Glasvegas are hitting the road in the UK a year after they released their sophomore record, EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\. As the band released a statement discussing their new tour, they also said they are demoing and writing new songs and will be in the studio at the end of this tour to work on record number three.
After we have been discussing all week, the Joy Division inspired Mickey Mouse shirt has now been pulled from the Disney store. A representative from Disney says, "As soon as we became aware there could be an issue, we pulled it from our shelves and our online store to review the situation further."
Norah Jones will release her new Danger Mouse produced album, Little Broken Hearts in the Spring. Jones and Danger Mouse worked together last year on the Rome album that also featured Jack White and Daniele Luppi.
Frank Turner took to his blog and gave an update on his hardcore side project. Turner says, "It’s something I’ve been thinking about doing for a long time, but it took a while to figure out the right way to do it. Now we have a line-up and we’ve been in the rehearsal room as a bunch, writing songs. Still no band name as of yet. Haha. It’s noisy, tongue-in-cheek, aggressive, abrasive stuff. It’s a side project, so it takes back seat priority-wise, which means I’m not sure when we’ll have time to record anything or get some music released, but it’s a lot closer to being a real band right now than it has been previously." Turner used to front the hardcore band, A Million Dead.
Blood Red Shoes will release their third album, In Time to Voices on March 26. Take a look at the track listing below:
01) In Time To Voices 02) Lost Kids 03) Cold 04) Two Dead Minutes 05) The Silence and the Drones 06) Night Light 07) Je Me Perds 08) Stop Kicking 09) Slip Into Blue 10) Down Here in the Dark 11) 7 Years
In 2010 we interviewed Blood Red Shoes in one of their first American interviews. Take a look at it HERE.
On February 21, Dinosaur Jr. will release the DVD, Bug Live at 9:30 Club: In the Hands of the Fans. The band shot the concert while on the road last year in support of their landmark record, Bug's anniversary at DC's 9:30 in June. Take a look at the trailer.
After a near two month hiatus, OFFICIALLY A PODCAST IS BACK!
Sorry for the delay folks!
Back For Episode 5, Host Bill Reese and Officially A Yuppie Owner, Sal Bono discuss the major reunions of 2012 - The Stone Roses, At the Drive-in and Refused. Plus, who they would like to see reunite!
Also, Reese sits down for a "Q&Ale" with Julius C. frontman Jay Stolar before the band plays their final gig in NYC this Saturday. A great interview with a great band! One not to miss!
Canadian band Our Lady Peace will release their eighth album, Curve on April 3.
The newly reformed Garbage will release their yet-to-be-titled new album on their own label, Stunvolume. The record is a follow-up to 2005's Bleed Like Me and is produced by member and extraordinaire, Butch Vig.
The Gaslight Anthem are trading New Jersey for Nashville...only for a little bit to record the follow-up to 2010's American Slang. The band have finished writing and demoing materials and will record the record in the Music Capital.
The Klaxons have begun writing music for their new record and the follow-up to 2010's Surfing the Void. The band have been rumored to work with The Chemical Brothers and LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy for album number three.
Yesterday via Facebook we pointed out that Disney are now selling Joy Division inspired Mickey Mouse shirts. Yes, no shit, we know and are just as shocked too. Now Joy Division bassist Peter Hook spoke to MTV Hive about it and says, "I have seen a lot of Mickey Mouse t-shirts in my time. But I have to say this is probably the best... I hope that [Disney] will be as understanding when we start doing Donald Duck shirts." He also said he had no prior knowledge of Disney using the cover of their debut, Unknown Pleasures to influence the shirt. The other former members of Joy Division aka New Order, have not commented on the shirt nor have given permission to use the design. The Mickey Mouse company knows that Joy Division singer Ian Curtis did kill himself, right? Or what the hell the band's name means? OR what the fuck the band sounds like?! Take a look at the shirt below:
The Disney store website states, "Inspired by the iconic sleeve of Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures album, this Waves Mickey Mouse Tee incorporates Mickey's image within the graphic of the pulse of a star. That's appropriate given few stars have made bigger waves than Mickey!" The shirt is "created especially for Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort." Crazy is all we can respond with.
Read our 2011 feature and interview with Peter Hook HERE.
Frank Turner had a massive 2011 and 2012 is looking just as bright and busy. To showcase what just happened with him in the last year, Turner and his backing band, The Sleeping Souls cut together a video diary. Take a look.
