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

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

Telephoned’s Sammy Bananas featured on new compilation!

 

By now, you’ve surely read our interview with Brooklyn’s crazy innovative mash-up band, Telephoned (and if you haven’t, what the heck are you waiting for?!). Well, big news for the dynamic duo of Sammy Bananas and Maggie Horn, as Sammy Bananas’ first official original song is featured on a new compilation album for Fool’s Gold Records, Fool’s Gold Vol. 1. I If you’ve actually made it to the end of this blog post without seeking out the album for yourself, its now available for download on iTunes or Amazon.

Yeasayer, Washed Out, Oh My!

When I first moved to Savannah, Georgia, I figured the music scene was going to be incredible with the hoards of young music listeners at every corner and coffee shop. But, alas, I was wrong, until a couple of days ago when Washed Out and Yeasayer pretty much negated the belief that Savannah couldn’t cultivate a music scene. Washed Out was up first and Ernest Greene delivered. Hailing from both South Carolina and Georgia, these southern fellas were extremely grateful and their synth-pop, sort of fuzzy-vinyl sounds were a great way to warm the crowd up. It happened to be Greene’s birthday and the front two rows of the crowd belted out an enthusiastic “Happy Birthday,” while he took a video on his iPhone.

Although Washed Out exceeded my expectations and confirmed me (and the crowd) as a fan, Yeasayer is what we were anxiously waiting for. The lights went off and three pillars on stage were lit red, an obvious choice for their first song “Madder Red.”  Anand Wilder woo-ed us all with his pajama pants while Chris Keating kept the crowd moving. “Tightrope” and “Grizelda” were especially beautiful. Every song was woven together perfectly like a well-written novel until both the climax and dénouement: “O.N.E.” and “Ambling Alp”. Pics Below — see more on our facebook page here!

— Frances

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Yeasayer Set List:

Madder red

Rome

Wait For the Summer

Tightrope

Red cave

Grizelda

Sunrise

Mondegreen

Strange Reunions

O.N.E

Ambling Alp.

Encore:

The Children

2080

Little J Gets Fired Up (and Naked!)

Courtesy of ThePrettyReckless.com

Fire, cemeteries, and nearly naked blonde babes – sounds like a typical music video right? In The Pretty Reckless’ “Make Me Wanna Die,” the blonde babe in question is lead singer Taylor Momsen aka Gossip Girl’s resident bratty wild-child Jenny Humphrey aka the 17 year-old actress once known for playing Cindy Lou Who in Jim Carrey’s version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Well, we’re not in Whoville anymore, or even the Upper East Side for that matter. Momsen writhes and snarls in the vid, all while peeling off layers of leather, flannel, and silk lingerie, until she’s completely naked (in a graveyard, obviousy…).  Ok, sure she kinda pulls it off, and the song is catchy in that ‘I would make this my AIM away message if I were 15’ kinda way.  But, bottom line, girl is 17! Courtney Love Lite, anyone?

-Lauren

Harvey Danger Releases Posthumous Single, Ansewers Question, “What Ever Happened to Those Guys?”

In 1998, “Flagpole Sitta” became the anthem for angsty burnouts across the country. What happened to those guys? Doing a little digging, we were surprised to find the band has quietly released two more albums since their debut, 1997’s Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone? (Fun fact: “Flagpole Sitta” will reportedly be renewed as the theme song for the UK sitcom Peep Show, now in its eighth season). We were further surprised, if not a bit flummoxed, to learn Harvey Danger formally called it quits last year.  Before they did, they recorded the just-released track “The Show Must Not Go On” while wrapping up their final string of shows last fall. Produced by John Goodmanson (Sleater-Kinney, Death Cab for Cutie, and all three Harvey Danger albums), the track is a far cry from the ire of their youth. Rather, it seems the band has come to terms with the trappings of commercial success. It can’t be easy being relegated to one hit wonder status (Local H, anyone?), but the enduring impact of “Flagpole Sitta” on alternative rock just might be worth the burn.

Check out the final jam, “The Show Must Not Go On”, for free  here. Also, check up on the rest of their catalog, including a brand new 15-track b-sides/rarities collection.

— Britt

NEW MUSIC: Tim Kasher Goes Solo

Courtesy of Saddle Creek

You might know Tim Kasher as the lead singer of indie/post-hardcore band Cursive, who has been putting out albums on the Omaha-based Saddle Creek label since the label’s debut in the mid-1990s. You might also know Tim Kasher as the lead singer of The Good Life, also on the Saddle Creek label, which began as a solo-project for Kasher to branch out into a folk-rock genre that didn’t quite fit with Cursive’s established sound. However, come October 5, you might know Tim Kasher as, well, Tim Kasher, solo artist.

With two separate bands with completely different sounds, what else does Kasher have to explore? “Cold Love,” the first single off of the upcoming album “The Sound of Monogamy,” was released earlier this week as a free download, and proves just how much more Kasher has to give. The song lyrically resembles a Cursive refrain, with fears of getting old and lost relationships, but the catchy chorus is more in tune with something from The Good Life. Overall, the song has a new feel to it, so perhaps the Saddle Creek superstar still has another band or two left in him.

-Lauren

NEW MUSIC: Jay Bells

Another Jay-Z mash-up? Yawn. It seems as though Hov has been mixed and mashed with almost every artist out there, from Linkin Park to Radiohead, on those ever-popular Jaydiohead tracks. However, newcomer DJ O-Face is taking his chances on this tried genre with his new sampler “Jay Bells,” available for download online at djoface.bandcamp.com.

The 6-track album features original mashups of some of Jay-Z’s biggest hits alongside songs off of Brooklyn-based Sleigh Bells’ debut noise-pop album Treats, which has earned huge praise since its May 2010 release. “Jay Bells” matches the strong drums, rifting guitars, and intense female vocals of Sleigh Bells with Jay’s iconic raps to create a new kind of mashup, that is perfect for your weekend party playlist.

Recommended tracks:
Girls, Kids, Girls
Dirt on Your Crown

-Lauren