We’re so very proud to announce that Tribeca Film will be distributing Rick Alverson’sThe Comedy throughout North America. The Jagjaguwar-produced drama was one of this year’s most talked about films since its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was in U.S. dramatic competition. Variety called it “compulsively fascinating” and Film Threat described it as “one of the most wildly inappropriate and pitch black comedies I’ve ever seen”.
What exactly does this mean? In addition to having a limited theatrical run, the drama will soon be available in over 40 million homes through video-on-demand, iTunes, Amazon Watch Instantly, Xbox, Samsung Media Hub and the like.
Alverson, who directed and wrote The Comedy, is someone Jagjaguwar has been working with for a very long time (since 1996). Jagjaguwar has released over nine albums with Alverson, and The Comedy is just one of four dramas Alverson and Jagjaguwar have collaborated on. Like Jagjaguwar, Alverson is also very excited about Tribeca Film’s involvement. “My hope is that The Comedy may be seen as both a challenging, cautionary tale and an unapologetic immersion in a culture of irony and recreational cruelty many have come to find liberating,” said Alverson. “We’re very happy to be in the competent hands of Tribeca Film and look forward to a partnership that will bring this movie to a wide audience.”
The Comedy features Tim Heidecker of the “Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job,” as an aging hipster spending his aimless recreation with like-minded friends (“Tim & Eric” co-star Eric Wareheim, LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy and comedian Gregg Turkington a.k.a.“Neil Hamburger”) in games of comic irreverence and mock sincerity. There are several cameos by musicians Jagjaguwar friends, Will Sheff (Okkervil River) and Richard Swift (The Shins).
Oneida drummer and Brah Records CEO Kid Millions’ Man Forever, “the bohemian collective of shape shifters he’s united to realize his percussive-based spiritual vision” as Village Voice calls it, has been signed to Thrill Jockey. His new record, Pansophical Cataract, featuring Brian Chase, Shahin Motia, James McNew, Richard Hoffman, and Ryan Sawyer, comes out tomorrow, May 15th.
If you’re in New York City, catch their release show tomorrow at Le Poisson Rouge. The first leg of the North American tour kicks off in Baltimore on May 20th and winds up back in Brooklyn on June 29th. See full list of dates HERE.
Finally, a number of Man Forever’s New York collaborators got together and made a video for the release! Watch above!
S. Carey’s sophomore release, Hoyas, is out today! It’s available online and at your local record stores. Purchase your copy HERE. You can also stream the entire EP at Stereogum! Carey just added the second installment of photos to accompany the album. Check them out HERE.
“What could have turned out to be a risky step in another direction for S. Carey has turned out to be a stroke of brilliance; Hoyas is a small delight that confirms Carey’s towering talent, and has that rare knack of making an electronic record feel naturalistic.” -The 405
Bon Iver recently played the New Orleans Jazz Festival and for a limited time, you can watch videos of their performance. Watch “Michicant” above and head over to YouTube for videos of “Towers” and “Beth/Rest.”
See Bon Iver live this summer -full list of dates HERE! They just added two shows at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. Show and ticket information HERE.
Bon Iver member, S. Carey, just released his new EP, Hoyas, today. Pick up your copy HERE.
You’ve waited patiently to hear it, now here’s your chance. A week before its official release, S. Carey‘s Hoyas is available for streaming at Stereogum. It will be available for your listening pleasure all week, plus you get a free download of the first-track, “Two Angles.” The four-song EP is the second release from Carey and you can pre-order it HERE.
Carey’s provided some visuals to accompany the songs. Check out his photo guide HERE. Don’t you dare miss him and the entire Bon Iver gang on tour this summer. Full list of dates HERE.
It’s your lucky day. If you didn’t get the chance to see Sharon Van Etten the first time around, you may be able to this summer. Upon returning from the European leg of her tour, Sharon will make a few additional stops in cities across Canada and the United States. The tour features a number of festival performances, including Le Guess Who, Primavera, Latitude, Newport Folk, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands and Caldera festivals. She’ll be joined by Flock of Dimes, Tennis, Andrew Bird and Secretly Canadian’s own Exitmusic. You can see the full list of dates, as well as links to buy tickets, HERE.
