800beloved

ALT-ROCK, SHOE-GAZE, POP, INDIE
ARTIST: 800beloved
ALBUM: Everything Purple
TRACK: "Everything Purple"
STREET DATE: 4/6/10
LABEL: Moodgadget Records

Sean Lynch, also a cosmetologist at a family owned funeral home, is the man behind Michigan based 800beloved. The band also includes long time band mate Anastasiya "Stacy" Metesheva, the second longest remaining member, and drummer Scott Mason from the band OFFICE (please check out our post on this wonderful band). The name 800beloved came from joining together the North American 800 toll free number and "beloved," which comes from the naive stories and lyrics that the band creates.

Dreamy and gentle indie-pop songs are crafted with light touches of psychedelia. There are sparkling, colorful, and hypnotic tunes that you can get lost in too as well as trance inducing lof-fi beats. If you get a chance, check out this new album with a nice pair of headphones and a comfortable bed or sofa. Then get ready for a clam, soothing, and beautiful musical journey. It's almost like getting musically massaged. Can't argue with that, can you?

No More Unicorns (Rehearsal Version) from 800beloved on Vimeo.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/800beloved
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/800beloved/20490718553

OFFICE

ALT-ROCK, POP, INDIE
ARTIST: OFFICE
TITLE: Mecca
TRACKS: "Enter Me, Exit You," "Nobody Knows You"
STREET DATE: 3/30/10
LABEL: Quack! Media

The name OFFICE clicked for Detroit born, artist, musician, sculptor, and songwriter, Scott Masson (who also lived awhile in Chicago but got viciously mugged and left), when he came across a boutique in London in the year 2000 named “Office Shoes.” From that point on OFFICE was related to many projects that he created and developed. Anything from sculptures to paintings, exhibits, artistic oddities, and music. In 2007 OFFICE released “A Night At The Ritz” on James Iha’s (former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist) Scratchie Records. His most recent collaboration, "Mecca," was originally released on the Internet for free and is now being re-released on limited-edition 12” vinyl by Quack! Media. Man, you got to love vinyl! Speaking of vinyl, I also dig all those bands who have been putting out their material solely on cassette......so sweet! Speaking of Chicago and cassettes check out this Chicago based label here: http://plustapes.com/


"Mecca" is loaded with sizzling pop gems, gorgeous melodies, and catchy hectic beats. Great sounds for freaking out in a club or to threw on at an underground loft party. Lot's of harmonies to float away on and colorful lyrics to sink your mind into. Whatever the atmosphere is like when you inject yourself with this album, you are sure to have a wacky day! Enjoy!

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/office

The Right Ons

ROCK, SOUL, INDIE, GARAGE, POP
ARTIST: The Right Ons
TITLE: Look Inside, Now!
TRACKS: “Look Inside, “ “That's New York”
STREET DATE: 3/16/10
LABEL: Q Division Records


KICK ASS five piece, The Right Ons, from Madrid, Spain have lathered there sexy, sweaty second release "Look Inside, Now!" with a mother-lode of juicy soulful rock-garage-pop nuggets that are sure to have you rockin' on the dance floor! Out now on Massachusetts based label, Q Division Records, this raging little puppy took just two weeks to record. Their last album, "80.81," was released in 2007.

These Spanish studs sing in English and will be bringing their brand of rock n' roll to SXSW 2010 for their third consecutive year. Known as the Kings of Leon of Spain, but with their own sound, these cats put on a rollicking live show so look out SXSW! They even pump out their own version of "White Christmas" which is also posted on this blog. Check it out.

These boys might be from Spain but they sure do have some love for one of the best cities in the world...N-Y-C, baby!! Look out Hova. Check out their video "That's New York" to witness their passion for the empire state.


Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/therightons
Website: http://www.therightons.com/

Tour: (always confirm TOUR DATES):

Mar 23 2010 8:00P Southpaw New York, New York
Mar 24 2010 9:00P Howlers Coyote Cafe Pittsburg, Pennsylvania

The Nadas

ALT-ROCK, AMERICAN TRADITIONAL ROCK, CONTEMPORARY-POP
ARTIST: The Nadas
TITLE: Almanac
TRACKS: "The Long Goodbye," Crystal Clear"
STREET DATE: 3/16/10
LABEL: Authentic Records



The Nadas have been putting out classic American traditional pop-rock since the late 1990s. With over ten years of recording and touring under their belt this Des Moines, IA five piece will be hitting the road once again promoting their seventh album "Almanac." SXSW is a major stop on this tour with four scheduled shows.

For "Almanac" the band decided it would write, record, and release one song a month for an entire year starting in January 2009. The entire process was streamed live on the band's website. This allowed their hardcore fan base to become an integral part of this album and to really connect with band.

"Welcome to Almanac, a yearlong recording project by us, The Nadas. Our intention with this project is to capture the year of 2009, one month at a time in album form. By writing, recording, and releasing a new song each month, every month, for the next year, we hope to end up with a really cool snapshot of said year. We don’t intend to become ambulance chasers, or be glued to CNN for song inspiration, but there’s no denying that we’re constantly influenced by what is happening around us. We believe these influences will come out in song in subtle ways and be a “record” of the year. A different way of looking back at what we experienced and maybe, hopefully, providing a soundtrack for 2009.

