We Have Band- Self Titled EP

We Have Band. Sounds more like a statement then a band name, yeah? Well its a band, straight out of foggy London town no less, and you know how we love our UK invaders. There seems to be a growth industry across the pond that the kids over there are just eating up. The industry would be electo-pop. Its spreading on a rash and I cant place my figure if it started here and spread there or vice versa. Seems like a sound that developed more and more after that brief 90s hipster phase we all remember all but, oh I dont know, 5 years ago? But getting beyond that and going back to this fantastic lil trio.

Darren, Thomas and Dede make up the band. All three sing. All three play samplers. Thomas plays guitar, Darren plays drums and Dede plays percussion. Its really crazy. The four track self titled EP, due to be released in mid September, is just pure energy and fun and the fourth track is actually a stellar cover of Pet Shop Boys West End Girls. The band has more than these four tracks though; you can snoop around on their website and myspace and see that. Its also where youll find the video to their single You Came Out, which is a lovely video, but a little bit creepy at the same time. Since their formation a little over a year ago We Have Band has been growing by leaps and bounds over across the pond and the flood gates are about to open over here in the states. Heavy touring, local scene penetration, festival attention such as SXSW and just an overall great sound for the genre has propelled them this far without the aid of a label behind them. Yes kids its one thing to gain fame through an indie label for your own label, but to do what these guys are doing without any signed label is nothing but an accomplishment. Of course we can only speculate that after the EP is dropped in the states that they wont immediately be eaten up by a label.

The sound is pretty pure and simple; it follows the usual Electro-pop get up. Its catchy, its something you can dance too and its fun to watch live. Youre sure to get into it and its something that youll hear in your local bar, just a matter of time. This is the type of stuff that DJs love to spin and mix. You can check out more of the band at www.wehaveband.com and of course the ever present myself, www.myspace.com/wehaveband, where youll find the Remix done for Bloc Partys Intimacy Remixed, as well as live show video that doesnt disappoint. We cant wait for them to cross the pond and branch out more here in the states.

Review by: Will Overbaugh

Builder and the Butchers- Salvation is a Deep Dark Well

Finally. Alaska has produced something other than cold air and pregnant governors teen daughters. Well sort of. The boys that collectively call themselves, the Builders and the Butchers, originated in Alaska but soon enough moved from the extreme cold to the more tolerable cold of Portland, Oregon, something a tad more acceptable. So I guess we cant give that far off tundra all the credit to producing one of the most unique bands that Ive ever come upon.

Brandon, Ryan, Harvey, Alex and Ray comprise the band, dont ask me to remember who plays what, its hard enough to pinpoint what kind of band they are and the type of music they actually play. Its not rock, yet they do rock. Its not quite country, folk, bluegrass, gospel, or even general noise but its got a structure and its got a beat and it kind of makes you feel like a badass when youre listening to their latest album, Salvation is a Deep Dark Well. Its the kind of music you expect to hear on a 70s made badass western film. The songs actually drift you through a time where survive was dependent on how quick you can pull your gun. A place where sin runs ramped in a lawless land. Listening closely to the lyrics you can hear the stories of hard times, echoing with the sins of the father, the haunting of a desert town, vampire lakes (cause youve gotta have vampires in the old west), dirty priests and lawmen for hire and murder.

Musically these lyrics are accompanied by a melodic twangy mandolin, big acoustic guitars, loud horns, subtle strings, chiming piano and booming flat drums and percussion on anything that makes a sound. The sound of big rhythm and loose notes falling from nowhere mixed up, shook up and jumbled up, spewed out into a beautiful controlled chaos of a sound. At first listen I tended to think about Modest Mouse, I mean Washington, Oregon, same difference right? A lot of rain, mist, fog and woods, yeah? Its a similar concept to the latest that Modest Mouse has produced, that mix of randomness, melody and strange sounds all around. But then you listen more and more to the butchers and you realize theyve nailed down a sound of their own that is of that to rival Isaac and his crew.

Id have to say if youve never heard anything like the Builders and the Butchers, and I doubt you really have, its something of an acquired taste, but theyll grow on you to no end and you wont be able to stop listening to Salvation is a Deep Dark Well. Something you wouldnt normally be blasting out of your car stereo but you will. The band is currently on tour with a band called Illinois and just played a fantastic show at the Casbah. You can find out more about the Builders at thebuildersandthebutchers.com, or their myspace of course at myspace.com/thebuildersandthebutchers. Check them out and check out our exclusive video interview with them at the Casbah.

Review by Will Overbaugh

The Silent Comedy- Self Titled EP

Local Boys. Love them local boys. The Silent Comedy, recent winners at the San Diego Music Awards for best pop artist, is our This time around featured artist this time around. And rightfully so. Not just for the award they've won, we could honestly care less about SDMAs.