Praise for Sharon Van Etten
“Focusing mostly on new material, SVE’s syrupy pipes filled the room just like you’d expect them to. Her impeccable, folk-spun melodies were executed with precision and passion. The thing that’s so incredible about Van Etten, is how she’s able to meld harsh and gentle together so seamlessly. At its core, her music is angry, but a gentle approach to that anger yields undeniably gorgeous results. Her lyrics are bitterly heartbreaking, her strums occasionally crass, her energy genuinely raw and powerful. But there’s a sort of delicate beauty to it all.” Consequence of Sound
As I watched her burn through a driving version of ‘Don’t Do It,’ a highlight from her 2010 album, epic, I was struck by how much more self-assured and professional she sounded than when I’d seen her at Bottom of the Hill just a year prior. In fact, the whole show seemed like a snapshot of a songwriter who is just beginning to feel comfortable in her own skin – which made me even more excited to see where she goes from here.” SF Bay Guardian
“Sharon Van Etten is not a diva. Walking on stage at the Bluebird last night, as unassumingly as if she were in the grocery store produce aisle, Van Etten appeared confident and casual. There was no pretense about her or her band, a four-piece that featured two multi-instrumentalists and a drummer. The singer’s presence was totally unremarkable. This all changed soon after, though. Strumming a Fender Jazzmaster and accompanied by a harmonium, Van Etten let out a husky wail that soon silenced an otherwise chatty crowd.” Westword
Out officially on May 8th, S. Carey’s Hoyas EP is now available for pre-order. Order it from iTunes for $3.99, or purchase it from SC Distribution to receive an instant digital download of the entire EP.
Bon Iver on The Ellen DeGeneres show? You betcha! The gang stopped by Ellen’s studio yesterday to tape the show and it’s airing today! We’ve got the video for “Towers” and a web-exclusive performance of “Michicant” above, but there is a still a chance the show might air in your state this afternoon. Check the schedule HERE! Most importantly, enjoy!
Today is the day. Spencer Krug releases his third album under the Moonface moniker. With Siinai: Heartbreaking Bravery is now available for purchase in your local record stores and online. You can also pick up a copy from Spencer during his summer tour. See full list of dates HERE.
Stream the album in full at AOL Spinner now. Last, but certainly not least in the Moonface realm, Spencer released his video for “Teary Eyes and Bloody Lips” last week. Watch it on Vimeo.
With Siinai: Heartbreaking Bravery
“The result is a blend of startling lyrical depth and slow, whirlpools of murky music.”Consequence of Sound
Where Krug’s output in the late 2000s was virtuosic and volatile, Bravery is poised and comparatively stoic. The record functions on tension and, for the most part, does so brilliantly.PopMatters
“Juggling minimalism and majesty, Krug elegantly conducts every one of Siinai’s fluttering, kosmische pulses into the numb room behind his sternum. No wonder his heart is breaking.” A.V. Club
Get ready! We’re on Moonface overload today. First, we’ve got a brand new video for “Teary Eyes and Bloody Lips,” off the forthcoming album. Premiering on Spin this morning, the video was directed by UK-based artist Marsha Balaeva. Watch above.
Now that you’ve checked out the video, hear With Siinai: Heartbreaking Bravery in its entirety at The A.V. Club. It will be available for your listening pleasure all week! Out officially next Tuesday, April 17th, you can pre-order the album HERE.
Finally, see Moonface live in concert! Spencer heads out for the European leg of tour in May, with North American dates to follow. See the full schedule HERE.
We’ve got a wonderful video of Sharon Van Etten and band performing “Magic Chords” live in Paris. The video was shot by Valerie Toumayan during Sharon’s show at Le Point FMR during early March. Watch above. You can also see Sharon perform “Don’t Do It” from the same set HERE.
You can also watch Sharon perform a four-song acoustic set for Spinner’s The Interface. It’s downloadable! Check it out HERE.
Sharon has also added three new UK dates to her tour. See those below and check out all tour dates and links to tickets HERE.
07/10/12 Bristol, UK – Thekla
07/11/12 Birmingham, UK – Glee Club
07/12/12 Glasgow, UK – Oran Mor
Black Mountain and Lia Ices bring you two awesome releases today! The first is the soundtrack to the epic surf film, Year Zero! Combining new works with previously released tracks, Black Mountain provides a hard-hitting, 45-minute acid tab of music. You can order the Year Zero: Original SoundtrackHERE. Listen to “Mary Lou” below!
