Monday night at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom saw the welcome return of Chicago natives Wilco, and much like the protean sound that the group has come to be known for, the evening was chock full of incongruities that somehow meshed into an amazing organic performance.

Wilco’s sound, especially in reference to the new album, could also be described as mellow, but their performance, infused with classic elements of pure rock, was anything but somnambulant. Various elements throughout the show seemed to conspire to keep the audience from ever completely knowing what direction the group would be taking next. The blues, country, and bluegrass elements that Wilco has always featured in their music made guest appearances on different songs. Jeff Tweedy’s mostly folk stance was counterbalanced by Matrix, an Aussie guitarist the band brought in for support, who positively shredded the guitar. Apparently I wasn’t the only one watching School of Rock on the Cartoon Network this past Sunday.



The blending of seemingly conflicting elements appeared to be the theme of the show, as the band alternatively created the sort of intimate setting their music is suited for, then easily rocked out on the next track. At one point, Tweedy, who was in high spirits throughout the night, cracked a joke about the sudden shifts in mood the set list was calling for. Just as incongruous was the set list’s lean towards Yankee Hotel Foxtrot standards for a tour that one would think is meant to promote the new album, released only last month.

If there’s an art to simplicity (and there certainly must be), Wilco has discovered it. Aside from their apparent return to lighter production than what was featured on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost is Born, their performance highlighted just how powerful a good rock group with a solid set of songs can be without any showy production values. To demonstrate this point, a macramé owl, relatively small compared to the rest of the stage, dropped from the ceiling during “Hate it Here”, as if it represented the entirety of their production budget. The owl itself looked like it came straight from the old Tootsie Pop commercials, and was very Spinal Tap-esque in its muted silliness. All in all, the show was a ridiculous 2+ hours, complete with two encores, a full rendition of “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” (10:46), and the chills-inducing “Poor Places”. The closing song of the night, “I’m a Wheel”, literally ended with the lyrics “I will turn on you”, as the band turned and bolted off the stage, leaving people a little stunned as to what had just happened.

Of course, every show has its downside. My only complaint, as a General Admission ticket holder, is that way too many of Wilco’s fans are absurdly tall. This should be resolved immediately. - Eric Silver



Photos Courtesty of Baby, You Got A Stew Goin'!

Even for a quirky label like Ghostly International, the eccentricities and sheer diversity of styles found on Lucas, the second album from Skeletons and the Kings of All Cities (FKA Skeletons & the Girl-Faced Boys), may seem out there. Centered around Matt Mehlan, but featuring a cast of dozens, Lucas is the perfect contradiction. Within and between tracks, free jazz workouts mix with electronic elements mix with strings and horns mix with…well, let’s just say Mehlan is a brilliant musical schizophrenic, never settling in to one idea too long but always anchoring each track with a melodic pop backdrop. With so many adequate, yet completely forgettable, albums out today, Lucas stands as a singular entry into this year’s releases, surpassing so many who write nine times the same song. Mehlan spoke to Baeble about how to work well with others, “weird” music and why “Mambo No. 5” has the potential to be a good song. (We’re still not sold on that last one.) - KEEP READING
- Jason Newman

While we certainly didn’t know it at the time we were cruising through our ritualistic pre-shoot preparations (crew huddles are big here at Baeble), last Friday’s shoot at The Bowery Ballroom was one for the books (and, very shortly, for the site). Thinking we would show up, aim our cameras at the talent on stage, and stroll back out with our footage in hand a couple hours later was, well…a bit naïve. Turns out both Nashville Tennessee’s Bobby Bare Jr and Boston Mass’ The Slip like to entertain. It also turns out that both bands like to give the audience exactly what they paid for: a full evening of incredible music. Our cameras got rolling at The Bowery around 10PM, when Bobby Bare Jr. and the Young Criminals Starvation League took the stage. And when The Slip finally decided to call it quits at 2AM in the morning, all that was left to do was scratch our heads in amazement. Did the two really combine for a four hour show? They did indeed. And Baeble Music was there to take it all in.



Blown to New York on a carefree combination of crude oil chords, and sweet summer melodies, Bobby Bare delivers the kind of take on authentic country blues and southern rock that lets the whiskey running through your blood do its’ job. Humid and hazy at times, fearlessly grungy at others, Bare brought the region that bred him to the Bowery’s stage. Whether lamenting for a “Flat-Chested Woman” in two-part harmony, moaning and whaling like a real singing cowboy, or rolling through rock and roll barn burners, Bobby and his band rollicked like a southern fried Guided By Voices.



Those mumbling and grumbling over The Slip’s recent change in sonic direction on their recorded efforts need to catch this trio in their live environment. Playing for nearly three hours, The Slip’s reputation as one of the most precise, sophisticated, hardest working, and passionate jam bands on the scene, rang true throughout the set. Performing for three hours, singer Brad Barr peppered his smoky, almost Aaron Neville (I kid you not) like voice in between the band’s impressive, instrumental, improvisational sessions. Cool and confident, The Slip touched on a few of rock’s holiest grails. Few three-pieces have the chutzpah to kick their set off with Led Zeppelin’s “Heartbreaker”. But The Slip does it, and they do it well. Other festive highlights included the band being joined on stage by Bobby Bare Jr. for a spirited take on The Pixies “Where Is My Mind”. - David Pitz




Photos - Maureen Pitz

With releases like the second coming of Pet Sounds, via Panda Bear’s Person Pitch and Menomena’s “Dealer” inspired album Friend and Foe, the experimental, odd ball side of indie pop is having itself a rather ripe year. Tack Marmoset’s first album in five years, Florist Fired, (Secretly Canadian) onto this list of ’07 highlights for the genre. As unpredictable a listen as any to come before it this year, Marmoset mince an enticing collection of delectable, audio assortments into a rather fine mess of an album. Whether pairing lovely lo-fi affairs (“Luckcharm” and “Missing Man”) with electro-spazz (“Das Boot”),fusing fuzz rock (“Florist Fired”) with loungey numbers that recall Pavement’s most sedate moments on tape (“(I’m) Somewhere”), basking in Pink Floyd inspired atmospherics (“Laughing with Minx”), or dabbling in sexual ridiculousness (um, “Eat Me Out”), Florist Fired keeps listeners on their toes.

