Madi Diaz Live from the CLEAR Mobile Studio from SXSW

Check out the other great interviews from the CLEAR 4G mobile Studio at SXSW http://www.youtube.com/user/CLEARinsider

The Butterfly Explosion: 2 Free songs "Closer" and "Chemistry"

Butterfly Explosion are a band from Ireland that blend powerful spiraling music with delicate vocals to form rich soundscapes of beautiful melodies, gliding between moments of ethereal dreampop and explosive sonic bliss.

The debut album 'LOST TRAILS' is released February 2010 on Irish label Revive Records. 'Closer', the first single, has been receiving extensive airplay from Ireland's leading alternative music shows such as Paul McLoone(TodayFM) and Dan Hegarty(2FM) who described the track as "My Bloody Valentine meets M83 meets Sigur Ros in Heaven".

http://www.myspace.com/butterflyexplosion

Butterfly Explosion - Closer


Butterfly Explosion - Chemistry

Christina Aguilera now making "indie" music? - 3 samples: What do you think?

Christina Aguilera is FAR from indie, however that might be changing. In my search for music, I stumbled upon 3 samples that are music from her upcoming CD. This is not the "Ain't no other man" stuff you've heard and been annoyed at on the radio, this is far removed from the synth and pop that pop music has today. - It has more in common with most indie music than it does pop music!

Why the change in her style? Beats me, however I like the change. I'm sure a lot of her old fans won't like it, but oh well. The pop singer has also drafted Goldfrapp, Sia and Ladytron to be on the cd [via Billboard.com], which, she recently revealed, will be a "futuristic" one.

Don't believe me? Take a listen to the 3 clips for yourself! It a very different change from her old style, and is actually not that bad.

Drew Danburry - "Goodnight Gary" album released - In stores now.

Drew Danburry just released his new album on February 9th, meaning it's in stores now! Drew works hard at promoting his music, and he's definitely worth supporting. I'm a fan of supporting musicians who aren't raking in $$$ due to corporate sellout and big sponsorships, because the little guys make good music too!

Take a listen to the sample track here, then make one of the 3 choices:




1) Stream the album and download songs at http://www.drewdanburry.com
2) Preview & Purchase on Amazon.com
3) Listen to the whole album on his Facebook Fan Page

Chromeo - Night By Night (Midnight Conspiracy Remix) [Electrofunk/Pop] - Free Download

Chromeo is a Montreal based electrofunk duo composed of P-Thugg (Patrick Gemayel) on keyboards, synthesizers, and talk box, and Dave 1 (David Macklovitch) on guitar and lead vocals. The two childhood friends jokingly describe themselves as "the only successful Arab/Jewish partnership since the dawn of human culture."

This track is a free download from the band. I haven't listened to the original, but I really like this remix.

http://www.chromeo.net/

Listen and download via Entertonemenet

iTunes Gift Card contest winners!

Congratulations to our iTunes contest winner:

Amber (Facebook) - Please reply to the Facebook message sent to you.
@TinTinCullen (Twitter) - Please DM me your email back to @PopRockIndie

Brand New To Release The Devil & God Are Raging Inside Me Double LP on White Vinyl - March 23rd 2010

Brand New To Release The Devil & God Are Raging Inside Me Double LP on White Vinyl on March 23^rd, 2010

The long awaited vinyl version of Brand New’s critically acclaimed third album, The Devil & God Are Raging Inside Me, will be released on March 23rd on the band’s own Procrastinate! Music Traitors label.  The double LP will be pressed on white vinyl and will contain an additional lyric sheet that wasn’t included in the CD version.

People that pre-order their copies through the band’s official web store will receive their albums on March 16th.

Pre-order link

The Devil & God Are Raging Inside Me was originally released in November 2006 on Interscope and the album has gone on to sell over 250,000 copies since.  It also landed Brand New on countless “Best of 2006” lists and was met by a flurry of diverse critical acclaim:

 “This excellent Long Island band plies dense, angry tangles of guitar and opaque lyrics of spiritual crisis, a cross between Pink Floyd and Nirvana.”- NY Times

 “…conjures up Radiohead crossed with Nirvana…”- LA Times

Manchester Orchestra Upcoming US Tour Dates

Columbia Records and Favorite Gentlemen are excited to announce more tour dates to Manchester Orchestra's upcoming US tour.  Starting March 19, the second leg of the tour kicks into gear.  The Features, Chris Staples, and labelmates O'Brother will join Manchester Orchestra February 26 - March 4 and starting March 6 through the end of the tour, the band will be joined by
The Features, Biffy Clyro, and O'Brother.

Tickets were made available to the public Thursday, January 21 at 1pm local time.

