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OUTSIDE LANDS DAY 1 WRAP: Neil Young, Foo Fighters, Washed Out, Tennis, Of Monsters and Men, The Walkmen, Fitz and the Tantrums

Uncle Neil put the toy trains away long enough to burn through a scorching mix of newer material (songs about love, Canada, farming, etc ….) and Neil classics (songs about love, Canada, farming, etc).

Growl and Co. have a seemingly inexhaustible repertoire of modern rock radio hits at their disposal and the FF crew (now featuring Pat Smear!) were not shy about their deployment. Closer “Everlong”, one of those perfect alt rock songs, had even the most casual Foo fan head noddin’.

“Chill”wave (C.A.F. Fogwave?) took on a whole new meaning as Southerners Washed Out played their beachside vibe jams to a bathed-in-50-degrees-and-mist house at the Panhandle Stage.

Tennis’ windswept set was defined by OK to good execution of great songs.

Newcomers Of Monsters and Men turned out a HUGE crowd (of fans? or people bored with Beck?) The band’s songs and performance were tight and sharp but definitely after the first twenty minutes or so (at least to the ears of the relatively unfamiliar (us)) started to blend together maybe a little too much.

NYC vets The Walkmen impressed with their trademark big guitar atmospheres (think a spaghetti western set inside a dust-filled city alley) and singer Hamilton Leithhauser’s (one of the best names in rock) awesome Rod Stewart-esque caterwaul.

Fitz and his assembled Tantrums earn their dough on their uptempo high-energy live show, which the band easily and flawlessly delivered to the OSL Friday early birds.

reviewed by
08-11-12

DIIV @ The Echo in Los Angeles – Sunday 8/5/12

NYC rockers DIIV hit Part Time Punks at The Echo last Sunday night with something fierce. San Francisco trio Melted Toys opened the evening’s set with an eclectic drum machine, two guitars and bass collective. Melted Toys’ mix had a clean mud to it, like a cleaner toned take on some ‘gaze favorites like My Bloody Valentine; indiscernible lyrics juxtaposed to discernible melodies.

The appropriately named, Part Time, also from SF, next filled the venue. The band had a new wave karaoke nostalgia in their style pop. The pretty feverish rhythm section held the backbone to some sickly psychedelic guitar licks and fronted vocals. Cue up your next Miami Vice rerun.

DIIV took stage and got on immediately with their signature instrumental banter. For those unfamiliar, the band’s debut LP titled Oshin is something of a fresh perspective on decades of energy influenced rock music. Any recollections of grunge that come to mind were only reaffirmed when crowd surfers took to flight in the 200+ capacity venue. Frontman Cole Smith at one point asked the crowd how the sound was? “more snare” “more guitar” people said, which Cole then relayed to the soundguy. This of course, not only is one way to piss off most sound-dudes (sound was great that night) but it more so gave the rock show that proper non-chalant fuck-itness.

The baggy-hipster-clad four plowed straight through their boppy, melody guitar-weaved set. DIIV songs keep the vocals to a minimum which seems to play to and against their favor at times, especially when it comes to a crowd of onlookers. The sort of minor detail that is the obvious wall that’s always separating like bands like from a alt-FM standard for the shuffles of the future. Other notable sounds like the ringing delay of guitars seem to now have an eternal viability to the masses (hat-tip’Edge). The band’s long hair and foppish aesthetics aside, you totally would have wanted to hear DIIV come out of the underground in the 80s.

The band at one point mumbled something about “Smells Like Teen Spirit” between songs as they took sips from their tallboy cans of PBR (with the 6-pack plastic rigns still attached to the can). It was all not so really but really. DIIV wrapped their 30 minute set with “Bambi Slaughter” which seemed only appropriate. Catch DIIV on tour and pick up one of the year’s best full-length collections Oshin.

The Echo california (Official)
DIIV (Facebook)

reviewed by
08-11-12

Mahalia – Let The World See The Light

“Let The World See The Light” is something special by budding songstress Mahalia. The young writer sings like it’s something she’s known more than anyone else her whole life. Preview the track below and check out the new Head Space EP.

Mahalia – Let The World See The Light

Mahalia (Bandcamp)

Rating 8.3

reviewed by
08-10-12

REVIEW: The 1975 – The Facedown [EP]

The 1975’s first official release is finally with us and serves to carefully weave together four tracks with a wealth of atmospherics, industrial beats and expansive choruses. Track two, “The City” is definitely the focal point of the EP and whilst everything around it does a great job of setting the scene and showing the band’s capacity for development, it feels like their slingshot is still pulling back. These four young guys from Manchester have set out with a mature approach to representing their hometowns rich musical landscape, past and present, and considering the quality of the demos heard last year I’m sure there’s still more big tracks to come. By Nathan Hetherington