Secretly Canadian further explains…
“Although principal songwriter Jorma Whittaker possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of Beatles-esque melodies and is more likely to cite John Lennon and friends as his musical influences, Florist Fired leaves listeners with the unmistakable feeling that the band owes much more to a Keith Richards-led Stones swagger-- without the budget or access to premium pharmaceuticals. In contrast to the seemingly lecherous, self-loathing gems penned by Whittaker, guitarist Dave Jablonski offers up detached ethereal odes like a man with his head truly in the clouds.”

To celebrate the release, Secretly Canadian has compiled a Marmoset “Greatest Hits” album of sorts. Not only that, they’re giving it a way for nothing. Download it HERE.

Stream all of Florist Fired HERE.

MP3: Marmoset:: “Missing Man” – from Florist Fired

- David Pitz

One of the most definitive American Hardcore bands to ever unleash hell and havoc upon a stage, Washington DC’s Bad Brains played with the kind of possessed energy and moxie that had them toeing the same line as legendary punk bands like The Sex Pistols, Black Flag, The Clash, and The Ramones. Though the band originally intended to blur the borders that separated roots, reggae, and rock, ironically, Band Brains’ unique sense of diversity was eventually their own undoing. Parting ways in 1989 over Guitarist Gary “Dr. Know” Miller and bassist Darryl Jenifer desire to lean on their more hardcore/metal influences, and singer HR and drummer Earl Hudson desire to churn out more reggae stylings, the band would ho humbly return (to mixed…very mixed…reviews) in a variety of incarnations (including one as the original line up). While those early to mid nineties releases at least marked an effort, most probably felt Bad Brains had been banished to a furiously warm spot in a lot of punk rocker’s hearts.

But tomorrow, June 26th, marks an astonishing return to form for the band. Their first collaborative effort in more than a decade, the Adam Yauch produced, Build a Nation spits fury with narcotic dub; a combination that has Band Brains sounding like the band of yore. Brutal, unapologetic, yet spliced with the band’s signature reggae undertones, Build a Nation offers those longing for the band’s beautifully bold, chaotic past, a real sense of nostalgia.

Stream Build a Nation on Bad Brains’ MySpace Page.


In addition to the album, the band is playing a spattering of summer stops. All announced dates are listed below

Bad Brains on Tour
6/25 – NY Boat Ride - New York NY
7/29 – The Rogers Picnic – Toronto Ontario
8/05 – The Virgin Festival – Baltimore MD

- David Pitz

After recording and releasing an EP a month for the entire year of 2006, you’d think Bishop Allen would deserve a year off. Instead, the band is preparing to release their long-awaited follow-up to Charm School. The Broken String is the band’s first with Dead Oceans, and features nine reworked tracks from the band’s EP project, along with 2 unreleased songs. Compiling most of the songs from the EPs sounds like a cop out, but its not. Dead Oceans Explains...

“If Bishop Allen made a huge musical jump from the 2003 debut to the 2006 EPs, the band made a quantum leap on The Broken String. Of its 12 songs, 9 are reworked tracks from the EPs and two are previously unreleased. These are not just re-recordings: Bishop Allen has stepped out of the home studio and created definitive versions of songs that were originally conceived within the constraints of a monthly deadline. Benefiting from the earlier recordings and several tours, the songs' arrangements have grown, the production is lush, the lyrics are front and center, and the band's evolution has reached a new level. If Ed Sullivan were alive today, Bishop Allen's story-songs would be ripe for prime time. The Broken String is the follow-up for which Bishop Allen fans have long clamored.”

Tracklist
The Monitor
Rain
Click, Click, Click, Click
The Chinatown Bus
Flight 180
Like Castanets
Butterfly Nets
Shrinking Violet
Corazon
Middle Management
Choose Again
The News From Your Bed

MP3: Bishop Allen:: “Rain” - from The Broken String

The band will also be out on the road all summer long supporting the album.

Tour Dates:
06/27/07 Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen
06/28/07 Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace
07/20/07 New York, NY - Seaport Music Festival @ South Street Seaport
07/21/07 Philadelphia, PA - North Star
07/22/07 Washington, DC - The Black Cat
07/23/07 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
07/24/07 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
07/25/07 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon
07/26/07 Houston, TX - Proletariat
07/27/07 Austin, TX - Emo's
07/28/07 Denton, TX - Haileys
07/29/07 Dallas, TX - Free Instore @ Good Records 2PM
07/30/07 Phoenix, AZ - The Paper Heart
07/31/07 Los Angeles, CA - Echo
08/01/07 San Francisco, CA - The Independent
08/03/07 Portland, OR - Doug Fir
08/04/07 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe
08/07/07 Denver, CO - Hi Dive
08/09/07 Chicago, IL - Subterranean
08/10/07 Bloomington, IN - The Bluebird
08/11/07 Dayton, CA - The Nite Owl
08/17/07 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs
08/18/07 New York, NY - The Bowery Ballroom

- David Pitz

Zach Condon – the Balkan-blasting phenom behind Beirut – has tapped October 9th as the release date for what will be a very highly anticipated second album. Supposedly titled The Flying Club Cup, the record will be made possible by Ba Da Bing Records, and is expected to expand upon the folksy, Eastern-European swing of his rather fetching debut, Gulag Orkestar, as well as the Lon Gisland EP. In addition to employing bouts of string orchestrations, Condon has enlisted some help to expand his musical palette – specifically Owen Pallett of Final Fantasy. The album will also curiously include a track 00. I’m a bit baffled, but hey…lets go with it. - David Pitz

Tracklist:
00. A Call To Arms
01. Nantes
02. A Sunday Smile
03. Guyamas Sonora
04. La Banlieu
05. Cliquot
06. The Penalty
07. Forks and Knives (La Fête)
08. In The Mausoleum
09. Un Dernier Verre (Pour la Route)
10. Cherbourg
11. St. Apollonia
12. The Flying Club Cup

As if the song wasn’t already perfectly suited for the first day of summer, Feist has turned over the keys to “1,2,3,4” - all those handclaps, that soulful bass, ivory tickling piano, and blaring brass section – to those outer space pop coinsures from down under, Van She. While the Australians’ remix certainly drives a little differently (and we’re not sure how we feel about it yet), they definitely gave the general “oomph” of the track a hefty tune-up. - David Pitz

Take the remix for a spin HERE.

In celebration of the release of Art Brut's new album It's A Bit Complicated, (came out yesterday, June 19 on Downtown Records), Baeble Music presents an exclusive and live concert at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC! You can watch Allison Hagendorf's interview in the Green Room with the band and click song-by-song through their live concert on their band profile page.

Last week, we filmed The Rosewood Thieves at Pianos and Voxtrot with Au Revoir Simone at Webster Hall. The pictures came out great (thanks to our lovely photographer Stephanie)!!