We've chosen them for showing us honest talent as a hard working group of guys. Musically these boys are pretty on top of their game. Its hard to mash together violins, mandolins, pianos, banjos, bass, guitars, drums and percussion and everything else theyve got and make it sound good and coherent. But they pull it off quite well. The bands current self titled EP is short, sweet and to the point with some ballets and rock out songs. But the thing you need to do is catch them life. Similar aesthetics to the Builders and the Butchers, the band is a corky throwback to the 1930s or so, coats, ties, vests, hats and..mustaches, all very authentic looking and overall just fantastic.

I personally love these hodge podge bands, the mix and match of sounds and instruments and noise to make the rhythm and rock. Again however they're EP just doesn't do them justice as to their live performances, at least at the moment, since the band is hard at work in the studio for their next full length album. Im sure the album will be fantastic and guess what? There is a way for you, the fans, to get involved in helping this fine group of guys.

If you havent heard of their campaign, Mustache Mayhem, look into it cause its a pretty spiff thing theyre doing. Its a simple concept. If you've got a wicked mustache take a picture of yourself, pay 10 to 200 quid and get on the cover of their new album. Its a great way to help these guys out in producing a rightfully good full length album and a fun way for their fans to get involved with the band. If you check out their website, http://www.thesilentcomedy.com, you can read all about it. So check them out, their cause and their live shows, definitely a local band which deserves your support.

Dirty Sweet- Of Monarchsand Beggers

Simply. The best. Of the best. Of any rock band in San Diego. Period. That is how we here at Latitude 32° shall introduce to you our This time around Featured Artist, Dirty Sweet, and with their critically acclaimed album, Of Monarchs and Beggars. And really, what did you expect from such a mix of great local talent coming together to produce this straight forward dirty rock blues powerhouse. Ryan Kootz (volcals), Nathan Beale (Guitar, Vocals), Chris Mendez-Vanacore (Drums, Vocals), Mark Murino (Guitar) and Christian Schinelli (bass) make up this fantastic group of musical talent. Some of these names you may of recognize if you know your local San Diego scene, such as Christian of the talented jazz band Pocket, Nathan Beale of Lady Dottie & The Diamonds, and Chris and Mark formally of Lovelight Shine. Put them in a studio and you get something so pure it simply monumental. At first listen you feel like is a band you've been listening for years. And possibly something that your mom or dad may have listened to during the 60s and 70s, its a feel good get down and dirty rock album from start to finish. And apparently its not their best work, even though it is absolutely fantastic. According to front man Ryan Kootz the band hand finished their second album but is holding out on us for good reason as they search for a label to help finalize and distribute the album. But if the single they've released, Marionette, along with the music video, which you can see on www.dirtysweet.com, is any indication of what's to come then it will not disappoint. We caught up with Ryan at the Elemental Experience Festival and got the skinny on what's going on with the band. Honestly there is a small San Diego curse when it comes to bands in our fine city. Just like our sports teams, well always make the playoffs but just cant seem to win the whole thing. With our music it seems you need to travel and move 2 hours north to break out of this town, but I've got a feeling that the boys in Dirty Sweet have what it takes to break that curse. Watch out for these guys, you cant miss them.

Passion Pit- Manners

Now when you think of the Boston music scene, what exactly comes to mind? I mean honestly I’ve no idea with the exception of the obvious, Boston and Dropkick Murphys. And this could all be the product of my own ignorance of the Boston area, but regardless we’ve come across a group that we really didn’t see coming out of there. Passion Pit. A band hailing out of Cambridge which formed a few years ago in late 2007 is this crazy little electro pop rock band which just blew me away. Two keyboards, a synth, bass player and drummer (Michael Angelakos, Ian Hultquist, Ayad Al Adlhamy , Jeff Apruzzese and Nate Donmoyer in the order above) make up the band. Kind of a weird mix of last names one would have to think. Together make pretty much the warmest and happiest electo sound you’ve ever heard to date. And isn’t that the point of a good electro-pop song anyways? Coming out of the gate with their EP, “Chunk of Change,” the band slowly but surely started to earn their merit in the musical community. Sleepyhead, one of the first singles to come out, was noticed and used in a Canadian PSP ad of all things, then featured on a variety of other media outlets such as MTV’s “What the Flip?” campaign, Pitchfork’s top 40 music videos of 2008 and then the BBC’s Sounds of 2009. And let me tell you, from what I’ve seen and heard, the Brits love them. Released through indie label, Frenchkiss Records, (harboring such artists as The Hold Steady, Les Savy Fac, Sean Na Na, The Dodos and others) “Manners,” the band’s first full length album, has steadily been growing in popularity since its debut in May 2009. Gaining attention to the point where the band now tours and opens for such acts as Death Cab for Cutie, Girl Talk, and DJD2 and are currently touring independently through the UK, Canada and have been booked for such festivals as Lollapalooza, Leeds and Redding festivals. The album is fantastic and takes you on a warm fuzzy cloud of noise where you find something new about the tracks after each listen. The single from the album, “The Reeling,” is accompanied by a creative music video and is worth the watch. All in all it will be hard not to miss this group as they grow and grow, especially when your favorite local bar DJ gets a hold of them. Perfect for the indie hipster scene, but that’s not always a bad thing. Keep listening and hopefully they’ll come round our fair city. Review by: Will Overbaugh

