The Sounds hit the House of Blues Sept. 16

Holy canola, talk about ambition! The Sounds have launched a massive world tour, which brings them to the House of Blues on Sept. 16. Kinda big for them, eh? I LOVED the Sounds when that first album broke a few years ago, and while Ihaven't been up too hard on their recent stuff, I'm feeling all Papa Bear watching them explode. Such cool people, and worthy of fame. From the Hotline blog, and jesus fuck look at those dates!

The Sounds launch world tour, hit Boston Sept. 16
Nothing is better than seeing a band at a large venue while reminiscing how you once saw the same band in its early years at a club show with a handful of people. That seems to be the sentiment behind Swedish indie-wave band the Sounds, who play the House of Blues on Sept. 16.

Wasn’t too long ago they were packing out a sweaty T.T. The Bear’s in Cambridge (no, it really wasn’t) so this venue up-sizing is pretty ambitious.

But the Sounds have always had a dedicated indie rock cult following, and after completing a three-month stateside swing with No Doubt and an arena tour in Europe with Fall Out Boy, perhaps the band is ready for prime time on big stages. With a modern electronic rock sound winking suggestively at retro-based new wave pop, they certainly have the hooks as well as the chiseled Scandinavian looks. Charismatic vocalist Maja Ivarsson, a modern-day Blondie, is quite the sparkplug on stage and a budding star.

The House of Blues gig is the fourth stop in a massive 75-date world tour supporting new album “Crossing the Rubicon” that concludes in Helsinki, Finland on Dec. 19. So at least we’ll get the boys and girl all fresh and clean.

No word on ticket on-sale information just yet, but we do know support on the U.S. dates will be Cincinnati rock kids Foxy Shazam and a host of DJs. Check out their world-tour itinerary, action packed into four short months:

THE SOUNDS TOUR DATES
September 11th Downtown Quebec Quebec City, QUE
September 12th Metropolis Montreal, QUE
September 13th Phoenix Theatre Toronto, ONT
September 16th House of Blues Boston, MA
September 17th Roseland Ballroom New York, NY
September 19th TLA Philadelphia, PA
September 20th The Rams Head Baltimore, MD
September 21st 9:30 Club Washington, DC
September 22nd The Norva Norfolk, VA
September 25th HOB Myrtle Beach, SC
September 26th Variety Playhouse Atlanta, GA
September 27th Orange Peel Ashville, NC
September 29th Ritz Tampa, FL
September 30th Revolution Ft Lauderdale, FL
October 2nd HOB Orlando, FL
October 5th One Eyed Jacks New Orleans, LA
October 7th House of Blues Houston, TX
October 9th La Zona Rosa Austin, TX
October 10th White Rabbit San Antonio, TX
October 11th HOB Dallas, TX
October 12th Diamond Ballroom Oklahoma City, OK
October 14th Club 101 El Paso, TX
October 16th Marquee Tempe, AZ
October 20th Ventura Theatre Ventura, CA
October 21st Greek Theatre Los Angeles, CA
October 23rd HOB San Diego, CA
October 24th Warfield San Francisco, CA
October 26th Commodore Ball Vancouver, BC
October 27th Showbox Seattle, WA
October 28th Hawthorne Theatre Portland, OR
October 30th In The Venue Salt Lake City, UT
October 31st Ogden Theater Denver, CO
November 5th First Ave Minneapolis, MN
November 7th Vic Theatre Chicago, IL
November 17th Melkweg Amsterdam, NL
November 18th Sputnikhalle Munster, GER
November 19th Vera Gronningen, NL
November 20th VK Brussels, B
November 21st Ac 2 Birmingham, UK
November 22nd Oron Mor Glasgow, UK
November 23rd AC2 Manchester, UK
November 24th Electric Ballroom London, UK
November 25th Casino Noveau Paris, FR
November 27th Joy Eslava Madrid, SP
November 28th Apolo Barcelona, SP
November 30th Alte Bors Zurich, CH
December 1st Les Docks Lausanne, CH
December 2nd Rockhouse Salzburn, AT
December 3rd Arena Wien, AT
December 4th Backstage Werk Munchen, GER
December 5th Live Music Hall Cologne, GER
December 6th Reithalle Dresden, GER
December 8th Proxima Warsaw PL
December 9th Eskulap Poznan, PL
December 10th Postbahnhof Berlin, GER
December 11th Uebel&Gefearlich Hamburn, GER
December 12th KB Malmo, GER
December 13th Vega Copenhagen, DK
December 15th Klubi Turka, SF
December 16th Pakkahoune Tempere, SF
December 17th Teatria Oulu, SF
December 18th Rytmikorjaamo Seinajoki, SF
December 19th Cable Factory Helsinki, SF

New pill flyer for Aug/early Sept

Tomorrow night at the pill we're releasing a new pill calendar flyer, featuring Brigid Nastasia and hyping three upcoming live shows: Hot Protestants on Aug. 14, Twin Berlin on Aug. 21 and Televandals' single release party on Sept. 4. Once again, shot ghetto-DIY style on the Bricheal House of Possums.

