If you have not heard “Come With Me Now” by the super cool band, Kongos then you are missing out on some extremely awesome new music. Sometimes you just know when a band has the potential to be the next hit band and sirens went off for me with these guys. They are four brothers who are from South Africa, but also grew up in London and now live in Arizona. They bring an eclectic sound to alternative music that has been missing (who doesn’t love an accordion?!).
They released their debut album, Lunatic in 2012 in other parts of the world, but it wasn’t until this year when they began receiving major recognition and re-released Lunatic through Epic Records. The album is available through iTunes and they, along with Young the Giant, will be joining Kings of Leon on their upcoming tour.
The Downtown Fiction revealed details for their second studio album that was produced by Carlos de la Garza (Paramore, Young The Giant). Their Fearless Records debut, Losers & Kings, will be released on June 17th and contains 11 tracks (track listing below). We are thrilled about this release! These guys know a thing or two about a catchy chorus. Of course, they are just as excited as we are. The band released the following statement:
Dear friends — We’re honored to announce our brand-new album, Losers & Kings, will be available on June 17th. This record celebrates the chaotic beauty and loneliness of life, our dreams and journeys, confusion and euphoria. It’s about acceptance of yourself and others. Creating this music was a colorful and inspiring period and we can’t wait for everyone to finally hear it. We’ll be playing a string of shows with You Me At Six beginning April 21st at The Troubador in Los Angeles, which will surely be an awesome time. Thank you to our TDF family for their continued support – this was all for you. Thank you! With love, Cameron. – Cameron Leahy, lead singer of The Downtown Fiction.
Losers & Kings Track List:
1. Some Place On Earth
2. Hope I Die On A Saturday Night
3. Don’t Count Me Out
4. Kiss My Friends
5. Santa Cruz
6. No Generation
7. Cool Kids
8. So Called Life
9. Big Mistakes
10. Right Where We Left Off
11. Sometimes
There has been major hype surrounding the Brooklyn-based, St. Lucia as of late. For one, St. Lucia aka Jean-Philip Grobler and his live band will be supporting Foster the People on their upcoming spring tour—with many of the dates already sold out. This is coming off the release of his debut album, When The Night. Check out their current tour dates below.
North American Tour Dates: 2/11 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre (SOLD OUT) ^
2/12 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre (SOLD OUT) #
2/14 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room #
3/5 – Syracuse, NY – Syracuse University
4/11 – Las Vegas, NV – The Cosmopolitan %
4/25 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium (SOLD OUT) *
4/28 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom *
4/29 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom *
4/30 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center *
5/2 – Tampa, FL – Big Guava Music Fest
5/5 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore *
5/9 – Boston, MA – House of Blues (SOLD OUT) *
5/13 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall *
5/15 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore *
5/16 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre (SOLD OUT) *
7/6 – Quincy, WA – Sasquatch Music Festival
^ w/ Sir Sly
# w/ Conway
% w/ Young The Giant
* w/ Foster The People
Young The Giant has become one of the most hyped about indie rock bands. Their name is popping up everywhere and with good reason. I knew and liked a couple of their songs and was really looking forward to their Jimmy Kimmel Live performance.
Leader singer, Sameer Gadhia has a very unique smooth voice and I was pleasantly surprised that it still comes across that way during their live shows. I think I have been to too many pop concerts, so when I actually hear live vocals and they are amazing I’m blown away. In reality, it should be the norm, but in any case you get the real deal with Young The Giant. Continue Reading
Young The Giant has announced dates for their 2012 headline tour. The tour will begin in San Diego on February 10, 2012 and will go through mid-April. More dates will be announced soon.
