Monday, March 25, 2013

Dan Kaplan - The Making of "Sink or Swim" video


Dan Kaplan press photos





FOR BREAKOUT ALBUM 'BATTLES,' KINGSLEY FLOOD TAPS PRODUCER SAM KASSIRER, WHO "HAS SHAPED SOME OF THE FINEST RECORDS IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICANA MUSIC" (BOSTON GLOBE)

Sam Kassirer – the producer who has helmed three albums by Josh Ritter as well as projects by David Wax Museum and Langhorne Slim – speaks highly of his experience working with band Kingsley Flood on their breakout album 'Battles' (out now). He says, "What excited me about working with Kingsley Flood was their ability to write songs that one can sink their teeth into but also just bob their head to in the car. 'Battles' dips in and out of those musical depths in a really rewarding way for me."

The producer was recently the subject of a Boston Globe feature, which goes into depth about the Great North Sound Society, Kassirer's farmhouse/studio in southern Maine. Of the Kingsley sessions, he recalls, "The whole band spending two weeks in a farmhouse in rural Maine really brought everyone together creatively to make the most powerful statement possible and I think this comes across on 'Battles.'

Kingsley Flood will make its Newport Folk Festival debut this summer and has seen tracks debut at Rolling Stone and MTV.com.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL ADDS FAST-RISING KINGSLEY FLOOD AS ROLLING STONE PREMIERES MP3

THE BOSTON GLOBE: " BLISTERING… ROWDY AND PROPULSIVE… KINGSLEY FLOOD IS READY FOR THE NATIONAL STAGE."

Called "the future of American music" by Esquire, Kingsley Flood are emerging on the national stage in 2013. They've been added to the lineup at Newport Folk Festival and Rolling Stone premiered the song "Down" from 'Battles,' which was released February 5.

From throbbing, fuzzed-filled psychedelic, garage rock to lo-fi folk, Kingsley Flood has been compared to Lucero, Deer Tick, The Clash, Wilco, and Okkervil River. Listen here.

The two-time winners at both the Boston Music Awards and the Boston Phoenix Best Music Poll have upcoming shows in the northeast.


"Great live show." – NPR.org

"It’s not too early to declare an album as my favorite of the year right? Kingsley Flood is it." – HearYa

"Kingsley Flood play salt-of-the-earth type of music that doesn't strive for authenticity -- it claims it." - Spinner

"Finger-picked guitar slams into the garage stomp." – Boston Phoenix

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Dan Kaplan - "Sink or Swim" Remix


Kingsley Flood - "I Don't Wanna Go Home" music video


Kingsley Flood bio

Boston and Washington, DC based six-piece Kingsley Flood released their first full-lenth Dust Windows in 2010, generating both critical acclaim and a passionate fan base. In 2011, the band issued the six-song EP Colder Still, with tracks that were touted by NPR, Esquire, and Paste.The band, described recently by the Boston Herald as a “Rolling Thunder Revue with a punk rock sneer,” has supported Grace Potter and Nocturnals, Angus and Julia Stone, Langhorne Slim, and Brett Dennen, among others, and is a two-time winner at both the Boston Music Awards and the Boston Phoenix Best Music Poll.
In 2013, Kingsley Flood has no plans to sit still. Battles, their latest full-length (released Feb. 5), is the band’s most honed, complex, and meaningful project to date. Recorded with producer Sam Kassirer (Josh Ritter, Langhorne Slim, David Wax Museum) at Great North Sound Society in rural Maine, Battles amplifies the band’s pension for dynamics — rock songs that can fill music halls, quiet songs that sound two feet away.The resulting sound blends Dylan-esque storytelling, Kinks-inspired melodies, and the urgency of the Clash. With songs inspired by everyone from delusional dictators to spray-tanned politicians to laid-off workers trying to get back on their feet, Battles winds a deliberate path from self doubt (opener “Don’t Change My Mind”) to quiet determination (closer “This Will Not Be Easy”).The band is:
  • Naseem Khuri: vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Jenée Morgan: violin, saxophone, vocals
  • Chris Barrett: trumpet, keys, percussion, vocals
  • George Hall: lead guitar, vocals
  • Nick Balkin: bass, vocals
  • Travis Richter: drums, percussion

