Nu Rave Brain Wave

The fantastically musically inclined Levi’s® announced they’re hosting a series of live music sessions starting August 17th at their Flagship store in London, which of course means basically all gigs are going to be extremely hard to get into, yet wonderfully intimate and unique. Not only will attendees get to hear sets from the best of the new crop of 2010 talent, they’ll also get to participate in q&a’s with some of the artists.

Over the course of the two weeks, The Magic Numbers will be supported by buzzy Summer Camp, a great bluesy lineup of Lissie and the Brute Chorus will stun, and how exactly this came about, I don’t know but the one, the only, the feminine, the great CARL BARAT will be performing, presumably some ditties from his forthcoming solo album.

There are 100 exclusive, money can’t buy tickets up for grabs for each session and you can only get your hands on these exclusively through Levi’s® Facebook page…

All sessions will run from 7.30pm – 9 pm at Levi’s® Flagship Store, 174-176 Regent Street, London, W1F 7BH.

mp3 | Lissie - Little Lovin\'

Photo Courtesy of | Jacqui Sadler

Our favorite clubnight (okay, outside of Brighton’s Fish Fry) Communion (run by Mumford and Son’s Ben Lovett and Kevin Jones) are set to take over a buddy of NRBW’s venue, The Flowerpot in Camden, for a long run of shows later this month. The Flowerpot is probably the best venue in London, and only approximately 50% of the reson is because all shows are FREE! Communion Presents (the official name for this run of gigs in later July) are showcasing some of our favorite British acts including Brightonites Lyrebirds and The Agitator (they play every show together! geez!), Ojai’s Lissie and the ever fantastic great wonderful hilarious (Flowerpot owner!) Beans on Toast. These shows are not to be missed, and needless to say, roll up early – this shit’s gon’ get crowded.

The line up for Communion Presents is:

July 12:
Mt Desolation
Lissie
The Staves
James Moss

July 16:
Lyrebirds
The Agitator

July 18:
Beans On Toast
Handshake
Crowns
Hot Feet
Tom Mckean And The Emporers
Monument Valle

@

The Flower Pot
147 Kentish Town Road
London NW1 8PB

MP3 | Lyrebirds - All Your Life

The Strange Boys

If you read this blog regularly, you’re aware of our well-documented love of Austin’s own Strange Boys. Although we’ve not fallen for their second album as swiftly as we fell for their practically perfect ‘And Girls’ LP, we know that their live show will always deliver. They’ve got a new lineup – drummer, sax and Tim Pressley from Darker My Love and it will be interesting to see what they’ve got to offer on the live front now that the stage will be a little more crowded. They’re only playing the Wednesday so they can carry on the rest of their US tour, so be sure to check them out early, while you can.

DOWNLOAD ->The Strange Boys – Be Brave

Harlem

Harlem has been one of my favorite new musical discoveries of the year. You can probably guess what they’re like – lo-fi, garagey music with “hidden” pop tunes. Harlem’s new record ‘Hippies’ is filled with some of the catchiest songs I’ve heard all year long – ‘Friendly Ghost’ is witty and prime for shouting along to; ‘Tila and I’ and ‘Gay Human Bones’ stand out as best of ‘Hippies’. I wouldn’t miss Austin-via-Tucson’s Harlem who will be one of the standouts this year.

DOWNLOAD -> Harlem – Friendly Ghost

Magic Kids

Magic Kids are, to me, kind of what Los Campesinos! were in 2008. They’re a little bit twee, a lot quirky, but all in all a ton of fun. They also have extremely catchy songs – well, the two that I’ve been addicted to were, at any rate. If I was to guess, I’d say they’re going to wind up as just a kitchy little band, not go the way LC! have really, but that’s not to say they won’t put on a fun show in Austin, so I’d catch them, but only if you have the time.

DOWNLOAD -> Magic Kids – Superball

Fool’s Gold

Another NRBW live favorite, Fool’s Gold is going to be playing this years SXSW again. We loved their debut album ‘Fool’s Gold’ with its sense of whimsy, rhythm and communal experience – I even gave it like a 7/10 or something on DiS! – and can’t wait to see how they’ve improved as a live band since we saw them last April. If you’re looking to dance or if you want to have a really fun, uplifting, communal live experience – Fool’s Gold will fulfill that need beautifully.

DOWNLOAD -> Fool’s Gold – Surprise Hotel

Surfer Blood

The more I listen to ‘Astrocoast’ the more taken I am with this band – what started out as a casual listen has blossomed into something much more. There’s something instantly likable about their polished tunes – perhaps it’s the voice that owes more to Panda Bear than Cole Alexander, perhaps its the danceable instrumentation, or the delicate heartbreak layed bare throughout the album or even the wit and charm (“Coupled with a weakness for cocaine and liquor”, anyone?) of the entire album. I don’t know which of those things it is but ‘Astrocoast’ is growing on me and lucky for us, Surfer Blood is playing about 5 times a day during SXSW so hopefully everyone will have the chance to catch them.

DOWNLOAD -> Surfer Blood – Take It Easy

She Keeps Bees

Lo-fi, bedroom, sexy… What can I say about She Keeps Bees? The interplay between the members, the blues, the dirtiness of the recordings – it all comes together in a really messy little package that’s practically bursting with delight. Jessica’s vocals are beautiful and tortured on record and I can’t wait to see how they translate live. The simplicity and the timeliness of their songs is sure to make a memorable set – don’t miss out on this band – I was forced to on Valentines Day and I’ve been depressed ever since.

DOWNLOAD -> She Keeps Bees – Gimmie (Live)

Lissie

I’m gonna be straight up honest here – I don’t know a lot about Lissie. But what I do know is that the girl has an enchanting voice. A lot of people reference like 70s Laurel Canyon talking about her – and I have to agree a little bit. There’s something a little country backwoods about her (perhaps it’s because she lives in Ojai) but there’s also something really contemporary, something like female-Fionn-Regan about her. I am basing this recommendation on the strength of her Bob Dylan cover of ‘To Ramona’. Give it a listen. If you’re not taken with her voice, well, you suck.

DOWNLOAD -> Lissie – To Ramona (cover of Bob Dylan)

Welcome to the 37th edition of Bob Dylan Friday. This week, I’ve got a couple of my favorite covers for you. Specifically, the Lissie cover of ‘To Ramona’ is incredibly beautiful. Roky’s take on ‘(It’s All Over Now) Baby Blue’ is really awesome as well. I’m gonna have some more covers weeks because we need to remember that before Bob got famous, his songs were famous – they were sung by others (Peter, Paul, Mary; The Byrds, etc) so — enjoy!

DOWNLOAD -> Beck – Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat (Bob Dylan Cover)
DOWNLOAD -> Lissie – Ramona (Bob Dylan Cover)
DOWNLOAD -> As Tall As Lions – Girl of the Northern Country (Bob Dylan Cover)
DOWNLOAD -> 13th Floor Elevators – (It’s All Over Now) Baby Blue (Bob Dylan Cover)