Quick News

Nu-Rave rockers Does It Offend You, Yeah?! have gone on indefinite hiatus. The band announced their hiatus over the weekend via their Facebook page.

Flats singer Dan Devine is in London's Pentonville prison, undergoing a drug rehabilitation program. The news came after Devine's father, Alan McGee the man behind Creation Records, wrote an e-mail to the band's label, One Little Indian and said, "I’m not sure if you are aware, but Dan (Devine) is currently in Pentonville prison, undergoing a drugs rehabilitation programme." All things Flats related have been postponed until Devine exits rehab.

Here is something any fan of Britpop would never thought they would ever hear - Damon Albarn has invited Noel Gallagher to record with him. Albarn and Gallagher, who had famous spats in the 90's when Oasis and Blur were coming about, have seemed to make peace in recent months. Albarn told Shortlist Magazine, "He should come on the Africa Express train in September. That’d be a nice chance to collaborate."

Bob Dylan will receive America's highest honor for a civilian, he will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. President Obama will award Dylan, along with others later this spring.

Surfer Blood took to Twitter on Monday to announce they will begin recording their new album next month. The band released their debut, Astro Coast in 2010.

Following the success of their new album, Open Your Heart, Brooklyn garage rockers The Men have already begun working on a follow-up to the album. No word as to when they plan to release it.

Gaslight Anthem will release their new album, Handwritten on July 23 in the UK and the following day in the U.S. The band premiered their new single, "45" on Zane Lowe's radio show on BBC today, take a listen to it below:

EXCLUSIVE! The Parlotones INTV

It has to be an interesting experience for a foreign band who can go from selling out massive stadiums in their home country then coming to the U.S. and playing small clubs and starting over again. For South African rock band, The Parolotons, that is exactly what happened to them last fall when they came to the U.S. for a small tour after headlining major stadiums and arena's back home and going on a sold-out tour across South Africa with Coldplay. Yet, the band's sound is anything but small, they are already seasoned arena sized rockers in terms of sound and show and with the release of their new album, Journey Through The Shadows, next month, it looks like The Parlotones are just warming up for the big spaces here in America. We spoke with the band's singer, Kahn Morbee about the band's roots, influences, South Africa and their own brand of wine. Take a look at the interview below:


When I think of rock acts that come from South Africa, right away Seether is the only one that broke big internationally. Where does The Parlotones fall? How do you plan to break the mold of what we know of South African rock and roll?

I think we’ve always had a very independent ethos, we’re not going to sit around and wait for a BIG label to sign us and then pretend to work on us and stall our aspirations. We’ve done this independently and we’ll continue to do so. We’re not basing what we do on anything else except that we’re hungry to succeed  and we’ll keep pushing until we do, with or without the help of traditional industry. We cut our teeth in possibly ‘one of’ the hardest music environments because of sheer lack of industry and succeeded. Touring abroad is a breeze in comparison and we’re having too much doing what we love to actually fail.

 In recent years, Civil Twilight and BLK JKS, two very different sounding bands have gained some attention here in America but never achieved the massive rise they should have. Do you feel that it is much harder to break it in this country coming from your country?

I think America is always going to be tough to ‘crack’. It’s a BIG country, it has a healthy and very competitive music culture and its very difficult to reach a mass amount of people simultaneously because the popular media structures differ from town to town, unlike the national media in smaller countries which disseminate songs and a message a lot faster. I cant speak for the other two bands as I’m not familiar with their working structures, they’re both great and I’m not sure how much of their career relies on a 3^rd party (i.e. record label). It certainly is hard to break a country coming from another country because before you’ve even played a show you’ve invested bucket loads of money and time in VISA applications, flights and loss of income in shows back home to play a show for a few hundred dollars. This requires cash flow and obviously a resilience to not become jaded by the initial forays which are initially not well supported, only by the third tour does the progress and the prior perspiration seem to pay off, this investment in time can become disheartening when results are so delayed. Music is a tough game regardless of territory. Along the path, some give up and some don’t, I hope we’ll fall into the category of NOT quitting. The truth is our career has been about small progresses and that keeps us going.

The band has a very big British sound, was Britrock a major influence on your music?

Very much so. We grew up on a diet of The Smiths, the Cure, Radiohead and Queen but also R.E.M, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Crowded House and INXS. It wasn’t all British but I guess the way we naturally articulate stems from Britain so it certainly has that flavor.

What exactly is a Parlotone? How did you end up with the name?

It’s the tone you hear before leaving a message on a mobile phone! Just kidding, that’s what we used to tell people. We actually realized that 3 of our favourite bands (The Beatles, Radiohead and Coldplay) were signed to a label called Parlophone records and so we sort of morphed the name into The Parlotones.

Deep in your music, lies the sound of hope. Is that your main objective as songwriters and as a band to inspire your audience and give them some sort of hope?

I think we’ve always seen music as a cathartic experience. In order to be cathartic you need to reflect on the lows and highs synonymous with life but lace it with hope. At the core people are pretty much the same regardless of social standing or culture and share similar experiences and emotions. We all want something better and I guess what we’re writing about is that journey. We’re really just reflecting on the human experience and insinuating that the journey and the pursuit of something better is actually the enjoyment of life. Reflecting on both the good and the bad is what propels us forward.

