TONIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO: BOTTOM OF THE HILL

THIS WEEKEND: TANKFARM WAREHOUSE SALE

Just in time for the holidays....get on out to Cypress this weekend.

THE DODOS SIGN TO FRENCH KISS RECORDS

Congratulations go out to Meric Long and THE DODOS, for signing with French Kiss Records! They'll be label mates with THE HOLD STEADY and LES SAVY FAV. We've been in love with them since FS21 ("Notes") and it always makes me happy when a San Francisco band slips out of the cage!

Click here to listen to their debut single “Fools”. (MP3)

TONIGHT IN LA: OSLO @ THE VIPER ROOM

OSLO, a band I recently met up at THE RUMBLE in San Francisco, have members that live in both LA and SF, and tonight they'll be holding court in Socal at THE VIPER ROOM.

They hit the stage at 10PM.

OSLO
WEB SITE
MYSPACE

LISTEN FOR FUTURE SOUNDS TONIGHT ON LITTLE RADIO

Personally, I feel a connection to LITTLE RADIO just because growing up, working in radio and TV, I always dreamed of having a station called 'Little Radio' because I was born with surname 'Little'. After moving here and meeting Jimmy and the LR crew, I liked it even more because they really know how to throw a party and they have unique, streaming radio programs and knowledgeable DJ's. Little Radio even manufactured the Future Sounds CD once, so it really has come full circle for me that tonight I have the honor of dropping in on KEVIN BRONSON'S "Buzz Bands" show tonight between 6Pm-8PM.

I'm a faithful reader of Kevin's column and blog, and I can't help but see him at EVERY show I seem to go see live. No exaggeration, he's at every show and this guy lives for music. I'm going to sneak in some songs that will be on FS31 I hope, that is due out in mid December, and some other bands I've been enjoying in the search to complete the next compilation.

Tune in HERE

GET READY TO RUMBLE: NEXT WEDNESDAY IN SAN FRANCISCO

Next Wednesday night in San Francisco THE RUMBLE returns to Harlot. Resident DJ Bagel Ted of BAGEL RADIO will be there alongside DJ Omar from POPSCENE. Bagel Radio just got a PLUG Awards Online Station of the Year Award nomination, so go and vote for Ted!

FILM SCHOOL will be playing around the corner at MEZZANINE and we're hosting the after party at The Rumble.

What's really exciting is that we'll be shooting the first episode of 'FUTURE SOUNDS' the music video show live at the event, so come down and get your mug in 15 million homes. My co-host is this guy (look down) - SCOTTIE DIABLO - and the videos will also reflect the same kind of sounds and up and coming artists that the FSCD reflects.

EL DIABLO

NEW SOUNDS: TOKO-RI GET HIGH

Anytime I hear of a band out of El Paso, Texas that is slightly left of center, I'm intrigued (AT THE DRIVE IN). A band that has spent it's nights in Juarez, Mexico at Fred's Rainbow Bar or The Alive brings with them a different perspective on the world - sort of like that flick 'No Country For Old Men'. Thanks to my buddies at HOT FREAKS, I was tipped off to a freak of nature that is TOKO-RI GET HIGH.

Part BEEFHEART, part VELVET UNDERGROUND, part TROGGS, but nothing like anyone else I've been listening to, TOKO-RI GET HIGH bubble up from some place else, much like THE FLAMING LIPS did when they came onto the scene, primarily because they aren't from a "scene". Dub ('Pacman Dub') and psychedelic adventures ('Where Do They Go') make the few songs posted on their Myspace page something I can't stop playing. I MUST get these guys to play our party at SXSW this year!

TOKO-RI GET HIGH
MYSPACE

WHITE DENIM: SPIN.COM ARTIST OF THE DAY

One of our favorite new bands out of Austin, WHITE DENIM (FS30) are today's 'Artist of the Day' at Spin.com > Check it out HERE. You'll also find a free download of "Darksided Computer Mouth".

SATURDAY NIGHT IN LOS ANGELES: NOW THIS IS DOPE!

INDUSTRY HEROES PROFILE: AARON AXELSON

I guess the music industry is not that unlike any other business - there are those that are out for themselves and go the dog-eat-dog route, the ones in the middle, and then are the good guys. I wanted to start a little series on some of the ones that I consider 'heroes', the people out there doing the right thing for the right reasons, and actually helping bands.

