Summertime

I threw up a post this time last year about summer '09 up-and-comers The Drums and Best Coast. Sure enough, it's been an eventful year, and both groups have enjoyed quite a bit of success.

New York locals The Drums came out with their self-titled LP sometime earlier this summer. It's a really enjoyable album. While their previous releases may have type-casted them as a 'summer only' band, this release manages to maintain their surf rock aesthetic without going overboard.

They're about to go out on a tour with Surfer Blood.

I hear they're a great live.

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After taking Bethany and her lo-fi beach songs a la carte for the past year, she and the rest of her Best Coast have finally come up with full-lengh Crazy for You. The whole thing is packed with a load of catchy, 60s inspired lovesick songs. And I stress lovesick. If you've got some recently heartbroken friends, shy away from giving them this album. Although the tracks are generally pretty light sounding, the lyrics are, erm, sorta sad.

She did a collab with Converse as well, just like Julian Casablancas did last year with Santogold and Pharrell. This time around, Beth teamed up with (my favorite) Vampire Weekender Rostam and Kid Cudi. They came up with All Summer, a predominantly Best Coast-y track.

A neat video comes with it:

Download the song at converse.com.

Last Night: MTV VMA Party + Lifebeat - Kid Cudi & Phoenix

Yesterday Phoenix offered a half price ticket for their appearance at Terminal 5 for the MTV VMAs kick-off party / Lifebeat (Music industry against HIV/AIDS charity) benefit show / Beatles Rock Band plug event. The whole thing was documented on film and video.

Kid Cudi opened for a wild crowd:

You're looking at the rapper who intentionally puts feedback on his vocals.
The performance was alright, he was pretty good but really nothing more than an 'average' rapper- however, I'm not sure if I'm the most qualified to judge, since I'm really not a hip hop/rap fan at all.

Then Phoenix took the stage for a very short set (Kid Cudi ran over and they had to stop at midnight). Apologies for the repeat/poor pictures, as I was standing in pretty much the exact same place as their show at the same venue in June, it was darker than usual, and the band's got their show down to a science. They must be bored of their catalog after circling most of the world twice this year. Nevertheless, it was a great set and a lot of fun.

There was no bag check, so it was a little frustrating that there could have been some nicer SLR pictures, but stay tuned, because I've got tickets for one of their two Central Park shows and they allow larger cameras.

More Phoenix things: the drumstick from the June show and Mazzalai's guitar pick from last night! Now if only there was a setlist..

Creepy Empire State lights on the low clouds heading home.

PHOENIX TOUR DATES
Catch them play Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on September 24.