It only makes sense that a great new band gets it’s introduction to the world on one of the music blogs I look to for new and emerging artists, but the most unique part about this is that they are both based in North Carolina.  Months ago Get Off The Coast posted a couple tracks by Gross Ghost, and “Golden T” has really proven to have staying power in my day to day listening.

Gross Ghost do what bands from Chapel Hill/Carrboro/ Raleigh/Durham area  do best, and make good straight up indie rock, and it doesn’t hurt that they have great pop sensibility.   In a day where where keyboards and electronics tend to dominate my intake of new music it’s nice to hear a band using just guitar, base, and drums.   Gross Ghost bring what I want to hear coming out of NC following in the steps of the states’ great indie rock past bringing melodic and catchy rock with vocals that can back it up perfectly.  Their use of backing vocals, almost as if it is the brief entrance of a chorus backing them,  on this track make the band seem larger than three members, and really fill out my speakers.  Mike from Gross Ghost told me that they are headed into the studio this month so hopefully we will be getting more tracks as good as “Golden T” from these southern dudes very soon. It’s exciting to see rising acts from North Carolina, and with Love Language’s recent signing to Merge I hope this means big things are in store for Gross Ghost.

[mp3] Gross Ghost- “Golden T”

So much good music coming out of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia…where were these bands when I lived there.

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• This is part of my Speed Dating series.  You can read more about singles I have featured in this series here.

I don’t think New York City could have had a more perfect weekend weather wise, and my lady even busted out her warm weather ray bans…just in time for this warm weather I stumbled across Sunglasses.

Sunglasses are  beach influenced electronica coming from Savannah, Georgia…not to far from my home town of Charleston SC, where this genre seems to be thriving (if you haven’t checked out South Carolina’s native sons Washed Out and Toro Y Moi you might want to do that).

While there are lots of bands riffing on the beach theme these days, there is just something about Sunglasses’ “Referee” that is particular infectious. I wasn’t expecting what I got when I played “Referee” for the first time.  A track that just starts out with the sound of rain that begins to slowly build up to vocals using electronics and minimal percussion.  Only after a full minute goes by does the full beach dance party kicks in.   The track continues to talk about cold weather, but inside it only evokes signs of spring and even the far away summer.  ”Referees” was the first song on a mix I made for a gathering I attended last week.  About half way through this mind penetrating  song three of the ladies in the room were grooving to it, and even trying to check my iPod to see what it was.  While totally into the song afterwards they asked “who is this?,” and then they proceeded to say it sounded a bit like Animal Collective. But if Sunglasses can get them dancing after only two minutes that can’t be a bad thing at all.

This duo comprised of Samuel Cooper and the mysterious entity known only as Baby Seal have only released two tracks into the world, but both worthy of recognition.  When a band releases two songs, and both are this good I can’t help to put them on my list of artists to watch out for as 2010 progresses.  These bands from the South move fast…start rocking this jam now before you are asking…”What is Sunglasses?”

[mp3] Sunglasses- “Referees”

• via thefmly
• listen to more Sunglasses here.

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• Photo via Nathan Jones Photography for Sunglasses.
• This is part of my Speed Dating series.  You can read more about singles I have featured in this series here.

Well it’s not exactly a battle for outer space, but in a sense it is…my hometown of Charleston is going to be faced with the same decision that I have to make tomorrow night.

Tomorrow Saturday March 6th there are two amazing shows happening right here in Brooklyn, and Wednesday March 10th very similar shows are happening in Charleston, SC

First up is everyone’s favorite, Underwater Peeps Proprietors, and all around rad dudes Family Portrait who will be appearing with none other Alex Bleeker and the Freaks…and a too be named Special Guest (supposedly very special).

These New Jersey via DC and back to New Jersey rockers will be playing in full force for the first time in a very long time.  If you have seen Family Portrait over the past 6 months or so you saw various forms with Ari and Brody, but now that Sawyer is back from his journey out East they are back in action in the form we all know and love.  I was looking through my music, and I found a track that I grabbed back in September…. “On The Floor” is a retro pop jam full of fuzzy psychedelica.  Backed up with Brody’s crooning vocals and the type of beach vibe you expect to get from a New Jersey basement or garage party rather than the Jersey shore.

