BY:LARM NIGHT #3 - 4AD PARTY + SHOW HOPPING

Fuzzy. That's what it was, very very fuzzy late night at SENTRUM SCENE when SERENA MANEESH took over the 4AD party at By:Larm on evening #3 of the festival. The place was wall to wall for SM's wall of sound that obviously bows at the alter of 'Loveless'. Dropping many news songs off their latest effort, 'S-M 2: Abyss In B Minor', I felt like someone slipped me a mickey. Also on the 4AD bill were highly-touted EFTERKLANG and OH NO ONO. Efterklang rolls eight deep on stage, part electronic, part folk, part orchestra. I can't say it was remarkable but the intent was well meaning. Oh No Ono on the other hand, ohhhh noooooo!

Jumpin' Joe from WOXY and I decided to see as many venues as possible, despite this place only getting colder by the minute. SEABEAR did their thing at GAMLA, a great venue that feels like some old vaudeville joint, and I liked what I heard from THE RUMOUR SAID FIRE at the By:Larm Tent. KATHINKA has lots of potential, the fuzz is there. There was also a quick stop at Stratos for the STEREOGUM party, then we caught acts like PHONE JOAN, TWINS TWINS and got to see the band I'm stalking, THE MEGAPHONIC THRIFT again, without my earplugs and in the front row. What??

BY:LARM NIGHT #2 - THE MEGAPHONIC THRIFT IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

THE MEGAPHONIC THRIFT

Remember this band name. In fact, write it down now. The next step up the ladder from A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS, mixing MBV with SONIC YOUTH, but basically a cat caught in a ceiling fan comes close to describing the shear furious and glorious noise that makes up The Megaphonic Thrift from Bergen, Norway. We caught them last night at a jam-packed Rockefeller here in Oslo and after suffering through this band that pretended to be country, these kids came out and dropped the rock gauntlet on everyone that left us shaking. The band gets the Sonic Youth tag quite a bit, and they definitely bow to SY but feel like they have their own spin on things.

I had a chance to sit down with them in the hotel, in between their five performances at By:Larm and ended up liking them even more. What's not to like about a band that pulls their name from GUIDED BY VOICES, and what 'an odd assembly' they truly are. Basically they are built from the ashes of a number of popular Norwegian bands like CASIOKIDS, THE LOW FREQUENCY and SYME and STEREO21, but even being from Bergen, where electro-pop is king (Datarock, Annie, Royksopp), they fly back in the face of that movement with a sound that cries out that the end is near on that front and that good, old fashioned rock and roll is back. Many describe them as shoegaze, but it's not accurate, even if MBV swerves in and out. This is a band that isn't shy and has no problem staring straight ahead, even glaring at you because they have the goods to back it up and more importantly, the songs.

Last night's set was blistering. It was exhilarating. The band that performed before them ended their set trying to get the audience to scream 'power' over and over again, but it was The Megaphonic Thrift that didn't have to say it, they made you feel it. It was a good, old-fashioned ass-whipping is what it was.

The band was signed by A&R guru, Phil Hutcheon of Deadly Records for the UK (he heard them on Myspace and signed them virtually), and they drop their EP, 'Decay Decoy' on due for release in Norway on Hype City in March and internationally in the fall. The vinyl is what we are waiting for, but I know have a copy of the album in my grubby hands and it's brilliant. The US is wide open and the band is heading to Austin for SXSW next month to plant seeds for the future. Look for them to play one of our gigs if we're lucky next month.

I should have some video soon enough that Joe of WOXY/THE FUTURIST took of the show last night to link to later today, as well as highlights from the CASIOKIDS set that followed at Rockefeller. Casiokids by the way were also tremendous! They are a party in a box, a band that plays by no rules and goes from one extreme to another, creating a rave-like atmosphere and they sold me completely once three monkeys appeared on stage with them. Their track, "En Vill Hest" should be an indie hit this year, at least on a planet with good taste.

Joe's video journal and blog post is now up at HERE

BY:LARM IN NORWAY BEGINS - FA FA FA-KING COLD

The kick-off to Norway's BY:LARM festival happened last night and if this is any indication as to how the next three nights will be, I'm impressed. Surviving jetlag and temperatures beyond my toasty LA conditions, I got to the By:Larm Tent and it was completely stuffed to see THE NEW WINE, a band we've been into for some time, and then the local heroes - DATAROCK in all their Royal Tenenbaum-track suit wearing glory. Imagine a place where people dance, smile and drink tons of expensive beer? Finishing off the night with some fish & chips from a street venor, a nice way to finish a long day of travels.