Enjoy the videos and see you soon!
Baeble Music



Art Brut - May 16, 2007 @ Bowery Ballroom, NY


They're an eccentric, motley bunch who have more in common with Half Man Half Biscuit and Pulp than they do with their oft-compared 'influences' The Fall. Art Brut formed in 2003 and played its first gig in May of that year. Much like Bloc Party...[read more]

Watch The Video


Mando Diao - May 14, 2007 @ Bowery Ballroom, NY

Filmed at New York City's Bowery Ballroom, this performance shows what years spent living in "Ochrasy" have done for Mando Diao. Marrying a tightly knit sound with sinister slanted lyrics, epic song writing, and... [read more]

Watch The Video





MORE PICS HERE! Au Revoir Simone + Voxtrot at Webster Hall + Rosewood Theives at Pianos



**NEW EPISODE** The Green Room w/ Art Brut! - Famously floopy Eddie Argos doesn't exactly fit the front man fold. But then again, if you had to pick, which would you choose? A flashy fashionista with a pension for egotism? Or Argos – a rock and roll kid who clearly couldn't be more thrilled...[check it out here]

**NEW EPISODE** The Green Room w/ Mando Diao! - Honing in on a sound that unites pop, mod, soul, R&B, and Brit-pop elements, Sweden 's Mando Diao brought a slice of European cool stateside for one of this past spring's most exciting tours. For our fourth installment of the Green Room, Baeble's cameras went back stage, onstage, and out in the crowd to catch every glimpse of the band's performance at The Bowery Ballroom. [check it out here]

Baeble Lounge - Tons of random music videos of up and coming artists from Aeroplane Pageant, Bobby Con, Faber Drive, Mouse On Mars, The Zincs and many more! [check it out here]



Album Reviews: Wilco "Sky Blue Sky" - Whenever a troubled, brave faced musician hustles enough courage to get better, there is always the inevitability that it may come at the expense of what they do best . Most music fans are probably not afraid to admit that they sometimes dabble in the narcissistic, preferring the art over the artist.[read more]




Album Reviews: Gore Gore Girls "Get the Gore" - Sometimes, but not always, the best way to figure out the vibe or mood of an album is by looking at the cover. The cover of Get The Gore by the Gore Gore Girls (named after the 1972 film directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis) features a white background with a guitar next to the legs of a woman (presumably lead vocalist and guitarist Amy Gore) in a pair of black high-heel boots. The picture could not have said it any better. Get The Gore is a record that comes right out of the box, never letting up its genuine discharge of welcomed noise. [read more]




Baebleheads WANTED! - Congrats to Heather Gertis from Perry, NY. She's been a great Baeblehead and has the iPod Nano prize to proove it!!

For those of you looking for something to do on summer vacation or just bored at work, come join the Baeblehead gang! We want people who believe in the power of live concerts and want to help get the word out about bands we film. Win prizes and real work experience that you can put on your resume.[read more]

New Arcade Fire dates are generally a big deal...especially considering ticket seekers general need to prepare for the sale by exercising either their ability to refresh their browser or hit redial at implausible speeds. So get ready Denver! Get set Hollywood! The Arcade Fire is revealing the first few dates of the latest leg of their North American Tour…and you’re getting the call. The Arcade Fire will play Red Rocks on Sept. 17th and the Hollywood Bowl on Sept. 20th. LCD Soundsystem will support.

The tour is scheduled to run through early October. More dates will be revealed shortly.

Better yet, in order to meet ticket demands, and to sidestep the disgusting service fees Ticketmaster and Ticketweb rip from concertgoers, the band will make a limited number of tickets available on their website. Ticket pre-sales will start on Wednesday, June 20 at 10am Mountain and end Friday, June 22 at 3PM Mountain. For tickets, head HERE. - David Pitz

Sometimes it seems everyone in NYC has a little black book choc full of all the secrets they have gathered for getting by in the city. Whether its’ finding a place to live, grubbing at cheap, interesting restaurants, or being entertained on a dime, knowing the city’s tics and off the beaten path events are necessary for comfy, urban survival.

So, when we opened up ours recently, we noticed an event we had to tip. Tonight is the final evening of the Rosewood Thieves month long residency at Pianos. One of the city’s best kept secrets – though they won’t remain so for too much longer – the show is a mere eight bucks, and also features openers Julie Moon, and Cricket Spin.

As we caught the band’s show with our cameras last week, I’d say we here at Baeble are perfectly qualified to endorse them. Stirring the pot so that the best pieces of Springsteen, The Replacements, Wilco, and The Strokes boil to the top, the Rosewood Thieves capture pieces of down and dirty Lower East Side rock, sun splashed Southern California vibes, and the country tinged song craft of America’s heartland in their brand of plain spoken, indie rock. - David Pitz

The Rosewood Thieves play Pianos Tonight @ 10:30PM.

Listen to the band HERE.


Photos - Stefanie Giglio

Having recently announced he will be releasing the first record in the newly conceived “The Broken Social Scene Presents” series, Kevin Drew and Arts & Crafts are wasting no time, rolling out the first taste of Spirit If (To be released on Sept. 18th). Entitled “TBTF” – an acronym that I frankly won’t reveal here…‘course if you listen to the song, I think you’ll figure it out – the song moves along at the same kind of summery groove that Broken Social Scene stir up with “Anthems For a Seventeen Year-Old Girl” and “Swimmers”. - David Pitz

Listen to “TBTF” HERE

Kevin Drew Tour Dates:
08-29 Brooklyn, NY - McCarren Park Pool*

*with Feist

Last Friday, the Baeble Music crew stormed NYC’s Webster Hall to capture an evening of sticky, sweet electro pop from the local ladies of Au Revoir Simone, and absurdly catchy guitar pop from Austin TX’s Voxtrot, with our cameras. We also had the incredible opportunity to interview both bands for an upcoming episode of The Green Room.



Those devout fans that were fortunate enough to arrive early on Friday were rewarded for their punctuality with a happy hour performance reminiscent of Au Revoir Simone’s opening slot for Peter, Bjorn, and John a few weeks earlier at Webster Hall. Au Revoir Simoneobviously always looks good on stage (and on camera). But it is their capacity for swirling rich, therapeutic chords around the room that make this trio so easy to latch right on to while they perform. And, considering the energy we knew Voxtrot was going to bring, it was a rather nice way to ease on into the evening.



