Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 2526

Helm announces U.S. tour dates with Damien Dubrovnik

HELM ANNOUNCES
U.S. TOUR DATES IN LA, AUSTIN, NYC
WITH DAMIEN DUBROVNIK
THE HOLLOW ORGAN EP OUT TODAYAfter recently announcing UK/European dates, Helm and Damien Dubrovnik (Posh Isolation) will be heading to the U.S. as well in February for four special shows in LA, Austin, and NYC. Helm's The Hollow Organ EP is out today on PAN and it finds Luke Younger showcasing some of his finest work yet. You can hear "Analogues" from the EP and check out the tour dates & album info below!


LISTEN: Helm - "Analogues" - 

TOUR DATES2/15 - The Church On York - Los Angeles, CA w/ Damien Dubrovnik, J.S. Aurelius 2/17 - The North Door - Austin, TX w/ Damien Dubrovnik 2/18 - Baby's All Right - Brooklyn, NY w/ TBA 2/19 - Nothing Changes @ Home Sweet Home - New York, NY w/ Damien Dubrovnik 2/21 - Islington Mill, Manchester w/ Damien Dubrovnik + Basic House 2/24 - Chameleon, Nottingham w/ Pain Jerk + Damien Dubrovnik 2/26 - Cafe OTO, London w/ Damien Dubrovnik + JFK 2/28 - CAMP, Athens w/ Dalglish + Mohammad 

SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR - NEW ALBUM 'WANDERLUST' RELEASE

NEW ALBUM ‘WANDERLUST’ RELEASED TODAY
Watch and Embed Video for Single – 
Watch: 
APRIL TOUR DATES
Sophie Ellis-Bextor has announced she will release her new album ‘Wanderlust’ on the 20th January (today) preceded by the single ‘Young Blood’. To follow the release of her new album, Sophie has also announced a 10-date UK tour this April.The April tour will kick off in Birmingham on the 7th and commence on the 19th in Glasgow and a second London show at Union Chapel on 11th April has been announced due to demand.‘Wanderlust’ will be Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s fifth studio album. Co-written, produced and arranged by acclaimed singer-songwriter Ed Harcourt, Wanderlust was recorded in a London studio in just two weeks with a tightly-knit group of musicians and friends.First single ‘Young Blood’ is a life affirming testament to true love, beautifully accompanied by Ed Harcourt’s plaintive piano and soaring string arrangement. "The album is about roaming and your sense of where you come from, and how you take home with you but you also have this desire to get out there and see the world. I found making this album really empowering. I felt like after ten years of making records, this is like the biggest present to myself. I’m really proud of it and I feel really excited.”Sophie’s new album sees the 34 year old star blossoming into an accomplished singer -songwriter with its 11 powerfully understated songs showcasing a newfound maturity, both lyrically and musically.
Tracklisting for Wanderlust is as follows:Birth of an EmpireUntil the Stars CollideRunaway DaydreamerThe Deer & the WolfYoung BloodInterlude13 Little DollsWrong Side of the SunLove Is a CameraCry To the Beat of the BandWhen the Storm Has Blown Over
Tickets for the April tour are currently on sale and full 2014 tour dates, priced at £20 and £22.50 in London, are listed below –Tickets are available from 
January:Tues 21st          London                       Bush Hall (sold out)
April:Mon 7th            Birmingham                InstituteTues 8th            Oxford                        AcademyThurs 10th        London                       Union ChapelFri 11th             London                       Union Chapel (extra date added due to demand)Sun 13th           Bournemouth              AcademyMon 14th          Brighton                      Concorde 2Tues 15th          Bristol                         AcademyThurs 17th        Gateshead                 Sage (Hall 2)Fri 18th             Manchester                  RitzSat 19th            Glasgow                      Oran Mor

Wooden Shjips @ Electric Owl Vancouver

WOODEN SHJIPS at Electric Owl (vancouver) Photo by Bev Davies. They are playing the Echo on Friday January 24th 2014.

White Fence + Parquet Courts @ The Fonda

La Luz return to touring!

LA LUZ WINTER 2014 TOUR W/ PURE BATHING CULTURE KICKS OFF



VIDEO - "Big Big Blood" [dir. Carlos Lopez]
MP3 - "Pink Slime"
MP3 - "Big Big Blood"

Tomorrow night in Portland, La Luz perform their first concert outside of Seattle since last November's van accident cut their national tour with of Montreal short. They're joined by Pure Bathing Culture, who will headline a string of dates that takes La Luz down the west coast and into the southern United States. The band is available for interviews, and press access for their concerts is available on request. La Luz's debut album It's Alive continues to accrue scores of Best of 2013 commendations. See below for a full list of dates. 

