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  review:
  Apologies, I Have None

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  interview:
  The Splash

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  review:
  James Blake

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  review:
  First Aid Kit

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  review:
  The Jess Hall Band

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  intro:
  Welcome to CP

Memoryhouse is the band whose EP slipped under your radar and you missed during the chaos of CMJ 2011 because they weren’t headlining-neither of which they deserve. The four-piece make the kind of serene, dreampop melodies that could be the soundtrack to love or heartbreak, depending on whom you ask...

Yo, we know it's been ages since a post. Our b. But read on for a meaty discussion with Nashville's Those Darlins, they rock...

A little homesick? (There really is no place like home!) Here are 5 jams about home or going home that I particularly fancy. Enjoy, homeslice (lol). 5. "This Must Be The Place (Naïve Melody)" by Talking Heads...

Wouldya look at that! More photos of The Felice Brothers, this time from their gig at Koko! Gah!

"Los" implies plurality and Los Campesinos! embodies everything plural; from the seven members to every type of instrument one can dream of including a horn, violin, glockenspiel, guitar, drums, and keyboard...

You love music. You love food. Why not love them both at the same time?

Tennesse four-piece Those Darlins will be playing this Wednesday night at The Lexington with The Good Suns, Beta Blocker and The Body Clock...

Oy there! We interviewed Crazy Arm just in time for their super secret secret show tonight at The Old Blue Last, get down there for a bangin', secret time...

You know them, you love them, and after a five-year hiatus The Shins are back...

Okay guys, time for real talk…everyone’s got a little bit of stalker in ‘em. Now, before you get offended and stop reading, humor me and click over to your other open tab and think about what you’ve been doing on Facebook for the previous hour and a half…

In less than two years, the Civil Wars released their first album Barton Hollow, toured with eight-time Grammy winner Adele, and proceed to win two Grammys of their own. Camden Pudding contributors Ali Weltman and Shoshie Aborn sat down with Joy Williams and John Paul (JP) White just days after their Grammy win and on the brink of headling their first international tour...

We took some snaps at The Felice Brothers' gig at The MacBeth on Tuesday - check them out, and stay tuned for a review of their gig at KOKO next week!

Every now and again, promotors absolutely nail a lineup. Friday’s show at the Windmill, featuring Sam Russo, Dexy and the Hand Me Downs, and Austin Lucas represented various points on a singular folk-punk spectrum, jerking the audience through a night of crisp acoustic ballads and raw, energetic ditties...

Aha! We've interviewed the lovely Jess Hall Band - read all about them below!

Don’t get me wrong, us Americans like kids in a candy store when surrounded by the fantastically dressed and musically gifted Londoners. However, watching musicians from all over the world flock to the heart of America (‘Murica) for SXSW this year does make us a little nostalgic for the homeland. Here’s who we’re cheering on from across the pond...

After the successful release of their fourth album, ‘Celebration, Florida’ via Loose Music, The Felice Brothers are set to begin their European tour with a sold out show at London’s Macbeth on March 13th. To preview their highly-anticipated gigs, Loose Music is giving away Cus’s Catskill Gym for download...

“We’re free-range Fanfarlo!” exclaimed front man Simon Balthazar after using a cattle metaphor to describe the space limitations of their last gig in Brighton. Thankfully London’s Scala venue provided the band with lots of room to move last Friday night, creating an electrifying atmosphere for the premiere of their sophomore album “Rooms Filled With Light.” (Appropriately accompanied by fog machines and trippy, honeycomb-shaped lighting.)

Whoopdeeeeee doo we interviewed Super U. Check it out, enjoy, email your mum about it.

We all know about the infamous “friend zone,” where we have tossed our not-quite-dateable but totally buddy status acquaintances (editors note - I am currently in the 'friendzone' with Ryan Gosling, and let me tell you it's a bummer). Sometimes you can’t break the friendly status quo… and that might be fine! However, quite often, the “friend zone” results in all these awkward and messy emotions, and the outcome is this “what the hell are we?” phase. Still, the “friend zone” can be the back burner for potential romance - keepin’ things warm and friendly, but not quite reaching the brink of hot and steamy. Here are a few songs about either putting someone in the friend zone or (worse) being put in the friend zone...

Hey! Read this interview with Bangers!

