THE RUMBLE @ SXSW - THURSDAY DAY PARTY @ SHANGRI-LA

Still waking up? Get that bloody mary and beat feet for Shangri-La out on 6th Street (out by FADER Fort) for a line-up of acts that all bring it live! Opening up with Chicago's APTEKA with snap anyone out of the hangover. SHILPA RAY & HER HAPPY HOOKERS do us the honor of bringing their cosmic magic to the party, and then it's TWIN TIGERS, the band that's been rolling through all the Rumbles in March. It just keeps building from there when THE ETTES, now a four-piece, showcase their latest record, and then a band that got everyone dancing at last night's show -APES OF WRATH. The last act is someone I've been stalking since Norway - THE MEGAPHONIC THRIFT. You need to see this band while they are in the US.

Party is free > RSVP here > http://www.futuresounds.com/sxswrumble/

Shangri-La is at 1016 East 6th Street

APTEKA RELEASE 7" VINYL 'TRAITORS' IN TIME FOR SXSW

We've talked about this band before, APTEKA, a band from Chicago that absolutely rip live and their music runs dead at some of your favorite early '90's rock outfits, from Pumpkins to shoegaze, which is feeling mighty good in a time when the laptop acts are pressing buttons from town to town and you hunger for something that drives through your ribcage like a hot knife in butter.

Apteka is releasing 'Traitors", a 7" release with the b-side of "Aragon Sound" to correspond with their next tour this spring. The band will support Serena Maneesh at their Chicago Bottom Lounge date and look for them at one of the Rumble SXSW events as well as the Kill Red Rocket SXSW party. The limited edition Traitors will be available soon from InSound and, of course, at their live shows.

Can't wait for SXSW or don't live in Chicago but want to hear this blazing wall of sound? Download 'Traitors' HERE

BAND OF SKULLS - APTEKA - FRENCH MIAMI - RUMBLE LA ERUPTS

HOLY SHIT! Last night's RUMBLE: LA ripped! After a slow start thanks to the Lakers, the night ended with a fury as BAND OF SKULLS delivered on the promise they made all of us when they wrote "Baby Darling Doll Face Honey" and kicked our teeth in during their set in the tiny backroom of 3 Clubs in Hollywood. I think it'll be one of those nights that you said you were at, when gigantic band played back in the day in a tiny club to those lucky enough to be there. When the band harmonized during "Fires" the hair on my arms stood up. It had nothing to do with the Patron shots or that guy from MAD MEN dancing around like a garden nymph, it had all to do with the Skulls. After being up to my eyeballs in electro-indie band after electro-indie band, I love it when I finally get a serious dose of the RAWK! This is a special band.

Driving in from Chicago to play both west coast Rumble parties, APTEKA decided they were going to make the most of the travels. Their set was blistering and the free earplugs they provided were appreciated by anyone that wanted to actually hear their CD they just purchased at the merch booth on the drive home. I heard SABBATH, I heard FUGAZI, I heard a buzzsaw eating a belt buckle in the set that Apteka delivered. They must have rehearsed the entire drive west because they were as tight a band as I've seen live in some time. Thanks for making the trek.

I wish I had a photo of the opening act, FRENCH MIAMI from San Francisco. They got caught in the Laker game trap and even though when they started their set it was thin, it didn't phase them a bit and they also came strong and played like it was midnight. My highlight was the hopping around in the middle of "Lil' Rabbits". We'll be bringing these guys back down to LA soon.

Thanks to the lovely ladies on the turntables, S.I.S. for allowing us to shake it late night.

BIG thanks to Ryan Suffern for the photos above.

TONIGHT IN LOS ANGELES: THE RUMBLE: LA WITH BAND OF SKULLS

If tonight's live performances are anywhere near last night's in SF, those of you who aren't at Green Day will witness the real show of the night in Los Angeles. You've heard us blabber on and on about BAND OF SKULLS, or current obsession, but it was APTEKA last night that gave the champions a run for their money. They stored up all their energy on the drive from Chicago and brought the A-game. Joining the party this evening from San Francisco is FRENCH MIAMI, a band who's self-titled album is amazing. We've got some other newcomers to the evening at 3 Clubs in Hollywood, DJ's S.I.S. hit the decks and I'm told you'll want to stare at them all night instead of dance. What we have here tonight is three bands that are amazing live performers.

