I haven’t seen Bombay Bicycle Club since 2009, when they played an acoustic set at my favorite pub in the world (The Old Queen’s Head, for you Londoners). Since then, they’ve made huge waves on both sides of the pond–being on the Twilight soundtrack probably didn’t hurt. The band has run the gamut from rock to folk, and I’ve long wondered how their sets mix songs like “Evening/Morning” with “Shuffle” or “Ivy & Gold”.
I’ll finally get to find out, as the band is heading to the US for a tour in February and March. They’ll hit Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco on February 16th, and mark my words–I’ll be there.
2/14/12 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah (21+)
2/15/12 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre (All Ages)
2/16/12 San Francisco, CA @ The Rickshaw Shop (18+)
2/17/12 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (21+)
2/18/12 Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Café (21+)
2/20/12 Vancouver, BC @ Venue (19+)
2/21/12 Kamloops, BC @ Blue Grotto (19+)
2/22/12 Calgary, AB @ Republik (18+)
2/23/12 Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room (18+)
2/25/12 Winnipeg, MB @ West End Cultural Centre (All Ages)
2/26/12 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry (18+)
2/27/12 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean (17+)
2/29/12 Columbus, OH @ The Basement (All Ages)
3/1/12 Toronto, ON @ Mod Club (19+)
3/2/12 Montreal, QC @ Cabaret Mile End (18+)
3/3/12 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (18+)
3/5/12 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (18+)
3/7/12 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club (All Ages)
3/8/12 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s (All Ages)
3/9/12 Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East Downstairs (18+)
3/10/12 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer (All Ages)
Tickets go on sale December 9th. Thanks for the heads up, Thrillcall.
Just to prove that I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth, here are some delightful news bits. It seems to be a big day for artists in the early part of the alphabet.
Here’s Bombay Bicycle Club’s new video for “Lights Out, Word Gone”, featuring some sweet dancing by cute old people.
Benjamin Francis Leftwich has gained attention for his covers–and has now released a free EP of them. Just by signing up for his mailing list here, you can download five tracks:
1. Pick Up Truck – Kings Of Leon
2. When You Were Young – The Killers
3. Atlantic City – Bruce Springsteen
4. Rebellion – Arcade Fire
5. Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
A few of these (When You Were Young, Rebellion) have already been in circulation, but these others are new–to me, at least. Check ’em out.
Ben Howard has announced 2012 UK tour dates. Pre-sale begins October 12th at 9am UK time.
13th Feb – Hall for Cornwall, Truro
14th Feb – Pyramids, Portsmouth
15th Feb – Concorde 2, Brighton
16th Feb – HMV Ritz, Manchester
18th Feb – Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
19th Feb – Oran Mor, Glasgow
20th Feb – Northumbria University, Newcastle
22nd Feb – Waterfront, Norwich
24th Feb – O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London
25th Feb – O2 Academy, Oxford
27th Feb – Cockpit, Leeds
28th Feb – HMV Institute, Birmingham
29th Feb – O2 Academy, Bristol
And finally, Daughter has just released The Wild Youth EP, available on UK iTunes and UK Amazon, or Bandcamp (below) worldwide. The EP was produced by Communion’s Ian Grimble.
The band’s website says it all: “have you felt like something’s been missing from your life recently? well you can stop worrying now, because the bombay bicycle club pacman game is finally here.”
Yep. Bombay Bicycle Club Pacman. The guilty pleasure you never knew you needed. It’s genius, really–not only does the game release clips from new songs (off August 29th’s A Different Kind of Fix), high scores enter you in a contest for a 7″ single of “Evening/Morning” and signed album artwork. The deets are on the graphic above.
I suck at Pacman, but it’s a fun way to hear a bit of music. At least in the 10 seconds before I get killed by Jack, Ed, and Jamie ghosts. BBC will be on the East Coast for a few dates in September–check ’em out here.
And take a look at the trippy new video for the Head and the Heart’s “Cats and Dogs”.
Bombay Bicycle Club releases video for “The Shuffle”
There was a while there where I listened to Bombay Bicycle Club’s “The Shuffle” fairly obsessively. Who can blame me, really–it’s damn catchy, and it’s the only offering so far from their anticipated third album, A Different Kind of Fix (out August 29th). The video shows them in their mega-star touring mode, using footage from various recent festivals. Needless to say that when I saw them in London a couple years ago (at the Old Queen’s Head), it was a wee bit different.
St. Vincent releases “Surgeon”, first single off Strange Mercy
Rest assured, I’ll be writing more about St. Vincent’s social media campaign for Strange Mercy. For now, I’ll just give you the link to stream/download the ethereal track “Surgeon”. Enjoy! Strange Mercy is due September 12th, along with a billion other albums (Laura Marling, Peggy Sue, Slow Club), which basically guarantees that my headphones will have to be soldered off my head.
