Odds & Ends

Bishop Allen played a hell of a show in Tucson last July, and now the Brooklyn band has new record on the way. I have no doubt it'll be more of the ultra-catchy guitar pop that they're known for.

The band's preview singles fall right in line with the Bishop Allen catalog, which includes the 2006 monthly EP project.

Grrr... is out March 10, the same day the band launches a six-week tour. And right smack in the middle, there's a four-day gap between an appearance at Austin's SXSW festival and Los Angeles. Let's hope there's a Tucson stop in the works...

DOWNLOAD:
Bishop Allen - The Ancient Commonsense of Things
Bishop Allen - Dimmer

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

The resurrected Clem Snide, one of my favorite live bands, will be out on tour this spring, and have an April 6 show at Plush. Oh, and a new album, Honey Bird, due out this month.

Singer-songwriter-guitarist Eef Barzelay played this summer at Plush, with a stripped-down set of solo material that showed the tremendous range and versatility he has as a performer.

But a full Clem Snide is a good thing in this world, and I welcome them back with open arms.

DOWNLOAD:
Eef Barzelay (of Clem Snide) - Ballad of Bitter Honey

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

Photo by Alissa Anderson

San Francisco's Vetiver are newly signed to SubPop, just about to release their first record for the venerable indie label, and are Tucson-bound, with a gig at Plush on April 10.

Tight Knit, the band's fourth album, is due in two weeks, is a sunny mix of folk, pop and rock, the type of tunes that are normally associated with the Southern California burgs instead of Vetiver's San Francisco. Rest assured, Tight Knit will land on a lot of year-end lists, especially after the folk-rock breakthrough SubPop had in 2008 with the Fleet Foxes.

SubPop announced the new record with a press release titled "At last! Vetiver is ours."

DOWNLOAD:
Vetiver - Everyday

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

Also in the about-to-release-a-record-and-headed-to-Tucson group is former Drive-by Trucker Jason Isbell, who has a March 31 gig at Club Congress.

Isbell is now on Lightning Rod Records, alongside the should-be-legendary James McMurtry, which is nothing but a good sign for his artistic intentions.

DOWNLOAD:
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Seven-Mile Island

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

The Rialto Theatre has booked Franz Ferdinand for an April 19. The Scottish dance-rockers haven't ever been my cup of tea, but I'll definitely give 'em a chance live...