For their biggest NYC show to date (though their recent add to the Siren Festival will certainly trump this show), Voxtrot worked their way through a set that pulled songs from all three EPs, their recently released full-length album, and a new track that somehow managed to mash their personalized pop soundings with 80s hair metal. While songs like “Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, and Wives”, “Kid Gloves”, “Steven”, and “Biggest Fan” reached for the lofty heights (courtesy of a string quartet) they always seemed destined for, it was “The Start of Something” that stuck out in the bunch. I guess that is what happens when a gang of goofballs (ok, Au Revoir Simone, Favorite Sons, and others) rush the stage at once. We were definitely a little jealous we couldn’t bounce around on stage with them. But we did get to freak out a little bit way up in the balconies. - David Pitz


Photos - Stefanie Giglio

The time-honored blues guitar that crackles through the beginning of "Slow Drag" is not that of some CCR single you just blew the dust off of and dropped the needle on. Nor are the boozy back ups that give the song such a live and deliciously dated, authentic feel. And that rustic croon? Not even the work of vintage era Neil Young. In fact, if you listen for it, you could probably hear anyone of a number of classic musicians nesting in the song. But "Slow Drag" is not the work of any of these artists...It's The Izzys – a New York City four piece outfit that is happening right now…though their nod to the glorious past is obvious. A lot of bands consider themselves preservationists of bygone days. But The Izzys do the enduring music of the heartland justice by capturing it in such dignified and well worn terms. - David Pitz

"Slow Drag" – A sneak peak from The Izzys upcoming album.

Hear more of The Izzys HERE.

The Izzys Live:
06-20 Brooklyn, NY - Luna Lounge
07-07 New York, NY - Lakeside Lounge
08-04 New York, NY - Lakeside Lounge

Your weekly Baeble update highlights some of the top videos on the "Baeble's Picks" section, featuring The Lemonheads, Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton, Annuals, Mando Diao, and Young Love. These live concerts have been getting a lot of love and attention from fans all around the globe. If you aren't familiar with any of these artists, now is your chance to check them out!



Lemonheads - Feb 23, 2007 @ SouthPaw Brooklyn, NY

Evan Dando is a genius. Dude can take the stage wea ring what appears to be an oversized monk's robe, and the girls in the crowd still go nuts over him. At the same time, Dando's simple attire makes a bold statement.. [read more]

Watch The Video


Emily Haines and the Soft Skeleton - Jan 09, 2007 @ Hiro Ballroom, NY

Emily Haines was born in India and raised in Canada, and her e clectic background has influenced the singer's many musical projects. Haines is mostly known for fronting the Canadian indie-rock band Metric... [read more]

Watch The Video

Annuals - Jan 19, 2007 @ Webster Hall, NY

We caught the band at Webster Hall, mere hours after Annuals' late-night TV debut on the Conan O'Brien show. The six fresh-faced musicians took the stage looking energetic, confident, and genuinely thankful for all... [read more]

Watch The Video


Mando Diao - May 14, 2007 @ Bowery Ballroom, NY

Filmed at New York City's Bowery Ballroom, this performance shows what years spent living in "Ochrasy" have done for Mando Diao. Marrying a tightly knit sound with sinister slanted lyrics, epic song writing, and... [read more]

Watch The Video


Young Love - Feb 28, 2007 @ Bowery Ballroom, NY

Dance-rock outfit Young Love is headed by Dan Keyes, who front ed the post-grunge band Recover from 2001-2004. After releasing three albums with that previous band, Keyes moved from Texas to New York City... [read more]

Watch The Video




A brand new Green Room episode is ready to watch, featuring Sweden 's screaming heartthrobs, Mando Diao. Check out the 30-minute show for the backstage interviews with Baeble's Allison Hagendorf, the sound check mechanics, the onstage performance, and everything in between. In addition, Allison got the chance to sit down and chat with Perry Farrell in Baeble's "Artist Lounge", so be sure to check that out below.



**NEW EPISODE** The Green Room w/ Mando Diao! - Honing in on a sound that unites pop, mod, soul, R&B, and Brit-pop elements, Sweden 's Mando Diao brought a slice of European cool stateside for one of this past spring's most exciting tours. For our fourth installment of the Green Room, Baeble's cameras went back stage, onstage, and out in the crowd to catch every glimpse of the band's performance at The Bowery Ballroom. [check it out here]

The Artist Lounge - Parry Farrell & Satellite Party - With this obligation squarely on his mind, Farrell set out 3 and a half years ago to work on building a myth from a "playful idea" spawned on a surfboard in the Pacific. Recruiting Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme, and a handful of other influential helping hands (Flea, Thievery Corporation, Hybrid, Fergie, to name a few), Farrell's "Satellite Party" represents the latest chapter in Farrell's ever-growing legacy. [check it out here]

Baeble Lounge - Tons of random music videos of up and coming artists from Trans Am, Bobby Con, Faber Drive, Mouse On Mars, The Zincs and many more! [check it out here]




On Thursday, June 21st, JellyNYC and Hoegaarden beer to present the Williamsburg MAKE MUSIC NEW YORK stage! A FREE outdoor concert on Bedford and N8th from 6pm-10pm, featuring Live Performances by OXFORD COLLAPSE + CHEESEBURGER + BEST FWENDS.



MAKE MUSIC NEW YORK - Thurs, June 21, 2007

JellyNYC and Hoegaarden beer Present: The Williamsburg MAKE MUSIC NEW YORK stage [more details here]

A FREE outdoor concert on Bedford and N8th from 6-10pm
Featuring Live Performances by:
OXFORD COLLAPSE + CHEESEBURGER + BEST FWENDS



Album Reviews: Elliot Smith "New Moon" - Whenever the music of Elliott Smith finds its' way to me, I'll admit it can be hard not to feel a bit overwhelmed. Elliott's compassionate composite of chords and voice provided one of the first places I can remember finding beauty, doubt, fear, hope, love, power, and sadness all intersecting at once. It was powerfully emotional...the perfect... [read more]

Feature Article: Rock 'n Roll Banned – You Say Party! We Say Die! Border Patrol Says Bye! - 6/4/2007 - Talk about crappy timing. Just as British Columbia 's You Say Party! We Say Die! were building momentum in the states on tour with the fellow exclamationally-enhanced Thunderbirds Are Now!, their quest for U.S. domination hit a bit of a snag a the border resulting in a 5-year ban from the country...[read more]




Finally, last evening we filmed The Rosewood Thieves at Pianos and then on this Friday, we'll be filming Voxtrot with Au Revoir Simone at Webster Hall. If you plan on going to any of these shows, maybe our film crew will get your face on camera so you can be a part of music history forever!!

