popwreckoning

I was recently introduced to the fantastic Head Like A Kite, who are able to create a modern-industrial- pop sound to their music, that is overwhelming to both the body and ears. Head Like A Kite is comprised of just two men, Dave Einmo (on guitar, synthesizer, sampler, and vocals), and Trent Moorman (drums, keys, sampler, and vocals). This two-man band calls upon musical friends every now and again to join them in the studio to assist them with the creation or the remixing of their music.

The band’s first major album was Random Portraits of the Home Movie which was released February of 2006. The album was influenced and inspired by the 1970s’ Super-8 home movies, which they applied an experimental-electronic sound that could be compared to that of The Faint. In response to this album, Head Like A Kite was joined by fellow musicians from The Long Winters, Radio 4, Crooked Fingers, Smoosh, Animals at Night among others and, once again, ventured into the studio to produce yet another album. This second record, titled There Is Loud Laughter Everywhere, was released in June of this year. With such hypnotizing songs as “No Ordinary Caveman,” “Six Bags of Confetti,” and “Daydream Vacation,” this album was a musical success.

But they were not finished yet. On August 19th, they released a six-track EP of remixed tracks from this recently released album. The sound for the remixed tracks took the music to a whole new level. These songs where remixed by several known DJs such as Nobody who took a swing at “No Ordinary Caveman,” and knocked it right out of the park. Boom Bip put a whole new spin on the song “Daydream Vacation” with the help of Asya from Smoosh, and Antimc worked the sound of Head Like A Kite’s “Six Bags of Confetti.” All the while, Daedelus Plucks That Broken Arrow got together with Head Like A Kite to transform “We Were So Entangled” into something new and shiny.

Every single one of these DJ’s injected their own special steroid into their song, creating a whole new feel to the song.

Tracklisting:
01. No Ordinary Caveman (download)
02. No Ordinary Caveman (Nobody’s Totally Spaced Remix)
03. Daydream Vacation (Boom Bip’s Homecoming Remix)
04. Six Bags of Confetti (Antimc’s Skinny Gold Chain Remix)
05. We Were So Entangled (Daedelus Plucks That Broken Arrow Remix)
06. No Ordinary Caveman (Her Space Holiday cover)

Tour Dates:
Aug 30 – Rickshaw Stop / San Francisco
Aug 31 – Old Ironsides / Sacramento
Oct 03 – John in the Morning at Night (KEXP) / Seattle

Head Like A Kite: website | myspace | download, watch “No Ordinary Caveman”
Mush Records: website | myspace

Written by: Kyle Thurin

If Canadian indie outfit Tokyo Police Club aimed to take over the world with their infectious and urgent dance rock, they could count on Philadelphia to be loyal followers. The First Unitarian Church was already packed with a line of people outside hoping to get in as I made my way in during opening act and fellow Canadians The Meligrove Band‘s set. It only managed to become full during Smoosh’s set and almost overbearing when Tokyo Police Club finally claimed the stage.

From the moment Smoosh played their last note until Josh Hook, Greg Alsop, Graham Wright and David Monks walked onto the stage, the Church was abuzz with energy and anticipation from the ten year old girls in front of me up against the stage to the twenty and thirty-somethings in the back. An elaborate display of lights lined the back wall and front edge of the stage and when those lights flashed on for the first time, the audience went crazy.

With few songs clocking in over 3 minutes, Tokyo Police Club was able to play most of their discography, delighting the fervent crowd. The first two songs saw the audience still fairly tame, but as “Box” from the “Nature of the Experiment” single, the crowd flew into a frenzy of dancing and moshing. The rest of the show saw the crowd in the same frantic manner, jumping around and pushing into one another, showing their love and enthusiasm for Tokyo Police Club. If “Box” saw the beginning of the crowd’s insanity, “Graves,” “Your English Is Good” and “Nature of the Experiment” all increased its intensity level as the band’s energy also soared on stage.

