THE HAPPY HOLLOWS NEW DEBUT ALBUM

With a loyal Los Angeles fan-base, The Happy Hollows looks to breakout in 2010. Self-releasing their album "Spells" late last year, Autumn Tone Records picked it up and just released it last week on their label guaranteeing a wider audience beyond the Los Angeles borders. If you haven't had the pleasure of hearing them, you probably have already but just didn't know it. The band and their song, "High Wire" were recently featured in a national commercial for latest Samsung commercial. They're also slated to perform at this year's SXSW music & film festival in Austin, Texas in March. And to top it off, The Huffington Post just profiled them in their "Best Bands in the US" feature. Read the whole article right HERE or click the photo below. And be sure to catch them when they perform March 12 at The Troubadour.

The Huff Post's Jonathan Kim also posted some Youtube vids of the interview with front- woman Sara Negahdari. Check out all of them HERE. Below is a short clip of Sarah talking about the L.A. music scene. And check out our past write-ups of The Happy Hollows HERE!

Reviews:

“When you see the Happy Hollows, there will be no doubt that you're witnessing something special.”
-- Huffington Post

"A pugilistic mix of stinging guitars, turbulent rhythms, and shouted vocals that alternates between childlike experimentation and ferocious firestorm. Spells is twisty and frantic, yet perpetually melodic.”
-- Los Angeles Times

“Flecks of heavy stoner fuzz and wafts of breezy modern rock blow in and out of Spells, but at its core, it's a ripper. Most of the credit goes to Sarah Negahdari; she's a powerful but economical guitarist, jutting in and out of the tracks like a jagged saw.”
-- Pitchfork

“A killer hybrid of Kim Deal, PJ Harvey and Emily Haines. Negahdari has the guitar chops, explosive energy and winning sense of humor that should make The Happy Hollows one of the more interesting bands of our new millennium’s next decade.”
-- Wired Magazine

“The Happy Hollows have a lot of weapons in their arsenal but chief among them is Sarah Negahdari and her Polly Harvey meets Kim Deal croon.”
-- Magnet Magazine

AUDRA MAE CO-WRITES SUSAN BOYLE SONG

Audra Mae performs at The Hotel Cafe
photo by picksysticks

I'm sure all of you have heard the great story of Susan Boyle and how she almost had the top-selling album of 2009 with her debut album, "I Dreamed A Dream," only to be beaten by Taylor Swift's "Fearless" album. Boyle's album sold over 3 million albums and is currently #2 on the Billboard 200 charts. But did you know that L.A.'s own Audra Mae co-wrote "Who I Was Born To Be," the only original song on Susan Boyle's album? Well, she did and I'd like to think that the only original song in an album full of covers had something to do all those sales! You can read the whole story at MTV.com HERE but here's a short excerpt of the article:

"[Audra Mae] hooked up with the little-known Swedish production/songwriter trio Play Production about a year ago, and this summer they sent her the chords and melody for a song they said was intended for Boyle's album. I knew it needed to be a song that made sense for her to sing, so I went online and researched her and her life and found out how she got to be where she is, and it came from that," Mae said of the gentle piano ballad with the inspirational chorus "And though I may not know the answers/ I can finally say I'm free/ And if the questions lead me here/ Then I am who I was born to be."

"I knew it needed to be something that she could be proud to sing," Mae explained. "Almost like a mantra — and I'm thrilled that she liked it enough to put it on the album. The cool thing is that she symbolizes real talent above anything else, above a show with pyrotechnics, a hot body ... she's f---ing talented and it's really awesome to be a part of that."

Read the entire story HERE. Recently signing with SideOneDummy records, Audra's debut album is set to drop this March! Check out photos and read our past write-ups of Ms. Audra Mae HERE. And here is Susan Boyle singing "Who I Was Born To Be" on Oprah!

NICO VEGA TOUR NEWS

photograph by Picksysticks / Nico Vega playing Sunset Junction last year.

L.A.'s own Nico Vega just announced their US tour starting next month. Kicking off the tour on February 16th in New York, the band will be playing up until the 26th with TSOOL until their gig in San Francisco for the Noisepop Festival.

Nico Vega performing the hauntingly beautiful "Wooden Dolls" off their latest album.
video by 405east

Nico Vega has spent a better part of the last two years hitting the road with Manic Street Preachers, Semi Precious Weapons and the Von Bondies but come this winter the band are set to team up with and support The Soundtrack Of Our Lives.

