Sigur Ros announces tour... and decides to stop by Philly!

Sigur Rós is going on tour for their upcoming album Valtari.  Here are the dates:

07-30 Philadelphia, PA - The Mann (Skyline Stage) (!!!!!)
07-31 Brooklyn, NY - Prospect Park 
08-01 Toronto, Ontario - Echo Beach
08-03 Montreal, Quebec - Osheaga Festival 
08-04-05 Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza 
08-08 Seattle, WA - Paramount
08-09 Portland, OR - Edgefield
08-12 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Forever Cemetery 
08-18-19 Tokyo, Japan - Summer Sonic Festival
08-24 Paris, France - Rock En Seine Festival 
08-25 Winterthur, Switzerland - Steinberggasse, Winterthur Festival
08-28-29 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
08-31 Stradbally, Ireland - Electric Picnic Festival
09-02 Verona, Italy - A Perfect Day Festival 
09-04 Vienna, Austria - Arena 
09-07 Berlin, Germany- Berlin Festival 
09-09 Isle of Wight, England - Bestival 
09-16-17 Krakow, Poland - Sacrum Profanum Festival

Now look back at that first one... THE MANN.  It's general admission, $36 (woof).  I know that breaks the bank for a lot of folks, but shit, Sigur Ros at the Mann.

Get the F ready.

Oh May God

Hey all.

So here's some shit for you, if you live, are going to be in, or can make it to Philly for the month of May, I've just started realizing how sick a month it's going to be for live music.  Here's a couple I'm psyched for.


5/2 - Acid Mother's Temple @ Johnny Brendas - I've yet to go to an Acid Mother's show, but I hear their shows are a wild spectacle.  The Japanese psychedelic scene is stronger than some might know.




5/4 - Woods and MMOSS @ Johnny Brendas- If you've read this blog, I don't know, ever, you'll know that I'm an unapologetic in my support for most things Woodsist.  The label has carved out it's own little niche, quietly churning out critically acclaimed albums year after year.  It all starts with Woods bringing the folk-psych-jam to JBs.  



5/6 - Future Islands @ The Church- I totally jumped on the Future Islands train way late, but better late than never.  Should prove to be a fun night.



5/10 - Daniel Johnston @ Union Transfer- This came right out of the blue for me!  I didn't even know Johnston still toured but alas the troubled legend comes to Union Transfer.  If you don't know him, prepare to be shocked by the sheer amount of influence this guy had on music's biggest icons of the past 20 years.



5/14 - MV & EE @ Level Room - Another Woodsist group bringing more Woodsist-ish folk music.



5/18 - Ty Segal and White Fence @ Johnny Brendas - This one I'm super psyched for.  Ty Segal has been one of my favorites for the past 4 years or so.  Coming off of a pretty successful album in Goodbye Bread, Segal comes to JBs with yet another impressive Woodsist band.  White Fence and Segal recently recorded a collaborative album, so there's totally opportunity to see both on stage.  Should be fuzzed out, raw power goodness.

The Swollen Fox: Neon Indian review.

Photo by Kevin from The Swollen Fox

Howdy.

Since I've moved a 5 minute walk away from Union Transfer (what I've deemed "the good hood"), I've been happily a bit more present there lately.  So close to shows... so long paychecks.

Anywho, here's a review I did for the recent Neon Indian gig over at said Union Transfer.  Hope you enjoy it.  More show reviews to come!

In case you forgot why Sigur Rós is beautiful...

Well, here.

   

It's a video promoting their new album Valtari (out May 29th in the US, May 28th everywhere else).  The name of the song that just wrapped around you like an Icelandic wool sweater is called "Ekki Múkk".  To me this is Sigur Ros doing what Sigur Ros do best: being Sigur Ros.  Don't get me wrong, I loved some of the goofy nature of songs such as "Gobbledeegook".  They express the importance of play and clearly illustrate a different time, creatively, and the band member's lives.  However, songs like "Ekki Múkk" remind us of why we fell in love with Sigur Ros in the first place.


And that's good.


Bye.

Extended absences...

Hey all,

so wow, I kinda left for a long time.  Let's try again!

For all y'all looking for something to do tomorrow, go see Youth Lagoon at Union Transfer.  I'M TOTES GOIN.  It's a good album, it'll probably sound great live, and that's reason enough.

Here's some tunes for the evening.





These guys are also coming to town soon!  Easily my most anticipated show of this year.  Dooooz it!

Some of my actual bros.  Saw them a couple times this month and am just reminded how much I enjoy their music.

SEE YOU SOON

The Swollen Fox: Twin Sister Review

A blurry picture I took at the show.  I thought it kinda looked cool.

Friends,

here's my most recent addition to The Swollen Fox.  It would have been my third, but the last show I was at before this one happened to be Chairlifts' Free At Noon show at the World Cafe and I didn't have the energy to write it.  Mostly because I found it to be a pretty awkward performance and didn't feel like hating for close to 1000 words.  Anyway, read this review which has a lot less hating in it.

http://theswollenfox.com/review-twin-sister-johnny-brendas/

New Sleigh Bells, "Comeback Kid".

Just saw that Sleigh Bells release their first single from their upcoming album Reign of Terror.  "Comeback Kid" sounds a little cleaner, which seems the be the thing for low-fi bands to do these days.  Sleigh Bells don't lose their charm that they found with pairing abrasive guitars, hard booming drums, and sweet feminine vocals, but it definitely sounds reigned in and a little more thought out than before.  I don't think that takes away from it and, in fact, makes me pretty excited to hear the forthcoming album, out February 21st.  Let me know what you think!

 Comeback Kid by Sleigh Bells