Dreamers of the Ghetto eptiomizes a lot of what makes the Midwest so distinct. For one, the four-piece is something of a family affair, comprised of brothers Luke and Jonathan Jones, Luke’s wife Lauren, and mutal friend Marty Sprowles. If that weren’t down-home enough, the band also hails from Bloomington, IN, the home to folk rock hero John Mellencamp and indie rock labels Secretly Canadian and Jagjaguwar. But unlike their neighbors, DotG’s take on rock offers up a decidedly different lean, one the whole world, including the good folks of B-Town, will hear when their debut album Enemy/Lover drops early next month.

Despite their rural upbringing, the group’s music is a combination of far more ethereal musical components. Combining the sweet sounds of ’80s rock, especially that of soundtracks and scores, with hunks of uber romantic dream-rock, the end result is a little bit rock and roll and a little bit synth-y groove-fest. The record’s second single, “State of a Dream”, defines the unit’s unique sound. Building up to what can only be described as Neil Young joining The xx, “State of a Dream” is as hazy as it is haggard. Check it out below.

Dreamers of the Ghetto – “State of a Dream”

To read more, head on over to CoS for full post.

Via Consequence of Sound

Haling from Echo park, jangly folk duo Count Fleet, are dropping their Stay Here / Favorite Fiction 7″ (Manzan Records) Tuesday August 2nd. Described as “earnest and winsome” by Buzzbands LA, title track “Stay Here” is an upbeat hearty folk offering, while “Favorite Fiction” is a blues flecked 70’s styled pop opus.

Led by video director Elliot Glass and Caitlin Dwyer, this twosome are joined by a rotating group of Los Angeles musicians and friends, Count Fleet’s brand of folk infused psychedelic rock, emerges with a modern indie pop aesthetic, marrying a wide range of influences from 60s and 70’s folk and Motown R&B.

Count Fleet released their Richard Raymond (Local Natives, Broken West) produced, debut EP in early 2011 to much local acclaim from Radio Free Silverlake, KCRW and LA Weekly who proclaimed, “Elliot Glass might be best known as a video director for the indierati … but he has teamed up with Caitlin Dwyer for a focused set of pop tunes that, dare we say it, manages to outdo his way buzzier clients.”

Count Fleet are set to embark on a mini West Coast jaunt in support of the 7″ this week, with stops in San Francisco, Portland and Seattle before they prep for their full-length record.

Download “Stay Here”

Stay Here- Count Fleet by INDIGENOUSPromotions

Upcoming Live Dates:

8/3 Los Angeles, CA at Origami Vinyl (in-store)

8/4 Los Angeles, CA at The Satellite (release show)

8/5 San Diego, CA at Soda Bar

8/6 San Francisco, CA at Hotel Utah

8/8 Portland, OR at Alberta Street Public House

8/9 Seattle, WA at The High-Dive

For live reviews, album requests, and other press inquiries, contact Veronica Pulcini: veronica@indigenouspromotions.com

Via The FADER

On August 23rd, Vagrant will release Active Child’s debut LP You Are All I See. It’s a gorgeous, ballsy record that features a duet with How to Dress Well. A duet! Risky move. But it works, as does the rest of the album—which somehow manages to be at once totally huge and also as intimate as someone whisper-reading their diary directly into your ear canal. We have a new favorite track every week, but right now we’re stoked that “Hanging On” is going to be made widely available by the Adult Swim singles series. Read more at FADER here.

Also check out Adult Swim’s interview with Active Child at Coachella:

The Rumble LA is hitting the Echoplex for an early all ages show this Thursday July 7th with NY troubadour, Luke Rathborne continuing his mini run of the West Coast on The Rumble Tour. KEXP endorsed, Luke Ratborne counts the folks at Paste and Interview as fans, as well as the The Strokes (who he opened for at SXSW this past year) and considering his backing band includes Tahrah Cohen and Julia Kent of Anthony And The Johnsons, it’s safe to say he’s in good company.  Listen to his I Can Be One/Dog Years Split EP (Dilettante Recordings) and you’ll be swooning over him too.

Dog Years E.P. – Luke Rathborne by Luke Rathborne

Taking their name from the seminal Woody Allen flick, Manhattan Murder Mystery are set to bring the dirty scuzzy rock for the PBR set. With an reputation for an intensive live set led by Matthew Teardrop’s vocal prowess, this local act has Radio Free Silverlake proclaiming, “every Manhattan Murder Mystery show is like a battle royal. A wonderful, scummy battle royal.” These dudes dropped their acclaimed self-titled debut earlier this year, with growling numbers like “I Always Think About Dyin’” and “Parking Lot.”

The Rumble LA is brought to you by our buds at Future Sounds, BMI, BuzzBands LA, Dirty Laundry TV, Origami Vinyl, Moheak Radio, Evenbrite, Veoba and PBR. Remember to RSVP here.

