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 BYT has announced that it is hosting the CD-Release show for Bluebrain. It will be the first live show held at the new U Street Music Hall. It is sure to be an amazing time as Bluebrain are effing incredible live. If you're in DC do not miss this event!

BLUEBRAIN - Royal Blue (Extended) - Music Video from BLUEBRAIN on Vimeo.

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Based in Baltimore, MD, Future Islands has been working on their new album entitled In Evening Air, to be released this May. This is their second album to date, and will be their first release under the label Thrill Jockey. Sam Herring’s raspy voice carries melodies over synthesized beats, steady drums, and strong bass lines. I saw Future Islands this past summer, opening for Dan Deacon. They were a perfect warm-up and got everyone pumped up to dance. It was a grand old sweaty time! This album shows that Future Islands is growing as a group and won’t be going anywhere, anytime soon.

Check out their released single, Tin Man, and wait, anticipate the rest of their spring album and accompanying warm weather. 

Future Islands - Tin Man

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The Ruby Suns are set to release a new album on March 2nd via Sub Pop Records, entitled Fight Softly. Judging from their released single "Cranberries", they have decided to move onwards in a more synthesized direction, diverging from their bells, live drums, and international flair that so encompassed their first album, Sea Lion. According to singer-songwriter Ryan McPhun, this newer album is "probably the opposite of what I did for the last one", adding more synthetic elements such as effected guitar and and bigger bass. Those of you that appreciated The Ruby Suns as a breath of fresh air from the overly synthed out music scene may find yourselves disappointed with the new album. However, Fight Softly still maintains a hint of  Sea Lion, with a dash of techno. 

Check out "Cranberries" below. It starts out as you might anticipate, but ends up somewhere in the land of Ace of Base. To me, its a strange combination, but it works, and...I still don't want to turn it off. 

They are touring with Toro y Moi this spring.

The Ruby Suns - Cranberries

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Beach House, a Baltimore based duo will be releasing their third album, Teen Dream, in late January 2010 (yes, we have concluded the 2000s. tear.) Released by Sub Pop, it can be found here. Pre-order, and receive a free poster! The album was recorded in upstate NY, with produced Chris Coady. Their first release with the Sub Pop label, Beach House will certainly deliver their dreamy pop sound full of organs, echoing vocals, and soft rhythms. Check out their song "Norway" from Teen Dream below!

Beach House - Norway

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Tis the season for catching up on the music world, while on a short break from work or school or whatever else you are doing. After perusing the interwebs for some catchy tunes, I happened upon Holly Miranda, a once-Detroit resident turned Brooklynite equipped with a soft, raspy voice that beautifully enhances acoustic guitar, lovely harmonies, and trumpets. Her Sleep on Fire EP can be purchased here and was produced by Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio. Kanye West has also hyped her music (before Pitchfork! scene points), and she recently toured with The Antlers and The XX. Check her out, because according to Vanity Fair, she is the "real deal", and why would they ever lie to you?

Holly Miranda - Forest Green Oh Forest Green

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At once a University of Georgia student and at the same time a touring singer-songwriter, Allison Weiss is looking to make it big. And, with a sound that has always flirted with commercially comfortable, Weiss' crooning sounds equally apropos as a pitch for a new MacBook as it does an anthem for romantic angst. For a full time college student, Weiss is a busy and shameless self-promoter--hawking her albums and harnessing the power of the web to build a fan following. Through Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, iLike, and YouTube, she has crafted a brand--supporting her music with a blur of goodies and tchotchkes that appeal to an increasingly wired teenage population.

Photo by Cara Cortese.

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Monsters of Folk [Mike Mogis, M. Ward, Conor Oberst, Jim James] is certainly a folk supergroup of talented artists. Their self-titled album, released back in September, delivers all one would expect from this collaboration. However, the name Monsters of Folk is somewhat misleading, as their music stretches across genres, combining rock, folk, country, blues, and even a lil hip-hoppy sound here and there. Their album was entirely written, recorded and produced by its four members, in a studio also built by them in Omaha, Nebraska.

They are headed out on a large tour [even coming to Richmond, hooray!] and promises 2 1/2 hours of music, showcasing brand new songs from a future album and their current album, as well as old favorites from Bright Eyes, M. Ward, and My Morning Jacket catalogues. So, basically....it's going to be awesome.

Monsters of Folk - Temazcal

Monsters of Folk - Losin Yo' Head

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Spirits of the Red City is an eight-person ensemble that creates wistful, melancholy folk tunes using cello, upright bass, accordion, guitar, viola and charming vocals. Many of the band members are siblings, which might explain how well the harmonies weave. I saw them this past Saturday in DC and I was blown away. Check out their album Hunter Moon.