Widdling one’s way out of a pigeon-hole is no easy task. Just ask Sam Beam. Iron and Wine met acclaim and fame by recording two absolute treasures (The Creek Drank the Cradle and Our Endless Numbered Days) spilling over with inviting, auricular fare that finally had kids putting down their Neutral Milk Hotel albums for awhile to hear the newly dubbed acoustic laureate. And while his Woman King EP and collaboration with Calexico on In the Reins sounded like Beam’s hand slowly letting go of the wheel that drove him to his lofty status, shaking the folk singer tag has still never occured.

Yet, the newly surfaced single from his upcoming album, The Shepherd's Dog, may do a little more to help paint Beam in a more eclectic light. “Boy with a Coin” has Beam embracing more “playful” sounds”. Layered with a finely frenzied array of rhythmic handclaps, touched up vocals, whisky slide guitars, dashes of distortion, and a campfire organic drum groove, the song is unlike anything Iron and Wine have recorded before. The single also comes with two tracks that can’t be found on the album (“Carried Home” and “Kingdom of the Animals”). The Shepherd's Dog hits stores September 25th.

Listen to “Boy with a Coin” HERE.

“Boy with a Coin” can be ordered HERE.

Listen to Iron and Wine HERE. - David Pitz

While by no means an intentional, ploy to confuse devotees the world over, Broken Social Scene’s newest idea to slap “Broken Social Scene Presents” across anyone of its’ who-knows-how-many member’s solo releases in the future could have the masses doing a quick double take every time the name crops up in front of them. Why, just this week, following an announcement that Feist and BSS would be swinging through NYC together for a summer outing at McCarren Park Pool (August 29th), I got quite jazzed up for the show.

Thing is, its’ not Broken Social Scene…It’s Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene. He just happens to be playing material he prepped for his upcoming solo album, Spirit Of... And his solo album just happens to be the first in a “Broken Social Scene Presents” series. It also just happens to be coming out on September 18th, courtesy of Arts & Crafts Records.

A&C also just happen to add…

Kevin Drew's Spirit If... was recorded over the last two years at Ohad Benchetrits house in between social scene tours and day-to-day life. It was produced by Ohad Benchetrit, Kevin Drew, and Charles Spearin.

This is the first in the “Broken Social Scene Presents” series. Brendan Canning and company are currently recording the second in Toronto. It will be released early next year. Drew and Canning, the two co-founders of Broken Social Scene decided to approach making records as solo projects. In the process the social scene community took part and played key supporting roles, thus giving birth to this series.

Along with the BSS crew, Drew has invited many other guests to perform on Spirit If...

The record unfolds like an emotional comic book. It's Drew's song-writing and all his favorite topics are addressed: fucking, fighting, fearing and hope.”

Following Jenny Lewis’ successful solo outing with the (somewhat creepy…) Watson Twins, and Blake Sennett’s tour campaigning with The Elected, the guys and gal of Rilo Kiley have decided to fall back into formation for their 4th record. Under the Blacklight, the band’s follow-up to 2004’s More Adventurous, is set to drop via Warner Bros on August 21st. Enlisting production help from Jason Lader (Gwen Stefani, Jay-Z) and Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent), the record should be ripe with some serious street cred…fo’ real.

Album Details:
1. "Silver Lining"
2. "Close Call"
3. "The Moneymaker"
4. "Breakin' Up"
5. "Under the Blacklight"
6. "Dreamworld"
7. "Dejalo"
8. "15"
9. "Smoke Detector"
10. "The Angels Hung Around"
11. "Give a Little Love"

Since putting the Smashing Pumpkins to rest in 2000, Billy Corgan has made his publicist proud, garnering a considerable amount of notoriety for two albums (Zwan – Mary Star of the Sea and his solo release, The Future Embrace)that, in reality, failed to capture the spirit of the band most of his fans fell in love with. On July 10th, after separating himself for 6 years with the name, fans of the Smashing Pumpkins will get to hear if their bald boy wonder still has all that gorgeously, elaborate, guitar songs up his sleeve.

From the official press release:

“The release of Zeitgeist doesn't just capture the spirit of the band and their times, as the title might suggest. Even more impressively, Zeitgeist is a heartfelt, ambitious and deeply felt piece of work that vividly recaptures the spirit of this great and influential rock band. The release of Zeitgeist represents a powerful rebirth and reaffirmation of the Smashing Pumpkins by two of its key members, main singer-songwriter and guitarist Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin.

Zeitgeist is quite clearly the sound of a rock group that has been emphatically renewed and revived and is now ready to embrace and further its musical legacy.”

For a sneak peek of what's to come from the Smashing Pumpkins 2.0, check out the first single of Zeitgeist, entitled, “Tarantula”.

When America first heard Sweden’s The Shout Out Louds, they were a band riding a critically acclaimed debut album (Howl Howl Gaff Gaff), a high profile tour with The Dears, and even a little play on The OC to boot. Naturally, they were a band worth worrying about. Really excellent bands sometimes have a tendency to get lost in the major label shuffle…a sign, and sign off permanently kind of death blow.

Luckily, The Shout Out Louds walked into their deal, and are actually being heard from again…courtesy of Merge Records. In anticipation of the band’s sophomore release, Our Ill Wills(To be released 9/11/07), the band have prepped a gooey little single to tide over fans until the full-length hits this fall. Packed with a video for the title track, two remixes and two non-LP "b-sides", “Tonight I Have To Leave It” is a wonderful reintroduction to The Shout Out Louds.

Tracklist:
1. Tonight I Have to Leave It
2. Don't Get Yourself Involved
3. Streams of Whiskey
4. Tonight I Have to Leave It - The Russian Futurists Remix
5. Tonight I Have to Leave It - Kleerup Remix

The Shout Out Louds On Tour:
07-16 – Spiegetent – New York, NY
07-17 – The Luna Lounge – Brooklyn, NY
07-18 – Rickshaw Shop – San Francisco, CA (Popscene)
07-19 – The El Rey Theater – Los Angeles, CA

A few weeks back we initially reported on bits of news floating around the release of The New Pornographers'upcoming album, Challengers. We hooked you up with a link to the first track to surface from the album(“My Rights Versus Yours”), provided some valuable tour information, and gave you the skinny on the “Buy It Early, Get It Now” campaign…

Unveiling more to the story of this record, turns out Matador Records is going a bit batty with the album, releasing not one, not two, not even three, but a limited edition Four-CD/CDR Box Set Edition of “Challengers”. In addition to the record, the label will offer a full album stream months ahead of the release, a disc of B-Sides, Demos, and Alternate Mixes, a “Live From the Future” disc, and another disc of Videos, Photos, and Artwork.

