Fitz and the Tantrums Looking Dapper As Ever in Alternative Press

Fitz and the Tantrums have been riding a wave of excitement and praise on the heels of their brand spanking new debut LP, Pickin’ Up The Pieces, released last week on Dangerbird and our friends at Alternative Press are just as enamored with the soulsters as we are. Pick up a copy of the October issue to see a gorgeous full page spread of this white hot band.

Frightened Rabbit Live In Concert Brought To You By Revision3

Since the release of their wildly acclaimed third LP, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, Frightened Rabbit has been on a near-constant touring regimen, playing everywhere from clubs to festivals such as Glastonbury and Lollapalooza, where the band’s set was hailed as one of the weekend’s best.

On their most recent U.S. tour, Internet television network, Revision3, caught up with the septet to film a jam-packed, sold-out performance at San Francisco’s Rickshaw Stop. The slew of HD video cameras brings their show to life on screen, as frontman Scott Hutchison trades his electric guitar for his acoustic throughout this special gig. He leads his band through a rollicking 70-minute set, gently inserting his hilariously characteristic, priceless banter.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

The 15-song set runs the gamut of their catalog, but includes a couple rare gems: “Be Less Rude,” one of the group’s rarely played track from the debut LP, Sing the Greys, and a cover of The National’s “Fake Empire,” which perfectly segues into “Backwards Walk.” The encore begins with a heart-wrenching rendition of “Poke,” a solo Hutchison alone on stage with only a guitar and quavering voice, baring his soul, and ends with an all-inclusive anthemic sing-along of “Keep Yourself Warm.”

Enjoy this front row seat to a unique and passionate performance and get a glimpse of what to expect when Frightened Rabbit returns to North America this fall. The band will be headlining some of their biggest venues to date, including Terminal 5 in NYC and The Mayan Theatre in Los Angeles.

FRIGHTENED RABBIT ON TOUR

October 7 – Seattle, Wash. @ Showbox at the Market
October 8 – Vancouver, B.C. @ Vogue Theatre
October 9 – Portland, Ore. @ Wonder Ballroom
October 10 – San Francisco, Calif. @ The Fillmore
October 13 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Mayan Theatre
October 14 – San Diego, Calif. @ House of Blues
October 15 – Anaheim, Calif. @ House of Blues
October 16 – Las Vegas, Nev. @ Beauty Bar
October 17 – Tempe, Ariz. @ The Clubhouse
October 19 – Dallas, Texas @ Loft @ Palladium Showroom
October 20 – Austin, Texas @ Stubbs BBQ
October 21 – Houston, Texas @ Walters
October 22 – New Orleans, La. @ Tipitina’s
October 23 – Gainesville, Fla. @ Common Grounds
October 24 – Orlando, Fla. @ The Social
October 26 – Athens, Ga. @ 40 Watt Club
October 27 – Charlotte, N.C. @ Neighborhood Theatre
October 28 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Starlight Ballroom
October 29 – Boston, Mass. @ Paradise
October 30 – New York, N.Y. @ Terminal 5
November 1 – Washington, D.C. @ 930 Club
November 2 – Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Diesel
November 3 – Detroit, Mich. @ Magic Stick

Michael Been, Frontman of The Call, Dies at 60

Michael Been, vocalist and guitarist of ‘80s band The Call, and father of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Robert Been, passed away today in Belgium, after suffering a heart attack backstage. Been was on tour with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, acting as their sound engineer. He was 60.

The Call erupted on the scene with a passionate sound and a strong political message, and earned numerous hits, including “The Walls Came Down,” “I Still Believe (Great Design)” and “Let the Day Begin,” which climbed to #1 on the Rock chart. Their fans included Peter Gabriel, Robbie Robertson, and Bono, all contributing to albums, and Gabriel deeming them “the future of American music.

Been was not only the father of Robert Been but a significant part of BRMC’s development. Often referenced as their fourth member, Been spent countless hours in the studio acting in many roles from mentor and guide, to helping the now internationally revered band capture their sound to tape. He acted as co-producer and engineer on numerous BRMC albums and was their loyal sound engineer for as many years.

Wait. Think. Fast. Selected by KCRW As “Today’s Top Tune”

KCRW is exclusively premiering “Leymah Contra Los Diablos” by LA-based bilingual indie rockers Wait. Think. Fast. as “Today’s Top Tune.” The song, a duet by frontwoman Jacqueline Santillan with special guest Ceci Bastida (ex-member of iconic Mexican punk band Tijuana No and formerly of Julieta Venegas’s band), is culled from the band’s forthcoming LP, Luces del Sur, which will be available digitally this Tuesday August 10 with a physical release following on September 7.

“Leymah Contra Los Diablos” will be played throughout the day on 89.9 FM in LA and can be downloaded for free on KCRW.com HERE.

Luces del Sur made a strong debut at specialty radio last week coming in at #9 on the FMQB album chart where it tied with Admiral Radley (ex-Grandaddy + Earlimart) and trumped R.E.M., Jenny and Johnny and Suckers. The LP was produced in Tucson by Craig Schumacher, best known for his work with Neko Case, Calexico and Iron & Wine.

Existing at the intersection between two vibrant Angeleno music communities, the well-entrenched indie rock scene and the burgeoning Latino scene, Wait. Think. Fast. is a unique hybrid of these two distinct worlds, playing inspired, big-hearted indie rock with a South American twist.

