Feist — Metals
Feist just announced her highly anticipated record Metals as a follow up to her beloved record The Reminder all the way back in 2007 and I could not be more excited. She’s released some teaser videos that look pretty enticing.

It’s aggressive and dark, with chaotic percussion but no vocals. So it really is a tease. In preparation, I’ll be watching her DVD “Look at What the Light Did Now” on repeat until then.

Feist teamed up with longtime collaborators, Chilly Gonzalez and Mocky in Toronto.

Then  headed to Big Sur  to finish the record with percussionist Dean Stone, keyboardist Brian LeBarton, and Valgeir Siggurdsson, who’s produced albums by Björk and Kate Nash. The record is out October 4th. Watch the teaser below, which seems to be a trend with upcoming albums these days.

Feist- The Park 

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

St. Vincent — Strange Mercy

Likewise, Annie Clark (St. Vincent) launched her Twitter campaign last week for her fans to tweet out #strangemercy to unlock the track “Surgeon” while posting a handful of teaser videos like the one below.The album, Strange Mercy is out Sept 13th. Her first line of the track is, “I spent the summer on my back” in a slyly romantic way.

It’s got this kind of R&B soul, moving to a slow beat with strange guitar sounds (almost a little bit disco) and lots of repetition with her gorgeously regal vocals. Check out the video below!The record is out on 4AD and she’s posted some fall tour dates on her website including an LA date at the Music Box on October 18th.

St. Vincent- Surgeon

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Out with the old, in with… more old! Everything in my ETSY shop is 50% off! Plus, a ton of new stuff just added. Everything is dirt cheap, and pretty awesome. I call the new stuff, “off the rack” because I took photos of everything on a clothing hanger (off my clothing rack) due to a lack of ladies available to model, and let’s be real- I can’t model my own clothes anymore, it’s starting to feel like an “O Magazine” kind of thing. Anyway, take a look- there’s actually ONE mens’ item, the first of many, I hope. So dudes, check it out and grab something for your ladies. 

Here’s a sneak peak at my new stuff. A few summer dresses, cardigans, blouses, vests and tanks- even a figure skating costume. I’ve got a ton of more stuff coming up too, so keep checking back.

If you’re looking for something that I haven’t posted but think I might have, or if you have any questions about size, fabric etc- please feel free to hit me up friendswithbotharm[at]@gmail.com.

Want to see more? Click on the image on your right! Enjoy!

Attendees were kept entertained by openers- Michael McGraw and Paper Bird. Denver natives Paper Bird were particularly illuminating as an 8-piece band that occupied every inch of the stage, and three sweetly giggling girls took the front with their three part harmonies, smooth jazz vocals and country twang. Positioned behind them was a banjo player, upright bass, drums, trombone, trumpet- but everyone’s attention kept on the three darlings in front. Paper Bird appear more as a sophisticated karaoke set, however lighthearted, their effortless vocals showed the crowd that they might be a little silly, but they’re no amateurs. They’re one of the best opening acts I’ve seen in a long while.

We Were Promised Jetpacks are releasing their new album, In The Pit Of The Stomach, on October 4th via FatCat Records. Their latest release, “Act on Impulse” is a slow build, it requires a little patience, but it grows with a rhythmic pulse, and the best part is- it’s available for free on their website! Check out tourdates below, stoked to see a San Diego date on there.

TOUR

10.26 – Harrisburg, PA @ The Abbey Bar
10.27 – Washington DC @ Black Cat
10.28 – Boston, MA @ Paradise
10.29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
10.30 – New York City, NY @ Webster Hall
11.01 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
11.02 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
11.03 – St. Louis, MO @ The Old Rock House
11.04 – Norman, OK @ Oklahoma Memorial Union
11.05 – Dallas, TX @ Trees
11.08 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
11.09 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
11.10 – Los Angeles CA @ The Music Box
11.11 – San Francisco CA @ Bimbo’s
11.12 – Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall
11.13 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
11.15 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos

We Were Promised Jetpacks — Act On Impulse

You may or may not know this- but Pepper Rabbit were scheduled to perform our SXSW Silver Series, they backed out only to be replaced by Bahamas. No hard feelings, because I can’t help but love these guys. Their upcoming album “Red Velvet Snowball” is highly anticipated- especially after hearing their latest track, “Rose Mary Stretch”. They totally have the Page France sound, and boy does it have a feel-good pop sound. Their record is out Aug 9th on Kanine Records. 

Pepper Rabbit- Rose Mary Stretch

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

On a musically-unrelated note, I hope you take some time to watch this TED talk. It just became one of my favorites. So eloquent, honest and beautiful.

Holy Spirits- one of my favorite bands out of Brooklyn (and wonderful new friends) just released a gorgeous new song called Handmade Sun off their split 10″ with Mutual Benefit via Father/Daughter Records. Something tells me this album artwork was designed by Nathaniel Whitcomb of Think or Smile. Um yes, yes it is. This is a total culmination of all things beautiful with some of the sweetest folks I know, so I always get excited to hear something new. Holy Spirits in particular sounds like just that, something ghostly and lingering- a quietly preserved habitat, untouched- like what I would imagine relaxation tapes to sound like without the hum. It’s music to put you at ease, and to make you marvel at the simplicity of sound. You can grab the release right over here. 

Holy Spirits – Handmade Sun by fatherdaughter

COOLRUNNINGS – Chorus from Rafael Bonilla Jr. on Vimeo.

I just really love this.

Check out the latest video for Other Lives’ For 12 off their latest record Tamer Animals. They’ll be playing at Spreckels Theater on September 16th with Bon Iver.

Check out this homemade video by my friend Meghan Ellie Smith – for the GIVERS song “Noche Nada” which is naturally inspired by me, right? Right? Enjoy!