Want to get in on the fire sale? Preorder “Challengers” HERE.

In other news concerning the band, be sure to keep your eyes peeled on Baeble in the weeks to come for exclusive concert footage we will be shooting when the band plays NYC’s Battery Park on The 4th of July.

From the frenzied, fingers of Menomena’s Danny Seim comes a bit more summer touring news worth noting in your day planner.

“We are leaving in a few short hours to begin our summer tour. I'm frantically typing this on Brent's front porch while the dudes are packing the van. Please pardon the lack of sense any of the below text might make. Or might not make. Or whatever. Whew, I'm tired.”

That’s ok Danny. Rest up a bit before your road trip. We’ll pick it up from here…

With a tour that will have the Portland based, experimental pop trio cutting a line all the way down through California, ripping across the Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas deserts, perusing its’ way around the Midwest…hopping a plane to play several European dates…and ultimately swinging back through the states to make mid-summer stops in New York, Chicago, and Troutdale, Oregon, Menomena should certainly find they have something to talk about when summer vacation comes to an end.

Joining them along the way will be former Grandaddy guitarist, Jim Fairchild. Fairchild, who recently released his first solo record under the bright and chipper moniker, All Smiles, will stick to the US dates only.

Tour Details

06-10 Visalia, CA - Cellar Door *
06-12 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour *
06-13 Pomona, CA - Glass House *
06-14 San Diego, CA - Casbah *
06-15 Tucson, AZ - Solar Culture *
06-16 Tempe, AZ - Clubhouse *
06-19 Austin, TX - Parish *
06-20 Houston, TX - Walter's on Washington *
06-21 Dallas, TX - Granada Theater *
06-22 Lawrence, KS - Bottleneck *
06-23 Omaha, NE - Waiting Room *
06-27 London, England - Barfly
06-29 Stockholm, Sweden - Accelerator Festival
07-01 Rotterdam, Netherlands - Metropolis Festival
07-02 Dortmund, Germany - FZW
07-04 Berlin, Germany - Festsaal Kreuzberg
07-06 Paris, France - La Fleche D'or
07-07 Evreux, France - Le Rock Dans Tous Ses Etats Festival
07-13 New York, NY - Seaport Music Festival
07-15 Chicago, IL - Union Park (Pitchfork Music Festival)
07-22 Troutdale, OR - Edgefield Amphitheater $

* with All Smiles
# with Grand Archives
$ with the Decemberists

The perfect marriage between a headliner and its’ supporting act is a delicate union of sorts. While a little music diversity over an evening is always a very good thing, there generally needs to exist some common glue coupling the whole bill together. I mean, could you imagine what might happen if someone like Eddie Argos (Art Brut) wound up spending too much time with, oh…I don’t know…Jeffrey Lewis of the Mountain Goats? Oh wait…that resulted in a bit of a man crush…

The point is, you gotta get it right! And whoever played matchmaker when they brought The White Stripes and Cold War Kids together did just that. This fall, fans of both bands should get their fill when the two bands hit the road in a kind of holy matrimony of two peddlers of blues infected rock. Details below…

Tour Dates:
9/19/07 Inglewood, CA @ The Forum
9/21/07 Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre
9/24/07 Anchorage, AK @ William A. Egan Civic Center
9/26/07 Seattle, WA @ Paramount Ballroom
9/27/07 Seattle, WA @ Paramount Ballroom
9/28/07 Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Theater
9/29/07 Salt Lake City, UT @ The E Center
9/30/07 Jackson Hole, WY @ Snowking Center
10/2/07 Rapid City, SC @ Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
10/3/07 Fargo, ND @ Fargo Civic Auditorium
10/4/07 Lincoln, NE @ Pershing Center Auditorium
10/6/07 Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
10/7/07 Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
10/11/07 Albuquerque, NM @ Kivs Auditorium

Can’t wait to catch the Cold War Kids. The band is currently on tour now:

Tour Dates:
6/08/07 Ventura, CA @ KJEE's Seaside Beach Ball - Ventura Park
6/09/07 Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
6/15/07 Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music Festival
8/01/07 Toronto, ON @ Arrow Hall
8/04/07 Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
8/06/07 New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden*
8/10/07 Philadelphia, PA @ Penn's Landing*
8/11/07 Boston, MA @ Agganis Arena*
9/08/07 Madison, WI @ Alliant Energy's Willow Island
9/16/07 San Francisco, CA @ Treasure Island Music Festival
9/22/07 San Diego, CA @ San Diego Street Scene

* with Muse

Today, we bring you a new live concert from our May PUSH PLAY event, featuring the boozy, bluesy, yet fashionable outlaws from NYC, Young Lords. Keep an eye out for the light fixtures on either side of the drum set. They are the cool creations of the Young Lords Drummer, Cory Lasser. Don't forget to tell all your friends to watch the video and keep them at the top of our "Movers" chart of most watched videos. These guys have zoomed to the number two spot this week!

The two year anniversary celebration for The Music Slut is on Sat, June 9th! We'll be filming Matt and Jen while they interview the bands, their friends and fans. The Lisps, The Glass, and The Gaskets will be performing live and it's completely FREE if you RSVP!

On a tragic note, John Pike the drummer from one of our favorite new bands, Ra Ra Riot, was found dead on Sunday in Rhode Island . We at Baeble are truly saddened by this news as we remember Pike fondly from our first PUSH PLAY event in February at the Canal Room.

Last, but not least, on June 18th, we will release the live concert for Art Brut!! We had the privilege to film their live concert at Bowery Ballroom on April 17, 2007. In addition, our lovely VJ, Allison Hagendorf, interviewed them for the Green Room and apparently they told some pretty funny stories.


Mando Diao - May 14, 2007 @ Bowery Ballroom, NY


Filmed at New York City's Bowery Ballroom, this performance shows what years spent living in "Ochrasy" have done for Mando Diao. Marrying a tightly knit sound with sinister slanted lyrics, epic song writing, and... [read more]

Watch The Video



Young Lords - May 15, 2007 @ Luna Lounge, Brooklyn, NY

When Blair Van Nort asserts, "All My Friends Are Cowboys", I'm inclined to believe him. With a perfectly shaggy mop to hide behind, and a floppy hat, Van Nort dresses the renegade front man part. Luckily, he knows how to... [read more]

Watch The Video



Ra Ra Riot - February 21, 2007 @ Canal Room, NY.

