the skin, the sea, the sound — a new album by Joshua Stamper comes out on April 1 via Good Behavior. Feel the cosmos grow larger in a stunning blur of pop charm and classical composition. Joshua Stamper brings his earthy and immediate baritone together with a full band.
Stream two album tracks here and pre-order it on 150-gram classic black vinyl or digital.
Ghost Shirt is a four-piece band from Columbus, Oh that plays crunchy, sing-along chamber/power pop. It is fronted by songwriter/guitarist Branden Barnett and violin player/vocalist Samantha Kim. David Murphy on drums and Ryan Haye on Bass round out the rhythm section. The new album — Daniel — 2-night release show starts Friday, March 28 at the Tree Bar in Columbus – the album will be played in its entirety for the final time, and the shows will feature performances from Micah Schnabel of Two Cow Garage and Buffalo’s The Orphans. You can also pre-order Daniel from Re-Vinyl Records now.
Nyiko Beguin (“nee-koh” “bay-gan”) (born November 1, 1990), better known by his middle name NYIKO, is an American recording artist, producer, and visual artist.
Growing up in a close community of artists and musicians, Beguin started writing and recording music when he was seven years old. His music has taken on many forms since he began recording, but he is often identified with the genre of electronic pop. His stage name, NYIKO, is a South African name of the Shangaan people (which means “Gift”).
His new EP/Art Book — Always Always — is available now.
NK’s Basement Tapes Vol. 1 and 2 is available on vinyl for the first time ever — available now from Enjoy The Ride Records. 45rpm and completely random colors – very limited, so grab them while they are still available! Every record contains a free digital download too.
Most people now know Ari Herstand as the guy who helped them fly with their instruments. His Carry Your Instrument On The Plane… It’s The LAW blog post went viral and has been viewed over 250,000 with over 40,000 Facebook Likes. In just under two years, Herstand’s music business advice blog, Ari’s Take, has been nominated by the LA Weekly as the best music blog in Los Angeles and has become a go to resource for DIY musicians.
Ari Herstand is a DIY musician who has played over 550 shows around the country, has opened for Ben Folds, Cake, Matt Nathanson and Ron Pope, and has had his music featured in countless TV shows.
As an actor, he has co-starred in TV shows including 2 Broke Girls, The Fosters, Sam & Cat and Touch.
Before acting and blogging, Herstand spent a full year working on his newest release, Brave Enough, in his former home of Minnesota. Teaming up with his long-time engineer and close friend, Grammy nominated, Paul Marino, the two organized an all-star band, including Herstand’s “favorite drummer on the planet” Dave King (The Bad Plus), to create his 3rd full-length record.
Known by his fans primarily for his live looping – combining the trumpet, beat boxing, keys, acoustic guitar, percussion and vocals – this record is a clear departure from his solo show. The four interludes scattered throughout the record tease the looping he is known for.
Order the Vinyl release: http://ariherstand.com
Symbol is the solo effort of producer and multi-instrumentalist Christopher Royal King. Best known as a founding member and lead guitarist of the massive orchestral-rock ensemble This Will Destroy You, King has also composed and recorded scores for a host of prominent feature-films and documentaries, established Light Lodge Records, and moonlights in Austin’s amorphous ambient collective AMASA•GANA.
Now, on his first solitary odyssey apart from TWDY King’s masterful ear for signal processing and affinity for corroded elegance takes free reign over a vastly expanded inventory of instrumentation. Throughout Symbol’s debut – Online Architecture – (out on HOLODECK / LIGHT LODGE April 8th 2014 on LP / CS / DL) organic sound-sources are meticulously transmuted through chains of modules and magnetic tape, each successive stage creating a compounded quantity of detail and decay. After four studio albums with TWDY King has crafted an arresting solo debut that is both gorgeously tranquil and devastatingly heavy, offering a direct-line into his psyche which had not existed until now.
The Chicago-based musical group, Labors, began as an outlet for the work of Kansas City native, Z. L. Melton. In 2010, Melton moved to Chicago, where the project expanded to include bassist Jacob Hand, drummer Addison Ashbaugh, guitarist Alexis Dionissopoulos, and vocalist Sarah “Rose” Anderson.
Blue Funk is the new album, out just now on vinyl and digital download. It was recorded by Jamie Wagner at Strobe Recording in July, mixed by Jim Becker (Califone, Iron & Wine) and mastered by Bill Alletzhauser (The Hiders, Ass Ponys) and Brian Moeller at The Bat Cave. Each record will be pressed to 150 gram random-colored, recycled vinyl, and packaged in a simple sleeve with artwork by Nicole Jo Melton.
We are proud to be a sponsor again this year of Topshelf Records’ SXSW showcases — as in the past few years, we pressed up some 7 inch goodies you can get your hands on at the showcases…but there are not a ton of them, so grab them while they last! More info below:
Topshelf Records SXSW Party (unofficial)
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
6pm – 2am
21st Street Co-op (707 West 21st Street, Austin, TX 78705)
All ages, free.
6:00 – 6:25 – Foxing
6:40 – 7:05 – Duck. Little Brother, Duck!
7:20 – 7:45 – Caravels
8:00 – 8:30 – Diamond Youth
8:45 – 9:15 – Donovan Wolfington
9:30 – 10:00 – Special Explosion
10:05 – 10:35 – Bob Nanna
10:40 – 11:10 – Joliette
11:15 – 11:45 – No Somos Marineros
12:00 – 12:30 – You Blew It!
12:45 – 1:15 – Prawn
1:30 – end – Empire! Empire!
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Topshelf Records SXSW Showcase (unofficial)
Thursday, March 13, 2014
11am – 6pm
Soho Lounge (217 East 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701)
18+, free.
12:00 – 12:30 – Special Explosion
12:45 – 1:15 – Donovan Wolfington
1:30 – 2:00 – Frameworks
2:15 – 2:45 – Wild Ones
3:00 – 3:30 – Diamond Youth
3:45 – 4:15 – Prawn
4:30 – 5:00 – Caravels
5:15 – 5:45 – You Blew It!
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It’s been a long, strange journey for Gordon Ashworth over the past few years. The Portland, Oregon resident has played in over 20 countries and released countless artifacts under his various solo guises: Concern, Oscillating Innards, CAEN, and others. He is also a member of the black/death metal band, Knelt Rote. After retiring Concern, however, a new aural picture has taken shape.S.T.L.A. showcases Ashworth at his absolute best, pressing dense compositions through a unique prism that straddles the line between melodic and abstract. Elemental influences of folk music as well as musique concrete and acousmatic works are audible within the sprawling confines of S.T.L.A.
What do you get when you mix rock guitars, 60’s song craft, and pop sensibilities? Chunky Turtlenecks‘ new record, Kill Your Thrills. The latest effort by the Bay Area 4-piece pulls from various genres (alternative rock, 60’s pop, garage) and blends them together in their own way, all while staying under the indie rock umbrella. It was mixed at Tiny Telephone studios in San Francisco, CA, and mastered at Chicago Mastering House in Chicago, IL. With a running time of just over 30 minutes, the self-released 12-song LP contains bursts of electricity with interesting twists and turns along the way. As upbeat as it is refreshing, Kill Your Thrills provides listeners with a fresh take on rock music. Check it out!
