It’s amazing how bands can be playing to crowds of 100 people (if they’re lucky) one month and massive theaters the next. This is exactly what happened with our best new band of 2011: Grouplove. I remember writing a show preview in January for the band’s free, month-long residency at Bootleg Theater. I had never even heard the music, so I listened to the self-titled EP, and it was pretty good, but I never got the chance to see the indie troupe during that residency…and I am kicking myself for that right now.

The story of the group’s formation is an atypical one. Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi met while living in New York and decided to attend an art residency on the Greek island of Crete. While abroad, the two artists met Sean Gadd, a songwriter and guitarist from London, and Ryan Rabin and Andrew Wessen, both musicians from Los Angeles. The five clicked instantly and began making music together in the small remote mountain village that hosted the residency.

Once the summer fling came to an end, the newfound friends scattered back to their respective spots on the globe, but the passion behind the music the quintet created in Greece could not be extinguished. Eventually, the distance became overwhelming, and every member scrounged up enough change to visit L.A. and record an album in Ryan Rabin’s studio. While recording, the band agreed that the City of Angels was the best place to call home, and the three non-Los Angeles natives packed up their bags and moved out West.

In 2010, Grouplove played its first ever live show in Los Angeles’ small Silverlake club, El Cid. Since then, the five-piece has toured the U.S. with Two Door Cinema Club and Young the Giant, as well as played shows with Florence and the Machine in San Francisco and L.A. before embarking on a UK tour in February of 2011. The indie pop project released its debut full-length, Never Trust a Happy Song, in September of the same year to much praise. The record’s two singles, “Colours,” a twangy, catchy folk-tinged track, and “Tongue Tied,” a pop gem, have garnered the band a healthy fan base and landed it performances on Conan, Late Night with David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Every member of Grouplove is spilling with talent, but it’s the creative kinship and overwhelming genuineness that magnetizes its fans. You can connect with this band. It is spilling its guts to you, and that’s a special feeling. Not to mention, the group puts on a killer live show.

Coachella commences Grouplove’s first headlining U.S. tour. The band plays on Friday at 5:05 PM in the Mojave tent.

With the end of May comes Wakarusa Festival, running from May 31^st to June 3^rd in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. With that kind of scenery, the nature aspect is just as much a part of the festival experience as the music, and the two together is surely a powerful force. As a result, the lineup is a goldmine of world, roots, funk and psychedelic soul bands that you haven’t heard of yet, and even more variations on that theme.

One of the standout examples of some funky psychedelic soul is Monophonics. Many of their songs sound like straight up throwback tracks off fuzzy 45s. They pay their respects to the past, and also incorporate more modern hip hop edges on certain tracks, like this video for  “Loose Nukes"

Hearts of Darkness also sound like they could have been around back in the day, and throw in more afro-beat spice to their jams. Have a listen to “Numeration” on their Soundcloud.

More on the folk side of the spectrum is Futurebirds. They play fun pop song melodies with a banjo added in for a good ol’ barn raisin’ time. They’re the kind of band you want to raise your beer to and shout along with.

 

Rubblebucket explores a darker, more experimental side of psychedelic funk, which they showcase well in their video for “Down in the Yards.” Nothing like hedonism in a muddy graveyard to get you in the mood.

San Francisco-based trio Beats Antique pull from old world influences for their own brand of electronic and world roots hybrid, especially Middle Eastern and Eastern European. They immerse audiences in music and culture, with a dedicated belly dancer to turn their live performances into vivid, primal performance art.

Tickets are available for one, two, and full three day rates, and of course there are camping packages. When you aren’t checking out music you can spend the days taking in the art installations, getting in some yoga time, and Friday night there’s a costume contest and parade. No doubt that is a spectacle.

West London’s The Vaccines are one of the hardest new bands to peg at times.  On first listen, they’ve totally got one of those late ‘50s, early ‘60s pop revivalist things going, except with a little more reverb and maybe a pinch more aggression.  But if you listen a bit more closely, the lines begin to blur.  They’re clearly on their way to becoming (or maybe they’ve already become) something far more interesting than just another pop band.

