Blue Blood, Pink Books and Gypsy Parties

WRBB Announces Block Party Lineup

Our good friends over at Northeastern’s student-run radio station 104.9 FM WRBB have announced the lineup of this year’s installment in the classic WRBB Block Party concert series.  Manchester Orchestra will be joined by Atomic Tom and The Postelles in the lovely Centennial Commons on September 6th for FREE.  You don’t have any classes either so don’t even try that one.   I know there have been a few attempts at to bring Manchester Orchestra to campus so we’re thrilled to see it finally happen.

For more information on the show, head over to good ol’ Facebook.

Weezer Speculate on Blue & Pink Tour

Okay, I may owe Weezer a bit of an apology.  Weezer, I gave up on you.  Sure, I can appreciate a music video full of memes and like I LOST as much as the next guy, but I’d rather have good records!  My prayers may have apparently been answered, because Weezer is shopping a Blue Album & Pinkerton tour around and, based upon the fan response thus far, I’ll eat a copy of Issue #1 if it doesn’t happen.  I know there are some mixed feelings about bands playing records straight through in the live setting, but I think Weezer is an instance where it is absolutely a benefit.  As an endlessly awkward teen who couldn’t talk to girls, Blue Album and Pinkerton were almost therapeutic.   Before Michael Cera became the champion of skinny legs, wispy mustaches, and poor fitting sweater-vests,  Weezer made it hip to be square (at least that’s what I told myself as I listened to “El Scorcho” and poured my soul into a notebook under my bed).  Thanks, Weezer.  Look for tour dates soon!

Bad Books Announce Debut Album and Mini-Tour

There have been murmurs of a Kevin Devine and Manchester Orchestra “supergroup” for a while now, flames which were fanned by a handful of joint tours, a split 7″, and a collaboration on Day Trotter.  Finally, an official tour and self titled album have been announced alongside recordings of “You Wouldn’t Have to Ask” and “Please Move.”  If the new songs are any indicator of what’s to come, expect literate indie-rock tunes with saccharine harmonies and dashes of folk sensibilities.

Bad Books will be released via Favorite Gentlemen records on October 19 and will be playing at TT the Bear’s on October 22.

Gypsyblood Make Awesome Music

Hailing from Chicago, IL, Gypsyblood recently posted a few tracks up on their Band Camp profile.  Long story short, they’re all really, really good.  Their melodies are warm and wrapped in layers of feedback, but these songs are not submissive.   Mixing influences like The Pixies, Pavement, and Joy Division with infectious guitar hooks and piles of inspired vocal tracks, these songs are the aural equivalent of a good pastry: crispy on the outside, warm & gooey on the inside.  Check out their new tunes below.

Let me know what you think!