[mp3] Family Portrait- “On The Floor”

• Buy their split 7″ with Andrew Cedermark here.

Rock this one, and then go check out Family Portrait….they are touring down to SXSW!

• Tomorrow, March 6th @ 59 Jefferson St, #402 (21+ $8)
  • Family Portrait, Alex Bleeker, and very Special Guests!
    • This show is presented by Pixelhorse, Microphone Memory Emotion, and Visitation Rites.
      • Proceeds from this show go toward playing the bands playing their awesome SXSW showcase in Austin.  Get all the info on the Austin Show here.
• Wednesday, March 10th @ Outer Space! in Charleston, SC
  • Family Portrait, and fucking Castles Underground!!!
• Check out all of Family Portraits’ tour dates here (lots in between and after these two dates).

The Sandwitches are three ladies from San Fransisco making awesome 50’s/60’s throwback rock and roll.  Their album How to Make an Ambient Sad Cake has been getting tons of play at my house, and on my headphones.  It started with their single “Fire,” and it has slowly infected my head.  And now “The Revisionist” has had me singing “God ain’t no friend of mine” all morning.  I was curious about the lyrics of this song, and I thought I would check out what a revisionist actually was: “a movement in revolutionary Marxian socialism favoring an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary spirit”  and in a sense I guess I fall under this category.  Not a bad thing at all…and a really wonderful song.

[mp3] The Sandwitches- “The Revisionist”

• From How to Make an Ambient Sadcake, buy it here.
• The Sandwitches are part of the Endless Nest Collective.

As much as I love Family Portrait, both as musicians and people, I’m going to have to hit this Sandwitches show.  These ladies are coming from a long way, and who knows when they will be back.

• Tomorrow, Saturday March 6th @ Monster Island Basement
  • Golden Triangle, The Sandwitches, Coasting, and Girls at Dawn
    • All Ages, $8
      • They are also playing tonight, but very little info is available.
• Wednesday March 10th @ The Tin Roof in Charleston, SC
  • The Sandwitches, and Teenage Owl.
• See all of the Sandwitches’ tour dates here (lots in between and after these two dates).

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If none of these things work for you…. go see Twin Sister at CoCo66 tomorrow night (March 6th).  More info about Twin Sister can be found here.

And this weekend pregame for everything at Mugs Ale House’s  Split thy Skull Festival!

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The photo of Family Portrait was taken on January 29th, 2010 at Bruar Falls, and is from the White Lodge. If you would like to use this photo please link back to the flickr page, and credit the White Lodge.

• more posts featuring photos from the White Lodge can be found here.

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• More on Family Portrait here.
• More on Underwater Peoples Records here.
• More on the Sandwitches here.
• More on the Endless Nest Collective here.

A couple days before Twin Sister played Bruar Falls with Pure Ecstasy, Hunter from Infinite Best Records sent over a track by them called “Kimmi In A Ricefield.”  Twin Sister had been getting a lot of blog press, but this was the first track that I heard by them…and I was absolutely floored.  Hunter knew I was liked minded catching the White Lodge reference.

While Twin Sister’s sound is ever evolving “Kimmi In A Ricefield” is an instrumental track that evokes the eeriness of the woods, and not just any woods those of the Pacific North West.  Maybe it was just Hunter’s suggestion of hearing this song for the first time after a two week long Twin Peaks marathon, but it’s pretty clear that Twin Sister was channeling Angelo Badalamenti during the song writing process on this one.  This enchanting track diverges from Badalamenti influence with the use of light dance grooves, and echoing percussion creating something that is very much their own.  Even in a track like this that seems like this that seems far from a dance jam… Twin Sister can put their subtle touch on it, and make it entirely unique and with a bit of a indie disco edge.  The night that this song was sent over I sat at the computer, and listened to it over and over…I hope you have the same experience:

[mp3] Twin Sister- “Kimmi In A Ricefield”

“Kimmi In A Ricefield” is a master piece, and I can only hope to hear more music that sounds like this from Twin Sister.  This track has been available on Twin Sister’s website for quite sometime now, and will be featured on The Report compilation being put out by none other than Chocolate Bobka.