The latter is Lia Ices’ new 7-inch, featuring a beautiful cover of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” and a B-side of Syd Barrett’s “Late Night.” Buy it HERE. Commenting on Lia’s version of “Wish You Were Here,” Fader says, “There are few people singing with such a precise and beautiful voice.” Listen to the track below!
Moonface’s With Siinai: Heartbreaking Bravery is officially available for pre-order. Best part? Starting today when you pre-order the album, you’ll receive an instant digital download. That’s right; you DO NOT have to wait until April 17th to hear the ENTIRE record. The deluxe bundle features the record on both cd and vinyl formats, a limited 7″ with two previously unreleased songs and a poster with album art. What are you waiting for? Pre-order the album HERE.
A new song from the forthcoming album, “Headed For the Door,” premiered on Pitchfork today. Listen and download below!
S. Carey’s forthcoming EP, Hoyas, is out on May 5th, but you can check out the first track, “Two Angles,” now. In an article titled Bon Iver’s not-so-secret weapon preps new EP , Spin calls the new song “a feast of electronic ripples, stately horns, burbling guitar, and gorgeous falsetto – his own.” Listen below!
Sean is touring with Bon Iver now. See all of their dates HERE.
While much of the music world was distracted by SXSW this weekend, Oneida were blowing minds back home in New York. The O teamed up with avant-legend Rhys Chatham as part of Merkin Concert Hall’s 2012 Ecstatic Music Festival this Saturday. The combo performed original compositions, sewing together different corners of the minimalist/maximalist cloth from which they are all cut. Listen to audio from the performance at WQXR!
Village Voice sat down with Rhys Chatham prior to the performance for a chat about his experience working with Oneida. Chatham shared, “Oneida aren’t a minimalist band. They’re what’s happening today, but somehow I just didn’t feel any difference in age or mindset or anything. We just all worked together as musicians because they’re great musicians. In all our discussions we never talked about history, we just talked about stuff and then, when we actually played, I was just so surprised. It just seemed to work like a hand in a glove. I didn’t have to do anything. I mean, seriously. I brought my stuff in and they played like they’d normally play. They nailed it.” To read the full interview, go HERE.
More photos from the performance available at Brooklyn Vegan.
“Cancel ALL of your evening plans. Plant yourself in front of your television and prepare yourself for three or so minutes of some serious greatness. It’s definitely going to be worth it!”
Did you heed our advice yesterday? Tell me you didn’t miss Sharon Van Etten’s performance of “Leonard” last night on “mini” Conan! Luckily for all of us, the fine people at Conan have provided us with the video. WATCH IT ABOVE. Also, don’t miss Sharon perched next to Shaq at the end of show! Uhhhh, can we just say how awesome that was?!?!
Last week, Sharon played to over 3,000 SXSW-goers at the NPR showcase then went on to headline the Jagjaguwar party, only to leave Austin soon after for a Los Angeles take down. Perhaps you heard Sharon play on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic Monday morning? If not, no worries! Stream it HERE. As you can tell, it seems there’s no stopping point in sight. Catch her live with The War on Drugs this spring; full list of dates HERE.
Finally, check out the interview Sharon gave to Cian Traynor at The Quietus. Sharon gives a run-down of some of the the pivotal moments in her music career. Read it HERE.
Hello party people! Are you roaming the streets of Austin, checking out the best SXSW showcases and sipping on cold beer? Sure hope so! Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar, and Secretly Canadian have teamed up with Stickygram for a SXSW Instagram photo contest and we went all of you to be a part of it!
Here’s the deal: You take awesome photos and post to Instagram using the HASHTAG #DOCJAGSCSXSW. We’ve got several categories, so basically just start snapping away! We’ll reward the “best” photos with some sweet prizes, including vinyl, posters, mp3 downloads, and much more! Stickygram is jumping in on this too and we’ll turn some of your photos into magnets! Pretty neat, huh? SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!?! Check out the categories below and then start taking photos! Reminder!!! REMINDER! We’re looking for photos of our bands; you can check out the full schedule of all DOC/JAG/SC bands at SXSW HERE! MAKE SURE you use our hashtag and we’ll let the winners know who they are at the end of the week! Good luck and have fun!!