Photo courtesy of Joe Long

FUTURE SOUNDS RADIO DEBUTS 2.15.10

More information on artists that debuted on today's Future Sounds radio show on WOXY....

THE SMITH WESTERNS
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Chicago
TRACK: Boys Are Fine

Having endorsements from Gorilla Vs. Bear and Mark Ronson will automatically land you in the Buzzin’ column in most place, and these under-agers from Chicago have everything going for them it seems. Catch them at SXSW. Unsigned

MURDOCKS
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Austin
TRACK: OMG

Jangley indie rock music is what Austin’s Murdocks create, mixing as much Strokes as they do Sloan. Around since 2003 but roaring back since their ‘Roar EP’ dropped on Surprise Truck Records.

YOUNG RIVAL
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Hamilton, Canada
TRACK: Modern Life

The last time we were in Hamilton, Canada we caught The Village People at McMaster University, where was Young Rival when I needed them? Formerly Ride Theory, they have transformed from sounding like The Monkees into BRMC, which translates into the Canadian Mando Diao. The latest EP, ‘Young Rival’ gives you both barrels. Unsigned

BOOMSNAKE
Myspace
HOMETOWN: San Diego
TRACK: Sticks Stones & Animal Bones

San Diego? Again? The city’s music scene has exploded coincidentally at the same time as the Tijuana drug wars started leaving heads on this side of the border. Sezio tipped us off to these cats, and you can download their album off their web site for free. Grizzly Records

BY: LARM FESTIVAL PREVIEW

THE MEGAPHONIC THRIFT
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Bergen, Norway
TRACK: Candy Sin

Sounding like ‘Dirty’ era Sonic Youth, Norway’s The Megaphonic Thrift could be most anticipated act to see at By:Larm this week in Oslo. Please don’t let me down…..Playing SXSW in March.

WHEN SAINTS GO MACHINE
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Copenhagen, Denmark
TRACK: New Elvis

At first listen you’d swear this was Kele of Bloc Party’s new project, instead it’s the Danish BP meets TV On The Radio. EMI Scandinavia

KATHINKA
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Bergen, Norway
TRACK: Luck

This band immediately jumped out at me, and again has a Sonic Youth influence to it, and then I find out that some of the members are in The Megaphonic Thrift. Another act I must see live this week.

DENGA DENGA
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Bergen, Norway
TRACK: I Roll In The Mud

Listening through hundreds of By:Larm bands, some speed metal, some instrumentals, when I got to Denga Denga I smiled and knew that I had a new act that will be a regular on the FS radio show for some time. Think Belle & Sebastian meets TV Personalities. Unsigned

EFTERKLANG
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Copenhagen, Denmark
TRACK: Cutting Ice To Snow

I’ve been hearing rumors about this band being as big as The Beatles in Europe, and the buzz has them already making everyone’s ‘must see’ list at SXSW next month. 4AD Records

CCTV
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Olso, Norway
TRACK: We Belong

This is like classic Britpop – Very very Blur, which in my book, is a great place to start. Let’s see how the hometown heroes perform live this week. Unsigned

CASIOKIDS
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Bergen, Norway
TRACK: En Vill Hest

If Vampire Weekend can go to Graceland, so too can Casiokids. World influences run wild with this electro-indie outfit that site Fela Kuti and Cornelius as influences. Moshi Moshi

THE DEER TRACKS
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Gävle, Sweden
TRACK: 127 Sexfyra

Blips and bops, glitchey, and electro in a Knife-way, this Swedish duo – David Lehnberg & Elin Lindfors – make Postal Service music that’s gorgeous. Dezpotz Records

THE LITTLE HANDS OF ASPHALT
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Oslo, Norway
TRACK: Words That Kill

The Norwegian Death Cab For Cutie is Oslo’s The Little Hands Of Asphalt. Critically acclaimed in Norway, with the release ‘Leap Years’, it turns out the little hands is actually a one-man show. Spoon Trade Audio

