It’s hard to believe an act like Givers is still under the radar. While still a young band, they’ve already managed to pack venues in their home state of Louisiana, and land a tour opening for indie darlings, The Dirty Projectors. Givers’ affinity for auxiliary percussion, nontraditional instruments, and a natural tendency to play their asses off, help the band create bouncing, danceable, harmony-laden world-pop.
At their core, the band’s rhythmic focus and flawless guitar interplay brings to mind the sunny, fun-loving cousin of Battles, while their big harmonies and tasteful electronics give bands like Ra Ra Riot and Discovery runs for their money.
Givers won’t remain a secret for long, Having recently recorded a new full length, and with a whole slew of tour dates ahead of them, the band is due their spotlight.
Check out Givers playing a live version of “Saw You First” from their EP, Givers EP.
I’m drawing a blank on who suggested this band to me, but whoever you are, thank you. The Winter Sounds, from South Carolina, feel new to me. I mean, I know they’re not treading entirely original ground, but they pull together my favorite elements of other bands into a cohesive one-stop-orchestral-indie-pop-shop. They have the harmonies of Fleet Foxes, the soaring melodies of The Gloria Record, and the aural aesthetic of Of Montreal’s more poppy moments but without all that obnoxious shock-and-awe, avant-garde shit. EDIT: I just got the new record from the band, and add a heavy dose of The Killer’s style pop/rock to those references and you’ve got a pretty accurate description!
But the thing I think I like most about The Winter Sounds is their work ethic. The band averages 150-200 shows a year, and they do it all without a booking agent or label. I appreciate that kind of work ethic because it reminds me of me about 5 years ago. It’s a nomadic lifestyle and it’s really fucking hard to maintain. So props to you, The Winter Sounds, I wish there were more bands like you. Keep fighting the good fight!
Check out The Winter Sounds doing a bitchin’ live cover of Toto - Africa, below.
MINOR THREAT - You Betrayed Me By Growing Up (LIVE)
And we’re back folks! Hope you all enjoyed your holidays. While we were on break, I came across this rare, previously unreleased Minor Threat song, and I thought it would be great to share with all of you.
While Minor Threat isn’t the type of music I generally cover here, they are near and dear to my heart as one of the first hardcore bands I ever laid ears on. The members’ subsequent work in Fugazi and Bad Religion further shaped my young, musical mind, and as such, I feel a debt of gratitude to these guys.
This song is called, “You Betrayed Me By Growing Up,” and it was recorded at Woodlawn High School in Arlington, VA back in 1982. The quality isn’t the best, nor is the mix, but this is the only version that exists.
EDIT: I’ve been notified that “You Betrayed Me By Growing Up” was originally discovered by the good people at More Than A Witness, and I am happy to give them the credit for originally sharing this. Check out them out and find a whole bunch of rad hardcore bootlegs: More Than A Witness.
I used to have an agenda with this blog, but things change. I'm just a dude that spent a decade touring in a semi-successful band, and I know a lot about music and the industry. I write about what I love, what inspires me, or anything that other people and musicians might find useful. My name is Alex.
I love music, traveling, and all things culinary. And I want to meet you.
Get in touch: alexburton5000@gmail.com
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