CAUGHT LIVE- COLD CAVE, BEST COAST AND SMITH WESTERNS

Future Sounds favorites Best Coast and The Smith Westerns opened last week for darkwavers Cold Cave at LA's Echoplex. Veronica and I were on hand as the 'Love Came Close.' Photos below.

--Posted by Matt Draper

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

CAUGHT LIVE: GIRLS AND SMITH WESTERNS

Everyone keeps saying it, but it’s official, the 90’s are back in all their lo-fi glory. No band is more of a figurehead for this resurgence, than San Francisco’s GIRLS who took the stage Monday night at Orange County’s Detroit Bar. Christopher Owens and JR White took the packed crowd back about 15 years for an evening of jangly grunge pop; heavy on the melancholy, but beautiful nonetheless.

Children of God (Owen was raised in the cult) references abound, GIRLS have that whole emotional vulnerability thing down to a genuine science and craft universally emotional songs that transition from easy listening to blessed-out garage rock. Playing nearly every song off their 2009 release Album (True Panter/Matador Records), GIRLS played a set befitting of their status as indie darlings.

Owens’s took a page from the Conor Oberst playbook with searing, gravely vocals tempered with vulnerability in accordance with the often sad sentiment of most of the songs. “Hellhole Rat Race” personified just what bloggers and music fans love about this band, a simple tenderness undercut with an epic guitar swoosh that translates well in live setting. This nearly seven-minute ode to loneliness says it best, with “I’ve got a sad song in my sweet heart.”

Crowd favorite, “Lust for Life” was just that; earnest and pleading; begetting the crowd to clap along to this catchy pop gem. “Morning Light” was sonically intense and loud, with the frenzied swirl of sound culminating into a shoegazey crescendo. “Laura” was all jangly guitars with hints of their Buddy Holly infused sound. The sheer size of the crowd packed in the confines of Detroit Bar’s small performance area reinforced the notion that having your album rank a 9.1 on Pitchfork is clearly a good thing for ticket sales.

Much buzzed about openers, The Smith Westerns showcased just why hype-makers (Gorilla vs. Bear) and super producers (Mark Ronson) alike are fawning all over them. Despite some technical difficulties, this group of 18 and 19-year-old Chicago natives relied on the haze of a makeshift fog machine to lure the crowd into their teen angst grasps and, let me tell you- it works. Their perfectly crafted grunge pop jams like “Girl in Love” with its thumping bass and the hard to ignore melody. “Be My Girl” is a seemingly perfect morsel of garage pop, with a washed-out pop hook begging for a crowd sing-a-long. Playing one of their very first west coast shows, this barely legal gang of four are most definitely on the precipice of something huge.

From the Jordan Catalano haircuts, the sea of plaid, combat boots and grunge tinges, the night felt like a scene out of 1995’s My So-Called Life; sweetly melancholic and sincere and oh so worth the travel back in time.

The boys of The Smith Westerns over coffee and donuts after their Detroit Bar set.

Words by Veronica Pulcini, photos by Matt Draper