Hot off the hype of the sold-out first Delorean Nites party, Midnight Conspiracy are back with their epic dance party at Lincoln Hall. Sticking to their no-holds-barred underground party roots, they bring you One Man Party, Steve of the world-famous electro band, SOULWAX, on July 10th. It’s fitting considering 2manydjs of Soulwax fame will be headlining Perry’s stage at Lollapalooza. So imagine DJ dance party meets rock show with the crowd in frenzy.
In the heart of Chicago, we’re giving away pair of tickets for FREE. Want to win them? Rules are simple…
Listen/Download (here) your favorite Midnight Conspiracy mix
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141 plays
(Listen to “Ocular Intercourse” by John Khuu)
JOHN KHUU | Ocular Intercourse
John Khuu is a Chicago based indie electro house DJ. He produces straight from his computer on Ableton Live. Yes, he’s a writer for us at Lightning Collective and also a DJ at night! Lately, he’s been getting his material out and this is what he’s going to use to spread out to everyone in Chicago.
We would love to hear your input on this as he’s working on his release for this mix. We’ll let you know when its released. Thanks guys!
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194 plays
(Listen to “Bookfrom” by Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s)
MARGOT AND THE NUCLEAR SO AND SO’S | Bookworm
Happy 4th of July everyone.
“Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s is a 6-piece indie-pop/orchestral pop band from Indianapolis, Indiana. The band, which was formed in 2004 by Richard Edwards and Andy Fry (formerly of Archer Avenue and The Academy, respectively), is currently signed to Epic Records.
Their debut album, The Dust Of Retreat came out in 2006. At this time, the band was signed to Artemis Records and had 8 members. In 2008 the band signed to Epic Records and (on 7 October) released two new albums, Animal! and Not Animal. The band originally planned to just release “Animal!”. However, Epic disagreed on their song choice, and compiled a different list, which would later become “Not Animal”. Eventually, after dispute over which version would be released, it was decided to release both at the same time.
In August 2009, 5 of the band’s members left. They are all involved in other projects, most notably Pravada.
While the band, and Richard specifically have given many explanations to the band’s name; this is all in fun. As the name was created as an anti-name; not meant to have any real meaning, just to make fun of other ridiculous names. The name “Margot” comes from Gweneth Paltrow’s character in Wes Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums”.
The band’s sound, categorized as “chamber pop”, has been compared to the indie rock groups Arcade Fire, The Decemberists, and The Shins, while incorporating elements of singer/songwriters like Paul Simon and Conor Oberst.” (via last.fm)
They’re a fun group and I saw them at Penn State a year or two ago? I forget. It was a free show and LC wasn’t even created at the time, crazy! Enjoy some old school Margot!
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150 plays
(Listen to “Windstorm” by School of Seven Bells)
SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS | Windstorm
School of Seven Bells is a dream pop/shoegaze band from Brooklyn, NY. The band consists of identical twin sisters Alejandra Deheza (vocals, bass), Claudia Deheza (vocals, keyboards) and Benjamin Curtis (guitar). The Deheza sisters are former members of On!Air!Library! and Curtis is a former member of Secret Machines and Tripping Daisy. The band is named after the School of the Seven Bells, a mythical South American pickpocket training academy.
This is their sophomore album release coming out July 13th and here’s a preview of the single that was released a week or two ago called ‘Windstorm’. I kind of like them a lot and well, I like this picture too. I would like to see them play with ‘A Sunny Day in Glasgow’ someday…
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167 plays
(Listen to “Stayin’ Alive (Teddybears Remix) by Bee Gee’s)
BEE GEE’S | Stayin’ Alive (Teddybears Remix)
Pure disco. Classic song. No need to explain this gem that our parents pretty much grew up to. The Bee Gee’s were disco.