While their live set was very different from the track above that didn’t take away from their talent and showmanship.  Twin Sister was initially supposed to play before Pure Ecstasy, but they ended up headlining.  While Pure Ecstasy was great, but no one could have followed Twin Sister that night.  Extremely tight, and for a band I had heard very little of their music they truly blew me away.  This band is a pleasure to see live, and they have many tour dates coming up (see the bottom of this post) so go check them out.  I’m extremely happy with how some of my photos came from that night, and I am very excited to share them with you.  These photos are from the White Lodge.

If you would like to hear more Twin Sister you can download their fabulous EP Vampires With Dreaming Kids for free here.

[full album download] Twin Sister- Vampires With Dreaming Kids

Also keep an eye on Infinite Best Recordings for their upcoming 12″!
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Twin Sister is tour to and from SXSW!  Go See Them:

• Mar 6 2010 @ Coco 66 w/ Amniotic (Ex-Psycadellic Furs)–> Brooklyn, New York
• Mar 13 2010 @ Full House Gallery w/ Galaxies, Mount McKinley, Oberhofer, Secret Hideout–> Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Mar 17 2010 @ SXSW –>Austin, Texas
• Mar 18 2010 @ SXSW – Creekside Lounge –>Austin, Texas
• Mar 19 2010 @ SXSW–> Austin, Texas
• Mar 20 2010 @ SXSW – Karibu w/ Pure Ecstasy, Pearl Harbor–> Austin, Texas
• Mar 21 2010 @ MtyMx Todd P. After Party–> Monterrey, México
• Mar 23 2010 @ The Mink w/ Holiday Shores, Caliban Goodbrain–> Houston, Texas
• Mar 24 2010 @ Hailey’s Club w/ Holiday Shores, Writer, Manned Missles–> Denton, Texas
• Mar 25 2010 @ Proud Larry’s w/ Holiday Shores, Young Buffalo–> Oxford, Mississippi
• Mar 26 2010 @ Al’s Bar w/ Holiday Shores, Idiot Glee (Presented by “I Guess I’m Floating”)–> Lexington, Kentucky
• Mar 27 2010 @ Vollrath Theatre w/ Holiday Shores (Presented by “My Old Kentucky Blog”)–> Indianapolis, Indiana
• Mar 28 2010 @ The Bishop w/ Holiday Shores, French & Indian War–> Bloomington, Indiana
• Mar 29 2010 @ Daytrotter Sessions w/ Holiday Shores (Day Show)–> Rock Island, Illinois
• Mar 29 2010 @ Huckleberry’s Pizza w/ Holiday Shores (Evening Show) –>Rock Island, Illinois
• Mar 30 2010@ Halfway Lounge w/ Holiday Shores, Thin Hymns, Distractions –> Chicago, Illinois
• Mar 31 2010 @ Case Western University w/ Holiday Shores –>Cleveland, Ohio
• Apr 1 2010 @ Cameo w/ Holiday Shores –>Brooklyn, New York
• Apr 9 2010 @ Bowery Ballroom w/ Xiu Xiu, Tune-Yards, Zola Jesus –>New York, New York
• Apr 10 2010 @ The Middle East (Downstairs) w/ Xiu Xiu, Tune-Yards –> Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Apr 13 2010 @ First Unitarian Church w/ Xiu Xiu, Tune-Yards –>Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Apr 14 2010 @ DC9 w/ Xiu Xiu, Tune Yards –> District of Columbia, Washington DC

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These photos of Twin Sister were taken on January 29th, 2010 at Bruar Falls, and are from the White Lodge. If you would like to use one of these photos please link back to the flickr page, and credit the White Lodge.

• more posts featuring photos from the White Lodge can be found here.

A couple weeks ago I wrote about DOM a band who at the time only had one single track, “Jesus,” and since then these dudes have been cranking out the jams.

“Rude As Jude” is the second track to come from DOM, and while it starts with rocking guitar line but quickly jumps into the basement dance pop that I was expecting after the fabulous first single “Jesus.”  Just when you think that the catchy guitar riff from the beginning of the song is gone for good it just back in and aligns perfectly with the chorus.  Maybe the most rocking track of the three, but still comes off in the same dreamy way that “Jesus” did.
“rude as jude” by DOM

Inspiring this post was the wonderful surprise to wake up yesterday to the third track from these guys, and its called “Burn Bridges.” What sounds like a song about loosing friends actually comes off as inspiring with the chorus like “Burn Bridges make yourself an Island.”  This track seems to have a sparkle that I haven’t felt in the other songs, something sonically that just tingles the ears. I didn’t think it was possible, but “Burn Bridges” might be taking over “Jesus” with the most listens for me, and that says a lot being that it’s only been out one day.
“burn bridges” by DOM

There is also another new track on DOM’s myspace.  Click through to check out this heavier live jam.