Here are the upcoming tour dates:

Feb 16 2010 The Fillmore At Irving New York, NY
Feb 17 2010 The Note Westchester, PA
Feb 18 2010 Black Cat Washington, DC
Feb 19 2010 The Studio @ Warehouse Houston, TX
Feb 20 2010 Emo's Austin, TX
Feb 21 2010 Granada Theatre Dallas, TX
Feb 23 2010 Rialto Theatre Tucson, AZ
Feb 24 2010 The Casbah San Diego, CA
Feb 25 2010 The Glass House Pomona, CA
Feb 26 2010 The El Rey Theatre Los Angeles, CA
Feb 27 2010 The Independent - Noise Pop Festival San Francisco, CA

New Sarah McLachlan Video

Yeah, I know Sarah McLachlan isn't from L.A. but she's one of the reasons I started PICKSYSTICKS. And I will be seeing her later this year when Lilith Fair 2010 begins its tour. Check out the confirmed artists performing this year HERE!

Until then, enjoy Sarah's new song, "One Dream," which is being used for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics this February on NBC. "One Dream" is inspired by the athletes of the world as they strive to reach their Olympic goals. Enjoy the track's OFFICIAL music video and let it inspire you! "One Dream" is out now on iTunes and digital retailers everywhere.

THE DOLLYROTS on THE PRICE IS RIGHT

BEST SHOWCASE EVER!!!

So, I'm watching today at work (yes, I basically watch tv all day since I have one on my desk). And since I usually watch "Let's Make A Deal" & "Price Is Right" in the mornings, I knew that the Dollyrots would be performing on the show. I didn't know in what capacity but I was still anxiously waiting. It wasn't until the very end until Drew Carey introduced them during the second showcase and they started singing their new hit single! Yay. A co-worker started talking to me just as they started playing so I told him to shut up.

So, in case you missed it, here it is - earlier today on the CBS' The Price Is Right, The Dollyrots played their new single, "California Beach Boy" during a speical 'musical showcase.' It's pretty cool. Hopefully they'll have more 'musical showcases.' And you can purchase their new single on itunes or purchase the new single from Blackheart Records HERE!



Huh?! What the...? Where's my car?!





Rockin' out to The Dollyrots! I would be too if I was watching the Dollyrots!

NEW SINGLE FROM THE DOLLYROTS!

"CALIFORNIA BEACH BOY" & "DUMB"

The Dollyrots unveiled a new song today from their upcoming album on the Blackheart Records label. Click the above photo or HERE to hear "California Beach Boy" and "Dumb which is the B-side song." You can buy it on vinyl and download starting today! Wow, this is just enough to hold me over until their new album comes out.

And get this, this Friday (January 15th), The Dollyrots will be performing on "The Price is Right." Luckily for me, I have a television on my desk so I can watch. The rest of you people better Tivo it! This Friday people!

And click HERE to watch and hear other new songs, "Om Nom," "California," and "Some Girls" that could possibly be on their upcoming album. This album is going to ROCK judging by these new songs from bassist Kelly Ogden, guitarist Luis Cabezas & drummer Chris Black.

L.A. BANDS CONFIRMED FOR LILITH 2010!

Fine Frenzy, Colbie Caillet, Ke$ha, The Submarines, Sara Bareilles, Donna Delory and The Weepies





WOW! I'm so excited to see this year's list of artists confirmed for LILITH FAIR 2010! L.A. locals scheduled to perform are Fine Frenzy, Ke$ha, Sara Bareilles, Colbie Caillet, The Submarines, Donna Delory and The Weepies. This is going to be an incredible tour. Not only are my favorite local bands performing, I'm so excited to finally get to watch Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Indigo Girls and Mary J. Blige - all who are on my wish list to see live. Others on the list that I've had the honor of watching live are Tegan & Sara, Zee Avi and Brandi Carlile - each worth the price of admission alone. So to watch this stellar cast of artists in one day is heaven! Check out their website HERE for more up to date information and to view more artists confirmed on the tour!