2.26.10 - House of Blues - Orlando, FL ^
2.27.10 - Freebird Live - Jacksonville Beach, FL ^
2.28.10 - Revolution - Ft. Lauderdale, FL ^
3.2.10 - House of Blues - Houston, TX ^
3.3.10 - Emo's - Austin, TX ^
3.4.10 - The Palladium Showroom - Dallas, TX ^
3.6.10 - The Marquee - Tempe, AZ **
3.7.10 - House of Blues - San Diego, CA **
3.9.10 - Troubadour - West Hollywood, CA **
3.10.10 - Troubadour - West Hollywood, CA **
3.12.10 - Hawthorne Theater - Portland, OR **
3.13.10 - The Showbox at The Market - Seattle, WA **
3.15.10 - The Knitting Factory - Boise, ID **
03.19.10 - The Beaumont Club - Kansas City, MO **
03.20.10 - The Slowdown - Omaha, NE **
03.21.10 - The Varsity Theater - Minneapolis, MN **
03.23.10 - Metro - Chicago, IL **
03.24.10 - St. Andrews Hall - Detroit, MI **
03.25.10 - Mr. Small's Theatre - Pittsburgh, PA **
03.26.10 - Water Street Music Hall - Rochester, NY **
03.27.10 - The Mod Club Theatre - Toronto, ON **
03.29.10 - Northern Lights - Clifton Park, NY **
03.30.10 - Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA **
03.31.10 - Chameleon - Lancaster, PA **
04.01.10 - Toad's Place - New Haven, CT **
04.02.10 - The Fillmore New York @ Irving - New York, NY **
04.03.10 - The Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA **
04.05.10 - The Recher Theatre - Towson, MD **
04.06.10 - The NorVa - Norfolk, VA **
04.07.10 - Cat's Cradle - Carrboro, NC **
04.08.10 - The Music Farm - Charleston, SC **
04.09.10 - Jillian's - Columbia, SC **

^ with The Features, Chris Staples, and O'Brother
** with The Features, Biffy Clyro, and O'Brother

www.themanchesterorchestra.com
www.myspace.com/manchesterorchestra

The New Limb - Free Acoustic version of "Cycle Mother Earth Cycle" and Interview

I got a tweet sent to us via our twitter account @PopRockIndie to check out a band called The New Limb. And after listening to a couple tracks on their MySpace, got in touch with them to post about them on this blog!

Spotlight: THE NEW LIMB

"Costa Mesa based indie rock band The New Limb will be releasing their FIRST full-length album in late March. This past year has been insane for the band. They came out of hiding early last year and surprised everyone at the OC Music Awards Best Live Band Showcase and were chosen as one of five bands to play in the finals. Though they did not win, OC Weekly named them Best Live Band of 2009. And The New Limb are in it again this year with new music that everyone is pumped up about. They will be playing in the OC Music Awards Best Live Band showcase on Feb. 16 at The Gypsy Lounge in Lake Forest, where the band just finished up a December residency and toy drive for Orangewood Children's Foundation. The New Limb are a fun, corky bunch of musicians who live in a house together in Costa Mesa. The band is Joey Chavez (lead vocals and guitar), Adam Chavez (drums and vocals), Lauren Salamone (keys and vocals and Dan Perez (lead guitar and vocals)."

The song was recorded live for 88.9 FM KUCI @ University of California, Irvine




DOWNLOAD via Entertonement [link]


Links:  
www.myspace.com/thenewlimb
www.thenewlimb.com

Below is an article written in the OC Music Awards newsletter that includes a transcribed interview from when they were on KUCI 88.9 FM.

You guys always make cookies for your shows. Do you guys make cakes too?

L: No, that's too much of a commitment.

J: Yellow cake with chocolate frosting is my favorite but it has to be out of the box and made by my mom.

Well that's good to know for all you ladies out there who want to win Joey's heart. That's the cake he likes.

J: I think that's most mens hearts.

D: I prefer steak. Breakfast sausage would be the alternative.

Lets address the whole living together. Isn't there a rule that you shouldn't live with your bandmates? Do you guys fight a lot?

TNL: YES we do.

L: It's actually wise to not live with your band but I love it. There are a lot of great things that come from it but it makes things really difficult. You really have to love each other.

A: That's it, you guys don't have to talk more.

J: It's like the people that you love the most, you treat the crappiest. You know what I mean?

L: especially since there are two brothers and Dan grew up with them so he's basically their adopted brother.

A: We're going on like 12 years.

You guys are like a family.

J: Yeah, we're a family band.

A: We've been to Europe together. We've gone cross country to Florida together in the little Corolla. 

J: We went swimming the other day together. We went on a big fan boat on the everglades. 

A: We went to a coffee shop together. We came here together...

L: And next week we are playing a show together.

D: I think we swam in three oceans together.