Spirits of the Red City - Fire

Best known for his acting (The Notebook, Lars and the Real Girl) Ryan Gosling is following the well-paved path of actors like Jason Schwartzman and Jared Leto and forming a band along with pal Zach Shields. Dead Man's Bones plays indie folk-pop that sounds a lot better than actors' bands usually do, and a little darker. Gosling and Shields originally bonded over their love of scary stuff: monsters, zombies, ghosts, etc. Their new album, Never Let a Lack of Talent Get You Down, appropriately comes out this month (10/6), just in time for Halloween.

Dead Man's Bones - My Bodys a Zombie For You

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Last week, Islands played their second tour date in Richmond, VA at Plaza Bowl. I was there, had a little interview with the band and took some photos. They discussed their new album Vapours, breaking toilets, and what kind of music they listen to in the tour van. The show itself was entertaining, with lots of dancing (on stage and off). They played mostly new stuff, but kept the crowd happy with such hits as "Rough Gem" and "Don't Call Me Whitney Bobby" from their first album. Here's what Nick Diamond and Jamie Thompson had to say:

Abigail Eisley: Welcome to Richmond, have you all ever been here before?

Nick Diamond: Yea, I think I was here 4 and ½ years ago, 5 ½ years ago. I was here 5 ½ years ago, that’s so weird.

Was that for another show?

ND: It was for another band, another show, another era. It was when the alternative music scene was raging, and we were on the forefront of the alternative music scene.

Jamie Thompson: Is that when you were playing in Temple of the Dogs?

ND: Well, I was Green River, but I joined Mother Love Temple after. This was at, I think, the University, it was a festival. Vague memories. We played and then we went to a house party and it was fun.

The house party was fun?

ND: It was fun until I broke the toilet. We had to leave.

JT: Its all fun and games until someone breaks a toilet!

ND: We had to leave right away. Anyway. A long time ago.

...Continue reading, after the jump!

Islands - Vapours

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Tonight, come enjoy some local flava at First Friday in Richmond! Featuring Zac Hryciak and the Jungle Beat, the evening will also include The Low Branches, Brad Doggett w/Earthtone, and Dave Watkins & Friends w/Matt Klimas. At 304 Adams Street, there will be free music and food from 6-1130. Zac Hryciak and the Jungle Beat consists of Zac Hryciak, Jessica Blanks, Lee Spratley and Chris Harrison. A "small pop and bossa nova band" full of sharp violin, steady bass, charming vocals, and light percussion, Zac Hryciak and the Jungle Beat promises a good folksy time. Check out the other local bands, grab some free food and enjoy First Friday!

Zac Hryciak and the Jungle Beat - Howlawooawoo

Zac Hryciak and the Jungle Beat - May the Warrior Be True

 Just announced on Ateaseweb.com, Thom Yorke has formed a new band and will be playing some live shows!

The members include Thom, Joey Waronker, Mauro Refosco, Flea (yeah...Flea) and Nigel Godrich. It appears that they have been formed specifically to play material from Mr. Yorke's "The Eraser" as well as some new material from Thom. 

As of now the only shows announced are at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, CA on October 4th and 5th! If you happen to be in the area or have just so happened to have cancelled al of your plans in the last 5 seconds and are now going to LA, you should go! Tickets on sale from the links on the Ateaseweb page.

The XX is a quartet of 20 year olds based in London, England. With hints of Radiohead, Interpol, Aaliyah, and CocoRosie, the XX successfully combines echoes of hip hop with rock with lounge music with dance in their first album "XX". They produced their self-titled album and released it this past August. They are currently on a worldwide tour, supporting and headlining -- about 1/3 of the shows are sold out already, so get your tix soon! The album itself is comprised of 11 deceptively simple songs with hip beats and sexy lyrics. The vocals of Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim intertwine, compliment, and provide the necessary friction that makes the music irresistable. Probably due to their musical education background, their stoic style demands attention. For some reason I liked them better after I watched the "Crystalised" music video, after the jump!

The XX - Basic Space

DC-based garge-psych-folk rockers (yes, they're hard to classify) The Dustys are on tour with "An Honest Mistake" hit-makers The Bravery, for the New York-based foursome's new album Stir the Blood. In the same vein (no pun intended) The Dustys' new album Sticky Blood is pushing these Washingtonians on the road. Say hello at the 9:30 Club. Living Things also playing.

The Dustys - Dangerous Little Signs

Monotonix are a a garage-rock trio from Tel Aviv, Israel. But forget everything you've ever known about garage-rock, or Israel, because Ami, Yonatan, and Haggai only play music together to break all the rules. Previously banned from the Black Cat, the band will steal your drink, light guitars on fire, play drums on your shoulders, and expect a dance party. Search the band on YouTube for a sneak preview. Their new album Body Language is out on Drag City. Live with Turbo Fruits.

Monotonix - Set Free