San Francisco: TNG Review: ISAM TOUR – Amon Tobin @ Warfield SF 10/ 1
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Song of the Day: Bleached, “Searching Through The Past”
| Mika Miko broke up last year and they have been sorely missed. Their intense live shows and telephone mic were amazing, but don't fear the sister duo Jessica and Jennifer Calvin have a new project Bleached. Bleached isn't as punk and loud as Mika Miko but a garage girl-group inspired band like the Vivian Girls or Frankie Rose. "Searching Through The Past" is their second single for Suicide Squeeze and it is a bouncy tack that recalls Hunx and his Punx with more pomp. They are playing CMJ this week, so if you are attending the fest check them out. |  |
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Song of the Day: Joker, “The Vision (Let Me Breathe)” Ft. Jessie Ware & Freddie Gibbs
| Last week I dropped a tune by Jessie Ware who has had an incredible year after being featured on SBTRKT tracks and her commanding presence on another dustup track "The Vision (Let Me Breathe)" by Joker. Joker whose debut album for 4AD drops November 8th is an amazing twelve track record made up up singles like "My Trance Girl" and "Tron" with new bangers like "Lost" and "On My MInd." "The Vision" is an immediate standout, and Ware absolutely nails the song. I mean you feel her when se says she can "play big on her own." Joker has just released an alternative version of the highlight featuring up and coming rapper Freddie Gibbs. This new version gives Gibbs Ware's second verse but still bangs like the original. Take a listen below and peep The Vision when it drops November 8th. |  |
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Good Bye...: Thanks for Four Great Years!
| I'll just rip off the bandage: The New Gay is shutting down. It's been a fun ride over the past four years. But the site grew so much and so quickly that our rag-tag group of volunteers couldn't keep up with it. After wrangling with this issue for a while, we decided it was time to close up shop. So now, it's on to other things. |  |
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Weekend Preview: SF Weekend Preview: Occupying the Bay Area
Song of the Day: Phantogram, “Don’t Move”
| Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter are better known as the electro-pop duo Phantogram. The band released their debut LP Eyelid Movies last year and it instantly became the soundtrack of late nights and episodes of Gossip Girl and other trendy CW shows. "Mouth Full Of Diamonds" dark electro captivated the hearts of indie-mindied kids with a love of the dance floor, but one thing you could never call the group is sunny. On 11/1 the group will release a mini-LP Nightlife and today we have the album's first single. "Don't' Move" is unlike the band's debut as it is a straight-up pop song. The track has a beat that is remittent of UK basked producer Star Slinger with it's cut up samples blending horns and a vocal bit slashed to hell. Barthel's vocals have an added echo and reverb making them more dreamy and chill-wave then Eyelid Movie's darker gritty tone. |  |
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Song of the Day: Grimes, “Oblivion”
| Claire Boucher aka Grimes has been riding the hype of her first two LPs and her split LP with D'Eon as well as a national tour supporting Lykkle Li and next year she is sure to be break out star when her highly anticipated LP Visions is released. Grimes created the record on GarageBand, but one listen to debut single "Oblivion" you can't tell. The darkwave electro track is as great a single as "Vanessa" as Boucher's vocals are in a constant state of falsetto recalling a child's voice. Grimes may never become a pop star on the level of Katy Perry, but "Oblivion" deserves a bid for a CW soundtrack (that was not a diss BTW). |  |
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Weekend Preview: SF Weekend Preview: “All The Leaves Are Brown…”
| The weather is cooling down (finally), Fall is actually settling in and the holiday season is gearing up. |  |
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Cities: Sneaky Sound System CD Giveaway
| Win a copy of Sneaky Sound System's new CD 'From Here to Anywhere' from The New Gay! |  |
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Song of the Day: The Weeknd, “Initiation”
| Two mixtapes in and The Weeknd has taken over the dark R&B genre that fellow partner in crime Drake established with last year's Thank Me Later. Thursday took the Weeknd's style forward and now we have a new track "Initiation" which is like every Weeknd track, as it is about sex, drugs and self-loathing with a dark beat that is equal parts witch-house and dark R&B but the noticeable difference is the way someone has a permanent finger on the pitch-shifter. Only a few times in the four minute jam are the vocals left alone, instead the vocals go from super low to super high in waves. Weeknd supposedly have another free mix slated for this year, and this very well could be on it. |  |
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Song of the Day: Future of The Left, Your Friend Polymers”
| Future of The Left haven't released any music since 2009, but they haven't been entirely unproductive. The three piece lost a member then added two new ones and have been experimenting with their sound to get everything right. Now we have a new song "Polymers Are Forever" to be released on a new EP. The loud chugging track has the ferocious attitude of earlier tracks like "You Need Satan More Than He Needs You." |  |
