The Whip @ Bowery Ballroom

The Whip just embarked on a North American tour behind their recent, Stark favored release, X Marks Destination. These Manchester folk are hitting U.S. venues hard and Stark photographer, Karp, caught the first show on the tour at the Bowery last evening. See more photos and tour dates after the jump.




TOUR DATES
1 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom**
2 New Haven, Ct @ Yale Afro-American Cultural Center**
3 New York, NY @ Top Shop Soho (DJ Gig for Store Opening 6-8pm)
3 Brooklyn, NY @ Studio B*
4 Philadelphia, PA @ TLA*
7 Washington, DC @ 930 Club*
8 Boston, MA @ Paradise*
9 Montreal, Canada @ Les Saintes**
10 Toronto, Canada @ Kool Haus*
11 Chicago, IL @ Congress*
14 Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey**
15 Portland, OR @ Dantes**
16 San Francisco, CA @ Pop Scene**
19 Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock
20 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
21 Los Angeles, CA @ Cinespace w/ Steve Aoki

Woods & Tyvek Tonight @ Death By Audio

[MP3]
Woods "Rain On"
Woods "The Dark"

Again, I've been meaning to post on this all week, but clearly you can see we're dealing with a backlog of some great music. Woods have been slowing gaining momentum for what seems like some time now, and things are finally beginning to come to a head. Their record Songs of Shame comes out on April 14th via Woodsist, who has been having a quietly great year. It's yet another entry into the lo-fi, psych-folk cannon of 2009, but like the new record from Kurt Vile, it's the songs that come through in the end regardless of production methods. We don't know a ton about Tyvek, but we've been hearing good things...sort of hazy, distorted punk. Twitter tells us that it's Woods @10 and Tyvek @11 tonight. The Whip and Late of the Pier are also playing two highly anticipated shows tonight and tomorrow in the city. Lots to see and do.

Tour Alert: The Whip

Our friends from across the pond are coming stateside to tour. Manchester's The Whip are pushing their newest release, X Marks Destination, which dropped recently on Razor & Tie. Check out our review of the album here.
Tour dates after the jump.

27 Miami, FL @ WMC - Ultra Music Festival @ Bicentennial Park
28 Miami, FL @ WMC @ The Awarehouse w/ Organicarma
28 Miami, FL @WMC – Onitsuka Tiger/ GET WET Party @ Gansevoort Hotel
30 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl *


APRIL 2009
1 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom**
2 New Haven, Ct @ Yale Afro-American Cultural Center**
3 New York, NY @ Top Shop Soho (DJ Gig for Store Opening 6-8pm)
3 Brooklyn, NY @ Studio B*
4 Philadelphia, PA @ TLA*
7 Washington, DC @ 930 Club*
8 Boston, MA @ Paradise*
9 Montreal, Canada @ Les Saintes**
10 Toronto, Canada @ Kool Haus*
11 Chicago, IL @ Congress*
14 Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey**
15 Portland, OR @ Dantes**
16 San Francisco, CA @ Pop Scene**
19 Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock
20 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
21 Los Angeles, CA @ Cinespace w/ Steve Aoki


*with DeadMau5 and Late of the Pier
**with Late of the Pier

Royale with Cheese or New Cursive Album?

Courtesy of Saddle Creek, Cursive's newest release, Mama, I'm Swollen, is now available digitally for only dollars. Grab it here before the album appreciates by one dollar each subsequent day after today, until its climax at $9 March 10. Today, we are sorry to say, the album is actually up to $3...sorry for the late notice.

In other news:
Razor & Tie's newest Manchester acquisition, The Whip, finally released X-Marks Destination in the States today. Good buy. We recently reviewed it here.

US tour dates for both bands follow after the jump.

