If you’ve ever wondered what a two guitar and two drummer Woodsman show is like, check out the 9 minute jam (13 minutes on the Mystery Tape EP) “Smells Like Purple”.  Did I mention the video has backstage footie of hula dancers (showering)!

Woodsman- Hocus Pocus

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Woodsman- When the Morning Comes

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Right after I checked out their Southern Souls Takeaway Show I was like, ‘whooo are these guys?’ Then I looked a little closer and said, ‘Hey, that looks like Peter!’ And it was. Peter is a friend of friends that has been playing in bands in the area for as long as I’ve known of him, and I’ve always thought he ruled quite a bit. I feel like he’s really found his sound with this Southern, scratchy garage band. I had the opportunity to check out a Teenage Kicks acoustic set while Peter busked for War Child during this year’s Scenefest. He thanked all of his friends (all six of us) for sticking around and watching, for had we not been there it would’ve been sufficiently awkward. I thought he was the best thing I saw their all day, mind you- this is a festival showcasing burgeoning hardcore acts and, well, tiny girls with keytars.

Peter sent me some demos, and we can expect a Shook Our Bones 7″ out sometime in August. To get a sense of this band’s blue-collared, rock & roll ethos, their song ‘Touring Band Blues’ says it all, “”We drove fifteen hours to get here, through a biblical storm of sleet and hail. Van broke down near twenty times, someone in Quebec stole all our gear. I’ve got the touring band blues. We’re the sixth band on a twenty band bill, playing to cows in a farmer’s field. Van caught fire in the parking lot, after all these years we haven’t stopped – I’ve got the touring band blues. Check, Two, Three, Four, is this thing on? Are all ten of you ready for some rock and roll? Five, Six, Seven, Eight, who do kids appreciate these days, anymore? Goodnight, it’s time to Keep On, Keepin’ On.“

Teenage Kicks- Teenage Kicks

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Teenage Kicks- Shook Our Bones

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As some of you know, I work on a magazine series called Mountains, launched by my good friend Brooks Reynolds, with contributing design work from our friend Jason Mante. I’m really proud that I’m apart of this publication, it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Brooks’ photos are stunning, and the collection of artists involved is so impressive, and continues to inspire me. I was afforded the pleasure of providing the words for this issue, which is thematically- aquatic, and deviously monstrous. One article you should watch out for is my feature on the pyschology of touring bands featuring interviews with Propagandhi, Against Me!, Strike Anywhere, The Wooden Sky, Thrice, and some other bands that escape me now. But it’s a good one.

What to expect:

Contents include artist profiles of Anthony Green (vocalist/poet),Jess Baumung (punk rock photography), Ryan MacDonald (illustration – check out the fine cover art!) & Tod Ainslie (pin hole photography). Vegan recipes from Ross Corder. A photo essay of BC’s surf scene byBrooks Reynolds. And last but certainly not least, an in-depth look into the lives of the perpetually touring by Nada Alic.

Also, pre-orders for issue 2 start now! Use the ‘Buy Mountains’ link to get on that. As soon as the issues are in (1-2 weeks). Your issue will be in the mail!

(My own copy of the Chll Pll record)

Chll Pll is the combination of musical magic from Zac Nelson (Hexlove, Prints, Who’s Your Favorite Son God?) and Zach Hill (Hella, Bygones, Marnie Stern, The Ladies). Aggressively Humble (released via the wonderful Porter Records) is so fucking fantastic, i cant express that enough! Its catchy as hell, sounds nothing like anything i have heard before from either fella, but still contains all the elements that both musicians are renowned for. Incredible drumming, weird and upbeat instrumentation, great vocals that just stick in your head and just generally fun to listen to. A great experimental pop record.

Here is an amazing video from the ever brilliant Terroreyes.tv website.

Chll Pll – Tales From The Crypt WEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWW!

Go check out everything else they have both done, you won’t be disappointed.

Oh and here’s a brief introduction. My name is Cameron Molloy and I’m from the north of England (unfortunately).  I saw that Nada has posted a request for other people to contribute, and as a fan of this site, i was more than happy to try my hand at writing for the blog. Its my first time in doing something like this and i feel very honored to be a part of FWBA and to have the opportunity to share the music that i dig. Feel free to get in touch via email at cammolloy1@msn.com. Thankssss!

Cam

Navajo Bixby has made its’ rounds on friend mixtapes of mine for the better part of the spring, so I was excited to check out the video for their song ‘Moonlighting’ . Thanks Rollo & Grady for the tip!