Bombay Bicycle Club likes to switch it up. After the success of I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Loose, they released a folk album (Flaws) that proved they could sing whatever the hell they wanted and it would be pretty darn fabulous. Judging by this first single, “The Shuffle”, album number three seems closer to BBC’s acclaimed debut, but not by much. We’ve already heard “How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep”(just because it was on the Twilight soundtrack doesn’t mean it’s not great), and it finds a mellowed, sparkly middle ground between rock and folk. “The Shuffle”, likewise, smooths out the band’s rocky edges and adds some synthy goodness. It’s a departure for the genre-bending quartet from Crouch End, and I suspect will lead to major success on both sides of the pond. I know I’m already hooked.
NME has a first track-by-track guide to A Different Kind of Fixhere. It will be released in the UK via Island Records on August 29th.
As I sit here writing papers on things like copyright law and public opinion polls, the rest of the music-loving world is journeying to Austin, Texas. The interactive/film/music powerhouse that is SXSW draws everyone from industry insiders to spring breaking hipsters because of its sheer awesomeness. I’m going to be living vicariously through all the music bloggers and tweeters taking over Texas this coming week, and I’ll try to post some of my findings on here. In the meantime, here are some suggestions for SXSW bands and artists to check out.
Admiral Fallow
The Scottish band formerly known as the Brother Louis Collective released their debut, Boots Met My Face, on March 28th in the UK. They have the Scottish vigor of a band like Frightened Rabbit, but have added a bit of softness and a lovely wind section. Their lyrics are clever and evocative, and standout track “Squealing Pigs” is the cheeriest ode to that “sinking feeling of being alone” I’ve ever heard.
Alessi’s Ark
There’s really nothing about Alessi’s Ark that I can add to what I’ve said already. If you haven’t climbed aboard the Ark, you’re missing out–big time.
Bombay Bicycle Club
There’s nothing new or small about Bombay Bicycle Club, but these guys do give a great live show. I saw an acoustic set at London’s Old Queen’s Head pub, and was instantly sold. That they followed up their 2009 debut I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose with an acoustic album (Flaws) made me pretty darn happy. Word on the street (er, in NME) is that they’re returning to electric for album number three, which will be released in June.
Goldheart Assembly
Goldheart Assembly released 2010’s Wolves and Thieves to positive reviews, and by all accounts their live performances are even better. NME called their on-stage sound “an explosion of energy”, and the band’s energetic California-esque harmonies seem built for live audiences.
The Head and the Heart
I love these guys. As I previously wrote, I discovered the Seattle band at a Stornoway concert–and they blew me away. Now they’re signed to Sub Pop, touring with everyone from Dr. Dog to Iron and Wine (later this spring), and are certainly going to keep climbing. Check out their official video for “Lost In My Mind”, which has been circulating MTVU:
High Highs
The lush music of High Highs strikes the perfect balance between ethereal and energized. Their songs are simply beautiful. I was first wooed by this dreamy cover of Wild Nothing’s “Live In Dreams”:
James Vincent McMorrow
See my post at For Folk’s Sake on the husky Irish singer-songwriter. Seems like just the type to create a hauntingly intimate live show.
Matt Corby
Gotta give a Communion shout-out to Australian Matt Corby, who morphed from Australian Idol contender to scruffy folkie. The transformation seems to suit him well, and got him signed to Communion after a placement on one of their Compilations.
Matthew and the Atlas
Matthew and the Atlas truly takes my breath away. Do yourself a favor and check them out, as soon as possible. Like, stop reading this. Go.
Noah and the Whale
Though I’m not crazy about their brand spanking new third album, Last Night On Earth, my love for NATW still knows no bounds. I’ll be officially reviewing the album later, but for some great and heartbreaking tunes, check out The First Days of Spring.
Summer Camp
I think I’m beating a dead horse on this one. They’re great, we already know that.
The Vaccines
Ohhhh, the Vaccines. I’ve yet to fully make up my mind on this straight-up guitar rock project from Justin Hayward Young and co., but it is unquestionably fun pop music. Their EP was released in the US on March 8th, and their debut album will be available May 31st.
Also: Alex Winston, The Antlers, Birds & Batteries (San Francisco bands FTW!), Bobby Long, Caitlin Rose (who I’ll be seeing with Johnny Flynn in May!), Cheyenne Marie Mize (who I saw with Johnny Flynn in November), Hunx & His Punx, John Grant with Midlake, Maps & Atlases, Nathaniel Rateliff, Pepper Rabbit, Rural Alberta Advantage, Sea of Bees, Smith Westerns, Trampled by Turtles, Tune-Yards, Wye Oak. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Red Said 