CATEGORIES:
Photo from OFFICIAL SXSW DOC/JAG/SC Showcase at the Mohawk on March 15th
Band Backstage OR Waiting Off Stage
Photo of Band on Stage
TACOS!!!!
Band Hungover
Landscape/Street photo
BANDS TO LOOK FOR:
The War On Drugs
Bear in Heaven
Brazos
Exitmusic
Gardens & Villa
Sharon Van Etten
Gauntlet Hair
Peter Wolf Crier
Supreme Dicks
Little Scream
Nite Jewel
Taken By Trees
The new video for Sharon Van Etten’s “Leonard” takes the viewer on a kaleidoscopic journey, acting as a serious set of visuals to one of the many standout tracks from Tramp. Directed by Sam Zimman, the video premiered earlier this morning via the Los Angeles Times. It all comes in the midst of what has been an unbelievably successful year for Sharon, as fans and critics alike have opened their arms wide for the immensely talented songstress. On tour now, she will soon head to SXSW to perform at NPR’s showcase at Stubbs on March 14th and then at the Jagjaguwar showcase at the Mohawk on March 15th. Hope to see you there! Watch the video above!
Last, but certainly not least, LOS ANGELES HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO WIN FREE SHARON VAN ETTEN TICKETS & MERCH! She’ll perform at theAvalon on March 20th and KCRW has an awesome package, including a pair of tickets, to give to one lucky gal or guy. All you have to do is go HERE and leave a comment! A winner will be randomly selected on March 19th! Don’t forget to read the instructions on what to leave in your comment!!
Here’s something to cheer about! Bon Iver just added a handful of dates to their tour! It’s a mix of both headlining shows and festivals! Currently on tour in Australia now, Bon Iver will soon return to the States for Coachella and head back out on the road for what is sure to be an amazing summer tour! See new dates below and check out full tour HERE!
In other awesome Bon Iver news, the new Towers 12-inch single is out TODAY! It features a b-side of the John Prine cover “Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow),” previously heard on Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine. You can order your copy HERE!
Jagjaguwar, Dead Oceans and Secretly Canadian bring the party to this year’s South By Southwest! We’ve got an official showcase jam packed with some serious talent. With two stages and eleven bands, it’s an event not to be missed. We’ve lucked into one of the best venues Austin has to offer- the Mohawk, and it’s all going down Thursday, March 15th. See the full lineup below and all of the additional SXSW performances after the jump!
Bon Iver brings us a brilliant new music video for “Towers,” a single off of their Grammy winning album, Bon Iver. Directed by filmmaker Nabil Elderkin, who you’ll recognize as the director for “Holocene,” the video follows one man through a beautiful part of Washington state, home to Indian-preserved land. Elderkin told us, “When Justin sent me a breakdown of what certain parts/lines of the song meant to him I did my best to decode it and curate into something simple, and hopefully the viewer can take from it their own feeling of what the towers represent.” How “simple” could describe such a breathtaking video boggles the mind, but indeed it does. A pure simplicity rings true to the work, with no gimmicks or overt constructionism at play. The video grows organically, breathing additional life into a song that already aurally invokes the senses. Joining the audio now is a stimulating visual experience. Do watch the video above.
Bon Iver also announces a new Towers 12-inch, featuring a cover of John Prine’s “Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)” as the b-side. The single is out March 6th and you can pre-order it HERE.
Lastly, Bon Iver joins Feist at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre on May 31st for what is sure to be an amazing show. See full list of dates HERE.
How S. Carey managed to create an EP throughout the Bon Iver whirlwind is difficult to grasp, but indeed he has. Hoyas is the follow-up to his debut full-length, All We Grow, and is out officially on May 8th. Carey continues his unique mix of classical and electronic throughout the four-track EP, which was created during a two-year span in his attic studio. Working together with fellow musician Ben Lester, who you may know from his work with A.A. Bondy, the two used a lap-top and little else when recording. Hoyas was mixed and produced by the Grammy-award winning duo of Justin Vernon and Brian Joseph of Bon Iver and mastered by Jeff Lipton at Peerless Studios in Boston.
