VIDEO: BAND OF SKULLS "FIRES"

Cut From A Different Fur - Band of Skulls "Fires" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Anyone that's read or listened or been around the FS crew in 2009 knows full well about our devotion to and love for BAND OF SKULLS. Their album is a triumph, boldly sitting bare-chested on top of our best of 2009 albums category waiting to pick a fight with a challenger. We just got tipped off to this video by YOURS TRULY - a great blog that has some amazing bands captured on video. Here they have an intimate sessions with BoS for one of my favorite tracks, "Fires". Epic!

Band Of Skulls are supporting THE DUKE SPIRIT tonight at The El Rey in Los Angeles.

TONIGHT IN LOS ANGELES: BAND OF SKULLS + OTHERS

If you haven't caught the mighty, mighty BAND OF SKULLS yet during their stint in the US, do it quickly before they return back to London. They have blazed a deep trail over the past two months, and John said that their Capitol Hill Block party set in Seattle last weekend was a mammoth! They play again tonight at Spaceland and you need to be there. If you haven't seen Emma play bass yet, then you'll fall in line as a disciple of the BoS!!

Also this evening, GLASVEGAS and IDA MARIA are at The Fonda, MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO. are playing the Aquarium Drunkard party at The Echo, and FS33 darlings - THE NIGHTS - play The Silverlake Lounge this evening.

LISTEN TO FUTURE SOUNDS ON WOXY 6.15.09

Here's today's playlist...

Future Sounds #27 - June 15, 2009

Frankel – Anonymity Is The New Fame - Anonymity Is The New Fame – Autumn Tone Records
Avi Buffalo – Where’s Your Dirty Mind – Settled Tigertail – Unsigned
Casper Bangs – The Other Half – The Other Half – Unsigned
The Drums – I Felt Stupid – Summertime EP - TwentySeven Records
Local Natives – Airplanes – Gorilla Manor – Unsigned

BREAK

The Lonely Forest – We Sing In Time – We Sing The Body Electric! – Burning Buildings Recordings
Viva Voce – Octavio – Rose City – Barsuk Records
Lanterns – Creation Myth – Apocalypse Youth – Unsigned
Dappled Cities – The Price – Zounds – Dangerbird Records

BREAK

LoveLikeFire – Boredom – Tear Ourselves Away – Heist Or Hit Records
The Answering Machine – Obviously Cold – Heist Or Hit Records
Children Collide – Social Currency – The Long Now – Universal Australia
Duologue – Ostrich – Demos – Unsigned
Ennui – Sundried – The Myth In Which We Live – Unsigned

BREAK

Sean Bones – Dancehall – Rings – Frenchkiss
Mirrors – Look At Me – Look At Me – Unsigned
Class Actress – Beinvenue – Demos – Unsigned

BREAK

French Miami – Lil’ Rabbits – French Miami – Take Root Records
Cheetahsaurus – Jacked Rabbit – Get Poor Or Die Trying – Unsigned
Apes Of Wrath – Wide Awake – Apes Of Wrath EP – Obscure Magpie
The Yelling – Honey – The Yelling EP – Unsigned
The Strange Boys – Heard You Wanna Beat Me Up – Strange Boys & Girls Club – In The Red Records

BREAK

FUTURE SOUNDS – WOXY LOUNGE ACTS SESSION WITH AMAZING BABY
Bayonets
The Narwhal
Headdress
{Interview}

BREAK

THE HOT 5
Diane Birch – Fire Escape – Bible Belt – S-Curve
Portugal. The Man – The Sun – The Satanic Satanists – Equal Vision Records
Band Of Skulls - I Know What I Am – Baby Darling Doll Face Honey – Shangri-La Music
Clinical Trials – Polly Got Away – In The Wake Of The Digital Afterlife – Unsigned
Band Of Skulls – Fires - Baby Darling Doll Face Honey – Shangri-La Music

END OF PROGRAM

* Bold denotes FS debut artists

TONIGHT IN LA: BAND OF SKULLS + TONS OF GREAT BANDS

Tonight's a night with too many great options for live music in Los Angeles, an embarrassment of riches. If you weren't at our RUMBLE LA party last week (and that's a question you really have to ask yourself), then you simply must see BAND OF SKULLS tonight at The Echo. Say you saw them when before they become the next White Stripes. Playing with them is a band we've dropped on the FS radio show, OTHER LIVES from Stillwater, Oklahoma (listen to "Black Tables") and OLIVER FUTURE. It's also FREE.

