Tonight the Ottobar's got a killer bill, and you have no excuse not to go because it's 80 degrees outside and Kurt Vile creates the soundtrack for this sort of weather.
Kurt Vile's new record is called Smoke Ring For My Halo, and is definitely a must listen. Also worth noting, Vile will be backed by his band The Violators unlike his last show here.
Kurt Vile and The Violators will be joined by two locals, one of which is making up for a show missed with Secret Mountains a few weeks back to end their SXSW tour. Lands and Peoples will be taking the stage, and their set will be chock full of new material that you'll find on their forthcoming debut LP. Also opening tonight at the Ottobar is Friend Collector, a new band that features members of The New Flesh.
Tonight's show is at the Ottobar, will cost you $12, and starts at 9 PM.
Our friends and proprietors of my favorite record label in Baltimore, Chris and Sean of Fan Death Records, recently sent over the single to a forthcoming LP in the works.
The forthcoming release is by Puerto Rico Flowers, and it's called 7. Its due out on wax this summer, and follows up the EP titled 4 and the 7" called 2 that came out last year on Fan Death. I was sent the rough mixes of the new record yesterday, and have played nothing else since. It appears likely that this is going to be the biggest record that Fan Death has released, as John Sharkey III may be relinquishing his opus upon us.
"3 Sisters" is the first single to be heard from the new LP, and is a solid example of the massive nature of the forthcoming record. With his first two releases Sharkey displayed his ability to sound huge while keeping it incredibly simple, with sparse blends of synths, guitars, and drums that sounded much more prevalent when put together. This presence is what anchors "3 Sisters", easily Puerto Rico Flowers' heaviest pop song to date.
While the single hits harder than Gravedigger's descent onto junkyard cars, it's the more intimate moments on the record that will likely cement this as an instant classic. The last track is the best example of this, as "After The Weekend" recalls Neil Young's more personal moments, all while maintaining the grungy dark-wave vibe more commonly found. Fan Death told me it's his "See The Sky About To Rain" or "Philadelphia".
The new record finds Sharkey working with Philly's Jeff Zeigler (Kurt Vile,The War on Drugs, Clockcleaner, FNU Ronnies) on production. Kurt Vile guests on the record, appearing on the track "Keep Me Around". 7 is out via Fan Death Records in May/June.
Tonight the Ottobar's got one that I helped set up awhile back, and am very excited about. Real Estate and Kurt Vile come to town, and are preceded by two of my favorite bands in Baltimore.
If you caught my last post, you'll know that this will be the first time Sri Aurobindo's new LP will be available. We'll have a stack of Cave Painting on green translucent wax - all of which are accompanied by a screen printed insert by Chris Day and a CD copy of the full album. Listen to and download Cave Paintinghere.
Lands & Peoples are amidst putting together their debut full length, but are fresh off a split release with INEVERYROOM - of which there are just a few of those cassettes left. This is a band that is more than worth showing up on time for, so be sure to get to the Ottobar tonight by 9 PM when they'll go on first.
I likely don't need to tell you Kurt Vile and Real Estate both rule...
Video of the headliners, Real Estate after the jump.
The second release in Friends Records vinyl catalog is available today, Sri Aurobindo's Cave Painting LP. This is the bands's first proper full length, after two EPs last year.
Friends Records is selling the vinyl here, which comes with a CD of the album for free. The album is currently streaming in full and being offered for download over on the label's bandcamp site, and will be available digitally at all major outlets in the coming weeks. Hear Cave Painting below.
The first 250 copies of FR002 are pressed to green translucent vinyl, and the latter half is on virgin black wax. Each comes with a screen printed insert by one of our most talented friends, Chris Day. We are very excited to help archive and spread this massive load of psychedelia, and hope to see those around Baltimore at the Ottobar this evening with Real Estate, Kurt Vile, Sri Aurobindo, and Lands & Peoples. Sri Aurobindo Cave Painting
2010 Friends Records FR002 500 copies 140g colored vinyl
Side A 1. Cave Painting 2. Soul Vibrations Of Man 3. Towards The Sun 4. My Peak Is Too High 5. Find The Door
Side B 6. My Luv Is Stoned 7. Banyan Grove 8. Don’t Know 9. Rest My Mind
I'm doing two ticket giveaways in a row, because well... we all need some inspiration to go out after what got dumped on Baltimore this week. There's a whole lot of really great shows in the wings here in town, but this particular bill is high on my radar.
Fucked Up will headline one hell of a supporting cast with Kurt Vile, Vincent Black Shadow, and The Flying Eyes all rounding out the lineup. February 16th at the Ottobar features a variety of rock and roll ranging from hardcore to psych-scorch to punk-folk to some good old fashioned psychedelic rock music.
The Flying Eyes are a young crew from Baltimore that have gotten some international recognition as of late. Germany-based World in Sound recently released their debut album, a record I've been spending some time recently. Paired with locals Vincent Black Shadow, this show is worth arriving early for.
Philly's Kurt Vile unleashed two stellar LPs before more recently relinquishing his debut album with Matador. And then there's Fucked Up, a must see live act who just last month dropped Couple Tracks, a singles compilation full of songs from 2002-2009.
Enter to win free passes and peep some videos from the headliners below.
Email bmoremusicallyinformed@gmail.com to enter to win a pair of free passes to this show next week. I'll pick a winner the night before.
Next week at Sonar some citizen's of brotherly love head south to come play in Baltimore. Kurt Vile and Espers headline the bill, supported by local risers Lands and Peoples.
If you haven't yet caught wind of the buzz behind Kurt Vile, this show's your chance. Dude just got signed to Matador, and already has a couple fine LP's under his belt.
Constant Hitmaker's leading track "Freeway" ain't a bad place to start, highlighting Vile's knack for putting a modern fuzz on some nostalgic ideas. Bob Seger and Tom Petty, these are not typical names that get tossed around with a lo-fi bedroom project. Espers are another Philly-based band, and are of the heavy folk variety. Winded behind the croons of Meg Baird, this group's got a couple fine releases via Drag City available. Opening is Lands and Peoples, who have gotten some well-deserved attention as of late. Fresh off their first tour and the release of their second EP, this homecoming should make for a feast of the ears.
The show is Tuesday, August 11 and I have a pair of tickets to give away. Send a proper hello to bmoremusicallyinformed@gmail.com, and let me know you're interested. I'll pick a winner at random on Monday, so check your inbox the day before the show.
