Gates Tour, Nashville 10/9

I've been digging the dynamic and soaring alt sounds of post-rockers, Gates. The band formed circa 2011 in the New Brunswick, NJ area, playing gigs and developing their sound, producing two EPs recorded and mixed by guitarist/vocalist Kevin Dye. Gates released their debut full-length album in the Fall of 2014 via Pure Noise Records, titled Bloom and Breathe, co-produced by Mike Watts and Kevin Dye at Vudu Studios. Dye's voice weaves emotive and thought-provoking lyrics through sweeping three-guitar riffs, demonstrating major nods to post-rock legends, Explosions in the Sky. 

Gates will be supporting The Dear Hunter on The Rebirth Tour, with appearances by Chon. Tour dates below. 
Nashville appearance on Friday, October 9th at Exit/In. 
Ages 18+ // Doors 7pm // Tickets $17 - $20

9/11 - Musica - Akron, OH

The Dear Hunter, Chon

9/13 - Triple Rock Social Club - Minneapolis, MN                                                        

The Dear Hunter, Chon

9/15 - The Loving Touch - Ferndale, MI

The Dear Hunter, Chon

9/16 - The Ready Room - St Louis, MO

The Dear Hunter, Chon

9/17 - Rose Music Hall - Columbia, MO

Chon

9/18 - Granada Theatre - Lawrence, KS

The Dear Hunter, Chon

9/19 - Marquis Theatre - Denver, CO

Chon

9/21 - The Watercooler - Boise, ID

Chon

9/22 - The Crocodile - Seattle, WA

The Dear Hunter, Chon

9/23 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR

The Dear Hunter, Chon

9/24 - The Dip - Redding, CA

9/25 - The Boardwalk - Orangevale, CA

The Dear Hunter, Chon

9/26 - Slim's - San Francisco, CA

The Dear Hunter, Chon

9/27 - Strummer's - Fresno, CA

The Dear Hunter, Chon

9/29 - The Roxy Theater - West Hollywood, CA

The Dear Hunter, Chon

10/1 - The Observatory - Santa Ana, CA

The Dear Hunter, Chon

10/2 - The Irenic - San Diego, CA

The Dear Hunter, Chon

10/3 - Crescent Ballroom - Phoenix, AZ

The Dear Hunter, Chon

10/4 - Club Congress - Tucson, AZ

10/5 - The Lowbrow Palace - El Paso, TX

10/6 - The Parish - Austin, TX

The Dear Hunter, Chon

10/7 - Gas Monkey Bar N' Grill - Dallas, TX

The Dear Hunter, Chon

10/9 - Exit/In - Nashville, TN

The Dear Hunter, Chon

10/10 - The Loft - Atlanta, GA

The Dear Hunter, Chon

10/11 - Thompson House - Newport, KY

The Dear Hunter, Chon

10/12 - Woodlands Tavern - Columbus, OH

10/13 - Rock and Roll Hotel - Washington, DC

Chon

10/15 - Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA

The Dear Hunter, Chon

10/16 - The Stone Pony - Asbury Park, NJ

The Dear Hunter, Chon

10/17 - The Royale - Boston, MA
The Dear Hunter, Chon

10/18 - The Space - Hamden, CT

10/19 - Showcase Lounge - South Burlington, VT

10/21 - Irving Plaza - New York, NY

The Dear Hunter, Chon
Dates subject to change, view artist page(s) for updated info.

Better Off

I'm better off, you're better off, so is Better Off, an alternative rock quartet from my 
current backyard here in Nashville, TN. Listed comparisons include Brand New, 
Knapsack, and proclaimed influences drawing from Jimmy Eat World, Weezer and Foo Fighters.

Members of the band are definitely no strangers to the scene, having converged in 2013 
from various bands. They released the debut (I Think) I'm Leaving that same year, which 
garnered fan and critic praise for its stirring and well-crafted songs. In 2014 they released 
the two-song Meth Head, produced by Arun Bali (Saves the Day). 

Hello 2015, and we've arrived at the anticipation of Milk, the band's sophomore LP, via 
powerhouse Equal Vision Records, due 09.11.15. Listen below for a taste, two yummy singles 
"Dresser Drawer" and "Whatever, I don't Care." Download the latter, I did, no more 
musical hangry-ness. Hah.   

Preorder Milk before it drops online and in stores September 11. Also, be sure to get rowdy 
in real-time, Better Off will be touring in support of The Early November and Bayside. 