“These songs are for nighttime driving, for long exposures of stars circling overhead, for laying roadside, feeling small, for the cold rocks at Big Falls, for Marfa, that weird and beautiful oasis. These songs are about the ambient sides of life.”
Perhaps you’ve already seen S. Carey and Justin Vernon in their recent 4AD and Jagjaguwar session, but do watch it again. It’s a great testimony to the musicianship and seemingly endless talent of both artists. Carey soars vocally in the session, just as he does on the new EP. View it HERE.
Last Saturday, Justin Vernon made his second appearance on Saturday Night Live. It all happened only two weeks after performing on the show for the very first time. On this occasion, he attended to play for new parents, Beyonce and Jay-Z, as well as their wee little baby, Blue Ivy Carter; this time, Justin Vernon was actually Justin Timberlake in a hilarious spoof. Playing a guitar he himself fashioned out of a canoe, Justin reworks the words to “Holocene” for a Bon Iver lullaby about muggles? Regardless, White Butler loved it enough for all of us. Watch above!
Black Mountain creates original soundtrack to movie? You heard right. It’s all for the post-apocalyptic film Year Zero and can be heard in its entirety come April 3rd. Including both old and new Black Mountain tracks, the soundtrack features nine songs, one of which you can download and stream below. The eight-minute long jam, “Mary Lou”, as Fader says it, “marks the return of Black Mountain.” Check out the Year Zero trailer above!
Straying from the expected, Justin Vernon and S. Carey give us a breathtaking 4AD and Jagjaguwar session. We’ve been accustomed to seeing Bon Iver as a full, seven-plus member band as of late, but now we get the two in an incredibly intimate and up-close setting. Once a church, Air Studio’s Lyndurst Hall plays home to the session and it proves to be fitting in both atmosphere and aesthetics. Justin and Sean are on piano, facing each other for a five-song performance of choice songs that have led us to be endlessly captured and emotionally evoked. “Rather than layer the sound as on ‘Bon Iver, Bon Iver’, the focus is on paring back, in part evoking the minimalist approach of contemporary classical music, while remaining true enough to the source material to retain those elements characteristic of Bon Iver.” It’s a must see. Watch above.
For all you Londoners who missed the bus on getting tickets to see Sharon Van Etten at the now sold out Cargo concert, you’re in serious luck. The burgeoning songstress JUST ADDED A NEW LONDON SHOW AT SCALA. It is her biggest London show to date and it’s all happening on May 16th. She’s also added a handful of other UK shows; see those and links to buy tickets below.
Download Sharon’s Valentine. Made just for you on this special day.
05/16/12 London, UK – Scala BUY TICKETS
05/17/12 Manchester, UK – The Deaf Institute BUY TICKETS
05/18/12 Dublin, IE – Whelans BUY TICKETS
05/20/12 Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club BUY TICKETS
05/21/12 Brighton, UK – Komedia BUY TICKETS
Ecstatic. Screams. Happiness. Champagne popping. Rolling on the ground. Falling out of chairs. Pure Bliss. Throw up your J. Smiles. Tears. Pride. All words to describe how we at Jagjaguwar felt and acted last night when it was announced Bon Iver were not one, but two-time Grammy winners. Taking home the award for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album, Justin handled his winnings with grace and we are so incredibly proud of him and all the Bon Iver family. It’s been one hell of a year for the group and we’re only in February. Guess you could say we’re all excited for the future! CONGRATULATIONS BON IVER! Watch video of Justin backstage above!
La Blogothèque delights us with another wonderful Take Away Show. Filmed ealier this year in Paris, Soirée de Poche: Sharon Van Etten is a beautifully intimate video of the songstress, who has managed to encapsulate just about every person who dares take a listen. Joined by Heather Woods Broderick and armed only with her acoustic guitar, Sharon stands in front of a handful of people and delivers another incredibly moving performance. It’s really something you have to watch for yourself.
Just an hour or so ago, Sharon performed live on WXPN 88.5! If you missed it, no worries; NPR has the audio available for streaming. Listen HERE.