Navajo Bixby- Moonlighting from Claiborne McDonald on Vimeo.

Best Coast’s new track ‘Boyfriend’ has just been released in anticipation of their debut ‘Crazy For You’ out on Mexican Summer on July 27th. This is the longest, slowest build for a debut (or it just feels that way, seeing as I was into ‘When I’m With You’ sometime last winter). So I hope it’s worth the hype, I already know we can expect the lofi pastel-y fifties pop stuff, so I won’t be disappointed.

I will, however, take the onslaught of California surfer music as subliminal messages. This song is sweet and filled with teenaged angsty longing, “the other girl is not like me, she’s prettier and skinnier…I wish he was my boyfriend”. To settle this, once you pass the impressionable age of 17, you will not be wishing he was ‘your boyfriend’.

Best Coast- Boyfriend

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While Australia isn’t short on pumping out new electro-bands these days, Melbourne’s Gypsy and the Cat seems to be offering us something a bit different.  Golden Ages (not Aussie) just brought us back to ’82 with Toto’s “Africa” and I think Gypsy and the Cat was aiming to make the modern day version of “Africa” with their track “The Piper’s Song”… Needless to say, I too want to sing the piper’s song. The other track below “Jona Vark” sounds like two modern day bands to me… I think you can figure these out for yourself, so guess in your head (now).  Gypsy and the Cat are currently mixing up their debut release across the pond (does that apply here?) in London with David Fridmann (MGMT, Flaming Lips, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) and Rich Costey (Muse, Mew, Franz Ferdinand, Glasvegas).  “Time To Wander” was just released a few days ago as the first single off the new album and given it’s not below, that’s code for: go buy it.  Enjoy the shiny blockhead people anywhoo.

Gypsy and the Cat :: The Piper’s Song

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Gypsy and the Cat :: Jona Vark

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Remember songs like Colorblind, Mr. Jones, and Omaha? Heck yes, nineties! I love Counting Crows, for that very reason, I remember everything about where I was when I used to listen to these songs. My good friend Brooks Reynolds (and his mom) are HUGE Counting Crows fans, and lately I’ve been perusing the vaults of my itunes library to listen to some August & Everything After. And that track, Colorblind makes me want to cry everytime.

Well folks, if you’d also like to relive your younger years, here’s your chance to catch them on the Traveling Circus and Medicine Show with support from Augustana and rapper NOTAR. They’re hitting up Orillia July 9th so if you happen to find yourself up there this summer, you should check em’ out. FWBA will be shamelessly singing along to all the words.

Check their websites for more summer tour dates!

Counting Crows- Mr. Jones

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Counting Crows- Colorblind

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The swift playing noise-pop sounds of UKs Male Bonding is getting me through the summer. Their newest album ‘Nothing Hurts’ moves from forceful distorted post-punk fuzz, grunge, to rock & roll, with elements of surfer punk/new wave. And I think I’ve effectively capped the amount of genres I could throw them into.

They’ve played alongside everyone from Health, Fucked Up, No Age, The Soft Pack, Dum Dum Girls, Smith Westerns, Best Coast, Strange Boys, Metronomy, Crystal Castles, Mika Miko- which puts them in the upper echelon of cool kids, and of course fitting right in with Sub Pop. It’s not all high-energy, house party jams (although it mostly is) they’ve thrown in tracks like Franklin and Worse to Come for good measure.  They’ve got dates with Crystal Castles and Best Coast up, so check them out here.

Male Bonding- Franklin

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Male Bonding- Crooked Scene

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[via] Cameron Molloy (kickass UK correspondent)

I have spent most of my waking hours this week listening to Monster Head Room, the latest album from Sacramento’s Ganglians. At the moment here in England we are having an actual summer, with sun and everything, which is pretty great considering the last few summers have been a huuuuge let down really, and this album is the perfect soundtrack for it. Their blend of 60s psychedelic surf and garage with lo-fi pop provides an unbeatable accompaniment to lazy or tripped out summer evenings. Some of the songs sound so natural and loose, like they have only been reheased a few times or just jammed out and recorded in one take. Anyway the album is so much fun to listen to, and from what I have seen from videos they look like they could be loads of fun live too! (I missed their tour of the UK, didn’t even know it was happening, dang)

They have a variety of releases on cd, vinyl and tape scattered all over the place on a variety of labels such as Captured Tracks, Weird Forest and Woodsist and probably some more. So go see what you can find!

Filmed by Terroreyes.tv

Ganglians- My House (Demo)

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