Formed in 2010, the band consists of four members: guitarist/vocalist Justin Young, bassist Arni Hjorvar, guitarist Freddie Cowan (younger brother of Tom Cowan from The Horrrors) and drummer Peter Robertson.  The fresh-faced quarter uploaded a demo of the single “If You Wanna” to YouTube in August 2010, and the track immediately exploded.  One UK tour, a Jools Holland performance and several starry-eyed reviews later, the band released their debut album What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? to widespread praise and criticism in March 2011.

Even when the The Vaccines’s music was littler more than whisper rumbling through the blogosphere, they had an ability passionately divide the British press.  Some loved them (NME called them “The Return of the Great British Guitar Band”), while others hated their guts, as most critics inevitably will when any baby band fresh off the blogosphere seems over-hyped (it’s a habit the industry is making no effort to break).

A star-stuck mix between 50s classic rock n’ roll, 1980s American hardcore, post-punk and so much more owing equally to The Ramones, Jesus and Mary Chain and The Strokes, What Did You Expect From the Vaccines? entered the UK Album Chart at #4 and went on to become the bestselling debut of 2011 in their native land.  The band released six singles from the album.

The Vaccines music has all the makings of great pop music; simple, catchy, easy to clap along with, but there’s a little something more that’s enough to send a shrill shiver down your spine. The album is heavy laden with reverb and echo, a cavernous mine of punk rock crescendos with the sparkling diamonds of synth pop strewn about the cave walls.  Justin Young’s baritone bark bites from the beyond while the drums pound guitars chime.  It’s 21^st century guitar pop for the kids who like to stay out late and wake up to a few bad decisions.

The Vaccines will be appearing at Coachella on Saturday April 14 and Saturday April 21.  For more information visit www.thevaccines.co.uk.

Over the past week, we’ve showcased the best new bands to check out at Coachella. Instead of our usual Artist of the Week, we’ve decided to mix it up a bit in honor of one of the biggest festivals in the world. With the festival rapidly approaching (this weekend and next to be exact), here are some highlights from our running series. Stay tuned, over the next week, there will be more pieces to come.

tUnE-yArDs: Merrill Garbus is both powerful and adorable, relatable and admirable. In her songs, she finds a way to keep it real while being strong and encouraging. Watching her live looping and seeing exactly how she creates these innovative musical puzzles is part of the fun, but there’s just something in her delivery of it all that communicates a genuine, pure joy to be doing what she’s doing. She continuously exchanges glances of glee with bassist Nate Brenner, and the two of them are so in sync it’s enviable.

This is music perfectly conducive to the essential rock concert experience: being surrounded by strangers, but when you look at the person next to you, you have this shared understanding that you are having the same kick ass experience.  – Kelly Knapp

Dawes: When I see Dawes on a list of new bands to check out, I chuckle and have to remind myself that they haven't been a band for all that long, even if they seem like they've been part of my life for years. I remember listening to their debut album, North Hills, on vinyl with a couple friends a few days after I had seem them live for the first time at Lincoln Hall in Chicago. Seeing them perform in all different sorts of venues, I can say that the band excels in any surrounding and will undoubtedly command attention at this festival.

Watching them perform at Lollapalooza and witnessing fellow concert-goers stop in their tracks and instantly become fans is a great indicator of what is sure to be just as amazing performances to come at this years Coachella. I am deeply jealous of anyone that gets to see them at this amazing venue in all their rocking glory. – Daniela Montelongo

Miike Snow: Miike Snow may have fooled you the way they fooled me when I first laid my ears on that catchy electro-pop number Animal back in 2009. I was hooked that very first time. The song’s choruses trance my brain the way their mysterious identity seemed to appeal to me and perhaps others too. It was only after non-stop rotation of their eponymous debut album and a chance to see the band live for the first time in 2010 that made me realize this one fact about Miike Snow has been quite misleading on a first impression basis: Miike Snow is not a person.

