Coming Back Monday

Sorry kids, I'm moving out of my apartment today, so no new material until Monday, May 11.

See you then...

Franz Ferdinand at The Electric Factory, Philadelphia

Certain bands take a long time to mature and really find a niche that suits them well. Franz Ferdinand, five years after the debut of their 2004 crazy-good album Franz Ferdinand have really centered their sound into an atmosphere all its own.

The Scottish four-piece, lead by fine-dressing frontman Alex Kapranos performed May 6 at Philadelphia's Electric Factory supporting the band's latest studio album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand. Nick McCarthy was the first to appear on stage, staggering to his seat with a solid-white cast on his foot and and a crutch under each arm, proclaiming, simply, that "I busted muh foot," followed by a explosive cheer from the Philly crowd.

As it may not be known to those who haven't really seen the band live, Franz Ferdinand put on a real show. The band, who unknown to myself, can all team up on the drums a la Beck's supporting cast, along with pouring an almost endless setlist for a crowd sheltered from the night's pouring rain. The night's best moment, however, was an eight-man electro light show with Franz' opening act Born Ruffians that flowed in from Tonight: Franz Ferdinand's first single "Lucid Dreams."

The band will be performing their last show in the US tomorrow night at Providence, Rhode Island's Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel. See them if you can.

Franz Ferdinand - No You Girls

God Help the Girl

Early last month information regarding Belle & Sebastian frontman Stuart Murdoch's side-project God Help the Girl was released. Yesterday I got a first listen to the album's single "Come Monday Night" from the album before its scheduled June 22 release from Matador via The Needle Drop.

Fellow Scotland native Catherine Ireton sets the very Belle & Sebastian - esque vocals through an array of orchestral pieces that swell the aching voice of the black-haired Ireton. You can grab the official MP3 via God Help the Girl's sign-up, or just grab your copy below.

God Help the Girl - Come Monday Night - MP3

Franz Ferdinand, Tonight

A little change of pace here today at Bears and Bullets, today marks the first day in roughly nine months that I'll actually be writing a piece on an actual concert. And lucky me, it seems Franz Ferdinand are on the bill tonight at Philadelphia's Electric Factory.

The Scottish Alterna-Dance Rock four piece are supporting their third studio album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, the follow up to the band's brilliant You Could Have It So Much Better and their landmark debut Franz Ferdinand. They're currently scaling a massive summer tour in the states and will be appearing at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City tomorrow night.

Franz Ferdinand - No You Girls (Live on Letterman)

Takka Takka

Takka Takka recently appeared on Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, another one of the brilliant offsprings of La Blogotheque and Black Cab Sessions, performing their songs "Talking Rooms" and "Under the Night."

Takka Takka - Talking Rooms



Takka Takka - Under the Night

Akron/Family - River

Ohio band Akron/Family released the first single "River" off of the band's new album Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free, out today via Dead Oceans. The album is a deep departure from the group's previous release, 2007's Love is Simple, returning to the Akron/Family sound that made their name.

Akron/Family - River - MP3

Also, here's the band's (long) performance of "Everyone is Guilty."

Akron/Family - Everyone is Guilty (Live)

New Titus Andronicus Video

The most recent band from New Jersey (that's not Screaming Females) that have been blowing up in the last calender year, Titus Andronicus, have released a video for their single "Upon Viewing Brueghl's Landscape With the Fall of Icarus" from the band's self-titled album, continuing the 'topping the confusing band name with even more confusing song titles' trend.

Titus Andronicus - Upon Viewing Brueghl's Landscape With the Fall of Icarus

Sonic Youth on Later... With Jools Holland

Last a week a brand new, older styling Sonic Youth appeared on Later... With Jools Holland to promote the band's much hyped upcoming album The Eternal, the first album after the band's departure from long-time label Geffen (now part of Interscope) and three year's since 2006's Rather Ripped was released.

The Eternal has shortly become this year's most anticipated record after first listening of the band's first single "Sacred Trickster." So if you aren't already on it, mark your calender's for The Eternal's official release, June 9.

Sonic Youth - What We Know (Live on Later... With Jools Holland)

The Cool Kids Go Fishing

The super-prolific Cool Kids released a new 21 (21!) mix tape entitled "Gone Fishing," available free on the group's official website as a .rar file. If you're like me and .rar files are just too damn confusing to figure out on their own, you can download the tape a little easier here.

Hold Steady on Daytrotter

Today's Daytrotter session features Brooklyn via Minnesota Springsteen revivalists The Hold Steady during their SXSW performances. You can listen to the band's performances of "Stay Positive," "Sequestered in Memphis," and "Constructive Summer" off the band's 2008 release Stay Positive, as well as "Sweet Payne" off of the band's almost untouched 2004 release Almost Killed Me here.