You grew up during Apartheid and then during the Mandela reign, how did the shift in political and social power change you not just as a person but also as a musician?

If anything it made us very brave. In our short young lives, even though we were ignorant to most of it, there were massive changes, a sense of chaos, impending doom and fear. There was loads of anxiety within our borders and from abroad on the future of our country. The fact is there were and still are troubled times but the people that stayed behind have made it work and in a weird way South Africans kind of feel invincible, almost as if we can pull anything off because we thwarted what possibly could have resulted in civil war, and we’re rebuilding a nation. I think if anything I’ve learnt not to take my role as a musician in society too seriously, its just music which often gets revered or condemned as with as much fervor as a deity or demon. There really are bigger issues on our home and global stage. I’ve also accepted that life is short and the world is a chaotic place, not just South Africa. People around the world live in perpetual fear, why? Change, death and uncertainty are constant so as the cliché goes get busy living or get busy dying.

 In 2010 you played alongside Shakira, Alicia Keys, BLK JKS and many others for the World Cup ceremonies, what was that experience like supporting your country and Bafana Bafana?

Incredible. It was a proud moment for us South Africans. The cherry on the top was that we got to be a part of it, representing our country, doing what we love most in the world, playing our music to our homeland and the world. We were a part of an historic moment in South Africa’s history. It was something our wildest rock star fantasies could never have imagined.

Now we know South Africa has amazing wine, but in 2009 you decided to launch your own label, why is that? Can we try some when you come to the States?

We’ve always loved wine and in an interview with a property mag they asked what my dream property would be and `I said to own a small vineyard and release a boutique wine. A maker of wine, who happened to be a fan, read the interview and contacted us with the idea of actually pursuing the making of our own wine, which we did and we now have 3 in the range, a red, white and rose’.

We’re trying to bring it out but it is proving a little difficult with the various import restrictions etc.

From playing and selling out major stadiums to coming to America to play clubs, will it be a bit different and bizarre for you when you arrive in the States to do these gigs?

We’re certainly going to come down from the high of just having played to 110,000 people over the last two nights to small crowds, but we’re familiar with the process because we’re always ‘newbies’ in some territory. We sort of build up to a certain level in one territory and then move onto the next so there’s a continuing process of playing big shows and then small shows. It kind of feels like we’re always starting over, it keeps us humble and makes us appreciate the successes. There is a pleasure to be derived from both types of shows, BIG shows is the dream, small shows the intimacy.

There is still a core part of America that has never heard of you before, how do you intend to change that?

To play in every town that will let us until we all fall down dead.

What has been the best thing about being a Parlotone?

I think the fact that we’re four good friends touring the world together and living our dream. Something many South Africans dream of but very few have achieved. 

Miike Snow on Letterman

 Miike Snow brought their latest single, "Paddling Out," to Letterman on Friday night. Take a look.

Quick News

The Gaslight Anthem will release their new single, "45" on Monday. The band will press limited 7" copies of the single which will be released sometime in May. The song is off the band's forthcoming new record, Handwritten, which is due in the summer.

Also releasing a new album this summer will be Talib Kweli. The Brooklyn emcee announced his new record, Prisoner of Conscious will be out in July.

It was reported this week that the alleged vinyl collection of the late J Dilla went up for sale at a Detroit record store. The sale of the records have now been halted while Dilla's mother, Maureen Yancey tries to verify the vinyl. Jeff Bubeck, co-owner of record store, UHF, had been selling the records. Bubeck recovered the 7,000-8,000 records from an abandoned storage unit in Clinton Township, Michigan that he believed belonged to Dilla. While Dilla's mother confirmed that he did store his vinyl in a unit in that area, she also said that his choice records from the collection had been shipped to L.A. in 2004, where he was living at the time.

Primal Scream have found their replacement for bassist Mani, who left the band last year to reunite with Stone Roses. Primal Scream have announced that My Bloody Valentine's Debbie Googe will now be apart of the band's live line-up.

HOT WATER MUSIC on GERMAN TV

 Hot Water Music returned to TV...in Germany on the show NeoParadise, watch the band make their live TV comeback with their new single "State of Grace," from their forthcoming album, Exister.

LIVE PIX - The Vaccines @ Webster Hall

The Vaccines hit up Webster Hall in New York City on Monday after their Coachella appearance. Read the review HERE and check out pictures by photo correspondent Le-La Cloutier below:

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Ingrid Michaelson on Conan!

 Ingrid Michaelson was on Conan last night to perform her song, "Blood Brothers," take a look!

Baroness Cover & Tracklisting

On July 17, loud rock titans Baroness will release their new double-album, Yellow & Green. Take a look at the cover above and the tracklisting below:

Disc 1: 

1 Yellow Theme
2 Take My Bones Away
3 March to the Sea
4 Little Things
5 Twinkler
6 Cocainium
7 Back Where I Belong
8 Sea Lungs
9 Eula


Disc 2:
1 Green Theme
2 Board Up the House
3 Mtns. (The Crown & Anchor)
4 Foolsong
5 Collapse
6 Psalms Alive
7 Stretchmarker
8 The Line Between
9 If I Forget Thee, Lowcountry

ALEC EMPIRE Mix

 Friend of this site and leader of Atari Teenage Riot, Alec Empire took to KROQ recently and did a one hour mix for the legendary station. Take a listen as the pioneer of digital hardcore shows the new class of DJ's how it is done.