Thursday, March 14, 2013

BLACK BOOK, ESQUIRE & LONDON TIMES PREVIEW MISSISSIPPI-BORN, FAULKNER-RELATED, AVANT-NOIR NEWCOMER JOHN MURRY AT SXSW

ESQUIRE: MURRY AMONG THE "BANDS YOU NEED TO HEAR FROM SXSW"

THE LONDON TIMES: "HE LOOKS SET TO BECOME ONE OF THE INDUSTRY EVENT'S BREAKOUT STARS"

BLACK BOOK: "WITH AN ARRESTING SENSE OF HONESTY AND HUMAN INSIGHT, MURRY IS A MAN YOU SHOULD CERTAINLY GET TO KNOW"

Esquire, Black Book, and the London Times have all previewed avant-noir newcomer John Murry's SXSW this week on the strength of his forthcoming album 'The Graceless Age' (April 2 / Evangeline Recording Co.). Esquire named Murry among the "bands you need to hear from SXSW."

Postable streaming song "The Ballad of the Pajama Kid."

"California" music video.

Meanwhile, The London Times called 'The Graceless Age "images of broken-hearted gutter life over ten elegant and spacious songs." Here's a scan.

London Times direct link (password required).

Black Book Magazine ran a fascinating Q&A with the songwriter yesterday. Hillary Weston writes, "With an arresting sense of honesty and human insight, Murry is man that you should certainly get to know… his songs cut straight to into the heart of man steeped in emotion, with the psychological undercurrent of soul in distress. Born from the pain of loneliness and a desire for expression, Murry's solo debut The Graceless Age is a raw and emotional collection of autobiographical stories. Sonically exercising his demons, his voice croons through a record that amalgamates the bleak and the beautiful, the desolate and the serene, and the questions of existence that plague us all."

Murry plays Friday at 2:45pm at the Daily Havoc Day Party, Hole in the Wall, 2538 Guadalupe St. (front stage). RSVP or more info here.

Monday, March 11, 2013

"REVELATION" (WASHINGTON POST) CORB LUND SETS SXSW SCHEDULE

Corb Lund – the descendent of four generations of Albertan ranchers, former punk/metal player, and whipsmart songwriter of – has been added to the lineups of the Lonestar Music official showcase, Lonestar Music day party, and New West Records day party.

9pm Wednesday March 13 - Corb Lund, Lonestar Music Official Showcase, Black Heart, 86 Rainey Street, open to badge and wristband holders only

2:30pm Thursday, March 14 – Corb Lund, New West Records Day Party, Threadgills, 301 West Riverside Drive, private but please contact me to RSVP.

4:15pm Thursday, March 14 – Corb Lund, Lonestar Music Day Party, St. Vincent De Paul parking lot, 1327 South Congress Ave., open to the public

Amid raves from NPR, NY Times, UNCUT and others, Corb Lund scored a personal best with a #13 debut on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and a #60 debut on the Billboard Indie Chart for his "breakthrough" (Washington Post) album 'Cabin Fever' (New West Records). The album also debuted at #1 on Billboard's Canadian Top 200 albums chart. In the Nashville Scene's 13th Annual Country Music Critics' Poll, Corb Lund is the #10 male vocalist and 'Cabin Fever' is the #20 best album of 2012. He will open a show in April for country royalty Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley. Here's what the press have said:

"Impressive… great songs… Lund finds glory in tough work, spotting characters most people would overlook, and celebrating them with colorful sketches… Corb Lund's ironic humor and keen sense of American culture is similar to Hayes Carll." – NPR

"An album of pithy mischief and roguish charm." – NY Times

"This is another terrific chapter in what's become a rich catalouge of orthodox country" - Uncut 9/10