If you’re heading to the festival on either weekend, Miike Snow will be performing on 14th and 21st of April (that is on a Saturday) alongside Radiohead, Bon Iver, St. Vincent, just to name a few.Expect an intricate stage set up, a dance party where you’ll be singing along to their catchy numbers (and do cross your fingers for them to play a number or two from the debut. – Nazirah Ashari

Childish Gambino: "Childish Gambino" is a silly name created by a Wu-Tang Clan name generator website. The name itself speaks to Glover's seemingly cavalier approach to the rap game while simultaneously belying the underlying efforts and serious work that he’s been putting in to becoming a solid hip-hop artist. Childish Gambino doesn't really make pop music although his flow is peppered with more pop culture references than a SportsCenter marathon. He makes rap music. His songs aren't radio friendly. They don't have super-catchy hooks. Many don't even have hooks at all. They just have verse after verse of Glover's wit, bite and some very well founded swagger. – Adam Ward

Gotye: If you have not heard “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye, you must live under a rock. It’s the only explanation, really, considering that track transcends genres, making it accessible to alternative rock, pop, and even hip-hop radio stations, which have all given it monstrous airtime. The Australian-based indie outfit has been one of the most talked about new bands this year.

Although it was singer Wouter De Backer’s determination that initially sparked his success, it is his unique brand of experimental yet accessible atmospheric indie rock that propelled it and his breathtaking live show (with a complete band) that will cause it to continue growing. I was lucky enough to attend Gotye’s American television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in February of this year and can say, without a doubt, his performance is a must see at Coachella. – Katrina Nattress

HEADLINE TOUR KICKS OFF MAY 4, INCLUDES STOP AT BLED FEST

Findlay, OH post hardcore act Before Their Eyes had an impressive debut week with Redemption, their first album since 2010’s Untouchable (Rise Records). The new LP which was released  March 27, landed at #29 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart, as well as at #10 on the Alternative New Artists chart, #38 on Hard Rock and #82 on in the Independent Record Label Album chart.

The debut numbers are all the more impressive considering the act had taken some time off to refocus the band’s vision and to write the best record they could.

Now signed to InVogue Records, the indie label owned and operated by front man Nick Moore, Before Their Eyes will soon embark on the headlining Redemption Tour, with label mates Legacy and Belle Histoire lending support. The trek kicks off May 4 in Painesville, OH.

Before Their Eyes was also recently added to the lineup for Bledfest on May 26 in Howell, MIwhere they will join such acts as The Early November, The Wonder Years, The Swellers and more.

Here is the band's  recently debuted music video for the track “Lies”,

Tour Dates:

w/ Legacy & Belle Histoire

www.facebook.com/beforetheireyesband

www.invoguerecords.com

Somewhere in North Hollywood right now, there is a failed actor in his 50s wearing loose-fitting pants, shoes only available at Samuel French, and a faded salmon tank top. He's standing in front of a group of hapless "actors" who have foolishly signed up for his class, because "it was a good deal," and "Well, you gotta be in class."

At some point between his incredibly affected monologues and "industry advice" he will undoubtedly say something like, "to make it in this industry you've got to be a Triple Threat!" He'll then strike poses to accentuate each threat–gross. The term triple threat has been around as long as bad acting teachers and typically means, acting, singing & dancing–three skills every true "actor" should possess, because these are the tools of trade. But maybe this term is a bit outdated.

Perhaps what he should really be telling these attractive waiters is, to make it in this industry, you've got to be a Donald Glover. The actor known musically as Childish Gambino is freakishly (and geekishly) multi-talented. He wrote for 30 Rock right out of college and stayed with the show for two of its Emmy-winning seasons. He's a hilarious as Troy Barnes on NBC's Community and when he takes to the stage as Childish Gambino, he doesn't come across as a comedian doing a hip-hop comedy act, or an actor giving rapping a shot. He comes across as a sick emcee with solid production, a ferocious cadence and enough clever wordplay to make even the most seasoned hip-hop snobs at least pay attention.

"Childish Gambino" is a silly name created by a Wu-Tang Clan name generator website. The name itself speaks to Glover's seemingly cavalier approach to the rap game while simultaneously belying the underlying efforts and serious work that he’s been putting in to becoming a solid hip-hop artist.

Childish Gambino doesn't really make pop music although his flow is peppered with more pop culture references than a SportsCenter marathon. He makes rap music. His songs aren't radio friendly. They don't have super-catchy hooks. Many don't even have hooks at all. They just have verse after verse of Glover's wit, bite and some very well founded swagger.

The lack of commercial appeal in his music isn't unique in itself. After all, there are loads of underground rappers that don't pander to the masses. But typically when an actor, NBA player, or someone else who is already famous crosses over into music, they're doing it for more money and more fame. Glover seems to just be doing it because he loves rapping. Gambino comes across as a kid who grew up on hip-hop, and yet his flow seems far more influenced by current rappers than the dominant forces of the 80s & 90s. Lots of critics hear some Kanye and Lil' Wayne in his delivery, but those aren't a bad pair to channel into your work.