Tour dates:
  01.18.14 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir ^
01.19.14 - Eureka, CA - The Eureka Inn
01.20.14 - San Fancisco, CA - The Chapel *
01.21.14 - Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room *
01.22.14 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg Bar *
01.24.14 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar *
01.25.14 - Phoenix, AZ - Last Exit Live *
01.27.14 - Austin, TX - Red 7 (Inside) *
01.28.14 - Dallas, TX - Three Links *
01.29.14 - Norman, OK - Opolis *
01.30.14 - Albuquerque, NM - Sister the Bar
01.31.14 - Tucson, AZ - 191 Toole
02.02.14 - Oakland, CA - 1-2-3-4 Go! Records
02.03.14 - Eugene, OR - Behavior Castle
02.04.14 - Seattle, WA - Neumos *
02.05.14 - Vancouver, BC - Electric Owl *
02.21.14 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theater %
03.27.14 - Amiens, FR - LFSM Fesival @ La Lune des Pirates
03.28.14 - Paris, FR - LFSM Festival @ La Machine du Moulin Rouge
03.29.14 - Haarlem, NL - Kliko Festival
03.30.14 - Brighton, UK - Green Door Store
03.31.14 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
04.01.14 - Glasgow, UK - Mono
04.02.14 - Manchester, UK - Gullivers
04.03.14 - London, UK - Windmill Brixton
04.04.14 - Leuven, BE - STUK #
04.05.14 - Rotterdam, NL - Motel Mozaique Festival
04.07.14 - Zuerich, CH - El Lokal
04.08.14 - Duedingen, CH - Bad Bonn
04.09.14 - Toulouse, FR - La Dynamo
04.10.14 - Barcelona, ES - Sidecar
04.11.14 - Madrid, ES - Charada
04.12.14 - San-Sebastian, ES - Guardeche
04.14.14 - Genova, IT - Garage
04.15.14 - Milan, IT - Indierocket Party @ Rocket
04.16.14 - Schorndorf, DE - Manufaktur
04.17.14 - Berlin, DE - Monarch
04.18.14 - Hamburg, DE - Astra-Stube
04.19.14 - Oostende, BE - Instant Karma @ De Grote Post

^ - w/ Hooded Hags, The Ghost Ease
* - w/ Pure Bathing Culture
% - w/ The Head & The Heart, Rose Windows
# - w/ Angel Olsen
- all-ages show
 Press quotes:
 "So fully-formed you wouldn't think they'd [only] been playing together for 12 months."  -- NPR  "One of those rare bands with a referential sound that still manages to feel innovative and gutsy...The songs are sexy and sleepy and mournful and absolutely gorgeous. The musicianship is deliberate but elegantly raw. And the band is simply hypnotic on stage."  -- Dangerous Minds  "On the precipice of a major breakthrough...with their alluring, harmony-laden surf rock sound reaching peak levels with debut record It’s Alive, La Luz is ready to take on the world." -- MTV Hive

Artist of the Year -- Seattle Weekly "A record that feels almost dislodged in time, a uniquely haunting -- albeit occasionally unintentional -- spin on the innocent guitar-driven pop of the late '50s and early '60s, nudging the sock hop vibes of Dick Dale and the Shirelles into a darker parallel dimension." -- Paper Magazine  "Imagine all of the Shangri-La's trying, precariously, to balance on top of Link Wray's surfboard." -- Pitchfork "One of those bands that hit the ground not running, but sprinting."
-- Elle

4/5 -- BUST "A striking, blackened surf rock album with four-way doo-wop melodies and churling riffs smacking against the seawall."
-- San Francisco Bay Guardian "[It's Alive] has a vibe of effortless cool, packed with pop songs that are easy to fall in love with." -- Tuscon Weekly HI-RES ALBUM ARTWORK HERE
HI-RES BAND PHOTOS BY ANGEL CEBALLOS: 01, 02, 03, 04

Moderat-NEW VIDEO "Last Time"

