Gambles- "265" & "So I Cry" Out (Live Acoustic Session)

Gambles debut album Trust came out earlier this month, and it's all sorts of wonderful. Check out these powereful acoustic performances of album tracks"265" and "So I Cry" that he performed for the folks at Shufsounds.


http://www.gmbls.com

The National- "I Need My Girl" (Acoustic Version)

While in Austin for the ACL Festival, The National stopped by the Gibson guitars showroom and played this lovely acoustic version of "I Need My Girl."

New Music: James Vincent McMorrow- “Cavalier”

Yesterday saw the release of a new James Vincent McMorrow track “Cavalier.” It comes from his forthcoming 2014 sophomore LP, Post Tropical. It's a beauty of a slow builder and a noticeably new direction for JVM, featuring synths and thick layers of beats. Post Tropical drops this Jan. 14th via Vagrant Records.


http://jamesvmcmorrow.com/

Typhoon- "Young Fathers" (Live Acoustic Session for Austin 360)

I haven't seen many videos capture the mesmerizing quality of the massive Portland ensemble, Typhoon. This acoustic session the band played for Austin360 while in town for the ACL Festival comes pretty darn close though. Watch the bands performance of "Young Fathers" below.

http://www.wearetyphoon.com/
http://www.Austin360.com

The National (live at Stubbs, Austin 10-5-13)

Here's a few pics from The National's show in Austin this past Saturday night at Stubbs. It was my fourth time seeing the band overall and first time on this tour. I'd have to say it was probably the best set I've seen them play, with the new material sounding especially strong. Catch the whole setlist at the bottom after the photo's. 

THE NATIONAL (10-5-13) Stubbs, Austin Tx. Setlist 
I Should Live in Salt
Don't Swallow the Cap
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Demons
Sea of Love
Afraid of Everyone
Conversation 16
Squalor Victoria
Abel
All the Wine
I Need My Girl
This is the Last Time
Apartment Story

Pink Rabbits

Graceless
About Today
Fake Empire

Encore
Humiliation
Mr. November
Terrible Love w/ Justin Vernon
Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks w/ Justin Vernon

New Video: Augustines-"Cruel City"

Last month Augustines debuted the first track "Cruel City" off their upcoming new album, which is slated for an early 2014 release. Today the band brought us the track in video form. Watch the new clip directed by Bryan Schlam below.

http://www.weareaugustines.com/

Kalle Mattson- "Darkness"

Kalle Mattson just released another new track off his forthcoming third LP. The new tune titled "Darkness" is the split to his previously released "American Dream" single which we previewed back in August. No release date yet slated for the new LP, so stay tuned.

http://www.kallemattson.com/

The Head and the Heart -"Another Story"

It's hard to believe that it's been almost 4 years since The Head and the Heart released their debut LP. The Seattle band is now readying their sophomore effort, Let's Be Still which hits stores Oct. 15 via Sub Pop. They just debuted a fresh track off the upcoming disc called "Another Story." Listen and read along below.

Typhoon "Morton's Fork" (Lawrence High School Classroom Sessions)

In case you've been living under a rock lately, Typhoon released one of the better albums to come out in the past several months called, White Lighter. Earlier this month the band stopped by Room 125 at Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Kansas and played a gorgeous version of the album track, "Morton's Fork." The song was filmed and edited by Lawrence High School's film/media students.

http://www.wearetyphoon.com/

David Ramirez- “Ball and Chain”

A new tune from David Ramirez to grace your ears this morning. This one called “Ball and Chain” was recorded at the Hotel Cafe with backing vocals provided by Amy Stroup.

http://davidramirezmusic.com/

The Saint Johns- "Your Head and Your Heart"

I've had this Nashville duo on my radar since back in January when I discovered their song, "Your Head and Your Heart." The pair, Louis Johnson and Jordan Meredith now officially released the track via iTunes and it came with the added announcement of a new forthcoming EP titled, Open Water, which gets a release date of this Oct. 15th. Give a listen below.

