Bleachers - Don't Take the Money

Will we fight, stay up late?
In my dreams I'm to blame
Different sides of the bed
Roll your eyes, shave my head
Now we're stuck in the storm
We were born to ignore
And all I got is a chance to just sit
(I'm in love and you've got me, runaway)

You steal the air out of my lungs, you make me feel it
I pray for everything we lost, buy back the secrets
Your hand forever's all I want
Don't take the money
Don't take the money

I've been casually listening to 80s-influenced Bleachers (often featuring awesome guest vocals) for a couple of years, but only read up on who they are/he is this week! How fun to learn it is the solo project of fun. guitarist Jack Antonoff (pun intended), who has also co-written hits for Sara Bareilles, Taylor Swift, and Lorde, among others! It's so much more interesting to be a knowlegable/nerdy music fan. Anyway, looks like Antonoff is getting ready to release another album (his third) as this track is one of two singles released recently, matching his m.o. in 2015 leading up to the release of Terrible Thrills. I love a happy, anthemic, dancy music (i.e. 80s, i.e. Bleachers) so I'm looking forward to hearing whatever is next from this guy. 

RIYL: Walk the Moon, Smallpools, The Heydaze, Fitz and the Tantrums

Upcoming Shows

Royal Blood - Lights Out

Every time I'm with it alone
It picks me up
You just send me down
I can feel it rushing under my skin
You're a cage won't you let me in?
On my toes
Lock the door
Pretty face
Through the walls
Don't know if I'd be so sure again

It's cool to get some new rock from Brighton blues-rock duo Royal Blood. I really enjoyed their 2014 self-titled debut and was able to catch them a few times during SXSW that year as well. They put on a terrific show. "Lights Out" is more of the same classic, polished, straight-forward, bluesy rock that drew me to them in the first place and I'm stoked to hear more.

RIYL: The Strokes, The White Stripes, Band of Skulls, Lonely The Brave

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Pixies - Here Comes Your Man

Outside there's a box car waiting
Outside the family stew
Out by the fire breathing
Outside we wait 'til face turns blue
I know the nervous walking
I know the dirty beard hangs
Out by the box car waiting
Take me away to nowhere plains
There is a wait so long
You'll never wait so long

Here comes your man

Since hearing Beach Slang cover them during SXSW, I've been meaning to pick a Most Important Pixies song, and then Keith's punk-pop post on Monday reminded me. "Here Comes Your Man" is probably the least punk of anything in the Pixies discography, and I do love the other classics with their sometimes screaching guitars and indecipherable meaning, but this one is just so perfectly any-era, dark humor aside. Coulda been by The Hollies in the early 70s or The xx today, but it's from 1989, and a band that absolutely helped paved the way for the modern alternative rock scene. 

RIYL: The Lemonheads, Sonic Youth, The Violent Femmes, Modest Mouse

Upcoming Shows

The 1975 - Sex

And this is how it starts
You take your shoes off in the back of my van
My shirt looks so good
When it's just hanging off your back
And she said use your hands and my spare time
We've got one thing in common it's this tongue of mine
She said she's got a boyfriend anyway

Throwing it back to the first album (first EP, really) for today's TMIS, with my ears still ringing from seeing Matty and the boys last night. Gorgeous stage production this time 'round, I'm so glad we went. Not only for the pretty lights and good tunes (nor for the preponderance of giddy young girls, who I'm pretty sure screamed enough estrogen into the air to add a few extra years pre-menopausal for all of us non-screaming absorbers) but also because it was at The Moody Theater instead of 360 Amphitheater which all similarly big acts are moving to when they come back to Austin, and then it's all ruined versus amazing sight lines and acoustics at ACL Live. Anyway, the Manchester hipsters really changed things up with their second album (Kenny G now on tour with them, ha) but the set flowed really well I thought. It'll be another super fun night I'm sure for those with tickets to the added second date here in Austin - or at any point of their ongoing tour. 

RIYL: The Wombats, Bad Suns, The Griswolds, Bastille

Upcoming Shows

Rolling Blackouts Costal Fever - French Press

I'm alright if you ask me
but you never do
is this thing on?
I'm coming at you
from the side of delicate now

"French Press", off Melbourne-based Rolling Blackouts Costal Fever's latest EP, is the kind of song that would have hooked me hard and fast when I was in High School. Back then I walked a line between hard punk rock, wave and the softer, more polished work of bands like The Style Council and Crowded House. Their bio describes them as "tough pop/soft punk" and I think that works well. Regardless, I'm glad I found them and would like to thank them for the throwback to the good old days.

RIYL: The Jam, The Style Council, Middle Kids, Gene

Upcoming Shows