FROM THE ARCHIVES: The Get Up Kids

Summer has hardly begun and we’re already dreaming of cooler pastures. Until then, we’ll be posting never-before-seen interviews and bonus clips from our archives as a thank you for sweating it out with us. No, this won’t make up for that fact that you woke up stuck to your sheets (again), but hey, that’s what window AC units are for.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Upon the release of their newest album There Are Rules  in January, Jim Suptic of The Get Up Kids muses about auto-tune, the death of emo, and why the only rule going forward was to get weird.

By: Britt Middleton

Sundae Magazine: Presumably, you had the choice to re-write Something To Write Home About, your most successful release. You went in a completely different direction with There Are Rules. Why buck the system? (And by the way, thank you.)

Jim Suptic: We have had three chances to rewrite that record and we never have. All of our albums sound different. I think that’s what has given our band longevity.

SM: The indie scene today is so vastly different from when you first emerged in 1995. Do you at all feel responsible for the “sea of neon shirts” and autotune of today’s indie scene, as you pegged it in a 2009 interview?

JS: A lot of what I said was a joke. I think there are a lot of good bands out there.

SM: Who are you listening to right now?

JS: Rob’s been rocking Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark (pre-saxaphone albums). I just heard Lykee Li’s new album. I think it’s going to be huge in the States.

SM: Where would you say Get Up Kids fall into the fold today?

JS: I really don’t know where we fit in, though. We have always been influenced by so many different things. We can play with punk bands or indie pop bands or whatever.

SM: There Are Rules is such a definitive title. Are there, then, rules for writing a Get Up Kids album? What are some of the themes on this record?

JS: The only rule for this album was “get weird”. The lyrics are all over the place. I don’t really think there is a theme.

SM: Despite your history with Vagrant Records, you released this new album on your own imprint, Quality Hill. Does this album feel more authentic in that right?

JS: We have always tried to be authentic. It wasn’t like Vagrant told us what to do.

SM: What did you learn about yourselves after the band broke up in 2004? How much did the outpouring of support for the subsequent reunion tour impact your decision to record another album?

JS:I wouldn’t say the outpouring of support is why we made a new record. It is always nice to be liked, though. We just thought it would be fun thing to do.

Photo Courtesy Terrorbird Media

SM: It seems like ages since anyone used the term “emo”. Does it still sting to be labeled as such, or is it more of a badge of honor since GUK are hailed as elder statesmen in the genre?

JS: I really don’t know what emo is anymore. We could put out a spoken word album and people would call it spoken word emo. There is really nothing we can do about it. So why care.

Catch The Get Up Kids on tour with Saves the Day this summer:

June 2 Durty Nellies Palantine, IL W/ Saves The Day
June 3 The Loft Lansing, MI W/ Saves The Day
June 4 Headliners Toledo, OH W/ Saves The Day
June 5 Mr Small’s Theatre Pittsburgh, PA W/ Saves The Day
June 7 Northern Lights Clifton Park, NY W/ Saves The Day
June 8 The Crazy Donkey Farmingdale, NY W/ Saves The Day
June 9 Toad’s Place New Haven, CT W/ Saves The Day
June 10 Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel Providence, RI W/ Saves The Day
June 11 Starland Ballroom Sayreville, NJ W/ Saves The Day
June 12 Crocodile Rock Cafe Allentown, PA W/ Saves The Day
July 7 The Waiting Room Omaha, NE W/ The Globes & The Caves
July 8 Blue Moose Tap House Iowa City, IA W/ The Globes & The Caves
July 9 Summerfest Milwaukee, WI W/ Dashboard Confessional
July 10 Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN W/ The Globes & The Caves
July 14 Outland Ballroom Springfield, MO W/ The Globes & The Caves
July 15 The Firebird St Louis, MO W/ The Globes & The Caves
July 16 Historic Southgate House Newport, KY W/ The Globes & The Caves
July 17 Exit/In Nashville, TN W/ The Globes & The Caves
July 30 Fuji Rock Festival Niigata, Japan
Aug 5 The Hi Fi Brisbane, Australia
Aug 6 The Metro Sydney, Australia
Aug 7 Billboard The Venue Melbourne, Australia
Aug 9 Fowlers Live Adelaide Australia
Aug 11 Powerstation Auckland, New Zealand
Aug 13 The Satellite Los Angeles, CA
Aug 14 Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown, CA
Sept 21 007 Prague, Czech Republic
Sept 22 Luxor Cologne, Germany
Sept 23 Reeperbahn Festival Hamburg, Germany
Sept 24 Batschkapp Frankfurt, Germany
Sept 25 Backstage Halle Munich, Germany
Sept 27 Universum Stuttgart, Germany
Sept 28 Zeche Bochum, Germany
Sept 29 Lido Berlin, Germany
Sept 30 Bolwerk Sneek, Netherlands
Oct 1 Rockhal Luxembourg
Oct 2 Melkweg Amsterdam, Netherlands
Oct 4 Cockpit Leeds, UK
Oct 5 Koko London, UK
Oct 7 Mod Hasselt, Belgium
Oct 9 Nouveau Casino Paris, France
Oct 11 Arean Vienna, Austria
Oct 12 A38 Budapest, Hungary
Oct 13 Mocvara Zahgreb, Croatia
Oct 14 The Bronson Ravenna, Italy
Oct 15 New Age Treviso, Italy
Oct 16 Abart Zurich, Switzerland
Oct 21 Sala Live Madrid, Spain
Oct 22 Estraperlo Club Barcelona, Spain

