UPDATE: According to SD Dialed In this show has been postponed until May 13. The good news is that we are extending the entry deadline for this contest to May 10.
MP3: TV on the Radio – “Caffeinated Consciousness”
TV on the Radio‘s latest album, Nine Types of Light, will be released next Tuesday, April 12, and it’s full of love songs. The amorous vibe is a change of pace from the band’s usual tales of urban distress, but it doesn’t mean the Brooklyn boys have gone soft. Continue reading…
MP3: Dark Dark Dark – “Daydreaming”
Minneapolis chamber-folksters Dark Dark Dark have hit the road, and it’ll take them to The Loft on April 29.
The acclaimed sextet is touring to support its second full-length, Wild Go. With the new album, the band furthers its efforts to blend disparate influences like New Orleans jazz, Americana, and Eastern European folk. The resulting sound, combined with lead singer Nona Marie Invie’s soaring and gliding voice, makes Dark Dark Dark’s latest effort as evocative as it is unique.
We’re pleased to offer two tickets to see Dark Dark Dark at The Loft ton April 29. To enter the contest, simply comment below and include your email address in the form (your email won’t be visible to the public). The winner will be chosen at random on April 27.
Michael Showalter, perhaps best known from a previous post on this website, has written his first book, Mr. Funny Pants, which he describes as a “humorous quasi-memoir.” With a release party that featured Neko Case and a few other stops under what might be a very droll belt, his book tour is currently unfolding.
As Showalter travels around two-thirds of the countries in NAFTA, be sure to see him. San Diego people, your chance is tomorrow at the Casbah at 6:30pm. Non-San Diego people, you can find his full tour information here.
Oh, and if you haven’t picked up a copy of the book, here’s your chance to obtain one for free. We’ve got 6 copies to give away thanks to the nice folks at Grand Central Publishing. Want one?
To enter the contest, simply leave a comment on this here post and include your email address in the form (your email won’t be visible to the public). The contest ends March 20, 2011, at midnight and winners will be chosen at random. The contest is open to residents in the United States and Canada. No PO Boxes, please, and only one copy per household.
Paris-based Yann Tiersen — best known for scoring the five-time Oscar-nominated film Amélie — has released six solo albums and scored over a dozen French films, documentaries, and TV shows. On March 10, he’ll bring his considerable body of work to the Belly Up.
Tiersen’s 2010 solo effort, Dust Lane, finds him embracing an entirely new sound. With Dust Lane, Tiersen puts away his signature instruments — piano, violin and accordion — and picks up the synth and electric guitar. When asked about his new direction, Tiersen says, “I took some distance and decided to deconstruct most of the songs as I was quite tired with the traditional structure of chorus, bridge, etc.” The new album is an interesting listen, and should make for a diverse set on 3/10.
Indie folksters Breathe Owl Breathe will open the show. Their newest album, Magic Central, made Owl and Bear’s Best of 2010 list. Known for their entertaining shows, the band’s opening set for Yann Tiersen should be no exception. For a sample of their music, check out the songs “Own Stunts” and “Across the Loch” (MP3s).
We’re giving away two tickets to see this show. To enter the contest, just comment below and include your email address in the form (your email won’t be visible to the public). The winner will be chosen at random on March 9, 2011.
Todd Snider isn’t your average folkie. One glance at his influences — Bob Dylan, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, and even Mitch Hedberg — will tell you that both thoughtfulness and humor are integral to his writing style. Equal parts sage and jokester, Snider uses his skills to make wry commentary on everything from unemployment to religion.
Over the years, tastemakers like Rolling Stone have sung Snider’s praises, with the seminal music magazine calling him “America’s sharpest musical storyteller” and “the funniest folkie since John Prine” on separate occasions. Now, he’s touring to support The Storyteller, a new double-disc live album, and these accolades are as relevant as ever. The album features songs from Snider’s entire recording career, and it does well to showcase both his humor and politics, and the seemingly effortless way he balances the two. The album shows the songwriter at his best, engaging the audience with stories and blissfully playing old fan favorites.
That’s why we’re pleased to offer two tickets to see Todd Snider at the Belly Up on February 16. To enter the contest, just comment below and include your email address in the form (your email won’t be visible to the public). The winner will be chosen at random on February 15, 2011.