CAUGHT LIVE- THE RUMBLE LA: MARCH

Thanks to everyone who came out to 3 Clubs Thursday night for The Rumble LA. San Diego's BEATERS treated those early-comers to a solid set blending snotty, swirling bedroom punk with tribal-like cacophony and a room-filling wall-of-sound crutch that was almost impossible to ignore. No wonder standouts "Fishage" and "White Hate" have already become FS staples.

TWIN TIGERS showed the packed back room a little something about this whole shoegaze-laced-guitar thing that the the blogosphere seems to be paddling through for air these days. Just expecting great things from this outfit is one thing, but seeing their sound grow to fill venue walls in the future seems like a near certainty for this Athens, GA about-to-break foursome.

Night-closers RUMSPRINGA near-lived up to their tag as "LA's best-kept secret" with a guitar/drum take on blues-soaked, riffed-out rock tunes that oddly-enough got most of the first few rows flailing like a Prince set (no doubt thanks to 808 bleeps from a sometimes third member) while the rest of the room (myself included) wondered just how they haven't ever seen the band before.

-Posted by Matt Draper

TONIGHT - THE RUMBLE: SAN DIEGO HITS BAR PINK

In case you didn't make it out to last month's RUMBLE: SAN DIEGO @ Bar Pink, or couldn't get in, we've made fast friends with our new venue home and are already snuggly and warm. This month we have got quite a show for you, complete with bands that you can't miss and will probably be the last time you see these bands play venues this size.

Headlining are the mighty SD act - BEATERS. We heard 'Fishage' and flipped out, and others must have as well as the band is set to support THE SOFT PACK on a US tour following SXSW. They just opened up the Rumble: LA on Thursday night and they have their art-rock/noise penetration down to a science. On their home turf at the Rumble they will be rolling deep.

Coming all the way from Athens, Georgia and dropping their record - 'Gray Waves' - yesterday on Old Flame Records, it's TWIN TIGERS. Think Silversun Pickups meets Primal Scream with a touch of Sonic Youth and you're getting close. Like those influences/comparisons? The live show is even better, especially after just coming off a US tour with Minus The Bear and The Antlers. Don't sleep on this band.

Also playing the party and a band that's dear to our hearts here at Future Sounds, is the San Francisco act, BIRDS & BATTERIES. We caught them a couple of SXSW's ago and we're hooked. We've been playing their latest effort, and especially track "The Villain" often on the FS radio show on WOXY. The band is currently working on their next release - they don't sleep.

The guest DJ for the night is DJ MIKEY FACE and the whole evening will feature TRUMER PILS beer specials and, oh yeah, it's FREE!

So great bands + beer + Free = where you are spending your Saturday night.

The Rumble: San Diego is brought to you by Future Sounds, Indigenous, SDdialed In, SD City Beat, Trumer Pils, WOXY.COM, M-Theory Records and Spin Earth.

THE RUMBLE: LOS ANGELES IS TONIGHT @ 3 CLUBS

THE RUMBLE: LOS ANGELES @ 3 Clubs happens TONIGHT and we all had good fortune smile upon us when RUMSPRINGA stepped forward to headline our party as they prep for SXSW. We've been fans for some time and finally got our opportunity to bring them into that 3 Clubs backroom where they will take it apart.

That leads us to TWIN TIGERS from Athens, Georgia, a band that will be playing through the circuit that started last night in SF, into LA, San Diego, and will be playing THE RUMBLE: LAS VEGAS that will be a part of the NEON REVERB MUSIC FESTIVAL on the 12th. They will keep the wheels turning to Austin and will be playing THE RUMBLE @ SXSW at Shangra La. Their debut record - 'Gray Waves' on Old Flame Records dropped Tuesday and the album is a flamethrower. Here's what AQUARIUM DRUNKARD has to say about it: "A four piece, the bands live show kills, reminiscent of Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine and Psychocandy era JAMC."

Opening up LA, but headlining THE RUMBLE: SAN DIEGO is a band that we're freaked out about - BEATERS. This band heads out on tour as direct support to THE SOFT PACK post-SXSW, and we get to double-dip with them in both cities, in our effort to show swap San Diego and Los Angeles bands together. They had us from the first 30 seconds of "Fishage".

Our lovely resident DJ's, S.i.S. are always present, and always bring their smiles and great selections.

The party is FREE.

3 Clubs is located on the corner of Vine and Santa Monica Blvd.

The Rumble: Los Angeles is brought to you by Future Sounds, RM64, Buzzbands.LA, BMI, WOXY.COM, Stranded In Stereo and Spin Earth.