The cheerleader-esque "Ra ra" chant evokes images of high school, all of which can be found in this youthful band. You've got your photogenic prom queens on violin and cello. Your shaggy-haired Drama Club... [read more]

Watch The Video




The Music Slut 2nd Anniversary Party - Sat, June 9, 2007 The Music Slut is far too young to be such a brazen hussy, but there's no stopping this trio. Be there to wish the birthday girl/boys a happy anniversary and check out the hot line up -- The Lisps, The Glass, and The Gaskets. All just as slutty!

The Delancey 168 Delancey St. New York, NY - 8 PM

Free PBRs from 8pm-9pm + Free goodie bags to early arrivals!

CLICK HERE TO RSVP!



The Green Room - Play around on us. Go to your favorite concert or Green Room video and play around. Click on any of the songs in the concert play list or chapters in the Green Room and go to that part immediately – no waiting and no loading. Hooked on a song – play it as many times as you like – obsession can be fun. Check out interviews with Young Love, Ra Ra Riot, The Films, the oohlas, Mixel Pixel, Prototypes, The Tripwire, Lo-Fi Fnk, and more! [check it out here]

Baeble Lounge - Tons of random music videos of up and coming artists from Trans Am, Bobby Con, Faber Drive, Mouse On Mars, The Zincs and many more! [check it out here]


Baeble Blog: Ra Ra Riot Drummer, John Pike, Dead We here at Baeble usually look forward to getting back into the swing of things on a Monday morning. But this morning brought with it some utterly tragic news from a band we here at Baeble think the world of. NME.com is reporting that the body of John Pike...Read More

Album Reviews: Johnny and the Moon "Johnny and the Moon" You may not know Dante DeCaro by name, but you might know some of his bands. First there was New-Wave British Columbians Hot Hot Heat, whom he left just as the band signed to a major label, and then after a brief chill-out period and a transcontinental journey he joined that pack of Montreal warble-rockers, Wolf Parade. It’s quite a resume, but it doesn’t do much to prepare you for the radically departed sound of his new outfit, Johnny and the Moon....Read More

Feature Article: Rock 'n Roll Banned – You Say Party! We Say Die! Border Patrol Says Bye! - 6/4/2007 - Talk about crappy timing. Just as British Columbia 's You Say Party! We Say Die! were building momentum in the states on tour with the fellow exclamationally-enhanced Thunderbirds Are Now!, their quest for U.S. domination hit a bit of a snag a the border resulting in a 5-year ban from the country...Read More



TRUE LIVE MUSIC FAN CONTEST!

The True Live Music Fan Contest is up and ready for you to enter. Upload a picture of yourself and your favorite band or band member (fake it in Photoshop or from a real photo) and share a short story (2-3 sentences) of when you met the band. Then, get your friends to vote for you. Entrants with the most votes win prizes! [contest details]





Baebleheads WANTED! !
For those of you looking for something to do on summer vacation or just bored at work, come join the Baeblehead gang! We're looking for people who believe in the power of live concerts and want to help get the word out about bands we film. Win prizes and even reall work experience that you can put on your resume. [contest details]

While I’m sure Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is a stellar kind of title for Spoon’s long awaited follow-up to Gimme Fiction, it’s what all that baby talk is slapped across that really matters. Thankfully, months of speculation and nervous suppositions is beginning to pay off, as both the band, and Merge Records begin the gradual roll-out to July 10th.

Pre-Order
Fans of the band can start by pre-ordering Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga HERE. With your faithful commitment to own, in addition to the 10 songs that comprise Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (which, we have on good authority is the perfect number of songs for an album), you’ll get hooked up with a limited edition, 22-min EP of extra music.

Us usual, Merge caters to the Vinylphile by providing a coupon with every LP, good for a download of the entire album, and EP.

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga Tracklist:

1. Don’t Make Me A Target
2. The Ghost of You Lingers
3. You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb
4. Don’t You Evah
5. Rhythm and Soul
6. Eddie’s Ragga
7. The Underdog
8. My Little Japanese Cigarette Case
9. Finer Feelings
10. Black Like Me

Streaming
Both the band and Merge have set up a site that will stream a new song from the record every day until all songs are available for individual play. Check it out HERE.

In the Meantime
Spoon will be gigging like mad over the next few months. More summer dates, a fall US tour, and more European shows will be announced soon but in the meantime here's what's solid:

06/10 Chula Vista CA @ KZBT Independence Jam w/ Interpol - FREE SHOW
06/16 Manchester TN @ Bonnaroo Music Festival w/ Wilco, Feist, Flaming Lips, etc.
06/29 Calgary AB @ Sled Island Festival w/ Cat Power
07/04 Detroit MI @ Comerica City Fest w/ Yo La Tengo - FREE SHOW
07/05 Milwaukee WI @ Summerfest w/ Violent Femmes
07/11 New York NY @ River to River - Rockerfeller Park - FREE SHOW
08/04 Chicago IL @ Lollapalooza Festival w/ Iggy and the Stooges, Interpol
08/05 Baltimore MD @ Virgin Festival w/ The Police, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, etc.
08/10 Oslo Norway @ Oya
08/11 Gotebourg Sweden @ Way Out West
08/12 Leicester UK @ Summer Sundae Weekender
08/14 Portugal @ Parades de Coura Festival
08/16 London UK @ Cargo
08/17 Hasselt Belgium @ Pukkelpop Festival

In the wake of a decision that has apparently sent some of the more knee-jerk, idealist affirming, yet reality ignoring, sect of their fan base running for the hills of self-righteousness, Wilco decided to defend themselves from the obligatory ‘sell out’ accusations that have accompanied the band’s decision to leap into the wonderfully lucrative world of commercial licensing.

From Wilco HQ:

As many of you are aware, Volkswagen has recently begun running a series of TV commercials featuring Wilco music. Why? This is a subject we've discussed internally many times over the years regarding movies, TV shows and even the odd advertisement. With the commercial radio airplay route getting more difficult for many bands (including Wilco); we see this as another way to get the music out there. As with most of the above (with the debatable exception of radio) the band gets paid for this. And we feel okay about VWs. Several of us even drive them.

If you're keeping track, this is not the first time Wilco has licensed a song to or even been involved in a commercial -- most recently a TV spot for Telefonica Mobile in Spain used a Wilco song and some years prior Jeff Tweedy appeared in a campaign for Apple Computer. Wilco have licensed hundreds of songs to television shows and films worldwide... from festival-only indie films to major motion pictures and weekly TV shows.

