Neutral Uke Hotel Kicks Off Tour in Boston April 20th

Neutral Uke Hotel, who took the world by storm last summer with their live performances of Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over The Sea are about to embark on a short tour this April. But Neutral Uke Hotel isn’t your average cover band; they play this beloved album entirely on ukulele. They will be joined for most of the tour by Golden Bloom and The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library, two bands that contain members of Neutral Uke Hotel. Click Here to Read More..

Staff Infection: Valentine's Day

It's kind of a cliche to hate Valentine's Day. Especially if you're single. While I can't say that I'm in love with the card- and candy-selling holiday, I took this year's February 14th to explore the sadder side of the love song. From the triumphant to the tissue-worthy, here's my list of love songs that touch the darker side of the heart.







Fitz and the Tantrums - "Money Grabber" from Pickin' Up the Pieces



Cee Lo Green "F*ck You"



The Decemberists - "O Valencia!" from The Crane Wife

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b2BzZySARo

George Jones - "He Stopped Loving Her Today"



Every week a different Green Light Go staff member will write about what bands have infected their ears for the week and give you an opportunity to hear it for yourself.

This week: Kelly Bennett, Junior Publicist Click Here to Read More..

Lawrence & Leigh Announce National Tour Including SXSW Date

Bringing their haunting, intimate live show on the road to include an Austin showcase at SXSW is Lawrence & Leigh. The New York duo’s dream-colored dazzling indie-folk is sure to wow audiences at the new Revolution Bar on March 17 during Everything Independent’s SXSW Day Party. The Revolution Bar show will be open to the public, all ages, and entrance will cost a donation of a canned good.

Lawrence & Leigh put as much energy into their live shows as they do their meticulously crafted recorded music. Though the vibe tends to be simpler and more intimate, with Lawrence & Leigh’s Andrew Kalleen and Kristin Stokes being the only ones on stage, they put their power into creating a personal experience for the audience. “The goal is to give an experience, not an exact replica of the album - this is the live interpretation,” they say. Click Here to Read More..

'A Library Experience' with Michael J. Epstein

Eight women and one guy?! No, this is not some crazy Valentine’s Day story or recent gossip about Charlie Sheen. What it happens to be is Michael J. Epstein and his female companions of Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library, a brilliant collaboration of instruments with a down tempo kind of vibe.

Representin' for the women, Epstein's choice of eight female bandmates was to show off their talents within the music world. As recently featured on JimSullivanInk.com, Epstein stated, “I see this as an opportunity to help bring a new crop of women into the Boston music scene and showcase their talents as collaborators, arrangers, singers, and performers.

Click here to learn more about Michael J. Epstein and Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library.

The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library - Amylee by greenlightgo

Click Here to Read More..

GLG Fresh Mp3 Friday: Dear Mr. President

Forty-four Americans have taken the presidential oath: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." Before you complain about your job, try doing all of that in a days worth.

Dear Mr. Presidents: we've loved you, hated you, admired you, cried with you, fought with you, changed with you and made history with you. In appreciation to our present and past presidents, we've asked Michael J. Epstein, Shawn Fogel and John Shipe to tell us who their favorite defender of the Constitution is, along with one of their personal songs they think best describes them.



Michael Epstein of The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library
Favorite President: Dwight D. Eisenhower
Song: "Amylee"
For Fans of: Magnetic Fields, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
For more of Michael, click here.

"In addition to fighting for racial equality, Dwight D. Eisenhower played extensive catch-up in the space race against The Soviet Union in the 50s. If not for Eisenhower's commitment to U.S. space exploration, I may have never been able to write a song with so much inter-stellar imagery."

The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library - Amylee by greenlightgo

Shawn Fogel of Golden Bloom
Favorite President: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Song: "Doomsday"
Genre: Indie/rock/pop
For Fans of: Ben Kweller, Wilco (Summerteeth Era)
For more of Shawn, click here.

"For my presidential pick I'd like to select Dwight D. Eisenhower, not so much for what he did during his presidency but for his famous Farewell Address to the American people just before leaving office. In this incredibly profound, if not prophetic speech, Eisenhower warned us against the dangers of the military-industrial complex becoming more and more integrated into our government and our lives. Fifty years later (almost exactly) we find ourselves trapped in a state of constant and potentially endless wars, at the mercy of the very thing President Eisenhower spoke about. In honor of Eisenhower's foresight, I present a Golden Bloom fan-favorite as well as the main export of the military-industrial complex: Doomsday Devices!"