Guess what? Tonight's RUMBLE: LA is FREE to get in. So catch Band Of Skulls before they have to get up early and perform on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. Get personal for a change in a city of cars.

TONIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO - THE RUMBLE: SF

They've arrived - BAND OF SKULLS. Over from London to support their new album this band is too big to play our little party, but it's happening anyway. Traveling from almost that far, Chicago, APTEKA makes their West Coast debut in SF. YONI WOLF from WHY? is the guest DJ, and the Skulls will also be spinning, and big papa, BAGEL TED, will do what he always does. Drinks specials throughout the night, party starts a little later tonight - doors are at 9PM this time.

RM64 JOINS THE RUMBLE PARTY IN LOS ANGELES

Future Sounds is proud to announce that our buds over at RM64 have joined forces with our monthly THE RUMBLE: LOS ANGELES party. If you haven't spent time on their blog and you're in the industry or like to follow what's going on, then you should bookmark it because they're onto things early and often. Their network of scouts in markets across America are also discovering new bands daily, so it's a natural fit for Future Sounds to team up. This Thursday at 3 Clubs in Hollywood we're throwing the Rumble LA party with the mighty BAND OF SKULLS from London, as well as APTEKA (Chicago) and FRENCH MIAMI (San Francisco) for a great night of up-and-coming bands. Doors are at 8pm, French Miami kicks things off at 9:15pm.

JUST ANNOUNCED: BAND OF SKULLS TO PLAY JUNE RUMBLES

Ever since the BAND OF SKULLS CD, "Baby Darling Doll Face Honey" (Shangri-La Records) arrived into the FS offices, it's been played non-stop, on the way home, in the shower. I know we're only almost into June, but I'll go out on the limb and say it's my favorite record thus far of 2009. When we got the opportunity to have them play our west coast RUMBLE parties, we didn't hesitate. June 3rd they'll grace our Rumble: SF party at Harlot, and then ramble down to LA for the 3 Clubs blowout, the night before their KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic performance.

Also making the voyage, all the way from Chicago is the mighty APTEKA. We'll be doing another post on them coming up with some free downloads, and we featured them back on Future Sounds 27, but think the best of the PUMPKINS meets JANES ADDICTION. A band we love from SF is doing the rubber match this month after playing a previous Rumble SF, and this time joining us in LA - FRENCH MIAMI.

So back to "Baby Darling Doll Face Honey" - our favorite disc slipped into our cocktail this spring. Opening up with the epic, Zepplen-esque "Light Of The Morning", you know you're into something special here. Like The Dodgers' Orlando Hudson, batting second is the brilliant "Death By Diamonds & Pearls" it's at this point of the disc, only the second song in, that I began to realize the importance of this record, sort of like when I first heard the White Stripes, and you just knew it in your bones that this band will be a force. Band of Skulls mix the perfect blend of brute force with a point of view, tenderness with some wit.

"I Know What I Am" has the catchy male/female back-and-forth between Emma and Russell that continues throughout the record, balancing each other from going too creamy in one direction, like "Honest" which sounds like Fairport Convention or straight off the soundtrack from the original WICKER MAN or "Bomb" which gets vicious and furious and heavy in another.

"Fires" is another favorite, again Russell and Emma weaving in and out, claiming "it's the fall of rock and roll, that's what the news say", but nothing could be further from the truth, this record shows that RnR is still alive and very healthy. "Patterns" is another standout in an album of standouts, this is where you begin to realize how deep and diverse this band can be, firm but loving, confident yet vulnerable.

Of course the "hit" is "Hollywood Bowl" and even though they use Taco Bell in a verse, the song is incredible, going from catchy to a kick-your-face-in jam out. This is the place for an introduction, then its a slippery slope into the rest of the album. "Impossible" has this U2 grandness, as in a "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" feel.

