music news, san diego

Dead Weather Predicted for July 14

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The Dead Weather
Your friendly neighborhood weathermen at Owl&Bear are predicting some strangeness in the air this summer. According to our satellites and advanced meteorological technology, July 14th will be partly cloudy with a slight chance of rain and a very high chance of deadness. The cause of the humidity and morbidity appears to be the impending release of Horehound, the debut album from supergroup The Dead Weather.

The band, which features The White Stripes’ Jack White, The Kills’ Alison Mosshart, Queens of the Stone Age’s Dean Fertita, and that long-haired guy from The Raconteurs, already released a seven-inch single—the blistering “Hang You From The Heavens”—for last month’s Record Store Day.

The band will be supporting the new album with a North American tour that includes a stop at San Diego’s Street Scene festival in August. Pre-sale tickets for many of the tour dates will be available starting Wednesday, and can be purchased by following the links here. Fans purchasing pre-sale tickets will also have the opportunity to pre-order Horehound at a discounted price.

We’ve got the full list of tour dates and your first look at the cover of Horehound after the jump. Be sure to wear your poncho. Continue reading →

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Medeski Martin and Wood Unveil Their Creepy Side

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Medeski Martin and Wood

The music of Medeski Martin and Wood isn’t exactly known for its scariness. Sure, the jazz trio play their instruments so well it can be frightening, but they’re not exactly the band you would hire to score your horror movie.

After watching the video for “Amber Gris”, the first single off MMW’s newly released album Radiolarians II, you may have to reassess your perception of the band. Filmed, directed, and edited by drummer Billy Martin, the video’s low-key lighting, Super 16mm photography, and backwoods Blair Witch imagery would at first glance seem better suited to an old Sam Raimi film than a jazz club.

But Medeski Martin and Wood are nothing if not versatile. With its ominously discordant build-up, intense crescendos, and hushed interludes, “Amber Gris” is yet another fine example of the band’s ability to evoke mood without sacrificing groovy momentum. We’ve got the video for you after the jump and, for those of you with a deep-set fear of creepy old men in recliners, a streaming mp3 of the song as well. Continue reading →

music news, video

Jason Lytle – I Am Lost (And the Moment Cannot Last)

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Here’s the hot-off-the-press video for “I Am Lost (And the Moment Cannot Last)” by Jason Lytle. Directed by The General Assembly, the downtrodden clip is the first single off of the former Grandaddy frontman’s new solo album, Yours Truly, The Commuter.

Though the album doesn’t drop until May 19th, you can hear it right now, thanks to the nice people at NPR. We’ve been listening to it non-stop for the past couple weeks—especially the flawless track “Brand New Sun”—and we think it may even surpass Grandaddy’s best work. Give the album a test-drive here.

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Cloud Cult Playing Casbah May 14th

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Cloud Cult

In case you haven’t noticed yet, we at Owl&Bear really love Cloud Cult. Their most recent effort, Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes) earned a much-deserved spot on our Best of 2008 list, and still hasn’t lost any of its resonance, despite the endless rotations we’ve subjected it to. So, it is with no small amount of giddiness that I remind you that the Minnesota septet are bringing their quirky and cathartic sounds to San Diego’s world-famous Casbah on Thursday, May 14th.

Cloud Cult are currently on tour in support of their new DVD No One Said It Would Be Easy, which documents the eco-friendly band’s storied career from its humble beginnings to its auspicious present. Their San Diego show is one of but a handful of dates remaining on the tour and, since rumor has it the band may unfortunately be calling it quits soon, you should make it a point to check them out while you can. Say Hi and Ice Palace will be joining them for what is sure to be a memorable night.

We’ve got a video of the band performing their song “Pretty Voice” after the jump. I know we’ve posted it before, but it’s just so good it would be a crime not to watch it again. Plus, I’m pretty sure the violinist has a crush on me.* Continue reading →

music news, san diego, video

Metric Declare Their Independence

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Metric

Metric are having a good year. The Canadian quartet recently released the excellent Fantasies, their first album in four years, which adds new layers to their dark, angular rock and roll. They’re also set to blow audiences away at the FM 94/9 Independence Jam on June 7th, alongside Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Black Keys, and local acts Dirty Sweet, Scarlet Symphony, the Creepy Creeps, and Apes of Wrath.

As if that weren’t enough, the band has lent their new song “Help, I’m Alive” to fellow countryman Deco Dawson for his new short film of the same name. The frequent collaborator of auteur Guy Maddin, Dawson is renowned for infusing films with his unique visual style, and Help, I’m Alive is no exception. Utilizing concert footage of Metric performing the hit single, he turns it into what the band describes as “Yo Gabba Gabba on acid”.

You can watch Help, I’m Alive after the jump and, since we’re pretty sure it’ll be stuck in your head for a while anyway, we’ve got a remix of the song by The Twelves for you too. Continue reading →

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