MODERAT   New Single “Last Time” Available Now   WATCH the video for “Last Time” HERE   Video still from "Last Time"   Moderat’s “Last Time” is the third single from their overwhelmingly successful sophomore album, II released via Mute and Monkeytown Records. “Last Time” EP includes an exclusive instrumental version of the single, an alternate version and a guest remix by one of the most exciting acts in electronic music in 2013, Jon Hopkins. “Last Time” was originally available only on the deluxe album formats of II.   Coinciding with the single release we are excited to share with you the video for “Last Time” directed and produced by Pfadfinderi. “Last Time” is a video about suburban youth, friendship, boredom and a great escape. Shot in rural neighborhoods surrounding Berlin in the autumn light, the video beautifully frames the independent spirit and simple pleasure of escaping the confines of your daily life through the shared experience of belonging to a group of friends.   Watch Moderat’s “Last Time” HERE   For more information follow this link to download press note, artwork, and images from the video & making-of.   Tracklisting for “Last Time:   “Last Time” (Original Version) “Last Time” (Instrumental Version) “Last Time” (Alternate Version) “Last Time” (Jon Hopkins Remix)   The single is now available for pre-order at Monkeytown Records.     Jon Hopkins will also be supporting Moderat at their second Berlin show at Columbiahalle on February 27, 2014. “Last Time” is a perfect example of exquisite indie-pop from an album that you just can't deny on many levels.   MODERAT II TOUR DATES 2014:   1/26/14--München (DE), Kesselhaus 1/27/14--Amsterdam (NL), Paradiso / SOLD OUT 1/28/14—Amsterdam (NL), Paradiso-SECOND SHOW ADDED 1/30/13--Köln (DE), Live Music Hall 1/31/14--Wiesbaden (DE), Schlachthof 2/1/14--Erfurt (DE), Stadtgarten 2/2/14--Warsaw (PL), Basen 2/8/14--Edinburgh (GB), Picture House 2/9/14--Dublin (IE), Button Factory 2/11/14--London (GB), Koko / SOLD OUT 2/12/14—London (GB), Koko—SECOND SHOW ADDED 2/14/14--Aarhus (DK), Train 2/15/14--Copenhagen (DK), Studie 1 2/17/14--Paris (FR), Trianon / SOLD OUT 2/18/14--Paris (FR), Trianon / SECOND SHOW ADDED 2/19/14--Fribourg (CH), Fri-Son 2/20/14--Zürich (CH), Komplex457 2/21/14--Lyon (FR), Le Transbordeur 2/22/14--Milan (IT), Magazzini Generali & Dude Club 2/23/14--Stuttgart (DE), LKA 2/24/14--Vienna (AT), Arena 2/25/14--Berlin (DE), Columbiahalle / SOLD OUT 2/27/14--Berlin (DE), Columbiahalle / SECOND SHOW ADDED  

Stepdad Announce New EP

STEPDAD TO RELEASE NEW EP STRANGE TONIGHT MARCH 4, 2014 VIA QUITE SCIENTIFIC RECORDS
FIRST TRACK "RUNNING (DOES THAT MEAN YOU CARE?)"  STREAMING NOW ON NOISEY AND SOUNDCLOUD 
 
On March 4, Michigan-based quintet, Stepdad will release Strange Tonight via Quite Scientific Records, their brand new EP and follow-up to 2012's Wildlife Pop. Following some major rearrangements with their live line-up, intense tour schedules and a switch of record labels, Stepdad is thrilled to release this new EP. Get a taste of the band's new sonic developments and production style in their first track, "Running (Does That Mean You Care?)," streaming now on SoundCloud and Noisey. The song delivers a perfect one-two punch, as the pace quickens and ultramark's vocals take the foreground over samples expertly sequenced by bandmate Ryan McCarthy.
"If you were going to mesh indie-pop and a shit load of adderall-with some chopped and screwed samples courtesy of Ryan McCarthy and lay Ultramark's vocals over them, well, then you'd get this new song from Stepdad called 'Running (Does That Mean You Care?)'" - Noisey
Stream "Running (Does That Mean You Care?)" on SoundCloud or Noisey.com
With ultramark (aka Mark Tafel) on vocals and Ryan McCarthy on keys and programming as the band's two original members, Stepdad additionally features Alex Fives (bass), Nathan K. (guitar), and Ben Weissenborn (drums).  Together they've collaborated to create a full-band electro-pop sound all their own. The four tracks comprising the EP seamlessly meld the prior indie-pop sensibilities previously honed by the group, with an impressively slick sound. The band carries with them the lyrical backbone, honesty, and passionate sensibility necessary to not just make great sounding music, but to make music worth listening to - all while still delivering a shake and shimmy worthy of any dance floor.  So shuffle your way to Austin this March to see them play at SXSW.  
"The music is multi-layered and addictive, and it speaks for itself."
- Consequence of Sound
 