Playlist

We teamed up with Spotify for all to hear our playlists now! Take a listen to April's playlist below!
 

Norah Jones on Jools Holland

 Jools Holland had an amazing line-up of talent on Tuesdays show - Jack White, Alabama Shakes, Grimes and Norah Jones. Watch Jones perform her new song, "Happy Pills" on Jools.

Dave Matthews on Fallon

While President Obama was the real special guest on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Tuesday night, Fallon had a surprise for fans as Dave Matthews performed a brand new track, "Mercy," take a look!

QUICK NEWS

Passion Pit will release their new album, Gossamer on July 24.

Coheed and Cambria have officially announced new bassist, Zach Cooper to the band. Cooper comes in following last years firing of Michael Todd, who was arrested for armed robbery in Massachusetts last year.

Jack White has just signed on to score Disney's upcoming film, The Lone Ranger, which stars Johnny Depp.

The Beach Boys will release their brand new album on June 5th. The yet-to-be-titled new album is the band first record of original music in over two decades.

The Beatles are coming to a theater near you! The film, The Beatles: The Lost Concert will be screened across movie theaters next month. The film was shot in Washington, D.C., two days before the Fab Four's historic appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Screenvision, in partnership with Ace Arts and producer Iambic Media, will release the 92-minute documentary which tells the story of the infamous band's historic arrival in America and the impact they had through new interviews with associates, journalists, dj's, concert attendees, and historians.

Good news for Blur and Gorrilaz fans, Damon Albarn is backtracking on comments he made recently about how the end of both bands was looming. Albarn was interviewed by the Metro and was asked if the Hyde Park gig in August will be Blur's swansong, Albarn said, "No. That comes from an article which was an interesting take on a very long conversation. I don’t know how we’ll feel when we play Hyde Park. Some days I feel one way and other days I feel the other. If you don’t see something as a career but as an important part of your life, you don’t know how you’re going to feel about it. We want to put on a great performance but nothing’s been said between us about the beginning or the end." Albarn was then asked about the reported tiff he and Gorillaz artist Jamie Hewlett have had and he said, "When Jamie Hewlett and I have worked out our differences, I’m sure we’ll make another record. We’ve been through too much together for it to be that big of a mountain to climb. We’ve just fallen out like mates do sometimes. I’m not the only person to fall out with mates and then make up again – everyone does it."

Alabama Shakes on Jools Holland

Current Jack White touring mates and buzz band Alabama Shakes were also on Jools to perform their big single, "Hold On," take a look!

Grimes on Jools Holland

Buzz woman Grimes performed her single "Genesis" on Later...With Jools Holland last night. Take a look!

Jack White On Jools Holland

 Jack White celebrated the release of his solo album, Blunderbuss by performing on Later..With Jools Holland. Take a look as White played "Sixteen Saltines," and "Freedom at 21."

QUICK SPINS

Spiritualized – Sweet Heart, Sweet Light 

J. Spaceman aka J. Pierce and his cosmic band return for their best album since their breakthrough Ladies and Gentleman We Are Floating In Outer Space. Drugs, pain, heartbreak have always been at the center of every Spiritualized record, yet, Sweet Heart, Sweet Light hears the band hanging onto something they have never discussed – hope. The album plays like a symphonic masterpiece over electronic blips and beats with Spaceman’s signature vocal style, the album is so lush in sound, it is hard not to play it as loud as possible. Much like Ladies and Gentleman, Spiritualized reteam with the legendary Dr. John for a number and prove to have created one of the years best.

FINAL GRADE: A+

The Heartbreaks – Funtimes

We introduced you to Morcombe, England’s seaside sensation’s The Heartbreaks over a year ago and now after all the waiting and wondering, they finally released their fantastic debut LP, Funtimes. Produced by Orange Juice’s Edwyn Collins, Funtimes brings the perfect combination of pop, rock, soul, doo-wop all together on the years best debut release. Fans of all kinds from The Vaccines to Bruno Mars will love this album, it is the perfect pop record about love, loss and romantic confusion. While the wait for the record may have been long than anticipated, it was well worth it. Funtimes will be one of your favorite records of the year by one of your new favorite artists.

FINAL GRADE: A+

Alabama Shakes – Boys and Girls 

The blues-rock buzz band give us their debut and it lives up to the hype. In the door opened by artists like Jack White and The Black Keys, Alabama Shakes give us roots rock at it’s finest. Singer Brittany Howard has proven she is one of the best new voices in rock and roll today and Boys and Girls is record worth embracing.

FINAL GRADE: A

Screaming Females – Ugly

The New Jersey DIY punk trio return with mega producer Steve Albini on a record worthy of praise. One of the most perfect punk records released in years, Screaming Females have been a favorite with us since we saw them open for Arctic Monkeys in 2009, the band have gone on to win audiences around the country and now with Ugly, this will be the record that will put them over the edge and make them critical darlings the world over.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Quakers 

Geoff Barrow of Portishead assembles an all-star indie hip-hop line-up for a massive genre defining record. A 41-track album qualifies more for listening marathon but Barrow brings for Smif N Wesson, Guilty Simpson, Coin Locker Kid and many more for something fans of indie and hip-hop should listen to.
FINAL GRADE: A-

The Dig – Midnight Flowers

New York City indie sci-fi rockers return with their sophomore release and do not suffer the ill fated “sophomore slump,” most bands get into. Following the 2010 release of their debut, Electric Toys, The Dig bring more atmosphere and curiosity, romanticism and mysteriousness to their sound with Midnight Flowers. A solid release and shows the band progressing in all the right directions.