THE RUMBLE WEST COAST DATES ANNOUNCED - TWIN TIGERS PLAY THROUGH

It seems that it was just yesterday we we're knee deep in Hologram Jams (out now on Fat Possum btw) from last month's RUMBLE band, the mighty JAGUAR LOVE. We had a terrific time with that circuit and seeing the room go wild each time the duo roared into office favorites "Postcards and Red Wine" or "I Started a Fire." The response to the JL love couldn't have been better and before I tell you about March info, I want to extend a HUGE thanks to anyone that came out to any of the dates, all our sponsors and all the venues! Let's move onto MARCH!

We have so many RUMBLE parties in March that we need to roll them out systematically all the way into our 4 Rumble parties at SXSW in Austin (including the Super Rumble night party).

It all starts though in Seattle on Monday night at the Havana Social Club with two quality SEA based acts: HAIR ENVELOPE & NIGHTMARE AIR. We've spun both of these bands heavily on the FS radio show on WOXY, from Hair Envelope's brilliant "Largo Lagos' to the spin-off act sporting 2 members of FILM SCHOOL - Nightmare Air. If you've heard 'Who Who Lies Who Down' you understand what force DD and crew puts into each track, and by the way, that is Mr Dupuis on vocals.

THE RUMBLE: SAN FRANCISCO next Wednesday has the subtitle of being the official 'Noise Pop Hangover Show', because NP2010 has taken over the Bay Area this week and weekend, and if you haven't had enough great music, we offer up this incredible line-up:

LILOFEE - TWIN TIGERS - STRIPMALL ARCHITECTURE

There is no way to hide our absolute LOVE for LILOFEE. We put out their 7" vinyl for the single, 'Runaway' at the end of 2009, and are set to drop their second single, 'Destroy Me' (+a video + a remix) on Future Sounds Records in March. Stay tuned for more info on that release.

STRIPMALL ARCHITECTURE we were just introduced to but after listening to the Myspace songs and vibing their influences, we're instant fans. Here's what the SF WEEKLY had to say:
"Does the mention of a band somewhere in-between Sigur Ros and the Cocteau Twins make those little hairs on the back of your neck tingle? If so, you owe it to yourself to check for Stripmall Architecture's show." Resident DJ, BAGEL TED, will handle the DJ duties.

That leads us to TWIN TIGERS from Athens, Georgia, a band that will be playing through the circuit starting in SF, into LA, San Diego, and will be playing THE RUMBLE: LAS VEGAS that will be a part of the NEON REVERB MUSIC FESTIVAL on the 12th. They will keep the wheels turning to Austin and will be playing THE RUMBLE @ SXSW at Shangra La, as well as 6 other parties (including the WOXY Official SXSW showcase @ Emo's Annex on Friday night).

Red Fox Run by Twin Tigers from Robert Thomason on Vimeo.

Their debut record - 'Gray Waves' on Old Flame Records drops Tuesday, March 2nd and the album is a flamethrower. We're thrilled to include 'Passive Idol' on the upcoming Future Sounds 34 release. Here's what AQUARIUM DRUNKARD has to say about it: "A four piece, the bands live show kills, reminiscent of Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine and Psychocandy era JAMC."

So Twin Tigers will hit Los Angeles for THE RUMBLE: LOS ANGELES @ 3 Clubs on Thursday and we all had good fortune smile upon us when RUMSPRINGA stepped forward to headline our party as they prep for SXSW. We've been fans for some time and finally got our opportunity to bring them into that 3 Clubs backroom where they will take it apart. Our lovely resident DJ's, S.i.S. are always present, and always bring their smiles and great selections.

Opening up LA, but headlining THE RUMBLE: SAN DIEGO is a band that we're freaked out about - BEATERS. This band heads out on tour as direct support to THE SOFT PACK post-SXSW, and we get to double-dip with them in both cities, in our effort to show swap San Diego and Los Angeles bands together. They had us from the first 30 seconds of "Fishage". TWIN TIGERS will continue their tear of the West Coast at Bar Pink on Saturday night, and a San Francisco act that is a Rumble veteran, BIRDS & BATTERIES, round out the bill in SD. We're big fans of their single, "The Villain" off their 'Up To No Good EP'.

We'll be announcing the line-up for THE RUMBLE:LAS VEGAS, which is the featured show at this year's NEON REVERB FESITVAL on Friday night, as well as all the details surrounding the four SXSW Rumble parties. THE RUMBLE: NEW YORK will also be announced next week - New venue, back in the big apple.

HIGHLIGHT ON A SCENE: SAN DIEGO

One of the best things to come out of the expansion of the monthly RUMBLE parties is the discovery of each city’s rising talents. Of all the towns we’ve set up shop in, which has just hit seven a month, the one I had regarded as the least promising in terms of talented acts, has jumped to the front surprisingly. Right now, the hottest music city NOT called Brooklyn is San Diego, California.

