World's Fair

The Postmarks — “Five Years” [FREE DOWNLOAD @ EMUSIC]
This month’s blurb is from Jonathan Wilkins: “It is not too far fetched to imagine Armageddon in these times… a fiery end that David Bowie captured beautifully in ‘Five Years.’ The song expresses the myriad of emotions a world would feel if they knew they only had five years left to live. It reminds us that we often neglect reflection and insist on burying our heads in the sand for fear that the world will end if we pay attention to it.”

The Postmarks recently finished up a quick stint of shows in their homestate of Florida, all of which continued to show off, as Flavorpill stated, their “haunting, heartsick ballads and rosy pop melodies,” or, as The Miami Herald put nicely, music that’s created “with the hearts of listeners in mind.”

Prefix also put some up some great pics of the April 30th Orlando show, including the one below.

The Palm Beach Post called the band’s “combination of beautiful melody and retro-Euro influences” “a standout” at May 1st’s SunFest, while another Post writer said of them: “I’ve always liked their music, and after seeing them live, I like them even more.”

The Broward-Palm Beach New Times also featured the band as part of a preview of the May 2 show, which was free in celebration of the June UK release of The Postmarks, a lifelong dream of Christopher Moll’s.

Get the rest of “By The Numbers” exclusively at eMusic - for free mp3 download!

The Postmarks - “OX4″ [FREE DOWNLOAD @ EMUSIC]

The Postmarks - “Three Little Birds” [FREE DOWNLOAD @ EMUSIC]

The Postmarks - “You Only Live Twice” [FREE DOWNLOAD @ EMUSIC]

The Postmarks - “One Note Samba” [FREE DOWNLOAD @ EMUSIC]

More info on the By The Numbers series - click here…

Artist: The Postmarks
Album: The Postmarks [LISTEN]
Label: Unfiltered
Street Date: Feb 6th, 2006
Formats: CD, mp3

CONNECT: World’s Fair | Myspace | Website

Still basking in the success of his most recent album, Eleventh Hour, Del the Funky Homosapien is setting off a yet another tour, this time hitting much of the festival circuit, with stops at Monolith, Bumbershoot, Austin City Limits and plenty of others.

Del was recently featured in Pitchfork’s guest list column, where he talked about his favorite record stores, Rock of Love, and his own love of Parliament-Funkadelic:

“I was watching a Parliament show. It was in 1972. And of course, that was off the hook… George Clinton was changing costumes throughout the set. He come out as Starchild, Dr. Funklestein…it’s a trip. You know what? I kind of liked Bootsy [Collins]’s show a little better. He got a little more continuity to his stage goings-on. Like it was a little more unified and goofy. Parliament’s all over the place.”

Del’s set may not feature all the over-the-top theatrics of a P-Funk production, but he certainly knows how to put on a fantastic live show. And this summer there are plenty of chances to see that in action.

Can’t wait that long for new Del music? Check out the exclusive C7 remix of “Foot Down” here. [DOWNLOAD]

Del the Funky Homosapien Summer Tour Dates

May 20 - Spokane, WA @ The Boulevard
May 21 - Missoula, MT @ The Other Side
May 22 - Bozeman, MT @ Zebra Cocktail Lounge
May 23 - Palladium @ Salt Lake City, CA
May 24 - Moab, UT @ Desert Rocks Music Fest
June 06 - Lawrence, KS @ Wakarusa Music Fest
Sept 01 - Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot Fest
Sept 04 - Portland, OR @ Musicfest MW at Roseland Theater
Sept 13 - Morrison, CO @ Monolith Fest at Red Rocks
Sept 26 - Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival

Artist: Del The Funky Homosapien
Album:Eleventh Hour
Label: Definitive Jux
Street Date: March 11th, 2008
Formats: CD, vinyl, mp3

Del The Funky Homosapien - “Bubble Pop (Promo)” [DOWNLOAD]

Mr. Dibbs Presents “Del The Funky Megamix” [LISTEN]

CONNECT: Delspace | Definitive Jux | World’s Fair

You may have been hearing about the spectacular Mercury-Prize winning Dizzee Rascal for a while, but now is finally the time for stateside hip-hop fans or fans-to-be to check out the garage rap master in action, celebrating the 4/29 US release (courtesy of Def Jux) of Maths + English, a record that EW has called “an eclectic, break-dance-worthy Slick Rick reincarnation,” while The Observer Music Monthly declared it “essential” and “his strongest, most ambitious and mature…to date.”

Dizzee already tore it up at SXSW and the MTV Australia Awards 2008, now he’s primed for cross-country American domination. Oh yeah, and if the thought of ridiculously grimy beats and spit-fire rhymes from Britain’s favorite MC isn’t enough, he’s touring with none other than El-P, who really has to be seen to be believed.