The Knife: Tour Dates

The Knife announce Shaking The Habitual  North American Tour Dates Photo Credit: Ian PearceWe are excited to share with you details of The Knife’s long-awaited Shaking the Habitual North American Tour, kicking off at the Coachella Music Festival on April 11th, 2014. These dates mark The Knife’s return to North America, where they have not been seen since their 2006 Silent Shout performances.General on-sale for all listed tour dates is Saturday, January 18th (with the exception of Oakland on-sale Friday, January 17th at noon PST). The Knife have released the following statement about what you can expect from their live performance: “Shaking the Habitual , the album, lays the groundwork for this show. Based on the artistic and political ideas therein, we play with the expectations and question habits of the concert, the dance performance, the club and the music festival.Working within a highly commercial, professionalized and male-dominated music industry, we strive to twist and strangle hierarchies to find other ways of organizing work and its conditions. Disrespecting borders between digital and analogue, fake and real, professional and dilettante, star and cast, experimental acts and glamorous shows, nature and culture, audience and artist, blood family and chosen family, dance and action, a Buchla and bongo and the sound of a hit and a kiss.We use the full potential of the electronic concert. In addition to bodies playing electronic music, we suggest different bodily engagements. We suggest dancing together as a mobilization, a collective moment for everyone in the room - on and off stage - to take part in.In 2013 we played at clubs and festivals in European cities. Now it’s 2014 and we’re about to tour North America. With care and attention, we gathered our impressions and got back together to rework the show.This is a continuation.Some songs are the same, some songs are new.Moves are added and changed.Some instruments are electrified and more voices are heard.Things glow and along the way we have elevated ourselves.
This time, we, The Knife, are a group of people with diverse approaches to dance, moves and music. Some of us are musicians, some of us are vocalists, some of us are choreographers, some of us are experienced performers and some of us are not. We are very proud to announce that Shannon Funchess from the electronic punk duo Light Asylum (New York) is joining the show. Already familiar with the project as she sings on the record, she is now with us on stage.We learn from each other.We share responsibility.This is a suggestion. For all of us.”- The Knife The Shaking the Habitual Team, spring 2014:
Adena Asovic (Perfomer), Aja Svensson (Performer), Halla Ólafsdóttir (Performer), Jesper Strömbäck Eklund (Project Manager), Josefin Hinders (Set Designer), Julia Brightly (FOH Engineer), , Karin Dreijer (Performer), Kim Einarsson (Artistic Coordinator), Laura Davis (Monitor Engineer), Lotje Horvers (Tour Manager), Marcus Baldemar (Performer), Maryam Nikandish, (Performer), Mickey Hurcombe (Backline Tech), Miguel Gutierrez (Performer, Deep Aerobics), Olof Dreijer (Performer), Peter Hamilton (Production Manager), Rami Jawhari Jansson (Performer), Sarah Landau (Light Designer), Shannon Funchess (Performer), Stina Nyberg (Performer), Tarek Halaby (Performer, Deep Aerobics), and Zoë Poluch (Performer) The Knife N.American Tour Dates: 4/11-Coachella Music Festival-Indio, CA4/15—Fox Theater—Oakland, CA (on-sale Friday 1/17 @ 12 PM PST)4/18-Coachella Music Festival-Indio,CA4/21-Fillmore-Denver, CO4/23-Aragon-Chicago, IL4/25-Kool Haus-Toronto, ONT4/26-Metropolis-Montreal, QUE4/28-House of Blues-Boston, MA4/30-Terminal 5-NYC The Knife’s Shaking The Habitual was included in the following Best of 2013 Lists: AmazonBrooklynVeganBuzzfeedCMJConsequence of SoundeMusicExclaimFADER
Gorilla vs BearGQNew York TimesPastePigeons and PlanesPitchforkPopMattersPretty Much AmazingRough Trade ShopsSPINStereogumXLR8R

John Grant - new video for "Glacier" tackles the history of LGBT

JOHN GRANT UNVEILS "GLACIER" VIDEO USING FOUND FOOTAGE FROM A CENTURY OF LGBT HISTORY
WATCH: "Glacier" via The Advocate or YouTubeWATCH: John Grant playing "GMF" on Letterman     READ: About John's Brit Award nomination for Best International Solo Artist, sharing the category with Eminem, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, and Drake via The Guardian   Today, John Grant is proud to share his unflinching and moving new video for "Glacier," off his 2013 album Pale Green Ghosts.  The song's lyrics tackle the experience of suffering from struggles associated with homophobia (John is publicly out and HIV positive) -- but they are universal in how they tackle all types of oppression -- and are ultimately uplifting and empowering. 
The video juxtaposes these themes with footage from various moments in LGBT history.  From news footage during WWII and Wizard of Oz, all the way through Stonewall and Harvey Milk, culminating with the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, the legalization of gay marriage, and Blue Is The Warmest Color. 



