TONIGHT: LEMON SUN + ROBBERS ON HIGH STREET @ THE ECHO

TONIGHT @ THE ECHO:

ROBBERS ON HIGH STREET
LEMON SUN
MEZZANINE OWLS

6pm / $8 / all ages

TONIGHT: DUST & BLOOD @ THE VIPER ROOM

TONIGHT at The Viper Room

D&B takes the stage at 9PM

MYSPACE

THURSDAY NIGHT @ THE DETROIT BAR: FUTURE SOUNDS & LEMON SUN

TONIGHT @ CINESPACE: MANIC

Get out tonight and see MANIC at CINESPACE. I just listened to their EP, Floorboards, which was released today on Suretone Records, and was impressed by it's grandness. I feel about it like I did about the FIELDS EP, or the MIDLAKE record. Very swirling and epic. Check out 'Chemicals For Criminals' - my personal favorite is 'Mr Evans'.

MANIC
WEB SITE
MYSPACE

COACHELLA LINE UP ANNOUNCED!

Wait a minute, THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN???? Wow!

Plenty of former FUTURE SOUNDS acts on the bill:
Air
Arcade Fire
Arctic Monkeys
The Black Keys
Cocorosie
The Cribs
C.S.S.
Damien Rice
The Decemberists
Fields
Girl Talk
Grizzly Bear
Interpol
Kaiserchiefs
Kings of Leon
The Klaxons
Kokono No 1
The Kooks
Lily Allen
Lupe Fiasco
Mando Diao
The New Pornographers
The Rapture
Ratatat
Silversun Pickups
Spank Rock
Teddybears
Tokyo Police Club
We Are Scientists

SXSW MADNESS ALREADY STARTED

Who doesn't love SXSW? If you're a music fan, it's Disneyworld. Better than all others, you can hit 10 shows in a night without even getting in a cab, plus BBQ, beer, and sunshine. The good people over at the AUSTINIST, have put together an updated list of "confirmed bands" for this year's event, now 240 bands announced.

So as you start to put together your "must see" list, I thought I'd highlight former FUTURE SOUNDS bands on the list thus far:

65daysofstatic
Architecture In Helsinki
Badly Drawn Boy
Black Lips
Bloc Party
Cold War Kids
Erase Errata
Every Move a Picture
Girl Talk
Interpol
Kings Of Leon
Kristoffer Ragnstam
Lily Allen
Mando Diao
Snowden
The Immediate
The Ponys
The Walkmen
Tigercity
Viva Voce
Voxtrot
Youth Group

Others that should be on your go-see list:

As Tall As Lions
Datarock
Delorentos
Diplo
Ferraby Lionheart
Loney Dear
Macromantics
Malajube
Peter & the Wolf
Teitur
The Broken West
The Young Knives
Thunderbirds Are Now!
Union Of Knives

NEW SOUNDS: ARTISTS TO WATCH

In the never-ending hunt for new artists for the FUTURE SOUNDS compilations, I sift through a zillions demos sent my way, as well as all the online searching, downloading, etc. Future Sounds 26 is getting close, and should be ready to go in February, so subscribers, be ready. Here are some of the interesting acts that I've come across recently that deserve mentioning.

1. INJUNS

Infectious band from the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Track, " Forming a Skin" is a standout.

INJUNS
WEB SITE
MYSPACE

2. WINTERGREEN
From Los Angeles, must be HUGE MORRISSEY fans. Check out 'When I Wake Up' on their Myspace page.

WINTERGREEN
WEB SITE
MYSPACE

3. GERSEY
From Melbourne, Australia. Cinematic and sublime, kinda RADIOHEAD like (big words). Check out 'Gracie', 'Fire', and 'Searchlights'.

GERSEY

WEB SITE
MYSPACE

4. PATRICK WATSON
From Montreal, his Secret City Records release is crammed with amazing tracks like, 'Drifters' and 'Lucious Life'.

PATRICK WATSON
WEB SITE
MYSPACE

5. THE SWIMMERS
Fun, Philadelphia band with a '60's sound, but still very indie and now. Check out 'Heaven' on their Myspace page.

THE SWIMMERS
WEB SITE
MYSPACE

OTHERS TO WATCH:

THE BLAKES
THE RUMBLE STRIPS
THE BROKEN WEST

SAN FRANCISCO TONIGHT: NICKEL BAG OF FUNK

Wanna go out tonight in SF and just dance your ass off? Check out my brother's gig in the Mission. Here is from the article in today's edition of SF STATION: Location

Make-Out Room 3225 22nd Street San Francisco, CA 94110 map cross street: between Mission and Valencia district: Mission

Description

Nickel Bag of Funk: Dancehall, Baile Funk, Hip Hop, House, Latin, Bhangra, Classic Funk, Breaks , 80's, and so much more...