Dizzee Rascal - MegaMaster 1.0 (Mixed by El-P) [DOWNLOAD]

Clear your calenders, dates start tomorrow!

May 8 - 9:30 Club, D.C.
May 9 - First Unitarian Church, Philly
May 10 - Webster Hall, NYC
May 11 - The Middle East, Boston
May 12 - New Capital Music Hall, Ottawa
May 13 - Crofoot Ballroom, Detroit
May 14 - The Abbey Pub, Chicago
May 16 - Triple Rock Club, Minneapolis
May 19 - Neumos, Seattle
May 20 - Berbatis Pan, Portland
May 21 - 1015, San Francisco
May 22 - El Rey, Los Angeles

Artist: Dizzee Rascal
Album: Maths + English (U.S. Edition)
Label: Definitive Jux / World’s Fair
Street Date: April 29th, 2008
Formats: CD, mp3

Dizzee Rascal feat. U.G.K. - “Where’s Da G’s?” [DOWNLOAD]

CONNECT: Definitive Jux | Dizzee Rascal | Myspace | YouTube

Still propelled by the energy from an explosive 2007, funk revitalizers Daptone Records are treating their fans to a digital-only compilation of some of their most treasured 45s. Out June 3, Daptone 7 Inch Singles Collection, Vol. 2 is comprised of 13 tracks from some of the label’s finest artists, including Lee Fields and Sugarman 3, the now-defunct Mighty Imperials, Charles Bradley, and of course the incomparable Sharon Jones, alongside her band the Dap-Kings, who are now practically a household name.

Never before released by Daptone on either CD or LP, the collection offers the exclusiveness of vinyl with the convenience of digital formatting, perfect for barbeques or humid July nights, for road trips or back-porch gatherings. So start the summer out right, with plenty of funk. And hey, there’s no arguing that burgers taste better with an acclaimed horn section behind them.

Though Jones’s cover of Kenny Rogers’s “I Just Dropped In to See What Condition My Condition Was In” — by now a staple of her live show — is a definite standout, the singer’s emotive voice transporting the song from its psychedelic roots to something based in the organic grit and toil of soul and R&B, music enthusiasts of all types will find inspiration in the fast-paced funk of Charles Bradley’s “Can’t Stop Thinking About You,” the wah-wah-driven groove of Lee Fields’s “Stand Up,” and Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra’s take on the Willie Colón salsa standard “Che Che Colé.”

Check out the Charles Bradley & The Bullets track “Now That I’m Gone” [DOWNLOAD]

Daptone 7 Inch Singles Collection, Vol. 2 is a necessary piece in the ever-growing discography of one of the most exciting young labels of the new millennium; but more than that, it’s great music, music that shouldn’t be held back by format or player, music that needs to — and now can — be heard by everyone.

CONNECT: Website | World’s Fair | Myspace | iMeem | YouTube

The Dandy Warhols are back and ushering in a rockin’ return to form with Earth To The Dandy Warhols, the band’s debut album as masters of their own destiny. Pulling together the diverse sounds and influences that have always characterized their music, it’s quintessential Dandys, and it’s set to be self-released this summer via the Dandys’ newly minted Beat The World Records.

But you don’t have to wait until then to hear the new tracks! Beginning today, May 5, the new album is featured in over 10,000 AMI Jukeboxes across the nation. May 5th also marks the re-launch of the Dandy Warhols website: visitors will be treated to a free download of the opening track, the party-starting “The World The People Together (Come On).”

The good folks at Stereogum also premiered the track today, calling it a “bouncy, percussive, smeary group lift-off.” [click here]

And, as if that’s not enough for one day, the Dandy Warhols are putting on an event at 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco to celebrate, complete with a Dandys-equipped AMI Jukebox and Cinco de Mayo fare, not excluding free tequila by Hornitos. Zia from the Dandys will be manning the decks, and Peter and Brent will also be on hand.

WHEN: MONDAY, MAY 5, 5pm – 10pm
WHERE: 111 MINNA GALLERY

111 MINNA ST @ 2ND
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105
415.974.1719
FREE!

From the Some Girls-era Rolling Stones-meets-Talking Heads “Welcome to the Third World,” to the campy “Mis Amigos,” to the psychedelic rock of “Beast of Saints,” Earth To The Dandy Warhols is pleasure of a ride that gives you the space to fully settle into it while still keeping you on your toes. The band reached out to some of their many friends, too, inviting Dire Strait’s Mark Knopfler and the Heartbreakers’ guitarist Mike Campbell to join in on the rollicking “Love Song.” Earth To The Dandy Warhols is a stunning platform into a new era of the Dandys’ career, and places the band firmly in the ranks of rock’s elite class.

