[Watch] Toro Y Moi Performs Stripped Down, Piano Renditions of "Studies" and "Grown Up Calls"

In a recent visit to French radio station Le Mouv’, Chaz Bundick of Toro Y Moi performed two songs from his new album Anything In Return. Rather than dish out the layered, synthesized versions found on the album, Bundick instead performed dazzling, barebones renditions of "Studies" and "Grown Up Calls". The solo-piano performances display how Toro Y Moi's chilled-out electronic cuts are more than just drum machines and synths. Check them both out below.

(via Gorilla vs. Bear)

[News] Wavves Release New Track "Demon to Lean On", Detail New Album

Fuzzy surf pop ahoy. Nathan Williams' Wavves return with another new track and also detail new album to follow up 2010's King of the Beach. Titled Afraid of Heights it's set for release on March 26th and sounds pretty bleak in terms of content. Regarding the release Nathan said:

The general theme of the record is depression and anxiety, being death-obsessed and paranoid of impending doom. I feel like the narration is almost schizophrenic if you listen front to back; every word is important, even the constant contradictions and lack of self-worth. That’s all a part of this record-questioning everything not because I’m curious, but because I’m paranoid."

Sample "Demon To Lean On" below. It follows up the already teased "Sail To The Sun" and you can hear the darkness of the lyrics creeping through already. The LP is available for pre-order now, make the jump for the tracklisting and upcoming Wavves tour dates.

Afraid of Heights Tracklist:
01. Sail to the Sun
02. Demon to Lean On
03. Mystic
04. Lunge Forward
05. Dog
06. Afraid of Heights
07. Paranoid
08. Cop
09. Beat Me Up
10. Everyhting Is My Fault
11. That’s On Me
12. Gimme a Knife
13. I Can’t Dream
14. Hippies Is Punks (iTunes Bonus)

Wavves 2013 Tour Dates:
03/17 – Dallas, TX @ Prophet Bar *
03/19 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress *
03/20 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo *
03/21 – San Diego, CA @ The Casbah *
03/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill *
03/23 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Velvet Jones *
03/27 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge *
03/28 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room Lounge *
03/29 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry *
03/30 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave Bar *
04/01 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean *
04/02 – Columbus, OH @ The Basement *
04/03 – Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop *
04/04 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick *
04/05 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern *
04/06 – Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa *
04/08 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall *
04/09 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s *
04/11 – Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands Gallery *
04/12 – Flushing, NY @ Shea Stadium *
04/13 – Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel *
04/15 – Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn *
04/16 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge *
04/18 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s *
04/20 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom *

* = w/ FIDLAR

[News] Beacons Festival Announces Initial Line-Up

We've just got a little excited for the Live at Leeds announcement and now Beacons Festival has added to the good vibes. The festival is set festival takes place in August on the 16th to 18th August, 2013 at the Funkirk Estate, Skipton. It's up in t'Yorkshire Dales. Hills and countryside as far as the eys can see. For details on the bands announced so far make the jump and head over to the official website for details regarding tickets and pricing. Grab them early and you'll save some pennies too, just so you know. 

Django Django, Theo Parrish , Eats Everything, David Rodigan Obe, Oneman, Floating Points, Ben Ufo, Moon Duo, Andres, Dutch Uncles, Bondax, Esben & The Witch, Bicep, Egyptian Hip Hop, Machine Drum, Channel One Sound System, Move D, Chad Valley, Jon K (hoya Hoya), Hookworms, Childhood, Temples, Drenge, Wolf Alice, Jaws and Thumpers.

[News] Live at Leeds Announces Initial Line-Up

Festival line-ups are beginning to come in thick and fast right now. Today is no different as the initial bands set to play Live at Leeds over the May Bank Holiday (3rd-6th May) have been announced. Some big names to get fans of the Yorkshire festival excited include Alunageorge, Darwin Deez, Tribes, The Pigeon Detectives, Rudimental and Everything Everything just to name a few. Some SKOA faves including The 1975 and Little Comets are also set to play over the weekend. We can expect over a hundred bands to play over twelve stages in venues across Leeds City Centre and tickets are available now. More announcements will follow but for now make the jump to see the full list of bands playing so far. We'll let you know of updates in the coming months. 

The Vaccines will be playing a separate ticketed event on the Sunday of Live at Leeds with special support from TOY too so there's plenty of reasons to make the trip. 

Alunageorge
Arlissa
Battle Lines
Blackeye
Charles Bruno
Charlie Straw
China Rats
Dan Croll
Dancing Years
Darwin Deez
Department M
Everything Everything
Fawn Spots
George Ezra
Happy Daggers
Harry George Johns
Hudson Taylor
Hunting Bears
Indiana
Jacob Banks
Jagwar Ma 
Joe Banfi
Joel Baker
Jordan Allen
King Krule
Laura Mvula
Lewis Watson
Little Comets
Marika Hackman
Marsicans
Nick Mulvey
Ofei
Peace
Pete Roe
Peter & Kerry
Post War Glamour Girls
Roo Panes
Rudimental
Ryan Keen
Saint Raymond
Sam Smith
Seasfire
Sj.Bravo
Skaters
Soley
Sons And Lovers
Sweet Baboo
Swim Deep
Swimming Lessons
The 1975
The Crookes
The Family Rain
The Glass Caves
The Grand
The Neighbourhood
The Pigeon Detectives
The Staves
The Struts
Theme Park
Thomas J Speight
Tribes
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Wave Machines
We Were Frontiers
Witch Hunt
Yadi

[News] James Blake Maps Out 2013 Tour, Announces New Album

James Blake maps out a North American tour starting with a spot at this year's Coachella Festival. In between and following the two festival performances, Blake will hit major spots across the continent with the final date on May 13th in Carrboro, NC.