FINAL GRADE: B+

The Soundtrack Of Our Lives – Throw It To The Universe

Sweden’s space / psychedelic ensemble return three years after the release of their ambitious double album, Communion with a solid and conscious new album. Throw it to the Universe is everything we have come to love about TSOOL over the years, it is a perfect record for fans, while it sustains the sound they have crafted and mastered for so long, it does not venture into too distant territory, it is still a solid release.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Miike Snow – Happy to You

Sweden’s favorite dance masters return with a new album and lighter sound but still show how much fun they can have. While, Happy to You is a much more mellow release in comparison to the band’s self-titled 2010 debut, it still is a pleasure listening to, especially when Lykke Li collaborates on “Black Tin Box.”

FINAL GRADE: B

Rusko – Songs

On his third album, Rusko still brings dirty, hard hitting beats and enough movers and shakers on one record to create an instant dance party.

FINAL GRADE: B

Orbital – Wonky 

The U.K. electronic duo arrive in a new era where dance music seems to have taken over the world and DJ’s are the new rock stars, yet Wonky still shows that you can never mess with an original. Bringing the Madchester scene back to life, Wonky is Orbital flexing muscle and years of work to the new generation.

FINAL GRADE: B

Jack White – Blunderbuss

Jack White goes solo for the first time and makes a Jack White record. Blunderbuss is a unyielding blues-rock record from a man who helped usher blues rock back into the mainstream, however, much like his work with The White Stripes, Racontours, Dead Weather it has his musical imprint all over and is not too diverse for someone who we all hail with such regard.

FINAL GRADE: B

Plug 1 and Plug 2 Present First Serve

De La Soul’s Plug 1 and Plug 2 bring team up for a departure from their main outfit and bring us First Serve – a concept record that plays like a conversation more than it does a hip-hop record. Speaking about social issues, life and how to live, First Serve is a throwback hip-hop record of sorts that makes us remember 90’s glory days of hip-hop.

FINAL GRADE: B

Civil Twilight – Holy Weather 

The South African three piece with inspiration from Coldplay and Keane showed much promise early in their career, yet their latest record just sounds like a generic pop-rock radio-friendly album to gain commercial attention.

FINAL GRADE: C

Our Lady Peace – Curve 

Sometimes band’s peak early in their career and then later on they fall apart. Canada’s Our Lady Peace were one of those band’s that saw some of their best material arrive in the 90’s, then as the turn of the century happened, they got better with records like Spiritual Machines and Gravity. As they got better, they also got bigger commercially and released Healthy In Paranoid Times in 2005 and for purposes of this review, we will say it was the last good OLP album. After 2010’s disappointing Burn Burn, the band comeback with a new record that almost makes it embarrassing to ever say you were a fan. Curve is as generic and as flat and dull as it gets, it hears a band trying their hardest to stay relevant and fail miserably.

FINAL GRADE: F

Live Review - The Vaccines @ Webster Hall

With the waves and waves of bands from all over the world in the U.S. for the now two weekend Coachella festival, many oversea's bands have scheduled gigs before, around and after the massive California festival. One of those bands have been one of 2011's favorite new bands - The Vaccines. The London pop-punk band played New York City for the first time this year Monday night at Webster Hall.

After playing New York City a handful of times last year, this was the first time the band were truly poised and ready for action in front of a Big Apple crowd that loves them dearly. Arriving on stage at 10p.m. sharp, the band looked anything but nervous and broke right into "Blow it Up," the escalating radio-friendly rock tune before breaking into the full-steam ahead punk number "Wrecking Bar (Ra, Ra, Ra)." With the first two songs The Vaccines set the tone of the evening, they are going to slow it down then pick it up and it will be a fun night for everyone. Playing in front of a backdrop that was a giant version of the cover of their brilliant debut, What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?, the band broke into their new single, "Tiger Blood," which was produced by Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes. With only their one record a handful of EP's, The Vaccines, who have been hard at work on their sophomore album, road tested four other new songs aside from "Tiger Blood," from what they played, the songs were just as forceful, yet not as poppy as the songs on their debut. The new tracks hear a progression in attitude and style for the band and while it was only a tease, it is something to look forward to.

While the new songs caught the attention of everyone in the packed room, it was favorites like "Wetsuit," "Post Break-up Sex," "If You Wanna," and "Wolf Pack" that got everyone going. "New York City, thank you for giving us a reception like this in a city that has had so much musical history," singer Justin Young told the crowd before the band's two song encore. In the hour The Vaccines were on stage they left their mark that in everyone's head as they go back into the studio, no telling when they will be back again, but when they do, their sets will be longer and packed with more musical ammunition.

THE HIVES ON KIMMEL!

 The Hives returned to U.S. TV last night to perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Watch the band play "Wait a Minute" and "Go Right Ahead."

Quick News

Nas has announced he will release his new album, Life is Good this summer.

Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst will be having a busy summer, as he and his friend Phil Schaffart will open a bar in their native Omaha, Nebraska called Pageturner's Lounge. It will be a live music and social venue. Oberst will also reunite with his former band The Desaparecidos on August 11 for Omaha's Maha Music Festival.

Following his 2009 French covers album, Préliminaires, Iggy Pop will return singing in French for a mainly covers record called Après. It will feature him doing covers of Edith Piaf, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Yoko Ono, Serge Gainsbourg, Cole Porter and more. The album will be out in May.

On July 2, Duran Duran will release their live album, A Diamond in the Mind on Blu-Ray, DVD, CD and digital. The album was recorded at a December 2011 concert in Manchester, England. Currently the album is only getting a U.K release, no word on a U.S. release.

fun. on Letterman

 fun. performed their massive hit, "We Are Young," on Letterman last night. Take a look!

Live Review - REFUSED @ Terminal 5

Two reunions happened earlier this year that no one in the punk and hardcore community thought they would ever see. First was El Paso, Texas post-hardcore hero's At The Drive-In coming off an 11 year hiatus, then suddenly Swedish band Refused announced the end of their 14 year silence. Much like another reunited band, Pulp, the last time Refused played the  United States was in 1998 and it would be their final show, which was broken up by police at a basement party in Alexandria, Virginia. Now, recharged, reloaded and reunited Refused played New York City for surprisingly the very first time in the first of two sold-out concerts at Terminal 5.

"We came to the U.S. in 1996 to support Snapcase and we grew up on New York City Hardcore - bands like Sick Of It All, Gorilla Biscuits, Youth of Today, Agnostic Front. So playing NYC was a big deal for us, but when we came here we played Long Island. So tonight is history," Refused front man Dennis Lyxzen told the audience halfway through the bands set. It was at that moment that the crowd realized that they were not just witnessing a band who they may or may not have ever seen or thought they would ever see, but were witnessing a piece of history. Refused, much like At The Drive-In broke-up far too early in their career, just as they were peaking to everyone's attention, they called it quits, so these reunion shows are far more special than anyone could imagine.

As the house lights dimmed and a black curtain hung over the stage covering the band's gear, lights from behind the curtain blasted through a giant cutout that read - "R.E.F.U.S.E.D." It was a rather intimidating sight but once the first hit of the snare drum happened it was as if an Atom bomb went off into the audience as pandemonium at it's finest occurred. Playing a majority of songs off their seminal final record, The Shape of Punk to Come, and being six shows into this reunion tour, it was as if Refused never left us. Musically the band sounded better than they ever did and playing to some of the largest audiences of their career, they had the power to reach out to everyone in the room like a band playing one of the world's largest stadiums. Lyxzen would strut and move around stage like he was being chased by the police, a wildly physical front man who not only knows how to motivate and inspire an audience but also entertain. In between songs Lyxzen would reflect on the band's short career and reunion, politics, and those who influenced him, "We were a bunch of hicks from the North of Sweden. Four of us drove in a car for 12 hours to see Sick of It All play in Sweden. We slept in tents to see them," after he told his story, Refused brought out legendary Sick of it All front man Lou Koller to play his band's song "Injustice System." A night filled with surprises, reflection and most of all gratitude from the audience to the band that they are back and from the band to the audience for having them back. While the set lasted just over an hour, the biggest and most earthmoving moment came when Refused played their biggest single, "New Noise," at which point, the security in the venue really earned their paychecks.

"Stay curious, stay wild and stay fucking hungry," Lyxzen said to the faces in the crowd, he would tell everyone to stand for their beliefs and be who they were, while the band may have been silence for all these years only to be resurrected now, their message has been alive and well. Now back and better than ever, Refused can bring their message and agenda back to the masses at a time when the masses may need it most.

REFUSED Terminal 5 4/22/12 Setlist
Worms of the Senses / Faculties of the Skull
The Refused Party Program
Liberation Frequency
Rather Be Dead
Coup d'état
Summerholidays vs. Punkroutine
The Deadly Rhythm
Hook, Line and Sinker
Refused Are Fucking Dead
Life Support
Addiction Injustice System - Sick of It All cover with Lou Koller
The Shape of Punk to Come

Encore
New Noise
Tannhäuser / Derivè

EXCLUSIVE! Puro Instinct INTV!

Cyndi Lauper said it best, "Girls just want to have fun," for two sisters Piper and Skylar Kaplan who entered the music world a handful of years ago under the name Pearl Harbor, they caught the attention of famous indie label Mexican Summer, changed their name to Puro Instinct and the rest is indie-pop history. The sisters gained a buzz last year after the release of their album, Headbangers in Ecstasy which showcased their raw, uninhabited shoegaze, psychedelic sound to the masses. The duo even gained the support of Aerial Pink's Haunted Graffiti House who asked them to tour with them and eventually working on a single together. After a massive 2011, the girls have been quiet in 2012, we spoke to Piper to find out what is happening with Puro Instinct now.

You went from being in the band Pearl Harbor and now doing Puro Instinct, how did the change come about?

We're still the same guys, man. Still puffing them leafz, still not loving police..

Being from LA does the city have an influence on your sound and style?

I think it might. I got back from a tour of Europe and Japan and I didn't really realize how much of a Bev Hillbilly I was until I left. I would say that if there's an era of L.A. that sort of infiltrates our vibe, it's probably like 1987-1993.. lots of dayglo goths, pastel punks and G'N'R cronies cruisin Hollywood, where we grew up. I was living in the thick of it, and I think all the people and music I encountered influenced me a lot at that age..