Thus far the songs in the VW campaign are "The Thanks I Get" (a bonus track from Sky Blue Sky sessions, available for download via the Enhanced CD and via iTunes) and "You are my Face". We expect to have more details re: other songs shortly. The current plan (subject to change, like everything) is for 5 or 6 songs to be used. That's it. Don't believe everything you read unless you read it HERE.

The bossa nova, classical, and post punk influences that grease the wheels of José González’s stunning debut,Veneer, has been kickin’ around various parts of the globe for four years now. Platinum in the UK and Ireland, and with 700,000 total sales under his belt, the times seem ripe for a follow-up. Thankfully, on September 26th, González will do just that.

From Mr. González
In Our Nature is an album that on the one hand is very accessible and speaks easily, and on the other has a darkness and a seriousness that more than often borders on what should be considered healthy.

“I like playing with symbolism. On this album I’ve wanted to bring out the primitive aspects of human beings…”

With the bygone, simplistic, and empowering nature of his song work, the heart beat of González’s delicate, acoustic driven music has always sounded somewhat mystical and archaic. Bringing about the primitive aspects of human beings? Sounds like something the songwriter will be able to deliver on. Until he does, you can hear González on his MySpace Page.

Tracklist For In Our Nature:
1. How Low
2. Down The Line
3. Killing For Love
4. In Our Nature
5. Teardrop
6. Abram
7. Time To Send Someone Away
8. The Nest
9. Fold
10. Cycling Trivialities

We here at Baeble usually look forward to getting back into the swing of things on a Monday morning. But this morning brought with it some utterly tragic news from a band we here at Baeble think the world of.

NME.com is reporting that the body of John Pike – drummer for the Syracuse NY based band, Ra Ra Riot has been found after he disappeared near an after-show party in Fairhaven MA early Saturday morning.

A search on foot and by air was underway by 4PM Saturday, and Pike’s body was found in seven feet of water in Buzzard’s Bay around 4PM Sunday.

This is truly saddening news to everyone here at Baeble. We remember Pike fondly from our PUSH PLAY event back in February at The Canal Room. We filmed both the band’s performance that evening, as well as interviewed them for our Green Room series.

Baeble wants to extend its’ warmest sympathies to those who were deeply touched by Pike. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, bandmates, friends, and fans.

Robert Pollard made quite a splash with his debut on Merge Records in 2006. Uncle Bob released not one, but two new albums on his new label – From A Compound Eye in January and Normal Happiness in October 2006. Well, now Bob has one-upped himself – again! This fall, Bob will be releasing not one, but TWO brand new Robert Pollard albums – Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love and Standard Gargoyle Decisions. Both albums are slated for an October 9th release, and will be sold separately. What could be better than a double shot of great music from one of rock’s most acclaimed (and most prolific) songwriters of the last 20 years.

As was the case with From A Compound Eye and Normal Happiness, all of the material on these recordings was written, recorded and performed by Bob and his long-time collaborator Todd Tobias.

For these new releases, Pollard has put together two markedly different albums -- one focuses on his super-catchy pop side the other his more down and dirty rock side. It's like Beatles Vs. Stones! A battle to the death and, of course, Bob emerges as the victor!

As an extra special bonus surrounding these releases, Pollard will be starting his Happy Jack Rock Records Singles Club in June 2007, through his website. The Singles Club will feature one 7” single each month for a year with a track from Standard Gargoyle Decisions or Coast to Coast Carpet Of Love as the A-side, and a non-album track on the B-side.

Track Listings:

Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love
1. Our Gaze
2. Count Us In
3. Exactly What Words Mean
4. Current Desperation (Angels Speak Of Nothing)
5. Dumb Lady
6. Rud Fins
7. Customer’s Throat
8. Miles Under The Skin
9. Penumbra
10. Slow Hamilton
11. Looks Is What You Have
12. I Clap For Strangers
13. Life Of A Wife
14. Youth Leagues
15. When We Were Slaves
16. Nicely Now

Standard Gargoyle Decisions
1. The Killers
2. Pill Gone Girl
3. Hero Blows the Revolution
4. Psycho-Inertia
5. Shadow Port
6. Lay Me Down
7. Butcher Man
8. Motion Sickness Ghosts
9. I In The World
10. Here Comes Garcia
11. The Island Lobby
12. Folded Claws
13. Feel Not Crushed
14. Accusations
15. Don’t Trust Anybody
16. Come Here Beautiful
17. Spider Eyes

Having ditched their robes in favor of brand new black, military-esque threads, the new Polyphonic Spree certainly look a little meaner, a little more muscular…dare I say, even a little sexier? Either way, they have updated their shtick, and I totally dig it!

But looks aren’t everything. Luckily, the music that has pumped out of camp DeLaughter these days is some of the best material the band has put together yet. While The Fragile Army doesn’t hit stores until June 19th, fans can hear some of the record in a few places that have cropped up on the web.

Over at the band’s website you can get a taste of what’s to come with an 8 minute mash-up of the album the band put together. Hear it HERE.

From The Fragile Army:
MP3: The Polyphonic Spree: Light To Follow::: Courtesty of Gorilla vs. Bear

And of course, you can always visit the band’s MySpace Page as well…

The band is also embarking on a massive summer tour. Join the communion at anyone of the following stops:

06-23 Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre
06-24 Austin, TX - Stubbs BBQ
06-25 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
06-26 New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
06-27 Atlanta, GA - Roxy Theatre
06-29 Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts
06-30 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
07-01 Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
07-02 Boston, MA - Avalon
07-03 Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis
07-05 Toronto Ontario - Phoenix Concert Theatre
07-06 Detroit, MI - The Majestic
07-07 Cleveland, OH - House Of Blues
07-08 Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue
07-09 Milwaukee, WI - The Rave II
07-10 Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Cafe
07-13 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom
07-14 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theatre
07-15 Seattle, WA - The Showbox
07-17 San Francisco CA - Great American Music Hall
07-18 Los Angeles CA - El Rey Theatre
07-20 San Diego CA - Canes Bar & Grill
07-22 Denver CO - Gothic Theatre
07-23 Aspen CO - The Belly Up
08-04 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza)
08-11 Osaka, Japan - Summersonic Festival
08-12 Tokyo, Japan - Summersonic Festival
09-01 Stradbally, Ireland - Stradbally Estate (Electric Picnic Festival)
09-02 Argyll, Scotland - Inveraray Castle (Connect Festival)