Seattle’s Minus the Bear will be touring with fellow Dangerbird bands Skysaw and The Constellations. To kick off the tour, Minus the Bear is offering the brand new six-song Hold Me Down EP as a free download through their website.

The EP contains live versions (from Dangerbird Studios) of “My Time”, “Hold Me Down”, and “Into the Mirror” from the latest full-length, OMNI. It also includes the original version of the bonus track “Broken China”. Furthermore, it contains a remix of “My Time”. The Minus the Bear “My Time” Remix Contest has ended and winners have been chosen! Congratulations to the following:

WINNER:
Thomas M from Hertfordshire, UK
Listen to remix

RUNNER UP:
Sam C. from West Sussex, UK
Listen to remix

RUNNER UP:
Haein L. from Orem, Utah
Listen to remix

Image courtesy of SoundForcast.

[audio:My Time (Live from Dangerbird Studios).mp3|titles=My Time (Live from Dangerbird Studios)|artists=Minus the Bear]
“My Time (Live from Dangerbird Studios)”

Ben Gibbard and the rest of the Seattle indie-rock outfit Death Cab for Cutie will release their seventh studio album next Tuesday, May 31, 2011.

Image courtesy of The Needle Drop. Have a listen to the single “You Are A Tourist” which was first released for streaming on March 28th.

[audio:You Are A Tourist.mp3|titles=You Are A Tourist|artists=Death Cab for Cutie]
“You Are A Tourist” by Death Cab for Cutie

Or, stream Codes and Keys in its entirity from NPR’s First Listen today!

Pre-order the album here.

A facebook add recently told me that I should listen to Chris Ayer because he sounds a lot like Amos Lee. I don’t hear much of a comparison myself, as I would need a little more soul and emotion from Ayer to associate the two. If anything I’d say he sounds more like Jason Mraz, which is funny because I just realized that he covered Mraz’s little ditty “I’m Your” with John Callaway.

Nevertheless, I like what I am hearing from the singer-songwriter and solo guitar artist who graduated from Stanford in phylosophy and music.

Ayer has released two EPs and two full-length albums since 2003. His latest album, Don’t Go Back to Sleep, includes the song “Roy G Biv.” Please have a listen below to the live version from Tainted Blue Studios in New York City.

Chris Ayer – ROYGBIV – Live at Tainted Blue Studios MP3 Download

This song talks about “looking to belong”. He starts by describing his experience stepping into the world of a musician. He talks about doing his own ProTools producing and mailing albums like old school to the labels and magazines. He also talks about appealing to the hipsters and engaging the blogosphere.

But really I think he’s talking about everyone, ROYGBIV—all the colors of the world. We’re all on our way to somewhere and there’s no need for bullies in the lunch line cramping our style.

David Bazan’s new album Strange Negotiations will be released on May 24th, 2011 on Barsuk Records. Please have a listen to the first track, “Wolves At The Door.” A North American tour in support of the record will begin June 1st in Salt Lake City, UT, and continue through mid-July. Some dates will include shows with Rocky Votolato.

Image courtesy of Barsuk Records.

[audio:Wolves At The Door.mp3|titles=Wolves At The Door|artists=David Bazan]
“Wolves At The Door” by David Bazan

Artist Link

Vandaveer is a folk duo based in Washington, DC made up of tunesmith Mark Charles Heidinger and harmonizing vocalist Rose Guerin. As the follow up to 2009’s Divide and Conquer, they have released their third full-length record, entitled Dig Down Deep (April 26th) on the Supply and Demand music label. Below please find the official video for the title track.

Showcasing their harmonizing capabilities, The Watson Twins released a cover EP last month titled Night Covers – EP. Three albums after breaking through as backup singers to Jenny Lewis, the sisters have developed an indie-folk reputation all their own.

Image courtesy of The Watson Twins.

[audio:You Showed Me.mp3, Angelene.mp3, Ain’t No Sunshine.mp3, Here Comes the Rain Again.mp3, Sweetest Taboo.mp3, Tighten Up.mp3|titles=You Showed Me, Angelene, Ain’t No Sunshine, Here Comes the Rain Again, Sweetest Taboo, Tighten Up|artists=The Watson Twins]

Tracklisting (with original artists):

1. “You Showed Me” by The Turtles
2. “Angelene” by P.J. Harvey
3. “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers
4. “Here Comes the Rain Again” by Eurythmics
5. “Sweetest Taboo” by Sade
6. “Tighten Up” by The Black Keys

mp3s purchased on iTunes

Night Covers – EP by The Watson Twins

The self-titled debut album of The Belle Brigage is now available on iTunes and Warner Brother Records. The band is made up of brother/sister duo Ethan and Barbara Gruska.

“While the band has drawn many comparisons to Fleetwood Mac and other pop-rock bands of the ‘70s, it’s the soft poetry of Simon & Garfunkel and the pop sensibility of The Beatles that seem to have had the biggest influence.” ~ Paste Magazine.

For a free live-in-studio download of “Rusted Whell” visit the Daytrotter Sessions.

[audio:Rusted Wheel.mp3|titles=Rusted Wheel|artists=The Belle Brigade]
“Rusted Wheel” by The Belle Brigade

Image and mp3 courtesy of the Daytrotter Sessions.

Trent Dabbs will be heading out on the road to play some new songs from Southerner. His last stop will be at the Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles as part of the TEN OUT OF TENN tour. Other artists on the TOT tour include Katie Herzig, Andrew Belle, Matthew Perryman Jones, Gabe Dixon, Tyler James, Jeremy Lister, Amy Stroup, Butterfly Boucher and k.s. Rhoads.

Also, if you missed it this week, Dabbs had a song with Amy Stroup on Grey’s Anatomy, “Love You Good”. Be sure to check it out and pick it up on Amazon by clicking here.

Lastly, Dabbs congratulates the winner of his “Leave To See” video contest. Check out the beautiful video made by Craig Landino below.

103.7 FM is Houston’s new Adult Alternative radio station. “Lost and Found” is a program on 103.7 FM hosted by Luke Crampton every Sunday morning from 8am to 11am.

“A weekly 3-hour Sunday morning radio program highlighting exceptional music – most of which you’ve probably never heard (but you’ll want to hear more)” – Lost And Found Radio on Facebook!

In addition to the regular scheduled airing of the show, you may visit Lost and Found for a weekly replay. The latest episode aired on Mother’s Day, May 8th. Please have a listen to Week 12 below.

[audio:Lost And Found Radio Week 12.mp3|titles=Lost And Found Radio – Week 12|artists=Luke Crampton]
Week 12 of Luke Crampton’s Lost & Found

Image courtesy of 103.7 FM.

iTunes Podcast Link

Thanks to Twin Lens Productions, Gin House (formerly Brandon Clark & The American Standard) has a video to share for their track “Anchor”.

On-site photo of Brandon Clark during the “Anchor” video shoot.

Image courtesy of Twin Lens Productions on Facebook.