Golden Bloom-Doomsday by greenlightgo

John Shipe
Favorite President: Barack H. Obama
Song: "Lion"
Genre: Acoustic/Indie/Rock
For fans of: Josh Ritter, Jonathan Rice and Elvis Costello
For more of John, click here.

"I think my opening tune 'Lion' may be paralleled, with the opening lyric:
'No matter what I do, good or bad, everyone's got something to say.'"
John Shipe - Lion by greenlightgo

Presidents by greenlightgo

To our fans, please feel free to post any of the approved songs on your blog or tweet to your friends. Check out our list of clients and available mp3s here: greenlightgopublicity.com/clients. If you're not on our email list to receive these directly and want to be, please send an email over to info@glgpub.com. Click Here to Read More..

High Five! from Seafarer's Patrick Grzelewski

Chicago's maritime men offer up a high five to explain what makes Seafarer tick:

1. The Harmony

Matt purchased this little amp on eBay for literally about ten dollars. I'm still stunned to this day how it exists simultaneously as a complete piece of crap and the greatest creative/inspirational tool in our humble arsenal. I remember Matt calling me one day, totally beside himself with excitement. Being an unemployed carpenter at the time, Matt put his misfortune to good use in crafting a beautifully finished wooden home for the busted up chassis. The amp now lives at his house, where we do most of our songwriting. The Harmony spews out a sonic texture that could only be described as "shitty." Yet this gritty, barely functional little bastard somehow brings out the best in us; its rustic charm uncannily completes our most fragmented of compositions.

2. Metropolis Coffee

In more ways than one, Seafarer is fueled by one of the world's oldest and most complex agricultural commodities. I roast coffee for a living at an artisan roaster and wholesaler on Chicago's North Side, for a company called the Metropolis Coffee Company. Aside from actually making a sustainable income off our music (which we're still working on), this is the greatest job in the world. Roasting provides a very separate creative outlet and it gives me a chance to actually listen to records all day long, in a really unique environment. At Metropolis, we meticulously taste and evaluate coffee from all around the world (some current offerings include Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Peru), and we work to develop roasting techniques and resulting profiles that best represent the products farmers have worked tirelessly to cultivate. The Metropolis also serves the crucial purpose of being Seafarer's practice space. While Matt's house is a great creative songwriting space on weekdays, the roasting garage is a place where we can really let loose when production shuts down for the weekend. It's a great venue to practice the dynamic of live performances and we can be really loud. Adding to the very musical vibe of that environment, the front hallway walls are adorned with various prints from the famous Chicago poster artist Jay Ryan, who is a good friend of the company's owner. Jay's band Dianogah occasionally stages practice there too.

3. This Sign

I saw this on the door of The Riviera Theater before a Guided By Voices show and thought it was hilarious. Why is "extensively" in quotes?! No strobe lights were used during the entire performance, FYI. It was such a great show though, the band played three encores.

4. Trees

I can't really explain my fascination with trees, but it's pretty obsessive. I have entire film rolls of weird tree pictures. There is just something so eerie and deeply personal about their various stages of life and their juxtaposition to the world around us. Trees somehow represent both a defiance of nature and the embodiment of it. Weird!

5. Ava

Call me old fashioned, but a daughter to a father is simply a reason for living. She's completely changed my life and I love her more with each passing day. Nothing could have prepared me for having a child, nor could anything replace what it's meant to have her come into my life. Here's lookin' at you kid...

To celebrate the end of the nine to five, a Green Light Go staff member or artist will leave you with their short list of favorite things, better known as the High Five!

This week's High Five! is brought to you by: Seafarer's Patrick Grzelewski

Click Here to Read More..

The Morning Code to Give Away Unreleased Track To Supportive Twitter Followers

Twitter is all about telling people about the latest thing that you’re excited about. That’s why the New York rock band, The Morning Code, is using the service to spread the word about their album, Tell Someone. Doing the good deed of passing on the message “#Tell Someone about The Morning Code” will get participating Twitter users a secret link to the band’s unreleased mp3 “Start Again”.

The Morning Code is committed to getting their music out to the people who will love it. Frontman Ashwin Alexander says, “If even a handful of people can cherish some of our music the same we that we cherish our favorite bands’ music, that would be amazing”. A testament to this attitude is the fact that their album, Tell Someone is available for free from their website. It’s there, ready to be cherished. Click Here to Read More..

