I’m not a fan of playing favorites, but if I’m forced indie-rock is consistently my preference, and among that genre Longbeach-based band Cold War Kids is on the short list. I fell in love with the groups pain-fill passionate vocals and thrash or dance-worthy riffs when I first head “Mexican Dogs” from their 2008 release, Loyalty to Loyalty.

Unlike a number of other bands that once stole my heart then quickly dissappointed with watered down radio revues, I like everything that Cold War Kids have put out, albeit to varying degrees.

So I’m stoked to hear that the band’s fourth album Dear Miss Lonelyhearts is due out April 2, 2013. Just in time for my birthday! Perhaps I’ll get myself an anniversary gift of tickets to the May 23 show at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, CA. Check out the new album’s lead single, “Miracle Mile,” below followed by a complete listing of the band’s 2013 tour dates.

U.S. TOUR DATES:
February 15: Pappy & Harriet’s, Pioneertown, CA
February 16: Palace SLO Brewing Company, San Luis Obispo, CA
February 21: The Observatory, Santa Ana, CA
February 22: Cellar Door, Visalia, CA

February 23: SOHO Music Club, Santa Barbara, CA
March 8: The Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix, AZ
March 9: Tricky Falls, El Paso, TX
March 11: Fitzgerald’s, Houston, TX
March 13: Clive Bar, Austin, TX
April 3: Gothic Theatre, Englewood, CO
April 4: Slowdown, Omaha, NB
April 5: First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
April 6: Metro, Chicago, IL
April 9: Newport Music Hall, Columbus, CO
April 10: Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
April 11: 9:30 Club, Washington, DC
April 12: Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA
April 13: Webster Hall, New York, NY
April 15: Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC
April 16: Cannery Ballroom, Nashville, TN
April 17: The Masquerade, Atlanta, GA
May 16: Neptune Theatre, Seattle, WA
May 17: Vogue Theatre, Vancouver, BC
May 18: Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR
May 23: Regency Ballroom, San Francisco, CA !!!
May 24: Henry Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
May 25: Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, CA

INTERNATIONAL TOUR DATES:
April 24: Batacian, Paris, France
April 27: Plaza, Zurich, Switzerland
April 29: Flex, Vienna, Austria
April 30: C-Club, Berlin, Germany
May 1: Paradiso, Amsterdam, Holland
May 2: Gebaeude 9, Cologne, Germany
May 6: Pumphuset, Copenhagen, Germany
May 7: Grunspan, Hamburg, Germany
May 9: Forum, London, UK
May 10: Ritz, Manchester, UK

Source

The Shins: The Rifle’s Spiral on Nowness.com.

Three sinister gentlemen, a magician and an enormous rabbit populate the fantastical landscape of Emmy-winning director Jamie Caliri’s video for “The Rifle’s Spiral,” a new track by Portland-based indie rock heavyweights The Shins. Sketching the short’s narrative from any lyrics that grabbed his attention, Caliri had free rein to let his imagination run wild, resulting in a surreal stop-motion animation. “I have always loved Edward Gorey’s illustration work and his influence is apparent throughout the video,” says Caliri. “Also, seeing Martin Scorsese’s Hugo three times subconsciously veered my thoughts onto the magic theme.”

photo: yellowbirdproject.com

Photo by Brandon English for clatl.com

Saul Williams has an amazing live show filled with electric emotion. This is an artist in the truest sense, not bound by genre or political correctness. Despite the disruptive acoustics at the venue, the set didn’t miss a single beat – even during the hushed moments when Saul performed his poetry. Anyone who knows me knows I cringe at the term “spoken word,” but this was the real deal and every bit as moving as the driving beats from the performers handheld drum.

And to top it all off, the entire band was so well dressed! Post show I got to meet Saul, and found out that he’s based in France when he’s not touring. His new home is truly reflected in a sense of style that transcends American rocker chic. I was also basking in the good style by drummer Guillermo Brown, who managed an understated glam that included a fur vest and custom ripped tea. Good style + good music = my heaven! Multi-instrumentalist Julien Chirol and DJ CX Kidtronik were also well dressed. Unfortunately, I was completely unprepared to take advantage of the moment, as I didn’t even have a phone camera on me. Argh!

Definitely check out Saul Williams’ latest release Volcanic Sunlight, as well as the rest of the catalogue. And if you get a chance to see him live, DO IT!

Recommended Listening:

• “List Of Demands (Reparations)” from the album The Inevitable Rise and Liberation Of Niggy Tardust
• “Coded Language” from the album Amethyst Rock Star
• “Explain My Heart” from the album Volcanic Sunlight

I haven’t found myself rapt by a televised singing competition since season 2 or 3 of American Idol. Still, every now and again I catch a performance from a show that give you that little jolt of electricity and sends you off to hear (and see more). Such is the case with Juliet Simms, who appeared on “The Voice” last evening. The petite rocker managed to turn the heads of 3 of 4 judges with her rendition of The Beatles’ “Oh! My Darling.” I love Juliet’s voice, command of the stage, and to top it off she has killer style. Check out these shots from her Facebook page.