NBF is drummer, Bri- Thai, and two DJ's, Jimmy Love and Duserock, when combined they create an open format triple team of unlimited music. Born in January of 2006, as a collective idea to let it get loose, funky, and have no set format grew with the collective of three music junkies.

Come and dance to songs you know and songs you should know, mixed by DJs who you might expect to see at the latest hot spot. But they're here, just enjoying themselves with NBF.

Dress down, bring sneakers, get goofy with your friends, and let the hipsters hole up at the cool new club of the week. We're in the Mission, filling the night with live drums, DJs, dance performances, and people looking for a laid back atmosphere and a funky full dancefloor!!

Rotating guests TBA including but not limited to, DJ’s Swingsett: ism records, M3: green gorilla, Tom Thump: kinky sweat, Melyss: sisters sf, Lady Ra: bwb.

DJ "Jimmy Love": A lover of world beats, funk and hip hop...JL has shored up with the likes of DJ Sep, J-Boogie, Soul Salaam, Cheb i Sabbah, Dj Tomas, DJ Dragonfly, Lady Ra, Dj Vanka, Maneesh The Twister, Janaka The Selekta, and shared the decks with Karsh Kale and State Of Bengal of the south Asian electronica movement.

Outside of DJ'ing - J Love's art has hung on plenty of walls, while painting live for the likes of Sony as well as the San Jose MOMA. A designer by day and an artist by night, he is dedicated to the love of positive expression!
www.nonstopbhangra.com
www.jameslittlegallery.com

Duserock: Since 1992, Duserock has played consistently nationally and abroad. He has opened for the likes of Sting and Sheryl Crow. He has played alongside DJ’s Dtek, Swingsett, Photek, Dubtribe, Michael Anthony, Hawke (aka Gavin Hardkiss) and many more.

In addition to his interest behind the decks, Duserock brings his musical influence to the dance act Drop Culture. Drop Culture has appeared on recordings for respected dance labels including Om Records, Y4K Distinctive Breaks, Terraform Records, Lo-Rise and Mixed Elements. They have been featured in Time Out NY, Rolling Stone, Spin, Maxim's Blender, Muzik, and BPM (As the 'Record of the Month'). Duserock and Drop Culture have received praise and support from industry giants like John Digweed, Paul van Dyk, Groove Armada and Pete Tong
(using Drop Culture for his Essential Selection).
www.dusermania.com

Bri- Th: Started drumming 20 years ago at the tender age of 11. After playing in jazz band and allstate symphonic orchestra in high school, he attended Berkelee College of Music in Boston, MA, and also studied at Ithaca Music Conservatory in NY.
Soon thereafter, he began playing in various bands in Manhattan
(including a stint with Muzz Skillings formally of Vernon Reid's
"Living Colour") and did a few East Coast tours opening for the
likes of The Tom Tom Club, Joan Jett, and Bow Wow Wow until
moving to SF a few years ago.

Aside from working with NBF he currently performs with Angela Valley, Chroma, pick up gigs and does the occasional musical (BatBoy, Pinnochio Jones) - "Seussical the Musicial" in late July.

www.nickelbagoffunk.com

FUTURE SOUNDS BANDS LIVE THIS WEEKEND

FRIDAY NIGHT
JAN 19 - THE DEARS - New York City - Webster Hall
JAN 19 - GREYHOUND SOUL - Tempe, AZ - Yucca Tap Room
JAN 19 - THE BLACK ANGELS - Austin, TX - Hogg Memorial Auditorium
JAN 19 - MASON PROPER - Toronto - The Drake Hotel
JAN 19 - EARL GREYHOUND - Detroit - Lager House
JAN 19 - OF MONTREAL - Memphis, TN - HiTone
JAN 19 - STEVEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS - Seattle - Neumos
JAN 19 - BIRDMONSTER - San Jose, CA - The Blank Club
JAN 19 - COLD WAR KIDS - Los Angeles - Silverlake Lounge
JAN 19 - MISSION OF BURMA - New York - Irving Plaza
JAN 19 - BENJY FERREE - Washington DC - Black Cat
JAN 19 - GIRL TALK - Philadelphia - Johnny Brenda's
JAN 19 - CAMERA OBSCURA - Atlanta - 40 Watt Club