"A breakthrough [and] a doozy… Lund is a revelation, laconic and scary smart, with a devil’s eye for details." – Washington Post

"As if strolling out of the American West itself, caked with layers dusty guitar riffs and rugged vocals, comes Corb Lund’s latest work… The album’s 12 tracks drip with cowboy speak." – Paste Magazine

"Corb Lund has one up on the alt-country competition in that he’s been an actual cowboy, and his songs sometimes seem like the soundtrack to a Western directed by Quentin Tarantino." – MTV Hive

"Corb Lund's 'Cabin Fever' is the best country record this year." – The Oregonian

Friday, March 8, 2013

CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN JOINS BROOKLYN VEGAN SXSW DAY PARTY

Camper Van Beethoven – indie rock originators celebrating their 30th anniversary and first album in nine years 'La Costa Perdida' (429 Records) – have been added to the Brooklyn Vegan SXSW Day Party Wednesday at 4pm at the old Emo's (603 Red River St. at E. 6th Street).

Reviews have been ecstatic as Pitchfork called the album "delightful," Consequence of Sound "easy to love," The Newark Star-Ledger "bewitching," Pop Matters "sure to satisfy," and Blurt "a wonder to behold."

Other musicians have also toasted Camper Van Beethoven. Britt Daniel's Divine Fits have recently covered CVB's "I Was Born In a Laundromat" both in concert and as a b-side to a recent single.

"The first time we heard CVB, we knew they were destined for greatness."
- R.E.M.

"Each member of Camper is a thoughtful songwriter, and a master of his instrument, with a totally unique vision, and together they have a balanced, egoless, and dynamic chemistry that's created many of my favorite songs."
- Doug Martsch (Built To Spill)

"Camper Van Beethoven, very much an essential '80s band traveling on their own arc, punctuated the beginning of my college career. They served it up with panache. 'Sometimes,' 'I Don't See You,' 'Ambiguity Song,' 'Circles,' 'Dustpan,' 'The History of Utah,' 'Still Wishing to Course'--all songs that ended up on assorted song cassette tapes in vain attempts to increase overall coolness. They made California cool to a Virginian. It was some good, reliable shit. As they wandered east, they backed it up with great live action. They were good musicians. That was weird. They were sarcastic. That was appealing."
- Bob Nastanovich (Pavement)

"I've kind of come back to a lot of the more American music that got me going in the first place – R.E.M. and Camper Van Beethoven and all these bands that borrowed from more American traditions like Neil Young and the Byrds."
- Colin Meloy (The Decemberists)

"I've been a Camper Van Beethoven fan since the mid 80's. 'Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart' is actually one of my very favorite albums of that era and one that I still pull out now. I know this one will be a keeper"
- Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers)

Thursday, March 7, 2013

SXSW 2013 Must-Sees Camper Van Beethoven, Corb Lund, & John Murry

Wednesday March 13

4pm – Camper Van Beethoven, Brooklyn Vegan Day Party, old Emo's, 603 Red River St., open to the public


"Delightful" (Pitchfork) indie rock originators Camper Van Beethoven's 'La Costa Perdida' (429 Records) debuted at #174 on the Billboard Top 200, #3 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, and #1 on the Alternative New Artist Album chart, as the band celebrates its 30th anniversary.

7pm – Camper Van Beethoven, Copyright Alliance, El Sol y La Luna, 600 E 6th St., RSVP required

9pm - Corb Lund, Lonestar Music Official Showcase, Black Heart, 86 Rainey Street, open to badge and wristband holders only

"A revelation" (Washington Post), Corb Lund is the descendent of four generations of Albertan ranchers and former punk/metal player. In the Nashville Scene's 13th Annual Country Music Critics' Poll, Corb Lund is the #10 male vocalist and 'Cabin Fever' is the #20 best album of 2012. 'Cabin Fever' is out now on New West Records.