If you’re going to be in New Zealand or Australia in the next coming months, you’re one of the lucky few who gets to see Pink Mountaintops live in concert! Teaming up with L.A.’s Dead Meadow, the two embark on a 12-show tour with a stop at Boogie Festival included. Presented by Heathen Skulls. Check out the dates below!
03/28/12 Wellington, NZ – San Francisco Bath House w/ Dead Meadow
03/29/12 Auckland, NZ – The Kings Arms w/ Dead Meadow
03/30/12 Adelaide, AU – Fowlers Live w/ Dead Meadow
03/31/12 Geelong, AU – The National Hotel w/ Dead Meadow
04/01/12 Melbourne, AU – Corner Hotel w/ Dead Meadow BUY TICKETS
04/02/12 Melbourne, AU – The Tote
04/04/12 Canberra, AU – ANU Bar w/ Dead Meadow
04/05/12 Brisbane, AU – The Zoo w/ Dead Meadow
04/06/12 Sydney, AU – Hi Fi Bar w/ Dead Meadow BUY TICKETS
04/07/12 Perth, AU – The Bakery w/ Dead Meadow
04/08/12 Victoria, AU – Boogie Festival w/ Dead Meadow
04/08/12 Melbourne, AU – Cherry Bar w/ Dead Meadow
It seems SNL made the right choice, at least according to Billboard, who writes, “Saturday Night Live righted its musical ship this weekend with a dreamy, horn-filled set from critical darlings Bon Iver.” Dreamy it was! The nine-piece band played grammy-nominated song “Holocene” and slow-jam rocker “Beth/Rest” beautifully. Happen to see a few of those smiles creep across faces on stage? We sure did! Rightfully so, Bon Iver delivered a set to be proud of and proud, we are.
Here’s an answer to what many have asked for: Bon Iver just added dates to their spring tour. After Australia, the gang comes home to a play a handful of west coast shows; Coachella, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Sasquatch are all on the list! Check out all the stops below! Watch “Holocene” and “Beth/Rest” above! More
The New York Times recently visited Sharon Van Etten in her Brooklyn neighborhood for an intimate look at how she’s living these days and to talk about how exactly it all came to be. With her sophomore album out next Tuesday, February 7th, the buzz surrounding Sharon couldn’t be better. “The difficult past is always present in Van Etten’s music, a mesmerizing catalog that somehow combines the venom of P J Harvey with a choir loft full of Emmylou Harrises singing harmony,” writes NY Times. Indeed, she’s presented us with an album worth getting excited about and the feedback has been tremendous.
Van Etten takes us back to a flower shop by day, speakeasy at night, where she played for one of the first times. NY Times captures another stunning video of Van Etten and bandmate, Heather Woods Broderick, performing “We Are Fine” in the shop; you can watch it above. Sharon is currently touring in support of Tramp and there’s a good chance you’ll be able to see her in your city. Check out her full list of dates HERE.
Two awesome pieces from Lia Ices today! Premiering on Fader earlier this morning, the new video for “Little Marriage” is a whimsical dance through a bevy of faded images. Heidi Petty created the video.
Out on April 4th, the “Wish You Were Here” single is both a moving and refreshing take on one of Pink Floyd’s best known songs. Lia originally recorded the track for Mojo Magazine’s Pink Floyd tribute compilation. The 7-inch also features Lia’s take on Syd Barret’s “Late Night.” You can listen to “Wish You Were Here” below!
San Miguel Primavera Sound just revealed their 2012 lineup and we are stoked to announce both Peter Wolf Crier and Sharon Van Etten will play at the festival. Held in Barcelona, Spain, the festival dates are May 30-June 3. Tickets go on sale February 4th! Consequence of Sound gives the lowdown on Primavera and all performing artists in their Festival Outlook.
It seems Under the Radar couldn’t quite make up their mind on who to feature on the cover for their Best of 2011 issue and we aren’t mad about it. They came up with a neat little idea to include three unique covers with artists from their Top 5 albums of the year in each copy. Bon Iver, M83 and The Horrors all take center stage here. Staring straight at you is a serious-faced Justin Vernon. Pal Hansen snapped the shot in London. You can pick up a print copy on newsstands or buy directly from UTR HERE. If you need to get your eyes on a digital edition now, you can get it HERE.