SATURDAY NIGHT
JAN 20 - THE DEARS - Washington DC - 9:30 Club
JAN 20 - LOVEDRUG - Dallas, TX - Ellum Onstage
JAN 20 - THE CHANGES - Los Angeles - Spaceland
JAN 20 - EARL GREYHOUND - Chicago - Schubas
JAN 20 - STRANGER'S SMILE - Los Angeles - Hotel Cafe
JAN 20 - OF MONTREAL - New Orleans - Republic
JAN 20 - STEVEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS - Portland - Crystal Ballroom
JAN 20 - BIRDMONSTER - San Diego - The Casbah
JAN 20 - BENJY FERREE - New York - Tonic
JAN 20 - ST VINCENT - Minneapolis - Fine Line Music Cafe
JAN 20 - GIRL TALK - Boston - Middle East
JAN 20 - MISSION OF BURMA - Boston - Paradise Rock Club

SUNDAY NIGHT
JAN 21 - THE CHANGES - San Francisco - Cafe Du Nord
JAN 21 - EARL GREYHOUND - Minneapolis - 7th St Entry
JAN 21 - OF MONTREAL - San Antonio, TX - White Rabbit
JAN 21 - ST VINCENT - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon

MYSTERY JETS SIGN WITH DIM MAK

Congratulations go to MYSTERY JETS, as they've just signed with DIM MAK in the US. I featured the band and their track "Alas Agnes" back on FUTURE SOUNDS 19, before their 679 Recordings deal, and now they will release the Diamonds in the Dark EP on April 10 and a full length in May. Let's just hope Steve Aoki doesn't make the band wear some of those hoodies he's created.

MYSTERY JETS
WEB PAGE
MYSPACE

BABYSHAMBLES SIGNS WITH PARLAPHONE

I guess people just love to watch train wrecks, and some realize that bad press is good press. That must be the case in Parlaphone signing BABYSHAMBLES. Now, there is no question that Pete Doherty is a talented guy. I remember seeing THE LIBERTINES at 3pm in a tent at Coachella their first time to the US, and still remember that set of music today. I even really liked the Babyshambles tracks, putting 'Kilimanjaro' on FUTURE SOUNDS 18. But then it was straight tragedy after tragedy. Drug bust after drug bust. Stupid press stunt after stupid press stunt. And Kate Moss (well, that could be points on the good side). Like a joke that was never funny, continuing to be told again and again and again, Pete's drug use and arrests went from boring me, to annoying me, to wondering why anyone cares. So now, Parlaphone has rewarded this band with a $1.5 million deal, to basically grab lots of headlines and miss half their shows due to wild nights and wild afternoons. My English friends, please tell me why this guy continues to charm you in such a way?? Are you desperate to have your own Kurt Cobain, and you sniff someone about to do something horrible so you can say you were down since way back? Puzzling.....

TONIGHT IN LA: WORLD WIDE SPIES @ THE DERBY

For fans of EDITORS, and the second coming of SIMPLE MINDS, here's WORLD WIDE SPIES. They're playing tonight in Los Feliz at THE DERBY. WWS are an LA band, based around the booming BIG COUNTRY style vocals of frontman, JFK. Tonight: THE DERBY w/FOLIO 4500 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027

Print the e-ticket below to get $5 off the door cover.
Tickets: $15
$10 with print out e-ticket









WORLD WIDE SPIES
WEB SITE
MYSPACE

TONIGHT IN SF: LOVELIKEFIRE @ 12 GALAXIES

If you even occasionally read this blog or talk with me at all, you know how much I love the young band from San Francisco called LOVELIKEFIRE. If you need something to do tonight, don't miss them playing at 12 GALAXIES tonight!

Here's the details:

Plug Award City Highlight Tour
- Love Like Fire
- Sholi
- Finest Dearest
- Luxxury

$8 - 9PM

@ 12 GALAXIES
2565 Mission Street, San Francisco, 94110

LOVELIKEFIRE
WEB SITE
MYSPACE

SCISSORS FOR LEFTY IN LA TONIGHT: CLUB MOSCOW

ARMS TONIGHT @ PIANOS (NYC)

In NYC, head over to PIANO'S tonight for ARMS. If you liked 'Whirrling' from FUTURE SOUNDS 25, then go see Brooklyn's Todd Goldstein tonight. Arms has recently signed with MELODIC RECORDS in the UK, and the full length follow up to the 'Shitty Little Disco EP' should arrive by summer.

TONIGHT:
PIANO'S
158 Ludlow St LES, NYC, NY 10002
8pm, w/ Inouk


ARMS:
WEB SITE
MYSPACE

Dikta @ Brixton Windmill, Tonight!