In 2008, I was lucky enough to see Andrew Bird play a sold out club in Chicago, his home town, for what I still remember as one of the best performances I’d ever seen. I went straight home and googled ‘how to whistle like a boss.’

Camden Pudding caught up with Taylor Goldsmith of the Los Angeles quartet Dawes a little bit ago. Czech out the conversation below!

Imagine John Cusack, boom box in hand, standing outside a bedroom window Say Anything-style. (This image should already be permanently fixed in all human imaginations. Just sayin’.) Replace the boom box with a guitar and the lawn for a music venue, and this iconic movie scene now mirrors Ron Pope’s most recent London gig...

Camden Pudding had a chat with Apologies, I have None a wee bit ago, check out our conversation about songwriting, shit bands, and Beyoncé.

Would it be too corny to say M83 live is just like their album says it? As a part of the audience, you keep thinking, "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming." With the different neon standing lights shaped in a perfect V behind the band, the entire stage is like a dream. Frontrunner and creator of M83, Anthony Gonzalez, stands front and center with his guitar, microphone, and keyboard.

After a jam-packed month of shows in honor of the event, the 2012 NME Awards take place tonight at 02 Academy Brixton in London with performances by Kasabian, The Maccabees, Noah Gallagher, The Vaccines, The Horrors and Florence And The Machine...

Fresh outta the BK (that’s Brooklyn, New York for all you Londoners), Sharon Van Etten is a poetic, folksy singer-songwriter with just a touch of humanizing sorrow stuck in her pipes. Her third album, Tramp, was released on the 7th of February, and Sharon is set to kick off her European tour in London tonight at Rough Trade East for a special in-store performance...

Strutting down the street with music blasting through your headphones is the best cure for a gloomy day. These songs are sure to lift your spirits on the days you didn't want to wake up before 9am. So plug into your music playing device, ignore your fellow pedestrians, and STRUT...

It would be impossible to discuss last Friday night without first noting the venue, The Windmill. Tucked away on a backstreet in Brixton, The Windmill’s brightly patterned walls are littered with memorabilia from past shows, with dim lights blending it all together in one’s peripheral. It’s neighborly, welcoming, and intimate, and though the venue is shaped a bit oddly, the sound was clear and the beer was cheap. And really, what else do you need?

The setting could not have been more suitable for such a unique and beautiful band. Active Child on February 20th played at St. Giles Church in London. I know what you're thinking. A non-Gospel band playing at a church? Even more unlikely, an electronic down-tempo band? However, the hauntingly beautiful and soulful ambience of the church paralleled Active Child's music perfectly...

Gotye (pronounced “Gaultier” rather than “Got Ya”), or Wouter De Backer, has the pop influence to score almost 70 million Youtube views for his single “Somebody That I Used to Know,” and inspire covers from the likes of Ingrid Michelson and Walk the Earth (five people on one guitar, Google that jawn). On the other hand, his Peter Gabriel and Sting-like vocals and eclectic incorporation of 80s pop, electronic, soul, and folk appeal to a wide range of audiences. Simply put, Gotye understands the complexity and variety of human emotion in a way everyone can relate...

Last Wednesday, McMorrow timidly announced after performing the first song of his set, “Sparrow and the Wolf,” that it had been one year since his first headlining performance in London for a little over 100 people. Surrounded by 2,500 fans in the sold-out Royal Festival Hall Auditorium, McMorrow gave a passion-filled performance that turned the massive theatre into an intimate gathering...

Little Dragon, a quintet from Gothenburg, Sweden, isn’t just another run-of-the-mill Swedish pop group. Following the example of their mixed-race lead singer, Swedish-American Yukimi Nagano, Little Dragon isn’t afraid to cross genre boundaries. They regularly infusing R&B and dubstep into their electronic pop roots on their third album, Ritual Union, which was ranked number 41 on Rolling Stone’s 50 best of albums of 2011.

tUnE-yArDs is not the ordinary "alternative" band and the band's vocalist, Merrill Garbus, is not a traditional "indie" singer. She does not have the Feist or Florence and the Machine-like voice, which seems to be the trend nowadays. If you have not given the band a proper listen, you should. Garbus will shock you with her afro-electronic rhythms. Not only is Garbus the power force behind tUnE-yArDs, but also the main percussionist, and her drumming style is unforgettable, especially live...