More on Aoki: Background gets WARP'd

Some more background on Steve Aoki, posted on my Herald blog. Who knew he owns a Korean BBQ and was featured in NBA 2k8? Lolzerlicious. And hey, while we're on the subject, it's a fine time to revisit his jam with the Bloody Beetroots, "Warp 1.9." Woot woot!

TONIGHT: Steve Aoki invades Boston

Oh fucking hell tonight is the night: Los Angeles electro king Steve Aoki hits Boston tonight, throwing down the sickness at Underbar for the Sweat dance party with the KingSize cats. I'm lifting my personal moratorium on attending downtown night clubs because King Aoki knows just one speed: RAGE.

There's a romantic element as well, as Aoki's 2008 mix CD "Pillowface And His Airplane Chronicles" was one of the first things my lady Brig and I bonded over when we first met, so if we get anything from that, it'll be like the last scene in the first season of Queer as Folk at the prom between Brian and Justin only we're straight and there's no prom and chances are I won't get hit in the face with a baseball bat by some douchenozzle afterwards. Then again, it is on Tremont Street so who the fuck knows.

Regardless, I've needed a night of straight up bangers for a while now, and since I'm not moving to LA anytime soon-soon-soonish, this is as good as it gets for me. I might not make it to the office tomorrow. Local support explodes from Hot Pink Delorean and Vadum Rankin, who I hear might have his latest jam, "Dial Up," used in a cell phone commercial. Hey world, can you hear Boston now?

Cheap Thrills: Fenway futures, Indie 08.08 & Wormtown grub

From the vaults of the weekly Thrills a la Cheap offerings in ze Herald de Boston come minor league trade commodities in real, live baseball action, Dave Duncan's Crazy Eights and a force-fed Worcesteriffic eat-down (in which the copy desk apparently removed any "Wormtown" references. Oof.)

TAKE ME OUT...
Futures at Fenway doubleheader at Fenway Park
4 Yawkey Way; Saturday at 12:05 p.m., tickets start at $5
There’s a reason why the Toronto Blue Jays wanted several top Red Sox [team stats] prospects to part with All-Star pitcher Roy Halladay at last week’s baseball trading deadline. It’s because the Sox farm system - from first baseman Lars Anderson to pitchers Michael Bowden and Junichi Tazawa - is stacked. And that’s not even including this year’s call-ups Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard. On Saturday the Portland Sea Dogs and Pawtucket Red Sox are in action against Baltimore’s minor league affiliates, showcasing the future stars of Fenway. See the next Papelbon, Pedroia or Ellsbury in the shadow of the Green Monster on the cheap - tickets start at $5 and are only $20 for Field Box seats. Admission includes both games. Once the dust settles from Sir Paul McCartney’s two gigs at Fenway during the week, it’s time to play ball with the kids.
Info: redsox.com, 877-REDSOX9

GREAT EIGHTS
Third annual 08.08 show at the Middle East
472 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge; Saturday at 8 p.m.; $8.
What started out as a birthday party for Middle East local talent buyer and WFNX-FM radio host Dave Duncan has become a yearly showcase of the best in local music. Going all crazy eights on us for the third year, this year’s 08.08 features slices of indie rock as well as some cool beer promotions by sponsors Narragansett. The lineup features the Shills, the Motion Sick and headliners the Everyday Visuals, who just wrapped up an opening slot with Tinted Windows at the Paradise earlier this week. New wave darlings the New Collisions were supposed to play as well, but were plucked out by the B-52s for a gig in Virginia. That’s how hot this show is. And if things ever slow down a bit, head downstairs to catch parts of the Drug Rug and Mean Creek dual CD-release party. It’s separate admission ($12), but still worth the price. Cambridge rock city!
Info: mideastclub.com, 617-864-EAST

TASTE OF THE TOWN
Worcester Restaurant Week
Across 50 Worcester-area restaurants, through Aug. 14, $20.09
Heading out to the Berkshires for the weekend? Then make a pit stop off the Mass Pike in Worcester, a city that’s in the grips of another all-chefs-on-deck restaurant week. With about 50 eateries participating, score a prix fixe three-course meal at any participating joint for just $20.09. KJ Baaron’s Fine Wine & Spirits hosts a free wine tasting each night from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Check the link below for participating restaurants.
Info: worcesterrestaurantweek.com

Aces: We Were Promised Jetpacks "Quiet Little Voices"

You know the end times are here when I get tipped off to cool new tunes by the ultra-amazing MLB Network* (Great station all around, just not where I expect to hear new music). But I've been hearing snippets of this track the past few weeks, and decided to investigate so I have more of a visual in my dome than Dan Plesac's creamy grillpiece.

