Photographer: Lindsey Best
Venue: The Echoplex
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Date: 2/18/2010

Photographer: Lindsey Best
Venue: The Echoplex
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Date: 2/18/2010

Photographer: Lindsey Best
Venue: The Troubadour
Location: Los Angeles
Date: February 4th, 2010

Photographer: Lindsey Best
Venue: The Echo
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Show Date: January 16, 2010

Fang Island describes its sound as “everyone high-fiving everyone.” And, the Brooklyn quintet’s anthemic and soaring songs make it quite possibly one of few bands befitting such description. Check out MP3s for two new tracks, “Daisy” (MP3 HERE) and “Life Coach” (MP3 HERE).

Its finger-tapping guitar lines, chanted vocals, triumphant harmonies and overall perky songs hearken to the sort of “Total Music” of the Fucking Champs, Jay Reatard, Ponytail, Kraftwerk, Marnie Stern, Thin Lizzy, et al. But, perhaps more so, its songs are like the music in your head at that moment when everything feels just right: that first kiss, that high score on the video game, buying your first small nation in cash… you know, good stuff.

Nothing embodies the band’s sense of optimism and enthusiasm better than this clip of Fang Island performing live for a classroom of kindergartners. Watch HERE.

Fang Island began, oddly enough, as an art school project while the band members were attending the prodigious Rhode Island School of Design (also the foundation for Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Les Savvy Fav, Lightning Bolt, Six Finger Satellite and some band called the Talking Heads.) According to guitarist Jason Bartell, the goal was to “make music for people who like music.” That is, music without irony that harnesses its uplifting qualities. Just like a classic rock song or classical symphony can stir us emotionally, Fang Island exists to unlock that spirit.

Fang Island is guitarist Jason Bartell, bassist Philip Curcuru, guitarist Chris Georges, guitarist Nicholas Andrew Sadler, and drummer Marc St. Sauveur. They all share collective group vocal harmonies and the occasional hand claps. While Sadler is also known for his role in the debauched rock band Daughters, it is only his fretboard skill that translates between the two groups.

Fang Island begins appropriately with the sound of erupting fireworks on “Dreams of Dreams” leading into a cascading chorus of ringing guitar notes before the group vocal harmonies chime in with the mantra, “they all are within my reach, they are free.” The second song, “Careful Crossers” launches in beneath the vocals with a chorus of gleaming guitar harmonies smeared over the marching, syncopated rhythm section. Elsewhere, tracks like “Sideswiper” hearken to the metal-laced positivity of Andrew WK. “Daisy” sounds like a unique collaboration between the Fucking Champs and Jay Reatard. Throughout the album, it’s like listening to the cool version of classic rock — the type of anthemic pop — without the cheesiness — that you wished Journey and Boston could’ve made.

Fang Island’s debut album, Fang Island will be released February 23rd, 2010 via Sargent House.

Artist: Fang Island

Album: Fang Island

Label: Sargent House

Release Date: February 23, 2010

01. Dreams of Dreams

02. Careful Crossers

03. Daisy (MP3)

04. Life Coach (MP3)

05. Sideswiper

06. The Illinois

07. Treeton

08. Davey Crockett

09. Welcome Wagon

10. Dorian

Michigan’s own Small Brown Bike returns after 5 years on hiatus with these two new glorious jams “When We Run” and “Hourglass”. Fans that have followed the band in the past will be thrilled with these new songs and wanting even more after they hear them. Hopefully we won’t have to wait long as the band is currently recording new material and the second installment for the Composite 7″ series is on the way. Maybe to help that cause along you should drop SBB a line asking for some more music. Below are some show dates, be sure to see them live.

Here’s a note from Small Brown Bike:
“Hi friends. First off, thanks for the good words over the last month. It’s awesome to know that there are still people out there listening. You all rule. We just wanted to add some more details about what’s happening. To make a long story short, the original lineup (Mike, Ben, Travis, Dan) is back together and working on new music. Over the last few months we’ve been writing a ton of new stuff and currently have about ten new songs finished plus a bunch more in various stages. We’re all really excited about how it’s going. So far, so good! The bottom line for us is to have fun, write music, and play a few shows here and there. Just like we did when we started the band. Keep it simple.
So that’s what’s happening. Thanks again for listening. See you at the shows!”

Small Brown Bike shows: 12/4 – Chicago, IL @ The Beat Kitchen (Early all ages show) 12/4 – Chicago, IL @ The Beat Kitchen (Late adult show – SOLD OUT) 12/5 – Lansing, MI @ Mac’s Bar

- Visit Small Brown Bike

Alkaline Trio has announced the birth of Heart & Skull, the band’s own label formed in partnership with Epitaph Records. The band will release its seventh album through Epitaph/Heart & Skull in early 2010.

Commenting on the formation of the new imprint, named for the band’s longstanding logo, Alkaline Trio singer/guitarist Matt Skiba commented, “We made the decision to form Heart & Skull to put out our own records after having been through every kind of label deal in the industry, big indies, small indies, majors. We knew it was time to adapt to the shifting tides of the music industry and we could not be more thrilled about doing that in conjunction with the team at Epitaph. Taking control of our own label situation was something we always wanted to do but never thought was possible, but now thanks to Brett Gurewitz and the fine folks at Epitaph, it is. All three of us in Alkaline Trio have always had the utmost respect for the music and the work ethic of the Epitaph, Anti- and Hellcat family and now we’re honored to be working together under one big happy roof. Heart & Skull/Epitaph is truly a dream come true for us.”

Alkaline Trio bassist/vocalist Dan Andriano added, “For our band at this time it really makes sense to release our own records, but we wanted to make sure we could partner up with good people who we would want to share in something very special to us.  When Brett called and said he wanted to be involved, that was it. Epitaph is a label I’ve admired and supported for more than half of my life! I couldn’t be more excited for how this is turning out!”

Alkaline Trio first emerged from Chicago in 1996 and has since released the full length studio albums Goddamnit, Maybe I’ll Catch Fire, From Here To Infirmary, Good Mourning, Crimson and last year’s Agony & Irony, which was the highest charting record of the band’s career to date. The band is comprised of Skiba, Andriano and drummer Derek Grant, all of whom are partners in Heart & Skull.

You want some great free new music by amazing bands? Well then, here you go!

- Click to Download Grab Bag

Featuring these great new songs:
Alvin Band “Mantis Preying Ate Single”
Beach House “Norway”
CFCF “Monolith”
The Dead Trees “Rayna (demo)”
Fredrik “Locked in the Basement”
Furcast “Greyls Old”
Holly Miranda “Forest Green Oh Forest Green”
Letting Up Despite Our Faults “In Steps”
Mean Creek “(OrTheUnderground)”
Midnight Masses “Walk On Water”
Miracles of Modern Science “Bossa Supernova”
Summer Dregs “Bones”
Tape Deck Mountain “On My Honor”
Tape Deck Mountain “Scantron (remix)
Technoir MA “Roundabout”
The New Loud “Dont Dance”
Toro Y Moi “Blessa”

Photographer: Lindsey Best
Location: The Palladium, Los Angeles
Date: November 5th, 2009
Bands: The Pixies and Black Gold

Photographer: Lindsey Best
Location: San Diego, CA @ Spreckels Theatre
Date: October 20th, 2009