The Cutest Killers in the Animal Kingdom, Courtesy of Ghost Pal

Stoats, also known as the short-tailed weasel, might just be the cutest little monsters on planet Earth. Freakishly agile, Stoats are known predators to a number of mammals, and, when threatened, they spray a putrid butt gland-juice, which probably helped land them on the 100 “World’s Worst Alien Invasive Species” list. Before they overpopulate the world and use your face as a chew toy,  check them out as the video backdrop for a jam by Brooklyn’s Ghost Pal. Try not to cry for old Thumper at the end, though. He totally had it coming.

And for more on Ghost Pal, hit up http://ghostpal.bandcamp.com/

SXSW Party Patrol Comes Bearing Gifts

On the eve of what’s sure to be a kickass week filled with music and debauchery, Sundae Magazine presents a list of parties and after parties to check out during SXSW. We told you yesterday about the Brooklyn Vegan parties, and now that we’ve whet your whistle, we won’t leave you hanging. We implore you to use the buddy system, though: There’s a good chance you won’t be sleeping in your own hotel room for a while.

 

3/16  Terrorbird Media/Force Field PR

4th Annual Day Party

@ Red 7, Noon-6pm. FREE.

See Toro Y Moi, Screaming Females, Violens + more.

 

3/18 Sub Pop Official SXSW Showcase

@ Red 7, 8pm-until…

See Jaill, Dum Dum Girls,

Papercuts + more.

 

3/19  Polyvinyl Official SXSW Showcase

@ The Parish, 8pm-until…

21 +. Wristband Required. Some tickets available at door.

See STRFKR, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin,

Casiokids + more.

 

3/20 Panache Hangover Party

@ Beerland, 11:30am-8pm. FREE.

See Pujol, Dominque Young Unique, Wise Blood + more.

 

Oh, Hey — They’re Gonna Have Free Booze!

Alright, that was a cheap shot, but we had to get your attention. SXSW officially kicks off this week, and nothing is more satisfying than witnessing the buzz bands of tomorrow, today. And it won’t hurt to do it after you scored some free hooch, courtesy of a lengthy list of sponsors that we will spare you here (but keeping reading if you really wanna know). But perhaps the real allure is derived from the official SXSW parties, after parties, and AFTER AFTER parties, featuring your favorite bands, free swag, and/or public nudity (if you’re so lucky). This week we did all the legwork to find the best in festival day ragers (many of them free!), so all you gotta do is show and and try not to get arrested. Stay tuned all this week for updates!

Let’s kick it off with the Brooklyn Vegan & M for Montreal Party. Vegans, fake vegans, and carnivores will unite for an impressive music line-up and conscious eats. Oh, and free vodka.

Image courtesy Brooklyn Vegan

WHAT: Saturday, March 19: Brooklyn Vegan & M for Montreal Day Party

TIME: Noon-6 p.m.

$$: FREE

Swag: (Re-posted from BrooklynVegan.com)

• FREE vegan Izzoz breakfast tacos while supplies last!
• lots of FREE snacks courtesy of Sensible Portions!
• a lot of FREE Honest Tea!
• FREE Raw Revolution bars to eat.
• FREE vegan ice cream from NadaMoo
• FREE Firefly Vodka cocktails all day (while supplies last.)
• more FREEDRINKS TBA.