Since you are both sisters, does sibling rivalry get in the way of working sometimes?

Nope.. I'm pretty sure I'm too old to trifle with that sort of thing.

     

We have seen many bands work with their siblings then fall apart – Oasis, Black Crows, Spacehog. Does this ever worry you that maybe the statistics are pretty high for you to fall apart? Or does it not even matter and you just keep plugging along?

The statistics are pretty much always in favor of us falling apart. That's part of the thrill of being in this band! Who's Spacehog?

You were one of the break out bands from SXSW last year, what was that experience like?

I imagine that it's similar to what it'd be like to play your first show over and over again (crappy sound, weird venue), sometimes up to 20 times a day, except in Austin, and with more drunks and journo's in the audience.

 There is something very special and unique about your sound, who are some of your influences?

 Thanks! We love China Crisis, Rah Band, Al Diamond, Kino.. buncha stuff..

 Your debut, Headbangers in Ecstasy has gotten much praise and has people talking about you. The album serves up all your passion and love, what is it like to have all of this be respected and honored after working so hard on it?

Really? I don't know that it's happened quite like that, but I appreciate the possibility of playing these songs to whoever wants to hear them, you know? It's a special thing to be able to tour and share your ideas with people from around the world, and I really hope to be lucky enough to keep visiting these places and people with new stuff.

 What was it like working on your debut?

It was a blast. Kenny's a dream to work with. He's got a great ear and he's a wiz in the studio, which made my job pretty much as easy as it gets. Got to putz around with a lot of Kenny's gear which I'm looking forward to doing again sometime soon..

 How did the title of the album come about?

I probably had an epiphany watching Total Recall or something

The album is out on Mexican Summer, how did you link up with them?

My friend Matty tipped 'em off about Pearl Harbor and Keith from Mexican Summer hit me up to see if we'd like to release an EP with 'em. We were stoked.

You worked with Ariel Pink, what was that experience like?

It was great. He's like a brother to me, so it's pretty casual you know? Just plug in some keyboards and hammer away

Were do you you see this band in a year, especially after the 2011 you had?

Who knows? We're working on another record, and beyond that it's anybody's game.

 What has been the best thing about being in this band thus far?

Playing Tokyo! If we ever go to Moscow, it'll probably be a tie...

Live Review - Portugal. The Man @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

Portugal. The Man have had an interesting April, first their longtime keyboardist Ryan Neighbors left the band to pursue more solo material. Then earlier this month, it was reported that they fired their touring drummer mid-set in New Orleans and still managed to continue their show. Now, after all the departures and stress, one of the greatest live bands around returned to the New York area for their sold-out headlining slot at the Jagermeister Music Tour.

As soon as you walked into Brooklyn's beloved Music Hall of Williamsburg it was evident that the mix of corporate branding and artistic integrity are going to go neck-and-neck all night. As the Jager logo was splashed all around the intimate venue, the massive lighting set-up from Portugal. The Man's stage sprawled into the audience like octopus tentacles reaching out to grab you. The interesting juxtaposition made for an interesting ambiance but at the end of it all, we were all in attendance to see the Portland, Oregon-via-Wasilla, Alaska art rock band.

Arriving on stage at 11pm and opening with "All Your Light," any story or issue one may have heard about the band not being up to par with their new rookie members was not only thrown out the window straight away, it was also just that - a story. Portugal. The Man, who are the road dogs of music these days are such a tight, well oiled machine that any new introduction, in terms of musicians, would have to be fast learners and talented players and they recruited just that. In the near two hours they were on stage, Portugal. The Man lit up the room (literally and figuratively) with a fantastic setlist that featured "Do You," "Head is a Flame," "So American," "Got it All," "People Say," "Guns and Dogs," "Sleep Forever" and many more. What was brilliant and has always been brilliant about seeing this band live is that you never know what to expect next, many of the songs were stretched out with the band breaking down the music and jamming on their instruments creating a rock meets acid jazz sound that Miles Davis and his Bitches Brew-era band would have loved to witness. Yet, the real highlight was how Portugal. The Man managed to seamlessly add two Beatles classic's - "Helter Skelter" and "Hey Jude" into their performance, the covers were certainly something the Fab Four would greatly admire.

While this has been one of the countless times we have covered this band for this site and each show has been better than the last, one thing has been constant - you can see Portugal. The Man everyday of the week and every time it will be as if you are seeing a different band. They are Forrest Gump's box of chocolates - you never know what you are going to get but what is for sure is that you will get something you will always remember.

VINTAGE CLIP - Refused in 1996

 While Refused storm the dessert again this weekend at Coachella and then melt our faces tomorrow in NYC, just surfaced this week on YouTube was footage of the band in 1996 playing at Chicago's Fireside Bowl. Take a look!

RECORD STORE DAY!