Facebook Quiz Reveals What Type of Lover You Are Through John Shipe’s Songs Take The Quiz, Get A Free Song

Nothing gets you more in the mood for Valentine’s Day like a good love song, and this year, songwriter John Shipe wants to help you find out what type of lover you are and give you a free song from his latest album, Villain, to match. By simply taking a Facebook quiz about your love life, you’ll unlock the song that most matches your style. Nice guy or girl who has no luck in love? You’ll get “Villain”. Give up everything for love? Then “No Use Crying Over Spilt Life” is your tune. Too busy saving the world to make time for love? Then you’ll hear “What Right Do We Have To Fall In Love?”. And if you’ve been alone for a while and worried that you’re the problem, “Love Belongs To Everyone” is your love song. Facebook users can access the quiz here: http://apps.facebook.com/makeaquiz/?target=home&sr=ff&xid=2124638&hid=62a5de1cce75fd5ddb8883ac7dee9da4 Click Here to Read More..

Grand Atlantic to Play 2nd Annual International Psychout at SXSW on March 18th

Brisbane’s power pop quartet, Grand Atlantic will bring the psychedelic sounds from their new album to The 2nd Annual International Psychout at Paisley Umbrella in Austin on March 18. This SXSW show is part of their US tour. The tour will also include dates in Chicago and New York. The Hoa Hoas, The Broadfield Marchers, Strangers Family Band, Runaway Suns, The Ugly Beats and The Chevelles will join them.

Grand Atlantic recorded their as yet untitled third record in Seacliff Lunatic Asylum, an abandoned psychiatric hospital near Dunedin, New Zealand, where they delved into darker emotional territory, experimented with new recording techniques and experienced the effects of their haunting (and possibly haunted) surroundings. They will bring the psychedelic results of their explorations to the United States this March, playing gigs in Chicago, New York and at SXSW, kicking off in Chicago at Reggie’s Music Joint on March 11th. Click Here to Read More..

Baby Teardrops to Play SXSW Show at The Liberty on March 19th

South By Southwest fans, prepare for a dose of New York City rocker attitude. Baby Teardrops, full of propulsive energy, will deliver a live show that promises audiences at Austin’s The Liberty a bang in the heart. The band’s first show at SXSW will take place on March 19.

Given the energy bursting from the NYC trio, it should come as no surprise that they bring that power to the stage. “Live we are ruthless. Tight and fast and loud,” says frontman Matthew Dunehoo. “We mean a mean business. Live, we’ll hold our own up against anyone. We’ll take on Springsteen for Pete’s sake.” Audiences can expect to hear songs from their forthcoming debut album, X is For Love, which comes out April 12, as well as some new songs not yet recorded. Click Here to Read More..

The Morning Birds To Release The Quickening April 26, 2011

When you get out of your own way and let ideas flow, there is no limit to the things you will create. LA’s The Morning Birds, masters of synthesizing influences and inspiration, are following this philosophy and reaping the rewards. The duo’s second LP, The Quickening, out April 26, aims to pass that inspiration on to listeners worldwide with passionate, soulful and uplifting songs.

The Quickening is a study in the power of contrast. While forming an uncanny mixture of sounds that embrace unlikely sources, the band’s sound is both familiar and mysterious, groovy yet mellow, profound but fun. It is often times ground breaking. Their powerful bass lines, lush harmonies and soulful strings are complimented by break beats, trumpets, and cascading keys while Jennifer Thorington and Samuel Markus’ vocals unfold into a gentle blend as if Imogen Heap met Andre 3000.

There’s no place like home, especially to explore your creativity, and The Morning Birds are lucky enough to be able to work out of theirs. “It’s peace on earth and our own little heaven and outstanding creative space.” That is how Jennifer Thorington describes their amazing home. With an amazing view of the mountains outside of LA, a temple next door and a freestanding music studio, it’s the perfect place to create an album like The Quickening. They say of the process, “Sam opened up to embrace more of his creativity and Jenn has evolved as a writer and singer and has had equal creative input in all aspects of the songwriting and recording processes.”


