Wild Light Touring with Doves

They are fresh off the road from an opening stint with The Killers, and now the New England boys in Wild Light continue to stay busy as they hit the road with UK rockers Doves. Starting this weekend in California, the band will weave their way around the US, ending up with a homecoming show of sorts when the set of dates ends at the House of Blues here in Boston on June 7th.

Wild Doves / Doves Light
5/15 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
5/16 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
5/18 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
5/20 Seattle, WA Crocodile Café
5/21 Vancouver, CAN Commodore Ballroom
5/22 Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR
5/26 Denver, CO Gothic Theatre
5/28 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theatre
5/29 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre
5/30 Detroit, MI Majestic Theatre
6/01 Toronto, CAN Kool Haus
6/02 Montreal, QUE Le National
6/04 New York, NY Terminal 5
6/05 Philadelphia, PA The Trocadero
6/06 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
6/07 Boston, MA House of Blues

Friday Video Round-Up

So over the last week there have been some music videos that have come to my attention and I just wanted you to see all of them. Rather than just write separate posts I just thought I'd round them all up in to one awesome, videotastic post. Maybe this will be yet another recurring feature on the blog, though My Formative Years has just about run its course since I think all the albums on the mental/word doc list have been talked about. Or have they . . . ?

First up, we have what I think is the first official video from The Rosebuds. I'm a huge fan, yes. Kelly Rosebud's Facebook profile picture is one I took of her at the Middle East in January. I about fainted when I saw that. I kid you not. Ok, I didn't really faint, but I felt like I was five. ANYWAY - I don't think Kelly & Ivan ever made a music video, but now they have for the haunting brooder "Life Like" - I think it's like equal parts Bambi and The Most Dangerous Game or something.



Secondly, another first. That Wild Light record Adult Nights hasn't bored me yet - every time I put in another, I'm finding another song to enjoy. Here's the simplistic black & white video for the catchy first single "California On My Mind". I guess that girl is supposed to be Marilyn Monroe. I see her, think it's Marilyn Monroe, but pronounce it Marelynn Munrow like Jermaine's Australian girlfriend on Flight of the Conchords.



And finally, a first sort of, as in first video in, oh, I'd say 13 years. It's the clip for "Aspartame" from the newly reformed Superdrag. Their new album, and first with the original line-up since the MFY staple Head Trip In Every Key is called Industry Giants and will be in stores this Tuesday. Gone from this video are lighting cigarettes with dollar bills and singing songs in diner booths. Inserted are things blowing up and the guys dressed all in white and playing the shadows at times. If you're going to SXSW next week, make sure to catch one of their upteen sets they'll be playing - find out all the details of said sets on their MySpace.

Band to Watch: Wild Light

Wild Light features a repertoire that includes childhood friendships, high school homemade albums on cassette tapes, and early work with Win Butler of Arcade Fire. Now their debut album, Adult Nights, comes out March 3rd with producer Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Beck, Guided By Voices) on board.

Adult Nights comes out after busy touring with the likes of LCD Soundsystem, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Blonde Redhead, and MGMT at venues including the Hollywood Bowl. The album is equally as successful as their live sets have been. Although not as bold as some of the other bands on StarTime International, their music glows and echoes the work of talented musicians and self-conscious ideas of both childhood and growing older.

Even with your ears underwater while taking a bath and all the lyrics being played are unintelligible and fuzzy, the message of their music song still gets across. Their music is full of tambourines, occasional piano interludes, electric fibers, and post-college blues and aspirations. The New Hampshire band plays like an unavoidable zeitgeist, with textures and moods still emotionally-tangible through resonating and foggy instrumentals.

Wild Light readies Adult Nights

Easily one of my favorite bands that I was introduced to at CMJ this year was the New Hampshire based collective, Wild Light. It all started as bands usually go - four childhood friends play instruments, start a band, play shows, make music, etc. They then became the it band of CMJ's and SXSW's of the past, were hand picked by some Arcade Fire band to share the stage with them, and have now been picked up by the newly rejuvenated StarTime International to release their full length debut, Adult Nights, on March 3rd.

The 13-track set were written by all four members of the band, who made the album with legendary producer Rob Schnapf. The result is a collection of songs blending Americana pop, melded together by harmonies and intricate playing.

Adult Nights:
1. California On My Mind
2. New Hampshire
3. Canyon City
4. Surf Generation
5. Call Home
6. Heart Attack
7. Future Homes
8. The Party (Oh, My God!)
9. My Father Was A Horse
10. Lawless River
11. New Year's Eve
12. (Surfer's Reprise)
13. Red House

Stream: Various Tracks [here]