HEADS UP
I See Hawks in L.A. @ The Echo Sun 6/8
I See Hawks in L.A. @ Pappy & Harriet’s (Pioneertown) Sat 6/21

New track from our own I See Hawks In L.A. today: “Gettin’ Home Tonight” is from the forthcoming album Hallowed Ground recorded in Echo Park, slated for a May 20 release on Big Book Records. The first ten seconds will have you preparing for a serious Gordon Lightfoot “Sundown” moment; stick around a few more bars and the song becomes a straight-ahead nod to 1980s Nashville.

Record release party is June 8 at the Echo, but we strongly recommend you trek up to the high desert on June 21 (Saturday) and catch these cats at Pappy and Harriet’s, precisely the locale this sound deserves live.

» MP3: I See Hawks In L.A. , “Gettin’ Home Tonight”

In which we finally catch up with a few new and soon-to-be-new titles. This round: The Hands, Peasant, Chris Walla, Baby Dee, Darla Farmer, Dengue Fever.

1. The Hands - The Hands (Selector Sound; out 2/19/08)
   Hailing from Seattle, The Hands epitomize what may have been created had Seth Brundle thrown Jet, 1972 Jagger and Grand Funk Railroad into pod #1, waited ten seconds, and opened pod #2. After that comparison, throw aside all references to molecular physics. Make no bones: The Hands are out to rock - loudly - and in this attempt they succeed triumphantly. Lyrically they pose no threat, but who cares when it’s this loud? Note to The Hands: Given all the cheese graters and bloody digits on the album art, consider changing name to The Bloodied Hands - it does have a ring, yes?
    

»continue reading New Release Roundup

Vampire Weekend’s debut album dropped today. Review one of one at press time on online merchant Amazon’s website reads as follows:

Look Out!!! This band could go places., January 29, 2008

I didn’t hear about this band until today. I saw the CD at Target and skipped over it because I had no idea who they were. Then as I was watching E! News, I heard a review of the album and how Chris Martin of Coldplay fame was a big fan. I thought, how could I go wrong? After listening to the samples of the songs on this site, I went back out to by it just before Target closed. After listening to the first few tracks, I feel this band could really go somewhere if they can get any airplay on the independent stations around the country. The CD seems to be fairly short though, so get it while it is still under $10. I can’t wait to see where this band goes!!!!!!! [link]

Our jaded, music-blog-comment-reading sensibilities initially smelled an ironic phony…but then we discovered he’s using his “real name” — Amazon’s way of saying “we basically think this guy is legit (though we aren’t any more sure than you at the end of the day).” Let it be legit, then! Somebody call Chris Martin so we can get these Vampire Weekend guys on the air. Apparently they are good. In other news, in the time it took to write this post Amazon appears to have further chipped away at its remaining stock: the album is now on that dreaded “Usually ships within 1 to 2 weeks” back-order status. Note to Amazon-browsing Martin allegiance: try area Target.

FURTHER READING
» Vampire Weekend @ Silverlake Lounge (photos & review by Karen)
» Vampire Weekend @ Echo (photos & review by Karen)