Ok, let’s get the obvious bands that have grabbed some recent attention out of the way – WAVVES and CROCODILES. We’ve also all know of the promise of DELTA SPIRIT, or the history of PINBACK, or scene kings, DIRTY SWEET. THE MUSLIMS….errr, THE SOFT PACK were from San Diego until recently moving up to Los Angeles. SWAMI RECORDS used to also be the indie label from SD that made waves. That’s a great starting point, but the hottest music city you ask?? Let’s start to break it down….

APES OF WRATH - Photo by Natalie Kardos

When we opened the doors in JULY of The Rumble: San Diego at The Casbah, our local partners helped us pick the line-up with one band we already knew and loved, LIGHTS ON, and another they promised would blow us away. More than living up to the hype was the incredible APES OF WRATH, a band that mixes THE EMBARASSMENT, THE FEELIES and DEVO but does it seamlessly enough to feel at home next to NO AGE, or HEALTH. The band is currently in the studio crafting a full-length that I’m stalking them for already. Let’s face it; with a band name this good, you’re already halfway there. “Wide Awake” could be a track straight out of ‘Our Band Could Be Your Life”, where you feel the DIY, sleep in my van, play the pizza joint in Bakersfield, California kind of street cred that’s earned and not found on some little hot shit’s blog. It’s “Death Train” where we witnessed the band own the crowd at The Casbah that evening and pulled the hook tight in our jaw.

LIGHTS ON have been sharpening their craft, making regular trips to New York, and are also writing new material that we got a glimpse of at the party that is set to be called, “Here Comes The Ocean”. What at first I thought was a ‘80’s referencing band, turned more into a TALKING HEADS type of creativity. Check out “Ordinary Life”, where they mesh LOU REED with DONALD FAGEN coming out sounding like our generation’s “I.G.Y.”. The lyrics hit you on the bridge of the nose with frankness and honesty, like “I’m not cool anymore man, I don’t even try, so you can take my place in the neon lights, give it a try. Me I’m just staring down the barrel of an ordinary life”. “Listen To The Radio” sounds like a NEW ORDER track that didn’t make the “Pretty In Pink” Soundtrack. “Wild At Heart” was the song that hooked me originally, still a special track that somehow makes me think of PSUEDO ECHO or ALPHAVILLE. “John and Anne” was “Young Folks” before “Young Folks” was conceived; timing is everything.

We had the chance to have a number of beers with the band on the scene that will probably jump out next, TAPE DECK MOUNTAIN. Now that Pitchfork is onto them, San Diego’s secret is out. Slacker indie rock at its finest here, and “A Cool Thing” on first listen slides in without fanfare but then collects in your consciousness and demands repeat plays. Their EP, “Sparks” is a soft toke off the hookah, mixing N. LANNON with Merge Records nicely.

Missing ‘90’s alternative a la DINOSAUR JR. or SEBADOH? San Diego has you covered with the fresh-faced LANTERNS and their pounding and illuminating sounds. I haven’t seen them live yet, but this is your ‘kill them on stage’ band that leaves the venue with a stack of converts in every town.

Another band that seems to be on everyone’s first mention list when talking with San Diego tastemakers is WRITER. This band should be the next band that BARSUK RECORDS signs, so we need to get them up to Seattle soon. “Start A War” is a good starting point for reference sake, you’ll take the bait then you’ll slip through the whole “Blood Drops” release.

Our most recent Rumble:SD brought us RAFTER, they represent the kind of quirky indie rock that if someone told you it was from Montreal, you’d assume it was the latest ARTS & CRAFTS release. Rafter bubbles and sweats and dabbles in sex and death.

The most recent winner of the ‘best rock band’ category at the San Diego Music Awards is TRANSFER, a band that also runs the OBSCURE MAGPIE record label. “Like It Used To Be” is part MUSE, part RADIOHEAD and U2.

Now I’m just teasing you, because I haven’t even brought up Sub Pop’s next blog phenom, DUM DUM GIRLS. This band represents the SD scene all in one, with Dee Dee of GRAND OLE PARTY, you remember her, the drummer/singer that runs circles around PHIL COLLINS in the stu-stu-studio. Her band has members of Crystal Stilts, Blank Dogs and Crocodiles, so dem are some heavyweight friends. Now I’m told they’ve moved to LA as well.

Ok, so you’re the arty type, you need something that all the kids in your dorm room at Brown are going to champion, then we give you BEATERS, who’d be right at home at RISD. These guys have listened to WIRE, they know SUICIDE, and they’ve memorized the catalog of CABARET VOLTAIRE. Check out “Fishage”.

Still reading? Remember LOUIS XIV? Remember “Finding Out True Love Is Blind“ - it was a bonafide hit, the best pop song T. REX ever put together without knowing it. Brian Karscig from Louis XIV has a new band known as THE NERVOUS WRECKORDS that grows the influences to DYLAN (“When The Beat Comes Down Like A Storm”) to THE J. GIELS BAND (“Doin’ It To Do It”) to TERRENCE TRENT D’RBY (“Burnfire”). They’re out on the road with The Killers, This one is off to the races.