Following a sold-out show at NYC’s Mercury Lounge and a late night tv performance on Fallon, Sharon Van Etten has now added nine dates to her spring tour. Her eagerly anticipated album, Tramp, comes out in just under two weeks on February 7th. Available for pre-order NOW.
Critics and fans alike are jumping behind this talented songstress and for good reason. Not only is her new album a superb piece of work, but Sharon conquers the stage in her live shows. Spin Magazine said this about her Mercury performance, “Judging by her brilliant performance and the electric mood in the room, she isn’t likely to be playing spaces this intimate much longer.” For a fortunate few in those nine additional stops, they’ll get to see just what everyone is talking about. Purchase your tickets soon though; shows are selling out worldwide! You can view the full list of dates HERE. If you missed Sharon on WNYC’s Soundcheck, watch her performance of “Give Out” above or stream the entire show HERE.
Originally released on vinyl in February of 2010, Tidings is officially available in CD format today! The Line of Best Fit calls it, “a relaxed and fluent assemblage, entwined in a gorgeous psychedelic, blues rock holy matrimony.” Created before the band’s actual formation by frontman Jack Sharp, the album features a slue of experimental endeavors that lead up to what is now known as Wolf People. “Tidings then, is a journey down a strip of tape from one reel to the other. Yes, it’s a little warped and damaged, but that’s what gives it its character; the insane parts make the most sense of all,” says Tiny Mix Tapes. Get it on CD or LP HERE!
One thousand lucky people will soon be the proud owners of their very own J. MASCIS BOBBLEHEAD! Available now from Aggronautix, the bobblehead features the Dinosaur Jr. frontman exactly as you know him; the long silver locks, glasses and guitar are right on point. ORDER YOURS WHILE YOU STILL CAN. Oh, the places you and J. Mascis will go…..
You can see the real J. Mascis and the rest of Dinosaur Jr. on January 23rd at Miami’s Grand Central with Yuck.
Jagjaguwar alumnus, Simon Joyner, is in the midst of finishing his 13th album, but he needs your help people! He’s just launched a Kickstarter, in which he is less than $700 dollars away from reaching his $6000 goal (wowzers!!), which will fund the final recording, mixing and manufacturing. In celebration of twenty years making records (Joyner released his first album in 1992), a double album will be released on white vinyl this upcoming summer. We’re talking some pretty cool stuff here: Joyner is recording the album all-analog on a 1-inch reel to reel machine. Check out his Kickstarter HERE to see how you can contribute.
Premiering this Saturday, January 21 in Park City, “The Comedy” is Rick Alverson’s first film to enter the Sundance Film Festival. It is a contender in the U.S. Dramatic Competition. “This is not a comedy. It stars Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim of Adult Swim’s comedy weird-fest Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Good Job! but despite those guys and the movie’s title, it’s more of a sardonic drama than a laugh-fest. Heidecker plays Swanson, a man inheriting a massive estate who is nonetheless bored with life,” says Sundance director John Cooper. We wish Rick the best of luck in the next coming days! You can now watch the teaser at Indiewire!
S. Carey recently contributed to a new book about Talk Talk. Including handwritten lyrics and never-seen-before photos, Spirt of Talk Talk delves into the band’s expansive collection of album art and music. A good portion of the book is dedicated to those inspired by the band in some way. Carey is no stranger when it comes to Talk Talk; you can see their influence laced through his debut album, All We Grow, as well as his much talked about cover of “I Believe in You” during shows with Bon Iver. Preview the book HERE.
Justin Vernon teams up with The Chieftains for a beautiful rendition of traditional murder ballad,”Down in the Willow Garden”. Singing lead atop sweeping acoustic accompaniment, Vernon softly tells the story of a man who has murdered his lover. Named Ireland’s Musical Ambassadors, The Chieftains are a world renown folk group formed in 1962. Set to-be-released on February 21, Voice of Ages, celebrates 50 years of making music. Other featured artists include The Decemberists, Carolina Chocolate Drops and The Low Anthem. You can stream “Down in the Willow Garden” on Pitchfork.