More exciting, though, is his announcement of a new sopohmore album planned to release later this year. Chances are he'll be debuting a ton of new material from the untitled LP during this upcoming tour. Check out the tour dates after the jump.

James Blake 2013 Tour Dates:
04/14 – Indio, CA @ Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
04/16 – San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine
04/17 – San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine
04/18 – Santa Cruz CA @ Rio Theatre
04/21 – Indio, CA @ Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
04/23 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune
04/24 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
04/25 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
04/27 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
04/28 – Denver. CO @ Ogden Theatre
05/01 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
05/02 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
05/03 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
05/04 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
05/06 – Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
05/08 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues Boston
05/09 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
05/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
05/12 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
05/13 – Carrboro, NC @ Cats Cradle
05/22-23 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
5/29 – Madrid, ES @ Sala Capital

[SKOA Presents] The 1975

I don't know if you've noticed, but it's 2013. Not only that but January is nearly over and time seems to be melting away unlike the bloody rubbish weather hitting the UK right now. I've celebrated my birthday, started the year in New York and now I'm sat at a desk in a very cold Manchester counting the days until the weekend. Normality has resumed and I am well and truly in need of things to look forward to. Step forward Manchester's The 1975. We've talked about the four-piece before with tracks such as "You" and "Sex", but  I think 2013 is the year we'll truly see them shine. Plus, it's always nice to have things to look forward to. 

So what do we have to look forward to from The 1975 this year I hear you cry? Plenty. That's what. The band have just announced a new EP, following up last year's Sex, and they've set its release for March 4th via the ever trusty Dirty Hit. Music For Cars (yeah, how good of an EP title is that!?) is bound to be a riot. Lead track "Chocolate" can be heard below and it sure is a sweet treat. If you've seen these guys live no doubt you'll know it already. The band are also planning a full-length release later in the year and have been busy co-producing it with the award-winning Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, Foals). That's just the start.

In March they'll make a trip to Austin, Texas to perform some shows at the magical music pilgrimage known as SXSW and prior to that they've penned in even more UK dates. Yes, more UK dates! I think they'll need a fair few Now That's What I Call Music compilation discs for the tour bus and not just Music For Cars! Check out the dates below and keep your eyes well and truly peeled for more from these guys. We'll be sure to keep you in the loop. We'll be catching up with the band soon for a chat about what more you can expect from them in 2013. They'll be everywhere by the end of the year, and we'll be right there with 'em. 

The 1975 2013 Tour Dates 

Mon 28th Jan - Sheffield - Soyo 

Wed 30th Jan - Bristol - Exchange

Thu 31st Jan - Guildford - Boileroom 

Fri 1st Feb - Aldershot - West End Centre

Sat 2nd Feb - Birmingham - Temple 

Mon 4th Feb - Cambridge - Portland Arms

Tue 5th Feb - Exeter - Cavern 

Wed 6th Feb - Chelmsford - Hooga

Thu 7th Feb - Kingston - New Slang

Fri 8th Feb - Brighton - Green Door Store

Sat 9th Feb - Southampton - Lennons 

Mon 11th Feb - Liverpool - Shipping Forecast

Tue 12th Feb - Middlesbrough - Mixtape @ Keys

Wed 13th Feb - Nottingham - Bodega

Thu 14th Feb - Chester - The Compass

Fri 15th Feb - Preston - 53 Degrees

Sat 16th Feb - Manchester - Deaf Institute 10pm curfew

Mon 18th Feb - London - Borderline 

[Watch] Kendrick Lamar Performs "Swimming Pools (Drank)" and "Poetic Justice" on SNL

Saturday Night Live is a proving ground for late-night television, serving as a reminder for the mainstream of who's got it and who doesn't. Kendrick Lamar proved that last night when he performed on the long-running sketch comedy show. As if his amazing studio debut good kid m.A.A.d. city didn't display his talent enough, Lamar's confident live renditions of both "Swimming Pools (Drank)" and "Poetic Justice" surely did. The Compton rapper went beyond that calm, collected demeanor, though, making an appearance in The Lonely Island's digital short for their Adam Levine-featuring single "Yolo". Check out all three videos below.

good kid m.A.A.d. city is out now. Grab yourself a copy here.

"Swimming Pools (Drank)":

"Poetic Justice":

SNL Digital Short with The Lonely Island and Adam Levine:

[Watch] Electric Guest Perform "The Bait" on Conan

Los Angeles band Electric Guest paid a visit to late night television's king of awkward, Conan O'Brien, where they performed their song "The Bait". Check out their live rendition of the track above.

Electric Guest's debut album Mondo is out now.