GEMS release “Scars” single, announce first ever West Coast shows

Washington DC’s GEMS have outdone themselves on their slinky and seductive new single entitled “Scars”. The song will be found on the duo’s debut album expected for release in early 2015. The pair will play the West Coast for the first time next week, dates below.

Wed. July 23 – Los Angeles, CA – No Vacancy
Thu. July 24 – Los Angeles, CA – Los Globos | TICKETS
Fri. July 25 – San Francisco, CA – Brick and Mortar | TICKETS
Sun. July 27 – Denver, CO – Underground Music Showcase | TICKETS

Other Upcoming Shows:
Sept. 5 – Raleigh, NC – Hopscotch Music Festival

Other Music reissues Mutual Benefit EP “The Cowboy’s Prayer”

On September 2nd, Mutual Benefit’s 2011 EP, The Cowboy’s Prayer, will be re-released by Other Music Recording Co. ahead of a massive fall tour in North America. Previously available only as a Bandcamp download, The Cowboy’s Prayer was the real introduction of the lush orchestral folk sound that many first heard on Mutual Benefit’s breakthrough Love’s Crushing Diamond LP. The Cowboy’s Prayer EP has been remastered and is available in physical formats for the first time, with all new artwork, as a gorgeous one-sided etched 12″ and CD, as well as on all download and streaming services. The beautiful “Auburn Epitaphs” is available to stream now. All tour dates are listed below with more to be announced soon!

Wed. July 16 – Toronto, ON @ The Mod Club (with Wild Beasts)
Thu. July 17 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall (with Wild Beasts)
Sun. July 20 – Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
Thu. Aug. 7 – Oslo, NO @ Øya Nights – Café Mono
Fri. Aug. 8 – Gothenburg, SE @ Way Out West Festival
Sun. Aug. 10 – Charlbury, UK @ Wilderness Festival
Wed. Aug. 13 – Birmingham, UK @ Hare and Hounds
Fri. Aug. 15 – London, UK @ Jabberwocky Festival
Sat. Aug. 16 – Brecon Beacons, UK @ Green Man Festival
Sun. Aug. 17 – Brighton, UK @ Proud Cabaret
Wed. Sept. 3 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
Thu. Sept. 4-Sat. Sept. 6 – Raleigh, NC @ Hopscotch Music Festival
Fri. Sept. 5 – Asheville, NC @ The Mothlight
Sat. Sept. 6 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
Mon. Sept. 8 – Oxford, MS @ Proud Larrys
Tue. Sept. 9 – Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree
Mon. Sept. 22 – Pontiac, MI @ Crofoot Ballroom – Pike Room
Tue. Sept. 23 – Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop
Wed. Sept. 24 – Columbus, OH @ The Basement
Thu. Sept. 25-Sat. Sept. 27 – Cincinnati, OH @ MidPoint Music Festival
Sat. Sept. 27 – Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop
Thu. Sept. 25-Sun. Sept. 28 – Champaign-Urbana, IL @ Pygmalion Music Festival
Mon. Sept. 29 – Madison, WI @ The Frequency
Wed. Oct. 1 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry
Thu. Oct. 2 – Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room
Sat. Oct. 4 – Denver, CO @ Hi Dive
Mon. Oct. 6 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
Tue. Oct. 7 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux
Wed. Oct. 8 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
Thu. Oct. 9 – Vancouver, BC @ The Media Club
Sat. Oct. 11 – Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar
Mon. Oct. 13 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
Wed. Oct. 15 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Thu. Oct. 16 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echo
Fri. Oct. 17 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
Sat. Oct. 18 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
Tue. Oct. 21 – Austin, TX @ Red 7
Wed. Oct. 22 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
Thu. Oct. 23 – Norman, OK @ Main Site Contemporary Art
Sat. Oct. 25 – Kansas City, MO @ Czar Bar
Mon. Oct. 27 – St. Louis, MO @ The Luminary Center for the Arts
Tue. Oct. 28 – Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar
Thu. Oct. 30 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe
Fri. Oct. 31 – Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands

East Bay Express profiles Music Video Race

In its third year, the Music Video Race may have grown to expand into Los Angeles and Austin but will forever call the Bay Area home. Visit the East Bay Express’ website and pick up a copy of the paper to read an in-depth feature about the race, including interviews with co-founder Tim Lillis and local director wunderkind and MVR judge, Mimi Cave (tUnE-yArDs, Lucius).