The first round of cities have already been announced with more to follow. Dates will be announced soon:

First Round of Cities:

* Atlanta, GA
* Boston, MA
* Calgary, AB
* Chicago, IL
* Dallas, TX
* Denver, CO
* London, UK
* Los Angeles, CA
* Minneapolis, MN
* Montreal, QC
* New York, NY
* Philadelphia, PA
* Portland, OR
* Seattle, WA
* San Francisco, CA
* Toronto, ON
* Vancouver, BC
* Washington, DC

SANTA MONICA'S 3rd STREET PROMENADE

3rd St. Promenade photo by Bayside District photography

So now that the holiday's are good and gone, I can finally catch up on some photos I've been meaning to post.

I live a few blocks from the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. So, at the height of holiday shopping season, I braved the crowds to do a little last minute shopping of my own.

3rd Street is one of my favorite places to go to. Aside from the movie theaters, the weekend farmer's market, book stores, and coffee shops, 3rd Street is world-renown for its street performers. On any given day you can witness amazing performances from group dancers, circus acts and magicians. But for me, what's special about 3rd Street are the musicians that branch out along this five-block stretch of shops and restaurants. It's an inexpensive place to enjoy music as you shop or, if you like, sit on the sidewalk and listen to original tunes from talented singer/songwriters. Oh, and show your appreciation by buying their CD or dropping a few bucks in their guitar case. For only a couple dollars, you're basically saving yourself from spending the $10-$15 cover charge that you normally would spend (plus drinks) just to watch them at a nightclub.


Rachael Cantu performing at The Apple Store
photograph by picksysticks

On this brisk evening, a sign outside the Apple Store invited people to watch a special performance from local favorite, Rachael Cantu. Filled with moody melodies and soulful arrangements that I like to describe as Hope Sandoval/Sarah McLachlan-esque, "Run All Night," Rachael's first album, was a mature and fulfilling debut of indie/folk rock that's filled with soul and heartbreak.


Rachael Cantu performing at The Apple Store
photo by picksysticks

If her first album was a dark, threatening storm in the distance, then her second, "Far and Wide" would be the sunlight breaking through those clouds. On "Far and Wide," her second studio album, Rachael proves her songwriting versatility with a blend of colorful and upbeat melodies but manages to keep that feeling of vulnerability and raw emotion in her powerful vocals that made her first album stand out. Check out her resume! Considering she's unsigned and self-released her latest album, Rachael Cantu has toured with BB King, Pat Benatar, Peter Frampton, Tegan & Sara, Ben Lee and Ryan Cabrera. And if you're a watcher of ABC's Private Practice, then you might have recognized her song, "Devil's Thunder," in one of the episodes. Not bad for being unsigned. Rachael is currently on her US Tour which will swing back around to the Hotel Cafe on January 19th. Be sure to check her out!





Chelsea Williams performing at Santa Monica's 3rd St. Promenade
photo by picksysticks

The weekend was much warmer as you can see from the pics. And it didn't take long for me to hear the soothing sounds of an acoustic guitar playing and satin voice singing off in the distance. A regular on most Saturdays (usually between Santa Monica Blvd & Wilshire), Chelsea Williams' voice is hypnotic and her rock lullaby songs? Infectious. Try walking a mile in her shoes and it's hard to imagine that she performs on the street for a living. For over two years, four days a week, Chelsea has been carrying her own P.A. system, pushing it through parking garages, setting up and dismantling her gear, three or four times a day. Selling over 50,000 CDs on her own, she's made fans literally one step at a time. Just head over to 3rd Street one weekend and if you happen to catch her playing, then notice the amount of times people basically stop shopping and listen. Performing a blend of covers and original songs, Chelsea's simple and catchy melodies highlights her silky, weathered voice. Recently she recorded a remake of "Winter Wonderland" for "Snow 2: Brain Freeze" for ABC Family and is available on the compilation, "Songs to Celebrate 25 Days of Christmas," which you can purchase at Amazon, The Disney Store and Barnes & Noble. If you can't watch Chelsea play on 3rd Street, then you can catch her at Molly Malone's in Hollywood when she plays on January 13th.





Chelsea Williams performing at Santa Monica's 3rd St. Promenade
photograph by picksysticks


Amy May performing at Santa Monica's 3rd St. Promenade
photo by picksysticks

Another singer performing on 3rd Street this very same day was the talented Amy May. Originally from the United Kingdom, Amy spent her summer in Los Angeles to get inspiration and write songs for her upcoming album.


