MGMT capped off their Canada/West Coast tour on Saturday at Stanford University’s Frost Amphitheater. Kicking the set off with Record Store Day single “Alien Days” (frontman Andrew VanWyngarden had a martian head-shaped guitar and sunglasses to match), the New York psych-rock outfit showed themselves to be a perfect fit for the California sunshine. Yes, Oracular [...]

Sometimes, you just have to get back to basics. That’s what former Passion Pit keyboardist Ayad Al Adhamy did when he started Team Spirit, turning to unabashedly straightforward rock instead. Taking over lead vocal/guitar duties, he recruited Toby Pettigrew (bass), Mike Adesso (drums) and Cosmo DiGiulio (guitar) to join him in making harmony-and-hook-laden tributes to [...]

The reunited Afghan Whigs are no strangers to soul, having recorded a number of excellent Motown covers over the years. During SXSW on Friday night at the Fader Fort in Austin, Texas, they were joined by R&B icon Usher for a once-in-a-lifetime performance.

Wavves, Divine Fits, Japandroids, Team Spirit and Skaters take SXSW.

Sondre Lerche celebrated his 30th birthday and the release of his live album Bootlegs at New York’s Bowery Ballroom. The Norwegian singer-songwriter looked back at his long, healthy career over a set that spanned about two hours. The show kicked off his ongoing tour with Fancy Colors.

  British folk-pop duo Slow Club performed at Brooklyn’s Glasslands Gallery with characteristic humor and charm. They were accompanied by Secret Cities. Slow Club’s second album Paradise is out now on Moshi Moshi.

We met the up-and-coming Norwegian artist Mr. Little Jeans backstage at Brooklyn Bowl on July 14, after one of her first-ever shows. Born Monica Birkenes, she takes her stage name from a Wes Anderson character. Like the notoriously stylish filmmaker, she brings together both light and dark elements in her work to immediately likable effect. [...]

Seattle electro-poppers Beat Connection photographed in Williamsburg, Brooklyn before their July 5th performance at the Knitting Factory. Their North American tour continues throughout the summer. Beat Connection’s debut LP The Palace Garden is out now.

Last weekend, the Governors Ball Festival took over Randall’s Island in New York City. Featuring performances from Beck, Passion Pit, Fiona Apple, Modest Mouse, Built To Spill, Devendra Banhart, Explosions In The Sky, Passion Pit, Chromeo, Cults, Santigold, Walk The Moon, Penguin Prison, Art Vs. Science, and Cage The Elephant.

(Freelance Whales) This weekend’s Governors Ball festival in New York boasts an impressive line-up, boasting a headlining set from Passion Pit on Saturday. On Sunday, Beck takes the main spot with his first NYC show in four years. High-profile acts like Fiona Apple, Santigold, Chromeo, Devendra Banhart, and Built To Spill are also set to [...]

(Housse de Racket) International bands hustle to make it to the States’ biggest music showcase. So, you’re a musician. You’ve been working hard on songs that you’re proud of, and you’re getting attention from blogs and building your fan base. If you want to make it in the music industry, the next logical step is [...]

Fresh from a sold-out UK tour and performing at an exclusive Chanel party during Paris Fashion Week, Django Django are about to take on America. Since releasing their first double A-side single “Storm”/“Love’s Dart” in 2009, the London-based band has continued to flip a wide variety of influences into psychedelic pop bliss with textured vocal [...]