John Reis' (Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes) newest project: The Night Marchers

When Drive Like Jehu disbanded, I was more than a little bummed...then came Hot Snakes and it was like "OK, I'm fine with no Drive Like Jehu if this is what John (Reis) is gonna give us!" Then Hot Snakes disbanded and goddamnit(!) I was bummed yet again! But it seems as though John Reis is constantly exploring new territory, so call me excited yet again when I heard about his latest project...The Night Marchers. Comprised of Reis, his former Hot Snakes' Gar Wood and Jason Kourkounis, and Tommy Kitsos of CPC Gangbangs, the Night Marchers will issue their full-length debut, See You in Magic, April 22 from Swami/Vagrant Records. You can check out some songs via their Myspace. There are a few tour dates currently, hopefully that will expand to include an Atlanta date (crossing my fingers!).


Tour Dates:
02-08 San Diego, CA - Pink Elephant
02-09 San Diego, CA - The Casbah
02-10 Long Beach, CA - Alex's Bar
02-11 Los Angeles, CA - All Star Lanes
03-12-16 Austin, TX - SXSW

VIDEO: MGMT "Time To Pretend"

THE WHIGS: New Album, Tour

The Athens, GA three-piece, The Whigs have just released their latest (and greatest) album "Mission Control" on which they've perfected the raucous rock-filled maelstrom that made me a fan in the first place. If you're in the Atlanta area please pick this baby up over at Criminal Records, if not you can point that mouse towards Insound.com.

The Whigs are playing two hometown CD release shows to kick off their US tour, one this Friday (1/25) over at The EARL in Atlanta, GA, and another on Saturday (1/26) at The 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA (you can pick up their new album at one of these shows as well).

TOUR DATES:
01-25-08: Atlanta, GA - CD RELEASE SHOW @ The Earl w/ Wax Fang, Sammies
01-26-08: Athens, GA - CD RELEASE SHOW @ The 40 Watt w/ Ginger Envelope
01-30-08: Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 w/ the Sammies and Bull City
01-31-08: Baltimore, MD - 8 x 10 w/ Spinto Band and Plants and Animals
02-01-08: Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Spinto Band and Plants and Animals
02-02-08: Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's w/ Spinto Band & Plants and Animals
02-04-08: Buffalo, NY - The Mohawk w/ Handsome Jack and Johnny Nobody
02-05-08: Toronto, ON - The Horseshoe (small room)
02-06-08: Pontiac, MI - Crofoot – at Pike Room w/ Tulsa
02-07-08: Cincinnati, OH.- Madhatter w/ Tulsa
02-08-08: Cleveland, OH.- The Grog Shop w/ Tulsa
02-09-08: Chicago, Ill.- Schubas w/ Tulsa
02-12-08: Minneapolis, MN - The Varsity w/ Tulsa and Wild Sweet Orange
02-13-08: Madison, WI - Majestic w/ Wild Sweet Orange and Midwest Beat
02-14-08: St. Louis, MO - Creepy Crawl w/ Tulsa and Wax Fang
02-15-08: Indianapolis, IN - Birdy's w/ Tulsa and Wax Fang
02-16-08: Milwaukee, WI - Rave Bar w/ Tulsa and Wax Fang
02-22-08: Fayetteville, AR -Majestic
02-23-08: Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge w/ Spinto Band
02-26-08: Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle w/ Spinto Band and The Sammies
02-27-08: Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre w/ Spinto Band
02-28-08: Charlottesville, VA - TBA w/ Spinto Band
03-01-08: Lexington, KY - The Dame w/ Wax Fange and the Spinto Band
03-03-08: Lawrence, KS - Granada w/ The Spinto Band
03-04-08: Omaha, NE - Waiting Room w/ Spinto Band
03-06-08: Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge w/ Spinto Band
03-07-08: Colorado Springs, CO - Black Sheep w/ The Spinto Band
03-09-08: Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad w/ Spinto Band
03-11-08: San Antonio, TX -The Rock Bottom w/ Spinto Band
03-13-08: Austin, TX. - SXSW - Austin Music Hall supporting My Morning Jacket and Yo La Tengo
03-14-08: Austin, TX. - SXSW
03-15-08: Austin, TX. - SXSW

[MP3] The Whigs - Like a Vibration from "Mission Control" (via Box.net)
[MP3] The Whigs - Technology from "Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip" (via Box.net)

The Whigs - website | Myspace

BLITZEN TRAPPER: Tour dates

Experimental folky/southern rockers by-way-of-Portland, Blitzen Trapper, will be making their way back through the US starting on 2/22 in Seattle, WA. And for those lucky Atlanta natives, they will be playing The Drunken Unicorn on 3/20.