The Quickening Track List

1. My Own Little World
2. The QUICKENING
3. Soar
4. Oh Yeah! (Feat Trevor Hall)
5. Smart So
6. Hearts Desire
7. Resonance
8. Shasha
9. A Make, Her Aid
10. Rose Horses
11. Sunset Drive Feat. Kieran Blake
12. Embers of Your Love
13. It's Then You'll Know
14. Springtime
15. Take Control
16. Be Gentle to Your Mind
17. De Light
18. The Gospel Song
19. Dylan Thomas
20. Understanding
21. Blue Moon
22. WooHoo
Click Here to Read More..

Staff Infection: Spin City

It's 2pm on a Monday and I've been counting down the hours until my spinning class at 5:30pm. Who would have thought I would have ever been excited about exercising. Certainly not me. I've also found a new found love for Rihanna and Eminem as a result. I'll spare you from that playlist though, instead offering a solid indie rock list grounded in my roots of what makes me oh-so-hipster-cool.




Animal Collective, "My Girls"


Amy Winehouse, "Rehab"


Lily Allen, "Smile"


Apples in Stereo, "Can You Feel It?"


Arctic Monkeys, "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"


The Black Keys, "When the Lights Go Out"


Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, "Shuffle Your Feet"


Blur, "Girls & Boys"


Bridges & Powerlines, "Balcony"
Bridges & Powerlines - Balcony by greenlightgo

Brandi Carlile, "Dying Day"


Coconut Records, "Microphone"


Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. "Simple Girl" "Live on KEXP"


The Delays, "Valentine"


Broken Bells, "The High Road"


The Cooper Temple Clause, "Promises, Promises"


Each Monday a different Green Light Go staff member will let you in on what songs have infected their ears for the week, while giving you the opportunity to share in the experience yourself.


This week: Janelle Rogers, Green Light Go Owner and Publicist Extraordinaire Click Here to Read More..

High Five! from Gywneth & Monko

The only thing on the minds of Gwyneth & Monko these days is their first full-length album, which is due out on Feburary 15, 2011. Well, that and making sure they have enough Sudafed and NyQuil in the medicine cabinet to fight off the winter plague.

These are a few things that have hindered and aided their record making process:

1) Mycobacterium tuberculosis

2) The Sun

3) Found In Benson (Weekly Zine)

4) The Raven

5) The Song of The Robin Redbreast

To celebrate the end of the nine to five, a Green Light Go staff member or artist will leave you with their short list of favorite things, better known as the High Five!

This week's High Five! is brought to you by: Gwyneth & Monko

Click Here to Read More..

GLG Fresh Mp3 Friday: Love Means...

Whether you call it a Hallmark holiday or Valentine's Day, you will be submerged by hundreds of advertisements encouraging you to express your love to someone special. No matter how large your ego may be, secretly, everyone hopes for the love god Eros, son of Aphrodite (a.k.a. Cupid), to strike us with his arrow.

If then, here are a few definitions of love to help guide you.

We've asked a few of our GLG clients to define what love is and what it means to them. So, if sorting out your feelings feels a lot like Egypt's government right now, this is for you.

And while you're waiting on Cupid, enjoy the featured Mp3s.


John Shipe

"If it grows, it's love, no matter how small the spark. If it fades, it never was, no matter how brightly it burned."

Genre: Acoustic/Indie/Rock
For fans of: Josh Ritter, Jonathan Rice and Elvis Costello

Facebook

John Shipe- Little Boats by greenlightgo


Lawrence & Leigh

"To love another person is to learn the song that is in their heart, and to sing it to them when they have forgotten." - Thomas Chandler

Genre: Folk/Experimental/Indie Rock
For fans of: Joanna Newsom, Dirty Projectors, Fleet Foxes

Facebook

Lawrence&Leigh Chelsea Nights by greenlightgo

The Morning Birds

"Love is not something we celebrate one day a year. It is a constant renewal of our appreciation for each other and our lives together. Everyday we make a conscious decision to be as present, open, honest, caring and compassionate as we can be. It definitely is a direct reflection of how we feel about ourselves. The more we can help one another see the love we hold within for our selves, the deeper we can open up our hearts. Not only for each other, but everyone we come in contact with. For us, love is a constantly evolving celebration of the connections we have in our lives and a beautiful way to experience our intimate and unique bond we hold together." - Sam & Jenn

Genre: Experimental/Folk/Hip-hop

For fans of: Imogen Heap, Andre 3000, Animal Collective

Facebook

The Morning Birds-Hearts Desire by greenlightgo


Baby Teardrops

"I'm not that into 'Squishy Love,' so the Feb. 14th holiday has never had too great a significance for me. Though, there is one Valentine's day that's taken another little piece of my heart. It was Feb. 2004. Me and my best buddy Mick were out to dinner at our favorite old school Italian restaurant in Kansas City, the oldest restaurant in those parts and revered by many..." - Matthew Dunehoo

To catch the rest of the story, click here.