THE PONYS HIT THE ROAD

Going way back to FUTURE SOUNDS 14, you may remember the track "Little Friends", a great tune by Chicago's THE PONYS. Well, back then they were on IN THE RED RECORDS, a terrific label, and now they've put their time in on the road and have moved up to Matador.

They're new CD, Turn the Lights Out, is set to drop on March 20th, so they're doing what all good bands should and hit the road to spread the gospel.

TOUR DATES:

01-12 Chicago, IL - Schubas (Tomorrow Never Knows) *
01-13 Bloomington, IN - Paulie's $
03-03 San Francisco, CA - Bottom Of The Hill (Noise Pop)
03-13 Memphis, TN - Young Avenue Deli #
03-18 Houston, TX - The Mink #!
03-19 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jack's #
03-21 Atlanta, GA - Earl #
03-22 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle #
03-23 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar #
03-24 Washington, DC - Black Cat #
03-25 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's #
03-26 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom #
03-27 Cambridge, MA - TT the Bear's #
03-28 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa #
03-29 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace #
03-30 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick #
03-31 Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium #

* with Benjy Ferree, Sano, the Early Tapes, DJ Matt Fields
$ with Sign Sed So
# with the Black Lips
! with Deerhunter

THE PONYS - http://www.theponys.com/

FILM SCHOOL FEATURED ON THE O.C. INSIDER

Here's the article that just appeared on the OC Insider today on the latest on FILM SCHOOL......


FILM SCHOOL by Hane C. Lee

What Film School has been through in the past year could come straight out of a movie: Hardworking San Francisco musicians get signed to indie royals Beggars Banquet, and tour Europe supporting the National and the Rodgers Sisters before headlining the states. Singer gets jumped outside a club in Columbus and in Philadelphia, somebody steals the tour van (with all the band’s equipment inside) and plows through the gate of the motel parking lot. Once back home, a demanding show schedule as well as the oft-cited "creative differences" ends in the amicable departure of the band's rhythm section, leaving founder, guitarist, and frontman Krayg Burton and original core members Nyles Lannon (guitar) and Jason Ruck (keyboards).

But with fewer directors on the set, Film School is finding it easier to focus on the sequel. "Before, we were trying to make everyone happy. Now we can bang out a song a little quicker," Burton explains. "There's a sense of freedom that we can write whatever we feel like writing — there's really good energy right now."

11:11

Released in early 2006, Film School's self-titled album on Beggars Banquet eschewed the punk disco craze that so many of its contemporaries exploited, instead blending pretty, shoegazer pop with richly textured space-rock soundscapes, similar to the approach of kindred spirits Serena Maneesh and Secret Machines.

Which isn't to say Film School can't whip out a mean booty shaker. The single "11:11," about how getting what you wish for can sometimes backfire, begins with an assertive, angular bass line and builds to a menacing sonic climax that tends to send live audiences into a foot-stomping frenzy.

"I like the idea of writing songs that are best played live, that completely drench a room in guitars and reverb," says Burton.

Having recently relocated to Los Angeles while Lannon and Ruck remain in San Francisco, Burton has been trading files with his bandmates over the Internet, but, as he attests, "the best writing happens when I'll bring up a song [to San Francisco] and we'll flesh it out together." Still, he adds, "It's kind of cool you can be in a band and not be in the same city — it's not impossible to do."

Removing himself from familiar surroundings has also helped the creative process. "In some ways, being a little isolated and having a lot of time to myself has allowed me to really explore a lot of songwriting ideas."

For the next album, the band is experimenting with guest musicians and vocalists (previous collaborations have included ex-Pavement member Scott Kannberg, among others), and eventually hopes to recruit a full-time female bassist and singer. "I just really enjoy the combination of the male-female vocals," says Burton.

So why not a female drummer who can sing backup?

"A female drummer would be great, too," Burton says. "But they're harder to come by."

Check out the band's MySpace page: www.myspace.com/filmschool

SPANK ROCK TONIGHT ON JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE

One of my favorite albums of 2006 was SPANK ROCK's 'YOYOYOYOYOYO'. From 'Bump' to 'Rick Rubin' to 'Lindsey Lohan', definately one of the best party discs of the year. Set your Tivo for the Jimmy Kimmel Show tonight on ABC, for a chance to see them perform.

SPANK ROCK - http://www.spankrock.net/

FUTURE SOUNDS BANDS LIVE THIS WEEKEND

Plenty of good music on the road tonight, hopefully in your town. Support the artists, buy a ticket, buy a shirt, they're sure as hell not making money from their labels (well, a few of them maybe are).