Good morning friends! We’ve got a bit of a special treat to start off your Tuesday or maybe act as a soundtrack to what currently seems to be a monsoon outside. Odawas founder, Michael James Tapscott, releases his ninth album on Bookmaker Records. “Good Morning, Africa Working alternates captivating ballads and dark instrumental tracks. The result is a deep mix of folk songwriting, psychedelism and new age.” It features Andrew Kenower, who contributed some very interesting field recordings to the album. The first vinyl edition for Bookmaker (how neat!), you can stream and pre-order the album HERE.
Watch this new video of Peter Wolf Crier performing a fantastic rendition of “Haunt You,” off their latest release, Garden of Arms. While on tour last fall, PWC met up with Kiyanna Project in Austin to film this session in a tire shop. Peter also gives us an explanation of the song’s creation. You definitely want to see this.
We are super stoked to announce that you will be able to see Peter Wolf Crier on tour with Damien Jurado later this spring. Starting in San Francisco and eventually ending in Vancouver, PWC will play eight shows with one of Secretly Canadian’s heavyweights. Jurado is touring in support of his soon-to-be-released album, Maroqopa. See the full list of dates below.
04/13/12 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill w/ Damien Jurado
04/14/12 Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg Theater w/ Damien Jurado
04/15/12 San Diego, CA - Soda Bar w/ Damien Jurado
04/17/12 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive w/ Damien Jurado
04/18/12 Salt Lake City, UT - Velour w/ Damien Jurado
04/19/12 Boise, ID - Neurolux w/ Damien Jurado
04/21/12 Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret w/ Damien Jurado
04/22/12 Portland, OR - Holocene w/ Damien Jurado
Bon Iver adds another huge honor to what seems to be a never-ending list. Nominated for not one, but two BRIT AWARDS, Bon Iver is up for International Male Solo Artist alongside Ryan Adams and Bruno Mars and International Breakthrough Act with Nicki Minaj and Foster the People. We couldn’t be happier for Justin and the Bon Iver family. The awards will air on February 21st!!
Bon Iver will also take part in a Flaming Lips collaboration compilation for special release on this year’s Record Store Day. Now we will only be left guessing as to what the collaboration will entail…..HAPPY FRIDAY!!!
Sharon Van Etten begins taking over the world next Wednesday. Some could say it’s just a tour, but we have great faith in the road before SVE. With twenty-nine dates lined up, Van Etten is likely coming to a city near you. We are excited to announce her London show is already SOLD OUT, so act fast and pick up those tickets while you still can.
In the meantime, i-D Online provides us with a new i-N Session of the songstress performing “Leonard.” Filmed in her home, Van Etten prevails once again, giving us another strong, but beautifully intimate performance. It’s difficult not to feel as though your in the room with her, feeling the pure emotion and experience driving each word.
Even though we are only into the second week of January, it seems safe to say 2012 is looking to be Bon Iver’s year. To add to the list of big events for the grammy-nominated, Coachella playing group, is a coveted invitation to appear as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. On Saturday, February 4th, Bon Iver will make their SNL debut performance. Actor Channing Tatum will host the show. A big congratulations to Bon Iver!
In a Meet the Artists interview, Rick Alverson talks about “The Comedy” and the forces, both apparent and underlying, propelling the film. Alverson tells Sundance, “The goal of thing was to vacillate between the comedic and the gravely serious.” Currently competing in the 2012 Sundance Film Festival as part of the U.S. Dramatic Competition, “The Comedy” stars Tim Heidecker and features Eric Wareheim, both of the Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!. Alverson refers to these two as anti-comics and further describes how their innate qualities and work outside of the film played a part in it’s direction. Watch full interview here.
It is a big night for Sharon Van Etten! In her late night television debut, Van Etten will play live on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight, Thursday, January 5th. Guests also include Rachel Maddow and Portlandia co-creator, Fred Armisen.
All of this comes on the brink of her soon-to-be-released album, Tramp. The LA Times calls it,”a slow-burning but ultimately incendiary record that, in the best of worlds would propel the singer to Bon Iverian levels of acclaim.”
Out February 7th on cd and lp, Tramp is now available for pre-order in both deluxe and regular editions. The deluxe bundle includes some pretty awesome swag, including both CD and LP versions of the album as well as a digital download coupon, lyric booklet, signed letter (while supplies last), poster, exclusive ‘Serpents b/w Mike McDermott’ 7″ and early gratification download of the album, redeemable starting January 17. You can order yours here.
