Wait … spandex AND breakdancing?! Minus the Bear singing is only icing on the cake in their new video for ‘My Time’ off the recently released Omni. Sure it looks like an ad for American Apparel gear sans sex but to hell with it: these boys know their funk and what they lack in sex appeal they are trying their damndest to make up for it lyrically here. Filled with just enough hyper electronics to make you forget their prog roots, Minus the Bear is nothing if not daring.

video: Minus the Bear ‘My Time’

The band is also hitting the road to support the new album along the way playing summer festival mainstay Lollapalooza.

05-25 Sugar Nightclub - Victoria, BC
05-26 Venue - Vancouver, BC
05-27 Republik Nightclub - Calgary, AB
05-28 Starlite Room - Edmonton, AB
05-29 The Distrikt - Regina, SK
05-30 The Royal Albert - Winnipeg, MB
06-02 Taste of Minnesota - St. Paul, MN
06-03 The Intersection - Grand Rapids, MN
06-04 Mod Club - Toronto, ON
06-05 Water Street Music Hall - Rochester, NY
06-07 Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ
06-08 Webster Hall - New York, NY
06-09 Northern Lights - Clifton Park, NY
06-10 Mr. Smalls Theatre - Pittsburgh, PA
06-11 Forecastle Festival - Louisville, KY
06-12 Firebird - St. Louis, MO
06-13 The Granada - Lawrence, KS
06-14 Ogden Theatre - Denver, CO
06-15 In The Venue - Salt Lake City, UT
06-16 Knitting Factory - Boise, ID
06-17 Showbox at the Market - Seattle, WA
08-06 Lollapalooza - Chicago, IL

related news:

• Noah and the Whale Cancel Tour
• stream: California DIY Band Offer Album/DVD For Free
• Animal Collective Announce Release Date; Tour

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The annual alt-indie music festival in the heart of Chicago’s trendy Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhood is back for another dose of hometown and international favorites. Sure you get to see hipster darlings like Holy F*uck and Plants & Animals but the real treat is in the recently rejuvenated and reunited Cap’n Jazz. The two day – three stage event from July 31st thru August 1st will also play host to up comers Local H and DJ sets from club highlife Alex B. Tickets are a $5 donation at the door. For more info go to www.wickerparkbucktown.com.

SATURDAY

Holy F*ck
BoomBox
Auto Body
The Gaslamp Killer
Signal Path
Tokimonsta
Prepschool
Alex B (Tweener DJ sets)
Cap ‘n Jazz
Only Children* (DJ SET)
Moneypenny* (LIVE)
Bayside High* (DJ SET)
Gemini Club* (LIVE)
Kid Color* (DJ SET)
Blah Blah Blah* (LIVE)

SUNDAY

Local H
fun.
Plants & Animals
Van Ghost
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights
B.S. Brass Band
JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound
Jamie McLean Band
Save the Clocktower
DJ Lou Dooben (Tweener DJ Sets)
Baroness
Torche
The Hood Internet
Shapers
Zebo
Matt Roan
John Simmons

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After a three month road stint with the likes of We Were Promised Jet Packs, soon to be indie darlings Bear Hands are heading back to the studio to put the final touches on their much anticipated debut aimed at a September release. To keep us happy until then, the boys have release a free fifteen minute live set entitled The Rumpus Room which – true to its name - was shot at Cantora Records + The Rumpus Room in Brooklyn in January 2010. The set features the single, ‘What A Drag’ in addition to three new full of Bear Hands feverish drums and frenzied guitar licks. Newcomer slow wedge ‘Camel Convention’ is a welcome break to the bands otherwise mischievous stomping ground sound. While ‘Blood and Treasure’ reminds us that the band may look innocent and young but they’ll take your loot and leave you on the curb.

To obtain the free download for a limited time, head over to bearhandsband.com, Once you sign up you will receive a Bear Hands // Rumpus Room digital bundle containing the full video session and an MP3 of the live session mixed + mastered audio.

Tracklisting:

01 What A Drag
02 Belongings
03 Blood and Treasure
04 Camel Convention

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You know Steven Ellison, you just haven’t realized it yet. The beat-and-bass-heavy producer who goes by the mantra Flying Lotus has been creating the bumper music on Cartoon Networks’ Adult Swim programming block for some time now (yet uncredited). Now he is looking to get some studio energy out into the crowds after completing his latest. His upcoming album, Cosmogramma, is set for release May 4th via Warp Records but he’s breaking free from those studio shackles to trial his new material and get some much deserved street cred starting with SXSW this year.