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Song of the Day: Drake, “Make Me Proud” Ft. Nicki Minaj
| Drake's Take Care was supposed to be released on his birthday October 24th, but like all good (and bad) rap albums it got delayed. No big deal, as it was only a couple of weeks, November 15, and if we are to believe the Canadian raper, it was because of sample clearance. He didn't want us to go without hearing everything he;s created- so that's nice. And Drake has been very forward with reeling music from the album and it's subsequent deluxe edition all year, so it isn't like dude has left us hanging. Anyways, Drake premiered a new track from the highly anticipated album on Funkmaster Flex's radio show just last night. The track, "Make Me Proud" features Nicki Minaj in full hash-tag rap form ("I'm a star/ sheriff badge" "double d up ho/ Dolly Part'") as well as some sick laid back rhymes from Drake. The murky beat feels like a continuation of the beats from Drake's debut and it is a good thing. With all the rappers going electro it is nice to see someone with beats practically unheard of on modern rap radio. |  |
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Song of the Day: Charli XCX, “Nuclear Seasons”
| Charli XCX released on of 2011's best singles with "Stay Away" and now she is back with another new single "Nuclear Seasons." The 17 year old goth-pop star has been really making a name for herself this year. With the rise of Zola Jesus (who are playing tonight in DC!!!!!!!!!!!!) and Niki & The Dove, Charli XCX has finally found a foothold after her first single, three years ago, fluttered out. "Nuclear Seasons" is one part Zola Jesus and another Marina and the Diamonds. The up-beat pop track has all of the dramatic flair of Nika and Marina while still being an instant earworm. We are sure to hear more from Charli so keep your ears to the internet. |  |
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Washington DC: Metronomy/Class Actress
| UK's Metronomy are a TNG favorite and they are currently on tour supporting their third album The English Riviera. In between their stellar Night Out and thie new album the band lost a member but gained two more adding to their awesome live set up. Not only is their live show going to be amazing but they are also on tour with the amazing Class Actress. If you are in DC this Saturday this is the show to attend. Plus after the show, Mixtape, DC's best, biggest and hottest gay dance party will be taking over the club. If that didn't excite you to buy a ticket i don't know what else I can say. How about listening to some tunes? |  |
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Song of the Day: Keep Shelly In Athens, “DIY”
| Keep Shelly in Athens is a Grecian duo with mad blog hype. Their first 12" came on Forest Family Records, the label helmed by Gorilla Vs Bear, and the hype didn't stop there. Countless music magus have featured the band with their sexy laid back sound mixing Balearic and down-tempo electronic. Today we have a new track from the band on the eve of their US debut. "DIY" is a sultry track that is perfect for late nights or long drives. The brooding piano mixes well with the well placed horn hits. Take a listen and keep on the look out for more from this band. Also check out their tour dates in the image. |  |
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Song of the Day: The Chromatics, “Kill For Love”
| The Chromatics, once a sludgy noise band reinvented themselves as a italo-disco outfit with the amazing album Night Drive. Leader Johnny Jewel is also the founder of the label Italians Do It Better who are known for putting out amazing releases like label mate and italo fans Nite Jewel. The band has now finished their forth album Kill For Love and have posted a video for their first single to their Facebook page. The track is an amazing 80's inspired love song that is more daytime listening then the late night adventures of their previous record. The track is notable more high-fi then their previous work. Check the video out below and be sure to look out for their album dropping next year. |  |
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Song of the Day: Field Music, “(I Keep Thinking About) A New Thing”
| Field Music broke their hiatus with a double album Measure that for all of it's grand expectation wasn't that bad of an album. The band are at it again. Next year will see the release of Plumb. Today we have a track from the album "(I Keep Thinking About) A New Thing." |  |
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Song of the Day: Jessie and The Toy Boys, “Let’s Get Naughty”
| Jessie and The Toy Boys, the outfit for singer Jessie Malakouti, have been having quite a year. Their first single "Push It" became a mild success and after successful roars with Britney Spears and a stint on the Identity Fest Jessie is prepping her first full length. Which bring suss to "Let's Get Naughty." On the surface this is another Lady Gaga, Dev, insert pop star here inspired song. I'm sure some will hate on this for the sophomoric lyrics but it is a fun tune. Be sure to check out her debut album This is How Rumors Start out next year. |  |
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Food: An Unlikely Dough-mance
| At the end of my first five months in gay ol’ New York City, among encounters with men of all shapes and sizes (heh), with razor blade lips and high-fashion pouts, with glistening eyes and affectionate brows; after inviting into my home countless opportunities for romance and profound mutual discovery, I have reached this ultimate conclusion: I'm better off with bread. |  |