I SEE HORSES
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Oslo, Norway
TRACK: Judas

Take a guy from Glasgow and mix him with some Oslo guys and you get this mash up of indie influences. I see American cross-over potential in this act that is also on my By:Larm ‘must-see’ schedule. Unsigned

PHONE JOAN
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Oslo, Norway
TRACK: The Fast Lane

Intrigued to say the very least with Phone Joan. Carina Moen’s vocals recall PJ Harvey, The Kills and even Heart. “I’m a rock n roll goddess, I’m a goddamn princess with my high heels on” she purrs on ‘The Fast Lane’. Unsigned

OH NO ONO
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Copenhagen, Denmark
TRACK: Internet Warrior

Psychedelic/hippie/MGMT type of stuff, but way stranger – bouncey and very, very interesting. They are on Friendly Fire Records in the US, and headed to SXSW in March.

JULIAN BERNTZEN
Myspace
HOMETOWN: Oslo, Norway
TRACK: Rocket Ship Love

I’m looking forward to my interview with Julian Berntzen in Oslo this week because the instant that The Musebox turned me onto his music, I became a fan. The looks of Elvis Costello, but sounding perfect alongside Peter Bjorn & John, this seems like a slam-dunk for KCRW. Vertigo Records

LISTEN TO FUTURE SOUNDS ON WOXY 2.15.10

FUTURE SOUNDS #54 - 2.15.10

Smith Westerns – Boys Are Fine – Smith Westerns – Transparent Records
Regrets & Brunettes – Uh-Oh – At Night You Love Me – Unsigned
Lights On – Twisting & Turning – New EP – Unsigned
Murdocks – OMG – New Album – Surprise Truck Records
Twin Tigers – Sexless Love – Gray Waves – Old Flame Records


BY: LARM FESTIVAL PREVIEW
Serena-Maneesh – I Just Want To See Your Face – Abyss In B Minor – 4AD
The Megaphonic Thrift – Candy Sin – Hype City
When Saints Go Machine – New Elvis – Ten Makes A Face – EMI Scandinavia
Kathinka – Luck – Demos - Unsigned
Denga Denga – I Roll In The Mud - NRK P3 Urørt - Unsigned


BY: LARM FESTIVAL PREVIEW
Efterklang – Cutting Ice To Snow – Parades – 4AD
The New Wine – I Had To Tell You – I Had To Tell You – TNW
CCTV – We Belong – Single – Unsigned
Casiokids – En Vill Hest – En Vill Hest 7” – Moshi Moshi
The Deer Tracks – 127 Sexfyra – Aurora – Dezpotz Records


BY: LARM FESTIVAL PREVIEW
The Little Hands Of Asphalt – Words that Kill – Leap Years – Spoon Trade Audio
I See Horses – Judas – Knektfolk Sessions – Unsigned
Phone Joan – The Fast Lane – The Buffalo Swan – Unsigned
Oh No Ono – Internet Warrior – Single – Friendly Fire Recordings
Julian Berntzen – Rocket Ship Love – Single – Vertigo Records

FUTURE SOUNDS WOXY LOUNGE ACTS WITH THE ANTLERS

Recorded @ Swing House Studios in Hollywood

Thirteen

Two

Bear

THE HOT 5
Young Rival – Modern Life – Young Rival - Unsigned
Boomsnake – Sticks Stones & Animal Bones – Re/Visions – Grizzly Records
Roadside Graves – Liv Tyler – You Won’t Be Happy With Me EP
MNDR – C.L.U.B. – Single – Unsigned
Lilofee – Destroy Me – Destroy Me Single – Future Sounds Records

END OF PROGRAM

*Bold denotes Future Sounds radio debut artist

FUTURE SOUNDS & WOXY HEADING TO NORWAY FOR BY:LARM

Future Sounds and WOXY will be heading to Oslo, Norway this week for the Scandinavian version of SXSW - BY:LARM. Over 400 artists will be performing this week and alongside WOXY's Joe Long (The Futurist), we'll be trying to see as many of them as possible. We'll be reporting from Oslo alongside interviews with guest speakers and artists involved in the conference.

Listen up on Monday's Future Sounds radio show on WOXY for three sets of music from artists performing at this year's By:Larm. Stream it here.