Cursive On Tour:
March 09th Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg (sold-out)
March 10th Manhattan, NY Bowery Ballroom (sold-out)
March 12th Los Angeles, CA Spaceland (sold-out)
March 13th Los Angeles, CA The Troubador (sold-out)
March 14th San Diego, CA The Casbah (sold-out)
March 15th Phoenix, AZ Rhythm Room
March 16th Albuquerque, NM The Launchpad
March 18th San Antonio, TX White Rabbit

The Whip Tour Dates:
3/20 - Austin @ 508 House (DJ Set)
3/21 - Austin @ La Zona Rosa (official showcase) w/ Pendulum, The Crystal Method +
3/24 - New Orleans @ House of Blues with Pendulum, The Crystal Method
3/27 - Miami Ultra Music Festival @ Bicentennial Park with Bloc Party, Santogold, Ting Tings +
3/30 - Atlanta @ The Earl with Deadmau5, Late of the Pier
4/01 - New York @ Bowery Ballroom with Late of the Pier
4/02 - New Haven @ Yale Afro-American Cultural Center with Late of the Pier
4/03 - Brooklyn @ Studio B with Deadmau5, Late of the Pier
4/04 - Philadelphia @ TLA with Deadmau5, Late of the Pier
4/07 - Washington DC @ 930 Club with Deadmau5, Late of the Pier
4/08 - Boston @ Paradise with Deadmau5, Late of the Pier
4/09 - Montreal @ Les Saintes with Late of the Pier
4/10 - Toronto @ Kool Haus with Deadmau5, Late of the Pier
4/11 - Chicago @ Congress with Deadmau5, Late of the Pier, Crookers
4/14 - Seattle @ Chop Suey with Late of the Pier
4/15 - Portland @ Dantes with Late of the Pier
4/16 - San Francisco @ Pop Scene with Late of the Pier

Short Takes: The Whip, Jar-e and Samantha Crain

The Whip - X Marks Destination
Release Date: March 3, 2009
Label: Razor & Tie
MP3: "Trash"
Rating: 82
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Manchester's Bruce Carter and Danny Seville combine synth-led back beats and tantalizingly-punchy lyrics to create modern electro-rock with a bite. In their newest release, X Marks Destination, the two (with help from Fiona Daniel: drums and Nathan Sudders: bass) are making the music they know how to make. Citing influences such as Fleetwood Mac's Rumors, Seville and Carter shake speakers while inducing head-bobbing undulations (dancing?) Tracks such as album single, "Trash," as well as "Blackout" and "Divebomb," establish an electro-dance dominance that goes unattested. Get up for this one. Play it loud.

Jar-e-Chicas Malas
Release Date: Feb. 24, 2009
Label: Exotic Recordings
MP3: "An Idea", "Casa Believe"
Rating: 76
________
Jon Reid is Jar-e, but you would never guess he was a North Carolina native. Chicas Malas, translating to "bad girls," is rich with Mexican, Cuban and Latin influence --it is no wonder that Reid conceived of the album while traveling through these parts. The album is dominated heavily by the vocals of Reid and the ever-present rhythmic horn-section . There is no denying however, that the record is front-loaded as tunes toward the latter half begin to wane in off-pace balladry. Highlights include the intoxicatingly repeatable " 3 Leaf," album single "Casa Believe," and "An Idea." These tunes are saturated with Motown and Pop influences that make you want to sing in the shower --the rest of the album, maybe a nap?

Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers - Songs in the Night
Release Date: April 28, 2009
Label: Ramseur Records
MP3: "Songs in the Night"
Rating: 86
_________
Album opener "Rising Sun," equipped with dark overtones and pseudo-band-backed-balladry, introduces you to Crain's tipsy lyrical style. Yet, the title track that precedes it, jaunts along in a Rhett Miller sort of way; the chorus will permeate your ears and burry itself in your head. The rest of the album is like a country road: bumping along unpredictably, but never lacking in beauty. Crain lets her voice tell the tales and the band drive the car. Songs in the Night is a rustic gem that listens like it was unearthed somewhere near its creation, deep in the western landscape.