Amy May performing at Santa Monica's 3rd St. Promenade
photo by picksysticks

With her absorbing and spellbinding voice which is framed by her bare and humble melodies, Amy hypnotizes in songs like "Real" and "Stormchaser" from her latest album, "Right Right Now." With her stint in L.A. over, Amy is scheduled to go to Thailand and Cambodia to do more performing and gain more inspiration for her second album. I can't wait for that to come.

***UPDATE***
Just walked over to 3rd Street yesterday (Thursday, January 14th) and who was there? Amy May! She's still performing in front of an appreciative crowd.



Amy May performs "Real" on Santa Monica's 3rd St. Promenade.

THE HAPPY HOLLOWS in Samsung Mobile Commercial

First it was The Submarines' songs showing up on the iPhone's 3Gs commercials. Now The Happy Hollows is featured in the latest Samsung Mobile commercial which highlights the SWYPE technology on the Omnia II - only offered on Verizon wireless cells. Check out Sarah Negahdari rockin' out with bassist Charlie Mahoney and drummer Chris Hernandez performing "High Wire" in this cool commercial. Unfortunatlety, I'm on neither AT&T's iPhone nor Verizon. But if my favorite bands keep plugging these cells, I may have to switch carriers. I'm on Sprint (maybe Killola can do a commercial for Sprint! Wishful thinking...)

Happy Hollows plays the Bordello
photo by picksysticks

METALLICA’S KIRK HAMMETT PICKS DENGUE FEVER SONG FOR DECADE’S BEST LIST

Chhom Nimol of Dengue Fever performs at the Echoplex
photo by picksysticks

Metallica’s Kirk Hammett has chosen the song “One Thousand Tears of A Tarantula” from Cambodian-American band Dengue Fever for his Rolling Stone magazine Best Music Of The Decade Ballot. Selected the #2 song of the decade in order of importance, “Tears” sits between Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Place” and Mastodon’s “Oblivion” [link]

Dengue Fever’s music is a combination of classic Cambodian pop, Ethiopian jazz and Bollywood blitz, with lyrics mostly sung in lead singer Chhom Nimol’s native language of Khmer. “One Thousand Tears of A Tarantula”, originally released on 2005’s Escape from Dragon House, and again on the 2009 soundtrack to the band’s documentary DVD/CD soundtrack Sleepwalking Through The Mekong is a blistering jam with trance-like lyrics.

While there is no plan (yet) for Dengue Fever to cover “Call of Ktulu” from Metallica’s Ride The Lightning, the band would certainly love to have Hammett guest on the track during the band’s upcoming West Coast tour. Dengue Fever guitarist Zac Holtzman said, “It’s a real honor to have Kirk Hammett pick “One Thousand Tears of a Tarantula” as the second best song of the decade. It’s kind of mind-blowing actually. It also happens to be my mom’s favorite song. We’d love to have Kirk come up onstage and take a solo when we hit the Bay Area next month.”

Dengue Fever's Chhom Nimol at the Echoplex
photograph by picksysicks

And after what is sure to be a rockin' New Year's Eve show in hometown LA at The Mint (tickets still available at http://themintla.com), Dengue Fever heads up the coast in support of a new project out January 12 called Dengue Fever Presents: Electric Cambodia. Confirmed shows are as follows:

12/31 @ The Mint
01/07 @ SoHo, Santa Barbara, CA

01/08 @ The Independent, San Francisco, CA.

01/09 @ Berbati's Pan, Portland, OR

01/10 @ Neumo's, Seattle, WA

Dengue Fever combed through their personal collections of rare Cambodian cassettes and selected their fourteen favorite tracks for this compilation, featuring artists such as Sinn Sisamouth, Pan Ron, Ros Sereysothea and Dara Chom Chan.

Proceeds from this album will be donated to Cambodian Living Arts which supports the revival of Cambodian traditional art forms and works to inspire contemporary artistic expression.

ALL WRONG AND THE PLANS CHANGE & SOME HEAR EXPLOSIONS @ The Viper Room

All Wrong and the Plans Change / photograph by Picksysticks

ALL WRONG AND THE PLANS CHANGE

Kassia Conway - vocals, bass, acoustic

Amy Wood - drums

Julian Anderle - bass, guitar, keys

Jim Bowers - guitar, keys, vocals

John Would - plays everything

Kassia Conway of All Wrong and the Plans Change
photo by picksysticks

I’ve wanted to see Kassia Conway sing when I first heard her warm weathered voice singing for No Love Letters. Well, that never happened but I lucked out when she emerged fronting a new band, All Wrong and The Plans Change, along with drummer Amy Wood. Their debut album, “I’m Like Whatever,” released earlier this year, is brewing with gloomy arrangements and catchy melodies that showcases the range of emotions in Conway’s restrained but forceful vocals . Check out “I Get Down” and “Lately.” And while you’re at it, listen to “All Night Takes So Long” and “Hands” from her previous band No Love Letters. They won’t disappoint! Be sure to check out All Wrong and The Plans Change when they play Spaceland on December 30^th.