A great place to start is LIVE 105's AARON AXELSON up in San Francisco. Here is a guy on a major commercial radio station, KITS FM, that actually has great ears as a Music Director and actually takes risks on bands that aren't being added by everyone else. When we were working with THE KILLERS in the early days, Aaron was the first station in the country to play them. I think there is a laundry list of bands that could say that very same thing, year in and year out, where Aaron picked them out of a stack (because he actually listens to the music sent his way), and stuck his neck out on the station. What he's built with the BFD Festival, that has evolved to Shoreline Amphitheatre now, is amazing, and best of all, his 'local stage' set up and contest is now an industry standard. His Sunday night specialty show, SOUNDCHECK, makes a habit of playing local bands, bands from the UK, and bands that no one else has heard of.

Aaron is also the man behind POPSCENE, the longest running indie dance rock night in San Francisco. Again, Aaron is usually way ahead of the local venues and books UK acts that in London play arenas, but are coming to the US for the first time and find themselves playing the cozy confines of 330 Rich to a rabid full house of music fans that hunger for new sounds. Seeing MUSE in Popscene is probably one of the most memorable nights of music I've seen. It's THE club night in SF for a rising band to hope to play to introduce themselves to a built in crowd of fans with great taste. Aaron and his DJ team there have given everyone a great education over the years and patrons know that even if it's a band they haven't heard of, that Aaron wouldn't book them if there wasn't something to it.

For San Francisco, and really to the West coast, Aaron is extremely influential to all the commercial DJ's and stations, for when he adds something to the Live 105 playlist, others fall in line from Seattle, to Portland to Los Angeles. He's a Bay Area guy at heart, represents Oakland proudly, and is a true music fan. He's the kind of guy you see at MOD LANG, thumbing through the imports vinyl if you walk in anytime during the week.

THE OWL recently did a great video piece on Aaron that I've included here:

SAM SPARRO CANCELLED

Just heard that Sam came down with the sickness from his London trip and won't be performing tonight. So call off the hounds if you were heading down there to catch the Cottonmouth.

TONIGHT IN LA: SAM SPARRO @ THE VIPER ROOM

Tonight at The Viper Room it's our boy - SAM SPARRO (FS29)! He just got back from tearing up London, where it seems everyone is chasing him on the label front.

OTHER FUTURE SOUNDS NEWS:

JUICEBOXXX is up for 'Video of the Year' on Subterranean.

This just recently showed up on HITS regarding FS30 act, LYKKE LI:
JUST LIKE OLD TIMES: Lots of weasel action happening for the Filip Wilén-managed Lykke Li. Label reps and publishers were out in full force for the 21-year old Swedish act’s shows in N.Y. during the last couple of weeks. We heard her Mercury Lounge gig was sold out purely from the industry guest list. Label reps who attended shared with us that they were surprised to see that many industry folks filling up the Mercury. Li has been in the Apple recording an album with producer Bjorn Yttling from Peter Bjorn & John. It looks like the industry frenzy may shift across the pond for Li’s upcoming U.K. shows…

Spotted, V on GG:
Not sure if you watch GOSSIP GIRL or not (not sure why you don't), but FS29 act THE VIRGINS were just featured on last week's episode.

BODIES OF WATER (FS28) have signed to Secretly Canadian. Congratulations guys!

SABROSSA PURR (FS29) have a new song out on www.RCRDLBL.com

TONIGHT IN ORANGE: THE RUMBLE @ THE DISTRICT LOUNGE

Tonight we kick off a new RUMBLE event in Orange, CA at DISTRICT LOUNGE near Chapman College. The best part is that VENUS INFERS (FS28) perform songs from their new EP, Venus Infers (The White Album). You'll definitely be hearing a song from it on FS31 next month.

TOMORROW NIGHT IN LA: FILM SCHOOL @ THE ECHOPLEX

TAKING IT TO THE STREETS: MOUNT RIGHTEOUS

I've seen a smaller version of what has become MOUNT RIGHTEOUS, a 12 piece - and sometimes larger - group of musicians from Grapevine, Texas that play ANYWHERE, without mics, amps, anything other than their instruments and voices. Led by the charismatic Joey Kendall, this artist collective you'll probably see all over SXSW this year, without a showcase, without a stage, without the glitz, dropping songs from Grapevine Texas on anyone within earshot.