The Dandy Warhols will kick off their 2008 touring extravaganza with a Pacific Northwest run in June, followed by European Festival dates in July, and a fall North American tour.

Earth To The Dandy Warhols Track Listing:

1. The World The People Together (Come On) *free download
2. Mission Control
3. Welcome To The Third World
4. Wasp In the Lotus
5. And Then I Dreamt Of Yes
6. Talk Radio
7. Love Song
8. Now You Love Me
9. Mis Amigos
10. The Legend Of The Last Of The Outlaw Truckers AKA The Ballad Of Sheriff Shorty
11. Beast Of All Saints
12. Valerie Yum
13. Musee D’Nougat

CONNECT: Website | Myspace | YouTube | Facebook

No one can ever accuse Sharon Jones of being inconsistent or unreliable. Time and time again her energy, talent, and personality have been lauded by critics and fans alike, and her powerful performance at this year’s Coachella only helped solidify claims that she does in fact, “inspire.” (Thanks to the Wired blog for the great photo!)

Because during their Friday night set, Sharon and her Dap-Kings let nobody down, putting on a rock-solid, energetic, and very, very soulful show that had one EW critic calling it “among the best I’ve seen in my life,” and leading USA Today to assert that she was “this year’s successor to Amy Winehouse” (though we all already know that Amy’s happily admitted inspiration from Ms. Jones herself).

These kind words, however, are just a few of the many praises Sharon received at Coachella: Stereogum, Pitchfork, the L.A. Times, Tegan Quin from Tegan and Sara, and Variety, among many others, all had great things to say about her, as well.

Check out a short clip of the set. (Courtesy of Buzznet.)

In more exciting news, take a look at the brand new video for “Tell Me,” which premiered on AOL Spinner today!

In case you haven’t seen what everyone’s been raving about, or you haven’t gotten enough, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings will continue to wow the nation throughout the summer, including at stops at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and the Central Park Summerstage.

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings 2008 Summer Tour Dates

May 31 Hunter Mt., NY @ Mountain Jam Fest

Jun 4 Austin, TX @ Stubbs
Jun 6 Bridgeview, IL @ Toyota Park (opening for Dave Matthews Band)
Jun 7 Philadelphia, PA @ Roots Picnic
Jun 14 Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music Festival
Jun 21 Aspen, CO @ Rio Grande Park (Jazz Aspen Festival)

Jul 20 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl (w/Feist)
Jul 25 Portland, OR @ Portland Zoo

Aug 2 Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
Aug 3 Montreal, QUE @ Oshega Music and Arts Festival
Aug 9 Baltimore, MD @ V Festival
Aug 17 New York, NY@ Central Park Summerstage (Daptone Revue)
Aug 21-22 St Paul, MN @ Minnesota State Fair
Aug 24 San Francisco, CA @ Golden Gate State Park (Outside Lands Music and Arts Fest)

Sep 5 Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre (opening for DMB)
Sep 6 Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre (opening for DMB)
Sep 7 Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre (opening for DMB)
Sep 27 Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits

CONNECT: Website | MySpace | YouTube | World’s Fair

The New York Daily News featured Tiny Masters of Today this week… “It’s a new phenomenon of these really excellent musicians being so young,” said Suzanne Youngerman, who curates BAM programs for youth. “So many come from Brooklyn - it’s the epicenter of creativity for these kid bands.” Michael Palms, co-owner of the club Southpaw in Park Slope, gives bands like Tiny Masters a regular venue. “They have the rock aesthetic in control,” Palms said. “They write interesting songs about angst and rejecting pop culture, which is essentially what rock music is really all about.” [read the full article here]

Peep Tiny Masters of Today performing on Cartoon Network’s Fried Dynamite [video here]

Tiny Masters of Today summer festival dates!
June 30 Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
August 2 Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza - Kidzapalooza

Tiny Masters Of Today - “Hey Mr. DJ” CSS Remix [DOWNLOAD]

Artist: Tiny Masters Of Today
Album: Bang Bang Boom Cake
Label: Great Society
Street Date: September 25th, 2007
Formats: Amazon| iTunes | eMusic

CONNECT: Website | Myspace | YouTube | World’s Fair

MTVU chats with British Sea Power on Backstage Pass about conquering the British rock scene.. check it out and get tips on how NOT to stage dive!