Simms appeared on a portion of the Vans Warped Tour last year with band Automatic Loveletter. She also recorded the band’s recent acoustic album, The Kids Will Take Their Monsters On, which was released on Paper + Plastick Records. It’s not clear whether the singer was serving as just temporary pipes for the band, but in any case her appearance on the primetime show should get the band some attention. From a quick visit to their MySpace page, it sounds like they’ve got potential, but so far Juliet’s voice is their biggest asset.

Check out Juliet’s performance on “The Voice” below, following by a outfit inspired by her look on the show.

Alice Dellal: Bang Bang on Nowness.com.

Fashion films are notoriously overly-artsy (got something to prove, do we fashion crowd?) and this one is no exception. I wish they’d just let model Alice Dellal just play her solo, so we could actually hear if she’s any good.

Stripped down to lingerie by Bordelle and DKNY, Brazilian model Alice Dellal lets loose on her Premier drum kit in an exclusive edit of Matthew Donaldson’s ground shaking new short. The heiress is known for championing the punk undercut and vamping for labels such as Agent Provocateur and Burberry, but she’s also on percussion for female rock quartet Thrush Metal, which features fellow models Emma Chitty and Laura Fraser and socialite Isabella Ramsey.

Here’s Thrush Metal playing a pub in London… meh

Photo: Vogue Brazil March 2010 via fashionising.com

Throughout the history of pop culture there’s been no shortage of crossover attempts from fashion to music. And to be fair, it makes sense that beautiful people might think all they needed for musical success was a pretty face & a good photo pose. Flip on MTV (on the 1 hour of the day that the station plays music) and you’ll see what I mean.

See when I heard that star model Abbey Lee Kershaw was another one with musical aspirations my hopes were high, but I kept my ears open. Thankfully, Abbey – along with her ex-model ex-boyfriend – are bringing us some pretty decent sounds with their band Our Mountain. The 4-piece designs themselves as Grime/Psychedelic on their Myspace page.

“Playing music I become a different person.” says Kershaw “I think with modelling my job is to be a blank canvas, but with music i don’t feel that way. It’s just me and i’m expressing what i’m feeling at that time.”

Check out the band’s single “Wooden Hearts” below.

Our Mountain- Wooden Hearts by godisinthetvzine.co.uk

photos: becauseimaddicted.com

Wow. Anyone who knows me know how much I frakkin idolize Shingai Shoniwa. The Noisettes’ album What’s the Time Mr. Wolf was on constant rotation around these parts for like 2 years (a loooooong time by my ADD standards). So when I saw these shots you can image my reaction… *mouth open* *eyes wide* *gasp* These. Are. HOT!!!

Grace Jones and David Bowie are enduring icons from the ’70s, so it makes sense that both are seeing their images and style rehashed so much lately, as a major 70s revival is happening in fashion. Many have attempted to channel Grace Jones, but few have done it was so much authentic grace as Shingai does here. I’m in love all over again. (Click the below pic for a hi-res version) via Beauty is Diverse

It’s spring! And like Bambi, and all other creatures living with their hearts wipe open, I am utterly twitterpated. My new love: The Temper Trap. They are a rock band, but like all of my favorite bands, I’m reluctant to slide them into a simple genre. The BBC called them “Sun-bleached surf-pop from down under” – which I think is wayyy off. Their MySpace page slots them in A’cappella / Other / Melodramatic Popular Song categories – which maybe doesn’t hit the mark either, but better describes the inability to pin these guys down (or else just the band’s sense of humor).

It was a fantastic show at The Loft – well attended, but not stampede stuffed. I, of course, was up near the front of the stage amongst some really young (it seemed) fans and having a blast. The moment was made all the better by the fact that leader singer Dougy Mandagi has great style (on this night, anyhow). Unfortunately, my super-amateur photography skills were not enough to adequately capture the look very well on camera. The missing details: rolled short sleeve (very 50s), a feather print shirt with chest exposed (very 70s), a small gold crucifix pendant, a braided leather belt. The exposed chest, BTW was very appropriate to Dougy’s vocal style, which reminds me of that Bee Gees falsetto that so characterized the disco era.

Inspired Style: Dougy of TheTemper Trap – LIVE in Atlanta by eighty jane featuring Low Luv by Erin Wasson necklaces

Apparently the Melbourne band was introduced to the States by way of a movie called “500 Days of Summer.” I’ve never seen it, and have barely even heard of it (proud Hollywood hater, here). The break out song was “Sweet Disposition” – played unplugged and mellow in the video below.

It’s a nice song, but not nearly as amazing as some of the other songs on their debut album Conditions. One of my favorites is “Science of Fear.”