New Single: "Find Them Empty" by Woods

  "Find Them Empty" by Woods by forcefieldpr

Check out Brooklyn band Woods' new single, "Find Them Empty" off their new 7", which features two singles,  officially released July 19th.  Don't miss their upcoming North American tour, which will bring them to the Independent on July 29th. 

Summer Concert Calender

6/20 The Mountain Goats @ the Fillmore (this one is a must)
6/22 Okkervil River @ Fox Theater
6/22 The Kooks @ Slim's
6/23 Rooney @ Slim's
6/24 My Morning Jacket @ Fox Theater
6/28 Dr. Dog @ the Independent
7/2 Ty Segall @ the Independent
7/9 Washed Out @ GAMH
7/19-20 The Avett Bros @ the Fox
7/27 Yuck @ the Independent
7/29 Woods @ the Independent
8/2 Real Estate @ the Independent
8/13-8/14 Outside Lands!! 
9/10 Fleet Foxes @ the Greek
9/22 Bon Iver @ the Greek
9/27 TV on the Radio @ Fox
9/30 Tea Leaf Green @ the Independent
10/3 Handsome Furs @ Slim's

Featured Artist: Yuck

UK band Yuck released their self-titled debut in February 2011 and have spent the last few months touring with Australian psychedelic band Tame Impala.  They recently announced a continued tour for this summer and fall, beginning with an appearance at Pitchfork Music Festival.

They'll be making an appearance at the Independent July 27th (I'm sorry to say I'll be missing the show but I have no doubt it will be great).

Their sound is deeply influenced by 90s grunge bands like Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr. which is probably why I'm such a fan.  Download their album Yuck here.

Check out the premiere of their new music video "Shook Down," released yesterday.


Yuck - Get Away from Yuck on Vimeo.


 Milkshake by Yuck

Listen Now: new Handsome Furs "Repatriated"

Handsome Furs' new pulsing and swirling track "Repatriated" from their forthcoming album Sound Kapital (released June 28th) is another success for Dan Boeckner (also of Wolf Parade) and his wife Alexei Perry.  The duo is definitely on my list to see in concert in the near future, as of course is Wolf Parade (who release their third LP July 29th).

Handsome Furs - Repatriated by subpop

Listen Now: YACHT "Utopia"

YACHT share a track from their upcoming album. "Utopia" is a companion piece to "Dystopia (The Earth is on Fire)."



  YACHT - Utopia by DFA Records

Sleigh Bells w/ Neon Indian @ the Rickshaw Stop 6/1/11

Last night's show was all about noise: the louder, the better. "San Francisco, make some fucking noise!!" shrieked Sleigh Bells' singer Alexis Krauss into the packed and sweaty Rickshaw Stop crowd at her third and final concert in San Francisco this week. Not that anything could be heard over the gut-wrenching, rib-crushing sound blasting from the amplifier-lined stage.

The night began with a set from psychedelic chillwave band Neon Indian, whose hour-long set was intensely loud yet somehow still laid-back, an impossible combination that Neon Indian's first album, Pyschic Chasms, balances perfectly. Frontman Alan Polomo, who writes, produces, and records all of Neon Indian's music, manipulated intricate layers of dream-pop sound into a hazy cloud of noise that washed over the audience like a drug.

Sleigh Bells' set began with several minutes of screamo rock before the duo even walked on stage. When they finally did, lights flashing, the crowd went wild. Krauss, donning an athletic jersey printed with the name "Bells," reached out towards her cult of fans, who seemed to love each song more than the one before it. Favorites like Rill Rill and Crown on the Ground sent the audience into a dancing frenzy, led by Krauss's constant movement on stage.

Guitarist Derek Miller often faded into the background, despite the fact that he writes and produces all of the duo's music. Tattooed singer Alexis Krauss dominated the stage, and I got the feeling that everyone in the crowd either wanted to be her or be with her. Krauss's haunting vocals floated over the staggering layers of sound as she caressed the over-sized speakers on either side of the stage.

Treats was the climax of the night, synthesizers and feedback reverberating through the walls of the tiny Rickshaw Stop and leaving the audience with no choice but to dance. The noise pop duo's sound is an irresistible juxtaposition of Miller's hardcore rock band background and Krauss's experience singing in teen pop group Rubyblue.

After a half-hour set consisting of eight songs, Sleigh Bells left the stage, leaving the energetic audience in disbelief, clearly not ready to stop dancing. A few seconds later, though, they were back for the encore, beginning with one of their most mellow songs, relatively speaking: Rachel. Krauss's voice floated hauntingly over the synthesizers and pulsing bass drone. The intensity quickly built back up with A/B Machines, sending Krauss crowd surfing through a sea of adoring fans in her metallic leggings and strappy leotard.

Sleigh Bells have only one eleven-song album, Treats, released in May 2010, yet they sold out three San Francisco shows to their quickly-growing cult following, who knew every single song that was played. I have no doubt that their upcoming album release will be largely successful, seeing as all of our ears are still ringing from the Sleigh Bells debut.

  Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill by marinak