Nada Surf Play La Zona Rosa

Photo Credit: José del Río Mons

In lots of ways Nada Surf were the canary in the coal-mine of the music industry. They had big success early in their career on a major label at a time when people couldn't steal music so easily. They had a ubiquitous summer hit with loads of radio airplay and lots of MTV love. The problem was their big hit, Popular didn't sound like anything they had made before nor after. In fact, it was a novelty hit of sorts and the band's follow-up The Proximity Effect did not have the same popular success. After that point Nada Surf had to re-learn how to sell records and earn money in the ranks of the do-it-yourself indie world. They took the lessons they learned from the their career bottle-rocket in the major label world and they changed their approach. They continued to hone their pop-songcraft sensibilities but without the money and muscle of a major label they started doing more promotional footwork. They played more radio shows, they did more meet-and-greets, they accepted more interview requests and they worked their own merch table at shows to have more face to face with their fans. In short, they created a model for how to be a successful indie-band for every band that came after them. I'm not saying every indie-band does these things but they should. Get yourself a ticket and see what I'm talking about in action at La Zona Rosa Friday night.


Nada Surf - When I Was Young video via YouTube


The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy is the fifth independently-released full-length from Nada Surf and it contains some of their finest work. The progression from Let Go to this point has been quite evident. Each album explores similar themes but the songwriting continues to mature, the hooks become more polished and the lyrics more relatable and less-obtuse.

If you're reading this and you have no idea who Nada Surf is, or your only knowledge of them is the song Popular PLEASE go listen to The Weight is a Gift. I know it sounds hyperbolic and cliche' but I would, literally, not be writing this right now if it weren't for that record. I won't get in to the details on that point but I will emphasize how important that record is to me and my life.

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DCFC Vs. {{{Sunset}}}

Ra Ra Riot - Can You Tell video via YouTube

I usually don't go to shows at venues larger than say...La Zona Rosa so I don't have tickets to see Death Cab for Cutie with Ra Ra Riot. They are playing at the Austin Music Hall tonight and, as you may have guessed, the show is sold-out. So you're either going to get scalped tickets or you're going to spend your evening discovering lesser known, immensely talented musicians.

Free Mp3's courtesy of Barsuk Records, thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> Death Cab for Cutie - A Movie Script Ending

Free Mp3 ---> Death Cab for Cutie - Title and Registration

Free Mp3 ---> Ra Ra Riot - Dying is Fine

Keep it local after the jump...

Speaking of lesser-known/immensely-talented artists...I noticed that one of my favorite local acts is doing a show at Hole in the Wall tonight. You can see/hear {{{Sunset}}} do their thing and say you saw them before they dissolved. I feel like they had a lot of blog-buzz going, around the time they released their album, Bright Blue Dream but I haven't heard much about them of late. I'm already a fan so I'm going to encourage you to not go downtown on a Friday night (for once) and instead head to the drag for {{{Sunset}}} you wont' regret it, unless you're a total d-bag.

Free Mp3 courtesy of {{{Sunset}}}, thanks.

Free Mp3 ---> {{{Sunset}}} - When Perfect Flames Expire


{{{Sunset}}} - Go to Mexico video via YouTube

I feel like {{{Sunset}}} wants to make it hard to collect all of their music. Maybe it's a reaction to once being signed to a major label (some members were a part of Sound Team), or maybe they are just into scavenger hunts. To be honest I kind of like that you have to shop in at least three formats to get all of {{{Sunset}}}'s material. Their latest album is a 7" that's only on vinyl. The above video shows, Pink Cloud a limited edition cassette tape release. Lucky for me I live in Austin so I can go to End of an Ear and ask them to ask {{{Sunset}}} to bring in more copies of whatever I'm missing. Here's the first video I ever posted from the {{{Sunset}}} folks, but that was a long time ago so I'm re-posting it for y'all.


{{{Sunset}}} - Zombies video via YouTube

This one's from Bright Blue Dream, an earlier album than The Glowing City, which has the Zombies track.


{{{Sunset}}} - Diamond Studded Caskets video via YouTube

To me, this song has soundtrack written all over it.


{{{Sunset}}} - Man's Heart Complaint video via YouTube

In an almost totally unrelated note, I don't think I've adequately professed my love for Nada Surf on this site as of late. I noticed while collecting Death Cab and Ra Ra Riot mp3's that Nada Surf are label mates. So, I'm going to post all the Mp3's that Barsuk has from Nada Surf because I love them and I want you to love them too. Note how the song Popular will not be included.

Free Mp3's courtesy of Barsuk Records, thanks.

Free MP3 ---> Nada Surf - See These Bones

Free MP3 ---> Nada Surf - Do It Again

Free MP3 ---> Nada Surf - Blankest Year

The next song I downloaded from Stereogum a LONG time ago and it's what made me realize that Nada Surf had lots of albums and that their songs didn't sound anything like Popular, the one song I knew at that point. In short this song made me a fan of Nada Surf

Free MP3 ---> Nada Surf - Blonde on Blonde


Nada Surf - Weightless video via YouTube

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Delta Spirit's Ode to Sunshine

Delta Spirit's latest release, Ode to Sunshine is one of the most instantly like-able albums I've heard this year. It will most definitely be a late entry into my top albums of the year list. Call it America's answer to the Kaiser Chiefs these guys do straight ahead rock-radio ready, blues-based tunes.

I might lump them in with the folk-revivalist scene with Iron & Wine and Fleet Foxes but think less drowsy. Not all of the songs are, what I would call, sunny but they certainly aren't intricate folk songs either.

They are currently on tour with Nada Surf, which is a great pairing both bands do 3-4 minute rock songs with understandable lyrics. They'll be playing at Emo's outside stage for a mere $15.

I first heard this song on KGSR but didn't realize it was Delta Spirit until I had Ode to Sunshine. If this song isn't on your local, rock radio station...it should be.

Delta Spirit - Trashcan

Video after the jump...


Delta Spirit - Trashcan (Live Acoustic Performance) video via YouTube


Delta Spirit - Motivation video via YouTube


Delta Spirit - Parade (live in Austin) video via YouTube

Oh yeah, and you can also find a Delta Spirit Daytrotter Session, which is streamable or downloadable.

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