Flying Tour:

03-17 The Phoenix [Warp SXSW Showcase] - Austin, TX
03-27 Mezzanine - San Francisco, CA
03-30 Le Poisson Rouge - New York, NY
04-01 Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
04-02 Double Door - Chicago, IL
04-03 BarFly Loft - Minneapolis, MN

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Influential but long since defunct Chicago punk emo group Cap’n Jazz has announced an official reunion show. For those who are taking notes, the January 22nd reunion show was never official – more of a surprise to play alongside Joan of Arc’s variety show (a band they notably influenced) at the time. The upcoming July 17th event at Chicago’s The Bottom Lounge promises to be grander in every aspect. You can grab your tickets here.

The band’s cult-like following is especially impressive when you take into account that they only released one full-length album: Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards in the Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We’ve Slipped on and Egg Shells We’ve Tippy Toed Over – better known as Shmap’n Shmazz - way back in 1994. Jade Tree is reissuing on vinyl not only this album but also combining material from early singles, compilation tracks, and split releases: all of which the band did a plethora of in their short but active years. The double LP goes beyond the original compilation CD’s release several years back by offering bonus material not included on its original issue including never before seen photos, show fliers, and new liner notes by Tim Kinsella. The deluxe reissue, entitled Analphabetapolothology, will be available on vinyl only care of Jade Tree on June 15th.Check out one of the tracks below.

stream: ‘Oh Messy Life’ by Cap’n Jazz
from Analphabetapolothology

Tracklisting:

01 Little League
02 Oh Messy Life
03 Puddle Splashers
04 Flashpoint: Catheter
05 In the Clear
06 Yes, I Am Talking To You
07 Basils Kite
08 Bluegrassish
09 Planet Shhh
10 The Sands Have Turned Purple
11 Precious
12 Que Suerte!
13 Take On Me
14 Tokyo
15 Ooh Do I Love You
16 Hey Ma, Do I Hafta Choke On These
17 Forget Who We Are
18 Olerud
19 We Are Scientists!
20 Sea Tea
21 Troubled By Insects
22 Rocky Rococo
23 AOK
24 Sergio Valente

Bonus Downloads:

25 In the Clear
26 Soria
27 No Use For A Piano Player When You Got A Player Piano
28 Scary Kids Scaring Kids
29 Bluegrass
30 Winter Wonderland
31 Geheim
32 Easy Driver
33 Theme to 90210
34 Ooh Do I love You

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After being crowned by the fans and indie scene – not to mention Billboard – as one of the best new electronica acts, NYC outfit Glint is setting their sights and hopes high for 2010. Finishing up a tour that saw the band across Europe for most of 2009, the Muse-meet-Radiohead group is back in the studio working on their follow to 2007’s studio debut Sound in Silence. Expected sometime this year, the album is said to be mixed by Michael Brauer of Ben Folds, My Morning Jacket, and Wilco credits and who also aided the band on their upcoming self titled EP due out in March stateside. Check out the single ‘Freak’ off of the upcoming EP, filled with booming howls and larger-than-life chamber rock.

stream: ‘Freak’ by Glint
from Glint EP

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For those of us who didn’t get the warm and fuzzies this Valentines Day and are looking for wtf answers to our life, the UK has some insight. Electro poppers Viva City plan to answer that question with the release of their new single ‘Have You Ever Felt So Messed Up’ off the forthcoming album of the same name (due out March 22nd Stateside) as well with as a handful of US dates leading up. The Newcastle band has pegged the dance floor banger sound by making those Depeche Mode influences their own personal Jesus and enough synchs to make Prodigy green with envy. Ok so that last part isn’t hard to do but you get our point.

stream: ‘Have You Ever Felt So Messed Up’ by Viva City
from Have You Ever Felt So Messed Up

Electro Poptastic Tour:

03-12 Road 34 - Fort Collins, CO
03-13 The Meadowlark - Denver, CO
03-15 The Roxy – Hollywood, CA
03-17 SXSW – Austin, TX
03-18 SXSW – Austin, TX
03-19 SXSW – Austin, TX
03-20 SXSW – Austin, TX

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When you are as talented as Roberto Lange, you need to spread your talent in as many ways as possible. Or if you are Roberto Lange, you create alter egos to play your talent as. As Epstein, he oozes beats heavy with muddled bass all on washed out upbeat electronics. And accompanied by El Conjunto, this band bleeds for his personal dance party. When Man Gets Full He Falls Asleep (due out March 10th) is a 14-track folk jam with some of today’s best to join the ride. The first single ‘A Lost Animal’ has Yeasayer member Jason Trammell’s drumming and moodsters School of Seven Bells as Epstein mixes his dangerous humanistic sounds and haunting jams.

