Amplify This!

Wednesday, 25 February 2009

LoveLikeFire - Popscene San Francisco

A rainy Valentine's night was spent watching female fronted trio LoveLikeFire down the alleyways of San Fran. The perfect antidote for a night spent away from loved ones, lead singer Ann Yu was both captivating and beautiful with a haunting, Karen O-esque voice to match. Guitars that could reminisce heart strings and drums that reflect heart beats. I think you can easily call this love at first sight.

LoveLikeFire Myspace / Site / MP3: From A Tower

More photos from the show at Amplify This! Flickr

Monday, 2 February 2009

War On Geometry

Several things have caught my attention this week so I am simply going to do some cramming and hopefully blow your mind and your ears. Feel free to pick and choose whatever tickles your fancy first.

Oh No Forest Fires

photo by Kyle Hutton

I knew I was in for a treat when I found out that ex-The Most Serene Republic drummer Adam Nimmo was now playing with Canadian four piece Oh No Forest Fires. Bursting from the same Toronto underground scene as Broken Social Scene and Born Ruffians, Oh No Forest Fires are paving their path with an exciting debut album - War On Geometry - full of luminous guitars and energetic drums. With songs like You Know What That Is Trouble and We Fit Our Charm and lots of notable press behind them, their path is well and truly sealed.

MP3: We Fit Our Charm / Myspace

Gentleman Reg

Some more genius music coming out of Toronto from Gentleman Reg. He makes awsome tunes, has a sweet voice and is in good hands over at Arts and Crafts (home to Broken Social Scene, Feist, Stars and The Stills). Can't really tell you much more than that apart from RCRDLBL have two tracks for you to download. Spoil yourself!

MP3: How We Exit / MP3: You Can't Get It Back / Myspace

Fanfarlo have posted a taster from their debut album Reservoir over at Radar Maker. Have a listen to I'm A Pilot

Lastly, just for the fun of it, it was my first Superbowl experience this weekend and if you still haven't seen the half time performance from the Boss, here is the main highlight of the 12 minute explosive set.

Thursday, 29 January 2009

The Blenheim Street Project

photo by Amplify This!

There are always people you meet in life who are so amazingly talented that you can't help but envy them. Jasper Sloan Yip is one of those people. I have been lucky enough to work with him on a few photoshoots and hang out with the sole member and main man of acoustic-folk act The Blenheim Street Project (BSP as referred to by the cool kids). White Elephant EP was the first release from The BSP in 2007 with dreamy songs full of spiraling melodies and thoughtful lyricism about travels and love all from a four track recorder in the depths of a Vancouver basement.

Currently residing in that same basement working on new material for the next album, you can catch him performing with his acoustic guitar and red, velvet chair at several venues in Vancouver throughout February. Keep your eyes and ears open for BSP and let the envy begin to form.

The BSP Photoshoot / Myspace / Facebook
Listen and purchase the White Elephant EP at CD Baby
Watch live performances on You Tube

Monday, 26 January 2009

The Online Romance and Bridges and Powerlines

photo by Sam Brosnan

I always love my quirky, indie pop bands that remind me of the days I would sit in a corner with earphones that were too big for my head and listen to joyous things such as The Beach Boys or all my grandmothers old records. The Online Romance are that band. The sextet from Portland, Oregon combine an array of percussion and heavenly harmonies that can only be found in dreams. They are currently taking a break from touring to concentrate on their full length album. One of the tracks that will be featured is Ladybug Don't Smile which you can download below. Check out their Myspace and site for more details. For now, just smile and enjoy.

MP3: Ladybug Don't Smile / Myspace / Site

photo by Ana Blohm

Another band that has caught my attention is Bridges and Powerlines, a four piece from New York that cram lots of fuzz and synth into various three minute slots. Making a name for themselves from the big players such New York Press, Pitchfork and CMJ Music these guys are definitely worth the listen. Currently working on their next album but download the following tracks to keep you going.

MP3: Uncalibrated / MP3: Middle Child / Myspace / Site

Friday, 23 January 2009

You're A Wolf

A couple of nights ago, whilst eating my supper, the new Chevrolet Malibu commercial came on TV. I stopped eating and paid attention to the sugary vocals and dreamy guitars that played. I did my research and discoverd a new band from LA called Sea Wolf who are pretty awesome. Check out the Chevrolet video and the Sea Wolf video for the same song below.

Sea Wolf Site / Myspace

Tuesday, 20 January 2009

New Fanfarlo Video

Fanfarlo have been a little quiet in my camp recently and I haven't really kept up to date with what they have been doing but luckily I received this new video link a couple of days ago for the ever catchy Harold T Wilkins. It's a pretty rad video as well.