The Kooks Announce December US Tour Dates

Fresh out of the studio recording their sophomore album with ‘Inside In / Inside Out’ producer Tony Hoffer (Beck, Air, Belle & Sebastian) in Ray Davies’ legendary Konk Studios in London, The Kooks venture stateside this December to deck the halls.



Dec. 6th - The End’s Deck the Hall Ball – Seattle, WA
Dec. 9th – WRLT Nashville Sunday Night Concert Series – Nashville, TN
Dec. 11th – WTTS Rock to Read Xmas – Indianapolis, IN
Dec. 12th – WXRT VIP Private Show – Chicago, IL
Dec. 14th – KBCO Holiday Concert Series – Boulder, CO
Dec. 15th – KBZT’s Holiday Hootenanny – San Diego, CA
Dec. 16th – Alice in Wonderland - San Francisco, CA



Ah yes the Kooks, that lil brit band has decided to come state side to what seems more like a US radio Christmas show tour. But hey, they're coming to our town, San Diego. Better yet they're playing at the FM 94.9 Holiday Hootenanny with a totally to die for line up including Queens of the Stone Age, The Kooks (duh), local boys Pinback and Louis XIV, Mute Math and Rouge Wave. It'll be an awsome show, I gaurentee it. Tickets go on sale Friday November 15th, go figure a month before the show, but with a line up like this they're most likely run out as quick as the Inde Jam.


Back to The Kooks however, they're a really good lil brit band. One of the few that keep they're accents while singing, go figure. They're debut US album, "Inside in/ Inside out," had done well, and everything on the album is really catch. So catch them on the Holiday Hootenanny, word is they'll be back in the studio for a 2008 release. Thanks to Johhy Kaps for the release.

Moving Units- Hexes for Exes

In a nut shell I’d have to say that Moving Unit’s latest work, “Hexes for Exes,” must be a scenester’s ultimate break up album. The rock infused electro-pop fuzzy melodic sound mixed with cynical anti-relationship and social satire lyrics is really genius. With song titles such as Paper Hearts, The Kids from Orange County, Pick up the Phone, Wrong Again….well you get the picture.

Formed in 2001 with an EP and LP under they’re belt Hexes for Exes is most definitely part of that “Rock Infused” thing I was talking about. But don’t get me wrong there’s rock in there. Actually listening to the album, no two songs really sound alike. It’s like a mish-mash of The Editors, Strokes and Buddy Akai, which is actually pulled off quite well. The lyrics I would have to say are just as clinically depressing as those from She Wants Revenge. But actually want to make you move. Picking on may social and cultural aspects of “the scene” and giving at least one single for all you kiddles to enjoy. Especially those who frequent the Beauty Bar.

Blake (guitar), Johan (bass), Chris (drums), and they’re latest member Victor (guitar) have really defined progressive punk for the new age. And having already toured with such bands as Hot Hot Heat, The Pixies, blur and opening for Nine Inch Nails and Smashing Pumpkins they’ve already managed to make a name for themselves and now signing on to Metropolis Records, debuting with Hexes, The band is ready to just explode. Expect Hexes for Exes to drop on October 9^th of this year. This is the type of album that gives you options. If you wanna dance, than dance to it, rock out to it, than rock out to it, make out to it, than make out to it. It’s everyone’s everything album.

Badly Drawn Boy- Born in the U.K.

Since debuting in 2002 with “Hour of Bewilderbeast” Damon Gough, a.k.a. Badly Drawn Boy has done nothing less than amaze during his entire musical career. Now with three albums and a full soundtrack under his belt Damon has returned with “Born in the U.K.” which has to be considered his best work yet. Starting out on Indie U.K. record label XL Recordings than forming Twisted Nerve Records, with Andy Votel, which carried him through most of his career Damon now finds himself on big time U.K. label EMI and astralwerks for the U.S.

A proverbial “one-man-band” in the studio, and on stage, Damon is known for playing a variety of instruments including the guitar and piano. His whimsical style of writing and playing draws directly from his past and present experience. Damon, being the very personal guy that he is, draws influences such as “Have You Fed the Fish” drew from his small, but growing, celebrity status, and drops a few names in the album. And “One Plus One Is One” relates to the death a close friend and the loss of his grandfather during WWII. Now with “Born in the U.K.” Damon comes back home, portraying life and growing up in, well, the U.K.

If you’re a fan of Badly Drawn Boy, and happen to have the majority of his albums, you’ll notice the subtle change through the years. The changes of a true maturing artist. This is really how a musician should develop over the years. Born of the U.K. brings a more “human” aspect to his music and really brings back a lost art of music. Storytelling. Plain and simple storytelling, reminiscent of the 60s and 70s with that warm full sound. The album is simply epic and classic Badly Drawn Boy. And if you listen closely to a few couple tracks you’ll probably figure out that Damon is a Bruce Springsteen fan.

Despite the somewhat poor critical reviews and low acceptance in the U.S. Badly Drawn Boy still flourishes as a cult favorite. Really he is one of those artists where you have to start from square one to “get” his music. But for what it is, it is nothing short of amazing. So if you’re an old fan you’ll probably have “Born in the U.K.” already. If you’re a new listener give him a try, get his album, listen to I a few times and it’s bound to grow on you. Damon is truly the definition of an artist.

DJ Lumis- Hypothetical Questions and Rhetorical Conversations

Ah we love electronic fuck. We really do. Local boy DJ Lumis, who’s real name we obviously don’t know cause that’s a DJ thing I guess sent us his latest solo cut, “Hypothetical Questions and Rhetorical Conversations.” That’s a mouthful. But as the blend of hip-hop and down tempo DJing blends closer and closer together you get guys like Lumis. Cutting and mixing repetitive samples with mellow, melodic beats with an old school touch here and there. So really he’s not just a scratchier like a lot of DJ’s who sit behind their turntables and ride the vinyl. But out there behind the mixing console and keyboard cutting it up.

The man is a busy man as well. Having toured with such acts as the Meg Lee Chin Experience and finding residencies at such clubs as The Gig on Melrose and The Room in LA, Lumis is also working two other projects known as Illadapted and Shotgun Radio, who have both turned out albums.

As a solo artist though I have to say that the man is a prodigy musical genius. Hypothetical Questions and Rhetorical Conversations is a 15 track album with flawless mixing and comes with a really big chill factor. Being solo he’s played a number of the notable venues, The Roxy, The Knitting Factory, House of Blues, Zen Sushi to name a few. He’s also move to production and promotions, starting his website In Life we Spin, where he provides a “one stop shop” for recording, productions, DJ services and promotions for new talent. Apparently there’s also been talk of a clothing line.

Lumis is definitely running on all 8 cylinders and there just seems to be no stopping the man. Constantly gigging every other day of the month as a solo act and with his other two projects he’s really ready to explode to the next level.