Here's All Wrong and the Plans Change performing "I Get Down" at the Viper Room December 13th.

vid by 405east

SOME HEAR EXPLOSIONS

ambre leigh – vocals

bay dariz - guitar/vocals/bass/keys

drew milford - bass/keys

joe herrera – drums

>
Ambre Leigh of Some Hear Explosions / photo by picksysticks

Performing earlier in the night was the guitar-heavy Some Hear Explosions. Seeing them for the first time, they didn’t disappoint. With their in-your-face anthem-like songs like “It’s Our Time Now,” you’d expect lead singer Ambre Leigh to be drowned out by their abrasive and colorful sounds but she easily rises and pushes forward with her commanding vocals. While in the ballad-esque, “Amazing,” Leigh’s voice resonates like a silky web of barbed-wire. I'll definitely catch them again when they peform.

>
Ambre Leigh of Some Hear Explosions
photograph by picksysticks

NICO VEGA - NEW 'GRAVITY' LIVE VIDEO & TOUR NEWS

Nico Vega - Gravity (Live @ The Roxy) from MySpace Records on Vimeo.

Nico Vega performing "Gravity" live at The Roxy in Hollywood, CA.
Directed & Edited by: Narumi Inatsugu

Nico Vega may be the best, most explosive live band you've never seen but with their latest live video for their current single Gravity, here is a little sneak peek to their on stage fantasticness.

Filmed at The Roxy in Los Angeles, the band's hometown, director Narumi Inatsugu captures the band in all their glory on stage.

The band are also still currently on tour with Neon Trees and Inward Eye.

Here are the remaining tour dates:

Dec 7 2009 - The Red and Black, Washington, DC
Dec 8 2009 - The Independent, San Francisco, CA
Dec 10 2009 - TT The Bears, Cambridge, MA
Dec 11 2009 - The Studio at Webster Hall, New York, NY
Dec 13 2009 - Pirates Cove, Cleveland, OH
Dec 14 2009 - Magic Stick, Detroit, MI
Dec 15 2009 - Shubas, Chicago, IL
Dec 18 2009 - Bender's Tavern, Denver, CO
Dec 19 2009 - Burt's Tiki Lounge, Albuquerque, NM
Dec 20 2009 - Wasted Space, Las Vegas, NV

AUDRA MAE signs with SideOneDummy Records!

Audra Mae performs at Hotel Cafe
photo by picksysticks

Hey' ya'll!! How could've I missed this??!! This is awesome news for Audra Mae and well deserved! Below is the press release from Side One Dummy Records:

*********************************************************

LOS ANGELES, October 5th, 2009 - SideOneDummy Records has signed singer-songwriter Audra Mae to an exclusive recording agreement. Her first offering for the label will be HAUNT, a five-song digital EP that will be available on Oct.20th. Her full-length debut album is expected in the early part of 2010. On the heels of the EP’s release, Audra Mae will be featured on Chuck Ragan’s annual REVIVAL TOUR, beginning in Chicago on Oct. 25 and running through Orlando, FL on November 22. The tour hits Los Angeles on Nov. 7 at the El Rey Theater.

Audra Mae is currently working on her debut album with producer Ted Hutt (Flogging Molly, The Gaslight Anthem, Lucero, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones), which will be a stripped-down acoustic affair, spotlighting her voice and her songs. One of the first completed is “Sullivan’s Letter,” based on a note written by a Civil War soldier fighting in the first battle of Bull Run to his wife. She discovered it on the back of a piece of music she was given by her father.

Simply put, Audra Mae is a natural. Once the Oklahoma native opens her mouth and lets loose with that voice, pure and strong, with a hint of country twang and a twinkle of good humor, you realize this is what she’s meant to do; Stand in front of an audience and entertain, not just with her singing, but a distinctive songwriting voice, one that’s capable of relating fully developed characters and stories.

