Indie Dispatches: Recent Signings, Free Agents and Year End Lists Begin
L.A.'s Active Child among Vagrant Records latest signings
Somewhere along the line in the last month or two, news of a few indie signings seemed to somehow slip through the cracks. Most particularly Vagrant Records, who has been busy adding much buzzed about LA combo Active Child to their ever expanding and diversifying roster, along with inking one bona fide legend, Polly Jean Harvey, for her new album – quite a coup. The LA label has done an excellent job of branching out beyond the emo niche it was once known for, and have developed an ‘A Class’ stable of indie rock acts that includes Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Hold Steady, STARS, School of Seven Bells, and of course Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. PJ Harvey’s new album Let England Shake hits stores February 15, while Active Child’s debut should look for a release in the spring.
Meanwhile, what seems like ages ago (and probably was!), blog favorites DOM from Massachusetts signed on with EMI-offshoot, Astralwerks, with a re-issue of the band’s Sun Bronzed Greek Gods EP slated as their first release in early 2011. And now split from EMI and back in the ranks of indie, Mute Records announced that the first artists to sign to the new version of the label include Yeasayer, Londoners S.C.U.M., and Texan singer songwriter Josh T Pearson. Meanwhile in the past week, Sub Pop announced what seems be the 50th new signing for the year, indie-rock supergroup (with members of Man Man, Modest Mouse & Islands/Unicorns) Mister Heavenly… And what of the free agents out there? Rumors are looming of an announcement about The Head and the Heart signing to a certain Northwest indie (which seems public knowledge but still hasn’t officially been announced)… Will Odd Future sign with XL Recordings, who appear to have been laying out the red carpet for the controversial LA hip hop collective (including reportedly flying their entire posse to the UK)… What will become of Bright Eyes? This past week details of their forthcoming album The People’s Key (due February 15) were announced. Following the record, which is their last for Saddle Creek, will the project be done, or will Conor Oberst follow the path of his solo projects by bringing Bright Eyes to Merge? Or will it be another indie (such as was the case with Monsters of Folk)? And slowly emerging (and pricking up people’s ears) is the fact that critically acclaimed Seattle singer-songwriter Jesse Sykes (and the Sweet Hereafter) is in the market for a new label home, after a number of much beloved releases on Seattle’s Barsuk. Sykes supposedly has avid fans at both small and large labels, indie and major, and a with a new record in the can, chances are she won’t remain unsigned for long.
Of course, since we are now in the waning days of 2010, most of the news in the music media concerns the ubiquitous year-end lists – one of the first being NME’s top 75 albums. There is no disputing the UK rag’s choice for their album of the year – These New Puritans Hidden – was baffling, and has had more than one pundit scratching their heads (possibly even the band’s label), but hats off to Domino Records for nabbing that top spot… Subsequent lists from Spin and Rolling Stone (and surely many others) have been released, and as to this column’s picks for the year’s favorites? Well, that will just have to wait until next time…
- Cool Hand Luke
09.27.10File Under: Stuff We Like
Twin Shadow @ Echoplex, Thursday Sept. 30th
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Indie Dispatches: Interpol’s Return to Matador, Original Signal in Trouble? & Labels Act on Active Child
Interpol parts ways with Capitol, set to release new album on Matador
Cementing the fact that 2010 is going to be a blockbuster year for independent artists, was the news last week of the impending release of a new record from Interpol. The album will be self-titled and is the New York band’s fourth full-length release. The interesting twist to the story is that the group has decamped from their major label, Capitol, returning to their original home on indie-label Matador Records, who will release the album on September 14th. Those keeping score may recall quite the melee in 2006 as a slew of major record companies tried to sign the band, with Capitol ultimately winning the derby and releasing the band’s third album Our Love to Admire. But the stay proved to be an unsuccessful one, with figures showing the earlier Matador albums greatly outselling the Capitol release, leaving the two to part ways after just one record. As to whether this is an ominous signal for other indie acts that have recently signed to major labels, such as Band of Horses and James Mercer (of The Shins), only time will tell.
The independent arena itself is not free of travails however, if rumors of the demise of Original Signal Recordings prove to be true, it will leave a number of high profile indie bands looking for a new home. Best-selling Swedish group, The Sounds, Kill Hannah, and Ingrid Michaelson are just three of the acts that had their music released via the NY-based label, and who could now be highly sought after free agents.
Finally, it appears that L.A. combo Active Child currently has at least five independent labels vying to ink the band, with suitors including heavyweights Vagrant, Glassnote, and XL. Active Child is centered around choirboy-turned-indie-musician Pat Grossi, who is also noted for his harp playing on stage. The group was among the buzz acts to come out of SXSW this year, and they recently released an EP, Curtis Lane, on Filter Recordings.
- Cool Hand Luke
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Bad Rabbits @ Troubadour Wednesday, April 21st
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SXSW 2010: Who to Watch Pt. 2
Pat Grossi is Active Child: One to Watch @ SXSW
As the mass music migration to Austin for SXSW begins next week, we know many folks are scrambling to get travel and accommodations in order (e.g. booking last minute flights, hotel rooms, couches and floors to sleep on, etc..). But in between sending party RSVP’s and stocking up on Airborne, make sure to check out the LP Questionnaire/Pick 3 series over on SXSW.com. Some of our favorite tid bits include fun facts and recommended artist-picks from notable industry friends and artists such as Nic Adler, Matthew Mayfield and the DeSavia/Knoepfle/Briggs trio. Now on to pt. 2…
Expect to see lots of festival goers and industry folks checking out The Young Veins. The new Crush-managed act is comprised of two former members of Panic! At the Disco. Their upcoming tour with Boston’s Bad Rabbits, who are garnering a good level of interest as well, will see both bands making stops at the festival… Indie-pop songstress Meiko will play Thursday night (3/18) at The Parish and it looks like her sophomore album will see a summer release, most likely on Interscope. Expect to see publishers in attendance… Labels are keeping an eye on California duo HoneyHoney who play the ASCAP showcase on Wednesday night (3/17), while Obi Best, who also sings backup with The Bird and The Bee, will be playing the ASCAP’s Friday (3/19) show… Surfer Blood have a full dance-card in Austin, with lots of performances scheduled. The Florida indie-rockers will mostly likely be seeing a lot of attention from both domestic and international on-lookers… Pat Grossi, who performs as Active Child, will also be busy with a number of shows next week, including the Thursday (3/18) Filter showcase at Cedar Street; the L.A. local has recently received numerous positive nods in tastemaker press… Those sticking it out through Saturday (3/20) should catch electro-dance act Pretty Lights at La Zona Rosa. The group’s first two albums have over 300,000 downloads and they head to Austin on the tail of five sold-out dates in their home state of Colorado. Classixx is another electronic duo to catch, they play the Green Label Sound showcase on Friday (3/19)… Finally a little trivia: How many 90’s-era rock acts playing secret shows during SXSW can you name? The winner gets a limited edition signed 7″ from Pedro the Singing Monkey…
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Spring Summer @ Bootleg Theater w/ Audra Mae - Thurs 2/25
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