Our love for gloomy surf pop really knows no bounds, hence our adoration for Mrs. Magician. Think endearing seaside guitar pop met with a pitch-perfect dose of woozy 60’s doo-wop that will have you swaying this summer. This local four piece write classic tales of heartache and drench them in fuzzy reverb to craft modern AM ready indie goodness. Just listen to The Spells 7″ (Loud & Clear Records) for the hypnotic and enchanting,”Angel Baby.” for further reinforcement.

Mrs Magician – The Spells by mrs.magician

New York’s, Luke Rathborne is 2011’s answer to haunting and delicate dark pop that have NYLON and Paste singing his praises. At only 23, Rathborne dropped his I Can Be One/Dog Years Split EP (Dilettante Recordings) this past Spring, chock full of Leonard Cohen meets Jason Collett styled singing and songwriting, showcasing a breadth of talent far beyond his years.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Super sludgey shoegaze ala Sonic Youth met with 80s influenced synths reminiscent of Joy Division and The Cure, this four piece, led by Danny Brown, are fresh off their mini West Coast tour with Primitive Noyes. Formed in 2010, Colony take thrashing garage rock and inject it with enough psych pop flourishes to create their answer to art rock. Think Explosions in the Sky, but bigger and louder.

The Rumble San Diego wouldn’t happen without the help of our loves at Future Sounds, BMI, M Theory, Friends With Both Arms, SDDIALEDIN, Owl & Bear, Bedouin Vintage, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Veoba and more. RSVP at Eventbrite here.

A cacophony of synths, pedals, drum machines and looped beats, the Oakland-based analog synth duo, James & Evander have been churning out future pop since 2005. Comprised of college friends, Adam Myatt and Glenn Jackson, their discography showcases an exploration of ambient Dntel influenced techno and woozy weed-wave.

Their arsenal of material ranges from their This Isn’t the Beginning of Anything LP (2009) and the Sun & Circuitry EP (2010) to the Songs We Wish We Wrote Series, a collection of remixes of artists, like Fleet Foxes, Man Miracle, Jon Brion and Nazcar Nation.

James & Evander just dropped the Constellating EP + 2, which is a departure for the duo, as it marks their first foray into the land of vocals. This five song EP is hybrid of the pair’s electro roots with emotive vocals layered over their signature subdued, lush synth pop that’s equal parts dreamy and alluring. Title track, “Constellating” is a Postal Service styled electro-pop opus, while “Slap Bracelets” is mix of driving drum beats and glimmering synths and “Really Real” is blissed out lesson in tender chillwave. The EP also features two remixes by fellow Bay Area artists, Ander and shortcircles.

Recommended If You Like: Dntel, Wild Nothing, Postal Service
Grab free EP: www.jamesandevander.bandcamp.com
www.jamesandevander.com

Download “Constellating“:

James & Evander – Constellating by INDIGENOUSPromotions

Upcoming Live Dates:
7/10 Oakland, CA at Oasis
7/21 Berkeley, CA at Jupiter
7/22-24 Guerneville, CA at C.A.M.P

For live reviews, album requests, and other press inquiries, contact Veronica Pulcini: veronica@indigenouspromotions.com

Week 1 (June 6) – Ford & Lopatin

Week 2 (June 14) – Best Coast

Week 3 (June 21) – How to Dress Well

Week 4 (June 28) – Mastodon

Week 5 (July 5) – Active Child

Week 6 (July 12) – The Tallest Man on Earth

Week 7 (July 19) – JJ feat. Ne-Yo

Week 8 (July 26) – The Rapture

Week 9 (August 2) – Artist to be announced

Along with all-new songs, Adult Swim also created music videos for Mastodon and Best Coast, and shot interviews with Best Coast and Active Child that will be featured on the custom website.

In addition to nine sponsored weeks of never-before-released music from Kia, Adult Swim will cap off the tenth week of the program with a track from renowned hip hop artist El-P.  Additionally, the network will add a special bonus track on August 16 from NYC-based rockers Cerebral Ballzy, who will debut their self-titled album this summer from the network’s Williams Street Records music label.  A corresponding music video will also launch with Cerebral Ballzy’s single.

To get your hands on all of these tracks from the 2011 Adult Swim Singles Program, visit www.adultswim.com/singles.

Check out Ford & Lopatin’s new Song “Too Much Midi (Please Forgive Me)”

Photo by Oliver Walker

Via FILTER Magazine:

Describing themselves as “bedroom pop,” the group has already released an EP titled Love Songs For When You Leave Me, which was recorded with Chris Chu of The Morning Benders. Now the trio is ready to release their new “Inner City/ Best Friends” 7″ on a limited edition, 70-gram, colored vinyl on Seven Inch Project.

If you’re in the Southern California area, you can also catch So Many Wizards at San Diego’s Casbah on June 2nd with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and TV Girl.

Download “Best Friends” from that upcoming 7″ at FILTER.