You guys have done a lot together. I don't really want to know what else you guys have done together just in case it's a little too private. 

Do you guys have nicknames for each other?

D: Mainly just Lauren.

J: They're awesome though.

D: Scotch tape

Is there a nice once?

L: The first one.

D: The first one is the best one. We were tracking her in the studio for the first time, and we were doing one of her keyboards first where she plays the right hand. So we called the track right hand. Then the track where she plays left hand, we called right hand too. So she's right hand.

J: Right hand Salomony

L: Yep!

D: Simple bird is a good one too.

How did The New Limb name come about? 

L: There's a different story every time they (Joey and Adam) tell it.

D: You're not supposed to say that.

A: There is one story and it's true and Joey will tell it.

J: My cousin Josh Edgar, it's ironic because we went to Joshua Tree. We went camping one time and we were hanging out, climbing on the rocks and doing whatever. He was stoked because he had just got this newthe tip of his pinky off of his hand. Like litterally. So we all freaked out and it was crazy because we were in Joshua Tree and we don't know where the nearest hospital is. I didn't know what to do. It was just us. I was the oldest guy there and I don't know what is going on with fingers or pinkies, whatever. So I was like ughhhhh put it in some milk. So we threw it in a cup of milk and we went to the nearest emergency room. and they sewed it back on. It looks good now. It does whatever it's supposed to do. machetti or whatever and he's in boys scouts so that's a badge. If you get enough badges, you get a machetti or something. He ends up playing with it and falls off of this rock. He fell in a way that he cut

So that's the real story?

L: Yeah, that's the real story.

J: Yeah, that's it.

Alcoholic Faith Mission - “We All Have Our Shortcomings” MP3 [soft electronic/pop]

“…beautiful alloys of muted electronica and pop” – RCRD LBL

Alcoholic Faith Mission - We All Have Our Shortcomings sound bite  Free MP3 Downloads sound bites

www.myspace.com/alcoholicfaithmission 

Shout Out Louds New Video for "Fall Hard" and Free mp3 of "Walls"

Merge Records is excited to announce that Sweden's Shout Out Louds will be embarking on a North American tour during the month of May. In addition to the tour, the band has just released a music video (embedded below) for the first commercial single from Work titled "Fall Hard" (single being released digitally on February 2).

Shout Out Louds are also still offering the album track "Walls" as a free download at www.shoutoutlouds.com. (or play it in the player below)

Shout Out Louds - Walls sound bite  Free MP3 Downloads sound bites

Pre order their album here

Shout Out Louds will be bringing their engaging live show to the following North American venues throughout May:
 
01 March   Brooklyn, Music Hall of WIlliamsburg SOLD OUT
 
02 May   Washington, 9:30 Club
03 May   Philadelphia, First Unitarian Church
05 May   New York, Webster Hall
06 May   Boston, Paradise
07 May   Montreal, Cabaret Music Hall
08 May   Toronto, Mod Club
10 May   Chicago, Lincoln Hall
11 May   Minneapolis, Varsity Theater
14 May   Vancouver, Commodore Ballroom
15 May   Seattle, Neumos
16 May   Portland, Doug Fir
18 May   San Francisco, Great American Music Hall
20 May   San Diego, House of Blues
21 May   Los Angeles, El Rey

Drew Danburry - "Religion of Me" [soft, indie acoustic rock]

Sorry from the posting break - back on track and coming close to the end of our contest! New music time!

From his site: "Drew Danburry is a singer-songwriter who has toured and released records independently for approximately eight years now. It is debated whether this itinerantly musical lifestyle began in high school under the small but groundbreaking rap career he supposedly chartered or if it really started when a band was formed in college with some friends in the summer of 2002."

www.drewdanburry.com
http://drewdanburry.blogspot.com/

The first single is called "Religion of Me"and is available to download via his blog (linked above). Take a listen to it below!

Swedish indie pop group SAMBASSADEUR to release new album

Sambassadeur is a Swedish quartet that just released their third album European (Due out Feb 23^rd on Labrador Records). I've been listening to their songs on MySpace, and they've got a lot of potential! Check out the description from their press release and their MySpace and see if you are enjoying it as much as I am.

“Sambassadeur's Anna Persson sings softly and fluidly, favoring held notes that sound like they might dissipate into the music around her. Her voice often seems more typical of shoegaze or introverted folk than 1980s-cribbing pop, but she strikes the right note of dreaminess and cool drama in Sambassadeur's songs.”

-Pictchfork

“The Swedes have birthed yet another unique and lovely pop music child."

-Pop Matters

"Sambassadeur’s sound has evolved with each release, while their older recordings had a more aggressive sound, reminiscent of Jesus and Mary Chain, their music now conjures reminders of bands like Camera Obscura and Belle & Sebastian.  European is the album that demonstrates the true talent of Sambassadeur. The foursome, along with the addition of a string quartet, three drummers, a saxophone player, clarinetist, and more, has created a unique style that will be sure to gain fans of all music tastes across the world."

