Beach House Head to Europe with Vetiver, Continue to Have Best Promo Shots Ever

By Liz Louche on

Once again, Beach House are heading overseas for a brief European tour, and once again they are keeping any new information which might give this story depth or, say, interest, under wraps. If you’re a fan of the Baltimore-based dream-pop band, you already know the basics: the duo consists of guitarist/keyboardist Alex Scally and vocalist/organist Victoria LeGrand, who is the niece of French film composer Michel LeGrand and Christiane LeGrand, a vocalist in the Jacques Demy films The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Young Girls of Rochefort. But back to the band. They have two full-length albums on Carpark Records, the self-titled Beach House and Devotion (TMT Review), under their belts, as well as a Queen cover on the Red Hot Organization’s benefit album, Dark Was the Night (TMT Review). (They also have some of the best promo stills I’ve ever seen, which is good because, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, blah blah etc., and as I have previously complained, the duo is keeping it enigmatic about any further biographical info than what we already know.)

They’ve been touring pretty regularly, and are fresh off an appearance at Washington’s Sasquatch festival. This summer you can catch them bringing their lo-fi ethereal sounds to select European cities, accompanied by freak-folk stalwarts Vetiver.
08.14.09 - Oslo, Norway - Oya Festival
08.15.09 - Malmo, Sweden - Malmo Festival
08.16.09 - Berlin, Germany - Dot Club *
08.17.09 - Hamburg, Germany - Knust *
08.18.09 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso *
08.19.09 - Paris, France - Nouveau Casino *
08.21.09 - London, UK - Union Chapel *
08.22.09 - Brecon Beacons, UK - Green Man Festival

* Vetiver

Wavves Cancel European Tour So Fast Your Head Is Probably Spinning

By Mango Starr on 06-01-2009

Wavves' infamous breakdown last week at Spain's Primavera Sound Festival has now ostensibly led to the cancellation of the group's entire European tour. Apparently the blog hype has gotten to him, according to an apology posted (and then de-posted) over the weekend on Nathan Williams' Ghost Ramp blog. Oh, that and the drinking and the drugs.

Read the apology in full (via P4k):

I think in the back of my head I knew I wasn't exactly mentally healthy enough to continue to tour the way I have been since February. Honest truth is this has all happened so fast and I feel like the weight of it has been building for months now with what seems like a never ending touring and press schedule which includes absolutely zero time to myself. I'm sorry to everyone who has put effort into this and to everyone who supported me. Mixing ecstasy valium and xanax before having to play in front of thousands of people was one of the more poor decisions I've made(duh) and I realize my drinking has been a problem now for a good period of time. Nothing else I can do but apologize to everyone that has been affected by my poor decision making. I made a mistake. Not the first mistake I've made and it for sure wont be the last. I'm human. Don't know why I chose the biggest platform I could imagine to loose my shit, but that's life. You live and you learn.

Expect Wavves' next album to be a double-disc concept album about a rehabilitated Williams facing and ultimately defeating the demons in his head. Track titles may or may not include: "The Fight (It Goes On)," "Living Is Easy With Your Fly Down," "Seriously, Times Are So Tough Pt. 1 and 2," and "When The Shit Goes Down..."

Sigur Rós to Release “Out There” LP in 2010, Should Consider Titling It Out There LP in 2010

By Couscous on 06-01-2009

Icelanders have at least one ray of hope in the midst of the crippling economic depression that descended upon the icy island paradise last year -- the non-Björk pride of its indie music scene, premier dream-rockers Sigur Rós, has announced that its follow-up to 2008's Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (TMT Review) is nearing completion. That album was a bit of a departure for the band, and drummer Orri Páll Dyrason says, via the Eighteen Seconds Before Sunrise site, "the music (will be) melodic but much less noisy and more ‘out there’ than previous albums." Stack that comment up next to the rest of the band's discography and, well, we still pretty much have no idea what it will sound like.

The album is set for release sometime next year, but if you're jonesin' for some Jónsi (Birgisson, Sigur Rós lead singer) before then, remember that his solo album is in the works, and his Riceboy Sleeps album is dropping July 20 (TMT News).

Elvis Pill Bottles for Sale; Oh Private Auction Houses, You Truly Do Maintain Our Love of Rock

By Kid Midnight on 06-01-2009

I’ve been a fan of music, generally of the Rock and/or Roll variety, for pretty much the entirety of my 25 years. I love the stuff, always have and always will. Like most rock fanatics, I have my list of “Top Ten All-Time Favorite Rock Stars of All Time,” and, like most fanatics, I am happy to consume everything and anything related to my Rock Idols. I scour the web for interviews, spend hours examining photo sessions, read biography after biography after auto-biography, and, of course, passionately collect, listen to, and memorize all of my favorite recordings. I’m also one of those guys who stands patiently by the edge of the stage or the back-stage door, waiting for my chance to talk to my Rock Idols. I am a disciple of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Rock Stars are my prophets of a better place.

However, one thing has always perplexed me: what the fuck is up with people who will pay thousands of dollars for the meaningless detritus of a Rock Star's life? I mean, does anyone really need to own Elvis’s pill bottles? Are there people out there who can’t live without John Lennon’s actual, verified, comb? Is there anything more shocking then watching an innocent fan turn into maniac as they rub their face with the sweat-stained towel of Def Leppard’s drummer?

