Grand Atlantic Covers New Ground Australian Band Tours US This March In Support Of New Album

Here there be dragons. You never know what you’ll find when you set foot on unexplored territory. Brisbane’s Grand Atlantic is venturing into uncharted waters this year with a new album and tour to support it.

The power pop quartet 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 11^th.

Grand Atlantic’s constant touring and rehearsing has honed their skills to a razor-sharp edge. They are so sharp, in fact that some of the tracks on their new album were recorded live. “It was great to have the confidence to do some of the album live as well,” says frontman Phil Usher. “It really brings another dimension to the album and some of it is really fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of stuff.”

In March 2010, Grand Atlantic barnstormed across the US and Canada after invitations to showcase at SXSW and Canadian Music Week, following extensive touring of the How We Survive in Australia and a growing call from the US powerpop scene. The release of the album in the US prompted radio play on over 50 radio stations, a glut of media attention and placed them on a bunch of SXSW ‘bands to watch’ short lists.

Grand Atlantic Tour Dates

3/11 Reggie’s Music Joint, Chicago, IL

3/12 The Living Room, New York, NY

3/13 The Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY

3/15 Dart International Party, Austin, TX

3/17 Paisley Underground Party, Austin, TX

3/20 Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar, Houston, TX

3/22 Comet Tavern, Seattle, WA

3/24 Hotel Utah, San Francisco, CA

3/25 Trip, Santa Monica, CA

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Lovers or Friends...

To all the heterosexual women out there on the prowl- If you haven't figured it out already, it's pretty rough out there trying to scope out a boyfriend. And before you're even meeting the "potential" boyfriend you're asking yourself questions like:

"Should you wait for him to approach you or should you just approach him?" "Is he single?" Then you see him having dinner with another man and think "his friend is cute too" and now you're wondering which one to approach. THEN you remember it's Valentines day and you ask yourself, "wait a minute, are they lovers or friends?"

....Unless you ask, you just never can tell.

Something like this happened to Matthew Dunehoo from Baby Teardrops and his friend Mick Myer.

"It was February, 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. Pastel, glow in the black light murals of the Italian countryside on the walls, hanging gardens, garlic bread to un-vamp for.

It was a busy night, the restaurant was packed. We were seated in the middle of the dining area and both smokers at the time, proceeded to light up, which in retrospect was indeed rude but we were both high on youthful obstinance and thrift store fashion, and it was the era of W. so...

The awkward glances and not so subtle whisperings failed to cease even after we'd extinguished our smokes in a peace gesture. Mike and I, together, illuminated by candlelight, out to dinner on an ordinary Saturday night. In the middle of a traditional family restaurant in a traditionally conservative neighborhood...discussing the cinema and celebrating...Valentine's Day?

Shortly after our entrees arrived, it hit us both. It was Valentine's day. And here was your token suburban gay rabble rousing couple smoking, laughing out loud, wearing scarves in public, on that oh-so-commercial of nights reserved for hetero-flamboyance and chocolate gobbling (and nothing else mind you.)

I can't remember where Mike's wife was at the time, but the branding stuck. This, re-affirmed by our visit again this past November when the same waitress from 2004, a "lifer" asked us whether the total should come on one or two checks. She says, wistfully as wondering off: 'I never can tell with you two...'"

Sincerely,

Matthew

Listen to his love song:
Talk About Falling In Love- Matthew Dunehoo by greenlightgo

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'David Gergen: On Further Review' with Ryan's Smashing Life

It's almost over! Well, not really. Unfortunately, winter lasts far too long in Michigan, and for me, it's a dreadful four months of snow, freezing temperatures, and worst of all, soggy pant legs. Spending most of the day indoors, it makes for perfect comfort to snuggle up on the couch with some hot chocolate and relax with great music.

Nick Parker, of Ryan's Smashing Life, recently reviewed David Gergen's The Nearer it was... The Farther it Became and found himself reliving his warm Long Beach days.

"His voice, like Beck’s Mutations, is the warm evenings I spent in Long Beach. His mix of processed drum-synths and acoustic guitars is that confusing sense of being somewhere made up of familiar elements put together in unusual ways."..."In fact, the album lets me feel refreshed and excited by new musical directions. If you are from LA, I’m sure you’ll be impressed by Gergen’s music. If you are from further afield, you can enjoy it all the more, like taking a musical vacation, not exactly to foreign lands, but to new parts of your own."

David Gergen - The Streets I'm Walking by rslblog.com

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Love, Animals, and Revival with The Handsome Family

Image courtesy of LA Record

There's something quirky and cool about Rennie Sparks of The Handsome Family. It’s not every day that you hear of a person writing frivolous ransom notes or aspiring to own a donkey. It's rather exhilarating, not just because of her quirkiness, but also because of her appreciation and understanding of the smallest, but yet so prominent objects and concepts in life. With Sparks, things have a deeper meaning and it goes to show in her L.A. Record interview with Daiana Feuer.

Check out the full interview here.

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Absolute Punk Interviews David Gergen

Photo by: Michelle Fontaine

With influences like Wilco, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, and The Rolling Stones, David Gergen talks about his music and answers random questions with AbsolutePunk.

Why should people listen to your band?

They should listen if they want music that has a lot going on underneath the surface. Lyrically and musically, I try and create original pieces of work that force the listener to pay attention. I don't view my music as easily digestible pop candy, it's deeper and more thought provoking. So, for people that like that, I welcome you into my world.

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

I think as far as a good fit for touring together I would pick someone similar to my vibe, probably Wilco, maybe Arcade Fire. I would love to play with Johnny Cash but that won't happen until we meet in the afterlife.

What is something that most fans don't know about you?