Consequence of Sound premieres Conveyor’s “Words of Love” cover

Conveyor’s triumphant new album, Prime, is an esoteric piece composed and performed alongside two midnight screenings of George Lucas’ THX 1138 (1971) in December 2013 in Brooklyn, NY. Included as part of the double LP package is a cover of Buddy Holly’s “Words of Love” which you can hear exclusively on Consequence of Sound here. Prime is available now from Gold Robot Records.

Noisey debuts Young Yeller’s “1st Love” video

“Young Yeller’s video for “1st Love” is the epitome of synthetic love: young, wild, and fleeting. The band takes a dive into the past, nostalgically mixing synth with guitar, creating a playground of emotion for three minutes. However, as we all know, that’s about as long as a first love typically lasts—so don’t get too attached to the past. Fronted by former Chrome Sparks member Jesse Brickel, “1st Love” will bring you right back to the days of skipping class and breaking the rules for that special someone. Directed by Matt Porter (Cracked, Funny or Die, Adult Swim), the video was shot in an off season amusement park in Conneticut and features tilt-a-whirls and carousels spinning round while a warm beat in the backdrop helps steer clear of the sadness that can sometimes be attributed to a first love (and inevitable heartbreak).” Watch the dreambear produced video on Noisey here.

Guy Blakeslee bares it all for WAMU Bandwidth session

Before his recent show at Washington DC’s DC9, Guy Blakeslee treated American University’s Wilderness Bureau to some personal, stripped down versions of “Haunted City” and “Told Myself” from the Entrance Band frontman’s new solo album, Ophelia Slowly, available now from Everloving Records. Watch the entire performance here.

Uninhibited new Guy Blakeslee album out today

LA Weekly’s West Coast Sound is hosting a stream of Entrance Band frontman Guy Blakeslee’s first new solo album in over a decade. Ophelia Slowly was produced in NYC by the incomparable Chris Coady (Future Islands, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Beach House) and is available today from Everloving Records. Catch his electrifying new material live on the following dates…

14 June (SAT) @ Lolipop Records – Los Angeles, CA **FREE SHOW**
17 June (TUE) @ Mercury Lounge – New York, NY (w/ Weyes Blood)
19 June (THU) @ Rough Trade NYC – Brooklyn, NY #
20 June (FRI) @ Metro Gallery – Baltimore, MD (w/ Weyes Blood)
21 June (SAT) @ Boot & Saddle – Philadelphia, PA #
22 June (SUN) @ DC9 – Washington, DC #

# = with Robert Francis

Impose debuts hallucinogenic Jeffertitti’s Nile video

Head on over to Impose Magazine to experience “No One,” the mind-altering new video from Los Angeles’ Jeffertitti’s Nile. The Electric Hour is out now via Beyond Beyond is Beyond Records.

Phoria shares brooding new single

Brighton five piece alt-electronic band Phoria returns this spring with their second official EP release. The Display EP is due for release via X Novo Records on June 16, 2014.

The Lauren Laverne Radio 6 endorsed lead track “Emanate” raced to the top of the Hype Machine charts, receiving over 100,000 plays in its first week and over 120,000 views on Youtube. It has also received support from Radio 1, XFM, BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio.

Display sees Phoria release their first new material since last years highly acclaimed EP Bloodworks. The EP’s lead track “Red” was amazingly well received on both sides of the Atlantic, receiving adoration from music critics who most commonly compared the Phoria sound to James Blake and Sigur Ros.

Up is down and down is up in new Tropic of Pisces video

Watch the jubilant New York band’s “Symmetry” video, premiering on Under The Radar! Their next live show is Thursday, May 22nd at Rough Trade NYC in Brooklyn, NY.