BAND ROSTER:

STAGE 1 (SWAN DIVE)
12:00 PM New Moods
01:00 PM Oh Land
2:00 PM Austra
3:00 PM Little Scream
4:00 PM Owen Pallett
5:00 PM Braids

STAGE 2 (Barbarella main stage)
12:00 PM Baths
1:00 PM Misteur Valaire
2:00 PM !!!
3:00 PM Trail of Dead
4:00 PM Mount Kimbie
5:00 PM Daedelus
HOSTED BY: the cast of Workaholics
DJs: Ramesh (of Voxtrot) & 70’s Bush

STAGE 3 (Barbarella small stage)
12:00 PM Bass Drum of Death
12:45 PM Adventure
1:30 PM Versus
2:30 PM Malajube
3:15 PM Suuns
4:00 PM Weekend
5:00 PM PS I Love You

 

 

 

 

 

New Music: Dum Dum Girls

Image Courtesy Sub Pop Records

With their Wall of Sound richness and syrup-y sweet harmonies, we’ve been swooning over Dum Dum Girls since their 2010 debut, I Will Be. Today, prepare to be elevated to a higher sense of conciousness with their newest EP, He Gets Me High, out now on Sub Pop Records. Hear three new tracks plus a swirling rendition of the Smiths’ “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out”. Check out Dum Dum Girls and all their splendor on tour this spring, and hear the titular single, “He Gets Me High”, below.

Track Listing for He Gets Me High EP:

1 Wrong Feels Right
2 He Gets Me High
3 Take Care of My Baby
4 There Is a Light That Never Goes Out (Smiths cover)

Dum Dum Girls – “He Gets Me High”

Dum Dum Girls On Tour:

• Tuesday, March 1, 2011
  Club Metronome, Burlington VT
• Wednesday, March 2, 2011
  Brighton Music Hall, Boston MA
• Thursday, March 3, 2011
  Glasslands, Brooklyn NY
  with 3/3 DJ set
• Friday, March 4, 2011
  Bowery Ballroom, The, New York City NY
• Saturday, March 5, 2011
  Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia PA
• Sunday, March 6, 2011
  Black Cat, Washington DC
• Tuesday, March 8, 2011
  Local 506, Chapel Hill NC
• Wednesday, March 9, 2011
  Milestone Club, Charlotte NC
  18 & Up!
• Thursday, March 10, 2011
  The Earl, Atlanta GA
• Friday, March 11, 2011
  Jack Rabbits, Jacksonville FL
• Saturday, March 12, 2011
  The Social, Orlando FL
• Sunday, March 13, 2011
  Orpheum (FL), Tampa FL
  w/ Tennis & La Sera
• Thursday, March 17, 2011
  Eastside Drive In , Austin TX
  #Offline Festival / Pitchfork
  Stage 2 @ 6PM

Darfur? What Are You Guys Doing?!?

Andy Samberg and Arcade Fire explain why atrocities such as slavery, the Vietnam War, and global terrorism fully suck in this electro-rich Digital Short from a couple of weeks back. Check out the video below:

http://www.hulu.com/embed/jzTUStmJ8K61_9z_d6zlGg

While host Scarlett Johansson played her shtick well (hot girl doing funny accents, etc.), it was
Arcade Fire who kicked the episode up a notch – specifically, Regine Chassagne’s debut as front-woman on their performance of “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond
Mountains).” As the rest of the band, including frontman and husband Win Butler,
provided backing vocals and instrumentals, Regine took to center stage in a glittery
gold dress that would make even Taylor Swift jealous. Check out the Regine’s SNL
domination on Hulu.

— Lauren

A Thanksgiving solution for the most devout cupcake lover

Photo courtesy of bakeitinacake.com

 

Raise your hand if this scenario applies to you: it’s Thanksgiving and you’re at the dining room table with your entire family. You just finished digesting all of your turkey and mashed potatoes. It’s almost time to fully enter your food coma. All that’s missing is the final stage: desert. Yet, you sense a weird feeling of dread as you watch the table fill with lumpy pies and gelatin molds that hold captive helpless bits of nondescript…fruit, maybe? Desert is supposed to be the best part of the meal, yet where is the literal icing on your cake?!