It’s appropriate The Migrant started his mini-European tour at the Wilmington Arms in London. This cozy oasis in Clerkenwell brilliantly follows the British pub tradition: welcoming travellers with a pint, warm bite to eat, and entertainment. And since Bjarke Bendtsen’s music is inspired by travels across the UK and US, why not share a melodic travel diary with fellow wanderers?

I love TV. Too much. It gets weird. Over the summer, when Netflix Instant Watch wasn't that good, I watched Veronica Mars, and Greek, just because I felt like watching something. Then they added Mad Men and I snapped out of it. Anyway, these are my top five favourite songs that have made crucial scenes in some of the best shows ever even better...

Camden Pudding caught up with Danny from Danny and the Champions of the World before the start of their Pub Rocks Tour, check out our conversation about Roald Dahl, Ronnie Lane, and egos in the industry below!

Active Child is the heart and soul of L.A. based musician Pat Grossi. Opening for M83 last year, he now spreads his wings to headline a tour of his own, soon to be joined by Balam Acab and Superhumanoids. Grossi is a new kind of breed; weaving soothing electronic, minimal R&B, soft dubstep and ethereal vocals into a recipe for flight...

Although my Valentine’s Day initially appeared pretty bleak this year, it ended up being a great night of live music at Madame JoJo’s with Hooded Fang and Citizens...

Ron Pope will be playing Garage tomorrow night, and we caught up with him to discuss his early songwriting, 26 Tuesdays, and his visit to the UK...

Jesse Lacey has a devil on his shoulder. Audible through well-placed, angst-ridden yelps and feverish bouts of banshee-esque guitar fuck-fests, Brand New’s live show is driven by a uniquely evocative despondency. Possessed, the entire band absolutely roared through an extensive set, packed with old fan favourites and the highlights off of Brand New’s latest release, Daisy...

Danny and the Champions of the World are an eclectic bunch, with both their ages and musical tastes spanning a couple of generations at least. Rooted in folky-Americana, their wistful, organic aesthetic is balanced with two Saturday-night guitars and a soulful, swooning saxophone. The product of these influences rattled the bones of the Windmill Brixton this past Saturday, turning the offbeat venue into a barnstorming sweat-fest...

tUnE-yArDs is the rhythmic, one-woman project of Merrill Garbus. Following her sophomore release “w h o k i l l,” Garbus joins the ranks of vibrant and powerful female songbirds, differing from Beyonce’s, “Who run the world? Girls!” attitude. In fact, Garbus shouts in her single “Killa”, “I’m a new kind of woman, and I don’t take shit from…kind of woman.”

Mushy luv songz – Some songs for those lucky suckers out there who are crushing hard on someone (in that, “I really like you & you really like me way”… not that horribly dreadful feeling of worthlessness when your crush actually crushes you). Warning: if you’re pissed off or bitter this Valentine’s day, you should probably just scroll directly down to the anti-Valentine’s day songs...

Spending over five months in solitary, James Vincent McMorrow emerged from his temporary dwelling on the Irish coast with a polished debut album. The beautifully crafted album, Early in the Morning, displays the sheer talent of McMorrow, who recorded and cut the album himself...

Foy Vance managed to make an eclectic audience of Primark-clad teenage girls, couples starting the Valentine’s Day weekend early, and even a suburban-Pennsylvania-bred American feel very at home in Islington, London on Thursday. The Irish crooner didn’t need to play his popular single “Homebird” to evoke that that warm, fuzzy-like-those-holiday-socks-you-hate-to-admit-you-wear-year-round, home feeling...

Mad Decent newbie Bosco Delrey took the stage to a largely empty venue, but that didn’t stop him from winning over the lucky few. Part electronic, part funk, part rock ‘n roll, the band had everyone moving, or at least nodding their head in agreement. Between-song banter was forced and littered with obscure New York references that flew over the heads of anyone who hasn’t been to The Big Apple...

Bjarke Bendtsen and his musical project The Migrant are defined by wanderlust. After recording his first release Travels in Lowland, the Danish musician embarked on a 50-stop US tour with an Austin, TX-based backing band in 2009...

The Toronto-based group Hooded Fang are making their way across the deep blue sea. We recently caught up with the group to discuss Portueguese bakeries, evolving sounds, and beeeer, so check it out below...

