FRENCH MIAMI SIGNS TO TAKE ROOT RECORDS

Congratulations go out to our friends, FRENCH MIAMI, as it was announced today that they have signed to one of our favorite SF indie label, TAKE ROOT RECORDS. They'll be releasing the album's self-titled album this fall. We were lucky enough to have them play our RUMBLE parties in SF and LA and this band is incredible live.

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.

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.

TONIGHT IN SAN FRANCISCO: THE RUMBLE-SF @ HARLOT

It's back, THE RUMBLE: SAN FRANCISCO this evening at Harlot on Minna Street. LOVELIKEFIRE kick off this year's party with a mini-set of new songs from their forthcoming album, and will be followed up by the band on everyone's list, FRENCH MIAMI. DJ AMPLIVE, of ZION I and the Radiohead remixes fame will be on the turntables with BAGEL TED of Bagel Radio. Free if you RSVP here > $5 if not. Free VESTALIFE Ladybug Ipod docking stations, direct from MacWorld will also be handed out to lucky party goers.

LINKS
http://sonicliving.com/theowlmag/therumble
http://www.myspace.com/lovelikefire
http://www.myspace.com/mrfrenchmiami
http://www.myspace.com/amplive
http://www.bagelradio.com/
http://www.theowlmag.com/
http://strandedinstereo.blogspot.com/

THE RUMBLE: SAN FRANCISCO LINE UP ANNOUNCED FOR JANUARY

We're wasting no time in 2009 to kick things off in high fashion up at THE RUMBLE: SAN FRANCISCO at Harlot. FS fav's LOVELIKEFIRE make a return visit to the place they destroyed almost a year ago. Newcomers and band with lots of buzz -- FRENCH MIAMI join them in our first 2-band Rumble to date in SF. Another huge score is DJ AMPLIVE (Zion I) joining Mr BAGEL RADIO, Bagel Ted at the DJ booth.

Another new addition to the Rumble: SF team is STRANDED IN STEREO, coming on board to help blow the party out even larger. As always, FREE with RSVP, $5 if you don't.

LISTEN TO FUTURE SOUNDS ON WOXY 12.15.08

Listen HERE

Here's today's playlist...

Future Sounds #6 – 12/15/2008

Friska Viljor – We Are Happy Now (la la la) – Bravo! – Crying Bob Records
Ram Di Dam – Flashbacks – Ram Di Dam - Mock Turtle Music
Grand Pocket Orchestra – Little Messy – EP – Unsigned

BREAK

Harlem – Witchgreens – Free Drugs – Female Fantasy Records
The Ringers – Jaguar Moves – Headlocks & Highkicks – Unsigned
Hotpipes – Future Bolt – Future Bolt – Liquid Panda Records

BREAK

Pin Me Down – Cryptic – Pin Me Down – Kitsune
We Have Band – Hear It In The Cans – Single – Kitsune
Ladyhawke – My Delirium – Paris Is Burning – Modular Records

BREAK

French Miami – Science Fiction – French Miami – Unsigned
Cheeky Cheeky & The Nosebleeds – You Let Me Go – Demos – Unsigned
Lilofee – Where The Fallen Stars Lay – Lilofee – Unsigned

BREAK

Violens – Spectator & Pupil – Violens EP – Unsigned
Days – The Simple Thing – Downhill EP – Shelflife Records
Tenlons Fort – Forever Is A Long Time – Forever Is A Long Time EP – Haunted Maggot Records

BREAK

Ellie Goulding – Guns & Horses – Demos – Unsigned
Gramercy Arms – Automatic – Gramercy Arms – Reveal Records
Aaron Bruno – All I Need – Demos – Unsigned
Belaire – You Really Got Me Goin’ – Exploding Impacting – Indiedirect Records

BREAK

The Growlers – Barnacle Beat – Greatest sHits – Unsigned
King Tuff – Just Strut – King Tuff Was Dead – The Colonel Records
The Rosewood Thieves – Silver Gun – Silver Gun – Unsigned

BREAK

Sweet Jane – Where’s Your Money? - Blackboots & Blackhearts – Dead Flower Records
Simon Says No – Sleeping Heart – Ahoi De Angst – Unsigned
The Brothers Movement – Someday – The Brothers Movement – Unsigned

BREAK

Fan Death – Veronica’s Veil – Demos – Unsigned
Weave! – Bravery – Weave! – Unsigned
My Toys Like Me – Sick Couple – Where We Are – Unsigned

BREAK

Black Taxi – Pretty Mama – Black Taxi EP – Unsigned
Hockey – Song Away – Mind Chaos – Capital Records
I Blame Coco – I Blame Coco – I Blame Coco – Island Records UK
B.R.A.M. – Messages – B.R.A.M. – UnsigneD
Two Door Cinema Club – Eat That Up It’s Good For You – Demos – Unsigned

END OF PROGRAM


*Bold denotes debut appearance by artist on the Future Sounds radio program

SHOWS IN LOS ANGELES TONIGHT

Our friends, LONGWAVE, headline the Troubadour tonight. Maybe you caught them on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic this AM? If not, I'm sure you heard their Future Sounds session on WOXY? WAR TAPES are also on the bill.

Another one of our really good friends, WEIRD DREAMS, formerly LOW FLYING OWLS (FS01), are playing the 3 of Clubs tonight - their first show as this line-up. We're lucky enough to have them play THE RUMBLE: LOS ANGELES in January.

Prefer ladies with heavenly voices? OBI BEST and RACHEL GOODRICH are at HOTEL CAFE tonight.

POP LEVI (FS27) and San Francisco's FRENCH MIAMI are at Spaceland tonight for Club NME & Indie 103 Presents.