ Black Cat | @ Dot to Dot Festival | interview with pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3 | Mercury Prize Nominations Announced | New Video on MTV, To Play Jimmy Kimmel and Winter Nylon Tour, Release Expanded Version of Debut Album | @ Lollapalooza 2009 | @ le poisson rouge | @ Music Hall of Williamsburg | on Jimmy Kimmel | Remix Monday: “Paris” | @ Paradise | Friendly Fires / Holy Ghost! – 12″ Split Single