Friday, January 21, 2011

band of the week: Smith Westerns


When was the last time a good indie band came out of Chicago? The lo-fi scene in particular has been dominated by kids from Brooklyn, LA, San Francisco and San Diego. But Smith Westerns are ready to change that once and for all, and radically alter your perception of what trippy lo-fi music can be. Going beyond MGMT in terms of psychedelia, Smith Westerns are like a more upbeat, Beatles-inspired Girls minus the Elvis Costello vox and rigidly melancholy stance. Fuzzy, skuzzy and carefree, the songs balance Kinks guitars with simply delightful keys revive the 60’s in all of its glory. Not yet old enough to drink legally, these boys really know what they're doing. Listen below and head out to a show!

Smith Westerns - Weekend [mp3, highly recommended!]


Smith Westerns - Dance Away [mp3]
from Dye it Blonde, their second LP which was released on Tuesday

Fri-Jan 28: Nashville, TN - The End*
Sat-Jan 29: Knoxville, TN - Pilot Light*
Sun-Jan 30: Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506*
Mon-Jan 31: Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club*
Tue-Feb 1: Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn*
Thu-Feb 3: Orlando, FL - Backbooth*
Fri-Feb 4: Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder*
Sun-Feb 6: Houston, TX - Fitzgeralds*
Mon-Feb 7: Austin, TX - Emos*
Tue-Feb 8: Dallas, TX - The Loft*
Thu-Feb 10: Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room*
Fri-Feb 11: Los Angeles, CA - Echo*
Sat-Feb 12: Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar*
Sun-Feb 13: San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill*

(they're also playing a free instore show at Amoeba SF on the 14th)
Tue-Feb 15: Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
Wed-Feb 16: Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret
Thu-Feb 17: Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe
Fri-Feb 18: Boise, ID - Neurolux
Sat-Feb 19: Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
Mon-Feb 21: Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
Tue-Feb 22: Kansas City, MO - The Record Bar
Wed-Feb 23: Omaha, NE - Waiting Room
Thu-Feb 24: Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club
Fri-Feb 25: Madison, WI - The Frequency
Sat-Feb 26: Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
Mon-Feb 28: Toronto, ON - Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
Tue-Mar 1: Montreal, PQ - La Sala Rossa
Wed-Mar 2: Boston, MA - Great Scott
Fri-Mar 4: Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
^ = w/ MGMT
* = w/ Yuck

Smith Westerns on MYSPACE

5 comments:

Tess said...

I've been listening to Dye it Blonde and the new Tennis album for the last few days now. Good stuff. :)

Eric said...

I'll be there in Chicago.

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Anonymous said...

a few months ago, you weren't old enough to legally drink either...

Hanan said...

I meant it as a compliment...they're young and talented.