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Song of the Day: Guided By Voices, “The Unsinkable Fats Domino”
| Guided By Voices announced that their Hopscotch date this year would be the last time you could see the 93-96 line-up or "classic" band together live. Right before the band were set to play their second last show ever the band announced a new GBV album recorded by the class line up for release next January. Of course the internet freaked out. GBV haven't been much of a heavy hitting band since the early days and now after a few tepid records (2004's Half Smiles for the Decomposed was just alight) and a hell of a lot of Pollard releases (including three AMAZING Boston Spaceships albums and one lengthy but rewarding double album) GBV are back doing what they do best. Today we have just shy of two minutes from GBV with a new tune from their 2012 release Let's Go Eat The Factory. "The Unskinable Fats Domino" is a tune that could've been written at any time and it could easily fit on any of their classic albums. That is a testament to Pollard's amazing song-writing and the band's superb skill. |  |
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Song of the Day: Jessie Ware, “Strangest Feeling”
| Jessie Ware is best known for her breakout tracks on SBTRKT's record and her lead on Joker's "The Vision (Let Me Breathe)", but all of that is changing. Ware is taking her act solo and she has released her first single "Strangest Feeling." The cut is moody post-dubstep UK Funky of the likes of the fantastic and slept on Katy B record. The track starts slow but then blasts in the later part and is sure to launch a thousand remixes in the future. |  |
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The Adventures of the Boi Wonder: The Fears of Our Past Don’t Scare Me
| I am pretty fresh and sheltered when it comes to the history and realities of HIV/AIDS in our community; I wasn’t born until the early 90’s, have almost always lived in suburbia, and have never known anyone who has HIV/AIDs, let alone died from it. According to Larry Kramer, that puts me in the league of the lazy, uneducated gays of my generation by default (after he admonishes me for calling myself queer). However, I strive to be neither purposefully ignorant nor excessively fearful. |  |
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Weekend Preview: SF Weekend Preview: Halloween Weekend Edition
| In the spirit of Halloween, we hope that this SF Weekend Preview, Halloween Edition brings some happiness and people together for a weekend of simple fun. |  |
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Song of the Day: The Postelles, “White Night” & “123 Stop”
| The Postelles have been kicking around the New York scene since 2008. They were signed to Capitol record, but during the time of the economic downfall and all the shit the American record labels were going through an album never surfaced. The band played key sets at CMJ, Bonnaroo, and SXSW while trying to tour as much as possible waiting for their big break. The band had secured an amazing producer in Albert Hammond Jr., of The Stoke,s to work on their tracks, and after waiting for almost a year their debut EP was released. All ready to tour the world with Interpol, the band was told that they were being let go from their major label, and their debut album suffered another blow. Now almost three years since first being scooped up by a major and existing as a band, The Postelles S/T debut album hit stores this past June. While most bands would feel the crushing blow and just discontinue, thank god the Postelles kept on going. Their debut is a throw-back 60's Rock and Roll record that is fun and playful and sounds very British. It is no wonder that this year the band are touring decent sized venues with two of their British peers The Wombats and The Kooks. Their debut actually sounds like the American Kooks, and though they haven't been featured in any Bud Lite Lime commercials you've probably heard their music featured on The Vampire Diaries, 90210 and most recently in the under-watched but incredibly fun (trust me it is one of my favorite shows on 2011) Revenge. Today we have two of the band's most loved songs, "White Night" and "123 Stop" both TV staples and hopefully sounds of your fall. "White Night" is an easy rock song with call and response vocals and a danceable groove. "1 2 3 Stop" sound psalmist like a slowed down version of the Kook's "Eddie's Gun" but tit packs a catchy chorus all of it's own. Check out the tracks and catch the band on tour with either The Wombats or the Kooks- you really can't go wrong (Though most of those Kooks dates are sold-out). |  |
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Yes, Master: It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
| I live in Chicago which includes Boystown, the main gayborhood within the city, where every Halloween you can be certain to see an endless parade of male and female flesh popping out at all angles. Some people find it obnoxious and annoying. Bumping into an infinite number of 20-something trixies made up as Sexy Little Bo Peep, Sexy Strawberry Shortcake, Sexy Cat, Sexy Angel, Sexy Devil, Sexy Alice in Wonderland, Sexy Dorothy Gale, etc., etc. can be exhausting. Maybe for some people, but not for me. I truly enjoy staring at everyone looking like sluts because it just seems more natural and fun. Plus, I'm a huge pervert so that kind of helps. |  |
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