What I mean to say is this: the type of shit they auction off as memorabilia these days is just plain weird. If you’re one of the many people who follow my TMT career faithfully, then you know that I have a little bit of an interest in the world of what people are willing to buy in the name of Fandom and how, for some people, owning an inconsequential ticket stub seems to be of more value than JUST LISTENING TO THE FUCKING RECORDS. Whether it be Big Bopper’s casket (yep, the one he was buried in) or all punk rock becoming priceless commodity, I have a strange fascination with the way Rock History has shifted into something so easily bought and sold, and the spirit of change, development, betterment, and creative expression inherent in rock just ain't the same anymore. Seriously, what’s next? The actual shotgun Cobain used to shoot himself? Is this really what the faithful followers of the Church of Rock have come to? Is this really how we appreciate the music that has been brought into our lives? By buying, um, nasal douches?

Elvis's pill bottles are up for auction June 26 and 27 at Julien's in Las Vegas. See you there.

Kurt Vile of Philly Signs with Matador of New York, Declares Self “The White Jay-Z” on Controversial Fall Album

By Squeo on 05-29-2009

Aw naw! I thought this week couldn't get any better: first it was a big-screen viewing of The Elephant Man, then came the unofficial arrival (and imminent release) of J Dilla's pahty masterpiece, then I bought that two-hour Jim O'Rourke re-issue on Streamline, finalized by a packet of Swiss Miss taken straight. Satiated, I settled back into my plush TMT office chair and took in the remaining minutes of a slow Friday.

AND THEN KURT VILE SIGNED TO MATADOR, PAVING THE WAY TO MEGASTARDOM and also a multi-album deal! Legally this means Matador officials are given clearance to prod the young singer/songwriter within the limits of the law until he puts out >100 songs.

Presumably he knew people would be excited about the news, so the man of many hits has decided to get contractual obligation #1 out the door fast. Recorded in one sitting (a la Van Morrison's classic Contractual Obligation Session), Vile called on industry heavyweights Scott Storch and Polow Tha Don to iron over any errors in the recording process. As a test run, Storch edited Vile's discography thus far (Consant Hitmaker last year, The Hunchback EP and God Is Saying This to You... more recently) to a more manageable 13-minute "best of," and some of the records' more experimental leanings were layered over an "indie-edit" of "Contagious," one of the hottest Storch beats off Ludacris' Theater of the Mind.

NO! Kurt Vile will be releasing Childish Prodigy on CD/LP this Fall on the esteemed Matador Records, and it'll probably be incredible. Vile will also be heard blowing his dumped trumpet all over Blues Control's Siltbreeze debut. Until then, hold hands with a loved one, and reflect on your enduring psychic connections.

Thanks to [Phrequency for the tip!]

Mario Speedwagon’s Under the Radar News Round Up: Vivian Girls to Release Sophomore LP This Fall, Tortoise to Tour This Summer, YACHT to Release Album in July, Athfest, Karl Blau Heads Out on European Summer Tour

By Mario Speedwagon on 05-29-2009

Sorry there was no round up last week, kids. It was a holiday weekend and I took a half-day and was getting my happy hour on.

- File this under shit I don’t care about, but I bet you do: Vivian Girls are releasing their follow-up to the 2008 self-titled debut this Fall. Everything Goes Wrong will be out in September 2009 via In The Red. I really hope they do themselves a favor and don’t do any interviews.

- Tortoise are heading out on a small tour this summer in support of Beacons of Ancestorship, out June 23 on Thrill Jockey. Their tour kicks off at the end of May in Buffalo, NY at the Tralf Music Hall and continues on various dates throughout the summer in the U.S., Asia, and Europe, until August at Pukkelpop in Hasselt, Belgium. Tortoise can play Buffalo, NY, but they can’t play in the south? Come on, guys. (You can check out all the dates at that first Tortoise link, baby.)

- YACHT will release their newest LP, See Mystery Lights, July 28 via DFA. The record was recorded in Marfa, TX (random), and the album title comes from orbs of light that appear on the horizon of the desert. One time I went to Chili’s on acid and freaked out because I thought I couldn’t see my reflection in a cutout in the wall. It was a cutout. There was no mirror there. Anyway, check it out.

- AthFest, the annual music festival held in Athens, Georgia, will be happening the weekend of June 25-28 in downtown Athens and at various music venues around town. Bands scheduled to play include Dead Confederate, Black Lips, Patterson Hood, Ginger Envelope, Nappy Roots (aw’naw), Cinemechanica, Pegasuses-XL, Ruby Isle, Casper & The Cookies, The Buddy System, We Versus The Shark, Madeline, and tons of other bands. Wristbands for the entire event are only $16! That’s cheap as shit, y’all. (You can find information on wristbands, lodging, and more on bands playing, at that first AthFest link, baby.)

- K Records patriot Karl Blau will be going on tour in Europe this summer. Karl is currently at Primavera Sound in Barcelona and will continue hitting up festivals and select dates with Ariel Pink throughout June and parts of August. Other European dates are will be added soon.

L8R.

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