what did he say

Deerhunter and Times New Viking are in Dallas tomorrow night, but the highlight of the lineup for me is L.A.'s Nite Jewel. I've written about her otherworldly, lo-fi avant-synth-pop before, but it's worth noting that her new Italians Do It Better 12" is out now, and her outstanding Good Evening LP is available on vinyl from Gloriette. I doubt she'll be back in town any time soon, so don't miss this show. Here's the slinky A-side from the Italians single:

mp3:
nite jewel :: what did he say

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photos: little joy | live in austin

More Little Joy photos, this time from their show last night at the Parish in Austin. All shots by the awesome Pooneh Ghana, who was even able to elicit some smiles out of Rodrigo, Binki, and Fab. Click for larger images (recommended):





















[More great shots from last night at Pooneh's flickr]

polaroids: little joy | live in deep ellum

rodrigo/fabrizio/binki :: little joy

Little Joy's show at the Lounge in Deep Ellum on Wednesday night was a breezy, relaxed affair that only reinforced why we love the group's self-titled debut so much. Backed for much of the night by tourmates the Dead Trees, Rodrigo, Binki, and Fabrizio played virtually the entire album to an adoring, enthusiastic crowd of roughly 200. Highlights included an awesome cover of Helen Shapiro's (NOT Binki's mom, by the way) "Walking Back to Happiness," and a beautiful rendition of album standout "Don't Watch Me Dancing." The vibe inside the tiny venue was akin to that of some cramped speakeasy, and the band (especially Fab) seemed genuinely appreciative and moved by the warm Dallas welcome. Come back soon, guys. Check the full setlist and a video of the band performing "How To Hang a Warhol" here. Here are some photos:













More shots of Little Joy :: live in Dallas after the jump...

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tonight

little joy (photo)

Reminder: Little Joy is in TX for a few dates this week, starting tonight with an intimate show at the Lounge on Elm St. in Deep Ellum. You can still get tickets here, or possibly at the door. If you haven't checked this album out yet, do it, etc.

vivian girls cover the beach boys, offer "fun pack"

The only thing more fun than the Vivian Girls record is probably a Vivian Girls Surf's Up Fun Pack. Comes complete with a t-shirt, some postcards/buttons, and a 7" with two new songs and a cover of the Beach Boys' "Girl Don't Tell Me." I can guarantee yall with 100% certainty that this will sell out, so get on it now.

mp3:
vivian girls :: where do you run to
vivian girls :: blind spot

p.s. i need to hear that Beach Boys cover, so if anyone is holding...

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mp3: new burial remix

Phaseone hits again with a stunning (yet subtle) rework of Burial's self-described "glowing/buzzing" masterpiece, "Archangel." Between this and his very well-received Panda Bear remix, this kid may be on to something, and at the very least, it's something to tide us over while we wait for that promised new Burial material.

mp3:
burial :: archangel (phaseone remix)

Phaseone's own stuff is also worthy of your attention

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previously:

mp3:
panda bear :: i'm not (phaseone remix)

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water

Our friend Pinglewood has a new column over at NME called Your New Favorite Songs. In his first installment, he writes about GvsB favorites Salem, and their new Water EP:

"If you kidnapped Bauhaus, tied them up in your basement, tortured them with slo-mo Houston hip-hop and performance art pornography, then killed them, their ghosts might have sordid dreams about a record like this."

Probably the best description of the mysterious group I've seen since "the Cocteau Twins on a dirty south kick." Pinglewood also offers up this track, which may or may not appear on the new EP:

mp3:
salem :: haffa

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elsewhere:

In the mood for more slightly terrifying shit? Because these new Kria Brekkan tunes are more than a little disturbing.

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sirius/xm blog radio

Our weekly GvsB SiriusXM radio show airs today at noon and again at midnight EST on the newly christened Sirius XMU. As I mentioned last week, the Sirius-XM content merger recently went into effect; if you're an XM subscriber, you can listen to the award-winning Blog Radio on channel 43, and Sirius subscribers can still find us on channel 26. Of course, you can still listen right here for free with a 3-day trial membership. New stuff this week from Amadou & Mariam, Harlem, Q-Tip, Paper Route Gangstaz, and more. As always, check the full playlist for this week + some mp3s after the jump...

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gorilla vs. bear sirius blog radio :: november 24

1. the notwist :: boneless (panda bear remix)
2. the very best :: dinosaur on the ark
3. amadou & mariam :: sabali
4. harlem :: caroline
5. wavves :: beach demon
6. deerhunter :: little kids
7. money addict (PRGz) :: life, money, & drugs (diplo remix)
8. q-tip :: move
9. erykah badu :: soldier
10. white denim :: you can't say
11. cass mccombs :: petrified forest
12. harlem :: south of france
13. women :: black rice
14. arch m :: 21st union
15. salem :: brustreet
16. grouper :: invisible
17. beach house :: used to be
18. arthur russell :: i couldn't say it to your face
19. m83 :: kim & jessie
20. weird tapes :: home
21. friendly fires :: paris (aeroplane remix feat. au revoir simone)
22. vega :: all too vivid
23. burial :: archangel
24. j dilla :: nothing like this
25. chromatics :: in the city
26. the walkmen :: donde esta la playa
27. chad vangaalen :: molten light
28. little joy :: don't watch me dancing

photos :: gang gang dance | live in austin

[All photos by Pooneh Ghana. More shots of Gang Gang Dance live at the Mohawk -- including Chloe Sevigny sighting -- at her flickr]

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sxsw '09 announces first confirmed acts

Looks like SXSW has just announced a few acts that will be appearing at the 2009 Music Festival. St. Vincent, Beach House, Dent May, and Passion Pit are among the first group of confirmed bands; check out the rest of the list here. This year's fest takes place March 18-22. I know that's still 4 months away, but we've already started planning our 3rd annual gorilla vs. booze day party, and it's shaping up to be a good one.

mp3:
beach house :: gila
passion pit :: sleepyhead
dent may & his magnificent ukulele :: meet me in the garden

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friend

(image)

mp3:
friend :: black keys (demo)
the tough alliance :: neo violence (shazam remix)

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[thanks to friend + modular for the sweet songs]

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why

(photo)

Austin's Harlem kicks out a surprisingly faithful cover of an old Plastic Ono Band song on a "broke ass four track," as part of their new "Cover of the Month Club." Noisy:

mp3:
harlem :: why

Harlem kicks off their U.S. tour tonight in Austin at Club Deville.

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elsewhere:

Joaquin Phoenix = rapper



So apparently this guy is still pretending to be serious about that "quitting film to concentrate on music" gimmick. He's a rapper now.

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tonight :: gang gang dance + rainbow arabia

tiffany of rainbow arabia

The mighty Gang Gang Dance comes to TX tonight (and tomorrow), with L.A.'s Rainbow Arabia in tow. You already know how we feel about the unreal new Gang Gang LP, but this Rainbow Arabia stuff sounds like it'll be an ideal complement to what should be a pretty intense dance party. Here are a couple new tracks from the group's tour-only EP, the first of which sounds like some kind of eerie, warped lost Berlin song:

mp3:
rainbow arabia :: little boys
rainbow arabia :: holiday in congo

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previously:

gang gang dance :: princes
gang gang dance :: house jam (xxxchange remix)

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