Take a listen to the band at Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/sambassadeurtheband

Official Page - http://www.sambassadeur.com/

Japan’s POLYSICS Announce U.S. Tour, to go on Hiatus after March 14th show!

Japan’s POLYSICS Announce U.S. Tour In Support of Latest Release Absolute POLYSICS

Tour Will Be Final Chance For American Audiences To See Current Lineup

As Longtime Member, Kayo Announces Her Departure

POLYSICS To Go On Hiatus After March 14 Show At Budokan

Kayo, longtime keyboard/voice/guitar/vocoder mastermind for Japanese cult favorites, POLYSICS, has announced that she will be leaving after the band’s March 14^th show in Budokan. POLYSICS’ upcoming U.S. tour will be the final chance for American audiences to see Kayo perform with the band that has recently earned raves in print from the likes of Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne and Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh.

The remaining members of POLYSICS, Hiro (voice /guitar/programming) Fumi (bass /voice /synthesizer) and Yano (drums), have also announced that they will be going on hiatus following the tour (see statement from band below).

POLYSICS Tour Dates:

Jan 28 2010

8:00P

Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, California

Jan 29 2010

8:00P

The Roxy Los Angeles, California

Jan 30 2010

8:00P

The Casbah San Diego, California

Feb 2 2010

8:00P

Plush Tuscon, Arizona

Feb 3 2010

8:00P

The Rhythm Room Pheonix, Arizona

Feb 6 2010

8:00P

The Independent Austin, Texas

Feb 7 2010

8:00P

The Loft Dallas, Texas

Feb 9 2010

8:00P

The Firebird St. Louis, Missouri

Feb 10 2010

8:00P

Double Door Chicago, Illinois

Feb 11 2010

8:00P

Magic Stick Detroit, Michigan

Feb 12 2010

8:00P

Musica Akron, Ohio

Feb 13 2010

8:00P

The Gramercy Theatre New York, New York

Feb 14 2010

8:00P

The Middle East Cambridge, Massachusetts

Feb 16 2010

8:00P

The Rock and Roll Hotel Washington, Washington DC

www.myspace.com/polysicsna

More info and the Press release / letters from Kayo and the band are at their MySpace blog: http://blogs.myspace.com/polysicsna 

30 Seconds to Mars Interview from "The Night 89x Stole Christmas 12"

Here's a recent interview with 30 Seconds to Mars from "The Night 89x Stole Christmas 12" at the Filmore in Detroit, MI.

The band discussed their new album and the music video for the song "Kings and Queens."

Interview with 30 Seconds to Mars (Link)

The Spill Canvas's new EP "Abnormalities" - released today 01/12/10

The Spill Canvas just released a new 3 song EP today, the newest music from the band since 2008. I've been a fan of the band since their single "All Over You" came out on their last cd "No Really, I'm Fine." 


After listening to the EP, I definitely like the track "Don't Let Your Enemies Become Friends" the best. It's got the right hooks and clever lyrics to blow up on the radio, and I hope it does! 

The other two tracks "Gateway Drug" and "Good Graces, Bad Influence" are both just as polished as the other track, and the EP definitely is a great release from the band. Check out the streams on Purevolume (link below) and see for yourself how the band has matured.


Stream the EP: http://www.purevolume.com/thespillcanvas

Buy the EP: http://www.thespillcanvas.com/

The EP is only $3.96 at most digital music stores, and there's a special $10 t-shirt/cd bundle on the band's homepage.

Sara Lowes - Night Times [indie pop / rock] - Free Download

I found this pop indie song due to the free download she offered on her site.

It's more of a mellow-pop sound with smooth sounding synth in the background.

Visit the site to download, or download button below: http://www.saralowes.co.uk

Sara Lowes - Night Times

Lanterns - Midnight Psalms (Alright!)

Rising triumphantly from the hollowed indie rock grounds of San Diego comes LANTERNS. This four-piece group began under the premise that there is no premise, and has forged ahead since with tuneful and unpretentious yet extremely noisy pop songs. They've taken their DIY attitude across the country twice, making stops with Matt and Kim and ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead among others, and galvanizing audiences everywhere. Their self-released Apocalypse Youth EP is available now and has garnered glowing reviews from the top punk sites and been named one of Alternative Press's "Best Unsigned Bands" of the year. "Midnight Psalms (Alright!)" packs in provocative lyrics with visceral guitars and epic arrangements. Listen now and check out Apocalypse Youth EP.
LANTERNS.

MySpace: http://myspace.com/wearelanterns

Lanterns - Midnight Psalms