New music from Australia - Lowlakes

There aren't that many bands either here or abroad that can blissfully blend ambience with melody. It's a difficult marriage, but one that's been carried off beautifully by bands like Sigur Ros, Bliss and Antony and the Johnsons. Presenting Lowlakes. The band is geographically agnostic, creating music that delves into a rich inner world rather than reflecting their surrounds. They set out to dictate the new standard for contemplative songwriting, producing work that is an achingly beautiful amalgamation of shimmering ambiance with alternative pop. Lowlakes' new self-titled EP was recorded live and mixed to tape. The first feature track from the March 2012 EP, "Song for Motion" (see below) showcases a band that is dynamic, unique and evocative all at once. Frontman Tom Snowdon's gripping vocals straddle the line between being earthly and present, but heavenly and dreamlike, and have been likened to those of Antony Hegarty (Antony and the Johnsons), Matt Berninger (The National), and Jeff Buckley. Snowdon's lingering melodies effortlessly skip from a haunting baritone to a husky falsetto, sitting atop delicate guitars, warm piano and subtle yet commanding rhythm sections. This is darker-side-of-midnight stuff, but with all the intensity and presence of full consciousness and feeling. The EP contains 4 Songs - 'Song for Motion', 'Arctic House', 'Catch the Breeze', and 'Buffalo', and is supported by clips that capture the live studio recordings. Check out a track called "Song for Motion" right here. Or the same track in video form right here.

Larkin Poe at Cafe 939 April 25th

From 2005 to 2010 Rebecca and Megan toured as "The Lovell Sisters" playing stages from the Grand Ole Opry to summer festivals on the scale of Bonnaroo and Telluride. They'd even tour as support for Elvis Costello and offer back up support during his set.

The two then formed Larkin Poe in 2010 and looking to find out things their "own way" they released four seasonally themed EPs in 2010 and eventually made its way to a boxed set called "The Band for All Seasons".

The band will be touring for their 5th release "Thick as Thieves" (Out April 10th).

For fans of folk rock, meets soulful acoustic R+B you'll also hear the heavy southern roots.

Video for "Long Hard Fall" as well as a video for "Play On"

Here is a list of show dates:
TOUR DATES
Date City Venue Other artists
4/23) Easton, MD NightCat The Shadowboxers
4/25) Boston, MA Cafe 939 The Shadowboxers & Ryan Hood
4/26) Pittsfield, MA The Garage at The Colonial Theatre The Shadowboxers
4/27) Brooklyn, NY Spike Hill The Shadowboxers
4/28) New York City, NY The Living Room The Shadowboxers
4/29) Rochester, NY Abilene The Shadowboxers
5/1) Pittsburgh PA Club Café The Shadowboxers

More information on their site or you can check out their facebook page.

Sigur Ros Tour

The dates are out, and hopefully more are coming.

july 30 2012 the mann (skyline stage) philadelphia, united states
july 31 2012 prospect park, brooklyn new york city, united states
august 1 2012 echo beach, toronto canada
august 3 2012 osheaga festival, montreal canada
august 3-5 2012 lollapalooza, chicago, il united states
august 8 2012 paramount, seattle, wa united states
august 9 2012 edgefield, portland, or united states
august 12 2012 hollywood forever cemetery, los angeles, ca, united states
august 18/19 2012 summer sonic festival japan
august 24 2012 rock en seine festival paris, france
august 25 2012 steinberggasse, winterthur festival, switzerland
august 28 2012 paradiso, amsterdam netherlands
august 29 2012 paradiso, amsterdam netherlands
august 31 2012 electric picnic festival ireland
september 2 2012 a perfect day festival verona, italy
september 4 2012 arena vienna, austria
september 7 2012 berlin festival berlin, germany
september 9 2012 bestival isle of wight, england
september 16 2012 sacrum profanum festival krakow, poland
september 17 2012 sacrum profanum festival krakow, poland

No Boston date at the moment. According to the bands web site more dates are coming but the tour starts in July (When the first date is the 2nd to last day of that month...well...).

Hopeful for sure. Or a road trip to Philly might be in order.

The new Album is due on the 29th of May here in the US.

Cairo Knife Fight

I was reading the "100 Bands I need to Know" in a recent issue of Alternative Press Magazine. The list can be daunting when the bulk of them are "unknowns" by some stretch of the word.

A nice feature they add to the description of the band is "For Fans of". In doing that you'd be able to see that the band might sound like one, two or three bands you dig. A few piqued my interest so I wrote them down on a sheet of paper and then the next day while on lunch break I started checking out samples.

One, struck me harder than any other.

Cairo Knife Fight

A duo. Just guitar and drums from New Zealand. Suggested if you liked Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures (Josh from Queens of the Stone Age) and finally Led Zeppelin. Okay you have my interest.

Hopped on to Youtube and just happened upon this gem.



The big looping guitar at the three minute mark from Aaron Tokona and just his overall "vibe" just open the track up. Nick Gaffaney who handles the vocals and drums does some live drum looping and it all takes off.

Okay, I'll agree, the falsetto vocals are a little off putting. Anyone I sent this to seemed to agree "Big huge riffs, vocals sorta ehh" but then Nick levels it out some and it just rocks.

I can do a digital download from iTunes but being that silly old schooler I want the cd. Need to start looking for a decent price on it.

Hopefully they'll tour the East Coast. How that audience sat still is a mystery.

Make of it what you will..but its pretty awesome. Come on..look at Aaron!!!

Back to the trails.

So, after a lot of saving and a fair amount of research I am the proud owner of one of these:



It is a Specialized Rockhopper 29er Mountain Bike. Considering my last bike purchased for myself was 24 years ago, this is a considerable step up.

Got out for a short ride on Sunday with the youngest. Got used to how it rolls and shifting. So far I am very pleased.