Hearing these tracks makes me very excited to live in New York, because on April 1st DOM will be releasing their album at Pianos! The album release show will also feature Buvette from Switzerland, and probably more.  If you have been jamming to these tracks I highly recommend hitting that show up.  More details can be found here as they come available.  These first three singles make me really excited to see what an album from these men brings, and I’m expecting very good things.

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• more on DOM (including a download of his first single “Jesus”) can be found here.
• all DOM tour dates can be found here.

It’s been three years since Scout Niblett has graced us with an album, and at least for some of us it’s been a long wait.  Her 2007 release This Fool Can Die Now was my favorite record released that year, and in 2010 we get The Calcination of Scout Niblett.

Many people don’t know what to expect when picking up an album by Scout, and my friend Brady said it best recently: “No one told me she sounded like a more fucked PJ Harvey. I thought she was some little folksy nymph…She Rules.”  While her name might not make you think of heavy guitar, big drums, all surrounding Scout’s unique voice and lyrics which are, in the end, the tie that binds it all together.

The Calcination of Scout Niblett is a little bit of a departure from This Fool Can Die Now, in the sense that there aren’t any duets.  If you recall from her last album there were some fabulous collaborations with the one and only Will Oldham, and while those were extremely wonderful additions Scout doesn’t need anyone to help her carry the album.  The Calcination of is Scout Niblett’s sixth album, and the first on Drag City.  This as good of an introduction to her work as any, but while remaining extremely heavy it is possibly more accessible than her early albums.  It was unnecessary to look at the liner notes because the sound of the the guitars and drums is obviously the recording work of Steve Albini.  There is something magical about this man, and when he is combined with Scout Niblett at least for me he almost becomes a second member of the band.  Scout Niblett as be recording with him for as long as I can remember, and this combination is definitely working. By listening to the title track from the album, “Calcination,”  it might bring out your long lost (or never lost love ) for grunge, but in the end she is very much her own force.   This album isn’t a feel good album, but one that makes you feel emotions that are trapped deep inside of you.

[mp3] Scout Niblett- “Calcination”

While I have been loving the entire album it seem that I keep waiting for the least booming song on the record:  ”Duke of Anxiety.”  Giving a nice, but not needed, break from the heavy distortion of the rest of the record and really lets you take notice of her lyrics right off the bat.  Where as with the rest of the record it might take a couple listens to get down through the many layers that are present in the recording all the way to the lyrics, “Duke of Anxiety” brings them to the for front with just undistorted guitar backing her.  A song about depression and alcoholism which seems very personal, but from a woman who is, at least to me, extremely mysterious…so you never know where it is coming from.  It’s one of those tracks that I have had on repeat for about the past week in my headphones, and the one I wait for when the vinyl is spinning.  I’m really looking forward to seeing her play live in a couple weeks, and I surely hope this is on the set list.  I can only imagine what it will be like in person.

[mp3] Scout Niblett- “Duke of Anxiety (Swearing At Motorist cover)”

If these two tracks haven’t convinced you how awesome The Calcination of Scout Niblett is head over to Drag City and stream it here.

Then….

Buy the Calcination of Scout Niblett here.

• and if you don’t have them…buy the rest of her albums here….you won’t regret it.

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Scout Niblett is on tour right now too…and if you are in New York you have two chances to catch her:

• 3/12/2010, Brooklyn, NY, Union Pool, w/ Picastro
• 3/13/2010, New York, NY, 92 Y Tribeca w/ Vetiver & Kevin Barker

I’ll surely be at the Union Pool show…caught her there one of the last times she was in the city, and it was the perfect environment for her to play in.  If you aren’t in NYC…there are pleanty of chances to see her live, and you can check out those tour dates here.

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• more on Scout Niblett can be found here.

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thanks to Brad for pointing out that “Duke of Anxiety” is a Swearing at Motorist cover.  Most likely why it seemed a little out of place to me.