Despite coming from South London, there is something strikingly American about Danny and the Champions of the World. Formed nearly on accident, Danny and the Champions of the World grew from the ashes of Wilson’s former project Grand Drive, during the summer of 2007. Wilson and his soon to be Champion friends recorded an impromptu session at the Oxford’s Truck Festival, which was soon cut into the band’s first album. Perhaps a product of such impulses, the group’s original folk-tinged sound reflects the aesthetic of 70’s Americana...

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah have embodied and molded themselves into every aspect of the indie culture. Starting with a DIY ethos, they self-released, produced, wrote, and promoted their first album. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's famed success came from their own hands, as they self-released, produced, wrote, and promoted their first album...

Apologies, I Have None, a punk-influenced four-piece group hailing from London, came down to open for Man Overboard at the Old Blue Last this past Tuesday.

With a series of pardons, Apologies, I Have None worked their way around the small crowd that sat along the stage. The chatter of the room made it seem as if the crowd was going to ignore the group and leave the band drowning in the blue light that hovered over the stage. However, as the group strummed their first cord the crowd silenced...

Camden Pudding recently caught up with frontman, Matt, of The Splash. Catch his thoughts on music piracy, ideal line-ups, and why his dirty clothes smell so good.

You’ve probably heard of The Heavy without realizing it. Their singles “How You Like Me Now?” and “Short Change Hero” have been featured in everything from Entourage to The Fighter to Horrible Bosses, and even a few video games. But who’s the band behind the soundtrack songs?

Witch house, drag or the notorious Pitchfork-dubbed rape gaze; whatever you call it, the micro genre of occult-based house is staging its biggest show on any side of the pond this Saturday—the first official Tri Angle Records Showcase. If you’re new to the scene, let me break it down for you: languid, electronic beats tripped over layers of dark bass, synths and eerie, manipulated vocals whose effects are nothing less than unearthly hypnosis...

R&S Records hosted their first "secret" warehouse party in the East End January 28th. The name of the event, "In Order to Dance," was suitable for this phenomenal lineup - James Blake, Untold, Teengirl Fantasy, Klaus, Space Dimension Controller, and Chain. Inside the warehouse, the grungy ceilings masked with paper nets reflected the lights from the projector on the stage. The visuals for each performance was different and equally quirky and amusing such as clips from vintage films and psychedelic graphics...

August is a fiery time. Farthest from winter, this is when passions break, boundaries are crossed, and our voices are a little louder. Triumphant, powerful and sweaty, things happen in August. The air is a little bit thicker, our skin is a little bit burned, and only some who crave the winter are wise enough to know that it will be missed...

The astoundingly mature yet incredibly young Swedish duo First Aid Kit celebrated the release of their sophomore album, ‘The Lion’s Roar,’ with an intimate gig at Rough Trade East this past Tuesday, the 25th of January. Dressed in dainty florals and lengthened tresses, sisters Klara (18) and Johanna (21) Söderberg sang the audience tales of love and heartbreak, masked in the most idyllic of nature’s metaphors...

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club seems to appear out of nowhere amidst the blocks of Middle Eastern eateries and other diverse locations that can be found on the way to and throughout Soho. The appeal of Ronnie Scott’s comes from its relevance for a wide range of people. On one end of the spectrum, young college students come who are interested in taking a night to experience a genre of music that is far more timeless yet far less accessible than the dubstep trend spreading through London. The club also finds a fan base with the nostalgic older generation of club-goers who are more attuned to the time when jazz was a major a frontrunner on the music scene...

Language is, arguably, the largest paradigm shift humans have encountered. Rarely confined to audibles, man has learned to pick up cues, interpret signals, digest unspoken sentiments and understand intention. However, spoken language continues to serve as the spine of our communications, defining the interactions of all those fortunate enough to speak and listen...

Potential is a funny thing. In physics, we understand that the energy of a system with respect to its neighbors defines its capabilities. Some bodies rest at their highest possible location, while others struggle to even scrape themselves off the floor. Stored energy is valuable, rare even, especially when surrounded by objects existing in their usual position...

Back in March of 2011, eight musicians, Steve Knightley, Andy Cutting, Jackie Oates, Jim Moray, Caroline Herring, Patsy Reid, Leonard Podolak, and Kathryn Roberts, bumbled off together for a week long stay at the Henley Farmhouse in Shropshire with one goal in mind: to compose works in honor of the legendary folklore revivalist Cecil Sharp. Sharp is considered by many to be the founding father of England’s folklore revival movement during the early 20th century, and his traditions are highly revered...