Tuesday, December 21, 2010

L.A. indie-pop darlings ROBOTANISTS ready new album, live dates for 2011








"Robotanists root around in the electro-noir explored by Mazzy Star and Portishead, with Ellquist's sultry voice narrating the way through forays into the dark both metaphorical and literal. Their penchant for the atmospheric never becomes an overbearing aesthetic, though - you can take the title of one of their songs, 'Subtlety Is Underrated,' seriously." -- Kevin Bronson, Buzz Bands


Los Angeles' glamorous indie-pop group ROBOTANISTS and producer Danny Kalb (Beck, Karen O, Feist) are currently putting the finishing touches on their third album for release in early 2011. The quartet, often compared to Florence + The Machine, Jenny Lewis, The Xx, et al., are reported to have richly expanded their already lush sound on the forthcoming album titled Plans in Progress. The CD/digital release will be available via Overhead Records on February 15th, 2011. Please get in touch for a special sneak-peak listen to tracks from the new album.

ROBOTANISTS headline a residency at the Silverlake Lounge in Los Angeles throughout February as well as play several shows at the South By Southwest Festival in Austin, TX in March. Please see current dates below.

While waiting for the new album and live dates, check out songs from ROBOTANISTS' previous releases: "Wait A Minute Here" (MP3) (VIDEO) from Close Down The Woods and their brilliant reworking of the Jay-Z hit, "Empire State of Mind" as "Exiled State of Mind" (MP3) (VIDEO) from the Shapes and Variations covers project. Stream/download complete albums via Bandcamp HERE.

Comprised of songwriters Sarah Ellquist (vocals & keys) and Daniel DeBlanke (guitar, keys) and rhythm section Keith Boyarsky (bass) and Preston Scott Phillips (drums), ROBOTANISTS have spent the past couple of years spreading their big choruses and delicate prose across North America on tour and on the radio. Their breakthrough single "Wait a Minute Here" (from the band's 2008 debut, Close Down The Woods) topped charts in Los Angeles (KCRW, KROQ) and other major cities across the US.

The group kicked off 2010 with their second album, a collection of covers called Shapes and Variations in March. The album is the Silver Lake quartet's critically acclaimed ode to Los Angeles, featuring re-harmonized and rearranged tracks by Jay-Z, Lykke Li, The Black Keys, Joe Jackson, Bryan Adams, and more. ROBOTANISTS released a vinyl 12", Current, in September 2010, which includes the band's favorite selections from each of their first two records.


ROBOTANISTS live:
02/07    Los Angeles, CA @ Silverlake Lounge
02/14    Los Angeles, CA @ Silverlake Lounge
02/21    Los Angeles, CA @ Silverlake Lounge
02/28    Los Angeles, CA @ Silverlake Lounge
03/18    Austin, TX @ The Blackheart - SXSW showcase
Plans in Progress
Artist: ROBOTANISTS
Album: Plans In Progress
Label: Overhead Records
Release Date: February 15th, 2011

Track List:
1. Have We Met Before?
2. Terminal A
3. ON/OFF The Ledge
4. The Lack Thereof
5. Plans in Progress
6. Luggage vs. Baggage
7. The Ghost You're Haunting

Shapes and Variations
Artist: ROBOTANISTS
Album: Shapes and Variations
Label: Overhead Records
Release Date: March 30th, 2010

Track List:
1. Exiled State of Mind (reworking of Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind") (MP3) (VIDEO)
2. Dance, Dance, Dance (Lykke Li)
3. Are You Really Going Out With Her? (reworking of Joe Jackson's "Is She Really Going Out With Him?")
4. All You Ever Wanted (The Black Keys)
5. Heaven (Bryan Adams)
6. Never Tear Us Apart (INXS)
7. Glass In Your Headlights (reworking of Phillip Glass' "Glassworks, Outro")


Close Down The Woods
Artist: ROBOTANISTS
Album: Close Down The Woods
Label: Overhead Records
Release Date: November 4th, 2008

