Old Crow Medicine Show have a new record, Carry Me Back, July 17 on ATO Records. This is one of those bands I THINK have like 20 records out. In fact this is their fourth studio effort. They just seem sort of ubiquitous. It just seems I have been hearing the name since I was a kid (which isn’t true). The new record was recorded at Sound Emporium in Nashville, a studio with some history. But the guy at the board and the band are what make the sound. NOW, this record was produced by Ted Hutt (Flogging Molly, Gaslight Anthem, Dropkick Murphys) which should be a good thing.

The band is also heading out on tour this summer and the dates are below—playing with some other interesting acts along the way.

June 30 - Owensboro, KY @ ROMP Festival
July 19 - Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room
July 20 - St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
July 21 - Kansas City, MO @ The Crossroads
July 26 - Louisville, KY @ Palace Theatre
July 27 - Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre
July 28 - Nashville, TN @ The Woods at Fontanel with Special Guests
August 1 - Richmond, VA @ Maymont Park w/The Milk Carton Kids and Special Guest
August 2 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club w/The Milk Carton Kids and Special Guest
August 3 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club w/The Milk Carton Kids and Special Guest
August 4 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids
August 6 - New York, NY @ SummerStage, Central Park w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids
August 8 - Portland, ME @ State Theatre w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids
August 9 - Boston, MA @ House of Blues w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids
August 10 - Burlington, VT @ Waterfront Park w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids
August 12 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE w/The Lumineers
August 17 - Salem, VA @ Salem Civic Center w/The Lumineers
August 18 - Cary, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheatre w/The Lumineers
August 19 - Charlottesville, VA @ nTelos Wireless Pavilion w/The Lumineers & Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three
August 23 - Birmingham, AL @ Alabama Theatre w/The Lumineers & Milk Carton Kids
August 24 - Knoxville, TN @ The Tennessee Theatre w/ The Lumineers & Milk Carton Kids
August 25 - Atlanta, GA @ The Fox Theater w/The Lumineers & The Milk Carton Kids

Total Slacker have two new split singles. The second, with Friends, Friend Crush ,comes out in late June. The  first, Brain Slime comes out out June 20th. Physical copies will be limited to 300 worldwide. The band is also on tour with their friends Night Manager on the Touch Yourself USA Tour. The dates are below and some are DIY house shows. One is a Daytrotter Session.

The band plays psych-lo-fi-garage noise (they add “gaze” in there but I think that is just awkward). They are out of Brooklyn and in the past 18 months or so they have played over 100 shows, releasing tons of music in short and long play format. Check them out if you get a chance. 

Tour
6/2 - BROOKLYN, NY @ Cheap Storage
6/3 - PHILADELPHIA, PA @ Pi Lam (3914 Spruce Street)
6/4 - HARRISONBURG, VA @ My Mansion (265 W. Market St.)
6/5 - PITTSBURGH, PA @ Garfield Art Works
6/7 - DETROIT, MI @ Magic Stick
6/8 – Day Trotter Live Session  @ 2 PM CST
6/8 - CHICAGO, IL @ Township w/ White Mystery 
6/10 - MILWAUKEE, WI @ Turf Club
6/12 - BLOOMINGTON, IN @ The Bishop
6/13 - COLUMBUS, OH @ Ace Of Cups
6/14 - BALTIMORE, MD @ Bell Foundry w/ Weekends
6/15 - BOSTON, MA @ Liz Pelly’s (Secret house show/contact for details)

California Wives have signed with Vagrant Records. Do not let the name fool you, these are Chicago boys. They released a self-titled EP a few years back that seemed to blow up the collective dress of the music media. They harkened back to an 80s sound that held nostalgia—but the band wasn’t reviving anything but incorporating the old with the new to create their own distinctive “thing.”

And you can hear what that is below by listening to, and downloading, their tune, Marianne. The band is finishing up their full length right now and a release date is coming soon.

Life is the latest single from Summer Camp. The track is off their upcoming Always EP which is the first new music since their debut, Welcome to Condale. The new EP comes out July 10 in North America.

The group will also be touring the UK and dates are below.

 The group’s first full length came out at the end of last year. By Christmas they were apparently working on new music. These are dedicated musicians (or they have OCD). Check out the new single and be sure to see them live in the UK.

If you want to know more about the band, and you should, head to www.wearesummercamp.com.

Blind Benny is an ethereal rock band.  You would think those two things mutually exclusive but I assure you they are not. They are releasing a debut EP, September 4, 2012 but you can see the video for their track, No Honor, below. You can also download it free HERE.

The band will be playing at Pianos (we assume the one in NYC) on May 31 for a preview performance of the EP.

Originally performing as Jade (the name of the band’s singer) but changed the moniker to be more all inclusive.  Jade, herself, released a solo ep, It’s My Heart, Cookie.

Have a listen, check out their show and wait patiently for September.

The Dig’s new record, Midnight Flowers, comes out May 29 and the band has some dates set up—record release shows, all of which are below. I saw them play. I remember being impressed. They were opening for someone and I recall thinking; the main band must be pretty damned good to have a group like THIS opening for them.

I probably thought it more eloquently than that.

The band is also lending a track to the charity compilation, Turn the Tide: Songs for Last Call at the Oasis. This music goes along with a movie of the same name and relates to the worldwide water crisis. A good cause. You can check out the single and download it below. But do remember the film.

The Giving Tree Band are playing shows in June with Joe Purdy (they will also be Purdy’s backing band). Their latest record, Vacilador, is in the can and these shows are a preview of that material. The record comes out in the fall. They do, however, have a music video so you can sample from the upcoming release. The video for Cold Cold Rain is below.

The band, based in Chicago, tour like crazy. They play small venues, big festivals—anywhere there is a stage (and likely places where there isn’t a stage).

There will be more tour dates and news on the upcoming record. To stay up to date head to thegivingtreeband.com.

* = w/ Joe Purdy

June

12 - Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop*
13 - Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace*
14 - Montreal, QC - Belmont (NXNE Festival)*
15 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East*
17 - Croton on Hudson, NY - Clearwater Festival*
18 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom*
20 - Philadelphia, PA - World Café Live*
22 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle*
23 - Atlanta, GA - Smith's Olde Bar*
25 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge*
26 - St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill*
28 - Columbus, OH - The Basement*
29 - Chicago, IL - Double Door*

Baby Monster has a new recording, the City of Lovers EP coming on June 5, 2012. The duo are best known as remixers. They’ve worked with tracks by Foster the People, Gorillazand Ellie Goulding. You can check out the title track below.

More from Baby Monster soon.

Flight Facilities have a new video and single for their track, With You. You can check it out below (it features Grovesnor). The EP, just released, of the track has the original mix, an extended mix and a bunch of remixes.

The animated video is worth a look. It is about loss, love and robots. It would be perfect if there were zombies. Have a look.

The Gaslight Anthem have a new single, 45, which you can get at iTunes and Amazon. The band is also just about to play a couple of sold out shows in at the Music Hall in Brooklyn, May 16 and at the Roxy in West Hollywood, May 18. The Brooklyn show will be the subject of a live stream. You can listen at 9 p.m. on May 16 by heading HERE. The band is working with the Food Bank For New York City to collect nonperishable food donations from fans who are attending.

They are also heading out on tour and playing festivals in support of their upcoming record, Handwritten. The record comes out July 24, 2012.

The group will also be appearing on late night TV this summer.

Handwritten is the band’s forth record and their first for Mercury Records. For more info and news head to www.thegaslightanthem.com.