MP3: Gardens and Villa – “Black Hills”
MP3: Gardens and Villa – “Star Fire Power”
Full album stream: Gardens and Villa – Gardens and Villa
Just before Santa Barbara’s Gardens and Villa took to the stage at Soda Bar last April, excited whispers could be heard throughout the venue.
“I hear these guys are really good.”
“I heard they got picked to tour with a big band soon.”
“I heard all their songs are about Bob Vila.”
Okay, that last one didn’t happen, but the buzz around the group — whose name sounds better suited to a program on HGTV than a rock band — was palpable. And when Gardens and Villa launched into their high-energy set, they lived up to every bit of it.
The murmurs about a tour with a bigger band proved true as well: the stoner rock five-piece is currently traipsing across the country with Generationals. Sure, the New Orleans duo isn’t exactly the Dave Matthews Band or whatever the kids are listening to nowadays, but what Generationals lack in quantity of fans they make up for in quality of work. Their recent second album, Actor-Caser, continues their winning streak of polished, danceable indie rock with melodies so infectious that they make the swine flu look like the regular old flu flu.
Generationals aren’t the only ones with a new album under their belts. On July 5, Gardens and Villa will release their full-length debut on Secretly Canadian. If you can’t wait until then, you can check out a complete stream of the record here, or watch the hilariously odd video for “Black Hills.”
San Diegans can catch Gardens and Villa along with Generationals and San Diego’s own Jamuel Saxon on July 10 at the Casbah in what promises to be one of the month’s best shows. Unfortunately for you, guy who didn’t get a ticket yet, it’s now sold out.
CORRECTION: The show is not sold out, so hurry and grab your tickets here!
Gardens and Villa tour dates
Jun 30 Atlanta GA – Masquerade: Hell Stage ^
Jul 1 Houston TX – Warehouse Live ^
Jul 2 Austin TX – Emo’s ^
Jul 3 Dallas TX – The Loft ^
Jul 5 Tucson AZ – Club Congress ^
Jul 6 San Diego CA – House of Blues ^
Jul 7 Los Angeles CA – El Rey ^
Jul 8 Tempe AZ – The Sail Inn *
Jul 9 Tucson AZ – Club Congress *
Jul 10 San Diego CA – Casbah *
Jul 14 Los Angeles CA – The Echo *
Jul 15 San Francisco CA – Café Du Nord *
Jul 16 Davis CA – Sophia’s *
Jul 17 Portland OR – Mississippi Studios *
Jul 19 Seattle WA – Tractor Tavern *
Jul 20 Boise ID – Neurolux *
Jul 21 Salt Lake City UT – Kilby Court *
Jul 23 Santa Fe NM – Corazon *
Jul 24 Oklahoma City OK – The Conservatory *
Jul 26 Chicago IL – The Empty Bottle #
Jul 27 Cleveland OH – Happy Dog #
Jul 28 Washington DC – Black Cat Backstage #
Jul 29 Philadelphia PA – Kung Fu Necktie #
Jul 30 New York NY – Mercury Lounge #
Jul 31 Allston MA – Great Scott *
Aug 1 Montreal QC – Casa del Popolo *
Aug 3 Pontiac MI – Vernors Room at the Crofoot
Aug 8 Wichita KS – Rock Island Live
Aug 9 Fort Worth TX – Lola’s Saloon Sixth
Aug 10 Austin TX – The Mohawk
^ w/ Foster the People
* w/ Generationals
# w/ Craft Spells