"There is nothing quiet like sitting with a turntable" - Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys

"Record shops are as important as the records themselves" - Noel Gallagher

Tomorrow is the annual RECORD STORE DAY and we are giving you a list to special releases at INDEPENDENT Record Stores for your listening pleasure. Here is some of what is coming out on special vinyl releases for the big day:

- Noel Gallagher - Songs From The Great White North EP
- Arctic Monkeys - "R U Mine" single b/w "Electricity"
- At The Drive - In - Vaya Ep (Special White and Pink vinyl re-release)
- PiL - One Drop EP
- Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends (The Lips with collaborators Chris Martin of Coldplay, Mastodon, Ke$ha, Nick Cave, Lightening Bolt, Bon Iver and more)
- The Heartbreaks - Funtimes (Special white vinyl release)
- The Horrible Crowes - Record Store Day 7"
- Dave Hause - Resolutions 7"
- Belle & Sebastian - Crash 7"
- Lee "Scratch" Perry - Blackboard Jungle Dub
- The White Stripes - "Hand Springs / "Red Death at 6:14"
- Portugal. The Man - "Got it All" 7"
- Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come (Special colored vinyl re-release)
- Garbage - "Blood for Poppies"
- Snapcase - Progression Through Unlearning (Special colored vinyle re-release)
- Festiodon aka Mastodon & Feist covering each other. Two separate 7"'s take a listen below:

QUICK NEWS

Sad news to report, Levon Helm, drummer of The Band passed away on Thursday after a long battle with throat cancer. Lelm was 71.

Former Guns 'N Roses drummer Matt Sorum has confirmed to VH1that he is planning a biopic for GNR. He said,"I've talked about doing a screenplay and that's actually something that I'm in talks about with a couple of pretty big people. The only problem with that is figuring out how to work out the music situation."

The Red Hot Chili Peppers will release a covers EP to celebrate their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The covers EP will include Ramones "Havana Affair," Iggy & the Stooges "Search & Destroy," Neil Young "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere," David Bowie "Suffragette City," the Beach Boys "I Get Around" and Dion and the Belmonts "A Teenager In Love."

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zero's will release their new album HERE on May 28. Take a look at the tracklisting below:
1) Man On Fire
2) That's What's Up
3) I Don't Wanna Pray
4) Mayla
5) Dear Believer
6) Child
7) One Love To Another
8) Fiya Wata
9) All Wash Out

Kasabian on Kimmel

 Ahead of their second weekend at Coachella, Kasabian performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Take a look!

LIVE REVIEW - Bad Brains / GZA @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

An epic double bill of two legends in their own right - punk and hardcore pioneers, Bad Brains and Wu-Tang Clan member GZA together for one night in Brooklyn. While this was a small East Coast tour for Bad Brains, they have been bringing select guests and friends with them on various nights. The previous night in Manhattan saw H20 and Scream together for an epic night of hardcore, yet on Wednesday, Bad Brains mixed it up a bit having the GZA on the bill.

Bad Brains, who have shifted styles and sounds and credit for inspiring so many artists from Beastie Boys, Living Colour, Scream, Dave Grohl, Cerebral Ballzy and so many more. While Bad Brains sound has shifted from hardcore and punk to dub and reggae, they still mix it up for the audience coming to see them. Opening with a pounding set of their signature aggressive sound, the music of guitarist Dr. Know and bassist Darrel Jennifer along with drummer Earl Hudson was tight and very intact. Yet, one of the more interesting experience's to everyone was watching singer H.R., dressed in a velour jump suit with a dress shirt and tie underneath and knit hat, H.R., who has battled drug addiction and years of abuse to his body doing this profession simply looked burnt out. Slurring many of his words and mumbling in between songs, at points Jennifer would look at him and laugh, yet while his annunciation skills were not as top as the band's sound, it was still an overall experience watching him perform. Much like Brian Wilson to The Beach Boys, you go back and watch H.R. perform with Bad Brains out of respect and nostalgia for what that band has done for music and what they continue to do. In a set that saw them switch on and off like a light bulb between sound and styles, the crowd loved every second of it. With some off-the-wall stage diving from the audience and a massive pit for the vibrant hardcore classics like "Pay to Cum," "Banned in D.C.," and "I Against I," there were moments that no one on that stage showed their age, yet when the dub and reggae numbers would arrive, the heart rate of the crowd would mellow, but fire up as soon as the tempo picked up.

Opening, but in may ways could have been co-headling was Wu-Tang member GZA. GZA who is prepping a new album and a series of shows with a Latin band to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his cutting edge and celebrated solo album, Liquid Swords brought out all the hits in a greatest hits set filled with classics of his work in Wu-Tang, on his own and from his friends. With special appearances by Masta Killa and Papa Wu, GZA had a full locker full of forceful songs to deliver. Spitting each lyric in his signature staccato style, GZA showed what he was made of on his own. "I really love this place. I have never played here before, the sound is off-the-hook," GZA said speaking about Music Hall's impressive sound system before freestyling in a touching tribute to his fallen Wu-Tang brother and friend, Ol' Dirty Bastard then covering "Shimmy, Shimmy Ya." In the 45-minutes GZA was on stage, he could have come back for an encore and done more, yet with the taste of what he showed off, was enough considering who was following him on stage.

Dr. Know

GZA

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QUICK NEWS

Sad news to report - "America's Oldest Teenager," Dick Clark passed away on Wednesday at a Los Angeles hospital after suffering a massive heart attack. Clark, who hosted American Bandstand ushered in pop music to American living rooms. He was 82.

