Bands
Battles
Experimental rock quartet Battles has continued to evolve since their inception in 2003. All experienced musicians with storied pasts in independent music, John Stanier, Ian Williams, David Konopka, and Tyondai Braxton envisioned a band whose musical canvas can only be described as limitless. The New York based quartet released their long awaited debut full length, Mirrored, in 2007 which enchanted fans and critics alike. This unexpected and hypnotic album explores the possibilities of progressive rock, while taking each member's musicianship to new heights of technical mastery. Their songs “Leyendecker” and “Bad Trails” were both featured on the hit UK show Skins, and their new song, “The Line,” is now featured on the Twilight Saga: Eclipse OST soundtrack.
Deerhoof
San Francisco based Deerhoof are considered by many to be pioneers of the avant-garde indie-pop scene. Formed in 1994, the current members are John Dietrich, Satomi Matsuzaki, Ed Rodriguez and Greg Saunier, who often improvise and switch roles and instruments. The band's continued experimentation has led to a legion of dedicated fans and critics over the span of ten full length albums. Their most recent, Offend Maggie, was released by Kill Rock Stars in late 2008. The unique video for their song “Buck and Judy” was featured on Wired’s website. Deerhoof is currently on tour, playing in the US and Canada.
Fucked Up
Fucked Up formed in Toronto, Ontario in 2001, and are currently comprised of band members who all use pseudonyms: Pink Eyes (aka Father Damien), 10,000 Marbles, Concentration Camp, Mustard Gas, Young Governor and Mr. Jo (aka Guinea Beat). After countless limited edition singles, eps, legendary live shows and collaboration appearances, the band became the first 'hardcore punk' artist to grace the cover of NME. Matador Records released their album, The Chemistry of Common Life, in 2008, which received widespread acclaim, and in 2009, the band won the Polaris Music Prize for The Chemistry of Common Life, as well as released yet another 12 inch EP, Year of the Rat, on What's Your Rupture? Fucked Up is set with upcoming international tour dates throughout 2010.
Gang Gang Dance
Hailing from NYC, Gang Gang Dance has garnered acclaim from all corners of the independent music and art communities. Brian Degraw, Liz Bougatsos, Josh Diamond and Tim Dewitt comprise the experimental 'rock' band most known for their re-imagining of influences ranging from minimalist electronics to traditional eastern music. They have shared bills with bands as diverse as Battles, Animal Collective and TV on the Radio. Currently signed with The Social Registry, their most recent album, Saint Dymphna, was released in October 2008. They are expected to release their next album, TBC, in 2010 – and are playing live in August with Grizzly Bear and the Walkmen in New York.
Handsome Furs
Husband and wife team Dan Boeckner (also of Wolf Parade) and Alexei Perry comprise the Montreal based pair Handsome Furs. Signed with Sub Pop in late 2006, their first album, Plague Park, was released the following year. Their sophomore effort released in 2009, Face Control, was inspired by a peculiar aspect of club culture they observed while on tour in Eastern Europe. The album's juxtaposition of cold, metronomic, electronic beats with jagged, dissonant and frail guitars convey what it is to be human in the 21st century. At the same time, it provides the means to opt out. The duo star in a new travel web series, "Indie Asia," produced by CNN.com that premiered this past January; the series follows their touring and travels throughout Asia. The Handsome Furs will be on tour throughout Asia this August.
Liars
Liars are a three person band conceived in LA and born in New York. Angus Andrew, Aaron Hemphill and Julian Gross met while in school in California, relocating together to New York later on. Known for their open armed embrace of experimentation, Liars are often categorized as post punk, noise rock and dance punk. Their most recent release, Sisterworld, was released by Mute Records this past March, with whom they've been signed with since 2003. See them on tour this year in locations throughout the US, Canada, and Europe.
The National
Formed in 1999, Aaron and Bryce Dessner, Bryan and Scott Devendorf and Matt Berninger met in Cincinnati, but are currently based in Brooklyn, NY. Their 2005 release Alligator first brought them critical acclaim, while their latest album, High Violet, was just released in May 2010, and has been met with widespread acclaim as well. One of the more politically active bands, the Dressner brothers produced the recently released Dark Was the Night compilation featuring 31 tracks from various artists, with proceeds from the sale used by the Red Hot Organization, dedicated to helping those living with AIDS and HIV. Their latest album, High Violet, The National is currently on tour with international tour dates through the end of the year.
No Age
Formed in 2005, Randy Randall and Dean Allen Spunt comprise the LA based noise-pop band No Age. With two full length albums under their belt, these Sub Pop signed rockers continue to push sonic boundaries, while blurring the line between art, design and music. During a successful tour with New York based Liars in 2008, they released a joint 7 inch single limited to only 1200 copies, with a Hand Held Heart designed typographic treatment denoting the city of the show as the cover. The bands most recent release, Nouns, was nominated for Best Recording Package at this year's Grammy Awards. Stay tuned for their upcoming album, Everything in Between, set to release in September of this year, and see them on tour with these upcoming dates.
Pelican
This genre-defying foursome of Trevor de Brauw, Bryan Herweg, Larry Herweg and Laurent Schroeder-Lebec was founded in 2001 in Chicago, but quickly signed to LA's Hydra Head records. Self described as a metal band with pop sensibilities, Pelican is often classified in genres as diverse as instrumental sludge metal and math rock. Known for relentless touring, breathtaking live shows, and albums filled with sonic acrobatics, the band has built a dedicated and obsessive fanbase. In 2009, Pelican released an EP titled Ephemeral, followed by their most recent album, What We All Come to Need.