Stellastarr*- Civilized

It’s been about 4 years since the boys and girl of the New York based band, Stellastarr*, came out with a new album, but yeah, it was worth the wait. ‘Civilized,’ the title for the latest from the band, shows us that four years can do a lot with a band. If you compare to their previous release, ‘Harmonies for the Haunted’, you can feel and tell how the band has matured and settled into something of a new sound for them. It’s really is hard to put your finger on what sound that is, something forged out of choice and maybe slight physical challenges with lead Shawn Christensen, who was coping with throat problems making it necessary to change up his manner of singing. No more the long bellowing melodic sounds like something out of The Cure, The Editors, The Bravery, or any other slew of British mod-alt rock sounding groups. Although that isn’t totally gone, it’s less, and it shows in a good way, feeling like everyone involved had to find their own voice as well. Just comparing the singles, Sweet Troubled Soul from ‘Harmonies for the Haunted’, and Graffiti Eyes from ‘Civilized,’ there is a dramatic difference in style, a more cut up, poppy, dare I say….with the times sound? It’s…happy yet serious, melodic yet chaotic. But Graffiti Eyes is something of a standout within the album, which truly is an ecliptic mix of old sounds from their previous work with newer, louder, twangy, nue-aged riffs, electo dance like beats and of course a dash of straight up rock. Overall it’s a fast, catchy, driven up and down ride of an album. Something that, despite any problems the group might have had to overcome, must of had fun making and we’re sure will be fantastic live. I mean honestly, any band with a song called “zombie prom,” just has to be fun. Plus we get to hear more of Amanda’s ominous eerie yet strangely soothing voice. It’s literally one of those albums that the kids won’t know what to do with, bob their heads while standing about, or dance dance go crazy too. I feel the band can’t loose with this new direction. Its serious fun and also an accomplishment, having produced the album entirely on their own under their own record label, Bloated Wife Records (we’ll be sure to ask how that name came to be). The band is currently on tour and will be rolling through San Diego on July 30th at the one and only, Casbah. And we’ll be sure to be there as well. Otherwise, check the album out, this is a band you won’t be disappointed with and deserves a listen. Check them out at www.stellastarr.com and of course the myspace at www.myspace.com/stellastarr, where you can check out some of the latest tracks including the single “Graffiti Eyes.” Review by: Will Overbaugh

of Holiday Shores- “Columbus’d the Whim,”

The opening lines of Holiday Shore’s new album, “Columbus’d the Whim,” bring to mind a poor man’s Chris Martin with a tinge of King’s of Leon’s Caleb; soulful yet down to earth and bluesy. Talahasse natives Holiday Shores have created an album that is extremely listenable and jubilant. The first song, Reruns, is a standout track that starts inauspiciously then delves into clangy, quick drums, ukulele & tambourine and then trails off (as do many of the tracks) into slurred and seemingly heartfelt lyrics. From there, “Phones Don’t Fued” picks things up with a 50’s surfer style peppy beat and walking bass-line. The vocals sounds like they were recorded in a far-off, sun lit garage by the beach, while the drummer plugs away along with the discordant guitar licks. The lyrics are unintelligible at times, but the energy, pathos and overall creativity more than make up for this obscurity The creativity only spirals on from there, with “Dens” starting off with chords from an organ layered under another peppy drumbeat. The trippy, far off vocals combine with the instruments to evoke a sense of being on a trip to an outer space church. The album delves further into an update, bluesy beat with “Edge of our Lives,” a tune which you can’t help but bob your head and tap your feet to. Definitely an album that gets better with each listen, Columbus’d the Whim sounds like someone put Modest Mouse, the Pixies & Kings of Leon in a blender and then handed the results over to a bunch of surfer kids from North Florida. In a good way. This is the band’s debut LP and definitely deserves a good listen. You can check out more at their myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/holidayshoresmusic, featuring current tour dates as well. The album, “Columbus’d the Whim,” drops on August 4th on Twosyllable Records and currently have a new video out for their single, “Phones Don’t Feud,” which you can check out on the label website, http://twosyllablerecords.com. Review by: Vivien Treacy