Kevin Devine’s “She Stayed As Steam” EP Released Today

Kevin Devine’s Brother’s Blood has been touted as his best work to date and now several tracks from those same revered sessions are being unveiled for the first time on She Stayed As Steam. The EP is available digitally today on Favorite Gentlemen and on vinyl courtesy of These Are Not Records. The four-song EP culls together two previously unreleased songs, title track “She Stayed As Steam,” and “Big, Bad Man” alongside remixes of “Hand of God” (“Breathe, Breathe Deep”) and “Another Bag of Bones.” The vinyl version is presented on translucent coke bottle green and includes two live acoustic European radio performances, “Ballgame” and the Leonard Cohen cover, “Chelsea Hotel No. 2,” not found on the digital release.

Both “She Stayed As Steam” and “Big, Bad Man” easily hold their own with their Brother’s Blood relatives and paired with the remixes, result in another accomplished release in Devine’s prolific catalog. The EP opens with the title track as Devine’s gentle voice and lightly strummed guitar is joined by stomping percussion and slowly builds to a frenzied catharsis. “Big, Bad Man” shows off Devine’s musical range with its countrified rock and twang. Devine’s bassist Chris Bracco transformed LP track “Hand of God,” injecting it with a dance beat and a flourish of synths.

The EP is now streaming in its entirety at Favoritegentlemen.com with the title track is available for free download. Both the EP and 12” can be purchased at the same site.

Frightened Rabbit Make Some “Confetti” for The Onion’s AV Club

A cover song is always fun to hear but what makes a truly successful cover is when a musician is able to take a song written by someone else and make it their own. The Onion AV Club has been running a great series called “Undercover” recently where established bands tackle a list of 25 songs that the AV clubbers chose. Back in May, Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit was in Chicago and performed a heart-tugging rendition of The Lemonheads’ “Confetti.” True to his nature, he transformed the song into a much sadder version and filled it with, as he put it, his “typical Scottish glumness” on it and “spread it over like nasty butter.” Check out the results below.

KCRW Premieres Tallest Trees’ “Alouette” As “Today’s Top Tune”

We are thrilled to share, KCRW has elected to premiere “Alouette” by up-and-coming Nashville duo Tallest Trees as “Today’s Top Tune.”

The track, described by KCRW as possessing “jangled harmonies” and “offbeat rhythms,” will be played throughout the day on 89.9 FM in LA and can be downloaded for free on their site HERE. The playful and jubilant song pairs a toy piano with call and response vocals and unbridled percussion resulting in a perfect summertime anthem.

“Alouette” is from the band’s exciting forthcoming debut LP, The Ostrich or The Lark, due for release August 17 on Other Electricities.

Frightened Rabbit Makes National Television Debut on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” Last Night

Fresh from ending their wildly successful North American tour, Frightened Rabbit capped it all off with their national television debut on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” last night, May 25. Scott Hutchison and co. delivered a rousing rendition of their feverish kiss-off anthem “Nothing Like You” from this year’s The Winter of Mixed Drinks. The band are back across the pond at home readying for a show with Snow Patrol as well as several UK and European festival dates. They will return to the states for their Lollapalooza debut in August. Check out the lads in action on Fallon below.

Everest Perform Acoustic Version of “Let Go” on WNRN

Everest is currently on tour with Minus the Bear and playing their new album, On Approach, for packed house. While on the road in Charlottesville, the guys stopped by WNRN and performed a great acoustic version of lead track, “Let Go.” Check it out below.

Everest Premieres Video for New Single, “Let Go” On Spinner Today

At the heart of it, Everest is composed of five singer-songwriters, which may explain why bands like Wilco, My Morning Jacket and Neil Young have all enjoyed taking them out on the road with them. When it comes to Everest’s actual songbook, having too many cooks in the kitchen doesn’t hurt, either — it just adds flavor.

Frontman Russell Pollard tells Spinner that, of the batch of songs that form their new album ‘On Approach,’ the lead track ‘Let Go’ was originally the odd man out. “It started off as a riff Jason [Soda] came up with and over time we kept tweaking it and it kept morphing,” he says. “We then added a second drum kit and the song developed into what it is now. It’s become our favorite to play live … for me especially, since I get to return to my roots as a drummer and play alongside Davey [Latter], while singing.”

As for the video, like Everest themselves, there’s a lot going on all at once. But the end result is a feast for the eyes as well as ears. Check it out below.

EVEREST ON TOUR WITH MINUS THE BEAR

April 26 – Columbus, Ohio @ Newport Music Hall
April 28 – Covington, Ky. @ The Madison Theatre
April 29 – Buffalo, N.Y. @ Town Ballroom
April 30 – Hartford, Conn. @ Webster Theatre
May 5 – Boston, Mass. @ Wilbur Theatre
May 6 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Trocadero
May 7 – Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club
May 8 – Richmond, Va. @ The National
May 9 – Charlotte, N.C. @ The Fillmore
May 10 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Variety Playhouse
May 11 – Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. @ Revolution
May 12 – Tampa, Fl. @ The Ritz Theatre
May 14 – Houston, Texas @ House of Blues
May 15 – Dallas, Texas @ Granada Theater
May 16 – Austin, Texas @ La Zona Rosa
May 18 – Albuquerque, N.M. @ Sunshine Theater
May 19 – Las Vegas, Nev. @ House of Blues
May 20 – Los Angeles, Ca. @ Mayan Theatre
May 21 – Pomona, Ca. @ Glass House
May 22 – San Diego, Ca. @ SOMA
May 23 – Tempe, Ariz. @ Marquee Theatre
May 26 – San Francisco, Ca. @ Regency Ballroom
May 27 – Reno, Nev. @ Knitting Factory
May 28 – Portland, Ore. @ Roseland Theater
June 13 – Manchester, Tenn. @ Bonnaroo Festival *

* w/o Minus The Bear