After playing “Tessellate” from the disc, Monks informed the audience that he was really impressed with Philadelphia because for as many shows as the band had played, the Philly crowd was the only one to get the hand claps down right. I didn’t think it was possible, but with the praise from Monks, the audience rocked out crazier and harder, straight through the end of set, the two minutes the band left the stage, and during the encore. Tokyo Police Club played a tight set with the most energy I’ve ever seen. They are definitely a band you need to see. Tokyo Police Club are playing tonight at the Magic Stick in Detroit and will be on tour through June (dates below).

more @ flickr

Tour Dates:
May 04 – Magic Stick/Detroit, Michigan
May 05 – Metro/Chicago, Illinois
May 06 – Varsity Theatre/Minneapolis, Minnesota
May 08 – Garrick’s Theatre/Winnipeg, Manitoba
May 09 – Louis’ Pub/Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
May 10/11 – The Warehouse/Calgary, Alberta
May 12 – The Starlite Room/Edmonton, Alberta
May 14 – The Habitat/Kelowna, British Columbia (SOLD OUT)
May 16 – Plaza Club/Vancouver, British Columbia
May 17 – Sugar Nightclub/Victoria, British Columbia
May 18 – Neumos/Seattle, Washington
May 19 – Hawthorne Theatre/Portland, Oregon
May 22 – Bluebird Theatre/Denver, Colorado
May 23 – Slowdown/Omaha, Nebraska
29 May – Barfly/Cambridge
30 May – Bodega/Nottingham
31 May – Cockpit/Leeds
01 Jun – Night & Day/Manchester
03 Jun – Barfly/Birmingham
05 Jun – Le Bontanique/Brussels
06 Jun – Rock Am Ring/Nurburgring
07 Jun – Rock Im Park/Zeppelinfeld
08 Jun – La Maroquinerie/Paris
10 Jun – King Tuts/Glasglow
11 Jun – Other Rooms/Newcastle
12 Jun – Academy/Oxford
13 Jun – Marquee/Hertford
16 Jun – Digital/Brighton
17 Jun – Thekla/Bristol
18 Jun – Scala/London

Tokyo Police Club: website | myspace | Elephant Shell review

Ever since I heard “Massive Cure,” I’d guess four or five years ago, I’ve been a huge fan of the band Smoosh. I was shocked and surprised and, honestly, a little jealous, when I found out Smoosh was comprised of sisters Asya (vocals, keyboards) and Chloe (drums, vocals), both of whom weren’t even teenagers at the time. I was definitely not that cool or accomplished at 10 years old. To recognize such a talent so young is an amazing thing. Their debut She Like Electric is still one of my favorite CDs and last night I got to see these amazing girls perform live.

Smoosh, currently on Barsuk Records, has been touring with and opening for Tokyo Police Club, pretty much the hottest indie band on the planet right now. In crowds filled with obnoxious dudes who love to mosh (you can totally tell I was not pleased about getting bumped into as I was trying to take pictures for your viewing pleasure), there were many who felt slighted a 16 year old, 14 year old and 12 year old took the stage, not to mention that they were girls. Plenty a dude behind me cracked jokes about Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana and were just absolutely ripping on these girls before they began playing.

I want to turn around and tell them off but I knew as soon as Asya’s hands glided over the keyboard, Chloe pounded away on the drums, and Maia [younger sister and fairly recent addition to live shows, also provide album artwork] strummed her bass, those dude would see just how hard girls can rock. Rather than turn this into a rant biased to my feminist side, I’d just like to say that Smoosh was amazing live, and those guys realized it as soon as they turned off their egos and listened to the music and danced along.

Smoosh’s set list drew songs from both She Like Electric and follow-up Free to Stay in addition to a new song and a cover of Bloc Party‘s “This Modern Love” (which I’ve been listening to at least twice a day everyday since I downloaded it last year). Chloe is a maniac on the drums, but that’s no surprise as she was taught how to play by Death Cab For Cutie‘s Jason McGerr. Story goes, Chloe, Asya and family were in a music shop to get a violin restrung for Asya when she and Chloe wandered over to the store’s drum section and met McGerr. The family left with a $600 drum kit and McGerr offering to teach Chloe and aide Asya with her music and songwriting, giving us Smoosh.

Tour Dates:
Apr 29 – Black Cat/Washington DC
Apr 30 – Big Orbit’s Soundlab/Buffalo, New York
May 4 – The Magic Stick/Detroit, Michigan
May 5 – Metro/Chicago, Illinois
May 6 – Varsity Theater/Minneapolis, Minnesota
May 8 – Garrick Theater/Winnipeg, Manitoba
May 9 – Louis’ Pub/Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
May 10 – The Warehouse/Calgary, Alberta
May 11 – The Warehouse/Calgary, Alberta
May 16 – The Plaza Club/Vancouver, British Columbia
May 17 – Sugar Nightclub/Victoria, British Columbia
May 18 – Neumos/Seattle, Washington
May 19 – Hawthorne Theater/Portland, Oregon

Smoosh: website | myspace