Grant Manship

Gold Shoes

I think I may have just seen the future of the Cincinnati music scene.  At the very least, I guarantee you'll be hearing a lot more about these guys in the near future.  I'm speaking of Gold Shoes.  It's hard to explain the vibe of their first show if you weren't there (it took place about two hours ago in Clifton) but dare I say the atmosphere was electric!?!  Your next chance to catch them live is on May 12th at the Gypsy Hut.

Pioneering Video for We Are The People from EOTS

According to the Empire of the Sun camp, this interactive video is a first for the music industry.  After playing around with it today, I'd have to say I agree.  It uses tracking pixels to create touch points or hot spots which users can click on to access free downloads, bonus film footage, some very interesting messages from the band as well as two exclusive giveaways (one for a piece of autographed artwork and another for an ipod).

In the video, you'll see various yellow and red shining orbs.  The yellow orbs lead to the aforementioned content while the red orbs lead to 4 codes that will be needed to enter the artwork giveaway.   It should be noted that the red orbs only become active once a cursor moves across the video.  Finally, after clicking on the final visible yellow orb(s), you'll be allowed to enter into the competition for a piece of framed, limited edition Empire of the Sun artwork.

I hope this band blows up in a big way here in the States this year and if they continue with the enjoyable and innovative uses of technology to complement their music, even better.

Shugo Tokumaru - Rum Hee

A Blast from Katkin's Past

Here's a great little read about the influence WPRB had on the Chicago Reader's Peter Margasak.  Peter discusses listening to WPRB while in high school and a few of his favorite songs from the station's rotation.  In the article he makes mention of everyone's favorite contributing music expert/law professor around here, Ken Katkin.  As you may or may not know, the Professor was a DJ at the station during his time at Princeton.

Today's the Day

Phoenix - Lisztomania

French Kicks - Abandon

A Preview of Pink Mountaintops' Outside Love

I really dug Axis of Evol which means I'm really looking forward to Mr. McBean and Co.'s new record Outside Love.  To tie us over until May 5th when the record drops, we have a preview for you below.  What is the album going to sound like you ask?  I think this promotional blurb says it best:

The ten songs on Outside Love are about or influenced by weddings in Montreal, winter, Pink Floyd's The Final Cut, Christmas albums, that one Exile song and that one Echo and the Bunnymen song, the Bermuda Triangle, being depressed in the sunshine, people who haven't made out yet but will in the future, The Everly Brothers, clowns in the ceilings, and bedrooms where skinheads used to live. They are songs of love and hate that read like a Danielle Steele romance novel but that would probably make for bad television.

Got that?  Cool.

• Pink Mountaintops - "Vampire" from Outside Love

The Flaming Lips - Borderline

More MP3's from Papercuts!

Here's the title track from Papercuts' You Can Have What You Want for your listening pleasure.  In addition to that, we've been given version of "Future Primitive" that's remixed by the Ruby Suns.  If you don't have this record yet, get it.

• Papercuts - "You Can Have What You Want" from You Can Have What You Want
• Papercuts - "Future Primitive" from You Can Have What You Want [Ruby Suns Remix]