stream: ‘A Lost Animal’ by Epstein Y El Conjunto
from When Man Gets Full He Falls Asleep

Tracklisting:

01 Arrival to New York (a short story about getting there)
02 When we Hide (this time)
03 Vilcabamba
04 El Condor Despierta (El Conjunto Edit)
05 I can Memorize you (can you?)
06 Una Tarde
07 Gallop
08 Needed
09 BgBgBg (offset tape splice)
10 Our Brain That Wouldn’t Die
11 Temporary
12 A Lost Animal - Featuring School of Seven Bells
13 Ting and Pinge
14 There’s a Way under (Here)

related news:

• Unveiling Notes: School of Seven Bells Interview
• live: M83, School of Seven Bells @ Bottom Lounge
• stream: School of Seven Bells Get Remixed

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Most may have written Franz Nicolay off after high-tailing it out of Brooklyn and The Hold Steady’s camp. But apparently he had a ton of talents and plans up his sleeves … and in his mustache. Not only does he have a book of short stories, Complicated Gardening Techniques, hitting shelves February 11th to accompany his solo album that dropped last year, but he seems happy in his new digs as part of the gypsy-punk unit Guignol. The band is working out the details on a physical release of their recently completed collaboration with Mischief Brew entitled Fight Dirty. But in the meantime you can pick it up digitally over at Cottage Records as well as catch Franz on his solo of which he shares time along the way with Guignol.

Franz and His ‘Stash Tour:

02-19 Alfred University Knight Club - Alfred, NY
02-20 DC9 - Washington, DC +
02-21 Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar - Charlottesville, VA
02-22 Guest DJ on WNRN In The Morning - Charlottesville, VA
02-22 The Camel - Richmond, VA
02-23 Guest DJ on WTJU Afternoon - Charlottesville, VA
02-24 Otto Bar - Baltimore, MD +
02-25 Khyber - Philadelphia, PA ^
03-04 TBA – Boston, MA *
03-05 Bennington College - Bennington, VT *
03-06 Bat Barn - Great Barrington, MA *
03-08 Live on WUML - Lowell MA *
+ with Roman Kuebler of Oranges Band
^ with Ha Ha Tonka, Peasant
* with Guignol

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It’s been three years, and two repurchases of 2007’s Living with the Living (we scratched the original from heavy rotation) since we’ve had new Ted Leo and the Pharmacists but come March 9th, our wait – and yours – will be over. That’s when the band’s long awaited follow-up The Brutalist Bricks will be available both by digital and physical release. Just around that time, the boys will be hitting the road in support of the new album which was recorded over most of 2009 at Brooklyn’s Seaside Lounge. The studio has shared the company of Beirut, The New Pornographers, The Oxford Collapse, and more.

Judging from their first rad single ‘Even Heroes Have to Die’ [stream below] either a lot of the talent that went through those doors has rubbed off or their influence is bigger than we ever expected. Filled with fist pumps and familiarity, it’s like falling onto your own bed after being on vacation for a long – long time.

stream: ‘Even Heroes Have To Die’ by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
from The Brutalist Bricks

Tracklisting:

01 The Mighty Sparrow
02 Mourning in America
03 Ativan Eyes
04 Even Heroes Have to Die
05 The Stick
06 Bottled in Cork
07 Woke Up Near Chelsea
08 One Polaroid a Day
09 Where Was My Brain?
10 Bartomelo and the Buzzing of Bees
11 Tuberculoids Arrive in Hop
12 Gimme the Wire
13 Last Days

Brutal Tour Dates:

03-11 Grog Shop - Cleveland Heights, OH
03-12 The Crofoot - Pontiac, MI
03-13 The Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL
03-14 High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI
03-15 First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
03-18 The Blvd - Spokane, WA
03-19 Nuemo’s - Seattle, WA
03-20 Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR
03-21 Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR
03-23 Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA
03-24 Soho Restaurant & Music Club - Santa Barbara, CA
03-26 The Glass House - Pomona, CA
03-27 Troubadour - West Hollywood, CA
03-28 Club Congress - Tucson, AZ
03-31 The Parish Room April - Austin, TX
04-02 One Eyed Jacks - New Orleans, LA
04-03 Club Downunder - Tallahassee, FL
04-04 The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
04-05 Cat’s Cradle - Carrboro, NC
04-07 First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, PA
04-08 930 Club - Washington, DC
04-09 Irving Plaza - New York, NY
04-10 Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA

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