Mystic Braves new single “Born Without a Heart” sounds hot and frenzied.

MysticBraves

When seminal 60’s psych band The Zombies personally wants you to open for their Los Angeles show, you are definitely doing something right. This L.A. five piece are in the more positive and bubbly bright psych vein, and formerly went under the name Blackfeet Braves. They sound like the turbulent excitement of a work free hot summer, with blasts of organ and killer cymbal taps keeping the energy going with bumps and turns like you are crashing in the waves. Frontman Julian Ducatenzeiler has a nasally rock and roll voice that sounds great in echoey lo-fi, sounding like what would happen if Bob Dylan got on the bus with the Merry Pranksters. Listen to their new single over at Filter, the album Desert Island comes out April 29th, and check them out at SXSW this year:

http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/media/entry/listen_mystic_braves_release_born_without_a_heart_off_upcoming_record_filte

For comparison, here is them performing the song live as Blackfeet Braves. I prefer the more reckless approach they have going in the newer version, it sounds more dangerous:

The Ruse is opening for Muse in Mexico

The Ruse

Fantastic Los Angeles indie pop band The Ruse just announced that they will be opening for Muse on their Mexico dates. HUGE for these guys, they are going to kill it out there on this rhyme-y tour. Check out the announcement over at Muse’s website:

Muse announcement about The Ruse opening for them on tour

Eleven Songs I Like Today and the Best Tank Top Ever

20130505-172709.jpg photo by Russ Simon

My neighbor is a prize-winning tulip gardener, and the second the snow melted, the ladies came out! You should see her backyard. I’m allowed to take as many flowers as I want, as well as walk around in them, in exchange for occasionally shoveling her sidewalk. Community! Needless to say, I feel very fortunate to have such a nice neighbor. The tank top is Brandy Melville, it’s Dylan mixed with The Misfits. It is my favorite tank ever, and I wish I could find another. Literally went to the store in San Diego twice before the sales chick found one in a pile of other black tank tops. The skirt was a disaster, windy day, better with a bathing suit.

Here’s some songs I’m loving today (all song titles are links to the song):

1. Rolling Stones “Emotional Rescue” : first time played live, Jagger swaggering and pointing with splendour, every note perfect. To Vegas or not to Vegas….

2. Deodato “Also Sprach Zarathustra(2001)” : my husband heard a version of 2001 that he thought was Phish with horns, did some searching, found it. This is the best rendition of a song ever. Timeless. It’s been played about a hundred times blaring through our speakers through the house. My life has felt very funky but dramatic.

3. The Bamboos “Happy” : continue the funk with this New Zealand band that really needs to tour the USA.

4. TEEN “Circus (Live at Union Pool)” : great, loud, pretty stuff, their name is around a lot right now, I like the flashlight video.

5. Metz “Wet Blanket” : if you have some patience and let the music inside you, it’s the most amazing feeling in the world. They are playing in Denver at Hi Dive on Tuesday. It’s going to be so forceful.

6. Lorde “Royals” : New Zealand is really cranking out unbelievable music! This song is slithery, minimal beat, nice vocals, I have a song of the day!

7. Faces on Film “Knot in the Vine” : this band has a slick, dreamy sound. Sounds like a movie where everyone is sweaty in a small town and most of them have slept with each other and drama sweaty drama.

8. No Joy “Negaverse” : opening for Metz this Tuesday, beautiful noise.

9. Chain in the Gang “Living in the Panther Cage” : love some quirky minimal stuff with male and female vocals and loud snare.

10. Goat “Goatman” : heard this year’s Austin Psych Fest was the best year yet, I’m in for sure next year at this new location. Kicking myself that I skipped it and missed these guys. So much to do, so little time…..

Update- song 11 came in last night and it’s just a perfect simple piece of beauty : “Big Talking” by White Woods

New Small Black single ready for summer mixtapes

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Small Black is another great band I caught at Southby. Ladies seem to love these guys, very catchy songs that you can’t help but dance to. Pretty synths build with pleasing vocals, the new album comes out May 14th. Going to sound great mixed in with other poolside music this summer.

No Stranger by Small Black

They are ending the tour right here in Denver at The UMS

TOUR DATES:
05/10/13 Brooklyn, NY – 7 Dunham Gallery Art Show
05/29/13 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall*
05/30/13 Montreal, QC – Club Lambi*
05/31/13 Toronto, ON – Wrong Bar*
06/01/13 Ferndale, MI – The Loving Touch*
06/03/13 Chicago, IL – Schubas*
06/04/13 Minneapolis, MN – Cedar Cultural Center*
06/07/13 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret*
06/08/13 Seattle, WA – Barboza*
06/09/13 Portland, OR – Bunk Bar*
06/11/13 San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop*
06/13/13 Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex*
06/14/13 San Diego, CA – Soda Bar*
06/15/13 Phoenix, AZ – Last Exit Live*
06/17/13 Dallas, TX – Club Dada*
06/18/13 Austin, TX – Red 7*
06/19/13 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s*
06/21/13 New Orleans, LA – Hi-ho Lounge*
06/22/13 Atlanta, GA – Drunken Unicorn*
06/23/13 Nashville, TN – Exit In*
06/24/13 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506*
06/25/13 Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel*
06/26/13 Philadelphia, PA – Morgan’s Pier*
06/30/13 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg*
07/20/13 Denver, CO – The UMS