There are few things that the Internet loves more than cute kids and cute kittens.
Frenchkiss Records decided to exploit all of these weaknesses and more in some capacity with the release of the official trailer for their new YouTube channel, FKR.TV. This new venture is a partnership between Syd Butler (Les Savy Fav, Frenchkiss Records); actor/comedian David Cross (Arrested Development); and The Orchard, and the channel aims to focus on original content, posting up to five new videos a week.
Content will include music videos, live performances from FKR artists, as well as other content from the FKR vaults. Frenchkiss Records was founded by Butler in 1999, and is home to artists such as The Antlers, Bloc Party, The Hold Steady, Local Natives, Passion Pit, and many more.
Though the channel will feature a plethora of material for music lovers, it will also roll out some original series for viewers. The first line-up will include shows such as Song of the Wild, starring David Cross, Gavin McInnes (Rooster NY, Street Carnage), Tim Harrington (Les Savy Fav, Beardo), and a handful of others, which focuses on what happens when five aspiring pop stars are dropped in the middle of the wilderness for a month — more aptly described as American Idol meets The Hunger Games, or Survivor: Musician Edition. Other shows you’ll find include This One Time…, which features short stories reenacted through puppets, and Five Questions with a Five-Year-Old, starring Ms. Lyla Butler, a five-year-old luminary who asks artists/celebrities hard-hitting questions like “What is your favorite animal?”
The music, laughs, and all-around cuteness will ensue on March 28th.
After three days of music, madness, heat, sweat, hurricanes, hail and hot dogs without ketchup, I’m proud to say that I survived Lollapalooza 2012. This year’s Lollapalooza was truly one for the record books. There was an estimate of 100,000 people that came from all over the world to cover Chicago’s Grant Park for each day of the festival.
This year, Lollapalooza was headlined by Black Sabbath (Yes, Ozzy Osbourne is still rockin’), Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack White, and many more. Here is an account of my Lollapalooza experience…
Friday, August 3, 2012:
The first day of the festival was a major scorcher as the temperature reached up to a high of 95 degrees. Despite all the heat and sweat, the festival started off beautifully. The first act I saw was Barsuk Records’s Yellow Ostrich. During the set, Yellow Osterich’s friend Nate came out on stage to propose to his girlfriend, Stefani, and she said yes! At this point it really hit me that I was in the right industry to help bring this beautiful moment.
The Saratoga Springs, NY duo of Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel, known collectively as Phantogram, released their debut LP Eyelid Movies on Barsuk Records earlier this year. The band recently capped a spring touring season consisting of a national run with The Antlers, a West Coast tour with The xx, and Canadian dates with Metric and Passion Pit with a huge co-headlining show at Governor’s Island in New York with Caribou on July 16th. August will have them back home in their studio writing and getting surprises ready for the fall tour.
Since its release, Eyelid Movies has been lauded: NPR fell for the band’s “mysterious, danceable pop music.” Pitchfork called it “a sumptuous, seductive record,” while both Spin and Alternative Press gave the record four stars. … Continue Reading
Dreamy power pop trio The Joy Formidable has released 4 videos from their debut EP A Balloon Called Moaning thus far. Now all of the videos, including a YouTube-banned fan-made flick are featured and available for free download on IFC.com.
The bundle contains the official video for “Austere,” a black and white journey into Vaudeville meets Victory Garden, as well as an anonymous fan-made version which offers a suggestive look into the webcam escapades of beautifulagony.com. The risqué video was banned from YouTube upon its release, but thanks to vimeo and IFC fans can now watch and download it! The other goodies in the IFC video package are the official cut for “Whirring,” filmed out in the Welsh countryside and featuring a more traditional adventure and some good ol’ instrument smashing, and the teetering, dizzying official video for “Cradle.”
Download The Joy Formidable Video Bundle for Free on IFC.com:
http://www.ifc.com/blogs/indie-ear/2010/06/the-joy-formidable-sound-and-v.php
A Balloon Called Moaning was released in the US on May 4th on Black Bell Records (the label launched by Passion Pit’s synth player/sampler Ayad Al Adhamy) and has been featured on AOL Spinner, CBS Streetdate, Absolute Punk and more. The two-thirds Welsh trio is made up of guitarist and vocalist Ritzy Brian, bassist Rhydian Dafydd, and English drummer Matt Thomas. The Joy Formidable is currently on tour in Europe and Australia.
… Continue Reading
Welsh Indie Rock Band Is First Act Signed To Black Bell, Record Label Founded By Passion Pit’s Ayad Al Adhamy
Debut Release A Balloon Called Moaning EP Arrives May 4th
Welsh indie rock three-piece The Joy Formidable have announced a run of headlining US tour dates. The band will play several shows on the east coast, beginning April 30th at Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY and winding up May 8th at Jillian’s in Albany, NY. Along the way, the band will stop off in East Rutherford, NJ for an appearance at the Bamboozle Festival on May 2nd.
The Joy Formidable is the first band signed to Black Bell Records, the label founded by Passion Pit’s synth player/sampler Ayad Al Adhamy. The band will release their Black Bell debut- an 8-song EP titled A Balloon Called Moaning- on May 4th. The EP was recorded in the band’s home bedroom studio, and was entirely self-produced.
