[SONG OF THE DAY] Humans - "Breakfast With Liz"

Vibey Vancouver duo HUMANS announced last week that next month they’ll be dropping an album called Going Late. Although they didn’t specify a release date (ugh) they DID release a new song (eee!), “Breakfast With Liz”.

When I try to describe HUMANS to people I normally say something like, “oh they’re sexy electro jams that you strut around to in the dead of night when you go out dancing”. Apparently this is a spot on description for the guys, because as Robbie Slade told Clash, “This song is about bouncing around from party to party in the rain. A thing that often happens to the youth of Vancouver, thanks to our thriving underground scene. As these nights can get somewhat out of hand, the simple refrain is a mantra to help keep one grounded.”

To accompany the song, other half of the duo, Peter Ricq directed the video, which takes place in a laundromat and TOTALLY didn’t go in the direction that I thought it would so be sure to watch this all the way through! “This was the most challenging video to date,” Ricq explained to Clash, “and when your mother says 'I watched it, it's not for me' you know you did it right... we've achieved our goal.”

Yep. It’s one of those.

Watch now!

[SONG OF THE DAY] Holy Ghost! - "Anxious"

HOLY GHOST! IS BACK!

The dynamic disco duo have returned and managed to coax West End Records out of a 30 YEAR RETIREMENT/HIATUS to release their upcoming 4-track 12” EP, Anxious. That’s right, this is infamous disco label’s first original release in OVER 30 YEARS 😱.

The EP will feature the original and a Tom Moulton remix on Side A, and Side B will have the 1977 classic ‘Spirit Of Sunshine’ by Chuck Davis Orchestra as well as a Holy Ghost! remix of that one. Anxious is out 10/26 on West End Records, which you can pre-order here. BONUS WE LOVE: a portion of proceeds with benefit the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and LifeBeat.

Holy Ghost! have also announced that in addition to a couple of upcoming shows at Good Room and Philadelphia Museum of Art this month that the band will be performing at Elsewhere on January 24th 2019. I am excited to be making advanced plans to dance my ass off (and also to be over with 2018…).

[SONG OF THE DAY] B00TY - "Good For It"

Photo credit: Brian Charles Lehrer

On the heels of the announcement of their forthcoming EP of the same name, LA’s B00TY shared the first single and music video for “Good For It” on Friday. In the video the dancetastic duo are chasing after lost loves (Farrah Faux and Natasha Bure) and overcome some hilariously over the top obstacles in an attempt to prove their commitment.

As the duo explained, "The message of the song really comes down to the line 'only wanna treat you right.' There are other levels to the idea, but it’s mainly about wanting to approach someone you’re into, treating them with respect and wanting them to know you’re for real."

The Good For It EP will be out on November 9th via Geffen Records.

[SONG OF THE DAY] Moontower - "Long Hair"

Happiest of happy Fridays my loves!

As you bop your way into the weekend make sure you include LA trio Moontower’s latest single, “Long Hair” into you party playlists. “Long Hair” is the finale in a three-single narrative, following “William” and “Leaving You Behind”. The story unfolds with the tale of William Hollywood, a young man from suburban California who’s on a quest to rescue the love of his life (“William”) but ends up learning that unrequited love will haunt you no matter how far you try to run (“Leaving You Behind”). Fortunately *spoiler alert* the story ends (“Long Hair”) with William gaining his groove back and defiantly telling off any haters that cross his path. The band says simply of the track, “'Long Hair' is a song about letting go of people who told you you would never be anything.” 

The band first met as students at USC's music program where they spent a year writing music and building custom staging and lighting before welcoming listeners into the Moontower world. Inspired by the Moonlight Towers from Richard Linklater's "Dazed And Confused," Moontower seeks to build a surrealist, come as you are community around their music and over the last 8 months the trio have been transforming backyards and living rooms all over Southern California with their one of a kind live show doing just that. 

Fingers crossed that they’ll be bringing those vibes to the best coast v v v soon.

[SONG OF THE DAY] KINGSWOOD - "Messed It Up"

So fun true story, on Tuesday night at the opening night party of Mondo.NYC I was on the rooftop of The Delancey and I caught the eye of a tall gentleman who I could tell was trying to place how he knew my face. Suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks.

Below is the hilarious recreation of the moments that transpired after:

Me: “I KNOW YOU! I’VE INTERVIEWED YOU!”

Him: *heavy Australian accent* “YES!”

Me: *brain goes into overdrive* “YOU’RE IN KINGSWOOD OH MY GOD MOTHER FUCKING KINGSWOOD IS BACK IN NYC HOLY SHIT”

Him aka Alex Laska (guitarist, Kingswood): “YES! AHHHH!”

