PWR BTTM - Big Beautiful Day

There are men in every town who live to bring you down
Make themselves feel bigger making you feel small
My advice is to look incredible
As you make their lives regrettable by being your damn self
God, it's so exhausting

I've sadly never seen performance art rockers PWR BTTM, despite a few chances over the last year. I'm really hoping I'll be able to jump on an opportunity soon. In the meantime I'll be enjoying their surprisingly Hüsker Dü-esque "Big Beautiful Day", and anthem to embracing the quirks that make us all unique and giving a big fat finger to the haters.

BONUS - the video. So much sparkle. :)

RIYL: LVL UP, Diet Cig, They Might Be Giants, Hüsker Dü, Car Seat Headrest

Upcoming Shows

Ha Ha Tonka - All With You

Tonight I'm telling secrets
You already knew
I know I'm gonna show off
That's just what I do
And I just might, I just might
Be able to prove I wanna see it all
Ah, with you

I can read the stories that surround your eyes
I love it when you smile, how they come alive
Tonight I want to climb up beyond the past and view
I want to see it all with you

Their label puts Ha Ha Tonka in the "Nouveau South" category, which makes it slightly difficult for me to admit I enjoy them, but it's true (along with *some* songs by the recommended artists below). Yes, I have a knee-jerk aversion to country... but not to wry folk-wisdom and heartfelt hooks. I didn't squeeze them into my SX week but they're playing in Brooklyn while Keith & I are in NYC this June. Can't pass up the opportunity to say I'd rather see it all with you, babe. (Two days left apart!)

RIYL: Fleet Foxes, The Head and the Heart, Apache Relay

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Braves - Seapunk

There's nothing but monsters at the bottom of the sea, 
There's nothing in the waves I'm convinced that I need, 
I tried to, 
But I'm not going to the beach, 
I tried to, 
You'll have to swim without me

When I was a child there was a shark inside my dreams, 
He ate everyone and now there's only just me, 
And I'm nervous, 
Cause i've got nothing left to feed him, 
I'm nervous, 
I don't want bites out of me

But what if all my friends wanna go to the beach? 
Wanna go to the beach? 
I'll just stay in the sun, 
I'll be fine on my own 

How about a song from a lo-fi garage-surf-punk band from Perth for your Friday? (Inadvertent almost tongue-twister: bonus.) Seapunk is the title track from their most recent EP (hope there's new music coming soon!)

RIYL: Wavves, Cloud Nothings, Surfer Blood, Beach Slang

Upcoming Shows

Real Estate - Darling

The black and yellow finches
That nest in knotted ferns
Which hang upon our front porch
Wait for the warm sun to return

Impatiently, as I wait for you
Impatiently, as I wait for you

That night surrenders swiftly
The moon retreats from sight
The darkness that surrounds me
The sun cuts like a knife to shine

Impatiently
Impatiently

The birds singing
The sun rising
Impatiently
As I wait for you
For you, for you, for you
 

These guys have been on my radar for a few years (notably on TMIS last summer) so I've really enjoyed hearing this new single getting air time on Alt Nation. The lyrics are striking me at just the right time for a re-post of this artist, as I am both impatiently waiting for Keith to get back from Oz (a week or so to go), and also no longer having to wait to see Real Estate live (they will be performing at least 6 times this week during SXSW). 

RIYL: DIIV, The Feelies, Wild Nothing

Upcoming Shows

The Vryll Society - A Perfect Rhythm

This is what you want
Once you believe
Once you believe
This is what you see
Why won't you see?
Why won't you see?

I know next to nothing (yet) about The Vryll Society, but the couple tracks I've listened to are pretty great. "A Perfect Rhythm" seems a good representative of their work, which is atmospheric, groovy, and well put together.

RIYL: Circa Survive, Pinback, The Dear Hunter

Upcoming Shows