While Gambino will never catapult to the level of those two, at least in the rap world, he's still a heavy weight talent and his show deserves your eyes and ears. He even dances a little bit too–truly a triple threat.

You can catch Childish Gambino on both Saturdays of Coachella.

I don’t know about anybody else, but I never really thought “beach and music destination” when I thought of Gulf Shores, Alabama. As the name of the city implies, it’s on the gulf, where it’s highly unlikely you’ll ever get a decent wave, but if there is anything this tiny stretch of 'Bama sandwiched between Florida and Mississippi might be good for, hanging out would definitely be it. Hangout Festival 2012 will run from May 18-20^th, and while the surf may let surfers down, a glance at the lineup for this third installment of the fest suggests that the music end of the tagline should hold up better. Something noticeable about the lineup in general is that the festival environment may have that Big Kahuna beach feel, but make no mistake about it - this is the south. As most of the bands on the bill are based in the southern region, that culture will be strong and proud.

A few notables to catch:

Alabama Shakes – this band has blown up exponentially the past year or so, but it makes perfect sense they should play this festival. Whether you think they deserve all the hype or think it’s just that, there’s no denying their live show will make you move and feel.

Gary Clark Jr. -  Another artist that is putting that classic soul back into rock and roll.

Heartless Bastards – “…may be the meanest-sounding, female-fronted dirty blues band in America.” Singer Erika Wennerstrom definitely sounds like someone you’d rather have on your side.

Givers – this Lafayette, Louisiana-based quintet is just bursting with good vibes, and are one of those bands that will have everyone dancing and hugging at their shows.

Dr. Dog – Northerners who know how to bring the good vibes, this Philly band really embraces the energy of making live music as much as possible, which is one of the best qualities any band can have.

Oh, and there’s something about THE FLAMING LIPS PERFORMING DARK SIDE OF THE MOON. Epic.

All kinds of ticket packages are currently on sale, including the kickoff party on May 17^th, which will feature 10 good ol’ southern style bands. Friday tickets will also go on sale for morning yoga! This always sounds like a great idea in theory, but it also makes one wonder who that super festival goer is who can stay out all night and then hold their proud warrior pose with even breath at the break of dawn. A big Namaste to those who can pull that off.

When I see Dawes on a list of new bands to check out, I chuckle and have to remind myself that they haven't been a band for all that long, even if they seem like they've been part of my life for years. I remember listening to their debut album, North Hills, on vinyl with a couple friends a few days after I had seem them live for the first time at Lincoln Hall in Chicago.

Not being one to listen to music quietly, the noise drew the attention of our downstairs neighbor who barged upstairs, not in anger, but rather demanding to know who this band was and why we hadn't ever played the record earlier. Their second album, Nothing is Wrong, has only solidified their standing in my constantly evolving catalog of favorite bands to listen to.

Dawes is scheduled to play both Fridays of this year's double weekend Coachella extravaganza and should not be missed. At this point, I have lost track of how many times I’ve seen the Los Angeles-based rockers live, but there has yet been a show where I haven’t left disappointed These performers leave every ounce of themselves on the stage. If there’s ever doubt for a second that the band doesn’t give each performance 100 percent, take a look at either Taylor or Griffin Goldsmith  face while they’re on-stage and you’ll surely see that you were greatly mistaken. Watching them live is hypnotizing and invigorating, they are a perfect addition to any music festival.

Seeing them perform in all different sorts of venues, I can say that the band excels in any surrounding and will undoubtedly command attention at this festival. Watching them perform at Lollapalooza and witnessing fellow concert-goers stop in their tracks and instantly become fans is a great indicator of what is sure to be just as amazing performances to come at this years Coachella. I am deeply jealous of anyone that gets to see them at this amazing venue in all their rocking glory.