2012 HEADLINE DATES:
(+) = w/Special Guest WALK THE MOON
( ! ) = w/Special Guest GROUPLOVE
Fri-Feb-10 San Diego, CA Soma (+)
Wed-Feb-15 Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre (+)
Thu-Feb-16 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom (+)
Sat-Feb-18 Denver, CO Ogden (+)
Mon-Feb-20 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theatre (+)
Tue-Feb-21 Milwaukee, WI Rave II
Thu-Feb-23 Chicago, IL Metro (+)
Fri-Feb-24 Covington, KY Madison Theatre
Sat-Feb-25 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall (+)
Sun-Feb-26 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom (+)
Tue-Feb-28 Detroit, MI Magic Stick (+)
Thu-Mar-01 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre(+)
Fri-Mar-02 Ottawa, ON Ritual Nightclub (+)
Sat-Mar-03 Montreal, QC Cabaret-Mile End (+)
Sun-Mar-04 Quebec City, QC Le Cercle (+)
Tue-Mar-06 Burlington, VT Higher Ground ( ! )
Thu-Mar-08 Boston, MA House of Blues ( ! )
Fri-Mar-09 New York, NY Terminal 5 ( ! )
Sat-Mar-10 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory ( ! )
Sun-Mar-11 Washington, DC 9:30 Club( ! )
Thu-Mar-15 Atlanta, GA Center Stage ( ! )
Sun-Mar-18 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room ( ! )
Tue-Mar-20 New Orleans, LA House of Blues ( ! )
Thu-Mar-22 Houston, TX Fitzgerald’s ( ! )
Fri-Mar-23 Dallas, TX Prophet Bar ( ! )
Sat-Mar-24 Austin, TX Stubb’s BBQ ( ! )
Tue-Mar-27 Tulsa, OK Cain’s Ballrom ( ! )
Thu-Mar-29 St. Louis, MO Gargoyle( ! )
Fri-Mar-30 Kansas City, MO The Midland ( ! )
Sat-Mar-31 Des Moines, IA People’s Court ( ! )
Tue-Apr-03 Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue ( ! )
REMAINING 2011 TOUR DATES
Wed-Nov-30 Providence, RI WBRU’s 42nd Birthday Bash @ Lupos
Thu-Dec-01 Norfolk, VA 96X Winter Meltdown @ The Ted
Sat-Dec-03 Tampa, FL 97X Next Big Thing
@ 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre
Sun-Dec-04 Jacksonville, FL X1029 THE BIG TICKET @ Jacksonville Metro Park
Mon-Dec-05 Portland, OR SOLD OUT 94.7 December to Remember
@ Crystal Ballroom
Wed-Dec-07 Seattle, WA 107.7 The End Deck The Hall Ball @ Key Arena
Frr-Dec-16 Santa Ana, CA SOLD OUT Hometown Holiday Show @ Galaxy
Theatre presented by Vizio to benefit IPSF
Sat-Dec-17 Santa Ana, CA Hometown Holiday Show @ Galaxy Theatre
MTV today that Young the Giant will make their VMA performance debut at the “2011 Video Music Awards.” Young The Giant has appeared across MTV and mtv.com as a featured “PUSH”artist and is one of mtvU’s Freshman 5: Top 5 Bands for Summer. They join an impressive line-up of 2011 VMA performers that include Adele, Lil Wayne, and Chris Brown. The “2011 MTV Video Music Awards” will air live from Nokia Theater L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 9PM (Live ET/Tape delayed PT.
Check them out on tour with Incubus.
Incubus Dates:
* Denotes Young The Giant Headline Dates Only
8/30/11 Promowest Pavilion Columbus, OH
8/31/11 AE Stage Pittsburgh, PA
9/1/11 SPAC Saratoga, NY
9/3/11 Jones Beach Theater Wantagh, NY
9/4/11 PNC Bank Arts Center Holmdel, NJ
9/7/11 Mohegan Sun Hartford,CT
9/9/11 Comcast Center Boston, MA
9/10/11 Susquehanna Bank Center Philadelphia, PA
9/11/11 Merriweather Post Pavilion Baltimore, MD
9/13/11 Virginia Beach Amphitheatre Virginia Beach, VA
9/16/11 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte, NC
9/18/11 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre Tampa, FL
9/20/11 Bayfront Park Amphitheater Miami, FL *9/22/11 The Social Orlando, FL
*9/25/11 Exit/IN Nashville, TN 9/29/11 Gexa Energy Pavilion Dallas, TX
9/30/11 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Houston, TX
10/1/11 The Backyard at Bee Cave Austin, TX
10/5/11 Comerica Theatre Phoenix, AZ
10/7/11 Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles, CA
10/8/11 The Joint at the Hard Rock Las Vegas, NV
10/9/11 Shoreline Amphitheatre San Francisco, CA
Lead singer and songwriter is sixteen year old indie starlet Chloe Chaidez. Though from afar Kitten may be seen as the next Paramore, the band is actually being compared to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. From now until the fall, Kitten will tour with UK-grit pop group Viva Brother, and rocking across the country with Electric Six. Kitten has shared the stage with Young the Giant, Art Brut, The Postelles and Funeral Party, and has rocked both CMJ and SXSW festivals. Watch the video for their single, “Chinatown” above.