Interpol's Paul Banks is set to release a solo EP, then a full length record this year. The EP, Julian Plenti Lives... will be released on June 12 and will feature Banks covering J. Dilla, Frank Sinatra and others. A full length is expected later on in 2012.

Vampire Weekend's Chris Baio will release an EP under the name Baio in May. The EP, titled Sunshine will be released on Hot Chip member Joe Goddard's Greco-Roman label.

Bad Brains confirmed last night in Brooklyn that they are working on their new album, Into The Future and will be released more.

Blur have announced details of a massive box set to celebrate their 21 years together and final gig at the Olympic's closing ceremonies. Watch the trailer below for a full recap as to the details of what is in the set:

PAUL WELLER on JOOL HOLLAND!

The Modfather, Paul Weller headlined the 40th season of Later...With Jools Holland. Take a look as Weller performed "The Attic," and "Kling I Klang" off his latest, Sonik Kicks.

Great Soundtracks - Do The Right Thing

In 1989 one of the most eye opening and forward thinking films of all time, Do The Right Thing was released. While the film put the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bed-Stuy on the map, it also showed off the fact that hip-hop could fuel a film's soundtrack and enhance the dichotomy of a film's narrative. Director Spike Lee used a typical score for his Oscar® nominated film he also used the new urban sound that was sweeping New York City and young listeners around the country by storm. While the mainstream had yet to really take hip-hop serious, Lee, who executive produced the soundtrack, proved it was more than just beats and words and that it could lead action and show something far more serious, like folk and punk a generation prior, hip-hop now became the new voice of the people and Do The Right Thing showed that.

With it's lead single, Public Enemy's "Fight the Power," Do The Right Thing fueled in sales and spots on MTV. Also featured on the soundtrack are Steel Pulse, Al Jarreau, E.U. and many others, Do The Right Thing became more than a soundtrack to a film, but the call of a whole spawning sector seeking to be heard.

Quick News

Sad news to report, former member of The Band, Levon Helm is in the final stages of Cancer. In a letter posted on his website, his family stated:

Dear Friends,

Levon is in the final stages of his battle with cancer. Please send your prayers and love to him as he makes his way through this part of his journey.

Thank you fans and music lovers who have made his life so filled with joy and celebration... he has loved nothing more than to play, to fill the room up with music, lay down the back beat, and make the people dance! He did it every time he took the stage...

We appreciate all the love and support and concern.

From his daughter Amy, and wife Sandy

In an interview with Rolling Stone, The Hold Steady have confirmed that they will record their new album this summer. 

Thanks to a picture on Twitter, Deftones have confirmed that they have officially begun working on their new album today.

Since the most thing talked about Coachella was not even alive - Tupac's hologram, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg are pondering the idea of taking the hologram out on the road with them for a possible stadium tour this year according to The Wall Street Journal. 

While Kraftwerk continue their New York City residency, the only original member of the German electronic pioneers, Ralf Hutter told The New York Times that a new album is coming "soon." Hutter did not elaborate any further. 

Axl Rose has appologized to fans for formally not attending this past weekend's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction for Gun's 'N Roses. He said in a statement on the GNR website:

To: Cleveland, Ohio, Guns N' Roses Fans and everyone who's shown support for my decision regarding the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

I seriously didn't plan on or expect the overwhelmingly positive response and public support for my decision regarding the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. With such a generous outpouring of solidarity from fans, media outlets, writers and other artists, I'm truly humbled, blown away and unbelievably relieved! To be honest, I thought it would go the other way and was just hoping to weather the storm. As I said, I sincerely didn't want to disappoint anyone. It gets old being the outlaw even if "it's only rock and roll".

It took a lot of focus and soul searching to be sincere and informative while making a genuine effort to be somewhat diplomatic. We made, what I feel, are real efforts to learn about the Hall and the Board, spoke as I said with the president and various members, and though I inducted Elton John and Bernie Taupin in '94 saying something to the effect of "I'm learning what the Hall's about..."

I still don't exactly know or understand what the Hall is or how or why it makes money, where the money goes, who chooses the voters and why anyone or this board decides who, out of all the artists in the world that have contributed to this genre, officially "rock" enough to be in the Hall?

This isn't an attack. These are genuine issues I don't have enough verified information on to have more than rough ideas. Certainly not enough information to make any judgments about.

I would like to apologize to Cleveland, Ohio for not apologizing to them beforehand for not attending [the ceremony] in their city. I think they know how much I genuinely love performing there. Cleveland does in fact Rock!!

Now that the smoke's cleared a little, any desperate, misguided attacks have been just that, a pathetic stab at gossip, some lame vindictiveness, the usual entitlement crap, he's obsessed, crazy, volatile, a hater. I once bought a homeless woman a slice of pizza who yelled at me she wanted soup. We got her the soup. You can get your own.

Again: HUGE thanks to the fans and to everyone for the incredible public support. My congratulations to the other artists inducted. And my apologies to the city and people of Cleveland, Ohio. I hope you'll forgive me and we hope to see you again soon!

Keep Rockin',Axl

Unlike my open letter to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Guns N' Roses Fans and Whom It May Concern this was written for GNR's official website, Facebook account and my personal twitter account and not intended as a press release. If anyone does choose to pick this up as has been done previously I'd appreciate if you'd run in full including this paragraph so as not to give a partial picture, have things taken out of context or to imply or inadvertently give the impression this was intended for other outlets.