2011 was the year Anthony Gonzalez of M83 found himself.  Or, better yet, the world finally found M83.  The French musician’s ambitious double album, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming wasn’t a game-changer.  It didn’t redefine sonic boundaries or place indie-synth pop in some new levels of artistic proportion – it was just a really fucking good album.  It took the best parts of M83 past – silky, swirling textures, hands-to-the-sky bombast – and M83 present – dance rhythms, big hooks and a wide-eyed teenage wonder – and created the album we always knew was possible, but just couldn’t hear right away,

Formed in 2001 by Gonzalez and Nicholas Fromageau, the duo released two albums of shoe-gaze indebted material, M83 and Dead Cities, Red Seas, and Lost Ghosts, before Fromageau left the group and Gonzalez continued solo, retaining the moniker M83.  Since Fromageau’s departure, M83 has featured a steady line-up consisting of Gonzalez, his younger brother Yann Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby and Loic Maurin, however the older Gonzalez is consistently referred to as the leader of the group.

M83’s fifth album, 2005’s Saturdays = Youth, witnessed a sharp change in direction for the band.  The album steered the group further from shoegaze and ambience towards a more dance and synth-pop inspired direction.  The album, drawing inspiration from 80s pop and John Hughes films, emphasized a simple and far more focused approach to songwriting.   Tracks such as “Kim and Jessie” and “Graveyard Girl,” despite the big guitars, were deeply intimate conversations with fresh-faced innocent teens.  The central themes of the album – adolescence, death and romance – were wrapped in an airy coat of pop song production and white noise atop four-to-the-floor dance beats, a prom soundtrack for the 21^st century Brat Pack.

The wide-eyed innocence and wayfaring nostalgia of Saturdays = Youth struck a chord with fans and critics.  The album was M83’s most successful and they embarked on tours supporting commercially acclaimed acts such as The Killers, Depeche Mode and Kings of Leon.  It was during these tours that Gonzalez claims he began to gather inspiration for Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming.

Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming was inspired by a new rush of life Gonzalez felt, touring the U.S. and ultimately moving to California.  “Having spent 29 years of my life in France, I moved to California a year and a half before the making of this album and I was excited and inspired by so many different things,” he says, “…by the landscape, by the way of life, by live shows, by movies, by the road trips I took alone... I was feeling alive again and this is, I feel, something that you can hear on the album”

The album found the delicate balance between synth-pop, songcraft and ambiance necessary to wow critics and wriggle into fans’ collective acceptance.  Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming is to date M83’s most critically and commercially successful album.  A big album full of big emotions, it captures everything that fans loved about M83: innocence, joy, beauty, wonder, excitement and, probably most importantly, rhythm.

M83 will perform at Coachella on Friday, April 13 and Friday April 20.  For more information, visit IloveM83.com (subtle, no?)

It’s less than two weeks to Coachella, and you’ve probably already scoped out exactly what new and veteran bands you want to catch at the fest. There definitely are plenty to choose from. Coachella is like awesome music heaven surrounded by palm trees any way you go about it, but there are some new bands that absolutely should not be missed. One of these bands is tUnE-yArDs. Seriously, their NYC performance last summer is still one of the most magical shows I can remember seeing. I really must insist you get your mind blown.

Merrill Garbus is both powerful and adorable, relatable and admirable. In her songs, she finds a way to keep it real while being strong and encouraging. Watching her live looping and seeing exactly how she creates these innovative musical puzzles is part of the fun, but there’s just something in her delivery of it all that communicates a genuine, pure joy to be doing what she’s doing. She continuously exchanges glances of glee with bassist Nate Brenner, and the two of them are so in sync it’s enviable.

Their album W H O K I L L was also included in our top albums of the year 2011series, for being one of the most innovative, intelligent, and inspiring albums of last year. For as good as the album is, the live show is at least 10 times better. With music that’s this fresh, fun, and clever, there’s no better way to experience all that than in an outdoor oasis of sound waves, with everyone around you singing the words with faces and hands pointed toward the sky. This is music perfectly conducive to the essential rock concert experience: being surrounded by strangers, but when you look at the person next to you, you have this shared understanding that you are having the same kick ass experience.

tUnE-yArDs will be playing both Saturdays of the festival, exact time still to be determined. Check back on the official Coachella website for updates, and get your up to the minute news on Coachella’s Twitter. tUnE-yArDs will also be playing dates in the area between Coachella weekends, so you have the chance to catch them in a more controlled setting as well. All dates are on tune-yards.com. Have to say, though, this is a band that can hold the attention of thousands of people, and no matter where you are in the crowd, Merrill is talking to you, yes you.