In the past, writing, recording and releasing a record took months, even years. Thanks to modern technology, we not only have the ability to share our music with our listeners (and the rest of the world) instantly, but we can also allow you, our listeners, to be a part of the entire process. Whether you’re interested in witnessing the songwriting process, or a behind–the–scenes look as the magic happens in the studio, we will be journaling the entire process on a special blog through written posts, photographs and video, as well as live streaming on the world wide giga web. So, for those of you with attention spans and interest levels high enough to still be reading, we bring you the: Almanac Project." -The Nadas

Listening to "Almanc" brings up thoughts of sitting on a porch, with blue skies, sunshine, friends and family by your side, and a cocktail to sip on. Or cruising down a two lane mountainside road with the sun setting and a cool breeze blowing through the windows. Its gentle intoxicating grooves and the stories that unfold are actually perfect for anytime of the day. Sit back, relax, or get up and boogie, but either way you will thoroughly enjoy the music The Nadas have created!


Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thenadas
Website: http://thenadas.com/blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenadas?v=info
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Thenadas

Tour Dates (always confirm TOUR DATES):

Mar 24 2010 8:00P The Hotel Utah San Francisco, California
Mar 25 2010 7:30P The Mint Los Angeles, California
Mar 27 2010 8:00P Private Party - Private Phoenix, Arizona
Mar 28 2010 7:00P The Rhythm Room - w/ special guest Martin Zeller Phoenix, Arizona Mar 30 2010 7:00P Private Party Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Apr 8 2010 8:00P Nutty’s North Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Apr 9 2010 8:00P Surf Ballroom - w/ special guests The Envy Corps and Bonne Finken Clear Lake, Iowa
Apr 10 2010 8:00P Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, Minnesota
Apr 16 2010 8:00P Peoples Court Des Moines, Iowa
Apr 17 2010 9:00P Chesterfield Sioux City, Iowa
Apr 18 2010 7:00P The Hub Cedar Falls, Iowa
Apr 24 2010 8:00P Redstone Room Davenport, Iowa
Apr 27 2010 8:00P Schubas Tavern Chicago, Illinois
Apr 28 2010 8:30P The Intersection Grand Rapids, Michigan
Apr 29 2010 8:00P World Cafe Live Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

White Christmas by the Right Ons

As promised, here is "White Christmas" by The Right Ons.


Astonishingly simple, I must say, but why mess with a christmas classic?

What do you think?

-Sunny Dee

Chocolat

FRENCH ROCK, GARAGE, PSYCHEDELIC, BLUESY-FOLK-ROCK
ARTIST: Chocolat
ALBUM: Chocolat EP
TRACKS: "Johnny Depp," "Le Monde Est Vert"
STREET DATE: 3/2/10
LABEL: Semprini Records


Today, rather than delving into our typical whos and whats and whens of our featured artist, we'll leave you with an excellent story that captures them in perpetuity.

READ ON...if you dare

...............

During the summer of 2008, the band was scheduled to play a festival date on Quebec's Magdalen Islands in the Gulf of St Lawrence. Throughout the day before the scheduled performance, the band's alcohol consumption exceeded what the locals considered to be "acceptable". Their conduct eventually led to indecent exposure in public, trespassing on private property, destroying hotel furniture, the "disruption" of a another artist's performance, and a fist fight with their former manager. The promoter / hotel manager decided that this was enough to warrant not only canceling their show, but their hotel reservation as well. The authorities had them thrown out of the venue and the small, tightly knit community soon caught wind of the band's "unruly" behavior. They were quickly barred from every bar, restaurant and hotel on the island and with their return flight being a few days later, the band was forced to sleep in someone's car for the remainder of they stay. Word of the incident spread across the province rather quickly and Chocolat were soon banned from all other Quebec festivals and venues.

The entire incident from beginning to end was miraculously captured on film:


It was at that point that Semprini Records decided that Chocolat had all the criteria necessary to be on the label and agreed to reissue their self released EP. Seeing as how the band no longer had any venues to play out of Montreal, the label began booking the band on a tour of the province's penitentiaries. The tour eventually had to be cancelled as the prison wardens decided that the band's safety could no longer be guaranteed once inside. Chocolat soon broke up prior to the re-release of the EP only to reform a year later for their live performance at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Once again, Semprini blew the dust off the master tapes and voila... the re-release of the 'Chocolat EP' finally sees the light of day.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/montrealchocolat

Emma Pollock

ALTERNATIVE ROCK, POP, INDIE, SINGER/SONGWRITER
ARTIST: Emma Pollock
TITLE: The Law of Large Numbers
TRACKS: “I Could Be A Saint,” “Confessions”
STREET DATE: 3/2/10
LABEL: Chemikal Underground


Founding member of the Scottish alternative rock group, The Delgados, Emma Pollock has woven and crafted an indie rock gem. She is back on Chemikal Underground, the label she helped start back in 1994, to create this work of pop beauty and elegance. You all know Chemikal Underground, that famous label that has worked with not only The Delgados but with Arab Strap, Mogwai, and The Radar Brothers just to name a few. Well people, she's back home again!

Her first album was on 4AD, which was titled "Watch The Fireworks," and was released in September 2007. "The Law of Large Numbers" is this talented singer/songwriters second album of gorgeously structured tunes. Fans of the first album and of The Delgados and anyone interested in tantalizing pop gems should listen to this title....NOW!

Check out her old school "Adrenaline" music video from the album "Watch the Fireworks."


TOUR DATES (Always confirm TOUR DATES)

Mar 13 2010 5:00P Homegame Anstruther, Scotland
Mar 15 2010 8:00P Academy Bristol
Mar 16 2010 8:00P Tabernacle London
Mar 17 2010 8:00P Academy 3 Oxford
Mar 18 2010 8:00P Arts Centre Norwich
Mar 19 2010 8:00P King Tut’s Glasgow
Mar 20 2010 8:00P The Duchess York
Mar 21 2010 8:00P Hare & Hounds Birmingham
Mar 22 2010 8:00P Academy 3 Manchester

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/emmapollock
Website: http://www.emmapollock.com/