Growing up, show business has been in Audra Mae’s blood, performing in musical theater since the age of 4. She is the grand niece of JUDY GARLAND, her paternal grandmother turned her on to country and folk artists like Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton and Woody Guthrie, and her maternal grandfather introduced her to jazz.

Last year, the producers of the FX series Sons of Anarchy commissioned Audra Mae to do a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” for the show. She recorded two versions, including one a cappella, which book-ended the series’ next-to-last show, causing an amazing run on her MySpace page when the episode aired. She has since recorded a version of Patti Griffin’s “Mary,” which will be featured in episode 10 of the show’s second season.

Gearing up for her first-ever national tour, Audra Mae has been working out material at a residency at the Vermont in Silver Lake, CA, where she has honed her craft before an ever increasing audience.

“It can be very lonely up there, just me and my acoustic guitar,” Audra says. “But once I get on-stage, the audience’s reaction takes over. I am so excited to hit the road, and do what I was put here to do.”

When you hear Audra Mae sing, you’ll realize how right she is. Audra will also be joining the annual REVIVAL TOUR this fall.

DOLLYROTS & WOOLLY BANDITS @ The Roxy

Last week, KROQ's own Rodney Bingenheimer (aka: The Mayor of Sunset Strip) hosted a night of great music. It's a little bit of an understatement to say that Bingenheimer knows music. He's been the driving force behind the push of such bands of Oasis, The Strokes, Nirvana, Sex Pistols, The Go-Go's, The Runaways, Coldplay and The Clash, playing them on the radio before anybody else. So on a special Halloween show at the Roxy, Rodney introduced local favorites The Dollyrots, The New Fidelity, The Woolly Bandits and straight from Ireland, We Should Be Dead.

Kelly Ogden of The Dollyrots @ The Roxy/photo by Picksyticks

THE DOLLYROTS
The Dollyrots' Kelly Ogden, dressed in, what I like to call her pirate-maiden inspired costume (or was she even dressed for Halloween???? Look at the pic and you decide.) headlined the show and played a bunch of new songs including "California," "California Beach Boy," "Om Nom" and "Some Girls." And if the new songs I heard were any indication of how good their next album is going to be, then their next album is gonna be SA-WEEEEET!



The Dollyrots perform "Om Nom."
vid courtesy of 405east.


The Dollyrots perform "Some Girls" at The Roxy
vid by 405east

Dollyrots perform "California Beach Boy" at The Roxy
video from 405east

(((((UPDATE: Here's another video featuring a new song, "California," from the Dollyrots upcoming new 2010 album:)))))



Earlier in the night, The Woolly Bandits brought out the funk! Everything about The Woolly Bandits oozes seduction - like walking into vamp bar, Fangtasia. Vixen Christa Collins' on-stage presence is hypnotic. Their sound? A cross between pscyobilly and surf-rock. But don't let labels fool you. These Bandits can play. They're currently on tour supporting their new album, "Woman of Mass Destruction."

The Woolly Bandits at The Roxy.

Straight from Ireland, We Should Be Dead kicked off the night bringing out the punkiness of early Go-Go's laced with the attitude of Joan Jett. Formed in 2007, Dead's infectious, catchy songs will quickly grow on you. Listen to heir single, "Forget Romance, Let's Dance," a song that has been getting regular airplay on KROQ's Rodney on the Roq.

We Should Be Dead performs at The Roxy.

vid by 405 East


"Forget Romance, Let's Dance" video from WE SHOULD BE DEAD.

TERRA NAOMI Announces U.S. Tour. STARTS THURSDAY!!

Singer-songwriter Terra Naomi Announces 2009 U.S. Tour Funded by YouTube Fans

photo by Bob Hilton

With over 15 million views of her homemade videos on YouTube, nearly 35,000 subscribers, and an unparalleled interactive dialogue with fans, Terra Naomi is at the forefront of the new direct artist-to-fan model using social media marketing. After posting a 'Tour Support Fund Drive' video on YouTube, Naomi raised $5,000 in two weeks and is promoting the shows by writing a series of fun "City Songs" for each city on her tour.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 6, 2009 -- Terra Naomi is proof that artists today can use social media marketing instead of a record label to launch and maintain thriving musical careers. After leaving Island Universal Records in 2008, Terra decided to forge ahead with what launched her career as a musical artist: The desire to connect with her fans in a more personal way via numerous online videos and webcasts, and her interactive website.