Year End Accolades for Pale Green GhostsRough Trade - Album of the Year
The Guardian - Top 5 Albums of 2013Rolling Stone - 27 Best Albums You Didn't Hear in 2013Uncut - Top 10 Albums of 2013Under The Radar - Top 10 Albums of 2013MOJO - Top 10 Albums of 2013Magnet - Top 10 Singer/Songwriters of 2013eMusic - Top 100 Albums of 2013Boston Globe - The Best Overlooked Albums of 2013Yahoo - Best of 2013 Staff PicksWFUV - Best of 2013 Staff PicksKEXP - Best of 2013 Staff Picks

"With his own beautiful baritone softening the blows, Grant somehow finds the beauty, and even the comfort, that tempers life's cruelties" -NPR

The Hounds Below Pizza Tour 2014 / Launch new song

THE HOUNDS BELOWANNOUNCE PIZZA TOUR 2014

LAUNCH NEW SONG, �Xx,� ONLINE
�...a meeting point between the Cure, early U2, the Pixies, and a number of other bands of similar vintage�
� ALL MUSIC

�The Hounds Below play a hard edged, post-punk sound that translates loud and clear to the stage�
� In Your Speakers

The Hounds Below will embark on a North American tour. Dubbed the Pizza Tour 2014 , the tour (which starts up this week) will find the Michigan-based three-piece playing over 30 shows coast to coast over the next two months. This will include their first West Coast shows in support of the album You Light Me Up In The Dark (Slimstyle Records).

While still touring behind their 2012 full-length effort, the band�s live set will primarily consist of brand-new material! Jason Stollsteimer (vocals/guitar) reveals �though the new material still has strong melodic hooks, it�s shaping up to be more aggressive sounding than even my work in The Von Bondies.� A taste of what�s to come is on display with �Xx,� which the band released this month as a free digital track.

Stream �Xx� here: http://soundcloud.com/the-hounds-below/xx

In addition to Stollsteimer, The Hounds Below includes Will Shattuck (drums/vocals) and Adam Michael Lee Padden (bass/vocals). Prior to this run, the group has racked up an impressive show history, shaing stages with the likes of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Airborne Toxic Event, Butch Walker, The Whigs, ASH, The Cribs, The Heavy, Band Of Skulls and many others. Musically packed with melodic rock delivered with post-punk urgency, You Light Me Up In The Dark was championed by such media tastemakers as The A.V. Club, MTV Buzzworthy, Consequence Of Sound, and American Songwriter. Confirmed dates for the Pizza Tour 2014 are below (with more to be announced) and news of the band�s forthcoming album will follow shortly.

PIZZA TOUR 2014 DATES:
1/15 � Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
1/16 � Columbus, OH @ Ace Of Cups
1/18 � Ferndale, MI @ Loving Touch
1/20 � Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR Pub
1/21 � Indianapolis, IN @ Do 317
1/22 � Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop
1/24 � Louisville, KY @ The New Vintage
1/25 � Athens, GA @ 40 Watt
1/27 � New Orleans, LA @ Circle Bar
1/28 � Houston, TX @ Eastdown Warehouse
1/29 � Austin, TX @ The North Door
1/30 � Fort Worth, TX @ Lola�s
2/03 � San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
2/04 � Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Bar
2/05 � San Jose, CA @ Blank Club
2/06 � San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
2/11 � Vancouver, BC (Canada) @ Electric Owl
2/12 � Victoria, BC (Canada) @ Lucky Bar
2/20 � Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
2/21 � Wichita, KA @ Rock Island
2/22 � Kansas City, MO @ Czar Bar
2/23 � Lincoln, NE @ Vega
2/24 � Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville
2/28 � Chicago, IL @ The Hideout
3/01 � Detroit, MI @ TBA

More Info at: www.thehoundsbelow.com