Better Off w/ The Early November 

8/24- Greensboro, NC, Greene Street 

8/25- Nashville, TN, The End 

8/27- Shawnee, KS, Aftershock 

Better Off w/ Bayside, The Early November 

8/31- Sacramento, CA, Ace of Spades 

9/1- Oakland, CA, Oakland Metro 

9/2- Anaheim, CA, House of Blues 

9/3- Tucson, AZ, The Rock 

9/4- El Paso, TX, Tricky Falls 

9/5- Austin, TX, The Mohawk 

9/6- Little Rock, AR, Juanita’s 

9/8- Des Moines, IA, Wooly’s 

9/9- Madison, WI, Majestic Theatre 

9/10- Minneapolis, MN, Varsity Theater 

9/13- Grand Rapids, MI, The Intersection 

9/15- Cincinnati, OH, Bogart’s 

9/16- Pittsburgh, PA, Altar Bar 

9/17- New Haven, CT, Toad’s Place 

9/18- Rochester, NY, Anthology 
Dates subject to change, view artist page(s) for updated info.

"Moving Home"

Walking home from the Bedstuy train stop, I heard this song play in. Messy guitars and rousing vocal layerings, gritty underground stylings, lyrics about moving home in a week or so (as was my plan, oddly enough) resonated enough to interrupt my casual listen, and pull out my phone to discover the name of the band. I flew home to Arizona, spent two amazing weeks reuniting with family and friends, and packed every inch of my car with basic necessities and moved to Music City. 

Walking through Warped Tour Nashville two years later, I heard a familiar sound of weaving guitar strums blaring through amps from across the muddy fairgrounds. This song, this band. Moose Blood. Their hometown, Canterbury, England. Time warp tunage, I've come full circle.

Moving Home EP available on iTunes here
Fist In The Air Records / Day By Day Records

Thing Called Love

My favorite scene, from one of my favorite films. Totally addicted.

Little Wanderer

My current favorite song from today's freshly released, Death Cab for Cutie album, Kintsugi.



Support them here:
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/Kintsugi
Spotify: http://smarturl.it/S_Kintsugi
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/A_Kintsugi
Google Play: http://smarturl.it/GP_Kintsugi

Exclusive Kintsugi merch bundles available here: http://smarturl.it/KintsugiBundles 

Bully

Been digging this band Bully. Stoked on the announcement of their debut album, Feels Like, out June 23 via StarTime International/Columbia. Tracklist below. I will definitely catch em on their upcoming tour with Best Coast, JEFF the Brotherhood, and more.

Feels Like:

1 I Remember
2 Reason
3 Too Tough
4 Brainfreeze
5 Trying
6 Trash
7 Six
8 Picture
9 Milkman
10 Bully

Song 8

"Someone comes up and they surprise you by liking that weird song, 
or they surprise you by liking that one sketch that you thought, 'I didn't know anyone really liked that one,' 
and then suddenly it tells you about that person. I love that surprise. 
I wonder what it is about that person that they like THAT one, 
instead of the the obvious one.
... Usually song number 8."

-Carrie Brownstein 

The Craftsman Project

I'm inspired by this new film project by one of my favorite directors/producers, and a very skilled water cinematographer, 
Russell Brownley. 'The Craftsman Project' provides a glimpse into the lives of people who make a living by working with their hands, showcasing exceptional workmanship and ingenuity. 

Do what you love. Love what you do. You'll find a way to make it happen, follow your leadings, friends.

THE CRAFTSMAN PROJECT : 001 / BRENT FERRIS / Surfer, Barber, Shaper. 
Imperial Beach, CA.

The Way I Want You

Turbo Fruits debut new music on Nashville's 100.1 FM, from their upcoming release No Control. Check out this live version of 
'The Way I Want You' from the LC Studio, and catch them live tonight at 3rd And Lindsley.

// Happy Sunday! The ice is finally melting from the storm, time to get out and see some live music already!

Only Lovers Left Alive

I have been affected by this Jim Jarmusch film since my first viewing. It's an absolute love story, one that highlights the invaluable camaraderie that can exist between two people... in this case, vampires. Haha. It's actually this very dynamic that showcases a beautiful interdependence, as both characters have survived together through centuries. Lead male character, Adam (Tom Hiddleston), finds himself amidst a derived weighty existence, dismayed by the state of art and culture, and by human destruction to the planet. His love (Tilda Swinton) is a true Eve to his Adam. She is vivid, her solace reviving, and her passion for the arts and for that which is good on the earth, infectious. 

This nod to the arts is woven throughout the film. And with long musical interludes by Jozef Van Wissem and Squrl, the film seems an intricately evolved music video you could watch for hours. I may have a thing for Hiddleston's character, a sort-of reborn Jim Morrison who collects vintage guitars and studies mechanics, a timeless composer and an unassuming underground rock musician who takes his lover on night drives, highlighting iconic locations and venues throughout 'rock city.'