When your first introduction to a band is a cover song an initial opinion is typically made pretty quick, and there was no exception with Pure Ecstasy.

Winter time is the time of year, oddly enough, when I gravitate towards reggae…I bust out my Mystic Revelation of Rastafari, Soul Jazz and Pressure Sounds comps, Scientist LPs, and The Abyssinians…but I honestly don’t own anything by Toots & The Maytals…that didn’t mean I wasn’t familiar with “Pressure Drop.”

“Pressure Drop” is one of those songs that if you have the slightest interest in reggae as a genre you have probably heard(or maybe you have heard one of the many covers of it), and to hear a cover coming from a fuzzy indie band I can say at the very least I was skeptical, but I shouldn’t have been.

But Austin, Texas’ Pure Ecstasy hit this one right on.  Pure Ecstasy manages to stay true to both the song itself, and to their own sound.  While it’s not clean cut that it is a cover of a reggae classic, but the tone and vibe manage to remain true to the original.  On top of this Pure Ecstasy manage to incorporate their lightly fuzzed out mellow pop into it, and let both sides shine.  In my opinion they accomplish everything that should be present in a good cover song.

[mp3] Pure Ecstasy- “Pressure Drop”

• originally appeared on Friendship Bracelet Club Vol 2. (get that here)

Bringing Pure Ecstasy back to their own tunes is the track “Easy”  the A Side off of their 7″ on Light Lodge Records.  I was able to pick this 7″ up when I saw them play at Bruar Falls with Twin Sister last month (which is also where these pictures were taken).  “Easy” showcases Pure Ecstasy’s laid back indie pop, and has been playing on my iPod way before I got the 7″.  I’m so used to short songs these days, and everytime I play “Easy” I forget that it is a four minute jam…mellow, and long enough to let you truly get into it and relax.  Just when you think the track is over it goes into a ambient drone with just a vocal melody…and the then the guitar kicks back in to finish out the song… a perfect end to the track.

[mp3] Pure Ecstasy- “Easy”

• Buy the Easy from Light Lodge Records here.
  • buy their the very limited repress of their Future Nostalgia 7″ here.
  • pre-order their new 7″ Voices here.

After listening to “Easy” you can really see that Pure Ecstasy’s sound really does shine in “Pressure Drop.”  Looking forward to more from these dudes.  I know their trip to NYC wasn’t the best…some asshole had to steal their guitar.  I really hope they will be back.

Pure Ecstasy tour dates can be found here.

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The photos of Pure Ecstasy were taken on January 29th, 2010 at Bruar Falls.  These photos are from the White Lodge.

• more posts featuring photos from the White Lodge can be found here.

Here in New York all we are getting is snow, but it seems like it’s summertime in Michigan, or at least people are wearing their swimsuits.

Fred Thomas, of City Center, has teamed up with his friends Shelley, Dina (who also plays in Secret Twins, among others) and Amber (formerly of Dos Hermanos, among others) h to form Swimsuit.

The first thing I read about Swimsuit was: “Did you ever watch that show Kids In The Hall? Remember the theme song? All of our songs sound like that. (via).”

Admittedly I’m a huge Kids in the Hall fan (see this post), and there is even a Shadowy Men from a Shadowy Planet LP on my shelf (which is excellent by the way).

Fred and friends channel this vaguely surf influence into their music, and their first live set that was posted on the City Center blog has me pretty excited.  Just like Saturday Looks Good To Me and City Center…Swimsuit seems to have the same magic that Fred and company bring to everything they are involved in.  I’ve been really digging the entire set, but something about this rocking instrumental number has me moving (I extracted it from the live set so you can sample…but you really should just download the whole thing):

[mp3] Swimsuit- “Untitled New Jam (live in Ann Arbor)”

[live set download] Swimsuit- Live in Ann Arbor Michigan

Thanks Fred and Ryan for recording and posting this (live set is via this post)!

I can’t wait for Swimsuit to hit NYC, and City Center for that matter…it seems like it’s been a long time.

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I’ve been meaning to post about City Center for a while now (in my early days I was writing about them all the time)…so expect more on Fred and Ryan in the upcoming weeks.

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• more City Center here.
• photo via Jen Lovely.