https://www.facebook.com/TheSaintJohns

RY X- “Berlin” live for Cardinal Sessions

While out on tour in Germany RY X sat down for the folks at Cardinal Sessions and played this lovely version of his song “Berlin.” The track comes off his debut EP of the same name, which is in stores now.

http://www.ry-x.com/
http://www.cardinalsessions.com/

Washed Out- “All I Know”

This new album from Washed Out has been the perfect end of Summer soundtrack. Take a listen to the track “All I Know” below, and pick up his sophomore LP Paracosm which is out now via Sub Pop. 

http://washedout.net/

Augustines-"Cruel City"

It really doesn't matter whether the name is Pela, We Are Augustines, or just Augustines, Billy McCarthy and Eric Sanderson have been longtime favorites here on the blog. After the split up of Pela around 2009 the band re-formed as We Are Augustines and released their triumphant debut disc, Rise Ye Sunken Ships, which just so happened to have nabbed my 2011 'best album of the year' honors. Drummer Rob Allen joined the guys soon after and they took to the road for most of 2011 and 2012 touring and gaining support for the new project. Almost two years later the band has another slight change, renaming themselves simply, Augustines, and a new LP on the way. They just unveiled a brand new track off it yesterday titled, "Cruel City." 
The as yet untitled LP has a due date of January 21st, 2014.

http://www.weareaugustines.com/

New Video: Gambles- "So I Cry Out"

Sometimes a song will come along that just hits you like a punch in the gut. The lyrics, the emotion, the story, that perfect combination that can create goosebumps. That's how I got when I first heard the tunes of Matthew Daniel Siskin aka Gambles, and how I still feel today with each new track I discover from this talented new artist. His debut full length Trust comes out this Oct. 1st and it features this stunner of a track, "So I Cry Out" which he just premiered a new video for.

http://www.gmbls.com/

Volcano Choir- "Byegone" (Live on Fallon) 9/10/13

Volcano Choir's new album 'Repave' hit stores recently, and to celebrate the band made their network television debut on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last night. Watch the band perform the track "Byegone" below.

http://volcanochoir.com/

New Video: Hayden- "Blurry Nights"

One of the true 'sleeper' albums of 2013 is Us Alone from Toronto Canada's, Hayden. It features the fantastic track, "Blurry Nights" which has standout guest vocals by Lou Canon. Watch the new video below.

http://wasteyourdaysaway.com/ 

Get to Know: Valley Maker

One of my favorite new finds lately is the Austin Crane led project, Valley Maker. Crane began releasing music under his own name while in college in Columbia, South Carolina a few years ago. Now he's relocated to Seattle, WA. and Crane just debuted his second full length, Yes I know I’ve Loved This World. Two songs that have stayed on heavy repeat include, "By My Side (Everlasting Life)" and "Only Time."
Listen below and stream the whole album over on Valley Maker's Bandcamp page now. 


http://valleymaker.com/

Wildcat! Wildcat!- "Garden Grays"

The Los Angeles trio Wildcat! Wildcat! will be releasing their much buzzed about self-titled debut EP next month. The band just debuted another new track from the EP, the dreamy end of Summer jam, “Garden Grays.” 
The Wildcat! Wildcat! EP is out Sept. 10 via Downtown Records.

 http://wildcatwildcat.com/

New Music: Kalle Mattson- "An American Dream/Darkness"

Woke up pretty excited this morning to find new music from Canada's, Kalle Mattson. He just unveiled a new split 7" titled "American Dream/Darkness" which comes as a preview from his soon to be released third LP produced by The Wooden Sky's Gavin Gardiner. Seriously looking forward to hearing more from this down the road, stay tuned.

http://www.kallemattson.com/

New Video: The National- "Graceless"

If it seems like all things on the blog these days are related to The National, it's probably because they're my favorite band who just so happen to have put out my favorite album so far this year, Trouble Will Find Me. See the the bands take on the album track, "Graceless" below, which they just released a comical new video for.

http://www.americanmary.com/