Track List:
1. Wait A Minute Here (MP3) (VIDEO)  
2. Subtlety is Underrated
3. Close Down The Woods
4. Slow Motion
5. Tasteless
6. Getting By
7. I Don't Want to Know What Love Is


On the Web:
robotanists.com
facebook.com/robotanists
myspace.com/robotanists
robotanists.bandcamp.com
overheadrecords.com




Members of ROBOTANISTS are available for interviews. For more information, contact Dave Clifford at dave@usthemgroup.com

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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

US/THEM Group 2010 Year-End Roundup with Media Links

It's that time of year again -- when everyone's making their lists of which artists have been naughty or nice. Submitted for your consideration, here's a rundown of releases we've handled at US/THEM group throughout 2010. It's been an incredible time since our launch in May 2009, and next year is already lining up to be equally impressive.

Below are this year's releases, with media links. Please get in touch if you missed out on any of these, would like to arrange interviews or if I can be of any further assistance. Full archive of all press releases: www.usthemgroup.blogspot.com


Artist: The Happy Hollows
Album: Spells
Label: Autumn Tone
Release Date: January 26, 2010

Happy Hollows "Faces" (MP3)
Happy Hollows "Death To Vivek Kemp" (VIDEO)
Happy Hollows "Monster Room" (MP3)
Happy Hollows "High Wire" (MP3)
Happy Hollows "The Stein" (VIDEO)


Artist: Southerly
Title: Champion Of The Noisy Negativists
Label: Self Group (CD/digital) / People In A Position To Know (vinyl)
Release Date: February 19th, 2010

Southerly "Trials" (MP3)



Artist: Bygones
Album: Spiritual Bankruptcy
Label: Sargent House
Release Date: February 22, 2010




Artist: Fang Island
Album: Fang Island
Label: Sargent House
Release Date: February 23, 2010

Fang Island "Careful Crossers"  (VIDEO)
Fang Island "Daisy" (MP3) (VIDEO)
Fang Island "Life Coach" (MP3) (VIDEO)


Artist: N.A.M.B.
Album: BMAN
Label: Monotreme Records
Release Date: February 23, 2010

N.A.M.B. "Radiorace" (VIDEO)
N.A.M.B. "L.O.N." (MP3)


Artist: Mr. Gnome
Release: Tastes Like Magic EP
Label: El Marko Records
Release Date: March 16th, 2010

Mr. Gnome "Three Red Birds" (MP3)
Mr. Gnome "Vampires" (VIDEO)




Artist: Red Sparowes
Album: The Fear is Excruciating, But Therein Lies the Answer
Label: Sargent House
Release Date: April 6, 2010

Red Sparowes "Giving Birth to Imagined Saviors" (MP3)




Artist: Nedry
Album: Condors
Label: Monotreme Records
Release Date: April 20, 2010

Nedry "A42" (MP3) (VIDEO) 
Nedry "Apples and Pears" (VIDEO)
Nedry "Swan Ocean" (VIDEO)




Artist: Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
Album: Solar Gambling
Label: Rodriguez Lopez Productions
Release Date: April 17, 2010



Artist: RX Bandits
Album: Live At Park Ave. CDs
Label: Sargent House
Release Date: April 17, 2010




Artist: My Education
Album: Sunrise
Label: Strange Attractors Audio House
Release Date: April 27, 2010

My Education "Oars" (MP3)




Artist: Lisa Papineau
Album: Red Trees
Label: Sargent House
Release Date: May 4th, 2010

Lisa Papineau "White Leather Pants" (MP3)


Artist: MakeupBreakup
Album: Scents
Label: Cozy Music
Release Date: August 31st, 2010

MakeupBreakup "Wow" (MP3)
MakeupBreakup "My Way, To The Top" (MP3) (VIDEO)




Artist: Bee vs. Moth
Album: Acronyms
Label: Aggraveire Music
Release Date: September 6th, 2010

Bee vs. Moth "Salisbury Steakhouse" (MP3)
Bee vs. Moth "I Listen to Coffee All Day" (MP3) (VIDEO)
Bee vs. Moth "Ugly is the New Black" (VIDEO)


Artist: Tera Melos
Album: Patagonian Rats
Label: Sargent House
Release Date: September 7th, 2010

