Screw SXSW

I am kidding, I, in know way, have any ill will towards SXSW and can't wait till next year when I will be there. Any festival that starts with Jack White playing "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" is something I want to be a part of. Watch the NPR video here. I will "go to there" next year and I'm bringing Portage and Main with me.

Portage and Main had their CD release party last night at a sold out Anza Club. This is their debut CD, they had never played a live gig as Portage and Main before and they sold the place out. Clearly there is a lot of excitement about this band. Adrian Glynn opened the night before The Sumner Brothers hit the stage. Next up Portage and Main (John Sponarski and Harold Donnelly*) who graciously took the stage with a heartfelt thank-you to the sold out audience. They played a good chunk of the album and probably would have played more if not for time constraints. The crowd was completely elated with every song. A very strong (never mind first) show, Portage and Main are easily living up to the hype that surrounds them. Not only is that the best The Anza Club has ever sounded (I'm talking sound quality here) but Portage and Main didn't miss a note. Download the album here and support this rad new band you won't regret it. I hate comparing new bands to other bands (no i don't, I actually get a little high from it) but if I had to say who they sort of sound  like, I would go with Band of Horses.

John Sponarski (of Portage and Main) feeling the love at The Anza Club

*huge props to Harold's amazing beard 

Today is sort of a release day of my own with http://www.tastyears.com/ officially launching today. There will be some minor improvements happening to the site as we go but head over and check it out.

Lot's of rad new releases this week. Here's a few highlights: Mother Mother - Eureka, The Death Set - Michel Poiccard, The Naked and Famous - Passive Me Aggressive You, and Oh Land - Oh Land. I highly recommend The Death Set and Oh Land.

Here is Wolf & I by Oh Land (I'm spinning the shit out of this track right now)

Wolf & I by OhLand

Another favourite of mine right now is Braids (top 3 albums of the year so far for suressies). Here is Plath Heart from Braids.
Braids - Plath Heart by All Tomorrows Parties

Here is the above mentioned The Naked and Famous with Young Blood
The Naked and Famous - Young Blood by Check Yo Ponytail

And finishing out todays tracks of great new bands with strong female leads is Austra. Here is Beat & the Pulse by Austra
Austra - Beat & The Pulse (Extended Version) by DominoRecordCo

Finally if you haven't checked out the latest from J Mascis titled Several Shades of Why do so (J is the man). Likewise The Pains of Being Pure at Heart new album Belong is totally awesome.

Beard, beard, beard, beard.