TOUR DATES:
02-22 Seattle, WA - University of Washington #
02-28 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill *
02-29 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour *!
03-01 San Diego, CA - Casbah *
03-02 Phoenix, AZ - Modified *
03-04 Denton, TX - Hailey's *
03-05 Houston, TX - Walter's on Washington *
03-06 Hattiesburg, MS - Thirsty Hippo %
03-07 Tallahassee, FL - The Beta Bar *
03-08 Everglades National Park, FL - Langerado Festival
03-09 Jacksonville, FL - The Eclipse *
03-11 Birmingham, AL - BottleTree *
03-13 Austin, TX - Yard Dog Gallery (Schubas SXSW party)
03-14 Austin, TX - SXSW
03-15 Austin, TX - SXSW
03-16 Norman, OK - The Opolis *
03-17 Columbia, MO - Mojo's *$
03-19 Nashville, TN - Exit In *
03-20 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn *
03-21 Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern *
03-22 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle *
03-23 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 *
03-25 Washington, DC - Black Cat *
03-26 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's *
03-27 Cambridge, MA - Middle East *
03-29 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
03-30 Worcester, MA - Clark University *
04-01 Montreal, Quebec - La Salla Rossa *
04-02 Toronto, Ontario - El Mocambo *
04-03 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place *
04-04 Cleveland, OH - The Grog Shop *
04-05 Detroit, MI - The Magic Stick *
04-06 Chicago, IL - Schubas *
04-08 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon *
04-09 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry *
04-10 Grinnell, IA - Grinnell College *
04-11 Omaha, NE - The Slowdown *
04-12 Lawrence, KS - Jackpot *
04-14 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive *
04-15 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge *
04-17 Vancouver, British Columbia - Media Club *
04-18 Seattle, WA - Neumo's *
04-19 Portland, OR - Holocene *

# with Menomena
* with Fleet Foxes
! with Grand Archives
% with Beach House, Papercuts
$ with Mahjongg

Atlas Sound "Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel"

As you may have read, I was pretty sick last week and one of my only comforts (other than hot tea) was the new Atlas Sound album "Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel". You all know of my deep admiration for the music of Deerhunter (Atlas Sound is the brain-child of Deerhunter's Bradford Cox), and when I got a hold of this album I was more than a little excited. And what great timing too...I was confined to my bed or the couch for a week with nothing to do but listen to music. The beauty of this record was nothing short of a healing force for me last week...it is simply one of the most beautiful albums I've heard EVER. I tend to get really depressed when I'm sick, and to say that it wasn't so bad this time is an understatement. Do yourself a huge favor and pick this album up when it comes out on February 19th via Kranky Records. Bradford has also very generously uploaded almost 70 non-album Atlas Sound/Deerhunter songs for download via the Deerhunter blog (this guy seriously prolific!!).

Atlas Sound will performing as a full band, with members Bradford Cox, Brian Foote, Adam Forkner, Stephanie Macksey, and Honey Owens starting 2/16 at The 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA. Valet and White Rainbow will be opening for most of the tour.

TOUR DATES:
2/16 Athens, GA - The 40 Watt Club
2/19 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn w/ Valet, White Rainbow
2/20 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 w/ Valet, White Rainbow
2/21 Washington, DC- Black Cat w/ Valet, White Rainbow
2/22 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's w/ Valet, White Rainbow
2/23 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge w/ Valet, White Rainbow
2/24 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Brooklyn w/ Valet, White Rainbow
2/26 Boston, MA - Middle East w/ Valet, White Rainbow
2/27 Montreal, CN - Casa Del Popolo w/ Valet, White Rainbow
2/28 Toronto, CN - Horseshoe Tavern w/ Valet, White Rainbow
2/29 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick w/ Valet, White Rainbow
3/01 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle w/ Valet, White Rainbow
3/02 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club w/ Valet, White Rainbow
3/05 Vancouver, BC - Pat's Pub w/ Valet, White Rainbow
3/06 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe w/ Valet, White Rainbow
3/07 Portland, OR - Holocene w/ Valet, White Rainbow
3/08 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill w/ Valet, White Rainbow
3/09 Palo Alto, CA - Stanford College w/ Valet, White Rainbow
3/11 Los Angeles, CA - Echo w/ Valet, White Rainbow

[MP3] Atlas Sound - Recent Bedroom from "Let The Blind Lead..." (via Box.net)

MARITIME "And I Was a Boy From School (Hot Chip cover)"

I just became aware of this this fantastic cover Maritime did of Hot Chip's "And I Was a Boy From School", which was apparently included as a bonus track on the Japanese version of their latest album "Heresy and the Hotel Choir". And it's pretty damn good if I do say so myself.

