It feels like it was just yesterday when the festival touring circuit was over. Well, the winter hibernation is over, and with festivals like SXSW, Coachella, Sasquatch and Bonnaroo just around the corner, there are some big music decisions to make on the home front. Here are our March and April suggestions.
Quasi, The Independent, 3/10:These Portland staples have been touring and impressing fans since '93. Over the years, they've collectively toured and/or recorded with Sleater-Kinney, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Built to Spill, Bright Eyes, and many others.
A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Hemlock Tavern, 3/11: A collaboration of dreamy pop and lo-fi indie, this Philly-based crew often draw comparisons from the likes of My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins.
The Temper Trap, The Fillmore, 3/12: We're telling you now, The Temper Trap is the next Phoenix. Catch them at the Fillmore before they blow up to $300 ticket prices like the aforementioned.
Phil Lesh's 70th Birthday Bash, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 3/12: Join Furthur & Friends to honor a quintessential and groundbreaking San Francisco classic. One of the original founders of The Grateful Dead, Lesh has been an artist with a legacy worthy of a celebratory festival.
Surfer Blood, Bottom of the Hill, 4/02:West Palm Beach's latest sensation just started to garner some buzz last August when they dominated at CMJ. Although they're just shy of one year officially being a band, they've kept busy spreading their surf-rock-meets-indie on tour with Japandroids and Art Brut. Not too shabby of a first year, eh?
RJD2, The Independent, 4/07: Pretty much anything this guy touches turns to gold. RJD2 originally gained speed in the late 90s becoming so ingrained in hip-hop, that he was even featured in Vibe's "History of Hip-Hop" historical volume. Whether producing, spinning, or sampling, RJD2 aka Ramble John Krohn brings life to anything before him.
Citizen Cope, The Fillmore, 4/09-10: Singer/songwriter, Citizen Cope, has a way of taking his raw emotions and slapping them down in your face all while pumping out heart-breakingly gorgeous melodies. What can we say? We're a sucker for Citizen Cope.
Spoon and Deerhunter, The Fox, 4/13: Yikes. If you don't have tickets to this show already, we'd say your chances are pretty slim to none. Both bands have an obsessive cult following of purely dedicated fans equivalent to Dead-heads. But we'll tell you something, this show will be quite the scene for people-watching. Micachu & The Shapes, another band with an underground following, will be opening.
Beach House, Bimbo's, 4/14:Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand have been making music since childhood, but it was Legrand's backing vocals on Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest album that really had them pick up steam. Teen Dream was one of the most highly anticipated albums of 2010.
King Khan & The Shrines, The Fresh & Onlys, Bimbo's, 4/15: Just camp outside of Bimbo's, and roll in to King Khan where they're known for some of the craziest live shows ever. There are no accurate descriptions out there of what they sound like, it's something you really just have to go witness for yourself.
Passion Pit, The Warfield, 4/15: When you thnk of bands that completely blow up, Passion Pit is the definition. Starting as Michael Angelako's humble tunes to woo a lady, they're now featured on MTV commercials, and other mainstream outlets. Congrats!
Miike Snow & Delorean, The Independent, 4/15: Electro-pop at its finest. It appears that the Swedes have really stepped up their music game as of late. They're hopping around the summer festie circuit for our listening pleasure.
Major Lazer, Mezzanine, 4/16: Viewers beware, Major Lazer warns ahead of time that, "Guns don't kill people, lazers do!" This is the magical and ridiculous collaboration between taste-makers/DJs/producers Diplo and Switch. Their unique abilities to start parties wherever they are make them a must-see.
Hot Chip & the xx, The Fox, 4/16: What a great British bill! Young up-and-comers, the xx, team up with veterans Hot Chip for a pulsating electro-inspired psych rock extravaganza.
The Avett Brothers, The Fox, 4/17: Absolutely classic bluesgrass and folk staples, The Avett Brothers bring brutal honesty to their ultra dynamic style. Some of the best song-writers we've seen in a while.
Yeasayer, The Fillmore, 4/17: Their newest album, Odd Blood, simply put, is incredible. Check out our favorites "O.N.E." and "Ambling Alp" to get a little feel for their style.
Vampire Weekend, The Fox, 4/19-20: The obvious love-to-be-hated prep boys are defying all the stereotypes and busting out the big guns on their latest album, Contra. Their 2-night completely sold-out stint at The Fox will surely be entertaining to say the least.
Japandroids, The Independent, 4/23: Straight out of Vancouver, the rambunctious Polyvinyl-repped two-piece sounds more like a full-fledged five or six-piece band. They're set to play over a half-dozen shows at SXSW. Avi Buffalo is opening.
Dr. Dog, Great American Music Hall, 4/24-25: At first listen, Dr. Dog sounds like a tribute to the classics (read: The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Tom Waits, David Bowie etc), all of which are cited as major influences and "honorary members in spirit." In reality, their contemporary and creative take on psych-pop has been pulling away from that over the years. We highly recommend sticking it out both nights, it'll be worth it.