FRIDAY
Jan 12: Apartment @ The Fly (Fly Magazine club night) LONDON
Jan 12: Cold War Kids @ Silverlake Lounge - Los Angeles
Jan 12: Blanche @ University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI
Jan 12: My Morning Jacket @ The Ogden - Denver, CO
Jan 12: Tigercity @ Darkroom – Chicago
Jan 12: Steven Malkmus & The Jicks @ Glass House - Pamona, CA
Jan 12: Darker My Love @ University of California San Diego San Diego, California
Jan 12: The Ponys @ Schubas (Tomorrow Never Knows)

SATURDAY
Jan 13: Foreign Born @ Little Radio Party - Los Angeles
Jan 13: Greyhound Soul @ Club Congress - Tucson, AZ
Jan 13: My Morning Jacket @ The Ogden - Denver, CO
Jan 13: Mason Proper @ The Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI
Jan 13: Tigercity @ Schubas - Chicago
Jan 13: Steven Malkmus & The Jicks @ Soho - Santa Barbara, CA
Jan 13: The Ponys @ Paulies - Bloomington, IL

SUNDAY
Jan 14: Earl Greyhound @ Grasslands – Brooklyn
Jan 14: Steven Malkmus & The Jicks @ Harlow's - Sacaramento, CA

NEW SOUNDS: DIKTA (Iceland)

Someone just turned me on to this band from Iceland, DIKTA. Give a listen to their Myspace page to the song, 'Someone Somewhere', and after you get over the fact that it starts like 'Sparks' by Coldplay, you hear a voice that can run with Chris Martin. Listen to 'Losing Everyday' also, another excellent track.

According to their Web site, the four band members, now in their early twenties, just released their second album, Hunting For Happiness on the Bad Taste label which also releases Björk and Sigur Rós in Iceland. They have nothing yet in the UK or in the US.

For those of you in London, check them out this week - they're in town and there's many opportunities to see them live:

LONDON NEXT WEEK

Jan 11 2007 Hope & Anchor London
Jan 16 2007 Windmill London
Jan 17 2007 Industry, Hoxton London
Jan 19 2007 Platform One Isle of Wight


DIKTA
WED SITE: http://www.dikta.net/
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/dikta

MY MORNING JACKET TONIGHT IN LA

I'm really looking forward to seeing MY MORNING JACKET again live this evening at The Wiltern.

It's a busy Saturday night for FUTURE SOUNDS bands:

Calexico – @ The Rialto Theatre – Tucson, AZ

Greyhound Soul @ Last Exit, Tucson, AZ

Harlem Shakes @ Center Stage – NYC

The Prids @ Doug Fir – Portland

Steven Malkmus & The Jicks @ El Rey Theater - LA

Stylofone @ Mercury Lounge - NYC

Super XX Man @ Mississippi Studios – Portland

Takota @ House of Blues - Anaheim

The VLA’s @ The Gig - Hollywood

Get out and support some live music tonight.

EMAP TONIGHT @ RICKSHAW STOP IN SAN FRANCISCO

NEW SOUNDS: THE EPOCHS

Damn if I don't love KEXP! They may get into ruts at times, but they always have the fresh new indie stuff before the others. My recent listent dropped the arrival of THE EPOCHS into my daily playlist. A four piece from Brooklyn, they have funk and soul and remind me of a the US version of GUILLEMOTS.

Listen for yourself, download 'Stand Up And Be Counted' thanks to FREEINDIE.COM

My other favorite is the funky 'Tug Of War'.

THE EPOCHS
WEB SITE
MYSPACE

THE ROGERS SISTERS BREAK UP

In an email to friends and fans this morning, sadly, THE ROGERS SISTERS have parted ways.
Dear Friends,

We are writing to regretfully inform you that our band, the Rogers Sisters, has officially run its course and broken up. Thanks to those of you who have worked and travelled with us for your tolerance, entertainment and good times; and to all of you for the fun, craziness and support. Our last show was in Oslo, exactly 7 years and one day after our very first show at Enid's in November of 1999.
We don't feel any need to make an official announcement to the press, and we may keep our website up for a little while to try to move some merch (the merch store finally went up, like, last month). But please feel free to share the news with anyone who
might know us or care. Sorry, we will not be doing any goodbye shows either.

I've always liked and appreciated what this band attempted to do, and they will be missed. I've heard about splinter groups popping up, like SHOCK CINEMA, in which Miyuki is now playing in. Best of luck to all of them, band life is a tough road.

LEMON SUN LIVE FOOTAGE FROM THE ECHO

Great live action of LEMON SUN from last month's residency at THE ECHO.
Go HERE to see the live video footage - http://one.revver.com/watch/127064/flv/affiliate/38548