Tera Melos "The Skin Surf" (VIDEO)
Tera Melos "Frozen Zoo" (MP3) (VIDEO)


Artist: Fops
Album: Yeth, Yeth, Yeth
Label: Monotreme Records
Release Date: September 27th, 2010

Fops "Yellow Jacket Corpse" (VIDEO)
Fops "Solid Copper Huntress" (MP3)
Fops "Maple Mountain" (MP3)



Artist: Zach Hill
Album Title: Face Tat
Label: Sargent House 
Release date: October 19th, 2010

Zach Hill "Memo To the Man" (MP3)
Zach Hill "The Primitives Talk" (MP3) (VIDEO) 
Zach Hill "The Sacto Smile" (VIDEO)
Zach Hill "Second Life" (VIDEO)


Artist: Julie Christmas
Album Title: The Bad Wife
Label: Rising Pulse Records
Release Date: November 9th, 2010

Julie Christmas "July 31st" (MP3)
Julie Christmas "Bow" (MP3) (VIDEO)





Artist: Fang Island
Album: Limited Edition 7"
Label: Sargent House
Release Date: November 1st, 2010

01. Sideswiper
02. Dreamboys Club (DJ Phil Screwcuru remix)
03. Patterns On The Wall (feat. Andrew W.K.) (MP3)
04. Sidepiper (DJ Phil Screwcuru remix)
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Friday, November 12, 2010

Zach Hill premieres new video for "Second Life" track featuring Devendra Banhart




Click image above to watch video


Massively talented and incessantly collaborative drummer Zach Hill (see a semi-comprehensive list of projects here) has released a third video from his latest solo album, Face Tat. The song, "Second Life" features vocal contributions from Devendra Banhart.


Pitchfork premiered the video for "Second Life" today (also posted on YouTube). The clip was directed by Christian "MEGAZORD" Oldham.

The 13-track album features an impressive list of contributors, including Devendra Banhart, No Age (Dean Spunt and Randy Randall), Guillermo Scott Herren (Prefuse 73), Greg Saunier (Deerhoof), Carson McWhirter (Hella), Nick Reinhart (Tera Melos, Bygones) and Robby Moncrieff (Raleigh Moncrieff). 







Artist: Zach Hill

Album Title: Face Tat
Label: Sargent House 
Release date: October 19th, 2010
Track List:
01. Memo To the Man (MP3)
02. The Primitives Talk (MP3) (VIDEO) (YouTube)
03. Ex-Ravers
04. The Sacto Smile (VIDEO)
05. Green Bricks (VIDEO)
06. House of Hits
07. Jackers
08. Burner In the Video
09. Dizzy From the Twins
10. Gross Sales
11. Total Recall
12. Face Tat
13. Second Life (VIDEO)

On the Web:


Zach HIll is available for interviews. For more information, please contact Dave Clifford at dave@usthemgroup.com

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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Sex, drugs and mass carnage: Mr. Gnome's extended video for "Vampires" released

Click image above to watch video


"The awesome rush of sound that comes out of Nicole Barile's lungs and guitar and Sam Meister's drums seems much bigger and more powerful than anything two people are capable of. Mr. Gnome don't really sound like anyone else, and their ghost-ridden songs only make sense with a dreamtime logic." -- LA Weekly


The Cleveland duo with a rapifly growing cult following among musicians, critics and fans alike, Mr. Gnome has released an extended video for the song "Vampires" (watch it HERE) from its recent album Heave Yer Skeleton.  The short film features the band performing on a children's television show that goes horribly awry in a frenzy of mass carnage. 

The band is currently on tour throughout the US (see complete dates below) after putting the finishing touches on a new album -- once again recorded at Josh Homme's (QOTSA, Them Crooked Vultures) Pink Duck Studios in Los Angeles -- where Mr. Gnome also recorded its previous album, Heave Yer Skeleton.  


Check out an MP3 for the lead track, "Three Red Birds" from the recent Tastes Like Magic EP HERE. The band has also released a third song from its latest full-length, Heave Yer Skeleton -- the swooning "Plastic Shadow" is available HERE. 