“The Bee Gees are a musical group that was originally made up of a singing trio of brothers — Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio were successful for most of their forty years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a harmonic “soft rock” act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as the foremost stars of the disco music era in the late 1970s. The group sang three-part tight harmonies that were instantly recognisable; brother Robin’s clear vibrato lead was a hallmark of their earlier hits, while Barry’s R&B falsetto became a signature sound during the disco years. The brothers co-wrote all of their own hits, as well as writing and producing several major hits for other artists.” (wiki)
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210 plays
(Listen to “Self Control (Fenech-Soler Remix)” by Sunday Girl)
SUNDAY GIRL | Self Control (Fenech-Soler Remix)
21 year-old Sunday Girl Jade Williams earned her stage-name thanks to the forgetful customers of the pet shop she worked in every Sunday as a 14 year-old. “No one ever knew what I was called; they just used to call me ‘Sunday Girl’ and that sort of stuck.”
But Sunday Girl doesn’t just make music for the weekend; she makes music for every day of the week. Far from a cookie-cutter created singer churned from the baking-machine of pop, she boasts music that is in turns enigmatic, individual and utterly epic.
Building on the online hipster buzz of Four Floors, Sunday Girl is about post a cover of one her favourite ever tracks Self Control. Originally by RAF it was massive 80s Italo disco classic that later to became a huge hit stateside for Laura Branigan. Sunday Girl’s radical new version mixes a churning dancefloor-friendly acidic production with Jade’s own wry pop delivery.
Beautiful, thoughtful, intelligent and credible, with a sense of style and panache to match her tunes, Sunday Girl is offering a whole new creative sensibility to the world of music. A true individual, this Sunday girl clearly has no plans to rest just yet…
Remember when we dropped the Diplo vs. Sunday Girl - Four Girls track? Damn, that was such a good track. She has her single ‘Self Control’ that is being released August 2, 2010! We’ll have it on our hands to post later. Enjoy this remix.
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198 plays
(Listen to “Love No (Delorean Remix)” by The Teenagers)
THE TEENAGERS | Love No (Delorean Remix)
Yes, The Teenagers are back with their new single “Made Of” but I’m going to blog about this one since it stands out more just because this is one of those summery feel good song’s remixed by the band, Delorean. This song doesn’t have many lyrics to it, but mainly the progression is what gives you that feel to capture it all. Whenever I listen to this, I always think of driving down the highway and blasting this down the road. This song is worth a listen.
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186 plays
(Listen to “A Splitting Tree” by The David Wax Museum)
THE DAVID WAX MUSEUM.
Boston, Massachusetts doesn’t typically have an association with Mexico or the American Heartland, but under its Ivy League moons exists The David Wax Museum. Fronted by David Wax (vocals/guitar) and beautifully supported by Suz Slezack (fiddler/vocals/donkey jawbone… yes, that’s correct), The David Wax Museum play their own blend of foot-stomping and head-nodding Mexo-Americana, and are quickly making waves among folk scenes across the country.
Wax grew up in Missouri, in an area nestled among the Ozarks, and naturally was exposed to the rough, red-blooded Americana and folk that plays as tribute to the land and the people that make it what it is. It’s the sound that defined the heartland; no talk of glitz and glamour, but made of real substance and authentic emotion. When Wax was old enough to spring up and make it on his own two legs he moved about, rolling through dusty towns and bright, burning cities, but nothing ever really permanent. Eventually, he found his way to the ivied halls of Harvard – studying Latin American History and Literature.
After graduating, David Wax hit the road again and found his way to Mexico, in aim to hone his own craft, drawing from the county’s rich musical tradition and culture, wandering about and finding inspiration in the Son Jarocho music in Veracruz or among the Son Calentano in Tierra Caliente. When he returned to Boston, he came across fiddler Suz Slezack. Slezack, a Virginia native, brought with her a delicately crafted sound, steeped with that honest, down home, “old fashioned” feel. From then, The David Wax Museum came into manifest, selling out venues, touring across the country, and playing with the likes of The Avett Brothers, The Low Anthem, and Rhett Miller. Most recently, they’ve released an album, Carpenter Bird, and have been invited to play with Ben Kweller and the Old 97’s in the upcoming months.