MONDAY NIGHT IN LA: TOO MANY CHOICES

First off, SPIRITUALIZED are back, and playing at the Vista Theatre!!

San Francisco's THE MORNING BENDERS (FS26) play with Gliss and others at The Viper Room. Keep an eye on this band in 2008, things are going to happen.

I can't forget a band I really love, THE JEALOUS GIRLFRIENDS (FS24) from Brooklyn, playing the Silverlake Lounge tonight for free.

THANKS TO ALL AT RUMBLE 2

We had another great time at THE RUMBLE at Harlot in San Francisco - perhaps too much fun. Here are a few pic's (thanks Julie!) from Wednesday night.

DJ BAGEL TED

The kids shakin' it....

EVERY MOVE A PICTURE

Thanks to everyone involved - Jason, Jacek, Ted, Elise, Rosemary, and Jimmy Love, as well as Atlas and Villains.

TOMORROW NIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO: THE RUMBLE @ HARLOT

I'm coming back up tomorrow, come out and drink with me and listen to great music. Resident DJ Bagel Ted is spinning, as well as Elise of INDIE POP ROCKS RADIO and Rosemary Pepper, and a late night dance set by Jimmy Love. Drink specials, giveaways, indie rock music, what's not to like. Free if you RSVP on Going.com!

TANKFARM FUTURE SOUNDS - SHOUT OUT LOUDS TOUR FINALE TONIGHT

It's been an amazing tour since we all jumped onto the bus in Los Angeles after the Detour Festival in early October, and it's come full circle now with a return back to the MUSIC BOX @ FONDA in Hollywood tonight. Besides being incredible live bands, both Swedish bands happen to also be some of the nicest people I've ever met. Opening act, NICO VEGA, also showed impressive personality throughout on their first nationwide tour, playing to new faces every night and winning crowds over each time. I always get sentimental about the end of a tour, as it represents a moment in time, captures artists playing a certain set of music, around a particular release, that will never be repeated in this manner ever again. We've had nothing but a great time getting to know the bands, their management, their labels, and their PR teams and I think tonight's finale should reflect what a great time we all had.

SHOUT OUT LOUDS + NICO VEGA + JOHNOSSI TONIGHT @ MUSIC BOX AT FONDA
8PM
PLUS DJ'S BEFORE - DURING - AFTER
STEVE AOKI, DAISY O'DELL, MYLES HENDRICK & DARREN REVELL

TONIGHT IN LA: NYLES LANNON + RADEMACHER @ SPACELAND

NYLES LANNON is playing tonight @ Spaceland in Los Angeles

10 pm set FREE

Also on the bill is our old buddies RADEMACHER (FS21) at 9PM

FUTURE SOUNDS UPDATES

THAO NGUYEN (FS25) has signed a deal with Kill Rock Stars for her second full length, We Brave Be Stings and All. She's about to do some East coast dates with her band, THE GET DOWN STAY DOWN in November, where you can hear the new tracks from this release due out on January 29th. To hear one song first, you can listen to 'Bag Of Hammers' on SWEET SOUNDS.

THE AVETT BROTHERS won the best 'New and Emerging Artist' and 'Duo/Group of the Year' awards last night at the Americana Music Awards. Congratulations!

ARMY NAVY (FS20) got some NME love this week - see above.

FILM SCHOOL is at DAYTROTTER for a session today. They played 2 amazing shows in Chicago, check out this great review on FARONHEIT. They also got a 7 out of 10 album review in NME.

The SHOUT OUT LOUDS tour (presented by TankFarm Future Sounds) rolls into Austin tonight at THE PARRISH. Get ready Los Angeles, the Music Box @ Fonda show is on Monday. We have some amazing DJ's lined up, like Darren Revell of INDIE 103.1 FM, DJ Myles Hendrick of BLOODCAT LOVE, and DAISY O and one surprise special guest DJ. Check out yesterday's feature in the LA TIMES on Daisy.

TONIGHT: FILM SCHOOL IN CHICAGO