Following up on an exciting summer which kicked off with the release of The Chaos, a sold-out East Coast tour, UK festival run and the announcement of an acapella album in the works, the The Futureheads are thrilled to announce a batch of West Coast/Southwest performances, kicking off in Seattle on September 29 and will wrap in Houston on October 13. The tour will be hitting major cities on along the Pacific coast including LA on October 6.

Don’t miss your opportunity to catch them live in your city – they aren’t to be missed!

Check out the dates and some mp3 goodies “after the jump” …read full article…

After leaving The Antlers to focus his own work, Justin Stivers has finally put his solo career into motion, with two full albums sitting under his belt. The first release will be his own winter variations EP, set for release on September 14.

According to Justin, “winter variations is a product of schizophrenia. After nearly a year of tracking and mixing Pet Ghost Project’s newest LP Shelf Life (set for release in 2011), focus meandered. The slow process of releasing an album just wasn’t sitting right. (We) were constantly waiting – waiting for the label, waiting for funds, waiting for others to give the go ahead. Enter winter variations, an album born of urgency and immediate gratification. Re-arranging one song off of each album they’ve done in the past and recorded in just 3 short hours (all in one or two takes) at Serious Business Records in New York City. This EP is Pet Ghost Project stripped of all pretension and excess.”

Pet Ghost Project will celebrate the release of winter variations with a special hometown show on September 10 at Cameo Gallery in Brooklyn with Miniboone, Quiet Loudly, and Gunfight!

Check out more info “after the jump” …read full article…

Remember when we first brought Parades into your lives a few months back? (Damn, that video for “Loserspeak in New Tongue” was awesome!) Now, the band are readying their debut, which will be coming out on Dot Dash, and we’ve got a preview at one of the great new tracks.

Check out a sample of what the band’s been up to “after the jump” …read full article…

LA-based duo, The Polyamorous Affair are gearing up for the release of their latest album, Strange Bedfellows. To celebrate, they’re just handing out mp3s, yo. The first, “Hypnotized,” finds the electro-poppers bending African drums and synth into a bizarre, refreshing and kick-effing-ass dreamscape (I won’t lie, I just wanted to say “dreamscape” today).

Check out more info on the new album and grab the mp3 “after the jump” …read full article…

Yes, yes, Hell-friggin-yes.

Six weeks until I get to have my face rocked off (once again) by one of my favorite bands in the world: The Sword. No, I am not kidding or being ironic, I consider their third full-length, Warp Riders, among my most eagerly anticipated albums of the year.

Today, Kemado Records and The Sword gave us a little sample of what the band has in store on August 24th and, evidently, the “metal stalwarts” (saw it in the press release and had to use it!) will reveal the album’s plot in more detail through a three-part video saga beginning with the “Tres Brujas” video, followed by clips for “Lawless Lands” and “Night City.”

After the jump, you’ll find more info and goodies from the band. …read full article…

Turns out that there is news in the Wavves camp. This new clip (courtesy of YoursTruly) is a live performance from Origami Vinyl in Los Angeles with some discussion on the direction of the new album. It’s pretty neat. Their release, King of the Beach, will see it’s digital release on July 1st.

Get the mp3 of “Post Acid” and watch a live performance by the band “after the jump” …read full article…

Just heard the news regarding the rad, rad, rad soundtrack for the movie I am most anticipating this summer, Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World. Previously, we knew that the music for Scott’s band, SEX BOB-OMB, was written and performed by Beck. For the movie’s soundtrack, the actors from the movie perform the vocals – neat touch. So, this piece of awesome is released on August 10 from ABKCO. I hope I can get my hands on a copy ahead of time.

Like I said, I can’t wait.

The film opens August 13th and will feature a score from Radiohead/Beck collaborator Nigel Godrich, which will eventually see digital release. So “full of win”.

Check out more info “after the jump” …read full article…

Illinois-makers (ha!) Elsinore have put together an immaculate track here with the tune “Yes Yes Yes” (which you can grab in a minute, bear with us). With the announcement that the Yes Yes Yes full length will be dropping August 10th, we’re salivating. Or, we’re at least very happy. The band are a blast of fresh air, not a breath; knocking the wind from our lungs with fun, energetic melodies and tunes of “the simplistic bliss of life in the Midwest”.

More info and tour dates “after the jump” …read full article…

With the World Cup a mere 8 days away, football (or soccer) fever is in full effect. Our friends at The Fader have teamed with Nike Sportswear to present Pitch Perfect, a project that will highlight the work of DJs from six continents to show off the sport’s global reach.

Get more info “after the jump” …read full article…

Stereogum (*those randy bastards) debuted this great new video from Denmark’s Under Byen, for Alt Er Tabt‘s “Kapitel 1″ (Chapter 1). The song itself is gorgeous and atmospheric and the video and song becomes a synchronized treat, making the visual more haunting by visual artist Sidse Carstens, who was behind their video for “Alt Er Tabt” (All is lost).

As the director states, “I’ve decided to do this as a piece of art, not a music video in the common sense of the word. I often work with different characters in my movies.”

As mentioned earlier, “Kapitel 1″ (Chapter 1) is taken from Under Byen’s recently released fourth album, Alt Er Tabt, available now on Paper Bag Records.