The 1975 england (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

brown8

reviewed by
08-09-12

RAVE’S FAVE! Bloc Party – Team A

Bloc Party return with Four, which drops the week after next. It’s a long-awaited return, preceded by a few US shows including their storm-delayed Lollapalooza set last weekend. These Brits are used to playing for mud-caked fans in the UK, so this was nothing new for them. “Team A” throws us some of those unique rhythms we loved on their Silent Alarm debut. Bloc Party are already saying there may not be a fifth album, so let’s enjoy them while we can. By Bruce Rave

Bloc Party – Team A

Bloc Party (Facebook)

*Check out Bruce’s Moheak Radio “Go Deep” show on Sunday nights 7-9 pm Pacific, 10-12 am Eastern, 3-5 am GMT. Also listen to past shows at Bruce’s blog and follow Bruce on Twitter.

reviewed by
08-09-12

The Fieldz – Enemy of the Great (Feat. Colin Munroe)

Our man Colin Monroe provides a smooth croon on the hook for “Enemy of the Great”, a new Christian Rich-produced track from VA rapper The Fieldz. The Virginia newcomer has a mixtape project Soar Loser in the works. If “Enemy of the Great” is any indication, SL is a tape we’ll definitely need some ears on.

The Fieldz – Enemy of the Great (Feat. Colin Munroe)

The Fieldz (Facebook)

Rating 8.2

reviewed by
08-08-12

Youan – Must Be Love

Mysterious internet musician Youan comes through with his/her/its best track to date with the relaxed indie R&B of “Must Be Love”. Look out for a new seven-track mixtape from Youan by the end of the month. (KKS)

Youan (Facebook)

Rating 8.3

reviewed by
08-08-12

Tess Henley – Daydreaming

Seattle soul-popstress Tess Henley’s “Daydreaming” grabbed us immediately with it’s insanely good Stevie-Wonder-school-of-songwriting brand of melody. The production on the track is little too A/C for our tastes but those melodies and Henley’s excellent vocal performance are enough for us to look past it. Great song.

Tess Henley – Daydreaming

Tess Henley (Facebook)

Rating 8.0

reviewed by
08-08-12

Capital Cities – Nothing Compares 2 U

LA’s very own Capital Cities put a sweet summertime shine on the Prince-penned Sinead classic. Opting for a wall of lounging-by-the-pool synths, an easy feeling backbeat, and some neat leftfield Latin-styled horns, CC deliver another adeptly constructed cover version with “Nothing Compares 2 U”

Capital Cities (Facebook)

Rating 8.4

reviewed by
08-08-12

Earlimart – ’97 Heart Attack

Early 00’s buzzband Earlimart return with their first release in four years with new album System Preferences. First single “’97 Heart Attack” see the LA based duo adding heavier electronic textures to their inimitable brand of spry indie pop.

Earlimart (Facebook)

Rating 8.1

reviewed by
08-08-12

Lower – Escape

Lower are a loud rock band from Copenhagen. We miss this music. The band’s Walk on Heads EP is really good and deserves your attention ASAP.

Lower (Bandcamp)

Rating 8.3

reviewed by
08-08-12

PREVIEW: Outside Lands 2012, August 9-11, San Francisco

B3SCI land in SF on Friday to cover this weekend’s awesome Outside Lands festival. The lineup is stacked this year and includes b3sci all-time faves Stevie Wonder and Neil Young (seriously, how will we be able to handle so much greatness in one weekend?) as well as a great undercard of other favorites of the blog; including, Michael Kiwanuka, Futurebirds, Tennis, Tame Impala, Birdy, Metallica (jk), Sharon Van Etten and more! Check out some of our recommendations below for this weekend’s can’t miss sets and must see bands & artists; and stay tuned for more coverage live from and following the festival.

FRIDAY

Futurebirds 12:00-12:40 (Panhandle)

PAPA 12:45-1:30 (Twin Peaks)

Sharon Van Etten 1:15-2:05 (Sutro)

Fitz and the Tantrums 3:10-4:05 (Lands End)

The Walkmen 3:55-4:55 (Sutro)

Beck 4:30-5:15 (Lands End)

Washed Out 7:50-8:35 (Panhandle)

Neil Young & Crazy Horse 8:10-9:55 (Lands End)

SATURDAY

Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons 12:00-12:45 (Sutro)

Tame Impala 1:50-2:40 (Lands End)

Father John Misty 2:55-3:35 (Panhandle)

Alabama Shakes 3:50-4:40 (Sutro)

Michael Kiwanuka 4:30-5:10 (Panhandle)

Big Boi 5:15-6:05 (Twin Peaks)

The Kills 6:10-7:10 (Lands End)

Sigur Ros 8:40-9:55 (Twin Peaks)

SUNDAY

Birdy 1:20-2:00 (Panhandle)

Caveman 2:50-3:30 (Panhandle)

City and Colour 3:45-4:35 (Sutro)

Santigold 5:10-6:00 (Twin Peaks)

Bloc Party 6:45-7:45 (Twin Peaks)

Stevie Wonder 7:20-9:30 (Lands End)

reviewed by
08-08-12