I also love anything associated with MANIMAL VINYL and they are presenting a show tonight with our lil buddies, AVI BUFFALO downstairs at The Echoplex.

Next up is another FREE show at Spaceland, where the bill is also a bruiser: CASTELDOOR (FS30) and EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS (FS29) - the latter featuring the lovely and talented Melissa Dougherty on guitar.

If you like to go big ticket, SEBASTIEN GRAINGER & THE MOUNTAINS are supporting METRIC at The Wiltern - Sebastien is awesome!

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.

LISTEN TO FUTURE SOUNDS ON WOXY 6.01.09

Listen HERE

Here's today's playlist...

Future Sounds #25 - June 1, 2009

Portugal. The Man – All The People Say – The Satanic Satanists – Equal Vision Records
Dusty Rhodes & The River Band – W.W.M.D.? – Palace & Stage – Side One Dummy
The Magic Kids – Hey Boy – Hey Boy Download – RCRDLBL.COM
Generationals – When They Fight, They Fight – Con Law – Park The Van
The Love Language – Lalita – The Love Language –Bladen County Records

BREAK

The Intelligence – Thank You God For Fixing The Tape Machine – Fake Surfers – In The Red
The Nightgowns – Funny Money – Sing Something – Unsigned
SUNBEARS! – Little Baby Pines – Dream Happy Dreams – Unsigned
Lee Memorial – Long Days In Bed – The Lives Of Lee Memorial – Dot Dash
Local Natives – Airplanes – Gorilla Manor – Unsigned

BREAK

INTRODUCING….BAND OF SKULLS
Light Of The Morning
Death By Diamonds & Pearls
Hollywood Bowl
Honest

BREAK

The Library – It Ain’t Over – The Library EP – Feudal Records
The Nights – Teenage Daydream – Demos – Unsigned
Deluka – Cascade – Deluka EP – Vel Records
Sean Bones – Easy Street – East Street 7” – Frenchkiss Records

BREAK

Viva Voce – Die A Little – Rose City – Barsuk Records
French Miami – Science Fiction – French Miami – Take Root Records
Star Parts – Madison & Soho – What You Bleed Is What You Get – Unsigned
The Answering Machine – The Information – Another City, Another Sorry – Heist Or Hit Records

BREAK

Ennui – Sundried – The Myth In Which We Live – Unsigned
Phantogram – Mouthful Of Diamonds – Phantogram EP – Sub-Bombin Records
Solid Gold – Synchronize – Bodies Of Water – Unsigned

BREAK

FUTURE SOUNDS: WOXY LOUNGE ACTS SESSION WITH LISSY TRULLIE
Boy Boy
Self-Taught Learner
U Bleed U (WOXY exclusive)

BREAK

THE HOT 5
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Ballad Of The Magnetic Zeros – Demos – Unsigned
Portugal. The Man – The Sun – The Satanic Satanists – Equal Vision Records
All Wrong & The Plans Change – I Get Down – I’m Like Whatever – Unsigned
Zeus – Marching Through Your Head – Sounds Like Zeus EP – Arts & Crafts
Kasabian – Fire – Fire Single – RCA Records

END OF PROGRAM

Lissy Trullie in Los Angeles for the Future Sounds WOXY Lounge Acts session

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.

BAND OF SKULLS TO PLAY JUNE RUMBLES (SF & LA)

The June RUMBLES in San Francisco and Los Angeles have something special in the works - London's BAND OF SKULLS are coming over and these shows are going to be incredible. Starting with The Rumble: San Francisco at Harlot on June 3rd, the Band Of Skulls will make their way down to LA to play The Rumble: Los Angeles on June 4th, before showing up on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic on June 5th. Watch this space for more info on the shows.