Fleet Foxes are coming out with a new album, set to release on May 3rd! Thanks dudes. Check out a song from their new album, "Helplessness Blues" below.
And if you check back on the Fleet Foxes site tomorrow at 9 am, you can take part in the pre-sale for their upcoming tour. They're at the Fox (glorious!) in Oakland on May 5th.
This discotastic electro-pop group from Melbourne, Australia wiggled their way into my ear about a year ago with their catchy hit "Sometimes." Their newest album, Illumination, spreads more disco fever than the first, especially "Holidays" – an upbeat dance jam that feels like it belongs on my happy playlist with Cut Copy and Passion Pit. "I Look to You" featuring Kimbra has a cool balance of horns matched with vocals that take you a million miles away. They'll be at Mezzanine in SF on March 10th!
This is such a killer song. After the dancy intro, you're stoked when it transitions to the original sound of "San Francisco" sung by Scott McKenzie. 1967 is seriously flirting with the Sahara Tent in this one.
Photo courtesy of Pat Kelly. Check out more of his fabulous photogs on Hipster Hampster. You'll dig what you see.
Last weekend I visited the Motown Museum in Detroit, Michigan. Home to Barry Gordy, Jr., Smokey Robinson, Steveland Hardaway (aka Stevie Wonder), The Four Tops, The Funk Brothers and of course, my ex-boyfriend Marvin Gaye, this place is oozing with good vibes, creativity and American values.
What was most astonishing to me is the fact that Motown Records, established in 1959, was the voice of a nation in racial and cultural chaos. But Motown records was a constant and never closed its doors. It was open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even in the midst the 1967 race riot.
Smokey Robinson said:
"Into the '60s, I was still not of a frame of mind that we were not only making music, we were making history. But I did recognize the impact because acts were going all over the world at that time. I recognized the bridges that we crossed, the racial problems and the barriers that we broke down with music. I recognized that because I lived it. I would come to the South in the early days of Motown and the audiences would be segregated. Then they started to get the Motown music and we would go back and the audiences were integrated and the kids were dancing together and holding hands."
Some other cool facts I learned are:
• Barry Gordy, Jr. decided to forgo artists' faces on their first album covers, so radio stations would not be able to discriminate on the basis of race.
• Artist development was a huge part of Motown's operations. The acts on the Motown label were meticulously groomed, dressed and choreographed for live performances, and they were taught how to talk, eat, walk and carry themselves in public.
• The Funk Brothers are really responsible for the Motown sound. They were the house band and created nearly every song performed by the names we know best. (There is a great documentary on these guys called "Standing in the Shadows of Motown." Highly recommended.)
• There was a vending machine outside studio A, and the man who came to refill it knew to keep the Milky Way bar in the same slot for years. It was Stevie's favorite candy bar and he only knew it as four nobs from the right.
• Barry Gordy, Jr. sold Motown records in 1988 for 61 million bones. Not bad but I would have held on to it longer.
And since it wouldn't be totally out of place to share a Marvin video, here is a goodie:
Finally! Coachelladvent is upon us. In case you don't know, that's the 12 weeks before coachella in which we prepare our hearts, minds, souls and bodies for the most fun we'll have all year. This coachelladvent, I plan to check out some of the bands I don't know on the line up and get pumped for their Coachella splendor.
But first, I'll tell you who my insides are screaming for...
The Black Keys
Duck Sauce
Ms. Lauren Hill
Mumford & Sons
Robyn
Cut Copy
Cee Lo Green
A-Trak
Erykah Badu
And these are the bands I've heard of via the grapevine but am not a fan of... yet.
Yacht
Broken Social Scene
Death From Above 1979
PJ Harvey
Bright Eyes
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
Soothing and simple. Jesse Woods, my friends. I just really love this guy. Take a listen to this live version of "Ugly Dress". Makes me smile as I reach for my cowboy boots.
Check out this newish song from Lord Huron. He's folky and smooth, and makes you want to pack your bags for an epic journey through the mist... obviously ending up where the land meets the sea on a gloriously sunny day with all of your best friends and an orange Fanta in hand. Dontcha wanna?
I couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate the New Year than singing along to the horns of Rebirth Brass Band at The Independent on 1/1/11. Straight from New Orleans, these guys are a little bit of soul, a touch of jazz, a smidge of hip hop, and a smattering of FUN. As a fan of vocals in any music I listen to, I was shocked to find myself totally enthralled by the rhythms of the sax, trombone and trumpet, all equally as vocal as the other. You don't need no lyrics when you've got quick fingers like these guys. Take a look at this video of the show and buy a couple songs off iTunes. Your inner Bourbon Street reveler will thank you.
Yup, Portugal. The Man are the men of the hour. And no, that's not a typo, it's a period after "Portugal." A mix between Oasis and Yeasayer, this indie-pop foursome has a fluid, charming sound that plops you somewhere in the middle of the 60's and the early 90's. From their new album "The Satanic Satanist", "The Sun" is an easy breezy Sunday drive kind of song, and "Work All Day" feels a bit Brit with its catchy vocals. Ladies and gents, have at 'em.