Need the lo-fi, dreamy band to fill out your scene? San Diego has their BEACH HOUSE, their GRIZZLY BEAR, they are called FANTASTIC MAGIC. I love the nearly 20 tracks I have on my hard drive from FM, but some of them are downright creepy and haunting and laced with something I think I bought once in an Amsterdam “coffee” shop. Check out “Flowerbeds” some day when it’s raining and your nursing a hangover and the cold bathroom floor is the closest thing to the womb you’ve felt in ages.

Now here’s a band that doesn’t fit a genre at the moment, but sound like you found them off some cool, blacksploitation vinyl LP you purchased online at Dusty Groove Records – IRRADIO. I’d love to see them live to answer my host of questions, but in some ways, I like the picture I have of them in my mind like it is and I hope I’m not disappointed. I image a large band, like those great funk-jazz acts like CYMANDE or TOWER OF POWER or SANTANA before he sold his soul to a cappuccino. Fusing genres as easily as they do drums and horns, this one could be interesting.

Another band I’m keeping my eye on closely is QU’EST-CE QUE C’EST. This band has a John Hughes soundtrack up their sleeves, making “I’ll stop the world and melt with you” sounding tracks with ease (“The Get Away!”). I’ve traded some calls and some emails and now I’m eagerly awaiting their next output, which they claim forges forward in their abilities to right an amazing hook. Can’t wait on this one.

San Diego, what happened? Sleeper surf town, with the ‘I’ll do it tomorrow man” attitude just woke up and served us all a heavy dose of indie rock acts that cover the full spectrum of the rainbow. The list continues to build as I discover new bands daily like SHARK ATTACK, HOTEL ST GEORGE, SWIM PARTY, BLACK MAMBA, and THE DROWNING MEN.

LISTEN TO FUTURE SOUNDS ON WOXY 9.21.09

Future Sounds #39 – 09/21/2009

Princeton - Sylvie - Cocoon Of Love - Kanine Records
Hey Marseilles - To Travels & Trunks - To Travels & Trunks - Unsigned
Tape Deck Mountain - A Cool Thing - Sparks EP - Unsigned
Evan Voytas - Give It Back - The New Dynamic Sound Of Evan Voytas - RCRDLBL.COM
Silver Swans - Crimson Clover - B-Sides - Tricycle Records

BREAK

Transfer - Like It Used To Be - Future Selves - Obscure Magpie Records
Surfer Blood - Swim (To Reach The End) - Astro Coast - Unsigned
Grooms - Dreamsucker - Rejoicer - Death By Audio
Beaters - Fishage - Fishage 7" - Volar Records
Apes Of Wrath - Death Train - Death Train EP - Unsigned

BREAK

United State of Electronica - Get That Feeling - L O V E W O R L D - Mannheim Worldwide
French Horn Rebellion - Up All Night - Single - Once Upon A Time Records
Kids of 88 - Sugar Pills - Demos - Unsigned
NewIslands - Out Of Time - Single - Unsigned
She Wants Revenge - Animal Attraction - Up & Down EP - Unsigned

BREAK

Nightmare Air - Who Who Lies Who Down - Demos - Unsigned
Starry Saints - Go - Demos - Comet Rock
Cashier No. 9 - When Jackie Shone - Demos - Unsigned
Paul & The Patients - The Other Side - To The Lions - American Myth Recordings
The Vox Jaguars - Swagger - EP - Anodyne Records

BREAK

THE RUMBLE: BROOKLYN @ SOUTHPAW 9.23.09
Ravens & Chimes - This Is Where We Are - Reichenbach Falls - Better Looking Records
Your Nature - Presents - Your Nature EP - Unsigned
Pow Wow! - 23 19 - 23 19 - Stunning Models On Display
Jump Into The Gospel - Flagship - Jump Into The Gospel - Unsigned

BREAK

Fitz & The Tantrums - Winds Of Change - Songs For A Break-Up Vol 1 - Future Sounds Records
Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside - Danger - Not An Animal EP - Unsigned
Nikki & Rich - Cat & Mouse - Cat & Mouse Single - Warner Brothers Records
The Mumlers - Tangled Up With You - Don't Throw Me Away - Galaxia Records

BREAK

THE HOT 5
Sleigh Bells - Infinity Guitars - 2HELLWU CD - Unsigned
Get Back Guinozzi! - Carpet Madness - Demos - FatCat Records
Tigers That Talked - Black Heart Blue Eyes - The Merchant - Bad Sneakers Records
Geographer - Kites - Demos - Tricycle Records
Babe Shadow - Sea Serpents - Demos - Unsigned

* Bold denotes FS debut artist