In the Fresh - The Fall of Troy

who: The Fall of Troy

why: I've already had the news on my twitter, but I figured I should post it here after I made their debut, self-titled album my friday flashback for the week.

The Fall of Troy have announced a headlining tour with Envy on the Coast and Twin Atlantic and what's most important is they're coming through Chicago TWICE (OPENING SHOW!!!), with both shows being on weekends! I'm so pumped I can't even tell you. I've only seen them the one time, but it was one of the best concerts I've ever seen and I'll never forget it. Go get yourself some tickets.

Sat/3-6 DeKalb, IL @ House Cafe

Sun/3-7 Indianapolis, IN @ Emerson Theatre
Tue/3-9 Covington, KY @ Mad Hatter
Wed/3-10 Nashville, TN @ Rocketown
Thu/3-11 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
Fri/3-12 St. Petersburg, FL @ Orpheum
Sat/3-13 Orlando, FL @ The Social
Sun/3-14 Mobile, AL @ Mobile Music Box
Mon/3-15 Metairie, LA @ High Ground
Wed/3-17 Mission,TX @ Never Say Never Festival
Thu/3-18 Austin, TX SXSW
Fri/3-19 Austin, TX SXSW
Sat/3-20 Dallas, TX @ The Door
Sun/3-21 San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
Tue/3-23 Phoenix, AZ @ Martini Ranch
Thu/3-25 San Luis Obispo, CA @ Downtown Brew
Fri/3-26 San Francisco, CA @ Slims
Sat/3-27 Anaheim, CA @ Bamboozle
Tue/3-30 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Wed/3-31 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
Thu/4-1 Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw
Sat/4-3 Salt Lake City, UT @ Murray Theatre
Sun/4-4 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
Tue/4-6 Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck
Wed/4-7 Des Moines, IA @ House of Bricks
Thu/4-8 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock

Fri/4-9 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean

Sat/4-10 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
Sun/4-11 Grand Rapids, MI @ Intersection
Tue/4-13 Pittsburgh, PA @ Diesel
Wed/4-14 Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk
Thu/4-15 Toronto, ON @ Annex Wreck Room
Fri/4-16 Montreal, QC @ Underworld
Sat/4-17 Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon
Sun/4-18 Albany, NY @ Valentines
Tue/4-20 Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
Wed/4-21 Philadelphia, PA @ First Church
Thu/4-22 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Sat/4-24 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
Sun/4-25 New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place

VOTW - January 22, 2010

who: Kevin Devine

why: because I've been on a little KD trip lately... I never really got into him too much, but I'm pretty pumped for next Tuesday when he'll be teaming up with Manchester Orchestra to release an EP titled 'I Could Be the Only One'.

Watch Out - Portugal. The Man

who: Portugal. The Man

why: Yes, again... this is the third post I've made about these dudes in a week - but they just won't stop bringin' it.

LMAO! - Adam Sandler

who: Adam Sandler on Conan

why: if you don't know what's going on by now you need to stop donating to Haiti... there's only so much you can do.

WE'LL DO IT ACOUSTIC! - Motion City Soundtrack

who: Motion City Soundtrack

why: fresh off their new release 'My Dinosaur Life', here's a live acoustic performance of their single "Her Words Destroyed My Planet".

Eargasm - Happy Belated 2009

who: The Republic of Wolves and The Temper Trap
why: because it never fails that every year I leave out at least one amazing album from my "Best of" lists... In 2006 it was Manchester Orchestra and This Will Destroy You. In 2007, Lady Radiator. In 2008, I somehow missed out on all of Bon Iver, The Glass Ocean, La Dispute and Wild Sweet Orange's albums.

And now it's just barely 2010 and I've already found two albums I managed to ignore last year. Fans of Brand New need to immediately hop on The Republic of Wolves bandwagon. If you liked 'Daisy', I guarantee you won't be disappointed in this, their debut EP - 'His Old Branches'. Lala isn't streaming their album yet, but be sure to check out their myspace for a few choice tracks.

The Temper Trap are the latest belated edition to my essential albums list. I don't really know the best way to describe their sound so I'll just go with what their twitter says - "4 aussie kids just rockin' it". This album caught me immediately... I listened to it on repeat all day and I still can't get enough.

Conditions - The Temper Trap

Man Crush - Dave Davison

who: Dave Davison of Maps & Atlases

why: if you don't know this man, you need to become acquainted. Easily one of the most talented musicians I've ever had the privilege of watching, he's also like THE nicest guy to ever walk the Earth and now he's somehow gone months? growing this crazy delicious beard without me finding out.

Premature Infatuation - Portugal. The Man

who: Portugal. The Man

why: I don't know how these guys find time to sleep and eat... every time I blink they're announcing news, and I'm not sure even they can keep up with it all. I was already waist deep in anticipation for this year's release 'American Ghetto', and now I've just learned about this, The Oregon City Sessions.

"With one of our most intensive years of touring complete we decided the best way to finish the year would be to head into a studio and to play our live set from beginning to end. No overdubs, just the band as they sounded in December 2008. This was our first year doing several headline tours in the US and Europe and we felt like we had come a long way.

We spent one intensive day in Super Natural Sound Studio in Oregon City recording and filming the performance. Our great friend, Graham Baclagon, was the director, editor, cameraman. Intercut with footage from around the world each song has it's own feel. Jacob Portrait recorded the sound.

"The Oregon City Session" is a film and a live album that we will release soon on Approaching AIRballoons. There will be chances to view the film in its entirety before we release so keep in touch."

Check out Portugal. The Man wherever you can find them...
YouTube | Twitter | Myspace | Facebook

In the Fresh - Portugal. The Man

who: Portugal. The Man

why: have planned a U.S. tour with band Port O'Brien and The Dig. If you've never seen Portugal live, they are easily one of the best bands I have ever seen and I would highly recommend going, even if you've never heard their stuff.

I've posted live stuff of these guys before, and have several times claimed JBG to be one of my idols... but here's an acoustic version of them playing "Colors" from their 2008 release, 'Censored Colors'.

Feb 24 Fargo, ND @ Aquarium
Feb 25 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theatre
Feb 26 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
Feb 27 Louis, MO @ The Gargoyle
Mar 01 Oxford, MS @ Proud Larry's
Mar 03 Dallas, TX @ House of Blues / Pontiac Garage
Mar 04 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live (Studio)
Mar 05 Austin, TX @ The Parish
Mar 06 Austin, TX @ The Parish
Mar 09 Gainesville, FL @ Common Ground
Mar 10 Ybor City, FL @ Crowbar
Mar 11 Orlando, FL @ The Social
Mar 12 Elkton, FL @ Harvest of Hope Festival
Mar 13 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
Mar 18 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Mar 19 New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom
Mar 20 Millvale, PA @ Mr. Small's Theatre
Mar 21 Cincinnati, OH @ 20th Century Theatre
Mar 24 Columbia, MO @ Mojo's
Mar 26 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
Mar 27 Vail, CO @ The Sandbar
Mar 28 Aspen, CO @ Belly Up Aspen

Watch Out - Sundiata Gaines (Utah Jazz)

who: Sundiata Gaines

why: because if you're like me and didn't see the game last night... you have no idea what you missed.