Lucky for you, the kind people at innovative blog bakeitinacake.com have created a solution to satisfy both the sweetest tooth and Thanksgiving enthusiasts. Behold – Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes. These treats hold pumpkin pie filling within a traditional vanilla cupcake, topped off with a generous heaping of cinnamon cream-cheese frosting. Pie-filled cupcakes? I think we can all give thanks for that. While you’re checking out the recipe, feel free to take a look at some of their other cupcake-filled suggestions, as well. Nutella-filled cupcakes? Yes please!

-Lauren

H&M and Lanvin tease dramatic new collaboration with trippy film

When H&M announces their latest guest designer collaboration, people loose their minds, and for good reason. The always-trendy mall staple’s import of high-end designer goods at the store’s wallet-friendly prices is enough to make a fashionista totally cuckoo. So it’s no wonder that when French powerhouse Lanvin announced that their flawless Alber Elbaz would be next in line to guest-design for the store, desperate women in need of taffeta dresses everywhere set up special Google Alerts for the first sneak peek at the collection.

Luckily, the wait is over, as H&M and Lanvin have debuted a short, “Alice in Wonderland”-esque film previewing the collection. So what exactly are we in-store for (pun intended…)?  Sequined tees, taffeta-petticoats, strong shoulders, slouchy trenches, and lots of ruffles. Ooh la la, how the French know drama! Check out these showstoppers and more at your local H&M starting November 20^th – just watch out for flying stilettos; it might get dangerous out there!

-Lauren

New Music Alert: Warpaint

Photo courtesy of Sonic Itch Music

When indie film icon Shannyn Sossamon decided to start a band with her sister, Jenny Lee Lindberg, along with childhood friends, Theresa Wayman, Emily Kokal on Valentine’s Day in 2004, there was no doubt that the group would find some success. Surely, some adoring The Rules of Attraction fan girls would obsess over leaked mp3s and show up to every small gig with Sossamon-inspired choppy-DIY bangs. But that didn’t mean that they actually had to be good. Yet somehow, Warpaint, the band’s given moniker, has managed to make psychedelic shoe-gaze for the past six years, all leading up to the release of their debut album The Fool, on October 25^th.

While Sossamon left the band after the release of their 2008 EP, Exquisite Corpse, Warpaint found no difficulties in making some fans of their own. Following the release of the EP, the band embarked on an extensive bit of touring, opening for the likes of Yeasayer, The XX and Vampire Weekend, as well as playing a set at Lollapalooza. However, with the release of The Fool, the ladies of Warpaint prove that they are ready for a headlining tour of their own.

Each song on the nine-track album showcases a different dynamic between the strong female vocals and ethereal instrumentals. Influences seem to vary from Jeff Buckley to Cat Power, with even a little Bjork thrown in for good measure on “Shadows.” Highlights of the album include “Baby,” a surprising ballad that adds a bit of folk to the record, and  “Undertow,” which throws an unexpected guitar rhythm into the end to give the song a controlled depth.

-Lauren

Cozy Up in a Circle Scarf

Photo courtesy of American Apparel

As the chilly fall weather gets colder and colder, getting out of bed and out the door seems to get harder and harder. Sure, those trivial activities like running errands and going to work beckon, but it’s so warm under the covers and there’s a marathon of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on Bravo…

While the ideal situation would be booking a flight to Miami with the return flight sometime in March, our schedules (and wallets!) don’t exactly have the same flexibility as someone like Kim Kardashian.  So instead, we offer you this simple, knit solution: a circle scarf. While American Apparel has marketed this thick, infinite take on the traditional scarf for years, the trend is really taking flight this season, in gloriously chunky knits sure to keep you cozy on even the bitterest of days.

Check out American Apparel’s knit version that comes in a cool snake-skin print here: http://store.americanapparel.net/rsaas500.html?cid=51, or simply stop by your favorite boutique or mall-store (Forever 21 and H&M have great, cheap options!) to stock up on this fall essential. Now wrap on your new scarf around that frozen neck of yours, turn on Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, and grab a tropical beverage. Just like Florida, right?

-Lauren