That I am into cooking. I love to cook... Thai, Italian, French. I am fascinated by food the same way as I am music. It's never ending and there are certain basic rules that you need to understand before you can break down the door and go in a new direction, so I love that it requires a lot of practice and can't be faked.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Cook, hike, travel, take a long drive somewhere random....hang with animals. I do love movies too.

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GLG Fresh Mp3 Friday: Golden Globes

Congratulations to Ricky Gervais for winning the award for Rudest Golden Globes Host.
Courtesy of Robert Downey Jr., his performance was best summarized as "hugely mean-spirited" with "mildly sinister undertones." Despite this year's short-comings, Gervais did snag a Golden Globe Award in 2004 for Best Actor in a TV Series Comedy for his role as "David Brent" in the BBC hit The Office. If it were up to us, we would nominate Gervais in the "Entertainer of the Year" category.

On behalf of GLG, I am hosting the Green Globes...and the Green Light Globe nominees are:

Most likely to be touring in a town near you:

Gwyneth & Monko

Genre: Americana/Roots Music/Alernative

For fans of: Emmy Lou Harris, Patty Griffin, Jenny Lewis

Facebook

Golden Bloom

Genre: Indie/Rock/Pop

For fans of: Ben Kweller, Wilco (Summerteeth Era)

Facebook

Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library

Facebook: Also the most entertaining Facebook

Neutral Uke Hotel

Genre: Indie Rock/Cover Song

For fans of: Neutral Milk Hotel

Facebook

Most Influential:

The Handsome Family

Genre: Folk/Americana

For fans of: You should already be their fan!

Best Music Video:

Lawrence & Leigh

Genre: Folk/Experimental/Indie Rock

For fans of: Joanna Newsom, Dirty Projectors, Fleet Foxes

Video: "Chelsea Nights"

Facebook

Enjoy Your Pumas

Genre: Alternative/Indie/Rock

For fans of: Metric, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bloc Party

Video: "He Was a Fly"

Facebook

Most Original:

Michael J Epstein Memorial Library

Facebook

Break Through Artist:

Seafarer

Genre: Indie/Folk/Experimental

For fans of: Sonic Youth, Fugazi, Pavement

Facebook

Leopold and His Fiction

Genre: Garage Folk

For fans of: The Black Keys, Kings of Leon, Heartless Bastards

Facebook

Most likely to find their song sticking in your head:

The Morning Code

Genre: Alternative/Rock

For fans of: Silversun Pickups

Facebook

John Shipe

Genre: Acoustic/Indie/Rock

For fans of: Josh Ritter, Jonathan Rice and Elvis Costello
Facebook

Baby Teardrops
Genre: Grunge/Pop/Rock

Facebook

Listen and download tracks from these artists for free:

GlG Fresh MP3 Friday 1-28-11 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.

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High Five! from Enjoy Your Pumas' Josh Benoit

Guitarist Josh Benoit was kind enough to toss up a High Five! before hitting the stage with Enjoy Your Pumas for their Commonality CD release party at Winnipeg's Park Theatre on Sunday, January 30th. These are a few things he loves:

1) Oil of Oregano

For sinus colds... or spaghetti.

2) Louie

Written and created by the stand-up comedian Louis C.K., Louie is a show on the FX channel that makes observations about being a divorced, middle-aged, overweight father of two girls. I don't necessarily relate to Louie, but I think he's funny.

3) Four Tet's There Is Love In You

This album is a great instrumental, electro-pop album. Put it on in the background, put it on in the foreground, just don't put it on a curling iron burn. Unfortunately, it does nothing for burns.

4) Mexico

Not only is Mexico a beautiful, warm place, but it's also the number one vacation destination for Monarch butterflies! I wish I were there now.

5) Spike Jonze

When Spike Jonze is not controlling the body of John Malkovich with the mind of John Cusack, he's busy throwing paint and shooting confetti at the folks from LCD Soundsystem under the pretense of a "music video." Spike is a zany director and he seems like an alright dude.

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: Josh Benoit

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Enjoy Your Pumas Release Video for “He Was A Fly”

Enjoy Your Pumas show off their personalities in their new music video for “He Was a Fly”. The playful video is filled with dreamy images, beautiful lighting and a cool retro feel. It shows the band on a journey toward a house where they find an idyllic place to play. The track can be found on Enjoy Your Pumas’ debut LP Commonality.

The video was directed by Steven Schwartz, who recently made headlines with his heart-warming and award-winning Christmas short “Santa Stops By”. Josh Benoit, Enjoy Your Pumas’ guitar player, who will graduate from film school this semester, produced “He Was a Fly”, which was filmed on two days about a month apart.

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Daytrotter Session with Seafarer



Courtesy of Daytrotter. Illustration by Johnnie Cluney

 I have fallen in love with Seafarer. Their music is a mosaic of genres – rock, folk, psych, pop – that meshes perfectly to create such a riveting sound. Patrick Grzelewski, lead vocalist of the Chicago band, delivers the poetic lyrics in a gritty and almost raw fashion. This is a style I can dig. We can all relate to that feeling and need to shout out loud and by joining in with Grzelewski, you can do just that.

Recently releasing their EP Hidden Places on Jan. 18, Seafarer stopped in for a Daytrotter session to record four tracks. We highly recommend downloading the free mp3's from the session if you know what's good for you.

FREE Chicago shows:
Jan. 23rd at The Whistler
Jan. 28th at Empty Bottle Click Here to Read More..

High Five! from John Shipe

There are five things that can snap John Shipe out of a songwriting dry spell...

1) Filmmaker Werner Herzog

2) Ukuleles

3) Double Plays

4) Milla Jovovich

5) Charlie Chaplin

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: John Shipe

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