British Sea Power is en route to the East Coast. They had a warm welcome last weekend at the Norman Music Festival, which also featured Colourmusic and the Polyphonic Spree, previewed in The Oklahoman as “the U.K.’s latest great gift to the eccentric side of lush, cerebral pop.”

photo courtesy of QRO Magazine @ Norman Music Fest

May 1 Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s w/ The Rosebuds, Jeffrey Lewis
May 2 Oxford, MS @ Proud Larry’s w/ The Rosebuds, Jeffrey Lewis
May 3 Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge w/ The Rosebuds, Jeffrey Lewis
May 4 Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle w/ The Rosebuds, Jeffrey Lewis
May 6 Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle w/ The Rosebuds, Jeffrey Lewis
May 7 Charlottesville, VA @ Satelite Ballroom w/ The Rosebuds, Jeffrey Lewis
May 8 Washington, DC @ Black Cat w/ The Rosebuds, Jeffrey Lewis
May 9 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s w/ The Rosebuds, Jeffrey Lewis
May 10 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom w/ The Rosebuds, Jeffrey Lewis (sold out)
May 11 Brooklyn @ Music Hall of Williamsburg w/The Rosebuds, Jeffrey Lewis
May 13 Boston, MA @ Paradise w/ The Rosebuds, Jeffrey Lewis
May 15 Montreal, QUE @ La Sala Rossa w/ The Rosebuds
May 16 Toronto, ONT @ Lee’s Palace w/ The Rosebuds
May 17 Buffalo, NY @ The Tralf w/ The Rosebuds
May 18 Pittsburgh, Pa @ Mr Smalls Theatre w/ The Rosebuds
May 19 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell’s

On The Road Tour EP featuring British Sea Power, Film School, Jeffrey Lewis and Colourmusic [download for FREE here]

Artist: British Sea Power
Album: Do You Like Rock Music?
Label: Rough Trade / World’s Fair
Street Date: Feb. 12th, 2008
CD: Amazon | Newbury Comics | Insound
MP3: iTunes | eMusic | Amazon
2xLP: Insound

CONNECT: Website | World’s Fair | Myspace

Eric Pulido, guitarist of Midlake, has launched his very own brand of coffee! Cappulido Coffee was born in the Spring 2008 in the great land of Denton, TX, and features six different blends of fair traded coffee, each selling for around $10 a pop. With the purchase of Cappulido Coffee, you are giving aid directly back to farmers in developing countries, lending them the financial support necessary to continue developing an excellent product and compete in the world market.

Says Pulido, “Coffee has become a huge commodity in our culture today, and supplying it in a fair and quality manner was something I wanted to take part in. With Cappulido I am able to offer a coffee that I personally know supports the farmers that grow it, and provides the consumer with a freshly roasted, excellent bean.”

Cappulido’s distributor visits small estate farmers in several developing countries to achieve a firsthand understanding of the devastating impact of falling coffee prices and the resulting growing plight of farming families in developing countries.

The facts tell us that behind oil, coffee is the second largest traded commodity in the world. On average, 108 million people in the US drink coffee daily. In developing countries, coffee farmers live in extreme poverty, bringing in an average of only $500 per year. Because the rules that govern trade favor rich countries, the potential to reduce poverty and support economic growth for poorer countries is being lost. As a result, most of these developing countries are dependent on outside aid for their survival. Cappulido is dedicated to helping farming families find relief and reach their full potential.

So why not support small estate coffee farmers and independent music and get caffeinated with Cappulido? There’s even a nifty monthly subscription option, where you can have a bag of beans drop on your doorstop at the top of every month.

For more info, visit the Cappulido site.

The Grey Race play Arlene’s Grocery this Friday night, giving us a lovely way to end the week…

THE GREY RACE
@ ARLENE’S GROCERY (95 stanton st. btw. orchard and ludlow)
Friday, April 25th @ 8PM

We’re also pleased to announce The Grey Race’s Upcoming Tour Dates opening for, and also playing as the band for Teddy Thompson!

June 5 — Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
June 10 — Chicago, IL @ Schubas
June 11 — Chicago, IL @ Schubas
June 12 — Madison, WI @ Univerity of WI
June 15 — Nashville, TN @ 3rd & Lindsay
June 20 — Brooklyn, NY @ Williamsburgh Music Hall
June 21 — Philadelphia, PA @ Northstar Bar

The Grey Race on NPR’s Second Stage

“…a stunning debut…” Love from Paste Magazine

“It’s unlikely that you’ll find an album of such precision and elegance as The Grey Race’s stunning debut Give It Love. Amidst lustrous acoustic guitars, rich percussive fills and the occasional cello, singer/songwriter Jon Darling plaintively eases his way through each compositions with a touching, poetic grace.” @ Amplifier magazine

Artist: The Grey Race
Album: Give It Love
Label: Unfiltered Records / World’s Fair
Street Date: August 28th / September 18th 2007
Format: CD, digital
Shop: iTunes | eMusic | Amazon

Get some love:

The Grey Race - “On the Chin” [DOWNLOAD]

The Grey Race - “Stop Inside Your Start” [STREAM]

The Grey Race - “Through Your Eyes” [STREAM]

CONNECT: Greyspace | World’s Fair