Check out the video and more “after the jump” …read full article…

Very few artists have attracted the sizable following that moe. has without the big budget rock label backing. They’re unique, they’re fun and they’ve never pretended to do anything other than create music that they would enjoy listening to themselves.

On June 1st , moe. will release Smash Hits, Volume 1 on the band’s Fatboy Records label. The album celebrates moe.’s 20th anniversary and includes newly recorded fan favorites that encompass the band’s entire career.

To celebrate the occasion, the band are giving away a ton of free stuff and touring like mad (*which isn’t all that unusual for them as it is) which you can check out “after the jump” …read full article…

On their latest LP, the forthcoming covers album if i had a hi-fi, Nada Surf deliver a solid experience of covers from front-to-back. This clip features the band walking us through the four seasons of the year to highlight the universality (*just kidding, I have no idea) of “Electrocution,” which was written by Cleveland musician Bill Fox. if i had a hi-fi is in stores June 8th via the band’s label Mardev Records, but fans may purchase the album in CD and Vinyl format exclusively at their upcoming US tour dates.

Check out Nada Surf’s “Electrocution” clip and upcoming tour dates “after the jump” …read full article…

Photo: Boston.com

Matthew Houck and the Phosphorescent crew [Pride, To Willie Reviews] have announced their upcoming North American tour dates, keeping them on the road for the majority of the summer and mid-September.

The currently scheduled European dates will come to a close June 6 and the quintet will kick off the Stateside tour July 8 at Hudson River Park.

Check out more info “after the jump” …read full article…

“Loserspeak In New Tongue” is the latest single and video taken from the debut album of Parades, Foreign Tapes. I’ve talked about drummer Jonathan Boulet in the past and for good measure, he’s pretty awesome. Parades are pretty awesome as well; the Australian quartet (that expand into a nine-member live show) really keep me on my toes craft memorable, clean melodies. Next time they come to the US, I want need to see them.

They’re also going on tour in June, so if you like what you hear, check them out and memorize the important details.

Check out the video and more “after the jump” …read full article…

On this week’s Dirty Laundry TV, Malia chats it up with UK “noise pop makers”, Male Bonding. The band dishes on their Vivian Girl connection, signing to Sub Pop and going deaf, so be sure to pick up their new album (Nothing Hurts) on May 11th on Sub Pop.

Check out the full interview and more “after the jump” …read full article…

In this hypnotic and near “seizure-inducing” video for “Do The Clothes Not Make the Man!?”, Southern California’s Jesus Makes The Shotgun Sound bring progressive apocalyptic synth-rock to the masses. Their style and sound are loud, their video is a slice of science fiction and a tad bit of madness that needs to be explored to be appreciated and understood.

Jesus Makes The Shotgun Sound’s debut EP, Damnant Quod Non Intelligunt, is out April 27th

Check out the video and mp3 “after the jump” …read full article…

Anyone who knows Radio Exile or has followed us for years knows that our own Jon Sevastra is a big ol’ freakin’ metal head that really does appreciate all types of music. Every year, he asks and begs and pleads for me to put SOMETHING up on the site about Rockstar Energy’s Mayhem Festival and I sort of laugh him off. This year, however, he finally broke me down. For the past few months, hard music fans like Jon have been clamoring for the day when the tickets would go on sale for the event, which features headliners KORN and ROB ZOMBIE. The festival kicks off Saturday, July 10 in San Bernardino, CA before winding through 26 cities between early July and late August. From what other event can you go home with a bloody nose and feel like you’ve had a great time?

Purchase Tickets to Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival at the Live Nation website.

Get more information and see when the event will be in your area “after the jump” …read full article…

No, we aren’t going to make Coachella this year. If you aren’t going to be able to go either, Masterbeat has you covered. On the front page of their site, the digital music retailer is featuring some of best albums from this year’s participants:

Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
Julian Casablancas – Phrazes For The Young
Owen Pallett – Heartland
Passion Pit – Manners
Matt & Kim – Grand

Feel free to check out the page and gather your favorite artists from this year’s show and then head over to the Official Live Webcast for Coachella 2010, streaming on Facebook all this weekend.

Having seen Dinosaur Jr this past Winter, I have been on a serious ’90s indie/post-hardcore. The band’s influence can surely be heard on The Echo & The Light, the newest eight-song LP from Chicago’s Castevet. The LP, which will be released on 12″ vinyl and digital formats on June 29, 2010, is now up for pre-order from the label.

The band is streaming several of the new tracks on their MySpace page. Check out tour dates and more info on the release “after the jump” …read full article…

Wow. One of the biggest successes coming out of 2007, Deer Tick, are back again with new material to follow up last year’s Born on Flag Day. The Black Dirt Sessions were recorded late last year at Black Dirt Studios in upstate New York. With this album, the band have created something that feels like home to me; like an isolated, backwoods cabin stocked with good bourbon and trails to hike. Upon first listen of the first track of the album, “20 Miles, The Black Dirt Sessions is set to be the most intensely personal record for lead vocalist and songwriter John McCauley to date.

Check out “20 Miles” and more info “after the jump” …read full article…