Thursday, March 14

2pm – David Lowery, Big Data: The New Oil or the New Snake Oil?, Room 9ABC, Will Mills (Head of Music, Shazam), Brett Alperowitz (VP, A&R Republic Records), Marie-Alicia Chang (Co-Founder & Head of Business Dev Musicmetric), Alex White (CEO Next Big Sound): http://schedule.sxsw.com/2013/events/event_MP4094

2:30pm – Corb Lund, New West Records Day Party, Threadgills, 301 West Riverside Drive, private

4:15pm – Corb Lund, Lonestar Music Day Party, St. Vincent De Paul parking lot, 1327 South Congress Ave., open to the public

Friday, March 15

2:45pm – John Murry, Daily Havoc Day Party, Hole in the Wall, 2538 Guadalupe St. (front stage), RSVP required

The "Masterful" (Baeble Music) John Murry – the southern literature-inspired songwriter, William Faulkner's second cousin, and darling of UK music scene – has been named a Next artist by NPR's World Café, which praises his music as music "alluring, emotional and infectious." 'The Graceless Age' comes out April 2 on Evangelina Recording Co.
5pm – David Lowery, Who's Ripping Me Off Now? Panel, Convention Center, Room 10AB, 500 E Cesar Chavez St. Also with Daryl Friedman (Chief Advocacy & Industry Rel Officer The Recording Academy( and East Bay Ray (Artist Dead Kennedys).

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

"ARTIST OF MAJOR STATURE" (AMERICAN SONGWRITER) JOHN MURRY TO PLAY U.S. ALBUM RELEASE SHOW FOR 'THE GRACELESS AGE' APRIL 14 AT THE MAKE OUT ROOM

"ARTIST OF MAJOR STATURE" (AMERICAN SONGWRITER) JOHN MURRY TO PLAY U.S. ALBUM RELEASE SHOW FOR 'THE GRACELESS AGE' APRIL 14 AT THE MAKE OUT ROOM

"ALLURING" (NPR) 'THE GRACELESS AGE' OUT APRIL 2 IN THE U.S. ON EVANGELINE RECORDING CO.

John Murry will play a hometown album release show for 'The Graceless Age' April 14 at the Make-Out Room. His debut album, already out in the UK to great acclaim and BBC airplay, is due in the States April 2. 'The Graceless Age' was co-produced by San Francisco's Tim Mooney, of American Music Club and Sun Kil Moon, who passed away last year; this was the last project that he finished.

US buzz has already begun. Murry will play at NON-COMMvention May 15 on the Emerging Artists stage, following Kurt Vile. Baeble Music called 'The Graceless Age' "masterful" and NPR World Café labeled it as "alluring." Most recently, American Songwriter gave it 4.5 stars (out of 5), calling him "the real deal as a songwriter, full of trenchant observations and slyly affecting melodies and possessing an ingratiating ne’er-do-well personality that acknowledges his past mistakes even as he prepares to make them all over again." It continues, "There is subtle invention at play in the music as well, with some indie-rock touches adding rough edges to the folky melodies. In that respect, it’s reminiscent of 'Sea Change,' Beck’s lovely downer."

WHO: John Murry
WHAT: Hometown album release show for 'The Graceless Age'
WHEN: April 14, 2013
WHERE: The Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, San Francisco, CA
TICKETS: TBA

Monday, March 4, 2013

DREAM-POP TRACK BY CORREATOWN TO BE FEATURED IN NEW TINA FEY/PAUL RUDD FILM "ADMISSION," OUT MARCH 22 ON FOCUS

LA dream pop/indie pop band Correatown's track "Shine Right Through" will be featured in the upcoming Tina Fey/Paul Rudd feature film "Admission." Hear the track in this postable mp3:


It's not her first time on the silver screen or on television. Her voice was featured in the Sony Pictures film “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” on the song "Let's Duet." She's had songs in How I Met Your Mother, Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty and the film "The Lucky One," starring Zac Efron. The song "Further" was included on the Grey's Anatomy Soundtrack Vol 4.

Correatown also recently scored its first film, indie feature Sassy Pants, which was released last October.

'Pleiades' is out now on Highline Records.