Today she's embarking on a 20-city, fan-funded U.S. solo tour that will kick off on October 15 in San Francisco to promote her upcoming independent EP, "You For Me" (video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rJQduN-tPQ). The album will be available on iTunes starting in mid-October with a full-length album expected in early 2010.

Here's a message from Terra Naomi via her YouTube channel. She also plays a beautiful acoustic version of "You For Me" off her newest album:

After posting a 'Tour Support Fund Drive' video on YouTube, she raised her $5,000 goal in two week's time. With over 15 million views of her homemade videos on YouTube, nearly 35,000 subscribers, and an unparalleled interactive dialogue with fans, Terra is once again at the forefront of the new direct artist-to-fan model and can't wait to test out the viability of this approach when she hits the road this month.

To promote the shows, Terra is writing personalized "City Songs" for each city on her tour and posting the videos on YouTube. To view the clever and slightly inappropriate collection, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/user/terranaomi#play/user/9188ABD5B110D4D7

A current list of tour dates is below with new dates confirmed daily on Terra's official website: http://www.terranaomi.com/events

TOUR DATES

Thurs. 10/15 The Rickshaw Stop (San Francisco, CA - with John Wesley Harding)
Fri. 10/16 The Gyspy Den (Santa Ana, CA)
Sun. 10/18 Bourbon Street (San Diego, CA)
Mon. 10/19 The Lost Leaf (Phoenix, AZ)
Weds. 10/ 21 Emo's (Austin,TX - with Nico Vega)
Thurs. 10/22 Fitzgerald's (Houston, TX)
Sun. 10/25 Poor David's Pub (Dallas, TX)
Weds. 10/28 Reggie's Music Joint (Chicago, IL)
Thurs. 10/29 Wilbert's (Cleveland, OH)
Sun. 11/1 Tin Angel (Philadelphia, PA)
Tues. 11/3 The Drake Underground (Toronto)
Weds. 11/4 Cabaret Mado (Montreal)
Thurs. 11/5 Valentine's (Albany, NY)
Fri. 11/6 National Underground (NYC)
Sat. 11/7 TBA (Boston, MA)
Sun. 11/8 The Black Box Theater (Indian Head, MD)
Mon. 11/16 The Walnut Room (Denver, CO)
Thurs. 11/19 El Corazon (Seattle, WA - with Bobby Long)

Terra on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/terranaomi
Terra on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/terranaomi
Terra on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/terranaomi
Terra on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/terranaomi

FINE FRENZY: NEW ALBUM AND NEW TOUR

A FINE FRENZY KICKS OFF FALL HEADLINE TOUR

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED NEW ALBUM "BOMB IN A BIRDCAGE" IN STORES NOW

(Los Angeles, CA – September 11, 2009) Following September's release of Bomb in a Birdcage, its acclaimed second album, A FINE FRENZY—led by Alison Sudol—is announcing a month-long national tour, beginning on Tuesday, October 20th at the Parish in Austin, Texas. These dates (see full schedule below) take the band through all major markets from New York to Los Angeles; rising stars Landon Pigg and Among the Oak & Ash will be opening the shows.

The early response to Bomb in a Birdcage (currently sitting at #1 Top Pop Album and reaching #3 on the Top Overall Album iTunes chart and #2 on the Amazon MP3 Best Sellers chart) has been extraordinary. Billboard wrote that the album’s songs “churn like giddy summer romances, nailing the delicate balance of charming and smart,” while Vogue described the album’s first single, “Blow Away,” as “irresistible” and “sunny without being saccharine.” VH1 and MTVU have already added “Blow Away" to their rotations, and the song will be the “Video of the Day” on AOL on September 17.

The new album is the follow-up to 2007’s One Cell in the Sea, which reached Number One on Billboard’s “Heatseeker” charts, and received rave reviews in publications from Entertainment Weekly to Paste to People. A Fine Frenzy was chosen as a VH1 “You Oughta Know” artist; appeared on The Tonight Show, The CBS Early Show and The Late Show with David Letterman; and toured extensively alongside the likes of Rufus Wainwright and Brandi Carlile.

Born in Seattle and raised in Los Angeles, 24-year-old singer and songwriter Sudol was active on Twitter (@AFineFrenzy) long before it became a cultural phenomenon—to the point that she now has over a million followers, making her one of the top ten musicians on the service, alongside super stars like Britney Spears and John Mayer. Now she is looking forward to connecting with all of these fans on the road.