[MP3] Maritime - And I Was a Boy From School from "Heresy and the Hotel Choir (Japan bonus track)" (via Box.net)

Maritime - website

NEW RELEASE TUESDAY: The Selmanaires / Anna Kramer & The Lost Cause

New albums from two of Atlanta's finest come out today via International Hits: The Selmanaires "The Air Salesmen" AND Anna Kramer & The Lost Cause "The Rustic Contemporary Sounds of...". Get them both from the wonderful Criminal Records, where they are are also both doing an in-store performance at 7pm tonight. (Thanks to Ohmpark for the heads up!)

You can also stream both albums HERE.

Both The Selmanaires AND Anna Kramer & The Lost Cause are playing their joint CD release show The EARL this Saturday Jan. 26th, I highly suggest you go as both bands are amazing live performers.

[MP3] The Selmanaires - Reason & Change from "The Air Salesmen" (via Box.net)
[MP3] Anna Kramer & The Lost Cause - When You See Him from "The Rustic Contemporary Sounds of..." (via Box.net)

CONTEST / GIVEAWAY: 2 New Eels releases + signed 7"

On January 15, 2008, singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist, Mark Oliver Everett (aka E) and his revolving lineup of bandmates (known by many as Eels) are now set to unveil two new releases: a “best of” compilation - Meet The EELS: Essential EELS Vol. 1, 1996-2006 AND their first collection of rarities - EELS Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2006.

Spanning the first decade of EELS music, "Meet The EELS" offers 24 tracks that showcase the band’s evolution and growth of E as a songwriter, along with 12 videos. While "Useless Trinkets" is a must-have collection of 50 hard-to-find B-sides, film contributions and unreleased tracks, and a DVD of live performance footage from Lollapalooza 2006. All music has been digitally remastered and both releases are accompanied by notes from E and full-color booklets.

To celebrate the release of these TWO new Eels albums, ICTH will be giving away both albums PLUS a signed limited edition 7" (feat. two previously unreleased tracks: "Climbing To The Moon" (Jon Brion remix), and "I Want To Protect You"). All you need to do is email me at itcoversthe hillsides (at) gmail.com with your first and last name and EELS GIVEAWAY as the subject. That's it. Pretty easy.

Check out some tracks from both of these releases over at Eels' Myspace (link below).

Eels - website | Myspace

VIDEO: Les Savy Fav "What Would Wolves Do?"

This has been the worst winter ever...

I cannot believe I am sick AGAIN. I got some sort of flu-like monstrosity last week, and it is STILL raging a week later. This is not fun. I have been sick now three times this winter, a record for me. When I try to do things that require getting out of bed, or getting off the damn couch, I get dizzy and have to lie back down. That includes posting here unfortunately. Hopefully this will clear up soon, because lying around sleeping and watching mind-numbing TV is seriously taking it's toll.

I have been listening to some new tunes lately though, and a couple of things have really helped me through this last week of undying sickness: (1) the new Atlas Sound record "Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel" is simply AMAZING(!!!). I cannot exclaim the virtues of album enough, it is simply one of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard. Period. (It comes out 2/19/08) (2) The new Beach House album, "Devotion" (out on 2/26/08) has been much better at relaxing me than hot herbal tea (and tea is my best friend right now!). I can't wait to see these guys live.

Until I'm better, posts will intermediate...unless I die, then they will stop. I'm rooting for the "getting better" option.

FRIENDLY REMINDER: Dan Deacon & Ultimate Reality @ Eyedrum - TONIGHT

Just a friendly reminder that Dan Deacon will be performing his collaborative "Ultimate Reality" tonight at Eyedrum. The show starts at 9pm, and it only costs $10. I wish I could go to this but the holidays killed my wallet.

"Ultimate Reality is a collaborative performance by Baltimore’s Dan Deacon and Jimmy Joe Roche. It combines an intense musical composition for electronics and drums with a psychedelic montage of Arnold Schwarzenegger films that is projected at a monumental scale. The live energy of the performance has allowed the piece to freely move between art and music venues and grant it a wide audience of appreciation. The touring group also includes Jeremy Hyman (from Ponytail) and Kevin O’Meara (from Video Hippoes) on drums."

Two NEW songs from The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart have put two new songs on their Myspace, which are available to download below as well. Hopefully this means we can expect a new album sometime soon! Both songs are as catchy as any of their previous work, and both have me hitting the skip-back button quite frequently. I highly suggest you check out more of their music, which you can find on their Myspace page as well.

[MP3] The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - A Teenager in Love from "unreleased" (via Box.net)
[MP3] The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Come Saturday from "unreleased" (via Box.net)

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - website | Myspace