 Remember that post I did on The Balkans way back in the day? Yeah, I can say that now because Newdust has been around for over a year! But enough about us, in the year since we’ve covered The Balkans they’ve continued to deliver us with catchy, fast-pace punk with delightful 60’s surf rock undertones. I haven’t heard a song from them I didn’t like. Here’s a couple videos that were shot by the really cool site Indie ATL. |
Photo Credit: PJ Sykes |
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This surfy band out of Richmond, VA was brought to my attention by a friend a few weeks ago. Lubec combines pop sensibilities with a surf/punk/rock theme. Win! Take a listen to “Your Magic Wand” and “Gang Knife Fight” and you will have visions of riding waves circa 1968. Also, I smell some Weezer/90’s influences in there as well. And… maybe some Morning Benders. Enjoy! Attn DC: Lubec is playing with Lightfoot and others at the Velvet Lounge this Friday May 14th. Be there! |
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Song: Gang Knife Battles.mp3 Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Artist: Lubec |
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A few weeks ago I did a post on Surfer Blood’s single “Swim” and their great new record Astro Coast. I hope you all are enjoying it as much as I am… Here is the very strange video for “Swim”. Enjoy! |
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I got an email the other day that read this: |
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Artist: The Car Is On Fire Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Song: Cherry Cordial.mp3 |
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The all-girl power-trio Grass Widow from San Francisco makes 60’s infused psychedelic-surf-pop that is both magical and refreshingly unique. What more could you ask for? Here’s “Tattoo” off their latest self-titled 12″ EP, out now on Captured Tracks. |
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 Atlanta, Georgia’s The Balkans deliver a moody, punk sound with raw, 60’s surf rock undertones. |
| “Zebra Print,” from The Balkans’ Zebra Print / Oh Dear 7″, is an erratic combination of jangly 60’s surf rock and old school punk. Upbeat, wishy-washy drums are followed close behind by eerie, drawn-out vocals. “Oh Dear” is the other track on their 7″, with oddly familiar surf rock patterns lead by slightly distorted, strummy guitar riffs and clean, punchy bass lines. All under the age of twenty, they seem to have perfected their sound during their two year career. Their stage set up contains what looks to be a twelve foot ladder that their bassist makes his way up to during their shows. The next time you’re throwing a house party and you live anywhere near Georgia, I highly recommend you invite The Balkans. Or if you’re not the house party type, you can catch them tonight at 8pm at Foxbox in Atlanta, Georgia. | |
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 A side-by-side comparison of both versions of pop-surf newcomers The Botticellis “Table by the Window”.
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| The Botticellis put on an impressive performance back in March when I saw them open for Sugar and Gold at Andy’s Bar in Denton, Texas. And the fact that I still remembered who they were after S&G’s disco-groove greatness is a compliment all it’s own. So naturally I went home and listened to everything The Botticellis ever made, and I’ve been a fan ever since. The one song I keep coming back to is “Table by the Window”, but it’s not the original version that appears on their full length Old Home Movies. Three months after OHM’s release they came out with a 7″ self-titled EP with an alternative version of the song, as well as a cover of George Harrison’s “Awaiting On You All”. The Botticellis also did a pretty interesting cover of Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again” back in January, but you’ll have to check out their myspace for that one. I’ve posted both versions of the song below, and I think you’ll agree with me when I say that the original sounds more like the song as an idea scribbled on a napkin, while the alternative version is the clean, polished, and extremely addictive afterthought. | |
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Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Artist: The Botticellis Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Artist: The Botticellis |