Genre: Grunge/Pop/Rock

For fans of: The Pixies, The New Pornographers

Facebook

Baby Teardrops, Banged In The Heart by greenlightgo

Talk About Falling In Love- Matthew Dunehoo by greenlightgo

To our fans, please feel free to post any of the approved songs on your blog or tweet to your friends. Check out our list of clients and available mp3s here: greenlightgopublicity.com. If you're not on our email list to receive these directly and want to be, please send an email over to info@glgpub.com.

GLG Fresh Mp3: 2/04/11 by greenlightgo

Click Here to Read More..

The Other Side with Illustrator Christopher Darling

Christopher Darling explains that he's always had a penchant for "creative things."

Although Darling's work as a professional illustrator is often

inspired by Jens Lekman,

Cake,

and the other bands he creates artwork for, he wouldn’t call himself a musician. While growing up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, there was a famous pianist who lived in his neighborhood. Although he would often mow her lawn in exchange for piano lessons, Christopher soon traded his sheet music in for fountain pens, moved to New York City, and the rest is history.

Green Light Go was able to tear Christopher Darling away from his drawing table long enough to tell us what it's like to be on the Other Side:

Green Light Go: How did you get started as a professional illustrator? Was there a defining moment that inspired you to work in this field, or was this career path always in the cards?

Christopher Darling: I earned my Bachelor's degree in Fine Art and Creative Writing at Western Michigan University. When I graduated, the creative job field and the employment rate in the state of Michigan was pretty awful. I had a friend in Kalamazoo who was a flavor chemist at A.M. Todd, which is a large company that produces mint and flavors of candy. I ended up illustrating new concept candy products for A.M. Todd, which turned me on to illustration. Later, I ordered a book on illustration written by Marshal Arisman and loved it. I wrote Arisman a letter and ended up earning an MFA in Illustration under his direction at the School of Visual Arts in New York.

GLG: Over the years you’ve created artwork for bands like Cake. How did you get involved in designing art for musicians and who are you currently working with [or would like to work with moving forward]?

CD: I have always tried to encourage other artists, writers, and musicians, including those I look up to. I believe that having a community is crucial in the art and music world, so I send emails to people whose work I like. A while back, I sent an email to Cake frontman John McCrea, to tell him how much I love his songwriting. He asked me if I wanted to do some artwork for the band. John and I still keep in touch, knowing him has been really encouraging. Currently, I’m working on a series of Robert Johnson drawings for Sony Music. Sony owns Johnson's original recordings, so my drawings will be animated to tell the story of his life and the Blues. I have been talking with Jens Lekman about doing some artwork as well, so we’ll see. I’ve always wanted to do artwork for The Sea and Cake (I must really like cake).

GLG: What tools do you use to create your illustrations and what is your creative process like?

CD: Generally, I use pen and ink, but I'll also use Photoshop once in a while. I like to mix it up occasionally and make a print or a collage...my style really depends on the parameters of the project. I like to begin drawing on inexpensive computer paper, I have stacks of it everywhere. That initial child-like attempt is really important to me; it is an energy I always want to have present.

GLG: Where do you find inspiration for your art?

CD: I find a lot of inspiration in people. I love watching people on the subway. I like to see what kind of shoes they have on, how they wear their clothes, and what kind of music they listen to. I love culture and humor as well.

GLG: From an artist’s point of view, how do you know that you are a good match for a band? What things do you have to keep in mind before agreeing to create art for a musician?

CD: I think having similar interests and sensibilities is important. The art should compliment or reflect the creative spirit of the music (or vise versa). Before agreeing to do artwork for a band, it is important to discuss a budget, a contract, or talk about what type of art direction will be involved, whether that direction comes from the label, a manager, or a member of the band.

GLG: What are the most rewarding and challenging things about being an artist?

CD: Balancing things such as relationships, money, and my ego.

The Other Side highlights the talented folks behind the scenes of the music we listen to. The Other Side features producers, engineers, booking agents, photographers, radio DJs, management teams, and label representatives.

This week’s The Other Side is brought to you by: Lauren Roberts

Click Here to Read More..