Turns out its from We Were Promised Jetpacks, a Scottish band that hits Great Scott on Oct. 7. Singer looks a bit like Shepard Fairey, and the intro is very "This Modern Love" by Bloc Party, but overall it's one hell of a post-punk dancefloor beast. Impossible not to get the hook stuck in your head...


(*** I really need to write a manifesto on how much a fucking love the MLB Network, and not just because it paired up with the NHL Network means I never have to watch ESPN ever again. But really, even the Diamond Demos are incredible. Such a great network, and it seems like it speaks to the casual fan and hardcore baseball junky at the same timwe, which is impressive. Anyway, more to come on that...)

Passion Pit nominated for 2009 MTV VMA

Straight from the OH FUCK YES files of my Hotline Blog: Passion Pit gets a VMA nod. Ahhhhh:

Britney Spears, Beyonce, Lady Gaga… Passion Pit? Damn straight.

Cambridge’s favorite electro-pop sons have been nominated for “Best Break Through Video” at the MTV 2009 Video Music Awards for “The Reeling.” This year’s VMAs, hosted again by Russell Brand airs Sept. 13 from Radio City Music Hall in New York.

While Beyonce and Lady GaGa dominate the other categories with nine nominations apiece (“Best Video,” “Best Female Video” blah blah blah) Passion Pit head up a fairly hip lot in the “Best Breakthrough Video” category. They’re up against the likes of Gnarls Barkley, Death Cab For Cutie and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, among others.

Here’s the full list of “Best Breakthrough Video” nominees:

Anjulie "Boom" Directed by Adria Petty
Bat For Lashes "Daniel" Directed by Johan Renck
Chairlift "Evident Utensil" Directed by Ray Tintori
Cold War Kids "I've Seen Enough" Directed by Vern Moan
Death Cab for Cutie "Grapevine Fires" Directed by Walter Robot
Gnarls Barkley "Who's Gonna Save My Soul" Directed by Chris Milk
Major Lazer "Hold The Line" Directed by Ferry Gouw
Matt And Kim "Lessons Learned" Directed by Taylor Cohen & Otto Arsenault
Passion Pit "The Reeling" Directed by Humble
Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Heads Will Roll" Directed by Richard Ayoade

Check the video for "The Reeling" here.

Great skate with the Rangers '70s jeans ads

Sure, it's the middle of summer. Sure, I'm still all FML over the NJ Devils' collapse, and even more FMLing over the re-hiring of Jacques Lemaire. But no matter how bad it gets for a Devs fan, I rest easy at night knowing the Rangers have a history, instead of winning Cups, of this shit. Ooh la la, indeed.

Saturday at the Middle East: Up vs Down

It's quite the monumental decision, I figured we'd all need four days of planning for it. The Middle East has knocked shit out the box with it's Up Vs Down lineup this Saturday. Rock for all, all for rock.

On the top, Dave Virr/Duncan of the ME/FNX has his third annual 0808 party, which I think celebrates his birthday. He's got one fuckload of a indie-fed lineup: Everyday Visuals, the Motion Sick, the Shills and New York's Hymns. Our local new wave darlings the New Collisions, like the flyer to the right now not-so-aptly proclaims, were supposed to be on this shazz, but the B-52s called and dragged them to Virginia to play for thousands. Hey, in Boston 2k9, it happens.

On the down low, Mean Creek and Drug Rug are doing that dually epic album-release party thing. They've enlisted the Needy Visions and the New Black Magic Rainbow Quartet, which by name alone, not suprisingly features a dude from Apollo Sunshine. I haven't heard the new Drug Rug -- but I want to, as everyone's already blown their load over this band's potential and suddenly I'm trusting what people have to say. Hey, in Boston 2k9, it happens.

Pick your poison here tonight, though I'm leaning on the Up and Up. Why doesn't the Mid East have a package deal? Either way, you can't lose. Toss in Chris Ewen's Heroes new wave dance party next door at TTs and the whole fucking Central Square corner might combust.

ITP: Quick Hotline nuggets

Mmmmm, tasty-fresh Hotline nuggests on a super-busy Tuesday:
- Want to be in a Lights Out video? Hit up their TTs show on Thursday.
- Catching up with My Chemical Romance; dirt on the "Black Parade" follow up.
- Three Day Threshold rocks out for free twice this week
- Paul McCartney tickets still available for tomorrow and Thursday's Fenway Park gigs. Me? I'm calling them the "MGMT shows in the Fens."