Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Timorous Me

Now me and Jodi spent a lot of our time
Just sitting in silence, driving late at night
Maybe even wondering what was on each others' mind
Sometimes
But I know she's like me so I let it ride
She's dwelling in the quiet space left behind
Where only peace can answer why, and you abide
The birds must fly

Did y'all hear the news? Ted Leo has a Kickstarter going for a new album! That's some terrific news right there. He's been one of my favs for many, many years now and one of the few artists I have those "I love everything they do" feels for. So, you can bet I backed it and I'm really excited for some new stuff.

RILY: Dismemberment Plan, The Hold Steady, Billy Bragg, Frank Turner, Titus Andronicus

Upcoming Shows

Funeral Advantage - C.E.O.T.7.K.

 ... gave me nothing
So I gave nothing back

I've been listening to this song for a couple weeks, ahead of the latest record (Please Help Me, released 4 days ago) from Funeral Advantage. Reverb-y, shoegaze-y, kinda Cure-like, but owing a lot to George Harrison (according to Tyler Kershaw, the lead guitar, vocals, and songwriter), they prefer to be simply labeled "pop". If you live in the NE of the U.S. (the band is based in Boston), try to catch their release-party tour this month.

RIYL: Tape Waves, Day Wave, DIIV

Upcoming Shows

Frankie Cosmos - On the Lips

I'm sorry I'm high let's go
Sometimes I cry cause I know
I'll never have all the answers
Separated by a subway transfer

I watch you disappear
As my train rolls away
I know you could've kissed me
But I'll have to wait

Where would I kiss ya
If I could kiss ya?

Why should I kiss ya
If I could kiss ya?

Homeschooled in NYC, the daughter of actors Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates, Greta Kline was able to indulge her love of the underground rock/anti-folk scene around her, learn several instruments (including a stint as the bassist for Porches), and experiment with making and releasing her own lo-fi music (dozens of singles under various aliases). Last year she released her second studio album with backing band, as Frankie Cosmos. I love her snack-size, quirky and sweet, little melodies. She's touring Down Under right now, too! But not in the same places we are or will be. 

Upcoming Shows

Meat Wave - Run You Out

I'll just run you out
Gonna run you out

Surf's up and Chicago's Meat Wave is ready to crash. Ok, that was corny, their music is not. It's smart, tight, diverse rock and roll that's full of killer hooks and unique arrangement. Their latest album The Incessant just dropped and I've been really enjoying it. Reminds me, both in tone and feeling, of The Cribs' early stuff, particularly the awesome Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever which, now that I think about it, I need to get on vinyl. I digress, and you should check this out.

RIYL: The Cribs, Hot Snakes, Plague Vendor, White Reaper

UPCOMING SHOWS

Circa Waves - T-Shirt Weather

She left me and said
Baby won't you come to bed
But I can not sleep
While the sun's awake

The nights been so long
You don't get me right, don't get me wrong
Now my head tells the tales
I hardly know

I remember T-shirt weather
I remember some days
We were singing our lungs out
in the backseat together
And the seatbelts were burning our fingers
In the T-shirt weather
I remember sleeping till the early afternoon

Drinks fly like birds
Across the kitchen trouble stirs
And I'm tongue-tied by words
I used to know

So we talk till we're sick
17 went far too quick
And when my mind plays tricks
I have to go

Late February, for most of the US (and other northern countries), is a time of deep longing for t-shirt weather, as winter stretches on. Unfair of us Austinites, then, to brag about our mild-to-warm weather in the least but especially right now as we are enjoying late summer in Melbourne. Weeee!! (I'm rubbing it in now, sorry again.) The latest track from Liverpool's Circa Waves is less on the nose, but will still make you feel warm from angrily rocking out. ("Fire That Burns" was released a month ago, the second single from their second album, Different Creatures.)

RIYL: Smallpools, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Atlas Genius, Bear Hands

Upcoming Shows