The David Wax Museum is in the running for a spot playing at the famed Newport Folk Festival (where Dylan went electric and everyone got really, really mad), which starts on Friday, July 31st and comes to a close Sunday, August 1st. The lineup consists of over thirty acts, including Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Andrew Bird, Jim James, Horse Feathers, and Blitzen Trapper. If you’d like to help The David Wax Museum get there (and we’d love you to pieces if you did!) you can vote for them here!
LISTEN.
To download “A Splitting Tree” and a few other songs for free head over to their website here!
WATCH.
Carpenter Bird
Colas
TOURDATES.
6/25 - Sub Rosa - Cambridge, MA
6/26 - Rock & Blues Cruise with Ben Kweller - Boston, MA
6/29 - House Concert - Mercer Island, WA
6/30 - Showbox at the Market with The Old 97’s - Seattle, WA
7/1 - Wonder Ballroom with The Old 97’s - Portland, OR
7/3 - California Arts Academy - Fresno, CA
7/5 - House Concert - San Francisco, CA
7/15 - Pabst Theater with The Old 97’s - Milwaukee, WI
7/16 - House Concert - Chicago, IL
7/17 - Majestic Theatre with The Old 97’s - Detroit, MI
7/18 - Green River Festival with Calexico/Low Anthem - Greenfield, MA
7/19 - House Concert - Buffalo, NY
7/20 - Beachland Ballroom with The Old 97’s - Cleveland, OH
7/21 - Bluebird Nightclub with The Old 97’s - Bloomington, IN
7/22 - Simon Estes Amphitheater with The Old 97’s - Des Moines, IA
7/23 - The Venue with The Old 97’s - Fargo, ND
7/26 - Gothic Theatre with The Old 97’s Denver, CO
7/28 - The Blue Note - Summerfest with The Old 97’s Columbia, MO
7/30 - George’s Majestic Lounge with The Old 97’s Fayetteville, AR
Rick
posted : Friday, June 25th, 2010
tags : the_david_wax_museum david_wax suz_sezlack avett_brothers newport_folk_festival mexico americana folk carpenter_bird rhett_miller the_low_anthem old_97_s ben_kweller
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185 plays
(Listen to “What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong Cover)” by The Innocence Mission)
THE INNOCENCE MISSION | What a Wonderful World
The Innocence Mission are a folk band featuring the beautiful, mesmerizing vocals of Karen Peris, and the guitar backing of her husband, Don Peris (Rick’s old guitar teacher! ha!).
The original band, including Mike Bitts (bass), and Steve Brown (drums), was formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the early 80s when the members met during a Catholic school production of Godspell. Although all members of the band have contributed musically, Karen Peris does most of the group’s writing.
The only reason I blog about this track is because they’re from our home town, Lancaster, PA and they went to Rick’s school, well mine too for a week at Lancaster Catholic High School. This song is a lovely slow cover of Louis Armstrong’s original version.
Their signature style are dreamy slow songs, with beautiful melodies.
I love this track so much.
P.S. Some of you have probably come across this before, but if not, this is a Sufjan Stevens cover of “The Lakes of Canada” by the Innocence Mission.
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284 plays
(Listen to “Tonight, Tonight (Smashing Pumpkins Cover) by Passion Pit)
PASSION PIT | Tonight, Tonight
Passion Pit, one of those fun quirky synthy indie alternative bands that rose in the scene last summer. Yeah, last summer they released some good hits like ‘Little Secrets’ & ‘Sleepyhead’ but lately we haven’t been hearing much news about what they’ve been doing and such other than touring and playing around. Here’s the punch, Passion Pit did a cover of popular 1996 single ‘Tonight Tonight’ by The Smashing Pumpkins. From reading other blogs and such, we’re hearing a lot of mixed reviews on this cover ranging from “voice is annoying (sing normal)” or “this is a great cover!” Give this a listen and let’s hear your thoughts.
LC
Yes, 