*hugs all around to Fergus and Braiden and briefly catch up*

For those just tuning in, during CMJ 2015 I chatted with these awesome Aussies about the singles that were the beginning stages of releasing their debut album, Microscopic Wars, in the US. Since then the four-piece released their follow up last year, After Hours, Close To Dawn, and are now gearing up for album number three(!). The band is kicking things off for the forthcoming album with a new single, “Messed It Up”, a song that centers around the story of a relationship fracturing following a series of avoidable mistakes that seemed necessary at the time and where to go when it seems as though there's no way back. This is a different kind of vibe for the band, self-described by Laska as, “fucking Thriller vibes”. We love. 💖

I won’t be able to make it out to their set tonight (10/4) at Pianos (who now charges 10 DOLLARS for their margs when it’s not happy hour what the actual fuck), but I was informed that tomorrow (10/5) the dope ass dudes will be playing at a free show at Freehold in Williamsburg so I will be at that one plotting my inevitable move to Australia muahahaha.

Okay I just ignored an entire panel I g2g ttyl!

KINGSWOOD NYC SHOWS

10/4 @ 7pm - Pianos

10/5 @ 10pm - Freehold

[SONG OF THE DAY] Methyl Ethel - "Scream Whole"

It feels only fitting that I get to excited share during music + tech conference MondoNYC (which is supposed to replace the void in my chest that CMJ left) that Methyl Ethel is working on more new music! Singer Jake Webb is not one to stop writing and apparently the second that their last record, Everything Is Forgotten, was out across the interwebs that he took almost no time to start writing again. As he told ABC Australia, "It helps with the album anxiety, because it's like, 'that's not it'. I've got a few demos that I can be really excited about."

This latest song, “Scream Whole”, is another hypnotic number from the group, although this time they incorporate more synths than the usual guitar stylings. The song will be on their upcoming third album that will be out early next year. As of today Webb isn’t allowed to reveal a name of the album either, but you can rest assured knowing I will of course report back when I have an update on that.

[SONG OF THE DAY] Art Brut - "Hospital!"

omfg Art Brut is back 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

I really wish I had recorded my reaction when I saw the email that started with “ART BRUT ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM” because I’m pretty sure I looked like I was having a seizure, which is fitting because the newest single from the forthcoming album, Wham! Bang! Pow! Let’s Rock Out!, is called “Hospital!”. The song details singer Eddie Argos’ reaction to being in a German hospital for almost a full month after having a surgery that had a few complications.

"The only thing that kept me sane was the mantra that eventually became this song,” Argos said. “Every single lyric was written and repeated over and over again as I suffered numerous indignities. Songwriting is something I've always used to alleviate stress and on this occasion I really tested it to its limits. What I am most impressed by is that even when I'm at death’s door and pumped full of morphine, staggering around and collapsing all the time, I can still write a comical call-and-response backing vocal to amuse myself.”

As a longtime fan since the Bang Bang Rock & Roll days I am very glad to hear that said ordeal is three years behind Argos, although I’m not sure to what extent we should be concerned that he playfully added, “I've broken all the promises I make to myself in this song.”

It’s been 7 YEARS since the London rockers released their last studio full length, Brilliant! Tragic! so my near seizure-like reaction was the appropriate response. Fortunately we don’t have to wait too terribly long for Wham! Bang! Pow! Let’s Rock Out!. It drops on November 23rd.

In addition to the album announcement, you lucky folks across the pond get to see the band live as early as November 7th. No word on US/North American dates yet but I’m sure those are coming, too.

Oh oh and there’s a music video for the song starring “Eggy Argos” (lol) that’s super cute and worth a watch too!

Art Brut Live Dates:

11/7/18 LONDON, U.K. BOSTON MUSIC ROOMS *SOLD OUT*

1/17/19 LONDON, U.K. GARAGE

2/15/19 BIRMINGHAM, U.K. HARE AND HOUNDS

2/16/19 BRISTOL, U.K. THE EXCHANGE

2/17/19 CARDIFF, U.K. THE GLOBE

2/18/19 OXFORD, U.K. THE BULLINGDON

2/19/19 LIVERPOOL, U.K. PHASE ONE

2/20/19 EDINBURGH, U.K. SNEAKY PETE’S

2/21/19 GLASGOW, U.K. STEREO

2/22/19 MANCHESTER, U.K. YES

2/23/19 BRIGHTON, U.K. THE HAUNT

3/2/19 SOUTHAMPTON, U.K. THE JOINERS

3/3/19 GUILDFORD, U.K. BOILEROOM

[SONG OF THE DAY] The Living End - "Drop The Needle"

Happy October aka the best month for music (imo)!

I feel like I need to kick this month off with one of my all time favorites since high school who just dropped their eighth studio album on Friday.

Do you know The Living End? You should know The Living End. These awesome Aussies(!) were the first imports I ever bought back in….1997?? Either way I’ve loved them ever since. These guys have consistently delivered solid punk/psychobilly jams for over two decades now and their recent album, Wunderbar, is no exception.

As much as I enjoyed the singles leading up to the album dropping, be being the deep cuts diva that I am I have found myself living for “Drop The Needle”, an upbeat energy-filled track rooted in reflection. This song was built for impromptu road trips and celebrating how playing certain records will always connect you to memories, both good and bad. If you don’t feel a warm smile spread across your face by the end of the chorus the first time it kicks in then you might be dead inside, just saying.

No word on whether or not the trio will head to the states to support this record, but you can bet if that happens I won’t be able to shut up about it. I’m just realizing I haven’t seen these guys since 1999 when they played the same Warped Tour that Eminem was at. O_o