Chan "Cat Power" Marshall fronting Queens of the Stone Age? Karen O leading Death From Above 1979? Cleveland duo Mr. Gnome has been given many unusual comparisons, all of which seem to indicate the band's spectacularly unique sound. And, while none seem to fully capture the band's loftily heavy-beautiful music, Mr. Gnome continues to captivate and inspire writers and audiences alike. 

Mr. Gnome on tour:
11/11 Indianapolis IN @ Radio Radio
11/12 Chicago IL @ The Hideout
11/13 Madison WI @ The Frequency
11/15 Kansas City MO @ Riot Room
11/16 Denver CO @ Hi-Dive
11/17 Salt Lake City UT @ Burt's Tiki Lounge
11/19 Portland OR @ Mississippi Studios
11/20 Seattle WA @ The Sunset Tavern 
11/23 San Francisco CA @ Elbo Room
11/24 Los Angeles CA @ Silverlake Lounge 
11/26 Tucson AZ @ Plush
11/27 Albuquerque NM @ The Launchpad
11/29 Tulsa OK @ Soundpony 
11/30 Springfield MO @ The Outland
12/02 Dallas TX @ Double Wide
12/04 San Antonio TX @ Lone Star Studios
12/06 Pensacola FL @ Handleba
12/08 Atlanta GA @ Drunken Unicorn 
12/09 Nashville TN @ The End
12/10 St Louis MO @ The Firebird
12/18 Cleveland OH @ Beachland Ballroom



Artist: Mr. Gnome
Release: Tastes Like Magic EP
Label: El Marko Records
Release Date: March 16th, 2010

01. Devil Be Gone
02. Three Red Birds (MP3)


Artist: Mr. Gnome
Album: Heave Yer Skeleton
Label: El Marko Records
Release Date: November 10th, 2009

1. Spain (VIDEO)
2. Hills, Valleys and Valium
3. Slow Side (MP3)
4. Plastic Shadow (MP3)
5. Sit Up and Hum
6. Titor
7. Vampires (MP3) (VIDEO)
8. Cleveland Polka
9. Pixie Dust
10. Today Brings a Bomb
11. Searider
12. Heave Yer Skeleton

On the Web:
Mr. Gnome are available for interviews. For more information, contact Dave Clifford at dave@usthemgroup.com




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Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Cast Spells announce "Glamorous Glowing" video and December tour dates with Steve Mason





click image above to watch video

Cast Spells, the nom-de-tune of Maps & Atlases frontman Dave Davison has released a new video for the song "Glamorous Glowing" (watch it HERE -- cleared for re-posting.) Additionally, Cast Spells has announced North American tour dates in December with Steve Mason, formerly of The Beta Band. Please see complete dates below.

The video was directed by Behn Fannin -- whose also crafted eye-catching clips for Melvins, Tera Melos, Good Old War, et al. -- for Refused TV. 

Davison's heartfelt and charismatic performances are unparalleled -- check out this Glass Room session video of "Potted Plant" (a different version also performed on this recent Daytrotter session.) The Daytrotter recording is a perfect distillation of what some have dubbed the Cast Spells sound as "Peter Gabriel leading The Shins."

Check out Cast Spells' 2009 debut, Bright Works and Baton HERE. A full-length Cast Spells album is in the works for release via Sargent House in 2011. 


Cast Spells with Steve Mason:
12/14 Washington DC @ Red Palace
12/15 Philadelphia, PA @ M Room
12/16 Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory
12/17 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
12/18 Cambridge, MA @ Great Scott
12/19 Montreal, QC @ Il Motore
12/20 Toronto, ON @ Wrongbar




Artist: Cast Spells
Title: Bright Works and Baton
Release Date: August 2009

01. Glamorous Glowing (VIDEO)
02. War Story Hellos
03. Potted Plant
04. Pioneer Scalps
05. American Quilts
06. A Badge








Hi-res cover art, photos and bio:

On The Web:


Dave Davison of Cast Spells is available for interviews. For more information, please contact Dave Clifford at dave@usthemgroup.com

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