"Blood" then drips in, almost slithering, bluesy and dirty, cosmic in a Jefferson Airplane kind of way, with Emma becoming Grace. At this point the record has taken you on such a trip you feel that you need a vacaction from the punishment, and there sits "Dull Gold Heart".

The album closes with the absolutely gorgeous "Cold Fame", a statement that this band isn't just a rocker.

We're going to wear this record out, you'll do the same. "Baby Darling Doll Face Honey", your new favorite record. Make sure you don't miss the Rumbles in June.

SXSW 2008 PICKS

Everyone will be chasing the tale of the usual suspects again this year as usual, but if you're interested in checking out some other bands/artists that show tremendous promise, try and add these to your schedule:

THE HEAVY

3.13 8PM Elysium - Counter Records Showcase
3.13 11PM The 301 - Playboy Party
3.14 4:45PM Hank Sinatra's House


CHRISTOPHER DENNY
3.13 6pm - 5775 Airport Blvd (at 290)
3.14 9pm - Pangaea - 409 Colorado St - Billboard Showcase
3.14 10:40pm - 801 Red River St
3.15 12:30pm - Club De Ville - 900 Red River St - Hot Freaks Party

MONTE NEGRO

3.12 9PM Continental Club
3.13 12PM MexicArte Museum
3.14 5PM Habana Calle 7
3.15 5PM Borders Sessions at the MACC

APTEKA

3.13 6PM Agave Bar - 415 E 6th St
3.13 9PM Bikinis Bar & Grill - 6901 North IH-35
3.14 9:30PM Pete's Bar
3.15 3:15PM Pete's Bar

THE MAI SHI
3.12 1:15pm Fader Fort
3.12 3:30pm Emo's - Terrorbird Party
3.12 5:30pm The Parlor
3.12 9pm Solar Stage
3.13 11:30am Emo's Lounge - Brooklyn Vegan Party
3.13 2:15pm Lucky Lounge
3.13 8pm Ms Bea's
3.13 10pm The Whiskey
3.13 11:45PM Children's Museum
3.14 1PM The Opera House - Smell Party
3.14 4:30PM Victory Grill - Vice Party
3.14 7PM Spiderhouse
3.14 11:45PM Flamingo Cantina
3.15 2PM West Wine Art Museum
3.16 8pm Beerland

FIGHT LIKE APES
3.13 4:30PM BD Riely's - MFI Full Irish Breakfast
3.14 12:30pm SOHO Lounge - Music For Ireland
3.15 1am - The Hideout - Canadian Music Week

BIRDS & BATTERIES
3.12 2pm Spider House Cafe
3.13 1:30PM Beauty Bar
3.13 3pm Bay Area Takeover Party

MAKE MODEL

3.13 4pm - Habana Annex - Bebo Party
3.13 10pm - Friends - Clash Magazine
3.14 4:40pm Latitude 30 - Scottish Arts Council
3.14 8pm Wave Rooftop - NME

SPIRAL BEACH
3.14 7pm Chain Dive
3.15 8pm Momo's - NXNE

OTHER BANDS THAT SOUND VERY INTERESTING:

GRAVEYARD
3.12 9PM Bourbon Rocks - Tepee Records
3.13 8PM Tepee - Alarm Party
3.15 8PM Volcom Skate Party

HONEY CLAWS
3.12 11:45PM Club 115 - SXSW Showcase
3.14 8PM Apple Bar

ABIGAIL WARCHILD
3.12 9:15PM Dirty Dog Bar - ASCAP

THE BUZZ:
THESE NEW PURITANS
THE FELICE BROTHERS
DEAD CONFEDERATE
WHITE DENIM
THE DODOS
THE AIRBOURNE TOXIC EVENT
EVANGELICALS

RECOMMENDED:
Film School, Cathy Davey, Ida Maria, The Virgins, MGMT, Shout Out Louds, Constantines, Delta Spirit, The Slits, Brazos, Brooke Waggonner, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Jenn Grant, Magic Bullets, The Wombats, Wisely, Thieves Like Us, Juiceboxxx, Office, The Law, Peter & The Wolf.