“On the last tour,” Sudol says, “I discovered that I love rocking out and having a good time. So this time, I wanted to stretch and grow and push myself. I wasn’t interested in doing more of the same, that doesn’t inspire me. And now, I can’t wait to get on the road with this stuff! It’s going to be quite an undertaking, but I’m up for it.”

A FINE FRENZY ON TOUR

Tuesday, Oct 20 Austin, TX The Parrish

Thursday, Oct 22 New Orleans, LA Parrish @ HOB

Friday, Oct 23 Atlanta, GA The Loft

Saturday, Oct 24 Birmingham, AL Bottle Tree

Sunday, Oct 25 Nashville, TN 3rd & Lindsley

Wednesday, Oct 28 New York, NY Gramercy Theatre

Friday, Oct 30 Philadelphia, PA World Café

Saturday, Oct 31 Washington, DC Birchmere

Monday, Nov 02 Boston, MA Paradise

Wednesday, Nov 04 Chicago, IL Park West

Thursday, Nov 05 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line

Monday, Nov 09 Seattle, WA Neumos

Tuesday, Nov 10 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom

Thursday, Nov 12 San Francisco, CA Great American

Friday, Nov 13 Sacramento, CA Boardwalk

Sunday, Nov 15 Phoenix, AZ Martini Ranch

Tuesday, Nov 17 Los Angeles, CA El Rey

Wednesday, Nov 18 Anaheim, CA House of Blues

BOOMKAT in SPIN Magazine

SPIN Magazine had a write up about last month's Sunset Strip Music Festival and Boomkat was featured. Check out the whole article and the other bands who played the festival right HERE!

COLBIE CAILLAT on A&E's "Private Sessions"

This Sunday, Oct. 4th at 9:00am, A & E’s Private Sessions will feature Colbie Caillat in a one-hour episode that includes as in-depth interview with Colbie, and performances “Bubbly,” “Realize” “Fallin’ For You,” “Fearless,” and “Begin Again.” Plus don’t miss special surprise appearances by Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and Kara DioGuardi!

Also, check out the special “Behind the Scenes” footage now up on the profile page!

You L.A. people can catch Colbie when she finishes up her tour at The House of Blues Sunset on October 27th and October 28th. I'll be there!

THE SUBMARINES' song in newest iPhone ad!

photograph by picksysticks / The Submarines

"Submarine Symphonika" is the new soundtrack to the latest iPhone app ad! This isn't The Submarines' first song featured on an iPhone 3GS commercial. If you remember, their song, "You, Me and the Bourgeoisie" was also featured in an earlier ad. Both songs are off their newest album, "Honeysuckle Weeks" which you can get on their website HERE! Check out both of The Submarines' iPhone commercials below.

"Submarine Symphonika"

"You, Me and the Bourgeoisie"

HERE ARE VIDEOS OF THE SUBMARINES PERFORMING, "SUBMARINE SYMPHONIKA" & "YOU, ME AND THE BOURGEOISIE," THEIR iPHONE COMMERCIAL SONGS LIVE!!


SUBMARINE SYMPHONIKA


YOU, ME AND THE BOURGEOISIE

MIKA MIKO @ FYF Fest

Mika Miko performs FYF Fest / photo by 405 east

As the Los Angeles fires raged off in the background in the hills, thousands ascended downtown in a barren city park to the sixth annual FYF Fest, ironically to save the environment, specifically benefiting California state parks. Over 30 bands. Three stages. It was hot. It was sticky. There was no shade to ease us from the sweltering summer heat. There was a slight breeze though coming from Mika Miko's set. But this wind was no salvation from this heat as a dust wind erupted form the center of the mosh pit that grew frenetic with each song.

Hailing from L.A. Mika Miko's dirty-punk sounds are like sour patch gummi bears. That first bite is hard to swallow but after a few more, you can't get enough of them and you start popping them in your mouth like vicodin. Known for their live shows of raw energy, Mika Miko's take no prisoners attitude punished the senses along with a few good people in the pit.

Recently getting a rave review from Rolling Stone for their newest album, "We Be Xuxa," you can catch them Mika Miko next at El Rey October 7th. It's sure to be pretty wild. Until then, enjoy this video of Mika Miko performing "Sex Jazz" at this months FYF Fest.

vid by 405east