A Jagged Gorgeous Winter – The Main Drag from Main Drag on Vimeo.
Rawkblog (and Rock Band) bros the Main Drag embrace their inner Calvin and Hobbes in this awesome, supremely dorky video. Does Adam Arrigo look a little like Robert Pattinson? Is it just my day job talking? P.S. Dudes are working on album No. 3. Huzzah!
Summer’s on the way, gang. We’ve been pretty breezy this week, and Reverie Sound Revue‘s latest single is another breath of fresh air. Like previously blogged jam “An Anniversary Away,” RSR’s latest is a glimmering blur of former Broken Social Scene touring member Lisa Lobsinger’s cool coos and flirty electric guitars. Lobsinger’s lyrics get lost in the rush, but don’t stress on digging deep for them — “Arrows” aims to soothe. (Lobsinger with Broken Social Scene / photo by Djenan)
Reverie Sound Revue – “Arrows”: mp3
(Reverie Sound Revue’s self-titled full-length is due June 23 on Boompa)
Los Angeles singer-songwriter Charlie Wadhams is best known — which is to say, unknown — for his work on John C. Reilly vehicle and Johnny Cash send-up Walk Hard, where he co-wrote songs including the innuendo-stuffed “Let’s Duet.” Like Forgetting Sarah Marshall contributor Peter Salett, another songwriter recruited by the Apatow gang for goofball material, Wadham’s solo material hits more serious notes. “Someone To Kiss,” for one, is a playful, smoky jazz ballad that immediately recalls Ron Sexsmith’s “Fool Proof” and Sondre Lerche’s Duper Sessions. It’s the sort of song that calls for cuddling — and you can get intimate with Wadhams tonight at the Silverlake Lounge, where he’s playing a free show. He’s on at 11:30.
Charlie Wadhams – “Someone To Kiss”: mp3
More: LA Tour Dates | New Music
New Music: Fresh tunes from John Vanderslice, Division Day, The Radio Dept. and Robert Gomez.
Live: Mr. Jens Lekman (pictured at left; photo by David Greenwald) gets romantic.
News: Grizzly Bear announced a Troubadour show (it’s… sold out).
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The Week In Rawk: Last week’s finest hour. Click below for more.
Grizzly Bear at the Troubadour, 2.21.07 / photo by David Greenwald
Grizzly Bear‘s Wiltern gig is apparently sold out, but they’ve added a night at the Troubadour on Saturday, June 20. Having seen the band there back in the day, I’d advise you to get ‘em while they’re hot. (Also just announced – Scotpop underdogs The Trash Can Sinatras on July 29! Yes!)
More: Grizzly Bear | First Look: Veckatimest
The deeper he gets into his career, the more vulnerable John Vanderslice’s songwriting becomes. The San Francisco indie stalwart is now 9 years and six albums removed from his 2000 solo debut, Mass Occult Suicide Figurines, but he doesn’t sound the least bit sapped — weary, maybe. Romanian Names is a grievous angel of a record, all Technicolor multi-tracked harmonies, twinkling keyboards and broken hearts.
“I live with another, I stole her from her lover,” Vanderslice laments on “Fetal Horses,” one of the most gorgeous tracks he’s ever committed to tape, and the vibe doesn’t get much sunnier. But Romanian Names marks a shift for him — always a keen producer, the album pushes him away from his trademark mid-fi guitar peanut butter and into a style more reminiscent of Dave Fridmann’s late ’90s psych-pop production with the Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev. The music soothes; Vanderslice, for one, sounds like he needs it, but he’ll leave the light on for you.
John Vanderslice – “Fetal Horses”: mp3
John Vanderslice – “Too Much Time”:mp3
(Romanian Names is out now on Dead Oceans)
More: New Music
As tipped right here last week and confirmed by Buzz Bands today, LA synth-superhero Band To Watch Division Day will release their sophomore album, Visitations, on August 18 via Dangerbird Records. The title track and “Devil Light” are streaming on the band’s MySpace, and fans of the band’s brand of luminous post-punk should find much to dive in to — like 2007′s Beartrap Island, the tracks are swelling anthems that draw on Joy Division’s bleakness and the Cure’s broad sonic palette. Paul Banks is going to pee his pants.
Division Day – “Devil Light” and “Visitations”: stream
Previously: Live: Division Day at the Echo, 5.12.08