Read Frank's first interview of 2012 that he did with us HERE.
Leading up to the February release of their new album, Rooms Filled With Light, once a week Fanfarlo will treat fans to live sessions of various songs off the new record. For session number one, they picked, "Shiny Things," take a look!
Also, read our November feature on Fanfarlo discussing the making of Rooms Filled With LightHERE.
Just last month we picked England's Born Blonde as our Rising Artist. Now, as the new year rolls on, this British band with a distinct influence from The Verve are turning heads even more. Maybe it is because of the massive Stone Roses reunion taking place later this year, Britpop is seeing a revival in a whole new generation of bands inspired by the 90's genre. Bands like Sulk, Viva Brother, The Horrors and of course, Born Blonde. As the band's cosmic and psychedelic sound is catching a buzz back in Britain, it is time to learn more about the band. We spoke with singer, Arthur Delany about the back's backstory, sound and when are they finally going to make it to America.
How did the band come about?
We got together in late 2009. A few of us had already been playing together but a few new songs started kicking around and it just made sense to start fresh. Since then we have always tried to keep exploring and challenging ourselves, you know; keep the forward momentum going.
What made you want to be in a band?
The buzz you get onstage is pretty magical, and we seem to spend all our time in pursuit of that feeling, so it just makes sense for us to be there as often as possible. And because life is too short not to.
There has been much buzz about you over the recent months, how do you respond to the buzz?
It is obviously flattering, it is a particularly exciting time for us, but we are continuing to work hard and trying not to get too distracted.
Now the name of the band, Born Blonde seems to be ironic since no one in the band is blonde. How did the name come up?
We were all blonde once but nothing last forever.
Hailing from West London, do you find the city has an impact on your style and sound?
London is a crazy place to grow up. I think that the real struggle has been to slow down and let everything grow at its own pace; London encourages impatience! I also think that growing up here has inspired us to create our own world. There is so much going on that it forces you to find a space you can call your own.
You have been gaining much attention in London as the cities new house band, what is your favorite venue to play and why?
We have been playing all over London for quite a while. We did a residency at the Troubadour when we were just starting out, so many great names have played there so its got a load of soul. We all live near Shepard's Bush Empire so to do a show there someday is a dream of ours.
There have been many comparisons to your music and The Verve. Do you find the comparisons flattering or a pain in the ass? Were The Verve a big influence on you?
When we are in the studio we try not to think too much about what we are putting down, so all the music we make is the sum of all of our influences. We find a sound that excites us and it hopefully takes us somewhere new.
Your music is very trippy and spacey, do drugs play a role in your songwriting process?
We smoke all the time but none of us inhale...
Because England has such as strong musical legacy, do you ever stop and think how you can or will fit into the timeline of British music?
We don't stop and think really. Thinking about music prevents us from making it so its best not to be concerned with these things. There is no way of saying where or how we will fit in so it is best to just get on with it.
When can we expect a full length from you?
We have nearly finished recording our record but, as with all things creative, it is only finished when it is finished so we are going to take our time.
You supported the Kooks at one point, what was that like?
They've got some mad loyal fans who were a joy to play for. I think it showed us all what we wanted, to make that kind of connection is pretty cool.
Who would you love to play with and why?
We are real admirers of Tame Impala; their record 'Innerspeaker' has been on repeat so I guess they would be up there.
What has been the best thing about being in the band and why?
I think that making this record has been a high point so far. That, and watching our singe 'Solar' gather speed. You spend so much time getting everything ready it is nice to see people reactions.
How would you describe or sell yourself to someone who has never heard of you before?
Give it a listen.
Can we expect you in America soon?
We would definitely hope so. It would be an absolute pleasure.
Is playing America a big deal for you or would you rather concentrate on your home territory first?
Yes its a big deal. Were pretty excited about getting the chance to do so one day but we've got to get our shit all sorted over here for a while first. Its definitely on our list of things to do!
It is very rare that we plug and showcase music videos here on the website, we generally save them for Facebook & Twitter, but when a video this good and this fun comes across our desk, we have to show it.
Watch the new video from Dangerbird artist, Butch Walker for his song, "Synthesizers," and pay attention to who is the star of the vide0....Matthew McConaughey reprising his iconic character from Dazed and Confused. He just keeps on Livin...L.I.V.I.N!
